N early two-thirds of British people think the Government's plan to reopen pubs, restaurants and hairdressers in England from July 4 is a good idea, a new poll has found.

A snap poll by YouGov found that 64 per cent of Brits support the easing of lockdown rules for the venues which have remained shut during lockdown.

A poll of 2,264 adults found 40 per cent somewhat supported the rules easing for restaurants, pubs and other venues, while 24 per cent strongly supported it.

Meanwhile, 19 per cent somewhat opposed it, while 10 per cent strongly opposed it.

Asked if generally speaking they supported all the lockdown rule changes, which also mean that people in England can meet up indoors and stay overnight at other people's houses, more than half of the people said yes.

Seven per cent of people surveyed even said that Boris Johnson hadn't gone far enough.

But around 40 per cent of people think that the restrictions are being eased too soon.

And respondents' views on the new lockdown freedoms were split along party lines.

Nearly 60 per cent of Conservative voters back the easing of restrictions in England compared to around 40 per cent of both Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters.

Nearly half of Labour and Lib Dem voters think the new freedoms Mr Johnson announced went too far, while around a quarter of Tory supporters polled said the same.

Chris Curtis, Political Research Manager at YouGov, said: "After a tough few months, these numbers will be encouraging for the government, as they finally seem to be striking the right tone with the public.

The results show that support falls down party lines, with 60% of Conservatives thinking the new package gets the balance about right, compared to just 38% of Labour voters.

"This is not surprising considering that Tory voters are likely to have greater enthusiasm for an announcement coming from a Tory Prime Minister.

People shopping in Oxford Street, London / PA

"But overall these announcements seem to have been well received amongst the public at large.

"This is a noticeable shift from when the government started loosening restrictions in mid-May, when more thought the government was moving too fast."

Mr Johnson announced sweeping new changes to the lockdown from July 4, including allowing English hospitality businesses, hairdressers, galleries, museums and cinemas to reopen provided they follow safety rules.

Brits will also be allowed to have dinner parties inside, and stay overnight at other people's houses among a range of other new freedoms, the Prime Minister said.
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Singapore is about a week away from rolling out its portable contact-tracing device to help curb the spread of Covid-19. It will be small and may eventually come in different colors.

The first batch of the gadget, called TraceTogether Token, will have a battery that can last nine months, Minister-in-Charge of GovTech Singapore Janil Puthucheary said in an interview on Wednesday. It wont be small enough to slip inside your jeans back pocket, but may fit in front pockets and would be easy enough to clip to a users bag, he added.

Janil, who heads the agency responsible for the development of these contact-tracing devices, said the token will complement a three-month-old phone app to reach the maximum number of residents. With a goal of reaching 100% of the population, Singapores tracing program is among the most ambitious in the world. About four months into the pandemic, efforts by many countries to use mobile apps to fight the virus have mostly stalled or have been abandoned amid dismal take-up rates and privacy concerns.

In Singapore, about 2.1 million people, or about 35% of the population, have downloaded the TraceTogether app. While thats among the highest adoption rates in the world, its still below the 75% to 80% for tracing to work effectively, which is why the physical token is being introduced as an additional measure.

Like the app, the token uses Bluetooth signals to record other nearby contact-tracing devices and would function in a similar way. The island-state is believed to be the first country to roll out a portable device on top of its tracing app to more effectively fight the virus as the economy reopens.

What we want is to stitch those together and cover 100% of our population, said Janil, who is also senior minister of state in the ministry of transport as well as communications and information. We are geographically small and we can deploy at a city level. So its conceptually possible to put this in the hands of every Singaporean.

Story continues

Singapore resumed most activities last week with the government assessing the virus situation in the country to be under control. With more than 42,000 recorded infections, mostly driven by an outbreak among foreign workers living in cramped dormitories, officials have said that a robust testing and tracing regime is needed to open the economy safely.

Building Real Time

Its difficult to predict how many people would end up using the token versus the app as it depends on peoples behavior as well as the performance of the gadget. We are building this real time, Janil said. We have a strong belief it would work well. Its a simple device. The design of the token may change as the government progressively rolls out its plan to deliver the token likely through till the end of the year, he added.

Singapore Rules Out Apple, Googles Contact-Tracing System

The senior minister of state cited the countrys success in distributing masks and sanitizers to every household during the pandemic as examples of deploying a solution at a national level. But like most countries in the world, its contact-tracing program has sparked public concerns about privacy and surveillance.

Janil said the token wont track users location and the data collected on each device will be deleted after 25 days. The adoption will also be voluntary.

When you make things mandatory, you have to balance the benefit and risks including the social risks, said Janil, who pointed out that the number of deaths and infections in the community is low. So the risk doesnt seem quite significant. But if things change and we need a robust response, this will change.

(Adds additional comment in eighth paragraph.)

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Rep. Eliot Engel, the 73-year-old chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, appears to have lost his seat to Jamaal Bowman, a former middle school principal and first-time candidate. (Mail-in ballots have yet to be counted, but the in-person tally suggests a rout, with Bowman winning 62 percent of the vote.)

The race was portrayed as a contest between the traditional and progressive wings of the Democratic Party. Engel won endorsements from Hillary Clinton, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff. Bowman was backed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has backed several previous campaigns to displace moderate Democrats with leftists.

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But while the schism played a part in Bowmans upset victory (progressive groups targeted the election as a gateway to their larger ambitions), his campaigns biggest ally was Engel, who did almost everything an incumbent can do to lose his overly comfortable seat.

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Engels biggest sin: He almost never went home. Even during the COVID-19 crisis, when his district in the Bronx and Westchester County, New York, was hardest hit, Engel stayed locked down in his home in suburban Maryland. The final straw may have come earlier this month, when he showed up at a news conference about police brutality and was heard, on a hot mic, asking the MC, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, if he could speak. When Diaz told him there was a long list of speakers, Engel said, If I didnt have a primary, I wouldnt care.

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The fact that Engel had to beg for a speaking slot revealed how little his 31 years as the districts congressman had earned him the respect of his constituents. His reason for wanting to speak revealed that Engel reciprocated their indifference.

Part of his detachment may lie in the fact that, for many of those years, Engel held the post of top Democratand, since 2018, chairmanof the committee dealing with foreign policy. Of the four committee chairmen defeated in a primary in modern times, three were chairs of such committees. (The other two were Republican Richard Lugar and Democrat J. William Fulbright, chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.*)

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Charles Stevenson, a former Senate staffer who is professor of American foreign policy at Johns Hopkins Universitys Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, said of those who hold these chairs in an email: The temptation is great to stay in town for the embassy dinners. And the job requirement is to travel abroad during congressional recesses.

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Leadership positions in general can make an incumbent complacent. AOC won her primary in 2018, partly because the incumbent, Joseph Crowley, who was chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, rarely went home and, as a result, missed his districts demographic shifts, which tilted toward Ocasio-Cortezs favor. Rep. Eric Cantor, the Republican House Majority Leader, was thrown for a similar loop when he lost the 2014 primary to an unknown Tea Party member.

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Engels district has also gone through demographic changes in recent years, but, as Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute said in an email, those changes are not like the ones that favored AOC.

About one-third of Engels constituents are Black and one-quarter Latino, but thats long been the case. Ornstein said the new tilt came from simply a lot of people with no ties to Engel, especially in a lot of new affluent areas more progressive than in the past.

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Harry Enten, a pollster at CNN, noted in an email that this election year is also seeing a movement towards Black candidates more widely, boosted by the growth in support for Black Lives Matter amid recent protests. Enten added that Democratic voters want straight anti-Trump, whereas Engel was not always party line, and this was used against him. Engel opposed President Barack Obamas Iran nuclear deal and he has also been a staunch supporter of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Though Enten doubts this had much effect on the vote, Bowman in his campaign did draw comparisons between police oppression of Black Americans and Israels oppression of Palestinians.

It is not yet clear whether Engels defeat will have much impact on the Democratic Partys view of foreign policy. The House Foreign Affairs Committee hasnt been an influential panel since the 1990s, when Rep. Lee Hamilton was chair. Since then, it has been a very distant cousin, at best, to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Senate committee at least confirms State Department officials and ratifies treaties; the House panel does neither. Neither of them has any power over the State Departments budget or organization.

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Even in this limited framework, Engel was viewed as a weak chairman. I asked several congressional observers to name an issue where Engel has played an important role. None of them could think of any.

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California Rep. Brad Sherman, age 65, is the second-ranking Democrat on the committee, but that doesnt necessarily mean he will succeed Engeland some Congress watchers doubt that he will.* Pelosi and her party caucus will select the new chairman in January 2021, assuming the Democrats retain control of the House, and one possible choice is Rep. Joaquin Castro, who, though fairly low down the roster in terms of seniority, is the committees vice chairman. Its a designation that doesnt mean much substantively, but it could serve as the rationale for the leaders to advance a young, progressive, Latino congressman.
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Islamabad, June 24 : The Hindu community living in the Pakistan capital will finally be getting a proper temple, allowing them to offer their religious rituals without having to travel out of this city anymore, besides a crematorium -- the first in the city.

A simple ground breaking ceremony was held in Islamabad's H-9 sector area, allocating at least 4 kanal land for the construction of the first proper Hindu temple of the capital.

Parliamentary Secretary on Human Rights Lal Chand Malhi, performed the ceremony. He said the Hindu population in the capital has been increasing considerably in the past two decades, making it important to make a temple for them to worship in.

"The Hindu community in Islamabad has been demanding a temple for a long time now. The population has also increased while many Hindu temple structures in the capital have been abandoned," he said.

"Besides, there is no crematorium in Islamabad," he added.

The Islamabad Hindu Panchayat has named the temple in Islamabad as Shri Krishna Mandir, to be constructed in a covered area of at least 20,000 square feet in H-9/2. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) allotted the area in 2017 as per the orders of the National Commission for Human Rights.

However, delay in fulfillment of formalities like approval of site map by the CDA and other authorities, extended the overall process.

As per details of the site map, the temple complex will also have a cremation sit, apart from the space for separate structures of other religious rites.

Lal Chand said that the step should be taken as symbolic in reference to the reports coming from India, where Muslims are being prevented from going to mosques, while the Imran Khan-led government of Pakistan is building temple, which he said proves the accommodative policy of the country.

Religious Affairs Minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri maintained that the government of Pakistan would be bearing the cost of the construction, which is estimated to at least PKR 100 million.

Qadri has also taken the matter up with the Prime Minister Imran Khan, to allocate a special grant for the temple for its construction and maintenance.

The construction approval of the Hindu temple in the capital comes at a time when Pakistan government has been criticizing the Modi-led government for oppressing the Indian Muslims, closing doors of mosques, allowing a Hindu temple to be made at the Babri Mosque site.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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By Express News Service

KOCHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Medical Council of India (MCI) on Tuesday told the High Court that it was not possible to allot examination centres for National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), scheduled to be held on July 26, abroad including in Gulf countries. The submission came on a petition seeking a directive to the Centre and the NTA to allot centres for NEET in Qatar and other Gulf countries. They said the test could also not be conducted online as, unlike Joint Entrance Examination, NEET was held offline. Also, question papers and other examination materials for NEET have to be transported from the NTA headquarters to a large number of examination centres which requires meticulous planning. They it was not feasible to conduct NEET online in a single shift for all candidates.
SBC Maintains Conference Momentum with Virtual Powerhouse CasinoBeats Malta Digital

Published June 24, 2020 by Lee R

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The layout includes a central Lobby with an intuitive navigation bar; live and on-demand content providing delegates with leading expert insights across panel sessions and presentations; a virtual exhibition space updating delegates about the latest products and services while connecting directly to exhibitors; a Business Network Zone of roundtables, workshops and themed networking sessions; and a Product Lounge providing access to showrooms where operators can play the very latest products in slots, live casino, poker, and gaming.

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Confirmed speakers include Genesis Global CEO Ariel Reem; Kindred Group Head of Gaming

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CasinoBeats Malta looks to be preparing as powerful a punch as ever, to maintain the benefit flow to the many savvy subscribers to the SBC conference brand.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 17:01:03|Editor: huaxia

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YUANWANG-6, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China's space-tracking ship, Yuanwang-6, has completed maritime monitoring for the last satellite launch of the country's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) in the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday.

The satellite, the 55th of the BeiDou family, was launched at 9:43 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday. It was sent into the preset orbit by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

About 20 minutes after the liftoff, Yuanwang-6 detected and locked its target, and carried out the monitoring during the process.

The whole maritime monitoring process lasted for nearly 600 seconds. The vessel's radar system tracked its target stably and acquired complete remote sensing data.

It was the 14th time the vessel carried out the maritime monitoring mission for the BDS satellites. Commissioned in April 2008, Yuanwang-6 represents the third generation of the country's Yuanwang space-tracking ships.

Crew members will later go all out to prepare for the monitoring mission of the country's Mars exploration, said Zhu Wenbo, an official with the Yuanwang fleet. Enditem
After preparing dozens of rice packages for out-of-work domestic staff, 30-year-old Tirsit breaks down in tears recounting life as a foreign housekeeper in crisis-hit Lebanon.

"The (recruitment) agencies sell us," said the 30-year-old Ethiopian, a large sack heaped with bags of rice by her side.

"If I come to work for (a woman) and I don't like it, or she hits me, or there is no food, if I want to change households or leave, I can't," she explained.

"She says: 'I bought you. Pay me back $2,000 then go wherever you want.'"

Around 250,000 migrants -- usually women -- work as housekeepers, nannies and carers in Lebanese homes, a large proportion Ethiopian and some for as little as $150 a month.

None are protected by the labour law.

Instead, they work under a sponsorship system called kafala that has repeatedly been condemned by human rights groups as abusive and racist.

As the Black Lives Matter movement trends worldwide, activists in Lebanon are saying abolishing kafala is long overdue.

Live-in domestic staff have no protection under Lebanese labour law and cannot resign without permission, leaving them at the mercy of their employers. By JOSEPH EID (AFP)

"Something really needs to change," said Tirsit, after seeing persistent mistreatment of fellow workers during her 12 years in Lebanon.

Under kafala, an employer pays around $2,000 to $5,000 to a recruitment agency to find a helper, with prices varying according to nationality, then sponsors the worker to stay legally in the country.

The live-in employee cannot resign without their permission, or she becomes undocumented. Nothing prohibits an employer from confiscating the worker's passport.

This leaves the worker entirely at the mercy of their employer.

Abandonments

Activists have long called for an end to kafala in the oil-rich Gulf, but a raging economic crisis in Lebanon has given the issue new urgency.

With tight capital controls and the value of the Lebanese pound plummeting on the black market, employers are struggling to find dollars to pay their foreign staff, some no longer paying them at all.

In recent weeks, more than 100 Ethiopian women have arrived outside their consulate, activists say, most after employers kicked them out without pay in the middle of a pandemic that has closed the airport.

Human rights groups have documented a litany of abuses against foreign domestic staff, including physical or sexual violence, that have left some in severe psychatric distress or even driven them to suicide. By JOSEPH EID (AFP)

Ignored by consular staff, several have had to sleep rough on the pavement before they could find shelter.

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres says six had to be hospitalised for severe psychiatric distress, some after trauma including physical or sexual violence.

"End kafala. Repatriate," read a sign briefly hoisted outside the consulate earlier this month.

Online, a petition describing the sponsorship system as "neo-slavery" has gathered more than 30,000 signatures since June 1.

Human rights groups have documented a wide range of ill-treatment under kafala, including being confined to the home and refused any time off.

Many workers have also died. Human Rights Watch in 2008 found more than one domestic worker died each week in Lebanon, mostly in suicides or "falling from high buildings, often while trying to escape".

On Thursday, an Ethiopian woman was found hanging in a home in east Lebanon, the state-owned National News Agency said.

'She is a human being'

Amnesty International researcher Diala Haidar said Lebanon must abolish kafala, bring domestic staff under the safeguards of its labour law and give them the right to unionise.

The labour ministry and the International Labour Organisation have been working to improve the standard contract.

Many of the Ethiopian women camped outside the consulate have been dumped there without their passports which were confiscated by their employers. By JOSEPH EID (AFP)

The latest draft would add an important provision recognising "the right of workers... to terminate their employment at will, and the right to change employer without the consent of their current employer", Haidar said.

But it has not yet been approved and, if it were, "it is not enough to adopt a new contract if there are no inspection and enforcement mechanisms," she told AFP, as abandonments in recent weeks show.

Many of the women have been dumped without their passport, making it difficult to track down their employers and hold them accountable.

A security source said employers were also filing complaints alleging their employee had stolen from them, "to get out of having to pay the Ethiopian domestic worker her monthly wages and try to escape all other due payments".

Ethiopian activist Tsigereda Brihanu, 25, said she dreamt of kafala ending one day, but until then urged employers to show some respect.

Even "if you don't have money, don't throw her outside in the street," said the coordinator with the Egna Legna group now helping to bring food to out-of-work domestic workers.

"She is not garbage. She is a human being like you."




South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee on Wednesday announced her bid for the top job of the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying she would make her utmost efforts to reshape the final arbiter in trade disputes if she is elected.







Yoo's bid comes as the WTO is mired in its biggest crisis since it was created in 1995 over growing uncertainties in global rules on trade between nations and fragile collaboration among member nations.







"I will vow to restore the WTO system that faces the biggest crisis since it was launched," Yoo told reporters.







Since early this month, the WTO has started its procedure to pick a new head, as Brazil's Roberto Azevedo is set to step down in August, about a year before his term ends.







As Yoo made her bid, she became the third South Korean to run for the top post of the Geneva-based trade body.







Two South Koreans made unsuccessful bids in 1994 and 2012, respectively.







So far, the WTO has received four candidates  from Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria and Moldova  according to the ministry.







Yoo, a veteran negotiator in trade talks, was appointed as South Korea's trade minister in February last year.







Yoo has often been referred to as the "devil's advocate" and as a counterpoint to her predecessor, Kim Hyung-chong. Sources said that while Kim takes a more aggressive approach during negotiations, Yoo tends to be more circumspect.







Yoo is fluent in English and served as the presidential office's spokesperson for foreign correspondents.







She was the first woman to become a first-rank staff in the 70-year history of the trade ministry in 2018. (Yonhap)


June 23, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - An Israeli diplomat filed a complaint last week with police after he was pulled to the ground in Jerusalem by four security guards, who knelt on his neck for five minutes as he cried out: I cant breathe.

There are obvious echoes of the treatment of George Floyd, an African-American killed by police in Minneapolis last month. His death triggered mass protests against police brutality and reinvigorated the Black Lives Matter movement. The incident in Jerusalem, by contrast, attracted only minor attention  even in Israel.

An assault by Israeli security officials on a diplomat sounds like an aberration  a peculiar case of mistaken identity  quite unlike an established pattern of police violence against poor black communities in the US. But that impression would be wrong.

The man attacked in Jerusalem was no ordinary Israeli diplomat. He was Bedouin, from Israels large Palestinian minority. One fifth of the population, this minority enjoys a very inferior form of Israeli citizenship.

Ishmael Khaldis exceptional success in becoming a diplomat, as well as his all-too-familiar experience as a Palestinian of abuse at the hands of the security services, exemplify the paradoxes of what amounts to Israels hybrid version of apartheid.

Khaldi and another 1.8 million Palestinian citizens are descended from the few Palestinians who survived a wave of expulsions in 1948 as a Jewish state was declared on the ruins of their homeland.

Israel continues to view these Palestinians  its non-Jewish citizens  as a subversive element that needs to be controlled and subdued through measures reminiscent of the old South Africa. But at the same time, Israel is desperate to portray itself as a western-style democracy.

So strangely, the Palestinian minority has found itself treated both as second-class citizens and as an unwilling shop-window dummy on which Israel can hang its pretensions of fairness and equality. That has resulted in two contradictory faces.

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On one side, Israel segregates Jewish and Palestinian citizens, confining the latter to a handful of tightly ghettoised communities on a tiny fraction of the countrys territory. To prevent mixing and miscegenation, it strictly separates schools for Jewish and Palestinian children. The policy has been so successful that inter-marriage is all but non-existent. In a rare survey, the Central Bureau of Statistics found 19 such marriages took place in 2011.

The economy is largely segregated too.

Most Palestinian citizens are barred from Israels security industries and anything related to the occupation. State utilities, from the ports to the water, telecoms and electricity industries, are largely free of Palestinian citizens.

Job opportunities are concentrated instead in low-paying service industries and casual labour. Two thirds of Palestinian children in Israel live below the poverty line, compared to one fifth of Jewish children.

This ugly face is carefully hidden from outsiders.

On the other side, Israel loudly celebrates the right of Palestinian citizens to vote  an easy concession given that Israel engineered an overwhelming Jewish majority in 1948 by forcing most Palestinians into exile. It trumpets exceptional Arab success stories, glossing over the deeper truths they contain.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Israel has been excitedly promoting the fact that one fifth of its doctors are Palestinian citizens  matching their proportion of the population. But in truth, the health sector is the one major sphere of life in Israel where segregation is not the norm. The brightest Palestinian students gravitate towards medicine because at least there the obstacles to success can be surmounted.

Compare that to higher education, where Palestinian citizens fill much less than one per cent of senior academic posts. The first Muslim judge, Khaled Kaboub, was appointed to the Supreme Court only two years ago  70 years after Israels founding. Gamal Hakroosh became Israels first Muslim deputy police commissioner as recently as 2016; his role was restricted, of course, to handling policing in Palestinian communities.

Khaldi, the diplomat assaulted in Jerusalem, fits this mould. Raised in the village of Khawaled in the Galilee, his family was denied water, electricity and building permits. His home was a tent, where he studied by gaslight. Many tens of thousands of Palestinian citizens live in similar conditions.

Undoubtedly, the talented Khaldi overcame many hurdles to win a coveted place at university. He then served in the paramilitary border police, notorious for abusing Palestinians in the occupied territories.

He was marked out early on as a reliable advocate for Israel by an unusual combination of traits: his intelligence and determination; a steely refusal to be ground down by racism and discrimination; a pliable ethical code that condoned the oppression of fellow Palestinians; and blind deference to a Jewish state whose very definition excluded him.

Israels Foreign Ministry put him on a fast track, soon sending him to San Francisco and London. There his job was to fight the international campaign to boycott Israel, modelled on a similar one targeting apartheid South Africa, citing his own story as proof that in Israel anyone can succeed.

But in reality, Khaldi is an exception, and one cynically exploited to disprove the rule. Maybe that point occurred to him as he was being choked inside Jerusalems central bus station after he questioned a guards behaviour.

After all, everyone in Israel understands that Palestinian citizens  even the odd professor or legislator  are racially profiled and treated as an enemy. Stories of their physical or verbal abuse are unremarkable. Khaldis assault stands out only because he has proved himself such a compliant servant of a system designed to marginalise the community he belongs to.

This month, however, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself chose to tear off the prettified, diplomatic mask represented by Khaldi. He appointed a new ambassador to the UK.

Tzipi Hotovely, a Jewish supremacist and Islamophobe, supports Israels annexation of the entire West Bank and the takeover of Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. She is part of a new wave of entirely undiplomatic envoys being sent to foreign capitals.

Hotovely cares much less about Israels image than about making all the Land of Israel, including the occupied Palestinian territories, exclusively Jewish.

Her appointment signals progress of a kind. Diplomats such as herself may finally help people abroad understand why Khaldi, her obliging fellow diplomat, is being assaulted back home.

Jonathan Cook won the Martha Gellhorn Special Prize for Journalism. His books include Israel and the Clash of Civilisations: Iraq, Iran and the Plan to Remake the Middle East (Pluto Press) and Disappearing Palestine: Israels Experiments in Human Despair (Zed Books). His website is www.jonathan-cook.net .

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K aren Pierce, the UK's ambassador to the US, has enlisted the help of the British military after an American woman's tea-making technique caused a national uproar.

Michelle, an American mother-of-three who lives in the UK, went viral after posting a video of herself making a cup of tea in a very unusual manner.

First, she microwaved the water before adding a third of a cup of milk, followed by the teabag and a heap of sugar.

This sparked a response from Ms Pierce, who arranged members of the British armed forces to show how a real cup of tea is made.

The UK military described how to make a cup of tea / Twitter/Karen Pierce

In the video, Ms Pierce appears to make a reference to the Boston tea party by telling Americans that the relationship between the US and the UK is defined by tea.

"The Anglo-American relationship is defined by tea and weve had a number of requests to show how to make a real cup of tea", she says.

The video then cuts to a member of the British Army in the field, who begins by saying: "You dont need a microwave to make a cup of tea."

The Navy also got in on the action / Twitter/Karen Pierce

He then shares a recipe involving powdered milk before the video turns to a Royal Navy sailor, who starts off by telling viewers to first add a teabag and sugar to their cup.

The sailor hammers home the important lesson of not using a microwave to make tea.

"Not using a microwave, use a kettle. Leave your teabag to brew, then you just add milk", he says.

"There you have it, a proper British cup of tea."

The RAF even made a mile high cuppa / Twitter/Karen Pierce

But the video isn't finished yet, as even the RAF gets involved. In the final shot a pilot echoes the official words of the aerial forces motto.

"Making tea at altitude is complex as water boils at quite a different temperature", he says.

"However through adversity, weve produced quite a palatable product for the enjoyment and education of our delightful US hosts. Cin-Cin."
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Okram Ibobi Singh for questioning on Wednesday in connection with its probe into alleged misappropriation of funds between 2009 and 2017 when he was the Manipur chief minister. The Congress called the summon a desperate bid to save the states Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

Singh was summoned days after the Congress last week staked a claim to form the government in Manipur under his leadership after three BJP lawmakers resigned and six others withdrew their support to the states coalition government.

Officials said a team of CBIs Special Task Branch from New Delhi has arrived in Imphal to question Singh over the Manipur Development Society scam pertaining to alleged misappropriation 332 crore.

It was alleged that the accused [Singh] while working as chairman of Manipur Development Society from June 30, 2009, to July 6, 2017, in conspiracy with others, misappropriated government funds to the tune of 332 crore out of the total amount of 518 crore which was entrusted to them for the purpose of executing development work, a CBI statement said.

The BJP-led government in Manipur filed two FIRs against Singh in September 2017 alleging irregularities. The CBI took over the cases from the state police and registered another FIR in November 2019. Three former chief secretaries DS Poonia, P C Lawmuknga and O Nabakishore are among other accused in the case.

The Congress hit out at the BJP over the summon. Desperate bid to save BJP government. Unlikely to save an unpopular leadership. This is nothing but an effort to buy time for a sinking ship. People will lose their faith in the CBI, tweeted Gaurav Gogoi, a Congress MP.

Gogoi and another Congress leader, Ajay Maken, were due to arrive in Imphal as their party seeks to form the government in the state. The Congress had asked governor Najma Heptullah to convene a special assembly session for a no-confidence motion against the government, whose strength in the 60-member assembly has been reduced to 18. Five MLAs from allied parties and an independent back the BJP.

The BJP came to power in Manipur in 2017 even as Congress emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats. It secured 21 seats but formed the government with the support of allies.

Congress has 20 lawmakers and with the support of smaller parties and an Independent legislator, the newly-formed Secular Progressive Front it leads has 26 legislators.
Long before "Megxit" was announced, and several months before Prince Harry proposed to former "Suits" star Meghan Markle, it was revealed that the couple has already planned to leave the British royal family before everything they have been through.

Ahead of their bombshell biography, "Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family's" release two months from now, an insider told Woman UK June 29, 2020 issue, that stepping down as royals were something that they have discussed early in their relationship.

"The seeds of Megxit were sown before they even got married. The truth is that Harry had been deeply unhappy for a long time."

The Sun also reported that explosive book would discuss how their decision to step down was not one made in haste.

In an interview with royal commentator Angela Levin, Prince Harry reportedly told her, "I felt I wanted out," he revealed, "But then decided to stay in and work out a role for myself."

In the months that followed, media outlets and unnamed royal staff members have suggested that Meghan Markle was the driving force behind the decision.

The most common adjective used to describe the 38-year-old Duchess of Sussex in the press is "manipulative."

"They may be both somewhat damaged, but she's a manipulator. She's a controller," TV personality Eamonn Holmes said.

Meghan's most prominent critic, Piers Morgan, has also branded her a "social climber who made the Prince ditch his family."

Everybody in the media insinuated that 35-year-old Duke of Sussex couldn't make his own decision.

However, according to Prince Harry, though, it was his choice.

Speaking to a charity dinner in January, he said that he made the decision for "my wife and I to step back," and it's something that "is not one made lightly."

"It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven't always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option."

A source told The Sun, "Meghan supported Harry's decision. But there was more than one occasion where she asked him if he was certain it was what he wanted, and she always made it clear she would support him in whatever he did."

Though the father of one has two strong, powerful people in his life, he chose Meghan Markle over Queen Elizabeth II.

The divorced, bi-racial woman helped the monarchy's modernization and gave Prince Harry the family and a sense of purpose he coveted.

However, while Meghan Markle may have opened Prince Harry's eyes to serious issues, many feel like the Duke has lost his sense of self.

All it took was for the former B-list actress to come into the picture to make the Duke of Sussex question his entire existence and decide to leave the royal family.

Had he married his ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, he wouldn't be in this position now.

The two dated for a few years, and despite loving Prince Harry immensely, unforutnately, she never married him because she didn't want to be part of the royal family.

It was a lifestyle that was full of traditions and royal rules to follow and felt like she wouldn't be happy with it.

READ MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Anxiety: Scrutiny Upon UK Return Will be WORSE
NRS figures show there were 49 deaths related to Covid-19 registered between June 15 and 21 (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Scotland has recorded its lowest weekly number of coronavirus deaths since lockdown began in March, according to the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

The figure has dropped for the eighth week in a row, according to analysis published as Scotlands death toll reached 4,119.

NRS figures show there were 49 deaths related to Covid-19 registered between June 15 and 21, a decrease of 21 from the previous seven days.

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The overall death toll for the disease in Scotland is up from 4,070 last week.

More than three-quarters (77%) of those who died were aged 75 and over.

The NRS figures also show 47% of coronavirus-linked deaths across Scotland in the week to June 21 were in care homes, down from 50% the previous week.

The number of deaths in care homes fell for an eighth week, by 15 to 20.

1/3 #NRSStats show as of 21 Jun a total of 4,119 deaths have been registered in #Scotland where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, of which 49 happened in the week 15-21 Jun -a decrease of 20 from 8-14 Jun & 8th consecutive weekly reduction https://t.co/Ku0qgjLAn2 pic.twitter.com/xzBT75Oym3  NatRecordsScot (@NatRecordsScot) June 24, 2020

Some 46% of deaths were in hospitals, up from 40% the previous week, while 7% were at home or in non-institutional settings, down from 10% the week before.

The total number of deaths registered in Scotland from June 15 to 21 was 1,058, up 24 on the previous week and 4% higher than the average number of deaths registered in the same week over the last five years.

The NRS figures are published weekly and account for all fatalities registered in Scotland when Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.

They differ from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government using Health Protection Scotland (HPS) figures because they include suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.

Expand Close First Minister Nicola Sturgeon delivering a statement on Covid-19 (Fraser Bremner /Scottish Daily Mail/PA) PA / Facebook

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In that measurement, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a total of 2,480 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up four from 2,476 on Tuesday.

Speaking during First Ministers Questions in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Sturgeon said 18,191 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up nine from 18,182 the previous day.

There are 880 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, an increase of 15.

Of these patients, 23 are in intensive care  a rise of two.
By ANI

LADAKH: Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Wednesday awarded commendation cards to the soldiers, who fought with the Chinese troops in face-offs in the Eastern Ladakh sector, Army sources said.

Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in violent face-offs in Pangong Tso lake, Finger area and Galwan river valley Army, they added.

Earlier in the day, Army Chief visited the forward locations in the Eastern Ladakh area as he is on a two-day visit to Ladakh to review the on-ground situation and the progress in talks with the Chinese military following the Galwan valley clash, which claimed lives of 20 Indian Army personnel.

He also interacted with troops on the ground.

The Army Chief on Tuesday departed for Leh to review the on-ground situation and the progress in talks with the Chinese military. He had interacted with Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, during his two-day visit to Eastern Ladakh.

The Northern Army Commander and Leh Corps Commander were also present during the interaction.

General Naravane visited an Army hospital and interacted with gallant Indian Army soldiers who were injured in the clash in Galwan valley on June 15 and are undergoing treatment.

The Army chief had on Monday discussed the security situation with the top Army commanders in Delhi, officials said.

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.

Indian intercepts have revealed that the Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured.
GLADSTONE, MI  A Michigan man suspected of being involved in a shooting that left one man critically injured has been arraigned in the Upper Peninsula.

Trevor Gault of Manistique was arraigned at the 93rd District Court in Munising on Monday, June 22. He is charged with assault with Intent to murder and felony firearms. His cash bond was set at $5 million.

Alyssa Arnold of Manistique was also arraigned the same day and charged with harboring a fugitive. Her bond was set at $500,000. Gault and Arnold were both arrested after a short search on June 20

Troopers from the Michigan State Police Gladstone Post are continuing their investigation into the June 17 shooting Schoolcraft Countys Inwood Township. The victim was airlifted to Marquette for further treatment after being shot.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Hauswirth at the Michigan State Police Gladstone Post by calling 906-428-4411.
ALBANY  Mall operators and gym owners across the state reacted harshly on Wednesday to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's decision  announced privately a day earlier in regional reopening strategy meetings  that those businesses will remain closed as five upstate regions move into what was supposed to be the fourth and final phase of restarting New York's ailing economy.

The information from the governor's office was delivered to "control room" regional task forces in conference calls throughout Tuesday with state Budget Director Robert Mujica, and later that day with Beth Garvey, a special counsel and adviser to the governor.

As the day wore on, officials in the meetings said, the message from the governor's office wavered, and by evening they were being told that gyms, malls and amusement parks may be able to open in the coming weeks as other regions reach phase four, including the Hudson Valley. But those types of businesses would still not be included in the phased reopening process; instead, they'll be handled on an individual basis.

"That is certainly different than what was expressed to individuals in the earlier calls," said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, who was on a call with Garvey at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday. "For four weeks, we were told that gyms, malls, amusement parks would be in phase four. They attempted to suggest that that was not the truth. But you know, weve been on these calls daily  and the answers we have consistently gotten is 'Yes, those are in fact phase four businesses.'"

Molinaro called it an unnecessary "punch in the gut" for those businesses that had been preparing for months to reopen.

In a news conference Wednesday in New York City, Cuomo said the state Health Department is evaluating information that heating and cooling systems used in malls or other large facilities could be spreading the coronavirus rather than filtering it.

"We've gotten some new information on how the virus spreads; we're still studying it (and) we'll have a decision as soon as we process all of the information," Cuomo said. "We are continuing to study malls, movie theaters and gyms. ... There are some reports that some malls  that air conditioning may not be cleansing the air of the virus and (instead) just circulating the virus."

Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin lashed out at the governor on Twitter, saying the information is not "new" and that he had raised concerns six weeks ago that heating and cooling systems may have been spreading the virus in New York's hard-hit nursing homes, where roughly 6,000 people have died.

"During a May 9 conference call with local officials and representatives of the governor, including Robert Mujica, Jim Malatras and Brad Hutton of the Health Department, Steve mentioned his concern about ventilation systems in nursing homes being a factor in spreading COVID-19," said Richard Crist, a spokesman for McLaughlin. "That was disputed by some of the state team; Steve referenced his experience as an airline pilot and understanding how airflow works. We wish those views were taken to heart earlier."

Molinaro, though, said that mall operators like Pyramid Management Group have addressed those concerns about air systems and devised technology to keep the filtered air clean; many stores, he added, have individual cooling systems.

He said that on the evening control room call on Tuesday, Garvey, the governor's counsel, downplayed the air-filtering issue and that it was "one of the things they wanted to say but didn't have any science to support it."

"For weeks they were saying malls, gyms, amusements are to begin on phase four, so that meant we were out communicating with the public that the state of New York is saying this," Molinaro said. "Either they were lying at that time or at some point they changed their minds and it couldnt have been yesterday."

Russell J. Ivory, general manager at Colonie Center mall, acknowledged "this is a fluid situation," but added, "to say we are disheartened and disappointed with the latest development would be an understatement."

"Over the last three months, we have been preparing to open with the health and safety of our shoppers, retailers and employees at the forefront of our minds. We have purchased masks, social distancing signage, added additional hand sanitizers, installed nano-skins, and will be implementing additional safety measures throughout the center," Ivory said. "Our hearts hurt for our retailers, many of which are small businesses."

Businesses that are located in malls and have their own exterior entrances were allowed to reopen for business in the third phase, and all others were allowed to offer curbside service to shoppers. But the business generated by that concession has not been enough to sustain long-term success, retailers said, and businesses located in the interior sections of malls are in distress.

Gyms, fitness centers and exercise studios also had been preparing to reopen, with many owners and managers implementing the types of safety measures being deployed in hair salons and other businesses, including limiting the number of people who could be inside at once.

But there have been contradictory directives from Cuomo, considering that on Wednesday he approved gatherings of up to 50 people as even small exercise studios  that may have only a few clients inside at a time  cannot reopen.

"How did we get roped in with outdoor amusements parks and malls?" said Nora Matthew, owner of Her Strength Studio in Latham, which offers special training programs, including for women who are pregnant, trying to conceive or postnatal.

After news broke this week that gyms would not be allowed to open, Matthew wrote a letter on Wednesday to Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, urging him to intervene and noting that Massachusetts is among the states that have allowed personal training sessions to resume.

"It is disheartening that you are not able to differentiate between businesses that attract large crowds such as outdoor amusement parks and small businesses like mine," Matthew wrote.

Bryan Lupian, a regional manager at Vent Fitness, issued a YouTube statement to the members of its four Capital Region clubs late Wednesday urging them to sign an online petition or email the governor directly to urge him to reopen gyms. Lupian also encouraged members to post on social media with the hashtags "#exerciseismedicine" and "#gymsaresafe."

"We've been working hard for months following the latest data and science to get us ready to reopen for you," Lupian said in the video. "We believe strongly that our safety plan for reopening would allow us to open the facilities at significantly less risk than visiting a restaurant, a grocery store or a large department store."

Many malls had been preparing to open under phase two, and then sought to get approval to open in phase three. Two weeks ago, store owners joined other area business leaders and elected officials for a news conference at Crossgates Mall urging the Cuomo administration to let them open.

A spokesman for the governor this week clarified that while malls, gyms and amusement parks will not open on Friday, the administration is continuing to evaluate what is happening in other states before deciding when they can.

"There are some things that dont fit neatly and are going to require further study, and were going though that right now," Richard Azzopardi, a spokesman for the governor, had said. "Were not going to be like other states that are inviting a second wave."
On March 19, the day the Trump administration urged Americans to stop traveling internationally, a group of students from the University of Texas at Austin returned from a spring break trip to a Mexican beach resort.

Within two weeks, 60 of the 183 travelers to Cabo San Lucas, along with four contacts, tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As students prepare to return to many universities this fall, the case study offers a window into how easily covid-19 spreads among college students and, also, how it can be contained. Researchers likened their close quarters and constant interaction to the environment of a nursing home in the potential for disease spread.

"Contact tracing and testing of close contacts, regardless of symptoms, is important in limiting spread, especially in young and healthy populations living in shared housing," they wrote.

That effort limited the outbreak in this case, as did a local shelter-in-place order issued by Austin on March 25, six days after they returned, the researchers conclude.

At the time, reports of positive cases provoked outrage among local leaders.

"It's time to grow up," Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, a Republican, said. "That is grossly irresponsible."

Parents of some students defended their decisions to allow the trip, saying they were told by the travel company JusCollege they could not get refunds if they canceled, because there was not yet a travel advisory to avoid Mexico.

The school began its investigation on March 28, after three of the travelers tested positive. They quickly identified the trip as a source of the outbreak through contact-tracing interviews. Although the first patient did not experience symptoms until the trip was over, some in the group became ill while in Mexico. The travelers were sharing hotel rooms during the trip and dorms or houses after their return to Austin. About half took a chartered plane together, according to the school.

"We take the safety of our customers very seriously and worked with public health authorities to assist with contact tracing where we could," said a spokeswoman for JusCollege. "It was an unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation, and our communications to our customers were being updated in line with the changing U.S. government guidelines."

Working with public health authorities, the school identified 298 travelers and close contacts and interviewed all but nine. Asymptomatic travelers and their contacts were advised to self-quarantine and monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days. Symptomatic travelers and their contacts were offered tests and told to self-isolate until they got a negative test result, or for seven days after their symptoms began and three days without a fever. Ultimately, 231 people were tested.

But after half of the first batch of tests came back positive, the school decided to test anyone who had traveled to Cabo. Beyond April 2, two weeks after the travelers returned, tested continued only for symptomatic travelers and contacts. The investigation ended April 5, when the last symptomatic contacts got negative test results.

The median age in the group was 22. Although 78 percent of those who tested positive experienced symptoms, none required hospitalization and none died. The most common symptoms were cough, sore throat, headache and loss of sense of smell or taste.

"Asymptomatic persons or those with mild symptoms likely play an important role in sustaining SARS-CoV-2transmission during outbreaks, especially in younger populations, such as the one described here," the researchers wrote.

Half of those who tested negative also experienced symptoms. The researchers suggest that those patients may have lied about symptoms to get a test early in the investigation, or contracted a flu variety going around at the time. They also note that coronavirus tests have a false negative rate of up to 29 percent. Most students were only tested once, so some cases might have been missed.
Edmon, do you know the difference between you and Hrayr? Many things: Many things that are condensed into the fact that [Constitutional Court president] Hrayr Tovmasyan's godchildren suffer hardships, are arrested on the orders of a madman, and like a man resist all attacks for the sake of the state and for the sake of their best man [of their wedding], whereas your godchild betrays you at the first convenient opportunity, then, sitting in the NA hall, watches how they first humiliate and then beat his best man [of his wedding]. These are objective consequences. Mikael Minasyan, the former Ambassador of Armenia to the Vatican, on Wednesday noted this on Facebook, and addressing Edmon Marukyan, leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party and head of its parliamentary faction. Minasyan added as follows:

"You have been accused for two years of being my project and, thus, being able to guide holding your nose at the expense of your dignity. You live in [PM] Nikol Pashinyan's sick reality, and you have become a slave to that pseudo-reality. Because of the fear of being associating with me, you have become a puppet, a poor attachment to the power of the enemy of the state and the people, destroying with you the future and political career of many brilliant young people.

You had a choice today. And the choice was between the state and the enemy of the state. You chose the latter by hitting the last nail in the coffin of democracy in Armenia with your own hands. By swallowing your dignity, by being subjected to the blackmail of those who wipe their feet on you for three years, you broke the backbone of our state by committing political and moral suicide.

Unlike you, Edmon, Hrayr and the other judges of the Constitutional Court did not give in to blackmail, they were not afraid of the threats and hysterical attacks of the insane [person], they did not give in to cheap manipulations. Do you know why? Because they have dignity.

From now on, there are no sides in the Republic of Armenia. You are either with the insane [person] or with the people. I was ready to become your project today if you had stood by the people, but you chose the prospect of being gotten rid of the country's political arenatogether with pus. You will be thrown away, carrying the stigma of former and pro-Nikol forever. Do not doubt! We will leave the institute of political leeches in the past, too.

Distinguished members of Bright Armenia,

If there are people in your ranks who still accept the real reality, not Pashinyan's Facebook, then become an opposition; real opposition. Get out of the destructive power, stand with the people! The people will be grateful, and we will be your humble servants. You still have a chance to give up your servile future.

There is already one opposition in the National Assembly of Armenia, represented by the PAP [Prosperous Armenia Party]. Despite all the political persecution, each of them will always walk with an open and proud head because, without hesitation, they did everything in their power to prevent the destruction of the country of law.

Blessed are the strong in spirit.

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament to apply to Constitutional Court
Charlize Theron (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Charlize Theron has ripped into veteran action star Steven Seagal, branding him incredibly overweight and calling into question his martial arts skills.

The actress was appearing on Howard Stern's radio show in the US to promote her forthcoming action movie The Old Guard.

Asked how she preps for her action projects, Theron said: At night Ill 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 isnt.

Read more: Mel Gibson denies Winona Ryder anti-semitism claim

Hes just incredibly overweight and pushing people. Hes overweight and can barely fight  look it up, its ridiculous. Hes shoving people by the face. Its a whole setup.

American actor and martial artist Steven Seagal (L) gives an aikido masterclass during the 2nd International Budo Festival at the Fili sports complex. (Vladimir Gerdo\TASS via Getty Images)

Justifying hurling shade at the On Deadly Ground actor, she went on: I have no problem talking s**t about him because hes not very nice to women so f**k you!

Seagal has been accused on multiple occasions of sexual assault and sexual harassment dating back to the early 90s, by actresses including Julianna Margulies, Regina Simons, Jenny McCarthy and Portia de Rossi.

Most recently, British actress Rachel Grant claimed he pulled down her top and exposed himself to her during an audition.

Seagal denied the claim.

Read more: Ron Jeremy charged with sexually assaulting four women

Theron went on to say that women appearing in action movies 'dont want to f**king fight like men'.

We want to fight like we would fight and figure out what this looks like, she said.

We want to fight smarter, we want to fight in a way that makes sense, and we want to do it in a way where were still part of emotional storytelling.

The Old Guard, based on the graphic novel of the same name, finds the South African-born actress playing the leader of a mercenary group who possesses a mysterious inability to die, and has protected mankind for centuries.

It's set to land on Netflix next month.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UKs Reality Check
A teenager has died after being hit by a large wave while swimming in Lake Michigan.

Witnesses say Dominic Snovicky, 18, disappeared beneath the water at Indiana Dunes State Park around 11am on Tuesday.

Rescue crews launched a desperate search for the teen which was made difficult by dangerous conditions.

Hazard warnings has been issued on the morning of the accident, with the National Weather Service warning of waves measuring up to six feet and strong rip currents later in the afternoon.

Dominic Snovicky, 18, died after being hit by a large wave while swimming in Lake Michigan on Tuesday. He was in the water off Indiana Dunes State Park (pictured)

Divers eventually discovered Snovicky around 12.30pm, and pulled him from the water in a critical condition.

They performed 'lifesaving procedures' on a rescue boat as it headed back to shore. The teen was then rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Snovicky was a resident of Plainfield, Illinois.

A local fire chief told the publication that Snovicky was at the Indiana Dunes State Park with friend. The beach was reportedly closed to swimming and did not have a lifeguard at the time the teen was toppled by the wave.

Meanwhile, Snovicky's best friend has set up a GoFundMe to raise money for the deceased teen's family.

Indiana Dunes State Park is pictured during the summer season. At the time Snovicky was swimming, there were large waves and strong riptides

'Dominic was a very sweet and generous person whenever he could be, and I think its right to give back for him,' the best friend wrote in the fundraiser's description.

'This fund will go to Dominic's family to help support and honor him.'

The GoFundMe page has been shared to Facebook by a girl believed to be Snovicky's younger sister.

Three months ago, she gushed over her big brother in a post penned on National Sibling's Day.

'I love those funny conversations that we have. You really mean a lot and I wish for the best in the future for you. Your already a smart outgoing person! I cant wait to see what you grow up to be and hope we can be best friends always,' she wrote. -
Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and U.S. President Donald Trump display the signed trade agreement between the United States and China in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on Jan. 15, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Lighthizer Confirms US-China Trade Deal at Full Steam Ahead

China following through on commitments, US Trade Rep says

United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer reassured worried farmers today that phase one of the U.S.-China trade deal is going ahead, with China having already committed to 50 out of 57 stipulations.

Trust me that the trade deal is on, its the biggest trade deal, Lighthizer told radio host Chip Flory on the syndicated radio program, AgriTalk. Its the biggest trade deal that anybodys ever done. Its completely on.

The trade deal was cast into uncertainty Monday night, as White House director of trade and manufacturing policy, Peter Navarro, responded to a question from Fox News regarding the difficulties in negotiating the deal with the words, Its over. Navarro subsequently said he was quoted out of context, and President Trump moved quickly to tweet a confirmation that a deal was still possible.

The China Trade Deal is fully intact. Hopefully they will continue to live up to the terms of the Agreement!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020

Lighthizer also chose to play down Navarros comment, saying that he believed Navarro did not answer the question he was asked. It was just a complete misunderstanding, said Lighthizer. The deal is full steam ahead.

American Interests First

According to Lighthizer, while the American relationship with China is challenging, the United States will continue to do what is in its best interest, and that China represents a huge market for agricultural and other productsboth now and in the future.

Lighthizer said that the United States had managed to open up considerable trade in beef, poultry, dairy, and soy beans. In the three or four months this has been in effect, we have approved more than 2,000 new facilities with the Chinese, he said, and were up to 3,500 now. So its going to be a massive, massive impact on American farmers.

A farmer walks through his soy-bean fields in Harvard, Ill., on July 6, 2018. (NOVA SAFO/AFP/Getty Images)

Lighthizer said that the United States must navigate a tricky relationship with China. Its very complicated, its got a lot of sides to it, that are important, really to the future of America. And its my view and I think the Presidents view that one of the most important things hes doing in office is getting that relationship right.

The trade representative said that the United States and China are the two biggest economies in the world, that China has 1.3 billion people and that it imports around $140 billion worth of agricultural products every yearor approximately as much as the U.S. exports to the entire world annually. The Chinese side had already followed through on 50 out of 57 commitments, he said.

The purchases were agreed on for the calendar year, he said, and while some commodities such as soy beans may be somewhat back-loaded, Lighthizer expects the Chinese side to meet their obligations within the calendar year.

I know that every farmer in America cares about the overall relationship as much as they do the Ag relationship. So we have to get the balance right. We have to make sure that the country is safe and prosperous, and that our farmers are selling lots of products, he said.
Massachusetts is consistently lauded for its strong public education system, which usually ranks among the top in the country. However, data examined by WalletHub, shows the states education system ranks as one of the worst in the country when it comes to racial equality.

Using data in six categories, Wallethub examined racial equality in all 50 states. Massachusetts ranked just outside the bottom five as the sixth worst state in the country.

The analysis examined adults with at least a high school degree and at least a bachelors degree. It also looked at standardized test scores, SAT and ACT scores as well as public high school graduation rates. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale. Each metric was weighted and the highest score a state could receive was 100 points.

Massachusetts received 29.71 as one of only six states to fail to reach 30 points. Wyoming at 75.03 received the highest score.

The five states that finished lower than Massachusetts were New York (28.48), Pennsylvania (28.29), Connecticut (23.88), Minnesota (21.58) and Wisconsin (13.44).

Massachusetts had the second-highest gap in the share of adults with at least a bachelors degree. Only Connecticut ranked worse.

Other states in New England fared far better. New Hampshire (64.61) and Vermont (63.78) ranked sixth and seventh respectively.

Vermont was the top state in terms of the lowest gap of adults with at least a bachelors degree. New Hampshire had the lowest gap in standardized testing, ACT scores and SAT scores in the country. Vermont had the third-lowest gap in standardized testing.

Rhode Island, meanwhile, ranked in the middle of the pack at 27th and a score of 45.23. It possessed the third-lowest gap in the graduation rate.

Since the death of George Floyd, protests across Massachusetts have called for the reallocation of police funds to departments of education.

In declaring racism a public health crisis, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said 20% of the Boston Police Departments fiscal 2021 overtime budget, or about $12 million, to be invested instead in community programs for youth, for homelessness, for people struggling with the effects of inequality.

The Worcester City Council on Tuesday voted to hold the budget to further discuss options of reallocating police funds to social services.

The Springfield City Council voted Monday to approve resolutions that call for steps to end racism and racial profiling and improve policing.

Related Content:
The Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus is at the stage of community spread.

So said epidemiologist Dr Avery Hinds yesterday as he noted the detection of the variant in a number of people who had no recent travel history.

Hinds was speaking during the Ministry of Healths virtual news conference yesterday.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Coronavirus COVID-19 swabs from patients are kept in a plastic sealed tub as lab technicians carry out a diagnostic test for coronavirus in the microbiology laboratory inside the Specialist Virology Centre at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

There has been another coronavirus death in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health has confirmed.

It brings the NI death toll to 547.

Two tests were positive out of the 1,288 conducted on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections to 4,873.

Two patients with Covid-19 remain in intensive care.

There is an outbreak of the virus at 44 care homes with another 19 having a suspected case.

It comes as Northern Ireland's hospitality industry welcomed new guidance on how pubs, restaurants and hotels can safely reopen on July 3.

Within the document it recommends that employers provide bike racks for workers to encourage other means of transport.

It also states that radios or telephones should be used to limit employees moving around a building and people should avoid working face-to-face to limit spreading Covid-19.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds called for a review of social distancing in the Assembly on Tuesday.

Here's how Wednesday unfolded:
Another surge of 3,788 new cases on Wednesday took Delhis Covid-19 tally past 70,000, the Delhi governments health department said in its bulletin.

Out of Delhis tally of 70,390 the number of active cases now stands at 26,588 while 41,437 people have recovered from the virus.

Delhi has now added more than 10,000 new cases of Covid-19 since June 21.

Sixty four Covid-19 patients succumbed on Wednesday, taking the toll of casualties in the national capital to 2.365.

As Covid-19 cases continue to spiral in Delhi, the Delhi government has unveiled an eight-point Revised Covid Response Plan in line with the recommendations of the Dr VK Paul committee.

Also Watch l Manish Sisodia asks Amit Shah to intervene, asks to scrap new covid SOPs

The plan includes conducting sero-survey of 20,000 people across Delhis districts and house-to-house screening by July 6, among other measures.

Earlier in the day, Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said he has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to roll-back the order, issued by Lieutenant Govenor Anil Baijal, which requires every Covid-19 Covid-19 patient, who had tested positive through the real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, must be taken to a Covid-19 Care Centre (CCC) for a clinical diagnosis of the infection.

Sisodia now holds the additional charge of the health portfolio after incumbent minister Satyendra Jain tested Covid-19 positive, said the government wants to ensure minimum inconvenience to the public and not to overburden the administrative machinery fighting against the pandemic.

The Delhi government says the new protocol requires special ambulances and more medical staff and puts strain on existing facilities.
The body of a man who drowned after jumping from the cliffs and swimming at a Somerset County reservoir was recovered Tuesday afternoon, police said.

The Bridgewater Police were called to Chimney Rock Reservoir in Washington Valley Park at 3:05 p.m. on Monday after a witness told them that he lost sight of the man, Michael Woskey, 37, of Somerville, after he began to struggle as he was swimming, according to a statement from the Bridgewater Police.

The Somerset County Dive team arrived and searched for Woskey until the search was called off shortly after 9 p.m. after it became to dark, authorities said.

The search resumed at 8 a.m. Tuesday and with the help of the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit and their sonar equipment, Woskeys body was found at 1:40 p.m.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
24.06.2020 LISTEN

I will begin this write-up by saying that even though it is going to create the negative impression that the country does not have patriotic and honest politicians, a few of them have been.

During the latter part of the seventies, I was in the U.S. and I took advantage of my being there to interact with people in addition to making sure the purpose of my stay was achieved. I was able to have discussions with people from various classes of the society, including students, lecturers, civil servants, and politicians; some of whom became my friends.

Topics for our discourse covered many aspects of life but I was more interested in educational and political practice. The fruitful conversations we had especially on politics gave me an insight into American social life and how a democratic political system is practised in the country.

I was in America when two general elections were held. During a talk with a friend of mine concerning one of the elections, I was surprised to hear that he voted for the Democratic candidate because I knew him to be a Republican Party fanatic. When I gathered the courage to ask him the rationale behind his voting, he reminded me that the election was a national one and so the most capable person was needed.

Then he went on to say that he thought the Democratic candidate was the one who could lead the country better and sustain its prosperity and greatness. Truly, this is the opinion I gathered from many of the people I had the election post-mortem with. To them voting should be based on ability to lead and perform and not on personality or where the candidate comes from.

During another presidential election campaign, one of the aspirants said, and I quote, I have got the financial power already. Now I need the political power so that I can serve and help develop my country, unquote. This is how he introduced himself to the electorate and asked for their votes so that he could serve the nation. He ended up winning the presidential election and becoming the President of the U. S. And true to what he said he served his term without blemish and the country prospered.

I have followed political practice in many other western democracies and seen that the main aim and objective of people entering politics in these countries is the same as I witnessed in the U.S. and that is, to help improve the living conditions of the people. The politicians are patriotic and the heads of state in these countries selfless and so they are able to work together in bringing sensible developments that benefit their people in their respective countries. Their institutions are made to work systematically and nobody is above the law.

To the patriotic politicians in the west, it is nation and not self and family first. And so with all due diligence put in place and adhered to, they are able to manage their economies profitably. It is therefore no coincidence that their nations are now developed countries

Sadly, political practice in Ghana and I believe, in Africa, is in no way comparable to what prevails in the western world. Unlike western democracies, only a few people enter politics with the avowed aim to serve the nation and improve the living standards of the people. Many of them go into the profession with a personal hidden agenda which is to acquire wealth, first and foremost, for themselves and then for family and friends.

They take politics as an easy route to improving their personal living standards with the hope that they will be protected by parliamentary immunity which will enable them to dip their hands into the nations chest with impunity. It is only in Ghana or Africa that politicians or people in authority are not made to face the rigours of the law when they infringe it.

The Legislature is autonomous only on paper because the head of state or the executive could control it. Most of the aspirants normally portray themselves as angels or people with magical wands and promise the electorate anything they can think of. Others may not have the qualities or all that it takes to be lawmakers or heads of state but may have an extensive tribal base which could guarantee a huge support in times of elections.

Eventually such unpatriotic and selfish people are voted into power, unfortunately, by the unsuspecting ignorant voters who are unable to discern the genuine from the fake ones. This is because voting is, in most cases, based on tribal lines and not on policies. This tribal bias is one of the problems in Ghana politics. Even if an idiot manages to become the leader of a party, all party members and people in his linguistic area will vote for him whether he is good for purpose or not. Another canker is corruption because it is through it that the politicians are able to acquire their wealth at the expense of the nation and her people.

Again, it is only in Ghana and Africa that anything could happen in politics and governance. The government that is formed could be made up mainly of members of the presidents family and friends. Governing boards of state institutions could be dissolved unwisely and new ones made up of party loyalists or cronies formed whether they are qualified or not. Projects started by the previous regime could wickedly be neglected whether they are beneficial to the state or not and contractors would not be paid.

After all the politicians are in government to satisfy their whims and caprices and not to serve the nation and the people who elected them. In order to make their money, contracts signed could be inflated and the monetary difference paid into individual pockets. Some of these contracts could be given to members within the government, many of whom might not even have the necessary tools for the work for which the loans are given.

Soon these politicians could be seen living in mansions, riding big cars, and owning many properties at home and abroad. Foreign loans upon loans would be sought by the government ostensibly to develop the country but nothing could be seen on the ground in terms of development. There would still be the absence of infrastructure, lack of jobs and absence of social services. Living standards would continue to be high and the people would begin to feel the pinch of the hardships as a result of the stagnant economy.

However, in spite of how harsh the economic situation and the living standards might be these sycophants and the die-hard parochial and ignorant members of the governing party would not utter a word. They would not criticize the government and neither would they allow anybody to do so. Anyone who does becomes an enemy. And when these toad-eaters of the government party are asked why they are not saying anything against the visionless government or individual members of the ruling party, the response would always be and I quote, it is our party or he is our party member. To them whether the government is performing well or not and whether they are suffering as a result of governments actions or inactions or not, there should be no negative criticism against it. This is ridiculous, if not a stupid attitude.

This is contrary to what happens in the west, especially, Great Britain, where people vote on policies and not according to personality or where one comes from. Individuals can differ on issues and express their opinions openly and freely without fear. Even in the houses of parliament, parliamentarians of the same party can differ as a matter of principle and vote against their own party or government on issues they disagree with.

That is why some of the time we hear of rebels. They are not rebels as such. They react the way they do because unlike Ghanaian politicians, they have principles and conscience which they do not want to be compromised. Therefore they do not just accept what the government says or does without a full examination. I have not heard of any member of a Ghanaian parliament criticising or voting against his own party. Anything that comes from the executive is proper.

One would have thought that it would only be the uneducated ignorant members of the party who might have this it is our party, it is our party members mind-set. But no; the educated, the intellectuals, the academicians, and even the clergymen of the party also share this divisive and unproductive mentality. This attitude which makes people support a person because of a group association, whether the person is qualified or not, does not help the nation in any way. Tribalism and nepotism which lead to corruption are cankers in a society and politics. They are retrogressive and so they have to be shunned to pave the way for national development.

Politicians, therefore, have to change their mentality and cultivate a love for their country. This must be through avowed determination to get rid of sectionalism, dishonesty, and corruption in them and in the system in order to achieve the national goal. Otherwise, the country would remain underdeveloped and governments would continue to go to the west to beg for loans, some of which, in most cases, go into personal pockets. Governments do not sit down to think of how the money they go in for as loans were made. This dependence on the west will keep the country in the clutches of the industrialized countries, resulting in neo-colonialism prophesied by the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah if Ghanaians do change their greedy attitudes.

Ghanaians, wake up; Ghanaian youth, wake up!

Jones Ababio.
The death toll from the coronavirus in the San Antonio area hit 100 Tuesday as officials reported three more deaths and hundreds of new cases and as hospitals imposed new measures to protect patients and employees from exposure.

The latest victims were a Hispanic man, a Hispanic woman and a white man. All were in their 70s and had multiple underlying health conditions, officials said.

Bexar County added 311 confirmed cases of the virus Tuesday, bringing the total to 7,467 since the pandemic hit the region in March. More than half of those cases surfaced in June alone.

This is a spike, Dawn Emerick, director of the Metropolitan Health District, said during the daily city-county coronavirus briefing. And the spike is because we let our guard down and we opened up the community too fast and too soon.

In response to the heightened spread, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff amended their emergency coronavirus orders to prohibit outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people. They acted after Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order allowing local officials to enact the restriction.

Political protests such as those prompted by the death of George Floyd  a black man killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis last month  are not barred under the orders because they are protected by the First Amendment, Nirenberg said.

City officials are weighing whether to close parks for the July 4 weekend as they did over Easter weekend to prevent large gatherings, Nirenberg said.

The number of COVID-19 patients in San Antonio-area hospitals has more than doubled in the past week. As of Tuesday, 518 people were hospitalized with the virus, up from 446 Monday and 212 a week ago.

Of those currently hospitalized, 146 were in intensive care, 22 more than on Monday and 64 more than a week ago.

Seventy-nine patients were on ventilators, up 19 from Monday. Nirenberg said it was the largest single-day increase in ventilator use since the start of the pandemic. A week ago, 33 patients were on ventilators.

Seventy-one percent of the regions ventilators and 26 percent of staffed hospital beds were available for new patients, Nirenberg said.

Theres a lot of room for this infection to grow, Nirenberg said. So weve got to get on the ball right now.

Health officials have attributed the surge in cases to the easing of restrictions on businesses and other activities since Memorial Day and reduced vigilance on the part of residents about wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

Bar, restaurants, movie theaters, hair salons, bowling alleys, theme parks and other establishments have reopened under Abbotts Open Texas plan, with capacity limits and requirements for social distancing and other safeguards.

It is unclear is whether any of the new coronavirus cases can be tied to the recent Floyd protests, which filled the streets of San Antonio with hundreds and sometimes thousands of people for more than a week in early June.

Given the phased reopening of the economy over the last month, we have all kinds of variables, Emerick said. Its really going to be difficult to pinpoint where someone contracted the virus, she said.

Local hospitals are taking preventive measures to try to slow its spread. All major hospital systems along with University Hospital have barred visitors from all their facilities to protect patients and employees from exposure.

University will also halt elective procedures starting Friday to keep hospital beds open in case the number of COVID-19 patients continues to rise.

Separately, all businesses in Bexar County must now require customers and employees to wear masks under orders handed down last week by Wolff and Nirenberg. If businesses dont follow the rule, they face fines of up to $1,000.

The city reached out to 113 businesses Monday, when the requirement took effect, Nirenberg said. Seventy-two of those businesses were in violation. But the city and county arent issuing fines yet, officials said.

Our only line of defense is the employers, Wolff said.

The coronavirus is surging across the state as well as in San Antonio. Texas added a record 5,489 new cases Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 120,730.

Statewide, 4,092 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Tuesday, up from 3,711 Monday.

In Comal County, officials confirmed 52 new cases and reported another 21 probable cases, bringing the total there to 419.

In San Antonio, the city-owned utility CPS Energy reported that 20 employees recently tested positive for the coronavirus. They are recovering at home, and any coworkers and customers who interacted with them have been contacted, the utility said.

Another 211 employees are self-quarantining, CPS Energy said.

Staff writers Lauren Caruba, Mark Dunphy and Taylor Pettaway contributed to this report.

Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio government and politics. To read more from Joshua, become a subscriber. jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports
Jackie Beckley believes the video of the final moments of George Floyd's life may finally help white friends and colleagues understand what she has labored to tell them about her experience as a black woman: the uneasy feeling that rose when her son was late checking in, her hesitation to take a job transfer "down South," even her anger at disparate treatment by store clerks.

The graphic video of a black man slowly dying on a Minneapolis street had saddened and angered her, but the multicultural jolt of outrage that energized protesters across the United States gave her hope. She wondered whether people who did not share her experiences would finally begin to understand them.

"I think because white America was able to see it, it's no longer them living in an oblivious world," said Beckley, a 58-year-old call center employee from the Columbus, Ohio, area, who said many of her white friends and colleagues saw the clip. "In order for our society to get better, they have to look and see the things that are wrong in their world - not just ours."

Many black Americans have similar frustrations and a similar optimism, according to a Washington Post-Ipsos poll of black Americans that was conducted as large demonstrations still rocked American cities.

While a majority of Americans across all racial groups report feeling sad, angry and troubled by Floyd's killing, black people perceive the country's police forces as far more racially biased than white people do,the poll finds. More than half of black adults say they or someone they know had an unfair interaction with police in the past few years. More than a third say there was an occasion when they feared being hurt by a police officer- much higher than the shares of white and Hispanic Americans reporting the same experiences.

But black people also largely believe Floyd's death could be a catalyst for change, in part because people of all colors have participated in protests in hundreds of cities and towns and demanded movement from political leaders, actions several survey respondents cited in follow-up interviews. The survey suggests that the avalanche of revulsion to Floyd's video-recorded killing - including criticism of the Minneapolis police officers' actions across the political spectrum and a newfound embrace of the slogan "Black Lives Matter" - has sparked hope among black Americans that the country will address discrimination in ways it did not after past incidents in which police killed black people.

Nearly 6 in 10 black Americans believe Floyd's killing will increase white Americans' concern about racial discrimination by police. And a narrow majority think police treatment of black Americans is likely to improve in coming years.

"It's white people's participation, that's the difference. They're the ones who have to see it," said Dexter Banks, a 46-year-old project manager from Memphis. "We can complain all day long, but if we're not the majority, there's not much we can do. They have to have an interest in our problems. As long as they are interested in it, then we have a shot."

The Post-Ipsos poll shows that most white and Hispanic adults share the view of black Americans that they are treated less fairly than white Americans by police in the United States overall. About half of white Americans say police are generally more likely to use deadly force against black people than white adults, while two-thirds of Hispanics and more than 9 in 10 black Americans say the same.

But opinions splinter along racial lines when respondents were asked about the root causes of those disparities.

Black Americans see a panoply of reasons for mistreatment by police: departments not holding officers accountable for misconduct, police who assume black people are criminals or police who are racist. Three-quarters say white people falsely accusing black people of a crime factors heavily into bad behavior by police, while most also say a lack of community oversight or police training are big contributors.

Among white Americans who say black counterparts are treated less fairly by police, about 8 in 10 say a major reason is lack of accountability for misconduct, while about two-thirds say police assume black Americans are criminals. Smaller majorities blame racist police officers, poor police training and lack of community oversight. Just over 3 in 10 say false accusations by white people are a major reason for unfair treatment.

Despite optimism about rising white concern with police misconduct, 81% of black adults say most white Americans don't understand the level of discrimination black Americans face in everyday life, hardly changed from a Post-Ipsos poll in January.

"It's racial and cultural issues that are ingrained in the police department. It's a reflection of society," said Madelyn Dancy, a 28-year-old from Memphis who is in school to become a pharmacist. Black people are "taught from a young age not necessarily to fear the police, but you do what you have to do so they don't have any reason to harm you. Why do we have to do that? Young white males don't have to do the same conversations as young black males' families."

The 55% majority of black Americans who say they or a close friend or family member felt unfairly treated by police in the past few years compared with 20% of white adults. Younger black Americans are more likely to say they have personally been treated unfairly by police: 38% of black adults under age 50 reported unfair treatment in the past few years, compared with 25% of those ages 50 to 64, and 17% of those 65 and older.

For Charles Johnson, a government contractor from the Washington D.C. area, seeing the clip of Floyd's killing was a reminder of the times he has been stopped by police. Even though the infractions were minor, Johnson said, officers still pulled him from his car, patted him down and sat him on the curb while they searched his vehicle.

Years later, the memory still stings. "Now, I prepare myself for an unpleasant encounter whenever I see blue lights in my mirror," he said.

Conversely, Felicia Marquez, 57, a Port Richey, Fla., woman on disability, said she had been treated with kindness and patience by officers called to her home for a heated altercation - civility she attributes to the fact that she is white.

Marquez said the police were summoned after she threatened to kill a roommate who stole her car.

"If I had been black and threatened her life, they may have thrown me on the floor, but I'm white. . . . I really don't think they wouldn't have been that nice to me if I was black. The way I was acting? They would not have put up with me."

Both black and white Americans appear skeptical of remedies that might come from the White House. President Donald Trump receives negative marks from black and white respondents alike for his response to Floyd's killing, although black Americans are far more critical.

Nine in 10 black Americans disapprove of Trump's response to Floyd's killing, and about three-quarters disapprove of his response to the protests that followed it. Among white Americans, about 6 in 10 disapprove of Trump's response to Floyd's killing and the protests alike.

White Americans' views on racial discrimination continue to divide sharply along partisan lines, with 9 in 10 Democrats saying black people are treated less fairly by police, compared with two-thirds of independents and just under 4 in 10 Republicans. There are also regional and gender divisions among white adults, with rural residents and men - two of Trump's most loyal supporters - less likely to say police treat black people less fairly.

The protests that followed Floyd's killing were almost universally supported by black Americans, at 91%, including 73% who support them "strongly."

Support for the demonstrations is strong across generational, educational and income levels, but most black Americans were critical when it came to destructive acts: 57% say vandalism and looting undermined the goals of the protests a great deal or a good amount.

"I think the burning and the looting, destroying the buildings was a bad thing," said Lamone Jacobs, 49, a janitor from Minneapolis, who said he has had trouble getting to and from work because of the protests and worries that people will vandalize his home. "It diverted it from the message. . . . I know what the officers did was bad and all that, but [the protesters] didn't need to do anything like that. Sprinkling fear all over things isn't going to help."

Dancy, the Memphis pharmacy student, said she had participated in several peaceful protests. Although she didn't condone breaking the law, she said she understood the anger of people who turned to more extreme measures, like vandalism and seeking to publicly shame people who say racist things on the Internet.

"Society is finally at the point where we're not going to tolerate it," she said. "It's not nice to ruin people's lives, but you have people going on social media blaring these horrible things about a group of people. Now, you can't do that and not think you're going to get fired. . . . Somebody is going to make it public."

Johnson, the Washington-area government contractor, said interactions with officers had already affected his life - and the lives of his children.

Because of the way he had been treated by officers during traffic stops, he instructed his children from a young age about how to behave around police. If their car was ever approached by an officer, he told them, they should be as quiet and nondisruptive as possible.

On one trip through Ohio, Johnson was stopped, and his daughter, then 5 years old, heeded his advice, sitting quietly in her car seat, playing with her Nintendo DS as he spoke with the police officer.

A short time after the officer pulled away, he again found himself unsettled, but not because of the lawman's actions.

His daughter "got her Nintendo DS out and showed me [a picture of] the front face and the profile picture she had taken of the officer," Johnson said. "She had obviously gotten the lesson."

The Post-Ipsos poll was conducted June 9-14 through Ipsos's KnowledgePanel, a large online survey panel recruited through random sampling of U.S. households. Results among the sample of 1,153 non-Hispanic black adults have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points; the error margin is 3.5 points among the parallel sample of 1,051 U.S. adults overall and four points among the sample of 742 white adults.

- - -

The Washington Post's Dan Balz and Vanessa Williams contributed to this report.
A watershed moment that will constitute a most serious violation of international law  that is how United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has described Israels plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley.

Addressing a virtual meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Guterres repeated a call for Israel to drop its United States-backed plans, which could be put in motion as soon as next week.

If implemented, the UN secretary-general said, annexation would grievously harm the prospect of a two-state solution and undercut the possibilities of a renewal of negotiations.

I call on the Israeli government to abandon its annexation plans.

Guterress call was echoed by other leaders and foreign ministers addressing the virtual meeting, warning that Israels unilateral action could trigger a major escalation in the region.

For three decades, real peace and the creation of an independent Palestinian state, remain elusive  Despair is dominating the Palestinian mood and scene, Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit said.





Wednesdays meeting is seen as the last international one before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus right-wing government starts planned discussions on July 1 over the annexation of the West Bank, territory Israel captured in a 1967 war and that Palestinian leaders seek for a future state.

At the UNSC meeting, Nickolay Mladenov, the UN peace envoy for the Middle East, warned of the legal, security and economic implications of such a move.

Annexation could irrevocably alter the relation of Israeli-Palestinian relations. It risks upending a quarter of a century of international efforts and support of a future viable Palestinian state, Mladenov said.

Today, we are further than ever from this goal [of a two-state-solution].

Mladenov noted that international condemnation has also been widespread, including the European Unions stark opposition to the slated plan.





On Wednesday, more than 1,000 parliamentarians representing 25 European countries signed a letter denouncing Israels plans, urging their leaders to prevent the annexation process and save the prospects of a two-state solution.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki warned any annexation would be a crime and lead to immediate and tangible repercussions.

He said Israels objective has for decades been to grab maximum Palestinian land, with minimum Palestinians.

Israel is testing the resolve of the international community, thinking that its colonial apartheid will prevail  We must prove it wrong, al-Malki told the council, calling on the international community to impose sanctions against Israel to deter its plans.

Seven European nations  Belgium, Britain, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland and Norway  in a joint statement warned annexation would severely undermine prospects for resuming the Middle East peace process.

Under international law, annexation would have consequences for our close relationship with Israel and would not be recognized by us, they warned.

Al Jazeeras senior political analyst, Marwan Bishara, dismissed as lip service speeches by leaders addressing the Security Council, pointing to the lack of recommended actions.

We all know who was the elephant in the room, we all know who is behind instigating this annexation  did anyone point fingers at the United States? Bishara asked.

The reason this meeting has been called for is to send a message, that we are in dangerous territory  But you would expect UNSC members and Arab League members to be taking a more firm stance.

People gather to stage a protest against Jewish settlements and Israels annexation plan of the Jordan Valley, located in the occupied West Bank, outside the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) in Gaza City [Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu] [-]

Trumps plan

While the US was expected to give Netanyahu the official green light for his plan, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that extending Israeli sovereignty was a decision for Israelis to make.

His comments came as US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft told the council: I understand that many of you have concerns with this issue of the potential extension of Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank  At the same time, we ask that you also hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for acts they are responsible for.

Unveiled in late January, US President Donald Trumps so-called Middle East plan, which strongly favours Israel and was rejected by the Palestinians, gives Israel the green light to annex Israeli settlements and strategic areas of the occupied West Bank.

The West Bank  including occupied East Jerusalem which Palestinian leaders want as the capital of their future state  is seen as occupied territory under international law, making all Jewish settlements there  as well as the planned annexation  illegal.

Palestinian officials have threatened to abolish bilateral agreements with Israel if it went ahead with such a move.

Trumps plan foresees the eventual creation of a demilitarised Palestinian state on the remaining patchwork of disjointed parts of the Palestinian territories without East Jerusalem.

The US administration has declined to criticise annexation and rejected the consensus of most of the world that Israeli settlements on Palestinian land are illegal.

Decisions about Israelis extending sovereignty to those places are decisions for the Israelis to make, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters in Washington.

Israels UN ambassador Danny Danon criticised the Palestinians, saying the stalemate was due to their refusal to negotiate.

Some in the international community choose to reward the Palestinians rejectionism and ignore reality, he said.

Meanwhile, Guterres called on the Middle East Quartet of mediators  the US, Russia, the EU and the UN  to take up our mandated mediation role and find a mutually agreeable framework for the parties to re-engage, without preconditions, with us and other key states.

Palestinians have protested against the potential move across the occupied territories this week, including the besieged Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeeras Nida Ibrahim, reporting from a protest on Wednesday in Jordan Valley, said senior Palestinian officials were expected to start gathering in a symbolic move to highlight that this is Palestinian land.

While Palestinians on the street do not have faith in the international community, Palestinian officials are committed to peacefully ending the Israeli occupation, Ibrahim said.

Anger has also surged among Palestinians following the deadly shooting of two Palestinians by Israeli soldiers this week.
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  The suspect in a fatal hit-and-run crash who was on the run for nearly three weeks has turned himself in.

Anthony Benard Span, 31, has been charged with failing to stop at the scene of a traffic crash resulting in death and operating a motor vehicle while his license was suspended or denied. He was charged as a four-time habitual offender.

Span is the suspected driver who crashed with a car driven by Yvette Zena Hurt, 48, of Muskegon Heights, on June 3. Hurt was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that occurred around 6 p.m. on Getty Street at Hackley Avenue.

The driver of the pickup truck that was involved as well as a passenger both fled the scene, police said earlier.

Related: Woman killed in hit-and-run crash was truly pure at heart

A week after the crash, police asked for the publics help locating Span, for whom the Muskegon County Prosecutors Office had issued warrants.

Early on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 23, Span, accompanied by his attorney, Michael L. Oakes, turned himself in to Muskegon Heights Police Chief Joseph E. Thomas Jr., Thomas told MLive.

I guess hes tired of running, Thomas said.

Mr. Span feels terrible that Mrs. Hurt was killed in the car accident and his heart goes out to her family and friends, Oakes said in a statement emailed to MLive. He believed it was best to directly deal with his horrible situation - which is why he hired himself a Mouthpiece and turned himself in to authorities.

Span was arraigned Wednesday, June 24, and Muskegon County District Judge Raymond Kostrzewa set bond at $100,000 cash or surety, according to 60th District Court Administrator Patrick Finnegan. A preliminary examination is set for 2 p.m. July 8 in front of District Judge Harold Closz.

The charge of failing to stop at a deadly traffic crash is punishable upon conviction of up to five years in prison. However, because Span is a four-time habitual offender, meaning hes been convicted of at least three prior felonies, the maximum penalty increases to any number of years.

Spans prior felony convictions include resisting or obstructing police in 2008, 2012 and 2014; distribution of a controlled substance in 2012; distribution of an imitation controlled substance in 2012; and tampering with an electronic monitoring device in 2014, and two counts of distribution of a controlled substance in 2020 for which he has not yet been sentenced, according to Michigan Department of Corrections and Muskegon court records.

Also on MLive:

Convicted murderer accused of ramming strangers car in Meijer parking lot

Muskegon college seeks temporary operator for shuttered fitness center after $2.5M in losses

Mural art planned for rusty railway bridge on Muskegon thoroughfare
When the Pandemic Is Political

A New Level of Protest

Long Hours, Low Pay and Frustration

Nichole Quick had had enough. As the chief health officer in Orange County, Calif., she issued an order requiring face masks. At a hearing in May, nearly a hundred people spoke out against the order. Quicks home address and the name of her boyfriend were read aloud by one speaker, while Quick was threatened with gun violence.Quick was assigned a security detail, but still decided to resign her position earlier this month. She is not alone. Across the country, more than two-dozen top public health officials have resigned, retired or been fired since April, including half a dozen each in Colorado and California (with three in Orange County alone). No fewer than eight state health directors have quit, although two of those were long-planned retirements.Across the country, health officials have been met with armed protesters at their homes and been subjected to anti-Semitic or transphobic slurs. On social media, they encounter posts that include phrases such as lets start shooting and bodies swinging from trees. As the nation faces its gravest health challenge in more than a century, many leaders in public health are reluctantly leaving the field.Its unfortunate that the death threats and the politicization of public health have been this severe, says Michael Fraser, chief executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The death threats and anti-Semitism and protests outside of their houses and transphobia are really unprecedented.Given the combined stress of dealing with disease and angry mobs, no one is confident that the initial wave of resignations will be the last. Even if they are all replaced by equally expert officials  something thats not guaranteed  transitions at the top invariably distract agencies from their primary focus and missions.We run the risk of losing some of our best, most well-qualified people right when we need them the most, says Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association.Its true that there have been protests over health policy questions before, from abortion to the Affordable Care Act. Death threats have also become a fact of life for prominent physicians promoting vaccine use, given the virulence of the anti-vaccine movement But anger has never been so deep in so many places as during the coronavirus pandemic. Health officials, who have possessed shutdown authority in many jurisdictions for more than a century, havent had to use it for decades. People arent used to having their freedoms impinged upon so widely or for so long.People are enormously frustrated and angry and worn down, and so they lash out, says Paul Offit, an attending physician in the division of infectious diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. You shoot the messenger. What you really want to shoot is the virus, but instead you shoot the people who tell you about the virus.Many health officials have played a prominent role during the pandemic, standing alongside governors and mayors at news conferences. Still, to a degree, they find themselves playing a secondary role. During previous health crises, such as Zika, Ebola and anthrax, nearly all public communications were handled by physicians, from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on down.This time, the public face of the response has been more political, from the White House to governors. That has helped make the pandemic appear more political  and thus more divisive  than previous outbreaks. Whether its nationally or locally, many people view the pandemic were experiencing as a political issue, rather than a public health issue, says Mysheika Roberts, health commissioner for the city of Columbus.This is a moment of public displays of gratitude toward health-care workers, from people opening their windows to join in citywide applause to yard signs planted all over suburbia. Even as clinical doctors and nurses are being lauded for providing treatment, however, people in public health  those shaping policies designed to slow or stop the spread of disease  suffer disdain.We were put in the spotlight and we are the bad guys," Roberts says. "It is stressful, I have never had to deal with this amount in my career and I dont know when it will end.Roberts says she has not received death threats herself, but she has spoken with colleagues around Ohio who have. Amy Acton, the states health director, won national praise for her response to the virus, but also found herself subjected to an anti-Semitic slur and was called a medical dictator.That was just from state legislators, some of whom sought to curb her power. Actons house became a staging ground for gun-toting protesters. She resigned earlier this month.I was disappointed when Dr. Acton stepped down, but I definitely understand, Roberts says. She was worried about her familys safety and her own safety as well as her mental health.Benjamin, the APHA director, notes that public health decisions are often controversial enough to meet with protests. Big, burly men might show up at a hearing to express their displeasure about having to wear motorcycle helmets. Abortion opponents have bombed clinics and murdered physicians. Anti-vaccine protesters have targeted lawmakers with death threats and other intimidation tactics.But protests targeting individual health officials have reached a new level. Its true weve had protests, Benjamin says. Weve had offices taken over by AIDS activists, but I dont think anyone felt threatened. They told us they were coming.People in public health are facing the challenge of a lifetime. Theyre working 12- to 14-hour days, trying to learn what they can about whats still a new disease and convince people to take the risks seriously.With more than 120,000 deaths in the U.S. and case counts rising in roughly half the states, its not easy to conclude that its going well. As the virus moves to more states and people are impacted in more places, you would hope they would take this more seriously, but instead a lot of people are just resolving to this being an acceptable loss, says Fraser, the ASTHO official. To me thats so antithetical to what we do in public health. When theres a chance to prevent a disease, we take it.The sense of frustration among some public health officials at this point is palpable. A number of prominent voices in the field either endorsed or gave tacit support for anti-racism protests. When criticized for blessing large gatherings during a pandemic, they shrugged. No one listened to public health when we said reopening early was dangerous either, tweeted Abraar Karan , a Harvard physician working on Massachusetts response to coronavirus.Public health has long taken a back seat to health care  treating individual patients  when it comes to funding and prestige. Recruiting wasnt easy for us before, Fraser says. A clinician can make five or 10 times the money they can make serving the state.The pandemic might have presented an opportunity to change that. The promise of saving not just individual lives but also preserving the health of entire communities has been put on display in a way not seen in this country in living memory.To me, I keep my eye on the prize, the people who are the most vulnerable, says Offit, the Philadelphia physician.But things havent played out in ways that would encourage people to go into public health. It turns out that the job is not just thankless but also so unpopular as to require police protection, at least in some cases. The people who take these jobs have to understand its a very public-facing job, Benjamin says. One of the things were going to have to teach people is how to engage protesters, how to teach them.Its already difficult finding people with the right mix of administrative experience and medical knowledge. In Ohio, Lance Himes has taken over for Acton as interim director of the Department of Health. He had been serving as her chief of staff. No one doubts his ability to run the department, but hes an attorney, not a physician. A few days before Actons departure, Mark Hurst, who was serving as assistant director and medical director, retired.In Columbus, Roberts notes that she hasnt been able to find anyone to replace her as the citys chief medical officer, three years after she left the post to become commissioner.The challenge of staffing top jobs in public health necessarily becomes more difficult when people understand they could end up wearing a target on their backs.Youre putting yourself in a position of risk, and frankly your family, Fraser says. You wonder who would ever want to be a public health official.
What the council was trying to do with their resolution was to allow solar panels to go anywhere in agriculturally zoned districts by right, so what that would mean was  forget about this solar company that wants to come in here  any solar company could come in and come to our office and take out a building permit and plop down ... solar panels around a subdivision, Kovachevich said.
EU ambassadors meet on Wednesday to plan reopening external borders on 1 July, and travellers from the US could be among those not allowed in.



A number of European countries are keen to open up to tourists but others are wary of the continued spread of coronavirus.



The 27-member bloc must first agree the measures that non-EU countries should meet before deciding on a safe list.



The virus is spreading in the US, so it is likely Americans would be barred.



Brazil, Russia and other countries with high infection rates would also be left off a safe list, according to reports from Brussels.



The EU is not yet thought to have agreed how they will assess which countries meet health standards - one of the criteria for entry. Part of the problem is assessing reliable health data, reports say.



Comparing infection rates with other countries



Latest figures from the EU's health agency, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, highlight Brazil, Peru, Chile, Panama and Saudi Arabia as countries with the highest "case notification rate".



Russia and the US have a lower rate of cases per 100,000 inhabitants but are still higher than most of Europe. The US has seen 2.3 million infections and 120,000 deaths and cases are climbing in several states.



Reports said member states were assessing two different lists. The Politico website said one covered countries with less than 16 cases per 100,000 people and the other with up to 20 cases, which would include Canada and Turkey. The New York Times said the list would be revised every two weeks, so the US could be added later.



Other criteria also being considered are reciprocity and links to the EU. France wants the EU to give access only when it is reciprocated by other countries, while Spain is said to be keen to reopen the border with neighbouring Morocco.



Earlier this month the European Commission also stressed that reopening borders with non-EU states in the Western Balkans was a priority from 1 July.









Source: bbc









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At least six people have been arrested across New York City as authorities attempt to crack down on the sale of illegal fireworks following three weeks of sleepless nights amid a bizarre new trend spreading across the nation.

Two men from Queens are facing charges after they were found with $6,000 worth of illegal explosives smuggled in from out of state, in Staten Island on Tuesday.

Another two people were arrested in Brooklyn's Canarsie neighborhood after being busted with fireworks worth up to $2,000 that are believed to have come from Pennsylvania.

The sale and possession of pyrotechnic devices is illegal in New York City yet they have become a public nuisance over the past few weeks with residents complaining about explosives being set off nearly every night.

FDNY officials released photos of Tuesday's bust in Staten Island after two men from Queens were found with $6,000 worth of illegal fireworks in their car

Matthew King (left) 35, and Rayval Singh (right) 22, were arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and the unlawful dealing of fireworks

The phenomenon has also spread across the country, with Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and California cities reporting an increase of complaints over fireworks.

The arrests come amid a new 'illegal fireworks task force' formed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in a bid to restore peace in the city and to crack down on suppliers bringing them in from out of state.

The task force consists of 10 officers from NYPD Intelligence Bureau, 12 FDNY Fire Marshals and 20 members of the Sheriff's Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

'Illegal fireworks are not only illegal, but they can be dangerous. We need to get that message across, and that's what we intend to do,' the mayor said on Tuesday.

'We also intend to go to the root cause  and that is the people who are supplying the fireworks, the folks who are profiting off of illegal fireworks. We're going to start a huge sting operation to go and get these illegal fireworks at the base.'

The trend has become so widespread the city's 311 public service hotline has received 6,385 complaints from June 1 to June 19 - compared to just seven calls fielded this time last year.

NEW YORK CITY

FDNY Fire Marshals on Tuesday night said they seized more than $6,000 worth of illegal fireworks during a bust in Staten Island involving two men from Queens.

Matthew King, 35, and Rayval Singh, 22, were arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and the unlawful dealing of fireworks as officials were 'conducting surveillance to curtail the extensive illegal fireworks condition in our city.'

The two men were stopped on the Goethals Bridge while they were returning with the massive haul purchased in Pennsylvania, authorities said.

The two men were stopped on the Goethals Bridge while they were returning with their massive haul from Pennsylvania, authorities said

Authorities shared photos of another bust in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, where $2,500 worth of fireworks were seized

Two people in Canarsie, Brooklyn, were arrested after officials seized $2,000 worth of fireworks

Illegal fireworks illuminate the sky over the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City

A photo released to the public showed the large collection of fireworks - everything from firecrackers to sparklers - loaded in the trunk of the vehicle.

In East Flatbush in Brooklyn, two more men, ages 23 and 22, were busted by task force officers after they were found selling explosives that were also trafficked from Pennsylvania and valued at more than $2,500.

Two people in the Bronx were also caught dealing fireworks from their car, while one person was issued a court summons for buying them.

In Canarsie, two men, ages 31 and 33, were arrested for illegal fireworks with a street value of $2,000.

The increasing use of fireworks in New York City have not only become a noise disturbance but a safety issue as well.

The NYPD announced it is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the man who was filmed throwing a lit firework at a homeless man sleeping on the street on Monday.

Video of the disturbing incident was shared on social media, showing a man hurling the explosive in the homeless man's direction as he slept on the sidewalk in 67 Lenox Avenue.

The victim was taken to the hospital and was treated for minor burns.

CHICAGO

Chicago has also been dealing with an illegal fireworks problem as officials reveal complaints over late-night displays have increased by 736 per cent, with 7,042 calls received through Sunday, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

Chicago residents have been traveling out of state to legally buy fireworks before bringing them back home. Pictured: A busy fireworks store in Hammond, Indiana on June 22

Fireworks complaints have soared in Chicago in the past month, officials said. Pictured: Fireworks display during Juneteenth celebration

With a statewide ban on the explosives, residents have been traveling to areas out of state, such as nearby Wisconsin or Indiana, where they are legal, to bring them back home.

The increased use of fireworks have only made things worse for veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and who are typically triggered during Independence Day celebrations.

All the sudden booms can trigger that PTSD they are living with, and they protect themselves by insulating themselves,' Sharon Stokes-Parry, president of Montford Point Marines Association, told the paper.

BOSTON

Mayor Marty Walsh last week said the number of calls to police over illegal fireworks have skyrocketed by 2,300 per cent in May compared to the same time last year.

Walsh said worried residents have called in to report gunshots that actually turned out to be fireworks.

A protester fires fireworks during a demonstration on June 2. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says complaints over explosives have soared by over 2,000 per cent

'People are frightened, people are losing sleep. Babies and kids are woken up. Pets are terrified. Our veterans and others with PTSD are experiencing real harm,' he said in a press conference.

CLEVELAND

A 21-year-old man has been severely injured after a firework exploded in his face in Cleveland's Collinwood-Nottingham neighborhood on Tuesday night.

The man is reported to have been among a group of 12 people who had been drinking and setting off fireworks on the street late at night, police said.

Witnesses said he had lit the explosive himself while others said the man was injured after he stood too close to a firework set alight by someone else, Cleveland.com reported.

The man was taken to the hospital with severe injuries after police arrived at the scene to find him bleeding heavily.

Ohio residents are allowed to buy fireworks, however, setting them off in the state is illegal.
As Indian and Chinese forces prepare to act on an understanding to disengage from all friction areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), it is crucial that the army keeps a strict vigil along the contested border with a special focus on eastern Ladakhs Depsang plains, officials and China watchers tracking the dispute said on Wednesday.

The heightened concerns about Depsang come from an earlier intrusion in this sector in 2013 when the PLA set up positions 19 km into the Indian side of the LAC and triggered a face-off that took three weeks to resolve.

The Depsang plains lie south of Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in a strategic area that the military calls Sub-Sector North (SSN). DBO is the countrys northernmost outpost where India operates an advanced landing ground to support forward military deployments.

Keeping strict vigil along the disputed border, especially in sensitive areas in SSN, during the disengagement process is vital, said Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd), who was the director general of military operations during the Depsang face-off.

The 2013 Chinese intrusion into Indian territory blocked the access of Indian soldiers to several patrolling routes including the ones leading Patrol Points to 10, 10-A, 11, 12 and 13.

Indian and Chinese military commanders reached a mutual consensus to disengage from all friction areas during a 11-hour meeting 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 which has been tense since a brutal brawl on June 15 left 20 Indian army personnel and an unconfirmed number of Chinese troops dead in Galwan Valley.

The SSN, including Depsang area, is of huge strategic significance and theres no question of the army lowering its guard there. The Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi (DS-DBO) runs through this area that is near the Karakoram pass, said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd).

India is building a second road from Sasoma to Saser La in eastern Ladakh and it could eventually provide an alternative route to DBO, as reported by Hindustan Times on June 9. The Sasoma-Saser La road axis is south-west of DBO.

India will have to progress cautiously during the disengagement process as the possibility of the PLA opening a new front cannot be ruled out, said a senior officer on condition of anonymity. The disengagement process, to be carried out in different sectors, in phases is yet to kick off, he said. It is expected to gather momentum after commanders on the ground hold more meetings in the coming days.

China has deployed up to 10,000 troops in its depth areas across the LAC in eastern Ladakh and the military buildup includes including fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, artillery guns, missile systems and air defence radars. India has matched Chinas military moves.

Neither India nor China is likely to immediately thin its deployment in the rear areas, given how volatile the disputed border has been, especially after the brutal clash at Galwan Valley, as reported by Hindustan Times on Wednesday. The clash derailed a previous disengagement plan worked out by senior Indian and Chinese commanders after their first meeting on June 6.

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3 Shot, House Set on Fire as Missing Milwaukee Girls Case Being Investigated

Three people, including two children, were shot and a house was set on fire as hundreds of people gathered outside a Milwaukee house where police had conducted an investigation about two missing teenage girls.

The girls, who are 13 and 15, were found on Wednesday morning, officials told the Journal-Sentinel. Authorities were also investigating whether the teens were victims of sex trafficking, said Sgt. Sheronda Grant.

Thats something that we are looking into, she told the paper. So thats under review. However, I cannot confirm that that is the case.

The crowd, according to the newspaper, included neighbors who were curious, Black Lives Matter protesters, and people who were angry with police.

Police used tear gas and nonlethal munitions to disperse the crowd on Tuesday night, officials told The Associated Press.

Authorities said that the three people who were shot werent shot by police, AP reported. Police Chief Alfonso Morales said the unrest amounted to vigilantism and said people were reacting to rumors.

We investigate the information that is given to us. We cant allow an unruly crowd to determine what that investigation is, Morales said.

As people gathered around the house, some smashed windows before setting fire to it, officials said.

Two 14-year-old children and a 24-year-old man were shot in the unrest, and their injuries are said to be non-life-threatening, according to officials.

Morales told the paper that a group of people went looking for the girls at the home, adding there was an exchange of gunfire between the crowd that tried to storm the house and a person inside.

Morales told the Journal-Sentinel that seven officers and a firefighter were injured in the incident.

This whole chain of events could have been avoided, Morales said. And my heart goes out for the people that live in this community.

What you had today is vigilantism, the chief said, adding, you had people take the law into their own hands and run off of information that has not been proven.

We need to investigate that. Thats what the police is here for, he said, adding that there was misinformation being spread among the group.

We have to be allowed to conduct our investigation and not chase a crowd and take that information from that crowd to be factual, he said.

According to the Journal-Sentinel, some in the group wanted to see whether there was sex trafficking going on at the home after hearing rumors.

No suspects have been arrested in the incident. Anyone with any information is asked to call the Milwaukee Police.
Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

Hundreds of workers at two factories in Myanmar that produce clothing for Zara and Primark were fired days after forming a union in a move workers say targeted union supporters under the pretense that layoffs were related to the coronavirus. Zara is the main brand of Inditex, the largest clothing retailer in the world.

Related: Zara owner to close up to 1,200 fashion stores around the world

At the Huabo Times factory, days after filing a registration for their union, workers noted management terminated over 100 workers, primarily union members and supporters, and transferred 200 non-union workers from a different factory to replace them four days after the dismissals.

At the Rui-Ning factory, 298 union members were fired from the factory in early May 2020. The union registered at Rui-Ning in February 2020.

I see the firing as clearly union-busting under the pretext of the pandemic. The factory fired most of the union members, including myself, said Kyaw Thu Zaw, a worker at the Rui-Ning factory for about 10 months and president of the union. They gave the excuse of difficulty in transporting products to Europe, but in reality there was no difficulty as the factory transported a bulk of products to destination countries on 12 May.

He noted regular shifts consisted of 10-hour work days, six days a week, with workers expected to regularly work overtime in order to make enough money to survive. Workers at the factory make around $3 per day.

Inditex must enforce decent and humane working conditions in the factories where they make their clothes. They make public statements about equality and sustainability, but here we are in the flesh suffering, added Kyaw Thu Zaw.

The fired workers sent a letter to Zara founder Don Amancio Ortega, the sixth wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of over $66bn, according to Forbes.

When the pandemic began, many workers like us continued to make your clothes even as factory management initially failed to grant us safety measures such as face masks and social distancing as a way to protect ourselves and our families from Covid-19. Now, the management has seized upon the global crisis as an opportunity to destroy our unions, dismissing union members en masse, the workers at two clothing factories in Myanmar wrote to Ortega.

Story continues

Supervisors yell and use rude language, refer to us as animals, tell workers they are dogs, and use that language to get workers to hit high production targets, said Thuzar Htwe, one of fired workers who led the union. Theres never punishment of supervisors for harassment.

She explained the sanitary conditions at the factory are poor, including the toilets, where instead of a septic tank, a foot-wide pipe from toilets dumps sewage into a canal right outside the factory. The foul smell permeates the designated lunch break area for workers, who are forced to eat and put up with it or risk being written up with a warning, which often leads to termination.

The employer dismissed workers during the rainy season so its very difficult to find a new job Naing Win San

The clothing factory workers at the Huabo Times factory also produce clothing for Primark. Fired pro-union employees sent a separate letter to Primark calling for reinstatement of employees, and for the company to mediate a resolution.

According to the workers, the layoffs were justified at the factory by citing proper social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But they noted only 107 out of 1,800 workers were laid off, and days after the termination an additional 200 workers from a different factory were brought in to replace them.

Workers attempted to form a union because there was no employment contract outlining rules and responsibilities of the employer, and workers wanted to hold the employer accountable for suppressing and breaching rights of workers.

The employer dismissed workers during the rainy season so its very difficult to find a new job, said Naing Win San, another union leader who was fired from the factory. They used coronavirus as an excuse for the firing, but the employer dismissed all our members and supporters. All 107 workers are all related to the union.

A spokesperson for Inditex said Zara is just one of several customers at the two factories, and said they are pushing for dialogue between management and the union to resolve the dispute.

We demand that all our suppliers respect the right to freedom of association. We are working closely with our suppliers at this difficult time and we expect continued compliance with our code of conduct, which clearly requires fair treatment of workers and expressly forbids discrimination against workers representatives, said the spokesperson.

We are aware of the cases mentioned and while we are only one of the customers of each of these factories, in each dispute we are engaging with the factory owners to drive social dialogue with workers to find a resolution.

A spokesperson for Primark said in an email the companys code of conduct affirms all workers have the right to join or form a union.

We are in contact with both the union and the supplier, who has entered into dialogue with the union and the ministry of labour, to determine further details, said the spokesperson.

Once our investigation has concluded, if a breach has been identified we will work with the supplier on remediation.
The Washington County board of commissioners voted Tuesday to authorize a $625,000 payout to settle a lawsuit brought by a former inmate whose skull was fractured in what appears to have been an unprovoked attack by a county sheriffs deputy in the jails booking area in 2018.

In a prepared statement, the board condemned Washington County sheriffs deputy Rian Aldens conduct that needlessly injured and traumatized Albert Molina, 45.

For that were truly sorry, the statement read.

The settlement was reached days before the county district attorneys office is expected to go before a grand jury to seek a felony second-degree assault indictment against the deputy, Rian Alden. Oregon law caps payouts in suits against municipalities to $700,000.

The case has spurred the Washington County District Attorneys office to reform how it handles similar cases in the future, officials there said.

Molina was accused of riding a bike while intoxicated and was being booked into the Washington County Jail March 30, 2018.

A jail video released by Molinas attorneys shows Alden directing Molina to stand against a back wall so he can take his booking photo. Molina appears to salute or gesture at Alden a few times. Alden gestures at Molina, as if trying to instruct him. Molina holds a hand up near his chest, making another gesture at Alden and appears to say something to him.

Within seconds, Alden runs out from behind the desk, slams Molina to the wall, appears to grab his neck, pins him to the ground and straddles him. Three other deputies come over, and one appears to help Alden hold Molina down. Almost immediately, some other staff come into the room with medical equipment. Alden continues to hold Molina down, face down.

Molinas attorneys first filed a lawsuit against the county in 2019 after the alleged assault took place, citing major injuries and medical expenses that exceeded $135,000. He spent 19 days in the hospital, including five days in the intensive care unit.

The lawsuit listed Molinas injuries from the assault, including a traumatic brain hemorrhage, a skull fracture, injuries to the tissue near his spine, a loss of consciousness, hearing loss and headaches.

The case was initially brought to the county district attorneys office for review in 2018.

Molinas attorney, Jason Kafoury, said he appreciates the countys commitment to improving oversight of the sheriffs department and jail. He called for further scrutiny on local law enforcement, and more attention to the violence prisoners face. He also asked the Oregon Legislature to establish an independent, state-wide unit to investigate serious injury and death cases.

It is important that all parties appreciate just how far short they have fallen up until now and how the case of Mr. Molina illuminates those failings, he said.

The decision not to prosecute Alden was made after neither of the outside investigators  from the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office and the Oregon State Police -- nor the district attorneys office sought or obtained Molinas medical records that documented serious injuries, Washington County Chief Deputy District Attorney Bracken McKey told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

We got this one wrong, and we own that, McKey said. Theres no excuse for this when it comes to our offices initial decision not to prosecute and not getting all the information we needed to get.

Former Senior Deputy District Attorney Megan Johnson signed the initial decline to prosecute memo dated Sept. 10, 2018. The memo contended the video showing Alden attack Molina was of minimal value.

That same video, along with Molinas medical records, is now being used to seek a felony indictment against Alden for second-degree assault.

Johnson has since left the district attorneys office and works for a law firm in Portland. Johnson did not return a message seeking comment.

In the decline to prosecute memo, Johnson explained why the office would not pursue second-degree official misconduct charges against Alden.

Mr. Molina has stated he has no recollection of his arrest or anything that transpired at the jail, wrote Johnson, who at the time handled the district attorneys misdemeanor unit.

Johnson also referenced the accounts of other witnesses, Aldens co-workers, in the memo.

The few witnesses on scene are inconsistent in what they saw and heard, she wrote. The video is of minimal value because it captures only one view and has no audio feed. She followed up the memo eight days later, clarifying that she did review two separate video views of the jail incident.

The renewed interest in the jail assault case came after the district attorneys office saw an article on OregonLive.com in early June about an investigation into Alden for an alleged racist email, McKey said.

Its unfortunate that it took a racist email for us to review any cases we had with the guy, McKey said.

Alden joined the Washington County Sheriff's Office in 2007. Before that, he worked for the Malheur County Sheriff's Office from 2004 to 2006.

The Washington County Sheriffs Office learned of the email allegation involving Alden May 31 and placed him on paid administrative leave the next day. The sheriffs office said the email appears to be over 16 years old and was sent in 2003, four years before the deputy started working for the agency.

The email is filled with racist slurs and at one point said, Oh, Im sorry, that was Racist, but I guess I am.

Aldens attorney, Dan Thenell, called it unfair that the district attorneys office is prosecuting Alden after previously choosing not to and after an internal affairs finding that his force didnt violate policy.

Thenell said he believes the district attorneys office is using former senior deputy district attorney Johnson as a scapegoat.

The video does not show what a person perceives, Thenell said. This is all about politics because of what happened in Minneapolis to George Floyd.

The case has led the Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton to change his offices handling of any alleged use of force case involving an officer or sheriffs deputy.

Going forward, any allegations of use of force involving an officer or sheriffs deputy will only be handled by the district attorneys major crime team that consists of the two chief deputy district attorney and one senior deputy district attorney, according to McKey.

The prosecution team will ensure all medical records are obtained, and prosecutors consult with use of force experts who are outside of the agency that employs the officer whose actions are under review, McKey said.

Changes to the sheriffs office

Sheriff Pat Garrett, speaking Tuesday outside the county commissioners' board room, said that his office's internal affairs investigators, trainers and use of force experts were involved in the determination that deputy Rian Alden committed no policy violations in his jail encounter with Albert Molina in 2018. "It wasnt a rubberstamp, Garrett said. There was some spirited debate. The sheriff called the matter then a close call.

The sheriff's office also is making internal changes in its review process, Sheriff Pat Garrett said Tuesday.

I own this, Garret said. I will not be pointing fingers at anybody else. Part of being responsible is taking steps to fix it.

The sheriff's office now will reach out to outside experts on any allegations of use of force and is considering calling in a national expert to review the office's use of force policies.

Garrett said he was the one who decided to bring in the outside detectives in 2018.

When I first saw the video, it was difficult to watch, Garrett said, referencing his reaction when the case first came before him in 2018. I thought, weve got to get someone outside to look at this.

After the district attorneys office declined to prosecute, internal affairs investigators from the Washington County Sheriffs Office reviewed the incident to determine whether Alden violated any sheriffs office policies in an administrative review. Garrett said sheriffs trainers and use of force experts were involved in the determination that there were no policy violations by Alden.

It wasnt a rubberstamp, Garrett said. There was some spirited debate. The sheriff called the matter then a close call.

In the countys initial answer to Molinas civil suit, Washington County Counsel Christopher Gilmore wrote in court records that Aldens force was justified and that he acted in self-defense in response to Molinas drunk and disorderly behavior, his verbal statements attempting to solicit a fight, his physical gestures in moving towards Deputy Rian Alden with his fists clenched.

Alden wrote in his use of force report that Molina suffered a minor head injury in a report approved by sheriffs Sgt. Shane Siemiller. According to Alden, Molina took up a fighting stance and challenged him to fight. Alden said when he asked Molina to turn for a side booking photo, that Molina responded with a vulgar remark, followed by Whats up? and flipped him off, the report said. He suggested that Whats up? is a question gang members use to challenge someone to fight, though he had no idea if Molina was involved in a gang.

After Alden slammed Molina against the wall and then took him to the ground, another deputy present, Josie Kringelhede, wrote in a report that he pressed an emergency duress pager. Other deputies present noticed Molina went unconscious and was bleeding from his nose. Molina regained consciousness but couldnt answer questions beyond a yes or no. He was taken by ambulance to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

Maxine Bernstein; 503-221-8212; mbernstein@oregonian.com; @maxoregonian

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Ila Bank, Bahrains fast growing digital, mobile  only bank, has launched Hassala to empower customers to save towards their long-and-short-term goals and aspirations.

Sparked by ilas promise to deliver banking that reflects you and in response to customers request to create additional accounts, Hassala is a smart yet simple in-app feature that aims to nudge customers to put money away for the things that matter most or those goals they delayed due to limited financial planning tools available to them.

Delivering on the banks promise to transform banking at the launch last November, Hassala comes as part of ilas second phase, which will see it deploy smart financial solutions that drive positive behavioural change while enhancing lifestyles. Arabic for a clay savings pot, Hassala is a fast and easy way to save for a new car, dream holiday, special gift, new born, college fund or simply a rainy day.

Customers can personalise it with a name, description and fun icon and create up to ten Hassalas to reach their goals, no matter how big or small. Theres no minimum balance required, and funds can be withdrawn and added at any time. To help flourish its customers savings, ila also offers tiered interest on Hassalas, as with its current BHD account, should customers choose to receive it.

This is just the start for ilas Hassala. In its next version, customers will be able to set goals and track progress against their chosen targets and dates, save in multiple currencies available in the app and lock their Hassalas for specific terms and rates.

Commenting on ilas latest app release, ila Bank Bahrains CEO, Mohamed Al Maraj said: By taking the first step and creating a Hassala, our customers are able to attain their goals faster than ever before. This is just the beginning of our journey to transform banking for them. We have exciting tailored savings schemes and upgrades coming up designed with our modern, ambitious customers in mind. 

They encapsulate our firm commitment to create positive social impact through effortless money management solutions available at their fingertips, on their mobile devices. And as we learn more about our customers aspirations and financial pain points, we will continue to evolve and co-create future versions of ila alongside them, he added. - TradeArabia News Service
Tiger King Joe Exotic has finally been released from solitary confinement and moved into a medical unit in prison after he was placed in isolation amid coronavirus fears.

The Netflix star's reps announced the news on Instagram on Tuesday saying he is now in a room 'with a hospital bed and a window' following a months-long campaign to have him removed.

'Two thousand of you were kind enough to take time out of your busy lives, in spite of all that is going on in the world around us today, to write and ask that he be released,' a statement posted on social media said.

'For the first time in two years he is able to simply look out of a window into the world beyond while being lifted out of hopelessness and desperation by the kindness shown from all of you.'

Joe Exotic rose to fame in Netflixs hit docuseries about the eccentric Oklahoma zoo owner and his hare-brained scheme to hire a hitman to kill his arch nemesis Carole Baskin

The Netflix star's reps announced the news on Instagram on Tuesday saying he is now in a room 'with a hospital bed and a window' following a months-long campaign to have him removed

Joe, who is currently serving a 22-year sentence, was being held in isolation at Grady County Jail in Chickasha, Oklahoma after a COVID-19 outbreak at the prison, before being moved to Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas in April.

A spokesperson at the prison told DailyMail.com Joe is being held at the facility, but would not disclose which unit he is being held.

The former zoo owner, real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was quoted in the media release saying 'I am in a real hospital bed with a window.'

Tiger King star detailed his torment in solitary confinement to his 29-year-old pen pal, a letter obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com reveals

The post also included an advertisement asking Trump to pardon the Joe, who was jailed on a 17 counts of animal abuse and two counts of murder-for-hire after concocting a plan to kill rival and nemesis Carole Baskin.

The bizarre story of the zookeeper's downfall was documented on the hit docu-series that was released on Netflix in March.

Joe's release comes just days after husband, Dillon Passage, 22, said he hasn't been able to see his spouse because he has been held in solitary for four months.

Passage told Australia's The Sunday Project: 'He's still locked up in solitary confinement. He can't have face-to-face visits. We only get to chat when he's talking to his lawyers.

'[He's been in solitary confinement] four months, yeah. It's cruel and unusual punishment to the max for sure.'

He added: 'I've only been able to speak to him maybe six times since the show. It's pretty ridiculous.'

Earlier this month DailyMailTV also obtained a letter penned by Joe that detailed his torment in isolation behind bars.

The 57-year-old wrote to pen pal and fan Kathleen Lafferty describing how his soul 'dies a little each day' and how his 'heart will stop like an animal' while he's locked up.

He was convicted of the murder-for-hire plot and 17 charges of animal abuse in 2019 and was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison this January. Pictured: Carole Baskin

In a second note titled 'Media Statement', Joe begs Lafferty to be his voice to the public: 'No email, 4 calls per month, no commissary like others get, unable to buy shampoo-conditioner or basic health care needs,' he wrote.

He goes on to ask President Trump and his son Don Jr. to pardon him and 'make the world smile during this pandemic.'

Joe's lawyer, Francisco Hernandez, corroborated the claims the Tiger King star made in his letter to Lafferty.

'He is in the Special Handling Unit for unexplained reasons,' explained Hernandez, 55, a Criminal Law Specialist based in Texas.

'The worst part about it is they're denying him visits with his lawyers. You have a [constitutional] right to counsel.'

'All his mail is being held up to a month and they're screening mail from his attorneys.

'It's unprecedented. Why would they have you in solitary confinement if you haven't done anything wrong?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 17:04:37|Editor: huaxia

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LJUBLJANA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- European U23 champion Kristjan Ceh claimed victory with a throw of 68.75m in Maribor on Tuesday, adding more than two meters to Slovenia's discus record.

Having landed a valid 67.71m in round two, the 21-year-old launched his furthest throw in round four.

Not only is Ceh's mark a Slovenian record, it is also the farthest throw ever achieved by someone in the U23 age group, bettering the previous best of 68.60m set by Wolfgang Schmidt in 1976.

"It's unbelievable," he said. "I never dreamed I'd achieve the results I'm setting now. I can be proud and so is my whole team. But I think regular throws of about 64-65 meters are realistic goals this year. Long throws just happen. The wind helped a little today and I took advantage of the good conditions." Enditem
Mr. Barrs actions make clear that in his Department of Justice, the presidents allies get special treatment. The presidents enemies, real and imagined, are targeted for extra scrutiny, and the needs of the American people and the needs of justice are generally ignored. Mr. Barrs practice of using the department to shield the president and his allies goes back to the beginning of his tenure at the D.O.J. The sickness that we must address is Mr. Barrs use of the Department of Justice as a weapon to serve the presidents petty private interests. The cancer that we must root out is his decision to place the presidents interests above the interests of the American people. The politics was in the previous administration. Bill Barr is doing the Lords work trying to clean it up so that it doesnt happen again. And we have said this before, and Ill say it in closing. Emmet Floods statement a little over a year ago, where he said this: We would all do well to remember, if they can do it to a president, they can lie to a FISA court to get a warrant to to go after a president, to go after a major partys political campaign  if they can do it to a president, imagine what they can do to you or I, imagine what they can do to the folks we get the privilege of representing back home. Thats why this is important. Thats why the work Bill Barr is doing is important. You guys can continue to play your political games. Bill Barr is going to get to the truth.  And to an ever greater and quite shocking extent this spring, Barr has used the great powers of the Department of Justice to advance the presidents narrow political interests and gravely undermine constitutional rights and the functioning of our democracy. Consider his apparent role in overseeing law enforcement action on June 1 to deny the right of peaceful protest in Lafayette Park. The department needs capable, experienced and even-handed leadership. Its components and programs have reach across the country and across the world. It handles matters as diverse as antitrust and anti-terrorism. It takes an experienced lawyer and leader to manage such a department effectively, and I believe, without reservation, that William Barr is that kind of a leader and that this country is fortunate that he leads one of the most important government departments. In a highly publicized and politically fraught case, it was not only proper but also advisable for the attorney general to assure that the government sentencing recommendations not promote that unworthy end. The decision to lower the recommendation was reached by others in the department as well  What I saw was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from every other defendant. He received breaks that are, in my experience, unheard of  and all the more so for a defendant in his circumstances. And what I heard, repeatedly, was that this leniency was happening because of Stones relationship to the president  that the acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia was receiving heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice and that his instructions to us were based on political considerations. And I was told that the acting U.S. attorney was giving Stone a break because he was afraid of the president of the United States.
Washington, June 24 : As the virus responsible for Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, puts new focus on zoonotic pathogens, a researcher at Washington State University has developed a method to use environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect disease in the vast international trade of aquatic animals.

Currently, creating a "clean trade" by detecting infections in these populations requires huge sample sizes, a labour-intensive and costly process.

In a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, Associate Professor of Disease Ecology Jesse Brunner outlined two potential ways to test captive animals for pathogen DNA: batching test samples from individuals and sampling eDNA from the water in the animals' tanks.

The eDNA method proved to be much more efficient, Brunner said.

"The best way to prevent the emergence of these pathogens, and the diseases that come from them, is to keep them from getting here in the first place," said Brunner.

"It's an important goal but a really hard one because of the scale of the problem. With the eDNA method you are theoretically sampling an entire population at once, so you are more likely to detect whatever is there, and you can do that much more efficiently than with traditional approaches." Brunner thought it might be useful to sample water from the tanks of captive species being transported in the pet trade since infected animals will shed pathogens into their water.

As an example, Brunner used Bsal (Batrachochochytrium salamandrivorans), a chytrid fungus which threatens salamander populations.

Bsal is a cousin of the devastating Bd (Batrachocytrium dendrobatidis) that was responsible for the decline of more than 500 amphibian species around the world, including 90 that likely went extinct.

Now Bsal has jumped into wild salamander populations in Europe from imported pets from Southeastern Asia.

While it has not yet been found in North America, the threat of Bsal prompted the US Fish and Wildlife Service to enact a ban in 2016 on the import of 201 species of salamanders into the US, which is home to tremendous salamander diversity.
Mrs. Freda Prempeh, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North constituency said the New Patriotic Party is determined to win 200 parliamentary seats in Election 2020.

She said because of the unprecedented level of development witnessed under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos government the NPPs 169 parliamentary seats are a no go area for the National Democratic Congress.

In an interview on the sidelines of the partys primaries held at Yamfo in the Tano North Municipality Mrs. Prempeh who is the Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection indicated however the task is ahead herculean. We expected every member of NPP to guard against complacency and join the campaign trail.

The 620 delegates in the constituency approved the candidature of Mrs. Prempeh by popular acclamation to enable her to go to parliament for the third time, in the primaries supervised by the Electoral Commission.

Mrs. Prempeh indicated that Ghana had made significant achievements in national reconstruction processes in the first term of President Akufo-Addo, and it would be politically suicidal for Ghanaians to bring back to power the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

She emphasized that the government had laid a solid foundation and the nation was on the right path to economic emancipation and advised eligible voters to participate during the EC new voter registration exercise order not be disenfranchised in the December 7, Parliamentary and Presidential elections.

Mrs. Prempeh called supporters of the NPP to ensure that they were all captured in the voter's register so that NPP would win both presidential and parliamentary elections in a wider margin so as to bury the NDC in the political grave.
(CNN)  Large parts of the world are emerging from months of coronavirus lockdown, but a surge in global COVID-19 cases shows that the pandemic won't be over any time soon.

Data shows global cases are rising at record levels, many of them in Latin America and Asia, in countries that never really got a grip on the virus, such as Brazil, Mexico and India.

In other countries that have made good progress in slowing or containing the virus  including Germany, South Korea and Australia  new spikes in case numbers highlight just how fragile the post-lockdown environment can be.

In the US, new clusters of cases in several states, many in the south, are forcing leaders to rethink their plans and impose new rules. Some states are seeing record daily case numbers as economic and social life begin to return.

In Germany, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has imposed a new lockdown in an area around a meat processing factory hit by a coronavirus outbreak. Some 1,553 workers at the Toennies plant have tested positive for Covid-19.

The state's Prime Minister, Armin Laschet, announced on Tuesday that the entire district of Guetersloh  which is home to more than 360,000 people  would be locked down for the next week.

Daycare centers and schools in the district had already shut because of the outbreak, and restaurants, bars and gyms will now also close for a week. Outdoor gatherings of more than two people have once again been banned.

The outbreak has sent the country's Covid-19 reproduction rate (R) soaring to 2.88, meaning each person with the virus is infecting an average of 2.88 other people. Germany has tried to keep the R below 1.

Health officials in South Korea, which in many ways gave the world a textbook model of how to respond to the virus, said on Monday that a second wave of infections was already underway there, having begun during a holiday period in May.

Jung Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the country's first wave had ended in April, when new cases decreased to around 10 a day. Since a spike at the end of May, daily confirmed cases have been typically between 30 and 60. A total of 281 people have died of Covid-19 in South Korea.

In Australia, which has reported 102 deaths and just over 7,400 cases of coronavirus, a new outbreak in the state of Victoria has forced authorities to tighten or reimpose many restrictions.

"We've 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 Victoria Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton.

"People have not followed our advice around physical distancing, hygiene, and limiting the number of people you invite in your home," he added.

An acceleration

In Brazil, Mexico and India, the story is different: These countries have struggled to get a grip on the virus, and their case numbers are still rising rapidly.

In Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the risk of the virus, cases are increasing by about 20,000 a day and deaths by around 1,000 daily. The country has the second-highest infection numbers in the world, with more than 1.1 million cases, while more than 50,000 people have died of the virus.

On Monday, Mexico recorded a higher daily death count than Brazil for the second consecutive day, with 759 newly recorded deaths and almost 5,000 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to over 185,000 and the death toll to more than 22,500.

It's the same trend in India, which has reported more than 100,000 new cases in the past eight days. It now has more than 440,000 cases and 14,000 confirmed deaths. The country imposed a lockdown in late March but was quick to begin easing restrictions. Indians are reporting that hospitals are overwhelmed, and people seeking tests and treatment are being turned away.

All case and death totals are from Johns Hopkins University. This story was first published on CNN.com, "A surge in cases shows the coronavirus won't go away soon."
Photo: okanaganz.com Shark Shock by Redecan comes in shockingly under weight.

When it comes to weights and measures, the legal cannabis industry has some work to do to earn consumer trust.

Licensed producers are required to test and label THC and CBD percentages/amounts on their flower, vapes, edibles, oils, beverages  basically every product they release into the marketplace.

But just how accurate those percentage are has been questioned.

Like any other product, cannabis has been subject to recalls. In April, lots of San Rafael 71's Island Sweet Skunk dried cannabis were recalled because the amount of THC indicated on the label was lower than the actual THC in the product. There have been similar recalls of drinks, gel caps, and pre-rolls.

Several B.C. retailers have repeatedly told the oz. that customers often seek out the highest percentage products at the cheapest price.

That consumer trend has, in some instances, led to what's been dubbed "lab shopping"  LPs seeking out services from labs known to label with the highest THC percentage.

The GrowthOp reports that "its not uncommon for producers to send samples to various labs and partner with whichever lab sends back the highest score."

Health Canada regulations do allow for a 10% variance on potency labels for dried flower, which is an enormous spread. It's even more pronounced with edibles that are able to give up to a 25% variance because the ingredients make potency even tougher to measure.

The jury is still out, anecdotally at least, on just how much the THC percentage can be used to gauge how cannabis will make you feel. Different strains have different dominant terpenes, which are evident in the smell and taste. They also have the potential to affect your high.

Potency isn't the only issue where LPs need to build consumer trust. Those spending their hard-earned money on cannabis are complaining about just how much they're regularly getting shorted.

Cannabis consumers have been getting more vocal about being "shorted" on weight, which appears to be a prevalent issue. Its one that Ive regularly encountered, consistently receiving eighths from many brands that are noticeably below the promised 3.5 grams.

A post on Reddit in r/theOCS  a subreddit for Ontario Cannabis Store consumers  asked a question a lot of people have been asking themselves: "Why are (low) weight variances permitted and why are they tolerated?"

"I paid for 21 grams of dried (some premium) flower this week. The first 3.5g container weighed 3.23g and the second was 3.31g. That 0.5 gram equates to about $6 so far. I haven't opened the other containers yet, but am expecting similar results. The same thing happened with my last purchase," said one user.

"Would you tolerate 22 or 23 bottles in that case of beer instead of 24? Or maybe that 1.14 litre bottle of Crown Royal may be only 0.98 litres this week."

The answer is often given that freshly packed cannabis dries out and loses weight over time. But if thats common sense to growers, shouldnt that be taken into account when packaging?

In frustration, numerous people have been wishing for a return to the legacy dispensary days, when bud was pulled from jars on the counter and weighed in front of the customer. Tight regulations from Health Canada make that a pipe dream.

Improvements are being made in certain markets. The OCS said in its first fiscal year report that the volume of complaints has decreased notably per units sold. Most complaints were related to dryness, underweight products and potency range.

"The OCS has worked with licensed producers to decrease the allowable THC potency range from a difference of 10% to 6% (although it will take several months for licensed producers to work through existing stock levels) and introduce a packaging date limit of three months for products delivered to the distribution centre," said the report.

Its a start.

In the meantime, maybe those of us who get jars a little underweight should at least be thankful we haven't received empty jars, or jars packed with nuts and bolts, like some Canadian legal weed customers.
MasterChef hopeful Laura Sharrad appeared slightly despondent outside her Adelaide restaurant, Nido Bar and Pasta, on Monday.

The 24-year-old chef was spotted setting up the restaurant's outdoor area with her husband and business partner, Max Sharrad, before opening time.

The sighting came just days after Daily Mail Australia revealed that Emelia Jackson is most likely the winner of MasterChef: Back to Win, with Laura tipped for runner-up.

Back to work: MasterChef hopeful Laura Sharrad was spotted outside her Adelaide restaurant, Nido Bar and Pasta, on Monday

Making her way back inside the restaurant, Laura seemed stony-faced as she returned to work following her run on the hit cooking show.

MasterChef's resident pasta queen rugged up against the South Australian cold in a black puffer coat.

She also wore pale blue jeans, which were cuffed at the ankles, and a black knit jumper.

Second place: The sighting came just days after Daily Mail Australia revealed that Emelia Jackson is most likely the winner of MasterChef: Back to Win, with Laura tipped for runner-up

Laura completed her ensemble with woven black espadrilles, which she wore with white ankle socks.

Her bobbed brown hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and she appeared to be wearing minimal makeup.

Laura's husband was also on hand as they set up for another day of work. At one stage, he was spotted opening up an outdoor umbrella.

Getting ready: Laura's husband, Max, was also on hand as they set up for another day of work

Number one: Every major bookmaker is tipping Laura's rival Emelia Jackson (left) to take out the MasterChef crown. Meanwhile, Laura is expected to place second

As reported on Monday, every major bookmaker is tipping Laura's rival Emelia Jackson to take out the MasterChef crown.

The sudden surge in online bets favouring the 30-year-old suggests an insider may have leaked the result - but this hasn't been confirmed.

Meanwhile, Laura has been tipped as runner-up, according to Sportsbet, with odds of $3.50 compared to Emelia's $1.36.
FIANNA Fail TD Willie ODea has welcomed plans by the Department of Education to run a summer scheme to meet the needs of children with additional educational needs.

The provision will be made available to a wide range of students with severe to moderate needs including autism, Down syndrome, and kids with audio and visual impairments.

It will be made available through both participating schools and in the home, with Deis schools also being given the chance to run literacy and numeracy camps.

Mr ODea said: It is welcome that the Minister has progressed plans in this area. In light of the concern which has been expressed by some organisations and parents I particularly welcome the expansion of the scheme to a broader range of students than in previous years. We are all too aware the impact of school closures has had on pupils with special educational needs in particular. There is a clear need to stop and address the learning loss which is taking place.

Its anticipated the scheme will be made available to up to 25,000 students arcross the country.

He also believes there is scope to re-open schools in September, despite Irish advice seemingly at odds with World Health Organisation tips on social distancing.

Students, their parents and teachers all need better clarity, Mr ODea said, urging a quick announcement on the issue.
County Attorney Rheubin Taylor said Wednesday he had been advised that the County Commission will need to resume meeting in person.

He said he was told that Governor Bill Lee will not extend the use of electronic meetings after June 3.

County Commission Chairman Randy Fairbanks said the commission meeting next Wednesday will be back at the County Courthouse.

The commissioners have been meeting via Zoom from their homes and offices.

The City Council members have been doing likewise since sweeping restrictions went into effect in March due to the coronavirus.
The Calhoun monument's little-known Northern connection

The Calhoun monument featured South Carolina's most prominent statesman, but it was designed by J. Massey Rhind, a Scottish-American sculptor, and cast in Brooklyn.

According to a Nov. 26, 1894, story in The Evening Post citing The New York Times, Rhind won the competition for the job among four New Yorkers and two Bostonians.

"While this will be an additional honor to Charleston, it will also be an honor to New York City, in that the monument is the work of a well-known New York artist and sculptor."

Rhind's work, which appears in cities across the world, including the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial in Washington, D.C. and the William T. Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant monuments in Muskegon, Michigan.

A June 5, 1896, story in The Evening Post citing The New York Sun described the construction of the statue:

"It is by all odds the largest bronze ever cast (in Brooklyn). ... The Calhoun statue was cast in ten pieces, and seven months was consumed in preparing the moulds and doing the casting. The total weight of the statue is nearly 6,000 pounds, and it stands 12 feet 8 inches in height. It is to stand upon a pedestal forty feet high."

The combined money spent on the previous 1887 monument and the current statue in 1896 is believed to be around $64,000. That amounts to around $1.8 million in 2020.

 Cleve O'Quinn
French authorities have closed two schools in Paris as a precautionary measure after the discovery of coronavirus cases but they have not been classed as potentially dangerous clusters, authorities said Wednesday.

France, unlike some other European countries which have taken a much more cautious approach, on Monday resumed obligatory schooling for all pupils after the coronavirus shutdown.

Some schools had already been open at least partially for several weeks after the initial easing of the lockdown.

But a school in the 12th district of Paris with 180 pupils has been closed until the end of the week after three cases were discovered, the local health authority told AFP.

However the timescale of the infections -- spread over the start of June to Monday -- indicates that this is not a cluster, it added.

Another Paris school, in the 4th district and with 200 pupils, has been closed until July 7 after one case was discovered.

However the local authority said there were no other schools closed in Paris due to COVID-19 cases.

Life across France has now returned to a semblance of normality after the lockdown, albeit with many people still working from home and wearing masks on the street.

Officials are wary of a second wave but say there has been no evidence of this yet despite the relaxation measures.

According to the latest figures published late Tuesday, 29,720 people in France have died from the virus with 161,267 positive cases registered.

asm-sjw/wdb
Serving from beer, cocktail to wine or playing from pop, rock, acoustic, jazz to techno, each bar & club contributes to the diverse color to the night life in the city.

Polite Pub

Only two decades ago, bars and pubs in Hanoi were rarely seen. But today, hundreds are open.

Serving from beer, cocktail to wine or playing from pop, rock, acoustic, jazz to techno, all in chilling or vibrating ambiance, each contributes to the diverse color of the night life in the city.

Polite Pub - 5B Bao Khanh, Hoan Kiem Dist.

Although bars and cafes are mushrooming everywhere in Hanoi, Polite, one the oldest pubs in the city, is still beating most of the others in terms of familiarity, thanks to its posh style.

The pub was rearranged in a typical bar of the early 20th century. In fact, it reminds the bar of Rick Blaine in the classic movie Casablanca. Black and white pictures on the wall and vintage movies played on the TV right at the entrance and 1950-1960s music adds more classic touch to the place.

Particularly, the menu is unique. The wide range of cocktails is offered following a timeline of the cocktail history with a brief introduction and components of each. Along with basic and popular drinks, craft cocktails are also provided, inspired from celebrities of the 20th century like The Tramp (Charlie Chaplin), Churchill, Hemingway, and Scot & Zeda

A diversified selection of American whiskey, brandy, wines and cigars are also available.

Polite Pub

Binh Minh Jazz Club - 1 Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem Dist.

Binh Minh Jazz Club (behind the Opera House) is obviously the first choice for jazz lovers in Hanoi. It was the first jazz club to open in the capital, decades ago by Quyen Van Minh, a professional saxophonist and lecturer at the Hanoi Conservatory Music, out of his love for jazz and desire to popularize the music which is still sounding weird to many Vietnamese.

After moving to a smaller place that was closer to the city center, it now has more customers every night hearing spontaneous and inspiring jazz, especially at the weekends.

Together with father-and-son live performances from Minh and Dac (Minhs son), other local and international jazz artists also have been invited here regularly, making the place busy every night with improvised melodies of passionate artists and attentive audience.

LApero Hanoi - 109 Trinh Cong Son, Tay Ho Dist.

LApero

When you open the door of LApero, it takes you to a wine cellar. From the design of the bare-brick wall and ranges of bottles to the cozy atmosphere with a nice view over a small lake, it provides a cool chill out with the best wine all over the world.

The menu offers wine only but they number in the hundreds, both red and white, from countries famed for viniculture like France, Spain, Italy, the US, Chile, and Australia. The open music player allows guests to pick their favorite songs as they sip on their wine.

Its also become a popular venue for events like cocktail parties, birthday parties, and meetings, with seating for 15 to 50 people. Prices start at VND75,000 (US$3.2) per glass and VND300,000 (US$12.9) per bottle.

The Unicorn Pub - 2A Hang Than, Ba Dinh Dist

About 5 minutes driving from the citys iconic Hoan Kiem Lake, Unicorn Pub is where it is whispered in the ear for a good cocktail.

There is a selection of cocktails here, including unique ones invented by local creative bartenders based on the Vietnamese liquor and special ingredients or even a culture story, such as Pho cocktail for which his bartender won the Best Bartender in Vietnam award in the country in 2012, Com (green rice flakes) cocktail  Vietnams best cocktail 2015, Omai (dried fruits) cocktail or Crazy Hanoi Traffic cocktail (secret mix).

Every week, new cocktail recipes are invented and offered for free tasting to all guests, usually on Friday. There are live music shows of Jazz, Blues or Acoustic at the weekend, adding more flavor to the place.

Docker Natura - 51/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho Dist.

With a typical American style for its dark, decorous and varied themes, including billiard, music, lounge, pub, and somehow Vietnamese street style on the front, Dockers Natura is usually packed by both locals and expats living around the area. It is very animated at night with different kinds of live music, such as reggae, disco, house, techno, rock n roll, etc.

More interestingly, the audience could enjoy not only the shows performed by different international artists but also join them to perform or dance, bringing a spontaneous and lively atmosphere here. There are two pool tables, including one in the VIP room which is more private and quiet, perfect for pool fans.

The lounge style outdoor in the front is for those who want more air and quieter. Together with popular drinks, the beer menu here is diverse , including some highlights of local beer, black draught Czech beer, Budweiser, Saint Omer, Bernard..., all in one for a good night.

Craft Beer Pub - 26 Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem Dist.

Designed like an old French farm with a lot of wood furniture, Craft Beer Pub is like a spot to stop for relaxing with a beer. Located right in the city centre, it is one of a few places offering a wide range of beer, especially new craft beers on tap.

The local ingredients combined with the Western formula and technique of beer brewery are used for special products favored by both the locals and internationals in recent years, such as Pasteur IPA, Barrett, Furbrew, C-Brewmaster, etc.

Thanks to the large screen and comfortable nature-friendly space, it is also the familiar rendezvous for sport fans. Another plus is various kinds of burgers and fingers food offering all day and the buy one burger get one free every Thursday.

1900 Dancing Club - 8 Ta Hien, Hoan Kiem Dist.

Ideally located in the centre of one of the most animated streets in the citys heart, 1900 is a hotspot for young fans of electronic music and dancing. With the area that tripling other bars and pubs in the small zone, the bar features three major spaces. Sofas right behind the door is to sit, drink or smoke shisha in relax.

Next to it is a big round bar for those who want to watch bartenders showing their skills and shake not only the mixture of drinks but also their body in the live deep, soulful and house music besides a big screen with light, like a professional dancer. It is where young hearts gather to follow the music beat on their steps with passion and fun.

Meanwhile, those who prefer more chill could go to the second floor to leisurely sip their drink and get a view over the lively atmosphere below. Hanoitimes

Linh Pham
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A pro-democracy protester waves a British colonial flag during a "Lunch With You" rally at a shopping mall in the Central district in Hong Kong on June 1, 2020. (Issac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images)

British Embassy Refutes Chinas Disinformation on Hong Kong

The British embassy in China recently published a post calling attention to how the Chinese regime was spreading disinformation about the UK and Hong Kong, a former British colony.

The embassy compiled a list of Chinese articles in the June 23 web post, explaining how each article made an erroneous claim.

In one article published by Chinese state-run website China News on June 13, promoting that different sectors of Hong Kong welcomed Beijings proposed national security law, the embassy stated that while it was certainly true that some people supported the law, it was not correct to say all of the population is in favor.

The embassy also pointed to a poll by local newspaper Ming Pao conducted in early June, which showed that 64 percent were against Beijings decision to bypass Hong Kongs legislature to propose a national security law in the Chinese-ruled city.

Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress (NPC), adopted the national security law for Hong Kong on May 28 after a ceremonial vote.

The law, which criminalizes those who engage in activities such as subversion and secession against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), will be implemented in Hong Kong after the NPC standing committee finalize its drafting of the law.

The embassy also rebutted a claim made in a May 28 article by state-run Beijing News, in which it stated that the NPC was acting in accordance with both the law in Hong Kong and China to propose the national security law.

The new national security law has no legal basis and is contrary to both the Joint Declaration and Hong Kongs basic law, the British embassy stated in response to the Beijing News article.

Under the handover agreement, the Sino-British Joint Declaration, signed in 1984, Hong Kongs mini-constitution or Basic Law was drafted, which is meant to guarantee the city a high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years after 1997 under the one country, two systems model.

In Hong Kong, many local activists and pro-democracy lawmakers have voiced strong objection to the CCPs law, saying it would undermine local autonomy and replace the current model with one country, one system. It also reignited local protests.

Meanwhile, a commentary published by Chinas state-run CCTV on June 6 accused western governments, including the UK, of having double standards and not criticizing police violence that occurred in the United States. This comment indirectly suggested that western countries were biased for highlighting police violence against journalists and protesters in Hong Kong.

The embassy refuted CCTVs charge, saying that it supports the right to peaceful protest wherever it happens in the world, including in the United States and Hong Kong.

Due to the Great Firewall Chinese citizens are not always able to see where the UK raises its concerns outside China, the embassy stated, while showing a tweet by the British ambassador to the U.S., Karen Pierce, that highlighted the issue of racial inequality in the United States.

Chinas firewall blocks many foreign websites such as Twitter, Google, and Facebook, but some internet users use virtual private networks (VPNs) to access the banned platforms.

The embassy also disputed a June 9 article by state-run media Xinhua, which reported on remarks made by Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi, saying that Hong Kong affairs were Chinas internal affairs.

In response to Yis claim, the embassy stated that Beijing needs to abide by international law, noting that it has violated its obligations under the Joint Declaration, including preserving Hong Kongs autonomy.
This year, firecrackers and various explosives have already been set off nightly throughout Philadelphia neighborhoods and across the country -- leading to record numbers of resident complaints to city officials, police and fire departments. This comes as the public has spent three months indoors adhering to stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, civil unrest has swept the country and like nearly every other major event has been canceled, so too are many organized public fireworks displays - due to large crowd gatherings and the risk of contracting COVID-19.

"We are especially concerned this year that we could see a significant increase in eye and facial injuries. Handling these consumer grade fireworks is no joke. You can lose your life, severely damage your eyes, even go blind. Every year, emergency rooms around the country see an increase in injuries including devastating burns and severe damage to the eyes," said Ann P. Murchison, MD, Director of the Wills Eye Emergency Department at Jefferson.

Of the over 9,000 injuries a year from fireworks, nearly 2/3 occur during this part of the summer and nearly 20% result in eye injuries, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Even legal fireworks for small scale use can cause significant eye injuries, including sparklers which burn at more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. More than half of those injured are bystanders and many injuries are in children. "This year, keep everyone safe and consider watching TV highlights from previous celebrations around the world instead  or skip the fireworks altogether," continued Dr. Murchison.

Wills Eye Hospital patient Rasaan Urquhart of Bensalem, Pennsylvania completely lost his vision in one eye in 2018 from a fireworks accident when he was a bystander at a neighborhood celebration after the Eagles won the Super Bowl. Mr. Urquhart urges safety this year so others don't suffer the same experience.

If you do suffer an eye injury from fireworks, seek medical care immediately and follow these important first steps before you receive professional medical help:

Seek medical care immediately.

Do not try to remove anything from your eye.

Do no rinse or rub your eyes.

Do not put pressure on the eye - use a cup to cover and protect injured eye instead of putting a bandage or flat paper towel against your eye.

The Wills Eye Emergency Department in Philadelphia is open 24/7 and located at 900 Walnut Street across the street from Wills Eye Hospital.

About Wills Eye Hospital:

Wills Eye Hospital is a global leader in ophthalmology, established in 1832 as the nation's first hospital specializing in eye care. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Wills Eye as one of America's top ophthalmology Hospitals since the survey began, has the most nationally ranked ophthalmologists in the country and is the #1 academic training in the USA for its residency program as voted by physicians in the nation. Wills Eye is a premier training site for all levels of medical education. Its resident and post-graduate training programs are among the most competitive in the country. The Vickie and Jack Farber Vision Research Center at Wills harnesses the core strengths of Wills, the close connection between innovative research and advanced patient care, to discover therapeutic breakthroughs. Wills provides the full range of primary and subspecialty eye care for improving and preserving sight, including cataract, cornea, retina, emergency care, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, ocular oncology, oculoplastics, pathology, pediatric ophthalmology and ocular genetics, and refractive surgery. Ocular Services include the Wills Laser Correction Center, Low Vision Service, and Diagnostic Center. Its 24/7 Emergency Service is the only one of its kind in the region. Wills Eye also has a network of seven multi-specialty, ambulatory surgery centers throughout the tristate area. To learn more, please visit www.willseye.org

SOURCE Wills Eye Hospital

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The death of one of the accused in the Dadri lynching case at a hospital in Delhi triggered tension at Bishada village, on Wednesday, with the villagers staging protests and burning the effigy of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Accused Ravi aka Robin had fallen ill at Luskar jail and was, on October 4, shifted to the district jail in Gautam Buddh Nagar from where he was referred to Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital at Delhi where he died in the evening due to kidney and respiratory failure.

He was hospitalised as he was suspected to be suffering from dengue.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), today, also issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over the death of Ravi.

Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report, NHRC issued notice to the Director General of Prisons and the Director General of Police and sought a report within four weeks.

The NHRC has observed that the content of the report raises a serious issue of violation of human rights of the prisoner.

In a statement, the Commission also observed that the reported different versions and opinions of the jail and the hospital authorities, and the suspicion raised by the family members of the deceased prisoner indicate that the matter requires a thorough probe to determine the facts, which led to his death.

Ravis family has alleged foul play and that he was kept in a separate cell by the jail authorities and mercilessly beaten up by some police officials inside jail on September 30, due to which his condition deteriorated.

District Magistrate NP Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of the undertrial prisoner and heavy police force has been deployed at Bishada with additional force pressed into service at places with a substantial minority community population.

Local priest Sadhvi Har Siddhi Giri alleged that Ravi was murdered in jail and threatened that no Samajwadi Party (SP) leader will be allowed to enter the village.

She also said the women of the village will go to the jail to inquire about the health of the other accused.

The women of the village have been staging protests since Saturday demanding the arrest of Jaan Mohammad, the brother of Mohammed Akhlaq, for alleged cow-slaughtering.

Akhlaq was dragged out of his house and killed by a mob at Dadri for allegedly storing and consuming beef last year.

The sadhvi said the protests will continue till Jaan Mohammad was arrested.

The villagers also took out a rally from Ravis house today and tried to block traffic but were prevented by the police.

According to the SP (Rural), the situation at Bishada was under control. He said initial reports revealed that Ravi died of an illness, adding that the exact cause would be known after the post-mortem.

The SP appealed to the villagers to stage peaceful protests and not to resort to violence.

The death of one of the accused in the Dadri lynching case at a hospital in Delhi triggered tension at Bishada village, on Wednesday, with the villagers staging protests and burning the effigy of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Accused Ravi aka Robin had fallen ill at Luskar jail and was, on October 4, shifted to the district jail in Gautam Buddh Nagar from where he was referred to Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital at Delhi where he died in the evening due to kidney and respiratory failure.

He was hospitalised as he was suspected to be suffering from dengue.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), today, also issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over the death of Ravi.

Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report, NHRC issued notice to the Director General of Prisons and the Director General of Police and sought a report within four weeks.

The NHRC has observed that the content of the report raises a serious issue of violation of human rights of the prisoner.

In a statement, the Commission also observed that the reported different versions and opinions of the jail and the hospital authorities, and the suspicion raised by the family members of the deceased prisoner indicate that the matter requires a thorough probe to determine the facts, which led to his death.

Ravis family has alleged foul play and that he was kept in a separate cell by the jail authorities and mercilessly beaten up by some police officials inside jail on September 30, due to which his condition deteriorated.

District Magistrate NP Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of the undertrial prisoner and heavy police force has been deployed at Bishada with additional force pressed into service at places with a substantial minority community population.

Local priest Sadhvi Har Siddhi Giri alleged that Ravi was murdered in jail and threatened that no Samajwadi Party (SP) leader will be allowed to enter the village.

She also said the women of the village will go to the jail to inquire about the health of the other accused.

The women of the village have been staging protests since Saturday demanding the arrest of Jaan Mohammad, the brother of Mohammed Akhlaq, for alleged cow-slaughtering.

Akhlaq was dragged out of his house and killed by a mob at Dadri for allegedly storing and consuming beef last year.

The sadhvi said the protests will continue till Jaan Mohammad was arrested.

The villagers also took out a rally from Ravis house today and tried to block traffic but were prevented by the police.

According to the SP (Rural), the situation at Bishada was under control. He said initial reports revealed that Ravi died of an illness, adding that the exact cause would be known after the post-mortem.

The SP appealed to the villagers to stage peaceful protests and not to resort to violence.

The death of one of the accused in the Dadri lynching case at a hospital in Delhi triggered tension at Bishada village, on Wednesday, with the villagers staging protests and burning the effigy of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Accused Ravi aka Robin had fallen ill at Luskar jail and was, on October 4, shifted to the district jail in Gautam Buddh Nagar from where he was referred to Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital at Delhi where he died in the evening due to kidney and respiratory failure.

He was hospitalised as he was suspected to be suffering from dengue.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), today, also issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over the death of Ravi.

Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report, NHRC issued notice to the Director General of Prisons and the Director General of Police and sought a report within four weeks.

The NHRC has observed that the content of the report raises a serious issue of violation of human rights of the prisoner.

In a statement, the Commission also observed that the reported different versions and opinions of the jail and the hospital authorities, and the suspicion raised by the family members of the deceased prisoner indicate that the matter requires a thorough probe to determine the facts, which led to his death.

Ravis family has alleged foul play and that he was kept in a separate cell by the jail authorities and mercilessly beaten up by some police officials inside jail on September 30, due to which his condition deteriorated.

District Magistrate NP Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of the undertrial prisoner and heavy police force has been deployed at Bishada with additional force pressed into service at places with a substantial minority community population.

Local priest Sadhvi Har Siddhi Giri alleged that Ravi was murdered in jail and threatened that no Samajwadi Party (SP) leader will be allowed to enter the village.

She also said the women of the village will go to the jail to inquire about the health of the other accused.

The women of the village have been staging protests since Saturday demanding the arrest of Jaan Mohammad, the brother of Mohammed Akhlaq, for alleged cow-slaughtering.

Akhlaq was dragged out of his house and killed by a mob at Dadri for allegedly storing and consuming beef last year.

The sadhvi said the protests will continue till Jaan Mohammad was arrested.

The villagers also took out a rally from Ravis house today and tried to block traffic but were prevented by the police.

According to the SP (Rural), the situation at Bishada was under control. He said initial reports revealed that Ravi died of an illness, adding that the exact cause would be known after the post-mortem.

The SP appealed to the villagers to stage peaceful protests and not to resort to violence.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The Covid-19 pandemic that has shaken the global supply chain will only make it more diverse and efficient in the post-pandemic era, said Lui Tuck Yew, Singapore's ambassador to China, at a Caixin event Monday.

The ambassador called for multilateral solutions to address the crisis even as the deadly disease has forced many countries into lockdowns. He made the argument in the face of rising skepticism and rejection of multilateralism in recent years, notably by the United States under President Donald Trump and the United Kingdom with its withdrawal from the European Union.

The six-month Covid-19 pandemic, which has sickened more than 9 million people worldwide, is not only a public health crisis but also a global economic crisis with significant social and political implications, Lui said at the Caixin Summer Summit.

(It) complicated relations among allies and affected trade exchanges and countries oversight of supply chains, Lui said. Countries are paying more attention to domestic issues. International coordination and cooperation are reduced.

How countries deal with the crisis alone and together will decide the world pattern for coming decades, Lui said.

Countries should stick to multilateralism rather than using unilateral measures, he said.

Since the outbreak, Singapore has made efforts to maintain multilateral cooperation to offset impacts on its supply chains. The country worked with trading partners to ensure smooth flows of medical and food supplies and never imposed restrictions on key products made in Singapore, Lui said.

Earlier this month, Singapore and China agreed to fast lane rules easing restrictions on approved business and official travelers as part of plans to gradually relax limits on flights and resume trade amid the pandemic. The island state set up similar arrangements with other countries.

Despite damage from the outbreak, Singapore has recorded strong growth in attracting foreign investment this year. Foreign investments flowing into the country during the first four months this year exceeded the full-year target and the average annual amount for 20132018, according to Lui.

Singapore has been lauded for its successful control of Covid-19 in the early days. The country with 5.6 million people recorded about 40,000 infections with a mortality rate as low as 0.1%. To boost economic recovery, the government issued four rounds of stimulus and deployed funds equivalent to 20% of national GDP to support medical workers and businesses.

Although the pandemic caused severe disruption to global supply chains and exposed problems in existing arrangements, Singapore expects that the outbreak will force countries to diversify and improve the efficiency of global supply chains while sourcing more goods from regional partners and neighboring countries, Lui said.

Discussing Japanese and American vows to seek alternative supply options outside China, Lui said it could also offer an opportunity for China to deepen its partnerships with other nations in Southeast Asia.

As a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Singapore supports openness of the trading bloc, Lui said. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang recently indicated Chinas interest in joining the trade pact.

While multilateralism with global reach faces greater challenges, countries can first resort to regional partnerships to solve problems and seek to expand them gradually, Lui suggested.

Singapore expects to see the World Trade Organization regain its power after reforms, but before that, we need a mechanism to keep everyone moving forward, Lui said.

Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com)
The head of the eastern Libyan parliament Aguila Saleh said on Wednesday that the Libyan people will request the military intervention of Egypt in Libya if armed militias infiltrate the strategic city of Sirte.

Speaking to Egypt's state news agency MENA, Saleh said the Egyptian intervention "would be legitimate under the Libyan people's mandate to protect the Libyan and Egyptian security.

"We will request the intervention of the Egyptian armed forces to support the Libyan army in case of the infiltration of Sirte, Saleh said.

Earlier this week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said his country has a legitimate right to intervene in Libya and ordered his army to be prepared to carry out any mission outside the country if necessary.

He said any intervention by Egypt would mainly be aimed at protecting Egypts western border, achieving a ceasefire, and restoring stability and peace in Libya, stressing that crossing the Sirte-Jufra frontline is a red line for Egypt.

Forces allied to eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar, who Egypt supports, have recently pulled back east towards Sirte and Al-Jufra airbase in central Libya after forces loyal to the rival government in the west extended control across most of northwest Libya and advanced further south.

The Libyan people formally ask Egypt to intervene with military forces if needed to maintain the Libyan national security and the Egyptian national security, said Saleh, who is allied to Haftar. That would be legitimate self-defense if the terrorist and armed militias crossed the red line that President El-Sisi spoke about and attempted to go beyond the cities of Sirte or Al-Jufra."

By doing so, Saleh said, Egypt will protect Libya's security while securing its own western borders and preventing militias from advancing into areas that pose a threat to Egypt's security.

Saleh said he asked for the support of the Egyptian armed forces during his speech at the Egyptian parliament in January, a request he said had been accepted by Egyptian MPs.

The oil-rich country is divided between two rival administrations in the east and west.

Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia support Haftar, while the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) is supported by Qatar and Turkey.

Earlier this month, Egyptian President Abedl Fattah El-Sisi announced an initiative that proposes a ceasefire and called for disbanding Libyan militias and the withdrawal of foreign mercenaries.

The plan was accepted by Haftar, but dismissed by the rival western government in Tripoli. The initiative had been welcomed by Russia, the United States and a number of Arab countries.

Saleh said the Libyan National Army (LNA) moved towards Tripoli last year with the aim of liberating the capital from the militias' grip".

Militias and terrorist groups, Saleh said, are seeking to steal the countrys oil wealth, saying they should be eliminated and security institutions should take over.

The LNA decided to withdraw from the capital Tripoli last month to avoid using more force after Turkey sent more than 15,000 mercenaries, adding that the move came in response to international calls for a ceasefire amid international initiatives, including Egypts proposal.

Saleh said a ceasefire and peace talks have always been an Egyptian demand which is rejected by "colonial powers and some Libyans who seek to achieve their own interests".

Saleh believes that a political dialogue should not exclude or marginalise any party, and that all regions should be represented in Libya's presidency and state authorities.

"We will not disagree on wealth or power. We have rules for governance and we are partners in everything, Saleh asserted, adding that the countrys petroleum wealth is for all Libyans.

Saleh stressed that the eastern Libyan parliament is the only elected authority that represents the Libyan people.

He said there has been consensus among all sects of the Libyan society on supporting El-Sisi in implementing Cairo's peace initiative to achieve a ceasefire, resume an inter-Libyan dialogue and prepare for a legitimate military intervention to protect Libya from attempts by foreign powers to seize its resources.

Saleh said that President El-Sisi was not biased and that Egypts interference would not be in support for one party over another. Rather, President El-Sisi always pushes all parties towards dialogue and a peaceful solution, and always calls for reconciliation, he said.

Saleh had in the past provided support to the Libyan people, sent food and medicines, witnessed the establishment of the Libyan army in 1940, and backed the North African country in its endeavours to regain its independence .

The parliament speaker said an arms embargo aimed at curbing the fighting in Libya was only implemented on the LNA as armed militias have continued to receive weapons, adding that the international community has failed to stop the arrival of mercenaries and weapons into the Libyan territories.

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Even as India and China continue to talk, the Chinese have continued the build-up all along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) including the Finger area where they have strengthened themselves with more positions and constructions.

The Chinese Army started its build up along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh sector from May 4 and deployed more than 10,000 troops along with heavy artillery, armoured regiments and defence batteries.

In the Finger area along the Pangong Tso lake, the Chinese have continued to indulge in heightened military activities like deployment of troops and construction, a source told ANI.

The Indian side claims the areas up to Finger 8 but the Chinese Army during the recent face-offs have been blocking Army patrols from going beyond Finger 4.

Also read: India, China hold diplomatic meeting on border stand-off in Ladakh

The Chinese side has been aggressively trying to bring newer areas under its control in the Finger area, the sources said.

In the Galwan river area, where the violent face-off took place between the two armies resulting in a high number of deaths on both sides, the Chinese have built some of their structures after the clash, the sources said.

An observation post-like structure of the Chinese removed by the Indian Army troops on June 15-16 night has also come up again near the Patrolling Point 14, they said.

The build up on the Indian positions PP-15, PP-17 and PP-17A also continues to exist as the Chinese have been using a road, which moves close to Indian patrolling points from its side, to send both men and equipment urgently to the Indian side.

In areas opposite the Daulat Beg Oldie sector, the Chinese are trying to create troubles for the Indian patrols near PP-10 to PP-13.

In the rear positions also at its air bases including Hotan and Gar Gunsa, the Chinese Armys Air Force has brought in its strategic bombers and the number of fighter aircraft numbers have gone up including their own Russian-made Su-30s.

Security agencies suggest that the Chinese have also rushed in long-range air defence systems acquired from Russians opposite the Indian territory.

Also read: In visit to forward areas in eastern Ladakh, Army chief commends troops for high morale

India and China have held two rounds of Corps commander-level talks after which they have agreed to disengage.

However, the disengagement process supposed to start after the June 6 talks did not yield much result and there was also a violent face-off in which both sides suffered major casualties.

On June 22 also, the two sides met at Moldo after which there has been a consensus for mutual disengagement but it has not yet shown any change in ground positions.
President Trump and his siblings are seeking to suppress a book that will discuss matters of utmost public importance, attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr., a representative for Mary Trump, said in a statement. They are pursuing this unlawful prior restraint because they do not want the American people to know the truth. The courts will not tolerate this brazen and baseless effort to squelch speech in violation of the First Amendment.
To register, applicants will have to visit the official website of SBI and go to the Careers link at the bottom of the page.

State Bank of India, or SBI, has released various recruiting notifications for specialist cadre officers. Willing candidates can visit the website sbi.co.in/careers and look for eligibility and apply for the suitable posts by 13 July.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, there are a total of 444 vacancies for various posts under different advertisement numbers.

To register, applicants will have to visit the official website of SBI and go to the Careers link at the bottom of the page. Below the latest announcement sections, click on the relevant link of advertisement and tap on 'apply online'.

Click on 'New Registration' if you have not registered yourself, else click on login and fill the form by providing all the required inputs. Pay the application fee and submit.

A report by The Indian Express mentions that candidates applying for SBI SO recruitment 2020 will be required to provide documents including updated resume, ID proof, age proof, educational qualification, experience certificates.

The candidates will be shortlisted purely provisional without verification of documents, the report said.

The documents will be verified at the time of the interview where the applicants will be asked to provide original documents.

Candidates will not have to appear for any written examination. A committee constituted by SBI will decide the parameters to shortlist candidates.

The shortlisted candidates will be called for the interview which will be of 100 marks. The qualifying marks in the interview will be decided by the bank.

SBI SO Recruitment 2020: Educational Qualification

An applicant should have completed CA/MBA (finance)/PGDM (finance) or any equivalent post-graduation degree from a recognised university or college.

SBI SO Recruitment 2020: Age limit

Candidates applying for the posts should have a minimum age of 25 years. The maximum age should not exceed 35 years. Age will be calculated as on 1 January 2020.

SBI SO recruitment 2020: Salary

Those selected for the posts will get a salary in the range of Rs 42,020 to Rs 51,490. They will also be eligible for DA, HRA, CCA, PF, Contributory Pension Fund, LFC, Medical Facility, as per rules.

SBI SO Recruitment 2020: Application fee

Candidates belonging to General, OBC and EWS category will have to pay the application fee of Rs 750.

Here's the direct link to apply for SBI SO recruitment 2020 - https://www.sbi.co.in/web/careers
Among the most heartbreaking accounts of the COVID-19 pandemic are those from family members who have not been allowed to visit, console and care for their loved ones inside personal care homes. Behind the locked doors are elderly residents who suffer from pandemic stress and, often, confusion resulting from dementia. Outside the locked doors are family members who suffer because theyre helpless to assist their parents or grandparents.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Among the most heartbreaking accounts of the COVID-19 pandemic are those from family members who have not been allowed to visit, console and care for their loved ones inside personal care homes. Behind the locked doors are elderly residents who suffer from pandemic stress and, often, confusion resulting from dementia. Outside the locked doors are family members who suffer because theyre helpless to assist their parents or grandparents.

Rainstorm shows benefit of indoor visits at care homes Click to Expand Joyce Church, a resident of Thorvaldson Care Centre, enjoys visiting with her daughter, Janis Brackman and her son-in-law Alan Brackman, in the outdoor patio space at her residence on Tuesday Posted: 7:00 PM Jun. 23, 2020 Visitors to nursing homes were allowed indoors for the first time during the pandemic Tuesday -- and it didn't come a day too soon. A thunderstorm and burst of heavy rain about 2 p.m. in parts of Winnipeg emphasized the advantages of meeting in dry conditions under a roof, as opposed to the outdoor visits that were recently allowed. Read Full Story

It doesnt have to be that way.

Its understandable that personal care homes shut their facilities to visitors when COVID-19 first arrived in Manitoba. The crisis was unprecedented for health officials; aware that elderly people with existing health problems are most at risk, they erred on the side of caution by locking the facilities up tight to prevent visitors from bringing in the virus.

The past three months have shown, however, that such lockdowns can also have dire consequences, with repeated reports in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia of residents left unattended in soiled diapers, suffering dehydration and inappropriately pacified with medication.

Even in institutions that are successfully avoiding COVID-19, isolating residents from their support networks can contribute to irreversible physical and mental declines. Its estimated that 80 per cent of long-term care residents suffer from some form of dementia, an affliction that may cause confusion and despair about why family members have suddenly stopped visiting.

Manitoba has taken a small step toward helping residents of personal care homes stay connected with their loved ones, by announcing on Monday it plans to build all-season shelters outside personal care homes to let residents safely visit their loved ones. Also, starting Tuesday, the province allowed limited indoor visits by designated caregivers.

Such visitors to care homes would also provide a set of outside eyes to report problems to authorities before the operation descends to the inhumane conditions of some homes where COVID19 ran riot.

The measures, outlined by Shared Health chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa, are sensible and welcome, but they should be just first steps. On a permanent basis, family caregivers should be considered an essential service and allowed controlled access to Manitoba personal-care homes, including during crises such as pandemics.

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.

Province to allow limited indoor visits at PCHs Click to Expand Health Minister Cameron Friesen announces the province plans to develop all-season outdoor shelters to facilitate visits with care-home patients. Posted: 1:02 PM Jun. 22, 2020 For the first time in more than three months, residents of personal care homes Tuesday will be able to visit with a loved one in the comfort of the great indoors. "We're taking this step because the evidence supports it," Health Minister Cameron Friesen told a conference call with reporters Monday. And to make sure visits won't be halted when fall flu season hits, the province plans to have semi-permanent, all-season visitation shelters in place, adjacent to all 127 personal care homes by October. Read Full Story

Its a change being promoted by CanAge, Canadas national seniors advocacy group, which has been lobbying governments across the country. Theyre not suggesting the doors of care homes be wide open to all visitors during pandemics, which would be foolhardy. Rather, they suggest certain individuals should be designated as essential family caregivers and  only after they are tested for COVID-19 and trained in pandemic comportment, including the safe use of personal protective equipment  be allowed regular access to care homes to help their loved ones with feeding, washing and reassuring companionship.

There are obvious advantages to care home residents if designated family members are allowed to visit during pandemics, but the change would also benefit staff. It has been repeatedly reported that care home workers are shamefully overworked and underpaid. They would appreciate the help of family members who have the time and vested interest to devote loving care to residents.

Such visitors to care homes would also provide a set of outside eyes to report problems to authorities before the operation descends to the inhumane conditions of some homes where COVID-19 ran riot.

Elderly residents shouldnt be alone and frightened to the point of despair when they have family members willing and able to soothe them with reassuring attention. The decision to allow limited indoor visits this week is welcome, and should become permanent policy.

But designated family members should also be welcomed as essential partners of the care-home team. Their loved ones deserve as much.

Editorials are the consensus view of the Winnipeg Free Press editorial board.
Girls Basketball: Rapid City Stevens opens weekend with win over Watertown

Fourth-rated Class AA Rapid City Stevens turned fast starts in each of the first three quarters into a 50-29 non-conference girls basketball win over Watertown.
In this article @HG.1

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Factory workers secure large copper tube coils that will be wrapped and shipped out. Michael S. Williamson | The Washington Post | Getty Images

The coronavirus pandemic is set to pave the way for "the age of copper," according to the director of energy, climate and resources at Eurasia Group, as governments double down on investments that will drive up demand for the red metal. 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.

Eurasia Group's Henning Gloystein said in a research note on Tuesday that the pandemic is expected to accelerate trends in government-supported environmental investments and digitalization, which "heralds a coming boom in copper demand." "Huge green and digital stimulus programs, especially in Asia and Europe, will create the conditions for a boom in copper demand  electric vehicles, 5G networks, and renewable power generation all require large amounts of the red metal," Gloystein said. Demand for copper could fall by as much as 5% in 2020 due to the pandemic-driven recession, he projected. But, widescale fiscal stimulus measures would help drive demand for the metal back to pre-crisis levels next year, he noted, with traders and miners expecting consumption to rebound by 4% in 2021. Bank of America analysts increased their price forecast for the metal earlier this month, expecting prices to rise 5.4% in 2020 to $5,621 a ton. They kept their projection for 2021 unchanged at $6,250 per ton. The forecasts, they said, were down to "remarkable fiscal stimulus packages" and an expectation that there would be more purchases of raw materials as countries emerged from lockdown. Analysts at Morgan Stanley also expect the sector to quickly bounce back to pre-pandemic levels, according to Reuters, with global stimulus measures, Chinese infrastructure spending and supply disruptions expected to boost demand.

Green investments

According to Eurasia Group's note, clean energy and digitalization programs were expected to push average annual growth demand for copper up by 2.5% this decade, which would likely drive consumption toward 30 million tons by 2030. Policy changes in Asia and Europe would play an important role in the surge in demand, Gloystein said, with shifts in transportation expected to be the "biggest single driver of copper usage." "The electric vehicles industry currently makes up just 1% of copper demand. By 2030, many analysts expect that figure to reach 10%," he said. China was expected to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in digitalizing its economy over the coming decade, Gloystein noted, while countries all over the world had committed to massive investments in green infrastructure and electric vehicles. "Copper will be a key input for virtually all the industries that are now being promoted," he said. "Welcome to the age of copper."

Political fallout
HOUSTON - (June 24, 2020) - Rice University chemist James Tour has won a Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize.

The award, given annually to up to three scientists from outside Great Britain, recognizes researchers for their contributions to the chemical sciences industry or education and for successful collaborations. Tour was named for innovations in materials chemistry with applications in medicine and nanotechnology.

The prestigious award, established in 1947, comes with a 5,000-pound (about $6,260) cash prize and a medal. Winners are invited to undertake a lecture tour of the United Kingdom, but the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed that until 2021.

Additional winners this year are Teri Odom, the chair and Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University, and Eric Anslyn, the Welch Regents Chair and University Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Tour is the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry as well as a professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering at Rice.

"Receiving the Royal Society of Chemistry 2020 Centenary Prize is an enormous honor," Tour said. "The award recognizes the accomplishments of my research group over a period of 32 years. I am greatly indebted to a host of students, postdocs and collaborators that have carried the weight of this research endeavor.

"We have sought to use chemistry to extend the boundaries of new materials development for use in medicine, electronic devices, nano-enhanced structures and renewable energy platforms," he said. "It is a joy to realize the work done by this array of people in and with my laboratory has afforded such advances that are being recognized by this Centenary Prize."

Work by Tour and his group in recent years includes the development of versatile laser-induced graphene, flash graphene from waste material, light-activated nanodrills that destroy cancer cells and "superbug" bacteria, silicon-oxide memory circuits that have flown on the International Space Station, the development of graphene quantum dots from coal, asphalt-based materials to capture carbon dioxide from gas wells, and the use of nanoparticles to quench damaging superoxides after an injury or stroke.

"We live in an era of tremendous global challenges, with the need for science recognized now more so than ever -- so it is important to recognize those behind the scenes who are making significant contributions towards improving the world we live in," said acting Royal Society of Chemistry chief executive Helen Pain. "In recognizing the work of Professor Tour, we are also recognizing the important contribution this incredible network of scientists makes to improve our lives every day."

The society noted 50 winners of RSC awards have gone on to win Nobel Prizes.

###

This news release can be found online at https://news.rice.edu/2020/06/24/tour-scores-prestigious-centenary-prize/

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Related materials:

Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prizes: https://www.rsc.org/ScienceAndTechnology/Awards/CentenaryPrizes/

Tour Group at Rice: http://tournas.rice.edu/website/

Department of Chemistry: https://chemistry.rice.edu

Wiess School of Natural Sciences: https://naturalsciences.rice.edu

Image for download:

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/06/0629_TOUR-1-web.jpg

CAPTION: James Tour.

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.
Iran Parliamentary Committee Ratifies Bill To Leave NPT Additional Protocol

Radio Farda June 23, 2020

Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on Tuesday ratified a motion to oblige the government to cease its voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The motion which will be put to vote by the newly-formed parliament, if turned into law, will affect the future of the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers.

Sara Fallahi, a member of the Committee, told Fars News Agency that the Committee has invited Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif and Nuclear Chief Ali-Akbar Salehi to participate in the Committee's next session to discuss the matter. The next session of the Committee has been scheduled for July 6.

The United States insists on Iran's implementation of the Additional Protocol. "No other country has ever denied access to a formal request under the Additional Protocol," the White House National Security Council said in a tweet on June 15.

Tehran is currently implementing the requirements of the Additional Protocol on a voluntary basis. Drawn in 1997, it gives the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors permanent rights to inspect nuclear establishments of its signatories at any time.

Iran has been a signatory of the NPT since 1970 and signed the Additional Protocol in 2003 but according to the Iranian Constitution, the Parliament must ratify all international treaties that the country joins. Until ratification by the Parliament, Iran is not obligated to implement the Additional Protocol.

In July 2019 Zarif said in New York that Iran was prepared to join the additional protocol of the IAEA if the United States lifted all of its sanctions. Joining the Additional Protocol requires the ratification of the Parliament and the approval of the Supreme Leader.

According to the IAEA, "The additional protocol is not a standalone agreement but rather a protocol to a safeguards agreement that provides additional tools for verification. In particular, it significantly increases the IAEA's ability to verify the peaceful use of all nuclear material in states with comprehensive safeguards agreements".

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-parliamentary -committee-ratifies-bill-to-leave-npt- additional-protocol-/30686598.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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Amaravati, June 24 : With 448 new coronavirus cases detected in the 24 hours ending 9 am on Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh's total corona cases crossed the 10,000-mark, the state nodal officer said. A total of 10 more corona deaths were also reported from the state.

The overall tally, including cases among foreign and state returnees, stood at 10,331 while the death toll in Andhra Pradesh climbed to 129.

Of the new casualties, Kurnool reported highest 4 deaths followed by Krishna district with 3 deaths, Guntur with 2 deaths and Srikakulam district with one death. Five deaths each were reported on Sunday and Monday, and 8 on Tuesday.

Anantapur district reported the highest 90 new cases, followed by Kurnool with 76 cases, East Godavari with 54 cases on Wednesday.

Of the 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh, only Srikakulam district did not report any new cases in the preceding 24 hours.

Andhra Pradesh now has 5,423 active cases, as 4,779 patients have been discharged.

During the preceding 24 hours, 37 new cases were detected among people who returned from other states to Andhra Pradesh. While 5 are returnees from Tamil Nadu, 22 are returnees from Telangana, and 3 returnees from Maharashtra. On Wednesday, 4 positive cases were of returnees from Karnataka, and 3 returnees from West Bengal.

The overall positive cases among returnees from other states is 1,624, including 653 active cases and 971 discharged patients.

Meanwhile, positive cases detected among foreign returnees also continues to increase in Andhra Pradesh. On Wednesday, 8 samples of Kuwait returnees tested corona positive, 3 from Kazakhstan, and one case from Saudi Arabia.

The corona cases among foreign returnees total 364, with 79 persons cured and discharged. As of Wednesday, 285 patients in this category are undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text


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As (arguably) the most fascinatingly weird holiday there is, it's not surprising that Halloween has a rich, varied, and somewhat elusive history. Have you ever wondered where all our contemporary Halloween rituals come from? Why, for example, do we ask strangers for sweets and threaten to trick them if they hold out on us? Sounds like a red flag to me. But there are indeed historical reasons for these traditions, and we learned all about them.

It turns out that between all the candy consumption, dress-up opportunities, mischief-making, and dark side dabbling, the holiday is traceable to an ancient Celtic festival. From there, it only gets more complex, though. If you're like, wait, what about the witches and ghosts and stuff? don't worry, we'll get there, but first, we're dipping into the real dark side of the holiday, which has much more to do with the violence of imperialism than it does with The Wicked Witch of the West.

Like many annual rituals that now seem arbitrary (dyeing eggs on Easter? It's all about fertility! But that's a whole other tangent we'll save for spring), several Halloween traditions have origin stories deeply rooted in mythology. So keep reading to learn about Halloween's origin story and how it has evolved over the centuries at the whims of history and through oral tradition into the beguilingalbeit commercializedholiday we know and love today.

For spooky ghost stories, subscribe to our haunted house podcast Dark House on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you listen.







Ancient Celtic Origins

Photo credit: Getty Images

The OG Halloween predates Christianity, stretching all the way to an ancient Celtic celebration (and by ancient we mean about 2,000 years ago) known as Samhain (pronounced "sow-in") in what is now modern-day Ireland, parts of France, and the United Kingdom. Like most ancient holidays, Samhain marked a transition of seasons, from summer to the beginning of winter, hence the sort of dark and stormy vibes of Halloween today. Celebrators believed that on this night, October 31st, the portal between the realm of the living and the dead opened, allowing lost souls to return to human-occupied earth.

Story continues

This ghostly presence was associated with a few things, from the agriculturalwreaking havoc on cropsto the supernaturalenhancing the clairvoyant capacity of Druids (Celtic priests) so that they could make predictions and communicate with the dead to facilitate happier, warmer winters. The festivals also typically involved bonfires, at which the attendees wore costumes (yup!) and participated in sacrifices of crops and animals. Afterward, the community would use the bonfire to light their own hearths as a sort of closing ceremony for summer and the initiation of winter. So while death and fear are at the heart of it, so are fun and celebration.

Photo credit: House Beautiful

Roman Rule (27 BCE476 CE)

After the Roman Empire conquered much of the Celtic territory in 43 CE, Romans ruled there for some few hundred centuries, during which the tradition evolved with many Catholic influences. There are some links to the Roman festival of Feralia, in which the community mourned its dead, as well as another ceremony called Pomona (named for the Roman Goddess of the Apple), in which celebrators honored fruits and trees.

The Middle Ages

By a few hundred years into Roman reign, the Catholic church was increasingly attempting to replace "Pagan" practices (or, indigenous ones), with their own, often while vilifying the formerbut keeping some of its traditions. In the eighth century, when "local people converted to Christianity during the early Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church often incorporated modified versions of older religious traditions in order to win converts," reports Albany University. As a result, many elements of Samhain persisted. And according to History.com, "the church made November 2nd All Souls Day, a day to honor the dead," and all saints known and unknown, in an attempt to replace the Celtic holiday with a church-sanctioned version of it. Festivities on this day included dressing up as various saints, angels, and the devil. All Saint's Day was also known as "All Hallow's Days," hence, the later moniker of All Hallow's Eve.

Photo credit: Grant Faint - Getty Images

16th Century England

In the 1500s, England's King Henry VIII cut ties with the Roman Catholic Church (because the pope refused to annul his marriage with Catherine of Aragon). As a result, there was much more tolerance extended to the Protestant Church for some years, but the Church of England remained mostly Catholicand became even more so during the reign of Queen Mary I, aka Bloody Mary. She established England's connection to the Roman Catholic Church, in part by ordering the execution of 300 Protestants. After her, it was sort of the opposite, as Queen Elizabeth I, was a Protestant. Okay, but what does this have to do with Halloween, you might be thinking. Well, let's fast forward to the pilgrimage across the Atlantic.

In What Is Now the United States

Colonial Period (1600s1700s)

The popularity of Hallow's Eve during the American Colonial era varied from place to place, depending on how devoutly Protestant the communities were. The early settler colonialists were Puritans and fled England because of religious persecution, which is why they were known as Separatists. So, for example, in a very Puritanical New England, Hallow's Eve wasn't as widespread, but in less rigid southern colonies, the holiday was still observed. During this era, celebrations around the harvest emerged and became associated with Hallow's Eve, likely a result of the cultural exchanges between indigenous people and Anglo-Saxon settler colonialists. Similar to the way in which the Roman Catholic Church replaced indigenous cultural and religious practices with their own iterations, the same happened here with the settlers and local indigenous populations.

Photo credit: duncan1890 - Getty Images

The Early Republic (late 1700s1800s)

A few generations later, once the U.S. won independence and formed a nation, the country saw a huge wave of European immigrants, who brought with them new traditionsand media. In 1759, Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote a poem entitled Halloween, which described some of the holiday's practices at the time, and introduced the term we know today. "The word itself seems to be a portmanteau of the word 'Hallow,' which originally meant 'saint', mixed with 'een' which was an abbreviation of the word "eve," or night before," according to BigThink.com.

European and American Imperialism

So how did the holiday reach so many different countries around the world? The answer is simple: European Imperialism. As with most holidays, Halloween celebrations vary from region to region, and different modern iterations of the traditions stem from different ancient cultural practices, but one common thread is the brutality of imperialism and accompanying forced assimilation.

Spanish Imperialism in South America (late 1500s1900s)

While English Separatists were fighting for independence during the 1600s and 1700s and then later in the Early Republic, they were also establishing a nation in which citizenship was inextricably liked to and defined by one's relationship to land ownership (i.e., you could only be a citizen if you owned landand you could only own land if you were a white man, hence the power structures we continue to see today). Similar practices were unfolding in other parts of the continent, except in this case, the colonizers were Spanish Catholics.

Photo credit: Russell Monk - Getty Images

Even as the Spanish Catholic conquistadores subjugated indigenous people to forced conversion, there were still, of course, traces of local worship and culture, resulting in a fusing of indigenous practices with Catholic holidays. That's why figures like Santa Muertewhich the official Catholic church still refuses to recognize as a part of the canonpersist today. Day of the Dead also falls on the Catholic Holiday All Saints, and looks quite different from Americanized Halloweenbut more on that in a minute.

British Imperialism during the Victorian Era (1800s1900)

This time period, of course, was also one of British expansion and subjugation. Of course, along with colonization came the violent and forced assimilation of other religious practices. According to the Washington Post, "the irony is that, while the British were responsible for spreading Halloween, they also spent several decades trying to stamp it out," when in the late 19th century, "the strict Victorian social code called for, among other things, a rigid class hierarchy, gender roles that privileged men over women, sexual restraint, an obsession with manners and a deep disdain for all things that might be perceived as indulgent." Halloween, having to do with dressing up, superstitions, and death, was of course one of the many practices that come under fire.

Photo credit: Alastair Duncan / EyeEm - Getty Images

Halloween experienced a resurgence in the U.K. and its colonies all over the globe (like Hong Kong and Singapore, among many others) after Queen Victoria died in 1901 and social attitudes gradually shifted.

American Imperialism (1900s)

The turn of the century also marked by the rise of U.S. military intervention abroad in countries like the Philippines, Japan, Hawaii, Iran, and others, where the spread of American cultural practices, traditions, and media was one way to fulfill what scholar Homi K. Bhabha deems "colonial mimicry," meaning peripheral access to dominant American culture. Media, of course, includes all that Halloween stuff. So in many of these countries, you'll see local influences fused with the commercialized Anglo-Saxon version of the holiday, emphasizing the pattern of Halloween as both a site of resistance and dominance.

Photo credit: Sean Locke / EyeEm - Getty Images

By the time the 1950s rolled around, Halloween was incredibly commercial as more and more industries were able to profit off of it. As Vox reports, confectionaries knew candy would be an easy thing to pass out on Hallow's Eve, and predicted that kids would want it (duh), so they increased production, thus, increasing affordability and accessibility and ultimately sales... which finally brings us to some of (presumably) your favorite Halloween staples, like trick-or-treating and dressing up.

Behind the Modern Day Motifs

Halloween is a hybrid of mythologies and histories born of both resistance and oppression, joy and mourning, life and death, an origin story befitting a holiday that celebrates the obscure and occultand the longevity and persistence of folklore, community, and identity.

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Once sharks enter the news cycle, its officially the start of summer. A Delaware beachgoer filmed a man at Cape Henlopen State Park beach carrying an enormous shark under his arm while in knee-deep water. Rachael Foster, who caught the video, shared it to Facebook where its accumulated over 94,000 views. As several stunned beachgoers and kids stared at him from the shore. the video reveals how the man then pried open the sharks mouth and showed it off to the spectators, possibly anticipating a fun photo opportunity. In the video, people can be heard laughing somewhat nervously at the encounter. One woman in the background can even be heard saying, Oh my god, thats a big a** shark. Everyone started yelling, Shark, shark, get out of the water! Foster told DelmarvaNow. It was so crazy, like a movie. Like Jaws . Foster confirmed that the swimmer was only trying to help out the shark  which had a hook stuck in its mouth  then he let it free
The global terror financing watchdog, FATF, on Wednesday decided to keep Pakistan in the Grey List as it has failed to check flow of money to terror groups like the LeT and the JeM, officials said.

The decision was taken at the Financial Action Task Forces third and final plenary held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The plenary was held under the Chinese Presidency of Xiangmin Liu.

The FATF plenary decided continuation of Pakistan in Grey List till its next meeting to be held in October, an official privy to the development said.

The decision has been taken as Pakistan has failed to check flow of money to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the official said.
Washington (AFP) - US Senate Democrats blocked a closely-watched police reform bill on Wednesday, arguing that the Republican measure introduced after George Floyd's killing by police does not go nearly far enough.

Supporters fell short of the 60 vote threshold, 55-45, with just three Democrats joining Republicans in voting to advance the legislation.

The impasse has left the opposing political parties feuding over crafting new guidelines to address police brutality after weeks of protests led to a national reckoning on racial injustice and police accountability.

Attention now turns to the House, where Democrats intend to pass their own, more sweeping police bill Thursday.

But the Senate deadlock highlights how difficult it may be for a divided Congress to negotiate a compromise on such legislation in the months before a presidential election.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said his party's measure was a "first step" that would allow floor debate on police reforms, but that Democrats balked.

"The only way there is any downside for Democrats to come to the table is if they'd rather preserve this urgent subject as a live campaign issue than pass a bipartisan answer," he said.

The Republican proposal, which President Donald Trump supports, would discourage but not ban tactics like choke holds, a flashpoint issue given that Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on the handcuffed African-American man's neck for nearly nine minutes.

It would provide for more de-escalation training and send officers' use-of-force information into a national database aimed at weeding out bad cops.

But it does not end or limit qualified immunity, the controversial doctrine that protects police from being sued for misconduct.

And instead of direct mandates, the Republican measure would incentivize change by denying federal grants to police departments that do not end choke holds or no-knock warrants.

Story continues

"The Republican bill does not even attempt ONE significant reform to bring more accountability to police officers who are guilty of misconduct," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer fumed.

The measure is so "irrevocably" flawed that "it can not serve as a useful starting point for meaningful reform," he added.

Trump accused Democrats of sinking the Republican bill "because they want to weaken our police" and end officer immunity.

The president also signaled his opposition to toughening the bill's language to hold officers more accountable.

"We won't sacrifice," Trump said. "We won't do anything that's going to hurt our police."

The House bill would restrict qualified immunity and ban choke holds and no-knock warrants, which have been blamed in several cases of deadly force by police.

Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the chamber and author of the Justice Act, said about 70 percent of its reform provisions align with the Democratic proposals.

But he told Democrats they would "get zero" of what they wanted unless they came to the negotiating table.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 18:32:46|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority on Wednesday increased the pump prices of fuel by about 150 percent.

With effect from Wednesday, diesel will cost 62.77 Zimbabwe dollars (ZWL) and petrol 71.62 ZWL, up from the June 4 prices of 24.93 ZWL and 28.96 ZWL for diesel and petrol respectively.

Those buying in U.S. dollars will also pay slightly more, with diesel and petrol costing 1.09 U.S. dollars and 1.28 U.S. dollars respectively.

The increases came amid reports that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe would remove subsidies on fuel.

Zimbabwe blends its petrol with ethanol as a foreign currency saving measure, but many motorists are worried that the high blending ration of 20 percent blend will have long-term negative effects on their engines.

They also argue that the price of blend should be lower than in countries which do not blend their fuel.

The increases also came as the central bank abandoned the fixed foreign currency exchange rate of 1 U.S. dollar to 25 ZWL in favor of a foreign currency auction system which kicked off Tuesday with the weighted average rate more than doubling to 57.3582 ZWL to 1 U.S. dollar. Enditem
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announces the release of the Country Reports on Terrorism 2019 as Ambassador Nathan Sales (right) looks on in Washington, June 24, 2020.

South and Southeast Asian nations were among international partners that the U.S. State Department praised Wednesday for efforts last year to help counter threats from Islamic State (IS), al-Qaeda and other militant groups as it released its annual terrorism report.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke specifically about the overthrow of IS.

The Defeat ISIS Coalition has  remains strong. It has completed the destruction of the so-called physical caliphate in Iraq and Syria, he said, using another acronym for the Islamic State.

The report nonetheless highlighted American government concerns that militants were using regions in Thailand and Malaysia as transit points while traveling to other destinations after the fall of the caliphate in March 2019.

The report also delved into concerns about terrorist safe havens in and around the Sulu and Sulawesi seas as well as the southern Philippines.

The United States and our partners made major strides to defeat and degrade international terrorist organizations, Ambassador Nathan Sales, the State Departments counter-terrorism coordinator, said in the foreword to Country Reports on Terrorism 2019.

Now we are taking the fight against ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates around the world, he told reporters in Washington.

But the report pointed out a weak spot in Thailand.

Thailands principal vulnerability to international terrorism continues to be as a transit and facilitation hub, given the high volume of travelers through Bangkoks main airport and available market of illegal goods, it said.

The report praised the Southeast Asian nation for its record in having no attacks attributed to transnational terrorist groups last year. Violence, for the most part, was attributed to ethno-nationalist insurgents in the Deep South, according to the report. It said the number of attacks in 2019 was the lowest since the separatist insurgency had resumed in 2004.

Last week, Thailands chief peace negotiator told BenarNews that he hoped to resume direct talks with southern Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) rebels in July or August, after the Malaysia-brokered talks were disrupted by COVID-19 lockdowns in the neighboring countries in mid-March.

In its country report on Malaysia, the State Department raised a concern similar to the one about Thailand.

Although there were no ISIS-affiliated attacks in Malaysia in 2019, the country remained a source, a transit point, and, to a lesser extent, destination country for terrorist groups including ISIS, [the] Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah, it said, referring to the two international and two local militant groups.

Suspected ISIS supporters deported from Turkey and individuals linked to ISIS or ASG planning to travel to the southern Philippines used Malaysia as a transit point, the State Department said, adding, Malaysia monitored, arrested, deported and tried suspected supporters of terrorist groups.

Safe havens

A separate section of the report focused on terrorist safe havens, including the sea region that separates the southern Philippines from nearby islands in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The government of Indonesia conducts monitoring and surveillance of suspected terrorist cells in its territory, but acknowledges that a lack of resources hinders its ability to monitor maritime and remote parts of Indonesia, including the Sulu and Sulawesi seas, it said.

The State Department lauded Indonesia, along with neighbors Malaysia and the Philippines, for using their militaries to coordinate patrols in the seas to deter and prevent kidnappings and terrorists from using it as a transit point.

The Government of Malaysia sustained efforts to counter terrorist use of the Sulu/Sulawesi seas as a safe haven by working with Indonesia and the Philippines to prevent the flow of FTFs (foreign terrorist fighters) through its territory, the report said.

The State Department supported the Philippine government for tracking terrorist groups, particularly in the southern region as it deepened already close cooperation with the U.S. military in 2019 to address terrorist threats.

Although the Philippine government possesses the political will to apply security measures against terrorist threats and has consistently partnered with the United States and other nations to build the capacity to do so, it struggles to apply a coordinated whole-of-government approach to prevent terrorism, it said.

The continued ability of terrorist organizations to operate in the southern Philippines reflects the centuries-long challenge of governing effectively in the countrys more remote areas and establishing consistent security in a region characterized by a strong separatist identity, endemic poverty, and religious differences, the report added.

Chapter on Bangladesh

Bangladesh saw a small increase in terrorist activities in 2019, the report found, pointing to six improvised explosive device attacks claimed by IS, including five aimed at police between April and November. The attacks resulted in several injuries but no deaths.

As in prior years, the Bangladesh government denied that Bangladesh-based terrorists have meaningful ties to transnational terror groups, including ISIS, it said.

The report noted that Bangladeshs criminal justice system was still in the process of fully implement the Antiterrorism Act of 2009 last year while a special tribunal authorized under the Act had sentenced seven men to death for their supporting roles in a 2016 terrorist attack at a cafe in Dhaka that left 20 civilians and five militants dead.

Islamic State, through its propaganda unit, claimed responsibility for the overnight siege at the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe, the deadliest terrorist attack in Bangladeshs history as a nation. The attack was carried out by Neo-JMB, a pro-IS Bangladeshi militant group.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka will hold its first online public meeting for the 2020 Parliamentary election, live streamed on Facebook at 3 p.m. local time on Sunday, June 28. The election, which has been postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is scheduled to be held on August 5.

SEP is fielding 43 candidates to contest three districtsthe capital, Colombo, the central plantation area of Nuwara Eliya and war-ravaged Jaffna in the islands north.

Amid an acute political crisis, President Gotabhaya Rajapakse and his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have declared that they will campaign for a two-thirds majority in the parliament to establish a strong and stable government. The aim is to change the constitution to entrench what amounts to a presidential dictatorship to crush working class opposition that has deepened with the global pandemic.

Opposition parties including the United National Party (UNP), the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) do not have any fundamental differences with the presidents anti-democratic agenda. The bourgeois Tamil National Alliance has even offered conditional support for the president.

The pseudo-left Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) is contesting the election with the right-wing UNP. In the name of defending democratic rights, other fake left groups such as the United Socialist Party and the Frontline Socialist Party are also seeking a coalition with capitalist parties to block any independent movement of the working class.

The SEP is the only party in this election fighting to mobilise the working class against worsening social inequality, the threat of dictatorship and imperialist war, on the basis of the program of socialist internationalism.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and accelerated the deep crisis of the global capitalist system, placing revolutionary struggles on the agenda. The crucial task is to build the SEP and the International Committee of the Fourth International as the necessary revolutionary leadership.

The speakers at the SEPs online meeting will include General Secretary Wije Dias and leading candidates. We urge workers, youths, intellectuals and WSWS readers to participate in this vital discussion.
While Frances Cannes Film Festival and New Yorks Tribeca Film Festival have been felled by the pandemic, the Toronto International Film Festival announced Wednesday that it planned to go forward with socially distanced screenings for its films in September.

Organizers of the festival, which usually offers the first chance to see some potential Oscar contenders, said the 2020 event would be a smaller affair with fewer films  50 new features compared with its typical 250 to 400  and a mix of physical, outdoor, drive-in and digital screenings.

The festival unveiled the first eight films on Wednesday, which included Halle Berrys directing debut, the mixed martial arts-focused Bruised. Also on the schedule are Ammonite, which stars Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet as lovers; Concrete Cowboys with Idris Elba; and Good Joe Bell, starring Mark Wahlberg. The opening-night film is set to be announced later this summer.

All 50 titles will premiere as physical, socially distanced screenings over the first five days of the 10-day festival, which is set for Sept. 10-19. Virtual red carpets, interactive talks, cast reunions and Q&As with cast members and filmmakers will also be in the mix.


U.S. President Donald Trump is suspending immigration visas for some kinds of foreign workers for the rest of the year.

The suspension affects work visas that many technology and landscaping companies in the United States now use. The move also affects visas for exchange students and heads of multinational companies. It also affects visas for nonagricultural seasonal workers. But there are exceptions for workers in food processing, health care, childcare, and agriculture.

The Trump administration said the decision to suspend some immigration visas was necessary to protect U.S. workers. More than 45 million workers have reported losing their jobs since the middle of March during the coronavirus pandemic. They have asked the government for assistance until they return to work. Many have since returned to their jobs as businesses reopen.

Business groups, however, strongly oppose the administrations decision. Technology companies and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said banning foreign workers would hurt the countrys economic recovery.

The effects of the ban may not be immediately felt. U.S. officials have approved few work visas because of travel restrictions during the pandemic.



The following visa categories are affected:

H-1B

The U.S. government approves 85,000 H-1B visas every year to "high-skilled" workers, often in the technology industry. These visas are generally good for up to six years.

In the U.S. governments 2019 spending year, the Department of State approved over 188,000 H-1B visas. Some 131,000 were for Indian citizens, followed by 28,000 for citizens of mainland China.

Only 143 H-1B visas were approved in May 2020, compared with over 13,600 one year earlier.

H-2B

H-2B visas are for seasonal non-agricultural labor. The U.S. government usually approves 66,000 such visas every year, but the numbers could be higher, based on demand.

H-2B visas are good for up to three years. They are popular in industries like food processing, hotel work, and landscaping. In the 2019 fiscal year, the State Department approved more than 97,000 H-2B visas, with over 72,000 going to Mexican citizens.

H-4

H-4 visas are for husbands, wives, and children of H-1B and H-2B holders. The Trump administrations declaration does not talk about H-4 visas but does restrict entry for "any alien accompanying or following to join" restricted categories.

An H-4 visa is good for the same length of time as the H-1B visa. In the 2019 fiscal year, the State Department approved nearly 126,000 H-4 visas. Over 106,000 were for citizens of India.

J-1

J-1 visas are for cultural and educational exchange. The order affects J-1 holders "participating in an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program."

The visas are good for up to seven years. In the 2019 fiscal year, the State Department approved over 353,000 J-1 visas. Nearly 40,000 were for citizens of mainland China, followed by 18,000 for citizens of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

J-2

J-2 visas are for the husbands, wives, and dependents of J-1 holders. A J-2 visa is good for the same period of time as the J-1 visa. The State Department approved 38,000 J-2 visas in the 2019 fiscal year, with 10,000 going to mainland Chinese citizens.

L-1

L-1 visas are for high-level and specialized company employees. They are generally good for up to seven years. In the 2019 fiscal year, the State Department approved nearly 77,000 L-1 visas. The largest number -- some 18,000 -- were for citizens of India.

L-2

Finally, L-2 visas are for the dependents of L-1 visa holders. An L-2 visa is good for the same length of time as the L-1 visa. In the 2019 fiscal year, the State Department approved about 81,000 L-2 visas. The largest number -- some 23,000 -- went to Indian citizens.

I'm Jonathan Evans.

Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on VOA and Reuters news reports. George Grow was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

landscaping - n. making changes to improve the appearance of an area of land

pandemic - n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affect many people around the world

category - n. a group of people that are similar in some way

fiscal - n. of or relating to government money

alien - n. a person who was born in a different country and is not a citizen of the country in which he/she now lives

accompany - v. to go somewhere with someone

participate - v. to be involved in doing something

intern - n. a student or recent graduate who works for a period of time at a job in order to get experience

counselor - n. a person who is in charge of young people at a summer camp

au pair - n. a young person from a foreign country who lives with a family and helps to care for children and do housework in return for the opportunity to learn the family's language
Several hundred people gathered in Marion Square, in the historic South Carolina city of Charleston, early on Wednesday to watch the removal of a statue of former vice president and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun.

Officials voted unanimously Tuesday to remove the statue from the downtown square, the latest in a wave of actions arising from protests against racism and police brutality against Black Americans.

Some onlookers grew restless just after 1 a.m. and began to leave just before crews used bucket trucks to soar more than 100 feet into the air to the top of the statue to make preparations for its removal. The process was still on-going at around 8.30 a.m. local time.

Another piece of equipment that appeared to have pulleys attached was being raised to the height of the statue from Calhoun Street, the roadway that marks the southern border of the square where the statue sits and also bears his name.

Crews also appeared to be removing the plaques that adorn the four sides of the pedestal on which the monument and statue sit.

Pictured: Crews make preparations for removal of the statue of former U.S. Vice President and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun early Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Pictured: Locals and news crews gather in Marion Square in the historic South Carolina city of Charleston, early Wednesday, June 24, 2020, to watch as the statue of Calhoun is taken down

Pictured: A 100-foot monument to former U.S. vice president and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun towers over a downtown square Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Charleston, S.C

Council members approved the measure 13-0 at a late-day meeting. The resolution authorized the removal of the statue of the former U.S. vice president and senator from South Carolina.

City officials said eventually that the Calhoun statue will be placed permanently at 'an appropriate site where it will be protected and preserved.'

Just before midnight on Tuesday the Charleston Police Department tweeted that, 'Calhoun Street between Meeting Street and King Street is closed for the removal of the John C. Calhoun statue,' adding that the street will be closed for several hours.

At about 1 a.m. on Wednesday, workers using massive cranes began to bring the statue down. A few hundred people gathered at the scene, mostly in favor of removal.

The removal of the statue started at around 1 a.m, and the process was still on-going 9 hours later according to bystanders posting on Twitter

The vote comes a week after the mayor, John Tecklenburg, announced he would send the resolution to the City Council. He also took part in the vote.

'I believe that we are setting a new chapter, a more equitable chapter, in our city's history,' Tecklenburg said, just before the vote. 'We are making the right step. It's just simply the right thing for us to do.'

Council members heard from dozens of residents for and against the statue's removal.

Councilman Karl L. Brady Jr. said he knew his support may cost him votes but that he was voting with his conscience in a move he said shows that, in Charleston, 'we place white supremacy and white supremacist thought back where it belongs - on the ash heap of history.'

Protesters were seen last week gathering at the statue, covering the base of the statue in signs, many of which read 'take it down'

Some protesters linked arms around the statue to protect the signs that have been placed on the base of the statue and to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement

The move comes days after the fifth anniversary of the slaying of nine Black parishioners in a racist attack at a downtown Charleston church.

It also comes as cities around the U.S. debate the removal of monuments to Confederate leaders and others after the policy custody death of a Black man, George Floyd, in Minnesota.

The ultimate resting place of the statue has yet to be determined, a decision that will be left up to a special panel. The mayor has anticipated it would go to a local museum or educational institution.

Last Wednesday when Tecklenburg announced his plans to remove the statue, dozens of protesters linked arms around the monument, shouting, 'Take it down!'

Videos posted on Twitter also showed signs and spray-painting on the monument. Police said they made several arrests for vandalism and ultimately closed off the area overnight.

Pictured: City workers clean the vandalized John C. Calhoun Monument in Marion Square on June 18, 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina

John Caldwell Calhoun, who lived from 1782 to 1850, and served as Vice President from 1825 to 1832, was an unwavering supporter of slavery in the U.S.

In the heart of downtown Charleston, Calhoun towers over a sprawling square frequented by locals and tourists alike that is a frequent venue for festivals and large public events. Several organizers have said recently that they would no longer use the space while the statue remained.

About 40% of enslaved Africans brought to North America came through the port city of Charleston, which formally apologized in 2018 for its role in the slave trade.

In its resolution, the city says the statue, in place since 1898, 'is seen by many people as something other than a memorial to the accomplishments of a South Carolina native, but rather a symbol glorifying slavery and as such, a painful reminder of the history of slavery in Charleston.'

Calhoun's support of slavery never wavered. He said in several speeches on the U.S. Senate floor in the 1830s that slaves in the South were better off than free Blacks in the North while calling slavery a 'positive good.'

Pictured: The John C. Calhoun Monument in Marion Square on June 17, 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina, towers over a sprawling square frequented by locals and tourists alike

Pictured: Protesters gather around the statue of John C. Calhoun at Marion Square in Charleston during a demonstration in Charleston, S.C. on June 17. One protester holds a banner that reads 'Racist statues gotta go!' while a Black Lives Matter flag

Pictured: A woman protests against the removal of a statue of former U.S. Vice President and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun from a square in downtown Charleston, S.C., on Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Tecklenburg said the removal isn't covered under South Carolina's Heritage Act, which protects historical monuments and names of buildings, as the monument is not on public property or in commemoration of one of the historical events listed in the act.

According to the National Parks Service, the city technically leases the land where the monument sits, which 'is to be kept open forever as a parade ground for the Sumter Guards and the Washington Light Infantry.'

Thus far, Tecklenburg's interpretation has not been legally disputed. A two-thirds vote from the state General Assembly is required to make any changes under the Heritage Act, a tough task in a state where conservatives dominate the House and Senate, last used to remove the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds in 2015.

During a news conference at the Statehouse on Tuesday, Gov. Henry McMaster described the Heritage Act as a 'good state law' and a 'deliberate process that is not influenced by passion and time.'

When asked about Tecklenburg's assertion that the law doesn't apply in this instance, McMaster - a former prosecutor - called it a 'legal question,' adding, 'It depends on how you read the Heritage Act, and there are people who read it in different ways.'

Several Black lawmakers are urging local governments and colleges to act on their own and defy the monument protection law because it carries no stated penalties and hasn't faced a court challenge, and several are planning to do so.
Fieger calls upon the Kalamazoo prosecutor to bring murder charges against those who suffocated Cornelius. Fieger also stated that the white attorney for Sequel Youth Services of Michigan, Daniel Ferris, has refused to give the family the video of Cornelius' killing. "It is time for the perpetrators to come clean," Fieger stated.
US Reportedly Planning to Transfer 30 F-16s to Poland From Germany, Beef Up Troop Contingent

Sputnik News

10:14 GMT 23.06.2020(updated 10:22 GMT 23.06.2020)

Earlier this month, after the Trump administration announced plans to pare down the number of US troops in Germany from 34,500 to 25,000 over Berlin's "delinquency" on NATO spending obligations, Moscow warned that Russia-NATO relations could worsen if these forces were moved east to Poland.

The US plans to deploy 2,000 troops to Poland, double the roughly 1,000 previously expected, Polish daily Dziennik Gazeta Prawna has reported, referring to the upcoming defence talks between President Donald Trump and President Andrzeij Duda during Duda's visit to the US on Wednesday.

Furthermore, according to the newspaper's sources, the US Air Force will transfer 30 F-16 fighter jets to Poland from Germany, with the Polish military receiving five second-hand US C-130 Hurcules airlifters.

TheAviationist.com says it's unclear where the F-16s will come from, but hints the jets may come from the Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, where 28 F-16s are currently based.

Also on the agenda is the signing of a US-Polish Defence Cooperation Act regulating the principles under which US forces will operate with their Polish counterparts, although details are scarce as to what that may entail.

Poland, DGP says, is also looking to buy US combat helicopters  possibly Boeing AH-64 Apaches or Bell AH-1Z Vipers, although the status of that deal is also unclear.

NATO Bridge Head

NATO and US forces regularly engage in exercises on Polish territory, and use the country to transit forces further east, to the Baltic States. Additionally, the US has a symbolic detachment of Air Force personnel stationed in Poland. In September 2019, President Trump approved the construction of a permanent military base in the Eastern European country, which Warsaw graciously offered to name 'Fort Trump'. Earlier this month however, US officials told Reuters that the project has run into problems.

In addition to troops on the ground, the US is building an Aegis Ashore missile defence facility in northern Poland, with the system ostensibly designed to intercept ballistic missiles. Moscow has indicated, however, the facility could easily be converted to station offensive nuclear-capable cruise missiles. The system is currently expected to go online in 2022 after numerous construction delays.

Earlier this month, the Russian foreign ministry warned that already complicated relations between Moscow and NATO would worsen further if the US moved troops from Germany to Poland, in line with recent proposals by Warsaw.

In May, after German lawmakers pressured Washington to pull its tactical nukes out of Germany, the US Ambassador to Poland also suggested that Warsaw "step in and take over" control over the weapons, stationing them on Polish soil. Polish officials indicated that they have no intention to do so. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said such an eventuality would be a direct violation of the Russia-NATO founding act of 1997, which committed the alliance not to place nuclear weapons in the territory of any new members of the military bloc.

NATO has expanded eastwards over the last 20+ years, despite a verbal commitment to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990 not to do so. Since 1999, the Western alliance has swallowed up every former member of the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact, as well as three republics of the former Soviet Union, and three republics from the former Yugoslavia. In 2014, amid a cooling of Russia-NATO relations in the wake of the Ukraine crisis, the alliance has stepped up military deployments, drills, and reconnaissance flights along Russia's borders, moves which Moscow has warned may cause a spiraling escalation.

 Sputnik

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The Acer Predator Helios 700 has returned. Dubbed as one of the most exciting gaming laptops of 2019 when we reviewed the original model last May, Acer has upgraded the 17.3-inch behemoth to Intel Comet Lake-H processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 SUPER series GPUs. Specifically, the Helios 700 is available with either a Core i7-10875H or a Core i9-10980HK for a CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER or an RTX 2080 SUPER for a GPU. Acer has also upgraded the RAM to LPDDR4-2993 from the LPDRR4-2666 that it included in last year's model and has added a second Thunderbolt 3 port. Internet connectivity has been upgraded too, with the Helios 700 now offering a Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i modem and an E3100G Ethernet port that utilise the company's DoubleShot Pro technology.

Additionally, the Helios 700 supports RAID 0 and a 144 Hz IPS panel that operates natively at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The latter is compatible with NVIDIA G-SYNC technology too.

Acer has also addressed thermal management for the new Helios 700, which was one of our bigger complaints of its predecessor. According to the company, it has included a new solution that it is calling Predator PowerGem. PowerGem apparently offers 3.83x more vertical heat conductivity than copper, which should improve heat dissipation and reduce throttling. All models include three copper heat pipes, Acer CoolBoost technology, a vapour chamber and two Acer custom-engineered 4th generation AeroBlade 3D fans. However, Predator PowerGem is only available on the Core i9 models.

Acer claims to have improved the keyboard too, which it has updated with MagTek mechanical switches for the WASD keys and a set of new racing keys for increased precision. The latter feature 1.5 mm of keycap curvature and can be swapped in for the standard WASD keys. The same applies to the bundled MagForce keys. Once swapped, you can use the pre-installed PredatorSense app to adjust the keys' lighting and actuation. This can also be triggered by pressing the P3 hotkey.

The new Acer Predator Helios 700 will be available first in China from CNY 44,999 where it will launch in August. Acer will then make the gaming laptop available in EMEA in September from 2,699 and North America in October from US$2,399.99.
ROCKFORD, MI -- A Kent County family with 14 sons will be featured on a new series titled 14 Outdoorsmen.

The 14 brothers, ranging from ages 2 to 28, will be the subjects of the show which is scheduled to debut in October.

The brothers names are Tyler, 28, Zach, 24, Drew, 23, Brandon, 21, Tommy, 18, Vinny, 17, Calvin, 15, Gabe, 13, Wesley, 11, Charlie, 10, Luke, 8, Tucker, 6, Francisco, 5, and Finley, 2.

Jay and Kateri Schwandt, the parents of the 14 brothers, were high school sweethearts. The pair began dating as freshmen when Jay attended Gaylord High School and Kateri at St. Mary Cathedral School.

Now, 28 years later the high school sweethearts are parents of 14 sons.

The Schwandts, of Rockford, have been in the national spotlight because their large family consists of all boys. A genetics counselor previously calculated the chance of giving birth to 12 sons in a row as .02 percent.

Related: Family with 13 boys anxiously awaits arrival of baby No. 14

Theres enough testosterone in our house to fill a stadium, Kateri Schwandt said. But, we always wanted to have a family. Jay thought five or six was a big family.

Kateri Schwandt grew up in a big family herself, as one of 14 siblings.

In 1993, the couple married right after high school and attended Ferris State University. Kateri Schwandt went on to earn her masters degree in social work from Grand Valley State University and Jay Schwandt earned his law degree from Thomas Cooley Law School.

Jay Schwandt was the one who introduced his passion for the outdoors to his sons.

The family enjoys spending time hunting, fishing and experiencing nature together. They often do so at their farm in Lakeview.

The show will feature the day-to-day lives of the family as well as seasonal planning, preparation and execution of hunting and fishing together.

Jay Schwandt told MLive in 2018 that meals are always quite a production. The family does dinner together almost every night and they have to cook a lot of food to feed everyone.

The original series will be available on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), an outdoor lifestyle streaming service under the Outdoor Sportsman Group. It will be available in October 2020 at MyOutdoorTV.com.

More from MLive:

Number of layoffs a moving target at Western Michigan University

Parents want children back in class in Kent County, survey says

History and character highlight Jackson condominium home listed for $369K

14 coronavirus cases tied to East Lansing bar
United Nations:

India on Wednesday strongly hit back at Pakistan, saying the sell-by date of the countrys anachronistic approach is long over and there is absolutely no support in the world body for claims on Kashmir by a nation that established itself as a global epicenter of terrorism.



Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin strongly rejected remarks on Kashmir made by Pakistans envoy Maleeha Lodhi during a UN General Assembly debate on Report of the Secretary General on the Work of the Organisation.



We have heard one such lone voice again a short while ago, making claims to an integral part of my country. This comes from a country which has established itself as a global epicenter of terrorism, Akbaruddin said.

Also read: This shows Pakistans attachment to terrorism: India on PM Nawaz Sharif's remark on Burhan Wani



He said claims by Pakistan on Kashmir find no resonance amongst the international community, with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raising the Kashmir issue in his General Assembly address also finding no support.



Just less than 10 days ago, the GA (General Assembly) hall witnessed a singular lack of support for Pakistans baseless claims. Need one say more, he said.



Akbaruddin asserted that Indias response to Pakistan is consistent.

Also read: India slams 'unresponsive' UNSC for not sanctioning Masood Azhar



Abandon your futile quest. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so. No amount of misuse of international fora by Pakistan will change that reality. The sell by date of Pakistans anachronistic approach is over, he said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea has outlined major projects his outfit has implemented as part of the Coastal Protection Project aimed at protecting the beaches and its environs against encroachment by the sea, arresting environmental deterioration as well as mitigating the negative social and economic consequences of beach erosion.



Samuel Atta Akyea said it is to avert the calamities and many others, that the protection of the countrys coastline is considered very critical. He said it is therefore the responsibility of government to safeguard lives and properties and to promote socio-economic activities especially for those living along the coastline.



The minister made this known when he was addressing the media in Accra today.

Over the past year, the Ministry has continued the implementation of a number of coastal protection works. These works have ranged from the construction of armour rock revetment with beach stabilization and lateritic backfilling, to the construction of armour rock groynes and breakwater structures to protect lives and properties while safeguarding the livelihood of the people living along the coast.



According to the minister, the 1.9-kilometer Adjoa Coastal protection works near Takoradi in the Western Region were completed last year and already, the inhabitants of Adjoa are experiencing the positive impact of the project. He added that the 4.3-kilometer Blekusu Coastal protection project in the Volta Region and the 4.0 kilometer New Takoradi Emergency Sea Defence Project (Phase II) at Elmina in the Central Region have also been completed.



Also, the 2.0-kilometer Dansoman Emergency Sea Defence Project in the Greater Accra Region has continued and is currently 85% complete while the 5.0 Kilometer Axim Coastal Protection Project in the Western Region is 73% complete. Additionally, the 2.0-kilometer Amanful Kumah Coastal Protection Project is about 60% complete while the 5.0-kilometer Anomabu Coastal Protection Project is currently about 39% complete.



The Works and Housing Minister further added that the coastal protection projects at Dixcove, Cape Coast, Komenda, and Elmina are at various stages of completion and progressing steadily.



Also, the contractors working on the Aboadze Phase II and Ningo-Prampram Coastal protection projects are currently mobilizing to the site to commence actual construction works.



According to him, other coastal settlements such as Takoradi, Shama, Apam, Kokrobite, Bortianor, Nungua, Dansoman, Mensah Guinea, Essipong, Anyanui and Blekusu amongst others continue to remain under serious threat to tidal wave destruction and erosion. Accordingly, he said the Ministry has programmed to extend its coastal protection works to these communities in the medium term.



What is uppermost in the mind of the Ministry is to reclaim lands from the sea for world-class tourism development. This is how we convert a menace to a veritable source of foreign exchange. A sure example of this creativity is the hotel facility called Dan Hotel in Tel-Aviv, he added.





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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SALT LAKE CITY, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SixFifty, the technology subsidiary of the law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, released its free Return-to-Worship Readiness Assessment this week to help religious leaders across the United States evaluate whether they are prepared to safely resume meeting again in person with their members amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Return-to-Worship Readiness Assessment is fully automated and incorporates the guidance from employment attorneys at Wilson Sonsini. Religious leaders can access the Assessment for free at www.sixfifty.com/returntoworship.

The Return-to-Worship Readiness Assessment follows the launch of SixFifty's Return-to-Work Toolset (www.sixfifty.com/returntowork), which helps businesses safely transition their employees back to the workplace as authorities begin to loosen restrictions and reopen parts of the economy. "We worked closely with the employment attorneys at Wilson Sonsini to develop tools to help businesses bring their employees back to the workplace during COVID-19," said Kimball Dean Parker, CEO of SixFifty. "We noticed that many places of worship were not taking the same precautions to protect their members that businesses were taking to protect their employees. So we decided to try and help."

As unfortunate cases have already shown, places of worship can provide ideal settings for the mass transmission of COVID-19, and if religious leaders are not careful, they could quickly undo the work that state and local governments, businesses, families and individuals have done to stem the spread of the COVID-19. SixFifty's automation platform walks religious leaders through a series of questions to help them understand and address the issues they need to focus on before welcoming members back to in-person meetings during this pandemic. Based on the leaders' answers, the automation system generates a readiness assessment that places of worship can use to assess whether they are prepared to congregate again in person. Religious leaders can take the readiness assessment as many times as they need to gauge their progress and ensure they are taking all the relevant issues into account.

"For both businesses and places of worship, the risks involved in bringing people back and having them gather in a physical site are extremely high, and there is specific, substantial preparation that can and should be undertaken to mitigate those risks," said Marina Tsatalis, employment law partner at Wilson Sonsini. "Religious leaders need to consider many of the same issues businesses do when gathering people together."

In addition to the Return-to-Worship Readiness Assessment, SixFifty has also released free tools that help people delay paying their mortgage under the federal stimulus during COVID-19 (www.hellolender.org) and help renters communicate their rights under the federal stimulus to their landlords (www.hellolandlord.org). SixFifty also released tools to help businesses determine whether they are eligible for SBA loans and tax relief. Thousands of individuals and businesses have used SixFifty's tools since the COVID-19 emergency began.

About SixFifty

Headquartered in the Silicon Slopes area of Utah, SixFifty is a subsidiary of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and combines the expertise of the world's leading technology law firm, made accessible through thoughtful technology. Led by a group of lawyers and software engineers that believe the law should be easier to navigate, SixFifty streamlines complex areas of the law by providing actionable, efficient and affordable solutions for individuals and businesses. For more information, please visit www.sixfifty.com.

CONTACT: Ransom Wydner, 650-300-4531, [email protected]

SOURCE SixFifty Technologies

Related Links

http://www.sixfifty.com


Hyderabad: Former bureaucrat P Ramesh Kumar has been chosen as the Andhra Pradesh chief information commissioner (CIC).

An IAS officer belonging to the West Bengal cadre from the 1986 batch, Peyyala Ramesh Kumar is currently holding the post of member of the West Bengal Administrative Tribunal after his retirement in 2017. He will serve as CIC, a post that is presently vacant, for two years.

Sources said a high-level committee chaired by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday cleared the former bureaucrats name in view of his clean track record and high level of integrity. His father Abbayyaa was also a conferred IAS officer in the undivided state of AP.

The committee also cleared the appointment of Rebaka Srinivasa Rao as information commissioner.

Hailing from Kadapa, Ramesh Kumar will be the first CIC of the residual state of Andhra Pradesh. There are four information commissioners as of now and all were appointed by the previous Telugu Desam regime which did not appoint a CIC in its five-year tenure. The commissioners were also appointed in 2018, a year after the High Court directed then state government to fill the posts at the earliest.

Leader of the opposition Chandrababu Naidu did not attend the meeting of the three-member committee in which Anil Kumar Yadav, irrigation minister, was also a member. Sources said Naidu who has been invited to the meeting did not even communicate to the government about his absence. Jagan Mohan Reddy also skipped a similar meeting in 2018 when he was leader of the opposition.
Shares in Cineworld rose 22.5 per cent after cinemas were told they could reopen in England from July 4.

Screens have been closed since March due to the pandemic and Cineworld and Picturehouse cinemas had planned to reopen on July 10.

Cineworld, which has about 100 cinemas around the UK, has said it has updated its booking system to ensure social distancing, and has adapted its schedules to manage queues and avoid crowds in lobbies.

Coming soon: Christopher Nolan's Tenet, starring Robert Pattinson and John David Washington, is due out at the end of July

It has enhanced cleanliness and sanitation procedures.

Cineworld said: 'We will ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all our visitors and we remain committed to being the best place to watch a movie.'

Proxima, starring Eva Green, is due out on July 10, and road rage thriller Unhinged, starring Russell Crowe, is released on July 17.

Christopher Nolan's Tenet, starring Robert Pattinson and John David Washington, is due out at the end of July.

Guidelines were agreed between the UK Cinema Association and the Government.
African Gold Group Investor Webinar

African Gold Group is hosting an investor webinar to discuss the recently updated feasibility study for its Kobada Gold Project on Thursday, June 25 at 10:00 am (EST). Members of the AGG management team will be giving short presentations on highlights from the Study.



Registration Link



https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vE_r8d_zSduQ4qaxb1aE_A

TORONTO, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- African Gold Group, Inc. (TSX-V: AGG) (AGG or the Company) is pleased to announce a partnership with DRA Nexus, a diversified global engineering, project delivery and operations management group to build and install a hybrid power solution on its fully permitted Kobada Gold Project in Southern Mali.

This landmark installation will enable AGG to increase the environmental sustainability of the Kobada Gold Project, in turn differentiating AGG from its peers and potentially attracting partnership opportunities from green energy funds, socially responsible investment managers, family offices and endowment funds.

Highlights of the power system include:

Significant annual power savings over a conventional thermal power system of more than 22% or $5 million on cost of power

Environmental sustainability targeted through significant pollution reduction:

o over 5 million litres of heavy fuel oil (HFO);

o over 14 million kg of carbon dioxide emissions;

o over 8,000 kg of carbon monoxide emissions;

o over 720 kg of unburned hydrocarbons;

o over 34,000 kg of sulfur dioxide; and

o nearly 62,000 kg of nitrogen oxides.

o o o o o o Stand-alone project with an over-the-fence power solution for Kobada at a low unit rate of power

Fully financed through DRA Nexus and SENERGY to deliver a flexible and de-risked solution

Power requirement of 11.2 kw/t versus 18-26 kw/t on similar mines in the region

The inclusion of a highly efficient hybrid power plant, financed by our partners will provide an over-the-fence power solution through a power purchasing agreement. This will enable the Kobada Gold Project to significantly reduce its environmental impact while ensuring reliable power supply, commented Danny Callow, Chief Executive Officer of AGG. We take environmental, social and governance ESG initiatives seriously, and by installing this hybrid plant, we move closer to operating a sustainable and responsible mining operation at our flagship Kobada Gold Project. Utilising green energy and battery storage to provide a large proportion of the primary power required for the operation, will lower our costs substantially, thus reducing our overall All-In Sustaining Costs (AISC) per ounce of gold produced.

AGG recognizes the increasing importance of ESG facing the minerals exploration and mining industry. The management of the Company is proactively working on establishing ESG guidelines for AGGs future exploration and project development activities. The Company is continuously advancing its applications of ESG standards on its projects, teams, and local stakeholders and incorporates ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making process.

By aligning environmental and sustainability issues with a focus on business continuity and resilience, AGG is set to ensure that its flagship Kobada Gold Project in Mali has a strong foundation for ongoing operations and future growth. AGG has prioritised the importance of the three pillars of sustainability and business resilience in terms of energy  availability, low cost, and reduced environmental impact. To this end, the Company has embarked on a project to generate its own power.

The Hybrid Energy Plant

AGG will partner with DRA Nexus to implement a hybrid power plant combining photovoltaic solar panels (Solar PV) and thermal generators and a battery storage system for the Kobada Gold Project. This partnership with DRA Nexus will control costs and improve efficiency by:

Reducing the total cost of energy: The cost of thermal generators is predominantly driven by the fuel cost and generator efficiency. By adding Solar PV and energy storage system, the overall energy cost can be significantly reduced. The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) also allows for a reduction in generator run-time, allowing for operations and maintenance savings. Improving reliability: The DRA Nexus solution will include a BESS, that will act as a redundant heavy fuel oil (HFO) generator, increasing the overall reliability of the system. This will reduce unplanned outages and downtime. Fast Service and Repairs: The generator suppliers have a strong presence in the region with knowledgeable and efficient service teams.

This will also allow the Company to significantly reduce energy costs and minimise emissions, whilst ensuring the reliability of the system. The BESS will provide additional redundancy to the thermal plant and will be fully integrated with the mining operations in order to ensure continuous operation of the mine.

The thermal generators are widely used in the region and were selected for their reliability and fuel efficiency. The HFO generators are combined with high-speed diesel generators to ensure the overall system is running at its optimal load capacity. The photovoltaic modules will be mono PERC crystalline technology supplied by established manufacturers with a 25-year guarantee. The PV array will consist of single axis trackers to maximise the potential solar resource and providing a flatter generation profile.

The facility includes a Power Conversion System (PCS) and Power Management System (PMS). The PCS is the system that charges and discharges the battery. The PMS ensures a robust and stable energy source which prioritizes security of supply as well as continuous monitoring and optimization of the system. The PMS will take responsibility for both supply side and demand side management to reduce and optimize overall system risk.

Softer Ore

Metallurgical testwork further confirmed that the ore at the Kobada Gold Project is categorised as soft, with a Bond Work Index of 1,4 kWh/t. The low index, coupled with an optimised flowsheet and an advanced power management system will result in energy consumption of 11.2 to 13.4 kW/t of run-of-mill processed, compared to other mines treating oxides at 18.68  26.14 kWh/t. This is expected significantly reduce annual cost of energy and footprint.

About DRA

DRA has positioned its world class EPC project capability through subsidiary SENERGY with internal development and finance through its subsidiary, DRA Nexus. DRA Nexus is ready to partner with the AGG team to deliver a flagship energy solution for Kobada.

The DRA Nexus solution incorporates speed of delivery, flexible project structure and financing, and de-risked mine operations that only a disciplined mining EPC-IPP backed by a full equity financed option can offer.

About African Gold Group

African Gold Group is a Canadian listed exploration and development company on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: AGG) with its focus on developing a gold platform in West Africa. Its principal asset is the Kobada Project in southern Mali. For more information regarding African Gold Group visit our website at www.africangoldgroup.com.

For more information:

Daniyal Baizak

VP Corporate Development

(416) 861 2966

Cautionary statements

This press release contains forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forwardlooking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding, the hybrid power plant and expected energy cost savings, reliability and service and repairs, reduction in environmental pollutants, financing of the hybrid power plant, future partnerships, expected power requirements and hardness and abrasiveness of at the Kobada Gold Project , other design elements of the Kobada Gold Project and other statements with respect to the future plans or intentions of the Company. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", aims, "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of exploration activities; regulatory risks; risks inherent in foreign operations; 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 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 Senate is headed toward a standoff on an attempt to legislate an overhaul of U.S. policing practices, with Democrats poised to block debate on a GOP plan they say is too narrow to adequately address a growing national crisis over racial inequities.

Hours before the scheduled procedural vote Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pleaded with Democrats to change their minds and allow debate.

"If they do not, the next time another appalling incident makes our nation sick to its stomach with grief and anger yet again, Senate Democrats can explain to the nation why they made sure the Senate did nothing," McConnell said. He had said earlier the Democrats would be allowed to offer amendments to the GOP-drafted bill.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called the Republican measure "deeply, fundamentally and irrevocably flawed" and demanded the GOP negotiate a stronger bipartisan bill.

President Donald Trump, who has rejected the idea of systemic racism among police and called protesters "terrorists," told an audience in Phoenix Tuesday that "we don't back down from left-wing bullies."

"We believe in law and order, we support the men and women of law enforcement, and we stand with the citizens" throughout the U.S. "who wish to live in safety, security, dignity and peace," Trump said.

Democrats are placing an election-year bet that they will gain the upper hand in negotiations on a policing bill by blocking it rather than trying to change it on the floor in the Senate. But they risk being blamed for standing in the way of progress on addressing racial bias in policing.

The protests and unrest nationwide that unfolded after the May 25 killing of a Black man, George Floyd, while in custody of Minneapolis police have raised pressure on both parties to act. But with the Senate nearing a two-week July recess with another pandemic stimulus measure likely on the table when they return, the stalemate risks pushing policing off the agenda until after the November elections.

"The Republican majority has given the Senate a bad bill and proposed no credible way to sufficiently improve it," Schumer said Tuesday, adding that leading civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, support blocking the GOP bill.

Under Senate rules, 60 votes are needed to advance the legislation and Republicans have only 53.

McConnell dismissed as "nonsense" Democratic complaints that they would be at a disadvantage in trying to amend the legislation. He said he will keep the option of returning to police reform later this year.

The House is expected on Thursday to pass a more stringent policing bill introduced by Democrats in both chambers.

That bill and the Senate GOP measure, introduced by Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, both attempt to boost accountability and training for police officers and make lynching a federal crime for the first time. Both bills would establish a federal database to track use-of-force incidents involving state and local police officers, and withhold some federal funds from those that don't participate.

But they take different approaches to the use of chokeholds on suspects, no-knock warrants in drug cases, use of force, and body cameras.

A major sticking point is whether to continue protecting police officers from lawsuits. Democrats want to end the judicial doctrine of "qualified immunity," which shields individual officers from being sued for damages unless they violate a "clearly established" constitutional right. The GOP bill doesn't address that issue.

McConnell Tuesday defended leaving that out, arguing that boosting officer liability could cause them to hesitate in risky situations and could hamper police department recruiting.

"Imagine if you're thinking about becoming a police officer and you think you're going to be personally liable for every fracas you try to break up," he said.

Republicans in both chambers also are balking at other portions of the Democratic proposal, including its ban on no-knock warrants in drug cases, as was used before the March police killing of Breonna Taylor, a Black Louisville, Kentucky, woman who was shot dead by white officers. Some Republicans say officers could be at risk because some drug kingpins are heavily armed.

Both parties also disagree about when adverse information about officers should be entered into a proposed national police misconduct database.

Schumer and Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey are sponsoring the Senate version of House Democrats' bill. Each said on Tuesday that they didn't believe Democrats could pull over enough Republican votes to add an officer liability provision or get any other significant changes like limits on providing military equipment to state and local police departments.

Booker said the GOP bill relies too heavily on gathering data from police departments on things like the use of no-knock arrest warrants in drug cases, rather than taking tougher action like banning the use of those warrants. He said it doesn't go far enough in working to end the use of chokeholds on detainees.

"The American people are not in the streets chanting we want more data, we want more data," Booker said on the Senate floor. "The American people are not in the streets chanting give us a commission, give us a commission."

"Don't anyone dare suggest we are standing in the way of progress," Harris said, adding that the GOP bill "has been thrown out to pay lip service" to the issue without taking actions that would save lives.

Despite the setback, some lawmakers insist there's still a chance legislation could eventually advance. Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democratic leader, said legislation could move through the Senate Judiciary Committee or be drafted by a group of senators from both parties.

Rep. Tom Reed, a New York Republican who chairs the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, said leaders in both parties will be under growing pressure from their rank and file to act.

"It doesn't have to be my way or the highway," he said. "It is so beneath the institution of Congress to miss this opportunity."

Reed said both sides want to make lynching a federal crime and want to provide good anti-bias training for officers. Republicans might be willing to go further in curbing use of chokeholds, he added, and perhaps Democrats could agree that only police misconduct claims that went through due-process reviews could be entered in a federal database.

"Maybe this issue is one where you say 80% is not a defeat, and you look at all the other things that have been put together to improve the situation from a legislative perspective and you declare victory and move forward," Reed said.
An 11-week-old baby left in the care of her father suffered fatal brain and neck injuries while her mother was away, the Berks County District Attorneys Office said Tuesday.

The father, Giovanni Gomez, 28, of Reading, is charged with first and third-degree murder, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children, according to online court dockets.

The baby girl was 11 weeks old when the case was brought to authorities attention at 4 p.m. on March 28, according to the DAs office. The girls mother came home to find her daughter with blue lips, cold to the touch and struggling to breathe.

First responders went to the familys residence on Fox Run, Exeter Township, and transported the infant to the trauma unit at Reading Hospital, according to the DAs office.

County detectives and Berks County Children and Youth Services were informed by medical officials that the baby had suffered a brain injury, according to the DAs office. She was then transferred to St. Christophers Hospital in Philadelphia.

When investigators met with Gomez, he first identified himself as Jiovanni Marzan but detectives later learned his real name.

Detectives learned from the babys mother that when she left for work the day before the 911 call, the baby was in Gomez care, according to the DAs office.

Gomez re-counted his day with the child to investigators, which included feeding the baby multiple times and giving her a bath around 8 p.m., according to the DAs office. Around 10:40 p.m., he put her down for the night and the only problem from the night was when she spit up one time, he told investigators.

Around 11:45 p.m., the babys mother got home from work and found the baby whining in her sleep, the DAs office said. The mother said it was not normal but that the symptoms could have been a cold.

The next morning, around 9:30 a.m., the baby was still sleeping but was whining and sounded congested, the mother told investigators according to the DAs office. She left to get some medical items for the baby, and when she got back she found her baby struggling to breathe, which caused her to call 911.

Investigators learned from the hospitals Child Protection Team that the baby suffered a serious brain injury and spinal cord damage that affected the blood flow to her brain, the DAs office said. The doctors also saw hemorrhages in both eyes and determined they were caused by a traumatic head injury.

The infant died on April 1, 2020, according to the DAs office.

After an autopsy the following day, a forensic pathologist determined the baby died due to brain and neck injuries caused by shaken impact and blunt force trauma, the DAs office said. The county coroners office ruled the death a homicide.

Gomez has been held at Berks County Jail since April 4 on unrelated charges, according to the DAs office. Criminal docket sheets show he is charged with simple assault and intimidation of a witness.

Gomez was arraigned on the new charges on Tuesday and was denied bail due to the severity of the charges.

Read more on PennLive:
A draft amendment to Vietnams Law on Road Traffic that seeks to add a new tier of driver's license for road users above 16 years old has met with mixed public reactions.

The draft amendment was uploaded to the e-portal of the Ministry of Transport for public feedback from April 21 to June 21.

Included in this amendment is the addition of A0-tier driver's licenses for road users above 16 years old, which attracted much public discussion, according to a ministry official.

A necessary step

The inclusion of the A0 driver's license in the draft legislation is to comply with the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which Vietnam acceded to in 2014, said Hoang Hong Hanh, deputy director of the Department of Legislation and Inspection under the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam (DRVN).

The law also seeks to enforce a standard of road protocol knowledge and driving skills on all vehicle operators, Hanh said.

The current law in Vietnam permits people between 16 and 18 years old to ride motorized scooters with an engine capacity of up to 50cm3 and electric scooters that can reach a speed of no more than 50 kilometers per hour without a driver's license.

This is considered a loophole that has given rise to a group of young commuters who ride recklessly on Vietnamese roads with an inadequate knowledge of traffic regulations and driving skills.

On Monday, your correspondent saw many students riding motorbikes and electric scooters with no helmet on, running red lights, failing to use turn signals upon changing direction, and refusing to decelerate upon approaching school entrances  all of which are traffic violations.

Ninety percent of traffic accidents involve students aged 16 to 18, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee.

Among high school students, 52 percent commute to school by motorbike or electric scooter but none have a driver's license as they are underage to sit for a driving test.

This means the demographic lacks sufficient driving skills and an understanding of the road traffic law.

The draft amendment to the Law on Road Traffic aims to tackle this issue by introducing a driver's license requirement for all road users above 16 years of age to operate such low-capacity vehicles.

All driver's licenses issued under this description would fall under tier A0.

The driver's license system in Vietnam is divided into several tiers, from A through F, with each further broken into sub-tiers.

Practical meaning questioned

On top of the supportive voices, there are a considerable number of skeptics when it comes to the initiative.

Driver's licenses are a mere formality if the children dont learn the law on road traffic," said L.T.T.T, a parent from the coastal city of Hai Phong.

"Our society is so lenient with the young that they are flocking to the streets without caution, being unruly and all regardless of the consequences.

Huong Linh from Hoang Mai District of Hanoi is concerned that tests for A0 driver's licenses would be too costly, unnecessary, and time-consuming.

A person of 16 or 17 years of age will have to study and take a test to earn the A0 license only to use it for one or two years," Linh said.

"They will have to sit for another exam at 18 years old to get the A1 license anyway, which would significantly add up to the time and cost expended."

A1 licenses authorize a road user to operate two-wheeled motorized vehicles with an engine volume of between 50cm3 and 175cm3.

I think the core issue here is personal awareness since studying and taking exams without awareness means nothing, Linh added.

V.P.T. from the northern province of Bac Giang cast another doubt on the new bill: without a well-tailored testing system in place, bribes and cheating can easily undermine the licensing process.

On the other side of the discussion, Ngoc Mai, a student from Yen Hoa High School in Hanoi, said she fully endorses the bill.

I think the A0 driver's license test is necessary. Many of my contemporaries are hitting the road with barely any understanding of road signs or the Law on Road Traffic," Mai said.

"I myself dont fully understand the road signs and only know which regulation I'd violated when I was fined."

According to Mai, A0 driver's licenses would help curtail traffic accidents while eliminating the mentality among teenage road users that traffic law does not apply to them.

Other students enunciated concerns about time constraints as they would have to juggle between school and driving exams.

Another major worry is the cost of the A0 driving test since many students are still financially dependent on their families.

Addressing these concerns, Hanh from DRVN affirmed that the draft amendment has already weighed, allowing students to complete traffic law courses at school through a cooperation program with the authority.

These students would still have to take the exam to obtain their driver's license.

Relevant agencies would also formulate an elaborate plan to encourage financial contributions from the private sector to appease the demand of organizing A0 driver's license exams, Hanh said.

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Two men have been charged with vandalizing police cars during an otherwise peaceful protest last month in Newark are facing charges, authorities said

Julio Rodriguez, 27, of New Brunswick, damaged four marked vehicles and is charged with four counts of criminal mischief, while Eric Stone, 29, of New York, is charged with one count, the Essex County Prosecutors Office said Tuesday. Both are also charged with disorderly conduct.

The May 30 protest in Newark was held in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man killed by a police officer May 25 in Minneapolis. Four officers have been fired and charged. The officer seen on video kneeling on the handcuffed Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes has been charged with murder.

The vandalism of the Newark police vehicles took place outside the First Precinct on 17th Avenue, officials said. Rodriguez and Stone were charged June 4.

While we fully support the publics right to conduct peaceful protests, we cannot turn a blind eye to individuals who blatantly commit criminal acts, Newark Director of Public Safety Antony Ambrose said in a statement. We are grateful that, by and large, the protests in Newark following George Floyds murder were peaceful and without any major incidents of violence.'

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
T he merger watchdog is to approve Amazons plan to take a stake in takeaway company Deliveroo.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it will approve the deal, which officials revealed would see Amazon take a 16% stake in the takeaway platform.

It warned that it would reassess the deal if the US retailer increased its stake in the UK business.

Amazon led a 460 million fundraising in Deliveroo in May last year with what the two parties called a minority investment.

Having launched an investigation into the deal in December, the Competition and Markets Authority provisionally cleared the deal in April, saying Deliveroo could go out of business without Amazons investment.

A Deliveroo spokesperson said: "This minority investment is good news for UK customers and restaurants, and for the British economy. As we have argued for the past year, since the beginning of the CMAs investigation, the minority investment will enable British born, British bred Deliveroo to compete against well-capitalised overseas rivals and continue to innovate for customers, riders and restaurants.

"As the British economy recovers from the damage caused by Covid 19, a stable regulatory environment is critical. We therefore urge the CMA to conclude their review as swiftly as possible."
Pope Francis said that priests who defied health and safety measures during the pandemic acted like adolescents.

Agence France-Presse/Alberto Pizzoli via Getty Images

In remarks to healthcare workers at the Vatican, Pope Francis compared priests who defied health regulations during the pandemic to "adolescents."

Despite countries around the world implementing social distancing laws to slow the spread of the coronavirus, some priests continued to hold services.

The Pope praised the service of medical workers and the priests who were creative instead of defiant.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Pope Francis praised healthcare workers and "obedient and creative" priests who served during the novel coronavirus pandemic. As for priests who acted in defiance of safety measures and guidelines, Francis compared their behavior to that of children.

The Pope made his remarks Sunday at the Vatican, where he addressed an audience of doctors, nurses, and health workers from the northern Italian region of Lombardy, Religion News Service reported.

Lombardy was among the country's hardest-hit regions by the pandemic.

"The pastoral zeal and creative concern of priests has helped people in their faith journeys and given them companionship in the presence of pain or fear," Pope Francis said.

Many priests worked hard to remain close to their congregations when they couldn't be physically near them, Francis said, according to Religion News Service.

"They were fathers, not adolescents," Francis said.

At the height of the pandemic, countries around the world implemented social distancing and stay-at-home laws that forbade in-person church services.

Some priests defied these orders, in which Francis has referred to as "adolescent resistance."

Avvenire, the media outlet of the Italian Bishop's Conference, reported that more than 120 Italian priests have died during the pandemic. More than 9,800 Italians have succumbed to the virus.

In his Sunday remarks, Francis noted examples of "tenderness" by medical personnel, from holding up the phone to the dying so they could say goodbye to their loved ones to prayers and caresses, Religion News Service reported.

Story continues

"Dear doctors and nurses, the world was able to see the good you have done in a time of great challenge," he said. "Though tired, you continued to commit yourselves with professionalism and self-sacrifice."

As more countries ease safety measures imposed during the pandemic, Francis urged people to remember what they learned during months of lockdown.

"Now it's time to treasure all this positive energy we invested. Don't forget!" he said, according to Religion News Service. "The pandemic left a deep mark in the life of people and the history of communities."

Read the original article on Insider
Eighteen years ago, the world was struck by a new disease, Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) that came out of nowhere but spread rapidly throughout the world infecting 8,422 individuals with a case fatality of nearly 11%. In countries like Malaysia (40%), Thailand (22%), Taiwan (21%) and Hong Kong (17%), the death rate was much more. Years later, the scientists traced the virus to cave dwelling horseshoe bats in Chinas Yunnan province while Asian civet cats were the pathogens intermediary. Till now, there is no treatment for Sars though fortunately, the disease has not appeared on the earth for a long time.

Cut to December 2019 when mankind encountered a related strain Sars-CoV-2 (Covid-19) that has a lower fatality rate of around 3% but turned into a pandemic within months infecting more than 85 lakh people and killing in excess of 4.5 lakh. With no signs of slowing down, the pandemic has already pushed the world economy down through a deep abyss. Preliminary research suggests this time too, the virus originated in a bat species and jumped to the humans through an intermediary animal with the index case reported from a wet market in the Wuhan province of China.

The conclusion is obvious. With people increasingly encroaching upon nature, the jungle germs found an easy way to strike at those who violate the barrier, leading to a dramatic rise in the new zoonotic diseases that originate in animals but are transmitted to people. Over the last 30 years, some 60-70% of the new diseases that emerged in humans had a zoonotic origin.

Animal pathogens can infect humans directly through contact with the wild animals that are natural carriers of these diseases or indirectly by transmission through intermediate hosts, such as livestock and domestic or peri-domestic animals that live in proximity to humans. These intermediate hosts act as mixing vessels that can lead to the genetic variation of diseases, enabling them to infect humans.

When natural ecosystems like forests remain intact, interactions between major human population groups and wild host species are limited. As a result, viruses circulate in natural ecosystems without crossing over into humans. Similarly, wild host species have fewer interactions with domesticated animals and livestock, which generally live in close proximity to humans. It is, therefore, less likely for domestic animals and livestock to become intermediate hosts of these diseases.

Some studies also suggest that greater biodiversity of species in a natural ecosystem like a forest may hinder disease transmission. This may be attributable to what scientists call the dilution effect, which makes it more difficult for a single pathogen to spread rapidly or to dominate. Evidence is not fully conclusive that this effect applies broadly across diseases, although one study found significant evidence of this effect in parasite systems and plant-herbivore systems. One study reviewing over 200 assessments found significant evidence of the dilution effect weakening transmission in parasite systems and plant-herbivore systems.

However, over the last century, there has been an alarming increase in the number and frequency of new zoonotic disease outbreaks. The frequency of such outbreaks, caused by a spillover of pathogens from animal hosts to people, may have more than tripled in the last decade. The diversity of these pathogens has also increased, with the number of new zoonotic diseases infecting people quadrupling over the same time period.

These increases are driven by more frequent contact between humans and dangerous animal pathogens as well as by contact with a wider variety of species, resulting in the emergence of new forms of diseases in humans. These new zoonotic diseases have posed a grave threat to human health around the world, says a new report prepared by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released last week.

Covid-19 and Sars arent the only examples of such species jump. There are MERS, Hendra, Zika, Nipah and Avian flu to name a few other deadly diseases that came from the wilderness. With no cure available, it was a matter of luck that none of the outbreaks assumed pandemic proportion in the last two decades. But the luck finally ran out with Covid-19.

In modern times, the risk of zoonotic diseases is accelerating, driven by two key factors: the trade of high-risk live wild animals and their meat, and unsustainable food systems driving the large-scale conversion of land for agriculture.

The global sale of wild meat and other animal products is increasingly on the rise. Some of the restaurants in Vietnam sell pangolin meat at a price of $300 (nearly Rs 23,000) per kg. A survey of wildlife consumption in three provinces in China found that high-grade restaurants and hotels accounted for 41% and 34%, respectively, of places where wild meat was consumed.

Domestic and foreign tourists are also driving demand, with local tourism suppliers often promoting the consumption of wild animals in travel destinations as a unique experience based on local traditions. Every year hundreds of thousands of wild animals are internationally traded for commercial purposes.

Land conversion

Land conversion for food and livestock production also destroys and fragments natural habitats around the world. The amount of land converted for food and livestock production is increasing at a rapid rate in order to feed a growing global population. In the last three decades, 178 million hectares of forest have been cleared, which is equivalent to the size of Libya, the 18th largest country in the world.

The loss of primary forest and grasslands has continued to grow in recent years, mainly driven by commodity production and shifting agriculture. Most habitat loss associated with agriculture is attributed to just three commodities: beef, soy and palm oil. As a result of extensive land conversion, about 70% of forests globally are now within one km of a forest edge and exposed to further fragmentation.

India too is highly susceptible to zoonotic diseases as we have higher possibilities of humans coming in contact with animals, both due to increasing populations and because of reverence to animals that renders them to have more contacts, commented K N Ganeshaiah, former professor and head, Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, School of Ecology and Conservation at the University of Agriculture Sciences, Bengaluru.

For years, India (and Karnataka) dealt with such an illness called Kyasanur Forest Disease - a tick borne viral haemorrhagic fever. Fortunately, KFD has not spread to other parts of the country because the host (monkey) and parasite (virus) combination has a restricted distribution. For it to spread there are gaps in the distribution landscape - an issue that has come to Indias advantage.

The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the power of global responses to drive forward systemic changes, with unprecedented shifts in the way that people behave. With the outbreak revealing the strong interconnectedness between environmental issues and health crisis, the WWF in its report suggests to adopt the same approach in an effort to heal nature and stop entry of any future pandemic to the human enclosure.

This requires a number of steps to be taken by the governments, business enterprises and people at large. If the governments are serious, nature can be put on a path of recovery by 2030 for the benefit of all people and the planet, notes the report.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that the elevation of the Kushinagar airport to the status of an international airport would open new avenues for the development of the Purvanchal region.

The chief minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sanctioning international airport status to the Kushinagar airport at a Union Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

He said that the Jewar international airport would ensure air connectivity to west UP and the Kushinagar airport to the eastern part of the state.

He said that the Kushinagar airport getting international status would also help in developing the Buddhist circuit which includes Kushinagar, Sarnath, Shravasti, Kapilavastu, Kaushmabhi, Sankisa, Lumbini and Bodhgaya.

The chief minister said that this would also give a major boost to international tourism.

"Air travel to and from Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and other countries would be made easier," he said.

Also Watch:

The chief minister further said that this would generate employment opportunities in the state and give a boost to economic activities in the region.

The airport project is spread across 590 acres of land and about 95 per cent of the work on the project has been completed.
Actor Shekhar Suman has started a forum called 'Justice For Sushant' to pressurize the government to launch a CBI inquiry into Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide case. The forum would also be a front to fight against the 'mafias' in the industry, he said.

The actor sought support from his followers as he made the announcement on Twitter. He said he was disappointed that a "strong-willed and intelligent" actor like Sushant Singh Rajput had to take such a drastic step.

He tweeted, "Im forming a Forum called #justiceforSushantforum.where i implore just about ev one to pressurize the govt to launch a CBI inquiry into Sushant's death,raise their voices against this kind of tyranny n gangism and tear down the mafias.i solicit your support (sic)."

Shekhar also hinted that a few of the celebrities are hiding the real truth, and thus, he would start the forum to try and expose them. Sushant's death has reignited the nepotism debate in Bollywood, with many celebs speaking out on the issue.

Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging at his Bandra home on June 14. The actor did not leave a suicide note. Shekhar said he thought there was more than meets the eye in this case.

"It's crystal clear,if presuming Sushant Singh committed suicide,the way he was,strong willed and intelligent, he would have definitely definitely left a suicide note.My heart tells me,like many others,there is more than meets the eye (sic)," he tweeted.

Here are some more of his tweets on the issue:

Film industry       Sushant ke    ,     gaye hain.  gaye hain..the hypocrites are exposed.Bihar and India won't sit quiet till the culprits are punished.Bihar Zindabaad.  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 22, 2020
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Donald Trumps most brazenly partisan judicial appointee has come through for the president once again.

On Wednesday, in a 21 decision, Judge Neomi Rao forced a district court to dismiss the prosecution of Michael Flynn. Raos opinion is an exercise in outcome-driven sophistry that barely pretends to be a judicial opinion. While gutting a vital check of executive misconduct, Rao whitewashed the Justice Departments flagrantly political decision to drop charges against Flynnhours before the House Judiciary Committee heard whistleblowers testify about political interference at the DOJ, including in Flynns case. Rao accused the district court of unprecedented intrusions on individual liberty simply because it dared to prob[e] the governments motives for meddling in the prosecution of the presidents ally.

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Wednesdays decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will almost certainly be appealed to the full court and possibly the Supreme Court after that. If upheld, Raos ruling will set a terrible legal precedent. But equally devastating are its broader, long-term implications for judicial independence.

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The facts of the case are by now well known. Shortly before Trump took office, Flynn communicated with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, asking him to ensure that Russia did not respond too harshly to the Obama administrations sanctions. After becoming Trumps national security adviser, Flynn then lied to FBI agents about this conversation. In December 2017, Flynn entered a plea bargain with special counsel Robert Mueller, pleading guilty to willfully and knowingly lying to federal law enforcement. After Mueller ended his investigation, Flynn withdrew his guilty plea and Attorney General William Barr began reviewing the case. During this period, Trump repeatedly demanded that the DOJ drop charges against Flynn. Then, in May 2019, Barrs ally, U.S. Attorney Timothy Shea, sided with Flynn, urging the court to dismiss all charges. Former lead prosecutor Brandon L. Van Grack abruptly withdrew from the case, and not a single career prosecutor who had worked on the case for the past 2 years signed Sheas motion.

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There is ample evidence that Barr and Shea got Flynn off the hook at Trumps behest. This political meddling in a federal prosecution is wildly unethical and extremely disturbing. Luckily, there is a federal rule, 48(a), designed to prevent well-connected defendants from pulling strings in Washington to get their cases dismissed. Under Rule 48(a), the government requires leave of court to dismiss a criminal case. Thus, U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan, the Bill Clinton appointee overseeing the case, asked former federal Judge John Gleeson to address Sheas motion under the rule and explain whether Flynn committed perjury when entering his guilty plea. Sullivan then ordered briefing and scheduled a hearing on the matter, with the help of Gleeson as amicus.

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None of Raos arguments can be taken seriously.

Its important to remember that Sullivan has not yet ruled on the Justice Departments motion to dismiss. He merely appointed independent counsel to help flesh out his responsibilities under Rule 48(a). Moreover, Sullivan is not seeking to convict Flynn against the DOJs wishes; because he entered a guilty plea, Flynn has already been convicted. Sullivans only remaining task is to hand down a sentence. He appointed Gleeson as amicus to decide whether he should proceed with sentencing or grant leave of court and dismiss the case.

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According to Rao, however, these modest actions were not just inappropriatethey were plainly illegal. (Rao was joined by Judge Karen L. Henderson, a George H.W. Bush appointee.) To the majority, Sullivans actions were so outrageous they justified an exceedingly rare writ of mandamus, which let Flynn skip right over the normal course of appeals. Rao made three arguments to justify this extraordinary action, and none of them can be taken seriously.

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First, Rao more or less repealed Rule 48(a). Ignoring its history and purpose, Rao insisted judges may only refuse to grant leave of court in cases involving prosecutorial harassment. This claim is false: The Supreme Court itself has recognized that courts have also refused to grant leave of court if it is clearly contrary to the public interest. Second, Rao wrote that the government deserves the presumption of regularity because there is no clear evidence that it acted unethically. (There is, of course, a mountain of evidence to the contrary, but Rao dismisses these news stories, tweets, and other facts outside the record entirely.) Third, Rao declared that Sullivan is not allowed to scrutinize the governments conduct or force prosecutors to explain their decision in open court. Why? Because doing so would result in specific harms to the executive branch, she wrote, compelling it to reveal the internal deliberative process in violation of the constitutional separation of powers.

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These three arguments are rooted not in binding precedent, but in Raos own improvised sense that federal prosecutors are unaccountable to anyone but the president. As University of North Carolina criminal law professor Carissa Byrne Hessick has noted, this principle is utterly inconsistent with democratic accountability. In order for elections to serve as a remotely effective check on prosecutors, Hessick explained, voters need information about the decisions that prosecutors make. Yet Rao just enshrined into law a new edict that allows federal prosecutors to conceal their entire deliberative process from federal courtsand, by extension, the public.

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In dissent, Judge Robert L. Wilkins, a Barack Obama appointee, shredded each of Raos fictions with righteous indignation. Wilkins appears to be shocked that Rao would reach this trailblazing result by contorting or ignoring precedent. This is a case, he reminded the majority, about whether a district judge may even hold a hearing on a Rule 48(a) motion. There is no precedent to support Raos pronouncement that merely holding a hearing infringes on the presidents Article II powers. Furthermore, Sullivan had asked Gleeson to advise him on Flynns alleged perjury before the court. Federal judges have inherent authority to hold perjurers in contempt. Yet Rao prohibited Sullivan from considering whether to hold Flynn in contempt. It is as if Rao began with the conclusion that Flynn must be let off the hook entirely then worked her way backward to find flimsy, novel reasons why.

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Rao has run interference for the president before to shield him from meaningful oversight. She routinely acts like Trumps personal protector rather than an impartial judge, fabricating avant-garde legal theories out of whole cloth that happen to favor the executive every time. But her Wednesday decision crosses the line into new territory. The full D.C. Circuit, sitting en banc, can and should reverse her opinion, which presents a shockingly expansive theory of executive power that overrides the federal judiciarys ability to identify and stamp out prosecutorial corruption. Under Raos rule, federal judges must look the other way when politicians interfere in prosecutions to help their friendsa gross perversion of justice that plainly occurred here. Instead, federal judges must adopt a see no evil approach, rubber-stamping prosecutors rationalizations even when they reek of corruption. With this opinion, Rao has made herself and her court complicit in that corruption.

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A huge previously undiscovered prehistoric monument has been unearthed just a stones throw from Stonehenge.

Archeologists working in Durrington, southwest England, found evidence of at least 20 prehistoric shaftsmore than 10 meters (33 feet) in diameter and 5 meters (16 feet) deepon the ancient site where Stonehenge sits.

The shafts combine to form a circle more than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in diameter, archeologists from the University of St Andrews said.

The monument is most likely Neolithic and was created more than 4,500 years ago, they added. The first stage of Stonehenge was constructed around 3,000 B.C.

Clearly sophisticated practices demonstrate that the people were so in tune with natural events to an extent that we can barely conceive in the modern world we live in today, said Richard Bates of the University of St. Andrews School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

A security guard patrols around closed Stonehenge on March 20, 2020, in Amesbury, United Kingdom. (Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)

The team believe the shaftspositioned about 2 miles northeast of Stonehengewere built as a boundary to a sacred area or precinct associated with the henge. The Neolithic period, during which the first farmers in Britain worked, is characterized by the development of ornate, large ritual structures and enclosures, including the famous stone circle at Stonehenge.

However, no comparative prehistoric structure in the UK encloses such a large area as the circle of shafts at Durrington, and the structure is currently unique, the university said in a press release.

The effort invested in making the newly discovered monument suggests an important cosmological link between it and Stonehenge, the team added.

Stonehenge during solstice in 2019 (Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)

The presence of such massive features, and perhaps an internal post line, guided people towards the religious sites within the circle or may have warned those who were not permitted to cross the boundary marked by the shafts, the university said.

Though the purpose of Stonehenge remains unknown to modern archeologists and historians, the famous stones are positioned in relation to the solstices and the Suns movements.

Saturday marked the Summer Solstice, which would usually see tourists flock to Stonehenge for a public celebrationbut the coronavirus pandemic meant this years event was canceled.

English Heritage, which manages the site, said, Our first priority is the health and wellbeing of all visitors, volunteers and staff, and we hope you can understand why we have taken this unprecedented step, it said. We appreciate this is a very important time for druids, pagans and other spiritual people and hope you will still be able to celebrate the spring equinox in your own special way.

CNN Wire and Getty Images contributed to this report.
Julie Bishop says she has 'moved on' from politics and has no intention of returning to make a bid for the top job.

The former foreign minister retired from politics at the Federal Election in May 2019 and is now serving a three-year tenure as the Australian National University's first female Chancellor.

Ms Bishop appeared on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday, where she was quizzed about a potential comeback.

'I was hoping she'd be prime minister but no, she decided to go off and love life and live life and she's doing plenty of other things,' Kyle said.

Julie Bishop says she has 'moved on' from politics and has no intention of returning

The radio host asked the former deputy leader of the Liberal party if she had thought about gunning for prime minister.

'Is there any chance that you would get back into politics and we may see you as prime minister one day?' Kyle asked.

The 63-year-old said she decided to walk away from politics for good following the leadership spill in 2018 as she had already achieved her career goals in the field.

'Kyle, I was in Federal Parliament for 20 years,' she said.

'I ended up holding what I found to be the most rewarding and challenging role in the Federal Government and that was as foreign minister.

'And so, mid-2018 with the leadership battle, it was time for me to move on to a third career.

Ms Bishop is pictured addressing the media in London, as Australia's Australian Foreign Affairs Minister in 2018

'Working from home COVID-style - audio v video,' Ms Bishop wrote on Instagram along side this snap

'I had a career in law and then in politics and now in the private sector so I'm very happy doing what I'm doing.'

But Kyle remained persistent throughout his interview and again questioned if she could return to 'run the joint'.

'I've drawn a line in the sand. I've moved on. You don't do regrets, you don't go back overtime,' Ms Bishop said.

'There are aspects of political life that of course I miss but overall I'm really excited about what I'm doing now.

'I have control over my own life, my own agenda and I can focus on things that I really care about so I'm really starting to enjoy life to its fullest again.'

Ms Bishop also spoke about the 'profound impact' coronavirus has had on everyone's lives.

The former foreign minister retired from politics last year and is now serving a three-year tenure as the Australian National University's first female Chancellor

'I've drawn a line in the sand. I've moved on. You don't do regrets, you don't go back overtime,' Ms Bishop said

She said has gotten used to the routine of living in lockdown in Australia.

'I think the state and federal governments have done an extraordinary job in dealing with what is an unprecedented event,' she said.

Ms Bishop announced her retirement from her Perth electorate of Curtin in February 2019.

'I will not recontest the seat of Curtin at the next election,' she said at the time.

The former corporate lawyer said she was proud to have served 'my beloved Liberal Party, my state of Western Australia, and my country'.

Her retirement announcement came six months after receiving just 11 votes in the Liberal Party leadership ballot to succeed Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister.
[June 23, 2020] ABLIC Launches the S-576Z R Series of ZCL Hall Effect ICs for Infrastructure Equipment

ABLIC Inc. (President: Nobumasa Ishiai, head office: Mitano-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter "ABLIC") today launched the S-576Z R Series of Hall effect ICs for infrastructure equipment.

The S-576Z R Series, a ZCL (*1) Hall effect IC (magnetic sensor) for infrastructure equipment, uses an innovative and world first (*2) detection methodology announced in October 2018. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005004/en/ S-576Z R Series (Graphic: Business Wire) The new S-576Z R Series product significantly extends the operation temperature range of ABLIC's previously released Hall effect ICs for general industrial equipment. It enables stable operation in harsh environments where the ambient temperature of the Hall effect IC can range from as low as -50C to as high as +150C, e.g. when the motor is operating under scorching direct sunlight. As the industry's (*3) only surface-mount Hall effect IC for brushless DC motors that guarantees operation down to temperatures of -50C, it is especilly suitable for use in very cold climates.



The S-576Z R Series employs ZCL detection technology, developed by ABLIC-capable of minimizing fluctuations in output signal timing-to greatly enhance stability of DC motor control. (*1) ZCL: Abbreviation of Zero Crossing Latch.

(*2) (*3) Based on our research as of May 2020.

[Major Features] Wide operation temperature range enables operation at temperature extremes (-50 to +150C) The ZCL Hall effect IC employs an innovative detection method that differs from both unipolar and bipolar detection Properties required for use in motors Wide operation voltage range promises stable sensor signal output.

Advanced static electricity countermeasures ensure durability in harsh motor setup and assembly environments.

A built-in pull-up resistor (an optional product) ideal for reducing differences in rise and fall delay times of sensor signal output. [Application Examples] Outdoor infrastructure equipment (cellular phone base station antennas, outdoor installations of electric valve actuators)

Movable surveillance cameras, low-temperature freezer fans, snowmobiles and other snow machines [ZCL Technology Introduction]

https://hub.ablic.com/en/products/zcl [S-576Z R Series Product Details]

https://hub.ablic.com/en/products/s-576z-r [Website]

https://www.ablic.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005004/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
BASEL, Switzerland, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BaseLaunch, the Basel Area-based biotech venture accelerator and incubator, today announces that Roivant Sciences has joined as the third partner of BaseLaunch Phase II, the next phase in BaseLaunch's company building activities. Roivant Sciences has already been a partner in the first Phase of BaseLaunch.

Roivant Sciences joins Roche and venture fund BB Pureos Bioventures in supporting BaseLaunch's investment in innovation, with additional partners being announced over the coming weeks and months. Roivant Sciences aims to deliver innovative medicines and technologies to patients by building Vants  nimble, entrepreneurial biotech and healthcare technology companies with a unique approach to sourcing talent, aligning incentives and deploying technology. Roivant has a diverse pipeline of investigational drugs in 14 therapeutic areas across its family of companies. In addition to its biopharmaceutical subsidiaries, Roivant Sciences also builds technology-focused Vants aimed at improving the process of developing and commercializing medicines.

"We are proud to continue our partnership with BaseLaunch and support its mission of building companies that deliver innovative medicines to patients," said Sascha Bucher, Head of Global Transactions at Roivant Sciences.

Neil Goldsmith, Director Strategy at BaseLaunch, commented: "We are very pleased to welcome Roivant Sciences as a partner in BaseLaunch Phase II. We know that young, fast-growing companies require support to see them progress to the next stage in their development. As partners in the first Phase of BaseLaunch, the experience and support of the Roivant team has been invaluable to our portfolio companies. Roivant's entrepreneurial spirit is core to its model and the perfect inspiration and example to new ventures. We welcome their continued commitment as we look to provide capital and resources to back the next generation of scientific innovation."

BaseLaunch serves as an accelerator and incubator for early stage ventures developing cutting-edge therapeutics. BaseLaunch helps build companies from inception through to Series A funding, providing financing and supporting all aspects of business development. During 2018 and 2019, BaseLaunch supported nine early therapeutic ventures which have raised a total of more than USD 100 million in equity capital from US and European venture funds, thereby contributing to the life sciences ecosystem of the Basel Area. Recently, BaseLaunch has added another four ventures to its portfolio, and has been instrumental in contributing to the development of six more ventures in the Basel Area.

Building on the success of its first phase, BaseLaunch Phase II will:

Increase funding per venture to a maximum of USD 0.5 million (versus USD 0.25 million previously)

(versus previously) Have a new and increased pool of partners

Establish BaseLaunch as an "evergreen" permanent initiative

Accept applications year-round, rather than once per year

BaseLaunch is operated by Basel Area Business & Innovation, the investment and innovation promotion agency of the Basel Area. During its first phase (2017-2019), BaseLaunch was supported by Roche, Novartis Venture Fund, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Roivant Sciences. Having entered its second phase, BaseLaunch is gearing up with new commitments, which will be announced soon, harnessing the Basel Area's unique position as a global life sciences hub, as well as its rising popularity among investors, to attract the next generation of breakthrough companies. BaseLaunch Phase II is now open for applications. Interested groups can find information at www.baselaunch.ch/apply/.

About BaseLaunch

BaseLaunch is the Basel Area-based incubator and accelerator that helps scientists and entrepreneurs launch exceptional biotech companies. BaseLaunch serves as a growth platform for early stage ventures developing cutting-edge therapeutics. BaseLaunch helps build companies from inception through to Series A funding, providing financing and supporting all aspects of business development. Operationally run and financed by Basel Area Business & Innovation, the investment and innovation promotion agency of the Basel Area, BaseLaunch partners with leading global pharma companies and venture funds - the first announced being Roche, BB Pureos Bioventures and Roivant Sciences - which also aliment the pool out of which BaseLaunch funds ventures. Regional and domain partners include the cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt and Jura as well as KPMG, SpiroChem, Vossius & Partner and Infors HT. Since 2018, BaseLaunch supported ventures have raised in total over USD 100 million. Harnessing Basel Area's unique position as a global life sciences hub, as well as its rising popularity among investors, BaseLaunch is looking to attract the next generation of breakthrough companies and is now open for applications. Interested groups can find more information at www.baselaunch.ch

About Basel Area Business & Innovation

Basel Area Business & Innovation is the investment and innovation promotion agency dedicated to helping companies, institutions and startups find business success in the Basel Area. The organization targets and attracts companies to settle, supports founders of innovative ventures, and drives high growth initiatives in order to establish the region as the Swiss business and innovation hub of the future. The non-profit agency focuses on growing the area's cutting-edge industries life sciences, healthcare and production technologies and manages the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area which houses the organization's accelerator programs. The agency serves the cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt and Jura. www.baselarea.swiss

About Roivant Sciences

Roivant Sciences aims to improve health by rapidly delivering innovative medicines and technologies to patients. Roivant does this by building Vants  nimble, entrepreneurial biotech and healthcare technology companies with a unique approach to sourcing talent, aligning incentives, and deploying technology to drive greater efficiency in R&D and commercialization. For more information, please visit www.roivant.com

SOURCE BaseLaunch
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Shares of Page Industries, the licensee of Jockey International and Speedo in India and Sri Lanka, rallied 10.5 percent intraday on June 24 despite dismal earnings performance in March quarter 2020.

"Page Industries' Q4FY20 results missed estimates significantly on topline, and particularly, on EBITDA/PAT levels. Even with gradual reopening of stores, demand trend for the first 2-3 quarters of FY21 is likely to be weak," said Motilal Oswal which has neutral rating on the stock with a target of Rs 17,905 per share.

There is no evidence yet that the company has turned the corner toward recovering anywhere close to the around 30 percent earnings CAGR witnessed during FY08-18, and the Page Industries is fully valued at 50.5x FY22E EPS, the brokerage feels.

Page Industries has reported a 11 percent decline in Q4 revenue and 18.8 percent fall in volumes compared to same period last year. Motilal Oswal estimated volumes decline at 11.5 percent for the quarter.

While having a hold rating with a target of Rs 17,500 (down from Rs 18,200 earlier), Emkay Global also said Page reported an 11 percent fall in revenues (decline was 5 percent above expectations), dragged by a loss in volumes due to non-fulfilment of orders and store closures. COVID-19 impacted revenues by around Rs 150 crore in Q4FY20.

The company's profit fell 58.6 percent and EBITDA dropped 51.4 percent, while gross margin was contracted 480 basis points to 58.8 percent and EBITDA margin fell 890 bps YoY to 10.7 percent in Q4FY20 YoY.

It expects a freeze on employee hiring, IT investments and other cost optimizations to help margins in FY21.

The stock has rallied 28 percent from its lows hit in April but is still down 20 percent from its January's high. It was up 7.7 percent at Rs 20,650 on the BSE at 14:35 hours IST.

The company's commentary was encouraging, with sales surpassing expectations and pre-COVID-19 levels in some of the open stores, Emkay said, adding Page attributed the strong demand to work from home-led leisure-wear purchases, closer proximity and strong brand recall.

Page expects healthy balance sheet and strong supply chain to help gain the market share.

Company said current situation was better than feared and production facilities were running at 85 percent now. According to management, in 6-9 months, the company would be back to where it was last year unless there is a second wave of COVID-19.

Page received Rs 90 crore worth of orders in Q4FY20 that were not dispatched or billed; however, the same will now be part of Q1FY21 revenues.

In full year FY20, company's profit fell 12.9 percent and EBITDA declined 13.7 percent, but revenue grew by 3.3 percent.

Given the lockdown and delay in reaching full capacity, brokerages cut their earnings estimates for FY21 as well as FY22.

"Factoring in the delayed reopening, we reduce our FY21/22E EPS by around 10 percent. Valuations at 47x FY22EPS are not attractive yet and we await a better entry point," said Emkay Global.

Motilal Oswal said changes to the model have resulted in 26.4/2.9 percent decline in FY21/FY22 EPS estimates owing to the weak near-term topline/earnings outlook and lack of clarity on recovery.

"Page has an immensely impressive earnings growth track record. Its recent efforts on balance sheet improvement are commendable. Also, management's endeavours to improve channel efficiency and revitalize growth are likely to eventually bear fruit. However, the path to earnings recovery is unclear," it added.

Category slowdown, weak channel liquidity and competitive headwinds present other significant near-term challenges in addition to the COVID-19 impact, the brokerage feels.

: The above report is compiled from information available on public platforms. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Beijing is ramping up efforts to further reinforce COVID-19 prevention and control network to avoid any possible transmission of the novel coronavirus by enhancing relevant measures for key links and sense of responsibility of major entities.

Beijing reported nine newly confirmed COVID-19 cases on June 21, bringing the double-digit daily increase to a single-digit number after 8 consecutive days and seeing a sound momentum of epidemic control.

In recent days, the capital has spared no pains and raced against time to carry out strict epidemiological investigations and comprehensively trace the source of the new clustered infections.

In the short period of time, Beijing has fully grasped the information of the resurgence and important risk points, and contained further spread of the disease.

Comprehensive and thorough disinfection measures have been taken in farm produce markets to ensure strict epidemic prevention and control at all links of the food supply chain.

Learning its lesson from the Xinfadi wholesale market, Beijing has comprehensively intensified efforts to strengthen management of the whole supply chain to guarantee food safety.

While requiring market operators to earnestly perform their duty to adopt strict standards in cleaning, disinfection, ventilation, and personal protection, the city has also tightened inspection and quarantine for food transported through cold chain systems, extending epidemic prevention measures for agricultural and sideline products to key places including vegetable markets, supermarkets, restaurants, and canteens.

A wholesale market on Dayang Road, Shibalidian township, Chaoyang district of Beijing, sterilizes the stall and booth area four times a day, the living area and public area outside the hall of the market, including sewer and garbage station, twice a day, and toilets four times a day. Besides, trash in the market is cleared every day.

In addition, the market regulation administration of Chaoyang district puts on record and establishes a ledger for all the products in the market, in a bid to ensure that the sources and sales process of the products are under control and traceable.

Massive COVID-19 tests have been conducted on construction sites to ensure safety.

June is the peak period for construction projects. The high density of workers has posed challenge for epidemic prevention and control on construction sites. Beijing has so far discovered three confirmed COVID-19 cases on two construction sites, both of which have been put under closed-off management.

On June 22, Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-rural Development issued new regulations on epidemic prevention and control for construction sites, specifying that all the staff members of a project must be tested for COVID-19 if there is direct contact of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the project, or if anyone works for the project has been to the Xinfadi market.

All the chefs, purchasers, service providers, sanitation workers and security guards of construction sites must be tested for COVID-19, according to the new regulations. Those required to take COVID-19 test also include the staff working for projects under construction and major projects in medium- and high-risk areas.

The city has tested a total of 1,622 people working for 435 projects in 16 districts, according to Ding Sheng, deputy director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

Public transport system in Beijing has adopted the strictest epidemic prevention and control measures.

On the basis of existing measures, bus stations in high-risk areas are requested to be disinfected every hour, and the interior of the buses are requested to be disinfected every trip an ensure ventilation.

Beijing Subway also further raised relevant standards for disinfection, ventilation, and temperature measurement, requiring that all the facilities frequently touched by passengers must be disinfected once an hour, such as security inspection devices and equipment, self-service ticket issuing equipment, turnstiles, handrails of staircases and escalators, as well as elevators.

In addition, public floors, stairs, gates, as well as toilets are required to be disinfected five times a day, while subway cars must turn on their fresh air ventilation system all the time.
Apple is temporarily closing all of its Houston-area retail stores, citing the surging number of COVID-19 cases in the region.

The company had reopened its Texas stores in late May after closing them for several months at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Apple said then that if conditions in individual markets deteriorated some stores might be shuttered again.

The Apple stores at Highland Village, First Colony Mall, the Houston Galleria, Memorial City Mall, Willowbrook Mall, Baybrook Mall and The Woodlands Mall closed at 7 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed until further notice, according to a statement from the company.

HOUSTON HOW TO: Stay safe dining out as COVID-19 cases surge

Customers due to pick up devices being repaired will have a few days to get them, an Apple spokesperson said. The Houston stores had allowed customers inside to shop, with masks required for entry. They also offered curbside pickup.

Stores in other Texas cities remain open for now. On Friday, Apple closed 11 stores in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Arizona.

The closures come as Apple is in the middle of its weeklong World Wide Developers Conference, being conducted in a virtual format due to the pandemic.

Microsoft's retail stores closed March 16, including its stores in the Galleria, Baybrook and The Woodlands malls. They did not reopen and remain closed, a company spokesperson said.

Release Notes: Get Dwight Silvermans weekly tech newsletter in your inbox

The closures come after Texas has experienced a dramatic jump in the number of those testing positive for the novel coronavirus. Gov. Greg Abbott warned Wednesday that there will be another daily increase of more than 5,000 cases statewide, with another 4,000 people hospitalized with COVID-19.

Texas Medical Center warned Wednesday that its intensive care capacity could be exceeded as soon as Thursday because of the surge in COVID-19 patients. In Harris County, the number of people hospitalized with the disease has tripled since May 31.

On Monday, an order issued by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo took effect mandating that businesses require their employees and customers to wear masks.

dwight.silverman@chron.com
A Pennsylvania mom has been arrested and charged for being her son's 'getaway driver' when he allegedly held up a store at gunpoint and made off with $3,570.

Lori Ann McHenry, 52, admitted to driving her son Steven James Martin, 28, to and from Sam's Place Lottery & Tobacco in Montoursville in March where he carried out an armed robbery, authorities said.

According to an affidavit, McHenry confessed to cops that she drove Martin to the store, dropping him off and then picking him back up once the alleged robbery was over.

The mother also allegedly admitted she knew her son was planning to hold up the store when she drove him from the home they share to the scene of the crime.

Surveillance footage shows the armed heist at Sam's Place Lottery & Tobacco in Montoursville in March. A Pennsylvania mom Lori Ann McHenry, 52, allegedly admitted to being her son's 'getaway driver' when he allegedly held up the store at gunpoint and made off with $3,570

The mother and son duo allegedly carried out the armed heist at the tobacco store just before 10 p.m. on March 18.

Martin is accused of robbing the store at gunpoint before making off with $3,570 cash.

Surveillance footage from inside the store shows a man believed to be Martin wearing a camouflage face mask and black ski goggles and brandishing a handgun while handing over a red drawstring bag to the cashier.

No shots were fired and no one was injured during the robbery, PennLive reported at the time.

The net closed in on the duo when staff at a nearby Taco Bell said they recognized Martin in surveillance footage because he wore similar clothing when he worked at the fast food joint, state police said.

Investigators said they later found items allegedly used in the heist during a raid of the mother and son's home on May 6.

Surveillance footage from inside the Sam's Place Lottery & Tobacco in Montoursville shows a man believed to be Steven James Martin, 28, wearing a camouflage face mask and black ski goggles and brandishing a handgun while handing over a red drawstring bag to the cashier

Sam's Place Lottery & Tobacco in Montoursville. Separate footage also allegedly shows the mother and son team driving in a Lincoln Town Car on the night of the robbery before returning to their home several hours later, according to the affidavi

These items included a pellet gun, a camouflage face mask, black goggles, blue Penn State sweatshirt, black gloves, gray sweatpants, gray sneakers and drawstring bag.

Separate footage also allegedly shows the mother and son team driving in a Lincoln Town Car on the night of the robbery before returning to their home several hours later, according to the affidavit.

The footage shows McHenry gave false information to officers about both of their whereabouts at the time of the crime, authorities said.

McHenry was arrested and charged last week with conspiracy to commit robbery and theft.

She was released after posting $50,000 bail but also faces separate charges for allegedly selling unspecified pills to an informant or undercover officer in Muncy Creek Township in April, reported PennLive.

She was also released after posting $50,000 bond in that case.

Martin has been charged with robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats, possession of an instrument of crime and simple assault and is being held without bail.
JeM, LeT among other terror organisations named in a report released by the Analytical Support and Monitoring Team, said to be colluding with the Taliban in disrupting peace in Afghanistan, as Pak fails to prevent terror-financing risks, despite several alerts.

About 6,500 Pakistanis are operating as terrorist ranks in Afghanistan, posing a significant threat to the peace, stability and security of the war-torn country and South Asia region, stated a UN Security Council report.

The report released by Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, concerning the Taliban and other associated individuals and entities, published in the EU Chronicle, stated that the fighters trained by Pakistan-based terror outfits such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) act as advisers, trainers and specialists in improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.

The presence of such terrorists poses a complex challenge for the Taliban to prove its credibility as a counter-terrorism partner in the war-torn country. Furthermore, Pakistans ambitions for Afghanistan and the support of its Inter-Intelligence Services (ISI) to Pak based terrorist organisations, as per the UN report implies that it too wants to be included in the race for control.

Also read: Hong Kong religious leaders at risk of extradition to China under new security law: US-based watchdog

Also read: Indian community protests outside Chinese consulate in Canada

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, in July 2019, on his three-day official visit to Washington, admitted to American lawmakers that successive governments in his country previously had not told the truth to the United States, in particular over the past 15 years where forty different militant groups were operating in Pakistan.

Until we came into power, the governments did not have the political will, because when you talk about militant groups, we still have about 30,000-40,000 armed people who have been trained and fought in some part of Afghanistan or Kashmir. There was a watershed in Pakistani politics. In 2014, the Pakistani Taliban slaughtered 150 schoolchildren at Army Public School (in Peshawar). All the political parties signed the National Action Plan and we all decided after that, that we will not allow any militant groups to operate inside Pakistan. Khan said during his appearance at the US Institute of Peace, a US-Congress funded think-tank.

The UN Security Council reports, supported with evidence and Pakistans current failings to comply with the Paris-based FATFs (Financial Action Task Force) recommendations, has raised concerns for counter-terrorism experts.

Pakistan has been scrambling in recent months to avoid being added to a list of countries deemed non-compliant with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing regulations. The country is already listed as a country of concern for the European Union. Such measures have an impact on Pakistans global ratings and thus damage an already weakened economy.

The FATFs decision to keep the South Asian country on its grey list in 2018 demonstrated that the body believes that Pakistans financial system continues to pose a risk to the international financial system because of strategic deficiencies in its ability to prevent terrorism financing and money laundering.

While noting recent improvements, the FATF again expresses serious concerns with the overall lack of progress by Pakistan to address its terror financing risks, including remaining deficiencies in demonstrating a sufficient understanding of Pakistans transnational terror financing risks, more broadly, Pakistans failure to complete its action plan in line with the agreed timelines and in light of the terror financing risks emanating from the jurisdiction, FATF stated.

In the period under FATFs last assessment, a number of terrorist attacks occurred. A number of terrorist groups, including UN-listed groups, operate in Pakistan all of which raise funds through a variety of means including direct support, public fundraising, abuse of non-profit Organisations, and through criminal activities.

Meanwhile, Pakistans geographical landscape and porous borders further increases its vulnerability to terrorism financing and heightens the countrys terrorism financing risks associated with cash smuggling, the EU Chronicle said.

The FATF is expected to evaluate Pakistans progress this month, however, the presence of Pakistani based terrorist groups in Afghanistan is unlikely to be seen favourable.

Also read: European think-tank exposes how Pak destroyed Kashmirs religious diversity

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The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced job vacancies for specialist cadre officers. According to the official notification, positions across 20 categories are up for grabs. There are a total of 444 vacancies. Aspirants can apply for the posts by visiting the official website of the centralised bank- sbi.co.in. The last date to apply is July 13.

Details of vacancies:

Relationship Manager - 48 vacancies Head (Product, Investment & Research) - 1 vacancy Central Research Team (Portfolio Analysis & Data Analytics) - 1 vacancy Investment Officer - 09 vacancies Project Development Manager (Technology) - 1 vacancy Relationship Manager (Team Lead) - 3 vacancies Vice President (Stressed Assets Marketing) - 1 vacancy Chief Manager (Special situation Team) -3 vacancies Deputy Manager (Stressed Assets Marketing) -3 vacancies Product Manager -6 vacancies Manager (Data Analyst) -2 vacancies Manager (Digital Marketing) -1 vacancy Faculty-3 vacancies SME Credit Analyst -20 vacancies Deputy Manager (IS Audit)-8 vacancies Banking Supervisory Specialist - 01 vacancy Manager-Anytime Channel -1 vacancy Executive (FI & MM) - 241 vacancies Sr Executive (Social Banking & CSR - 85 vacancies Sr Executive -6 vacancies

SBI SO recruitment 2020: Eligibility criteria

Candidates who wish to apply should be between 25 and 35 years of age. Age will be calculated as on January 1, 2020. A candidate should have completed CA/ MBA (finance)/PGDM (finance)/PGDBM (finance) or any equivalent postgraduation degree from a recognised university or college.

SBI SO recruitment 2020: Selection criteria

Candidates have to appear for the written exam and an interview .The interview will carry 100 marks. The qualifying marks in the interview will be decided by the bank. In case more than one candidate scores the same marks, then older candidate will be given preference.

SBI SO recruitment 2020: Application fee

The SBI SO recruitment 2020 examination's application fee is Rs 750 for candidates belonging to General, OBC and EWS category. However, there will be no application fee would be charged for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste/Tribe or PWD.

SBI SO recruitment 2020: Salary

The initial salary will be in the range of Rs 42,020 to Rs 51,490. The selected candidates will also be eligible for DA, HRA, CCA, PF, Contributory Pension Fund, LFC, Medical Facility etc, as per rules.
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)
Mike Muller, left, a retired lieutenant-general who participated in the 1950-53 Korean War as a pilot with No. 2 Squadron of the South African Air Force, receives face masks sent by the Korean government to protect foreign veterans from COVID-19, at his home in Pretoria, South Africa, June 8. Defense attache to the Korean Embassy in South Africa Col. Lee Byung-chul delivered masks to South African veterans including Muller. Courtesy of Korean Embassy in South Africa



By Jung Da-min



Mike Muller, 89, is a retired lieutenant general and South African war veteran who participated in the 1950-53 Korean War as a pilot with 2 Squadron of the South African Air Force (SAAF) nicknamed the Flying Cheetahs. At the time, Muller was a 21-year-old second lieutenant of the South African military.



Like many of his fellow servicemen, he had never heard of Korea before the war broke out, but seven decades on, Muller says he still vividly remembers his time in Korea during the war. In 1951, he was flying a P-51 Mustang, on missions disrupting the supply routes of the North's Korean People's Army (KPA), after joining the U.S. Air Force's 18th Fighter Bomber Wing.



"I arrived in Korea on May 19, 1951, and left after I had to abandon my aircraft ... My last mission was on Oct. 3 that year," Muller told The Korea Times in a recent video interview. He said he had three missions left when he reported back to the commanding post but could not complete them after being shot down.



That was during his 72nd mission on the peninsula and his F-51 Mustang crashed in a region north of Pyongyang, occupied by communist forces. He had to jump from the cockpit of his fighter and parachute into in enemy territory.



Fortunately, after about four hours, he was rescued by an S-51 Sikorsky helicopter dispatched from the U.S. Navy's dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall.



Muller said the SAAF pilots were experienced and quickly adapted to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, as a leading air force of World War II, but they still suffered heavy losses in Korea, with 23 pilots killed in action.





Mike Muller, a retired lieutenant-general who participated in the 1950-53 Korean War as a pilot with No. 2 Squadron of the South African Air Force, talks during a recent video interview with The Korea Times. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-min

"I can just tell you that in 1951, we had very heavy losses. Twelve of the 23 pilots who died on their missions during the war were very experienced pilots of World War II," Muller said.



After returning to South Africa and serving in various posts in the SAAF, he became the chief of the Air Force in 1979. He reached the rank of lieutenant general when he retired in 1984, and later served as an ambassador to Chile.



His leadership as a second lieutenant leading a fighter formation of the SAAF during the 72 air attack missions was recognized by the governments of South Korea and the U.S. as well as South Africa, for which he has been awarded medals.









Muller said the South Korean government has treated him very well and he traveled to South Korea three times at its invitation. His latest visit was in 2016.



"Each time I return to Korea to see the immense development that has happened in between each time, I was absolutely amazed by the speed of the development and was pleasantly surprised," Muller said.



He also thanked the South Korean government for sending him face masks for protection from COVID-19 this year and said, "I wish you would fully recover from the encounter with this dreadful disease now."



Since May, the South Korean government has been providing face masks to Korean War veterans in 22 countries as an act of gratitude for their sacrifices for and contributions to the nation, as it marks the 70th year since the war broke out. In the three-year Korean War, more than 1.9 million service members from 22 U.N. member states took part and 37,902 of them died.



Australian veteran Norman Lee, 90, a retired commodore of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), also received face masks from the South Korean government. Having visited South Korea two times after the Korean War, in 2002 and in 2013, he said he thinks the country has done remarkably well to recover.





Norman Lee, left, a retired commodore of the Royal Australian Navy who participated in the 1950-53 Korean War, talks with Col. Kwon Tae-sub, defense attache with the Korean Embassy in Australia, at his residence in Kandra, May 27, after Kwon delivered face masks sent by the Korean government to help protect foreign veterans from the COVID-19 pandemic. Courtesy of Korean Embassy in Australia
T witter has placed a warning notice on a post from Donald Trump, saying it violated the social media firms policy against abusive behaviour.

The US President had tweeted that protesters would be met with serious force if they tried to set up an autonomous zone in Washington DC.

Mr Trump's tweet was hidden behind Twitters "public interest" notice because there was a threat of harm against an identifiable group, the company said.

"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 on Tuesday read.

The Twitter warning notice read: This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about abusive behaviour.

However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the publics interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.

This was the second time Twitter has deployed the public interest label on a tweet by the US president, after announcing the creation of the tool last summer.

Chief Executive Jack Dorsey was informed of the decision before the notice was applied, a Twitter spokeswoman said.

The US leaders tweet came after anti-racism protesters on Monday declared a Black House Autonomous Zone near the White House in front of St. John's Church.

They referenced a Seattle area known as the Capitol Hill Organised Protest (CHOP) zone, or the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.

The company first attached its public interest notice to one of Mr Trump's tweets last month.

In that tweet, the president 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."
A group of Republican Senators have introduced a bill to end the use of warrant-proof encrypted technology used by popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.

The Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act is aimed at bolstering national security interests but would compromise the security and privacy measures put in place by technology firms.

If passed, it could require companies to build so-called back doors into their products, allowing private conversations to be accessed by third parties.

The bill was introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham on Tuesday, along with fellow Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Marsha Blackburn.

After law enforcement obtains the necessary court authorisations, they should be able to retrieve information to assist in their investigations, Graham said in a statement.

Recommended WhatsApp payments launched in Brazil

Our legislation respects and protects the privacy rights of law-abiding Americans. It also puts the terrorists and criminals on notice that they will no longer be able to hide behind technology to cover their tracks.

Senator Blackburn claimed that the apps have become popular with drug traffickers and child predators, while Senator Cotton described them as a lawless playground of criminal activity.

Privacy advocates have consistently noted the importance of end-to-end encryption for internet users, as it protects people from hackers, oppressive governments, corporations and any other unwanted surveillance.

12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Show all 12 1 /12 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Unsend messages You can unsend a message by tapping and holding it, hitting the Delete symbol and selecting Delete for Everyone. The feature works for all types of messages, but only if they were sent less than seven minutes ago. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Dodge the blue ticks WhatsApps blue ticks show when sent messages have been read, but you can disable them buy going to Settings > Account > Privacy > Read Receipts. However, bear in mind that, by doing so, youll lose the ability to see when your own sent messages have been read. Another, more fiddly way of reading your messages without triggering the blue ticks, is enabling Aeroplane Mode before opening your messages - just remember to close the app before switching Aeroplane Mode off again. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Hide your 'last seen' time Prevent your friends from finding out when you were last online by hiding your last seen time. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Last Seen. As is the case with disabling read receipts, hiding your last seen time will also stop you from seeing anybody elses. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Limit data usage You can control how much data you munch through on WhatsApp by limiting the types of media you automatically download on a mobile connection. Go to Settings > Data Usage and choose the best option for you. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Customise notifications If youre expecting an important WhatsApp message from someone, set a custom notification for them by opening the chat, tapping their name at the top and hitting Custom Notifications. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Format your messages To jazz up any of your messages, simply highlight it by tapping and holding it, hit the More Options key on the pop-up menu and tap the formatting option you want - bold, italic, strikethrough or monospace. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Type hands-free You can get Siri or Google Assistant to type your WhatsApp messages out for you by saying either Hey Siri or Okay Google, followed by the name of the person you want to message and the actual contents of the message. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Mark chats as unread When youve read a message but cant reply to it straight away, you can set a visual reminder by marking it as unread. On Android, long-press the conversation, and on iOS, swipe from left to right on a chat. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Email entire conversations You almost certainly wont do this on a regular basis, but its a handy option to have. You can export entire conversations - complete with emoji and media attachments - by hitting More inside a chat a selecting Email Chat. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Mass-message contacts You can send the same message to lots of your contacts without lumping them all into one group, much like the BCC option on email, by hitting the New Broadcast option on the apps main menu. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Pin conversations You pin up to three contacts and groups to the top of your WhatsApp conversation list by tapping and holding a chat, then hitting the pin icon. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Make things easier to find You can easily mark key messages with a star, allowing you to find them easily when you need to. Just tap and hold a message and hit the star icon to save it, and return to it later by selecting Starred Messages in WhatsApps main menu.

Technology companies have also pushed back against previous attempts to compromise the privacy and security of its users.

In 2016, Apple refused a request from the FBI to assist in retrieving data from an iPhone used by one of the terrorists who carried out the San Bernardino shooting attacks.

In response to the latest proposal, Facebook said compromising end-to-end encryption would put its users at risk.

End-to-end encryption is a necessity in modern life  it protects billions of messages sent every day on many apps and services, especially in times like these when we cant be together, the firm said in a statement.

Rolling back this vital protection will make us all less safe, not more. We are committed to continuing to work with law enforcement and fighting abuse while preserving the ability for all Americans to communicate privately and securely.
(Representative Image: PTI)

China on Wednesday blamed India for the Galwan Valley clash, which took place 0n June 15 and killed at least 20 Indian soldiers. Launching a tirade against India, China's foreign and defence ministries alleged that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian media were spreading lies about the clash.

The two Chinese ministries criticised New Delhi for "violating bilateral agreements, international rules and provoking the clash." The violent clash left 20 Indian army soldiers dead and reportedly caused an unspecified number of casualties to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), reported Hindustan Times.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, said, "Early morning on May 6, Indias border troops under the guise of darkness, trespassed into Chinas territory and provoked the incident. Chinas troops had to take necessary measures to strengthen their response and their management of the border areas."

When asked why China is repeating its stand on the incident, Zhao said, "My statement is meant to clarify the whole situation, tell the truth to everyone. We made the statement because the MEA in India and also Indian media have made some false reports.

Meanwhile, Defence Ministry Spokesman Col Wu Qian said the two defence ministers are negotiating on the phone. "The two sides held a second military-level meeting on June 22 to exchange in-depth views on controlling tensions and maintaining peace and stability in the border areas," he said.

"China and India are important neighbours to each other. Maintaining a peaceful and tranquil border region is in the common interests of both sides and requires common efforts as well," Wu said. "We hope that India will work with China, follow faithfully the important consensus reached between the two leaders, abide by the agreements reached between the two governments, and properly handle relevant issues through dialogue and negotiation on various levels," he added.

The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in the standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso.

The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions, and demanded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the border row.

(With inputs from PTI)
Anthony Lando

Julia B. Fee Sothebys International Realty today announced that seasoned real estate agent Anthony Lando has joined the companys Irvington, N.Y., brokerage. A lifelong resident of New York, Lando brings multi-faceted real estate expertise across both the Westchester and Rockland County markets, achieving over $110 million in closed sales volume in the last five years alone.

Anthony Lando is recognized in REAL Trends annual Americas Best ranking of the top  of 1% of real estate professionals nationally, as well as Westchester Magazines Five Star Real Estate Agent awards. He is licensed in New York and Connecticut.

Anthony brings a vast knowledge of multiple markets across a large territory, said Virginia Doetsch, Irvington Brokerage Office Manager with Julia B. Fee Sothebys International Realty. His analytical background combined with his passion for the real estate business makes for an easy and streamlined process for buyers and sellers alike. I am thrilled to welcome him to our team.

Sothebys International Realty to me has always been synonymous with prestige, said Lando. The brands worldwide recognition, media partnerships and technology will provide me the ability to enhance the results and experiences that I am able to deliver to my clients.

Lando said that his professional experience prior to real estate has significantly contributed to his current success. He served in high profile roles within the financial services industry including Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Compliance Officer of a New York City based hedge fund with assets under management in excess of $1 billion. He also accredits much of his success in real estate to the support of his friends and family.

Lando is the founding member of The Canine Crusade Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to saving the lives of shelter dogs across the United States. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Manhattan College and an MBA in Finance at Pace University.

In his free time, he trains in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where he currently holds his brown belt. He has two children: Siena, 10, and Beckham, 4.

About William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sothebys International Realty

Founded in 1949, William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty manages a $4 billion portfolio with more than 1,000 sales associates in 26 brokerages spanning Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Westchester County, New York. William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty is one of the largest Sotheby's International Realty(R) affiliates globally and the 37th-largest real estate company by sales volume in the United States. For more information, visit the website at williampitt.com.

Sotheby's International Realty's worldwide network includes nearly 1,000 offices throughout 71 countries and territories on six continents.
The prosecutors office said the indictment was filed April 24 for approval by a pretrial judge that was supposed to be completed within six months. Ordinarily, the allegations would have remained secret for the time being, but the office said it was publicizing them now because of repeated efforts by Thaci and others to obstruct and undermine the work of the special court.
The most exciting news at Apples Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday was not the Watch sleep tracking or the new Isaac Asimov show. It was the companys announcement that users will get more fine-grained controls over location tracking in iOS 14.

Currently, you can decide whether you want to share your location data with specific apps and whether you want those apps to be able to continue to access location data while running in the background. Now, Apple will also allow users to share less specific location datathe general area or city they are in, for instance, but not their precise coordinates and location.

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That may seem like a fairly small change, but offering users more nuanced choices about the granularity of their data is actually very significant. Traditionally, most of the choices about sharing certain types of data with smartphone apps have been pretty binaryeither youre willing to share your contacts and location and photos with an app or youre not (in which case youre often not able to use it).

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Those all-or-nothing choices about sharing data with apps began to ease in 2017, when Apple gave users one additional choicethey could also decide to let an app access their location data while they were actively using the app, but prevent that collection from continuing while the app was running in the background. Google created a similar option as well, allowing Android users the option to set apps so that they could collect location data only while in use. That meant people could use an app that required location data in order to worksuch as ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft that rely on users locations to be able to pick them up in the right placebut still prevent those companies from accessing their location data at other times, when it was not absolutely essential to providing their service.

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Theres always a risk when new privacy controls are created for usersespecially ones that require people to opt-in to themthat no one will care or take advantage of them. But the option to set smartphone apps not to collect location data while they were not being used shows that this doesnt have to be the case. In January, Fast Company reported that when Android users are given the option to not share location data with apps running in the background they choose to do so about half of the time. Furthermore, the article noted, the amount of background location data collected by marketers through smartphone apps had dropped by 68 percent since Apple gave that option greater prominence in the fall 2019 release of iOS 13, according to location data analytics firm Location Sciences. Ben Grouchko, who runs a company called Teemo that builds software to help apps collect location data, told DigiDay, also in January, that apps were now seeing fewer than half of users agreeing to share location data with them when they were not in use.

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Its possible that part of the point of the newly announced Apple option is intended to address some of the concerns this loss of data created for advertisers. By accessing a users general location, advertisers may still be able to tailor offers to them without possessing quite as much detailed information about exactly where someone is at any given moment. For advertisers, this new alternative may be a welcome compromise if marketing data from background location tracking has truly dropped by 68 percent in the past few years. It remains to be seen whether users will be as ready to embrace that compromise, but the success of the previous location data controls suggests they may be open to other options in this vein.

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The success of these finer-grained controls for location data sharing on smartphones hints at a possible path forward for smartphone privacy that aims at tailoring different types of intermediate permissionsbeyond just yes or noto other kinds of data as well. In many ways, this is easier to do with location data than other types of information that apps routinely demand access to. For instance, deciding that an app can only access your contacts or your photos while youre using it would be unlikely to have any significant privacy impact because those data sets dont change anywhere near as constantly as your location and, even if they did, all of those changes could simply be downloaded and stored by an app each time you used itthey would not require constant access for apps running in the background.

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Still, its better to consider options than to give up on the ideal altogether. Instead of giving an app access to all of your contacts or photos, perhaps you could designate a subset of them to be shared (your most frequently used contacts, or photos taken in the past two days). Or you could share more general informationfor instance, the domains of your email contacts or area codes of their phone numbersand then, if youre trying to pull up a particular contact in an app, you could discreetly designate all the email addresses in a certain domain, or contacts with a certain area code to then be shared with the app in question. You might be able to share metadata about your photos with an appwhen they were taken, or whereand then grant the app access to particular photos on a case-by-case basis when you want to use them in that context by granting it more granular access to all of the photos taken in a certain place, or on a particular day.

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These particular examples may well be bad ideascontrols that no one would want to use or that would create so much inconvenience that everyone would prefer just to grant apps broader access. More granular data sharing controls will have to be tailored not just to what kinds of control people want to have over their data but also to the specific type of data in questionin the same way that the location controls to block access for apps running in the background, or only grant access to location information about a general area or neighborhood are tailored to the nature of location data in particular.

Figuring out what those options should look like for other types of data is far from straightforward. But the fact that Apple is actually creating new options for users to choose how they control their data is a very promising sign and, with luck, those efforts will not be confined just to location data.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  The Senate has approved the nomination of a Mississippi judge to a federal appeals court, the 200th federal judge named by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Republican-controlled chamber. Its the highest number of judicial nominees confirmed at this stage of a presidency in four decades.

Cory Wilson, a Moss Point native, was elevated to a seat on the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal despite Democratic objections that he has a record of working to undermine voting rights of African Americans and other minorities.

Approval came on a nearly party-line, 52-48 vote Wednesday. Maine Sen. Susan Collins was the only Republican to vote against Wilson.

Wilson, a former Republican state legislator, has been on the state appeals court for 16 months and will join the 5th Circuit, which hears cases from Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The court is considered one of the most conservative appeals courts in the nation.

Democrats and civil rights groups said Wilson has been a longtime proponent of voter ID laws that disproportionately harm communities of color, students, voters with disabilities and the elderly. Democrats also said he has made false claims about the prevalence of voter fraud in the United States and expressed opposition to enforcement of the federal Voting Rights Act.

"Judge Wilson's troubling record on voting rights is highly relevant to his nomination,'' said California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The 5th Circuit is a majority-minority circuit, she noted. About 55 percent of those who live in the region are minorities.

"The Senate should not confirm a nominee who would work to further restrict the right to vote from the bench,'' Feinstein said.

Feinstein and other Democrats said Wilson has demonstrated hostility to voting rights in Mississippi. In 2011, he dismissed concerns from the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP that a voter ID law would suppress the vote as "poppycock, unless you count the dead vote." In 2013, he wrote that then-Attorney General Eric Holder had "whined" that voter ID laws were part of an illegitimate orchestrated effort by Republicans to suppress poor and minority voting.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., called Wilson's record "extremely problematic at this moment in time" as the nation faces a reckoning over racism in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and other African Americans.

Harris, one of three Black senators, said it would be "a particular affront to the people of Mississippi, a population that has 38% African Americans, to have Judge Wilson preside over voting rights cases in that state."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called Wilson "an outstanding nominee," and noted that he has served as a lawyer in private practice, a state lawmaker, adviser to top state officials and a judge. The American Bar Association rates Wilson as "well-qualified."

McConnell, who has made confirmation of judicial nominees a priority, said that with Wilson's confirmation, there will be no appeals court vacancies in the nation for the first time in at least 40 years.

"As I've said many times, our work with the administration to renew our federal courts is not a partisan or political victory. It is a victory for the rule of law and for the Constitution itself,'' McConnell said.

Democrats said McConnell and Trump were focused on far-right judicial nominees at the expense of legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence, voting rights and other issues.

"Over the last three years, instead of focusing on legislation to help the American people, Leader McConnell and President Trump have dedicated almost every ounce of their energy and focus to packing the courts with right-wing ideologues who they know will do their bidding from the bench," said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

Democrats also blasted Wilson's longtime opposition to the Affordable Care Act, the health law passed under President Barack Obama.

Before becoming a judge last year, Wilson frequently criticized Obama and other Democrats and called passage of that law "perverse" and "illegitimate." Wilson also wrote that he hopes the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the law, which Obama signed in 2010.

Wilson, 49, said during his confirmation hearing last month that he expressed opinions about Obama, Hillary Clinton and other Democrats when he was a GOP lawmaker and adviser to top state officials. He pledged to follow the precedent of a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the health care law.
A dramatic Hamilton public board decision to pull cops out of schools means Catholic educational leaders must now follow suit, say advocates for racialized students.

Trustees voted late Monday night to end the 26-year-old police liaison program in public schools  in large part based on vocal concerns expressed by past and present racialized students who argue they feel targeted by liaison officers.

Supt. Will Mason said Hamilton police are disappointed but respect the boards decision. He said the 26-year-old program, which was meant to build relationships between students and police, will continue sending 11 liaison officers into Catholic and local French board schools.

As late as June 8, the Catholic board said there had been no discussions about ending policing in separate schools.

But advocates met with top board officials Monday to ask for Catholic schools to cancel the contentious policing program, said Kojo Damptey, the interim executive director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion.

Hours later, close to a hundred protesters shut down Main Street downtown and danced to celebrate a public board vote to terminate the cops-in-schools program.

Now they need to follow suit, said Damptey of the Catholic board, which was slated to meet virtually Tuesday. We need Black and racialized students to feel safe in all of our schools.

Board chair Pat Daly acknowledged the request but said it was not discussed at Tuesdays virtual board meeting.

Instead, board members discussed a series of equity recommendations that include hiring a system equity officer, prioritizing anti-racism training, adopting hiring strategies to ensure students see themselves reflected in school leadership and forming a committee of racialized students, parents and teachers.

That committee will help the board listen and learn, said Daly.

Is it likely (the police liaison program) will come up in those committee discussions? Im sure it will, he said.

But Daly added he is not willing to prejudge any recommendations from the committee or ask the board to make a quick decision on a critically important issue.

Those changes are a start, said Damptey  but they do not recognize the urgency of student concerns.

They say they want to consult with students now, but we are saying, No, students have already spoken, he argued.

Several students and former students at Mondays downtown protest anonymously shared stories that ranged from feeling harassed by liaison officers simply for being late to class to being arrested on school property.

The years-long effort to force change in public schools was a huge win for community advocates  and they wont stop there, vowed Sahra Soudi, a former Westdale student who helped organize HWDSB Kids Need Help.

She said the coalition is willing to team up with Catholic board students to pressure trustees to end the program. There are plans. Students are talking amongst themselves, she said.

Soudi argued all school boards should want to participate in the reimagining of programs to help students at risk that do not include armed police officers. She pointed as an example to a Black mentorship program for students being piloted at some schools through HCCI.

It was not possible to listen to trustees discuss the racism and equity report Tuesday because the board does not allow the public to see or hear to its virtual meetings in real time during the pandemic.

Instead, the meetings are recorded and posted for viewing the next day. Daly said if pandemic restrictions persist in the fall, the board will look at moving to livestreamed video meetings.
Some 440 Japanese experts and entrepreneurs are likely to travel to Vietnam by charter flight from June 25 to 27, according to Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

Japanese experts come to Vietnam to examine Vietnamese lychee (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development)

He told the press in Tokyo on June 23 that this is the first step in the process of easing travel restrictions applied by the two countries since the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Vietnamese side has allowed the experts and businesspeople to enter provided that they agree to enhanced disease prevention measures, he noted.

Vietnam Airlines flights arranged by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam will take off from Tokyos Narita Airport and land at Van Don International Airport in northern Quang Ninh province.

Motegi said on June 19 that Japan and Vietnam agreed to gradually lift travel bans as a way to reopen economic and bilateral exchanges, and it will not take much time to resume travel between the two countries.

Besides Vietnam, Japan is also negotiating with Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand to ease travel restrictions, on the condition that travellers test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure and submit itineraries detailing where they will stay and visit. This will allow entrepreneurs to avoid the mandatory 14-day quarantine period./.VNA
A week and a half ago, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a strongly worded announcement that the Trump administration was prohibiting business with Fincimex, a Cuban state corporation that works with foreign credit card and money transfer businesses, among others. Many ordinary Cubans panicked.



Fincimex handles hundreds of millions of dollars in remittances sent to Cuba through Western Union by families in Cuban-American communities in South Florida and around the nation.



Would a ban on business with the military-run company mean an end to the remittances that so many Cuban families need to put food on the table? The State and Treasury departments wouldn't say. Meanwhile, thousands of families rushed to send money before the ban went into effect on Friday.



What happened next offers a small window into the chaos behind the administration's execution of one of its top foreign policy priorities weakening the communist-run Cuban government and its longstanding alliance with President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela.



As expected, the administration published a regulation Friday in the Federal Register the official gazette of the U.S. government. The new rule sanctions anyone doing business with military-run businesses in Cuba, including three hotels, two scuba-diving centers and a swimming-with-dolphins center at a beach resort in eastern Cuba.



But it doesn't mention Fincimex. That led Cuba-watchers to speculate Friday morning that the Trump administration had simply backed off its threat to potentially cut remittances to Cuba. A few hours later, the State Department said omitting Fincimex had simply been a clerical error and the Cuban company would indeed be sanctioned.



The correction will be published in the Federal Register in the coming days,' the State Department said.



The new regulation will not, however, actually affect Americans' ability to send remittances to family in Cuba, according to a person familiar with the process.



Western Union is expected to be able to continue sending money to Cuba through Fincimex even after the new ban goes into effect, the person said on condition of anonymity.



The US company declined to comment on any future regulations, saying Friday simply that we can confirm that our business and services from the US to Cuba are operating as usual and in compliance with US law and regulations.



A US bank that works with MasterCard to operate a small number of cards allowing cash withdrawals at ATMs in Cuba cut off those cards on Thursday evening, but otherwise the Fincimex ban was expected to have a minimal impact on the island, said Collin Laverty, who runs head of Cuba Educational Travel, one of the largest companies bringing US travelers to Cuba. Laverty also consults for U.S. companies who want to do business in Cuba.



It kind of is symbolic of the Trump approach to Cuba, which is to make a lot of noise, cause a lot of confusion,' he said. Sometimes they follow though with regulations, sometimes they don't ... the policy's been extremely inconsistent and incoherent.



Despite Western Union's reassurances, many Cubans and their families in the US have spent the last week assuming that remittances were about to be cut off in the middle of one of Cuba's deepest economic crises in decades, fueled in large part by the near-total closure of flights in and out of the island due to the coronavirus pandemic.



Yadamis Roque is a 47-year-old homemaker with a disabled 20-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. She lives on remittances sent by her mother in Florida.



As she waited on line outside a Western Union in Havana on a recent weekday, she said she was still assuming that her lifeline was about to be cut off.



I will be affected,' she said. This has been a really heavy blow ...\

Image Credits: AP
The Taoiseach told European leaders that Ireland will "settle for nothing less" than a properly funded Common Agricultural Policy.

Leo Varadkar participated in a video conference of heads of state on proposals for an "EU-wide recovery instrument", known as "Next generation EU" to help member states borrow money to recover from the Coronavirus pandemic.

The European Commission has published a package for economic regeneration totaling 1.85 trillion; funded through one-off borrowing from the financial markets as an exceptional measure to the unprecedented circumstance the continent has faced.

The Taoiseach told the Dail on Wednesday, that he had made it clear to European heads of state that Ireland will not accept anything that does not protect Ireland's agricultural sector post-Covid.

"We welcome the broad thrust of proposals, and the government support for an EU response to demonstrate solidarity with most affected by the pandemic," Mr Varadkar said.

"I emphasised the scale and the impact the crisis has had on Ireland, our economy, unemployment levels, and the need for this to be properly reflected in the assessment of need, and allocation of any new funds."

The Taoiseach reiterated that Ireland is open to contributing more to the new budget if it protects Ireland's "vital interests" the Common Agricultural Policy.

"As the country seeks to recover from an unprecedented, and sudden shock to the system, everyone in the house will agree CAP is an important long-standing and well-functioning policy and a vital support to our rural communities economies and farm families.

"Despite the increased allocation for Rural Development under the recovery proposal, and the increased allocation in the CAP in the revised the Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union (MFF), I said that was what was now on the table was not acceptable to Ireland, and does not yet meet the test of ensuring adequate funding into the future.

"Our farmers are experiencing considerable difficulties with exports and prices collapsing as a result of COVID's global disruption to trade routes, Brexit and increased competition from third countries.

"A strong and properly funded CAP is needed to achieve this, and we can settle for nothing less."
Representational Image

A powerful earthquake centered near the southern Mexico resort of Huatulco 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 and another injured 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 Governor Alejandro Murat said a second person was killed in an apparent house collapse in the tiny mountain village of San Juan Ozolotepec, and said 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 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.

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 US Geologic Survey said the quake hit at 10.29 am (11.29 am Eastern) along Mexico's southern Pacific coast at a depth of 16 miles (26 km).

The epicentre 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 plst 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.

You've got all sorts of plates and they're moving quickly, Earle said. The important thing is how fast the plates are moving relative to each other.

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.
Rev Katie McAteer is not keen on being called a history-maker but it is a title she says she is prepared to accept.

The 68-year-old has been appointed the first female canon of St Columb's Cathedral in Londonderry in its 400-year history.

She says she is humbled and honoured by the appointment, announced on Thursday, and also "sort of excited".

Katie was ordained within the Church of Ireland in June 2006.

She spent her curacy across the border in Letterkenny before moving to the Christ Church, Culmore, Muff and St Peter's group of parishes in Derry, where she is now pastoral director.

Katie is also the current Diocesan Chaplain of Derry and Raphoe Mothers' Union and editor of n:vision, the diocesan magazine.

A native of Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, Derry has been home for Katie since 1970 when she came to the city to study English at Magee University.

She went on to marry Fergus McAteer (74), an accountant, and the couple have four sons, four daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren.

Prior to ordination, she taught in schools but after a fire in Christ Church in 1996, she became heavily involved in fundraising efforts.

That led to a call towards ordination and the start of her training at the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin.

Katie's appointment to the chapter of St Columb's was announced on Thursday by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster.

Rev Robert Boyd, rector of Glendermott and Newbuildings parishes in the city, has also been appointed a canon.

By happy coincidence the news was revealed on the Feast Day of St John the Baptist - the anniversary of both new canons' ordinations.

They will fill the positions left vacant following the departure of the Ferry brothers - Canon David, who has retired, and Canon Malcolm, who has moved to Agherton Parish in Portstewart.

For Katie, she is following in the footsteps of her late father, Rev GVM Robinson, who was a Canon of Chester Cathedral.

She said: "When Bishop Andrew first asked me, I was totally taken aback.

"It was never on my radar, never in a million years - or even 400 years - would I have expected the bishop to ask me to accept this appointment.

"I'm someone who likes to keep her head down and not to seek the limelight.

"I'm happy in pastoral ministry and taking my place in the liturgy of the church.

"Bishop Andrew is the real history-maker as he is the one who asked me but I have to accept that I am as the first female canon in the cathedral's 400 year history.

"St Columb's, probably more than any other cathedral, has been a history-maker - the first cathedral built in these islands after the Reformation; playing a leading role as a place of reconciliation - and now another brick is being laid in its rich history."

Explaining the differing emotions, Katie added: "I still keep thinking, 'No, not me. It can't be me'. It's exciting and quite daunting. I'm humbled and honoured.

"Throughout ministry, whatever God calls us to do, we pray that He will give us 'the needful gifts of grace' to fulfil that ministry. I'm hoping that this is at God's direction; I can only do this in God's strength."

While this is new territory for Katie, the second new canon is on familiar ground.

Robert was a canon of St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh until three years ago, a position he relinquished when he moved to Derry and Raphoe, where he is also Diocesan Director of Ordinands.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a date for their Service of Installation in St Columb's has yet to be fixed but it is hoped it will take place in the early autumn.
Hamilton city council will ask the police chief to explain the services responses to mental health crisis calls and how its addressing systemic racism.

The request comes after city politicians considered nearly 140 letters from residents calling for the divesting and defunding of the police service amid global calls for reform after the death of George Floyd in the United States.

The raft of letters warranted more than just councils formal receipt, but a report back on the issues  including police use of force, systemic racism, mental health responses and budget transparency, Coun. Nrinder Nann said during Wednesdays council meeting.

It would be disappointing to have these issues just disappear.

Coun. Brad Clark suggested police brass be invited to address city politicians on the issues rather than just referring the letters to the services governing board. The topics need broader discussions, with some probing questions from councillors in public, Clark said.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, whos chair of the police board, said he would take the overture to Chief Eric Girt and ask him about a presentation. I think its a good dialogue to have.

The defund/divest letters come during a seismic shift in mainstream attitudes toward policing in the aftermath of the death of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, after a police officer in Minneapolis, Minn., pressed his knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Rallies around the world, including in Hamilton, have protested against cases of police violence and called for the eradication of systemic racism in policing and defunding forces to reinvest in other services.

Local letter writers argued more policing doesnt translate into more safety, notably for Black and Indigenous people. They also condemned issuing $880 tickets to homeless people for not following provincial orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have seen time and again how police reforms are not enough  we must scale back policing dramatically and instead invest in housing, mental health supports, and other services that support people instead of harming them, wrote Claire Bodkin, a medical doctor.

On Tuesday, Hamilton public board trustees voted to end the 26-year-old police liaison program in public schools after mounting pressure from high school protesters, including a rally outside city hall during their meeting.

The police board has already addressed the defunding calls, but in an effort to show its not feasible.

Two weeks ago, members asked staff for a report on the service implications of cutting the forces $171-million budget by 20 per cent, or $34 million.

Chad Collins called the mounting pressure to defund police an attempt to essentially neuter the service, which would compromise public safety. I know that less of a budget means less services on the street.

On Wednesday, Coun. Lloyd Ferguson, a former police board chair, noted Hamilton polices Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT), which teams up a police officer and a mental health worker in a cruiser.

This is the first time that thats happened in the province, Ferguson said, noting there are seven MCRRT teams that divert people in crisis from hospital emergency rooms.

Last week, Nann and Coun. Maureen Wilson voiced their support for a citizen-led police defunding campaign but noted they had no plans to introduce any motions at council.
It's almost here.

The long-awaited cloud of Saharan dust is poised to "hit" the U.S. Gulf Coast on Thursday and Friday, forecasters say, promising hazy skies and fiery red sunsets but also potential health problems.

Nicknamed "Godzilla" for its unusually large size, the plume of dust began to emerge off western Africa last weekend and now has traveled over 4,000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, the Weather Channel said.

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The mass of extremely dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara Desert and moves across the North Atlantic every three to five days from late spring to early fall, peaking in late June to mid-August, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A massive dust cloud from the Sahara Desert is poised to spread over the U.S. Gulf Coast the next few days.

It can occupy a roughly 2-mile thick layer in the atmosphere, the agency said.

"The main impacts of the Saharan dust are a whitening of the sky during daylight hours, redder sunsets, and decreased air quality," the National Weather Service said.

Several Caribbean islands were coated with dust earlier this week.

This is the most significant event in the past 50 years, said Pablo Mendez Lazaro, an environmental health specialist with the University of Puerto Rico. Due to the extremely poor air quality, conditions are dangerous in many Caribbean islands," he said Monday.

A satellite photo shows a cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert arriving in the Caribbean on Monday. The massive cloud of dust is blanketing the Caribbean as it heads to the U.S. with a size and concentration level that meteorologists say hasn't been seen in about half a century.

AccuWeather hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said that "this is probably the worst air quality caused by Saharan dust in recent memory."

Poor air quality can aggravate those suffering from respiratory issues such as asthma and COPD, the Weather Channel said.

More: Saharan dust could bring fewer tropical storms, beautiful sunsets

"Air quality could also drop to moderate to unhealthy this weekend over South and East Texas due to the dust," Kottlowski said. "So, people with respiratory issues should not spend any long periods of time outdoors. Some people with severe respiratory conditions may just want to stay indoors."

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Although some people may be more sensitive to the dust than others, University of Texas meteorology lecturer Troy Kimmel said there may be a silver lining because of the timing of the clouds arrival during the coronavirus pandemic: The good news with that is were all wearing masks.

Another benefit of dust from the Sahara Desert: more vivid sunsets and sunrises. As the sun passes the curve of the Earth, its rays shine through a thicker layer of atmosphere.

Dust and water particles in the atmosphere are responsible for scattering sunlight, creating the rich colors of sunsets and sunrises. With the added dust in the atmosphere, a greater number of particles can refract sunlight into a range of purples, pinks, oranges and yellows.

After making its way to the Gulf Coast, some of the dust may then move as far north and east as the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic this weekend, the Weather Channel said.

Contributing: The Associated Press; Kelly P. Franklin, the Austin-American Statesman

#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 article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sahara dust storm path nears US Gulf Coast, Texas: What to expect
In a relief to government employees and pensioners, the Telangana government on Tuesday decided to pay full salary for June in the wake of improvement in the state's economy.

Hyderabad: In a relief to government employees and pensioners, the Telangana government on Tuesday decided to pay full salary for June in the wake of improvement in the state's economy.

The government has been paying only a portion of the salaries and pension over the last three months due to the fall in revenue in the state since the lockdown was imposed to check the spread of the coronavirus.

"Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has announced that the state economy is getting better to some extent. The salaries of state government employees and pensioners will be paid in full for this month," an official release said.

On March 30, the state government had announced a 75 percent cut in the salaries of the Chief Minister, state cabinet members, MLAs, and others besides a 60 percent cut in the salaries of IAS, IPS and other such Central service officers in view of the COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacting the state''s economic situation.

The cut was 10 percent for Class IV, outsourcing and contract employees and it was 50 percent for all categories of pensioners.

The Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee (JAC) thanked the Chief Minister for deciding to pay full salaries for June and appealed to him to repay the salaries deducted during the last three months soon.
The refractory materials market for steel industry is expected to grow by 5.20 million tons during 2020-2024. The report also provides the market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect the impact to be significant in the first quarter but gradually lessen in subsequent quarters with a limited impact on the full-year economic growth.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005799/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Refractory Materials Market for Steel Industry 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire).

Request challenges and opportunities influenced by COVID-19 pandemic Request a free sample report of the refractory materials market for steel industry

Factors such as growing disposable incomes, rapid urbanization, and the need for infrastructure development have significantly increased the consumption of steel across various sectors including, construction, infrastructure, automotive, and consumer durables. For instance, the growing population and rising adoption of commercial and passenger vehicles have significantly increased the demand for steel in the automotive industry. Similarly, the growing consumer demand for household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, cutlery, and furniture has increased the demand for steel in end-user industries. Refractory materials are widely used in the production of steel. These factors are expected to fuel the growth of the global refractory materials market for steel industry during the forecast period.

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=IRTNTR43670

As per Technavio, the increasing capacity developments in the steel industry 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.

Refractory Materials Market for Steel Industry: Increasing Capacity Developments in the Steel Industry

The global steel industry has been witnessing significant growth in capacity expansions over the last decade. The industry grew from 1.05 billion tons in 2000 to 2.39 billion tons in 2016. This can be attributed to the continued increase in the demand for steel from various end-user industries. During the forecast period, the Middle East is expected to witness a significant rise in the production capacity due to the increased focus on attaining a self-reliable economy among countries in the region. Economies that constitute the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and several APAC countries are also expected to witness significant growth in capacity additions. These developments are expected to contribute to the growth of the global refractory materials market for steel industry during the forecast period.

"Increasing R&D activities by vendors and the growth of the oil and gas industry will further boost market growth during the forecast period," says a senior analyst at Technavio.

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Refractory Materials Market for Steel Industry: Segmentation Analysis

This market research report segments the refractory materials market for steel industry by type (brick and monolithic) and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA).

The APAC region led the refractory materials market for steel industry in 2019, followed by Europe, North America, South America, and MEA respectively. During the forecast period, APAC is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to the increasing population, coupled with the rising disposable income of consumers 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

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

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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The threat by oil workers of a nationwide strike over their enrolment on the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) is a subtle blackmail to frustrate the federal governments scheme, the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Ahmed Idris, said on Wednesday.

Contrary to allegations by the oil workers that the IPPIS platform was fraught with technical challenges, Mr Idris said since its roll out, the system has continued to operate with little or no challenges.

Mr Idris was quoted by his spokesperson, Henshaw Ogubike, as saying that apart from the initial hiccups experienced at the early stages of the rollout, the IPPIS platform has continued to function with minimal challenges.

Clearly, the action by PENGASSAN and NUPENG over IPPIS is a resistance of a presidential directive for all Ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) drawing their salaries from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) to key into.

The implication of such non-compliance is obvious to all, and the oil workers unions inclusive.

When every union threatens to go on strike to blackmail the government and blatantly refuse to key in to the policy in a bid to force their own will on the government, Nigerians need to ask questions as to what such groups are afraid of, Mr Ogubike said.

He said allegations that the IPPIS was fraught with issues was a self-serving and lame excuse by the oil workers to exclude themselves, as no worker has been denied his/her legitimate earnings as a result of being paid through the IPPIS platform.

Threat by oil workers

On Sunday, the joint National Executive Committee (NEC) of the two workers unions in the oil and gas sector, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) said they were embarking on a three-day warning strike.

The unions said the strike was in pursuit of their demand for the government to stop their members from being enrolled on the IPPIS payment system, which they described as defective and fraught with technical issues.

They alleged that their members in some government agencies were victims of the defectiveness of the system, as their salaries were withheld since May over non-compliance with the IPPIS system requirements.

The affected agencies include the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF), Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF), the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA) and Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).

They accused the OAGF of insisting on enrolling their members on the IPPIS platform without taking into consideration the peculiarities of the oil and gas industry with regards to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and approved pay structure between the unions and the federal government through the Salaries, Wages and Income Commission.

Besides, they said the OAGFs insistence on the enrolment of the affected agencies on IPPIS did not consider that they were already enrolled on the revived Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

Accountant-General reacts

Although the oil workers have since announced the suspension of the planned strike earlier scheduled to commence on Wednesday, the OAGF has described their action as an attempt to blackmail the government over the IPPIS scheme.

Mr Ogubike said the oil workers were simply finding reasons not to comply with the federal government directive for all its workers to migrate to the IPPIS as directed by the president.

In October 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari directed that all federal government workers not captured on the IPPIS platform by October 31, 2019 should not be paid their monthly salaries.

The president said this was part of efforts to manage the high personnel costs in line with his administrations commitment to fighting corruption.

Mr Ogubike said while acknowledging that there was no perfect system anywhere, the little hiccups experienced at the early stage of the enrolment of the workers, further challenges could be avoided with the cooperation and support of the agencies.

Unnecessary antagonism by the unions will not help their members and the country. We must understand the policy is geared towards ascertaining the actual number of workers on the federal government payroll.

This information will aid personnel budgeting and pension administration. Above all, it will help in removing wastages from personnel cost, he said.

Between 2017 to 2019, Mr Ogubike said the IPPIS has helped the government to save over N361 billion from ghost workers.

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In his relatively brief stint in power, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) has managed to destroy the Saudi economy in record time while also sullying his own reputation and endangering Saudi Arabias geopolitical relations with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Now, it appears that there is another calamity in the making for MbS. Russia is currently offering him all sorts of benefits in exchange for his consideration of a deal. The deal, though, is pure poison - for him, for his family, and for his country - and it involves Saudi Arabia switching its core alliance from the U.S. to Russia. In exchange, Russia says it will guarantee the future safety of Saudi Arabia, including from Iran-backed threats. A timely reminder of Saudi Arabias current vulnerability to the continued threat that Iran and its proxies pose it  one of the key threats that the deal with Russia would eliminate, the Kremlin has said  came in the form of the attack on Tuesday 23 June when the Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen intercepted and destroyed eight booby-trapped unmanned aircraft that were targeting civilian objects and civilians in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis also intercepted three ballistic missiles from the Saada governorate towards Riyadh, according to the reports.

In theory, the deal being discussed between the Kremlin and the Royal Palace is one that looks like only a marginal extension of the OPEC+ coalition that has been in place between Russia and Saudi since 2017. In practical terms, though, it may well lead to the most important geopolitical power shift since the fall of the U.S.S.R. The Kremlin had this deal creep in mind from November 2016 when it agreed to support the Saudi-led OPEC [oil] production cuts, a senior oil and gas industry source who works closely with the oil sectors of Iran and Iraq told OilPrice.com last week.

This new mutual understanding was clearly signaled when Russias President, Vladimir Putin, invited Saudi Arabias King, Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, to Russia in October 2017. It was the first-ever visit to Moscow made by a sitting Saudi monarch and the largest ever foreign delegation to Moscow, said the source. At this meeting, among the US$3 billion or so specific deals announced at just that time, was an investment by the Saudis of at least US$150 million into Russias Eurasia Drilling Company and, on the other side, a US$1.1 billion agreement for Russian petrochemical company Sibur to build a plant in Saudi Arabia. Russias Energy Minister, Alexander Novak, also flagged at the time that Russia gas producer Novatek was in talks for Saudi investors to take part in its Arctic LNG-2 project, a follow-up to its US$27 billion plant in the Yamal peninsula. At the same time, it was agreed that Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), was to establish a US$1 billion fund alongside Russias sovereign wealth fund, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which would invest in Russian technology companies.

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In the same vein, Russian state-owned hydrocarbons companies Rosneft and Gazprom entered talks with Saudi counterpart Aramco on conducting co-ordinated oil and gas trading operations  bringing in the expertise and contacts of Lukoils Litasco trading operation when required  and the creation of a joint research and technology center. The upshot for Russia was, firstly, that the Saudis rowed back on their demand that Syrias President Bashar al-Assad be removed from power and, secondly, that Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase from Russia of its S-400 air defense system.

Related: Chinas Oil Industry Is In Crisis

These two latter points can be regarded as the first clear evidence of the Kremlins core strategy of decisively moving Saudi Arabia away from its long-standing relationship with the U.S. and replacing it with one with Russia (and, by extension, China). As highlighted in my latest book on the global oil markets, this relationship was established in 1945 between the U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Saudi King at the time, Abdulaziz, in the Great Bitter Lake segment of the Suez Canal. The deal was that the U.S. would receive all of the oil supplies it needed for as long as Saudi Arabia had oil in place, in return for which the U.S. would guarantee the security of the ruling House of Saud. This has been altered slightly to ensure that Saudi Arabia also allows the U.S. shale industry to continue to function and to grow. Particularly since the end of the first oil price war in 2016 when Saudis finances had obviously been severely damaged for a long time to come, Moscow has been there to fan the flames of Saudi discontent about having to stick to production cuts that supported the very shale sector that used those production cuts to effectively steal supply contracts that were left unfilled by the Saudis, said the source.

By the time that the visit to Moscow of MbS in 2019 came around, Russia was in an even stronger position for three key reasons. Firstly, Saudi Arabias finances were deteriorating markedly, given its then-US$84 per barrel of Brent budget breakeven price was still higher than the spot oil price. Moreover, any attempt to move the oil price up to levels that would benefit the Saudi economy had been effectively cut-off by U.S. President Donald Trumps Tweet that: He [Saudi King Salman] would not last in power for two weeks without the backing of the U.S. military. Secondly, Saudis security vulnerability had been exposed by the rocket attacks in September by the Iran-backed Houthis on two of the Kingdoms key oil facilities  the massive Abqaiq oil processing facility and the Khurais oil field  which caused the temporary suspension of 5.7 million bpd (well over half of Saudi Arabias actual crude oil production capacity). It was obvious to everyone that such attacks could take place at will from that point, despite the presence of the enormously expensive U.S. military and anti-missile defence systems, said the source. And thirdly, simply to keep oil prices at a reasonable level (although still less than half of what the Saudis required to balance its budget), the Saudis absolutely needed the help of Russia for the extension of the OPEC+ output cut agreement.

So, in the October 2019 meetings, led by MbS and Putin, a slew of further deals were announced. The RDIF, for example, Saudi Aramco, and Saudis PIF agreed to jointly acquire a 30.76 percent stake in Russian oilfield services company, Novomet, from Rosnano, marking the first joint investment by the three entities through the energy investment platform that they set up in 2017. Aramco added that it had also signed agreements for equipment and chemical supplies with Angara Service, Chelpipe, Galen, Integra, NKT, Technovek, TMK and Intratool. The RDIF and Russian private equity group ESN agreed with Saudi petchems giant, SABIC, that they would jointly invest in the design, construction and operation of a methanol plant in Russias Far East Amur region. The RDIF and the PIF were also considering a US$300 million investment in NefteTransService, one of the largest Russian operators of railway rolling stock. Added to all of this was the creation of a Russia-Saudi Economic Committee that would identify and develop economic and trade ties as well as investments between Russia and Saudi Arabia across all sectors, co-chaired by RDIF chief executive officer, Kirill Dmitriev.

Related: Why The $17.5 Billion Write-Down Is Just The Beginning For BP

Having laid all of this groundwork, Russia then allowed Saudi Arabia to further destroy its finances and damage its crucial economic and security relationship with the U.S. by fighting a second oil price war on its own. Whether or not this was a deliberate strategy it is difficult to ascertain but lets put it like this: Russia doesnt leave anything to chance and the outcome of the latest oil price war could not have been better for Russia if it had planned it, the source told OilPrice.com. It certainly appears, though, that Russia is looking to move this relationship with Saudi into the next phase now, he added. The key to this for Russia, is to persuade the Saudis to reduce the presence of the U.S. military in its country, both personnel and equipment, including the air defense systems, and to replace them with Russian personnel and equipment, and this is not as difficult as many may think, he underlined.

For a start, Trump has already threatened to withdraw the U.S. military from Saudi, both in a Tweet and in a phone call with MbS, bringing the whole defense situation to the top of the minds of the senior Saudis. Russia has highlighted to the Saudis that it is due to spend nearly US$500 billion on U.S. defense purchases in the next five years but that last time around  with just the Houthis  none of this was any use, the source told OilPrice.com last week. On the other hand, the Russian air defense system  currently the S-400 but soon to be the S500 for general roll-out  is regarded by many as the most effective in the world, he said. In fact, provision for precisely this switchover was made in the 2017 visit to Moscow by King Salman. According to various sources, the state-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries also signed a memorandum of understanding with Russian state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport to buy the S-400 air defense system, plus the Kornet-EM anti-tank guided missile system, and the TOS-1A multiple rocket launcher and thermobaric weapons system, among other major arms purchases. Crucially for Russia, the agreement not only covered the supply of all of these weapons systems to Saudi Arabia and the transfer of necessary adjunct technology but also the manufacturing of these systems in Saudi Arabia, overseen by relevant Russian engineering and technical personnel and Russian security forces to ensure the safety of the people, the plants, and the products, at key sites on the ground in Saudi.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads from Oilprice.com:

Read this article on OilPrice.com
10 million Asia-Pacific small businesses to participate in Visas Global Programme to spur recovery through digital commerce

Visa is introducing a range of programmes and solutions to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) drive efficiency and sales by accepting and making payments digitally to meet increased demand for cashless payments  both online and in-store. Visa also formed the Visa Economic Empowerment Institute (VEEI) focused on economic and societal issues, including pandemic challenges SMEs face and closing racial and gender opportunity gaps.

The 10 million pledge is part of a global programme that will see Visa supporting 50 million small businesses worldwide. Small businesses will play a vital role in helping communities recover  they account for more than half of global employment and are among the most affected by the pandemic. In the Asia-Pacific, SMEs account for more than 90 per cent of businesses and employ 50 per cent of the workforce.

In addition to the economic impacts, COVID-19 is accelerating the use of digital commerce experiences, from people seeking new ways to pay that do not involve touching a terminal to a boom in e-commerce, as stay-home orders result in shopping online instead of in-store. In the Asia-Pacific, 41 per cent of consumers made five or more e-commerce transactions in the past three months. Three-quarters of consumers in the region have said they will keep using digital payments instead of going back to cash, even after the global pandemic has subsided.

Commerce across the eAsia-Pacific is shifting further into digital in the wake of COVID-19, from more people ordering essentials online to people looking for secure, touchless ways to pay in person, said Chris Clark, regional president, Asia-Pacific, Visa. Visas role as a payments network means we can help SMEs adapt to these new ways of managing and growing their business, ensuring that these crucial players can recover.

In Vietnam, to encourage consumers and small merchants to adopt digital payments in an easier and more convenient way, Visa has signed an MoU with NextPay to promote digital payment solutions via the Mobile Point-of-Sale (mPOS) with a goal of expanding to a community of 300,000 merchants by 2023. In the Cashless Day initiative by the State Bank of Vietnam, Visa in partnering with NextPay, has provided 100 free mPOS terminals for the first 100 merchants to register for the programme, as well as a 50 per cent discount on mPOS terminals and one-year free use of NextShop  a business management software  for others who sign up. Small merchants registering for a three-year service package of the software were also offered a 70 per cent discount. The programme received positive support from many small merchants and businesses.

Resources to help small businesses accept and make digital payments, build an online presence

Dang Tuyet Dung, Visa country manager for Vietnam and Laos, said, At Visa, we are committed to advocating Visas global initiative to promote and strengthen the position of small businesses. By supporting local SMEs, which account for 98 per cent of all enterprises in Vietnam and contribute approximately 40 per cent of GDP, we are proud to be part of the worldwide effort to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, and spur continued economic growth at a time when communities need it most.

To help small businesses, Visa is focusing initially on four strategic areas to promote digital commerce and economic growth, with plans to continue to create products and services as the needs of entrepreneurs change over time. These areas include:

Empowering digital-first businesses: Visa has built localised online resource centres  now available in more than 20 countries and territories  providing tools, partner offers, and information on how to start, run, and grow a digital small business. Visa is teaming up with leading e-commerce platforms such as Shopify and Boutir to help local businesses get online. Visa will be expanding its global partnership with IFundWomen to the Asia-Pacific, providing grants and digital training to women-owned small businesses in India.

Encouraging digital payments: Deploying easy-to-adopt touchless payment technology  rapidly, and at scale  is critical to enabling faster, more secure commerce. Visa is working to introduce low-cost digital payments acceptance, including solutions that do not require point-of-sale systems and can enable a merchants mobile phone to become a payment terminal. Visa and our partners have launched tap to phone solutions in Malaysia, with more Asia-Pacific markets such as Australia, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan, and Vietnam to follow. Visa is also supporting SMEs to make business-to-business (B2B) payments digitally. By digitalising procurement payments through the use of a Visa Business Card, SMEs can utilise reconciliation tools and benefit from higher efficiency and data insights, in addition to managing their working capital effectively. Visa has curated special partner offers for SMEs using these business cards, which include access to cloud accounting platforms, digital marketing, and professional courses.

Deploying easy-to-adopt touchless payment technology  rapidly, and at scale  is critical to enabling faster, more secure commerce. Visa is working to introduce low-cost digital payments acceptance, including solutions that do not require point-of-sale systems and can enable a merchants mobile phone to become a payment terminal. Visa and our partners have launched tap to phone solutions in Malaysia, with more Asia-Pacific markets such as Australia, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan, and Vietnam to follow. Visa is also supporting SMEs to make business-to-business (B2B) payments digitally. By digitalising procurement payments through the use of a Visa Business Card, SMEs can utilise reconciliation tools and benefit from higher efficiency and data insights, in addition to managing their working capital effectively. Visa has curated special partner offers for SMEs using these business cards, which include access to cloud accounting platforms, digital marketing, and professional courses. Incentivising neighbourhood support: Visa partnerships encourage consumers to shop local and remind them that where you shop matters. The Visa Back to Business Project  an online tool that helps consumers identify businesses that may be open in the wake of the pandemic or a natural disaster  is now live in Australia, New Zealand, and the US, and further expanding globally. Visa has launched its new "Where You Shop Matters" initiative in Australia and New Zealand that champions and enables entrepreneurs while encouraging consumers to support small businesses. Visa will be expanding the initiative to other Asia-Pacific markets such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Visa partnerships encourage consumers to shop local and remind them that where you shop matters. The Visa Back to Business Project  an online tool that helps consumers identify businesses that may be open in the wake of the pandemic or a natural disaster  is now live in Australia, New Zealand, and the US, and further expanding globally. Visa has launched its new "Where You Shop Matters" initiative in Australia and New Zealand that champions and enables entrepreneurs while encouraging consumers to support small businesses. Visa will be expanding the initiative to other Asia-Pacific markets such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. Developing positioning and policy: In addition to the initiatives Visa is undertaking, the company today announced the formation of the Visa Economic Empowerment Institute. This new institute comprises Visa experts and partners who will help address underlying problems and provide insights for SMEs growth and closing racial and gender gaps. Key projects in the next six months will address topics including post-crisis recovery and resilience, urban mobility, closing equality opportunity gaps, and insights into the gig economy.

Todays announcement follows a global commitment from the Visa Foundation announced in April, to provide $210 million in COVID-19 relief funding to address the longer-term needs of the small and micro business community over the next five years.

As the trusted engine of commerce, Visa is committed to using its global network to help the world adapt, rebuild, and get everyone back to business.
You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Subscribe/follow and rate the podcast via your favorite app.

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | June 24, 2020

Bill Cosby is appealing his sexual assault conviction to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Meanwhile, gun violence is on the rise in Philadelphia with a 15 year old managing to survive being shot 20 times. Penn State Health acquires the Holy Spirit Hospital network. The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire announces dates for its return.

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:

If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, we like to know what you think of the program.

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Coronavirus lockdowns cost millions of migrant workers their jobs, halting billions in remittances they sent home.

Millions of migrant workers have found themselves out of a job worldwide as economies ground to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At least 50,000 Indian workers have come back home since early May. Workers from India and Pakistan sent home more than $100bn last year.

The World Bank expects the amount of money sent by all foreign workers to their families will fall by 20 percent this year as millions lose their jobs and return home.

Al Jazeeras Elizabeth Puranam reports from New Delhi, India, on the impact being felt in South Asia.
In a quiet, tree-lined area about a mile from the U.S. Capitol building, a statue has stood since 1876. Unveiled eleven years after Abraham Lincolns death, it depicts the 16th president holding the Emancipation Proclamation as a freed slave kneels below, his bonds being severed. Congress originally named the site of the statue, called the Freedmans Memorial on the plaque affixed to it, Lincoln Square, making it the first site to bear the name of the martyred president, according to the National Park Service. It is also known as the Emancipation Memorial.

Lincoln Parks typical quiet was broken on Tuesday by an increasingly familiar sight: a crowd seeking a statue to tear down. The more such groups deviate further from anything resembling legitimate protest against the unjust death of George Floyd, the more one questions their historical literacy. Indeed, it seems clear at this point that any old-looking statue will do: Figures of everyone from the Union general and racially progressive president Ulysses S. Grant to the abolitionist Hans Christian Heg have gotten the treatment. But if the protesters knew anything about the history and a character of the Emancipation Memorial, they would abandon their stated promise to tear the statue down.

Its worth starting with an aspect of the statue that those who recently flocked to it in the hopes of consigning it to oblivion have the least excuse for not knowing. The man who appears to be leading these efforts on the ground proclaimed on Tuesday that he sees them as part of a campaign of consciousness-raising. We are going to show up and wake these rich white people up, he said while standing in front of the statue. If he had turned around, he might have noticed a plaque at the statues base that reads as follows:

In grateful memory of Abraham Lincoln, this monument was erected by the Western Sanitary Commission of Saint Louis MO: With funds contributed solely by emancipated citizens of the United States, declared free by his proclamation, January 1st A.D. 1863. The first contribution of five dollars was made by Charlotte Scott, a freed woman of Virginia, being her first earnings in freedom and consecrated by her succession and request on the day she heard of President Lincolns death to build a monument to his memory.

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So, just to make it absolutely clear: The statue in question here owes its existence not to rich white people, but to newly freed slaves, the first of whom contributed to it her first-ever earnings as a free citizen of the United States. To tear it down would be a grave insult to the memory of those who created it.

The protests and activism that have followed in the wake of Floyds death deserve to be taken seriously precisely to the extent that they attempt to reckon honestly with Americas present and past injustices. Seeking the destruction of the Emancipation Memorial fails this test, not least because the statues own history supplies a far better model for reckoning with Americas sins. When it was dedicated in 1876, Frederick Douglass, the famous former slave, abolitionist, and orator, spoke at the ceremony. Grant, then the president, was present, as were many others. Over the years, Douglass, who had been skeptical of Lincoln initially, had come to befriend and respect the Great Emancipator. So it is likely that most of those assembled for this ceremony expected him to deliver a rather straightforward praise of Lincolns legacy.

Instead, he gave a speech that is timely because it is timeless: an honest assessment of Lincolns role and legacy, of the evil he fought and the evils he could not vanquish. Speaking on behalf of freed slaves, Douglass said that we claim for ourselves no superior devotion to the character, history, and memory of the illustrious name whose monument we have here dedicated today. For Lincoln was not either our man or our model and was instead a white man and . . .

. . . preeminently the white mans President, entirely devoted to the welfare of white men. He was ready and willing at any time during the first years of his administration to deny, postpone, and sacrifice the rights of humanity in the colored people to promote the welfare of the white people of this country.

Douglass went on to assert that white men were the true children of Lincoln, and that for all hed done for black Americans, we are at best only his step-children; children by adoption, children by forces of circumstances and necessity. Yet despite all this, Douglass retained an affection for the president that stands the test of time:

The judgment of the present hour is, that taking him for all in all, measuring the tremendous magnitude of the work before him, considering the necessary means to ends, and surveying the end from the beginning, infinite wisdom has seldom sent any man into the world better fitted for his mission than Abraham Lincoln.

Douglass knew that it was Lincoln, for all his flaws, whod saved the Union and destroyed slavery. He also knew that the nation Lincoln left us could correct its own evils. Not for nothing did the former slave break with the likes of abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, who called the U.S. Constitution a pact with the devil, ultimately coming to believe that the Constitution was instead an anti-slavery document. The statue is not only a commemoration of the legacy of those who made it possible, and of those it honors. It is also a reminder of our nations sins, and a testament to our endless quest to correct them.

Douglass was modest in describing the monument he dedicated. He contrasted it with the great monuments he expected other Americans to spearhead, calling it the humble offering we this day unveil to view. But he was grand in his vision of what it would come to mean:

When now it shall be said that the colored man is soulless, that he has no appreciation of benefits or benefactors; when the foul reproach of ingratitude is hurled at us, and it is attempted to scourge us beyond the range of human brotherhood, we may calmly point to the monument we have this day erected to the memory of Abraham Lincoln.

The Emancipation Memorial should symbolize all that Douglass hoped it would. It should be a place where the weight of history bears down upon us. It can be a place for righteous anger, for honest examination of American injustice. But it must not be a place for satisfying the formless rage of the mob, the spirit that seeks destruction and shouts down dissent. The ignorance and nihilism of those who would tear the statue down dishonor the freed slaves who created it and are remembered by it, the man who dedicated it, and the president who freed them. It deserves to stand forever, a silent monument whose history and character speak louder than anyone who would destroy it.

More from National Review
That much, this movie gets right. From there its factually challenged. If you knew nothing about Marceau (real name Mangel), youd learn a lot from the film and most of it would be pure fabrication. Marceaus family took the unusual step of publicly disowning the film in a statement to Variety, in December 2018.

Marcel Marceau wasnt his real name but its the one he chose, well before he became the worlds most famous mime artist, to hide the fact that he was Jewish. Being a Jew in France in 1940 wasnt healthy, as we know.

Why would someone trash the real story of what Marceau did as a member of the Jewish Resistance during the war? Saving 70 Jewish children from the Nazis wasnt adventure enough? Apparently not. Director Jonathan Jakubowicz puts Marceau, played by Jesse Eisenberg, up against Klaus Barbie, the notorious Butcher of Lyon, in a series of encounters that never happened (Marceau was in Limoges and Barbie  played here with fastidious malevolence by Matthias Schweighofer  was about 400km away).

Marcel Marceau remains the world's most famous mime artist. Credit:Archive

Jakubowicz also invents a love interest for Marcel, a girl from his hometown of Strasbourg. Emma (played by delightfully named Clemence Poesy) and her sister Mila (Vica Kerekes) are part of a group of Jewish activists who take care of 123 Jewish children  all orphans  whose lives have been saved by bribing the Nazis. One of those saved is a teenager called Elsbeth (Bella Ramsey) who has seen both parents murdered in the street in Berlin. She becomes like a sister to the young Marcel, whos reluctantly drawn into caring for the children by his cousin Georges (Geza Rohrig, from Son of Saul).

Marcel wants to be an actor, not a child-minder. His father Charles Mangel (Karl Markovics) wants him to be butcher, like himself. At least, you wont go hungry, the old man insists.

Some of this is true: the Mangel family, originally from Poland, had settled in Strasbourg, right beside the German border. Once the war began, they had to move south into Vichy France, starting anew in Limoges. These two sisters, Emma and Mila, are fictional. Given that both carry major emotional weight in the story, as it relates to Barbie, that might disappoint someone who watches the film without knowing about its unreliability.
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)

An accounting scandal at one of Germany's fastest-growing blue-chip companies has raised doubts about the national financial watchdog and, coming on top of other high-profile cases of fraud, led to questions about the country's ability to oversee its corporate titans.

Some 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) vanished from payment systems provider Wirecard, until recently heralded as Germany's emerging giant of the financial tech sector. Its CEO was arrested on suspicion of market manipulation and inflating financial numbers. And on Thursday the company said it was filing for insolvency, a form of bankruptcy protection.

Adding to the damage to Germany's corporate reputation was the reaction of the financial regulator, BaFin, when media reports last year questioned the company's accounting. Rather than investigate Wirecard, it targeted investors, banning them from betting on a drop in the share price, which plunged more than 40%.

"That is a documented failure of supervision to intervene when there was clear evidence in this case," Florian Toncar, a member of parliament for the opposition Free Democratic Party, said in an interview on Norddeutscher Rundfunk public radio.

He said the case was "a heavy blow" for Germany's reputation as a financial center.

"WireCard was until now one of the few functioning tech companies that have come up with new ideas in the market place and now it turns out that that was to a great extent smoke and mirrors."

BaFin's head, Felix Hufeld, has conceded that Wirecard's implosion was "a disaster." But the agency is standing by its decisions throughout the scandal, details of which are still emerging.

Wirecard provides the technology to companies and consumers to make cashless payments, a growing and competitive market globally. Its founder and CEO, Markus Braun, resigned last week and said "it cannot be ruled out" that the company could have been the victim of fraud.

He was arrested Monday on suspicion of inflating the company's financial numbers and later released on bail. By Thursday, the company's share price had lost almost all its value at just 3 euros, from over 150 euros last year.

Under the new CEO, James Freis, the company has said that previous descriptions of its business in countries where it worked with partnersa key pillar of earningswere inaccurate, and that it was invstigating whether those businesses were always run in the best interest of the company. The missing 1.9 billion euros was supposed to be in trustee accounts at two Philippine banks but they said they have no dealings with Wirecard. Auditor EY refused to sign off on the company's annual report.

Corporate wrongdoing is not unheard of in Germany to say the least.

Volkswagen was caught rigging diesel engines to cheat on U.S. emissions tests and paid more than 33 billion euros ($37 billion) in fines and settlements, while the chief executive and board chair of industrial conglomerate Siemens quit over a 2006-2007 scandal over bribing foreign officials to gain contracts. Banking giant Deutsche Bank has paid fines for breaking money laundering rules.

Wirecard's troubles have a specific focus: they call into question the honesty of the financial statements that its investors and creditors relied on. In that sense, it echoes the accounting scandals of the early 2000s that rocked U.S. equity markets such as the one around energy company Enron.

BaFin has come under scrutiny in part for its decision in February 2018 to prevent traders from betting against the company's stock. BaFin imposed the ban after the shares plunged on reports by the Financial Times that raised questions about the company's accounting, including reports of backdated sales contracts that inflated revenue to meeting financial targets. BaFin said the short sales ban was to protect market integrity and investors, not the company.

In trying to explain what went wrong at the regulator, Toncar and others have pointed to BaFin's limited range of authority. As a financial regulator, it was responsible for Wirecard Bank AG, the German banking arm of Wirecard, not the company as a whole.

Thorsten Sellhorn, professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, said that Germany's accounting watchdog, the Financial Reporting Enforcement Panel, was the first line of defense, not BaFin. Sellhorn, who is president of the European Accounting Association, said it was "too early to point out the culprits" before criminal investigations are resolved.

He said, however, that he does not see a "smoking gun" at BaFin.

Instead, the company's board of directors "would be much closer to home" and the first stop if outside auditors had questions. Germany has made what he called "slow progress" in improving board oversight, such as a corporate governance code that calls for CEOs to wait two years before taking board seats, more women on boards, and independent financial expertise among board appointees.

Carola Rinker, an economist and consultant who has studied accounting fraud, said several factors might have hindered BaFin and its auditors, EY. One is the complexity of Wirecard's business model, which involves handling cashless payments among a complex network of credit card companies, merchants and and banks.

Another is that, unlike an industrial company, much of the value listed on Wirecard's balance sheet was in the form of intangible financial factors such as accounting goodwill and customer relationships.

Rinker said that such "intangibles" were high at Wirecard, amounting to 1.4 billion euros out of a 5.8 billion-euro balance sheet. She contrasted Wirecard with the 2000 scandal over machinery maker FlowTex, which borrowed 2 billion euros on the basis of drilling machinesa tangible assetthat didn't exist. "The problem with intangibles is that you cannot see their existence because they are not physical, so it is more difficult to show their value," she said.

Those are complexities and issues BaFin head Hufeld will have a chance to discuss soon. He is scheduled to appear next week before the finance committee in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament.

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The temporary suspension of H-1B and other non-immigrant visas by president Donald Trump will disproportionately impact high-skilled workers from Asia as well as harm the American businesses that rely on immigrant workers, US lawmakers have said.

In a huge blow to Indian IT professionals eyeing the US job market, Trump signed a proclamation on Monday suspending the most sought-after H-1B visas along with other types of foreign work visas until the end of 2020 to protect American workers in a crucial election year. The new restrictions take effect from Wednesday.

This (the suspension of visas) will disproportionately impact high-skilled workers from Asia, who overwhelming utilise the H1-B visa system and account for over 80 per cent of H1-B visa holders in the United States, Congresswoman Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said on Tuesday.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

Its a purely xenophobic and bigoted agenda that actually works against our national interest, Chu said. She underlined that immigrants are vital to the US economy and are needed not only in the agriculture and medicine sectors, but also in business, academia, and everything in between as well.

If we want to rebuild our economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot close ourselves off from immigrants. The Presidents order puts his own election-year politics over the needs of our country, Chu said. Worse, by stoking xenophobia and furthering the false impression that immigrants take away American jobs, the Presidents order is putting immigrants at risk at a time when hate crimes are spiking. This order divides our country at a moment when we need to be rebuilding. Im strongly opposed to the Trump administrations continued attacks on our legal immigration system, she said.

According to Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, the visa suspension order is both an abuse of the presidents executive power and a politically motivated attempt to shift blame. Trumps relentless anti-immigrant agenda is not only immoral, it harms the American businesses that rely on immigrant workers, he said. The visas which are temporarily suspended include L-1 visas for intracompany transfers, H-1Bs for workers in specialty occupations 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 new rules 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.

In a joint statement, Nadler and Immigration and Citizenship Chair Zoe Lofgren said Trump is once again abusing the law in an attempt to distract the American public from his abject failure to combat Covid-19. Rather than leading us into a stable period of economic recovery -- one that brings real, sustainable jobs to the American public -- he tries to shift blame and return to his favourite political ploy of targeting and scapegoating immigrants, said the two Democratic Congressman.

Congresswoman Anna G Eshoo said the presidents decision unfairly blames immigrants for Americas cascading economy and will only harm the nations long-term economic recovery, growth and competitiveness.

I represent the heart of Silicon Valley, which leads the world in innovation. Nearly one in three of my constituents was born outside of the US and they are essential to our nations success, the Democratic lawmaker said.

Congressman Filemon Vela said the suspension will affect high-skilled workers, seasonal workers, spouses of high-skilled immigrants, researchers, scholars, and company executives seeking to transfer to the US from positions abroad with the same employer.

Noting that immigrants are essential to positive economic growth in the US, he said, Texas alone is home to about 10 per cent of all green card holders...the state will likely be impacted the hardest after New York.Experts predict the long-term ramifications of this decision will not only stifle the nations ability to attract top global talent, but also hurt Americas greatest asset  its diversity. A green card, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, allows a foreigner to live and work permanently in the United States.

Meanwhile, Congressman Mo Brooks praised Trumps action. Im also pleased President Trump refused to cave to intense pressure from the US Chamber of Commerce and other special interest groups that, out of greed and self-interest, had the hutzpah to demand the importation of even more cheap foreign labour despite the severe damage done to struggling, jobless American families, he said. Congressman Lance Gooden said H-1B visas and similar guest worker programmes are unnecessary when 45 million Americans are out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic. While defending his move, President Trump had noted that the overall unemployment rate in the US nearly quadrupled between February and May of 2020 -- producing some of the most extreme unemployment rates ever recorded by the Bureau of Labour Statistics. While the rate of 13.3 per cent unemployment in May reflects a marked decline from April, millions of Americans remain out of work.
 Flash

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.
Photo: Jeff Gunn/Flickr

Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in New York City.

Black graduate student records racist rant in New York City

The Yale student, Kathryn Graves, is looking to identify the woman to make sure shes not the perpetrator or victim of someone elses ire if she continues ranting at strangers.

Read the full story on TheGrio.

Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to return, possibly without crowds

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there will still be a Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center for the 2020 holiday season  but maybe not the traditional crowds.

Read the full story on New York Post.

Mayor announces unique approach to July 4th celebrations

The Macy's July 4th fireworks will go forward in New York City, but with a twist meant to keep spectators from congregating in large numbers during the pandemic.

Read the full story on PBS NewsHour.

New York City hairdressers return to work

Salons and barbershops have reopened in New York City.

Read the full story on The Daily Beast.

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.
Official Logo for A2 Global Electronics + Solutions A2 Global symbolizes how unifying two leading solution providers allows us to offer more services and greater reach with the same commitment to customer service and quality that has defined both companies.

A2 Global Electronics + Solutions, a global leader in the electronic component distribution and supply chain services industry, announces the launch of its new corporate brand identity effective immediately. The A2 Global identity encompasses America II Electronics and Advanced MP Technologys respective 40+ year legacies while redefining their future under a single, united brand.

America II joined forces with Advanced MP Technology in September 2018, increasing the support and worldwide supplier network available to customers. A2 Global Electronics + Solutions is the result of an extensive rebranding initiative to define the combined strength of services and solutions. Along with a new brand name comes a new logo, website, and graphic design approach.

As America II Electronics and Advanced MP Technology unite as one organization, we need a brand identity that accurately represents our unique position in the marketplace and the value we bring to our customers and suppliers, says Frank Cavallaro, CEO of A2 Global Electronics + Solutions. A2 Global symbolizes how unifying two leading solution providers allows us to offer more services and greater reach with the same commitment to customer service and quality that has defined both companies.

A2 Global Electronics + Solutions will uphold the values held by America II and Advanced MP Technology while providing industry-leading solutions in electronic component distribution and supply chain services.

About A2 Global Electronics + Solutions:

The next generation of America II and Advanced MP Technology, A2 Global, has been in the electronic component distribution and supply chain services industry for over 40 years. Headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, A2 Global Electronics + Solutions has global offices and logistics centers in the Americas, Europe, Japan, and Asia and provides customers with easy, fair, and uncomplicated electronic component distribution and supply chain solutions.

Visit a2globalelectronics.com to learn more.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 08:18:12|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday demanded India reducing its staff strength of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad by 50 percent in a tit-for-tat action hours after a similar decision by the Indian government.

Pakistan and India had been involved in a diplomatic row in recent days over what both sides claimed harassment of staff members of high commissions in New Delhi and Islamabad.

The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan said that the Indian charge d'Affaires in Islamabad was summoned to convey Pakistan's decision to reduce the Indian High Commission's staff strength by 50 percent as a "reciprocal measure."

"The charge d'Affaires was asked to implement the decision conveyed to him within seven days," the ministry said in a statement after the Indian decision to reduce Pakistani staff by 50 percent in New Delhi and accusations that members of the Pakistani High Commission are involved in illegal activities.

Pakistan completely dismissed the allegations and reiterated that they always function within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms.

Pakistan also rejected the "insinuations of intimidation" of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad and alleged that two Indian staffers were involved in "illegal activities" of a hit-and-run incident and possession of fake currency. They were detained by the Islamabad police but freed later.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Tuesday night that "Indian staff members will have to leave Pakistan if India expels Pakistani officials. Pakistan will take action similar to India's action."

"India does not respect diplomatic norms," Qureshi said in a statement, adding that India has levelled baseless allegations against Pakistani staff members.

Pakistan's former senior diplomat Burhan-ul-Islam said that India took the decision first to announce a 50-percent cut in the Pakistani mission in a way to minimize chances of improvement in relations with Pakistan in the near future.

"I think that the Indian government wants to divert attention from other issues as it is under pressure at home," Islam told Xinhua on Tuesday night.

He said that the Indian allegations against Pakistani staff members are very weak and India cannot substantiate its claims about the Pakistani diplomat.

Relations between Pakistan and India have been under pressure since India revoked special status to Indian-controlled Kashmir in August last year. Enditem
WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered the dismissal of the criminal case against President Donald Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said in a 2-1 ruling that the Justice Departments decision to abandon the case against Flynn settles the matter, even though Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to prosecutors in special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan had declined to immediately dismiss the case, seeking instead to evaluate on his own the departments unusual dismissal request.

Earlier:

Mueller recommends no prison time for Flynn, citing substantial cooperation in Russia investigation

Comey memos say Trump fixated on hookers, had reservations about Flynn

All 4 lawyers quit case after DOJ decision on Stone prison time
(Newser)  One of four prosecutors who quit the Roger Stone case after Attorney General William Barr intervened to recommend a lighter sentence says there was "significant pressure" to cut Stone a "break" because he was close to President Trump. "What I heardrepeatedlywas that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the president," Aaron Zelinsky will tell the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, according to prepared testimony seen by Politico. "I was also told that the acting US Attorney was giving Stone such unprecedentedly favorable treatment because he was 'afraid of the president.'" Zelinsky says the pressure to go easy on Stone came from the "highest levels" of the Justice Department.

story continues below

Stone was sentenced to 40 months earlier this year for witness tampering and lying to Congress. Prosecutors initially recommended up to 9 years. Zelinsky, who is now a federal prosecutor in Maryland, says the handling of the sentencing recommendation was "unusual and unprecedented," with Justice Department higher-ups seeking to "outright distort the events that transpired in his trial and the criminal conduct that gave rise to his conviction," the Wall Street Journal reports. The Wednesday hearing will focus on the politicization of the Justice Department under Barr, Democrats say. John Elias, an antitrust official who accuses Barr of ordering investigations of mergers of cannabis companies because of his personal dislike of the industry, will also testify, reports CNN. (Stone is due to start serving his sentence next week, but Trump has strongly hinted that he will be pardoned.)
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were granted permission to present This Morning outside on Wednesday.

The dynamic duo revealed they spent 119 days in the studio due to the coronavirus social distancing guidelines, but were finally allowed to enjoy the sunshine while hosting the programme as the nation lockdown eases.

Poking fun at the restrictions, TV star Phillip, 58, joked: 'We've come blinking outside! You should have seen the paperwork!'

Hooray! Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were granted permission to present This Morning outside on Wednesday

The pair opened the show in front of the ITV Studios Daytime in west London, before heading back inside to conduct interviews via live link.

Beaming with joy, Dancing On Ice's Holly, 39, enthused: 'We've finally been allowed outside!'

The media personality revealed they last switched up the scenery back in February, stating: '119 days since we were last out here to celebrate Pancake Day.'

The blonde beauty embraced the heatwave as she was dressed in a 221 yellow silk tea dress by L.K.Bennett, which she teamed with nude heels.

Breaking free: The dynamic duo revealed they spent 119 days in the studio due to the coronavirus social distancing guidelines, but were finally allowed to enjoy the sunshine

A long wait: Poking fun at the restrictions, TV star Phillip, 58, joked: 'We've come blinking outside! You should have seen the paperwork'

'It's been 119 days! The media personality revealed they last switched up the scenery back in February on Pancake Day (pictured)

Phillip, meanwhile, cut a dapper figure in a polo shirt, dark-wash bottoms and smart shoes.

On Monday, Holly was replaced by Davina McCall as she skipped the series to take her three children, Harry, 11, Belle, nine, and Chester, five, back to school.

She has since defended her decision, stating on Tuesday's episode: 'Thanks for yesterday.

'It was really good, the school was brilliant and it was super organised. I was quite worried about it, I think naturally as a parent you worry about these things.

Delighted: Beaming with joy, Dancing On Ice's Holly, 39, enthused: 'We've finally been allowed outside'

Smart attire: The blonde beauty embraced the heatwave as she was dressed in a 221 yellow silk tea dress by L.K.Bennett, while Phil cut a dapper figure in a polo shirt and dark bottoms

'But actually, very organised, the kids were just so excited to see each other. I got a little bit emotional!'

The doting parent later explained that it was a strange experience as she was 'relinquishing control' over her kids after spending every day with them in lockdown.

She said: 'Do you know what it is? I've been with them the whole time. I know exactly what they've done, what they've eaten and what they've learnt it's like having them back as babies. I've known everything.

'Then yesterday, suddenly they were doing stuff I didn't know about. It was like relinquishing control.'

'The new norm': On Monday, Holly was replaced by Davina McCall as she skipped the series to take her three children, Harry, 11, Belle, nine, and Chester, five, back to school

Holly has been the face of This Morning since replacing Fern Britton in September 2009, and often takes breaks from work to spend time with her family during half-term periods and summer holidays.

The former Celebrity Juice panellist, who shares her kids with with husband of 12 years Dan Baldwin, recently discussed experiencing working mum guilt in a candid interview with Red Magazine.

The star said she never imagined juggling motherhood with a career when she dreamed of having a family.
Her background is a crucial asset in the area where a president has the greatest power, and where deep knowledge is the best safeguard against catastrophe. Rice would not need an education in dealing with Iran, North Korea, Russia, China, Israel or our NATO allies. Shes not only better equipped in foreign and defense affairs than the other vice presidential prospects; shes better equipped than any president since Richard Nixon.
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
Named Vivekananda Yoga University, it will offer online graduate programmes based on modern research approaches to yoga

New York: As part of the 6th International Yoga Day commemorations, the world's first yoga university outside India has been launched in Los Angeles, offering programmes that combine scientific principles and modern research approaches to the ancient Indian practice of yoga.

The Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU) was jointly launched on Tuesday by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on External Affairs P P Chaudhary during a virtual event held at the Consulate General of India in New York.

Eminent Indian yoga guru Dr. H R Nagendra, Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA) is the first Chairman of VaYU.

Addressing the virtual launch, Muraleedharan said Swami Vivekananda gave the message of universal brotherhood from the US and through the first of its kind yoga university outside India, the message of yoga will be broadcast from America to the world.

"As the symbol of India's culture and heritage, yoga has become the means for unity and brotherhood in the world. Through the medium of yoga, we can give the message of world peace," he said, adding that "yoga provides mental balance and emotional stability."

The event was jointly hosted by the Consulate General and Jaipur Foot USA Chairperson and founding director of VaYU Prem Bhandari.

In his message, Nagendra, well known as the yoga consultant to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Swami Vivekananda heralded the grandeur of Indian yoga dimension to the world through his famous speech in Chicago in 1893.

Inspired by his teachings and the solutions he has given to meet challenges of the modern era, we took up this entire process of bringing yoga into the academic dimension, he said.

He noted that the university combines best of the East and best of the West. Best of the East is yoga and its applications and best of West is modern scientific research."

"We want to bring this integrated dimension of healthcare to world at large - allopathy and the AYUSH systems, he said referring to the practice of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.

India's Consul General in New York Sandeep Chakravorty said that New York has deep ties with yoga as many years ago Swami Vivekananda spent time in the city and wrote books on yoga which popularised the Indian practice all over the world.

"It helped in making the US the adopted home of yoga," Chakravorty said, applauding the efforts of Nagendra and Bhandari for the initiative.

He underscored that VaYU will involve top line research on yoga and further popularise it in America, where currently about 40 million people practice yoga regularly.

Bhandari said that Swami Vivekananda, a monk from India introduced Hinduism to the western world through his historic speech in Chicago in 1893. Now, 127 years later, another monk from India Dr. H R Nagendra is bringing to the western world the age old yoga science - Guru-Shishya Parampara by establishing this university.

He noted that in the years to come, VaYU would produce best modern day yoga practitioners who would not only spread peace but make planet Earth a better place to live.

The university is a prime example of people to people connections between India and the US, he said.

Chaudhary said yoga makes the human immune system very strong and is a bridge between the mind and body, which is very important in today's times.

He said the university will help thousands of yoga teachers in the US whose yoga education was limited to 200 or 500 hours of certificate programmes to progress further into university-based higher education.

He highlighted that Modi was instrumental in getting the UN to declare June 21 as International Day of Yoga, saying this further popularised yoga across the world.

In congratulatory messages, Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said in these trying times, the practice of yoga has kept life going and for the very first time, a university espousing yogic science is being launched in the US.

Through the scientific appraisal of yoga, I'm sure millions more will get benefit of it, he said terming the launch of the world's first yoga university outside India as a milestone in the world of yoga.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev said that the launch of the yoga university is a matter of pride and expressed confidence that VaYU will enhance India's pride for years to come in the field of yoga research.

Former Director General of Border Security Force K K Sharma said that yoga is the best system of exercise and recalled how he had introduced it in place of PT exercise and noticed a perceptible improvement in the overall physical and mental health of the force.

Founded on the principles of Swami Vivekananda's prescription for universal welfare, VaYU will offer online graduate programmes based on scientific principles and modern research approaches to yoga.

VaYU faculty has been recruited from SVYASA, the first Yoga university in India.

It will facilitate collaborative research, credit transfers and joint programmes with multiple premier universities across the world.

The university will offer online master's program in Yoga. The applications for fall 2020 semester are open with the first day of classes starting on August 24 in a virtual mode.

The launch comes within three months of receiving official recognition from the Bureau for Private Post-secondary Education, California to offer yoga-based higher education programmes in November 2019.
Iran to send Ukrainian plane's flight recorder to France in coming days

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 23 June 2020 / 11:45

Tehran (ISNA) - Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran will send the black box of a Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed near Tehran in January to France for analysis in coming days.

In a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Francois-Philippe Champagne, Foreign Minister Zarif informed him that Iran will send the black box of the Ukrainian plane to France within the next few days to have its data analyzed.

The top Iranian diplomat noted that the decision to send the flight recorder has been made for a while, saying the decision is going to be implemented soon.

Zarif also notified his Canadian counterpart that the Islamic Republic of Iran has already informed Ukraine of its readiness to address the legal issues, the procedure for paying compensation to the families of the passengers who have died in the tragic incident, as well as paying compensation for the Ukrainian jetliner.

However, Zarif added, Ukraine has not still assigned a delegation to hold negotiations, but the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to pursue the issue.

The outbreak of coronavirus and a halt to the international flights had resulted in a suspension of plans to read the black box and other measures, while the executive measures to address the case will soon resume with the limited resumption of flights.

End Item

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Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 09:31 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406612a509 1 Lifestyle salon,hair-salon,new-normal,new-normal-in-Indonesia,COVID-19,#ForgingtheNewNorm Free

This article is part of The Jakarta Posts "Forging the New Norm" series about how people are adjusting to the new realities of COVID-19 in Indonesia.

In the pre-coronavirus days, many considered a trip to the hair salon a leisure activity. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made visiting a salon no longer just a walk in the park.

Natasha Jessica, PR manager of photography service SweetEscape, had to postpone her grooming schedule during the imposition of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) beginning in Jakarta on April 10.

As the Jakarta administration eased the partial lockdown early this month and shopping malls had begun to reopen on June 15, Natasha made an appointment at her favorite salon in South Jakarta as she was more than ready to part with her long hair.

Natasha told The Jakarta Post she was initially worried about visiting a salon but after perusing the salons safety protocols she decided to give it a go.

During her visit, she discovered that only 50 percent of the salon area was occupied but it was filled with customers. All staff members wore face shields and masks.

However, the experience was a tad different compared to the pre-coronavirus days. "I usually interact with the staff [and] chat with the hairstylist," she said, adding that since the staff wore protective gear, she found it difficult to communicate with them. But she understood that it was necessary to wear the protection.

In an interview on June 5, L'Oreal Indonesia president director Umesh Phadke said the COVID-19 outbreak had greatly affected the salon industry as around 90 percent of salons in Indonesia closed.

During the imposition of PSBB, the company teamed up with hair salons to offer an in-home service called LPEXPERT@YOURHOME. The service also aimed to help hairdressers earn an income.

But as salons reopened, the number of LPEXPERT@YOURHOME services was reduced as people were excited to visit hair salons with the new protocols in place. Although many have adapted to the idea of grooming at home, Phadke saw that hairstylist services could never be replaced.

Read also: COVID-19: What makes hairdressing 'essential'? Even the hairdressers want to close

In the transitional period, Salon Industry Communities and Entrepreneurs (KIPS) and LOreal Indonesia prepared the COVID-19 prevention protocols for salon businesses, referring to Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency Regulation No. 131/2020 and the Health Ministrys official instructions.

Similar to other businesses, the protocols require hair salons to conduct health screenings, apply physical distancing measures and clean and disinfect all areas.

It also suggests hair salons refrain from receiving walk-in guests and limit the duration of services to a maximum of 120 minutes.

L'Oreal Indonesia professional product division general manager Michael Justisoesetya said in a statement that the company and KIPS were working to ensure that all stakeholders understood the protocols by distributing them through various communication channels. So far, they had hosted two-session webinars, supported by the Jakarta administration and the Health Ministry, which were attended by thousands of salon owners across Indonesia.

We strive to maximize online training under the three Professional Products Division brands, [namely LOreal Professionnel, Matrix and Kerastase], he said. He added that they had also conducted online training for hairdressers via the L'Oreal Access app and that the program had reached over 5,000 salons in Indonesia with the majority of those located in Jakarta.

Hairdresser Budiman, who works for a salon in SCBD, South Jakarta, said he had become familiar with the new protocols. During the PSBB, Budiman offered in-home services and he became familiar with the routine of disinfecting and cleaning all his tools before and after attending to a customer.

Renowned hairdresser Rudy Hadisuwarno, who is also a KIPS representative, said they would continue to take preventive measures against the possibility of local transmission in the salon industry by conducting intensive and strict supervision. (wng)
The Ukrainian authorities will develop a full-fledged strategy to counter floods comprehensively.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged assistance to victims whose houses have been destroyed in flood-hit western regions.

"I want to address the people affected by the flood, especially Ivano-Frankivsk region, as well as Zakarpattia, Lviv, Chernivtsi, and Ternopil regions. First of all, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families of the deceased," he said in a video message posted by the presidential press service on June 24.

Read alsoThree dead as devastating floods in western Ukraine continue (Photo, video)

The president assures that the authorities are doing everything necessary to minimize and eliminate the consequences of natural disasters in Ukraine's west.

"I want to assure other affected citizens that the state will not leave you in trouble. We will definitely rebuild damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure. We will definitely solve the housing issue: either rebuild the destroyed one or find a new one," he said.

"You will be provided with financial assistance separately. We understand that more than one billion hryvnias (US$37.6 million) may be needed to overcome the consequences, but these funds will definitely be found," he said.

He also mentioned weather forecasts for the coming days, according to which the level of precipitation and, consequently, water in the rivers will decrease. "So we all hope that the situation will not worsen," he said.

"In general, in the near future we will consider a full-fledged strategy, involve all experts to solve the problem of floods comprehensively. Forever or at least for decades to come," he said.
JUBA, South Sudan, June 24, 2020 (Morning Star News)  Following calls from mosque leaders in east Khartoum, Sudan to rid their Muslim area of South Sudanese Christians, several Christians were attacked there and in neighboring Omdurman this month, sources said.

At the end of evening prayers at a mosque in the Al-Jerif East area, on the eastern bank of the Blue Nile River in Khartoums East Nile Locality, imams on June 6 called for residents to rid Christian South Sudanese from the Muslim area, a source who requested anonymity told Morning Star News. Attacks on Christians in the area followed that evening and the next day.

In a separate attack on Saturday (June 20) in Omdurman, across the Nile River west of Khartoum, young Muslim men shouting the jihadist slogan Allah Akbar [God is greater] stabbed a Christian to death in a street assault on him and four other South Sudanese in the Shigla area, said another source on condition of anonymity.

Mariel Bang is survived by his wife and four children ranging in age from 1 to 4 years old, the source said. Bang was 35.

Besides the death of Bang, he added, the attack left one of the other South Sudanese Christians in critical condition. The other three Christians assaulted were women who sustained minor injuries, he said.

We will burn this place, one of the assailants said, according to the source.

Khartoum Attacks

After the June 6 call by imams in Khartoums Al-Jerif East to rid the area of South Sudanese, three young Muslim men with rods, sticks and rifles subsequently beat two Christians as they left an area market, said another source. Seriously injured was Ariere Sathor, 18, he said.

The attack left one of the two Christians [Sathor] in critical condition after sustaining injuries on his head, the source said. The Muslims who consider the area Muslim territory were shouting, They [South Sudanese] must leave this place by force.

The mosque leaders told those at the evening prayer that the South Sudanese were infidels, criminals and brewers of alcohol, which is forbidden in Islam, he said.

The next day, June 7, mobs of young Muslim men sent South Sudanese refugees fleeing for their lives as they set fire to 16 make-shift shelters of plastic sheeting where the refugees were living in the Al-Jerif East area, according to the source.

The youths said they didnt want to see them in a Muslim area, the source told Morning Star News.

In the attack, 10 South Sudanese Roman Catholics in the area were injured, including a woman, Achoul Deng, he said. Among others injured were Deng Akuiek, 25; Deng Amoul, 18; Malieng Dengdid; Gwot Amoul; and Garang Arou Yien.

The injured Catholic woman, Achoul Deng, said Muslim men have long harassed Christian women in Al-Jerif East.

This issue is disturbing us, she said, and it is not acceptable  but what can we do, oh God?

Following the attacks on June 6-7, Muslims self-styled as the Resistance Committees of Al-Jerif East (Hai-Gerief Shriq) took to social media to explain why they attacked and burned the tents of the South Sudanese refugees. In their Facebook statement, they criticized police for not arresting the Christians for unspecified crimes.

We blame the police force in this message for not being available in time of need, the statement reads.

The attacks came amid hopes that persecution of Christians would decline under the new transitional government.

After Omar al-Bashir was deposed as president in April 2019, the government sworn in on Sept. 8, 2019 led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, an economist, was tasked with governing during a transition period of 39 months. It faces the challenges of rooting out longstanding corruption and an Islamist deep state rooted in Bashirs 30 years of power.

Following the secession of South Sudan in 2011, Bashir had vowed to adopt a stricter version of sharia (Islamic law) and recognize only Islamic culture and the Arabic language. Church leaders said Sudanese authorities demolished or confiscated churches and limited Christian literature on the pretext that most Christians have left the country following South Sudans secession.

In April 2013 the then-Sudanese Minister of Guidance and Endowments announced that no new licenses would be granted for building new churches in Sudan, citing a decrease in the South Sudanese population. Sudan since 2012 had expelled foreign Christians and bulldozed church buildings. Besides raiding Christian bookstores and arresting Christians, authorities threatened to kill South Sudanese Christians who did not leave or cooperate with them in their effort to find other Christians.

After Bashir was deposed, military leaders initially formed a military council to rule the country, but further demonstrations led them to accept a transitional government of civilians and military figures, with a predominantly civilian government to be democratically elected in three years. Christians were expected to have greater voice under the new administration.

In light of advances in religious freedom since Bashir was ousted in April, the U.S. State Department announced on Dec. 20 that Sudan had been removed from the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) that engage in or tolerate systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom and was upgraded to a watch list.

Sudan had been designated a CPC by the U.S. State Department since 1999.

Sudan ranked 7th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

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: Morning Star News/Khartoum Mosque/Azri Alhaq
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 19:38:07|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- More areas in Indonesia have contained the COVID-19 contagions due to partial lockdowns and restrictions, despite continued transmission in some regions in the archipelagic country.

More than half of the nation have been categorized as low-risk areas recently, compared with less than half previously, head of the COVID-19 Task Force's Expert Team Wiku Adisasmito said on Wednesday.

Based on the zoning map from May 31 to June 21, the green areas were recorded at 46.7 percent of the country's territories and now they reached 58.3 percent, he said, referring to regions with low virus contagious risks.

The government has reopened business activities in some parts of the nation, along with the resumption of tourist destinations and easing of air travel restrictions.

Despite the increase in the number of low virus risk areas, high contagions of the virus were still found in some parts of the country, including East Java province whose capital Surabaya is the second largest city in the country.

The Indonesian capital of Jakarta has suspended the weekly Car Free Day jogging activities to deter residents from creating mass gathering.

Indonesia recorded 1,113 additional cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 49,009 with 2,573 casualties, the government's spokesman for the COVID-19 Related Matters Achmad Yurianto said. Enditem
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The State Bank of India has issued several notifications for the recruitment of specialist cadre officers. The online application process has also begun with the release of official notifications. Under different advertisement numbers, there are a total of 444 vacancies for various posts. The final date to submit application is July 13 and aspirants can apply online for their desired posts on sbi.co.in/careers.

A total of 20 positions have opened up for the role, which is segregated in various categories. The bank has released a detailed notification in this regard, which mentions that, to apply for the job, candidates are required to provide documents such as resume, ID proof, age proof, educational qualification, experience among others.

The shortlisting will be purely provisional without verification of documents. However, the documents would be verified during the time of the interview and candidates can also be asked to provide original papers of the same.

How you can apply:

- Visit the official website of SBI

- Click on Careers link given at the bottom of the page.

- Under the latest announcement sections, click on the relevant link of advertisement and go to apply online.

- Then click on New Registration or Login if you have already registered.

- Fill in the form and pay the application fee.

Eligibility criteria

The minimum age of the candidates who wish to apply should be 25 and it should not extend beyond 35 years. Age will be calculated as on January 1, 2020.

Education Qualification

A candidate should have completed CA/ MBA (finance)/PGDM (finance)/PGDBM (finance) or any equivalent post-graduation degree from a recognised university or college.

Fees

The application fee, which is 750 for candidates belonging to General, OBC and EWS category, can be paid using internet banking, debit card, and credit card. Meanwhile, no application fee would be charged for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste/Tribe or PWD.

Salary

Finally selected candidates will get a salary in the range of Rs 42,020 to Rs 51,490. The official will also be eligible for DA, HRA, CCA, PF, Contributory Pension Fund, LFC, Medical Facility etc, as per rules.

Selection criteria

To be selected for the job, candidates do not have to appear for any written exam. A shortlisting committee constituted by the Bank will decide the shortlisting parameters and thereafter, an adequate number of candidates, as decided by the Bank will be shortlisted and called for interview. The interview will carry 100 marks. The qualifying marks in the interview will be decided by the bank. In case more than one candidate scores the same marks, elder candidates will be given preference.

Details of Vacancy

Relationship Manager - 48 vacancies

Head (Product, Investment & Research) - 01 vacancy

Central Research Team (Portfolio Analysis & Data Analytics - 01 vacancy

Central Research Team (Support) - 01 vacancy Investment Officer - 09 vacancies

Project Development Manager (Technology) - 01 vacancy

Relationship Manager (Team Lead) - 03 vacancies

Vice President (Stressed Assets Marketing) - 01 vacancy

Chief Manager (Special situation Team) - 03 vacancies

Deputy Manager (Stressed Assets Marketing) - 03 vacancies

Product Manager - 06 vacancies

Manager (Data Analyst) - 02 vacancies

Manager (Digital Marketing) - 01 vacancy

Faculty - 03 vacancies

SME Credit Analyst - 20 vacancies

Deputy Manager (IS Audit) - 08 vacancies

Banking Supervisory Specialist - 01 vacancy

Manager  Anytime Channel - 01 vacancy

Executive (FI & MM) - 241 vacancies

Sr Executive (Social Banking & CSR - 85 vacancies

Sr Executive - 06 vacancies
WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will permanently lay off 3,333 employees as part of a major restructuring amid the coronavirus pandemic that has devastated the travel industry.

The company plans to consolidate call centre activity in Alberta, restructure its office and management staff and contract out operations at all but four of the 38 Canadian airports where it operates, WestJet said in a release Wednesday.

Throughout the course of the biggest crisis in the history of aviation, WestJet has made many difficult, but essential, decisions to future-proof our business, said CEO Ed Sims, calling the changes unavoidable.

About 2,300 airport customer service agents and baggage handlers will lose their jobs, according to CUPE union official Chris Rauenbusch.

Some 600 office and management staff in Calgary will be cut within a month or so, he said. The head office is already desolate.

WestJet, which went private after Toronto-based Onex Corp. bought the company in December, had employed some 14,000 workers just before the pandemic struck. About 4,500 active employees will remain on the payroll after the layoffs.

Another 433 call centre representatives will be laid off in Moncton, Halifax and Vancouver, he said.

The company said preferential hiring interviews for some of the 2,300 WestJet airport workers now facing layoffs will be a priority in selecting airport partners.

The pandemic saw the airline suspend most of its schedule  including all international trips  in late March, running at less than 10 per cent capacity.

Canadian airline revenue streams have shrunk to a fraction of 2019 levels, with fleets parked and border shutdowns ongoing even as domestic travel demand gradually starts to pick up.

Canada, unlike countries including France, Germany and the United States, has held off on sector-specific support for carriers. Instead Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rolled out financial aid available across industries, including the federal wage subsidy and loans starting at $60 million for large companies.

In an memo to staff Wednesday afternoon, Sims said the dearth of government funds along with a patchwork of provincial and federal travel advisories and constraints on non-essential domestic and international travel are compounding a weak demand environment.

Robert Kokonis, president of Toronto-based consulting firm AirTrav Inc., said the relative lack of financial support may run the risk of incurring lasting damage on our aviation and travel sectors.

A healthy domestic airline sector is critical in a sprawling country with a handful of far-flung, high-density population centres, he said.

And we need to have carriers to link Canada with the rest of the world. If we have a major carrier fail, youre not going to replace that lift overnight, Kokonis said. This message from WestJet today has got to be the eye-opener.

The company is increasing reliant on flights to the U.S. following a partnership with Delta Air Lines, cemented in a joint venture announced in February.

Last week fewer than 7,500 passengers arrived at Canadian airports from the U.S., down more than 98 per cent from a year earlier, according to the Canada Border Services Agency.

International passenger numbers were down 95 per cent compared to a year earlier, the agency said Wednesday.

Chief executives from 27 Canadian companies in sectors ranging from aviation to banking and telecommunications have called for a measured reopening of the skies that would see travel resume across all provinces and between select countries.

An ailing travel sector also hurts local businesses, Kokonis said.

Its airports, its ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, its taxis, its hotels, its tour operators. Its your kayak and canoe outfitter at Lake Louise that has nobody to rent a boat to.

Manitoba and the Maritime provinces continue to restrict interprovincial travel, though the four Atlantic provinces announced plans Wednesday to create a bubble that allows residents to travel within region, removing a 14-day isolation period.

Travellers arriving in Canada from abroad must self-isolate for two weeks.

Last week, Trudeau extended a ban on non-essential travel between Canada and the U.S. until at least July 21.

The announcement came as European Union countries began to reopen their borders to EU and some non-EU members.

Its not desperate yet, because the airlines can navigate through the next months, said Jacques Roy, a professor of transport management at HEC Montreal business school.

But the restrictions will have to come to an end and have travel resume sometime.

WestJet earlier this week said it had halted its pursuit of a labour code exemption that would have facilitated permanent mass layoffs.

WestJet will have to provide unionized employees affected by the latest round of layoffs with payment in lieu of notice, Rauenbusch said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2020
A Winnipeg wildlife photographer is using the second love of her life to help rescue the first.

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 Winnipeg wildlife photographer is using the second love of her life to help rescue the first.

Yvonne Kipling is launching "Photos for Rescues," in which shell donate 50 per cent of the proceeds from her wildlife print sales in July, August and September to the Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter.

Kipling will also donate 50 per cent of the proceeds from her family and pet portrait bookings for those three months to the no-kill shelter, which has been struggling since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

"Ive always been a dog lover, but I love all animals in general and specifically rescue animals," Kipling, 37, said of her campaign. "I always tell my husband that if we won the lottery Id open an animal sanctuary for all kinds of rescues."

That lifelong love of animals blossomed about 10 years ago into her second passion  taking photos of Manitobas wilderness creatures in their natural habitat.

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Yvonne Kipling says she loves the thrill of finding, and then successfully photographing, wildlife such as this eagle.

When shes not at her full-time job as a provincial civil servant, Kipling scours the countryside in search of owls, eagles, moose, bear, wolves and other wildlife to capture with her camera.

"It (wildlife and nature) photography is my passion. It truly is. I feel lucky because a lot of people go their entire life and never find their true passion, and for me photography is it," she said. "I like to use my skills to help people and animals in general.

"Its just something that I love. Its hard to put into words. Its not easy to walk out your door and spot an eagle. You have to work for it, hunt for it. When I take a picture Im, like, Wow! Im always after that next Wow! moment. I love that I can do it in Manitoba."

For the fundraiser, potential buyers can peruse her prints online at yvonnekipling.com and contact her via email about which one theyd like to purchase to support the shelter. The prices range from $50 for an 8x10 to $100 for a 24x36 photo.

"With the pandemic weve been going through, some of the rescues have suffered," she said. "Anything I can do to help out animal shelters is important. They need our help. Id love to be able to raise $5,000 for them or even more. I just want to raise as much money as I can to help."

Kipling has a particular fondness for Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter  two of the three dogs she has owned in recent years were obtained from the no-kill shelter after being rescued in northern Manitoba.

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Yvonne Kipling, with her rescue dog Jimbo, says she has a special place in her heart for pet rescue shelters.

"The shelter has a special place in my heart," she said. "But also I love that they are Manitobas first no-kill shelter. They do a lot of good work in the community. This is just one small way I can help out in the rescue community."

Carla Martinelli-Irvine, founder and executive director of the no-kill shelter at 3062 Portage Ave., said the Photos for Rescues fundraiser couldnt come at a better time.

"We are honoured," Martinelli-Irvine said this week, who calls Kiplings photography "unbelievable," particularly her shots of eagles. "I could kiss and hug her She is very kind and philanthropic."

The shelter was deemed an essential service and has remained open throughout the pandemic, with limits on the number of visitors allowed, strict social distancing and sanitization, and mandatory mask-wearing.

But the shelter founder said the novel coronavirus epidemic caused a hefty chunk of donations and adoptions to evaporate.

"Its hit us very hard," she said. "The first month (March) our donations were down over 70 per cent. Thats very significant, but I never laid off anyone. People who donated monthly we lost, because many were laid off work.

Yvonne Kipling photo A wasp lands on a Spanish margriet flower.

"We are always desperate for donations. Were 100 per cent donor supported. We dont get any government funding. If donations go down, the shelter is in trouble."

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The shelter handles roughly 1,000 animals, mainly dogs and cats, every year and faces an uphill battle to afford expensive medications and vet bills.

"Everybody loves the concept of no-kill, but its very expensive to keep open," Martinelli-Irvine, 59, said. "Many of the animals at the shelter are injured or abused and need veterinary work and that can be expensive.

"We have coin-collection canisters throughout the city and all the businesses around the city were closed, so that hurt us. And all of our community fundraising events were cancelled for the year."

The shelter continued in-person adoptions, but asked customers to visit only if they were serious about making a rescue animal part of their home. The number of visitors allowed at the shelter has been raised to 15 from six.

"Weve started to see older cats getting adopted, cats whove been with us a long time. Thats really positive," Martinelli-Irvine said. "As soon as the cages empty out, they fill up again."

doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca
By Ali Kucukgocmen

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A Turkish court on Wednesday ordered the release of three journalists and three others to be remanded while they stand trial on charges of revealing state secrets in their coverage of the deaths of Turkish intelligence officers in Libya, a lawyer said.

The eight defendants in the case, six of whom have been in jail since early March pending the trial, are accused of revealing the identities of two members of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT).

Turkey has provided military support and training in Libya to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord, helping it fight off a 14-month assault on the capital Tripoli by eastern Libyan forces led by Khalifa Haftar.

The charges against the seven journalists in the case centre on articles and social media posts published shortly after President Tayyip Erdogan said in February that Turkey had "several martyrs" in Libya.

The eighth defendant, a municipal worker in the western Turkish town of Akhisar, is accused of supplying pictures to the journalists of the funeral of one of the dead intelligence officers.

The court ruled on Wednesday that defendants Baris Terkoglu, from OdaTV website, as well Ferhat Celik and Aydin Keser, both from Yeni Yasam newspaper, should be released, lawyer Celal Ulgen said.

"It is deeply disappointing and incomprehensible that all six were not released," said Milena Buyum, Turkey campaigner for Amnesty International, on Twitter. The next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9.

According to the indictment, Murat Agirel, a reporter for Yeni Cag newspaper, was the first to reveal the identities of the intelligence officers, sharing names and photos on Twitter and referencing Erdogan's comments.

The indictment accuses the defendants of revealing information related to state security, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years, by revealing the missions as well as the identities of MIT members.

Story continues

They are also accused of revealing documents and information related to intelligence activities, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years. The defendants deny the accusations, saying they were doing their jobs as journalists.

The independence of the judiciary and pressure on journalists have been debated in Turkey, especially since a crackdown after an attempted coup in 2016.

Critics say the government used the crackdown as pretext to quash dissent, while Erdogan and his AK Party say the measures are necessary given the security risks Turkey faces and that courts make independent decisions.

(Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Dominic Evans and Angus MacSwan)
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Linkedin Yew Lun Tian and Sanjeev Miglani (Reuters) Beijing, China/New Delhi, India  Wed, June 24, 2020 08:15 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40661233a1 2 World China-India,border-conflict,border-clash,bilateral-spat,bilateral-tension Free

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 US 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.

"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 destabilizing 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 criticized 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.
06/23/2020

By David Perry

Even a global pandemic couldnt stop the Deshpande Symposium on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education.

The ninth annual symposium was cut from three full days to two half days, but the move to a virtual format saw attendance increase to 1,250, nearly fivefold over last year. Attendees tuned in from more than 400 colleges and universities, representing almost every state in the U.S. and 15 other countries, noted UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney in her welcoming remarks. She recalled the first year of the event, when there were just 75 attendees.

Participants discussed and presented more than two dozen panel and poster sessions about entrepreneurship, innovation and their place in the transformation of culture and ecosystems of colleges and universities.

The symposium had been held at UMass Lowell since its inception in 2012, but this year it had been planned as its first road trip, to Cleveland. Then, COVID-19 scrapped those plans.

Thus began the challenging task, according to UMLs Senior Director of Innovation Initiatives Tom ODonnell, of repositioning program content, selecting and organizing the best virtual delivery technology, pulling together the extended team for supporting the symposium operations, coordinating with keynote speakers, panel presenters and poster session participants, and coordinating all external communications to key stakeholders.

Luckily, we had a very good core team with representatives from the Symposium Steering Committee, UMLs Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) and audio-visual support teams and the Burton D. Morgan Foundation, allowing us to pull it off in just two and a half months with record attendance, ODonnell says.

We pivoted, says Deb Hoover, president and CEO of the Burton D. Morgan Foundation, a Deshpande Symposium sponsor. The shift online, she adds, came after some quick thinking and lots and lots of behind-the-scenes planning.

This year, conference fees were covered by sponsors. Attendees tuned in via Whovas event management web portal and mobile app.

Some of the topics covered proved especially timely, as one of the panels and the second days keynote speaker addressed from first-hand experience issues facing African-American entrepreneurs. As protests in the wake of George Floyds murder continued across the globe, veteran educators and entrepreneurs discussed their experiences.

Keynote speaker Lauren Washington, a serial entrepreneur who in 2017 cofounded Black Women Talk Tech to help Black women entrepreneurs, described in a fireside chat the systemic biases in the world of startups and venture capital.

Black Women Talk Tech was formed to showcase and connect Black women in tech and provide access to resources they might not otherwise enjoy  namely, connections to one another for shared experience.

In a predominately white, male world of entrepreneurship where Black women arent often invited to the table, Washington helped them build their own table.

Theres a lot of institutional bias, she said. A lot of it is unconscious, and a lot of it is systemic.

Washington, who also cofounded Fundr, a platform that automates seed investing by creating portfolios of vetted startups for angel investors, said inequity hinders many businesses from ever getting off the ground. Only 3 percent of all companies receive venture capital. A small fraction of that goes to companies run by women, and an even smaller fraction goes to Black women, she noted.

The path of Black women entrepreneurs is, she said, a little bit windier. The journey is longer and harder just to get our foot in the door.

The symposium also featured a keynote address by Daniel Isenberg, founding executive director of the Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Platform and an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, on the role colleges and universities play in supporting the scaling up of emerging businesses in their regional ecosystems. Breakout sessions of panels and presentations fell into three themes: culture and ecosystems of entrepreneurial universities, entrepreneurship in the curriculum and university research commercialization

Next years symposium will be held June 9-11 in Cleveland.
A criminal investigation got underway on Wednesday after racist flyers openly attacking Black people were anonymously distributed to local homes, according to a southern Ontario police force.

Waterloo Regional Police said the forces hate-crime unit launched the probe hours after first learning of the pamphlets, which they alleged were left in mailboxes and on front steps of homes in both Kitchener and Waterloo.

The flyers, images of which were shared to social media and confirmed by police, show a picture of a Black man and white woman over text that both criticizes interracial relationships and parrots widely debunked claims about the intelligence of Black people.

We want to reassure the public that this is a priority for our service, police spokeswoman Cherri Greeno said in a statement.

Investigators and analysts with our general detectives and hate-crime units are investigating to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident, including identifying those responsible for disseminating the flyers.

Donalee McIntyre, a local resident, social worker and community advocate, said the eugenics extolled in the flyer are a tangible example of the racism Black and other racialized communities face on a regular basis.

People who are Black and Indigenous, people of colour, experience this every day, she said. Its not a one-off. These are things that people experience.

The reaction was similar for Laura Mae Lindo, a provincial NDP legislator representing a Kitchener riding and head of the partys Black caucus. She said waking up to such blatantly racist material is traumatizing for members of racialized communities and is bound to raise fundamental questions of safety.

It literally makes you worry that youre surrounded by people who look at you and think that, because of the colour of your skin, youre lesser, she said. Because thats what the language on that flyer is suggesting.

Word of the pamphlets sparked a number of social media posts from local residents decrying what they describe as pervasive, overt racism throughout the community.

Mayor Dave Jaworsky rejected that notion, noting city council has condemned anti-Black racism and unanimously affirmed support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

He decried the flyers, saying they have no place in any community.

The distribution of this racist garbage is disgusting and I strongly condemn the message and the cowards that created it, Jaworsky said in a statement. I know it does not reflect the values of the majority of residents in our city.

McIntyre said those who purport to fight racism and show solidarity with those experiencing racism need to fundamentally reconsider how they respond to such incidents, adding those who are being targeted should not bear primary responsibility for resolving the problem.

Greeno urged anyone who received a flyer to contact police so investigators can get a better sense of how widely they were disseminated. She encouraged recipients to handle the paper as little as possible in order to preserve possible forensic evidence.
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CHENEY, Spokane County (AP)  Eastern Washington University's faculty senate has approved a vote of no confidence in President Mary Cullinan, showing disapproval of her handling of the university's brewing financial crisis.

The Monday vote, taken during a Zoom meeting, was 35-2, with four faculty senators abstaining and one absent.





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On Tuesday, as the COVID-19 crisis continued to spiral out of control, President Donald Trump derided coronavirus testing and held yet another mass indoor event, this time in the hotspot of Phoenix, Arizona, in defiance of city officials and new warnings from health experts.

Over the past week, the average reported number of new cases across the country has risen by 28.1 percent, reaching 28,387, according to Stat News. This has brought the total number of infections to more than 2,300,000 and the reported death toll to more than 121,000figures that are widely acknowledged to significantly underestimate the actual scale of the public health disaster.

New infections are rising in 25 states, with a marked increase in cases among young people. Those states in the South and Southwest that lifted social distancing measures and shutdowns the earliest and the most precipitously, in line with Trumps back-to-work campaign, are seeing astronomical surges in infections.

President Donald Trump speaks at the Students for Trump conference at Dream City Church, Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Over the past week, average daily new cases in Texas (3,932) have increased by 92.2 percent over the previous level, with Houston becoming a new international center of the pandemic. Florida has seen an 84.2 percent rise to 3,270 daily new cases. Oklahoma, where Trump held a campaign rally on Saturday, has recorded an average increase in new cases of 91.2 percent, hitting 331 infections.

Arizona, where Trump spoke Tuesday night before some 3,000 people at a Students for Trump convention, has seen a rise in average daily infections (2,554) of 97.8 percent. Maricopa County, which includes the state capital Phoenix, where the rally was held, has suffered a 120.3 percent rise in average daily infections. Hospitals in the city are being flooded with a record number of patients. The state of Arizona, meanwhile, has one of the lowest coronavirus testing rates in the US.

The deadly back-to-work drive is bipartisan, with Democratic governors and mayors taking the lead in reopening businesses and forcing workers to return to the job without any real protection from COVID-19 infection. In California, headed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, daily infections have risen by 37.5 percent over the past week.

Following his sparsely attended campaign rally in Tulsa on Saturday, Trump is insisting on holding a series of mass events, including the rally in Phoenix, in order to reinforce his policy of ending all efforts to contain the pandemic and fully resuming business operations regardless of the toll in human life. The complete subordination of public health to the drive for profit and the interests of Wall Street investors is the policy of both parties of the financial oligarchy in the US, and of capitalist governments all over the world.

Trump spoke to reporters Tuesday morning on the White House lawn as he left Washington for Arizona. Asked about claims by his press secretary that he was joking when he told his supporters in Tulsa that he had asked officials to slow down COVID testing in order to lower the number of reported infections, Trump said, I dont kid. We did 25 million tests. Testing is a double-edged sword.

On Monday, asked about the risk of spreading the virus by holding an indoor event in Phoenix, he had brushed the question aside, saying, Im not worried. On Tuesday, it was reported that two more members of his advance team had contracted the virus, bringing the total to eight.

As at the Tulsa rally, attendees are being required to sign a waiver saying they will not hold the event host or the venue responsible if they contract the disease. The mayor of Phoenix, Kate Gallego, a Democrat, has opposed the Trump event on public health grounds. The City Council voted last Friday to mandate face masks in public, but the Trump team has refused to require those attending his rally to comply.

Trump devoted most of his remarks Tuesday morning to denouncing protesters for seeking to topple monuments, calling them hoodlums and anarchists, and pledging to send them to prison for long terms. Prior to his Phoenix rally, he visited several sites in Yuma, Arizona to tout his wall with Mexico and his shutdown of immigration from Mexico.

Also on Tuesday, members of the now sidelined White House Coronavirus Task Force testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, and Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, all indicated that they did not agree with Trumps suggestion that coronavirus testing be slowed down.

Fauci and Redfield also made clear they had not been consulted on Trumps decision to pull out of the World Health Organization, that they disagreed with the move, and that they were continuing to work closely with the organization.

Asked about Trumps refusal to wear a mask in public and his disparagement of those who do, Fauci made clear that he disagreed with the president and was critical of his holding large rallies in the midst of the pandemic. You should not congregate in crowds, he said. If you do, please wear a mask.

All four witnesses referred to the likelihood of a further spread of the coronavirus in the fall and winter and the added danger of the return of the annual flu season. Asked to characterize the present situation in the US, Fauci began by calling it a mixed bag, noting the decline in infections in former hotspots on the East Coast and saying he remained cautiously optimistic on the prospects for a vaccine by early 2021.

However, he warned, in other areas we are seeing a disturbing surge of infections that looks like it is a combination. One of the things is increasing community spread and that is something I am quite concerned about 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.

In general, the Republicans on the committee either praised Trumps response to the pandemic or evaded the question. The Democrats criticized aspects of the administrations criminal response, such as Trumps discouragement of the use of masks and his hostility to testing. But there was no criticism of the premature reopening of the economy or the forced return to work, which has already led to tens of thousands of workers in auto, meatpacking, logistics and other industries becoming infected and hundreds dying.

Nor was there any discussion of the social catastrophe facing tens of millions of workers whose jobs have been permanently destroyed, along with their health insurance and the ability to pay rent and feed their families. There was, as well, general silence on the multi-trillion-dollar bailout of Wall Street and the corporations that was passed by a near-unanimous vote by both parties in March.

The hearing demonstrated once again that, behind the minor tactical squabbles and political posturing of the two parties, the homicidal policy of herd immunity dictated by the corporate oligarchy is being implemented on a bipartisan basis.
It is no news that Bollywood stars amass a lot of wealth playing the lead roles in films, however, people often forget that without the support of an equally talented supporting cast, no film would be impactful.

And while a lot of interest and coverage is given to the money that leading Bollywood stars make through their films, there exist many actors who have equally earned a lot of fame and money by playing supporting roles.

Here are 6 such Bollywood actors who made a fortune playing crucial supporting roles in movies:

1. Paresh Rawal

 BCCL

Perhaps one of the most loved supporting actors in Bollywood, Paresh Rawal boasts of a colourful career in the Hindi film industry, where he started his acting journey as a supporting actor in the movie Arjun, 35 years ago.



Paresh Rawal has more than a hundred movies to his name, some of which have been immortalised because of his performances as seen in movies such as Andaz Apna Apna, Golmaal, Chup Chup Ke, Bhool Bhullaiyya and many others.

As per the actors assets declaration affidavit ahead of Gujarat elections in 2014, Paresh Rawal had assets worth Rs 79.40 crore. We can only presume for that amount to have grown since he has done 10 more movies since then, while others are yet to release.

2. Anupam Kher

 BCCL

Anupam Kher is an equally beloved supporting actor as Paresh Rawal, if not more.



The actor has many versatile performances under his belt, right from comic to negative roles, and has done justice to every character he has portrayed on-screen, be it in Saaransh, Sansar, or Ram Lakhan, DDLJ, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Paheli amongst others in a career spanning more than 37 years.

Now, reportedly, Mr Kher was worth $70 million in 2017 which would have seen a rise since then, given that he has done a handful of movies since then, including The Accidental Prime Minister last year.

3. Alok Nath

 BCCL

Bollywoods infamous Babu Ji, Alok Nath is another actor who made his name in the industry portraying some of the most iconic on-screen fathers. Just like Anupam Kher, Alok Nath has also been in the industry for the last 37 years, and has portrayed many memorable roles.



Be it in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Vivah or more recently, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, he has perfectly nailed the role of a father. Given his eventful journey in the industry, it is reported that Alok Nath is worth at least $10 million as of 2018.

4. Shakti Kapoor

 BCCL

Most notably remembered for his negative roles in Bollywood, Shakti Kapoors journey in Bollywood had been a long and arduous one before he landed RDs role in Rocky, which earned him wide recognition.



Shakti Kapoor has been in the industry for the past 45 years and given many notable performances in films such as Hero, Satte Pe Satta, Himmawala, Andaz Apna Apna, Raja Babu, Gunda, Hungama and others.

Reported, given his long journey in Bollywood, Shakti Kapoor amassed a lot of fame and was worth at least Rs 45 crore as of 2017.

5. Gulshan Grover

 BCCL

Bollywoods Bad Man Gulshan Grover is another name that pops up every time you mention solid supporting actors from the industry who have stayed with us. Known primarily for his negative roles, Gulshan Grover is one of the few B-listers who have bagged Hollywood offers.



With a Bollywood career spanning 40 years, and roles in Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, Ram Lakhan, Tarzan and Dil Maange More to UnIndian and The Man From Kathmandu, Gulshan Grover is a man of versatile talent. Reportedly, as of 2018 his net worth was approximately Rs 40 crore.

6. Johnny Lever

 BCCL

This list wouldnt have been completed without this amazing star. One of the best comics of the 90s, Johnny Lever sure knew how to tickle his audiences funny bones. An established and well-loved stand-up comedian, Johnny Lever found a larger fan base in movies and went on to do as many as 350 films over a span of 38 years.



With numerous iconic movies to his credit such as Baazigar, Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Khiladi, Judaai, Badshah, Awara Paagal Deewana and Golmaal 3 amongst others, Johnny Lever is truly one of the most loved supporting actors in the industry.

So, given his major success, his net worth is estimated to be at least $30 million.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev created a sensation when he announced on Tuesday that his company Patanjali Ayurved has found a medicine for coronavirus disease Covid-19.

It led to a flurry of activities as people logged on to their computers to find out how Coronil - the medicine or Ayurvedic kit announced by Ramdev - could treat a disease which has killed millions across the world. Ramdev said it has been prepared after a clinical controlled study.

Patanjali soon tweeted a photo of the newly-announced medicine and said that active components of herbs like Ashwaganda, Giloy and Tulsi have been used to prepare it. The company further said that Coronil will also help a user develop immunity against the respiratory disease and prescribed dosage too.

This is when the government sprung into action. The ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) ordered Patanjali to stop misleading advertisement of the product. It also said that results are still to be verified.

Scientific methods talk about putting a potential drug through clinical trials to assess its efficacy. An Indian study indicates that hydroxychloroquine (derived from a tree), an inexpensive malaria medicine, is a prophylactic. A US study indicates that Gileads Remdesivir seems to work well on moderately ill Covid-19 patients if given early.

A few studies on steroid dexamethasone also say that the steroid works well on critically ill Covid-19 patients who are on ventilator or oxygen support.

Drugs like these need to follow the protocols set by Indias drug regulator, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the Union and state health ministries.

The government has sought details from Patanjali like the composition of Coronil, the sites and hospitals where the research and study was conducted, sample size and other things.

Patanjalis CEO Acharya Balakrishna, meanwhile, said on Twitter that the Centre has been provided with all the necessary details of the clinical trials. He also claimed that 100 per cent parametres laid down for controlled trial of the Ayurvedic product have been followed.

Patanjali said that it has partnered with privately-owned National Institute of Medical Science in Jaipur to make Coronil.
[June 24, 2020] Databricks Introduces Delta Engine and Acquires Redash to Bring Performance and Ease-of-Use to Cloud Data Lakes

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Databricks , the data and AI company, today announced the availability of Delta Engine and the acquisition of Redash. These new capabilities make it faster and easier for data teams to use its Unified Data Analytics platform for data science, machine learning, and a broad range of data analytics use cases. Delta Engine is a high-performance query engine on cloud data lakes and Redash is an open source dashboarding and visualization service for data scientists and analysts to do data exploration. Delta Engine is tailored for use with Delta Lake, the popular open-source structured transaction layer that brings quality and reliability to data lakes. Organizations can now build curated data lakes that include structured and semi-structured data and run all their analytics on high quality, fresh data in the cloud. Databricks acquired Redash, the company behind the successful Redash open source project, to provide easy-to-use dashboarding and visualization capabilities on these curated data lakes. With Redash, data scientists and SQL analysts can eliminate the complexity of moving data into other systems for analysis. Together, these enhancements enable organizations to adopt a single, simplified cloud architecture for data management, helping them significantly reduce costs and complexity and accelerate data team productivity. They are also a response to the emerging "Lakehouse" design pattern, which many enterprise organizations have adopted to bring structured transactions, quality and performance to their cloud data lakes. The announcements were made today at Spark + AI Summit, which takes place this week virtually with over 60,000 members of the data community, from over 100 countries. "Most organizations who want to do data science and data warehousing are using multiple architectures. Data is stuck in organizational silos, defined by closed and proprietary systems that slow organizations down and make it harder to arrive at high quality decisions because information is fragmented and out of date," said Ali Ghodsi, cofounder and CEO at Databricks. "Curated cloud data lakes provide organizations a way to run any kind of analytics, including data science and machine learning, on all their most recent data. Our introduction of Delta Engine and the acquisition of Redash are significant steps forward in helpig organizations build these high quality, curated data lakes that some call 'Lakehouses'."



Delta Engine Enables Fast Query Performance on Delta Lake

Traditional data analytics on structured and semi-structured data demand very fast performance to keep up with the pace of business. Historically, organizations have duplicated the data in their data lakes across a variety of data warehouses and operational systems because the tools to query and analyze data are not well-suited for fast query execution. However, managing this architectural complexity introduces challenges, including fragmented and inconsistent data silos and substantially increased costs. Databricks' new Delta Engine for Delta Lake enables fast query execution for data analytics and data science, without moving the data out of the data lake. The high performance query engine has been built from the ground up to take advantage of modern cloud hardware for accelerated query performance. With this improvement, Databricks customers are able to move to a unified data analytics platform that can support any data use case and result in meaningful operational efficiencies and cost savings.

Delta Lake was released in 2017 by Databricks and donated to the Linux Foundation in 2019 . Since its introduction, Delta Lake has been adopted by Comcast, Conde Nast, Nielsen, FINRA, Shell, and thousands of other organizations. Today's announcements build upon the success of the Delta Lake project to extend beyond storing and managing data into how data is used and consumed. Redash Makes It Easy for Data Scientists and Analysts to Consume Data

The open source Redash project was created to help data teams make sense of their data. Data scientists and SQL analysts can easily gather a wide variety of data sources, including operational databases, data lakes, and Delta Lake, into thematic dashboards. The results can be visualized in a wide variety of formats like charts, cohorts, and funnels, and are easily shareable across an organization or with external users. Millions of users at thousands of organizations are already using Redash to develop insights and make data actionable. The open source project was created by a passionate community of developers and was built by over 300 contributors from around the world since the project launched in 2013. The open source Redash project can be used with Databricks today using a free connector , and Redash will be fully integrated into Databricks' Unified Data Analytics Platform and the Databricks workspace in the coming months and take advantage of capabilities like Delta Engine. About Databricks

Databricks is the data and AI company. Thousands of organizations worldwide  including Comcast, Conde Nast, Nationwide and H&M  rely on Databricks' open and unified platform for data engineering, machine learning and analytics. Databricks is venture-backed and headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe. Founded by the original creators of Apache Spark, Delta Lake, and MLflow, Databricks is on a mission to help data teams solve the world's toughest problems. To learn more, follow Databricks on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Media Contact

Kristalle Cooks

Head of Communications

415-462-4907

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/databricks-introduces-delta-engine-and-acquires-redash-to-bring-performance-and-ease-of-use-to-cloud-data-lakes-301082916.html SOURCE Databricks

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Dr. Jeremy Faust, an instructor at Harvard Medical School, told CNBC on Wednesday that the U.S. cannot view surges in coronavirus cases as inevitable, as states across the country try to combat growing outbreaks. "There's not a huge appetite for shutdowns right now, and so we have to look to other things. We can't just give up and say, 'OK. We're not going to do anything,''' Faust said on "Power Lunch." The number of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations linked to the virus is rising in states such as Texas, California and Arizona. The worsening outbreaks come after states lifted stay-at-home orders and eased restrictions on businesses. Testing capacity in the U.S. has expanded dramatically since the pandemic began, contributing to some of the rising case counts. But hospitalization figures are less sensitive to overall testing capacity. Additionally, some states, such as Florida and Arizona, are seeing their rates of positive tests increase, an indication of how widely the virus is spreading in a community.

People line up to be tested for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a part of Valle del Sols testing at Tolleson Fire Department Station 161 in Tolleson, Arizona, U.S. June 18, 2020. Courtney Pedroza | Reuters

Faust, who also is an emergency room doctor at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, said there is no "silver bullet" for preventing infection from Covid-19. He stressed the importance of wearing a face mask and keeping some capacity restrictions in effect at public places. "They help a little bit, all the time," said Faust, who added that contact tracing and quarantining those who are sick remain necessary to combating outbreaks, even if the sometimes asymptomatic nature of Covid-19 complicates those efforts. "That doesn't mean we should not do all of this because it helps a little. We have to recognize that just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean it isn't good."

William Hanage, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said Wednesday on CNBC's "The Exchange" that it is clear people want to avoid re-instituting strict lockdown measures in response to surging Covid-19 cases. To avoid the economic damage that would follow, state and local governments must be proactive when smaller case increases arise, he said. "If you are a sitting on a body of community transmission for long enough that the only thing you can do is something which is really severe, that's the problem," he said. "You have to start taking milder actions sooner. When I talk about testing, you don't just test. You know what you're going to do if you get a certain kind of result. And that's the kind of thing I would like to be seeing more of." Faust contended that some governors chose to reopen their economies without properly considering all of the facts around Covid-19 in their states. Many of the earliest states to lift restrictions did not meet criteria laid out by the White House to do so, a New York Times analysis last month found. "The lesson is that you want to be data driven, not date driven," Faust said. "Places opened because we reached a certain date on the calendar and people decided it was time to go."

School this fall
Date: Thursday, August 6, 2020

Time: 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

BROOKFIELD NEWS, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- You are invited to participate in Brookfield Business Partners 2020 Second Quarter Conference Call & Webcast on Thursday, August 6, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss with members of senior management our results and current business initiatives.

Results will be released on Thursday, August 6, 2020 prior to 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) and will be available following the release on our website at https://bbu.brookfield.com .

To participate in the Conference Call please dial +1 (866) 688-9431 toll-free in the U.S and Canada or for overseas calls please dial +1 (409) 216-0818 (Conference ID 3838218) at approximately 11:50 a.m. (Eastern Time). Live audio of the Conference Call will be available via webcast on our website or can be accessed at BBUQ22020Webcast .

A replay of the Conference Call will be available until August 12, 2020 by dialing +1 (855) 859-2056 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada or +1 (404) 537-3406 for overseas calls (Conference ID 3838218). A replay of the webcast will be available on our website.

Brookfield Business Partners (TSX: BBU.UN) (NYSE:BBU) is a business services and industrials company focused on owning and operating high-quality businesses that benefit from barriers to entry and/or low production costs.

Brookfield Business Partners is the flagship listed business services and industrials company of Brookfield Asset Management, a leading global alternative asset manager with over $515 billion of assets under management. More information is available at www.brookfield.com .

Brookfield Business Partners is listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges. For more information please visit our website at https://bbu.brookfield.com .

Contact:

Alan Fleming

bbu.enquiries@brookfield.com
Amid ongoing tension between India and Nepal over the border issue, traders at the bordering areas are staring at an uncertain future for their business - which largely depends on Nepal.

Banbasa, a town located at the India-Nepal border is about 330 kilometres away from Dehradun and is an entry point for those going to Nepal from Champawat after crossing the bridge over Sharda river.

There are about 550 traders in Banbasa who have traditional trade relations with their counterparts in Kanchanpur, Nepal across the border. After the tensions in India-Nepal relations, Indian traders are majorly concerned about their business which largely depends on their customers from Nepal.

We have trade relations for years and almost 80 percent of our business depends on our customers from Nepal while the remaining 20 percent on the local market. First, the lockdown affected it and now the tensions between the two countries, said Shankar Lal Verma, a Banbasa based trader and state secretary of Uttarakhand Vyapar Mandal, a state-based traders body.

Also read: China could set up border outposts in encroached territories - Nepal govt document

Verma said the unfortunate developments have already affected their trade as it has come down drastically.

The traders from Nepal used to buy our vegetables, ration items, hardware, cloth and cosmetics. But now, the business is almost over as not even 5 percent is left. For many traders, their entire business depends on trade with Nepal, said Verma adding, many traders who are staying here on rent and doing their business in rented shops are planning to leave the town due to losses.

Another local trader Sanjay Agrawal, who is also the vice-president of the local trade body, said, Not only losses, but many traders are also worried about the huge payment which is due to be paid by the Nepalese trade partners.

Payment of at least Rs 1 crore is due which is to be paid by the Nepalese traders for the goods they purchased from us. Now, whenever we ask them for the payment over the phone, they are dilly-dallying and asking us to first send more goods after which they will release the payment. We are now stuck and helpless, said Agrawal.

Also read: Nepals FM radio stations beam propaganda across border, say Lipulekh theirs

He added, A few days ago, representatives of the traders body wrote to the district administration to allow a group of traders to cross the border and take their payments but we are yet to get any reply.

Expressing concern over the prevailing situation, a local social activist Vinod Kala said, If the situation prevails, it would prove disastrous for the traders as their businesses will be destroyed. Their livelihood would be endangered in this crisis.

However, if the Nepalese traders are to be believed, there is not much effect on their businesses because of the prevailing situations.

Madhav Prasad Joshi, a trader in Kanchanpur town of Nepal near Banbasa, and member of Sudur Paschim Pradesh Vyapar Mandal, Nepal, said, The business is hardly affected on the Nepalese side as compared to the Indian side. 90 percent of the customers are Nepalese and only 10 percent are Indian.

In our trade relations, it was majorly the Nepalese people who used to visit Banbasa town to buy things and not the other way round. Thats why we are not much affected. Also, only people have been stopped from visiting the two places while trucks carrying goods from there are coming here after passing through customs. This has maintained our supply with no issues as such, said Joshi.

On the concerns of payment due with the Nepalese traders, Joshi said, All payment will be made to the Indian traders with no fraud at all.

I want to assure our Indian partners that their money will be paid if the trade was legal. If the payment was of any illegal trade, then we cant give any assurance on that. Else, we will make sure the payment is made under proper norms and regulations, he said.

Joshi, however, affirmed that the ongoing tension between India and Nepal will hardly affect the people-to-people relations between the sides.

It is completely a political issue and will not affect our friendly relations. We believe that the two governments will soon resolve it politically and our relations will be intact like before, said Joshi.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government said that they are aware of the issues faced by the traders of Banbasa but the solution would be brought at the international level.

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New York, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cardiovascular Implants Market Research Report by Type, by End User - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913750/?utm_source=GNW



On the basis of Type, the Cardiovascular Implants Market is studied across Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device, Coronary Stents, Heart Valves, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, Implanted Cardiac Pacemakers, and Peripheral Stents.



On the basis of End User, the Cardiovascular Implants Market is studied across Cardiac Care Centers, Hospitals, and Specialty Clinics.



On the basis of Geography, the Cardiovascular Implants Market is studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region is studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region is studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region is studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Cardiovascular Implants Market including Abbott Laboratories, AMG International, B. Braun Melsungen AG, BIOTRONIK, Boston Scientific Corporation, Edwards Lifesciences, Fortimedix, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic plc, Neovasc Inc., On-X Life Technologies Inc., Proxy Biomedical Limited, REVA Medical Inc, The Sorin Group, and W.L. Gore & Associates Inc.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Cardiovascular Implants Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

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Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913750/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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A father-of-three and a 21-year-old were fatally shot at an illegal lockdown rave in Manchester in the early hours of Sunday.

Abayomi Ajose, 36, was described as a 'community hero' as tributes poured in for the 'peacemaker' and 'beautiful young soul' Cheriff Tall, 21.

Police launched a double murder investigation after reports of gunfire at 12.55am, but there have been no arrests following the impromptu street party in Moss Side.

A GoGetFunding page has been set up for community worker Mr Ajose, also known as Abi Junior.

It's understood the father-of-three may have been acting as peacemaker when trouble broke out at the party.

'To everyone who may not yet have heard the news, our dear friend Abi Ajose (Junior) was killed in the early hours of Sunday 21 June 2020,' the page said.

Abayomi Ajose (left), 36, was described as a 'community hero' as tributes poured in for the 'peacemaker' and 'beautiful young soul' Cheriff Tall (right), 21

A GoGetFunding page has been set up for community worker Mr Ajose, also known as Abi Junior. It's understood the father-of-three (pictured) may have been acting as peacemaker when trouble broke out at the party

'Abi has worked with young people in the community for many years. A selfless and caring brother in the community. Testament to his character, died trying to prevent such a tragic event from happening.'

One donor Lekan Kehinde described Mr Ajose as 'a heartfelt, joyful and peaceful gentlemen'. She added: 'An amazing Husband to Lola, and Father/ Family man to his beautiful children. Rest in Eternal Peace x.'

Machael Shaikh also paid tribute to Mr Ajose on Facebook, saying: 'It's with such a heavy heart that I sit here and try to find the words.

'I'm not going to use this time to talk about my utter frustration on the senseless killings of positive, hard working people, as I would much rather focus on the impact that those people have on their families and their communities.

'The legacy Junior Abi leaves behind is one of compassion, love, peace and genuine care for others.

'I find comfort in knowing that his legacy will be carried on through all of us that had the pleasure of knowing him and I for one, despite now living in the other side of the world, will never forget his energy and selfless personality.'

Police launched a double murder investigation after reports of gunfire were made at 12.55am, but there have been no arrests following the impromptu street party in Moss Side

Jenny McGarry, headteacher at St Mary's Primary School in Moss Side, paid tribute to former pupil Mr Tall (pictured), who is originally from Gambia

Mr Ajose's Facebook page says he was originally from Lagos in Nigeria and studied at Enfield College in London.

Jenny McGarry, headteacher at St Mary's Primary School in Moss Side, paid tribute to former pupil Mr Tall, who is originally from Gambia.

She wrote on the school's website: 'One of our past pupils Cheriff Tall lost his life this weekend and we join with his family in their grief and sadness. Please keep Cheriff and his family and friends in your thoughts.'

Writing on Facebook, LouL'anne Mayael Joquel wrote: 'May your young soul Rest In Perfect Peace Sheriff Taal.

'It's a devastating news. A very sad loss of a beautiful young soul.'

Youth worker Kemoy Walker also paid tribute to Mr Tall, who is also referred to as Sheriff Taal.

He wrote: 'Heartbroken. So upset today to wake up and hear the devastating news of losing yet again another young person in our community of Moss Side - my heart goes out to the family during this time... We had some good memories at Hideaway and Powerhouse Youth Club back in the day... Speechless today.'

One donor Lekan Kehinde described Mr Ajose (pictured) as 'a heartfelt, joyful and peaceful gentlemen'

Mr Walker later posted a video of dozens of people marching through Moss Side in memory of the two men.

He wrote: 'The essence of true community spirit - this is the Moss Side that is not shown often, people coming together for a one minute silence then a walk in the community - we came together as one to grieve and support each other during this time. RIP Cheriff.'

Greater Manchester Police have faced questions why they didn't prevent the party from happening after announcing a crackdown on illegal raves and receiving complaints from residents.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said Saturday's event had been a 'spontaneous' gathering and there had been 'no specific criminal activity'.

He said: 'We have to be really proportionate and sometimes it's not achievable to safely disperse every group of people that are gathering.

'Based on the numbers you have got and what is going on, you make an assessment. And it would have been unachievable in our view on that to disperse that in an effective way.'

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said Saturday's event had been a 'spontaneous' gathering and there had been 'no specific criminal activity'. Pictured, police at the scene

Local youth worker Akemia Minott said the Moss Side community 'has been through so much in recent years and these murders have created a new layer of devastation for us all'.

She called on anyone with any information to come forward to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and called for more support for the community.

She added: 'Despite the collective grief we have experienced, the necessary systems to deal with our trauma are still not in place and we are building this infrastructure for community healing ourselves, but we need support to ensure it's sustainable.'

Councillor Mahadi Hussein Sharif Mahamed said the incident was 'not a true representation of what our Moss Side is all about'.

In a statement released through GMP, he also called on anybody who knows anything to contact authorities, and added: 'Moss Side has come a long way and has overcome the challenges of the past.

'We have done this by coming together and showing our resilience. We need to do the same now.'

Police insisted the lockdown party was not an illegal rave - despite residents reporting that a DJ with a professional PA system played to 200 people

Ten people, including two children, were shot at a Carnival event in the area in August 2018.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Moss Side was blighted by gang violence, which earned it the nickname of 'gunchester'.

Councillor Nigel Murphy, Deputy Leader at Manchester City Council, said: 'This is tragic beyond belief and as a council we offer our support, thoughts and prayers to the families and communities facing such loss.

'We will look at how we help young people in particular who will have been traumatised by the incident - and this will include making mental health support available.

'We'd also stress that we know that this incident does not reflect the rich character and vibrancy of an area with such a strong sense of community. We'd ask people to come forward and help the police in any way they can with this investigation.'

Chief Inspector John Harris paid tribute to local people 'united in their shock and sadness' and reiterated the call for information and said: 'The victims' families deserve to see the offenders brought to justice and we need the help of the community to trace those individuals who are responsible.'

The unplanned gathering was hosted by a DJ after an earlier Black Lives Matter event in Moss Side - monitored by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) - passed off without incident.

It followed two parties the previous weekend where a man died from a suspected drugs overdose, a woman was raped and three people were stabbed.

The events, in Daisy Nook Country Park, Oldham, and in Carrington, attracted 6,000 people.
[June 24, 2020] Spark Love in Toronto: New Creativity-Focused Dating App Picks Canada for Global Debut

TORONTO, June 24, 2020 /CNW/ -- Canadian singles are the first in the world to get to try Spark, a new dating app designed for people who wish online dating offered more opportunity for self-expression and creative connection. Spark app, which launched in Toronto this month, is the latest product from Spark Networks, the dating company behind well-known global dating apps like Zoosk. Project Lead Tobias Plaputta said that the Spark app grew from an increasing frustration with the one-size-fits-all approach of many online dating sites. "We saw space in the online dating market for an app that could help people to truly customize the way in which they present themselves." "We believe that people are more than just a bio, which is why we designed Spark around the concept of 'frames.' These include phot filters and interactive question cards that allow users to curate a unique profile, and match with others on what matters to them."



Plaputta said the Spark team has also "taken steps to foster matches based on personality first and demographics second"  such as not displaying users' ages on profiles. "We think an emphasis on age can distract people from finding the right match." Spark has now successfully launched in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, and the team aims to significantly increase Spark's presence across Canada throughout the summer.

Plaputta said that his team deliberately chose Canada as the ideal market in which to launch Spark. "To help our members embrace self-expression, we wanted to create a comfortable and judgment-free environment. We felt that Canada was the perfect place to achieve this. Canadian singles have a reputation for being kind yet interesting, laid-back yet adventurous. This is exactly the melting pot of traits that we were looking for." The iOS Spark app is currently available across Canada in English, with an Android release scheduled for the fall. Press Contact

Sophie Watson | [email protected] | https://spark.com/ About Spark

Launched in 2020, Spark is a dating app centered around the concepts of creativity and self-expression. It is one of the portfolio brands of Spark Networks SE, a global leader in online dating with headquarters in Berlin and offices in New York and Utah. SOURCE Spark

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LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- When legislators appear oblivious to the cultural changes happening in America, it is up to the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene. Last weeks momentous U.S. Supreme Court decision on LGBTQ rights was no exception. In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that sexual orientation and gender identity are protected against employment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This is certainly a moment to celebrate! Prior to this decision, 27 states did not offer federal protection for gay and transgender workers. Meaning, you could be fired from your place of employment just for being who you are, or for who you love. The landmark decision by four traditionally liberal and two conservative justices illustrates a path forward -- one that is forged by bipartisanship.

I am hopeful that this extraordinary progress can be pursued in the state of Ohio as well. The fact is, without concrete laws imbedded in the Ohio Revised Code, court decisions can be reversed. Ohio is one of those 27 states without LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections, and I believe that, in spite of the courts decision, we still have work to do through the legislative process. The recent ruling reaffirms that passing the Ohio Fairness Act (Senate Bill 11 and House Bill 369) is the right thing to do and that this is the time to do it.

State Sen. Nickie J. Antonio of Lakewood is chief sponsor of the Ohio Fairness Act in the Ohio Senate.

The Fairness Act would not only align with the U.S. Supreme Courts goal in protecting workers, but also protect Ohio families and individuals from discrimination in housing and public places. More than 230 people testified in support of this legislation, which has also received support from over 1,000 businesses throughout the state.

By adding sexual orientation and gender identity protections to Ohios anti-discrimination laws, we can affirm the states commitment to all Ohioans and their families and their freedom to live, work and play in this great state.

State Sen. Nickie J. Antonio of Lakewood represents Ohio Senate District 23 and is chief sponsor of Senate Bill 11, the Ohio Fairness Act.

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* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
Sun Country Airlines request to pull out of San Antonio: denied.

The federal Transportation Department has turned down the Minneapolis-based budget airlines request to terminate service at San Antonio International Airport between now and Sept. 30.

However, the the department gave Sun Country  which is receiving $60 million in federal stimulus money  permission to cut service at eight larger airports.

Airlines have lost billions since the pandemic scared away most travelers. While the number of passengers has increased over the past month, its a fraction of the precoronavirus traffic.

The stimulus money for the airline industry, up to $50 billion in loans and grants, is meant to keep airlines afloat and avoid layoffs. One of the stipulations for the bailout is that carriers retain a minimum level of service at the airports from which they operated before the pandemic.

The key phrase is minimum level. Carriers still can cut flights from their schedules.

This week, airlines have scheduled about 40 flights a day from San Antonio International, fewer than a quarter of the planes that departed in the same period last year.

In an order issued Friday, the Transportation Department said Sun Country must continue service at San Antonio International and Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The federal agency, however, allowed the airline to cut service at airports in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Nashville, Newark, New Jersey, San Francisco, Seattle and Baltimore. Transportation officials said granting Sun Country the cuts would be consistent with its prior orders for the other carriers at the large airports.

The message is clear, said Seth Miller, an aviation consultant with Paxex.aero.

The DOT has drawn a line in terms of what it is willing to let airlines cut, particularly as smaller airports, he said. The rejection of Sun Country's request should be a warning to other carriers to not bother with similar efforts.

Sun Country had said in filings that its flights out of San Antonio through Sept. 31 had advance reservations of only 12 percent.

Jessica Wheeler, the airlines senior director of marketing, did not comment specifically on the San Antonio decision.

The waiver allows us continued flexibility to match our seasonal schedules to passenger demand, she said.

Sun Country runs seasonal service to designations during peak travel times. Its business strategy is to offer low base fares but charge fees for an assigned seat or to put a carry-on bag in the overhead luggage compartment.

The airline is taking reservations for its summer service to Minneapolis, Las Vegas, the Orlando, Fla., area and Portland, Ore.

Under the Transportation Department order, Sun Country has to maintain at least one flight a week from San Antonio International. After Sept. 30, Sun Country and other airlines are free to eliminate service at airports without seeking federal permission.

Two other carriers, Alaska Airlines and Allegiant Air, have permission to cut service at San Antonio International.

Despite the waiver, Alaska Air still is running daily service from San Antonio to Seattle. Allegiant continues to offer twice-weekly flights to Las Vegas and Orlando Sanford International Airport.

Like Sun Country, the airlines said they only sought the ability to end service here in case demand at San Antonio International remained ultra-low.

Sun Country restarted seasonal service at San Antonio International this week after the Transportation Department granted it permission in April to delay the start of its summer travel schedule.

While Sun County is a small airline dwarfed by major carriers, its owned by one of the worlds largest private equity firms, Apollo Global Management.

Randy Diamond covers aviation, energy and manufacturing in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Randy, become a subscriber. randy.diamond@express-news.net
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Oklahoma residents going to the polls June 30 have the chance to override state leaders' decadelong refusal to expand Medicaid, which would cover more than 200,000 low-income adults and bring billions of federal dollars into the state.

But advocates are concerned that turnout for the summer primary election could be hampered by fears of contracting COVID-19 at voting stations and by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt's about-face on the issue. Since the supporters got the measure on the ballot in October, the governor has gone from opposing Medicaid expansion to announcing in January he would institute his own expansion plan beginning July 1 that included work requirements and monthly premiums for enrollees. But he turned around and surprised many in May with a veto of state funding for his own proposal.

"It's been a little nuts," said Carly Putnam, policy director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, which supports expansion.

Jim McCarthy, CEO of Community Health Connection, a federally funded community health center in Tulsa, said the governor's plan "seemed designed to confuse people."

"There is worry about people getting to the polls," McCarthy said, noting the concerns over COVID and state's restrictions on absentee voting. "Turnout will be critical."

If successful, the Sooner State would be the fifth to use a ballot initiative to extend Medicaid under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Idaho, Utah, Nebraska and Maine have passed similar measures. Missouri voters will decide on a Medicaid expansion initiative Aug. 4.

The election comes as the coronavirus pandemic has roiled Oklahoma's economy. More than 200,000 people in the state are out of work, many of whom are likely in need of health coverage.

As of April, Medicaid covers about 820,000 Oklahomans, two-thirds of them children. Parents are covered if their incomes are no higher than 41% of the federal poverty level, or about $8,900 for a family of three. Oklahoma is one of 14 states that offer no coverage for adults without dependent children.

Under the ACA, states were encouraged to let Medicaid cover everyone with annual incomes below 138% of the poverty level, or about $17,600 for an individual or just under $30,000 for a family of three. The expansion led to millions of people gaining health coverage and, until recently, a record-low U.S. uninsured rate. Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid.

Clarence Powell, 62, of Oklahoma City, has been uninsured since 2015, when poor health forced him to go from working full time to part time at a hotel. Without health coverage, he's relied on the Good Shepherd free clinic for medical care and for free or low-cost medications to treat his heart and lung conditions. But seeing a specialist has been difficult without insurance.

When he went to the hospital last year for a bloody nose, he left with a bill for more than $1,000 that he has no way to pay.

"Having Medicaid would make a big difference," he said. "We will all be better off."

Conservative leaders in Oklahoma, which has the second-highest uninsured rate in the country, have balked at expanding Medicaid  even though the federal government would pay 90% of the cost for enrollees in 2020. Republicans, who control the state legislature and executive branch, repeatedly said the budget couldn't afford the state's share and they didn't trust the federal government to keep up its funding.

With his plan dead for now, Stitt opposes the ballot initiative because it would not give the state flexibility to impose restrictions on enrollees and doesn't include a plan to come up with the state's funding.

As part of his plan, Stitt asked the Trump administration to approve giving the state a set annual amount of money per newly eligible Medicaid enrollee and agree to evenly split any money the state saves on future Medicaid spending.

Such a funding arrangement would radically alter the traditional system, in which the federal government pays states an unlimited amount based on enrollment and medical expenses.

Oklahoma submitted a request to the federal government for a waiver to implement the governor's plan, but the Trump administration did not rule on it before Stitt changed his plans.

Carter Kimble, deputy secretary of Health and Mental Health and Stitt's top aide, said the governor was willing to cap federal funding for Medicaid because it would come with a deal to give the state more flexibility in using Medicaid dollars, including targeting funds for enrollees' housing and food needs. Currently, Medicaid dollars must be used for health costs.

"We have had unfettered and uncapped federal financing, and we are ranked 48th in health outcomes and 49th in health system performance," Kimble added. "So where has it got us?"

"We need innovation and change and not to keep doing the same thing," he said.

In May, the Oklahoma Legislature approved taxing hospitals to pay most of the state's estimated $150 million annual cost for its share of Medicaid expansion. Kimble said the governor vetoed the bill because he wanted multiple years of funding and the bill included only one year. Stitt has the authority to expand Medicaid on his own, though he needs the legislature to approve funding. Kimble expects the ballot measure to pass.

Several major interest groups, including the state chamber of commerce, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (the state's largest insurer), and the Oklahoma Primary Care Association, which represents community health centers that treat thousands of uninsured, have not taken a position on the ballot initiative.

Community Health Connection's McCarthy said the primary care association board did not want to alienate the Stitt administration, which provides some health center funding.

The pandemic, which has led to more than 11,000 cases in the state and more than 370 deaths as of Tuesday, highlighted the need for expansion, said Patti Davis, president of the Oklahoma Hospital Association.

"The pandemic has put health care front of mind for everybody," she said. "People want to know they can get care when they need it and know they will have a hospital to care for them," she said.

Oklahoma's slumping economy, which is closely tied to oil, also fueled interest in expanding Medicaid, Davis said.

"Oklahomans are ready to do this, and with the downturn in the economy, people are even more worried about job security and helping low-wage workers get covered by insurance."
WASHINGTON - Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, is under consideration by Joe Biden's campaign as a potential running mate amid pressure on him to put an African American woman on the ticket, according to people briefed on the process.

Bass, a former speaker of the California Assembly who has served in Congress since 2011, is the lead architect of a sweeping House Democratic police overhaul bill. She has emerged as one of the most prominent African American women in politics in the wake of several high-profile killings of unarmed black people that sparked nationwide protests.

She is among multiple black women being considered. CBS News first reported that the Biden campaign was vetting Bass. Representatives for Biden and Bass declined to comment.

Asked on MSNBC on Tuesday about the vetting and her interest in the job, Bass said such questions should be directed to the Biden campaign and that she was focused on the police restructuring bill she is spearheading.

Some of Bass's congressional colleagues and close allies of Biden praised her on Tuesday.

"I think she's a great chairwoman of the CBC. I think that she was a great speaker of the House in California and I consider her a close friend," said Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., a national co-chair of the Biden campaign. Richmond said he had preferences for a running mate but would share them only with Biden.

Biden earlier this year promised that his running mate would be a woman. He has come under increasing pressure from party leaders and activists in recent weeks to choose a black woman as the country confronts systemic racism and police violence.

People with knowledge of the situation have described a fluid running mate selection process in recent weeks. At least several Democrats who have spoken with Biden said that he has not indicated any favored choices to them.

One person with knowledge of the system the Biden campaign is following said vetting was expected to continue for at least the next couple of weeks, before more in-depth interviews by Biden and his staff are arranged and conducted at some point after the July 4 holiday.

The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a sensitive and private deliberations.

Among the candidates who have progressed to the point of more comprehensive vetting or have the potential to do so are Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., former national security adviser Susan Rice and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, all of whom are black. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who is white, and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is Latino, are also in that group.

Unlike Harris, a former prosecutor, and Demings, a former police chief, Bass does not have a background in law enforcement. Politicians with law enforcement resumes have come under more skepticism lately from party activists who want to change the way the system has dealt with deadly police violence.

Bottoms has also had to deal with police turmoil as mayor of Atlanta. The deadly police shooting of Rayshard Brooks in her city has stoked national controversy and led to the departure of the city's police chief.

This week, Bottoms was named as the chair of the Democratic platform drafting committee. The 15-member panel is in charge of drafting the party platform ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which is scheduled for August.

Other possible running mates who have been mentioned by Biden allies in touch with the campaign include Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.. And Biden said back in March that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also was a possibility. The campaign has conducted different stages of vetting, ranging from preliminary assessments to more detailed looks.

The process has played out in remarkably public fashion, resembling a mini-campaign at times, with significant political shifts and public exits. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., once seen as a front-runner by Biden allies, removed herself from the running last week amid intense criticism of her record as a prosecutor. Klobuchar said then that Biden should choose a woman of color as his running mate.

Age is another factor some Democrats are watching. At 66, Bass is older than at least several other black women under consideration. Biden is 77 and would be the oldest president ever at his swearing-in.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., called Bass "extraordinary" and said she has the "universal respect of progressives." Khanna has voiced support for Warren to be the running mate, but also believes that Bass deserves consideration.

Biden has said he hopes to name his vice-presidential pick around Aug. 1, although some Democrats have privately wondered whether the process may drag on beyond that time. The Democratic National Convention, where delegates will affirm the presidential and vice presidential nominations, had been set for July but was delayed until Aug. 17 over concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Bilal Ansari, bottom right, speaks at Monday's Select Board meeting about how unsafe he feels in the community because of racism.

Williamstown Select Board Pressed for Action on Racial Justice



Twink Williams Burns is one of 15 people who testified on the need for action within the community. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Bilal Ansari is an educated man with a long history in a town that claims to value both education and history.

But, as he explained Monday night, he cannot feel at home in the place where he makes his home.

"My father used to come visit his grandfather in Williamstown as a young Black child until he was 13 years old," Ansari said. "One day walking through the park with his uncle, who was about the same age as him, he was called a nigger. Growing up in Harlem, he got into an altercation with the person who called him that name.

"My father was never allowed to come back to Williamstown to visit his grandfather. My great-grandfather had to go to New York to see him because the family was no longer welcome. If my grandfather wanted to keep his job here in town, my father was no longer welcomed."

Ansari now is the assistant vice president for campus engagement at Williams College. He moved to Williamstown, he said, with hopes of reconciling that pain. Those hopes are yet to be realized.

On Monday, he was one of 15 residents who testified virtually before the Select Board about the need for action on social justice in the town of 7,700.

He was one of several who called on the board to take what they considered the long overdue step of signing the "Not In Our County" pledge drafted by the South County-based non-profit Multicultural BRIDGE.

"Hearing how  in the year [2018], when people came and asked you to commit and only three people as individuals signed but the town would not sign onto it, my heart is hurting," Ansari said. "I truly do not feel safe walking down the streets, especially when every police officer has a baton, has a mace can and has a 9 mm and has two shotguns in the car, for a town where over 90 percent of the problems are traffic-related.

"I don't feel safe.  Structurally, things have to change.

"If I know the leaders of the town don't have a commitment to my safety, to my well-being, to my four children, who I refuse to bring here to live with me. I keep them safe in an urban context because their daddy doesn't feel safe.

"It's time for action."

After more than an hour of public testimony that was frequently passionate, occasionally angry and at times difficult to hear, the Select Board took the measure it declined to take two years ago and voted unanimously to sign the Not In Our County pledge , which, among other things, obliges the town to "work to acknowledge and heal all forms of hate, bigotry and bullying."

Jane Patton, who now chairs the board, said she remembers being disappointed that it did not take a stronger stand on the pledge when first given the opportunity.

Jeffrey Thomas said his recollection is that the board was asked to sign the pledge at a time when it was being approached by various groups with initiatives that were difficult to vet and the board's reluctance in 2018 was part of a general feeling that the panel needed to stick to matters directly in its purview.

"That sounds maybe hard to understand," Thomas admitted. "But that was then and this is now, and it's different for me now. I'm happy to support [the pledge]. It would be an important gesture and, to some people, a corrective gesture. Hopefully, it's one of many things we can do to address this important issue."

Twink Williams Burns was one of the ones testifying in Monday's virtual meeting to remind the Select Board how important and how local that issue truly is.

Burns, who wrote a well-circulated Facebook post about her family's experience with racism, said she did not plan to speak at the meeting and that she was "deeply disappointed" that it took a social media post to bring the issue to the forefront in the town.

"How do I tell my children that this place that calls itself loving and progressive and welcoming is actually going to be a place where they have to get used to the fact that one of their peers is going to call them the 'n word' because their parents aren't bold enough to talk to them about it?" Burns said. "We're doing all of our children a disservice. Not just my children. We're doing your children a disservice when we don't talk about this. And I'm not just talking about in our school, I'm talking about in our town. I'm talking about in our homes. I'm talking about whenever we're out and about.

"If we don't fill that space with important information about the way that we've all been conditioned to see other people in this country that's built on white supremacy, we're basically co-signing that it's OK for our white youth to slip in the 'n word' when it's fun with their friends. Because they've never been challenged to think about it in a more critical way."

The Select Board agreed to a special meeting on July 1 to consider a framework for developing an action plan that was sketched out by Andy Hogeland on Monday night. Hogeland's proposal, which grew out of discussions between himself, Patton and Town Manager Jason Hoch, included looking at police policies and practices in the town and town-sponsored community conversations, perhaps working with schools or religious organizations.

At one point, Hoch said Monday's public comment was an example of the kind of community forum he envisions.

And there were several actionable steps that came up during Monday's meeting.

Several residents suggested that the town divert some of the police budget to create a mental health officer who more properly could serve many of the residents at the center of police calls. A few talked about the town's shortage of affordable housing and need to create opportunities to build a more diverse community. A few pushed for the Select Board to take a deeper look at the police budget and ask whether the town is dedicating too much money to law enforcement.

One of the 15 residents who testified on Monday, Mount Greylock Regional School 10th-grader Tashi Rai, broached the idea of "defunding" the local police force, echoing a national movement to reallocate some funds from law enforcement toward social programs.

"The case has never been clearer to revisit our police budget and focus on putting our money where our words are and defunding our system of oppression in this community," Rai said. "I would really encourage you all to consider the practical implications of the Black Lives Matter movement, take steps to reallocate in our community and push for a police budget review before next month."

Rai also questioned why it took years to build a new Mount Greylock that serves more than 500 seventh- through 12th-graders but, "building of a police station happened almost overnight."

Much like the old Mount Greylock, issues with the former police headquarters at Town Hall were well documented over a period of years. The former police station in a converted fraternity house was unsafe for officers and detainees, lacked handicapped accessibility and lacked sufficient space for officer training  among other deficiencies. The plan to build a new station on Simonds Road was approved by two town meetings: a special town meeting in fall 2017 to acquire the property and the following year's annual town meeting to approve the bond for the renovation and expansion of the former home of Turner House.

While most of Monday's discussion focused on the problems that people of color face in Williamstown and calls for real change, some of the conversation touched on proposals for broad public statements by the town  specifically a request by residents that the town paint Black Lives Matter or similar messages on Spring Street.

Hoch told the board that such painting could run afoul of regulations and open the town to liability if an accident occurred on a road that did not meet safety standards.

"Sadly, many of the rules about streets and pavements are regulated for, ostensibly, the safety of the users," he said. "The manual on uniform traffic control devices prohibits [non-traffic related markings], which is a challenge."

Patton came to Monday's meeting with a suggestion that she thought would meet the objective of a strong public statement: hanging Black Lives Matter banners from the lamp poles downtown instead of the usual seasonal banners used to promote the town's cultural institutions.

But by the end of the discussion, no one was making any moves to follow through on that idea  not after several residents questioned why the town was talking about banners when substantive change is needed.

"I'm actively against the idea of any kind of public display like that in Williamstown," Gail Newman said. "Having banners or having something written on Spring Street could have a negative effect precisely insofar as it is all too easy to have it interpreted as self-congratulatory or performative.

"I think what Mr. Hogeland was talking about  having to earn this by action  is really important."

Burns minced no words. Williamstown has not earned anything, she said.

"I don't understand why we're spending so much time talking about banners versus paint versus whatever," she Burns said. "I love that someone said earlier that we need to have some sort of physical sign that Black people who visit our town should feel welcome here. I would love for that to be true.

"But right now, putting up the sign would be a lie.  I don't think Black people should feel comfortable in our town. But I want us to."

(Editor's note: We felt Ansari's quote should run in full  as it does on WilliNet  in its context as describing a profound experience that affected his family.)
An Amber Alert has been issued to New York City residents over the abduction of a 15-year-old boy.

The NYPD say Ahsan Ali was snatched from 46th Avenue in Queens shortly after 4:30 a.m. Wednesday in a white Toyota Sienna minivan.

The teen is believed to have been taken by his 28-year-old brother, Mohsin Ali, 28.

Ashan was 'taken under circumstances that lead police to believe' that he is 'in imminent danger of serious harm and/or death', WCBS 880 reports.

An Amber Alert has been issued over the alleged abduction of Ashan Ali (left). Authorities believe he is in the company of his older brother Mohsin Ali (right)

Police have not given anymore details as to the nature of the pair's relationship or family situation.

Ashan is described as being around five feet six inches tall, and weighing around 120 lbs.

Older brother Mohsin is around five feet nine inches tall, weighs 150 pounds and has tattoos on both of his arms. Police say he also has recent cuts on both of his arms.

The NYPD suspect they may be traveling to Connecticut.

Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or the New York State Amber Alert hotline on 1-866-697-2623.
A leading historian attacked French President Emmanuel Macron's stance on disputed statues linked to the country's colonial past Wednesday, saying he had "hugely confused" history and memory. Macron all but ignored the wave of Black Lives Matter protests in a major television address last week except to warn that France would not take down statues of controversial historical figures. "The Republic will not wipe away any trace or any name from its history... but lucidly look at our history and our memory together," the president said. But historian Nicolas Offenstadt pulled him up sharply, telling French radio that Macron had a made a "hugely damaging confusion between history and memory that will not help public debate in France." His intervention comes after Oscar-nominated black filmmaker Raoul Peck accused France of being in denial of its racism, its colonial past and its wealth "built on the misery of others". The former Haitian culture minister, who has long lived in France, said protesters who have taken to the streets in the US and France "are right to rise up. They are right to protest, they may even be right to smash everything," he added. - Statue attacked - A statue of the 17th-century statesman Jean-Baptiste Colbert in front of the French parliament was sprayed with graffiti on Tuesday night condemning the "negrophobie d'Etat" (the state's fear of black people). Colbert was responsible for drawing up the notorious Code Noir (Black Code) governing slavery in the French empire for the "Sun King" Louis XIV in 1685, and for banning Jews from its colonies. A statue of colonial administrator General Louis Faidherbe has also sparked prtoests in the northern city of Lille. Offenstadt, who is best known for groundbreaking books on French soldiers shot by firing squad during World War I, and the former East Germany, said memory and history were two very different things. He said memory, which is often symbolised by statues, is "something a lot more lived, more personal, subjective, chosen and more intense. "We can unbolt a statue... that is not rewriting history. No one can rewrite history," Offenstadt said. "But memory is something we chose and which we promote collectively together," the historian added. - Debate needed - Offenstadt said Macron should have encouraged a wide debate between historians and the public and let people explain their problems with monuments linked to slavery and colonialism rather than trying to close the argument down. Between toppling and statue and keeping it in place there was a huge range of solutions and compromises, he argued. Plaques could put them in context and offer other narratives, he insisted, some statues could be placed in museums, and others could be made to face off with counter monuments to show how history was disputed. Macron admitted that colonial rule had left a legacy that remains a subject of anger for many to this day. And he acknowledged that France had to fight against the fact that your "name, address, and colour of your skin" can affect a person's life chances today. But he insisted that France was "nation where everyone -- whatever their origin and religion -- can find their place." Many activists disagree however, and Human Rights Watch has urged France to halt identity checks by the police that are "abusive and discriminatory" towards black and Arab males. Former prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said that a hall in parliament named after Colbert should also be renamed. Jean-Baptiste Colbert was responsible for drawing up the notorious Code Noir (Black Code) governing slavery in the French empire
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A music festival is set to take place in Wisconsin next month designed to give people immunity against the novel coronavirus.

As live concerts are canceled across the world, a three-day 'Herd Immunity Fest' has been scheduled to take place in Ringle from July 16 to July 18,

The event will take place outdoors at the Q&Z Expo Center, which can hold about 10,000 people.

The name of the musical festival is a play on the idea that if enough people contract the virus, they will build up antibodies and be immune from a second infection or from spreading it to others.

Health experts and critics say vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and the immunocompromised are still at a high risk, and that there is not enough evidence of people being immune once they've been infected with COVID-19.

Additionally, they warn that large gatherings can turn into superspreader events.

A three-day 'herd immunity' music festival is scheduled to take place in Ringle, Wisconsin, from July 16 to July 18 (pictured)

Health experts warn that not enough Americans have been infected with the virus for herd immunity to be achieved. Pictured: An aerial image of Country Thunder in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin on July 20, 2012

''When the lockdown first happened, my first thought was OK we can all do 2 weeks, then it went on and on, things were getting cancelled, I started to worry about people not only for this Covid but mental, physical, financial,' one of the organizers wrote on Facebook.

'As humans we NEED other human contact. MUSIC in itself is great, but the live streams as I am sure you all know is just not the same we need LIVE, feel it to the bones, run shivers up your spine MUSIC with people around us.'

A line-up has already been put in place including artists such as Bobaflex, Dope Dope, Nonpoint, Royal Bliss and Static-X.

Tickets are selling for $105.50 for a three-day pass. The website says the grounds can hold 10,000 people but that a maximum of 2,500 are allowed to allow everyone to socially distance.

The Facebook page has since been taken down but the ticker page is still up and running.

While the idea of holding an outdoor music festival seems far-fetched, a recent survey found that Wisconsin is the state with the second-fewest coronavirus restrictions after South Dakota.

Back in March, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said herd immunity from the coronavirus will likely not occur.

Although people who have been infected will have built up antibodies, not enough Americans have gotten the disease for there to be no spread in communities.

'The people who are infected - there is no doubt...that if you recover from an infection, you have an immunity that will protect you with the same particular pathogen, in this case, the coronavirus,' he told CNN anchor Jim Sciutto.

'If people are infected, I don't suppose it would rise to the level of herd community protection. [A]t the community level there would not have been enough infections to really have enough umbrella of herd immunity.'

Public health officials have warned for years that vaccines not only protect individuals but the community as a whole in what is known as 'herd immunity'.

This occurs when the vast majority of a community - between 80 and 95 percent - becomes immune so that, if a disease is introduced, it is unable to spread.

Therefore, those who are unable to be vaccinated, including the ill, very young and very old, are protected.

Currently, less that one percent of the US population - 2.3 million people - have been confirmed to have the virus.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services did not immediately reply to DailyMail.com's request for comment
With fewer cases of Covid-19 being reported in the city over the past few days, the states Covid-19 task force believes Mumbai might have crossed its peak between May 15 and May 31. Daily new numbers have recently plateaued, with 1,000 to 1,200 new cases as compared to the 1,200 to 1,700 that were reported previously. However, experts said Mumbai should exercise caution while lifting lockdown restrictions to avoid a repetition of Delhi, which has seen high load of cases following unlocking.

On Wednesday, Mumbai recorded 1,118 new cases of Covid-19, raising the citys case tally to 69,528. The death toll touched 3,964 with 120 new deaths reported on Tuesday. The number of active Covid-19 cases in Mumbai stands at 28,548. So far, the city has a recovery rate of 53.2%, with 37,007 patients being discharged upon recovery. The fatality rate in the city as of Saturday was 5.70% and the doubling rate is at 39 days.

Dharavi, one of the citys hotspots, reported only 10 cases on Wednesday, which is the third lowest number of cases it has reported in a day since the first week of April. Five cases were reported on Tuesday and seven were reported last Saturday. The total number of cases from Dharavi is 2,199 and its death toll is 81.

Dr Shashank Joshi, member of the state-appointed Covid-19 task force, said, Mumbai might have passed the peak from May 15 to May 31. Many deaths now are of those who got infected during that time. We may see a spurt in cases with lockdown easing up and new relaxations coming in, but we have to be very careful. If we have relaxations in a controlled manner, we will be in a very comfortable position to tackle the virus. Now, in case of Mumbai unlocking, it will also mean gradually allowing citizens to travel in local trains that is Mumbais lifeline. However, we have to have a slab of 10-10% to increase the travel in local trains.

A second wave by mid-July?

Dr Joshi warned of a second wave in July. If we start everything from July 1, we might have a second wave around July 15, but we need to be very mindful of this. Our local trains are very well operational. We can have more people travel in it step by step. We have many areas where the doubling rate is over 40-45 days, and we can think of more relaxations there, but where the doubling rate is less than 30 days, we should not give much relaxation, he said.

Dr Peehu Pardeshi of Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) said the city should be prepared to re-impose restrictions in case of a second wave. It was noted that several new hotspots of Covid cases were found after lockdown relaxations were announced. This should not be the case as the relaxations should be closely monitored and reversible if we witness a second wave. We need to also keep in mind the sentiment of citizens as the relaxations should not result in sudden crowding of areas. Phases of relaxations with strict monitoring and ensuring social distancing should be the way forward, said Pardeshi.

On June 2, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had issued detailed guidelines to ease restrictions in Mumbai in tandem with the state governments Mission Begin Again announced on May 31. BMC allowed easing of restrictions in a three-phased manner, from June 3, June 5 and June 8, which included allowing opening of some public spaces, non-essential shops and private offices. However, the current restrictions will remain in place till June 30, following which the state will review the situation in the city.

Spike in MMR is threat to citys flattening of the curve

According to the state health departments data, as of Tuesday, there are around 1.01 lakh Covid-19 cases in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) out of the total 1.39 lakh cases in Maharashtra. MMR accounts for 72% of the total cases in the state.

Experts have pointed out that Mumbais economy is connected to its satellite cities, which make up the MMR. Dr Joshi said, We can say Mumbai has plateaued today, but in MMR, with areas like Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar, Kalyan-Dombivli, we need to control the cases. Currently, Mumbais neighbouring cities are witnessing a peak, and they may settle down by July 15. We have to consider all this while unlocking.

Dr Joshi emphasised Mumbai was in a very good position with distancing norms being followed and the civic body systematically carrying out testing, tracing and quarantine of Covid-positive cases. We have been cautious with opening up and should continue to do so, unlike Delhi. Delhi had very few cases compared to Mumbai, and I feel they unlocked too soon due to which today they have a load of cases, he said.

On the subject of lifting lockdown restrictions, BMC said it will wait on directions from the Central and state governments. Earlier, lockdown was announced with certain relaxations up to June 30, and to implement anything after that we will require directions from the state government that will rely on the directions of the Central government until which status quo will be maintained, said a BMC official on condition of anonymity.
The National Guard will help Northampton Countys county-owned nursing home test all of its residents and staff for COVID-19 this weekend

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is requiring all residents and staff at the states 693 nursing homes be tested for the virus by July 24.

The National Guard deployed to the Upper Nazareth Township nursing home to assist at the height of the pandemic locally. And from Friday through Sunday 13 National Guard members and six nurses from the Department of Health will return to help with testing.

While the federal government let us down at the beginning of this crisis, we are deeply grateful to the National Guard for helping Gracedale with this testing at this time, said Lamont McClure, county executive.

Staff, who will be paid for their time, will be tested in tents in the parking lot on Friday. Resident and on-site staff will be tested on Saturday and Sunday. The tests will be processed in the state testing lab.

(Cant see this map? Click here.)

With 688 beds, Gracedale is Pennsylvanias largest nursing home operating under one roof. There are currently 521 residents and about 700 employees.

To date, 235 Gracedale residents and 50 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and 71 residents have died, according to the most recent state data.

The county previously said 45 employees completed their quarantine and returned to work. Employees who do test positive are required to quarantine and cannot work during that time.

Earlier this month, the county heralded an encouraging change as the number of new cases began to drop.

The improvement in cases comes after Gracedale changed its testing strategy, from only testing residents with a fever or respiratory symptoms as recommended by the CDC, to testing all residents in the same room after someone develops a fever or other COVID-19 symptoms.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

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Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.
The District Attorney of New York's Southern District (including Manhattan), Geoffrey Berman, was asked to resign. No reason was given for a resignation, however, Berman has overseen the prosecution of several of the president's top associates so you're free to draw your own conclusions. Our guess is it wasn't because Berman was taking too many donuts from the break room.

However, Berman refused to resign ...

... so, Barr (and by extension the President,) officially fired him on Saturday. "Ya fired!" He probably said with glee, harkening back to the good old days on The Apprentice, except instead of Gary Busy getting let go for messing up the booking schedule or whatever, it's a man getting fired for providing one of the last checks and balances on the leader of the free world. Annnnd it was pretty much forgotten about by Saturday evening in time for his rally.

Said Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler, "the whole thing smacks of corruption and incompetence, which is what we have come to expect from this President and his Attorney General."

It instantly conjured memories of Nixon's "Saturday Night Massacre," when Nixon's attorney general refused to fire the special prosecutor investigating Watergate. Nixon forced his resignation and continued to force the resignation of everyone who followed until he finally found someone, Solicitor General Robert Bork, who was willing to fire the special prosecutor. I say "almost" reminds, because we've been here before with William Barr himself. Barr only got the job because Jeffrey Sessions was fired by Trump for recusing himself in the Robert Mueller investigation.
With the growing Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures affecting economies, global trade is expected to see a year-on-year drop of around 18.5% in the second quarter of 2020, said the, said the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in a new report.



However, rapid government responses helped temper the contraction, and WTO economists now believe that while trade volumes will register a steep decline in 2020, they are unlikely to reach the worst-case scenario projected in April.



The WTO's April 20th annual trade forecast, in light of the large degree of uncertainty around the pandemics severity and economic impact, set out two plausible paths: a relatively optimistic scenario in which the volume of world merchandise trade in 2020 would contract by 13%, and a pessimistic scenario in which trade would fall by 32%.



As things currently stand, trade would only need to grow by 2.5% per quarter for the remainder of the year to meet the optimistic projection. However, looking ahead to 2021, adverse developments, including a second wave of Covid-19 outbreaks, weaker than expected economic growth, or widespread recourse to trade restrictions, could see trade expansion fall short of earlier projections.



"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 Director-General Roberto Azevedo.



"This is genuinely positive news but we cannot afford to be complacent. Policy decisions have been critical in softening the ongoing blow to output and trade, and they will continue to play an important role in determining the pace of economic recovery. For output and trade to rebound strongly in 2021, fiscal, monetary, and trade policies will all need to keep pulling in the same direction."



Looking ahead to next year, a slower-than-expected pace of economic recovery would weigh on trade growth, which is possible for 2021 come in at closer to 5%, which would leave it well below the pre-pandemic trajectory. On the other hand, a quick return to its pre-pandemic trajectory would imply trade growth in 2021 of around 20%, in line with the April forecasts optimistic scenario. Monetary, fiscal and trade policy choices will play a significant role in determining the pace of recovery.



The outlook for the global economy over the next two years remains highly uncertain. This is reflected in the range of GDP estimates from other international organizations, in some cases relying on multiple scenarios. The World Bank, OECD and IMF have all released forecasts showing significant slowdowns in global trade and GDP; all are broadly consistent with the WTO's forecast for the current year.



The World Bank's recent forecast would see global output decline by 5.2% in 2020, falling between the WTO's optimistic and pessimistic range. Other international organizations' GDP forecasts for 2020 are also increasingly negative, even as their trade projections stay roughly in line with the WTO's optimistic scenario. These estimates imply a less negative trade response to declining GDP growth than was observed during the global financial crisis of 2008-09.



The responsiveness of trade to changes in income can be measured by the ratio of the growth of merchandise trade volumes to real GDP growth at market exchange rates, also referred to as the income elasticity of trade. The implied elasticity under the WTO's optimistic forecast for 2020 was 5.3  in line with that seen during the financial crisis.



Although purchases of consumer durables such as automobiles fell sharply earlier in the crisis, other economic sectors have shown signs of resilience in recent weeks. Sales of consumer electronics have thus far held up better than might have been expected, supporting international trade in these products.



For example, according to China's customs statistics, the country's exports of automatic data processing machines, including computers, were up 30% year-on-year in US dollar terms in April. Anecdotal evidence similarly points to strong demand for computer and information technology services, which have facilitated working from home during the crisis.



Automobile sales have also rebounded from recent, though admittedly extreme, lows. For example, sales of cars in China were up 5% year-on-year in May after falling 79% in February.  TradeArabia News Service
"He's so good, he's so kind, and when you start to compare yourself to him, because you're playing him, you start to really look inwards," Cavill said. "You say, 'Am I a good person? Can I be a good enough person to play Superman?' And if you ever hear a whisper in there which is like, 'Hmm, hold on a second. Maybe not," then you adjust it, and you make sure you are a better person. I think that's all we can do in life."
The summer reprieve from the coronavirus isn't coming, and the outbreak is hitting the Sun Belt the hardest.

Why it matters: Anthony Fauci warned today of a "disturbing surge" driven by community spread in metropolitan areas in Florida, Texas and Arizona.

"We were going down from 30,000 [new cases per day] to 25,000 to 20,000, and then we sort of stayed kind of flat, but now we're going up. A couple of days ago there were 30,000 new infections."

Between the lines: This isn't just from expanded testing.

In Arizona, the state's positive test rate has soared to 21%, the FT reports. That's a 3x increase from a month ago.

the state's positive test rate has soared to 21%, the FT reports. That's a 3x increase from a month ago. In Florida , the state had a 10% positivity rate on Monday, up from 4% at the beginning of the month.

, the state had a 10% positivity rate on Monday, up from 4% at the beginning of the month. In Texas, the city of Houston's positivity rate has tripled to 9%.

Grim comparison: A dean at the Baylor College of Medicine warned that Houston could "become the worst affected city" in America if the trajectory holds, and "maybe rival what we're seeing now in Brazil."

Brazil has now joined the U.S. as the second country to register 50,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths.

The big picture: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott even warned that lockdowns  a last resort  could return if the outbreak grows.

If we are unable to contain the spiraling spread of COVID-19, there will be more requirements put on businesses, including even considering have to ratchet back on the expansion of opening businesses in Texas.

to contain the spiraling spread of COVID-19, there will be more requirements put on businesses, including even considering have to ratchet back on the expansion of opening businesses in Texas. Abbott warned that the "spread is so rapid right now, theres never a reason for you to have to leave your home unless you need to go out."

that the "spread is so rapid right now, theres never a reason for you to have to leave your home unless you need to go out." "The safest place for you is at your home.

The bottom line: Don't plan any European trips.
People take to the street for second consecutive day to protest against proposed changes to the judiciary.

Police in the Democratic Republic of the Congos (DRC) capital have fired tear gas for a second straight day to break up violent protests outside parliament over proposed changes in the judiciary.

The demonstrators, some armed with petrol bombs, blocked traffic outside parliament in Kinshasa on Wednesday, erecting barriers and burning tyres.

Police first fired warning shots and then used tear gas to disperse them, AFP news agency reported.

The protesters were mainly motorcycle taxi drivers and supporters of President Felix Tshisekedis Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party.

The UDPS is in an uneasy coalition with forces close to Tshisekedis long-serving predecessor, Joseph Kabila. Only a third of the government ministers are from the UDPS.

The contested legal changes include proposals to define the powers of judges, which critics say is a ploy to muzzle the judiciary.





The proposals come from the Common Front for Congo (FCC), a coalition close to Kabila, who remains a behind-the-scenes force in national politics.

FCC chief Nehemie Mwilanya on Wednesday warned those who think they have a monopoly on disorder and violence.

Careful! he said. They must realise that everyone knows how it starts, but not how it ends.

Mwilanya also questioned the inaction of the interior minister, who is from Tshisekedis party, without naming him, saying he failed to understand why some people were following scorched earth politics.

Former parliament speaker Aubin Minaku, one of the people behind the proposed amendments, said the aim is to define the authority the justice ministry exercises over the judges.

But Tshisekedis party on Monday lambasted it as a ploy to undermine the independence of the judiciary and increase the power of the justice ministry.

The opposition Lamuka coalition also said the proposals would deal a death blow to the concept of separation of powers.





Separately, four influential grassroots organisations on Wednesday issued a joint statement warning that the countrys next presidential elections in 2023 were at risk of manipulation because of moves to appoint a new head of the national electoral commission.

The present head of the electoral panel, Corneille Nangaa, whose assets have been frozen by the United States on suspicion of corruption, is stepping down.

Nangaas organisation notably validated the results of the December 2018 presidential elections, which opposition leader Martin Fayulu said denied him of victory.

The joint statement warned against any attempt by the FCC-dominated parliament to push through Nangaas successor, and called on the public to oppose any Machiavellian plan aimed at thrusting us into endless electoral crises.

Its signatories comprise a highly influential Catholic group called the Lay Coordination Committee as well as the civil rights groups Lucha, Filimbi and Congolais Debout (Congolese, Stand Up).

Their supporters carried out a wave of anti-Kabila protests in late 2017 and early 2018 that were bloodily repressed by security forces, killing about 15 people.
British radio and television presenter Chris Moyles showed off his grey hair when he was pictured out hitting the shops on Tuesday.

The 46-year-old looked completely different as he continued to show off his five stone weight loss as he jumped into his 100k convertible Porsche Boxster

Chris was with his long time girlfriend Tiffany Austin during his outing in St Johns Wood and was dressed casually for the occasion.

New look: Chris Moyles, 46, showed off his grey hair and slim physique as he headed out in St John's Wood on Tuesday for a shopping trip

Hot wheels: He was pictured climbing into his 100k Porsche with girlfriend Tiffany Austin

He wore a grey T-shirt with white cargo shorts and light coloured trainers, yet failed to raise a smile. Tiffany wore a simple black vest top and orange trousers.

Chris has been dating the pretty brunette since 2015 - she has a career in artist management, previously working with Boy George.

Tiffany recently dyed Chris's hair blond in lockdown, before it reverted to his natural grey.

Blond ambition: Chris recently compared his look to Gary Barlow's questionable style in the early '90s

Low-key: Chris wore a grey T-shirt with white cargo shorts and light coloured trainers, yet failed to raise a smile

Something up? He looked a little grumpy as he crossed the road

Who needs a salon? Tiffany recently dyed Chris's hair blond in lockdown, before it reverted to his natural grey

He compared his lighter to look to Gary Barlow's platinum blond hair which he famously sported in the 90s during an appearance on Radio X.

Chris said: 'I wanted to look like Robbie at Glastonbury. 'I think Ive ended up looking like Gary Barlow from the Do What You Like video.'

Moyles also revealed he was initially in a state of panic after letting his girlfriend get to work on his hair.

Success: Chris has managed to maintain his five stone weight loss after embarking on a healthier lifestyle (pictured in 2001)

He added: 'It [my hair] was at some point yesterday - I will admit and so will Tiff - canary yellow.

'So when it was first done I went to look in the mirror and I literally went oh my god, I dont recognise myself. Like, I dont recognise myself at all. And it freaked me out, and then I kinda went I think I like it.

After producer James admitted it wasn't as yellow as he thought it would be, Moyles conceded: 'Yeah, its a bit whiter. Its less Eminem, more Milkybar Kid.'

He had said: 'I wanted to look like Robbie at Glastonbury. 'I think Ive ended up looking like Gary Barlow from the Do What You Like video'

Love: Chris has been dating Tiffany since 2015 - she has a career in artist management, previously working with Boy George

He said of his hair: 'When it was first done I went to look in the mirror and I literally went oh my god, I dont recognise myself. Like, I dont recognise myself at all'

He continued: 'It freaked me out, and then I kinda went I think I like it'
'Pakistan has robust incentive to turn heat on LoC.'

IMAGE: Indian Army trucks move along a highway leading to Ladakh in Kashmir's Ganderbal district. Photograph: Danish Ismail/Reuters

"Pakistan derives some strategic benefits from India getting bogged down on its northern border."

"One of Islamabad's main foreign policy goals is to deter New Delhi. And given the serious crisis that India is embroiled in with its much larger rival, it's certainly getting deterred," Dr Michael Kugelman, Deputy Director of the Asia Program and Senior Associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih in the concluding segment of a two-part interview.

Has China's view of India changed in the Modi years? How has India's diplomatic handling of China been different from previous governments?

China's view of India has generally remained constant: India is an inferior power, but should be treated carefully and when possible cordially.

This helps explain why China over the last few years has continued to pursue economic cooperation with India, and why it has sought to promote a relatively cordial diplomatic relationship with New Delhi.

There is one milestone event that has shifted Chinese thinking about India in the Modi years -- and that is the Doklam crisis.

India's refusal to back down in the face of Chinese provocations made Beijing realise that India is willing to stand up to its powerful neighbour.

But instead of prompting China to back off, the Doklam standoff arguably compelled China to dig in deeper and provoke India more aggressively -- as we've seen in Ladakh in recent weeks.

The Modi government's diplomatic handling of China has generally been consistent with past practice, and similar to Beijing's own strategy: Pursue workable diplomatic ties, and maintain an important economic partnership.

What stands out about Modi's track record with China is his willingness to invest his own personal diplomacy in efforts to strengthen the relationship. And fortunately he had an able and willing partner in Xi.

The two informal summits Modi held with Xi are notable in this regard -- though in reality these activities may be more a function of the growing global popularity of summitry as a form of diplomacy than a novel Modi tactic.

At the same time, with the India-China relationship having grown fraught during the last few years, the space for diplomatic cooperation has receded. The Belt and Road Initiative is a powerful accelerant of India-China rivalry, and it has really taken off in the Modi years.

A strongly worded statement issued by the Indian external affairs ministry about the BRI back in 2017 did not mince words about a global super project that India rejects because of its intention to expand into disputed territory that New Delhi claims as its own.

One big question that emerges from the bloody events of June 15 is how India's diplomatic handling of China will change in the long term, including post-Modi.

The India-China relationship has entered into a more tense and confrontational phase, and that is likely to remain the new normal for quite some time.

How Modi, and future Indian leaders, navigate that new reality as they pursue diplomatic relations with Beijing will be something that India foreign policy specialists will be mulling over well into the future.

Will India now have to deal with a volatile LoC and deteriorating situation on the LAC -- a two-front confrontation?

Yes. Pakistan has a robust incentive to turn up the heat on the LoC with stepped-up cross-border firing so long as India is bogged down on the LAC.

The LoC had already been hot before the latest LAC spat. And let's be clear: It's no small matter that a nuclear-armed triad has grown increasingly volatile.

What does this mean for Pakistan, China's all-weather friend? What impact is this going to have on the LoC?

Pakistan derives some strategic benefits from India getting bogged down on its northern border.

One of Islamabad's main foreign policy goals is to deter New Delhi. And given the serious crisis that India is embroiled in with its much larger rival, it's certainly getting deterred.

Of particular significance for Islamabad is that the Ladakh crisis has obliged New Delhi to redeploy some troops from Jammu and Kashmir to Ladakh.

New Delhi will certainly worry that the Ladakh crisis could tempt Pakistan to take advantage of India's LAC distraction and infiltrate militants across the LoC to stir up trouble in Kashmir.

I would not overstate this possibility. Pakistan is under a lot of pressure from the FATF (the global terror financing watchdog) to rein in the terror networks on its soil, and it risks being sanctioned if it doesn't comply.

That would be the worst possible outcome for a country that is not only keen on repairing its global image, but is also undergoing a serious economic crisis -- worsened by the pandemic -- and can't afford to be saddled with new economic burdens.

Furthermore, Pakistan doesn't infiltrate its assets into Kashmir with the intensity that it did back in the 1990s.

And Kashmiri militants don't really need Pakistan's support so long as they are galvanised and radicalised by the oppressive conditions they face in the Kashmir Valley.

Still, the possibility of Pakistan using the Ladakh crisis as an opportunity to spirit militants over the LoC is real -- and especially if the Ladakh crisis continues for another few months, and if Pakistan, as expected, is not blacklisted when FATF has its next plenary later this year.

And even if this scenario doesn't come to pass, Islamabad derives some benefits from knowing that New Delhi will worry about it.

One final point about Pakistan is in order. Given China's deep footprint in that country, there's certainly a possibility that India could covertly engage in retaliatory actions against Beijing there -- such as by sponsoring attacks on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor targets, or on other Chinese interests in Pakistan.

Is China's action in Ladakh linked to Beijing's uneasiness at New Delhi's proximity to Washington in the Trump era?

I'm sure it is, at least in part. And this is just as much, if not more, an issue of the US-China relationship as it is the US-India relationship.

The US-China relationship is radioactive right now, and Beijing has a strong interest in trying to undermine Washington however it can.

What better way to do so than to provoke New Delhi, a key and growing US partner?

Beijing also knows that Washington views New Delhi as a strategic partner in the US effort to push back against China through the Trump administration's Indo Pacific strategy.

In this regard, with its provocations in Ladakh, China may be trying to push back not only against India and by extension the US, but also against the US Indo-Pacific strategy itself.

This isn't to suggest that China wouldn't be provoking India if the US-China relationship were flourishing. There are plenty of other motivations guiding Beijing's actions along the LAC.

Still, the US-India-China triangle -- which pits the US and India against China -- gives Beijing a strong, added incentive to engage in its provocations in Ladakh. And yet, seen from this lens, it's a backfiring tactic for China.

Beijing may be using its muscular moves on the LAC to push back against deepening US-India friendship, but in the end those moves will only add more strength to that friendship.

Production: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
"The American economy depends on a healthy workforce, and everyone has to do their part to prevent virus exposure." - Express CEO Bill Stoller

A majority of hiring decision-makers (87%) prefer sick workers stay home and take the day off in what many see as a shift in company culture regarding sick employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is according to a newly released survey conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.

While only 1 in 7 (14%) hiring decision-makers would rather sick employees come into work, 44% say the COVID-19 pandemic has made their company more accepting of working from home if an employee doesnt feel well.

We need people to do their jobs, so if someone is running a temperature, its best to keep them home but still allow them to work, said Stacey Snodgrass, Express franchise owner in Everett, Washington. Personally, I will allow this moving forward.

Forty-two percent of respondents say this shift in company culture regarding sick employees could be more than temporary as their companies plan to offer more flexible sick-day policies.

I think companies will have to become more flexible in order to protect their workforce and business, said Mike Brady, Jacksonville, Florida, Express franchise owner. They cannot risk an employee exposure to COVID-19, so they will have to adapt.

And if employees do come to work sick? Nearly one-third, 31%, of hiring decision-makers say those workers will be reprimanded for putting others at risk. Snodgrass agrees sick workers on the job should be reprimanded, because one single COVID-19 case could devastate the business.

We all need to be following the CDC and local health department guidelines so we are not bringing an illness that could shut the company down if everyone has to quarantine, she said. You also want to retain your current staff and make them feel safe.

In Boulder, Colorado, Express franchise owner Todd Isaacson agreed that coming to work sick is a serious issue during the pandemic, but employers should be more understanding and provide warnings first.

You have to give them some grace initially, because in the past, coming to work with a minor cold was no big deal, he said. And another factor is many workers desperately need to work and get paid.

For those who do stay home, 1 in 4 hiring decision-makers (26%) think after the COVID-19 pandemic, employees will be more likely to lie about feeling sick thinking they will not be questioned for staying home.

Snodgrass, however, says lying about being sick to stay home could easily put workers in a bind.

Staying home sick puts you in a situation where you may not have enough sick leave, and some companies are making employees do a COVID test before coming back to work or waiting 72 hours before returning to work, she said.

Isaacson agrees. Once those sick days are used up, employees wont get paid, he added.

The American economy depends on a healthy workforce, and everyone has to do their part to prevent virus exposure, Express CEO Bill Stollers said. The new normal may require some businesses to be more flexible when employees are under the weather to not only protect their workers, but also company operations.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between April 21 and May 6, 2020, among 1,005 U.S. hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in the U.S. who are employed full-time or self-employed or have been laid off, furloughed, or given a zero hour schedule in the past 60 days but worked full-time or were self-employed full-time prior, work at companies with more than 1 employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

***

If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Karami, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966.

About Bill Stoller

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has more than 825 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa, and beginning in 2020 will expand to Australia and New Zealand. Since its inception, Express has put more than 8 million people to work worldwide.

About Express Employment Professionals

At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, our international network of franchises offer localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve, employing 552,000 people across North America in 2019. For more information, visit http://www.ExpressPros.com.


Nandini Yadav

Amid the growing India-China conflict, the rhetoric of boycotting Chinese products in India grows commensurately.

While we have seen the #BoycottChineseProducts trend previously, this time, China's intrusion at the Line of Actual Control is what fueled the ire of Indians. Sonam Wangchuk, the engineer turned educationist, was the first to call for a boycott late last month.

This sentiment has roots in Indias national movement to boycott British goods that took shape in pre-independence India. Many Indians threw away clothes made in Manchester. However, as is inevitable when living in British India, people were coming home to various products that were imported into the country from Britain anyway.

India-China trade

As a result of living in a globalised world, India imports and exports a lot of its products and raw materials from various countries. China happens to be one of the biggest exporters to India. Reportedly, in 2019, India and Chinas bilateral trade stood at $92.68 billion, which is more than 60 percent of Indias total trade.

As per the Ministry of Commerce and Industrys Export and Import data, in 2018-19, Indias electronic equipment import from China stood at $20.63 billion. This includes smartphones, TVs, features phones, white goods, among others.

The sentiment is not whats under scrutiny here; the anger is just, but the practicality of a boycott is another matter.

Is a boycott really the answer?

The irony of the boycott is especially ripe considering that among the top five smartphone brands in the country  the fastest growing mobile market  four places are occupied by a Chinese brands.

According to a May 2020 report by Counterpoint Research, in Q1 2020, Xiaomi had the highest market share of 30 percent in the Indian smartphone market, Vivo ranks second occupying 17 percent of the market, Samsung is at number three with 16 percent. Places fourth and fifth are also occupied by Chinese brands Realme and Oppo with 14 and 12 percent market share, respectively.

For the uninitiated, Vivo, Realme, Oppo, OnePlus are all owned by BBK Electronics, which is a Chinese MNC specialising in electronics. Xiaomi is also a Beijing-based company. No India-born brand ranks in the top smartphone sellers list.

However, for feature phone market share in Q1 2020, Lava and Micromax did make the cut to the second and fifth position, respectively.

Its not just the pricing that makes the Chinese smartphone brands attractive in India  they have a rising graph when it comes to technology, which cannot be ignored. From being famous for just being a mass producer back in the 1970s, China quickly grew into principal designers for various technologies. For instance, China leads lithium-ion battery production with a 73 percent global manufacturing capacity share, followed by the US, far behind with 12 percent of global capacity.

Also, how do you really cut off ties with a particular countrys product in a globalised world, where a chip by Intel  an American tech company headquartered in California  is designed in China, manufactured in Taiwan, its PCB is assembled in Malaysia before going back to Silicon Valley?

While India has been pushing for local manufacturing of most products sold in the country, it is impossible  particularly in electronics  to pluck out every involvement of a Chinese company from the line of local production.

If this is the future we want, we must prepare ourselves for a very different experience as consumers in India. We may have to make peace with the vagaries of quality, or with sky-high prices for the next Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy flagship.

Chinese brands are trying to prove their 'Indian-ness'

Meanwhile, Chinese smartphone brands in India are playing it smart by playing-up their Indian-ness.

In his monthly Q&A video called AskMadhav, Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth addressed the issue of Realmes roots that go back to Vivo-Oppo-OnePlus-owning BBK Electronics. He said that Realme is a global MNC, which started from India. He also said that Indians contribute nearly 50 percent to the Realmes sales globally.

India-first products like AIoT devices, a 5G smartphone, and a 64MP smartphone camera, feature prominently among Realmes recent launches. Sheth also reiterated that all Realme smartphones are manufactured under the Make in India initiative. He insists that Realme is an Indian startup.

This Indian startup came to be on 1 May 2018, when Oppo announced its sub-brand Realme in India.

Further, at the recent Xiaomi launch, India head Manu Kumar Jain announced that it now locally manufactures 99 percent of the smartphones it sells in India. He also said that Xiaomi employs more than 50,000 people in the country who are associated directly or indirectly with the brand, across different industries.

Poco also recently took to Twitter to talk about how its a Delhi-born brand. The company claims to be #POCOForIndia for life!

With a dream of serving Indian consumers, @IndiaPOCO was born 2 years ago in Delhi, India. We took ahead the #MakeInIndia initiative by making products and services that are crafted for India. We were, are and will always be #POCOForIndia! pic.twitter.com/RfC6Ew0kOj  #POCOForIndia (@IndiaPOCO) June 3, 2020

In May 2020, Vivo also announced its new Make In India logo that it will be printing on smartphone retail boxes sold in India.

The employment that Chinese companies generate in India

The biggest impact of this boycott may be on the thousands of people that are employed by companies like Xiaomi, Vivo and Oppo in their factories in India.

Oppo, Realme and OnePlus smartphones are manufactured at a massive facility in New Delhi, which usually employs some 10,000 workers, but its workforce was cut down to 3,000 as per government orders due to the Coronavirus outbreak. At this facility, the BBK-owned brands assemble, test and distribute smartphones in the country, along with exporting some units to other countries.

Vivo has a separate factory in Noida, which employs some 2,000 people for assembling, testing and distributing its devices. Vivo also has a second factory, which was set up earlier this year, which has the capacity to employ 8,000 workers under normal working conditions.

Chinese companies play an important role in India being the second-largest mobile handset manufacturer in the world.

Under the leadership of PM @narendramodi, India has emerged as the 2nd largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world. In the last 5 years, more than 200 Mobile Phone Manufacturing units have been set up. #ThinkElectronicsThinkIndia pic.twitter.com/fGGeCRpj87  Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) June 1, 2020

And its not just the employment generated in these factories. All through the value chain, there is indirect employment via retailers, marketing, public relations, advertisements, among other things. Vivo, for instance, has won title sponsorship for the IPL series for seven seasons (2016-2022), and will reportedly pay BCCI Rs 2199cr over a period of 5 years.

Is the Boycott working?

If you believe Twitter, any self-respecting patriot is echoing an anti-China sentiment.

Tensions between India and China following a deadly border clash are seeping into the wider public mood. Videos like this group of Indians destroying a Chinese made TV are trending under the hashtag #BoycottChineseProducts. pic.twitter.com/h8FSNi0ijQ  RT (@RT_com) June 18, 2020

However, this echo does not seem to resonate in reality. Smartphone sales of Chinese brands are still going strong.

The OnePlus 8 Pro, which went on sale for the second time on 18 June, was sold out on Amazon India just a few minutes after the sale was live, the company confirmed to tech2.

Another OnePlus 8 sale was hosted on 22 June at 12 pm. As per OnePlus own website, the smartphone went out of stock within 8 minutes of the sale going live.

A report by Economic Times also revealed that Vivo undertook a consumer study on 16 June through its 30,000-strong shop floor executives, who said that there was no change in purchase patterns so far. The report also quotes a senior executive of a leading e-commerce marketplace who confirmed that "there is no dip in sales of Chinese smartphones and electronic products."

The Xiaomi Mi NoteBook 14 series also went on sale for the first time on 18 June, and just a day later on 19 June, the Mi NoteBook 14 Intel/Nvidia models with 512 GB storage, were sold out on Amazon India.

We also reached out to Pankaj Mohindroo, who is the CEO of India Cellular & Electronics Association, who confirmed that there has been no impact of the boycott on the sale of Chinese smartphones in India.

India needs to broad base its GDP before engaging in a trade war with China

A trade war with China is certainly not desirable, says Telecom and Policies expert Arijit Sengupta.

He believes that the only way forward here is for India to grow its GDP. The country is talking about boycotts, but no one is talking about broad-basing the economy.

Indias annual GDP growth dipped to 3.1 percent in January-March 2020.



source: tradingeconomics.com

He adds, India is the only country that is not part of any trade deal. And if we do successfully boycott Chinese products, India will be on the losing end, especially in the telecom, networking, and various other industries where it relies on China for research and equipment at very low cost.

What happens to the 5G dream?

In the telecom space, Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE offer cost-effective, advanced equipment. All this while India has resisted the pressure from the US to ban Huawei and other Chinese companies from supplying 5G equipment, as per a recent report by Economic Times, the Indian government has barred BSNL from sourcing telecom equipment from Huawei and ZTE.

Analysts believe that this move could increase gear procurement costs by 10 to 15 percent when sourcing from non-Chinese companies like Ericsson or Alcatel-Lucent.

What happens to Ola, Byju and TikTok?

Most startup unicorns in India like Ola, Paytm, and Byju have heavy investments from Chinese VCs such as Tencent.

As per a report by Gateway House, Chinese tech investors have put an estimated $4 billion into Indias leading start-ups. Reportedly, over five years ending March 2020, 18 of Indias 30 unicorns are now Chinese-funded. TikTok, the video app, has 200 million subscribers and has overtaken YouTube in India. Alibaba, Tencent and ByteDance rival the US penetration of Facebook, Amazon, and Google in India, the report reveals.

Boycotting Chinese products would mean deleting these apps and services from our (Chinese) phones as well.

Aatmanirbhar, eventually

A trade war with China is not the answer. Outraging on social media about boycotting a country and its product is lush with irony, considering the very devices the tweets are posted from are almost entirely Chinese. While India has been actively pushing for local brands to emerge and creating opportunities for global brands to set up manufacturing and increase production in the country, its not ready to declare itself entirely self-sufficient just yet.

A boycott isnt a simple restriction on finished products being imported into India, but has an impact on raw material and machinery that enable the production of various Make in India initiatives, and  very significantly  employment in India.

With inflamed passions, one seeks easy answers. Were no strangers to demonisation and othering, and the Chinese boycott is just that. Irrational, untenable, hypocritical, and ultimately, counter-productive. If youre still incensed enough to throw that LCD TV out your first-floor balcony, make sure you follow-through and throw out almost everything else as well. Because youre almost guaranteed to find a Made in China sticker on whatever you touch.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: The Tibetan government in exile has warned Nepal of China's "expansionist policies" and said that the whole subcontinent has been on the radar of Chinese leaders since the 1960s after the occupation of Tibet.

According to tfipost, the President of the Tibetan government in exile, Lobsang Sangay in an interview with WION said that Beijing was looking to accomplish its 'Five Finger' plan for Tibet as was stated by Chinese leadership.

"After the occupation of Tibet, in the 60s, Chinese leaders have said Tibet is the Palm, now they have to go for 5 fingers-Ladakh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. So in 2017, you have Doklam incident that borders Sikkim and Bhutan, and then now you have Ladakh. This is all part of the grand, long term expansionist strategy which they had and are implementing now," said Lobsang Sangay.

The article quotes Sangay providing a blueprint of how China's expansionist policies are set into motion.

"The way Tibet was occupied, first they said they will build a road from China to Tibet this will bring prosperity to Tibetans. Once they built the road, they brought in trucks, tanks, guns and soon they occupied us," said Lobsang.

The article further went on to mention that Chinese Communist Party led by President Xi Jinping "is looking to bolster its expansionist policies in the Indian subcontinent region. What China did to Tibet, it is looking to emulate the same feat with India's neighbour, Nepal. It is driving a wedge between centuries-old Indo-Nepal relations to quietly colonise the Himalayan country."

The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) incursions into Ladakh and other regions proves that China is planning some serious conspiracies, according to the article.

Earlier this month, as many as 20 Indian soldiers had lost their lives in the face-off in Galwan Valley after an attempt by the Chinese troops to unilaterally change the status quo during the de-escalation in eastern Ladakh.

China is using increased road construction in Tibet to encroach on Nepali land and may set up border outposts in these areas in the future, says a Nepal government report accessed by ANI.The report, prepared by Survey Department of Agriculture Ministry, showed a list of 11 places, of which China has encroached on 10 places comprising about 33 hectares of Nepali land, by diverting the flow of rivers which act as a natural boundary.

On the other hand, Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari had on Thursday authenticated the Constitution Amendment Bill passed by the country's parliament concerning the controversial new map.

The controversial updated map includes Indian areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura in its territory. India has said that the new map is "not based on historical facts and evidence."
A police investigation is under way after a 'beautiful' teenager was found dead at a house in North Wales.

Jade Mitchell, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene, after North Wales Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service were called to a home in the port town of Holyhead, Anglesey, at around 6am on Friday to reports of an 'unresponsive teenager'.

A police investigation is now under way into Ms Mitchell's death and officers are keen to track down the 18-year-old's last known moments.

North Wales Police have also confirmed a woman was arrested on Monday on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs.

Jade Mitchell (pictured), 18, was pronounced dead at the scene, after North Wales Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service were called to a home Holyhead, Anglesey, last Friday

Detective Sergeant Arwel Hughes said: 'Following the tragic death of Jade, a police investigation was commenced. As such we are keen to trace Jade's last known movements.

'I would be grateful if anyone who saw or communicated with Jade on Thursday the 18th of June 2020 or early into Friday morning the 19th of June 2020 could contact North Wales Police.

'Following enquiries, on Monday the 22nd of June, a local woman was arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs.

'Our thoughts remain with Jade's family and friends at this tragic time.'

Ms Mitchell, who was originally from Fleetwood, Lancashire, had moved to Wales within the last two years.

Following her death, friend Aiofe Ward said: 'RIP Jade, I honestly don't have no words I'm speechless. I wish I had the chance to say a thank you for everything you ever did for me. You helped me through so much.

'You will never be forgotten, I will miss you lots.'

While Grace Jones said: 'If I knew this would of been the last time I would see you I wouldn't of let u (sic) leave my arms.

Emergency services rushed to a property in Thomas Street, Holyhead, Anglesey, following reports of an 'unresponsive teenager'. Pictured: General view of the street

'In your company I was the happiest now I feel so empty inside.'

Aunt Sheryl Jones described Ms Mitchell as 'my beautiful niece' as she tried to raise money for her funeral costs.

She wrote: 'My beautiful niece has tragically passed away, aged 18.

'At this horrendous time, I am trying to help her family have one less thing to worry about.

'Funerals are so expensive, but if everyone gives a little, it soon mounts up. All donations will go towards the cost of the funeral.'
Participants Jalen Miller (center) and his mother, Jaleese Miller (arm raised, center right), march on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as the Artist Coalition for a Just Philadelphia holds an Emergency Art Action to Fund Black Futures on June 16, coinciding with City Council hearings on the 2021 budget. Read more

The late evening of June 17 was a self-congratulatory one for Philadelphia City Council.

This is a nontraditional hour for us to be taking care of the peoples business, Council President Darrell L. Clarke began the meeting around 8 p.m., but the peoples business we must take care of.

Council then agreed on several changes to Mayor Jim Kenneys proposed budget, including a rejection of the proposed $19 million increase to the police budget, and an additional diversion of $14 million away from the police to the mayors cabinet.

In light of the protests that have commanded the streets for weeks, and the Philadelphia police budget still totaling more than $725 million, this is devastatingly inadequate.

Across the country, millions of protesters are demanding the defunding of the police. This is not just in response to the police murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, not just because police budgets have grown incredibly bloated, and the departments increasingly militarized and violent. Its because police budgets are guzzling away the public funds that pay for social services that communities need.

Kenneys original budget was a disturbing and draconian example of this austerity. It called for a massive slash to social programs such as the Arts Department and the Free Library, which many working-class people, especially Black workers, depend on. The budget, which increased the police funding and left crumbs for city workers, was racist in itself and remains racist and anti-worker despite City Councils recent action.

Black and working-class people will be the ones to bear the brunt of cuts to social services, and Philadelphians will remain at mercy of an antagonized and militarized Police Department, whose violent streak has been on full display over the past month of protests. The suffering of Black and brown Philadelphians is the responsibility of Mayor Kenney and City Council, who enable this systemic discrimination to continue.

City Council has failed to put forward any kind of police reform that goes beyond lip service, such as bans on crowd control weapons like tear gas that have been won in other cities. Council also seems to recognize its own inadequacy, given that these budget discussions happened late at night and allowed no space for public comment. City councilmembers who consider themselves to be progressive and who stand with Black Lives Matter should be decisively voting no on  and actively organizing against  any budget which so pitifully and cynically claims to defund the police while doing barely anything at all.

The still-massive Philadelphia police budget should be slashed by 50%. The over $360 million generated  90 times the original $4 million cut that would have eliminated arts funding, which Council partly walked back  must be reallocated to affordable housing, public education, and coronavirus relief. These resources, not police, are the gateway to public safety.

Ultimately, the actions of Philadelphia City Council last week ring more than hollow  they are insulting to Black and working-class Philadelphians. But even this minor budget change suggests that City Hall is scrambling to respond to the Black Lives Matter movements concerns. We get credit for that and have the potential for much more. Progressives on City Council should vote no on the budget. Local labor unions must move into action  such as nine-minute work stoppages to represent the approximate time Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyds neck  to support their Black workers and the movement at large. And we, the movement, must march on City Hall to fight for a city budget that funds our communities rather than victimizing them.

Eric Jenkins is a Black activist in Philadelphia and a member of Socialist Alternative.
Dana Balter has opened a commanding lead over Francis Conole (64-36%) in the Democratic primary in the 24th Congressional District in an election that will be decided by a record number of absentee ballots.

Balter led 10,552-5,810 after 100% of the ballots from in-person voting were counted Tuesday night, according to the state Board of Elections.

Balter easily won the districts two largest counties, Onondaga County (64-36%) and Cayuga County (63-37%), and dominated in Wayne County (69-31%) and Oswego County (70-30%), according to unofficial returns.

But Balter did not declare victory and Conole did not concede the election because the majority of votes in the district were cast by absentee ballots. The ballots wont be opened until after June 30.

About 16,900 people voted at the polls Tuesday across the congressional district. An additional 44,625 absentee ballots had been issued and 29,455 received from district voters in Onondaga, Cayuga, Oswego and Wayne counties, according to county election officials.

Mail-in ballots will be counted as long as they are postmarked by Tuesday and received by June 30, elections officials said. The number of mail-in ballots that will be counted could be twice as many as those that were cast in person Tuesday.

Onondaga County Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said the winner will likely not be known until July 8 as election officials count the absentee ballots.

Most of the ballots (32,764) in the congressional district were requested by Onondaga County voters, and 22,964 ballots had been received by Tuesday morning at the county Board of Elections.

Balter said she expected to prevail after the absentee count. Were really encouraged by what weve seen and feeling confident in what the final vote will be, Balter said late Tuesday.

Conole did not take questions from the media Tuesday night. His campaign manager, Will Van Nuys, issued a statement cautioning voters that the election is not over.

The Democratic primary race in New Yorks 24th Congressional District still has tens of thousands of absentee ballots (projected 70% of votes cast) that need to be counted, Van Nuys said. The margin will go up and down as these remaining ballots are counted in the coming weeks.

All New York voters were given the option to vote by mail this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Turnout at the polls Tuesday was light throughout the day, as most voters chose to keep their distance and use the mail-in option.

Balter and Conole said they will continue their virtual campaigns as they wait to find out who will win the Democratic ballot line to challenge Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, in the November election.

Balter, 43, a Syracuse educator, is seeking a rematch against Katko after losing to him by about 5 percentage points in the 2018 election.

The only public polls in the primary campaign were released by the Balter campaign. The latest poll showed Balter led Conole by 29 points (60-31%) two weeks before the election. Conole did not dispute the polling numbers.

Balter and Conole each raised about $874,000 to spend on their campaigns before the primary election.

Conole, 42, an Iraq War veteran from Syracuse, received an extra boost in the final two weeks of the campaign when Vote Vets Action Fund spent $200,000 on TV ads supporting his candidacy.

Conole is among 14 House challengers that Vote Vets decided to support nationwide this year. Vote Vets bills itself as the largest progressive group of veterans in America.

During the primary campaign, Balter and Conole disagreed on how to reform the national healthcare system.

Balter supports a phased version of Medicare for All. Conole wants to give Americans a public option to enroll in a government-run health insurance program or keep their private health insurance.

Both candidates argued they are better positioned to beat Katko, a three-term incumbent, in November.

Balter said the 2018 campaign helped boost her name recognition in Central New York, giving her a better shot at defeating Katko this year. She also has maintained a network of 1,900 grassroots volunteers who mobilized to support her campaign two years ago.

Conole has touted his roots as a Central New York native, telling voters he understands how the regions economy suffered as manufacturing companies closed in the 1980s and 1990s. He has also stressed his leadership skills as a former senior Navy intelligence officer. Until last year, he worked at the Pentagon for former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

In the primary election, Conole had the backing of Democratic Party committees in Onondaga and Cayuga counties. Balter was backed by Oswego County Democrats.

The 24th Congressional District spans all of Onondaga, Cayuga and Wayne counties, and the western half of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton. Wayne County Democrats did not endorse a candidate in the election.

MORE ON 2020 NY PRIMARY

Election Day 2020: NY primary voting results for Central New York

Claudia Tenney surges ahead of George Phillips in GOP primary for Congress

Joe Biden finishes night with big lead in CNY presidential primary vote

2 challengers lead incumbent Syracuse Judge Limpert as Dem primary turns to absentees

Lemondes racks up big lead over Fitzpatrick in 126th Assembly race

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Amethyst, the state mineral, is a purple variety of quartz said to enhance passion, creativity and spiritual awareness.

It's also the name of a new album released on Juneteenth, Friday, June 19, that features tracks by more than 40 rappers and producers from South Carolina, almost all Black artists.

In December, those creators from across the state gathered at a Summerville studio to record an album in less than 72 hours. They were each invited by project organizers, who sought a diverse group within the genre.

The gathering space was divided into a meeting room, where artists mingled and teamed up with beatmakers, and a studio, where the lines were delivered and producers worked to capture the spontaneous magic. Lyrics were written on the spot, most not even scribbled down but improvisationally spit into the mic, hook by hook and verse by verse.

In one long weekend, more than 40 songs were recorded, then whittled down to 27 for the album, which is available on most streaming platforms. Some bonus tracks will be released on a later deluxe version.

Dave Curry, the fashion designer behind Charleston Hype and a local music producer, spearheaded the endeavor. He was inspired by Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist J. Cole's Dreamville Records documentary, which goes behind the scenes on the making of compilation album "Revenge of the Dreamers III."

For that project, 343 artists and producers were invited to Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta to create music over the course of 10 days. During those sessions, 142 songs were recorded.

Curry wanted to create the South Carolina version  to put South Carolina hip-hop on the map and uplift Black art. But he also wanted it to be a project that could succeed outside of the South Carolina music scene. He believes in the talent.

"I think a lot of us put ourselves in boxes to be the 'best thing out of Charleston' or 'South Carolina' or even 'the South,'" Curry said. "But I just want to make the best thing, period. I wanted to make something that was able to compete on a global scale."

Curry said egos were checked at the door. The competition was friendly, and artists pushed each other to write the best verses and stretch their boundaries, he said.

"There was a sense of unity and camaraderie I feel hasnt been seen before in the state," said Greenville-via-Columbia's Justin Daniels, known by stage name H3RO. "Everybody was willing to work with everybody, and there were compliments thrown left and right."

Daniels appears on two tracks, "Nomad" and "Goodfellas."

Contributing Charleston rapper Javone Graham, who goes by CrucialBGR, said he didn't know a lot of the other artists before arriving, which is what drew him in. During the weekend, he made lasting connections with other artists and producers he hopes to work with again, he said.

"This is a big notice sign from artists all over South Carolina," said Graham, who appeared on "Just Like That" and "Wartime."

Kris Kaylin, a radio host at Z93Jamz, was one of the organizers of the project and on site during the recording process. She hand-selected some of the artists who were invited. She said it was hard narrowing down the huge pool of hip-hop artists that exists in South Carolina.

About a month ago, she played some of the songs from the album on her radio show "Next Up Charleston" before they were released and called it the "Amethyst Takeover." She received an overwhelmingly positive response from listeners, she said.

"Someone called the station and said it was the best quality music they had heard on the show," Kaylin said.

During the recording process, Kaylin enjoyed observing each artists' creative process and listening to each song develop.

"It was cool being in the atmosphere where artists were creating music and getting to hear it played back right then," Kaylin said. "I would be vibing, and then there would be an instant when I knew I had just heard a hit. It was fascinating to see other artists create."

The Juneteenth release of the album was serendipitous, Kaylin said. It wasn't originally planned that way, but the coronavirus and other delays slowed down the process.

"It worked out, because June is also Black Music Month," she said. "I'm proud to be pushing this energy. I'm proud to be a part of history. This is a momentous thing for South Carolina hip-hop."

One rapper and producer who was voted in by fans to fill one of the slots for the weekend was Jaleel James of Hartsville, who goes by BluFlame James. This project was the first time he had recorded in a studio. He ended up working on several tracks and thrived in the collaborative environment.

Columbia audio engineer and producer Zach Finley, who goes by Offkey, said he "cooked up beats" on the spot, letting interested artists come to him and then working with them one-on-one.

You won't see BluFlame James' or Offkey's names in the song credits, just like you won't see Curry's. They all worked as producers behind the scenes, but their work was integral to the project.

Hip-hop collaborations throughout the state aren't uncommon. In 2019, Columbia hip-hop legend Fat Rat Da Czar released "Tribe," an album that featured around 40 other collaborators. The album ultimately reflected his taste, and he appeared as a guest on each song.

"That was a Fat Rat album" Curry said. "This is something different. They don't really compete. He was using his brand to elevate South Carolina hip-hop, but I'm creating a brand."

For the "Amethyst" project, the goal was to the let different artists work on each track, with no one standing out.

"A lot of people wont do something until they see its doable," Curry offered. "If someone can see someone from their community win, then they feel like they can win."

Videographer Atom BLK and photographer Raven Brianne of New Moon Visuals were on site to record behind-the-scenes footage. Curry hopes to release a documentary soon. Visit amethystinsc.com for more information.
Guterres calls on Israel to abandon annexation plans UN Secretary General calls it 'serious violation of intl law'

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, JUNE 24 - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he hopes Israel will renounce its plans to annex parts of the West Bank and said the plans are "a most serious violation of international law", said Israeli media. Guterres said the annexation would be "devastating" for a resumption of talks on a two-state solution. "I call on Israel to abandon its annexation plans," Guterres said, adding that the move "undermines efforts to advance regional peace".(ANSAmed).



(ANSA).




[June 24, 2020] Caught in the Middle: 'Technology Sandwich Generation' Stresses Over Both Kids' and Aging Parents' Data Security and Well Being

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As COVID-19 has made technology in the home increasingly the lifeblood of all connections to the outside world, more Americans worry about the data privacy of their family members and managing the technology needs of their aging parents. When it comes to kids and screen time, however, they aren't so concerned. In its most recent Technology and Social Permission survey, global communications consultancy Ketchum uncovered and dubbed an especially stressed population the Technology Sandwich Generation  parents of children under 18 who also assist their own aging parents with technology. One hundred percent of survey respondents said they help their parents with technology-related matters; 70% did so in person (reported pre-COVID-19) and 31% said doing so is a burden. This could indicate that this assistance takes away from precious time to enjoy family. In addition, 87% were at least somewhat worried about their parents falling victim to hackers, scammers or phishing attacks. "The Technology Sandwich Generation is facing a double-whammy: ensuring their children and parents are both safe and competent in using technology," said Lisa Sullivan, partner and director, Technology, at Ketchum. "Brands that are mindful of this dichotomy and opt to make technology simpler and yet more secure stand to gain a real competitive advantage." This group reported being less concerned about screen time disrupting family life, the traditional worry about technology in the home. More and more embrace technology to enhance family togetherness and quality of life. In the research conducted pre-COVID-19, 72% of the Technology Sandwich Generation say technology is bringing families together by enhancing the time spent with their children; furthermore, 90% agree that technology has had a positive impact on parenting. Close to 8 in 10 (79%) felt better or the same about video gaming in 2019 than they did in 2018 and 74% felt better or the same about their kids' screen time in general. "Concerns about technology and family are not what you think they might be. Indeed, today's parents are digital natives themselves who play games and value screen time. So, incorporating it into family life seems natural," said Melissa Kinch, partner and managing director, Technology, at Ketchum. "During the pandemic, the anxiety the Technology Sandwich Generation feels has likely intensified as seniors are forced to stay home and master technology for everything from healthcare and finances to grocery shopping and videoconferences with their family. Aging parents who can't adapt face more isolation and possible risk." The Technology Sandwich Generation also feels greater concern than the general population for family members becoming victims of tech security issues: 91% feel worried for their child (compared to 88% of the general population)

87% feel worried for their parents (compared to 4% of the general population)

77% feel worried for a grandparent (compared to 68% of the general population)

91% are at least somewhat worried about data privacy in general

88% are at least somewhat worried about data security in general

45% feel worse about data breaches in 2019 than they did in 2018



In a recent report on COVID-19's impact on technology innovation communications, Ketchum advised brands to think specifically about the following: Safety is paramount. Brands that help adults keep their aging parents safe and functional will have a huge market opportunity. Even basic education campaigns and assistance programs can be a winner for a consumer technology brand building trust with its consumers.

Brands that help adults keep their aging parents safe and functional will have a huge market opportunity. Even basic education campaigns and assistance programs can be a winner for a consumer technology brand building trust with its consumers. Ageism won't fly. Brands that ignore the needs of older adults, especially as that population explodes, will face new backlash  and lose huge swaths of potential customers.

Brands that ignore the needs of older adults, especially as that population explodes, will face new backlash  and lose huge swaths of potential customers. Data protection is top of mind. There will be more criticism and distrust of brands that don't go above and beyond to protect data scams and privacy issues related to society's most vulnerable senior citizens. Financial institutions, healthcare institutions, governments and others will be held to a higher standard. The Technology Sandwich Generation findings are part of Ketchum's annual Social Permission and Technology Study, which delves into a wide range of issues with respect to consumer concerns about the security and privacy of personal data and how those concerns are driving behavioral change and putting brand reputation at risk. Read more about the study at www.ketchum.com/techruptors2019.

Through its suite of products and services, Ketchum offers expert counsel on how to identify and manage reputation and communication issues related to data privacy, cybersecurity and related topics. For more information, visit www.ketchum.com/technology. About Ketchum's Social Permission and Technology Study

Ketchum Analytics conducted the second annual Social Permission and Technology Study, an online omnibus survey of 1,022 adults age 18+ in the United States, between Aug. 20 and Aug. 23, 2019. When necessary, the data was weighted to be nationally representative of the U.S. population as it relates to age, gender, region, race/ethnicity, education and income. The margin of error for the total sample is +/-3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Smaller subgroups will have larger error margins. About Ketchum

The winner of 105 Cannes Lions and PRovoke's Global Creative Agency of the Year, Ketchum is the most creatively awarded firm in our industry. We're equal parts human-centered and business-focused, empathetic and intelligent. As a global communications consultancy, we combine the deep industry and specialty expertise of boutique firms with global reach to find unexpected connections that lead to lasting relationships and work that matters. For more information on Ketchum, a part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, visit www.ketchum.com. About Omnicom Public Relations Group

Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,300 public relations professionals in more than 370 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caught-in-the-middle-technology-sandwich-generation-stresses-over-both-kids-and-aging-parents-data-security-and-well-being-301082816.html SOURCE Ketchum

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New Delhi, June 24 : Passengers wishing to travel to Dubai on residency or work permits would further require special authorisation from the UAE authorities, national carrier Air India said on Wednesday.

According to the airline, passengers would need to have specific approvals from the UAE Embassy and UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) to travel from India to the Gulf country on repatriation flights.

Currently, Air India is operating repatriation flights between India and UAE under the Vande Bharat Mission.

As per the rules, transportation of UAE nationals from the Gulf country and non- nationals to the Middle East state on the repatriation flights is not allowed.

"All passengers need to comply with the quarantine and COVID-19 test requirements as per the preventive and the precautionary measures required by the appropriate health authorities, as notified from time to time," the airline said in a statement.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Queensland Health spent $40 million of taxpayers' money to replace the state's ageing laboratory information system, before abandoning the project altogether.

The decision to dump the project, budgeted to cost a total of $69.9 million, was buried at the tail-end of a government press release.

Queensland Health Director-General John Wakefield said the project was scrapped to ensure pathology services were not disrupted during the coronavirus pandemic. Credit:AAP/Dan Peled

US-based Sunquest Information Systems was awarded a contract to replace the ageing IT system AUSLAB, which is more than 20 years old, in 2018.

About 20,000 tests, such as blood and urine checks, are ordered through AUSLAB each day and patients' records are stored on the system for decades.
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock accepts a fossilized rib and tail vertebrae from a triceratops from Luke Phipps, 12, at the State Capitol in Helena, Mont., on April 16, 2016 (Thom Bridge/Independent Record/AP)

Court: Montana Family Owns Dinosaur Fossils Worth Millions

HELENA, Mont.Dinosaur fossils worth millions of dollars unearthed on a Montana ranch belong to the owners of the lands surface rights, not the owners of the mineral rights, a U.S. appeals court ruled.

The June 17 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2016 decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters of Billings that found dinosaur fossils were part of the surface estate, not the mineral estate, in cases of split ownership. The surface rights where the fossils were found are owned by Mary Ann and Lige Murray.

The composition of minerals found in the fossils does not make them valuable or worthless, Watters wrote. Instead the value turns on characteristics other than mineral composition, such as the completeness of the specimen, the species of dinosaur, and how well it is preserved.

Brothers Jerry and Bo Severson, who owned two-thirds of the mineral rights on property once owned by their father, appealed Watters decision to the 9th Circuit.

A three-judge panel of the appeals court overturned Watters ruling in February 2018, but the Murrays asked for a larger panel of judges to hear the case.

In the meantime, the 2019 Montana Legislature passed a bill stating that dinosaur fossils are part of a propertys surface estate unless they are reserved as part of the mineral estate.

One of two dueling dinosaurs fossils is displayed in New York City, filed on Nov. 14, 2013. (Seth Weinig/AP)

Before making its decision, the 9th Circuit asked Montanas Supreme Court to rule on whether fossils were minerals under state law because at the time the case was filed, there was not a definitive law. In a 4-3 ruling last month, the Montana justices said dinosaur fossils are not considered minerals under state law.

Because Mary Ann and Lige Murray are the undisputed owners of the surface estate here  the (Montana) Supreme Courts decision requires a resolution in their favor, Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas wrote on behalf of himself and 10 other members of the 9th Circuit.

Eric Nord, the attorney for the Murrays, declined to comment on June 23. Shane Swindle, an attorney for the Seversons, did not immediately return phone or email messages seeking comment on whether the Seversons plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The dinosaurs unearthed on the ranch include a T. rex found in 2013, a triceratops skull discovered in 2011, and the 2006 discovery of a pair of dinosaurs that appeared to have been locked in battle when they died.

The T. rex was sold for millions of dollars. The so-called dueling dinosaurs drew a bid of $5.5 million in a 2014 auction but failed to reach the $6 million reserve price.

In a legal effort to clarify the ownership of the dueling dinosaurs before trying to sell them, the Murrays sought a court order saying they owned the fossils, sparking the legal battle.

By Amy Beth Hanson
(Natural News) Beijing health officials have instituted mandatory testing to combat a new surge of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. The manner in which testing is being done, however, may end up actually spreading the virus even further.

Talking to the Epoch Times, some residents have voiced concerns that the testing is actually exposing them to the coronavirus, saying that authorities did not provide them with basic safety protection during the testing.

Conditions at testing centers put people at risk

During a June 20 press conference, officials in the city governments team for virus containment efforts stated that there were 474 testing sites in Beijing and that they had been able to test 2.3 million in the previous seven days. (Related: Schools close as Beijing sees fresh coronavirus outbreak.)

This is on top of measures requiring anyone who has been to the Xinfadi wholesale food market  ground zero for the new outbreak  to be tested. As a result, crowds of masked people waiting to undergo nucleic acid tests have become a common sight in recent days across the capital.

However, the manner in which the testing is being handled may actually be putting residents at greater risk of infection.

A resident named Li, who had been required by authorities to be tested after visiting the Xinfadi, spoke to Epoch Times about risky the conditions at the Boao testing center in Kangxin road.

I went to the test site and saw more than a thousand people lining up. They were all from nearby residential compounds, Li said. So many people gathered together is very risky [for contracting the virus].

The residential compounds around us even organized buses to transport residents to the testing site, he added, fearing that the disease could spread quickly in such a tight space.

Meanwhile, Zhang, whos entire residential compound near Xinfadi was required to get tested, noted that most medical staff did not change protective equipment such gloves after handling each individual.

They [the medical staff] touched our faces and mouths [with the same gloves], Zhang said. Its very risky for us to have cross infection.

Zhang, who got tested on June 15, has yet to receive the results of his test. He says that the medical staff told him to check online himself; however, no one has been able to open the website that they were told to visit.

Fear of catching the disease from testing centers has led at least one resident, going by the name Guo, to refuse to be tested altogether.

I have no symptoms. Im afraid Ill be infected if I go to the testing sites, said Guo, who had been required by officials to take the test after he visited Xinfadi on June 3.

As a result, government staff have asked Guo to self isolate until the end of June. They told Guo that they would use high-tech surveillance to monitor his movements.

If I go out with my phone, theyll know immediately where I am, he said. I visited [Xinfadi] on June 3. Its more than ten days ago, but they still force me to quarantine at home.

People still going for testing even as risks mount

Despite the risks created by conditions at the testing centers, Beijing residents continue to rush to get tested  even those not required to take the test.

According to a report by Reuters, many testing facilities in the city are now inundated by those seeking voluntary tests. Bookings for the test were filled up almost as soon as officials opened them up on the official app.

One such facility, the First Medical Center of the Peoples Liberation Army Hospital, admitted that their next available testing slot was a month away.

Even state-run media has conceded to the risks created by this surge in voluntary testing. The Beijing Daily admitted to the heightened infection risk in these facilities even as citizens spontaneously go to medical institutions or fever clinics for [testing] and crowding occurs.

Follow Pandemic.news for more on the coronavirus outbreak.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Reuters.com
NEW YORK  New York, Connecticut and New Jersey will require visitors from states with high coronavirus infection rates to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, beginning Thursday, the three governors said.

We now have to make sure the rates continue to drop, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday at a video briefing with Govs. Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Ned Lamont of Connecticut, both fellow Democrats. We also have to make sure the virus doesnt come on a plane again.

What was presented as a travel advisory affects three adjacent Northeastern states that after time were able to check the spread of the virus this spring as New York City became a hot spot for the pandemic.

And the governors are now warily eying other states with rising caseloads, trying to keep history from repeating itself.

This is a smart thing to do, Murphy said. We have taken our people, the three of us ... to hell and back. The last thing we need to do right now is subject our folks to another round.

The states health departments will provide details of how the rule will work, Murphy said. Visitors to New York from affected states will be informed that they need to quarantine and that violators could face a mandatory quarantine and a fine, Cuomo said.

The quarantine is voluntary but urgent guidance, Lamont said at a briefing in Hartford, noting it will be enforced differently in each state. Connecticut is considering putting up signs at entry points and getting the word out via social media.

The announcement comes as summer travel to the states' beaches, parks and other attractions  not to mention New York City  would normally swing into high gear.

Visitors from states over a set infection rate will have to quarantine, Cuomo said. As of Wednesday, states over the threshold were Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas.
Self-taught British tailor Zack Pinsent dresses exclusively in styles from the mid-18th-century to early 19th-century Georgian and Regency eras

British tailor Zack MacLeod Pinsents passion for historical-era clothing truly began when he ceremoniously burned his last pair of jeans at the age of 14. He wore clothing from different periods, such as the Victorian era, but came upon the fashions of the Regency and Georgian periods when he was invited to a ball in London and had nothing to wear.

I went on eBay, found a costume tailcoat, chopped it up to fit me. I still have the photos, and I cringe, he said with a laugh. But I caught the bug from that point. I really loved the aesthetic.

The 26-year-old tailor now dresses exclusively in styles from the mid-18th-century to early 19th-century Georgian and Regency eras.

Now hes made a tailoring business out of it in Brighton and has become one of the UKs foremost experts in crafting bespoke historical clothing for men and women from the years of 16661900.

British tailor Zack MacLeod Pinsent wears a green wool coat with striped silk waistcoat. (Broosk Saib)

Feeling Ten-Feet High

Georgian and Regency-era dress is not simply attractive for its ornate designs, symbolic embroidery, flattering silhouettes, and bold use of color. Its about wearing something beautiful to make you feel beautiful.

Wearing what I wear, it makes me feel 10-feet high, he said in a BBC interview.

He said that people often judge him, accusing him of dressing only for attention.

If I just wanted to do it for attention, Id do something that would be far easier, require a lot less research, hand-sewing and everything. I wear [historical clothing] 24/7. Its not just when I pop out of the house or go to a big event, its all the time. Thats what makes it a genuine style as opposed to an affectation, he said in an interview.

If you look at Pinsents Instagram account with more than 350,000 followers, you can easily see how his exquisite clothing makes him feel that way. But this inner confidence felt when wearing bespoke historical clothing isnt just Pinsents experience alone.

For example, Pinsent was measuring a lady for a Regency gown, which she said she may even wear to her wedding. She sat next to him, discussing samples of fabrics.

She said, Oh, Im a size I stopped her and said, No, you arent a size anything. This will be your size. It will fit you, Pinsent recalled. She just burst into tears because her whole life shed been defined by a number on a label, a completely arbitrary number.

Pinsent explained that these sizes and standards of the modern fashion industryheld by clothing, modeling, and makeup companiesare designed to make people think poorly about themselves. That way they end up consuming more to feel better.

Blue wool tailcoat and pantaloons, red wool waistcoat, all with antique brass buttons, black Hessian boots, cotton cravat, and gray top hat. In the background is Gawsworth Hall, Cheshire, UK. (Tony Bower)

The whole beauty and fashion industries are geared toward [the idea that] you have to look and be a certain way for you to be of any value, he said.

Pinsent said his clients reaction was unexpected since hes been making bespoke clothing for so long. But, in retrospect, he can see how liberating it is to finally own something made specifically for you. Pinsents client told him she was so inspired by her interaction with him, she then found local dressmakers near her home and now only buys bespoke.

Clothes throughout history have always had something to say and something to convey. Nowadays clothes have nothing to say; theyre completely silent, he said.

Pinsents tailoring can work within different budgets as well. You can order more simple fabrics like linen or expensive, lavish ones. For example, hes ordered silk velvet handmade in Venice costing 1,000 pounds per yard for one of his clients.

Pinsent explains that Georgian- and Regency-period clothing is also particularly beautiful for its flattering silhouettes and vibrant use of color. For more corpulent men, for example, the high waist creates a smoother line, rather than having ones belly hang over the belt.

Nowadays men have stuck to navy blue, gray, and brown, which is just so depressing, he said. The military heroes of their day were running into battle wearing lavishly embroidered uniforms with hearts, flowers, and other ornate detailing on them.

With modern dress standards, weve lost a bit of self-respect and sometimes respect for others, he said. Popping down to the shops in basically your pajamas, [its hard to be] to be taken seriously at the same time.

Blue silk waistcoat with silk check underneath with antique buttons, white linen shirt, check trousers, and a silk print cravat. (Broosk Saib)

Traditional Fabrics

Not only does clothing from these historical eras make one feel confident, but Pinsent uses traditional artisanal practices that help the planet. He uses historically accurate, 100 percent natural fibers such as linen, manufactured relatively close to him, in Ireland, and Belgium, to lower the carbon footprint.

Though cotton is natural, Pinsent doesnt use it since its production is toxic, both figuratively and literally. He explains cotton only became popular with the advent of slavery; today in Bangladesh, for example, an average garment worker makes only $68 per month, according to a TEDEd video. Because cotton molds, massive amounts of pesticides and water must be used to prepare the cotton thread. For example, more than 30 bathtubs of water are needed to make one cotton T-shirt. Linen, in contrast, is naturally antibacterial and lasts for centuries, as evidenced in ancient Egyptian tombs that have preserved perfectly intact linen wraps.

Pinsent said we also need to stop using terms such as polyester, which hides the materials true nature.

Its plastic, he said. Its not going to go anywhere. Its going to remain on the earth for thousands of years, pollute the fish, and were going to eat it in sushi.

By making sustainable, bespoke historical clothing, Pinsent is doing more than making handsome fashion. Hes accentuating the interconnected relationship between our outer and inner worlds; by wearing beautiful, ethically produced classical regalia, you elevate your spirit as well.

Its all about taking those smallest steps to be conscious with various things, he said. Were on this earth for such a short period of time. If the clothing youre wearing isnt making you happy, then youre missing the point.

J.H. White is an arts, culture, and mens fashion journalist living in New York.
The US on Wednesday slammed Pakistan saying it continued to serve a safe haven to terrorist groups targeting India and allowed them to operate from its territory. It also stated that Pakistan took modest steps in 2019 to counter terror financing.

The US Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism in its report on terrorism said, "Pakistan continued to serve as a safe haven for certain regionally-focused terrorist groups. It allowed groups targeting Afghanistan, including the Afghan Taliban and affiliated HQN, as well as groups targeting India, including LeT and its affiliated front organizations, and JeM, to operate from its territory."

Citing the 2015 National Action Plan to counter-terrorism, the US asserted that Pakistans progress on this aspect "remains unfulfilled". "Pakistans progress on the most difficult aspects of its 2015 National Action Plan to counter terrorism remains unfulfilled  specifically its pledge to dismantle all terrorist organizations without delay and discrimination."

The report further stated that Pakistan has made no effort to prosecute terrorist leaders such as Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) founder Masood Azhar and the mastermind of LeTs 2008 Mumbai attacks Sajid Mir. It added that both of them are widely believed to reside in Pakistan under the protection of the state.

"While Pakistani authorities indicted LeT co-founder Hafiz Saeed and 12 of his associates on December 11, they have made no effort to use domestic authorities to prosecute other terrorist leaders such as JeM founder Masood Azhar and Sajid Mir, the mastermind of LeTs 2008 Mumbai attacks, both of whom are widely believed to reside in Pakistan under the protection of the state, despite government denials," stated the report.

It further said that Pakistan took modest steps in 2019 to counter terror financing and to restrain some India-focused terrorist groups following the February 2019 attack on a security convoy in Jammu and Kashmir claimed by Pakistan-based JeM. "Thus far, however, Islamabad has yet to take decisive actions against Indian- and Afghanistan-focused militants who would undermine their operational capability."
WASHINGTON - The Army activated about 400 unarmed members of the Washington, D.C., National Guard to "prevent any defacing or destruction" of monuments, defense officials said Wednesday, as protests over police violence continue alongside efforts to pull down statues in the capital.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt requested the Guardsmen to bolster the National Park Police, said Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Craig Clapper, a D.C. Guard spokesman. The Guardsmen were posted at an armory awaiting directions for when and where they will be used, Clapper said.

Some Guardsmen who were mobilized weeks ago had transitioned back to supporting efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic but will now return to the civil disturbance mission, Clapper said.

The troops may have face shields for personal protection but did not have tear gas or pepper spray as of Wednesday afternoon, Clapper said.

Demonstrators in Washington and other cities have targeted statues and monuments in recent weeks following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police last month, prompting a reckoning of the role that race and racism has a played in U.S. history.

Many of the markers were dedicated to Confederate leaders. But on Monday, protesters decrying President Andrew Jackson's brutal displacement of Native Americans attached ropes to a bronze statue of him in Lafayette Square, across from the White House, to try to tear it down. Law enforcement stopped their efforts.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that protesters would be met with "serious force" if they tried to establish an autonomous zone at Lafayette Square and that federal officials would seek long sentences for anyone who toppled statues or vandalized monuments.

One emerging flash point is the Emancipation Statue in Lincoln Park, a federally controlled space in Northeast Washington. The statute depicts a freed slave kneeling at the feet of President Abraham Lincoln.

Protesters who have vowed to tear it down have said it champions white supremacy and fails to acknowledge the crucial role slaves played in fighting for their freedom.

A Park Police spokesman declined to say where the agency needed support, saying the demonstrators posed a threat and that revealing potential areas would endanger officers.

"We're dealing with extremists," Sgt. Eduardo Delgado said.

At one point, more than 1,200 D.C. Guardsmen were mobilized in response to civil unrest in the capital. Several states contributed forces for a high-water mark of more than 5,000 the weekend of June 6, defense officials said.

The National Guard has struggled to reconcile its image - one of responding to natural disasters and deploying to war - with its recent mobilizations in which many stood shoulder to shoulder with police. National Guard Chief Gen. Joseph Lengyel has called the civil unrest mobilizations an "uncomfortable" mission requiring Guardsmen to confront their own community.

Two helicopters from the D.C. Guard flew low over protesters on June 1 in what lawmakers and human rights groups called a "show of force" meant to frighten and disperse them with roaring engines and powerful rotor wash.

One of the helicopters, a UH-72 Lakota, hovered an estimated 45 feet over the heads of protesters, according to a Washington Post analysis using 3-D modeling, videos and photos.

The Lakota, a medical evacuation helicopter, was adorned with red crosses. Military law experts and human rights groups criticized its use, saying the red cross is a symbol of global mercy and inconsistent with what has been widely described as maneuvers to intimate. The incident is under investigation by the D.C. Guard.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell shared her latest Vogue Spain cover on Instagram on Wednesday.

The 50-year-old said it was an important one for her because it was the first time in her 34 year career she had been pictured by a black photographer for Vogue.

Nadine Ijewere took the stunning photo and Naomi wrote: 'Thank you @nadineijewere, @voguespain and the entire team.

'This is a special cover for me. As it's is the 1st time in my 34 year career that I was photographed by a black Photographer for vogue / condenast and it was a woman of color. [sic]

'Nadine it was truly an honor, I learned a new work ethic from you, a another style of how to be...

'I can't tell you how nervous I was inside, I wanted to be able to hold up to what you envisioned and expected.'

'It makes me f***ing furious': Naomi recently said she doesn't appear on magazine covers in some countries because of her skin colour (pictured at the Met Gala in May 2019)

She continued: 'The stillness and the quieting of oneself. This represents more than you will ever know!!

'Keep Rising Nadine. Shot Pre-Quarantine Photography: @nadineijewere Styling: @nathankleinstyling.'

Nadine also shared the image on social media and wrote: 'Shot pre-quarantine @naomi for @voguespain with @nathankleinstyling.

Talented: Nadine Ijewere was the first woman of colour to shoot the cover of any Vogue in the magazines 125-year global history back in 2018 when she was aged 26

'Its crazy to have been the first woman of colour to have captured Naomi in her 34 year long career!'

Nadine was also the first woman of colour to shoot the cover of any Vogue in the magazines 125-year global history back in 2018, when she was aged just 26.

Moreover, Naomi recently said she has missed out on magazine covers because of her skin colour.

She told The Times: 'It makes me f***ing furious. Last year I was refused entry to a hotel in the south of France because of my skin colour. It's rude. It's wrong.

Making changes: Naomi praised Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief at US Vogue, for fighting the 'powers-that-be'

'And there are still certain countries where I don't appear on the cover of magazines for that same reason.'

The beauty went on to praise Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of the US edition of Vogue, for 'fighting the powers-that-be' to get her on the cover.

She said: 'Actually I think Anna Wintour has been very brave recently. She has admitted the fashion industry is too wasteful.

'And she also told me she had to fight with the powers-that-be to get me on the cover of US Vogue first time round, for which I am grateful.'

The star has been prompted into speaking out following protests around the world in response to the death of George Floyd.

Shocking: Naomi recently revealed she cried over her 'grey face' on a 1988 cover of Italian Vogue (pictured), after the make-up artist admitted he had no foundation to suit her because they 'didn't know she was black'

It comes after she revealed she cried over her 'grey face' on a 1988 cover of Italian Vogue after the make-up artist admitted he had no foundation to suit her because they 'didn't know she was black'.

The supermodel said she had longed to be the face of the magazine 'so much', but the results of the photoshoot reduced her to tears.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour this week, Naomi told how she was thrilled to be asked to be the cover star of the June 1988 issue early in her career.

But upon arriving at the studio, she claims she was told by the make-up artist: 'Oh, we didn't know you were black.'

'He said he didn't have the foundation for me,' Naomi recalled. 'He had to mix some colours that he had of foundations to make up his own colour, and that consisted of a lot of grey.

'When that cover came out, I just cried. I wanted so much to be on the cover of this publication... it was Italian Vogue actually. But I didn't want to be grey.'

Naomi has previously discussed this particular shoot in a Guardian article, in which she admitted from then onwards she always took her own foundation to photoshoots.

During the radio interview, the model went on to highlight how black women have been mistreated in the fashion industry.

She said a lot of people at the beginning of her career tried to 'put her in a maid's outfit' and claims her hair was continually styled in dreadlocks.

Naomi added that she was stereotyped as a result of her race and often treated as a 'gimmick'.

'In general in the fashion industry, we have not had the seat at the table that we deserved,' she added.

'It's not equality and that's what has to happen in our business.'

She told how she was labelled 'difficult' when she pointed out the discrimination she experienced while on a job, but admitted she 'likes' the challenges she went through.

'They didn't squash me, they didn't silence me,' she said defiantly.
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Images of Ethiopian tribeswomen with lip plates measuring up to 24 inches show the lengths prospective brides in the village will go to in order to attract a favourable husband.

The women of the Suuri Baale tribe, who live to the west of the Omo Valley in Ethiopia, have their two lower teeth removed and their bottom lip sliced at the age of 12 in order to squeeze in the huge clay plate, which helps attract a wealthy husband. A man's worth in the indigenous tribe is measured by the number of cows he owns.

A series of pictures taken by Thai professional photographer Sarawut Intarob, 37, shows a woman in a headdress made of animal horns, wearing an impressive 20-inch clay plate while another shows a woman's stretched and shrivelled lips after years of wearing the device.

Other images show an elderly woman with stretched ear lobes and male members of the tribe keeping lookout from a tree.

'What shocked me most was their oral piercing tradition,' the Thai photographer, Intarob, said.

'When they are teenagers, girls decide if they would like large wooden or clay plates in their mouth. They believe that makes a woman even more beautiful.

'I visited in January 2020 for nine days, and overall felt a beautiful but strange feeling with them.

A Suri woman (left) is pictured with a large clay plate which has been inserted between a cut in her bottom lip in Ethiopia. The plates, which can be as big as 16 inches in diameter, are first given to children when they are just 12 years old. An older Suri woman (right) is pictured without the plates in her lip or ears. The women scar themselves by slicing their skin with a razor blade after lifting it with a thorn. The Suri pride themselves on their scarification and how many they have

The lip plates, also known as lip plugs, are thought to enhance beauty among the tribespeople. Many of the women will have their bottom teeth removed in order to wear the large clay plates

A younger Suri woman with her 16-inch faceplate (right). She will inherit a larger number of cows through marriage due to the size of her plate. The average married male in the Suri tribe owns somewhere between 30 and 40 cows

The Suri Baale people live to the west of the Omo Valley, Ethiopia, and share a similar language with Chai and Timaga ethnic groups.

Collectively, they are known as the Surma. Outside of these two politically and territorially different neighbours, they have no contact with the outside world and are over 60 miles away from the nearest city of Arba Minch, Ethiopia.

Very few even know any Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia.

'They still live normally and still have the same culture as their ancestors in the twenty-first century.'

At puberty most young girls have their two lower teeth removed in order to get their lower lip pierced for face plates, this usually happens a year before they are to be married.

Sometimes even four teeth are removed to allow a bigger plate inserted, as it is believed that the size represents social and economic importance to the tribe.

A Suri woman wearing horns as a headdress looks on as she is photographed in the village in Ethiopia. The Suri people are flourishing in their corner of Africa, selling gold to outsiders

Suri women also pierce their earlobes in order to make themselves more beautiful, but the piercings do not come close to the size of the lip plates

There are around 12 ethnic groups in Ethiopia, but with their face plates and stick fighting sports, the Suri are perhaps one of the most fascinating

The clay plates, which can be as big as 16 inches in diameter, are first given to children when they are just 12 years old.

The larger the plate, the more cows the girl's father can demand in dowry when his daughter marries. Cattle are enormously important to the Suri people and bring status.

The painful practice is less common in the younger generation of Suri women.

Women and children in the tribe also often decorate themselves with white clay patterns, and flowers on their heads.

One of the fiercest indigenous tribes in the world, stick fighting and living off the land are the norm for the Suri people who own large herds of cattle, which they graze while travelling through Ethiopia.

A group of Suri men, who have decorated their bodies with clay, stand guard and look out from a gnarled tree

Until they were formally incorporated into Ethiopia in 1897, Suris had been living on the Sudan-Ethiopian border from the early 1800s, and feeding their cattle on pastures in the Sudan.

Suri villages range between 40 and 2,500 people and village discussions are led by elders and the komoru - a ritual chief.

The Suri have some other extremely painful rituals as well, including scarification and dangerous stickfighting.

Scarification is when the skin is lifted with a thorn then sliced with a razor blade, leaving a flap of skin which will eventually scar.

Traditionally the stick fights were a place where young men could prove themselves to the girls and find a wife.

Suri women carry clay pots on their heads, accompanied by their children, through a forest in Ethiopia

No one knows why lip plates were first used. One theory goes that it was meant to discourage slavers from taking the women.

Sarawut was only permitted to visit the tribe if he was allowed to have two guides with him at all times, however he felt nothing but warmth.

'They apply the make-up by mixing coloured clay with water and sometimes applying to the body. The initial objective was to repel various insects,' he added.

'But after doing so often it has become part of their culture and beauty. So sometimes they put flowers on their heads to celebrate various religious events such as housewarmings and weddings.

'Faces are sometimes painted with white clay paint to protect themselves from the sun, which is dotted on the face and body.

'They were exciting to meet. Despite the language barrier, they are friendly to tourists and smiled when they saw themselves in the camera.'
HAMMOND  The U.S. attorney opposes any early prison release for former megachurch pastor Jack Schaap.

An assistant for U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II wrote late last week to a U.S. District Court judge the 62-year-old Jack A. Schaap doesnt deserve a break.

Schaap is serving a 12-year prison term at a federal prison in Ashland, Kentucky, for seducing a student of the First Baptist Church of Hammond's high school in the summer of 2012.

He is not currently eligible for release before August 2022.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Theresa Springmann received a letter from Schaap pleading he be released now to care for his elderly parents in Michigan.

The judge asked the federal prosecutor to let her know whether he supports or objects to the request.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill R. Koster wrote late last week that Schaap is undeserving.

(Schaap) betrayed every facet of trust placed in him by (the victim) and her family. Rather than lead her soul to salvation, he encouraged her to sin.
India to Mandate 50% Staff Cut at Pakistan's Embassy - Ministry of External Affairs

Sputnik News

12:55 GMT 23.06.2020

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) - India wants Pakistan to reduce by half the strength of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi, citing the questionable activities of Pakistani diplomats, the Ministry of External Affairs said Tuesday.

"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 organizations," the ministry said in a press release.

In addition, India believes that Pakistan has "engaged in a sustained campaign to intimidate the officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad."

"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," the ministry said.

Decades-long tensions between India and Pakistan escalated further last August, after New Delhi stripped the Jammu and Kashmir state of its partial autonomy, dividing it into two union territories directly controlled by the Indian government. Pakistan, which has long been claiming the Kashmir region, partially located in the state, condemned the move strongly.

A Sputnik

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A medical worker collects samples from individuals who signed up for "drive-through testing" for the coronavirus at a Penn Medicine site in West Philadelphia in March. Read more

Testing for the coronavirus is seen as a key strategy for preventing a surge in new cases, yet as with so many other aspects of the response to COVID-19, some states are doing a lot, others not.

Pennsylvania falls into the latter category, based on the number of tests performed per capita, according to an analysis by Johns Hopkins University. Through Tuesday, labs in the state had done 5,215 tests per 100,000 people  fewer than all but six states and Puerto Rico.

New Jersey was third-best, at 14,227 tests per 100,000, after Rhode Island and New York, while Delaware was not far behind, at 11th.

If not for Philadelphia, where testing is relatively widespread, Pennsylvanias rate would be even lower  roughly 4,800 tests per 100,000 people, ahead of only Wyoming, Idaho, and Puerto Rico.

But how much is enough? Epidemiologists say the answer is not simple, and that in one key respect  the percent who test positive  Pennsylvanias low level of testing may be adequate.

More on that below, but the topic has been a source of heightened controversy after President Donald Trumps remarks at a campaign rally Saturday in Oklahoma. Without providing evidence, he said the numbers of COVID-19 cases were up in some parts of the United States not due to any real increase in illness but because the country was performing too many tests. Aides later said he was being sarcastic, but he repeated the claim Monday, insisting he was serious and saying the country was doing too good a job of testing.

Public health experts have overwhelmingly pushed back against that notion, arguing that robust testing is an essential tool for preventing a second wave of infection. By identifying who is positive, health officials can urge them to stay home so they do not infect others. Tests also enable health departments to perform contact tracing  identifying the contacts of infected people and urging them to get tested, too.

Widespread testing is not foolproof, as many COVID-19 infections are transmitted by people with no symptoms. But without it, health departments are operating in the dark.

Asked about Pennsylvanias testing rate, Department of Health spokesperson Nate Wardle said that more testing was needed but that capacity has increased sharply since the early days of the pandemic.

Lately, the state has been testing at least 12,000 people a day, more than double the typical daily number in early May.

We know that we need to continue to ramp up our testing capacity, and are working to do that, Wardle said. We have partnered with a number of companies, such as Rite Aid, CVS, Walmart through Quest [Diagnostics], etc. to ensure testing is available to all Pennsylvanians.

The right level of testing depends in part on the percent of people that test positive, said epidemiologist Jennifer Nuzzo, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

If the positivity rate is high, that might mean the people who are getting tested are sicker, on average, and that the state likely is missing lots of milder cases, she said.

People who are infected may not know they have the virus, and they are walking around spreading it, she said.

On the flip side, a low positivity rate is likely a sign that infections are not widespread, and that a lower rate of testing is sufficient, said Nuzzo, an associate professor at the Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

If you dont have that many infections, you dont have to test as much of your population, she said.

The World Health Organization has recommended that in order for a region to reopen, its positivity rate should remain at 5% or lower for 14 days.

Lately, Pennsylvanias statewide positivity rate has met that benchmark, hovering at about 4%.

Nuzzo said that figure seems promising, but she warned against a false sense of security, given that the rate of testing is uneven across the state. Health officials might miss pockets of infection, she said.

And even if a states rate is below 5%, it is important to watch for an increase, she said. A rise in the number of infected people means more chance the virus will be spread to others.

It can foreshadow future cases, she said. Of all the metrics we measure, positivity is possibly one of the earlier indicators that we may be headed in the wrong direction.

Staff writer Rob Tornoe contributed to this article.
Matchbox Twenty has announced new dates for its recently postponed summer tour.

The band was supposed to play the Xfinity Centre in Mansfield, MA on July 25 and end the run at Mohegan Sun Arena on July 26.

The group will now start its summer of 2021 tour at Mohegan Sun on July 16, followed by a stop at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Guilford on July 17, and the Xfinity Centre on July 18. The tour also stops at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Sept. 3.

Originally dubbed the Matchbox Twenty 2020 tour, it is the groups first run since 2017. It coincides with the 20th Anniversary of the bands 2000 album Mad Season, which spawned Top 10 hits If Youre Gone and Bent.

Shop for concert tickets here: StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster.
All five people whose deaths were reported Tuesday by the Rappahannock Area Health District were 70 or older. While Minor, who was 83, fit the age profile of those hardest hit by COVID, he didnt have other characteristics, such as underlying health problems, besides needing to wear a back brace. Friends and family members said he embodied good health and an active lifestyle.

At his age, he could still outlift me; he could still outpace me, Crabtree said. He could take four 80-pound batteries and walk them in a line quicker than I could at age 25. If I ever beat him, hed be mad at himself because he wasnt as strong as he used to be.

Minor joined the Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events department in 1997 after retiring from the military. He had risen through the ranks to chief master sergeant, the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force.

Managing the boathouse at Motts Run was going to be his cushy little part-time job, wrote Wendy Stone, the parks departments assistant director, in a tribute she sent to city staff on Monday.

He quickly became the face and name of Motts, which was often referred to as Mr. Minors lake,  she wrote.
MINSK, BELARUS-About 1,000 protesters denouncing authoritarian Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's seeking of another term in an upcoming election have held the largest opposition demonstration of the year in the capital Minsk.

Many of the demonstrators carried slippers as a symbol of protest leader Sergei Tikhanovsky's call to "smash the cockroach."

Police, who frequently break up opposition demonstrations, didn't interfere with the protesters on Sunday.

The Aug. 9 election will see Lukashenko, who has suppressed opposition and independent news media during a quarter-century in power, run for a sixth term.

Many of the demonstrators wore masks, defying Lukashenko's dismissal of coronavirus concerns as a "psychosis." Belarus has recorded more than 36,000 cases of coronavirus infection, about 75 per cent more than in neighbouring Ukraine whose population is four times larger.
WASHINGTONWith U.S. economy struggling, Canada and other countries risk being collateral damage as President Donald Trump swings wildly to show his supporters that hes trying to spur an economic comeback.

Thats been apparent twice this week, on issues that seem custom-designed to signal to Trumps supporters hes playing his greatest hits: on immigration Monday, with an executive order temporarily suspending certain types of new work visas, and then on trade Tuesday, with reports the U.S. might reimpose tariffs on Canadian aluminum.

The only policies that Trump has been consistent on are supporting higher tariffs and lower immigration. This is something he actually believes, says Alex Conant, a Republican strategist who has worked for Sen. Marco Rubio. Hes less than five months from an election and currently losing. He needs to shore up his base after a couple of really tough weeks.

The ban announced Monday on certain work visas will have a dramatic impact on many skilled workers and executives. In the lead-up to the announcement and immediately following it, thousands of Canadians were concerned about being banned, though some immigration lawyers are now saying they interpret the new order as leaving Canadians essentially unaffected. A request for clarification from U.S. border and immigration authorities went unreturned Wednesday.

Tariffs on aluminum, however, obviously target Canadians directly. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer raised the subject Friday with Canadas ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, and a Bloomberg reported Tuesday that the tariffs could be imposed by July 1, just as the new trade deal to replace NAFTA is due to come into effect.

Although some American aluminum companies are lobbying to reimpose tariffs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce senior vice-president Neil Harrington said their return would be like a bad horror movie and most of the U.S. aluminum sector opposes them, and theyll hurt American manufacturers who use aluminum as an input.

Experts say an apparent surge in Canadian aluminum exports is a byproduct of the coronavirus-related shutdown of auto and other sectors that use aluminum. Smelters cannot easily or safely shut down their production facilities, so theyve changed to making a different, easily warehoused product sold in futures contracts. The resulting spike in exports doesnt meaningfully impact the actual trade picture.

Its the wrong thing, the wrong way, at the wrong time, for the wrong reasons, says Jean Simard of the Aluminum Association of Canada, who notes that tariffs would not only hurt the Canadian industry, but also the U.S. consumers who would ultimately pay them.

Simard and other industry leaders suggest that if the U.S. does impose tariffs, Canada would likely retaliate. But Canadian authorities arent engaging in any sabre-rattling yet. Spokespeople for the Canadian Embassy in Washington and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland sent identical statements, saying We will always defend Canadas aluminum sector and its workers, and, We firmly believe that our aluminum exports do not harm the U.S. market. We are emphasizing this in our ongoing conversations with our American partners.

Some experts I spoke with suggested tariffs may not even come back, despite headlines this week. Lighthizer will report to the White House, and then the president will decide what to do.

In my view, theres still a lot of runway to go before we would see the tariff plane take off here, says trade lawyer Dan Ucjzo of Dickinson Wright, who doesnt sense a strong appetite among the industry or the public for a return to tariffs. These would have a negative impact on an economy that is much more fragile than it was a year ago, with a Congress that would be more willing to take on a president, who is much more fragile than he was.

Flavio Volpe, president of Canadas Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association, agreed, saying its a purely political move that wont pay off. I think its more likely than not that they formally trigger something this week, he says, and then, having triggered it, its more likely than not theyre gonna back off.

Conant says moves like this arent a good sign for the Trump campaign, which needs to broaden its support. If I was advising him, Id say, Look, your base might like the crackdowns on immigration and more tariffs, but thats not working with independent voters  and that is the more urgent concern right now.

Conant says political headwinds might see the issue go away. Hes got a lot of problems in front of him, ranging from the economy, coronavirus, police issues, plus his own political problems  this would be picking another fight that he really doesnt need at this moment.

But that doesnt mean Canadians can relax. Anything is possible with Trump, Conant says, which is all the more reason why Canadians should be concerned when they when they hear these sorts of policy balloons being floated.

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The DUP's Sammy Wilson told the Prime Minister that the Port of Larne in Northern Ireland has been told to prepare to become a border control point.

In the Commons during Prime Minister's Questions, the East Antim MP produced a letter which had been sent to the port's authorities telling them to prepare for border controls and said a piece of land was being considered for vehicles to park.

"The Prime Minister has stated that when we leave the EU at the end of this year Northern Ireland will still remain a full part of the United Kingdom," Mr Wilson said.

"Yet I have in my hand a letter received by the management of the Port of Larne only this week stating that they have to prepare to become a border control post and fourteen acres has been looked at for car parking or for lorry parking and for construction."

He added: "Can the Prime Minister explain how Northern Ireland can remain a full part of the United Kingdom if people coming from the rest of the UK into Northern Ireland have to pass through a border control post and would he advise the management to tear this letter up as well?"

Boris Johnson said he had not seen the letter.

"But I can tell him absolutely, categorically that there will be no new customs infrastructure," the Prime Minister said, "for the very simple reason that under the protocol it is absolutely clear in black and white that Northern Ireland is part of the customs territory of the whole of the United Kingdom and will be joining the whole of the United Kingdom in our new independent trade policy and doing free trade deals around the world."

Earlier during Northern Ireland questions DUP Westminster leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson asked if the Government was seeking a waiver from the EU to prevent the need for customs declarations on goods shipped between GB and NI and how advanced any discussions were.

Brandon Lewis replied: "We do continue to take forward discussions on the implementation of the Protocol... Provisions must include the minimum-possible bureaucratic consequences for businesses and traders and we will respect what we have promised, which is unfettered access."

He added: "There should be no tariffs in internal UK trade because the UK is a single customs territory."

Tory chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee Simon Hoare said: "(He) knows that NI business wants to prepare to make Brexit a success, the problem is that they don't quite know what they are preparing for... Is he persuaded of the merits of providing stepping stones between now and December 31 so that business knows what to prepare for and in what time frame?"

Mr Lewis said: "We will set out further details to help businesses prepare for the end of the transition period at the earliest appropriate moment.. further guidance will be published this summer to make sure that people and businesses know what they need to do to prepare for the end of the transition period which will be at the end of December this year."
President Donald Trumps response to the coronavirus pandemic and handling of nationwide protests over generations of racial injustice have undercut his support among voters, according to a new poll from The New York Times and Sienna College that shows former Vice President Joe Biden with a 14-point lead.

Fifty-percent of respondents backed Biden, the likely Democratic nominee, for president; 36% support Trump. More than 1,300 registered voters were polled, with The Times reporting that Trumps responses to the key crises of his presidency have produced crucial defections among women, older people and white voters.

Almost three-fifths of voters disapproved of Trumps response to the pandemic, including majorities of white voters and men.

Sixty-one percent, meanwhile, were not in favor of Trumps handling of race relations; 33% said they approved. Voters disapproved in similar numbers to the presidents response to protests after the killing of George Floyd in police custody, the poll found.

Trump has come under fire from activists, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, and even former aides and military leaders, for threatening to use U.S. military forces against demonstrators and for clearing a protest near the White House to pave the way for a presidential photo op.

According to the poll, American voters largely reject the notion that they must choose between protesters and what the presidents often described as law and order. Large majorities said they supported both the Black Lives Matter movement and police, the poll found. The findings on race are aligned with a recent Suffolk University poll released by WGBH, MassLive, The Boston Globe and State House News Service that showed 85% support for the Black Lives Matter movement and 80% saying Floyds death was a sign of broad problems, not an isolated incident.

The Times poll comes a week after a Fox News survey showed Biden with a 12-point lead.

The Times reported an exodus of white voters from the Republican Party, particularly among younger voters.

Fifty-two percent of whites under 45 back Biden; only 30% support Trump.

Trump has also lost ground with white seniors, previously one of his strongest constituencies, the poll found. About two-fifths of white voters over 65 disapproved of Trumps handling of race relations and the pandemic.

The president maintains strength on economic issues, with 50% of voters approving and 45% disapproving of his handling of the economy.

Biden, meanwhile, is seen favorably by about half of voters and unfavorably by 42%. About a quarter viewed Biden very favorably, and the same amount have a very negative view of him, the poll found.

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During his rally on Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, President Donald Trump made a shocking remark about the coronavirus: he claimed that he had told his administration to "slow the testing down," in order to decrease the number of reported cases in the US.

Afterward, Trump's advisers quickly jumped to his defense, dismissing his comments as "tongue-in-cheek" and insisting the President had been joking. In an interview that aired Monday, given the chance to say himself whether he was being serious, Trump dissembled, telling CBN News his comment was "semi-tongue in cheek."

Then on Tuesday morning, speaking to reporters before boarding Marine One, Trump completely contradicted his advisers and flat-out denied his comments were a joke. "I don't kid," Trump said. "By having more tests we have more l cases. We've done 25 million. Therefore we have more cases."

The incident is a prime example of a phenomenon that has been a hallmark of Trump's presidency time and again, he will say something so false or outrageous, aides and allies will try to explain it away by claiming he was joking, only to have Trump undercut their efforts by suggesting he was serious.

Other times, Trump himself will play the "just joking" card after saying something controversial.

Since the start of his presidential campaign, Trump himself has claimed at least 50 times to have been joking or using sarcasm, according to Factba.se, a website which tracks every word uttered or tweeted by Trump and other politicians.

Sometimes it's obvious when Trump is being sarcastic, like when he tweeted about Rep. Justin Amash considering a run for president. But often it's not, and the 'just kidding' explanation comes after the fact.

Examples of the President's so-called jokes and sarcasm run the gamut, from suggesting people inject themselves with disinfectant, to asking Russia to find Hilary Clinton's emails. But the punchline is almost always the same  Trump only lets the public in on the joke later, usually after some embarrassing comment has garnered unwanted attention.

He was kidding, of course. Wasn't it obvious?

Although the tactics and circumstances differ, Trump's use of the "joking" and "sarcasm" cards is merely an extension of his habit of making misleading statements, sowing confusion and pushing false claims. And it puts the public in a tough position of having to gauge the President's intent behind certain statements.

Here are some recent examples, beginning with a closer examination of Trump's comments about testing.

Coronavirus testing

Following the rally, an administration official told CNN the President was "obviously kidding" about ordering a coronavirus testing slowdown. Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany insisted Trump's comments were "in jest."

However, not only has the President made similar claims before suggesting more testing isn't necessary, he took to Twitter after the rally to clarify his belief that it only looks like US has more coronavirus cases than other countries because "our Coronavirus testing is so much greater (25 million tests) and so much more advanced."

Two days after the rally, when asked to clarify his comments about testing, the President didn't say he had been joking and instead doubled down on the idea that the US has such high numbers of coronavirus cases "because we do more testing than any other country by far," which is in and of itself debatable given the lack of reliable, available data from some other countries.

In an interview, the President admitted he told his administration fewer coronavirus tests would make the United States look better, undercutting McEnany's insistence his comments were "in jest." On Tuesday morning, Trump did it again, tweeting, "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!" While higher case numbers can sometimes be attributed to better testing, experts say recent surges are outpacing the increase in tests.

Coronavirus and bleach

The President has a tendency to go off-script, which can sometimes come back to bite him. That's essentially what happened on April 23, when he suggested during a coronavirus briefing that "tremendous" amounts of ultra-violet light or disinfectant could somehow be a potential cure for the virus.

The comments prompted manufacturers to issue warnings cautioning people against drinking bleach and other disinfectants. Poison control centers across the country reported a spike in calls.

When asked about the incident the next day, Trump tried to correct the record, claiming he had made the comments sarcastically. His explanation itself was filled with falsehoods and other attempts to reframe his remarks. It was a classic example of Trump saying something confusing and potentially dangerous off-the-cuff, then playing it off as sarcasm when given the chance to explain what he was attempting to say in the first place.

The border wall in Colorado

In October 2019, when Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and others expressed confusion at the President's announcement that the US was apparently building a wall in Colorado as part of its border-protection efforts, Trump played it off as if he'd been joking. He tweeted that he'd been kidding and that his comments actually referred to the people of Colorado benefiting from the border wall being built elsewhere.

Ukraine and China investigating the Bidens

Trump told reporters in early October 2019 that he thought both Ukraine and China should investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. With these comments coming barely a week after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry into the President, prominent Republican lawmakers jumped to his defense. House minority leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Jim Jordan and Sen. Marco Rubio all promoted the narrative that Trump's comments were not meant to be taken literally. But when the President was asked outright whether he'd been joking, he refused to confirm that narrative, responding instead that any such investigation would be "up to China."

A free Rolls-Royce

At a 2018 campaign rally in Arizona, Trump joked about Democrats wanting to give undocumented immigrants a free Rolls-Royce. At a rally the next day in Nevada, Trump matter-of-factly claimed Democrats want to give undocumented immigrants cars and drivers licenses. But when media outlets fact-checked Trump's statements about Democrats, immigrants, and cars, he lambasted them in subsequent rallies for not being able to take a joke.

Rep. Gianforte

At a rally in October 2018, the President praised Montana Republican Rep. Greg Gianforte who had assaulted a reporter while campaigning the year before. Trump said "there's nothing to be embarrassed about," and added that "any guy who can do a body slam ... he's my guy." The next day, House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise defended the President's comments as "clearly a joke," saying that Trump was just "ribbing" Gianforte. However, hours later when Trump was asked whether he regretted his comments about Gianforte, he said "not at all" and went on to call Gianforte "a great guy."

China's trade practices

Trump's refusal to accept others' interpretation of his intentions goes back to his first year in office. In November 2017, the President praised China's trade practices, the very tactics he had previously criticized as unfair. Speaking to business leaders in Beijing, Trump said "I don't blame China" for taking advantage of the US, placing the blame for the growing trade deficit on past US administrations instead. Later, then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters the President's comments were "tongue-in-cheek," only to be contradicted shortly after by a tweet from the President reiterating publicly the stance he'd voiced earlier that day.

'Russia, if you're listening'

Most notably, the President has tried to rewrite history by claiming on multiple occasions since he was elected that he was joking when he made his infamous "Russia, if you're listening" request during the 2016 presidential campaign. CNN has fact-checked this alternative narrative several times before and the facts clearly show that when Trump made his plea for help obtaining deleted Hillary Clinton emails neither he nor the assembled audience were laughing. clashes with the Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan Valley last week.

"Today in protest against People's Republic of China's aggression on LAC, Hindu Sena activists pasted protest poster stating 'Cheen Gaddar Hai, Hindi Cheeni Bye Bye' (China is a traitor, India China Bye bye) on Chinese embassy's signboard, Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta said.

The police, however, said no formal complaint has been received in this regard.

"Someone pasted a piece of black paper on the board. CCTV cameras installed in the area are being scanned to identify the culprit. No action has been taken yet in this matter," a police official said.

There was no immediate response from the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) which maintains the signages in the area.

This is not the first time the right-wing outfit has blackened the road signs in the national capital.

In May 2015, signboards of roads named after Muslim rulers Akbar and Feroz Shah were defaced, and posters of the right-wing group Shiv Sena Hindustan were pasted on them.

Last year, the Babar Road signboard in Bengali Market area in Delhi was blackened by Hindu Sena workers demanding that the name of the road be changed.
A fundraising campaign to help pay for the funeral of a Co Down teenager killed in a crash this week has raised more than 9,500.

Samuel McCullough (18) from Crossgar was a passenger in a two vehicle crash on the Coily Hill Road area of Killyleagh in the early hours of Monday morning.

Six other young people were injured and taken to hospital, two of which were treated and discharged from Ulster Hospital.

There was no further update yesterday on three others who were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital and one to the Children's Hospital in Belfast.

Friends and family had gathered in Crossgar on Monday evening to release balloons in tribute to Mr McCullough and a total of 9,553 has now been raised in a fundraiser started by family friend Marian McMullan.

St Colmcille's High School in Crossgar have since issued a statement on Facebook after staff shared their memories of their former pupil.

"Many recalled how incredibly popular Samuel was with his peers, his bubbly personality and his kindness and thoughtfulness shown for others, which often shone through brightly," the tribute read.

"Our heartfelt condolences and support are extended to his mum Pamela, his twin sister and past pupil Catherine, and his entire family circle, many of whom are past pupils too.

"We will continue to fully support those close relatives and friends of Samuel presently in our school."

Many friends added their own tributes on the school page.

One described him as having "a heart of absolute gold" and another said "words can't describe the feeling I have about you not being here anymore, you had such an impact on my life. Look after your friends and your family kid".

Police have urged anyone who saw either car involved in the collision, a Peugeot 207 and a Volkswagen Polo, to dial 101 quoting reference 12 for June 22.
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.

The 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 that 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 a feasibility study on the Western Rail Line.

He encouraged TransTech to work closely with the Ghana Railways Development Authority.

---PeacefmOnline


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The Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) has secured two more COVID-19 Isolation Centres in Ho, in a swift response to the recent upsurge of cases in the region.



One of the new centres has a bed-capacity of 30 while the other has 40.



Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the VRCC are set to acquire another estate in the municipality for use as an isolation centre, with a bed capacity of about 60.



As of last Friday, the region recorded 309 COVID-19 cases, with only 95 beds available at the five treatment centres -Ho, Aflao, Hohoe, Adidome and Battor.



The treatment centre at Ho has a bed capacity of 45 while the rest of the centres have 10 each.



Dr Kwesi Djokoto, Deputy Director of Health (DDH) in-charge of Public Health in the region, who disclosed these to the Ghanaian Times in Ho last Saturday said the new isolation centres would take in only asymptomatic patients.



Dr Djokoto hinted that if the cases continued to soar, then some main wards in the district hospitals would be converted exclusively into COVID-19 wards, but we have not reached there yet and we hope not to reach there, he added.



The DDH said that the protocol for discharging COVID-19 patients had been reviewed to a new procedure in which patients with no possible evidence of infecting others would be sent home, after two weeks of isolation.



In that regard, Dr Djokoto said, 210 COVID-19 patients in the region were expected to be discharged this week.



When contacted, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, said that the current COVID-19 figures were no cause for panic, saying once we all maintain a firm stance to strictly adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols, the trend will begin to curb sooner than later.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Karnataka on Wednesday registered 397 new Covid-19 cases taking its tally to 10,118 cases which includes164 deaths and 6,151 discharges, the government said.

The state capital Bengaluru has 1,170 of the 3,799 active cases in the state.

Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases, home minister Basvaraj Bommai said that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will discuss with experts and take a call shortly on whether a city or statewide lockdown should again be imposed to contain the spread of the disease.

The CM is discussing both with senior administration officials and medical experts on whether and when a lockdown needs to be imposed. But we will have to consider the economic costs of such a move too, Bommai said.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage.

On Tuesday JD (S) leader and former CM H D Kumaraswamy had demanded that the government impose a 20-day lockdown across the state to prevent the rapid spread of the virus.

On Wednesday, Kumaraswamy took to Twitter and directly appealed to the people of the state to impose a self-declared curfew and stay at home asserting that the economy was not more important than life.

Accusing the state government of complete failure in preventing the spread of the virus as well as treating those infected, he said that the medical services were fully stretched to treat even the 3,000-4,000 active cases and claimed that there was a shortage of hospital beds and ventilators.

He said that even after the government capped prices of treatment at private hospitals it was unaffordable for the vast majority of the population.

Meanwhile, health and family welfare minister B Sriramulu said workers, traders and people across 15 different categories need to be tested to check whether community transmission has set in.
Stephen Colbert went to bat with President Trump's former national security advisor, John Bolton, on "The Late Show" Tuesday. (Scott Kowalchyk / Associated Press)

John Bolton, President Trump's former national security advisor, virtually stopped by "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" this week, presumably to promote his buzzy new book, "The Room Where It Happened." But Colbert had other ideas.

During a tense conversation about politics and morals, Colbert challenged Bolton on his early support of Trump and the president's dealings with other divisive world leaders. And, of course, he brought up Bolton's controversial decision to withhold his scathing allegations against Trump until the publication of his memoir  months after Trump's impeachment trial.

"You didn't have to go into government, and you didn't have to go into the Trump administration," Colbert said Tuesday night. "You had to know that that was a whirlpool of chaos in there. ... Why did you go in knowing how chaotic it was? Did you think that chaos was a ladder that you could climb and do the right thing?"

"I certainly heard all the stories, but I had also spoken with Trump, before he was elected, after he took office, and it was my belief that this could be overcome," Bolton replied. "I entered aware of the problems but optimistic that they could be overcome, and the book is a story, perhaps, about how I was wrong about that."

In "The Room Where It Happened," a first-person account of Bolton's 16-month stint in the White House, Bolton bears witness to a number of alleged transgressions, including Trump asking Chinese leader Xi Jinping to help him get reelected by buying more American soybeans and wheat.

Bolton says he couldn't, "in good conscience," vote for Trump again after what he's seen, despite previously doubting that Trump's White House was "that bad." But that wasn't enough for Colbert, who argued "the shocking revelations" in Bolton's book "really shouldn't be shocking."

Story continues

"How did you not know beforehand that he was just callow?" Colbert pressed. "You're an international negotiator. How could you be naive? You've dealt with the worst people in the world."

"You've really insulted me now by calling me naive," Bolton said. "Look, I thought it was possible to work with somebody. I thought, surely they would want to learn about the complexities of arms control negotiations and that sort of thing. ... that turned out not to be true."

Bolton's "The Room Where It Happened" is available as of Tuesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 23:44:39|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's central bank (CBK) on Wednesday extended free mobile money transactions below 1,000 shillings (about 9.5 U.S. dollars) to help promote cashless transactions amid COVID-19 pandemic.

CBK noted a significant increase in the use of mobile money channels by individuals in both value and number of transactions since its announcement of measures to facilitate increased use of mobile money transactions instead of cash in March.

"Most of the increase was in low-value transactions of 1,000 shillings or less. This band accounts for over 80 percent of mobile money transactions and charges were eliminated, which has helped cushion the most vulnerable households," the apex bank said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

The transaction fee waiver which was agreed by mobile phone firms and other companies in March was aimed at cutting down on the handling of cash and the attendant risk of COVID-19 being transmitted from person to person through cash handling.

According to CBK, more than 1.6 million additional customers are now using mobile money channels. However, business-related transactions have declined marginally, it said.

The banking industry regulator noted that the measures were timely and highly effective in facilitating official and personal transfers at a time of great need.

"CBK assesses that the increased wallet and transaction limits that were also announced have led to increased usage at higher amounts and greater convenience," it said.

The CBK retained the reviewed tariff of mobile-money transactions above 660 dollars, noting that the reserve bank has retained the waiver on fees charged by payment service providers (PSPs) and commercial banks for transfers between mobile money wallets and bank accounts.

The apex bank agreed to the waiver of the fees with mobile-money operators on March 16, as the sector vowed to support mitigation measures to contain the virus.

According to mobile operators, the measures introduced by the CBK have however impacted on revenue earned with Safaricom for instance reporting a loss of an estimated 52 million U.S. dollars in mobile money transfers in three months to June 30.

Meanwhile, the country's COVID-19 cases passed 5,000 mark on Wednesday to 5,206 after 254 more patients tested positive from a sample size of 4,859 carried out in the last 24 hours. Enditem
Peter Eavis

The coronavirus recession is pushing many companies into bankruptcy, a painful process that has led to layoffs, wiped out some investors and hurt the economy.

But the chief executives of some of these businesses are doing just fine.

Companies that are struggling to pay creditors and suppliers are managing to find millions of dollars to pay bonuses to their bosses. The payments, which are made just before a bankruptcy filing, appear to be legal and have been made by several companies.

J.C. Penney, which is closing 154 stores, paid its chief executive, Jill Soltau, $4.5 million. The chief executive of Whiting Petroleum, which sought bankruptcy protection in April, received $6.4 million, and Chesapeake Energy is paying bonuses ahead of an expected bankruptcy filing. Executives at Hertz also got payments before the rental-car giant sought bankruptcy protection.

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

Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here

Companies have said the payments are meant to help them retain qualified executives through the recession and bankruptcy.

But critics counter that the money would be better spent on rank-and-file employees. It makes me angry because they are not taking care of the people who are actually making the money, said Liz Marin, who worked at Toys R Us when it filed for bankruptcy and is now an organizer in training at United for Respect, a nonprofit organization that seeks to help retail workers. Toys R Us paid bonuses to executives before its bankruptcy.

Hold on, why are these CEOs still employed?

Chief executives who lead companies into bankruptcy are at risk of losing their jobs. Geisha Williams left the Pacific Gas & Electric Co., the giant California utility, in January 2019, just before the company filed for bankruptcy protection, for example.

But other corporate boards, which hire the chief executive and set compensation for senior officers, seem to be showing more grace toward the boss. In many cases, the executives could do little to prevent the crushing fall off in business that occurred when the pandemic and lockdowns stopped people going into stores, eating out and taking trips. The drop in the oil price earlier this year was unusually large, walloping many energy companies, though some, like Chesapeake, were already burdened with large debts.

Cant a bankruptcy judge prevent companies from handing out big bonuses?

Certain outlays that a company makes just before bankruptcy  for instance, payments to suppliers  are at risk of being clawed back. But the bonus payments typically dont fall into that category, legal scholars say.

Typically, a company in bankruptcy court has to get a judges approval before doing just about anything of importance, especially spending millions of dollars. If a chief executive gets a new compensation package during bankruptcy, a judge would have to decide whether the compensation is justified after hearing from creditors, shareholders and other groups. But this can be a drawn out and expensive process  a big reason companies pay bonuses before bankruptcy.

Why are the CEOs getting cash?

In normal times, a large portion of executive compensation is paid out in stock-based awards that top officers earn over time. But the stock of a bankrupt company is most likely going to be wiped out or be worth little once a company resolves its bankruptcy or, in extreme cases, sells off its assets and goes out of business.

As a result, boards have quickly changed how top officers get paid, giving them cash bonuses instead of stock-based awards. But paying cash upfront can be a windfall for chief executives at a time when the livelihood of employees are under threat.

The companies are creating certainty for their CEOs at a time of the greatest uncertainty for the employee base and the company in general, said Brett Miller, head of data solutions for the responsible-investment arm of Institutional Shareholder Services, which advises investors on corporate governance issues.

How big are these bonuses compared to what executives earned before?

Some companies point out that their cash bonuses are smaller than the incentive-linked compensation previously awarded to executives. Chesapeake said in a filing that its chief executive, Robert D. Lawler, was eligible for a cash bonus 34% smaller than the $13.5 million at which his 2019 variable compensation was valued. Soltau of J.C. Penney got a $4.5 million cash bonus before the retailer declared bankruptcy, much lower than the $8.2 million at which her 2019 incentive-based awards were initially valued.

But some stock awards had slumped in value, as share prices of troubled companies plummeted, even before the pandemic took hold. Put another way, the cash bonuses may have enabled the executives to recover pay that they had most likely already lost, possibly for good.

Some companies dont even try to argue that executive pay was cut. At $6.4 million, the cash bonus paid to Whiting Petroleums chief executive, Bradley J. Holly, is larger than the $5.5 million at which the company valued his total compensation for 2019.

And of course the bonuses are far higher than what regular employees earn. Soltaus was many times the $11,482 the retailers median employee, a part-time worker, earned during J.C. Penneys 2019 fiscal year, according to a securities filing.

Are troubled companies linking bonuses to goals in any way?

The cash bonuses have also led to the concealing, loosening and removal of the tools companies normally use to tie pay to performance, which many critics contend were already too weak. Companies still operate when seeking protection under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code. And, in theory, boards could require chief executives to hit sales targets or achieve other goals.

And in some cases, a few strings remain. Soltau has to repay a fifth of her cash bonus if she fails to achieve certain performance goals, and Lawler has to repay half of his. But J.C. Penney and Chesapeake did not disclose the goals in their securities filings and declined to answer questions about them.

Hertz and Whiting, the oil and gas company, did not tie cash bonuses to performance goals at all. Whiting and Holly didnt respond to requests from comment, but the company said in a securities filing that the new bonuses eliminate any potential misalignment of interests that would likely arise if existing performance metrics were retained and/or new performance metrics were established at a volatile and uncertain time.

Could lawmakers do anything about these bonuses?

This is not the first time that executive pay at troubled companies has prompted an outcry. Congress passed a law in 2005 aimed at curbing retention bonuses paid during bankruptcy. Under the law, companies are allowed to pay incentive-based bonuses, but the legal cost of constructing such payments and getting them approved in bankruptcy court soared after 2005, according to research by Jared Ellias, a professor at the University of Californias Hastings College of the Law.

Of course, Congress could change bankruptcy law so that compensation payments made before the filing could be clawed back, Ellias said. In addition, lawmakers could make it easier for creditors to pursue claims against executives after the bankruptcy. This doesnt feel right, he said of the recent large bonuses, and it doesnt instill public confidence in the bankruptcy system.

c.2020 The New York Times Company
[music]

michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Today: In major cities across the U.S., gun violence is surging just as activists are calling to defund the police. My colleague, Ashley Southall, on how that is playing out in New York City. Its Monday, August 24. Ashley, what has been the story of crime in New York City up until this moment?

ashley southall

So around the 70s and 80s, we saw crime start to really rise in New York. And we went through the drug war, the crack epidemic. And in the 90s, we saw crime sort of peak all across the United States, but especially in New York. And there were thousands of murders each year and even more shootings. But as the 90s wore on, and into the 2000s 

archived recording The crime rate in this country is continuing to fall. The F.B.I. reported today that violent crime fell 5.5 percent last year. Thats three years in a row now.

ashley southall

 we saw crime decline. And there was a strong decline for years, to the point where we were having just hundreds of murders a year.

archived recording 1 The N.Y.P.D. says there have been 289 murders this year. Thats down from a peak of more than 2,200 in 1990. archived recording 2 Crime in New York City dropping yet again, this time to levels not seen since Harry Truman was president. archived recording 3 Police admit its probably the worst kept secret in the city, that New York is now the safest big city in America.

ashley southall

And the question was when was New York going to reach bottom?

archived recording 1 Breaking news on this Sunday night. archived recording 2 Crime is up across the city. Thats according to the latest numbers released by the N.Y.P.D. this  archived recording 3 The N.Y.P.D. now having to adapt to a noticeable rise in crime since the beginning of the year.

ashley southall

At the beginning of the year, we started to see crime rise over several categories. Then in June, we see it really take off.

archived recording 1 It has been a violent weekend in New York City. archived recording 2 The N.Y.P.D. investigating a spree of shootings on this first official weekend of summer. archived recording 3 More than a dozen people were shot between Friday night and Saturday morning.

ashley southall

And in July, the trend seems to just accelerate.

archived recording 1 Nine victims fatally shot tonight across four boroughs. archived recording 2 Deadly shootings started just before 1:00 this morning in Brooklyn and continued throughout the day in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island.

ashley southall

So that by the end of the month, wed had more shootings this year than all of last year.

[sirens blaring]

And we still have five months to go.

michael barbaro

Mhm. I guess we should acknowledge, Ashley, that there is a siren behind you, which has nothing to do with this conversation. Its just what it means to live in New York.

ashley southall

Yeah. Im five blocks from a hospital. So its part of the soundtrack of my everyday life.

michael barbaro

So at this point, there are meaningfully more shootings and meaningfully more murders. So Ashley, how should we think about the causes of this? What exactly is going on here? I think for a lot of people, the instinct might be to think that this is somehow related to this moment in American policing  this forceful rejection of how policing has occurred, the protests against it and the response of police to those protests.

ashley southall

I mean, sure, its easy to think that because its right in front of us. It almost seems obvious. But its really much more complex. And there are really three big theories about whats happening. The one that has the most consensus around it is that the pandemic is exacerbating longstanding problems of gun violence and particularly unemployment. There are a lot of people with no jobs and nothing to do. And people are sinking deeper into poverty, which creates a greater desperation. And theres also a lot of illegal guns in New York City. And thats a really combustible situation.

michael barbaro

Well, what do you mean? How does that work?

ashley southall

What weve long known in New York City is that a small number of people are responsible for the vast majority of the violence. And those are people who are largely in gangs and crews, particularly in public housing. And those groups compete in normal times. Some gangs sell drugs. And they have turf that they cover. But when you have a pandemic hit that causes lots of unemployment, theres less people buying drugs. And so theres less of a market. And when you have less of a market, that increases the competition. So then you have these violent gangs fighting more fiercely for less of a pie.

michael barbaro

OK. So under this theory that the pandemic is exacerbating existing problems in the city, that explains the pandemics effect on the people doing the shooting. What about the effect the pandemic had on the police?

ashley southall

Immediately what we saw was officers being removed from duty because of the virus. We had thousands of officers calling out sick every day. And at the height of the pandemic, almost 20 percent of the force was out sick because of the virus.

michael barbaro

Wow.

ashley southall

And that had two effects. On-the-street officers, their presence is a deterrent to violence. Youre probably not going to shoot somebody with a officer standing right there watching you.

michael barbaro

Right.

ashley southall

But if theres no officer, theres no real deterrent. And then, after a shooting occurs, theres an investigation. In the police department, detectives work in these squad rooms where theyre very close together. Theyre practically breathing on top of each other. So if one of them gets sick, then theres a chance that everybodys sick. So they all go out sick, and investigations come to a halt. Well, thats a problem. Because one shooting often leads to another shooting, whether that person continues shooting rivals, or whether someone is now looking for him. And its almost always a him. So when you have cases that cant be investigated, that means that the ones that can be solved arent being solved and that that pattern of violence continues uninterrupted.

michael barbaro

All right. Thats the first theory, that the pandemic is both fueling more shootings and sidelining the officers who could potentially prevent those shootings. Ashley, what is the second theory of why crime is going up in New York?

ashley southall

Well, you touched on this earlier. We had massive protests break out in May after the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, just as police were coming back from the virus. That required resources. We saw in those early days, the police deployed about 4,000 officers to the protest. But there was rampant looting in some parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn. And they had to double the force to about 8,000 police officers. So that meant that officers have to come from somewhere. And they typically come from the streets. And some of them come from detective squads. So that means that fewer police resources are involved in investigating shootings. And there are less officers in the neighborhoods where shootings are more likely to occur.

michael barbaro

And how do the protests themselves play into this theory?

ashley southall

Amid these protests, you start to see a political response to the demands to reform the police.

archived recording (dermot f. shea) Within the last hour, I just chaired a meeting of senior executives of the police department.

ashley southall

And one of those changes was to disband the anti-crime units.

archived recording (dermot f. shea) It is regarding the deployment of precinct level and P.S.A. level anti-crime units. These are the plainclothes units that operate our traditional anti-crime.

michael barbaro

And explain what an anti-crime unit is.

ashley southall

Anti-crime officers are the main group responsible for getting guns off the street in New York City. And they confiscated thousands of guns each year.

archived recording (dermot f. shea) The men and women of the police department were doing what I and others before me asked. They have done an exceptional job.

ashley southall

But they were controversial. And they became known as the jump out boys. Because what they would do sometimes is stop in their cars, get out and throw somebody up against the wall, search them, and leave without any explanation or finding any weapons. And it had led to a lot of tension between police and communities of color.

archived recording (dermot f. shea) And it is lost on no one, certainly not the people that live in the neighborhoods that we serve, that endure being stopped, or their children being stopped.

ashley southall

But what was also problematic about anti-crime is that they were involved in a lot of police-involved shootings.

michael barbaro

And why exactly is that?

ashley southall

Because anti-crime officers are trained to look for guns. Theyre looking for violent people. And so in expecting violence, they are prepared to use it. And the calculation was that New York City could not afford to have a police-involved shooting at that time. So the commissioner had been thinking about this, about disbanding anti-crime for a long time.

archived recording (dermot f. shea) Effective immediately, we will be transitioning those units, roughly 600 people citywide, into a variety of assignments, including detective bureau, neighborhood policing and other assignments.

ashley southall

And finally, he made the decision in June to pull the plug.

archived recording (dermot f. shea) Its a big move when you look at, culturally, how we police this city. And what we always struggle with, I believe, as police executives, is not keeping crime down. Its keeping crime down and keeping the community working with us. And I think those two things at times have been at odds. We can do it better. We can do it smarter. And we will.

michael barbaro

Is there a feeling, Ashley, that disbanding this unit, at a time when gun violence is going up, has contributed to the increase in shootings and in murders?

ashley southall

Theres certainly a sense that removing anti-crime officers from the street and publicly announcing that has let people who carry guns and who are also involved in violence know that theres no one there to stop them. And one of the things that weve seen as shootings and murders have risen, is that gun arrests have declined. And since the anti-crime unit was disbanded, shootings have only continued to go up.

michael barbaro

And under this second theory, thats centered around the rule of these protests in the rise of crime, what role does the actual frustration at the heart of these protests play here  the mistrust on the side of the protesters toward the police?

ashley southall

Well, theres always been a level of mistrust of police in communities that experience higher levels of crime. Because they have experienced aggressive policing in the past. But what happens when you have a death like George Floyd thats captured on video, where hes saying the last words of Eric Garner, who died here six years ago, is that those old wounds are scratched again and they reopen. And that mistrust for a while is laid bare again. You know, that can manifest as people not calling the police or not seeking them out to help with the problem. And one of the things that the police have said is that they had people who were cooperating with shooting and murder investigations before the protests who have now backed out. Because they dont want to have anything to do with the police. And that makes it harder to solve crimes that might lead to future ones, like shootings.

michael barbaro

And what about the police side of this equation, this message of the protests? How are officers in New York City, from your reporting, internalizing this message and reacting to it, and perhaps changing their behavior and their approach in response in ways that might be fueling all of this?

ashley southall

So when you talk to the cops, or even if you listen to the things that top brass say, what cops take from the protests and the political response is that their work isnt valuable. And nobody supports them. That the city doesnt have their backs. And so what were seeing is that, in moments where police might have been proactive in making an arrest or in intervening in a situation that could spiral into violence, theyre actually standing down. One of the examples that people often give to me is that there are these barbecues and street parties that go late into the night. Usually the police would break them up. But instead, theyre going on well past midnight to 2:00, 4:00, sometimes even 6:00 a.m. And the police arent doing anything about it. And what weve seen in some instances is that those parties often lead to a shooting. And one or more people get hurt or are killed.

michael barbaro

And the cops youre talking to are telling you, yeah, were hesitant to engage with these kinds of situations right now.

ashley southall

Yeah. I mean, think about it from the perspective of the cop on the street who, hes thinking, you know, well, the public doesnt want me here. And if I step into a situation where I think someone might have a gun or this thing could get out of control, then I could be arrested. And then thats the end of my career, and I cant support my family. Thats a very scary thing for cops.

michael barbaro

But Im curious, Ashley, if in your reporting you get the sense that, on some level, this may be police saying to the protesters, OK, so youre so disgusted by us, and you are making all these demands for budget cuts to fund the police. Do you want to know what the world would look like if you get your vision implemented? Well, here, well give you a taste of it. We will not go in and break up the barbecue. We will not make the arrest. In other words, is there some form of kind of protest going on by the police of the work that they typically do in order to say to the public, this is what it would be like if you get what protesters out on the streets are demanding?

ashley southall

It certainly seems that in some way the cops are responding in a way that almost seems flippant. You want to abolish the police? You want to defund the police? Well, this is what it looks like when you dont have the police. And there is a prevailing sense that cops are stepping back to prove that they are, in fact, necessary.

michael barbaro

Ashley, it doesnt seem like theres a ton of debate around these two theories that you have laid out here  the role of the pandemic and the role of the protests against police. Do I have that right?

ashley southall

Yeah. Theres a lot of agreement on the role of the pandemic and also the effect of the protests. But the third theory is where theres a lot of debate. And its heated.

michael barbaro

Well be right back. OK. So Ashley, tell me about this third theory about why crime in New York City is rising, and why is that theory such a source of disagreement.

ashley southall

So the third theory is one advanced almost exclusively by the New York Police Department itself. And that theory is that a couple of measures taken by both the city and the state over the last few years  first with criminal justice reform and then through some of the steps theyve taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus  that those measures are contributing to putting people back out onto the street who have not just engaged in criminal activity, but who are also violent.

michael barbaro

I wonder if you can break those two things down. Maybe start with the criminal justice reforms. Whats the theory there?

ashley southall

So last year, the New York state legislature passed a bail law 

archived recording (andrew cuomo) The old system was too reliant on cash.

ashley southall

 that allowed more people to get out of jail while their cases were winding through the courts.

archived recording (andrew cuomo) The old system was if you were rich and you could pay bail, youd get out. If you were poor and you couldnt pay bail, you went to jail.

ashley southall

And in most cases, people who are assigned bail do make bail. But it takes some time. And being in jail for a day, two days, a week, a month, can have serious consequences for peoples lives. They lose their job. They lose their housing. And they might even lose custody of their kids.

michael barbaro

Right.

ashley southall

And thats all before the case is resolved. So the bail law was intended to fix this problem that was largely affecting poor people in communities of color.

archived recording (andrew cuomo) It was never supposed to be about money. The whole justice system was not supposed to be about whos rich, whos poor.

ashley southall

But what the theory is now, at least from the police department, is that that law put more people onto the streets who were not only criminal, but are also violent. The police commissioner, Dermot Shea, hes gone after this bail law ever since he became commissioner and predicted that it would cause a rise in crime.

archived recording (dermot f. shea) When you have individuals that are standing before a judge and immediately being released, and essentially everyone in the room knows that this person is a danger to the community, I think we need to look at the system and make sure that judges can make common sense decisions.

michael barbaro

So because that law was passed last year and is being implemented now, the theory here is that a criminal justice reform with a good intention, right, of not making people buy their freedom before their charges even get processed by the court, may result in more people who might be violent, who might do something like get involved in a shooting, being out of prison and on the street.

ashley southall

Thats exactly right. And the second part of this theory is that the measures undertaken to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the citys jails and in the state prison system have also put more violent people onto the streets.

archived recording (bill de blasio) Well everyone, I want to talk about what we all will be doing and will need to do to make these adjustments and to deal with our new reality. Were seeing milestones in the growth of this disease that are just absolutely staggering. Things we could not have imagined.

ashley southall

So as the coronavirus was spreading, the city started thinking about who it could release from its jails.

archived recording (bill de blasio) In the course of this evening, I will be given results of an effort by Department of Corrections and N.Y.P.D., and our mayors office for criminal justice, to review a list of approximately 200 inmates for a potential release. Those individuals will be released tomorrow. We hope to make decisions on them very quickly. But this process 

ashley southall

And so the argument is that some of these people who have been coming back onto the streets are involved in the shootings and some of the murders that we are seeing on the streets today.

michael barbaro

Is there evidence to support that? Because my sense is that the bail reform deliberately avoided letting violent people  or allegedly violent people  out. And the Covid-19 mitigation plans also attempted to avoid letting out violent people. So is there any evidence that people charged with violent crimes were let out through either of those measures?

ashley southall

Not really. The problem with this theory is that the N.Y.P.D.s own data dont really support what they say.

archived recording (alexandria ocasio-cortez) At first, the N.Y.P.D., they went out and they said, OK, this uptick in crime is happening because of bail reform.

ashley southall

And sometimes the data contradict them. This is something thats been noted by critics including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is, of course, a congresswoman representing part of the Bronx and Queens.

archived recording (alexandria ocasio-cortez) They just released data a couple weeks ago that showed that out of almost all the people who have committed crimes, et cetera, almost none have been re-released due to the bail reform. So why is this uptick in crime happening? Well, do we think this has to do with the fact that theres record unemployment in the United States right now? The fact that people are at a level of economic desperation that we have not seen since the Great Recession?

ashley southall

The police departments data doesnt establish a connection between the people who are out there shooting other people and the people who are getting out on bail. There are some examples of people who have been released who have been rearrested on a gun charge. But the police havent provided any evidence linking them to shootings in any kind of substantial way. Its mostly been, like, an anecdote here or there, but no consistent pattern.

michael barbaro

And Ashley, what about the release of people from places like Rikers Island, that famous New York City prison, because of Covid-19? Has there been any evidence that has led to the surge in shootings and murders?

ashley southall

So this theory plays out similar to the one about bail. And once again, we have a situation where the N.Y.P.D.s own data does not show a strong connection between those people and the violence the police are trying to pin on them.

michael barbaro

So Ashley, you have laid out these three theories. And the first two seem like theres a sort of interplay between them. That people are increasingly desperate and out of work because of the pandemic, and with cops out sick, the shootings were escalating even further. And then the protests started, and people were reluctant to engage with the police at the same time that the police were reluctant to engage with the community. And Im mindful that one of the things that seems to support these first two theories is that all these forces were also at play in the other cities around America where we have seen rising unrest in recent months. Other cities with historic issues between police and communities of color  so Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle. Whereas bail reform and prisoner release, those are factors that are specific to New York. But even so, I have to think that regardless of the explanation for the rise in crime, that it gives critics of the defund movement an argument for opposing that move. Right? They can make the case that a moment where shootings and murders are up is a pretty bad time to cut funding for traditional policing. So do you feel like the fact that these numbers are going up is going to make the case for defunding the police in New York City harder? Is that what youre seeing?

ashley southall

On the one hand, yes, because no politician wants to be the person who takes money away from the police department while more people are getting shot, and more people are dying, and dying from violence that is preventable. The police presence is supposed to deter violence. And youre taking money away from them. They dont show up. And so the violence continues. And so youre going to take the blame for that. It makes the moment inopportune. But at the same time, people point to the police failure to get a handle on shootings and murders that have been rising now for three months straight. And people see that as evidence of the failure of police to do their most basic job, which is to keep people safe. So they say, lets cut their funding and try something else.

michael barbaro

So this moment could actually strengthen the case for defunding the police?

ashley southall

Yeah. Thats it. Because its not keeping people safe in communities of color at this moment in New York City.

michael barbaro

Mhm. But Ashley, if you believe that the forces behind the rising crime rate are connected to the pandemic, and that situation will resolve itself in the next couple months or a year, and police could start doing their jobs again as they did before, wouldnt that be enough to keep shootings historically low like they were over the past few years? Or has something now changed that will make it difficult to go back to before?

ashley southall

I wish I could go back in the past and kind of do some tweaks to tell you what it might look like if things had played out differently, if there had been no pandemic and no protests. But I cant. What I can tell you is that even before these events, the police recognized that there was a really big impediment to fighting crime. And that was a broken trust between the police, and particularly communities of color, that was decades in the making. Commissioner Shea, in disbanding anti-crime, acknowledged that although they were effective in getting guns off the streets, their tactics were sometimes harmful. And that was counterproductive to building the kind of public confidence the police need to have people not only reporting crimes  because remember, not all crimes are reported to the police and many people dont report crime at all  it also keeps people from helping the police to solve crimes. Repairing that trust was paramount before the pandemic, before any protests, and its only gotten worse. And so its not going to be an easy fix.

michael barbaro

So what youre saying is that the crime rate, the number of shootings and the number of murders reported, has not necessarily been a great reflection of whether policing in New York is actually working. In fact, it might have been a pretty misleading number to begin with because of these deeper root issues that have been there during that period of quote, unquote low crime. So going back to before is a kind of flawed way of thinking about this.

ashley southall

Thats right. In this moment, we see these wild cards  the pandemic and the protests  exacerbating the factors that already fuel gun violence. But even before those came into play and up till now, were talking about a very small group of people who carry guns. And the research shows that they do so because they feel caught between two worlds that make them feel unsafe. One is the violence in their communities, whether it be conflicts between gangs with rivalries or crews in neighboring housing projects that have beefs. They also feel unsafe around the police. They feel at any moment they could be targeted, that they could be a George Floyd or an Eric Garner. So there is no one in their lives who they feel can protect them. And so they pick up a gun to do it for themselves. So pandemic or no pandemic, protests or no protests, ultimately its the problems in their lives that need to be addressed. And what the experts will tell you is that policing, even with reforms, is just one part of a very large puzzle.

michael barbaro

Ashley, thank you very much. I really appreciate it.

ashley southall

Thanks for having me.

michael barbaro

Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today.

archived recording (louis dejoy) As we head into the election season, I want to assure this committee and the American public that the postal service is fully capable and committed to delivering the nations election mail securely and on time.

michael barbaro

In testimony before Congress, the postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, said he was confident that the U.S. Postal Service could handle a major surge in voting by mail this fall, despite the cost-cutting plans that he has put in place, which have slowed delivery across the country.

archived recording (louis dejoy) We deliver 433 million pieces of mail a day, so 150 million ballots, 160 million ballots over the course of a week is a very, very small amount. Adequate capacity.

michael barbaro

Nevertheless, over the weekend, the House of Representatives passed emergency legislation that would block DeJoys changes and inject $25 billion dollars into the Postal Service before the election.

archived recording (carolyn b. maloney) This is not a partisan issue. It makes absolutely no sense to implement these dramatic changes in the middle of a pandemic less than three months before the November elections. The American people do not want anyone messing with the Post Office.

michael barbaro
North suspends military action plan against South



North Korea has shown signs of defusing tensions with South Korea by suspending its military action plan against Seoul. On Tuesday, its leader Kim Jong-un decided to hold off on the plan during a preliminary meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.



The decision is surprising given that no one in the South expected the North to back down on its military threats so soon after demolishing the inter-Korean liaison office in the border town of Gaeseong, June 16. Pyongyang had vowed to make good on the threats by redeploying its troops to the joint industrial park in the town, the Mount Geumgang tourism resort, and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).



The North took its first de-escalation step Wednesday when its military removed propaganda loudspeakers along the DMZ which bisects the two Koreas. The removal came four days after their reinstallation which raised concerns about escalating tensions and an accidental military clash.



Kim Yo-jong, the sister of Kim Jong-un, has led the charge against the South since she lambasted the Moon Jae-in administration June 4 for failing to bar North Korean defectors from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. She and other officials in the North had flatly rejected the South's request to stop ratcheting up tensions further. Pyongyang even threatened to distribute anti-Seoul propaganda leaflets to the South in retaliation.



It is unclear what has made the North put its military action plan on hold. But pundits speculate that Kim Jong-un has put the brakes on the harsh rhetoric and military threats against the South in order not to see further escalation. If that is the case, it could be seen as an indication that Kim does not want to see the two Koreas heading toward hostility and confrontation after a brief period of detente with Seoul and Washington.



Kim had better realize that no one in South Korea, the United States or any other countries around the world wants the North to return to its outdated brinkmanship tactics and a Cold War confrontation on the peninsula. He should stop the North's military from taking any provocative actions against the South.



The nation marks the 70th anniversary of the 1950-53 Korean War tomorrow. The great lesson of the internecine conflict is how important peace is. If they really want to learn this valuable lesson, the two Koreas should end their hostility and move toward reconciliation and peace.



In this regard, we urge Pyongyang not to turn the clock back. The Kim regime must return to dialogue with Seoul and Washington. Most of all, the North should start working-level talks with the U.S. to resume its denuclearization. Equality important is to restore mutual trust, a key element in peace-making in the world's last Cold War frontier. At the very least there should be no tragic war again on the peninsula.






The scientific case for the range of vaccines recommended by public health officials in the U.S. remains as solid as ever. But anti-vaccine propaganda has found its way into many reaches of American life.
The President of Kosovo has been charged with a string of war crimes including responsibility for 'nearly 100 murders' from his time as a separatist fighter.

A special international prosecutor in The Hague indicted President Hashim Thaci, 52, along with nine other former separatist fighters, on crimes against ethnic Serbians.

They relate to the time both during and after Kosovo's 1998-99 independence war with Serbia.

News of the indictment broke as Thaci made his way to a White House meeting in Washington.

He had been invited by US presidential envoy Richard Grenell to meet with Serbian officials on Saturday, as part of a plan to jumpstart stalled peace talks.

Kosovo president Hashim Thaci (above) and nine other suspects have been accused of the criminal responsibility for 'nearly 100 murders'

The Specialist Prosecutor's Office in The Hague said it filed a 10-count indictment charging Thaci and the other former separatists with offences including 'murder, enforced disappearance of persons, persecution, and torture'.

It claimed Thaci and the suspects 'are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders' from their time in the Kosovo Liberation Army, which fought a campaign against Serb forces.

Thaci earned the nickname 'Snake' during the conflict, serving as the KLA's political leader.

The alleged deaths involve hundreds of known Kosovar Albanian, Serb and Roma victims, as well as political opponents.

US Presidential Convoy Richard Grenell confirmed that Thaci had pulled out of the trip

The 1998-1999 war left more than 10,000 dead, with 1,641 people still unaccounted for and only ended after a 78-day Nato air campaign.

Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, something that Serbia refuses to recognise.

Thaci has always strenously denied any wrongdoing or criminal activity in the war.

The charges will now be put before a pre-trial judge at the Kosovo specialist chambers for a decision to confirm them, prosecutors said.

The charges had been brought on April 24 but were only revealed today, because after 'repeated attempts' to obstruct the KSC, prosecutors said.

The indictment is the first made by the special tribunal, which has been operating since 2015, having questioned hundreds of witnesses.

The indicted group includes Kadri Veseli, former parliament speaker and leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo.

Kosovo's prime minister resigned last year before he was questioned.

'Thaci and Veseli are believed to have carried out a secret campaign to overturn the law creating the Court and otherwise obstruct the work of the Court in an attempt to ensure that they do not face justice,' the statement said.

Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia remain fraught, and EU-facilitated negotiations that began in March 2011 have produced around 30 agreements - though most have not been observed.

The Washington meeting was set to be the first talks between the two sides in 19 months.

On Wednesday US presidential convoy Richard Grenell posted a statement on social media confirming that Kosovo had pulled out of the Washington trip.

He said: 'I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settled.'

Kosovo's prime minister, Avdullah Hoti, will represent the country at the meeting.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear out Bill Cosbys appeal over his 2018 sexual assault conviction.

Last year, a Pennsylvania appeals court upheld Cosbys conviction, rejecting his legal teams argument that he wasnt given a fair trial. But in an order issued on Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said it would consider whether the trial judge should not have allowed the five prior bad acts witnesses to testify, as well as whether the judge should not have allowed Cosbys deposition from a civil lawsuit to be used in the trial after Cosby said he was promised by a district attorney that he wouldnt be prosecuted for those oral and written statements.

Were extremely thankful to the State Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for agreeing to review Mr. Cosbys appeal, Andrew Wyatt, a representative for Cosby, said in a statement sent to TheWrap. 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. Were extremely thankful to our attorneys (Brain Perry, Jennifer Bonjean & Barbara Zemlock) for their tenacious efforts in fighting for the vindication of Mr. Cosby.

Also Read: Chris D'Elia Dropped by CAA After Sexual Misconduct Accusations Involving Underage Girls

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has narrowed the issues on appeal, limiting them to prior bad acts and the sovereign edict, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, who prosecuted Cosby at both of his trials, said. We look forward to briefing and arguing these issues and remain confident in the Trial Court and Superior Courts previous decisions.

Cosby is serving out a three- to 10-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting a former Temple University employee, Andrea Constand, at his home in 2004.

Read original story Bill Cosbys Appeal of Sexual Assault Conviction to Be Heard by Pennsylvania Supreme Court At TheWrap
AKRON, Ohio -- A man accused of killing a 52-year-old Akron woman on June 17 was found dead of an apparent suicide in California, Akron police reported Wednesday.

Chester Billy Walker, 53, was wanted on murder charges in connection with the shooting death of Twyla Pettiford at her home on the 1700 block of Manchester Road near Akrons Summit Lake neighborhood.

Walker died in Santa Monica of an apparent suicide, police said.

Pettiford was found dead with multiple apparent gunshot wounds in her garage on the morning of June 17 by officers who were responding to a call for a welfare check, according to a police report.
CCI has given a green signal to the deal between Facebook and Mukesh Ambani-owned Jio where Facebook acquired a 9.99% stake in Jio Platform by investing  43,574 crore in the company. The deal made Facebook the largest minority shareholder in Jio Platforms.

The Facebook-Reliance Jio deal that was announced back in April this year has received a clean chit from the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Facebook invested $5.7 billion, or 43,574 crore, in Jio Platforms earlier this year for a 9.99% stake in the company. This made the social media giant the biggest minority shareholder in Jio Platforms.

CCI, earlier this month, announced that it was reviewing Facebooks acquisition of a 10% stake in Reliance Industries Limiteds digital wing, Jio Platforms. At the time, the CCI Chairman Askok Kumar Gupta in a statement to Bloomberg had said that strong network effects, high returns to scale and access to a huge amount of data could lead to an increase in anti-competitive behaviour.

Now, nearly a week after CCI first began its review, the governmental body has given its blessings. As per a report by TechCrunch, CCI has approved Facebooks acquisition of a 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms. The acquisition will be done by Jaadhu Holdings LLC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Facebook that the social media giant created earlier this year.

As a part of the deal, the two companies will also focus on 60 million micro, small and medium businesses in India. In addition to that, the two companies will work closely to ensure that consumers are able to access the nearest kirana stores with JioMart using WhatsApp.
WASHINGTONU.S. Attorney General William Barr will testify before the House Judiciary Committee for the first time next month, the Justice Department said Wednesday, as two of his employees testified that he has politicized the department and allowed special treatment for Roger Stone, a friend of President Donald Trump.

Aaron Zelinsky, a career Justice Department prosecutor who was part of special counsel Robert Muellers team and worked on the case against Stone, told the committee that Stone was treated differently before his sentencing because of his relationship with the president. As the hearing began, Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec tweeted that Barr would accept the panels invitation to testify July 28.

Zelinsky, who now works in the U.S. attorneys office in Maryland, said 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.

What I heard  repeatedly  was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the president, Zelinsky said.

The testimony features 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 congressional scrutiny of Barr, who has alarmed Democrats in recent months with his efforts to scrutinize, and even undo, some of the results of Muellers Russias investigation.

The panel subpoenaed Zelinsky and John Elias, a career official in the departments antitrust division, as part of its probe into the politicization of the department under Barr. Elias detailed antitrust investigations that he says were started over the objections of career staff  a charge the department denies  and said he asked the departments inspector general to investigate them.

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. House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler said at the opening of the hearing that Barr is Trumps fixer and called Zelinsky and Elias patriots.

The testimony showed that there is one set of rules for the presidents friends and another set of rules for the rest of us, Nadler said.

The Democrats opened 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 lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Nadler said his firing is part of a clear and dangerous pattern of conduct that began when Mr. Barr took office and continues to this day.

Nadler had threatened to subpoena Barrs testimony if he didnt agree to appear. A Judiciary Committee aide said the Justice Department restarted negotiations over the hearing in the past few days after Nadlers threat.

Zelinsky, one of four lawyers who quit the Stone case after the department overruled their sentencing recommendation, said he was only permitted by the department to discuss the Stone case at the hearing. He testified 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 did not say who was doing the pressuring, but said 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.

Zelinsky said during questioning from the top Republican on the panel, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, that one of the supervisors he had talked to was J.P. Cooney, chief of the fraud and public corruption section at the U.S. attorneys office, and that his understanding was that his supervisors had been in meetings with Shea.

Jordan and other Republicans dismissed the testimony as hearsay.

It sounds like you heard stuff you are now bringing to this committee as fact, Jordan said.

Justice Department leadership changed the sentencing recommendation for Stone 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 sentenced Feb. 20 to serve more than three years in prison plus two years probation and a $20,000 (U.S.) fine.

Barr has said Trumps tweet played no role in the change. He said he ordered the new filing hours earlier because he was caught off guard by the initial sentencing recommendation and believed it was excessive based on the facts of the case.

Zelinsky described 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 said. 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 unprecedented favourable treatment because he was afraid of the president.

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. Zelinskys 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 co-ordinated 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.
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Linkedin Agustinus Beo Da Costa (Reuters) Jakarta, Indonesia  Wed, June 24, 2020 17:45 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066154dcf 2 National taboo,Indonesia,coronavirus,coronavirus-testing,coronavirus-prevention,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Indonesian authorities complained on Wednesday that hundreds of people had refused testing for the new coronavirus as social taboos emerge as another obstacle to stopping its spread in the worlds fourth-most populous nation.

Indonesia has the highest number of reported infections in Southeast Asia, surpassing 49,000, while at least 2,573 people have died, according to official data, the highest COVID-19 death toll in East Asia outside China.

Despite an acceleration in infections, this week hundreds of traditional traders in Bali and Sumatra refused to get tested, even as bustling, densely packed markets have emerged as common coronavirus infection points, officials said.

In Bali, authorities had aimed to test 2,200 traders in the area of Tabanan but on Tuesday 200 traders failed to turn up.

They are afraid of the stigma, Klungkung Regent Nyoman Suwirta, told Reuters, That later if it is discovered they will have to be isolated."

Authorities at Solok market in West Sumatra said 150 there had also refused to be tested.

Maybe there is fear, maybe there is trauma, we need to explore the reasons why, said Jasman Rizal, the spokesperson of West Sumatra's COVID-19 Taskforce, The government must take persuasive action and educate.

Indonesia's 270 million people are spread across 18,000 islands that span more than 5,000 km (3,000 miles).

Some villages in Java and Kalimantan have not allowed funerals for those who have died from COVID-19, afraid the burials could spread the disease, while local doctors have reported that some patients exhibiting symptoms have refused to go to designated coronavirus hospitals because of the stigma they might face.

In Sulawesi, one community forcibly retrieved the bodies of suspected coronavirus victims from hospitals so they can be buried according to religious ritual rather than COVID-19 protocol.

The application of social distancing measures has varied across the country, with some communities paying little heed to them.

Sulfikar Amir, a disaster sociologist at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, told Reuters that stigma arises from limited information.

"Stigma is an indicator of how communication and information dissemination in Indonesia hasn't been successful," he said.
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Switzerland stock market tumbled on Wednesday, in line with global markets after reports showing a surge in new coronavirus cases across the globe raised fears about a potential stronger wave. The International Monetary Fund's report that significantly lowers the forecast for the global economy this year added to the woes. The benchmark SMI ended down 224.57 points or 2.19% at 10,021.99, the day's low. Alcon plunged nearly 6%. Credit Suisse and Swatch Group lost 4.2% and 3.7%, respectively. Swiss Re ended lower by about 3%. UBS Group, Roche Holding, Adecco, Zurich Insurance Group, Swiss Life Holding, Novartis, LafargeHolcim and Richemont lost 2 to 2.6%. SGS, Nestle, Sika and Givaudan also ended sharply lower. In the midcap section, Dufry ended lower by more than 6.5%. The company said it plans to reduce its personnel expenses by 20% to 30% this year, to tackles the plunge in sales caused by the new coronavirus pandemic. Sonova shed 4.6%, while Julius Baer, Helvetia, Dorma Kaba Holding and Straumann Holding lost 3.5 to 3.7%. Temenos Group declined by nearly 3%. Clariant, Vifor Pharma, VAT Group, Schindler Ps, Bucher Industries and Flughafen Zurich lost 1.4 to 2.5%. On the other hand, AMS bucked the trend and climbed up as much as 6%. Sunrise Communications and Kuehne & Nagel gained 1.25% and 1.1%, respectively. Kuehne & Nagel said it has signed a multi-year agreement for managing Pearson Italy's logistics activities. Among the other major indices in Europe, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 plunged 3.11%, Germany's DAX shed 3.43% and France's CAC 40 declined 2.92% and Switzerland's SMI ended lower by 2.19%. The pan European Stoxx 600 tumbled 2.78%. 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.
Former pancake box character Aunt Jemima was a 'picture of the American Dream', a speaker at a Donald Trump rally in Arizona claimed last night.

Reagan Escude told spectators at the Students for Trump event that a 'leftist mob' was trying to 'erase the legacy' of the freed slave Nancy Green who first played the character in the 1890s.

The Aunt Jemima brand was scrapped after 130 years last week amid the cultural reckoning unleashed by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Quaker Foods said it 'recognizes Aunt Jemima's origins are based on a 'racial stereotype' of a black 'mammy' who is portrayed as happy to serve a white master.

Escude was introduced by the president as a 'target of liberal cancel culture' after she lost her insurance job for criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement and saying that white people should not 'apologize for your whiteness'.

Reagan Escude (pictured) told spectators at a Students for Trump event in Arizona last night that a 'leftist mob' was trying to 'erase the legacy' of the freed slave Nancy Green who first played the character Aunt Jemima in the 1890s

Escude spoke to around 3,000 people who crowded into the Dream City church to hear the president in Phoenix on Tuesday night.

The Northwestern State University of Louisiana graduate told the audience how she had been fired after posting a controversial video during the Floyd protests.

She criticized church leaders for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, saying that 'I've seen pastors call for white congregants to kneel and to apologize for the skin God gave them' - drawing boos from the crowd.

Escude went on to say: 'I share this story with you because what happened to me is just a small example of something that's happening on a much larger scale in our nation.

'Aunt Jemima was cancelled. If you didn't know - Nancy Green, the original Aunt Jemima, she was a picture of the American Dream.

'She was a freed slave who went on to be the face of the pancake syrup that we love and have in our pantries today.

'She fought for equality and now the leftist mob is trying to erase her legacy. And might I mention how privileged we are as a nation if our biggest concern is a bottle of pancake syrup.'

This last comment drew criticism from actress Yvette Nicole Brown, who said on Twitter: 'Reagan doesn't realize that HER biggest problem being pancake syrup shows HER privilege.

'It's not MY biggest problem by a mile. NO ONE I know is marching and protesting during a pandemic over Aunt Jemima or pancakes.'

The Aunt Jemima brand (seen here on bottles of syrup in Pittsburgh) was scrapped after 130 years last week amid the cultural reckoning unleashed by the death of George Floyd

An Aunt Jemima advert from the 1940s. The image is based on the 'racial stereotype' of a black 'mammy' who is portrayed as happy to serve a white master

The brand got its name from the minstrel song 'Old Aunt Jemima,' which was composed by African-American comedian and performer Billy Kersands.

Chris Rutt, who created the pancake flour in 1889, was inspired by the song after hearing it during a minstrel performance and decided to co-opt the name.

The company was then sold to a larger milling firm which hired Nancy Green, a former slave who was working as a cook for a judge, to act as Aunt Jemima.

Green herself continued her work as a housekeeper and died in 1923 after being hit by a car.

'We recognize Aunt Jemima's origins are based on a racial stereotype,' said Kristin Kroepfl of Quaker Foods North America.

'While work has been done over the years to update the brand in a manner intended to be appropriate and respectful, we realize those changes are not enough.'

Escude is an ambassador for right-wing organization Turning Point USA, a movement with chapters at high schools and colleges across the country.

Donald Trump spoke at the rally in Phoenix last night (pictured) and introduced Reagan Escude as a 'target of liberal cancel culture' after she lost her insurance job

Escude said she was fired from her first job at an insurance firm in Louisiana after posting on social media about the Black Lives Matter movement.

She said a former colleague had urged people to call her employers and demand she be sacked, which she subsequently was.

In her Instagram video on June 4, Escude had called Floyd's death an 'injustice' but said that 'we as Christians should not support the Black Lives Matter movement'.

'The cop's actions are not a result of systemic racism,' she said, referring to white police officer Derek Chauvin who is accused of murdering Floyd.

Escude said that racism is 'a sin problem that can only be reconciled through Jesus Christ', adding that 'we don't need a movement for that'.

She also suggested that 'all this rioting and destruction that we're seeing right now' is the result of 'fatherlessness' in the black community.

'You are not virtuous because you support a movement. You are not glorifying God when you apologize for your whiteness,' she said.
TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / Amzur Technologies, Inc. (Amzur), Florida's premier agile IT solution provider for consulting, product development, software engineering, and enterprise application services-principally for the technology, energy, finance, healthcare, and insurance industries-is pleased to announce the return of Ajit Manjappara, now appointed to the role of vice president of Product Engineering Services (PES). His return coincides with the relaunch of Amzur's Engineering division as PES, which brings a renewed focus on addressing the needs of technology startups and enterprise customers through custom software development, quality assurance and testing, infrastructure management, low-code/no-code intelligent process automation frameworks, and more.

Ajit Manjappara comes back to Amzur with nearly three decades of experience in the technology industry. In his new role, he is tasked with building and strategically scaling PES by supporting cross-functional teams in acquiring and nurturing deep relationships with our clients. He will also open up new territories and business lines for PES and serve as a strong brand ambassador for the company.

"Having known Ajit for years, I have admired his deep understanding of, and experience in, building application development and product engineering businesses," said Amzur CEO Bala Nemani. "Ajit will specialize in development, helping our application, engineering, and DevOps teams work in lockstep to support our delivery teams and our ever-expanding customer base around the world."

Reporting directly to Nemani-with whom he formulated the idea for PES-Manjappara will oversee the strategy and direction of Amzur's sales and market development efforts globally. Based out of Atlanta, he will work with international engineering leaders to achieve these goals for PES.

"I am excited to bring my expertise in scaling enterprise collaboration and product development to help Amzur lead the charge in digital enablement and transformation for our clients," Manjappara said.

About Amzur Technologies, Inc.: Amzur's mission is one of mutual success. As a trusted IT partner at every stage in the digital transformation lifecycle, we deliver holistic talent strategy, customer-centric consulting services, and a logical path forward for our clients. Based in Tampa, Florida, with a workforce of 300 across three countries, Amzur offers technology services ranging from NetSuite Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) consultation to Distributed Energy Resource (DER) implementation at a size and scale that provides optimal flexibility. Our expertise also spans Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, IT Staffing, Product Engineering Services, and so much more. For more information, visit https://amzur.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

For media inquiries, contact marketing@amzur.com

SOURCE: Amzur Technologies, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595111/Amzur-Appoints-Ajit-Manjappara-as-Vice-President-of-Product-Engineering-Services
The President of Kosovo has just informed us that he has canceled his trip to Washington, D.C. following the announcement made by the Special Prosecutors Office. I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settled, tweeted Richard Grenell, the U.S. envoy for the Kosovo talks.
San Francisco, June 24 : As more business now being done on mobile devices in the social distancing times while hacking attempts increase multi-fold on smartphones, Microsoft has announced the public preview of Microsoft Defender ATP for Android.

Microsoft Defender ATP for Android will help protect customers and users by delivering protection from phishing and access to risky domains and URLs through web protection capabilities that will block unsafe sites accessed through SMS/text, WhatsApp, email, browsers, and other apps.

"We're using the same Microsoft Defender SmartScreen services that are on Windows to quickly detect malicious sites which means that a decision to block a suspicious site will apply across all devices in the enterprise," informed Rob Lefferts, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft 365 Security.

The tech giant last year launched Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac.

Microsoft Defender ATP for Android will proactively scan malicious applications, files, and potentially unwanted applications (PUA) that users may download to their mobile devices.

Microsoft will release additional security capabilities on Android and iOS devices as well.

"Our capabilities and investments in cloud-powered protection and intelligence on application reputation allow us to quickly detect sophisticated malware and apps that that may display undesirable behaviour," Lefferts said in a statement on Tuesday.

By leveraging tight integration with Microsoft Endpoint Manager and Conditional Access, mobile devices that have been compromised with malicious apps or malware are considered high risk and are blocked from accessing corporate resources.

Microsoft also announced initial release of Microsoft Defender ATP for Linux.

"Microsoft Defender ATP becomes a truly unified solution to secure the full spectrum of desktop and server platforms that are common across enterprise environments: Windows, macOS, and Linux," said Microsoft.
The fact that he got the crowd so riled up was just chilling, said Chris Lu, a Chinese American who served as cabinet secretary in the Obama White House. In that really primal desire to get a rise out of the crowd and get that affirmation he wants, he went to this place that has such bad consequences for Asian Americans broadly and for Asian American kids in particular. Its a joke to him but not to us.
Boris Johnson faced a furious backlash today as he claimed no country has a working coronavirus tracing app - only to be told that 12million people have already downloaded Germany's version.

The PM dismissed criticism over the failed NHS software, which was initially billed a crucial for controlling the disease before being humiliatingly abandoned last week.

Ministers were forced to admit that it failed to work on almost all iPhones, and are now focusing on a 'hybrid' based on a model built by Apple and Google.

Mr Johnson insisted at PMQs this afternoon that no other country had a 'functional' app, after Sir Keir Starmer warned that one was critical for the test and trace system - especially with lockdown easing.

But Sir Keir shot back: 'Germany - 12million downloads... I checked that overnight.'

Boris Johnson (left) insisted at PMQs this afternoon that no other country had a 'functional' app, after Sir Keir Starmer (right) warned that one was critical for the test and trace system

During brutal clashes in the Commons, Mr Johnson said the NHS Test and Trace team had so far contacted 87,000 people.

The Labour leader said: 'Yesterday the Government announced the next stage of easing lockdown restrictions. If that plan is to work, and we want it to work, we need an effective track, trace and isolate system...

'The latest track, trace and isolate figures show that just over 10,000 people with Covid-19 were reached and asked to provide contact details.

'I do recognise the hard work that has gone into this, but if two-thirds of those with Covid-19 are not being reached and asked to provide contact details, there's a big problem, isn't there?'

But Mr Johnson shot back that Sir Keir's 'prognostication of gloom' on test and trace had been proved wrong.

He said the UK had a very effective 'cluster-busting' operation to crack down on any local outbreaks.

'Contrary to his prognostications of gloom, it has got up and running, I think, much faster than the doubters expected,' he said,

'What NHS Test and Trace is doing is contacting the vast majority of those who test positive and their own contacts and getting them to self-isolate, and it is a formidable achievement.'

Sir Keir Starmer pressed Mr Johnson on whether the contact tracing app was critical or not in combating the virus.

The app developed by the NHS didn't work for people using Apple iPhones and effectively went into sleep mode, failing to pick up nearby devices using Bluetooth (stock image)

He said: 'Up until last week, the Government maintained that the app was critical, another of their slides (at the daily briefing).

'But at the weekend (Matt Hancock) downplayed the app, saying it was only ever additional support. So which is it - critical or not?'

Mr Johnson responded: 'I wonder whether (Sir Keir) can name a single country in the world that has a functional contact tracing app? Because there isn't one.'

Sir Keir Starmer, when asked to name a country which has a functional contact tracing app, replied: 'Germany - 12 million downloads. I checked that overnight.'

The Labour leader said other countries are ahead of the UK, asking: 'When are we going to have a working app?'

Mr Johnson pushed on, saying Sir Keir was 'completely wrong'.

'No country in the world has a working contact tracing app and I've always been clear, we've always been clear, that the app would be the icing on the cake,' he said.

'If we can get it to work it'll be a fine thing but there isn't one anywhere in the world so far.'
BEIJING, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sogou Inc. (NYSE: SOGO) ("Sogou" or the "Company"), an innovator in search and a leader in China's internet industry, today announced that Mr. Joe Zhou has resigned from his position as the Company's Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") for personal reasons, effective June 30, 2020. The board of directors of the Company has appointed Ms. Fion Zhou as the Company's new CFO, effective July 7, 2020. Mr. Zhou will remain a consultant to Sogou until September 30, 2020, and he and Ms. Zhou will work together closely to ensure a smooth transition.

Ms. Zhou will bring to Sogou 14 years of financial and public company experience. She most recently served as CFO of Yidian Zixun, China's leading mobile news aggregator, where she led financial operations, strategic investment, capital raising and internal controls. Prior to this, Ms. Zhou was a finance director of Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA) and also held senior finance roles at Viadeo S.A. and Concord Medical (NYSE: CCM). Ms. Zhou started her career as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian. She received a Bachelor's degree in Financial Management from the University of International Business and Economics and an Executive MBA from HEC Paris. Ms. Zhou is a regular member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.

Mr. Xiaochuan Wang, CEO of Sogou, commented, "On behalf of the management team, I want to express our sincere appreciation for Joe's contribution and dedication to Sogou over the past ten years. He has been instrumental in building very strong financial functions to support our business growth and leading our capital markets initiatives, including our IPO in 2017. We wish him continued success in his future endeavors. We are also very pleased to welcome Fion as our new CFO. I believe that her deep experience in finance and the capital markets will further strengthen the suite of capabilities of our management team, which will in turn help lead Sogou to the next stage of innovation, development and growth."

Mr. Joe Zhou said, "It has been a tremendous experience working at Sogou and witnessing the robust development of the business over the last several years. I believe the Company has built a strong foundation and financial position which will support the continued successful execution of its long-term growth strategies."

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates, and projections, which involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, intense competition in the market for search and search-related services; our need to continually innovate and adapt in order to grow our business; our reliance on Tencent platforms for a significant portion of our user traffic; uncertainty regarding the extent and reach of PRC governmental regulation of sponsored search; and the effects of the COVID-19 virus on the economy in China generally and on our business in particular. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Sogou's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 21, 2020, and other documents Sogou files with or submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Sogou

Sogou Inc. (NYSE: SOGO) is an innovator in search and a leader in China's internet industry. With a mission to make it easy to communicate and get information, Sogou has grown to become the second-largest search engine by mobile queries and the fourth largest internet company by MAU in China. Sogou has a wide range of innovative products and services, including the Sogou Input Method, which is the largest Chinese language input software for both mobile and PC. Sogou is also at the forefront of AI development and has made significant breakthroughs in voice and image technologies, machine translation, and Q&A, which have been successfully integrated into our products and services.

For investor enquiries, please contact:

Jessie Zheng

Sogou Investor Relations

Tel: +86 10 5689 8068

Email: [email protected]

For media enquiries, please contact:

Yadan Ouyang

Brunswick Group

Tel: +86 10 5960 8600

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Sogou Inc.

Related Links

www.sogou.com


North Korea has announced it will suspend military action plans against South Korea, after a meeting of the governing partys Central Military Commission presided over by leader Kim Jong Un, the official KCNA news agency said on Wednesday.

The video conference meeting on Tuesday also discussed documents outlining measures for further bolstering the war deterrent of the country, KCNA reported.

The committee members took stock of the prevailing situation before deciding to suspend the plans, the report said, without elaborating.

Political tensions between the two Koreas have been rising over Pyongyangs objections to plans by defector-led groups in South Korea to fly propaganda leaflets across the border. North Korea is also suffering under economic sanctions that it wants eased as part of denuclearisation talks that have been stalled for months.





North Korea claims the defectors campaigns violate an agreement between the two aimed at preventing military confrontation, and has accused them of insulting the dignity of North Koreas supreme leadership.

In recent weeks, North Korea has blown up a joint liaison office on its side of the border, declared an end to dialogue with South Korea, and threatened military action.

Kims sister, Kim Yo Jong, warned last week of retaliatory measures against South Korea that could involve the military, although she did not elaborate.

The General Staff of the Korean Peoples Army later said it had been studying an action plan that included sending troops into joint tourism and economic zones, reoccupying border guard posts that had been abandoned under an inter-Korean pact, taking steps to turn the front line into a fortress, and supporting plans for North Korea to send its own propaganda leaflets into South Korea.

Older brother seems to have reversed sisters plans. Echoing others in asking if this is good cop/bad cop? North Korea suspends plans for military action against the South https://t.co/jYkHenTTvI  Kim Gamel (@kimgamel) June 23, 2020

North Koreas military was seen putting up loudspeakers near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, a military source told Reuters on Tuesday. Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday that the loudspeakers were being removed.

Yoh Sang-key, spokesman of South Koreas Unification Ministry, said Seoul was closely reviewing North Koreas report but did not elaborate further. He also said it was the first report in state media of Kim holding a video conferencing meeting.

Al Jazeeras Rob McBride, reporting from Seoul in South Korea, said the Norths actions follow a now-familiar pattern of increase in tensions with a lot of vitriol, rhetoric and threats only for it all to be dialled down.

It seems North Korea has achieved its interim objective, in terms of getting international attention and reminding the United States where the Korean Peninsula is. It has certainly unnerved South Korea  that may lead to more humanitarian aid, which South Korea can give despite international sanctions, he said.

This has been important also for the individuals involved. Weve had Kim Yo Jong coming to the fore and increasing her stature on the Korean Peninsula and the world stage. It has allowed Kim Jong Un, in his first statement in all of this, to appear as the voice of reason and dial things down  really doing a kind of good-cop bad-cop routine, with Kim Jong Un emerging as a good cop on the day before an important anniversary.

Thursday marks 70 years since the start of the Korean War. The fighting ended in 1953 with an armistice. A formal peace treaty has never been signed.
As a number of states experience spikes in COVID-19 cases, local agencies tasked with helping small businesses recover and reopen safely are firmly focused on revitalization efforts.

In Midland, the challenge is made even more daunting because of last month's catastrophic flooding. Thats why, led by its president and CEO Tony Stamas, the Midland Business Alliance has launched a Midland Reopens campaign that offers a comprehensive set of tools to help businesses rebound.

Bay Future, Inc., the MBAs neighboring counterpart in Bay County, is similarly honed-in on helping their small business community get back on its feet. The organization has been awarded a $50,000 Match on Main grant. Some 16 businesses, located in the heart of Bay Citys downtown business district, will receive the funds.

In total, 299 Michigan Small Businesses across 22 communities have been awarded nearly $1 million in grants through the Michigan Economic Development Corporations (MEDC) Match on Main COVID-19 Response Program  a temporary expansion of an existing program.

Bay City leaders are pleased to be in the mix.

Match on Main will provide funding to small businesses in Bay City that make our community unique and create the vibrant downtown that both our residents and visitors enjoy, said City of Bay City Manager Dana Muscott.

Bay Future partnered with the City of Bay City and Downtown Bay City to leverage funding for impacted businesses.

We are excited to be recipients of the grant as we know so many of our small businesses are hurting right now, said Trevor Keyes, Bay Futures president and CEO.

There were many state guidelines and local considerations that factored into deciding which businesses would receive grants. A business involvement in events, its uniqueness to downtown and how dedicated it is to supporting its employees and the community at large helped it stand out during the review process.

We wanted to have as large an impact as possible by selecting eligible organizations that hadnt received other financial assistance, said Megan Manning, Bay Futures Investor Relations & Marketing Manager. We also looked at business owners who were in the low to moderate income range because they are the ones most severely impacted by the pandemic.

Earlier this month, the MEDC also announced a matching grant program, MI Local Biz, a donation-based crowd-funding platform. Its aim is to generate public interest to raise funds to assist small businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, Keyes said, adding that this funding mechanism offers quick access to capital. The MEDC will match crowd-funding raises on a 1 to 1 basis up to $5,000 for eligible small businesses.

Of the more than 100 small businesses throughout Michigan selected to participate in the program, four Bay County businesses made the cut: Base Camp Fitness, Bay City Boat Lines, Bemos Bar and Regent Floral & Mercantile.
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A young woman gestures as a crowd of young people wait to hear U.S. President Donald Trump deliver an "Address to Young Americans" at the Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., June 23, 2020.

REUTERS/Carlos Barria

US President Donald Trump's rally in Phoenix is causing concern among doctors and local officials amid a spike in coronavirus cases across Arizona.

"As Donald Trump stands on stage in front of thousands of young people packed together without masks, he claims 'the plague has gone away," Anna Starling, a neurologist in Phoenix, told Business Insider. "But physicians and Arizonans know the COVID-19 pandemic is real and it's still here."

"In fact," Starling said, "we are actively surging in AZ with record-breaking cases and increasing hospitalizations and deaths."

While insisting that the local mask ordinance will be enforced, a spokesperson for Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego told Business Insider that the focus is on "education."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Amid a surge in cases of COVID-19, it is now required to wear a mask in the city of Phoenix. But police will not be focused on issuing citations for a failure to do so at Tuesday's "Students for Trump" rally with the US president, according to Mayor Kate Gallego.

That it's taking place at all concerns medical professionals.

Just hours before Trump was set to arrive, Arizona hit two new records: one for new coronavirus infections, and another for the number of people hospitalized after being infected, as the Arizona Republic reported.

"As Donald Trump stands on stage in front of thousands of young people packed together without masks, he claims 'the plague has gone away," Anna Starling, a neurologist in Phoenix, told Business Insider. "But physicians and Arizonans know the COVID-19 pandemic is real and it's still here. In fact, we are actively surging in AZ with record-breaking cases and increasing hospitalizations and deaths."

Over 2,900 medical professionals in Arizona signed a June 15 letter to Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, urging him to mandate face coverings across the state. Ducey, who will be attending the rally, has declined  but last week did allow local governments to pass measures requiring them.

Story continues

In an interview last week with Business Insider's Kayla Epstein, Mayor Gallego, a Democrat, expressed concern about Trump's rally. "I would ask that the White House Coronavirus Task Force take a look at the public health situation in Arizona and decide whether it is appropriate," she said. "We do know that indoor events with large crowds in close proximity are among those most likely to spread the virus."

On Monday, Gallego issued a statement saying that she does "not believe an event of this magnitude can be held safely, particularly as Arizona sees rising COVID cases." Still, while there is an ordinance requiring the wearing of masks, Gallego said the focus will be "not to hand out citations but to educate the public on the virus and its transmission."

Annie DeGraw, a spokesperson for the mayor, insisted that does not mean the ordinance will not be acknowledged.

"Mask wearing is being enforced," she told Business Insider on Tuesday, noting that police will be at the rally "handing out education info."

Over the weekend, Phoenix police received 18 calls about people failing to wear masks, according to the Arizona Republic, but issued no citations.

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
After taking over a village, how China is encroaching land in Nepal

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, June 24: In a bid to seize complete control, China has been making inroads into several territories in Nepal. China has also occupied a village in Nepal and allegedly removed the boundary pillars to legitimise its annexation, according to top sources in the government.

The Chinese have completely occupied Rui village in Gorkha district and has it completely under its control. Further China has also occupied strategic lands at 11 places across Nepal. The Nepal government is however tight lipped about it even as China occupied 36 hectares in four district of Nepal.

Roti-Beti ties with India at stake as Nepal set to amend citizenship law

The source cited above tells OneIndia that the move by China has been a strategic one and has been done over the past two years. Nepal which has been making anti-India statements of late has completely surrendered to the Chinese, the officer also said.

Covid in Delhi: Screening to be done at all households in capital by July 6 | Oneindia News

The list of 11 places was prepared by Nepal's Survey Department of Agriculture Ministry. Its report also said that China has been diverting the flow of rivers to increase its territory.

Further the report added that a total of 10 hectares of land has been encroached in Humla district and the Chinese also diverted Bagdare Khola and Karnali rivers. Further in Rasuwa, district 6 hectares of land have been encroached as construction works brought diversions in Bhurjuk, Jambu Khola and Sinjen.

The report further added that China has been expanding its network in the Tibet Autonomous Region as a result of which some rivers have changed their course and are flowing towards Nepal. The rivers are gradually receding Nepal territories and if this were to continue then the rivers will cede the maximum portion of Nepal's land towards the TAR.

The report also states that there is a high possibility that over a period of time, China may develop its Border Observation Post of Armed Police in those territories.
A rural village in the Moutse Valley, 160 kms (100 miles) north east of Johannesburg, South Africa, near the clinic where the Ndlovu Youth Choir waits to be processed for Covid-19 testing. (AP)

Johannesburg: The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to come in South Africa, warned top epidemiologist Salim Abdool Karim in wake of the country's coronavirus tally crossing the 1 lakh-mark and death toll nearing 2,000.

The infections and deaths have doubled in the past fortnight after lockdown regulations introduced three months ago were further eased to allow more businesses to open to save the faltering economy address rising unemployment.

But the internationally-acclaimed epidemiologist who heads the government's COVID-19 ministerial advisory committee said the country was still in a pretty good position compared to other countries, largely due to the early implementation of a total lockdown -- three months ago -- that gave time to South Africa to prepare itself.

As the epidemic looks right now, we are more or less where we anticipated we would be at this time of the epidemic, Karim told the website TimesLIVE.

From an epidemiological basis, we can expect that we will have a few hundred thousand cases by the end of July and that's just based on the current doubling time that we would expect that sort of situation to occur," he said.

With the arrival of winter and the country experiencing some of the coldest days and nights in over a decade, the COVID-19 virus is expected to grow even further.

We all know the worst is yet to come. All we can do is continue our preparation and hope what we've done will be enough to mitigate what's to come. This virus is here to stay for a little while - it's not going anywhere, Karim said.

Commenting on the rapid rise in infections and deaths, Karim blamed the relaxing of restrictions announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa as part of the five-level lockdown strategy.

The more restrictions you have, the less the virus spreads; the more you release the restrictions, the more the virus spreads. People are going to work and you expect that they would be mingling and so you get the virus spreading. So, it's going to happen and we always knew that and we planned for it, it's not something we didn't know, he said.

By the time we got into level 4 restrictions, the epidemic was already starting to grow in the broader Cape Town area. We began to see quite substantial increases at the tail-end of level 4 restrictions and that has just continued to grow under level 3, he added.

Karim said the Western Cape Province had reached a fully fledged epidemic, even as he expressed surprise that the economic hub of Gauteng province with its much larger population had not been first.

I don't fully understand why it didn't grow as fast in Gauteng, especially given that there is an international airport, and there were a lot of international travellers. But it looks like some of the steps that were taken were quite effective in terms of reaching out, doing contact tracing, putting up quarantine sites, he said.
Beijing  Authorities in China's capital confirmed 13 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections in Beijing's new outbreak to 249. The resurgence of COVID-19 has been linked to the sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food market, which supplies the majority of the capital region's fresh produce and some meat.

Beijing quickly bolstered measures to stop the spread of the virus after it reemerged in the city of 21 million people on June 11 with a single case linked to the Xinfadi market. The city-wide response alert level was raised, some neighborhoods were put back under strict lockdowns and a massive team of health workers was deployed to test hundreds of thousands of citizens for the disease.

CHINA-HEALTH-VIRUS

A health worker wearing a protective suit takes a swab test on a man at an outdoor area during a mass testing for the COVID-19 coronavirus in Beijing on June 23, 2020. NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty

Officials have predicted the fast response will pay off.

Chief government epidemiologist Wu Zunyou lifted spirits across China and particularly in the capital late last week when he said the Beijing outbreak "has been brought under control."

Wu Hao, a disease control expert from the National Health Commission, told Chinese state television on Sunday night that Beijing would likely see the number of new cases recorded daily level off at more or less the current rate for about a week, after which he predicted, "the number will have a cliff-like drop."

He urged people, however, to be prepared for a long-term coexistence with the virus. "Zero cases in some areas doesn't mean no virus," he cautioned. "There may be asymptomatic carriers" of the disease.

Mass testing and other measures

To identify those carriers, the capital has dramatically ramped up its testing efforts. Authorities have said they plan to test all personnel working in high-risk industries, including farmers markets, catering services, supermarkets, shopping malls, and food and parcel deliveries, as well as health care staff and officials from the city's five designated "high-risk" and 38 "medium-risk" neighborhoods.

Story continues

Already the testing capacity in Beijing has increased from about 40,0000 people per day in March to 300,000 per day at present, and officials have said they hope to increase that ability further to be able to test one million people for the coronavirus every day in the capital.

Health workers in Beijing have collected 2.94 million test samples since the new outbreak surfaced, and 80% had been tested as of Monday. The National Health Commission has sent more than 200 staffers from Hubei, Liaoning and other provinces to help facilitate the massive testing effort in the capital region. Residents from those 43 communities have been barred from leaving the city, Beijing health officials said Tuesday.

CHINA-HEALTH-VIRUS

A man comes to collect items he ordered online in a residential area in Xicheng district, which was under lockdown after a new COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak near the Xinfadi food market in Beijing, June 17, 2020. NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty

Chinese car-hailing platform DiDi Chuxing, which works similar to Uber, also said it would offer free coronavirus testing to its drivers in Beijing. From Tuesday, Beijing railway authorities said they would strictly forbid passengers from boarding trains unless they can provide official certificates showing negative test results within the last seven days.

The source of the resurgence in Beijing has not yet been confirmed, but there has been speculation the disease may have been "imported" back into the capital, and China has suspended imports of poultry from U.S. firm Tyson Foods after cases were confirmed among its employees.

Virus Outbreak China

Chinese police stand guard outside an entrance to the Xinfadi wholesale food market district in Beijing on June 13, 2020. Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Pork imports from a German company were also banned last week after hundreds of its workers became infected. Confirmed coronavirus cases exceeded 9 million globally on Tuesday, with 470,000 fatalities, according to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University. In China, 83,418 have tested positive for the virus, according to data supplied by the government, and the death toll stood at 4,634 as of Tuesday.

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First CMV-22B for Operational Use Arrives at Naval Air Station North Island

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200623-11

Release Date: 6/23/2020 4:53:00 PM

By MC3 Shane Bryan, Commander Naval Air Forces Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Navy's first CMV-22B Osprey for operational use arrived at Naval Air Station North Island, June 22.

The aircraft is assigned to the "Titans" of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, the Navy's first CMV-22B squadron. VRM-30 was established in 2018 to begin the Navy's transition from the C-2A Greyhound to the CMV-22B Osprey.

"Today marks our birthday as a squadron," said Cmdr. Trevor Hermann, VRM-30's commanding officer. "We have relied on our Marine Corps brothers and sisters to help us in our training. Today our efforts are tangible, as you can see with the landing of our first aircraft."

For the last four decades, the C-2A Greyhound has been providing logistic support to aircraft carriers throughout the Navy. However, the CMV-22B Osprey with increased operational range, faster cargo loading/unloading, increased survivability and enhanced beyond-line-of-sight will take over this essential mission. Herman

also emphasized the importance of the highly trained Sailors who will work in and on these aircraft.

"This is the instrument that will bring lethality to the fleet," said Hermann. "Without the maintainers, air crewman and pilots this aircraft is nothing more than carbon fiber and steel. We are the heart and soul of this aircraft. We are carrier on-board delivery, we are naval aviation and we carry the fleet."

The CMV-22B Osprey is a variant of the MV-22B Osprey and will be responsible for conducting high priority cargo and passenger transport services in support of carrier strike groups and task forces. The Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that is capable of vertical take-off and landing, but transit as a turboprop aircraft.

Capt. Dewon Chaney, commodore, Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Wing said that this aircraft is a major upgrade and he is amazed at all of the hard work by everybody to deliver this aircraft in such a difficult time.

"Between COVID-19 and the aircraft delivery schedule everyone stayed focused to deliver this chariot to us," said Chaney. "It is so amazing that we have this capable machine to deploy in the fleet in order to develop combat lethality, and I am just glad that I get to witness this as your commodor."

The CMV-22B is a critical component of the 'Air Wing of the Future' and provides the versatility, flexibility and capabilities needed in a high-end fight. The ability of the aircraft to integrate with fixed-wing operations, and operate at night, will give our carriers a new level of flexibility to adjust operations however required to accomplish the mission.

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Judge Wilson has been an ardent supporter of restrictive voting measures, including voter ID laws, that disproportionately harm minority voters, and he has shown a pattern of dismissing legitimate concerns from voting rights groups, Senators Chuck Schumer of New York, Dianne Feinstein of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, wrote to Mr. McConnell.

Appointing someone to the Fifth Circuit who refers to the concerns of African-American citizens and community advocates regarding the effects of voter ID laws as poppycock is a slap in the face to black Americans at a time when our country is working to take steps forward on racial justice, not backwards, the Democrats wrote.

Democrats also faulted Judge Wilson for his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, saying he and another appeals court judge confirmed last week, Judge Justin Walker of Kentucky, were being placed on the courts to help unravel the law.

But a series of changes to Senate rules since 2013 have essentially eliminated the ability of the minority to hold up judicial nominations, a significant factor in empowering Republicans to push through hundreds of new federal judges despite deep Democratic opposition to most of them.

Republicans purposefully focused on the appeals courts, saying that most of the major, binding court rulings occur at that level since the Supreme Court hears a relatively small number of cases.

Carl W. Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, said it was the first time since the Reagan administration that there were no vacancies among the 179 appellate judgeships authorized by Congress. He noted that the aggressive push by the Trump White House and Senate Republicans had shifted the makeup of three circuits from a majority of judges nominated by Democrats to a majority nominated by Republicans. The effort had also added to the existing majority of Republican-nominated judges on other circuits and increased conservative representation on the liberal Ninth Circuit on the West Coast, he said.

It is possible that more vacancies could still occur this year, and Republicans have indicated they would move to fill them despite an informal tradition of suspending judicial confirmations late in an election year.
Laredo City Council on Tuesday voted to extend its COVID-19 emergency order through July 31 as the number of local cases continues to surge.

READ MORE: Laredo hospital at maximum COVID capacity amid spike

Weeks ago, Gov. Greg Abbott prohibited cities and counties from requiring residents to wear masks and imposing jail time for those who dont. This was Laredos main recourse in the early days of the coronavirus emergency, being the first city in the country to mandate face coverings in public.

Abbott has now repeatedly brushed off pleas from Texas local officials to allow them to enforce mask wearing among the public.

Laredo officials voiced Tuesday that this flies in the face of the citys home rule authority, which is granted to most Texas cities so that they can self-govern, creating their own laws and ordinances.

So City Council voted to send the governor a demand letter so that they would be able to again mandate individuals cover their nose and mouth in public, and so that they can open up the city at their own pace.

Mayor Pete Saenz this week already signed off on an amendment to the citys order which mandates all public-facing commercial businesses require their employees and customers to cover their nose and mouth if they cannot maintain a social distance. Starting Wednesday, businesses that do not comply face a $1,000 fine per violation.

Laredo surpassed 1,000 cases for the first time on Tuesday while recording a single-day high of 55 cases locally. The city is coming off its most cases in a single week with 199, and it already has 129 cases through the first four days of this week.

READ MORE: Laredo officials confirm 23rd death, 55 positives as city passes 1k coronavirus cases

The official weeks must be totaled from Saturdays through Fridays due to the city halting coronavirus updates during the weekend, as there is no other way to count the individual amounts which occurred on those respective weekend days.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
Snapping its four-day rising streak, equity benchmark Sensex surrendered all early gains to plunge 561 points on Wednesday, tracking a selloff in financial stocks and weak cues from global markets.

The 30-share index settled 561.45 points, or 1.58 per cent, lower at 34,868.98. It hit an intra-day high of 35,706.55 and a low of 34,794.93.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty fell 165.70 points, or 1.58 per cent, to 10,305.30. During the day, it touched a peak of 10,553.15 and a low of 10,281.95.

IndusInd Bank was the top laggard in the Sensex pack, tanking over 7 per cent, followed by ICICI Bank, PowerGrid, Axis Bank, SBI and Bharti Airtel.

On the other hand, Asian Paints, ITC, Nestle India and Reliance Industries were among the gainers.

According to traders, despite opening on a positive note, selloff in financial stocks dragged domestic equities into the negative territory.

Weak opening of European equities too weighed on investor sentiment, they said.

Stock exchanges in Paris, Frankfurt and London sank over 2 per cent in early deals.

Bourses in Hong Kong and Tokyo settled in the red, while Shanghai and Seoul ended with gains.

International oil benchmark Brent crude futures fell 1.15 per cent to USD 42.14 per barrel.

On the currency front, the rupee erased its initial gains and provisionally settled lower by 6 paise at 75.72 against the US dollar.
In new TV interview, Minister Mendicino says Canada remains open to immigrants despite coronavirus pandemic.

After U.S. immigration ban, Mendicino says Come to Canada

After U.S. immigration ban, Mendicino says Come to Canada In new TV interview, Minister Mendicino says Canada remains open to immigrants despite coronavirus pandemic.

After U.S. immigration ban, Mendicino says Come to Canada In new TV interview, Minister Mendicino says Canada remains open to immigrants despite coronavirus pandemic.

After U.S. immigration ban, Mendicino says Come to Canada In new TV interview, Minister Mendicino says Canada remains open to immigrants despite coronavirus pandemic. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

Sans Font Size A

A

Come to Canada.

That is the message to talent all over the world by Canadas immigration minister Marco Mendicino following the permanent and temporary resident visa suspensions announced by the United States yesterday.

President Donald Trump signed a new Executive Order which will prevent new green card holders and temporary foreign workers from coming to the U.S. in 2020. Trump signed the order due to the belief it will help American workers who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic find employment.

Minister Mendicino has made numerous remarks since the start of the coronavirus crisis that Canada is still committed to welcoming immigrants, temporary foreign workers, and international students.

While Canadas economy has also been weakened by the pandemic, Mendicino and the Canadian government believe that continuing to welcome immigrants will help the economy.

Mendicino re-iterated these views in a new television interview.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

When asked about his thoughts on the immigration suspension in the U.S., Mendicino said that immigration will spring Canadas economic recovery.

We have a plan in place that looks to leverage the best and the brightest from around the world. Weve got pathways like the Express Entry program, and the Global Talent Stream, which will help to bring entrepreneurs, engineers, and innovators. Weve also got pathways for manual laborers and skilled laborers.

Indeed, Canada continues to welcome new immigrants through Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and other permanent resident pathways during the pandemic. In addition, temporary foreign workers are largely exempt from Canadas current travel restrictions and tech workers may enter Canada through temporary visa pathways such as the Global Talent Stream.

Prior to the pandemic, Canada was seeking to welcome another 341,000 new permanent residents in 2020 following the record-setting year it had in 2019.

Canada does not have targets in place for temporary foreign workers and international students.

In all, Canada offers over 100 combined permanent and temporary resident options to skilled workers that wish to pursue economic opportunity in the country.

Canada also offers various immigration streams to temporary foreign workers and international students who wish to transition to Canadian permanent residence status.

Mendicinos remarks on immigration begin at 03:05:00 in the following video, which aired on June 23, 2020:

Need assistance with a temporary visa application process? Contact wp@canadavisa.com

Get help with Canadian work permits and TRVs

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
Recommendations for Business Continuity Management in the Fintech Market regarding Pandemic

Posted by Publisher Internet

The coronavirus pandemic threatens the Lithuanian and the global economy. The Bank of Lithuania has therefore decided that electronic money and payment institutions must develop and implement structures and processes ? the business continuity plan ? in order to assess and deal with the risks associated with the coronavirus.

The measures must be appropriate to manage and measure the risk associated with coronavirus. Institutions must foresee their management in their internal risk management documents. The risks related to coronavirus must be assessed in accordance with customer funds protection requirements.

Operational and security risk and the business continuity management process

According to resolution no. 03-264 of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania of 20 December 2018, confirmed by point 8 of the Operational and Security Risk Management Requirements for Payment Service Providers (the Description), payment service providers must create appropriate organisational structures and processes to:

manage operational and security risks

perform continuous monitoring of operational functions, supportive processes and information resources

ensure consistent and integrated monitoring, management and follow-up research of operational and security incidents

identify and continuously monitor operational and security threats that may have a significant impact on their ability to provide payment services

provide assistance and advice to payment service users and to raise their awareness of security risks related to payment services

Point 40 of the Description contains a requirement for payment service providers to install an appropriate business continuity management process to ensure uninterrupted payment service provision and limit losses in the event of business disruption.

Based on their analysis of business disruption risk and its impact, payment service providers must:

have a business continuity plan which ensures that they will be able to respond appropriately to unforeseen critical situations and to continue to perform critical operations

install risk mitigation measures to be taken in case of disruption of payment services and/or termination of existing contracts with third parties in order to avoid adverse effects on payment systems and payment service users and to ensure the execution of pending payment transactions

In the event of a disruption or emergency situation and the implementation of a business continuity plan, payment service providers must have effective communication tools for crisis management to ensure that all relevant internal and external stakeholders, including external service providers, are informed in a timely and appropriate manner.

What should be included in the business continuity plan with regard to the pandemic situation?

The plan must include measures to be taken by the financial market participant to continue providing its significant services to clients in the event of an unforeseen scenario actually disrupting its normal critical operation. At present, the focus should be on ensuring a sufficient level of financial and human resources to enable the institution to continue its activities.

Each financial institution must realistically asses how their current clients may be affected by the economic slowdown, global quarantine and the closing of borders and anticipate the possible consequences. Consideration should be given to raising capital and providing new payment services to keep the financial institution in the market should the current financial situation deteriorate and differ substantially from their business plan.

In addition, financial market participants need to assess whether they have a strategy for replacing workers/service providers in case of illness. Of particular importance are those employees/service providers whose functions are related to the prevention of money laundering, regulatory compliance, information security and other financial institution operational activities, explain the Ecovis consultants.

Financial institutions should ensure that as many of their employees as possible can work remotely, as recommended by the Government. However, it should not be forgotten that it is important to follow information security best practices, because trying to protect oneself against one threat can make it easy to become the subject of another. Financial institutions need to provide secure access to their information database, protect accounts with passwords and install anti-virus systems and similar tools for their employees.

All documents and plans must be kept up to date. Not only does this provide greater definability, it can also be a competitive advantage over other financial market participants. Financial institutions with a strategy in place to manage a situation similar to the COVID-19 pandemic will have a real opportunity to test whether and how it works. Those market players who did not foresee any such situation in their business continuity plans, or who do not have a business continuity plan at all, should take immediate steps to prepare one and comply with it.

Financial institutions should ensure proper communication with the Bank of Lithuania and, to the extent available within the existing restrictions, provide services to clients. Those who encounter difficulties in complying with supervisory requirements or ensuring business continuity must inform the Bank of Lithuania immediately.

Lithuanian financial market supervision during the pandemic and quarantine

Despite the situation in the country, financial institution supervision must continue, and the regulator cannot be closed. With this in mind, the Board of the Bank of Lithuania has decided that all meetings related to the supervision of financial market participants can and will be conducted remotely.

In this difficult time for Lithuanian businesses and the economy, financial market participants should not forget their obligations not only to their clients, but also to supervisory institutions. They should fulfil their obligations in a proper and timely manner in order to avoid negative consequences, say the experts from Ecovis.

For further information please contact:

Inga Karulaityt?-Kvainauskien?, Head of Fintech Group, Attorney at Law, Partner,?ECOVIS ProventusLaw, Vilnius, Lithuania

Ecovis is a leading global consulting firm with its origins in Continental Europe. It has almost 8,500 people operating in nearly 80 countries. Its consulting focus and core competencies lie in the areas of tax consultation, accounting, auditing and legal advice.

The particular strength of Ecovis is the combination of personal advice at a local level with the general expertise of an international and interdisciplinary network of professionals. Every Ecovis office can rely on qualified specialists in the back offices as well as on the specific industrial or national know-how of all the Ecovis experts worldwide. This diversified expertise provides clients with effective support, especially in the fields of international transactions and investments  from preparation in the client\-\-s home country to support in the target country.

In its consulting work Ecovis concentrates mainly on mid-sized firms. Both nationally and internationally, its one-stop-shop concept ensures all-round support in legal, fiscal, managerial and administrative issues.

The name Ecovis, a combination of the terms economy and vision, expresses both its international character and its focus on the future and growth.
MONTREALDespite being allowed to operate, some day camps in Quebec and Ontario are turning to the internet to keep children entertained this summer.

And while online day camps can help prevent kids from catching COVID-19 and assuage the concerns of skittish parents, they arent accessible to everyone.

Rock Camp Montreal, for instance, wasnt able to get access to some of the venues it used in previous summers. Instead, the camp will open online-only this year with a different focus that it hopes will appeal to young people.

We have had to basically completely change the model of camp to be more of a music production focus, board member Skye Miechkota said.

The one-week camp runs music and anti-oppression workshops and is offered to girls and gender non-conforming youth. This year, instead of teaching campers in an electroacoustic studio at Concordia University, they will try to teach their campers through music production software.

But the camp cannot be as inclusive as it wants to be because of the digital divide.

Its definitely been very stressful, Miechkota said. Were trying to work around peoples schedules, but ultimately if a camper doesnt have access to the internet, unfortunately its beyond our means right now to provide that for a camper.

The Ottawa Childrens Theatre previously used the Dominion-Chalmers United Church for its summer programs but is now holding sessions online, including one led by two former Ottawa residents whove since moved to New York City to work as actors and playwrights.

But the childrens theatre must also reduce access to its activities this year.

Most of the camps, were dealing with six, eight or 10 kids, said Amanda Lewis, founder of the Ottawa Childrens Theatre. Keeping very small numbers so that we can stay closely connected to each and every child.

Malik Shaheed is the director of operations for the Youth Stars Foundation, a non-profit organization that runs an annual summer day camp in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, a Montreal west-end borough.

Shaheed said the camp will offer free online workshops on coding, arts and crafts, and music starting June 29. He initially wanted to open the camp and welcome kids in-person, but relented when parents expressed concerns.

Once the COVID really hit, registration completely stopped, Shaheed said. We had a couple of people inquiring, but not the magnitude it usually is.

Day camps are permitted to open in Quebec and Ontario under certain public health guidelines designed to control the spread of COVID-19.

But some parents such as Tara Belle are getting ready for a summer multitasking work and parental duties.

A lot of parents keep their kids all summer anyways, Belle said in a interview. It might be a hardship for us, relative to what we usually have. At the same time, itll allow us to spend more time with our kids than we really ever have before.

The YMCA in Quebec was forced to close several of its day camps that dont have dedicated outdoor space this summer because the government is requiring all activities take place outside.

Sean Day, YMCA regional director of camps, says that Quebec YMCAs are looking to provide ways for children to connect online with a camp counsellor.

Day said he feels strongly that children need something to look forward to this summer.

You can imagine the complexities of creating these programs, he said in an interview about the YMCAs online summer services. Weve been working hard at it because we feel so strongly that there needs to be something for kids this summer.

Read more about:
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Company ("Hamilton" or the "Company") (NYSE: HBB) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and indexed under 20-cv-02323, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired Hamilton securities between February 27, 2020, and May 8, 2020, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Hamilton securities during the class period, you have until July 21, 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 [email protected] 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]

Hamilton was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Glen Allen, Virginia. The Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, and distributes small electric household and specialty housewares appliances. The Company sells its products through a network of mass merchandisers, e-commerce retailers, national department stores, variety and drug store chains, specialty home retailers, distributors, and other retail outlets.

As a holding company, Hamilton primarily operates through its subsidiaries, which are located throughout the U.S. and internationally, including Mexico. According to the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, Hamilton has two Mexican subsidiariesGrupo HB/PS S.A. de C.V. and Hamilton Beach Brands de Mexico S.A. de C.V.

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about Hamilton's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (i) Hamilton had inadequate disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, particularly with respect to one of its Mexican subsidiaries; (ii) consequently, the Company's accounting included certain irregularities with respect to the timing of recognition of selling and marketing expenses and the classification of certain expenditures within the statement of operations at this Mexican subsidiary, as well as potential misconduct with respect to the realizability of certain assets of the Mexican subsidiary; (iii) as a result of all the foregoing, Hamilton could not accurately attest to its financial results, particularly with respect to these metrics, and was consequently at an increased risk of delaying the filing of its periodic reports with the SEC; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On May 11, 2020, during pre-market hours, Hamilton announced that it could not timely file its 1Q20 10-Q because of "certain accounting irregularities with respect to the timing of recognition of selling and marketing expenses and the classification of certain expenditures within the statement of operations at its Mexican subsidiary." Hamilton further stated that its "Audit Review Committee has commenced an internal investigation" regarding "the realizability of certain assets of the Mexican subsidiary."

Following these disclosures, Hamilton's stock price fell $1.03 per share, or 8.99%, to close at $10.43 per share on May 11, 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

[email protected]

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the closure of the Department for International Development (DfID), which disperses Britains 15.2 billion aid budget in the name of poverty reduction.

It is to be subsumed under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to form the new Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The move makes transparent that which was once unstated. Aid will only be dispensed if it furthers Britains geo-strategic, defence and commercial interests.

The new department is expected to be established in the autumn, even before the completion of the governments integrated foreign and defence security review being carried out by Downing Street adviser John Bew.

Sir Simon McDonald, the FCOs most senior civil servant, is to retire earlier than planned after five years in the post to make way for a replacement more in tune with Johnsons agenda. Unpopular with Downing Street because of his perceived opposition to Brexit, he recently recanted on his statement to Members of Parliament that the UK had made a political decision not to join a European Union scheme to source ventilators for treating COVID-19 patients on Number 10s orders.

Johnson announced the move in the House of Commons in a statement redolent of his imperialist, arrogant and racist views. After saying that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would in future make the final decision about which countries would receive Britains help, he added, For too long, frankly, UK overseas aid has been treated like a giant cashpoint in the sky, that arrives without any reference to UK interests.

While Johnson said that the government would maintain its statutory commitment to spending 0.7 percent of GDP on overseas aid, he noted that DfID outspends the Foreign Office more than four times over and yet no single decision-maker in either department is able to unite our efforts or take a comprehensive overview in favour of Britains broader interests.

He complained, We give as much aid to Zambia as we do to Ukraine, though the latter is vital for European security. We give 10 times as much aid to Tanzania as we do to the six countries of the western Balkans, who are acutely vulnerable to Russian meddling.

Nearly 60 percent of Zambians live below the international poverty line of $1.90 a day, while nearly 50 percent of Tanzanians live on less than $1.90 a day.

Whatever Johnsons critics in parliament and in the charities and other NGOs might say, aid has always been about Britains geo-strategic interests whether dressed up as development economics or not. But now all niceties and evasions are to be junked. Henceforth, the aid budget will be used explicitly to boost Britains business and military interests.

DfID was set up in 1997 as a separate department under Tony Blairs New Labour government with cross-party support. This was done in response to various scandals surrounding the FCOs aid disbursement to further its foreign policy and commercial objectives, via the notorious policy of tied aid schemes whereby aid to third world countries is used to pay for contracts with British companies. The most infamous was the tying of funding for Malaysias Pergau dam to a weapons deal under Margaret Thatchers government in the late 1980s.

DfIDs statutory-defined function of poverty reduction was more honoured in the breach than the observance. It did not stop Blair from greenlighting a highly dubious and wasteful air traffic control system for Tanzania that was clearly designed for military purposesprobably for use in the war on terror in East Africa. A flagrant breach of the World Bank/ International Monetary Funds loan conditions to the country, it led to a US court case alleging corruption and a 30 million refund to Tanzania.

DfIDs demise had long been trailed within the Tory government and actively championed by Johnsons key advisor, Dominic Cummings. Former DfID Secretary and current Home Secretary Priti Patel had argued that Britains aid budget should be cut unless it works in the national interest and was tied to trade deals. In 2017, the BBC revealed that Patel, after meeting Israeli officials, had lobbied to divert part of the UKs international aid budget to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations in the Golan. Israel has been widely reported as aiding the Al Nusra Front and other Al Qaeda linked fighters in Syria.

Like her mentor in the White House, Patel is a vehement opponent of aid to the Palestinians. With DfID providing most of Britains $85 million a year aid to the Palestinian Authority and Gaza, as well as grants to human rights organisations that criticise Israel, including Amnesty International, it can be expected that this will soon cease.

Patels successor at DfID, Penny Mordaunt, sought to change the international definition of government aid spending to include profits from DfIDs private sector investment arm, the CDC Group, formerly the Commonwealth Development Corporation. This would enable the government to reduce new funding from the Treasury, while still meeting its commitment on paper to spend 0.7 percent of GDP on aid. She called for the government to work with managers to make it easier for British citizens to invest in poor countries.

The CDC, which accounts for around 40 percent of DfIDs aid budget, has been heavily criticised for its investments in commercial development projects such as hotels and shopping centres in Kenya, for channelling its investments through tax havens, and for losing most of its $140 million investment in a Kenyan cement maker.

Johnsons predecessor, Theresa May, sliced up the aid budget and handed over bits to other government departments, including the FCO, so that by 2019, the FCO spent 680 million on aid, more than double the amount spent in 2013 and around 40 percent of its 1.7 billion allocation.

The House of Commons Select Committee on international development recently reported that UK aid outside DfIDs remit has a very different geographical profile, with around three quarters going to middle-income countries, including China, India and South Africa, pursuing priorities such as reducing carbon emissions, tackling insecurity, building research partnerships and promoting trade and investment ties with the UK.

A senior Tory said that Johnson took the decision to scrap the DfID without any discussion in cabinet. Only two months ago, the current DfID Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan told the House of Commons international development committee that DfID was safe.

The announcement has sparked outpourings of hypocritical outrage and condemnation from politicians concerned over Britains declining international position, and the political impact of such a naked exposure of the use of aid as a form of imperialist power.

Three former prime ministersLabours Blair and Gordon Brown and Tory David Cameronhave opposed Johnsons move, saying it would undermine Britains credibility overseas. Their concerns lie with Britains diminishing influence and reputationparticularly in the wake of Britains decision to leave the EUfaced with the challenge from its major rivals, including France, Germany, Turkey, the US, and China, in both Africa and Asia.

Blair tweeted, I am utterly dismayed by the decision to abolish DfID. We created DfID in 1997 to play a strong, important role in projecting British soft power. It has done so to general global acclaim.

Most of DfIDs budget goes on projects, whether branded as poverty alleviation or conflict resolution, that promote British interests, including bringing many students to British universities via a plethora of aid programmes. Much aid has already been securitised and used to prevent migration from Africa and the Middle East, and to provide security, meaning military, and police operations and training channelled through a handful of corporations.

DfID provides most of the 1 billion plus funding for the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) set up in 2015 to replace the previous Conflict (Prevention) Pool. Overseen by the National Security Council, it includes programmes such as developing human rights training, strengthening local police and judiciaries, and facilitating political reconciliation in war-torn countries such as Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia, with 40 countries receiving money.
In visiting the US-Mexico border, Trump seeks to change the subject to an issue he thinks will help electrify his base.

President Donald Trump visited the US-Mexico border Tuesday and tried to credit his new wall with stopping both undocumented immigration and the coronavirus.

In the blazing heat, Trump briefly stopped to inspect a new section of the concrete and rebar structure where the president and other officials took a moment to scrawl their signatures on the wall.

It stopped COVID, it stopped everything, Trump said.

Trump was looking to regain campaign momentum after his weekend rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was supposed to be a sign of the nations reopening. Low turnout for the rally, however, sharpened the focus on Trumps visit to Arizona, which doubles as both a 2020 battleground state and a surging coronavirus hot spot.

By visiting the border, Trump sought to change the subject to an issue he believes will help electrify his base in November.

Our border has never been more secure, Trump declared as he met with Arizona Republican Governor Doug Ducey and federal Border Patrol officials.

Later in the day, Trump addressed a group of young Republicans at a Phoenix megachurch. The Students for Trump event at the Dream City Church is part of a special project of Turning Point Action, a group chaired by Trump ally Charlie Kirk.

President Trumps supporters make their way through protesters outside the Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona [Ash Ponders/Reuters]

Campaign officials stressed that such 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 aeroplane hangars and amphitheatres, or in smaller cities away from likely protesters.

Trumps visit to the Phoenix church comes on the same day that Vice President Mike Pence kicked off a faith-centred 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 cannot afford to lose.

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 (724 kilometres) by the end of the year, but that seems unlikely. The government has awarded more than $6.1bn 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 multimillion-dollar contracts secretive and opaque.

Throughout the trip, the COVID-19 pandemic is shadowing Trump. Since late May, Arizona has emerged as one of the nations most active hot spots for the spread of COVID-19, with 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 hospitalised, in intensive care and on ventilators for COVID-19. Arizonas total caseload in the pandemic has reached at least 58,179, with 42 more deaths reported Tuesday, raising the death toll to 1,384.
India on Tuesday announced that it will contribute USD 10 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) over the coming two years and asserted that capacity enhancement through training and building durable institutions is a major plank of its developmental assistance to Palestine.

Addressing an extraordinary virtual ministerial pledging conference for UNRWA, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that as a steadfast supporter of the Palestinian cause, India deeply appreciates the generous support and untiring work of host countries, donors and UNRWA to ensure millions of "our Palestinian brothers and sisters displaced from their homeland lead a life of dignity".

"The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreck havoc across the globe, stretching governments' resources to address healthcare and socio-economic needs of their own people, and constraining capacities to assist others," he said.

But, victory over this unprecedented crisis demands collective and concerted action, Muraleedharan asserted.

Therefore, despite a surge in domestic demand for medical supplies amidst rising COVID-19 cases, India is assisting countries in need of critical, life saving drugs, he said. "We are sending a medical shipment to Palestine next week," Muraleedharan said.

"Capacity enhancement through training and building durable institutions is a major plank of our developmental assistance to Palestine," he said.

India provides 250 annual scholarships to Palestinian youth and officials, apart from regular customised training programmes, and its current project grant is around USD 72 million, he said.

Asserting that UNRWA needs continued support, Muraleedharan said when certain countries withdrew funding, India had stepped up its annual pledge from USD 1.25 million to USD 5 million in 2018.

"For this year, we have already disbursed USD 2 million and will soon be remitting the balance USD 3 million. I am pleased to announce that we will contribute another USD 10 million to UNRWA over the coming two years," he said.
LYON, France, and MIDDLETON, Wis. - June 24, 2020 - Esker, a worldwide leader in AI-driven process automation solutionsand pioneer in cloud computing, along with KPMG Netherlands, part of the global network of professional services firms offering leading audit, tax and advisory services, today announced the extension of their reseller partnership. As part of the agreement, KPMG Netherlands will provide consultation, implementation, and support for Esker's Procure-to-Payand Order-to-Cashsolutions.



Building on the collaboration announced last year, KPMG Netherlands has successfully marketed Esker's cloud-based Account Payable solution and will now manage first-line maintenance and support, as well as future joint marketing events. This partnership has enabled Esker to further develop its presence in the Netherlands and internationally, and allowed KPMG Netherlands to deliver value-added services to businesses on their digital transformation journey. The successful alliance has resulted in more knowledgeable teams equipped with expert information and skills for customers.

Built with industry-leading AI and RPA technology, Esker's intuitive, cloud-based platform allows businesses to power their digital transformation across the cash conversion cycle. KPMG Netherlands' customers will benefit from greater efficiency, accuracy, visibility and cost savings.

"Esker's intelligent automation software, combined with KPMG's process excellence expertise, help our mutual customers transform their finance organization into a future-proof profit center," said Joris Juttmann, Partner Digital Process Excellence at KPMG Netherlands. "We are extremely pleased with the initial results of our collaboration with KPMG Netherlands, which has generated signed contracts for our Accounts Payable solution across all ERP systems, including SAP S/4HANA Cloud," said Jean-Michel Berard, CEO at Esker. "We will continue to grow our partnership and together, help companies accelerate the cash conversion cycle and transform the way customers and suppliers interact."

About KPMG Netherlands

KPMG in the Netherlands is part of a global network of professional services firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. The company operates in 153 countries and has 207,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.

About Esker

Esker is a worldwide leader in AI-driven process automation software, helping financial and customer service departments digitally transform their procure-to-pay. Follow Esker on Twitter @EskerIncand join the conversation on the Esker blog at blog.esker.com.

Attachment
An independent investigation into the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, Massachusetts, a state-run facility where more than 90 residents died since the coronavirus pandemic began, found that "substantial errors" and "utterly baffling" decisions by the home's leadership likely contributed to the tragedy.

The report on the investigation, however, said the home's leadership, including suspended Superintendent Bennett Walsh, did not conceal the situation.

"Our analysis of the Homes preparations for and response to COVID-19 in light of existing public health recommendations has identified substantial errors and failures by the Homes leadership that likely contributed to the death toll during the outbreak," according to the report, which was released Wednesday and signed by attorney Mark Pearlstein, a former federal prosecutor.

"Indeed, some of the critical decisions made by Mr. Walsh and his leadership team during the final two weeks of March 2020 were utterly baffling from an infection-control perspective, and were inconsistent with the Homes mission to treat its veterans with honor and dignity," the report added.

Ninety-two veterans died at the Soldier's Home -- nearly 40 percent of the population. Seventy-six of those who died had tested positive for COVID-19.

The investigation was ordered by Gov. Charlie Baker.

PHOTO: A flag hangs at half mast on the grounds of the Holyoke Soldiers Home in Holyoke, Mass. on April 28, 2020. (Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images, FILE)

The report described leadership's "most substantial error" as a decision on March 27 to move all the veterans from one locked dementia unit into the other.

At that time, each unit had some veterans who had tested positive COVID-19, some of whom were suspected of having the virus and others who were not displaying any symptoms, according to the report.

Rather than isolating those with COVID-19 from those who were asymptomatic, more than 40 veterans were "crowded into a space designed to hold 25," the report stated.

"This overcrowding was the opposite of infection control; instead, it put those who were asymptomatic at even greater risk of contracting COVID-19," according to the report.

Story continues

MORE: Employees say veteran at Soldier's Home infected others after leadership failures

Staff members who were interviewed for the report spoke of the harrowing situation.

A recreational therapist who was instructed to help with the move said she felt like she was "walking [the veterans] to their death and that the veterans were terrified."

A social worker said she felt it was like moving the concentration camp  we [were] moving these unknowing veterans off to die. Another described the unit as resembling "a war zone," with some veterans clothed, some unclothed, and some obviously in the process of dying from COVID-19.

PHOTO: In this May 5, 2020, photo, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker speaks during a news conference held after a tour of the Merrow Manufacturing plant during the coronavirus pandemic in Fall River, Mass. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald via AP, FILE)

Other errors at the home included delays in closing common spaces, failure to stop rotation of staff among units, inconsistent policies and practices with respect to personal protective equipment and record keeping and documentation failures.

Even the best preparations and most careful response cannot eliminate the threat of COVID-19. But this does not excuse a failure to plan and execute on long-standing infection control principles and to seek outside help when it is required to keep patients safeindeed, the extraordinary danger of COVID-19 makes these steps all the more important, the report said.

The report helped answer the long-standing question of what went so tragically wrong inside the home.

MORE: Daughter of veteran who died from coronavirus at Holyoke Soldiers' Home speaks out

Employees previously told ABC News that in the early days of the pandemic, staff members were not given face masks. They also said some of the residents were moved to other rooms, leading to overcrowding and possible further spread.

Family members said they struggled to reach anyone at the home when the virus appeared to be running rampant at the end of March.

One daughter of a veteran at the home, Susan Kenney, told ABC News she waited for days to hear about her own father's condition after learning of the home's first COVID-19 case.

She said she eventually decided that she would drive down to the home herself. Kenney made sure she would be noticed by staff, so she painted 12 words on the side of her car: "Shame on you, Soldiers' Home. It's been 30 hours with no callback."

PHOTO: An image of veteran James Sullivan is projected onto the home of his son, Tom Sullivan, left, as he looks out a window with his brother, Joseph Sullivan, in South Hadley, Mass., May 4, 2020. (David Goldman/AP, FILE)

Kenney's father eventually did test positive for COVID-19 and died on April 15.

An attorney for the suspended superintendent of the Soldiers' Home, Bennett Walsh, said at a press conference in May that Walsh did not keep anyone "in the dark" about the growing crisis inside.

Attorney William Bennett, who is also Walsh's uncle, repeatedly insisted that Walsh took several steps to notify state and local officials about the growing rate of COVID-19 infections among veterans, but that Walsh's requests for medical assistance for the facility were denied.

Bennett wrote in a statement released late Wednesday that he and his client are "disappointed that the report contains many baseless accusations that are immaterial to the issues under consideration."

MORE: Suspended superintendent at Holyoke Soldiers' Home did not keep officials in the dark, attorney says

The attorney added he and his client "dispute" the conclusions of the report, asserting that they were "never given the opportunity to rebut prior to publication."

He noted that the investigation does "establish the original accusations that Mr. Walsh reported nothing to state officials and tried to keep everyone in the dark are false."

Walsh was placed on paid administrative leave on March 30 after state officials visited the facility.

The report released Wednesday found that Walsh was "not qualified" to manage a long-term care facility. The report also noted that his "shortcomings were well known to the Department of Veterans Services" but the agency failed to effectively oversee the home during his tenure despite a statutory responsibility to do so.

There are three other investigations ongoing into the home and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

'Substantial errors,' 'utterly baffling' decisions led to COVID tragedy at Holyoke Soldiers' Home originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The ruling, a significant win for both Flynn and the Justice Department, cuts short what could have been a protracted legal fight to dissect the basis for the government's dismissal of the case. It came as Democrats question whether the Justice Department has become too politicized and Attorney General William Barr too quick to side with the president, particularly as he moves to scrutinize  and even undo  some of the results of the Russia probe.
The Indian Armed Forces Tri-Service Contingent on Wednesday (June 24) marched at the Red Square in Moscow (Russia) as a part of the 75th Anniversary of Victory Day Parade of the World War II.

The Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces comprised of 75 all ranks and marched along with contingents of Russian Armed Forces and 17 other countries.

The Union Defence Minister who is on a three-day visit to Russia also attended the parade and said, "Impressive turnout of the Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow is indeed an extremely proud and happy moment for me."

Impressive turnout of the Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow is indeed an extremely proud and happy moment for me. pic.twitter.com/csEKNGKFLU  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 24, 2020

Attending the Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow today to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory of the Soviet People in the great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. I am proud that a Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces is also participating in this parade. pic.twitter.com/0zBiaKH5r1  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 24, 2020

The British Indian Armed Forces during World War-II were one of the largest Allied Forces contingents which took part in the North and East African Campaign, Western Desert Campaign and the European Theatre against the Axis powers.

These campaigns witnessed sacrifice by over 87 thousand Indian servicemen beside 34,354 being wounded.

The Indian Military not only fought on all fronts but also ensured delivery of goods along the Southern, Trans-Iranian Lend-Lease route, along which weapons, ammunition, spare parts for equipment and food went to the Soviet Union, Iran and Iraq.

The valour of the Indian soldiers was recognised with the award of over four thousand decorations, which also included the award of 18 Victoria and George Cross.

In addition, the then Soviet Union appreciated the valour of the Indian Armed forces and by the decree of 23 May 1944, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR signed by Mikhail Kalinin and Alexander Gorkin awarded the prestigious Orders of the Red Star to Subedar Narayan Rao Nikkam and Havildar Gajendra Singh Chand of Royal Indian Army Service Corps.

Earlier yesterday, Rajnath 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," said Rajnath.

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.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 2 basis points to 0.69% and the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was also lower at 1.44%. Yields move inversely to prices.

Treasury yields dipped on Wednesday as investors grew more fearful of a coronavirus resurgence.

An acceleration of Covid-19 cases sparked angst among investors about the economy and recent reopening efforts. Florida confirmed its Covid-19 cases jumped by 5,508 on Tuesday, a new record. Meanwhile, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said travelers from states with high coronavirus infection rates that are coming to New York, Connecticut and New Jersey must quarantine for 14 days.

The fears triggered a big sell-off in the stock market, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.6%.

White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Tuesday that certain areas in the country are facing a "disturbing surge" of Covid-19 cases.

The International Monetary Fund projected that the contraction in the global economy will be worse than previously feared, shrinking 4.9% in 2020. Previous projections called for a 3% decline. The Fund also lowered growth projections in 2021, saying the global economy will expand 5.4%, down from 5.8%.

Bond traders are also likely to monitor speeches from Chicago Fed President Charles Evans and St. Louis Fed President James Bullard.

Auctions will be held Wednesday for $20 billion of 2-year floating-rate notes and $47 billion of 5-year notes.
Its been more than three weeks since mass demonstrations against racial injustice began in Michigan, amid concerns the events could contribute to the spread of COVID-19.

Public health officials concerned by the possibility of coronavirus spread at protests
Garment workers leave at the end of their shift from a factory near Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb. 11, 2020.

Garment factory owners on Tuesday urged Cambodias government to postpone annual negotiations on minimum wage, saying the sector needs to first recover from the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic, while unions sought to downplay the severity of its impact and demand that talks go ahead.

The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) issued a statement calling on the Ministry of Labor to stall minimum wage negotiations in the textile, garment, and footwear sector for 2021, planned to take place between July and September, citing a dearth of orders from foreign buyers and factory shutdowns caused by the outbreak.

In the textile, garment, and footwear industry, many enterprises have temporarily suspended their production, it reads.

At the same time, some enterprises have decided to shut down their operations as buyers have canceled orders and refused to accept products already produced and also failed to make payments for goods that have been produced and delivered for the reason that stores and retailers around the world have closed, and the demands have declined to the minimum.

The GMAC noted that Cambodias Labor Law and Law on Minimum Wage stipulate that minimum wage negotiations must be based on criteria that include the profitability of the sector and allow for the Ministry of Labor to suspend or change the schedule of discussions. In the case of such a suspension, the minimum wage of the previous year will remain in effect.

It said that amid the outbreak, the sector is fragile and uncertain in its return to its normal operation, while recovery will take a long time. Meanwhile, the GMAC said that supporting mechanisms are necessary to help stabilize the industry.

The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) is of the view that the new minimum wage negotiations for 2021 should be postponed  until the situation in the sector is restored, the statement said.

Delaying the minimum wage negotiations will be a mechanism to support the sector to stay alive as well as maintain employment for workers.

Union will seek wage increase

In response to the request, Yang Sophoan, president of the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions told RFAs Khmer Service that the situation caused by the outbreak is not severe enough to warrant calling off the talks.

Buyers have also made commitments for future orders, she noted, adding that her union and others expect negotiations to take place.

If the government has a strong commitment to helping the garment sector survive and workers to be able to support themselves, it shouldnt accede to the GMACs request and force the unions and workers to comply with it, she said. Well never accept it.

The current minimum wage is U.S. $190 per month and the unions will push for an increase, Yang Sophoan said. Any changes to the minimum wage would go into effect beginning in January.

She explained that workers have been earning little more than U.S. $70 per month in addition to a small amount of assistance from the government because of the factory closures and suspensions, which she said is not enough.

In addition to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, Cambodias key garment industry faces an uncertain future over the European Unions impending suspension of trade preferences for the Southeast Asian nation.

The EU in mid-February announced plans to suspend tariff-free access to its market under the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme for around one-fifth of Cambodias exports, citing rollbacks on democracy and human rightsa decision that would reinstate tariffs on garments and footwear beginning Aug. 12, unless it is overturned by the blocs governments or its parliament.

The decision will result in a loss of around U.S. $1.1 billion of the countrys annual U.S. $5.8 billion in exports to the bloc, some 75 percent of which are made up of clothing and textilesa crucial industry in Cambodia that employs one million people.

Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen has shrugged off the EUs move, but unions have warned that the reinstatement of tariffs on Cambodian exports to the EU could leave 80,000 workers from more than 1,000 garment factories in Cambodia jobless if buyers from the bloc stop placing orders because of increased costs.

Call for reopening

Amid widespread economic fallout from the coronavirus, businessmen and vendors in Banteay Meanchey provinces Poipet city urged provincial authorities to press Thailand to reopen its borders so they can resume work at markets located inside the neighboring nation.

Thailand sealed off it borders to Cambodians some three months ago to stop the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

Din Puthy, the head of the Cambodia Informal Economy Reinforced Association, told RFA that since the border closure, his family had lost its only income from businesses in Thailand.

He said that he and other Cambodians living along the border who have lost their jobs are selling off their assets, including jewelry and motorbikes, to make sure they have enough food on their tables.

He urged Banteay Meancheys provincial authorities to close Cambodias border to Thais in retaliation for the continued shutdown.

[Our provincial authorities] have not imposed any pressure and allowed [Thai business owners] into Cambodia, he said.

Thai business is going well, so they dont mind and can continue to keep the border closed, even up to a year from now  The Thai side is suffocating us. The poor are starving. They are forced to borrow money, so it is making them even poorer.

Provincial governor Um Reatrey posted a comment on his Facebook page saying that he had met with his Thai counterpart from Thailands Sa Kaeo province via video conference on Tuesday and was told that there are no plans to reopen the border.

However, he said Thailand will allow Cambodian businesses owners to inspect their belongings in Thai marketspermitting 50 cars with a maximum of two passengers each, who must undergo a health screening, to enter the country between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. daily to transport goods back home.

Border disadvantage

A vendor who declined to be named said Cambodia is losing to Thailand because Thai trucks loaded with their products can still enter Cambodia.

It isnt rightThai trucks can continue to enter Cambodia, but [Thailand] wont allow us to do the same, she said.

Banteay Meanchey provincial deputy governor Koeng Vannak recently told RFA that Thailand also allows Cambodian trucks to enter the country, but Cambodia has nothing to send across the border.

At this point, we dont have any goods for Thailand, he said. We have a fair-trade agreement in place, but we dont have high demand from Thailand for our factories.

Sum Chankea, provincial coordinator for Cambodian rights group Adhoc, said cross border relations have left Cambodia at a serious disadvantage to Thailand.

Thousands of families have lost their jobs because of the border closure, he said, especially workers in informal sectors.

There must be a balance between the countries, he said, noting that Thailand has had 3,156 cases of infection while Cambodia has only confirmed 130.

[The Thais] have more infections, but they are afraid of us.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 23:44:39|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A forum commemorating the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) was held Wednesday in Beijing through video links, highlighting the importance of multilateralism against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts and representatives of multiple international organizations gathered online and had in-depth exchanges of views on enhancing multilateralism to collectively achieve the sustainable development goals.

Participants of the forum also pooled their wisdom on a wide range of topics, such as strengthening coordination within the framework of the UN and coping with the challenges of global governance.

Two panel discussions focusing on multilateralism and realizing the sustainable development goals were also held online. Enditem
She is used to putting on a stunning display.

And Scout Willis proved she has her off-duty style nailed on Tuesday as she stepped out in Los Angeles while sporting tiny shorts and white trainers.

The daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, 28, was headed out to grab a green juice and after acquiring her refreshment, she danced in the LA street.

Bopping away: Scout Willis proved she has her off-duty style nailed on Tuesday as she stepped out in Los Angeles while sporting tiny shorts and white trainers

Scout looked sensational as she made the most of her phenomenally toned legs in the navy shorts with white piping which matched her trainers.

She wore her dark locks in loose straight lengths while wearing a pair of over-ear headphones which appeared to be pumping serious tunes.

In accordance with rules surrounding the coronavirus she wore a face mask, but kept things fashionable with a stylish patterned number.

Bruce and Demi, who also have two other daughters called Rumer, 31, and Tallulah, 26, have been divorced since 2000.

Rock on! The daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, 28, was headed out to grab a green juice and after acquiring her refreshment, she danced in the LA street

However they have stayed friendly and in fact even turned heads by going into self-isolation together in Idaho with their daughters amid the coronavirus pandemic.

They were since joined by Bruce's current wife Emma Heming with whom he shares his daughters Mabel, eight, and Evelyn, six.

Scout marked Father's Day by posting an Instagram album showing Bruce posing with her, Rumer and Tallulah when they were children.

'My papa doesnt even really understand what social media is so i wont address this to him, but damn I love and appreciate this man!!' she wrote.

So sweet: Scout marked Father's Day by posting an Instagram album showing Bruce posing with her, Rumer and Tallulah when they were children

Meanwhile Demi posted an Instagram picture showing herself in Idaho with a group of loved ones including Bruce, Emma, Rumer, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.

Scout appeared on the Dopey self-help podcast and late April and revealed why Emma had waited to join the rest of the group in Idaho.

'My stepmom was going to come up here too with my little sisters. [But] my younger sister [who has] never gotten a talk about not f***ing with hypodermic needles. she found [needles at a park and] she actually tried to poke her shoe with it and poked her foot,' Scout revealed.

Meanwhile: Her mum Demi posted an Instagram picture showing herself in Idaho with a group of loved ones including Bruce, Emma, Rumer, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn

'So my stepmom had to be in LA waiting to, like, get the results for taking her to the doctor. My dad came up here early and then travel got crazy and my stepmom stayed in LA with my little sisters.'

She said during that podcast episode, according to Us Weekly: 'Its been really funny having both my parents at the this house where they, like, raised us,.'

Scout, who like her parents and sisters is sober, shared: 'Its kind of divine time to just hang out with them Im very grateful to be with my family.'
New Delhi: Union Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Wednesday asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to revisit its guidelines on conducting exams and the next academic calendar amid rising Covid-19 cases.

The suggestion came even as the R C Kuhad panel set up to look into the issues related to examinations and the academic calendar in view of the pandemic has recommended that the exams be cancelled. The panel has suggested that the students be allotted marks according to an appropriate averaging formula.

I have advised the @ugc_india to revisit the guidelines issued earlier for intermediate and Terminal Semester examinations and academic calendar. The foundation for revisited guidelines shall be health and safety students, teachers and staff, Nishank tweeted.

UGC officials said a final decision on the cancellation of exams is yet to be taken.

Officials said they will have to come up with alternative criteria for allotting marks and grades if the exams are cancelled. There is a possibility that a group of students may feel that the criteria chosen are disadvantageous to them, they added.

UGC, the higher education regulator, in April issued the guidelines on the basis of the panels report on the next academic session. As per the guidelines, fresh admissions were to be completed in August and classes were scheduled to begin in September. The guidelines allowed universities to choose their modes of examinations.

Students and teachers, including those from the Delhi University, opposed the guidelines. The Delhi University Teachers Association urged vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi to cancel the open book exams the university plans to conduct.

Nishanks tweet came a day after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that deliberations for cancelling remaining Class 10 and 12 board exams are at an advanced stage and a final decision in this regard was likely to get finalised by Wednesday.

The court last week asked CBSE, which is scheduled to conduct the exams from July 1 to 15, to consider scrapping the exams in response to a plea from a group of parents.

Officials said the ministry feels conducting exams is not very conducive given the rising number of Covid-19 cases.

Several state governments have expressed concerns about holding board exams. The Maharashtra government on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that the Indian School Certificate Examination board cannot be permitted to conduct its pending exams in July.

CBSE will inform the Supreme Court about its decision on Thursday.
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Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved has submitted all crucial documents related to its coronavirus medicine 'Coronil' to the Ayush ministry after queries were raised on its claims that the medicine was "100% successful" in curing patients, India Today reported. The government on Tuesday asked the company to stop advertising such claims until the whole issue was duly examined.





HDFC pays 7.25% interest to raise Rs 4,000 crore from ICICI Bank, Axis Bank



200% rise in cyberattacks from China in a month; India tops hit list post Galwan face-off



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.Richest Indian Mukesh Ambani has kept his annual salary from his flagship firm Reliance Industries capped at Rs 15 crore for 12th year on the trot in the fiscal ended March 31 and has thereafter decided to forego the entire remuneration in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ambani has kept salary, perquisites, allowances and commission together at Rs 15 crore since 2008-09, forgoing over Rs 24 crore per annum.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.Oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) on Tuesday said it is working to complete contours of a USD 15-billion deal with Saudi Aramco but did not give a timeline for its completion. Richest Indian Mukesh Ambani in August last year announced talks for sale of 20 per cent stake in the oil-to-chemical (O2C) business, which comprises its twin oil refineries at Jamnagar in Gujarat and petrochemical assets, to the world's largest oil exporter. The deal was to be concluded by March 2020 but has been delayed.Amid the current anti-Chinese sentiment triggered by the Sino-India border tension and talks of an import substitution policy, Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy V Subramanian has said shutting the doors to other countries will not help India. He said the country had followed the import-substitution model till 1991, and that approach has been discredited since. But he also added," I will not say that trade should continue with countries which are creating problems at the border."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.
[June 24, 2020] Huawei: Unlock 5G Potential and Strengthen 5G for Business

SHENZHEN, China, June 24, 2020 /CNW/ -- The second session of Huawei's online 5G+, Better World Summit was held. Through live video streams, analysts, and representatives of operators and industry partners shared their thoughts on how innovative 5G applications could improve industry efficiency and security and bring value to industries such as port, agriculture, healthcare, and iron and steel. Mr. Cai Mengbo, the Chief Marketing Officer of Huawei Carrier BG, delivered the opening speech, calling for unlocking the potential of 5G and solidly strengthening 5G for business. "5G development has entered a new phase," Mr. Cai Mengbo said, "With over 80 5G networks commercially available worldwide, determining how to leverage 5G to create more value is currently a topic of great interest within the industry. Currently, 5G for business is still more of a branding concept, and more solid work needs to be done. To build a positive business cycle, work should be done in four aspects: technology, ecosystem, standards, and business model. Technology readiness: We must continuously innovate 5G technology and products to address the pain points of industries. For example, the 5G Super Uplink solution addresses various industries' needs for optimal and always-available uplinks.

Mature ecosystem: 5G industrial modules have been widely commercialized, and devices such as 5G cameras, 5G industrial CPE, and 5G industrial routers are now available in he market. Looking ahead, more commercial 5G devices are required for different industries in order to ensure the prosperity of the 5G ecosystem and lower the costs for industries to adopt 5G.





Unified standards: In terms of 5G services for business, development from zero to one requires innovation, but further growth beyond one requires unified industry standards. Industries should take the lead to set 5G industry standards that allow 5G to be rapidly applied to industries.

Shared commercial success: We must keep exploring business models of 5G services for business that can benefit all industry partners and help them grow together." Other guest speakers who attended the summit included Mr. Xu Mengqiang, General Manager of China Mobile Group Zhejiang Co., Ltd.'s Ningbo Branch, Dr. Thomas Anken, Head of Digital Production Federal Department of Economic Affairs Education and Research, Switzerland, Mr. Guo Lihong, Vice Director of the Engineering Equipment Department of Hunan Valin Xiangtan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., Mr. Dimitris Mavrakis, Research Director of ABI Research, and Mr. Zhao Jie, Director of the National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications and Doctoral Tutor of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Each of them delivered a wonderful keynote speech. About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. With integrated solutions across four key domains  telecom networks, IT, smart devices, and cloud services  we are committed to bringing digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. Huawei's end-to-end portfolio of products, solutions and services are both competitive and secure. Through open collaboration with ecosystem partners, we create lasting value for our customers, working to empower people, enrich home life, and inspire innovation in organizations of all shapes and sizes. At Huawei, innovation focuses on customer needs. We invest heavily in basic research, concentrating on technological breakthroughs that drive the world forward. We have more than 194,000 employees, and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company wholly owned by its employees. For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow us on: http://www.linkedin.com/company/Huawei

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http://www.youtube.com/Huawei View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/huawei-unlock-5g-potential-and-strengthen-5g-for-business-301082719.html SOURCE Huawei

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New Delhi, June 24 : BJP's troubleshooter in the northeast, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had to step in once again as did the party's 'Super President' Amit Shah, who despite relinquishing the top post early this year, was required to intervene in an attempt to save the troubled NPP-BJP government in Manipur.

However, after the crucial meeting in the national capital, Sarma, the North East Democratic Alliance chief tweeted that "both BJP and NPP will continue to work together for the development of Manipur".

Not only Sarma and Shah were present but Conrad Sangma, who heads the NPP and is also the Meghalaya CM was also present in the meeting. NPP's Manipur unit went rogue and threatened to join the Congress-led alliance if there is no change of Chief Minister in the state.

Manipur's Deputy Chief Minister S. Jooykmar was also part of the meeting. Earlier on Tuesday evening, the 4 dissident NPP MLAs were flown to Delhi by Sangma and Sarma.

While Sarma claims that the two parties will continue to work together in Manipur, suggesting the problem is averted, it is however unclear whether it means that Chief Minister Biren Singh will be replaced or not. The 4 NPP MLAs earlier called it a "non negotiable" demand of theirs.

Just before the Rajya Sabha elections on June 17, 3 BJP MLAs resigned and joined the Congress. At the same time, four ministers of the ally National People's Party also resigned due to resentment and withdrew support from the government.

Another independent along with a Trinamool Congress MLA too parted ways from the Biren Singh government. After the rebellion of a total of nine MLAs, the Biren Singh government came under threat. However, the BJP was successful in winning one seat in the Rajya Sabha elections held on June 19.

Earlier, Sarma was scrambled to Imphal on June 23 to salvage the situation. During his stay there, he tried to persuade the MLAs to meet Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Cornad Sangma, who is also the National President of the NPP met the dissidents separately and along with Sarma at Imphal where the 4 agreed to listen to what the BJP high command had to say. This, even as BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav flew into Imphal. However, he reasoned that he went there to congratulate the newly elected BJP Rajya Sabha member from the state.

The rebels also met BJP President J.P. Nadda.

While, Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed to bring a "permanent solution" to the recurring political turmoil in Manipur, before he flew in to the national capital, what remains unclear is how far that has been achieved and whether that has been achieved at the cost of a leadership change in the state of Manipur, something that the BJP has so far avoided.

So far the Biren Singh government has sounded defiant, thwarting efforts of the Congress which has been demanding a special session of the assembly to bring a no confidence motion against his government.
Patanjali Ayurved needs to back its claims of having found a drug for treating COVID-19 with clinical trial data and scientific evidence as a lot of questions have been left unanswered, experts told Moneycontrol.

Some of them even accused Yoga guru Ramdevs company of repackaging well-known Ayurvedic herbs, saying the company violated procedures and ministry guidelines in rushing to claim a breakthrough.

On June 23, Ramdev told media that an Ayurvedic medicine developed by his company cured patients of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, with 100 percent success.

Patanjalis claims were a clear violation of Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, said Amulya Nidhi of Peoples Health Movement & Swasthya Adhikar Manch.

"Baba Ramdev moves with chief ministers, lectures ministers, secretaries and their deputies, this makes him think he is above the law," Nidhi 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

Coronil and Swasari cured COVID-19 patients within three-15 days, the company said, pricing the Corona Kit at Rs 545.

Patanjali, however, failed to provide data of clinical trials, saying the process of publication of the research paper was still on.

The Ministry of AYUSH, whose approval is a must for alternate medicines, directed the company not to advertise the claims till they were fully examined, saying it couldnt vouch for them.

"Facts of the claim and details of the stated scientific study are not known to the ministry," it said in a statement a few hours after Ramdevs announcement.

It asked Patanjali for details of the sample size and hospitals where the research was conducted.

MD of Patanjali Ayurved Acharya Balkrishna later tweeted there was a "communication gap" that was "resolved" and the company had shared all the information with the ministry.

Violation of marketing code

On April 1, to prevent the spread of misinformation about AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homepathy) drugs, the department directed states and union territories to keep a check on claims of COVID-19 treatment in print, TV and electronic media. The regulators were asked to take legal actions against those violating the guidelines.

The Disaster Management Act, 2005, under which the directive was issued, makes false claims of treating coronavirus a punishable offence.

There were very strict rules on what could be said about Ayurvedic drugs and companies had been penalised for making false claims, an executive with a Kolkata-based pharmaceutical firm specialising in Ayurvedic drugs said.

"Patanjali may have done some clinical trials, otherwise why would the company make such a claim. But in the end, the data needs to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Making false claims not only tarnishes the credibility of a company but also that of Ayurvedic practices," he said.

Where is the evidence?

Corona Kit was a mix of commonly used Ayurvedic herbal extracts such as ashwagandha, giloy, tulsi, Anu taila (a multi-herb formulation used for nasal ailments) and swasari (a herbal remedy against the common cold, allergies), say experts.

But when you claim it as a cure for a disease then you need to do go through the grind of establishing the proof-of-concept, getting the permission of ethics committee for human trials, registering the trial, conducting the trial little over 100 patients and publishing the results in a peer-reviewed journal, all this before seeking approval from the Ministry of AYUSH," said RB Smarta, Founder and Managing Director of Interlink Marketing Consulting said.

The company did register a trial with Clinical Trials Registry India (CTRI) on May 20, 2020. The trial is being conducted at the National Institute of Medical Sciences, Jaipur. NIMS is a private self-financed institution.

The study was to enrol 120 patients, the first of which was done on May 29. Patients are still being enrolled for the trial that is supposed to run for two months, CTRI website showed on June 24.

Ethics committee

The CTRI says the study is "interventional randomized parallel group placebo controlled, single centric trial in which impact of Indian traditional Ayurvedic treatment regime for nCoV-2 (COVID-19) will be accessed".

Patanjali said clinical trials were also done in various cities including Delhi, Ahmedabad and Meerut. It is not known if these studies are still on or whether they have the mandatory approval of ethics committee in these states.

An ethics committee is an independent body of medical and non-medical members, who are responsible for ensuring the protection of the rights, safety and well being of people involved in a clinical trial. 

Nidhi said he wrote to Madhya Pradesh government, saying Patanjali was allowed to conduct clinical trials in Indore in violation of rules.

Dr Anant Bhan, researcher, bioethics, global health and policy expert, said the trial design wasnt robust enough and may lead to ethical issues.

"Was it just a placebo? Or did they get current standard of care (supportive therapy) for COVID-19 or not (for the patients who needed therapy). If not, is that not a major ethical issue (actually not giving it to intervention arm would also be one)," he tweeted in response to information available on CTRI website about the trial.

He was saying that both sets of patients, one given a placebo and other the Patanjali drug, were COVID positive and it risked the life of those given the placebo, without standard of care.

"Has anyone seen any data on pre-clinical studies, safety studies? If they are using existing medications and packaging these, has this been mentioned anywhere? Is Coronil just a package of existing Ayurvedic medications as the trial entry seems to indicate?"
VANCOUVER - When the COVID-19 outbreak forced many restaurants to shutter dining rooms across Canada, Vancouver-based Joey Restaurants responded by opening two ghost kitchens  a new model being adopted for delivery- and pick-up-only spaces.

Large restaurant chains are accelerating their adoption of the design, in which centralized kitchens pump out orders without the need for a dining room, amid a surge in demand during the pandemic, and the trend may be here to stay.

All the big players are actually having this conversation, said Robert Carter, industry analyst with The StratonHunter Group.

Ghost kitchens started cropping up several years ago, typically with individual restaurants operating a delivery-only business that differed from what they sold in their dining rooms.

By the start of the year, Carter said, the idea started gaining popularity among bigger players in the full-service restaurant chain space, he said, especially in the United States where third-party companies sprang up to create virtual kitchen concepts for existing restaurants.

One such company, Kitchen Hub, announced in February it was opening a virtual food hall in Etobicoke, Ont. The delivery-only restaurant would feature food from six different brands, allowing customers to mix-and-match on single orders, it said, and would be the first of several planned halls for Canada.

Now, corporations are starting to open their own ghost kitchens instead of outsourcing them to these third parties, said Carter.

Part of that comes down to increasing demand for delivery amid the coronavirus outbreak, with many restaurants still closed or operating at reduced capacity, and consumers wary of lingering near other people.

Consumers are embracing the off-premises much more than they were pre-COVID, said Carter. Its accelerated by, I would say, a couple years.

Thats made the ghost kitchen model much more attractive to big players in the full-service restaurant space, he said.

Restaurant conglomerate Recipe Unlimited Corp. started planning its virtual concept  named Ultimate Kitchen  last summer, said CEO Frank Hennessey.

The first one opened in Toronto at the end of March. The company first targeted the middle of April, but when the pandemic hit, it sped the process up by a couple of weeks.

The single kitchen cooks food from six of its brands: Swiss Chalet, East Side Marios, Montanas, Fresh, New York Fries and Harveys. The company uses third-party app services, for delivery, but is absolutely considering moving the service in-house in the future.

Recipe turned to a ghost kitchen for several reasons, including the desire to offer a better guest experience for delivery, said Hennessey. Running different brands out of a single restaurant, and overseeing delivery, is a complicated affair, he added.

Its also a cheaper way to enter certain markets than by building a brick-and-mortar, dine-in location.

And, the cherry on the top is that customers can purchase items from the different brands in a single order, he said, which is a benefit for groups with competing tastes.

Its more than exceeded our expectations, said Hennessey, noting the concept benefits from the pandemic lockdown, but he expects it will continue to perform well once the health crisis is over as well.

Recipe plans to open more kitchens in Toronto, Calgary and Montreal by the end of the year.

Many of these markets could, you know, handle a lot of these kitchens, he said, adding the company doesnt want to open in places that will compete with its existing physical restaurant locations.

Joey Restaurants opened a ghost kitchen at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey, B.C., May 14 and another in a stationary food truck in Brampton, Ont., May 21.

It did so partly to provide jobs to staff who could no longer work as servers in its dining rooms, as well as create new jobs, said Rupert Martin, vice-president of culinary.

The need to make sales played a role as well.

There was obviously a steep decline in sales, he said.

Ghost kitchens offer a quick, cost-effective method, Martin said, noting brick-and-mortar restaurants are very expensive to open and can take months, whereas ghost kitchens can be opened in weeks.

Before the coronavirus, the off-premises channel accounted for less than 10 per cent of the commercial restaurant industrys revenue, said Carter. He predicts it to make up close to 20 per cent of a full-service restaurant operators business once the pandemic ends.

I would expect well see a lot more operators looking to understand this model and start to roll out a very similar model, he said.

For Joey, its too soon to know if theyll keep the ghost kitchens beyond the pandemic, said Martin.

But for Recipe Unlimited, the concept will be a permanent fixture.

We could see it being relatively decent sized, said Hennessey.

The model itself is something that can go beyond our borders. It could be something that you see us do south of the border or even potentially overseas.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:RECP)
Chinese-developed COVID-19 vaccine candidate is the world's first to enter phase three human clinical trial which will begin in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday. It is also the first overseas clinical trial for a Chinese-grown vaccine, and is seen as an important step toward putting the vaccine into use and benefiting all humanity.

The opening ceremony of phase three clinical trials for the inactivated vaccine, which may consist of whole, inactivated agents developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group Sinopharm (Sinopharm) was held online in China's Beijing and Wuhan, and the UAE's Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Oweis, the minister of Ministry of Health in the UAE issued the approval document to Sinopharm for the upcoming clinical trial, according an official statement Sinopharm released on Tuesday.

The cross-national cooperation in the phase three clinical trials between China and UAE embodies not only successful attempts of international cooperation in vaccine R&D but also China-UAE's comprehensive strategic partnership, Chinese Ambassador to the UAE Ni Jian said at the opening ceremony.

Abu Dhabi-based Group 42, which will work with Sinopharm during the upcoming clinical trials, has offered AI services to coronavirus vaccine researchers, according to media report.

The Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, affiliated with Sinopharm, announced on June 16 that the company's COVID-19 inactivated vaccine candidate had not shown any severe adverse effects in the first two phases of clinical trials, and it is the first vaccine candidate in the world to show favorable immunogenicity and safety.

Previously, 180 volunteer workers in Sinopharm were vaccinated with the vaccine candidates. More recently, more than 1,000 Sinopharm employees were voluntarily vaccinated, and the results showed the vaccine is safe and effective, with adverse reactions far lower than other vaccines undergoing trials, according to Sinopharm's official statement on Tuesday.

On April 12, the vaccine was approved to enter phase one and phase two clinical trials in Wuzhi county, Central China's Henan Province.

Sinopharm has also established the high-level biosafety laboratory for the production of the potential COVID-19 vaccine if it is needed for emergency use.

On April 15, Sinopharm's Beijing Institute of Biological Products said it had the capacity to produce 120 million doses of the vaccine a year, while the company's institute in Wuhan will be capable of producing 100 million doses annually.
[June 24, 2020] BlackRock to Report Second Quarter 2020 Earnings on July 17th

BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK) today announced that it will report second quarter 2020 earnings prior to the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, July 17, 2020. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Laurence D. Fink, President, Robert S. Kapito, and Chief Financial Officer, Gary S. Shedlin, will host a teleconference call for investors and analysts at 8:30 a.m. ET. BlackRock's earnings release and supplemental materials will be available via the investor relations section of www.blackrock.com, before the teleconference call begins. Teleconference and Webcast Details Members of the public who are interested in participating in the teleconference should dial, from the United States, (800) 374-0176, or from outside the United States, (706) 679-8281, shortly before 8:30 a.m. ET and reference the BlackRock Conference Call (ID Number 7266989). A live, listen-only webcast will also be available via the investor relations section of www.blackrock.com.



Both the teleconference and webcast will be available for replay by 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday, July 17, 2020 and ending at midnight on Friday, July 31, 2020. To access the replay of the teleconference, callers from the United States should dial (855) 859-2056 and callers from outside the United States should dial (404) 537-3406 and enter the Conference ID Number 7266989. To access the webcast, please visit the investor relations section of www.blackrock.com. About BlackRock

BlackRock's purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, our clients turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most important goals. As of March 31, 2020, the firm managed approximately $6.47 trillion in assets on behalf of investors worldwide. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | Twitter (News - Alert): @blackrock | Blog: www.blackrockblog.com | LinkedIn (News - Alert): www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005164/en/

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The casualties on the Indian side were to be a warning sign to all who dared to challenge China. The calculation, purely arithmetical in nature, was to outnumber and swarm the IndiansThe casualties on the Indian side were to be a warning sign to all who dared to challenge China. The calculation, purely arithmetical in nature, was to outnumber and swarm the Indians. PTI Photo

Chinas PLA is not a professional army. It is a uniformed group of thugs which serve the Chinese Communist Party. The premeditated ambush of the braves of 16 Bihar at the Galwan Valley last week was planned to make it appear like a reckless Indian Army action, valiantly defended by the innocent Chinese.

The casualties on the Indian side were to be a warning sign to all who dared to challenge China. The calculation, purely arithmetical in nature, was to outnumber and swarm the Indians.

The resultant fatalities were a signal to the world that India was the aggressor and had breached an honourable agreement, interfering in the peaceful disengagement process.

The PLA obviously didnt visualise casualties on the Chinese side, given that the advantage of surprise lay with them. But they didnt factor in the ferociousness of the joint Indian counter-attack by 16 Bihar and 3 Medium Regiment, which left them gasping for air and led to the death and capture of several of their officers and soldiers.

What were 300 soldiers doing on a Himalayan ledge like goons on the Shanghai waterfront? Its obvious the Chinese have no concept about the Himalayan terrain, where most casualties occur due to the environment rather than enemy action. The PLAs overall behaviour has been so poor that it doesnt befit a modern army or a great power. This action has only exposed its severe character and tactical flaws.

Despite grandstanding on propaganda videos, the PLAs professionalism or lack of it of was on full display in a much-reported incident in South Sudan in 2016. When armed militias and drunk soldiers of the South Sudan army stormed a United Nations camp guarded by the Chinese army, the soldiers just fled, vanished into thin air without giving even a basic fight. Many female aid workers were sexually harassed and a few civilians killed. The PLA just knows how to target unarmed people and cannot face armed resistance of any sort.

Which nation or military hides its casualties? One that doesnt have any honour, one that is outdone or one that fears the outcome of casualties it has suffered.

I find shades of all three in the PLA. It is dishonourable to carry out a premeditated ambush after an agreement to disengage has been reached. Its not the time-tested code of a noble soldier or warrior, but the DNA of ignoble thugs. You plan an unethical ambush, outnumber the opposition and suffer casualties which you dont declare.

The wolf warrior swagger adopted by the Chinese foreign ministrys Zhao Lijian, and used to the fullest to defend his countrys incompetence in tackling the Wuhan virus, was absent in the ministrys latest briefings.

The enthusiasm for giving out catchy headlines and false information was visibly doused.

Chinas only outlet for English language news, a juvenile attempt at propagandising via Global Times, has been used to threaten India and push its fake narrative, but no one is buying it.

China has miscalculated badly by provoking the Indian Army. An army that has trodden the jungles of Kohima and Keran, braved German paratroopers at Monte Cassino, breached minefields at El Alamein  its troops have nothing to fear.

No puny Chinese soldier is worth even half the stature of an Indian soldier. The PLA soldiers should ask previous generations about the Indians, and they will reach beyond their graves and tell them to back off.

The slaughter of 1967 is something that China cant forget in a hurry. Chinas deeper than oceans friend Pakistan should have been the first to warn them. Dont mess with Indians! From bloody nose to bloody ridge, Indians know the Pakistanis inside out, literally.

On Kargils formidable heights, where even the eagles dont dare to fly, Indians have rooted out the Pakistanis like rats from their holes, and the Pakistanis are way better soldiers than the Chinese can ever be. They dont stand a chance. Their generation is force-fed on WeChat propaganda, are herded into the PLA for a fixed period and are really cannon fodder.

They should know that in 1971, Captain Mulla of the Indian Navy went down with his ship in an awesome example of sacrifice and embracing death in the highest traditions of a soldier. If that is too ancient, one can go to recent examples.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by the Pakistanis in February 2019. The best comment about him came in a tweet from America: If that dude sporting a moustache says he killed an F-16 then he did. After a dogfight, ejecting, being beaten up by the locals and interrogated, he complimented the opposition on the quality of their tea. Devil incarnate.

Every Chinese citizen who is reading this should note what the PLA is up against -- unyielding hardened steel. Forget Chinas propaganda videos.

Every Indian citizen should know who is defending them and against what. They should be proud that their armed forces are laying down their lives without a second thought to overcome all odds so that they can sleep well. The Indian soldier is the best in the business, irrespective of the colour of his uniform, for in his veins runs the blood of a billion-plus hopes and dreams.


Kerala government is planning to provide high-speed, affordable internet connectivity to its people by the end of this year. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that over 30,000 government institutions will get free wifi connectivity through under Kerala Fibre Optic Network (KFON) Project. It is estimated that 20 lakh families will be benefited from this project.

With the KFON project, the Kerala government has promised to deliver internet free of cost to 2 million families living below the poverty line. The project is funded at a cost of Rs 1,548 crores, according to Livemint.

KFON is a joint venture of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and Kerala State IT Infrastructure Ltd. A consortium of firms led by the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has bagged the project. The project will use the electricity network of KSEB to reach last-mile connectivity. The project aims to establish new optic fiber networks and Wi-Fi transmission centres across Kerala. KSEB has a presence in 95 per cent in Kerala households.

Meanwhile, Kerala State Financial Enterprises (KSFE) will join hands with Kudumbasree and other agencies to provide free laptops to financially weak families to "bridge the digital divide in the state," said Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Issac.

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Mumbai: With the number of new COVID-19 cases from Dharavi slum sprawl in Mumbai trickling down to a single digit, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday hailed the "defeat" of the coronavirus as a befitting reply of the party-led government to its critics, an oblique reference to the BJP.

Dharavi, which was once a troublesome coronavirus hotspot, had on Tuesday reported just five new cases, the lowest since April 5. The total number of cases now stands at 2,189.

"Controlling the spread of the the pandemic in Dharavi calls for celebrations. Those criticising the MVA government's handling of the COVID-19 crisis should also be invited for the celebration," said the editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

It said the difficult task to curb the spread of coronavirus in Dharavi has earned accolades for the state government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is ruled by the Sena, from the Centre.

The Sena also thanked residents of Dharavi for adhering to the lockdown norms and following various other measures.

Commenting on the strategy adopted in Dharavi, the edit said the BMC administration increased testing and tracing of contacts and also made lockdown rules stricter.

The Sena also praised BMC commissioner IS Chahal and Mumbai police commissioner Parambir Singh for the Dharavi success.

"However, the war against the virus is not yet over. Cases are rising elsewhere in Maharashtra," it said.

With the highest population density of 2,27,136 persons per sq. km, Dharavi had 491 cases in April with the growth rate of 12% when the number of cases were doubling every 18 days.

As per an official release, the proactive measures adopted by the BMC brought down the COVID-19 growth rate to 4.3 per centin May and further down to 1.02 per centin June. These measures also ensured an improved case doubling time to 43 days in May and 78 days in June 2020.

It listed challenges like common toilets, high population density, narrow lanes and crammed neighbourhood, which made it difficult to ensure that people adhere to social distancing norms.

"The BMC adopted a model of actively following four T's Tracing, Tracking, Testing and Treating. This approach included activities like proactive screening.

"While 47,500 people were covered by doctors and private clinics in house-to-house screening, about 14,970 people were screened with the help of mobile vans while 4,76,775 others were surveyed by BMC health workers," the release said.

Fever clinics were set up for screening high risk category such as elderly/senior citizens, which helped to screen 3.6 lakh people, it said.

"About 8,246 senior citizens were surveyed and as part of its policy of 'timely separation', they were separated. Altogether, 5,48,270 people have been screened in Dharavi. The suspected cases were shifted to well organized COVID Care Centres and Quarantine Centres," the release said.
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Facing a turbulent election campaign and falling polling numbers, United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order suspending H-1B, L-1 and other temporary work permits, as well as extended a pause on some green cards.

In an attempt to restrict the entry of immigrants into the US, this move towards certain categories of visa suspension will be effective till the end of the year, and the hope is that it will help the US economy which is reeling under the pressures of COVID-19. Arguing that we [the US] have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens, the Trump administration is hoping that the move will free up employment opportunities for Americans.

This move has been long in the making, and the worsening economic situation in the US made it imperative for the Trump administration, facing a tough election ahead, to respond to the challenge. The US economy is still struggling to recover from the lockdown as the unemployment rate has risen to an all-time high. Demands for more government stimulus have grown in recent days even as reports suggest that the US economy will shrink by 6.5 percent this year. Though situation has marginally improved from March, the unemployment rate is still the highest it has been since the 1940s.

While Trumps move may rally his support base in the run-up to the November elections, most business groups had been lobbying against this move given its potential to damage the economic recovery, which is still at a nascent stage. The tech industry has been sharply critical of the move arguing that it would slow down innovation precisely at the time it was most needed. It is being estimated that this move would block up to 219,000 foreign workers through the rest of the year.

There is unlikely to be a big change in the immediate future as visa processing remains largely suspended because of the pandemic and travel restrictions. However, this move by Trump should not be assessed through the economic lens, but through the political lens of the US President as this allows him to put into place measures to limit immigration into the US  a key part of Trumps election platform in the 2016 elections. It remains one of the most important issues for his core base, and might once again dominate the re-election campaign.

This also puts his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, on a back foot as he cant be seen as ignoring the concerns of the ordinary Americans about unemployment. Trump has used the ongoing threat from Coronavirus to refashion Americas immigration policies. This move follows his earlier executive order in April which suspended the issuance of green cards for two months. While tech companies fear the loss of talent and its negative impact on innovation, others see these as measures designed to fundamentally alter US immigration policy architecture.

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

Whatever the domestic political calculus, India will be affected by the policies, especially pertaining to H1-B visas, which are non-immigrant visas allowing US companies to hire highly-skilled foreign workers in specialised fields. Indian nationals corner around 70 percent of the 85,000 H1-B visas issued annually. So this will be a major blow to the Indian IT companies, which have benefitted from the H1-B visa regime. Though the restrictions will apply only to new work visas and not to existing holders who are in the US currently, this also complicates the position of the Indian government.

India has been regularly engaging the Trump administration on the issue of H1-B visas and underlining that the economic and trade linkages are a strong pillar of our strategic partnership, particularly in technology and innovation domains. As per a 2015 Nasscom report, the Indian IT sector not only supported more than 400,000 jobs in the US but also contributed more than $20 billion in federal taxes from 2010-2015. New Delhi had reached out to Washington in April asking to extend the H-1B work visas and other visas of all Indian citizens for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

India, in all likelihood, will downplay this move of the Trump administration, especially as it comes at a critical moment of its ongoing tensions with China. It is not the most important issue on the US-India bilateral agenda, and will be managed largely through the backchannels. New Delhi can only hope that the US will eventually take into account the long-term benefits of H-1B visa for its own competitiveness and technological superiority  especially at a time when geo-technology is becoming the latest focal point of US-China contestation.
Under global pressure for its poor record in failing to dismantle terror infrastructure on its own soil, Pakistan on Wednesday continued its gameplanthat was initially reported last yearof trying to get Indian nationals designated as terrorists by the UN.

On Wednesday, Islamabad, in an official statement, named four Indian nationals and accused them of carrying out terrorism against Pakistan, acknowledging that its efforts to get one of them designated had been rejected at the UN recently.

The Pakistani move is understood to be a desperate retaliatory one to level false allegations after India had managed to get Pakistan-based terrorist and JeM chief Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist by the UN in May last year.

Pakistan identified the four Indian nationals as Venumadhav Dongara, Ajoy Mistry, Gobinda Patnaik, and Angara Appaji, and accused them of carrying out terrorist activities against Pakistan. Islamabad also conceded that its proposal against Dongara had been recently rejected at the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee. According to media reports last year, Dongara had earlier worked as an engineer on transmission lines in Afghanistan while Mistry had worked in Afghanistan as a cook.

In a statement on Wednesday, Islamabad claimed, Pakistan had proposed the designation of four Indian nationals in 2019 under the United Nations 1267 Sanctions List, namely Venumadhav Dongara, Ajoy Mistry, Gobinda Patnaik, and Angara Appaji. These individuals were financing, sponsoring and organising terrorism inside Pakistan by providing financial, technical and material support to terrorist groups including TTP, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and others. It further said these Indian nationals were now residing in India.

Islamabad added, We are disappointed that Pakistans proposal to designate Venumadhav Dongara as a terrorist has been objected to. Pakistan hopes that the listing requests of other three Indian nationals will be given due consideration by the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee in an objective and transparent manner.

It may be recalled that India had managed to get Pakistan-based terrorist and JeM chief Masood Azhar designated a s a global terrorist by the UN in May last year year after China dropped its objections to the move.

It may also be recalled that in a major setback for Islamabad and vindication of India's position in February this year, global anti-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had decided at its plenary meet in Paris to continue to keep Pakistan in the FATF's greylist at least for a few more months after warning Islamabad of stern action if it fails to check flow of money to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
Islamabad, in an official statement, named four Indian nationals and accused them of carrying out terrorism against Pakistan

Under global pressure for its poor record in failing to dismantle terror infrastructure on its own soil, Pakistan on Wednesday continued its gameplanthat was initially reported last yearof trying to get Indian nationals designated as terrorists by the UN.

On Wednesday, Islamabad, in an official statement, named four Indian nationals and accused them of carrying out terrorism against Pakistan, acknowledging that its efforts to get one of them designated had been rejected at the UN recently.

The Pakistani move is understood to be a desperate retaliatory one to level false allegations after India had managed to get Pakistan-based terrorist and JeM chief Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist by the UN in May last year.

Pakistan identified the four Indian nationals as Venumadhav Dongara, Ajoy Mistry, Gobinda Patnaik, and Angara Appaji, and accused them of carrying out terrorist activities against Pakistan. Islamabad also conceded that its proposal against Dongara had been recently rejected at the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee. According to media reports last year, Dongara had earlier worked as an engineer on transmission lines in Afghanistan while Mistry had worked in Afghanistan as a cook.

In a statement on Wednesday, Islamabad claimed, Pakistan had proposed the designation of four Indian nationals in 2019 under the United Nations 1267 Sanctions List, namely Venumadhav Dongara, Ajoy Mistry, Gobinda Patnaik, and Angara Appaji. These individuals were financing, sponsoring and organising terrorism inside Pakistan by providing financial, technical and material support to terrorist groups including TTP, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and others. It further said these Indian nationals were now residing in India.

Islamabad added, We are disappointed that Pakistans proposal to designate Venumadhav Dongara as a terrorist has been objected to. Pakistan hopes that the listing requests of other three Indian nationals will be given due consideration by the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee in an objective and transparent manner.

It may be recalled that India had managed to get Pakistan-based terrorist and JeM chief Masood Azhar designated a s a global terrorist by the UN in May last year year after China dropped its objections to the move.

It may also be recalled that in a major setback for Islamabad and vindication of India's position in February this year, global anti-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had decided at its plenary meet in Paris to continue to keep Pakistan in the FATF's greylist at least for a few more months after warning Islamabad of stern action if it fails to check flow of money to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
As several U.S. states see a rising swell of covid-19 patients, hospitals are trying to avoid a scenario where they face more sick patients than they have beds to hold them.

The situation reflects the persistent threat that unchecked spread of the virus can overwhelm hospitals, as it did in Wuhan, China, and Lombardy, Italy. That fear prompted radical measures across the U.S. to lock down movement and commerce, allowing hard-hit areas like New York City, Detroit and New Orleans to handle the outbreak without needing to triage patients.

With all states reopened to some degree, cases and hospitalizations are rising. Arizona, California and Texas all set records for new cases on Tuesday. The question now is whether hospitals will be able to handle it, and what will happen if they can't.

"Many of them still have a lot of available capacity, but who knows how long that's going to last," said Eric Toner, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. "They should be getting themselves ready now."

Texas, one of the first states to reopen, is feeling the strain. Late Monday, the Texas Children's Hospital system in Houston began accepting adult covid-19 patients because of surging demand, spokeswoman Jenn Jacome said in an email. Harris County, which encompasses Houston, projects that ICU beds will be full in 11 days at the current pace of infections, according to county data.

So-called surge beds -- standard hospital facilities converted to handle virus cases on an emergency crisis -- will be full in 38 days, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's office.

Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, predicted that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, would have to reimpose stay-at-home orders or other measures to slow down transmission in Texas cities. "Our ICUs can't handle the surge, this won't turn around on its own," he said in a tweet early Tuesday.

Hospitals in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio also are strained, with virus admissions in those areas up by 66%, 136% and 426%, respectively, since the end of May, state health department figures showed. In Dallas, Baylor Scott & White Health said it would start new restrictions on visitor access on June 23, according to a notice on the health system's website.

In Arizona, 7% of covid-19 cases have been hospitalized, a total of 4,250 statewide. The Arizona Department of Health Services, which gathers data from hospitals in the state, reported Tuesday that 84% of ICU beds -- 614 total -- and 41% of ventilators were in use.

In the initial round of shutdowns in March and April, hospitals around the country canceled planned surgeries to free staff and beds and limit patients' exposure to the virus. But procedures have resumed, as patients can't postpone most care indefinitely and hospitals face a business imperative to bring in revenue.

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp. operates hospitals and surgery centers around the country, including in Texas, Florida, and Arizona. A Tenet spokeswoman said elective procedures continue and the hospital system has adequate capacity, staffing and protective equipment to treat the rising number of covid cases. In the current surge, covid-19 patients are younger and fewer need mechanical ventilation than in April, the spokeswoman said.

Ryan Stanton, an emergency-room doctor in Lexington, Ky., said patient volumes are back to 90% of where they were before covid, with virus patients alongside people suffering from everything from heart attacks to tooth aches.

"We don't have that cushion we had a couple of months ago, where if there's a surge, we have lots of beds and availability," he said.

Some supplies remain stretched as well. Stanton said his hospital has only 10 to 20 quick-turnaround covid tests each day. Clinicians are still reusing N95 respirator masks. During a shift on Thursday, a nurse colleague told Stanton he had been wearing his N95 mask for two weeks and "it finally broke today," Stanton said. A replacement was expected within three days.

Similar supply-chain failures left medical workers exposed in the early days of the pandemic. However, the federal government is boosting procurement of supplies that may be needed if covid hospitalizations surge. The Health and Human Services Department has awarded $2.5 billion in contracts to manufacturers to get at least 210,000 ventilators by the end of 2020.

The White House Supply Chain Task Force projected that the U.S. won't meet the need for gowns in June and July. They estimate that manufacturers will meet demand for N95 respirators through October and meet the demand for surgical masks, nitrile gloves, and face shields through July. They did not provide projections for further into the year. The increasing cases could mean demand outpaces what the U.S. is able to produce or import.

Despite the record number of cases in some states, many hospital officials said they are ready for the surge.

Jackson Health System in Miami said covid-19 admissions grew significantly in the last two weeks, but most patients don't need intensive care. The ICU at Jackson Memorial, the Miami area's largest hospital, has more room now than it did in February prior to covid, a spokesperson said in an email Tuesday.

In North Carolina, where a record 915 covid-19 patients were in hospitals on Tuesday, the increase was expected as the state lifted restrictions, said Scott Rissmiller, chief physician executive for Atrium Health, a large Charlotte-based hospital system.

"We expected it and we planned for it and it is playing out close to what we expected to see and planned for," he said. Atrium has expanded at-home care for covid patients to preserve beds for the critically ill.

At Duke University Health System, ICUs are 93% full, said Chief Medical Officer Joseph Rogers, including with many patients who delayed care after covid-19 first hit. He said Duke could reduce surgeries again if needed and take other measures to boost capacity. "This surge that we are seeing here is not out of our control," he said.

Not everyone's so confident. Don Williamson, president and CEO of the Alabama Hospital Association, noted that the number of available ICU beds dipped to 268 last week, the lowest the state had ever seen. He said the state's total cases have declined slightly -- and hospitals have enough ventilators -- but the number of people hospitalized with covid-19 continues climbing. "We don't have any evidence looking at our hospital numbers that things are getting better," he said. "We still have high levels of disease in Montgomery, and we are now seeing new cases in North Alabama, where we hadn't seen it before."

Alison Haddock, an emergency physician in Houston and assistant professor of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, called the increase at Texas Medical Center "frightening."

TMC could run out of ICU beds in two weeks at the current pace of covid-19 spread, according to data on its website.

Haddock said the public isn't doing much to tilt the slope of new cases.

"We're open. You can go sit in a restaurant indoors here. You can get your nails done. You can do all the things you can do in parts of the country that have less covid than we do," Haddock said. "And what actions are we taking as a community to change that direction of that red line? I'm not seeing it."

Haddock's hospital, meanwhile, like others in the area, is still sterilizing and reusing N95 masks, though respirators have become more available than they were in March.

She said preparations for a surge are necessary. "The expansion plan for ICU beds, it's good that we have it and it's good that we have a plan," she said. But she wonders if they'll be sufficient.

"Even if the health system is as prepared as we can be, if we see this degree of covid cases and hospitalizations and it keeps growing exponentially," she said, "I don't know if even the best preparation in the world will be enough."
Trump Faces GOP Pushback After Suggesting More Stimulus Checks

President Donald Trump said he backs another round of stimulus checks to provide the economy with a jolt as the country tries to emerge from a downturn caused by the CCP virus pandemic, but some GOP leaders have given him pushback.

Trump said he supports another round of stimulus checks, similar to the $1,200 ones that were distributed to Americans earlier this year, in an interview this week. Yeah, we are, he told a correspondent for Scripps television, adding that we will be doing another stimulus package. Itll be very good. Itll be very generous.

Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Congress earlier this month that stimulus checks are being considered.

As weve said before, were talking about a bunch of different ideas that we may need to do in another bill, Mnuchin said in a news conference earlier this week. 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.

However, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) told The Hill following a GOP meeting with Mnuchin that he has a lot of skepticism about the wisdom about doing another big spending bill. He is unsure about the government sending more payments because the ones that were doled out as a provision of the CARES Act in March was when the United States was in a full-blown crisis.

Im a skeptic about the idea of doing that. That was an emergency measure taken when we were in a full-blown crisis and, frankly, knew it was wildly inefficient because all kinds of people were getting checks whose work was not jeopardized, he said.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told the website that GOP senators urged caution moving forward during the meeting. We want to make sure the next round of assistance is targeted at those who need it the most, he said.

President Donald Trumps name is seen on a stimulus check issued by the IRS to help combat the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, in San Antonio, Texas, on April 23, 2020. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said the $1,200 checks were necessary at the beginning, but he added I dont see the compelling need for more.

Despite some states reopening their economies over the past several weeks, around 40 million people are still collecting unemployment. Meanwhile, the expanded $600 per week in unemployment benefits, provided under the CARES Act, will end after July 31.

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) about the stimulus checks, according to The Associated Press.

Larry Kudlow, a White House economic adviser, said that checks are being considered, saying that people who need payments the most should receive them.

Probably, we would want to target those folks who lost their jobs and are most in need, Kudlow told Fox News Business on Tuesday. Thats the speculation on my part, but I think  thats where its going.

There will be a discussion on how to proceed in Congress to pass the measure following the July 4 recess, adding that tax rebates or the direct mail checks are also being considered. He said that the White House is looking to pursue incentive-oriented policies to get Americans back to work.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) have both expressed support for sending out more checks.
Business Myanmars Yoma Strategic to Buy Majority Stake in Wave Money From Telenor

A Wave Money agent in downtown Yangon / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy

YANGONYoma Strategic Holdings, headed by Chinese-Myanmar tycoon Serge Pun, will acquire Telenor Groups 51-percent stake worth US$76.5 million (105.99 billion kyats) in Myanmars leading mobile money company, Wave Money.

Yoma Strategic announced the move in a statement on Wednesday.

Wave Money, a joint venture between Telenor Group and Yoma Strategic, runs a network of more than 57,000 agents across 295 out of 330 townships in Myanmar, covering approximately 89 percent of the country.

More than 21 million people have used Wave Moneys services, including Wave Pay, for remittances, utility payments, airtime top-ups and digital payments, according to the company.

Serge Puns Yoma Group, listed on stock exchanges in Myanmar and Singapore, operates in automobile manufacturing, financial services, real estate development, technology, construction and health care.

According to the press release, Wave Money is expected to become a subsidiary of Yoma Strategic after the completion of the acquisition of Telenors interest. The company said it will establish a new company, Yoma MFS Holdings, to increase its existing shareholding and take a controlling interest in Wave Money.

It said that upon the completion of the transactions, Yoma Strategic will invest up to an additional $25 million in Wave Money and become its largest, controlling shareholder.

The move comes more than a month after Chinas Ant Financial Services Group owned by Alibaba Group announced it would invest $73.5 million in Wave Money to upgrade its technological capabilities and security systems.

Melvyn Pun, CEO of Yoma Strategic said, Wave Money continues to see sustained growth in its agent and digital platforms, with Wave Pay gaining strong traction during the COVID-19 pandemic through the acceleration in and adoption of cashless payment solutions.

The investment by Ant Group will further fuel Wave Moneys growth trajectory and will help to create greater value for our shareholders in the longer term, Melvyn Pun said.

According to the company, last year, Wave Moneys transfer volume in the country more than tripled year-on-year, reaching 6.4 trillion kyats.

Lars Erik Tellmann, head of financial services at Telenor Group, said, This is an opportune time for Telenor Group to divest. Both Yoma Group and Ant Groups core operation is financial services and technology and they are therefore the strongest owners to take Wave Money forward.

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Thousands gathered near the Kremlin on Wednesday, June 24, as Russias annual Victory Day military parade took place against a backdrop of a national coronavirus outbreak.

This year, the event marked the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Unions victory over Nazi German forces in World War II. The annual celebration usually takes place on May 9, but restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic caused its delay.

Russia reported 7,176 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday  the lowest one-day increase since April, the Moscow Times reported  bringing the countrys reported total to 606,881.

The Victory Day parade also took place a day before the start of an online referendum on changes to the constitution that could allow President Vladimir Putin to rule until 2036.

Before the parade, a mask-free Putin greeted and shook hands with various heads of state, including the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the Kremlin said.

President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov was also expected to attend but instead returned home after two members of his delegation in Moscow tested positive for COVID-19, according to Russian news agency TASS.

Tens of thousands of foot soldiers marched through Red Square during the parade, and new weapons, combat vehicles and equipment were showcased. Credit: Kremlin via Storyful
Dansyn Innovation Social Organization has also organized a stakeholder engagement to explore opportunities in Web development and its impact on Job creation and entrepreneurship development in Bolgatanga. This follows an entrepreneurial ecosystem mapping conducted by Dansyn Innovation Social Organization in collaboration with Ghana Tech Lab, to identify the challenges of doing business in the Upper East Region. The consultative stakeholder meeting was on the theme: The role of Web Technology for Digital transformation of the local economy for job creation and economic development. Our Upper East Regional Correspondent Our Correspondent Emmanuel Akayeti has come through with this report for Radio Ghana

Report

As COVID-19 advances, its effects become ever-more pronounced. The public health crisis is aggravated by the social and economic aftermath such as job losses, increased poverty and an ever-increasing digital divide. To bridge that gap, Dansyn Innovation Social Organization, a non-profit organization has been supporting youth entrepreneurship with Training and Skill Development in Information Technology to make an Impact in the Community by Enhancing the Economic and Social Status of the People with special emphasis on women.

The Chief Executive Officer of Dansyn Innovation Social Organization, Daniel Nang explains the rationale behind the entrepreneurial ecosystem mapping.

Participants were schooled during the engagement on the key challenges and solution in entrepreneurship, the various job opportunities on the web and the need to develop websites for businesses to match the modern trends of commerce. The Director of Ataara Ghana Limited a subsidiary of the Orphans and Widows Movement, Ms Fati Abigail Abdulai shaared her view on the meeting
AUBAGNE, France, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At the virtual combined Annual General Shareholders' Meeting (ASM) of Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A., shareholders passed the resolution to pay a dividend of 0.34 per share for fiscal 2019. The previous year's dividend was 0.57 per share. The total profit distributed will be 31.3 million after 52.5 million in the previous year.

The ASM granted discharge to all directors by a large majority.

This press release contains statements about the future development of the Sartorius Stedim Biotech Group. We cannot guarantee that the content of these statements will actually apply because these statements are based upon assumptions and estimates that harbor certain risks and uncertainties.

ASM documents

https://www.sartorius.com/en/company/investor-relations/sartorius-stedim-biotech-sa-investor-relations/shareholders-meeting

Press images

https://www.sartorius.com/en/company/newsroom/downloads-publications

Financial calendar

July 21, 2020 - Publication of first-half figures for 2020

October 20, 2020 - Publication of nine-month figures for 2020

A profile of Sartorius Stedim Biotech

Sartorius Stedim Biotech is a leading international partner of the biopharmaceutical industry. As a total solutions provider, the company helps its customers to manufacture biotech medications safely, rapidly and economically. Headquartered in Aubagne, France, Sartorius Stedim Biotech is quoted on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris. With its own manufacturing and R&D sites in Europe, North America and Asia and an international network of sales companies, Sartorius Stedim Biotech has a global reach. The Group has been annually growing by double digits on average and has been regularly expanding its portfolio by acquisitions of complementary technologies. In 2019, the company employed approx. 6,200 people, and earned sales revenue of 1,440.6 million.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1123369/Sartorius_Logo.jpg

Contact

Petra Kirchhoff

Head of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations

+49 (0)551.308.1686

petra.kirchhoff@sartorius.com

sartorius.com

Follow Sartorius on Twitter @Sartorius_Group and on LinkedIn.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 21:14:09|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Wednesday said the responsibility for the China-India border conflicts rests entirely with the Indian side.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, expressed the hope that peace and stability are maintained in the border areas.

Wu made the remarks at a regular press conference in Beijing.

Wu stressed that China has sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region and the Chinese border troops have been patrolling and on duty in this region for many years.

He said that since April, the Indian border troops have begun to unilaterally build facilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley region, regarding which China has lodged representations and oppositions many times.

In the early morning of May 6, the Indian border troops trespassed into China's territory, built fortification and barricades and impeded the patrol of Chinese border troops, in an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo of border control and management. The Chinese border troops have been forced to take necessary responding measures and strengthen management and control in these areas.

With China's vigorous push, the two sides agreed to hold bilateral communications through multiple channels. On June 6, the border troops of both countries held the first Corps Commander-level meeting and reached consensus on easing the situation through concrete measures. The Indian side promised that they would not cross the estuary of the Galwan river to patrol and build facilities, and the two sides would discuss and decide phased withdrawal of troops through the meetings between on-scene commanders.

However, on the evening of June 15, India's front-line troops, in violation of the agreement reached at the Corps Commander-level meeting, once again crossed the LAC for deliberate provocation, and even violently attacked the Chinese officers and soldiers who went there for negotiation, thus triggering fierce physical conflicts and causing casualties.

In response to such a deliberate provocation, Chinese border troops took decisive countermeasures in self-defense, resolutely fought back against the violent acts of the Indian side, and effectively safeguarded China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Wu.

Wu stressed that India should bear the full responsibility for the incident that was solely and completely triggered by its breach of consensus and unilateral provocations.

"The Chinese side demands that India should severely punish those who should be held accountable, strictly discipline its front-line troops so as to ensure that such incidents do not happen again," Wu said.

After the clash, China and India have stayed in close communication through military and diplomatic channels, Wu said.

The two countries' foreign ministers reached an agreement over a phone conservation to handle the Galwan Valley clash justly and fairly and cool down the situation on the ground. The second Corps Commander-level meeting was held on June 22 where the two sides exchanged views on the management and control of border tensions and the maintenance of peace and stability in the border areas, according to Wu.

Noting that China and India are important neighbors to each other, Wu said maintaining a peaceful and tranquil border region is in the common interests of both sides and requires common efforts as well.

China hopes that India will work with China, follow faithfully the important consensus reached between leaders of the two countries, abide by the agreements reached between the two sides, and properly handle relevant issues through dialogues and negotiations at various levels, Wu said.

"The two sides should make great efforts to jointly ease current border tensions and uphold peace and stability in these areas," said Wu. Enditem
Bushfire victims have faced a postcode lottery when it comes to recovery funds and feel forgotten because of delays in getting the money to them, a royal commission has been told.

People who live on the New South Wales/Victorian border are angry they have missed out on assistance because of their postal address, Victoria's Towong Shire Council told the bushfires royal commission.

'I'm not really sure if there is a postcode lottery around bushfires in terms of grant funding,' Towong's recovery director Amanda Pagan said on Wednesday.

A family boards the Australian Army Blackhawk helicopter at Omeo Showgrounds in Victoria after the bushfires around Mallacoota, on the New South Wales Victorian border

Cobargo resident Jesse Collins reacts to the devastation of the bushfires which hit her New South Wales town

'Ideally, there's a package that's put together that irrespective of what state line you sit on, that's what you're eligible for.

'It's extremely frustrating and it really caused a lot of anger.'

Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements chair Mark Binskin said a postcode lottery encompassed many of the problems the commissioners were seeing.

Ms Pagan pointed to the Victorian emergency relief payment of up to $560 per adult, whereas there was no equivalent assistance on the New South Wales side.

She said the differences were even more challenging for people who owned properties that straddled the border, who could not apply for the Victorian grant if they had a New South Wales postal address.

Most of Cobargo's main street was destroyed in the bushfires on New Year's Eve

A military helicopter flies above a burning woodchip mill in Eden, in Australia's New South Wales on January 6, 2020

Queensland's Southern Downs Regional Council was grateful for the funding assistance provided by state and federal governments for bushfire recovery, but said the timeliness of its delivery needed to be improved.

Its deputy recovery co-ordinator Craig Magnussen said the Stanthorpe bushfires in September had a significant economic impact but much of the money had yet to reach businesses.

'The lag between the announcement being made and the funding actually hitting the ground can be really detrimental and lead to a sense that people almost feel forgotten,' he said.

Mr Magnussen said some bushfire-impacted businesses also missed out on state funding because they did not meet the eligibility criteria under established funding streams.

Indigo Shire Council in Victoria's northeast also argued its small businesses had been forgotten until recently.

The shire was not directly affected by bushfires but the council said there was still a devastating impact on its economy as tourism virtually ceased during the peak trading period.

Indigo chief executive Trevor Ierino said its small businesses needed short-term cash flow to keep them afloat but they were not deemed to be eligible for the $10,000 business recovery grants until recently.

'It was too late for some,' he said.

'They needed it six months ago and they didn't have it when they needed it the most.'

Western Australia's Shire of Dundas CEO Peter Fitchat said the council received zero assistance from the state and federal governments for bushfire recovery because it did not meet the eligibility criteria.

'The one-size-fits-all approach has certainly left us scars in our community,' he said.

More than 545,000 hectares was burnt in the Dundas shire in the December-January fires, which isolated the town of Norseman and completely closed the Eyre Highway, a national transportation route, for 12 days.
A Vietnamese woman has been fined for throwing her phone at a flight attendant after being asked to switch off the device for take-off on a Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City flight last week.

The Northern Airports Authority has imposed a VND4 million (US$172) fine upon Bui Thi Phuong C., a 25-year-old resident of northern Thai Nguyen Province, for her offense.

C. was a passenger on flight VJ139 operated by budget carrier Vietjet Air, which was scheduled to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on June 19.

As the plane was preparing to take off at around 12:55 pm, the woman was still using her phone.

The chief flight attendant asked her to turn it off so the plane could depart.

C. refused to follow the instruction and instead threw her phone at the flight attendant.

She also yelled at two other passengers when they interfered.

After being notified of the incident, the flights captain decided to get the aircraft back to the terminal to hand over the passenger to airport security.

The flight departed later than its original schedule due to the incident.

The Northern Airports Authority, which took over the case, later decided to penalize the woman for disturbing order and discipline on a flight as per a 2018 government decree.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global pet food processing market size is expected to reach USD 6.61 billion by 2027 registering a CAGR of 4.5%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing demand for automation in pet food processing, coupled with the growing demand for processed food, is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period. The increasing number of pets across the globe is anticipated to have a positive impact on the market growth. Furthermore, rising awareness pertaining to the advantages of premium pet food products is expected to bolster the demand for various innovative and efficient food processing equipment.

Increasing concerns regarding pet health have resulted in augmenting the demand for premium-quality food products, which, in turn, will support the overall market growth. Furthermore, rising penetration of high-quality commercial products has resulted in an increased the demand for innovative & specialized machinery, thereby driving the market. However, the depreciation of the processing equipment over the years is expected to hamper the growth over the forecast period.

Key suggestions from the report:

U.S. accounted for over 80% of the North America regional market revenue share in 2019 owing to the increased pet population, which augmented the demand for pet foods

Forming equipment accounted for 31.1% of the global revenue share in 2019 and is anticipated to continue its dominance over the forecast period owing to the rapid shift towards usage of extrusion-based pet food production

Asia Pacific is estimated to be the second fastest-growing regional market at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2020 to 2027 due to rapidly expanding pet food industry in the region

Dry food accounted for 72.0% of the global revenue share in 2019, on account of its cost-effectiveness and attributes, such as convenience, in terms of feeding and storage

The industry participants are engaged in expanding their geographical presence through mergers & acquisition and provide a wide range of equipment and customization services to obtain a competitive edge

Read 125 page research report with ToC on "Pet Food Processing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Equipment (Mixing & Blending, Forming, Baking & Drying, Coating, Cooling), By Form (Wet, Dry), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/pet-food-processing-market

Grand View Research has segmented the global pet food processing market on the basis of equipment type, form, and region:

Pet Food Processing Equipment Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Mixing & Blending



Forming



Baking & Drying



Coating



Cooling



Others

Pet Food Processing Form Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Wet



Dry

Pet Food Processing Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



U.S.





Canada





Mexico



Europe



Germany





France





Italy





U.K.



Asia Pacific



China





India





Japan





Australia



Central & South America



Argentina





Brazil



Middle East & Africa

&

Saudi Arabia





United Arab Emirates

Lis of Key Players of Pet Food Processing Market:

ANDRITZ



GEA Group



Buhler Holding AG



The Middleby Corporation



Baker Perkins LTD.



Precision Food Innovations



Clextral SAS



Reading Bakery Systems



Mepaco Group



Precision Food Innovations



F.N. Smith Corporation



Selo

Find more research reports on Advanced Interior Materials Industry, by Grand View Research:

Thermal Interface Materials Market - Rising demand for thermal interface materials in the automotive industry on account of its rising use in automotive electronics such as music systems and interior automation components is expected to drive growth.

Rising demand for thermal interface materials in the automotive industry on account of its rising use in automotive electronics such as music systems and interior automation components is expected to drive growth. Digital Mining Market - Growing adoption of automation platforms in mining exploration activities is projected to remain a key factor over the forecast period.

Growing adoption of automation platforms in mining exploration activities is projected to remain a key factor over the forecast period. Weathering Steel Market - Increasing investments in infrastructure development projects, such as bridges and road connectivity are anticipated to augment the growth.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

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Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

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PROVIDENCE  Official state documents and websites will no longer contain the words "Providence Plantations" as part of the states name after Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order Monday to remove the phrase from her administrations communications.

The official state name still includes "Providence Plantations," in reference to the mainland colony founded by Roger Williams in 1636. Raimondo said the words ties to slavery and the painful images it conjures for Black Americans cannot be ignored.

"That is a word that is associated with the ugliest institution that our country has ever had," she said during a Monday news conference. "So I think its time, its past time, to get rid of it. You can be proud of Rhode Island, but dont be proud of a word that represents the worst of what our nation had to offer."

Rhode Islanders had a chance to change the states name in 2010 when a question to remove the historically charged phrase appeared on a ballot. The measure did not pass. The General Assembly is pursuing bills to put the question back on this years ballot, and one has already passed in the Senate.

Wisconsin: Protesters pull down abolitionist statue in Madison, state senator attacked

The seal of the State of Rhode Island decorates a podium as Gov. Gina Raimondo looks on during a news conference where she announced that she has signed an executive order to remove the phrase "Providence Plantations" in the state's formal name from some official documents and executive agency websites Monday, June 22, 2020, in Providence, Rhode Island.

Raimondo said removing the phrase from her offices official communications, including state employee paychecks and gubernatorial orders and citations, was the most she could do about the issue by executive order.

The action comes after weeks of protests in Providence and other cities around the state and nation over police killings of Black people and systemic racism in America.

Faith Quinnea, a 16-year-old organizer of one recent protest, which turned out to be one of the largest in state history, said removing the word "plantations" from the states name is one of the changes protesters wanted to see. Her next project, she said, speaking from the podium at Mondays news conference, is lobbying the state to add Black history to its educational curriculum.

Story continues

But some activists said they felt the executive order represented a superficial change made during a time when people are demanding sweeping, systemic reforms.

"Theres so much more that needs to be changed that affects Black people," said Amanda Toussaint, a young Providence-based organizer. "They need to defund the police."

More: Plantation tours evolve to put more focus on the experiences of enslaved people

Jaychele Schenck, a youth organizer and one of the founders of the group Gen Z: We Want to Live, said she and her group members have tried to get a meeting with the governor, but have been unsuccessful. They want to present her with a list of proposed initiatives that include implementing culturally relevant curricula in schools, eliminating school resource officers, defunding police departments and requiring more implicit bias training for law enforcement officers.

"I think its a step in the right direction," Schenck said of the governors executive order. "But she couldve taken a lot more steps."

Black Lives Matter Rhode Island organizer Mark Fisher said the importance of the move should not be overlooked.

"It might seem small to the average person, the average non-Black person, but its huge in our community," he said.

On Monday, Raimondo also announced that the state police will work on developing a body-camera program and a community outreach team. She also said the Department of Administration will institute mandatory implicit-bias training for all executive-branch employees and conduct a study of minority-owned business participation in state contracts.

Faith Quinnea, a 16-year-old Providence high school student who helped organize a racial justice protest last month that attracted about 10,000 people, speaks at a news conference Monday, June 22, 2020, in Providence, Rhode Island.

Raimondo said removing "Providence Plantations" from official communications was the first of many steps to come.

At one point during the news conference, a woman approached the lectern to attempt to cross out the phrase that still appeared on the state seal plastered on its front.

In a joint statement, state Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said they support placing a question about changing the states official name on the November ballot. In the meantime, they will remove the reference to "plantations" from all General Assembly documents.

Mattiello was recently forced to backtrack on a statement he made during a radio interview that he wasnt sure if "actual slavery" existed in Rhode Island.

State House Republican Reps. Michael Chippendale and Blake Filippi said they disapproved of Raimondos use of an executive order, but agreed that the question about changing the states name should go to voters in November.

Womazetta Jones, secretary of Rhode Islands Executive Office of Health and Human Services, said during Mondays news conference it "blew her mind" the first time she looked down at her state paycheck to see the word "plantations." She said she looked forward to it being removed.

"The time has long since passed for our government and other systems to address the injustices that people of color face every single day," she said.

Washington: 400 National Guard soldiers activated to guard DC monuments amid protests

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island Gov. Raimondo won't use 'Plantations' in state documents
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

#COVID19

At reader request, Ive added this daily chart. The data is the John Hopkins CSSE data. Here is the site. States going up, with New York for comparison:

Ugly slopes.

Politics

But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51

They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune

They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord

Since were getting closer to the election, maybe its time to start looking at the electoral map. As of June 21: NPR and U.S. News forecasts added. And yet the consensus remains stable!



Click the map to create your own at 270toWin.com

So, taking the consensus as a given, 270 (total)  204 (Trumps) = 66. Trump must win 66 from the states in play: AZ (11), FL (29), MI (16), NC (15), PA (20), and WI (10) plus 1 to win not tie = 102. 102  66 = 36. So if Trump wins FL, MI, NC, and PA (29 + 16 + 15 + 20 = 80), he wins. Thats a heavy lift. I think Ive got the math right this time!

* * *

2020

Biden (D)(1): Joe Biden Begins Building His Presidential Transition Team [Bloomberg]. Joe Biden has tapped former Senator Ted Kaufman, a longtime adviser and friend, to lead his transition team as the Democratic presidential nominee enters into a more formal phase of planning for a potential administration. Yohannes Abraham, a top aide to senior adviser Valerie Jarrett in the Obama White House, will be joining the operation in the coming weeks to manage day-to-day operations. Hes also worked as chief operating officer of the Obama Foundation. Avril Haines, a former principal deputy national security adviser and deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency, will also join the staff soon to set up the transitions policy and agency review operations, as well as to lead its work on national security and foreign policy. Other senior staff preparing to join the transition team are Gautam Raghavan, chief of staff to Representative Pramila Jayapal, who was a co-chair of Sanderss presidential campaign; Angela Ramirez, chief of staff to Representative Ben Ray Lujan; former Biden White House adviser Evan Ryan; and Julie Siegel, Warrens senior counsel for economic policy, who previously was a senior adviser at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  On Avril Haines, from Wikipedia (sigh): In 2015 Haines was tasked with determining whether CIA personnel involved in the hacking of the computers of Senate staffers who were authoring the Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture would be disciplined. Haines chose not to discipline them, overruling the CIA Inspector General.. During the Democratic National Committee email leak during the 2016 presidential campaign, Haines as DNSA convened a series of meetings to discuss ways to respond to the hacking and leaks. In 2018, Haines was an outspoken supporter of President Trumps controversial nomination of Gina Haspel to serve as CIA director. While not commenting on Haspels record, she praised her knowledge of the agency and intelligence, a position hailed by the White House as it promoted Haspels confirmation. Haines has consulted for a variety of for-profit entities with business interests related to American national security policy, including Palantir Technologies and WestExec Advisors. So, Haines is pro-torture, pro-hacking Congress, and Palintir-adjacent. Shes perfect! Biden (D)(2): Exclusive: Dozens of Republican former U.S. national security officials to back Biden [Reuters]. Dozens of Republican former U.S. national security officials are forming a group that will back Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, people familiar with the effort said. 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.  Holy Lord, the people who brought you Iraq are gonna get another bite at the bad apples. David Frum must be so proud. Biden (D)(3): How Diverse Is Joe Bidens 2020 Staff? His Campaign Wont Say. [Buzzfeed]. [T]he reporter asked if Biden would commit to selecting a person of color as his running mate. Aboard his campaign bus in Iowa, the 77-year-old candidate looked equal parts frustrated by the question and confident in his answer. I have the most diverse staff of anybody running. Ive always done that. Bidens campaign refused to give any detail about the claim after he made it. And more than six months later, he has yet to back up the assertion or provide any data on the diversity of his campaign staff.  True, Avril Haines is a [x] woman torture advocate, but if only she were also a [x] black torture advocate! Trump (R)(1): Donald Trump Tulsa, Oklahoma Rally Speech Transcript [Rev].  The Borscht Belt bits are in there, along with the usual. I would love to have a way to reverse engineer his A/B testing with the next rally. Trump (R)(2) The Presidents Shock at the Rows of Empty Seats in Tulsa [New York Times]. Exactly what went wrong was still being dissected on Sunday. But a broad group of advisers and associates acknowledged to one another that Mr. Trump had not been able to will public opinion away from fears about the spread of the coronavirus in an indoor space. And they conceded that myriad polls showing Mr. Trumps eroded standing were not fake, and that he might be on course to lose to former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the presumptive Democratic nominee, in November.  This story, too, is focused on Trumps personal reaction. And its revealing that the heart of the story is what Trumps advisors acknowledge to each other about the crowd, rather than the crowd itself (no voters were interviewed for this piece). So we have the very definition of access journalism, unsurprisingly. Trump (R)(3): Trumps sparse rally crowd enraged him. His advisers just revealed why. [WaPo].  Everything I said about about Izvestia on the Hudson applies to Pravda on the Potomac. So we have not only access journalism, but pack journalism. We know more about K-Pop kids than we know about voters who were expected to show up at Trumps rally, but didnt! * * * McGrath leading, Engel in trouble after Tuesdays primaries [Politico]. And the rubble is still bouncing in AOCs district: 73% (!). More: It will be at least a week until winners are known in Tuesdays much-anticipated showdown between the progressive and establishment wings of the Democratic Party. Voters in five states went to the polls Tuesday for primary elections, with the top races coming in Kentucky and New York. In Kentucky, Democratic voters were choosing between party favorite Amy McGrath and state Rep. Charles Booker to face Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, for whom rank-and-file Democrats disdain rivals only that for President Donald Trump. But Tuesday night ended without a winner  and with hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots to count next week. The marquee House race of the night was Engels race against Bowman, a middle school principal. Early results staked Bowman to a lead over the incumbent that continued into Wednesday morning.  A good wrap-up. On Booker: If I were Amy McGrath (D), I wouldn't be overly optimistic about sitting on an ~8% lead w/ potentially only 12%-15% of the vote counted and none of Louisville/Lexington reporting yet. #KYSEN  Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) June 24, 2020 That late surge shows, once more, why early voting is a bad idea: Early voting rewards incumbent name recognition and big donor funding. Thats why the Democrat Party establishment loves it.

Health Care

UPDATE About masks: What should public health experts have done instead? Could have leveled with public "masks are important, but avoid hoarding to ensure medical staff have enough." Could have pushed for cloth/homemade mask wearing by public instead. Could have pushed for mass production.  Arpit Gupta (@arpitrage) June 23, 2020 Lambert here: To my shame, I bought into  and worse, propagated, told readers and friends  the original LIE propagated by Fauci and WHO, that masks were not necessary. Fortunately, I continued to do my homework and watch the news flow, and changed my mind (and my practice). Fauci and WHO perpetrated what Plato called a noble lie, believing that the best way to make sure that medical personnel  and they, too, personally  had masks was to make sure the public they duped didnt buy them up, and so they used their authority to lie about whether masks worked (they do). In an election season where the liberal Democrat pitch seems to be Let The Professionals Take Charge Again, having top PMC and global agencies get caught out in a Noble Lie might not have been the greatest idea. And as we few, we happy few in the Blue States make fun of the fat stupid loud people in the Red States who dont trust the experts that lied to them, we might consider whether our Noble Lies have unexpected effects, not merely politically, but in the destruction of the very concept of public health. Sorry about that. House Democrats tack to center with election year health care bill [Politico]. The House Democratic plan is less ambitious than the platform put forward by Joe Biden and doesnt include a public insurance option that could compete with private plans. It also would not expand eligibility for Medicare or Medicaid. But the 153-page legislative draft could amplify Democrats election-year message of building on the ACA as the Trump administration presses to overturn the law at the Supreme Court. Pelosi and her leadership plan a vote on the legislation next week. The plan stands virtually no chance of being taken up by the Republican-controlled Senate but comes amid new concerns over health coverage amid the coronavirus pandemic and the economic crash.  So Pelosis bill is a message bill, and the message is We have no ambition (and to people without insurance in the pandemic, think happy thoughts on the way down). No doubt the health insurance industry will be happy. But say, why not wait for the Biden/Sanders Task Force to issue some recommendations? In the spirit of party unity and team play?

Realignment and Legitimacy

UPDATE The limits of White Fragilitys anti-racism [Ryan Cooper, The Week]. (Chapo has a fine podcast on White Fragility here. It makes sense, too much sense, that the idpol types want a world that runs like an HR department.) For all her talk about difficult conversations, it is hard to miss how DiAngelo totally elides questions of economic justice that would be uncomfortable indeed for the wealthy corporations and executives that hire her to harangue their employees. At any rate, it is surely useful for American whites to think about how they might be inadvertently making their workplace an uncomfortable place for their co-workers of color. But its also useful for whites to think about what they might have in common with their Black and brown fellow citizens. They might form a multi-racial union (another idea that goes unmentioned in the book). They might realize that though Black Americans have it worse, white Americans are still not doing great compared to residents of peer nations  they are impoverished, imprisoned, and killed by police at shocking rates; live shorter and less healthy lives, pay through the nose for lousy health care, and on and on. Racism must be eradicated, partly because it forestalls the kind of multi-racial, working-class political coalition that could make this country a better place to live for everyone. But it seems you wont learn that at a corporate diversity seminar. UPDATE Policing and the Long-Term Problem Democrats Face [Mike the Mad Biologist]. Quoting Gin and Tacos: When it comes to the problems with policing in this country, Democrats seem fundamentally unable to conceive of themselves as a big part of the problem. At best there is an argument about the Republicans being worse  which is true, and is almost universally true  that is used to deflect criticism. It is necessary to face up to the reality that many of the places with the worst problems with police violence are, and have been, controlled by Democrats at the local level for a long time. If you look at protesters and dont understand why they burn property rather than channel their anger into voting, the very obvious answer is that there is no imaginary future in which voting for Joe Biden and whoever they just elected Mayor will actually solve the problem. Republicans offer pure authoritarianism  they actively *encourage* police to be brutal  while Democrats have done nothing to stop them, or in many cases abetted them. In my lifetime Chicago has elected one Democratic mayor after another, backed by a lockstep Democratic county board and city council and a veto-proof Democratic state legislature in many cases. All that has happened with the Chicago PD is that it has gotten worse. Much the same can be said for Minneapolis, St. Louis, New York, Los Angeles, and other places with notoriously bad police departments. * * *

Stats Watch

At reader request, I added some business stats back in. Please give Econintersect click-throughs; theyre a good, old-school blog that covers more than stats. If anybody knows of other aggregators, please contact me at the email address below.

Shipping: Trucking Industry Growth Marginally Improved In May 2020 [Econintersect]. Headline data for the American Trucking Association (ATA) and the CASS Freight Index show that truck volumes marginally improved but show the year-over-year growth deep in contraction. The CASS index is inclusive of rail, truck, and air shipments. The ATA truck index is inclusive of only trucking industry member movements (ATAs tonnage data is dominated by contract freight). I put a heavier weight on the CASS index year-over-year which is consistent with rail and ocean freight. Econintersect tries to validate truck data across data sources. It appears this month that the truck employment rate of growth continues to slow. Please note using BLS employment data in real-time is risky, as their data is normally backward adjusted (sometimes significantly). Additionally, Econintersect believes that the BLS is not capturing all truck employment.

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Tech: Google blew a ten-year lead [Second Breakfast]. I got my email through Gmail, I wrote documents on Docs, I listened to Pandora, I viewed photos on TheFacebook. Why did I need all of Windows Vista? In 2010, I predicted that by 2020 Chrome OS would be the most popular desktop OS in the world. It was fast, lightweight, and $0. .I havent installed MSFT Office on a machine since 2009. Sheets and Docs have been good enough for me. The theoretical unlimited computing power and collaboration features meant Google Docs was better than Office (and free!). Then something happened at Google. Im not sure what. But they stopped innovating on cloud software. Im a long shareholder of Google. Its amazing how they have four monopolies and only monetize one of them . Im confident they have a bright future ahead. But the lack of innovation is frustrating. The product goals are all over the place. Microsoft has a new clear mission: The Cloud. Whats Googles clear mission? It feels like they blew a 10 year lead.

Supply Chain: Supply chains response to pandemic dominates annual State of Logistics Report' [Freight Waves]. The report painted a picture of an industry first traumatized by the coronavirus pandemic and the governments tough measures designed to stop its spread, but then able to right itself and meet the challenge of bringing essential goods to market. An industry thats rarely top of the public mind demonstrated its enduring value, the report said. The sector, though damaged by the pandemic, is already adapting to the profound changes it has caused, the report said. The reports central narrative echoed the views of many: that the nations supply chain, and the logistics practitioners who support it, will shift from a model based on cost and efficiency to one driven by resiliency, defined by the report as being positioned to adjust and recover from future difficulties. U.S. firms that sourced exclusively from China faced massive supply disruptions in February and March after Chinese authorities shut down large swaths of the countrys manufacturing and outbound shipping to curtail the virus spread. For U.S. firms, avoiding a repeat scenario will require development of multiple sourcing locations, more buffer inventory, and the warehouses needed to store them. It will also lead to higher costs to support the investment in assets. Shifting supply chain strategies does not mean abandoning China, according to a group of experts participating in an online Q&A session. Michael Zimmerman, a Kearney partner, said businesses looking to diversify from China may find it hard to replicate the countrys established efficient supply chain infrastructure anywhere else in the region or the world .  Well, one would think that an Indo-Pacific strategy would be helping this happen (too bad, perhaps, so sad about the TPP, but surrenduring our national sovereignty to a self-regulating cabal of trade lawyers backed by global corporations was really a little bit much, though somebody should ask The Biden if The Obama Alumni Association plans to revive it).

Honey for the Bears: A Crisis Like No Other, An Uncertain Recovery [International Monetary Fund]. Global growth is projected at 4.9 percent in 2020, 1.9 percentage points below the April 2020 World Economic Outlook (WEO) forecast. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a more negative impact on activity in the first half of 2020 than anticipated, and the recovery is projected to be more gradual than previously forecast. In 2021 global growth is projected at 5.4 percent. Overall, this would leave 2021 GDP some 6 percentage points lower than in the pre-COVID-19 projections of January 2020. The adverse impact on low-income households is particularly acute, imperiling the significant progress made in reducing extreme poverty in the world since the 1990s. As with the April 2020 WEO projections, there is a higher-than-usual degree of uncertainty around this forecast. And: The global community must act now to avoid a repeat of this catastrophe by building global stockpiles of essential supplies and protective equipment, funding research and supporting public health systems, and putting in place effective modalities for delivering relief to the neediest.  LOL, no.

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Todays Fear & Greed Index: 48 Neutral (previous close: 52 Neutral;) [CNN]. One week ago: 51 (Neutral). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Jun 24 at 1:51pm.

The Biosphere

The origins of flowering plants and pollinators [Science]. For more than a century there has been a fascination with the surprisingly rapid rise and early diversity of flowering plants (angiosperms). Darwin described the seemingly explosive diversification of angiosperms as an abominable mystery, and debates continue about the origin and processes driving angiosperm speciation. Dating the origin of angiosperms was traditionally the prerogative of paleobotanists who read the fossil record of plants, but with DNA sequencing becoming increasingly sophisticated, molecular dating methods have come to the table. Many angiosperm fossils can be dated to the Early Cretaceous (135 million years ago), which has led paleobotanists to reason that they originated during that era. It is now increasingly recognized that angiosperms are probably older than the oldest fossils, but how much older remains controversial . When angiosperms originated is key to understanding the origin and evolution of pollinators, particularly insects such as bees, butterflies, moths, and flies. Recent reports highlight the disparity of molecular and paleontological time scales. Best more studies needed final sentence ever: Whether Darwins question about the timing of flowering-plant evolution and radiation will ever be answered remains a mystery, but clearly this question and its ecological implications for understanding insect pollination are complicated.  Its worth fighting through the brambles of science-y prose  not that hard, in this case  to gain additional appreciation of how wonderful plants are.

Health Care

Mounting clues suggest the coronavirus might trigger diabetes [Nature]. I have to say, I think this is a little clickbait-y. Interesting and suggestive, but Their hunch is based on a handful of people and The latest clue comes from an experimental study in miniature lab-grown pancreases published last week [which] suggests that the virus might trigger diabetes by damaging the cells that control blood sugar. Mini organs reveal how the coronavirus ravages the body. But other researchers are cautious about such suggestions.  Big if true, I guess.

Lessons on Coronavirus Testing From the Adult Film Industry [New York Times]. We can actually learn a lot about safety guidelines by listening to producers of porn, said Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the School of Public Health at Rutgers University. Thinking back to the H.I.V./AIDS crisis, the adult film industry had to learn how to keep their workers safe. He recommends following its lead by using what he calls the Four Ts: Target, Test, Treat and Trace. The adult film industry uses a nationwide program called PASS, for Performer Availability Screening Services, that requires performers to be tested every 14 days for H.I.V. and other sexually transmitted infections in order to be cleared for work. If a worker tests positive, hes treated, and his partners are traced.  [ Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute] agreed. He said he would like to see a database much like the PASS program where people can register online to show they were tested for the coronavirus. It should be run by a nonprofit or private business, not the government, he said. Im not opposed to the government doing it. Its that a lot of people would not be comfortable with the government running it.'

Good question:

Emissions have been dramatically cut by eliminating NON ESSENTIALS in our economies (conservation).

And as they are non essential, where's the discussion about 'restarting the economy' = expanding non essential activity that restores prior levels of emissions???  Warren B. Mosler #MMT (@wbmosler) June 22, 2020

Black Injustice Tipping Point

2 Lawyers Of Color Face 45-Year Sentences  For Vandalism [HuffPo (Re Silc)]. [Colinford King\ Mattis, along with Urooj Rahman, 31, was arrested in New York City on May 30 during protests against racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. The two were charged with attempting to burn an unoccupied, already damaged New York City Police Department vehicle. Nobody was injured in the incident. Now Mattis and Rahman face additional federal charges that carry a 45-year mandatory minimum sentence, and up to life in prison  for what essentially amounts to property damage. Activists and lawyers are alarmed by the unusually harsh charges being brought against them, and believe Mattis and Rahman should not be awaiting trial in jail. They say that they are not a threat to society  which the prosecution is arguing  and it is highly unlikely theyre a flight risk or will commit another crime. Mattis is a corporate lawyer educated at Princeton and NYU Law; Rahman went to Fordham Law and works for Bronx Legal Services, helping low-income clients fight evictions in housing court. Both grew up in New York and are deeply connected to their communities.

Games

Video Game Industry Rocked by Outpouring of Sexual Misconduct Allegations [Bloomberg]. Dozens of women took to social media over the past few days to outline explosive allegations against prominent men in the world of video gaming and streaming, setting the stage for what could be the beginning of a #MeToo reckoning for the $150 billion video game industry. Four women leveled accusations of sexual misconduct against Chris Avellone, a critically acclaimed video game writer, leading one developer to end its cooperation with him and prompting him to part ways with another game in the works. A different woman accused Omeed Dariani, the chief executive officer of Online Performers Group, a talent agency that works with many video streamers, of making an unwelcome sexual overture. Dariani resigned from his position on Sunday. Some streamers began calling for a blackout Wednesday of Amazon.com Inc.s Twitch, the biggest game streaming platform, alleging that it turns a blind eye to misbehavior. The gaming industry has for years been criticized as unwelcomingif not hostileto women, but has not yet faced the #MeToo movement on the same scale as Hollywood and other industries.

Failed State

Lawsuit alleges scientific misconduct at U.S. nuclear weapons lab [Science]. An unusual lawsuit alleges scientific misconduct at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, one of the United Statess three nuclear weapons labs. Peter Williams, a 50-year-old physicist, worked at Livermore from January 2016 until May 2017, when he says he was fired in retaliation for complaining that his superiors were mishandling a computer program that simulates the detonation of high explosives, undermining their ability to predict how a particular nuclear weapon would perform if used. Livermore used such test explosions to refine a modeling program called ARES-CHEETAH. But Williams says he became aware that one of his supervisors was essentially changing parameters in the program after the fact to make sure the simulation fit the data from each experimental setup. Thats pseudoscience, Williams charges, as it guarantees the model will look accurate, even if it isnt. He says he repeatedly asked the researcher to explain the rationale for the tweaking. It became clear that he didnt have a rationale, he had a motive, Williams says. And the motive was to keep money flowing to help develop and improve CHEETAH. Such curve fitting renders the program incapable of making meaningful predictions, he says.  All too plausible. And Williams is only suing for $600,000, so hes not in it for the money.

Guillotine Watch

Meet Our Members. [The Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness (Krystyn Podgajski)]. The Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness consists of national stakeholders including consumer groups, patient advocacy organizations, health plans, community-based organizations, mental and behavioral health advocates, and private sector innovators.  Extroverts are gonna kill us all.

Class Warfare

The Jobs We Need [Editorial Board, The New York Times]. If income had kept pace with overall economic growth since 1970, Americans in the bottom 90 percent of the income distribution would be making an extra $12,000 per year, on average. In effect, every American worker in the bottom 90 percent of the income distribution is sending an annual check for $12,000 to a richer person in the top 10 percent. Nice framing. And: Change is possible. A government more inclined to help workers would have ample opportunity. But as in the early 1930s, political change must proceed economic change. For the voices of workers to be heard, the influence of the wealthy must be curbed.  Which totally explains why Obama stood up Biden. Its all so clear now!

The New Truth [Tablet]. I dont know how to argue in America anymore, or whether its even worth it. For someone like me, that is a real tragedy and so I would like to understand how this new reality came about. There are distinct and deep-rooted traditions of rational empiricism and religious sermonizing in American history. But these two modes seem to have become fused together in a new form of argumentation that is validated by elite institutions like the universities, The New York Times, Gracie Mansion, and especially on the new technology platforms where battles over the discourse are now waged. The new mode is argument by commandment: It borrows the form to game the discourse of rational argumentation in order to issue moral commandments. No official doctrine yet exists for this syncretic belief system but its features have been on display in all of the major debates over political morality of the past decade. Marrying the technical nomenclature of rational proof to the soaring eschatology of the sermon, it releases adherents from the normal bounds of reason. The arguer-commander is animated by a vision of secular hellunremitting racial oppression that never improves despite myths about progress; society as a ceaseless subjection to rape and sexual assault; Trump himself, arriving to inaugurate a Luciferean reign of torture. Those in possession of this vision do not offer the possibility of redemption or transcendence, they come to deliver justice. In possession of justice, the arguer-commander is free at any moment to throw off the cloak of reason and proclaim you a bigotracist, sexist, transphobewho must be fired from your job and socially shunned. Practitioners of the new argument bolster their rationalist veneer with constant appeals to forms of authority that come in equal parts from biology and elite credentialing. Have you noticed how many people, especially online, start their statements by telling you their profession or their identity group: As a privileged white woman; as a doctoral student in applied linguistics; as a progressive Jewish BIPOC paleontologistand so on? These are military salutes.  Of course, identity doesnt come from biology (except when it does).

News of the Wired

IRS May Consider Delaying Tax Filing Deadline Again, Mnuchin Says [Forbes]. As of now, were not intending on doing that, but it is something we may consider, Mnuchin told Bloomberg in an interview. Mnuchin said that the extension made sense in March, because we were absolutely worried about people who couldnt get to their accountants, couldnt get their information, but added that a majority of Americans have already filed their 2019 taxes. The Treasury secretary noted that people who can file their tax returns now should do so by July 15, especially if they are expecting a refund. On the possible extension, he stated, Well look carefully as we approach this July date.'

Writing, Reading, Writing [George R.R. Martin, Not a Blog]. If nothing else, the enforced isolation has helped me write. I am spending long hours every day on THE WINDS OF WINTER, and making steady progress. I finished a new chapter yesterday, another one three days ago, another one the previous week. But no, this does not mean that the book will be finished tomorrow or published next week. Its going to be a huge book, and I still have a long way to go.  And hes 71, and has  as the rest of the post makes clear  a ton of side projects. So it goes.

How People Read Online: New and Old Findings [Neilson Normal Group]. People still primarily scan, rather than read. Scanning all of the text on a page, or even a majority, is still extremely rare. Even when users do scan content in its entirety, they never scan it perfectly linearly. They still jump around pages, skipping some content, backtracking to scan what they skipped, and rescanning content theyve already scanned.

This is a great thread on animals walking into the shot on Zoom, but:

Says "I'd like to try some of your lipstick" and I said "Will you pay for it?" and the duck says "Just put it on my bill".  Keith Humphreys (@KeithNHumphreys) June 23, 2020

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Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Todays plant (AM):

AM writes: From todays walk (May 12) in Roger Williams Park. New leaves and branches reaching out toward the Temple to Music across the lake. The sun was a bit of a challenge. I blocked it with the tree. Clever! (And seeing new buds and leaves against the sky for the first time in Spring is a wonderful moment.)

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Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser. So if you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals:









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If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you!
Other military goods will be delivered in 2021-2022 in accordance with the agreements reached.

Ukrainian Armed Forces have received the first batch of U.S. Javelin anti-tank missiles, the Ministry of Defense has confirmed on Wednesday.

"On June 16, as part of a pilot project under the U.S. Government's 'International Military Sales' program, Ukraine received the first batch of cargo under the contract signed in December 2019, namely missiles for Javelin anti-tank missile systems and additional equipment totaling over US$27 million," the report reads.

FGM-148E missiles which are one of the latest versions of Javelin system's anti-tank missiles were delivered for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Read alsoU.S. to sell Ukraine patrol boats, guns, sensors worth $600 mln

"The project envisages armament supplies to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, its maintenance and related services to train personnel to ensure reliable and efficient operation of anti-tank systems throughout the life cycle," reads the report.

Other military goods will be delivered in 2021-2022 in accordance with the agreements.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the U.S. State Department cleared a potential sale to Ukraine of 16 Mark VI patrol boats and other gear worth US$600 million.
SINGAPORE, June 24 (Reuters) - Barrick Gold Corp will lay off most staff at its Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea, the mine's operator said on Wednesday, a signal that an impasse with the government over ownership is unlikely to be resolved swiftly.

Canada's Barrick, the world's second-biggest gold miner, was refused an extension of its expired lease on the mine in April, with the government citing unrest and pollution concerns.

It stopped production and put the mine in care and maintenance mode while challenging the lease decision in court, but on Wednesday flagged further job cuts and said 2,650 Papua New Guinea nationals would be retrenched by the end of July.

"The government had repeatedly refused to enter into meaningful discussions about the issue," Barrick Niugini Ltd, which operates the mine as a joint venture between Barrick and China's Zijin Mining Group Ltd, said in a statement.

"The fact that the mine is not operating and therefore not producing revenue had created a financially untenable situation."

It said staff it had kept on in the hope of resolving the dispute would be cut at a cost of $52 million.

Barrick Chief Executive Mark Bristow said only essential personnel required for care and maintenance would remain. In January, he had told Reuters the mine had potential to be a top-tier asset.

A spokesman for PNG Prime Minister James Marape had no immediate response on Wednesday. He has previously said the government intends to operate the mine itself.

Barrick Niugini's challenge to the lease extension is due in court on July 6.

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
UN warns the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in Yemen could surpass that from five years of devastating war.

It was inevitable that the global coronavirus pandemic would arrive in Yemen and cross paths with the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Now that it has, the impact is already showing.

Laila Abdulrab has a front-line seat. A humanitarian aid worker, she has worked for the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, since 2011. Despite the mass graves being dug in Yemens major cities as probable COVID-19 cases increase rapidly, she has continued working, aiding some of Yemens most vulnerable.

I saw and sensed the fear and anxiety [of the refugees and internally displaced people] because of the pandemic and its impact on them and their community, Abdulrab told Al Jazeera after her last field visit.

The demand for UNHCR assistance is greater, and without it, many vulnerable people, including single-women households, unaccompanied children, sexual violence survivors and others, will become at serious risk of eviction and a lack of access to food and basic needs.

Overburdened

Five years of war in Yemen have pitted the internationally recognised government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, against the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.

The Middle Easts poorest nation has seen its economy decimated as a result, leaving millions unemployed and 80 percent of the country in need of humanitarian assistance. The coronavirus pandemic only exacerbated the situation.

Many Yemenis have lost their livelihoods as a result of the pandemic, and the most vulnerable groups in society, such as IDPs and refugees, have become more vulnerable, Abdulrab said. The already fragile health system is overburdened and lacks the capacity to keep up with the coronavirus situation.





Officially, Yemens internationally recognised government has declared more than 900 cases of COVID-19 and more than 250 deaths, while the Houthi rebels in the capital Sanaa have only reported four cases. But the true number is believed to be much higher.

The UN has warned that the death toll from the coronavirus in Yemen could surpass the combined death toll of war, disease, and hunger in Yemen over the last five years  a number estimated at more than 100,000 people.

Depleted funding

The question of funding will perhaps have the biggest effect on humanitarian work in Yemen over the coming months.

At a June 2 virtual donor conference, mainly Arab and Western countries pledged $1.35bn for aid operations in Yemen, far less than the $2.4bn the UN had asked for, and the $3.6bn the UN received last year.

In addition to that, the $1.35bn pledged will not all be going to the UN. Instead, the biggest donor, Saudi Arabia, which has been accused of committing war crimes in Yemen, will channel almost half of the $500m it pledged through its own relief organisations.

Children at a camp for displaced people in Yemens northern province of al-Jawf [Ali Owidha/Reuters]

The UN has already said more than 30 of the bodys 41 main programmes in Yemen will be ended imminently if additional funding is not found.

We are not speaking about months, we are speaking about weeks, Jean-Nicolas Beuze, UNHCR representative in Yemen, told Al Jazeera. We are going to have to drastically reduce the number of beneficiaries for programmes such as emergency shelters.

We are going to have to cut 20,000 families from that funding, that means that these people will live in the open, subject to the elements, said Beuze. In these conditions, how can they protect themselves from the coronavirus? They cannot.

Beuze also said the UNHCR would have to cut its cash assistance programme and many of its partnerships with local Yemeni NGOs, leaving 1,500 Yemeni staff without jobs.

International donors reduced pledges this year are partly a result of the shocks that have impacted the global economy during the coronavirus pandemic, with neighbouring Gulf Arab countries particularly hit after the price of oil plunged. But Beuze said it was clear there was going to be a funding shortfall even before the pandemic.

The donors have been concerned about aid diversion, fraudulent use of resources, and that money wasnt used to support the most vulnerable, Beuze said. That was especially in relation to the northern part of the country that is ruled by the Houthis.

People ride a motorbike through smoke from fumigation on the outskirts of Sanaa [Khaled Abdullah/Reuters]

No one will be safe

International bodies, including the World Food Programme, have accused the parties to Yemens conflict of stealing aid money, in particular the Houthis. The Houthis have denied the accusations and criticised the role of international NGOs in Yemen.

Humanitarian aid has been caught up in the political machinations of the war in Yemen, with the Saudi-led coalition and its allies, particularly the United States, wary of giving aid to Houthi-run areas.

Osamah al-Rawhani, deputy executive director of the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies, said pledging decisions have been political as much as they have been economic.

The US has lost trillions of dollars as a result of the coronavirus, and they have cut their aid to Yemen, al-Rawhani said. The question is, is the reduction in funding a result of their economy, or is it a political decision directed towards the Houthis, as theyre perceived to be Iranian allies?

I know of a country where officials have told me that they want to provide more aid to Yemen, but they need to wait for their economy to improve, al-Rawhani added. Then you have the UAE, which is a different situation  the shift in their funding is less to do with the economy and more to do with political considerations, and where they feel that they want to spend their money in Yemen.

Those political considerations leave international NGOs in an increasingly difficult position, right at a time when they need help the most as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread.

We dont only need to help Yemen because of ethical or humanitarian imperatives, but also from a self-preservation point of view, said Beuze.

It is a country of transit. If we dont make a country like Yemen  which is one of the weakest links in this global public health battle against the pandemic  safe, then no one will be safe.
On the heels of social justice uprisings in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Johnson & Johnson has announced that the corporation will no longer sell skin-lightening products.

Two specific product lines that will no longer be sold include items from Neutrogena's Fine Fairness as well as Clean & Clear's Clear Fairness which are most popularly sold within Asian and Middle Eastern markets.

Products included in these collections have been marketed as dark-spot solutions, but many people have recently called them out for encouraging a whiter skin tone as better than their own.

PHOTO: Johnson & Johnson manufacturing factory in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil on April 16, 2020. (Fotoarena/Sipa USA via AP, FILE)

"Conversations over the past few weeks highlighted that some product names or claims on our Neutrogena and Clean & Clear dark-spot reducer products represent fairness or white as better than your own unique skin tone," the company said in a statement. "This was never our intention  healthy skin is beautiful skin."

MORE: Walmart says black hair care and beauty products will no longer be locked up in stores

The products that are being removed from the brand's portfolio are not sold in the United States, and will only remain on shelves until they sell out.

Johnson & Johnson's online retail websites are also in the process of being updated to remove these skin-lightening products.

Another Johnson & Johnson brand, Band-Aid, also recently announced changes to their lineup of products which will now include a wider range of bandages that feature deeper shades of brown and black skin tones.

"We are dedicated to inclusivity and providing the best healing solutions, better representing you," the brand captioned a photo revealing the new offerings.

In addition to Johnson & Johnson, several other brands have been making efforts to create inclusive changes within their product ranges.

Johnson & Johnson will no longer carry skin-lightening products originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
In the ongoing fallout over a series of hostile Facebook messages posted by prominent Portland chef John Gorham, his wife, Renee Gorham, will take over leadership of the remaining restaurants in the Toro Bravo Inc. group, The Oregonian/OregonLive has learned.

John has been removed from any private or public-facing role with Toro Bravo Inc., Renee Gorham said in a phone interview Wednesday. This is all happening really quickly, so what happens with his ownership shares is unknown for the moment, but Johns intention is to transfer those shares to myself.

On Tuesday, Toro Bravo Inc. announced that Gorham would sell the bulk of his restaurant group, including Mediterreanean Exploration Company, both locations of Shalom Yall and Bless Your Heart burgers, the new Mama Sesame falafel shop and Multnomah Villages upcoming Yalla, to partners Ron Avni and chef Kasey Mills. That would leave his original smash hit Spanish restaurant, Northeast Portlands Toro Bravo, as well as brunch spots Tasty n Alder and Tasty n Daughters and gleaming new events space Plaza Del Toro in his portfolio.

But in a short email to The Oregonian/OregonLive Wednesday, John Gorham said his departure from Toro Bravo Inc. would be more complete.

I will not be returning to the company, He wrote. Im currently checked into the hospital.

Gorham did not respond directly to follow-up questions, writing that he didnt want to fan the flames of hate.

I over reacted to vandalism, he wrote. I would hate to anger more people.

The incident began on May 22, when Gorham took to Facebook after one of Toro Bravo Inc.s vans was tagged, part of a series of vandalism incidents during the COVID-19 shutdown that cost Toro Bravo Inc. a combined $75,000, according to the company. Online, Gorham floated the idea of starting a vigilante neighborhood patrol to keep properties safe, offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

In the comments on the post, someone posted a screen grab of a person joking about the incident on a Buy Nothing Facebook group, praising the graffiti and offering free spray paint to the group. Gorhams followers tracked the person down online, sending Gorham a photo of their vehicle and license plate number, which he posted with a message reading, This is his property, maybe something should accidentally happen to it. A separate post named the person and noted that they, Might be one of the bad guys. Send him your thoughts.

According to Renee Gorham, her husbands struggles with anger and depression were intensified after undergoing brain surgery in early 2018, leading him to take medication and seek counseling twice a week. Early this morning, after John Gorham went through a series of pretty severe anxiety attacks, Renee Gorham checked him into Oregon Health and Sciences University for his personal safety. He is expected to be in treatment for at least a couple of weeks.

Renee Gorham joined Toro Bravo shortly after the restaurant opened in 2007. The couple married three years later. They remain together.

According to Renee Gorham, she has never had an ownership stake in the restaurant, though she has felt like an owner since giving up floor service in 2012. The couple have talked through the years over whether it makes sense to put some of the shares in my name. After John Gorhams 2018 brain surgery, Renee Gorham joined a new board formed to help lead the company in his absence.

One Toro Bravo Inc. employee has resigned due to Gorhams behavior so far, Renee Gorham said.

Renee Gorham said she she has tried to steer the company toward using its platform in a healthy and productive way, something I hope to continue.

In April, Toro Bravo Inc. launched Feed It Forward PDX, a meal train sponsorship program that has produced more than 13,000 meals for Portlanders facing food insecurity over the past two months. The program includes free food bags available at Pearl District events space turned community kitchen Plaza Del Toro, as well as sliding scale meals sold at Toro Bravo Inc. restaurants and meals prepared for nonprofit partners including P:EAR, Rose Haven and New Avenues For Youth.

Before Tuesdays announcements, John Gorham owned more than 60% of the Toro Bravo Inc. restaurants, and just more than 33% of the Team Ron restaurants, a separate S Corporation for which Toro Bravo Inc. provides management and back-end support.

Update:

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell

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A satellite photo appears to show disturbed ground on Chad Daybell's property on the day he and Lori Vallow's brother allegedly burned and buried her 17-year-old daughter in plastic last fall.

The photo was taken on September 9, 2019, by a passing Pleiades 1 satellite, which captures detailed pictures of the Earth for scientific and research purposes.

It appears to show cluster of dark pixels at the same spot where investigators recovered Tylee Ryan's charred and dismembered remains in Chad's backyard in Salem, Idaho, on June 9.

The body of Tylee's seven-year-old brother, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, was found a few yards away on the property during the same search.

A probable cause affidavit stated that investigators located the burial sites using location data from the cellphone of Lori's now-deceased brother, Alex Cox.

A satellite photo appears to show disturbed ground on Chad Daybell's property in Salem, Idaho, on the day Lori Vallow's daughter Tylee Ryan was allegedly buried there on September 19, 2019

The photo appears to show cluster of dark pixels (bottom right) at the same spot where investigators recovered Tylee's charred and dismembered remains on June 9

Aerial photos from the day police uncovered the remains of Tylee and her seven-year-old brother JJ showed investigators digging at the same spot where the dark pixels were seen on the satellite image from September 9, 2019

Tylee and JJ (pictured) were last seen in September but were never reported missing by their mother, her new husband or their uncle

Chad Daybell (left) was arrested for destruction of evidence after the children's remains were found. Lori (right) has spent the past four months behind bars on felony charges for abandonment and desertion

Chad was arrested for two felony counts of concealment or destruction of evidence within hours of the remains being found.

His wife Lori, whom he married weeks after her kids went missing last September and days after his previous wife died in October, has been jailed on charges of child abandonment and desertion since February.

Cox died from an apparent blood clot in December but appears to have been a crucial figure in working out who is responsible for JJ and Tylee's deaths.

At the time of his own death Cox was under investigation for killing Lori's estranged husband, Charles Vallow, on July 11 of last year. He claimed he intervened in a domestic dispute between his sister and Charles, before he shot his brother-in-law in self-defense.

A probable cause affidavit alleges Lori's brother Alex Cox (pictured) helped bury the children's bodies

Cox then joined Lori and her kids on a trip to Yellowstone National Park on September 8. It was the last time Tylee was seen alive.

Information in the probable cause affidavit - unsealed last Friday- revealed that Cox's phone pinged at his sister's apartment early the next morning.

The phone data allegedly showed that Cox arrived at Chad's property later that morning and spent about two hours there.

Investigators said his phone pinged at the exact spot where they eventually unearthed the teen's remains next to a barn.

According to the affidavit, Chad texted his first wife, Tamara 'Tammy' Daybell, just minutes after Cox left the property at around 11.40 am and said that he had 'just buried a raccoon' in the 'pet cemetery' on their property.

'Well, I've had an interesting morning!' Chad wrote in the text conversation obtained by the FBI. 'I felt I should burn all of the limb debris by the fire pit before it got too soaked by the coming rains.

'While I did so, I spotted a big raccoon along the fence. I hurried and got my gun, and he was still walking along. I got close enough that one shot did the trick. He is now in our pet cemetery. Fun times!'

Investigators said they found the remains of several animals near where one of the children's bodies was buried.

The FBI released this photo of JJ and Tylee with their uncle Alex Cox on September 8, 2019 - the last day Tylee was seen. Police alleged that Cox brought Tylee to Chad's property and buried her hours later on the morning of September 9

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 by Lori's friends at her Rexburg home. October 19: Chad's wife Tammy, 49, dies at their Idaho home. 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 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: Alex Cox, dies in Arizona. December 21: Rexburg police issue the first press release about JJ and Tylee, revealing 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 kids to Idaho authorities 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 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 arrested for destruction or concealment of evidence. Advertisement

Lori's son JJ was last seen two weeks later on September 23.

Two of Lori's friends, Melanie Gibb and David Warwick, told police that they saw the seven-year-old at Lori's apartment that morning while Cox was looking after him.

JJ was said to have been 'acting up', so Lori told her friends Cox was taking the boy back to his own apartment in the same complex somtime between 8 and 9am.

At 9.55am Cox's phone pinged at Chad's property once again, at the exact spot where JJ's remains were found wrapped in black plastic and duct tape.

The next morning, Lori told her friend Gibb that JJ 'had been acting like a zombie' and crawling on top of cabinets at her home.

Gibb later told authorities she felt Lori slipping away as Chad indoctrinated her into his Mormon splinter cult, Avow. He believed that he and Lori were gods destined to lead true believers into the approaching Armageddon, Gibb claimed.

Gibb further alleged that Chad had led Lori to believe her ex-husband and her children were possessed by zombies, and taught her that their 'original spirits' could be 'released' if their physical bodies died.

'They also stated their mission was to rid the world of zombies,' Gibb said, according to the affidavit.

Gibb also said that during her final visit with Lori, the 'cult' mom told her that Tylee was studying at Brigham Young University.

That visit came days after Tylee was believed to have been buried on September 9.

The satellite image of Chad's property was taken at 1.32pm - about two hours after Cox allegedly left the property - by a satellite system called Pleiades 1, which is operated by the French national space program, CNES.

Salt Lake City news station KSL first obtained the image from a reseller, Apollo Mapping, and published it on Tuesday.

Copies were then acquired by DailyMail.com.

KSL explained that Pleiades 1 consists of two satellites which orbit the Earth at an altitude of just over 430 miles above sea level.

The satellites produce photographs at a resolution of 50 centimeters, meaning that each pixel in an image corresponds to 50 centimeters, or about 20 inches, on the ground.

KSL examined the photo from Chad's property pixel by pixel, comparing it with images of investigators digging up the bodies on June 9.

The outlet found that a cluster of dark pixels about 51 feet from the barn correlates with the location that Tylee's body was allegedly found.

It's unclear whether investigators were previously aware of the existence of the satellite image.

Given the low resolution it's impossible to say for certain whether the dark pixels indicate that the ground in that section was disturbed.

The satellite image of Chad's property (seen center) was taken at 1.32pm - about two hours after Cox allegedly left the property - by a satellite system called Pleiades 1, which is operated by the French national space program, CNES

The discovery of the bodies two weeks ago marked the conclusion of a seven-month, multi-state hunt for the children, who were never reported missing by their mother.

Many questions remain unanswered in the complicated case, which 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.

The couple fled Idaho for Hawaii when police first began asking questions about the children's whereabouts in November, after JJ's relatives ordered a welfare check because they hadn't spoken to the boy in months.

Police tracked Lori and Chad down in Kauai 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 February arrest and extradition to Idaho.

She is currently being held at Madison County Jail in lieu of $1million bond on two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children and one misdemeanor count each for obstructing an investigation, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court.

Prosecutors have not said whether they plan to add additional charges in light of the bodies being found.

Chad is currently facing two felony counts for destruction or concealment of evidence and is being held at Fremont County Jail on $1million bond.

He pleaded not guilty last week and requested a jury trial.

Chad and his attorney John Prior are seen during a video court appearance on June 10. Last week Chad pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of destruction or concealment of evidence

Lori is currently being held at Madison County Jail in lieu of $1million bond on two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children and one misdemeanor count each for obstructing an investigation, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court

In addition to investigating the children's deaths, police are still looking into the death of Chad's first wife Tammy, who mysteriously died at the Salem home 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.

In April it was revealed that the Idaho attorney general is investigating Lori and Chad for conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in Tammy's death.

Family members spoke to DailyMail.com this week and said police have refused to give up any answers about that investigation.

Authorities are also still investigating the death of Lori's previous husband Charles, who was shot dead by her brother last summer.

Charles - JJ's adoptive father - had filed for divorce from Lori five months earlier and claimed in court documents that she had threatened to kill him.

Court records indicate that police were investigating Cox for murder at the time of his death.

In addition to investigating the children's deaths, police are still looking into the death of Chad's first wife Tammy (pictured), who mysteriously died at the Salem home on October 19
Cybersecurity law to stopper Apple cloud services, Photo: Shutterstock

As one of the economic consequences following the pandemic, US tech titan Apple has been forced to change its business orientation from accelerating device sales like iPhones and Macbooks to software services, especially cloud computing. A report from technology aggregator Protocol in late May stated that Apple has been recruiting software engineers specialised in cloud computing.

The global health emergency has put tech firms specialised in producing devices like Apple at large risk by interrupting supply chains, with many of their factories mainly based in China. On the other hand, the pandemic has benefited major software companies such as Google, Microsoft, Netflix, and Amazon because of the great demand for online services during the crisis.

According to an unofficial source, Apple pays about $30 million a month to the subsidiary of the US-based e-commerce giant Amazon to develop cloud computing-based services such as iCloud, Apple Music, and New Plus. As of now, the iPhone manufacturer is one of the biggest clients of Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Apples cloud computing will be directly responsible for services on its 1.5 billion devices across the world and in Vietnam. However, with the disruption from the Law on Cybersecurity that has been effective since January 2019, local Apple users may not be able to experience many of the companys cloud services.

According to Article 26.3 of the law, any domestic or foreign enterprise providing services on telecom networks, the internet, and other value-added services in the cyberspace in Vietnam who collects, uses, analyses, or processes data on users personal information, their relationships, or data generated by service users in Vietnam must store this data in the country for a yet undetermined period of time.

As soon as the regulation was drafted, many global tech firms spoke out against it mainly due to significant costs for developing data systems in Vietnam. Companies with a prolonged presence in Vietnam, such as Google and Microsoft, may spend more to comply with the Vietnamese law and sustain their services. However, other firms that newly enter the market or smaller firms may have to review the costs before making decisions about whether it is worth building up data systems.

Thus, to maintain the usage of Apples cloud services for locals, the tech firm will have to spend a sizable expense to develop its data storage system in Vietnam. Notwithstanding, as Apple has never given high priority to the Vietnamese market, it seems unlikely that the company will drain its funds for data storage in the nation.

Specifically, Apples new products in Vietnam are usually launched at least a month after other Southeast Asian markets, such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

In case Apple decides to construct data centres in Vietnam, the company would have to compete with AWS and local companies, such as Viettel IDC, FPT Telecom, and CMC Telecom.

Meanwhile, AWS officially entered Vietnam in 2017 as it recognised the huge demand for cloud computing services of businesses in the country. The US firm currently provides more than 90 cloud services such as data storage, analysis, and AI services. Many large firms, like Masan, Vietjet, and VTV, are currently using AWS products. Especially, VTV has been utilising AWS cloud computing services to broadcast nine television channels on the internet through its web interface VTVGo.

According to Paul Chen, head of Solutions Architect in Southeast Asia, after many years of operating in the US, India, and China, Amazons subsidiary has been eyeing Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.

On the flip side, the strict regulations of the Law on Cybersecurity also facilitate the evolution of Vietnamese cloud computing suppliers. In a response to VIR, a representative of Viettel IDC said that major Vietnamese businesses do not like their data stored or processed on overseas servers. They prefer using local services although they are not as big as Google or Amazon, he said.

The representative also revealed Viettel IDC occupies more than 40 per cent of the local cloud computing market. With such high market share, the firm does not only lead Vietnam but also Southeast Asia. Accordingly, small cloud service suppliers mainly use Viettel IDCs infrastructure to build up their own cloud computing products, resulting in an even higher market share of Viettel IDC.

Thus, Viettel IDCs robust position could be a large obstacle for Apple for convincing thousands of local companies to store their data with them.
Victor Davis Hanson has criticized conservatives for agreeing that Confederate statutes should be taken down if local city councils authorize doing so. In an interview with Tucker Carlson, he explained:

The mob says back to them [some conservatives] you want it gone, why waste the city council vote? Its sort of like the Soviet Duma has to ratify a prejudged conclusion and its not let the city council come to any conclusion they want.

This is a rather facile way of getting around the distinction between a lawful removal of a statue and an unlawful removal. No conservative I know suggests that statues should be removed based on the ratification of a mobs decision. Nor should one assume that a city council that votes to remove a statue isnt reaching the conclusion it genuinely believes is the right one.

For me the question is: Why should a monument remain in place if (1) it honors someone who took a leading role in trying to destroy the Union and (2) democratically elected city officials agree the monument should be removed?

In his interview with Carlson, Hansons answer was that taking the statues down spurs the destruction of American history. I dont think it does.

The history of the Confederacy and the deeds of Confederate leaders live on without the monuments. That history and those deeds arent expunged. Anyone can read about them.

The historical fact that a city honored a Confederate leader with a monument also lives on. Removing the statue merely adds another chapter to history.

The history becomes this: Long ago, a city council, likely elected when African-Americans werent fully enfranchised, put up a monument to the Confederate. Many decades later, a more democratically elected city council decided to take it down.

Unfreezing history is not the same thing as destroying it.
LONDON - An Irish truck driver appeared in an English court Wednesday, accused of the manslaughter of 39 people who were found dead in a container in southeastern England in an apparent people-smuggling tragedy.

Ronan Hughes, 40, appeared by at Southend Magistrates Court, east of London, by video link from a police station, after being extradited from Ireland.

The Vietnamese nationals were found Oct. 23 in an industrial park in the English town of Grays inside a refrigerated container that had arrived by ferry from Belgium.

The victims came from impoverished villages in Vietnam and are believed to have paid people smugglers to take them on risky journeys to better lives abroad.

The trucks driver, Maurice Robinson, 25, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter in April. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Hughes wasnt asked to enter a plea and was ordered detained until a plea hearing at Londons Central Criminal Court on July 22.
The Minister of State in-charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah, has commended management of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), for ensuring effective COVID-19 measures for final year students on campus.



He indicated that the various interventions deployed by the university, demonstrated UEWs support to complement governments efforts in reducing the spread of COVID-19.



I am extremely satisfied about the rigorous measures put in place by the university in ensuring the safety of final year students, who are back on campus, to complete the 2019/2020 academic year, Prof Yankah stressed.



Prof Yankah gave the commendation during a courtesy call on management of the university and also to observe how the institution was receiving and helping the final year students on campus.



He said the government was appreciative of the role being played by the various tertiary institutions in the country to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, and urged the institutions to continue with such roles.



Commenting on the conduct of final year students, who had reported to campus, he said, It is gratifying to see all final year students adhering to the precautionary measures announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the university management.



Prof Yankah urged students and Ghanaians to continue adhering to protocol on the fight against the pandemic.



He reminded the public to observe social distancing, wear face masks, wash hands under running water for at least 20 seconds as well as the use of hand sanitisers.



The Vice-Chancellor of UEW, Rev Fr Prof Anthony Afful-Broni, said the UEW management had allocated a place at the University Hospital for COVID-19 related cases.



Management, he said, was working closely with the public and private health facilities within the Effutu municipality to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.



Rev Fr Prof Afful-Broni said, We have been very supportive of the Municipal Directorate of Health. Sometimes, we offer our vehicles to take samples.



He said that we have also taken part in contact tracings for the municipality; so there is a very good collaboration.



The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof Andy Ofori-Birikorang, explained that most of the final year students had completed their courses and submitted their long essays and project work to their various departments.



Currently, he said, the students returned to campus to wrap-up their take-home papers and subsequently submit same to their lecturers.



The Registrar, Paul Osei-Barima, briefed the minister on the universitys re-opening arrangement for the final year students and expressed the commitment of management.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Additional reporting: Darla Litvinova and Seth Borenstein

Prolonged warming of the Arctic Circle will have devastating effects on the rest of the world, an Irish climatologist has warned.

Dr Kieran Hickey from University College Cork (UCC) has joined other international scientists who have expressed similar concerns after a heatwave in Russia's Siberia region.

On Saturday, the thermometer hit a likely record of 38C in the Siberian town of Verkhoyansk in Russia's Sakha Republic.

The World Meteorological Organisation wants to verify the temperature reading, which would be a record for the region north of the Arctic Circle. It was 18C above the Siberian town's average temperature for June.

Dr Hickey, a senior lecturer in UCC's Department of Geography, described the temperature reading as "astonishing" during an interview on RTE radio.

"This is a temperature associated with high summer in the Mediterranean, not inside the Arctic Circle," he said.

Dr Hickey said the pattern of record temperatures over the last 10 to 15 years seemed to be continuing.

He had no doubt the record temperature was due to climate change.

"We are looking at a protracted warm spell over this part of Siberia, which is well inside the Arctic Circle and has been going on for several months, so it certainly would indicate that this is part of the climate change story."

Asked what would prolonged warming within the Arctic Circle lead to, Dr Hickey said it would have "devastating effects".

It would lead to the loss of the ice cover which reflects incoming solar radiation out into the atmosphere.

"When you lose that white reflective surface, the earth absorbs more incoming radiation and heats up so that drives up warming."

More concerning, however, was the melting of permafrost, which had been continuing in the Arctic Circle for over 20 years but was more noticeable in recent years.

Permafrost is the term used to describe permanently frozen ground that contains vast amounts of carbon dioxide. When it starts to melt, it releases gases into the atmosphere.

"It is really is very, very worrying that you have these protracted warm spells in the Arctic but we have known about them for at least a decade now," Dr Hickey said.

The increasing temperatures in Siberia have been linked to wildfires that grow bigger every year, as well as the thawing of the permafrost.

University of Michigan environmental school dean, Jonatan Overpeck, said such prolonged Siberian warmth had not been seen for thousands of years.

The record warming in Siberia is a warning sign of major proportions, the climate scientist warned.

"And it is another sign that the Arctic amplifies global warming even more than we thought.

Lead scientist at the Moscow-based Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory, Andrei Kiselyov, said in the Arctic the temperature increased by 0.69C every decade.

"In that respect, we're ahead of the whole planet," Mr Kiselyov said.

A catastrophic oil spill from a collapsed storage tank last month near the Arctic city of Norilsk was partly blamed on melting permafrost. In 2011, part of a residential building in Yakutsk, the biggest city in the Sakha Republic, collapsed due to thawing and subsidence of the ground.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi confirmed on June 23 that approximately 440 Japanese experts and entrepreneurs will be paying a visit to Vietnam from June 25- 27.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi confirmed on June 23 that approximately 440 Japanese experts and entrepreneurs will be paying a visit to Vietnam from June 25- 27, marking an initial step in easing the travel restrictions imposed by the two countries since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic.

In response to questions from reporters in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Motegi said the Vietnamese side has granted permission for experts and businessmen to enter the country providing that they agree to increase epidemic prevention measures.

A number of flights by Vietnam Airlines will be arranged by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam and will depart from Narita Airport in Tokyo before landing at Van Don International Airport in Vietnam.

This comes after comments made by Foreign Minister Motegi on June 19 stating that both countries have agreed to relax measures by partially lifting travel bans and easing restrictions step by step, noting that it won't take long before the resumption of travel between the two nations.

In addition to opening up to Vietnam, the Far East country is currently in negotiations with Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand in an attempt to loosen travel restrictions, providing that travelers test negative for the COVID-19 before they depart and again once they arrive.

Moreover, a detailed itinerary providing information about the places where arrivals stay must be given. This will allow businessmen to avoid the mandatory 14-day isolation period and continue working with some travel restrictions remaining in place.

VOV
Kelly Dittmar holds a sign as she listens during a rally memorializing Black women killed by police outside City Hall in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Read more

Holding the photos of 40 Black women who have died at the hands of police across the country, activists gathered at City Hall Wednesday to say her name, recounting stories of women that they say often go untold amid discussions of police brutality and racial injustice.

Enough is enough. We are done dying, organizer Dawn Chavous told the crowd. That could be us. That could be any one of us.

Later Wednesday, about 50 people gathered in West Philadelphias Clark Park to protest police brutality and Black transgender erasure in the form of a community scream.

Co-organizer and West Philadelphia resident Bianca Blu Lazuli said the events purpose was to raise awareness of Black transgender lives in a way that was impossible to go unnoticed.

This is something that hits home for us because it could be us or one of our friends being pulled out of the river, Lazuli said, referencing the discovery of Dominique Remmie Fells dismembered body in the Schuylkill on June 8  at least the seventh transgender woman murdered in Philadelphia since 2013.

As the country has faced a reckoning against racism in the wake of the death of George Floyd, activists have urged protesters to remember Black women, including Black trans women, during the push for change.

People are protesting in the wake of George Floyds death, and they dont know Atatiana Jefferson or Breonna Taylor, Chavous said at the City Hall memorial. I thought it was important to show up in the same volume, to give light to these women and their stories in the same way we do for our brothers.

In March, Taylor was shot eight times by officers who burst into her Louisville, Ky., home while she was sleeping, using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. As protesters have flooded Philadelphias streets in the wake of Floyds death, Taylors name has become a common chant during demonstrations against police brutality.

 READ MORE: Black Lives Matter marches continue in Philadelphia, hundreds turn out for Breonna Taylor and Dominique Remmie Fells

This week, three months after the shooting, the Louisville Police Department fired one of the officers involved in Taylors death.

At Wednesdays rally, 40 women, one by one, told the story of another woman who had died at the hands of police.

A handful of politicians also attended the rally organized by Chavous, who is married to City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson. They included City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart and Councilmembers Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Maria Quinones-Sanchez, and Cherelle L. Parker.

Specifically for Black women, we have found ourselves at the bottom of the totem pole, Parker said. Within the African American community, we are paid less, and if you look at our history in the womens movement .... we had to even fight to be included in that movement. That very specific intersection is a place that we need to recognize and we need to honor, and show that their lives are valued.

Created in 2014 by the African American Policy Forum and the Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy Studies, the Say Her Name campaign aims to bring attention to often-overlooked violence against Black women in the United States.

Organizers of the rally in Philadelphia, sponsored by a bevy of organizations including Millennials in Action and the Black Womens Leadership Council, also presented a list of demands for local officials, including investing in forms of community safety that dont rely on police, ending the practice of sending police to mental health and domestic disturbances, and holding police accountable for violence against Black women and girls.

There will be a continuum of this until we see the changes, Chavous said. We just got to do better. Were done dying.

At Clark Park, protesters formed a semicircle holding signs that read No justice, no peace, no fascist police, All Cops are Bastards, and Black Trans Lives Matter. The transgender flag and blank poster boards decorated a nearby tree, where people were encouraged to write messages in memory of Black transgender lives lost.

Co-organizers Lazuli and Chef Marcu directed the crowd to let out five 10-second-long screams.

Reflecting on transgender deaths over the past year, Lazuli said the screams reflect how tired the community is of constant subjugation.

Its too much, and weve had enough. And usually, when people feel like something is too much or enough, they scream about it, Lazuli said.

Monthly community screams are planned to continue raising awareness of Black transgender lives.

Because right now everyone is forced to mask up and keep quiet, it feels like we have no outlet. It feels like theres nothing we can do, Lazuli said.
Finding Nemo, V For Vendetta, Hercules.

Hollywood is a precarious profession, but you would hope once youve got the role you can relax a little bit. Not these guys, who found themselves out of a job even after shooting began.

John Lithgow  Hercules

3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN -- Season 3 -- Pictured: John Lithgow as Dr. Dick Solomon (Photo by Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

The Disney filmmakers wanted Jack Nicholson as baddie Hades, but he asked for too much money, so Lithgow was cast instead. But being second choice had its pitfalls and despite voicing the role for nine months, he was eventually fired and replaced with James Woods.

James Remar  Aliens

The movie "The Warriors", directed by Walter Hill. Seen here, James Remar as Ajax. Initial theatrical release February 9, 1979. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)

Remar was originally cast as Hicks in James Camerons sequel, but as he said later in a Sidebar podcast, I was fired after a couple of weeks of filming because I got busted for possession of drugs. He was replaced by Michael Biehn, although he can be seen from behind in a couple of shots in the finished film.

Richard Gere  The Lords of Flatbush

Studio portrait of American actor Richard Gere wearing an open shirt, late 1970s. (Photo by American Stock/Getty Images)

Gere came to blows with co-star Sylvester Stallone on this 1974 Brooklyn gang drama, who demanded that the Pretty Woman star be fired. He was replaced by Perry King.

Kel ONeill  There Will Be Blood

***EXCLUSIVE*** Director Kel O'Neill attends 20009 Los Angeles Film Festival Shorts Program 1 held at the Majestic Crest Theatre on June 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. ***Exclusive*** (Photo by Barry King/WireImage)

Going head-to-head on-screen with Daniel Day-Lewis is a daunting prospect and gossip from the set of Paul Thomas Andersons film was that ONeill found it difficult to deal with the Oscar-winners meticulous method. Director and star deny it, but it worked out well for ONeill (who was replaced by Paul Dano) now a filmmaker himself. If [Anderson] hadnt fired me from [the movie] I would probably still be an actor dreaming of making my own films some day.

Sean Young  Dick Tracy

Sean Young standing on helicopter tarmac in a scene from the film 'Fire Birds', 1990. (Photo by Buena Vista/Getty Images)

Young says she was fired after a week of shooting for rejecting director/star Warren Beattys advances, he says it was because her performance as Tess Trueheart wasnt maternal enough. Glenne Headley got the role instead.

Lori Petty  Demolition Man

Lori Petty wearing bizarre head gear while holding a gun in a scene from the film 'Tank Girl', 1995. (Photo by United Artists/Getty Images)

It was the most uncool day in Hollywood for me, Point Break actress Petty told The Daily Beast about her firing from the Sly sci-fier. Infamous producer Joel Silver did the canning, citing creative differences and Sandra Bullock got the part.

Story continues

William H Macy  Finding Nemo

William H. Macy holds his two awards for outstanding lead actor in a movie and outstanding writing in a movie for his work in "Door to Door" at the 55th annual Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, in Los Angeles. (AP Photos/Reed Saxon)

Macy had voiced most of his lead role as Nemos father when director Andrew Stanton decided that his take on the character wasnt quite right. Albert Brooks took over and the film became one of Pixars biggest smashes.

Judy Garland  Valley of the Dolls

(Original Caption) New York: Judy Garland in dressing room after opening of show at the Palace, July 31st. In her current act here, Miss Garland performs with her daughter, Lorna, 14, and Joey, 12, children of her third husband, Sid Luft.

Dozens of stories abound as to why the Wizard of Oz star was let go from the camp 1960s classic, including her substance abuse and the fact one of the more outrageous characters was based on her. Meanwhile, her supporters say the director treated her badly. Susan Hayward took over.

James Purefoy  V for Vendetta

James Purefoy during HBO's "Rome" Los Angeles Premiere - Red Carpet at Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Lee Celano/WireImage)

The English actor was replaced by Hugo Weaving on the comic book adaptation, with rumours he got frustrated with wearing Vs infamous mask, or that his voice wasnt menacing enough. Purefoy scotched those reports, saying it was genuinely about the way to approach that character.

Harvey Keitel  Apocalypse Now

(GERMANY OUT) Keitel, Harvey *13.05.1939-Schauspieler, USA - Portrait- 1980 (Photo by Will/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

The movies editor Walter Murch told Yahoo in 2014, The nature of Willard is that he is the eyes through which you watch the eventson a simply biological level, Martin Sheen has very big eyes that look at the world and Harvey Keitel has very narrow eyes.
Syrias foreign minister accused the United States on Tuesday of allegedly seeking to starve the people of Syria by imposing new sanctions and opening the door for terrorism" to return to the war-torn country.

Walid al-Moallem said the sanctions are a challenge but not impossible to overcome, and insisted that the government will be able to cope with the so-called Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act  with assistance from friends and allies.

Syrian President Bashar Assad's government refers to armed opposition fighting it as terrorism. The legislation known as the Caesar Act was named after the pseudonym of a Syrian policeman who turned over photographs of thousands of victims of torture by the Assad government.

The challenges are not easy," al-Moallem said. We have already started taking measures to counter these sanctions."

Later Tuesday, the Syrian defense ministry said two soldiers were killed and four were injured following coordinated aerial attacks on military bases in the country's Sweida and Deir el-Zour provinces, in south and southeastern Syria respectively. The defense ministry statement didn't identify who was behind the attacks, but said the aircraft flew over eastern Syria. It added the country's air defense were activated.

Israel has been suspected of carrying out a series of attacks in Syria in recent weeks, believed to have targeted Iranian and proxy interests in the country. There is rarely any comment from Israel on such attacks.

The latest U.S. sanctions are the most severe yet against Syria, set to target any individual or entity doing business with the Syrian government or supporting its military efforts, including reconstruction, fuel delivery and other sectors. Businessmen close to the Syrian government were added to the sanctions list under the new measures.

The U.S. State Department and Treasury also added the names of Assad, his wife and relatives to the sanctions list, tightening the noose around the inner circle of the ruling family. More names are expected to be announced this summer.

What we need to do is turn this into an opportunity to develop our national economy, increase self-reliance and deepen the cooperation with friends and allies, al-Moallem said and added that authorities are not worried about the Caesar Act despite all the psychological warfare.

The act, which gained bipartisan support in Congress in December, went into effect this month.

Al-Moallem also said that the sanctions aim to influence the Syrian presidential elections, expected next year, to change Syria's policy and force it to give up its current alliances with the resistance a reference to Assad's allies Iran, the militant Lebanons Hezbollah group and Palestinian factions.

He said that Assad would remain in power as long as the Syrian people want him to stay.

Al-Moallem dismissed the measures as an act of the despairing" after the Syrian government forces' success on the battlefield.

The real goal of the so-called Caesar Act is to open the door for the return of terrorism as it was in 2011, he added.
While the gun-toting residents weren't breaking the law, according to police, it was an unnecessary show of force against peaceful protesters. Thankfully it didn't foment any further reaction.

But two other recent cases appear to cross the line into the criminal realm.

On Sunday, police said a man told them he drew his gun and approached a couple near a public war memorial at U.S. 231 and 145th Avenue near Leroy because he thought the couple might be vandalizing the memorial.

Police said there was no evidence the couple had been doing anything wrong.

But even if they had been, the unnamed man who drew his gun had no business playing cop.

Police chose not to charge the man after they said the couple declined to press criminal charges, deferring instead to a formal police report being filed in the matter.

No one has the right to draw a gun on another unless it is being done in defense of oneself or one's family. Those who brandish guns while taking the law into their own hands should be prosecuted.

Another disturbing incident of alleged vigilantism appears to be poised to garner criminal charges.
Its nearly impossible to imagine how police reform is revived this year after Wednesdays spectacle on the Senate floor.

After begging for a debate earlier this month, Democrats rejected a motion to bring the GOPs bill to the floor, arguing it couldnt be saved. The bills author, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), accused Democrats of being eager to derail anything that could be seen as Republican outreach to minorities. And each party took an increasingly hardened position that makes compromise unattainable.

While at times a filibuster by the minority party creates a new round of negotiations on must-pass legislation, police reform appears to be instead going the way of past failed debates on immigration and gun control. Which is to say perhaps only a huge public outcry will force Congress back to the table in the next 20 weeks  and even then the odds arent great in the polarized Senate.

Democrats blocked a vote to debate the GOP bill and try and amend it on the floor on Wednesday, 55-45, denying the Republican majority the 60 votes it needed. And if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) forces another vote on it, its likely to reach the same result.

If this is their best offer, its just not worth doing. Its a bad bill. It gives the impression of having done something when it actually does almost nothing, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Were better off admitting that now rather than faking our way through a process thats going to end up in nothing.

Democrats want bipartisan talks or committee consideration. Republicans say: No way.

Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting to consider authorization for subpoenas relating to the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, and other matters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, Pool)

Itd be a waste of my time, said Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) of bringing Sen. Tim Scotts bill to his committee, where it could be more easily amended by Democrats. Committee or floor, thats not the issue. The issue is whether or not they want to get a result. Clear to me they dont.

Our members are united: Tim Scott put together a really solid bill that deserves a chance to at least be debated, said Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.).

Story continues

Members of both parties are hesitant to fully declare the effort dead in the middle of nationwide protests and anger over the police killings of Black Americans. The House will pass its own police reform bill on Thursday, which imposes stronger federal policing standards than Scotts, including by putting an end to chokeholds and no-knock warrants and loosening rules protecting police from being sued.

But absent a lightning strike breakthrough, there will not be a new sweeping reform law before the election. The Senate is likely to move onto annual defense legislation, then a bill to provide aid amid the coronavirus crisis, before breaking for August recess. After that, little major legislation is expected before November.

Democrats said they hoped to resurrect their March strategy on coronavirus relief: Vote down McConnells unilateral approach and force him to the table. If McConnell were really serious about making a law as he insists, they argue, hed continue to engage with them.

The moment for there to be a negotiation about what or might not actually pass is after its clear that were not going to just simply proceed with the GOP bill, argued Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.).

But Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), one of just three Democratic Caucus members that voted to advance the bill on Wednesday, surmised: Im not sure that this type of pressures going to work this time.

Manchin questioned whether McConnell even wants something to pass, while also taking Democrats to task for their tactics.

For some reason, they dont understand were not in the majority. OK? The wish list? I wish all that would happen. It should go through committee, Manchin said of his colleagues demands. But thats not the way McConnells going to work. You cant force that.

The failure of the Senate GOPs police bill was not a surprise given Democrats criticism of McConnells approach earlier this week.

Even as Republicans offered to hold an open amendment process, Democrats said the bill was not salvageable and needed a total do over. The first real bipartisan meeting between key lawmakers like Graham, Scott and Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) didn't occur until Tuesday, a day before the vote.

Yet even if the result was predictable, the raw emotion from individual senators was real on Wednesday afternoon as they sifted through the wreckage. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) even briefly debated Senate procedure on the floor, a relative rarity these days.

And a large group of senators watched and applauded Scott after he gave an emotional speech, during which he accused Democrats of strategizing against Republicans so as to not allow this party to be seen as a party that reaches out to all communities in this nation.

Really where theyre positioning themselves is that somehow Republicans cant be for police reform, that only Democrats can, fumed Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). And they resent very much Sen. Scott being a Black American taking this lead.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) retorted that civil rights groups had urged a filibuster, arguing the bill could not be saved: Who do you believe, America? NAACP or the Republican caucus?

The answer will probably be answered in four months at the ballot box. And both parties started honing their arguments on Wednesday.

Republicans will say Democrats engaged in pure obstruction, potentially blocking their bill from even being debated multiple times if McConnell follows through on his pledge to force more votes. They will say that Democrats want to win an election and pass their own legislation next year. And the frustration is coming even from Republicans who dont walk the party line.

Theyd rather have a campaign issue than actual police reform, said Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), flashing sarcastic frustration with Democrats. Oh yes. We could send it back to committee and long debates and wed be months and then wed be in the August recess.

Democrats will say McConnell merely wanted a show vote that he knew couldnt pass but puts senators on the record. Partisan bills that get dropped on the floor without committee buy-in rarely succeed, they say, evidence that the GOP didnt want a result, they just wanted to criticize Democrats.

Thats not how we get things done here. They know it, we know it. Weve all been around, said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a member of Democratic leadership.

While the partisan deadlock might have been predictable, what follows outside the halls of the Capitol is anyone's guess. If Americans who have been protesting for weeks realize that Congress is failing them, will they step up their dissent? Or will the issue fade away until the next high-profile bout of police misconduct, only to return to Congress to precisely where it started?

Scott has his own prediction. And it's not an upbeat one.

"We'll move on. People will forget about it. And you know what's going to happen? Something bad, Scott said. And we'll be right back here talking about what should have been done.
Representational image

In Tamil Nadu, which is among the states worst-hit by the COVID-19 outbreak coronavirus , the state government has said the Siddha treatment has proved to e effective in treatment of patients with mild symptoms.

According to a report by NDTV , the ancient Tamil Siddha treatment method was used on 25 patients in Chennai initially. After reporting their successful recovery, the Tamil Nadu government decided to introduce the treatment method to Ambedkar College, which is located at Vyasarpadi  a coronavirus hotspot.

Track this blog for latest updates on the coronavirus crisis

Tamil Nadu Development Minister K Pandiarajan has advocated its use and said the treatment method won't put the lives of patients at risk.

He said: "There is a 100 percent success rate. We are not endangering lives. Siddha is a trump card for us. We are blending Siddha, Yoga, and Ayurveda. There is no empirical verification but there is enough history. Even the Prime Minister has recommended this as a mark of raising the immunity among the people and we are giving the concoction door to door and people like it. People have faith."

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

He clarified that Siddha should not be used for last-mile treatment when ventilator or oxygen support becomes necessary. However, such severe cases requiring intensive care constitute less than three percent of the total coronavirus cases in the country.

A senior health department official has informed only those mild coronavirus cases who are willing to take Siddha are being treated using the ancient method.

Meanwhile, allopathic doctors have thrown caution citing the lack of documented studies and trials proving the efficacy of the Siddha treatment or its possible side effects. Notably, this ancient treatment method involves the use of heavy metals and is known to result in kidney complications in several cases.
Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, the company promoted by yoga guru Ramdev, has been asked by the government to provide details of the medicines launched by it as an alleged treatment for the patients of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients.

The ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) has ordered Patanjali to stop advertising the productsCoronil and Swasari.

It has also warned Patanjali to stop misleading advertising until the results are verified.

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), the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The ministry asked Patanjali to submit details of the sample size, sites and hospitals where the research study was conducted and also for the Institutional Ethics Committee clearance.

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 said in its statement.

Here is what Patanjali said:

* Ramdevs associate Acharya Balakrishna has claimed that the Centre has been provided with all the necessary details of the clinical trials of Coronilthe medicine launched on Tuesday by Patanjali.

* Balakrishna tweeted to claim that 100% parameters laid down for controlled trial of the Ayurvedic product have been followed by the company after Patanjali.

* This government encourages Ayurveda and works for its glory, the communication gap has been filled and we have given the AYUSH ministry all the information regarding the 100% fulfilment of all the standard parameters of Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Trials, Balakrishna tweeted in Hindi.

* Patanjali Ayurved on Tuesday launched Coronil and Swasari claiming that it has successfully cured scores of under-trial Covid-19 patients with 100% results except for those on life support systems.

* The products have been made in association with privately-owned National Institute of Medical Science in Jaipur, according to Patanjali.

* Ramdev had claimed that the first clinical controlled study was conducted on 280 patients in Delhi and Ahmedabad among many other cities.
When you need to warm up, what's your favorite winter comfort food?
UM President Seth Bodnar signs a memorandum of understanding with the Bhutan institute.

MISSOULA  The University of Montana has renewed a memorandum of understanding with the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research in Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom in the eastern Himalayas known for its monasteries, fortresses and dramatic landscapes.

UWICER is housed in Bhutans Ministry of Agriculture and Forests Department of Forest and Parks Service and is the countrys premier institute for forest and conservation research.

Reinforcing UM and UWICERs mutual relationships, the memorandum confirms a formal commitment between the two organizations to work together to advance research and shared academic objectives for the next five years. It includes exchanges for faculty, researchers and students; capacity building of UWICERs faculty; organizing joint research projects; and exchanging data, information and publications.

Bhutan has a whole new procedure for reviewing MOUs signed with external entities. This went all the way to the top level of the Bhutanese Cabinet, said Sarah J. Halvorson, a professor of geography in the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation who was instrumental with the memorandum agreement. That would be like our Congress or Presidential Cabinet reviewing a MOU with a university. It was a pretty involved process on the Bhutanese side. This MOU really represents a strong commitment to scientific exchange and collaboration.

UWICER and the University have a long history of partnership, and this memorandum renews a previous five-year agreement that expired in 2016. Collaboration between UM and Bhutan began in the early 2000s.

In 2002, a UM student study-abroad program sponsored by the Environmental Studies program and accompanied by Halvorson went to Bhutan. A few years later, forestry and conservation college Professors Jill Belsky and Steve Siebert, who specialize in international conservation and development, were invited by the Bhutanese government to advise on the establishment of an institute that would eventually become UWICER. For a month in 2006, they assisted with participatory stakeholder meetings in the country, involving a diverse range of Bhutanese educators, scientists and members of the business and NGO worlds, to identify topics and pedagogy relevant to the particular path of development and conservation favored in Bhutan.

A yak boldly stands in Upper Lunana Valley of northwest Bhutan. (Photo by Sarah Halvorson)

These experiences and others kicked off nearly two decades of graduate education, research, student study groups and professional connections between UM and Bhutan arguably one of the countrys strongest connections with a United States university.

Its really exciting, Halvorson said. Several graduate students who came to UM had affiliations with UWICER. Connections with these individuals have strengthened UM faculty members connections with this research organization. The Bhutanese, after 10 to 20 years, have greatly enhanced their own internal capacity for wildlife, rural and environmental change and other topics related to Bhutans conservation concerns by these collaborations. They return to Bhutan to work as conservation leaders in their country.

The top tiger biologist in Bhutan, for example, did his doctoral degree at UM in wildlife biology, she said. He went back to Bhutan and has since started a tiger conservation center. Its a legacy of training and trust and high level of expectations and just outstanding faculty mentorship.

Several UM graduate students also have done field research in Bhutan. And Halvorson says the next push is to hopefully create more opportunities for undergraduate interactions and exchange.

The partnership between UM and UWICER has been successful because its based on close relationships built over the years between faculty at both institutions, as well as similar values and mountain landscapes and livelihoods, which make the Bhutanese feel at home while studying at UM, Belsky said. In particular, both institutions are committed to identifying and supporting land uses and livelihoods that nurture both the people and the particular places of Bhutan and Montana.

This MOU is with UWICER, but there are other interactions going on, Halvorson said. The MOU helps to strengthen our collaborations, and theyre expansive in nature.

The Bhutanese government and scientists also have sought the expertise of UMs Wildlife Biology faculty, inviting at least six faculty members to teach research techniques and advise wildlife and fish conservation projects in Bhutan.

UM wildlife biology Professor Scott Mills, who currently serves on the scientific advisory board of the Washington, D.C.-based Bhutan Foundation, has mentored Bhutanese masters and doctoral students studying snow leopards and tigers.

While living for six months at UWICER in 2010, Mills taught conservation biology and assembled a hands-on wildlife research training workshop that included both Bhutanese and UM wildlife biology researchers and students.

It has been easy to build powerful Bhutan-UM teams to foster wildlife conservation, Mills said, because we share a deep appreciation for mountainous environments that include charismatic wildlife in remote places.

Bhutanese graduate students also have studied journalism and music at UM. Halvorson said the most famous folk musician in Bhutan, Goen Tshering, the vice principal and program coordinator of Bhutans Royal Academy of Performing Arts, did his masters at UM in music.

Recently, UM Professor Emeritus Steve Running helped advise the country of Bhutan on climate science and how to approach analysis of the countrys vast climate science dataset.

The national philosophy of Bhutan is to maximize gross national happiness rather than economic growth, Running said. I think many, maybe most, Montanans live to a similar philosophy. Few of us are getting rich, but we stay for the happiness!

Donna Anderson, executive director of UMs Global Engagement Office, said UMs partnership with UWICER is a beautiful example of a long-lasting, fruitful and successful international collaboration.

When I talk with faculty like Sarah Halvorson, it is clear that the personal connections and relationships between UM and UWICER run deep, Anderson said. Some of those relationships are now 20 years old and still going strong. The joint research achieved over the years is so significant to Bhutan as a country, it is no wonder the highest level of the Bhutanese government approved the continuation of this important and special relationship with UM.

###

Contact: Sarah Halvorson, UM geography professor, 406-243-2793, sarah.halvorson@mso.umt.edu.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 17:49:13|Editor: huaxia

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by Naim-Ul-Karim

DHAKA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's tech guru on Wednesday hailed China's global navigation constellation achievement with the successful launch of a final BeiDou satellite.

Bangladeshi Post and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar told Xinhua that China has shown remarkable strides in various fields including science and technology, which could serve as a good example for Bangladesh and other countries.

"Congratulations on the successful launching of China's last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS)," said the minister.

The minister is best known for being the creator of Bijoy, which is a simple and easy-to-use software for typing in Bangla language. He pioneered the Bijoy Bengali Keyboard, the first Bengali keyboard in 1988, which is still a widely used Bengali input method around the world.

China launched the last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province 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 successfully put into orbit by a Long March-3B carrier rocket, according to the launch center.

With reference to China's transformation from an agricultural to an industrial economy, the minister said the country made brilliant achievements in scientific and technological development.

"We'll consider cooperation with the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS)," he said as the BDS-3 system offers countries and regions along the Belt and Road as well as the world basic navigation service.

Meanwhile, the minister said Bangladesh is in process for launching the country's second communication satellite "Bangabandhu-2" following the successful placement of the first one in 2018.

May 12, 2018 was a red-letter day for Bangladesh when the country ushered in a new era by launching its first "Bangabandhu-1" satellite.

The launch made Bangladesh the 57th nation in the world and fourth in South Asia after India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to own a satellite.

As China has been actively encouraging the cooperation and exchanges between the BDS system and other navigation systems in fields, the minister said this is an opportunity for other countries and regions around the world.

"Every country has the right to develop its own navigation system," he said, adding that the Bangladeshi government attaches utmost importance to providing digital technologies into all spheres of public life in the country.

"Digital Bangladesh" is a major goal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government for the country, and special emphasis is given on the application of digital technologies to realize an ICT based modern nation by 2021. Enditem
KELOWNA, B.C.A B.C. nursing student alleges she suffered physical and emotional injuries at the hands of an RCMP officer after her boyfriend called emergency services to request a health check.

Mona Wang alleges Cpl. Lacey Brownings conduct was abusive and repetitive in the extreme after the officer found Wang lying in a state of semi-consciousness on the floor of her apartment on Jan. 20.

Wang, who studies at the University of British Columbias Okanagan campus in Kelowna, claims she suffered cuts, bruising and a swollen eye as a result of the alleged assault.

She says Browning did not attempt to assess whether Wang needed medical assistance.

The plaintiff has suffered emotional distress, humiliation, shame and embarrassment, psychological and emotional trauma, alleges a statement of claim filed March 26 in B.C. Supreme Court.

In a statement of defence filed with the court on June 15, Browning, the Attorney General of Canada and British Columbias minister of public safety and solicitor general deny any wrongdoing. All three are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

Wangs claim asserts Browning was acting as a Crown employee and owed Wang a duty of care to ensure she received medical assistance, and that Brownings conduct would not harm Wang.

The statement of defence says the officer found Wang lying on the floor with a box-cutter knife in her hand and empty bottles of acetaminophen, melatonin and wine nearby.

It alleges the student began yelling and swinging her arms at Browning, who proceeded to strike Wang with an open palm in order to subdue and arrest her under the Mental Health Act.

The defendants assert Browning used no more force than was reasonable and necessary.

Wang claims the officer punched her in the face while dragging her out of her suite to an elevator before waiting in the downstairs lobby of the apartment building until more officers arrived.

She claims Browning shouted at her to stop being dramatic, failed to inform her why she was being detained and misled medical professionals at the Kelowna General Hospital.

The student says Browning allegedly told hospital staff that Wang was high on methamphetamine, though a toxicology report showed she had no illegal drugs or alcohol in her system at the time.

Surveillance video that surfaced as part of the lawsuit shows a female RCMP officer dragging a woman face-first down a carpeted hallway and stepping on her head while waiting in a lobby.

RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Janelle Shoihet would not release the identity of the officer in the video, but she says the Mountie is on administrative duties.

In an email, Shoihet says an internal code of conduct and criminal investigation is underway, and the Mounties will ask an outside police department to review the findings.

The office of the minister of public safety and solicitor general said in an email it could not speak to any legal action that is before the courts.

Read more about:
A US court has upheld a verdict that talcum powder sold by Johnson & Johnson caused ovarian cancer and ordered the pharmaceutical giant to pay $2.1 billion in damages.

The decision by the Missouri Court of Appeals cut by more than half the $4.4 billion a jury had awarded 22 people in 2018. The court agreed that some of the plaintiffs should not have been included in the case as they were from outside the state.

But the Tuesday decision upheld the awarding of damages for the company 'knowingly selling products that contained asbestos to consumers.'

'Because defendants are large, multi-billion-dollar corporations, we believe a large amount of punitive damages is necessary to have an effect in this case,' the judgement said.

'It is impossible to place monetary value on the physical, mental and emotional anguish plaintiffs suffered because of their injury caused by defendants.'

Johnson & Johnson has faced thousands of lawsuits across the United States alleging it failed to warn consumers of the risk of cancer from asbestos in its talc-based products

A spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson said the company would appeal the decision in the Supreme Court of Missouri, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Johnson & Johnson has faced thousands of lawsuits across the United States alleging it failed to warn consumers of the risk of cancer from asbestos in its talc-based products.

In 2019 a California jury became the latest to award millions in damages to a plaintiff who said the company's baby powder had given her terminal cancer.

Last month the firm announced it was discontinuing production of its talc-based baby powder in the US and Canada, in part due to the 'constant barrage of litigation advertising' over the product.

It will continue to sell the product in the rest of the world, it added.

Johnson & Johnson announced on May 19 that it is discontinuing sales of its talc-based baby powder in the US and Canada.

The move came after sales dropped by 60 percent in the last three years following endless litigation and billions of dollars paid to people who claim the product caused their cancer.

Nearly 20,000 cancer patients have filed lawsuits claiming their tumors were linked to J&J talc products.

The company's baby powder currently makes up about 0.5 precent of the company's US consumer health business.

On May 19, Johnson & Johnson announced it is discontinuing sales of its talcum-based baby powder in the US and Canada amid lawsuits over the product's link to cancer

WHY COULD TALCUM POWDER BE DANGEROUS? Talcum powder is made of finely ground talc, a mineral which forms underground as a clay-like rock. It is often mined from the same place as asbestos, a mineral known to cause lung disease. While talc is used for the skin due to its softness and moisture-absorbing properties, asbestos was used for insulation. Non-contaminated talc is completely safe but, if it is tainted with asbestos, there is a risk it could be damaging to health. In the past, tests have shown traces of asbestos in talcum powder products. About eight out of 10 people with mesothelioma - a type of lung cancer -have been exposed to asbestos. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they travel to the ends of small air passages and reach the membranes of the thorax and lungs. They can cause inflammation and scarring, damage cells DNA, or cause changes that result in uncontrolled cell growth. If swallowed, these fibers can reach the abdominal lining, where they can cause mesothelioma. Ovarian cancer is another cancer asbestos is believed to be linked to, and is at the heart of Johnson & Johnson lawsuits in which women have claimed talcum powder has given them the cancer. In some cases they have won and received million-dollar payouts from the company. It is not clear why or how asbestos travels to ovarian tissues. Advertisement

J&J said the move is part of a broad reassessment of its consumer product portfolio prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Kathleen Widmer, chairman of the company's North America consumer unit, said it was a 'commercial decision' to discontinue the sale of the baby powder.

She said any current inventory will continue to be sold in stores and online until supplies run out.

In a statement to CNBC, the company said it 'remains steadfastly confident in the safety of talc-based Johnson's Baby Powder.'

'Decades of scientific studies by medical experts around the world support the safety of our product,' the statement read.

'We will continue to vigorously defend the product, its safety, and the unfounded allegations against it and the company in the courtroom.'

Talcum powder is made from talc, a soft mineral that is widely used in personal care products to absorb moisture and for other products including paint and plastics.

Most research has established no link or a weak one between ovarian cancer and using baby powder for feminine hygiene, and most major health groups have said talc is harmless.

However, some smaller studies have found a small link and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies genital use of talc as 'possibly carcinogenic'.

Last year, J&J recalled approximately 33,000 bottles of baby powder in America after the US Food and Drug Administration said it found traces of asbestos in a bottle purchased online.

Officials from the health company said they later tested the baby powder and found no asbestos in the product.

However, a Reuters investigation from December 2018 said J&J knew its baby powder contained asbestos for decades with the earliest mention found in documents from 1957 and 1958.

Two 2018 cases, one in New Jersey and another in California, resulted in large judgement to plaintiffs who claimed J&J talc products caused their mesothelioma.

A third verdict, in St Louis, Missouri, awarded 22 plaintiffs a total of $4.69 billion in damages, which has been upheld but cut to $2.1 billion.

Of the 19,400 lawsuits, most of the claims were brought by women who claimed their ovarian cancer was caused the talc-powder, which they used as an antiperspirant or a deodorant.

J&J says its cornstarch-based baby powder will remain available in North America and it's talc-based powder will continue to be sold in other countries.
The president of epidemiology and public health at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, Professor Gabriel Scally, has poured cold water on tourists flying in and out of Ireland during the holiday period.

However, the Irish Travel Agents Association -ITTA- said Irish holidaymakers can afford to become hopeful at the prospect of going abroad this summer, but shouldn't become too excited or expectant at this point.

ITAA chief executive Pat Dawson said it was never more apparent that experts in the field were necessary for would-be holidaymakers and he is still hopeful that the industry could take off soon.

Professor Scally said so-called 'air bridges' with countries that have managed to control the virus would be favourable, but that abandoning quarantines was not advisable.

People must currently self-quarantine for 14 days after entering Ireland, which has put off most would-be tourists from either leaving or entering the country.

European countries such as Croatia, Spain, Portugal, Germany and France remain tantalisingly close for Irish holidaymakers, having begun to cautiously reopen their tourism industries last month.

The Aviation Recovery Taskforce convened by Government has recommended ending the quarantine in July, saying Ireland was significantly behind other European countries when it came to travel restriction.

Professor Scally told RTE's Sarah McInerney: "I doubt if very many people outside the aviation industry would think that is a sensible thing to do. We need to keep up the barriers at the moment.

I think the way forward is first of all to have a zero Covid island of Ireland, and then to make the travel links with other places with a similarly good situation. This is a public health emergency and I very strongly feel public health concerns have to trump airline worries.

"Of course people can come, but there has to be satisfactory quarantine arrangements to make sure we are not importing cases. Thats how it got here in the first place. It was imported by air. We dont need new cases when things are going really well domestically. We dont need a second wave."

Pat Dawson, CEO of the Irish Travel Agents Association, remains optimistic people can enjoy foreign trips this summer.

Speaking following Professor Scally's comments, Mr Dawson said travel agents were very mindful of the advice from public health experts, but that the industry had to look towards a semblance of normality.

"Airbridges are a good idea, as we cannot just turn on the routes tomorrow morning and fly as normal. But July 9 or 16 would give us time to put all our preparations in place, so that travel in and out of Ireland is coordinated.

"This applies to inward tourism as well as outward. They have to go glove in hand. Sensible precautions can and will be taken."

Mr Dawson urged would-be holidaymakers to use travel agents to book their trips, saying all the due diligence would be done beforehand so that tourists would not be left aggrieved by substandard venues abroad when they got there.

"We have people on the ground all the time, working 24/7 to ensure Irish tourists know exactly what they are getting, and that there are no unpleasant surprises such as closed facilities when they get there."

He warned those determined to take a holiday abroad to make sure to use Irish-bonded travel firms.

"This is vital. Irish companies based in Ireland will ensure you have access to proper refunds if there is a problem, and takes the hassle out of chasing down firms not bonded and licensed here. You might book with a Dutch company or an English company that seem to have a base here, but look further -- they will be licensed and bonded in their respective own jurisdictions," Mr Dawson said.
(Newser)  President Trump has already issued a warning to his niece, Mary Trump, over her upcoming tell alland now his family is reportedly suing to stop the book's publication. A source tells the New York Times that the president's younger brother, Robert Trump, on Tuesday filed for a temporary restraining order against Mary Trump. His argument is the same as the one the president mentioned: He says Mary Trump is violating a nondisclosure agreement she signed decades ago when she settled a court case over the estate of her grandfather and President Trump's father, Fred Trump Sr.; Mary Trump and her brother, Fred Trump III, argued they had been cheated in Trump Sr.'s will after he died in 1999. Their father, Fred Trump Jr., died in 1981 after an estrangement from the family, and the siblings argued their uncles Robert and Donald urged their father to cut them off.

story continues below

Mary Trump's lawyer says in a statement to NBC, "President Trump and his siblings are ... pursuing this unlawful prior restraint because they do not want the public to know the truth. The courts will not tolerate this brazen violation of the First Amendment." Mary Trump's book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man, has previously been described as one that will, among other things, delve into "the strange and harmful relationship between Fred Trump and his two oldest sons, Fred Jr. and Donald." For his part, Robert Trump says in a statement he's "deeply disappointed" in his niece's "attempt to sensationalize and mischaracterize our family relationship after all of these years for her own financial gain." A spokesperson for Simon & Schuster says "the courts take a dim view of prior restraint" and the attempt to block publication will fail. The publishing company released John Bolton's book Tuesday. (Read more President Trump stories.)
Following a rather damp and windy August, parts of the UK is expected to see temperatures soaring in the week ahead.

The Met Office said people in some areas will bask in sweltering heat and sunshine from Monday to Wednesday, with with temperatures hitting almost 30C. The mercury is expected to exceed the average for September, which is 18C in the UK.

A location meets the UK heatwave threshold when it records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperature levels which vary across the country.

These include 25C for central England and Wales - where it has been forecast the threshold could be exceeded - and 28C for London and the South East.

Forecasters said temperatures are expected to remain at around 18C at night, which could lead to some rather uncomfortable nights.

According to Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, a sleep expert at Silentnight, the optimal bedroom temperature for sleeping is between 16C and 21C, and your brain needs to be slightly cooler than the rest of your body.

A good nights sleep is important in order to process information throughout the day as well as to repair and re-balance the body physically and mentally, Ramlakhan tells The Independent.

Recommended Everything you need to keep cool during a heatwave

Ideally, in order for us to sleep well, there needs to be a fractional temperature difference between our body and our brain  a warm body and a cool head!

So what can you do to cool yourself down and get some precious shut-eye?

Here are 20 ways to help you get to sleep when its hot:

1. Put your bedding in the freezer for a couple of minutes (put it in a plastic bag first though). If you dont have much room in your fridge or freezer, even just your pillowcase or PJs will help.

2. Fill a hot water bottle with iced water and place on the cooling points of your body: knees, ankles, wrists, neck, groin and elbows. You can also fill a hot water bottle with cool water, freeze it and take it to bed with you.

3. Moisturise before bed with an aloe vera based aftersun cream, ideally kept in the fridge.

4. Fill an empty perfume bottle with chilled water and keep it by your bedside, spray on your face, back of your neck, and back of your knees to cool down.

5. Use cotton pyjamas and thin, pure cotton sheets for your bed  high quality cotton is the ideal bedding material to sleep between to stay cool as its most breathable.

6. Make sure youre not eating too much protein as this can actually heat your body up by boosting your metabolic rate, according to sleep expert Dave Gibson.

7. Eat spicy food, but at least three hours before bed  it can make you sweat which cools the body down.

8. Exercise in the morning rather than evening to stop your body getting too hot.

9. Keep your evening shower tepid to lower your body temperature. Dont have a freezing cold one though, as your body will react to the sudden change in temperature by preserving heat.

10. Contrary to popular belief, Gibson says we should keep windows closed during the day to keep the house cooler. Keep the curtains closed too.

11. Turn off all electrical devices in the bedroom as these emit heat. Switch off sockets too.

12. Keep your feet cool, either by keeping them outside the covers or resting on an ice pack.

13. Put a roasting pan full of ice in front of a fan to cool the air.

Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Show all 20 1 /20 Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Don't eat too much protein Make sure youre not eating too much protein as this can actually heat your body up by boosting your metabolic rate, according to sleep expert Dave Gibson Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Freeze your sheets Put your bedding in the freezer for a couple of minutes (put it in a plastic bag first though). If you dont have much room in your fridge or freezer, even just your pillowcase or PJs will help Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Keep your windows closed in the day Contrary to popular belief, Gibson says we should keep windows closed during the day to keep the house cooler. Keep the curtains closed too Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Freezing fan Put a pan or bottles full of ice in front of a fan to cool the air Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Wet your bed clothes Sleep in cool, wet socks or even a damp T-shirt Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Excercise in the morning Exercise in the morning rather than evening to stop your body getting too hot Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Cold water bottle Fill a hot water bottle with iced water and place on the cooling points of your body: knees, ankles, wrists, neck, groin and elbows. You can also fill a hot water bottle with cool water, freeze it and take it to bed with you Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Hot food cools through sweating Eat spicy food, but at least three hours before bed - it can make you sweat which cools the body down Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Sleep apart Sleep in a separate bed from your partner - two bodies = twice the body heat Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Lukewarm showers Keep your evening shower tepid to lower your body temperature. Dont have a freezing cold one though, as your body will react to the sudden change in temperature by preserving heat Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Cold perfume Fill an empty perfume bottle with chilled water and keep it by your bedside, spray on your face, back of your neck, and back of your knees to cool down Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Sleep on the ground floor Sleep downstairs if you can as heat rises Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Stay sensibly hydrated Drink water regularly during the day, but not too much at night. About  pint before bed will be enough to keep you hydrated and prevent you from having to get up and go to the loo Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Switch off Turn off all electrical devices in the bedroom as these emit heat. Switch off sockets too Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Expose your feet Keep your feet cool, either by keeping them outside the covers or resting on an ice pack Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Cool down with aftersun Moisturise before bed with an aloe vera based aftersun cream, ideally kept in the fridge Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Strictly cotton pyjamas and sheets Use cotton pyjamas and thin, pure cotton sheets for your bed - high quality cotton is the ideal bedding material to sleep between to stay cool as its most breathable Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Head relief If you wake up in the night, rub a menthol stick on your forehead to help cool down, Dr Ramlakhan recommends Amazon Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Flannel in the fridge Place a wet flannel in the fridge for an hour or so before you go to bed, and rest this on your forehead as you drift off Getty Getting to sleep in a heatwave: Top tips Cool your wrists Rinse your wrists and feet with cold water before getting into bed Getty

14. Drink water regularly during the day, but not too much at night. About  pint before bed will be enough to keep you hydrated and prevent you from having to get up and go to the loo.

15. Sleep in a separate bed from your partner  two bodies = twice the body heat.

16. Sleep downstairs if you can as heat rises.

17. Sleep in cool, wet socks or even a damp T-shirt.

18. Rinse your wrists and feet with cold water before getting into bed.

19. If you wake up in the night, rub a menthol stick on your forehead to help cool down, Dr Ramlakhan recommends.

20. Place a wet flannel in the fridge for an hour or so before you go to bed, and rest this on your forehead as you drift off.
In its annual Country Reports on Terrorism on June 24, the U.S. State Department has classified the Islamic Republic as the "foremost state sponsor of terrorism," maintaining that Iran provides "a range of support, including financial, training, and equipment, to [terrorist] groups around the world  particularly Hezbollah."

Washington has designated the Islamic Republic as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984.

Referring to Washington's intense pressure on Tehran in 2019, the report says that the U.S. government, along with its allies, imposed new sanctions on Tehran and its proxy groups as part of its policy of maximum pressure on the country.

U.S. actions against Iran in 2019 was highlighted by its decision to designate the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and its extraterritorial arm, the Qods Force, as "foreign terrorist groups."

Stressing that Iran has acknowledged the involvement of the Qods Force in the Iraq and Syria conflicts, the report reiterates, "In April 2019, the Secretary of State designated the IRGC, including the Qods Force, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Iran also used regional proxy forces to provide deniability, in an attempt to shield it from accountability for its aggressive policies."

The State Department's annual report also says that Western European and South American countries decided to confront the Islamic Republic's ally, Lebanon's Hezbollah last year, designating it as a terrorist group.

In the past, the Iranian government used to spend more than $ 700 million a year to support terrorist groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas, in Gaza, but under strong sanctions in 2019, Tehran's ability to provide financial support to terrorists has decreased dramatically," the report added.

Meanwhile, the State Department has accused the Iranian government of carrying out terrorist operations in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, adding that the IRGC and the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence had been behind such operations in recent years.

"Iran remained unwilling to bring to justice senior al-Qaida (AQ) members residing in the country and has refused to publicly identify members in its custody. Iran has allowed AQ facilitators to operate a core facilitation pipeline through Iran since at least 2009, enabling AQ to move funds and fighters to South Asia and Syria," the annual report has maintained.

Furthermore, the report has referred to the role of the Islamic Republic agents in killing Iranian dissidents abroad, noting, "As, in past years, the Iranian government continued supporting terrorist plots to attack Iranian dissidents in several countries in continental Europe."

In recent years, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Albania have all either arrested or expelled Iranian government officials implicated in various plots in their respective territories.

Tehran and Washington experienced very tense relations in 2019. But the escalation of tensions reached a high point on January 3, 2020, when the Chief Commander of the IRGC's Qods Force, Qassem Soleimani, was killed in a U.S. drone strike that pushed the two countries to the brink of a military confrontation.
The 35th anniversary of the bombing by Khalistani terrorists of Air India flight 182 was marked by family members of the victims with a virtual vigil since gatherings at memorial sites in Canada are barred due to Covid-19-related restrictions.

The plane named Emperor Kanishka exploded mid-air on June 23, 1985, killing 329 passengers.

The terrorist incident is the worst in Canadian history. It was also the worst episode of aviation-related terrorism till 9/11.

Among those who commemorated the day was Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In a message, he said, Thirty-five years ago today, an explosion on Air India Flight 182, bound for the United Kingdom from Canada, killed the 329 innocent people on board, including 280 Canadians. The attack was an act of unspeakable malice and remains the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history. It was a shock to our country, and a threat to our collective sense of security.

June 23 is recognised as the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism in Canada.

Trudeaus message was among those posted on a special YouTube channel created by family members to honour their departed kin. Very few were able to visit any of the four memorials to the tragedy in Canada - in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal. But many family members posted their memorial messages on the channel which became the venue for a virtual gathering for the mourners.

Its difficult for us as no large gathering are allowed, Bal Gupta, chair of the Air India 182 Victims Families Association, said. But we have to obey the rules, he added. The memorials, particularly the one at Humber Bay in Toronto, often attract over a 100 visitors on the anniversary. As that was not possible this year, the Association informed its members they could mark the day by posting video messages.

Many family members did visit the memorials, though none did so as part of a group because of the restrictions.

Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa Ajay Bisaria paid his respects at the memorial in Canadas capital, and sent a message to the family members that this was a Canadian tragedy, an Indian tragedy, a global tragedy. His Irish counterpart Jim Kelly was another visitor. Debris from the bombed aircraft had washed up along the shores of Ireland and it also hosts a memorial to the victims.

Brenda Lucki, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner, also sent a message to the family members in which she stressed the investigation into the act of terrorism is still on, saying the law enforcement agency continues its effort to seek justice, to this day.

Others who paid their respects were the Premiers of Ontario and British Columbia, Doug Ford and John Horgan, the Mayors of Toronto and Ottawa, and Indias Consul General in Toronto Apoorva Srivastava.
Physical stores are an essential part of most of our daily lives, and in spite of the huge growth of eCommerce, it still accounts for under 15% of retail sales globally. However, the latest crisis requires the improvement and evolution of the current methods retailers manage their stores - especially with travel restrictions, distancing rules, and new behavioral habits.

Retail has been given a special opportunity to rethink and re-tool. On the one hand, customers will behave differently in stores. Technologies such as Trigo's, which provide self-checkout for retailers through AI and computer vision-powered technology, will be increasingly relevant for stores rethinking the flow of people to minimize crowds around tills.

On the other hand, business dynamics are also shifting. Updating and managing branches across retail chains is becoming increasingly challenging with staff reduction and no district managers available for frequent travel between store branches. Retail-tech startup Mystore-E is helping to lead retail brands in effectively managing their store branches remotely. Their platform delivers custom insights to every store digitally, centralizing all communications, updates, and tasks into one personalized news feed. This is made possible thanks to an algorithm that mimics the work of retail managers, such as district and visual merchandise managers.

The platform autonomously detects, forecasts, and alerts on events that impact revenues on an individual store level. In return, the HQ can apply the right changes to manage an unlimited number of stores and employees remotely, centralizing all communications, tasks and insights into one personalized news feed, guiding its managers to excellence.

Full story on video: https://youtu.be/TBiY3NGnya4

Mystore-E's new technology gives retail chains the ability to automate the way in which they manage and personalize their day-to-day tasks with each store - including updating store displays, planograms, inventory balance and more. The current health crisis has triggered a quicker adoption of these technologies, but it will help retailers improve and reinvent store operations far beyond the COVID-19 crisis. As with other crises in the past, COVID-19 has become a catalyst for innovation and change. Retailers now have a unique opportunity to modernize their communication with each of their stores efficiently, and to leverage technology to reinvent the in-store experience for every customer and employee.

The Investor Perspective:

IVC Data and Insights, the leading business information company for Israel's high-tech industry, shows that Israeli Retail Tech companies have raised $243 million in venture funding so far in 2020, in spite of the industry's worries throughout the tremendous recent uncertainties. The capital funding raised by fifteen companies in the first half of this year is already bigger than the overall VC funding in the retail-tech industry across the whole of 2015 (with $197 million raised by 56 companies). However, stakes for emerging startups are high, as there are fewer, yet vastly larger deals - with investors betting for long-term initiatives that will help the Israeli retail-tech environment scale and deliver massive global impact.

About Israel's Retail Innovation Club: The Retail Innovation Club was founded in collaboration with Israel's leading commercial real estate and retail groups. Together we joined in order to deeply understand the retail industry's needs, challenges and opportunities, utilizing our direct access to Israel's startup network. Our mission is to bridge the technological gap existing between the retail industry and retail-tech startups by connecting Israel's retail-tech ecosystem to major retail brands and commercial real-estate companies. To learn more, visit here: retailinnovation.club

Retail Innovation Club

[email protected]

SOURCE Retail Innovation Club
In the wake of George Floyd's death while in Minneapolis police custody, conversations about recording police interactions with civilians have increased.

One person has made the process as simple as saying a phrase to your phone.

Reddit Robert Petersen user created an iPhone shortcut that would automatically record police encounters after saying, "Hey Siri, I'm being pulled over."

CORONAVIRUS IN HOUSTON: Harris County Public Health encourages residents to get tested, assures privacy

The shortcut, which can be found here, pauses music playing, turns on Do Not Disturb, turns down the phone's brightness and sends a message and the users location to a chosen contact while opening the front-facing camera and beginning a video recording.

The video is then sent to the chosen contact and iCloud or Dropbox.

Petersen first created the shortcut in 2018 and has continued updating it since.

To install the shortcut, open the link in Safari on your iPhone. Run another Shortcut in the app first, open "Settings," choose "Shortcuts," and flip the "Allow Unstrusted Shortcuts" switch. Run the shortcut as a test to grant it access to messaging, photos and more.

Two years later, the shortcut rose to popularity after TikTok user @corielynnnnn uploaded a series of video tutorials showing users how to install it. The first video went viral with over 11 million views.

Petersen spoke to Business Insider in 2018 about his shortcut, likening it to police body cameras.

It seemed to me that if youre getting pulled over it couldnt hurt to have a recording of the incident, Petersen said. The police these days in many places have body cams, so this could be the civilian equivalent.
- Europe Held Major Share in in Biopolymers Market on Back of Regulatory Impetus, Growing Research in Ecologically Safe Materials to Ignite New Opportunities

- Drive for Sustainable Packaging Materials Across Sectors to Sustain Sheen of Biopolymers; Opportunities in Agriculture Sector Expand at Most Attractive Pace due to Their Applications in Boosting Plants' Productivity

ALBANY, New York, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Biodegradability and biocompatibility characteristics, along with attractive mechanical properties, coupled with easy availability of raw materials, of biopolymers are key to their demand in a slew of industries, notably from packaging, agriculture, and consumer goods.

Constant products advancements in biopolymers market focus on improving the stability and barrier properties. This trend fuels uptake of biopolymers in range of packaging solutions such as shrink films, bottles, molted boxes, pouches, compostable bags, and films.

The biopolymers market stood at US$ 4.2 Bn in 2018. TMR analysts projects the biopolymers market to clock CAGR of more than 15% between 2019 and 2027. This will propel the global valuation of the market to climb to US$ 13.2 Bn by 2027.

Opportunities in agriculture are expected to expand at most attractive growth rate during the assessment period, supported by strides in biopolymer engineering.

Download PDF Brochure - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=31229

Key Findings of Biopolymers Market Report

Of the various types, bio-PET and biodegradable polyesters are markedly attractive segments; wide-ranging use in numerous applications key to growth

are markedly attractive segments; wide-ranging use in numerous applications key to growth The former aforementioned segment to exhibit faster growth than all others during 2019  2027 while the latter contributed the major share

Bio-PET, bio-PE and PLA segments all endow sizable market revenues on account of their uptake in packaging industries

all endow sizable market revenues on account of their uptake in packaging industries Of the various application segments, packaging and agriculture sectors are at forefront in generating revenues; the later to exhibit fastest growth during forecast period

sectors are at forefront in generating revenues; the later to exhibit fastest growth during forecast period Among the various key regional segments, in 2018 the market gained largest share from Europe

Asia Pacific and North America are also expected to be substantially lucrative; in the latter, biopolymer manufacturers strengthening their positions

Explore 293 pages of granular assessment, evidence-based insights, and detailed country-level projections. Gain business intelligence on Biopolymers Market (Type - Bio-PET, Bio-PE, Biodegradable Polyester, Biodegradable Starch Blends, PLA, PTT, and PHA; Application - Packaging, Textiles, Consumer Goods, Agriculture, Automotive, Electronics, and Construction) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2019 - 2027 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/biopolymers-market.htm

Biopolymers Market: Driving Factors and Promising Avenues

Emerging new consumer preferences and regulatory push for eco-friendly packaging materials, especially in developed regions of the world, is likely to impact growth dynamic of the biopolymer market. A few of these are worth noticing:

Bio-PET packaging materials have gained incredible popularity in developing and developed countries of Asia Pacific , North America , and Europe .

, , and . A large deal of demand impetus has come from the stringent regulations and government norms in reducing the carbon footprints of the packaging sector and its end-use industries. Norms made by the EPA and the European Commission are case in point.

Strides being made by biopolymer engineering have helped companies in the biopolymer market to tap into vast revenue potential in the agriculture sector. This is evident in the high opportunities in the demand for making seed coatings. Biopolymers find increasing use for boosting plant's productivity.

Bio-based PE show striking resistance to oil-based products and remarkable sealing ability, thereby bolstering demand in the biopolymer market.

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Biopolymers Market: Competitive Dynamics

Most biopolymer manufacturers have ramped up their investments in meeting the needs of the packaging, agriculture, and consumer goods industries. Top companies are focusing on offering sustainable solutions to meet the packaging needs of the food services industry in all key markets. Several players in the biopolymer market are also leaning on testing novel formulations, leading to the launch of PLA biopolymers and bio-PET materials.

Analyze global Biopolymers Market's growth in 30+ countries including US, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Russia, Poland, Benelux, Nordic, China, Japan, India, and South Korea. Request a sample of the study

Biopolymers Market: Regional Landscape

Of the various regions, Europe held the sway in 2018. The demand for biopolymers in the regional market has spurred on account of the packaging industry trend complying with environmental norms. Constant focus on the adoption of recyclable materials is also cementing the potential of the regional market.

On the other hand, the research analysts project Asia Pacific to witness spike in research and development in biopolymers. These initiatives are boosted by sheer pace of urbanization and industrialization across the region.

Purchase Premium Research Report on Global Biopolymers Market @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=31229<ype=S

The Biopolymers Market can be segmented based on:

Product Type

Bio-PET

Bio-PE

Biodegradable Polyesters

Biodegradable Starch Blends

PLA

PTT

PHA

Others

Application

Packaging

Textiles

Consumer Goods

Agriculture

Automotive

Electronics

Construction

Others

Region

North America

Latin America

Asia Pacific

Europe

Middle East & Africa

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals and Materials Industry,

Superabsorbent Polymers Market - In terms of value, the global superabsorbent polymers market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5% from 2020 to 2030 and cross US$ 15 Bn by 2030. The increase in usage of superabsorbent polymers in disposable baby diapers and sanitary products is propelling the global market. Several players have taken strategic initiatives, such as capacity expansion, in order to expand their superabsorbent polymers business, owing to high demand for superabsorbent polymers in various industrial applications.

Textile Binders Market - In terms of value, the global textile binders market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of ~4% from 2020 to 2030. Textile binders are used in printing paste to print several types of natural fibers such as silk, cotton, wool, and viscose due to their ability to react with chemicals in printing paste in order to bond colors to fibers after being steamed.

EMI Shielding Market - Research related to radio frequencies and electromagnetic radiation has gathered momentum in recent times. Besides, the wide-scale applications of RF shielding have also garnered the attention of scientists and developers. Therefore, the total demand within the global EMI shielding market is set to touch new heights in the years to follow.

Water Dispersible Polymers Market - Based on end-user industry, the water dispersible polymers market can be segmented into building & construction, adhesives, personal care & cosmetics, oil & gas, paints & coatings, and others. Use of water dispersible polymers as aqueous thickeners is common in paint formulations, organic solvents, and cements & mortar mixtures.

Polymers Market for Cosmetic Ingredients - Based on type, the polymers market for cosmetic ingredients can be bifurcated into natural and synthetic polymers. Synthetic polymers are further sub-segmented into silicone, nylon, PVC plastic, Teflon, and bakelite. Natural polymers include rubber, amber, protein, and cellulose.

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Haas will not follow in the wheel-tracks of other Formula 1 teams by organising a pre-Austria test.

Mercedes, Renault and Racing Point have already hit the track in preparation for the first 'ghost races', Alpha Tauri is currently in the garage at Imola and Red Bull intends to run at Silverstone on Thursday.

Ferrari, meanwhile, ran a two-year-old car for Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc at Mugello on Tuesday.

"It was great to get those feelings from a car once again and to do so at such a spectacular track. I really think Mugello deserves to host a grand prix," said Vettel.

However, Haas has no plans to run prior to Austria.

"I don't think our drivers need a lot of testing," team boss Gunther Steiner is quoted by Corriere dello Sport.

"It would certainly be nice for them, but for us, that's not a priority at the moment," he added.

It is almost certainly a pure financial decision, given that Williams, McLaren and Alfa Romeo are among the other teams opting against testing.

McLaren's drivers opted instead to drive Formula 3 cars run by the Carlin team last week.

"Maybe those who have tested will have a slight advantage, I won't deny it," Steiner said. "But it won't be huge.

"We have applied the new social distancing rules in our factory and so we are ready from that point of view.

"If you have the financial resources to do private tests then it is normal to do so, but I am calm, we are preparing as best we can and I am sure that we will give our best in Austria," he added.

(GMM)
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 00:24:35|Editor: huaxia

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File photo of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, May 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)



BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held a video conference with Russian and Indian foreign ministers, calling on the three countries to send positive signals to the rest of the world by jointly combating COVID-19, promoting economic development and safeguarding international justice.

Wang said COVID-19 has brought unprecedented threats to the lives and health of people of all countries, the world economy is mired in an unprecedented recession, and international stability is experiencing unprecedented challenges.

China, Russia and India should be committed to maintaining the international system with the United Nations (UN) at the core and the international order based on international laws, and to upholding multilateralism to strengthen and improve global governance, said Wang.

The three countries should carry forward the spirit of openness, unity, trust and cooperation. They should further build consensus, plan their cooperation and send positive signals to the world, he said.

Wang said that China, Russia and India are all major countries that adhere to strategic independence. They should fully grasp the overall situation of cooperation that they are partners and offer opportunities to one another, and take actions from the perspective of helping the three countries achieve development and revitalization and safeguarding world peace and development.

They should also correctly treat and properly handle sensitive factors in bilateral relations, and safeguard the overall situation of their relations.

Wang also urged the three sides to hold high the banner of multilateralism, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and ensure the authority and effectiveness of the UN.

They should strengthen communication and coordination within the framework of the UN, carry out pragmatic and effective cooperation, and promote the UN to play its due role in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, especially in resolving global challenges, he said.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the World War II victory and the founding of the UN, Wang called on the three countries to firmly defend the fruits of the World War II victory. They should resolutely oppose any act of reversing the wheel of history, firmly resist hegemonism and power politics, and resolutely promote the democratization and legalization of international relations, he said. 
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks in Moscow on Tuesday with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza after the 75th annual Victory Parade in the Russian capital.

During the meeting Lavrov said Russia stood with Venezuela's "determination" to counter foreign influence and attempts to bring about a regime change in the South American nation.

Arreaza thanked Russia for supporting Venezuela through recent "years of suffering" where it has faced international sanctions.

Last August US President Donald Trump imposed penalties on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government as part of the pressure campaign against his leadership.

In March Russia's Rosneft transferred its assets in Venezuela to a company fully owned by the Russian government, in a move apparently intended to shield Russia's largest oil producer from US sanctions.

Earlier this year the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a Rosneft subsidiary based in Geneva that sells crude to European customers.
(RNS)  A new study examining Americans response to COVID-19 shows that with the exception of white evangelicals, a majority of Americans are not comfortable returning to in-person religious services.

The results of the survey suggest that despite political pressure to reopen houses of worship  from President Donald Trump as well as leading conservative Christians and religious liberty advocates  Americans arent quite ready to take a seat in a sanctuary.

The survey from the American Enterprise Institute showed that 64% of Americans said they were somewhat uncomfortable or very uncomfortable attending in-person worship.

Even among those who reported their congregations offered in-person worship in the past week, 56% of respondents said they chose not to go.

Were seeing among lay people a significant amount of discomfort in going back to formal in-person religious practices, said Daniel Cox, a research fellow at AEI who led the study. People are equivocating and uncertain about whether they feel comfortable attending.

The study, conducted in late May and early June among 3,504 Americans, comes amid ongoing, politically charged campaigns to reopen. Last month, the president demanded that states allow places of worship to reopen right away and said he would override state governors who refused.

On Tuesday (June 23), Trump was scheduled to address a group of young Republicans at a Phoenix megachurch, even as the Democratic mayor of Phoenix made clear she does not believe the speech can be safely held in her city.

The president's megachurch address follows Saturday night's Tulsa rally, which had far lower than expected turnout.

At the same time, stories of church outbreaks grow. Last week, a Pentecostal church in northeastern Oregon was linked to the states largest coronavirus outbreak to date  some 230 cases. The church held services in defiance of Oregons stay-at-home order.

The AEI study found sharp racial and partisan disparities in Americans response to the crisis, with Democrats more concerned about contracting COVID-19 than Republicans. While 72% of Democrats said they are at least somewhat worried about a household member becoming infected, only 43% of Republicans said the same.

Those political differences drive religious views. The only religious group comfortable with church reopenings was white evangelicals  strong partisan supporters of the Republican Party and Trump.

Sixty-one percent of white evangelical respondents said they were very comfortable (34%) or somewhat comfortable (27%) with in-person worship services at their church. (Among them, men were far more comfortable than women  with 71% of white evangelical men saying they would be at least somewhat comfortable attending in-person worship services compared with 51% of white evangelical women.)

By comparison, 36% of white mainline Protestants, 32% of Black Protestants and 39% of white Catholics said the same. (Among major non-Christian religions, 26% said they would be comfortable returning to in-person worship services.)

Broadly, a majority of respondents were taking a more cautious approach.

Some 54% of Americans said life in the United States will not return to normal until 2021. They expressed hesitation not only with worship services but said they would be equally uncomfortable attending sporting events, eating out at a restaurant or going to a movie theater.

Only 45% said they would feel comfortable going to their polling place to vote.

In the South, where cases of coronavirus have surged in the past few weeks, that ambivalence about reopening is palpable.

The ones going back are smaller churches where the gathering size is easy to control, said Chris Turner, director of communications for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, which has some 3,200 affiliated churches, the states largest denomination.

Midsize churches that have reopened are providing added services and asking members to reserve seats for specific times, Turner said. The states biggest Baptist churches have largely remained online-only.

But Turner said even among those churches that have started to reopen, attendance has been spotty.

In Louisiana, where Gov. John Bel Edwards has paused the states Phase 3 reopening until July 24 after a spike in coronavirus cases, many churches have transitioned to a hybrid, in-person and online model.

Theres only so much you can do to alleviate a fear, said John Kyle, communications director for Louisiana Baptists.

Louisianas Baptist convention is encouraging pastors to be supportive of members who hesitate to return to in-person worship, Kyle said: If you dont feel comfortable coming back, we understand.

Baptist churches are autonomous; each can make its own decision on whether to reopen.

But the reality is that many churchgoers are staying home.

Turner, the spokesman for Tennessees Baptist Convention, acknowledged he himself falls into that category.

In my heart, Im there with you, Turner said of in-person church services. Ive been a longtime teacher in Sunday school. But at the same time, Im going to let you work out the bugs before I come back.

READ THIS STORY AT RELIGIONNEWS.COM

Article originally published by Religion News Service. Used with permission.

Photo courtesy: RNS/AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Palomar Holdings Inc. has formed Palomar Excess and Surplus Insurance Co.

Palomar Holdings Inc. announced the underwritten public offering of 1 million shares of the companys common stock

PESIC has received all necessary regulatory approvals to operate as an excess and surplus lines insurer.

PESIC is domiciled in the state of Arizona and licensed to transact across all of the Companys existing lines of specialty property business as well as other classes of insurance including but not limited to casualty and surety lines.

PESIC is currently in the process of becoming an eligible surplus lines insurer in all US jurisdictions and intends to commence writing E&S business, on a national basis beginning in the second half of 2020.

Genstar Capital announced earlier this month announced it has exited its remaining stake in Palomar Holdings Inc. In January, the company announced the underwritten public offering of 5 million shares of the companys common stock

Genstar in 2014 partnered with current CEO Mac Armstrong to form Palomar, a new specialty insurance platform company that was funded with $75 million of equity capital from Genstar and the management team.

Palomar Holdings, Inc. is the ultimate parent and insurance holding company of its operating subsidiaries, Palomar Specialty Insurance Co., Palomar Specialty Reinsurance Company Bermuda Ltd., Palomar Insurance Agency, Inc. and Palomar Excess and Surplus Insurance Company. Palomar focuses on the provision of specialty property insurance for residential and commercial clients. Based in La Jolla, California, the company is an admitted carrier in 29 states.

Related:

Topics Carriers Excess Surplus Arizona
HNLMS Groningen departed from Den Helder (the Netherlands) on June 24 to resume her task as Guard Ship in the Caribbean. The OPV (ocean-going patrol vessel) had to return temporarily to the Netherlands due to necessary maintenance. Due to the corona-disease, the maintenance personnel was unable to fly into the area. HNLMS Groningen is running a pilot in which the naval vessel remains in the region, but the personnel changes.

HNLMS Zeeland, also no stranger to the region, has sailed as a Guard Ship in recent months. They have conducted various patrols for both Defense and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. In this way, they contribute to the protection of maritime borders. In addition to preventing illegal drug transports, they also prevented landings of undocumented migrants, thereby preventing possible corona infections on the islands. After a good transfer in the area, HNLMS Zeeland will sail back to the Netherlands. They have completed a four-month journey.
A Syrian yogi will be kicked out of Bali for holding a crowded gathering that violated the Indonesian holiday island's coronavirus restrictions, a justice official said Wednesday. House of Om, a holistic retreat in Bali's cultural hub of Ubud, found itself in a hot water after a video went viral showing at least sixty foreign yoga enthusiasts crammed together at a gathering last week. Few of the cross-legged participants wore masks or kept a distance from each other, sparking widespread anger in Bali where coronavirus infections have been on the rise. On Wednesday, the island's immigration department said it would deport retreat co-founder Wissam Barakeh, 45, to his native Syria for breaking rules that prohibit gatherings of more than two dozen people. "(He) didn't try to cancel the event even after the number of participants exceeded what's allowed by the government," said Jamaruli Manihuruk, the head of Bali's justice and legal office. "Holding this during the pandemic is dangerous," he added. Barakeh, in Bali on a temporary visa, is now being held at an immigration centre until plans to return him to his war-torn homeland are sorted out, Manihuruk said. The volume of flights to and from Bali has plummeted in the midst of the global pandemic, crippling the island's key tourism sector. As of Tuesday, Bali has reported 1,158 confirmed coronavirus infections, with nine deaths. Syrian yoga instructor Wissam Barakeh was paraded by Indonesian immigration officials after being detained for breaking coronavirus restrictions in Bali
DETROIT - A federal judge took a remarkable step Tuesday by ordering the CEOs of General Motors and Fiat Chrysler to meet and settle a lawsuit over whether one company got a competitive edge over the other when union leaders were showered with cash and other perks.

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 Jan. 14, 2019, file photo, Fiat Chrysler's CEO, Mike Manley, speaks at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, A federal judge took a remarkable step Tuesday, June 23, 2020, by ordering the CEOs of General Motors and Fiat Chrysler to meet and settle a lawsuit over whether one company got a competitive edge over the other when union leaders were showered with cash and other perks. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

DETROIT - A federal judge took a remarkable step Tuesday by ordering the CEOs of General Motors and Fiat Chrysler to meet and settle a lawsuit over whether one company got a competitive edge over the other when union leaders were showered with cash and other perks.

GM has accused Fiat Chrysler of racketeering, saying the rival won labour concessions during contract talks because United Auto Workers officials were bribed with money from a job training centre.

U.S. District Judge Paul Borman ordered GM chief executive Mary Barra and her Fiat Chrysler counterpart, Mike Manley, to meet in person by July 1 to reach a sensible resolution of this huge legal distraction.

What a waste of time and resources, now and for the years to come in this mega litigation, if these automotive leaders and their large teams of lawyers, are required to focus significant time-consuming efforts to pursue this nuclear option lawsuit, if it goes forward, Borman said.

FILE - In this July 16, 2019, file photo, General Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra speaks during the opening of GM's contract talks with the United Auto Workers in Detroit. A federal judge took a remarkable step Tuesday, June 23, 2020, by ordering the CEOs of General Motors and Fiat Chrysler to meet and settle a lawsuit over whether one company got a competitive edge over the other when union leaders were showered with cash and other perks. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

He said he wants an update from Barra and Manley at noon on July 1.

The judge noted that GM and Chrysler were rescued by the federal government with billions of dollars during the Great Recession.

Today our country needs, and deserves, that these now-healthy great companies pay us back by also focusing on rescuing this country and its citizens from the plagues of COVID-19, racism, and injustice while building the best motor vehicles in the world, Borman said.

Federal agents have been investigating corruption in the senior ranks of the UAW. The first wave of convictions in 2017 involved key Fiat Chrysler employees who used money from a jointly run training centre to reward union officials. Al Iacobelli, who was the automaker's labour chief, was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison.

General Holiefield, a UAW vice-president who was responsible for negotiating with Fiat Chrysler, paid off a $262,000 mortgage, the government said.

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In response to the GM lawsuit, Fiat Chrysler, known as FCA, has denied that it directed any bribes and wants the judge to dismiss the case.

"Our view of GMs lawsuit has not changed," FCA said Tuesday. "As we have said from the date it was filed, the lawsuit is meritless and it should be withdrawn. We therefore acknowledge Judge Bormans concerns and look forward to meeting to discuss them and ideally put this matter behind us.

GM said it has a strong case against FCA.

We look forward to constructive dialogue with FCA consistent with the courts order, the company said.

___

Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwhiteap
Representative image

Import consignments from China are reportedly facing difficulties at ports in Chennai and Mumbai, as clearances are being held up by the Indian customs authorities, amid the ongoing border dispute between the neighbouring countries, The Indian Express has reported.

There has been no written or verbal command from customs authorities or the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) but the disruption in clearances has emerged over the last fortnight, said the report citing three people in the know.

The customs authorities have not cited any particular reason to importers, while hinting at the delays, said the report.

The officials have recommended to not deliver any container that has come from China, even if it is having been issued the Out of Charge (OOC) order for clearance, a Chennai-based importer told the paper.

An Out of Charge order is issued for the clearance of the goods from the customs area only after no discrepancy is found in a consignment after several procedures for examination, the report noted.

Clearances are being skipped for Chinese consignments, especially for non-essential items, said the report, quoting a Mumbai-based industry source.

According to the source, certain categories of goods from China are taking longer to get cleared, as customs authorities are not immediately checking those containers. They have categorised the goods, and the non-essential items have been pushed into the background for examination at a later day, said the source, adding that they are not saying that the examination of said items will not be carried out, but not giving it importance as imported items from other countries.

The delays in clearances especially for non-essential goods are being looked at as a nudge for importers to change their import patterns from China, since consumption patterns won't change immediately, said the report.

The delays in customs clearances are likely to offset the gains from the imports from China as the demurrage charges will go up, the report said.

Customs authorities examined certain types of cargo based on intelligence inputs as part of the routine inspections, and some of the import consignments in question are from China, a senior official in the Chennai customs zone told the publication.

However, the government has said that no consignments from China are being held back at ports, according to a report by The Times of India.

According to a senior customs officer in Chennai, the reports are incorrect. Goods are releasing wherever duty is being paid, the officer was quoted as saying. The speculation may have been triggered by the search for a few containers on which intelligence inputs had been received about a large narcotics consignment, the officer told the publication.

China accounts for around 14 percent of Indias total imports.
A social media post shared among former members of the Mystic Krewe of Nyx on Tuesday revealed that the Mardi Gras parading organization required prospective members to have been designated female on their birth certificates, a little-known rule that apparently aimed to keep transgender people from the krewe.

The rule, added to the organizations bylaws in 2015, allows the krewe leadership to request birth certificates from prospective members to prove their status.

It means that transgender people are being discriminated against, said former Nyx board member Rachael Kostelec, who said she was unaware of the rule until Tuesday. Im furious; it sickens me.

The revelation of the rule sent yet another wave of outrage through the 8-year-old organization that quickly grew into Carnivals largest parading group and one of its most diverse. Since early June, there has been a mass resignation of membership, triggered by a social media post by krewe Captain Julie Lea that included the divisive phrase "All Lives Matter," which arose as a sort of counter-slogan to the Black Lives Matter movement.

+3 Nyx Mardi Gras krewe members resign, plan protest after captains 'All Lives Matter' post In an open letter, a group of members of the all-female Mystic Krewe of Nyx, New Orleans' largest Carnival parading group, have issued a state

Former member Rhonda Pentney said she was unaware of the krewe leaderships ability to demand birth certificates from prospective members and was distressed by the knowledge.

They should take me at my word. I shouldnt have to prove that Im female, she said. If I had transitioned to female and was told I couldnt get in, I would be upset. A Mardi Gras krewe shouldnt have the right to ask that.

The amendment to the bylaws, which was produced by Lea, explains that Nyx was created for women and that in consideration that the members, as women, desire to protect their privacy, membership shall be restricted to those persons whose original birth certificates reflect them to be female.

Leas lawyer Ronald Chip Morrison said that the former members are misinterpreting the intention of the bylaw amendment.

The rules were updated as a result of the Krewe receiving applications from men who wanted to join the Krewe," he wrote in an email.

The rule was intended to embrace all women, including those who had made the lifestyle choice to be female," he said. "Since it is an all-female krewe, the ladies who had transitioned to female would simply need to show a birth certificate issued at any time.

Morrison said that the amendment was a nonissue anyway because no one was ever asked to provide a birth certificate.

The only identification that is asked for prospective members is that a copy of a their drivers license be submitted for age verification.

Morrison said the former members characterization of the amendment was meant to disparage my client, and is nothing more than a group of school yard bullies."

Former float lieutenant Del Hamilton, who has been a member since 2012, said shes unsure what prompted the 2015 addition to the bylaws, which were not generally available to the membership. But she said Lea always seemed to feel that there were men trying to sneak onto our floats.

Whatever the intention, Hamilton said, the rule seems contrary to the krewes avowed inclusiveness. She thinks there may have been similar wording on the membership application at the time.

Dylan Waguespack, chairman of the board of the Louisiana Trans Advocates organization, said the Nyx rule requiring members to be declared female on their birth certificates goes far and away beyond anything Ive seen in the state of Louisiana in setting this kind of threshold to access.

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Its an unfortunate rule that they have adopted, he said, because even if they dont mean it to be restrictive to trans females who want to be members, it is.

According to Louisiana law, in order for a transgender woman to change sex status on her birth certificate, she must be diagnosed as a transsexual or pseudo-hermaphrodite, undergo sex reassignment or corrective surgery and prove that her anatomical structure has been changed to a sex other than that which is stated on the original birth certificate."

Waguespack said that due to the high cost of gender-affirming surgery, medical conditions that could prevent the surgery and the fact that many trans women dont desire the surgery in the first place, very, very, very few will ever achieve the threshold the state requires.

Anyway, Waguespack said, when youre talking about transgender people, its not a state you achieve, its who you are.

Waguespack pointed out that the original Nyx bylaw from 2015 does not include a provision for officially changed birth certificates. It specifically calls for a birth certificate issued immediately after birth.

Overall, he said, the Nyx rule reads like a bylaw written to exclude transgender women.

+11 The history of the Krewe of Nyx and Julie Lea: a rough ride and 'rotten at the top,' some say Last week's very public implosion of the Mystic Krewe of Nyx seemed to be a microcosm of the unrest that swept the country after the death of 

Former Nyx member Stephanie Kreamer said she wasnt aware of the rule when she joined the krewe in 2016.

The only intention I can see is saying that you dont believe transgender women are women, she said. I have trans friends, and Im embarrassed.

The krewe rule was added during a national debate about the rights of transgender people to use the bathroom of their choice. None of the members interviewed for this story said they were aware of anyone being turned away because of the rule.

Since the turmoil within Nyx began in early June, Lea has steadfastly refused to answer questions from the media. When krewe members first expressed their disagreement with her "All Lives Matter" post, Lea apologized, but she stopped short of expressing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

+7 Krewe of Nyx captain apologizes for All Lives Matter post that angered some members The captain of New Orleans largest Carnival parading organization has apologized for social media posts that featured a photo of a black chil

Krewe members protested near the club headquarters and called for Lea to step down, but she refused. After organization officers, members, dance groups and bands announced that they would no longer participate in the Nyx parade, Lea wrote a letter to the editor of The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate outlining a three-step program to reunite the organization. But its unclear if her efforts have had an impact.

Last week, during a live online video conference, a founding member of the krewe accused Lea and her husband, an employee of the New Orleans Police Department, of hacking the waiting list of the Krewe of Muses in 2012 in order to boost membership. That allegation has led to an internal NOPD investigation.

Note: This story was updated with comments from Nyx Captain Julie Lea's attorney. The headline was also revised at that time. The story was later updated with comments from Dylan Waguespack, chairman of the board of the Louisiana Trans Advocates organization.

+3 Krewe of Nyx hacking allegations lead to internal NOPD investigation The controversies swirling around the Mystic Krewe of Nyx and its captain have now caught the attention of the New Orleans Police Department.

+15 Watch: Angry ex-Nyx members complain about Julie Lea's financial dealings, alleged Muses hacking Four charter members of the Mystic Krewe of Nyx, plus a recently resigned board member, conducted a public online video meeting Thursday to ai
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By Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG  On a Saturday in March, after Gov. Tom Wolf urged nonessential businesses to close, Cameron Peters turned off the lights in her flower shop on Phoenixvilles main street, pulled the candy-pink door closed, and started sobbing.

She was unsure when, or if, she would be able to come back. The picturesque downtown, normally bustling with activity, was eerily quiet.

I was locking the door on my dreams, she said.

Five days later, Wolf issued a sweeping order to close all but life-sustaining businesses, ensuring Peters flower shop and thousands of other businesses would remain closed indefinitely as part of some of the strictest shutdown rules in the nation.

Public health experts agree the move was necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. But the Wolf administration has faced widespread criticism for how it carried out the closures.

Central to those complaints were a lack of enforcement, allowing for wide variation in how businesses and competitors interpreted the rules, and a controversial waiver process decided entirely in secret, allowing certain businesses to reopen.

Those waivers, while well-intentioned, gave state officials the power to determine winners and losers in the market. Sometimes, direct competitors received conflicting guidance, with one being allowed to reopen while another had to stay closed.

Now  as most counties move into the green phase of reopening, and business owners face tough choices about how to move forward  the long-term consequences of those inconsistencies are coming into sharper focus.

Some have already announced permanent layoffs, while others are still taking stock of the financial damage done by the shutdown but fear they wont survive.

To this day, theres no doubt that businesses were harmed because they were shut down and shouldnt have been, said Guy Ciarrocchi, president and CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce. Theres no doubt that there are people who will lose their jobs because their employer was shut down and may not need to have been.

Casey Smith  a spokesperson for the state Department of Community and Economic Development, which oversaw the waiver process  said the effort was organized in just a few days and steps were taken to make it as fair as possible.

Quality control efforts were ongoing throughout the duration of the process to ensure that there was consistency across industries, Smith said.

If the department received valid complaints from business owners that led state officials to believe they had made a mistake, the team would review that application and revise the determination if necessary, she said.

Dennis Davin, secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, declined an interview request, citing pending litigation.

That includes a federal lawsuit brought by businesses including a Bucks County pool store that was denied a waiver, despite the fact that two local competitors remained open, according to a complaint filed in the case. Senate Republicans have also sued the Wolf administration to enforce a legislative subpoena seeking thousands of pages of records relating to the waiver process, including emails, notes, and internal memos. Auditor General Eugene DePasquales office is separately reviewing the process.

A fraught process

Pennsylvania was one of 13 states that developed its own rules about which businesses could stay open, according to an analysis by Multistate Associates, a lobbying firm. Others followed federal guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

The business shutdown was fraught from the start. The administrations guidelines for which businesses were considered life-sustaining continuously changed, sowing confusion in communities across the state.

In an attempt to better respond to individual circumstances, the Department of Community and Economic Development launched the waiver system, but officials there were quickly deluged by tens of thousands of requests.

As the process lurched forward, frustration mounted throughout the business community because the department refused to state exactly what criteria it was using to consider applications, or explain to applicants why waivers were granted or denied.

For weeks, it also refused to make public even the names of businesses that were approved or denied, moving to do so only after coming under intense public scrutiny and pressure from the legislature.

The state relied on information provided by businesses, but gave little guidance on how to fill out the three-question application. Small differences in how businesses completed the form could lead to very different outcomes.

In some instances, business owners watched as their competitors reopened, gaining a valuable advantage. In others, after state officials were questioned about why a business was deemed life-sustaining, they reversed course and revoked a waiver.

There was no real, true standard, said Ciarrocchi, of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce.

When the administration launched the waiver process, Peters, the flower shop owner, emailed the Department of Community and Economic Development, confused.

I dont want my shop open to the public, only for phone and web orders, she wrote. Please advise. I am a tiny business who without any revenue could close due to these circumstances.

Peters said she never got a response and so, later that day, she submitted a waiver application, making the same plea. To her surprise, the department denied her request via form email. Yet just a month later, as Peters observed other flower shops doing deliveries, she confirmed with the governors office that she never needed a waiver.

Some businesses did open and probably shouldnt have been open, and others closed and found out later that they might have been able to be open, said Michelle Crowley, president and CEO of the Carlisle Chamber of Commerce.

Some of these things have been clear as mud.

Waivers, while well-intentioned, gave state officials the power to determine winners and losers in the market. Sometimes, direct competitors received conflicting guidance, with one being allowed to reopen while another had to stay closed. (Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA)

Two shops, one waiver

According to the Wolf administration, the waiver program was an attempt to make the shutdown more fair and responsive to individual business needs. But business owners like Miguel Cabrera Jr. of Avondale said it had the opposite effect.

Cabreras company, A&A Auto Tags, sells license plates and insurance, offers notary services, and processes title transfers. Auto Tags Plus, in a neighboring Chester County borough just 12 miles away, is in the same business.

A&A was denied a waiver, while Auto Tags Plus received one.

It just kind of felt weird, Cabrera said. We didnt know what they had over us.

The difference, according to state spokesperson Smith, was how the companies filled out the waiver application.

Smith said Auto Tags Plus was granted a waiver for one employee to collect insurance premium payments. A&A also provides insurance services, but did not list that as the reason it should be granted a waiver, Smith said.

Still, the owner of Auto Tags Plus, who declined to be named on the record, said he thought the waiver meant his entire business could stay open, as long as he followed CDC guidelines.

Cabreras sister, Zory Baer, who manages the business, was furious when she started getting calls from customers, asking why the competitor company was open.

Hes raking it in because hes the only one in town, Baer said.

But even with the waiver, Auto Tags Plus has lost a lot of business, the owner said. He doesnt think the system was fair to other businesses, either. And hes been dragged into the rancor surrounding the process, he said, receiving threatening phone calls and a lot of negative backlash about receiving a waiver.

While the waiver process pitted one small business against the other, many big box stores were able to stay open  selling their full range of products.

At first, Matt Muccitelli, vice president of Park Home Stores in Altoona, thought the discrepancy must be a mistake. Then, his companys waiver application was denied.

In April, Muccitelli posted pictures on Facebook of the crowded parking lot and busy aisles of the local Lowes. Some customers responded with promises that they would wait to buy new appliances until Park Home was open again.

Standing up for local! one woman posted.

Its beyond frustrating that these stores look like its Black Friday! Simply crazy! wrote another.

Different companies did not get equal treatment, Muccitelli said. It was such an arbitrary process.

For some, a risk worth taking

While the state was able to issue fines and penalties to businesses that defied the coronavirus business closure order and potentially put their employees health at risk, Wolf repeatedly said he favored voluntary compliance over enforcement.

But that approach has meant there have been very few consequences so far for businesses who played fast and loose with the rules.

Some nonessential business owners stayed open without seeking a waiver, taking the view that it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission, said Helen Kissick, president and executive director of the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce.

CabinetWorks Group, a cabinet door manufacturer in Mifflinburg, in central Pennsylvania, stayed open during the pandemic, even though many of its competitors were forced to shut down.

Household and kitchen-cabinet manufacturing was not deemed life-sustaining under Wolfs guidelines. Yet CabinetWorks did not apply for or receive a waiver, according to state officials.

Officials from CabinetWorks did not return calls seeking comment.

Pam Stuter, whose father retired from the company and whose son now works there, said employees were told the business was reclassifying itself as a sawmill, which was considered life-sustaining.

Yet Stuter said the company continued to produce cabinet doors throughout.

My dad is rolling in his grave right now, she said. He never would have had his employees come to work back at that time. He was the plant manager for 45 years.

Smith, the Department of Community and Economic Development spokesperson, acknowledged that some businesses may have been taking advantage of the process.

Responsibility for enforcing the order has been split between the Pennsylvania State Police, which has issued just three citations since March 23, and local police departments, many of which opted not to get involved. District attorneys in some counties said they would not prosecute businesses that violated the order.

As a result, some business owners decided the risk was worth it.

At the beginning of April, Patrick Penfield applied for a waiver for his bait shop  a 12-by-12-foot shed next to the Clarion River in Elk County, with one refrigerator full of sodas, another with worms and night crawlers, and an aquarium of minnows.

A day later, he received a denial. But the following week, with the start of trout season, he opened anyway, defying the shutdown order.

I never had anybody come to my shop and question me being open, Penfield said. I have had police officers come in here to buy bait and nothing was said.

The state denied Cameron Peters' waiver to fulfill online orders from her Phoenixville flower shop. But, after being closed for a month, she confirmed with the governor's office that she didn't actually need a waiver to do this, after all. (STEVEN M. FALK / Philadelphia Inquirer)

An unclear future

The future is precarious for Peters Phoenixville flower shop. The events she relies on  weddings, proms, graduations  have been canceled or postponed. She and her husband have spent down their savings to keep up with rent and utilities. The business is only a few years old and wasnt making much of a profit even before the shutdown.

Its not yet clear whether the uneven playing field created during the shutdown, which the waiver process intensified, will have long-term consequences for local businesses, said Joe Hurd, president and CEO of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce.

Still, when the chamber surveyed all 1,080 member businesses, the ones who said, Were doing OK, a lot of them followed that statement with, We were able to get a waiver, " Hurd said.

But getting a waiver wasnt always a golden ticket.

Gitman Bros., a high-end shirt-maker in Schuylkill County that traces its business roots to the early 1930s, received a waiver to manufacture personal protective gear. Unlike some companies that used their exemptions to reopen at full capacity, Gitman halted its shirt-making and limited its work to medical gowns for health networks in the state.

For us it was a way to keep the lights on, said Chris Olberding, president of Gitman and Gitman Vintage. It never crossed our mind to resume normal production.

Even with a waiver, the financial toll was steep. The storied company recently announced that it will close its factory in Ashland at the end of the summer, and will move production of the Gitman brand to another state. Ninety employees will be laid off, although all have been offered positions at those out-of-state locations, said Olberding.

Its a sad time, he said.

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24.06.2020 LISTEN

The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has published its Annual Report on the management and use of Ghanas petroleum revenues for the year-end 2019.

Speaking during the launch of the Report, Noble Wadzah, Chairman of PIAC Ghana explained that the committees report is aimed at keeping Ghanaians and other interested stakeholders constantly informed as to how the countrys petroleum revenues are being managed, as well as serving as a tool for citizens feedback to be collated and shared with duty bearers including policymakers.

The 2019 Annual Report according to the Chairman comes with some key findings and recommendations from the committee. Some of the findings include the fact that the total Annual Budget Amount (ABFA) available for spending in 2019 was in the region of GHS 2.7 billion, out of which GHS 1.2 billion was utilized, leaving a balance of GHS 1.5 billion unutilized.

For the third consecutive year, not only has a sizable proportion of the ABFA not been fully utilized but it has also not been accounted for, impeding PIACs appreciation of the full scope of accounting to the public on the utilization of our petroleum revenues.

Also, the committee noted that in 2019, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) supplied US$ 334.6 Million worth of raw gas to the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC), but no payment was received, in respect of the supplies. This is largely on account of VRAs inability to pay GNGC for the lean gas supplied. Added to the outstanding balance of US$ 333.5 Million, this brings the total indebtedness in respect of lean gas supplies to US$668.1 Million.

However, irrespective of the above indebtedness, GNPC continues to provide guarantees for a range of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), amounting to US$645.5 Million in 2019. This is about double, compared with the previous years and also outweighs the Corporations total equity financing expenditure of US $164. 79 Million for the period.

In the year under review, 45.14 percent of the actual ABFA was spent on recurrent expenditure, with 54.86 percent on capital expenditure. This was in violation of Section 8 (4a) of Act 893 which requires that a minimum of 70 percent be spent on public investment expenditure.

Ghanas total oil production in 2019 according to PIAC increased by some 15 percent compared to 2018. Production in 2018 was 62.1 Million (62,135,435.07) barrels. The high recorded volume is on account of production on Jubilee and Sankofa Gye Nyame Fields.

There was also a greatest boost since the commercialization of natural gas in Ghana in 2019 with a total of 169,508.61 Million Standard Cubic Feet (MMSCF) of Associated Gas produced in 2019 that is an 85 percent over the 2018 volume of 91,459.30 MMSCF.

These increases earned the nation some US$925Million total petroleum receipts to the Petroleum Holding Fund in 2019 with receipts being distributed to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA), the Ghana Stabilization Fund and the Ghana Heritage Fund.

PIAC lastly made some recommendations with regards to the 2019 findings. The committee urges parliament to bring its oversight mandate to bear on the Ministry of Finances impunity and failure in not accounting for utilized ABFA. For the third consecutive year, the actual ABFA, has not been fully utilized and accounted for, bringing the total unutilized and unaccounted ABFA to GHS 1.5 billion at the end of 2019.

The committee reiterates its earlier call to parliament to consider placing some restrictions on the proportion of GNPCs budget on CSI and guarantees to state institutions, particularly in the light of the Corporations inability to respond to some of its cash calls.

PIAC continues to call on the Government, as a matter of urgency, to address the unsustainable debt of Ghana National Gas Company. The committee also calls on the government of Ghana to expedite action on the infrastructure requirement for gas evacuation and utilization, in order to avoid a huge backlog of make-up gas volumes and the potential for resource waste.

Story by Malise Otoo
SCC Joint Ministerial Statement promotes Socio-Cultural Pillar

A Joint Ministerial Statement released at the virtual 23rd meeting of the ASEAN Social-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council in Hanoi on June 23 underlined support for promoting key areas of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Pillar.





Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung (second from right), who is also Vice Chairman of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee and ASCC Chair 2020

It was the first periodic meeting hosted by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in its capacity as ASCC Chair 2020.

In his remarks, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, who is also Vice Chairman of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee and ASCC Chair 2020, said it is the first time in the history of the regional group that ASEAN senior officials meetings and summits have been organized on an online platform, due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This requires governments to cope with different contingencies as a way of protecting lives, ensuring economic stabilization and social welfare, he added.



After the discussions, the meeting issued a Joint Ministerial Statement of the ASEAN Social-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council.



Towards the theme Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN, Dung said Vietnam has suggested initiatives and priorities regarding human resources, social welfare, and communications to further step up the community's efforts towards the ASEAN Vision 2025.



This is a highly crucial time for ASEAN, as its three communities are conducting mid-term reviews on the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Vision 2025. All ASEAN specialised agencies are also reviewing the 2016-2020 Work Plan and building the 2021-2025 Plan of Action.



Amid the pandemic, ASEAN leaders and specialised agencies on healthcare, human resources, social welfare, development, and education held symposiums to share experiences and enhance cooperation in dealing with the harmful effects of the pandemic.



With 15 specialised agencies covering various fields, Minister Dung said the ASCC must join efforts to ensure socio-economic development.



During the meeting, participants shared their opinions on priorities and cooperation during the period of recovery from COVID-19, to outline orientations for the ASEAN Communitys activities this year and the next five years, towards a cohesive ASEAN Community that is beneficial for all.



They also expressed their wish for the ASEAN Declaration on promotion of social work led by Vietnam, to be finalized for approval at the 37th ASEAN Summit set for November.
*This story has been updated.

State lawmakers have approved legislation that would radically change the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education within the next three years.

The bill, which represents the most dramatic change ever made to the 1982 law that created the state system, is now before Gov. Tom Wolf.

The Senate on Wednesday voted 47-3 to approve a bill that would open the door for most of the 14 state universities to create, expand, consolidate, transfer or affiliate an institution or college. But importantly to lawmakers and communities that host a university, it does not permit a school to close.

I believe truly with a plan like this with this limited opportunity for reform that we have that we will establish this State System of Higher Education and the 14 member institutions that serve proudly throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania another century of success in meeting their core mission, said Sen. Scott Martin, R-Lancaster County, who seres on the system board.

Sen. Robert Tommy Tomlinson, R-Bucks County, a West Chester University alum and trustee, said with the legislation we will continue to make the State System schools great centers with strong academic programs for future students. I look forward to seeing how these schools continue to evolve and meet the needs of our students, families and communities.

The system reform bill immediately went to the House of Representatives, which voted 201-0 to concur on changes the Senate made. It is now in the governors hand and his signature would allow it to take effect immediately.

The governors spokeswoman, Lyndsay Kensinger, gave no indication as to whether it would gain his signature.

The bill temporarily shifts decision-making authority that currently rests with the Legislature to the systems Chancellor Dan Greenstein and its 20-member governing board.

The system, the worlds 43rd largest, includes Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester universities.

Lawmakers as well as system officials see the need for such sweeping changes because without them, as Greenstein has said, the status quo wont lead to long-term solvency of the system. The systems enrollment has declined steadily in recent years and some of the universities are facing stiff financial challenges.

The State System of Higher Education will need to dramatically accelerate its redesign because the status quo wont lead to long-term solvency of the system, said system Chancellor Dan Greenstein. Photo courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services

Greenstein said in a statement, This bill represents some of the most significant improvements to how the State System operates in our 38-year history. The reforms will allow us to build upon the substantial progress weve already made toward ensuring affordability for students and financial sustainability for our universities. This landmark achievement is the direct result of our university constituencies coming together behind our redesign.

The legislation wouldnt allow dramatic changes to happen overnight.

In fact, it provides at least a one-year window once a final implementation plan is approved by the systems board for students, staff, faculty and administrator to adjust to any change that may be coming to a program, college, service or university.

But before a decision is made, a lengthy vetting process will take place.

It begins with the chancellors office preparing a proposed implementation plan. The plan is shared with lawmakers followed by a 60-day public comment, at least two public hearings, and consultation with stakeholders. Feedback allows for the plan to be altered before it is presented to the systems governing board, which must approve changes permitted under this legislation by at least a two-thirds vote.

Once that occurs, the chancellor is required to provide quarterly reports to the General Assembly on the implementations progress. The bills limits the systems authority to make the reforms that are permitted under this legislation to three years before that authority returns to the General Assembly.

However, any change that is still in the process of being implemented at the three-year mark would be permitted to be completed, Martin said.

The goal is to keep it as time restricted as possible, Martin said.

Jamie Martin, president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, made it clear that the faculty union believes the significant changes the legislation would allow should be considered a last resort.

But she added: We are supportive of the measures in the amended bill that requires transparency, a clear plan from the chancellor/State System, allows enough time to hold public hearings and solicit input from stakeholders, and requires a two-thirds vote by the board of governors before a plan can be implemented.

For Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks County, who also serves on the system board, the accountability requirements and many layers of reporting built into the process seemed a bit too much.

If theres anything Ive learned in my years in the Senate is sometimes we use reports as a way to kind of delay action, she said, in her remarks made remotely to her Senate colleagues on Wednesday. If theres anything that needs to happen in this system, we need the ability to move quickly. We have to be fleet of foot so to speak because the issues that are hitting us are hitting us quickly.

The need to reform

System officials have seen the writing on the wall more than four years ago that as a whole, its 14 universities were on an unsustainable path. As the systems former Chancellor Frank Brogan said in 2017, We are the people who have to have the courage to step up and sound the clarion call for change.

Declining enrollment and funding cuts by that time had put the system in a financially precarious position. The years that have gone by have done nothing to reverse that course.

The system has seen its enrollment decline by 20 percent over the past decade, to just under 96,000 last fall. As of June 5, its first-year student enrollment for the fall semester had declined 1.7 percent from the same time last year.

In another sign of troubles, Mansfield University this spring required up to a $6 million loan from the system to pay its bills to make it through the remainder of this year. Cheyney University, in recent years, has had to obtain similar loans totaling $40.3 million to keep its doors open.

Cheyneys financial instability, among other issues at the nations oldest historically black university, nearly cost it its accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the regional accrediting agency. But a promise made last fall by Gov. Tom Wolf to help the school eliminate its mountain of debt prevented the commission from taking that unusual action.

System officials have said nine of the 14 universities project the need to dip into their reserves to cover a combined $146 million in operating expenses through the next three years.

Currently, the system anticipates a $52 million financial loss through the summer due to the pandemic even after accounting for the federal CARES ACT funding. And to help it deal with its fiscal woes, it is nearing the end of a window of its third retirement incentive offered to employees to try to reduce its workforce.

With that as a backdrop, time is of the essence for the public universities to make the necessary changes to get all 14 of its universities back on sounder financial footing. But not all of them are in such a financially shaky condition  and the Senate-passed bill recognizes that.

It specifically bars West Chester University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the systems two largest universities, from being consolidated or affiliated with another institution.

Why make exceptions

The carve out for West Chester and IUP from being further affiliated or consolidated with another institution was one of several compromises that had to be made to garner enough support in the Senate to pass the chamber.

In advocating for making those exceptions, Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-Chester, who is a faculty member at West Chester, said it serves as an acknowledgment that these two universities are simply succeeding.

With the number of students and their graduate programs, they are in a very different situation than are the other 12 institutions, Dinniman said.

Sen. Scott Martin, R-Lancaster County, said the State System of Higher Education reform legislation allows the system to be proactive to address the enrollment and fiscal problems it faces. Screenshot from Pa. Senate website June 24, 2020

Martin said sharing services or joint purchasing arrangements across universities wouldnt really benefit West Chester and IUP, with more than 10,000 students, in the same way it would the smaller schools in the system.

The carve out for these two universities was among the concerns that led Sen. Michele Brooks, R-Mercer County, to join Sens. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin County, and Scott Hutchinson, R-Venango County, in opposing the bill.

I understand that there are some universities struggling with enrollment, but if we are going to be searching for efficiencies and collaboration, why wouldnt we include every university in the conversation, instead of focusing only on those schools with fewer than 10,000 students? Brooks said in a statement. One of my concerns is that this bill seems to target smaller schools. Universities with more than 10,000 students should not be excluded from the provisions of this legislation.

Making an exception for those two schools was disappointing to the bills sponsor, House Education Committee Chairman Curt Sonney, R-Erie County. He said hes thrilled there are universities in the system that are sustainable.

Unfortunately, thats not been the case in all of them, Sonney said. The reality is if the system fails, they all fail. This bill was really designed to allow the system to finally function as a system with one central authority because we want all 14 universities to survive and thrive, not just a few.

That one-for-all-and-all-for-one mentality has permeated discussions at the systems governing board meetings since Greenstens arrival in the fall of 2018. The chancellor has talked about systemness and a sharing system as the foundation for his and the boards vision for redesigning the higher education institutions they oversee.

Along with sharing some back office administrative services across universities to produce some cost savings and keep tuition rates affordable, Greenstein, in another example of the reforms he envisions, also wants to see students have the opportunity to take any of the more than 11,000 courses offered at system universities regardless of where they are enrolled.

Its unclear at this point how this exception for West Chester and IUP affects those system redesign plans although system board Chairwoman Cindy Shapira said in a statement, This bill supports all three principles of our Redesign effort  student success, leveraging our strengths, and transforming our governing structure.

Speaking on the bill generally to her Senate colleagues, Schwank expressed her hope that it doesnt retard some of the changes that we actually need to see in the system. She also reminded senators that the state hasnt been living up to its responsibilities to the system for many years and said that is one of the reasons the system is in the situation it now faces.

Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks County said a misgiving she has about the State System reform bill is the layers of reporting it requires because that could delay action on the system's redesign. "We have to be fleet of foot so to speak because the issues that are hitting us are hitting us quickly. Screenshot from Pa. Senate website June 24, 2020

No university will close

The bill does not allow a university to close.

One of the goals of what were trying to accomplish here is to ensure there is a footprint of these campuses in every community where they are currently located, Martin said. Thats not to say some might be potentially smaller ... but every community, a goal here, was to make sure no one was losing that presence.

Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, a longtime champion for Cheyney University, made a point of getting it clarified on the Senate floor to be memorialized in the Senate journal that the legislation would not thwart Cheyneys status as a historically black college and university.

This institution is an important treasure to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and an important treasure to the nation, Hughes said. Its something that we need to protect.

Martin described the Senate changes to the bill as a hodgepodge of ideas. It incorporated elements of the House bill along with some asks from system officials, labor unions, university trustees, and more.

It also includes changes that affect the powers and duties of university councils of trustees, including their ability by a two-thirds vote to opt out of a shared services arrangement. It alters the powers and duties of university presidents as well as the appointment and removal of student members to the systems governing board, among others.

It does not allow for property to be sold or transferred to a university foundation, and it doesnt affect university foundations in any way, Martin said.

Sonneys version of a system reform bill passed the House on June 9 by a vote of 200-2. In urging his House colleagues to support his version of the bill, Sonney indicated he understands doing nothing is also not an option and could lead to some universities being forced to close  which would be a costly decision.

By one estimate, it could cost up to $150 million to actually close just one of the system schools between bonded indebtedness and contractual agreements, that would be a worst-case scenario, Sonney said.

He along with Martin spoke of the need for urgent action by the General Assembly given. The Legislature is now at the tail end of its two-year legislative session. If bills arent enacted by the end of the session, they must begin anew in the next legislative session.

Plus, Sonney said the system needs to get moving on reforms.

The sky is falling on the system, he said. Its crashing down.

But Martin also made a point of saying that the state universities arent experiencing anything that other colleges and universities across the state and nation arent struggling with so we have to be very proactive."

*This post was updated to include Sen. Michele Brooks statement as well as those of system officials and to reflect the fact that this legislation now sits on the governors desk.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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The coronavirus pandemic has caused the deaths of 100,409 people across Latin America, with few signs of the outbreak easing in a region marked by crowded cities and high poverty levels.

The region has seen an alarming spike in cases and deaths even as the tide of infection recedes in Europe and parts of Asia. The number of infections, at 2.2 million, has doubled in less than a month.

Brazil - Latin America's largest and most populous nation - this week became only the second country to reach the 50,000 deaths milestone, after the United States.

A cemetery employee works in a section where COVID-19 victims were buried at a cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The South American nation registered an additional 1,374 deaths on Tuesday from the virus and 39,436 new cases, pushing the death toll from COVID-19 to 52,645 people in Latin America's biggest economy. At least 1,145,906 people have been infected.

A man has his temperature checked in Mexico as a preventive measure against the coronavirus. Mexico is second behind Brazil with 23,377 COVID-19 deaths

Medical staff wearing protective gear check on patient Magdalena Torres (right) in the women's ward of a COVID-19 hospital at Military Camp 1 in Mexico State

The South American nation registered an additional 1,374 deaths on Tuesday from the virus and 39,436 new cases, pushing the death toll from the novel coronavirus to 52,645 people in Latin America's biggest economy. At least 1,145,906 people have been infected.

Mexico on Tuesday also registered a fresh one-day record for confirmed infections.

Mexico, the worst hit-nation in the region after Brazil in terms of overall figures, on Tuesday registered 6,288 new infections and 793 additional deaths. That brought the totals for the country to 191,410 cases and 23,377 deaths.

Beachgoers enjoy Arpoador beach amid the coronavirus outbreak in Rio de Janeiro

Mexican wrestlers wait to receive food and aid given their vulnerability due to the crisis stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered by a court to wear a mask in public after the right-wing populist attended political rallies without one. Brazil ranks second in the world with 1,145,906 confirmed cases and 52,645 deaths

Health worker Ulises Cardenas Santana attempts to get a sample for COVID-19 testing at a market in Mexico City

CORONAVIRUS DEATH TOTALS IN LATIN AMERICA As of Wednesday, 100,409 people in Latin America had died of the coronavirus pandemic. The deadly virus has killed 478,289 people across the globe. Brazil - 52,545 Mexico - 23,377 Peru - 8,404 Chile - 4,505 Ecuador - 4,274 Colombia - 2,524 Argentina - 1,085 Bolivia - 846 Dominican Republic -675 Guatemala - 582 Panama - 536 Honduras - 405 Puerto Rico - 149 El Salvador -119 Haiti - 89 Cuba - 85 Nicaragua - 74 Venezuela - 35 Uruguay - 25 Guadeloupe - 14 Martinique - 14 Paraguay - 14 French Guiana - 8 Saint Martin - 3 Belize - 3 Advertisement

Peru has 260,810 confirmed cases of the coronavirus so far, making it the second hardest hit country in Latin America after Brazil. The Andean country has reported 8,404 deaths, the third-highest total in the region.

The true scale of the coronavirus damage to Latin America is likely to be much deeper, experts say, as countries across the region have failed to implement rigorous testing programs.

Hugo Lopez-Gatell, Mexico's deputy health minister and the country's coronavirus tsar, on Tuesday signaled that his nation is in for a long battle against coronavirus.

'We must learn to live with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and permanently incorporate hygiene and prevention practices into the new reality,' said Lopez-Gatell, urging the Mexican society to adapt its response to the threat.

On top of creaking healthcare systems in many countries across the region, Latin America's battle against the virus has been hamstrung by widespread poverty and many workers living a hand-to-mouth existence in the informal sector that has hindered quarantine efforts.

The leaders of regional heavyweights Brazil and Mexico have also been chastised for not taking the virus seriously enough and for pushing for a reopening of their economies before the virus has been tamed.

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro once compared the virus to 'a little flu' and has opposed the strict social distancing measures that were issued by state governors.

A Brazilian judge on Tuesday ordered the Brazilian far-right leader to wear a mask in public after the right-wing populist attended political rallies without one in the middle of the world's second-worst coronavirus outbreak.

The virus also appears to be on the rise in Central America, where Guatemala on Tuesday recorded more than 700 new infections for the first time. An additional 35 deaths were registered in Guatemala, taking its deaths total to 582.

Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez was improving after being placed on oxygen a day earlier, according to a government statement released Wednesday.

Hernandez tested positive for COVID-19 last week and a day later was hospitalized with pneumonia. His wife Ana Garcia de Hernandez, had also tested positive. Doctors said she continued following medical advice at home.

Doctors said that on Tuesday his pneumonia appeared to be worsening with greater inflammation in his lungs and falling oxygen levels. A decision was made to give him oxygen.

Honduras has reported nearly 14,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections and more than 400 deaths.

Infections have been increasing since the government started the partial reopening of the economy June 8. Infections have more than doubled since then.
17 Phan Dinh Phung Street in Hanois Ba Dinh District would be just a normal address were it not also the home of Duong Thi Duyen, a former journalist with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

Journalist Duong Thi Duyen (white dress) in a rally meeting of French people supporting the negotiating stance of the Vietnamese delegation at the Paris Conference, in 1968. VNA File Photo

Duyen lived through the most dangerous but glorious times of Vietnams resistance wars against foreign invasion. Prominently she served from 1968 to 1970 as a VNA correspondent and member of the Democratic Republic of Vietnams delegation to the historic Paris conference on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam.

The ninety-one-year-old pulled out a range of mementos, including documents, photos, and other items, from her younger days, when she and many of her friends were devoted to the nation's revolutionary movement.

The passing of time has left its trace on her face and hands but her mind remains sharp when remembering days long gone, especially her years during the wars.

My health may have declined but my memory of events I witnessed and my time with VNA is clear, she said.

She was born in 1929 into an intellectual family in Hanoi with a long tradition of patriotism. Her father was professor of history Duong Quang Ham, the first principal of the prestigious Chu Van An High School, who died for the national cause in the first days of the war of resistance against the French in late 1946.

Duyen posted excellent academic results during her studies at the Dong Khanh girls' school, now the Trung Vuong High School in downtown Hanoi.

She and her friends were involved in a host of charitable work in their teens, including collecting rice for the poor during the harsh years between 1943 and 1945.

The image of her visiting homes in the city to solicit rice for the needy caught the eye of some men from the underground Viet Minh (the League for Vietnam Independence) movement, who sparked her first revolutionary beliefs.

Duyen became active in supporting the Viet Minh, undertaking different tasks such as printing secret documents, making contacts, and couriering letters and documents for the revolutionaries.

Such duties instilled in her the meaning and ideals of the revolution.

Due to her loyalty and enthusiasm for the movement, the young Hanoian was trusted to take a leading post at the South Vietnam news desk of VNA during the early days of its establishment, by the late 1950s.

She also took other important work for the news agency during the war time.

Paris Conference

Duyens most unforgettable memory is the time she joined the Vietnamese delegation to prepare for the Paris Conference, which took place following a national 1968 plan to establish a diplomatic front.

A 37-member delegation was recruited to attend the first round of talks, known under the code name Doan 37 (Delegation 37).

Duyen said the pioneering group to France took on all preparatory work for the opening of the conference.

In May 1968, when they arrived in Paris, it was all so strange that even finding appropriate accommodation was problematic, she recalled.

The delegation had to stay in a somewhat low-cost hotel to save on costs and she remembered how difficult it was to find a way to avoid the hounding foreign media, who were also in Paris.

The negotiations were a major focus of global attention, she said. Even when working in a hotel room, delegates had to communicate by written words as they feared others were bugging.

Fortunately, the French Communist Party later offered accommodation to the Vietnamese contingent and the group then had a more undemanding stay during the conference.

Duyen successfully completed two tasks in Paris: as a correspondent regularly sending news to VNA in Hanoi, and as a member of the diplomatic team who made substantial contributions to the success of Delegation 37.

Thanks to her good French, she was also assigned to take part in publicity efforts and to welcome guests, in particular women researchers from different localities in France and elsewhere who wanted to hear more about the conference and the war in Vietnam.

She travelled to many places throughout France and neighbouring countries such as Italy, Belgium, Sweden, and Germany, during which she collected reams of precious information on peoples movements supporting Vietnam that she could use when penning articles for VNA.

Many American intellectuals and journalists visiting the headquarters of the Vietnamese delegation were critical of the US presence in Vietnam, she remembered. We welcomed them with an open mind, and gave them a solid grounding on many matters they neither knew nor understood.

The Vietnamese delegation in Paris revealed the Vietnamese to be a progressive, democratic, and peaceful people.

She returned home in 1970 and continued to work at VNA for six more years, until she moved to the Vietnam Womens Union in 1976 as head of the department for international relations.

Though she had left VNA, Duyen continued filing articles as a contributor.

Her eyes light up when she remembers different episodes in her life, especially her time in France.

Former VNA General Director Ho Tien Nghi spoke highly of Duyens contribution to revolutionary journalism in Vietnam.

She is truly an outstanding journalist who is also brave and a clever diplomat, Nghi said.

I began working for VNA in the early 1960s and was directly trained by Duyen. I found she not only possessed exceptional expertise and political sensitivity, but was also a helpful mentor. VNS

Nguyen Cuc
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Wells Fargo & Company ("Wells Fargo" or the "Company") (NYSE: WFC) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and indexed under 20-cv-03697, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired Wells Fargo securities between April 5, 2020, and May 5, 2020, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Wells Fargo securities during the class period, you have until August 3, 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 [email protected] 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]

Wells Fargo is a diversified financial services company that provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services to individuals, businesses, and institutions in the U.S. and internationally.

On April 5, 2020, Wells Fargo announced that it had received strong interest in the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"), a program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"), and was targeting to distribute a total of $10 billion to small business customers under the requirements of the PPP.

On April 8, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced that it would allow Wells Fargo to exceed the asset cap that it had imposed on Wells Fargo in 2018 after revelations that the Company had opened millions of accounts in customers' names without their permission, a change which would allow Wells Fargo to make additional small business loans as part of the PPP.

That same day, Wells Fargo issued a press release stating, in relevant part, that, "beginning immediately, in response to the actions by the Federal Reserve, [Wells Fargo] will expand its participation in the [PPP] and offer loans to a broader set of its small business and nonprofit customers subject to the terms of the program."

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about Wells Fargo's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (i) Wells Fargo planned to, and did, improperly allocate government-backed loans under the PPP, and/or had inadequate controls in place to prevent such misallocation; (ii) the foregoing foreseeably increased the Company's litigation risk with respect to PPP allocation, as well as increased regulatory scrutiny and/or potential enforcement actions; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On April 19, 2020, after at least one lawsuit was filed against the Company, reports emerged that Wells Fargo may have unfairly allocated government-backed loans under the PPP. For example, USA Today reported that "[t]he lawsuit filed on behalf of small business owners on Sunday alleges that Wells Fargo unfairly prioritized businesses seeking large loan amounts, while the government's small business agency has said that PPP loan applications would be processed on a first-come, first-served basis." According to the lawsuit, "[t]he move by Wells Fargo meant that the bank would receive millions more dollars in processing fees," and, "[m]aking matters worse, Wells Fargo concealed from the public that it was reshuffling the PPP applications it received and prioritizing the applications that would make the bank the most money."

Following this news, Wells Fargo's stock price fell more than 5% over two trading days to close at $26.84 per share on April 21, 2020.

Finally, on May 5, 2020, Wells Fargo filed a quarterly report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission, disclosing, in addition to multiple PPP-related lawsuits initiated against the Company, that Wells Fargo had "received formal and informal inquiries from federal and state governmental agencies regarding its offering of PPP loans."

Following this news, Wells Fargo's stock price fell by more than 6% over two trading days from its closing price on May 4, 2020, closing at $25.61 per share on May 6, 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

[email protected]

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

www.pomerantzlaw.com


[June 24, 2020] Auxly's Subsidiary Dosecann Enters into Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement with dosist, an Award-Winning Wellness Company

TORONTO, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX.V - XLY) ("Auxly" or the Company), a leading consumer packaged goods company in the derivative cannabis products market, is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary Dosecann LD Inc. (Dosecann) has entered into an agreement with GSW Creative Corporation Canada Inc., doing business as dosist (dosist), to manufacture their proprietary wellness vape devices at Dosecanns facility in Prince Edward Island. Dosecann will utilize its production capabilities, capacity, and world-class expertise in cannabis derivative products to manufacture dosists innovative dose control solutions. dosist will also utilize Auxlys well-established national distribution channels to bring its proprietary new innovations to Canadians nation-wide, including their newly engineered dose pen 100, their new range of high potency formulas for THC-forward experiences called thc-plus, and their new rechargeable dose pen system. We are thrilled to expand the Dosecann business to include the manufacture and distribution of dosists proprietary wellness devices, said Hugo Alves, CEO of Auxly. Our arrangement with dosist allows us to leverage our sales and distribution reach and maximize the use of Dosecanns manufacturing capacity and expertise in making the highest quality products for consumers. Also, as a premium wellness-focused brand with an international track record of success in California and here in Canada, dosist is a perfect fit within Auxlys existing portfolio of branded cannabis products. We look forward to building our relationship with dosist and continuing to deliver a compelling portfolio of cannabis products that delight consumers. The Company remains committed to the development and success of its diverse, in-house platform of branded products and realizing its vision of becoming a global leader in branded cannabis products that deliver on the consumer promise of quality, safety and efficacy. Auxly believes that the manufacture of dosists technology is a great complement to its existing suite of products. The arrangement allows the Company to maximize production capacity at Dosecann and generate additional cash flow to support the business as it moves towards profitability. At dosist, our vision continues to be anchored in providing targeted formulas and precise dosage to Canadians through our proprietary technology with the objective of providing a safe, effective and dose controlled experience, said Lenny Louis, Chief Commercial Officer for dosist. We are excited and confident that this new partnership with Dosecann will help ensure we deliver on this vision and improve our ability to provide greater access to dosist for the Canadian wellness consumer. Pursuant to the agreement, dosist will provide Dosecann with an exclusive license to the intellectual property required for Dosecann to manufacture, distribute and sell Dosists branded cannabis products, and the Company in turn will receive certain fees for such manufacture and distribution. The Company has the right of first offer to manufacture any other branded cannabis product introduced by dosist in the future, at the Companys election. The agreement is for a three-year term, subject to renewal for an additional two years. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Hugo Alves" CEO About Dosist

Dosist , based in Los Angeles, California, launched in 201 and has since been recognized as a disruptor in the health and wellness industry, named by Fast Company as one of 2018's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the health sector, and most recently recognized by LinkedIn as the number two Top Startups 2019: Hottest U.S. Companies To Work For Now. Through its six targeted formulations of the active ingredients in cannabis - bliss, rest, calm, soothe, passion and arouse - dosist provides natural alternatives for some of our most common ailments. Their proprietary medical-grade dose pen dose dial and newly launched dose pen rechargeable system (dial and dose pen rechargeable available in California only) deliver a precise dose each and every time ensuring a customer has a consistent and repeatable experience. For more information about dosist and their products visit their website at dosist.ca and follow @dosistCanada on Facebook and Instagram.



About Dosecann LD Inc.

Dosecann , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Auxly, is a Canadian developer and manufacturer of innovative cannabis products for the wellness-focused consumer. Dosecann is committed to providing Canadians with quality products designed for everyday use, backed by science and advanced research. Dosecanns 52,000 square foot, GMP-compliant facility located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, houses extraction, research and development, product formulation, analytical testing and commercial manufacturing for Auxlys branded cannabis products. Built on the pillars of quality, safety and efficacy, Dosecann is cannabis  down to a science. About Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX.V: XLY) (OTCQX: CBWTF)

Auxly is an international cannabis company dedicated to bringing innovative, effective, and high-quality cannabis products to the medical, wellness and adult-use markets. Auxly's experienced team of industry first-movers and enterprising visionaries has secured a diversified supply of raw cannabis, strong clinical, scientific and operating capabilities and leading research and development infrastructure in order to create trusted products and brands in an expanding global market.

Learn more at www.auxly.com and stay up to date at Twitter: @AuxlyGroup; Instagram: @auxlygroup; Facebook: @auxlygroup; LinkedIn: company/auxlygroup/. Investor Relations:

For investor enquiries please contact our Investor Relations Team:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1.833.695.2414 Media Enquiries (only): For media enquiries or to set up an interview please contact:

Email: [email protected] Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information: This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. This information is only a prediction. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking information throughout this news release. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to: Auxly's execution of its product development and commercialization strategy, the anticipated benefits of the partnership with dosist, consumer preferences, political change, future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis and cannabis products; and competition and other risks affecting Auxly and Dosecann in particular and the cannabis industry generally. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection contained in the forward-looking information in this release including, but not limited to whether: Dosecann is able to maintain its current licences and obtain and maintain all other necessary governmental and regulatory authorizations and permits to conduct business, the acceptance and demand for Dosecann and dosist products by consumers, and general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which Auxly and Dosecann operate will remain the same. Additional risk factors are disclosed in the annual information form of Auxly for the financial year ended December 31, 2019 dated May 13, 2020. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of those factors or to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on Auxlys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this release is based on information currently available and what management believes are reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking information speaks only to such assumptions as of the date of this release. In addition, this release may contain forward-looking information attributed to third party industry sources, the accuracy of which has not been verified by Auxly. The purpose of forward-looking information is to provide the reader with a description of management's expectations, and such forward-looking information may not be appropriate for any other purpose. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained in this release. The forward-looking information contained in this release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements and is made as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Auxly does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise. 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.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Chennai, June 24 : Eight sitting Lok Sabha members and two Rajya Sabha members will be presented the Sansad Ratna Awards 2020 under various categories, based on their performance during the first year of the 17th Lok Sabha, said Prime Point Foundation on Wednesday.

Apart from individual parliamentarians, the departmentally related Standing Committee on Agriculture headed by P.C. Gaddigoudar (BJP MP from Bagalkot, Karnataka) has been chosen for the Sansad Ratna Awards 2020 for their performance in the 17th Lok Sabha.

The Prime Point Foundation has been awarding top performing Members of Parliament (MP) in the Lok Sabha with the Sansad Ratna award since 2010 following the suggestion of former President late A. P. J.Abdul Kalam.

The first edition of the award was launched by Kalam in May 2010, the Prime Point Foundation said in a statement issued here.

According to the statement, Supriya Sule (NCP MP from Baramati, Maharashtra) gets the Sansad Ratna Award 2020 for her overall performance in initiating debates, the number of questions asked and the Private Members Bills in the first year of the 17th Lok Sabha.

Subhash Ramrao Bhamre (BJP MP from Dhule, Maharashtra), Heena Gavit (BJP, Nandurbar, Maharashtra) and Amol Ramsing Kolhe, (NCP, Shirur, Maharashtra) will be receiving the Sansad Ratna Award 2020 for Questions, Women and First-time MPs categories respectively.

Shashi Tharoor (Congress, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala), Nishikant Dubey (BJP, Godda, Jharkhand), Ajay Misra (BJP, Kheri, Uttar Pradesh) and Ram Mohan Naidu (TDP, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh) have been nominated for the 'Jury Committee Special Award' for their overall qualitative performance and individual efforts, the statement said.

The Members of the Rajya Sabha who have been nominated for the award based on their overall performance during the first year, coinciding with the Lok Sabha are Vishambhar Prasad Nishad (Samajwadi Party, Uttar Pradesh) and Chhaya Verma (Congress, Chhattisgarh).

This category of honouring the sitting MPs of the Rajya Sabha has been introduced this year.

According to the Prime Point Foundation, Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD, Cuttack, Odisha), Supriya Sule (NCP, Baramati, Maharashtra) and Shrirang Appa Barne (Shiv Sena, Maval, Maharashtra) will be receiving the coveted 'Sansad Maha Ratna Award' for their sustained qualitative performance in the 16th Lok Sabha. This Award is presented once in five years.

The awardees were selected by a three member Jury Committee chaired by Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

The other two members are parliamentarians N. K. Premachandran and Shrirang Appa Barne.

All the three Jury Members have been outstanding Parliamentarians and recipients of the Sansad Ratna Awards in the previous Lok Sabha.

According to Meghwal, recognition and performance review of parliamentarians by the civil society helps strengthen democracy.

He also said the people after electing the parliamentarians and legislators have a moral responsibility to monitor their performance.

According to K. Srinivasan, Chairman of the Prime Point Foundation and Sansad Ratna Awards Committee, the date of the awards presentation event will be announced later once normalcy comes back after Covid-19 pandemic.
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - Residents of the Pakistani city of Lahore have erected statues to commemorate a medieval Turkish leader, a sign of the growing popularity, and cultural impact, of a television series imported from Turkey depicting the origins of the Ottoman Empire.

The series, Ertugrul Gazi, which ran in Turkey until 2019, is loosely based on the story of a 13th century nomadic Turkic tribal leader who confronted Mongols, Crusaders and Byzantine rulers in what are now Syria and Turkey.

Two statues of Ertugrul have been put up in a residential area of the city. Muhammad Shahzad Cheema, the head of a private housing society, commissioned a likeness of Ertugrul, sword in hand on a rearing horse.

"The statue is a reminder of our love for the Ottoman Sultanate, and the jihad which Ertugrul waged which brought us (Muslims) respect in the whole world," Cheema said.

Pakistani broadcaster PTV began airing Urdu-dubbed episodes of the show during Ramadan a few weeks ago, and it has since become the most watched programme ever aired by the outlet.

No television show has been able to stir Pakistan the way Ertugrul Gazi has, PTV Managing Director Aamer Manzoor told Reuters. "People feel that it is the Turkish play of Game of Thrones."

More than 58 million people viewed the first episode on PTV's YouTube channel in two months, and the entire show has had more than 250 million views, Manzoor said.

Turkish state television waived royalties for the show.

Cheema told Reuters people were coming from far and wide to take selfies with his statue, installed in a square locals plan to rename after Ertugrul.

The show also got a ringing endorsement from Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said it would help combat "vulgarity" from Hollywood and Bollywood and promote family culture.

(Writing by Umar Farooq; Editing by Gibran Peshimam and Giles Elgood)
GREENSBORO, N.C., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT) announced today that its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 will be released on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 after the market close. The Company will host its conference call for analysts, investors and other interested parties on Thursday, August 6, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

To access the conference call, listeners should dial 1-888-317-6016 and request to join the Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. SKT Call.

A live audio webcast of this call will be available to the public on Tanger's Investor Relations website investors.tangeroutlets.com hosted by S&P Global Market Intelligence. S&P Global Market Intelligence subscribers may also access the webcast via the database at https://marketintelligence.spglobal.com.

A telephone replay of the call will be available from August 6, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time through 11:59 p.m. on August 20, 2020 by dialing 1-877-344-7529, replay access code #10145527. An online archive of the webcast will also be available through August 20, 2020.

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.

Investor Contact Information

Cyndi Holt Jim Williams VP, Investor Relations EVP & CFO 336-834-6892 336-834-6800 [email protected] [email protected]



Media Contact Information

Quentin Pell

VP, Corporate Communications and Enterprise Risk Management 336-834-6827

[email protected]



SOURCE Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.tangeroutlets.com


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  The Department of Justice said they were ready to step in should Vice President Leni Robredo request their help in investigating allegations of spoiled food donations from her office.

"VP Robredos camp has not requested the DOJ or NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to investigate this complaint. but well be ready to help should the VP wish to pursue the matter," Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday.

Guevarra added it was not necessary for Robredo to seek the help of the NBI regarding the issue, saying they asked the agency to create a system to monitor fake news.

"Today we are asking the NBI to establish a system of monitoring the spread of false information in social media, establishing the source, determining if there's a pattern, habit, or scheme, and taking the appropriate steps to preserve evidence of wrongful behavior for possible prosecution in the future." said Guevarra.

Robredo has not issued a statement on Guevarra's comments.

On Tuesday, the Vice President hit back against 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.

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.

The Vice President stressed, "We will no longer tolerate any of these."

The Diliman Doctors Hospital issued a statement dismissing the allegations.

The hospital also disproved rumors that the Vice President herself showed up, and that the hospitals president refused to meet her.
A young man is facing trial accused of setting fire to the door of a house, a court heard.

Adam Doyle (21) had the case against him adjourned for the service of a book of evidence.

Mr Doyle, with an address at Oliver Bond House in south inner city Dublin, is charged with arson at a property on Constitution Hill, Dublin 7, in December 2017. It is alleged he damaged the front door.

When the case came before Dublin District Court, defence solicitor Danica Kinane said she had been told by the chief prosecuting solicitor's office that the book of evidence would be ready and the accused was in court to have it served on him.

However, state solicitor Alva O'Herlihy said there had been a "breakdown in communication" and the defence had been mistakenly informed the book was ready.

Apologetic

She was apologetic that the accused had come to court.

Ms Kinane asked Judge Bryan Smyth to strike the case out, saying the charge dated back to 2017.

The accused had just turned 18 at the time of the alleged offence and the case had been "dragging on", she said.

The court had to be satisfied there was a reason for the book not being ready, Ms Kinane said.

Ms O'Herlihy asked the judge not to strike the case out.

The judge said it seemed to have been a "genuine mistake" and granted the adjournment, extending the time required for the service of the book.

However, he made it peremptory against the State, meaning the case could be struck out if the book is not ready on the next date.

Ms Kinane said statements had been sought in April. Ms O'Herlihy said that, due to the Covid-19 crisis, gardai were off desk duties and there were "extenuating circumstances".
Paris, June 24 : European IT consulting company Atos on Wednesday announced to acquire Paladion, a US-based global provider of managed security services, for an undisclosed sum to enhance its global cybersecurity services.

Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Paladion was founded in 2000 and has since grown to more than 800 employees and cybersecurity experts worldwide with more than $29m turnover in 2019.

Led by CEO Rajat Mohanty, the company combines its cyber security specialists with proprietary Managed Detection & Response (MDR) platform and Atos global Security Operations Centers (SOCs) to deliver faster security outcomes.

The Paladion security delivery centres in the US, Middle East and India will join the wide network of Atos SOCs and benefit from Atos' unique go-to-market strategies.

"Their cloud-native technology will be an asset for our expansion strategies in cybersecurity and cloud solutions, providing our customers with accelerated business transformation." says Pierre Barnabe, Senior Executive Vice-President, Head of Big Data & Cybersecurity at Atos.

The acquisition, expected to close in Q4 this year, will bring MDR capabilities to the Atos portfolio.

"We believe this is an industry-defining deal, combining the scale and resources of Atos in managed security services with Paladion's cloud-delivered managed detection and response technology," said Mohanty.

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 110,000 employees in 73 countries and annual revenue of 12 billion euros.
Philippines officials finally aid Gem-Ver fishermen against Chinese ship owner

by Sofia Tomacruz

June 24,2020 | Source: Rappler

The owners and fishermen of fishing boat Gem-Ver had tried every outlet they could access to request that the Philippine government help them file a case against the Chinese who sank and abandoned them in the West Philippine Sea in June 2019. It took over a year until officials from the Duterte administration finally moved to help them.



Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr on Monday, June 22, vowed to raise with the Chinese government the Chinese ship owners earlier offer to compensate the 22 Filipino fishermen and owners of Gem-Ver, which was rammed and left in pieces near Recto Bank (Reed Bank) on June 9, 2019.



China has responded, they said it is the fault of the Chinese vessel and the question is the damages and now that you mentioned it, okay, Ill bring it up again, Locsin said, referring to the Chinese government, in an interview with ABS-CBN News Headstart on Monday.



What happened to Gem-Ver? Rappler first reported on June 9 that the owners and crew of Gem-Ver had yet to receive any payment for their losses despite the governments earlier commitment to help them claim these from the Chinese.



The owner of the Chinese ship first offered to pay the fishermen in a public apology issued on August 28, 2019. The apology was made on the same day President Rodrigo Duterte was set to leave for China for an official visit, where he was scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.



After spending about P2.1 million on repairs, the Dela Torre family  who are Gem-Ver's owners  had hoped any damages they could claim would stop their financial bleeding. The Dela Torres have since had to repair Gem-Ver a second time after Typhoon Ursula toppled the ship and damaged it last December 25.



In a statement sent to Rappler on Monday night, former foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario said it behooves us (the Philippines) to find ways to hold Chinas leadership accountable.



What needs to be done: Sources earlier told Rappler the Chinese ships owner, through the Chinese government, recently raised the matter with the Philippines, though any action has yet to take place. Locsin confirmed this on Monday, tweeting that China offered to help several times.



The Chinese want to help but they need for us to respond to them. We've ignored them since the story ceased to be interesting to us. Well the fault is with us, he said in another tweet.



Locsin added the Chinese embassy likewise "pleaded with him to take it up finally."



The sinking of Gem-Ver in Recto Bank (Reed Bank) has been one of the biggest crises to hit President Rodrigo Dutertes presidency. The event put a spotlight on his policy on the West Philippine Sea and tested his vaunted strong ties with Beijing.



Its also been one of the most heated issues in the maritime area since the Scarborough Shoal standoff in April 2012 that prompted the Philippines to file  and win  its historic case against China.

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway flip-flopped on her previous position that the use of the racist term Kung Flu is highly offensive, defending President Donald Trumps use of it on Wednesday while bizarrely attacking an Asian-American reporter for not having the courage to out a White House official who said the phrase months ago.

During a White House driveway gaggle with reporters on Wednesday morning, Conway was immediately confronted by NBC News reporter Monica Alba over the presidents recent habit of tossing out the phrase and Conways March denouncement of the term, which the Trump adviser called wrong while noting she is married to an Asian.

Conway, meanwhile, turned the question back around on the press corps, seemingly placing the blame on CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang, who reported in March that a White House official referred to the novel coronavirus as the Kung Flu to her face.

I also asked Weijia to reveal to us who said it, I think that would have gone a long way, Conway said to Alba before saying the reporter should confront Jiang.

Alba, however, pressed forward and asked Conway if she would react to Trumps repeated use of the loaded term, prompting the presidential aide to claim that Trump was merely making it very clear that the virus originated in China. Conway then pressed Jiang to reveal her source.

I still invite you up here to tell us who said that, Conway taunted the reporter. And I think that that would be a very important revelation for us. Thats not a source for you to protect. Thats somebody who shouldnt have said that, and youre claiming did say that, and we still dont know who that was.

While Conway accused her of changing the subject, Jiang noted that at the time Conway said the phrase was hurtful, asking the Trump official if she was going to tell that to the president now.

I speak to the president daily on many different topics, Conway replied, causing Jiang to ask again if shed tell Trump his use of Kung Flu is offensive.

Story continues

We dont always agree on everything, and thats why I work here, the veteran pollster shot back before pivoting to another subject.

Moments later, however, Conway circled back to the topic, defending the president by saying its incredibly important for Trump to not let China escape responsibility here. Jiang wondered aloud if Conway could explain the logic on how Kung Flu accomplishes that as it doesnt refer to a particular place.

How do you know, excuse me, how do you know the way people, how do you know that people arent anticipating that or are not connecting that? Conway exclaimed, her voice rising. You dont know that! Excuse me, while the president is saying it, hes also saying this virus came from China. China is responsible!

Interestingly, Conway refused to actually use the phrase, instead saying that Trump has said its called many different things, such as the Wuhan virus, the Chinese virus, and then he used another term.

As Jiang continued to press her on Trumps embrace of the racist term, Conway eventually placed the blame squarely on the CBS reporters shoulders.

You should have come forward a hundred days ago when you had the chance. You lost your opportunity, you lacked the courage to tell everybody who said that to you, Conway fumed. You like to stoke this instead of solving it. Im here to solve things not stoke them. You did the opposite on this issue.

Conway flailing on this issue comes on the heels of White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany struggling to fend off questions about the president using the racist term. Earlier this week, McEnany insisted the president was just trying to point out where the virus came from while blaming the media for trying to play games with the terminology.

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N HS staff who take a foreign break this summer have been told they will have to take unpaid leave or use more holiday allowance to cover the 14-day quarantine on their return to the UK.

The decision has angered exhausted frontline staff who put their lives on the line during the coronavirus pandemic and are desperate for a break.

One London hospital doctor told the Standard it left a bad taste in the mouth, especially as the rules  adopted by a number of NHS trusts  have apparently been imposed without consultation.

The doctor said it would harm morale and could rebound on NHS managers in the event of a second wave, when medical staff could be less prepared to put their lives on hold to respond to any new influx.

Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust told staff it had updated its rules on foreign holidays in line with the London-wide guidance.

Clive Kay, the trusts chief executive, said: People should only be undertaking essential travel (eg for a bereavement). Where this is the case, this must be pre-approved, then you will receive pay during the 14-day quarantine period. You should also be available to undertake work from home.

However, if you have travelled abroad for a holiday, or have done so without prior approval, you will be expected to take unpaid or annual leave, to cover the 14-day quarantine period.

Brits brace for lockdown heatwave as many hit the beach

The doctor said that, at the peak of the pandemic, Kings had demanded maximum flexibility from its staff. But when the pandemic eased there had been zero tolerance of holiday requests and not a penny paid as a bonus to reward hard work.

The doctor said: Job plans were unilaterally suspended. All leave was cancelled.

Seven-day working was instituted without discussion. 24/7 rotas imposed. Staff were redeployed from ward to ward without notice.

This was understandable for March and April but they retained their total control through May, when it was quiet, and June, when it is long-since disappeared.

It came as a British Medical Association survey said a third of doctors were feeling more stressed at present, and as health leaders warned that a second wave was a real risk.

A Kings College hospital spokeswoman said: The Government has advised against all but essential international travel and the trust is complying with this guidance.

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Therefore, any colleagues who decide to take a holiday overseas will have to use annual or unpaid leave to cover the two-week quarantine period on their return.

We recognise that our staff have been working incredibly hard in response to Covid-19 and we are encouraging them to take regular breaks from work to ensure they are well rested.

Our current policy  which has been adopted by a number of NHS Trusts  will be reviewed and updated when the Governments travel advice changes.
Despite a few bars violating social distancing rules and hosting rowdy crowds, towns across the state enjoyed a relatively quiet weekend with few incidents, according to officials from more than a dozen municipalities.

In Belmar, the mayor said he read DJais Bar and Grill the riot act, after seeing viral videos of packed tents filled with patrons dancing and drinking mask-free. (Management has promised stricter social distancing guidelines). Similarly, Morristown revoked the outdoor dining license of Tashmoo Bar & Restaurant due to overcrowding.

Gov. Phil Murphy Monday threatened to tighten up on bars and restaurants after viewing viral videos of the two establishments. He warned that the state would not look the other way on this. But, business owners across the state say the vast majority of establishments have been following the rules.
A British aid worker who lives and works in northern Syria was abducted by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham on Monday, his organization said.

The charity organization Live Updates From Syria wrote on its Instagram page that Tauqir Sharif was kidnapped tonight around 9:30 p.m. by HTS and taken to an unknown location.

Additionally, his wife and family are on house arrest and not allowed to leave  with militants standing outside of their home, the group wrote.

Sharif was reportedly seized in Atmeh, a town near the Turkish border in northern Idlib province.

The war-torn enclave is the last major stretch of Syria still in the hands of the opposition after nine years of war. The United Nations has estimated that more than a million people have been displaced in the past year due to the regimes assault on Idlib.

The region is home to a number of opposition groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which is considered a terrorist organization by Russia, Turkey and the United States. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged Washington to designate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham an entity of particular concern."

Originally from east London, Sharif and his wife moved to Syria seven years ago. In 2017, the British government revoked his citizenship, claiming he had ties to an al-Qaeda affiliated group in the region.

Sharif denied the UK Home Office's allegations, which he described as racist. His lawyers have launched an appeal.

In a statement, the London-based advocacy organization CAGE called on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to confirm Sharif is being treated humanely.

Despite his immense sacrifices, Tox has endured assaults by the [Assad] regime, survived bombing attempts by ISIS [Islamic State] and had his nationality revoked by the British government without any evidence presented against him, said CAGE's Moazzam Begg, using Sharif's nickname. I hope they understand how much Tox has endured in his efforts to help the people of Syria."

His organization, Live Updates From Syria, describes itself on Facebook as a team of front-line Humanitarian aid workers working inside war-torn Syria that delivers aid and raises awareness of the crisis. The group said that since Sharifs capture, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has taken over his projects, including a school and refugee housing.

His British wife, Racquell Hayden Best, described Sharif on Facebook as a man who has given up everything to come here and help those who are oppressed. Best said she had requested a formal statement from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham explaining why Sharif was taken, but has received no response.
Mr Joseph Gerald Tetteh Nyanyofio, has debunked reports that there is bad blood between him and the incumbent member of parliament for La Dadekotopon constituency Mr Vincent Sowah Odotei aka Obama.

Mr Nyanyofio, the newly elected NPP's parliamentary candidate for the constituency, beat Mr Odotei in the parliamentary primaries held over the weekend, thus, denying him the opportunity to return to Parliament.

Mr Odotei, who is also a board member of Accra Hearts of Oak, got 376 votes as against Mr Nyanyofio's 543 votes.

The defeat of the incumbent has reportedly sparked tensions between the two of them.

But reacting to this in an interview on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) hosted by Benjamin Akakpo on Wednesday, 24 June 2020, Mr Nyanyofio said he has no problem with the sitting MP.

Me having a problem with Odotei is a shade of someones imagination. It cannot be true, he stated.

Im connected in a very deep way with the MP. My uncle married his aunty, so, his cousins are my cousins as well and he has been a senior brother to me all this while and we have maintained that mutual respect. Even, immediately after the elections, we had a hearty conversation where he pledged his support for me, Mr Nyanyofio said.

He, however, noted that the conflict and tension that characterised the election will be difficult to heal at some point but we are trying to build bridges among our various camps and Im sure in the next week or so or the coming days, we will be able to see a stronger, more united party in the constituency.

Mr Nyanyofio will be facing stiff competition from the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the constituency Rita Odoley Sowah in the December polls.

---with files from classfmonline
A plumber has confessed to the serial r*pe and murder of multiple women in a chilling video.

Andrey Yezhov, a 53-year-old Russian, was arrested after an 88-year-old woman was found dead in her home in the city of Kashira, 67 miles south of Russias capital Moscow.

Her body showed signs of having been s*xually assaulted, according to reports.

In a harrowing interview with police, Yezhov explains how he broke into the pensioners home before strangling her.



He then admitted stealing her TV, before throwing her passport into a grassy area and returning home.

In the footage, he goes on to tell officers: I confess to the multiple murder and r*pe of women during the last 10 years.

According to local media, Yezhov was arrested after investigators checked CCTV footage.

He is now a suspect in two other murders and the r*pe of a 10-year-old girl after his DNA was linked to other crimes in the area.

The child, who survived the attack, was r*ped in her home in the early hours at around 2am one morning in January.

Reports say the victim attends the childrens centre where the suspects wife works as a psychologist, and investigators are working to see if she was linked to the crime.

Yezhov is also suspected of having r*ped and murdered a woman in her home in 2013.

The plumber is accused of r*ping another woman in a forest in 2015 before strangling her to death as well.

He is currently being held in a pre-trial detention centre.

Investigations are continuing.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
"Places like Cardinia, Hume or Brimbank are huge areas and the risk probably isn't the same in all the suburbs, so it would be helpful for residents to have clear information," Professor Allen Cheng, an epidemiologist and infectious disease doctor with Alfred Health, said. On Wednesday morning, Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos pledged to provide a suburb-by-suburb breakdown by the end of the day of infection rates in the six local government areas, but by the evening this was yet to be released. Health Minister Jenny Mikakos. Credit:Getty Images A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman defended the delay and said data on infection rates was collected according to municipalities, rather than suburbs, and the state's coronavirus detectives were still breaking down the information. "It is a complex and lengthy process," he said.

State Opposition Leader Michael OBrien said the government must be more precise about which residents were most at risk, as there was confusion in the broader community about exactly where the hotspots were. "I'm calling on [Premier] Daniel Andrews to stop using local government areas as the test on whether an area is a COVID hotspot. Please use towns, or postcodes or suburbs." Loading Experts have also warned of a dangerous level of complacency that has led to some of those infected flouting social-distancing and quarantining measures and passing the virus on to an increasing number of people. Ms Mikakos indicated the reproduction rate, a number aimed at calculating the rate of virus transmission based on modelling, had more than doubled from below one to 2.5 in the past week.

This means those infected with the virus are now each passing it on to an average of 2.5 people. The government has previously said the rate should always be below one. "Once people carrying the virus stop taking precautions then it goes back towards the maximum transmission rate," University of Melbourne epidemiologist Professor John Mathews said. "The only way drive that number down is with social distancing and lockdown procedures." Professor Cheng stressed that new cases emerging in hotspots were to be expected, but a rise in community infections across the state, where the source could not be traced, was troubling. "Those high-risk areas are already under strict surveillance," he said. "It's the cases which we can't trace the origins of which are most concerning." The source of eight cases reported in the past day remains under investigation. There have been 241 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Victoria that have been acquired through unknown transmission to date.

Burnet Institute epidemiologist Professor Michael Toole, who backed a suburb breakdown, said public health advice to marginalised communities in at-risk suburbs must be ramped up. Loading Community leaders and church leaders were paramount in reaching their communities, Professor Toole said. "Some people in those communities needed person-to-person communication because there can be some suspicion about what governments are saying," he said. Professor Cheng said general practitioners working in suburbs deemed infection hotspots had a critical role in breaking down language barriers and providing their patients with updated advice.

Among the new cases are another three linked to a family cluster in Keilor Downs in Melbourne's north-west, bringing that total 15. A separate cluster of cases involving a family in Hallam in the south-eastern suburbs is connected with an outbreak among contractors at the Stamford Plaza quarantine hotel in the Melbourne CBD. Loading Three staff members from Hampstead Dental in Maidstone in Melbourne's west have also tested positive for coronavirus. Another of the new cases involves a close social contact connected with a case at St Monica's College Epping in Melbourne's north, bringing that outbreak to two. Professor Sutton said authorities wanted to keep the reproduction number below one.
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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 16:37:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Passenger trips on trains are expected to reach 26 million in China during the Dragon Boat Festival travel rush this week, the latest data showed.

The China State Railway Group Co. Ltd. said the country will see an estimated 6.7 million passenger trips on Wednesday, the first day of the travel rush.

The holiday travel rush will last until Saturday and the company expects the number of daily trips to hit a high of 7 million on Thursday.

Railway departments will put more trains into operation to handle a spike in trips for tourism and family visits and enhance anti-epidemic measures to ensure passenger safety, said the company.

China has lately seen an increasing demand for rail travel as businesses resumed work and schools reopened.

A total of 157 million railway passenger trips were made in May, up 37.6 percent from the previous month, according to the company. Enditem
A 32-year-old man was arrested today and charged with four counts of raping his own partner on various occasions between 2012 and 2018.

Detective Garda Caitriona Molloy formally arrested and charged the defendant and brought him before Cork District Court on the four counts. They referred to alleged rapes in 2012, two in 2017 and one in 2018.

The accused made no reply to the charges when cautioned that he did not have to say anything but that whatever he might say could be given in evidence.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis said a book of evidence was ready to be served on the accused man on those four counts and on nine other related charges brought against him last month.

The first five charges of those charges relate to a Cork city address on February 13 2019. They consist of counts of rape, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, production of a glass bottle in the course of the alleged assault and threatening the woman that he would kill or cause serious harm.

He is further charged with raping the same complainant on February 9, 2019 and prior to that on September 21/22, 2014.

Finally he is charged with two other counts related to the same complainant again on dates between December 5 and 8, 2019 where it is alleged that he assaulted her causing harm and that there was an aggravated sexual assault on the same woman.

On the application of Sgt. Davis, Judge Olann Kelleher sent the case forward to the Central Criminal Court. It will then be a matter for that court to set a date for a trial late this year or sometime next year.

Garda Molloy said there was no objection to the accused being remanded on bail on all 13 charges.

Solicitor, Frank Buttimer said one of the conditions was unusual in that it stated that the accused would not discuss the case with the complainant. The solicitor said that condition arose against a background where there was ongoing contact between the parties in relation to domestic matters.

Other conditions require the accused to sign every Wednesday at his local garda station and to surrender his passport.

Judge Kelleher acceded to an application to extend free legal aid for a junior and senior counsel to represent the accused at the Central Criminal Court.
Innovative Air-to-Water technology to supply up to 5,000 liters of drinking water per day to Jamaicas NCU



Peterborough, CA, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. (RAKR) announced the signing of a Water-as-a-Service (WaaS) agreement with Jamaicas Northern Caribbean University (NCU). Rainmaker will supply up to 5,000 liters of water per day for 3 years through their established Air-to-Water technology. Harvesting fresh water from airborne humidity with zero chemicals, Rainmakers Air-to-Water innovation offers NCU a cost-effective and sustainable solution to one of the institutions most perplexing issues  drought and water scarcity. Rainmakers decentralized and hybrid grid / solar-powered AW-GS25 unit will be installed at the cafeteria on main campus in Mandeville, located 100 kilometers west of Kingston.

NCU is an esteemed academic community of 5,000 students, faculty and staff with its main Mandeville campus nestled in Jamaicas mountainous parish of Manchester. The university is faced with the challenge of acquiring a reliable clean water supply, which has been attempted through rainwater collection and other conservation methods to-date.

NCU President Dr. Lincoln Edwards commented, Due to lengthy seasonal droughts with unpredictable rainfall, we began searching for alternative solutions to supply our campus with consistent, high-quality drinking water. With NCUs elevation more than 600 meters above sea level, we cannot easily access seawater to desalinate. Rainmakers Air-to-Water technology and Water-as-a-Service platform is the ideal approach to provide clean water with zero carbon footprint.

Rainmakers patented AW technology is the ideal solution where no water exists. With absolutely no feedwater, expensive piping or truck transport required, AWs compact and scalable units are distributed directly to consumption site. At a cost competitive over other existing technologies, AW units can be powered by solar, wind, or grid electricity, or a combination, and produce up to 20,000 liters of water per unit, per day.

Story continues

Rainmaker CEO Michael Skinner stated, This WaaS agreement with NCU is an exciting milestone after a decade of R&D and product testing. Our Air-to-Water technology is ready to disrupt the water industrys traditional methods and bring invaluable benefits to our customers. NCU will now have access to a reliable, affordable and sustainable water source of the highest standard.

Rainmaker also specializes in decentralized Water-to-Water technology, transforming seawater, brackish or polluted water into drinking water using Thermal Membrane Distillation, producing up to 150,000 liters per unit, per day.

About Rainmaker Worldwide

Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. (RAKR) is a leader in technology for the production of clean, affordable water. Headquartered in Peterborough, Canada, with an innovation and manufacturing center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the Companys patented water technology provides economical drinking water at scale wherever its needed. Rainmakers goal is to be a global leader in solving the worldwide water crisis. For more information about Rainmaker, visit www.rainmakerww.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this announcement contain statements, estimates and projections about the growth of Rainmakers business, potential distribution partnerships and/or clients, and related business strategy. Such statements, estimates and projections may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time-to-time. Rainmakers undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The recipient of this information is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Investor Contacts

Rainmaker Worldwide Inc.

Michael Skinner, CEO

+1 (705) 201-1020

info@rainmakerww.com
A Love Story: an enrapturing novel about Prince Nolan and his trustworthy attendant Gavin who disguise themselves as commoners to find true love and eventually uncover a plot of sedition against the king. A Love Story is the creation of published author Kenneth J. Spink, a pastor in Cleveland, Ohio, who enjoys preaching, teaching, sports, reading, and writing.

Spink shares, The famous philosopher/theologian Soren Kierkegaard told a story about a prince who won the love of a beautiful peasant maiden by donning the garb of peasantry and moving into her village to live among the peasants.

In similar fashion, Prince Nolan searches for his future queen but finds his heart drawn to a lowly peasant from a country village. He faces formidable challenges to win her love while trying to uncover a sinister plot to assassinate the king.

Join Prince Nolan and his senior attendant, Gavin, as they navigate the political arena of the fourteenth-century kings court, secretly enter into the peasant village, and charge into battle. You will love this action-packed drama with its mysteries, surprises, and deeper allegorical message.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Kenneth J. Spinks new book is a mesmerizing yarn of powerful and heart-tugging scenes that show the beauty of love and the essence of loyalty and courage.

This book gracefully depicts the heart of a love unwavering even in the face of adversity and bewilderment.

View the synopsis of A Love Story on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase A Love Story at traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about A Love Story, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Eiza Gonzalez is a rising star Latina in Hollywood. The Mexican actress has been working steadily since moving to LA to pursue her dreams. Gonzalez was already a star in Mexico having starred in soap operas, or telenovelas, like Lola, Erase Una Vez and Amores Verdaderos. Lately, shes making a splash after getting caught by paparazzi making out with Timothee Chalamet.

Eiza Gonzalez and Timothee Chalamet | Phillip Faraone/FilmMagic / Tim P. Whitby/Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Releasing UK

Eiza Gonzalez and Timothee Chalamet share a kiss

Gonzalez and Chalamet might be Hollywoods newest couple as they were both caught by photographers getting cozy together. The Daily Mail obtained photos of the couple as they shared a peck on the lips during a getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

What sparked the interest of people is that this comes about two months after the Call Me By Your Name actor ended his two-year relationship with Lily-Rose Depp. Gonzalez, who has starred in movies like Baby Driver and Hobbs & Shaw, has been previously linked to celebrities like Liam Hemsworth, Calvin Harris, and most recently Josh Duhamel.

The young actors seemed to be enjoying their time together with a group of friends. During one of the photos, Chalamet is seen serenading Gonzalez as she smiles.

View this post on Instagram therapy A post shared by Eiza (@eizagonzalez) on Jun 14, 2020 at 12:13pm PDT

Backlash over blackface

Shortly after the photos went viral on social media, another set of photos resurfaced from Gonzalezs past. The images were of the Bloodshot actress in blackface when she starred in the Televisa telenovela called Lola, Erase Una Vez.

Gonzalez starred in the Mexican soap opera when she was about 15 years old back in 2007.

Remember when Eiza Gonzalez did blackface? a Twitter user asked. I politely asked her to address it and own up to it but instead she deleted my comments and then proceeded to block me.

Remember when Eiza Gonzalez did blackface? I politely asked her to address it and own up to it but instead she deleted my comments and then proceeded to block me. @eizamusica #eizagonzalez pic.twitter.com/gV93oxJe8v  adria arjona stan (@arjonaadria) June 7, 2020

So Timothee Chalamet is apparently hanging out and kissing Eiza Gonzalez in Cabo [right now], another Twitter user noted. She has worn blackface and culturally appropriates without apologizing. Im sorry but that aint it.

The previous comment was in reference to another telenovela Gonzalez starred in that was filmed in Argentina for Nickelodeon called Suena Conmigo. In the photos, she is fully-dressed as a geisha.

Eiza Gonzalez allegedly apologized in the past

Theres an alleged screenshot of a private conversation Gonzalez had with a fan. In the direct message from Instagram, the 30-year-old actress apologizes and explains the blackface and yellowface incidents.

Hi, beauty. The first one I was forced into on a show when I was 15, Gonzalez allegedly wrote. I really didnt want to do it and I look back at it and I shouldve [stood] up for myself. I was uninformed of how inappropriate this was.

Gonzalez goes on to explain that growing up in Mexico City, she was not exposed to many cultures and wasnt aware of how deeply wrong it was.

As for her costume of a geisha, Gonzalez reportedly said that its a tradition in Gion, Tokyo.

If a geisha invites you to dress up, its an honor, she allegedly said. The intention is [an] actual appreciation to the culture. Never would I do it to want to disrespect anyone or culturally appropriate.

Eiza Gonzalez is not racist, stop talking about her for doing Blackface, she apologized years ago pic.twitter.com/zz56Htns05  Best of Eiza Gonzalez (@BestofEizaG) June 23, 2020

I noticed it wasnt taken with the positive intention that I did it, Gonzalez continued. And I apologize if it offends anyone. And sorry again for anything that I may [have] done in a younger age that could be taken incorrectly. Being ignorant of other cultures is a real thing. I fully own it and I work and try every day to be more informed about anything that could hurt anyone else.

Gonzalez has been one of the many Hollywood supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement. She was recently seen out on the streets demanding equality.
New Delhi, June 24 : Indian Army General Manoj Mukund Naravane visited Leh on Wednesday and inspected forward areas in Eastern Ladakh as he reviewed operational situation on the ground.

General Naravane commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm.

Amid 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 Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

On Tuesday, he interacted with injured soldiers at the base hospital. A total 76 soldiers were injured and 20 were killed after Chinese People's Liberation Army troops carried out an attack on Indian Army soldiers at the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh.

He talked to the soldiers and assured them of complete solidarity every step of the way.

General Naravane's visit comes amid heightened tension at the Eastern Ladakh region where over thousands of Indian Army men have been deployed a few meters away from Line of Actual Control facing threat from the PLA.

He also reviewed the force preparedness, as well as deployment across the LAC with China.

On Monday, the Indian Army Chief held a 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 Lieutenant General Y.K. Joshi, took part in the two days meet.

The Army commanders have come together to discuss the whole gamut of India's operational situation on both the Northern and Western fronts. The first phase was held from May 27 to May 29.

After the Army Commanders Conference ended on Tuesday, General Naravane headed for Leh to meet the injured soldiers.

The ground situation is volatile in Ladakh as Pangong Tso is set to be another flashpoint after Galwan Valley patrolling point 14 where the barbaric attack was carried on Indian troops by Chinese army. Ferocious build up at the Line of Actual Control has started backed by artillery and tanks in the depth areas.

At Pangong Tso, there was an attempt by the PLA to alter the Line of Actual Control unilaterally. The prolonged camping and a heavy presence of Chinese troops in Pangong Lake at a point which has been under Indian control has emerged to be 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.

Indian Army has also enhanced deployment at Hot Springs, Demchok, Koyul, Fukche, Depsang, Murgo, and Galwan.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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Kenneth Copeland praises Niger Simeon of Bible, pushes for Juneteenth to be holiday

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Texas-based televangelist Kenneth Copeland had high praise for Simeon, a black leader in the Church of Antioch in the Bible, as he called on President Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to come together and make Juneteenth a national holiday.

Being raised in Texas, Juneteeth has been a big thing ever since I could remember because it began in Galveston in 1865. The word finally got to Galveston that the first Republican president had signed the Emancipation Proclamation and freedom started at that time, Copeland noted in a Facebook Live broadcast as many black people celebrated the annual tradition across the country on Friday. I prayed and asked the Lord today to impress Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden to get together to make this a national holiday. Its long overdue. It should have been a national holiday.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Liberation Day, marks the anniversary of when the last group of slaves in the United States were told of their freedom. A Union force commanded by General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865, and informed the slave population that they were free.

Copeland explained that black people have long been influential figures in the Church, using the story of Simeon cited in Acts 13:1-3.

In the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to. Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off, the Scriptures note.

I knew as just a young boy, I dont know, I just sensed it somewhere or another that a great part of my future was closely tied to the black community. And then I began to see how closely tied God is to the black community, Copeland said.

Listen who the second man was. Hes either a prophet or a teacher, right behind Barnabas, Simeon, that was called Niger. He was identified. That is Greek for black. He was Simeon but he was identified as the black prophet, Copeland said.

The televangelist then explained the Church of Antioch became the Apostle Pauls home church for a year where he was taught by Simeon and others.

So one of his primary instructors, and you notice, its always very important that this man, this very important man was a black man. And hes an important man that helped train the man that wrote over half of the New Testament, Copeland noted.

He then went to Romans 13:7 to make the case for Juneteenth being made a federal holiday. The verse states: Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Juneteenth needs to be a national holiday, glory to God. Somebodys finally waked up to what Juneteenth is. Ive known it since I was 12 years old. Its big celebration in Texas. Its past time. It needs to be right there with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There needs to be streets named in honor of Juneteenth, Copeland said.
Whether youve been wanting TWS for calls or listening to music, you dont really get good wireless earphones offering both apart from a few exceptions.

While Sony has been making incredible audio products in the past few years, this is the first time were seeing something from the Japanese company that is a bit more budget-friendly. The Sony WF-XB700 launched in India today and it costs Rs 9,999. The XB in the name denotes extra bass which has also been advertised on its box.

While there are quite a few great TWS earphones out there that offer balanced audio performance, these offer more oomph for bass lovers. Whether you love to listen to Hip-Hop, Dubstep, Punjabi or even some Electronica, these earphones can fit the bill.

Heres what we think about the newly launched WF-XB700:

Design

When looking at the WF-XB700, you will notice a familiar oval charging case design you may have seen before. However, it is a bit larger for XB700s case and even the earbuds are fairly larger than its competition and thats partly because of the larger drivers for the lower frequencies.

With the earphones, you will get four additional silicone tips that you can change that fits best for your ear canal. We highly recommend testing all of them to figure out the best fit as it can directly affect your experience.

Internally, there are 12mm drivers that have a frequency range of 20Hz to 20Khz.

 MensXP/Akshay Bhalla

Each earbud also comes with a single button that can let you control music playback, evoke your digital assistant and even track navigation. You can use these buttons to manage calls and even reset the Bluetooth settings in case you want to set it up with other devices.

 MensXP/Akshay Bhalla

The Sony WF-XB700s charging case is made out of plastic but has a frosted texture making it a bit better to feel than other budget TWS earbuds. The charging case isnt particularly heavy and has a USB-C port at the back for charging. While the earbuds themselves have an IPX4 rating, the charging case is not water-resistant.

 MensXP/Akshay Bhalla

Sony WF-XB700 earbuds, when compared to other TWS earphones, are fairly bulkier and larger, making it awkward to wear at first. Having said that, despite being bulky; the earbuds are quite comfortable to use and dont really interfere with the overall experience. However, when wearing these earbuds in bed and trying to lay your face on one side of the pillow; the bulkier design can hurt your ears after a period of time.



Performance

The Sony WF-XB700 has support for both AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs by default and works using Bluetooth 5. It doesnt, however, have support for AptX which was a disappointment. The earphones dont connect with Sonys Headphones Connect app which offers more customisation for some of their other audio products.

Having said that, these earbuds are more affordable than their counterparts and no app support was kind of suspected. In terms of battery life, the earbuds can last up to a total of 18 hours with the charging case and the earbuds can last anywhere around 7.5 - 8 hours on a single charge.

Speaking in terms of audio quality, the Sony WF-XB700 in tuned for sub-bass content and delivers an amazing low-frequency response.

Indian audiences tend to love a bit harder bass sound and if youre looking for something similar, these TWS will not disappoint. While listening to Tokyo by Kilmeks, you can hear the sub-bass frequencies clearly and doesnt interfere with the overall mix of the track. Even though these earphones are meant for extra bass, it doesnt really overpower the mid and high frequencies.

 MensXP/Akshay Bhalla

However, when listening to Blueberry Faygo by Lil Mosey we did feel the bass was quite boosted and had to tune the equaliser on Spotify to offset the bass punch. Having said that, it would have been nice to see some support for Sonys Headphones Connect so that we could tune the earbuds manually.



If you like to listen to music that already features heavy bass; we would recommend turning the lower-frequencies down so that there is some breathing room for the mids, vocals and the highs. Sony tends to pump up other frequencies as well for their XTRA Bass audio products which can be curbed to an extent by adjusting the frequencies manually on your music players equaliser.

When using the Sony WF-XB700 to listen to podcasts, it works perfectly as you can hear every spoken word clearly without too much bass boosting happening in the background.

The Final Say

If you are a fan of certain types of music genres and not looking to get top-of-the-line TWS earbuds; the Sony Wf-XB700 is a great choice to consider.

It delivers respectable audio performance, has an IPX4 rating and can last longer than most TWS earbuds available today.
Shamima Begum and other UK jihadists jailed in the Middle East should be allowed back into Britain in order 'to break the cycle of extremism', a report says.

A paper backed by ex-FBI agent Ali Soufan is urging Western governments to 'reconsider their stance on repatriation and bring home their citizens'.

The Soufan Centre claims homegrown extremists pose a greater threat to national security than terrorists jailed in Syria and Iraq would if repatriated.

Its latest report argues leaving imprisoned ISIS fighters and children born into the caliphate ''stateless' almost guarantees that these individuals will have no other options but to consider themselves citizens of the Islamic State'.

Shamima Begum (pictured) and other UK jihadists jailed in the Middle East should be allowed back into Britain 'to break the cycle of extremism', a report has said

El Shafee Elsheikh (left) and Alexanda Kotey (right) are accused of belonging to a brutal four-man cell of IS executioners in Syria responsible for killing a number of Western captives

At least 20 UK former fighters are being held in Syria, Iraq and Turkey. Children and women, including ISIS bride Shamima Begum, are held in detention camps.

Prisoners being held in Kurdish camps include El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey, who are accused of belonging to a brutal four-man cell of executioners in Syria responsible for killing a number of Western captives.

Ali Soufan interviewed on The New Yorker

They have all stated that they want to return to live in the UK.

Soufan's intervention comes as Home Office statistics show that around 90 per cent of 43,000 extremists on MI5's watchlist are Islamist terror suspects.

It follows the arrest of 25-year-old Khairi Saadallah, from Libya, under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act following a suspected terror attack in Reading.

The report, 'Will Western Nations Repatriate Their Citizens In Syria and Iraq?', states: 'More often than not, those who do return to their countries of origin after leaving the caliphate look back upon the Islamic State with a combination of despair and disillusionment. To be clear, there is still a real and tangible threat posed by individuals who are susceptible to the siren call of jihadist propaganda.

'But this has always been the case.

'Interestingly... the threat posed by those who never left, and thus never experienced the horrors of the caliphate, could be more significant than from those who left home to fight with the Islamic State before returning home.'

A UK security source told The Mirror: 'Under the Johnson government it is very unlikely these people will be allowed to return but in the long run it cannot be discounted, given the ever-changing situation in the Middle East.'

Kotey and Elsheikh are said to have been members of the cell that also included Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John (left and right), who was killed in a US air strike in 2015
Shatira Wilks boarded up her Edible Arrangements store on June 3.

Aisha Jefferson

Shatira Wilks says her Edible Arrangements store in South Side Chicago's Jeffrey Manor neighborhood was "just destroyed" by looters.

Her computers, cash drawer, tools, and inventory of fruit and chocolate were all taken.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced the Together Now fund, aimed at helping small businesses recover. As a franchisee, though, Wilks is not eligible.

Like other neighborhood businesses, Wilks says she's not sure she'll reopen. "To go in and feel like you have to rebuild  it has to make sense," she told Insider.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

When Shatira Wilks laid eyes on her Edible Arrangements franchise she was filled with disbelief.

The shop, which she opened two years ago in South Side Chicago's Jeffrey Manor neighborhood, had been ransacked while protesters marched through the city over the last weekend in May.

"When I pulled up and saw it, I couldn't believe it. I didn't know if I was going to cry," Wilks told Insider. "I had all kinds of anger. And, then, I was also pissed."

Anger quickly turned to worry as Wilks, who had heard of confrontations between looters and local business owners, wondered whether anyone was still inside.

She cautiously entered the store through a busted-out window, careful not to cut herself on the shards above her head.

No one was inside, but the shop was wrecked.

Broken glass from the store's front windows litters the floor.

Shatira Wilks

Broken glass and pieces from cracked containers were strewn across the floor. A cooler once filled with elaborate fruit displays was emptied. Her computers, cash drawer, and tools  even her inventory of fruit and chocolate  were all gone.

"They just destroyed it  I mean it's crazy," Wilks told Insider.

She's not sure when it was hit, but neighboring business owners told her it might have been May 31 or the morning after.

Chicago police made over 1,200 arrests that weekend, WTTW reported, more than half of them relating to looting and destruction of property, according to Police Superintendent David Brown.

Story continues

Wilks' shop is in the 95th and Jeffrey Shopping Center, the same strip mall where a Dollar Tree was gutted by fire on June 1.

Just about every business on the strip had been looted or vandalized.

A few, like Wilks', are Black-owned.

Two days after the fire, she boarded up her store. "I don't know if this [looting] is going to happen again," Wilks said, 'because they got away with it so easily."

Chicago has a history of racial strife, including the police-involved shooting deaths of Laquan McDonald, Rekia Boyd, Quintonio LeGrier, and Bettie Jones.

Wilks grew up in Roseland on the Far South Side, where Barack Obama got his start as a community organizer. She believes the protests in the wake of George Floyd's killing are "necessary."

Shatira Wilks, sole proprietor of an Edible Arrangements on Chicago's South Side.

Shatira Wilks

"As an African American, I'm in complete agreement with it," she told Insider. "But I think they lost a lot of the rationalization and why it exists when you have people come in and tear up and destroy the businesses that have also been servicing us in the same communities."

Her issue, she says, is that now George Floyd's legacy is more tied up with looting and property damage than anything else.

"You're going to think about all of the stores that were destroyed before you think about the protests' purpose," Wilks said. "You're going to think about how so many businesses have closed and how so many people were devastated and hurt before you think about the protests."

While the East 95th Street corridor isn't a food or retail desert, businesses have been hesitant to move there because of the high crime rate.

After the volatile weekend, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot vehemently denied claims police were disproportionately deployed to protect wealthier downtown neighborhoods at the expense of the poorer South and West Sides.

The pandemic had already impacted many stores in the area. Some not classified as essential were closed for more than two months.

Wilks' Edible Arrangements franchise was actually deemed essential and remained open during the lockdown. She was able to receive customers from other locations that opted to close and actually saw a 10% boost in sales.

Other South Side shops will have a tougher time rebounding, if they do at all.

"A lot of people coming off of the pandemic just were not prepared" for another economic hit like the one caused by vandalism and looting, Wilks said.

Many businesses along major South Side thoroughfares remain boarded up.

"They were already contemplating closing," Wilks said. "Now there are a lot of owners who say they're not even going to reopen."

Lightfoot has vowed to help small businesses, including those in predominantly Black communities. On June 5, she launched the city-backed Together Now fund, with an initial $10 million investment.

Now up to $15 million, it's aimed at helping local businesses recover.

The city began taking applications on Saturday, and more than 2,500 businesses are expected to benefit, according to Samir Mayekar, deputy mayor of economic development.



To qualify, a business must have fewer than 100 employees at any one location.

Mayekar said his office is considering "the disproportionate impact of both COVID-19 and the damage of the weekend of May 29 and beyond on South and West Side businesses, and will be providing grants accordingly."

But as an operator of a chain franchise, Wilks isn't eligible.

Shatira Wilks and her staff.

Shatira Wilks

She wonders whether, given the economic inequality that's long existed in Chicago, the grants will truly be accessible to Black-owned businesses on the South and West Sides.

"I'm not dependent on it if they do," she said. "If they don't, I wasn't expecting it anyway."

Alderman Greg Mitchell represents the 7th Ward, where the Edible Arrangements is located.

He's still waiting to get details about how the Together Now fund will be distributed, but says he's been meeting with the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus to draft recommendations that will "steer the administration into a direction that helps our communities financially."

A lot of the destruction on the South Side, Mitchell said, had nothing to do with the protests and everything to do with opportunists looking to loot and vandalize.

"I heard the mayor say that it was calculated, it was planned," he said. "And that they got away with it and then other people just joined in."

Mitchell says he saw vehicles with out-of-state plates at looted sites in his district.

He believes store owners' hesitancy to return will dissipate over time, as long as officials show they're serious about preventing more vandalism and responding better if it does happen.

Wilks said being the sole proprietor of a business with three employees has been a dream come true. Still, she's not sure if she'll reopen the store.

It'll remain closed for at least a few more weeks for repairs.

"I'm contemplating what the value is in keeping it open," she said. "To go in and feel like you have to rebuild  it has to make sense."

Read the original article on Insider
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The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has announced the cancellation of two large cattle shows due to COVID-19. The 2020 All-American Dairy Show and the 2020 Keystone International Livestock Exposition were expected to take place in the fall at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center. Both show have been cancelled.

Both events typically have judging events that bring in teams of high school and college students from across the country, according to Shannon Powers, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The 2020 All-American Dairy Show was scheduled to take place from September 12 to 16.

The All-American Dairy Show typically features nearly 2,000 dairy cattle shown by more than 1,000 exhibitors in the U.S. and Canada and usually has 23 dairy shows in five days, including four days dedicated to youth shows, contests and programs.

We have spent months working through options that would have allowed us to host the show, but ultimately the All-American Board had to make the difficult decision to cancel, Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex competitive events manager, J. Harrison Frantz said in a press release.

Next years show is set to be held from September 18 to Sept. 22, 2021.

The 2020 Keystone International Livestock Exposition was originally scheduled to run from Sept. 25 to Oct. 4.

For the past 64 years, KILE has become one of the premier shows on the East Coast, Frantz said. We take pride in the experience that we offer to exhibitors. The decision to cancel KILE this year was not taken lightly, and our hearts are heavy.

Next years show is set to be held from Oct. 1 until Oct. 10, 2021.

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Mozambiques main opposition party Renamo has apologised for the embarrassing behaviour of Antonio Muchanga, one of its most prominent MPs, who appeared drunk on a TV political discussion show.



Mr Muchanga was so inebriated when he was on last Sundays Pontos de Vista (Points of View) on STV that the programmes moderator had to ask him to leave the studio.



It caused an uproar - with expressions of shock, condemnation and amusement - but for two days there was no reaction from Renamo.



That was until its spokesman, Jose Manteigas, told news site Carta de Mocambique that Mr Muchangas behaviour had been a disgrace to the party.



He said Renamo did not expect its members to drink a bottle of whisky and then appear on a TV programme - and Mr Muchanga might face disciplinary action.

Source: BBC









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Protesters gather at Lincoln Park to demand the Emancipation Memorial be taken down in Washington on June 23, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Protesters Announce Plan to Take Down Emancipation Statue as DC Delegate Pushes for Removal

Protesters who gathered Tuesday night in Washington, D.C., said they plan to reconvene on Thursday to rip down the Emancipation Statue.

Thursday at 7 p.m., we tearing this [expletive] down! an organizer said to cheers in footage captured by Richie McGinniss, a Daily Caller video director.

It tells me that this white man is superior and that hes granting permission, one protester told WUSA-9 when asked what he thinks when he looks at the statue.

At the same protest, several people tried convincing the group not to target the statue. The Germans erased their history, one told those assembled, who shouted her down.

The statue, also known as the Emancipation Memorial or the the Freedmens Monument, was put into place in 1876 to celebrate President Abraham Lincoln ending slavery.

It shows a standing Lincoln motioning to a figure portraying a freed slave who is kneeling beside him.

Frederick Douglass, a black scholar who spoke at the unveiling ceremony, alternated between praise and criticism of Lincoln.

Protesters gather at Lincoln Park to demand the Emancipation Memorial be taken down in Washington on June 23, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

We have gone a good work for our race today. In doing honor to the memory of our friend and liberator, we have been doing highest honors to ourselves and those who come after us; we have been fastening ourselves to a name and fame imperishable and immortal; we have also been defending ourselves from a blighting scandal, Douglass told those assembled.

When not it shall be said that the colored man is soulless, that he has no appreciation of benefits or benefactors; when the foul reproach of ingratitude is hurled at us, and it is attempted to scourge us beyond the range of human brotherhood, we may calmly point to the monument we have this day erected to the memory of Abraham Lincoln.

Fundraising for the statue was kicked off by Charlotte Scott, a black Virginia woman who used her first $5 earned in freedom, according to the National Park Service. The money for the statue came solely from freed slaves.

In a social media post advertising the Tuesday event, the group behind the protest, Freedom Neighborhood, wrote: To achieve true justice, we are not working with the police, nor will we seek any relationship with them. In order to create change, we will do so by any means necessary. If you want a revolution, it wont happen by being peaceful.

The statue embodies the racial undertones of black people being inferior to white people, the group claimed.

The push to remove the statue came just hours after President Donald Trump announced an executive order authorizing the federal government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys statues or monuments.

The protests Tuesday devolved into violence. The group attacked a number of people, including several journalists, and burned a large American flag in the newly named Black Lives Matter Plaza. Protesters also blocked traffic for a period of time on city streets.

Police watch on as protesters gather at Lincoln Park to demand the Emancipation Memorial be taken down in Washington on June 23, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Delegate Pushes for Removal

While at least one group works to topple the statue, a District of Columbia congressional delegate said shes introducing legislation to remove the memorial.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat, said the statue is problematic, adding in a statement: The statue fails to note in any way how enslaved African Americans pushed for their own emancipation.

Because the memorial is on National Park Service land, Norton plans to work with the service to see if it has the authority to remove the statue without an act of Congress. If so, Norton will push the service to remove the statue without a bill.

Norton wants the statue moved to a museum.

The service didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Vandals have toppled or defaced statues across the nation in recent weeks, quickly moving from statues portraying Confederate soldiers to ones showing former Presidents like Andrew Jackson, George Washington, and Ulysses S. Grant.

Some vandals tried toppling a statue of Jackson near the White House Monday but were stopped by U.S. Park Police officers, who made at least two arrests.

Norton also this week said shes introducing a bill to remove the Jackson statue.
The governors of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut on Wednesday announced mandatory, voluntary quarantines for out-of-state visitors from COVID-19 hotspots that will likely hinder the summer tourist season, but discourage regions with rising coronavirus infections from possibly spreading the virus here.

The advisory, which currently has no legal consequences for violators, will take effect early Thursday. The initial effort will include signage at Bradley International Airport, hotels, Airbnb locations and social media.

Like other measures taken by Gov. Ned Lamont during the pandemic, hes depending on people to voluntarily submit to the public health measures. But he said Wednesday that he is considering putting some legal teeth into an executive order that will accompany the announcement.

The tri-state region is recovering from the pandemic, while dozens of other states are experiencing record increases in COVID-19 infections. Lamont, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy in recent days conferred to take stronger action, and with short notice, Cuomo led a late-morning news from Albany to make the announcement to join Massachusetts in mandatory quarantines.

Weve reluctantly decided this is the thing we have to do, Lamont said during the video conference with Cuomo and Murphy. Weve seen real community spread.

Travelers from states with new positive tests higher than 1 per 10,000 residents or a 10 percent or higher rate of positive tests over a seven-day rolling average, will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon entering New York, New Jersey or Connecticut.

Cuomo said that currently, visitors from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas would have to submit to the quarantine orders.

The list of states where such community spread has occurred, will be updated weekly, said Dr. Deidre Gifford, acting commissioner of the state Department of Public Health.

On Wednesday, the DPH reported an additional 10 fatalities linked to COVID-19, bringing the total in the pandemic to 4,287. There was a net reduction of 14 patients, for a total of 124 hospitalizations, while 14 new COVID-19 cases among the latest 1,175 tests was less than 1.2 percent. The state surpassed 400,000 total tests on Wednesday.

The governors have also discussed the possibility of allowing visitors who do not wish to quarantine for two weeks to present proof of recent negative tests for the virus upon their arrival here, and Lamont indicated that such guidelines will be forthcoming.

It arrives on a jet airplane but its not going to leave on a jet airplane, Lamont said in the joint news conference.

In a follow-up briefing with Connecticut reporters in which he used the same line, Lamont said that he would study the need for possible legal consequences for travelers who ignore the order. But it can come back and we can have a second wave arriving by jet airplane a second time, and right now it wouldnt necessarily be coming from China. It could be coming from one of six or seven or eight states that have a very high positivity rate.

The governor said its alarming that the virus is spreading in some states to broad swaths of the population, including younger adults. If it was limited to the nursing homes or the prisons or something containable, perhaps we would be less concerned, Lamont said. We reluctantly came to the conclusion that this is what weve got to do to make sure that our region stays safe and our states stay safe.

While some states including Arkansas, Florida and Oklahoma created mandatory 14-day quarantines for visitors from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut when this region was the epicenter of the nations COVID-19 outbreak, now, as it subsides, the Northeast states will likely create their own orders.

Were blessed with good neighbors, Lamont said. This is a good, strong regional effort. Were slowly and methodically opening up our state. I see whats happening in over half of the states around this country right now. Connecticuts not an island and our region isnt an island. We can be careful by maintaining the protocols that are working for us here in Connecticut, here throughout the region, and also being strict in terms of who comes in and visits.

Cuomo noted that as many as three million people from Europe landed in the tri-state area between January and March, after the virus had migrated from China to Europe.

By the time the federal government figured it out, we had the virus spread all through the community, so we had the highest numbers to deal with in the country, Cuomo said, crediting Murphy and Lamont with being sources of strength in coordinating plans. This was a situation that nobody had really faced before.

Massachusetts has a similar quarantine in effect and Rhode Island requires 14-day quarantines for people from states with stay-at-home orders.

Meanwhile, the European Union is planning on prohibiting visitors from the United States because of the nations soaring infection and fatality rates.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
ALBANY  New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are issuing a "travel advisory" requiring out-of-state visitors to isolate themselves for 14 days if they are traveling from states with high rates of coronavirus infections.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the guidelines at a New York City press conference Wednesday, where he was joined via videoconference by Govs. Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Ned Lamont of Connecticut.

The quarantine order also will affect potentially tens of thousands of business travelers and vacationing families who may visit states flagged as high risk. Those New Yorkers would also be required to self-quarantine for two weeks upon returning home.

In the Outer Banks of North Carolina, for instance, which draws a high number of northeast visitors each summer, real estate companies have reported record numbers of vacation rentals in recent weeks. The order also will impact vacationers from states with high rates of coronavirus cases who visit New York, New Jersey or Connecticut and would be required to quarantine during their stay.

Cuomo had first suggested a quarantine period for visitors last week and doubled down on the assertions a few days ago  saying residents of states where cases are on the rise, including Florida and Texas, may visit New York and trigger another spike in infections.

"We have a calibration for the infection rate, and any state that goes over the infection rate  that state will be subject to the quarantine," Cuomo said. "It's only for the simple reason that we worked very hard to get the viral transmission rate down, and we don't want to see it go back up."

States will be included in the advisory if 10 per 100,000 residents or 10 percent of the total population tests positive on a seven-day rolling average, Cuomo said. States affected as of Wednesday include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas.

The guidance goes into effect at midnight on Thursday, Cuomo said, joking that people should jump on a flight quickly Wednesday if they want to avoid the new rules. Each state will advertise the regulations on highways, airports, websites and social media, and officials will also ask hotels to relay the information to guests.

"[We're] doing everything we can to say, 'If you come to Connecticut, you come to New York, you come to New Jersey  you come safely, and you follow the protocols, starting with a quarantine,'" Lamont said.

Each state will enforce the order differently, but in New York, a person who violates the advisory could be subject to mandatory quarantine through a "judicial order" or fines of up to $10,000, Cuomo said. The states will each update their respective websites "regularly" with a list of states included in the advisory.

The order also applies to New Yorkers who go on vacation or head to a business conference in a state with a high infection rate  which newly minted state Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-Niagara County, called "draconian" in a Wednesday afternoon statement.

"New Yorkers and businesses have suffered enough, and the governors vindictive, hypocritical move against other states and on New Yorkers liberties does not help us move forward," Ortt said.

It's unclear how New York authorities will identify violators, but Cuomo suggested that hotel clerks could flag travelers breaking quarantine rules and police could pull over cars with out-of-state license plates. In a radio interview Wednesday afternoon, Cuomo said he doesn't expect a "massive non-compliance issue," and many people would report rule-breakers to authorities.

"It's not impossible to enforce. States all across the country have been doing this for months, New Yorkers who would go to their state," Cuomo said. "It is hard to get 100 percent enforcement. You can't track down everyone who comes from these states, but that's not what enforcement is either. You never enforce every law 100 percent."

Months ago, several states had issued similar guidance for New Yorkers in late March and early April when the state's numbers were the worst in the nation. In March, Florida and Texas began requiring New Yorkers to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving; the Florida order is technically still in effect.

The same month, Rhode Island also issued a 14-day quarantine order for New York travelers, enforced as authorities stopped cars to question drivers with New York license plates and knocked on doors in search of visitors. That order had caused a massive clash with Cuomo's office, as the governor threatened to sue Rhode Island for singling out New York, and it was later walked back.

But even as other states have issued similar directives in recent months, the legality of the order is unclear. A spokeswoman for the New York Civil Liberties Union said the group is "looking at the policy and watching closely, but we don't have comment at the moment."

These things are essentially unenforceable," said Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick. "Its the United States of America  you dont need a passport to go from Kansas to Nebraska."

He said violating a quarantine order is a misdemeanor under Public Health Law but also said police cannot legally pull someone over simply based on the license plate on their car.

Fitzpatrick also noted that there would be no way to track down or extradite someone who was issued a summons, adding: "Ive got other stuff to worry about, like 12 shootings in the past 72 hours."

Any effort to stop vehicles based on their license plates could also greatly impact truckers involved in interstate transports.

We encourage state and local officials to consider all the impacts rules and guidelines imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 might have on our industry and their citizens, said Sean McNally, a spokesman for the American Trucking Associations. Truck drivers socially distance by the nature of the job, and to impose restrictions will prevent them from doing the important work of delivering critical supplies like groceries, PPE and other essential items.

Kevin A. Luibrand, a Latham attorney whose areas of focus include constitutional law, said it would violate the Constitutions Fourth and Fourteenth amendments for police to stop a motorist based solely on their plate.

You dont have reasonable suspicion that a person is committing a criminal offense simply because they have an out-of-state license plate, Luibrand said. Its an unlawful seizure of a vehicle."

Hermes Fernandez, who previously chaired the Health Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, said previous orders both within the United States and abroad at the start of the pandemic set a public health precedent and could help the tri-state advisory withstand legal challenges. But overall, most orders haven't been enforced by local officials, and the onus was instead put on everyday residents.

Most of the measures have relied on public acceptance and they havent relied on the states enforcement authority, he said. I think thats what were going to see here, for the most part.

A Cuomo spokesman did not respond to a request to clarify how the state will determine whether a violation is worthy of a judicial order or a fine; how the state would obtain such an order; what guidance the state is providing to local officials about enforcing the advisory; and where a person should submit a complaint. The advisory was not available online as of Wednesday evening, and the spokesman did not respond to a request for a copy.

New York  mirroring its northeast neighbors  has been successful in keeping coronavirus numbers low in recent weeks, with daily deaths consistently below 50 and hospitalizations on the decline.

But as numbers continue on a downward trend in New York, Cuomo said he is relaxing restrictions on social gatherings, allowing up to 50 people instead of 25. Houses of worship can also increase attendance and open at 33 percent capacity instead of 25 percent.

Chris Bragg, Amanda Fries and Brendan J. Lyons contributed reporting.
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Voxan Motors is setting some seriously high expectations for its latest Wattman. Not only is the French marque humbly calling it the most extraordinary electric motorcycle ever made, but its also prepping the bike to set a new world record.

This two-wheeler is a high-performance riff on the original, on-road Wattman that was released back in 2013. Its capable of churning out a staggering 367 horses, which the brand is banking will be enough to push it past the 205 mph mark, and set a new land speed record for electric motorcycles. Details about design have been scant, but Voxan has just shared some new pics ahead of the bikes official reveal on July 1.

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The motorcycle was designed at Voxans workshops in Monaco, in close collaboration with Venturi North America and the Center for Automotive Research at OSU (Ohio State University), which assembled the battery cells. French automotive designer Sacha Lakic took care of the bikes styling and paired a sleek, futuristic silhouette and sculpted lines with a striking red, white and blue colorway.

Voxan Wattman Electric Motorcycle

The Wattman went for its first test ride back in March, but its testing program was suspended amid the outbreak of Covid-19. Now that the lockdown has lifted, the R&D team at Voxan is back at it again. Over the coming months, the bike will be put through its paces with computer simulations, wind tunnel tests, and other painstaking trials. The motorcycles software will also be refined to determine its pure performance and thermal stability.

All that hard work is leading up to one major event. Next July, the Voxan Wattman will attempt to set a new electric motorcycle speed record on the Salar de Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia. The current record in this category was set by Ryuji Tsuruta, who powered a Mobitec EV-02A to 204.48 mph in 2019.

Story continues

Voxan Wattman Electric Motorcycle

Thankfully, the Wattman comes from a family of record breakers. Voxans parent company, the Venturi Group, has already set a number of world speed records. The most recent was set in 2016 by the rocket on wheels, the Venturi VBB-3 (Venturi Buckeye Bullet), which hit 341 mph. It still stands to this day.

To watch the full Voxan Wattman reveal, head to the Venturi website on July 1 at 2 pm CET.

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Ethiopia's poll body on Wednesday rejected a plan by the northern Tigray region to hold elections despite the coronavirus pandemic, as tensions mount between the region and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.

Ethiopia was due to hold national elections in August, but the election board announced in March that they would have to be delayed because of the pandemic.

Lawmakers earlier this month then approved a plan to let Abiy stay in office beyond his current mandate which expires in October, though the decision drew strong objections from the opposition.

Some of the most vocal criticism came from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which governs the Tigray region.

The party dominated Ethiopia's ruling coalition before Abiy came to power in 2018 but has since been sidelined and officially parted ways with him last year.

Tigrayan officials have maintained they would go ahead with regional elections in August, but the electoral board on Wednesday said they had no authority to do so.

The board "is the sole organ that decides the electoral calendar, electoral process or other related issues," it said in a statement.

"Therefore Tigray regional state has no legal basis to decide to conduct the election."

Officials in Tigray could not immediately be reached for comment.

Abiy, the winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize who was appointed to his position in 2018, is seeking a popular mandate for wide-ranging political and economic reforms.

Lawmakers, however, have endorsed a timeline that would push elections back "nine to 12 months after the coronavirus is deemed not to be a public health concern".

Ethiopia has so far recorded just 5,034 cases of COVID-19 and 78 deaths, though the health ministry has noted in recent weeks that cases are rising rapidly because of community transmission.

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Brooks, a 27-year-old married father of four, was shot and killed by a police officer who said he was investigating a report of an intoxicated man sleeping in a car at a Wendys drive-through in Atlanta, authorities said. Brooks failed a field sobriety test. When officers tried to handcuff Brooks after speaking with him for nearly a half-hour, a scuffle broke out, Brooks grabbed an officers Taser and started running, according to a preliminary report by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Video of the incident shows Brooks pointing the Taser toward officers while running away; shots are then heard. Brooks died of two gunshot wounds to the back, according to authorities.
Defense is the most interesting area I've ever worked in. --Svitlana Panaiotidi, Deputy Minister of Economic Development

An exclusive interview with Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture, Svitlana Panaiotidi with Interfax-Ukraine.

 In 2017, as part of a program of corporate reform, the government announced a so-called triage approachplacing state-run enterprises into the categories of 1) those set to be privatized, 2) concessions, 3) strategic enterprises, and 4) those targeted for liquidation. Where does this policy currently stand?

 The course announced by the State remains unchanged: do everything to ensure privatization of large-, medium-, and small-scale concerns.

530 enterprises were transferred to the State Property Fund (SPF). This is the first time thats ever happened in our history. The most recent proposal from the Honcharuk Cabinet was to transfer an additional 380 companies, but with his resignation that was never ratified. It included the Ukrainian State Food and Grain Corporation (USFG), Artemsil, Ukraine Bread, and the First Kyiv Machine Plant (formerly known as The Bolshevik Plant). Right now, were reconsidering whether to adopt this entire list as it was originally drawn up. Because of the quarantine weve suspended large-scale privatization efforts so the government may add to the list, but the work of the SPF is ongoing. The prep work for this is complex and time-intensiverequiring months of work with consultants, budgets, contracts, negotiations, and the courts. In light of the global situation, however, our general position on the issue of privatization could very well change.

 Has it been decided how those properties that remain under State control are going to be managed? There had been a suggestion to talk of creating a holding- or sub-holding company for them. One prominent example is that of Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Rail): its under the purview of the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Cabinet of Ministers, and also the Ministry of Economic Development. What position does your Ministry or the government in general take regarding what to do with these so-called strategic companies?

Whats important to remember: the standards set down by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development must be implemented. Currently, the plan is to adopt an ownership model covering the ten largest State-run enterprises. We plan to adopt these soon. Of the ten, weve worked out the policy for three of themthe State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine (SFGCU), Ukrydroenerho and Enerhoatom. The ownership policy is a fundamental document in which an owner lays out his objectives: this company exists to.

Ive held a meeting to assess the state of readiness of each of these Top 10 companies to adopt their ownership models and now with an action plan in place we know what comes next.

 So, since youre working on the ownership model theres no more talk of holding- or sub-holding companies?

The first thing to get done is to ratify the ownership models for these ten largest companiesa group which, incidentally, includes Ukroboronpromand then to connect with the Nomination Committee to choose members of their supervisory boards.

 Is the Nomination Committee active now? Some other competitions are being held according to a special quarantine conditions procedure.

 That has to do with Category A civil servants, but were talking about putting together supervisory boards and selecting company executives where there arent supervisory boards yet. Its a separate issue.

 International financial partners who are underwriting our economy have raised issues about the statutes of our State-run enterprises.

Thats the next step: bringing those statutes in line with OECD standards.

 Still, shouldnt supervisory boards have the right to approve an enterprise CEO independently?

 Personally, yes, I think they should, but weve got an ongoing debate on corporate management. Were committed to moving toward implementing OECD standards, and its very likely that were going to encounter obstacles, but thats exactly where we need to get.

 However it plays out, is there still a general understanding that weve got to bring the statutes of our State-run enterprises in line with OECD standards and that weve got to endow supervisory boards with greater autonomy?

 Yes, I think so. We are moving toward the implementation of OECD standards and we need to implement them all. There are some issues up for debate, but we are definitely not straying from the overall goal.

Will we be able to see a detailed response in the memorandum with the IMF?

You will. The OECD does a general overview of countries engaged in corporate reform. This provides us with the countrys level in the current economic environment and an investment projection. Implementing these standards establishes Ukraine as a predictable partner and subsequently an attractive investment opportunity. It means reliability.

There is discussion regarding foreign citizens on supervisory boards, salaries of board members and how this should be regulated. Does the Ministry of Economic Development have an official position?

- In my opinion, the discussion should be about effectiveness: what results did we see both before and after implementing corporate reform? In general, it should reflect the shareholders communicating directly with the supervisory board, who, in turn, bring these to the CEO whos working to carry out the companys mission as laid out in its ownership model. Once we start moving from general principles to specifics we can have a more fruitful discussion about this.

 When can we expect a decision from the Nomination Committee?

 The change in government leadership has affected the effort, but the new government is at work. Weve had a general meeting, interviews for Ukrkhimtransamiak, established that an open-call that didnt get done will be renewed. We approved the necessary conditions for it and announced an open-call for candidates for the Board of Directors for Highwaysa State-run enterprise. Still on the agenda; Boryspil Airport, Energoatom and many other matters.

 Does the ministry plan to keep large enterprises under its management?

 Ministries should be working to formulate policy, not manage enterprises. Enterprises not subject to privatization need to implement corporate reform themselves. For all the rest, we will be following the established policy for their privatization. We are oriented on privatizationto make it a reality as much as is possible.

 This past autumn there was a lot of talk about reform at the Anti-Monopoly Committee (AMCU). Where does that stand now?

 Were working Liudmila Buimister, MP from the Servant of the People Party, who has concentrated on this and will continue in that capacity. Were working directly with the AMCU on propositions associated with their charge. The reform effort comprises two parts: bolstering the institutional capacity of the AMCU and addressing internal administrationrights and obligations of parties, defining procedures in detail, like deadlines and so on. Were committed to working through it with them, to listening to their recommendations and taking them into account for the reforms to be implemented.

 From your own experience working at the AMCU: does the body truly lack the procedural heft necessary to get results in high-profile cases?

 I am a government official and any answer I give would be perceived as undue influence on the AMCU so Ill just stick to the thought that everyone involved just needs to do their jobs.

 There are any number of issues that lack clarity as to whether they are matters for the AMCU or something that should be handled by an independent regulator from energy, transport, and even finance.

 The AMCU should work as an antitrust authority, not a broad, quasi-national commission.

 As one example: MP Andrey Herus addresses the State Security Service (SBU), and AMCU instead of to the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities (NKREKP) with questions concerning price manipulations in the energy market.

 We dont have a general "staff" for state bodies or a well-established understanding of where the jurisdiction of one body begins and those of another end.

Our government agencies are slapped together quickly, and their areas of authority are outlined without any real careful consideration to detail. The situation would be completely different if we had institutional stability.

 And how quickly can this issue be solved? Does the bill on the AMCU that you are writing provide clarity on who handles which issueswhether the committee, the regulator, or the State Service Of Ukraine On Food Safety And Consumer Protection?

 I believe that this is all outlined in the bill.

 Recently, there has been significant discussion on banking law, but the concerns are similar to those that come up with the AMCU: that the courts have a better grasp of the cases than State commissioners or even the AMCU or NBU (National Bank of Ukraine).

 Antitrust case law has a great deal of complexity that needs to be dealt with. I think we need to provide joint training sessions for commissioners and judges to develop a unified understanding of the application of anti-trust legislation to specific cases.

 So, this is more a question of practice of whether judges face legal limitations in adjudicating anti-trust cases? For example, banking legislation places limitations on judicial authority: they are obligated to consider the professional judgement of the NBU regarding financial decisions.

 This bill doesnt contain that provision.

 Do you plan to include a provision in the new bill that allows business inspections to be carried out by the committee only with court approval?

 What we envisioned was that there should be another level of protection against possible abuse before the committee commences the kind of inspection youre talking about. Were talking it over now. The business community likes itthey see it as adding a necessary element of predictability to our work.

But to repeat: were faced with the question of how the courts powers will be defined in the law, and on that we still dont have a final decision.

 Do you have a deadline in mind for when you can expect Parliament to consider this bill?

 Last autumn, I had hoped that the AMCU would be reformed by the end of the year. I wanted it done in that six-month window of opportunity that typically follows an appointment to a post. So, this winter I started working on having it ready by spring. Now, Im hopeful we can get it done by the end of this year.

 Does the Ministrys Directorate for Competition, established on your arrival there, duplicate the work of the AMCU?

 Adopted legislation on the Protection of Economic Competition indicates that we need a State policy on the development of economic competition. The AMCU secures that. So, now were getting back to returning competitive development to the government's agenda. In no way are we duplicating the AMCUs charter.

 And what are the issues on the government agenda regarding economic competition?

 State subsidies, for one. Were analyzing the regulatory framework that is being developed to foster compliance with legal requirements. This work applies to the new "5-7-9%" business loan program, too.

The department deals with economic competition policy formulation, regulatory analysis, and verifies documentation for State aid. We wanted to make this a large-scale effort that analyzed the effect of State regulations on economic competitiveness.

 What markets are the Ministry and the AMCU looking at in the task of determining the monopolization assessment index?

 Alongside the AMCU and international consultants, were developing an index to monitor the state of competition in Ukraine. Right now, were putting together its method for calculation that will be used to monitor annually how competitive markets actually are. The index should also help define priorities in sector policy and a mechanism of response for violations of economic competition law. Currently, were looking at what quantitative and qualitative factors will inform index calculations.

The quantitative bloc will contain indicators like the number of enterprises in a market, its import share, its export share, an industrys profitability dynamics, its price dynamics, its level of capital investment and so on.

The qualitative bloc is still early in its development, so theres not much to talk about yet.

The job of identifying the highest priority markets will involve the consideration of factors like market size, product social significance, consumer impact.

Ukraine has never had this kind of index before, but in places like Romania and the Netherlands it has served as a solid indicator of market competitiveness.

To this point, only quantitative indicators have been developed. A meeting with Romanian specialists in the field experts had been planned at the AMCU as part of the TAIEX program. It had to be postponed with the onset of the quarantine, but the AMCU is currently working with the State Tax Service to crunch the data for index calculations. We will do our best to introduce it next year.

 Has the new procurement law overwhelmed the AMCU's appeal mechanism?

 Were monitoring the situation, but right now its too early to talk about its effect. A significant number of procedures were announced before the law came into force in an effort to avoid being adjudicated under the new law. The new policy works but hasnt provided relief to the old caseload. Its effect should be more visible in about three months. We have begun to monitor the situation monthly with the change in the number of appeals being processed.

 Is there any relevance to the AMCUs change of status?

 The legislation on the AMCU defines it as a state body with special status. Nothing has changed with that status.

 Court decisions on the unconstitutionality of a number of NKREKP regulations come to mind: couldnt this happen with other regulatory bodies? Are additional legislative amendments to the Constitution necessary?

 From my point of view, regulatory bodies shouldnt take the executive seat in a government. They should provide checks and balances to the executive, Presidential, branch. Since were talking about constitutional reform, this is something that needs to be addressed. And it is being addressed, albeit slowly.

 How does this bill on the AMCU address the issue?

 Generally, we need to understand whether there is any intention to alter the Constitution. If, say, the appointment of the director of an independent regulator is made by the Prime Minister, the question arises: will that regulator be independent of the executive branch? For me, the answer seems obvious.

But if that director is appointed by the executive branch, then hes not a regulator. This is the executive branch of government operating by its own set of rules.

 In your opinion, is a National Commission on Transport Regulation needed?

 In my opinion, we need to establish he National Commission on Transport Regulation as a regulatory organ, but not one that functions as an executive body.

 And who could potentially serve as arbiter for, say, tariffs: The Ministry of Infrastructure?

 I dont think the Ministry can serve as arbitrator since its part of the executive branch.

When putting together a new department its imperative not to create, again, a department that lacks bite because it was put together sloppilyanother exercise in absurdity. The authority of public bodies should be clearly delineated. Any ambiguity stokes public distrust of government because weve come up with another department that fails to meet expectations.

 What can you tell us about the inaugural review of the defense industry?

 Weve conducted a review of the defense-industrial complex for the first time in this countrys history. The approach is methodical: we analyze the state of the industry, its capacity, its human resources, and its institutional objective and purpose. The study is a necessary thing if we hope to update our defense development strategy. Were currently shaping a working Strategy for defense industry development through 2028.

 What share of the defense industry is held by Ukroboronprom?

 Altogether, Ukroboronprom comprises 137 companies, 21 of which are located in the occupied territories. So, maybe 30-40%. We have a large number of private companies. But here its important to consider what you mean by share  revenue, or industrial capacity?

 And what did your study define as share?

 The analysis is complex. If were talking about State defense contracts, this is one figure, but if about exports, then another number, or about potential defense contracts, yet another. There isnt a single, comprehensive answer. However, the private market sector is quite large.

 What are the dynamics of private business development within the defense industry?

 Recent years have brought change: the private sector share increases and Ukroboronprom declines.

 Do you, in your capacity in the Ministry, support this? The creation of a competitive defense industry?

 In general, Im for systemic change in the defense industry. First, though, we need to corporatize state-run enterprises. Thats the key to the development of this sector. Its a dilemma: on the one hand the State sector is inflexible, and the private sector highly flexible. But the private sector lacks the States capacity.

What we need is to combine military-industrial and military-technical policy. This Ministry is responsible for the first part, and the Ministry of Defense for the military-technical part. We are currently analyzing the Ministry of Defenses long-term requirements that they provided us with so we could complete the Defense Industry Review. We need another month yet to analyze all the information and to draw up our recommendations about which products and areas are in greatest need of development.

 What changes in defense procurement procedures can we expect from this model?

 If bill 2398-D is adopted, it should completely change the system from a post-Soviet ideology to that of market demand and competition. At present, the customer chooses the provider in conditions of total secrecy. Top secret. Our proposal will alter this approach. Somebody needs X. There are three, four, five potential providers. These can and should compete to provide X. But here we face an issue: is the State prepared to see this sphere operating in a competitive, open market?

 Considering the existence of a solid private sector, you still think it might not be ready?

 Certainly. But is the State prepared to admit this? To move away from this controlled mode to something transparent and competitive? The change could very well mean that those currently winning contracts wont anymore. Still, more is needed. In addition to privatization, we need to establish a public-private partnership in defense. We need to foster the potential to attract foreign partners, and that of our private companies engaging in joint efforts to enter international markets. This all needs to change so that we can be competitive both domestically and in foreign markets. Get ourselves ready to be active in what is an intense technological competition.

 Theres a discussion that sprang up on social media on competition for defense exports and reforms at the Institute of Specialist Exportersits actual size and exclusivity. Can you comment on this?

 The discussion that went public wasnt about the number of special exporters but applied to Resolution 1228, which allows a State concern to negotiate pricing and marketing terms internationally. In other words, how much they can sell and where they can sell it. Its a debate about export liberalization and its ongoing.

 So, were still waiting for reforms for Special Exporters?

 Yes. We still need to get there. We need to separate regulation from reform of exporters, deciding what system it should follow, how many companies it should encompass and its overall structure.

 So, the first stage of this reform makes it simpler for a private company to sell its defense production domestically, but to get into exports necessitates yet another stage of reform?

 When it comes to economic development and exports, we have solid regulations at work in State Export Control Service and the Interdepartmental Commission on Defense Technical Cooperation and Policy working under the National Security and Defense Council.

These controlling bodies are involved at each stage of the process. For a producer to export its own product (its a State monopoly so there are no intermediaries), it needs to spend about a years effort to obtain the right. Following that, you still need to negotiate prices internationally. Its not about a loss of controlUkraine has international obligations that we adhere tobut about efficiency, competitive conditions that take into consideration legislation on the preservation of economic competition.

 About the reform of Ukroboronprom: they have prepared a project that Mr. Saakashvili has said he would consider in the Reform Council. Are you prepared for this meeting? Do you have a position?

 The work being presented implements the Strategy for Defense Industry Development through 2028 that we had drawn up. Reform projects were prepared to put its provisions into force including the delimitation of policy formation and enterprise management; corporatization; international cooperation; and the creation of vertically integrated clusters.

Regarding my own position. Sure, I can talk about that. We have a package of bills, a transformation plan, a draft ownership policy and a guide to step-by-step implementation. In the near future, Ill be sending the bill on corporatization for interdepartmental approval. I am in favor of accepting corporatization. We are ready for detailed discussions on the Ukroboronprom reform project and transforming the defense industry in general. But corporatization, international cooperation, the opportunity to create joint ventures - this is all part of our Strategy for Defense Development.

As part of the reform, state-owned enterprises that are part of the Ukroboronprom will be reconfigured as joint-stock companies and limited liability companies, and then grouped in clusters matching their target markets and industry characteristics.

We arent discussing the second part yetabout the number of holding companies or which clusters well needtheir creation is spelled out in the 2028 Strategy Policy, but this is an important preliminary stage taken on by Ukroboronprom. Well start with our prioritythe adoption of the strategic documents, starting with our National Security Strategy.

 The Ministry of Economic Development has prepared a bill restricting foreign investment in the sector.

This is about vetting investmentsan international practice in the security and defense sector. We already have the example, somewhat uniqueor, at least, its all we know aboutof the Motor Sich situation. Screening, for the partners were currently working with, is a normal part of doing business. Were learning from the experience of our international partners on how screening and interagency cooperation work in their decision-making. Globally speaking, the idea is that if we open our market to a partnership, we need to know whether its financed by an aggressor nation or sanctioned territories. This is necessary to avoid violating international agreements. So far, any additional control mechanisms provoke resistancethere is no institutional trust. But we have to build it by enacting consistent and transparent policy solutions.

When the shouting dies down, we see that screening/vetting is a normal global practice. For example, in our discussions on export controls and the international transfer of goods this February with our US partners, they expressed concern that our new private space law did not contain mechanisms for the prevention of technology transfera restriction thats a necessity in the security and defense sectors.

 Only security and defense? There are other examples: the Mykolaiv aluminum plant, banking.

 In the USA they vet everything. You can get into that kind of discussion even talking indirectly, like about infrastructure or telecom services. We had a lively discussion on financial sector regulation. Were ready to discuss everything. The objective is to write agreements that allow us to eliminate any bias. Whats more, this assures a potential investor that there is no unreasonable risk in an investment with us.

 Does the bill deal exclusively with security and defense?

 Infrastructure too. When it was first developed there was no mention of security and defense. Later on, we put the emphasis on them in the text. Now, well have to take into consideration what we learned in our discussions and rework it to give it the proper focus.

 What stage is the bill at now?

 The first draft came out in December, but it didnt cover security and defense. Then we had talks with our international partners and agreed to refine it and put security as its main focus. When we had completed it, we took further comments and posted these for public discussion. We got several meaningful comments. We will rework it again and open the new version up for discussion.

 Whose experience does the language about screening drawn on?

 It draws on the experience of NATO member-nations.

 Does NATO have a common framework? The USA, for example, sets much stricter regulations

 America is the most strict, yes. Restrictions do vary among nations but there are some basic principles. There is a general framework as youd expect, and then, depending on local conditions, each nation determines its specifics. We are adhering to the general scenario so far. We will not be able to adopt the American experience fully. Our mindset wont allow it.

 Is Ukraine subject to any restrictions under the Free Trade Agreement?

 Not at all. This has all been resolved.

 How did you first become involved in defense work?

Tymofiy Milovanov (ex-Minister of Economic Development in the Honcharuk Cabinet) first brought up working on the development of the defense sector. He discussed it with his deputies at the time to see who would take on this difficult job. In the end he offered it to me.

The Norwegian ambassador was happy with my appointmentthey are providing significant funding for our efforts in the area of gender equalityand for them it was a "wow moment. This utterly masculine sphere led by a woman.

Its the most interesting area Ive ever worked in. We are at the stage of transforming thingsa tremendous and fascinating challenge.

It is interesting to see how this sector functions internationally. I was part part of a Ukrainian delegation to a meeting of NATO ambassadors in January and that made a mindboggling impression. Im grateful to the Deputy Prime Minister at the time (currently, Foreign Affairs Minister) Dmytro Kuleba, who invited me to join the delegation. He introduced me to the NATO Secretary General and that made a lasting impression. You need to take a broad view of a host of issues in order to work in security and defense. And these are unusually broad-minded people, knowledgeable in a range of sectors, areas that impact security and defense.

As a practical experience its interesting, even though Ive worked on transformations before, and especially fascinating given the kind of situations were working with.

An example: at long last were automating our export control service. Were transforming from paper forms to an electronic system that tracks every application, export histories and risk factors. This is nothing less than a revolution. An automatic process, not manual, dependent on human whims. It was talked about for years but nothing was done. Weve got the funding finally and were going to implement the electronic system.

 Whats your top priority? What goals do you set for yourself? And what can you say about the success youve experienced in your new role?

 First on my list is focusing as much as possible on bringing about change: Security and defense sector reform, privatization, and corporate reform, and effective state property management count as my current prioritieseffort that will contribute to positive change in Ukraine.
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wears a protetive mask as he talks to reporters inside the U.S. Capitol after senators returned to Capitol Hill amid concerns that their legislative sessions could put lawmakers and staff at risk of contracting the coronavirus in Washington, U.S., May 4, 2020.

Senate Democrats said Tuesday that they plan to block a vote on Republican legislation to reform policing guidelines, calling it "irrevocably flawed" and setting up a stalemate in the Senate over how to address police violence in the midst of national protests.

Democrats' move to oppose the measure undercuts plans by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to hold a procedural vote Wednesday to move on to debating the legislation. The measure needs the support of at least 60 senators to pass, meaning seven Democrats would have to join all Republicans.

But Democrats say they don't believe President Donald Trump is willing to work toward a solution, and they are skeptical of McConnell's intentions in moving forward with the GOP bill, speculating that he is putting forward a half-baked effort.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who called the bill "deeply, fundamentally and irrevocably flawed," said McConnell's "plan appears to be designed to get the burden of dealing with policing reform off Republican shoulders by setting up a process which is guaranteed not to result in successful legislation."

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said, "He's setting this up for failure so he can check a political box."

Booker and Kamala Harris of California, the Senate's two Black Democrats, helped write a version of the reform bill that is being voted on in the House on Thursday. They asked McConnell in a letter Tuesday morning for "bipartisan talks to get to a constructive starting point."

McConnell suggested that he will move forward with the vote Wednesday regardless, telling reporters that Democrats "don't have to trust me when I say I want an open amendment process."

"I mean it, but if they don't feel like they've had fair treatment, their remedy is to refuse to finish the bill," he said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said last week that she would support negotiating with the Senate after both chambers vote on a bill in a conference committee. When asked why he doesn't support that process, Schumer said: "If you want to get to conference, you need a bipartisan process to start, or you will never get to conference. That's the flaw of McConnell's proposal."

The Republican and Democratic bills are dramatically different. Unlike the Democratic version, the Republican bill doesn't call for an outright ban on chokeholds or touch on the defense of qualified immunity, and it would collect data on entries using "no-knock" warrants instead of banning them. The Democratic bill would ban no-knock warrants.

"I think there's going to be a price to be paid for it," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who is running for re-election this year. "I'm for holding them accountable. I'm not for helping them out of the ditch that they've gotten themselves in."

Democrats were bolstered by the support of civil rights groups, including the NAACP, which urged them not to advance legislation that they call inadequate.

The civil rights groups said in a letter that the Republican bill "fails to respond to decades-long demands for police accountability and reforms."

"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," the letter continued.

As both sides hardened in their positions Tuesday, a bipartisan group of six senators who have been instrumental in crafting each party's legislation  Republicans Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida and Democrats Booker, Harris and Dick Durbin of Illinois  met behind closed doors.

Booker said that it was just a conversation and that talks haven't formalized into a bipartisan working group.

Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., introduced legislation that would scale back the qualified immunity defense for police officers, a reform most Republicans don't support.

Braun said in an interview that Republicans are "a little timid in what we want to do" about police reform. "If we want to do something that's going to change the dynamic, I think you've got to have some discussion of qualified immunity," he said.
A grand jury in Georgia has indicted three men on felony murder charges in the death of Ahmaud Arbery.

The indictments for Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Bryan arrived nearly four months after the men followed Mr Arbery while he was jogging through a Georgia neighbourhood then shot him at point-blank range.

A Glynn County grand jury's indictments formally charge the men with malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. They could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.

"This is another step forward in seeking justice for Ahmaud," said Cobb County District Attorney Joyette M Holmes. "Our team from the Cobb Judicial Circuit has been committed to effectively bringing forward the evidence in this case and today was no exception."

The McMichaels, who are white, were arrested more than two months following Mr Arbery's death after a mobile phone video of the killing leaked online and sparked an international outrage and allegations of a modern-day lynching of Mr Arbery, a 25-year-old black man.

On 23 February, Gregory McMichael and his son Travis armed themselves before hopping into a pickup truck and chasing Mr Arbery, who was jogging from a nearby construction site in Satilla Shores outside of Brunswick, Georgia.

Prosecutors argue that Mr Bryan joined the men and helped box Mr Arbery between two trucks before Travis McMichael fired a shotgun three times into Mr Arbery. The elder McMichael told investigators he believed Mr Arbery was a robbery suspect seen at a neighbourhood property under construction, though an attorney for the the property owner told The Independent that no robberies were ever reported and the family has condemned the "vigilante response" and killing of Mr Arbery.

No charges were filed for several weeks until a video of the killing was widely shared on social media. The McMichaels were arrested on 7 May.

Mr Bryan, who lives in the neighbourhood and filmed the killing, was arrested on 22 May.

The men have not entered a plea and their arraignments are not yet scheduled. The Associated Press reports that Travis McMichael intends to plead not guilty to the charges in the latest indictment.

During preliminary hearings earlier this month to support murder charges against the men, Georgia prosecutors argued that Mr Bryan heard the shooter say "f***ing n-word" as he stood over Mr Arbery's body.

Prosecutors also discovered a Confederate flag sticker on a toolbox in Mr Michael's truck, they said.

While Mr Bryan's defence argues he was only a witness to the killing, prosecutor Richard Dial told the court that he yelled "do you got him" to the McMichaels before he joined the chase.

Mr Bryan "made several statements about trying to block him in and using his vehicle to try to stop him," Mr Dial said. "His statement was that Mr Arbery kept jumping out of the way and moving around the bumper and actually running down into the ditch in an attempt to avoid his truck."

International outrage and demands for justice following the release of graphic footage of Mr Arbery's death preceded global protests urging for racial justice in the wake of police killings of George Floyd and black Americans.
This is a community calendar. To accommodate demand for the print edition, we ask that items be brief and include time, date, place, address, admission cost and a contact number for publication. Inclusion of items is at the discretion of the newspaper. Further information is available at 541-812-6078 or jane.stoltz@lee.net.

Assistance

THURSDAY

Emergency food boxes, by appointment, North Corvallis Ministry Center, 5050 NE Elliott Circle. Appointments: 541-220-1040.

Greater Albany Public Schools offers free grab-and-go sack lunches for all children ages 1 to 18: 11 to 11:30 a.m., Columbus Greens, Memorial Middle School, Oak Elementary School, Tangent Elementary School; 11:15 to 11:45 a.m., Lafayette Elementary School, Lake Creek Ranch; 11:20 to 11:50 a.m., Waverly Elementary School; 11:30 a.m. to noon, Albany Meadows, Sunrise Elementary School; 11:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m., Periwinkle Elementary School, South Shore Elementary School; 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Albany Boys & Girls Club; Takena Elementary School; noon to 12:30 p.m., Lexington Park, South Albany High School, Three Lake Estates.

Corvallis School District free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch for all children ages 1 to 18. Open noon to 1 p.m.: Lincoln Elementary School, 110 SE Alexander Ave.; Linus Pauling Middle School, 1111 NW Cleveland Ave.; Wilson Elementary School, 2701 NW Satinwood St.; and Clemens Primary School, 535 S. 19th St., Philomath. Open noon to 12:45 p.m.: city bus stop, top of Witham Hill Drive; and Santiam Christian School, 7220 NE Arnold Ave., Adair Village. Information: 541-757-5859.

Corvallis Men's Shelter, 211 SE Chapman Place. Now serving men and women in need during the COVID emergency. Food, showers and laundry available from 1 to 6 p.m.; overnight shelter not available. Information: 541-791-6691.

Mesa Familiar de Corvallis Family Table, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Tunison Community Room, 365 SW Tunison Ave., Corvallis. Program serves free hot, nutritious meals to go, and offers blood pressure and blood sugar screenings.

Stone Soup dinner for all, 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., South Corvallis Food Bank, 1800 SW Third St., Ste. 110, Corvallis. Free meal for those in need.

Stone Soup dinner for all, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Hygiene Center, 211 SE Chapman Pl., Corvallis. Free meal for those in need.

Events

THURSDAY

Virtual Star Party with Heart of the Valley Astronomers, 8:45 to 10 p.m., via GoToWebinar. Hosted by the Corvallis Public Library. Tom Carrico from the Heart of the Valley Astronomers Club will be remotely controlling his telescope in New Mexico. The telescope has a camera that can take pictures of galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and comets, showing them in real time. Tom will be imaging a number of his favorite objects and will be happy to take pictures of any of your suggestions. Star Party begins with a brief presentation on what a virtual star party is all about and then the imaging will begin. Participants will need to register. Information/registration: https://bit.ly/3dg92lY.

Government

THURSDAY

Board of commissioners meeting w/Benton County OSU Extension Service, 10 a.m. Link: https//global.gotomeeting.com/join/872953613 or dial 1-646-749-3122; access code: 872-953-613#.

City Manager's COVID-19 Briefing #13, noon, City of Corvallis. Members of the public may watch the briefing live via the internet by registering through this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8060482767511527951

Special Session Board meeting: Philomath Fire & Rescue public hearing, 3 p.m., Philomath Fire & Rescue, 1035 Main St., Philomath. Supplemental budget discussion. Information: www.philomathfire.com.

CANCELED: Climate Action Advisory Board, 5 p.m.

CANCELED: King Legacy Advisory Board, 5:15 p.m.

Health

THURSDAY

Opportunities

The Lebanon Public Library will offer an abbreviated Summer Reading Program beginning July 1 and ending July 31. Starting July 1, readers of all ages can pick up a reading log at the library. Once the log is filled out, participants can bring it back and redeem it for a prize, such as a book, cookies or coupons. Information: 541-258-4926, www.lebanonoregon.gov/library or www.facebook.com/cityoflebanon.

Organizations

THURSDAY

Heart of the Valley Runners, 6 a.m.; meet in the parking lot next to the Midge Cramer Bike Path, Benton County Fairgrounds, 110 SW 53rd St., Corvallis. Information: http://hotvrunners.com.

Corvallis Elks Lodge No. 1413, 7 p.m., 1400 NW Ninth St. Dinner at 5:30. Information: 541-758-0222.

Support groups

THURSDAY

Alcoholics Anonymous during the COVID-19 pandemic: Local hotline, 541-967-4252, answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by members of the local AA community. Many local and global AA groups are hosting meetings virtually. You can attend virtual meetings on your computer, smartphone or by dialing in. Attendees will remain anonymous and need only introduce themselves by first name. To access both local and global meetings taking place online 24 hours a day, visit https://aaoregon-district21.org.

Gamblers Anonymous, 7 p.m., Chance, 238 SE Third Ave., Albany; entrance, downstairs on the east side of the building. Open meeting; anyone with a gambling problem can attend, as can a significant other or family member of someone with this problem.

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I fixed my gaze across a sea of white coats, scrubs, and face masks, as I took a knee in front of my institutions hospital. A photographer was walking around capturing historical moments while we spent 10 minutes in silence to remember all the black lives lost due to intolerance and racism.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have gotten a surge of emails from my institutions faculty and administration, declaring their outrage at the racial injustice and their support of my well-being. As a black medical student in a profession dominated by my white counterparts, it is important to be at an institution that acknowledges your pain and structural violence.

Although those declarations are meaningful, there also needs to be a change in hearts, minds, and interpersonal interactions of individuals. For all the people who have sent me emails and text messages asking me to let them know if there is anything they can do to support me  here is what you can do.

1. When you are approached on an issue of race, resist the urge to respond defensively.

In the United States, it appears the worst thing one could ever call a white person is racist. As soon as the R-word is associated with their person, anything said after that point falls of deaf ears. If you want to support me, put down your walls, and listen. Hear what comes after the R-word. You should be more concerned with why someone perceived what you did or said as racist, prejudice, ignorant, or discriminatory. Take the time to understand how they received what occurred. You cannot prevent injustice, intolerance, and structural violence until you understand how your decisions impact the vulnerable and oppressed.

2. Sit in your discomfort and engage in dialogue with an open mind.

I am a black woman who has attended predominately white institutions since the 5th grade. When I go into a high-end store, sometimes I am followed. When I walk past a parked vehicle, I hear the click of locking car doors. I live in a society where the police cause me more anxiety and fear than security and peace. To make it plain  to live my life is to often be uncomfortable. If you want to support me, soak in the discomfort, and check your privilege. Navigating the world without discomfort is a luxury that black people cannot afford.

3. After having said conversation, do not avoid the person that spoke to you or distance yourself from them.

It has happened to me time and time again. I have an open and honest conversation with a non-POC about how their comment or action made me feel as a black person. They may apologize or express how it was not their intention to make me feel said way  and then they avoid me. Anytime they see me walking down the hallway, they look away, and our socialization is reduced to superficial, curt niceties. Avoiding someone because a conversation made you uncomfortable is an inappropriate response. If you want to support me, fight the temptation to run away. Instead, learn from the encounter and move forward with newfound awareness and intention. It is an opportunity for you to grow and improve your interactions with people who experience the world differently than you do.

There is no doubt that systems need to change. But what is a system other than a compilation of individuals? As anti-racist policies are introduced, and supports are provided for the vulnerable, be part of the shift in cultivating safe and open spaces for your black colleagues to exist and thrive.

Jasmine Arrington is a medical student.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
George A. Williams Jr. began his career teaching at an inner-city elementary school in Florida, and he wanted to make sure his students saw themselves in the books in his classroom  something that he didnt experience until he was in college.

So he began building a library of childrens books that featured black characters.

I started collecting childrens books from every part of the world that I visited that displayed a diverse group of characters and stories that really helped support the positive representation of our people, said Williams, 42, vice president for student affairs at Our Lady of the Lake University.

The collection now numbers around 80 books, including paperbacks and hardcovers, some signed by the authors. He reads one each night with his sons, 7-year-old Aaron and 6-year-old Jaxon, right before bedtime, sometimes using the stories as a springboard to chat about things that came up earlier in the day.

And he now is working to expand the audience for those stories well beyond his home.

Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News

Storytime with Dr. Williams is a new virtual story time, which is being produced by the Carver Community Cultural Center. The series will have a home on the Carvers YouTube channel. The videos will include original music and graphics, courtesy of Carver summer interns Mai Voi, who is producing and composing for the series, and David Lonergan, who is editing the videos. Both are students at Trinity University.

The Carver also is working on a second story time series in which various San Antonians will read favorite books for youngsters.

The idea for Storytime with Dr. Williams started percolating at a retreat for the Carvers board, on which Williams serves. He was asked to offer a reflection. He decided to read one of the books from his collection, Hey, Black Child, Useni Eugene Perkins much-loved poem encouraging youngsters to know who they are and to dream big.

The poem ends, Hey Black Child/ Be what you can be/ Learn what you must learn/ Do what you can do/ And tomorrow your nation/ Will be what you want it to be.

On ExpressNews.com: Archive projects underway at the McNay Art Museum, Carver Community Cultural Center

Its a book that really represents the people that we serve at the Carver, Williams said. Its a book that I wanted to make sure I shared with others, about the purpose of why we are serving, to make sure we have opportunities for black children to be exposed to the arts and things like that.

Cassandra Parker-Nowicki, the Carvers executive director, talked to him afterward about the possibility of doing a storytime series featuring his collection: He thought I was joking, she said.

She was not.

This needs to be shared, Parker-Nowicki said. What a gift hes giving his sons by collecting this library of work in which they can see themselves, and then to be able to extend that to a broader audience.

Its important for all of us to see a broader representation throughout all of our culture, on the stage, through the arts, because I think if we can start expanding the dominant narrative, thats where well start to see real change.

They started laying the groundwork for the series early in the year. Then, when the Carver had to close its doors to the public following shutdown orders put in place to try to stop the spread of COVID-19, the project took on some speed.

Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News

We started to wrap our heads around how we can continue to engage with people in a different way, Parker-Nowicki said. I circled back to this idea.

They had finished a pilot for the series when George Floyd, an unarmed black man, was killed at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, sparking nationwide protests.

When that happened, it became much more poignant, Parker-Nowicki said.

Much like the bedtime chats that grow from story time with his sons, Williams is hoping that the video series will spark discussion.

This is my way of providing a space for me to reflect on whats happening within our black community, he said. Im not one to go out and protest and write letters. Im one to make sure that, as a community, black, white, Hispanic or whatever, everyone has a space to have a positive dialogue about whats happening.

This is my way of facilitating that, of really, truly providing a space for people to think about whats happening. But also offering a charge, a message, a positive message, about our community, about things we should be grateful for, that we are blessed to have, but also to continue to stand up for whats right.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio artists respond to Black Lives Matter

Williams grew up in Miami, where his mother raised him and his siblings on her own. He didnt see himself reflected in the pages of the books he read or in the racial makeup of the faculty at the predominantly black high school he attended. The first time he discovered a book that reflected his own experience, he was pursuing a bachelors degree at Bethune-Cookman University, and read Invisible Life by E. Lynn Harris, in which black characters grapple with race and sexual identity.

It was a powerful experience. He ended up reading the book in a day, returning to it every minute he wasnt in class or working on homework.

I connected with it, he said. It was a story of sadness and uncertainty about yourself, but then it was a story about being courageous and allowing yourself to grow within your own identity and using your identity to say, This is who I am and this is something I cant change.

Im black, for one thing, and I cant change that. It provided really a great landscape for me to start thinking about not being afraid of who I am. The book helped me continue to expand and extend the conversation with myself about my identity.

Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News

Oftentimes, many of us look in the mirror, and because of whats happening today, think, Why am I a threat, by exercising on the street in my own neighborhood or visiting a grocery store or going to a fast food restaurant?

Not seeing his life experiences reflected in popular culture left him with a deficit when he was younger, he said.

Its almost like Im trying to find words to identify what Im experiencing, and for a long time, I had difficulty with that, he said. I struggled a lot with really trying to find the right words to channel and navigate things that I was experiencing from racial discrimination as a young kid, being called the n-word several times.

Thats why its important to him to make sure his children see themselves in the books they read and have the space to talk about their experiences. And thats why they have story time. It started right after he and his partner, Jay Tillman, adopted their sons.

They came to us in a very traumatic first several months of their lives, from drug abuse and all of that, so I knew that one way I could make a difference with them is providing them with stories, Williams said. So every night still to this day, we read a book and we talk a little bit about it. And they are able now to read to me. Its been a great experience to see that happening as well.

If theres something specific that Williams wants to discuss with his children, hell pick a book that provides an opening for that topic.

Sometimes the boys choose the book. Theyre partial to The Crayon Box That Talked, Shane DeRolfs tale about squabbling colors who learn to appreciate their differences; Dad, Who Will I Be?, G. Todd Taylors book about real-life heroes such as Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr. and W.E.B. Du Bois; and Chocolate Me!, actor Taye Diggs book about a child bullied because of his dark skin and how his mother helps him see his beauty.

It really is a great space for us to sit on the floor in their bedroom with a lamp and have some really genuine connection with the boys, Williams said. Its not only fun, it really is an opportunity for us to strengthen our relationship as Papa and sons, and strengthen our connection with our own identity.

Deborah Martin is an arts writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Deborah, become a subscriber. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday sent officials of the Bank of Ghana who had appeared before it packing because the Governor was not among them.



Dr Ernest Addison and his officers were scheduled to appear before the committee to respond to the Auditor-Generals report on the statement of foreign exchange receipts and payments of the bank for the years ending December 31, 2017 and 2018.



But when the meeting was called to order, it was discovered that neither Dr Addison nor any of his two deputies were there to respond to the concerns as captured in the Auditor-Generals report.



Instead three directors, led by Stephen Opata, Director, Financial Services were there on behalf of the top echelon of the Central Bank.



Asked why their boss was unable to attend upon the Committee, Mr Opata could not give any reason only to say that as late as yesterday, the plan was that the Governor or one of his deputies was going to attend.



Unenthused about the conduct of the Governor who was yet to appear before the Committee since his appointment in 2017, the Committee Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, tossed on his colleagues what should be done.



Colleagues, the [Governor of the] Bank of Ghana does not see the work of this Committee as important and so he has decided to send directors to appear before this Committee. What should we do? he asked.



In response Committee Members demanded that the available team went back and made way for the Governor himself to appear today.



There is nowhere in this world where a Committee of Parliament is treated this way. Let us remind them that per the Constitution and Standing Orders of Parliament, Parliament is clothed with the necessary powers to subpoena the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to appear before the Committee, a Committee Member, Ras Mubarak, bemoaned.



It appears the head of the Bank of Ghana does not take us serious and that is an obvious disrespect to the legislature.



I do not recall since he assumed office as Governor when he appeared before this Committee.



We have had past governors appearing before this Committee to respond to issues and I dont see how different he is from those who were before him that he does not find it important to appear before this Committee, another member, Richard Quashigah, lamented.



Ruling on the matter, Mr Avedzi said we want the governor to appear before the Committee tomorrow [that is today].



Kindly communicate to the governor that the Committee wants him to appear before us tomorrow so that we can consider the 2017 and 2018 reports.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 22:53:35|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds a video conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Beijing, capital of China, June 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a video conference on Wednesday with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, saying that China stands ready to promote bilateral relations to a new level.

Wang said China is willing to study possible ways of gradually resuming personnel exchanges between the two countries and advancing cooperation, taking into consideration the epidemic situation.

The attempts of certain countries to politicize the epidemic are undermining their own international credibility, Wang said, adding that China is willing to work with the international community, including Iran, to firmly champion multilateralism and the authority of the United Nations.

Zarif said that Iran welcomes the "Silk Road of health" proposed by China, while resolutely opposing the attempts of certain countries to use the epidemic for the purposes of politicization or stigmatization.

He also said Iran resolutely opposes U.S. interference in China's internal affairs, including Hong Kong affairs.

The two sides agreed to be committed to upholding the efficacy of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action relating to the Iranian nuclear issue. Enditem
Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty ImagesBy ARIELLE MITROPOULOS and ELLA TORRES, ABC News



(HOLYOKE, Mass.) -- An independent investigation into the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, Massachusetts, a state-run facility where more than 90 residents died since the coronavirus pandemic began, found that "substantial errors" and "utterly baffling" decisions by the home's leadership likely contributed to the tragedy.



The report on the investigation, however, said the home's leadership, including suspended Superintendent Bennett Walsh, did not conceal the situation.



"Our analysis of the Homes preparations for and response to COVID-19 in light of existing public health recommendations has identified substantial errors and failures by the Homes leadership that likely contributed to the death toll during the outbreak," according to the report, which was released Wednesday and signed by attorney Mark Pearlstein, a former federal prosecutor.



"Indeed, some of the critical decisions made by Mr. Walsh and his leadership team during the final two weeks of March 2020 were utterly baffling from an infection-control perspective, and were inconsistent with the Homes mission to treat its veterans with honor and dignity," the report added.



Ninety-two veterans died at the Soldier's Home -- nearly 40 percent of the population. Seventy-six of those who died had tested positive for COVID-19.



The investigation was ordered by Gov. Charlie Baker.



The report described leadership's "most substantial error" as a decision on March 27 to move all the veterans from one locked dementia unit into the other.



At that time, each unit had some veterans who had tested positive COVID-19, some of whom were suspected of having the virus and others who were not displaying any symptoms, according to the report.



Rather than isolating those with COVID-19 from those who were asymptomatic, more than 40 veterans were "crowded into a space designed to hold 25," the report stated.



"This overcrowding was the opposite of infection control; instead, it put those who were asymptomatic at even greater risk of contracting COVID-19," according to the report.



Staff members who were interviewed for the report spoke of the harrowing situation.



A recreational therapist who was instructed to help with the move said she felt like she was "walking [the veterans] to their death and that the veterans were terrified."



A social worker said she felt it was like moving the concentration campwe [were] moving these unknowing veterans off to die. Another described the unit as resembling "a war zone," with some veterans clothed, some unclothed, and some obviously in the process of dying from COVID-19.



Other errors at the home included delays in closing common spaces, failure to stop rotation of staff among units, inconsistent policies and practices with respect to personal protective equipment and record keeping and documentation failures.



Even the best preparations and most careful response cannot eliminate the threat of COVID-19. But this does not excuse a failure to plan and execute on long-standing infection control principles and to seek outside help when it is required to keep patients safeindeed, the extraordinary danger of COVID-19 makes these steps all the more important, the report said.



The report helped answer the long-standing question of what went so tragically wrong inside the home.



Employees previously told ABC News that in the early days of the pandemic, staff members were not given face masks. They also said some of the residents were moved to other rooms, leading to overcrowding and possible further spread.



Family members said they struggled to reach anyone at the home when the virus appeared to be running rampant at the end of March.



One daughter of a veteran at the home, Susan Kenney, told ABC News she waited for days to hear about her own father's condition after learning of the home's first COVID-19 case.



She said she eventually decided that she would drive down to the home herself. Kenney made sure she would be noticed by staff, so she painted 12 words on the side of her car: "Shame on you, Soldiers' Home. It's been 30 hours with no callback."



Kenney's father eventually did test positive for COVID-19 and died on April 15.



An attorney for the suspended superintendent of the Soldiers' Home, Bennett Walsh, said at a press conference in May that Walsh did not keep anyone "in the dark" about the growing crisis inside.



Attorney William Bennett, who is also Walsh's uncle, repeatedly insisted that Walsh took several steps to notify state and local officials about the growing rate of COVID-19 infections among veterans, but that Walsh's requests for medical assistance for the facility were denied.

Bennett wrote in a statement released late Wednesday that he and his client are "disappointed that the report contains many baseless accusations that are immaterial to the issues under consideration."

The attorney added he and his client "dispute" the conclusions of the report, asserting that they were "never given the opportunity to rebut prior to publication."

He noted that the investigation does "establish the original accusations that Mr. Walsh reported nothing to state officials and tried to keep everyone in the dark are false."

Walsh was placed on paid administrative leave on March 30 after state officials visited the facility.



The report released Wednesday found that Walsh was "not qualified" to manage a long-term care facility. The report also noted that his "shortcomings were well known to the Department of Veterans Services" but the agency failed to effectively oversee the home during his tenure despite a statutory responsibility to do so.



There are three other investigations ongoing into the home and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
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. One surprising finding was that not only vigorous physical activity but also just walking alone was associated with a decreased risk of sleep apnea." Lyle Palmer, Senior Author, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology, University of Adelaide, Australia

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.

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's Health (formerly known as the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project), which is made up of six regional health studies across Canada.
SALT LAKE CITY, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Xenocor, Inc., a privately held company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing innovative and differentiated endoscopes to address significant unmet needs in making minimally invasive approaches more accessible at a lower cost, is pleased to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is scheduled to issue Xenocor U.S. Patent No. 10,702,128 on July 7, 2020.

This newly allowed patent is the latest U.S. patent to issue in connection with the Xenoscope Single-use Laparoscopic System and provides valuable protection for materials used in the disposable scope that reduce fogging and improve the clarity of the resulting images provided by the system.

"We are extremely pleased with the continued development of the patent portfolio. This new issuance continues to expand the breadth and depth of our Xenoscope intellectual property portfolio covering numerous key features," said Evan Kelso, CEO of Xenocor.

Recently, clinical adoption of single-use endoscopes has seen significant increases in the Global marketplace with CAGR of 18.7% through 2025. The volatility of the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the demand for single use surgical endoscopes and will continue as innovations like this come to market with the triple-aim in mind of improving care, improving the health of populations and reducing the cost of healthcare.

Demonstration video of the product in live use can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/405261371

About Xenocor Inc.

Xenocor is a privately held Salt Lake City, UT based company.

Media contact: Tony Watson at [email protected]

SOURCE Xenocor, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.xenocor.com


consider Kosofe youthful,experienced candidates

A Lagos based group,Joint Action for Good Governance (JAGG) has urged the stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) to consider Kosofe Constituency first, in the alleged bid to fill the vacuum created in the Lagos East Senatorial District by late Senator Bayo Osinowos demise.

JAGG notes that it is pertinent to bring to bear, the fact that the deceased Senator from Kosofe Federal constituency barely spent a year out of his four years at the senate before death come calling, so likely candidates from the constituency should be favoured,especially the youthful ones with impactful political antecedents.

In a statement made available to newsmen which was jointly signed by the groups National Vice President,Comrade Abdulwaheed Odunuga and Comrade Ogundipe Moses the Lagos State Co-ordinator.

JAGG commiserate with the party on the demise of Senator Bayo Sikiru Osinowo, noting the constitutional model for replacement.

We write to commiserate with the entire All Progressives Congress (APC) on the death of Senator Bayo Sikiru Osinowo.

There is no doubt that the demise of the experienced parliamentarian has created vacuum within the East Senatorial District, Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole. We ask God to forgive his sins and grant him Aljanat Fridaous (Amen).

Reports in both print and social media suggest that the jostle for the replacement of the late senator has begun and several names including;Senator Olorunibe Mamora,Senator Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa,Chief Lanre Rasak,Honourable Dayo-Bush Alebiosu.

Others are Mr.Akinwunmi Ambode,Honourable Jimi Benson, Honourable Abike Dabiri and Dr Tola Kasali.

These names, we gather have cropped up for possible replacement for Lagos East Senatorial District at the Red Chambers.

Without prejudice to the political weights and inclinations of the above names and with the recent call on young people for leadership positions and participation in both local & national politics, we would like to categorically state that a young and vibrant legislator is who the East Senatorial District deserve.

The potential lawmaker must also boast of experience with track records in legislative functions.

Consequent to the aforementioned, It is on record that the deceased senator had barely completed a year of his four year mandate before the cold hand of death caught up with him.

In this light, we would like to clearly state that the Federal constituency from which the deceased senator emerged should be given utmost consideration for his replacement.

This is to give a sense of accomplishment to the constituency.

We implore the party hierarchy and leadership to lend credence to our position and carefully make appropriate selection.

Whilst also calling on the National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has been known for his fair judgment and sense of reasoning in the balance of power within the state vis a vis Local Governments within all the Senatorial Districts.
Photo credit: Nanna Ditzel

From ELLE Decoration

People who are familiar with the name Nanna Ditzel (1923-2005) tend to associate her with one thing: her Hanging Egg chair of 1959, whose cocooning wicker form heralded the playful, free-spirited mood of the 1960s. But theres much more to Ditzels story, in fact, she was one of the most versatile talents of her day. As Danish brands Fredericia and Brdr. Kruger reissue two of her iconic designs, its time to bring her work back into the spotlight.

Photo credit: Brdr Kruger

Born in Copenhagen, Ditzel inherited a passion for art and design from her mother. She studied cabinetmaking and then did a degree in architecture at Londons prestigious Royal Academy of FineArts, graduating in 1946. While she was there, she met her future husband, Jrgen Ditzel. They became the golden couple of Danish design, creating pared-down wooden furniture in their studio as well as minimalist jewellery for silversmith Georg Jensen. The latter won them the coveted Lunning Prize  the design worlds equivalent of the Nobel Prize  in 1956.

The first of several turning points in Ditzels life came in 1961, when her husband died aged just 40. Devastated but undaunted, she reinvented herself as a solo designer, experimenting with materials like fibreglass as well as producing a range of upholstery fabrics Hallingdal (1965), a plain wool now produced by Kvadrat, remains a classic. Identifying a Ditzel look is all but impossible: for every nature-inspired wicker piece she made, there was one more brightly coloured and urban in feel, like her Sputnik-style hall stand of 1963. And she diversified again in 1968, opening the Hampstead store Interspace with her second husband, manufacturer Kurt Heide. It was one of the first places in London to showcase contemporary furniture.

Photo credit: Nanna Ditzel

After being widowed again in 1985, Ditzel returned to Copenhagen. Now in her sixties, she was Denmarks grande dame of design. A line of upholstery for Danish and Swedish IC3 railway trains cemented her place in the popular imagination and in 1993 came one of her most successful works: the Trinidad dining chair, whose fan-shaped back creates an elegant play of light and shadow. It marked the high point of a partnership with Fredericia, which lasted from 1989 until her death.

Story continues

Photo credit: Dan Duchars

When Ditzel was 72, she brought her three daughters on board to help run her studio and, today, they continue to safeguard her legacy. Shed surely be delighted with the latest projects: her 1949 lounge chair  a comfortingly round shape intended to be admired from every angle  has been reissued by Fredericia, while the Arkade chair, a previously unreleased piece from 1983, is making its debut. A collaboration between Ditzel and Niels Kruger of furniture brand Brdr. Kruger, the sculptural piece favours soft circular shapes with elegant recurring arches. There's also the 'Ocean' chairs and tables she designed with Jrgen in 1955, which have recently been revisited by Danish brand Mater, now made from recycled ocean plastics. All of which go to show that her work, even now, is continuing to evolve. brdr-kruger.com; fredericia.com; materdesign.co.uk

This article appeared in ELLE Decoration June 2020 issue

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Farm life is stressful. Rural communities face unique mental health risks, but it can be hard to talk about it.

Ive heard stories of farmers who would drive three hours to a mental health seminar; not because there wasnt one closer, says Courtney Cuthbertson, assistant professor and University of Illinois Extension specialist in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. They didn't want their neighbors to know.

Research has shown that stigma around mental health is different in rural communities, says Cuthbertson, but a new course hopes to improve the resources available to America's farm families.

A newly released free online course, Rural Resilience: Farm Stress Training. is now available at go.illinois.edu/ruralresilience. The self-paced course can be completed in under three hours.

The goal is for participants to identify signs and symptoms of stress and suicide, reduce the stigma of needing help, and connect farmers and ranchers with resources that might be able to help, says Cuthbertson, whose research focuses on mental health and substance use. Theres a lack of mental health care in rural communities, and this is a way to train people to be a resource and help someone recognize and navigate stressful times.

On a farm, most pressures are constant and uncontrollable: machinery breaks; weather delays work; commodity prices fluctuate. The work is isolating and stressful, which puts farmers at risk for chronic stress and can lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts or action.

Prolonged stress also diminishes problem-solving abilities which, on a farm, can lead to injury. Accident and injury rates are higher for farmers than other occupations.

Access to mental health care providers in rural areas is often limited.

Even if someone wants to get help, it might be difficult to find someone in person, Cuthbertson says. Producers may feel more comfortable seeking out help when they know the healthcare provider they are seeing knows about and understands agricultural issues.

The three-unit course covers managing stress, communicating with farmers, and suicide awareness. The goal is to help rural communities, including farmers, family members, and anyone in the agricultural industry feel confident enough to talk about and manage stress.

The course is available through a partnership between University of Illinois Extension and Michigan State University Extension, with support from Farm Credit, American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Farmers Union. Cuthbertson developed the course collaboratively with MSU Extension.

University of Illinois Extension is the flagship outreach effort of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, offering educational programs to residents of all of Illinois' 102 counties and far beyond. As evolving conditions require adapted practices, and as critical issues emerge, Extension offers evidence-based information, analysis, and research that producers can use.

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A high-level meeting was chaired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday for reviewing preparedness in the face of rising water levels of rivers originating in Nepal and flowing through the states northern districts. CM Kumar suggested various ways to ensure that there are no floods, such as planting trees, and focused on ensuring that communication lines are secure.

READ: Floods Update: Assam & Bihar Brought To A Stand-still Amid Heavy Rains And Floods, Details Here

Nitish Kumar chairs meeting

The high-level meeting was held with officials from the state water resource department. The meeting comes at the back of Nepal halting repair work along the river. The state government believes that developments across the border will result in its efforts to prevent floods to be on a backfoot.

At the meeting where Water Resources minister Sanjay Kumar Jha and top officials led by Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar were present, the chief minister instructed that flood control measures be completed at the earliest and Nepalese authorities be taken into loop wherever required.

READ: BJP Defends Nitish Kumar Govt Over Bihar Floods; 29 Dead In State

On Monday, Jha had expressed concern over the neighbouring country denying access to officials from Bihar to territory falling on the other side of the border for completing repair of embankments which was essential to prevent the state from getting ravaged by floods in rivers like Gandak, Kosi and Kamala.

"The Gandak Barrage has altogether 36 gates, half of which fall on our side. Repair of these has been completed by our engineers and their helpers. However, when they tried to cross over to the other side for doing the needful for the remaining 18 gates, maintenance of which is carried out by us, they found the barricades," the Bihar water resources minister was quoted by PTI.

Jha is also hoping for an intervention by the Central government and will be writing to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding the issue. "I am going to write a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) seeking its intervention in the matter. Access is also being denied to a 500-metre-long stretch on an embankment on the Lal Bakeya river. Nepalese authorities are contending that it falls in a no man's land. But the mud structure has been around for three decades," he said.

READ: NDMA Warns Of 'severe Flood Situation' In Bihar And Assam

READ: Patna Floods: Rains And Thunderstorm Likely To Continue This Week
31483

Agile supply chain management, flawless delivery, and in-product communication ensemble the perfect consumer experience. Companies, on the other hand, benefit from IoT in inventory replenishment, mapping and modeling operations, improve efficiency in logistics and optimize merchandising

Fremont, CA: Countries such as the US, China, Japan, Germany, and India range high on their consumer expenditure gauges. Large markets need effective measures to manage the operations, especially the demand and supply. Businesses have set foot on consumer patterns and footholds, but to pull it off successfully, the Internet of Things is (IoT) employed to the very extent.

IoT makes life easier and more productive. It does a voluntary intelligence service, particularly to enhance the consumer experience by monitoring customer behavior trends. For example, in a shopping center, the cameras and sensors provide data on consumer movement, products of interest, and time spent. These insights are used by the manufacturer or the seller to tailor their products or store design to the consumer purchase patterns. Online shopping platforms often provide personalized recommendations using the consumers profile information collected via IoT devices. IoT improves consumer relationships and establishes trade patterns physically and virtually. The manufacturing industry considers this IoT empowered information to design products. In the meantime, IoT facilitates production in the highest quality. Along with transforming consumer experience, IoT is adopted to help improve quality control, achieve operational efficiency and safety.

Industries rely on IoT to nurture trust among consumers. Providing timely information to the consumers on various details of the product generates trust. This practice is increasingly common in many businesses and industries that produce direct-to-consumer products. A food product revealing its sources, explaining the production process, and informing the distribution mechanisms could only infuse trust and belief into consumers. IoT devices do this in real-time.

Agile supply chain management, flawless delivery, and in-product communication ensemble the perfect consumer experience. Companies, on the other hand, benefit from IoT in inventory replenishment, mapping and modeling operations, improve efficiency in logistics and optimize merchandising. With the help of a large volume of data, IoT helps companies to be flexible in responding to demand, especially in niche markets. Mass customization is yet another feat made possible by IoT and related devices.

Integration of IoT, robotics, and automation has given rise to intelligent systems in merchandising goods and services to better the consumer experience.

See Also:

Top IoT Solution Companies
US Pushes Ahead With Bid to Extend Arms Embargo Against Iran Indefinitely

Sputnik News

12:43 GMT 23.06.2020(updated 13:27 GMT 23.06.2020)

In order to prolong a UN arms embargo against Iran, Washington has argued that it effectively remains a party to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal, notwithstanding its withdrawal from that agreement in 2018. Foreign diplomats have dismissed the US legal argument as "ridiculous".

The United States has submitted a draft resolution on the indefinite extension of the 2010 United Nations arms embargo against Iran past its October expiry date to other Security Council members, a Security Council source has confirmed.

According to a copy of the draft resolution seen by Sputnik, the US is calling on the UN body's members to "prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer" of arms and related materials to or from Iran unless explicitly approved to do so by a specially-created Security Council committee 30 days in advance.

Furthermore, the resolution proposes prohibiting countries and companies from the sharing of specialists, information or financial resources which could be used to create weapons, on penalty of asset freezes.

Additionally, the resolution lists a series of recent US claims of Iranian malfeasance, including a UN report accusing Tehran of supplying the weapons used in last year's Houthi drone strikes on Saudi oil refineries. Tehran has denounced that report and its allegations as "blind, incomprehensible and meaningless", and accused the UN of giving in to US and Saudi pressure to blame Iran.

Other claims in the resolution include the allegation that Iran was responsible for last year's oil tanker sabotage attacks, which were preceded by the deployment of a US carrier strike group to the Middle East, as well as the 27 December attack on a US military base in northern Iraq, which the US immediately blamed on Iran, but which Iraqi intelligence has since said was likely carried out by Daesh (ISIS).*

Russia, China, EU Dismiss Embargo Extension

The US submitted its resolution for Security Council review despite signals from Moscow, Beijing, and Europe that the US has no grounds to demand an extension of the Iran arms embargo.

Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergegi Lavrov indicated that the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal and the approval of the corresponding UN resolution in 2015 made an extension of the embargo beyond October 18, 2020 a moot point, with "no legal or other reasons to reconsider" the decision. Before that, Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's permanent ambassador to the UN, called the US's bid to extend the embargo "ridiculous", and hinted that Moscow may veto the measure if it were put to a vote.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also emphasised that the US is no longer a participant of the JCPOA, and therefore has "no right to demand" Security Council snap-back sanctions.

Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, similarly insisted that because the US has pulled out of the nuclear agreement, it cannot now "claim that they are still part of the JCPOA" for the purposes of extending the embargo.

Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed the Trump administration's attempt to save the arms embargo via legalese manoeuvring, quipping that "it is not unexpected of those advising people to drink or inject disinfectants to fight the coronavirus to come forward and say they are still a party to the agreement after officially leaving it".

* A terrorist group outlawed in Russia.

A Sputnik

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The US and India, as the world's two leading democracies, can provide a balance globally and are the "most essential" countries to ensure peace and prosperity, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said.

Participating in a webinar here on Tuesday, Abbott said his goals were to see interaction and trade between Texas and India to grow further.

The US-India Chamber of Commerce DFW (USICOC) hosted the 'Texas-India Partnership' webinar featuring Abbott, Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Consul General Aseem R Mahajan.

"It's almost endless what we can do working together. We are two leading democracies in the world, and we are on opposite sides of the world. We can provide a balance globally. US and India are two of the most essential countries to ensure global peace and global prosperity," Governor Abbot said.

"One of the highlights of my service as governor was my trip to India to see the relationship between India and Texas in action. One of my goals is to see interaction between Texas and India continue to grow, to see trade between Texas and India continue," he said.

Both Governor Abbott and Ambassador Sandhu exchanged views on strategic partnership and opportunities for trade and investment cooperation.

They discussed ongoing opportunities for Texas-India trade in technology, energy, natural gas, and in the medical supply chain.

"India and United States are natural allies, with shared values of democracy enshrined in both our Constitutions. Texas occupies a special place in the US-India partnership," Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu said.

Ambassador Sandhu said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump had upgraded the US-India relationship to a "growing strategic partnership".

Mentioning the changing immigration situation in the US, Sandhu spoke on behalf of Indian students who are studying in the STEM fields at Texas universities."These kids bring real value, they are the future bridges in our countries and hope they find Texas as a special home and their talents are utilised," he said.

They exchanged views on our strategic partnership and opportunities for trade and investment cooperation.

Consul General of India in Houston Aseem R Mahajan noted that, "India and Texas share a deep partnership. We are blessed with a strong Indian-American community here, and Texas ranks as state that is attracting the highest level of Indian investment."

Other members of attended the webinar included Raj Kalyandurg, Chairman USICOC DFW, Ashok Mago, its Founding Chairman, and Neel Gonuguntla, its president.

Panel also included Dallas business leaders Satish Gupta, Anurag Jain, and G Brint Ryan talked about their experiences with Texas-India trade in the energy sector, historic foundation of the Texas-India business relationship and the shared values of Texans and Indians.
With the commencement of Kharif season, farmers in Kalaburagi district have started sowing seasonal crops-Cotton and pigeon pea, anticipating a good rainfall in the state.

Farmers in the region said they could not grow enough crops due to low rainfall.

A farmer in Kalaburagi, who is sowing the Kharif crop in the hope of bumper crop said: Due to less rain for the last 3 years, we have not been able to grow cotton. But during this years monsoon, we are sowing cotton and tur (Pigeon pea) in our 2-acre land.

Although, there is no guarantee of rain this year as well but we can only hope for it, he added.

The Kharif season begins in June with the start of the monsoon in India and concludes by October.

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[June 24, 2020] ADX Labs donates $100,000 to advance COVID-19 vaccine research

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is accelerating the development of candidate vaccines against COVID-19 with the financial support of Minneapolis-based technology company ADX Labs, Inc.

MINNEAPOLIS, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADX Labs, Inc. has donated $100,000 to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to speed the development of COVID-19 vaccines. The donation was made by ADX Labs charitable arm, the ADX Foundation. CEPI, which the journal Nature called by far the largest vaccine development initiative ever against viruses that are potential epidemic threats,"has moved quickly to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, CEPI has funded a diverse portfolio of nine vaccine candidates against COVID-19, with the ambition of developing a safe, effective and globally accessible vaccine within a 12-18-month timeframe. To increase their chances of success, CEPI has also recently opened a new funding opportunity focusing on additional vaccine candidates that have the potential to be developed rapidly and manufactured globally at scale. Steven M. Renner, founder and CEO of ADX Labs and chairman of the ADX Foundation said, ADX is committed to making a difference throughout the world through the power of technology. In CEPI we have found a like-minded organization built on innovation and dedicated to preparedness. CEPIs new Call for Proposals to accelerate vaccine candidates against COVID-19 is a highly promising initiative, and ADX Labs is proud to help CEPIs vaccine developmen partners increase their chances of success.



Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said, We are incredibly grateful for ADX Labs donation to expedite our work to develop an effective vaccine against COVID-19. This global pandemic has resulted in a devastating loss of lives, while also fracturing societies and shutting down economies. Investment in vaccines and other scientific innovations now is crucial to give us the best possible chance of ending this pandemic. We are therefore delighted to welcome ADX to the coalition. Mr. Renner concluded, ADX Labs has a proven track record of backing technologies that improve peoples lives across the world. Since 2013 our ADX Foundation has invested in children and communities, and social justice. Today, supporting CEPIs search for a COVID-19 vaccine and manufacturing an effective vaccine at scale is the best way that we can help.

Media enquiries: Simon Cousins, [email protected] About ADX Labs, Inc. ADX Labs, Inc. (ADX) is a technology company focused on providing a range of innovative products and services for individuals, home-based businesses, and the small to medium enterprise market. ADX independently funds the ADX Foundation, a registered non-profit philanthropic organization which has invested in children, communities, and social justice since 2013. Learn more at http://adxlabs.com About Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil organizations to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics. Before COVID-19, CEPIs priority diseases included Ebola, Lassa, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Nipah, Rift Valley Fever, Chikungunya and unknown pathogens (Disease X). Learn more at http://cepi.net Two photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dcf82aac-fa4a-442e-92ff-e146db9c720f

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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 sympathiser 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."
WHILE she watched the protests against racism across the U.S. and Canada, Sensei Tanis Moore of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple wondered what her little faith community could do.

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This article was published 24/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WHILE she watched the protests against racism across the U.S. and Canada, Sensei Tanis Moore of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple wondered what her little faith community could do.

"We wanted something inspirational and hopeful," she said. "Something anyone could do anywhere."

They settled on the idea of making 1,000 origami paper cranes and inviting other Winnipeggers to join them in the project.

"An ancient Japanese legend promises that if anyone folds a thousand paper cranes they will be granted a wish by the gods," she said.

The origami cranes popularity is largely due to a childrens book, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

Written by Canadian author Eleanor Coerr, the book tells the story of a Japanese girl named Sadako who was two when the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima during the Second World War.

Due to the fallout from the bomb, Sadako developed leukemia. While in hospital, she started folding origami cranes. She made 1,400 before dying in 1955.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS An ancient Japanese legend promises that if anyone folds a thousand paper cranes they will be granted a wish by the gods, Tanis Moore said.

Since that time, many people have followed her example by making paper cranes as expressions of peace and understanding, Moore said.

"Its a way to show our intention to promote peace and goodwill," she said, adding it is also a way to express hopefulness about racism and other issues facing Canada today.

Winnipeggers who want to join the temples 80 members in the project can find a how-to video for making a paper crane on the temples website.

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"Folding a crane is actually not too difficult," Moore said, noting all that is needed is a single square sheet of paper.

Once completed, the cranes will be put on display at locations throughout Winnipeg.

Making a crane is also a way to "bring peace to your own mind," Moore said, describing it as a meditative practice.

Once made, the cranes can be mailed to the temple at 39 Tecumseh St., Winnipeg MB, R3E 0J8. They will be collected for display at locations around the city.

For more information about the project, visit the temples website at manitobabuddhistchurch.org or email Moore at tanismoo@gmail.com.

faith@freepress.mb.ca
It was a big place with its own barracks, mess hall, gym, NCO club, and it was humming 24/7, Mike wrote. After the Beatles Abbey Road became available at the PX, you could go from one end of the compound to the other, day or night, and never be out of earshot of some GI playing the album. It was everywhere, and it went on for weeks and weeks. It was like living in Abbey Road Land. It was awesome.
Formula 1's looming back-to-back 'ghost race' experiments could be eye-opening, according to Haas driver Kevin Magnussen.

He is referring to the fact that, amid the pandemic, the sport is getting back up and racing without spectators and by holding consecutive races at the same tracks like Austria and Silverstone.

"It's hard to say who will benefit," the Dane told Ekstra Bladet newspaper. "I have no way to predict that and we still have no idea how good our new car is."

But Magnussen admits that he is keen to find out what happens when Formula 1 races at one track and then comes back to do it all again a week later.

"It will be quite exciting to see," he said.

"We will get concrete proof about whether performance is circuit-dependent or whether other factors are involved.

"We have the feeling that a lot is dictated by whether the circuit fits the car, but we are going to get answers to all that," Magnussen added.

"If the two weekends are completely up and down and not similar in terms of results and performance, there will be something to think about.

"But I strongly expect it to be pretty much the same," he said.

(GMM)
Oil tankers carrying at least 18.1 million barrels of Venezuelan oil are currently idling at sea across the world unable to find buyers  some for as long as six months  as many potential and previous customers of Venezuelas crude are not taking chances with delivery for fear of incurring secondary U.S. sanctions.

According to Reuters estimates based on shipping data, industry sources, and documents of Venezuelas state oil firm PDVSA, at least 16 tankers are idling off the coasts of Africa and Southeast Asia because few potential buyers would risk U.S. sanctions for dealing with the regime of Nicolas Maduro.

The 18.1 million barrels of still unsold Venezuelan crude oil is equal to two months of the countrys production at its current rate, according to Reuters.

Over the past months, the U.S. Administration has increasingly stepped up its maximum pressure campaign on Venezuela and its oil industry and exports, seeking to cut off revenues for Maduros regime.

Earlier this year, the United States slapped sanctions on Rosnefts Switzerland-based trading arm and signaled that it was ready to tighten even more the noose around the Venezuelan government.

Last week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated three individuals and eight foreign entities, and identified two vessels as blocked property for their activities in or associated with a network attempting to evade United States sanctions on Venezuelas oil sector. The sanctioned entities include Mexico-based Libre Abordo and its affiliate Schlager Business Group, the Treasury said.

Despite the U.S. sanctions, Venezuelan crude has still been reaching China in recent months.

According to the U.S. Administration, the tanker Delos Voyager  which is now a blocked property  loaded 515,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude in mid-January 2020 and delivered it to Qingdao, China, in February 2020, while EUROFORCE loaded 500,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude in mid-March 2020 and transferred the cargo to another vessel in the South China Sea in late May 2020.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Texas surging coronavirus numbers will not slow the states reopening, according to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has prescribed an emphasis on face coverings and social distancing to curtail sobering trends, including hospitalization rates that have doubled since Memorial Day.

On June 22, Texas reached an 11th consecutive day of record COVID-19 hospitalizations. And while he didnt rule out re-imposing lockdown orders in Texas  describing it as a last resort  Abbott said the virus did not require choosing between jobs and health. He instead emphasized long-established voluntary measures, such as staying at home if possible.

On June 23, Abbott expanded the ability of mayors and county judges to impose restrictions on outdoor gatherings of over 100 people. Previously, this applied only to outdoor gatherings over 500 people. He also directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to enact emergency rules that provide strict health and safety standards and procedures related to COVID-19 for child care centers in Texas.

Wearing a mask has become a political statement during the pandemic throughout the U.S., and Abbott is not requiring them in public, even as big cities last week began racing to impose mask mandates on businesses. On June 22, Nueces County, home to Corpus Christi, became the latest Texas county to order that businesses require employees and customers to wear masks. The order was to take effect on June 26.

But Abbott nodded to the resistance that has flared particularly from within his party. Ahead of next months Texas GOP Convention in Houston, party leaders have said masks wont be required.

I know that some people feel that wearing a mask is inconvenient or that it is like an infringement of freedom, Abbott said in a televised briefing outside his office in the Texas Capitol. But I also know that wearing a mask will help us to keep Texas open.

House Democrats quickly blasted Abbotts reaction to surging cases as insufficient.

He set the stage to finally take much-needed strong and decisive action  and then, predictably, backed away without doing anything, Democratic state Rep. Chris Turner said in a statement.

On June 22, state health officials reported 3,711 hospitalizations, setting a record for the 11th consecutive day with a single-day jump of 302 new patients.

Texas also reported 3,280 new cases, the fifth-highest total since the state began keeping records and the highest yet reported on a Monday, which is typically the lowest day of the week for reported new cases. The states seven-day positivity rate rose again to 9.5%, its highest since April 20.

The 10 new fatalities reported Monday were the fewest reported in a week.

Abbott acknowledged the grim trends that continued over the weekend, saying the virus was spreading at an unacceptable rate in Texas and must be corralled.

Pressed on at what point he would consider putting restrictions back in place, Abbott said another doubling of new cases, hospitalizations and infection rates over the next month would create an urgent situation that would require action but did not offer specifics.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he was particularly disappointed after all of the good work we did in shutting down businesses and slowing the virus spread earlier this year. The number of COVID-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, Turner said. I said two months ago I thought we were moving too quickly, too fast, and now we find ourselves where we are today.

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.

Associated Press writer Nomaan Merchant in Houston contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 Texas
Local trading app Stake has hit 100,000 users as Australians leap into the sharemarket with both feet.

The Wall Street-focused platform is now expanding to New Zealand, Brazil and the UK with a view to move into Europe as well.

CEO Matt Leibowitz told Business Insider Australia the platform is appealing to a new counterculture of traders.

Visit Business Insider Australia's homepage for more stories.

As markets buck like a mechanical bull, Australians have never looked so keen to clamber on.

While the likes of Amazon may have done spectacularly out of the market rush, it's the local broker letting Australians get a piece of the action which may have done even better.

Local online broker Stake, which allows Australians to invest on Wall Street, has just been propelled to 100,000 customers in the midst of market volatility and frantic Australian investing.

"In the last five years there's been a lot of growth in international trading but this just accelerated that trend and we were in position and ready to go when it did hit," CEO and co-founder Matt Leibowitz told Business Insider Australia.

While Stake doesn't charge commissions on trades, encouraging more frequent trading, it does take a cut on the foreign currency conversion involved in buying and selling US stocks.

Leibowitz, who launched Stake in 2017 after discovering how hard it was to trade on Wall Street from Australia, says part of its success has been appealing to the aspirational.

"There's been a real shift even at a social level where you're seeing a counterculture pop up, and you can see that with things like 'The Big Short', 'The Wolf of Wall Street', [and] 'Billions'," he said.

"People are fascinated about what's happening and how can I make my money work harder? How can I get out of this nine to five because it's really hard to move up in the world if you're not having your money work for you in the share market."

Story continues

It is clear Stake has these types of investors in mind with users given the option to filter investments by trading strategy. From a drop-down menu, users can select options like "today I want to make money when markets fall", "short the oil market", or get exposure to gold or the volatility expectation index VIX.

While Australians have traditionally held a preference for homegrown companies, platforms like Stake have helped foster a growing appetite for Wall Street darlings.

"Australians are so aware of how successful companies like Netflix, Spotify and Tesla are and want a way to share in that," Leibowitz said.

Not that the timing has hurt. As markets jumped out of the window in March, US tech stocks proved a port in stormy seas. As markets then rallied, it was these household names that nabbed the lion share of gains while other sectors floundered.

It's no surprise then that trading platforms have been going gangbusters at the same time. Competitor eToro amassed 13 million users earlier this year, while Leibowitz revealed Stake itself has grown 167% since the start of the year.

Recognising this surging demand extends beyond Australia's shores, Leibowitz is now looking to capitalise on it overseas, with a target of doubling again by the end of the year and tripling in 2021.

"We feel that we're building a business that Australians can actually look back on and be like, 'wow, 'where did this thing come?'."

To get there, Stake has now moved into New Zealand, Brazil and the UK, with a view to "attack" the European market soon.

Leibowitz also promises there's plenty more Stake can offer users.

"We're all about providing access to the opportunities people want to take. The US is just so deep that we haven't really even scratched the surface yet."

READ MORE:
California plans to go to court to compel Uber and Lyft to reclassify their drivers as employees in a matter of weeks. The companies said that could jeopardize their businesses, possibly forcing them to shut down service in California or raise prices dramatically.

Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the city attorneys of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego sued Uber and Lyft in May, saying their drivers were misclassified as independent contractors when they should be employees under AB5, the states gig-work law that took effect Jan. 1.

As part of that suit, Becerra and the city attorneys said Wednesday they now plan to seek a preliminary injunction forcing Uber and Lyft to treat drivers as employees before the case is heard. The judge on the case set a hearing on that motion for Aug. 6.

The lawsuit says that keeping drivers as freelancers robs them of critical workplace protections, such as minimum wage, overtime and workers compensation insurance, and gives the companies an unfair competitive advantage, as they can duck the costs of providing those benefits, which can add 30% to an employers labor costs.

Uber and Lyft, which have never turned a profit, can ill afford any additional expenses. Both saw their shares drop almost 8% Wednesday, falling more than the stock markets overall.

Misclassifying your workers as consultants or independent contractors simply means you want your workers or taxpayers to foot the bill for obligations you have as an employer  whether its paying a legal wage or overtime, providing sick leave, or providing unemployment insurance, Becerra said in a statement. Were seeking a court order to force Uber and Lyft to play by the rules.

Uber and Lyft maintain that the flexibility of a nonemployee structure is key to their business models, and point to surveys that most drivers prefer staying independent. The two San Francisco companies, along with DoorDash, Instacart and Postmates, are spending $110 million on a November ballot measure asking California voters to keep their drivers and couriers independent but with some benefits and wage floors.

We believe the courts should let the voters decide, said Lyft spokeswoman Julie Wood in a statement. Trying to force drivers to give up their independence 100 days before the election threatens to put a million more people out of work at the worst possible time.

The ballot campaign commissioned a study that said the companies would hire only about 10% to 20% of current drivers under an employee model, with the huge numbers who work part time being jettisoned.

The vast majority of drivers want to work independently, and weve already made significant changes to our app to ensure that remains the case under California law, Uber said. In January, Uber began allowing drivers to reject rides without penalties and made fares more transparent, although it still sets the fares. When over 3 million Californians are without a job, our elected leaders should be focused on creating work, not trying to shut down an entire industry.

Organized labor backed AB5, and now a broad coalition of unions are battling the gig companies ballot measure, saying that the contractor model exploits workers.

The states legal filing is another strong signal to voters that these companies will do anything  including breaking the law  in order to boost their profits, said Bob Schoonover, president of SEIU California, in a statement.

Uber, which has 158,000 California drivers, said most would lose work under an employee model. We estimate that rider prices would need to increase 25-111% across different parts of California to cover increased costs, wrote Alison Stein, an economist at Uber, in a Medium post on the potential impact.

Bill Hamm, a former California legislative analyst whom the pro-gig-work campaign hired to analyze the effects of employment, said he estimates it would increase ride fares by 26%.

Arun Sundararajan, an NYU business professor who studies the on-demand economy, agreed that ride prices would rise if drivers were employees.

In addition, I think service availability is bound to suffer because this is a market that works very well, he said. The extreme flexibility that Uber and Lyft provide workers now makes it much easier to cover the high-demand periods.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

An employment model, in which companies have to keep drivers busy 8 to 10 hours a day, favors the bigger player (Uber) and over time will lead to Uber having a monopoly, he said.

Sung Won Sohn, an economics and finance professor at Loyola Marymount, echoed that. The end result would be fewer rides at higher costs, he said. Thats what economics would dictate.

AB5, which codifies and clarifies a 2018 California Supreme Court decision called Dynamex, makes it much harder for companies to claim that workers are independent contractors.

The law has had massive ripple effects, with many freelancers saying it destroys their livelihoods. In terms of government enforcement, the primary targets have been truck driving and the new generation of on-demand, app-based services.

The San Francisco district attorney sued delivery company DoorDash this month, saying it is defying AB5.

San Diegos city attorney sued Instacart over the classification of drivers and shoppers in September. In February, a judge granted the citys request for a preliminary injunction to force reclassification, but then stayed his order while Instacarts appeal is pending. The ruling was limited to workers within San Diego, although the city had sought an order for the whole state.

Uber and Postmates sued California in December, requesting a halt to enforcement of AB5 against them. In February, a federal judge denied their request for a preliminary injunction that would have immediately halted enforcement in that case, which is still pending.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

The secrets out.

New Mexicans have turned on their fellow Land of Enchantment residents in recent weeks, reporting those not wearing masks or physically distancing far enough, holding mass get-togethers or selling things on the sly. Thousands have reported businesses and individuals for violating New Mexico public health orders during the pandemic to the Department of Public Safety.

And now, theres an effort by some, including a political blog and an Albuquerque radio host, to unmask these tattletales.

Oh, so you want to dox? Eddy Aragon, who hosts The Rock of Talk on KIVA, asked his Facebook followers on June 14, using a term for publishing identifying information of individuals and organizations on the internet.

Aragon then posted a smattering of emails that had been sent to the state Department of Public Safety reporting businesses that violated public health orders.

He referred to the informers as the people who are the snitches (and) the tattletales on all the businesses in New Mexico and said he was motivated to draw attention to businesses that were trying to hurt their competitors.

It led to some unintended consequences, creating an anti-market approach, Aragon said in an interview Monday. It did the very ugly thing of competition turning on each other, in the name of the state and in the name of public health, to ruin each others businesses.

Easy to report

The state government website has a portal where people can easily report noncompliance with the orders. A state senator was among those outed for making a report.

New Mexico Political Journal, a state politics blog, on June 14 posted an email that state Sen. William Soules sent to DPSs COVID-compliance email address on April 21.

In it, the Las Cruces Democrat wrote that Miller Guns and Ammo in Las Cruces appeared to be violating the health orders.

There are cars there every day. The sign on the door says they are open and their website says they are open, Soules wrote. Gun stores are not deemed to be essential and they should be following the governors orders.

Soules didnt respond to a request for comment.

Herman Lovato, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, said more than 9,000 messages have been sent to a DPS account for reporting businesses or other individuals for breaking public health orders put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The health orders affect a wide range of businesses and services. For example, the orders prohibit most large gatherings, cap houses of worship at 25% of their capacity, close nontribal casinos and mandate that other businesses follow COVID-Safe Practices, according to the states website.

The emails the state received reporting violations of those orders are public record, and Lovato said the agency has gotten several Inspection of Public Records Act requests for the messages.

Citizen publishers

KT Manis, a Republican candidate and a businessman from Hobbs, has posted a large collection of emails to DPS on his Facebook page.

Manis, who is running for a seat on the Public Education Commission, said he was motivated to publish the records because small businesses have been hurt by the public health orders. He said a friend of his filed an IPRA for the emails.

In response to that request, the state has released complaints it received April 21-29. Manis then posted those documents on his Facebook page. He said he plans to post the additional records when the state releases them.

Concerns found in the documents ran the gamut, and they came from all over the state, according to a review of the records Manis published.

In Farmington, a woman  who signed her name but also wrote **anonymous**  reported to the state that her husbands employer, a sign manufacturer, was skirting the shutdown order by keeping the fence around the property closed even though the employees were at work on the inside.

Some new neighbors on Raven Lane in Southwest Albuquerque were reported for their regular parties, as were hordes of fishermen on the Chama River near El Vado Dam. A concerned citizen in Moriarty turned in their family for moving ahead with plans for a funeral after a relative died.

Stop the funeral

Please do what you can to stop this from happening, the person wrote. They all think the coronavirus is a Democrat hoax.

Churches in different parts of the state were reported, as was a museum in Madrid.

People are ringing the train bell in the museum! the informant wrote.

Reaction to Manis post has been mixed.

Ive gotten reactions all the way from hate mail and death threats to people who are really happy to know who their accuser is, Manis said in an interview. When you are being fined and you are being charged with something, we should have a right to know who our accuser is.

The email collection has apparently created some awkwardness. Many of the emails identify the tipster, who asks that they remain anonymous because they are afraid of retaliation.

Some of the tipsters are businesses reporting their competition for possibly breaking the rules, Manis said.

He said some of the outed informers have insisted they were framed.

Nora Meyers Sackett, a spokeswoman for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, said some businesses have been fined after not heeding several warnings.
The government of India has issued an advisory through the national cyber crime portal, warning users of large scale phishing attacks planned by Chinese state-backed hackers. The advisory warns users against a specific email address, ncov2019@gov.in, which is reportedly being used by the Chinese attackers to send phishing emails. According to the government advisory, the Chinese cyber crime perpetrators have gotten hold of over 2 million email addresses, and are using the above-mentioned email address to send messages that claim to offer free Covid-19 testing for all residents of Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad. It is this that raises considerable threat for all individuals in the country, making it extremely important to keep yourself safe. On this note, here are some essential tactics that you must adopt in order to keep yourself safe online.

1. Scrutinise who you received the email from

What is important to note here is how the Chinese attackers are using a spoofed email address with the gov.in suffix. Typically, this suffix is reserved for government usage, and this may lead to many deeming this to be an official email. However, that may not always be the case, as spoofing an email address is not very difficult a task. If you receive such an email, do not open, reply or take any actions on such an email before verifying this information for yourself. For any email that has words such as free, offers, rewards, discounts or anything related to them, the first step is to verify the information and the email address that the mail came from. Also check the email address properly, since spam mails often have email addresses that carry traces of being fake.

2. DO NOT open attachments sent on mail

Many of these emails contain attachments, which may be disguised as PDF or other harmless files claiming to give you information. In reality, they actually come with executable malware that get downloaded on your device(s), and may work in the background to steal information that may include personal IDs and financial data. Hence, be sure to not open any such email attachments, unless the mail has come from a person or source whom you know for yourself, and know that the attachment has been sent to you for a certain purpose.

3. Do not reply with identifiable personal data or financial information

Many such phishing emails claim that to get the free benefits, users must reply within a stipulated time period with certain information that may include IDs, banking details and so on. If you receive such an emails, make sure that you dont respond to them with your personal details. As many companies have said repeatedly, unless official authorities specifically ask you for identification on official channels, you should not be divulging your personal details anywhere.

4. Verify and cross-verify links before downloading or transacting on them

Phishing attacks often try to emulate official websites in attached links, while in reality they are actually fabricated links connected to a remote server that will steal your data. If you open any such links from convincing emails, scrutinise the link to see if it is the same as the official site it is replicating. A simple Google Search often reveals these details, which every person must follow. Also check for the https tag at the start of a link, and see if the webpage you have opened has valid certificates. These information are typically found at the left corner of a browsers address bar.

5. Report any suspicious activity to alert authorities

Government advisory issued on this matter has urged individuals to report any such emails on Indias official anti-phishing portal, which can be reached on reportphishing.in. If you get such mails, be sure to report them instantly, instead of ignoring them. This can help authorities blacklist sites and senders, and even track the emails to find the perpetrators behind these crimes.
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Pune: The 100th 'Shramik special' train from Pune, carrying over 680 passengers, mostly migrant workers, students and their families, departed for Jharkhand on Wednesday, the district administration said.

There were 682 passengers on board the Pune-Hatia train, which was the 100th Shramik special train to depart from the city.

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Of these 682 passengers, 618 were from Jharkhand, 57 from Odisha and seven from West Bengal. The passengers include migrant workers, students and their families.

So far 1.25 lakh passengers, mostly migrant workers, have been carried in Shramik special trains from Pune to different states, including Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.
ROME - Twenty-eight migrants who were rescued at sea have tested positive for the coronavirus, Sicilys governor said Wednesday, a new complication in Italys efforts to manage waves of migrants smuggled across the Mediterranean from Libya.

The positive tests represent the largest cluster yet among newly arrived migrants to Italy.

The migrants were being held on a ship off the Sicilian town of Porto Empedocle where some would-be asylum seekers are taken to undergo quarantine after being rescued at sea.

Right-wing opposition leader Matteo Salvini, who implemented a hard-line anti-migrant policy when he was Italys interior minister, said the positive tests proved migrants were a threat. In a series of tweets, Salvini pushed back at critics who accused him of being racist and faulted Premier Giuseppe Contes government for seeking to soften Italys migrant policy.

While Conte takes apart the security decree and opens the ports, the NGOs bring COVID-19 migrants to Italy. Public health is at risk, he tweeted, adding #stopinvasion.

Deputy Health Minister Sandra Zampa shot back that Italians were actually being protected by Italys quarantine measures for migrants, and she accused Salvini of sowing panic and betraying his purported Catholic ethos.

Migrants, just like citizens of our country, deserve the same measures to contrast the coronavirus for their own sake and the population, beyond ensuring their basic human rights, she said in a statement. Im sure the Catholic Matteo Salvini has no objection to this.

SeaWatch, the German aid group that is active in migrant rescues, had flagged an asymptomatic migrant it had rescued earlier in the week who turned out positive. SeaWatch said it was then ordered to undergo at-sea quarantine and more tests among other migrants.

It said tests among the crew were negative, and insisted it had followed all relevant health protocols designed to prevent transmission. But SeaWatch acknowledged it was operating in the context of a pandemic and that cases of coronavirus were increasing in Libyan migrant camps.

Sicily governor Nello Musumeci said in a Facebook post Wednesday that the 28 positive tests confirmed that he was right to demand special at-sea quarantine measures for migrants to prevent new virus clusters from forming in Italy, the one-time European epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Italy has managed to bring its infections down; on Wednesday Italy added another 190 positive cases and 30 new victims to its official coronavirus toll, which now stands at 34,644.

The positive tests came as a parliamentary commission visited Porto Empedocle to check on migrant and health care issues.

Ida Carmina, mayor of Porto Empedocle, said residents, who are already desperate after the 10-week virus lockdown with many having lost their jobs, were enraged that SeaWatch tried to disembark positive migrants ashore.

Clearly the level of exasperation among the people is high in this moment, she said.

Summertime has traditionally been peak season for migrant smugglers operating in lawless Libya. Italian officials have predicted new waves of migrants might set out this year with the easing of Italys coronavirus health emergency and the resumption of humanitarian rescue ships in the Mediterranean.

___

Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
WASHINGTON  Voters in Kentucky and New York were selecting nominees in extraordinary circumstances on Tuesday, as fears about the coronavirus reduced the number of polling places and led to a surge in absentee balloting that was almost certain to delay the results, possibly for days.

Kentucky Democrats were deciding who would be their nominee against Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, in a race that was testing the power of money against the potency of the grass-roots activism that has sprung up around the Black Lives Matter movement.

Amy McGrath, a former Marine pilot who raised well over $40 million, was dominating the primary for months until state Representative Charles Booker roared into contention in recent weeks. His candidacy was lifted by the energy that rose up in response to the killing of Louisvilles Breonna Taylor and other unarmed black Americans by white police officers.

But even as voters turned out at a reduced number of polling stations in Kentucky, New York and Virginia, it was unclear when the party nominees would be known. With the coronavirus prompting officials to lead an aggressive push for absentee voting, the final results of the race were not expected for days. So in a close race, it may not be clear who won on Tuesday night or even Wednesday.
The notice of termination filed by Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP) came two business days after the consortium and its contractor passed a June 20 contractual deadline to reach an agreement over who will pay the delay-related costs. The contractor threatened to quit the light-rail project May 1, saying the state had refused to pay for any of the $755 million in additional expenses on the $2 billion project.
Roxy Jacenko was hospitalised for two days after falling off a horse last week.

The 40-year-old PR maven has fractured her pelvis and hip during the fall, despite initially believing she had only sustained minor injuries.

'I am okay, I have a fractured pelvis and hip after a saddle slip accident when I was riding last week,' Roxy told Daily Mail Australia.

PR queen Roxy Jacenko has broken her pelvis and hip after falling off a horse in Glenworth Valley last week

She added: 'Spent two days at St Vincent's [Hospital] however no surgery. The team were remarkable in both Emergency and CCU.'

'My Orthopaedic Surgeon is confident that over the course of the next six weeks the areas will heal themselves with bed rest, non-weight bearing movements on the left leg hence the use of crutches for any movement.'

Roxy went on to explain she would be taking anti-inflammatory medicines and Clexane injections daily.

Roxy was spotted on Tuesday out and about on crutches, aided by her friend Jessica Ingham.

The 40-year-old PR maven has fractured her pelvis and hip after falling off a horse last week, despite initially believing she had only sustained minor injuries

'I am okay, I have a fractured pelvis and hip after a saddle slip accident when I was riding last week,' Roxy told Daily Mail Australia

Roxy cut a casual figure in black Concrete Jungle tracksuit pants and a matching hoodie, keeping warm with a black puffer jacket.

She paired the simple ensemble with crisp white sneakers, aviator sunglasses and a Louis Vuitton cross-body bag.

Jessica looked equally laidback in Nike track pants and a black puffer jacket, shielding her eyes with aviator sunglasses.

The Ingham Chicken heiress was with Roxy during the incident, when she fell off a horse while trying to film an Instagram Story at Glenworth Valley.

Recovering: 'Spent two days at St Vincent's [Hospital] however no surgery. The team were remarkable in both Emergency and CCU,' Roxy said

'My Orthopaedic Surgeon is confident that over the course of the next six weeks the areas will heal themselves with bed rest, non-weight bearing movements on the left leg hence the use of crutches for any movement,' she continued

The two women were pretending to be characters from the Stan series Yellowstone.

'We are currently channeling our inner Yellowstone with a lovely day of horse riding at the ranch in Glenworth Valley,' Roxy, 40, said in the clip.

After going through a small river on the horse, Roxy showed off her riding outfit. adding: 'Basically, all the gear and no idea.'

Roxy went on to explain she would be taking anti-inflammatory medicines and Clexane injections daily

Soon after she finished speaking, the Sweaty Betty PR founder screamed and fell out of her saddle and onto the muddy ground.

At the time, Roxy believed she wasn't injured by the fall.

She wrote in the caption: 'Don't worry. I'm fine. Nothing some physio can't sort.'

Roxy told Daily Mail Australia last week that she had a 'specialist medi massage as I cant walk properly on the side I fell onto.'

She said: 'My saddle slipped which is why I fell - of course only me whilst doing a live Insta video. It's extremely painful.'
The ACT's Director of Public Prosecutions has recommended the Australian Federal Police investigate former High Court justice Dyson Heydon over allegations of sexual harassment following a damning investigation commissioned by the court.

The investigation, led by former inspector-general of intelligence and security Vivienne Thom, concluded Mr Heydon harassed six former young female associates at the court, five of whom had worked for him. Mr Heydon has denied the claims.

Former High Court justice Dyson Heydon was found in an inquiry ordered by the High Court to have harassed six associates. Credit: Anna Kucera

Shane Drumgold, SC, the ACT's chief prosecutor, confirmed he wrote to the AFP on Tuesday "directing attention to two news articles", the first of which referred to Dr Thom's investigation and the second referring to an incident at the University of Canberra in April 2013.

He said he delivered a "strong recommendation that both incidences be investigated to determine whether or not criminal charges should result".
Boston-based Openly, a platform that sells upmarket homeowners insurance through independent agents, said it has closed a $15 million Series A investment.

The round was led by Obvious Ventures, with participation from existing investors including Gradient Ventures (Googles AI-focused Venture Fund), PJC Ventures, and others.

Openly is a managing general agency. Its coverages are underwritten by companies that are members of Clear Blue Insurance Group including Rock Ridge, Clear Blue Insurance Co. and Clear Blue Specialty Insurance Co.

Openly promises agents technology, unique products, pricing and lead generation support. Its technology simplifies the homeowners insurance process for agents and consumers, enabling them to obtain quotes in under 15 seconds.

Insurtech Profile: Openly Openlys system asks agents to answer only three questions to obtain a quote for a customer and makes it easy to click to add and price coverage for second homes, flood, contents, landlords or other options. CEO Ty Harris explains more in this 2018 video interview: Home Insurer Openly Creates Sophisticated Digital Experience for Independent Agents.

Since its launch in late 2019 by Ty Harris and Matt Wielbut, Openly has expanded and is currently on track to be live in 10 or more states by year-end. The round will be used to enter new states including Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, and South Carolina. Agents are already live on its platform in Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Openly says its sweet spot is homes in the $400K to $3M replacement cost range.

Last November, the firm announced a $7.65 million seed round of funding led by Gradient Ventures, Googles AI-focused venture fund.

The company has said it also plans to launch complementary product lines, such as automobile insurance.

We look forward to taking our offering nationwide and providing more consumers with comprehensive coverage at a really competitive price-especially at a time of financial uncertainty when consumers are understandably looking to reduce costs without sacrificing their protection against risk, said Harris, CEO.

Topics Agencies Funding Homeowners
A Terran 1 rocket lifts off from Relativity's launchpad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in this artist rendition. Relativity

Relativity Space, a growing startup that aims to almost entirely 3D-print rockets, on Wednesday announced it struck another major launch deal, as well as an agreement with the U.S. Air Force, to build a launchpad on the California coastline. The Los Angeles-based rocket builder signed an agreement with satellite operator Iridium Communications, to launch up to six satellites as needed as early as 2023. Over the course of more than half a dozen launches with SpaceX, Iridium completed its second-generation satellite constellation in January 2019, with 66 operational satellites and 9 spares in orbit. The Iridium deal means Relativity now has agreements to launch for five different companies, having previously announced contracts with Canadian satellite communications operator Telesat, California-based Momentus, Thai satellite broadband company mu Space and Seattle-based Spaceflight Inc. All the contracts have remarkably come before Relativity's first launch, which is scheduled to happen before the end of 2021. "People are really excited to see where the 3D-printing technology goes," Relativity CEO Tim Ellis told CNBC. "We're going to be able to serve customers in a way that just wasn't possible before." Relativity has continued to grow and make progress despite the coronavirus pandemic. Ellis said the company now has about 170 total employees on staff, with hiring continuing during the crisis thanks to the $140 million it raised in October. Relativity's investors include Social Capital, Playground Global, Y Combinator, Bond Capital, Tribe Capital, Jared Leto and Mark Cuban.

A timelapse of Relativity's Stargate 3D printer building a rocket fuel tank. Relativity Space | gif by @thesheetztweetz

For Iridium, the deal represents a cost-saving option for whenever it may need to replenish its satellite constellation. Ellis explained that Relativity would "launch each one at a time" on its Terran 1 rocket. Still in development, about 95% of the parts for Terran 1 are being 3D printed. Relativity says it boasts 100 times less parts than traditional rockets and therefore a simpler supply chain that can turn raw material into a rocket on the launchpad in under 60 days. "Relativity's Terran 1 fits our launch needs to [low Earth orbit] well from both a price, responsiveness and capability perspective," Iridium CEO Matt Desch said in a statement. "The upgraded Iridium satellite constellation is operating incredibly well, but it's prudent to have a cost-effective launch option available for future spare delivery."

A California launchpad

Relativity also announced that it has an agreement with the military for a launchpad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The company plans to build a new launch facility called B-330 at a site to the south of the existing launchpad SLC-6 on base. Relativity will fund the site's construction, with Ellis saying he expects it will cost upwards of $10 million to build.

Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) on the coast of California. Google Maps

Iridium acts as the "anchor customer" for Relativity to build the launchpad, as Vandenberg's location allows access to the orbits in which the satellite company operates. But Ellis said that Relativity has gotten interest from even more customers to launch from the West Coast. "Vandenberg is going to be used quite extensively," Ellis said. Ellis added that launching from Vandenberg "has been in the works for some time"  and the Air Force, for its part, welcomed Relativity. "We are impressed by Relativity's innovative approach to reinventing aerospace manufacturing via 3D metal printing and robotics paired with an executive team of seasoned aerospace leaders. We look forward to working with Relativity as its West Coast launch partner for many years to come," 30th Space Wing commander Colonel Anthony J. Mastalir said in a statement.

An artist's rendition of Relativity's Terran 1 rocket on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral's LC-16 in Florida. Relativity

The company still plans to launch its first missions from Cape Canaveral in Florida, so adding Vandenberg to its portfolio allows "access to all major orbits that almost any customer wants to launch to," Ellis said. Relativity has already broken ground on LC-16 in Florida and is currently doing demolition and construction to get the launchpad ready.

Getting ready for first launch

Relativity continues to build up its Long Beach factory, which Ellis said should be done by the end of the year. That will include two new 3D-printers, needed to build the largest parts of Terran 1. Before the year is out, Ellis said Relativity would be producing full rocket stages and begin testing on second stage structures  the physical top third or so of the rocket. In a few months, Relativity also plans to start "full integrated engine tests" of its most powerful rocket engine, Ellis said. The company continues to hire, with Ellis saying Relativity's brought on new employees even since the pandemic began. That includes hiring Relativity's first CFO: Muhammad Shahzad, a former Goldman Sachs VP and most recently the CFO of The Honest Company, a Los Angeles-based consumer goods specialist. Relativity also snagged Zach Dunn as the company's senior vice president of factory development  Dunn spent nearly 13 years at SpaceX, rising to SVP of launch and production for Elon Musk's rocket company. "We have an insanely experienced team," Ellis said. "I think this technology is going to be among the most disruptive in our lifetime in this industry and then aerospace more broadly, besides reusable rockets. No one has fundamentally changed manufacturing for 60 years."

Relativity co-founders Tim Ellis (left) and Jordan Noone stand next to a 3D printed second stage of the company's Terran 1 rocket. Relativity
Cawthorn wins runoff in landslide

Madison Cawthorn speaks at a campaign event last winter.

Madison Cawthorn won a runoff election for the Republican nomination for the 11th Congressional District seat on Tuesday night, vanquishing Lynda Bennett by a wide margin despite President Trump's endorsement.

A Hendersonville native who had a U.S. Naval Academy nomination before he was critically injured in a car crash, Cawthorn, 24, had won 69 percent of the vote with 87 percent of precincts in the 17-county mountain district reporting. He led in his home county by a whopping 50-point margin, 75.1 to 24.9 percent, with all 35 precincts reporting and beat Bennett in her home county of Haywood, 58 to 42 percent.

Tonight, the voters of the 11th district of North Carolina said theyre ready for a new generation of leadership in Washington," Cawthorn said in a statement. "You turned our message of hope, opportunity and freedom into a movement. While the far left is lighting our cities on fire, we are lifting the light of liberty. Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden may not be able to control where the Democrats are going but, together, we can."

With 100 percent of the vote counted, Cawthorn won 16 of 17 counties; all but Rutherford, the only partial county in the district, which was redrawn last year after Democrats won a lawsuit over gerrymandering. He won 30,444 votes, 68.82 percent, to 15,806 for Bennett, or 34.18 percent.

Although they never met in a face-to-face debate, Cawthorn and Bennett had battled furiously through 30-second TV and radio spots in the closing days over which candidate was the more loyal supporter of President Trump. Cawthorn aired an audio tape of Bennett calling herself a "never Trumper" in September 2016 and Bennett depicted Cawthorn as hesitant to support Trump because of the president's "extremism."

Bennett won the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows and, more importantly, Trump, who hired Meadows as his chief of staff last December. But from the start of the 12-way Republican primary, she was dogged by accusations that she and Meadows had orchestrated a backroom deal to give her the inside track to the nomination. Cawthorn, meanwhile, touted the endorsements from more than 40 county commissioners, sheriffs and school board members in the southwestern North Carolina district that runs from McDowell County to the Tennessee line.

Ours is not just a grassroots campaign, Cawthorn said. Together, we are creating the deep roots of a solid oak tree which Abraham Lincoln compared to pillars of freedom."

He pivoted back to Trump and, anticipating an interpretation that 11th District voters had repudiated the president, declared his unequivocal support.

"Finally, I want to make something clear. I support our great president," he said. "I do not believe this election has been a referendum on the presidents influence. The people of western North Carolina are wise and discerning. You observed both candidates and simply made the choice you believed is best for our district. I look forward to fighting alongside our president after Im elected in November."

North Carolina Republican Party chairman Michael Whatley congratulated Cawthorn on the win.

"Mr. Cawthorn ran a fantastic campaign during the primary and the runoff, and we are completely confident that next January, he will be sworn in to represent the 11th District in the House of Representatives," he said. "He will be a great fighter for Smoky Mountain families and always put America first."



Cawthorn, who watched election results with supporters at Point Lookout Vineyards in Edneyville, is an eighth generation native who traces his roots back 200 years to the Revolutionary War. He was homeschooled in Hendersonville and nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy by U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows in 2014. His plans were derailed that year after he nearly died in a horrific automobile accident that burned much of his body and left him partially paralyzed in a wheelchair.

Cawthorn says on the stump that the near-death experience strengthened his faith, made him a fighter, helped him appreciate every day, and inspired him to help everyone he encounters overcome whatever adversity they face in their daily lives.

Declaring himself a constitutional conservative, Madison ran on defending the values of faith, family and freedom. Madison attends Biltmore Church in Hendersonville. He enjoys hunting, cooking, travel, fitness, photography and videography and studying history. He is engaged to be married to Cristina Bayardelle.
Wall Street moguls succeed by making winning bets. But many finance heavyweights saw their records dented as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dominated the in-person voting over their preferred candidate in the Democratic primary for New York's 14th Congressional District.

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, a former CNBC anchor and onetime registered Republican, was always a long shot against Ocasio-Cortez. After pulling in 18.7 per cent of the in-person vote, while Ocasio-Cortez won 69.6 per cent of it, The Associated Press and The New York Times called the race for the incumbent, who declared victory.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dominated the in-person voting over Wall Street's preferred candidate Michelle Caruso-Cabrera in the Democratic primary for New York's 14th Congressional District. Credit:Bloomberg

By one measure, Caruso-Cabrera made the race competitive, raising more than $US2 million ($2.9 million) for her bid, most of it in big cheques from the financiers whom Ocasio-Cortez has made a point of targeting. That haul paled in comparison to the roughly $US10.5 million Ocasio-Cortez raised, mostly in small donations.

The calibre of the executives lining up against Ocasio-Cortez signifies the threat they perceive from her.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A long-awaited end to birth alerts in Manitoba will happen as of July 1, Families Minister Heather Stefanson announced Tuesday.

The controversial practice of requiring hospitals to alert child-welfare authorities when a baby is born to a mother who has been deemed high-risk  and may be seen as unfit to parent  wasnt making children safer and was stopping mothers from coming forward to get help, Stefanson told reporters earlier this year.

Among Canadian provinces, Manitoba has the highest rate of children in the care of the child-welfare system, and about 90 per cent of those children are apprehended from Indigenous families. Indigenous advocates have long criticized the use of birth alerts as a means to take babies away from their mothers, which could be done if the mother had been in Child and Family Services care herself or already had other children in the foster care system.

Stefanson first announced the provinces plan to end birth alerts as of April 1, but the timeline was extended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When asked what has changed since April 1, Stefanson said fewer birth alerts have been issued at hospitals and the governments focus now will be on preventive community programs that work with mothers. Stefanson announced Tuesday ongoing provincial government funding for a Mount Carmel Clinic program, the Mothering Project, that provides prenatal care and help with parenting, nutrition, substance abuse and trauma.

The province is providing one-time funding of $40,000 to expand a CFS liaison position within the Mothering Project, on top of $350,000 that will become annual funding  a move Stefanson said was "essential" to following through on the governments commitment to end birth alerts. When she first made that promise at the beginning of this year, she didnt announce any funding for community programs.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Elder-in-residence at Mount Carmel Clinic Mae Louise Campbell and her daughter, Jamie Goulet, sing prior to a birth alert announcement at the Manitoba legislature on Tuesday.

This money will allow the Mothering Project to hire four additional employees and support up to 200 mothers  doubling its current capacity, said Bobbette Shoffner, executive director of the Mount Carmel Clinic. A referral process is being set up so the CFS liaison can direct families that have CFS involvement to the program.

As for whether social workers and other child-welfare officials will be expected to act as liaisons and give referrals to other community programs from now on, Stefanson didnt make any promises.

"Well continue to assess what is needed. I think other programs will have different needs. And well continue, obviously, we want to work towards that goal of keeping families together, making sure that mom is safe and baby (is) safe and well," Stefanson said.

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Manitobas First Nations family advocate said shes "cautiously optimistic" about the provinces plan, but is reserving enthusiasm about the end of birth alerts.

Cora Morgan, who works with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, says she believes CFS will still flag high-risk mothers, and she doesnt know how the absence of birth alerts will address concerns her office has long held  namely, that expectant mothers who are ready to parent will be considered high-risk along with those who arent ready, and their babies can still be taken.

"Its not guaranteeing the end of newborn apprehensions," Morgan said.

NDP MLA Bernadette Smith put forward a private members bill in March 2019 that sought legislative change to the Child and Family Services Act so that no child could be apprehended solely because their parents had been in CFS care. In a statement Tuesday, Smith said the government could have ended birth alerts back then.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay
Glasses wearers have a particular struggle during the coronavirus pandemic: Fogged lenses while wearing a mask.

Add that with the Houston humidity during Texas storms, and it's not a fun time trying to see around you while out for errands.

MASK ORDER: Hidalgo orders Harris County businesses to require customers wear masks as COVID-19 cases rise

Luckily, there's an easy fix.

First, wash your hands with soap and warm water to get rid of any oil on your fingers. Next, wet your eyeglasses.

Lather some soap on the lenses. Avoid moisturizing soaps or soaps that contain lotions or oils. Rinse thoroughly.

Gently dry your glasses with a soft towel, lens cloth or paper towel. Be gentle, especially if you're using a towel. You don't want to scratch the lenses and make the problem even worse.

That's it -- this trick is approved by medical professionals who wear masks everyday. Hopefully it will make it a little easier to navigate Houston as rains -- and the pandemic -- continues.
There is still time to correct this toilet paper madness. Again.

Surely the Melburnians who have stripped bare the supermarket shelves of toilet paper over the past two days are those who still haven't recovered from going without during those dark days as Australia moved towards lockdown.

Those buyers could well be people like me - who in March, as the nation went bonkers buying up toilet paper - just quietly watched, puzzled as to what was driving them.

I just didn't get it.

Wyndham supermarkets - on the fringes of COVID hotspot Brimbank - have been hit by shoppers worried about toilet paper supplies

An ALDI supermarket in Werribee was beginning to get depressing on Wednesday

Signs are back up telling Victorians they can only buy two packages of toilet paper

COVID-19 testing staff are seen at a pop-up site at Keilor Community Hub in Melbourne's west

I still don't know what drives the madness now - but I wish I hadn't just sat back and waited for the lines in the supermarkets to shorten in March.

The empty toilet paper scenes I'd read about were what I soon faced at my local shops. By the time my family actually finished the toilet paper we already had in our house, it was all gone down at the supermarket.

I felt like a right idiot when my mum brought me around packs of napkins so we wouldn't have to resort to wiping our bums with gum leaves.

We all know how it progressed from there. Soon no one could buy pasta, mince, rice, or flour.

You couldn't get any of it - the shelves were stripped bare.

At the time, I cracked the sads and wrote a similar piece declaring Australians could no longer use the term unAustralian.

Bad behaviour has just become Australian.

That was March 20 and we were all in unfamiliar territory as we felt as if the end of the world was upon us.

Move forward to June 24 and you'd think we'd all got a little bit wiser.

Well, the jury is out.

COVID-19 testing staff are seen at a pop-up site at Keilor Community Hub in Melbourne's west on Wednesday

Woolworths at Werribee Pacific - known as The Plaza by locals - had signs telling people they could only buy two packets of toilet paper

Australians have been warned to stay away from six council in Melbourne: Hume, Casey and Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin

On Tuesday, I wrote an article for Daily Mail Australia stating that people were beginning to stockpile toilet paper.

Naturally skeptical readers were quick to label the report 'fake news' - and blast the media for inciting people to panic buy.

But what they didn't know is I'd had travelled across Melbourne - from west to east - watching nervously as trolley after trolley in supermarket after supermarket was filled with the stuff.

'This is just people buying their usual supplies,' I tried to kid myself.

VICTORIA'S COVID-19 CASES 20 new cases in the last 24 hours 696,263 tested 141 active cases 20 Victorians dead Advertisement

When I woke up on Wednesday, it was to radio news reports that nervous shoppers had stripped a supermarket in Melbourne's west of toilet paper.

I hit the streets myself to checkout the situation.

As we moved through the fringes of Melbourne's so-called 'COVID hot zones', we saw trolleys of toilet paper leaving the supermarkets.

Sure, no-one was walking out with their trolley jam packed with it, but you had to wonder if people who had previously been left without bog roll last time were taking preventative action.

A drive through Wyndham - in Melbourne's west - did not give me confidence that all was well.

Wyndham recorded two new active cases of COVID-19 on Monday and during the initial outbreak was rocked when it broke out at its hospital.

Shops had toilet paper, but supplies were thin.

Again, ordinary people were buying it up. Package after package.

By Wednesday afternoon, Coles and Woolworths had brought back the dreaded restrictions on buying everyday staples, including toilet paper.

Woolworths in Werribee was beginning to get low on toilet paper on Wednesday

People wearing masks are seen in Keilor Downs, in Melbourne's west, on Wednesday as fears of a return to March conditions rises across the state

Panic buying has also returned, with Coles and Woolworths reinstating purchase limits on toilet paper and other items

An additional 20 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed.

On Tuesday, an 80-year-old man had died from COVID-19 in Victoria. Interstate premiers have declared they don't want us and now we're turning on our own.

Three caravan parks on the Great Ocean Road announced they would cancel bookings from travellers who reside in Melbourne COVID-19 hotspots - before retracting the ban.

An 'army' of hundreds of public health workers have hit the streets of the six local government areas identified as coronavirus hotspots.

They're supposedly talking with families and reminding them that they must get tested and stay home if they are unwell. All well and good, but they also fuel fear.

Meanwhile, the real life army, Australian Defence Force, is being sent to try and help Victoria tackle the increase in coronavirus cases.

A supermarket in Taylor's Hill in Melbourne's west was left practically empty on Wednesday

Department of Health and Human Services Victoria community engagement team members speaks with a Sunshine resident in Melbourne's west on Wednesday

Getting tested has become a nightmare, with people waiting hours.

As if Melbourne in winter isn't depressing enough as it is.

It's cold, it's dark and the only good thing about it is usually going to the footy or sitting by the fire at a pub with mates watching the footy.

Yeah, forget that.

If you don't have central heating at home, jumping out of bed to travel to your home office is just miserable.

The thought of going into another full-on lockdown is just hard to imagine.

But imagine we must.

We had been - it seems now - kidding ourselves that the worst of this lockdown was behind us.

We'd been given a glimmer of hope with restrictions to be eased this week.

Just like that it was taken away.

And now we sit back and read stories about people panic buying again.

Restrictions, sanitising, fear of what lies ahead and for how much longer now.

Family who broke public health restrictions by celebrating Muslim festival caused one of Victoria's biggest COVID-19 clusters By Alana Mazzoni One of Victoria's biggest coronavirus clusters came from a Muslim family who broke public health orders to celebrate the end of the holy month. The state has had 128 new cases of COVID-19 in the past week, with 20 cases and a death recorded on Wednesday. A gathering in Coburg, north of the city, last month has been linked to at least 14 cases across multiple households. The party was to celebrate Eid - the end of the Muslim holy month on the weekend of May 23 and 24. All attendees were in breach of Victoria's lockdown measures, which at the time prohibited households from having more than five guests. Health Department spokesman said the contact-tracing process relating to the Coburg family cluster is ongoing. Cultural confusion over the lifting of lockdown measures may have resulted in a second wave of coronavirus infections in Melbourne. Pictured are shoppers in Broadmeadows A woman who was tested at Pakenham Medical Clinic in Melbourne's southeast on June 10, and returned a positive result three days later, is believed to have contracted the virus at the Coburg gathering. A receptionist from the clinic told The Australian that the doctor who treated the patient remained in quarantine and hasn't tested positive. It's believed the woman's two children from Pakenham Springs Primary School, who tested positive, are part of the same cluster. There are currently five active cases in Cardinia Shire, which includes Pakenham. Brimbank, Casey, Cardinia, Darebin, Hume and Moreland were identified as coronavirus hotspots. The areas consist of large migrant populations, with many speaking languages other than English at home. Islamic Council of Victoria vice-president Adel Salman said he heard speculation about large gatherings within the Muslim community, but said there was no proof of links to new cases. 'By and large, I think the Muslim community has been exemplary,' Mr Salman said. It comes amid concerns that cultural confusion over the lifting of lockdown restrictions contributed to the fresh outbreak in Melbourne. Advertisement

Victoria's active cases have jumped from 58 to 143 in the past eight days, while the rest of the country combined has only had 20. Testing staff are seen at a pop-up site at Keilor Community Hub on Wednesday

Of the state's 20 new cases on Wednesday, nine were identified through routine testing

Someone called what's going on at the moment 'idiot buying' because we've all been here before.

We know the shops will remain open and we know we will be allowed to go outside and buy what we need, when we need it.

But do you think I went and picked up one of those 36 package rolls of dunny paper while I was out on the job yesterday?

You bet I did.

And if I bought another pack today I'd be an idiot.

I've got to think that the shelves are being stripped by ordinary folk like me who sat back previously and believed we were a civilised nation.

That's not panic buying. That's idiot insurance, isn't it?

Now we sit back and watch what happens.

I don't think it's quite time to crack each others heads open and feast on the goo inside, but we might just be close.

Drive-through testing sites have experienced extremely high demand, with four hour-long waits at some sites and people turned away at others. Testing staff are seen at a pop-up site at Keilor Community Hub


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks fell on Wednesday as Tokyo reported a jump in infections to mark its highest daily tally since May 5 and Germany reported 712 new cases, fuelling concerns about a second wave of coronavirus infections.



Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top virus expert in the U.S., told Congress on Tuesday that the next two weeks would be critical in trying to keep the virus under control.



Meanwhile, there are reports that the European Union is mulling a ban on American travellers when it reopens its borders on July 1.



On the positive side, the Ifo business climate index for Germany rose to a reading of 86.2 in June from 79.5 in May, beating forecasts.



The pan European Stoxx 600 dropped 1.35 percent to 362.50 after rising 1.3 percent on Tuesday.



The German DAX lost 1.7 percent and France's CAC 40 index declined 1.5 percent while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was down as much as 2.3 percent.



Pharma stocks were moving lower, with AstraZeneca losing 1.8 percent and GlaxoSmithKline falling 2.6 percent.



Technology stocks were on the rise, with Dialog Semiconductor surging as much as 9 percent after raising its second-quarter revenue outlook. ams AG jumped 8 percent.



Volkswagen declined 1.8 percent on reports that the automaker is in talks to buy French car-rental company Europcar Mobility Group.



Nokia fell 1 percent on news that Pekka Lundmark will start his new role as President and Chief Executive Officer on August 1.



Petrofac slumped 11 percent. In its pre-close trading update, the oilfield services provider said that trading and awards for the first-half year-to-date period was materially impacted by Covid-19 and the sharp fall in oil and gas prices.



British house building company Persimmon tumbled 4.4 percent as it announced the appointment of Dean Finch as Group Chief Executive.



Premier Foods soared 7.4 percent. The food manufacturer reported profit before tax of 53.6 million pounds for the 52 weeks ended 28 March 2020 compared to a loss of 42.7 million pounds, previous year.



JD Wetherspoon lost 4.5 percent. The company said it does not currently intend to start any new pub development projects in the next 12 months.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
The Eschborner company Innoplexus has released a new App called "Curia" for cancer patients. With the computer program that you can download it free of charge, find patient information about treatment options, the names of professionals in Germany and clinical studies from all over the world.

The App guides the user step-by-step through a questionnaire, with the most important diagnostic features are recognized. On the Basis of these data leaving the phone on the way to German servers only encrypted are then displayed accurate information. If you want to use the App, you must create a profile with your Name and E-Mail address.

"It's always the same three questions", says company founder Gunjan Bhardwaj from interviews with patients and oncologists, as well as experience in the personal environment: "What are the treatment options? What clinical trials I can participate in? Who is the expert on my illness? As his former Mentor and boss to cancer, he was able to find in a regular way, no answers to these questions.

Ten billion web sites daily searches

from This, the company was founded idea: Innoplexus has developed an Artificial intelligence (AI), the daily ten billion Websites. You will find medical Knowledge in scientific publications, and registries for clinical trials and in a structured way with the help of self-learning Algorithms. 18 patents Innoplexus holds for the complex platform. Some pharmaceutical companies use for drug development.

The Knowledge of his "machine," as Bhardwaj says, uses the Innoplexus AG now for the "Curia"App. The AI is pouring the information directly into the pre-defined structures to the application. Where the App wants to display a phone number that the KI is exactly this. Especially in the case of the drug information project Manager Chiara Thanner and her Team control the quality of the information. Complicated terms that can be translated to the AI in understandable language.

Updated Date: 23 June 2020, 23:19
The state will continue to fund school districts for remote learning in the coming school year, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a phone call with superintendents Tuesday afternoon.

Texas has ordered districts to open campuses for students who choose to return to classrooms, but Morath said hed wait until later to offer the guidance for in-person instruction that school leaders were expecting.

Its a rapidly changing public health landscape now, much like it was in the initial days of coronavirus, he said.

San Antonio and Texas have been reporting their highest daily counts of confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic arrived in March and closed schools, shifting public education to remote learning.

Draft guidelines posted online Tuesday by the Texas Education Agency were taken down after TEA officials decided not to unveil the advice in the face of the spike in infections. The documents first were reported by the Texas Tribune.

Morath told superintendents that state guidelines are still draft, working documents. He instead concentrated on remote learning, describing how to mark students present and absent for online learning that involved direct interaction with teachers (called synchronous) and for coursework taught and submitted without such contact (dubbed asynchronous).

Students will need to show daily progress in order to be considered engaged. In the immediate aftermath of the crisis, the state waived a 90 percent attendance requirement but that wont continue in the new year, Morath said.

Parents who want to keep their children at home will have that option assuming you provide it at the district, Morath said. It is absolutely going to be difficult for our educators to do this work, but weve got to.

Remote learning had been a big question mark for school leaders scrambling to put together budgets without knowing how it would be funded but with surveys of their parents showing substantial percentages uncomfortable with sending their kids back to classrooms.

Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox

Morath cited national data that showed students from low income ZIP codes logged 55.6 percent less progress in their math coursework in May than they did in January.

Addressing those deficits between lower income students and students who lack internet access will be a key goal next school year, he said.

The transition to remote learning did not land equally among our students, Morath said. What the data shows us is we have to be very focused and thoughtful on our transition to remote instruction.

Brian Woods, superintendent of Northside Independent School District, the largest in Bexar County with more than 106,000 students, said he is concerned Moraths plan holds back money for students lost from last year.

He said the remote learning attendance calculation methods rolled out are similar to what Woods and a group of other superintendents proposed to Morath earlier, but Moraths offer of a grace provision for lost enrollment was insufficient.

If average daily attendance during the first 12 weeks of the fall semester drops by more than 1 percent compared to the same period last year, the loss of state funding will be capped at 1 percent, according to the guidelines. But from the 13th week on, funding losses wont be limited to 1 percent.

What is worrisome is that at least 1 percent of your total funding is subject to risk, starting Day 1, and an unlimited funding is at risk starting Week 13, Woods said.

One percent of Northside ISD students lost equates to $8 million annually, he added.

It will be more challenging to do something that has never been done  teaching both in person and remotely and be fluid enough to allow students to move back and forth  without full funding, Woods said. The money has been appropriated.  Why wouldnt you hold schools harmless at a time of this level of disruption?

District leaders will have to figure out staffing models for kids who learn both on-campus and at home, taking into consideration the comfort of teachers and staff  all of which still are unanswered questions, Woods said.

With kids moving in and out, thats a tough situation, Woods said.

Sean Maika, superintendent of the North East Independent School District, said he was disappointed not to receive public health guidance concerning in-person learning but was pleased with the rules surrounding virtual learning.

We know some of our families have health concerns and were happy we can offer both online and in-person options to our students this school year, Maika said in a statement.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

The attendance guidelines for virtual learning should fully fund North East ISD, which plans to offer synchronous and asynchronous options, said Aubrey Chancellor, district spokeswoman.

We know a lot of our parents and families are very concerned about what the safety guidelines are going to be if they choose to return in person, and we were hoping we would be able to start having that discussion and finalize some protocols for them, Chancellor said.

San Antonio ISD released a statement saying Moraths guidance Tuesday made its leaders comfortable that we can implement our academic models that we have been discussing with staff and parents.

We have the flexibility to provide fully remote learning, for those parents who want that, as well as our hybrid approach (face-to-face and online instruction). We are also looking at certain groups of students who could come to campus every day - and those plans will be developed and customized by each school.

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.

In the draft guidance, TEA officials recommend or declare that school districts should implement several health and safety protocols to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus: placing desks at least 6 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 draft guidance also includes 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 the draft guidance suggests state officials will not require the use of masks on campuses, they have ordered personal protective equipment that will be distributed to public and private schools across Texas.

The order includes about 64.7 million disposable and reusable masks, 24.8 million pairs of gloves, 728,200 adult face shields, 608,600 gallons of hand sanitizer, and 42,200 thermometers.

On ExpressNews.com: Texas education chief promises flexibility to parents who want their kids to stick with remote learning

The final decision on those guidelines will impact how Northside ISD structures its on-campus learning and how many students may be allowed to participate in in-person learning, Woods said.

Local teachers unions this summer that formed a coalition on school reopening that included students, parents and a few community organizations released a blueprint Tuesday morning that called on schools to provide personal protective equipment for all staffers and widespread testing of staff.

They called for a moratorium on standardized testing next school year and on charter school expansion, saying charters are diverting funding from neighborhood schools that need the resources for safe staffing levels and buildings, and pushed pushed for hazard pay for nurses, custodial and nutrition staffers.

The recommendations included providing free computers and internet access for all families, with computer skills classes in their home languages, and eliminating school police departments to fund more social workers, counselors, nurses and community coordinators.

We only have one chance to reopen our schools safely, Alejandra Lopez, president of the San Antonio ISD union for teachers and nonadministrative employees, said in a Tuesday morning videoconference. We must all work together to ensure that we do.

Staff Writer Shelby Webb contributed to this report. Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Krista, become a subscriber. Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva

Alia Malik covers several school districts and the Alamo Colleges District in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Alia, become a subscriber. amalik@express-news.net | Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN
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Rajasthan to file case against Ramdev for Coronil claims



Rajasthan govt will a file case against Baba Ramdev for conducting clinical trial of Coronil medicine on coronavirus patients without permission from the government. The Congress govt in Rajasthan has said it is a fraud and not a trial. Govt officials have said results were not out in three day in NIMS and all asymptomatic cases were administered the medicine. They all tested coronavirus negative on the same day at all other places other than NIMS, said the Rajasthan govt.



Ramdev has claimed that Patanjalis Ayurved-based 'Coronil and Swasari' medicine have shown 100% 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 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to file chargesheet in the case registered against YES Bank founder Rana Kapoor, his family members, companies owned by Kapoor's family members, and promoter and non executive directors of Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL) Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan on Thursday.

The case was registered on March 7 by the central investigation agency in connection with suspicious loans granted by YES Bank and alleged quid pro quo between the bank's founder, Rana Kapoor and DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan. The transactions under probe by the agency are an investment of Rs 3,700 crore in short debentures of DHFL, while the housing finance company granted a loan of Rs 600 crore to DOiT Urban Ventures Ltd (DUVPL) which is owned by Kapoor's daughters. This Rs 600 crore loan by DHFL to DUVPL is suspected to be a kickback received by Kapoor for the debenture investment made of Rs 3,700 crore by YES Bank in DHFL.

The loan awarded to DUVPL was on mortgage of properties which had market value of around Rs 40 crore but we're inflated and shown to be worth around Rs 750 crores. Another suspicious loan of Rs 750 crore granted by YES Bank to a company controlled by Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan is also under probe by the CBI.

CBI had taken the Wadhawan brothers in custody from Mahabaleshwar in Satara district of Maharashtra on April 26. Wadhawan brothers, alongwith 21 other persons, were booked by the Satara police on April 8 for violating lockdown rules and placed under institutional quarantine for 14 days. Their quaratine ended on April 23 after which CBI officials took them in custody on April 26.

Wadhawans were remanded to CBI custody remand then we're sent to judicial custody in second week of May. Rana Kapoor and Wadhawan brothers are presently lodged in the Taloja prison. Meanwhile, Kapoor has moved the CBI court seeking anticipatory bail and the hearing for the same is scheduled on Thursday at the special CBI court in Mumbai.

ALSO READ: YES Bank row: ED grills Rana Kapoor's wife Bindu Kapoor for 3 hours

ALSO READ: 'Adequate liquidity to meet obligations,' says YES Bank after rating downgrade on bonds

ALSO READ: ICRA downgrades YES Bank's Tier II bonds rating after RBI bars interest payment

ALSO READ: Yes Bank gets BSE, NSE approval for re-classification of promoter shareholding
If you're planning a business trip or vacation in Europe for late summer or fall, you may have to put off those plans, perhaps for a very long time. The European Union will likely bar travelers from the United States from entering its 27 member nations when it eases general travel restrictions and reopens its borders July 1. That's because Covid-19 infections have slowed in Europe but remain high in the U.S.

On Tuesday, the New York Times obtained some proposed versions of new travel restrictions for the E.U. which will likely go into effect when the bloc of nations begins reopening. E.U. representatives apparently must decide between these two lists of nations whose travelers will not be allowed entry into the E.U. A decision is expected soon, and then E.U. representatives will present their chosen list to European leaders next week. Both lists bar travel from the United States with very few exceptions, such as European nationals returning home.

Earlier in the pandemic, the U.S. banned travel from most European nations when infection rates there were high and those here were low. But things have changed. The U.S. now has more 2.3 million cases of Covid-19 and more than 120,000 people have died of the disease, more than in any other nation.

107 new cases per 100,000 residents.

The E.U. representatives are basing their decision on data, in particular the number of new infections per 100,000 residents over the previous 14 days -- a measure many states and scientists use to determine whether spread of the illness is coming under control. Europe has had 16 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past 14 days, while the U.S. has had 107 new cases per 100,000 residents over the same period. Travel from Brazil, with 190 new cases per 100,000 residents over 14 days, and Russia, with 80 new cases, would also be banned, according to the proposed lists.

E.U. representatives can't force member countries to enact these bans, and some countries may be reluctant to do so, given the losses to tourism and travel. But E.U. representatives warn that if different E.U. countries have different rules, they will be forced to reinstate hard borders and checkpoints between member nations. Otherwise travelers from the United States or other high-infection places could enter the E.U. through a country with laxer rules and then travel unimpeded throughout the region.
A health official tests human samples for the novel coronavirus in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

The Health Ministry announced Wednesday afternoon that three persons returning from Kuwait, a man and two women, have tested Covid-19 positive.

The new cases take Vietnams Covid-19 tally to 352 and the number active cases to 23, the rest having recovered.

"Patient 350" is a 36-year old man who landed in Ho Chi Minh City on June 16 on flight QH9092 from Kuwait, which transited in Qatar.

The patient is being treated at the Ba Ria Hospital in the southern Ba Ria  Vung Tau Province.

"Patient 351 and 352" are women aged 46 and 30 who landed in Hanoi on June 18 on board Kuwait Airways flight KU1513.

They are being treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanois Dong Anh District.

Among the 23 active cases, three have tested negative at least once.

Vietnam has gone 69 nine days without community commission. There are 6,318 people under quarantine  5,411 in quarantine facilities, 107 in hospitals and the rest at home.

The coronavirus has claimed 447,000 lives in more than 200 countries and territores.
Almost from its inception, downtown Syracuses Christopher Columbus monument has been surrounded by controversy.

Its dedication at St. Marys Circle, now Columbus Circle, on Oct. 12, 1934 was the culmination of a 25-year campaign that spanned a world war, a depression, a lawsuit and disagreements over its location.

The idea began as early as 1909 when a group of Italian immigrants wanted to honor their favorite native son with a statue in their new home city.

According to newspaper accounts, two Italian residents, Prof. Torquato DeFelice, a widely known painter and sculptor, and Dr. Seraphino Chiarulli, were generally credited with launching the project.

In 1910, DeFelice traveled to Florence and met with Italian sculptor, Lorenzo Baldi. They conferred on a design and the professor returned to Syracuse with a model for the statue.

The Christopher Columbus monument is dedicated on October 12, 1934 in St. Mary's Circle in Syracuse.

A Columbus Monument Association was begun and funds for the monument were raised.

Momentum for the statue was stopped by World War I.

The plans were well underway when the United States entered the conflict, a Syracuse Journal article said in 1934, and all hopes of building a monument in the then immediate future were abandoned by the Italians, as hundreds of their countrymen took up arms for Uncle Sam in the great struggle.

After the war, the association was revived and a complete campaign organization was set up.

Volunteers worked almost nightly at the Knight of Columbus auditorium to raise funds. Soon $18,000 was raised.

That would prove to be the easy part.

The biggest question was where to place the monument.

Italian groups wanted it to be at St. Marys Circle, near the Onondaga County Courthouse, but city officials named Columbus Park (now Loguen Park), Fayette Park and then Onondaga Park to be its home.

A 1967 Post-Standard article said that Syracuse Mayor Rolland Marvin gave his approval to each of the proposed sites only to be assailed by opposition groups.

For example, residents near Onondaga Park worried that the statue would distract from the beauty of the parks trees and flowers.

While this debate raged, a New York City sculptor, Joseph Pollia, sued the Columbus Monument Association for $8,000 in damages claiming his model of Columbus had been chosen to be used. He also wanted the associations $20,000 to execute his plan.

His suit was dismissed in 1932 after the association argued, correctly, that no model had been chosen since they had been given a location on which to build.

In March 1932, Marvin decided that St. Marys Circle would be the home of the Columbus monument and a huge party was held there on Columbus Day for the dedication.

It was also decided that Lorenzo Baldi would design the monument.

It meant that the circle would now be known as Columbus Circle and that the city would have to find a new location for the citys annual Christmas tree.

(According to a 1978 article in the Post-Standard, reporter Robert Andrews discovered that the circle had several names throughout the citys history. It has been called Columbus, St. Marys, and Library Circle, and, oddly, Courthouse Square. In 1952, city research official Laurence OToole discovered that the circle did not have an official designation and called on the Common Council to look into it. He suggested, considering the sometimes-tricky traffic there, Mayhem Canyon or Pedestrians Nightmare.)

With a location and an artist, it seemed like things were finally on track. Syracuse hoped to have the statue finished by Columbus Day 1933.

But there were more problems.

There was shipping hassles getting the 143 tons of stone and bronze in Bovina, Italy to Syracuse and after the United States left the gold standard in 1933 the Columbus Monument Association was unable to pay Baldi the 322,000 lire for the statue.

An exasperated Marvin said he wanted the project finished by March 1934 or he would return the circles flower beds.

Despite the Great Depression, the association quickly raised the necessary funds, and all was ready for the statues unveiling on Columbus Day, Oct. 12, 1934.

More than 2,500 people took part in the parade and ceremonies that day, joyous over what they had accomplished.

Not everyone has been pleased with the Columbus statue over the years. In 1967, a Post-Standard reporter came across a 76-year-old man named Tony. He was from Solvay and he was walking his walk in the circle. It always bothered him that Columbus was facing west.

He said: They were so busy raising funds in the 20s and going to court in the 30s that they never gave it a second thought when they mounted the statue and forced Columbus to look west. If they would turn the statue around, Columbus would be looking home to Italy. He wouldnt be so homesick any longer.

READ MORE

1967: After claims of police brutality, downtown Syracuse witnesses scenes of rioting and looting (vintage photos)

The Condemned: How a drunken saloon boast led to the invention of the electric chair

This feature is a part of CNY Nostalgia, a section on syracuse.com. Send your ideas and curiosities to Johnathan Croyle at jcroyle@syracuse.com or call 315-427-3958.

Thanks for visiting syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Xiaomi has brought MIUI 12 to the global editions of the Redmi K20 Pro and Mi 9T Pro. The update is part of Round 1 of the company's MIUI 12 release schedule and brings the global models onto parity with the variant that Xiaomi released in China. The update will arrive as an over-the-air (OTA) upgrade and will carry the build number V12.0.1.0.QFKMIXM. If you have not received a notification to download the initial version of MIUI 12 for the Redmi K20 Pro and Mi 9T Pro then the OTA or full recovery ROM can be downloaded from Xiaomi's servers via third-party websites like Xiaomi Firmware Updater and MIUI11_Updates.

The European version of the Mi 9 has also been upgraded to MIUI 12. Called V12.0.1.0.QFAEUXM, the build is being pushed out to handsets now. Alternatively, you can install the build manually by downloading it the same way as you can with the equivalent update for the Redmi K20 Pro and Mi 9T Pro.

MIUI 12 is still yet to hit the India stable branch of MIUI for the Mi 9, Mi 9T Pro or Redmi K20 Pro, though. However, Xiaomi has already issued a second round of MIUI 12 updates for the China stable branch following the ones that it released last week. These are called V12.0.2.0.QFACNXM for the Mi 9 and V12.0.2.0.QFKCNXM for the Mi 9T Pro/Redmi K20 Pro. While all early MIUI 12 updates continue to be based on Android 10, Xiaomi has started beta testing Android 11 on devices like the Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro and Redmi K30 Pro.
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijans Army has participated in the military parade held in Moscow on June 24, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Victory over fascism in the Great Patriotic War.

Led by Azerbaijans Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, a delegation of the ministry attended the event as a guest of honour.

Together with representatives of other countries, a parade squad consisting of 75 military servicemen of the Azerbaijani Army took part in this parade.

During the victory parade, Azerbaijani servicemen performed a solemn procession with weapons made in Azerbaijan.

It was announced during the parade that over 600,000 Azerbaijanis had fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War.

The parade was attended by 14,000 servicemen. Along with Russian servicemen, servicemen from 13 countries were marching on Moscows square.




Key market players are emphasizing on channelizing efforts towards ensuring sustainability across the value chain. Growing consciousness about minimizing water and energy consumption has driven usage of eco-friendly chemicals in the textile processing industry.

DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / The Asia textile chemicals market is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 11.6 Bn by the end of 2020. Over the years, growing environmental and water resources concerns have pushed textile manufactures to seek out alternative and sustainable dyeing practices. The textile industry has especially been heavily criticized for polluting the environment by discharging hazardous wastes. Additionally, Greenpeace concluded that most adult and children's clothing contains dangerous chemicals such as lead, formaldehyde, perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFC) and phthalates which have an adverse impact on the human body.

In the wake of such trends, leading textile companies are weaning away from such harmful chemicals and opting for safer and more durable approaches towards cloth manufacturing. Government agencies have played a pivotal role in ensuring that large textile corporations adhere to legal safeguards implemented to minimize adverse environmental impacts. For this, strict controls over supply chains have been imposed, with many companies working in close proximity with their manufacturing units. This allows them to regulate the nature of the chemicals being utilized in the production process.

"Research is underway to develop microbes capable of producing high-performance renewable dyes to address the needs of the mainstream textile industry. Using synthetic biology, it is possible to culture microbes from agricultural by-products, such as molasses, to develop colorants required in textile dyeing. This is poised to not only mitigate environmental degradation, but would also prove very inexpensive as a raw material," infers a prominent FMI analyst.

Request report sample consisting of 116 pages to gain in-depth market insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-as-434

Asia Textile Chemicals Market- Key Takeaways

Textile auxiliaries acquires an edge over textile colorants, due to growing emphasis on higher quality chemicals which are compliant with existing regulations.

China emerged as the kingpin of the Asian textile chemicals market, accounting for three-fifths of the market share. Strong presence of manufacturing industries has attracted key market players, generating significant revenue.

India has emerged as the second-largest textile chemical consumer, attributed to a burgeoning textile industry due to availability of cheap labor.

The Asian textile chemicals market expanded at a CAGR of 7.6% between 2014 and 2020, demonstrating a steady growth trajectory.

Finishing process recorded the fastest growth amongst all processes. Growth in demand for textiles and apparels for specific functional finishes is the principal growth driver.

Asia Textile Chemicals Market- Prominent Drivers

Development of innovative and differentiated product offerings to secure a foot hold in the wake of the fragmented nature of the industry is driving the adoption of sustainable textile chemicals by manufacturers.

Emerging markets such as Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Vietnam are encouraging vendors to initiate their businesses across these regions. Availability of inexpensive labor has provided manufacturers with an opportunity to lower their production costs, maximizing revenue prospects.

Asia Textile Chemicals Market- Key Constraints

Conventional textile chemicals are anticipated to be relegated to the backseat, owing to their highly hazardous nature, hindering market prospects due to stringent government regulations.

Anticipated Impact of the Coronavirus Outbreak

The textile chemicals industry has experienced a significant slump due to the coronavirus pandemic. This decline is attributed to a nosediving demand for textile products in domestic as well as international markets. Amongst all Asian countries, China has recorded the maximum bust, given the fact that it is the epicenter of the pandemic. The imposition of nationwide lockdowns to contain the virus's spread, major textile industries have ceased their operations. Additionally, countries such as India and Bangladesh have also taken a major hit, as the entire apparel and textile industry in these countries are highly labor intensive. Mandatory social distancing measures have forced these laborers to remain indoors, affecting productivity by reducing output. According to the International Textile Manufacturers' Federation (ITMF), an 8% decline in apparel orders were recorded in the past two months due to supply shortages.

The apparel industry has been the most severely affected, with stores remaining shut and buyers postponing or cancelling orders due to piling inventories. As a consequence, garment production has fallen, which has generated sluggishness in the textile chemicals market. The industry is not expected to rebound anytime soon in India, despite it lifting curbs on the lockdown. This is primarily because majority of garment workers are from different states and a majority of them have returned to their hometowns and are unlikely to return to the factories even after production resumes. Hence, the Asian textile chemicals market is looking at a long-term stagnation, requiring a minimum period of 4 to 6 months for business recovery.

Explore the Asian textile chemicals report with illustrative figures, data tables and the table of contents. You can also find detailed market segmentation on https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-as-434.

Competition Landscape

The global textile chemicals market is fragmented, with a host of market players engaged in offering textile chemical formulations from a variety of substances. In the Asian market, the prominent vendors are DyStar group, Archroma and Huntsman Corporation. These vendors are concentrating on development of textiles with smart functions, incorporating usage of nanotechnology, biotechnology, specialty coatings, ink-jet printing technologies and use of high-performance protective material. The players are also offering differentiated product offering in order to acquire a competitive edge in the market. For instance, Archroma is involved in the production of aniline free indigo to be used in denim clothes production. The dye, christened as Denisol Pure Indigo reduces risk of exposure to aniline while using it to coat denim products. Additionally, the product is in line with the global outlook towards maintaining sustainability.

More Insights on the Asia Textile Chemicals Market

FMI's research report on the Asia textile chemicals market provides an unbiased analysis of the key drivers, opportunities and restraints impacting growth for the period 2014-2020. The analysis has been undertaken by virtue of a detailed market segmentation, based on product type, application and processes. By product type, the market is divided into textile auxiliaries and textile colorants. Based on application, the market is segmented into apparels, home furnishings and others. In terms of processes, the analysis involves pre-treatment, dyeing, finishing and others. All the above mentioned segments have been profiled across six regions: China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam and Rest of Asia.

Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage on the Chemicals & Materials Landscape

Mining Lubricants Market: FMI's seminal study on the mining lubricants market sheds lights on the prominent dynamics responsible for shaping its growth trajectory for the forecast period 2020-2030. Peruse the report to understand the role of market vendors in broadening the scope of mining lubricants.

Polypropylene Market: Explore how market vendors are capitalizing on 3D-printing and circularity to strengthen growth prospects of the polypropylene market, in FMI's report for the upcoming decade.

Chitosan Market: Acquire in-depth information on the key opportunities and challenges as well as the competitive landscape of the chitosan market in FMI's detailed research report.

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and take critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

Contact:

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View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595080/Sustainability-Concerns-Influence-Textile-Chemicals-Manufacturing-Adopts-Synthetic-Biology-to-Produce-Environmental-friendly-Dyes--Future-Market-Insights
Kolkata, June 24 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hold an all-party meet at the state secretariat Nabanna on Wednesday to review the Covid-19 pandemic and the Centre's Amphan relief fund disbursement across the state.

Sources said the Chief Minister personally called up all the opposition leaders, requesting them to attend the meeting.

Banerjee had called up Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state President Dilip Ghosh, Left Front Chairman Biman Bose and senior Congress leaders from Bengal.

According to government sources, besides the Covid-19 situation, Banerjee is also likely to discuss the Centre's relief package to carry out reconstruction work in the Amphan-ravaged belts of the state.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Voting was held Tuesday in Kentucky and other states.

Here's the latest (all times Eastern):

8:30 p.m.



A group locked outside a voting site in Louisville, Kentucky, was seen on video banging on doors at the entrance of the citys only polling location.

A judge ruled Tuesday that the site could remain open 30 minutes past the 6 p.m. poll close time after two U.S. Senate candidates petitioned the court.

Jefferson County Clerk spokesperson Nore Ghibaudy says about 175 more voters were let in after the court reopened the polling location.

Ghibaudy says poll workers urged all voters in the buildings lobby to get in a line before 6 p.m. He said the voters who were locked out were not in the buildings lobby just after 6 p.m. when the doors were shut and locked.

7 p.m.

President Donald Trump has won the Republican presidential primary in Kentucky, while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has won the Republican Senate primary in the state.

Tuesdays results came as no surprise since Trump has consolidated support around his reelection bid. McConnell is the nation's most powerful senator.

Trump has already accumulated the requisite number of delegates to clinch the Republican presidential nomination.

The Democratic Senate primary is one of the most interesting races on Tuesday. Amy McGrath and Charles Booker are competing to take on McConnell in November. The race was too early to call at poll close.

6:50 p.m.

Advocacy groups are calling for extended voting time in Kentucky, citing long lines in one of the states largest cities.

The ACLU of Kentucky, the states NAACP chapter and other groups sent a letter to the states board of elections on Tuesday requesting a one-hour extension in counties that have had long lines. Polls in the states Eastern time zone close at 6 p.m.

Lexingtons lone polling sites had long lines at some points, but voting in Louisvilles only polling site had not seen similar delays.

These long wait times have the potential to discourage voters from exercising their right to vote, said the letter addressed to state board of elections executive director Jared Dearing and general counsel Taylor Brown.

Kentuckys Secretary of State, Michael Adams, said despite some delays, Kentucky has been a national success story. He says, Turnout is through the roof.
The Covid Health Questionnaire each Limerick person participating in Gaelic Games must complete prior to the first occasion that they return to their club is now available.

Forms can be accessed by visiting here:

Each person participating in Gaelic Games must also re-confirm that their Health Status hasnt changed on each subsequent occasion that they participate. Parents/Guardians can submit forms on behalf of their dependents and forms can also be submitted on behalf of persons who may struggle with completing the electronic form themselves.

Covid-19 Supervisors in clubs can verify that individual members of their teams/panels have submitted forms and are permitted to participate.

The supervisors do not have access to view the specific information provided via the Health Questionnaire, they will simply be able to see that the questionnaire has been submitted. Personal Information contained on the Health Questionnaires is stored for a maximum period of three weeks.

Go HERE for information on how to fill out the Covid Health Questionnaire.

All Covid Supervisors/Club Officers, Players/Team Personnel, and the Parents/Guardians of Underage Players must also complete the GAA's Covid-19 Club Education eLearning Module.

Go HERE to access the GAA's Covid-19 Club Education eLearning Module.
OWB logo

With the recent addition of Tualatin Hills and the Laurelwood District AVAs, the state of Oregon is now home to 21 federally recognized winegrowing regions. The regions, called American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), offer unique winemaking conditions thanks to a combination of widely varied physical geology and climate.

Both areas are situated in the northern Willamette Valley and were granted approval on June 3rd. Local wineries had petitioned the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) years earlier for the additions to the wine country map, citing distinctive features like soil type and elevation, which in turn lead to distinctive wines. They join fellow Oregon AVAs including Eola-Amity Hills, Umpqua Valley and The Rocks Districts of Milton-Freewater and more, adding to the states eclectic winegrowing landscape. The expansive Willamette Valley now totals ten AVAs.

Tualatin Hills is the larger of the two new zones, composed of 144,000 acres encompassing the northern hills of Tualatin River watershed, minutes west of Portland, Oregons most populous city. The elevation of the AVA ranges from 200 to 1,000 feet, set in a temperate rain shadow cast by the nearby Coast Range. Its the northernmost AVA in the Willamette Valley and includes the towns of Helvetia, North Plains and Forest Grove and is bordered to the south by Gaston.

With its 21 AVAs ranging from the Willamette Valley south to the Rogue Valley and spanning 600 miles east to the Snake River Valley bordering Idaho, Oregon's list of AVAs is second only to California's (which has a total of 107). Reflecting the ever-growing wine industry at large, the U.S. now has 248 AVAs from coast to coast.

Sally Murdoch, communications manager for the Oregon Wine Board said, Oregon has almost 12% of the AVAs in the country, yet we produce only about 1.5% of the nations wine. She added. With two new AVAs, this is great recognition for our almost 800 wineries and our states clearly differentiated regions, underscoring that Oregon truly is unique in the global landscape.

Leading the charge for recognition was Alfredo Apolloni of Apolloni Vineyards, along with Mike Kuenz of David Hill Vineyard and Winery and Rudy Marchesi of Montinore Estate. Producers note the elegant style of Pinot noir made in this distinctive stretch of land, often showing blackberry, cherry and spice notes. All told, 40 wineries and vineyards are located in the Tualatin Hills AVA, including Patton Valley Vineyard and Elk Cove Vineyards.

Its terrific to spotlight such a singular spot of the Oregon wine country map, says Apolloni. With an incredible diurnal shift and grape-friendly soils, its no wonder some of Oregons first wineries settled here. We cant wait to further the story of the Tualatin Hills through expressive wines beyond Pinot noir.

The Laurelwood District AVA is smaller at 33,600 acres, and is situated on the northeast facing flank of the Chehalem Mountains, near Beaverton and Sherwood. The Laurelwood District extends throughout the northeastern reaches of the Chehalem Mountains, where the topography reaches more than 1,600 feet above sea level. The name refers to the prevalent soil type that defines the wines from this area. Unlike other Oregon AVAs, this AVA is defined by a unique soil type that is predominantly found in this part of the Willamette Valley. Here, Laurelwood soils dominate; this windblown loess soil type was brought in by the Missoula Floods thousands of years ago.

Spearheading the call for the nested appellation was one of the states most established winemaking families, the Ponzis. Second-generation proprietors Maria and Luisa Ponzi teamed up with Kevin Johnson and Beth Klingner of Dion Vineyard in requesting federal approval. Ponzi Vineyards joins 29 other producers and 70 vineyards operating within the new appellation, including Cooper Mountain Vineyards and Hawks View Winery.

Luisa Ponzi says the process has taken more than a decade. Were thrilled to be able to officially advertise the unique qualities at play due to our soil in our very specific pocket within the Willamette Valley, the winemaker says. Consumers are more and more interested in the origin story of their goods and wine has always told that story. With the addition of the Laurelwood District, wine drinkers will become aware of why and how whats bottled from this area stands out."

The two newest AVAs are the toast of both the industry and consumers who look to celebrate Oregons one-of-a-kind appellations and the sense of place in a wines flavor and makeup. Wineries and vineyards within these designations, on July 6 2020, can market their work as such, whether it be on the wine label itself or in other branding narratives.

About the Oregon Wine Board

The Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent Oregon state agency managing marketing, research and education initiatives that support and advance the Oregon wine and wine grape industry. OWB works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the states diverse winegrowing regions. Visit oregonwine.org for more.

About the Willamette Valley Wineries Association

The WVWA is a nonprofit industry association dedicated to achieving recognition for Oregons acclaimed Willamette Valley as a premium Pinot noirproducing region. The WVWA has more than 230 members representing wineries, tasting rooms and vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. Memorial Weekend in the Wine Country and Wine Country Thanksgiving are the two oldest WVWAsponsored touring events in Oregon. Visit http://www.willamettewines.com for more info.

List of wineries and vineyards in the Laurelwood District AVA:

A Blooming Hill Vineyard and Winery

Alloro Estate Vineyard

Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Benjamin Vineyard

Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Boisseau Vineyard

Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Louise Vineyard

Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Marilyn Vineyard

Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Robert Vineyard

Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Justin Grand Vineyard

Arbre Vert Vineyard

Archer Vineyard

Ardiri Winery and Vineyards

August Cellars Vineyard

Bailey Estate Vineyards

Barking Frog

Blakeslee Vineyard Estate

Buteo Vineyard

Chateau Lebeau Vineyard

Chehalem Corral Creek Vineyard

Chehalem Schaad Vineyard

Chehalem Crossing Family Estate Vineyards

Cloudrest Vineyard

Cooper Mountain Vineyards Johnson School Vineyard

Dion Vineyards

Domaine Sardine

Elk Cove Five Mountain Vineyards

Finnigan Hill Vineyard

Freja Hughes Vineyard

Freja Musso Vineyard

Freja Vineyards

Gemini Vineyard

Grapehead Vineyard

Gresser Vineyard

Hamacher Wines Paloma Vineyard

Hawks View Vineyard

J. Albin Winery Laurel Vineyard

Jesse Estate Vineyard

JNF Vineyard

La Cantera

La Luce Vineyard

Linda Vista Vineyard

Madrona Hill Vineyard

Manissa-Jo Vineyard

Manuela Vineyard

Mooney Vineyard

Nicholas Vineyard

Owen Roe Annas Vineyard

Ponzi Abetina Vineyard

Ponzi Aurora Vineyard

Ponzi Avellana Vineyard

Ponzi Madrona Vineyard

Raptor Ridge Estate Vineyard

Rex Hill Burnt Tree Vineyard

Rex Hill Estate Vineyard

Rex Hill Hoy Vineyard

Ross Vineyard

Ruby Vineyard

Sheets Vineyard

Starling Crest

Sufi Vineyard

Tannehill Vineyard

The Potter's Vineyard

Three Cedars Vineyard

Triple H Vineyard

Tuenge Vineyards

Vista Grande Vineyard

Xander Taryn Vineyard

Wineries and Vineyards in the Tualatin Hills AVA:

Aggravation Hill Vineyard

Apolloni Vineyards

Bednarik

Bramblett Vineyards

Cancilla Cellars

Carpenter Creek Farms Vineyard

Cherry Grove

Cochran Vineyard

Courting Hill

Covey Ridge

David Hill Vineyards

Eagles Nest Reserve

Echo Hill Vineyard

Elk Cove - Windhill Vineyard

Helvetia

Highgrove Farms

Loeza Vineyard

Mason Ridge Farms

Mason Ridge Vineyard

Meier Vineyards

Merten Vineyards

Montinore Estate

NV Hill Farm

Patton Valley Vineyard

Petalous Vineyard

Plum Hill Vineyards

Provincial Vineyards

Purple Cow Vineyards

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

Trend:

In 2019, the Azerbaijani government actively worked to deter, detect, and defeat terrorist efforts to move people, money, and materials across its land and maritime borders and within the South Caucasus, Trend reports with reference to the US State Departments Country Reports on Terrorism 2019.

Azerbaijani law enforcement and security services conducted operations to disrupt and prevent terror attacks, arrested and prosecuted suspected terrorists. There were no reported terrorist incidents in Azerbaijan in 2019, reads the report.

The report says that Azerbaijani law enforcement and security services have demonstrated adequate capacity to detect, deter, and prevent acts of terrorism in Azerbaijans territory.

Azerbaijans law enforcement and security services share information among themselves, and with regional and international partners regarding terrorism matters. In 2019, Azerbaijan continued implementing its National Action Plan for 2017-2019 on combating criminally acquired money, legalization of other properties, and financing of terrorism, reads the report.

The US State Department

says that Azerbaijan maintained membership in the CoE, the OSCE, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and other international bodies.

Azerbaijan supports NATO CT initiatives as one of the Alliances Partnership for Peace countries. Azerbaijan participated in NATOs Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, where it deployed 120 peacekeeping troops, and contributed to the Afghan National Army Trust Fund, reads the report.
North Korea has decided to suspend military action plans against South Korea, the official KCNA news agency reported on Wednesday, as a report suggested North Korean troops were taking down loudspeakers recently reinstalled at the fortified border.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over a video conference meeting of the ruling party's Central Military Commission on Tuesday, where members "took stock of the prevailing situation" before deciding to suspend the military plans, the report said, without elaborating.

The committee also discussed documents outlining measures for "further bolstering the war deterrent of the country," KCNA reported.

Political tensions between the rival Koreas have been rising over Pyongyang's objections to plans by defector-led groups in the South to send propaganda leaflets into the North.

North Korea claims the moves violate an agreement between the two aimed at preventing military confrontation, and accused the defectors of insulting the dignity of North Korea's supreme leadership.

North Korea's military was seen removing about 10 loudspeakers near the demilitarised zone (DMZ) on Wednesday, just days after they were seen reinstalling around 20 of the devices, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing unnamed military sources. About 40 such systems were taken down after the two Koreas signed an accord in 2018 to cease "all hostile acts".

A spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles relations with the North, said it is monitoring the situation and had no change in its stance that inter-Korean agreements should be kept.

ROLLERCOASTER OF TENSIONS

Kim Jong Un's decision to suspend the unspecified military actions may represent a reprieve from weeks of increasingly provocative moves by North Korea.

In recent weeks, the North blew up a joint liaison office on its side of the border and declared an end to dialogue with the South.

Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, warned last week of retaliatory measures against South Korea that could involve the military, without elaborating.

The General Staff of the Korean People's Army (KPA) later said it had been studying an "action plan" that included sending troops into joint tourism and economic zones, reoccupying border guard posts that had been abandoned under the 2018 pact, taking steps to "turn the front line into a fortress," and supporting plans for the North to send its own propaganda leaflets into the South.

Jenny Town, with the U.S.-based North Korea-monitoring website 38 North, said anti-South Korea rhetoric from the North over the past week had left room for flexibility, but it was still unclear where the latest moves will lead.

"Overall, it doesn't appear that the North has necessarily wanted to be overly provocative," she said. "While it seems set on reversing the measures taken in the inter-Korean agreements -in a dramatic fashion - so far, the rhetoric has already been milder since the demolition of the liaison office."

The KCNA report sent shares of South Korea's defence-related firms, which have risen during the heightened tensions, into a tailspin early on Wednesday. Victek Co Ltd , Speco and Firstec Co Ltd tumbled more than 20% each, while the benchmark KOSPI and junior KOSDAQ was trading up 1.3% and 0.9%, respectively, as of 0032 GMT.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mosquito Joe, a Neighborly company, and one of the nation's leading mosquito control companies, has launched its annual philanthropic campaign. The eighth annual Beat the Bloodsuckers campaign will take place June 21-27, 2020, in honor of the American Mosquito Control Association's Mosquito Control Awareness Week.

Across 335 locations, participating Mosquito Joe franchise locations will give back to their communities in one of two ways:

Franchise owners who choose to work with Nothing But Nets will donate $10 for every new customer serviced during Mosquito Control Awareness Week. This donation sends two life-saving mosquito nets to those who live at risk of contracting malaria in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean .

will donate for every new customer serviced during Mosquito Control Awareness Week. This donation sends two life-saving mosquito nets to those who live at risk of contracting malaria in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, and the . Franchise owners who choose to work with the American Red Cross or a local blood bank will donate 10 percent of new customer sales during Mosquito Control Awareness Week to the respective organization.

Since 2013, Mosquito Joe franchise owners have collectively donated more than $200,000 in charitable giving through the Beat the Bloodsuckers campaign. Over the four years of Mosquito Joe's partnership with Nothing But Nets, the generosity of the Mosquito Joe community has raised more than $105,000 and provided over 29,400 insecticide-treated mosquito nets to families in need.

"Every year our franchise owners look forward to Mosquito Control Awareness Week to rally together to raise awareness and funds that benefit our domestic and global communities," said Mosquito Joe President, Lou Schager. "With families spending time in their homes now more than ever, we are passionate about making sure each home's outdoor space is itch-free and fun for everyone. Through Mosquito Control Awareness Week, we are able to educate our customers on the real dangers of mosquitoes and how they can protect themselves and their families."

To request a quote, visit our website. Or, if you'd like to make a personal donation to the Beat the Bloodsuckers campaign benefitting Nothing But Nets, click here.

About Mosquito Joe:

Dedicated to making outside fun again by eliminating mosquitoes, ticks and fleas from customer's yards, Mosquito Joe, a Neighborly company, is a leader in the outdoor pest control industry. The brand was founded in 2010 and has since expanded to over 335 locations throughout the U.S. Acquired in 2018, Mosquito Joe is part of Neighborly, the world's largest home services franchisor of 24 service brands and more than 4,000 franchise owners serving 10 million+ customers in nine countries, focused on repairing, maintaining and enhancing homes and businesses. Neighborly brands are found at www. Neighborly.com. For more information about Mosquito Joe, visit www.mosquitojoe.com. To learn about franchising opportunities with Neighborly, click here.

SOURCE Mosquito Joe

Related Links

http://www.mosquitojoe.com


Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/23/2020 -- According to the new market research report on the "Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Technology (Machine Learning, NLP, Context-Aware Computing, Computer Vision), End-Use Application, End User and Region - Global Forecast To 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global AI in Healthcare Market is expected to grow from USD 4.9 billion in 2020 and reach USD 45.2 billion by 2026; it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 44.9% during the forecast period.



The major factors driving the growth of the market are the increasing volume of healthcare data and growing complexities of datasets, the intensifying need to reduce towering healthcare costs, improving computing power and declining hardware costs, growing number of cross-industry partnerships and collaborations, and rising imbalance between health workforce and patients driving the need for improvised healthcare services. Another major fueling the market growth currently is the adoption of this technology by multiple pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies across the world to expedite vaccine or drug development processes for COVID-19.



Ask for PDF Brochure:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=54679303



Software segment in AI healthcare market projected to grow at highest CAGR during forecast period.



Many companies are developing software solutions for various healthcare applications; this is the key factor complementing the growth of the software segment. Growing adoption of AI-driven healthcare informatics solutions and healthcare operational support by hospitals and other healthcare service providers is expected to boost the demand for services in the later part of the forecast period.



Machine learning in AI healthcare market projected to grow at highest CAGR during forecast period.



Growing adoption of deep learning in various healthcare applications, especially in the areas of medical imaging, disease diagnostics, and drug discovery, and the use of different sensors and devices to derive a patient's health status in real time are supplementing the growth of the market.



Medical imaging & diagnostics segment in AI healthcare market projected to grow at highest CAGR during forecast period.



The high growth of the medical imaging and diagnostics segment can be attributed to factors such as the presence of a large volume of imaging data, advantages offered by AI systems to radiologists in diagnosis and treatment management, and the influx of a large number of startups in this segment.



Patients segment in AI healthcare market projected to grow at highest CAGR during forecast period.



Increasing demand for personalized care, the need to reduce hospital readmissions, and the convenience offered by AI products and solutions are the key factors driving the growth of the patients segment in the AI in healthcare market.



Browse in-depth TOC on "Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Market"



105  Tables

59- Figures

255  Pages



Inquiry Before Buying:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=54679303



AI in healthcare market in APAC projected to grow at highest CAGR during forecast period.



China is the highest healthcare spender among APAC countries and has charted out official plans to digitize medical records. In addition, the Chinese government is undertaking initiatives to encourage the adoption of AI technologies in healthcare. These will drive the market for AI in healthcare in China. Japan is likely to hold the second-largest market share during the forecast period.



Major players in the AI in healthcare market are NVIDIA Corporation (NVIDIA) (US), Intel Corporation (Intel) (US), International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) (US), Google Inc. (Google) (US), Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) (US), Amazon Web Services (an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary) (AWS) (US), General Vision, Inc. (US), General Electric (GE) Healthcare (US), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), Medtronic plc (US), Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson) (US), and Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands).



Related Reports:



Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, and Service), Deployment Type, Security Type, Technology (ML, NLP, and Context-Aware), Application (IAM, DLP, and UTM), End User, and Geography- Global Forecast to 2026



Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, and Services), Technology (Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Context-Aware Computing, and NLP), Application, Industry, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2025



About MarketsandMarkets

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Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.



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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.
A Sydney primary school will be shut for cleaning after a student tested positive for the coronavirus.

Lane Cove West Public School in Sydney's north will close on Thursday for deep cleaning after a year two student was confirmed to have COVID-19, the New South Wales Department of Health says.

'The school will be non-operational for the on-site attendance of staff and students to allow for contact tracing to occur,' the statement on Wednesday night said.

Lane Cove West Public School (pictured) in Sydney's north will close on Thursday for deep cleaning after a year two student was confirmed to have COVID-19

It came as New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the damage caused to Victorian border towns such as Albury-Wodonga would deter any attempt to restrict movement between the states.

'For a community like Albury-Wodonga, they don't see themselves as two separate towns, they see themselves as one community,' Ms Berejiklian told ABC television on Wednesday.

'A hard border closure would be detrimental to a part of the country that doesn't have cases. We're not in the business of having hard border closures.'

Victoria on Wednesday confirmed another 20 cases of COVID-19 amid an outbreak in outer-suburban Melbourne, taking to 213 the number of diagnoses over the past 10 days.

New South Wales on Wednesday reported 10 new cases - all in hotel quarantine - from 13,278 tests.

Ms Berejiklian has repeatedly criticised interstate travel restrictions and said she won't agree to border closures with any of New South Wales' neighbour states.

But she again urged against travel to Melbourne, particularly its six current COVID-19 hotspots: the local government areas of Hume, Casey, Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) said the damage caused to Victorian border towns such as Albury-Wodonga would deter any attempt to restrict movement between the states

Interstate travellers are pictured on arrival into Sydney Domestic Airport from Melbourne on June 24

Residents of those hotspots should not be moving around the community, the premier said, and New South Wales businesses should deny service to anyone from outer-suburban Melbourne.

She also implored New South Wales residents to avoid visiting Melbourne altogether.

But Ms Berejiklian said she was confident her Victorian counterparts would get the outbreak under control before drastic measures were required.

About 3159 COVID-19 cases have been reported in New South Wales to date, with none in intensive care.

Ms Berejiklian again encouraged New South Wales residents to seek testing if they felt unwell.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt this week said Australia's international borders would remain closed for 'a very significant' amount of time as global coronavirus infection rates accelerate, potentially until a vaccine is secured.

The number of coronavirus infections around the world has exceeded 9.3 million.

A couple are pictured at Sydney Domestic Airport's baggage carousel after arriving from Melbourne on June 24
Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says the federal government will not engage in a street fight over the demolition of a building at ...

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says the federal government will not engage in a street fight over the demolition of a building at the Nigerian high commission in Ghana.





Last week, armed men invaded the high commission and demolished some buildings under construction.





Although President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana called President Muhammadu Buhari to apologise over the incident, the house of representatives and some Nigerians have called for a retaliation.





Speaking with journalists at the presidential villa on Wednesday, Shehu said matters of this nature should be handled diplomatically and that Buhari has shown leadership in the issue.





The president of Ghana has called and regretted the action and apologised to the president of Nigeria, he said.





I think he has shown leadership in the matter and what should Nigeria do? These are two leading countries in West Africa.





Nigeria will not engage in a street fight with Ghana. This cannot happen. So, the two leaders, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, who is much respected in Africa, they all call him Baba, so he is bound to show restraint.





Matters such as this when they arise, it is always better when they arise, they should be resolved diplomatically.





No, there should not be in a fight between Nigeria and Ghana, this will not happen.




Tech Stories Tab by Hacker Noon Tech Stories Tab saves you from typing the 14 characters of "hackernoon.com" every time you open a new tab.

Hacker Noon, the technology publishing platform serving 4M readers per month, released the Tech Stories Tab in the Google Chrome Web Store. This browser plugin will display what human editors at Hacker Noon have curated as the most important technology stories of the day.

Chrome is currently the most used browser of our readership, so we are excited to work more with the browser to curate great technology stories, said Hacker Noon CEO David Smooke. The beta has been fun, Ive enjoyed seeing what tech stories Hacker Noon editors curate in my new tab.

Tech Stories Tab saves you from typing the 14 characters of "hackernoon.com" every time you open a new tab, said Hacker Noon CPO Dane Lyons, a bit tongue in cheek. I expect V2 to include more technology sources, a search filter, and possibly the ability to personalize your new tab by following tags.

What kind of stories should people expect in their Tech Stories Tab? Here are some top stories from Q2 2020:



Hacker Noons new tab Chrome Extension makes it easy for you to stay in-the-loop with whats ~really~ going on in tech todayas told by the hackers building, buying, hodling, founding, and funding our collective futures.

The best hacker and developer publication on the planet! tweeted Sherman Lee, Co-founder @Raven_Protocol, Angel Investor @deep_ventures_

The best thing I've read in awhile.  tweeted @darklordcodes, FullStack Software Developer @shortpoint_tw.

Big shout out to the @hackernoon guys & girls, great bunch of people and the best place on the internet to publish your #crypto content   tweeted builder of things @BinaryOverdose

Hacker Noon has covered 18k+ tech topics, published 12k+ contributing writers, and serves 4 million monthly readers. Give yourself the gift of good tech storytelling: be the first to know everytime a new featured post is published on the worlds greenest indie tech site.

About Hacker Noon

How hackers start their afternoons. Hacker Noon is built for technologists to read, write, and publish. We are an open and international community of 12,000+ contributing writers publishing stories and expertise for 4,000,000+ curious and insightful monthly readers. Founded in 2016, Hacker Noon is an independent technology publishing platform run by David Smooke and Linh Smooke.

About Google Chrome Web Store

You can find apps, extensions, and browser themes for the Google Chrome browser in the Chrome Web Store. With these additions, you can do more with Chrome.Here are some benefits of using apps: apps install quickly, without restarting your computer or browser, your apps are always available when you sync apps across multiple computers, apps are always up-to-date because they are hosted on the web, apps wont crash your computer. If you have trouble with an app, close its tab, and you can easily find and open the app using app launcher.

This Tech News was Originally Published on Hacker Noon
Dubai, June 24 : An Indian couple from Gujarat was found murdered and their teenage daughter brutally injured by a Pakistani national here last week during a break-in and robbery bid.

The couple -- Hiren Adhiya and Vidhi Adhiya, both in their 40s were killed on June 18, daijiworld reported.

The Adhiyas were residing at a villa in Arabian Ranches. Their two children, aged 13 and 18, were at home when the incident took place. The elder daughter was stabbed when she came face to face with the accused, but escaped with minor injuries.

Hiren was a senior director at a Sharjah oil and gas contractor. He along with his family had moved to Dubai around three years ago. They have relatives in India's Gujarat state.

It is gathered that the accused was part of a maintenance team who worked on the family's home two years ago. The accused, later unemployed, had knowledge of the family's affluent position, and had returned to rob them of cash and jewellery.
False accusations that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia have already cost some of the most senior officials at the FBI and the Department of Justice their reputations, their careers, or both. The widespread wrongdoing raises the question: Where were the honest lawmen and women? Was there no one willing to challenge superiors -- or even just colleagues -- gone rogue?

Carter Page: Instead of credulously embracing the Steele dossier's charges against Page as many others did, Stuart Evans of the Department of Justice (top photo) demanded more information about ex-British spy Christopher Steele.

There may have been at least one. As deputy assistant attorney general for the Office of Intelligence, Stuart Evans had the responsibility of vetting spy warrants before submitting them to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. In the fall of 2016, the FBI presented Evans with an application for a warrant to capture the communications of volunteer Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page. The main justification for getting a wire on Page were allegations by former British spy Christopher Steele. Instead of credulously embracing the Steele dossier as so many others did, Evans demanded more information about Steele. He put up bureaucratic roadblocks and manned them stubbornly while asking the essential questions no one else seemed to care about.

Evans came close to saving Justice and the FBI from themselves. But he made one mistake. The story of how that mistake allowed Evans to be outmaneuvered is a lesson in the limits of confronting bureaucracies  even if one is a study in integrity.

The FBI launched operation Crossfire Hurricane -- the counterintelligence investigation into whether the Trump campaign was colluding with Russia  on July 31, 2016. Within weeks the team, led by FBI agent Peter Strzok, was asking for a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant. But at that early stage of the investigation, lawyers with the FBIs Office of General Counsel didnt think there was enough evidence to establish probable cause. That changed when the Crossfire Hurricane crew obtained the Steele dossier on Sept. 19. Attorneys with the general counsels office gave their go-ahead.

A month before the 2016 election, the FBI took to the Justice Department the first official drafts requesting a surveillance warrant on Page. The drafts went to the National Security Divisions Office of Intelligence (OI), whose supervisor was Deputy Assistant Attorney General Evans.

The bureau asserted, based on unsubstantiated claims made by Steele, that Carter Page was coordinating with Russia to throw the U.S. election to Trump. The Justice Department inspector general would later find that the FISA request form drew almost entirely from Steele's reporting.

John P. Carlin: " I  I dont remember if theres someone else at the briefing, but I remember Stu Evans was there and hes the one [who] said both that this was sensitive and that there was this issue with the source.

With so much riding on the say-so of a single source, had the FBI done everything it could to determine Steeles credibility? Did anyone in the Justice Department push back against the bureau? Did anyone insist that more needed to be known about what Steele was up to? These were questions House Intelligence Committee members in July 2017 put to John Carlin, the assistant attorney general in charge of the NSD.

Was there any advocate or any individual or individuals who seemed to be more active saying, I dont think we can trust this source, I think we need to delve into this more deeply? Utah Republican Chris Stewart asked Carlin.

I remember them, Carlin replied, suggesting more than just one person was asking tough questions. But once he started to enumerate, Carlin could recall only a single name. Stu Evans, the deputy assistant attorney general is the one. I  I dont remember if theres someone else at the briefing, Carlin went on, but I remember Stu Evans was there and hes the one [who] said both that this was sensitive and that there was this issue with the source. Evans wanted more scrutiny of Steeles motives, and believed that before pursuing a surveillance warrant against someone associated with a presidential campaign, leadership of both the FBI and DOJ should explicitly sign off on the request.

Carlin might have witnessed more instances of skepticism if he hadnt been in his last weeks at the Justice Department. He left for the private sector Oct. 14; Mary McCord took over as the acting assistant attorney general in charge of the National Security Division on Oct. 17, just three weeks before the election.

Mary McCord: Stu Evans certainly talked about questions we had on, you know, the [FISA] application and questions to go back to the bureau with. I was not the one doing that.

A little over a year later, McCord had her turn to be interviewed behind closed doors on Capitol Hill about the FISA fiasco. Trey Gowdy, then a Republican congressman from South Carolina, asked McCord whether there was any evidence that she had been even remotely skeptical regarding the extraordinary story the FBI had presented to the Department of Justice.

From time to time in the old days, Gowdy said of his years as a prosecutor, we would ask law enforcement officers: How do you know that? How an investigator came by information would tend to affect, in other words, the credibility of the information. Do you recall asking the FBI: How do you know?

Certainly that was done, McCord said. Not by her, however. What I know about this is coming to me through those who are responsible for the day-to-day back-and-forth with the agents. And who were these DoJ officials going back and forth day by day? At first it seems as though McCord will be able to rattle off a list of names: Stu and certainly  But then McCord came up short, unable to name anyone else. So she focused on discussing the one person who asked tough questions of the FBI: Stu Evans certainly talked about questions we had on, you know, the [FISA] application and questions to go back to the bureau with, McCord said. I was not the one doing that.

As detailed in a report on surveillance abuses by Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz, Evans kept asking questions about Steeles motivations even as the FBI kept assuring him, inaccurately, that the author of the dossier was a disinterested and unbiased investigator.

On Oct. 7, Evans had the Office of Intelligence ask the Crossfire Hurricane agents whether their ex-British spy is affiliated with either campaign and/or has contributed to either campaign.

On Oct. 10, a key member of Crossfire Hurricane responded. Referred to only as Case Agent 1 in the inspector generals report, the agent has since been identified by the New York Times as Stephen Somma. His response, quoted in chapter five of the Horowitz report, was not fully forthcoming: Somma told Evans that because Steele was most likely a foreign national, he would not have been able to contribute to any U.S. presidential candidate.

Evans recognized that the first part of his question had been ignored, and had the same question sent again to Crossfire Hurricane. Somma again replied that Steele was not a U.S. person and had not contributed to any campaign.

Shortly after Evans sent the question back a third time he learned what the FBI had known all along  that Steele was being paid to find dirt on Trump. The Justice Department inspector general would later report that there were no written communications indicating that anyone on the Crossfire Hurricane team advised [the Office of Intelligence] about the potential or suspected political connections to Steeles reporting before Evans raised his questions on October 11.

Peter Strzok to Lisa Page: Stu is nervous.

It came with a bombshell: The FBI told Evans they assumed the Hillary Clinton campaign or the Democratic Party was paying for Steeles research. Evans might have expected that the FBI  investigation being its business  would be capable of tracking down a money trail to answer the question of where Steeles pay was coming from. Instead, Evans had for days been given answers to his questions that seem to have been deliberately worded to avoid giving him the information he sought. Evans was in no mood to give the FBI what it wanted.

Strzok sent a series of messages to the FBI general counsels office complaining that Evans was slowing things down, among them:

Stu is nervous.

[Stu] said he wasnt aware of the fact until a few hours ago that [Steele] was employed to find this information by a named client, in turn hired by an unnamed client presumably affiliated with the Clinton campaign in some manner.

Im worried about what Stu whispers in Court Advisors ear.

Strzok also complained to his girlfriend, Lisa Page, a legal adviser to FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe:

Currently fighting with Stu for this fisa.

Hey-The FISA will probably not go forward without a call from the [Deputy Director].

Lisa Page to Strzok: Currently fighting with Stu for this fisa," she texted. And to her boss Andrew McCabe: This might take a high-level push.

Evans concerns were briefed to FBI Director James Comey and McCabe. Neither thought there was any reason not to move forward with a FISA warrant application. Page saw Evans as the only holdup on getting a wiretap approved. She applied what pressure she could. I communicated you and bosss green light to Stu earlier, and just sent an email to Stu asking where things stood, she texted McCabe. This might take a high-level push.

Push or no push, who knows how long Evans might have held up the Carter Page FISA warrant application? But Evans made a tactical error: He framed his concerns not as a matter of principle but of prudence. Evans might have stood his ground opposing the warrant application by pointing to how the bureau had withheld the fact that Steele was working, through cut-outs, for the Clinton campaign. He could have insisted that the Steele reporting was hopelessly tainted as a partisan political product for which the author had been paid. Instead, Evans characterized the issue as a prudential question of risk vs. reward.

The downside was obvious: Eavesdrop on an individual associated with a presidential campaign and Justice and the FBI risk appearing to be interfering with an election. Any possible upside was less clear: Thanks to press leaks, Carter Page knew he was being investigated, Evans noted. That meant Page would assume his lines were tapped and his emails scrutinized, making it unlikely he would communicate anything revealing or damaging by phone or computer. The risk, Evans argued, was not worth the dim prospect of any reward.

The upside/downside equation may have seemed like a reasonable way to approach a difficult problem, but it allowed the FBI to seize the moral high ground. Evans raised the prudential question with McCabe, who said he understood the risk but was duty bound not to pull any punches. They had to let the chips fall where they may, McCabe insisted.

Evans settled for a face-saving, if infamous, footnote to the FISA application. It made the claim that the FBI speculates Steeles paymaster wanted material that could be used against the Trump campaign. Once the footnote was attached to the application, Evans stood down.

It seems like Stu Evans is the only guy in the whole rotten process who tried to slow things down and asked some questions about what was happening, a congressional staffer who worked on the House investigation into Russian influence told RealClearInvestigations. But in the end, it looks like he got steamrolled.

Evans may not be done with the matter yet. RealClearInvestigations correspondent Paul Sperry reports that he is cooperating with U.S. Attorney John Durhams probe of wrongdoing at Justice and the FBI. That investigation may prove to be a steamroller of an entirely different sort.
Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 11:23:28|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday cautioned his counterparts in the West African region against possible dangers brought by the regional common currency, Eco.

Buhari made this remark at a virtual extraordinary meeting of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) on the new regional currency.

Buhari expressed concern over the decision of francophone countries that form the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) to replace CFA Franc with Eco ahead of the rest of member states.

"We have made remarkable progress including the adoption of the exchange rate regime, the name, and model of the common Central Bank and the symbol. It, therefore, gives me an uneasy feeling that the UEMOA Zone now wishes to take up the Eco in replacement for its CFA Franc ahead of the rest of the member-states," the Nigerian leader said.

He said the decision would deviate from the Community Act on consistent attainment of convergence in the three years running up to the introduction of the currency, and the subsequent reinforcing directives.

"I am informed that the French ministers have approved a bill to reform the CFA Franc and most, if not all of the UEMOA member states, have already passed legislation in their various parliaments to that effect," he said.

"It is a matter of concern that people with whom we wish to go into a union are taking these major steps without trusting us for discussion," he added.

Buhari reiterated Nigeria's commitment to the single currency and urged leaders in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to consider the recommendations made by the Convergence Council and take a common position to safeguard the WAMZ "from the pitfalls of a questionable union."

He reaffirmed Nigeria's support for a monetary union with the right fundamentals, which, according to him, guarantees credibility, sustainability, and overall regional prosperity and sovereignty.

"We cannot ridicule ourselves by entering a union to disintegrate, potentially no sooner than we enter into it. We need to be clear and unequivocal about our position regarding this process. We must also communicate the same to the outside world effectively. We have all staked so much in this project to leave things to mere expediencies and convenience," he said.

The ECOWAS leadership is at a crossroads with the ambition for a common currency, Buhari noted, adding that the region must proceed with caution and comply with the agreed process of reaching the collective goal while treating each other with the utmost respect.

"Without these, our ambitions for a strategic monetary union as an ECOWAS bloc could very well be in serious jeopardy," he added. Enditem
New York, June 24 : An Indian restaurant has been vandalised with racist graffiti written amid the devastation left by the attack in New Mexico state, according to media reports.

Local leaders and the community are rallying behind the Sikh-owned restaurant, India Palace, in Santa Fe, which suffered $100,000 in damages during the attack discovered on Monday, the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper reported.

Besides causing extensive damage to the restaurant, the vandals had written slogans in support of President Donald Trump and "White Power", and racist remarks like "Go Home," according to the Santa Fe Reporter.

It said that the kitchen was completely made unusable, tables were overturned, glassware was smashed, wine racks were emptied, the statue of a "goddess" was beheaded and computers were stolen.

The restaurant had reopened only recently after being closed due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham tweeted on Tuesday, "We will not stand for such hatred in New Mexico." She added that she had spoken to restaurant-owner Bajit Singh to "let him know that our community is with him." Mayor Alan Webber described the vandalism a "sickening and appalling" hate crime and vowed, "We will find whoever did it and punish them to the full extent of the law." He said, "The Singhs are a long-standing Sikh family that has used its own resources to feed homeless Santa Feans through the goodness of their hearts. For them to be attacked this way breaks our hearts." The Singh family distributes free packages of food and sanitary products for homeless people in the area and these items were stolen during the attack, according to the Reporter.

The Reporter said that five fundraising campaigns have been launched to help the restaurant.

A 'GoFundMe' campaign by another restaurant Paper Dosa had raised more than $35,000, the New Mexican said.

One of the pictures of the graffiti posted on the Reporter's website was against the terrorist organisation Islamic State.

Because of their turbans, Sikhs are sometimes mistaken for Islamists or Iranian clergy who are represented in the media with turbans and are attacked.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said in a statement, "This disturbing hate attack once again demonstrates that growing white supremacy, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and racism target every minority community and must be challenged by people of all races, faiths and backgrounds."
The Downriver Community Conference and the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber of Commerce are hosting a Reopening Downriver ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. July 1. at the Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion in Taylors Heritage Park.

The event will be a show of support for Downriver-area businesses as the local economy recovers from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will include remarks from elected officials and business leaders, along with radio personality and host of Spotlight Media Studios Michigans Big Show, Michael Patrick Shiels.

Crowd size will be limited to 100 people, due to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers latest executive order, and attendance is by invitation only. The ceremony will be livestreamed on the chambers Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SWCRC

The DCC and SWCRC recently partnered to launch the #SupportDownriver campaign to help area businesses and to energize the local economy in a safe, responsible and effective way.

It is going to take our entire community coming together to save businesses and jobs by shopping small and local, said Ronald J. Hinrichs, president and CEO of the chamber. We are calling on all residents and business owners to support local Downriver entrepreneurs with positive messaging on social media, with numerous posts tagging local businesses. This results in complimentary, beneficial and effective marketing for our local job providers, allowing the people of our region to influence positive change and to have a real and lasting impact on our entire community.

DCC Executive Director Jim Perry said there is also a push to get help from Washington D.C.

We strongly advocate for federal financial support for local municipalities who have been significantly impacted as a result of the pandemic, he said. We hope to see this type of support in the Phase 4 bill soon.

Hinrichs pointed out that the cities of Taylor, Trenton and Wyandotte, for example, have already eased restrictions that could assist in boosting the local economy to save businesses and jobs. He has also urged state and federal leadership to provide additional grant funding for businesses seeking PPE during the pandemic.

To learn more about the #SupportDownriver campaign, and to view downloadable letters, social media banners and flyers, visit www.swcrc.com/SupportDownriver.

For more information about the SWCRC visit facebook.com/SWCRC or www.SWCRC.com. For more information about the DCC visit www.dccwf.org.
Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr remembered his wife's love of being a mother to their two young daughters in a moving eulogy Monday after Eleanor Carol Barr's death at 39 six days earlier.

The Fayette County Coroner's Office ruled in a preliminary report that Eleanor Carol Barr, who went by Carol, died of natural causes from a heart condition, leaving Andy, 46, and their two daughters, Eleanor, 9, and Mary Clay, 7, mourning a life gone too soon.

Rep. Andy Barr and his wife, Carol (Timothy D. Easley / AP)

"Last Tuesday when I told the girls that Mommy had gone to heaven, little Mary Clay, the 7-year-old, said it best: 'Mommy gave us the best gift of all: her love,'" Rep. Barr said in his livestreamed eulogy during the funeral at Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky.

Barr sees the girls as a living reminder of the kindness embodied by his wife.

"Anytime you walk into a room, everybody will smile, just like they did with her, because people will see your mommy in you,'' he said.

"What I want you to always remember is that Mommy is happy in heaven because she loved you," he said. "She loved you more than anything else in the world."

The coroner's office listed her heart condition as mitral valve prolapse, also known as floppy valve syndrome, which people usually have from birth without any symptoms, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. She died June 16 in the family's home.

A beautiful tribute to a beautiful life. Forever in our hearts. https://t.co/7wfM7x8toB  Rep. Andy Barr (@RepAndyBarr) June 19, 2020

Barr felt it was grimly fitting that it was her heart that was the cause of her death.

"She gave so much of her heart," he said. "She gave a whole lifetime of her heart in just 39 short years."

Much of that heart was dedicated to their two girls.

Story continues

"It is what she cared about more than anything else in the world, and she did it well," Barr said. "To perfection."

One of Carol Barr's longtime friends, Nancy Bowman, also remembered her as a devoted mother.

"Eleanor and Mary Clay, your mommy loved being your mommy," Bowman said during the service.

Carol Barr had worked for Pfizer and as the executive director of Lexingtons Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship.

The eulogy came a day after the couple would have celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary.

"She helped me whether I deserved it or not," Rep. Barr said as he choked back tears.

He left his girls with a promise of how they will remember her.

"So girls, here's the deal: Whenever we see a heart, we will see Mommy," he said.
By Alexandra Alper and Karen Freifeld

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government sees no loopholes in a new rule aimed at crimping global chip sales to China's Huawei and will "aggressively" crack down on any bid to disobey the intent of the curb, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Tuesday.

The rule, released in May, expands U.S. authority to require licenses for shipments of some foreign-made chips to the telecoms equipment giant. It was drafted after China hardliners in the administration became frustrated that Huawei's blacklisting last year by the United States over national security concerns did not go far enough to cut off its access to global supplies.

But industry lawyers and some lawmakers see the rule as overly complex, unclear and riddled with gaps that some allege leave key transactions beyond the purview of the controls.

"The Department of Commerce does not see any loopholes in this rule," Ross said in a statement to Reuters. "We reaffirm that we will implement the rule aggressively and pursue any attempt to evade its intent."

The statement comes after Reuters reported that the Commerce Department sent a letter to some semiconductor designers and producers this month to shed more light on the rule. But industry lawyers said the guidance provided little clarity.

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, a Commerce Department official, wrote in the letter dated June 16.

Commerce declined to comment on the letter.

HiSilicon is the chip arm of Huawei, whose placement on a U.S. blacklist last year forced some suppliers to seek licenses before shipping to it.

The United States alleges that the Chinese government could use Huawei's equipment for espionage, which Huawei denies.

Story continues

Trade lawyer Doug Jacobson said the June 16 letter "translates the legalese into plain English," but said it "doesn't really shed any new light."

And light is needed, according to another industry source who described the rule as "not written that well. There are loopholes and walkarounds and exit ramps legally," he said.

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.

(Writing by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Paul Simao and Leslie Adler)
A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, has remanded two cousins, Olamilekan Oke, 33, and Akande Adeyinka, 27, at the Ikoyi correctional centre, over alleged rape and murder of Bernadette, 44, the Hungarian wife of Gildas Tohouo-Tohouo, the managing director of Maersk Nig. Ltd.

The duo were arraigned before Justice Modupe Nico-Clay, who remanded them after they had taken their plea. The defendants are facing eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, unlawful assault, robbery, armed robbery, and rape, preferred against them by Lagos state government.

The Lagos state prosecuting counsel Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who led the Director of Public Prosecution DPP, Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi, told the court that the defendants conspired to commit the alleged offences on December 8, 2019.

He said that the incident took place at about 7:30 pm at flat 7A, No 1, Lugard Avenue Ikoyi Lagos. Onigbanjo said Olamileka, on December 8, 2019, at about 7: 30pm, unlawfully had sexual intercourse with Bernadetta,

The prosecutor further told the court that the defendants unlawfully killed her by suffocating her to death with a small pillow. Onigbanjo SAN, said that the duo also attempted to unlawfully kill the husband by stabbing him severally on the neck, head and back with a knife and dagger.

Onigbanjo told the court that the defendants robbed them of several properties. However, the defendants who are technician and printer respectively pleaded not guilty to the charge against them. Consequently, Justice Nico-Clay, adjourned the case till June 30, for trial.
The coronavirus tides have turned.

Back in March, Florida ordered all travelers from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to isolate for two weeks. Now, people coming from Florida and other high-risk states must quarantine when arriving in the tri-state area.

"This is not a polite recommendation," New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said. The travel advisory applies to anyone coming from a state with a transmission rate above 10 per 100,000 people on a seven-day rolling average, or 10% of the total population testing positive in the same period. Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas were all in that category as of Wednesday.

More than half of US states are seeing large upticks in cases compared to last week. Texas, Florida and California, the three most populous states, all saw record high numbers of new cases yesterday.

Spikes in hospitalizations in Arizona and Texas suggest the two states' healthcare systems might be near their limits. "The big metro areas seem to be rising very quickly and some of the models are, you know, on the verge of being apocalyptic," warned Dr. Peter Hotez, the dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine in Houston.

But as the public health disaster unravels, (and as dozens of Secret Service agents have to go into quarantine after the President's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma), Donald Trump has little to offer.

As Stephen Collinson notes, Trump is not just in denial, but also indifferent to the unfolding American tragedy.

YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED

Q: How safe are public restrooms?

A: "If you don't have to use the public restroom, don't," said microbiologist Ali Nouri, president of the Federation of American Scientists. But he acknowledged that's not always possible: "Sometimes when you gotta go, you gotta go."

Close contact with others is the most significant risk in a public restroom, Nouri said. So if there's a single-person bathroom available that doesn't have multiple stalls, using that might be best. If you do use a multi-stall public restroom, Nouri offers the following tips:

Use paper towels to dry your hands, not the hand dryer.

Use a paper towel to turn off the water and open the bathroom door. Throw away the paper towel immediately afterward.

Wear a face mask.

If the restroom looks crowded, wait until it clears out, if you can.

Send your questions here. Are you a health care worker fighting Covid-19? Message us on WhatsApp about the challenges you're facing: +1 347-322-0415.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT TODAY

Pandemic still to peak in "many countries in the Americas"

The number of Covid-19 cases in Latin America has tripled in the past month, surpassing 2 million infections, the Pan American Health Organization said yesterday. Brazil alone accounts for more than 1 million of those cases, the only country besides the US that has surpassed that mark.

Yet the worst is probably still to come. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned the pandemic has yet to peak in many countries in the region. It expects the world to reach 10 million cases in the next week, with many new cases coming from the Americas.

Globally, the number of infections is rising by about 1 million every week and the WHO is worried the surge could lead to a shortage of oxygen with many countries struggling to get oxygen-making machines.

China's latest crisis is almost over

The coronavirus outbreak linked to a wholesale food market in the Chinese capital Beijing has "basically been contained," the municipal government said. The city reported only 13 new cases yesterday.

Beijing was forced to introduce a partial lockdown last week when a new outbreak emerged after 55 days without locally transmitted cases. It has sealed off entire neighborhoods, closed schools and barred hundreds of thousands of people at risk of contracting the virus from leaving the city. In its huge testing center, similar numbers of people were tested in just a few days.

Please, wear a mask

"Going out in public without a mask is like driving drunk," said Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at George Washington University. "If you don't get hurt, you might kill somebody else."

More American cities and states are urging, and even ordering, people to wear masks in public. It's been proven face coverings can help to stop the disease spreading. The latest incentive to wear one came from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. It projected 179,106 will have died of Covid-19 by October 1 if nothing changes. But that number would drop to 146,000 if 95% of Americans wore masks in public. An unlikely change, we know.

Coronavirus waste shows up in the sea

Beaches on the French Cote d'Azur like those at Cannes or St. Tropez are among the most coveted vacation spots worldwide, but now the coronavirus pandemic has left an abundance of pollutants in the water: Discarded masks and gloves.

The nonprofit Operation Clean Sea has been sounding the alarm about finding discarded PPE and hand sanitizer bottles in their marine cleanup operations. Laurent Lombard, its founder, warned that "soon there may be more masks than jellyfish" in the Mediterranean.

ON OUR RADAR

TOP TIPS

What to do about 'maskne'

It's not just you. Many people who have never had a breakout are now finding their face looks like that of a teenager. "We're seeing lots of flares of acne, especially a type called perioral dermatitis, which tends to happen typically around the mouth and in the areas around the nose," said Dr. Seemal Desai, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Here's what to do when a mask causes skin problems:

Wash the mask after every use

Use gentle skin care products

Don't switch to a new skin care regimen

Don't use petroleum protection

TODAY'S PODCAST

"We focus so much on the risk of Covid that we forget that there's also a social emotional wellbeing piece for the grandparents and the kids, and that loneliness, social isolation are not good, particularly for older adults." -- Dr. Preeti Malani, infectious disease and geriatrics specialist

One of the top concerns we hear from listeners is whether it is safe for grandparents to visit their grandchildren in person. CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta asks that question to infectious disease and geriatrics specialist Dr. Preeti Malani. Listen Now.
Just a few months ago, few public figures in New Jersey would dare criticize Gov. Phil Murphy.

As the coronavirus swept rapidly through the state, the first-term Democrat with lukewarm poll numbers was suddenly overseeing a crisis. His daily briefings became a fixture as he installed sweeping lockdown orders to stem the spread. Despite the restrictions, Murphy saw approval ratings jolt into the 70s. Even Republicans praised his performance.
With the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) becoming a bone of contention between India and China , officials of Jammu and Kashmir are planning to digitise historical articles on Ladakh and J&K that are published in Sheeraza, a monthly magazine issued by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL).

Ghulam Rasool Galwan had discovered the valley in the 19th century and his biography has been published in one of the special editions of Sheeraza.

For years, the academy has published in-depth articles on J&K and Ladakh, its history, culture and heritage. The officials say that the academy is now planning to translate those articles from Urdu, Kashmiri, Gojri, Punjabi, and Hindi to English for the younger generation. It will also be using social media to promote the rich content with it for decades.

Academy secretary Muneer A Raqeeb said the digital platforms and social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, web sites, and web pages are now the future. We are starting the process to use these platforms to connect with the younger generation and connoisseurs of good literature living in various parts of the country. We will be digitising Sheeraza and Hamara Adab.

He said that the academy had published articles on Ghulam Rasool Galwan and now everybody wants to know about him and his family and their links with the Galwan Valley.

A former secretary of the academy, Rafeeq Masoodi, said: Its going to be of great help to our younger generation to access it once shared on social media.

He added that Ghulam Rasool Galwan was born in Leh in 1878 and worked as a guide for European explorers and went on several expeditions around Tibet, Central Asia and Ladakh. It was then that he discovered the valley.

Former associate professor of Kashmir University Rafi Ahmad Makhdoomi said only those people knew about the Galwan Valley and its history who have been reading or doing research on the Silk Route. The younger generation came to know about the valley only after the Indian and Chinese troops clashed there, he added.
LOUISVILLE, Ky.  U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker stood in a Louisville parking lot Wednesday morning, mask pulled down to his chin, and promised the crowd gathered there: "This is our time. We will win."

Across town, hours later, former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath stood beside union workers in the muggy afternoon heat as they called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to let a roughly $3 trillion, Democrat-crafted coronavirus relief bill move forward.

And that evening, retired Marine, farmer and substitute teacher Mike Broihier  ever-mindful of the public health risks posed by COVID-19  hosted a virtual town hall where Kentuckians could ask about education policies.

As the final days of a primary race marked by a pandemic and protests against racism and police brutality tick away to Tuesdays election day, the top three Democratic candidates are taking different paths to the finish line.

But they all have the same goal: to persuade Kentucky Democrats they're the one who can dethrone McConnell this November and end his 36-year Senate career.

"I would say that if anyone says they know whats going to happen next week, I probably wouldn't believe them because it really is a very, very fuzzy race," Broihier said Tuesday.

Through TV and newspaper advertisements and a series of campaign events in cities around Kentucky, Booker is capitalizing on a late-in-the-game surge of support  sparked by his decision to march in recent protests in his hometown of Louisville, where the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor has caused national outrage.

Broihier is largely avoiding in-person events because of concerns about protecting people's health during the pandemic. However, he's calling voters, doing press interviews and holding town halls online to highlight his commitment to the progressive policies he champions, like universal basic income and "Medicare for All."

Meanwhile, McGrath is flooding the zone with advertising, holding telephone town halls and spending time in public talking with Kentuckians, although she isn't hosting campaign events because of the pandemic.

Story continues

Related: Can Booker really pull this off and defeat McGrath in US Senate primary?

State Rep. Charles Booker gestures while speaking to an enthusiastic crowd at Highland Coffee Company on Bardstown Road on Wednesday, June 17, 2020.

Here's a look at the trio's final push to win over voters.

Meeting voters, virtually or in person

About 100 people filled the parking lot in front of Highland Coffee Co. on Bardstown Road on Wednesday morning to see Booker, who grew up in Louisville's West End.

Standing before the mostly masked crowd, Booker called them family, told them he loved them and asked for their help in rising up, demanding real, structural change and working together to end generational poverty.

"Poverty is a policy choice," he told them. "We have some mountains that need to move, one of them being Mount McConnell."

He emphasized that he has experienced the same hardships many Kentuckians have, offering a personal story about when he realized as a child that his mother wasn't eating because there was only enough food for him.

"Working multiple jobs just so we can struggle," he said. "It ain't right."

After his speech, Booker snapped photos with people who lined up to meet him.

The event was part of a "statewide tour" Booker planned for the final stretch before Election Day. Stops include Louisville, Glasgow, Bowling Green and other cities. On top of that, his campaign team is knocking on voters' doors, as well.

It's a far cry from how Booker and the other candidates handled the first weeks of the pandemic, when they stopped holding public events and canvassing neighborhoods and pivoted to connecting with people by phone and online.

However, Booker stressed the importance of this moment.

"We want everyone to be safe while we do it, but we also know we can't afford to stay home," he said.

See also: New poll shows Booker surging past McGrath in US Senate primary

State Rep. Charles Booker smiles while speaking at a rally for Booker at Highland Coffee Company on Bardstown Road on Wednesday, June 17, 2020.

McGrath also is spending more time in public than she has in recent months.

She went to Frankfort on Wednesday to visit Kentuckians who were waiting in an hours-long line to get help with their unemployment claims.

McGrath said one woman told her she had to leave her job as a manager at a fast-food restaurant because she's a single mom and that her children's day care closed, leaving her no other way to ensure they were taken care of while she worked.

"My feeling is: They need to have a better voice in Washington," McGrath said.

Later that afternoon, she showed up at a rally union workers held in Louisville to urge the McConnell-led Senate to pass a relief package dubbed the HEROES Act.

She offered a few words of support as the event ended, but mainly listened and spoke one on one with the people gathered outside the home of the Teamsters Local 89 union.

"Yeah, Amy!" one man yelled as she promised she'd keep working hard to get rid of McConnell.

McGrath said she's going out to places where people already are but isn't willing to host events that will attract crowds or send campaigners door to door because of the coronavirus.

"I mean, the last thing we want to do is be part of the problem with the pandemic, right?" she said. "So, it's a balance."

McGrath held telephone town halls this week, too. During one, a caller said she feared for her biracial grandchildren.

McGrath told her: "America was founded on this ideal, this promise, that everybody should be treated with dignity and respect. That everybody should be given a fair shot. And I think right now we, as Americans, have to acknowledge that we havent kept that promise ... particularly for Black Americans."

"We need to change the culture of policing in our country," she continued. "For example, I know no police officer that believes that chokeholds (are) a tactic that we should use in this country. So to me, we should have banned that yesterday."

Read more: Chuck Schumer on Amy McGrath: 'I believe that shell win her primary'

U.S. Senate candidate Amy McGrath spoke to people at a rally union workers held Wednesday in Louisville to urge the Senate to pass the HEROES Act, a coronavirus relief bill congressional Democrats crafted.

Unlike Booker and McGrath, Broihier is maintaining a stricter policy of not attending events or doing other in-person campaigning, such as knocking on doors, because of his concerns about protecting the public's health.

He made an exception for a meet and greet in downtown Louisville on Juneteenth, which Booker also attended. McGrath went to a Juneteenth event on Friday, too, in Somerset.

In Louisville that afternoon, Booker greeted the people gathered there with his fist in the air. "Happy Juneteenth, family," he told them.

When it was Broihier's turn, he told the crowd that police unions have a stranglehold on government that must be eradicated, which garnered some claps and cheers.

Apart from Friday's event, Broihier and his team mainly have stuck to contacting voters online and through phone calls, text messages and virtual town halls.

During a town hall on health care Tuesday, he described how he  like many people  has made trade-offs because of a lack of affordable, accessible services.

He said he doesn't have dental insurance right now and was wearing cheap "cheaters" from Walmart because he can't afford to see an eye doctor. And he connected those experiences to why he supports a single-payer health care system.

"For me as a candidate, its not enough to just point at something and say, 'This is terrible, something must be done,'" Broihier told The Courier Journal.

He stressed that he's offering voters a detailed array of policies he believes would help solve some of the country's top problems.

"I think it rings true with people," he said.

Earlier: McGrath maintains fundraising edge over McConnell, Democratic rivals

Democratic Senate candidate Mike Broiher

Getting out the vote

All three candidates are focusing firepower on making sure people actually vote, especially since the pandemic has changed how this election works.

Mail-in voting has been expanded, and the number of places where people can vote in person has been drastically reduced.

Broihier said contacting voters to make sure they know how they can vote and remember to send in their ballot is an "all-hands effort" now.

Every single person on my team is doing it," he explained. "Thankfully, most people I've talked to have already secured their mail-in ballots."

McGrath has advocated for Kentuckians' opportunities to vote to be expanded and set up a website, kentuckyvotes.com, that her team updates with the latest information on how people can vote in every county.

"Voting is a right, and we should be able to vote safely," she said. "So, we're using our resources to be able to help people to vote."

Booker is in get-out-the-vote mode, too.

He said his team is working to arrange shuttles that can give voters a ride to Louisville's sole polling place, the Kentucky Exposition Center, and reaching out to organizers across the state to see what they need.

"This is what we do," he said.

See also: Kentucky should brace for an 'election week' with delayed primary results

Big money, big ads

The campaigns also are relying on advertising and interviews to reach voters.

McGrath, who has raised more than $40 million, is pouring over $3 million into ads during the last stretch of the primary.

She said the goal is to make sure people know her core message.

"And that is that Im a Democrat and that I am somebody thats going to work for you," she said. "I am somebody that cares about health care. I am somebody that cares about equal justice for all ... and that is going to be committed to doing the things that we need to do to move us in the right direction."

Booker had raised only around $792,000 as of June 3, but his campaign manager, Colin Lauderdale, said Thursday that he brought in $2.4 million since June began. And that extra cash is helping the campaign compete on advertising.

McGrath and Booker both introduced ads this week about the recent protests against police brutality.

In hers, McGrath expressed dismay over the death of George Floyd  a 46-year-old Black man who died in May after a former police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes  and promised voters: "As your senator, I will stand up to any president who treats people as less than human."

Booker criticized McGrath's ad on social media and said it "is exploiting our pain."

His own ad juxtaposed McGrath's explanation during a debate that she didn't attend the first few days of protests because she "had some family things going on" with footage of Booker walking with protesters in Louisville.

McGrath recently said on Twitter that she later attended a vigil for Breonna Taylor in Lexington as well as an interfaith gathering in Louisville.

Broihier, who had raised over $494,000 as of June 3, said his team took a targeted, data-driven approach to advertising.

"No ones got Amy McGrath money except for Amy McGrath, so we decided as a campaign the best time to spend the money was in the last month," he said. "We are not leaving a dollar unspent."

All the candidates have been doing press interviews, but Broihier  the former editor of a weekly newspaper  has especially emphasized the importance he places on talking to local news outlets across the state.

Social media is also part of his and the other candidates' toolboxes, with Broihier promoting videos and posts that highlight his endorsement by famed Kentucky author, farmer and environmental activist Wendell Berry and his progressive policy positions.

More races: 8 state House primary races to watch in Kentucky on Tuesday

Also: 4 state Senate primaries (and one special election) to watch in Kentucky on Tuesday

Kentucky senatorial candidate Amy McGrath attended the Vigil for Racial Justice and Renewal at Central Park in Louisville, Ky. on June 7, 2020. The vigil was organized by Interfaith Paths to Peace to honor those recently killed by law enforcement.

Attracting national attention

McConnell's shadow is ever-present in this primary  and the nationwide impact of the power he wields in the Senate has put this election on the radar for a lot of people who don't live in the Bluegrass State.

Money has flowed into the race not only from Kentuckians but also from out-of-state residents  especially to McGrath, the most prolific fundraiser.

Congressional superstars in Washington, D.C., have taken an interest, too.

McGrath got a vote of confidence last week from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who said: "I believe that shell win her primary, and I believe that shell give McConnell a run for his money."

But Booker has won endorsements from big names too, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and  last week  Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, both of Massachusetts.

Broihier, who is backed by former 2020 Democratic presidential candidates Andrew Yang and Marianne Williamson, offered a critical take on his opponents' endorsements.

"I'm not Chuck Schumer's candidate. I'm not Bernie Sanders' candidate. I'm Kentucky's candidate," he said Thursday on Twitter. "Progressive. Fearless. All yours."

McConnell's recent legacy is inextricable from that of President Donald Trump, whom he has worked with to confirm a record number of federal judges. And in a presidential election year, Trump is never far from voters' minds.

Booker and Broihier have slammed McGrath as a "pro-Trump" Democrat, while she has tried to keep the focus on McConnell in a state where the president won big in 2016.

However, McGrath  who McConnell's re-election campaign has nicknamed "Extreme Amy McGrath" and painted as a far-left Democrat  pushed back against the idea that she's pro-Trump. "I'm tired of the labels," she said Wednesday.

"If people look at who I am theyre going to see somebody who served her country. Theyre going to see somebody who will work with anyone to do what is right for Kentucky. To do what is right by workers," she explained. "And at the same time, Ill have the guts to stand up to anyone when it comes to Kentucky or when it comes to the Constitution of the United States that I swore to defend six times in my life."

Whether Kentucky Democrats agree  and think she has a better chance of beating McConnell than Booker or Broihier  is up for a final vote on Tuesday.

Opinion: National shift makes Charles Booker the Senate candidate of the moment

Reach reporter Morgan Watkins: 502-582-4502; mwatkins@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @morganwatkins26. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky elections: Booker, Broihier, McGrath wrap up Senate campaign
In the midst of a lot of disheartening news with rampaging mobs destroying displays of America's heritage, a point of light is standing out: South Dakota's governor, Kristi Noem.

Writer Ben Shapiro brought up that with Washington, Jefferson and other statues being toppled, maybe Mount Rushmore would be targeted next.

Not on my watch. https://t.co/U6gGap5Ib6  Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) June 23, 2020

Which was like balm on a bleeding wound, given that these "trained Marxists" as they call themselves, have targeted Lincoln, Cervantes, the World War II monument, U.S. Grant, St. Junipero Serra, Mattis Baldwin, Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt and other truly beloved and admirable figures in America's heritage, not because they have any serious reason, but because their aim is to humiliate America. That's why they don't target the Lenin statue in Seattle, to take but one example. They also know that with blue-city and blue-state officials at the helm, they will not only let them attack America's beloved symbols, they will take a knee to them for doing it. It's as vile a racket as any on earth.

Which explains why South Dakota's governor's response was so important. Build something in South Dakota for posterity, expect that posterity will actually be able to view it. Some things are stable. Some institutions are strong. Some ladies aren't for turning.

Noem stands as a rock in a sea of human jellyfish.

And it's not the first time we've heard from her. Wasn't she the governor who refused to shut down her state's economy during the coronavirus pandemic, kept the businesses open, protected the vulnerable in nursing homes, and in the end suffered little damage? She was.

John Hinderaker at Power Line writes:

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.

And isn't she the governor whose state ranks number two in the nation for business competitiveness? I wrote about that here.

The fine economy that she defended from harm remains a fine economy and apparently a magnet for businesses fleeing from blue cities and states. I know I threw the idea out for the Minneapolis business owner whose factory was burned to the ground by mobs as city officials stood around and did nothing. South Dakota is just a couple hundred miles away from Minneapolis, and like that city has a huge literate and numerate population. It's currently home to many credit card companies, for one, and other good opportunities. It's actually been happening for awhile in fact. Here's an embittered leftist columnist's column from the MinnPost from 2010, titled: "South Dakota Dreaming: Using Greed for Motivation":

I heard an advertisement geared toward business owners, CEOs and corporate board members to abandon the business hellscape that is Minnesota and run for the great business culture and high quality of life that is Sioux Falls, S.D.



The basic sell of the ad was since we get taxed so much in Minnesota, most companies, and their upper management, could save tons of money in the no state corporate- or personal-income-tax haven that is Sioux Falls. This wasnt some feel-good, generic promotion of a communitys business outlook (Duluth, looking towards the future!), nor was it a plea for companies looking to expand to consider a specific community for future growth. This was a your business is being killed by merely being in Minnesota scare job, and the only hope of salvation is to relocate to southeastern South Dakota.

Which would be laughable if it weren't perfectly true.

Good economy, good COVID response, good willingness to uphold America's heritage and institutions. That's three for three, a star is rising.

Image credit: Twitter screen shot
Syracuse, N.Y.  A burglar broke into a Syracuse home and stabbed a man early Wednesday morning.

The stabbing happened at 1:47 a.m.

A 23-year-old man was stabbed by a burglar who broke into his home in the 100 block of Hoefler Street, the man told investigators with the Syracuse Police Department. Officers got to the home just after the man had been attacked. According to police scanner dispatches, the man was stabbed in the neck.

The man was rushed to Upstate University Hospital. Hes expected to survive, police said.

Police have asked anyone with information about the assault to call 315-442-5222 or submit tips through the departments app.

Reporter Samantha House covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea or a comment? Reach her at shouse@syracuse.com.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

As the SARS-CoV-2 puts new focus on zoonotic pathogens, a Washington State University researcher has developed a method to use environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect disease in the vast international trade of aquatic animals.

The problem with monitoring the pet trade is one of magnitude. In the Unites States alone, more than 225 million live animals are imported every year, the majority destined for the aquatic or pet industries. Creating a "clean trade" by detecting infections in these populations requires huge sample sizes, a labor-intensive and costly process.

In a paper published in Scientific Reports on June 24, Associate Professor of Disease Ecology Jesse Brunner outlines two potential ways to test captive animals for pathogen DNA: batching test samples from individuals and sampling eDNA from the water in the animals' tanks. The eDNA method proved to be much more efficient, Brunner said.

"The best way to prevent the emergence of these pathogens, and the diseases that come from them, is to keep them from getting here in the first place," said Brunner. "It's an important goal but a really hard one because of the scale of the problem. With the eDNA method you are theoretically sampling an entire population at once, so you are more likely to detect whatever is there, and you can do that much more efficiently than with traditional approaches."

Environmental DNA is already used to look for the presence of invasive species in places like the Great Lakes. Brunner saw that it might also be useful to sample water from the tanks of captive species being transported in the pet trade since infected animals will shed pathogens into their water.

As an example, Brunner used Bsal (Batrachochochytrium salamandrivorans) a chytrid fungus which threatens salamander populations. Bsal is a cousin of the devastating Bd (Batrachocytrium dendrobatidis) that was responsible for the decline of more than 500 amphibian species around the world, including 90 that likely went extinct.

Now Bsal has jumped into wild salamander populations in Europe from imported pets from Southeastern Asia. While it has not yet been found in North America, the threat of Bsal prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enact a ban in 2016 on the import of 201 species of salamanders into the United States, which is home to tremendous salamander diversity.

Brunner's paper outlines the statistical formulas needed to conduct surveillance of imported salamanders for Bsal using eDNA. It shows the volume of samples needed to be taken and tested to produce a good degree of confidence in a negative or positive result. If proven out, the method could reduce the amount of sampling and work required to effectively monitor for the pathogen. This paper provides the framework for the method, and Brunner and colleagues are currently testing it with real samples.

As part of a Bsal Task Force, Brunner and his colleagues are in conversation with the pet industry which is naturally interested in creating a clean trade for salamanders, but finding better solutions to test for pathogens in salamanders also has broader implications.

"The problem that we're having with amphibians is also the same problem that we're having with all sorts of wildlife and with human disease," said Brunner. "I think if we can solve this problem, we'll be in much better shape to solve others."

Explore further Using DNA to look for fish species
An 80-year-old man has become the first Australian COVID-19 death in more than a month amid Victoria's latest outbreaks, as NSW authorities guard the state's enviable average of one locally acquired case per week.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian described Victoria's coronavirus resurgence as "a wake-up call", warning it could easily happen in NSW.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says NSW could also see a spike on COVID-19 cases. Credit:Rhett Wyman

But if a suspected false-positive test in a Sydney man reported earlier this week proves to be an error, NSW will be on a 10-day streak of zero community transmissions.

The Victorian man's death took the national death toll to 103. The Victorian state government requested military assistance to manage the outbreaks, after they recorded eight days straight of double-digit cases. Woolworths has also reinstated rationing items like toilet paper, flour, sugar and sanitiser products at its Victorian stores.
As Palestinians hold protests in the West Bank city of Jericho, Catholic and Protestant leaders in Jerusalem express concern about Israels plans to annex portions of the occupied West Bank.

By Vatican News

Palestinian authorities are calling for peaceful resistance, amid Israels planned annexation of portions of the occupied West Bank.

Senior Fatah official, Jibril Rajoub, during a press conference in Ramallah on Sunday, said that peaceful resistance is important to ensuring international support for Palestinian efforts to thwart the planned annexation. He added, we do not believe in a transition to the bloody square as we do not believe it serves our cause at this moment.

At the same time, Rajoub warned that in the event that Israel applies sovereignty, those conditions might change. We will not raise a white flag, he said.

Rajoub also announced that protests against the annexation bid will take place on Monday, beginning from Jericho.

The annexation move, which the Israeli government says could begin as early as 1 July, has set off confrontations between Jerusalem and the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority (PA). Several other religious and political authorities have also expressed their concern about the proposed move.

Rajoubs protest call comes amid wide-ranging lockdowns imposed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in the West Bank.

Church leaders express concern

In a recent statement, the Catholic Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, Anglican Bishop Emeritus Riah Abu El Assal, and Lutheran Bishop Emeritus Munib A. Younan voiced their concern about the status of the Holy Land amid this situation.

The Holy Land is in fire, in a situation of war, and needs to be restored to its holiness," they said. "It is full of human sufferings, because justice is absent. The land of God calls on all churches, governments, and people of good will, to act and put an end to this tragedy. All believers are responsible."

We write this appeal as Arab Palestinian Christians, who have lived here since Pentecost, and form an integral part of our society, the statement read.

Call to peace and reconciliation

The Catholic and Protestant Bishops recalled that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, and He has entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18)." In this spirit, they continued, "we write and ask you to share in the mission of peace-making and reconciliation, restoring holiness to the Land of the Holy One, the Holy Land.

The Bishops also called for reconciliation based on equal dignity and rights of all people, no more one people against the other, no more one people oppressing the other." They also emphasized that the Covid-19 pandemic has diverted attention from problems of justice and peace to questions of life and death.

Jerusalem

Bishops Sabbal, El Assal and Younan point out that Jerusalem is Key to this peace, not only between Israelis and Palestinians, but also uniting adherents of the three monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Help Jerusalem become the center of reconciliation, justice and equality. When peace comes to Jerusalem, God-willing, peace will come to the whole world, they appealed.

UN resolutions

The Bishops noted that the solution to this conflict was identified many years ago and expressed through numerous UN resolutions." They also highlighted that the majority of nations already recognize both the State of Israel and the State of Palestine.

They called on Israel to defuse the tension and comply with UN Resolutions, pointing out that the Israeli military occupation and colonization of Palestine is the root cause of the on-going conflict.

Our call is simply this, please implement what was already recognized. Help Israel have its security. Help Palestine have its independence. Help both states to live side by side in peace, justice, equity and democracy. Let there be no more hatred, no more death, but only justice, equality and life, appealed Sabbal, El Assal and Younan.

Concluding the statement, the Church leaders appealed that it is time to act to extinguish the destructive fires raging in the Holy land, adding that only a just peace will put end to hatred, to oppression, and the suffering.
Megan Matthews thought she was dying.

I thought my head was blown off, said Matthews, 22, who was hit in the eye with a sponge-tipped projectile fired by law enforcement at a May 29 protest in Denver. Everything was dark. I couldnt see.

Matthews, a soft-spoken art major who lives with her mother, had gone to the demonstration against police brutality carrying bandages, water bottles and milk so she could provide first aid to protesters.

I couldnt really grasp how bad my injury was, said Matthews, who sustained injuries including a broken nose, fractured facial bones and multiple lacerations on her face. So much blood was pouring out. I was wearing a mask, and the whole mask was filling up with blood. I was trying to breathe through it. I kept telling myself, Dont stop breathing.

Three weeks later, Matthew is struggling with her vision and her doctor says she may never completely heal. Others fared far worse.

In a joint investigation into law enforcement actions at protests across the country after George Floyds death in police custody, KHN and USA TODAY found that some officers appear to have violated their departments own rules when they fired less lethal projectiles at protesters who were for the most part peacefully assembled.

Critics have assailed those tactics as civil rights and First Amendment violations, and three federal judges have ordered temporary restrictions on their use.

At least 60 protesters sustained serious head injuries, including a broken jaw, traumatic brain injuries and blindness, based on news reports, interviews with victims and witnesses and a list compiled by Scott Reynhout, a Los Angeles researcher.

Photos and videos posted on social media show protesters with large bruises or deep gashes on the throat, hands, arms, legs, chest, rib cage and stomach, all caused by what law enforcement calls kinetic impact projectiles and bystanders call rubber bullets.

Serious injuries from 'less lethal' projectiles

At least 20 people have suffered severe eye injuries, including seven people who lost an eye, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Photographer Linda Tirado, 37, lost an eye after being hit by a foam projectile in Minneapolis. Brandon Saenz, 26, lost an eye and several teeth after being hit with a sponge round in Dallas. Leslie Furcron, 59, was placed in a medically induced coma after she was shot between the eyes with a bean bag round in La Mesa, California.

Twenty-seven-year-old Derrick Sanderlin helped defuse a confrontation at a protest in San Jose, California, on May 29. While he was trying to protect a young woman from police, he was hit with a projectile that ruptured a testicle and, his doctor said, may leave him infertile.

With terms like foam, sponge and bean bag, the projectiles may sound harmless. Theyre not.

On day one of training, they tell you, Dont shoot anywhere near the head or neck, said Charlie Mesloh, a certified instructor on the use of police projectiles and a professor at Northern Michigan University. Thats considered deadly force.

Floyds death sparked the nations most widespread street protests in decades, drawing a massive response from police dressed in riot gear. Although many large metropolitan police departments own these projectiles, they had never before been used on a national scale, Mesloh said.

Pull Quote At least 60 protesters sustained serious head injuries, including a broken jaw, traumatic brain injuries and blindness.

Witnesses say law enforcement in several major cities used less-lethal projectiles against nonviolent protesters, shot into crowds, aimed at faces and fired at close range  each of which can run counter to policies.

Police have said they fired these weapons to protect themselves and property in chaotic, dangerous scenes.

These projectiles, intended to incapacitate violent aggressors without killing them, have evolved from the rubber bullets developed in the 1970s by the British military to quell uprisings in Northern Ireland. They are designed to travel more slowly than bullets, with blunt tips meant to cause pain but not intended to penetrate the body.

They come in many forms, including cylindrical wooden blocks, bullet-shaped plastic missiles tipped with stiff sponge or foam, fabric sacks filled with metal birdshot, and pepper-spray balls, which are about the size of a paintball and contain the active chemical in pepper spray.

Some are fired by special launchers with muzzles the diameter of a cardboard toilet-paper roll; others can be fired from shotguns.

They can cause devastating injuries. A study published in 2017 in the medical journal BMJ Open found that 3% of people hit by projectiles worldwide died. Fifteen percent of the 1,984 people studied were permanently injured.

Given the inherent inaccuracy of the projectiles and the risk of serious injury, death and misuse, the authors concluded they do not appear to be an appropriate means of force in crowd-control settings.

Yet manufacturers continue to market them on their websites for that purpose. Defense Technology says its eXact iMpact sponge projectile is used for crowd control, patrol and tactical applications. PepperBall says the uses for its projectiles include anti-riot and crowd control.

Security Devices International describes its blunt impact projectiles like weapons of war, saying theyre designed for military, peacekeeping, homeland security, law enforcement, correctional services and private sector security. It adds, they are ideal for crowd control.

The companies did not respond to requests for comment.

There are no national standards for police use of less-lethal projectiles and no comprehensive data on their use, said Brian Higgins, an adjunct professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

So the nations more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies establish their own rules for when they should be used, whos allowed to fire them and how to hold their officers accountable.

Many police departments dont require officers to document their use of projectiles, Higgins said, making it difficult to know how often theyre used.

Denvers policy says officers should use projectiles only on a combative or physically resistive person whose conduct rises at least to the level of active aggression, to prevent others from being harmed, or to incapacitate a suicidal person who cannot be safely controlled with other force.

Denver also forbids officers from targeting the head, eyes, throat, neck, breasts of a female, genitalia or spinal column of a suspect unless deadly force is warranted.

Matthews said she was standing 5 feet from other peaceful protesters at the Denver demonstration and nowhere near anyone rowdy. She suspects her shooting was no accident.

Either they targeted her face or they fired indiscriminately at the crowd, said Ross Ziev, Matthews lawyer. Either way, that poses a tremendous safety hazard.

A federal lawsuit accuses Denver police of targeting protesters, press, and medics and aiming projectiles at the heads and groins of individuals, in a clear tactic to inflict maximum damage, pain and distress.

The Denver Police Department takes complaints of inappropriate use of force seriously and has initiated Internal Affairs investigations into officers actions during demonstrations that may be violations of policy, a department spokesman said.

A federal judge in Denver issued a temporary order limiting the use of projectiles and tear gas. Police may use them only with the approval of a supervisor  and only to respond to specific acts of violence or destruction of property that the command officer has personally witnessed.

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge R. Brooke Jackson found a strong likelihood that Denver police violated protesters constitutional rights in the form of physical injury and the suppression of speech.

The Denver Police Department has failed in its duty to police its own, Jackson wrote.

Judges in Seattle and Dallas have issued similar injunctions, and cities such as San Jose, Atlanta and Austin have moved to curb their use.

Weve opened the floodgates

As of 2013, 37% of police departments in the U.S. authorized the use of soft projectiles, according to the most recent survey released by the U.S. Department of Justice. That included the largest police departments in the country and more than half of those serving 10,000 or more citizens.

Law enforcement used the projectiles widely during the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked by the death of Black teenager Michael Brown.

But in day-to-day policing in the United States, kinetic impact projectiles are rarely used, according to a study published in 2018. Fewer than 1% of police use-of-force incidents involved such weapons, researchers found.

Something changed when protests erupted after George Floyds death, said Higgins, a former police chief of Bergen County, New Jersey. Its almost like weve opened the floodgates, Higgins said.

In general, instructors teach officers to target only people who are extremely dangerous, said Higgins, who teaches classes on how to use these munitions.

Projectiles should be your last resort before you go to lethal force, Higgins said. Thats how dangerous they are.

And officers need to aim shotguns or launchers carefully. You should never fire indiscriminately into a crowd, Higgins said. You should always pick your target.

Projectiles can be fired directly at a target, while skip rounds are fired at the ground in the hope of hitting the target as they ricochet upward. That method of shooting is notoriously inaccurate, Mesloh said.

Mesloh said he has spoken out about the problems with police projectiles for years, to little effect.

There are no manufacturing standards or quality control measures for less-lethal projectiles, Mesloh said.

In field tests, he has found that bean bag rounds can travel far faster than advertised. He focused on rounds that were supposed to fly out of a shotgun at 250 to 300 feet per second, 2 to 3 times faster than a major league fastball. Several traveled 600 feet per second. One bean bag clocked in at 900 feet per second, about the same speed as a .45-caliber bullet, he said.

Faster projectiles are more likely to kill than slower ones, and they fly straighter. So an officer who expects the projectile will dip and hit a suspects leg could end up hitting him on the torso or head, Mesloh said.

Police can also make dangerous errors if they shoot projectiles while wearing gas masks. The visibility with gas masks is zero, Mesloh said. I wouldnt want to shoot anything while wearing one.

Instructors typically get eight hours of training with less-lethal projectiles before theyre allowed to teach others. Their students  regular police officers  receive four hours of instruction, including just five or six practice shots. Bean bag rounds used with shotguns cost $6 each, which limits how many can be used for training, Mesloh said.

Police and their advocates emphasize that officers dealing with crowds must make high-stakes decisions in chaotic situations without time for reflection. Often they fear for their physical safety, said Nick Rogers, a detective and the president of the Denver police union.

Unfortunately, the narrative of the protests has kind of been hijacked, he said. We probably had 30 to 40 police suffering injuries from bricks and rocks. And thats not being reported.

Denver police didnt respond to a request to confirm that.

In San Jose, police Capt. Jason Dwyer said firing projectiles is safer than trying to control a crowd using nightsticks. Dwyer, who was struck by a rock, said at a press conference that police were justified using projectiles and tear gas against the crowd, who turned his city into a war zone.

Ive been a cop for 21 years, spent about half that time in special operations, Dwyer said. But I can tell you, Ive never seen anything like it.

A South Carolina law enforcement leader defended the response against protesters in Columbia on May 31, a clash that included the firing of projectiles.

There was no doubt what their intent was, and that was to destroy property, police cars, police buildings, whatever, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said during a news conference. So we had to stop them. And we did stop them.

But Patrick Norris, 28, said he was protesting peacefully when he was shot in the back. He and a group of 150 to 200 protesters were met by about 50 officers from the Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriffs Department and the South Carolina Department of Corrections, according to a federal lawsuit Norris filed against the sheriff, the sheriffs department, the city of Columbia and its police department and unnamed officers with the agencies and the state Department of Corrections. Court summonses have been issued to the defendants, who have not yet filed responses.

Officers carried protective shields and were clad in body armor and riot helmets, said Norris, a truck driver and veteran of marriage equality rallies and gay pride parades.

For about two minutes, the protesters chanted, Hands up, dont shoot, Norris said. Then it appeared that someone ordered the officers to move forward. Almost instantly, the scene escalated into a battle. They met us with immediate and intense force for no reason, Norris said. It was pure chaos, with a large group of armed people unloading on unarmed protesters.

Local media reported that the protesters had thrown objects at the law enforcement officers and tried to sneak into Columbia Police Department headquarters. Norris scoffed at that.

He said he saw a bright flash, followed by a loud explosion that left shrapnel injuries on one of his legs. Multiple loud pops were heard, believed to have been the first of the rubber bullets fired into the crowd by unknown law enforcement officers, the lawsuit alleged.

Officers then began shooting tear gas canisters into the crowd of protestors, the lawsuit said. Norris, who had turned to run, was struck numerous times in the back by projectiles that left red welts seen in photos included with the lawsuit.

The Columbia Police Department policy on the use of force states that less-lethal weapons meant to be fired directly at a target cant be used indiscriminately against a crowd, even if its violent, and shall not be used for crowd management, crowd control or crowd dispersal during demonstrations or crowd events.

The use of force policies of the other law enforcement agencies could not immediately be determined. Norris said he doesnt know who fired at him.

Shot without warning

Soren Stevenson, 25, said he was unarmed when he was shot by law enforcement May 31 in Minneapolis.

Protesters were peaceful but unnerved by police in riot gear, Stevenson said. He moved to the front of the crowd, about 30 feet from police, to protect protesters behind him.

Suddenly, officers launched two explosive devices at demonstrators. Tear gas filled the air.

Pull Quote "With terms like 'foam,' 'sponge' and 'bean bag,' the projectiles may sound harmless. Theyre not."

The police knew it was a peaceful protest, Stevenson said. I did not hear any instructions or commands from police. It went from protest to shooting, just like that.

Stevenson said he was trying to comprehend the explosions when something slammed into his face, knocking the lenses from his glasses and spinning him around.

I was very confused. I reached up and touched my face, and it was just soft  that whole left side, he said. It broke a lot of bones in my face, and my nose was moved from where it belongs to underneath my right eye.

Stevenson doubled over, but stayed on his feet. He said he didnt notice blood or pain until volunteers cleansed the wound at a medic station.

Stevenson said there were fractures to his skull, cheekbone, nose and jaw. He also suffered a concussion.

Doctors immediately performed reconstructive surgery. On June 10, surgeons took out Stevensons eye. They inserted a prosthetic that is expected to eventually settle with surrounding tissue, and hell get a glass lens at some point. But hell never again have normal vision.

In three decades as an ophthalmologist, Ive seen just about everything bad that can happen to an eye, said Dr. George Williams, who has not been involved in Stevensons care. I cant imagine a more effective way to destroy an eyeball than these so-called kinetic impact technologies.

Frankly, youre better off being stabbed in the eye with something sharp that creates a clean, plain wound, said Williams, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. This creates irregular wounds where the tissue is just blown out. There is oftentimes nothing left to fix.

His group and Physicians for Human Rights have called for a ban on less-lethal projectiles, including sponge-tipped bullets, pepper-spray balls and bean bag rounds.

These projectiles dont seem to be very effective at crowd control, Williams said. All they seem to do is hurt people.

Frozen with fear

Nadia Rohr, 24, froze when Detroit police aimed what looked like a bright-orange Nerf gun directly at her.

She and her girlfriend were at the front of a group of marchers when they turned a corner and came face-to-face with a wall of police in full riot gear, banging their batons on their shields.

I locked eyes with a police officer, said Rohr, who said she was peaceful and unarmed at the May 31 protest. I was in a direct line of fire.

Rohr said her girlfriend tried to pull her away, but the projectile still hit her in the back of the head.

According to Rohrs medical records, the projectile fractured her skull, caused bleeding beneath the outer lining of her brain and ripped a deep gash across her scalp that took nine stitches to close.

The Detroit Police Department didnt respond to requests to review its policy. Guidelines from 2014 authorize Detroit officers to use less-lethal force only to protect someone from physical harm, stop dangerous or criminal behavior or control someone resisting arrest.

C.J. Montano, 24, has a bruise on his forehead in the shape of a circle  visible evidence of the projectile that caused bleeding inside his brain.

They shot me directly in the face, said Montano, a former Marine who was hospitalized in the intensive care unit after attending a May 30 protest in Los Angeles. It was definitely intentional.

Montano described a chaotic scene. He and a group of nonviolent protesters knelt on the ground, yelling and chanting, about 5 feet from a line of officers armed with projectile launchers. Nearby, other protesters were throwing water bottles at police  mostly Los Angeles officers, though some sheriffs deputies were there too, Montano said.

Montano said he told police he would ask the protesters to stop throwing water bottles at the police if the officers didnt shoot him. He did so, but they shot him anyway with small projectiles, he said.

The police announced they would move forward, and he warned the crowd that they would have to back up.

As the crowd moved back amid tear gas, he and another man were left in a no mans land, 50 feet from police and another 50 feet away from the crowd, Montano said.

Officers shot again.

I got hit in the hip and the stomach at the same time with larger rounds, Montano said. They shot the other gentleman. Although my hands were up, they shot me in the rib cage. I fell on the ground and moved behind a sign to catch my breath.  Their shots were getting higher and higher every time I stood up.

Five minutes later, Montano said, he stood up with his hands in the air. He said thats when he felt a powerful force hit his forehead.

It was just like a really, really hard thud, Montano said. I lost all vision in my left eye, all hearing in my left ear.

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating 56 allegations of misconduct by officers during the protests that decried police brutality  half of which involved alleged use of force.

The problem with police response in many cities was that leaders assumed crowds would be hostile, said Chris Stone, a criminal justice expert and professor at the University of Oxford. Stone sat on a panel that reviewed the death of a woman in Boston who was shot with a pepper ball in the early 2000s.

Pull Quote Five minutes later, he stood up with his hands in the air. That's when he felt a powerful force hit his forehead. It was just like a really, really hard thud, Montano said. I lost all vision in my left eye, all hearing in my left ear.

Uniform standards for using less-lethal projectiles would go a long way in strengthening professionalism, strengthening proportionalism and a reasonable response to the protests, he said.

Officers shooting nonviolent people

Montanos description of the shooting appears to violate the Los Angeles Police Departments policy, which explicitly prohibits police from using pepper-spray balls, sponge and foam projectiles and other less-lethal force against people who passively resist or disobey them.

According to the Los Angeles policy, police should fire projectiles only if an officer reasonably believes that a suspect or subject is violently resisting arrest or poses an immediate threat of violence or physical harm.

Demonstrators in Minneapolis, San Jose, Denver and Dallas described being shot with less-lethal projectiles even though those departments dont allow them to be used against nonviolent people. In some cases, such as in Denver and Minneapolis, law enforcement from other agencies were called in to help and its unclear who fired.

The Los Angeles Police Department said its investigating Montanos shooting, which occurred amidst a fluid protest that at times became dangerous for both officers and demonstrators.

In some cases they devolved into chaos with rocks, bottles and other projectiles being launched at police officers, who have sustained injuries that range from cuts and bruises to a fractured skull.

In San Jose, attorney Sarah Marinho, who is representing Sanderlin, said that police violated their rules when they shot him, that he was armed only with a small cardboard sign. At the time he was shot, Sanderlin was begging police to stop firing at unarmed people, including women, at close range.

The facts are not in dispute, said Marinho, noting that a TV news team recorded the scene. He was a safe distance away. He was not invading the police officers space.

A San Jose police duty manual states that specially trained officers may fire projectiles against people when suspects are armed with a weapon likely to cause serious bodily injury or death or in situations where its use is likely to prevent any person from being seriously injured.

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, Sanderlin said he stepped between protesters and the police to ask them to stop firing at peaceful demonstrators, including a woman who had been hit in the chest. Police told him to move, he said.

I shook my head, held my sign over my chest, and thought, I really hope this guy doesnt shoot me, said Sanderlin, who volunteers with a group that trains San Jose police recruits on how to avoid racial bias. He fired off a rubber bullet, and I realized he wasnt aiming for my chest. I was hit directly in the groin.

Pull Quote Erricka Bridgeford, founder of the Baltimore Ceasefire 365 anti-violence group, said officers marched and knelt with protesters, prompting cheers from the crowd. They allowed people space to yell and vent their pain, she said.

San Jose police have said they are investigating the shooting; they did not return phone calls for this story.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo tweeted, What happened to Derrick Sanderlin was wrong, and he pledged to push for a ban on less-lethal projectiles.

Stephen James, an assistant research professor at Washington State University, said he was disheartened to see countless videos showing officers appearing to indiscriminately use pepper balls as if they were paint-balling on a Sunday afternoon.

Police departments have more trouble enforcing discipline with weapons during protests or riots because officers almost never train for those circumstances, may be fatigued and often are fearful, he said.

Though these projectiles should never be used to disperse a crowd, he said, they do have an important role in the law enforcement arsenal. If police are heavily outnumbered in riot or protest situations, less-lethal firearms can be used as a credible threat to maintain safety and order.

I would never advocate for taking them away, James said. If you take away less-lethal weapons, then deadly force is the fallback.

Learning from the past

For residents and police in Baltimore, Floyds killing recalled one of the citys most painful moments.

Five years earlier, Baltimore erupted in violence after a man named Freddie Gray died in police custody. A Justice Department investigation concluded Baltimore police had routinely violated residents constitutional rights, discriminated against Blacks and used excessive force.

Baltimore brought in new leadership. Community groups began working with police. Policies changed.

And after video showed a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on George Floyds neck, a curious thing happened in Baltimore: Demonstrations were peaceful. There are no accounts of police firing less-lethal weapons.

Erricka Bridgeford, founder of the Baltimore Ceasefire 365 anti-violence group, said officers marched and knelt with protesters, prompting cheers from the crowd. They allowed people space to yell and vent their pain, she said.

Baltimore now has strict rules governing the use of kinetic impact projectiles. In the police departments use-of-force policies, the No. 1 principle is the sanctity of human life. Whenever a less-lethal weapon is fired in the line of duty, it must be reported and investigated within 24 hours.

Bridgeford said she was heartbroken when she saw police in other cities shooting demonstrators with rubber bullets and pepper-spray balls. She didnt call them less lethal, saying those words make police feel free to open fire.

Those weapons are used to instill fear, she said, like siccing dogs on people or pulling out water hoses.

The weapons arent a way to de-escalate. Its a way to harm people, Bridgeford said. Treating a crowd of people like animals? Oh, my God, theyre shooting into the crowd! How is that a good strategy?

_____________________________

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
Blog for Good? Codefresh Rewards Guest Bloggers with Donations to Six Non-Profits

Codefresh has launched a creative way to get funds into the hands of non-profit organizations while tapping the talent of bloggers who write about CI/CD, Kubernetes, containers, or general DevOps topics. It's all in an effort to support organizations that benefit the black community, LGBT, people impacted by COVID-19, health needs of women and girls, and other worthy initiatives.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005376/en/

Black Girls CODE is one of six organizations to benefit from the Codefresh Blog for Good program. Established in 2011, Black Girls CODE provides girls from underrepresented communities access to technology and skills necessary to become tech leaders. www.blackgirlscode.com (Photo: Business Wire)

Blog for Good gives writers an opportunity to share their DevOps knowledge on the Codefresh blog site in exchange for a $250 donation to one of six organizations. A second $250 can be kep by the writer or added to the donation.







The organizations selected to benefit include Black Girls CODE, Direct Relief, Doctors Without Borders, Freedom4Girls, Maven Youth, and Women Who Code.

Participants select a topic relevant to Codefresh, the leader in Kubernetes DevOps tools, and submit their content for consideration at https://codefresh.io/blog-for-good/#submit. Once selected, the author can choose which organization they'd like to support with $250 or $500, and Codefresh will send the check.

"We as engineers want to fix things," said Dan Garfield, Chief Technology Evangelist for Codefresh. "2020 has been a hell of a year, and Blog for Good is a great chance for engineers to impact one of these organizations that do so much good."

Codefresh's CI/CD platform provides automation for building, testing and deploying modern applications using Kubernetes, serverless and more. Development teams often see 24x faster engineering cycles when using Codefresh.

About Codefresh

Founded in 2014 by Raziel Tabib and Oleg Verhovsky, Codefresh is the first Kubernetes-native CI/CD platform. After launch in 2017, Codefresh has gained tens of thousands of users. Unlike legacy solutions, Codefresh pipelines are uniquely designed for cloud-native technologies like Kubernetes, Terraform, and Helm. Codefresh is headquartered in Mountain View, CA and backed by world-class investors: M12, Microsoft's venture fund, Viola Ventures, Vertex (News - Alert) Ventures, Hillsven, CEIIF, UpWest Labs and Streamlined Ventures. Learn more about Codefresh at https://codefresh.io/. Follow on LinkedIn (News - Alert) and Twitter at @codefresh.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005376/en/
Taliban Kills At Least 14 Afghan Forces In Raids On Checkpoints

By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan June 23, 2020

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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-kills- at-least-14-afghan-forces-in-raids -on-checkpoints/30686198.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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Former Vice President Joe Biden cruised toward a convincing win Tuesday in Central New Yorks Democratic presidential primary election, but the final outcome will have to wait until election officials count a record number of absentee ballots.

Biden captured more than 71% of the vote Tuesday in the four-county 24th Congressional District over Bernie Sanders, his closest competitor, who had 18% of the vote, according to unofficial election returns.

The margin was the same in Onondaga County, where Biden dominated with 9,679 out of 13,571 votes cast on Tuesday.

Biden has already clinched the Democratic presidential nomination and the other 10 candidates on the New York ballot have ended their campaigns.

But the election will help determine how many delegates each candidate receives to the partys convention this summer, and thus how much influence each candidate has on the Democratic platform.

Biden, a 1968 graduate of Syracuse Universitys law school, is well known in Central New York. He is a regular visitor to the region and has maintained strong ties over five decades in public office.

Voters in the congressional district requested a record 44,625 absentee ballots in the presidential primary, and 29,455 ballots had been received after the state gave all voters the option to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. About 16,000 people voted at the polls Tuesday.

Statewide, almost 1.9 million absentee ballots had been requested by voters, according to the state Board of Elections.

The outcome in New York wont affect Bidens standing as the Democratic Partys presumptive nominee for president.

Biden clinched the Democratic nomination on June 5. He won enough delegates in state primaries to reach the 1,991-delegate threshold, the number needed to win the nomination on the first ballot at the Democratic national convention.

New York officials responded by canceling the states presidential primary because the 10 other candidates had ended their campaigns.

But Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and his supporters successfully sued New York, forcing the state to hold the primary.

Sanders also wanted the election to move forward, giving him an opportunity to pick up extra delegates to the Democratic National Convention this summer and increase his influence over the partys platform.

Its too early to know how many New York delegates Biden captured to the Democratic National Convention. The state has 274 delegates up for grabs.

Delegates will be awarded proportionally based on the vote in each of New Yorks 27 congressional district. Presidential candidates had to win at least 15% of the vote in a congressional district in order to win a delegate.

In Central New York 24th Congressional District, seven delegates will be allocated to the candidates. If Tuesday nights results hold, Biden would receive six of the delegates and Sanders would receive one delegate.

Voters had a chance to vote separately for the delegates. The delegates with the most votes Tuesday night will go to the Democratic national convention.

The seven Central New York delegate candidates leading after Tuesdays election are: Peggy Chase, Dia Carabajal, Diane Dwire, Bernard Washington, Bruce Conner, Daniel Farfaglia and William Scott. All seven delegates had pledged to support Biden at the convention.

MORE ON 2020 NY PRIMARY

Election Day 2020: NY primary voting results for Central New York

Balter takes wide lead over Conole in Democratic primary for Congress

Claudia Tenney surges ahead of George Phillips in GOP primary for Congress

2 challengers lead incumbent Syracuse Judge Limpert as Dem primary turns to absentees

Lemondes racks up big lead over Fitzpatrick in 126th Assembly race

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Bosky Khanna and Preeja Prasad By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The lockdown hit citizens where it hurts most, and a month on, continues to pinch hard  prices of fuel, eating out, food delivery, and even garments are swiftly heading north. A plate of idli-vada and coffee at a restaurant has shot up to Rs 150, post lockdown. Many restaurants are hoping to make up for losses with hiked prices, while a few want to keep their loyal customer base.

Ordering food online and takeaway is also costly, as packaging prices are up, but hoteliers say they have no option. Food delivery apps have hiked charges and stopped subscriptions, only making the hole in the pocket bigger. Veerendra Kamat, secretary, Bruhat Bengaluru Hoteliers Association, said: While some restaurants have not hiked rates to avoid burdening the customer, others have to make ends meet. Restaurants and hotels are running at 30%-40% capacity and each day is a challenge. Travelling has also become costly as fuel is dearer.

Fuel prices have been hiked for 17 consecutive days, creating a pandemic of sorts for commuters and public transport operators alike, said Prasanna Patwardhan, president, BOCI. Essentials and daily items have gone up by 20%. FKCCI past president J R Bangera said the cost of all items will continue to surge till mid-July as the government needs to fill up its coffers. Citizens, already feeling the pinch, have started shopping cautiously.

Veggies: To cost more

Regular visitors to malls are no longer spending, and the worst-hit are small-time traders, who have no savings left. Simply put, there is little money to go around. Manjunath S, president of Adarsha Auto Union, said: We are not getting enough passengers. Earlier, we earned around Rs 700 per day, but now, its Rs 300-400. Commuters say that autorickshaw drivers now request an additional Rs 20.

Appanna PP, secretary, All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU-Karnataka) said, All essential goods are costly. Cooking oil price has increased from Rs 95 a litre to Rs 150. The Union has decided to protest on May 26 in front of the Labour department. Since prices are going up, the state government must increase minimum wages for workers, he added.

The cost of garments has shot up, with rise in raw material cost and shortage of workers. Prakash B, secretary, Garments Association, said malls and stores are clearing old stock at old rates, but the spike is bound to show in the coming days. However, prices of fruits and vegetables have not risen. APMC director Kari Gowda said that wholesale retailers have not hiked prices, though Hopcoms MD Prasad B N said rates are expected to go up as KR Market is closed and Huskur Market is far from the city. Real estate remains stable, and builders have decided to hold prices till September, though cement and sand cost more.
Tanzania rapper Lord Eyes has finally come out to refute allegations that he introduced his ex-lover, Ray C, to hard drugs.

In an interview six years ago, the Tanzanian songbird disclosed that Lord Eyes got her hooked to narcotics by lacing marijuana with a stronger substance.

Ray C said she was blinded by love, and trusted Lord Eyes who never told her that the marijuana they were smoking was laced.

I was not aware that he used any hard drugs, I was only aware of light drugs during our one year of dating. When I love, I love wholeheartedly so it is easy to be taken advantage of, she said.

However, Lord Eyes has come out to tell his side of the story. He alleges that Ray C was already using before they started dating.

Sijawahi kumfunza mtu yeyote kutumia madawa. Nimemkuta (Ray C) ameshawahi kutumia, said the rapper.

Lord Eyes also spoke about his love affair with Ray C saying he truly loved her but jealousy led to their split.

Yule mwanadada lazima nimsifu na siwezi nikakaa sehemu nikamu-attack kwa sababu kweli nilimpenda. Ni mtu ambaye ana upendo wa kweli. Ni mzuri sana, sema wivu ndilo lilivuruga libeneke lile. Alikuwa na wivu kupitiliza kwenye kazi (music) ikawa inasumbua ilibidi tu-split, Lord Eyes said on Wasafi media.

The founder of Tanzania hip hop group Gnako also revealed that he is now clean after relocating from Dar es Salaam to a rehab in Moshi. He said he struggled with addiction and often lapsed, but he finally overcame it after he changed the environment and friends.
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.
Kim Jong Un Suspends Anti-South Korea Military Plans - Report

Sputnik News

21:11 GMT 23.06.2020(updated 21:49 GMT 23.06.2020)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has suspended anti-South Korea military plans, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency, a South Korean outlet.

During a preliminary meeting of the Central Military Commission, Kim "suspended 'military action plans' against South Korea" Yonhap reported, citing Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Earlier this month, North Korea said it would be severing all communication lines, including military hotlines, with South Korea and announced that it would start treating the South as an "enemy."

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated as of late, with the South failing to stop activists from floating huge balloons carrying leaflets criticizing Kim across the border into the North.

Earlier this month, North Korea blew up the joint liaison office in the North's town of Kaesong in response to the leaflet campaign.

North Korea on Monday said that it had printed 12 million leaflets which it intends to disseminate in South Korea as part of an information campaign against Seoul, KCNA reported.

Inter-Korean relations, as well as Washington's relations with Pyongyang, have deteriorated since Kim's second meeting with US President Donald Trump in Vietnam in February 2019. The summit ended with no agreements regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons program or United Nations sanctions against the country.

A Sputnik

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BENZIE COUNTY -- The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department partnered with LynxDx to administer COVID-19 testing for Michigan residents.

Drive-through testing was done at Suttons Bay High School on Saturday and at Benzie Central High Schools on Sunday. Those being tested did not need to have symptoms of COVID-19, have a doctors note or have to live in Benzie or Leelanau. However, they did need to be residents of Michigan.

Results are expected to take about four days while being processed by LynxDx's lab in Ann Arbor. Participants will be notified of results by the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department.

"From a public health perspective, testing remains very important both to ensure early identification of infected individuals but also so that we can gain as much information as we can about the presence of this illness in our area," said Dr. Meyerson, Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department Medical Director. "We are grateful to be partnering with LynxDX to offer this testing in our communities."

Testing is being done now because the health department didn't have access to the resources to test a large amount of people before.

"If we could have done it earlier, we would have," said Lisa Peacock, health officer for the Benzie-Leelanau District Heath Department. "There were lots of different reasons related to lab capacity, staffing, reagents and other supplies they use to run tests, as well as swabs and our own staffing capacity."

It took a partnership with LynxDx, which stepped in and offered to help the state with testing after the repurposed one of their laboratories. LynxDx staff administered the tests, and health department staff worked logistics; filling out forms and directing traffic.

The tests were PCR tests for Covid-19. The testing is done through a naso-pharygeal swab; through the nose to the back of your throat.

According to Peacock, the tests are approved by the FDA, and are 90 percent accurate, more so in patients who actually have COVID-19. Those being tested did not have to leave their car.

"The overall reason for testing is that we are helping with public heath surveillance at this point," Peacock said. "All data used to asses risk and shifts over time comes from testing. As we start to test general population and asymptomatic people, we can monitor to know if risk is going up or down. This data is really important for monitoring the pandemic risk in the community."

As travel to the region continues to increase with warmer weather, the health department wants to reassure and remind residents of a few items. Many people ask about what happens if a visitor tests positive for COVID-19.

According to the health department:

 If an individual visits Benzie or Leelanau county and tests positive for COVID-19, their local health department would conduct a case investigation to identify close contacts;

 Standard contact tracing helps determine where the individual was during the symptomatic period. During that process, if close contacts within the region were identified, the local health department would contact those affected as well as the Health Department of Northwest Michigan;

 If a visitor were to become ill with COVID-19 while in the jurisdiction, the health department asks that the hospital or provider contact them in addition to the local health department of the county of residence; and

 If a seasonal resident is obtaining a test while residing in the region, they should use their local address for testing.

These situations are rare and the health department wants reminds residents that each case investigation is different, and the main focus is always identifying those close contacts at risk for exposure so they can be isolated or quarantined.

Visit the health department's COVID-19 Data Dashboard for the latest local information including recovered data and contact tracing, which can be found at www.bldhd.org/coronavirus-covid-19. Additional and updated information can be found at the departments website at www.bldhd.org and Facebook, or by calling the public information line at (231) 882-2197.
Ukraine President Threatens Lawsuit Against Iran Over Downed Airliner

Radio Farda June 23, 2020

The President of the Ukraine has threatened that if Iran does not fulfill its obligations regarding the Ukrainian airliner downed in January over Tehran, Kyiv will file a lawsuit against the Islamic Republic in international courts.

Iran should respect all its obligations, including the delivery of the black boxes of the downed plane, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reiterated on Monday, June 22.

Zelenskiy also insisted that the issue is not limited to handing over the passenger plane's flight recorders, and Iran must "formally apologize" for the downing of the plane and pay appropriate compensation.

"Iran is aware of our position and knows that if it does not live up to its promises, we will file a legal suit against Tehran in international courts," he said.

As Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 took off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini international airport on January 8, heading for Kyiv, two missiles were fired at the plane, which crashed near the capital city, killing all 167 people aboard.

Victims of the crash included 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, eleven Ukrainians, ten Sweden, four Afghans, three Germans, and three Britons.

After three days of secrecy and denial, the Iranian Armed Forces finally admitted that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) shot down the plane with anti-air missiles.

Meanwhile, Canada has also pressured Iran to live up to its promises.

Although Tehran has admitted that it is not capable of reading and decoding the plane's black boxes, it has refused to hand them over to a third party capable of doing so.

Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Mohammad Eslami, said on June 17 that the flight recorders would be sent to Ukraine first. If they failed to read the data, they would probably be sent to France, Salami promised.

In the latest development concerning the dispute, the Islamic Republic Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted on Monday, June 22, that he had told his Canadian counterpart, Francois-Philippe Champagne, Iran will send the black boxes to France within the next few days to have the data analyzed.

Foreign Minister Zarif also notified his Canadian counterpart that Iran has already informed Ukraine of its readiness to address the legal issues, the procedure for paying compensation to the families of the passengers who have died in the tragic incident, as well as paying compensation for the Ukrainian jetliner, the IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency reported.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/ukraine- president-threatens-lawsuit-over -downed-airliner/30685027.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 University of Pennsylvania announced Wednesday that it had commissioned a review of its police department and would withdraw funding to the city police foundation, following protests locally and nationally against police brutality.

While praising its police department, one of the largest campus police departments in the country, Penn leaders said they recognize the need for review.

We are committed to ensuring that our DPS professionals grow, evolve, and change to meet the needs of the community they serve, wrote university president Amy Gutmann and other Penn leaders.

Penn called the review independent. But it will be conducted by a center within its law school, the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice, which conducts reviews of police procedures and puts out research designed to prevent errors in the criminal justice system.

The university also said it, along with Penn Medicine, would no longer purchase tickets to attend annual fund-raising events held by the Philadelphia Police Foundation.

 READ MORE: Petition against militarized policing at University of Pennsylvania reaches 10,000 signatures

A petition launched earlier this month that calls on Penn to end what organizers said is a campus police state has drawn more than 13,000 signatures. Organizers have called on Penn to ban the use of guns on campus, stop the racialized practice of broadcasting texts and emails only when members of the wider community commit crimes (and not when students do), and to end relationships with organizations that support policing. The petition also says the university should form an investigative team including students and faculty of color to examine instances of people of color who were stopped and frisked, and to have that team review policies and training practices for university police.

Protesters also have voiced their concerns outside Gutmanns house.

We strongly disagree with the assertion that there is a police state at Penn, a Penn spokesperson told The Inquirer earlier this month. We have one of the finest university police departments in the country. Racial profiling is something the university does not tolerate.

Concerns have also been raised at other universities about police and financial support of police associations in the wake of the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. At Temple, protesters have called for the university to cut ties with city police and cease sponsorship of the city police foundation. At Pennsylvania State University, faculty in the African American studies department have called on the school to cut ties with local police and disarm the university police.

Penns announcement brought criticism from some, including a group called Police Free Penn, which grew out of the petition. The group called the response demeaning and wholly inadequate.

Taya Lowery-Williams, 19, a rising junior at Penn who is on the board of directors of Umoja, the umbrella group for Black student organizations, questioned how independent the review would be.

Its an oxymoron that its an independent investigation by Penns own law school, she said.

Christopher R. Rogers, a Black graduate student at Penn, said students have noted over time being harassed by Penn police.

Many people are told to always wear Penn gear on campus so they are seen as campus folks rather than being Black Philly folks, Rogers said.

 READ MORE: Temple to seek meeting with Philadelphia police to discuss student concerns

Maureen S. Rush, a former Philadelphia police officer who has led the Penn police for more than 25 years, called the review a positive step in a message to her officers and security partners. Rush, Penns vice president for public safety, also wrote that she was open to looking at new and innovative ways we can continue to earn the trust, confidence and respect of our community.
Two judges of the High Court allegedly knew of complaints of sexual harassment made against their colleague Dyson Heydon, according to an independent investigation conducted by the High Court that has sparked a national conversation about misconduct in the legal industry.

According to the confidential report, obtained by the Herald and The Age, Justice Michael McHugh, who served on the court from 1989 until 2005, and the then chief justice Murray Gleeson, who headed the court for a decade until 2008, were told of their colleague's alleged behaviour.

New details from the report reveal Mr McHugh's then-associate Sharona Coutts told the investigator that in 2005 she was at the court when Rachael Patterson-Collins "came rushing - half walking, half running" towards her.

Former High Court judge Dyson Heydon, Former chief justice of the High Court Murray Gleeson and Former High Court judge Michael McHugh.

Ms Collins was one of six former associates whose allegations of sexual harassment at the hands of the former judge have been upheld.
[June 24, 2020] Workforce Logiq's ENGAGE Talent Recognized as SC Launch Company of the Year

ENGAGE Talent, a portfolio company of global, AI-powered workforce intelligence, technology, and services provider Workforce Logiq, today announces its recognition as the 2020 SC Launch Company of the Year. ENGAGE Talent was selected for the quality of its predictive analytics and business intelligence capabilities, and its ability to help employers gain a competitive edge through smarter, faster workforce management decisions. Since the acquisition by Workforce Logiq, a Carlyle Group company, late last year, the organizations have collaborated to develop and file four patent-pending innovative solutions, and scale the use of ENGAGE's predictive intelligence, AI capabilities, and proprietary database. ENGAGE's award-winning Total Talent Intelligence platform is relied on by global industry leaders for real-time, predictive recruiting and retention decision making. Employers use the actionable intelligence to accurately identify and shortlist candidates, tailor recruitment and retention messaging, anticipate and plan for future skill supply and demand gaps, and more. The data science models were featured in a Harvard Business Review article in 2019.



"We are honored to be recognized by SCRA as the SC Launch Company of the Year for 2020," said Joseph Hanna, founder of ENGAGE Talent, and chief strategy officer at Workforce Logiq. "SCRA provided support and funding for ENGAGE when we were making a critical pivot in our business strategy. They believed that our team and technology could provide employers with unique predictive analytical capabilities and insights to confidently and cost effectively build and sustain the most relevant talent pipelines. This vote of confidence gave us the runway to finalize our development, and launch and scale our company, making us an attractive partner for Workforce Logiq's global workforce management platform." The criteria for the SC Launch Company of the Year Award were based on the global impact of the product or service, the impact to South Carolina, the relentless focus on excellence in execution, and a deep understanding of capturing the relevant value chain.

"ENGAGE has always been dedicated to helping organizations transform the way they recruit, win, and retain the talent they need to grow. That's an asset for organizations operating in the South Carolina market, which has its unique set of talent requirements as a critical tech, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing hub. This commitment was a big reason we decided to invest, and we are excited to recognize ENGAGE's many accomplishments and the impact it continues to have - not only locally, but globally as part of the Workforce Logiq family," said Bob Quinn, SCRA Executive Director. The announcement was made during the 2020 SC Launch Virtual Summit hosted by SCRA. "Our South Carolina roots remain a core part of our culture and identity, even as we continue to expand our global reach as part of Workforce Logiq," said Hanna. "SCRA has been a terrific partner in helping us grow and enter this exciting new chapter." For more on the ENGAGE platform and how Workforce Logiq is continuing to innovate and leverage proven data science to help employers navigate the now normal of remote work, please visit here. About Workforce Logiq Workforce Logiq, a global provider of AI-powered workforce intelligence, technology, and services to large corporations, enables organizations to win and retain the talent they need to grow. With clients in 50+ countries, Workforce Logiq provides expert guidance, real-time and predictive analytics, and patented and award-winning technologies. Workforce Logiq's universal sourcing solution addresses all elements of its clients' acquisition and retention programs, including full-time (RPO), contingent (MSP), and freelance/"gig" (FMS) workers. Backed by global investment firm The Carlyle Group, the company helps clients attain greater management, performance, and financial control over their talent supply chains. For more information visit http://www.workforcelogiq.com, follow on Twitter (News - Alert) @WorkforceLogiq, or connect with Workforce Logiq on LinkedIn. About SCRA Chartered in 1983 by the State of South Carolina as a public, nonprofit corporation, SCRA fuels South Carolina's innovation economy by accelerating technology-enabled growth in research, entrepreneurship, academia, and industry. About SC Launch, Inc. Established in 2006, SC Launch, Inc., is an independent, nonprofit corporation affiliated with SCRA, which provides loans and investments to selected South Carolina-based companies participating in the SC Launch program. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005486/en/

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Police have found a body in their search for a missing man who is believed to have got into difficulty after swimming in the Thames on Tuesday.

Officers from Thames Valley Police were called to an area of water called Lulle Brook, between Odney Lane and Mill Lane, in Cookham, Maidenhead last night.

Yesterday two men near Odney Weir in Berkshire got into difficulty while swimming.

Fire crews, ambulances, and police all attended the scene on Tuesday.

A man aged in his thirties was brought to safety from the water and was taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.

Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue teams were out yesterday after a man went missing

Lowland Rescue vehicle at Odney Lane near Odney Weir near Cookham in Berkshire yesterday

Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue teams were out yesterday after a man went missing

A third man entered the water to assist but left unharmed.

Following extensive searches today, the body of a man aged in his thirties was located at around 4.50pm. Formal identification has not yet taken place.

The death is being treated as unexplained and not suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner. His next of kin have been informed.

Superintendent Colin Hudson, LPA commander for Windsor and Maidenhead, said: 'Officers have been working tirelessly with our partners to locate the man who entered the water yesterday (Tuesday), and have now tragically found a body.'

He added: 'I am very sorry to have to bring this sad news, our thoughts are with both men's families during this very upsetting time.'

Emergency services rushed to Odney Weir by the village of Cookham, Berkshire on Tuesday

Emergency services rushed to Odney Weir by the village of Cookham, Berkshire on Tuesday

Earlier it was reported that Syrian refugee Eyad Al Ryabi had dived into the stretch of river when friend Mohammed Al Safadi got into trouble on Tuesday.

While he failed to resurface, Mr Safadi managed to be pulled out of the water by friends but he was unconscious and need CPR before being rushed to hospital.

Syrian refugee Eyad Al Ryabi had dived into the stretch of river when friend Mohammed Al Safadi got into trouble on Tuesday

The pair had been part of a group of six friends who had travelled from Uxbridge for an afternoon by the river.

Omar Sawayah, who was among friends and relatives who headed to Cookham once the alarm was raised, said: 'Mohammed decided to dive into the water but got into difficulty.

'Eyad dived into the water to try and save him but nobody saw him resurface and he hasn't been seen since. Somehow Mohammed drifted unconscious to the bank where some of his other friends pulled him out the water.

'There was another group of people,I think locals, who tried to help resuscitate Mohammed before the paramedics came and took him to hospital.

'Eyad came here from the city of Daraa in Syria about eight months ago. He was a refugee living in Uxbridge.'

A friend told how all the men, including Eyad, had travelled to the UK from Syria and many of them had families back home.

Eyad was applying for his family to come to the UK. His wife was due to attend an interview with the embassy in Beirut, the friend said, in just two weeks time. It was feared now, with her husband's death, she would not be able to come to the UK.

Connor Godfrey, a 27-year-old chef from London, told how he had given Mohammed Al Safadi CPR after he was pulled from the river.

The young man, who was fishing, had first aid training from his work place and so heroically stepped in as he felt the CPR was not being properly given by people.
Following the defection of Abu Malek al-Tali, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have established a number of rules and conditions for those who wish to leave the group writes Alsouria Net.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham set conditions for leaders and members hoping to defect, in a significant step following the defection of prominent leader Abu Malek al-Tali.

According to an internal decision shared via Telegram on Monday by people close to Tahrir al-Sham, the group had decided to immediately ban its leaders and members from defecting, linking the issue to the exclusive review of the Supreme Supervision and Tracking Committee in order to exonerate.

Tahrir al-Sham said in its decision, After approval and exoneration are given, the brother is forbidden to hold gatherings or form factions for any reason.

The decision continued, The brother is forbidden to belong to any formation or faction present on the scene before undergoing review from the Supreme Supervision and Tracking Committee.

Tahrir al-Sham also indicated in the decision that violations of the above conditions would see the perpetrators face consequences.

The significant Tahrir al-Sham decision comes just days after the defection of prominent leader Abu Malek al-Tali, and his formation of a new operations room with participation from jihadist factions, including Hurras al-Deen.

On Monday morning, Tahrir al-Sham members surrounded Talis house and arrested him.

The group then published a statement confirming the arrest, as well as Talis links to the operations room that he had formed with jihadist factions.

Tahrir al-Sham said in the statement that, Tali had long been seeking a way out of the organization in order to form a separate faction. We had discussed the matter and absorbed it to the degree that we could, because we did not want him to cause division. We were able to keep the matter between us for a significant period of time, until he decided to leave.

The group added that it was surprised by Talis formation of a new faction, that would not differ from its predecessors in its ambitions to weaken the ranks and cause disruption, and despite having been warned about the danger of the move, as well as his previous assertions that he would not do such a thing.

Tahrir al-Sham also arrested British man Tauqir Sharif, who is also known as Abu Hussam al-Britani, a humanitarian aid activist in the Atma camps of rural northern Idleb. It was the third such incident in recent days, as Tahrir al-Sham carries out a campaign of arrests against those opposed to Jolani.

Britani manages an activist organization in northern Syria called Live Updates from Syria. He is also the head of the Sham Schools, Iqraa Charity and a number of other charitable projects in the camps of northern Idleb. Sharif entered Syria in 2012, and his UK citizenship was withdrawn from him in 2017.

American media figure Bilal Abdul Kareem made a public call for Britanis immediate release amid the lack of any clear charge. He demanded clarification of the charges, and for there to be a clear text with specific charges, without any vagueness, and for the existence of a fair judiciary.

Previously, the Fathbutou, or Hold up Operations Room, which had defected from Tahrir al-Sham, demanded the release of Abu Saleh al-Uzbeki and his companions, as well as Abu Malek al-Tali, in a statement that it said was about Tahrir al-Shams recent aggression. The operations room also threatened that Tahrir al-Sham would bear the consequences of its aggression.

A number of military factions made up of figures and groups who had defected from Tahrir al-Sham and al-Qaeda-affiliated entities in northern Syria have announced their unity within the Hold Up Operations Room. It is the first such entity to gather up the crumbs of factions opposed to Tahrir al-Shams recent policies, as the latter begins arresting leaders and officials of the operations room just days after its formation.

Recently, successive resignations have come to the surface amid renewed talk of a wave of defections and splits within the ranks of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, among the most prominent personalities who worked to secure the groups military hegemony over northern Syria.

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.
File Photo

New Delhi: Telecom services company Idea has sent a message to its customers. The message states that from June 29, all existing customers of Nirvana Postpaid will be shifted to Vodafone RED.

The company says it is changing the billing system from June 29. In this case, Idea Nirvana postpaid customers will be automatically shifted to Vodafone.

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PhotoCustomers' existing plans will then be converted to similar Vodafone RED plans. In a message sent to its customers, Idea said that after the shift to Vodafone RED, the existing plans, SIMs and numbers of Idea Nirvana postpaid customers will not be changed. At the same time, it has been said that after shifting to Vodafone RED, customers will get some more services.

These include REDX international roaming in 80 countries. At the same time, Nirvana customers will be able to access more than 2,500 Vodafone and Idea stores across the country free of charge.

The company said that after the shift, its customers will also have access to Netflix and Amazon Prime. For any information, please visit Vodafone's website. Customers can also use the Vodafone app or dial 199 for customer care.

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British telecom VodafoneIdea offers two Nirvana postpaid plans of Rs 399 and Rs 499 to its customers. The Rs 399 plan offers unlimited calling, 40 GB data and 100 SMS.

The Rs 499 plan offers customers 75 GB data and 100 SMS with unlimited calling. Now these facilities will continue to be available to them through Vodafone RED.
P iers Morgan has accused Business Secretary Alok Sharma of telling a "bare-faced life" about coronavirus testing.

The Good Morning Britain presenter was furious after Mr Sharma said on BBC Breakfast that 240,000 people had been tested for Covid-19 on Monday.

The host said he would like to question Mr Sharma on the figure but claimed ministers have declined interview requests on his show for nearly two months.

The Government has been contacted for comment.

Mr Sharma had said on BBC: "Testing process we had almost 240,000 people being tested on Monday.

"These are remarkable things that the NHS and the people who work in it have done and the NHS has not been overwhelmed."

But Morgan said on GMB: "They claim to have done 240,000 tests. We know that they're testing some people three or four times. We know that they're counting the two swabs as two tests.

"We know that they're mailing out thousands of tests a day, many of which are not being done.

"And we know that for one calendar month now, since we pointed out this absurd discrepancy between people tested and number of tests, they stopped telling us."

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma has been called out by Piers Morgan / PA

He added: "Alok Sharma has literally just gone on the BBC, and unchallenged has just claimed that 240,000 people have been tested on Monday.

"That is a bare-faced lie, which I would say to his face if we weren't still subject to the 57th day Government boycott."

The presenters discussed Mr Alok's claims on their sow / GMB

Co-host Susanna Reid suggested that the Business Secretary may have '"proof" that 240,000 people got tested.

Morgan hit back: "That is the bogus figure of tests that they claim have been done, it has nothing to do with the number of people being tested.

"The fact that a Government minister doesn't know that, or knows it and is lying, it's one or the other, he's either stupid or a liar."

The comments came after the reporting of daily testing figures was paused for accuracy reasons after the Government said there was a small percentage of cases where the same person was tested more than once.
SALEM  Oregon lawmakers returned to the Capitol Wednesday morning to take up police reform plans and legislation for the states coronavirus response.

It was the first time they assembled in person since the coronavirus pandemic prompted Gov. Kate Brown to issue social distancing orders and although lawmakers generally followed public health protocols, there were a few hiccups during 8 a.m. floor sessions.

In the House, most of the bodys 60 lawmakers filed through the chamber in order to achieve a quorum while maintaining safe distances and keeping the total number of people present to a minimum. The effort appeared disorganized, however, and as a cluster of members gathered in a side gallery to be counted for quorum, House Speaker Tina Kotek attempted to control traffic from the dais.

Six feet people, six feet, Kotek said. If you dont need to stand in the gallery, please do not.

>> Keep up with the Oregon Legislature by signing up for our 2020 Oregon Legislature newsletter.

While the House adopted rules requiring lawmakers to don masks or other face coverings on the floor, the 30-member Senate is only requesting them.

Still, most lawmakers who attended the upper chambers morning floor session wore masks. The exceptions were Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, and Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls.

Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, said in a videoconference press briefing after the floor session that he was disappointed two senators ignored his plea for people to wear masks to protect the health of others.

Their leader is wearing a mask, Courtney said, referring to Republican Leader Fred Girod of Stayton. I will approach Fred Girod again and say, Come on, Fred.

Either we all do this or were never gonna get over this, Courtney said of wearing face coverings to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It marred a perfect day.

Of course, the first day of the special session was just getting started. Lawmakers held two lengthy public hearings on some of the roughly two dozen bills introduced Wednesday morning and planned to reconvene for a House floor session in the evening.

The public is not allowed in the Capitol due to the pandemic, but as usual people can watch all of the public meetings online.

Lawmakers spent the first day focused on the coronavirus response bills and other proposals that leaders have deemed time sensitive or necessary during the pandemic. Police reforms are scheduled for a public hearing and possible work session Thursday morning.

On the Senate floor Wednesday, a longtime proponent of police accountability measures, Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, said he has been overwhelmed by the recent upswell of support for proposals that failed to go anywhere for years.

We have seen over the last few weeks something that I could not  that I hoped for, but I could not believe we were seeing, Frederick said. And that is a coming together of folks understanding there are issues in this culture, in this community that had been passed over. That there was in fact another virus of racism that had been something that ... a lot of us had dealt with for years and now was more visible.

 Hillary Borrud: hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
STARTING this month, FortisTCI customers can expect "significant reductions in their energy bills compared to earlier this year thanks to a declining fuel factor.





The power company has predicted a sharp dip over the next several months resulting in a 23 to 27 percent drop in power costs for residents and 20 percent decrease for businesses.





Medium hotels and supermarkets will see an estimated 23 percent reduction, and large hotels a 26 percent saving on their electricity bills when compared to January.





FortisTCI president and CEO Eddinton Powell said: "The company has closely monitored the decline in global fuel prices and is glad to see the reduction in cost from our fuel supplier that can now be passed on to our customers.





"The reduction in the cost of energy and the fuel factor will have a positive impact and provide further economic stimulus to our customers.





"While this means a reduction in electricity bills, customers must continue to manage their electricity consumption, especially as some continue to spend more time at home due to the pandemic, and as we enter the warmer summer months.





The fuel factor is likely to drop 52 percent in July, 68 percent in August and 73 percent in September, while in October customers are likely to see an 80 percent decline over January.





The decline in energy costs comes as a result of the near historic drop in world market fuel prices this past March and April, a company statement on Thursday (June 11) explained.





"While the fuel supply chain presents a lag in effective prices, FortisTCI passes these reductions to customers as quickly as possible.





The information provided is a projection and fuel prices may differ at the time of purchase as global crude and diesel commodity markets remain very volatile, the company added.





FortisTCI offered TCI customers a 30-day pause on disconnection and a 60-day pause on penalties to ease their financial burdens during lockdown.





However, the relief came to an end on May 31, when the company told customers to pay up or face late fees.





In February, the Government approved the power giants request for an increase in rates of 6.8, however, the company agreed to delay its introduction until June 30.




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 Britains 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 Organisations 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?

Switzerlands 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 Britains University of Cambridge, said the key point is that its not all about the distance.

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.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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The automotive regenerative braking system market is anticipated to garner a CAGR of 11% during the forecast period (2018-2023), Market Research Future (MRFR) reveals in a detailed report. A regenerative braking system in automotive can be referred to as an energy recovery system, which helps to convert the kinetic energy into electrical energy.

Market Potential and Pitfalls

The automotive regenerative braking system market is driven by factors such as increased sales of electric vehicles, rising traffic congestion, and the declining price of lithium-ion battery. With shifting preference of consumers towards environment-friendly vehicles like hybrid and electric vehicles and soaring demand for improved vehicle performance, the automotive regenerative braking system market is estimated to experience a thrust.

The contribution of the automotive industry in greenhouse gas emission has increased due to the surging sales of vehicles during the past few years. The rising content of greenhouse gas is creating severe problems related to the environment, such as global warming and climatic change. The soaring level of greenhouse gases has resulted in a high demand to limit its emission by vehicles. Implementation of regenerative braking systems will not only reduce the greenhouse gas emission but will help to increase the fuel efficiency at the same time. To adhere to strict government mandates, the adoption of regenerative braking systems has increased in the automotive industry. This has further led to mergers, product launches, acquisitions, and collaborations.

On the contrary, due to the functional complexities of the components, the manufacturing cost increases, which restricts the market growth to a great extent.

Global Automotive Regenerative Braking System Market: Segmental Analysis

The automotive regenerative braking system market has been segmented on the basis of vehicle type, electric vehicle, and system type.

By vehicle type, the automotive regenerative braking system market is segmented into passenger vehicles, two-wheelers, and commercial vehicles. Of these, the passenger cars segment is likely to drive the market growth. The regenerative braking system market for passenger cars is growing rapidly due to the surging number of electric cars in countries like Japan, the U.S.A., and China.

By system type, the automotive regenerative braking system market is segmented into flywheel, battery, hydraulics, and ultra-capacitors. The hydraulic system is highly being adopted in the utility vehicle segment. Hydraulics have more power density, better potential efficiency, and better energy storage efficiency, which augments its growth.

By electric vehicles, the automotive regenerative braking system market is segmented into hybrid electric vehicles, battery vehicle, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Of these, the plug-in electric vehicle segment is likely to gain prominence due to continuous support and promotion by governments towards using green energy.

Regional Frontiers

Geographically, the automotive regenerative braking system market spans across the Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World (RoW).

Considering the global scenario, North America will dominate the automotive regenerative braking system market globally, mainly due to the existence of major industry players in the region. The increased penetration of electric vehicles in the region is predicted to contribute to the markets growth.

Europe is likely to acquire a substantial share in the global market due to the soaring awareness regarding greenhouse gas emission, coupled with fuel consumption. The presence of industry bigshots in the region like Robert Bosch GMBH, Continental AG, and ZF Friedrichshafen AG is expected to encourage the market growth. Moreover, Germany being one of the leading exporters of automotive parts will have a positive impact on the regional market.

The Asia Pacific will generate the highest growth rate during the assessment period, mainly due to increased urbanization, which has resulted in rising penetration of plug-in hybrid electric and hybrid vehicles. The surging production and sales of automobiles in China and India are predicted to create growth opportunities for the market in the coming years.

Competitive Dashboard

The top players operating in the global automotive regenerative braking system market include Robert Bosch GMBH (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany), Hyundai Mobis (South Korea), ADVICS North America, Inc. (the US), Denso Corporation (Japan), Mazda Motor (Japan), Autoliv Nissin Brake Systems Co., Ltd. (Japan), Faurecia SA (France), Delphi Automotive PLC (US), and TRW Automotive (US).
A former Secretary of State has said the First and Deputy First Ministers should hang their heads in shame over the delay to victims' pensions.

Peter Hain was speaking after campaigner Paddy Cassidy died before the delayed scheme could be implemented.

Another campaigner questioned how many more would die before victims got their cash.

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Lord Hain, who served in Northern Ireland from 2005 to 2007, said it was "outrageous" that Mr Cassidy was never able to claim the pension after rows at Stormont meant it was not available, as originally intended, on May 29.

Mr Cassidy, who was in his late 70s, had severe spinal injuries resulting from a random loyalist gun attack in September 1971 and took ill at his home in north Belfast. He died before an ambulance could take him to hospital on Tuesday.

Read More

Lord Hain told the Belfast Telegraph: "Paddy was a steadfast campaigner, wonderfully brave and determined and it's outrageous that he has not lived to see any acknowledgement of his suffering.

"While his family might benefit eventually, it's tragic that he has not been able to see any benefit himself to his years of campaigning.

"You have to ask how many more are going to suffer a similar fate and not live long enough to get what they are legally entitled to?

"I would hope current Secretary of State Brandon Lewis and the First and Deputy First Ministers are watching on in shame.

"Their responsibility in not delivering what victims are legally entitled to will be noted."

Jennifer McNern, who lost both her legs in the IRA's Abercorn bombing in Belfast in 1972, is currently seeking a judicial review into the delay of the pension.

She said the death of Mr Cassidy brought home the urgent need for the Executive to do the right thing.

"It's a sad day for us. As politicians continue to bicker and fight over the pension, how many more are not going to live to see their suffering acknowledged?" she asked.

"We're talking about an older generation here. We could lose another person next week, or the week after. It will happen again and again and we need them to know their suffering has been acknowledged and at least give them that comfort.

"I know Paddy would have been watching with interest what the judicial review would have brought. It's for people like Paddy that I felt I had to do this. Sadly he will not be around to see this through, but it's more important than ever that the right thing has to be done.

"I never wanted it to be this way, but it's all in the hands of the court now, I hope people will see Paddy deserved better.

"We have been left waiting for long enough. There is only a short time that this pension will be available for. Time is precious. Paddy's death shows us just how short that time could be."

Victims' campaign group SEFF said it was disgrace that Mr Cassidy "went to his grave never having seen right prevail".

Plans by Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis to publish the latest draft guidelines on the Troubles pension were put on hold earlier this month.

Sinn Fein has said the guidelines discriminate against former prisoners.

The NIO has rejected that view and, along with the DUP, has accused Sinn Fein of blocking the pension payments by refusing to nominate the Justice Department to oversee the scheme.

The Executive Office was contacted for comment on the criticism of the delay.
The thunderous sound of fireworks  their blasts sudden, deafening and often terrifyingly similar to gunfire  have reverberated throughout the Bay Area in recent weeks.

Residents in the big cities and even in the quieter suburbs report the explosions started over Memorial Day weekend and have persisted through June, waking them in the night, interrupting their babies' naps and scaring their pets.

Fireworks packaging has been found around Lake Merritt in Oakland, and Nextdoor boards and Twitter are filling up with news of the booms and bangs in San Francisco.

"Im losing my mind," said SF resident J. Barry. "Were in South Bernal and its been super challenging for us. We rescued a dog at the start of quarantine, and shes obviously not responding well to all of this, nor are our 4- and 6-year-old children. The M80s or M1000s are nothing short of heart stopping. One went off last night at 2:30 a.m. and shook our house, windows, ceiling fans. Our family of four was all up for about two hours trying to calm down. So we are all a mess today."

In Hayes Valley, someone posted a sign to a post reading, "Whoever is setting firecrackers in the neighborhood at night, please stop. It's freaking out all our dogs and they're terrified of the loud noises."

One Twitter user in San Francisco reported the fireworks are sometimes so loud that car alarms go off and apartment windows rumble.

The pyrotechnic activity mostly occurs at night, sometimes into the early morning hours. A Twitter user commented that the Palo Alto fireworks usually run from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. nightly.

The San Francisco Fire Department said fireworks started a brush fire in Potrero Hill on June 6, and according to NBC Bay Area, the Oakland Fire Department has responded to five fires started by fireworks in recent days.

The SF Police Department said fireworks are common in the weeks leading up to the Fourth of July, and while many residents say use is higher this year, the department doesn't have data on fireworks to show whether this is true. What's more, the city doesn't specifically track fireworks complaints to its 911 and 311 lines, but general noise complaints in the past three weeks are roughly 17% higher this year than they were during the same time period last June.

San Francisco District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen said constituents are contacting her with complaints daily, and she is hearing the loud bangs and booms herself in her home. "Fireworks activity has jumped to an unprecedented level this year, way bigger and louder and scarier than ever," Ronen said in a statement. "I've been in touch with SFFD, and they are just as worried as I am about the risk of fires in our communities. We need to find out where these illegal, dangerous explosives are coming from so we can stop them from getting into San Francisco."

Abe Evans, administrative aid for District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, had a different take. Evans said their office has received complaints, but "no more than any other year."

Fireworks activity in the East Bay has escalated to a point where the cities of Richmond, San Pablo and El Cerrito are holding a virtual round table to discuss the challenges and safety. As of noon Tuesday, 266 people had registered and submitted 134 questions for authorities.

"Its fireworks all day, every day," Richmond Mayor Tom Butt wrote in an email. "I get tons of complaints, almost as many as 'defund the police.' Ironically, the police arent able to do anything about it because there is so much and its so ephemeral. People want less police, except when they want more."

Richmond police posted a photo on Facebook on Monday of illegal fireworks confiscated over the weekend. The Police Department said it's offering rewards for information leading to the seizure of fireworks.

Fireworks are illegal in most Bay Area jurisdictions, including Berkeley, San Francisco, Oakland and Richmond. A handful of cities permit the sale and use "safe and sane" fireworks with restrictions including Dublin, Gilroy and Newark (see full list).

"Possession of fireworks such as sky rockets, bottle rockets, roman candles, aerial shells, firecrackers, and other types that explode, go into the air, or move on the ground in an uncontrollable manner can lead to a possible fine or jail time in the county jail," the San Francisco Fire Department said in a statement. "Even 'safe and sane' fireworks, such as firecrackers and sparklers, are illegal."

The Oakland Police Department is asking the community to report fireworks use and has set up fireworks collection barrels at several fire stations (see the list of stations here). "Those caught with illegal fireworks can be cited and/or fined up to $10,000, plus imprisonment," the department shared.

The middle-of-the-night thunderclaps aren't unique to the Bay Area. Residents in cities across the country, from Los Angeles and Boston to New York and Philadelphia, are reporting an abundance of fireworks. The National Fireworks Association told Slate the organization is hearing reports of increased sales across the industry, and the American Pyrotechnics Association said 2020 is looking like a banner year for consumer sales.

As this trend continues, the big question becomes who is setting them off and why. "I have no idea," said Butt. "Its happening everywhere. Most people writing about it chalk it up to COVID-19 boredom."

Amy Graff is the SFGATE news editor. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
Indian Army Chief Gen M M Naravane on Wednesday visited various forward areas in eastern Ladakh and took stock of the Army's combat preparedness in the region in the wake of the bitter border standoff with China, officials said.

Gen Naravane, who arrived in Leh on a two-day visit to the region, also awarded Commendation Cards to a number of soldiers who fought valiantly during the recent face-offs with Chinese Army in the region, people familiar with the matter said.

The Chief of Army Staff reviewed the overall security situation in the region with Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Yogesh Kumar Joshi, commander of the 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh and other senior Army officials on Tuesday afternoon.

"General M M Naravane #COAS visited forward areas in Eastern #Ladakh and reviewed operational situation on the ground. #COAS commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm," the Army said in a tweet.

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.

Twenty Indian Army personnel were killed and 18 were seriously injured in the violent clash with Chinese military in Galwan Vally.

When asked about conferring of "Commendation Cards" by Gen Naravane, an Army source said "whenever the Chief of the Army Staff visits formations or units, it is a norm to award on the spot Commendation Cards to personnel who exhibit exceptional devotion to duty."

"In the instant case also, personnel have been awarded for devotion to duty," the source said. It is learnt that soldiers who have been awarded the "Commendation Cards" fought valiantly in the Galwan Valley clash.

The Leh-based 14 Corps is tasked to take care of security situation along the Line of Actual Control in the Ladakh region.

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.
The Finance Ministry 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

New Delhi: 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 world's 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 a nationwide lockdown from 25 March. From 1 June, 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 percent 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.

Glimpses of improvement in Economic Indicators in various sectors  pic.twitter.com/6TzoZAzcy7  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) June 24, 2020

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 16 June, 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 19 June, farmers have sown 13.13 million hectares of Kharif crops, 39 percent 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 percent year-on-year in May 2020 to 40.02 lakh tonne, reflecting a robust agricultural sector.

Giving data on manufacturing sector, the ministry said India's 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 percent in April to (-) 15.2 percent in May to (-) 12.5 percent in June (till June 21). In June, electricity consumption has continuously improved from (-) 19.8 percent in the first week to (-) 11.2 percent in the second week to (-) 6.2 percent 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 1 to 19 June 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 percent 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 percent 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 percent 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 four 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 RBI's efforts towards ensuring adequate liquidity, private placement of corporate bonds picked up sharply by 94.1 percent in May (Rs 0.84 lakh crore) as compared to a contraction of 22 percent 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 percent to Rs 24.2 lakh crore in May 2020 from Rs 23.5 lakh crore in April 2020. India's forex reserves stood at USD 507.6 billion as on 12 June, 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 percent in the current fiscal, while Moody's pegged the contraction at 4 percent.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that visiting Russia amid the looming coronavirus is a sign of 'friendship' between both the countries. The parade was earlier supposed to take place on May 9 but was postponed due to the ongoing virus.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is currently attending Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory People in the Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The minister also said that he is proud of the Tri-Service contingent of India army services that are participating in this parade.

The tri-service 75 members Indian military contingent is participating in the parade, the Indian contingent in Russia is led Major Anjum Gorkha and Flt Lt. Shrikant Sharma, both of them also led the Sikhli contingent and IAF contingent respectively.

Singh also conveyed his greetings for the solemn ceremonies at the 75th parade taking place in Russia, he further congratulated the friendly people of Russia, specially the veterans, who have continuously contributed to the common security and the ongoing friendship between India and Russia.

Also Read: India asks Pak High Commission to reduce staff strength by half in 7-days, Pak cries foul

Attending Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow today to commemorate 75th Anniversary of Victory of Soviet People in the Patriotic War of 1941-1945. I'm proud that Tri-Service contingent of Indian Armed Forces is also participating in this parade: Defence Min Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/d7IM26CRn4  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2020

Also Read: Amid LAC tensions, India-China likely to hold Joint Secretary level talks

The visit is closely linked to the developments on the Line of Actual Control, where the troops of India and China have been closely engaged in a tense standoff. 20 Indian soldiers were killed in action on 15 June at the Galwan Valley.

Though there have been no talks or meetings decided as of now, between the Indian and the Chinese delegations present at the Victory Parade. It was earlier expected that Defence secretary Ajay Kumar would accompany the Defence Minister, but Singh is currently accompanied by other senior military officials.

Also Read: Looking forward to Putins visit to India: Rajnath Singh

Russia: Troops of Chinese Army participate in the Victory Parade at Red Square in Moscow, that marks the 75th anniversary of Russia's victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War. pic.twitter.com/zXxwUtf8e1  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2020

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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.

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.

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Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, on Tuesday terminated the appointments of the aides attached to the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi.

There has been a running battle between the governor and his deputy while prompted Ajayi to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC) and pitch tent with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The deputy governor he has indicated interest to run contest the governorship position in the state in October.

The Ikoyi office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday played host to a group known as Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CISNAC) which protested and called on the anti-graft agency to launch an investigation on corruption allegations levied against the speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.

The project manager of the group, Mr Sina Odugbemi in his address accused the state Assembly of attempting to sweep the allegations under the carpet.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has assured protesters who besieged its Lagos office calling for the probe of speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, over allegation of corruption, that it would look into the matter.

Obasa had been accused of embezzling public funds and abusing his office.

13 out of the 27 members of Imo state House of Assembly have tested positive for coronavirus, according to TheNation.

However, the Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker, Emeka Ahaneku has denied the report, saying only three members tested positive.

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, has all seven aides attached to his office that were sacked by Governor Oluwatotimi Akeredolu.

The Chief Press Secretary to Aketedolu, Mr Segun Ajiboye, had Tuesday morning released a statement sacking the aides.
The League of Women Voters of Chattanooga, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, Inc. and the Chattanooga Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. have teamed up to promote the political power of ordinary citizens and communities of color by working to reach them through their places of worship for online voter registration efforts.

We think reaching out to people through their churches and faith groups, that play such important roles in our communities, is a good way to find prospective voters, said Sharon Alexander of the League of Women Voters.

This group of concerned citizens has combined their efforts to register people who "are not always counted and may feel marginalized in this election year" by encouraging registration online at GoVoteTN.gov.

Members have contacted leaders of more than 120 churches, mosques and other faith groups and asked them to share voter registration information in their bulletins, newsletters, announcements and social media. Any leaders or members of faith groups who would like to share this information with their own congregations should email lwvchatt@gmail.com.

Give us the ballot and we will fill our legislative halls with men of good will, Martin Luther King, Jr. said in a 1957 speech.

Online registration and absentee voting are encouraged because of the hazards of standing in long lines and the dangers concerning the coronavirus pandemic. Organizers said Blacks and Latinos are especially likely to endure disruptions and delays because of fewer polling places and the chaos that can occur as was seen in the recent Georgia election.

This is a transitional and transformational time in our history and we dont want the virus to deter us from our mission to make sure every segment of society is counted, by helping people register to vote, said Tina Gibson of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. We have to take the realities into account and work to make sure nothing undermines our right to vote, hence the effort to reach out to our friends and neighbors through churches, mosques and temples to help them understand how to register online.

Tennessee lost its court case to fight against statewide absentee balloting on June 4. A court injunction now requires the state to provide absentee ballots to any voter concerned about contracting or spreading COVID-19. However, one must be a registered voter first.

A registered voter can now go to the Tennessee Secretary of States website at https://sos.tn.gov/elections/voter-information to learn how to request a ballot to vote-by-mail or contact the Hamilton County Election Commission at 209-8683.

We have to seize the moment," said Valoria Armstrong of Delta Sigma Theta. "No one left behind is our feeling. The right to vote has been hard fought and is at the heart of every democracy, and an essential part of the political process. This isnt about just checking a box.

As calls for bold change continue, the women of the League of Women Voters, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and Delta Sigma Theta hope for a better future and lean in to the idea of a more inclusive society.






New Delhi, June 24 : Amid political slugfest between Congress and the BJP on Chinese transgression in Galwan Valley in Ladakh, the Congress has ceased the opportunity by targeting the Prime Minister and the BJP, the party leaders said.

The Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been targeted by the BJP for his persistent questioning to the Prime Minister more so after the PM's statement in the all party meet that nobody has intruded into Indian territory. This led to Sharp and specific attack by the Congress targeting the Prime Minister.

In reply, BJP is also hitting out Rahul Gandhi by questioning Nehru to Rahul Gandhi's visit to China in 2008. The attack on Wednesday came from BJP President J.P. Nadda who called Rahul Gandhi a dynast and said, "A rejected and ejected dynasty is NOT equal to the entire Opposition. One dynasty's interests are not India's interests. Today, the nation is united and supportive of our armed forces. This is the time for unity and solidarity. Relaunch of 'the scion' for the nth time can wait." But Congress seems to be enjoying the moment as in the Congress Working Committee meeting held on Tuesday, the leaders were unanimous that this is the right time to question the government and the Prime Minister in national and political interest.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said, "BJP would do a better job, of running the Government if they actually listen and heed Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji's advice instead of attacking him personally." A CWC member said, hitting out at Rahul Gandhi will give no result to the BJP but will place him at the centrestage as media is taking note after his February 12 tweet when he alerted the government about the pandemic.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "What happened in the past, why it happened? You know, it is really immaterial." The goal is clear that the Congress wants to engage the BJP on the ongoing crisis and "it seems BJP is upset with the kind of support Rahul Gandhi is getting." said another Congress leader.

The Congress leaders asserted that it was Rahul Gandhi who was the first to raise the issue of Covid-19.

Rahul Gandhi asked for all party meeting on important issues and pointed to the fact that the Government owes the Indian people the truth over the Chinese attacks on our soil and on our territory, said Gogoi.

"Instead of criticizing us, BJP would do a better Job if they took Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji's advice," added Gogoi.

-IANS miz/skp/
Securlys focus on building AI that helps monitor student activities to help increase safety and prevent acts of school violence is a worthy goal and we congratulate Securly on their impressive success in this area

EdTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies and solutions in the global educational technology market, today announced that Securly, the market leader in end-to-end comprehensive student safety & device management, has been selected as the winner of its Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in Education award in the second annual EdTech Breakthrough Awards program.

Securly 360 Cloud platform is a complete end-to-end student safety and device management solution that helps students stay safe online and focused on learning. Securlys advanced AI-based filtering technology significantly decreases the likelihood of students viewing inappropriate content while also increasing the awareness schools have into active and potential incidents of cyberbullying, self-harm or violence.

While the majority of the educational technology industry approaches student safety by relying on catalogs of keyword searches to alert schools to signs of troubling behavior. This approach results in districts being inundated with false positives, all of which needed to be followed up on to ensure the safety of the students involved. Securly breaks through the crowd with a unique approach that leverages advanced AI technology to reduce false positive by not only learning certain terms, but better understanding the mindset of the student in a particular moment.

AI is penetrating every facet of the technology industry and it certainly has tremendous potential in the field of EdTech, with hundreds of our award nominees this year incorporating AI into their products in various forms, said James Johnson, managing director, EdTech Breakthrough. Securlys focus on building AI that helps monitor student activities to help increase safety and prevent acts of school violence is a worthy goal and we congratulate Securly on their impressive success in this area. Congratulations to the entire Securly team on their well-deserved 2020 EdTech Breakthrough Award.

The mission of the EdTech Breakthrough Awards is to honor excellence and recognize the innovation, hard work and success in a range of educational technology categories, including Student Engagement, School Administration, Adaptive Learning, STEM Education, e-Learning, Career Preparation and many more. This years program attracted more than 1,750 nominations from over 15 different countries throughout the world.

Each day, Securlys AI filters through over three million emails and over 13 million web searches for signs of violence, cyberbullying, and the emotional health of millions of US students, said Vinay Mahadik, CEO and co-founder of Securly. Securly set out to develop a continuously adapting and learning AI that would produce a lot less false positives. The result is NLP which allows our AI to minimize those false positives and in the end, delivering real-world results that is literally saving thousands of lives. We are proud to receive this 2020 EdTech Breakthrough Award in recognition of our advanced technology and innovative approach to student safety.

Securlys Natural Language Processing (NLP) analyzes context, identifies slang or colloquial speech with or without typos, and analyzes key phrase and keyword search results across all digital content. This allows for the broadest monitoring and scanning of web searches, documents, content in drives, social media, emails and nudity detection of their attachments. The machine learning algorithms are trained by safety specialists using safe and unsafe content. Once the algorithms find content that is disturbing, student safety experts are able to evaluate further the context behind the activity and reach out to both schools and authorities as needed. Adding a human touch, their team of highly-trained specialists teaches the AI to recognize patterns and perform risk assessments24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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About EdTech Breakthrough

Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the EdTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in educational technology products, companies and people. The EdTech Breakthrough Awards provide a platform for public recognition around the achievements of breakthrough educational technology in categories including e-learning, student engagement, school administration, career preparation, language learning, STEM and more. For more information, visit EdTechBreakthrough.com.

About Securly

Securly, the leader in K-12 student safety, has a mission to keep students safe and productive at school and at home. The company offers the most comprehensive end-to-end student safety and device management solution for K-12 districts. Wherever digital devices are used, Securly's cloud-based products work to filter content, manage apps, ensure compliance, alert schools to cyberbullying and self-harm, while engaging teachers, students, and parents. Securly's automation and AI sentiment analysis, combined with 24/7 human monitoring by trained safety experts, protect over 10 million students each day. Securly is headquartered in San Jose, California with offices across three continents. For more information, visit securly.com.
By Cynthia Howe Jun. 24, 2020 | 05:35 PM | FRANKFORT

Coleman said schools will be allowed to develop models that work best for their communities, including when to start school and whether to use traditional in-person instruction, non-traditional instruction, or some combination of the two.







Beshear reported 229 new cases on Wednesday, for a total of 14,363 cases. One death was reported on Wednesday, an 89-year-old man from Laurel County. This brings the total number of deaths in Kentucky to 538. There are currently 335 Kentuckians who are hospitalized due to the virus, with 79 individuals in the ICU. At least 3,706 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.







In his update on Wednesday, Governor Andy Beshear outlined guidelines for reopening Kentucky schools this fall and updated Kentuckians on the latest COVID-19 numbers.Gov. Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, and Interim Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education Kevin Brown, released long-awaited initial guidance for Kentucky schools looking ahead to opening this coming fall."One of my top priorities as we have fought against the coronavirus is ensuring our children can safely return to school in the fall," said Gov. Beshear. "Our top health experts and our educators have worked together to craft this guidance to take the necessary steps to protect our children and our dedicated staff as they return to school."Brown introduced these guidelines, which have been divided into five components:1) Social Distancing - Social distancing of 6 feet will be required in the classroom. When this is not possible, students may be seated closer together, but masks will be required.2) Personal Protective Equipment and Masks - Students in first grade and above will be required to wear masks at certain times. This includes when students are on the school bus, whenever students are moving, and whenever social distancing of at least 6 feet is not possible. Students will be required to wear masks in the classroom unless they can maintain six feet between themselves and others.3) Screening - Temperature checks or parental assurance that a child does not have a temperature greater than 100.4 will be required before getting on the bus. All students must have a temperature check before entering the school building. This section also addresses when a child needs to stay home or be sent home, including a temperature greater than 100.4, cough, vomiting/diarrhea, a new rash, or exposure to a COVID-19 case withing 48 hours.4) Sanitation and Environmental Factors - This section will include guidance for schools on how school districts need to clean facilities and buses.5) Contact Tracing - Districts will cooperate with local health departments in the instance of a COVID-19 case within the school. For example, contact tracers may need information on bus or classroom seating charts.Lt. Governor Coleman addressed measures which the state has taken to allow flexibility for school districts in order to support them as they implement these safety expectations.First, the 10-day limit on non-traditional instruction has been suspended for the 2020-2021 school year, so that the Kentucky Board of Education may grant the authority for an unlimited number of NTI days for the school year. This will allow schools to use NTI days as needed if they need to close schools due to COVID-19.Second, a statute requiring the use of average daily attendance as a means for calculating state funding for school districts will also be temporarily suspended for the 2020-2021 school year."This provides flexibility to school districts to receive funding in the event that schools need to operate a blended in-person and digital instruction in response to COVID-19," said Coleman.You can see Beshear's full update below:
Dame Judi Dench spoke of fears that some theatres will not reopen after lockdown (Isabel Infantes/PA)

Dame Judi Dench has said that she believes some major theatres will not reopen in her lifetime.

The veteran stage and screen actress, 85, appeared on Channel 4 News to discuss the state of the UKs theatre venues amid the lockdown.

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that theatres and concert halls are able to reopen from July 4, but not for live performances.

Expand Close Theatres including The Old Vic were forced to closed due to the coronavirus pandemic (Dominic Lipinski/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Theatres including The Old Vic were forced to closed due to the coronavirus pandemic (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Speaking from her home, Dame Judi said: When you hear that The Old Vic is in trouble, when you hear that the Nuffield in Southampton is in trouble, and Leicester and Nottingham.

This is what we rely on and its a desperate feeling.

And when will they ever open again? I dont know, certainly, Im sure, not in my lifetime.

I dont know, I cant see how its going to recover.

Its not as if we dont bring a great deal of money to the economy because I think, last year alone, we brought in 1.3 billion into the economy. So, it is necessary.

Of course there are lots of other necessary things. Im not saying that it should be more prioritised than anything else, but it just is going to be a very serious effect on all of us.

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I had to rehearse, I have rehearsed all his moves Dame Judi discusses making TikTok videos with her grandson

Mr Johnson also announced that social distancing rules would be cut from two metres to one metre plus.

Dame Judi said many venues would still be unable to open, despite the reduction.

She added: If the theatres now close and become dark, I dont know when were going to get them back.

We do need a big injection. You cant run a theatre with people sitting six seats apart. You cant run a theatre when it is a quarter full.

The actress has become a social media sensation after appearing in TikTok videos with her grandson Sam Williams during lockdown, where they take part in viral dances.

She said: It saved my life, I know nothing about TikTok. Sam is the person who is technically minded and who has all the ideas.

He made me do it. I had to rehearse, I have rehearsed all his moves, it just seemed that comes naturally.
A citizen journalist who had been reporting on Covid-19 from Wuhan has been arrested and charged by the Chinese government, according to reports.

Shanghai-born 40-year-old Chinese citizen, Zhang Zhan, had been uploading her stories to social media from the city in the Hubei province where the Covid-19 outbreak originated.

Powerful footage Ms Zhang had live-streamed to social media sites included proof of crematoriums operating late into the night in the city as death tolls rose.

She had also visited quarantine hospitals and visited the perimeter of the virus-study laboratory in the city which has been alleged to have been the source of the outbreak - an accusation stringently denied by China.

The Times reported on Wednesday that Ms Zhang - who had been in the city to collect first-hand accounts for over three months - is believed to have been arrested and charged in a crackdown on independent journalism by Beijing.

The paper reported that she could face up to seven years in jail after being arrested on May 14 and later charged with "provocation and trouble making.

Freedom of speech is not considered a right under the current Chinese Communist Party rule. The Party controls all news media and censors content and access to the internet. The low official death toll put forward by Beijing - 4,634 from 83,418 confirmed cases - has been doubted.

Ms Zhang, who had previously been arrested by Chinese police and has also been a vocal supporter of democracy in Hong Kong, had reported in a video that the problem our country faces is that everything is being covered up.

She is now one of four citizen journalists known to have been detained or to have disappeared after they posted accounts from Wuhan, according to the paper.

The news comes after Chinese officials claimed that a second cluster of the novel coronavirus that emerged in Beijing linked to a wholesale market was "largely under control".

It made headlines around the world when 34-year-old Li Wenliang, an eye doctor in Wuhan, died from the virus after having been given severe oral warnings by authorities for posting a message onto social media to warn other medics of a "SARS-like" disease he was seeing emerge in his patients in January.
For Edo Gov. Godwin Obaseki, things are happening fastless than 24 days to the PDP primary election. His pillar of support and the most powerful among the PDP governors has abandoned him, despite the favourable court judgement that cleared him to contest.

Rivers Gov. Nyesom Wike decided to pull out of the Obaseki project because the party leadership in Edo and south-south are not brought along in the effort to help the governor get the party ticket.

Obaseki just parachuted from the APC into the PDP to join other aspirants who have been parts of the building from the ground up. He wont have things jell out smoothly for him. Sure.

In the Abuja effort that broke down o Tuesday, the wheelers and dealers of Obasekis re-election bid were hard-headed by spurning Wikes advicethat the six of the state party leaders, including Raymond Dokpesi and others, should not be side-lined by Obaseki who just crashed into the party.

For those leaders, its hard to takethat, for being a governor, Obaseki becomes the state party leader, commanding the party structure they have labored to build and stabilize over the years.

Wike also counselled that Obaseki shouldnt rely alone on him and his counterparts in Akwa Ibom and Delta alone in the south-south PDP governors caucus. Obaseki baulked again.

Up till now, Cross River and Bayelsa governors are not in yet on the Obaseki project.

But Obaseki has basically deafened his ears to the advice.

Which is why it might not be difficult to understand when Omoregir Ogbeide-Ihama, an Edo PDP party stalwart and guber aspirant loyal to the Rivers governor, petitioned a high court in Rivers to disqualify Obaseki. He had initially dismissed governor as a rotten tomato nobody needs in the PDP.

In response to his first legal battle, the governor fired back at Ogbeide-Ihama as one of the fifth columnists planted by the APC in the PDPto work against his re-election.

He might have stuck out among the enemies with his legal attack launched at the eleventh hour on the governor; there are more adversaries lying doggo within the party.

Another is one of the three aspirants the PDP already cleared for the Thursday primary election: a party-hopper Kenneth Imasuagbon.

He defected from the APC to the PDP when he lost to Obaseki in 2016.

According to the PDP aspirant, he has been nursing the ambition for the Edo top job for 16 years, and nothing will make him concede defeat without giving his best fight.

In the spoiler game that may fall out from the primary election, many analysts believe Imasuagbon wont mind joining forces with the APC and his former leader Adams Oshiomhole to rattle Obaseki.

In the struggle, the governor, too, has made a couple of bounces: he has been cleared for election by the PDP NWC and court; Gideon Ikhine, a rival, stepped down for him. Those are something for an inexperienced pol caught up in the rage of the Edo power politics.

How these can tide him over the storm in the next 24 hours, and after, will be miraculous, when majority of the state party leaders and Wike are against him. And time, too.
The Midland Health Department reported that Midland County has reached 40 confirmed coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time during the pandemic.

Wednesday was the third straight day that a single-day mark was set, following Friday and Tuesday. On Monday, a new record for a weekend was set with 95. The health department also reports that 172 cases have been reported this week and 365 this month (also new records).
GREENSBURG, Pa., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With the hot, humid summer months expected to produce higher electric usage and potentially severe weather, West Penn Power, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary, is completing inspections and conducting equipment maintenance across its 24-county western and central Pennsylvania service territory to enhance service reliability for customers.

Helicopter patrols have completed inspections of more than 1,700 miles of FirstEnergy transmission lines located in the West Penn Power area. The inspections are designed to look for damaged wire, broken cross arms, failed insulators and other hardware problems not visible from the ground. Potential reliability issues identified during the inspection are being prioritized and addressed.

On the ground, the summer readiness inspections include using "thermovision" cameras to capture infrared images that can detect potential problems with West Penn Power substation equipment such as transformers and capacitors. By identifying hot spots, maintenance and repairs can be conducted prior to a power outage occurring.

West Penn Power utility crews also are conducting inspections of distribution circuits, including transformers, capacitors, reclosers and lightning arrestors to ensure the equipment is operational and the lines are ready to perform efficiently when demand for electricity increases during the summer, typically due to air conditioning usage.

"Our customers turn up their air conditioning to keep cool during sweltering summer weather," said John Rea, regional president of West Penn Power. "We proactively inspect and maintain our equipment to ensure system reliability to meet the increased electrical demand when temperatures soar and customers depend on us to help them stay comfortable."

Tree trimming is another key to preparing the West Penn Power system to meet the rigors of summer operations by maintaining proper clearances around electrical systems and helping to protect against tree-related outages. West Penn Power tree contractors have trimmed about 2,000 circuit miles of electric lines since January and expect to trim another 2,600 miles by year end.

In addition, a team of West Penn Power and FirstEnergy employees perform readiness drills to test the company's restoration process used to repair storm-related power outages. Storm drills are becoming more common in the utility industry in the wake of severe weather over the last several years.

For updated company information, including hot weather tips, customers are urged to visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages .

In addition to the work being done by company employees, summer also is a time when roofers, home builders, lawn service workers and other contractors work long hours. To help stay safe around electrical equipment while on the job, FirstEnergy offers important tips at www.firstenergycorp.com/contractorsafety.

West Penn Power serves approximately 725,000 customers within 24 counties in central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Follow West Penn Power on Twitter @W_Penn_Power and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WestPennPower.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Editor's Note: Photos of workers conducting thermovision inspections to enhance service reliability for FirstEnergy customers are available for download on Flickr. A video of utility personnel conducting a thermovision inspection and explaining the work can be found on the company's YouTube channel.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Related Links

http://www.firstenergycorp.com


When Twitter and Facebook were launched around 2006 they were hailed as a breakthrough for "genuine free speech", as well as a major challenge to mainstream media (MSM) which, according to critics on both the Left and Right, "only allowed the right sort of people, with the right sort of opinions, to have their say".

YouTube, which was launched in 2005, was also hailed as a champion of free speech that would enable anyone with a voice or an opinion to get it out there.

Yet today those revolutionary, era-changing vehicles are being accused of exactly the same deplatforming tactics and control as the MSM. No one should be surprised: revolutions always eat their children, and the new masters always replicate the practices and restrictions of their predecessors.

The people who lauded the new vehicles 15 years ago and jumped aboard to have their voices and views heard are now angry with them.

Twitter and Facebook are accused of banning free speech and expelling users who don't express the "right sort" of opinions.

What most of those angry people don't seem to understand is that the rules of free speech are always set by the owners/providers of the vehicles/platforms, who always have an eye on their financial stream, advertisers and users.

Free speech is rarely free. Advertisers are primarily interested in what they can sell to the users, and if the users are in the wrong sort of demographic and not willing to dip their hand into their own pockets enough, then revenue dries up.

And if the content of a platform is deemed responsible for drying up the revenue and driving away those who are more willing to dip into their own pockets, then the owners must either control/restrict certain users or change the overall content.

One of the reasons Katie Hopkins was removed from Twitter was because she was a threat to the overall brand. She used the platform entirely for her own ends and fell into the trap of believing that she was too big (she had over one million followers) to be taken down.

But when advertisers and users are increasingly spooked by a particular presence, it does have a knock-on effect.

Twitter won't worry too much about her followers leaving, partly because most of them won't (they use the platform for other reasons, too) and partly because they're probably not a key asset in terms of advertisers.

Hopkins has moved to another site, Parler, which bills itself as a social networking platform "where the power resides in the people".

It has nowhere near the reach of either Twitter or Facebook and is clearly aimed at those who would be regarded as well to the Right on the political spectrum.

That said, Hopkins' shift to it has clearly attracted attention and increased its user numbers.

Coincidentally, Parler also announced that it would be partnering with the conservative pundit (and frequent Fox News contributor) Dan Bongino, who has acquired a stake in the company and is "taking a leadership role". And therein lies a potential problem. Once there are "leadership" roles when it comes to free speech platforms (particularly when those roles are linked to people with a financial stake in the platform), then the platform sets out a strategy and direction, and those are usually accompanied by rules and restrictions for the users and followers of the platform.

It won't be long I suspect until the people now jumping to Parler will be jumping up and down in anger when Parler begins to impose a central policy and direction.

Many of its UK users, for example, are Brexiteers, who jumped in anger from David Cameron to Nigel Farage, to Theresa May, to Boris Johnson - and now many are angry with him because of how he has handled the Covid-19 crisis.

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To be honest, I wasn't particularly worried when MSM was challenged by the arrival of the new social media platforms. Newspapers and broadcasters always need to be challenged by new kids on the block. But I was surprised by the failure of the new vehicles to produce and deliver news of the same, let alone better, quality than what was already provided by MSM.

Opinion was easy. Anybody can post or tweet an opinion. But that opinion was rarely backed up with the work of a new generation of journalists and investigative reporters regularly breaking stories and challenging authority.

Yes, there are exceptions and some very important voices doing wonderful work, but generally speaking a new golden age of journalism has failed to emerge, even though distribution and production of hard news and investigative uncovering and drilling-down has probably never been easier.

What has proliferated, though, is a veritable forest of self-styled 'news' sites (that like to bill themselves as offering real, true, unvarnished, honest news) catering entirely for people who have already made up their mind, taken a stance and who don't particularly want to be challenged by anything which unsettles their world view.

This is echo chamber stuff, which aspires to nothing higher than gathering 'likes' for each new tweet or post. In most cases these sites cannot offer much more than that because they don't have the resources to fund their own investigation and analysis.

But news isn't news just because someone tweets it as news. And where is the free speech (which is supposedly cherished by most of these sites) when they tend to have a house policy of blocking or muting anyone who challenges them?

Personally, I think the greatest challenge to free speech is from those in the echo chambers who don't accept that there is always more than one side to a debate. They don't want to hear another view; they don't want to concede the possibility of being wrong; they don't want any voices putting out properly thought-through alternatives. All they want to do is drown out anything they oppose and ensure their base doesn't hear it.

My fear is that we are well down the rabbit hole and into a world where all we hear is opinion at the expense of debate. And in a world without proper debate, those who win elections can do whatever they like.

I'm not persuaded that free speech should include naked bigotry, hatred and the blind acceptance of the argument that "it's my opinion and I'm entitled to it".

Every view and belief must be open to challenge and subject to debate, internally as well as externally.

By the way, echo chambers are not in themselves vehicles of free speech, because most of those vehicles are owned and controlled by individuals with a specific agenda.

Ironically the growth of social media 'news' sites has worried me more than the problems which once beset MSM (and, by the way, I'm not blind to its continuing faults). There is a very important role to be played by the new media and I hope it can still be played.

Sadly I think that role has been hijacked by too many people who just want news they didn't like replaced with something they find more acceptable.
PHILIPSBURG:--- As the investigation continues into the smuggling of drugs to the Princess Julianna International Airports (PJIA)shipping facility, the Alpha Team have made two more arrests. A male with initials R.A.S and a female with initials T.A.B.S were arrested today Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 for their involvement in the ongoing investigation.

The investigation started in April 2020, after it was discovered that several persons were involved in the smuggling of drugs to the island. The female suspect was released shortly after being interrogated by the detectives. The male suspect remains in police custody in connection with further investigation.

Since the beginning of the investigation the Sint Maarten Police Force, Alpha Team have made several arrests, this investigation is currently still ongoing, as more information becomes available it will be relayed to the community.

The Alpha Team is a jointly Multidisciplinary Team that is comprised of the Police Department KPSM, the Customs Department, the Immigration Department, the Koninklijke Marechaussee, and the Coast Guard.

KPSM Press Release.
The Federal Council

Bern, 24.06.2020 - On 24 June, the Federal Council decided to impose coercive measures in response to the current situation in Nicaragua. Switzerland is therefore joining the European Union in imposing sanctions on Nicaragua due to ongoing violations against human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The corresponding ordinance will come into force on 24 June.

On 24 June, the Federal Council will impose financial and travel sanctions against six persons with ties to Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega: their assets will be frozen and they will be banned from entering or travelling through Switzerland. The measures are currently aimed at two personal advisors to President Ortega, and four high-ranking representatives of Nicaraguas judicial system and police force who are accused of serious human rights violations. Assets affected by the freeze must be reported to SECO immediately. These sanctions are not directed against the people of Nicaragua.



The Federal Council is very concerned by the increasing undermining of democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Nicaragua, and is urging the countrys authorities to respect and protect national and international laws on human rights, in particular those on freedom of expression and assembly. The Federal Council is also urging the Nicaraguan government to respect its citizens fundamental rights as defined in two agreements made with the opposition in March 2019, and to implement genuine electoral reform. Continuing on its 40-year commitment to the development of Nicaragua, Switzerland is prepared to support efforts to find a peaceful solution to this socio-political conflict.

With its Ordinance of 24 June 2020, Switzerland is joining the EU in imposing sanctions in response to the situation in Nicaragua. The measures will come into force at 6pm on 24 June 2020.

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WASHINGTONThe Trump administration is weighing reimposing tariffs on Canadian aluminum over concerns about rising exports to the United States, a move that would strain ties and possibly incite Canadian retaliation just as a revised North American trade deal goes into effect.

The tariffs would revive a bitter fight that complicated efforts to complete the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement, which goes into effect July 1. To pave the way for that pact, the Trump administration agreed to drop tariffs it had imposed on aluminum and steel from Canada and Mexico but retained the right to reinstate levies if it observed a spike in metal imports.

Imports of raw Canadian aluminum into the United States have increased since that agreement was signed. But Matt Meenan of the Aluminum Association, which represents U.S. and foreign-based companies that make up the vast majority of the industry, said the uptick was consistent with historical trends and not particularly surprising given market fundamentals.

We dont think it warrants going back to the drawing board on all of this stuff  and certainly not a week before implementing USMCA, Meenan said.

Several companies that make aluminum in the United States have asked for greater protection. But business groups that have long opposed the tariffs were quick to criticize the move, saying the United States risked inciting another trade war at a critical moment.

Bringing back these tariffs would be like a bad horror movie, said Neil Herrington, the senior vice president for the Americas at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Canada will surely retaliate against U.S. exports. This is the wrong way to mark the entry into force of the new North American Free Trade Agreement on July 1.

U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum in 2018, an effort to shelter manufacturers like U.S. Steel and Century Aluminum. But the tariffs, which were imposed on national security grounds, rankled close American allies.

In May 2019, the Trump administration agreed to exempt Canada and Mexico from the tariffs, a concession that ultimately helped bring to a close negotiations over revising the North American Free Trade Agreement. The deal contained a provision that allowed the United States to again raise tariffs in the event of a surge in imported products. The countries promised to carry out consultations if a surge occurred, and if those were not successful, the governments could impose a tariff of 25 per cent on steel products or 10 per cent on aluminum products.

American officials have tried to persuade their Canadian counterparts to voluntarily restrain their own exports. Those discussions included a call Friday between Kirsten Hillman, Canadas ambassador to the United States, and senior officials with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

American officials told their Canadian counterparts that if the situation was left unresolved, the United States planned to move ahead with restrictions on Canadian aluminum as of July 1, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative did not respond to requests for comment. Speaking at a virtual event Tuesday, Hillman said that discussions were continuing over the issue, and that Canada firmly believed that their aluminum exports were not hurting the U.S. market in any way.

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, Hillman said.

The return to tensions with Canada comes at a particularly delicate moment, as the Trump administration prepares to usher in its signature North American trade deal.

The revised pact fulfils a key campaign promise for Trump by updating the quarter-century-old NAFTA with stronger protections for workers and new rules to encourage auto manufacturing in North America. It also contains a provision that was expected to bolster the continents metals production, by requiring at least 70 per cent of the steel and aluminum an automaker purchases to originate in North America.

But in a congressional hearing last week, Trumps top trade official indicated that the United States was readying challenges in areas where it believed Canada and Mexico might not be in compliance with the new agreement, including over Mexicos treatment of labour issues and biotechnology products.

There are a number of things were looking at that are quite troubling, the official, Robert E. Lighthizer, told the House Ways and Means Committee on June 17. One of the reasons I wanted to get this into effect on July 1 was so we could start enforcing it.

Mark A.A. Warner, a Canadian and United States trade lawyer, said the dispute had arisen in part because surge was not clearly defined in the agreement the three countries reached.

Tariffs on Canadian aluminum would be a setback, Warner said, but that shouldnt derail the Canada-U.S. relative trade detente leading up to the November election.

Its probably not in Canadas interest to react in a way that makes it a bigger target for a cornered, mercurial president in search of new ways to return to his golden oldies, Warner said.

The tariffs have plenty of critics among the many industries that use aluminum to make other products, including cars, boats and beer kegs. Much of the aluminum industry, which is composed of multinational companies with operations around the world, also opposes the levies.

Two companies with U.S. aluminum production, Century Aluminum and Magnitude 7 Metals, have urged the administration to reimpose tariffs.

In May, the American Primary Aluminum Association, which represents the two companies, sent a letter to Lighthizer and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, saying that an import surge from Canada was threatening the viability of their business.

The surge of Canadian metal has caused the price to collapse and is endangering the future viability of the U.S. primary industry, the letter said.

Only a handful of aluminum smelters, which produce raw aluminum out of bauxite, still operate in the United States. In April, the aluminum giant Alcoa idled a smelter in Ferndale, Wash., saying that production there was uncompetitive based on current market conditions.

Aluminum production is hugely energy intensive, and the industry has gradually migrated from the United States toward Canada, Iceland, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries with ample petroleum, hydroelectric or geothermal power. China, which heavily subsidizes aluminum production, is also a major global producer.

Since aluminum is vital for producing planes, cars and other products, the Trump administration has seen this exodus of aluminum smelters as a threat to national security, though critics of that view say the United States has a ready and secure supply of aluminum in Canada, an ally that fought in Afghanistan and elsewhere alongside U.S. forces.

In a congressional hearing with Lighthizer last week, Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., said that closing the Alcoa smelter had put 700 people in her district out of work and she urged the administration to step up its efforts to address Chinese overcapacity.

Its something were working on, Lighthizer said. The president did take a bold step when he put tariffs on. And the problem unfortunately is not just China, right, as you know well, its also a problem with Canada that were working on.

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Kolkata, June 24 : Officials of West Bengal's Siliguri police commissionerate have been directed to use raw mustard oil for daily consumption, as it has been called a new weapon to fight the Covid-19 pandemic by a top officer.

The police personnel have been asked to increase the use of mustard oil in their various daily usages - like putting them into nostrils before stepping out of homes, mix it with puffed rice, aloo chokha (spicy mashed potato) and salad while having tiffin, lunch or dinner at the police canteens.

A directive issued by the Siliguri police commissioner Tripurari Atharv asked all his officials to increase the consumption of edible mustard oil in their food to fight the Coronavirus.

"It was issued keeping in mind the health condition of police personnel in the Siliguri police commissionerate area. It is for the protection of our frontline Covid warriors. It is getting proved as a really effective measure," said Siliguri deputy commissioner (headquarters) Nima Norbu Bhutia.

Sources said the directive was circulated among all the police stations under Siliguri commissionerate area. It said that consumption of raw mustard oil is good for human health in the time Covid-19 pandemic situation.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Were in perplexing times. At this writing, the S&P 500 index stands at 3,153, just 7% below its all-time high. That high, reached back in February, came the day before the bottom fell out of the stock market, as the coronavirus crisis triggered the steepest, deepest  and fastest  stock market drop on record.

After a 40%-plus rebound in the S&P 500 since March, stocks became stretched to the upside and vulnerable to bad news, SunTrust chief market strategist Keith Lerner noted.

Lerner doesnt see any pullback as a problem, however. Rather, he views it as a chance for investors to take advantage of lower points of entry, and realize strong gains as stock return to the upside.

His colleagues at SunTrust agree, and have pointed out several stocks that are not just poised to make gains, but are also showing dividend yields in excess of 6%. Its an unbeatable combination for income-minded investors: share appreciation and high-yielding dividend returns.

Weve pulled three of SunTrusts stock recommendations from the TipRanks database, to find out what else makes them compelling buys.

PennantPark Investment (PNNT)

PennantPark is a business development company, with a diverse portfolio of senior debt, subordinated debt, and equity in middle market companies.

PennantParks earnings were stable from Q4 through Q2, at 15 cents per share. Management, to keep the dividend stable, cut the payment back to 12 cents per share, effective with the July 1 payment. This gives an annualized payment of 48 cents, and an impressive yield of 13.9%. At current levels, this dividend payment is sustainable  and estimates for forward earnings are 16 cents per share in Q3.

5-stars SunTrust analyst Mark Hughes has been impressed by PennantParks management and believes that the company's $3.40 share price presents a unique buying opportunity.

Hughes notes that the company has adjusted its portfolio to mitigate risks during COVID-19, and that only 11% of the companys investments are in high-risk categories. He writes, While management has accepted lower yielding investments that are consistent with PNNT's lower risk mandate, we believe the BDC should be able to maintain an average 7.2% to 7.4% calculated portfolio yield through the end of F20

Story continues

To this end, Hughes rates PNNT a Buy along with a $4 price target, suggesting room for 18% upside growth this year. (To watch Hughes track record, click here)

Overall, based on 2 Buy ratings and 1 Hold, the analyst consensus rates PNNT a Moderate Buy. Meanwhile, the average price target, which comes in at $4.33, implies shares could rise by 27% over the coming months. (See PNNT stock analysis on TipRanks)

SL Green Realty Corporation (SLG)

Real estate investment trusts are known for their high dividend yields. SL Green is able to base its operations in one of the most dynamic real estate markets in the world: New York City. The company owns over 40 properties in Manhattan, including such notable addresses as 100 Park Ave, 125 Park Ave, and One Vanderbilt Ave.

With such strong properties in the portfolio, totaling over 14 million leasable square feet, its no wonder that SLG has remained profitable during the coronavirus era. The company saw earnings spike to $2.08 per share in Q1, more than enough to support the 29.5 cent monthly dividend payment. At $3.54 annually, this dividend gives a strong yield of 6.8%. Compared to the 2.16% average yield among peer companies in the financial sector, the attraction is obvious.

The attraction is clear to SunTrusts Ki Bin Kim, who writes, We understand the risk inherent in a Manhattan landlord with relatively high financial leverage and ambitious development plans. That said, SLG is increasing already-substantial liquidity and we believe there is more potential upside in the stock as we look out 12 months beyond the pandemic than there is further downside. COVID-19 is a unique disruption, but we expect workers to eventually return to NYC office buildings

As a result, Kim rates SLG a Buy alongside an $80 price target. This figure implies a powerful upside potential for the stock of 54% in the coming year. Its a ringing endorsement of the recovering potential in NYCs real estate market. (To watch Kims track record, click here)

SunTrust takes a much more bullish position here than Wall Street generally. SLG has a Moderate Buy consensus rating, based on 3 Buys and 9 Holds. The average price target is $51.13, suggesting a 18.5% upside form the $51.87 share price. (See SLG stock analysis at TipRanks)

TPG Specialty Lending (TSLX)

Last up is TPG, a specialty finance company. TPG provides credit and capital access to middle market companies, offering financing and funding solutions for complex business models. Its an important niche, as the mid-market is engine of American small business. .

The coronavirus epidemic derailed TSLX in the first quarter, and the shares lost 48% in the February/March market slide. They have since rebounded, gaining 60% from their trough. In each case  the slide and the rebound, the stock showed greater movement than the broader markets.

For Q1, TSLX reported 51 cents per share earnings, which was stable sequentially and in line with expectations. At that level, earnings are clearly enough to support the regular dividend, which was declared for Q2 at 41 cents per share base. The company has a history of also paying out special dividends when it is able. The current dividend yield is 9.56%, impressive by any standards.

Mark Hughes, cited above, likes TSLX shares, and rates them a Buy. In his recent research note, Hughes noted, "We believe management continues to skillfully navigate an increasingly competitive market with widening lending spreads with its conservative originations approach, especially in a period where some of their portfolio companies could be severely impacted from the COVID-19 fallout We are increasing our 2021 NII/share estimate to $1.86 from $1.67 contemplating higher portfolio yields despite a slightly smaller portfolio. We believe the yield forecast in particular has the potential for upside, due to the embedded call protection that is packaged in almost every loan (To watch Hughes track record, click here)

All in all, Wall Street likes TSLX shares, as shown by the unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating, based on 7 Buys given in the last two months. Yet, shares are currently priced at $17.16, and the $17.43 average price target suggests a modest upside. (See TSLX stock-price forecast on TipRanks)

To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 06:25:39|Editor: huaxia

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LISBON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Tuesday that it is necessary to "control the growth of unemployment and reactivate the economy so that jobs can be generated again."

He said in a speech during the signing of an agreement with the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities that "60 million euros (67.84 million U.S. dollars) of community funds" from the country's budget will be used to renovate 568 schools nationwide, which will generate jobs and income in the communities.

The statement came after Portugal's Institute of Employment and Professional Training reported a 34 percent increase in the number of unemployed in May compared to the same month last year in the country.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge threat to health, but it has also had a devastating effect on employment," said Costa, noting that in just two months Portugal had "more than 100,000 unemployed people."

"This is a reality that we have to respond with the same energy and determination with which we respond to the pandemic," he said. Enditem
The family of President Donald J. Trump is suing to block publication of a bombshell memoir by the presidents niece.

Filed on June 23 by the presidents brother Robert S. Trump in Queens County (NY) Surrogate's Court, the suit seeks an order blocking Trumps niece Mary L. Trump and her publisher, Simon & Schuster, from proceeding with the publication of Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man, citing a sweeping confidentiality clause agreed to into in 2001, when the estate of the the presidents father, Fred Trump Sr., was settled.

On the Simon & Schuster website, the book is described as a revelatory, authoritative portrait of Donald J. Trump and the toxic family that made him and claims to explain how Trump "became the man who now threatens the worlds health, economic security, and social fabric. Mary L. Trump is billed as a trained clinical psychologist as well as the presidents only niece. The book is scheduled for a July 28 publication.

"Mary Trump agreed that she would not publish a book regarding her relationship with Robert Trump or the other two relatives, her aunt Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, or her uncle President Donald Trump, without first receiving consent from all three of them," Trump family attorneys argue in the suit. "Independent of her waiver, theres not an adequate remedy at law because no award of monetary damages can ameliorate the loss that will be suffered if Mary Trump is permitted to violate the settlement agreement and publish accounts of her relationship with her uncles and aunts without their consent. Accordingly, this situation requires entry of a preliminary injunction."

Documents appended to the filing include the text of the broad confidentiality clause at issue, which bars the parties and their agents, including Mary L. Trump, who signed the agreement, from directly or indirectly publishing or causing to be published any diary, memoir, letter, story, photograph, interview, article, essay, account, or description or depiction of any kind whatsoever, whether fictionalized or not, concerning their litigation or relationship with [the Trump family]." The clause also states that, should such a breach occur, the offending parties consent to a temporary or permanent injunction.

Lawyers for the Trump family argue that confidentiality clause effectively gives the Trump family an approval right over Mary Trump's manuscript, and allows them to restrain publication to prevent irreparable injury. And because the agreement binds agents, Trump family attorneys argue, Simon & Schuster is also properly bound by any injunction.

In a statement, S&S officials disagreed. As the plaintiff and his attorney well know, the courts take a dim view of prior restraint, and this attempt to block publication will meet the same fate as those that have gone before, S&S officials said.

The latest court battle comes on the same day that Simon & Schuster published former National Security adviser John Boltons memoir of his time in the Trump administration, The Room Where It Happened, after a federal court last week rejected the presidents bid for a restraining order blocking publication.
A powerful earthquake centred near the southern Mexico resort of Huatulco has killed at least four people, affected buildings in Mexico City and sent thousands fleeing into the streets.

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said one person was killed and another injured in a building collapse in Huatulco, Oaxaca.

Otherwise he said reports were of minor damage such as broken windows and collapsed walls. Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat later said a second person was killed in an apparent house collapse in the tiny mountain village of San Juan Ozolotepec.

M 7.4 - 11 km SSW of Santa Maria Zapotitlan, Mexico. https://t.co/3sOT3XVzim pic.twitter.com/YVsYz3E0pI  USGS (@USGS) June 23, 2020

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 epicentre. It said one worker was injured and the flames were quickly extinguished.

Mr Lopez Obrador said there had been more than 140 aftershocks, most of them small.

Seismic alarms sounded mid-morning 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 local time along Mexicos southern Pacific coast at a depth of 16 miles. The epicentre was seven miles south-west 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.

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 two 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.
A San Mateo County supervisor is urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to get serious about the statewide order that requires masks in public spaces.

David Canepa, who represents San Mateo Countys 5th District, sent a letter on Tuesday to the governor proposing enforcement of face-covering directives with accumulative fines. Canepa suggests the first offense would come with a warning, the second a $100 fine and the third a $500 penalty.

Im seeing too many people ignore this simple practice, which is frankly putting the entire community at risk to this deadly disease, Canepa said. If you dont wear a face mask, you should be fined.

Face masks have been recommended by public health officials as one of the key ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Canepa recommends that community service officers enforce the rule rather than police. (That is a huge delineation, he said.)

California had a record 7,149 new confirmed coronavirus cases Tuesday, Newsom said during his daily news briefing Wednesday. That was the third day in a row that the state broke its daily record for new cases. There has been a 29% increase in hospitalizations of coronavirus patients in the state over the past 14 days, bringing the total number to 4,095.

It is our behaviors that are leading to these numbers, Newsom said. People arent wearing masks  that means they are not taking the virus seriously.

Canepa told The Chronicle that it is essential for people to wear masks in public spaces if the state hopes to contain the virus and move to the next phase of reopening.

He added that San Mateo Countys unemployment rate is at a record high, over 11.5%, because of the coronavirus pandemic, rising from 2.5% before shelter in place.

Maybe if we focus on something simple like the masks, it will get us on the right approach and it will get us some level of normalcy, Canepa said.

Face masks have become the latest dispute in the partisan debate between the nations Republicans and Democrats.

Some local authorities in California have pushed back on Newsoms requirement for residents to wear masks or facial coverings while they are out in public, including the sheriffs offices for Sacramento, Placer and Fresno counties, which have announced that they would not enforce the order.

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.

According to Ali Bay of the California Department of Public Health, the face-covering guidance is enforceable, if necessary, as a misdemeanor carrying a potential fine and other penalties.

This is a statewide requirement and flows from the same legal authority as all of the other state orders, Bay said. Californians have done incredible work following those orders, saving lives in the process. We expect that will continue to be the case.

Canepa, who said he has received threats for his efforts to push through penalties for mask scofflaws, said that if the state didnt respond to his request, he would take the issue to the next Board of Supervisors meeting in two weeks to push for local enforcement.

This is no time for political statements with the masks, he said. Masks will save lives.

Aidin Vaziri is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com
Friday marks the fifth anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, the historic Supreme Court decision affirming the freedom to marry for same-sex couples nationwide. When the Supreme Court issued a pair of rulings last week protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers, and at least temporarily safeguarding protections for the young immigrants known as Dreamers, the timing was particularly fitting and proper for new milestones on the long moral arc toward justice.

These movement victoriesand the ongoing racial justice protests and legislative pushes toward a needed sea change in lawhave much in common. Their successes, and the challenges still ahead, offer important lessons on how to achieve change and win battles for public opinion as well as in the courts.

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For one thing, none of the victories were gifts from above or came out of nowhere.

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It was the Dreamers who originally pushed the Obama administration to implement the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which offers a temporary reprieve from deportation for immigrants who came to the United States as children and have known this country as their own for much of their lives. In fighting Trumps efforts to rescind DACA, the Dreamers have inspired empathy and helped drive a different narrative about immigrants. Like gay and trans people who came out and shared their stories to move public opinion in the lead-up to Obergefell, these Dreamers created a political dynamic that reached all the way to the court. This is just what the National Immigration Law Center and other organizations intended when they joined these young leaders to incubate the effective United We Dream campaign.

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In the latest LGBTQ win, the Supreme Court held 63 that the prohibition on sex discrimination in employment in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 encompasses sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. The legal logic of the result was straightforward: You cant spell sexual orientation without sex; when a transgender worker is told, As a man fit, as a woman fired, its clearly because of sex.

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But legal success turns not just on text or even good lawyering; it requires helping the decision-maker, the lawmaker, and the justice see how a promise in the law applies to people previously excluded. As the judge said in the Utah marriage equality case: Its not the Constitution that has changed, its the knowledge of what it means to be lesbian or gay. Add the changing public conversation about transgender people, and you have momentum that enabled last weeks victory in Bostock v. Clayton County.

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In his book, Engines of Liberty, ACLU legal director David Colewho helped successfully argue Bostockillustrates the importance of these broader campaigns well. He writes: Look behind any significant judicial development of constitutional law [or policy enactment], and you will nearly always find sustained advocacy by multiple groups of citizens, usually over many years and in a wide array of venues  politically engaged citizens united by their devotion to a particular constitutional vision.

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A related lesson is that change takes time and no one advance, however big, fixes everything.

Building blocks lead to breakthroughs, which in turn become building blocks to the next advance, and the next. Neither the Title VII win nor todays cross-racial surge for challenging systemic racism would have happened without the building block of the Civil Rights Act. That political achievement, in turn, took decades and decades of struggle on stony ground, in the courts and corridors of power and commerce, and in the schools and on the streets.

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While neither the marriage nor employment win resolved every LGBTQ need, any more than the Civil Rights Act of 1964 cured all racism and sexism, the marriage conversation brought gay and trans people here and abroad new visibility, new allies, new power, and new acceptance for the cause of equality and in peoples lives. The momentum from the marriage work continues to shape the public climate and helped lead to the Title VII victory. Wins are, indeed, the gifts that keep on giving.

Outrages like the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and too many others, including trans people of color, meanwhile, have triggered an extraordinary public outpouring in the past few weeks. Activists such as Black Lives Matter, Color of Change, the NAACP-LDF, and their many allies, have so far successfully leveraged that visibility and urgency toward calls for change.

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In the freedom to marry campaign, too, changing public opinionand then harnessing itwas a core element of the strategy and the success.

In 1996, only 27 percent of Americans supported the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. By 2015, decades of activism, visibility, and engagement had grown that to a 63 percent majority. Gallup confirmed this month that support has continued to grow and broaden. Today at least two-thirds of all Americans are in favor of marriage equality, including 83 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of independents, and even a 49 percent plurality of Republicans. [Americans] changing views on [gay peoples freedom to marry] are one of the most notable shifts in public opinion  measured in recent decades, Gallup concluded. (Happily, recent polls suggest that at last a similar dramatic shift may also be underway calling out racism in policing and society, and countenancing systemic change.)

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Still, while vital, public sentiment and protest are not enough. Political participation, policy work, and persistent organizing and conversations too are required to empower and push the decision-makers who choose the officials and judges and craft policies. Todays waves of activismfrom #BlackLivesMatter to #FewerGuns, from immigration reform to womens empowerment, from the push to address climate change to the fight for an economy and social contract that work for everyone and not just the wealthyneed and are propelled by voices. But victory also needs, and is determined by, votes. Protest matters. So do elections.

The activism of this moment obviously has much to teachfor example, about what Twitter and Tear Gas author Zeynep Tufekci calls the affordances of digital mobilizing, or the strengths and shortcomings of leaderless, horizontal mobilization, alongside institutions, organizations, and strategic campaigns. Todays activistspeople of color, women, trans and gay people, patriotic Americans determined to stand up and get our country back on trackdemand we go beyond remedial measures to redressing systemic racism, sexism, and inequity. They demonstrate the enduring and prerequisite power of dreaming big and going bold.

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Transactional change asks for what seems immediately attainable, what the powers that be are willing to dole out. Transformational change envisions the world as we want it and, through hope, clarity, tenacity, and building-block work, brings it home. The freedom to marry campaigninitially derided as impossibledrew on these elements of how to win. It was transformational, its goal was clear and big and bold, it stuck to its strategy, it engaged a movement, and, paradigmatically, it worked.

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As recently as 1996, at the time of the worlds first-ever freedom to marry victory in Hawaii, there were zero states, zero countries in the world, where loving and committed same-sex couples could marry. As of last months win in Costa Rica, there are now 29 freedom to marry countries, representing more than 1.1 billion people. Well over 1 million gay people have legally married in the United States.

The freedom to marry campaign and the epic transformation it engendered proved thatindividually and collectivelywe can still be engines of liberty. On the fifth anniversary of that triumph, it is heartening to see activists applying its lessons to hold America to our values and its promise.

For more on how the Obergefell decision changed, or didnt change, LGBTQ life in America, listen to the June episode of Outward.
The United States moved to maintain pressure on the European Union in a 16-year dispute over aircraft subsidies by flagging possible changes in tariffs on EU goods, as the date for a decision on reciprocal EU duties slipped to the autumn.

The latest development in the dispute over subsidies to Europe's Airbus and US rival Boeing comes as the aerospace industry has been severely weakened by the coronavirus crisis and amid steps by some governments to support aviation via airlines or suppliers, as well as furlough schemes.

The US Trade Representative's office added items valued at $3.1 billion to its list of European goods eligible to be hit with duties - including black olives, beer and gin - and said it could switch gears to target other items on a previously published list or raise existing duty levels further.

Britain - one of four Airbus core nations and still part of the case despite leaving the EU - on Wednesday urged Washington not to add more tariffs, warning that tit-for-tat measures hurt businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

The US move is part of a "carousel" approach aimed at maintaining pressure on the EU to reach a settlement and end a dispute that dates back to 2004, dragging through three US presidents and five presidential terms of office.

Both sides have won partial victories at the World Trade Organization, and have signaled interest in settling the matter, but are waiting to see final rulings from the WTO, according to sources familiar with the process.

Last year, the WTO allowed the United States to levy tariffs on $7.5 billion worth of EU goods, including aircraft, wines and cheese, due to Airbus subsidies that it had deemed illegal.

Now it is considering the level of tariffs that the EU could impose in a parallel case involving illegal support for Boeing.

That decision, initially expected in May or June, has been pushed back to at least September due to the coronavirus health crisis, two people familiar with the case said.

A third source said the decision was not expected until October, weeks before the Nov. 3 US presidential election.

The WTO declined to comment.

The timing raises the possibility that the EU would be allowed to impose its own tariffs on US goods weeks before the US presidential election, though foreign states tend to avoid taking high-profile actions during such campaigns.

Analysts say both sides share an interest in settling the issue to provide a rulebook for future competition with China, which is developing its own passenger jets.

For now, each side claims to have obeyed the WTO while accusing the other of ignoring thousands of pages of rulings.

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Senator Deborah O'Neill has called on the corporate regulator to investigate General Motors' plans to establish a new company that will import and sell GM vehicles in Australia.

Senator O'Neill wrote to James Shipton, chairman of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, on Wednesday calling for an investigation into "a potential phoenixing situation"

General Motors announced it would pull the Holden brand out of Australian in February. Credit:Virginia Star

Phoenixing involves the "rebirthing" of a business, with one company being stripped of its assets and having them transferred into a new entity that is essentially the same business. It is often illegal.

General Motors announced it was pulling the Holden brand out of Australia in February this year, leaving its network of 185 car dealership franchisees adrift.
A recent news item described an interesting anecdote about New Zealands popular Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Ardern accompanied by her companion had walked into their local cafe for some brunch. However, due to the strict lockdown laws imposed by her own government, the cafe management refused her entry and turned her away. They had exceeded the number of guests allowed inside at one time in accordance with social distancing norms. Fortunately, the situation was quickly saved when a customer finished his meal and left. Ardern and her companion were recalled and served their brunch.

This episode reminded me of my own memories of New Zealand when I had a similar experience of that countrys political and social culture many years ago. In 1975, I had just finished my studies at the Post-Graduate school of Journalism at University of Canterbury in Christchurch and moved to Wellington. I began work at the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC). Like elsewhere in the world, there was a local pub called the Lambton Nook, which was a popular watering hole for journalists. It was located at Lambton Quay, just across the road from the Parliament, popularly known as the Beehive as its circular shape resembled a hive.

One fine evening, my friend and senior journalist colleague, Vernon Wright and I were on our way to the pub. As we crossed the Beehive, we encountered a gentleman in a black suit, carrying a black briefcase, stepping out. There were three or four similarly attired people walking behind him. As we neared this gentleman, we got into the typical sidewalk dance, where we move left and the other guy moves left, and then we move right, which he also mirrors. After a couple of these manoeuvres, my friend Vernon put a hand firmly on the mans shoulder and commanded in a typical Kiwi manner: Why dont you bloody stand still, mate, which he did.

As we walked past him, I said to Vernon, This person seemed familiar, I have seen him somewhere. Vernon replied, Well, you should have, because his photograph appears in the papers every day. It was New Zealands Prime Minister, Bill Rowlings!

I returned to India in January 1977 to start my career as a journalist, became the editor of a tabloid newspaper and had drifted into politics by 1980. I was elected the UP Legislative Council in 1986, to the Lok Sabha from Agra in 1989, and later inducted in the Union Council of Ministers as deputy minister for railways.

As a new minister, I received a confidential for your eyes only kind of note from the cabinet secretary advising me on the protocols to be followed while dealing with confidential matters and files. It ended with the line While leaving his residence or office, the Minister must be accompanied by his personal security officer (PSO).Being young and a little brash, I wrote back that I did not believe in this gun culture and being a Gandhian would not have an armed gentleman following me around.

A few days later, then Prime Minister VP Singh spotted me in the corridor as he was walking to his office in Parliament and called me over. What is all this about the PSO?, he asked. I said I dont need one. Aware of his fondness for me, I had a relationship with him where I could pompously philosophise. The most protected person in the world was felled by a bullet, President John F Kennedy, and the one person nobody ever thought would be killed by a bullet was Mahatma Gandhi. So if the bullet has your name on it, it would find you! I dont need security, I told the Prime Minister of India. He began laughing and said: George ke sache chelo ho. But stop this childishness, you are no longer merely Ajay Singh, you are a member of the Council of Ministers, there is a responsibility that goes with it. That very afternoon, a personal security officer was assigned to me.

VP Singh was referring to George Fernandes, who had been my close friend and senior ministerial colleague. His official residence was an open house with people walking in and out. From Burmese pro-democracy students, Tibetan exiles to political workers from Bihar, people were all over his house, some staying over for days. He didnt believe in security either.

In the post-Indira Gandhi assassination scenario, security became a serious issue for politicians. This soon degenerated into a status symbol for politicians. Various categories of security, levels of threat perception, and types of security from the elite black cat commandos to the lowly PSOs began to proliferate. Security is demanded and provided to the lowest of elected representatives in the political order.

A close political aide of mine was elected to the UP Legislative Council. His very first move was to secure a PSO named Yadav. There certainly was no security involved; Yadavs job was to follow him around, a status symbol publicly announcing the MLCs new VIP status. In those days I found it amusing to observe Yadav on duty, helping the MLCs wifes vegetable shopping or going out late at night to fetch cigarettes for us.

I was, however, surprised during a visit to my ancestral village, some 30 kms from Agra, off the highway to Fatehpur Sikri. The village hosts an ancient Dauji Temple where for centuries a big mela takes place on the day after Holi. On this particular occasion, local body elections just had taken place and new village pradhans elected. As I settled down among the elders, I noticed the pradhan from a neighbouring village. I knew him, a dissolute young fellow from an influential family, well known for his intense relationship with Lord Bacchus and the poppy flower. I notice a uniformed UP policeman with a rifle slung casually on his shoulders, standing behind him. He was busy rubbing his left palm with his right thumb preparing his wad of chewing tobacco.

Pointing to him, I asked the young pradhan, Who is this? Pulling himself up, he replied; Its for security, Bhaiyaji. My response amused the gathering immensely: You must be joking. Who would want to kill you, a job you are doing well enough yourself. But then I suppose you need security from your own village as I hear rumours about you.

I was reminded of this incident the other day when I came across a joke doing the rounds on social media. A man asks his friend: Prime ministers, royalty and senior leaders in foreign countries are contracting Covid-19, how is it that no prominent Indian politician has been infected so far? His friend replies: Because Indian netas have been practising social distancing for many years and are well protected from the people. I thought it was very apt!

Ajay Singh was a journalist and politician. He served as minister of state for railways in the VP Singh government. He wrote this piece nine days before he passed away on June 9
[June 24, 2020]

NASA Awards the Follow-on for the Very Long Baseline Interferometry Systems Contract

GREENBELT, Md., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded the follow-on contract for the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Systems to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Haystack Observatory (MIT/HO), Cambridge, Massachusetts.

This is a sole source, cost-no-fee completion-type contract, with a base value and four 1-year options totaling span >$14,824,588 and a period of performance from June 22 through June 21, 2025.







Under this contract the MIT/HO will provide the personnel, materials, facilities and equipment to support the continued enhancement and maintenance of NASA's VLBI stations, the processing of the data, and support for the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry and related services for the NASA Space Geodesy Project located at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-awards-the-follow-on-for-the-very-long-baseline-interferometry-systems-contract-301083132.html

SOURCE NASA
On a consolidated basis, Asian Paints' net profit declined 2.1% to Rs 461.89 crore on 7.1% fall in net sales to Rs 4635.59 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.

The paint maker's profit before tax stood at Rs 699.22 crore in Q4 March 2020, declining 5.3% from Rs 738.30 crore in the same period last year. Total tax expense declined 13.2% to Rs 218.97 crore in Q4 March 2020 from Rs 252.31 crore in Q4 March 2019.

Commenting on company's performance, Amit Syngle, managing director & CEO, Asian Paints said, "Loss of sales due to the lockdown in March 2020 impacted the decorative business segment in an otherwise strong quarter with double digit volume growth in the first two months of the quarter. Even with the loss of sales, the decorative business segment in a tough year has registered double digit volume growth for the year and strong profit numbers. The industrial business segment under the automotive coatings JV (PPG-AP) and industrial coatings JV (AP-PPG) continued to be impacted by the downturn in the automotive industry and the overall slowdown in the economy. Both the segments in the Home Improvement category viz. the Kitchen (Sleek) and Bath (Ess Ess) business, continued to be impacted by the slowdown in the real estate construction space."

"Complete shutdown of business in last few days of March 2020 further added to the pressure on businesses. The international business portfolio did well supported by growth from markets in Ethiopia, Egypt, UAE and Nepal. However, key units of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were impacted due to the lockdown conditions. Profitability across businesses was well supported by the benign raw material prices and cost optimisation efforts," he added

On a consolidated basis, the company's net profit rose 25.6% to Rs 2774.19 crore in fiscal year ending 2020 (FY20) as against Rs 2208.04 crore reported in fiscal year ending 2019 (FY19). Net sales for FY20 stood at Rs 20,211.25 crore in FY20, rising 5% from Rs 19,240.13 crore in FY19.

Meanwhile, the board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 1.5 per share. The result was announced after market hours on Tuesday, 23 June 2020.

Shares of Asian Paints jumped 4.43% to Rs 1758.20 on BSE. Asian Paints is India's leading paint company and ranked among the top ten decorative coatings companies in the world.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the death toll from COVID-19 nears five lakh, a hospital in Santiago, Chile is now allowing families to visit coronavirus patients. Chile, where fatalities are surging at an alarming rate has reported 2,50,767 cases and 4,505 deaths till now, the latest tally by John Hopkins University stated.

Read: Chile Increases Its Estimate Of Cases And Deaths From Coronavirus

At the hospital in Santiago, all the visitors are reportedly screened for the virus and issued the same protective gears as by doctors before they are allowed to enter. They are then taken to sealed glasshouse patients are kept. Carlos Romero, head of the hospitals Intensive Care Units said that as an organisation, they have always advocated not only for their patients but also their families and have continued to push their presence at the patients' bedsides.

Located in Independencia

The hospital is in Independencia neighbourhood, an area which has the Santiagos largest number of cases. As per reports, the director, telephones patients' families every day at noon to keep them posted. Elaborating further, he said that the medics want to know they have done everything to save patients and if thats not possible we make sure the patient is not in pain and family spends some time with them.

Read: Chile's Virus Cases Top 250,000, Death Toll 4,505

Read: Chileans Mass Produce Caskets To Deal With COVID Onslaught

COVID-19 in Chile

According to Chile's official tally, 3,804 new cases of infection and three more COVID-19 fatalities were registered in the previous 24 hours. The number of active cases currently stands at 35,692, with 2,009 patients in intensive care units, including 1,720 on ventilators. Of those, 392 were reported to be in critical condition. In the previous 24 hours, 12,707 tests were carried out, bringing the total number of tests processed since March to 995,060.

According to Health Minister Enrique Paris, the infection rate has risen in the regions of Nuble, Tarapaca, Antofagasta, O'Higgins, and the capital Santiago and its metropolitan area, which is the epicentre of the national outbreak.

Read: Chileans Mass Produce Caskets To Deal With COVID Onslaught

(With inputs from agencies)

Image credits: AP
Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar on Wednesday said that the state government would oppose the Centre's proposal to conduct coal mining near Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur district, as it would "destroy" the habitat of tigers.

Bander coal block, located close to TATR, is one of the 41 mining sites in the country for which the Centre has invited bids for an auction. According to the forest department, the Bander coal block falls in Chimur tehsil under Bramhapuri forest division.

It is located very adjacent to the buffer zone boundary of the TATR. Addressing a press conference here, Wadettiwar, who is Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation, said, "The state government will definitely oppose the proposed mining of Bander coal mine listed in the Central government's e-auction."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the auction process of 41 coal blocks for commercial mining last week. "There is presence of six tigers in the area where Bander coal mining e-auction is proposed. The mining activities will destroy the corridor of these six tigers," he said.

"State Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray had already expressed his displeasure over the issue...We will never allow coal mining at Bander and there will be no negotiations on the issue," Wadettiwar, who also serves as the district guardian minister of Chandrapur, said.

TATR is an internationally-known tiger reserve, which is flocked by tourists from across the world. On the issue of water availability in Chandrapur, Wadettiwar asked the irrigation department officials to ensure that there is good storage at all the weirs in the district.

He instructed the officials to use new technology to plan the measures in such a way that the existing weirs store maximum water, enough for both kharif and rabbi seasons. The minister said that the government will establish a centre to train and guide cotton growers in the district.

(Photo Credit for representation: PTI)


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Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor says President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is on the edge of losing the December 7, presidential polls.



He claims the tsunami that hit 41 of his Members of Parliament (MPs) is a foreshadow of the ruling party's utter defeat in the upcoming election. The NDC MP also sought to find out where the interest of the victorious NPP parliamentary candidates will lie in the upcoming December polls.



So are the new candidates now going to campaign for themselves or the President to be retained? Trust me they cant win the 2020 election, he said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie.



There is no chance for Nana Addo in 2020, he will lose. They [NPP] can never win the 2020 election, he added.



Only 5 out of 41 defeated NPP MPs show up in Parliament



Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, has appealed to fallen New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament not to abandon the work of Parliament following their defeat at the partys primaries.



He said the outcome of the primaries is usual with politics and so they should not let the defeat affect their contributions to proceedings in the House.



Out of 41 MPs who lost their bid to continue to stay in Parliament on the ticket of the NPP only five showed up on Monday.



Speaking on the Floor of Parliament, Prof. Oquaye, urged the affected MPs to take the defeat in their stride and not lose focus.



Speaker Oquaye told the losing MPs as far as matters of the House are concerned, you must act as statesmen and assume some circumspection in all we do, and in all that we say.



He congratulated those who emerged winners and wished the losers well, encouraging them not to relent in their efforts at helping the government in national development.



We are in a very competitive situation and in fact, one thing we should all realise is that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, he said.

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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The dismissal of the case against former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn sent shock waves across Washington, including Congress which was hours away from a hearing addressing the case. Any appellate decision taking unprecedented measures to stop irreparable harms and irregular conduct is newsworthy. However, those admonishments were not describing Flynn's conduct but that of his trial judge, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan. The D.C. Circuit panel took the exceptionally rare step of ordering Sullivan to stop further proceedings and dismiss the case to avoid further damage caused by his prior orders.

The case should have been dismissed

One month ago, I wrote a column criticizing the handling of the Flynn case by Judge Sullivan after the government moved to dismiss its own prosecution.

The law in this case is clear and the case should have been dismissed. Instead, Sullivan took the extraordinary action of appointing a retired judge, John Gleeson, to argue positions that neither of the actual parties supported. Gleeson not only had publicly denounced the administration over its handling of the case but, as a judge, was reversed for irregular conduct in usurping the authority of prosecutors. In addition, Sullivan suggested that he might charge Flynn with perjury for alleging that he was wrongly charged despite the support of the Justice Department in finding abuses in his case.

Criticizing Sullivan, who I have appeared before for years as counsel and previously complimented for his demeanor, was not popular. Legal analysts in The Washington Post, CNN and other outlets insisted that his actions were entirely appropriate and justified. Yet, another letter from former prosecutors was given unquestioning media coverage to show that Sullivan should deny the motion in the case.

In Washington, D.C., on Dec. 18, 2018.

In an opinion piece, UCLA Law Professor and former U.S. Attorney under Bill Clinton, Harry Litman even explained how Sullivan could make trouble for the Trump administration in these hearings. Litman insisted that I was a very lonely voice in the wilderness of academia in contesting the use of an outside lawyer to make arguments in a criminal trial case that neither the defense nor the prosecution supported.

Story continues

The wilderness now appears to include at least two other voices from the D.C. Circuit. The panel specifically denounced the irregular use of Gleeson and his hyperbolic arguments in the case. Gleeson suggested that the court should actually send Flynn to jail despite prosecutors raising evidence of misconduct and abuse as the basis for dismissal. He also argued that, rather than give Flynn a trial on a new charge from Sullivan of perjury, Flynn should just be sentenced in light of such perjury as part of his prior non-perjury charge.

Even for those of us who believed that Sullivan was operating well outside of the navigational beacons for a court in such case, the decision was breathtaking. Most of us expected that the appellate court would remand the case to allow Sullivan a face-saving hearing with an inevitable order to dismiss. The panel, however, clearly had little trust in the plans for this hearing or any true judicial purpose. Indeed, it may have been convinced that the primary purpose was indeed to make trouble for the administration.

As some of us wrote previously, the appellate court was particularly alarmed by the implications of Sullivans orders, including noting that the invitation to members of the general public to appear as amici The panel said that such an invitation by Sullivan suggests anything but a circumscribed review. Moreover, it noted that the Justice Department had submitted troubling evidence of possible misconduct. And that each of our three coequal branches should be encouraged to self-correct when it errs.

Gleeson, wrong appointment

The greatest irony is that Sullivans unwise decision to appoint Gleeson to make the case was perhaps too successful. Gleeson ultimately proved not the case against Flynn but against Sullivan. In reviewing Gleesons brief, the panel declared we need not guess if this irregular and searching scrutiny will continue; it already has. The panel noted that Sullivans appointed counsel relied on news stories, tweets, and other facts outside the record to contrast the governments grounds for dismissal here with its rationales for prosecution in other cases.

The panel was also aware of past concerns raised in the case, including the rather bizarre first sentencing hearing held in December 2018. In that hearing, Sullivan suggested that Flynn might be guilty of treason in a case involving comparatively minor charges of false statements to federal investigators. Sullivan dramatically used the flag in the courtroom as a prop and accused Flynn of being an unregistered agent of a foreign country while serving as the national security adviser to the president of the United States. Arguably, that undermines everything this flag over here stands for. Arguably, you sold your country out. (He later apologized for his comments.)

Previously: In Michael Flynn case, Judge Sullivan's gross overreach turns justice into mob rule

The irony, however, is that Sullivan proved the best thing that could have happened to Flynn. After that unnerving exchange, Sullivan asked if Flynn still wanted him to sentence him or wait. He indicated that he might go substantially beyond what Special Counsel Robert Muellers team had demanded. Flynn wisely decided to wait. The resulting delay allowed the damaging evidence from his case to be review and released. Had Sullivan simply sentenced Flynn last December, it would have been much more difficult for Flynn to have raised these issues.

Sullivan then handed down his novel orders including appointing his own counsel to argue for prosecution against the actual prosecutors.

This record proved too much for the appellate court. Rather than order Sullivan off the case, it decided to order Sullivan to dismiss the case. Short of an order of actual recusal of a judge, a mandamus order is the most stinging indictment of the handling of a case that can come from an appellate court.

Most recent from author: Trump executive order retaliates against Twitter, but no one is defending free speech

The ruling in this case is unlikely to force any real circumspection by legal analysts or the media in the prior coverage. Nuanced legal questions quickly evaporate in this age of rage. Conflicting case law is dismissed in favor of the clarity demanded by echo journalism. The law however brings its own clarity and the message of this opinion could not be clearer. Sullivans actions in the case did not spell trouble for the Trump administration, but rather, they spelled trouble for the administration of justice in our court system.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University and a member of USA TODAYs Board of Contributors. Follow him on Twitter: @JonathanTurley

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dismissal of the Flynn case result of Judge Sullivan's mistakes
Former Secretary of Defence William Cohen says that after learning of the revelations in John Boltons book, the prospect of Donald Trump being reelected makes him fear for US democracy.

Asked by CNNs Christiane Amanpour what he expected if there were to be a second Trump administration, the forrmer secretary responded: I think we would not recognise America as a democracy.

Mr Cohen, a Republican that ran the Department of Defence under Bill Clinton, said: I think he wants to have one man rule, and its not the rule of law, its just the opposite. Its the law of rule, where he only can make decisions.

He added that the president has said publicly on multiple occasions that he is above the law  that it doesnt apply to him as the chief law enforcer and commander in chief.

If you take away an obligation to run for re-election, now he has authority to do whatever he wants, because now he feels hes not even bound by the law, says the former secretary of defence.

Mr Cohen bluntly paints a frightening picture of dictatorial, absolutist rule: I think President Trump is taking us down the road to tyranny  to one man rule. To try and replicate what he sees as a positive in Moscow under President Putin, or in Turkey under President Erdogan, or in China, or North Korea,

A growing number of senior Republican figures have been speaking out against the president as the election draws nearer, decrying the failures of the administration, particularly in relation to the coronavirus pandemic response.

Mr Cohen was defence secretary in Bill Clintons second administration, from 1997 to 2001. From 1973 to 1979 he served as a congressman for Maine, and from 1979 to 1997 as a senator for the state.
International Pressure Mounts On Minsk To Stop Press Crackdown Ahead Of Election

By RFE/RL June 23, 2020

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 watchdog's 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, CPJ's 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-media -protests-journalists/30685485.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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Following complaints about racial profiling on its platform, the popular neighborhood social media app Nextdoor has discontinued a feature that had allowed users to forward their crime and safety posts from within the app to law enforcement agencies.

The action to eliminate the feature, Forward to Police, which was introduced in 2016, was announced last week amid complaints from some users that Nextdoor was not being responsive to their concerns that racial profiling and racist remarks were prevalent on the app. Founded in 2010, the app is used in 11 countries  including the U.S.  and reportedly has millions of users, though it declines to give a figure.

As part of our anti-racism work and our efforts to make Nextdoor a place where all neighbors feel welcome, we have been examining all aspects of our product  we had specifically been examining Forward to Police for many months  and we made the decision to accelerate the deprecation of this feature, a company spokeswoman said this week.

While Nextdoor did not say specifically why it had focused on Forward to Police in its anti-racism work, the spokeswoman did say, With the removal of Forward to Police there are no features on Nextdoor that exist solely for members to message law enforcement agencies.
Michael Flynn testifies on Capitol Hill in 2014, when he was director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. On Wednesday an appeals court ordered that the criminal case against him be dismissed. (Lauren Victoria Burke / Associated Press)

It looks as if the tangled tale of the prosecution of Michael Flynn has come to an end with an appeals court ruling directing a judge to dismiss the case. Congress still must investigate whether favoritism influenced the Justice Departments decision to reverse course and seek to spare Flynn, President Trump's first national security advisor.

Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about conversations with Russias U.S. ambassador during the presidential transition. Among the topics discussed were sanctions imposed on Russia by the Obama administration in response to Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Trump had sacked Flynn, explaining later that he had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. But the president also has expressed sympathy for his former advisor. On Wednesday he tweeted: "Is James Comey and his band of Dirty Cops going to apologize to General Michael Flynn (and many others) for what they have done to ruin his life?"

On Wednesday, by a 2-1 vote, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia instructed U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan that he must immediately dismiss the case against Flynn.

Writing for the panel, Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, said that the governments representations about the insufficiency of the evidence against Flynn are entitled to a presumption of regularity. Unless the entire appeals court intervenes (as it should), Flynn is home free.

As a general proposition, its desirable for prosecutors to be willing to change their minds. There is a concept in the law known as the rule of lenity, according to which courts err on the side of leniency when a statute is ambiguous. By analogy, prosecutors may err on the side of the defendant when new information emerges.

That is what the Justice Department claimed to be doing when it sought to dismiss the charge against Flynn. Government lawyers told Sullivan that the FBI's interview of Flynn was untethered to, and unjustified by, the FBIs counterintelligence investigation and couldn't be proved to be "material.

Story continues

The governments argument was extremely unpersuasive. How could Flynns lying about contacts with Russia not be material to an investigation of Russian meddling?

But whether the Justice Department was mistaken in its reappraisal of the Flynn prosecution is only one question. More important questions are why Flynn was singled out for such a second look and whether the outcome was influenced by his relationship with the president.

John Gleeson, a former federal judge appointed by Sullivan to contest the Justice Departments motion to dismiss the case against Flynn, accused the department of a gross abuse of prosecutorial power." Gleeson added that the government has engaged in highly irregular conduct to benefit a political ally of the president.

Sound familiar? On Wednesday the House Judiciary Committee heard from Aaron Zelinsky, a federal prosecutor on the team involved in the case of Trump associate Roger Stone, who was convicted of witness tampering and lying to Congress. Zelinsky said he was told that the acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., was receiving heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to cut Stone a break in sentencing. (Atty. Gen. William Barr is expected to testify before the Judiciary Committee next month.)

Its hard not to see a pattern here. Congress needs to be equally aggressive in investigating how and why Flynn was spared the consequences of his actions.
Hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced easing of lockdown curbs from July 4, heads of several medical organisations said on Wednesday that there is a real risk of a second wave of the coronavirus, and demanded a review of the UKs state of preparedness to deal with it.

Sounding an upbeat note after recent days and weeks showed a fall in infections, Johnson said on Tuesday that the 2-metre social distancing rule could now be cut, allowing pubs, restaurants, museums, cinemas and others places could re-open from July 4 with Covid-19-secure precautions. Guidance on re-opening was published sector-wise on Wednesday.

In a letter to the British Medical Journal, 16 experts heading royal colleges or medical organisations or medical journals addressed leaders of political parties, reminding them that several countries are now experiencing flare-ups.

They wrote: While the future shape of the pandemic in the UK is hard to predict, the available evidence indicates that local flare-ups are increasingly likely and a second wave a real risk. Many elements of the infrastructure needed to contain the virus are beginning to be put in place, but substantial challenges remain.

The job now is not only to deal urgently with the wide ranging impacts of the first phase of the pandemic, but to ensure that the country is adequately prepared to contain a second phase.

Calling for an assessment of the state of UKs preparedness to deal with the second wave, the experts wrote that it should focus on areas of weakness where action is needed urgently to prevent further loss of life and restore the economy as fully and as quickly as possible.

The policy areas that need rapid attention, they wrote, include procurement of goods and services; the disproportionate burden on black, Asian, and minority ethnic individuals and communities; and international collaboration, especially to mitigate any new difficulties in pandemic management due to Brexit.

The experts wrote: We are not wedded to any particular design of inquiry or review, but as outlined in the editorial, we believe it should be quick, broad, ambitious, able to command widespread public and stakeholder trust, and needs to happen now.

As stakeholders and leaders of the UKs medical, nursing, and public health professions, we urge you to establish such a review. We think theres a strong case for an immediate assessment of national preparedness, with the first results available no later than August, and that all its work should be completed by the end of October.

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Manitobans can go bowling, congregate in small church groups and lounge on patios, but journalists wanting to question the premier on critical decisions meant to preserve health and avoid economic collapse during the COVID-19 pandemic must use an unreliable phone-in service.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobans can go bowling, congregate in small church groups and lounge on patios, but journalists wanting to question the premier on critical decisions meant to preserve health and avoid economic collapse during the COVID-19 pandemic must use an unreliable phone-in service.

Three months into the pandemic, the provincial government is giving journalists less access than other provinces, and this week made a key announcement on Twitter, with no opportunity for reporters to question the relevant minister.

Thats a bad look at a time when governments are spending unprecedented amounts and implementing historic restrictions on freedoms, argues Carleton University journalism professor Paul Adams.

Press conferences by Premier Brian Pallister are held in a room with one camera. Reporters have to phone in with their questions. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

"Its not surprising that politicians and other decision-makers take advantage of situations to reduce their degree of accountability," said Adams.

"Manitoba is at this point one of the best performing jurisdictions in country, in terms of COVID  its not obvious why it would be a laggard, in terms of direct access of the media to decision-makers."

The provincial government insists its being transparent, and is working to increase media access, but Manitobas shoddy phone-in system lags behind other legislatures.

Saskatchewan, for example, has allowed about four journalists into its daily briefings since the start of the pandemic, in addition to phone-in questions.

Media access varies by province Press access has varied at legislatures across Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. click to read more Press access has varied at legislatures across Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Saskatchewan, journalists have phoned into near-daily press conferences, and at least a handful have been allowed into the room with the premier or public-health officials, which recently expanded to allow 15 reporters. On the phone, you're not seeing things in real time; you're not always hearing things clearly, said CBC reporter Adam Hunter, who heads the press gallery in Regina. Ministers have also been regularly available as of last week, with staff putting them at podiums that keep an appropriate distance from journalists. New Brunswicks cabinet ministers have followed a similar protocol for a month. British Columbia is still only allowing phone questions at news conferences despite an earlier loosening of restrictions. Until recently, reporters could only ask a single question. But as the legislature in Victoria resumed sittings Monday, a pool camera was set up for ministers to take reporters questions in-person. We spent a month working with government, opposition and the legislature to make sure we have access, as we would if things were operating normally, said Richard Zussman, head of the B.C. press gallery. Alberta, which opened much later, is keeping government press conferences to phones-only, despite the opposition NDP having press conferences in the legislature rotunda. That province's press-gallery head, Catherine Griwkowsky, said government staff limit reporters to only one question without a followup, though that rule "applies very inconsistently" with some outlets allowed multiple questions, and others consistently put last. "When you're in the room, you can just jump in, or back each other up if a reporter's question is not being answered. The phone doesn't lend itself to that," said Griwkowsky, though she was glad a variety of outlets take part in the calls. When the building itself is closed off to the public, it's so important to have eyes and ears here," she said from Edmonton. On Parliament Hill, which is wedged between the two provinces with the worst spread of COVID-19, federal ministers have had daily press conferences since the start of the pandemic. Those occur through a mix of in-person questions and phone-in questions, with a range of journalists selected from a daily queue based on criteria outlined by the Parliamentary Press Gallery such as language and audience size. Dylan Robertson Close

That province, whose COVID-19 spread has largely been in lockstep with Manitobas, allowed up to 15 reporters into the briefings last week.

Manitobas press gallery, which includes multiple Free Press staff, has been in talks with the government to change the press conferences with figures like Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer, and Premier Brian Pallister.

Officials have suggested allowing fewer than 10 journalists into the press theatre, known as Room 68, but journalists have insisted on using a larger committee room.

Adams worked as a student staffer at the Manitoba Legislature in the 1970s, and has covered its happenings on-and-off up until the early 2000s.

He said it should be easy to find a large space, such as when the annual budget lock-up hosts dozens of journalists in a closed committee room.

The briefing room has been empty of journalists for months. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

"It's one of the most gracious, spacious and beautiful legislative buildings in the world, and it's got plenty of large spaces," he said. "I know; I've worked in them."

Pallister insisted Tuesday that hes been available to reporters, and said his office has been in touch with Roussin to craft a safe plan for press conferences.

"We continue to make sure that the ministers of the Manitoba government are available to the media, (and) that Im available to the media," the premier told the Free Press.

"I think it would be wonderful to have such opportunities and I hope we can do this in the very near future; I long for the day."

Pallisters spokeswoman Olivia Billson added that talks with the press gallery are ongoing "to restore access to the news-conference theatre," which suggests they wont be moved into a larger room.

In the past month, ministers have held some outdoor press availabilities.

On Tuesday, reporters gathered in the rotunda leading to the legislative chamber to hear from Families Minister Heather Stefanson, which appears to be the first indoors availability since the pandemic shut down Manitoba three months ago.

But that doesnt mean the Pallister government is getting more open with media.

Last Monday, Manitobas phone-in line stopped working, so journalists had to email their questions, which were then read out by a government employee. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

On Monday, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced on Twitter when schools would resume in the province. There was no press release, and Goertzen was nowhere to be seen Tuesday.

Adams was baffled that nobody in the Pallister government had arranged a press conference for a topic impacting every parent of school-aged children in Manitoba.

"Thats a very consequential announcement," Adams said, arguing it would never be acceptable to simply drop it into a press release during normal times, let alone Twitter during a pandemic.

"Thats just absurd," he said.

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.

When asked why the news was kept to social media, Pallister told reporters Tuesday that it was "a tentative announcement," pending a final decision based on the pandemics condition.

Seconds later, another journalist asked a question that could not be heard through a choppy phone line, though she did get through on the second attempt.

On June 15, Manitobas phone-in line simply stopped working, at which point government staff asked journalists to email in their questions, which were then read out by the government employee.

Some questions were duplicates, and some became redundant based on provided answers. Because the questions were written in advance, it was impossible to ask an appropriate followup question.

"Being physically present makes a difference in terms of your ability to have questions, to interject and have real responses, and to have effective accountability," Adams said.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Days after it was vandalized with red paint, Worcester City Councilor Sarai Rivera is calling for a statue of Christopher Columbus outside the historic Union Station to be removed.

Ive held my tongue, for perhaps longer than I should have, but the time is now well passed for the Worcester Redevelopment Authority to remove the statue commemorating Christopher Columbus from their property at Union Station, Rivera wrote in a statement issued Wednesday.

We should not be deceiving future generations by continuing to pretend hes worthy of any sort of honor and he is certainly not who we want honoring generations of immigrants that came through Union Station decades ago, or welcoming visitors to our city today, the statement continued.

Rivera said she is asking former state Rep. Vincent Pedone and the Worcester Redevelopment Authority Board of Directors to discuss and vote on the immediate removal of the statue.

Christopher Columbus is not someone we should be memorializing and sitting quietly hoping things will blow-over is complicity in white privilege, colonialism and systemic racism, Rivera said.

Around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, two men vandalized the statue with red paint and spray paint, according to Worcester police, who said officers found a bucket of paint, a bag and spray paint outside Union Station.

As an Afro Taina I know far too well the atrocities and devastation Columbus caused not just to the Taino Island of Borinquen (now Puerto Rico), but throughout the Caribbean, Central America and North America, Rivera said. Slavery, rape, murder, torture and sexual enslavement only partially capture his sins, crimes and trail of bodies. In no way do I view him as any kind of leader deserving of memorialization, but much more as a criminal, whos crimes to this day continue to [wreak] havoc throughout the Americas.

Rivera noted that in October she supported resident Wahya Wolfpaw, a member of Worcesters indigenous community, when she asked the City Council and the city manager to end Worcesters celebration of Columbus Day.

A reactionary proposal two weeks later to acknowledge the Columbus Day Parade Committee only added to community confusion and frustration, Rivera said. At this time, I want to affirm my position that the issues raised by indigenous leaders and others concerning Columbus must be responded to by the city.

Rivera asked City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. to provide a formal response to the petition to end the citys Columbus Day celebration and that his proposal be presented to the City Council for debate and approval.

Discussions about what historic monuments Americans choose to honor have been revived following the May 25 death of George Floyd, a Black man, in the custody of a now-former Minneapolis police officer, who is white. 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.

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently rejected a claim for financial compensation by former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) vice president Jean Pierre Bemba after he was acquitted of war crimes and crimes against humanity on appeal in 2018 .

The court's decision has wider implications for international criminal law.

In 2016, the ICC convicted Bemba of the charges against him, and sentenced him to 18 years' imprisonment for the crimes committed by his militia in the neighbouring Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003.

But, on 8 June 2018, the ICC Appeals Chamber acquitted him of all charges. According to some observers, his acquittal overturned an important victory for victims of sexual violence under international criminal law, thanks largely to evidentiary ambiguities and inconsistencies.

Bemba then filed a claim seeking over 69 million in damages he claimed he had suffered due to having had his assets frozen for a decade by the court. He also wanted to be compensated for legal expenses.

His claim consisted of two components. First, was a request for compensation pursuant to article 85 of the Rome Statute, on account of a grave and manifest miscarriage of justice during the hearing of the main case against him. The Rome Statue is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court in July 1998.

Second, was a request for compensation for the damage suffered by his property and assets, as a result of the court's orders. He alleged that the court failed to properly manage and preserve his property.

The decision is a unique interpretation of the court's powers and jurisdiction regarding compensation to those that are acquitted. The principal element relates to the cooperation of states with the International Criminal Court.

For the first time, the court restricted its responsibility under Article 93(1)(k) of the Rome Statute. Basically, its responsibility stops at requesting state parties to seize and freeze assets. It is then up to the states to preserve such assets and they cannot be held to account by the court for any mismanagement.

Narrow interpretation of Rome Statute

The court exercises a great degree of discretion when it comes to compensation. This is due to the ambiguity in the language of Article 85 of the Rome Statute , which gives the victim of unlawful arrest or detention, an enforceable right to compensation. Exceptional circumstances are provided for by Article 85(3) which states that;

in exceptional circumstances, where the court finds conclusive facts showing that there has been a grave and manifest miscarriage of justice, it may in its discretion award compensation, according to the criteria provided in the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, to a person who has been released from detention following a final decision of acquittal or a termination of the proceedings for that reason.

But this is ambiguous because the terms grave and manifest miscarriage of justice are not defined in the statute, and so can lead to divergent interpretations.

This is the third claim for compensation to be rejected by the court. In 2015, the court rejected a claim by Mathieu Ngudjolo . The militia leader was accused of having committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the DRC in 2003. He was acquitted in 2012.

Similarly, in 2016, the court rejected Jean-Jacques Mangenda-Kabongo's request for compensation claim. Mangenda was a member of Bemba's defence team and case manager. He had been convicted by the court of tampering with witnesses in Bemba's initial trial.

Due to the legal ambiguity in the Rome Statute, the court has set a very high threshold for term the grave and manifest miscarriage of justice. In other words, the violations must be serious and exceptional.

A liberal interpretation of Article 21(3) could have allowed an expansive understanding of this problematic term. Such an interpretation would recognise internationally recognised human rights, like the right to compensation, within the courts decisions.

The narrow interpretation relates to the maintenance of seized property. In response to the claim for financial loss arising from destruction and damage to Bemba's property in the DRC, Portugal and Belgium, the court indicated that it did not have the mandate to adjudicate on damage to assets resulting from the conduct of member states.

This line of argument isn't convincing. State signatories to the Rome Stature are considered to be agents of the court. As such, their conduct relating to cases before the court would be subject to review by the court.

Potential impact of judgment

The court's decision points to a need to amend the wording relating to the meaning of grave and manifest miscarriage of justice under the Rome Statute. It also has implications for international criminal law.

The practice of providing compensation for an acquitted accused is considered important in some domestic statutes. For example, in the UK , compensation for miscarriage of justice is possible, depending on the punishment and its consequences on the person's life.

In Northern Ireland, more than 9m was paid in compensation between 2010 and 2019, to 16 people whose criminal convictions were overturned.

There is also no provision for compensation after acquittal under the statutory frameworks of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia , International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda , or the Special Court for Sierra Leone .

Nonetheless, the Rome Statute is an inspirational legal source to other tribunals. For example, Article 85 of the Rome Statute was adopted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in its determination of the term grave and manifest miscarriage of justice.

The International criminal law court cannot practically lead the way in fixing this anomaly, since it is a member driven court. However, special international tribunals must evolve to reflect contemporary realities of people who are acquitted after long trials, and the need for compensation.

Regarding the responsibility to maintain property seized from an accused person, we observe a complex role of the court's registry, with regard to support and follow up duties.

Nonetheless, there is clearly a need for administrative reforms. This decision suggests that the International Criminal Court might be reluctant to seize or freeze assets in the future. This needs to be considered, in light of the looming war crimes trials of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir , and warlord Ali Muhammad Ali AbdAl-Rahman (Ali Kushayb) .

Tonny Raymond Kirabira receives funding from Erasmus+ Programme for his current Research Visit at the International Criminal Court,that will end on 31 August 2020. The views expressed therein are those of the author alone and do not reflect the views of the International Criminal Court.

Leila Choukroune does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Tonny Raymond Kirabira, PhD Researcher, University of Portsmouth And

Leila Choukroune, Professor of International Law and Director of the University Research and Innovation Theme in Democratic Citizenship, University of Portsmouth
ASEAN member states are aiming to enhance supply chain resilience, improving connectivity and the free flow of goods by minimising trade restrictiveness, particularly non-tariff measures.

Doan Thi Thanh Ha and Salvador Buban from the Economic Research Institute for the ASEAN and East Asia, delve into this issue.

Doan Thi Thanh Ha and Salvador Buban from the Economic Research Institute for the ASEAN and East Asia

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated serious global shocks at an unprecedented scale. Since late 2019, within a few months, the virus has swept across continents, resulting in at least seven million cases of infection and over 400,000 deaths. On top of the enormous health cost, economic cost is also substantial. With strict transmission control policies such as wide-scale lockdowns, border closure and social distancing in place, production, trade, and services flows have been disrupted.

The World Banks 2020 Global Economic Prospects report projected a global GDP contraction of 5.2 per cent in 2020, the deepest recession in decades. Without a full understanding of the virus itself and effective prevention and treatment, a clear recovery path is not yet in sight.

Having close economic ties with China, ASEAN economies are expected to experience large contractions partly due to the disruption of China-led value chains. As of 2018, China is the blocs largest trading partner, accounting for approximately 17 per cent of total ASEAN trade. The negative shock is further exacerbated by the declining demand in the EU and the US, two large export markets for the ASEAN. In addition, reshoring by multinational enterprises who have invested in the region adds another risk to the disruption of global value chains. To mitigate the risks and maintain the regions appeal to foreign investors, ASEAN countries need to continue their joint endeavour of liberalisation through regulatory reform.

The ASEAN has achieved significant improvements in tariff liberalisation. Average tariff on intra-ASEAN trade is as low as 0.2 per cent. On the contrary, non-tariff measures (NTMs), defined as policy measures other than ordinary tariffs, which can affect international trade by changing price or quantity traded, is on the rise. According to the NTMs database jointly developed by the Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, between 2015 and 2018, the number of NTMs in the ASEAN has climbed by 15 per cent to about 9,500 measures. NTMs include many policy instruments, ranging from technical measures to ensure product safety and quality to non-technical measures, such as non-automatic licensing, price and quantity control, and subsidies, among others. Associated with NTMs is a plethora of technical and administrative procedures which could be time-consuming and costly for firms to comply with.

COVID-19 adds to these trade costs in several ways. First, trade cost can increase due to the introduction of new regulations to address concerns about food safety, food security, and the shortage of medical equipment, countries have introduced new regulations. Some regulations are indeed trade-enhancing, such as tariff reductions, elimination of import licensing requirements, and the suspension of anti-dumping duties for certain products. However, a growing number of economies have imposed export restrictions on essential products, including face masks, sanitisers, and some medical equipment. In some countries, the export of staples has also been restricted.

Albeit these measures could be allowed under the World Trade Organization, if not properly designed and administered, they can indeed be counterproductive. First, lack of access to necessities pose health risks to countries with inadequate domestic production capacity, especially for high-tech medical devices. In addition, the resulting price hike may prevent low-income people from getting access to medical supplies. Altogether, these imply higher risk of transmission of the virus, impeding cross-country efforts to contain the outbreak. Second, deprivation of export opportunities may discourage domestic firms from expanding their output. Third, imposition of trade barriers puts countries at risk of retaliation, stirring further trade disputes and disrupts supply chains.

Looking at a broader scale, rising trade cost due to COVID-19 is not limited to products used for prevention and treatment of diseases. Even for existing regulations, the closure of government offices lengthens processing time for paperwork, adding to the waiting time for export and import clearance of goods at the border. In a complex production network, trade costs accumulated along the supply chain could be significant.

Among the ASEANs key sectors with strong value chain participation, such as food and agriculture, and machinery and electronics, over 80 per cent of import value are subject to NTMs. A study by the ERIA suggests ad-valorem equivalent of NTMs are up to 5.7 per cent in manufacturing and 16.6 per cent in agriculture, implying significant added trade costs. Minimising trade restrictiveness to enhance supply chain connectivity.

Overall, to enhance supply chain resilience, improving connectivity and the free flow of goods has become urgent. With tariffs being at a low level, regulatory co-operation should push towards simplification and streamlining of NTMs based on concrete statistics and careful cost-benefit consideration.

Cognisant of the importance in addressing non-tariff barriers and managing NTMs, the 26th ASEAN Economic Ministers Retreat held on March 11 in the central city of Danang has resulted in a joint statement in which the ministers agreed to continue addressing non-tariff barriers, particularly those that impede the smooth flow of goods and services in supply chains, and refrain from imposing new and unnecessary non-tariff measures.

The ASEAN Plus Three Economic Ministers virtual meeting held on June 4 further reaffirmed that commitment.

Now the key task for the ASEAN is the effective implementation of initiatives and commitments on NTMs. While the ASEAN could continue to use its existing institutional arrangements and mechanisms to ensure that NTMs are not imposed arbitrarily without legitimate objectives, it should also strengthen co-operation with neighbouring East Asian countries. In the immediate term, restrictive measures on the export and import of essential commodities during the crisis should be removed. Measures to address safety concerns should be temporary and withdrawn once the pandemic situation improves.

In the longer term, enhancing transparency through full implementation of the ASEAN Single Window and the ASEAN Trade Repository, and respective national trade repositories is vital. Moreover, the adoption of international standards and eventually the harmonisation of various technical regulations are key elements that should be pursued in order to manage NTMs in the ASEAN. VIR

ASEAN, partner nations set to restore multilateral trade mechanisms The 10th Meeting on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) can be considered an opportunity for regional countries to affirm that they will soon be able to overcome the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
Advanced tactics required to keep Ho Chi Minh City afloat

A report released by international consultants McKinsey & Company in April revealed that Ho Chi Minh Citys extreme flood risk could increase by 5-10 times by 2050, leading to the economic loss of billions of US dollars.

According to the group, despite contributing about a quarter of Vietnams GDP, Ho Chi Minh City is burdened with potential of increasing flooding. While the city is struggling with such risks affecting approximately 23 per cent of the area, the subsequent urbanisation process is also increasing pressure of land subsidence and sea level rise.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the image of roads suddenly turning into rivers has become familiar in recent years. In the rainy season and during high tide, many routes are often flooded, making peoples lives harder and damaging businesses.

In District 8, floods have become a regular occurrence. Along the Lo Gum channel, there are always baskets of sandbags ready to help prevent water from invading peoples homes or companies.

Talking with VIR, 60-year-old Nguyen Van Phu said that he has spent more than 30 years living in the area and his life has become familiar with the flow of unwanted water. We raise our houses ground every year and have built a small dyke outside the door but this is not enough. We still have to get a pump in order to pump water out of the house on the serious days, Phu said.

The damages from flooding can be devastating for business households on front-facing streets. Huynh Thi Thao, the owner of a construction material outlet in District 8, said that she lost VND50 million ($2,200) after one flood when she could not remove materials in time. Her children have also been forced off from school due to the flood.

In Ho Chi Minh City, serious flooding takes place in many areas, such as districts 7, 2, 4, and in Binh Thanh, where roads become rivers after rains and also in afternoons when the tide tends to rise Thao Dien commune in District 2 and Nguyen Huu Canh  a street commonly known as consisting of more well-off people  also suffer from deep flooding, caused by the unsynchronised infrastructure system.

Strong impacts

The McKinsey & Company report stated that economic growth leading to land use changes can increase exposure to flooding. The central parts of the city, typically safer due to natural elevation, are hollowing out as the growth of commercial and high-end residential real estate pushes people towards more affordable regions on lower ground.

In District 7, some main roads are raised each year using funding from a flood toll collected from users. But even when government and developers pay, investing to adapt can bring unexpected costs. In 2018, Huynh Tan Phat street, a major thoroughfare, was raised 20-30cm at a cost of about $20 million, covered by developers and the government.

The purpose was to avoid disruption and damage, but unintended consequences came along with it. Now that the road is higher, residents of adjoining homes need to cope with water pouring in, or otherwise pay to upgrade their residences, which can cost up to $2,000 for a 90-square-metre house.

Property consultant Hoang Manh Ha suggested that buyers must carefully consider locations in which they want to buy assets, especially in terms of infrastructure and drainage system. If you are careless about this factor you will face many difficulties when living in those assets, and you will also face difficulties if you want to transfer it, Ha said.

Some higher locations and better infrastructure system districts such as districts 2 and 9 have been attracting interest from home buyers.

Another reason for flooding is the overlapping between plans in recent years. Ho Chi Minh City has implemented two main master plans  the first a drainage system until 2020 via Decision No.752/QD-TTg from 2001 and a second on improving the irrigation system approved in 2008s Decision No.1547/QD-TTg.

The plans overlap in their functions and despite implementation, no real tangible results can be gleaned from them.

City residents have seen an increase in rainy season struggles due to flooded streets

Further delays

The municipal administration has spent nearly VND26 trillion ($1.11 billion) worth of public and private funds on flood control projects over the past five years, according to the Center for Technical Infrastructure Management under Ho Chi Minh Ctiy Department of Construction.

According to Vu Van Diep, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Management Centre, at least 25 out of 36 heavily-flooded sites have been handled during the five-year period, noting the number of such sites has dropped by 104 since 2008.

Up to now, routes previously considered as flood hot spots in the city include Cay Go roundabout, Le Hong Phong, Ky Dong, Tran Quang Khai, Tran Khac Chan, Hai Ba Trung, Phan Dinh Phung, Phan Xich Long, Binh Thoi, the Cho Lon bus station area, No Trang Long, Kinh Duong Vuong, Le Lai, and Nguyen Bieu.

Projects to improve drainage and the sewage system have unfortunately seen long delays.One involved a revamp of Nguyen Huu Canh street in Binh Thanh district where city authorities have spent around VND500 billion ($21.7 million) but flooding is still occurring.

Meanwhile, an initiative to invest VND10 trillion ($430 million) to control tidal flooding and climate change is set to miss operation schedule in October due to difficulties in site clearance. Around a dozen households near the Muong Chuoi floodgate in the outlying district of Nha Be have also yet to hand over their land to local authorities.

According to Nguyen Tam Tien, general director of project constructor Trung Nam Group, 78 per cent of work load has been completed so far.

This project is expected to benefit around 6.5 million city dwellers in a 570-square-kilometre stretch of land on the right bank of the Saigon River and in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. It will also help regulate water levels in city canals, improve local water drainage, and beautify the landscape of nearby areas.

McKinsey & Company said that despite being burdened by flooding, Ho Chi Minh City still has time to adapt and the city has many options to avert impacts because it is still relatively early in its development journey. As less than half of the citys major infrastructure needed for 2050 exists today, many adaptation options could be highly effective.

Three key steps mapped out by the groups report outlined better planning to reduce exposure and risk, investing in adaptation through hardening and resilience, and financial mobilisation to mitigate impacts on lower-income populations.

Three flood scenarios from McKinsey & Company Today: We estimate that 23 per cent of the city could flood, and a range of existing assets would be taken offline; infrastructure damage may total $200-300 million. Knock-on effects would be significant, and we estimate could total a further $100-400 million. Real estate damage may total $1.5 billion. 2050: A flood with the same probability in 30 years time would likely do three times the physical damage and deliver 20 times the knock-on effects. We estimate that 36 per cent of the city could become flooded. In addition, many of the 200 new infrastructure assets are planned to be built in flooded areas. As a result, the damage bill would grow, totaling $500 million to $1 billion. Increased economic reliance on assets would amplify knock-on effects, leading to an estimated $1.5-8.5 billion in losses. An additional $8.5 billion in real estate damages could occur. A 180cm sea-level rise scenario: A percentage point of probability flood in this scenario may bring three times the extent of flood area. About 66 per cent of the city would be underwater, driven by a large western area that suddenly passes an elevation threshold. Under this scenario, damage is critical and widespread, totaling an estimated $3.8-7.3 billion. Much of the citys functionality may be shut down, with knock-on effects costing $6.4-45.1 billion. Real estate damage could total $18 billion.

Ngo Viet Nam Son - Architect

Flooding is a scientific issue therefore it must be dealt by scientific solutions which can ensure that the flooding is able to be handled and will not happen again.

In Ho Chi Minh City, some anti-flood projects have been implemented. All projects are costly but inefficient, and roads are often flooded. This shows that the citys urban management has not been effective.

I think the city should have a new approach. Specifically, to increase the investment but also to make sure that there will be no floods. Or at least, if floods remain, they must be under control at some specific points only, and solutions must be always ready to rescue those areas in emergency circumstances.

The solution must be synchronised in all aspects, from increasing the flow of drainage system, building dykes, and replacing drainage pipelines. Right now it seems that only one solution is implemented  that is making roads higher. This is not an effective method because the water is transferred from here to there only. If Vietnam is not able to do this, we can call on support from foreign experts and attract investment capital from the private sector.

Luu Duc Cuong Phd. - Director, Institute for Environmental Planning and Urban-Rural Infrastructure Ministry of Construction

Flooding has been a problem in Ho Chi Minh City for years and it has become more serious in recent years. One of the main reasons for this heavy flood was the lack of synchronised investment in urban drainage and sewerage systems to cope with the constantly increasing growth of urbanisation.

In addition, the citys current anti-flooding activities have only temporarily improved the flooding situation in the central area. Eight out of 12 areas including the suburban areas do not have detailed drainage planning yet.

There have been a lot of studies and proposals for flood control solutions for Ho Chi Minh City, especially solutions such as building embankments, upgrading bridges and roads. However all of those solutions are not much effective. Therefore, we need an additional urban management solution to support traditional solutions to deal with this issue.

Do Tan Long - Deputy director, Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Management Centre

The serious flooding in Ho Chi Minh City caused by the current drainage system can meet capacity for two million people, but the population is five times higher. Meanwhile, the sewage system is degraded and can only meet 70 per cent of the required capacity. In order to gradually solve the situation, Ho Chi Minh City has in the past implemented two main master plans. But in addition, the city needs to improve its drainage network connecting from small to large alleys as well as increasing the construction of tidal sluices to prevent water invading into the inner-city.

Vo Kim Cuong - Former deputy chief architect, Ho Chi Minh City

The main reason for the current flooding in Ho Chi Minh City is that the two master plans have not harmonised with each other. The first plan, carried out many years ago, had invested in improving the drainage system but did not cover rising tides. The second plan involves a dyke system with investment capital of VND10 trillion ($434.78 million) to decrease the water level in canals and break through the water flow from the inner-city out.

I hope that the second plan helps to save the whole city from flooding when it is completed later this year.
Australia produced the most striking results. The manufacturing PMI was up from 44 to 49.8, the services PMI from 26.9 to 53.2 and the composite index rose from 28.1 to 52.6. Slowing contractions Remembering that a reading below 50 means that activity is shrinking, it is clear that what we are seeing in most places isnt the "V-shaped" recovery that some analysts saw in the numbers but, rather, a significant slowing in the rate of the contractions of economic activity. Thats hardly surprising. April and May saw lockdowns of differing severity imposed in most of the major economies. Those lockdowns have been progressively eased in the US, Europe and Australia this month. Japan never had a real lockdown, although it did belatedly impose a state of emergency, which has since been lifted. While its infection rate has been relatively low, it has experienced new outbreaks.

The economies with the most stringent lockdowns  Australia and France, where the composite PMI improved from 32.1 in May to 51.3 in June, are good examples  are seeing actual growth in activity, off low bases, as the restrictions have eased. The others are seeing a reduced rate of contraction, albeit generally quite a significant deceleration of the declines. Apart from demonstrating the obvious link between infection rates and the responses to them and economic activity levels, the PMIs might indicate that while the worst might be over for Europe, the US and Australia -- as long as there are no second waves  activity is still shrinking in the US and Europe even as their economies open up. They have yet to bottom out even if the trends are improving. You wouldnt need to be a rocket scientist, or economist, to have anticipated that as the lockdowns were being lifted, economic activity would pick up. V, U, W or L? The question mark that hangs over the outlook, however, remains and, indeed, tends to get larger with the readings in the Eurozone, US and Japan. The debates about whether the recovery, global or within individual economies, will be "V-shaped", "U-shaped", "W-shaped' or "L-shaped" arent resolved or even narrowed down by the data.

Thats particularly the case for the US, where the initial bungling of the response to the pandemic appears to have been compounded by the confused messaging and still-increasing infection and death rates as states re-open their economies before they have contained the growth of infection rates. The politicisation of the response to the coronavirus hasnt been helpful to Americas ability to contain the virus and its continuing spread could dampen the rate at which the US economy can recover. Whats now occurring in the US could be seen as a broadening of the geography of the first wave of the virus; and the potential for a "second wave" in the American autumn and winter lies in the not-too-distant future. Against that the US has had a $US2 trillion fiscal response and the Federal Reserve Board has injected trillions more into the US financial system, with another multi-trillion stimulus package being debated in Congress. Numbers of that magnitude ought to have, and undoubtedly are having, some materially positive effects.

The eurozone, too, has produced fiscal and monetary responses to the pandemic, but from a weaker and more fragmented position than the US, and one that is more exposed to global economic conditions. Fragile trends Loading The composite PMI for Europes economic powerhouse and most trade-exposed economy, Germany, improved from 32.3 in May to 45.8 in June and the manufacturing index from 36.6 to 44.6. The latter readings would, in more conventional circumstances, have been greeted with horror. To the extent that there are -- as is happening in Australia and France -- real recoveries occurring, they remain fragile and vulnerable.

Weve seen in Victoria, where a second wave, albeit at this point a modest and largely localised one, has developed that the potential for the re-openings of economies to generate new outbreaks is very real, indeed probable. And the unprecedented fiscal and monetary policy responses to the pandemic are of finite duration. The true state of the Australian economy, for instance, wont be properly understood until we reach the September "cliff", when much of the key Morrison government fiscal response to the virus is scheduled to end. The same broad query would apply to other economies. There will be legacies from the pandemic in the form of very high levels of unemployment, big spikes in business failure rates and very large increases in government, business and household debt that will weigh on economies and their growth potential for years to come, assuming that the coronavirus is eventually contained globally. Thus, the trends in the PMIs are encouraging, albeit predictable, and they have asterisks next to them for the unknowables associated with the future course of the virus and the varying responses to it.
Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank stated on Twitter that he has advised the UGC to 'revisit the guidelines issued earlier for intermediate and Terminal Semester examinations and academic calendar.'

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to revise exam guidelines due the coronavirus pandemic. The decision has been taken after several educational institutions, students and parents raised safety concerns in view of the current situation.

Union Minister of Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank also stated on Twitter that he had advised the UGC to revisit the guidelines issued earlier for intermediate and Terminal Semester examinations and academic calendar.

He said that the new guidelines should be formulated keeping in mind the health and safety of students, teachers and staff.

I have advised the @ugc_india to revisit the guidelines issued earlier for intermediate and Terminal Semester examinations and academic calendar. The foundation for revisited guidelines shall be health and safety students, teachers and staff.@PIB_India @MIB_India @DDNewslive  Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) June 24, 2020

Besides the minister, a panel appointed by the UGC also suggested that all examinations, including papers for final year, should be cancelled. The panel headed by Haryana University vice-chancellor RC Kuhad recommended that students should be evaluated on the basis of their previous semester examinations and internal assessments.

The committee said that holding exams at this time would put lakhs of students at risk of exposure and increase the rate of spread of the COVID-19.

The UGC is making new guidelines taking into consideration the prevailing situation, reported The Times of India quoting All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) chairman Anil Sahasrabuddhe.

The regulator has brought all the apex professional bodies like AICTE, Bar Council of India, Architecture Council and Pharmacy Council on board, added Sahasrabuddhe.

Issuing the guidelines earlier in April, the UGC had said the exams for final semester students should be conducted in July. However, it clarified that the guidelines are advisory in nature and universities may adopt their own plan.

Intermediate students will be graded based on internal assessment of the present and previous semester. In states where the COVID-19 situation has normalised, there will be exams in the month of July, it said.
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Boris Johnson will give the green light to foreign holidays next Monday when the Government unveils its long-awaited travel corridor plan.

Ministers will say Britons can visit any one of around ten countries without having to quarantine  reviving summer holidays after almost four months of travel restrictions.

'Air bridges' to France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey have been all but confirmed, sources disclosed, with the first flights set to take off on July 4.

Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Gibraltar and Bermuda will also reportedly be announced as destinations in the first round of 'safe nations' on June 29.

The Mail has learned Portugal is likely to be included on the list of destinations, despite concerns over recent outbreaks of Covid-19 in the Algarve.

Medium-haul destinations such as Dubai will also reportedly be available for Britons to explore from mid to late summer, with trips to Vietnam and Hong Kong on the horizon from late August or September.

Britons are also expected to get the green light to visit Canada, Morocco and the Caribbean from August.

Ministers are even on the verge of coming to a deal with Australia, as long as flights connect via low-risk countries such as Singapore.

Britons began to arrive in Benidorm, Spain on Monday as coronavirus restrictions were eased amid the pandemic in Europe

Tourists take selfies in front of Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy on June 19 as travel restrictions were loosened after months of lockdown

'Air bridges' to France , Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey have been all but confirmed, sources disclosed, with the first flights set to take off on July 4

Dozens more countries will be added in coming weeks, including important business destinations, but the initial announcement will be focused on popular holiday routes to give an instant shot in the arm to Britain's crippled travel industry.

But Britons hoping to travel to the USA, Mexico and South American countries will likely have to wait until at least December, the Sun reported.

Paul Charles, from the pressure group Quash Quarantine, was reportedly assured by the Government that travel corridors will open as planned - subject to any coronavirus outbreaks.

He said 'intensive' phone calls are currently taking place across Europe to finalise the arrangements.

'The first phase will be Europe, and the second phase from August will be more long haul, with the Caribbean, Dubai and Morocco included,' he said.

'South America, and Latin America will likely be exempt from the end of the year. There is no way restrictions will be lifted there any time soon as they are at the epicentre of the pandemic at the moment.

'And it is unlikely that America will open up before the November election, partly because President Trump won't open it up, but also because the number of cases there is very high.'

France (pictured, Paris on Sunday) is among around 10 countries expected to be included in Britain's 'air bridges' to be announced on Monday

Greece (pictured, Oia on Santorini on June 14) is also among those expected to be announced by the Govenrment on Monday

At present, any traveller arriving in the UK - whether from Britain or a tourist - must quarantine for 14 days and provide their phone number and an address for self-isolation.

But some Britons have already ventured abroad after Spain lifted its ban on foreign tourists and opened its beaches in glorious 100 degree-plus heat earlier this month.

Travel firms also slashed the price of a one-week holiday to 300 as Downing Street signalled it could bring in these 'travel corridors' from July 4, with no 14-day quarantine on return to the UK.

The Foreign Office is expected to relax its warning against all but essential global travel for the first time since lockdown was imposed in mid-March.

Instead, the risk of Covid-19 will be set to low, medium or high depending on infection rates in individual countries.

The plans  to be announced on Monday  will be finalised and signed off today in a meeting with officials from Downing Street, the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Home and Foreign offices.

Airlines and airports are also expecting to be briefed on the plans today, giving them just over a week to prepare for the new holiday season.

Under the scheme, travel corridor nations are signing 'memorandums of understanding' with the Government, agreeing that whatever anti-coronavirus measures are taken in the UK must be mirrored by similarly stringent policies abroad.

Giving examples to the transport committee yesterday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the other country having an equivalent to our test and trace system was important.

He also spoke of the need to consider the 'level and trajectory' of the virus abroad.

Boris Johnson will give the green light to foreign holidays next Monday when the Government unveils its long-awaited travel corridor plan (Pictured: Beaches in Benidorm, Spain)

People sunbathe on Playa de Palma beach in Mallorca as Spain officially reopened its borders amid the coronavirus pandemic on June 21

Outlining the questions being asked by UK officials, he said: 'Do they have something equivalent to our NHS Test and Trace system? The Test and Trace system is enormous here now. We've got the capacity to test far more than is immediately required but that would allow for any uplift anywhere.

'Does the country we're talking to have that kind of capability?'

Mr Shapps added that introducing air bridges is a 'massive priority', stating: 'I understand entirely the pain that aviation is going through. I know both for airports, for airlines and actually for ground handlers as well, this coronavirus has been a complete disaster.

'The only thing which will be worse is if the country does not continue the work it's doing on getting on top of it.

'That's why quarantine has been introduced at a point where we were getting on top of it. I know there's a lot of arguments about what we should have been doing at the beginning.'

Travel corridors will come as welcome news to the beleaguered tourism industry, with holiday firms and airlines likely to launch big promotions for last-minute holidays as soon as the announcement is made.

Since June 8, all passengers - bar a handful of exemptions - have been required to go into self-isolation for 14 days when they arrive in the UK.

People who fail to comply can be fined 1,000 in England, and police are allowed to use 'reasonable force' to make sure they follow the rules.

On Monday, Matt Hancock used the press conference to reveal that details of the air bridges will be published shortly.

Passengers arriving from London wear face mask as they exit the arrival area at the El Part de Llobregat airport in Barcelona on Sunday

A man sunbathes in a designated roped-off area on Poniente Beach in Benidorm on June 21, as holidaymakers return to Spain

'A lot of work is being done on travel corridors, I've been working on it over the weekend,' he said.

'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.'

Ryanair has already seen a doubling of UK bookings for flights in July and August since the beginning of June, and price comparison site Travel Supermarket say demand for holidays to Spain has doubled over the past week compared to the week before.

This comes as more than 4,500 airport workers in the UK and Ireland face the axe after Britain's biggest airport ground handling company announced plans to shed more than half its staff. Swissport yesterday announced job cuts as the pandemic has damaged the aviation industry.

The firm employs 8,500 workers at airports across the UK, including baggage handlers and check-in staff.

Great British 'staycation' scramble: UK booking sites report record sales with one taking new reservations every 11 seconds after Boris Johnson urged Brits to holiday at home this summer

By James Gant and Katie Weston for MailOnline

Britons have been scrambling to arrange holidays at home after lockdown rules on overnight stays were finally lifted - with booking sites today reporting record sales.

Hotels, B&Bs and campsites have seen an unprecedented surge in demand after Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday gave the green light for Britons to return to self-contained accommodation from July 4.

Holidaymakers rushed to arrange stays at luxury lodges, glamping sites and upmarket hotels in the hours after Mr Johnson's announcement, with one location on the Dorset coast already fully booked until September 6.

Larger hotel chains have also experienced a substantial spike in bookings, with one reporting a 575 per cent increase in the last 24 hours alone.

Britons heading on staycations this summer will be required to adhere to new safety measures, with guests expected to remain more than one metre apart from those outside their party.

There will also be contactless check-ins and increased hygiene measures in place, and guests will not be permitted to welcome any visitors during their stay.

As excited Britons rushed to arrange at-home getaways:

The upmarket Pig Hotel chain reported it was sold out at the weekend

Luxury lodge specialist Hoseasons recorded one booking every 11 seconds

The Pig On The Beach in Swanage, Dorset is fully booked until September 6

The Pig at Harlyn Bay in Padstow, Cornwall is full until August 21

Campsites saw increased bookings with Cool Campings up 750 per cent

Best Western reservations spiked by 575 per cent in the last 24 hours

Brightham House Boutique Bed & Breakfast in Devon saw record bookings

Sykes Holiday Cottages said its bookings have shot up by 221 per cent

Brightham House Boutique Bed & Breakfast in Salcombe, Devon, has seen a huge surge too, with the most amount of bookings it has ever had in a day

James Warner Smith from Cool Camping (pictured, one of its sites in the peak District), which focuses on independent glamping and camping sites, said bookings on Tuesday had increased by 750 per cent compared with the same day last year

Mr Johnson's new guidance applies only to England, but self-catering holiday accommodation in Northern Ireland will open again on Friday and hotels will follow on July 3.

A decision will be taken in Wales on July 9, with the Scottish Government reviewing its own lockdown restrictions on the same day.

Hotels and B&Bs

Several hotels eclipsed their previous booking records after the announcement on Tuesday, as Britons proved they still have the appetite to get away after three months in lockdown.

The upmarket Pig hotel chain, which has seven locations across the UK, has sold out of rooms at weekends after a staggering 186 per cent increase in bookings in the last 24 hours.

The Pig On The Beach in Swanage, Dorset, is fully booked every day until September 6 and The Pig At Harlyn Bay in Padstow, Cornwall is full until August 21.

A spokesman said: 'We obviously must reiterate that we have capacity restrictions and physical distancing measures in place, and that we are monitoring bookings closely - but I'm sure every hotel group is saying the same.

'As we already went out to our database which is quite active with us, our main surge in room bookings was on the 8th June following our mailing, however in the 12-3pm window around Boris's announcement yesterday there was an increase in traffic on site between of around 111 per cent on same time the day prior and 186 per cent in transactions.'

The Pig hotel chain (pictured, a location in Canterbury, Kent) has sold out of rooms at weekends after a staggering 186 per cent increase in bookings since yesterday

Scott Browning, owner of Brightham House Boutique Bed & Breakfast in Devon, said his firm has seen the most reservations ever experienced in a single day.

He told MailOnline: 'It's had a massive effect, we had 15 bookings yesterday - the most bookings we've ever had in one day.

'Today we've had about five or six so far, lots of emails and phone enquiries which we sort of knew would happen but it's going to be good now, hopefully going to come back to life.

'We're opening on Saturday, July 4, our guidelines have just been released and we're going to put together a guidance package and email that out to all the customers.

'Normally we are full in July and August anyway but this year more than ever, we'll be inundated really, especially if the weather stays nice.'

Best Western, which has 300 hotels in Britain, also saw a massive spike in bookings over the last day, with a 575 per cent increase in reservations.

Head of hotels Andrew Denton said: 'I would describe yesterday as crazy and exciting at the same time.

'The number of people on the site was above the same date last year when the world was open and we hadn't heard of Covid.'

Travel search engine Booking.com revealed the most desired locations in the UK on its website were Blackpool, Liverpool, Brighton, Bournemouth and Manchester.

It said over the past few months, in-country stays featured in over half of all searches put into wish lists on the site.

Scott Browning, owner of Brightham House Boutique Bed & Breakfast in Devon, said his firm had seen its most amount of reservations in a single day

Sheena Kennedy, one of the owners of Lindeth Fell Country House Bed and Breakfast in Bowness-on-Windermere, added she had lots of calls over getting a place from July 31.

She told MailOnline: 'Today is the first day we've been taking bookings, we haven't been taking any before that. September looks the busiest and hopefully October is going to be busy too.'

Angela Noverraz, owner of Trevose Harbour House in St Ives, Cornwall said: 'Since yesterday the phone has definitely been ringing a lot more.

Campsite owners are relieved but cautious ahead of reopening The owners of a highly-rated camping and caravan site have welcomed the news that they can reopen but said they will remain cautious even after lockdown eases. Johanna Avis and David Berrisford's site in pretty Bellingham, Northumberland, will not open on July 4 but will welcome its first visitors a week later, although the toilet block will remain closed until August. The pair will monitor the coronavirus threat in the wider region, which will influence how they operate the Bellingham Camping and Caravanning Club. They will introduce a traffic light system for the washing facilities, set up a sanitation station for hand gels, and step up their already vigorous cleaning programme. They plan to reduce August's capacity to around 120 - two-thirds of their maximum visitor numbers during a busy summer. Despite the restrictions, they said bookings are looking very good for August, with people unwilling to holiday abroad. Ms Avis said: 'It was quite a relief when we heard that campsites could reopen. It's very difficult to plan when you don't know when you can open.' She said there is a balance to be struck between saving their business and remaining conscious of local people's feelings about visitors coming to Bellingham - a village popular with walkers because it is on the Pennine Way. Advertisement

'We previously had provisional reservations with guests knowing that July 4 was going to be a possible date, but a lot more bookings were definitely coming in since yesterday.'

She added: 'We expect a busy summer, especially in August, September, October and also the seasons where we would have been slower I think with people not having had those short breaks like bank holidays.

'We will probably be taking lots of bookings in October and November time as well when we would normally see a slow down.'

Campsites and holiday parks

The owners of campsites and holiday parks across Britain also experienced an unprecedented surge in sales following yesterday's announcement.

Sandra Hicks from Tregarton Park in Mevagissey said: 'There's certainly been a surge in people wanting to book. It's been non-stop this morning.'

Naomi from East Thorne in Bude said: 'The phone has definitely been busier. A lot of people pre-empted the opening and we've had a steady flow of booking before yesterday.'

And Charlotte from Sun Haven Holiday Park in Newquay added: 'The phone's been ringing non-stop. Today has been all over the place.'

Meanwhile in Cornwall some holiday parks for after July 4 have already been filled, according to Cornwall Live.

The huge surge in demand was replicated for glamping sites, which also experienced a substantial boost in trade.

Cool Camping, which offers luxury stays in yurts, treehouses and bell tents, said bookings on Tuesday had increased by 750 per cent compared with the same day last year.

Spokesman James Warner Smith said: 'It's been crazy. We saw an immediate surge with some of the highest traffic ever on our website. Yesterday saw the most bookings we've ever had in a day.'

He said bookings were up again on Wednesday, suggesting the 'spike' is more of a surge, with many people who have had holidays cancelled or who have unused leave looking to book something.

He added: 'People, after a long time at home, are looking forward to going somewhere new.'

Website traffic to Canopy and Stars, which offers treehouses, yurts, cabins and Gypsy caravans, surged by 230 per cent in the hour after the PM's speech.

Managing Director Mike Bevens told the Guardian: 'We are seeing exceptionally high demand and availability is now evaporating. People need to book quickly if they want a holiday in the UK this summer.'

Clamping site Kentmere farm pods, at South Lakes hill farm by the Kentmere Valley, lakes said it will open from July 6 but only has a few spaces left.

A spokesman said: 'We only have few gaps left, so we are expecting all pods to be full.

'We haven't had to change the site given the space we have, everything is distanced and the washing areas are within the pods.'

Self-catering accommodation

Hoseasons Holidays' year-on-year sales were up 270 per cent by the end of Tuesday, with sister company Cottages.com reporting a 455 per cent increase as both brands surpassed their record sales days.

Simon Altham, chief commercial officer of Awaze UK, the parent firm of both brands, said: 'We were expecting greater levels of interest, but the surge in demand was still surprising and we certainly hadn't expected a record day.

'Over the last few weeks we've seen volumes of inquiries and bookings increase on a daily basis, as people begin to become more confident about booking a UK holiday.

'Government confirmation seems to have just given people an extra level of certainty.

Luxury lodge specialist Hoseasons (pictured, one of its sites in Wroxham, Norfolk) got a booking every 11 seconds in the hours after PM Boris Johnson's announcement yesterday

From July 4 people will be allowed to stay in self-contained accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs and campsites as long as shared facilities can be kept clean. Pictured: One of Sykes Holiday Cottages in Ludlow, Shropshire

'All the evidence suggests that holidays remain a priority for most people, and this year more than ever the chance to get away is something customers are very much looking forward to.

'July and August are likely to be very busy as a result, but we're also expecting greater than usual levels of demand for September and October too as the season extends.

'At the moment holidaying closer to home is good for the soul and the UK economy.'

Travel agency Sykes Holiday Cottages said its bookings have shot up by 221 per cent compared to the same day last year.

CEO Graham Donoghue said: 'We've seen a significant increase in bookings for later this year, showing that confidence is returning and just how eager we all are to take a much-needed break away this year.'

Holiday resorts

Popular resort brands such as Center Parcs, Haven, Butlin's and Pontins have also revealed they plan to reopen for the summer.

Center Parcs Longleat Forest in Wiltshire will reopen on July 13 with new social distancing measures and PPE for staff.

The resort will also boost cleaning of general areas and install hand sanitiser stations throughout its facilities.

A statement read: 'We know that reopening isn't going to be easy but we are confident we can, and will, re-open in a way that meets government requirements and guidelines and always has your safety and the safety of our staff as our number one priority.

Center Parcs Longleat Forest in Wiltshire will reopen on July 13 with new social distancing measures and PPE for staff

'We now have our full team of experts working at pace to review every single element of the Center Parcs experience, so that we are ready to reopen when the time is right.

'We know we will have to make some changes, but we will stay as close and as true to the current Center Parcs experience that we all know and love as possible, celebrating our wonderful forest environments, our wildlife and a range of fun family activities.

'We will need to consider how our guests and staff move around our villages, we are blessed with 400 acres of woodland but we will need to help everyone keep interactions with those outside of your households to a minimum.'

But some parts of the park will have to remain shut for now due to social distancing guidelines.

The statement added: 'Our team is looking at every single activity we currently offer and we will need to find some new and creative ways to run some of them and unfortunately, there may be some that we just can't operate in the first few weeks or so.

'Our restaurants will look a little different too, initially with reduced menus and a greater focus on takeaways and we will adopt the same approach taken by the major supermarkets in our own ParcMarket.'

Butlin's will open its doors for the first time in nearly four months on July 16, but there will be changes for visitors.

Butlin's will open its doors for the first time in nearly four months on July 16, but there will be changes for visitors

As people drive in they will be signposted to a specific entrance to get the keys to their accommodation.

Like Center Parcs, there will be increased cleaning taking place throughout the resorts, with sanitiser stations littered across them.

Some restaurants - including buffets, just with no self service - will stay open but with strict social distancing rules to follow and new opening times.

There will be the usual entertainment services for visitors, but with a reduced capacity per show.

The Butlin's website says: 'We have a strict cleaning and hygiene policy in place and you'll be assigned a room that has been thoroughly cleaned, sanitised and sealed before arrival.

'Our housekeeping teams are well equipped with the correct PPE and cleaning products to ensure your break is both safe and comfortable

'To minimise contact with others, we will be removing our accommodation servicing during your stay so that you can truly relax in the knowledge that nobody other than you and your family will be entering your accommodation whilst you're here.

'Should you need additional towels and bedding during your stay, you can request these from our Guest Services team via the app.'

It added: 'All equipment used during our activities will be sanitised thoroughly in between sessions and group numbers will be limited to make sure that those participating can do so at a safe distance.

'You'll also be asked to sanitise your hands at the start and end of every activity.'

Pontins is set to reopen its Holiday Parks and Sand Bay & Pakefield Holiday Villages on July 17.

Pontins is set to reopen its Holiday Parks and Sand Bay & Pakefield Holiday Villages on July 17

There will be no all inclusive holidays on offer but self-catered can be booked. Unlike Butlin's its entertainment services will be cancelled until further notice.

Visitors can take part in activities during their stay but the number of people involved will be reduced.

Pontins said in a statement: 'Pontins Holidays takes the health & safety of all its guests and staff very seriously and as such please be advised we will review and update this information as it is released by the government.'

The return of the Great British staycation: 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 Britons 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. Advertisement

Tourists can return to Haven's resorts from July 6 as it looks to get up and running just two days after the new rules come into effect.

The firm has released details of its Haven Caravan Cleanliness Guarantee, which will see upped cleaning services and strict social distancing rules.

People have to arrive at the sites in their allotted time window, before they are shown to their caravan.

There will also be a one-way system round the resorts for customers to make sure they do not come into unnecessary contact with each other.

Director of guest and proposition for Haven Gerard Tempest told the Sun: 'Right now we are working on plans to have them manned from 7am to 7pm, with staff cleaning each shower cubicle and toilet between each use with anti-viral cleaning products.

'After that, we will still keep the facilities open but have sanitising wipes available for guests to clean the facilities themselves.'

Other hotel operators have already revealed how they will reopen after lockdown with mini-bars and buffet breakfasts taken off the menu.

But some of the biggest chains announced a raft of changes yesterday after Mr Johnson's announcement.

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 reported.

Meanwhile, Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotel Groups announced a 'five point plan' to get its hotels reopened, which includes going cashless and room-service for breakfast.

And like Hilton Hotels and Resorts group, they have promised to deep clean 'key-touch areas' in all rooms after guests have left.

Check-in times are likely to be staggered - or set later in the afternoon - to allow for deep cleaning of rooms.

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.

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

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: 'The 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 spokesman said: 'The measures announced yesterday 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

The Camping and Caravanning Club have also issued guidance on social distancing measures on their website.

In a statement, it said: 'We're 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, we've introduced some new steps to safer camping in line with government guidance.'

Some camping enthusiasts yesterday 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.

'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 on Monday told they could finally leave their homes from July 6.
[June 24, 2020] Accuity: Bankers Almanac Celebrates 175th Anniversary

Accuity, the leading global provider of financial crime screening, payments and know your customer (KYC) solutions, has marked the 175th anniversary of Bankers Almanac, one of the most authoritative and comprehensive sources of financial intelligence that informs the decisions of virtually every bank around the world. First published in 1845 as "The Banking Almanac and Directory," the "orange book" was created to help financial institutions find and confirm contact information for banking institutions to facilitate the transfer of capital. It has evolved throughout its existence, along with the financial industry, and today it is used to validate and expedite payments and determine counterparty KYC risk for organisations in approximately 550 industries in 185 countries around the world. The payments and KYC content is proactively researched and maintained by a dedicated team of data analysts located throughout the world. They follow a rigorous methodology to provide data sourced directly from the world's banks. This information helps organisations validate payment codes, improve the certainty of a settlement, compress processing cycles, improve straight-through processing, assess the potential risk of on-boarding new correspondent partners around the globe, and ensure regulatory compliance. Dennis Paschke, Head of Credit Risk Management at Berenberg Bank, said, "Berenberg, founded 1590 in Hamburg, is the second oldest bank in the world. We have been using Bankers Almanac for decades, taking advantage of the expanded features and functionality of the product throughout its evolution. Today, the digital application is a perfect tool for onboarding new clients efficiently, as well as for conducting periodic reviews, and we look forward to seeing what comes next. Congratulations to Bankers Almanac on reaching this significant milestone!" Accuity and its Bankers Almanac portfolio have established a legacy of trust and reliability across the financial services industry, including the following innovations and milestones: 1911: Accuity was named the Official Registrar of American Bankers Association (ABA) Routing Numbers. The routing number system was created by the ABA as a mechanism for identifying each financial institution in the United States. 003: Launched the first IBAN solution for Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) Payment Compliance in the European Union. 2004: Bankers Almanac, in association with the Wolfsberg Group of International Banks, created a central repository for banks, containing the primary information required by financial institutions to conduct due diligence checks on their bank counterparties. This is known as Bankers Almanac Due Diligence. 2011: Last Bankers Almanac book was published, signalling the ever-changing nature of the industry and demand for more frequently updated information in a digital format. 2012: Launched the Bankers Almanac Global Payments Web Service to automate the validation and retrieval of critical payments information - clearing codes, SSIs, clearing system details - helping financial institutions, payment service providers and e-commerce to increase efficiencies and remove frictions in their payment operations. 2016 and 2017 (respectively): Announced Bankers Almanac: Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) to offer customers further insight into the ownership of banks and financial institutions to support due diligence activities; and, Bankers Almanac: Regulatory Views that uses analytics to link the entities in Bankers Almanac to potential sanctions and state-owned enterprise risks in a counterparty's ownership structure. 2018: Launched the Bankers Almanac: KYC API to automate the transfer of data from Bankers Almanac to banks' internal systems, eliminating the window for human error and making KYC risk assessments more accurate. 2020: Apply Financial was acquired to provide real-time straight through processing and account validation payment solutions and enhance the Bankers Almanac portfolio.



Scott Lang, Chief of Staff at Nacha, said, "Nacha congratulates Bankers Almanac on its 175-year milestone. Having successfully evolved its offering over the years to meet changing needs, it remains a trusted and reliable source of critical information to the banking industry. We appreciate the many contributions of Bankers Almanac and celebrate its continued success." With consolidation across the financial industry, the advent of non-banking financial institutions and new payment rails, and growing regulations across all regions of the world, Bankers Almanac remains the trusted resource to help power compliant and assured client transactions. It continues to transform by helping organisations send payments at a lower cost into more markets, and with greater certainty, while helping them mitigate risk in real time and meet compliance, while improving customer satisfaction.

David Wilson, CEO at Accuity, said, "We are proud to be celebrating the remarkable longevity of the much-loved Bankers Almanac brand. It has truly stood the test of time and remains a cornerstone of the international banking community. Its resilience will continue as it helps build an interconnected and trusted financial ecosystem with new offerings, innovations, and partnerships. We look forward to unveiling some of these initiatives in the coming months, as we embark on the next chapter of Bankers Almanac's evolution." ENDS About Accuity Accuity powers compliant and assured client transactions to help build an interconnected and trusted financial ecosystem. Our financial crime screening, payment services, and benefits compliance solutions help enable financial inclusion while identifying criminal activity and fraudulent players. With deep expertise and industry-leading data and analytics solutions from the Firco and Bankers Almanac brands, Accuity provides unmatched confidence, efficiency and compliance for customers around the world. Part of RELX, a world-leading provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries, Accuity has been delivering solutions to banks and businesses worldwide for 180 years. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005309/en/

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Volunteers at a Beijing dog shelter hand out treats to dozens of rescued animals which had been bound for a controversial dog meat festival under way this week in southern China.

The annual event in Yulin city always provokes outrage from animal rights activists, but this year they hope the coronavirus epidemic will be the death knell of a tradition they see as cruel.

It is "inhumane and barbaric", said Jeffrey Beri, founder of the No Dogs Left Behind organisation, which keeps around 200 canines in large wire enclosures on the outskirts of the Chinese capital and re-homes them.

Activists save hundreds of dogs every year by raiding slaughterhouses and intercepting trucks. They say traders steal pets and strays and transport them long distances, mostly to the country's south.

Rescue dogs at a shelter on the outskirts of Beijing run by the NGO No Dogs Left Behind. Source: AFP

"You feel a kind of achievement because you've changed some dog's life," said Ling, who volunteers at the centre.

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 COVID-19 outbreak appears to have further reduced the appetite for dog meat after the disease was linked to a market in the central city of Wuhan selling live animals for food.

Amid growing concerns about hygiene, China fast-tracked laws banning the consumption and trade of wildlife.

While the law does not apply to dog meat, Shenzhen and Zhuhai  southern cities not far from Yulin  banned the consumption of dogs in April, becoming the first cities in China to do so.

And last month the agriculture ministry reclassified dogs as companion animals, not livestock, though it did not explicitly prohibit eating them.

A worker with No Dog Left Behind is seen giving treats to rescue dogs at a shelter on the outskirts of Beijing. Source: AFP

Attendance at festival down, workers say

Story continues

Video footage of this year's Yulin dog meat festival verified by AFP shows dozens of animals crammed in small, dirty cages and butchers at several large stalls piled high with dog carcasses.

But 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.

In recent months No Dogs Left Behind received many purebred dogs from breeding farms that have been dumped due to lower consumer demand for pets during the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic. Source: AFP

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.

Experts pointed to a shift in public attitudes towards dog meat consumption and food safety in the wake of the virus.

A proposal for China's first nationwide law banning animal cruelty received wide public support during the annual parliamentary session in May, while a viral video of a Chinese university student torturing a cat sparked mass public outcry in April.

Chen said neither police nor the government had ordered his restaurant to stop selling dog meat as a result of the animal's reclassification as pets.

"I would say that (the rule) impacted the rest of the country and people were talking about it, but I did not see it having an immediate impact on the dog meat trade in Yulin," said Peter Li of the animal rights group Humane Society International.

Volunteer "Ling" hugging one of the rescued dogs at a shelter on the outskirts of Beijing. Source: AFP

Despite the efforts of activists and concerns about hygiene, the Yulin event has persisted with the local government's tacit permission.

"Most of the activities related to the sale of dog meat there are in violation of existing Chinese food safety regulations," said Deborah Cao, professor of animal law and ethics at Griffith University in Australia.

But she said "existing food safety laws in China are not enforced in most instances" and there is "no accountability.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
The week ahead is about as big as it gets for the Australian aviation industry.

Qantas is said to be announcing on Friday how many of its 30,000 staff will be made permanently redundant -with current estimates being upwards of 5000.

And Virgins administrator Deloittes Vaughan Strawbridge is set to decide on a preferred candidate from the two shortlisted buyers of the airline, private equity giant Bain and hedge fund group Cyrus. He now also needs to deal with the last-minute proposal from a group of interloper bondholders, who placed an alternate recapitalisation plan in front of him on Wednesday morning. The bondholders represent a fly in the ointment, but may have stepped into the battle a little too late to be a credible alternative.

Separate as these two events might seem, Australia has a domestic aviation duopoly so what happens to one player vitally affects the other.
A recently created outdoor space is in the parking lot at Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission in Philadelphia, Pa. on June 23, 2020. The coronavirus may become a yearly risk. Read more

COVID-19 is evolving right under our very noses. Its transforming from a pandemic disease to an endemic one  a disease that lives in the area, meaning a constant risk. Endemic diseases can be mild, like the common cold, but they can also be deadly. Malaria, yellow fever, diphtheria, smallpox, and other diseases are or have been endemic in other times and places. As COVID-19 becomes endemic, uncertainty is likely to increase, at least for a while, about the effects and severity of the disease, how exactly it spreads, and what it means to live with it on a daily basis. But as Philadelphias battle with tuberculosis more than a century ago shows, even without perfect information, health and other leaders can still make just decisions.

If the coronavirus becomes endemic, our fight against it becomes more complex. Who gets sick, who dies, and who survives depends on much more than infection rates. Immunity (inherited or acquired) to the disease, tolerance, adaptation, social responses, and more can transform the patterns and severity of infection. Researchers studying viruses and disease have to chase a moving target. What seems true one week seems false the next, and predictions  like of disease spread and severity  change.

Such uncertainty is a normal part of science. But the megawatt floodlights of 21st-century media covering a global emergency like the current pandemic have put every hunch, best guess, or dead end under intense scrutiny. A crisis puts a premium on certainty, while simultaneously making it hard to come by. We want definitive answers to know how to proceed, yet are dealing with an unprecedented illness, making certainty impossible.

Philadelphians have been in such a position before. On Jan. 12, 1894, the Philadelphia College of Physicians  which included some of the most skillful, knowledgeable physicians of the day  met to discuss whether to support the city Board of Health registering the names of anyone with consumption, an old name for what we know as pulmonary tuberculosis. A public registry would help stem the spread of the disease by making it easier to carry out contact tracing and to implement quarantines. Yet such surveillance would impose a loss of privacy, restriction of movement, and stigmatization of those on the list. How to balance public health and individual liberty?

Despite recent breakthroughs in the science of disease, the physicians found much to debate. First was whether consumption was contagious. That this remained an open question is perhaps surprising  Robert Kochs 1882 identification of the germ and proof that it causes the disease was already legendary, the gold standard of epidemiological proof. Further, researchers had shown that consumption spread from person to person, with spitting on streets, sidewalks, and floors a major means of transmission. With all that knowledge, how could one doubt whether consumption was contagious?

Yet contagion was a flexible concept. There was rough consensus that contagion meant persontoperson transmission, but there was also ample evidence of transmission via bedclothes and household objects. Some locations were hit harder than others. Then as now, low-income, Black, and immigrant neighborhoods suffered the worst. While people of means might social distance at a rural sanatorium, the poor did not have that luxury.

 FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered.

One physician, therefore, suggested registering consumptive houses rather than consumptive people. Yet another responded that this would stigmatize landlords and homeowners.

What about just registering poor people or all consumptives in poor neighborhoods? One doctor argued that such a plan would inconvenience and stigmatize fewer people while still catching most cases. This idea was entertained but, fortunately, quickly shot down as unfair.

The College of Physicians ultimately voted against registration. But that was not because they had a fundamental disagreement on the particular facts of the disease. They did so after weighing uncertain medical knowledge, differing social priorities, and their own professional self-interest  not because the science clearly told them to. No one called tuberculosis a hoax.

It would be suicidal to ignore expertise.

Compare with today, when just this week, a White House adviser peddled the conspiracy theory that China created the coronavirus. Decisions weve already made, often in ignorance or outright denial of the science, are helping to make COVID-19 endemic in the U.S. Beginning in May, we saw an epidemic of communities, weary of cumbersome and expensive social distancing guidelines, reopening, against the advice of infectious disease experts. And as of this writing, according to the New York Times Coronavirus Tracker, 23 states, formerly trending downward, are seeing upticks in the number of cases  just as the experts predicted.

As we cope with uncertainty, and as we, too, try to balance public health and individual liberty, it is vital that we keep our wits about us. It would be suicidal to ignore expertise  and almost as deadly to demand of our experts the simple, final, absolute Truth.

Nathaniel Comfort is a professor of the history of medicine at Johns Hopkins University.
Dennis Quaid, 66, and Laura Savoie, 27, married at a seaside resort in Santa Barbara on June 2 after they eloped.

And the movie star spoke out about their 39-year age difference, in an interview with People magazine.

Dennis said: 'It really just doesn't come up. There's just something timeless about us. We're partners in our relationship and in life. It's love. And love just has a way of surprising you.'

Speaking out: Dennis Quaid, 66, and Laura Savoie, 27, married at a seaside resort in Santa Barbara on June 2 after they eloped. And the movie star spoke out about their 39-year age difference, in an interview with People magazine; pictured October 20, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii at the Midway screening

Laura said she finds strength in Dennis' maturity: 'Like the wisdom that Dennis has. We both had to go through things to be who we are now and who we are now was ready for each other.'

Dennis said their shared faith has also played a part in the relationship: 'We're both Christians, and right from the start God has always had a hand in the relationship.'

Adding that: 'I think that's where the real strength comes from.'

The duo hope to go on a honeymoon in the next month or so and plan on having a reception with friends and family 'when the time is right,' Dennis said.

Lovebirds: Dennis said: 'It really just doesn't come up. There's just something timeless about us. We're partners in our relationship and in life. It's love. And love just has a way of surprising you;' pictured May 14, 2019 leaving Craig's restaurant in West Hollywood

Dennis, who hosts his podcast The Dennissance, said of Laura: 'She's the greatest person I ever met. I love waking up and spending every day with her.'

He said he most looks forward to 'just sharing our lives together.'

The actor tied the knot with Laura after they eloped to a seaside resort in Santa Barbara on June 2.

The lovebirds only had their pastor as their witness, according to People.

The actor, who has previously been married three times, said: 'Love just has a way of surprising you.'

Mr. and Mrs. Quaid: The actor tied the knot with Laura after they eloped to a seaside resort in Santa Barbara on June 2; pictured November 10, 2019 in Nashville

The duo had planned to tie the knot with a wedding in Hawaii in April, followed up by a second reception in Nashville for their friends and family - but had to postpone them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dennis called their private nuptials as 'beautiful;' they exchanged traditional vows and Bulgari rings, according to the magazine.

The actor said: 'It was about us. It was beautiful,' adding 'we're really glad we did [eloping].'

Laura was moved by the officiant's message 'Of what it really means to bring your lives together,' which she told People means 'to put another person before yourself.'

She is currently working on her Ph.D. in accounting; Laura, who hails from St. Louis, was class valedictorian at Pepperdine University; she then got her Master's degree in Accountancy at the University of Notre Dame.

'Just looking into her eyes, she was the most stunning bride,' The Parent Trap actor said.

Laura wore a dress by Chosen By One Day, which was a white, low back silky gown, adding a veil on her loosely curled blonde tresses.

She carried a bouquet of calla lilies and roses designed by S.R. Hogue & Co. florist with Dennis wearing a gray Hugo Boss suit with a white shirt and no tie.

She was seen wearing her engagement ring and wedding band on Saturday - almost three weeks after the secret nuptials - when she and Dennis hosted an outdoor party for their Brentwood neighbors; Dennis had sung at the get-together.

Mrs. Quaid: Laura was seen on Saturday, three weeks after her secret nuptials with Dennis; Laura and Dennis had a neighborhood get-together in Brentwood, where he performed music

Dennis and Laura, a doctoral student, met at a business event and started dating in May 2019.

He called meeting her 'love at first sight.'

In October 2019, five months after they began dating, the lovebirds got engaged.

'I just love who she is as a person. Her character, her intelligence, of course her beauty. And her point of view of the world,' Dennis said.

On her husband, Laura said: 'Just getting to do life with someone who lives that way is inspiring for me. It changes my perspective and it brings so much joy to every day,' adding that she's 'never met someone who is so in love with life. It's like nothing can bring him down.'

Dennis has been previously married three times and has three children.

He married actress P.J. Soles on November 25, 1978 when he was 24 and she was 28, but the duo divorced in early 1983.

He said I do's again on February 14, 1991 to actress Meg Ryan after they fell in love shooting D.O.A., their second film together.

They welcomed son Jack Henry Quaid on April 24, 1992.

Dennis and Meg announced their separation on June 28, 2000 after they were separated for six weeks; their divorce was finalized July 16, 2001.

Throwback: He married actress P.J. Soles on November 25, 1978 when he was 24 and she was 28, but the duo divorced in early 1983; P.J. Soles pictured with a friend in 1981

The way they were: He said I do's again on February 14, 1991 to actress Meg Ryan after they fell in love shooting D.O.A., their second film together; pictured in 1996

Blast from the past: Dennis and Meg announced their separation on June 28, 2000 after they were separated for six weeks; their divorce was finalized July 16, 2001

Their son: They welcomed son Jack Henry Quaid on April 24, 1992; Jack, now 28, is an actor and has starred on the series The Boys and Harvey Girls Forever! as well as films Rampage, Smallfoot and Plus One and will voice Star Trek: Lower Decks in the upcoming series

Dennis married for the third time to Texas real estate agent Kimberly Buffington on July 4, 2004 at his Paradise Valley, Montana ranch.

They welcomed fraternal twins Zoe Grace and Thomas Boone, now 12.

Kimberly filed for divorce in March 2012 but withdrew them one month later; afterwards, they moved to California from Texas in summer 2012.

In October 2012, they decided to separate and Kimberly filed for legal separation; he filed in November 2012 - but they reconciled and their divorce was dismissed.

They announced their split on June 28, 2016 in a statement with Kimberly requesting joint legal custody and full physical custody; the divorce was finalized April 27, 2018.

Following his split from Kimberly, he briefly dated model Santa Azuina.

Past: Dennis married for the third time to Texas real estate agent Kimberly Buffington on July 4, 2004 at his Paradise Valley, Montana ranch; pictured with his son Jack and Kimberly at his Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony on November 16, 2005

Former couple: They welcomed fraternal twins Zoe Grace and Thomas Boone, now 12; pictured at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 12, 2012 in Beverly Hills
This is not how Kathy Lennon expected to spend the final months of her first term representing district 2 on the Hamilton County Board of Education.



On Monday, Feb. 3  the first day school board candidates could pick up qualifying papers  both she and former Red Bank mayor John Roberts did so. Consequently, she said Tuesday during a telephone interview, she was looking forward to spending spring and summer running (for re-election) against John Roberts.



Twenty-two days later, on Feb.

25, she suffered a heart attack.

Three days after that her mother died.



Its been crazy ever since, she said.

Her decision to speak out this week about what has happened was a reluctant one, Mrs. Lennon noted.

She initially kept quiet about her heart attack and ensuing events, she said, because she wanted to keep her private life private.



Besides, she said, despite the double blow, she fully intended to continue her re-election campaign.



Im stubborn, she said. Im a (colon) cancer survivor. I wasnt going to let a heart attack get me down.



Rather than snap back from the heart attack, though, she got worse. Throughout March and into April, she felt terrible, growing weaker and weaker. Clearly, something was wrong, doctors told her.



By then, however, the coronavirus pandemic was in full force. Access to medical care was limited, and she could not get the diagnostic tests she needed to see what was wrong.



On April 8  bowing finally to the wishes of her family and her doctors  she announced she would not be seeking re-election after all.



It wasnt until weeks later that she was able to have a lung scan that revealed she had pericarditis and fluid around her heart.



These days shes on medication, and her health is gradually improving. Shes regaining her strength.



Now, shes angry.



She withdrew from the school board race, she said, so she could concentrate on getting better and mourning the loss of her mother.



Instead, she said, she keeps getting dragged back into a race in which she isnt even a candidate.



With her and John Roberts both out of the race, she said, Chattanooga entrepreneur and businessman Marco Perez was left as the sole candidate to qualify to run.



Her longtime acquaintance and Notre Dame High School classmate, Tom Decosimo, had chosen not to pick up qualifying papers, saying he planned to run as a write-in candidate.



Following Mrs. Lennons withdrawal, however, Mr. Decosimo charged that she and Mr. Perez had colluded to influence the District 2 race because she had pulled out within a week after the qualifying deadline.



He then asked that the qualifying deadline be extended under Tennessees Anti-Skullduggery Act Of 1991.



If what the incumbent and her lieutenant did to try to manipulate the process is not skullduggery, I dont know what is., he said in a written press release.



Hamilton County Election officials complied with his request, enabling Mr. Decosimo to qualify late and his name to appear on the ballot.

The attacks on her have continued throughout the ensuing weeks, Mrs Lennon said, although her focus is on getting well and finally being able to grieve for her mother in peace.

Now, however, shes decided her constituents and other Hamilton County residents have a right to know why she isnt trying to hold on to a political seat she loved.

Toward that end, earlier this week she posted a lengthy explanation on her Facebook page. Later, contacted by phone, she agreed to be interviewed.

The full text of her statement on Facebook reads as follows:

This is a long post for me. I have not shared my personal reasons for withdrawing from the District 2 School Board race, but I think it is important to share them now. I hope no one felt slighted for not knowing my full reasons, but I hope after reading this, you will understand I was not in a place where I was comfortable sharing such personal details.

For those of you who may not know, I suffered a heart attack on February 25th. My mother, who I provided care for 24/7 in my home, passed away three days later on February 28th.

I never imagined the turn my life would take after that. It has been a long journey. My family has been by my side every step of the way and I am beyond grateful for their love and support. I cant begin to express the healing and peace that I have felt this week being in (Montana) with my daughter and grandchildren.

For the first time since February I have been able to travel from my home, the home where my mother died. I needed time to grieve and reflect, but I had multiple serious health complications from my heart attack combined with being quarantined until 4 weeks ago because of COVID.

During my quarantine I consulted with my family and dr.s and received multiple test results that did not bode well for my health. I made the difficult decision to withdraw as a candidate for the District 2 School Board race.

That decision was not made lightly. I grieved that decision just like I grieved the other events taking place in my life during those months. The past four years serving on the school board have been some of the most important and rewarding experiences of my career. Leaving my school board position seemed like it would be the final blow in what felt like a series of losses and grief.

To be accused of skullduggery and manipulating the election process by my high school friend, Tom Decosimo, was hurtful in a whole new way, not to mention disappointing. And it hasnt stopped.

Even though Tom has known the full details of my reasons for withdrawing for some time now, he continues to try and benefit from his false accusations. The continual attacks on my character as a school board member by Tom are not what I expect from a friend, or any person seeking a position on the Hamilton County School Board.

Its true we were in disagreement over the budget last year, but I reached out to Tom after community budget discussions in May of 2019.

His response, I dont disagree with what you say about hunger, supplies, and emotional needs, but the HCBE is not where those needs will be met. The United Way, churches and the inner city need to address those problems. Those needs are not met hiring an army of counselors, data managers, graduation consultants, assistant principals and so on and so forth.

I told Tom, I am on the school board because of the students. Providing resources for all students in Hamilton County. I want students to have what they need to succeed.

I asked Tom if we could sit down and talk. His response, Lets talk early next week. I know you and you are 100% kind and generous, incredibly smart and get things done. I can shed light on the current situation and you will understand why this all has turned horribly political.

Tom and I never met.

Tom knew that I had full care of my mom during this time. He shared, That is a huge responsibility caring for your mother...I know you have children and schools as your primary concern.

Fast forward to April 14, 2020 and Tom Decosimo decides to be a write-in candidate for District 2, but then he goes a step further and accuses me of skullduggery.

Why did Tom Decosimo wait until I withdrew to run for school board?

Why does he want to run for school board?

Im afraid I know why. He seeks to divide in order to fulfill his conservative agenda, which includes aerodynamic paddling of students and supporting corporal punishment in our schools. He hopes to remove important and necessary supports for our most vulnerable students. He hopes to undo all the progress we have made.

Voters should know that Tom has not reached out once to ask me questions about District 2 and what I think are the important issues that we are facing. Even if Tom disagrees with my votes on these issues, shouldnt a school board candidate at least want to know what the main issues are? Tom doesnt seem to think thats important, unfortunately.

You do not vote for a candidate because they are a fifth-generation Chattanoogan and Signal Mountaineer or a business partner. You vote for a candidate because of their platform. Because they want to engage in policies so every student in Hamilton County can have the same opportunities for a great education regardless of where they live. A candidate that wants to prepare all students for future challenges. Now more than ever it is important to get out and VOTE on August 6th.

I know I have not always made the right decisions as a school board member but I promise I always keep students, students, students at the top of the list when making a decision. I talk to teachers and I listen. I listen to community members. I work with my County Commissioner in District 2 and all of our County Commissioners.

I hope the public, and especially the voters in District 2, will see that there was no attempt at skullduggery, just a series of personal tragedies that had an impact on my life. I pray that you will vote for the right person in the District 2 school board seat, and that person is absolutely not Tom Decosmio. Our students deserve better.








Salt water could treat Covid-19, according to scientists who will test whether the unusual remedy actually works.

Gargling salt water has been found to reduce the symptoms of coughs and colds and to stop them getting worse, researchers say.

And now they want to find out if it could help people with mild symptoms of the coronavirus, which infects the airways in a similar manner.

University of Edinburgh experts are recruiting people to take part in a study to test whether gargling with salt water could boost the body's antiviral abilities.

Knowing how to treat Covid-19 is still a grey area for doctors, with people with mild symptoms advised to stick to paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Two antivirals have been approved for NHS use on critically-ill patients, the steroid dexamethasone, and an anti-Ebola drug remdesivir  but neither are silver bullets.

The Edinburgh scientists now want to find out if the low-cost salt water option could help people with mild infections and also stop them getting more seriously ill.

Researchers who found gargling salt water could reduce the symptoms of a cough or cold are now starting a trial to see if it helps Covid-19 patients (stock image)

The idea for the study came from ongoing research into upper respiratory infections  which commonly cause coughs and colds.

People with those illnesses were found to benefit from gargling regularly with salt water in a trial dubbed ELVIS (Edinburgh and Lothians Viral Intervention Study).

Results from the ELVIS trial, published last year, found people who gargled saline had less severe coughs, less congestion and colds that lasted two days less, on average.

They were also less likely to pass on the cold to family members, or to resort to taking medicines from a pharmacy, compared to people who did not gargle.

The Edinburgh team, whose original study included a different type of coronavirus, think the salt water could boost the body's natural virus-fighting mechanisms, which are triggered when they get ill.

They suggested direct contact with salt has a toxic effect on the viruses themselves, or stimulates 'innate immune mechanisms' inside cells in the airways.

Salt may also be used by the body's cells to create a chemical called hypochlorous acid, which is found in bleach and known to kill viruses, the researchers said.

Professor Aziz Sheikh, director of Edinburgh Universitys Usher Institute, said: 'We are now moving to trial our salt water intervention in those with suspected or confirmed Covid-19, and hope it will prove to be a useful measure to reduce the impact and spread of the infection.

HOW COULD GARGLING SALT WATER TREAT THE CORONAVIRUS? Researchers at Edinburgh University trialled saltwater gargling and 'nasal irrigation' in a trial on people with upper respiratory tract infections, otherwise known as coughs and colds, and found it reduced their symptoms and the length of their illness. Their study, published in the journal Scientific Reports last year, found 93 per cent of people said gargling reduced their symptoms, their illnesses lasted two days less, on average, and they were 35 per cent less likely to pass it on to a family member. Scientists hope the cheap, simple therapy could have similar benefits for people with the coronavirus, reducing the severity of their cough and preventing the illness from worsening. Explaining how the salt could achieve this effect, the study said direct contact with salt may have a toxic effect on the viruses themselves and damage or kill them. It may also stimulate 'innate immune mechanisms' inside cells in the airways, they suggested, effectively boosting the body's own ability to fight off infection. Salt may also be soaked up and used by the body's cells to create a chemical called hypochlorous acid which is found in bleach and known to kill viruses, the researchers said. Advertisement

'It only requires salt, water and some understanding of [gargling] procedure, so should, if found to be effective, be easy  and inexpensive  to implement widely.'

The study is open only to adults living in Scotland who have symptoms of Covid-19 or have recently received a positive test for the virus.

It is expected to operate similarly to the previous one in which some participants will gargle salt water while others down, with all of them following the same lockdown rules.

In the cough and cold study people kept diaries of their symptoms for two weeks and reported back to the scientists, who compared which group fared best.

The NHS currently only has treatments for coronavirus patients who are seriously ill, and those still do not work for everyone.

One is the steroid dexamethasone, which a study found could cut death rates in intensive care patients by up to a third.

And the second is an Ebola drug called remdesivir, which has shown promising results in shortening recovery times.

Both are approved for NHS use specifically for Covid-19 patients - for much of the UK's outbreak doctors were limited to experimenting with whatever antiviral drugs and antibiotics they could find.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the trial success of dexamethasone - which was announced on June 16 - as the 'biggest breakthrough yet' in treating coronavirus.

He said at a press conference: 'I'm absolutely delighted that the biggest breakthrough yet has been made by a fantastic team of scientists right here in the UK...

'I think there is genuine cause to celebrate a remarkable British scientific achievement [and] the benefits it will bring not just in this country but around the world.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock described the results as 'astounding'.

Dexamethasone, first created in the 1950s, is usually given to treat ulcerative colitis, arthritis and some types of cancer. It is already licensed and proven to be safe, meaning it can be used in human patients immediately, and is a generic drug, meaning it can be manufactured cheaply and en masse by companies all over the world.

Results of the RECOVERY trial, which involved 6,000 Covid-19 patients and was led by Oxford University scientists, suggest the steroid can prevent death in one in eight ventilated coronavirus patients and one in 25 on breathing support. It is the first trial to show a treatment provides significant impact in reducing the risk of death.

But the drug  given as either an injection or once-a-day tablet on the NHS  had no benefit for people who were hospitalised with the virus but did not require oxygen.

Health chiefs said they imposed a ban to prevent companies from exporting the drug to other countries, in order to protect the UK's supply.

They have already stockpiled 200,000 courses of the drug for British patients, after buying it ahead of the results of the trial.

Professor Martin Landray, lead researcher, said dexamethasone could have saved up to 5,000 lives if it was used throughout the UK's crisis. He said: 'If you were to design a drug that treats coronavirus, this would be exactly how you'd hope it works.'

The steroid prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation, a nasty Covid-19 complication that makes breathing difficult. In seriously unwell patients, the lungs become so inflamed they struggle to work.
Govt's e-commerce portal asks sellers to specify country origin of products.

Now, the commerce & industry ministry has mandated that the Government e-Marketplace, which has seen Rs 55,048 crore worth of transactions till now, adopt this approach in the interest of creating an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.

The government's e-commerce platform has made it mandatory for sellers to specify the country of origin while registering new products on the portal.

The demand for specifying country of origin of products sold online has been gaining ground as India and China clash at the Ladakh border.

Domestic traders associations have been at the forefront of these demands, while rising nationalist sentiment, especially on the social media platforms, has called for boycott of China-made products and services.

Now, the commerce & industry ministry has mandated that the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), which has seen Rs 55,048 crore worth of transactions till now, adopt this approach in the interest of creating an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.

Sellers who have already uploaded their products before introduction of this new feature on the GeM, are being reminded regularly to update the country of origin.

"Its with a warning that their products will be removed from the GeM if they fail to update," the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

All central and state government departments, and related public sector agencies are mandated to directly purchase common-use goods and services solely through the GeM.

Sellers have to register on the platform and compete with others in an open-market model.

The GeM has also enabled a provision for indication of the percentage of local content in products.

A "Make in India" filter has also been enabled on the portal.

Buyers can now reserve any bid for Class I local suppliers (local content greater than 50 per cent).

For bids below Rs 200 crore, only Class I and Class II (local content greater than 20 per cent) local suppliers will be eligible to bid, with Class I suppliers getting purchase preference.

As of Tuesday, the portal showcases 1.83 million separate products and services.

It already has 395,081 sellers and service providers.

This kitty is expected to soon become bigger as public procurement by two of the countrys largest government purchasers, the ministries of defence and railways, are subsumed under GeM.

By September, all general use goods and services currently purchased through the Indian Railways E-Procurement Systems, the Defence e-Procurement portal, and the Central Public Procurement portal, will have to be made through the GeM, said officials.

Officials are also toying with the idea of opening up the procurement portal soon to private entities to place bulk purchase orders.

Inaugurated in August 2016, the portal has repeatedly been pushed by PM Modi directly as a means to reduce largescale corruption that plagues the estimated Rs 5 trillion worth of procurement the Centre does every year.
Americans are still hopeful about the long-term health of the stock market, despite being pessimistic about how their investments will hold up in the short term, a Wells Fargo/Gallup survey found.

Most people remain eager to invest  especially to try to build their retirement funds, the survey found. The quarterly survey of 1,076 of adults with at least $10,000 U.S. invested was conducted between May 11 and 17, when U.S. stock markets had rebounded from their 2020 lows in March but were still significantly below mid-Februarys highs.

Six in 10 investors say now is a good time to invest in stocks, and almost 70 per cent are confident that its a good way to build wealth for retirement.

Investors are displaying remarkable resilience at an unprecedented time, said Tracie McMillion, head of global asset allocations strategy for the Wells Fargo Investment Institute Inc.

Still, after the extreme market volatility, investors general confidence about their finances and the economy took its deepest quarterly dive in the the Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index since its creation in 1996.

In mid-May, people were split about how the rest of the year would turn out. About 51 per cent said the worst was over, while 49 per cent said 2020 still had more pain ahead.

While Americans remain optimistic about long-term returns, they are feeling the squeeze of a worsening job market. Many people now say they want to save and budget more carefully, and 30 per cent of employed investors said they anticipated delaying their retirement age because of the current economic downturn.

Other report highlights: Within the Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index, optimism fell the most on unemployment (down 34 points) and economic growth (down 26 points).

Peoples optimism about their 12-month investment targets declined (down 32 points). But two-thirds remain optimistic about reaching their five-year investment targets.

Only eight per cent of investors surveyed in mid-May thought it would be smart to sell stocks to protect against more losses. About half said they would hold, and 35 per cent saw it as a time to buy.

The coronavirus pandemic prompted a quarter of survey respondents to financially help out other family members. More than a quarter said their income had fallen, while 15 per cent had been furloughed or temporarily laid off.
A small-town Iowa police chief has issued an apology after facing widespread condemnation for posting a comment on Facebook that referred to Black Lives Matter protesters as 'road bumps.'

Sioux Rapids Police Chief Tim Porter emphatically insisted in a statement released on Monday that he posted the remark 'accidentally' and that it was a 'horrible mistake.'

The Iowa news station KCCI shared a video on its Facebook page on Sunday showing a pickup truck plowing into a crowd of protesters rallying outside a Hy-Vee grocery store in Des Moines.

Sioux Rapids Police Chief Tim Porter on Monday issued an apology for posting a comment on Facebook that referred to Black Lives Matter protesters as 'road bumps'

Porter weighed in on the incident in the comments section, writing in all caps: 'HIT THE GAS AND HANG ON OVER THE ROAD BUMPS.'

The police chief used his personal Facebook page featuring a large photo of President Donald Trump. The account has since been deleted.

Porter, who has deleted his personal Facebook page (pictured), claimed he posted the commented 'accidentally'

As screenshots of Porter's comment spread on social media, some users have accused the police chief of advocating violence against protesters, while others defended his right to express his personal opinions.

Amid the backlash, Porter released the statement to KCCI seeking to explain what happened.

'I have a huge apology to all that saw my Facebook page yesterday of myself making a comment about running over a person in the street holding a USA sign,' he wrote. 'Someone called me last night and asked me about it, I was just surprised myself.

'I was on another post working and somehow it accidentally was posted on the wrong post. I just want to publicly apologize for my horrible mistake, my posting was a total accident. I don't want to offend anyone. I'm all for peaceful protest, bad cops getting removed.

'People that know me, know I would never encourage anyone to run over any protester or anyone. I'm for change like everyone. I feel horrible for my mistake. I'm sorry for all the confusion.'

The video that sparked Porter's remark showed a driver plowing into a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters outside a Des Moines supermarket. That driver has been fired from his job

Mayor Jim Wise and Sioux Rapids City Council also addressed the controversy on Tuesday, saying in a statement to Des Moines Register, which did not identify Porter neither by name nor by rank, that an incident involving a member of the police was being investigated.

'Public trust and accountability are the foundations of policing,' they wrote. When an officer violates that trust, it is our responsibility to ensure that it does not occur again. We are committed to running a police department that respects the rights of every officer and every citizen and guest of our community.'

Meanwhile, Jeff Boucher, the driver of the pickup truck that was seen in the video driving through the protest, has been fired from his job at an HVAC company. He has not been criminally charged.

Sioux Rapids is a city of 775 people - nearly 95 per cent white - located about 180 northwest of Des Moines.
BOGOTA - A power blackout Wednesday hit several large cities near Colombias Caribbean coast that are experiencing an uptick in coronavirus cases, raising worries about operations at hospitals treating COVID-19 cases.

The mayor of the popular tourist destination of Cartagena warned residents in a video posted online that water service could soon be cut off as a result of the blackout and urged peole to collect water as quickly as possible.

The lights are out in all the coast, Mayor William Dau Chamat said. The cause is still not known  and while it could be resolved shortly, it could also continue for some time.

Electrical provider XM said in a statement only that an event at 2:27 p.m. had knocked out power for several areas. By late Wednesday, authorities reported that nearly 90% of the regions electricity had been restored.

Cities including Cartagena and Barranquilla have seen a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, sparking concern for patients in hospitals.

Barranquilla had 9,250 confirmed cases Wednesday, including 108 patients in intensive care units, according to Colombias National Institute of Health. Cartagena, which has a slightly smaller population, had 6,583 cases, including 71 patients in ICUs.

Dionne Cruz, president of the Colombian Association for Public Health, said initial reports indicated that all hospital power plants were functioning, but she called on the government to ensure they have a steady supply of fuel if needed.

They dont have a long-term capacity, she said. This needs to be resolved quickly.

She also expressed concern that no power while in hot weather could lead many people to break lockdown rules and leave their homes to escape the heat.
The High Court of Australia in Canberra on Aug. 2011. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images)

Aussie PM Says Formal Process Needs to Run Its Course on Sexual Allegations Against Former High Court Justice

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for formal processes to run its course on sexual harassment allegations regarding former High Court Justice Dyson Heydon. Meanwhile, three complainants have begun negotiating compensation with the High Court of Australia.

Morrison said the allegations of sexual harassment were very disturbing and very concerning while speaking to reporters on June 23 in Eden, New South Wales.

On Monday, the High Court released a statement saying a year-long investigation into allegations Heydon sexually harassed six former associates were concluded and the claims by the associates were believed.

Morrison said: There will be a proper formal process that will be followed, Im sure, in addressing those allegations.

When questioned on whether Heydon should be stripped of his Companion of the Order of Australia in 2004, the prime minister said if the allegations were upheld then there is a normal process for honours to be dealt with at that time.

But its not appropriate to presuppose those processes. Thats not the way these things should be handled, he added.

High Court of Australia in Canberra, Australia. (Alex Proimos/CC BY 2.0 ept.ms/2haHp2Y)

On Monday, current High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel said in the statement she was ashamed that this could have happened at the High Court of Australia.

The investigation, conducted by Dr. Vivienne Thorn AM, took some months to complete. We received Dr. Thorns report and have provided it to the six complainants and to the Justice (Heydon) in question.

We have made a sincere apology to the six women whose complaints were borne out, she said.

Heydon released a statement to The Sydney Morning Herald via his lawyers, saying he denied emphatically any allegation of sexual harassment or any offence.

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, he said.

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.

Personal injury and compensation law firm Maurice Blackburn is representing three of the complainants and has begun negotiating compensation with the High Court. The matter is currently a civil claim and not a criminal matter.

Maurice Blackburn Principal Josh Bornstein said: We will also be writing to lawyers for Dyson Heydon shortly to ask if they too are willing to engage in a similar process.

If they decline that invitation, I am instructed to lodge a claim in the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Former Prime Minister John Howard has stood by his appointment of Heydon telling The Sydney Morning Herald on June 24, I stand by all of the High Court appointments made by my government.

Dyson Heydon served on the High Court from 2003 to 2013. He was known for his opposition to judicial activisma practice where judges interpret the law based on current societal attitudes and trends.
MOBILE, Ala., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Equity Underwriters, Inc. (AEU), the leading provider of workers' compensation insurance for waterfront employers, announced winners of the 2019 AEU Safety Awards this week.

AEU, the program administrator for American Longshore Mutual Association (ALMA), a group self-insurance fund providing USL&H coverage under the United States Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, presents the awards each year to the best-performing ALMA members nationwide.

"We believe a strong commitment to safety should be a core value of every employer in the maritime industry," said Michael Lapeyrouse, president and CEO of AEU. "The Safety Award program is one way that we recognize those who make safety a priority in their facilities. They deserve to be recognized among their peers as the best in the industry."

Eligibility for the awards is based on the frequency and severity of workers' compensation accidents for the prior calendar year, as well as safety-related metrics determined by AEU's loss control team.

2019 AEU Safety Award Winners:

About The American Equity Underwriters, Inc.

With headquarters in Mobile, Alabama, The American Equity Underwriters, Inc. serves as program administrator for American Longshore Mutual Association Ltd., a group self-insurance fund authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor for waterfront employers in all 50 states under the United States Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. AEU provides best-in-class services including claims handling, loss control, longshore consulting and other support. For more information, call (866) 238-8754 or visit amequity.com. Follow AEU on Facebook and LinkedIn.

SOURCE The American Equity Underwriters, Inc.

Related Links

amequity.com


President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen have addressed a joint letter to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, as reported the Department of Information and Public Relations of the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia.

The letter particularly states the following:

Mr. Prime Minister, let us thank you for your congratulation on the Europe Day.



The European Union and Armenia are using the opportunity that they managed to establish close ties within the frames of the Eastern Partnership and the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. The European Union and Armenia did that based on strong common values for both sides such as democracy, the rule of law and respect to human rights. We encourage you to continue your reforming activity on these firm bases.



Unfortunately, this year we have to face the coronavirus challenge, its a disaster relating to all of us. We were informed that you have also been infected with the virus and are happy that you have already recovered. This is a moment of solidarity and close international cooperation. The European Union has already provided its concrete support to Armenia to overcome this crisis, in particular mobilizing 92 million Euros from the European funds, and the European Union will continue to be engaged for the benefit of your country. This support applies not only to the healthcare, but also the social and economic parts of the crisis. Together we can get out of this crisis stronger for building a better future".
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Toledo cannot use an administrative procedure to hear appeals of traffic tickets from red light and speed-detection cameras since the legislature gave municipal courts exclusive authority to consider the matters, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

The decision is the latest involving the Northwest Ohio city and the court. Toledo has been before the high court on traffic camera cases at least twice before -- in 2018 and 2014. Cities and the legislature have been battling over the cameras use -- which lawmakers say is overzealous and an attempt to make easy money but cities say is a use of technology to maintain safety -- for over a decade.

In Wednesdays unanimous decision, the court granted motorist Susan Magsigs request to block the city from having a police hearing officer consider appeals of speeding violations caught on camera. Justice Judith L. French, writing for the court, said that a change in state law that took effect last summer requires municipal courts to decide all civil cases concerning traffic violations, including those from traffic cameras.

Last summers law, a sweeping transportation budget that also increased the state gas and diesel tax, required the cases to be heard before a municipal court instead of through administrative hearings, since the municipal courts can be more expensive for cities.

Also under last years transportation bill: Traffic cameras cannot be used on interstate highways. And communities that use the cameras will be reduced in their portion of the Local Government Fund by the same amount they take in through fines. If the fines total exceeds the state funding for the year, then the following years state funding would be reduced for the city.

The court noted that Ohio communities are challenging those other aspects of the transportation budget, and the Wednesday ruling only pertains to the municipal court jurisdiction, and not other provisions of the law -- some of which are pending in cases filed in lower courts throughout Ohio.

Drivers in some cities dont have to be concerned about camera-originated tickets.

In 2014, Cleveland residents voted 3-to-1 for a charter amendment that prohibited traffic cameras. That same year, Maple Heights voters established strict parameters around which the city can enter into contracts with traffic camera companies. Other communities throughout the state have also banned the cameras, including Cincinnati in 2008.

A gavel in a reflecting pool outside the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center, the Ohio Supreme Court building. (David Petkiewicz/cleveland.com)

Toledo ticket

In August 2019, a Toledo police officer using a handheld speed camera ticketed Magsig for driving 75 mph in a 60-mph zone.

Magsig appealed the case but before the appeal hearing, she asked the Supreme Court to prohibit Toledo from conducting the hearing. She noted the law change from last year. The Ohio Attorney Generals office submitted a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Magsigs position.

In Toledo, the $120 penalty for speeding has been a civil violation, not criminal, and points arent added toward a drivers license suspension. Alleged violators are sent a notice of liability and given 21 days to appeal with the hearing officer. If the vehicle owner or driver doesnt pay or appeal, the city assumes they have waived the right to contest the ticket and that they have admitted the penalty is owed. An additional $25 penalty is added to those who pay or appeal after 21 days.

Toledos argument

Toledo city attorneys argued that last summers law change didnt affect its administrative hearing process, since it won a case before the Supreme Court in 2014 in which the court ruled that cases can be decided in mayors courts.

Court decision

The court noted that Toledo was successful in 2014, but said that the law has changed.

Six years ago, Toledos administrative hearings were allowed, the court ruled. But in last years law change, the Ohio General Assembly clearly and unambiguously reserves for municipal courts exclusive authority to adjudicate every civil traffic-law violation, the court ruled.

Other coverage:

Ohio cities to lose state funding for traffic camera tickets beginning Wednesday

Traffic cameras: Are they still legal in Ohio?

Laser, radar can be admitted in court to convict speeders, without testimony about their science: Ohio Supreme Court
Poland has sent Ukraine humanitarian aid to fight coronavirus. Twelve trucks of the Polish Border Guard Service with personal protective equipment will arrive in Ukraine today.

Representatives of the Government of Poland and Polish organizations, Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Andriy Deshchytsia took part in the official ceremony of sending humanitarian convoy to Ukraine and Moldova in Warsaw on June 24, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We help today, and tomorrow we may need help. The Government of Poland provides humanitarian assistance in the form of personal protective equipment - masks, gloves, overalls, disinfectants - to institutions fighting COVID-19 in Ukraine and Moldova. Twelve trucks of the Fire Service will deliver this aid to Ukraine, four - to Moldova," Head of the National Revenue Administration Magdalena Rzeczkowska said.

Pawe Jabonski, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Poland, noted that the assistance was sent to Poland's closest friends - Ukraine and Moldova, with whom Poland works closely within the framework of the Eastern Partnership project.

Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Andriy Deshchytsia stressed that the provision of this assistance was one of the most significant events showing Warsaw's openness to countries in need under current conditions.

Polish solidarity is known all over the world, in Ukraine as well. It has been known in our country since the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan, when Poles supported Ukrainians in their aspirations to get closer to the EU, to carry out reforms, Deshchytsia stressed.

The Polish humanitarian cargo for Ukraine includes almost 130 thousand liters of disinfectants, about 19 thousand protective face screens of various types, 50 thousand gloves, 40 thousand masks, 1 thousand protective overalls.

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In a tense 5-1 vote, the Oakland City Council passed a budget Tuesday that included more than $14 million in cuts to its police force  a sign that City Hall is heeding, but not completely bending to calls from activists. .

The vote angered Councilwoman Nikki Fortunato Bas, who had proposed defunding the police by at least $25 million amid a national reckoning on racism, police brutality and discussions on how local jurisdictions invest in their communities of color.

Several Oakland council members expressed interest in eventually chopping the police budget by half, which would be a reduction of $150 million. They decided to form a task force to study the idea.

Bas, the lone dissenting vote, criticized the cuts made on Twitter, hinting that her colleagues who approved the budget might face challenges this November.

This budget is a slap in the face to thousands of Oaklanders who called on Council to #DefundOPD + #InvestInCommunity #BlackNewDeal  with only a $2.5M OPD reduction, she wrote. I do not support this. I voted NO. Proud 2 stand on right side of history. Elections matter.

Councilmembers Loren Taylor, Lynette Gibson McElhaney, Larry Reid and Noel Gallo, who represent flatland neighborhoods of East and West Oakland, ironed out the plan, which saved $2.5 million by delaying a police academy.

As a Black woman, I have lived in police terror and do not have the luxury to talk about it academically, McElhaney said in a statement after the meeting. The call to defund and reimagine policing is right, but we also owe it to the community to really get it done right this time before we see another black man murdered on video or another black child killed in our streets due to community violence.

McElhaneys son, Victor, was killed last year in a shooting in Southern California. A suspected gang member has been charged with his murder.

The city administration also shaved about $12 million from the police budget by shifting some positions, such as crossing guards, into other departments, and freezing vacant jobs for sworn officers. Finance Director Adam Benson estimated that the new budget sliced $14.6 million total from the Oakland Police Department.

Calling their group the Oakland Equity Caucus, the four council members boosted Mayor Libby Schaafs budget with federal stimulus funding, increasing money for small businesses, municipal broadband, efforts to fight home displacement, healthy food for Oaklands rising population of low-income and unemployed residents, and a lifeline for artists.

They also earmarked $200,000 for the Oakland Police Commission, which investigates complaints of officer misconduct, and delegated $2.35 million to a program that would divert some 911 emergencies to mental health professionals instead of police. And they set aside $11.2 million for city services  mostly in the flatlands  so unionized workers could avoid layoffs and furloughs.

The Equity Caucus released its plan on Monday, and several colleagues complained they had not been given the agenda packet long enough to study and consider the proposal. At the meeting, the Equity Caucus incorporated amendments from Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan  the other yes vote  after she proposed limiting circumstances in which police can work overtime.

Council members Dan Kalb and Sheng Thao abstained from the vote, saying they did not have enough time to read the materials.

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.

Taylor, whose East Oakland district includes the citys highest concentration of Black residents, touted the budget as a means to directly address and remedy deeply entrenched disparities.

Although many elements of the Equity Caucus plan had wide support, Tuesdays seven-hour council meeting got testy, with arguments over the pace at which the plan was being passed and whether cuts to the police budget were substantial enough for a city with a long history of police violence and scandals.

For the past several weeks, Oakland, like many other cities throughout the U.S., has been jolted by protests over the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died after an officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. The officer was fired and charged with second-degree murder.

The debate over police funding in Oakland continued after Tuesdays meeting, as the conversation spilled over to Twitter. Constituents chastised the council for approving a plan that few people had read, as well as the council members who sat out the vote altogether.

Kalb applauded some of the investments made in the Equity Caucus budget, but agreed with Bas that the Council rushed its vote and that more money should have been shifted from the police.

There was no reason to push it through right away, he told The Chronicle. It precluded an opportunity to make it even better.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @RachelSwan
New Delhi, June 24 : Even as the BJP and its allies are stepping up efforts to woo voters ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the Grand Alliance partners in the state held a virtual meeting to discuss their poll preparation and pledged to fight the battle unitedly.

Representatives of the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), Vikashsheel Insan Party (VIP), and Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) participated.

Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, KC Venugopal, and state Congress affairs incharge Shakti Singh Gohil attended the meeting.

Sources said it was a preliminary meeting and the issue of leadership was not discussed.

After the meeting, Gohil said: "Leaders of the Grand Alliance have decided to contest the coming Bihar Assembly elections together. The alliance will form the next government in Bihar as the people there are suffering while the ruling JD-U and BJP are overlooking their pain." The leaders decided to meet again to chalk out the lectoral strategy and decided to set up a committee to ensure smooth functioning of the alliance.

The meeting went on for more than one hour. On Tuesday, HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi and RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha had met Patel to red flag the issues.

RJD leader Manoj Jha said: "It was a preliminary meeting. All is well within the Grand Alliance. Bihar elections will be fought together." The main contention among alliance partners is on seat-sharing as the Congress is eyeing around 75 seats as against 41 seats it contested last time and the RJD contested 100 seats.

Former Bihar Minister and Congress leader Shakiluzaman Ansari claimed that there would be amicable seat-sharing and it was a non-issue.

In the last elections held in October-November 2015 to the 243-member Assembly, the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal-United was part of the alliance and contested 100 seats. Now these 100 seats have to be distributed among the Grand Alliance partners.
Check out the companies making headlines before the bell:

Carnival  Carnival's debt rating was cut to "junk" by Standard & Poor's, which is forecasting continued weak demand for the cruise industry due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dell Technologies  Dell is exploring options for its $50 billion stake in cloud computing company VMWare, according to the Wall Street Journal quoting people familiar with the matter. Those options could include both selling the stake, or buying the portion of VMWare that it doesn't already own.

Winnebago  The recreational vehicle maker lost 26 cents per share for its latest quarter, smaller than the 45 cent loss that analysts were predicting. Revenue was well above estimates, despite the negative impact of shutdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dick's Sporting Goods  Cowen upgraded the sporting goods retailer's stock to "outperform" from "market perform", noting increased market share as well as strong growth in e-commerce.

Morgan Stanley  The investment firm was upgraded to "buy" from "neutral" at D.A. Davidson, which cited several factors including attractive valuation and lower credit risk for Morgan Stanley compared to its peers.

Nokia  Nokia said new Chief Executive Officer Pekka Lundmark will join the telecom equipment maker on August 1, a month earlier than originally planned. That comes after Finnish utility Fortum  Lundmark's current employer  said Chief Financial Officer Markus Rauramo will take over July 1, allowing Lundmark to leave after a one-month transition.

T-Mobile  T-Mobile said the sale of shares in a public offering priced at $103. The offering was part of Softbank Group's sale of shares in the wireless carrier. T-Mobile had closed Tuesday at $107.16 per share.

La-Z-Boy  La-Z-Boy reported adjusted quarterly profit of 49 cents per share, well above the 20 cent consensus estimate, though the furniture retailer's revenue was short of forecasts. The company also said it was increasing production as pandemic-related restrictions ease and stores reopen.

Simon Property  The mall operator is teaming up with shopping center operator Brookfield Property Partners to explore a bid for bankrupt retailer J.C. Penney, according to the Wall Street Journal. Penney is Simon's second-largest mall anchor tenant behind Macy's.

Facebook  Ben & Jerry's became the latest company to join an ad boycott of Facebook and Instagram, calling on Facebook to stop the platform "from being used to spread and amplify racism and hate".

Amazon.com  Amazon announced the establishment of a "Counterfeit Crimes Unit", aimed at bringing to justice counterfeiters who violate the law and Amazon's policies.

Alphabet  Alphabet's Google unit is the target of criticism by newspaper publishers, according to the New York Post. The paper said the publishers have told the Justice Department that Google's market power forces them into unfair agreements.

Unilever - Several potential suitors are considering bids for Unilever's tea business, according to a Bloomberg report. KKR, Blackstone and Bain Capital are said to be among the possible bidders for the tea brands, which include Lipton and Pure Leaf.
Taiwan conducts mine drill amid increasing Chinese military activity

ROC Central News Agency

06/23/2020 09:51 PM

Taipei, June 23 (CNA) The Navy held an exercise recently to hone its troops' skills in naval mine warfare amid increasing Chinese military activity around Taiwan, a military source confirmed Tuesday.

According to a Facebook post by the Navy on Friday, the 192nd Fleet, also known as the Navy Minesweeper Fleet, conducted drills on deploying, detecting and sweeping for sea mines in strategic waters around Taiwan.

At least one of the mines used in the drills was the WSM-II, indigenously developed by the state-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST).

The annual exercise, aimed at improving the Navy's capabilities in detering hostile naval vessels from invading Taiwan, came at a time when the Chinese military is becoming more active around Taiwan.

According to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND), Chinese military aircraft have flown into Taiwan's air defense identification zone eight times to date in June.

A high-ranking military officer told CNA on Tuesday that the MND has made the acquisition of new-generation smart mines and fast minelayers a priority, after confirming the drills.

This is in order to increase the Navy's ability to block Chinese troops from landing in Taiwan by sea during war, said the officer, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

A smart mine is capable of distinguishing and selecting its target through sophisticated sensors, posing a threat to enemies but keeping Taiwan's troops safe, he said.

On the other hand, a fast minelayer can shorten the time needed to deploy mines, effectively disrupting enemies' pace of attack and operation plans, he said.

The officer said Taiwan needs to develop more smart mines that fit the country's needs, especially in shallow water areas, as the existing mines are mostly designed against deepwater vessels but not shallow water ones, such as amphibious vehicles and hovercraft.

He also suggested that Taiwan should build more fast minelayers or equip all Navy ships under construction with build-in mine tracking to enable them to lay mines in times of emergency, as the present practice of commissioning fishing boats to do the job is unreliable.

(By Matt Yu and Emerson Lim)

Enditem/J

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New Delhi, June 24 : Hours after UP's ruling BJP warned her of "action", Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday continued her attack on the Yogi Adityanath government, asking if the cases of coronavirus were not increasing in the state, then why is its mortality rate is so high.

In a tweet in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi, who is the in-charge for the eatsern Uttar Pradesh said: "Out of 15 districts with the highest death rate, four districts are of Uttar Pradesh. In Jhansi, one out of 10 Covid-19 patient is dying, in Meerut, one out 11 Covid patients is dying, one out of 14 patients in Agra and Etah is dying. If the number of Covid-19 patients is not increasing, then why the death rate is still high." She also attached two pictures which showed the top 15 districts in India with highest mortality rate and in another image highest mortality rate in in 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Her remarks came a day after she rued the death of 28 Covid-19 patients in UP's Agra within 48 hours of admission into hospital.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya warned Priyanka Gandhi of 'action' if she continues to resort to cheap politics and does not respond to a notice serve by the Agra District Magistrate for posting wrong figures of Covid deaths.

"The Congress General Secretary is resorting to cheap politics since Covid-19 cases started emerging in UP. The claim of deaths made by her in Agra due to Covid-19 is false. The district administration has served her notice and if she fails to reply then we will take action," he said.

He said that earlier, the Congress indulged in "bus politics" and when their state party president Ajay Lallu was sent to jail, Priyanka Gandhi did not even bother to meet him.
Robert Jenrick sat on the Government front bench, arms folded, feet still, his mouth occasionally gulping like a cornered koi carp.

Perched all alone, with no colleague nearby, he could have been a lonely seafarer bobbing inside a lifeboat as the waves crashed around him. Which was apt really. Attacks were raining in at him from all over the chamber.

The Housing Secretary had returned to the Commons to face questions over his links to Richard Desmond, whose 1billion housing application Jenrick had intervened to wave through just before the developer made a 12,000 donation to the Tories.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick in the House of Commons, London, he has faced accusations of 'cash for favours'

This murky saga has rolled on for weeks now. How's Jenrick holding up? Passing him late on Tuesday along Whitehall, he looked a little green around the gills, as though the weight of the world was hanging from his shoulders. To give him his due, he showed unexpected mettle through yesterday's tussle.

Labour's Housing spokesman Steve Reed clearly smelt blood and had worked himself into an appropriate froth. He arrived in the chamber with his hair ruffled and his tie askew. It's possible he'd been psyching himself up in front of the mirror.

Reed accused Jenrick of having something to hide. He'd come armed with a stack of headline-friendly cliches to hammer this home. We heard phrases like 'cash for honours' and 'mates' rates for friends of Tories'. A couple of times he trotted out that old Labour favourite: 'One rule for billionaire donors and one for the rest of us.'

Jenrick looked on, a little twitch of irritation occasionally dancing across his temple. Sometimes he would begin gesticulating the way unruly pupils do. 'What sir, me sir?'

It emerged the developer, ex-Daily Express owner Richard Desmond, had personally given the Conservative Party 12,000 two weeks after the scheme for 1,500 homes was approved

Perched all alone, with no colleague nearby, he could have been a lonely seafarer bobbing inside a lifeboat as the waves crashed around him

When he finally rose, someone  Labour's Toby Perkins, possibly  immediately tried to make an intervention. Jenrick airily questioned whether his opponents were genuinely interested in what he had to say. Punchy.

He agreed to publish all documentation on the matter, but insisted Mr Desmond's application had been made 'with an open mind' and 'after a thorough decision-making process'.

We heard about the night he sat next to Mr Desmond at a Tory fundraiser while his planning application was still pending. He reiterated that he had no idea they would be placed next to one another. Cue several sly smirks around the House.

At the same table that evening, we were told, was the editor of The Mirror. Editor of the Left-wing Mirror at a Tory fundraiser? Must be a first. There was also a 'former Tory MP.' This was apparently Norfolk grandee Sir Henry Bellingham. What an old gent like Sir Henry's doing mixed up with Mr Desmond is anyone's guess. By now, a thin film of sweat had formed on Jenrick's forehead. Fifteen minutes under the Commons lights will do that to you. Before long his brow was shinier than a saveloy in a chippie's broiler.

Meanwhile, just inside the chamber door sat the Prime Minister's PPS Alex Burghart (Con, Brentwood and Ongar). Preparing a match report for the boss, no doubt.

Jenrick scored a decent hit following an intervention from Apsana Begum (Labour, Poplar and Limehouse) in whose constituency the development falls. Miss Begum appeared critical of the decision to grant the application.

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

Yet Jenrick said when he asked officials what representations she'd made when it was first lodged, they had told him she had 'taken no interest' in it at all. Boom! Miss Begum reeled in her neck. Worth noting was Jenrick's menace toward Reed, whom he went for doggedly at the end. He accused him of 'living for smears and innuendos, not substance'. It was biting stuff. Reed affected an air of apathy by giving his goatee whiskers a casual rake of the fingernails. As the Minister returned to his seat, the attacks resumed. David Linden (SNP, Glasgow E) said the whole business 'stunk to high heaven.'

Rupa Huq (Lab, Ealing Central and Acton) claimed that 'the wheels were coming off this oven-ready Government'. Jenrick continued to sit there, twisting and turning, though just about keeping his mouth above the surf.

For how long?
Graduate student Ubadah Sabbagh placed a cold glass slide on the microscope. It was getting late and the lab was quiet. He adjusted a few settings, and traced along the optic tract before zooming in on the brain's thalamus. What he saw surprised him: two adjacent stripes of glowing spots, each dot denoting a cell body.

At that point, two decades had passed since scientists reported that a small area in the brain's visual thalamus had unique characteristics that set it apart from nearby regions.

Previous studies led by other researchers showed that the region, called the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, connects to neural circuits involved in regulating circadian rhythm and mood.

But little was known about the region's cellular architecture  until now.

In a new study published online this week in the Journal of Neurochemistry, Virginia Tech scientists identified more than 40 genes expressed in the vLGN and discovered more than half a dozen brand new neuron subtypes, each expressing unique molecules and clustered in tightly packed striped layers.

The 'wow' moment for me was when Ubadah showed me the image of the two cell subtypes aligning in adjacent layers. It struck us because when we see layered groups of neurons, it usually means that brain area is segregating different types of information. Now we have a more precise tool kit to help us understand what specific cell types in the vLGN do." Michael Fox, Study Senior Author and Professor, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech

The vLGN spans just a few hundred micrometers in mice and receives signals from the eye via the optic nerve. But unlike some other visual brain regions, it is not associated with classical image-forming.

Neuroscientists initially studied this brain region by destroying its cells and documenting the effects. In the process, however, they also interrupted collateral brain circuits.

This led to significant behavioral changes and made it harder to discern which effects were linked to the vLGN. Researchers have since developed more precise, less invasive genetic tools that let them see what happens when a specific cell type's activity is turned on or off.

Fox wanted to apply these modern techniques to understand the vLGN's function and downstream connections, but first he needed to determine which cell types to target. Sabbagh, then a second-year graduate student in Virginia Tech's Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health graduate program, set out to develop an atlas describing the vLGN's cellular structure as part of his doctoral thesis.

It wasn't long before they found the first clue that the vLGN might be organized by cell type in segregated layers, which the researchers described in a 2018 study.

In that study, Fox's team revealed two types of specialized lattice-like structures, called perineuronal nets, that wrapped around distinct types of inhibitory neurons. When the scientists stained these perineuronal nets, they discovered that different populations of neurons covered by these nets were distributed in distinct stripes across the vLGN.

"That was our first hint that there could be layers, but we still needed to identify more cell types to see if they also aligned in non-overlapping domains," Fox said.

Over the next year, Sabbagh tested roughly 70 different riboprobes to map out the vLGN's cellular landscape. Riboprobes are segments of ribonucleic acids (RNA) that bind to complementary segments of RNA.

Scientists add fluorescence genes borrowed from other organisms and viruses to the probe, so when a segment of RNA meets its matching sequence, the targeted molecules light up. The researchers combined these tools to visualize cells producing specific genetic molecules in the vLGN, with each molecule glowing in a different color under the microscope.

This method revealed distinct layers on the scans, but the scientists wanted to be sure. Sabbagh coded a computer program to scan pictures of the vLGN and measure probe signals, which verified their findings and showed distinct layers.

But a question lingered: Where were these cells getting their information from?

The researchers used a nonhazardous viral tracing tool to determine which neurons in the vLGN communicated with the neurons lining the eye's retina. It took a month for the virus to travel a few millimeters between the retina and the thalamus, but it was worth the wait.

The virus revealed that cells in each of the vLGN's main layers received direct visual signals from retinal neurons in the eye. Next, collaborators at the University of Louisville analyzed the communications properties of those connections. Together, these insights help describe how visual information is processed in the vLGN.

"This is an exciting find. We still have more work to do to fill in gaps, but I expect we'll find more cell types, and maybe even more layers as we continue to find more biomarkers," said Fox, who is also a professor in Virginia Tech's College of Science and was recently named director of the College's School of Neuroscience.

His team has started analyzing gene expression in individual cells, using a process called single cell RNA sequencing. Fox says that once they know more about specific cell types, they can trace the circuits and begin revealing how the vLGN's neurons engage with other brain regions.

"We suspect the vLGN has numerous functions, including regulating mood, but now we'll be able to analyze how specific cell types contribute to those functions with greater precision," said Sabbagh, who was recently awarded a six-year $390,000 National Institutes of Health award to support his research.

This research also raises questions about brain evolution and comparative biology. As mammals evolved into larger species, their vLGNs shrank relative to the rest of the visual thalamus. By revealing the vLGN's complicated architecture in mice, Fox hopes to shed light on how these genetic instructions might cross over in other species.
Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn are demanding that the Trump administration ditch its plan to end federal funding for 13 coronavirus testing sites, seven in Texas, which is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases.

'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 in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

A spokesman for Cruz told NBC News that the senator 'has urged and will continue to urge [health officials] to extend the community testing sites in Texas.'

Texas' two Republican Sens. John Cornyn (left) and Ted Cruz (right) did not act kindly to the news that the federal government was ending funding for 13 coronavirus test sites, seven of which are in Texas, which is seeing a fresh spike on COVID-19 cases

Health and Human Services spokesman Michael Caputo lashed out at reporters on a phone call Wednesday suggesting they had blown out of proportion the story, as the testing centers will remain open, but be funded by state and local municipalities

Texas has seen a huge spike in COVID-19 cases with 5,551 new cases reported on Wednesday, leading the state's Republican senators to break with the Trump White House on continued funding for seven testing sites

President Trump said at his Saturday rally that he had asked staff to 'slow the testing down, please,' in order to show fewer U.S.-based COVID-19 cases, leading to skepticism of the administration's commitment to testing

Visitors wearing masks are photographed walking through downtown San Antonio, Texas, as the state is seeing a thousands of new cases of COVID-19 prompting worries from Texas officials

The left-leaning Talking Points Memo website originally broke the story noting that local officials in the areas impacted reacted with 'a mixture of frustration, resignation, and horror' upon hearing of the pull-out.

The administration has countered that the move is no big deal - that the testing sites will remain open, but be paid for by states and local municipalities.

Health and Human Services spokesman Michael Caputo blasted reporters in a phone call Wednesday, suggesting they made a way bigger deal about the federal government's move than they should have.

'The reason why we put this call together so quickly and why we have upwards of 75 reporters on this call is beacuse you've been spun up,' said Caputo, accusing the journalists, according to CNBC.

'Somebody has given you disinformation,' he continued. 'Do you understand? I'm old enough to remember it was considered dishonest to undermine public confidence in the public health system.'

'That's what the people who sput you on this story are trying to do,' he yelled.

Adm. Brett Giroir, the Trump administrations Covid-19 testing czar, explained during Tuesday's testimony on Capitol Hill and again with reporters on Wednesday that the federal government is simply restructuring how testing is being done.

'We are not withdrawing federal support,' Giroir said. 'We are providing federal support in a different way.'

Giroir explained the testing sites in question were from 'the original, now antiquated, program.'

But all eyes are on the Trump administration's handling of testing in the aftermath of a controversial comment the president made at his Tulsa-based campaign rally Saturday night.

There, in front of a raucous crowd, Trump said he told his people to 'slow the testing down, please,' in order for the U.S. to have lower COVID-19 case numbers.

On Sunday, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on CNN the president was simply being 'tongue in cheek,' and on Monday White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said he was speaking 'in jest.'

But on Tuesday, Trump told reporters, 'I don't kid,' and continued to push his claim that there are spikes in states - including Texas - because the country is performing more tests.

Both the World Health Organization and Dr. Anthony Fauci, testifying before Congress Tuesday, said that wasn't true.

Fauci pointed out how the percentage of positive tests is going up, which means there's so-called 'community spread' of the deadly virus.

Sen. Chuck Schumer said Sunday that the White House hadn't spent $14 billion in allocated money on testing. He reacted to the news of the feds ending money for some testing sites with this tweet Wednesday morning

The administration was also taking heat for reportedly not spending all the money allocated in the CARES Act for testing.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate HELP Committee, put out a release Sunday claiming that $14 billion in the bill has gone unspent.

Schumer lashed out at the Trump administration on Wednesday in a tweet.

'Let me get this straight: Cases are spiking across the country. The admin has $14 billion for testing and tracing that they haven't spent. But President Trump thinks the right move is to pull federal support for testing out of hotspot areas!?' Schumer said.

Caputo shouted that in the grand scheme of things the 13 testing sites, which will remain open, represent 'less than one one-thousandth of the testing facilities in this nation.'

'Less than one one-thousandth!' he said, according to CNBC.

He demanded that reporters, 'please report this accurately,' and then yelled, 'And this is on the record,' before hanging up.
Hundreds of thousands of students who have missed out on their education due to the lockdown have been urged to sign up to 'mass action' to win compensation.

The National Union of Students (NUS) has demanded debt relief and compensation for those whose studies have been disrupted since university campuses were forced to close.

Universities are facing significant financial challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic and they will struggle to foot the bill without Government support, the union says.

Claire Sosienski Smith, NUS vice president for higher education, said: 'Even if students complain to their individual institutions, how will universities afford it when the UK Government haven't announced a single penny of additional funding to support them?'

Hundreds of thousands of students who have missed out on their education due to the lockdown have been urged to sign up to 'mass action' to win compensation. (File photo)

NUS president Zamzam Ibrahim (pictured) said the issue could not be reduced to a series of individual problems. 'It's a total betrayal of trust to the thousands of students who are now facing lifelong debts for a once-in-a-lifetime education they haven't received,' she said

She added: 'We know that there are students who can't access their education right now.

'Many should be receiving training and education in subjects that can't be delivered remotely, others are paying tuition fees while working on the NHS front line, and many disabled students require reasonable adjustments that just can't be catered for through online learning - this action is for those students.'

It comes after the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIAHE) said this week that 'a blanket refusal to consider tuition fee refunds in any circumstances is not reasonable'.

In a briefing note, the watchdog said: 'There may be groups of students that are particularly affected, and providers should take steps to identify those groups and address their issues.'

NUS president Zamzam Ibrahim said the issue could not be reduced to a series of individual problems.

'It's a total betrayal of trust to the thousands of students who are now facing lifelong debts for a once-in-a-lifetime education they haven't received,' she said.

'We've warned the UK Government and education leaders repeatedly that the scale of student anger is too large to be handled through existing local processes. But they have not listened to our concerns, so NUS's job is to take action in the best interests of students.'

Ms Ibrahim added: 'We were told students were going to be "empowered consumers" but actually, when something like this happens, we feel we've got less rights than if we'd booked an Airbnb.'

The NUS hopes to work with the Government but is not 'ruling out a more formal action if necessary'.

The National Union of Students has demanded debt relief and compensation for those whose studies have been disrupted since university campuses were forced to close. (File photo)

In a statement to the PA news agency, a Department for Education spokeswoman noted the autonomy of universities and said there is an established process in place to assist students.

'Students should first raise their concerns with their provider, and any unresolved complaints at providers in England and Wales should go to the Office for the Independent Adjudicator, which has published guidance on this issue,' she said.

The call for students' support comes a day after England's chief medical officer warned that the UK will have to live with the threat posed by Covid-19 well into 2021.

And it comes a week after a Universities UK (UUK) poll of 92 universities found that 97% of institutions planned to provide at least some in-person teaching to students at the start of term this year.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) has predicted tens of thousands fewer students could start university this year - and vice-chancellors warned in April that universities are likely to face 'financial failure' amid the coronavirus crisis without emergency Government funding of at least 2billion.

A UUK spokesman said:'Complaints procedures within individual universities exist and should be the first port of call for students who are not satisfied with the support they received.

'This includes for students who have difficulty continuing with their learning - for example, because of illness, caring responsibilities or lack of access to IT.

'Every university has an established process for managing complaints, and will be mindful of extenuating circumstances.'
(Alliance News) - Futura Medical PLC on Wednesday said its drug development and commercialisation operations continue despite coronavirus.

Ahead of its annual general meeting, the AIM-listed pharmaceutical company reported that the impact of Covid-19 on the company has been limited to date.

Futura said it continues to target submission of the regulatory dossier for MED3000 to the US Food & Drug Administration by the end of the third quarter of 2020 after a new patent application was filed in December 2019.

Back then, headline data from the FM57 clinical study demonstrated that MED3000 has the potential to be a treatment for erectile dysfunction with a rapid onset of action and excellent safety profile, Futura Medical said.

At the end of February, the US FDA agreed to a De Novo medical device application for MED3000 and invited Futura to pursue another pre-submission meeting.

At the end of April, the company said it had filed for a further pre-submission meeting with the US FDA in the coming months. This meeting date has now been set, Futura said, and will be used to further discuss clinical sufficiency following completion of FM57's clinical study report.

Simultaneously, Futura commenced formal proceedings for MED3000 to be approved as a medical device and clinically proven treatment for erectile dysfunction in Europe.

Futura shares were trading 0.3% higher in London on Wednesday at 18.30 pence each.

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
200 Nigerians stranded in South Africa will be evacuated on Thursday, June 25th.

Those booked to fly back to the country have already made payment.

They paid $840 for economy class and $1350 for business class, a source said.

The evacuation is expected to be carried out by Air Peace.

Upon arrival in Nigeria, they will be required to undergo clearance at the airports, while their passports are withheld by the immigration authorities, pending the outcome of the second testing.

Those who test positive will be taken in for treatment and those whose tests return negative will still have to self-isolate for 14 days before they are signed off and allowed to take their passports and go home.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
WASHINGTON - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange sought to recruit hackers at conferences in Europe and Asia who could provide his anti-secrecy website with classified information, and conspired with members of hacking organizations, according to a new Justice Department indictment announced Wednesday.

The superseding indictment does not contain additional charges beyond the 18 counts the Justice Department unsealed last year. But prosecutors say it underscores Assanges efforts to procure and release classified information, allegations that form the basis of criminal charges he already faces.

Beyond recruiting hackers at conferences, the indictment accuses Assange of conspiring with members of hacking groups known as LulzSec and Anonymous. He also worked with a 17-year-old hacker who gave him information stolen from a bank and directed the teenager to steal additional material, including audio recordings of high-ranking government officials, prosecutors say.

Assanges lawyer, Barry Pollack, said in a statement that the governments relentless pursuit of Julian Assange poses a grave threat to journalists everywhere and to the publics right to know.

While todays superseding indictment is yet another chapter in the U.S. Governments effort to persuade the public that its pursuit of Julian Assange is based on something other than his publication of newsworthy truthful information, he added, the indictment continues to charge him with violating the Espionage Act based on WikiLeaks publications exposing war crimes committed by the U.S. Government.

Assange was arrested last year after being evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he had sought refuge to avoid being sent to Sweden over allegations of rape and sexual assault, and is at the centre of an extradition tussle over whether he should be sent to the United States.

The Justice Department has already charged him with conspiring with former U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in one of the largest compromises of classified information in U.S. history by working together to crack a password to a government computer.

Prosecutors say the WikiLeaks founder damaged national security by publishing hundreds of thousands of classified documents, including diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, that harmed the U.S. and its allies and aided its adversaries.

Assange maintains he was acting as a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection. His lawyers have argued the U.S. charges of espionage and computer misuse were politically motivated and an abuse of power.

Assange generated substantial attention during the 2016 presidential election, and in investigations that followed, after WikiLeaks published stolen Democratic emails that U.S. authorities say were hacked by Russian military intelligence officials. An investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller revealed how Trump campaign associates eagerly anticipated the email disclosures. One Trump ally, Roger Stone, was found guilty last year of lying about his efforts to gain inside information about the emails. Assange, however, was never charged in Muellers Russia investigation.

The allegations in the new indictment centre on conferences, in locations including the Netherlands and Malaysia in 2009, at which prosecutors say he and a WikiLeaks associate sought to recruit hackers who could locate classified information, including material on a Most Wanted Leaks list posted on WikiLeaks website.

According to the new indictment, he told would-be recruits that unless they were a member of the U.S. military, they faced no legal liability for stealing classified information and giving it to WikiLeaks because TOP SECRET meant nothing as a matter of law.

At one conference in Malaysia, called the Hack in the Box Security Conference, Assange told the audience, I was a famous teenage hacker in Australia, and Ive been reading generals emails since I was 17.
The end is here for one of Lorains vacant houses and near for others, city officials said.

On June 24, workers from the Lorain Public Property Department knocked down 1627 Pennsylvania Ave.

It was the first time in recent memory that city workers razed a house that was declared a public nuisance and was not also an immediate threat of collapse because of a fire. In the last few years, the city has hired contractors to demolish the vacant structures that became blight in Lorain neighborhoods.

That method will continue, but Mayor Jack Bradley has said the city can save money and move quickly when staff can take down homes that are not complex jobs and do not need environmental remediation, such as removing asbestos.

At the site, Building, Housing and Planning Director Max Upton was present with Public Property Manager Lori Garcia and Street Superintendent Michael Darmos.

Working crew leader Jason Graves was at the helm of an excavator with a claw implement for demolition. Motor equipment operators Dominic Hryszczenko and Tim Malin also will be part of the in-house demolition crew.

Several neighbors were looking on, including Dennis M. Johnson, who said his grandmother and aunt once lived in the house.

Compared to other buildings in Lorain, the house was not in blighted condition, Johnson said. But he said he supported the city plan to demolish homes that have become troublespots.

They talk about blighted houses, but if thats what Mayor Bradley wants to do, Im in favor of it, Johnson said.

It appeared the house was vacant since 2014, Upton said, with no utilities on inside since 2016, Garcia said.

The Lorain County Auditors Office listed the home owner as Alta M. Pryor. She died in November 2014, according to a Morning Journal obituary.

Pryor was known locally for her choir and spiritual singing and was a sought-after soloist for many special occasions, according to her obituary. Pryor also earned the Sojourner Truth Award in 1988, the highest honor bestowed by the Negro Business and Professional Womens Club, for her commitment to the community and elderly.

Pryor had nieces and nephews, but no children to take care of the property, Johnson said. Her obituary also listed surviving nieces and nephews, but no children.

Im sure for some people its kind of bittersweet, especially if longtime residents remembered neighbors who used to live there, Upton said. But I think this is much-needed progress for the city.

Generally, property owners may file for a stay of demolition for condemned houses, Upton said. If that happens, Safety-Service Director Sanford Washington wants to see monthly progress on how owners are improving the rundown homes, Upton said.

Demolition started shortly before 9 a.m. An hour later, the lot had less house and more rubble, causing some slight delay because a hauling container was not due at the site until noon.

I think its going much faster than I thought it would, Garcia said.

This one, I think from the outside, didnt look horrible, but its nice to see these abandoned houses going down, especially for the neighbors, she said. You would rather just have a lot than a house that you know is never going to be anything again.

As the city crew continued the work, Johnson recalled Pryor as a godly and Christian woman who was a good neighbor.

Its going down, Johnson said. Youve got to do what youve got to do.

Lets just hope we get something for whats going on in this world today, he said. Peace, love and understanding. And good health.

The city crews also will spray water as needed to keep down dust on future projects. On Pennsylvania Avenue, there was a fire hydrant about two doors down, but the crew did not have a hose long enough to use it.
Comcast NBCUniversal announced Wednesday it has awarded approximately $60,000 in scholarships for the 2020-2021 school year to 24 Tennessee students as part of its annual Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program. Students are selected for their outstanding community service, academic performance and leadership skills. The award, funded by the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, is a one-time, $2,500 scholarship to be used toward undergraduate education-related expenses. Since 2001, about $33 million has been awarded to about 30,000 high school seniors across the country as part of the Leaders and Achievers program.I am incredibly proud of every single one of you for working so hard for this moment, said Tennessees First Lady Maria Lee to the Tennessee scholarships winners during an online celebration hosted by Comcast.I know this was not the year you expected, but I commend you for making the most of it and choosing to exceed expectations. Now is your chance to find your passion and pursue your dreams.The 2020 Chattanooga Leaders and Achievers scholarship winner is Zapouria Wadley from Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy.We are honored to recognize the amazing accomplishments of our Leaders and Achievers scholarship winners in Georgia, said Jason Gumbs, Comcast Regional SVP. They are top achievers in academics, leaders in the community and leaders among their peers. They represent our future, and Comcast NBCUniversal is proud to support them, especially during these very challenging times."The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program recognizes high school seniors for their community service, academic performance and leadership skills. These scholarships are provided to give young people the opportunity to continue their education to better compete in tomorrows workplace. Applicants to the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program must demonstrate academic excellence, commitment to community service and outstanding qualities in character, integrity and leadership," officials said.
Demand for 'flat-faced' puppies such as the French Bulldog and Pug has soared during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the UK Kennel Club.

This has prompted a group of leading dog health and welfare experts to issue a warning urging the public to 'stop and think' before buying a dog of this type.

Brachycephalic dogs, also known as 'flat-faced' due to their short muzzle, can suffer from a number of health problems including breathing, eye, spine and skin issues.

The Brachycephalic Working Group (BWG) says the rise in demand for these dogs is creating one of the most pressing welfare issues for dogs right now in the UK.

The French Bulldog is currently the most popular breed in the UK with the highest puppy registrations of any breed from January to March 2020, BWG said.

The demand for French Bulldogs (pictured) and other flat-faced breeds had started to go down in 2019 but lockdown measures saw this trend reverse and demand increase again

Brachycephalic dogs - such as the Pug (pictured) - also known as 'flat-faced' due to their short muzzle, can suffer from a number of health problems including breathing, eye, spine and skin issues

The group have urged people considering buying one of these animals to 'think again' and said those with a flat-faced puppy should be aware of health problems.

FRENCH BULLDOG TOPS THE LIST OF DOG BREEDS IN THE UK French Bulldog Labrador Retriever Cocker Spaniel Bulldog Dachsund Golden Retriever German Shepherd Pug English Springer Spaniel Staffordshire Bull Terrier SOURCE: Kennel Club top ten registered breeds from January to March 2020 Advertisement

Dog health and welfare experts including vets, rescue organisations, scientists and breeders make up the BWG.

As well as an increase in registrations, searches for 'getting a dog' reaches an all-time high during COVID-19 lockdown, with 'french bulldog' among the top searches.

The demand for French Bulldogs and other flat-faced dogs had started to go down in 2019 but the pandemic and lockdown measures saw this trend reverse and demand increase again.

New statistics from PDSA and released by the Brachycephalic Working Group (BWG) show that Google searches for 'buying a puppy' increased by 175 per cent in just one month of UK lockdown compared to the average.

Searches for French Bulldog puppies via the Kennel Club's 'Find a Puppy' tool also increased by 225 per cent during April and May 2020, as people stayed home, compared to the same time last year.

Brachycephalic breeds, such as French Bulldogs, Bulldogs and Pugs  often referred to as flat-faced dogs due to their short muzzle  can suffer from a number of health problems such as breathing, eye, spine, dental and skin-fold issues.

In addition, unscrupulous breeders and traders are cashing in on the high demand by farming them in huge numbers and often poor conditions - whether bred in the UK or imported from abroad.

These twin problems have created one of the most pressing welfare issues for dogs right now in the UK, said the BWG.

The BWG warns that this increased demand for flat-faced puppies fuelled by the pandemic could worsen the already serious health and welfare crisis faced by these breeds, and are asking the public to 'stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog'.

'We are concerned that some puppy buyers might not be fully considering, or be aware of, the long-term responsibility and commitment that comes with getting a dog, especially a flat-faced dog,' said Dan O'Neill, Chair of BWG.

'It's vital that people stop and think' before getting one of these dogs, he said.

O'Neill said getting a flat-faced puppy without being aware of the potential health and welfare issues they might face will have a devastating impact long-term.

'Especially if they are bred indiscriminately to meet demand,' he added.

He said rather than make an impulsive decision or choose a dog breed because it is 'popular, cute or fashionable' people should 'do their research first'.

The Brachycephalic Working Group (BWG) says the rise in demand for flat-faced dogs - such as the English Bulldog (pictured) - is creating one of the most pressing welfare issues for dogs right now in the UK

'It is true that some flat-faced breeds often have lovely characters, but do you really want to contribute to a welfare crisis where thousands of puppies are bred in appalling circumstances just to satisfy the huge demand for these breeds,' he said.

'Our message could not be clearer: Stop and think before buying a flat-faced breed.'

If you are committed to buying a puppy, aim to find an experienced and responsible breeder and be prepared to wait for the right dog, the group warned.

While French Bulldogs, bulldogs and Pugs were all flat-faced breeds in the top ten, the remaining seven weren't with second and third place going to Labrador retrievers and Cocker spaniels.

The Brachycephalic Working Group includes the major stakeholders in dog welfare in the UK including the Kennel Club, PDSA, Dogs Trust, RSPCA, the Royal Veterinary College, the University of Cambridge, the British Veterinary Association, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, DEFRA, and breed clubs.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- City beaches are scheduled to open for swimming on July 1, as the city gradually reopens public spaces in the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

On Staten Island, residents will be able to visit Midland and South beaches and Cedar Grove Beach on the boroughs East Shore and Wolfes Pond Park Beach on the South Shore.

Those who visit will have to follow several health guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday at his daily press conference.

It will be wonderful to go back into the water, it will be wonderful to have the beach experience again, but were able to do it because the city got healthier and healthier in recent weeks, de Blasio said. Lets keep in mind we have to do this the right way.

State-run beaches were opened for swimming in late May.

About a dozen state guidelines that will be implemented at city beaches include, but are not limited to the following:

Keep six feet of distance while swimming, on beaches and on boardwalks;

Keep beach blankets and chairs at least 10 feet apart from others;

Wear a mask when unable to maintain social distance;

Refrain from group activities;

Reduce capacity in indoor areas such as changing areas, locker rooms, restrooms by 50%.

Lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; swimming is unsafe and strictly prohibited at all other times.

In states such as Florida and Texas where guidelines have been lax as public spaces and businesses reopened, health officials are seeing spikes in the coronavirus numbers.

Weve seen too many states in this country with a huge, horrible resurgence of this disease, de Blasio said. Were not gonna let it happen here, were going to be smart.

Additionally, the city will allow privately-run summer camps -- including the YMCA and church groups -- to operate in New York City parks, on the condition all activities are kept outside. The Parks Department and Health Department were reviewing more than 350 applications, as of Wednesday morning.

The announcements to allow more outdoor activities come as the city enters Phase 2 of reopening, which has included outdoor dining and salons.
Bodycam footage from the Valdosta Police Department's arrest of Antonio Arnelo Smith: Valdosta Police Department

A 46-year-old black man in Georgia who claims police officers used excessive force while wrongfully arresting him has sued the Valdosta Police Department.

Antonio Arnelo Smith is suing the department for $700,000 after a city police officer grappled him from behind and slammed him to the ground. Officers said they were "investigating suspicious activity" and mistook Mr Smith as a suspect.

The lawsuit also demands a jury trial.

According to the Valdosta Daily Times, the lawsuit names Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson, members of the city council, the city's Police Chief Leslie Manahan and three officers involved in the arrest as defendants.

Officers were responding to a report of panhandling outside a pharmacy. According to the lawsuit, officers responding to the call made contact with a man near the pharmacy and ran his information. They found the man had an outstanding warrant and arrested him.

Once that man was in custody, the officer told a colleague - who had just arrived - to search near the pharmacy for another man who had allegedly been asking customers for money. The officer wanted to find the man to see if the pharmacy wanted to bring trespassing charges against him.

Despite not having a description of the man, the officer went searching for a suspect, and found Mr Smith walking nearby.

Bodycam footage, acquired by the Valdosta Daily Times, provided insight into the incident.

On the video, an officer approaches Mr Smith claiming he was investigating "suspicious activity" related to the pharmacy. Mr Smith defends himself, explaining that while he had been in the pharmacy, he was waiting for his sister to wire him money. Mr Smith insists that he is innocent, that the staff at the pharmacy know who he is and that nearby security cameras would prove he hadn't done anything illegal.

The officer asks for identification and Mr Smith hands over his ID. As the exchange is taking place, another officer approaches Mr Smith from behind and grabs his arm. As Mr Smith reacts, the officer puts him in a bear hug. Mr Smith cries out that he hasn't done anything and the officer holding him tells him to put his arms behind his back. After the third time asking Mr Smith to do so, the officer body slams Mr Smith face-first into the ground. Mr Smith's arm breaks as a result, and the police handcuff him.

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Once the police realise Mr Smith has been injured - he cries from pain in the video - the officers take the handcuffs off. The officers then realise that the suspect they were searching for had already been arrested, and that they'd attacked Mr Smith in error.

The officers eventually help Mr Smith with his injuries. He refuses medical attention and is allowed to leave the scene.

Following the encounter, Mr Smith went to hospital, was fitted with a sling and told he'd have to seek physical therapy to recover from his injury.

According to the statement given by the responding officers, Mr Smith was "standing with a 'bladed' stance" while "arguing or debating with" them.

"Based on what I observed and believing this person to have a warrant for his arrest, I grasped his right wrist. I felt Smith tense up and begin to pull away from me. At that time, I wrapped my arms around Smith in a 'bear hug'," the sergeant who slammed Mr Smith wrote in his report.

The sergeant wrote in his report that Mr Smith didn't comply with his orders to put his arms behind his back, so the officer pulled him "off-balance and rolled him to the ground to gain control of him in anticipation of a warrant arrest."

Regarding the injury, the sergeant notes he was "unsure how Smith's injury occurred, whether he had placed his arm out to the side or between us."

Attorney Nathaniel Haugabrook, Mr Smith's lawyer, said he believes it is a civil rights case. He said the officers violated Mr Smith's civil rights to "be free from an unlawful arrest, unlawful detention and all of the other rights that goes along with us being citizens."

The lawsuit claims there was no reason for police to believe Mr Smith had committed a crime or that he had any intention of committing a crime, and that the sergeant's use of a bear hug was "unnecessary and illegal" and indicative of "malice and reckless indifference."

The city of Valdosta issued a statement regarding the matter on Monday.

"The City of Valdosta and the Valdosta Police Department takes any report of any injury to a citizen seriously," the statement said. "Although there was no complaint filed with VPD, once the shift supervisor was notified, it prompted the review process of the incident by the officer's supervisor, patrol bureau commander, Internal Affairs Division and chief of police."

Read more

Police wrongfully arrest black man using facial recognition software
The Red Note 9 Pro Max went on sale in India today via Amazon and mi.com where the variants I.e. Aurora Blue, Glacier White and Interstellar black were available to purchase. The smartphone went on sale at noon today and sold out in under a minute, according to Xiaomi India head Manu Kumar Jain.

 MensXP_Akshay Bhalla

Jain revealed via Twitter that the phone went out of stock this week in a matter of seconds and more units will be brought in next week.



Whats interesting is that even though there was an uproar online to boycott Chinese products, Xiaomi still managed to sell out their phone in a matter of seconds. Plenty of Xiaomis customers still want to buy the phone judging from the replies to Manu Kumar Jains Tweet.

Today's sale of #RedmiNote9ProMax was out of stock in less than 50 seconds.



Thank you all for your love and support. #NoMiWithouYou



All of us are working very hard to bring more quantity next week.#Xiaomi  #RedmiNote #IloveRedmiNote https://t.co/mN0WWMDphz  Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) June 24, 2020

It is worthy to point out that no official numbers were released as to how many units were sold during this sale. Xiaomi may have sold thousands or hundreds of the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max which remains unclear at the moment.

 MensXP_Akshay Bhalla

The Redmi Note 9 Pro Max features a 6.67-inch full HD LCD and is powered by Qualcomms 720G chipset. The phone comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage that can be expanded to 512GB with a microSD card.



At the back, the phone features a 64-megapixel primary sensor, 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 5-megapixel macro lens. The phone also supports 33W fast-charging for its 5,020 mAh battery.

This is not the first time smartphones and electronics have been selling regardless of the company and its origin. Last week, we saw companies like OnePlus and Xiaomi enjoy great sales during the height of the online movement.

Were you looking to buy the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max and found it to be sold out online? Do you think the online boycott has any effect on products? Let us know in the comments.

*Images for representation purposes only.
A LITHUANIAN man who was seriously injured when he was shot in the head by a garda almost four years ago has avoided a prison sentence for his role in several military-style burglaries.

Tomas Mikalajunas, 40, who has an address at Cluain Arra, Gortboy, Newcastle West spent several months in hospital after he was injured when a firearm was accidentally discharged following a high-speed pursuit between Ardagh and Shanagolden in the early hours of June 28, 2016.

Limerick Circuit Court was told he was part of an international crime gang which had carried out a series of skillful and impressive burglaries at commercial premises.

Mr Mikalajunas has pleaded guilty to a burglary charge relating to the theft of luxury clothing, with a retail value of around 240,000, from Isobel, Main Street, Adare in the early hours of June 21, 2016.

He has also pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage charges relating to a break-in at a pharmacy in Kinsale, County Cork in the early hours of January 13, 2016.

Detective Garda Michael Brosnan said 50,000 worth of designer cosmetics and perfumes were stolen from the pharmacy.

They were highly sophisticated, (they were) in and out in six minutes, he told Lily Buckley BL, instructed by state solicitor Aidan Judge.

Judge Tom ODonnell was told the cosmetics were subsequently shipped to Lithuania where they were sold in local markets.

Detective Garda Brosnan said a major investigation was carried out and that gardai liaised with with several other agencies including Europol and Interpol.

Mr Mikalajunas, he said, flew back to Lithuania a number of days after the Kinsale incident and returned to Ireland on June 16, 2016  five days before the burglary in Adare.

While the high-end dresses, which had cost 80,000 to purchase, were recovered at a logistics company in Cavan, they were not resalable and Kay Mulcair  the owner of Isobel  later told gardai she did not have insurance.

John OSullivan BL, instructed by solicitor Michael ODonnell, said his client who was arrested and charged after he was discharged from hospital had made the most forthright of admissions when questioned by gardai.

He said the case against the married father-of-two was circumstantial and Detective Garda Brosnan agreed there was no forensic or video evidence placing Mr Mikalajunas inside either premises.

We dont have any forensic evidence. His admissions are of critical importance, he submitted adding that any trial would have taken up considerable court time given the number of witnesses.

Detailed medical reports were submitted and Mr OSullivan confirmed that separate civil proceedings relating to the shooting have commenced.

Imposing sentence on Tuesday, Judge ODonnell accepted that Mr Mikalajunas was not the brains behind the military-style operation.

He said the premeditated nature of the burglaries was an aggravating factor as were the financial losses incurred by both businesses.

The judge accepted the defendant sustained serious life-changing injuries as a result of being shot and he directed that the various medical reports be pinned to the court file in the event that they are ever required.

Given the nature of the injures, he said an immediate custodial sentence was not appropriate.

He imposed a five and-a-half year sentence, suspending it entirely.

Another man - Aurimas Petraska - was previously jailed for his role in the burglaries.
The Prairie Doc: Do your part for the person across the table

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(Newser)  No outsiders are generally allowed inside New Zealand these days as the nation continues its three-month-old travel ban to keep COVID-19 in check. If you're James Cameron, however, there's a little wiggle room. Bloomberg reports that the director and a 30-person crew have been bestowed with an exemption so they can film the four sequels to Avatar therea move that will put hundreds of Kiwis back to work and pump millions of dollars into the local economy. Producer Jon Landau posted a pic on social media in mid-June showing Cameron behind a filming crane, noting, "Used my iPhone to snap a picture of our first shot back in production on the Avatar sequels." People notes that staff seen in that shot all appear to be "taking the virus seriously," sporting face masks and face shields.

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Cameron's group self-isolated for two weeks upon arrival in New Zealand before starting production. New Zealand boasts one of the few global success stories in mostly eradicating the virus and is now trying to position itself as providing a "safe-haven strategic advantage" for business, as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern puts it, per Bloomberg. Cameron's project will invest $45 million through the end of the year and "millions more a month after that for the next several years," Landau told Television New Zealand. Cameron's crew isn't the only one descending upon New Zealand: An exemption has also been granted to a second team of around the same number to film The Power of the Dog, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst. The first Avatar sequel is still set to arrive in theaters in December 2021. (Read more James Cameron stories.)
BRIGHTON, Mich., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Grace & Porta Benefits ("Grace & Porta") provides notice of an incident that may affect the security of some information relating to certain individuals associated with Grace & Porta.

What Happened? On or about February 7, 2020, Grace & Porta became aware of suspicious activity related to a Grace & Porta email account. Upon discovery, Grace & Porta immediately launched an investigation, with the aid of forensic investigators, to determine the nature and scope of the activity. On February 21, 2020, Grace & Porta's investigation determined that there was unauthorized access to the email account between November 21, 2019 and February 7, 2020. Grace & Porta undertook a lengthy and labor-intensive process to identify the information within the affected emails and address information associated with affected individuals.

What Information Was Involved? The personal information present in the account at the time of the incident varied by individual but may have included first and last names and one or more of the following data elements: name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, phone number, email address, health insurance information, Medicare identification number, medical treatment information, credit card information, driver's license number, medical record number, prescription information, and financial account number.

What is Grace & Porta Doing? Grace & Porta takes the confidentiality, privacy, and security of information in our care seriously. Upon discovery, Grace & Porta immediately took steps to ensure the security of our email environment and investigate the activity. Grace & Porta worked diligently to investigate and respond to this incident and to identify and notify potentially affected individuals. Grace & Porta is also reviewing and enhancing existing policies and procedures and will be reporting this to relevant state and federal regulators, as required. Grace & Porta is notifying potentially impacted individuals so that they may take further steps to best protect their information, should they feel it is appropriate to do so. In an abundance of caution, Grace & Porta is offering credit monitoring and identity protection services at no cost to impacted individuals.

What Can Impacted Individuals Do? Grace & Porta has established a dedicated assistance line for individuals seeking additional information regarding this incident. Individuals may call 1-800-939-4170 between 9am and 9pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, for additional information. Individuals may also write to Grace & Porta at 7219 Grand River, Brighton, MI 48114. Additional information can also be found on Grace & Porta's website, https://www.graceandporta.com. Potentially affected individuals may also consider the information and resources outlined below.

Grace & Porta encourages potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud and to review account statements, credit reports, and explanation of benefits forms for suspicious activity. Under U.S. law, individuals with credit reports 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. Individuals may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of their credit report. The credit reporting agencies may be contacted as follows:

Experian P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com TransUnion P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016 1-888-909-8872 www.transunion.com Equifax P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 1-800-685-1111 www.equifax.com

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.

SOURCE Grace & Porta Benefits

Related Links

http://www.graceandporta.com


SPRINGFIELD  A tip from a caller and some good police work led to the confiscation of four loaded semi-automatic guns and five arrests, which Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood called a huge step forward in fighting a two-week uptick in violence.

But the relief she and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said they felt knowing the guns and five men they consider dangerous were off the streets changed to anger and disappointment after learning on Monday that all but one man was released on personal recognizance after being arraigned.

People are complaining about us not doing enough about the fireworks and I cant even keep people who are shooting each other off the streets, Sarno said.

He called the arrests good police work from men and women who put their lives on the line to confront people who are carrying unlawful semi-automatic guns and repeated his frequent complaint that judges are not working enough with police and others to keep armed criminals off the streets.

Judge William Rota declined the District Attorneys bail recommendation and the defense attorneys recommendation and released them on their own personal recognizance with a slap on the wrist and to please not play with guns anymore. Do you really think that they will take this matter seriously? These individuals were not selling Girl Scouts cookies, Sarno said.

After learning of the arraignment, Sarno said he talked to District Attorney Anthony Gulluni and learned the prosecutor asked for $50,000 bail for each and the lawyers for each of the five countered with a $1,000 bail request. Rota, who usually works in Berkshire County, instead assigned bail even lower. He also ordered them not to possess firearms, which none of the men have a license for anyway.

It is disheartening, discouraging, frustrating for me as a police leader, Clapprood said. They put their lives on the line every time they make these arrests and before the ink is dry on the reports they are out.

Over the past month, there has been an increase in gun violence with reports of shots fired every night in different parts of the city. In a span of five days, three men have been shot to death, with one man arrested in one of the homicides. There have also been at least two more people injured in shooting over the past two weeks, she said.

Since Gov. Charlie Baker issued an emergency order on March 17 that closed schools, restaurants and many businesses due to the coronavirus, city police have arrested 43 people on firearms charges and one person was arrested twice. Half of the suspects have been released, Clapprood said.

Clapprood said she cant imagine how many unlawful guns are on the street and worries every night that her officers luck will run out as they make a traffic stop and are confronted with someone with a gun.

On Friday police responded to someone who reported seeing a suspicious gathering of five cars and about 10 people at about 1 a.m. Officers then arrested Luke McKinnie, 18, Josiah Cheeseboro, 20, Davin Durant, 20, William Hobby, 18 and Tyler Wilson, 19. All but McKinnie were charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number. McKinnie, who was charged with carrying a large-capacity firearm and a high-capacity feeding device, was the only one not to be released and is being held on $1,000 bail, said Ryan Walsh, police spokesman.

Three of the four guns had obliterated serial numbers so they could not be traced and the fourth had been reported stolen. All of them were fully-loaded with at least 10 bullets and one had a feeding device that had an additional about 12 bullets. In addition, two had laser points and one was designed for a silencer, which is frightening because someone could shoot someone without anyone knowing the weapon was fired, Clapprood said.

Some of the guns also had parts that had been replaced from other firearms, which is also concerning, she said.

But Clapprood said she is also worried what message the low bail sends to the residents police rely on for information. Without the tip about the suspicious gathering, police would not have been able to confiscate the four weapons and make the arrest.

Who is going to give us information if they are going to be out the next day? she asked.

Sarno said he will continue to fight to have a law passed that will allow prosecutors to appeal bail amounts they believe are too low. Defense lawyers already have that ability.
TEL AVIV, Israel, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Medial EarlySign (earlysign.com), a leader in AI-based clinical data solutions to aid in the early detection and prevention of high-burden diseases, today announced the launch of its new Back2Care platform. With four new bundles focused on clinical domains, prioritization, and readmissions, this suite of integrated AI-powered solutions uses routine data to identify and prioritize patients who will benefit from accelerated attention. The result is actionable insights into patient and population health, allowing healthcare organizations to expedite care for high-risk patients, deliver proactive interventions, and address organizational needs in getting patients back to care.

"As the healthcare community begins to emerge from the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the market is demanding solutions that help get patients 'back to care' as quickly and seamlessly as possible," said Jeremy Orr MD, CEO of Medial EarlySign. "Confidence in safe visits must be restored and addressing the backlog of patients in need of screenings and ongoing care must be accelerated. The ability to leverage and deploy ML/AI to identify and prioritize patients for care is critical. As we move to the next normal, we are expanding the scope of our proven digital solutions to help healthcare organizationsand their front-line workerssuccessfully navigate the transition back to care."

The Back2Care suite of bundled solutions enable prioritization of high-risk patients and re-engagement of populations into the clinical system. Healthcare organizations can benefit from a broad range of solutions:

Infectious Disease Bundle  Prepares healthcare organizations for a potential surge of COVID-19 patients, in addition to flagging patients at risk of flu complications in the coming season.

 Prepares healthcare organizations for a potential surge of COVID-19 patients, in addition to flagging patients at risk of flu complications in the coming season. Admissions Bundle  Stratifies patients at the greatest risk of re-admission and hospital acquired conditions, maximizing savings and avoiding unnecessary expenses.

 Stratifies patients at the greatest risk of re-admission and hospital acquired conditions, maximizing savings and avoiding unnecessary expenses. Early Detection Bundle  Prioritizes and targets interventions for patients at risk for high burden diseases such as lower GI disorders, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and diabetes.

 Prioritizes and targets interventions for patients at risk for high burden diseases such as lower GI disorders, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and diabetes. Diabetes + Complications Bundle  Identifies patients at risk for diabetes and complications with precision analytics, flags progression from diabetes to CKD or CAD.

"The COVID complication high risk identification tool has been used to enable our physicians to identify and direct patients who are most likely to suffer complications from COVID for appropriate testing and treatment," said Micah Thorpe, DO, Vice President Business Strategy for Northwest Permanente Medicine. "It has been a valued resource in our fight against COVID and we see this as a helpful strategy to support the ongoing health of our population."

About Medial EarlySign

Medial EarlySign helps healthcare systems with early detection and prevention of high-burden diseases. Their suite of outcome-focused software solutions (AlgoMarkers) find subtle, early signs of high-risk patient trajectories in existing lab results and ordinary EHR data already collected in the course of routine care. EarlySign's AlgoMarkers and AI-based solutions can help clients identify and prioritize patients at high risk for a broad range of conditions. The algorithmic models developed using the company's machine learning approach are supported by peer-reviewed research published by internationally recognized health organizations and hospitals. Founded in 2013, Medial EarlySign is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel with US headquarters in Colorado. For more information, please visit: https://earlysign.com/.

Follow Medial EarlySign on LinkedIn: Medial EarlySign and Twitter: @MedialEarlySign

Media Relations Contact:

Ellie Hanson

[email protected]

+1-929-222-8006

SOURCE Medial EarlySign
By Ayya Lmahamad

The volume of Azerbaijans gas exports increased by 13.6 percent or 2 billion cubic meters year-on-year in the period between January and May, amounting to 16.4 billion cubic meters of gas, the Ministry of Energys press service reported on June 24.

Azeri-Chirag- Guneshli produced 5.4 billion cubic meters of gas, Shah Deniz produced 8 billion cubic meters of gas and SOCAR production amounted to 3 billion cubic meters of gas.

The countrys gas sales abroad also increased by 13.4 percent, amounting to 5.6 billion cubic meters.

The volume of gas exported to Georgia was 1.2 billion cubic meters, while the volume of gas supplied to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline system was 51,000 cubic meters.

Turkey exported more than 4.3 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas, which is 21.7 percent more compared to the same period of 2019.

Furthermore, in the reporting period, Azerbaijan produced 15.2 million tons of oil, including condensate.

Azeri- Chirag- Guneshli accounted for 10.5 million tons of oil (including condensate) produced in the country for this period, and Shah Deniz accounted for 1.6 million tons (including condensate).

For the reported period, SOCAR accounted to 3.1 million tons of oil production.

Thus, production of oil (including condensate) was about 463,000 tons less than in the same period last year.

Additionally, in the first five months of this year, Azerbaijan exported 12.6 million tons of oil (including condensate), which is 468,000 tons less compared to the same period in 2019.

Out of which, Azeri- Chirag- Guneshli consortiums export amounted to 12 million tons of oil condensate, while SOCAR exported 569,000 tons.

It should be noted that since commissioning, TANAP has been transporting 5.47 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Turkey.

Azerbaijan processed 2.5 million tons of oil in the first five months of 2020 and oil refining in the country was 61.3 thousand tons less compared to 2019.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Supermarkets across Victoria have reinstated product limits for a number of items following a spike in demand over the past 24 hours as concerns over a coronavirus surge in the state escalate.

On Wednesday afternoon Coles, Woolworths and IGA reintroduced product limits for toilet paper, hand sanitiser, paper towels, flour, sugar, pasta, minced meat, long-life milk, eggs and rice at all their Victorian stores. Aldi said it would not be putting restrictions in place.

Coles will limit toilet paper and paper towels to one pack per person, while Woolworths has applied a two-per-person limit on all the affected products. Three Coles stores in the NSW, two in Albury and one in Deniliquin, will also have the limits applied as they are supplied from the company's Victorian distribution centres.

The decision was made after supermarket shelves across the state started to run bare following a fresh outbreak of coronavirus cases around Melbourne. Twenty new cases and the first death in more than a month were reported in Victoria on Wednesday, the eighth day of double-digit case growth.
Since its inception in late 2018, the Scenarios for Young African Entrepreneurs project has theorised about what the future might hold for very young (15 to 25-year-old) entrepreneurs in Africa. Leveraging the tool of scenario planning, it explored how entrepreneurship can offer innovative alternatives to drive employment and economic growth in Africa, and what the required inputs from each of the major stakeholder groups might be to facilitate this.

Melissa Mbazo-Ekpenyong, deputy director of The Anzisha Program

What is the Anzisha Prize? The Anzisha Program is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation that seeks to fundamentally and significantly increase the number of job generative entrepreneurs in Africa. We believe that a key to doing so is to test, implement and then share models for identifying, training and connecting high potential, very young entrepreneurs (15 to 22-year-olds) so that many more organisations have better collective success in creating a pipeline of entrepreneurs with the capabilities for scale. We believe that a key to doing so is to test, implement and then share models for identifying, training and connecting high potential, very young entrepreneurs (15 to 22-year-olds) so that many more organisations have better collective success in creating a pipeline of entrepreneurs with the capabilities for scale.

How can the Anzisha Prize assist young entrepreneurs to realise their dreams?

Our goal is to inspire and support very young Africans with leadership potential to pursue and succeed in entrepreneurship.

What advice do you have for young African entrepreneurs?

Entrepreneurship is not an easy pathway and for years it has been glamourised as something you do after everything else has failed.

What can governments do to support young entrepreneurs?

Some of the most effective ways of lobbying for very young entrepreneurs could be to advocate for tax exemptions, simpler registration processes, and business subsidies for them.

What would you like to see changed in the African startup landscape?

It is also important for young entrepreneurs to understand the environment in which they are developing their businesses.

What sort of trends are you seeing in the entrepreneur ecosystem?

As the narrative of the Future of Work and the Fourth Industrial Revolution gathers steam, educators are realising that their curriculum requires skills that were never considered before. These are skills such as innovation, problem-solving, creative thinking and entrepreneurship.

Where are you seeing the most disruption taking place?

Our entrepreneurs are integrating technology into their businesses, thinking about servicing new customer groups and coming up with products or services that still reflect their businesses strength and experiences.

It's Youth Month in South Africa. Do you have any words of encouragement for the youth?

The youth are very capable, and we need to equip them with the right tools for them to continue to succeed.

The process has ultimately resulted in the Very Young Entrepreneur (VYE) Scenario, which proposes investing in entrepreneurs of all ages, but with a focus on entrepreneurs under the age of 25 and successful transitions from school to viable entrepreneurship.According to the Very Young Entrepreneur (VYE) Scenario research paper launched by the Anzisha Prize, which has worked with very young African entrepreneurs for over a decade, investments in supporting successful transitions from school and university directly to entrepreneurship could unlock significant employment gains in Africa.We chat to Melissa Mbazo-Ekpenyong about the Anzisha Prize and the future of young entrepreneurs in Africa.Our movement is a layered approach to servicing very young entrepreneurs on the continent. We have various prizes, programs and resources geared towards supporting and celebrating very young entrepreneurs.We do this by encouraging very young Africans with leadership potential to become entrepreneurs, influencing parents and teachers to support entrepreneurship as a career choice and equipping investors & policymakers to specifically create opportunities for very young entrepreneurs.Youre never too young to start your entrepreneurial journey. You dont have to know everything, but you must be willing to test out a few solutions.But what if its something you do instead of going down a traditional career path? There is ample opportunity for young entrepreneurs to succeed.The over-dependence of African youth to pursue formal employment has become quite alarming, given the declining job opportunities in the formal sector.For policies and regulations to support entrepreneurs, the entire system should work towards the same goal. This means that educational policies, trading regulations, and business mandates should create an ecosystem where it is more straightforward for very young entrepreneurs to start and run businesses.While several African countries have national SME policies or youth development policies that entail an entrepreneurship focus, there is a need for clear policies and regulations that support very young entrepreneurs that are running job-generative businesses, have innovative business models, and are conducting new ways of doing business.These policies and regulations will need to be implemented in an environment that mitigates corruption and regulatory environments that suppress entrepreneurial growth and job creation opportunities.I would love to see local governments promote entrepreneurship. Policymakers should include the best interest of entrepreneurs within their policy-making strategies.This will allow them to make better-informed decisions and advocate for policies that will be beneficial to them.There is a deep yearning amongst educators to better understand entrepreneurship. These are key stakeholder groups who hold incredible power to influence young peoples career choices.Entrepreneurial training equips young people with agile, sustainable and transferrable skills that can be adapted to changing environments and situations. This is critical in a time where the future is uncertain and educators across the world and Africa are starting to realise the importance of importing this sort of thinking into the classroom.As expected, and probably more relevant is the disruption that has happened during the coronavirus pandemic. Entrepreneurs, particularly the ones that we work with have had to pivot their business models and respond to the crisis at hand. It has been amazing to see them thinking innovatively to keep their doors open and meet market demand that has drastically shifted.For example, one of the Anzisha fellows, Abdulwaheed Alayande, the founder of TREP Labs which is a Nigerian-based health tech company dedicated to providing timely solutions to health-related issues. The startup designed a customised mobile app to help track coronavirus cases in Nigeria, detailing the number of active, recovered, and death cases.The mobile app, called Itoju- a Yoruba word for Care- enables individuals to report their health status, get graphical information on the potential spread of the virus in their immediate area, and more importantly stay abreast on recent development about the crisis across the world.The company immediately saw a gap in the market and an opportunity to create an impact during the pandemic and responded with an innovative solution.This is a form of disruption that I feel is worth celebrating considering the challenges that young entrepreneurs and small businesses have been facing in the last several months.As we all know, the youth have incredible power to galvanise change in a way that is beneficial for all. In our program and other programs, weve seen the tenacity young entrepreneurs have to create lasting opportunities for their peers and drive solutions to improve their communities.
Lee In-bum, a retired first lieutenant of the Republic of Korea Air Force, talks during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, June 12. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



Retired first lieutenant shares story of separation with family, military service



By Jung Da-min



Seven decades after the outbreak of war between the two Koreas, they are still technically at war, as the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not with a declaration ending the conflict. Today in South Korea, all able-bodied men aged between 18 and 38 are required to serve in the military for about two years.



Lee In-bum, 85, a retired first lieutenant of the Republic of Korea Air Force, said he volunteered to participate in the war 70 years ago, but the military did not accept him as he was only 15 years old.



"I was born in 1935 in Yongchon, North Pyongan Province (North Korea) but I came to Daejeon in 1948 to study there, as my brother had already come to Seoul and settled down. I was also planning to come to Seoul, but Seoul was really crowded at the time with many people coming back from abroad after the country's liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese occupation," Lee said during a recent interview with The Korea Times in Seoul.



"My mother was supposed to come to the South's side to join me but after the war broke out in 1950, I have not heard any news about her."






Health and wellness chain GNC Holdings announced Tuesday night it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the company looks to reorganize debt. The company says the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has severely hurt the brick-and-mortar locations, which has contributed to the company nearing $1 billion in debt, according to CNN.

As part of the plans to reorganize, GNC will close up to 1,200 locations with a minimum of 800 stores set to close, according to the Associated Press. The company currently operates more than 5,800 locations. It is unknown which locations will close or when those closures are set to begin.

GNC recently secured $130 million in financing to help the company as it reorganizes. The company says it hopes to emerge from bankruptcy later this year and will look for a buyer for the company as part of the process.

With the support of its lenders and key stakeholders, the Company expects to confirm a standalone plan of reorganization or consummate a sale that will enable the business to exit from this process in the fall of this year, the company wrote in a press release.
EP Global Opportunities Trust plc (the "Company")

Total Voting Rights

As a result of the purchase of 50,000 Ordinary 1p shares placed into Treasury on 23 June 2020 and in conformity with Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 5.6.1A, the issued share capital and voting rights of the Company are as follows:

Class of share Total number of shares in circulation Number of voting rights attached to each share Total number of voting rights of shares in circulation Number of shares held in treasury (carrying no voting rights attached until issued) Total number of shares in issue Ordinary 1p Shares 40,087,725 1 40,087,725 24,421,917 64,509,642

The above total voting rights figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine whether they are required to notify their interest in EP Global Opportunities Trust plc under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

24 June 2020

LEI: 2138005T5CT5ITZ7ZX58

Enquiries:

Kenneth Greig

Edinburgh Partners AIFM Limited

Tel: 0131 270 3800

The Company's registered office address is:

27-31 Melville Street

Edinburgh

EH3 7JF
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / Mawson Resources Limited ("Mawson") or (the "Company") (MAW.TO)(MXR.F)(OTC Pink:MWSNF) is pleased to announce the recommencement of activities in Finland and the initiation of exploration activities in Australia.

Highlights:

Following the successful winter resource expansion drilling program at the Rajapalot project in Finland , fieldwork has recommenced targeting year-round accessible strike extensions to mineralization;

In Victoria, Australia, exploration programs for Fosterville-style mineralization have commenced in the Company's Sunday Creek, Redcastle and Doctor's Gully areas;

Mr. Hudson, Chairman and CEO, states, "We are excited to start exploration on our new acquisitions in Australia and recommence exploration in Finland. We have many reasons to be confident to find repeats of our mineralizing system in Finland along the 3 kilometre trend at Hirvimaa, that is located immediately along strike from our resource areas.

In Victoria, preliminary field investigations confirm the presence of extensive gold-mineralizing systems in all three project areas, and heavily support the proposed strategy to explore for Fosterville-like, shallow orogenic epizonal gold. We look forward to commencing exploration and ultimately drilling projects in Australia and Finland in the coming months."

In Australia, following a review of historic literature, compilation and assessment of data, field teams have conducted reconnaissance exploration at the Sunday Creek, Redcastle and Doctors Gully projects. Re-logging of Sunday Creek diamond drill core combined with initial field work indicates upside potential for gold external to the previously mapped dyke rocks. At Redcastle and Doctors Gully comprehensive surface mapping, geophysical, geological and geochemical surveys are planned, to be followed by drilling in Q4 2020. Further information will be released shortly.

In Finland, a geophysical team has been mobilized to conduct fixed loop transient electromagnetic ("TEM") surveys along a 3 kilometre trend within the Hirvimaa permit. The first Hirvimaa target zone is located in all-year permitted drill areas and 500 metres along strike from the Palokas resource area (Figure 1), where results from drilling earlier this year included PAL0222 returning 8.2 metres @ 19.1 g/t Au and 1,572 ppm cobalt from 266.9 metres and PAL0228 containing 7.0 metres @ 17.0 g/t gold, 2,168 ppm cobalt from 251.4 metres. Targets generated from TEM surveys will be drilled during Q3 to Q4 2020 utilizing new geologic and geochemical targeting information gained during the recently completed drill program.

Story continues

The geophysical character of the gold-cobalt mineralization at Rajapalot is well understood. Fixed-loop transient electromagnetic ("TEM") anomalies correspond closely with known mineralized areas. Many geological and geochemical features motivate further assessment of the Hirvimaa area. These include:

The two largest Rajapalot-style gold-mineralized boulders on the project area have been found in the down-ice direction from the TEM survey area (Figure 1). Previously announced drill samples from the boulders included 0.6 metres @ 21.3 g/t gold and 0.8 metres @ 13.1 g/t gold ;

A total of 17 previously reported surface grab samples (8 outcrop samples and 9 boulder grab samples) within a 300 metre by 100 metre area at Hirvimaa returned up to 1,520 g/t gold (minimum 0.0 g/t gold) and averaged 55.5 g/t gold. Additionally, 3 channel samples from the same area assayed 2 metres @ 21.5 g/t gold (including 0.5 metres @ 85.6 g/t gold), 1.1 metres @ 0.7 g/t gold and 0.6 metres 0.3 g/t gold; Approximately half the samples were Rompas-style calc-silicate vein hosted mineralization that is interpreted to be located in the adjacent stratigraphic sequence to the disseminated high-grade Rajapalot style of mineralization (Figure 1; Palokas, South Palokas and Raja prospects are of the Rajapalot type);

A 120 shallow hole diamond drill program within an area of 2.5 kilometres by 0.5 kilometres was completed in the TEM survey area. The average depth of each drill hole was 7.3 metres and the average thickness of glacial soil overburden was 3.9 metres. The drill program defined a 600-metre-long mineralized-host rock trend defined by geology and low tenor gold anomalism in bedrock, with the best result being 1 metre @ 0.12 g/t gold;

Sporadic previously reported deeper diamond drilling within the trend includes PAL0008, located 680 metres north of Palokas, returned 3.0 metres @ 1.4 g/t gold from 31 metres. Anomalous cobalt, interpreted to be spatially related to gold-cobalt mineralization has been interested in drill hole PAL0143 containing 4.1 metres @ 386 ppm Co from 93.1 metres and PAL0139 returning 2.0 metres @ 365 ppm Co from 41.6 metres;

Detailed ground magnetic surveys have defined areas with reverse remanent magnetism caused by pyrrhotite likely to be associated with gold mineralization.

Technical and Environmental Background (Finland)

The host rocks to the gold and cobalt mineralization at Rajapalot (Finland) comprise sulphides (pyrrhotite>>pyrite) with biotite-muscovite-chlorite schists at Raja and South Palokas and Mg-Fe amphibole-biotite-chlorite rocks at Palokas. Veining and fracture-fill minerals include pyrrhotite, magnetite and magnetite-pyrrhotite (+/- quartz, tourmaline). Retrograde chlorite after biotite, generations of secondary muscovite ("sericite") and vein-controlled chlorite+/- tourmaline and magnetite are also present. Preliminary hand-held XRF analysis confirms the presence of associated scheelite and molybdenite, the former visible under UV light as tiny veinlets and disseminations. The minerals associated with the gold are clearly post-metamorphic, reduced, and most likely driven by hydrothermal fluids from nearby granitoid intrusions. Chlorite and fine muscovite are regarded as the lowest temperature silicate minerals with gold, structurally controlled in apparent spatial association with quartz and/or K-feldspar veins. Altered rocks enclosing the mineralized package contain locally abundant talc and tourmaline.

All Finnish maps have been created within the KKJ3/Finland Uniform Coordinate System (EPSG:2393).

Channel samples are considered representative of the in-situ mineralization samples and sample widths quoted approximate the true width of mineralization, while grab (boulder) samples are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades on the property.

The qualified person for Mawson's Finnish projects, Dr. Nick Cook, President for Mawson and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining Metallurgy has reviewed and verified the contents of this release.

NI 43-101 Technical Report (Finland):

On December 19, 2018, Mawson filed an independent National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report (the "NI 43-101 Technical Report") on the Mineral Resource Estimate for the Raja and Palokas Prospects, at the 100% owned Rajapalot Project in Finland, (the "NI 43-101 Technical Report"), in support of the Company's news release dated December 17, 2018. The NI 43-101 Technical Report was authorized by Mr. Rod Webster of AMC Consultants Pty Ltd ("AMC") of Melbourne, Australia, and Dr. Kurt Simon Forrester of Arn Perspective of Surrey, England. Each of Mr. Webster and Dr. Forrester are independent "qualified persons" as defined by National Instrument 43-101. The NI 43-101 Technical Report may be found on the Company's website at www.mawsonresources.com or under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For the 2018 resource, the gold equivalent ("AuEq") value was calculated using averaged prices of the time, resulting in the following formula: AuEq g/t = Au g/t + (Co ppm/608) with assumed prices of Co $30/lb; and Au $1,250/oz. AuEq varies with Au and Co prices.

About Mawson Resources Limited (TSX:MAW, FRANKFURT:MXR, PINKSHEETS:MWSNF)

Mawson Resources Limited is an exploration and development company. Mawson has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic Arctic exploration company with a focus on the flagship Rajapalot gold-cobalt project in Finland and is now developing interests in Victorian gold properties in Australia.

On behalf of the Board,





"Michael Hudson"

Michael Hudson, Chairman & CEO Further Information

www.mawsonresources.com

1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7

Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary, +1 (604) 685 9316, info@mawsonresources.com



Forward-Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although Mawson believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 on the Company's business, planned drill programs and results varying from expectations, delays in obtaining results, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, local community relations, dealings with non-governmental organizations, delays in operations due to permit grants, environmental and safety risks, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mawson's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

Figure 1: Regional map of Rajapalot project area showing diamond drill results, 2018 NI 43-101 resource areas overlain on simplified geological map of mineralized host package, mafic rocks and metasedimentary host rocks (Sequences 1 & 2). The planned TEM survey area is shown extending to the northeast of Palokas in areas where year-round drilling is permitted (frozen ground and winter snow cover is required for drilling in the Palokas to Raja areas). Note the extension of the mineralized package, two strike-parallel boulder trends, and anomalously high gold and cobalt results from initial drilling (blue stars > 250 ppm Co). Boulder highlights are included - note that general ice flow direction is NW to SE.

SOURCE: Mawson Resources Limited





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/595110/Mawson-Commences-Exploration-Programs-in-Finland-and-Australia




US wants UN Security Council to extend arms embargo against Iran

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 12:42 PM

The United States has proposed a UN Security Council resolution which calls for a 2015 arms embargo against Iran to be extended.

The US request to the Security Council, in which Iran has been blamed for a 2019 attack on Saudi oil facilities, claimed that lifting the arms embargo could have "major implications" for security and stability of the Middle East region.

The US urged the UN body to "prohibit the supply, sale or transfer, direct or indirect... of weapons and related materials" to Iran.

The US attempt to extend the arms embargo against Iran was part of Washington's so-called "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran.

France, the UK and Germany -- all signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran -- argued against lifting the arms embargo against Tehran, resonating the US claims.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, the trio claimed lifting the arms embargo against Iran could have "major implications for regional security and stability".

Meanwhile, Russia, a signatory of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), slammed European members in the UN Security Council for their double standards.

"Reassurances of the British, German and French colleagues that they are committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program and are looking for ways to minimize negative effects of American sanctions against Iran run counter to their actions to heighten tensions surrounding the Iranian nuclear program in the IAEA," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote in a commentary published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website on Monday.

Under the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which enshrined the JCPOA, the arms embargo against Iran will expire on October 18.

Zakharova urged all parties to the JCPOA to reaffirm their "unwavering commitment" to the deal, saying July 14  which marks the fifth anniversary of the deal's inking would be a "great occasion" for doing so.

The Russian official also urged "the European partiesto seize this opportunity to return to the unifying agenda and continue fighting for the common good."

Iran and six world powers  namely the US, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China  signed the JCPOA in 2015.

In May 2018, US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal, urging fellow signatories to re-impose sanctions against Iran to enforce his so-called maximum pressure campaign.

Meanwhile, the fate of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal remains in limbo.

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Nonwoven sponges find extensive usage in the medical sector due to a variety of benefits offered by the product. Some of which include being lint-free, having more space between the fibers that act as reservoirs to store liquids, ensuring superior absorption capacity.



Request for a sample copy of this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4713



Economic improvement among people across the globe along with constant R&D in the medical sector has amplified developments in the industry. An evident increase in the number of chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancer and liver and kidney disorders compels the need for surgeries. As per reports, close to 18.2 million adults above the age of 20 in the U.S. suffer from coronary artery disease.



The recent COVID-19 pandemic has registered an increase in the number of hospital admissions and a consequent demand to maintain utmost hospital hygiene to control the spread of the infection. This has supported the need for nonwoven sponges in hospitals and dental care units.



Nonwoven sponges when used in dental applications help in controlling the spread of infection and ensure hygiene and cleanliness. Consistent demand from dental facilities will bolster global nonwoven sponges market outlook.



Advancements in the dental industry



In the dental industry, nonwoven sponges are widely used and offer better results as compared to cotton sponges. Increasing cases of dental caries, need for dental implants and other dental problems has supported advancements in the dental care industry. Moreover, the emergence of cosmetic dentistry has furthermore driven technological advancements in among dental equipment and product manufacturers.



In emerging countries such as India, the dentistry has especially witnessed evident growth due to the ability of the citizens to spend on highly-advanced dental services. According to IDA, in 2018, India had nearly 180,000 dentists that include about 35,000 specialists practicing in different disciplines. The government in the region has also taken measures to extend enhanced dental services to rural parts of the country.



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Developed healthcare sector in North America



Reportedly, in the year 2018, the U.S. healthcare spending reached USD 3.6 trillion or USD 11,172 per person, registering a 4.6% growth in spending capacity. The presence of professional medical practitioners in the region and the awareness among the people regarding the need to follow hygienic medical procedures has supported the regional demand for nonwoven sponges.



North America nonwoven sponges market has witnessed considerable gains over the years due the considerably higher disposable income among people, which indicates the ability of the people to spend on medical services is higher. Moreover, the availability of easy medical financing schemes and health insurance cover gives the citizens the security to opt for advanced medical services.



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Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.
New Delhi: Top Bhojpuri actress Rani Chatterjee took to Instagram and posted a few pictures in her retro avatar. Rani has a huge fan base on social media and keeps sharing inspirational posts for her fans.

After completing over a decade, Rani Chatterjee has worked with almost all the A-lister actors and filmmakers in the Bhojpuri film business.

On the work front, Rani will next be seen playing a police officer in 'Lady Singham'. The film started on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi on September 2, 2019. She announced the movie on social media.

The Bhojpuri bombshell is these days seen in Rohit Shetty hosted reality show 'Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi' season 10 as a contestant.
Senate Democrats Rebuke White House For Withdrawal From Open Skies Treaty With Russia

By RFE/RL June 23, 2020

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 other's 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 treaty's benefits still outweighed its drawbacks, with the United States flying over Russia's 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia- open-skies-treaty/30685486.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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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - After an initial move to the downside, treasuries turned higher over the course of the trading session on Wednesday.



Bond prices bounced well off their early lows and firmly into positive territory. Subsequently, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, fell by 2.5 basis points to 0.684 percent.



The rebound by treasuries came as stocks on Wall Street fell sharply amid renewed concerns about the spiking number of new coronavirus cases in several U.S. states.



Treasuries benefited from their appeal as a safe haven as Florida's Department of Health confirmed 5,508 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, reflecting a new single-day record. The Sunshine State now has a total of 109,014 confirmed cases.



New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also announced that out-of-state visitors coming to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut from regions with high COVID-19 rates will be required to quarantine for 14 days.



A CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University found the nation's seven-day average of daily new Covid-19 cases spiked more than 30 percent compared with a week ago.



Texas, Arizona and California are among several states that have seen significant increases in coronavirus cases, with California reporting 6,219 new cases on Monday.



During congressional testimony on Tuesday, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci warned of a 'disturbing surge' in coronavirus infections.



President Donald Trump has repeatedly blamed the jump in coronavirus cases on increased testing and doubled-down on his suggestion that testing should be slowed.



Treasuries saw continued strength after the Treasury Department revealed its auction of $47 billion worth of five-year notes attracted above average demand.



The five-year note auction drew a high yield of 0.330 percent and a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.58, while the ten previous five-year note auctions had an average bid-to-cover ratio of 2.45.



The bid-to-cover ratio is a measure of demand that indicates the amount of bids for each dollar worth of securities being sold.



The Treasury Department is due to announce the results of its auction of $41 billion worth of seven-year notes on Thursday.



Trading on Thursday may also be impacted by reaction to reports on weekly jobless claims and durable goods orders.



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Plastic pollution in the Antarctic terrestrial environment. (a) Coastal fellfield at King George Island where the PS foam item (34  31  5 cm) was collected. (b,c) close-ups of the PS surface, overgrown with microalgae, moss and lichens. Credit: Biology Letters (2020). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0093

A team of researchers from the University of Siena, University College Dublin and ElettraSincrotrone Trieste, have found evidence of microplastics in the guts of remote Antarctic hexapods. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the group describes where the hexapods were found, how they were tested and what they learned.

Hexapods are invertebrate creatures that resemble insects but have internal mouthparts. The hexapods studied by the researchers were Cryptopygus antarcticusm, commonly known as springtail. The creatures are small, just a millimeter in length, and live in the soil. They feed on moss, algae and lichen. The specimens found by the researchers were living on a piece of polystyrene foam that had washed up on a beach on King George Island, which is just north of Antarctica and approximately 100 miles south of the southern tip of South America. The researchers brought the samples back to their lab in Italy and tested then to find out if they might have been adversely impacted by the polystyrene.

The team studied the tiny creatures using infrared spectroscopy, which allowed them to peer into the digestive system. They were able to see small bits of plastics inside of the creatures. The researchers suggest the plastics were likely first ingested by the moss, algae and lichen on the piece of polystyrene, which were then subsequently consumed by the springtail. The researchers claim their finding is the first evidence of microplastics inside of a terrestrial animal in the Antarctic and that it represents one of the most remote instances of an animal ingesting man-made materials. They also suggest that plastics are entering the Antarctic food chain, and are thus introducing another stressor to the ecosystem in a region already responding to global warming and other human activities such as research efforts, military operations and tourism.

The researchers also note that despite their small size, springtail are considered to be one of the dominant terrestrial species in the Antarctic in areas that are not covered in ice. If they become threatened by microplastics, the impact on the region could be dramatic; their loss would be felt all the way up the food chain to larger animals such as penguins and seals.

Explore further Microplastics found in Antarctic ice cores

More information: Elisa Bergami et al. Plastics everywhere: first evidence of polystyrene fragments inside the common Antarctic collembolan Cryptopygus antarcticus, Biology Letters (2020). Journal information: Biology Letters Elisa Bergami et al. Plastics everywhere: first evidence of polystyrene fragments inside the common Antarctic collembolan Cryptopygus antarcticus,(2020). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0093

 2020 Science X Network
As the song says, 'When you hear the music rattling down the mountains and the glens"' you know that the Dan Paddy Andy Festival is underway.

Unless of course, it's 2020 - the year of the pandemic. The rural festival that has ran longest in Kerry without a break will not be resounding in its rural setting this year.

It was launched in 1998 when Micheal O Muircheartaigh, in the presence of John B Keane, Ogie Moran and a large crowd, unveiled the memorial to the local matchmaker, Dan Paddy Andy O'Sullivan - in an initiative of local community activist Kay O'Leary.

The festival has been opened since by a who's-who list of well-known personalities, including Jimmy O'Sullivan from New York, who is the son of the Matchmaker.

In the 22 years since then, the four, and sometimes five-day festival, has been staged in and around a marquee beside the Four Elms. Social dancing drew crowds from near and far, and some of the biggest names in the Country and Irish music scene have played at the venue. These included Brendan Shine, Crystal Swing, Mick Flavin, Paddy O'Brien, PJ Murrihy and Declan Nerney.

The Festival weekend usually includes five dances. The big names for this year's festival were to be Pat McKenna from Derry, on his third visit, and Bernie Heaney from Kildare. The local bands lined up were Eddie Lee, Mike Condon, Mike Fitzgerald, Stevie Donegan and Paudie McAuliffe.

In recent years the 5/10k walk/run has grown in popularity and has raised money for a number of worthy charities. This year's event was to have been for the Air Ambulance. The humour and talent of the Irish Rambling House Show was always enjoyed, and the Bog Walk took people on a journey to the past.

"It's a real pity the festival can't go ahead this year, and although the restrictions are being relaxed, it's better to be safe than sorry," Kay O'Leary said.

"We know our exiles will miss their annual visit back and get together with friends and neighbours.

"While Dan is taking a well-earned break for 2020, he hasn't gone away, you know, so hold onto your walking shoes, your running shoes and especially your dancing shoes for 2021" Ms O'Leary added.
A Neptune sized gas giant orbiting a star 180 times younger than the Sun has been discovered by astronomers and it could shed light on the evolution of the Earth.

The exoplanet was found in a system 32 light-years away and its host star is only 20 to 30 million years old - compared to the 4.5 billion years our Sun has been around.

Named AU Mic b, NASA scientists say the infant planet is about 30,000 miles wide and was discovered by the Transitioning Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).

As the planet is still in its infancy the researcher hope to be able to use the discovery to better understand how planets form in the earliest years of a star system.

Its host star, AU Microscopii, is about half the size of the Sun and still has its disc of proto-planetary debris - out of which this gaseous planet would have formed.

A Neptune sized gas giant orbiting a star 180 times younger than the Sun has been discovered by astronomers and it could shed light on the evolution of the Earth

The exoplanet was found in a system 32 light-years away and its host star is only 20 to 30 million years old - compared to the 4.5 billion years our Sun has been around

Dr Tom Barclay, lead author on the study of planet, said before the study they wondered if this young star had even formed a planetary system yet.

'One of the things we want to understand is, 'When do planets form, and what do they do in their early days?,' said Barclay.

This relatively new star system is a 'unique laboratory for studying planetary formation' and could help shed light on how our own Solar System formed.

'This star probably hasn't had time to form small, rocky planets yet,' said Barclay.

'It gives us a chance to get a picture of what might have happened before our own terrestrial planets like Earth and Venus formed.'

Since first identifying the flaring behaviour of the star in the 1970s, scientists have wondered whether AU Mic was host to planets.

Its host star, AU Microscopii, is about half the size of the Sun and still has its disc of proto-planetary debris - out of which this gaseous planet would have formed

In the 2000s, astronomers observed a large disc of dust and gas surrounding the star, a remnant of its formation.

Then, in 2018, a research team led by Peter Plavchan, detected the first 'signals' of a planet orbiting AU Mic using Nasa's planet-hunting spacecraft TESS.

These observations were confirmed by Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope in 2019.

Jonathan Gagne, a scientific adviser at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium in Montreal, Canada, who is also an author on the study, said AU Mic is a small star about half the mass of our Sun.

'These stars generally have very strong magnetic fields, which make them very active,' said Gagne, adding that would explain the flaring identified in the 1970s.

He said that flaring nature also explains in part why it took researchers nearly 15 years of observations to actually detect an exoplanet.

'The numerous spots and eruptions on the surface of AU Mic hampered its detection, which was already complicated by the presence of the disc,' said Gagne.

By analysing the amount of light blocked by the planet AU Mic b as it passed in front of its host star, scientists were able to calculate its size and orbit period.

Dr Barclay, who is also an associate project scientist for TESS, said the dips in brightness tell you a lot about the size of a planet.

'Measuring how regularly spaced the transits are tells us how long it takes the planet to go around the star,' he said.

The team determined that AU Mic b is the size of Neptune, has a mass of no more than 58 Earths, and completes an orbit of AU Mic every 8.5 days.

Mercury - the closest planet to the Sun - orbits our star every 88 days.

As part of the next steps, the researchers want to learn more about the atmosphere of AU Mic b, which lies in the southern constellation Microscopium.

Dr Barclay said: 'It may well be losing its atmosphere at a rate that we can see. It might even appear somewhat teardrop-shaped.

'The planet is moving and leaving some of its atmosphere behind. So we're going to go and look for that.'

Determining the atmosphere's components could also identify where the planet formed as some substances only exist at a certain distance from a star.

As the planet is still in its infancy the researcher hope to be able to use the discovery to better understand how planets form in the earliest years of a star system

Located less than 32 light-years from Earth, AU Microscopii is among the youngest planetary systems ever observed by astronomers, and its star throws vicious temper tantrums. NASA created this classic SciFi style poster to celebrates this discovery

This would provide clues about how it had moved since it first came into being - offering insights on how planets form and migrate in a new star system.

Dr Barclay said AU Mic b is likely to be primarily comprised of gases much like the gas giants in our system like Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus - but hotter.

He added: 'Understanding the migration of planets is a really difficult problem.

'One of the fun things and one of the most frustrating things about studying stars is that we can never go to them,' said Barclay.

'So this discovery is just one more puzzle piece in trying to understand what's going on' in the universe and how we got to be where we are today.

AU Mic is also particularly useful for understanding how stars and planets interact with the debris and gas from which they form, the authors said.

Very few systems like AU Mic are known and even fewer are known to be as close to the Earth as this one is.

Not only is the detection of exoplanets difficult in these systems, but they are also very rare because a system's period of planetary formation is relatively short compared to the life of a star, the authors wrote.

The team determined that AU Mic b is the size of Neptune, has a mass of no more than 58 Earths, and completes an orbit of AU Mic every 8.5 days

Named AU Mic b, NASA scientists say the infant planet is about 30,000 miles wide and was discovered by the Transitioning Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)

As the planet is still in its infancy the researcher hope to be able to use the discovery to better understand how planets form in the earliest years of a star system

The AU Mic system is close to Earth and therefore appears brighter, allowing astrophysicists to observe it with a range of instruments.

One of these instruments is the SPIRou spectrograph - which allows astronomers to better distinguish the effects of stellar activity often confused with planetary signals.

Etienne Artigau, a project scientist at Universite de Montreal said this allowed them to determine the mass of the planet and discover it is a 'Neptune twin'.

AU Mic is part of an association of young stars that formed at about the same time in the same region of space.

Beta Pictoris, the star that gives its name to this association, also has a disc of proto-planetary gas and dust as well as two known planets.

Both that star and its planets are however considerably more massive - 1.75 times the mass of the Sun, and 11 and nine times the mass of Jupiter, respectively.

They do not appear to have evolved in the same way as AU Mic and its planet.

Studying these two systems, which have many characteristics in common, scientists can compare two very different scenarios of planetary formation.

Over time, and through further observations, the team hope to be able to understand the nature of early planetary formation and whether planets move out from the centre or form in place.

The research is published in the journal Nature.
Rantoul, IL (61866)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then some snow showers after midnight. Low 23F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then some snow showers after midnight. Low 23F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.


BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - German engineering group Bilfinger (BFLBY.PK) said that a large majority of its shareholders voted in favor of the settlement with former Executive Board members at virtual Annual General Meeting.



The company noted that the settlement has ended the company's assertion of claims for damages against twelve former Executive Board members and has a total volume of 18.2 million euros. In addition to the waiver of salary claims, Bilfinger will receive an amount of 16.75 million euros from the D&O insurers in the near future.



A further resolution of the Annual General Meeting related to the election of Bettina Volkens and Robert Schuchna as shareholder representatives to the Supervisory Board of Bilfinger SE.



Volkens and Schuchna succeed Nicoletta Giadrossi and Jens Tischendorf, who stepped down from their positions at the Annual General Meeting.



In light of the uncertain environment, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board proposed to the Annual General Meeting a dividend of 0.12 euros per share - the minimum amount as required by law. The Annual General Meeting voted in favor of this proposal with a large majority.



The company continues to anticipate the gradual recovery of its business in the second half of the year and remain committed to its financial targets for 2024.



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Due to the effects of the Coronavirus crisis, SunExpress decided at a shareholder meeting today to bundle its traffic into one AOC (Air Operator Certificate) in the future and to focus on holiday flights from the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) to Turkey and on domestic flights within Turkey. The flight operations of SunExpress Deutschland, a subsidiary of the Turkish SunExpress, will be discontinued shortly and an orderly liquidation process will be prepared.

The strategically appropriate decision to focus exclusively on our core business is also a bitter one. For all those affected, this is sad news, which was the result of a comprehensive and intensive evaluation of the situation. At the same time, this represents an important step for the future to strengthen the market position of SunExpress during the crisis and to emerge even stronger from the crisis. We are taking responsibility for our approximately 1,200 employees who are affected by trying our best to work out possible solutions in the upcoming weeks through having constructive discussions with our employees and social partners. We have found solutions for our passengers and will operate a majority of the SunExpress Deutschland flights via our Turkish SunExpress AOC as well as airline partners such as Eurowings, said Max Kownatzki, Chief Executive Officer of SunExpress.

SunExpress has been one of the largest airlines operating touristic and ethnic traffic between Germany and Turkey for over 30 years. In the future, the airline will focus on its strengths within the Turkish tourism business and as the home carrier for Antalya and Izmir.

With a centralized route network, a consolidated fleet and merged flight operations, we will secure the airlines competitiveness and future viability and remain a strong and reliable partner for travel agencies, tour operators and our direct customers. We believe in a strong comeback of tourism to Turkey and in the strong, established relations between Germany, Europe and Turkey and will expand our flight schedule further over the upcoming weeks to meet demand, Max Kownatzki continued.

In total, more than 90% of SunExpress Deutschland passengers are offered an alternative flight on flights operated by airline partners. Customers will be automatically rebooked and informed regarding flights that will be taken over by the Turkish SunExpress. In addition, reservations will also be rebooked on Eurowings and other airline partners so that passengers can fly to their holiday destinations this summer. Passengers who have existing bookings with SunExpress Deutschland which cannot be rebooked will automatically receive a refund for the full ticket fare. Customers should contact SunExpress Customer Service if they have any questions about cancellations or rebooking options.

Image Credit:  SunExpress
It's "impossible to tell" what capacity childcare providers will have when they are due to reopen next week after coronavirus restrictions are lifted, TDs have been warned.

Creches and other childcare providers are due to reopen on Monday but doubt has been cast on their capacity to take the children of essential frontline workers and other parents who need the service.

At the Dail's Special Committee on Covid-19 Response, Fianna Fail TD Norma Foley asked childcare organisations about the capacity that will be available.

Marian Quinn, chairperson of the Association of Childcare Professionals, said: "Unfortunately it's pretty much impossible to tell."

She said some providers have said they will be open at perhaps 60pc to 70pc capacity but typically the majority of services do not open in July and August. She said parents generally relied on summer camps or family members such as grandparents during the summer.

Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy asked about children of frontline workers and if the childcare groups were satisfied there would be capacity for them.

"Not necessarily because unfortunately there was a significant reliance on family and grandparents," Ms Quinn said. "There's not going to be enough services working, going to be able to open next week, in order to take up that capacity."

Some providers that don't usually open in the summer may do so.

Fergal Lynch, the secretary general of the Department of Children, later said: "Estimating likely demand for the childcare services between June 29 and early September is a significant challenge."

He suggested demand may be lower to start off with but may rise as parents return to work "and feel greater confidence regarding the safety of their children".

In response to questions from Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, the department's assistant secretary Bernie McNally said she believed the supports offered to providers would see the majority of creches that opened in July and August last year open for the same months this year.

She added: "The feedback we're getting is the package that we put together is actually broadly meeting needs."

Separately, People Before Profit TD Brid Smith argued that Ireland needed to introduce the kind of childcare model seen in Nordic countries.

Frances Byrne of Early Childhood Ireland said there should be Scandinavian levels of investment, which she suggested would cost 2bn.
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In an experiment performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratorys 88-inch cyclotron, a team of physicists successfully created a new isotope of the human-made element mendelevium.

Mendelevium, a synthetic radioactive element of the actinide family with the symbol Md and atomic number 101, was first created by Berkeley Lab scientists in 1955.

The newly-created isotope, mendelevium-244, is the 17th and lightest form of mendelevium.

It was challenging to discover this new isotope of mendelevium because all of the neighboring mendelevium isotopes have very similar decay properties, said team leader Dr. Jennifer Pore, a scientist in the Nuclear Science Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

In total, Dr. Pore and colleagues measured the properties of 10 atoms of mendelevium-244.

They found evidence that the new isotope has two separate chains of decay, each leading to a different half-life: 0.4 second and 6 seconds, based on different energy configurations of particles in its nucleus.

Central to the discovery of mendelevium-244 was an instrument at the 88-inch cyclotron called FIONA (For the Identification Of Nuclide A).

The most important tool that we had in this discovery was FIONA, Dr. Pore said.

The team used FIONA to precisely measure the mass number of mendelevium-244.

We built FIONA to enable discoveries like this one, and it is exciting to see this instrument hitting its stride, said Dr. Barbara Jacak, Nuclear Science Division director at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Isotope discoveries are cyclical and depend on new accelerators and major advances in experimental equipment development, added Michigan State Universitys Professor Michael Thoennessen.

To ensure that FIONAs measurements were accurate, the researchers first measured the decay properties and mass numbers of known mendelevium isotopes, including mendelevium-247, mendelevium-246, and mendelevium-245.

Once we were confident that we were well-versed in the properties of these light mendelevium isotopes, we attempted the experiment to discover the previously unobserved isotope mendelevium-244, Dr. Pore explained.

Without the direct confirmation that we had produced an isotope with a mass number of 244, it would have been very difficult to disentangle the results and prove the discovery.

In addition to discovering mendelevium-244, the scientists found the first evidence for the alpha decay process of berkelium-236, an isotope of berkelium, as it transforms into americium-232, a slightly lighter isotope.

Their results were published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

_____

J.L. Pore et al. 2020. Identification of the New Isotope 244Md. Phys. Rev. Lett 124 (25): 252502; doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.252502
The pandemic has hit TIFF hard, but weve responded by going back to our original inspiration  to bring the very best in film to the broadest possible audience, said Cameron Bailey, co-head and artistic director. Our teams have had to rethink everything, and open our minds to new ideas.
1. Yes. Too many kids are staying home. They need a virtual learning option to keep up.

2. Yes. Teachers are out sick and subs cant handle the load. Online learning is needed.

3. No. Its too late in the school year to make a wholesale switch in teaching platforms.

4.No. Many parents arent in a position to stay home while their kids learn virtually.

5. Unsure. It may seem like a good idea from a health standpoint, but it has shortcomings.

Vote

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Nevada Defies Trump On Californian Car Pollution Rules

Silver State goes all in on Clean Cars Initiative

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, announced Monday that the state is planning to adopt the tough vehicle emission standards of its neighbor, California. Sisolak said that Nevadas Clean Cars Nevada Initiative is designed to offer Nevadans more choice in terms of less-polluting cars and trucks.

In a statement, Sisolak said that Nevada must accelerate efforts to combat climate change while offering sustainable transportation options for Nevadans. Now is the time to set a new trajectory that will lead to healthier communities across the Silver State and establish Nevada as a leader in the clean transportation economy, he said.

Im proud to announce @NevDCNR is developing a #CleanCarsNevada regulation to provide Nevadans w/more choices for purchasing low/zero emission vehicles. #CleanCarsNevada is critical to advance a healthy, resilient, climate-friendly future #NevClimateAction pic.twitter.com/YPv85ZUA3g  Governor Sisolak (@GovSisolak) June 22, 2020

According to the statement from Nevadas Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the new regulations will not require anyone to give up their current vehicle or choose one that does not work for their lifestyle or business needs.

In September, the Trump administration issued a final action referred to as the One National Program Rule, which enabled the federal government to define a uniform set of fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards for cars and light trucks across the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), This action makes clear that federal law preempts state and local tailpipe greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards as well as zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandates.

Joined by 22 other states and the District of Columbia, California subsequently sued the Trump administration in an attempt to ensure California could continue to set its own tailpipe emissions standards.

The Trump Administration is revoking Californias Federal Waiver on emissions in order to produce far less expensive cars for the consumer, while at the same time making the cars substantially SAFER. This will lead to more production because of this pricing and safety  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2019

In a twitter post at the time, President Trump said that There will be very little difference in emissions between the California Standard and the new U.S. Standard, but the cars will be far safer and much less expensive. Many more cars will be produced under the new and uniform standard, meaning significantly more JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! Automakers should seize this opportunity because without this alternative to California, you will be out of business.

Led by California, however, a group of states that includes Washington, Minnesota, and New Mexico have continued to seek to adopt Californias more stringent emissions rules. Taken together, the group of states accounts for around 40 percent of U.S. vehicle sales.

An electric car is plugged into a public charging station in El Monte, Calif. on Sept. 22, 2014. (Eric Zhang/Epoch Times)

Bradley Crowell, Director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said that more efficient cars would provide cleaner air and healthier living conditions for the people of Nevada.

Dr. Kristen Averyt, Nevadas State Climate Policy Coordinator, said that she believes reducing air pollution and reducing carbon dioxide emissions requires aggressive action. Putting more Nevadans behind the wheel of low and no emissions vehicles is one of the many solutions we will be identifying as part of the State of Nevada Climate Initiative, she said.

Pam Kiely, Senior Director of Regulatory Strategy for the Environmental Defense Fund, said that Nevadas transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state and a major contributor to harmful air pollutionstepping up action in this sector is essential.

Divided Opinions

The Trump administration proposes maintaining automobile emission standards at 2021 levels until 2025. Under administration standards set under the Obama administration, new vehicles would have to achieve 30 mpg in real-world driving conditions by 2021, and 36 mpg in 2025. Current standards demand a fuel efficiency of 26 mpg.

According to the current administration, freezing fuel economy levels will reduce average new car prices by up to $2,700 by 2025. Making these newer cars more affordable will make road travel safer by ensuring that more road users are driving newer cars, while boosting manufacturing in the automotive sector, the administration says.

The EPA Administrator, Andrew Wheeler, said that One national standard provides much-needed regulatory certainty for the automotive industry and sets the stage for the Trump Administrations final SAFE rule that will save lives and promote economic growth by reducing the price of new vehicles to help more Americans purchase newer, cleaner, and safer cars and trucks.

Environmental groups, however, believe savings to consumers may be offset somewhat by higher fuel costs per mile if standards remain frozen at 2021 levels.

By virtue of a congressional waiver, the Clean Air Act of 1970 granted California the authority to set its own emission standards. With the most cars of any state, California continued to face unique smog and air quality issues. The administration of President George W. Bush denied Californias proposal to introduce stringent greenhouse gas standards for cars and trucks. However, the state asked the EPA to reconsider, and the proposal was accepted in 2009 during the presidency of Barack Obama.

The EPA is currently seeking to withdraw the 2013 Clean Air Act waiver that allowed California to pursue its own tailpipe greenhouse gas emission and fuel economy standards, and zero-emission vehicle mandate.
The Electoral Commission has been sued again over its decision to compile an electoral roll  the third of such a legal challenge over the controversial matter.



The latest lawsuit has been filed by the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman Constituency, Ernest Nogbey, and is praying the Accra Court to give an order that the Electoral Commission does not have the mandate to compile a new register.



Two suits have already been filed against the Commission over the matter.



The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and one Mr Mark Takyi-Banson, a private citizen, have both gone to court seeking to stop the EC from going ahead with a new electoral roll for the December 2020 general elections.



While the NDC and Mr Takyi-Banson have gone to the Supreme Court, the latest lawsuit has been filed at the Accra High Court.



The NDC and Mr Takyi-Banson are seeking that the Supreme Court exercises its power of interpretation and enforcement to compel the Electoral Commission to not compile a new register, to allow the use of voters ID card and birth certificate if the court allows the EC to do so, as proof of identification.



The latest case filed by Mr Norgbey is seeking a judicial review and is asking the High Court to restrain the EC from undertaking the exercise.



The legislator also wants the High Court to rule that the current voters register until revoked by a law passed by Parliament, is the only register that can be used for the conduct of the 2020 election.



The two previous lawsuits have been slated for hearing on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, and the new case filed by Mr Norgbey is due at the High Court on Monday, June 29.

Source: Ghanaweb









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Angelo Colon-Ortiz is renewing his effort to have DNA evidence thrown out in the case against him after he was charged with murder in the killing of Vanessa Marcotte in 2016.

Defense attorney Eduardo Masferrer filed a motion in Worcester Superior Court this week seeking the suppression of DNA seized from Colon-Ortiz on March 16, 2017. The lawyer also wants any results from the testing of that DNA to be thrown out.

Masferrer requested a hearing on the motion.

Marcotte, a 27-year-old Google employee who lived in New York, was visiting her mothers home in Princeton in August 2016 when she went out for a jog. She never returned home, and her body was found on Aug. 7, 2016 in the woods off Brooks Station Road, not far from her mothers home.

Massachusetts State Police investigators searching for a suspect went to Colon-Ortizs residence in Worcester on March 16, 2017, to obtain Colon-Ortizs DNA through a cheek swab test.

Through his lawyer, Colon-Ortiz argues the DNA waiver form he was given was improperly and inadequately translated into Spanish and did not properly state the rights being waived or that consent was being given to police to obtain a DNA sample.

The motion further contends the trooper translating the conversation did not adequately or sufficiently translate the conversation between Colon-Ortiz and law enforcement.

The defendant did not understand the trooper charged with translating the conversation between the defendant and state troopers, nor did he understand the DNA form, Masferrer wrote. As a result, the defendant could not freely or voluntarily consent to the collection of his DNA.

The defense lawyer contends the DNA evidence was not obtained through consent and therefore was collected unlawfully.

Colon-Ortiz had filed a similar motion in December 2018 through another attorney. A hearing never took place on that motion to suppress the DNA evidence because Colon-Ortiz changed lawyers.

Colon-Ortiz pleaded not guilty in July 2017 after he was arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on a murder charge.

Vanessa Marcotte was killed in August 2017 while going for a jog in Princeton. She was a 27-year-old Google employee.

In his previous motion to suppress the DNA evidence, Colon-Ortiz wrote that while he is a United States citizen, he was born in Puerto Rico and he does not speak, read or understand English.

Colon-Ortiz wrote that on March 16, 2017, two big white officers from the State Police went to his residence with someone else who spoke a version of Spanish that was strange to me.

His girlfriend, Rachel Lozada-Vega, had to assist in translating between the Spanish speaker and Colon-Ortiz, the affidavit reads.

I had only recently returned to my home from work when the officers arrived at my home. I was tired, the affidavit reads. They stated that they were investigating all Latinos in Massachusetts and were looking for a black vehicle. At this point Rachael, who I refer to as my wife, stated that her vehicle was green.

In the motion filed in 2018, Colon-Ortiz said troopers asked if he was familiar with Princeton and said they were performing DNA testing in connection with a murder there, according to the affidavit.

I was given a piece of paper to sign, Colon-Ortiz said. I did not read it and did not understand that I was signing a consent to allow them to obtain a sample of saliva from my mouth.

Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. discusses the Vanessa Marcotte case in 2017.

He believed he had no choice but to give the sample.

Marcotte would have turned 31 this month. The Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation held their annual 5K run on her birthday weekend.

If you knew Vanessa, you know its exactly how shed want to spend her birthday, the foundation wrote in a June 17 Facebook post. She loved running, being outside, and giving back to the community.

Related Content:
The project will be the first wireless high-powered charging system for electric taxis in the world and by providing a fully automatic charging infrastructure model that can be implemented almost anywhere, it will help the rapid adoption of electric vehicles globally.

Fortum Recharge, who will be supporting the installation and electrification of the project, identified the need for a more efficient charging experience for taxi drivers in Oslo and enlisted the support of Momentum Dynamics in integrating the wireless charging infrastructure.

Jaguar Land Rover will provide 25 Momentum-outfitted Jaguar I-PACE models to Cabonline, the largest taxi network in the Nordics. The brand's performance SUV has been designed to enable Momentum Dynamic's wireless charging technology, making it the ideal vehicle to drive the initiative. A team of engineers and technicians from both Momentum Dynamics and Jaguar Land Rover were engaged to help in testing the solution, and Cabonline signed up to operate the fleet as part of Oslo's ElectriCity programme.

For usage efficiency, Taxi drivers need a charging system that does not take them off route during their working hours. Multiple charging plates rated at 50-75 kilowatts each, are installed in the ground in series at pick-up-drop-off points. This allows each equipped taxi to automatically charge while queuing for the next fare. The system, which uses no cables and is situated below ground, requires no physical connection between charger and vehicle, engages automatically and provides on average 6-8 minutes of energy per each charge up to 50kW.

The taxi then receives multiple charges throughout the day on its return to the rank, maintaining a high battery state of charge and the ability to remain in 24/7 service without driving range restrictions.

The Oslo ElectriCity partnership is part of Momentum's vision of 'Clean Streets', a goal that enables EV charging without adding undesirable street clutter to urban environments.

Momentum Dynamics CEO Andy Daga said, "This is a technology breakthrough moment in the development of wireless charging for all communities. By providing unlimited driving range our system enables Oslo cab drivers to stay in revenue service all day. We are pleased that the system was integrated by Momentum and Jaguar Land Rover engineers into the I-PACE in a matter of weeks, even with the difficulties of COVID-19. This project perfectly outlines the automatic electric taxi charging model for any city looking to implement zero emission transportation."

Oslo will be the world's first metropolitan area to install wireless, induction-based high-powered charging stations for electric taxis, in a bid to make its cab system emission free as early as 2024. Norway wants to go even further however, and is mandating that all new cars sold in the country by 2025 are zero emission.

Arild Hermstad, the City of Oslo's Vice Mayor for Environment and Transport, said: "We're delighted to welcome private enterprises to help us to turn our vision into reality.

"As part of our commitment to reducing emissions by 95 per cent before 2030, we have put many exciting measures in place, but transport continues to be a key challenge. By improving infrastructure and providing better charging to the taxi industry, we are confident that by 2024 all taxis in Oslo will be zero emission. To reach our goal, the public sector, politicians and private enterprises must come together, as we do in this project."

Editor's notes:

About Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK's largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands. Land Rover is the world's leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles. Jaguar is one of the world's premier luxury marques, as well as being the first ever brand to offer a premium all-electric performance SUV, the Jaguar I-PACE.

At Jaguar Land Rover we are driven by a desire to deliver class-leading vehicles, providing experiences people love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe and in 2019 we sold 557,706 vehicles in 127 countries.

We employ 40,000 people globally and support around 250,000 more through our retailer network, suppliers and local businesses. At heart we are a British company, with two major design and engineering sites, three vehicle manufacturing facilities, an Engine Manufacturing Centre and soon to be opened Battery Assembly Centre. We also have vehicle plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria and Slovakia. Three of our seven technology hubs are in the UK  Manchester, Warwick (NAIC) and London  with additional sites in Shannon, Ireland, Portland, USA, Budapest, Hungary and Changshu, China.

We have a growing portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid vehicles, as well as continuing to offer the latest diesel and petrol engines, giving our customers even more choice.

We are confident that our comprehensive strategy, exciting pipeline of market-leading vehicles and innovative approach to technology and mobility will see us continue to progress towards Destination Zero, our mission to shape future mobility with zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion.

About City of Oslo

The City of Oslo is responsible for a wide range of matters, including education, cultural institutions and events, health care services, social services and urban renewal, including local roads, local transport, environmental issues and urban planning.

By 2020, all public transport in Oslo will use renewable energy, and all public transport must be emissions-free by 2028. That will be beneficial for the climate, local environment, urban development and public health. In the long term, emissions-free solutions will also be the most cost effective. The trams and subways are already powered with renewable energy, and the electrification of bus and boat in Oslo is under way, with exceptional transport, such as minibuses and taxis, to be emissions-free by 2024.

About Cabonline

Cabonline is the leading taxi company in the Nordic region with 3,000 connected taxi firms and approximately 5,700 vehicles in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. Cabonline contains a series of well-known brands, such as TaxiKurir, Norgestaxi, TOPCAB, Kovanen, Taxi Skane, Taxi Vast, Umea Taxi, Sverigetaxi and Taxi 4x27. Through Cabonline, taxi firms have access to attractive customer agreements, support from industry-leading technological development and utilization of economies of scale, efficient service and a shared infrastructure. The Group has revenue of approximately SEK 6.5 billion and performs about 45,000 journeys per day. For further information: www.cabonlinegroup.com.

About Momentum Dynamics

Momentum Dynamics is the market-leading original technology developer of efficient automatic wireless charging systems for the automotive and transportation industries with real-world technology in operation that proves the capability and need for fast, automated opportunity charging of electric vehicles. In transit bus applications, Momentum's system has been proven through years of service at effective power levels of over 300 kW and the system is capable of delivering 450 kW. Momentum Dynamics practices world-class technology innovation and is recognized for the unique expertise of its engineers and scientists. Momentum was named a winner of the 2019 Emerging Technology Award from Mechanical Engineering Magazine. Momentum's wireless charging technology, which can be used with any type of vehicle, has established itself as the market model for wireless charging technology through its proven performance in commercial applications since 2013.

About Fortum Recharge

Recharge is a pioneer in the eMobility industry, operating a public EV charging network under the brand of Fortum Charge & Drive since 2011. Recharge is a leading charge point operator in the Nordics, owning more than 1,300 public chargers and operating an additional 1,400 chargers in Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The Nordic countries are among the most advanced and fasted growing EV markets globally, and Recharge supports the transition to an all-electric car fleet by offering easy-to-use and reliable EV charging services at attractive locations. Recharge is owned by Infracapital, the infrastructure equity investment arm of M&G Plc (63%) and Fortum, the clean-energy company (37%). M&G Plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange as a FTSE 100 constituent and is one of the largest investment management companies in the UK.

Jaguar Land Rover PR social channels:

Twitter: @JLR_News

For more information visit www.media.jaguarlandrover.com

www.momentumdynamics.com

www.rechargeinfra.com

www.norgestaxi.no

SOURCE Momentum Dynamics Corporation

Related Links

http://www.momentumdynamics.com


Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Peter Killeen, a police psychotherapist, has a unique and extensive background in the law enforcement field. A former Port Authority Police Officer and Franciscan Friar, Peter is a renowned expert on police stress and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He credits his expertise from his extensive exposure to trauma following his four years of work dealing with the attacks on September 11, 2001 when his depart, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, lost 37 officers that day.

Peter Killeen holds a Master?s in Counseling Psychology, as well as a Master?s in Theology. He has been host and Executive Producer of, The Police Connection: a weekly call-n radio talk show in New York City. Killeen has also developed a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit fund to help police officers recover from trauma and lend financial support for legal expenses incurred in the line-of-duty. He is a nationally recognized stress management specialist, and is licensed as an alcohol/drug counselor.

Mr. Killeen currently consults with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Unions, the Bureau of Alcohol, tobacco and Firearms, The Drug enforcement Administration and state and local police agencies. He is the author of the ?Dylan McFeely Novel Series?. He is a much sought after guest for radio and TV, notably, CNN Headline News, Fox News and CNBC.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
Berlin, June 24 : Actor Keanu Reeves made a rare appearance with his girlfriend Alexandra Grant as he headed off to meet his co-stars of "The Matrix 4".

The couple was seen at Berlin's Schonefeld Airport, reports mirror.co.uk.

Filming of the fourth part of the cult franchise came to a halt in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now that the lockdown has been relaxed or lifted in many countries, filmmakers have been able to resume shooting.

Reeves was seen smiling widely as he and his girlfriend met up with his co-stars Neil Patrick Harris and Carrie-Ann Moss.

Reeves and Grant made the relationship public in November, though they have known each other for a while now. They worked together for the first time in 2011, when they collaborated on the book "Ode To Happiness".

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hiperbaric, a multinational company, has more than 250 customers worldwide that use HPP equipment to process their products.

Calavo Growers, Inc., a leading global avocado and guacamole producer, has acquired Hiperbarics 300th high pressure processing (HPP) machine, for its Mexico production facility.

The Hiperbaric 300 is one of the most economically competitive HPP machines, with a capacity of 3,100 lbs. per hour. With this additional capacity, Calavo Growers, Inc. is able to continue scaling and increase its avocado operation.

Hiperbaric, the global leader in HPP technology, reaffirms its leadership, as it holds the largest portfolio of HPP machines installed worldwide, with more than 250 customers and 60% market share. Equipment reliability, personalized attention by its technicians, after-sales and applications departments, as well as extensive product research and engineering developments, has positioned Hiperbaric as a global leader in HPP technology.

In addition to this milestone, Hiperbaric recently celebrated the January 2020 installation of the first Hiperbaric 525 Bulk Hiperbaric's exclusive HPP technology for beverages - at the French company Ateliers Hermes Boissons (AHB), and the November 2019 expansion of its facilities in Burgos, Spain.

We are proud of this accomplishment and that Calavo, one of the pioneers in the avocado industry, trusts Hiperbaric as their HPP partner. As a former professional in the avocado industry, I am proud to see the growth and solidification of this industry, as well as advances in avocado preservation. Hiperbaric's HPP technology allows producers to create safe, great-tasting, nutritious products, without preservatives, while extending shelf life," says Roberto Peregrina, director, Hiperbaric USA.

Calavo Foods, the companys processed products division, manufactures nearly 100 patented brands and flavors of fresh-frozen and refrigerated guacamoles using high pressure processing technology in its 90,000-square-foot facility.

Calavo is synonymous with quality because we have always been one step ahead in all production areas, in defining standards for avocado handling, and the implementation of HPP, which guarantees the safe production of healthy and tasty guacamole, with a shelf life of 50 days.

Partnering with Hiperbaric has been one more step towards providing high-quality avocado products, said Ron Araiza, Vice President, Foods Division.

Calavo becomes part of a long list of companies around the world, which have benefited from the added value that Hiperbaric brings in its industrial equipment and customer service.

Twenty years ago, the Burgos meat manufacturer, Campofrio, acquired the first horizontal HPP

equipment in the world, a Hiperbaric 300. This first machine industrialized a technology that until then was almost exclusively used in laboratories.

Today, hundreds of international brands and products are sold thanks to Hiperbaric's HPP technology. The company offers the most advanced and reliable range of equipment on the market to produce innovative, safe and minimally processed foods and beverages that maintain their shape and nutritional and sensory characteristics.

Companies worldwide have relied on Hiperbaric They include beverage producers Evolution Fresh, Raw Pressery and PreshaFruit, to RTE meal companies The Soup Spoon and Villa Food, to seafood processors that use HPP for meat extraction like Seafarers and Cinq Degres Ouest.

"These 20 years of innovation and growth have given rise to interesting synergies and collaborations around the world and many more will follow, because satisfying the present and future needs of our clients is our driving force," said Andres Hernando, Hiperbaric CEO.

About Hiperbaric

Formed in 1999, Hiperbaric designs, develops, produces and markets its high pressure processing equipment internationally. The company is recognized for its trust, customer support, teamwork and continuous R&D efforts.

Hiperbaric has installed more than 300 machines in more than 40 countries across five continents, making them the global leader in HPP technology with the most reliable and economic machines on the market. Hundreds of companies worldwide use Hiperbaric equipment to process juices and beverages, meat, fish and seafood, fruits and vegetables, dairy and ready-to-eat meals.

With headquarters in Burgos, Spain, a U.S. office in Miami, and commercial and technical offices in Mexico, Asia and Oceania, Hiperbaric continues to explore HPP technology with new applications in different industrial sectors.

For more information, visit http://www.hiperbaric.com.
The shift to the second stage of pension system  compulsory funded pensions  has sparked wide debate. This is due to the governments intention to introduce the funded system, which is recorded in the Cabinet's revised action program and the relevant bill, yet to be considered, as early as in 2021.

The main argument for the move is a disappointing short-term forecast regarding pensions: the World Bank believes only 40% of Ukrainian pensioners will meet the minimum insurance experience by 2030 and receive pensions in line with their salaries, while the rest will only be able to receive a minimum pension according to the existing joint system. The UN in turn says Ukraine is among the world's TOP 15 countries with the fastest aging population. The number of pensioners is growing, while the working-age population is on decline amid increasing labor migration. Meanwhile, those employed abroad pay no single social contribution and thus fail to contribute to pension accumulation.

Ukraine is among the world's TOP 15 countries with the fastest aging population

The Pension Fund, subsidized from the state budget, this year saw its deficit over UAH 170 billion. So today's youths who diligently pay their taxes have lower chances of gaining a full-fledged pension once they reach the retirement age.

The mandatory funded pension system is designed to regulate the process. According to the initiative proposed, employers and employees will have to equally deduct a certain percentage of an employee's salary to have these funds amassed in the individual cumulative account of a future pensioner  something widely practiced in many developed economies. Supporters of such a system are sure that this will provide decent payments to retirees by accumulating funds for additional payments to the standard pension under the joint system.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says government plans to gradually implement pension reform, which provides for the development of a funded pension system. According to him, this will give Ukrainians the opportunity to actually manage their retirement benefits in the future. And many young Ukrainians support this idea, starting to think about the future  the current situation where elderly Ukrainians get scanty pensions inspires no optimism among young people who want to have a more decent golden age.

Taught by the bitter experience of various financial pyramids, Ukrainians are highly suspicious of any long-term financial injections. But not everyone supports the innovation  many experts speak out sharply against the initiative. One of the arguments voiced by the opponents of the new system is the lack of confidence in the government's ability to control the fate of such a volume of funds for many years.

Taught by the bitter experience of various financial pyramids, Ukrainians are highly suspicious of any long-term financial injections

There is also an increase in the tax burden on the wage fund coming with the introduction of such deductions, which, in turn, could stimulate businesses to move further into the shadow, which is already a huge issue in Ukraine. Employers might move into the shadows not to pay even more taxes. The negative aspects of the funded system include ambiguity regarding the investment of accumulated funds  it is not yet clear where citizens' savings will be invested.

The arguments of both parties have the right to life and will lead to further discussions with the aim of developing a correct and effective pension strategy for Ukrainians. After all, the need to change or at least supplement the existing system has long been overdue. The deficit of the Pension Fund, its dependence on budgetary subsidies, along with crisis in the economy, as well as disappointing demographic forecasts  all this requires decisive action by those in power so that diligent taxpayers don't become hostage to the government's inability to provide decent pensions.

Kateryna Zhyriy
The death of Detective Colm Horkan is a reminder of the courage of Gardai in standing as the shield between danger and the communities they serve, according to Laois Offaly TD and Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan.

The Portlaoise based TD paid tribute to the Mayo native who lost his life last week in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

"Detective Horkans death is an all-too-painful reminder of the personal risks that Garda members take, while working to keep us safe. The women and men of An Garda Siochana, in their everyday duty, put the welfare of others ahead of themselves, as they work to shield us from harm and to connect our communities.

"While grounded in our communities, they courageously take on the burden of standing between us and danger. It is to them that we turn in times of crisis, including during the current pandemic," he said.

Minister Flanagan also paid tribute to all gardai who have died in the service of Ireland.

"Each of the 89 men on the Garda Roll of Honour died in the service of the State and for the people of Ireland. That is a debt that we can never fully repay, but it is one we will remember," he said.

Full text of Statement by Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan TD on the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan in the Dail on June 24.

There has been a national outpouring of shock and grief, in the days since the terrible loss of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who gave his life serving the State and protecting the community. We have come to learn of the man, so beloved of his family, his community and his Garda colleagues.

As Minister for Justice and Equality, I convey again my deepest condolences to Colms father Marty; to his sister and fellow public servant Deirdre, his brothers Aidan, Brendan, Dermot and Padraig; to his wider family and friends; and to all the women and men of An Garda Siochana who are heartbroken by his loss.

Detective Horkan served with distinction for 24 years as a Garda member. He was a proud Mayo man and a talented stalwart of his local GAA club, Charlestown Sarsfields, since his earliest days playing there as a boy.

We have all heard his colleagues and friends describe him as a man of the highest integrity, a peacemaker, a rock of sense and discretion who loved his job as a Garda. Throughout his exemplary service, he embodied that grassroots ethos shared by the GAA and the Gardai  commitment to family, community and country. As the Garda Commissioner said this week, he epitomised what all Garda members should strive to be.

Detective Horkans death is an all-too-painful reminder of the personal risks that Garda members take, while working to keep us safe. The women and men of An Garda Siochana, in their everyday duty, put the welfare of others ahead of themselves, as they work to shield us from harm and to connect our communities. While grounded in our communities, they courageously take on the burden of standing between us and danger. It is to them that we turn in times of crisis, including during the current pandemic.

Each of the 89 men on the Garda Roll of Honour died in the service of the State and for the people of Ireland.

That is a debt that we can never fully repay, but it is one we will remember.

When Colm Horkan passed out from Templemore in September 1995, his classmates included Detective Garda Adrian Donohue, who was murdered while on duty in January 2013. Also passing out that day were Garda Eoin Fitzgerald and Garda Ambrose Fogarty, killed while on duty in separate road traffic collisions in 1998 and 1999. And I know that Colms death has reignited painful memories for the tightknit community of Castlerea of the killing of Detective Garda John Morely and Garda Henry Byrne, just miles away in Ballaghadereen 40 years ago.

We remember them all today too, as we reflect on Colms tragic loss.

The families of our Gardai live daily with those burdens and worry. And my thoughts over the last seven days have been with all Garda families, those who heard the news last Thursday morning with fear and emotion, those whose hearts have broken in solidarity with the Horkan family in their loss. This tragic senseless loss increases the burden and worry for all the families and loved ones of our Gardai. We pay tribute to all of you for your support and sacrifice.

I know that our statements today cannot ease the pain the Horkan family is feeling for their fallen son, brother, cousin and uncle. But I hope they can take some comfort in the obvious respect and admiration for Colm that we saw in Charlestown on Sunday; and in the way that the whole country united with An Garda Siochana, with communities everywhere standing in silent tribute with their local Gardai, to honour Colm as he was laid to rest.

Detective Garda Colm Horkan lost his life doing a job that he loved, protecting and serving the community he loved. He represented the very best of An Garda Siochana and the best of us. We grieve for him and will remember his brave life, ended far too soon. May he rest in peace.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.
WASHINGTON - A federal prosecutor and another Justice Department official plan to tell Congress on Wednesday that Attorney General William Barr and his top deputies issued inappropriate orders amid investigations and trials "based on political considerations" and a desire to cater to President Donald Trump.

Aaron Zelinsky, an assistant U.S. attorney in Maryland formerly detailed to Robert Mueller III's Russia investigation, will tell the House Judiciary Committee that prosecutors involved in the criminal trial of Trump's friend Roger Stone experienced "heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to cut Stone a break" by requesting a lighter sentence, according to Zelinsky's prepared remarks. The expectation, he intends to testify, was that Stone should be treated "differently and more leniently" because of his "relationship with the President."

Zelinsky will be joined by John Elias, an official in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division, who will say that Barr ordered staff to investigate marijuana company mergers simply because he "did not like the nature of their underlying business," according to his prepared testimony.

As a result, the antitrust division launched 10 reviews of mergers in the marijuana industry, according to Elias's prepared remarks, and was ordered to probe a deal between major U.S. automakers and the state of California after Trump tweeted about it disparagingly. Months later, when the matter seemed near a close, political leaders ordered a subsequent investigation after California announced it would purchase vehicles only from automakers that complied with fuel efficiency standards, Elias's prepared testimony says.

Together, their accounts - which will be delivered under subpoena - are a damning indictment of Barr's management of the Justice Department, a tenure, House Democrats charge, defined by "unprecedented politicization." The testimony is expected to raise the stakes surrounding a subpoena the Judiciary Committee chair, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., has promised to issue for Barr's testimony early next month.

In a statement, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec took aim at Zelinsky, saying that Barr determined the sentencing recommendation for Stone proposed by him and his colleagues was "excessive and inconsistent with similar cases," and he thus directed Tim Shea, then the U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia, to "leave the sentencing to the discretion of the judge." She repeated, as she has in the past, that Barr did not discuss the matter with Trump or anyone at the White House before the president tweeted about the case, after which Barr intervened to reverse career prosecutors' recommendation.

"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. Zelinksy's allegations concerning the U.S. Attorney's motivation are based on his own interpretation of events and hearsay (at best), not firsthand knowledge," Kupec said. "The Attorney General stated during his confirmation hearing that it 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."

Democrats have long objected to Barr's stewardship of the Justice Department, listing among their grievances the attorney general's intervention in criminal matters of consequence to the president, his refusal to defend the Affordable Care Act in court, and his recent order to disperse protesters from outside the White House, which resulted in police using tear gas and horses to push back a largely nonviolent group.

But Barr has successfully evaded testifying before the Judiciary panel since Democrats took over the House majority in 2019 - despite being issued a subpoena last year and then being held in contempt upon defying it. Though Barr had agreed to testify in March as part of the panel's politicization probe, that session was scrapped because of the pandemic and never rescheduled.

The campaign to subpoena Barr gained momentum after the weekend firing of former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman, who prosecuted members of Trump's inner circle over the past two and a half years. But many, including Nadler, expect that Barr may still flout a summons to appear July 2.

If that happens, it is unclear what recourse may be available to Democrats. Nadler has ruled out attempting to impeach the attorney general, telling CNN over the weekend that such a move would be a "waste of time." And with only a handful of workweeks before Congress turns its focus to November's election, it is unlikely there would be time to seek court enforcement of a disregarded subpoena.

In the meantime, political disputes over the Justice Department continue raging on committee daises on both sides of the Capitol.

Late Monday, the House Judiciary Committee's top Republican, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, wrote Nadler to accuse him of "posturing" against Barr as retaliation against his work "to expose how the Obama-Biden Administration targeted" Trump's 2016 campaign. In the Republican-controlled Senate, the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee are looking into the origins of the FBI's Russia investigation, which became the foundation for Mueller's probe.

As Zelinsky and Elias speak to Barr's alleged transgressions, some of the cases they will cite as evidence are continuing to develop.

Zelinsky, who resigned in protest after his formal objections to the handling of Stone's case were ignored, is expected to testify that prosecutors were told "to water down and in some cases outright distort events that transpired in his trial, and the criminal conduct that gave rise to his conviction," in order to justify the lighter sentencing request.

He added that the U.S. attorney in charge of the prosecution agreed to give Stone "unprecedentedly favorable treatment because he was 'afraid of the President.' "

Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress, is supposed to report to prison on June 30 to begin serving his 40-month sentence. (Prosecutors had recommended between seven and nine years before they were overruled.)

On Tuesday, his defense team asked a judge to postpone that date, citing concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus in many detention facilities. In their filing, Stone's attorneys wrote that the U.S. attorney's office did not oppose a 60-day extension.

Trump has strongly hinted he will pardon his friend and former adviser.
Some of the UKs biggest financial firms acknowledge their role in slavery, but activists say that is not enough.

If theres one thing that foretold the City of Londons ambition to become the epicenter of finance it was the founding of the Royal Exchange almost 500 years ago.

The driving force behind the capitals first purpose-built center for trading stocks was Sir Thomas Gresham, whose legacy survives in the college, City street and law of economics that bear his name.

Less celebrated is the role of his prominent backer in the venture, Sir William Garrard: former Lord Mayor and pioneer of English involvement in the slave trade.

The City of London is interwoven with so many layers of history, from Roman to Medieval, Civil War and the age of empire, that the lives of the myriad figures who contributed to its status today are often obscured by time.

But with outside scrutiny comes the realization that many made their fortunes off the back of slavery and colonial oppression, a fact that is now being acknowledged by some of the financial districts most venerable names, shaking the foundations upon which many of these institutions were built.

The Bank of England apologized last week for some inexcusable connections to slavery by former governors. Barclays Plc is examining its own history. While we cant change whats gone before us, the bank is committed to do more to further foster our culture of inclusiveness, equality and diversity.

We understand that we cannot always be proud of our past, Lloyds of London, which began life insuring ships and their cargo in the late 17th century, said in a statement. In particular, we are sorry for the role played by the Lloyds market in the 18th and 19th century slave trade  an appalling and shameful period of English history, as well as our own.

Those cases were far from isolated.

According to Richard Drayton, professor of imperial history at Kings College London, Britain became the principal slaving nation of the modern world, with the City providing the finance to facilitate trade with the plantation colonies. This was big business, and the rich men of the City were in the thick of it, Drayton said in a lecture delivered in the Museum of London last October.

The triangle trade involved shipping manufactured goods to western Africa and exchanging them for human beings, who were transported in appalling conditions to the Caribbean and sold as slaves to work in the plantations.

The tobacco, rum and most of all the sugar that were the fruits of their forced labor were then taken back to Europe. The formation of the City of London was shaped significantly by sugar, said Nick Draper, one of the lead researchers on University College Londons groundbreaking Legacies of British Slave Ownership project. Merchants in London would advance credit to planters and guarantee remittances to slave traders so that London merchant houses became the center of this economic system built on Caribbean slavery.

That uncomfortable, probing questions are now being asked of the institutions that profited from the trade is down to the Black Lives Matter movement that began in the U.S. and crossed over the Atlantic, prompting a re-examining of the role of prominent figures with sometimes contradictory histories in London, but also in the mercantile cities of Liverpool, Bristol and Glasgow.

Walking through the warren of ancient streets lined with discrete Victorian facades and modern steel-and-glass towers that make up Londons Square Mile  effectively a city within a city  its possible to find echoes of that legacy.

Pubs with names like the Jamaica Wine House in St Michaels Alley, or the Sugar Loaf on Cannon Street  while both housed in 19th century buildings constructed after the abolition of slavery  hint at what came before.

The Sugarloaf Pub on Cannon Street in the City of London [June 23, 2020: Olivia Harris/Bloomberg]

Whereas in the Elizabethan age, financiers like Garrard invested in the voyages of glorified privateers, by the 17th century the trade was more developed, if no less barbaric.

Barbados became Englands first sugar producing colony in the 1640s, followed by Jamaica after it was seized from Spain. Cargoes of cane were landed at the sugar wharf beside the Tower of London at what is now Customs House. Cannon Street was the site of sugar refineries that helped fuel the rise of England, and after the union of 1707, Great Britain, to a world power.

In 1672 came the founding of the Royal African Company, an enterprise backed by the Crown that historian William Pettigrew has said shipped more enslaved African women, men and children to the Americas than any other single institution during the transatlantic slave trade.

Its shareholders included 15 Lord Mayors and 38 City of London council members known as Aldermen, according to Drayton. Edward Colston, whose statue was torn down and dumped in Bristol harbor this month, was a deputy governor. Its symbol  as stamped on guineas of the day made with African gold  was an elephant with a riding carriage, or houdah: the Elephant and Castle.

Its not known if the symbol bears any relation to the London landmark of the same name, such are the layers of juxtaposed history. Take the Lloyds building: Located off Leadenhall, it occupies the site of the headquarters of the former East India Company, which employed a private army to appropriate the subcontinents wealth. The East India Companys original marble fireplace was incorporated into the Foreign Office in Whitehall when it opened in 1868.

The Lloyds of London building is reflected in office windows [Olivia Harris/Bloomberg]

A Barclays bank branch in the City of London [Olivia Harris/Bloomberg]

The Guildhall off Moorgate, the ceremonial and administrative center of the City since the 15th century, illustrates the difficulty in unpicking and assigning guilt to institutions. Inside is a statue of William Beckford, a two-times Lord Mayor and owner of thousands of acres of Jamaican plantations worked by slaves. The Guildhall was also the scene of a court case over the killing of more than a hundred slaves at sea that spurred the anti-slavery movement, leading to full Abolition in 1833.

Even then, Drayton said, slavery continued for decades in other countries in the Americas. London was the close partner of the expansion of the cotton south in the United States, creating complex mortgage-backed securities which provided a paper veil for a new kind of slave-ownership, he said.

David Barclay, one of the founders of the eponymous bank, was a keen and committed advocate for abolition of the slave trade, even as his bank then in Lombard Street financed plantation mortgages, causing him to suffer a moral dilemma, according to the UCL slave ownership project.

The Citys institutions are now confronted with their own moral dilemma. Lloyds is among those to have pledged to invest in programs to attract and develop Black and Minority Ethnic talent. In 2018, 28% of the Citys workforce was of non-White origin. The City of London Corporation, the financial districts governing body, said it understands its not enough to say that we are against racism but we have to work to eradicate racism in all that we do.

Sajid Javid, the former chancellor of the exchequer, has spoken about his decision to leave the City for New York early in his career in part because of his ethnicity and class. The U.K. has come a long way since then, he told PBS. But we still need to make sure were not complacent and we keep tackling racial injustice wherever we find it.

Kehinde Andrews, a professor of Black studies at Birmingham City University, says the wealth generated then is still with us now, helping to perpetuate the racial divide. Its not past, its very much the present and a continuation, and the banks are one of the key drivers, he said. The idea they can just apologize and have some more diversity is frankly insulting.

The son of a father whose own parents came from Jamaica as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean immigrants invited to the U.K. after World War II, Dominic Burris-North has a personal connection to the dilemmas raised. He is one of just two qualified Blue Badge guides who provide tours of the City focusing on its historic ties to the slave trade. The reactions, he says, are predominantly shock, horror and dismay.

Its really hard to separate slavery from so many things that we know of in modern Britain, from the royal family to our galleries to the British Museum to the Bank of England to former prime ministers  all of these names, all of these institutions, he said. As more people start to understand and hear about these things, eventually there will be a reckoning.
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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 10:14 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406612d440 1 National Kawal-COVID-19,database,Gadjah-Mada-University,covid-19-task-force,epidemiologist,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,volunteers Free

Volunteers for crowdsourced database KawalCOVID-19 (Guard against COVID-19) have introduced an alertness index that shows specific data on COVID-19 cases in every city and regency in the country, amid the absence of comprehensive data from the government.

The index was presented in the form of a map marked with light to dark red. Regions with a high risk for COVID-19 transmission were colored dark red and vice versa.

In addition to identifying the risk index of cities and regencies, the map also features the number of confirmed cases, patients under surveillance (PDP) and people under monitoring (ODP), among other information, for each of the regions. It is set to be updated daily.

Read also: Volunteer army in Indonesia helps fight coronavirus with data, web

The national COVID-19 task force itself does not share the specific data on its distribution map, which can be accessed through covid19.go.id, as it only shows the number of positive cases in each province.

"At the end of the day, the public needs transparent data about their risks. With reliable and open data, they can cautiously decide whether to carry out an activity in the public sphere," said KawalCOVID-19 data team coordinator Ronald Bessie during an online discussion on Tuesday.

Gadjah Mada University epidemiologist Bayu Satria Wiratama, who also took part in the discussion, said the index by KawalCOVID-19 could also be used as "a control parameter" by regional administrations to better handle coronavirus transmissions in their respective jurisdictions.
Thirteen lawmakers in the Imo State House of Assembly have allegedly tested positive for COVID-19.

Recall that the samples of the lawmakers were taken by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) last week.

The spokesperson for the Imo State COVID 19 Task Force, Chimezie Iwuala, on Tuesday said the affected lawmakers had been instructed to go into self-isolation with their families.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Judiciary, Nelson Ezerioha, told our correspondent on the telephone that he didnt have the exact figure of his colleagues who tested positive for the virus.

The lawmaker said, The truth is that 26 out of the 27 of us, including the Speaker, were tested.

There are some of us who the NCDC told to go into self-isolation. I dont know the figure and I am not going to speak on that. I was told by NCDC officials that I am negative.

The latest development brought to 14, the lawmakers who had tested positive for COVID-19.
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.
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, June 25 2020

Indonesia and eight other countries grouped under the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) established on Tuesday a regional working group on fisheries management that aims to sustain marine welfare around the world's third-largest ocean amid and post COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative came from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Oman, Tanzania and Thailand; nine country members of IORA -- an international organization comprising 22 states bordering the Indian Ocean -- as well as from the IORA Fisheries Support Unit (FSU), a think-tank under the organization that focuses on fishery issues.

It was inaugurated on Tuesday through the 1st Meeting of IORA Cluster Group on Fisheries Management (CFGM) held virtually, in which the Indonesian delegation was represented by the Foreign Ministry and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry.

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The Deputy Executive Secretary of Ghana Free Zones Authority in charge of Tema enclave, Alhaji Habib Iddrisu who emerged as the Parliamentary Candidate of the New Patriotic Party in the Tolon Constituency at a meeting held on Monday 22 June, assured Party executives of prioritizing the development of the constituency.



Addressing the constituency executives and some party stalwarts in the constituency office at Tolon, he assured them of ensuring that the party significantly improves on its fortunes in the constituency and also ensure the infrastructure and human capacity of the constituency are developed for the benefit of all.



Alhaji Habib pulled 338 votes out of 542(62.36%), against the incumbent Hon. Wahab Wumbei Suhuyini, a two-time member of parliament pulled 164 votes, Alhaji Jagbo Baako pulled 10votes, Mohammed Zakaria 20 votes, and Hajia Amama Sayibu the only female in the contest managed with 2 votes.



Alhaji Habib was the former candidate of the party in the 2016 election at the Sagnerigu Constituency assured the Tolon executives of fostering unity to ensure a significant increase in the votes of the President in the constituency. He added, we can only succeed by uniting the party front, the reason, why I went further to meet and interact with all aspirants including the sitting MP a day after the primaries and I, have assured them of giving them roles to play for the seek of the party.



He also admonished the executive to put behind all the favoritisms and focus on the New Voter Register Registration and the main election since the primaries are over. As it stands, there is nothing like Alhaji Habibs camp or Hon. Wahabs camp, we are all one and we must see each other as one people to ensure the bigger goal which is securing the seat and working hard to ensure the Presidents 2nd term agenda is achieved. He then presented 2 new motorbikes to the Fulani communities and the constituency office.



The Tolon constituency houses the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) both in Nyankpala and one of the campuses of the University for Development Studies.



The constituency used to be a safer ground for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) since 1992 until it was snatched during the 2012 election by the NPP and consecutively retained again in 2016. Alhaji Habib will be facing off with the fresh candidate from the NDC, Yussif Adamu.



Alhaji Habibs Boss, Micheal Okyere Baafi also secured the nod to lead the New Patriotic Party in the New Juaben South constituency into the 2020 election after beating the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah in the primaries.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is likely to recommend cancellation of final year exams and semester exams in colleges and universities and further delay the academic calendar for the next session to October, according to sources. The decision is likey to be taken in the wake of rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank earlier in the day asked the UGC to revisit the guidelines issued earlier for intermediate and terminal semester examinations and academic calendar.

He took to social media and tweeted, "I have advised the @ugc_india to revisit the guidelines issued earlier for intermediate and Terminal Semester examinations and academic calendar. The foundation for revisited guidelines shall be health and safety students, teachers, and staff."

I have advised the @ugc_india to revisit the guidelines issued earlier for intermediate and Terminal Semester examinations and academic calendar. The foundation for revisited guidelines shall be health and safety students, teachers and staff.@PIB_India @MIB_India @DDNewslive  Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) June 24, 2020

The ministers announcement came amid speculations about the cancellation of the final semester exams. Notably, no official announcement has been made in this regard.

Since the April guidelines, several states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Haryana cancelled all higher education exams.

Notably, Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) and students have been opposing the decision of Delhi University to conduct online, open-book exams for weeks.

The minister's suggestion to the UGC is being considered as victory for students as well as teachers.
The University of Californias largest employee union staged protests across the state Wednesday, in response to recent layoff notices sent to campus service workers at UC San Diego and UC Riverside.

The protests at seven UC hospitals included UC San Francisco Helen Diller Medical Center and UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.

According to the union , the first layoff notices, a result of the coronavirus pandemic, went out in the past week to approximately 200 primarily food service workers. Those workers  mostly people of color, union officials said  would be laid off for at least 10 weeks, typically starting July 1 and stretching into the fall term.

They earn an annual salary of about $41,000 per year, according to the union, meaning the layoffs would save UC about $1.5 million. The system-wide budget is approximately $40 billion.

While our members perform the hard work of caring for patients and keeping students safe during this public health crisis, recent research has documented how UC does not need to resort to the types of austerity cuts that will hurt low income people of color the most, Kathryn Lybarger, president of the union, AFSCME 3299, said in a statement.

UCs morally bankrupt choice to cast aside these dedicated workers will not save money or help one more Californian get an education. Instead, it will condemn more of our states most vulnerable workers to poverty and insecurity in the midst of a pandemic.

These impending layoffs come in the wake of a similar decision at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. That school revealed plans in late May to lay off eight union employees (all people of color, union officials said).

The university lost $1.54 billion from mid-March  when schools abruptly moved classes online because of the pandemic  through the end of May, according to a UC statement released Wednesday. Most campuses plan to partially reopen this fall, though many classes will remain online.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

UC locations have been working hard to keep as many employees working as possible and to limit the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employees, including measures such as the system-wide job protection order and reassigning employees to other roles where possible, the university said in its statement. In situations where layoffs are necessary, most are due to lack of on-campus work and occur primarily at campuses. ...

With the recent and ongoing shift to remote operations due to the coronavirus pandemic, campuses need even fewer on-site staff in certain operational areas. Accordingly, a number of employees who dont have on-campus work right now are receiving layoff notices.

UC has imposed a hiring freeze and has frozen staff salaries during the pandemic, according to Wednesdays statement. President Janet Napolitano and campus chancellors also took a 10% pay cut.

Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkroichick@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ronkroichick
Public health experts agree business closures were necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus. But the Wolf administration has faced widespread criticism for how it carried out that shutdown. Read more

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HARRISBURG  On a Saturday in March, after Gov. Tom Wolf urged nonessential businesses to close, Cameron Peters turned off the lights in her flower shop on Phoenixvilles main street, pulled the candy-pink door closed, and started sobbing.

She was unsure when, or if, she would be able to come back. The picturesque downtown, normally bustling with activity, was eerily quiet.

I was locking the door on my dreams, she said.

Five days later, Wolf issued a sweeping order to close all but life-sustaining businesses, ensuring Peters flower shop and thousands of other businesses would remain closed indefinitely as part of some of the strictest shutdown rules in the nation.

Public health experts agree the move was necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. But the Wolf administration has faced widespread criticism for how it carried out the closures.

Central to those complaints were a lack of enforcement, allowing for wide variation in how businesses and competitors interpreted the rules, and a controversial waiver process decided entirely in secret, allowing certain businesses to reopen.

Those waivers, while well-intentioned, gave state officials the power to determine winners and losers in the market. Sometimes, direct competitors received conflicting guidance, with one being allowed to reopen while another had to stay closed.

Now  as most counties move into the green phase of reopening, and business owners face tough choices about how to move forward  the long-term consequences of those inconsistencies are coming into sharper focus.

Some have already announced permanent layoffs, while others are still taking stock of the financial damage done by the shutdown but fear they wont survive.

To this day, theres no doubt that businesses were harmed because they were shut down and shouldnt have been, said Guy Ciarrocchi, president and CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce. Theres no doubt that there are people who will lose their jobs because their employer was shut down and may not need to have been.

Casey Smith  a spokesperson for the state Department of Community and Economic Development, which oversaw the waiver process  said the effort was organized in just a few days and steps were taken to make it as fair as possible.

Quality control efforts were ongoing throughout the duration of the process to ensure that there was consistency across industries, Smith said.

If the department received valid complaints from business owners that led state officials to believe they had made a mistake, the team would review that application and revise the determination if necessary, she said.

Dennis Davin, secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, declined an interview request, citing pending litigation.

That includes a federal lawsuit brought by businesses including a Bucks County pool store that was denied a waiver, despite the fact that two local competitors remained open, according to a complaint filed in the case. Senate Republicans have also sued the Wolf administration to enforce a legislative subpoena seeking thousands of pages of records relating to the waiver process, including emails, notes, and internal memos. Auditor General Eugene DePasquales office is separately reviewing the process.

A fraught process

Pennsylvania was one of 13 states that developed its own rules about which businesses could stay open, according to an analysis by Multistate Associates, a lobbying firm. Others followed federal guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

The business shutdown was fraught from the start. The administrations guidelines for which businesses were considered life-sustaining continuously changed, sowing confusion in communities across the state.

In an attempt to better respond to individual circumstances, the Department of Community and Economic Development launched the waiver system, but officials there were quickly deluged by tens of thousands of requests.

As the process lurched forward, frustration mounted throughout the business community because the department refused to state exactly what criteria it was using to consider applications, or explain to applicants why waivers were granted or denied.

For weeks, it also refused to make public even the names of businesses that were approved or denied, moving to do so only after coming under intense public scrutiny and pressure from the legislature.

The state relied on information provided by businesses, but gave little guidance on how to fill out the three-question application. Small differences in how businesses completed the form could lead to very different outcomes.

In some instances, business owners watched as their competitors reopened, gaining a valuable advantage. In others, after state officials were questioned about why a business was deemed life-sustaining, they reversed course and revoked a waiver.

There was no real, true standard, said Ciarrocchi, of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce.

When the administration launched the waiver process, Peters, the flower shop owner, emailed the Department of Community and Economic Development, confused.

I dont want my shop open to the public, only for phone and web orders, she wrote. Please advise. I am a tiny business who without any revenue could close due to these circumstances.

Peters said she never got a response and so, later that day, she submitted a waiver application, making the same plea. To her surprise, the department denied her request via form email. Yet just a month later, as Peters observed other flower shops doing deliveries, she confirmed with the governors office that she never needed a waiver.

Some businesses did open and probably shouldnt have been open, and others closed and found out later that they might have been able to be open, said Michelle Crowley, president and CEO of the Carlisle Chamber of Commerce.

Some of these things have been clear as mud.

Two shops, one waiver

According to the Wolf administration, the waiver program was an attempt to make the shutdown more fair and responsive to individual business needs. But business owners like Miguel Cabrera Jr. of Avondale said it had the opposite effect.

Cabreras company, A&A Auto Tags, sells license plates and insurance, offers notary services, and processes title transfers. Auto Tags Plus, in a neighboring Chester County borough just 12 miles away, is in the same business.

A&A was denied a waiver, while Auto Tags Plus received one.

It just kind of felt weird, Cabrera said. We didnt know what they had over us.

The difference, according to state spokesperson Smith, was how the companies filled out the waiver application.

Smith said Auto Tags Plus was granted a waiver for one employee to collect insurance premium payments. A&A also provides insurance services, but did not list that as the reason it should be granted a waiver, Smith said.

Still, the owner of Auto Tags Plus, who declined to be named on the record, said he thought the waiver meant his entire business could stay open, as long as he followed CDC guidelines.

Cabreras sister, Zory Baer, who manages the business, was furious when she started getting calls from customers, asking why the competitor company was open.

Hes raking it in because hes the only one in town, Baer said.

But even with the waiver, Auto Tags Plus has lost a lot of business, the owner said. He doesnt think the system was fair to other businesses, either. And hes been dragged into the rancor surrounding the process, he said, receiving threatening phone calls and a lot of negative backlash about receiving a waiver.

While the waiver process pitted one small business against the other, many big box stores were able to stay open  selling their full range of products.

At first, Matt Muccitelli, vice president of Park Home Stores in Altoona, thought the discrepancy must be a mistake. Then, his companys waiver application was denied.

In April, Muccitelli posted pictures on Facebook of the crowded parking lot and busy aisles of the local Lowes. Some customers responded with promises that they would wait to buy new appliances until Park Home was open again.

Standing up for local! one woman posted.

Its beyond frustrating that these stores look like its Black Friday! Simply crazy! wrote another.

Different companies did not get equal treatment, Muccitelli said. It was such an arbitrary process.

For some, a risk worth taking

While the state was able to issue fines and penalties to businesses that defied the coronavirus business closure order and potentially put their employees health at risk, Wolf repeatedly said he favored voluntary compliance over enforcement.

But that approach has meant there have been very few consequences so far for businesses who played fast and loose with the rules.

Some nonessential business owners stayed open without seeking a waiver, taking the view that it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission, said Helen Kissick, president and executive director of the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce.

CabinetWorks Group, a cabinet door manufacturer in Mifflinburg, in central Pennsylvania, stayed open during the pandemic, even though many of its competitors were forced to shut down.

Household and kitchen-cabinet manufacturing was not deemed life-sustaining under Wolfs guidelines. Yet CabinetWorks did not apply for or receive a waiver, according to state officials.

Officials from CabinetWorks did not return calls seeking comment.

Pam Stuter, whose father retired from the company and whose son now works there, said employees were told the business was reclassifying itself as a sawmill, which was considered life-sustaining.

Yet Stuter said the company continued to produce cabinet doors throughout.

My dad is rolling in his grave right now, she said. He never would have had his employees come to work back at that time. He was the plant manager for 45 years.

Smith, the Department of Community and Economic Development spokesperson, acknowledged that some businesses may have been taking advantage of the process.

Responsibility for enforcing the order has been split between the Pennsylvania State Police, which has issued just three citations since March 23, and local police departments, many of which opted not to get involved. District attorneys in some counties said they would not prosecute businesses that violated the order.

As a result, some business owners decided the risk was worth it.

At the beginning of April, Patrick Penfield applied for a waiver for his bait shop  a 12-by-12-foot shed next to the Clarion River in Elk County, with one refrigerator full of sodas, another with worms and night crawlers, and an aquarium of minnows.

A day later, he received a denial. But the following week, with the start of trout season, he opened anyway, defying the shutdown order.

I never had anybody come to my shop and question me being open, Penfield said. I have had police officers come in here to buy bait and nothing was said.

An unclear future

The future is precarious for Peters Phoenixville flower shop. The events she relies on  weddings, proms, graduations  have been canceled or postponed. She and her husband have spent down their savings to keep up with rent and utilities. The business is only a few years old and wasnt making much of a profit even before the shutdown.

Its not yet clear whether the uneven playing field created during the shutdown, which the waiver process intensified, will have long-term consequences for local businesses, said Joe Hurd, president and CEO of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce.

Still, when the chamber surveyed all 1,080 member businesses, the ones who said, Were doing OK, a lot of them followed that statement with, We were able to get a waiver,  Hurd said.

But getting a waiver wasnt always a golden ticket.

Gitman Bros., a high-end shirt-maker in Schuylkill County that traces its business roots to the early 1930s, received a waiver to manufacture personal protective gear. Unlike some companies that used their exemptions to reopen at full capacity, Gitman halted its shirt-making and limited its work to medical gowns for health networks in the state.

For us it was a way to keep the lights on, said Chris Olberding, president of Gitman and Gitman Vintage. It never crossed our mind to resume normal production.

Even with a waiver, the financial toll was steep. The storied company recently announced that it will close its factory in Ashland at the end of the summer, and will move production of the Gitman brand to another state. Ninety employees will be laid off, although all have been offered positions at those out-of-state locations, said Olberding.

Its a sad time, he said.

100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA relies on funding from foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. If you value this reporting, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate.
Over 1.26 lakh students have registered on the Delhi Universitys admission portal for under-graduate courses, according to official figures.

The total number of registrations stands at 1,26,671, while 37,802 students have paid registration fees, according to data on the portal till 10.30 pm.

Out of the paid registrations, 27,539 students are from the general category, 4,790 from other backward classes, 4,151 from schedule castes, 723 from schedule tribes and 599 from economically weaker sections.

The total number of aspirants who have applied for post-graduate courses stands at 41,704 while paid registrations are 13,984. As many as 5,356 aspirants have registered on the portal for admission to M.Phil/Ph.D while 497 have paid the fees.

This year, the admission process was delayed due to coronavirus pandemic. The admission portal went live on June 20 and will remain open for aspirants till July 4.

The varsity held a webinar on Tuesday to answer students questions on under-graduate admissions. Many of the students asked counsellors about the delay in their board results and they were assured that the university admissions will only start after the results are declared.

The varsity has still not announced the tentative dates for announcement of cut-offs since the results of many boards are pending.
Gregory McMichael, left, and his son Travis McMichael. The two have been charged with murder in the February shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery - Glynn County Detention Center

Three men have been indicted on murder charges in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man shot in the back while out jogging in Georgia.

Prosecutor Joyette Holmes said a grand jury has indicted Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael and William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. on charges including malice and felony murder in the death of the African American man.

"This is another positive step, another great step for finding justice for Ahmaud, for finding justice for this family and the community beyond," Holmes said, speaking to reporters outside the Glynn County courthouse.

Lawyers for the McMichaels have cautioned against a rush to judgment and have said the full story will come out in court. A lawyer for Bryan has maintained that his client was merely a witness.

Ahmaud Arbery

Arbery was slain Feb. 23 when the Greg and Travis McMichael, a white father and son, armed themselves and pursued the 25-year-old Black man running in their neighbuorhood. Greg McMichael told police he suspected Arbery was a burglar and that Arbery attacked his son before being shot.

Bryan lives in the same subdivision, just outside the port city of Brunswick. Bryan said he saw the McMichaels driving by and joined the chase, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified earlier this month.

It was not until May 7 - two days after Bryan's cellphone video leaked online and stirred a national outcry _ that the McMichaels were arrested. Bryan was arrested on May 22, and an arrest warrant said he tried "to confine and detain" Arbery without legal authority by "utilizing his vehicle on multiple occasions" before Arbery was shot.

In addition to malice murder and felony murder charges, the McMichaels and Bryan each are charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

Court functions in Georgia have been severely limited in recent months because of a statewide judicial emergency declared by the chief justice of the state Supreme Court in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Story continues

Holmes said they were able to call in a grand jury that had been impaneled prior to the judicial emergency. They followed public guidelines, providing hand sanitizer to the grand jurors and allowing them to sit far apart, she said.

Because of the uncertainty caused by the virus, the Arbery family didn't know when the next steps would be taken after a probable cause hearing held earlier this month, Holmes said. But they were notified as soon as the grand jury returned an indictment, she said.

"The family was ecstatic to hear that it had happened this morning," she said.

Bob Rubin, a lawyer for Travis McMichael, said in an email that prosecutors choose the facts they want to present to a grand jury when seeking an indictment. The defense team has found other facts "that are an integral part of the case," he wrote.

"To this indictment, Travis McMichael will plead not guilty, and we look forward to presenting all of the facts regarding this tragic death in a court of law," Rubin wrote.

Attorney Kevin Gough, who represents Bryan, spoke to reporters at the county courthouse right after Holmes announced the indictment.

"We welcome the action of the grand jury today,' Gough said. "While we disagree with it, it's an important step in the process to moving this case closer to the speedy trial that Roddie has demanded."

He said his client has committed no crime and has cooperated with law enforcement officers from the beginning.

Lawyers for Greg McMichael did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday afternoon.
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.




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Cafes in Melbourne's Degraves street open for dine in customers on June 01, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Other Australian States Warn Against Victorian Travel

States that have successfully suppressed the COVID-19 situation will soon allow their residents a taste of pre-pandemic-style freedom.

South Australia will join Western Australia in halving the density rules for people in restaurants, bars, shops and other indoor venues to two square metres per patron.

The move, which effectively doubles the capacity of each venue, has been welcomed by the hospitality industry.

But Victorians are contemplating the prospect of a return to tougher lockdowns amid fears about a spike in new virus cases.

The states hotels are under fire for failing to effectively quarantine people with COVID-19.

The issue will be raised at a national cabinet meeting on June 26.

Certainly breaches of those quarantine rules are very serious and we know the broader implications they have for the health of the nation, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told Sky News on Wednesday.

We do need serious rules in place to ensure that doesnt occur.

Health officials will begin doorknocking hotspots across Melbourne to ensure residents are sticking to government guidelines.

Information in languages other than English will also be provided for multicultural communities in heavily affected areas.

Victoria recorded 17 new infections on Tuesday, with the origins of 11 cases still being investigated.

By contrast, new cases in NSW have only risen by 19 in the past week.

Authorities have largely pinned the spike in cases on large family gatherings.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews warned people could not pretend the virus had gone.

It doesnt matter how many people are doing the wrong thing  everybody, everybody will pay the price if we get to a point where restrictions either localised or across the state need to be re-introduced, he said.

The NSW premier has warned people from that state should not visit Melbourne and nor should Victorians head north.

I call on all organisations not to interact with citizens from Melbourne at this stage, Gladys Berejiklian said.

The national tally of cases is 7492, with close to 7000 recovered while 102 people have died.

It has been a month since the last recorded COVID-19 death in Australia.

Katina Curtis and Finbar OMallon
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank on the 22nd june 2020 approved a $10 million loan to the Republic of Seychelles to support the governments COVID-19 response program.

The loan will be channeled toward macroeconomic stabilization, strengthening national health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and safeguarding livelihoods and social safety nets.

Against a backdrop of declining revenues, the Seychelles government recently amended its budget to respond more effectively to COVID-19, taking on an immense financial burden as it works to enhance the countrys health systems, mitigate job losses, and redress lost business and household incomes.

The amended budget provides for an additional $ 3.6 million to the health sector, which will help put in place robust early-detection surveillance systems and enhanced testing capability at points of entry. The government is also readying isolation and quarantine facilities ahead of the resumption of international flight arrivals.

The Government has committed to safeguard 37,409 private-sector jobs through provision of a six-month wage grant while also increasing allocations to the national Social Protection Agency to widen safety nets for informal workers and other vulnerable groups.

The economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have been more devastating than the disease itself in Seychelles. Tourism is one of the worst hit-industries globally, yet it is the main source of income for Seychelles, accounting for 25 percent of its GDP. The Banks support will augment the governments efforts aimed at cushioning the country against the impacts of the pandemic, said Nnenna Nwabufo, Ag. Director General for the Banks East Africa Regional Office.

The crisis response program is aligned with the Bank Group Ten-Year Strategy-TYS (2013-2022) and the High 5s priorities, specifically improve the quality of life of the people of Africa. The operation is also aligned with the Banks Seychelles Country Strategy Paper (2016-2020), which aims at stimulating private sector activity in support of economic diversification though policy reforms.

Insufficient economic diversification, a small domestic market and vulnerability to external economic and environmental shocks are among the main development challenges the Seychelles economy faces. The pandemic has seriously exacerbated these challenges and wiped out some of the countrys development gains. The Bank has revised the 2020 and 2021 GDP growth rate projections for the country downwards, from 3.3% and 4.2 % to -10.5% and -7.7%, respectively.

The country recorded its first case of COVID-19 on 14 March and had 11 confirmed imported cases by 6 April. All 11 cases are fully recovered with no new cases or deaths.

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Mr. Yosuke Matsuura, Infrastructure Team Leader of Cast Platform, Hachidori Inc. By entrusting the operation of AWS WAF to "WafCharm", we are able to take full advantage of the security features of AWS WAF without any hassle.

Hachidori Inc.

Service

WafCharm (Service for automation of AWS WAF operations)

Objectives



Need to enhance the security of services provided by AWS.

Need to visualize threats and separate them from error logs.

Does not want to spend resources on AWS WAF operation.

Result



Automatic operation of AWS WAF is now possible, greatly reducing the workload.

Threats are now visible and blocked, and no longer confused with error logs.

New insights were gained by understanding the intent and purpose of the attack.

Comment from Mr. Yosuke Matsuura, Infrastructure Team Leader of CAST PLATFORM

Implementing WafCharm has allowed us to take security measures without being a burden on our work. By entrusting the operation of AWS WAF to "WafCharm", we are able to take full advantage of the security features of AWS WAF without any hassle.

Hachidori Case Study Page: https://www.wafcharm.com/en/casestudy/hachidori-inc/

About WafCharm

WafCharm is a service for automation of AWS WAF operations using AI & Big Data. It is equipped with an AI engine "WRAO" (Patent No. 6375047) that automatically selects the most optimal WAF rules using machine learning, based on trillions of Big Data cultivated through in-house developed cloud-based WAF Shadankun, which has No. 1 adoption rate in Japan. *1

The cyber threat information monitoring team of security researchers "Cyhorus" responds quickly to the latest threats, and by offering individual customization by top-class security engineers with flexible services tailored to the needs of customers, WafCharm has made AWS WAF operations easier for users. It is available to over 1 million AWS users in over 190 countries.

For more information, please visit https://www.wafcharm.com/en/.

About Hachidori

With the mission of "making work worthwhile for all," Hachidori Inc. creates opportunities to make work an option for people to enjoy their lives through efficiency and optimization. The company has developed "Hachidori," an in-house chatbot tool for everything from marketing to operational efficiency, that anyone can easily create without programming. The company also developed "CAST," a shift and attendance management application that uses technology to solve problems in the part-time job market, and "CAST JOB," a spot work search service.

For more information, please visit https://hachidoriinc.com/.

About Cyber Security Cloud, Inc.

With an aim to create a secure cyberspace that people around the world can use safely, Cyber Security Cloud provides web application security services worldwide using the world's leading cyber threat intelligence and AI technology. CSC is also certified as the 7th AWS WAF Managed Rules Seller in the world by AWS (Amazon Web Service) which boasts a 47.8% global cloud market share. *2

As a leading cybersecurity company, CSC plans to continue to strive to improve and develop new technologies and aim to be a company that can deliver effective security solutions to contribute to the information revolution.

*1: Market research on "cloud-based WAF services" (as of June 16, 2019) [Research by ESP Research Institute (May 2019 to June 2019)]

*2: Gartner (July 2019)Worldwide Iaas Public Cloud Services Market Share, 2017-2018 (Millions of U.S. Dollars)
[June 24, 2020] United States Air Force Awards Digital Mobilizations Inc. Contract for Strategic Transformation Support

WARRENTON, Va., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Mobilizations Inc. has received award of a United States Air Force contract for Strategic Transformation Support (STS). Air Force STS is an IDIQ contract to provide Strategy and Transformation consulting services to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Office of Business Transformation (SAF/MG) and Deputy Chief Management Officer (DCMO) in managing and improving enterprise-level Strategic Transformation Initiatives. "The Air Force has a great tradition of innovation, results, and leadership. As our national security challenges evolve, so must the business and management operations of the Air Force. This prime award to Digital Mobilizations Inc. signals the Air Force's commitment to a new model of acquiring consulting services and expertise. We are thrilled to be recognized by the Air Force as a consulting leader and we look forward to exceeding the customers' expectations for access to world-class transformation expertise," said Lanny Cornwell, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Mobilizations Inc. <>Contract Details





$990M potential contract value. Under this contract, Digital Mobilizations Inc is one of eight companies that will advise the Air Force on strategies and implementation plans to transform AF business operations. Digital Mobilizations Inc. will deliver using its innovative Enterprise Engineering strategy development and execution services. The DMI approach translates leading commercial and public sector organizational, operational, and technological best practices into strategies that will advance global Air Force operations. The DMI approach is a unique blend of strategy, expertise, research, and prototyping that produces tangible transformation outcomes at an enterprise scale. About Digital Mobilizations Inc.

DMI is a Warrenton, VA based boutique strategy and transformation advisory firm. We utilize a unique approach to help our clients solve the right problems, align organizations, translate, and transition strategies and mobilize in the digital era. DMI assists Fortune 500 and federal government clients in their enterprise-level transformation efforts.

For more information on Digital Mobilizations Inc.

www.digitalmobilizations.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-states-air-force-awards-digital-mobilizations-inc-contract-for-strategic-transformation-support-301083178.html SOURCE Digital Mobilizations Inc.

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Seventeen employees of a security agency employed at Maruti Suzuki India's (MSI) Manesar (Haryana) plant have disappeared after testing positive for COVID-19. The employees, who belong to security agency SIS India, had tested positive for the infectious disease on June 17 and were supposed to be quarantined as per the law.

An FIR has now been lodged at Industrial Sector-7, Manesar against the missing employees and their manager for the disappearing act. As per the FIR lodged by the government doctor posted at PHC Bhangrola, Gurugram, the workers tested positive for COVID-19 on June 17, and their manager was informed on the same day about their status.

The manager informed the health authorities that the workers have been quarantined and were asymptomatic, as per the FIR. "But when our medical team reached the site on June 18, all these 17 patients have already left without any information. This is for your information and action to be taken as per the Disaster Management Act," the FIR read.

When contacted, an MSI spokesperson confirmed the incident. "The people in question who tested positive are not Maruti Suzuki employees. They are outsourced/contractual vigilance staff deputed with the company," the spokesperson said. The company is following all the government guidelines and directives and will extend all assistance and cooperation wherever required, the spokesperson added.

MSI, however, did not say if the production at the plant has been impacted because of employees involved in the security process turning out to be COVID-19 positive. Comments from SIS India could not be obtained immediately. Last month, MSI had reported one coronavirus case at the Manesar plant.

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The auto major had resumed operations at Manesar plan in May after around 50 days of closure due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The facility produces high selling models like Alto, Swift, Dzire, S-Presso, Ertiga and Baleno. The company's other plant at Gurugram rolls out models like S-Cross, Vitara Brezza, Ignis and Super Carry light commercial vehicle.

The Manesar and Gurugram plants have a combined installed capacity to churn out over 15.5 lakh vehicles per annum. Besides MSI, Hyundai Motor India and Toyota Kirloskar Motor have also reported COVID-19 cases at their respective manufacturing plants.
A medical worker operates an instrument to conduct nucleic acid extraction at the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory in Beijing Puren Hospital in Beijing, capital of China, June 23, 2020. The PCR lab was put into use on June 15 to conduct nucleic acid testing for COVID-19. [Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei]
In a massive embarrassment for the Congress party which has been attacking the Centre on the LAC standoff, it has been revealed from documents accessed by Republic TV that in 2012 the then UPA government compromised 38,000 sq km of Indian land to the Chinese.

Answering the unstarred question asked by BJP's MP YS Chowdary in Rajya Sabha back in 2012, UPA Minister of State E Ahamed said that "China continues to be in illegal occupation approximately 38000 sq kilometres in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir." The minister replied on the question: "details of land illegally occupied by Pakistan and China along the border."

Moreover, as per reports, China had also grabbed 640 sq km of Indian territory in Eastern Ladakh soon after the then UPA government signed nine agreements with the country.

'China continues to be in illegal occupation'

E Ahamed had said: "Pakistan has been an illegal and forcible occupation of approximately 78000 sq km. of Indian Territory in Jammu and Kashmir. China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38000 sq kilometers in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, under so-called Sino Pakistan Boundary agreement of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5180 sq km of Indian territory in PoK to China."

READ | Mutual consensus to disengage discussed at India-China corps commander talks; COAS in Leh

On questions about the steps taken by the government (then UPA govt), the minister said in his response: "Govt remains continually vigilant and is firm in its resolve to take all necessary steps to effectively safeguard India's security and territorial integrity. The government is aware that Pakistan and China are executing projects in Indian territories under the illegal occupation of those countries. Govt keeps a constant watch on all developments having bearing on India's national interest and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it.

READ | India-China joint secretaries to hold WMCC meet on border tension amid 'cordial' LAC talks

This comes at the backdrop of Congress' continued attack on Prime Minister Modi led government after the Galwan clash took place in which 20 Indian soldiers were martyred. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, despite receiving numerous answers from many BJP leaders including the Home Minister Amit Shah and EAM S Jaishankar, had continued his line of attack, even in blatant disregard of MEA and Army statements.

Meanwhile, BJP has alleged a plot by Congress as a picture of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi seemingly signing a deal with Chinese CCP in the presence of current Chinese president Xi Jinping surfaced, from 2008. Lashing out at former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, BJP chief JP Nadda shared a timeline of Congress' questioning and its alleged association with China. Senior Lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani has sought an NIA probe.

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 | Coronavirus Live Updates

READ | China's casualty denial escalates; after refuting '20', Beijing now calls '40' fake news
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.

The airport landing slots used by commercial airlines for their domestic routes are quite valuable. The same can be said for landing slots used on international routes. The difference is that the international routes are regulated by both the host country and the airline's home country. This is the result of a unique feature of international commercial air transport  the bilateral air service agreement. International commercial air transport is the only mode that starts with two governments codifying how their respective airspaces are to be utilized. From there the airlines must work within those confines. Why all the fuss? It goes back to the Convention on International Civil Aviation of 1944 (also known as the "Chicago Convention") and the subsequent point of view that a country's airspace is a strategic asset.

Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong International Airport

(Photo: Hong Kong International Airport)

The Chicago Convention's mandate explains why the U.S. government got involved when UPS recently decided to give up its landing slots used for weekly flights between Hong Kong and Singapore. While these slots are valuable, an airline cannot let them remain unused. They must be used for revenue service or else relinquished. This keeps the air passenger and air cargo markets moving along. Of course, it also challenges some airlines to "loss minimize" in order to keep their landing slots active. This was why so many passenger airlines resorted to carrying cargo-only in their bellies and even on the passenger seats when COVID-19 fears combined with government-mandated travel restrictions severely impacted the passenger market in March (and ever since).

On June 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) approved the transfer of the UPS routes to Kalitta Air and FedEx, both U.S. domiciled all-cargo carriers. After considering the carriers' filings, USDOT allocated three of the four available Hong Kong-Singapore routes to Kalitta and the remaining one to FedEx. A fifth weekly slot was already owned by Polar Air Cargo (a subsidiary of U.S.-based Atlas Air).

Story continues

UPS cargo plane landing at Hong Kong International Airport.

UPS cargo plane landing at Hong Kong International Airport.

(Photo: Flickr/Aero Icarus)

The bilateral air service agreement between the United States and Hong Kong allows for up to 64 weekly all-cargo flights. In theory, this means a U.S. domiciled air carrier could fly into Hong Kong as part of a flight originating in the U.S. or one terminating there. There is also the option to include a third country as part of the route because this bilateral agreement allows for the so-called fifth freedom routing. If the route did not include a U.S. origin or destination on the part of the U.S. carrier, the resulting all-Asia route would be a seventh freedom, which is an even tougher liberalization to negotiate. All of these "freedoms of the skies" agreements grew out of the Chicago Convention. In fact, depending on how one counts, there are eight or nine freedoms in total, with the eighth and ninth constituting types of cabotage. Cabotage is defined as the right to operate sea, air, or other transport services within a particular territory.

Notwithstanding the flight frequencies allowed in the bilateral agreement, their usage pre-supposes the air carriers can secure and are willing to pay for, the required landing slots. For fifth freedom routes, this requires at least three properly timed slots in order for the route to be viable. This is part of the reason why the Hong Kong-Singapore route is serviced by only five weekly visits by U.S. air cargo carriers. However, the biggest reason is that USDOT noted that the cap of 64 roundtrip frequencies per week has been reached. Starting any new route would mean canceling another.

Another question worth considering is the effect of regulatory oversight on market efficiency. Valuable landing slots confer on the airlines a chance to earn extra profits through limited competition (something economists call economic rent). Problems arise when airlines rent-seek. This means they devote time and money to striving for this monopoly-like power. Only one or a limited number of winners emerge in the process of filing detailed applications with regulators. The other applicants lose. The amount of time and money the "losers" devoted is called rent-seeking waste. What can be done to avoid this? Regulators would have to be willing to let the market pick the winners and losers.

A Kalitta Air cargo plane on an airport runway.

A Kalitta Air cargo plane on an airport runway.

(Photo: Flickr/Albert Koch)

In a contest for the Hong Kong-Singapore all-cargo market, suppose USDOT simply auctioned off the right to a weekly frequency. Of course, USDOT would have to collaborate with the respective airports in order to plan the auction design, set minimum bids, etc. Instead of preparing detailed filings, Kalitta, FedEx and perhaps other carriers would have submitted financial bids  putting their money where their mouths are, so to speak. The "loser" is merely out the time to prepare and submit a bid rather than the time and money involved in submitting a detailed filing. Financial bids are objective while filings, by design, are evaluated subjectively.

The two biggest obstacles to successful auctions for airport landing slots are: (1) not enough bidders to create a truly competitive situation; and (2) the need for an after-market. Basically, in a route from Hong Kong to Singapore, securing a slot at the former but not at the latter renders the route non-existent. Since the two airports would be running their own independent auctions, an airport and the regulator would have to grant airlines the freedom to trade slots among themselves. For example, airline X secured a slot at airport A but could not secure one needed at airport B to create an A-B route. If airline Y wanted the slot at airport A to complete a different route it has in mind, and it was willing to give airline X a slot that would create a viable route elsewhere then there is a chance for gains-from-trade.

A FedEx airplane on a runway at sunset.

A FedEx airplane on a runway at sunset.

(Photo: FedEx)

Basically, if the market for auctions is viable, they are superior to regulators merely taking landing slots away due to non-use and using "beauty contests" to determine which airline deserves the slot. Unless a market failure is demonstrated regulations are not the answer.

Click here to see other commentaries by Darren Prokop on American Shipper and FreightWaves.

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 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
As Indian Country continues to wait for a decision in a closely-watched sovereignty case, the nation's highest court is turning away long-running challenges to tribal treaty and land rights.

In an order list on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court rebuffed an attempt to undermine tribal water rights in Oregon. And in a separate action, the justices prevented a tribe's lands from possibly being taken out of trust in Oklahoma.

"Speaking as a tribal member, this is a monumental day for the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma," Chief Joe Bunch said in a statement after learning the petition in the case was denied.

"We had our highest courts in the land rule that we have the right to land in trust," Bunch said of a dispute that has lasted more than 15 years

Please read below for official statements from Chief Joe Bunch and Assistant Chief Jamie Thompson regarding today's... Posted by United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma on Monday, June 22, 2020

Over in Oregon, the leader of the Klamath Tribes also welcomed the news out of Washington, D.C. The justices on Monday declined a petition in which non-Indian irrigators attempted to disturb senior water rights that were reserved by a treaty signed in 1864.

Were pleased to have this case put to rest and the seniority of the Klamath Tribes water rights recognized and reinforced," Chairman Don Gentry said in a news release . "The courts in this case were correct about our treaty rights, which include protecting and sustaining the endangered Cwam and Koptu in Klamath Lake."

"We look forward to healing and restoring our tribal fisheries," Gentry said of the resources that have provided for his people for thousands of years.

TODAY,in a tremendous victory for Klamath Tribes, the US Supreme Court declined to hear Baley v. US, cementing the Tribes' top water rights in the region! https://t.co/OvQtRjgtFP  NARF (@NDNrights) June 22, 2020

With the denial of Baley v. United States and Cherokee Nation v. Bernhardt , the Supreme Court has ensured that Indian Country only has eyes on one matter for now. But it's a big one, and it touches on issues raised in the petitions that were denied -- treaties and land rights.

At stake in McGirt v. Oklahoma are millions of acres promised by treaty to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation . Due to COVID-19 , the justices heard arguments via teleconference on May 11, with the Trump administration and the state teaming up in an attempt to deprive the tribe of sovereign protections for its lands.

With just a few more days left in the October 2019 term , the court is definitely keeping tribes and their advocates in suspense. A decision is expected by the end of the month, but some experts think the Supreme Court will end up working into July in order to clear the docket of the cases still unresolved.

With 14 decisions including McGirt to go, it sure looks like there is a lot more to do. Besides issuing an order list in which no new cases were accepted, the justices on Monday only released one written opinion from a case hear in the current term.

Similar drips took place last week. On Monday, three opinions were published on the court's website . On Thursday, just one came out.

Baley v. United States

Despite having their government-to-government relationship terminated, then later restored, by the federal government, the Klamath Tribes have always retained treaty-reserved water rights. The courts have recognized those rights as senior, meaning of the highest precedence, and following 40 years of efforts, the state of Oregon did the same

But as the issue was being adjudicated at the local level, non-Indian farmers and irrigators sought payment from the government for allegedly depriving them of water -- including water already reserved for Klamath and other tribes in southern Oregon and northern California. Litigation began in 2001 and concluded with a Federal Circuit Court of Appeals decision in November 2019, once again recognizing tribal precedence.

In explaining why those rights come first, a unanimous three-judge panel wrote that the "Klamath Tribes have an implied right to water to the extent necessary for them to accomplish hunting, fishing, and gathering on the former reservation, a primary purpose of the Klamath reservation."

The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., remains closed to visitors due to COVID-19. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

With the latest action on Monday, the potentially devastating distraction is off the table. The Native American Rights Fund represented the tribe as a friend of the court in the case.

"The law is very clear about the Klamath Tribes senior water rights in the region," John Echohawk, a citizen of the Pawnee Nation who serves as NARF's executive director, said on Monday. "The courts have been very clear as well. We are glad the courts reached the right outcome in this case and that tribal rights and sovereignty have been affirmed.

Cherokee Nation v. Bernhardt

The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians will be able to keep 76 acres in trust in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, as a result of the denial of the petition in Cherokee Nation v. Bernhardt on Monday. Plans call for a tribal and cultural facility at the site.

More importantly, the tribe will be able to acquire additional homelands in the eastern part of the state, after long having been denied the ability to do so due to an overly restrictive interpretation of the law.

"Now were officially equal to any other federally recognized tribe and were looking forward to a future where we can exercise our rights like every other federally recognized tribe that has land in trust, Assistant Chief Jamie Thompson said on Monday.

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Chief Joe Bunch, seated left, and Acting Regional Director of the Eastern Oklahoma Region Bureau of Indian Affairs Jessie Durham, seated right, sign the tribes official deed for 76 acres of land in trust. The two were surrounded by current and former UKB officials, councilors and chiefs as the signing took place. Photo by Brittney Bennett / Giduwa Cherokee News

In September 2019, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed that the tribe restore its homelands through the fee-to-trust process. The unanimous decision now stands with the high court's action.

The Cherokee Nation , whose lands are also located in the same region of Oklahoma, was fighting the United Keetoowah Band's efforts. The tribe declined to comment when asked about the case.

The Cherokee Nation had argued that federal law required the Bureau of Indian Affairs to secure its consent before acquiring trust lands for any other tribe in a 14-county area of the state. The 10th Circuit ruled that the BIA must consult with the Cherokees, but isn't required to secure their approval.

McGirt v. Oklahoma

With no other Indian law cases on the docket, that leaves McGirt v. Oklahoma . While the matter was only argued last month, the underlying dispute has in fact been pending at the Supreme Court for more than two years.

Back in May 2018, the justices agreed to hear case then known as Murphy v. Royal . At issue was whether the state of Oklahoma can exercise criminal jurisdiction over a reservation promised to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation by treaty.

But after forcing Indian Country to wait until the very last day of the October 2018 term for an answer, the justices refused to issue a decision . Speculation centered on the fact that only eight justices heard the case, as Neil Gorsuch was recused for reasons that have not been publicly explained but which are likely connected to the fact that Murphy came from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, where he previously served as a judge

Enter McGirt. The issue is the same -- whether the Creek Reservation is Indian Country. The arguments are the same too -- the Trump administration and the state of Oklahoma argue that the reservation has been diminished to the point that state sovereignty takes over, while the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the Indian defendants -- backed by a slew of tribal interests -- argue the opposite.

What's changed is the presence of Justice Gorsuch, whose record in Indian law is unprecedented in Supreme Court history . Tribal advocates believe his extensive background, which includes resolving reservation status issues, will help convince his colleagues to arrive at a decision in McGirt.

Gorsuch displayed some of his Indian Country prowess during the May 11 hearing , which ran 30 minutes longer than the allotted hour. He reminded Oklahoma's attorney that history is filled with evidence which "shows nothing more than that states have violated Native American rights ... on tribal lands against against tribal members in the past."

Yet Gorsuch also knows that the past isn't always that far away. As a member of the 10th Circuit, he stopped the state of Utah from violating the rights of the Ute Tribe and its members in a blockbuster decision less than four years ago.

What's more, his court removed the judge assigned to the case after it became clear that the 10th Circuit's precedent were being ignored. The tribe later thanked Gorsuch for protecting its sovereignty from a "racist" judge

Whether Gorsuch can sway his eight colleagues into finally resolving the matter should be known soon enough. The Supreme Court will once again announce opinions on Thursday as it winds down a term with its building closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

SUPREME COURT WATCH



Justices released 1 opinion on 6/22. It wasn't the case Indian Country is watching.



At stake in #McGirt is sovereign status of millions of acres in eastern #Oklahoma, on lands promised to Muscogee (Creek) Nation by treaty.



Indian Country keeps waiting... pic.twitter.com/R4llEOoVAu  indianz.com (@indianz) June 22, 2020

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 15:04 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066143489 1 National UTBK-SBMPTN-2020,computer-based-test,state-university-entrance-test,Education-and-Culture-Ministry Free

Indonesia is set to execute this years computer-based exam (UTBK), part of the annual state university entrance test (SBMPTN), in two phases because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Education and Culture Ministry along with the Institution of University Entrance Exams (LTMPT) and the Indonesian State University Rectors Assembly (MRPTNI) announced the plan in a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

The ministrys acting director general of higher education, Nizam, said the decision was made to ensure the safety of the participants.

"We will try to make the state university admission as safe as possible," he said on Wednesday as reported by kompas.com.

"Test takers usually do not come [to the test locations] alone, they go with their parents. Travelling [in large groups] outside their [respective] regions would be difficult because of the large-scale social restrictions [PSBB], so we decided to hold the test in two phases," he added.

He went on to say that first phase of the exam would be carried out from July 5 to 14. The exam would be designated for participants residing in the regions of the test sites.

Read also: Studying from home: Seven online learning platforms for students

Meanwhile, the second phase of the exam, which is scheduled for July 20-29, is designated for participants from the COVID-19 red zones that have chosen test locations outside of their respective region.

The test organizers will cooperate with local high schools to conduct the exams, so that the participants do not have to travel out of town.

"We want to ensure the safety of the test takers and people who escort them as well as the test organizers and supervisors. We also want to prevent the test takers from traveling outside of their respective regencies or provinces for the exam," MRPTNI head Jamal Wiwoho said.

He added that organizers would follow strict health protocol in conducting the test.

"I hope we will still be able to conduct fair, accountable, flexible, efficient and transparent state university entrance tests," added Jamal.

LTMPT organizer executive chief Mohammad Nasih said there would be several other adjustments for the exams.

Read also: Indonesia to allow phased reopening of schools in COVID-19 green zones: Minister

"We will reduce the number of tests per day from four to two in each location. This year, participants will only take one test subject," Nasih said, adding that the exams would be conducted in many locations across the country to avoid intercity travel over fears of coronavirus transmission.

Besides utilizing the 74 UTBK Centers, which are located in Jakarta, in Surabaya of East Java, in Yogyakarta, in Semarang of Central Java and other places, the organizers are to cooperate with private universities and high schools to provide venues to conduct the tests.

He went on to say that the 2020 UTBK had been modified to match the so-called new normal phase during the pandemic.

Apart from keeping [in place some of the] previous protocols, we have also added measures to anticipate [force majeure] situations, including earthquakes, that would limit participants mobility. Therefore, we call it a hybrid UTBK, added Nasih.

More than 703,000 participants have registered for the upcoming annual state university entrance test. (nal)
Donald Trumps brother is seeking to block publication of the presidents niece Mary Trumps tell-all book (Evan Vucci/AP)

Donald Trumps brother is asking a New York City judge to prevent the presidents niece from publishing a tell-all book which is expected to be released later this month.

In court papers, Robert Trumps lawyers argue Mary Trump and others had signed a settlement agreement in the late 1990s that included a confidentially clause explicitly saying they would not publish any account concerning the litigation or their relationship unless they all agreed.

The settlement agreement related to the will of Donald Trumps father, New York real estate developer Fred Trump.

Expand Close The book is said to describe a nightmare of traumas and destructive relationships in the Trump family (Ross Franklin/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp The book is said to describe a nightmare of traumas and destructive relationships in the Trump family (Ross Franklin/AP)

Confidentiality was at the essence of the Settlement agreement, the court papers say.

Robert Trump, the presidents younger brother, argues the publication of the book is prohibited by the settlement agreement reached in 2001 and he never consented to it being published.

Mary Trump is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr., the presidents older brother, who died in 1981.

A description of the book  titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man  on Amazon says it describes a nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse.

She explains how specific events and general family patterns created the damaged man who currently occupies the Oval Office, including the strange and harmful relationship between Fred Trump and his two oldest sons, Fred Jr. and Donald, the online description says.

President Trump and his siblings are seeking to suppress a book that will discuss matters of utmost public importance Mary Trump's lawyer

The motion seeks an injunction to prevent Mary Trump and the books publisher, Simon & Schuster, from releasing it.

President Trump and his siblings are seeking to suppress a book that will discuss matters of utmost public importance, lawyer Theodore Boutrous Jr., a representative for Mary Trump, said in a statement.

They are pursuing this unlawful prior restraint because they do not want the American people to know the truth. The courts will not tolerate this brazen and baseless effort to squelch speech in violation of the First Amendment.

A Simon & Schuster official said in a statement he was confident the attempt to block publication would fail.

Mary Trump has written a compelling personal story of worldwide significance, and we look forward to helping her tell her story, said Adam Rothberg, spokesman for the publishing house.
Lucknow, June 24 : Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has warned Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of 'action' if she does not respond to the notice sent to her by the Agra District Magistrate for posting wrong figures of the corona deaths.

Keshav Prasad Maurya accused Priyanka Gandhi of resorting to 'cheap politics' amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"The Congress general secretary is resorting to cheap politics since Covid-19 cases started emerging in UP. The claim of deaths made by her in Agra due to Covid-19 is false. The district administration has served her notice and if she fails to reply then we will take action," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He pointed out that earlier, the Congress indulged in bus politics and when their state party president Ajay Lallu was sent to jail, Priyanka Gandhi did not even bother to meet him.

He further said, "The Gandhi family should apologise for making baseless allegations on the Covid-19 situation and LAC face-off." Maurya also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his statements on the Galwan clash.

"Rahul Gandhi is raising questions on the courage shown by our forces along the LAC. The Congress is the main opposition party in our country, but it behaves like a supporter of China and Pakistan. When all the other parties supported the government and Army in the meeting called by the PM, Sonia Gandhi was in disagreement. I think the entire Gandhi family should apologise for the language used and the baseless allegations they are hurling at us," he stated.

It may be recalled that the Agra District Magistrate Prabhu Narain Singh had sent a notice to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday asking for a corrigendum within 24 hours for her tweet which claimed that 28 deaths took place due to Covid-19 in Agra in 48 hours.

According to the official, such 'false information demotivates the corona warriors'.

However, after the notice, Priyanka Gandhi once again questioned the coronavirus situation in Agra by posting a tweet and sought Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's response.

In a tweet, Priyanka claimed that the death rate in Agra was higher than Mumbai and Delhi.

Targeting Agra District Magistrate for sending her the notice, Priyanka Gandhi said "An officer should focus on fixing the loopholes and ensuring better facilities rather than blaming others for the negligence."
PHILADELPHIA, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Ballet announced today a reduced 2020/2021 Season in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Season changes include the rescheduling of Cinderella and the cancellation of the annual presentation of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker.

Shelly Power, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Ballet said, "Our first priority is the health of our dancers, orchestra, and audience. With that in mind, we had no other choice but to reimagine our season."

Cancellation of The Nutcracker is particularly damaging in that it brings in more than 50% of Pennsylvania Ballet's annual ticket revenue. More than just a popular holiday event, the Nutcracker performance is often the very first exposure to the wonder of ballet for children throughout the region.

In response to the cancellations, Pennsylvania Ballet has previously notified 13 employees that they will be laid off and another 8 placed on furlough until future performances are assured.

Angel Corella, Artistic Director of Pennsylvania Ballet said, "The cancellation of performances by any cultural entity is a minor event when compared to the loss of life and ongoing illness brought on by the pandemic, yet there is no denying the rolling tragedy COVID-19 has brought to the world of performing arts and culture overall. We are so grateful for the support we've received throughout this crisis and we will be even more reliant on support from subscribers, donors, ticket holders and everyone who loves ballet."

Pennsylvania Ballet is exploring alternatives to its current schedule through online performances or smaller performances in other public spaces, though no such event has been finalized.

Pennsylvania Ballet's 2021 Season

Swan Lake

Feb 25- March 7

Academy of Music

George Balanchine's Stars and Stripes

with Ballet Imperial and Symphony in C

March 11-14

Academy of Music

Cinderella

May 13-16

Academy of Music

Subscribers and ticketholders:

Current ticket holders to cancelled performances will have the value of their tickets converted to on-account funds. Patrons can convert these funds to a tax-deductible donation, apply them to future purchases, or request a refund. For more information, please visit paballet.org or call Patron Services at 215-893-1999.

About Pennsylvania Ballet

Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the nation's premier ballet companies and one of Philadelphia's cultural treasures. Internationally renowned dancer Angel Corella took the reigns as Artistic Director at the start of the 2014/2015 season, bringing the company to a new level of excellence with 45 dancers from around the world and an ever-changing repertoire of works. In addition to its performances on Philadelphia's famed Avenue of the Arts, Pennsylvania Ballet serves more than 15,000 individuals across the Philadelphia region every year with hands-on, high quality arts education activities brought to children and adults alike regardless of socioeconomic background or abilities. For more information visit paballet.org or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for a behind the scenes look at our dancers in the studio and onstage.

Pennsylvania Ballet is supported in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community & Economic Development and receives support from The Philadelphia Cultural Fund and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Ballet
With contactless delivery to curb the spread of coronavirus, she added, you can't tell servers...
A 16-year-old student, who was upset because he did not have a smartphone to attend online classes, was found dead near his house in Assams Chirang district on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday.

According to the police, the student of Class 10, who came from a very poor family, was troubled as he could not take part in online classes and examinations conducted by his school.

Educational institutions in Assam are closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic. But online classes and exams are being held by both private and government schools over smartphones.

The boys family was very poor. His mother had gone to Bangalore in search of work and his father didnt have any job. The boy needed a phone to take part in online classes but his father was not able to get him one, Sudhakar Singh, Chirangs superintendent of police, said.

From what we have been able to gather after talking to neighbours and others close to the student, it appears he was fed up with the situation and decided to take his own life, he added.

Though some reports said a suicide note was found, the police have denied it.

The post-mortem report is awaited.

A Class 10 student in Keralas Malappuram district had set herself on fire earlier this month as she was unable to attend online classes as she did not have either a television or a smartphone.

(Please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist if you need support or know someone who does. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918)

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The Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu in the Central Region, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has debunked media reports suggesting he has tested positive to covid-19.

The lawmaker who doubles as the Board Chair of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), said he has in the past week been conducting his official and personal duties.

"Therefore, claims that I have tested positive for COVID-19 are false," he stated.

In a Facebook Live, the Effutu MP said:

Quite, unfortunately, people are imagining me to be. But this is me, I have spent the past days in the courts and right from here I am going to Parliament. Per the demands of the work, you spent time in the constituency, to do parliamentary work. It is not easy because the constituents want to see you every day. Parliament expects you to work and you have your personal business. But as you can see, I am well and hearty, he noted.

There have been reports that some Members of Parliament (MPs) and parliamentary staff had tested positive for the novel coronavirus but Parliament subsequently rejected the claim.
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This March 2006 file photo shows a sign indicating the location of Lone Star Fund's former Korean office at the Star Tower in Seoul. / Korea Times file



Seoul alarmed at US PEF's outspoken interviews



By Park Jae-hyuk



The government is apparently baffled by Lone Star Fund's attempts to use Korean news outlets as a means of putting itself in a dominant position in its $4.68 billion legal battle against Seoul.



After the U.S. private equity firm (PEF) spoke out on its stance amid the ongoing litigation  in contrast with the administration that has stayed mum about the case  the government has become worried about the possible influence on the eight-year-long litigation that has recently entered a new phase with the appointment of a new arbitrator.



In 2012, the Texas-based fund filed a request with the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), claiming the government should compensate it for the "belated" approval of the sale of its KEB stake to Hana Financial Group and return the taxes it paid during the delay.



According to KBS and the Maeil Business Newspaper, Wednesday, Lone Star general counsel Michael Thomson recently told them that his company had sought a settlement with the government that would keep the dispute out of the ICSID.



He also reportedly said his company has continued to propose the out-of-court settlement over the past eight years since the beginning of the ICSID claim.



His remarks came just a few days before the appointment of the new ICSID arbitrator.



The Ministry of Justice announced Tuesday that William Ian Corneil Binnie from Canada had been appointed to replace the recently deceased V. V. Veeder, so this would allow the arbitration procedure that has been halted since March to be resumed.



At the same time, the ministry expressed its displeasure with Lone Star's interviews with local media, denying the PEF's claim that it had asked to negotiate with the government.



"Recently, a Lone Star official unilaterally disclosed his stance through the media, but at this moment, as the arbitration procedure has resumed with the appointment of the new chairman, such behavior could affect the result of the case, so we are seriously concerned about it," a justice ministry official said.



Some observers attributed Lone Star's recent attempts to its concerns about losing the case, but those familiar with the company disagreed.



"Lone Star has always preferred a compromise to a litigation that takes time and results in winners and losers," said AMCHAM Korea Board Chairman Jeffrey Jones, who was among the group of attorneys for Lone Star that Kim & Chang organized when the PEF was doing business here. "It seems that the company wants to end the dispute as soon as possible."



Lone Star also told KBS it wants to end the dispute quickly, as its investors want a prompt settlement.



Industry insiders said Lone Star has been more likely to defeat the government in the ICSID claim, because it lost to Hana Financial Group in separate litigation it filed alleging the Korean firm had deceived it to purchase the KEB shares for a lower price.



"The ruling in the Hana Financial case indicates the government is considered to blame for the price cut and delayed approval," a lawyer-turned-local PEF executive said on condition of anonymity.



Song Ki-ho, the former chairman of the International Trade Committee at the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, advised the government to transparently disclose information about the Lone Star case, if it wants a better solution.



"Because the litigation has been delayed, Korea may have to pay an excessive amount of interest, even if the ICSID only partially accepts Lone Star's request," the lawyer said. "For the public to agree with the government's decision if it compromises with Lone Star, it should preemptively allow the public to review Lone Star's request and the government's countermeasures."


Technavio has been monitoring the bio-based propylene glycol market and it is poised to grow by 116.27 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005652/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Bio-based Propylene Glycol Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact

The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ayas Renewables Inc., Global Bio-chem Technology Group Co. Ltd., Huntsman Corp., L Air Liquide SA, and Oleon NV are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

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Bio-based Propylene Glycol Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Bio-based Propylene Glycol Market is segmented as below:

Application Unsaturated Polyester Resins Functional Fluids And Antifreeze Products Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, And Food Detergents And Household Products Other Applications

Geography North America APAC Europe MEA South America



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Bio-based Propylene Glycol Market trends

Bio-based Propylene Glycol Market industry analysis

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Bio-based Propylene Glycol Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the bio-based propylene glycol market, including some of the vendors such as Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ayas Renewables Inc., Global Bio-chem Technology Group Co. Ltd., Huntsman Corp., L Air Liquide SA, and Oleon NV. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Bio-based Propylene Glycol Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Bio-based Propylene Glycol Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist bio-based propylene glycol market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the bio-based propylene glycol market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the bio-based propylene glycol market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of bio-based propylene glycol market vendors

Table Of Contents :

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five Forces Summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Application

Market segments

Comparison by Application

Unsaturated polyester resins Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Functional fluids and antifreeze products Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Detergents and household products Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Other applications Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Application

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market Driver

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Archer Daniels Midland Co.

Ayas Renewables Inc.

Global Bio-chem Technology Group Co. Ltd.

Huntsman Corp.

L Air Liquide SA

Oleon NV

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. 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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PHILADELPHIA, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Berger Montague is investigating potential securities fraud claims against United States Oil Fund L.P. ("US Oil" or the "Company") on behalf of investors who purchased US Oil shares (NYSEARCA: USO) between March 19, 2020 and April 28, 2020 (the "Class Period").

If you purchased US Oil shares during the Class Period, have questions concerning your rights or interests, or would like to discuss Berger Montague's investigation, please contact attorneys Benjamin Galdston at (619) 678-0187 or Andrew Abramowitz at (215) 875-3015, or contact us at www.bergermontague.com/us-oil.

US Oil is an exchange traded fund ("ETF") with a stated objective to provide investors a return that tracks changes in the current spot price of West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") light, sweet crude oil. USO claimed it would achieve this by investing substantially all of its portfolio assets in near-month WTI futures contracts. However, beginning in mid-April 2020, US Oil implemented a series of changes that effectively exited all its near-month oil future contracts in favor of longer-term investments, purportedly in response to "market conditions and regulatory requirements."

Defendants allegedly were aware of these adverse conditions but did not disclose the risks to investors. US Oil has acknowledged these adverse "market conditions" were apparent since at least March 2020. Ultimately, the Fund abandoned its investment strategy and suffered billions of dollars in losses as WTI crude oil prices declined to historic lows and supply exceeded demand.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission also have commenced investigations regarding whether US Oil adequately informed investors about the risks and changes in the fund's investment strategy, according to a May 29, 2020 Bloomberg news report.

If you purchased US Oil shares during the Class Period, you may seek Court appointment as lead plaintiff to represent other injured investors in a class action. The lead plaintiff appointment deadline is August 18, 2020. You do not need to be a lead plaintiff to share in any potential Class recovery.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding United States Oil Fund L.P. are encouraged to confidentially assist Berger Montague's investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under this program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to thirty percent (30%) of recoveries obtained by the SEC. For more information, contact us.

Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., and San Diego, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States.

Contacts

Benjamin Galdston, Shareholder

Berger Montague

(619) 678-0187

[email protected]

Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel

Berger Montague

(215) 875-3015

[email protected]

SOURCE Berger Montague
Under different circumstances, Gracie Beth Scrushy would be in Alabama this weekend competing in person for the title of Distinguished Young Woman of America 2020. But, due to COVID-19, the national finals competition is completely virtual.

Distinguished Young Women was formed in 1958 as Americas Junior Miss. According to the website, Distinguished Young Women grew and remains today the largest and oldest scholarship program of its kind for high school girls.

In January, Scrushy competed in the state competition for Distinguished Young Women and this weekend will be representing Texas in the virtual competition.

For Scrushy, DYW has been part of her life through her family. Her mom competed when she was Gracies age.

I always knew it was something I wanted to do because of the way it helps women develop life skills and its a great way to earn college scholarship, Scrushy said. Its something that I knew I would be a better person for doing.

Online competition

This years national competition will be all online. All 50 competitors had to send in videos for the talent and fitness portions and participated in Zoom conferences for the interviews and self-expression portions. The national finals will be broadcast June 25-27. Just like applying for the program, watching it this year will be free.

After the preliminaries, eight of the 50 competitors will move to the finals before one is chosen as the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2020.

For her talent, Scrushy danced to the song This Is Me from The Greatest Showman. The song is meaningful to her because she has a medical condition, Klippel Trenaunay Weber syndrome, that affects the size of her blood vessels, bones, and tissue, and has been a source of teasing for much of her life.

Some of the visible effects of KTWS for Scrushy are the port-wine stain birthmark on her right leg and back, and her different-sized thumbs. She also has lymphedema, so her body doesnt pump fluid correctly into all her limbs, so she has to use a pneumatic pump.

People havent always been necessarily the nicest about this, she said. With my birthmark, I get stares and questions.

Highlighting differences

She wants to use this opportunity to show others that everyone is different, and thats OK.

Scrushy graduated from The Woodlands Christian Academy this year, and next school year she plans on attending Troy University to major in elementary education and minor in dance. Part of why she wants to become a teacher is to explain to children that everyone is different, but everyone has something valuable to offer to the world.

I became ashamed of the way I look because of my medical condition, and people didnt accept me for it, she said. This Is Me talks about how they dont apologize for who they are and I have learned and grown to feel that way about myself.

While her medical condition makes it a bit more difficult to dance, its something shes been passionate about since she was 2 years old. She may have to work a little bit harder, but she said its absolutely worth it.

Ready to compete

Now that the national finals are here, Scrushy said she is excited to see all of the performances of her fellow contestants, who she now considers her friends. Shes disappointed that they dont get to have the experience they were hoping for in Mobile, Alabama but is happy that the national finals are still happening at all.

While the interview aspect was the most daunting, shes proud of all of the work that she did and everything shes put into her finals competition.

I am so proud to be part of the organization because of the high standard that it has and it has been around for so many years, she said. Its an organization that upholds their values and I am just so honored to be the Distinguished Woman of Texas because that means I have the same values and they saw that in me.

DYW offers scholarships in two ways. Cash scholarships that can be used at any accredited institution of higher learning, and college-granted scholarships, which are offered to participants from over 100 different colleges and universities. According to the website, last year DYW made $1 billion in cash tuition and college-granted scholarships available nationally.

jamie.swinnerton@chron.com
Nutanix announced that it added several new capabilities to its Desktop as a Service (DaaS) solution Xi Frame, delivering an even richer experience for enterprise customers, including strengthened security, increased flexibility, and broader availability. The new capabilities include: enhanced onboarding for on-premises desktop workloads on Nutanix AHV, expanded support for user profile management, the ability to convert Windows Apps into Progressive Web Apps (PWA), and increased regional datacenter support to 69 regions across Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

An already strong offering to help customers deliver remote work capabilities in minutes, Xi Frame delivered a record quarter, based on total revenue, in Q3 of fiscal year 2020, and represented an important contribution to Nutanixs end user computing business which brought in about 20% of new customer deals during the same quarter.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a drastic shift in operations for most companies around the globe. Many had to turn on a dime to deliver remote work capabilities to employees overnight, with solutions like Xi Frame helping them in the process. While countries slowly begin to reopen, many companies are looking at extending remote work programs in light of increased productivity during the lockdown and continued social distancing recommendations. Remote desktop and DaaS solutions that can support organizations long term needs are well placed to see increased adoption.

At Nutanix, our focus has always been on our customers, how to simplify their IT operations and deliver solutions to help drive their business forward, and the last few months have not been any different, said Nikola Bozinovic, VP and GM Desktop Services at Nutanix. The current global situation has driven many companies to embrace remote work even when they didnt have the basic building blocks in place ahead of time. Nutanix Xi Frame was especially well-positioned to meet their needs. To help our customers, our focus has been squarely on delivering an exceptional service and making it easier for customers to rapidly integrate into their existing environments.

Nutanixs DaaS offering, Xi Frame, is a cloud-based service providing companies with a way to run virtual apps and desktops on their choice of infrastructure  including on-premises with Nutanix AHV and in the public cloud with Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, or AWS. It removes the headache normally associated with remote work expansion while securely delivering virtual workspaces, for both employees and customers, in under an hour and helps businesses to minimize management overhead for their desktop and app deployment.

When COVID-19 hit, PATHS needed a solution to provide secure, dependable remote access to employees at dozens of sites, as well as hundreds of employees working from home, said Tony Mackiewicz, Principal, Physician and Tactical Healthcare Services, LLC, a leader in healthcare finance solutions. Nutanix Xi Frame running on AHV enabled us to quickly provide secure access to support 200 people working from home, with no connection issues. Employees can now remotely access the systems and applications they need from any device in any location.

With this launch, Nutanix will deliver the following features on Xi Frame to strengthen the solution for enterprise customers:

Enhanced Experience on Nutanix AHV: Since launching Xi Frame on AHV to support customers on-premises deployments, Nutanix has added several new features to deliver an enhanced user experience. These include a new version of the Cloud Connector Appliance that streamlines deployment, as well as the Streaming Gateway Appliance (SGA), a secure reverse proxy that supports the Frame Remoting Protocol (FRP).

Expanded Support for Enterprise Profiles: Xi Frame now supports enterprise user profiles for use cases where desktops are not joined to a domain. Previously, this feature was only supported for domain-joined VMs, so this added flexibility opens up even more use cases for Xi Frame. The built-in enterprise profile feature is enabled through a simple one-click integration and is delivered through a partnership with adaptive workspace management solutions provider Liquidware.

Support for Progressive Web Apps: Xi Frame now supports automatic conversion of Windows apps into cross-platform Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). A PWA is a web application normally delivered through web pages or websites in a browser, but can also offer the appearance and ease of use of native, installed applications. Once a PWA is installed, users can access the software without needing to go through a browser and can simply click on the app icon. Since the technology is cross-platform, this means that Windows applications streamed by Xi Frame from the cloud can appear to run locally on not just Windows devices but Chromebooks, Macs and other non-Windows devices. Having pioneered running any Windows software in a browser, PWA support is another example of how Xi Frame is bridging the gap between traditional Windows software and modern web applications.

Expanded Worldwide Datacenter Footprint: In recent months, Nutanix Xi Frame has added support for more regional datacenters in South Africa, France, Hong Kong, Finland, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the U.S. The DaaS solution is now available in 69 datacenter locations worldwide in partnership with Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and AWS.

These new Xi Frame features are currently available to customers.
RICHMOND, Va. - Political newcomer Cameron Webb says he didnt plan it this way, but his campaign was made for these unprecedented times.

With the country gripped by a pandemic and racial unrest, Webb is a Black doctor and lawyer from Charlottesville who is the director of health policy and equity at the University of Virginia.

I feel like the moment is one that my campaign is literally built for, Webb said in an interview with The Associated Press Wednesday, a day after he handily won the Democratic primary in Virginias 5th Congressional District.

Of course he didnt know that the coronavirus would upend daily life  and have a disproportionate impact on people of colour  or that George Floyds death would spark national protests for racial justice when Webb launched his campaign last year. The 37-year-old father of two said he entered politics because he wants to fix the countrys broken health system.

But his strong showing across the district, and in precincts with large percentage of African American voters in particular, suggest the energy behind the sweeping civil rights protests across America is also present at the polls. Webb won two-thirds of the vote against three strong, accomplished candidates, all of whom are white.

There are some people who have written off black political power in this district. I think they just didnt understand how much there is, and I think thats going to be a key ingredient for November, Webb said.

Webbs victory Tuesday comes as two Black progressive candidates  Kentuckys Charles Booker and New Yorks Jamaal Bowman  may be on the verge of knocking off establishment-backed congressional candidates. The AP has not yet called either race.

It also comes when Black politicians have never had more influence in state politics. African American lawmakers hold key leadership positions at the General Assembly and theres a chance that all three statewide Democratic candidates for governor, attorney general and lieutenant general are members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.

Virginias 5th Congressional District is larger in size than New Jersey and stretches from northern Virginia to the North Carolina border and includes Charlottesville  home to a violent white nationalist rally in 2017 that shocked the nation. Webb works at the University of Virginias medical school, which is in Charlottesville.

Don Gathers, who founded the Charlottesville chapter of Black Lives Matter, said Webbs victory shows issues important to Black voters have a broad appeal.

The situation that we find ourselves in unwillingly here in this country has certainly moved people of all walks of life, all races, that we have a problem, he said. And its a serious problem and we need serious people with serious minds and serious answers to address these things.

The 5th District has never elected a Black candidate and no Democrat has won the seat in more than a decade. President Donald Trump won the district easily in 2016.

But Democrats are bullish on the district after the sitting incumbent  U.S. Rep. Denver Riggleman  lost a GOP convention earlier this month after he angered social conservatives by officiating a gay marriage. Rigglemans departure and Webbs unexpectedly strong showing now make the district more competitive, said Kyle Kondik, who analyzes elections for the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Its one to watch, he said.

Riggleman was defeated by Bob Good, a social conservative and immigration hardliner who used to work at Liberty University. Good failed to file paperwork on time and may have a difficulty ensuring his name appears on the ballot. The issue is set to be determined by the state Board of Elections next month.

Webb is more of policy wonk than fire-breather who said hes a pragmatic progressive looking forward to having a contest of ideas with Good.

Webb added that he knows first-hand how to win over Trump supporters. Webb worked in a White House fellowship program both for former President Barack Obamas administration and the start of the Trump administration.

Webb said he was frozen out by the Trump administration initially, with his desk was even put out in a hallway. But he said he eventually built relationships and found ways to do real work. And he said one Trump staffer even sent him a congratulatory text Wednesday morning.

If I was able to work in the Trump White House for six months while being my authentic self and disagreeing on policy matters from A to Z and still build real relationships, I think I can win voters in the 5th, he said.
Apparently, the new tourism campaign, So Good to See You, Connecticut could bear the subtitle: Now go keep to yourself for two weeks.

Gov. Ned Lamont is teaming with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to script a mandate that out-of-state visitors would have to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

It has not gone unnoticed, particularly to snowbirds who are ready to return to the Northeast, that Florida still requires visitors from the tristate area to quarantine for a fortnight upon arrival. But fortunes have turned, while Connecticut, New York and New Jersey are yielding dividends of coronavirus policies with confirmed cases on the decline, Florida is among the states becoming undesirable hot spots.

We want to make sure that our infection rate stays down based upon the great work we have been doing here, said Paul Mounds, Lamonts chief of staff.

Lamont noted that the plans are still taking shape, and may emulate strategies of states such as Alaska, which calls for visitors to provide proof of negative results of recent COVID-19 tests.

I think you tie it to the higher positivity numbers, Lamont said. I dont think you pick on a state. Obviously youre at some risk if there are planes coming in from Miami or Phoenix or Austin, where you have a very high positivity rate even among younger people who may be asymptomatic.

Pitting states against one another is yet another of the unfortunate ancillary consequences of the pandemic. Its understandable that Lamont, Cuomo and Murphy want to sustain the momentum their states have been experiencing after being in the epicenter of the virus for a considerable spell.

But enforcing such requirements does not seem feasible. Rhode Island tried to check people crossing its borders and ultimately surrendered. Its hard to imagine too many visitors exist whose plans are framed around remaining in quarantine for two weeks. Consequently, some would skip the plan and just travel by road or rail.

We can embrace some of these ideas as suggestions for best practices, but the governors need to be practical. Massachusetts and New Hampshire have continued to require visitors to quarantine for two weeks, but that primarily just translates to message boards and the like along the Mass. Turnpike.

The best Lamont and Co. can probably do is to remind travelers that we are collectively many miles from the exit ramp of the pandemic. In the meantime, wear those masks, wash those hands, keep your distance and get tested if possible.

Its especially hard to ignore the irony of Lamont trying to lock Connecticuts doors to ward off out-of-state visitors just as a New Haven nightclub was shut down after being caught packing in a thousand people.

These are policies that can be better enforced throughout our communities. But as far as travel goes, Americans need to accept that the best summer slogan may be Its 2020, just stay home.
These amazing, hardworking students had to overcome social disruptions, mass upheaval, economic despair and a global pandemic, and they still managed to complete the PFG curriculum in record numbers

Paid for Grades (PFG), the groundbreaking academic program that offers $500 each to Tampa Bay students who improve their reading literacy and maintain stellar attendance, held its 2019 - 2020 graduation ceremony virtually this year, via Zoom, on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

Over 100 local schoolchildren successfully completed the 2020 PFG program and received their $500 checks -- no strings attached -- along with their PFG diplomas. Over the past two academic school years, PFGs graduation numbers have increased by 270 percent.

This years participating schools included Boca Ciega High School, Countryside High School, Dixie Hollins High School and Lakewood High School.

Im so incredibly proud of our 2020 graduates, said Monica Eaton-Cardone, the Tampa Bay business leader who created, organized and launched Paid for Grades in 2013. These amazing, hardworking students had to overcome social disruptions, mass upheaval, economic despair and a global pandemic, and they still managed to complete the PFG curriculum in record numbers. Its such a remarkable achievement, and a true testament to the willpower and potential of our young men and women.

Paid for Grades is supported by the Pinellas Education Foundation, and receives zero taxpayer dollars. The program is privately funded by Monica Eaton-Cardone, Gary Cardone, and their Tampa-based FinTech company, Chargebacks911. PFG also provides additional funding for public school teachers who tutor students during off-hours. Now in its seventh year, PFG has donated over half-a-million dollars to Tampa Bay students, teachers and schools.

Normally, we celebrate in-person with the students and their families at a special end-of-year graduation ceremony, explained Eaton-Cardone. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to hold a virtual graduation instead. Im disappointed we weren't able to cheer and celebrate together like we have in the past, but this was the next best thing. By far, 2020 was our biggest, most successful year, and were looking forward to expanding PFG to even more Tampa Bay schools in the future. Paid for Grades has proven over and over again that it truly works wonders -- and now more than ever, there are so many kids who desperately need our help. Its just not right to let them fall permanently behind. By coming together as a community, we can give these students a chance to realize their potential and make their dreams come true.

In confidential, anonymous, year-end critiques, the PFG students lauded the benefits of the Paid for Grades program: One student said s/he learned to deal with anxiety and stress. Another wrote, I have learned new study habits and hacks. PFG makes students push past their limits, explained a third student. And finally, a fourth PFG graduate said simply: I loved the Paid for Grades program really because it made me realize that I can do better, so I pushed myself to be greater in life. I would totally recommend this for some of my friends...

For video highlights of the virtual PFG graduation ceremony, plus year-end statistics, please see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGHlHJe6I1Y&feature=youtu.be
Top: Computer simulation of the cosmic merger of a massive black hole with an unknown, lighter object. Credit: N. Fischer, S. Ossokine, H. Pfeiffer, A. Buonanno (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes (SXS) Collaboration. Above: Scientists from Cal State Fullerton's Nicholas and Lee Begovich Center for Gravitational-Wave Physics and Astronomy contributed to the latest gravitational-wave discovery, depicted in this illustration of the merger of two cosmic objects of unequal masses. Credit: Carl Knox, ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav)

Gravitational wave detectors in the U.S. and in Italy received an unusual, loud signal on Aug. 14, 2019, from the merger of two compact objects in the universe that produced gravitational waves  ripples in the fabric of space-time. This signal came to Earth from a kind of cosmic system that has never been observed by scientists.

Unlike previous observations of gravitational waves, this was a unique mashup of a black hole 23 times the mass of the sun  and about 800 million light-years away from Earth  with an unknown, lighter object.

Before the two objects of unequal mass merged, the black hole was about nine times more massive than its lighter companion, making this the most extreme mass ratio known for a gravitational-wave event.

We cant tell exactly what the lighter compact object is  whether it is a black hole or a neutron star, said Philippe Landry, Cal State Fullerton postdoctoral research associate. Its a little heavier than we thought possible for a neutron star and quite a bit lighter than known black holes. It may well be the lightest black hole ever discovered. The most exciting thing is the mystery surrounding the lighter compact objects identity.

This new discovery, announced today (June 23) by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the European Virgo Collaboration, was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The journal paper describes the cosmic merger and burst of gravitational waves, caused by the collision of massive objects.

The LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes faculty researchers from Cal State Fullertons Nicholas and Lee Begovich Center for Gravitational-Wave Physics and Astronomy (GWPAC), carries out the research of the National Science Foundation-funded Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, known as LIGO.

This discovery is important because it tells us something we didnt know about the population of compact objects in the universe, Landry explained. Its an opportunity to refine the scientific models that describe the death of massive stars and their afterlife as black holes or neutron stars. Those models feed into the stellar and galactic evolution that explains how our solar system formed, how all the chemical elements made it to Earth, and ultimately, where we fit into the history of the universe.

Is the Lighter Object a Neutron Star or a Black Hole?

In addition to Landry, GWPACs Joshua Smith, professor of physics and Dan Black Director of Gravitational Wave Physics and Astronomy; Jocelyn Read and Geoffrey Lovelace, both associate professors of physics; and their former research students, are all co-authors of the new peer-reviewed journal paper.

This first-of-its-kind detection challenges scientists understanding of the masses that compact objects have in merging systems, Smith said. Its a truly remarkable event whether it be the lightest black hole or heaviest neutron star ever seen in a binary system.

While the lighter objects mass is an unexpected find with gravitational waves, it suggests that there is a population of super-heavy neutron stars or underweight black holes out in the universe that scientists didnt know existed.

That, in turn, dramatically changes our understanding of how black holes and neutron stars form and pair up, Landry said.

Landry, who earned a doctorate in physics from the University of Guelph in Canada, played a major role by helping to lead an analysis that sought to determine the identity of the lighter object and writing significant portions of the journal paper.

We are especially proud of the contributions Dr. Landry made in the interpretation and description of this gravitational-wave signal, Smith said.

CSUF Faculty-Student Researchers Contribute to Cosmic Event

The team of faculty and student researchers in GWPAC has been on the forefront of gravitational wave discoveries since the first-ever observation in 2015. The LIGO and the European Virgo detectors have since observed 11 mergers of black holes and two mergers of neutron stars, the first in 2017 and again in 2019. The LIGO Scientific Collaboration also is actively studying other potential candidates.

Landry is GWPACs second postdoctoral research associate and began working with physics faculty and students in 2019. Marissa Walker was CSUFs first gravitational-wave postdoctoral research associate from 2017-19. Walker, now an assistant professor at Christopher Newport University in Virginia, and CSUF physics alumni Jeffrey Bidler, Eric Flynn (a doctoral student at Michigan State University), Sarah Hoback, Dakota Rose and Amauri Tapia also are co-authors of the journal paper.

Immediately following this new event last August, dubbed GW190814 for the date it was detected, scientists speculated that it might be the first-ever neutron star-black hole merger. But after months of analysis of the data by CSUF and other LIGO scientists, the researchers could not be certain that it was a cosmic collision of a neutron star and black hole.

As part of Landrys analysis to determine whether the lighter object was a neutron star or a black hole, he compared the lighter objects mass to an estimate of the maximum mass a neutron star can reach.

A neutron star can only get so heavy without collapsing into a black hole under its own weight. Because the matter inside a neutron star is so extreme, we dont understand its properties very well, and as a consequence, we dont exactly know the maximum mass, he said.

Learning about the maximum neutron star mass  and the properties of neutron star matter more generally with gravitational waves  is one of the main goals of my research. Its very gratifying to have been part of a discovery that could reshape our understanding so drastically.

Contact: Debra Cano Ramos, dcanoramos@fullerton.edu
Theres a little bit of imposter syndrome sometimes, he said. Like, forgetting that Im visible enough to make something happen. Ive been broke longer than Ive had anything, so I guess that part of my brain always works first: Somebody should do this, there has to be somebody with big pockets and fame. And then its like, I can do that. I had never made a GoFundMe in my life, so I had to research how to make a GoFundMe. There was a lot of work on the back end to set this up; it was a real crash course for me. But weve got it to a solid spot and were really excited to start giving this money away.
New Delhi: Actress Aditi Rao Hydari and Jayasurya's musical Malayalam drama 'Sufiyum Sujatayum' trailer has released. The film is written and directed by Naranipuzha Shanavas. It has been produced by Vijay Babu under his banner Friday Film House.

'Sufiyum Sujatayum' will be streamed on July 3, 2020, on Amazon Prime Videos.

Watch 'Sufiyum Sujatayum' trailer here:

Our endeavour is to create something which leaves behind a lasting impact and Sufiyum Sujatayum is a film made exactly on those lines. The theme of the movie is one that hasnt been explored very often. The story is nuanced and complex, yet underlines one simple, universal truth  that love knows no rationality or bounds. There would not have been a more perfect choice than Aditi Rao Hydari and Jayasurya for the respective roles as both are known to do justice to every character that they portray. The music makes the movie a fitting tribute to the all-important emotion of love. With the movie releasing on Amazon Prime Video we are glad that the film will reach a global audience allowing them to revel in Malayalam cinema, commented Producer Vijay Babu.

The film has been shot by cinematographer Anu Moothedath and edited by Deepu Joseph. The soulful music in the film is composed by the talented M Jayachandran with lyrics penned by Hari Narayan and songs sung by Sudeep Palanad.

The film is brought together by executive producer Vinay Babu.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 18:57 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406615a2d2 1 National Rohingya,refugees,aceh,National-Police Free

Three Indonesian fishermen rescued 94 foreign nationals who are believed to be Rohingya refugees in the waters of North Aceh regency on Wednesday morning.

The fishermen  Faisal, 40, Abdul Azis, 40, and Raja, 30  rescued the foreign nationals from a sinking cargo ship using their fishing boat, the KM 2017.811.

They attempted to transport the group to Kuala Tanah Jambo Aye in Seunuddon district, North Aceh, but their engine was broken, leaving them stranded 4 miles from the coast of Seunuddon.

Read also: Aceh on alert for Rohingya refugee boats spotted in Andaman Sea

The fishermen reported their findings to [traditional fishing community] Panglima Laot, which then passed it on to the district police and the subdistrict military command. We are now coordinating with the immigration office and the North Aceh administration, Seunuddon Police chief First Insp. M. Jamil said on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.

A joint force of police and military personnel reportedly arrived to the scene of the stranded vessel to check on the condition of the passengers. Tri said the boat was still in the open sea and the joint force was coordinating with various parties over a rescue mission. (aly)

Editor's note: This article has been updated for clarity. The number of the foreign nationals is 94, not 114 as previously stated.
With great joy, Cancun and the Riviera Maya welcomed the first tourists and restarted Quintana Roo's economic activity. Slowly, since June 1, hotels are beginning to reopen with the allowed percentage of guests and have all implemented the safety procedures recommended by health authorities. This includes careful cleaning and sanitizing, which is why Cancun was one of the first destinations in the world to receive the World Travel and Tourism Council Safe Travels seal.

One example is the Sunset Royal resort in Cancun, part of Sunset World Group, which recently welcomed its first guests in a very special way. The guests arrived at the airport and were transported to the resort in a van, which drove up the access ramp to the motor lobby led by a woman dressed in traditional charro clothing and carrying the Mexican flag, and accompanied by mariachis playing a traditional mariachi song. Hotel employees were standing along the side of the ramp, with a healthy distance of 3 meters between them, applauding.

The van parked in the motor lobby and the guests stepped on to a red carpet facing a large sign that read "Welcome Home". They were also greeted by spectacular Caribbean dancers, confetti and flashing lights. Next, the guests cut a red ribbon to reopen the hotel, entered the sanitation tunnel and, once inside, were offered a welcome cocktail and received gifts, while the new digital check-in procedure was explained to them. The new process was created to speed up the check in process and avoid crowding. They also received a kit that included a mask, gloves and sanitizing gel, and signed the book of distinguished visitors. After check-in, they were shown to their room where they could look out over the Sunset Royal's beautiful beach. They were thrilled to see a large drawing in the sand welcoming them again.

"For destinations like Cancun and the Riviera Maya, welcoming the first visitors with this new reality is definitely a source of joy, and at Sunset World Group, this is how we are celebrating," said David Barcenas, Sunset Royal General Manager, "We know that serving our members and guests is our company's reason for being and our way of life as individuals, he concluded.

Sunset World Group is a family-owned Mexican company and a leader in the hospitality industry, offering authentic and unforgettable vacation experiences in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. It was founded more than 30 years ago and has grown to offer six resorts, world-class travel services, amenities and a diverse network of operational and marketing solutions that focus on providing the best vacation experiences for its Members and guests. From cultural excursions to water sports, the Members of Sunset World are never far from their next great adventure.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday dispatched its national general secretary Ram Madhav to Imphal in another firefighting operation to save the BJP-led coalition government that has been reduced to a minority following a spate of resignations by MLAs.

Madhav landed a day after Assam health minister and the BJPs main trouble shooter in the Northeast Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister and National Peoples Party (NPP) president Conard Sangma left Imphal along with four NPP MLAs of Manipur to meet central leaders in New Delhi,

Responding to the question on threat to the states BJP-led coalition Madhav said, Were being asked about stability since one year. It has been stable .It has been winning elections. Well be stable until 2022.

Madhav also attended a function to felicitate newly-elected Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba.

On Tuesday, Himanta Biswa Sarma,convenor of North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and NPP national chief Sangma left Imphal on a chartered flight to New Delhi.

Before their departure, Sarma told reporters that they wanted to bring an amicable solution to end misunderstanding among the lawmakers in the state by resolving all the differences and concentrate on development and elections.

In another development, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team recorded the statement of Congress leader and former Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in Imphal in connection with its probe into alleged misappropriation of funds when he headed the government, sources said.

It is alleged that the former chief minister while he was chairman of Manipur Development Society (MDS) from June 30, 2009 to July 6, 2017, misappropriated the government funds worth 332 crores along with others.

Apart from him, others named in the case are former chief secretaries of the state DS Poonia, PC Lawmuknga, O Nabakishore Singh, Y Ningthem, former MDS project director, and S Ranjit Singh, its administrative officer.

Ibobi SIngh clarified that his tenure as chairman of MDS was barely one years period (July 2013 to August 2014) only.

Welcoming the investigation, he said that he was never involved in the transaction activities other than chairing the annual meeting of MDS as the rule authorized its project director for the purpose.

I never signed on any cheques for sanction etc. I will extend my full cooperation in the investigation, he said.

Ibobi Singh had staked claim to for the next government Chief Minister N Biren Singhs administration plunged into crisis last week after nine MLAs, including four ministers from the NPP withdrew support.
As the nation grapples with how to reform police forces, one problem is the lack of a mechanism for tracking officers who have been fired from or disciplined in one department and find work in another. No one really knows how many wandering officers are on the streets nationwide, said John Rappaport, the author of a Yale Law Journal study on the problem. Without the ability to decertify officers, he said, states like New Jersey rely entirely on local agencies to make good hiring decisions.

An Open Investigation

One morning last December, Kelly Jankowski, 58, was awakened early by piercing screams. She rushed outside her home in Woodlynne to find that a police officer had handcuffed a black woman on the ground.

The woman was screaming so loudly, Ms. Jankowski recalled, that I thought she was being killed.

What she said she saw next prompted her to file a police report and a complaint with the county prosecutor. In an interview, Ms. Jankowski said the woman was lying on the pavement, her hands bound, and the officer punched her in the chest.

I went to both the police and the prosecutor because I didnt want it to be swept under the rug, Ms. Jankowski said. I never heard anything again.

With details she provided, The New York Times obtained from the Woodlynne Police Department the corresponding use of force report, which officers must file when physical force is used to restrain or arrest a suspect.

According to the report, Officer Dubiel and a partner approached a woman who had thrown trash in the street that had blown out a passing drivers tire. At 4:15 a.m., the report notes, a 34-year-old black woman displaying mental health problems resisted arrest. For the type of force used, the form checks off: Compliance hold, Hands/fists, Chemical/natural agent and Strike/use of baton or other object. It identifies Officer Dubiel as making the arrest.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, who has said that 'travel as we knew it is over'

The CEO of Airbnb says that as a result of the coronavirus pandemic 'travel as we knew it is over - and it's never coming back'.

Brian Chesky, who co-founded the holiday rental site in 2008, believes that there will be a 'redistribution of where people travel instead of to only a few cities, to thousands of local communities'.

He also revealed how deeply the pandemic affected his business, that 'we spent 12 years building Airbnb's business and lost almost all of it in a matter of four to six weeks'.

Mr Chesky made the remarks during an interview with Deirdre Bosa on U.S news channel CNBC.

He was upbeat about the market  'it's resilient' - and pointed out that 'Airbnb has more hosts now than before the start of the Covid-19 crisis' and had the same volume of bookings in the U.S in May and early June as the year before 'without any marketing'.

But he stressed that while travel will come back, 'it's going to take a lot longer than what we thought' and that it is 'going to be different'.

He said: 'People don't want to get on airplanes they don't want to go to cities, they don't want to cross borders.

'What they are willing to do is get in a car and drive a couple of hundred miles to a small community where they are willing to stay in a house.

'People are yearning for a connection. They want to be connected to each other, to communities, they want to get outside.'

Brian Chesky revealed how deeply the pandemic affected his business, that 'we spent 12 years building Airbnb's business and lost almost all of it in a matter of four to six weeks'

Earlier this month Airbnb unveiled a list of the 10 most wish-listed UK properties since lockdown began on March 23.

The ranking includes a forest lodge in Stoke-on-Trent, an oak cabin in Hemel Hempstead and a windmill in Kent.

The list, says Airbnb, reveals that Britons are particularly keen on stays in idyllic surrounds once travel is back on the agenda, with 70 per cent of the list made up of lodges, cabins and glamping options.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 22:18:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe is in Russia from Tuesday to Thursday for the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory against the Nazis in World War II, China's Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday.

At this critical moment of the joint global fight against COVID-19, Wei's visit will further deepen mutual trust and cooperation between the two militaries, and promote the further development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, said Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the ministry, at a regular press conference.

The Chinese military has also sent a guard of honor to participate in the parade, according to Wu. Enditem
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a man hit Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff on the hand Wednesday over the face mask mandate at a Northwest Side Lowe's.

Wolff was at the hardware store at Interstate 10 and Callaghan Road, when he attempted to intervene between a customer and a cashier arguing over the former's refusal to put on a mask, Sheriff Javier Salazar said during a news conference.

The customer was being "verbally abusive" and Wolff attempted to defuse the situation, said Bexar County manager Monica Ramos. Wolff attempted to give the man his business card, saying he could call the judge to talk further about the mandate. The man then allegedly slapped the judge on the hand while trying to knock away the business card, Salazar said.

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The sheriff said the man knew who Wolff was and started to berate the judge "with language you wouldn't want your wife or kids to hear," before fleeing the store and left in the vehicle. Salazar said Wolff called him during the incident, and the sheriff was able to hear part of the conversation.

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The judge was able to write down the man's license plate, and Salazar said they know the man's identity.

Deputies arrived on site and began collecting witness statements as well as video surveillance footage from Lowes.

"What's scary is that this could have been an assault on one of the cashiers or another customer," Salazar said. "Look we don't like wearing masks. Not even I like wearing it, but it is what we have to do. COVID-19 is rampant in this community right now."

Bob Owen, Staff-photographer / San Antonio Express-News

He warned businesses and customers to not put themselves in potentially violent confrontations if people aren't following the mask mandate.

The suspect is potentially facing assault charges as well as possible assault of a peace officer charges, Salazar said.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov discussed bilateral cooperation and future relations with Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of the UAE, the ministrys press service reported on June 24.

During the telephone conversation, touching upon the bilateral friendship and cooperation ties, the ministers also held discussions on prospects of further development of relations between Azerbaijan and the UAE in various fields.

In addition, the sides exchanged views on the latest situation with the global pandemic and the measures taken by the two countries to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as reaffirmed the importance of mutual support and international solidarity in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

In this regard, Mammadyarov highly appreciated the aid provided by the UAE to Azerbaijan in the fight against coronavirus.

The ministers also agreed to maintain mutual support within different international organizations.

It should be noted that earlier, on June 21, The United Arab Emirates sent an aeroplane with 11 tons of medical supplies to Azerbaijan to support the country's efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus infection. The aid will help about 11,000 health workers who work in this direction.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
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An 'anti-school' mother takes her kids to the beach for picnics and hunting for possums instead of sending them to a mainstream classroom to learn in a traditional environment with a curriculum.

Lucy Aitkenread's two daughters, Ramona, nine, and Juno, seven, are encouraged to wake up when they want and pass their days surfing, hiking, kayaking and exploring the countryside surrounding their 25-acre farm in Waikato, New Zealand.

Lucy, 37, and her husband, ex-teacher, Tim Aitkenread, 40, first stumbled upon the 'self-directed learning' phenomenon while visiting a kindergarten in Germany in 2013, having recently left their home London after becoming 'disillusioned' with life there.

The kindergarten allowed children to choose what they wanted to study and after seeing that structure, the couple made the decision to never put their daughters through mainstream schooling.

Lucy Aitkenread's (right) two daughters, Ramona, nine (centre), and Juno, seven (left), are encouraged to wake up when they want and pass their days surfing, hiking, kayaking and exploring the countryside surrounding their 25-acre farm in Waikato, New Zealand

Lucy, 37, and her partner, ex-teacher, Tim Aitkenread (pictured), 40, first stumbled upon the 'self-directed learning' phenomenon while visiting a kindergarten in Germany in 2013

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.

Their chosen lifestyle is legal in New Zealand, with Lucy submitting two successful applications to the Ministry of Education to have her kids exempt from enrolling in a registered school.

They also have no family rules, other than not hurting each other, and the kids are encouraged to feed the chickens and cook breakfast on their own.

'We have really slow mornings and we don't get up until we've had a few mugs of tea. Then we might go surfing or do a big hike, go kayaking or do a trip to a museum or art gallery,' Lucy, who makes a living from her lifestyle blog, said.

How do the children learn without a curriculum to follow? Is it legal? HOW DO YOU LEARN WITHOUT A CURRICULUM? Lucy says she has adopted a creative approach to schooling, teaching her daughters not through sit down lessons, but letting them follow their own interests. Instead of having dedicated time for reading or maths, she believes these issues come up naturally as the girls go about their day - for example, one of them asking how to write a card. 'In my own experience, all these topics permeate everyday life, so in just an hour of our day, we'd basically cover all of those topics,' Lucy said. She covered how each child covers each traditional subject in day to day life in detail in the below application forms. IS IT LEGAL TO 'UNSCHOOL' IN NEW ZEALAND? The Ministry of Education in New Zealand can issue a Certificate of Exemption from enrollment at a registered school when it is satisfied that parents are willing and able to be responsible for an appropriate programme of education for their child. The application form asks parents to provide full details about how they intend to home educate their child Lucy submitted successful applications to the Ministry of Education to 'unschool' her children which can be read here (for Ramona) and here (for Juno). Advertisement

Now living in a yurt in the New Zealand countryside, the couple let their daughters 'learn as they wish'

'Yesterday, we forested for mushrooms and at night we played cards and went possum hunting and late at night we skinned the possums.'

Lucy says that children are more likely to succeed later in life if they are given 'lots of time to follow their interests'.

'If I sent them to school, they wouldn't get the same freedom,' she said.

'Most mainstream education can be very punitive. It can use shame to coerce kids to learn things they're not interested in and that's 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 says that children are more likely to succeed later in life if they are given 'lots of time to follow their interests'

'If I sent them to school, they wouldn't get the same freedom,' Lucy said

Tim, who once taught at a secondary school in London, was happy to swap the blackboard for the great outdoors now spends his time farming the land around their yurt and attending to the family's chickens and cows.

The couple say teachers make up a large percentage of parents who are part of the 'unschooling' world.

And 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.

'They get into [teaching] because they're passionate about learning, but they feel the opportunities to learn are stifled by the way school is structured,' Lucy said.

''It's mad how we test children when they're seven, eight or nine and make them experience shame and stress on a mass scale. Future generations will think: "what were we doing?".'

'I'm 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,' she said

Despite the growing interest, Lucy admits that many people still doubt her unique approach to education, with people online accusing her of 'neglecting' her children

Lucy said there has also been a surge in interest about unschooling since coronavirus lockdown started.

'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, adding that there was a surge in enrollments to her online unschooling course.

But despite the growing interest, 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 I'm neglecting my children and that they will hate me when they're older,' she said.

'Partly these people don't know what they're looking at when they see our lives and partly they've 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 didn't care about.

'I'm 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.'
The writers of 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' are taking stock of the show - amid the police backlash in the US.

According to Terry Crews, the writers were four eps in when they decided to throw out what they've been working on, to take the show in a different direction:

Weve had a lot of somber talks about it and deep conversations and we hope through this were going to make something that will be truly groundbreaking this year, the actor told Access Hollywood.
Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike has labelled some members of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) National Working Committee(NWC) as tax collectors.

Read Also: How Wike Killed Nigeria Governors Forum: APC

Speaking via his official Twitter handle on Tuesday, he said these members are the ones who connived with a popular newspaper outlet to make a false publications about him.

He tweeted,

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I told them that in Edo State, we must handle the issue carefully and carry everybody along. They must respect human beings and not behave like tax collectors.

They said because an order was obtained from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, then I am responsible.

I have had sleepless nights to resolve the issue in Edo state. The Governors of Edo, Adamawa, and Delta states, know what I have done to resolve the issues in Edo state.

As a result of this senseless accusation, I have pulled out of Edo State settlement. My integrity matters.

I have also directed my lawyer to write ThisDay Newspaper on the publication they made against me in their Tuesday,23rd June, 2020 edition.

I know the members of the National Working Committee of PDP who connived with ThisDay. They are tax collectors. Let them challenge me and I will come out with more facts.

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.

Why did the NWC not consult with Governors in the case of Bayelsa State?

I will no longer participate in any reconciliation and I wonder why the NWC now wants to consult Governors of the party.

Why did the NWC not consult with Governors in the case of Bayelsa State?

If PDP is not careful, the crisis in the All Progressive Congress (APC) would be a childs play.

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.

From now on, I want to concentrate on the development of Rivers State.

I told them that in Edo State, we must handle the issue carefully and carry everybody along. They must respect human beings and not behave like tax collectors. They said because an order was obtained from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, then I am responsible. pic.twitter.com/m1gMm10hGh  Gov N E Wike Information. (@GovWike) June 23, 2020

I have had sleepless nights to resolve the issue in Edo state. The Governors of Edo, Adamawa, and Delta states, know what I have done to resolve the issues in Edo state. As a result of this senseless accusation, I have pulled out of Edo State settlement. My integrity matters. pic.twitter.com/ahxzWVBOAB  Gov N E Wike Information. (@GovWike) June 23, 2020

I have also directed my lawyer to write ThisDay Newspaper on the publication they made against me in their Tuesday,23rd June, 2020 edition.  Gov N E Wike Information. (@GovWike) June 23, 2020

I have also directed my lawyer to write ThisDay Newspaper on the publication they made against me in their Tuesday,23rd June, 2020 edition.  Gov N E Wike Information. (@GovWike) June 23, 2020

I will no longer participate in any reconciliation and I wonder why the NWC now wants to consult Governors of the party. Why did the NWC not consult with Governors in the case of Bayelsa State?  Gov N E Wike Information. (@GovWike) June 23, 2020
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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 administration of U.S. President Donald Trump says "dangerous terrorist threats persisted" in 2019 even as Iran, the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, and Al-Qaeda suffered setbacks.



In its annual report on terrorism issued on June 24, the State Department also said that white supremacist attacks were on the rise.

Iran, which the report calls "the worlds worst state sponsor of terrorism," and its proxies continued to plot and commit terrorist attacks on a global scale.



Tehran also continued to allow an Al-Qaeda "facilitation network" to operate in Iran, "sending money and fighters to conflict zones in Afghanistan and Syria, and it still allowed [Al-Qaeda] members to reside in the country."



"Finally, the Iranian regime continued to foment violence, both directly and through proxies, in Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen," the report added.



Despite losing territory in Iraq and Syria, as well as its leader, the IS extremist group "adapted to continue the fight from its affiliates across the globe and by inspiring followers to commit attacks, according to the report.



But it also said that Iran, the IS group, and Al-Qaeda suffered serious setbacks last year, including the killing of several top leaders and the imposition of crippling sanctions against Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Tehran-backed Lebanese Hizballah movement, and supporters and financiers of both.



According to the State Department, attacks committed by white nationalists are of particular concern and "a serious challenge for the global community."



The report noted numerous such attacks in 2019, including in New Zealand, Germany, and the United States.

With reporting by AP
Forget the Loch Ness Monster. For now it seems that Nessie has a rival lurking in the deep of Lough Foyle. Or so gullible people around the world appear to think.

And though the 'sighting' of a hulking heavyweight near Londonderry started off as a joke that even Martin McGuinness joined in, it looks as if many monster enthusiasts are still falling for the ruse hook, line and sinker.

The hoax was devised seven years ago by film students in Derry who had a whale of a time with their wind-up... which I perpetuated.

The students had been approached to help promote a special City of Culture event called The Return of Colmcille, a spectacular dreamt up by Frank Cottrell Boyce, who was behind the opening ceremony at the London Olympics in 2012.

Frank's story drew inspiration from Colmcille's reputed battle with the Loch Ness Monster in 565AD, and a huge model of the beast was built to sail up the Foyle for a 'rematch' with him.

Thousands of people watched the show, which was the finale of Derry's year as UK City of Culture.

To whet people's appetites for the event the students had constructed their own hump-backed monster, which they filmed bobbing around in the water and they then put a short clip on YouTube.

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They hoped some people would take the bait and were surprised by the number of susceptible souls they reeled in.

Their shaky footage was watched over 40,000 times in a week and it was even picked up by an American website called Right This Minute, in which presenters debated whether or not the monster was real, with one woman saying she thought it was actually a duck-billed platypus.

The students' next move was to produce a longer video version of the nonsense and they recruited me to front up a spoof investigation they launched on the internet under the title of 'On the look-out with Ivan Little'.

My part in the jape was simple - to add a bit of credibility to what I thought was an incredible tale that the monster had either been living in the Foyle for centuries, or that it was maybe Nessie relocating from Scotland to Ireland.

The students reckoned my time as a television reporter for UTV might just fool viewers into believing the yarn.

And, my goodness, did it succeed.

For even now barely a month goes by that I don't receive a communication from America, the UK or Japan asking me about the Lough Foyle Monster.

Most of the emails have been from TV companies, some of whom have been offering substantial sums of money for me to contribute to programmes about the leviathan from Londonderry, the Derry demon, the freak from the Foyle, call it what you will.

The story is now featured extensively in the book The Monsters Of Loch Ness (The History And The Mystery) by Malcolm Robinson, who examines sightings of other creatures in Irish waters.

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He wrote that the students' footage was visually impressive and that my video diary was "excellent", but he also flagged up the possibility that the whole thing was a hoax.

He raised a number of issues about the film, particularly the unruffled demeanour of the students who shot it.

But others had no reservations and I've had to let everyone who's contacted me know they've been pranked and take them back to the genesis of the Foyle fakery.

After the producers contacted me I went to Derry to record tongue-in-cheek pieces to camera and lay down the voiceover for the video. I talked on camera to the students who claimed to have seen the monster as they supposedly made a film on fishing in the Foyle.

Conor Burns told me the monster was one of the greatest things he'd ever seen in his life and added that he was shaking with fear and excitement as it passed by.

Matthew Lynch said he was more curious than panicked by what he saw.

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At one point the producers filmed me with a pair of binoculars as I 'searched' for the monster, which for me put the tin hat on the sham because I was looking away from Lough Foyle.

What I didn't realise was the lengths to which the students would go to make the video even more believable in the next days and weeks.

Their big coup was to get the late Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness on board, so to speak.

And he played his part to perfection. He said he was aware of reports of a creature in Lough Foyle and added that the Department of Agriculture had also been told of similar sightings.

He said he had spoken to his Minister of Agriculture, who spoke of concerns for the preservation of salmon and sea trout stocks in Lough Foyle.

Mr McGuinness said he was going to raise the issue with First Minister Peter Robinson.

It all sounded like hokum, but the producers even created an ancient book with ancient words and ancient fonts, which purported to show that a monster had been seen in Lough Foyle as long ago as the time of the Siege of Derry in 1689.

Even scientists got in on the act to lend gravitas to the laughable possibility that Nessie was commuting between Scotland and Ireland.

And the production team did some vox pops with Scottish people, who rejected the notion that the Lough Foyle Monster was actually their very own Loch Ness Monster on tour.

However, if anything screamed 'hoax' about the video it was the appearance of a Derry man the producers called Robert Johnston, who was said to devote huge amounts of his spare time looking for the Lough Foyle Monster.

Armed with a ridiculously tiny camera and dressed in equally outlandish clothing, he said he spent five or six nights a week on the banks of the lough in the hope that he might get a picture of the elusive beast.

But he said, quite unconvincingly, he was delighted for the students who had beaten him in the race to get the first images of the creature.

However, Captain Bill McCann from the city's port said while he'd heard rumours about the gargantuan visitor to the Foyle, he pooh-poohed the idea that it could have gone undetected by radar, marine technology and CCTV.

Well-known Presbyterian minister the Rev David Latimer countered: "Let's just not rule it out too quickly. We wouldn't want a knee-jerk because it might just be true. The monster might exist.

"We need a bit more time just to explore the possibilities of where this monster might be."

However, among the thousands of people who watched the eight-and-a-half minute video online, there were many sceptics.

They pointed out that the film of the monster on Lough Foyle appeared to have been shot at Howth Head, about 130 miles from Derry.

They also said closer inspection revealed that the monster seemed to have wires attached from it to another boat, which looked as if it was dragging it along.

And some posters put great stock in the fact that one of the students who produced the video was called Conor MELARKEY, but that was his real name.

However, the last word went to Martin McGuinness.

He said with a straight face: "We are not sure what this creature is or where it has come from and what its intentions are.

"It's very important that we try to establish as much information as we possibly can about it due to the fact that there are, on occasions, poachers illegally poaching on the Foyle for salmon and trout.

"I think there would be a very real danger that some of these poachers could get devoured."

As yet, no devouring of poachers has been reported...
"The lone actor concept appears might do more harm than good in providing an explanation of the causes and origins of terrorist acts," says Associate Professor Bright.

"Significant confusion surrounds correct profiling of lone terrorists. There are key unanswered questions about the extent to which such people actually radicalise and undertake acts of violence alone."

Associate Professor Bright warns that the inaccurate profiling of a lone terrorist may deflect attention away from links they have with other individuals including established terrorist groups.

To better understand this phenomenon, Associate Professor Bright worked with Associate Professor Chad Whelan of Deakin University and Shandon Harris-Hogan of Victoria University to analyse five lone actor attacks perpetrated in Australia between September 2014 and the end of 2017. They used a personal network design to examine interpersonal relationships and connections they had with others and the nature of these connections.

Their research paper -- Exploring the hidden social networks of 'lone actor' terrorists, by David Bright, Chad Whelan and Shandon Harris-Hogan -- has been published in Crime, Law and Social Change journal. (DOI 10.1007/s10611-020-09905-2)

The paper discusses implications for policy and practice, with Professor Bright saying the lone actor concept needs to be re-evaluated, because while some individuals undertake their attacks alone, they are usually connected to a broader network of individuals providing varying degrees of ideological and logistical support for these attacks.

The researchers identify a need for more detailed analysis of the personal histories and interconnectedness of apparent lone terrorists.

"if we incorrectly continue to look at the lone terrorist threat as a phenomenon of socially isolated, uncommunicative people, we risk impeding our ability to effectively detect, prevent and mitigate the danger," Associate Professor Bright.

Therefore, he says network-based analysis of lone actors can reveal the extent of their reliance on ideological and/or logistical support from their local social networks.

Such an approach could not only improve understandings of the role and function of social networks underpinning terrorist acts, but also potentially identify more targeted approaches to disrupting, and/or conducting interventions with, wider terrorist networks.
For Thomas Fiema, the simple experience of going online falls somewhere between a crapshoot and pulling teeth.

Fiema, who works in IT, lives in a relatively isolated house outside Milton, Ont., with his wife, four kids and two in-laws. The only home internet service available to them is DSL, or a digital subscriber line  an older access technology that runs across aging copper phone wires.

While many internet users in big cities are now surfing on super-fast fibre-optic networks at speeds of 100 megabits per second or more, Fiema and his family max out at a measly 2.5 Mbps. Netflix, for references sake, recommends at least 3 Mbps for standard definition video streaming and 5 Mbps for high definition.

The connection is so slow that household members have to schedule when they want to be online to avoid using it at the same time. Even still, it often drops entirely.

So, when billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla electric car impresario Elon Musk recently signalled to telecommunications regulators that he intends to provide super-fast internet service to rural Canadians via satellite, Fiema could hardly contain his excitement.

It just seems like a godsend, he says. This is perfect, theres no way I cant support it.

Musks application with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, lodged in May via his Hawthorne, Calif.-based company Space Exploration Technologies, has mustered an unusual groundswell of public support.

As of publication time, more than 2,100 Canadians  including Fiema  have written to the CRTC to urge its approval for what is known as a Basic International Telecommunications Service licence. The regulator has extended the public comment deadline to this Friday to accommodate the high level of interest.

Such large write-in campaigns are often driven by the involved companies themselves, but that does not appear to be the case in this situation. A number of people contacted by the Star who have submitted comments to the regulator say they have been following SpaceXs plans closely through discussions on Reddit, Facebook and other online fora.

Musk has said that SpaceX, through its subsidiary Starlink, will be able to provide download speeds of up to a gigabit per second, or 1,000 Mbps, by using low-earth orbit satellites. LEO satellites operate at between 500 and 2,000 kilometres above the Earths surface, or much lower than traditional geostationary counterparts at 36,000 kilometres.

Aside from higher speeds, proponents say LEO satellites can also deliver considerably lower latency, or the time it takes for data to make a round trip between connection points. While geostationary latency is typically 500 milliseconds or higher, Starlink is promising between 15 and 25 milliseconds  an important threshold for real-time applications such as phone or video chats and online gaming.

Starlinks ambitious speed and latency goals have yet to be proven in large-scale, real-world conditions. To that end, the company is planning a beta test this summer or fall.

Its aim is to then launch the service fully in the northern United States and Canada before the end of this year, with plans for near-global expansion by 2021. The firm now has 540 LEO satellites in orbit, including 58 launched on June 13 by SpaceX, the company Musk started in 2002 in an effort to make space transportation cheaper.

The company has not yet announced pricing, but analysts have estimated the service might cost around $80 (U.S.) per month.

Various levels of government have acknowledged that better and faster internet outside of dense urban areas is desperately needed, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need to work and school from home. About 12 per cent of Canadian households  or nearly 1.5 million  dont have internet access, according to the CRTC, though that figure doesnt count the many connecting at bare minimums, like Fiema.

Industry observers point out that Canada hasnt been the most welcoming place for foreign-based telecommunications companies, with both regulators and local companies proving hostile to previous efforts.

Starlink would face competition in Canada from Woodstock, New Brunswick-based Xplornet, which currently provides internet and phone service through geostationary satellites. Xplornet doesnt yet have plans to add LEO capability, but the company last year signed a deal to use U.S.-based Hughes Network Systems next-generation geostationary Jupiter 3 Ultra High Density Satellite to provide download speeds up to 100 Mbps, with an expected launch in 2021.

Ottawa-based Telesat is also in the process of launching an LEO network that it will then offer on a wholesale basis to internet providers such as Xplornet. The government of Canada last year announced a $600-million contribution to the effort, which the company expects will become available in Canada in 2022.

Industry watchers say the optics of the CRTC or government doing anything but green-lighting Starlinks plan, despite existing local competition, would be terrible given the ongoing digital divide.

This has long been a problem, for over two decades, says Michael Geist, the Canada Research Chair in internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa. At this stage, we would be wise to put bets on as many providers as possible.

Samer Bishay, chief executive of Toronto-based phone provider Iristel, says its more the large telecom companies such as Bell and Rogers that need to be concerned about Musk  who holds Canadian, American and South African citizenships  and his move into internet access services.

While Starlink is currently targeting only rural internet customers, the company is likely to provide home phone service over its network, he says. LEO technology could also soon prove to be competitive with fibre and cellular wireless connectivity.

Is it going to change the landscape? Yeah, potentially, says Bishay, a former systems engineer at the Canadian Space Agency. Who says that 10 years from now, your cellphone cant communicate directly with a satellite, so maybe you start switching providers?

Correction - June 25, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Xplornet is based in Ontario.

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A senior female City executive told by her boss 'women should stay at home and cook' has won a 75,000 payout.

Lana Sinelnikova had accused chief executive Alex Pusco of sex discrimination and blew the whistle on alleged improper financial practices at the foreign exchange trading company he founded.

The 37-year-old - who earned more than 100,000 - claimed he also showed staff at ActivTrades a 'degrading' picture of a woman wearing skimpy clothing posing with a car while declaring that 'sex sells'.

A tribunal heard Ms Sinelnikova had been suspended from her role as Head of Compliance for gross misconduct for taking a work trip to Dubai with a senior colleague she was in a relationship with, while she was off sick.

But the panel concluded that the firm - which believed she obstructed deals by flagging potential legal concerns - had been trying to force her out and used the trip as 'leverage' to fire her.

ActivTrades was found guilty of unfair dismissal and victimisation.

Lana Sinelnikova, pictured, won a 75,000 payout after her former employer was found guilty of victimising her after she accused them of sex discrimination and blew the whistle on what she believed were potentially criminal practices at the firm

When she complained about her treatment, the company - which made 11 million profit in 2018 - embarked on a campaign of 'concerted and malicious action' against her, the tribunal heard.

This included giving false information about her to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), wrongly claiming she had committed a criminal offence and threatening to take her to the High Court.

It accused her of improperly using her work computer to run an eBay trading account. The company also refused to give back her personal data, including details about her divorce.

The tribunal found the firm guilty of victimising Miss Sinelnikova after she accused them of sex discrimination and blew the whistle on what she believed were potentially criminal practices at the firm.

The hearing, in East London, was told Ms Sinelnikova had joined the London-based trading firm in 2011.

At the time of her complaint, she said she was the only senior female manager working there.

The tribunal heard her role was to make sure the company's financial dealings were legal and to raise Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) if she had concerns.

However, the tribunal heard that by 2017 there was growing frustration with her among senior management that she was obstructing deals by flagging up potential regulatory breaches.

In November of that year - despite being absent from work due to illness - Ms Sinelnikova travelled to Dubai with the firm's Compliance Director, Jon Friend, with whom she was in a relationship, to help carry out a risk assessment of the company's office there.

The company then used the trip as an excuse to get rid of her, the tribunal concluded, by claiming it was unauthorised.

ActivTrades' London office, pictured, where 37-year-old Ms Sinelnikova worked for the firm

'(AtivTrades) was looking to force (her) from the business at this time...as a result (it) was looking for a reason why (she) should leave the business,' the tribunal judgement found. 'It jumped to the conclusion that she had committed gross misconduct.'

In December 2017, Ms Sinelnikova issued a grievance against the company - later sent to the FCA - accusing them of sex discrimination and potential criminal offences relating to their compliance with financial conduct laws.

In her complaint, she recalled an incident at the firm's Bulgarian office when 'Mr Pusco stated that 'women should stay at home and cook', in the context of complaining about the length of maternity leave in Bulgaria.'

She also alleged that in 2017, 'Mr Pusco displayed an image of an advertisement by Aston Martin for pre-owned cars. The advert contains a woman wearing limited clothing in a particular pose.

'On showing this advert to (Ms Sinelnikova) and others at the London Office, Mr Pusco stated that the (firm's) marketing needed to be 'sexy' and that sex sells.'

The tribunal found the advert to be 'insulting, offensive, and degrading to women'.

Ms Sinelnikova recalled an incident when 'Mr Pusco (pictured) stated that 'women should stay at home and cook', in the context of complaining about the length of maternity leave in Bulgaria'

It said that Ms Sinelnikova had raised concerns about potential criminal conduct and sex discrimination in good faith, believing the disclosures to be in the public interest.

She resigned in February 2018 and the company then went to great lengths to try to stop her pursuing the claims, the tribunal found.

This included refusing to give her back personal data from her work computer account - including details of her divorce.

'Because of those disclosures...(ActivTrades) sought to use the retention of such sensitive personal data as a tool against (Ms Sinelnikova), as leverage to try to push her into not pursuing any form of claim against it,' the tribunal found.

In March 2018 the firm wrote her a legal letter accusing her of 'spending a significant amount of time running her eBay account from her work computer during working hours'.

It also claimed she had stored illegal music files on her PC. Both accusations were found to be baseless by the panel.

Finding the firm guilty of unfair dismissal and victimisation, the tribunal said it had 'gone out of its way...to try to irreparably damage her career for raising matters of public interest and sex discrimination.

'(We) found that the treatment by (ActivTrades) had caused a very high level of injury to her feelings which had been sustained over a long period time, by concerted and malicious action.

'The injury to (her) feelings had had a profound effect on almost every aspect of her life.'

Ms Sinelnikova was awarded a total of 76,510 in compensation, including 40,000 damages for injury to feelings.

ActivTrades were also ordered to pay a 5,000 financial penalty - the maximum available - for repeated breaches of employment law.
An American warship in the Caribbean Sea navigated into waters the US Navy says are illegitimately claimed by Caracas.

A US Navy ship has navigated near the Venezuelan coast in what the US militarys Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) called a freedom of navigation operation, a day after a cargo ship from US foe Iran docked at a port of the South American country.

In a post on its website, SOUTHCOM said the USS Nitze, a missile destroyer, sailed in an area outside Venezuelas territorial waters  which extend some 12 nautical miles (22km) from its coasts  but within an area the Venezuelan government falsely claims to have control over.

The United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, preserving the rights, freedoms and lawful use of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations, Admiral Craig Faller, SOUTHCOM commander, said in the statement on Tuesday.

A spokesman told AFP that a similar operation had taken place in January.

The move comes after the Trump administration in April said it was deploying more US military assets to the Caribbean, in part to disrupt alleged narcotics shipments by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a socialist viewed as illegitimate by the US and dozens of other mostly Western countries.

With US sanctions on its key oil industry leaving Venezuela increasingly isolated, Maduro last month turned to Iran  another country under heavy US sanctions  for fuel shipments. Washington said it was considering a response to those shipments, but took no military action.

BREAKING: #USSNitze conducts a freedom of navigation operation, contesting an excessive maritime claim by #Venezuela. The @USNavy ship lawfully navigated an area the illegitimate #Maduro regime falsely claims control over. @StateDept @DeptofDefense 1 of 3 https://t.co/mf9Hbfpdhs  U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) June 23, 2020

On Monday, the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Golsan docked in the Venezuelan port of La Guaira carrying what Irans Embassy in Caracas said was food to supply the South American nations first Iranian supermarket. There was no indication that the Golsan and Nitze confronted each other.

Neither Venezuelas information ministry nor its armed forces press office immediately responded to requests for comment.

President Donald Trump has insisted that all options are on the table to remove Maduro, but US officials have made clear there is little appetite for military force.
(CNN)New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut issued a travel advisory Wednesday that requires people arriving from states with high coronavirus rates to quarantine for 14 days.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said the travel advisory applies to anyone coming from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

"We have to make sure the virus doesn't come in on a plane," Cuomo said.

"We worked very hard to get the viral transmission rate down, and we don't want to see it go up," he added.

As of Wednesday, the advisory applies to Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah, and Texas. It begins tonight at midnight.

The announcement is a 180-degree flip from just a few months ago, when the tri-state area, and New York City, in particular, was the epicenter of the pandemic.

The 7-day moving average of new cases has declined in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

The 7-day moving average of new cases has declined in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

In late March, President Donald Trump considered placing the three states under a quarantine, Rhode Island police stopped vehicles with New York license plates, and Florida directed all travelers from the tri-state area to isolate or quarantine for two weeks.

Months of strict lockdown rules, widespread testing, and imperfect attempts at contact tracing have brought cases under control in the tri-state area and the region. New cases are on the decline this past week compared to the week before in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

But now, states in the South and West are seeing what Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, called a "disturbing surge" in cases.

As of Wednesday, 26 states reported an increase in cases in the past week compared to the week prior, and that increase has been particularly stark in heavily populated states like California, Texas, Florida, and Arizona.

How the restrictions will work

Each of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will be responsible for its own enforcement of the quarantine. The states' health commissioners will pursue an aggressive public relations campaign at airports, highways, and other locations.

In New York, Cuomo said, those violating the quarantine could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine, and fines are $2,000 for the first violation, $5,000 for the second violation, and $10,000 if you cause harm.

Texas governor urges people to stay home as states report surges of new Covid-19 cases

Texas governor urges people to stay home as states report surges of new Covid-19 cases

Gov. Murphy of New Jersey said the advisory applies to everyone, including New Jerseyans returning home.

"This is not a polite recommendation, this is a strong advisory built on the back of the healthcare professionals," he said. "We are asking folks to take on a big amount of personal responsibility here, to do the right thing for themselves as well as for their families, communities, and the rest of us."

When asked about the possibility of fines, he said the health commissioner "has within her powers to directly address an individual who is non-compliant."

Gov. Lamont of Connecticut said the governors "reluctantly" decided to institute the travel advisory.

"The northeast region has taken this seriously," he said. "But we're not an island. And as we look around the rest of the country, you know, we have seen not just spikes, but we've seen real community spread."

He described the advisory as voluntary but considered it "urgent guidance."

Lack of national infrastructure

The interstate travel restrictions are just another consequence of the federal government's inability to create a robust national public health infrastructure. The lack of nationwide rules and effective supply chains has largely left each state on its own and had the effect of pitting them against each other.

Even now, 19 states have no requirements for residents to wear facemasks -- the simplest and cheapest layer of defense against a virus with no vaccine and no widely effective treatment.

Indeed, Gov. Cuomo has openly mocked other states that he said were acting politically rather than scientifically.

What's behind the surge of Covid-19 cases in Florida

What's behind the surge of Covid-19 cases in Florida

"New York went from one of the highest infection rates in the country to one of the lowest because we made decisions based on science -- not politics," he said Tuesday. "We're seeing in other states what happens when you just reopen with no regard for metrics or data. It's bad for public health and for the economy, and states that reopened in a rush are now seeing a boomerang."

As part of its phased reopening, New York required regions to meet certain metrics around testing, contact tracing, and hospital admissions and available beds. New York City, the final region to reopen, moved to the second phase of its reopening on Monday after seeing continued improvement in each metric.

Still, Dr. Richard Besser, former acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said no state has yet effectively reopened its economy safely.

"We have to figure out how to make that transition in a successful way, or every state that reopens, even those that have done a really good job at tamping this down, are going to see pretty dramatic rises and we're going to end up back to where we were," Besser said.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/24/us/new-york-coronavirus-travel-restriction/index.html
And how grateful we are to people like Lenoir, Mr. Christiansen continued, who realized that their value  both artistic and historical  extended beyond a defining moment of social and political upheaval and change. While Mr. Christiansen appeared to be arguing for the preservation of monuments, he also struck some as insensitive and tone deaf.

The post was criticized in a tweet by the advocacy group of arts workers, Art + Museum Transparency: Dear @metmuseum, one of your most powerful curators suggested that its a shame were trying to rid ourselves of a past of which we dont approve by removing monuments  and, worse, making a dog whistle of an equation of #BLM activists with revolutionary zealots. This is not OK.

Responses to the tweet were similarly critical. This is disgusting, one comment said, not acceptable.

Mr. Christiansen subsequently took down the post and removed his Instagram account.

Asked to respond to the uproar over the post on Wednesday, Max Hollein, the Mets director, said in a statement to The Times: There is no doubt that the Met and its development is also connected with a logic of what is defined as white supremacy. Our ongoing efforts to not only diversify our collection but also our programs, narratives, contexts and staff will be further accelerated and will benefit in urgency and impact from this time.

A day earlier, he had apologized directly to the European paintings department in an email, calling the Instagram post not only not appropriate and misguided in its judgment but simply wrong.

Keith is a very valued member of our community and while this post was on Keiths personal Instagram account, it is certainly also part of our institutional conversation and we need to reflect on that, Mr. Hollein added.
A citizen scientist has discovered an extremely rare 460million-year-old fossil in the Australian outback.

Patrick Nelson and his brother explored the Amadeus Basin south of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory in early June when they struck it lucky.

Mr Nelson, who has discovered 12 fossils over the years, thought there were some in the area but he never believed he would find an arthropod fossil dated back to the Ordovician Period.

Patrick Nelson and his brother were exploring the Amadeus Basin south of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory (pictured) in early June when they made their find

He took pictures of the fossil and sent them to a few friends who also share an interest in palaeontology.

'I was bouncing off the ceiling, once I sensed the excitement of those experts in the field I was pretty excited too,' Mr Nelson told 9News.

Mr Nelson decided to donate his rare find to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

Dr Adam Yates, the museum's senior curator of earth and sciences, said this is the first time an arthropod had been discovered in the territory.

'It's fantastic for us, we don't have many staff so we really do rely on citizen scientists to help build a picture of ancient Australia,' Dr Yates said.

Mr Nelson, who has discovered 12 fossils over the years, thought there were some in the area but he never believed he would find an arthropod fossil (stock image pictured) dated back to the Ordovician Period

'Nothing like it has been found in Central Australia before and we are excited to identify this rare find.'

He said the museum will conduct further tests and may put the fossil on display for others to see and appreciate.

Arthropods are invertebrates with jointed legs that make up about 75 per cent of animals on Earth.

They originated in oceans during the Cambrian period 530million years ago and adapted to changing environments so successfully they still exist in great numbers today.
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"Over the Moon," an animated musical feature film by Chinese production company Pearl Studio, is set to be released later this year, according to an announcement made via the movie's Weibo account.

Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Glen Keane, it revolves around a girl who builds a rocket to travel to the moon in hopes of meeting the legendary Moon Goddess.

A Chinese-subtitled trailer has been released for the movie.

Pearl Studio co-produced the 2019 animated adventure film "Abominable" with DreamWorks Animation.
Khoi said Vietnam is willing to share its experience in the pandemic combat and expressed his belief that Turkey will soon contain the disease.

Sedat Unal said he was impressed by Vietnams success in the pandemic fight and thanked the Vietnamese government and people for their support during this tough time.

He congratulated Vietnam on successfully performing the role of ASEAN Chair 2020, saying Turkey wishes to enhance cooperation with Vietnam at regional and international forums.

Both sides rejoiced at the marked developments of the bilateral multifaceted cooperation, especially in economy, and agreed to improve the efficiency of collaboration in such areas as politics-diplomacy, trade, investment, culture-tourism, and education-training.

In that spirit, they will give priority to working for a visit to Vietnam by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and holding the eighth meeting of the joint committee and the fourth political consultation between the two foreign ministries.

The two Deputy Ministers emphasised the necessity to create favourable conditions and seek suitable forms for their business communities to meet and seek investment and business opportunities in order to maintain and promote the economic ties during and after the pandemic.

They also exchanged views on certain regional and international issues of shared concern.
The minister for housing, communities and local government had an extension to his 2.6million London townhouse pushed through by local Conservative councillors despite objections, it has been revealed.

Robert Jenrick, 38, and his wife, 47, bought a five-bedroom house in October 2013 just a few weeks before he was selected as the conservative candidate for Newark.

The couple, who share three daughters, wanted to turn their first floor roof terrace into an extra room as part of 830,000-worth of renovations.

After planning applications under Mr Jenrick's name were twice rejected a third application was made under his wife's name, although she was misgendered as Mr Michal Berner, reported The Times.

The previous rejections were over concerns the extension would damage the character and appearance of the building and conservation area.

Robert Jenrick, 38, and his wife (pictured together in Newark in 2014), 47, bought a five-bedroom house in October 2013 just a few weeks before he was selected as the conservative candidate for Newark

But the 2014 application, submitted just two months after Mr Jenrick was elected as a Conservative MP, was sent to a planning committee.

A Tory councillor who lived on the same private square, Steve Summers, had intervened and requested the application be referred to the higher committee to make a decision.

In November 2014 three Tory members of the planning committee voted to overturn the planning officer's refusal, and the application was granted.

Labour councillor Ruth Bush voted against the application. At the time she said it was 'a foolish mistake' and risked setting a dangerous precedent for other houses in the area.

When she heard about the recent revelations she told the newspaper: 'I am not at all happy now it's been drawn to my attention that this proceeded in the way that it did. It should have been more transparent.'

Ms Bush said it was 'strange' and 'unusual' for a councillor to refer an application with no public objections to a planning committee. 'If it hadn't been called into committee then the officer's refusal would have stood,' she said.

A spokesman for Mr Jenrick said: 'Normal planning process for a standard planning extension was followed by the applicant.'

It comes as the minister is caught up in a cash-for-favours row after he overruled Tower Hamlets council and the planning inspector to give the green light to billionaire Richard Desmonds 1,500-home scheme in east London.

The couple, who share three daughters, wanted to turn their first floor roof terrace into an extra room as part of 830,000-worth of renovations. Pictured, their townhouse

His decision in January, which in its timing saved Mr Desmond tens of millions of pounds, came two months after he sat next to the former newspaper owner at a Tory fundraising dinner.

Two weeks later, Mr Desmond donated 12,000 to the party.

Tower Hamlets launched a legal challenge to the planning approval in February and demanded Mr Jenrick disclose papers relating to his decision.

But documents seen by the Mail show the minister initially vowed to resist the move.

In a letter to the council, government lawyers wrote: The secretary of state denies and will defend any appeal brought.

It comes as the minister is caught up in a cash-for-favours row after he overruled Tower Hamlets council and the planning inspector to give the green light to billionaire Richard Desmonds 1,500-home scheme in east London

They added: The secretary of state considers that the councils request for disclosure of documents is nothing more than a fishing expedition without any proper foundation.

Weeks later, after the council took the case to the High Court, Mr Jenrick accepted his decision was unlawful by reason of apparent bias and it was quashed.

He agreed to take no further part in decisions about the redevelopment of the former print works at Westferry.

Labour renewed its calls for Mr Jenrick to release the files, arguing if hes done nothing wrong then he has nothing to fear.

Jenrick's decision saved Mr Desmond tens of millions of pounds and came two months after he sat next to the former newspaper owner at a Tory fundraising dinner

Housing spokesman Steve Reed said: It is shocking that Robert Jenrick so arrogantly dismissed Tower Hamlets concerns about a decision which he later admitted was unlawful and biased.

[He] must come clean and publish the documents that show what he was really up to.

Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: Its desperately arrogant that the secretary of state tried to shrug off our concerns as a fishing expedition.

Throughout this process the secretary of state has tried to avoid all scrutiny of his decision on Westferry Printworks.

Last week the Mail told how Mr Jenrick waived affordable housing rules, saving Mr Desmond 106million, and also admitted he knew he was saving the tycoon 40million by approving the plans a day before a community levy came in.

Mr Jenrick agreed to take no further part in decisions about the redevelopment of the former print works at Westferry

Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill is reviewing documents relating to the decision, as pressure mounts on him to launch a formal investigation.

Downing Street insisted yesterday it still had full confidence in Mr Jenrick.

MPs on the Commons housing, communities and local government committee have asked Mr Jenrick to publish all correspondence and documentation leading up to his decision. The minister has pledged to reply by the end of the week.

An MHCLG spokesman said: 'The Department doesn't comment on litigation or legal strategy. All parties to the case agreed to re-determination and officials will be writing to parties to set out next steps in due course.'
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".
At least four companies, including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) major ITC Ltd, have responded to the call by the Bihar government to invest in the state, its industries minster has said.

This comes as a relief for the state government which has laid a red carpet to welcome investments in Bihar, including a promise of providing 2,500 acres of land.

With the flush of migrant labourers and the state governments skill mapping, the industries department is also boasting about the availability of surplus workforce.

However, the size of the investments is not known yet.

Four firms, including ITC, Surya Food and Agro Ltd and have shown interest to invest in Bihar, besides this Ajanta Shoes (India) Pvt Ltd is also keen to set up units here, Shyam Rajak, the states minister for industries, said.

It is expected it will create employment as the government is trying to generate jobs for migrant labourers who have has returned to the state after the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

According to the government estimate, about 21 lakh migrant labourers have returned to Bihar through Shramik Special trains and road routes.

All this is at a nascent stage and the visit of officials has been hampered by Covid-19. Once things normalise, the officials will visit Bihar to discuss the details, Rajak said and added that efforts were being made to rope in more industrial houses.

ITC is planning to make a big investment, which will be beside the small units it has in Munger and Purnia, he said.

Sources said the food processing units were interested to set up at Motipur in Muzaffarpur or in or near Patna. Road connectivity with the capital could be the reason for setting up units in Muzaffarpur, one of the persons cited above said.

An official of the industries department said on the condition of anonymity that the technical team of these industries will first visit to see the availability of land and other infrastructure needed for the projects.

The Bihar government has been harping its strength that as it is a major grain and fruit-producing state, there is immense scope of investment for food processing units in the region. It has also said that it will soon tweak the Industrial Investment Promotion Policy.

Earlier, the industries minister had written to 25 houses, including Nestle India, Parag Milk Foods Ltd, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd, Jubilant Foodworks Ltd, KRBL Ltd, LT Food Ltd and Hindustan Food Ltd among others to invite them to invest in Bihar.

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On June 1, UTC Chancellor Steven Angle released a statement titled Racism and the Pandemic. While we as UTC students agree that racism runs rampant through our nation, there are some key differences between racism and a disease. One does not choose to be sick, and more importantly racism is an active choice that is taught and learned through generations. Racism is systemic, and it is something that one willfully takes part in. While a disease may have a vaccine, cure, or treatment, the only cure for racism is action. One must actively work to unlearn their biases and make real change within their community. And while having a disease may kill you, racism does not harm the racist. The oppressor does not suffer from the racist system that they create. Instead it is the oppressed that suffer from the long lasting effects of racism in our country and in the Chattanooga community. UTC students and members of the community found Chancellor Angles comparison to be tone deaf and lacking any resolve for real change. That is why on June 7, the signatures and comments of over 1,000 unsatisfied UTC students and Chattanooga community members were sent to Chancellor Angle, asking him the crucial question: do Black lives matter? Those signatures were ignored and the question was left unanswered.

In his most recent statement released on June 15, Chancellor Angle released a list of promises to help end racism on campus including a series of five open forum meetings during the fall semester to hear stories and experiences from the campus community. He also delegated tasks to members of UTCs Executive Leadership Team. These tasks range from a promise to review our physical space to consider opportunities to better reflect our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion to collaboration between our institution and our community to identify the role we do and should play in the broader context of our region. We say these promises of reviews and investigations do not go far enough, because institutions like the American university have no incentive to hold themselves accountable when the act of exposing racism damages their image. Encouraging students to relive instances of racism theyve encountered on campus does little to provide justice for those students, and does nothing to prevent further incidents from occurring on campus. UTC students are looking for real, quantifiable change. We pay tuition every year and we should have a say in how our money gets spent.

These are the demands of UTC students: UTC-PD must be disarmed, and UTC must divest from the UTC-PD budget and invest in underpaid faculty, staff, and working students by allocating funds for higher wages, scholarships, and counseling resources. UTC must provide essential mental health and counseling resources for students of color who have experienced hate crimes and racial discrimination. UTC must establish a mandatory racial and cultural sensitivity education program for all faculty, staff, and students. UTC must create a student run system for reporting racism and hate crimes. UTC must fully back the Chattanooga community in their call to divest from the Chattanooga Police Department budget and reinvest into Black and Brown communities that have been impacted by gentrification due to UTCs downtown presence. UTC administration must take an affirmative stance on the Black Lives Matter movement by condemning local police brutality and racial injustice. They must condemn the Chattanooga Police Department for the murder of JaVario Eagle, and criticize the Hamilton County Sheriffs Department for their deployment of tear gas on peaceful protesters on May 31.

Since our petition was created, there has been increasing evidence of racism on UTCs campus including recent allegations of racial insensitivity within a UTC fraternity. On top of that, UTC students are stepping forward and anonymously sharing stories of their encounters with racism on campus. One student had this to share:

"I was walking back to [Johnson Obear student housing] from the library late on a weekend. There was this group of boys wearing frat shirts with matching letters. I didn't know what the letters meant and I regretfully didn't draw them out when I got back to my room. Anyway, if you recall the scene from Finding Nemo where the seagulls are yelling "mine mine mine", that is what they were doing to me. Out of nowhere they all started yelling the N word at me while pointing and laughing (they seemed intoxicated). I looked around to see if they were actually talking to me and that's when I realized the only people on the street were them and I. I was mortified and afraid that they were going to hurt me so I ran back to my room and cried for hours till I fell asleep.

This is just a fraction of one story shared by a UTC student. Racism is a problem at UTC and the students are demanding action. In Chancellor Steven Angles own words, We cannot sit on the sidelines and see lives wasted. Silence and inaction are not the choices we can afford to make. Please join us on Chamberlain Field at UTCs campus on June 26 at 3 p.m. for a student-organized demonstration of community solidarity.

Jennah Hyppolite


F ilmmaker and philanthropist Steve Bing took his own life, a coroner in Los Angeles has said.

The 55-year-old, who shared a son with actress Elizabeth Hurley, was found dead in Century City on Monday.

On its website, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office listed Bing's cause of death as "multiple blunt trauma" and said the manner was suicide.

The case is now closed, the coroner added.

Former US president Bill Clinton among those to pay tribute as news of Bings death emerged.

Bing was described as a "sweet, kind man" by Hurley, the mother of his 18-year-old son Damian.

Sharing a gallery of photos of them as a couple, she wrote on Instagram: "I am saddened beyond belief that my ex Steve is no longer with us. It is a terrible end.

"Our time together was very happy and I'm posting these pictures because although we went through some tough times, it's the good, wonderful memories of a sweet, kind man that matter.

"In the past year we had become close again. We last spoke on our son's 18th birthday. This is devastating news and I thank everyone for their lovely messages."

Damian wrote on Instagram: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has reached out following the devastating news.

"I'm trying to reply to as many of you as I can, but please know I will always remember your kindness. This is a very strange and confusing time and I'm immensely grateful to be surrounded by my phenomenal family and friends."

Bing, who inherited a reported 600 million dollars (about 481 million) from his real estate developer grandfather, was known for his work on movies including Kangaroo Jack, which he co-wrote.

He also helped finance The Polar Express, starring Tom Hanks.

For confidential support on mental health call the Samaritans on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or attend a local Samaritans branch.
Canadians are being exempted from U.S. President Donald Trump's halt on certain work visas, immigration lawyers said Wednesday evening in a development that could affect thousands of cross-border workers.

News that the U.S. is slamming its door shut on broad categories of foreign professionals has triggered mass confusion around the world for businesses, workers and their families.

But it appears there's a partial loophole for Canadians.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association informed members that it had received assurances from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that all border posts were instructed to exempt Canadians from this week's order.

The executive order announced Monday by Trump suspends, at least for the rest of this year, entry of workers under several popular visa categories (H, J and L), upending hundreds of thousands of lives and businesses around the world  and potentially several thousand in Canada.

From the outset, some lawyers had suspected the wording exempted Canadians but were unsure, and the confusion was compounded by different interpretations of the order from one border post to the next.

On Wednesday, the lawyers' association said it received clearer assurances from the U.S. government.

"Fortunately, [U.S. Customs and Border Protection headquarters] has now confirmed that the proclamation does not apply to Canadian citizens and has apparently informed the local ports of entry of this fact," said Henry Chang, a Toronto-based expert on U.S. immigration law at the law firm Dentons.

"So the issue appears to be resolved, at least for Canadian citizens."

Another immigration expert, speaking earlier this week, predicted a period of uncertainty.

"It's going to be a little chaotic for a while," said Theresa Cardinal Brown, a former U.S. Homeland Security official and immigration expert once posted at the American Embassy in Ottawa

The fine print in Trump's order

Story continues

The potential Canadian loophole is in Section 3 of the order. That section says the visa ban only applies to people currently outside the U.S. who lack a valid visa or travel document. It so happens that most Canadians already have a valid travel document to the U.S.

It's called a passport.

WATCH | COVID-19 cases rise in U.S. south, west:

An American immigration lawyer said that's a distinction not shared by most citizens of other countries, who generally need a visa or visa waiver to enter the U.S.

"Canadian citizens are unique in the world," said Danielle Rizzo, a partner at the Harris Beach law firm in Buffalo, N.Y., and former head of liaison between U.S. Customs and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Speaking earlier this week, Rizzo said that's why she anticipated an exemption for Canadians.

Trump's order constitutes a significant escalation of his immigration-curbing policies.

He cast it as a measure to protect 525,000 American jobs from foreign competition amid a pandemic that has wiped out more than 18 million jobs in the country.

An American 'tragedy'

But to one former immigration official in the Obama White House, this is a heartbreaking moment in U.S. history.

"I think this is a tragedy," said Doug Rand, who now runs a company, Boundless Immigration, that helps immigrants obtain U.S. residency and citizenship.

"And it's a huge self-inflicted wound for this country  in terms of our values, our economy and our ability to overcome this pandemic."

He said that Trump has progressively chipped away at visa rules to make it more difficult to immigrate and that it has caused one friend, a PhD in biomedical sciences, to move to Canada.

"Good job, Canada," Rand said.

Carlos Barria/Reuters

A Harvard business professor published a paper this spring warning that the U.S.'s out-of-date immigration system, which has not been reformed in decades, risks sapping the country of its great historical advantage in drawing top talent.

Trump has repeatedly said he wants to reform the system to prioritize skilled labour, like Canada's points system.

But there's no sign of any such legislation passing Congress, and what Trump has mostly done instead is tighten existing policies by executive order, culminating in this week's.

In crisis, some Canadians see opportunity

Now, as in any crisis, some see opportunity.

Canadian tech companies are signalling their intention to recruit some of the workers now barred from the U.S.

Canada had, before the pandemic struck, experienced a historic population boom, fuelled by foreign students and skilled workers. The OECD credited policies created by successive governments in Ottawa a role model.

One immigrant to Canada is now working to take advantage of Trump's executive order.

Ilya Brotzky came to Canada from the former Soviet Union when he was five, accompanying his mother, a horticultural engineer.

He now runs VanHack, which has 32 employees, mostly in Canada, that has recruited 600 tech workers from India and South America on behalf of companies looking to expand Canadian operations.

Brotzky said he's begun talking to colleagues about how to track down and recruit people who have been shut out of the U.S.

Cole Burston/Bloomberg

He said many of these people will be hired by the exact same companies and will work remotely outside the U.S.  and make money and pay taxes outside the U.S.

"These are highly skilled, coveted workers who have a lot to contribute," said the Vancouver-based entrepreneur.

"I think it'll hurt the U.S."

One thing he wonders is whether Trump's announcement was a mere election-year political stunt.

After all, during the pandemic, U.S. government offices are being shuttered and immigration applications have slowed to a trickle.

But Rizzo said companies are still moving people around.

What happens next?

She said she's still processing L visa applications for Canadian intra-company transfers during this pandemic and has reason to hope it will continue.

One Montreal lawyer who specializes in U.S. immigration, Andrea Vaitzner, said it would be a serious mistake for the U.S. to halt L-1 visas, used for transfers of executives between company offices.

"It would be a huge blow to businesses," said Vaitzner, who works at Norton Rose Fulbright.

"[These executives] travel intermittently to the U.S. to do work at their company's U.S. office or to visit [customers, suppliers and partners]. I do not understand how banning Canadian L-1 applicants from entering the U.S. would alleviate the unemployment rate in the U.S."
[June 24, 2020] WGU Names Corey Edwards Director of Northwest Region

Western Governors University (WGU) announced the appointment of Corey Edwards as Director of the Northwest Region. Edwards brings fifteen years of experience as a leader in higher education and entrepreneur. In his role with the online, nonprofit university, Edwards will help guide the strategic direction of WGU and further raise its profile among prospective students and university partners. "Corey has demonstrated the tremendous value of aligning higher ed, business and other stakeholders to better serve students and strengthen the local community," said Dr. Tonya Drake, the Regional Vice President for WGU's Northwest Region. "At WGU, he will work closely with leaders across Colorado and the region to advance our university's mission of creating pathways to opportunity and changing lives for the better." Edwards will support Dr. Drake in overseeing university operations across a nine-state territory, which includes Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. His duties will include expanding university partnerships, providing effective communications to external and internal audiences, and strengthening WGU's position as a leading rganization in higher education. He will be based in the Denver area.



"WGU has been a valuable resource for contemporary students and employers for more than twenty years," said Edwards. "That said, opportunity exists to further drive innovation and connect more individuals with life- and career-changing degree programs. I'm excited to join WGU and help advance its important mission." Prior to WGU, Edwards served in several roles within the University of Colorado system. He was most recently the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships for the University of Colorado Denver. In that position, he collaborated with industry leaders to establish jointly beneficial partnerships and ensure the university met crucial, workforce needs. He launched and led the University Partnerships steering committee comprised of decision makers from each school, college and key, on-campus business unit.

Before that, Edwards served as Director of Student Success for the Office of Digital Education at the University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, where he managed the full, online-learning experience, including student recruitment, academic support and career services. Edwards is an alumnus of the University of Northern Colorado where he studied communication and journalism and received a master's in sport administration. About WGU Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 122,000 students nationwide and has nearly 183,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation's leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 23 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today's rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR (News - Alert), NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at www.wgu.edu View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005655/en/

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A woman who wore a full-length niqab as a disguise as she orchestrated a raid on a beauty salon to take a laser hair removal machine has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Harpreet Kaur, 29, posed as a customer to get access to the treatment room at the Pure Skin salon in St Georges Wharf, using the traditional Muslim garb and sunglasses to hide her identity.

Once inside, Kaur unlocked the door for accomplice Monica Pashias, 42, to burst in, posing as a police officer to remove the salons Alma Soprano Platinum Ice hair removal machine  worth up to 50,000.

A third person, Tyrone Waugh, 41, helped to carry the machine away while Kaur left the terrified beautician locked inside the salon as they fled.

At Inner London crown court yesterday, Kaur was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after a jury found her guilty of false imprisonment and possession of an article for use in fraud.

Harpreet Kaur leaving court with her solicitor (Nigel Howard)

Judge Silas Reid said Kaur instigated the illegal raid, believing the hair removal machine was rightfully hers, and had taken the law into one's own hands.

Im quite sure you and Ms Pashias hatched a plan, at your instigation, to get your hands on that machine by any means necessary, he said.

You disguised yourself by wearing Islamic dress which covered your face, and Im quite sure the reason you were dressed that way to go into the salon was to disguise your identity.

The judge accepted that Kaur had a genuine belief that the machine was rightfully hers, but added: You knew full well you were not entitled to use the methods you did to obtain that machine. Thats obvious, people cant go around falsely imprisoning people  thats vigilantism, taking the law into ones own hands.

Pashias and Waugh were both given suspended prison sentences last year after admitting robbery. Kaur went to trial, with the jury convicting her on two charges but unable to agree on a count of robbery.

The court heard Kaur had reported her own hair removal machine stolen to the police in 2018, and became "fixated" on the idea that she had found it at the Pure Skin salon.

She enlisted Pashias' help to get it back, and on August 2, 2018 went into the salon under the pretext of have a "patch test" for a treatment session with beautician Claudia Alexandra Sores Fernandes Marques.

When Pashias burst in, she claimed to be a police officer and demanded the return of the hair removal machine. She was carrying a fake warrant card, although never produced it during the raid.

As they left with the machine, Kaur - who had filled in false details on the treatment form claiming to be a tourist from Dubai - told Ms Marques: You are in big trouble, you need to run, this was stolen from me.

When police tracked Kaur down, she produced a false document which she claimed proved ownership of the machine. The judge said he believed Kaur had lied during her evidence at trial.

The court heard the raid had traumatic impact on Ms Marques, who was unable to return to work and left needing food bank support for her family.

Judge Reid rejected an appeal for Kaur to be spared a spell behind bars due to the impact of coronavirus on prison conditions, telling her: You decided to use any means necessary to get that machine, and you have to bear the consequences of that now.

Kaur, from Hounslow, will serve up to half her prison sentence before being freed on licence.
Washington, DC - June 24, 2020 - Both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients have the capability of contaminating their surroundings, according to a new study published in mSphere, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The data, which comes from a patient study conducted in China, demonstrates the importance of environmental cleaning in areas occupied by patients with COVID-19.

"Placement of COVID-19 patients in rooms with negative pressure may bring a false feeling of safety and rigorous environment cleaning should be emphasized," write lead study author Zhiyong Zong, MBBS, PhD, from the Department of Infection Control, West China Hospital. Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, and colleagues.

While it has been well recognized that the virus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, can be acquired by objects or materials which are likely to carry infection, such as clothes and furniture, the contamination of patients' surroundings by SARS-CoV-2 is largely unknown and understudied.

In the new study, researchers sampled the surroundings and the air of 6 negative pressure non-intensive care unit (ICU) rooms with 13 laboratory confirmed COVID-19 patients who had returned from overseas in a designated isolation ward in Chengdu, China. The study cohort included 2 asymptomatic patients. Sampled sites included bedrails, room and toilet door handles, light switches, foot flush buttons, sink rims, sink and toilet bowls and drains, bedside tables, bedsheets, pillows, equipment belts on wall, floor, air exhaust outlets and air.

The researchers found that 44 of 112 surface samples (39.3%) were positive for SARS-Cov-2, detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All of the air samples were negative.

"The findings suggest that patient surroundings in this non-ICU negative pressure isolation ward for COVID-19 patients with mild disease or no symptoms were extensively contaminated by SARS-CoV-2," write Dr. Zong and colleagues. "In particular, in a single room with an asymptomatic patient, 4 sites including bedrail, pillow, bedsheet and the air exhaust outlet were SARS-CoV-2 positive. This highlights that asymptomatic COVID-19 patients can contaminate their surroundings and therefore make persons who have direct contact with them such as their family members and healthcare workers be exposed to SARS-CoV-2"

The researchers say that isolation of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients at home impose risks to their family members and that shelter hospitals may be a better option. "The findings also highlight that environmental cleaning should be emphasized," the researchers write.

###

The American Society for Microbiology is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of 30,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.

ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications and educational opportunities. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to diverse audiences.
Dr Lal is a medical practitioner with specialization in Community Medicine from AIIMS, Delhi

Sasakawa-India Leprosy Foundation (S-ILF), an organization working for the socio-economic development of persons affected by leprosy and their families announces the appointment of Dr. Vivek Lal as their new CEO. During the momentous journey that has clocked more than a decade, S-ILF has relentlessly worked towards mainstreaming persons affected by leprosy and their families through socio-economic empowerment. We look forward towards charting new territories and forging new partnerships under his leadership.

Upon his appointment, Mr. Tarun Das, Chairman S-ILF said, We are proud to have Dr. Vivek Lal as the CEO of our Foundation. I am confident that with his enthusiasm and experience in the field of leprosy, he will drive the organization to new heights. During this global pandemic, Viveks experience in humanitarian services will be of great help in reaching out to the most vulnerable members of the society - the leprosy affected population residing in secluded leprosy colonies.

Dr. Lal is a medical practitioner with specialization in Community Medicine from AIIMS, Delhi. He has several years of experience working in the field of leprosy and humanitarian services and has earlier worked as Director Health at German Leprosy & TB Relief Association.

"I am excited to be a part of S-ILF. A holistic approach incorporating both medical and social supports for persons affected by leprosy and their families along with an enabling environment brought in through awareness generation among the community are the biggest weapons in our fight against leprosy. I look forward to being a part of this journey: a constant pursuit to restore dignity in their lives, said Dr. Vivek Lal.
Residents of a lakeside neighborhood home to an emerging Instagrammable spot in Hanoi have been complaining about young people flocking to the area for photos, making noise while leaving nothing but trash behind.

The venue, located down Alley 5 on Tu Hoa Street in Tay Ho District, has recently risen to fame as an Instagram-worthy setting among young people thanks to a picturesque aisle with white walls leading to West Lake, as well as its view of the white houses erected in the middle of the lake.

However, local people seem to be more and more fed up with strangers coming to their neighborhood for photos and turning it into a dump.

We cannot prohibit them from coming here to take photos, but they have turned this place into a noisy place with plastic cups, bags, and bottles scattered everywhere, Phuong Lan, a resident, complained.

I chose to live here because I enjoy taking in some fresh air from the lake but every time I go out for a walk, I step on trash."

According to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters' observation, the place often attracts many young photo seekers in the late afternoons.

People usually bring food and snacks then leave without taking the food containers with them.

This is a public place. Sanitation workers will clean it up, some responded when told to clean up after themselves.

We often have to clean the place or we wont have a space to sit for fishing, but no matter how much effort we exert on the cleaning, the litter keeps on coming, said Hai, a 65-year-old resident in Tay Ho District.

They dress up for their own beauty, but do not care about the beauty of the area, he added.

A photo of them can receive thousands of likes on social networking sites, but what meaning does it make if they are trashing the place? another resident commented.

Empty bottles are left on the steps in the lakeside neighborhood of an emerging Instagrammable spot down Alley 5 on Tu Hoa Street in Tay Ho District, Hanoi. Photo: Song La / Tuoi Tre

Trash is left on the steps in the lakeside neighborhood of an emerging Instagrammable spot down Alley 5 on Tu Hoa Street in Tay Ho District, Hanoi. Photo: Song La / Tuoi Tre

Trash is seen on the steps in the lakeside neighborhood of an emerging Instagrammable spot down Alley 5 on Tu Hoa Street in Tay Ho District, Hanoi. Photo: Song La / Tuoi Tre

A woman sits next to trash on the steps in the lakeside neighborhood of an emerging Instagrammable spot down Alley 5 on Tu Hoa Street in Tay Ho District, Hanoi. Photo: Song La/ Tuoi Tre

Young people flock to an emerging Instagrammable spot down Alley 5 on Tu Hoa Street in Tay Ho District, Hanoi. Photo: Song La / Tuoi Tre

A man poses for a photo in a neighborhood in Tay Ho District, Hanoi that has earned its Instagram-worthy reputation for its view of the white houses erected in the middle of West Lake. Photo: Song La / Tuoi Tre

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Commuters who travel by yellow-band maxi-taxis between Port of Spain and areas in West Trinidad will have to dig deeper into their pockets from Monday.

Chairman of the Yellow Band Route One Association Eon Hewitt told the Express yesterday the fares will go up by $1 across the board, and $2 for the Chaguaramas route.
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 here, 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 here 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.
Dinosaur fossils worth millions of dollars unearthed on a Montana ranch belong to the owners of the lands surface rights, not the owners of the mineral rights, a U.S. appeals court ruled.

The June 17 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2016 decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters of Billings that found dinosaur fossils were part of the surface estate, not the mineral estate, in cases of split ownership. The surface rights where the fossils were found are owned by Mary Ann and Lige Murray.

The composition of minerals found in the fossils does not make them valuable or worthless, Watters wrote. Instead the value turns on characteristics other than mineral composition, such as the completeness of the specimen, the species of dinosaur and how well it is preserved.

Brothers Jerry and Bo Severson, who owned two-thirds of the mineral rights on property once owned by their father, appealed Watters' decision to the 9th Circuit.

A three-judge panel of the appeals court overturned Watters ruling in February 2018, but the Murrays asked for a larger panel of judges to hear the case.

In the meantime, the 2019 Montana Legislature passed a bill stating that dinosaur fossils are part of a property's surface estate unless they are reserved as part of the mineral estate.

Before making its decision, the 9th Circuit asked Montanas Supreme Court to rule on whether fossils were minerals under state law because at the time the case was filed, there was not a definitive law. In a 4-3 ruling last month, the Montana justices said dinosaur fossils are not considered minerals under state law.

Because Mary Ann and Lige Murray are the undisputed owners of the surface estate here ... the (Montana) Supreme Court's decision requires a resolution in their favor, Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas wrote on behalf of himself and 10 other members of the 9th Circuit.

Eric Nord, the attorney for the Murrays, declined to comment Tuesday. Shane Swindle, an attorney for the Seversons, did not immediately return phone or email messages seeking comment on whether the Seversons plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The dinosaurs unearthed on the ranch include a T. rex found in 2013, a triceratops skull discovered in 2011 and the 2006 discovery of a pair of dinosaurs that appeared to have been locked in battle when they died.

The T. rex was sold for millions of dollars. The so-called dueling dinosaurs drew a bid of $5.5 million in a 2014 auction, but failed to reach the $6 million reserve price.

In a legal effort to clarify the ownership of the dueling dinosaurs before trying to sell them, the Murrays sought a court order saying they owned the fossils, sparking the legal battle.

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San Antonio, TX, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Biglari Holdings' (NYSE: BH.A; BH) 2020 Annual Shareholders Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 25, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time at the Majestic Theatre, 224 East Houston Street, San Antonio, Texas. Shareholders will be able to attend the meeting in person.

About Biglari Holdings Inc.

Biglari Holdings Inc. is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities, including property and casualty insurance, media and licensing, restaurants, and oil and gas. The Company's largest operating subsidiaries are involved in the franchising and operating of restaurants.

SOURCE Biglari Holdings Inc.

Related Links

http://www.biglariholdings.com


A three judge High Court has begun hearing a significant constitutional action over whether there is, as of now, a validly constituted Seanad entitled to sit and pass laws.

There is a legislative stalemate in the State because of the current political impasse and that arises because of an unjustified and improper interpretation of the constitutional provisions, John Rogers SC, for ten Senators said.

The Taoiseach has done a volte face since indicating in a June 10 letter he could not advise President Michael D. Higgins of a date for reconvening the Seanad until a newly elected Taoiseach nominates 11 members, John Rogers SC, for ten Senators, said on Wednesday.

That letter mis-stated the constitutional position and the consequences of such a view are far-reaching, including there would be no functioning Oireachtas, a Dail unable to hold the government to account and a government that cannot seek legislative support for its programme and policies, counsel said.

The Taoiseach has done a volte face on the June 10th position and now says the position is he could have advised the President to fix a date but did not because of his view the Seanad could not be properly composed unless a newly elected Taoiseach had nominated 11 Senators, counsel said.

Counsel agreed with High Court president Ms Justice Mary Irvine the Taoiseach has conceded he could have asked President Higgins on the date for a meeting of the Seanad but did not because of a view the Seanad would not be properly composed without the 11 nominated Senators.

Ms Justice Irvine, sitting with Mr Justice Denis McDonald and Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, said, irrespective of the Taoiseachs position, the court still has to determine the constitutional issues raised in the proceedings.

In their case, the ten Senators maintain the Taoiseach and State are incorrect in their view that the Seanad, which currently has 49 members, cannot sit and pass legislation until a newly elected Taoiseach nominates 11 Senators to make up the full complement of 60.

The case has important implications because, if the court finds the Seanad is not validly constituted as of now, and a new government is not formed this weekend with a Taoiseach nominating the remaining 11 members, very significant laws will lapse on June 29th.

Those laws include provisions for the continuation of the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

An indication of the importance of the case is that Attorney General Seamus Woulfe SC is heading the State legal team.

The ten plaintiffs are elected Senators Ivana Bacik, Victory Boyhan, Gerard Craughwell, Annie Hoey, Sharon Keogan, Michael McDowell, Rebecca Moynihan, Ronan Mullen, Marie Sherlock and Mark Wall.

They initiated the proceedings earlier this month against An Taoiseach, Ireland and the Attorney General after correspondence failed to resolve the impasse over whether the Seanad can sit with 49 elected members and pass laws.

The case centres on interpretation of various provisions of the Constitution, particularly Article 18 of the Constitution concerning the composition of the Seanad and election of Senators.

In submissions today, Mr Rogers said his side agreed with an opinion piece in the Irish Times in which constitutional law academics Oran Doyle and Tom Hickey said an outgoing Taoiseach can convene the first meeting of the Seanad.

That was based on a literal interpretation of the Constitution, counsel said.

The Constitution mandates a continuity of legislature before a government is formed and while there is now a political impasse, there is not a constitutional lacuna.

Article 18 mandates the first meeting of the Seanad takes place after a general election on a date to be fixed by the president on the advice of a Taoiseach, he said. That plainly mandates the first meeting shall take place after the general election and after the election of the Seanad, between March 30th and April 4th.

The Constitution itself does not provide for dissolution of a Seanad, a Seanad election is merely called under law, he said.

Earlier, Mr Rogers, with Eileen Barrington SC, and Hugh McDowell BL, provided the court with a timeline of events since Februarys general election. He said that included the passage of legislation to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic by the Seanad on March 29th, the day before polling day for the new Seanad.

That was just one example of an outgoing Seanad enacting laws with an incoming Dail and demonstrated the Constitution has a facility for an overlapping effect.

The hearing continues.
This is the bizarre moment five cows mob a farm cat to lick and groom it.

The cats gave the ginger cat a thorough clean at a dairy farm near Kiev, Ukraine, in footage taken by Sergey Vasilevich.

The purring cat appears to enjoy the cow's attention as they poke their heads through the bars of their pen to reach it.

Five cows like a purring cat in bizarre footage taken by Sergey Vasilevich in a dairy farm near Kiev, Ukraine

Two cows begin licking the cat on either side of its head and under its chin as it closes its eyes in pleasure.

One of the cows lightly chews on the cats ear while another curious cow pokes its head over to see what all the fuss is about.

The third cow manages to poke its head through and begins licking the cat as well, which remains motionless.

By the end of the clip, five cows have managed to start licking the cat while another watches on, including one cow licking its tail.

The cows continue to poke their heads through the bars of their pen to reach the cat, who is the centre of attention

Sergey said: 'I was touched by how cute the cows licking the cat was.'

The footage was taken in April but only resurfaced today, but is not the first time a cat has been seen enjoying the affections of cows.

Photographer Yochi Aranov Zwilling captured a cat who regularly visited the cow pen of a kibbutz in a series of 2013 pictures in Shephela, in the Judaean Hills, Israel.

A ginger cat in Israel has also been known to enjoy the affections of calves at a Kibbutz in Shephela, in the Judean Hills

The ginger cat, similar in appearance to the one seen in Ukraine, used to visit the farm to get a good lick from the calves there.

Yochi said: 'Three stray cats in the area come to the farm every morning for their bowl of milk.
In season 6 of Vikings, fans get to see a different side of Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig). He becomes the King of Kattegat, and from then on, hes constantly comparing himself to his very famous father, Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel).

Fans wonder why Bjorn wants to be King of Norway so badly when its actually brought up. He acts like its his lifes dream. Read on to learn what fans have to say about it.

Bjorn Ironside wants to be King of all Norway

Alexander Ludwig | Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Tom Ford

When Olaf (Steven Berkoff) comes up with an idea to have one King of all Norway, Bjorn takes the dream up as his own. His desire to be the king over everyone is plain to see, and its devastating for him when his rival King Harald (Peter Franzen) is voted in as the king.

Its interesting that Bjorn seems very content at being the King of Kattegat, and then he quickly leaps for higher aspirations when it seems to be within his grasp. However, Bjorn isnt chosen as the king and the disappointment couldnt be more obvious.

Why did Bjorn Ironside want to be King of Norway so badly?

Fans are still perplexed months later about why Bjorn wants to be King of Norway so badly. He is already King of Kattegat, but he wants even more power. One fan recently wrote on Reddit asking why Bjorn gets so upset when he isnt chosen at the election.

I dont get why Bjorn is so upset as to not being King of all Norway, a Reddit user wrote. It was never his desire but the second Olaf brings it up hes like oh yeah thatd be cool. This has been King Haralds goal since day one.

Bjorns father knew that power corrupts

RELATED: Vikings: Why Harald Finehair Has a Problem With Bjorn Ironside

One fan quotes Bjorns father, Ragnar Lothbrok, in one of his most famous lines about power. Power is dangerous. It attracts the worst and corrupts the best, a fan wrote.

Another fan brought up an excellent point about how bad it would be for Harald to have power like that over everyone, including Bjorn himself. Because Harald having that much power could become a problem for him, since Harald already sees him as a rival, a fan pointed out.

Bjorn and Harald share a fierce rivalry, which makes them both want the crown even more

A fan remembers Haralds opinion on Bjorn about how he is different. They each share a rivalry that could destroy them both. King Harald believes he wont be the true king until he kills Bjorn himself. The tension between them has been obvious since the day they first met. It makes them both grasp for power even more and the showdown to be king is just a part of it.

Yep as Harald said, Bjorn is different. When I finally kill him is when I am truly King of all Norway. He knows Bjorn has so much support and that the only reason he won that election is because he bribed the other Jarls/Kings, another fan wrote.

Bjorn likes being in control

One fan says Bjorn likes the control, especially when it comes to power. He first gets a taste for it when his father is king and it only grows as he ages. Coupled with his rivalry with King Harald, its a recipe for disaster. Bjorn is always trying to reach higher and higher for more control.

Bjorn is a control freak who cant stand when hes not in control, a fan said about the situation.

Bjorn Ironside wanted to be King of all Norway, but unfortunately, it doesnt work out that way for him.
Seattle police are investigating a third shooting in the Capitol Hill neighborhood near the city's 'autonomous zone,' a day after the mayor vowed to dismantle the encampment set up by anti-racism protesters.

Police tweeted the shooting took place on the edge of the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP), or Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, where demonstrators set up a police-free zone in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis police custody.

A man was taken to Harborview Medical Center at 5am on Tuesday after being shot near Cal Anderson Park and was in satisfactory condition, hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg said. Police did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

Seattle police on Tuesday said they were investigating a third shooting in the Capitol Hill neighborhood near the city's 'autonomous zone'

The shooting comes a day after the mayor vowed to dismantle the encampment set up by anti-racism protesters

There have been no reports indicating that the shooting on the edge of Cal Anderson Park was related to the occupation zone.

The incident was the third shooting in the area in around 72 hours, police said.

On Sunday night, a 17-year-old was shot in the arm at the edge of the area . It followed a shooting Saturday that left a 19-year-old man dead and another person critically wounded.

Nineteen-year-old rapper Lorenzo Anderson was shot and killed on Saturday inside the autonomous zone in Seattle. His killer is yet to be arrested and there are mixed reports over their motive; some say it was a personal dispute, others are calling it a right wing attack

Nineteen-year-old rapper Lorenzo Anderson was shot and killed on Saturday inside the autonomous zone in Seattle. His killer is yet to be arrested and there are mixed reports over their motive; some say it was a personal dispute, others are calling it a right wing attack.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, facing local and national pressure to crack down on the protests, said on Monday officials would move to wind down the blocks-long, autonomous zone set up two weeks ago. Protesters took over several blocks around the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct building, which police vacated. She did not give a deadline but said officers would soon move back to the precinct.

President Donald Trump on Saturday said the occupation was an example of what 'radical left Democrats' allowed in the United States and offered to help end the 'anarchist' protest 'in an hour or less.'

On Tuesday, he tweeted that there would never be an 'autonomous zone' in Washington D.C. and any attempt to establish one 'will be met with serious force!'

Twitter Inc on Tuesday placed a warning notice on the tweet because it violated its policy against abusive behavior.

Protests and demonstrations against police brutality have spread around the world since George Floyd, a Black man, died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes while detaining him in Minneapolis on May 25.

Protesters have also demanded authorities take down monuments honoring pro-slavery Confederate figures and the architects of Europe's colonies. (
Illustration of the Spektr-RG spacecraft. Credit: NPO Lavochkin

European and Russian specialists recently worked together to catch signals from an astrophysical observatory mission, now mapping X-ray sources in our galaxy and beyond, discovering previously unknown supermassive black holes.

In a joint technology demonstration conducted in April and May, ESA, Roscosmos, and the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI RAN) in cooperation with NPO Lavochkin used three of the European Space Agency's deep space ground stations to download vital scientific data from the Spektr-RG spacecraft.

The Spektr-RG astrophysical observatory was developed by Roscosmos with participation from Germany led by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and is currently operating in a halo orbit around a special point in space called the L2 Lagrange point, some 1.5 million km from Earth. From here, its goal is to map the entire sky in X-rays and identify new X-ray sources, such as supermassive black holes, across the Universe.

ESA stations link up

This spring, the Russian ground stations normally used to communicate with Spektr-RG were in unfavourable geographic positions, and experts from ESA's Estrack ground station network stepped in, working in close cooperation with colleagues at the Russian Complex for Receiving Scientific Information (RKPNI).

ESA's three 35 m dish antennas, located in Australia, Spain and Argentina, were used to establish a series of 16 communication passes with Spektr-RG, downloading 6.5 GB of science data.

These included imagery generated by the mission's two X-ray telescopes: the ART-XC instrument developed by IKI RAN and the eROSITA instrument, built and operated by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Germany.

It was the first time that the Agency's ground stations collected scientific data from a Russian spacecraft.

These eROSITA images show the two interacting galaxy clusters A3391, towards the top of the images, and the bimodal cluster A3395, towards the bottom, highlighting eROSITAs excellent view of the distant Universe. They were observed in a series of image acquisitions performed between 17 and 18 October 2019, using all seven eROSITA telescope modules. Credit: T. Reiprich (Univ. Bonn), M. Ramos-Ceja (MPE), F. Pacaud (Univ. Bonn), D. Eckert (Univ. Geneva), J. Sanders (MPE), N. Ota (Univ. Bonn), E. Bulbul (MPE), V. Ghirardini (MPE), MPE/IKI

Low Earth orbit to deep space

The seven-station Estrack network is located on three continents and provides communication links to ESA spacecraft orbiting Earth, watching our Sun, observing deep into the Universe or exploring the inner Solar System.

They are centrally operated from the Agency's ESOC mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, and they also support missions flown by NASA, China and Japan, as well as by European national space agencies on a cross-support basis.

You listen to ours, we listen to yours

This successful collaboration demonstrates how ESA and Roscosmos technologies can work together, showcasing the 'interoperability' of the two space agencies.

Later this year, a similar technology demonstration is planned during which a Russian ground station will simultaneously receive science data from two Mars missions: ESA's Mars Express and the ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter.

Both experiments lay the foundations for future collaboration between ESA and Roscosmos, including the possibility of a full 'cross-support agreement' for the mutual support of Russian and European science and exploration missions using each Agency's ground stations.

Explore further For the first time, an ESA deep space antenna controlled two spacecraft with one dish
The head of Libyas UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, met with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio in Tripoli today.

Di Maio came to the embattled country to meet with Libyan leaders and discuss the situation there, according to a GNA statement.

The GNA controls the capital city of Tripoli and much of the northwest, while Gen. Khalifa Hifters self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) controls the east and a lot of the rest of the country. Heavily backed by Turkey, the GNA has had several military victories against the LNA recently. The LNA is supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and allegedly France.

In the meeting, the two sides discussed the need to reject negative foreign interventions in Libya. The GNA said it is necessary to continue Operation IRINI, which is a European Union effort to enforce a UN weapons embargo on Libya in an effort to reduce fighting. Both sides have reportedly violated the embargo, and Hifters ally Russia has expressed opposition.

The Italian and Libyan delegations also discussed migration in the Mediterranean Sea, oil production in Libya and Italys help with clearing mines in the country, according to the GNA statement.

Italys Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Di Maio visited Libya for a meeting. In a statement to reporters, Di Maio said Italy supports avoiding further escalations in Libya that would affect Italy. Libya is a priority for our foreign policy and national security, he said.

Italy is friendly with the GNA and has also shown recent support for Turkeys actions in the area. This month, Italy and Turkey participated in a joint naval drill in the Mediterranean Sea. Italys neighbor France, on the other hand, is closer to Hifter.
Tucker Carlson is currently the most watched news commentator in America and for good reason. Unlike most people, Republicans as well as Democrats, Carlson will not let political correctness, virtue-signaling, or the fear of cancel culture silence him.

Instead, night after night, Carlson talks about what's really happening in American cities, without trying to excuse heinous leftist behavior or diminish its effects on America's long-term health. Moreover, with each commentary, his voice gets stronger. What you heard last week from Carlson was good, but what you'll hear this week is even better.

So it was that, on Monday night, Carlson gave what may have been his best monologue yet on the violence and destruction ripping through America.

Although Tucker opens by referring to the mob attack on the Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Square, he quickly focuses on something that is, in some ways, even worse than mob action, and that's the way America's institutions are falling in line with the mob. New York's Museum of Natural History has chosen to remove the statue of President Teddy Roosevelt astride a horse, which has stood in front of the museum since the 1930s. It's apparently offensive because standing at his side are men representing his explorations in Africa and Latin America.

Carlson argues there's something much deeper going on here. Teddy Roosevelt, he explains, was a quintessentially American president. A human dynamo, he represented American initiative, self-discipline, self-improvement, and innovation. He fought corporate monopolies (which is the last thing today's fascist left wants to do), as well as standing against racism and anti-Semitism.

There is no reason to topple Teddy Roosevelt except for the fact that he is "us." And that, says Carlson, is the real issue:

Teddy Roosevelt was a hero to millions of Americans. He still is. That's precisely why they are tearing down his statue. They know that if they can force you to watch as they topple your heroes, they have won. There's nothing they can't do next.

After reciting the growing list of statues the left is tearing down, Carlson points out that the new names on the list have something in common: they're not linked to the Confederacy, which was the original excuse the left gave for its mob attack on the public square.

What's really bad is that not only are Democrats okay with destruction, but so are Republicans. Indeed, Kevin McCarthy, the top House Republican, has been on board with the mob's relentless attack on American symbols. He and his milquetoasts in Congress apparently hope that if they say nothing, this will all go away:

Elected Republicans, almost all of them, are in no hurry to stop the disorder. They appear to believe what we're watching is a version of the Rodney King riots from 1992. People saw an upsetting video on the internet, they're angry, and that's understandable. But they'll calm down soon, and we can get back to cutting capital gains taxes and sanctioning Bashar al-Assad. That's their view of it. They are wrong. This is not a momentary civil disturbance. This is a serious and highly organized political movement. It is not superficial. It is deep and profound. It has vast ambitions. It is insidious; it will grow. Its goal is to end liberal democracy and challenge Western civilization itself.

There's more, and you will be doing yourself a favor if you watch it and then share it. Carlson's conclusion is that, weak as they are, Republicans are the only thing still capable of stopping the complete breakdown of the American system, from the Constitution on down to the picture of Lincoln on the five-dollar bill.

In other words, the brilliant Carlson is saying what I, the sometimes barely coherent Andrea, have said for a long time: in this election, as in no other in our lifetimes, the perfect is most truly the enemy of the good.

Republicans, sadly, are imperfect. Even the great Trump, whom I would put up there with Reagan, or even higher, is imperfect. But no matter how much you dislike them, they're all we've got left. If we refuse to vote for them in November because they fail to live up to our immaculate standards, we have opened the floodgates and will watch leftism irrevocably sweep away the grand American experiment.
Malawians went to the polls on Tuesday for a much anticipated rerun of last year's presidential vote, which was ultimately annulled by the Constitutional Court, with the top two candidates going head-to-head in a tense election.

There were a lot of people out to vote this morning, which is quite surprising because there were fears that there could be voter apathy, says Pearson Nkhoma, political analyst at the University of Malawi in Blantyre.

He voted in the morning in Blantyre, the economic capital to the south of the country.

Nkhoma spoke to his neighbours and colleagues after he voted, noting keen interest in the election.

The election in May 2019, also known as the Tippex election for the use of the correction fluid on the ballot count papers, was annulled by the Constitutional Court in January. The ruling was challenged by the Malawi Electoral Commission and the judgment was upheld by the Supreme Court in May.

Incumbent President Peter Mutharika of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) revamped his political platform and announced Atupele Muluzi, the son of a former Malawian president as his running mate.

Opposition Leader Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), who came in second in 2019, formed the Tonse Alliance with Saulos Chilima of United Transformation Movement party (UTM), who came in third place, solidifying an opposition bloc.

A poll conducted by the Malawi Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR) from the end of April to early June indicated that the Chakwera-Chilima Tonse Alliance would win with an 18-point lead.

Analyst Nkhoma says that there had not been any sort of reported violence in Blantyre,but there has been a few cases of violence in the Central Region, Lilongwe, as well as Nkhotakota town, he tells RFI.

I saw an international observer, but they are ones connected with local organisations, says Nkhoma.

But after a number of international observers rubber stamped the May 2019 Tippex Election as being free, fair and credible, many have lost faith in their ability to observe properly, according to Nkhoma.

There's that element of mistrust-- a majority of Malawians, especially in the opposition, would prefer to not to have international observers, he says.

That's also a message to other countriesthat African countries can organize and conduct elections without international observers. The tradition has been, we have to have international observers, even from the African Union, says the political science adjunct professor.

This election has set a precedent.

If the political parties accept the result, and we've had the elections without the big international observers, then other countries can say, If Malawi did it then we can organize our own team and the elections. We don't need approval from international observers,' he says.

The polling stations closed at 18h00 local time, and counting has begun. Nkhoma says he expects results this week.
With the help of augmented reality glasses, the digital assistant understands what the wearer sees. In this way, machine and humans can communicate in real time. (Photo: Tanja Meiner, KIT)

Artificial intelligence (AI) enables machines to recognize objects. For this purpose, large amounts of high-quality image data are required to manually train the algorithms. Kimoknow, a startup established at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has now developed a technology to automate this training. The first use case: A digital assembly assistant for contact-free cooperation of humans and machines. It is tested in cooperation with Elabo GmbH at the Center for Artificial Intelligence Talents (CAIT).

Training of AI systems for the recognition of objects still is time-consuming, inflexible, expensive, highly environment-dependent, and associated with a high computation expenditure, says Lukas Kriete, one of the founders of Kimoknow. For this reason, the startup of KIT uses image data that are generated anyway for all objects in computer-aided development processes (CAD) and pro-duction data management (PDM). These data, among others, in-clude information about the material, geometry, and position of the object. CAD and PDM data are extracted and used for automatic training of the AI.

The trained object recognition system can be used for many pur-poses, among others, in augmented reality (AR) glasses. They cap-ture relevant objects in the field of view of the user in real time and additionally possess the necessary context information on the ob-ject. As the first use case of such AR glasses, Kimoknow devel-oped an assistant to support specialists in the assembly of com-plex devices. The virtual assistant guides users through the com-plete assembly process, visualizes the assembly instructions step by step without an additional display, and shows in which order which part is to be assembled with which tools and assembly mate-rials. It repeats certain steps, if errors occur, and documents the process. The mechanic has both hands free and communicates with the system via eye contact, hand signal, or voice command. The assembly assistant makes the process more efficient, productive, quicker, and less expensive, while quality is improved, Kriete says.

The assistant is suited for all industries producing small numbers of highly complex products. The prototype is applied for final assem-bly of highly specialized measurement instruments and presently being tested in cooperation with Elabo GmbH at the Center for Arti-ficial Intelligence Talents (CAIT) of KITs Institute for Information Management in Engineering (IMI).

Kimoknow is a startup of IMI and was established on May 13, 2020 as a limited-liability company. Apart from Lukas Kriete, Roman Wie-gand, Aaron Boll, Michael Grethler, and Vesa Klumpp are members of the team of founders.

Center for Artificial Intelligence Talents (CAIT)

The Center for Artificial Intelligence Talents (CAIT) specifically sup-ports talented researchers who combine methods of artificial intelli-gence and engineering. Apart from the infrastructure, resources, and training formats, it allows to test new developments and ideas under real operation conditions and in cooperation with potential users. This accelerates transfer to practice. The concept focuses on humans and their interaction with artificial intelligence. It is not new technologies that change the world, but the people using these technologies, says the Head of CAIT, Professor Jivka Ovtcharova. Researchers and startups are given the opportunity to develop new AI technologies closely to the market. Companies profit from the know-how of these talents and from latest research results. This is a win-win situation and an optimum model for the collaboration of science and industry, Ovtcharova points out.

Under the direction of Jivka Ovtcharova, CAIT of IMI was opened in June 2019 to implement the concept of the Lifecycle Engineering Solutions Center (LESC) operated until that time with a focus on AI. Apart from Elabo GmbH, abas Software AG and SolidLine AG are among the partners of CAIT.

More information:

https://kimoknow.de (in German)

https://www.imi.kit.edu/english/index.php

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 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 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.
Never before has business resilience in New Zealand relied so much on having dependable technology run by teams that continuously flex to meet new, ever-changing demands. Rule books have been parked and action-slowing bureaucracy eliminated to get the right things done, quickly, for the right reasons. Countdowns story of adaptation and innovation during COVID-19 provides an interesting case study.

Countdown, which has 183 supermarkets across New Zealand and employs 20,000 staff, experienced a massive peak in demand during the COVID-19 lockdown. At Countdown, customer service and information technology are the same department, ensuring a customer-first approach to the grocers technology and other operations.

Countdown Steve James, head of Technology and Customer Care at Countdown

When we knew something big was happening and that it would be tough for many, we took a people first approach to everything. Our roots are as a grocerwe exist to serve our communities. We knew there would be New Zealanders at home, hungry and needing food on the table, some needing more help than others, recalls Steve James, head of Technology and Customer Care.

Data tells a powerful story of the extent of the challenges Countdown faced:

More than 200,000 new customers registered for online shopping from March to May.

SinceMarch, Countdown has employed around new 2,500 team members to help meet the increased demand seen in their stores and online shopping.

More than 60 new trucks were added to an already large online delivery fleet.

Five supermarkets were converted to dark stores servicing online orders only.

New Zealands first dedicated supermarket e-store was opened, able to handle 15,000 orders a week at full capacity.

Delivery capacity was increased by 60 per cent in March and April.

Countdowns new customer service chatbot, Olive, gave customers 300,000 conversations in April alone, offering customers information on online shopping, stores and refunds.

More than 100,000 people registered for Countdowns Priority Assistance online shopping service during lockdown, set up to help older New Zealanders and people whom the government had deemed at higher risk of COVID.

Cultural change enables the rest

The critical first step was managerial: providing permissive leadership that explicitly honours and supports employees, themselves at risk to the pandemicespecially front-line employeesand then enabled and encouraged them to be innovative, collaborative, and willing to do things differently. This clarity of purpose, combined with a deliberate, adaptive team structure, encouraged the rapid information sharing and diversity of thought needed to solve the challenges on Countdowns plate.

Countdown put in place small, cross-functional teams that met twice daily to review customer intelligence, plan, make decisions and deliver in short, rapid cycles. Customer buying behaviourin stores and onlinewas moving too quickly to use traditional planning and delivery methods. Gone were the 20-slide presentations, replaced instead by concise conversations to make fast decisions and take immediate action. Teams moved to video calls, with more than 300 people joining weekly town hall sessions.

Bottom-up empowerment was crucial for getting the work done flexibly and at pace, the work at the helm was also critical. The executive team ran open livestream sessions, with Q&As that were attended by a large and diverse staff group. Teams had a safe and open platform to speak about important issues.

Leadership style and mindset played a central role in building the culture needed within Countdown to get through the crisis, as James explains: It was more of a servant leadership model that we adopted, checking in regularly with team membersHey Emma, whats happening with you today, anything I can help you with?.

At every step, Countdown had to solve unusual problems in novel ways. Innovation wasnt optional when facing this massive rise in demandit was absolutely essential.

Now that restrictions have eased, and the country has returned to more normal conditions, many of the new ways of working that were introduced during a pandemic are likely to stick. Many of the changes have proven effective such as the idea that governance and operations can benefit from short-iteration decision-making.

How Countdown bridged the communications gaps

It helped that Countdown was well down the track of enabling remote working for all staff before COVID-19 struck. It had been working for the past year on preparing for just such a disasteralthough they were thinking it would be more likely be an earthquake than a pandemic.

PCs had gradually been replaced by laptops, infrastructure-as-a-service capacity (for remote working) had been enabled so it could be scaled up as required, and Google G Suite jad been deployed so the productivity apps were in the cloud and could be accessed from anywhere.

Meanwhile, the chief information security officer ensured every team member was using two-factor authentication and complex passwords to access the networks.

How Countdown launched its e-store capability so quickly

To handle the surge in online ordering, Countdown closed five supermarkets to the public and turned them into dark storesensuring first that local shoppers had access to alternative stores in or near their suburb.

In addition, a warehouse was converted into a fully fitted e-store connected into the wider Countdown network. The IT team worked with partners such as Spark to provision cabling, routers and service within just a few days.

There was an all-hands on deck mentality which meant that everyonefrom customers to suppliershelped Countdown put in place what was required to provide this essential service.

How Countdown accelerated its customer service

Due to the unprecedented surge in demand for online shopping, customers could be waiting up to three days to place an order. For those people unable to physically get to a store, Countdown created a progamme that enabled them to receive priority assistance. This involved technology changes, such as re-coding parts of the website, and HR changes, such as re-deploying staff to work in the contact centre.

In less than a week, Priority Assistance was borne and Countdown proactively contacted organisations such as rest homes and those that cater to people with disabilities to let them know about the programme.

Meanwhile the chatbot Olive was deployed in every customer channel that made sensefrom the shopping app to the call flow in the contact centre. Countdown found that people were happy to interact with Olive.

The use of Olive not only improved the online experience, it meant the chatbot was able to learn more and become better at answering and/or directing enquiries.

How Countdown ramped up hiring

Employing 2,500 staff in such a short time was a huge challenge for both HR and IT. They reached out to those industries suffering the most under lockdowntourism, airlines, retailand asked if they could help fill the positions on the condition that their staff could return to their former jobs when things returned to normal.

Rapid recruitment was done by a combination of video conferencing and in-person interviews over a weekend where people were interviewed in strict social-distancing conditions.

Meanwhile the e-learning capability was ramped up, so new hires could complete their training by video and hit the ground running when they reported for supermarket duty.

Peter Johnston is a strategy, business design and transformation specialist. He writes about these topics based on his experiences in many organisations. Having run business consulting teams across Europe, the UK and Australasia, he established and led the IBM iX consulting practice in New Zealand, and over the years has worked with Heathrow Airport, British Film Institute, ANZ Bank, Air New Zealand, Vodafone and Watercare, among others.
Click here to read the full article.

Another trade dispute is brewing between the United States and Europe.

In a notice shared late Tuesday, the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced that it could slap tariffs worth about $3.1 billion on an additional list of imports from the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and France. The goods include some sweaters, suits, loungewear and swimwear, as well as machinery, tools and certain foods.

More from Footwear News

In connection with this review, the U.S. Trade Representative is considering modifying the list of products of certain current or former EU member-states that currently are subject to additional duties, read the filing. (The agency is permitting public comment until July 26.)

The move marks the latest development in the longstanding trade battle between the U.S. and the EU, which arose over subsidies to major civil aircraft companies in both nations.

Last fall, the World Trade Organization gave the U.S. permission to impose levies worth roughly $7.5 billion on the EU  primarily targeting airliner manufacturer Airbus, but also hitting British-made apparel and accessories as well as a variety of food and beverages hailing from other European countries. Some companies that were expected to bear the brunt of the tariffs were luxury conglomerates: LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, for instance, houses both fashion labels based in the U.K., like Nicholas Kirkwood, as well as a mix of wine and spirits brands, such as the France-based Chateau Cheval Blanc and Moet & Chandon.

The WTO is also expected to grant similar tariff rights to the EU over the U.S. governments support of aviation giant Boeing.

The financial feud also come during a period of tension between the U.S. and China: Over the past four years, import taxes have been a significant focus for President Donald Trump, who has promised to resurrect U.S. manufacturing by slapping steep duties on foreign competitors, mostly China. In mid-January, the American president and Chinas President Xi Jinping struck a truce, but doubts over the future of that deal have been at a high since Washington accused Beijing of mishandling the coronavirus outbreak  which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan  and contributing to a global economic fallout.

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A Chinese state-owned vaccine developer secured regulatory approval to test its coronavirus shots in the United Arab Emirates, making it one of the first among a slew of global efforts to get the greenlight for the final stage of human trials.

Beijing-based China National Biotec Group Co. was awarded approval on Tuesday to conduct Phase III trials for its Covid-19 vaccines in the Middle Eastern country, the company said in a statement posted on its official WeChat account.

CNBG said it will partner with Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence and cloud computing firm G42 to carry out the trial and local production of the vaccine. It didnt disclose details such as the timing or the number of people it plans to enroll for testing.

The worlds fast-developing vaccine programs are moving into the final stage of testing before they are approved for innoculation for the general public. Pharmaceutical companies across the globe are racing to be first to find an effective shot against the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 9.2 million people and killed over 476,000.

CNBG is the first Chinese vaccine developer to proceed toward a Phase III trial to test whether the two shots it developed are effective against the pathogen.

Chinese companies have had to look for places with active virus outbreaks to complete the final stage of human testing, which requires thousands of people. The low number of cases in China has made it unfeasible for them to conduct such trials at home. The UAE is still adding hundreds of cases a day, with a total of more than 45,000 infections.

Chinese biotech CanSino Biologics Inc. was approved last month to conduct human testing for the vaccine it co-developed with the Chinese military in Canada, but will need to re-do early safety studies before going into the Phase III trial. Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech Ltd. has partnered with Instituto Butantan to roll out testing of its shot on 9,000 people in the hot spot of Brazil, but has not yet won approval to proceed.Vaccine candidates from companies outside of China are also headed for Phase III trials. A shot co-developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Plc will be tested among 2,000 people in Brazil starting as early as this month. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna Inc. is set to begin testing its shot next month in a 30,000-person trial in the US. The two shots developed by CNBG have already been tested among some 2,000 people in phase I and II trials conducted in China. One of the vaccines has been found to be generally safe, while data from the other one will be revealed on June 28. The shots were already administered on more than 1,000 employees, including senior executives of CNBG and its parent company.

Employees of Chinese state-run companies are said to have also been offered voluntary shots of the CNBG vaccines if they are traveling for work overseas or if they live in high-risk areas in Beijing, which has recently seen a fresh virus outbreak.
Phuket Town night venues raided for new normal precautions

PHUKET: A task force of officials, including police and health officials, conducted a series of inspections of night venues in Phuket Town last night (June 23) to ensure they were complying with the health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19health

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Wednesday 24 June 2020, 10:59AM

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

All three venues raided last night were found to be complying with the new normal health regulations. Photo: Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center

The team was led by Siripong Leeprasit of the Phuket Provincial Narcotics Control Management Center, together with his deputy Thongchai Rattanadet.

Joining the inspections were Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) of the Muang Phuket District Office Waratchaya Prasitranun, officers from the Phuket Public Health Office and Phuket City Police, as well as 16 members of the Territorial Defense Volunteers (OrSor) and even security personnel from the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command.

The inspections began at 8:30pm and targetted three alcohol-serving venues operating under restaurant licences: Ther restaurant, on the west side of Nimit Circle (also called the Seahorse Circle); Ploenjit on Chana Charoen Rd, also near Nimit Circle; and The Column Phuket on Takuapa Rd.

All three venues were found to be enforcing the health guidelines, said Mr Thongchai.

All three places had space between tables for social distancing and the body temperatures of people were checked before they were allowed to enter the venues. Staffers wore face masks all the time, he noted.

However, we will keep following up their disease-control measures, he added.

Mr Thongchai also warned that any operators caught not enforcing the new normal health guidelines would face legal action.

Of note, photos provided of the raids plainly showed people sitting as close as usual at the same table.
Social Spending includes the following: health, old age, incapacity-related benefits, family, active labour market programmes, unemployment, and housing. Credit: Our World in Data (2020), CC BY

Governments across the developed world have responded to the COVID-19 crisis by making welfare states vastly more generous. Historical parallels suggest that this munificence may endure even as the pandemic recedes.

Welfare states will only, however, become permanently more generous if voters believe this pandemic poses an enduring risk to their incomes and if they make common cause with the people who have been worst affected.

The most pertinent historical parallel to the current situation is the second world war. After the conflict, governments dramatically increased both the number of people covered by the welfare state and the value of the payments they received. At that time, people were demanding greater social insurance in the face of universal risks and pervasive uncertainty.

The late 1970s marked the end of this golden era. Technological advances, demographic change and globalisation led to increased fiscal pressures and cuts to the generosity of modern welfare states.

Alongside these structural pressures, automation and trade were also destroying mid-skill manufacturing occupations. Labour markets became segregated into high- and low-skilled jobs. And while high-skilled workers didn't feel the need for an expanded welfare state, those working in low-skilled professions were too small a constituency to make a difference at the ballot box.

Dotted line indicates the start of the Great Recession in 2007. Credit: Comparative Welfare Entitlements Dataset

In short, structural pressures were making the welfare state more expensive and governments faced little electoral incentive to be generous.

Later, the impact of the recession that followed the 2007-8 financial crash was concentrated among low-skilled workers. Governments did not increase the generosity of the welfare state in response. The total amount spent on social security payments did temporarily increase as unemployment rose, but the individual payment amounts did not.

What makes COVID different?

The impact of the current economic crisis is much wider. Both the pandemic and the corresponding public health measuresthe forced closures of businesses and schoolshave taken their toll on people's ability to work across the income distribution. The figure below shows that the increases in unemployment claims literally go off the old charts.

Credit: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Statistics Canada, Bureau of Labor Statistics (US), Office for National Statistics (UK)

Just as with the second world war, the universal impact of this crisis and the subsequently greater risks it poses has led to a correspondingly large increase in the generosity of the welfare state.

The particular hazards this pandemic poses has also led to changes to specific social insurance payments. The risks to people's health have increased demand for sick pay among workers. Everyone who could potentially be infected is advised to stay away from work for between one and two weeks, and governments have been stepping up and cover that cost. Even the US, which had no nationally mandated sick leave prior to this crisis, finally introduced some sick pay in response to the pandemic.

A new consensus on welfare

This pandemic will only, however, lead to a permanently more generous welfare state if electorates believe it poses an enduring risk to the livelihoods of themselves or those they care about and subsequently vote for governments who will protect their incomes. If enough voters now feel that this pandemic or a future crisis could suddenly and dramatically hit their incomes, then they will demand significantly higher social insurance payments as protection. Political parties will then feel pressure to deliver on these demands in order to win elections.

Canada figure includes both Employment Insurance and Canada Emergency Response Benefit. US figure takes average UI payment across states plus national Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Payment of $600. Average Wage in 2019 used for calculations across all countries. Credit: Australian Government, Government of Canada, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (US) & Department for Work and Pensions (UK).

Unemployment Risk by Earnings in the UK and USA. Credit: COVID Inequality Project

But here we sound a note of caution. This pandemic will not necessarily lead to a more generous welfare state. While its impact has been universal, the economic and health risks have been, and will continue to be, most severe for the poor. It has been low-paid workers in sectors such as tourism, hospitality, retail and transport who have been the most likely to lose their jobs. High-skilled workers may still demand higher social insurance payments either because they are concerned for their own incomes or feel an affinity with the worst affected, but this is not guaranteed. If it is only the low-skilled few who demand a more generous welfare state, then governments will feel little pressure to deliver it.

COVID-19, by posing a universal risk and forcing us to engage in a common cause, has the potential to forge a new consensus on the welfare state. A majority of voters could now demand that political parties supply social insurance payments that are significantly more generous than before the crisis hit. When this pandemic passes, electorates may not be content to reduce sickness-related social security payments knowing that they could have needed it, or may do, in the future. They may not be satisfied that social security payments to a now-essential grocery store worker are too low to allow them to escape poverty.

Just as with the second world war, "one happy consequence of this otherwise desperately unhappy experience," may be a more generous welfare state that insures us all against the risks posed by illness and poverty.

Explore further Most deprived children face biggest risk of unemployment

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Pakistan took 'modest steps' in 2019 to counter terror financing and restrain India-focused militant groups from conducting large-scale attacks following the Pulwama attack in February, but it remained a 'safe harbour' for regionally focused terrorist groups, the United States said on Wednesday.

The suspension of US aid to Pakistan, which was announced by President Donald Trump in January 2018, remained in effect throughout 2019, the State Department said.

'Pakistan took modest steps in 2019 to counter terror financing and restrain India-focused militant groups from conducting large-scale attacks following the February attack on a security convoy in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM),' it said.

In its Congressional-mandated annual report 2019 Country Reports on Terrorism, the State Department said Pakistan took action against some externally focused groups, including indicting Lashkar e-Tayiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and associates in three separate terrorism financing cases.

'However, Pakistan remained a safe harbor for other regionally focused terrorist groups,' the State Department said.

It allowed groups targeting Afghanistan, including the Afghan Taliban and affiliated Haqqani Network (HQN), as well as groups targeting India, including the LeT and its affiliated front organisations, and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), to operate from its territory, the report said.

'It did not take action against other known terrorists such as JeM founder and UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar and 2008 Mumbai attack 'project manager' Sajid Mir, both of whom are believed to remain free in Pakistan,' alleged the State Department.

Pakistan, however, did make some positive contributions to the Afghanistan peace process, such as encouraging Taliban reductions in violence.

Pakistan made some progress toward meeting the Action Plan requirements for the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), allowing it to avoid being blacklisted, but did not complete all Action Plan items in 2019, it said.

Although Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been seriously degraded, key figures among the outfit's global leadership, as well as its regional affiliate Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), continued to operate from remote locations in the region that historically served as safe havens, it said.

Pakistan is one of the countries that figures in the terrorist safe havens list. Although Pakistan's National Action Plan calls to 'ensure that no armed militias are allowed to function in the country', several terrorist groups that focus on attacks outside the country continued to operate from Pakistani soil in 2019, including the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Tayiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed, it said.

'The government and military acted inconsistently with respect to terrorist safe havens throughout the country. Authorities did not take sufficient action to stop certain terrorist groups and individuals from openly operating in the country,' said the State Department.

According to the report, in January 2018, the US government suspended most of its security assistance to Pakistan over the government's failure to adequately address the threat posed by militant and terrorist groups operating on Pakistani soil.

'That suspension remained in effect throughout 2019,' the report said.

'However, a recalibration of our civilian assistance portfolio was implemented in 2019 to target a narrower set of priority areas: people-to-people exchanges, law enforcement and counterterrorism cooperation, stabilisation for the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, fostering trade and economic growth, supporting civil society, and helping treat polio and other infectious diseases,' it said.

The report notes that in June 2018, the FATF placed Pakistan on its 'gray list' and issued an Action Plan directing Pakistan to take specific steps by September 2019 to address strategic deficiencies in its combating the financing of terrorism efforts.

'The FATF expressed serious concern at its October 2019 plenary about Pakistan's continued deficiencies but noted it had made some progress and extended the deadline for full Action Plan implementation to February 2020,' it said.

In 2018, Pakistan was designated as a 'Country of Particular Concern' (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. It was re-designated as a CPC in 2019, it said.

'Indian security agencies effective in disrupting terror threats'



India applied sustained pressure to 'detect, disrupt, and degrade' terrorist activities within its borders in 2019 and its security agencies are effective in disrupting terror threats despite some gaps in intelligence and information sharing, the report said.

In 2019, India suffered terrorist attacks in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and parts of central India, it said.

'The Government of India continued to apply sustained pressure to detect, disrupt, and degrade terrorist activities within its borders,' it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior Indian leaders made numerous statements to condemn domestic terrorist attacks and bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorism, in cooperation with the United States and other like-minded countries, it added.

Indian security agencies, the report said, are effective in disrupting terror threats despite some gaps in intelligence and information sharing.

'The United States and India increased CT cooperation in 2019,' the State Department said.

In March, the US and India held the annual Counterterrorism Joint Working Group in Washington, DC, meeting concurrently with the second US-India Designations Dialogue.

Both countries announced their intent to prevent terrorists from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction and underscored their respective commitments to the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions No 2396.

In December, the United States hosted the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, in which the ministers called for concerted action against all terrorist networks, including Al Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, HQN (the Haqqani network), Hizb-ul Mujahideen, and Tehrik-i-Taliban, the report noted.

Referring to the changes made in the counter-terrorism laws, the report said that the newly amended National Investigation Agency Act can further improve bilateral law enforcement cooperation.

'The efficacy and impact of the newly amended laws will likely be tested in ongoing terrorism cases in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as cases involving what India characterizes as 'left-wing extremists,' and cases involving insurgencies in Northeast India,' it said.

In August, India amended the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 to authorise the designation of individuals as terrorists which it did a month later by designating four terrorists, including the leaders of LeT and JeM.

The Parliament also amended the NIA Act of 2008 to provide the NIA with the ability to investigate terrorism cases overseas, it said.

The NIA Act was enacted in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks of 2008.

A decade later, the Act was amended with the objective of speedy investigation and prosecution of certain offences, including those committed outside India.

The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Lok Sabha on July 15, 2019, and by Rajya Sabha on July 17, 2019.

In 2016, India and the United States signed an arrangement to exchange terrorism screening information, and India continues to work on implementation.

According to the report, India and the US are engaged to improve border security and information-sharing capabilities.

India is in the process of improving its ability to detect and deter terrorist travel by using watchlists, implementing biographic and biometric screening capabilities at ports of entry, and expanding information sharing, it said.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2020) - Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE: TRIP) ("Red Light Holland" or the "Company"), an Ontario-based corporation positioning itself to engage in the production, growth and sale of a premium brand of magic truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, is pleased to announce that it has engaged the Honourable, Tony P. Clement, to serve as Senior Advisor to its Advisory Board. Mr. Clement has had a long and distinguished career in politics, law and business. In his role as Senior Advisor, Mr. Clement will work closely with the members of the Advisory Board, including the Chair, Bruce Linton and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Todd Shapiro, to provide strategic advice concerning the Company's compliance and lobbying efforts for international expansion. Mr. Clement will also help with investor relations to guide the Company's current and future business development.

"Adding one of Canada's former Health Ministers to the Red Light Holland Advisory Board, as a Senior Advisor, is another significant step up for the Company. The Honourable Tony Clement and I had long chats about his true thoughts on the unique sector we're in. Tony was the first to admit that years ago this would have been a difficult position to accept. However, his shared belief in our vision coupled with his extensive research, as of late, into the psychedelic space genuinely showed his progressive views which created immediate synergies. Tony wants to be a part of positive change for this world, as does Red Light Holland and we are elated and proud to have him on our outstanding team," said Todd Shapiro, the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Red Light Holland.

"I'm honoured to join this incredible team," added Tony Clement. "The psychedelic sector is a fascinating space and one I believe is extremely important for the future. Through careful research and development, and proper guidance in navigating the complexities of regulatory compliance, policy and legalities, companies such as Red Light Holland have great potential to help people all over the world. I am pleased to share my knowledge and experience as a former Health Minister in Canada (including my experience with a past health crisis) with Red Light Holland, and will advise Red Light Holland in crucial aspects of its business plan, including introducing Todd Shapiro and his all-star cast to my global connections."

Story continues

Mr. Clement served in senior roles in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Cabinet (2006-2015), as Health Minister, Industry Minister and President of the Treasury Board. As a business entrepreneur, he has also led information technology companies, and served on the board of directors on information technology and health care companies, having provided strategic advice both nationally and internationally. Having both national and international business experience, Mr. Clement's engagement magnifies the Company's commitment to assembling the group of skilled leaders necessary to build its business in the early stage of this emerging industry.

In consideration for his services as Senior Advisor, and subject to all applicable laws (including the rules and policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) ("Applicable Laws") and the approval of the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"), the Company intends to grant to Mr. Clement up to 500,000 incentive stock options (the "Options" and each individually, the "Option"). Each Option will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one common share in the capital of Company for a period of three years from the date of issuance, at an exercise price to be approved by the Board. The Options shall be subject to Applicable Laws and the terms and conditions of the Stock Option Plan of the Company, and will be subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance.

About Red Light Holland Corp.

The Company is an Ontario-based corporation positioning itself to engage in the production, growth and sale (through existing Smart Shops operators and an advanced e-commerce platform) of a premium brand of magic truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, in accordance with the highest standards, in compliance with all applicable laws.

For additional information on the Company:

Todd Shapiro

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, and Director

Tel: 647-204-7129

Email: todd@redlighttruffles.com

Website: https://redlighttruffles.com/

Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58459
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 22:48:27|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The German government passed a regulation to ban disposable plastic products, Germany's Ministry for the Environment (BMU) announced on Wednesday.

Products including cutlery, plates, drinking straws made of plastic as well as drinking cups, fast food packaging and disposable food containers made of styrofoam would no longer be allowed, according to the German government.

The ban would "soon lead to better, innovative and environmentally friendly products and solutions," said Germany's Minister for the Environment Svenja Schulze. "Because we need to get away from the throw-away mentality."

The regulation also banned conventional disposable plastic products made from fossil raw materials such as crude oil, according to the German government. Disposable plates or cups made of bio-based or biodegradable plastics were also banned.

For Germany, the ban would be an important step "in the fight against the flood of plastic," stressed Schulze. "Far too often, plastics end up in the environment or the seas."

According to the German Association of Local Utilities (VKU), the affected products accounted for around 10 percent of waste that was collected from streets and rubbish bins of local authorities. Beverage and food containers as well as drinking cups made of styrofoam were the most common types of waste.

The new regulation transposes an EU directive into German law. From July 2021, the production of disposable plastic will be banned throughout the EU. The ban on disposable plastic products in Germany still requires formal approval of both houses of parliament. Enditem
The historic South Carolina city of Charleston was removing a symbol of its legacy on Wednesday, sending crews to take away a statue honoring John C. Calhoun, an early U.S. vice president whose zealous defense of slavery led the nation toward civil war.

After a nightlong struggle to dislodge it, city crews were still working after daybreak to lift the statue from a pedestal that towers over a downtown square along Calhoun Street. The city and its mayor voted unanimously Tuesday to remove it, the latest in a wave of actions arising from protests against racism and police brutality against African Americans.

Crews in bucket trucks soared more than 100 feet (30-meters) to reach the top of the pedestal, where they strapped the statue around its shoulders in preparations for its removal using an even taller piece of equipment.

A few hundred people, most of them in favor of removal, gathered to watch it come down. City officials said the statue will be placed permanently at an appropriate site where it will be protected and preserved.

I believe that we are setting a new chapter, a more equitable chapter, in our citys history, said the mayor, John Tecklenburg, sent the resolution calling for its removal to the council. We are making the right step. Its just simply the right thing for us to do.

Council members heard from dozens of residents for and against the statue.

Grace Clark, a Charlestonian who said her family has lived in the city since the late 18th century, asked them to please not remove our history. Not all history is good but it is our history.

Clark suggested a notion that city leaders had considered in the past: adding contextual information about Calhouns history with slavery, rather than taking down the monument. We are doing what we can to honor the black men and women. Were Charlestonians. Were south Carolinians. Were better than this, she said.

Councilman Karl L. Brady Jr. said he knew his support for removal could cost him politically, but that he would vote his conscience, showing that in Charleston, we place white supremacy and white supremacist thought back where it belongs -- on the ash heap of history.

In Alabama, Calhoun County is named in his honor, as is Calhoun Community College.

The move in South Carolina comes days after the fifth anniversary of the slaying of nine Black parishioners in a racist attack at a downtown Charleston church. It also comes as cities around the U.S. debate the removal of monuments to Confederate leaders and others, and as thousands of Americans demonstrate against racial injustice in the wake of George Floyds death under a Minneapolis police officers knee.

The statue's ultimate resting place will be decided by a special panel. The mayor has anticipated it would go to a local museum or educational institution.

When Tecklenburg announced his plans a week earlier, dozens of protesters linked arms around the monument, shouting, Take it down! Video posted on Twitter also showed signs and spray-painting on the monument. Police said they made several arrests for vandalism.

The Calhoun Monument stood since 1898 in the heart of downtown Charleston, towering over a sprawling square where locals and tourists alike enjoyed festivals. But several event organizers said recently that they would no longer use the space while the statue remained.

About 40% of enslaved Africans brought to North America came through the port city of Charleston, which formally apologized in 2018 for its role in the slave trade. In its resolution, the city says the statue is seen by many people as something other than a memorial to the accomplishments of a South Carolina native, but rather a symbol glorifying slavery and as such, a painful reminder of the history of slavery in Charleston.

Calhouns support of slavery, which he called a positive good, never wavered. He said in speeches on the U.S. Senate floor in the 1830s that slaves in the South were better off than free Blacks in the North. With his pro-slavery Calhoun Doctrine, he led the South toward secession before he died in 1850.

South Carolinas Heritage Act protects historical monuments and names of buildings, but the mayor said the monument is not on public property, nor does it commemorate one of the historical events listed in the act. According to the National Parks Service, the city technically leases the land, which is to be kept open forever as a parade ground for the Sumter Guards and the Washington Light Infantry.

Thus far, Tecklenburgs interpretation has not been legally disputed. A two-thirds General Assembly vote is required to make any changes under the Heritage Act. Thats tough in a state where conservatives dominate the House and Senate, but it happened in 2015 when the Confederate flag was removed from Statehouse grounds.

Gov. Henry McMaster described the Heritage Act on Tuesday as a good state law and a deliberate process that is not influenced by passion and time. The former prosecutor called Tecklenburgs assertion that the law doesnt apply in this instance a legal question, adding, It depends on how you read the Heritage Act, and there are people who read it in different ways.

Several Black lawmakers are urging local governments and colleges to act unilaterally in defiance of the monument protection law because it carries no stated penalties and hasnt faced a court challenge, and several are planning to do so.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Yonhap



North Korea suspended "military action plans" against South Korea during a Central Military Commission meeting presided over by leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported Wednesday, raising questions about Pyongyang's intentions behind the decision.



The decision came as a surprise because the North had widely been expected to convene a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party to endorse military action that its military has threatened to take against the South in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets.



Leader Kim Jong-un presided over a preliminary meeting of the Central Military Commission via videoconferencing Tuesday and decided to hold off on military action plans, the official Korean Central News Agency reported without elaborating.



"At the preliminary meeting, the WPK Central Military Commission took stock of the prevailing situation and suspended the military action plans against the South brought for the fifth meeting of the Seventh Central Military Commission by the General Staff of the Korean People's Army," the Korean Central News Agency said.





North Korea seen removing loudspeakers from border areas: sources Defector group sends 500,000 anti-NK leaflets North Korea completes setting up 20 loudspeakers along border "The meeting examined agenda items of major military policy to be laid before the fifth meeting of the Seventh WPK Central Military Commission and made a study of a report and decisions, which will be submitted to the fifth meeting, and some documents carrying the state measures for further bolstering the war deterrent of the country," the KCNA added.



The KCNA, however, did not mention when a Central Military Commission meeting will be held.



North Korea has ratcheted up tensions by taking retaliatory steps against South Korea over the leafleting issue. It has called South Korea an "enemy" and cut off all cross communication lines, threatening more "punishment" is coming.



Last week, it blew up an inter-Korean liaison office that was created in its border town of Kaesong as a result of a 2018 summit between the two Koreas.



Pyongyang has said it will redeploy troops to border areas of Kaesong and Mount Kumgang, which were disarmed under inter-Korean agreements for joint business projects, and threatened to resume "all kinds of regular military exercises" near the border.



North Korea recently reinstalled military propaganda loudspeakers along the inter-Korean border after they were removed under the 2018 summit agreement.



North Korea's state media outlets earlier said that Pyongyang is preparing to send around 12 million anti-South Korea propaganda leaflets via some 3,000 balloons and other means in a tit-for-tat move against leaflets dispatched from the South.




A picture taken June 23, 2020 shows a view of the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque complex in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca. AFP photo

Hyderabad: The State Haj Committee has suggested that the Haj Committee of India reserve the seats for Haj 2021 to those who were provisionally selected for the pilgrimage this year and lost the opportunity to this year due too the pandemic.

Saudi authorities have decided to allow only a limited number of its citizens and foreigners already in the kingdom to perform Haj this year because of the pandemic and the risk of infections spreading in large gatherings. This means no foreigners will be allowed entry into the country for pilgrimage.

The Centre has decided that Muslims from India will not go to Saudi Arabia to perform the Haj, keeping in mind the Saudi decision and the health of Indians.

The decision was taken after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned on Monday night and suggested not to send pilgrims from India for Haj this year, Union minister for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters in Delhi.

According to the Haj Committee of India, 1.18 lakh people had registered for Haj and about 16,000 had availed of the offer for cancellation so far. It has now been decided to refund the full amount deposited by remaining applicants to their bank accounts.Chairman, State Haj Committee, Mohammed Masihullah Khan has addressed a letter to Union minister Naqvi, requesting him to reserve seats next year for the intending pilgrims who were selected this year.

He said many intending pilgrims had requested him to reserve their seats for the next years pilgrims. He said that out of 3,878 intending pilgrims, only 936 had opted to drop out.
Vijayawada: N. Ramesh Kumar, who was recently reinstated as State Election Commissioner by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, has sparked off another controversy by his meeting with former Union minister Y.S. Chowdary and former minister Kamineni Srinivas in a hotel in Hyderabad.

The visuals of the meeting, which took place on June 13, went viral on Tuesday. The ruling YSR Congress immediately reiterated its allegation that Mr Kumar was politically biased in favour of the Opposition Telugu Desam and was hatching a conspiracy against the state government.

Both Chowdary and Srinivas are known to be close to Telugu Desam supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu and Srinivas is one of the petitioners in the High Court who challenged the removal of Kumar as SEC.

The CCTV footage of the hotel showed the three coming to the hotel separately but entering a room where they spent more than an hour. The ruling YSR Congress suspects that they held a video conference with a legal expert in New Delhi and Naidu, to discuss the strategy to be adopted in view of the state government refusing to recognise Kumars reinstatement and a related case coming up in the High Court.

Kumar had earned the ire of the state government for unilaterally postponing the local body elections as SEC and sending in a mysterious way a letter to the Union home ministry casting severe aspersions on Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. These developments finally led to his removal as SEC. When this was challenged, the High Court struck it down and a special leave petition filed by the state government is pending before the Supreme Court.

It is unbecoming on the part of Kumar who is holding a Constitutional post, to hold private meetings with political leaders that too when his conduct and credentials are being debated. He has lost moral authority to stake claims as SEC, YSRCs Ambati Rambabu told media persons.

YSR Congress MP V Vijayasai Reddy, posted a tweet alleging that the trio had a video conference with a Big Boss and details would come out soon.

Ruling party members have alleged that the TD chief had been using the SEC to plot against the government. The post of SEC should have a better person to act unbiasedly and that is why we have appointed a former judge. People are watching the political conspiracy plotted by Naidu against the government and soon everything will be revealed, one of them said.

Responding to the allegations, Chowdary (now with the BJP) claimed that Kumar is an old family friend. Since he was running his office from a hotel in view of the Corona lockdown, Kumar came to meet him there, he said, adding that no political interaction took place between them.

Kumar is said to have told his friends that he went to the hotel to discuss development works in his native village of Duggirala which Chowdarys Sujana Foundation has been funding for a long time. What is there for us to discuss when the High Court has already given its verdict and the Supreme Court has not stayed the High Court order? Kumar is said to have commented.
Flipkart will now be available in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada for users and has been developed by the ecommerce platforms in-house engineers.

Flipkart has enabled three new languages on its portal and from now on the ecommerce platform will be accessible in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu. The inclusion of three more Indian languages is a part of Flipkarts plan to make the shopping platform more inclusive and easier to access for more users across the country.

The platform had launched the Hindi interface last year and has now added more languages to its repertoire. The new interfaces has been built on Flipkarts Localisation and Translation Platform that will let customers use the platform from end-to-end in a language of their choice and also let Flipkart tap into more customers.

The new Telugu interface (Flipkart)

Flipkart conducted an ethnographic study on regional languages, spanning over several months, before creating the interfaces for them. The study delved into the various aspects of the three languages (Tamil, Telugu and Kannada) and their colloquial usage and patterns to understand consumer behaviour while shopping online.

The ethnography study involving meetings participants across cities including Salem, Visakhapatnam and Mysore and gathering insights about consumers distinctive language behaviour across these regions. This included a large scale translation of over 5.4 million words across product specifications, banners and payment pages etc., in the three languages.

Flipkart is using a mix of translation and transliteration to make the whole ecommerce experience easier for users.

As a homegrown e-commerce marketplace, Flipkart understands the importance of having an expanded universe of vernacular interfaces to empower our Bharat users and ensure easy transition of new online users to e-commerce. Today, almost 58% of our user base comes from tier-II cities and beyond and with new language interfaces of Tamil, Telugu and Kannada along with Hindi (introduced last year) will further improve users ecommerce journeys by making it simpler and more personal," said Jeyandran Venugopal, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Flipkart.
Vietnam reports 69th day of no new COVID-19 cases

No new COVID-19 cases were reported on June 23 and there are only 15 patients testing positive for the coronavirus, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Lao students have body temperatures checked up at Chieng Khuong border gate in Son La province. (Photo: VNA)

The country has gone 69 consecutive days without COVID-19 infections within the community by 6am June 24, it noted.

Among the 349 cases confirmed in the country so far, 209 were imported and quarantined upon arrival.

Some 7,157 people who had close contact with patients or were in pandemic-hit areas are under medical monitoring or quarantine.

On June 23, Patient 328 was discharged from the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in the northern province of Hai Duong. The one-year-old boy will continue to be under quarantine and health monitoring for 14 days.

The number of recoveries in Vietnam now stands at 329, or 94.3 percent of the total, and zero fatalities have been reported to date.

Most of the 20 remaining patients are now in a stable condition, with two testing negative for the coronavirus once and three negative at least twice.

Thai Education Ministry assures schools safety

Parents are worrying about their childrens safety at school, as on July 1, the school semester will start. The Ministry of Education, however, has assured families that each school has already prepared safety measures.

Varavij Kambhu Na Ayudhaya, Advisor to the Minister of Education, said the ministry has been working with the Department of Health, and has issued guidelines for educational institutions including six health measures.

Ninety percent of the schools have already implemented the guidelines while the rest are expected to follow before the semester starts.

However, there are still some concerns such as practicing social distancing, because only 31,000 schools can manage to arrange students desks 1.5 m away from each other.

This means students in the other 4,500 schools will have to take turns attending classes, and be given supplementary classes online.

Another concern is the length of the semester that has been reduced to 180 days from its original length of 200 days.

The ministry has ordered the schools to compensate for the 20 days by providing additional classes or activities in order to allow the students to finish the course.

Other concerns that the Ministry of Education has already prepared for, include social distancing when on a school bus, and during afternoon naps for kindergarten groups, along with taking turns to have lunch, and even a criterion that needs to be met, in any change to a school period.

In addition the ThaiChana QR code will be used in the school.

Meanwhile, schools located near national borders that usually welcome foreign kids from nearby countries, will no longer be able to receive these students without them undergoing 14 days of quarantine in a state quarantine. However, such students can pick up their homework at the border checkpoint and hand it in later.

One-year-old boy returning from Russia clear of coronavirus

One more COVID-19 patient recovered on Tuesday as Viet Nam hit 68 days without new community infections.

The latest coronavirus patient to be given the all-clear was a one-year-old Vietnamese boy, identified as Patient No.328, treated at Hospital for Tropical Diseases in the northern province of Hai Duong.

The boy from Thanh Hoa Province tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 late last May.

He was among the 300 Vietnamese citizens on a repatriation flight from Russia that arrived in Van on international airport in Quang Ninh Province on May 13. The passengers were immediately brought to a Government-run quarantine facility.

He reportedly contracted the virus due to close contacts with another confirmed case on the flight.

This flight has added 34 confirmed COVID-19 cases to Viet Nams tally of 209 imported cases, out of the total of 349.

As of today, Russia is the world's third-biggest coronavirus hotspot, with nearly 600,000 confirmed cases and 8,400 deaths.

Also according to the Tuesday evening report, two patients in treatment have tested negative for the virus once while another three have tested negative twice.

Currently, 7,157 people are in quarantine across Viet Nam, including 124 being closely monitored at hospitals.

Philippines, Indonesia confirm thousands of new COVID-19 cases

The Philippine Health Ministry on June 23 announced 1,150 more COVID-19 cases, a record in a day since the outbreak in the country.

The total infections have amounted to 31,835, including 1,186 deaths.

The same day, Indonesia also recorded additional 1,051 cases, bringing the total to 47,896.

Indonesia also records the highest fatalities of 2,535 East Asia, not to mention China where the pandemic broke out.

Also on June 23, Vice President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)s Investment Operations D.J. Pandian said the AIIB has approved a total of 1 billion USD in loans for two projects in Indonesia as part of a coordinated international effort to support the Indonesian governments plans to strengthen the countrys social safety network, bolster its health response and stem the economic downturn from the coronavirus health crisis.

US presents more aid to Laos COVID-19 response

The US has provided an additional 2.5 million USD to Laos through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to support the countrys COVID-19 response, reported Vientiane Times newspaper on June 23.

The newspaper quoted US Ambassador to Laos Peter M. Haymond as saying that the additional funding from the US reaffirms the commitment under the US-Laos comprehensive partnership.

The assistance will support tasks to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Southeast Asian nation.

Through this latest funding, USAID will also support Lao laboratories by helping them diagnose and detect COVID-19 infections to minimise the risk of community transmissions.

The US has presented in excess of 7.5 million USD to help Laos respond to the pandemic.

In February, USAID provided medical equipment to help Laos frontline health workers. The US agency followed up with more than 1.9 million USD in the next month while the US Centers for Disease Control handed over about 3.17 million USD to Laos in May.

The US has earmarked nearly 92 million USD for public health cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation over the past 20 years./.

Cambodia: school opening to be delayed till years end

Cambodias Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport will delay school openings and high school graduation examinations until the end of the year to prevent a second wave of COVID-19.

Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron said schools will be reopened if they can adhere to high standards or COVID-19 prevention and control.

Speaking at a press conference for the construction of the Centre for Digital and Distance Education at Preah Sisowath High School last weekend, the minister said although the government moves to offer digital learning services, about half of Cambodias 3 million students still cannot fully access online lessons.

He said the governments stance is to maintain vigilance as it doesnt want the pandemic to spread again in Cambodia, adding that if COVID-19 spreads in Cambodia, the country will be set back 10 to 20 years.

Schools in the country have been closed since early March when the first case of COVID-19 was detected.

Cambodia has reported 130 COVID-19 cases so far, with two being treated in hospitals./.

Indonesia gets 1 billion USD in loans for COVID-19 response

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) announced on June 23 that it and other banks had approved loans totalling 1 billion USD loan to help strengthen Indonesias health and economic responses to the COVID-19 crisis.

AIIBs first loan for Indonesia, totaling 750 million USD and co-financed with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will be used for a project to support Indonesias economic recovery programme, including aid for small and medium businesses and vulnerable households.

Another loan worth 250 million USD in partnership with the World Bank is intended for a separate programme to strengthen the public healthcare response to the crisis, including testing, prevention and treatment of the virus, and to boost hospital readiness.

Speaking at a meeting on June 23, Indonesian Deputy Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara appreciated AIIB for the quick response and flexibility when it comes to the urgent needs of member countries during the health and economic crises.

These loans are important for Indonesia to support health care and expand social assistance programmes for the poor and vulnerable people to reduce the adverse social and economic impacts of COVID-19, he said.

Thailand continues testing COVID-19 vaccine on monkeys

Thai scientists on June 22 administered a second dose of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine to monkeys, looking for another positive response to enable clinical trials in humans as early as October this year.

Thirteen monkeys were immunised on the day and the next two weeks will be critical in determining whether researchers can proceed with further tests.

Thailands government is backing the trials and hopes it can have a cost-effective vaccine manufactured domestically and ready for next year.

Regarding the COVID-19 situation in Southeast Asia, the Indonesian health ministry on June 22 confirmed more 954 infections, bringing the total cases nationwide to 46,854.

The country also reported 35 more deaths, raising the total number of fatalities to 2,500.

The Philippine Ministry of Health on the day detected 630 new cases and eight deaths, raising the tallies to 30,682 and 1,177, respectively./.
Emmanuel Toto Constant has been accused of atrocities including the killings at least 3,000 between 1991 and 1994.

Former paramilitary leader Emmanuel Toto Constant was deported from the United States 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 US government.

Constant did not say anything as he was placed into a police vehicle, where one officer held a mobile phone 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.

Blood on his hands

Some criticised his deportation and worried whether he would be held accountable for any of the charges he faces. Reed Brody, a lawyer for Human Rights Watch known as the dictator hunter, told The Associated Press news agency 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 epitomise 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 (FRAPH) after President Jean-Bertrand Aristides presidency was toppled in 1991. They allege that between 1991 and 1994, the group that Constant led terrorised and slaughtered at least 3,000 people loyal to Aristide.

Human rights groups allege that between 1991 and 1994, FRAPH, the group that Constant led tortured and slaughtered at least 3,000 people in Haiti [File: Emile Wamsteker/AP]

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 Center said.

When Aristide returned to power in 1994 with help from the US military, Constant fled to the Dominican Republic and then entered the US on Christmas Eve. He was ordered deported in 1995 but was allowed to remain in the US 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 US 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 $1.7m 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 afterwards. His lawyer, 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 lawyer.

Dangerously irresponsible

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.

US legislators including Representative 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 nonprofit 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 US was not a bystander when Constant rose to power.

The US has an obligation to ensure that the story ends better than it started, he said.
The German manufacturer released the Volkswagen Arteon back in 2017 and in 5 months, the new upgraded version of the car will be released.

The soon-to-arrive 2021 model also have a station wagon called the Shooting Brake, as well as an Arteon PHEV in its current lineup of Arteon vehicles. But it will only these will only be exclusive to Europe as Volkswagen stated it has no plans to bring them to the U.S. as it would be too costly.

This model may not be a high-volume car, but it is still an important part of its range saying that the company is still fully commited to manufacturing sedans.

"We've made it well clear, contrary to potentially some of our competitors, that we still want to be very well vested in the sedan segment," said Hein Schafer, Volkswagen's senior vice president of product marketing and strategy, in a call with Autoblog.

Driving the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon

In a review conducted by Kelley Blue Book, Andy Bornhop noted that the new model's powertrain and suspension hasn't changed while driving through the Los Padres National Forest as he also noted the vehicle buttoned-down in the corners, displayed well-damped body motions and showed excellent ride comfort.

The rider also liked the gearbox's traditional P-R-N-D-L shift gate, which wasn't confusing unlike shift gates thta use buttons.

During deceleration, the Arteon's throttle would blip automatically to smoothen the downshifts, and standard torque vectoring would help keep the Arteon on its intended line.

Read Also: Volkswagen's 'Racist' Ad Adds to Their Bad Reputation as Ending Spells German "N" Word

How Much Does the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon Cost?

Although no announcement has been made for the price, it is expected to be priced at $39,000 which includes a $1,020 destination charge. As for the 2020 VW Arteon SEL which has leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, and adaptive cruise control, is priced at roughly $40,000.

2021 Volkswagen Arteon Safety Technology

Here are some of the safety features and specs that Volkswagen has installed in the 2021 Arteon that will ensure the driver is safe and sound.

Travel Assist

This feature will be available on all the SEL models. This enables partly automated driving at speeds of up to 130 mph making driving in stop-and-go traffic much safer. Thanks to the updated version of the adaptive cruise control, Travel Assist can now adjust the vehicle's speed based on posted limits, bends in the road, and even intersections.

Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection

The Arteon will warn the driver and apply the brakes if necessary to prevent (or lessen the severity of) a potential accident.

Lane Assist

This system, standard on the SELs, uses cameras to track the lane markings and warn the driver if the Arteon is drifting out of its lane. At speeds over 40 mph, the system even makes slight steering corrections.

Check out the review below to know more about the new Arteon's specs, interior, and exterior

Read Also: Volkswagen Joins Hands With Rivals To Make A Car Operating System That Could Beat Tesla
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


The Kwahu West Municipal Health Directorate has confirmed that three babies who tested positive for Coronavirus have recovered.



The babies aged six-months, one year and two years  tested positive but their mothers were negative.



The Kwahu West Municipal Health Director Celestine Asante said the six-month-old baby was among those that we used to do the two test before discharged so the baby was fully recovered before the new directive of the 14 days Isolation came in so the baby is fully recovered including the one year and the two years. They have fully recovered.



The Municipal Health Director has meanwhile told Agoo FM in Nkawkaw that Covid-19 cases in the Nkawkaw have risen to 105 but with 34 recoveries. She said many of the patients are asymptomatic therefore expected to be discharged this week applying the World Health Organization (WHO) discharge guidelines.



Celestine Asante noted that no fatality has been recorded in the Municipality.



The Eastern Regional tally stands at 374 as of June 22.



Ghana has recorded 14,154 accumulated confirmed cases of Coronavirus with 10,434 recoveries and 95 fatalities.



Active cases currently stand at 3,596.

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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CAIRO  Egypts Ministry of Health announced June 19 that the local production of Remdesivir, the antiviral treatment for the coronavirus, will start at the end of this month.

The announcement came after Egyptian drugmaker Eva Pharma announced June 14 that it had reached a deal with the American biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, Inc., to become the licensed manufacturer of the US companys Remdesivir. Eva Pharma will distribute the product in 127 countries, including Egypt.

Remdesivir, however, has yet to be officially approved by the Egyptian Ministry of Health as a treatment for the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Humans are infected with MERS-CoV through direct or indirect contact with dromedaries.

The Eva Pharma-Gilead Sciences deal generated mixed reactions in Egypt. The local production of drugs for the treatment of MERS-CoV would significantly contribute to solving the crisis of lack of drugs to fight against the pandemic, a source from the Ministry of Health told Al-Monitor.

Medication agreements and shipments from abroad take a long time and greater financial costs if we compare them to local manufacture of the necessary drugs, the source who requested to be unnamed explained, referring to the recent deal with the US company.

Another anonymous source from the Egyptian Medical Syndicate said that he was surprised the agreement was concluded without completing the clinical trials to check whether or not Remdesivir is effective against the coronavirus and MERS-CoV in Egypt.

What if trials proved that the drug is not effective? What would Eva Pharma do in that case? the source said.

Gehan al-Assal, vice chairman of the Scientific Committee to Combat Coronavirus at the Egyptian Ministry of Health, had announced in a June 12 press statement the start of trials for Remdesivir for coronavirus patients in Egypt, i.e., two days before the signing of the agreement.

The Egyptian Medical Syndicate source believes it is too early to judge the success of a drug and for a local drugmaker to contract with another US company to have it manufactured locally and market it at home and abroad. The source raised concerns about the premature agreement between Gilead Sciences and several other pharmaceutical companies in Egypt, India or elsewhere is some sort of advertising for Remdesivir.

He further warned that the Egyptian authorities might be tricked by this propaganda, adding that the pandemic is an opportunity for pharma companies to market their products. These companies must be dealt with cautiously.

Ahmed al-Khateeb, a professor of medicine at Ain Shams University, told Al-Monitor that observers around the world, and not only in Egypt, have had concerns about drugmakers taking advantage of the virus that causes COVID-19 to market their products.

Khateeb explained that most of the drugs that can be used for the treatment of the coronavirus are essentially used for other less common diseases. Remdesivir and Avigan were licensed a few years back for the treatment of Ebola.

He added that the total number of Ebola cases from Aug. 1, 2018, through May 28, 2020, numbered 3,463, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This accounts for about 0.04% of the total number of coronavirus cases, which amounted to more than 8.1 million infections in only seven months. Khateeb argued that the large number of cases are a golden opportunity for pharma companies to maximize their sales of these drugs, making huge profits.

Remdesivir is not the first drug to be put on the market before the end of the clinical trials.

On April 15, Hamad Mahmoud Hashem, head of the National Research Center of the Ministry of the Higher Education, announced that the centers studies showed that Avigan, developed by a Japanese company, was effective in the treatment of coronavirus patients. Shortly afterward, the official impressions on the drug had changed as Hossam Hosny, head of the Scientific Committee to Combat Coronavirus at the Egyptian Health Ministry, announced that the trials yielded unsatisfactory results for Avigan.

The Egyptian Health Ministry insisted on completing the clinical trials for Avigan, although the Japanese Ministry of Health had announced May 26 the deferral of approval for the drug as a treatment for COVID-19. Preliminary experiments had shown it was ineffective in treating coronavirus patients and had side effects, such as birth defects if administered to infected pregnant women.

Khateeb said, Although drugmakers are trying to take advantage of the pandemic, we should have some faith in the Egyptian procedures in approving drugs for the treatment of the novel coronavirus. Especially because these studies have been carried out with transparency with regard to Avigan and proved very accurate regarding the anti-malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine that was also used on coronavirus patients and raised much controversy to this effect.

Egypts Health Ministry had also insisted on using Hydroxychloroquine as part of the treatment protocol for COVID-19, although the WHO suspended clinical trials of the drug on May 25, and made official recommendations against its use following a study that concluded it increased the risk of developing irregular heart rhythms leading to the death of patients.

On June 5, the study was retracted as its authors voiced concerns over its findings, prompting the WHO to resume clinical trials on the anti-malaria drug on coronavirus patients on June 6.

Mahmoud Abou-Zeid, a professor of pharmacology at Assiut University, told Al-Monitor that Egypts studies on Hydroxychloroquine and Avigan are proof that clinical trials in Egypt are done independently and transparently, dismissing any positive or negative propaganda or any pressure from pharma companies, governments or the WHO.

Egypt did not disregard the treatment by Hydroxychloroquine despite the WHOs warnings, which have proved inaccurate. It also did not rush to take a decision on Avigan despite optimism shown by Russia and Japan early on, he said.

Abou-Zeid concluded that Egypt is likely to follow the same procedures with regard to Remdesivir and any other drug.
Barack Obama's former Chief of Protocol has revealed the rather dramatic lengths the Queen's staff go to protect her privacy - and her signature handbag.

Capricia Penavic Marshall, who worked for former President Obama from 2009 to 2013, advising him on all matters of national and international diplomatic protocol, recalled to People the embarrassing moment she was scolded for trying to help the royal with her purse during an official visit to Buckingham Palace in 2011.

After stepping forward to assist the Queen with her bag so that she could greet the Obamas without it, Marshall, 56, says her British counterpart quickly pushed her back and told her simply: 'We do not touch the bag.'

Awkward! Former President Barack Obama's Chief of Protocol has opened up about an awkward moment when she was reprimanded for trying to hold the Queen's handbag in 2011

Speaking out: Capricia Penavic Marshall, 56, pictured with Barack and Michelle in 2010, said she tried to hold the royal's purse so she could pose for photos - but was quickly scolded

'As Her Majesty walked out, I made a comment to my counterpart. I said, "Oh, my goodness, Her Majesty has her bag." And I made an ever so slight move with my left foot,' she recalled.

'He, with both of his hands, pushed me back against the wall and said, "Do not touch the bag," and I said, "Oh, my goodness. I'm so sorry."'

Snafu: According to Marshall, she made a move to hold the Queen's bag and was pushed back by one of the royal's staffers

Marshall says the unnamed royal staffer reiterated his point again, insisting that nobody ever touches the Queen's purse - which she is often seen carrying during official engagements - while admitting that, despite her snafu, she dared to ask whether anyone knows what the royal actually carries in it.

'He goes, "We do not touch the bag." And I said, "Okay, I apologize. I would never. But do we know what's in the bag?" And he said, "We don't know what's in the bag. But we never touch the bag,"' she revealed.

While discussing her new book, Protocol: The Power of Diplomacy and How to Make It Work for You, Marshall explained that she later learned the Queen may actually use her bag as a means of signaling to her staff - which is why she almost always has it on her arm.

According to the protocol expert, the positioning of Her Majesty's bag indicates to staff when they need to step in and interrupt a meeting - without the Queen actually needing to verbalize when she no longer wishes to speak to someone.

'If it's on one part of her arm, it means the meeting is going fine, leave me alone. But if she lowers it, it means, "End this now. I want to go,"' Marshall explained.

Signs: Marshall, who just released a new book, Protocol, suggested that the Queen uses her handbag to signal to staff when she wishes to end a meeting or conversation with someone

Hint hint: 'If it's on one part of her arm, it means the meeting is going fine, leave me alone. But if she lowers it, it means, "End this now. I want to go,"' Marshall explained

As for what the Queen carries around in her purse, the protocol expert-turned-author never did get an official answer, however she revealed that several people have speculated that 'in the bag, she has a cell phone so that she can call and speak to her grandchildren'.

Despite the awkward moment between Marshall and the Queen's staff member, she says that the visit went incredibly well, noting that both President Obama and his wife Michelle were 'so, so very fond' of the royal.

Marshall also revealed that the then-First Couple even went out of their way to put together an incredibly special and very sentimental gift for Her Majesty, after the Queen expressed that she wished to exchange presents with the Obamas.

'We wanted to make sure that what we were furthering this special relationship with the U.K. and particularly with Her Majesty,' Marshall explained, before adding that the Obamas' staff did research to find out what gift might impress the Queen most.

The team discovered that the Queen was known for collecting 'anything and everything she could about' her late father, King George VI, so they decided to put together different pieces of memorabilia from the final trip he made to the US before his death.

They found several different items to include in the collection, including a few letters and some invitations, which were all bound together in a leather portfolio and then presented to the Queen during the visit.

According to Marshall, the gift meant the world to the Queen, and the former protocol advisor said she even had 'a little glisten of a tear in her eye' as she read through all of the different pages, before expressing her deepest thanks to President Obama.

Friends: Marshall, pictured in 2012, worked for Obama from 2009 until 2013, during which time she advised him on matters relating to national and international diplomatic protocol

Close: The protocol expert, pictured with Obama in 2013, said that working for the former President is one of 'the best jobs I've ever had in my life'

That was not the only gift that the Obamas gave to the royal during their visit, with Marshall revealing that they also presented her with a beautiful floral brooch - which, interestingly, the Queen chose to wear during President Donald Trump's visit to the UK last year.

At the time, there was some speculation that the royal had chosen that specific brooch in order to 'troll' President Trump - although she did not actually wear it on a day when they met, merely stepping out with the accessory after he had arrived in the country.

However, Marshall makes sure not to speculate on why exactly Her Majesty may have worn that particular item during Trump's official trip, saying only that she would 'like to say that [the Queen] was proud to wear a piece of a presidential gift' and that she was perhaps using it to 'display the unity between the two nations'.

'I think that she has the capacity to always lift the message up right now and to create those stronger bounds. But she herself is the only one who will really know,' she added.

Marshall is full of praise for the Obamas - as well as Barack's rival in the 2008 Democratic candidate race, Hillary Clinton, and her husband Bill, both of whom she worked for over several years.

The protocol expert served as special assistant to Hillary during Bill's 1992 presidential campaign, and continued that role in the White House before being promoted to Deputy Assistant to the President in 1997.

Then, in 2006, Marshall rejoined the Clintons, working on Hillary's presidential campaign, before being sworn in as US Chief of Protocol in August 2009 - a role that she held for four years.
Her company Good American released its brand new Good Swim collection on Wednesday.

And the brand shared a sizzling snap of co-founder Khloe Kardashian to announce that the new line dropped on their website.

In the sizzling snap, Khloe Kardashian posed by the pool in a gold hued triangle top with high-cut bottoms, revealing her stunning figure.

Wow factor: Khloe Kardashian posed by the pool in a gold hued triangle top with high-cut bottoms, revealing her stunning figure on Wednesday morning; the post announced the new Good Swim line for her brand Good American had dropped

Khloe, 35, put her flat midriff on full display, as well as her pert derriere as she posed on the edge of the pool by the hot tub.

She looked absolutely incredible in the Good American Hi-Hi Tanga Top in Gold, which retails for $39.

Khloe wore the matching bottoms - the Hi-Hi Tanga Bottom in Gold ($39).

To round out her summer look, she paired it with large gold hoop earrings, a belly chain, diamond bracelets and a ring.

Scorching hot: Khloe, 35, put her flat midriff on full display, as well as her pert derriere as she posed on the edge of the pool by the hot tub

She wore her blonde locks slicked back with pink lipstick on her full pout and rosy blush on her cheekbones.

Three days prior, Khloe shared a teaser video that showed just her body as she moved her hands slowly.

The new Good American Good Swim line features core control with adjustable support; the brand, founded by Khloe and Emma Grede began with jeans before expanding to activewear, clothes, undergarments and swim.

The line is known for focusing on designing items that can fit curvier figures, with a size range of XS to 5XL.

Dazzling: Three days prior, Khloe shared a teaser video that showed just her body as she moved her hands slowly

Strike a pose: The new Good American Good Swim line features core control with adjustable support; the brand, founded by Khloe and Emma Grede began with jeans before expanding to activewear, clothes, undergarments and swim; Khloe pictured in a Good American suit

Last week, her sister Kim Kardashian shared snaps from Scott Disick's birthday party from earlier this month.

Khloe showcased her flat midsection in a blue crop top with a light blue shirt left unbuttoned, adding denim shorts and sneakers.

On Wednesday, Khloe shared ads for Pamper with her adorable daughter True, two, whom she shares with ex Tristan Thompson.

Sister, sisters: Last week, her sister Kim Kardashian shared snaps from Scott Disick's birthday party from earlier this month; Khloe, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian pictured

Cutie pie: On Wednesday, Khloe shared ads for Pamper with her adorable daughter True, two, whom she shares with ex Tristan Thompson

The ad for Pampers was for their Easy Ups training underwear and their new Troll characters.

True wore a white top with her hair half up and half down.

Khloe posed alongside True while rocking jeans and a white long-sleeved bodysuit; the beauty wore her brunette locks partly up.

Mommy and daughter: Khloe posed alongside True while rocking jeans and a white long-sleeved bodysuit; the beauty wore her brunette locks partly up
As member of Parliament, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh stayed right opposite BJP national headquarters in Delhis Ashoka Road. That was before 2009, when the BJP was in opposition and had not shifted to the swanky multi-storied building on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg.

Raghuvansh babu was a minister in Manmohan Singh government. The Rural Development Minister that is. A minister who would not mind walking to his chamber in Krishi Bhawan after an early morning meal (he generally had only one through the day), and stay put through the day, meeting bureaucrats, journalists and political workers till late in the evening.

He spoke chaste Hindi while making a point and retorting to objections and opinions articulated in Oxbridge English during cabinet meetings.

Raghuvansh Prasad Singh was the Jitendra Kumar of the Manmohan Singh government. His vintage rustic performance lent a aura and appeal to Rural Development ministry.

He was the minister who piloted the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme. The biggest rural poverty alleviation programme in the world which has withstood the test of time. Fifteen years after it was drafted and implemented, and trashed many times over in and outside Parliament, all governments  both state and Centre  in the last 15 years have relied upon this one scheme to lift the rural economy out of distress, be it drought or global pandemic.

A Rajput by caste, Raghuvansh Prasad Singhs nomination in the Union cabinet by Lalu Yadav in 2004 after UPAs shock victory was a well thought out move. RJD chief had stitched a perfect caste combination of OBC-Muslims-Dalits and topped it up with a splash of upper caste votes to pulverise NDA at the hustings. Upper caste leaders like Raghuvansh Prasad (Rajput) and Akhilesh Singh (Bhumihar) not only won their seats but were made ministers to send a strong message to BJPs core constituency.

So, while Lalu got the plum Railway Ministry in UPA-I, he did see merit in nominating others from upper caste to key ministries.

But just ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Lalu and Ram Vilas Paswan made a fatal mistake by unilaterally declaring candidates for seats in Bihar, leaving Congress in a lurch. The division of votes helped NDA win big in Bihar, but Congress gained in other states to increase its tally and return to power.

Raghuvansh Babu was one of the four MPs who won in 2009. The Congress wanted to make him a minister but Lalu Yadav vetoed. The list sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan had a blank against the Rural Development Minister. Despite efforts till the last moment, the RJD did not relent, Singh told this reporter while at a public meeting at Kanti on Patna-Motihari road while campaigning for the 2019 general elections.

It would have been highly opportunistic on my part had I taken up the ministership against my partys wishes, he added. He lost the election to Veena Singh, wife of a local strongman Dinesh Singh contesting on Lok Janshakti party ticket.

This was his second consecutive defeat after losing 2014 elections to one Rama Kishore Singh against whose entry he has now decided to call it quits.

Perhaps, Lalu had the political finesse to combine the core caste vote and a slice of other communities to create a winning combination. His absence and an extended incarceration is clearly been felt in the party.

And yet when Lalus close aides like Ram Kripal Yadav left RJD, Singh continued to stay put. In Bihar politics, where probity in public life does carry a huge premium, there always never was any dearth of an offer for the old socialist.

He was one of those very few who could speak face to face with Lalu Yadav without mincing words. In the run up to the 2019 polls, he cautioned RJD against taking a strident position against quota card played by the Modi government to woo the economically weaker sections amongst the upper caste.

But more than the political decisions on core issues, it was RJDs inability to evolve and accommodate individuals and communities outside partys first family that alienated a large section of its leaders and support base. The malaise has afflicted the Mandal parties UP and Bihar as well when parties tend to operate like private limited companies.

RJD could have easily accommodated Singh in the Rajya Sabha in the last 10 years. He was a credible voice in Parliament. But whenever opportunity arose, the battle for the RS berth was reduced to jostling within the family.
Chlorinated chicken is not on the table during trade talks with the United States, the Trade Secretary Liz Truss said yesterday.

Miss Truss said a ban on controversial US farm produce, including chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef, was already in law and would not be changed as part of trade talks.

Giving evidence to MPs on the Commons international trade committee yesterday, she also struck a notably tougher stance, saying she would rather walk away than agree a bad deal for the sake of it.

Throughout the negotiations this Government will be fighting for Britains best interests, she said.

To coin a once familiar phrase, no deal is better than a bad deal.

Lizz Truss said a ban on controversial US farm produce, including chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef, was already in law and would not be changed as part of trade talks

We are not going to rush into a deal. There is no deadline. And we will be tough in pressing our interests. When it comes to food, we will never lower our standards in order to sign a trade deal.

Not only that but we will never sign a trade deal that leaves our farming industry with its high animal welfare standards worse off.

In response, committee chairman Angus MacNeil said: A lot of fighting talk. I hope Donald Trump was not listening otherwise he may start tweeting.

Farmers and environmental groups have warned that a post-Brexit US trade deal could let in products such as chlorinated chicken, which are currently banned under EU law.

A poll of more than 2,000 carried out for consumer group Which? yesterday found that 86 per cent were worried that a weakening of standards under a US deal could lead to currently banned products appearing in British shops.

But Miss Truss yesterday insisted the fears were misplaced.

There has been a lot of scaremongering, she said. This is not something I am negotiating.

She said that the EU Withdrawal Act makes clear that health and animal welfare standards will be maintained after Brexit.

Miss Truss also highlighted the importance of removing barriers that prevent farm products, such as British lamb, being sold on the other side of the Atlantic.

The US talks a good game about free trade and low tariffs but the reality is that many UK products are being kept unfairly out of their market, she said.
On paper, contract workers cant be denied social security benefits. But these remain paper promises.

The aftermath of the pandemic is expected to lead to a dramatic shift in the composition of Indias 470 million-strong workforce with companies relying more on contract workers to lower fixed costs.

But lets face it: the law governing contract workers is the rotten apple in labour legislation and everyone became witness to it during the nationwide lockdown.

The migrant workers crisis is also the tragedy of contract workers, who have been growing in numbers over the years.

The share of contract workers in total organised manufacturing sector employment jumped from 15.5 per cent in 2000-01 to 27.9 per cent in 2015-16, according to an Indian Council for Research and International Economic Relations paper published in January 2019.

Hiring a contract worker involves a triangular relationship: principal employer, contractor (or manpower supply agency) and worker.

Legally, if migrant workers are to get the benefits of the labour laws, including displacement and journey allowance, they need to be hired through the contractors.

After the government imposed a lockdown at four hours notice, the first person to abandon the workers was the contractor.

Agencies hiring at least 20 contract workers are covered under the Contract Labour (Abolition and Regulation) Act, 1970.

States such as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have increased the threshold to 50 so that fewer companies or agencies are governed by the law.

Firms face the incentive of staying small to stay under the radar of complex labour laws.

This has led to the mushrooming of thousands of fly-by-night contractors who hire workers at the minimum wage, and abandon them when business takes a hit.

This is the reality despite legal safeguards.

For instance, temporary and permanent workers doing the same job must have wage parity; the government can abolish contract workers if the job is found to be perennial and the employer has to step in if contractors fail to provide basic facilities and wages.

On paper, contract workers cant be denied social security benefits. But these remain paper promises.

Supreme Court rulings have mostly favoured the employers.

As a result, employers are free to decide if the work performed by the two categories of workers is similar or not and even when the government abolishes contract workers in certain areas, the employer doesnt have to bring them on payrolls.

In a 2009 judgment, the SC ruled that the ultimate supervision and control (of contract workers) lies with a contractor.

Contract workers are also outside the purview of the retrenchment or lay-off and trade union laws.

So what are the entry criteria for contractors?

Unlike China and Vietnam, none. It depends upon the discretion of the authorities.

The real challenge for contractors is to obtain a licence, along with depositing security fees, which varies with the number of workers employed.

In China, dispatch employees (temporary workers) can be hired only by contractors with a minimum capital of 2 million yuan ($200,000) and fixed office.

In Vietnam, from January 2021, outsourcing firms will have to make an escrow deposit of 2 billion Vietnamese dong ($85,000) and the firms bank will pay salaries to contract workers as a safety net.

In India, the tiresome licensing process is an incentive to flout it.

Contractors have to obtain multiple licences for each work order within a state and separate licences for operating in various states (even if its for the same organisation).

The employers have to give contractors a certificate for each work order.

The tenure of the licence differs among states.

Every time there is a change in the headcount, the contractor has to go back to authorities to update the licence owing to the fee structure attached to it - a process as good as applying for a fresh licence.

The starting point of labour reform is to ensure that contractors are encouraged to come under the purview of the authorities and are accountable for their actions.

The government has proposed a pan-India licence with a five-year validity in the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019.

But it fails to mention the conditions that contractors need to follow.

Contractors, however, do have to inform the authorities about any work order they get during the five-year tenure, failing which their licence will be cancelled.

The proposal offers contractors an escape route, however.

If contractors do not meet the entry requirements set out in the rules, they may apply for a work-specific licence which can be renewed from time-to-time - effectively reverting to the old system.

The code, whose purpose was to simplify laws, employs complex text.

The contractor will have to read the rule book if he supplies manpower to different firms in multiple states to gauge who will be the licensing authority: the central or the state government.

The proposed law also gives sweeping powers to the governments to exempt certain establishments or contractors from all provisions of the law in case of an emergency.

All of this points to the urgent need to create a simple regime that clearly sets out accountability for the employer and contractors and a single licensing authority.

A mechanism to enable contract workers to get their statutory dues, including wages, in case contractors abscond is also vital, as recent experience has shown.

A key reason companies are finding it hard to find workers, after the national lockdown was lifted, is that the workers were employed through contractors and had no direct links with the principal employers who could now offer better terms if they wished.

One sound alternative to the contractor system is fixed-term contracts - a globally established practice.

The government has proposed fixed-term employment in the Industrial Relations Code, 2019, to facilitate a way in which companies can directly hire temporary workers on a pre-determined tenure of contract.

Employees hired on a fixed-term contract will be given equal benefits as regular workers - in fact, more as gratuity will be available to them on a pro-rata basis even if they do not complete a minimum of five years of work.

But there are two holes in the new system.

First, there is no job security, the sine qua non of better labour productivity.

Second, contracts can be renewed any number of times and the government has quietly scrapped a proposal for mandated firms not to convert existing contract employees into fixed-term workers - again, a contrast to China or Vietnam.

Photograph: Reuters
UK-based Hinduja family is embroiled in a litigation over the control of the Switzerland-based Hinduja Bank, which is under the control of the patriarch Srichand Hinduja.

The fight over the control of the bank is part of the multiple litigations that the four brothers - Gopichand, Prakash, Ashok and Srichand Parmanand (SP) - are fighting in courts in UK, New Jersey and Switzerland.

The crux of the dispute is over a letter signed by the four brothers six years ago over rights of brothers in the group assets. SP, who played a key role in building the group, is disowning the letter with no legal effect whatsoever.

Clearly, the dispute among the brothers will have implications for their businesses in India. The Switzerland-based bank owns close to 5 per cent in Ashok Leyland, the truck-maker controlled by Hinduja Group's automotive unit. The value of shares is around Rs 800 crore.

The SP family has consolidated their position in the bank. Last week, SP's grandson Karam Hinduja had taken over the CEO of the bank. The 29-year old Karam's mother Shanu Hinduja is already the chairperson. SP, who currently presides over the bank, is chairman emirates. SP has another daughter Vinoo.

Karam's entry as CEO must have further irked SP's brothers. The young Karam had earlier founded a media company Timeless Media and also handled the SP family portfolio of companies.

Hinduja Bank is a small-sized bank in Switzerland with total assets of 343 million Swiss francs (Rs 2,744 crore) for the year 2018. The latest data of revenues, profits and assets is not available in the bank's website. The bank's core business centres around wealth management, trade finance and corporate advisory etc.

It is not known whether the bank has stake in other Hinduja group companies. The agitated brothers fear that the assets of SP would go to his daughters and her immediate family.

Hinduja brothers, however, said that the current litigation will not affect the group's operations ."We hope you will understand that these are private family matters which are now the subject of litigation and we cannot comment any further," states the statement issued by the brothers.

ALSO READ: Hinduja brothers fight over multi-billion fortune; dispute 2014 letter

ALSO READ: UK's Richie Rich: Hinduja, Reuben brothers second wealthiest on British daily's rich list of 2020
The Jammu and Kashmir Police along with security forces on Wednesday arrested four terrorist associates linked to proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Baramulla district's Sopore. They were involved in grenade lobbing on a police post.

The police along with 52 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) conducted the cordon and search operation at Muqam Putkha and Chanpora Athoora areas of Sopore. The four arrested has been identified as Irfan Ahmed Mir, Irfan Ahmed Khan, Qaiser Rehman Khan all residents of Putkha and Suhail Ahmed Ganie resident of Chanpora, Athoora.

A police official said, During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that they were involved in a case pertaining to lobbing of a grenade on a police post in Putkha. It was assigned to them by active terrorists of LeT Fayaz Ahmed War Umar and a foreign terrorist Usman as a qualifying test to join terrorist ranks."

As per the police records, they were involved in providing logistic support and shelter to the active terrorists of LeT operating in the area besides other unlawful activities, they were also found in touch with the active terrorists through social media.
In a surprise ruling, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday overruled District Judge Emmet Sullivan and ordered him to accept the Justice Department's motion to dismiss the case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

PHOTO: FPresident Donald Trump's former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn arrives at federal court, Dec. 18, 2018, in Washington, D.C. (Carolyn Kaster/AP, FILE)

President Donald Trump reacted within minutes, tweeting that the ruling in favor of his first national security adviser, whom the president has repeatedly claimed was investigated and prosecuted unfairly, was "Great!"

Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request To Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2020

Special counsel Robert Mueller charged Flynn with one count of lying to federal investigators in late 2017  a charge to which Flynn twice pleaded guilty. Critics allege his case is an example of alleged politicization of the Justice Department under Trump and Attorney General William Barr.

MORE: DOJ, Flynn attorney face skeptical panel of judges in bid to throw out case

The three-judge appeals court panel ruled 2-1 in granting Flynn's motion to overrule Sullivan, with Trump-appointee Judge Neomi Rao authoring the majority opinion for the order -- spelling out how the court believes Judge Sullivan overstepped his authority by appointing an outside former judge to argue against the Justice Department and Flynn's legal team.

MORE: DOJ moves to dismiss case against former Trump adviser Michael Flynn

"A hearing cannot be used as an occasion to superintend the prosecutions charging decisions, because authority over criminal charging decisions resides fundamentally with the Executive, without the involvement ofand without oversight power inthe Judiciary," Rao writes.

MORE: Justice Department reviewing handling of Michael Flynn case: Source

Rao also notes the recent evidence surfaced by the Justice Department's separate review of the case should give it the freedom to revisit the integrity of the overall prosecution.

Story continues

"Each of our three coequal branches should be encouraged to self-correct when it errs. If evidence comes to light calling into question the integrity or purpose of an underlying criminal investigation, the Executive Branch must have the authority to decide that further prosecution is not in the interest of justice,"

The opinion denies one part of the motion from Flynn's attorneys in their request to have Judge Sullivan reassigned from the case entirely.

Judge Robert Wilkins dissented from the ruling, noting the court's extraordinary action to step in in the middle of a process to overrule the lower district court judge before he was able to hold a formal hearing on the DOJ's surprise reversal in the case.

"It is a great irony that, in finding the District Court to have exceeded its jurisdiction, this Court so grievously oversteps its own," Wilkins says. "This appears to be the first time that we have issued a writ of mandamus to compel a district court to rule in a particular manner on a motion without first giving the lower court a reasonable opportunity to issue its own ruling; the first time any court has held that a district court must grant leave of court ... without even holding a hearing on the merits of the motion; and the first time we have issued the writ even though the petitioner has an adequate alternative remedy, on the theory that another party would not have had an adequate alternate remedy if it had filed a petition as well. Any one of these is sufficient reason to exercise our discretion to deny the petition; together, they compel its rejection."

The Justice Department is already celebrating the ruling, with DOJ spokesperson Kerri Kupec tweeting the ruling is a "WIN."

WIN in General Flynns case. DC Circuit has ruled 2-1, instructing Judge Sullivan to grant DOJs motion to dismiss the case.   Kerri Kupec DOJ (@KerriKupecDOJ) June 24, 2020

It's not clear whether Sullivan will plan to appeal the panel's ruling. asking for a review from the full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. An attorney representing Sullivan did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

Here is the appeals court ruling:

Flynn by ABC News Politics on Scribd

Michael Flynn's case ordered dismissed after appeals court overrules judge originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Ms. Sharon Donnir

24.06.2020 LISTEN

Discussants at the fifth e- seminar series organized by the University of Cape Coast School of Business call for greater attention on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) during this pandemic.

The topic for discussion was Coronavirus Pandemic and Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies. The e- seminar was chaired by the Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Francis Eric Amuquandoh.

In his introductory remarks, he stated that Coronavirus Pandemic is now a daily word with many thoughts about what to do and how to do what is appropriate. Prof Amuquandoh said corporate social responsibility is crucial especially at this time when communities and employees are vulnerable.

On her part Ms. Sharon Donnir, a chartered accountant and Lecturer in the Department of Accounting at the University of Professional Studies, Accra ( UPSA), CSR is part of corporate strategy and that CSR expenditure must be budgeted for and approved by the board of directors and shareholders at annual general meetings (AGMs).

She explained that CSR should be done with the long term goals of the organization in mind. She said Covid-19 became a serious matter at the time that most companies were preparing for their AGMs coupled with lockdown and restrictions on movements and gatherings. This, she said affected the approval of many annual financial plans including CSR activities and corresponding budgets.

She advised that companies should use virtual means to organize AGMs since spending without approval will have audit implications in the future. Ms. Donnir calls for review of CSR budgets by board of directors and avoid spending above approved revised budgets. She explained that while CSR is a good gesture during the pandemic there should be a responsible limit since CSR is not the core activity of the companies.

She emphasized that when CSR is well budgeted for it is easy to measure the tax benefits associated with any CSR efforts. She advised board of directors not to approve revised CSR budgets beyond the financial capacity of their organizations.

Dr. Abraham Ansong, the Head, Department of Management at the School of Business, University of Cape Coast, explained different motivations for engaging in corporate social responsibility such as philanthropy, economic and legal. He explained that motivation will affect how a company approaches corporate social responsibility. Dr. Ansong, explained that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is variously described by companies as social responsibility, social investment, good corporate citizen and corporate sustainable investment.

Dr. Abraham Ansong

He said these differences reflect the pressure on companies to spend part of their budgets to benefit society and not merely about showmanship. Dr. Ansong argued that companies spending on their employees and close communities is an important part of CSR. He indicated that contribution to the Covid- 19 fund by companies is just part of their CSR. He explained that whatever product or service produced by a company must be seen as CSR that must attract investment by the company to ensure moderate prices, quality and constant supply.

He advised companies against spending greater part of their budget on CSR when they dont have funds to promote their core activities. He, however explained that CSR is caring so companies cannot avoid showing care to their stakeholders including employees during the Covid period. Dr. Ansong ask organizations to see moderate but targeted CSR as solid social investments.

Ms.Selma El Fard, a researcher at Vigeo Elris who specializes in environmental social governance, explained during the pandemic that much attention has been shifted to health and safety under CSR with limited efforts at the environmental front though with the closure of airports and low industrial production carbon emissions have reduced significantly.

She said stocks with environmental consciousness are receiving value investment as more than 63% of investors and 87% of millennial investors prefer to invest in companies that promote social justice, social investment, employee welfare and environmental good governance. She advised companies to be balanced in where they spend their CSR money to ensure sustainability. Ms. Selma called for shareholder activism to redirect CSR to reflect shareholder interests and perspectives.

Mr. Frederick Aryeetey who is the Executive Director of Institute of Directors-Ghana, explained CSR should not be seen to be an activity only by big companies, that Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMEs) including informal sector businesses should all play their part. Mr. Aryeetey explained that the essence of CSR during the pandemic is for businesses to use a fraction of their income to support their stakeholders. He called for upward adjustments of CSR budgets for companies who have enough buffers. He explained that taking good care of employees in various ways during this pandemic is a good spirit of CSR. He advised companies to support their employees with all the personal protective equipment as part of their social responsibility. He further asked companies to reduce salaries by a certain percentage for their employees instead of laying them off as part of their social responsibility.
Rotunda Rumblings

Put to the test: Now that any Ohioan can get a coronavirus test, Gov. Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted were each given a nose swab test live during Tuesdays briefing. All right, DeWine said, clapping his hands when the roughly 20-second-long test was done. Awesome! Jeremy Pelzer has video of the whole thing.

Wish you were here: Vice President Mike Pence wont be greeted by DeWine during Pences Thursday visit to Lordstown, Seth Richardson reports. DeWine was originally scheduled to be at the unveiling of Lordstown Motors all-electric vehicle, but said he and first lady Fran DeWine are trying to avoid crowds. DeWine told reporters he did not directly ask the vice president to wear a mask during the visit, though recommended he do so publicly during his Tuesday briefing.

Statue of limitations: DeWine said during his Tuesday coronavirus briefing that he doesnt have any trouble with the removal of Confederate statues around the nation, as many have called for amid ongoing protests for racial equality. But as Pelzer reports, the governor said that right now hes not in favor of taking down statues of Columbus in his namesake city. At what point do we stop pulling statues down? he asked.

Positive thinking: There have been 46,127 coronavirus cases in Ohio, which is up 590, Laura Hancock reports. DeWine said he will provide the media and public more information about the percentage of coronavirus tests that are coming back positive, which could shed some light on whether the higher numbers are the result of more testing or if there are other reasons behind the transmissions.

Protesters: Also during Tuesdays briefing DeWine addressed last weeks red-paint vandalism of the Ohio Statehouse, per Andrew Tobias. He said hes concluded there werent enough state troopers on scene to prevent it from happening, which is something he said wont happen again. He also again encouraged protesters to remain peaceful.

Daycare dispute: Having successfully forced the reopening of water parks and gyms in Ohio, the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law is now suing to lift state coronavirus restrictions on daycares. As Pelzer writes, 40 daycares around the state have joined the suit, filed in Warren County.

Flex time: DeWine said Tuesday that local schools will have flexibility to come up with their own re-opening plans, with state guidelines coming in the next week. Per Emily Bamforth, DeWine also said local schools should expect no surprises.

Space jam: The U.S. military is looking for a permanent home for U.S. Space Command, and DeWine and a group of local officials has officially nominated the Dayton area. As Pelzer reports, their nomination letter touts the areas low cost of living, educated workforce, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and other military facilities located nearby.

Training day: House staff were informed Tuesday that an upcoming training session will address racial diversity and inclusion, Tobias writes. News of the training follows another round of calls from the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus for required racial sensitivity and implicit bias training, but a spokeswoman for House Speaker Larry Householder said it was long-planned. Unlike a session last week for the Ohio Senate, members will not be required to participate in the House training.

Throwing away their shots: Ohio pediatric vaccination rates are down about 45% compared to what they typically see this time of years, Bamforth reports. Hospital officials are concerned, and believe parents may be avoiding hospitals and other medical offices due to safety worries during the coronavirus pandemic.

Throwback Tuesday: The executive board for InnovateOhio met on Tuesday, recapping a litany of state projects that havent exactly been top of mind since the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who runs InnovateOhio, and his staff discussed projects including improving Ohios background-check system for gun purchases, an automated review of state regulations, online pre check-ins at state BMV offices and broadband access expansion. Husted and board members also mused on what Ohio could do to attract companies and talent that might be fleeing larger cities due to COVID-19.

Polar opposites: Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who co-chairs the congressional Poland Caucus, released a statement on Tuesday that urged President Donald Trump to cancel a Wednesday White House meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, whom Kaptur criticized for comparing the LGBTQ community to communism. Unfortunately, President Trumps invitation is not surprising given his favorability toward strongmen and those who undermine democratic institutions, said Kaptur, who called the visit an inappropriate effort by Trump to insert himself into Polish domestic politics and boost President Dudas reelection.

Emergency room: Kaptur on Monday joined Holmes County GOP Rep. Bob Gibbs in introducing legislation that would help keep hospitals from financial insolvency after they were forced to drastically scale back non-coronavirus related services during the COVID-19 pandemic, writes Sabrina Eaton. Several local hospitals support their plan to forgive federal loans that hospitals and health care providers received during the crisis.

Tired of imports: U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman of Ohio 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, Eaton reports. 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, said a letter they wrote with nine colleagues.

Looking ahead: State Rep. Brigid Kelly, the Cincinnati Democrat, said Tuesday she may run for Hamilton County auditor in 2022. In a thread of Twitter posts, she also said she strongly disagrees with recent comments regarding abortion and the Black Lives Matter movement made by current County Auditor Dusty Rhodes, a conservative Democrat whos held the job for nearly three decades.

Full Disclosure

Five things we learned from the Feb. 18, 2020 financial disclosure of state Rep. Catherine Ingram, a Cincinnati Democrat:

1. In addition to her legislative salary of $69,053, she also disclosed income from $1,000 to $9,999 from four different sources  a pension with Northern Trust Co., a sales agent job with Comey & Shepherd Realtors, income from a rental property and an annuity. She also made $10,000 to $24,999 in retirement income from the Social Security Administration.

2. She holds at least $1,000 in stock in Duke Energy, Spectra Energy and AST Trust Co.

3. At some point in 2019, she owed at least $1,000 to: U.S. Bank Corp, GE Credit Union, Credit One Bank, Brandsource, First Premier Bank, Comenity Bank, Barclays Bank, Amazon, Fingerhut, Macys and Bank of America.

4. She claimed House mileage reimbursements worth $4,695.60.

5. Among the gifts she disclosed are Opening Day tickets she received from the Cincinnati Reds worth $160, and tickets, food and beverage worth $279.50 from the University of Cincinnati.

On The Move

Jason Paduchik has joined McKinley Strategies as a vice president, leading the firms government affairs practice. He previously was senior director of government affairs for AT&T Ohio.

Beverley Laubert, the long-term care ombudsman for Ohio, was selected with 24 other experts and advocates to serve on the Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes. The independent commission will review and inform current and future responses to COVID-19.

Frank Beel was appointed CEO of Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare, a Columbus facility run by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. He replaces Bob Short, who had been interim CEO since the February retirement of Veronica Lofton.

Recently appointed state Rep. Al Cutrona, a Mahoning County Republican, has been assigned to serve on the House committees for Criminal Justice, Health, and Agriculture and Rural Development.

State Rep. Adam Holmes has been appointed vice-chair of the Ohio House Health Committee. The Muskingum County Republican takes the place of the late state Rep. Don Manning.

Straight From The Source

"It was much better than advertised."

- Lt. Gov. Jon Husted shortly after getting a COVID-19 test administered via a nasal swab during the governors offices coronavirus briefing on Tuesday.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly said state Rep. Brigid Kelly is term limited in 2022. It has been corrected.
The International Monetary Fund is warning governments not to abruptly cut off support such as wage subsidies and increased unemployment benefits just as their economies are getting back on their feet.

And it says once those economic supports are withdrawn, they should be replaced with broader spending on climate change action and social safety nets.

In its June update on the world economic outlook, the IMF forecasts Australia's economy will shrink by 4.5 per cent in 2020 and grow by four per cent in 2021.

Despite the impact of lockdown on many Australian businesses, including the One Nail Salon in Geelong, Victoria, the economy is expected to bounce back in 2021

This is a 2.2-point improvement on its April outlook.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says this is a stark contrast with other nations.

'According to the IMF, the economic outlook for Australia is the second-best among all advanced economies, second only to (South) Korea,' he said.

Nuccia Fusco and her husband (pictured left and right), co-owner of Italian restaurant Costa D'Oro in Surfers Paradise smile outside the business after its reopening

Overall, the IMF is now projecting a deeper global recession, shrinking by 4.9 per cent this year, and slower recovery than it did in April.

IMF economic counsellor Gita Gopinath puts the deterioration down to worse-than-anticipated outcomes in the first half of the year and more persistent social distancing measures in the back end.

In advanced economies, the outlook notes people started voluntarily social distancing well before lockdowns, leading to a drop in spending, and this pointed to a continued fear of contagion that was likely to slow the economic recovery.

'Given the tremendous uncertainty, policymakers should remain vigilant and policies will need to adapt as the situation evolves,' Dr Gopinath said.

Businesses are hoping an easing of restrictions including the recent reopening of pubs will allow the economy to bounce back as quickly as possible

The IMF says a gradual exit from targeted fiscal support is vital 'to avoid precipitating sudden income losses and bankruptcies just as the economy is beginning to regain its footing'.

It says wage subsidies, cash transfers, credit guarantees to business and widened criteria for unemployment payments should be replaced by public investment to accelerate the recovery and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

There should also be an expanded social safety net in place for some time, plus subsidies to businesses to take on workers and more money for training.

The Morrison government is considering what to do after its JobKeeper wage subsidies and doubled JobSeeker unemployment payment end in September.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured) will reveal the response to a review of the programs when he hands down an economic statement on July 23

Mr Frydenberg will reveal the response to a review of the programs when he hands down an economic statement on July 23.

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers says the IMF's comments highlight the dangers of any 'snapback' in these policies 'which could jeopardise the recovery before it even gets going'.

'Failing to heed the advice of the IMF, the Reserve Bank and others would mean even more Australians are left behind by this government during the first recession in three decades,' he told AAP in a statement.
WELLESLEY TOWNSHIP  A driver has been charged in connection to a crash last week that left a motorcyclist with serious injuries.

Waterloo Regional Police said a 26-year-old man from Wellesley has been charged with dangerous operation causing bodily harm in the June 16 crash on Weimar Line. Police said the man, driving a Toyota Corolla, attempted to pass slow-moving farm equipment as the vehicle approached a hill, but struck the equipment, lost control and hit a motorcycle.

The 51-year-old woman on the motorcycle suffered what police called serious life-altering injuries as a result.
A disabled man starved to death during the coronavirus lockdown because he was unable to get food, a Labour MP said.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy referred to the tragic incident in Streatham, south London, while charities gave evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee on Wednesday.

She was asking what they thought about the governments reluctance to expand the clinically extremely vulnerable list to include more illnesses and disabilities.

In my constituency there was a tragic report of a disabled man actually starving to death because he wasnt able to access food essentials, she said.

Ms Ribeiro-Addy also referred to research showing that 38 per cent of disabled or vulnerable people were unable to get online shopping slots and 26 per cent were scared catching corona while visiting supermarkets.

Fazilet Hadi, interim policy manager at Disability Rights UK, told the committee that disabled people had encountered a cynicism and a suspicion that they were somehow trying to work the system.

She said: Were all getting very, very different experiences depending on the kindness and helpfulness and training of the staff in our particular supermarket.

I think its been (an) appalling catalogue, I understand why there was a disaster in the first couple of weeks, but I do not understand why the supermarkets are failing to take responsibility for their own disabled customers.

Edel Harris, chief executive of the learning disability charity Mencap, said there needed to be agility around the list of vulnerable conditions during the lockdown.

The important message is that if you need support and help in one area of your life, in this context access to food, then you have the right help and support to enable that to happen, she added.

The charities also said the governments communications have been inaccessible and rushed, leaving people with disabilities and mental health problems feeling like an afterthought.

Giving an example, Ayla Ozmen, head of research and policy at Action on Hearing Loss, said the major lockdown announcement by Boris Johnson on 23 March was completely inaccessible.

She said: People are just simply unaware of the severity of the situation, weve heard from people contacting us saying whole families are just unaware of whats happening until weeks later, until someones been able to contact them.

Ms Ozmen added that peoples lip movements and facial expressions are completely masked by current personal protective equipment in hospitals, hindering communication with deaf people.

Transparent medical masks, which are available in the US, need to be approved for use in the NHS to help address this, she added.

Disabled people are also being confronted by members of the public for not wearing face masks on public transport, the charities said, despite having legitimate reasons under guidance published on 15 June.

Ms Hadi said: Because that communication wasnt handled to show the balance between wearing a face mask when you can, but not wearing one where its difficult for you, it led to confrontation, particularly between members of the public, and disabled people.

Additional reporting by Press Association
The Central Bank of Egypt's (CBE) board has approved the starting of the due diligence inspection process of the EFG Hermes and Egypts Sovereign Fund (ESF) that aims at acquiring the Arab Investment Bank (AIB), EFG Hermes announced in a statement on Wednesday.

The fund and EGF Hermes plan to acquire 76 percent of the AIBs capital through subscribing for increasing its share and paid capital with a probability of purchasing a limited number of the shares owned by the main investor in the bank, which is the National Investment Bank (NIB).

In case the deal is finalised, EFG Hermes will possess not less than 51 percent, the fund not less than 25 percent of the AIB capital, while the NIB will preserve the remainder of shares, according to the statement.

CEO of the fund Ayman Soliman stated that the partnership with EFG Hermes comes under the funds plan that aims at cooperating with the private sector in order to invest in the promising sectors, especially the banking and digital transformation sectors.

He added that Egypts banking sector enjoys competitiveness capabilities that qualify it to expand regionally and in Africa.

CEO of EFG Hermes Karim Awad said his company adopts a strategy that aims to turn the AIB to a universal bank that can extend all banking and non-banking services.

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(TNS) - Free non-surgical masks and face shields will soon available to local businesses, institutions, or even protest groups from the Kansas Department of Emergency Management, via the local emergency management office.Reno County Emergency Management Director Adam Weishaar advised of the availability Tuesday during a weekly conference call on COVID-19.Forms should be available by next week for local entities to apply, Weishaar said. They'll likely be available at the Reno County Health Department, which is open to the public."It can be any business, big or small, or any large venue," he said. "It's even to if you're holding a protest, we'll provide masks as well."Depending on the response, however, it could become a "huge undertaking" for local officials to supply the masks, he said, potentially requiring securing storage."A 30-day supply is 100,000 masks and 30,000 gowns," Weishaar said. "We're supposed to request a 90-day supply, but we'll see how the first 30 days go. If we really have to request a 90-day supply, we may have to figure out a distribution location or storage source."The masks are not high-quality N-95 masks, he said, but three-ply non-surgical masks now available to general consumers."I don't think the quality is any better, but you save time and cost getting them," Weishaar said."The health department is putting together a more streamlined form, so we ask people to hold tight and not request them yet," Weishaar said. "We won't start supplying them until next week."The masks are not available for individuals to request, but a business can request them to supply to customers. There is no minimum or maximum request."Locally we encourage individuals in public to wear masks, whether in a public setting or business," he said.2020 The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kan.)Visit The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kan.) at www.hutchnews.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Most stories of tortured film productions turn on the tragedy of missed opportunities: Well never know if Alejandro Jodoworskys Dune or the original version of Terry Gilliams The Man Who Killed Don Quixote would have delivered on their directors audacious visions. Ghost in the Noonday Sun is a different situation. The 1974 pirate comedy, which starred Peter Sellers as a 17th century troublemaker named Dick Scratcher (har, har), actually got made  and it sucked. In fact, everyone involved felt that the movie was a mistake. Sellers, at the height of his commercial and creative powers, clashed with director Peter Medak on a nightmarish shoot riddled with practical challenges and indecision; Columbia shelved the project, dumping it on home video a decade later, Medaks career was forever tarnished, and Sellers died by the end of the decade.

In the grand tradition of Jodoworskys Dune and Lost in La Mancha, . Unlike those accounts, however, The Ghost of Peter Sellers comes with a more personal angle, since Medak himself directed it. More than 40 years later, the Hungarian-born director best known for The Ruling Class and The Changeling is still reeling from the trauma of his showdown with Sellers, and that personal angle gives this scattershot overview a wistful, elegiac tone, as Medak revisits the sun-soaked Mediterranean scenery where everything went wrong.

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Coming off a decade that included everything from The Pink Panther to Dr. Strangelove, Sellers was an untouchable diva who relished in his difficult reputation. As Medak recounts the genesis of his project, he cuts to archival interviews with the actor talking about his desire to cherry-pick his collaborators, and by 1972, Medak fell into that category of venerable talent: Fresh from directing Peter OToole in The Ruling Class, the filmmaker appealed to Sellers ambitious desires, even as the actor still preferred to run the show himself. That dynamic was ill-suited for a Cyprus-set shoot that involved hot weather, limited time, and a complex tone pitched somewhere between high-seas adventure and self-aware satire.

Story continues

In retrospect, Medak realizes in a series of conversations with old collaborators and friends, the colorful and costly production was doomed from the start. I vanted to make this film vork, he says through his endearing accent, but I realized I was kind of fucked.

Which is not to say that Ghost in the Noonday Sun lacked potential. The ebullient narrative, co-starring and co-written by British comic and playwright Spike Milligan, anticipated the blend of slapstick and genuine swashbuckling fun found in the Pirates of the Caribbean decades later and gave Sellers the opportunity to unleash a kooky, campy performance unlike anything he had done before. But nobody could rein him in, and theres a black comic thrill to listening to Medak recount that downward spiral each step of the way as the rest of the project evaporates around them.

By the time the boat sinks on the first day of production, Medak was already grappling with an unreliable performer who broke up with Liza Minelli the day before the production. Within a matter of weeks, Sellers had suffered a heart attack, faked a doctors note, and refused to take direction every step of the way. Medak cant talk through those speed bumps with Sellers himself, but he does track down producer John Heyman (who died in 2018) to squash their beef over what went wrong with the project. Or, at least, they try: Heyman refers to the experience as another piece of inventory that he had to put out to pasture, even as Medak continues to struggle with the outcome, and his reaction to that dismissive conclusion in their contemporary conversation is heartbreaking.

As the movies title suggests, Sellers becomes a kind of mythical figure throughout the ordeal, much as he saw himself at the time. Medak, however, provides the human center to this touching personal drama. The man who survived a Nazi invasion in his youth, his fathers death as a teen, and the suicide of his first wife still cant figure out why the one challenge he couldnt overcome was a silly studio project.

At the same time, Medaks gentle approach to revisiting the scene of the crime helps complete his own arc: He was no longer an A-lister after Ghost in the Noonday Sun, but he kept churning out work over the years. Sure, he settled into work-for-hire gigs on misbegotten projects like Species II, but he also delivered memorable installments of The Wire and Hannibal, while many of his contemporaries dropped out of the game. To that end, this modest recollection is a quiet act of defiance and course correction. Ghost in the Noonday Sun may not be worth anyones time, but The Ghost of Peter Sellers is another story  and a much better one.

Grade: B

The Ghost of Peter Sellers is now available on VOD.

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[June 24, 2020] Pax8 and NewCloud Networks Announce New Partnership

DENVER, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pax8 , the best place to buy cloud solutions, today announced a new partnership with NewCloud Networks , global provider of cloud computing services, to offer cloud storage and compute resources for Veeam  Cloud Connect Backup and Disaster Recovery.

Pax8 is in the business of simplifying the cloud buying journey for MSPs, and this partnership with NewCloud enables our partners to seamlessly go to market with Veeam-powered backup and disaster recovery cloud solutions, said Ryan Walsh, Chief Channel Officer at Pax8. Together, our certified cloud experts will help partners with their cloud deployments in a cost-effective and secure way. This partnership will also save our partner community time because it eliminates the need to report monthly Veeam usage. NewCloud Networks is a Platinum level Veeam Cloud and Service Provider (VCSP) with data centers in nine locations across the USA. Pax8 partners can now offer their end users a cloud repository without the hassle of deploying and managing their own data centers, while seamlessly integrating NewCloud Networks cloud infrastructure as a backup and disaster recovery target. Veeam Cloud Connect is a fully integrated feature of Veeam Availability Suite v10. The solution enables MSPs to offer any Veeam customer a modern approach to data protection and business continuity. NewCloud removes the complexity and offers the support MSPs need to sell and install Veeam-powered backup and disaster recovery solutions for their clients. We are excited to become a Pax8 vendor partner and to offer our best in breed cloud solutions, powered by Veeam Cloud Conect, to Pax8s partner ecosystem, said Sam V. Kumar, NewCloud Networks Founder & CEO. NewClouds nationwide ultra-low latency network with data centers in nine locations makes it easy for partners to leverage and scale existing cloud infrastructure, rather than deploy their own. With the help of Pax8, we will expand our MSP network and enable more partners take advantage of monthly recurring revenue through cloud solutions.



Partner benefits of the Pax8 and NewCloud partnership include: Unlimited storage for backup as a service for Workstations and Microsoft 365 backup

Simplifies the Veeam licensing and eliminates the need for partners to report monthly Veeam usage or commit

Support for both Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware vSphere virtual environments

SLA backed Disaster Recovery to help partners meet their end client RPO and RTO needs

Fully integrated to the Veeam Availability console for simplified management

Offers simplified management of backup environment

SOC 2 and HIPAA compliant

No ingress or egress bandwidth fees

24/7 support To trial NewCloud Networks or to learn more, please contact a cloud solutions advisors at (855) 884-PAX8, email [email protected], or visit www.pax8.com .

About Pax8

Pax8 is modernizing how partners buy, sell and manage cloud. As a born-in-the-cloud company, Pax8 simplifies the buying journey, empowering its partners to achieve more with cloud technology. The companys technology displaces legacy distribution by connecting the channel ecosystem to its award-winning transactional cloud marketplace. Through billing, provisioning, automation, industry-leading PSA integrations, and pre and post-sales support, and education, Pax8 is a proven disruptor in the market. In 2018, Pax8 was ranked number 68 on the Inc. 5000 and in 2019, the company was ranked number 60. If you want to be successful with cloud, you want to work with Pax8. Get started today at www.pax8.com. Follow Pax8 on Facebook , LinkedIn , and Twitter . About NewCloud Networks

NewCloud Networks is a global cloud services provider specializing in Backup, Disaster Recovery, Production Cloud, and Security as a Service. NewClouds solutions are built using best in breed technology and hosted on our ultra-low latency network in the United States and in Europe. NewCloud Networks is a Platinum Veeam Cloud Service Provider and offers the full suite of Veeam services on its network. At NewCloud, we believe that great technology is powered by great people. While others are automating support and customer service, were proud of our personalized service. Media Contact

Amanda Lee

VP of Corporate Communications at Pax8

[email protected]

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[June 24, 2020] OVHcloud US Named a "Strong Performer" in North American Hosted Private Cloud Services by Independent Research Firm

RESTON, Va., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OVHcloud US, a leading cloud infrastructure provider for small-to-medium business (SMB) and enterprise customers and subsidiary of global market leader OVHcloud, today announced recognition by Forrester Research as a "strong performer" in the just-released report, "The Forrester Wave: Hosted Private Cloud Services in North America, Q2 2020." This result comes just three years after the company's entry to the North American hosted private cloud services market. The report identifies OVHcloud US as one of the most significant hosted private cloud service providers. The report's authors gave OVHcloud US the highest possible scores for its current hosted private cloud and bare metal offerings in the criteria of permissions, storage options, and price scenarios. The company also received top score among strong performers (and tied for second highest amongst all vendors evaluated) in the strategy category, which includes vision for the future of hosted private cloud, execution roadmap, and market approach. "Many companies offer hosted private cloud services, but only a few meet the high bar Forrester sets for inclusion in its Wave report," said Jeffrey Gregor, General Manager of OVHcloud US. "We believe our placement on the Wave and accompanying analysis validate that we provide SMBs and enterprises an unbeatable combination of features, flexibility, price predictability, and performance  today and tomorrow." According to Forrester, hosted private cloud customers should look for providers that: "Offer a breadth of infrastructure options, with an eye toward future innovations."  In its profile of OVH, the report states, "OVHcloud is particularly strong in cloud infrastructure, giving a wide range of options." It adds that the company is, "leveraging unique features that include water-cooled server infrastructure assembled by the firm itself."

"Delier strong SLAs, contractual protections, and regulatory compliance."  OVHcloud's certifications include SSAE SOC1, SOC2, and SOC3; ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.

"Provide a positive experience, from initial onboarding to ongoing operations."  OVHcloud US delivers on the customer experience mandate for SMBs and enterprises alike. Forrester's analysts write, "OVHcloud is best suited for cloud infrastructure-focused solutions for customers of various sizes."



In the months between Forrester's evaluation and report publication, OVHcloud US has aggressively implemented its strategic vision and product roadmap. The company's next-generation hosted private cloud service offering, with even stronger features and performance that address a broader range of use cases for companies of all sizes that prioritize the security and isolation of cloud services, will be released within the next few weeks.

Visit the OVHcloud US web site to download a complimentary reprint of the complete report, "The Forrester Wave: Hosted Private Cloud Services in North America, Q2 2020." About OVHcloud US OVHcloud US is a subsidiary of OVHcloud, a global cloud provider that specializes in delivering industry-leading performance and cost-effective solutions to better manage, secure, and scale data. OVHcloud provides a smarter solution for bare metal servers, hosted private cloud, hybrid and public cloud solutions. The group manages 30 data centers across 12 sites on 4 continents, manufacturing its own servers, building its own data centers and deploying its own fiber-optic global network to achieve maximum efficiency. Through the OVHcloud spirit of challenging the status quo, the company brings freedom, security and innovation to solve data challenges  today and tomorrow. With a 20-year heritage, OVHcloud is committed to developing responsible technology and strives to be the driving force behind the next cloud evolution. https://us.ovhcloud.com. Media Contact Alan Gilbert

OVHcloud US

(703) 255-3835 (o)

(703) 624-4675 (m)

[email protected]

https://us.ovhcloud.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ovhcloud-us-named-a-strong-performer-in-north-american-hosted-private-cloud-services-by-independent-research-firm-301082895.html SOURCE OVHcloud

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A 24-year-old won Tuesday's Republican primary runoff for a North Carolina congressional seat over President Donald Trump's endorsed candidate for the nomination.

Madison Cawthorn, a real estate investment CEO who is partially paralyzed, defeated Lynda Bennett to complete an upset for the GOP nomination in the 11th Congressional District.

He will turn 25, the minimum age for a House member, in August.

Cawthorn was left paralyzed from the waist down when he was 18. He was asleep in a car being driven by a friend when it crashed into a concrete barrier, snapping his spine and leaving him in the hospital for months.

Bennett had received the president's backing on Twitter and the earlier endorsement of Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who until recently had held the seat.

The primary was clouded in controversy from the off as Meadows made a last minute announcement not to run, leaving some who had already announced a campaign for other offices no opportunity to switch.

However, Bennett, a friend of Meadows, launched her campaign just hours after his announcement.

Madison Cawthorn, 24, pictured, defeated Lynda Bennett to complete an upset for the GOP nomination in the 11th Congressional District in North Carolina on Tuesday night

Losing Republican candidate Lynda Bennett, pictured, had received Trump's support

President Trump had tweeted his support for Bennett's campaign in early June

Cawthorn, who supports Trump, won by a roughly 2-to-1 margin Tuesday while handing a setback for the president, who had recorded a phone message for Bennett's campaign.

The message said Bennett, who also works in real estate, would help him 'fight crazy Nancy Pelosi and that radical socialist liberal group trying to destroy our country'.

He also tweeted his support for her on June 4, writing that she 'has my Complete & Total Endorsement. She is a great fighter & ally in North Carolina. Lynda is Strong on Crime, Borders, Military, our Great Vets & 2A.

'She will be a great help to me in DC. We need Lynda to help DRAIN THE SWAMP! VOTE EARLY!' he added.

It marks an embarrassing loss for the president who has touted his perfect endorsement record with some placing the blame with his Chief of Staff Meadows.

Cawthorn also won despite other notable Bennett endorsements - Sen. Ted Cruz among them - and outside support from the political arms of the Freedom Caucus.

Madison Cawthorn, who still supports Trump, won by a roughly 2-to-1 margin Tuesday while handing a setback for the president who had endorsed the other candidate

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, pictured, backed his friend Lynda Bennett to replace him in the the 11th Congressional District primary in North Carolina, as did President Trump. Bennett was easily beaten by 24-year-old Madison Cawthorn on Tuesday

On Tuesday night, Cawthorn said he won because of a superior ground game with voters and a message about freedom 'that translated across generations and across ethnic groups'.

'My opponent seemed like she was really focused on national politics, but I wanted to be a representative for the people of North Carolina,' he told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

Cawthorn's campaign also got help from a super PAC that backs candidates allied with Sen. Rand Paul.

Cawthorn, who would reach the constitutionally-mandated age of 25 to serve in the House in August, was paralyzed from the abdomen down after a 2014 car accident.

He'll face Democrat Moe Davis, a former military prosecutor, and other party nominees in November.

The district is still considered Republican-leaning despite recent boundary changes following litigation.

Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, said Cawthorn had a compelling story and benefited from local Republicans unhappy with details around how Bennett entered the race.

Meadows announced the day before the December filing deadline that he wouldn't seek reelection.

He is a former House Freedom Caucus leader who represented the 11th District for more than seven years.

The surprise departure came so late that candidates who had already committed to run for other elected offices were barred from switching.

Some disgruntled GOP activists felt that Meadows concealed his decision from them, while Bennett, a friend of Meadows' wife, announced her candidacy within a few hours of his announcement.

'The Trump endorsement obviously didn't play well, and I don't think that Trump is unpopular in the district,' Cooper said.

Blame for the embarrassing loss has been placed with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, pictured right with the president, who is good friends with Bennett

Rather, he said, the endorsement looked like it was done as a favor to Meadows.

Cawthorn called for the runoff after he finished second to Bennett in a 12-candidate primary in early March.

Bennett had failed to get more than 30 percent of the vote needed to win outright.

Cooper said the size of Cawthorn's victory signals the local party isn't fiercely divided, which should help Cawthorn in his general election race.

Cawthorn said of his victory Tuesday night that he did not believe it was a referendum of President Trump.

'The people of western North Carolina are wise and discerning. You observed both candidates and simply made the choice you believed is best for our district. I look forward to fighting alongside our president after Im elected in November,' he said.

'While the far left is lighting our cities on fire, we are lifting the light of liberty. Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden may not be able to control where the Democrats are going but, together, we can.'

Cawthorn will now face Democrat Moe Davis, a former military prosecutor, pictured, and other party nominees in November. Cawthorn reinforced his support for Trump after his win

His opponent Davis is a former chief prosecutor for military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who later became a critic of how cases there were being handled.

The scheduled May runoff was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With voters worried about the pandemic's spread, mail-in absentee ballots were popular in the 17 mountain counties within the 11th District leading up to the runoff.

Poll workers at in-person voting sites wore face masks and provided voters single-use pens and cotton swabs to mark ballots.

Meadows wasn't named chief of staff until after the March primary and resigned from the House a few weeks later.

The 11th District seat is currently vacant.
Erdogan was obsessed with another U.S. legal issue  an investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York into a Turkish bank called Halkbank and a Turkish-Iranian gold dealer named Reza Zarrab. In an October 2017 column, I revealed a bizarre set of meetings on Sept. 21, 2016, in New York when Erdogan and his wife pleaded for Zarrabs release in separate visits with Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill. U.S. officials told me the Erdogans feared the Justice Department investigation might implicate the Turkish leaders family.
Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked action on Republican legislation responding to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, with U.S. Sen. Cory Booker calling the bill woefully inadequate, deeply flawed, and painfully weak.

They urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to negotiate with them and draft legislation that could win support from both parties.

The vote was 55-45, leaving Republicans short of the 60 votes required to bring the legislation to the Senate floor.

Booker, D-N.J., has joined the other African-American Democratic senator, Kamala Harris of Califonria, in leading efforts to craft a congressional response to Floyds killing and those of other unarmed Blacks by police officers.

He said the GOP proposal fell far short of the change the American people are demanding, and what our country so desperately needs in this moment.

Vanita Gupta, president and chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, one of 138 civil rights organizations supporting the Democratic bill named for Floyd, called the Republican measure nothing more than lip service and piecemeal approaches.

Fifty-nine percent of U.S. voters in a New York Times/Siena College poll released Wednesday called Floyds death part of a broader pattern of excessive police violence toward African Americans, while just 30% called it an isolated incident. A majority, 54%, said police were more likely to use force against Blacks, while 37% said race was not a factor.

And the nationwide protests that broke out in response to his death and put pressure on Congress to act were backed by the 57% who called them mainly peaceful. Thirty-eight percent said too many have turned to violent rioting and opposed the demonstrations.

The Democratic legislation, co-sponsored by Booker and Harris in the Senate and by Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Karen Bass of California in the House, would make it easier to hold police officers legally accountable for misconduct, ban chokeholds, prohibit no-knock warrants in drug cases, set up a national database of use-of-force incidents, ban racial and religious profiling, and increase training.

Most of those provisions are missing from the Republican Senate bill, which does require more training, an increased use of body cameras, the reporting of use-of-force incidents to the federal government, and policies restricting chokeholds to those situations where deadly force is authorized.

The legislation, sponsored by the only Black Senate Republican, Tim Scott of South Carolina, would mandate reports on using no-knock warrants and a commission to study the criminal justice system.

Americans in all 50 states are not chanting in the streets, Give us a commission, we want more data! Booker said. Theyre chanting for real accountability, meaningful transparency, and an end to dangerous and excessive policing practices.

McConnell said that the vote simply would allow the Senate to address police brutality and was not the final word on legislation.

Nobody thought the first offer from the Republican side was going to be the final product that traveled out of the Senate, he said. We arent making policy decisions. Its just a procedural vote to say police reform is a subject the Senate will tackle next."

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com.
Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addoa has called President Muhammadu Buhari Over the demolition of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra.



In a telephone conversation on Tuesday, June 23, Akufo-Addo apologised over the unfortunate incident that has sparked reactions from the Nigerian government. Last week Friday, June 19, a businessman who claimed to be the owner of the land where the staff quarters were erected, led some thugs and a bulldozer to demolish the building.



A statement released by President Buhari's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicit, Garba Shehu, says the Ghanaian President told the President he has ordered an investigation into the matter.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Popular memesmith Carpe Donktum speaks to The Epoch Times's "American Thought Leaders" at the 48th Phyllis Schlaflys Eagle Council, in St. Louis, Missouri, in September 2019. (American Thought Leaders/The Epoch Times)

Twitter Permanently Suspends Account of Meme Creator Carpe Donktum

Twitter permanently suspended the account of Carpe Donktum, a meme creator who is famous for making videos in support of President Donald Trump.

The social media network confirmed the ban late Tuesday in a statement to multiple media outlets, citing repeated violations of copyright.

We respond to valid copyright complaints sent to us by a copyright owner or their authorized representatives, the statement read. The account was permanently suspended for repeated violations of this policy.

Screenshot of the Twitter page @CarpeDonktum after Twitter suspended the meme creators account late June 23, 2020. (Screenshot/Twitter)

The Carpe Donktum Twitter account had more than 273,000 followers before it was suspended. The president has previously shared some of Donktums Twitter posts. Last year, Trump invited the meme creator to the White House social media summit, held in July.

Following the Twitter suspension, Carpe Donktum issued a statement asserting that it was due to a video he edited that Trump shared on June 18. The memesmith said he had received a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notice for the video.

I received a DMCA takedown order this morning for that video, and a few hours later a suspension letter, he wrote. Twitter has not provided me with any avenue to get my account back, so I assume they intend this to be final and permanent.

He maintains that he has always complied with DMCA takedown rules and has never uploaded content that has been removed.

I have abided by the community guidelines, and followed the rules. It doesnt matter. I have been banned for being effective and they wont even look me in the eye as they do it, he added.

The [toddler] video was and is public domain and protected by the law under satire and parody, the memesmith said in a separate statement.

Trump shared the video edited by Carpe Donktum on June 18 on Twitter. The Twitter post had more than 14 million views by early June 19.

The beginning of the video shows a black toddler running in the same direction as a white toddler, and featured a mock chyron that read Breaking News: Terrified Toddler Runs From Racist Baby. The chyron was made to look as though it was broadcast on CNN, and the video played to dramatic, alarming music.

What followed in the same video was a full clip of the toddlersthe two toddlers ran toward each other and hugged before both started running in the same direction. The full clip played a cover of The Carpenters Close to You in the background. The two toddlers, Maxwell and Finnegan, are best friends in New York City.

The video ends with the message: America is not the problem. Fake news is. If you see something, say something. Only you can prevent fake news dumpster fires.

A label was attached to a tweet posted by President Donald Trump. (Screenshot/Twitter)

Twitter soon added a manipulated media label to Trumps post after he shared the video. The video has since been disabled in response to a report by the copyright owner, according to Twitter.

The hashtag #parler began trending on Twitter across the United States within hours after Carpe Donktums account was suspended, with multiple Twitter users encouraging a switch to Parler, a social network regarded as an alternative to Twitter that was launched in August 2018.

Some users using the hashtag cited Carpe Donktums account suspension as their reason to urge for a switch to Parler, while others cited a warning that Twitter recently added to a Trump Twitter post that was addressing an attempted autonomous zone in Washington, D.C.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Carpe Donktum issued a notification on his Parler account, saying: I have NOT created a backup Twitter account. Any account claiming to be me is a fraud. If I cant have my own account, I will have none.

Donald Trump Jr., the presidents son, criticized Twitters suspension of Carpe Donktum as one that seeks to censor conservative views. In a statement on Twitter he wrote, Its clear [that Twitter and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey] are engaging in a dedicated campaign to shut down conservative voices as we get closer to the election.

Twitter claiming he [Carpe Donktum] violated copyright infringement on videos that are public domain or clearly parodies covered by fair use is beyond fraudulent, Trump Jr. added.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
As political strategy goes, its confounding: First-term presidents historically have sought to broaden their support before their re-elections, but its especially peculiar given the fast-shifting views of moderate white voters and some Republicans on matters of race.

I can speak from personal experience in Oklahoma City: white Republicans are having these uncomfortable conversations and are wanting to have them, said David F. Holt, the citys Republican mayor. Im seeing a broad consensus of support and empathy for the issues being raised by the Black Lives Matter movement.

While Mr. Trumps views on race and the protests have been out of step for weeks with many Americans, he has, in recent days, tried to rally his supporters on matters related to race, such as claiming without evidence that progressives have broadly labeled his voters as racists. In tweets, videos and at his campaign rally last Saturday, he has portrayed protesters as a threat in ways that are bound to heighten divisions rather than unite cross-sections of Americans.

A new New York Times Upshot/Siena College survey illustrates the chasm between the president and even many right-leaning voters on issues of race. While Mr. Trump rages about protesters and threatens them with violence, large portions of his party are far less hostile.

Over half of voters surveyed who said they were somewhat conservative, and even a quarter of voters who called themselves very conservative, had a favorable view of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Just as significant, some Republican-leaning voters are plainly uneasy with Mr. Trumps conduct in the last month. About 46 percent of somewhat conservative voters said they disapproved of the presidents handling of the racial justice protests, and 70 percent of moderates said the same.

In ignoring those trends, Mr. Trump is appealing directly to his most conservative, devoted supporters, whom he has constantly been afraid of losing but who are hardly sufficient to re-elect him.
N early three-quarters of nurses or midwives have witnessed or suffered sexual harassment from people under their care, a YouGov poll suggests.

More than four in ten (44 per cent) have been on the receiving end of inappropriate comments, touching, or other misconduct from patients, while 29 per cent have witnessed such behaviour, the survey found.

In total, out of 206 respondents, 73 per cent of registered nurses and midwives have seen or experienced this type of conduct.

Of this group, nearly a third (32 per cent) said it happens at least once a month, with 12 per cent reporting that it happens once a week or more.

In recent years, reports have emerged of doctors, nurses, and other industry professionals experiencing unwanted and inappropriate behaviour from people under their care.

Data from YouGovs health panel indicates that more than a quarter (28 per cent) of all frontline medical professionals have been sexually harassed by patients, with a similar proportion (25 per cent) saying theyve witnessed this kind of behaviour.

Respondents were allowed to select both the option that they'd experienced inappropriate conduct personally and the option that they've seen it happen to others.

A quarter of those claiming to have experienced or witnessed this behaviour (25 per cent) said it occurred on a monthly basis, with almost one in ten (nine per cent) saying it happens on a weekly basis or more.

Along gender lines, 29 per cent of female healthcare workers in patient facing and non-patient facing roles said they had been sexually harassed compared to 11 per cent of males.

However, more than a quarter of men said theyd seen this behaviour first-hand (27 per cent) compared to a 22 per cent of women.
The Fordham Real Estate Institute (REI) is pleased to announce that it is partnering with Dansker Capital Group for an event series exploring the most pressing issues facing the commercial real estate industry in a post COVID-19 world. The first webinar, A New Normal: Insiders Look at The State of The Market and Whats Next will take place via Zoom on Tues., June 30 at 10 a.m.

Moderated by Andrew Dansker, founder and president of Dansker Capital Group, the discussion will focus on real-time information on pricing, transaction volumes, legal changes, and other factors which are impacting the value of real estate assets and shaping investment strategies going forward. Featured speakers include:



Shimon Shkury, founder and president, Ariel Property Advisors

Susan Baumel-Cornicello, partner, Cornicello, Tendler, Baumel-Cornicello, LLP

Matt Engel, president, Langsam Property Services Group & president, CHIP

With very little deal volume and limited personal contact, the typical mechanisms for price discovery and information flow have been disrupted. For this panel, were bringing together industry veterans who have a hand on the pulse of the market to talk about where we really are today, said Dansker. We are thrilled to be partnering with the Fordham Real Estate Institute to have these important conversations and look forward to a successful partnership.

The Fordham REI has hosted numerous successful events since its inception in December 2016 on the most important topics impacting real estate, including PropTech, Opportunity Zones, 24-Hour Cities, Transit Oriented Developments and more. As the effects of the COVID-19 crisis continue to impact the commercial real estate landscape, these educational programs are more important than ever.

The Fordham Real Estate Institute has been dedicated to bringing together the leading minds in the industry to unpack the most important and timely trends since we began. The virtual format allows us the opportunity to include a broader audience in these important dialogues, said Dr. Anthony R. Davidson, dean, Fordham School for Professional and Continuing Studies. We look forward to a long partnership with Dansker Capital, and continuing this series in person when the time is right.

A New Normal: Insiders Look at The State of The Market and Whats Next will take place on Tues., June 30, at 10 a.m. To register for the free Zoom event, visit https://fordham.zoom.us/s/97565070013.

ABOUT THE FORDHAM REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE

The Fordham Real Estate Institute (REI) currently offers a Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE), graduate certificates in real estate finance, development and construction management, and a comprehensive array of professional certificates in real estate and construction at its campuses in Manhattan and West Harrison, N.Y. Serving professionals and owners/investors of all stripes, the MSRE curriculum presents the essential elements of real estate finance, investment, development and management. The programs are developed and taught by leading industry practitioners and are centered on imparting real-world professional skill sets. Flexibility and convenience are program hallmarks as classes can be taken in-person, online, and at various paces. REI is a part of Fordhams School of Professional and Continuing Studies. For more information, visit http://www.fordham.edu/realestate.

ABOUT DANSKER CAPITAL GROUP

Dansker Capital Group (DCG) is a full-service commercial mortgage brokerage company. With headquarters in New York, DCG is focused on national commercial mortgage placement services. The leadership team at DCG has a combined 40 years in all facets of the real estate business and brings an unusual level of hands-on experience to the mortgage brokerage business. Collectively, the brokerage team at DCG has placed approximately $1B in mortgage-backed debt.
WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will permanently lay off 3,333 employees as part of a major restructuring amid the coronavirus pandemic that has devastated the travel industry.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The WestJet head office is shown in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will lay off 3,333 employees as part of major restructuring amid a coronavirus pandemic that has devastated the travel industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will permanently lay off 3,333 employees as part of a major restructuring amid the coronavirus pandemic that has devastated the travel industry.

The company plans to consolidate call centre activity in Alberta, restructure its office and management staff and contract out operations at all but four of the 38 Canadian airports where it operates, WestJet said in a release Wednesday.

"Throughout the course of the biggest crisis in the history of aviation, WestJet has made many difficult, but essential, decisions to future-proof our business," said CEO Ed Sims, calling the changes "unavoidable."

About 2,300 airport customer service agents and baggage handlers will lose their jobs, according to CUPE union official Chris Rauenbusch.

Some 600 office and management staff in Calgary will be cut within a month or so, he said. "The head office is already desolate."

Another 433 call centre representatives will be laid off in Moncton, Halifax and Vancouver, he said.

WestJet, which went private after Toronto-based Onex Corp. bought the company in December, had employed some 14,000 workers just before the pandemic struck. About 4,500 active employees will remain on the payroll after the layoffs.

The company said preferential hiring interviews for some of the 2,300 WestJet airport workers now facing layoffs will be a priority in selecting airport partners.

The pandemic saw the airline suspend most of its schedule  including all international trips  in late March, running at less than 10 per cent capacity.

Canadian airline revenue streams have shrunk to a fraction of 2019 levels, with fleets parked and border shutdowns ongoing even as domestic travel demand gradually starts to pick up.

Canada, unlike countries including France, Germany and the United States, has held off on sector-specific support for carriers. Instead Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rolled out financial aid available across industries, including the federal wage subsidy and loans starting at $60 million for large companies.

In an memo to staff Wednesday afternoon, Sims said the dearth of government funds along with a "patchwork" of provincial and federal travel advisories and constraints on non-essential domestic and international travel are compounding a "weak demand environment."

Robert Kokonis, president of Toronto-based consulting firm AirTrav Inc., said the relative lack of financial support "may run the risk of incurring lasting damage on our aviation and travel sectors."

A healthy domestic airline sector is critical in a sprawling country with a handful of far-flung, high-density population centres, he said.

"And we need to have carriers to link Canada with the rest of the world. If we have a major carrier fail, you're not going to replace that lift overnight," Kokonis said. "This message from WestJet today has got to be the eye-opener."

The company is increasing reliant on flights to the U.S. following a partnership with Delta Air Lines, cemented in a joint venture announced in February.

Last week fewer than 7,500 passengers arrived at Canadian airports from the U.S., down more than 98 per cent from a year earlier, according to the Canada Border Services Agency.

International passenger numbers were down 95 per cent compared to a year earlier, the agency said Wednesday.

Chief executives from 27 Canadian companies in sectors ranging from aviation to banking and telecommunications have called for a "measured" reopening of the skies that would see travel resume across all provinces and between select countries.

An ailing travel sector also hurts local businesses, Kokonis said.

"Its airports, it's ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, it's taxis, it's hotels, it's tour operators. Its your kayak and canoe outfitter at Lake Louise that has nobody to rent a boat to."

Manitoba and the Maritime provinces continue to restrict interprovincial travel, though the four Atlantic provinces announced plans Wednesday to create a "bubble" that allows residents to travel within region, removing a 14-day isolation period.

Travellers arriving in Canada from abroad must self-isolate for two weeks.

Last week, Trudeau extended a ban on non-essential travel between Canada and the U.S. until at least July 21.

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The announcement came as European Union countries began to reopen their borders to EU and some non-EU members.

"It's not desperate yet, because the airlines can navigate through the next months," said Jacques Roy, a professor of transport management at HEC Montreal business school.

"But the restrictions will have to come to an end and have travel resume sometime."

WestJet earlier this week said it had halted its pursuit of a labour code exemption that would have facilitated permanent mass layoffs.

WestJet will have to provide unionized employees affected by the latest round of layoffs with payment in lieu of notice, Rauenbusch said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2020
The government is fishing for excuses and trying to pressure us any way they can, Chairman Harold Frazier told the Journal on Tuesday.

The tribes have checkpoints that limit some drivers from passing through or stopping on the reservations in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The checkpoints are also used to inform travelers about COVID-19 policies on the reservations and collect information in case contact tracing is needed.

Frazier and Julian Bear Runner, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, say tribal sovereignty and treaty rights allow them to set checkpoints up on reservation land and control who enters. The lawsuit, Frazier, Bear Runner and health experts all say tribal members are especially susceptible to contracting and dying of the virus due to lack of medical resources and socioeconomic health barriers.

The lawsuit says the checkpoints are working because the six cases on the Cheyenne River Reservation are all traced to entries identified through the checkpoints, not community spread. Theres been zero deaths.
Louie Giglio, an Atlanta pastor at an evangelical megachurch, Passion City Church, apologized for using the phrase "white blessing" to explain "white privilege."

Giglio held a 70-minute discussion roundtable at his Passion City Church with Lecrae Moore, a Christian rapper and Chick-fil-A CEO, Dan Cathy.

The roundtable came subsequently after the death of Rayshard Brooks, who was fatally shot dead by two Atlanta police officers at a Wendy's parking lot.

"We understand the curse that was slavery, white people do," Giglio said. "And we say that was bad. But we miss the blessing of slavery, that it actually built up the framework for the world that white people live in."

Lecrae responded with a nod and "yes."

"A lot of people call this white privilege and when you say those two words, it just is like a fuse goes off for a lot of white people because they don't want somebody telling them to check their privilege," Giglio said.

"If the phrase is the trip-up, let's get over the phrase and let's get down to the heart," Giglio added, "and I think maybe, a great thing for me, is to call it 'white blessing' that I'm living in the blessing of the curse that happened generationally..."

Giglio shared an apology video on Twitter expressing his regret for his "horrible choice of words" during the discussion.

"I used the phrase 'white blessing' for which I'm deeply sorry--horrible choice of words. Does not reflect my heart at all. I don't--to be clear--believe that there's any blessing to slavery--to the contrary," Giglio shared.

Lecrae also shared a video on Twitter concerning the discussion saying he "was very uncomfortable" and "wasn't okay with it."

Giglio is under fire and receiving criticism for implying that slavery brought him his "white blessing."
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also African Union chairperson, presented the opening keynote address at the inaugural Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA) on Tuesday, 23 June. The conference aims spur infrastructure investment in SA and inspire similar efforts across Africa.

Image source: Gallo/Getty

A new beginning

AfDB investment in renewable energy

Inclusive development

South Africa, within the AU family, has been given responsibility for championing infrastructure development. It is through these objectives we will be able to attain the objectives and aspirations we have set out in Agenda 2063. This is truly a historic moment for South Africa, the continent and the world, he said.The coronavirus pandemic will likely lead to the deepest global recession in the post-World War II era, possibly as deep as the Great Depression in the 1930s. This symposium is laying a path for South Africa after coronavirus, but also way into the future.It represents a new beginning for infrastructure development  a new beginning that promises inclusive growth, development, transformation and, above all, hope for a better tomorrow for all our people, Ramaphosa said.Over 681 delegates from 263 funding institutions across the globe attended the symposium, including African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina, AU commissioner for infrastructure and energy, Amani Abou-Zeid, and World Bank vice-president for infrastructure, Makhtar Diop.We at the bank are boldly bullish about South Africa. We need to continue to invest in critical areas, and energy is a big one. We have invested $3.1bn in the energy sector, Adesina said.Adesina insisted on the need to invest in a way that was environmentally sustainable and commended the government of South Africa for its efforts on the renewable energy front. The African Development Bank has invested in a number of these areas, including the 100MW Sere wind project connected to the national grid and the 100MW Xina solar energy project.As at 20 June 2020, the banks total portfolio in South Africa comprised 21 operations valued at $4.74bn. About 75% of the portfolio is in the infrastructure sector, mainly through loans to state-owned enterprises, Eskom and Transnet. The current portfolio includes 16 private sector operations, valued at around $2.93bn.Adesina underscored the need to promote syndication. The AfDB has channeled $1.3bn in syndicated loans for South Africa to provide capital for the energy utility, Eskom, to invest in power transmission infrastructure.Infrastructure tends to be concentrated in urban areas, Adesina noted. The rural areas are left out. So we need to make sure that we have density infrastructure in rural areas and allow food and agribusinesses to transpose into those areas, and create a new economy, so that will turn those rural areas from being zones of economic misery into zones of economic prosperity.The symposium follows weeks of consultations to garner support for the revised Infrastructure Investment Plan. Ramaphosa said the plan had preceded the coronavirus pandemic, but was now even more urgent.In her welcome remarks to the Presidential Round Table Discussion, minister of public works Patricia de Lille called for less talk and more action.The SIDSSA projects that will be gazetted after the symposium have been selected from an initial 177 that were subjected to a due diligence process.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Two more people have been arraigned in connection with the May 30 riot in Grand Rapids, bringing the total to 14.

Clare Newhall, 21, of Grand Rapids, and Omar Suarez-Landero, 18, of Wyoming, are both charged with participating in rioting. The charge is a 10-year felony.

They are among 13 adults and one juvenile now charged in connection with rioting late May 30 and early May 31 that damaged up to 100 businesses.

Related: Attorney wants to disqualify Kent County Prosecutors Office from downtown riot case

According to court documents, Newhall is accused of striking windows at the Secretary of State office at Fulton Street and Division Avenue. The windows already had been broken by others, police said, but Newhall helped clear out hanging glass.

She was caught on a media stations video as well as surveillance video from the Secretary of State office, police said.

In one video segment, she could be seen using an object to strike a window several times but it did not shatter.

According to the documents, both Newhalls mother and a Grand Rapids police intern identified her from the videos. In addition to the felony, shes also charged with misdemeanor property destruction.

Suarez-Landero is accused of engaging in a riot, as well as breaking and entering, for going inside Sundance Grill at Ottawa Avenue NW and Pearl Street.

According to court documents, police allege he poured milk inside the business and then picked up Sundance Grill property and put it in his pocket. He then left the business.

The crime also was captured on video, police said.

Defendants face was clearly visible in the video, police wrote.

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New York  New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are implementing 14-day quarantines for people traveling to the three states from locations where the coronavirus is still spreading rapidly.

Govs. Andrew Cuomo of New York, Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Ned Lamont of Connecticut jointly announced the move today. The policy takes effect at midnight.

The quarantines will apply to travelers from any state with an infection rate of over 10% of the total population or with more than 10 people infected for every 100,000, both based on a rolling seven-day average.

As of today, the list of affected states includes Alabama, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Utah, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Washington. The list could change based on the infection rate in different states and will be updated daily.

Its only for the simple reason that we worked very hard to get the viral transmission rate down, Cuomo said. We dont want to see it go up.

The quarantine order also applies to New Yorkers returning home from the states on the list.

Earlier in the pandemic, Cuomo criticized potential travel restrictions on New Yorkers, including an idea floated by President Donald Trump to bar people in the New York City area from leaving. Trump later backed off.

Cuomo stressed that todays move does not block anyone from entering New York.

But he was also critical of a previous effort by Rhode Island to proactively seek New Yorkers entering that state to enforce a quarantine there.

He said today that hes not at the point yet of stationing authorities at airports or anywhere else to intercept incoming travelers. But if authorities stop someone from a a state on the quarantine list or get complaints about violations, individuals could be ordered into a mandatory quarantine by a court, Cuomo said.

Violations could result in fines ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.

Cuomo also said hes encouraging airlines to make announcements about the new policy.

Lamont called the decision on quarantines a reluctant one, but necessary.

This virus is risky enough on its own in terms of the potential to flare back up, Murphy said. Its the right thing to do. Its the common sense thing to do. Its the responsible thing to do.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2020) - Spearmint Resources Inc. (CSE: SPMT) (OTC Pink: SPMTF) (FSE: A2AHL5) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has expanded the Perron-East Gold Prospects to approximately 10,910 acres consisting of 6 mineral claim blocks located in the Abitibi greenstone belt of northwestern Quebec. These new claims are situated in the direct vicinity of Amex Exploration Inc.'s Perron property and past-producing Normetal mine. Amex recently announced (June 19, 2020) a 200,000-metre drill program. These newly acquired Perron-East Gold Prospects cover prospective ground for orogenic gold and polymetallic VMS-(volcanogenic massive sulphide)-style mineralization in a region well known for its gold occurrences and historical production. "Management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Spearmint may not necessarily be indicative to the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties"

Spearmint Resources Inc. also previously announced (June 19, 2020) that the Company is formulating plans for lithium in Nevada. Spearmint has two separate claim blocks in Nevada that are prospective for lithium known as the Elon property (Brine) and the McGee property (Clay) which cover an aggregate area of 1,160 acres. Exploration drilling had been completed (announced April 17, 2018) on its Clayton Valley Lithium Projects (McGee property) and has intersected lithium as high as 1,670 ppm Li. The three holes drilled into the clay formation all intersected lithium. Hole 1 had a range of 1670-396 ppm Li over 270 feet averaging 835 ppm Li, including 35 feet averaging 1,140 ppm Li. Hole 2 had a range of 1570-250 ppm Li averaging 642 ppm Li over 220 feet including 20 feet of 925 ppm Li. Hole 3 had a range of 1280-429 ppm Li averaging 772 ppm Li over 195 feet including 998 ppm Li over 20 feet.

James Nelson, President of Spearmint, stated "The acquisition of this strategic new acreage adds a key piece to our Perron-East project. The spot price of gold has been steadily rising and the general sentiment towards the exploration market has been increasingly positive. We have flow through funds on hand and are excited to begin work on the claims package. We also look forward to getting back to work on our lithium in Clayton Valley. There has been an incredibly positive trend in the lithium space recently, especially in Nevada, and we have previously had drilling success on our McGee clay formation project (refer to map) bordering Cypress Development Corp."

Story continues





Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4360/58432_10fb2b63649de8a3_002full.jpg

Mr. Greg Thomson, P.Geo., a director of Spearmint and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained within this news release. These new claims were acquired via Gestim.

About Spearmint Resources

Spearmint's current projects include the 'Clayton Valley Lithium Prospects' in Nevada comprising of two claim blocks totaling 1,160 acres bordering Pure Energy Minerals & Cypress Development Corp. where Spearmint's drill results have intersected Lithium values as high as 1670 ppm Li; the 'Escape Lake North' PGM Project in Ontario consisting of ~4,000 contiguous acres directly bordering Clean Air Metals Inc.; the Case Lake South Cesium Prospect in Ontario consisting of ~5,000 contiguous acres directly bordering Power Metals Corp.'s Case Lake Cesium Property; the River Valley East Platinum-Palladium Prospect in Ontario consisting of approximately 4,700 contiguous acres directly bordering New Age Metals flagship River Valley Platinum Group Metals (PGM) project; the Carscallen West Gold Project in Ontario consisting of a ~2500 contiguous acres in the direct vicinity to Melkior Resources Inc.; the Perron-East Gold Prospects consisting of 5 mineral claim blocks covering ~10,910 acres located in the Abitibi greenstone belt of northwestern Quebec in the direct vicinity of Amex Exploration Inc.'s Perron property and past-producing Normetal mine; and the 'Chibougamau Vanadium Prospect' comprising of 15,493 contiguous acres directly bordering the vanadium deposit of BlackRock Metal's (private) Ilmenite vanadium project.

Spearmint's current projects also include a portfolio of prospects in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia; the 'Golden Triangle Gold Prospects' comprising of five separate claims blocks totaling 8,265 acres bordering GT Gold Corp, the 6,805 acre 'NEBA' Gold-Copper Prospects bordering Aben Resources Ltd, and the 'EL North' Nickel-Copper Prospect is a contiguous land package of 1,053 acres in the Eskay Creek Camp bordering Garibaldi Resources Corp, as well as the recent acquisition of the 4,980 acre 'Prickle' property bordering Brixton Metals Corp.

Spearmint's other projects in British Columbia include the 'Safari' Copper-Gold Prospect consisting of 9,007 contiguous acres located in the northern Quesnel Trough in North-Central BC, and the 'Hammernose' Gold Prospect consisting of 5,910 acres directly bordering the strategic alliance between Westhaven Resources Inc. & Sable Resource Ltd. in the Spences Bridge gold belt located in Southern British Columbia, Canada.

If you would like to be added to Spearmint's news distribution list, please send your email address to info@spearmintresources.ca

Contact Information

Tel: 1604646-6903

www.spearmintresources.ca

"James Nelson"

President

Spearmint Resources Inc.

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58432
A judge has given a west Clare farmer two weeks to pay compensation concerning criminal damage he committed to a fuse box arising from a property dispute with his brother.

Last month, Gardai arrested John Morrissey of Clonreddan, Cooraclare the same day his mother was buried as a result of the criminal damage offence.

At Ennis District Court today, father of six children aged 25 to 13, John Morrissey (53) pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a fuse box at the home of his brother, Tom Morrissey at Alva, Cooraclare on May 5th.

When arrested and cautioned on the charge last month, John Morrissey replied: Thats not Tom Morrisseys f**king home. The estimated cost of the criminal damage was put at 150 today in court and Mr Morrissey has already spent seven weeks in jail on remand for the offence after failing to secure bail last month.

The farmer has no previous convictions and Judge Patrick Durcan has now given two weeks to John Morrissey to pay compensation for the damage.

Judge Durcan told Mr Morrissey: There are times when you have to get out of the hole you are in."

In response, Mr Morrissey, wearing a face mask, stated: Im not in a hole. Judge Durcan replied: Im not talking about you. In court today, solicitor for John Morrissey, Stiofan Fitxpatrick stated that there are massive family issues involved.

Mr Fitzpatrick stated there is a huge context and scale" to what occurred.

Mr Fitzpatrick stated that: Mr Morrissey is a self taught tradesman working as a farmer back in west Clare on very marginal land.

Mr Fitzpatrick stated that Mr Morrissey is a hard working man and is one of 13 siblings.

He stated: He came back home from England with his long term partner of 28 years to west Clare.

Between a myriad of things, he took on the family farm and liaised with his mother in relation to the transfer of that farm.

None of this happened lightly. Mr Fitzpatrick previously told the court: My client believes that this isnt the property of his brother who is the complainant and he believes that this will be borne out in time when the estate is dealt with. Mr Fitzpatrick stated that the property is owned by Mr Morrisseys late mother.

Mr Fitzpatrick stated that John Morrissey farms all of the land surrounding the house.

Judge Durcan told the court today: Obviously its a family dispute. Lets not go there because the worst place any of us can go is inside someones front door. I want the compensation paid. Judge Durcan told John Morrissey that there is a level of frustration with him.

Judge Durcan stated: What we have to do is de-frustrate you - you are allowing the problems to overtake you. Concerning a separate careless driving and public order charge dating from December 7th in Ennis last, Judge Durcan fined Mr Morrissey a total of 500.

Judge Durcan further remanded Mr Morrissey in custody for two weeks to re-appear before court on July 8th for the payment of compensation.
On Wednesday night the Government published 129 pages of documents related to the Westferry Printworks scheme in east London, including transcripts of text messages between Mr Jenrick and developer Richard Desmond.

Internal housing ministry emails reveal that the Secretary of State was "insistent" on approving the scheme before January 15 this year, after which Mr Desmond's Northern & Shell company would become liable for 45 million in new taxes.

The publication followed weeks of opposition pressure over Mr Jenrick's approval of the scheme, which came 12 days before media mogul Mr Desmond donated 12,000 to the Tory Party.

Richard Desmond / Dave Benett

The documents sparked outrage from Labour, with Durham MP Mary Kelly calling the affair "morally wrong".

But the Prime Minister gave the housing secretary support on Wednesday evening via a letter from Cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill to Labour MP Steve Reed, the shadow communities secretary.

Sir Mark wrote: "Thank you for your correspondence of 14 June about a planning decision taken by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

"You have asked a number of questions about the basis on which the Secretary of State made this decision, the contact the Secretary of State had with the developer of the site, and the subsequent actions the Secretary of State has taken to explain this situation.

Robert Jenrick / PA

"The Secretary of State responded to questions on this matter in the House on 15 June. Further details can be found in Hansard...

"The Secretary of State has today written to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee stating that he has set out a full and factual account. I understand that he has also published a number of documents in support of this account.

"In light of this account, the Prime Minister considers that the matter is closed."

Mr Jenrick approved the 1,500 homes project on the Isle of Dogs on January 14, a day before a levy was introduced that would have resulted in Westferry paying an additional 45m to Tower Hamlets, Londons poorest borough.

Andrew Wood, a former Conservative Tower Hamlets councillor who resigned over the Westferry Printworks development, called the Prime Minister's support for Mr Jenrick a "mistake".

He said: "Standing by Jenrick once all the facts in public domain is not a good look based on evidence released earlier this evening".

On January 9 one official wrote: On timing, my understanding is that SoS [Mr Jenrick] is/was insistent that decision issued this week ie tomorrow  as next week the viability of the scheme is impacted by a change in the London CIL regime."

A text message from Mr Desmond to the minister on December 23 read: Morning Robert How does the advice look? We have to get the approval before January 15 otherwise payment of 45 million pounds to tower hamlets (sic) meaning we have to stop and reduce social housing.

Text messages exchanged between Mr Jenrick and Mr Desmond shortly after the Conservative party fundraiser in November 2019.

On the night of the event, November 18, Mr Jenrick texted the former media mogul saying it was good to spend time with him and looked forward to seeing him again.

In another exchange two days later, Mr Desmond tried to arrange a meeting with the Housing Secretary on December 19 as well as a site visit to the Westferry Printworks, complaining about dealing with Marxists.

He wrote: Good news finally the inspectors reports have gone to you today, we appreciate the speed as we dont 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 declining a meeting until after a decision had been made due to his position.

Sir Mark Sedwill / Getty Images

He said: 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 dont meet until after the matter has been decided, one way of [sic] another  and I cant 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.

Another message from Mr Desmond followed on December 23, saying: Morning Robert How does the advice look? We have to get the approval before January 15 otherwise payment of 45 million pounds to tower hamlets (sic) meaning we have to stop and reduce social housing.

According to the documents released by the Government, Mr Jenrick again did not reply and it was not until January 22 that he got back in touch, after he approved the development, overruling both Tower Hamlets Council and a planning inspector.

His message said: Richard I hope you understood that I could not speak with you or have contact whilst I was making my decision with respect to the planning application at Westferry  which was why I did not return your messages. Best wishes, Robert.

Mr Desmond replied: Robert I totally understand why we could not have contact with you or your department while you were making the decision. I have now pushed the button on a further 600million investment at the development as a result of the decision, enabling the social housing and market housing to more than double together with the delivery of the magnificent new school etc etc.

This will create thousands of new jobs pretty much straight away  as we are on it and dont hang around!!!

That exchange, the final messages included in the documents, ended with the pair agreeing to a site visit in March.

According to the documents, the March site visit did not take place and no further communication followed because Mr Jenrick did not take Mr Desmonds calls when he attempted to get in contact on a number of occasions.

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Mr Jenrick has previously stated that he took the decision to approve the scheme in good faith with an open mind.
In 1979, the American Society of News Editors pledged that, by the year 2000, the percentage of racial and ethnic minorities in newsrooms would match that of the population at large. Noting that this was the right thing to do and in the industrys economic self-interest, ASNE stressed the particular importance of lifting people of color into management.

Newspapers have failed spectacularly at achieving that goal. According to the Census Bureau, racial and ethnic minorities comprise almost 40 percent of the US population, yet they make up less than 17 percent of newsroom staff at print and online publications, and only 13 percent of newspaper leadership.

Despite being in majority-minority cities, the newsrooms of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, for instance, are both 81 percent white. The Washington Post is 70 percent white. Minorities make up 72 percent of the population of Los Angeles, but only 33 percent of the Los Angeles Times. According to the Radio Television Digital News Association, the numbers in other media look slightly better, if still not impressive: in 2018, about a quarter of staffers in TV newsrooms are people of color; in radio, its 11.7 percent. The American Society of Magazine Editors doesnt track racial and ethnic diversity, though its industrys mastheads remain stacked with old white men.

The structural forces that contribute to the problem are well known and largely reflect how race and privilege intersect. The main entry points into the professionunpaid internships and journalism schoolstend to favor people who come from wealthy backgrounds. Many jobs are never posted; hires are made through existing networks, in which people tend to affiliate, and empathize, with those like themselves. When people of color do manage to get hired, they find a lack of formal mentorship and they are infrequently promoted into management positions. When job cuts come alongin the past 10 years, the newspaper workforce has been sliced in halfminorities are often among the first to go.

The solutions to these problems are also well known. Trade groups and minority journalist organizations have issued report after report, recommendation after recommendation, about how to make journalism more inclusive. Among the editors in chief at media outlets that have succeeded in cultivating diverse staffsand in turn, telling rich stories about life in America that draw broad audiencesthe key, they say, is leadership.

Its not up to people of color to do this work alone, Dodai Stewart, a deputy Metro editor at The New York Times and a vocal advocate for diversity in media, says. The people who have the power are the ones who need to fix this.

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But white editors can be afraid. Most teachable moments about diversity in journalism, she points out, are the major coverage blundersThe New York Times profile of Michael Brown, a teenager shot and killed by police, referring to him as no angel; The Hollywood Reporter cover story on the great eight actresses in cinema that only featured white womenand the enormous blowback generated on social media. Basically, editors dont want to be singled out as racist and have the Twitter mob come after them; they dont want to be politically incorrect, Samhita Mukhopadhyay, the executive editor of Teen Vogue, says.

Alas, there is no primer for talking about diversity. People in positions of power in media have to check their privilege and be willing to listen to people of color, to be open and non-defensive, to be willing to be wrong, Mukhopadhyay says. Thats rare in this profession because the higher up you go, the more right you think you are about everything, and the more you surround yourself with yes men.

Its very hard for white men in positions of power to relinquishor even recognizetheir privilege, Meredith Talusan, the executive editor at Them, an intersectional queer publication launched by Conde Nast last fall, tells CJR. It requires white, male editors to be aware that they likely got to where they are not strictly because of merit. Part of the corrective, Talusan says, extends beyond professional circles. To empathize with people who are not like youto really see themyou have to become their friends.

Racial and ethnic minorities are projected to overtake whites in America by 2045. For news organizations, a lack of diversity is a matter of social fairness and of relevance. Job applicants with the top credentialsIvy League degrees, internships at prestigious publications, recommendations from prominent editorswill most often be white, but hiring managers would be wise to consider the life experiences of people of color, who have insight and access that others dont. Ultimately, the value of diversity to journalism is not about skin color, gender, sexual orientation, or social class. Its about the stories people can tell.

The Wall Street Journal

In 2017, as part of a WSJ2020 initiative to modernize its newsroom, nearly all of the Journals leaders had to reapply for their positions. The goal, according to Karen Pensiero, the managing editor, was to create transparency. Where newsrooms can get into trouble is if its not an open and even playing field. She says the shakeup, which created new positions and altered existing ones, changed conversations. Still, the Journals overall percentage of minority employees has budged a mere 2 percent between 2001 and 2017, and only 4 percent among leaders.

Vox Media

We need to be willing and open to admitting when weve made missteps and make changes to adapt and learn from those mistakes, Melissa Bell, the publisher of Vox, says. Vox meticulously tracks diversity on staffas well as the reasons people leaveand has implemented quarterly surveys to gauge whether people of color on staff feel included in the organization. The company also offers formal training to managers on inclusion and diversity. These efforts appear to have paid off: since Vox was founded, in 2015, the percentage of minorities at the publication has approximately doubled.

HuffPost

Folks dont really know how to talk honestly about diversity, Lydia Polgreen, the editor-in-chief of HuffPost, says. Editors dont even necessarily feel they have the language to talk about what their goals are, the terms to use. HuffPost did not make available information about its newsroom demographics. According to CJRs analysis of its published masthead, diversity in its newsroom lags behind its digital-only peers. Polgreen stressed that its up to hiring managers to solve the problem. If youre a senior leader who really wants to make journalism better and more inclusive, you need to educate yourself.

The Washington Post

Since 2013, when Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, bought the Post, the paper has undergone a hiring spree. Tracy Grant, the managing editor for hiring and development, ethics, and standards, says that its easier to diversify an organization when its expanding rather than contracting. I have enormous compassion for colleagues in this space who are not adding jobs, Grant says. The reality of it is that its really hard work, and its impossible to do when your newsroom is shrinking or not growing. Diversity is essential to newsrooms and yet in that environment, it can feel like a luxury that people cant afford.

The New York Times

In 2017, Carolyn Ryan was promoted to assistant managing editor and tasked with overseeing a surge of hiring that brought in around 200 people. You have to be flexible in looking at their skillset and what they can bring to you rather than this anachronistic notion of whos going to fit in your culture, she says. Diversity at the Times has inched forward a mere 3 percent over the past 16 years. Diversity among leadership, however, jumped from 10 percent who were people of color in 2001 to 19 percent in 2017.

BuzzFeed News

In conversations about journalisms struggles to diversify, one often hears of a pipeline problem. But Ben Smith, the editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed, thinks that newsroom leaders are simply not availing themselves of the extensive talent thats out there. If youre not hiring a diverse pool, you almost have to go out of your way because theres a very diverse pool of talented reporters and talented mid-career reporters, Smith says. BuzzFeed is the rare media outlet where diversity on staff matches that of the US population.

NPR

One of the things that has happened at NPR over the last few years that any organization can implement is simple attention to the hiring pool, Keith Woods, the vice president for newsroom training and diversity, says. More and more, hell find hiring managers pushing back on the idea that its okay to go forward when there are no women or people of color. Still, the number of minorities at NPR has remained flat. In an interview with NPRs public editor, Christopher Turpin, the editorial director, noted that NPR has done a very bad job recruiting Latinxs, who make up only 6 percent of newsroom employees.

MSNBC

In 2015, when executives aimed to dampen MSNBCs reputation for liberalism, several shows hosted by people of color were cancelled. Some outside critics mourned their loss. Diversity always presents challenges and opportunities, Yvette Miley, the senior vice president of NBC News and MSNBC, says. The problem sometimes becomes when we think diversity is a fixed point on a mapit is not. Diversity is demographics that are constantly changing and you always have to evolve your newsroom in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

Fox News

Kevin Lord, the executive vice president for human resources at Fox News, says that the companys recruitment process ensures hiring managers have a diverse slate of candidates and uses whats called competency-based interviewing in an effort to weed out unconscious bias. During daytime programming, Harris Faulkner is the only African-American woman employed as an anchor for two hours of news on any of the major networks, Lord points out. But no person of color hosts a show during weekday primetimethe period when ratings are highest and networks put forth name-brand talent.

CNN

Theres no confusion that diversity equals great business, Ramon Escobar, CNNs vice president of diversity and inclusion, talent recruitment, and development, says. As with its two other major competitors, however, minority representation among on-air talent stands at about half its rate in the general population. The networks lack of diversity has been a flashpoint. In August, Soledad OBrien, a former CNN host, replied on Twitter to a story about lack of diversity in the White House: walk me through the senior black staff at @CNNPolitics or @cnn. There are no people of color among the networks senior leaders. We have put a lot of people in place now that were developing as the next generation of anchors, Escobar says.

The New Yorker

The difficulty with The New Yorker pre-internet was that you really needed people who could immediately write 5,000 to 10,000-word pieces, David Remnick, the editor, says. That takes a long time to cultivate. According to the magazines tally, over the past five years, nearly half of the annual contracts it has offeredmany of which are primarily for writing published onlinehave been to people of color. The web has probably allowed us to hire, or at least publish, new people a little bit more quickly, Remnick says. It has a lot of short-form possibilities where people can grow, develop.

Slate

In 2014, soon after being named editor-in-chief of Slate, Julia Turner sat down with a group of staffers to talk about diversity. Among people of color, all said they had found their jobs through posted listings; the white staffers had all been told about openings by a friend. It was eye-opening, she recalls. Turner, who in October announced she would be departing for a new position at the Los Angeles Times, presided over a sharp jump in the percentage of minorities during her three years at the helm.

Correction: This piece previously misidentified the venue in which Christopher Turpin made his comments.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Gabriel Arana a contributing editor at The American Prospect. His work has appeared in The New York Times, HuffPost, Salon, The Nation, The New Republic, The Atlantic, Slate, and The Daily Beast. He lives in New York City.
Rum and whiskey are essential goods, depending on the type of weekend youre planning. But a Bethlehem-based distillery shifted its focus to something even more essential than liquor throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Christmas City Spirits partnered with St. Lukes University Health Network to donate bottles of hand sanitizer to Downtown Bethlehem merchants, according to a release from the Downtown Bethlehem Association. The distillery says the donation represents what is expected to be its final batch of hand sanitizer and plans to resume making liquor.

Members of the association met with Christmas City Spirits on June 12 outside of Tavern at the Sun Inn to collect the donated hand sanitizer bottles, which they then distributed to their members.

The distillery, located on Main Street in Bethlehem, began producing hand sanitizer instead of liquor early in the COVID-19 pandemic. They branded the solution: The Corona Bullet. St. Lukes provided the supplies necessary for Christmas City Spirits to package the hand sanitizer.

Were incredibly happy and proud to be partnering with St. Lukes University Health Network to help protect our local businesses and their customers that are opening up in this yellow phase, Christmas City Spirits co-owner Brett Biggs said. Back in early March when we were informed of St. Lukes need for hand sanitizer, we delivered our first 27 gallons that we produced to them. Its an amazing gesture for them to help us make it possible to distribute what will hopefully be the last batch we ever produce at no cost to our friends and neighbors in downtown Bethlehem.

The recent donation caps off a string of charitable contributions from the distillery. After the initial donation of 27 gallons to the St. Lukes, Christmas City Spirits donated several hundred gallons to various frontline organizations.

We continuously receive support from our Downtown Merchants. It is because of them, that our association is such a strong force in our community. We look after each other, Downtown Bethlehem Association Manager Tammy Wendling wrote. This donation was a generous surprise.

The latest donation, comprised of what hand sanitizer remained in the final batch at Christmas City Spirits, will be the last for now as the distillery prepares to return to making liquor, when the Lehigh Valley moves into Pennsylvanias green phase of reopening.

Gov. Tom Wolf last week announced that both Lehigh and Northampton counties will go to the green phase on Monday. The green phase is the least restrictive of Wolfs three-phased plan for reopening Pennsylvanias economy.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Desmond Boyle may be reached at dboyle@lehighvalleylive.com.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Artax Biopharma, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on transforming autoimmune disease treatment, today announces the formation of their Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB is comprised of experts in Immunology, Autoimmune Disease, and T Cell Signaling, and was formed to guide the company as it proceeds into future clinical trials with a first-in-class, oral small molecule autoimmune disease immunomodulator AX-158.

Artax Biopharma is poised to enter clinical trials with the small molecule AX- 158, a novel approach to treat multiple autoimmune diseases without causing the immunosuppression commonly associated with current autoimmune disease therapies.

Balbino Alarcon, PhD, Chairman of Artax's Scientific Advisory Board, commented, "I am privileged to lead Artax's Scientific Advisory Board, which mobilizes global leaders in Immunology, Autoimmune Disease, and T Cell Signaling. Collectively we are enthusiastic to collaborate on, and contribute to, important development initiatives related to Artax's innovative approach to autoimmune disease treatment."

"Artax Biopharma's Nck inhibitor AX-158 has shown impressive experimental biologic and mechanistic impact on T cell modulation - managing autoimmune disease without inducing the profound immunosuppression or interference with memory response associated with conventional or biological therapies," stated Dr. Lawrence Steinman, Stanford University Zimmerman Professor of Neurology and Neurosciences, Pediatrics, and Genetics and Scientific Advisory Board member.

"Convening a Scientific Advisory Board is a critical step as we accelerate our clinical development program," stated Artax Biopharma Chief Executive Officer Joseph Lobacki. "The clinical expertise and knowledge of these experts is unparalleled and will be instrumental in informing our development strategy across several autoimmune diseases."

The SAB will be comprised of five experts, and is being led by Professor Balbino Alarcon, PhD, co-founder of Artax Biopharma:

Balbino Alarcon, PhD

Dr. Alarcon is Program Director at the National Research Council of Spain (CSIC) and Head of the TCR-mediated Signal Transduction Laboratory.

Raif Geha, MD

Dr. Geha is the James L. Gamble Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Allergy/Immunology/Rheumatology and Dermatology Division at Children's Hospital in Boston.

Menno de Rie, MD

Prof. de Rie is a board-certified dermatologist and vice-chair of the department of Dermatology of the Amsterdam University Medical Centres/ University of Amsterdam.

Lawrence Steinman, MD

Dr. Steinman is the George A. Zimmermann professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Pediatrics, and Genetics at Stanford University.

Cox Terhorst, PhD

Dr. Terhorst is Chief of Immunology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Professor at Harvard Medical School.

About Immunomodulation

A healthy immune system eliminates harmful foreign pathogens, while being tolerant of self-tissues and organs. When the immune system malfunctions, cells (T Cells) attack self-tissues and organs, causing autoimmune disease. Current autoimmune disease therapies suppress the immune system, helping to minimize these self-attacks, but also raise susceptibility to harmful foreign pathogens. Immunomodulation, the process in which the immune system reduces self-attacks while properly reacting to fight foreign pathogens, holds great potential for autoimmune disease.

About Artax-158

AX-158 is a first-in-class, oral small molecule, preclinical immunomodulating agent in development for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. AX-158 employs a novel mechanism of action that selectively modulates, or adjusts, T cell responses that play a critical role in immune system function. By selectively inhibiting Nck, a protein, AX-158 selectively modulates self-directed T Cell activation which is a cause of autoimmune disease. Importantly, data suggest AX-158 is not immunosuppressive and does not impact the immune system's ability to mount a strong response to foreign pathogens and infections. Further, AX-158's ability to modulate T cell responses allows the possibility to broadly target several autoimmune diseases, therefore potentially transforming autoimmune disease treatment.

About Artax Biopharma

Artax Biopharma is a biotechnology company transforming autoimmune disease treatment. Artax is a life science industry leader in autoimmune disease immunomodulation science, developing an innovative small molecule approach to treat autoimmune disease that modulates the immune system to both treat autoimmune disease and allow the body to fight foreign pathogens. The company is examining a first-in-class oral immunomodulating agent as a new way to treat multiple autoimmune diseases without causing the immune suppression commonly associated with currently available autoimmune disease therapies. For more information, please visit www.artaxbiopharma.com.

SOURCE Artax Biopharma

Related Links

http://artaxbiopharma.com/


ROUND ROCK, Texas, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

News summary

Dell Technologies, Intel and the University of Cambridge advance next-generation supercomputing with new Open Exascale Lab and HPC storage Data Accelerator

advance next-generation supercomputing with new Open Exascale Lab and HPC storage Data Accelerator Collaboration with UK National Health Service and Cardiff University fuels HPC and AI innovation

University fuels HPC and AI innovation New modern infrastructure at University of Pisa expands to meet HPC demands and makes the most of resources through virtualization

Full story

When organizations, including the University of Cambridge, Cardiff University and the University of Pisa, wanted to advance their data-centric research for new and emerging communities, they turned to Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) for high-performance computing (HPC) solutions.

"Every day, researchers worldwide push the limits of what we perceive as possible, by collaborating to create and enhance life-saving technologies," said Thierry Pellegrino, vice president, Data-Centric Workloads & Solutions, Dell Technologies. "Our goal is to deliver high performance computing solutions that give more organizations the modern infrastructure they need to use advanced data analytics and AI to develop the next discovery, the next breakthrough and the next never-before."

Investing in HPC's exascale future

The world's data growth, predicted to reach 175 zetabytes by 2025, up from 44 zetabytes today1, challenges even the largest HPC systems. To adapt to significantly larger data sets and compute-intensive analytics processes, researchers are looking to exascale systems, capable of performing one quintillion (1018) calculations per second, which is five times faster than the world's current most powerful supercomputer. Researchers expect this advanced performance to have profound impacts so they can discover more effective medications sooner, identify and react to pandemics faster, and warn of hazardous weather conditions before they happen.

Dell Technologies has collaborated with Intel and the University of Cambridge, which houses one of the United Kingdom's top performing supercomputers, to launch the Open Exascale Lab. Dedicated to facilitating innovation and investigating emerging exascale technologies, the lab enables the world's most advanced technology leaders and experts to collaborate on HPC's next-generation systems. Dell EMC servers, networking and storage equipped with the latest Intel technologies power this environment.

Dell Technologies, the University of Cambridge and Intel have also collaborated on one of the world's fastest open source HPC storage solutions that can speed time to discovery or insight by alleviating performance bottlenecks between compute and storage. The pre-tested and validated Dell EMC Ready Solutions for HPC - Data Accelerator (DAC) feeds data via NVMe drives to achieve the speeds required for high-performance applications and make the results available more quickly.

"For people who do analytics or machine learning and process lots of data, we are bringing together one system with high levels of compute and I/O," said Dr. Paul Calleja, director of research computing, Cambridge University. "This allows both customization and security for the tenants. With all these things together, the Data Accelerator can be used to deliver data-centric research to new and emerging communities."

The initial implementation of DAC on the university's Cumulus supercomputer debuted as the world's fastest HPC storage system on the June 2019 I/O-500 list. Nearly double the performance of the second-place entry, it provides approximately 500 terabytes of usable capacity on 24 DAC nodes.

Fueling medical discoveries

Dell Technologies is also collaborating with the UK National Health Services (NHS) and Cardiff University to advance HPC systems that help transform public health and personalized medicine. Specifically, the bioscience teams at NHS and Cardiff University use next-generation genome sequencing on Dell Technologies' HPC solutions to help fight infectious diseases and improve public health. For example, already having sequenced over 30,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes, they are working with the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium to map the spread of COVID-19. By tracking the global spread at a genomic level, researchers gain insights into the transmission dynamics and measure the effects of preventative interventions and policies adopted by various countries.

"Genomic sequencing will help us to understand coronavirus and its spread," said Dr. Thomas Connor, bioinformatics lead for the Public Health Wales Pathogen Genomics Unit; lead at the sequencing center at Cardiff University. "By analyzing samples from people who had confirmed cases of COVID-19, scientists can monitor changes in the virus at a national scale to understand how the virus is spreading and whether different strains are emerging. Having this information available will help in the clinical care of patients  and ultimately help to save lives."

Expanding HPC's reach

As a Dell Technologies HPC & AI Center of Excellence (CoE) with expertise in VMware, the University of Pisa strives to make HPC and AI more accessible throughout the research community and beyond. It is one of the first organizations to use the new purpose-built Dell EMC PowerStore, which blends automation, next-generation technology and a novel software architecture to help organizations address the rapidly growing need for data. Seven times faster and three times more responsive than previous Dell EMC midrange storage arrays, PowerStore simplifies IT infrastructure by supporting a wide range of both traditional and emerging workloads with its scale-up, scale-out architecture. By virtualizing IT resources with VMware, the University can use resources more cost-effectively and make it easier for IT administrators and end users to deploy, manage and change the infrastructure.

"PowerStore combines the advantages of cutting-edge storage hardware and software," says Maurizio Davini, CTO, University of Pisa. "It's that flexibility to define the resources for our users, for our applications, that makes the difference so we can quickly flex to meet changing needs."

Availability

Dell EMC Ready Solutions for HPC Storage, Data Accelerator will be globally available June 30, 2020 .

Additional resources

About Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industry's broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the data era.

Copyright  2020 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights. Dell Technologies, Dell, EMC and Dell EMC are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its Reserved subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.

1 IDC White Paper, sponsored by Seagate, Data Age 2025: The Digitization of the World From Edge to Core, November 2018.

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By Kashif Umair

Are human beings equal? Are some human beings superior over others? This is a question all societies of all ages have grappled with. Ever since humans settled down as a society, some sections claiming superiority over others in the name of race, religion, caste, ethnicity, language, sex, ideology etc has always been seen. For instance, the caste system in India proclaims that Brahmins are superior and untouchables are inferior. However, in the modern world where democracy and liberalism dominate politics, many individuals and nations espouse these ideals but they continue to live in contradiction. These individuals and nations believe in liberalism and democracy but do not fully apply it in their practice. There are two major examples of this contradiction. One is in 1776, when Thomas Jefferson signed the Declaration of Independence dictating equality for the citizens of the United States, however, at the same time, he owned slaves. The second example is when the United Nations General Assembly passed the resolution of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, whose article 1 laid out that, Every person is born free and equal in rights and dignity. Among the countries which signed the UDHR were colonizers at that time and some of them continued to colonize some part of the planet even after signing of the UDHR. These countries functioned as a democracy but treated their colonial subjects in very inhuman ways. These two examples reflect a common norm that both colonizer countries and individuals believed in some ways that they have legitimate authority to rule over others whom they considered inferior.

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One of the characteristics of ethnic or racial superiority is that it legitimizes violence and oppression. There are two cases of ethnic superiority of two different times which not only claimed to be superior but also legitimized the violence. In these cases, there are some common features which are horrific and scary.

The first case, the superiority of British colonizers over Indians. Like other Europeans, the British also claimed that they had God-given rights to rule the rest of the world. These white colonists considered themselves superior over coloured people. Years of oppression, torture, killing and loot, the British colonial masters reached at the most inhuman and barbaric point when they massacred unarmed Indians at Jallianwala Bagh in 1919.

Martial law was imposed in Amritsar over the protest against the Rowlatt Act. Almost sixteen thousand people had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to celebrate a festival. General Dyer arrived at the spot where people were gathered. The Bagh was closed from three sides but on one side it was open through which the British armed personnel entered. On the order and presence of General Dyer, 1650 rounds were fired within ten minutes without any warning. The Hunter Commission which was later formed to investigate the massacre estimated that 379 deaths but the eyewitnesses and later studies claimed that the deaths were in thousands. Shameful and barbaric motives of the British Empire did not finish yet. The House of Lords overturned the decision of the House of Commons which was based on the recommendations of the Hunter Commission that General Dyer should resign from his post and leave India. The House of Lords even praised Dyer for saving the Indian Empire. 30 thousand pounds were collected for him. Rudyard Kipling, an imperialist and colonial sympathiser poet, donated 10 pounds for General Dyer.

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre revealed the prejudice of so-called white civilized people. General Dyer attacked the unarmed Indians without any warning only because they violated martial law. In his views, he questioned how Indians dared to not follow martial law. He proudly defended his shameful act before the Hunter Commission in these words, I felt, my order was not followed and martial law was violated and its my duty to fire bullets. For the love and support for his inhuman act, General Dyer wrote an open letter to his supporters. He wrote, I am proud to think that so many of my fellow-countrymen and women approve of my conduct at Amritsar and I accept the token of their approval in the spirit in which it is offered.

The second case is India witnessing rising intolerance against its largest minority of Muslims. Since the murder of Akhlak Ahmed and its glorification, the lynching of Muslims is celebrated as the victory of Hindutva. Hindutva is a political abuse of Hinduism. Hindutva is a combination of religious superiority and pseudo-nationalism.

A Muslim man, Mohammed Afrazul was lynched by Sambhulal Regar at Rajsamad, Rajasthan in 2017. Sambhulal Regar filmed the lynching with the help of his 14-year old nephew and circulated it on social media. The Indian Express reported that 3 lakh rupees were donated to him in his wifes bank account, which Rajsamand Police later froze. Apart from financial support, he had the moral support of the government but who were not willing to prevent killing and hatred against Muslims. The moral and political support was reflected for the first time when lynching of Muhammad Akhlaq of Dadri occurred in September 2015 which further legitimized the lynching of Muslims. When one accused died after few weeks by natural causes, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma attended his funeral, his coffin was draped with the Indian national flag and communal speeches were delivered.

The lynching of Muslims is part of the political goal of Hindutva and it is not due to rivalry between two major religions  Hinduism and Islam. The lynchings of Muslims are labelled with different names  love jihad, Gau Raksha, anti-national, thieves etc  but the propaganda is for the ultimate goal of formation of Hindu Rashtra. The lynchings of Muslims are inspired by the writing of MS Golwalkar and Savarkar of Hindu superiority over other religions.

What is common between in the case of General Dyer and Sambhu is that both got sympathy and public support for their crimes and both got money by common people as a reward and both are portrayed as the saviour of their so-called superiority over another group. Both celebrated and defended their cruel acts and both had the support of dominant powers. But what is scary is that what Sambhulal did is now a general phenomenon. Lynchings are justified, glorified, rewarded and celebrated. Neither government nor opposition is willingly or unwillingly unable to prevent it. Both are not willing to put on themselves the label of Muslim loving party.

One major difference between Jallianwala Bagh massacre and lynching of Muslims is that the former event occurred during the alien rule and the latter case is more dangerous and sorrowful because it occurred under the watch of those people who take oath on secular and democratic constitutions and yet failed to perform their duty.

Kashif Umair is an undergraduate student at Aligarh Muslim University.
The foreign relations committee of the Eastern Libyan Parliament praised on Wednesday France and Tunisias rejection of foreign interventions in the war-torn country.

Youssef Al-Akouri, the head of the committee, said that an immediate ceasefire and the restoration of the political dialogue are the only means of solving the Libyan crisis.

He said that the parliament, being the "only legitimate representative of the Libyan people," is committed to the recommendations of the Berlin Conference, renewing his call for backing UN efforts to reach a ceasefire and restore the political dialogue.

Al-Akouri said that foreign interventions have "deepened divisions" among the Libyan people, and warned that attempts to maintain the state of conflict will lead to large-scale strife that will have a dire impact on the stability and security of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean regions.

Al-Akouri said that maintaining balanced relationships with all parties is one of Libyas foreign policy priorities.

He also expressed his interest in "continuous cooperation" between Tunisia and Libya at the highest levels to further the shared interests of the two North African neighbours.

The Libyan statement followed this week's meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied, where Macron warned that France will not tolerate the Turkish military intervention in Libya.

"I have already had the opportunity to say very clearly to President Erdogan that I consider Turkey to be playing a dangerous game in Libya today and going against all of its commitments made at the Berlin conference," Macron was quoted as saying on Monday.

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The Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone (NMSEZ) has informed the state that there are no wetlands in the areas under its jurisdiction even though the state forest department had identified areas near the Thane creek flamingo sanctuary (TCFS) as satellite wetlands.

NMSEZ is an integrated industrial township across 4,000 acres proposed in Uran, 26% of which is owned by state body City Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (Cidco) and 74% by private investors. In 2019, following allegations of debris dumping and mangrove destruction in Panje and other areas in Uran, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) directed the collector of Raigad to investigate the matter.

In a letter dated May 13, accessed by HT and addressed to multiple departments of Raigad district administration, NMSEZ wrote, We have seen that Panje is being loosely referred at several instances as Panje wetland but in reality, there is no wetland in Panje nor any of the NMSEZ land leased by Cidco because it is agricultural land acquired by the Maharashtra government and handed over to Cidco for development of industrial and residential areas.

Pramod Patil, nodal officer (environment), Cidco confirmed this. There are no wetlands in Uran in lands owned by Cidco. Submissions by NMSEZ are correct. The response was filed with the help of Cidco, he said.

NMSEZ also claimed there has been only one case of mangrove destruction in the last 10 years in its areas and only a 30-40 metre stretch is in a coastal regulation zone (where no construction is permitted). NMSEZ has pointed out that the states list of wetlands from January 2020 does not include Panje, Bhendkhal or Belpada. The state forest departments TCFS management plan 2020-30 identifies these three areas in Uran as satellite wetlands in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). However, they are yet to be notified as such by the state environment department.

Environmentalists contested NMSEZ and Cidcos claims. Panje has been identified as a wetland in the National Wetland Atlas and there are Supreme Court orders that direct the protection of those wetlands identified under the atlas, said Debi Goenka, executive trustee, Conservation Action Trust.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 05:10:43|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he probably would send some U.S. troops from Germany to Poland during his joint press conference with visiting Polish President Andrzej Duda.

Duda, the first foreign leader to visit the United States since the coronavirus outbreak, said at the press conference that "there is a possibility of a further increase in American troops in our country."

Trump confirmed last week that his country would reduce the U.S. troop level in Germany to 25,000, which raised speculations that some of the troops could be relocated to Poland.

In a Sunday piece on The Wall Street Journal, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien noted that several thousand troops currently stationed in Germany might be reassigned to other countries in Europe. Enditem
The fact that the two of them turned out to be on the panel had been seen as a good sign for Mr. Flynn because each has proved more willing than the majority of their colleagues to interpret the law in Mr. Trumps favor in other politically charged cases, like disputes over congressional subpoenas for his financial records and whether Congress may see secret grand-jury evidence from the Russia investigation.

But the ruling was nevertheless a surprise because both of them  and Judge Henderson in particular  had asked many questions during oral arguments this month that seemed to signal skepticism about short-circuiting Judge Sullivans review.

A third judge on the panel, Robert L. Wilkins, a 2014 appointee of President Barack Obama, dissented. He said Judge Sullivan should be permitted to complete his review of whether the prosecutors actions were impermissible before deciding whether to grant the motion to dismiss, citing the unusual circumstances of the Justice Departments abrupt reversal on the facts and the law and the opacity of what happened.

In a dissenting opinion, he said his colleagues had made a series of mistakes that rendered a dead letter the portion of the rule of criminal procedure that says cases may only be dismissed with a judges approval, or leave of the court  at least when the defense and prosecution agree that a case should be dropped.

Instead, he argued, the law requires that Judge Sullivan be permitted to rule  and if Mr. Flynn and the Justice Department do not like what he decides, they can then appeal.

The District Court must be given a reasonable opportunity to consider and hold a hearing on the governments request to ensure that it is not clearly contrary to the public interest, he wrote. I therefore dissent.

Mr. Trump fired Mr. Flynn in early 2017 for lying to Vice President Mike Pence and other colleagues about what he and the Russian ambassador discussed in December 2016. After realizing that Mr. Flynn was lying to his colleagues about the calls, the F.B.I. questioned him on Jan. 24, 2017, and he again falsely denied what they had discussed.
A day after India and Pakistan were engaged in a tit-for-tat spy dispute, Pakistans foreign minister has accused India of preparing to launch a false flag operation to divert attention away from the deadly border clash with China.

The move of the Indian government is a clear attempt to move attention away from the disputed border between India and China and to move it towards Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi told the Geo TV network on Wednesday.

A recent deadly clash between India and China  the worst in 45 years  in a disputed area of the Himalayas killed at least 20 Indian soldiers.

Qureshi alleged that India, after being beaten and embarrassed by China in the Himalayan incident, was trying to find an excuse for an operation against Pakistan.

He offered no evidence for his allegations, and there was no immediate comment from India or China.

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan are traditional regional rivals and have fought three wars so far over the disputed Kashmir region, which is claimed in its entirety by both the nations.





Tit-for-tat diplomatic moves

India on Tuesday decided to expel half the staff in Pakistans embassy in New Delhi over allegations that Pakistani diplomats were engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organisations.

Indias move came after two people, identified as drivers for the Indian High Commission, were arrested in Pakistan earlier this month when they allegedly hit a pedestrian and tried to flee. Pakistani police said they found counterfeit currency in their vehicles. The two were later released and sent back to India.

In a reciprocal move, Islamabad also ordered a 50-percent reduction in the Indian diplomatic presence in the Pakistani capital.

The Indian opposition is raising questions against them, which they cannot answer. So in order to divert attention, they have [] called our diplomat [to the Indian external affairs ministry] and demarched him and gave him a note verbale, accusing Pakistani diplomats of engaging in espionage, Qureshi said.

He added that Indias behaviour was incredibly unreasonable and in violation of the Vienna Conventions.

India on Tuesday ordered Pakistans diplomatic mission in New Delhi to reduce its staff by half within a week [File: Prakash Singh/AFP]

Pakistani and Indian forces have been on maximum alert since last year, when Pakistan claimed it shot down two Indian warplanes in the disputed region of Kashmir and captured a pilot in response to an air attack by Indian aircraft targeting fighters inside Pakistan.

Tensions have been high after India in August scrapped Muslim-majority Indian-administered Kashmirs semi-autonomous status and imposed a major security clampdown last year.

Indian government forces have also been conducting numerous military operations in Indian-administered Kashmir since a nationwide coronavirus 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.
Historic St. John's Church vandalized; Seattle mayor says CHOP to be shut down 'at night'

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The historic St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., was vandalized Monday night as protesters attempted to set up a "Black House Autonomous Zone" while a similar area in Seattle is set to be gradually dismantled.

Amid ongoing demonstrations around the country that have involved the desecration of monuments and the toppling of statues of historical figures in major cities, the pillars of St. John's Church were spray-painted by protesters to display the letters "BHAZ," video footage shows.

In the wake nationwide protests spurred by the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, riots in Washington led to the torching of a basement nursery at the historic church, which is sometimes referred to as the "church of the presidents."

The following day, President Donald Trump and a few cabinet officials walked from the White House to the church where he held up a Bible. Supporters of the president saw the move as a sign of strength during a tumultuous time, while his detractors considered it an inappropriate and exploitative photo-op.

Monday night's church vandalism occurred alongside an unsuccessful attempt at tearing down a statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park. Metropolitan Police officers intervened before it could be toppled. And police subsequently established a perimeter around the demonstrators at the historic church.

"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!" Trump tweeted Tuesday morning. Twitter subsequently labeled the tweet to be a violation of its user rules.

On Monday, the president commented on Twitter about the vandalism in Lafayette Park, warning rioters that vandalizing monuments on federal property is a federal crime.

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!," Trump said.

The murmurings of a protestor-established autonomous zone in the nation's capital across the street from the White House emerged following weeks of an occupied zone in Seattle called the Capitol Hill Organized Protest area, formerly known as the Capital Hill Autonomous Zone or CHAZ.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, who previously backed the demonstrators and defended the zone as a legitimate expression of peaceful protest, announced Monday that CHOP would be shutting down "at night" and police would be returning to the East Precinct.

Its time for people to go home, it is time for us to restore Cal Anderson and Capitol Hill so it can be a vibrant part of the community, Durkan said Monday, The Seattle Times reported.

The impacts on the businesses and residents and the community are now too much.

Durkan's statement comes after rapes, robberies and three shootings were reported from inside the autonomous zone. Horace Lorenzo Anderson, 19, was shot and killed Saturday in the autonomous zone and a 33-year-old man was critically wounded and transported to a nearby hospital. In the same area on Sunday, a 17-year-old boy was shot in the arm and was subsequently treated and released.

Police were met with hostility when they were called to the scene following Saturday's shooting so they could treat the victim and clear a safe path for emergency responders to enter the area. As police entered, they were shouted at and informed that Anderson had been taken to the hospital in a private vehicle.

"On Monday, Best seemed to pin blame for Andersons death on the Seattle City Council, which last week passed a ban on the use of tear gas and similar munitions by police, even though that law has not yet gone into effect," The Seattle Times added.

A life might have been saved if not for the circumstances created by hasty legislation, Best said. Right now what officers have is their riot batons and their handguns and that is not sufficient.
The nine Tablighi Jamaat members arrested by the Haryana police for violating the lockdown norms in May were released on conditional bail from the Ambala Central Jail on Wednesday.

The nine accused: Sheikh Mustafa (46), Mohd. Nabir Ansari (26), Mohd Ghani (71), Mohd Wasir (52), Mansoor Alam (52), Mohd Bhojrai (66), Faizul Haq (51), Mohd Yasini (63) of Nepal and Mohd Raifsan (35) of Sri Lanka, were granted conditional bail.

Their counsel Mohammad Danish said, They have been granted conditional bail by the court under Section 439 (special powers of high court or court of session regarding bail) of the CrPC on Friday on the condition that they shall not leave the country without prior permission of the trial court, till the trial is over.

The court granted them bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs 1 lakh each with sureties of the like amount. They have shared their current address and active contact numbers with the court, he added.

A copy of the order states that the counsel had argued, The accused/applicants had come to Ambala for religious purpose on March 10, much before the lockdown was imposed and the same was informed to the authorities. They were quarantined on March 30, since they were following directions, they have been arrested illegally.

A case had been registered against the accused on the complaint of security inspector Rajesh Kumar at Mahesh Nagar police station in April.

The complainant had stated that some people had come from Delhi to Madina Masjid, Shivpuri Colony, Ambala cantonment for some religious purpose and had violated the lockdown norms.
New York, Connecticut and New Jersey asked Wednesday for travelers from states with high coronavirus infection rates to go into quarantine for 14 days in a bid to preserve hard-fought gains as caseloads rise elsewhere in the country.

We now have to make sure the rates continue to drop, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday at a briefing in New York City, joined via video by Govs. Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Ned Lamont of Connecticut, both fellow Democrats. We also have to make sure the virus doesnt come on a plane again.

What was presented as a travel advisory that starts Thursday affects three adjacent Northeastern states that managed to check the spread of the virus this spring as New York City became a hot spot for the pandemic.

Travelers from more than a half-dozen states, including Florida and Texas, are currently impacted. The quarantine will last two weeks from the time of last contact within the identified state.

The announcement comes as summer travel to the states beaches, parks and other attractions  not to mention New York City  would normally swing into high gear.

It also marks a flip-flop in the COVID-19 battle since March, when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, both Republicans, separately issued orders requiring people flying in from the New York tri-state area, where cases were surging, to quarantine for 14 days.

Now, Florida and Texas are among the struggling states being eyed warily by the three northern governors.

As Governor DeSantis said on Saturday, Governors have a prerogative to do what they need to do, press secretary Cody McCloud said. He just asks that Floridians not be quarantined in the nursing homes in New York.

Murphy called a quarantine the smart thing.

We have taken our people, the three of us, these three states, to hell and back, Murphy said. The last thing we need to do right now is subject our folks to another round.

The states will relay the quarantine message on highways, at airports, and through websites and social media. Lamont signed an executive order on Wednesday evening requiring such messages be posted at all major points of entry into the state and at the states airports. He said the governors plan to also ask hotels and vacation rental companies to tell guests from affected states.

Lamonts order also allows the states public health commissioner to make exceptions for essential workers and for other extraordinary circumstances when a quarantine is not possible.

Enforcement will vary by state. The Cuomo administration said violators in New York will be subject to mandatory quarantine and face fines from $2,000 to $10,000. Violators could be discovered at business meetings or during a traffic stop, he said.

It was not clear what, if any, penalties violators in New Jersey and Connecticut will face.

Lamont described the quarantine as urgent guidance. Murphy called it a strong advisory  to do the right thing.

The quarantine applies to people coming from states with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents on a seven-day average, or with a 10% or higher positivity rate over seven days.

As of Wednesday, states over the threshold were Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas, Cuomo said.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said later Wednesday that his state was erroneously included on the list.

A spokeswoman for Cuomo, Caitlin Girouard, said there had been an initial discrepancy with Washingtons reporting, but they have since corrected it and we have removed them from the list of states under travel advisory.

The order appears to apply to President Donald Trump, who was in Arizona on Tuesday and is slated to go to Bedminster, New Jersey, this weekend.

White House spokesman Judd Deere said in an email Wednesday that standard procedures were in place in Arizona to ensure the president did not come into contact with anyone who was symptomatic or had not been tested.

It could come back and we can have a second wave arriving by jet airplane a second time, Lamont said. And right now, they wouldnt necessarily be coming from China. They could be coming from one of six or seven or eight states that have a very high positivity rate.

___

Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Marina Villeneuve in Albany, N.Y.; Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut; and Mike Catalini in Trenton, N.J.
BioGeneration Ventures, a Naarden, The Netherlands-based early-stage VC in European biopharma, closed its fourth fund, BGV IV, at 105m ($119m).

BGV IV has received saupport from notable institutions as investors such as, Bristol Myers Squibb, Schroder Adveq and the European Investment Fund. New investors include Industriens Pension and KfW Capital.

The investment strategy for the fund will follow the same path as the firms other funds, which have resulted in innovative new medicines reaching patients and yielded significant returns for investors.

Led by Edward van Wezel, Managing Partner, BGV is one of the largest VC funds in Europe focused on early investments in new bio-technology companies, with over  220m assets under management. Its team has broad experience in investment, life sciences, business development, and commercial operations.

The firms approach is to partner with scientists from major European institutions and entrepreneurs. The aim is to build new companies, around either single assets or technology platforms with the goal of creating transformational new medicines.

This strategy is supported by the collaboration between BGV and Forbion, providing a platform across early- to late-stage companies.

Portfolio successes of earlier BGV funds include Acerta Pharma, which was acquired by AstraZeneca for up to $7bn and whose lead product Calquence is now approved and marketed in the US, and Staten Biotechnology, which signed a 430 million exclusive option deal with Novo Nordisk. Other companies in the current portfolio include NorthSea Therapeutics, Azafaros, Varmx, and Confo Therapeutics.

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24/06/2020
Don Siegelman was a white Democratic governor of Alabama with power, money, friends and influence. He ended up in federal prison convicted of bribery in 2006 after a fierce legal fight. He maintains his innocence, and hes not the only one who questions his prosecution.

Imagine if he were a Black man with less power, money or influence facing any other charge. Would his chances have been better?

Fair question? Apples and oranges?

Either way, Siegelman is discussing the American legal system in a summer when its treatment of Black people is a national debate. Free after five years behind bars, he came to Huntsville Tuesday to talk about those ideas and promote his new book Stealing Our Democracy: How the Political Assassination of a Governor Threatens Our Nation.

If you believe that in every situation theres a purpose and you just have to figure out what it is, Siegelman said, it was like God was saying, OK, governor, you see whats wrong, now fix it. Thats kind of where my head is now. My focus and the purpose of the book is to give me credibility to talk about whats wrong with the criminal justice system.

Siegelman said hes seen the system work, and hes seen it abuse its power. His experience made some solutions clear, he said. I knew that if I had had a lawyer in the grand jury, I would not have been indicted, Siegelman said. The charges against him were lies, he said, and his lawyer could have challenged them in the grand jury before an indictment was handed down. It could work the other way, too.

If Michael Brown had had a lawyer present in the grand jury room when they were presenting evidence about the policeman who took his life, or if Trayvon Martin or Eric Gardner had a lawyer , he said.

Siegelman said he advocated unsuccessfully as Alabama attorney general for victims to have an attorney in the grand jury room. I did not know at that time that prosecutors are immune from civil or criminal liability even for knowingly and willingly presenting false evidence, he said

If family members of victims of police violence  abusive force, excessive force  had someone like (civil rights attorney) Benjamin Crump in a grand jury room, he would be there as a check on truth in that prosecutors dont have to present body cam video or photographs of the victim. They can make a determination themselves that this is too inflammatory, we dont want to introduce that.

The family lawyer could say if you dont introduce it, I will introduce it, Siegelman said. The conflict would be resolved by a judge the same as in a civil deposition.

Siegelman said judges, prosecutors and police all believe they wear the same uniform, theyre all part of the same team. They tend to protect themselves. And in the secrecy of the grand jury, where theres nobody there but the prosecutor, they can do anything they want to let the guilty walk or to charge the innocent.

If it can happen to a sitting governor with 17 lawyers at one point, Siegelman said, think about what would happen to an aerospace engineer or a mechanic whos scared and charged.

The system needs lawyers for the accused in the grand jury room, and it needs recorded interviews of every witness that are turned over to the defense. The third thing is we need to make it clear that police and prosecutors can be held liable for what they do, he said.
Nokian Tyres has marked one year without experiencing a lost-time injury at its tire production factory in Dayton  a record that dates back to the first day of trial production at the facility.

Employees celebrated the accomplishment at a socially distanced celebration and signed a banner commemorating the achievement. Factory leaders say they are committed to maintaining a people-centered culture that prioritizes hazard recognition and involvement from all levels of the organization.

We are proud of our team members commitment to safety over the past year, and were eager to maintain our record of safety excellence, said Dayton Factory Health and Safety Manager Darren Bakkestuen. We plan to continue producing some of the safest tires in the market by employing a safety mindset in all of our operations.

In addition to helping keep its employees safe, Nokian Tyres has demonstrated a commitment to establishing itself in Southeast Tennessee in its first year of tire production there. The aim: being a good neighbor while building a culture of safety, sustainability and local support that will make the factory an employer of choice in the area, said officials.

The factory recently earned ISO 9001 certification just six months after officially opening its doors, validating its set of quality management practices, said officials. The company awarded its first set of Nokian Tyres Scholarships to a pair of Southeast Tennessee students in June, part of a larger effort to strengthen education and promote sustainability in the region. And the tiremaker has partnered with community leaders to support multiple local events and mobilize its team members for service opportunities.

In the coming months, the company plans to unveil other employee-centered elements at the factory, including a solar-powered administration building that will provide workers with offices, meeting areas and other amenities.

Nokian Tyres currently employs just over 100 members at the Dayton Factory but will ultimately employ as many as 400 workers there. It is the companys third global production facility, alongside factories in Nokia, Finland and Vsevolozhsk, Russia.







Founded and headquartered in Finland, Nokian Tyres invented the winter and all-weather tires and continues to craft premium products in all major passenger segments, including the all-season tire market. At the Dayton factory, the company aims to fill expanding North American demand.







More information about the facility is available at NokianTires.com/DaytonFactory.
When the first quarter of 2019 came to a close, the cannabis industry looked to be unstoppable. Wall Street's sales expectations for the industry were soaring, especially with Canada having legalized recreational pot and numerous U.S. states considering medical or adult-use legalization. But these "high hopes" soon faded.

Since April 2019, only the oil and gas industry has been a larger disappointment to the investment world than marijuana stocks. Canada's sales growth has been stymied by regulatory-based supply problems, while U.S. weed companies have struggled under the weight of high taxation. Over the past 14-plus months, most pot stocks have lost anywhere from 50% to 90% of their value.

Perhaps no marijuana company has been a bigger disappointment to investors than Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB).

Aurora Cannabis has failed to live up to the hype

Aurora, which is a favorite among millennial investors, was widely expected to lead the world in legal weed production. At this time last year, it had 15 properties that, if fully developed and operational, could yield north of 650,000 kilos of marijuana per year.

Aurora also had a production, export, clinical research, or partnership presence in two dozen countries outside of Canada. This international presence was viewed as a key differentiating factor for Aurora that was expected to insulate it from supply problems in Canada.

Today, however, Aurora is somewhat of a shell of its former self. The company has halted construction on two of its largest projects (Aurora Nordic 2 in Denmark and Aurora Sun in Alberta) and sold its 1-million-square-foot Exeter greenhouse, which was never retrofit from vegetable production to grow cannabis. In total, Aurora's peak annual output has been slashed by more than 400,000 kilos, at least for now.

Likewise, the company's overseas assets haven't paid dividends. Aurora has struggled to generate more than $4 million Canadian to CA$5 million in quarterly sales from international markets, which is nothing more than a drop in the bucket considering its annual run-rate output of around 150,000 kilos of cannabis per year.

Aurora is among some very rare company at the moment

All of these struggles pushed Aurora's share price down by more than 90% from its mid-March 2019 high and led management to declare a 1-for-12 reverse split, which was effected on May 11, 2020. This split became necessary to get Aurora's share price safely back above $1 per share and avoid delisting from the New York Stock Exchange.

Although a reverse split -- or any traditional split for that matter  doesn't involve a change in market cap, there's certainly a negative connotation associated with reverse splits. Historically speaking, the vast majority of companies that enact a reverse split tend to see their share prices decline even more. According to data from Credit Suisse's equity derivative strategy group, for nearly every year between 1980 and 2009, the median return in the month following a reverse stock split was negative.

However, Aurora Cannabis is bucking convention in its first month following a reverse split. After reporting its fiscal third-quarter operating results, which were widely viewed by Wall Street to be better than expected, Aurora Cannabis' share price more than doubled. Now a full six weeks after its reverse split, Aurora Cannabis' share price has gained 66%.

Significant gains following a reverse split are very rare. For example, travel website Booking Holdings, which you might remember best as Priceline.com, enacted a 1-for-6 reverse split in June 2003, sending its share price from a little over $4 to $25. Today, a single share of Booking goes for $1,627, representing a 64-fold increase in value since its reverse split.

Brand-name companies such as American International Group and Citigroup have also increased in value following a reverse split. But, again, it's rare. That's what makes Aurora Cannabis' strong move higher something exceptional, at least for the time being.

The important thing to remember about Aurora Cannabis

But there's something that Aurora's shareholders and prospective investors need to understand about reverse splits. Though they consolidate a company's outstanding shares and increase its share price (thusly have no effect on market cap), a reverse split doesn't wave a wand and make operational issues disappear. In other words, the issues that were plaguing Aurora Cannabis prior to enacting a reverse split are liable to remain in place afterwards.

For example, Aurora's reverse split may have saved the company from being delisted, but it doesn't change the narrative that the company's balance sheet is a mess. Aurora continues to lean on at-the-market stock offerings to raise capital, which means its outstanding share count keeps rising. Following its split, the company's share count has skyrocketed from about 1.3 million shares in June 2014 to probably 113 million, following the all-share Reliva acquisition last month. The constant need for capital raises means ongoing dilution for shareholders.

Aurora Cannabis is also lugging around a mountain of goodwill and a growing amount of inventory. I've opined that more than half of Aurora's assets may eventually need to be written down, and a reverse split isn't going to mask that possibility.

Beyond its balance sheet, Aurora still needs to find a way to effectively grow its international business, as well as manage its costs after overextending itself on the capacity front.

In short, Aurora may be in rare company now following its reverse split, but the narrative hasn't changed.
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President Trumps press secretary defended his calling the coronavirus the kung flu at a rally in Tulsa, Okla., over the weekend.

The origin of the virus is China, spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany said at a press briefing Monday. Its 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.

McEnany was asked to respond to Asian-Americans who might have been offended by Trumps use of a racial slur.

The president has said very clearly that its important that we protect our Asian community in the U.S. and all around the world, the press secretary replied. Theyre amazing people and the spreading of the virus is not their fault.

Its not a discussion about Asian-Americans, who the president values and prizes as citizens of this great country, she added. It is an indictment of China for letting this virus get here.

McEnany pointed to examples of news outlets using phrases like the Wuhan virus to describe COVID-19, and accused the media of trying to play games with the terminology of this virus.

At his rally in Tulsa on Saturday night, Trump said the virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has more names than any disease in history.

I can name kung flu, Trump said to cheers from a partially filled arena. I can name 19 different versions of names.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Monday. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

At the same rally, Trump told supporters that he asked to slow down coronavirus testing in the United States in order to halt the country's mounting COVID-19 case count.

When you do testing to that extent, youre going to find more people. Youre going to find more cases! Trump exclaimed. So I said to my people, Slow the testing down, please!

McEnany said he was making a joke at the expense of the media, which, she claimed, fails to qualify reports about rising coronavirus cases by noting the increase in testing. But in several states that are driving the surge in cases, including Texas, Florida and Arizona, the prevalence of positive test results has been steady or increasing  meaning that the caseload rise is not merely an artifact.

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Back in March, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway called the term kung flu highly offensive after a report that an unnamed White House staffer had used the phrase.

Of course its wrong, Conway told reporters. Thats highly offensive. Id like to know who it is.

McEnany did not answer when asked if Conway was wrong to be offended.

Asked whether Trump regretted using the phrase, the press secretary said he did not.

The president never regrets putting the onus back on China, she said. The president does not believe its offensive.

Read more from Yahoo News:
New Delhi: Army Chief General MM Naravane on Wednesday visited various forward areas in eastern Ladakh and took stock of the Army's combat preparedness in the region in the wake of the bitter border standoff with China, officials said.

Gen Naravane, who arrived in Leh on a two-day visit to the region, also awarded Commendation Cards to a number of soldiers who fought valiantly during the recent face-offs with Chinese Army in the region, people familiar with the matter said.

The Chief of Army Staff reviewed the overall security situation in the region with Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Yogesh Kumar Joshi, commander of the 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh and other senior Army officials on Tuesday afternoon.

"General M M Naravane #COAS visited forward areas in Eastern #Ladakh and reviewed operational situation on the ground. #COAS commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm," the Army said in a tweet.

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.

Twenty Indian Army personnel were killed and 18 were seriously injured in the violent clash with Chinese military in Galwan Vally.

When asked about conferring of "Commendation Cards" by Gen Naravane, an Army source said "whenever the Chief of the Army Staff visits formations or units, it is a norm to award on the spot Commendation Cards to personnel who exhibit exceptional devotion to duty."

"In the instant case also, personnel have been awarded for devotion to duty," the source said. It is learnt that soldiers who have been awarded the "Commendation Cards" fought valiantly in the Galwan Valley clash.

The Leh-based 14 Corps is tasked to take care of security situation along the Line of Actual Control in the Ladakh region.

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.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to tear through the global population, the disease is having an especially devastating impact on the tens of millions of displaced people throughout the world.

More than 1 percent of humanity--some 79.5 million people--were living as forcibly displaced people in 2019, the highest number on record. This staggering figure, which is almost double the number of displaced people just a decade ago and 10 million more than at the end of 2018, was cited in the latest United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) annual Global Trends report released last week.

If the worlds displaced were considered as their own country, that country would have a population almost equivalent to that of Germany, Europes largest economy, or that of Iran.

Roland Jean, a Haitian deported from the United States, kneels on the tarmac after arriving at the Toussaint Louverture airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

The vast majority of the refugees come from five countries, all of which have either been direct targets of US imperialist aggression and intrigue or are suffering as a result of decades of colonial domination and neocolonial occupation. Afghanistan, Myanmar, South Sudan, Syria and Venezuela account for 68 percent of the total. Syria alone, which has been devastated for almost a decade by a bloody US-instigated civil war, accounts for over 13 million displaced people--more than half of its 22 million pre-war population.

The poorest countries are bearing the brunt of the crisis, as the imperialist powers in North America and Europe seal their borders to refugees, use heavily armed, fascistic border guards to fire on them, or allow them to drown at sea. The UNHCR report notes that 73 percent of people displaced outside of their home country have found refuge in a neighbouring country, i.e., they live in countries that are often as ill-prepared as their war-torn, impoverished homelands to provide for their survival and well-being.

The report noted in this context the fate of the Rohingya, who were forced out of Myanmar in a vicious campaign of terror by the US-backed military regime. Tens of thousands remain confined to miserable, inhospitable camps in Bangladesh. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the UNHCR has registered growing numbers of Rohingya moving towards Malaysia and other southeast Asian countries due to the hardship produced by lockdown measures and the diminishing prospect of ever returning home.

Refugees and displaced people who seek to reach richer countries in Europe and North America confront brutal repression and the threat of death due to the ruling elites criminal policies. In the United States, the Trump administration has established a vast array of internment camps, where desperate and impoverished people fleeing horrendous social conditions in Latin America, including women and children separated from their families, are treated no better than animals. Militarized guards and militias patrol the US-Mexico border, which has become the scene of hundreds of migrant deaths every year.

In Fortress Europe, the European Union has all but abolished the right to asylum and shredded the protections adopted in the Geneva Convention on Refugees, a piece of international law instituted following the unbridled savagery of the Nazi regime. Seven decades later, European governments, with Germany in the lead, are well on the way to resurrecting similarly barbaric practices.

Tens of thousands of refugees are confined to hellish concentration camps in Libya and other parts of North Africa, where they are subjected to torture, rape, slavery and worse by EU-funded militias. On the Greek islands, tens of thousands of people are crammed into overcrowded camps with virtually no sanitary facilities, amid a raging global pandemic. Thousands of refugees are left to drown in the Mediterranean on Europes doorstep each year.

The cruelty and vindictiveness shown towards refugees by European capitalism is so brazen that even UN officials have been compelled to criticise it. Speaking at the release of the Global Trends report, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that as a European, he feels embarrassed and ashamed over how the EU has handled the refugee crisis.

As horrific as the figures are in the UNHCR report, it accounts for the situation in 2019. It therefore does not take note of the devastating impact of the coronavirus crisis, which has dramatically worsened conditions facing refugees and migrant workers on every continent.

Migrants and displaced people typically belong to the most oppressed and exploited sections of the working class. They have been hit especially hard by coronavirus outbreaks, and largely left to fend for themselves by callously indifferent and often maliciously hostile state authorities, from Modis India to Merkels Germany and Trumps United States.

In Germany, where the fascistic Alternative for Germany plays a major role in determining government policy, large numbers of Romanian, Bulgarian and other Eastern European migrant workers are herded into dilapidated buildings often unfit for human habitation. They receive poverty wages and have no rights or job protection. They have been infected in large numbers in meat packing plants and in the agricultural sector, while many more have been placed under effective police guard in hopelessly overcrowded tower blocks and disused army barracks, which then become hotbeds for the spread of the virus.

In India, millions of migrant workers were left to starve by the Hindu supremacist government of Narendra Modi, which failed to provide adequate assistance to them when it unveiled a nationwide lockdown with just four hours notice in March. Due to the fact that the vast majority of migrant workers are day labourers in the so-called informal sector, they were left virtually overnight with no income to obtain food and other basic necessities. Hundreds of thousands began trekking on foot back to their home villages, often covering hundreds of miles and carrying the virus with them. Many more were detained in camps.

In the United States, migrant workers make up a large proportion of the more than 25,000 meat packing workers infected by CoVID-19. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants received no assistance during lockdown measures, due to fears that contacting state institutions could result in their detention or deportation.

Building on the Obama presidency, which oversaw a record number of immigrant deportations, the fascistic-minded Trump has launched a series of military-style immigration raids carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement thugs to arbitrarily round up immigrants for detention and removal. In July 2019, Trump launched nationwide raids targeting 2,000 families in 10 major cities for deportation.

The defence of refugees and migrant workers is a task that falls to the working class. Anti-immigrant chauvinism and nationalism have been systematically promoted by all factions of the political establishment in every country to justify right-wing policies of law-and-order and attacks on democratic rights. They also seek to scapegoat immigrants and refugees for the social problems produced by decades of savage austerity and attacks on working conditions, which have in reality been implemented to boost the wealth of the super-rich and pay for imperialist militarism and war.

The world of decaying capitalism is overcrowded, wrote Leon Trotsky in the Manifesto of the Fourth International in 1940. The question of admitting a hundred extra refugees becomes a major problem for such a world power as the United States. In an era of aviation, telegraph, telephone, radio, and television, travel from country to country is paralyzed by passports and visas. The period of the wasting away of foreign trade and the decline of domestic trade is at the same time the period of the monstrous intensification of chauvinism and especially of anti Semitism Amid the vast expanses of land and the marvels of technology, which has also conquered the skies for man as well as the earth, the bourgeoisie has managed to convert our planet into a foul prison.

Eighty years after these lines were written, their forceful condemnation of the bourgeoisie is, if anything, even stronger than in 1940. While the bourgeoisie of every country is returning to the reactionary politics of nationalism, militarism and the far-right, the working class on a world scale is more interconnected and unified than ever before. The mass multi-racial protests over recent weeks in dozens of countries triggered by the brutal police murder of George Floyd testify to the common experiences of exploitation and state repression faced by workers of all backgrounds around the world under capitalism.

Rejecting the ruling elites nationalism and anti-immigrant poison, working people must come to the defence of refugees and migrant workers on a global scale. They must defend the rights of workers of all nationalities to work, live and access social and health care services in the country of their choice without fear of persecution or deportation.

The defence of the democratic rights of refugees and migrant workers is possible only as part of the broadest mobilisation of workers and young people against social inequality, capitalist state repression and militarism and war. Such a struggle should be guided by a socialist and internationalist perspective and set as its goal the transfer of political power to workers governments committed to socialist policies.
Firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson Brands Inc. negligently marketed the AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle that was used in a 2019 mass shooting at a California synagogue, victims and survivors claim in a lawsuit.

The company illegally designed and marketed its M&P 15 Sport II rifle to appeal to a dangerous class of would-be mass shooters, including by falsely associating the product with the U.S. military and law enforcement, according to a complaint filed last Monday in California state court in San Diego.

The suit mirrors one filed against Remington Arms Co. by family members of nine children and educators killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. In that case, Remington argued the suit was blocked by a 2005 federal law enacted to shield the industry from lawsuits, but Connecticuts top court last year let the case proceed. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Remingtons appeal.

In the San Diego lawsuit, the gun-control group Brady Center claims the military-style weapon was used to kill one worshiper and wound three others in the April 2019 attack on Chabad of Poway Synagogue in Poway, California. A mass assault with such a gun was foreseeable by the company, the group said.

Smith & Wesson deceptively marketed its military-style assault rifle in a way that attracted impulsive young men with military complexes who were particularly likely to be attracted to the unique ability of AR-15 style weapons, according to the complaint.

The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages and a court order requiring Smith & Wesson to cease its allegedly illegal marketing campaign and reform its sales practices.

Smith & Wessons media contact didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

(Michael Bloomberg, the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, helped launch Everytown for Gun Safety and backs candidates who support measures such as universal background checks.)

Photo: Pistols sit on display in the Smith & Wesson Corp. booth during the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual meeting in Dallas, Texas, U.S., on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits California
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 20:21:02|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- As efforts to contain COVID-19 continue, China is steadily reviving its economy. The following facts and figures indicate how the country is forging ahead in the economic sphere:

-- Passenger trips on trains are expected to reach 26 million in China during the Dragon Boat Festival travel rush this week, the latest data showed.

The China State Railway Group Co. Ltd. said the country will see an estimated 6.7 million passenger trips on Wednesday, the first day of the travel rush.

The holiday travel rush will last until Saturday and the company expects the number of daily trips to hit a high of 7 million on Thursday.

-- The recovery of China's transport industry picked up pace in May, with some key indicators continuing to improve, an official with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said.

China's fixed-asset investment in transportation reached 1.02 trillion yuan (about 144.33 billion U.S. dollars) during the first five months, an increase of 0.9 percent over the same period last year, MOT Spokesperson Sun Wenjian told a regular press conference.

-- Lufthansa German Airlines will resume regular scheduled flights between Frankfurt and Shanghai from Wednesday, according to Lufthansa China.

These are the first scheduled Lufthansa flights to the Chinese mainland since the end of January. Lufthansa is among the first foreign airlines to resume regular scheduled passenger flights to the Chinese mainland, said Lufthansa China.

From Wednesday, the airline will start providing round-trip passenger flights between the cities once a week. Enditem
ASEAN leaders will discuss recent developments in the East Sea during their first meeting of 2020 this week, says Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung.

"What has happened in reality will be put on the table, because every ASEAN meeting has a part for discussing regional and international issues," Dung said Tuesday at a press conference on the 36th ASEAN Summit.

Asked if Vietnam will mention recent developments in the East Sea with regional partners at the summit, Dung asserted that ASEAN leaders will not skirt the issue.

The 36th ASEAN Summit, with Vietnam as the bloc's chair, is expected to take place online on Friday due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

China has been taking intrusive and transgressive actions in the East Sea since the beginning of the year while nations in the area have been busy fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. The waterway is also known as the South China Sea.

Beijing announced the establishment of the so-called "governed" administrative districts over Vietnams Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands. It has sunk Vietnamese fishing vessels, unilaterally ordered a ban on fishing, claimed that harvesting vegetables on Paracel Islands can strengthen its illegal claims; sent diplomatic notes to the United Nations; made the infamous Four Sha claim, which has a broader range than the notorious nine-dash line.

For its part, Vietnam has firmly denounced and rejected all illegal actions by China as violations of its unshakeable sovereignty.

Deputy Minister Dung said that at the upcoming summit, ASEAN leaders will also discuss community building activities for the bloc in the second half of the year; orienting cooperation with partners outside of the region; regional and international issues; and coping methods for the Covid-19 pandemic.

As major countries intensify competition, ASEAN has agreed to maintain its own views on related issues to ensure the interests of the bloc and not take sides, Dung said.

He said ASEAN and China have yet to meet to discuss the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) because of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the last meeting in October 2019 in Da Lat, both sides agreed to prepare for the second round of reading the draft document of the COC. On July 1, ASEAN and China will discuss this issue at a meeting of their senior officials.

Dung said that ASEAN has long wanted to hold online meetings in order to reduce the travel costs of the delegates. After organizing online meetings since early 2020, Vietnam assessed that the meetings went smoothly, thanks to good technical quality. The only obstacle is that ASEAN will have to arrange a reasonable time to meet with partners outside the region, in the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum, he said.

ASEAN has 10 members - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

It has eight partners, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the U.S.

Vietnam will chair one more summit (ASEAN 37) by the end of this year.
Like Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the late Princess Diana had an exceptionally challenging time adjusting to life in the British royal family. Just 19 when she and Prince Charles became engaged and wed, the princess barely knew her future husband. Worst still, she had no idea what it meant to be a senior member of the British royal family.

As someone still coming into their own, Princess Diana found life in a fishbowl to be terrifying. She also didnt understand the press obsession with her. The royals also separated her from her own family, the Spencers, which meant she had no one to truly confide in. Since she was so young, the princess often rebelled by going against the grain.

However, she did hope to make a good impression during her very first royal engagement as Prince Charles fiance. Unfortunately, it was a disastrous ordeal.

Lady Diana Spencer attended her first public engagement tonight, when she joined Prince Charles at a Gala Charity Concert at the Goldsmiths Hall, London| Kent Gavin/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

RELATED: Princess Diana and Prince Charles Marriage Began to Crack on Their First Overseas Royal Tour, Expert Claims

Princess Dianas dress was inappropriate

Princess Dianas very first royal engagement was a musical recital at Goldsmiths Hall on March 3, 1981. Unfortunately, her wardrobe choice for the evening put her on edge immediately.

The princess has chosen a bold black dress from Emmanuels. Prince Charles disapproved of it. He scolded his future bride saying that black was the color of mourning, not one to be seen on a blushing bride-to-be. The dress also proved to be a bit revealing.

In Diana: Her True Story  In Her Own Words, the late princess told royal biographer Andrew Morton that the dress was two sizes too small. She also explained that she was quite big-chested then and they all got frightful excited.

It was way more attention then the princess was hoping for on her first night out.

RELATED: Princess Diana and Prince Charles May Have Been in Love Once

Princess Diana did not know the proper royal protocol

Unfortunately prior to throwing her to the wolves, so to speak, Princess Diana was not adequately prepared with knowledge of how to deal with the press and what proper protocol was for senior royals in public settings.

The young princess desperately wanted to make a good impression. However, the pressure of it all nearly made her sick.

It was a horrendous occasion, she later recalled. I didnt know whether to go out of the door first. I didnt know whether your handbag should be in your left or right hand. I was terrified, really  at the time everything was all over the place. I remember that evening so well. I was terrified  nearly sick.

RELATED: Why Princess Diana Was Seen as a Problem to the Royal Family

Princess Diana was already terrified about life in the royal family

During that first outing, Princess Diana got just a taste of what was to be expected of her and it was all too overwhelming. She ended up confiding in Grace Kelly, the Princess of Monaco who was also in attendance.

The 52-year-old Princess Grace, the object of this sort of attention back in the Fifties, notices Dianas discomfort and suggests they retire to the ladies room for a little chat, Craig Brown wrote in his book, Hello Goodbye Hello: Circle of 101 Remarkable Meetings. Diana tells Princess Grace that she is worried her dress is unbecoming. It is, she explains, two sizes too small. Her experience tonight has suddenly made her realize how unbearable it will be to have hundreds of people always looking at her. She sees stretching ahead of her, a life without any form of privacy. What should she do? She bursts into tears. Princess Grace puts her arms around her and pats her on the shoulder. She cups her cheeks in her hands and jokes, gently: Dont worry dear. Youll see  itll only get worse. The two women return to the throng, there to mingle and be assessed.
U.S. Airlines Seek Revenue From Visiting Friends and Relatives Travel

With their businesses cratering, most U.S. airlines are staking out their short-term future on one customer segment that has proven resilient in nearly every downturn  travelers visiting friends and relatives. But as Covid-19 cases rise in the United States and some states enact new restrictions on movement, that strategy will be tested.

The latest airline to chase this market segment is JetBlue Airways, which reworked much of its network last week to attract more travelers seeking to fly from the Northeast to Florida, Puerto Rico and the West Coast. Its press release specifically called out small signs of recovery in visiting friends and relatives travel, along with traditional leisure travel.

American Airlines, which usually makes much of its revenue on corporate business, made a similar move, joining airlines that already specialized in the space, including Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Spirit Airlines. With almost no business travel expected this summer, airlines have little choice but to go where they find demand.

The visiting friends and relatives market segment, usually shortened as VFR, is different than traditional leisure. The standard vacationer needs a hefty budget plus somewhere to go, such as Disney World, Las Vegas, or just a beach hotel. But a VFR traveler needs only a friend or a relative to stay with, potentially making it an easier and cheaper proposition than a pure vacation. It may also be safer, since travelers could interact with fewer strangers than at a resort hotel or theme park.

VFR is the easiest thing to do, and thats where the demand should be right now, said Brett Snyder, an airline analyst. You are not relying on a destination to open. You are not relying on social distancing. You just get on an airplane and go see someone you wanted to see for months.

Usually Not A Big Money Maker

In typical times, VFR customers generally are not a high priority for medium- and high-cost airlines. These carriers typically need higher yielding business and leisure travelers, who pay higher prices for a slightly evaluated experience. When they do cater to these customers, non-discount carriers often segment them into basic economy products.

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Even now, the market segment probably is not profitable for any airline except ones with the lowest costs. But carrying VFR travelers can produce cash, needed by airlines to fund their short-term activities. In its release highlighting the new routes, JetBlue noted the flights would at least generate revenue and keep crews and airplanes busy.

Keep in mind, they are not going to make money on it this year, said Jay Shabat, senior analyst at Skift Airline Weekly. Theyre more saying, We are just managing this business for cash. They are not going to worry about their fixed costs.

However, even in normal times, the lowest-cost airlines, such as Allegiant and Spirit, are happy to fill planes with VFR travelers, because their costs are so low that they can squeeze profits from them. Last year, Allegiants unit costs, not including fuel, were 26 percent lower than JetBlues, so Allegiant may make money with a fare on which JetBlue cannot.

Allegiant is betting its low costs and unique market niche will help it emerge stronger after the pandemic. It is banking on more attractions opening later this summer, including Walt Disney World, but has already won more business in the early recovery period than its competitors by focusing on the VFR segment.

On Memorial Day weekend, when many attractions were closed, including Las Vegas resorts, tiny Allegiant said it was responsible for 8 percent of all the nations commercial air traffic, four times more than last year. Some customers were traveling on pure leisure, but many were visiting friends and relatives.

Allegiant later this summer expects to further expand its schedule to leverage increased VFR and leisure demand, CEO Maury Gallagher said in a shareholder letter filed Tuesday to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

We believe Allegiant will lead the charge out these depths, he said.

New Developments

As May ended, many airline investors again turned bullish, hoping improved leisure and VFR traffic signified the industry had entered a lasting rebound. The enthusiasm continued into June.

But this week, more U.S. states have reported higher numbers of Covid-19 inflections and hospitalizations. Meanwhile on Wednesday, governors in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey said travelers arriving from hotspots, including Florida and Texas, would have to self-quarantine for 14 days. CNN reported New Jerseys quarantine applies to all travelers, including those returning home.

It is not clear how strongly these policies will be enforced, however. Other states, such as Florida, have enacted quarantines, while not doing much to ensure travelers comply.

It is also not clear how travelers will assess risk from the virus. If customers bought tickets believing the first round of local lockdowns in March and April had eradicated Covid in the United States, they may be skittish about flying and may cancel their tickets. Most airlines are waiving change fees, so canceling would not cost customers money.

But it is also possible customers bought tickets understanding the risks. These people may be willing to fly, even if cases are up. They may not want to cancel on friends and relatives, and may crave the close social contact after months of isolation.

American and JetBlue said in statements Wednesday they were monitoring developments. Neither said it had altered its schedule because of the new quarantines. Both said customers who had changed their minds could change their flights for free.

We are aware that some states are placing new quarantine requirements for customers arriving from other locations, American said in its statement. For those traveling domestically, we strongly encourage all of our customers to check with state and local governments in the places they are traveling to so they fully understand and are able to comply with any requirements upon their arrival.

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Daegu city officials have filed a W100 billion lawsuit against the Shincheonji sect accusing it of causing massive damages to the city by becoming a hotbed of coronavirus infections and triggering an uncontrollable spread (US$1=W1,209).

Seoul city already filed a W200 million lawsuit against the dubious sect in March this year.

Daegu city officials said Monday that the lawsuit was filed last week against the sect's leader, Lee Man-hee. The initial compensation claim was set at W100 billion out of a total damage figure of around W146 billion for which the city pledged to provide proof at trial.

It stems from the sect's refusal to cooperate with health authorities after a mass outbreak among its members. "We requested active cooperation from the Shincheonji sect in providing a list of members for testing, self-isolation and quarantine, but the church left out names of members and worship centers which hindered quarantine activities," a city spokesman said.

A total of 4,266 sect members in Daegu tested positive for coronavirus, accounting for 62 percent of all cases in the city.

Earlier, Daegu city officials won a court order to freeze the assets of Lee, regional leaders as well as the organization as a whole in the southeastern city. But Shincheonji claimed that some rogue members were responsible for causing the damage and the sect is also a victim.

The church is notoriously secretive but believes nothing very startling by the standards of Korea's many crackpot sects, chiefly that Lee (88) is the Second Coming.

Meanwhile, sect members in Daegu decided to donate the blood plasmas of those who have recovered from coronavirus to help develop treatment drugs. Some 4,000 of them have been declared cured so far.
The Police Executive Research Forum surveyed four cities across the country and found that crime rates in Indianapolis, Milwaukee, New York and Las Vegas have spiked since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reopening the country -- a fact that law enforcement leaders feared.

"Jurisdictions released many offenders in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in jails. And courts in many places have been closed. That has led to a feeling among offenders that they can commit crimes with impunity. In addition, police in some cities are less proactive in their enforcement, in order to avoid interactions with the public that could spread the virus," the report said.

The group explained that officers who would be assigned to investigating and tracking violent crimes have instead been assigned to monitor the protests.

In New York, NYPD Chief of Department Terrance Monahan told PERF that "in the last week, we've had 53 shooting incidents and 72 people shot. We have to go back to the week of July 4th in 2012 for a week like that."

MORE: Senate Republican bucks party and president on law enforcement immunity

Monahan said that 20% of those released from Rikers Island due to COVID-19 have been rearrested. The NYPD can't make any connections between the releases and the rise in violent crime, "but we're seeing a large uptick of parolees involved on either end of the gun, as either the shooter or the victim," he added.

"There's a feeling that you're not going to go to jail," Monahan said to PERF.

PHOTO: A police officer in stock photo. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images)

In Indianapolis, Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said that Indy is in the midst of a six-year homicide increase.

"At the height of our COVID response, the crime numbers kind of leveled out, but in May, it blew up. As far as I can tell, there's only one other time that we've had 25 homicides in one month: in November 2017. Going back to the inception of our combined police department in 2007, we haven't seen any numbers like that. This month we're right back where we were last year," he said.

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He said that nonfatal shootings in the city have steadily been rising.

"We've had 217 incidents so far this year, compared to 200 last year, and in 2016 we were in the 180s, so gun crime has been continuously rising in our city," he explained, adding that the increase has "a lot" to do with drug trafficking.

In Milwaukee, the same can be said.

"Our homicides are way up. We haven't seen these numbers since 1991. We have 86 homicides this year, compared to 37 to this point last year -- so we have a 132% increase. We've had an increase since the fall, but it has increased immensely over the last couple of months," Milwaukee Inspector Leslie Thiele told PERF. "We had a couple mass shootings, but a lot of shootings tend to be related to drugs or silly disputes. We've had a big increase in domestic violence shootings."

Terrence Gordon, another Milwaukee inspector, told PERF that there's been a big spike in "intimate partner violence."

Las Vegas Metropolitan Captain James LaRochelle told PERF that the department saw an increase in the Nevada city starting late last month.

"Three weeks ago, we had a really bad week, with 11 murders in 10 days. Some of those were domestic violence-related. Our gang murders are about 22% of our homicides, and our rate of solving those is a bit lower. At one point in April we had solved 100% of our murders, and now we're at about 80%," LaRochelle told the outlet. "We're still slightly down in violent crime year-to-date, but lately we are seeing an uptick and it is a concern."

Spirits are low, the departments say.

In New York, Monahan said the "anti-police rhetoric" has destroyed morale.

"Our cops are unsure what to do. They think there's no reason to do any quality-of-life enforcement," Monahan told PERF.

In Milwaukee, both inspectors PERF talked to agreed that optimism in the country is down.

"Morale is terrible. But people don't have low morale because of something the chief did, it's because they're afraid that nobody in this community is going to stand up for them," Gordon said. "In 25 years, I've never seen it like this. I never thought that I'd see the day where a Milwaukee police officer would withdraw from the community they swore to serve. But I can see it beginning to happen right now, and it's just terrible, because on the other side of all these crimes are victims."

In some cases, officers are putting in their papers and retiring.

"The attrition rate is very high the last couple years, and it's going to continue this year. We have had a lot of people come forward and basically say they've had enough, and retire. We've had younger officers who have been on for a year to 10 years, and have resigned because they're not willing to put their families through any news stories that would come out if they were involved in anything," Thiele said.

The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Union said in a press release that 71% of the members it surveyed are considering leaving MPD. Of those, almost 40% are planning to leave law enforcement entirely.

Why some police officials believe crime is on the rise in US cities originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
eye-on-india Big Story | US, India to create a green corridor for resuming international flights The Ministry of Civil Aviation has indicated that India and the US are engaged in creation of a green corridor which will significantly ease travel restrictions between the two countries
Enforcing lockdowns in 12 European nations exposed a disturbing pattern of racial bias, according to Amnesty report.

Policing across Europe during the coronavirus pandemic has exposed a disturbing pattern of racial bias linked to wider concerns raised by Black Lives Matter protesters, according to a global rights group.

Amnesty International said in a report on Wednesday that police enforcing coronavirus lockdowns in 12 European nations have disproportionately targeted ethnic minority and marginalised groups with violence, discriminatory identity checks, forced quarantines and fines.

The group examined policing in countries including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain and Belgium, which are Europes worst-affected nations by the pandemic.

They found the enforcement of lockdowns disproportionately impacted poorer areas with high concentrations of ethnic minorities.

Longer curfews

In France, the number of fines for breaches of lockdown rules was three times higher in the poorest mainland area, Seine-Saint-Denis near Paris, than in the rest of the country.

Amnesty said respect for lockdown measures in Seine-Saint-Denis, where most residents are Black or of North African origin, was similar to other areas.

In Nice in southern France, districts with large ethnic minority populations were subjected to longer overnight curfews than the rest of the city.

Police in the UK registered a rise of almost one-third in the proportion of Black people arrested in London as they increased use of stop and search powers in March and April.

Police violence and concerns about institutional racism are not new, but the COVID-19 pandemic and coercive enforcement of the resulting lockdowns have exposed just how prevalent they are, said Marco Perolini, Amnestys Western Europe researcher.

Amnesty also examined policing in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and Romania.
Isobar India, the digital agency from the house of Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN), launched the first-ever location-based, blockchain-enabled campaign in the beauty category for Estee Lauder (ELC). The campaign aimed to drive sales of the brands new Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation.

Spearheaded by Isobar India, the campaign leveraged Blockchain Technology (powered by IBM) to introduce a new level of data transparency and data confidence. This was clubbed with accuracy over the complete campaign delivery while also protecting confidential data.

The campaign targeted the brand's affluent audience pegging on real-time data signals such as lifestyle indicators and content consumption patterns. Not only that but the blockchain data audit also validated the accuracy of the information used to verify the audience. The interactive banners that were dynamically customized for every user based on her location and the above signals, displayed the nearest stores she could walk into and buy her perfect shade. Thus, engaging and inspiring them to be trusted brand evangelists. Simply put, the brand only paid if the ad was shown at the right location and at the right time using the accuracy of real-time geo-targeting and measurement of walk-ins, aided by blockchain.

Speaking on the campaign, Team Estee Lauder India said, "We wanted to communicate two key messages through this campaign. One was that every Indian woman can find a perfectly matching shade of foundation from more than 40 shades that Estee Lauder has, and second, that our state-of-the-art iMatch Digital Shade Finder can help her find that shade with ease. The ad that was created, allowed users to identify the shade virtually on the screen and find the right foundation to match it flawlessly. This was an innovative engagement that put across our message at the right place and at the right time. It has created curiosity, leading to higher walk-ins at our stores.

Shekhar Mhaskar, Chief Growth Officer, Isobar India commented, Isobar has always been at the forefront when it comes to deploying the latest technology and innovations to achieve the brand's business goals. It is our privilege to have devised this campaign for a brand like ELC, which is tech-forward and always open to new ideas.

We are extremely happy and proud to have executed an industry-first (in the beauty category) campaign with Estee Lauder. This has been the first time that a prestigious beauty brand leveraged hyper-location targeting on the back of Blockchain Technology, ensuring authenticity and transparency throughout the campaign. The rich media deployment in creatives has also helped the brand achieve an impressive consumer engagement rate, added Prachi Karan, Senior Director - Media, Isobar India.

The campaign garnered a 2.5x increase in footfalls as compared to the industry benchmark. Overall, the promotion led to a growth of average sales by 35% in the Double Wear Stay-in-Place Category across all free-standing stores, and growth of average sales by 62% across Specialty Multi-Stores like Nykaa Luxe and Sephora.




By Jun Ji-hye







A district court here has ordered the suspension of a government decision to revoke Medytox's license to sell its botulinum toxin products until July 14, company officials said Wednesday.







On June 18, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that the permit for the company's 50-unit, 100-unit and 150-unit Meditoxin products was being revoked and the products would be permanently removed from domestic shelves, starting June 25.







The court's order came after the botulinum toxin maker applied for a provisional injunction and filed a lawsuit later that day, asking Daejeon District Court to reverse the decision of the drug safety watchdog.







The order means the court needs time to determine whether to accept the firm's request.







A lawyer for the company said this showed there was room for argument about whether the ministry made the right decision.







The ministry earlier said the pharmaceutical company was found to have used an unapproved ingredient to produce the drug and fabricated efficacy test results between 2012 and 2015 to obtain a license to manufacture and sell the products. It noted such acts were in violation of pharmaceutical laws.







The ministry added, however, that it had reached the conclusion that the Meditoxin products did not pose any significant safety risk.







Medytox claimed the cancellation of its license was too severe a punishment, given that the ministry acknowledged there were no significant safety problems.







Launched in 2006, Meditoxin became the first botulinum toxin product made in Korea and the fourth in the world.







The investigation by the prosecution and the ministry was initiated following a report made last year by a former Medytox employee to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. The employee was working for smaller rival, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, at the time.


24 June 2020

Type Media Article



It is projected that during 2020 Ireland will produce up to 8.8 billion litres of milk; this will require approx. 370 GWh of electricity. On farm dairy electricity related CO2 emissions may be 162,000 tonnes by the end of 2020 unless mitigation strategies are implemented. Teagasc Energy Specialist Barry Caslin has some advice



Heating water accounts for 23% of the energy costs on a typical dairy farm, meaning savings can quickly be made by operating the most efficient system. Even though electricity is the most expensive form of energy it is still the most common method of powering water heating systems on Irish dairy farms. There are other systems which are cheaper to run  a solar thermal or PV system has virtually no running costs  but of course there is the capital investment to consider.

Electricity

Average figures suggest that a dairy cow uses 350 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity a year, of which 40% is for heating water. The most common approach with electric boilers is to use night-rate electricity in combination with an immersion heater. As the night rate is often half the day rate, it is beneficial to operate electrical water heating systems entirely using the cheaper tariff, provided water tanks are well insulated. It makes sense to synchronise the water heater with the night rate. Water heaters should be connected to a timer to ensure water is not heated unnecessarily and, where possible, heat all the water you need for the day using cheap-rate electricity. This may require buying a second heater to avoid using daytime electricity, but the capital outlay should be recouped quickly through the energy cost savings. Electricity heating systems are easy to install, with a low maintenance requirement. Supply interruptions can be supplemented by using a generator. Electricity is one of the costs on dairy farms which continue to increase. Carbon taxes and renewable Public Service Obligation (PSO) levies to fund renewables are likely to put upward pressure on electricity prices. It is also important to consider water treatment technologies to combat hard water supplies in such areas.

Gas

Depending on farm water pressure, there are gas boilers which can achieve a reliable and consistent 70 litres of hot water at 80C within seven minutes. Gas systems proide hot water at the flick of a switch with no waiting time associated with water heating. Our challenge with gas is that Ireland is not self-sufficient in gas supplies and prices are dependent on global market forces.

Oil

Oil-fired water heating systems can provide large volumes of hot water very quickly, although the maintenance requirements. The capital costs can be higher than those of electric systems. The use of oil to heat water is not restricted by night rate electricity rates. For oil heating systems a separate boiler and fuel storage tank will be required. The price of oil can fluctuate, with sudden spikes caused by surges in demand, weather conditions and geopolitical factors. As oil is delivered by road, supply deliveries could be interrupted due to poor weather conditions such as snow and ice. Its important to consider that oil is cheaper than daytime electricity, with costs similar to cheap rate electricity.

Heat Recovery Unit

Cooling milk in the bulk tank releases heat that is normally evacuated into the air by the condenser of the refrigeration unit. The refrigerant leaving the compressor of a milk cooling system is at 21-27C  energy that can be used to pre-heat water before it enters a water heater. A heat recovery unit (HRU) transfers this energy from the refrigerant to water in a storage tank, raising the water temperature. The most common type is essentially a large, insulated water tank that recovers heat from the refrigerant whenever the compressors run. The water heater is filled from the HRU, which in turn is fed by cold water from either the mains or a borehole. An HRU can pre-heat the water to 45-60C.

One of the key factors influencing the efficiency of an HRU is whether a mains water Plate Heat Exchanger (PHE) is used with the milk cooler. This reduces the amount of refrigeration-based cooling required and, therefore, means there is less heat to recover. A HRU can be retro fitted into existing installations. The heat coming from cooling a litre of milk from 35C to 4C can heat a litre of water to 50C. Installing an HRU is a specialised job and should be done by a registered refrigeration technician with experience of heat recovery equipment. Incorrect installation will stress the compressors and drive higher power consumption as well as decreasing compressor life. Installation by anyone other than the original manufacturer/commissioner of the system will almost certainly void the warranty. A guarantee should be sought for heat recovery installations.

Solar Thermal

Solar energy is a clean and efficient sustainable source of energy. A solar hot water system has the following main components: collectors, which absorb as much heat as possible from the suns radiation; a heat transfer system made up of insulated pipework containing the heat transfer fluid; a water pump (which requires electricity); a heat exchange system; measurement equipment and a control system; and a water storage vessel. The most common system is a pressurised indirect primary circuit  the hot water from the solar collectors is pumped through a heat exchanger in the boiler to pre-heat the water. Lower-cost options are available and include thermo-siphon systems, which integrate the collector with the storage tank. Solar heating systems have a long life with low maintenance  many work reliably for at least 20 to 25 years. On sites with high hot water demand, such as dairy units, the system can pay for itself two or three times over during its working life. The initial capital outlay is higher than that for other systems. A solar thermal system normally connects into any existing setup, taking most of the energy load from an immersion heater. There is no grant support for solar thermal systems and the payback is approx. 10 years.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV)

Solar PV generates renewable electricity from the sun. It qualifies for a TAMS grant for up to 11 kWp system. An 11 kW PV system can save about 4.5 tonnes CO2 per year. Similar to other energy efficient and renewable technologies it qualifies for accelerated capital allowances. A diverter can divert excess electricity to heat the immersion tank (buffer tank). This mean that the immersion tank acts as a battery store to allow excess electricity produced at times of the day when it cannot be used and allow it to heat the hot water tank. PV has a payback at about 6 years for grants at 40%. Young trained farmers can receive a grant of 60% which gives a 4.5 year payback.

Considerations when replacing your old water heater

Water storage tank should be sized to provide enough hot water for one milking as a minimum, according to the number of cows being milked  Irish Standards require a minimum of 18 litres of boiler capacity per milking unit, irrespective of the method of cleaning used.

Farm energy costs should be calculated before selecting a heating method

Look for a system with a high Energy Factor rating

Weigh up the price of the heater against the annual running costs

Test water for hardness  a water softener should be installed in hard water areas

Top Tips for running water heaters
The PHA said the contractor which tested masks on some occasions inadvertently applied a fit-testing setting not normally used in Northern Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA)

A company which conducted improper tests on masks protecting staff against coronavirus should be withdrawn until investigation is complete, nurses said.

Health care workers have been left concerned and anxious, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) added.

UK fitting requirements were not followed by an independent contractor but any risk to users is likely to be low, the Public Health Agency (PHA) said.

6/6 @RCN_NI Director @patcullen9 concluded: "It is totally unacceptable that staff find out about such issues in this way and we have no doubt anxiety will be heightened. Communication with staff must improve as a matter of urgency. pic.twitter.com/Q5shjL3AyH  RCN Northern Ireland (@RCN_NI) June 24, 2020

RCN Northern Ireland director Pat Cullen said: The RCN has asked the Department of Health to withdraw the company involved from completing any further work until an objective, external investigation is completed.

This is what our members expect and deserve.

The PHA has been asked by the Department of Health to undertake a serious adverse incident review.

The contractor which tested masks on some occasions inadvertently applied a fit-testing setting not normally used in Northern Ireland, the PHA said.

Doctors believe the Republics standards designed to prevent leaks were met instead.

The PHA said this should have been readjusted to the UKs requirements.

Ms Cullen said: The RCN is extremely concerned at the revelation that some health care staff have been put at risk as a result of incorrect fitting of respiratory masks.

We have written to the Department of Health and health care trusts urgently, demanding answers on a number of issues.

She added: Our members will rightly be very concerned about these unfolding developments and will require support and advice on managing the levels of risk they have been exposed to.

Dr Tom Black, chairman of the British Medical Associations Northern Ireland Council, said the testing may have met standards set in the Republic of Ireland, which follows the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He added: At this stage we cannot quantify the risk this oversight has had on staff affected, but at the very least it has damaged confidence in the fit testing system.

This confidence was already tested with issues over supply and quality of personal protective equipment at the start of the pandemic.

Weve also been told by some of our own members they were left with the impression they had failed fit testing only to be informed they had passed.

One more person has died from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, bringing the overall total to 547, the Department of Health said.

Expand Close Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann said Covid-19 had hit care homes hard (Michael Cooper/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann said Covid-19 had hit care homes hard (Michael Cooper/PA)

A new group has been established to learn from care home experiences of Covid-19, Health Minister Robin Swann added.

The group includes representation from the independent care home sector, the Health and Social Care system and the Royal College of Nursing.

Mr Swann said: There is no doubt that Covid-19 has hit our care homes very hard.

They have been and will continue to be to the fore in all our efforts against this virus.

We must do everything we can to protect them.
Monitoring home isolation of Covid cases requires specialised teams experienced in remote and residential patient care services, government officials and experts said on Wednesday as uncertainty persisted over whether a private company that has been carrying out this task in the national capital will be allowed to continue.

The company, Portea Medical, was caught in a tussle between the Delhi government and lieutenant governor Anil Baijal, who  as head of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority  scrapped the contract citing lack of due process.

The reasoning has been strongly rejected by the Aam Aadmi Party government that said the arrangement was made following central guidelines that allow for expediting of such processes in emergency situations like a pandemic.

The Disaster Management Act specifically allows the Centre and state governments battling disasters and epidemics to procure goods and services without following the time-consuming tendering process, using a nomination route, a Delhi government spokesperson said on Wednesday, adding that timeliness of decisions was most crucial to ensure lives are saved.

Even to procure services though nomination route, there is a due process which was followed in this case, the spokesperson added.

According to data from government officials and comments made by grassroots medical staff, the task of following up with home isolation cases requires phone calls to all active patients recuperating at their residence  a role that needs dedicated teams.

Given the scale of the pandemic and keeping in mind our existing health infrastructure, it is not possible for the health workers to call every home isolation patient every day and advice them on best practices, a government official said, asking not to be named.

Porteas contract was cancelled on June 19 but the company was allowed to carry on follow-ups with 10,490 active home isolation cases it had been handling at the time. Since then, this number has grown by at least 4,000 and these new cases now need to be followed up by staff under the district surveillance officer (DSO) for whom the task is in addition to the containment and contact tracing responsibilities.

Two DSOs said their work load has increased manifolds since June 20, when the old guidelines were changed.

First we are supposed to get the list of those testing positive in our district from the respective medical offices. Once we have the list we start visiting the homes of asymptomatic and mild patients for their clinical assessment and also to check their home for elibility, if needed. Now our teams have been asked to also make follow up calls to all home quarantine patients. We are managing with whatever little staff we have and sometimes calling one patient twice a day is not possible, one of these officers said, asking not to be named.

The other officer added that they are also now fielding an increasing number of calls since cases are going up.

According to the Delhi health bulletin, there were 14,844  or 56% of the citys active cases  in home isolation on Wednesday.

Suddenly, there is excessive burden on district surveillance officers and that can have a negative impact on Covid management efforts. Surveillance and management of home isolation cases require very specific training in the fields of data collection, data management and creating a quick response mechanism. Not all surveillance officers are experts on all fields. So, having an additional support system for this job is recommended, said Jugal Kishore, head of community medicines department in Safdarjung Hospital.

In a statement, Portea detailed the scope of the work involved with home isolation, saying a comprehensive tracking system involving government doctors and experts from Portea monitored patients for the entire mandated isolation period of 17 days.

Portea also submits regular reports on their condition flagging off any health complications. If required, the company arranges for a teleconsultation with Delhi government doctors using its technology platform. For cases where hospitalisation may be needed, Portea notifies the appropriate government agency for action on the ground, it said, adding that it also handled identification of patients who can leave home isolation.

According to government data, of the 16,301 patients enrolled by the company, about 3% required hospitalisation  and 0.1% among them succumbed.

To blame the process or an agency is clearly an afterthought by the LG and central government to justify a poorly taken decision that was quickly reversed after widespread criticism by the media, citizens, RWAs, the government official quoted above said.
State and local public health authorities have not yet built a fully robust system for contact tracing four months after coronavirus began sweeping through Oregon, according to public records released Tuesday.

The Oregon Health Authority in May said health officials would need at least 631 full-time contact tracers, who are key in reducing the virus spread by identifying who may have been exposed to known infections. Officials later said the number would likely rise to 800 or more positions.

The actual tally as of June 12? About 600 people, the health authority revealed Tuesday.

Records released by the Oregon Health Authority also appear to show 11 counties still lacked the tracers that state officials initially declared each must have before gradually easing stay-home order restrictions. That includes Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Marion counties, home to the states greatest number of infections.

Dr. Thomas Jeanne, the states deputy health officer and deputy epidemiologist, said state and county public health authorities have made strong progress. The number of workers available to perform contact tracing has quadrupled, he said, since they identified the first infection Feb. 28.

I think this is a good step forward for us as a state, he said. Its really encouraging to see. But were not done yet.

Disclosure of the worker counts comes three weeks after The Oregonian/OregonLive filed a public records request for the data. State officials previously said they did not know how many tracers were working but would survey counties to find out.

Oregons contact tracing capacity has already come under strain despite having relatively few cases compared to other states, with 7,274 confirmed or presumed infections. A recent outbreak at a Lincoln County seafood facility on the Oregon Coast, for example, sent officials scrambling to increase staffing to slow the spread of the virus.

The states benchmark of 631 contact tracers is based on 15 workers per 100,000 residents. Some public health experts have said the number should be double that during the pandemic.

Gov. Kate Brown allowed several Oregon counties to move forward with reopening despite not hitting the lower benchmark, provided that each county submit a staffing plan. Officials argued that it didnt make sense to require workers in areas with few cases.

While theres no correct number of tracers, and many variables are at play, one estimate suggests Oregon might need 1,209 workers based on recent trends that include record-level infections over the past two weeks.

That projection assumes every infection is investigated and each infection has 10 contacts. Cutting both metrics in half still shows Oregon could need upward of 700 tracers.

That suggests that there might be some work to do, said Candice Chen, an associate professor at The George Washington University who is involved in the estimates.

The George Washington University and two national organizations, representing public health agencies and officials, built the online estimator. An analysis by National Public Radio using that estimator last week suggested Oregon was one of seven states with enough tracers.

But the estimator updates daily, based on infection counts.

Chen said its possible Oregon could get by with 600-something tracers if state and local public health agencies are able to work together seamlessly.

Theres a lot of unknowns, she said.

Public health officials use contact tracing to slow the spread of contagious diseases. Workers called case investigators interview someone who is infected, asking detailed questions about when they became sick and people they may have exposed. Workers called contact tracers use that information to notify people who were in close contact to the infected person and advise them to quarantine at home.

The tally released by Oregon on Tuesday distinguishes between tracers and investigators, to include all workers, keeping in line with national projections.

Jeanne, Oregons deputy epidemiologist, said its not implausible 1,200 or more could eventually be needed statewide.

But Jeanne also said theres not a timeline or number for more staff, acknowledging he was not aware of the 800-worker figure previously disclosed by the state in a draft plan. Officials never finalized that document.

We met the initial target and were going to expand as needed, he said, insisting that Oregon had accomplished its original goal.

The Oregon Health Authority did not claim in its press release that it surpassed 631 full-time workers, however, announcing in a carefully worded statement that the current statewide total of county and state contact tracers is now about 600 people.

That includes nearly 100 state employees who are ready to assist counties with case investigation and contact tracing in the event of an outbreak.

The tally also came with several caveats.

It listed as many as 63 workers in Multnomah County, for instance, even though 19 of those are only part time and equal only 6 full-time employees. It also included 45 volunteers or university students in Lane County and several workers who had not yet been hired in several jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, four counties did not provide updated worker counts beyond what was initially shared in April.

The sum of all workers listed, by county, totals about 565. The Oregon Health Authority could not say how many of its additional 100 listed workers had actually performed contact tracing, although some have been assigned to outbreaks in Lincoln and Union counties.

Meanwhile, officials in the Portland area acknowledged they are still working to hire and train tracers.

Kate Willson, a Multnomah County spokeswoman, said officials plan to meet the states goal for the county of 122 full-time-equivalent workers by the end of July.

Washington County was listed by the state as having only 68 workers, below the 90 needed. A spokeswoman, Mary Sawyers, said staffing totals should hit 86 by early July.

Clackamas County had only 29 full-time-equivalent workers, according to the state, far short of the 63 needed. A county spokesman declined to say when the county would hit its benchmark but wrote in a statement that we are continuing to hire as time goes on.

Marion County officials, which reportedly have only 30 of the needed 52 workers, didnt respond to a request for comment.

It appears more contact tracers have helped Oregon investigate infections.

State officials set a benchmark that investigators should attempt to contact someone with an infection within 24 hours, 95% of the time.

Workers regularly failed to hit that until May, according to state statistics. But now the benchmark is regularly surpassed.

Whether it is a truly useful indicator remains to be seen, however.

Jeanne, the states deputy health officer, was unaware of the precise definition the state was using. He assumed officials needed to actually speak to the person  not simply attempt to reach someone.

I dont see how thats very useful, he said of tracking whether someone had only left a voicemail.

An agency spokesman later confirmed the metric tracks only an attempted contact.

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt

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President Trumps executive order this week extending restrictions on worker visas may seem common sense to some people.

As he did in April, when the original 60-day visa ban was implemented, the president is arguing that the move will shield U.S. workers from the threat of competition for scarce jobs. Back then, a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll showed that rationale rang true with 65 percent of Americans, who supported the temporary halt  including almost 50 percent of Democrats and 67 percent of independents.

And why not extend it? Were in the middle of a global pandemic. Twenty million people are without a job. The last thing America needs is more workers, right?

Right, in certain sectors. Its a different story in others. The need for foreign workers isnt determined by the sheer number of jobs but by the kinds of jobs.

Quite a few businesses, many already hurting due to coronavirus shutdowns, could be injured further by Trumps move to limit their hiring options.

Even Trump supporters get this and are urging him to reconsider.

Those who believe legal immigration, particularly work visas, are harmful to the American worker do not understand the American economy, South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham tweeted on Monday. This decision, in my view, will have a chilling effect on our economic recovery.

Grahams comments are in line with a letter he and eight other senators, including Texas Sen. John Cornyn, wrote to the president in late May. The lawmakers stressed that there are already protections for American workers in the law and guest workers are needed to boost American business, not take American jobs.

The new restrictions, in place until the end of the year, deny entry to the United States under the H-1B, L, J and H-2B designations. These cover both skilled workers, such as computer engineers, and low-skill labor, including seasonal workers at amusement parks or resorts. There are exceptions for immigrants who work in the food service industry and those whose entry is in the national interest, such as health care workers.

So, do temporary workers depress wages and take jobs away from Americans? There are instances: in 2014, as ProPublica reported, Disney laid off about 250 long-time workers in computer jobs only to replace them with Indian workers they were required to train.

But studies have shown its not a widespread problem, said Pia Orrenius, vice president and senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

For the most part, employers would prefer to hire American workers and skip the onerous legal requirements to bring in a foreign employee, but the American workforce cannot fully satisfy existing demand  even with the pandemic. In fact, some companies are having more trouble hiring right now, which Orrenius attributes to workers choosing to take advantage of unemployment insurance as well as safety concerns over returning to work.

Many of the low-skill jobs that Americans used to do are no longer considered valid occupations, experts said. At the same time, the United States is not producing enough workers in the high-demand fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Many companies are fighting to stay open right now and need immigrant labor to work alongside homegrown talent. If they go under, they wont be hiring anyone.

There is a case to be made in terms of asking if weve become over-reliant on these temporary worker programs, Orrenius told the editorial board. But is this the time, when businesses are struggling, to be asking that question?

Dallas and Houston are very dependent on the high-skill H-1B workforce, most of which works in the computing field  a sector that has actually seen unemployment go down during the outbreak, according to an analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy.

The president should listen to GOP senators who advise him to consider a flexible, data-driven approach that will ensure an adequate supply of labor across all industries.

Of course, pragmatic considerations over the ailing economy and the survival of American businesses may rank somewhere just below Trumps election year push to appeal to anti-immigrant elements.

If the president is really interested in looking out for the American worker, he needs to look beyond his political base.
A British engineer is facing up to 30 years in a French prison after being charged with murdering his Romanian wife during a post-coronavirus lockdown reunion.

Craig Sneddon, who is in his 40s and from Kirkcaldy, Scotland, was arrested in the early hours of June 13  a Saturday  outside their holiday rental in the southern city of Aix-en-Provence.

The body of his wife, Madalina Sneddon, who was also in her 40s and originally from Romania, was lying at the bottom of a stairwell of the upmarket building on Boulevard Francois and Emile Zola.

An investigating source said Sneddon had made an emergency call saying his wife had been involved in an accident after their reunion turned sour.

'The couple had not seen each other for weeks because of travel restrictions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic,' said the source.

Madalina Sneddon (left) is pictured with husband Craig Sneddon (right) in an undated photograph. Madalina's dead body was found at the bottom of a stairwell in their upmarket holiday rental in the French southern city of Aix-en-Provence on June 13

Madalina Sneddon's (pictured in an undated photograph) injuries were not consistent with a fall, according to the autopsy report

'Their reunion was just before the weekend, after the wife was finally able to travel from Britain to France.

'They had spent Friday night in their rented flat on the top floor of the building, apparently drinking heavily.

'Neighbours heard a lot of commotion  shouting and screaming included. The building is normally very quiet.

'The emergency services got a call from the panicked man using broken French to say his wife had hurt herself, and when they arrived at the scene they found her dead.

'Paramedics were suspicious immediately, and detectives set up a crime scene, cordoning off the area.

Pictured: The holiday rental on Boulevard Francois and Emile Zola in Aix-en-Provence where Madalina was found dead on June 13

'The suspect said he had discovered the body when he got up, and could remember very little about the night before because of his drinking.'

Sneddon was interviewed through an interpreter, and denied having anything to do with his wifes death.

An autopsy was performed on Ms Sneddons body on Monday June 15, and her 'injuries were found to be inconsistent with a fall,' said the investigating source.

Sneddon was held at the nearby Luynes remand centre after being placed 'mis en examen'  literally 'placed under investigation', and the French equivalent of being charged.

It means that an instructing judge supported by judicial police will gather evidence prior to Sneddons trial at a date to be fixed.

If he is found guilty of murder, he faces up to 30 years in prison in France.

Aix prosecutors confirmed that bail had been refused, and that Sneddon remained in custory.

The UK Foreign Office is believed to be assisting other members of the Sneddon family in connection with the incident.
It might surprise contemporary Americans that for most of our history, what we call culture war debates  arguments about rights, social justice, the moral organization of society  were often settled through democratic deliberation, rather than the kind of ruling the Supreme Court just delivered on gay and transgender civil rights. Congress debated and passed laws. State legislatures did the same. Constitutional amendments were proposed, passed, ratified  and when necessary, repealed.

This was true even when the debates in question led to the Civil War. In 1864, while Ulysses Grant and William Sherman prepared their offensives, Abraham Lincoln didnt demand that the Supreme Court declare slavery unconstitutional. Instead, he pushed the Senate to amend the Constitution to abolish it.

Subsequent battles over Catholicism and public education, womens suffrage and temperance all had similar legislative goals. The long struggle for civil rights was aided by Brown v. Board of Education and Loving v. Virginia, but the crucial action was in Congress, where the major civil rights laws ultimately passed. The following decade, feminists naturally sought their own constitutional amendment, the Equal Rights Amendment, and its defeat was seen as a milestone in conservatisms rise.

All of those battles belong to a lost world. Today, constitutional amendments have become unimaginable, Congress barely legislates, and the Supreme Court manages our social and cultural debates. Our affirmative action system was designed by Lewis Powell and amended by Sandra Day OConnor. The boundaries of voting rights and free expression are policed by John Roberts. Our abortion laws reflect the preferences of Anthony Kennedy. And now anti-discrimination law and religious liberty protections will reflect what Neil Gorsuch, author of the new decision, thinks is right and good.

Occasionally, a conservative ruling or Republican appointment threatens to inspire a left-wing revolt against the juristocracy. But the courts have not yet claimed as much power over economic policy as over social policy, and the willingness of Republican appointees to swim leftward on social issues has reassured liberals that judicial power is just a natural extension of meritocracy.

This means its been left to religious conservatives  the losers in many of the courts culture-war decisions, going back to the school prayer rulings after World War II  to make the consistent case against the judicial usurpation of politics.

In making that case, conservatives have championed constrained schools of legal interpretation, originalism and textualism, against a values-driven jurisprudence. A living constitutionalism naturally usurps democratic powers, the argument goes, in a way that a jurisprudence bound to textual language or original intent does not.

There was power and plausibility in this view, especially as embodied in the brilliance of the late Antonin Scalia. But it always reflected a slightly naive view of how power works and grows.

For one thing, the laws ambiguities provide ample space for even a mind that imagines itself constrained  even Scalias mind, in some cases  to argue its way into ruling on behalf of its ideological objectives. Meanwhile, politics abhors a power vacuum, and our juristocracy has claimed new powers in part because Congress doesnt want them, a tendency that originalism is powerless to change.

And the public seems to have accepted this abdication. The main question in American social life, blogger Tanner Greer recently observed, is not, How do we make that happen? but, How do we get management to take our side? The Supreme Court, clothed in meritocratic authority, seems more like management than Congress.

All of these tendencies converged in Gorsuchs decision. The goal of his ruling, civil rights protections for gay and transgender Americans, is widely shared; the problem is that Congress has no desire to negotiate over the uncertain implications  for religious liberty, single-sex institutions, transgender athletes and more. So Gorsuch (with Roberts support) took the burden on himself, discovering the desired protections in the text of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (an act of sophistry, not interpretation) and then suggesting that all the uncertainties would be worked out in future cases  in other words, by Gorsuch, arbiter of sexual and religious liberties alike.

That a textualist philosophy and a Federalist Society pedigree didnt restrain him from this self-aggrandizement suggests the conservative legal movement needs either a new theory of its purpose, a new personnel strategy or both.

But outside the right, the welcome afforded Gorsuchs ruling  which reached the popular outcome and relieved our legislators of a responsibility they didnt want  is a telling indication of how our system is understood to work. We may officially have three branches of government, but Americans seem to accept that its more like 2.25: A presidency that acts unilaterally whenever possible, a high court that checks the White House and settles culture wars, and a Congress that occasionally bestirs itself to pass a budget.

What sort of Republic this is, and whether we will keep it, is for a higher court than Gorsuchs to decide.

Ross Douthat is a columnist for The New York Times.
T he Nightingale Hospitals will remain on standby in case of a second coronavirus wave, Downing Street has confirmed.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the country may need the hospitals in the months ahead.

It comes after chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty used the final daily Downing Street briefing to warn about winter pressures caused by Covid-19.

The spokesman told a briefing of Westminster journalists: We may still need Nightingale Hospitals in the future and will maintain that extra capacity.

Downing Street confirmed the hospitals in Birmingham, Manchester, London, Harrogate and Bristol were all on standby.

Also in reserve is the Sunderland hospital, which opened at the start of May, and the Exeter hospital which is still being built and due to be completed next month.

Asked if they would be kept on standby indefinitely, the spokesman replied: We will keep them on standby until we have certainty that they are not going to be required.

He said none of the hospitals were currently treating patients, adding: We have taken unprecedented action to support the NHS and thanks to the hard work of NHS staff hospitals were not overwhelmed.

We will continue to ensure our health and NHS services have the resources they need and are working closely with the NHS to prepare for the winter months.

Prof Whitty said said last night: "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.

"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."

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 21:11:05|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Voter turnout in the parliamentary elections in Mongolia has reached 52.6 percent, the country's General Authority for State Registration (GASR) said Wednesday.

"As of 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday, 52.6 percent of the total voters, or 1.05 million people, have casted their ballots," Barsuren Baasandorj, head of the GASR, said at a news conference at the headquarters of the General Election Commission (GEC).

He also called on voters, particularly young ones, to actively participate in the elections.

Voting began at 7:00 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Tuesday), and will last for 15 hours at 2,070 polling stations across the country, according to the GEC.

A total of 13 political parties, four coalitions and 137 independent candidates are running for the regular parliamentary elections, and more than 2.1 million Mongolians are eligible to vote, the GEC said.

The State Great Khural, Mongolia's unicameral parliament, consists of 76 lawmakers serving a four-year term. Enditem
Latvia is honoring the doctors, nurses, and medical workers on the front lines in the fight against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, with a giant statue in the nations capital.

A 6-meter statue in Latvia honors medical workers for their relentless hard work amid the battle against the pandemic. (aijaphoto/Shutterstock)

Artist Aigars Bikse unveiled the statue on June 16 at a ceremony outside the Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga. The statue, which is almost 20 feet tall (6 meters), shows a female medical worker in a lab coat, mask, and gloves stretching her arms toward the sky with her eyes closed. Shes wearing pink clogs and has a stethoscope around her neck.

Bikse, the artist behind the sculpture, titled Medics to the World, told Reuters it took about three months to create. The sculptor said that he was inspired by seeing the relentless heroic sacrifices the health care workers were making to save their patients.

I was watching the news, I was watching how medics met great difficulties in Italy, how they slept on hospital floors, how their faces were wounded due to wearing masks for long hours. I understood that I, as an artist, as a sculptor, should say something, he said, according to a Reuters translation.

According to Latvian Public Broadcasting, LSM.lv, the organizers of the initiative said: The people of Latvia are thankful to the medics in Latvia and all over the world for their selfless service during the COVID-19 pandemic and have put up a monument by a famous Latvian artist to health care personnel, supported by donations of almost 20 local companies.

Bikse, who is also a professor at the Art Academy of Latvia, said that a lot of people in the country have for the first time realized the importance of health care workers and in the three-month lockdown period changed their perspective toward them.

The wellbeing of the society requires concerted and responsible action. It means that everyone follows expert advicemaintaining social distance, washing hands, and while medical staff take care of the infected, Dita Raiska, the president of the Latvian Nurses Association, said at the unveiling ceremony. I am pleased that the Latvian people are aware of this responsibility and I am pleased to see that the people have appreciated our work.

A 6-meter-high statue of a female doctor by Latvian artist Aigars Bikse called Medics to the World, which stands in front of the National Museum of Arts as a sign of gratitude from the Latvian society to all health care workers for their selfless service during the CCP virus pandemic, on June 17, 2020, in Riga, Latvia. (GINTS IVUSKANS/AFP via Getty Images)

People all over the world have been showing their appreciation for health care workers during the global pandemic.

In many cities, residents have come out to celebrate in the night on their balconies and doorsteps to cheer for hospital staff and other essential workers.

Brazils Christ the Redeemer statue was illuminated to look like a doctor on Easter Sunday in honor of health care workers and a face mask was projected onto it last month to encourage people to protect themselves from the virus.

Latvia, which borders Russia in Northern Europe, has reported 1,111 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 30 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The CNN Wire contributed to this report.
A line was crossed, Chicago pastor says after 3-y-o is among 14 killed in single weekend

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A line was crossed, the pastor of a Chicago church spoke out after the city had its most violent weekend this year with 14 people, including a 3-year-old girl, killed and more than 100 shot.

This is a horrific Fathers Day. This 3-year-old baby lost his life, the Rev. Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church told a group of local residents who had gathered at Chicagos North Central Avenue Sunday afternoon to denounce the shootings, according to Chicago Tribune. I could not pastor this community and not say something.

The crowd comprised of neighbors of 3-year-old Mekhi James, who had been shot dead in the violent spree.

The pastor referred to protests against police brutality over the death of George Floyd. He expressed concerns about the safety of the citys black youth. We say black lives matter, but were here to say black baby lives matter more, he was quoted as saying.

Acree announced that his church will set a $2,500 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the person who shot the baby.

A police source was quoted as saying that the babys father may have been the intended target of the shooting.

At least 102 people were shot, 14 fatally, in separate incidents across the city from Friday evening to Monday morning, Chicago Sun-Times reported.

In one incident, a 13-year-old girl was shot while she was inside a home at North LeClaire Avenue, according to Sun-Times Media. She was struck in the neck and pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital.

Two boys, 15 and 16, were also shot while walking in an alley a little after midnight in the West Superior Street area.

Two more teenage boys, ages 16 and 17, were killed in a shooting at South Luella Avenue in South Chicago, CBS Local reported. The boys were in an alley when a man walked up, took out a gun and shot both of them.

These individuals were with their friend. Theyd just gone to a mall. They know the neighborhood. They dont ever go out to the neighborhood because its so dangerous, Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said.

Police released images of the suspect in the South Luella Avenue shooting, saying the gunman was wearing a black Puma hooded sweatshirt and ripped faded jeans. He was wearing one shoe on the left foot and a black sock on his seemingly injured right foot.

Bullets dont just tear apart the things they strike, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said at a press conference Sunday. Bullets also tear apart families. Bullets destroy neighborhoods, and they ruin any sense of safety in a community.

I put myself in that house, holding that little girl as she struggles to breathe. I put myself in that hospital, clutching a baby with a bullet hole. Tears are a natural reaction to these tragic stories of violence. But we need to do more than just cry. Lets keep violent offenders in jail longer. And lets revamp the home monitoring program. Its not working.

In Chicago, at least 239 people have been killed this year, according to the Tribune.
Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers the keynote address during the 2020 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference at Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California, June 22, 2020.

Apple has bought Fleetsmith, a company that makes tools that enable businesses to more easily deploy iPhones and Macs to their workers.

"We're thrilled to join Apple," the company said in a blog post. An Apple spokeswoman confirmed the acquisition. Deal terms were not disclosed.

Although Apple is primarily a consumer company that sells phones and computers to individuals, in recent years it has started to turn more attention to the enterprise market, partnering with companies such as IBM, SAP and Cisco and persuading businesses to buy iPhones and Macs as tools for their workforce. The Fleetsmith acquisition will help offer a wider range of products and services to enterprise clients.

In 2017, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the enterprise market was the "mother of all opportunities."

Fleetsmith's software makes it easier to remotely configure, wipe and deploy these devices, a kind of product called mobile device management, or MDM, specifically focusing on Apple products.

It launched in 2016 and raised over $40 million in venture capital from investors including Menlo Ventures, according to TechCrunch. It has 75 employees, according to LinkedIn.

In the blog post, Fleetsmith said that it is looking forward "to continuing to deliver Fleetsmith to existing and new customers."
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Linkedin Matthew Lavietes (Thomson Reuters Foundation) New York, United States  Wed, June 24, 2020 08:00 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066121770 2 World LGBT,LGBT-rights,employees,minority-groups,inclusion,Diversity Free

LGBT+ Americans are largely absent from the highest ranks of corporate America, where they often feel insulted and isolated, a study showed on Tuesday, putting into question the efficacy of efforts at inclusion and diversity.

The findings come despite business support for events such as pride parades and corporations speaking out against anti-LGBT+ measures such as those seeking to bar same-sex couple adoption, said authors of the study by McKinsey & Co., a top US management consulting firm.

In corporate America, LGBT+ workers are significantly underrepresented and are more often subject to demeaning jokes and comments than are their straight colleagues, the study said.

"Support is at an all-time high for the LGBT+ community in corporate America, but we're not where we want to be," said Ana Mendy, a co-author of the study.

"We have a long way to go to translate good intention into actual results," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Among the efforts at corporate inclusion, hundreds of major consumer brands have become regular sponsors of annual LGBT+ pride events and donated millions of dollars to LGBT+ causes.

Corporations also have been transforming recruitment practices and marketing tactics to attract an LGBT+ workforce and LGBT+ consumers.

The US Supreme Court last week delivered a landmark victory for LGBT+ rights by ruling that federal law barring workplace discrimination includes protection for gay and transgender employees.

More than 200 corporations became involved in the case by signing court documents in support of the expanded protection.

An estimated 4.5% of Americans identify as LGBT+, according to the Williams Institute, a research center at the University of California. Of those, 58% are women and 42% are men.

But in corporate America, LGBT+ men make up 3.1% of entry-level employees and 2.9% of top executives, the report found.

LGBT+ women make up 2.3% of entry-level employees, 1.6% of managers and just 0.6% of top corporate executives.

The researchers surveyed about 65,000 employees from about 300 corporations in 2018 and 2019.

Among those companies, only four chief executives were openly LGBT+ and none were transgender, it said.

In the study, LGBT+ respondents reported that they repeatedly had to explain their gender identity to colleagues, something nearly half said they had to do at least once a week.

LGBT+ women were twice as likely as women overall to experience "onlyness," being the only one with their gender identity or sexual orientation, and seven times more likely to feel that way than straight white men, the report found.

Among LGBT+ women of color, two-thirds said they experienced "onlyness."

Underrepresentation and isolation combined have led to a greater likelihood of LGBT+ people being vulnerable to sexist jokes, demeaning remarks and sexual harassment, the report said.

More than half of the LGBT+ women said they had experienced sexual harassment at work, 1.4 times more than straight women and 1.9 times more than LGBT+ men, it said.
One of many families settled in a house made with mud, sticks and tin sheet, at a vacant lot since they cannot afford to pay rent anymore in the municipality of Sucre

As faith-based organizations pray together for an end to the pandemic, Bishop Mario Moronta of San Cristobal says the socio-economic situation in his country is increasingly serious.

By Vatican News

The sheer numbers of families, migrants and vulnerable people living on the margins of society and in need of humanitarian assistance in Venezuela grow by the day.

According to San Cristobal Bishop Mario Moronta, Vice President of the countrys Catholic Bishops Conference, the coronavirus pandemic has compounded the suffering of millions of poor people as it impacts even the most basic charitable activities.

Bishop Moronta told Vatican Radio that members of the Venezuelan Interreligious Social Council are praying together on Wednesday for the end of the pandemic.

Interreligious Social Council

The recently set up Council was established by representatives of Christian churches (Catholics, Evangelicals, Anglicans and Adventists), the Jewish community and a group of social organizations, to provide an inclusive forum that aims to contribute to the mitigation and solution of the serious problems Venezuelan society is experiencing.

At a time in which Latin America has become the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, Venezuelan health care institutions crippled by the lack of medical supplies and medicines are unable to cope with the over 4,000 registered infections.

The crisis is striking a country where a quarter of the population needs humanitarian assistance, over 90% of families live in poverty, and where the borders are stormed by thousands of migrants in search of work and basic necessities.

Faith-based organizations assisting the poor

Bishop Moronta said that in the face of the enormous challenges posed by the situation, faith-based organizations are engaged on the frontlines in the name of universal kinship, at the service of the poor.

He said that in an ecumenical and interreligious approach, believers are committed to practicing charity and giving witness of solidarity in the certainty that all of us are children of the same human family, and all of us believe in God. So, not only with prayer and praise to the Lord, but also in concrete action we are working together for the integral development of the whole of society.

Whatever our religious tradition, we are brothers and sisters, we all belong to the same family, he said.

The Bishop of San Cristobal described the conditions of poverty and hunger as growing more serious every day. He explained that the quarantine measures imposed by authorities to help curb the spread of the virus are adding to the difficulties of those who are in need of basic aid.

It is not easy to visit people and families to bring them relief, he said, adding that more than 12,000 Venezuelans are trapped along either side of the border with Colombia, and cannot move because of the restrictions.

Thank God that the Diocese of Cucuta has a large aid programme in place with which it is trying to deal with the situation, he said. But, throughout Venezuela, he continued, church organizations are doing their best to visit, help, accompany and support the many in need.

As Venezuela faces this most critical time, Bishop Moronta said the Church is focussing on three main areas: the first is raising awareness regarding the importance of staying healthy, both physically and spiritually; the second, preparing for the post-pandemic period through prayer and refection "as it will surely bring about a shift in lifestyle"; the third, particularly for the Church, the challenge of being ever closer to the people with a sign of hope in the name of the Lord.

Beatification of Jose Gregorio Hernandez Cisneros

Finally, Bishop Moronta gave thanks for the news of the Pope Francis's approval for the beatification of the Venezuelan layman, Jose Gregorio Hernandez Cisneros.

The fact that this figure who dedicated his life to the poor and the least, he said, brought joy and hope in a moment in which it is sorely needed.

To reaffirm, to renew that preferential option for the poor, of which this new blessed was truly an example, in this difficult time for Venezuela, is particularly significant, he said.

And revealing that in Venezuela Hernandez Cisneros is referred to as "the Doctor of the Poor, precisely because of his commitment and solidarity towards those most in need," Moronta said, This news engages us all: it will be a great encouragement to be living witnesses of charity and faith, just as he was.
On June 19, Turkey announced that it would use Chinese Yuan as the swap currency while importing bills from China, further strengthening the financial and trade cooperation between Turkey and China. It is expected that the settlement amount of Chinese Yuan in Turkey will be further expanded in the future.

ECVV.com has focused on Turkey and other countries along the "one belt one road" and launched Safebuy service in 2017, which is designed to ensure the safety of payment, ensure safe delivery of goods purchased and resolve the pain points for global buyers that source products from China.

ECVV Safebuy service includes supplier identification and prequalification, quotation management, auditing, product development and testing; contracting and supplier selection, QC management, logistics management, payment and supplier development, custom clearance, warehousing service and other services.

ECVV Safebuy service has been availed of by more than 3,000 international customers since its launch and has helped clients to save money, save time and be worry-free while sourcing and procuring products from China. From government agencies, manufacturers, wholesale retailers, to service centers the ECVV Safebuy service garnered rave reviews from every section.

With 13 years of service accumulation, ECVV Safebuy service has been newly upgraded recently to better provide global customers with office supplies, IT equipment, hardware tools, security products, instruments and meters, mechanical equipment and accessories, electrical lighting, chemicals and other MRO products. The one-stop sourcing service covers the MRO products required for the operation, production and maintenance of overseas enterprises, and offers an overall solution for the MRO requirements in the entire work scenario. ECVV Safebuy service is dedicated to serving global clients of large, medium, and small-sized enterprises, improving transaction security and procurement efficiency, and reducing total procurement costs.

Turkey is an important country in the Eurasian continent. ECVV will continue to delve deeply into the purchasing intention and requirements of Turkish market and provide buyers with one-stop MRO all-category global sourcing services. ECVV hopes to bring more quality suppliers and products to Turkish market and to assist all of its international clients to save money, save time, while helping them be worry-free while sourcing from China and promoting the development of bilateral economic and trade between China and Turkey.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005953/en/

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Joe Biden has taken a commanding lead over President Donald Trump in the 2020 race, building a wide advantage among women and nonwhite voters and making deep inroads with some traditionally Republican-leaning groups that have shifted away from Trump following his ineffective response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new national poll of registered voters by The New York Times and Siena College.

Biden is currently ahead of Trump by 14 percentage points, garnering 50% of the vote compared with 36% for Trump. That is among the most dismal showings of Trumps presidency, and a sign that he is the clear underdog right now in his fight for a second term.

Trump has been an unpopular president for virtually his entire time in office. He has made few efforts since his election in 2016 to broaden his support beyond the right-wing base that vaulted him into office with only 46%of the popular vote and a modest victory in the Electoral College.

But among a striking cross-section of voters, the distaste for Trump has deepened as his administration failed to stop a deadly disease that crippled the economy and then as he responded to a wave of racial-justice protests with angry bluster and militaristic threats. The dominant picture that emerges from the poll is of a country ready to reject a president whom a strong majority of voters regard as failing the greatest tests confronting his administration.

Biden leads Trump by enormous margins with black and Hispanic voters, and women and young people appear on track to choose Biden by an even wider margin than they favored Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016. But the former vice president has also drawn even with Trump among male voters, whites and people in middle age and older  groups that have typically been the backbones of Republican electoral success, including Trumps in 2016.

Arlene Myles, 75, of Denver, said she had been a Republican for nearly six decades before switching her registration to independent earlier this year during Trumps impeachment trial. Myles said that when Trump was first elected, she had resolved to give him a chance, but had since concluded that he and his party were irredeemable.

I was one of those people who stuck by Nixon until he was waving goodbye, Myles said. I thought I was a good Republican and thought they had my values, but they have gone down the tubes these last few years.

Myles said she planned to vote for Biden, expressing only one misgiving: I wish he was younger, she said.

Most stark may be Bidens towering advantage among white women with college degrees, who support him over Trump by 39 percentage points. In 2016, exit polls found that group preferred Clinton to Trump by just 7 percentage points. The poll also found that Biden has narrowed Trumps advantage with less-educated white voters.

The exodus of white voters from the GOP has been especially pronounced among younger voters, an ominous trend for a party that was already heavily reliant on older Americans.

Fifty-two percent of whites under 45 said they supported Biden while only 30% said they supported Trump. And their opposition is intense: More than twice as many younger whites viewed the president very unfavorably than very favorably.

Tom Diamond, 31, a Republican in Fort Worth, Texas, said he planned to vote for Trump but would do so with real misgivings. He called the president a poor leader who had mishandled the pandemic and said Biden seemed like a guy you can trust. But Trump held views closer to his own on the economy, health care and abortion.

Part of you just feels icky voting for him, Diamond said. But definitely from a policy perspective, thats where my votes going to go.

Some unease toward Trump stems from voters racial attitudes. According to the poll, white voters under 45 are overwhelmingly supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement, while older whites are more tepid in their views toward racial justice activism. And nearly 70% of whites under 45 said they believed the killing of George Floyd was part of a broader pattern of excessive police violence toward African Americans rather than an isolated incident.

Whats striking, though, is that even among white seniors, one of Trumps strongest constituencies, he has damaged himself with his conduct. About two-fifths of whites over 65 said they disapproved of Trumps handling of both the coronavirus and race relations.

Trump retains a few points of strength in the poll that could offer him a way to regain a footing in the race, and the feeble condition of his candidacy right now may well represent his low point in a campaign with 4 1/2 months still to go.

His approval rating is still narrowly positive on the issue of the economy, with 50% of voters giving him favorable marks compared with 45% saying the opposite. Should the fall campaign become a referendum on which candidate is better equipped to restore prosperity after the pandemic has subsided, that could give Trump a new opening to press his case.

The president is also still ahead of Biden among white voters without college degrees, who hold disproportionate influence in presidential elections because of how central the Midwest is to capturing 270 electoral votes.

Yet if Trump still has a significant measure of credibility with voters on the economy, he lacks any apparent political strength on the most urgent issues of the moment: the pandemic and the national reckoning on policing and race.

Nearly three-fifths of voters disapprove of Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including majorities of white voters and men. Self-described moderate voters disapproved of Trump on the coronavirus by a margin of more than 2-1.

Most of the country is also rejecting Trumps call to reopen the economy as quickly as possible, even at the cost of exposing people to greater health risks. By a 21-point margin, voters said the federal government should prioritize containing the coronavirus, even if it hurts the economy, a view that aligns them with Biden.

Just a third of voters said the government should focus on restarting the economy even if that entails greater public-health risks.

That debate could become the central focus of the campaign in the coming weeks, as coronavirus outbreaks grow rapidly in a number of Republican-led states that have resisted the strict lockdown measures imposed in the spring by Democratic states like New York and California.

The public also does not share Trumps resistance to mask wearing. The president has declined to don a mask in nearly all public appearances, even as top health officials in his administration have urged Americans to do so as a precaution against spreading the coronavirus. In the poll, 54% of people said they always wear a mask when they expect to be in proximity to other people, while another 22% said they usually wear a mask.

Just 22% said they rarely or never wear a mask.

Trumps job approval on race relations was just as dismal. Sixty-one percent of voters said they disapproved of Trumps handling of race, versus 33% who said they approved. By a similar margin, voters said they disapproved of his response to the protests after the death of Floyd.

Trump has sought several times in the last month to use demonstrations against the police as a political wedge issue, forcing Democrats to align themselves squarely either with law-enforcement agencies or with the most strident anti-police demonstrators.

The poll suggested most voters were rejecting that binary choice, as well as Trumps harsh characterization of protesters: Large majorities said they had a positive overall assessment of both the Black Lives Matter movement and the police.

The picture of Biden that emerges from the poll is one of a broadly acceptable candidate who inspires relatively few strong feelings in either direction. He is seen favorably by about half of voters and unfavorably by 42%. Only a quarter said they saw him very favorably, equaling the share that sees him in very negative terms.

Trump, by contrast, is seen very favorably by 27% of voters and very unfavorably by 50%.

Harry Hoyt, 72, of York County in Southern Maine, said he has sometimes voted for Republican presidential candidates in the past and cast a grudging vote for Clinton in 2016. He felt better this time about his plan to vote for Biden.

Biden would be a better candidate than Trump, simply because hes a nice person, Hoyt said. One of the most important things to me is the character of the man in charge of our country.

Significantly, one group that saw Biden as far more than just acceptable was black voters. Fifty-six percent of black respondents in the poll said they saw Biden very favorably, a far more enthusiastic judgment than from any other constituency.

The limited passion for Biden among other Democratic constituencies does not appear to be affecting his position against Trump. Though only 13% of people under 30 said they had a very favorable opinion of the former vice president, that group is backing Biden over Trump by 34 percentage points.

Nicholas Angelos, a 20-year-old voter in Bloomington, Indiana, who said he supported Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, said he would vote for Biden as the lesser of two evils. He said he believed the former vice president would try his best, in contrast to Trump, whom he described as an autocrat and anti-science.

We all have to compromise, said Angelos, who described himself as very liberal. He added of Biden, I dont think hes anything special.

For the moment, voters also appear unpersuaded by one of the primary attack lines Trump and his party have used against Biden: the claim that, at age 77, he is simply too old for the presidency. Trump, 74, has mocked Bidens mental acuity frequently over the last few months and his campaign has run television advertisements that cast Biden as absent-minded and inarticulate.

But three in five voters said in the poll that they disagreed with the claim that Biden was too old to be an effective president. The percentage of voters who agreed, 36%, exactly matched Trumps existing support in the presidential race.

Lindsay Clark, 37, who lives in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, was among the voters who said she would probably vote for Trump because she was unsure Biden was physically and mentally up to the task of being president. But Clark expressed little admiration for Trump, whom she called unpresidential.

Clark, who voted for a third-party candidate in 2016, said she was hard-pressed to name something she really liked about Trump, eventually settling on the idea that he expressed himself bluntly.

I was just trying to think if I could think of something off the top of my head that I was like, Yes, I loved when you did that! she said of Trump. And I kind of just cant.

Alexander Burns, Jonathan Martin and Matt Stevens c.2020 The New York Times Company
Houthi rebels in Yemen said they had fired missiles into Saudi Arabia early this morning that reached the capital, Riyadh.

However, Saudi Arabia said it successfully intercepted and destroyed" the missiles, which it said were headed toward Riyadh. The spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, Col. Turki al-Maliki, called the attack a hostile, deliberate and systematic operation to target civilians and civilian objects, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

The Houthi movement, backed by Iran, has been embroiled in a civil war with the internationally recognized government, supported by a Saudi Arabia-led coalition, since 2015. The movement controls the capital, Sanaa, and other parts of the north and west. Violence between the internationally recognized government and Houthi forces has increased since a cease-fire expired last month.

The Houthi-affiliated Almasirah Media Network reported that Houthi forces launched a barrage of ballistic, winged missiles and drones deep in Saudi Arabia, saying the move was a response to the Riyadh regimes bloody military campaign. The outlet said the forces hit Saudi military and intelligence targets in Riyadh and other parts of the country.

A Riyadh resident told Reuters there were two blasts and smoke in the sky early in the morning. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, according to the outlet.

The attack showcased the long-range missile capabilities of Houthi fighters. Riyadh is 990 kilometers, or 615 miles, from the Yemen border.

The attack comes at a difficult time for Yemen. Last week, Houthi rebels said a Saudi-led coalition airstrike killed 13 civilians; the coalition said the strike was aimed at armed Houthis and that civilians were not targeted. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has created additional misery in the war-torn country, and Houthi authorities have reportedly underreported virus cases. There is also discord in the Saudi-led coalition with the continued activity of United Arab Emirates-backed Southern Transitional Council separatists.
" " This 1867 newspaper sketch by Jason E. Taylor shows a freedman being sold to pay his fine in Monticello, Florida. Library of Congress

On April 9, 1865, the long and bloody American Civil War finally came to an end. It had already been two years since President Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation, but after the Confederacy's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, word slowly spread among the more than 4 million enslaved Black men, women and children that they were truly and officially free.

White plantation owners, however  in league with Southern lawmakers and Northern corporations  had other ideas. Starting with Mississippi and South Carolina, all-white state legislatures passed a series of laws called the Black Codes intent on re-enslaving African Americans by essentially criminalizing Blackness.

"[White Southerners] have a clear sense of how they want to restructure their society after the Civil War and they're going to make sure that they do that through these legal and extra-legal means," says T. Dionne Bailey, a history professor at Colgate University who specializes in African American women's history and mass incarceration.

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Slavery By Another Name

The Black Codes enacted in late 1865 and early 1866 were devised to keep freed Southern Blacks legally bound to white plantations. The greatest fear of Southern cotton growers and their Northern manufacturing partners was that with the end of slavery they would lose access to the cheap (or free) and plentiful labor that had made cotton a cash crop.

With real emancipation, newly freed Black men and women could strike out on their own, farming their own land or plying a trade as a skilled artisan. But where would that leave the large plantations, which relied on Black bodies to till their fields and pick their cotton? If slavery was illegal, there needed to be another way to keep Black people subservient and indebted to the white planters.

The answer was to pass laws like the Black Codes that criminalized any attempt by Black men and women to break free from servitude. The result was what journalist Douglas Blackmon called "Slavery By Another Name", the title of his 2008 book  namely the widespread practice of free Black men and women unjustly imprisoned, and then auctioned off to plantations and corporations to work off their "fines."

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The Black-only Crime of 'Vagrancy'

Vagrancy laws were common in the 19th-century, giving local sheriffs the authority to arrest "vagrants" who were unemployed, hanging out on the street and potentially looking for trouble. But the Black Codes in states like Mississippi and South Carolina created a whole new category of vagrancy that only applied to Black people.

"After the Civil War, the South was destroyed," says Bailey. "There was no infrastructure left. You have poor whites and newly freed Blacks, and a lot of people didn't have jobs. But these vagrancy laws specifically attacked African Americans."

According to the Black Codes, any Black person without a work contract from a white planter could be arrested for vagrancy. That means that no Black person could farm for themselves or work independently as a blacksmith or carpenter. They had to work for a white planter  often the very same person who formerly enslaved them  or go to jail.

Poor Southern whites, on the other hand, could do whatever they pleased. They could work or not work and they would never be charged with vagrancy.

A Black person arrested for vagrancy under the Black Codes would then enter a cycle of forced labor from which there was little hope of escape. First, they would be hit with a fine so exorbitant that they'd never be able to pay it. To pay off the debt, they would then be auctioned off (literally sold) to a planter who would pay the "vagrant's" wages directly to the state. Once a Black person was convicted of vagrancy, there was no incentive for former slave masters to ever set them free.

"Your labor is costing almost nothing," says Bailey. "They don't have to clothe you, they only have to feed you enough to keep you alive. And there's this sense that even if one vagrant dies, you could get another. Under this guise of vagrancy, they knew it was an unlimited source of Black bodies."

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The 13th Amendment Loophole

The U.S. Congress passed the 13th Amendment formally abolishing slavery in January 1865, before the end of the Civil War. But the amendment contained a gaping loophole that the Black Codes were quick to exploit. The 13th Amendment states (italics added):

"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

Slavery was abolished except when it was a punishment for a crime, which is why the Black Codes made "Black vagrancy" a crime. And why young Black children would be forcibly removed from their parents under the guise of "negligence" and then "apprenticed" to a white planter for no pay.

" " These convicts were leased to harvest timber in Florida, circa 1915. Wikimedia Commons

"This was a legal system set up to not only mimic slavery, but to re-enslave all these newly freed men, women and children," says Bailey. "And it effectively did."

Tens of thousands of African Americans were leased by the state to planters, miners, corporations and others to pay off these debts, the Washington Post reported.

Formerly enslaved Black men and women were afforded some new rights under the Black Codes. They could own land and property, they could legally marry (only other Black people, of course) and they could sue and testify in court (but not against whites).

But those rights were merely window dressing on laws that were expressly designed to strip freed Blacks of any real freedom, particularly the freedom to work for themselves and earn a living wage.

"[Southern lawmakers] try to hide this under the guise of, 'Well, you do have some rights. You can marry, you can testify in court,' but only if it was a person of their race," says Bailey. "[A Black person] could never take recourse against a person they worked for who was taking advantage of them or who didn't pay them."

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The Shameful Legacy of the Black Codes

The Black Codes were short-lived. The U.S. Congress, frustrated with attempts by Southern lawmakers to sidestep Reconstruction, passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which affirmed that Black Americans must be afforded the same civil rights enjoyed by white people.

In the wake of the Civil Rights Act, the federal government imposed what's known as "Radical Reconstruction" on the former Confederate states. During this time, Black men were given the right to vote and run for political office, and thousands of public schools opened across the South to serve Black children.

The Black Codes may have been nullified, but their legacy would echo down through racist post-Reconstruction laws and the indignities of Jim Crow laws that were enacted in the South in the 1890s and lasted all the way to the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s.

"The Black Codes laid the framework for how this whole system is going to work for the next 100 years," says Bailey. Jim Crow laws made it illegal for Blacks and whites to share any public facilities, meaning that both groups had separate schools, libraries, hospitals, restaurants, etc. with Blacks receiving inferior facilities to whites. Laws were enacted requiring literacy tests and/or poll taxes to be paid before voting, all designed to disenfranchise poor African Americans.

In "Slavery by Another Name," Blackmon wrote about a Black man named Green Cottenham who was arrested in 1908 in Alabama for "vagrancy," the same trumped-up charge invented 40 years earlier by the Black Codes. Cottenham was auctioned off to the northern corporation U.S. Steel, who chained him in a suffocating Birmingham, Alabama, coal mine and tasked him with mining 8 tons (7.25 metric tons) of coal a day until his fine was repaid. If he collapsed from malnourishment or fatigue, he would be whipped. And if he died, he'd be buried in a shallow, unmarked grave with the rest. More than 1,000 Black men were toiling for U.S. Steel along with Cottenham in the same mine. In less than year, 60 were dead from disease, accidents or homicide.

Blackmon called this shameful chapter of American history "neo-slavery" and it was all set in motion by the Black Codes.

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Now That's Messed Up Even today, thousands of prisoners in the U.S., mostly Black and Latino, perform work for some very large corporations and are paid less than $1 an hour.
The world's first "soundproof tunnel" for high speed trains up to 350km/h along a section of the intercity railway linking Beijing with Xiong'an New Area , north China's Hebei province, was completed on June 21.

The sound barrier project has a total length of 847.25 meters. The main structure adopts a circular steel frame with a span of 12.08 meters and a height of 9.4 meters, including a metal sound insulation board unit with a total area of about 2.2 square meters used on the periphery, which will minimize the noise generated by high-speed rail passing the bridge.

According to Zhang Tengfei, project chief engineer of the Shanghai Civil Engineering Group Co., Ltd. of the CREC, as the "first example in the world," there are several advanced technologies, such as the integral welding technology of arch structure, adopted for the first time in the country.

Li Baoge, Party branch secretary of the project, said that despite the epidemic, the overall construction period of the project was nearly half a month ahead of schedule and the project is expected to be fully completed in early July.

After the Beijing-Xiong'an intercity railway begins operation, Xiong'an New Area can directly reach Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang and other major cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with only a 30-minute drive from Xiong'an to Beijing and Tianjin, and a 60-minute drive to Shijiazhuang.

On Feb. 28, 2018, China announced plans to officially start construction on the Beijing-Xiong'an Intercity Railway, with 33.5 billion yuan (about 4.7 billion U.S. dollars) invested in the project, as a measure to advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
Being a victim, over and over again, besides being traumatic in real life, is really boring onscreen, and Lee understands that basing a Black story on such an experience is a losing proposition. His strategy in Da 5 Bloods echoes Francis Ford Coppolas in Apocalypse Now, which he references often  reserve the starring role for American men who struggle with their own heart of darkness. In a brilliant performance, Lindo becomes a kind of Black Ahab, driven by demons until he meets his fate. Da 5 Bloods shows Black men as agents of their own destiny, capable of both heroism and horror, as we all are as human beings whose inhumanity is an inextricable part of ourselves. This complex subjectivity is what white Hollywood has mostly denied Black people, and it is what they deserve. But so do the Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians and Hmong.

Perhaps this is asking too much from a Black story, but its Lee himself who sets the high bar. Da 5 Bloods clearly aspires to be a movie that jabs at American racism and imperialist warmongering, but whereas it succeeds at the former, it fails at the latter. Why? In putting Black subjectivity at the center, Lee also continues to put American subjectivity at the center. If one cant disentangle Black subjectivity from dominant American (white) subjectivity, its impossible to apply a genuine anti-imperialist critique. Hence the marginalized Vietnamese continuing to serve their role as excuses for a Black drama staged against Americas Black-white divide.

This is not an argument for more Vietnamese inclusion. Its a demand that we recognize how decolonization and anti-imperialism are impossible if we keep reiterating the imperial countrys point of view, even from the minority perspective.

The political ambitions of Lees movie are clear from the two Black intellectuals he includes at the beginning and ending. The film starts with the classic anti-racist, anti-imperialist quote from Muhammad Ali about the Viet Cong: They never called me nigger. Its sad, then, that Pauls response to the chicken seller is to call the Vietnamese Gooks. Yes, Black soldiers used this slur, and the slur says a great deal about Pauls traumatized internalization of racism. But Pauls justification rings hollow when he says that if Black people can call themselves by the worst slur possible, he can use the Vietnamese slur. No. Black people can call themselves whatever they wish; that is their right. But we dont get to call Black people a racial slur, and they dont get to call us one either. Lees attempts to provide anti-racist alternatives  another Black veteran connecting with his mixed-race daughter, or a donation to a demining effort  fall under the category of liberal condescension, the rescue narrative with Black saviors instead of white ones.


Space News space history and artifacts articles Messages space history discussion forums Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Resources selected space history documents





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NASA names headquarters building for 'hidden figure' Mary Jackson



June 24, 2020  NASA is recognizing one of its "hidden figures" by naming its main office after the first African American female engineer to work at the space agency.



The Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington, D.C. honors the late Jackson, who became an engineer in 1958, the same year that NASA was founded. Largely unknown to the general public during her lifetime, Jackson's story was part of the focus of the 2016 feature film "Hidden Figures," with Janelle Monae portraying the trailblazing engineer.



"Today, we proudly announce the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement on Wednesday (June 24). "Mary W. Jackson was part of a group of very important women who helped NASA succeed in getting American astronauts into space."



"She helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology," said Bridenstine, whose office is on the ninth floor of the newly-named building.



Jackson, who was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia, graduated from Hampton Institute in 1942 with a dual degree in math and physical sciences. Initially taking a job as a math teacher, she worked as a bookkeeper, married and started a family, and served as a secretary for the Army before beginning her career at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory (today, Langley Research Center) in 1951.



Recruited by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), Jackson worked as a "human computer" in the segregated West Area Computing Unit at Langley. After two years supporting the center's aeronautics work as a research mathematician, Jackson went to work in the 4-foot by 4-foot Supersonic Pressure Tunnel, a 60,000 horsepower wind tunnel capable of blasting models with winds approaching twice the speed of sound.



There, based on the experience she gained conducting experiments, Jackson's supervisor suggested she enter a training program that would allow her to earn a promotion from mathematician to engineer. Because the classes were held at a then-segregated high school, Jackson needed special permission to join her white peers in the classroom.



Jackson earned the promotion and became NASA's first Black woman to serve the agency as an engineer. For nearly two decades, Jackson authored or co-wrote numerous research reports mostly focused on the behavior of the boundary layer of air around airplanes. In 1979, she joined Langley's Federal Women's Program, where she became a respected advocate for the hiring and promotion of the next generation of female mathematicians, engineers and scientists before retiring from Langley in 1985.



Jackson died on Feb. 11, 2005, at the age of 83. In 2019, Jackson, together with her fellow "hidden figures" Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Christine Darden, were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian awards in the United States.



"We are honored that NASA continues to celebrate the legacy of our mother and grandmother," Carolyn Lewis, Jackson's daughter, said on behalf of her family. "She was a scientist, humanitarian, wife, mother and trailblazer who paved the way for thousands of others to succeed, not only at NASA, but throughout this nation."



Previously known simply as NASA Headquarters, or Two Independence Square, the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building has served as the space agency's Washington, D.C. base of operations since 1992. In 2019, the portion of E Street SW in front of the building was named "Hidden Figures Way," in part as another honor for Jackson.



"[The building] appropriately sits on 'Hidden Figures Way,' a reminder that Mary is one of many incredible and talented professionals in NASA's history who contributed to this agency's success," said Bridenstine. "Hidden no more, we will continue to recognize the contributions of women, African Americans and people of all backgrounds who have helped construct NASA's history to explore."



Prior to its current location, NASA Headquarters was located in Federal Building 6 (400 Maryland Avenue, SW) from 1961 to 1963 and in Federal Building 10-B (600 Independence Avenue, SW) and the Reporters Building (300 7th St., SW) from 1963 to 1992.



NASA's first headquarters, established in 1958, was the Dolley Madison House, named for the nation's fourth First Lady, who lived there from November 1837 until her death in July 1849. Also known as the "Little White House," the building is now part of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.



Mary W. Jackson overcame the barriers of segregation and gender bias to become the first African American female engineer to work at NASA. She later led the efforts to ensure equal opportunities for future generations. (NASA)





The Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building is located along Hidden Figures Way in Washington, D.C. (NASA)





Mary W. Jackson at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, where she began work in 1951 and became the agency's first African American female engineer in 1958. (NASA)



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(Newser)  Gov. Tony Evers says he's preparing to activate the Wisconsin National Guard after a night of unrest in Madison that included an assault on a state senator. It was apparently triggered by the arrest of a protest organizer. A video shows Devonere Johnson, a black man who also goes by Yeshua Musa, following a patron into a restaurant with a bat resting on his shoulder, per WKOW. Using a bullhorn, Johnson announces that the patron is racist before speaking about slavery and the Civil War. Outside, he was detained by numerous officers before escaping a squad car. He was then tackled and tentatively charged with disorderly conduct while armed, resisting arrest, and attempted escape. Into the night, people frustrated at the arrest marched around the city's downtown, per CNN. Democratic state Sen. Tim Carpenter said he was amid the protest when he tried to take a photo.

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"It got me assaulted ... punched/kicked in the head, neck, ribs. Maybe concussion," he tweeted Wednesday, alongside video of two people rushing him. WKOW reports that "Carpenter collapsed and our crew called 911 to get him an ambulance." The state senator wasn't the only casualty of the night. The Lady Forward statue outside the Wisconsin Capitol, an apparent symbol of "devotion and progress," was brought down around 10:30pm. Soon after, a statue of Col. Hans Christian Heg, a Norwegian migrant who fought for the Union, lost its head and ended up in Lake Monona. Evers tells WBAY that the statues have been recovered and the Wisconsin National Guard is being prepared "to protect state buildings and infrastructure." The Wisconsin State Journal describes vandalism and a fire in a city engineering office, apparently sparked by Molotov cocktail. (Read more Madison, Wis. stories.)
A resident of Daechu-ri village in Paengseong-eup, Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province sees her furniture being loaded on a truck as she prepares to move from the town. Korea Times file



The number of South Koreans who changed residences to different regions remained unchanged in May, data showed Wednesday, as the coronavirus outbreak restricted public movement.



The number of people who changed their residences was unchanged from a year ago at 569,000 in May, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.



In April, the figure rose 4.6 percent on-year as the nation eased social distancing rules over the stabilization of the coronavirus outbreak.



The population mobility rate  the number of those changing residences for every 100 people  was also unchanged at 13.1 percent.






India says it may allow some foreign flights to resume after U.S. criticism

(Reuters) India's ministry of civil aviation said on Tuesday it was considering allowing some international carrier flights to resume after Washington accused India of "unfair and discriminatory practices."

The Indian ministry said in a statement posted on Twitter that 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."

The U.S. Transportation Department issued an order Monday to require Indian air carriers to apply for authorization prior to conducting charter flights beginning in 30 days.

The department sought "to restore a level playing field for U.S. airlines" under the U.S.-India Air Transport Agreement. The Indian government, citing the coronavirus, has banned all scheduled services and failed to approve U.S. carriers for charter operations, it added.
The Union cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the formation of a new organization, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), seeking to open up space infrastructure to the private sector.

At a press briefing held shortly after the cabinet meeting, Union minister of state Jitendra Singh termed the decision historic.

IN-SPACe will provide a level playing field for private sector companies to use Indian space infrastructure, he said. It will also hand-hold, promote and guide the private industries in space activities, he said.

The far-reaching reforms in the space sector are aimed at boosting the private sectors participation in the entire range of space activities. This will unlock Indias potential in the space sector, Singh said.

He said the new organisation will play a supplementary role to the Indian Space Research Organisation, formed in 1969, to harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration.

The public sector New Space India Limited (NSIL) will endeavour to reorient space activities from a supply-driven to a demand-driven model, thereby ensuring optimum use of space assets.

The proposed reforms will enhance the socio-economic use of space assets and activities, including through improved access to space assets, data and facilities, an official statement said.

These reforms will allow ISRO to focus more on research and development activities, new technologies, exploration missions and human spaceflight programme. Some of the planetary exploration missions will also be opened up to the private sector through an announcement of opportunity mechanism, the statement said.

IN-SPACe will ensure a level playing field for private companies, and a friendly, fair, rigorous, and speedy regulatory environment, spur investment, and innovation. NSIL, will drive demand for space products and services, to ensure optimum utilization of space assets, said K VijayRaghavan, principal scientific advisor to the government of India, in a series of tweets.

These reforms are in line with global best practices, and designed to ensure India sees new companies making new investments and providing new services in this sector very soon, he tweeted.

Several other important decisions were taken in the meeting on Wednesday including bringing hundreds of banks (what banks are these. commercial banks are already under RBI) under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India.

The cabinet approved the establishment of an Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund and additional investment by ONGC Videsh, the overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, in Myanmar.

It also approved the declaration of Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh as an international airport and extended the term of the commission constituted to examine the issue of sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) by six months.
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 23, 2020) - Antler Gold Inc. (TSXV: ANTL) ("Antler" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the further consolidation of its land holdings for the Central Erongo Gold Project ("the Project") through the acquisition of the Exclusive Prospecting License EPL 6408, (the "License" or "EPL") from a Namibian citizen on an arm's length basis with no finders fees (the "Vendor") through its Namibian wholly owned subsidiary Antler Namibia (Pty) Ltd.. EPL 6408 lies adjacent to the northeast of EPL 7261 which Antler has under option and is underlaid by the Kranzberg Fault (see press releases dated May 7, 2020 and May 14, 2020). See map below for the location of EPL 6408 and Antler's other land holdings in the area.





Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5124/58408_fc00400ec4fbe93e_002full.jpg

EPL 6408 comprises 17.47km2 of prospective ground on the northern limb of the tightly folded syncline hosting the Twin Hills Project. The License features approximately 9 kilometers of prospective geological strike including 4 kilometers strike of a faulted Karibib - Kuiseb contact, meta- turbidite sediments in a tightly folded syncline and significant Quaternary cover with associated calcretes. Importantly, Target C2 extends from Antler's EPL 7261 uninterrupted into EPL 6408 and now encompasses a full 17.5 kilometers of prospective geological strike. See map below for the geological context of EPL 6408 in relation to Antler's Central Project.





Figure 2

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5124/58408_fc00400ec4fbe93e_003full.jpg

Acquisition Terms

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Antler may acquire an 85% interest in EPL 6408 by paying the arm's length vendor a cash payment of N$6,500 upon signing of the Agreement and paying a further N$25,000 upon the satisfactory completion of a 21 day due diligence period and finally payment of N$25,000 or issuance of C$1,500 (at Antler's option) upon the successful transfer of the EPL into a subsidiary of Antler Namibia (Pty) Ltd. Upon earning the 85% interest, Antler and the Vendor will enter into a standard participating joint venture agreement which shall contain terms providing that if the Vendor's interest is reduced to less than 10%, its interest will automatically be converted into a 5% free carried interest which can be purchased by Antler at any time for the payment of C$25,000 or the issuance of C$25,000 of Antler common shares. The decision to pay cash or issue shares will be at Antler's option.

Story continues

The Purchase Agreement is conditional upon TSX Venture Exchange approval.

Qualified Person

Peter Hollick, Pr.Sci.Nat., consulting geologist, is the qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 guidelines and has reviewed and approved this release.

About Antler Gold Inc.

Antler Gold Inc. (TSXV: ANTL) is a Canadian company, focused on the acquisition and exploration of gold projects in Namibia. Antler's Erongo Gold Project covers areas of the Navachab-Damara Belt, which is highly prospective for gold, and overlies similar lithologies and structures as the known Namibian Gold mines (QKR's Navachab and B2 Golds' Otjikoto) as well as the recent Twin Hills discovery. Antler's total license position now comprises five licenses (EPL 5455, 6162, 7261, 6550 and 6408) under option and a further five (EPL 7854, 7930, 7960, 8010 and 8042) under application, for a total landholding of approximately 85,341ha (853.41km2). Antler is currently focusing its efforts on advancing its Erongo Gold Project, which is located approximately 130 km north-west of Namibia's capital city Windhoek and benefits from Namibia's well-established infrastructure of paved highways, railway, power and water. Namibia is mining-friendly and lauded as one of the continent's most politically and socially stable jurisdictions. Antler continues to evaluate new ground with a view to expanding its Namibian portfolio.

Further details are available on the Company's website at www.antlergold.com

Cautionary Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking information, such as statements regarding the completion of the transaction, including acquisition of EPL 6408 or any other EPLs in Namibia by Antler and future plans and objectives of Antler. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions (including assumptions in connection with the continuance of the applicable company as a going concern and general economic and market conditions) that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including risks relating to the ability to satisfy the conditions to completion of the transaction. Actual results may differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. Antler assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information in this release, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information unless and until required by applicable securities laws. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings made by Antler with Canadian securities regulators, copies of which are available at www.sedar.com.

Neither 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.

For further information, please contact

Daniel Whittaker, President and CEO of Antler Gold Inc., at (902) 488-4700.

Or

Christopher Drysdale, Corporate Development of Antler Gold Inc., at +27 72-507-7560

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58408
Three months after it closed its river parks to slow the spread of COVID-19 the first time, New Braunfels again took that step Friday.
As we end the first half of 2020, there is no doubt that the coronavirus is the story of the year. The coronavirus saga and its devastation of the nations and states economic well-being may be the story of the decade.

How has the coronavirus affected Alabama politics? The answer is negligibly, if at all. The Republican primary runoff to hold a U.S. Senate seat was postponed by the virus epidemic. It is set for July 14, which is right around the corner. The race between Tommy Tuberville and Jeff Sessions should be close and interesting.

The virus delay did affect this race in one regard, if the vote had been held March 31 as planned, Tuberville had the advantage and the momentum. The almost four-month delay may have delayed that train. To what degree we will not know, until the votes are counted. Tubervilles campaign has been based on his being loyal to President Donald Trump.

Sessions and Tuberville were given a golden opportunity to use the four-month hiatus to do some good, old-fashioned, one-on-one campaigning, if only by phone. If one of them did it, it could make the difference. We will soon see. People still like to be asked personally for their vote.
When it comes to dealing with China, Canada needs all the help it can get, even when it comes from an unlikely place.

So thanks, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for speaking out on behalf of Canada and two of our citizens who have been held illegally in China since December of 2018.

China detained Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor shortly after Canada detained Huawei technologies chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, at the behest of the United States government, which wants to prosecute Meng for fraud, alleging she lied to banks about her companys connections with Iran.

Of course, China denies the detentions were payback for Wanzhous arrest. Just like it denies that spying charges now formally brought against the Canadians are linked to a court decision weeks ago that rejected Mengs first legal bid to strike down extradition.

Its classic tit for tat, except the Canadian court decision was based on rule of law while Chinas ongoing and worsening persecution of two Canadians is nothing more than sheer politics and bullying.

Pompeos criticism of China was the strongest support yet from the U.S. He said: 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.

Editorial Cartoon for Wednesday June 24. Graeme MacKay/The Hamilton Spectator

Will it help? By itself, probably not. The Secretary of State, among the most hawkish voices in a hawkish Trump administration, is despised by China, which would be unsurprised by his rhetoric. And the Trump administration is currently preoccupied with its own problems, primarily its fading chances at re-election.

Lets have a reality check. Mengs transgressions are not Canadas problems. Its not clear that what she allegedly did is against any Canadian law. We have been supportive in past of Canadas respect for its extradition agreement with Washington, and its determination to stand behind rule of law.

However, the longer this drags on, the more it is time to reflect on what is really important here. It isnt Meng. It isnt her countrys ongoing fight with the U.S. It certainly isnt the Trump administrations Chinese chess game. It is the lives and welfare of Canadians being held by China for no reason other than political payback.

Its time for Canada to exhort the Americans to withdraw or stay the charges against Meng, especially in view of Trumps acknowledgement that they are at least in part politically motivated.

Failing that, Canadas options are limited. The minister of justice could intervene and end the extradition. That is an alternative that has been strongly resisted by the government, but it may be time to revisit it. Were talking about the lives of Canadians who have been unjustly imprisoned for a year-and-a-half. And we are talking about a detention request and extradition demand that even the American president acknowledges were driven in part by partisan interests to get Chinas attention and get improved trade relations.

Michael Kovrigs wife, Vina Nadjibulla, said in an interview with CBC: 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.

Its a compelling argument the Trudeau government ought to be carefully considering.

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Donald Trump told young conservatives they are embroiled in a tremendous intellectual struggle for the future of our country, painting an apocalyptic vision of the US in which a left-wing mob seeks to impose a repressive regime against Americans while celebrating his administration's own attempts to stifle political dissent.

Theyre tearing down statues, desecrating monuments and purging dissenters, he told a crowd inside an Arizona megachurch on Tuesday. Its the behaviour of totalitarians and tyrants.

The presidents pitch to young Americans at a White House event hosted by controversial conservative organisation Turning Point USA, follows his threats of violence against Black Lives Matter protesters and his threats to jail demonstrators who burn the American flag and attack statues.

He has previously railed against antifa  a loose affiliation of antifascists attacking right-wing violence  and blamed them for protests in the wake of police killings of black Americans. His campaign also was condemned for running dozens of Facebook ads prominently featuring a Nazi symbol for the regimes political prisoners.

Turning Point USA and Students for Trump have rallied against what they believe is conservative censorship and cancel culture on their college campuses, echoed by the presidents allegations that social media platforms are also silencing right-wing voices.

Our people are stronger and our people are smarter, and we are the elite, he said on Tuesday. Youre smarter, youre better looking, you have a better future...Theres only one thing they have: they are vicious...You will not be silenced...They hate our history, they hate our values and everything we prize as Americans.

One student attacked Black Lives Matter for making a scene during an election year and another said leftist mobs are trying to erase the legacy of Nancy Green, whose image inspired Aunt Jemina. (The syrup and pancake mix brand had recently announced plans to "rebrand" following antiracist demonstrations.)

The presidents speech inside a megachurch follows his campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on 20 June, his first on the trail since 2 March.

He was roundly criticised following that speech for invoking intense division while the nation endured weeks of protests calling for racial justice.

He arrived in Arizona as the state saw a record spike in coronavirus cases and hospitalisations, which have surpassed 2,000 since the pandemic. The president appeared to mock health officials and other Americans alarmed by the surge in cases, which have also been rising across the US.

The president repeated the racist term kung flu to refer to Covid-19, as he touted the nations expanded testing, which he said would be recognised by history.

But he continued to blame the left and Democrats for the state of the US, in danger of entering the most corrupt election in history with rampant voter fraud, he claimed.

The president repeated false claims that California admitted in a legal settlement that 1 million or more people voted illegally in the state, and that a plague of absentee ballots will mask rampant fraud and influence from foreign powers. Roughly 80 per cent of voters in Arizona have mail-in ballots as an option.
While organizations across the world are struggling to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, Salesforce has wholly committed itself to working with its customers every step of the way. Its almost as if they were prepared for a pandemic even before it hit us! Lets take a brief look at how Salesforce is using its products and resources to help clients and communities navigate COVID-19. While Salesforces current focus has transitioned to getting people back to work, these technologies have proved to be invaluable over the last couple of months and we hope youll find them useful as your organization similarly transitions back to normalcy.



1. Leading Through Change

In recognizing the fact that were currently living through a substantially altered business landscape Salesforce, aims to place itself at the vanguard of technological and policy based leadership through a combination of data driven tools, insights and resources. All of these are geared towards helping its millions of customers chart a path through the torrid waters of this challenging situation.

2. COVID-19 Data Tracker

Salesforce has utilized their vast resources to implement a number of data trackers across key areas such as the economy, the government, the healthcare industry, and the global response to the pandemic. All of these trackers are aimed at providing a consolidated hub for partners to view, analyse and eventually utilize to make important organizational decisions backed up by reliable statistics.

3. The COVID-19 Partner

Innovation Initiative In order to further provide support to the global partner ecosystem, Salesforce has created a COVID-19 Partner Innovation submission form. This is aimed at collecting key information from ISV and Consulting Partners that are interested in building solutions from scratch or marketing existing solutions that address the multitude of challenges presented by a global pandemic. Salesforces cross-functional teams will review each submission request individually in order to ascertain how best to address your request as well as your requirements. Thought they cannot promise to include every solution in their marketing they will strive to include as many path breaking solutions as they can manage.

4. Work.com

Work.com is an initiative that Salesforce hopes will allow leaders to gain a holistic, 360-degree view of their organizations ability and readiness levels in terms of returning to work and normal functioning. It will enable and include a variety of solutions including contact tracing, emergency response management, employee wellness assessment, and shift management so as to improve and optimize organizations responses to the COVID-19 crisis. Work.com will bring together health experts, business leaders and the full potential of the Salesforce ecosystem in a resource centre that is informed by reliable sources of data such as the University of California San Francisco.

5. The AppExchange Playbook and Toolkit

Salesforce has released a consolidated collection of guidelines, tips, strategies and best practices so as to allow your Salesforce AppExchange solutions to thrive despite the current situation. Some key components of this playbook cover areas such as keeping your teams engaged and informed, digital marketing strategies for your AppExchange solution, AppExchange listing best practices during COVID-19 and how to go about selling and interacting with customers during these increasingly uncertain times. Theyve also released a specialized AppExchange toolkit that has been curated with solutions that are best equipped to make your life a little easier during this period of transition for businesses the world over.

6. B-Well Together

B-Well together is an initiative that focuses on rejuvenating your spirit as well as aligning your body and mind. It is an online holistic wellness program geared towards showing the Ohana how to de-stress, reduce their anxiety and remain positive throughout the trials and tribulations were all facing both from a business perspective as well as on a personal front. Thought leaders such as Arianna Huffington and Deepak Chopra have led sessions focusing on everything from the importance of sleep to integrated approaches on reducing anxiety.

7. Salesforce Care

Salesforce Care includes a pre-configured employee help center, customer service, and contact center application that is used for quick inquiries, and for keeping customers and employees informed. Almost 2,000 organizations and associations from 47 nations started utilizing this platform, within a week of its roll out. Some key aspects of Salesforce Care for organizations include Einstein bots, communities and portals all of which better enable organizations of all sizes to collaborate with employees and customers from anywhere. It also includes two key programs in Quip and Tableau. While Tableau ensures vastly deeper insights into your data, Quip allows your teams to seamlessly work remotely. Both have been made free to download and use for 90 days. Salesforce Care also offers SocialStudio, a one-stop-solution for that allows you to manage, monitor and sculpt every aspect of your social media presence. This along with significant augmentations to myTrailhead and Salesforce Community means that its now easier than ever before to address employee and customer concerns.

8. Trailhead

Salesforce has taken it upon themselves to provide easier access to their certification program as well as to be more accommodating to trailblazers all across the Ohana. In doing this theyve removed their standard maintenance cycle, waived cancellation fees, made remote testing more readily available and extended their deadline for new partners. Partners now also have access to up to 10 free certification courses until September 2020. Trailhead has also introduced a number of new trails and modules designed specifically to help you collaborate virtually, succeed and maintain productivity remotely as well as enhance overall employee wellbeing.

Were immensely grateful to be part of a Salesforce ecosystem that allows us to leverage the full extent of all of the above, not only for ourselves but also for our partners across the globe.To stay abreast of all of these changes be sure to tune in to Salesforces Partner Townhall series, every Friday or visit the Salesforce Partner Portal and its dedicated COVID-19 tab.
T he US is seeing a disturbing surge in coronavirus cases across a number of states, the countrys top infectious disease expert has warned.

Dr Anthony Fauci told lawmakers that the next few weeks will be critical to stemming the flow of fresh outbreaks across the country.

He, along with a panel of health experts, urged the American people to avoid crowds and wear masks, despite Donald Trumps own refusal to do so.

Dr Fauci and his cohort of top experts also clarified that they had not been instructed to slow down testing following claims made by the president.

Mr Trump told supporters in Oklahoma over the weekend that he had ordered a reduction in testing because they were uncovering too many infections.

The White House later insisted that the president's comments were "in jest.

But on Tuesday Mr Trump told reporters he wasnt joking. I dont kid, he said.

Trump says he told 'his people' to 'slow the testing down'

Allaying concerns later that day, Dr Fauci told a house committee overseeing the US response to the pandemic: To my knowledge, none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing.

In fact, we will be doing more testing.

Dr Fauci told politicians he understood the pent-up desire to return to normal as the US begins emerging from months of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns.

But he said that had to be a gradual step-by-step process and not throwing caution to the wind.

Dr Fauci spoke alongside a panel of health experts warning of the worrying new US outbreaks / Getty Images

Plan A, dont go in a crowd. Plan B, if you do, make sure you wear a mask, Dr Fauci, who serves as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said.

Troubling surges worsened in several states on Tuesday, with Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada and Texas setting single-day records for new cases of the virus. Some governors said they would consider reinstating restrictions or delaying plans to ease them in order to help slow the spread of the virus.

Arizona, where Mr Trump gave a speech at a Phoenix megachurch, reported a new daily record of nearly 3,600 additional coronavirus infections.

The state emerged as a Covid-19 hot spot after Republican governor Doug Ducey lifted his stay-home orders in mid-May.

Texas surpassed 5,000 new cases for a single day for the first time as Americas largest paediatric hospital began taking adult patients to free up bed space in Houston.

The infection rate in Texas has doubled since late May.

And Nevada surpassed a record one-day increase for the fourth time in the past eight days.

Other states also saw worrying outbreaks, including Louisiana, Utah and South Carolina.

An increase in infections among young adults has also sparked concern.

Dr Fauci said while Covid-19 tended to be less severe in younger people, some of them did grow very sick and even died.

Younger people also may be more likely to show no symptoms yet still spread the virus, he said.

Some 2.3 million Americans have been infected and some 120,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
A day after a 42-year-old Chartered Accountant, Amit Agarwal carried out the murder of his wife and mother-in-law before shooting himself, a 67-page suicide note was recovered from his bag on Tuesday (June 23) revealing that he had planned to kill his wifes entire family.

Interestingly, the 66 pages of the suicide note were typed and only one page containing the concluding remarks was handwritten.

While investigators did not reveal the exact the contents of the suicide note, sources in the agency said that he had planned these murders long back. He had been preparing his long suicide note since a long time too. He had also planned how he will kill members of his wifes family, said a senior official of Kolkata Police.

The suicide note mentions his troubled marriage with wife Shilpi Agarwal, his possessiveness towards their child and grudge against wifes family. The suicide note also mentions that he wanted to kill his wife, her parents and brother, before killing himself. The note mentioned that he had killed his wife in Bangalore before reaching Kolkata.

On Monday, Amit Agarwal landed in Kolkata from Bangalore with his child. While the child was handed over to Agarwals brother, he reached his in-laws residence in Kolkata situated under Phoolbagan police station limits.

He shot at his mother-in-law first killing her, then he tried to shot at the father-in-law however he managed to escape after he rushed outside his flat and locked the door from outside. Hours later, third fire was heard.

The father-in-law immediately informed the local police. When officers reached the spot, they saw that the mother-in-law was shot dead in her room and she was lying in a pool of blood. Agarwal was lying on the bed itself after shooting self and the fire arm he was carrying - an improvised pistol was lying on the ground. There was a misfire where a shot was fired at the door. It was aimed at his father-in-law, however he escaped, the senior official said.

Officers reached the spot and searched a bag he containing. Sources in the agency say, that the 67-page suicide note was tucked inside a folder in the bag and carried an extra magazine for the firearm with which he carried out the murder.

Shockingly, when Shilpis father tried to connect with his daughter, the call could not be connected. Later, officers from Kolkata Police informed DCP Whitefield, Bangalore Police to carry out the search of her house in Bangalore.

On reaching her house, Bangalore Police found Shilpis body inside her house. Sources in Bangalore Police said that she was strangulated by husband Amit Agarwal.

Meanwhile, the 10 year-old-child that the couple left behind will be produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
With tensions between Canberra and Beijing currently at an all-time high, trust in China is at the lowest level ever recorded, according to a poll by Lowy Institute. The survey says, only 23% of Australians trust China somewhat or a lot 'to act responsibly in the world', a 29-point fall since 2018. 84% and 82% of Australians trust the United Kingdom and Japan respectively, which is also the highest and second among the lot. Meanwhile, the United States has barely managed to secure a majority with only 51% of Australians showing their trust in the country. Less than half of Australians trust India (45%), a 14-point drop from 2018, and even fewer trust Indonesia (36%), a 16-point fall from 2017. Only 24% of Australians say they trust Russia, according to the poll.

Read: Reading Stabbings: Australian PM Condemns Terror Attack, Expresses 'deepest Sympathies'

"Trust in our largest trading partner  China  has declined precipitously. Confidence in Chinas leader Xi Jinping has fallen even further. Almost all Australians would like to see diversification in order to reduce our economic dependence on China, and most would support imposing travel and financial sanctions on Chinese officials associated with human rights abuses," Lowy Institute executive director Michael Fullilove wrote on its website.

Read: Australian Prime Minister Morrison: Unnamed State Increasing Cyberattacks

The poll also found that confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping has fallen drastically with only 22% of Australians expressing confidence in him, eight points drop from 2019. Meanwhile, 30% of Australians expressed confidence in US President Donald Trump 'to do the right thing regarding world affairs', a five-point increase from 2019. New Zealands Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tops the list of leaders again, with 87% of Australians expressing confidence in her, while 73% expressed confidence in Japan's PM Shinzo Abe. The UK PM Boris Johnson garnered the confidence of 55% of Australian, while Indian PM Narendra Modi got the support of 42% Australians.

Read: Australia's Unemployment Rate Rises To Its Highest Level In Two Decades

Democracies in the world

When it comes to democracies around the world, an overwhelming 90% of Australians feel the United Kingdom is a democracy, while only 81% of them say the same about the United States. 79% of Australians recognise Japan as a democracy. Meanwhile, a majority of Australians, 57% see India as a democracy, while only 10% agree that China is a democracy.

Read: Australia Notes India's Efforts To De-escalate Standoff With China;pays Tribute To Martyrs
The actions by Mr. Pack, a conservative filmmaker, raised questions about the editorial independence of the groups given that Mr. Pack is a close ally of Stephen K. Bannon, the former campaign strategist and White House adviser to President Trump who has pressed Mr. Trump to take charge of the news organizations and reshape them to his purposes.

What he has done is a great gift to China, Russia and repressive regimes across the world, Mr. Kempner said. There are not many gifts bigger than destroying one of the few mechanisms for people to send and receive information within closed press, closed information societies.

On Tuesday, Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, requested the State Departments Office of the Inspector General to review whether Mr. Pack violated the law in dismissing the heads of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

The chief of the Open Technology Fund, Libby Liu, offered her resignation in mid-June. It was accepted by the groups board that day, and was to go into effect a month later, but Mr. Pack asked for her immediate dismissal last Wednesday.

The group started as a pilot program within Radio Free Asia in 2012. In 2019, Congress allowed it to become an independent nonprofit grantee of the Agency for Global Media. Lawmakers appropriated $20 million in funding to the group in the 2020 fiscal year.

The organization finances and supports secure internet and encrypted communication technology  like Signal and Tor  in countries with censorship. Since 2012, such tools have allowed over two billion people in 60 countries to gain access to the internet free from censorship and surveillance.

Advocates of internet freedom have pointed to Mr. Packs actions as reason to be wary of the Open Technology Fund should it become a partisan arm of the Trump administration. Over 480 human rights groups, news media watchdogs and dissident organizations have signed a letter urging Congress to protect the funds work.
SEOUL, South Korea  North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, has overruled his militarys plans to resume exercises and deploy more troops near the heavily armed border with South Korea, using his authority to de-escalate rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the Norths official news agency reported on Wednesday.

Switching back and forth between raising and easing tensions has long been part of the Norths way of gaining diplomatic leverage against its external foes.

The decision came after a series of actions by North Korea earlier this month that imperiled a fragile detente on the peninsula, like cutting off communications lines with the South and blowing up a joint inter-Korean liaison office. The Norths military had also drawn up action plans likely to raise tensions along the border and had sought Mr. Kims approval of them.

Mr. Kims move will most likely put at least a temporary brake on what appeared to be a rapid escalation of tensions in the peninsula in recent weeks. By staying the hand of hard-liners in Pyongyang, the Norths leader appeared to have left room for diplomatic negotiations.
Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn is free to go, the US Appeals Court for the District of Columbia has ruled, allowing the Department of Justice to drop its case against him.

A three-judge panel from the powerful DC circuit court on Wednesday granted the former Trump aide's petition to intervene in his case after the district court judge presiding over it had moved to prevent the DOJ from abruptly dropping it.

The two Republican-appointed judges voted to allow the DOJ to dismiss the case, while a judge appointed by former President Barack Obama voted to allow the district court judge, Emmet Sullivan, to continue examining why the DOJ decided to drop the case after more than two years of prosecution and securing multiple guilty pleas.

Mr Flynn had been accused of  and previously pleaded guilty to  lying to the FBI about his communications with former Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak in late 2016 and early 2017.

"In this case, the district courts actions will result in specific harms to the exercise of the Executive Branchs exclusive prosecutorial power," Judge Neomi Rao wrote for the majority.

Ms Rao, who was appointed by Mr Trump, appeared to call into question the legitimacy of the 2016 FBI counterintelligence investigation into possible links between Mr Trump's associates and Russia, which led to Mr Flynn's confrontation with the FBI.

"If evidence comes to light calling into question the integrity or purpose of an underlying criminal investigation, the Executive Branch must have the authority to decide that further prosecution is not in the interest of justice," Ms Rao wrote.

Earlier this month, Mr Sullivan appointed another former federal judge to review the DOJ's motion to dismiss the case. That retired judge, John Gleeson, authored a scathing amicus brief indicating that the DOJ's decision to drop Mr Flynn's case was politically motivated.

The DOJs grounds for dismissal of the charges against Mr Flynn reveal an unconvincing effort to disguise as legitimate a decision to dismiss that is based solely on the fact that Flynn is a political ally of Mr Trump, Mr Gleeson wrote.

After Mr Flynn initially pleaded guilty, he later revoked that plea, arguing that the FBI agents who interviewed him on 24 January 2017 unfairly targeted him due to his political connection with the incoming president.

But those statements do not square with Mr Flynns previous admissions under oath, Mr Gleeson wrote, providing more than sufficient evidence for the government to file additional perjury charges against him.

"A false eleventh-hour disavowal of a plea and a trumped-up accusation of government misconduct constitute obstruction of the administration of justice," Mr Gleeson wrote.

Mr Flynn's case cuts to the core of Mr Trump's message catering to many Americans' anti-establishment sentiments. The president has lambasted as "human scum" the top FBI and DOJ officials probing his associates' potential ties with Russia.

Mr Trump took a victory lap after the circuit court's decision on Wednesday.

"Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request To Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn!" the president tweeted.

The circuit court's decision to allow the DOJ to drop the case comes the same day as the House Judiciary Committee hears from witnesses to examine the "unprecedented politicization" of the department by Attorney General William Barr.

A lawyer who worked on the team of former special counsel Robert Mueller, Aaron Zelinsky, testified that he was pressured by higher-ups to give former Trump campaign aide Roger Stone "a break" during his prosecution for lying to Congress.

"What I heard  repeatedly  was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the President," Mr Zelinsky said.
U.S. Dermatology Partners Texas Monthly Rising Stars "We value the clinical expertise of our physicians as well as their dedication to providing excellent and ethical patient care experiences and are pleased that they are being recognized for their excellence in their specialty. Said Paul Singh, CEO

Twelve U.S. Dermatology Partners doctors are being recognized by their peers as Super Doctors Rising Stars in the July 2020 issue of Texas Monthly. Of those, six are new to the list.

The selection process for Super Doctors is a rigorous process designed to identify physicians who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Each year, Texas Monthly asks doctors across the state to nominate colleagues (excluding themselves) who they would trust for their own medical care. The Super Doctors research team then investigates independently. Candidates are evaluated based on peer recognition, professional achievement, and disciplinary history. The highest-ranking nominated physicians are asked to serve on a selection panel, which helps to determine the final list of Super Doctors. The final list represents 5% of Texas physicians.

Doctors recognized as Rising Stars meet the same criteria as Super Doctors and have been actively practicing for 10 years or less. Only 2.5% of all active physicians are selected to the Rising Star list. The physicians being honored represent cities throughout the state of Texas.

The U.S. Dermatology Partners team is proud of our Texas physicians for their achievement in receiving the well-deserved Rising Star award. Six of the recognized physicians are new to the list which is a testament to the quality of the physicians in our group. We value the clinical expertise of our physicians as well as their dedication to providing excellent and ethical patient care experiences and are pleased that they are being recognized for their excellence in their specialty. Said Paul Singh, CEO

The complete list is published in the July 2020 issue of Texas Monthly.

U.S. Dermatology Partners Rising Stars 2020

Recognized for Dermatology

Caitlin Farmer, M.D., Flower Mound, Plano

Juliet Gibson, M.D., Carrollton

Jennifer Holman, M.D., Tyler

Weilan Johnson, M.D., Georgetown

Laura Lester, M.D., Cedar Park

Bobbak Mansouri, M.D., Tyler

Michaela Overturf, M.D., Nacogdoches

Trisha Patel, M.D., Dallas

Valerie Truong, M.D., Dallas, Plano

Daniel Walker, MD, Grapevine

Calvin Williams, M.D., Keller

John Jay Wofford, MD, Dallas, Plano

About U.S. Dermatology Partners

As one of the largest physician-owned dermatology practices in the country, U.S. Dermatology Partners patients not only have access to general medical, surgical, and cosmetic skin treatments through its coordinated care network, but also benefit from the practices strong dermatology subspecialty thought leaders and medical advisory board. To be the best partners to its patients, U.S. Dermatology Partners is fervently focused on providing the highest level of patient-first care, and its team, therefore, includes recognized national leaders in areas such as clinical research, psoriasis, and Mohs Surgery. To learn more, visit usdermatologypartners.com.
Trinamool Congress legislator Tamonash Ghosh, who had tested positive for the coronavirus disease in May, died on Thursday morning. He was 60.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee condoled his death in a tweet.

Very, very sad. Tamonash Ghosh, 3-time MLA from Falta & party treasurer since 1998 had to leave us today. Been with us for over 35 years, he was dedicated to the cause of the people & party. He contributed much through his social work, Banerjee tweeted.

She offered her condolences to the lawmakers wife Jharna, his two daughters, friends and well wishers.

He has left a void that will be difficult to fill, she said.

The three-time MLA from the Falta assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district was admitted to a hospital after he tested positive for the disease in May, news agency PTI quoted party sources as saying. He had several complications related to the heart and the kidney, they added.
A federal prosecutor and another Justice Department official plan to tell Congress on Wednesday that Attorney General William P. Barr and his top deputies issued inappropriate orders amid investigations and trials based on political considerations and a desire to cater to President Trump.

Aaron Zelinsky, an assistant U.S. attorney in Maryland formerly detailed to Robert S. Mueller IIIs Russia investigation, will tell the House Judiciary Committee that prosecutors involved in the criminal trial of Trumps friend Roger Stone experienced heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to cut Stone a break by requesting a lighter sentence, according to Zelinskys prepared remarks. The expectation, he intends to testify, was that Stone should be treated differently and more leniently because of his relationship with the President.

Zelinsky will be joined by John Elias, an official in the Justice Departments Antitrust Division, who will say that Barr ordered staff to investigate marijuana company mergers simply because he did not like the nature of their underlying business, according to his prepared testimony. (Washington Post)

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New York, US (PANA) - A senior UN official has warned that the peace process in South Sudan is faltering and in need of fresh energy and a reset, despite some positive developments in recent months
By Marjorie Cohn

Thats not a chip on my shoulder.

Thats your foot on my neck.

 Malcolm X

June 23, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - On May 25, a Minneapolis police officer tortured George Floyd to death in what his brother, Philonise Floyd, called a modern-day lynching in broad daylight. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in all 50 states and Washington D.C.; the anti-racist uprisings continue.

Why do a majority of people in this country now support the Movement for Black Lives? Why have calls to defund and abolish the police entered the mainstream discourse? Why are people risking the deadly coronavirus to join the protests? And why are we seeing what may be the broadest popular movement in the history of the United States?

More than 400 years after the first Africans were kidnapped, forcibly brought to this country and enslaved, White supremacy continues to infect our society. Police murder Black people with impunity. Black people are incarcerated at an unprecedented rate. And White fragility keeps us in denial about our White skin privilege.

In his 1963 Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that racism must be exposed. He wrote, Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with all its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured.

When the shocking image of Officer Derek Chauvin choking the life out of Floyd for 8 minutes and 46 seconds confronted us, we were forced to take sides. People of all races and ages were collectively enraged.

People are marching as a way of screaming, a way of exhaling pain, as an enormous group catharsis, Charles Blow wrote in The New York Times. This isnt only about the pain of police brutality, its about all the pain. This is about all the injustice and disrespect and oppression. This is about ancestry and progeny.

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The powerful video of Floyds lynching is reminiscent of the 1950s Civil Rights Movement. Televised images from Little Rock in 1957 were so forceful that they told their own truths and needed virtually no narration, David Halberstam wrote in The Fifties. It was hard for people watching at home not to take sides: There they were, sitting in their living rooms in front of their own television sets watching orderly black children behaving with great dignity, trying to obtain nothing more than a decent education, the most elemental of American birthrights, yet being assaulted by a vicious mob of poor whites.

Although white supremacy continues to permeate our society, Donald Trump has unleashed the dogs of racism in a frightening way. An early promoter of the Birther movement, Trump launched his 2016 presidential campaign by calling Mexicans rapists and criminals. When he said there were very fine people on both sides in Charlottesville, one side was the White supremacists.

In the face of massive protests throughout the country, Trump announced on June 1 that he had ordered federal troops to Washington, D.C., to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights. This is evidence of what Kali Akuno, co-founder and co-director of Operation Jackson, calls Trumps Brown Shirt Force. In a reference that evokes Bull Connors 1963 threats against peaceful civil rights protesters with snarling dogs, Trump tweeted he would use vicious dogs against protesters who tried to breach the fence in front of the White House. Negro Dogs were used to catch runaway slaves and escaped prisoners during Jim Crow.

White supremacy is rooted in the belief that Black people are inferior to White people. In 1900, Charles Carroll, a polygenist minister in Missouri, wrote a rant opposing miscegenation called The Negro, a Beast; or, In the Image of God. In it, he portrays The Negro, a beast, but created with articulate speech and hands, that he may be of service to his owner  the White Man.

As revealed in my cousin Erika Cohns new documentary, Belly of the Beast, many people, particularly women of color, in California womens prisons have been forcibly sterilized. Nineteen-year-old Kelli Dillon began her 15-year sentence for killing her husband who was trying to kill her. While undergoing a routine procedure, Dillon was sterilized against her will. During the 20th century, over 30 U.S. states passed laws allowing forced sterilization. After World War II, compulsory sterilizations primarily targeted non-white women. From 1909-1979, California forcibly sterilized more than 20,000 people, many labeled defectives, including people of color.

The Thirteenth Amendment, enacted in 1865, is widely regarded as abolishing slavery. It reads, Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. [emphasis added].

But Professor Dylan Rodriguez, writing in the Harvard Law Review, describes the Thirteenth Amendments juridical translation of slavery from a racial chattel institution to a criminal justice function. The amendment in fact refurbished a fundamental (racial) power relation mediated by the racist state by recodifying the terms of bodily capture and subjection (that is, enslavement by a state). We have what Rodriguez calls the carceral-racial state.

We Charge Genocide (WCG), the grassroots organization based in Chicago, disagrees with the notion that police brutality is exceptional rather than part and parcel of systemic racism suffered by Black and Brown people. WCG decries systemic, institutionalized, juridically condoned police torture, cruelty, inhumane and degrading treatment, murder, harassment, and unjustified detention, Rodriguez writes.

Floyds murder galvanized calls for reforms such as banning chokeholds, no-knock warrants, and the use of military weapons against protesters; ending qualified immunity for officers charged with using excessive force; mandating body-worn cameras, and the creation of a federal database of abusive officers.

In 2015, six cities including Minneapolis were part of Barack Obamas Justice Departments new form of policing program. But police brutality today is as brutal as ever.

Maria Nieto Senour resigned after serving for four years on the San Diego Community Review Board on Police Practices. Unfortunately, there are members of the CRB who had such a pro-police bias that they did not represent the broader community, she told Jurist. The board was provided with a great deal of information from the police perspective and relatively little from the perspective of marginalized communities. Senour said that much of what the police do would be better done by mental health and/or social workers so funding should be shifted away from police budgets and assigned to other functions.

The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) supports 8 to Abolitions demands to defund the police, demilitarize communities, remove police from schools, free people from prisons and jails, repeal laws that criminalize survival, invest in community self-governance, provide safe housing for everyone, and invest in care, not cops. The NLG also supports reparations for slavery and discrimination against Africans and African descendants.

Rodriguez calls abolition a fundamentally creative force in one of those rare historical moments when definitive destruction of oppressive structures and power relations appears possible, practical, and capable of catalyzing a (potentially) radically different social form. He advocates a radical reconfiguration of justice.

This transformational moment is becoming a transformational movement. The time to effect revolutionary change is now.

Marjorie Cohn is professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, former president of the National Lawyers Guild, deputy secretary general of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, and a member of the advisory board of Veterans for Peace. - " Source " -

This article was prepared for publication by Brianna Bell, a JURIST Staff Editor. Please direct any questions or comments to her at commentary@jurist.org

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Chattanooga State Community College received notification from the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) that there will be no tuition or fee increases for both in-state and out-of-state students during the 2020-2021 year. Officials said, "This is encouraging news for students and makes it a great time to be a college student in Tennessee."

Qualifying students can attend Chattanooga State tuition-free using Tennessee Promise or Tennessee Reconnect. Additionally, students can reduce college costs through other forms of financial aid or scholarships.

.

Chattanooga States Office of Financial Aid also has several donor-funded scholarships available and is still accepting scholarship applications for the following programs:

Art Studio

Civil Engineering Technology

Computer Information Technology

Dental Assisting

Dental Hygiene

Health Information Management

Health Science

Hospitality and Tourism Management

Industrial Maintenance Technician

Information Systems

Landscape Architecture

Mechanical Engineering

Media Technology

Music

Non-Destructive Testing Technology

Nuclear Medicine Technology

Pharmacy Technician

Physical Therapist Assistant

Quality Assurance/Quality Control Technology

Radiation Protection

Radiologic Technology

Theatre Arts

TTP-Accounting

Veterinary Technician

Welding Technology





To learn more about financial aid at Chattanooga State, visit chattanoogastate.edu/ financial/financial-aid/

With only nine weeks remaining before fall classes start on Aug. 24, now is the ideal time to register to get the best selection of classes. Registration personnel are here to assist you and help simplify the process by offering in-person, on-campus appointments, as well as live chat, virtual sessions. Visit chattanoogastate.edu/ admissions and select either Virtual Office/Live Chat or Attend an Info Session, or call 423 697-2456.

For more information, visit chattanoogastate.edu.
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With coronavirus cases surging to record levels in California and Florida, it's understandable that some fans of Disney's theme parks might steer clear when they reopen next month. But now there's a critical group of park regulars who also say they're not ready to return: the employees.

Unions that represent some 17,000 Disneyland employees have written to Gov. Gavin Newsom expressing their concerns, saying the state should not give Disney approval to reopen its Anaheim parks, hotels and outdoor mall.

"Unfortunately, despite intensive talks with the company, we are not yet convinced that it is safe to reopen the parks on Disney's rapid timetable," the Coalition of Resort Labor Unions said in their letter to Newsom, signed by the heads of 10 unions. "Moreover, Disney has rejected or not yet responded to important safety proposals made by CRLU member unions. Therefore, at this point we do not know if the resort can be operated safely."

More than 2,000 miles to the east, a petition launched by Disney World workers sent to the mayors of Orlando and Orange County, Fla., echoed the concerns from California employees, almost all of whom have been out of work for months.

"Having our theme parks remain closed until cases are steadily decreasing would keep our guests, our employees and their families safe. Re-opening the theme parks is only putting our guests, employees, and families at higher risk for contracting COVID-19," the petition, which has more than 6,000 signatures, says.

"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," the petition continues.

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'OFF THE TABLE'

Disney, which says it has lost billions of dollars to the pandemic, announced plans over the past weeks to reopen its Florida and California parks and adjacent hotels and shopping districts with limited admissions and enhanced health and safety protocols.

Some Disney hotels reopened this week, while theme parks in Florida are set to open beginning on July 11, with Disneyland planning to come back on July 23.

The company has posted a notice on its theme park blog from its chief medical officer, Dr. Pamela Hymel, outlining the steps Disney is taking to ensure the safety of park visitors and staff. The blog post says:

"At both parks, this includes reducing capacity; temperature checks for guests prior to entering our theme parks; increasing cleaning and disinfecting, especially in high-traffic areas; adjusting experiences to accommodate physical distancing; requiring face coverings for guests 2 and older; and empowering our guests with options like contactless payments and easy access to handwashing and hand sanitizer locations."

But medical experts say as many as 41% of those infected with coronavirus might have contracted the virus from someone with no symptoms. California reported more than 6,000 new infections on Monday, a record, while Florida's tally was 2,926 on Monday, down from a record 4,049 on Saturday.

One comment on the Disney doctor's post reflected the sentiments of the worried employees.

"Everything we love about Disney is currently off the table. All of the magic is gone," said the comment by someone identified as Chris. "Hopefully things will get back closer to normal and the Disney magic will be restored soon. Until then, we sadly have no choice but to pass."

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On March 9, I wrote in this newsletter about the challenges of covering covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus that was, at that time, spreading rapidly around the world. That newsletter very quickly came to feel like a dispatch from a different worldyet, reading it back again now, the many things that havent changed seem more notable than those that have. Back then, a spike in confirmed cases in the US was causing alarm. This week, thats true again; as the New York Times put it on Monday, new Covid-19 clusters have been found in a Pentecostal church in Oregon, a strip club in Wisconsin, and in every imaginable place in between. When I wrote in early March, Trump had just said that he hoped a cruise ship with a covid outbreak would stay offshore because he didnt want to inflate the case count on US soil; yesterday, Trump confirmed that he wasnt kidding (as his aides insisted he was) when he said, over the weekend, that hed asked officials to slow down covid testing because its showing the spread of the virus. That same week in March, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was just starting to become a national figure, told Congress that the USs testing setup was a failing; yesterday, Fauci told Congress that the US does not have the virus under control. From a journalistic standpoint, the coverage challenges I listed in Marchincluding the risks of making the virus story all about Trump, rampant disinformation, and our lack of access to good data, all amid the dire financial state of the media industryare all still with us.

In recent days, as confirmed case counts have ticked up in many states, much of our coverage has taken on a familiar hue. Interviewing Dan Diamond, a health reporter with Politico, on MSNBC last night, Chris Hayes said that when he looks at current hospitalization rates in Arizona, for instance, I think to myself, Ive been covering this story from February. Like, I know what this looks like. Ive seen it now. Ive seen what it does. Hayes asked why, several months later, the US was having to relearn those lessons.This feels like deja vu, Diamond replied. It feels likewith the numbers rising and the White House largely playing it downsomewhat of a reprise of where we were. History is repeating itself. Its been both tragedy and farce all along.

ICYMI: A new group devoted to transparency is exposing secrets Wikileaks chose to keep

Of course, below the striking similarities, there is much that is different about the current covid situation and the medias coverage of it. Our understanding of the science behind both the disease and the public health interventions that can slow its spread remains far from complete, but has greatly improved. Many of the other differences are less hopeful.

In early March, the eyes of the world were on Italy, where the virus was overwhelming the healthcare system. Now, as Politicos Diamond and Sarah Wheaton wrote on Monday, the US has effectively taken Italys place; Italy is well past its viral peak, whereas in the US, new per capita cases remain on par with Italys worst day. On the evening of March 9, Italy entered a full nationwide lockdown; now, in the US, were talking about opening back up. On March 11, Trump moved to restrict travel to the US from twenty-six European countries; yesterday, the Times reported that the European Union is now planning to stop people entering from the US. (This drove a lot of discussion. Americans are literally too dangerous to be let out of our country, Hayes said.) In early March, Trumps aides told him to lay off rallies; this week, the president has returned to the campaign trail, first in Tulsa, then, yesterday, in Phoenix. The occasional congressional or media appearance aside, Fauci has disappeared from public view. Most disturbingly, the fear that marked the beginning of the US outbreak has given way, in some quarters, to fatigue, even boredom. The death count seems to have been normalized, including among some sections of the media.

In addition to the coverage challenges we faced in March, we find ourselves confronted by new ones. Fighting back on fatigue and normalization is among them. So is the challenge of holding to account a president whose response to the virus has been so inadequate that it almost defies meaningful rebuke. Capitalizing on covid fatigue, Trump has engaged in a conscious effort to shift public attention away from the virus; yesterday, Politico reported that the administration is lining up scapegoats, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a bid to shift blame, too. In the mainstream media, condemnation of Trumps negligence isnt hard to findbut often, the outrage feels too generalized to be of much use. One has to imagine that if we had a more responsible administration, the press would be trying to hold it to its own higher standards; in the UK, for instance, the government set a daily testing target for the month of April, effectively ensuring trial by media if it wasnt met. The British government is hardly a beacon of responsibility, and there were many problems with the April testing goal, both in terms of its execution and the press coverage of it. But it was, at least, a specific benchmarknot a non-joke joke about doing less testing than before. Is it time, now, to implement such benchmarks for Trump, that aim higher than the bare minimum? Perversely, setting low expectations can enable bad actors to dodge scrutiny.

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The US is doing more testing nationally now than it was in previous monthsbut as Voxs German Lopez noted on Monday, testing is still at or around a level that many experts would describe as a bare minimum, and some cities and states arent even hitting that. As I wrote last month, journalists would do well to conceptualize testing as a freedom of information issue: the more testing there is, the clearer the picture well have of the true spread of the virus inside the US. Throughout the pandemic, the full picture has eluded usnot just in terms of spread but in terms of the science of covid, too. In part, thats understandablethis is a novel threat, and smart people are still figuring it out. Its also the case, however, that our coverage continues to be limited by avoidable government failures and, sometimes, our own lack of understanding of the limits of the data we do havewhich, as well as being partial, operates on a time delay, given covids incubation period. The virus remains, in many ways, invisible to usand not just because we cant physically see it. The better our visibility, the better the journalism we can do.

Whether the recent spike in confirmed cases constitutes a second wave of the virus or is still part of the first is one of the questions that weve yet to satisfyingly answer. As HuffPosts Jeffrey Young wrote over the weekend, however, it is ultimately a semantic difference that utterly doesnt matter. The past few months, Young noted, have felt like eons. But the truly terrifying thing is that if we continue on this path toward pretending the pandemic is over, the nightmare will last even longer. Months from now, should I revisit todays newsletter, Id love for its contents to feel like a relic, not newly relevant. The press cant control the virus or the path politicians take in responding to it. But we do have a role to play, despite the challenges we face. It involves demanding answers and action, however long that takes.

Below, more on covid-19:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Decades of Failure

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
GoViet is looking into introducing in-app e-payment services for the whole country, Photo: Le Toan

Indonesian technology group Gojek has announced that the two US tech giants injected a giant sum into the ride-hailing and food delivering company. According to the group, this latest investment is part of its ongoing F-round series and brings Gojeks total funds raised to over $3 billion.

According to Gojek, this new investment will support the companys mission to boost Southeast Asias digital economy, with a focus on supporting payments and financial services in the region.

In Vietnam, Gojeks GoViet currently operates in ride-hailing (GoBike), courier services (GoSend), and food delivery (GoFood). However, Gojek has not yet applied the GoPay e-payment method to Vietnam.

GoViets spokesperson told VIR that the company is exploring in-app e-payment services for Vietnam to enhance the customer experience and will make an announcement in due course.

He highlighted that the company continues to be excited about the prospect of bringing e-payment services to Vietnam as part of its broader focus on becoming a digital enabler, and in line with its super-app vision. We believe that this will support the Vietnamese governments effort to move Vietnam to a cashless society.

GoPay has long been focusing on increasing access to the digital economy among micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, the majority of which continue to rely on cash to operate due to the regions large unbanked population. The latest influx of funding will support more of these businesses as they seek to digitalise further, from micro merchants selling wares on the street to large businesses looking to strengthen their digital payment infrastructure.

Commenting on the latest investment from Facebook and PayPal into Gojek, Riddhi Dutta, regional head for ASEAN and India of software company Backbase, said in a note to VIR that this signifies an accelerated push for digital transformation in the payment and financial services sector in Southeast Asia.

He explained that Vietnams fast-growing digital payment sector is fragmented with different players vying for a share of the pie. It is likely that there will be market consolidation of these providers while those with strong and expansive network-based business models are more likely able to sustain and fend off competition. Fintech partnerships both locally and regionally, he added, can add a competitive edge to developing a strong footprint in the market.

With the latest announcement, Gojek, Facebook, and PayPal are joining other high-profile global corporations and new entrants in the fintech space such as Google and Tencent. Increasingly and rapidly these big techs are shifting their focus towards personalisation-at-scale in order to engage with consumers financial lives seamlessly through digital-first platforms, Dutta said.

According to Backbases Fintech and Digital Banking 2025 report, Asia-Pacific will see 100 new financial institutions by 2025, ushered in by the liberalisation of several markets in the region and issuance of new banking licences. New digital challengers such as Gojek and Facebook will continue to enter the fintech market with innovative and agile solutions to compete for a share of the pie.

Although the new investment from Facebook aids Gojek in gaining more financial capability to roll out GoPay in Vietnam, the road ahead could still be tough as some other in-app e-payment services providers like MoMo, Zalo, and GrabPay by Moca have already developed strong footprints in the country.

According to the latest survey by market research group Cimigo, MoMo, Moca, and ZaloPay are the three most popular e-wallets in the two main cities in Vietnam, which account for more than 90 per cent of total market share of e-wallet users.

MoMo is one of the oldest players to heat up the e-wallet race in Vietnam. The group brought attention of smartphone owners to a new payment solution by offering them a variety of promotions and, as a result, MoMo has garnered a large number of users.

Cimigos survey shows that MoMo is mostly used for mobile top-ups, money transfers, and utility bill payments. Many experts deem MoMo as an experienced player with a deep understanding of the market.

ZaloPay, which is built on top Vietnams most popular messenger app Zalo, boasts plenty of advantages since its inception. Zalo is a familiar and friendly brand in the market with a huge pool of users. Hence, ZaloPay can take advantage of Zalos large database and famous brand to acquire new users.

Moca, meanwhile, has quickly become a big player in the e-wallet battle after only a single year into a strategic partnership with Grab, while it has taken much time and effort for other e-wallets to secure presence in the same market.

In fact, by taking advantage of the two basic services on Grab platform  ride-hailing and food delivery  Moca can enjoy a huge competitive edge over other rivals in terms of the necessity of the services and the frequency of payments.

The new investment is part of Gojeks efforts to compete with Singapore-headquartered Grab in Southeast Asia to become the regions leading super-app.
Despite apprehensions and fears expressed by several students, parents and opposition parties, the Karnataka government has decided to go ahead with annual exams for SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate or 10th standard) students across the state from Thursday.

The governments move had been questioned given the fears currently surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic but education department officials in the state say adequate precautions have been taken to ensure safety and security of both the students and staff conducting exams.

Unlike several neighbouring states like Telangana and Andhra which have decided to all together cancel exams and assess students based on their past performance, Karnataka has been adamant about conducting the examinations.

On Wednesday primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar defended the move to conduct the exams saying We have take this decision in the interest of students that too after consulting experts, opposition leaders and others. We have made all necessary arrangements and are following the standard operating procedure given by the health department.

However JDS leader and former CM Kumaraswamy slammed the move of the government asking it to reconsider even at this last hour. exams are not more important than life. Will the minister and the government take responsibility if something untoward happens? If they are bent on having the exams let them conduct it in October.

The minister though said that all examination centres have been sanitized by the health department and there was no cause for any apprehension. He also said that separate arrangement have been made for students in containment zones to safely take exams. Bangalore alone has 501 containment zones across 46 wards of the city.

The department of primary and secondary education said that 19 students in the state will miss the exams as 10 of them have tested positive for Covid-19 and nine others are in quarantine. The minister said these students will be allowed to take the supplementary exams scheduled in August as fresh candidates.

8.5 lakh students are registered for the exams to be held between 25 June to 4 July.

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June 24, 2020 IMEE: CHANGE LABOR ADVISORIES TO RESOLVE FLOATING STATUS OF EMPLOYEES ASAP Senator Imee Marcos said advisories issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) should be changed immediately to resolve the floating status of employees who continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic without any income. "Six months is too long for employees to be on floating status without pay during an economic crisis. Employees feel that their patience is being pushed to the point that they would just resign, so that their employers can void tenure and need not pay the separation benefits due for every year of service," Marcos explained. Labor advisories 9 and 17 allow companies to modify work arrangements and adjust wages and wage-related benefits for up to six months as remedial measures while community quarantines are in place. "Despite the good intentions to preserve employment while helping business in distress, the DOLE advisories were made in haste and lacked thorough review. They failed to take into account the temporary nature of ECQ, GCQ, et cetera," Marcos said. "There is no more reason to put employees on floating status because we are now under GCQ in Metro Manila, where most call centers are located. The business process outsourcing sector was already allowed to operate at full capacity even under a stricter quarantine level," Marcos pointed out, citing Resolution 38 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Marcos recommended that a new DOLE advisory should require companies to decide the fate of employees on floating status within 30 days, as well as the time frame in which to bring back those who will be retained. Marcos added that the new advisory should also state that a company can file a request for retrenchment with the Labor department after a month of losing a significant volume of its business. "This would make for a labor advisory that is fair to all because it clarifies the status of both employee and employer. Employees will be informed of their work status at the soonest possible time, while companies can avail of a remedy to cut losses, if indeed business has suffered such low volume and has put the company in the red," Marcos said. More pleas for help reached the senators office Tuesday from call center employees, now including persons with disability, who have lost up to 120 workdays of income due to forced leaves under a no-work, no-pay arrangement and with no assurance of keeping their jobs. Some call center employees said that they had reached out to DOLE assistant secretary Dominique Tutay who relayed their complaints to IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) chief Rey Untal but up to now no investigation has been conducted.
New Delhi: India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday (June 24) witnessed the 75th anniversary of the Victory Day Parade in Moscow's iconic Red Square, where a 75-member Tri-service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces also participated. The historic occasion was symbolic of age-old ties between India and Russia.

Armies of 19 countries, including China, participated in the Victory Day which lasted for one and a half hours amid the presence of about 64,000 spectators. The function was earlier scheduled to be held on May 9, but the date was shifted due to global outbreak of COVID-19.

Had it been May 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself would have participated in the parade to further strengthen Indo-Russian relationship.

For President Vladimir Putin, the occasion was to showcase the Russian might besides presenting his global leadership. Indian interest, however, lies in Putin's decisive stand amid ongoing Sino-India border dispute along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Will President Putin choose his one of his oldest allies or favour economic interest with China. To understand it, we need to look at President Putin's bonhomie with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Although PM Modi and President Putin have held several rounds of meetings in the past, this warmth was witnessed globally when Modi arrived in Russian city Sochi in 2018 to participate in an informal India-Russia summit. Both the leaders travelled in a luxurious boat and agreed to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations. The ties got further push in September 2019, when they again met in Vladivostok.

The question, however, arises if this friendship will push Russia to come in support of India against China. The answer is not so easy as both the nations, despite having age-old ties, have to assess their positions in the existing global scenario. In world politics, Russian stature has now lost it erstwhile shine and it's economy too is largely dependent on China.

Although Russia is the largest arms exporter to India, which still buys 56 percent of its weapons from Russia. China has got an upper hand with Russia because of its economic power. The trade between India and Russia is about Rs 55,000 crore while China and Russia trade is ten times more than this. In 2018, both these nations had a trade of over Rs 8 lakh crore.

No doubt, Russia has stood with India whenever the latter faced any crisis. In 1971 India-Pakistan war, Russia stood like a rock between India and America. Prior to this, Russia had extended help to India. In the 1960s, when America refused to give fighter jets to India, Russia gave India Mig 21. On several occasions in the UN Security Council, Russia has vetoed in favour of India.

The people of Russia and India are very close to each other culturally, and Hinduism is one of the fastest emerging religions in Russia. Indo-Russia relationship has waded through rough waters, but Moscow in recent years has come closer to Beijing because of increasing trade. Apart from this, Russia also has about 4000 kilometres long border with China.

Russia and China friendship has got a push due to the chemistry of President Putin and President Xi Jinping as both the leader are currently facing similar international challenges.

In 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea, the US had imposed a number of economic sanctions against Russia, besides snubbing Russian role in Syria. Similarly, the US-China relationship is also at the lowest level due to ongoing trade war between them, and the outbreak of COVID-19 has further worsened it. US President Donald Trump has held China responsible for the spread of the deadly virus.

The US has blacklisted Chinese companies like Huawei. On the other hand, Russia has allowed Huawei to enter an agreement with the Russian telecom firm for the 5G network.

In the given scenario, China needs a strong ally to deal with the US while Russia needs Chin's economic support. Since money plays a decisive role in making or breaking friendship, it would be interesting to watch which way Russia will tilt amid Sino-India border inching towards a major faceoff.
Sean Doney, 33, of Caryville, plead guilty on June 23, for illegally killing a cow elk on the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA) in Campbell County.

The deceased elk was found in a food plot in the Red Ash area of NCWMA on Dec. 23. The cow elk was wearing a GPS collar as part of a 3-year elk research study with the University of Tennessee Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. A necropsy by the UT College of Veterinary Medicine concluded the animal had been shot and a bullet was recovered from the carcass.

After a lengthy investigation and assistance from Eighth Judicial District Attorney General Jared Efflers office, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Wildlife Officer Brenden Marlow charged Doney after he was identified by members of the public in result of rewards offered by Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association and Pine Mountain Longbeards Chapter of the NWTF.

Doney will face 30 days of jail time for hunting big game in closed season, hunting without a license, hunting without hunter education, illegal take of big game, and failure to retrieve game on a WMA. He will also pay $350 in restitution to the TWRA.
Police Warn Against Posting Footage, Reports of Massive Flooding in China's Chongqing

2020-06-23 -- 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.

China's 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.

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On Friday and Saturday, people lined up down the block to enter Semicolon Bookstore in Chicago  not for a famous speaker or a big event, but to buy books on race and antiracism.

As Americans grapple with the countrys history of racism, many of them have turned to books, propelling titles like How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo to the best-seller lists. This surge in demand has brought a welcome lift to many independent bookstores. And after several lists circulated on social media encouraging shoppers to patronize black-owned stores, many of those booksellers in particular have been racing to keep up.

We have had a huge financial boost, said Danni Mullen, the owner of Semicolon Bookstore, who is black. We went from moving 3,000 books a week to 50,000 books a week.

All that demand, however, is becoming a challenge for some black-owned bookstores around the United States, as they attempt to manage the deluge of orders, a handful of titles that are out of stock, and occasionally, customers angered by the delays. For Ms. Mullen, she and her store manager had to quickly adapt, adding detailed instructions to the stores voice mail and email systems, taking shifts managing their social media accounts, and at one point, unplugging the phone.
Hollywood actor Jack Nicholsons portrayal of Joker in the 1989 film Batman turned out to be one of the iconic characters played by him. The superhero film was directed by Tim Burton and was the first instalment of Warner Bros initial series. On June 23, the film completed 31 years of its release.

Nicholson was nominated for the Golden Globe and the BAFTA Award for his role as the famous villain. The 83-year-old also had a clash with the filmmaker over a creative matter during the shoot of the movie.

Apparently, Nicholson had an issue with an aspect of his character's look as he did not desire to portray Joker as a campy comic book villain. As per a report published in Hollywood Reporter, Nicholson had the final say over the Joker's makeup design and had a lot of meetings to discuss it with Burton and makeup team head Nick Dudman.

The actor had everything planned in his mind, including how he wanted the Jokers hair to look and this was also the topic of debate with Burton. Nicholson wanted the hair to look understated while the director wanted it bright green.

The Chinatown star explained, Creatively, it was very specific. When you look at the comics, his hair is not bright green. You also might see it as a lighting effect.

He also assured Burton that he will be humorous as he is the Joker. The actor noted the process was even more challenging because of his allergy to spirit gum which is the basic unit to movie makeup.

Follow @News18Movies for more
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 00:35:14|Editor: huaxia

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MALE, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives will reopen its borders to tourists next month, President Ibrahim Solih was cited by local media as saying on Tuesday.

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.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge to the world, including developed countries, but Maldives has been relatively successful in keeping confirmed cases below initial projections by health authorities, President Solih said.

The country has maintained a high testing rate relative to its population and plans to increase testing facilities further, he added.

Solih thanked frontline health workers for their role in containing the pandemic and private resort operators for offering their properties to be used as isolation facilities and intensive care units.

Maldives has 2,217 confirmed cases of COVID-19, out of which 1,813 patients have made full recoveries and eight have died according to the Health Protection Agency. The country has a recovery rate of 81.8 percent and a mortality rate of 0.4 percent. Enditem
Victorias trade unions will demand to keep their influence over internal Labor Party policy when union leaders meet Premier Daniel Andrews in a series of talks over the fallout of the branch stacking scandal.

A crunch meeting set for Thursday morning in Melbourne was postponed as the state grapples with its COVID-19 crisis, but the Premier and Labors unions will gather next week to thrash out issues facing the party.

Daniel Andrews invited the federal Labor intervention in response to revelations about ex-minister Adem Somyureks activities. Credit:Getty

The unions will also ask that they be allowed to continue sending their delegates to Labors national conference as planned in December, after the partys federal leadership seized control of the Victorian branch following explosive revelations about factional strongman Adem Somyurek.

The group of unions known as the Industrial Left also want union delegates to take over key positions in the partys administrative set-up while a full review and audit of party membership is conducted by party elders Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin.
S cientists have proposed completely lifting lockdown in a UK city to trial mass coronavirus testing.

Removing restrictions on a "medium-sized city" would help determine whether Covid-19 can be controlled through weekly testing of residents, a paper published in the Royal Society Open Science journal argues.

The report suggests that a demonstration study is needed to see if such regular testing, strict household quarantine, contact tracing and mobile phone apps could end the outbreak.

Researchers say large-scale testing of city residents could be done through examining saliva samples.

They said this technique called RT-LAMP testing is cheaper and more viable than nasal or throat swab tests.

The paper, authored by Julian Peto, professor of epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and 10 other experts, said 10 million tests per day are needed for weekly testing of the UK population.

UK Markets begin to reopen during Coronavirus lockdown ease 1 /24 UK Markets begin to reopen during Coronavirus lockdown ease PA AP Daniel Hambury AP Daniel Hambury Daniel Hambury Daniel Hambury Daniel Hambury Daniel Hambury AP AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Reuters Reuters Reuters

This is feasible with single-step RT-LAMP on saliva samples, which requires minimal equipment and training, they said.

A facility with about 100 staff could probably do 50,000 tests per day. If so, a city of 350,000 people could be served by a single laboratory.

Researchers said no government has considered this option as it was assumed it would not be technically possible, but they argued that the technology could be implemented even in low resource rural settings.

A trial of a coronavirus saliva test is due to be launched in Southampton this week  with more than 14,000 people recruited for the first phase.

The new test only requires an individual to spit into a sample pot to be tested for current Covid-19 infection.

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The project is being jointly led by Southampton City Council, the University of Southampton and the NHS.

Researchers of the new paper said: About one-third of transmissions are within households.

This large contribution to epidemic growth would be almost eliminated by strict household quarantine.

Self-quarantine as soon as Covid-19 symptoms are noticed will further reduce transmissions.

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Contact tracing and mobile phone apps can have a large additional effect and would be even more effective within a population whose weekly test results are already available online.

Whether the combined effect would control the epidemic can only be determined by a demonstration study in which a whole city is tested weekly and ends lockdown.

They argued that requiring evidence of a recent negative test to access restaurants, bars and other public venues would encourage participation in testing.

UK lockdown eases as more people return to work - In pictures 1 /54 UK lockdown eases as more people return to work - In pictures A woman wearing a face mask and gloves walks on a platform at Waterloo Station in London Reuters Cannon Street Station Jeremy Selwyn General view of roadworks on London Bridge, London PA Busy tube train between East Ham and Upton Park. PA People are seen at Waterloo Station in London Reuters People wear a face masks at Leeds station PA A worker from LNER stands beside ticket barriers that have been blocked for social distancing measures at Newcastle train station, PA Cannon Street Station Jeremy Selwyn Police at Victoria Station as Lockdown is slowly lifted at Victoria Station Nigel Howard Nigel Howard Burnt Oak tube station. PA A Victoria line train is deep cleaned at Northumberland Park depot PA Commuters at Clapham Junction Station PA Nigel Howard Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Nigel Howard Passengers board and leave a train at a station in Bracknell, Berkshire PA Commuters and staff in and around at Clapham Junction Railway Station Daniel Hambury Police officers pictured at Colliers Wood Daniel Hambury/@stellapicsltd Cannon Street Station Jeremy Selwyn Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Increased police and security personnel at New Street station in Birmingham PA Cannon Street Station Jeremy Selwyn Commuters at Clapham Junction sStation PA Nigel Howard Cannon Street Station Jeremy Selwyn Commuters at Clapham Junction Station PA Busy tube train between East Ham and Upton Park PA Nigel Howard Commuters and staff in and around at Clapham Junction Railway Station, Daniel Hambury Nigel Howard Increased police and security personnel at New Street station in Birmingham PA Increased security at New Street station in Birmingham, PA Busy tube train between East Ham and Upton Park PA Commuters at Clapham Junction Station PA A sign advising passengers to wear a face mask at Clapham Junction station, PA Stickers being installed on a bus at Abellio Camberwell bus garage, as more people are set to return to offices, factories and building sites this week PA

Making quarantine safe and tolerable for households would also support compliance, as well as other measures such as hotel accommodation for infected people, helplines, social support, furlough arrangements and personal protective equipment for households.

The scientists said: The hypothesis that the combination of weekly testing with an earlier test if symptoms appear, strict household quarantine, contact tracing and mobile phone apps would end the epidemic is thus plausible.

Their paper added: Testing should be voluntary, and if those who agree to be tested are deemed to have consented to household quarantine, if a household member tests positive individual informed consent would not be needed.

Within a few weeks, the epidemic may be reduced to occasional outbreaks, but if prevalence falls more slowly testing may have to continue for three or more months.

Researchers said the aim of the experiment would be to see whether the R number  which represents the average number of secondary infections produced by one infected person  remains below 1.

Whether the economy can be rescued and tens or hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths in the UK and millions worldwide can be prevented may depend on the outcome, they concluded.
The reopening will include numerous venues operating under the culture ministry

Egypt's Culture Minister Ines Abdel-Dayem announced today that cultural activities will gradually start to reopen in the country in July.

The reopening will start on 15 July, and will include all theatres, the national circus, galleries, museums, performance venues, and literary forums operating under the culture ministry.

In its first stage, the resumption of activities will be open at only 25 percent audience capacity across all venues.

The ministry is also finalising work to reopen three open-air venues at the Cairo Opera grounds.

In an exclusive interview with Ahram Online published earlier this week, Minister Abdel-Dayem explained that one theatre will be located in front of the Hanager Theatre and another in the large open area near the entrance to the Operas Small Hall. Also, the already existing open air-theatre inside the Opera building is being expanded.

The three theatres will also serve as venues for performances staged by cultural bodies located at the same grounds, such as the Cairo Opera House, Hanager Theatre, and the Creativity Centre. According to the ministry's media office, the reopening of the entities operating on the opera grounds will be gradual as well.

Minister Abdel-Dayem said in a press release that the return of activities and the implementation of precautionary measures will be closely monitored by a committee appointed by the ministry.

Meanwhile, the ministry will continue its online activities through its YouTube channel.

The gradual re-opening of Egypts culture scene comes after four months of a total shutdown that began on 9 March with the government ban on all large gatherings.



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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Whether churned in old-fashioned hand-crank contraptions or speedy modern machines, homemade ice cream is a cold, creamy delight

Blame it on my grandmother. A countrywoman with limited formal education, she nevertheless knew how to take a five-year-old into her confidence and turn a simple treat into a clandestine culinary adventure.

She waited until my toddler brothers had fallen asleep in one of the farmhouse bedrooms. Then she put her finger to her lips in a shushing motion and took my hand. We tiptoed through the kitchen, where she handily grabbed a couple of spoons, and we made our way to the dim storage room at the back of the house.

There, she opened the big, humming chest freezer, reached in, and pulled out two plastic pints of homemade ice cream. With the open freezer providing the only light, we sat on low footstools and ate the amazing, rich ice cream directly from the containers.

Such was the first of many secret freezer forays, and Ive been obsessed with homemade ice cream ever since.

An Ice Cream Oh-So-Social

Ice cream-making at Grandmas was a family affair, mostly carried out on the back porch of her home. She had an eight-quart ice cream maker with a metal-banded wooden outer tub, a metal inner tub for the ice cream, and cast-iron gears. The gears turned a well-worn metal dasher with flexible edges that scraped the sides of the ice cream tub.

Someone in the familyusually a couple of the menwould head out to an icehouse the day we planned to make ice cream. They would buy giant blocks of ice, which were unloaded into galvanized aluminum tubs on the back porch. Armed with ice picks, the adults would begin chopping the blocks into chunks of ice.

Grandma would pour the chilled liquid custard, which shed made the night before, into the inner tub, insert the dasher, and carefully close the lid. With the stem of the dasher peeking through a center hole, shed place the cream tub into the wooden tub, secure the gear assembly, and watch as the children added ice chunks and rock salt to the space between the tubs.

Salt is the secret ingredient for homemade frozen treats. Salt water has a lower freezing point than freshwater, and thus salty, icy slush gets colder than melting ice alone, which makes the ice cream freeze more quickly.

Then the churning would begin. The first cranks of the gear handle would be easy-peasy, since the dasher was still moving through liquid custard. But over time, it got harder.

The kids would take turns at the crank first, followed by the women, and finally the men got to flex their muscles over the slushy tub. Once the crank was too hard for anyone to turn, Grandma would wipe any salt from the top of the cream can and cover the whole assembly with thick towels for a few minutes to rest and harden a bit more.

It took less than an hour to make a batch of ice cream. But then we had to remove it from the tub, sample it, and pack the rest into containers for future late-night freezer forays. After that, wed repeat the whole process, because we didnt gather all the family together and go through that much trouble just to make one batch of ice cream!

We usually had a batch of vanilla, a batch of strawberry or peach, and a batch of cherry or lemon ice cream. Chocolate syrups or chips were added to some containers of vanilla for the chocolate lovers in the family.

Tradition Meets Convenience

Of course, making homemade ice cream today is much less of an ordeal. Electric motors, coolant-lined bowls, and even self-contained machines with small generators have replaced the old hand-crank ice cream makers.

But the science of perfect ice cream is still the same. A blend of dairy fat and sugar, along with a stabilizer such as egg yolks or starch, turns into an ethereal frozen foam with the application of consistently cold temperatures and constant churning. Churning is the element that whips air into ice cream, making it smoother and fluffier as it freezes, while keeping large ice crystals from forming.

Hand-cranked ice cream machines allow for a consistent application of ice, water, and salt for freezing, plus continual churning. As long as strong adults are present, manual machines also allow ice cream to be churned long after the cream has reached a frozen state. Firm and smooth ice cream equals optimal deliciousness!

Electric motor machines operate like manual ones in that a salty ice and water slush acts as the refrigerant. Unlike manual machines, however, electric motors tend to strain or shut down while the ice cream is still soft. Firming up the ice cream at that point usually requires a spell in the kitchen freezer, giving small ice crystals a chance to form.

Ill admit that my mother jumped at the first affordable electric motor machine that came on the market. She could use the same hand-me-down recipes from her mother and the same water-salt bath for freezing, and the machine did all the hard work of churning while she turned her attention to other things.

My birthday falls on a summer holiday weekend, and perhaps in homage to Grandma, Mom started a tradition of making ice cream in the early morning of my birthday and bringing me breakfast in bed: a tall glass of soft, creamy, just-made ice cream!

My siblings and I each got electric ice cream makers as gifts when we left home.

But the next generation, our kids, found something even more efficient: Double-walled metal bowls or canisters filled with coolant give home cooks the ability to make ice cream and frozen desserts without the mess of an ice-and-salt bath. The container is frozen for eight to 24 hours, depending on the size and brand, then used in an electric churn or with a mixer attachment to turn a sweet cream blend into ice cream.

The freezing vessels work almost as well as the electric motor machines, but from my view, theres one problem: The bowls make a modest amount of ice creammaybe enough for a dinner party dessert. Worse, you cannot make another batch until you refreeze the container for another extended period. They also take up a lot of room in the kitchen freezer.

So far, Ive found that the best home alternative to the hand-cranked ice cream maker is also the priciest. Ice cream or gelato machines with self-contained compressors make extraordinary ice cream.

The batches may be of modest size (1 1/2 quarts is common) but you can make several in short order. Aside from price, the only other downside is the countertop footprintthese machines take up a goodly amount of space.

Nevertheless, I snatched one up as soon as I saw it on sale and have no regrets. How else could I offer guests my grandmothers ice cream recipes, freshly made, without breaking a sweat?

On to the Recipes

Now, if my grandmother were still with us, she would be annoyed that I spent so much time talking about the mechanics of making ice cream and not enough time talking recipes.

When it comes to ice cream, there are essentially two schools of thought. One group swears that it isnt homemade ice cream if it doesnt start with a cooked custard made with eggs, sugar, milk, and cream. The other group eschews the eggs and insists that a simple mix of cream, milk, and sugar gives a lighter, fresher flavor.

I grew up with the cooked, egg-rich ice cream base, and in my mind, that will always be the essential flavor of homemade ice cream. That said, I did live in Philadelphia for several years and developed a fondness for the less-dense, fresh-cream taste of uncooked ice cream that that citys denizens prefer.

Either way, the ice cream should be able to stand alone, or make an enticing canvas for classic or exotic flavorings. And if you decide to add liqueurs to your ice cream, just remember that alcohol doesnt freeze. If you add too much, youll end up with a creamy cocktail instead of infused ice cream.

Following is my grandmothers old-fashioned vanilla ice cream recipe, as well as other options, including a sorbet for your dairy-free friends.

RECIPE: Grandmas Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream

RECIPE: Philadelphia-Style Chocolate Ice Cream

RECIPE: Quick-Fix Cherry Ice Cream

RECIPE: Perfect Strawberry Sorbet

A Brief History of Frozen Desserts

Our ancestors were no fools. As with almost every other delicious treat, food historians have found evidence of ancient peoples enjoying precursors to ice cream and flavored ices.

Three thousand years ago, the Chinese made a flavored milk-and-rice flour dessert rendered icy by packing it in snow. And no less a figure than Alexander the Great was said to have sent runners to bring snow from the mountains, which he flavored with fruit nectar and honey.

Marco Polo, that culinary provocateur, is credited with bringing ice cream-making techniques from Asia to Italy. That may or may not be true, but its certain the knowledge traveled from east to west along trade routes. Middle Eastern traders shared a process for freezing fruity drinks. By the 16th century, Italian royals and diplomats had gifted the knowledge of frozen desserts to notables in France and other European states.

The turning point for these treatssoon to be popularized by the demi-mondecame with the opening of Cafe Procope on the Left Bank in Paris in 1686.

Founded by Sicilian chef Procopio Cuto (who eventually changed his name to Francois Procope), the still-operating cafe is worthy of its own story, as it was frequented by literary, art, and political figures, including Voltaire, George Sand, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. But for now, suffice it to say that Cafe Procope served sorbet and ice cream to anyone who stepped inside for refreshment, possibly tickling the palate of Jefferson, who was known for making frozen desserts at Monticello.

Americas love affair with ice cream predates the American Revolution. Theres evidence of colonial governors serving the treat at official dinners, a feat which would have required ice cut from a frozen river or lake in winter, then stored in a straw-lined ice house until needed, along with goodly amounts of cream and milk, and pricey imported sugar and salt. Thats not to mention a servant to keep agitating the liquid ice cream mixture as it froze. All in all, it was an elaborate offering.

Commercially sold ice cream dates to at least 1777, when a New York sweets purveyor ran an ad in the New York Gazette for his frozen dessert. George Washington himself, in his first year as president, rang up a $200 tab for ice cream in the summer of 1790 and, according to his archives, had purchased ice cream making equipment both for Mount Vernon and for the Capital.

Technological advances in the mid-to-late 1800s, not the least of which were refrigeration and ice-making machines, made ice cream more ubiquitous. Ice cream parlors sprang up, along with ice cream sodas, sundaes, and the ice cream cone.

But the creation that changed ice cream and sorbet from a special occasion treat to a seasonal homemade dessert was the hand-cranked ice cream machine, first patented by Philadelphian Nancy Johnson in 1843. Combining freezing with churning and aeration, her small-batch ice cream maker is the scaffold on which future ice cream makers have been built.

Louisiana native Belinda Hulin Crissman writes cookbooks and food articles from her adopted hometown of Atlantic Beach, Fla. Shes the author of five cookbooks, including Roux Memories: A Cajun-Creole Love Story with Recipes. When shes not writing, youll find her scoping out old and new culinary delights.
For the first time in four years, more militants have been killed than those who have joined terror groups, Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbagh Singh has told News18.

Speaking about the recent successes in counter-insurgency operations, including elimination of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo and the foiling of a repeat of 2019 Pulwama style IED attack, Singh said the current year was turning out to be one of the most successful for the forces in recent years.

"This is not a job that was done in a month or two. For the past two to three years we have put in a concerted effort. It was in the second half of 2018 that we began to firmly tilt the scales in our favour. We strengthened our intel network and improved coordination," Singh said.

Within this year alone 119 militants have been killed, including operational commanders Riyaz Naikoo, Abdul Rehman alias Fauji Bhai, Zubair, Qari Yasir, Junaid Sehri, Burhan Koka, Haider and Tayab Walid. This has broken the back of terror groups in the valley.

Not only have the security agencies, led by J&K police, been able to eliminate the top leadership of the terror groups, they have been able to do it with minimum loss to their own men.

According to data available with South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), 12 civilians and 29 security forces have died in clashes this year, which is a testament to an improved law and order situation as well.

If one compares the ratio of security force personnel killed to the number of militants eliminated over the past four years, in 2017 it was almost slightly better than 1:3. In 2018 it was almost 1:3, in 2019 it worsened to almost 1:2. So far, this year, the ratio has improved to 1:4. In other words, four militants are being killed for the loss of every security force personnel.

"It's a healthy trend. On the law and order front also, 2020 is turning out to be one of the best in recent years. Number of violent clashes have come down by 20 per cent over previous years, Singh added.

Giving the example of the handling of law and order situation after killing of top Hibzul commander Riyaz Naikoo, he said no one was allowed to assemble and attack police posts. Same was the case after the deaths of Zakir Musa and Junaid Sehrai.

Incident to incident we have been quite successful in containing the situation. We see to it that our response, in keeping violence to a minimum, is much more than what the situation demands," Singh added.

Many within the forces attribute the success in the counter-insurgency operations to two factors. The first is the police's greater involvement in not just providing the information but in executing the encounters as well. The second is the lockdown that has prevented militants from moving about freely within the valley and being traced down easily.

"Our input generation was the best always but we are getting better every day. There is a remarkable cohesion right from DGP to the level of an SHO. The chain of command is clear and there is no confusion. Over the past few months we started working specifically on the top terror commanders as a project. It was a long process of combining human and technical inputs but it has paid off very well," said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity.

"Now you look at any terror organisation...it is completely leaderless. Whether it is Hizb, Lashkar, Ansar...we have not only eliminated their top leadership but the possible second rung as well. They are clueless and frustrated, the officer added, adding that the quality of intel is top notch.

This is how we were able to trace the car in which militants had planted 40 kilos of explosives despite them having fabricated the registration number. We had the advanced inputs about that car down to the last scratch," he added.

The senior officer who has been part of many successful counter-insurgency operations said that minimising loss of civilian lives was a top priority for the forces. "Take the encounter in Srinagar two days ago. It was 100 per cent a police operation. Or take the encounter in Awantipora, in which terrorists were holed up in a mosque. We did our job keeping in mind the religious sensibilities so that the holed-up terrorists were killed without causing any sort of damage to the mosque. The public notices how sensitive we are with them. It helps expand our reach," he added.

Tahir Ashraf, SP, Cyber police, said that police was taking all measures to give a chance to those who had joined terror groups to surrender. "In the recent Srinagar encounter case, a family contacted us claiming that one of the holed-up terrorists was their son. We did everything we could...got the parents to come there and make an appeal to their son to peacefully surrender arms, but he lobbed instead opened fire at us, so at the end we were left with no choice but to eliminate him," he said.

Former J&K DGP Kuldeep Khoda said that active monitoring of social media may also have helped police in reaching out to those who were potential fodder for terror groups, and preventing them from taking guns in their hands.

"Success of forces depends on several things. Synergy between forces, avoiding one-upmanship, development of technical and human intelligence, on all these fronts the police has done a great job. But what the police has also done recently is proactively track social media, which people like Burhan Wani had exploited to their advantage," said Khoda.

Paul Nathanael, former CRPF Inspector General, who has served in Kashmir, argues that lockdown and curbs on the internet have helped counter-insurgency operations to a great extent.

"Earlier we used to get news about informers being killed regularly. That sort of thing isnt happening anymore. Because now information is being shared securely and discreetly. Secondly lockdown prevents easy movement of terrorists, prevents them from mingling in the crowd. Therefore, any move they make instantly gets registered in the security grid."

Another senior police officer, who wished not to be named, gave the example of the police's handling of the situation after the killing of Riyaz Naikoo, as an example of the grip police has been able to establish in the valley.

"For four days we had stationed our men outside his house to prevent crowds from gathering. It usually happens that a new cycle of violence starts with people who attend funerals of militants. In this high-profile case we were able to prevent any such gathering. Not one major instance of violence was reported in days following it," he said.

However, despite the best efforts of the police, some challenges still remain. At a time of increased vigil on the border, terror group chiefs from the other side are trying desperately to find new means to smuggle guns into the valley. Three days ago BSF shot down a drone 250 meters inside Indian territory, which was carrying sophisticated weapons including assault rifles and explosives.

Those like Khoda, who have led the police force, advocate taking decisive "proactive action across the border", such as India took through air strikes in Balakot last year.

The other challenge is to gradually dismantle all support and sympathy for Pakistan-based terror groups in the valley, after all the active and dormant militants have been taken out, the ground for which police is laying right now. This would be the round two of counter-insurgency operations, one that would need more time and sustained efforts.
A worker on the Pokuase Interchange project, said to be a Chinese national, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The infected person is in isolation at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital receiving treatment, according to Citi News sources.

The management of the African Development Bank-funded project held a meeting on Tuesday to convey the news to other workers, which include many Ghanaians who work on different phases of the project.

The Ghanaians workers on the project are worried about the development.

A similar situation occurred on a railway construction project in the Eastern Region.

The first case of COVID-19 in the Eastern Region was reported in March on an AFCON construction limited camp in the Lower Manya Krobo district.

More than 240 people had been quarantined in the camp at the time.

In that case, at least 22 Indians, who were part of the construction project, were infected with the virus.

AFCON construction limited is a construction company with ties to an Indian business conglomerate.

---citinewsroom
A Former Light Technician of TV3, Eric Adotey Addo in an interview with DJ Nyaami has disclosed how he started using drugs and the after-effects.



The 47-year-old speaking to SVTV Africa on the Ghetto life segment said he was lucky to have a grandfather who was a diplomat and as a result, he was able to study in France at a younger age.



"After schooling in France, I attended Takoradi Polytechnic, now a technical university. After my completion, I was lucky to be employed by Tv3 as a light technician in 1998.



By then, TV3 had now started operating so I was part of the first set of employees to work for them. The salary then is todays 900 Ghana cedis.



I worked with tv3 until later it was sold; and even that, I was compensated with a very good amount," he stated.



According to him, 80 percent of his compensated money was used on drugs.



"I started doing drugs after I met a friend, who introduced me to it and eventually, I developed the love for it; however, I could smoke just weed as at when I was first introduced to, and even that, it was not something habitual until later I got to know of cocaine.



"My first time I sniffed it, the feeling was someway, but I did not give up until I became more used to it. As a light technician, drug had always given me some extra energy anytime I was on the field.



"At a point, my abroad parents became suspicious because they realized anytime they send me money, it wont be long and I will ask them for another one. I could actually spend 200 cedis daily, just on drugs.



"My uncle even though I was a gambler because the level at which I spent money was surprising. Eventually, my parents became aware of my actions and therefore sent me to a prayer camp. Fortunately, from that time, I was able to stop for some time but, the addiction was so hard that I started again, he narrated.



According to him, the drug is very addictive, hence it will only take grace and a professional psychiatric to save an addict.



Adding that, his attachment to tv3 gave him many opportunities but his addiction wouldnt let him focus.



The only son amongst children of four and the grandson of a former diplomat now suffer drug addiction.

Source: SVTV Africa









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If Mekhi James lived longer, he might have played on Chicago streets where violent and repeat gun offenders are often arrested but released back onto those same streets, often with little or no bail, to prey on and in their neighborhoods. Democrat social justice warriors are quite proud of this, including Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx, her patron, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 00:21:32|Editor: huaxia

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A passenger walks to an entrance of the subway at Beijing Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China, June 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

More efforts will be made to strengthen transportation guarantees for production materials and daily necessities in Beijing.

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. 
Two Melbourne colleagues will be hit with a $1,099 fine each after they ignored coronavirus quarantine to go on a sightseeing cruise in the Northern Territory.

The 47-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman travelled from Melbourne and into the NT on June 19 after they were granted a travel exemption for work purposes.

The pair were granted entry to collect a vehicle and then leave the NT, under the condition they would quarantine while not at work.

But police were advised the colleagues ignored the quarantine requirements to take a boat cruise at Kakadu National Park.

Two Melbourne colleagues will be hit with a $1,099 fine each after they ignored coronavirus quarantine to go on a sightseeing cruise at Kakadu National Park. Pictured: Tourists on a sunrise cruise at Yellow Water in the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park

The man, who had already left the NT, was told by police he would receive his fine in the mail.

Police are attempting to track down the women to issue her the infringement notice.

Acting Commander Shaun Gill said it was 'extremely disappointing' that people had become complacent as quarantine restrictions were eased.

'We are still in a health emergency situation and the threat of COVID-19 returning to the NT is very real, even more so with the borders opening on 17 July,' he said.

'Police are strongly urging people to abide by the rules in place and to not put other Territorians lives at risk, particularly our more vulnerable remote population.

'Travelling to a remote community when you are supposed to be in quarantine could potentially have a disastrous impact and devastate a community.'

Pictured: A coronavirus testing site in Melbourne on Tuesday. Victoria recorded 20 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday

The Northern Territory transitioned from mandatory 14-day monitored quarantine to 14-day mandatory self-quarantine on June 15, meaning inter-state travellers are allowed to isolate in their own homes or accommodation.

The NT infringements come as Victoria continues to battle their coronavirus outbreak.

Victoria recorded 20 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. It is the eighth day of double-digit growth in new cases, bringing the state's tally to 1884. About 140 cases remain active.

NT Police said compliance teams on June 22 conducted a number of checks on travellers who entered the Territory.

A 30-year-old woman was fined after she was found working at a community store in Ngukurr. She arrived in the NT on June 16 from Melbourne via Brisbane.

A 20-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man were not at their Darwin homes when a check was conducted. When contacted by officers, they were unable to provide a lawful justification as to why they were not quarantining.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four people tested positive for Covid in the district on Tuesday. Two among them are expatriates while two came from other states. A 29-year-old from Kaimanam, near Pappanamcode, who returned from Dammam on June 20, two Powdikkonam natives who returned from Delhi on June 7 and a 27-year-old Pettah native who arrived from Kuwait on June 16 are the patients.

As many as 728 new people were put under observation in the district on the day as part of Covid-19 containment efforts. A total of 173 people are under hospital isolation and 20,403 people are under home quarantine.

On Tuesday, 34 people were newly admitted to hospital and 45 patients were discharged.A total of 580 samples were sent for testing and 287 results received on the day were negative. A total of 1,409 people are under institutional quarantine at 72 centres in the district.

Two traffic cops quarantined

TPuram: Two traffic police personnel were quarantined after it came to the notice of the health department officials that the duo had come into contact with the couple from Powdikonam, who had tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. An assistant sub-inspector and a civil police officer attached to Pattom traffic police station were isolated after the couple reported that they had come across the cops who were on traffic duty at Ulloor junction on Sunday. Sources said the traffic sleuths inspected the vehicle in which the couple, who had returned from Delhi on June 7, were travelling. The Health officials while preparing the route map of the patients, came to know about the contact.
Manik Sarkar, leader of opposition in the Tripura legislative assembly and former state chief minister, has demanded that the Biplab Kumar Deb-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government conduct a judicial inquiry into four unnatural deaths in police lock-ups and jails that have occurred in the past nine months.

He also demanded the state government to provide government jobs to the families of all those who died in police lock-ups and jails since October 31, 2019.

Sarkar wrote to CM Deb on June 21 and expressed concern and anguish over these incidents. The letter was made available to media persons on Tuesday evening.

He had cited the deaths of Sajaio Mog at Amarpur Jail on June 17; Sushanta Ghosh at West Agartala police lock-up on January 12; Sandip Sarkar at Central Jail on January 28; and Mangal Das at Radha Kishorepur police lock-up on October 31, 2019.

Sarkar stated that the police and jail authorities need to be more alert to prevent occurrence of such incidents in the future.

The chief ministers office (CMO), however, declined to comment on Sarkars letter.
(Screenshot from New York Times website)

As new cases emerge in Chinas capital city of Beijing, China has adopted restraint measures to deal with COVID-19, which could serve as a bellwether for how China handles future outbreaks, US media reported.

According to an article published by New York Times on June 19, Beijing is now trying to stamp out the new outbreak with a more inclusive approach. The city of Beijing has tested 1.1 million people in less than a week and has halted many flights, but has not imposed the citywide lockdowns used in provincial outbreaks.

Key to the governments containment strategy is aggressive testing and contact tracing, said the article, noting that the government set up testing stations at hospitals, park entrances, stadiums and community centers. Anyone going within blocks of the shuttered Xinfadi market receives an automated cellphone text message urging them to immediately take a test.

If successful, the new approach being taken in Beijing could be a bellwether for how China may handle future outbreaks, it said.

South China Morning Post also mentioned Beijings various prevention and control measures in its second phase of dealing with COVID-19, such as installing 24-hour security checkpoints in local communities, closing schools and advising people to step up on social distancing.

[The response] is highly likely to be successful, given Chinas demonstrated experience with such control measures, Michael Baker, Professor of Public Health at the University of Otago in Wellington, told South China Morning Post.

According to Baker, some Asian countries came out of lockdown very cautiously, so they will not expect to see many cases as they reduce lockdowns. By contrast, in the US, several states coming out of lockdown are experiencing large rises in cases, as there was still a lot of the virus circulating that could start new chains of transmission.

Baker also noted that the risk of imported cases starting fresh outbreaks would remain the main threat to China, where a swift and vigorous response would be needed to contain the outbreak.

As of June 22, a total of 249 new confirmed cases had been recorded since Beijing reported its first local coronavirus case after more than 50 days with zero new locally transmitted cases. Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told a press conference recently that Beijings epidemic situation is under control and the number of new cases is expected to drop in the coming days.
Infected with COVID-19, 50-year-old head constable commits suicide

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bengaluru, June 24: Coronavirus has rattled the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) Force following a head constable committing suicide and more than 50 personnel, including a commandant, testing positive for the virus.

According to the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Alok Kumar, the 50-year-old head constable was on the way to a hospital here on Monday night when he strangulated himself to death with a rope.

Family undertakes secret burial after daughter commits suicide

Diesel costs more than petrol after 18th consecutive day of price rise | Oneindia News

"On Monday night he committed suicide in the vehicle while being taken to the hospital. He strangulated himself in the vehicle which had a partition meant for COVID- 19 patients," police sources told PTI.

The commandant, who is an IPS officer, was tested positive on Tuesday and has been quarantined, he said.

As more than 50 personnel have been found infected with the virus, the ADGP has been speaking to the commandants and the personnel deployed at various places. "I have visited various battalions and spoken to the commandants and other personnel wherever they are deployed. I have told them that even if they test positive, there is nothing to panic," Kumar said.

The KSRP has supplied masks, sanitisers and PPE for those treating the patients. Disinfectants are sprayed on the vehicles, said Kumar. The commandants are also speaking to the personnel to boost their morale, he said.

The KSRP officers are now explaining to the personnel about the importance of yogasanas and pranayama to strengthen their immunity and defeat the virus, he added.
HERNDON, Virginia, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, Deltek surveys leaders in the architecture and engineering (A&E) industry to identify benchmarks, trends and market outlook to help businesses identify their strengths and opportunities for improvement. This year, Deltek is launching the 41st Annual Deltek Clarity Architecture & Engineering Industry Report for North America, and for the first time, an additional global perspective to monitor the same trends and benchmarks throughout the EMEA and APAC regions.

Regardless of location, A&E firms are facing the same challenges across the business. Finding time to nurture client relationships, competing priorities for project managers and increasing profitability are the top challenges identified in North America, EMEA and APAC while the strategies for addressing these challenges vary by region.

Emerging Technology Trends Impacting Firms

One of the key focus areas for the Deltek Clarity A&E Industry Report is how technology trends are impacting the industry. Emerging technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and geolocation, are becoming increasingly important to A&E firms globally. In North America, the top three trends most important for firms are IoT, geolocation and augmented/virtual reality. In EMEA and APAC, the top three trends are similar with IoT, geolocation and big data rising to the top of the list.

Examining the various regions shows firms are addressing their challenges with emerging technologies in different ways. While EMEA and APAC firms are putting people at the heart of addressing technology challenges, North American firms are focused on the strategic and process side of the equation. EMEA and APAC firms noted that identifying and developing technology subject matter experts, hiring staff or acquiring a company with necessary expertise and identifying a champion to lead the initiatives are the top strategies for firms.

In North America, A&E firms are focused on developing strategic plans for implementing technology trends, educating staff on trends and developing a budget for strategic investment. There is no right or wrong answer in strategy, but what's important is that firms take these challenges and develop action plans to better incorporate emerging technologies into their businesses.

Benchmarking to Drive Business Forward

When setting targets for the business, it's critical to evaluate if a firm's targets are realistic - are targets too low or are expectations too high? The Deltek Clarity report delivers insight into numerous key performance indicators (KPIs) that are common in the industry such as projects on budget, utilization rate, operating profit, employee turnover rates and many more to enable firms to benchmark their business performance against other companies like theirs.

With the industry in flux, monitoring KPIs is more important than ever. Companies can use the benchmarks as a starting point to set more realistic targets, but then set up their solutions and processes to monitor the business consistently and frequently. If a company is global, it can now compare some of these key metrics to others within the same geography to ensure the targets are aligned regionally.

While the numbers themselves are a snapshot in time, this resource helps companies establish a realistic starting point, identify which KPIs they should be monitoring and empowers firms to do something about their business. What the number says is only a piece of the story. Using the KPIs, as well as the top challenges companies are facing, as a conversation starter with other leaders within the business, can help uncover underlying challenges or strengths. It's also an opportunity to determine if technology is supporting the business or is creating more barriers. Some companies have the tools they need, but outdated processes are holding them back while other companies are still managing their business and monitoring their KPIs on spreadsheets and outdated systems.

Leveraging Technology to Address Top Challenges

As more firms explore digital transformation, they face challenges with not only the technology, but outdated processes. When looking at what the top firms are facing, processes and technology are at the core of nearly every challenge. A&E firms around the world are struggling with project managers having competing priorities. Firms are looking to address these challenges through more clearly defined responsibilities and better processes or best practices. Business developers are struggling to find time to nurture client relationships and the top challenge is the same across regions. Financial managers are looking for ways to better manage profitability while firms continue to struggle finding and retaining employees.

By looking at some of the key trends and challenges facing A&E companies around the world, firms can start to take a closer look at their own processes and their own technology to better understand where there are opportunities to up-level their technology, expedite their journey to digital transformation and streamline processes to make their business more efficient and effective.

Bringing Clarity to the Conversation

The Deltek Clarity report is a catalyst for meaningful conversations with leadership teams, management and employees, to help them uncover the barriers to success, identify areas for improvement and ensure alignment of initiatives across the business. The full reports will give firms greater insight into business and pinpoint where there is room for improvement. Deltek can help a firm's digital transformation through technology and process improvement so it can move its business forward. It's time to bring clarity to the conversation and take action to power project success.

For more information, download the Architecture & Engineering Industry Studies for North America and EMEA & APAC or visit Deltek.com.

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Job Title: Fund Development Manager

Organization: SOS

Childrens Villages

Duty Station: Kampala,

Uganda

Reports to: National

Director

Job Ref:

SOS-UG/JOBS/2020/009

About US:

SOS Childrens

Villages is an independent, locally registered, child-focused, social

development non- governmental organization with a strong reputation for

providing quality care and protection, education and health needs for

vulnerable children. Since its inception in 1991, SOS CV Uganda has reached

over 60,000 children, youths and adults directly and indirectly to become

empowered and self-reliant to contribute significantly to the needs of their

families and communities. Works in partnership with a number of donors,

(institutional and corporate agencies) including; Norwegian Agency for

Development Cooperation (NORAD), Austrian Development Agency (ADA), Grieg

Foundation, ERIKS Development Partner, USAID/Bantwana World Education, European

Union, AVIS Foundation, Brand Charity, USAID/Uganda Private Health Support

Program (UPHSP), Terre des Hommes (TDH), Stanbic Bank Uganda, DHL  Go Teach,

Madhvani Group of Companies.

Job Summary: The main aim of the Fund Development Manager

is to pursue opportunities countrywide to cover the National Associations

running costs and investments in order to increase the financial

self-sufficiency of the National Association by fundraising activities of all

kind. S/he will develop fundraising, public relations plans and strategies to

market and promote the organisation. The Fundraising Manager is responsible for

fulfilling the business plan of the National Association. S/he reports to the

National Director.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Develop, implement

and evaluate the fundraising Strategy for the National Association



Sets the

strategic direction of the fundraising role in the organisation.



Prepares

a thorough fundraising plan indicating concrete actions and targets to be

achieved on an annual basis.



Provides

advice to the National Director on opportunities for increasing the public

profile of SOS CV Uganda potential funding and sponsorship opportunities from

charitable foundations, trusts, the community, business, corporate, government

sectors as well as individuals.



Responsible

for the national fundraising activities of SOS CV Uganda. Coordinates the

fundraising activities of the villages and other facilities.



Evaluate

and review the fundraising strategy at least every quarter, ensuring that set

targets are met to a greater extent.

Secures financial

and in-kind support from external bodies and individuals



Researches

potential donors companies and organisations which can be approached for

funding to SOS programmes. Establishes contact with the targeted organisations,

also gaining contact information of the responsible persons.



Prepares

fundraising proposals and financial projections on a quarterly basis,

highlighting the needs and funds required.



Leads

the development of proposals to the relevant individuals, companies and

organisations, ensuring adequate follow up of placed proposals.



Evaluates

activities against key performance indicators and uses the information gained

to improve and raise net income.



Documents,

and keeps records, databases, results and experiences of all interactions and

dealings with funding organisations and companies to ensure continuity and

inform future decisions and actions.



Plans

fundraising activities for Childrens Villages and projects in conjunction with

project managers.



Develops

and implements publicity / fundraising presentations to willing corporate

companies, organisations and individuals.



Liaises

with external individuals or companies assisting SOS in raising funds or other

support.

Promotes Public

Relations



Coordinates

with the project managers and other key staff to support any public relations

activities which concern the work of SOS Childrens Villages Uganda.



Prepares

communication to the external publics, ensuring that all messages to the media

or any other body reflect the image required by the organisation, and gains the

National Directors approval.



Coordinates

any special fundraising or public relations events and looks out for future

opportunities in the same line. Attends any external functions which would be

of benefit to the activities of the organisation.



Ensures

that the Childrens Villages and other projects regularly submit articles to

the National Office for inclusion in any newsletters also liaising with the

Regional Office (Nairobi) through the regional editor on such matters



Work in

close consultation with the National Director, handles all issues of publicity

or queries from the public.



Leads

the development of publicity materials and ensures that adequate stocks of

marketing support materials are available



Develops

and maintains an archive of National Association activities and special events

such as photographs, PR- FR materials, etc.



Coordinates

special events of the National Association

Brand development

and Brand Orientation:



Actively

drive the process of brand strengthening, ensuring that the National

Association gets a strategic focus with clear and measurable goals for brand

development in line with the continental strategic brand plan.



Conducts

brand orientation sessions, trainings and workshops for new and continuing

staff, ensuring that the brand concept is explained and that the contents are

clear to all staff teams



Addresses

brand relates issues from various staff teams



Actively

participates in the international flow of information (experience exchange),

collecting good practices and sharing them with the brand team



In

consultation with the National Director, ensures that adequate resources are

planned and priorities set for the required brand development activities.



Work to

ensure that the promotion of the brand is incorporated in the whole National

Association planning structure, working to achieve the full benefits of a

strong brand



Takes

charge of printing for all branded materials which is to be done centrally by

the National Office, following submission of requests by various projects and

subsequent express approval by the National Director.

Administrative and

Management Roles



Keeps

the National Director and Board of Trustees informed of all Public

Relations/Fundraising events planned, and ensures the necessary approval of

activities and related budgets



Works

closely with the Childrens Village Administrators & finance departments to

ensure that funds and in-kind donations received are recorded and dealt with as

required by policy guidelines.



Keeps

records and databases of all association with funding organisations and

companies and submits timely reports and plans as required.



Carries

out all duties in accordance with the financial and administrative policies of

SOS Childrens Villages Uganda.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



The

ideal candidate should have a Masters Degree/Bachelors degree in Mass

communication, public relations and Business Administration majoring in marketing

or related field from reputable institution



A

professional certification in a similar field and additional trainings in

resource mobilization, fund raising, proposal development, public relations

management will be an added advantage



At least

5 years relevant working experience in leading resource mobilization and fund

raising initiatives in a reputable organisation/setting. Additional experience

in NGO community funded programmes including raising funds locally, donations

in kind will be of great advantage.



Good

knowledge and sound understanding of current funding environments including

corporate, media management is desirable.



Must

have a high sense of Integrity.



Ability

to work well in a team comprised of people with diverse cultural and

disciplinary backgrounds. S/he should have strong leadership and good

communication skills.



The

ideal candidate must be self-motivated, able to initiate new ideas and willing

to travel across our project locations from time to time

How to Apply:

If you believe you are

the right candidate for this position, please send your application letter,

detailed curriculum vitae (CV), and photocopies of academic certificates, and

names and contact details of three traceable referees to the address below:

The Head Human

Resource and Administration

SOS Childrens

Villages Uganda,

Plot 53 Ntinda II

Road

Kampala, Uganda

Electronic

Applications must be sent as one Single PDF Document not exceeding eight pages

to: jobs@sosuganda.org **

Applications that

are late, do not have CV or certificates or exceeds eight pages or

electronically submitted as images will be disqualified. Only shortlisted

candidates will be contacted.

Deadline: Thursday 25th June 2020

For more of the

latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
Share this article Whatsapp

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Twitter

Linkedin Park Han-na (The Korea Herald/Asia News Network)  Wed, June 24, 2020 17:15 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40661518eb 2 Books North-Korea,Harry-Potter,books,jk-rowling Free

North Koreas literary news outlet praised J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter series, the best selling book series in history, for the pioneering spirit that it models for children.

In a review dated June 20, Literature Newspaper, a mouthpiece of the Joseon Writers Alliance, the Central Committee of North Koreas official literary organization, belatedly introduced the British writers work. The first book in the seven-book series was published in 1997, and the seventh came out in 2007.

Readers are showing a great interest in the full-length childrens book Harry Potter. The series has been published in various countries and has become popular among children as well as adults, it said.

Read also: Star-narrated 'Harry Potter' book streaming for free

Harry Potter shows the idea that children should pioneer their way with their own strength and ability, while it also unfolds a story about a fantasy and magic world that is far from reality, the paper said.

Since its inception in 1956 Literature Newspaper has covered the regimes cultural events and content, including films and performing arts that promote the legitimacy of the regime.



Topics :

This article appeared on The Korea Herald newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
Hui Chi-fung, left, a Democratic Party politician, is detained by riot police during a protest in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, June 12, 2020. A group of senators is calling on the Liberal government to impose sanctions on Chinese officials over China's treatment of its Muslim minority, its increasing restriction of freedoms in Hong Kong, and its arrests of two Canadians. (The Canadian Press/AP/Vincent Yu)

Sanction Chinese Officials Over Human Rights Violations, Senators Urge Trudeau

OTTAWAA group of senators is calling on the Liberal government to impose sanctions on Chinese officials over Chinas treatment of its Muslim minority, its increasing restriction of freedoms in Hong Kong, and its arrests of two Canadians.

The 12 senators are mostly Conservatives but some were appointed on the advice of Liberal prime ministers, including Justin Trudeau.

In a letter, they say China is constantly and mercilessly perpetrating horrendous and utterly inhuman acts towards other groups.

Canada has a law that lets the government target the personal finances of foreign officials responsible for violating human rights, freezing assets that are in Canadas control and forbidding Canadian institutions to do business with them.

The Liberals are also facing pressure from the other direction, with one senator pressing the government Tuesday to consider intervening to free Chinese high-tech executive Meng Wanzhou from an extradition process in Vancouver.

Trudeau has rejected that idea, saying Mengs case will go on without interference from politicians even though two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, are imprisoned in China in what Canada sees as retaliation.
Police in DR Congo's capital fired tear gas for a second straight day Wednesday to break up violent protests outside parliament over proposed changes in the judiciary.

Angry demonstrators, some armed with petrol bombs, blocked traffic outside parliament, erecting barriers and burning tyres.

Police first fired warning shots and then used tear gas to disperse them, AFP journalists said.

The protesters were mainly motorcycle taxi drivers and supporters of President Felix Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party.

The UDPS is in an uneasy coalition with forces close to Tshisekedi's long-serving predecessor Joseph Kabila. Only a third of the government ministers are from the UDPS.

They set up barricades and burnt tyres. By Arsene Mpiana (AFP)

The contested legal changes include proposals to define the powers of judges, which critics say is a ploy to muzzle the judiciary.

The proposals come from the Common Front for Congo (FCC), a coalition close to Kabila, who remains a behind-the-scenes force in national politics.

AFP journalists said some of the protesters hauled MPs out of their cars and attacked the homes of Kabila loyalists.

FCC chief Nehemie Mwilanya on Wednesday warned "those who think they have a monopoly on disorder and violence.

"Careful!" he said. "They must realise that everyone knows how it starts, but not how it ends."

Police fired tear gas for a second straight day. By Arsene Mpiana (AFP)

Mwilanya also questioned the "inaction" of the interior minister, who is from Tshisekedi's party, without naming him, saying he failed to understand why some people were following "scorched earth politics."

Former parliament speaker Aubin Minaku, one of the people behind the proposed amendments, said the "aim is to define the authority the justice ministry exercises over the judges."

The president's party says the proposed legal changes are a ploy to undermine the judiciary. By Arsene Mpiana (AFP)

But Tshisekedi's party on Monday lambasted it as a ploy to "undermine the independence of the judiciary and increase the power of the justice ministry."

The opposition Lamuka coalition also said the proposals would "deal a death blow to the concept of separation of powers."
June 24, 2020 - Experts weigh in on recent online reports that warn of frightening health consequences from new fifth generation (5G) wireless networks. Within current exposure limits, there appears to be little or no risk of adverse health effects related to radiofrequency (RF) exposure from 5G systems, concludes an evidence-based expert review in the June issue of Health Physics, official journal of the Health Physics Society. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

"While we acknowledge gaps in the scientific literature, particularly for exposures at millimeter-wave frequencies, [we judge] the likelihood of yet unknown health hazards at exposure levels within current limits to be very low, if they exist at all," according to the statement by the Committee on Man and Radiation (COMAR) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). As outlined by its Chair, Richard A. Tell, COMAR is an organization composed of physicians, biologists, epidemiologists, engineers and physical scientists who are experts on health and safety issues related to electromagnetic fields who work voluntarily and collaboratively on a consensus basis.

5G Networks Unlikely to Cause Exposure Above Current Safety Limits

The consensus statement seeks to counter the rise in alarming messages regarding mysterious health effects of 5G technology. "This misinformation together with activist websites expressing even more ominous consequences of 5G - ranging from cancer induction to being responsible for the current coronavirus pandemic - has created substantial and unnecessary public anxiety," comments Jerrold T. Bushberg of the University of California Davis School of Medicine and Vice-Chair of COMAR.

Fifth-generation wireless systems are expanding worldwide to meet the rapidly increasing demand for wireless connectivity. The new technology can transmit much greater amounts of data at much higher speeds, compared to previous 2G to 4G systems. That's in part because 5G uses the greater bandwidth available at higher frequencies, including the so-called millimeter-wave (MMW) band. Expansion of 5G "will produce a more ubiquitous presence of MMW in the environment," according to the report.

Because MMW do not penetrate foliage and building materials as well as lower-frequency signals, many lower-power "small cell" transmitters will be needed to provide effective indoor coverage. Some 5G systems will have "beamforming" antennas that transmit signals to individual users as they move around, which means that nonusers will have less exposure.

Tissue heating is the main potential harmful effect of exposure to RF fields. Most countries, including the United States, have adopted exposure limits similar to those recommended by the recent standards (2019) published by IEEE International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES) or the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). These guidelines seek to avoid harmful effects by setting exposure limits far below the threshold at which any adverse human health effects would be expected to occur. These standards only allow for low levels of public RF exposures for which the energy is deposited in the form of thermal heating.

The COMAR statement provides perspectives to address concerns about possible health effects of 5G exposure:

In contrast to lower-frequency fields, MMW do not penetrate beyond the outer layer of the skin - and thus does not produce heating of deeper tissues.

The introduction of 5G is unlikely to change overall levels of RF exposure. As is currently the case, most exposure will be mainly due to "uplink" from one's own cell phone or other devices - not from transmission from base stations.

In nearly all publicly accessible locations, RF exposures from cellular base stations, including 5G stations will remain small - a fraction of current IEEE or ICNIRP exposure limits.

"[S]o long as exposures remain below established guidelines, the research results to date do not support a determination that adverse health effects are associated with RF exposures, including those from 5G systems," concludes the COMAR statement. The Committee acknowledges limitations of the current evidence on possible health and safety effects of 5G exposure and identifies key areas for further research, including high-quality studies of the biological effects of MMW.

###

Click here to read "IEEE Committee on Man and Radiation--Comar Technical Information Statement: Health and Safety Issues Concerning Exposure of the General Public to Electromagnetic Energy from 5G Wireless Communications Networks." DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001301

About Health Physics

Health Physics, first published in 1958, provides the latest research to a wide variety of radiation safety professionals including health physicists, nuclear chemists, medical physicists, and radiation safety officers with interests in nuclear and radiation science. The Journal allows professionals in these and other disciplines in science and engineering to stay on the cutting edge of scientific and technological advances in the field of radiation safety. The Journal publishes original papers, technical notes, articles on advances in practical applications, editorials, and correspondence. Journal articles report on the latest findings in theoretical, practical, and applied disciplines of epidemiology and radiation effects, radiation biology and radiation science, and radiation ecology, to name just a few.

About the Health Physics Society

The Health Physics Society (HPS), formed in 1956, is a scientific organization of professionals who specialize in radiation safety. Its mission is to support its members in the practice of their profession and to promote excellence in the science and practice of radiation safety. Today its members represent all scientific and technical areas related to radiation safety, including academia, government, medicine, research and development, analytical services, consulting, and industry in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Society is chartered in the United States as an independent nonprofit scientific organization and, as such, is not affiliated with any government or industrial organization or private entity.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.

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New Delhi, June 24 : Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Wednesday endorsed a series of tweets put out by Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari on the India-China standoff.

In a short statement, the former Union Minister said: "My colleague Manish Tewari has tweeted rebutting the ill-informed accusations on Siachen by the proxies of the BJP. I fully endorse his tweets. Siachen was on the official agenda since the 1980s and successive governments have dealt with it." His statement came after Tewari raised a series of questions, including asking why the government is fielding "uninformed proxies" to why he calls "distort and re-write history".

He demanded that if the accusations are true, this should come from the Defence Minister. Tewari also alleged that BJP chief or spokesperson aren't aware of the difference between "mutual disengagement" and "demilitarisation".

"Nor do they know that Siachen was in the official agenda of talks since the mid-1980s and successive governments, including Mr Vajpayee's, dealt with Siachen, but there was no progress," he tweeted.

Also claiming that the proposal of "disengagement" was rejected by the UPA government, he hit back at the BJP asking: "If 'mutual disengagement' is a bad phrase, what is the government doing now on the Galway Valley and Pangong Tso (lake)?" The recent India-China face-off has made both the Congress and the BJP dig into the past to label allegations against each other.
Extensive new protections are being put in place as part of an updated plan to look after New Zealands native Hectors and Maui dolphins.

Hectors dolphins are nationally vulnerable with about 15,000 in New Zealands waters. Maui dolphins are critically endangered, with only about 63 left. These precious marine mammals are New Zealands taonga and we need to act now to ensure they are there for future generations, says Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage.

Fishing activities and the disease toxoplasmosis pose the biggest threats to Hectors and Maui dolphins, says Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash.

The changes will significantly increase fishing restrictions in dolphin habitats, focussing on methods with the highest potential to affect dolphins. However I want to be clear  fishing vessels will be able to keep fishing if they move to different methods. There is new support from government to help them make that transition, says Nash.

We know New Zealanders care deeply about looking after Maui and Hectors dolphins. There were more than 15,000 submissions and a 78,000 signature petition on options for improving their protection as part of the Threat Management Plan review, says Sage.

Together with the new measures to manage non-fishing risks, these give us our best opportunity to protect these iconic dolphins, says Nash.

The changes will affect some fishing operators who work these waters. The decisions are not taken lightly and I acknowledge there will be questions about some operations.

"A targeted transitional support package is being established to help and incentivise fishing operators adapt to the new restrictions.

Fisheries New Zealand officials will now meet commercial fishing operators to work through next steps. Support will be available to minimise the social and economic impacts. Livelihoods can be protected if new methods are adopted.

The targeted support package will include ex gratia payments and free and independent business advice. It will be available to commercial fishers and Licensed Fish Receivers who are most impacted by the new measures.

The transitional support will also help meet the cost of converting boats from set net or trawl to other fishing methods that have less of a known impact on the dolphins. The funds may also be used for moving to another fishing area, or to exit the industry completely if that is the most appropriate option, says Nash.

The planned extensions to the marine mammal protection areas would cover the potential habitat and transition area of Maui and Hectors dolphins, and a large part of the east coast South Island Hectors dolphin distribution, says Sage.

Seismic surveying and seabed mining are proposed to be prohibited in the five marine mammal protection areas to protect the dolphins from impacts such as noise and sedimentation. Existing exploration and mining permits will be exempted.

The Toxoplasmosis Action Plan led by DOC will include research to investigate knowledge gaps and investigating and trialling solutions to reduce or eliminate the transfer of the parasite into the marine environment.

The status of these threatened dolphins means that we cannot be complacent about risk. We will closely monitor the implementation of the new measures and work closely with all affected groups to ensure Hectors and Maui dolphins are protected for future generations.

These decisions are based on the best available science. It includes sightings, aerial surveys, necropsy information, observer data, socioeconomic analyses and submissions. It is a considerable advance on previous assessments and gives us our clearest picture yet of the risk to specific populations of dolphins, says Eugenie Sage.

New fishing measures will take effect from October 1 as follows:

A nationwide ban on drift netting

An extension of current set-net closures, and the creation of new areas closed to set-netting, in the North and South Islands

An extension of the existing area closed to trawling off the west coast of the North Island

A change to the regulations allowing the Minister to act immediately to impose further restrictions if a single dolphin is caught in the Maui dolphin habitat within the west coast of the North Island.

In addition there are a range of non-fishing measures planned:

Doubling marine mammal protection areas across the West Coast of the North Island and around the Banks Peninsula to 37,286 km 2 of protected areas

of protected areas Reducing the risks from seismic surveying and seabed mining by prohibiting new permits in the expanded marine mammal protection areas and making the a code of conduct for existing activities mandatory in those areas

Seabed mining will also be prohibited in the Te Rohe o Te Whanau Puha Whale Sanctuary area off Kaikoura

Rolling out the toxoplasmosis action plan

More information, including factsheets and maps, is available here:
Fugitive Iranian Judge Died Of Fall, Romanian Autopsy Indicates

06/24/20

By RFE/RL's Romanian Service

A fugitive Iranian judge facing possible extradition to his homeland on charges of corruption died at a hotel in Romania from a fall, a preliminary autopsy has concluded. Gholamreza Mansuri was found dead June 18 in the lobby of the Duke Hotel in the center of the Romanian capital, Bucharest.

The autopsy said the 52-year-old judge and cleric died after hitting a hard surface, an indication he may have fallen from one of the hotel's six floors that look out onto the lobby, the Bucharest prosecutor's office said in a June 23 statement.



Several hotel employees said they heard a bang, the prosecutor's office said.



The police have taken possession of the hotel's video surveillance to see if the cause of Mansuri's death was captured on tape and whether any foul play was involved, the prosecutor's statement said.



Gholamreza Mansuri

Mansuri was "under judicial control" after being arrested in Bucharest on June 12 following a request by Tehran.



His extradition hearing on charges he received a 500,000 bribe from an Iranian businessman was set for July 10.



At the same time, human rights groups and Reporters Without Borders were seeking to have Mansuri prosecuted for his role in the "arrest and torture" of at least 20 journalists.
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

COVID-19 has been a disruptive force across every industry.India is facing several challenges amid its own country-wide lockdown: labor shortages, cargo capacity challenges, a manufacturing slowdown, order delays and stuck shipments, and demand and supply shocks.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05916449/?utm_source=PRN







India's real gross domestic product (GDP) is at its lowest in 6 years because of the COVID-19 standstill adversely affecting consumption and investment in the Indian economy. The manufacturing halt has reduced demand for logistics services, which likely will result in downward pressure on prices across warehousing, freight, and logistics.



With countries around the world imposing lockdowns, minimal export-import movements have amplified the crisis in the logistics space. Restriction of air travel and international flights globally has contributed to the slowdown in the movement of goods, and India's lockdown brought first- and last-mile transportation and intermodal movement of goods to a standstill.A reduction in vessel capacity and equipment shortages related to disruptions has had a major impact on the intra-Asia trade lanes. A large drop in freight volumes has prompted major carriers to report service cancellations and delays, and blank sailings to and from India and the Middle East, Europe, and the Mediterranean. Aviation is one of the worst-affected segments. The Indian government has suspended all passenger flights, only allowing movement of cargo flights. Air carriers prioritize on transportation of essential cargo and critical pharma/medical equipment. Staff shortages and delays in clearance of cargo has resulted in congestion at airports. The Internet of Things, blockchain, 3D printing, and autonomous transportation have gained renewed interest as technologies that will help companies survive and thrive during a pandemic or another crisis.The analyst has recognized multimodal logistics solutions, digital integration, flexible solution models, and warehousing infrastructure as other areas that are expected to present opportunities.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05916449/?utm_source=PRN



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Prince William has visited the Oxford University team working to find a vaccine against COVID-19, describing the work as "incredibly exciting" and "fascinating".

The Duke of Cambridge toured the laboratory where the vaccine has been produced and was also shown where samples from the clinical trial are being examined by researchers.

Wearing a face mask, protective coat and goggles, he spoke to experts including Professor Sarah Gilbert, who developed the vaccine, and Professor Andrew Pollard, who is leading the clinical trial team.

The prince also met members of the public taking part in the trial, asking one female volunteer: "Were you just a willing guinea pig?"

As Professor Pollard paid tribute to the "crucially important" volunteers, William remarked: "You're in good hands, I'm sure."

More than 4,000 volunteers are already enrolled in the UK to test whether the vaccine is effective against coronavirus, with enrolment of a further 10,000 people planned.

This week, trials have begun in Brazil and South Africa, after scientists warned coronavirus was no longer prevalent enough in the UK for the vaccine to be tested effectively.

The government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said earlier this week the Oxford study, supported by drugmaker AstraZeneca, was "probably" the "most advanced" in the world.

While visiting the labs, Prince William said people would "breathe a huge sigh of relief" if it was announced the team had "cracked it" by making a successful vaccine.

"People want there to be some sort of finality to it," he said.

The prince asked how the team would feel if the vaccine was not successful, to which Professor Gilbert said she was hopeful they would "see something".

"The only question is how good it is and how long it will last," she said.

Professor Pollard highlighted the enormity of the challenge, telling the prince: "It's success for the country and the world if these vaccines work, not for us."

Story continues

A day before the visit, the Duke of Cambridge took part in a video call with AstraZeneca's chief executive Pascal Soriot and Oxford University's vice chancellor Professor Louise Richardson.

The prince told them: "It's the most incredibly exciting and very welcome project that you're all doing which is why it's fascinating."

He congratulated those involved and said his family was proud of the team's efforts, telling them "please keep up the good work".

Mr Soriot previously said he expects to have the results of the clinical trials by August or September.

He believes the vaccine will provide protection against the disease "for about a year".
A mother-of-two was 'rolling drunk' when she drove down the wrong side of a major highway at 80km/h, a court has heard.

Kerrie Dunstan, 47, was four times over the blood-alcohol limit when she illegally turned onto Brisbane's Gateway Motorway on January 11.

The mum travelled over two kilometres on the wrong side of the freeway and forced several drivers to swerve to avoid crashing, The Courier Mail reported.

Kerrie Dunstan (pictured), 47, was four times over the legal blood-alcohol limit when she drove down the wrong side of Brisbane's Gateway Motorway on January 11

The mother-of-two drove on the wrong side of the freeway (pictured) for over two kilometres before she was stopped by members of the public

Dunstan appeared in court this week and pleaded guilty to several charges including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and driving under the influence.

Police told Wynnum Magistrates Court the mother had driven with a blood-alcohol level of .214.

The court saw footage of Dunstan being stopped at the highway's Port of Brisbane on-ramp and helped out of her car by members of the public.

Magistrate Leanne Scoines said the mum's actions had put motorists at 'extreme risk'.

'That footage is absolutely gobsmacking.

'The community expects much, much better than this,' she said.

Dunstan was also charged with driving under the influence of drugs in November 2019.

Dunstan (pictured) appeared in Wynnum Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and driving under the influence

Police said Dunstan was stopped near Cannon Hill shopping centre and found with eight prescription drugs in her system.

Dunstan had sideswiped a car in the shopping centre and almost collided with a police car when she dangerously turned onto Wynnum Road.

Her defence lawyer from Legal Aid Queensland, Lily Berkeley, said Dunstan was remorseful and had a troubled past that contributed to her alcoholism.

She was sentenced to six months imprisonment and broke down in tears when it was suspended for 12 months.

Dunstan was also fined $600 and disqualified from driving for two years.
As this extraordinary school year wraps up, with all its chaos and trauma, and many unknowns swirling about the future, one big question looms: Where should we focus our attention as we prepare for the coming school year?

People are understandably concerned about academic backslide. But before we rush to catch students up to prequarantine goals, we need to understand whats happened and where it leaves our students. Our job has always been to meet students where they are, never more so than now.

Normal Is Gone

Before we begin planning for students, we must admit the losses we ourselves experienced. As teachers, we want to solve everything. We like to feel in control. Coming up against our own limitations can be especially hard.

Most of us left our classrooms without notice, as if we were fleeing for our liveswhich, in a way, we were. We tried to do our work with imperfect technology, without essential materials, and through fear and confusion. We lost so much time with students. We canceled field trips, school plays, team sports. We watched our students (and our own children) lose the main fabric of their social lives. People they knowand we knowlost loved ones, jobs, homes.

None of this is over yet, and theres no magic to make it all go away. Anxious to get back to normal? Me, too. But we need to restrain that impulse. We need to just feel what we feel. Normal is gone.

Our Students Needs Have Changed

Most of our students have been living with a lack of human connection and lack of community. For young people, socialization is crucial to their development. That unmet need alone can trigger depression, and I see more and more signs of this when students check in with me. Many are quietly enduring even more acute traumas.

When they come back to us in the fall, our students need for connection, belonging, and real-world experience will be fierce. In school, we often fight against those drives, and Im worried that if we start teaching in the fall with an extra urgency to cover content, we will find ourselves in serious conflict. As we plan to reconvene with students, whether in person, online, or some combination, we need to adjust our approach based on their needs.

Plan to Build Community and Connections

While we cant solve everything, teachers will be in a valuable position this fall to support students social-emotional development. We can do this through our disciplines by shifting away from efficiency and toward whole-child learning.

This spring, while teaching English via Zoom, I began experimenting with prioritizing compelling experiences that would build community and connection. Attendance and participation were very high, and I attribute that to some of these choices. Here are my key takeaways.

 Adopt a less is more mentality for your curriculum objectives. Once I realized I could not keep the same pace in remote learning as I had in my classroom, I let go of my sense of hurry and my usual curriculum. (I didnt have access to the novels anyway.) I chose content I felt was important and accessible, and we went deeper into it. This paring-down created a calm, coherent, and inviting class. The cancellation of standardized tests certainly made this shift simpler this spring, but either way, student engagement is a requirement for learning at all. By thinking carefully about whats most important and planning well around fewer objectives, I believe more students stay with us, and the net learning is greater.

 Make class an experience for students as much as possible, rather than aiming to deliver information or using a basic skill-and-practice format. For people dealing with trauma, motivation and focus can be difficult. Get students involved in something meaningful. That way, their genuine interest might outdo any struggle to pay attention. Through experience, we construct our own understanding of content and can think more critically about it. Bonus: Experiences also give students something to talk about with their friends later.

 To get more experiential, try going back to the roots of your discipline. When we had no access to books, I reminded myself that people enjoyed stories long before books were widely available. Oral storytelling existed in all cultures and time periods, and it could happen over Zoom, too! I had students select a folk tale from any tradition (from their families or found online), summarize it, and learn to tell it by heart. Each day, different students shared their folk tales.

After each one, we analyzed its elements and noted patterns and connections among them on a Google Doc chart. We found interesting connections between folk tales and modern stories, and students wrote in their reflections that hearing their classmates tell stories took their minds off their stress.

In social studies, a teacher I know led students in virtual debates about current social issues. A science teacher helped students formulate questions and conduct experiments in their homes. She made videos with instructions, and students would document their scientific processes throughout the week.

In each of these examples, students are gaining new experiences within the discipline, while practicing valuable 21st-century skills.

 Make room for student voices and peer-to-peer interaction. Students want and need to hear each other. In our storytelling unit, we devoted most of our class period to listening to students. This helped students feel connected to one another in a new way. Student-driven discussions, presentations, games, and group work are worth our time. Virtual breakout rooms work with some practice, structure, and accountability. Remote or not, Ill be taking time in September to establish group-work protocols, providing ample time for collaborative work.

 Tune in to students. Ask for feedback. To feel a real sense of belonging to a learning community, students need to feel some ownership over how they learn. This spring, I used Google Forms more than ever to ask students for feedback on our class. I listened and made adjustments. This allowed students to use their voices, not just in specific lessons and activities but to influence the direction of the class.

Instead of succumbing to pressure to catch up quickly, students will need us to help them regain some of what theyve lost: community, meaningful experiences beyond their homes, interactions with peers, and a chance to belong. As teachers, were in a uniquely strong position to recover those important things.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh says he is fully satisfied regarding his discussions with Russian counterparts

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on his arrival in Moscow for a three day visit. (Images released by: @DefenceMinIndia)

New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a three-day visit to Moscow, said on Tuesday that he has been assured by Russia that ongoing contracts for weapons will be maintained and in a number of cases will be taken forward in a shorter time.

"All our proposals have received positive response from the Russian side. I am fully satisfied with my discussions," said Mr Singh. Mr Singh will attend the Victory Parade on June 24, in Moscow to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Second World War.

India is looking at timely delivery of S400 air defence system at a time of heightened tension with China. According to reports, China has deployed S300 air defence system at the LAC with India. India is also looking for faster delivery of various spares for its weapons and aircraft from Russia.

Meanwhile, defence ministry denied reports in Chinese media that Mr Singh will be meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fanghe in Moscow on India-China border tensions. "There is no such meeting," said a senior official.

"I can say with confidence that the traditional friendship between India and Russia remain strong. Our mutual interests are solid and we look to future cooperation in the spirit of our special friendship," said Mr Singh.

Defence minister said that India-Russia relations are one of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership." Our defence relationship is one of its important pillars," he added.
Delhi, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/23/2020 -- India-Visa-Gov.in is pleased to present the latest article on why most Indian eVisas get rejected. The requirements for an electronic visa is quite simple: a valid passport, no criminal records, a valid payment method and an email ID; these are the prerequisites for online application. Only a small percentage of applications usually get rejected. The site presents 16 reasons why an eVisa India get rejected. First and foremost is that the applicants might have concealed the fact that they have had prior criminal history and tried to hide the fact from the Government of India. Secondly, applicants who have linkage with Pakistan through their parents or grandparents or their birth, must not fill an online application but the application should be filed through paper format by visiting the local Indian embassy.



Thirdly, the applicant already has an active and valid Indian Visa online. May be the applicant was not aware that certain eVisas are valid for 1 to 5 years. As a result applying again would lead to rejection as one visa is valid on one passport at a time. The other reason is that the applicants mention the wrong reason for visit or incorrect visa type. The stated intention of visit much match the type of visa such a business visa, tourist visa, etc. These are the top five reasons of applications getting rejected. Applicants can click on the link below to understand the reasons better. New applicants too can read the article to ensure that their eVisas do not get rejected.



To know more visit https://www.india-visa-gov.in/evisa-india-information/why-indian-visa-gets-rejected-how-to-avoid



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Indian eVisa is a privately owned website which offers online application services and helps users with the process to obtain an Indian eVisa. The agents help applicants with the entire process starting from filling out the form to uploading it.



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A Woolworths worker was allegedly threatened with knife after they stopped an accused shoplifter who had taken tins of baby formula.

Police said that two men entered the Eastwood supermarket store in Sydney's north west at 3pm on Tuesday.

One man walked to the baby formula isle and allegedly removed several tins from the shelf before placing them into his backpack and trying to leave the store.

A 37-year-old store employee saw the alleged theft and stopped the man outside, requesting to look inside his bag.

Police would like to speak to this man after an accused thief allegedly pulled a knife on a Woolworths worker

The man handed over his backpack and waited as the employee conducted the search.

When the worker discovered the formula, the man allegedly attempted to snatch the bag and run, police said.

A Woolworths worker was allegedly threatened at knife point at the Eastwood store (pictured) on Tuesday afternoon

A scuffle broke out between the pair and the man allegedly pulled out a knife and threatened the employee, before seizing three tins of formula and fleeing the area.

The employee was not injured during the incident.

Police were called and officers from Ryde Police Area Command attended the scene.

NSW police have released photos of men they would like to speak to in relation to the incident.

One has been described as being Indian in appearance, aged in his 40s, about 175cm tall with a slim build and short dark hair.

He was wearing a grey jumper, jeans, black Nike shoes with white soles and a black backpack.

The second man is described as being white, aged in his twenties, about 180cm tall with a slim build.

He was wearing a hat, a dark t-shirt with black track pants, dark shoes, and carrying a black Adidas backpack.

Investigations into the matter continue.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Woolworths for comment.
D ame Judi Dench has said that she believes some major theatres will not reopen in her lifetime.

Discussing the state of the UK's theatre industry amid the lockdown, the veteran stage and screen actress, 85, said: I can't see how it's going to recover.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that theatres and concert halls are able to reopen from July 4, but not for live performances.

Speaking from her home, Dame Judi said: "When you hear that The Old Vic is in trouble, when you hear that the Nuffield in Southampton is in trouble, and Leicester and Nottingham.

"This is what we rely on and it's a desperate feeling, she told Channel 4 News.

London's West End Theatres go dark during coronavirus - In pictures 1 /25 London's West End Theatres go dark during coronavirus - In pictures A woman wearing a face mask waits for an evening show of "Les Miserables" at Queen's Theatre AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Prince of Wales Theatre, London, inform patrons, as it shuts its doors, following a statement from Pime Minister Boris Johnson PA A notice outside The Apollo Theatre, London, informing patrons, that it has shut its doors, following a statement from Pime Minister Boris Johnson PA Staff from The Sondheim Theatre, London, inform patrons, as it shuts its doors, following a statement from Pime Minister Boris Johnson today PA Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London, inform patrons, as it shuts its doors, following a statement from Pime Minister Boris Johnson today PA Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London, inform patrons, as it shuts its doors, following a statement from Pime Minister Boris Johnson PA A notice outside The Prince Edward Theatre, London, informing patrons, that it has shut its doors, following a statement from Pime Minister Boris Johnson PA Staff from The Prince Edward Theatre, London, inform patrons, as it shuts its doors, following a statement from Pime Minister Boris Johnson PA A notice outside The Apollo Theatre, London, informing patrons, that it has shut its doors, following a statement from Pime Minister Boris Johnso PA Pretty Woman at Piccadilly Theatre SplashNews.com Jamie at The Apollo SplashNews.com The Seagull at The Playhouse Theatre SplashNews.com Thriller at The Lyric SplashNews.com Thriller at The Lyric SplashNews.com Thriller at The Lyric SplashNews.com Thriller at The Lyric SplashNews.com SplashNews.com The Seagull at The Playhouse Theatre SplashNews.com Pretty Woman at Piccadilly Theatre SplashNews.com

"And when will they ever open again? I don't know, certainly, I'm sure, not in my lifetime.

"I don't know, I can't see how it's going to recover.

"It's not as if we don't bring a great deal of money to the economy because I think, last year alone, we brought in 1.3 billion into the economy. So, it is necessary.

"Of course there are lots of other necessary things. I'm not saying that it should be more prioritised than anything else, but it just is going to be a very serious effect on all of us."

Mr Johnson also announced that social distancing rules would be cut from two metres to "one metre plus".

Dame Judi said many venues would still be unable to open, despite the reduction.

She added: "If the theatres now close and become dark, I don't know when we're going to get them back.

"We do need a big injection. You can't run a theatre with people sitting six seats apart. You can't run a theatre when it is a quarter full."

The actress has become a social media sensation after appearing in TikTok videos with her grandson Sam Williams during lockdown, where they take part in viral dances.

She said: "It saved my life, I know nothing about TikTok. Sam is the person who is technically minded and who has all the ideas.

"He made me do it. I had to rehearse, I have rehearsed all his moves, it just seemed that comes naturally."
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Linkedin Kate Kelland (Reuters) London, United Kingdom  Wed, June 24, 2020 09:02 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066127764 2 Health coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,coronavirus-prevention,physical-distancing,social-distancing,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,pandemic Free

Britain on Tuesday announced an easing of social distancing rules from July 4, reducing the recommended gap from 2 meters to "1 meter 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 meter only prevents you from being exposed to the largest of droplets; two meters 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 meter 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".

"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 meter, 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.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blasted the Palestinians today for their refusal to negotiate over a looming Israeli annexation of the West Bank  one day after Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz made similar comments, seemingly bringing him closer to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus position. Pompeo touted President Donald Trumps peace plan, which greenlights the annexation of Israeli settlements in the West Bank as well as the entire Jordan Valley.

Decisions about Israel and extending sovereignty to other places are decisions for the Israelis to make, Pompeo told reporters at a press conference today. I regret only that the Palestinian Authority has refused to participate in that. They have simply rejected this out of hand. We simply ask that they come to the negotiating table based on whats outlined in the vision for peace, and they have chosen not to. They have chosen to threaten, to bluster, to assert that theyre going to deny the ability to do security cooperation.

Why it matters: Pompeos remarks came after Gantz told Israeli reporters Tuesday, The Palestinians continue to reject dialogue and to remain in their deep shit. The defense minister went on to say that we will have to move forward without the Palestinians if they refuse to negotiate on annexation. Netanyahu had previously stated that the Trump administration wanted Gantz  the alternate prime minister and leader of the rival Blue and White coalition  on board proceeding with annexation as soon as next week. Pompeo met with presidential adviser Jared Kushner, White House envoy for the peace plan Avi Berkowitz, and US ambassador to Israel David Friedman to discuss the timing of the annexation plan Tuesday.

Gulf support? Pompeo also noted that the United States is talking to all of the countries in the region about how it is we can manage this process for our end-state objective. The Gulf states have all indicated that they are hopeful that we can put them in place, said Pompeo.

However, the United Arab Emirates envoy to Washington, Yousef Al-Otaiba, warned that annexation would harm Israeli efforts to normalize relations with the Emirates and other Arab states. The UAE has been the most bullish Gulf country on normalizing ties with Israel, and Otaibas op-ed in Yedioth Ahronoth marks the first by a Gulf diplomat to appear in an Israeli publication.

Whats next: Getting Gantz on board would greatly bolster the odds that Netanyahu could get the Knesset to pass annexation legislation as soon as July 1. However, Foreign Minister Gabi Askhenazi, another key Blue and White leader, reportedly still opposes the annexation proposal.

Know more: House Republicans have chimed in too. The majority of the caucus signed onto a letter to Netanyahu this week urging him to go ahead with annexation irrespective of what the United States or other actors think, Congressional Correspondent Bryant Harris reports.
China appears to have tamed a new outbreak of the coronavirus in Beijing, once again demonstrating health officials ability to quickly mobilise vast resources by testing nearly 2.5 million people in 11 days.

However, elsewhere in the world, cases are surging.

India reported a record daily increase of nearly 16,000 new cases, and Mexico, where testing rates have been low, also set a record with more than 6,200 new cases.

In the US, increases over the past few days have jumped close to the level of the outbreaks previous peak in April. Several states have set single-day records, including Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada and Texas.

(PA Graphics)

In Arizona, which on Tuesday reported 3,600 new infections, hundreds of young conservatives packed a megachurch to hear US president Donald Trumps call for them to back his re-election bid.

As he did at a rally in Oklahoma over the weekend, Mr Trump referred to the virus with a pejorative term directed at its emergence in China.

Earlier on Tuesday, Dr Anthony Fauci told US congress that the next few weeks are critical to reducing the surge.

Plan A, dont go in a crowd. Plan B, if you do, make sure you wear a mask, said Dr Fauci, the infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health.

Commuters wear face masks to protect against the new coronavirus as they walk through a subway station in Beijing (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

In China, an outbreak that has infected more than 200 people in the capital this month appeared to be waning. China has reported 12 cases on Wednesday, down from 22 the day before. Beijing reported seven new cases, down from 13.

Officials in Beijing said they tested more than 2.4 million people between June 12 and June 22. That equates to more than 10% of the capitals population of about 20 million.

Authorities began testing people at food markets and in the areas surrounding them.

They expanded this to include everyone from restaurant staff to the citys 100,000 delivery workers. China also said it used big data to find people who had been near markets for testing, without specifying how.

Story continues

The vast majority have tested negative, though one courier delivering groceries from supermarkets tested positive.

Basic Psychosocial Skills: a Guide for essential workers during #COVID19 will help them use psychosocial support skills in their daily work https://t.co/q1VTak87No#MentalHealth #PublicServiceDaypic.twitter.com/8qFPmkgx6f  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 23, 2020

A single inflatable mobile lab in one district was capable of conducting 30,000 tests a day, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Meanwhile South Korea, which successfully tamed its first wave of infections, is seeing another rise.

While the first outbreak was centred in its fourth-largest city, the current outbreak is focused in the Seoul region, where most South Koreans live.

Authorities reported 51 cases on Wednesday. Its increase of 40 to 50 cases every day over the past two weeks comes amid increased public activity and eased attitudes on social distancing.

In India, with a population of more than 1.3 billion, the densely populated cities of Mumbai and New Delhi have been hardest hit. The country has reported more than 450,000 cases of the virus, including more than 14,000 deaths.

The situation in New Delhi is a rising concern, with the federal government criticising its poor contact tracing and a lack of hospital beds.

Mexico reported nearly 800 new deaths on Wednesday. The country has recorded more than 190,000 cases and more than 23,000 deaths, although officials acknowledge both are numbers do not reflect the true levels, due to extremely low testing rates.

Mexico has performed only about half a million tests, or about one for every 250 inhabitants.

Worldwide, more than 9.2 million people have contracted the virus, including more than 477,000 who have died, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The Pitch Perfect trilogy is one of the most successful franchises in Hollywood, with the films grossing millions worldwide.

And on Tuesday, Rebel Wilson hinted that the cast have been working on a new 'special' project.

The 40-year-old Australian star was asked by one of her fans on Instagram if there will be a fourth film, before she gave a cryptic reply.

Could there be another film? Rebel Wilson hinted on Tuesday that the Pitch Perfect cast have been working on a special project

'Pitch Perfect four pls! Tell the amazing nerds,' one fan commented underneath Rebel's latest Instagram post.

Rebel replied: 'We may have been working on something super small together to put out for you guys to spread the "love" x.'

Her comment received over 1,900 likes, before another fan probed her again about a fourth film.

They want more! The 40-year-old Australian star was asked about a fourth installment by fans

'Can you please ask the producers or something to make a Pitch Perfect four, because if I watch the 3rd without even knowing there is gonna be a fourth one I'll cry,' they wrote.

'I even cried [in] the second one thinking about how it was the Bellas' last performance in college.'

There are three films in the hit franchise.

Pitch Perfect 3 was released in 2017 and it reportedly grossed $185million worldwide.

Rebel stars in the hit films alongside the likes of Brittany Snow and Anna Kendrick. She appears as the character 'Fat Amy.'

Success: There are three films in the hit franchise. Pitch Perfect 3 was released in 2017 and it reportedly grossed $185million worldwide

Back in 2017, Rebel spoke about how filming the third installment in the franchise made her conquer her fear of heights.

Appearing on the Late Night With Seth Meyers, she explained that the script required her to do a 20 foot (six metre) free fall jump with co-star Anna Kendrick.

'I know I seem pretty tough but I am afraid of heights, that's the one thing I'm afraid of and I had to do this 20 foot jump 10 times ... and each time (I was) petrified (and) thought I was gonna die,' she said.

Conquering fears: Back in 2017, Rebel spoke about how filming the third installment in the franchise made her conquer her fear of heights

The Sydney-born actress also credited Anna with keeping her calm each time they were being back hoisted up.

'She would sing random stuff to distract me, like she was singing a lot of Bette Midler classics... and I'd be like "keep singing, keep singing",' she said.

Rebel also told the talk show host that her background in martial arts helped with stunt training for the film.

'It was so much fun, like I did my own stunts and I fight off a lot of bad guys in the film when the rest of the Bellas get kidnapped and it was really cool,' she said.

Rebel explained that while the other actresses were busy doing dance classes, she was completing 'hardcore action training'.
The Woodlands Township has organized a July Fourth fireworks show centered at the Lone Star College-Montgomery campus on Texas 242. Viewers and other revelers will be able to park in one of 15 approved business parking lots west of Interstate 45 and watch the 9:30 p.m. show.

Nick Wolda, communications director for The Woodlands, and Chris Nunes, director of the township Parks and Recreation Department, both said the event took weeks of planning after the Board of Directors notified staff the township would fund an event and wanted to have some sort of celebration.

The cost of the event was $150,000 to pay for the fireworks, clean up of the parking lots and law enforcement officials to help with traffic control and safety.

Related: July Fourth parade in Woodlands canceled due to COVID-19

Nunes said the event will be preceeded by three blasts of fireworks to notify residents where the show will be centrally located, one at 9 p.m., one at 9:10 p.m. and one at 9:20 p.m.

The main fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m. Residents can park in one of 15 designated parking lots that are owned primarily by businesses along College Park Drive. Residents who attend the event should practice social distancing, stay in their vehicles and follow all CDC guidelines that may be pertinent if mingling with other people.

There will be three (location) shoot-offs (of fireworks). The biggest thing is, we are encouraging people to do social distancing, stay in their cars and stay around their cars and enjoy the show. It is basically going to be a really big show. It will probably be the largest shells weve fired in a long time because we have a little more distance from roofs and structures, Nunes said. This is a family friendly activity and we want people to stay safe and have some form of celebrating the Fourth of July.

Wolda said the township Board of Directors wanted to give residents something to look forward to in light of the rash of cancellations of traditional events such as the South County 4th of July Parade and also the Red, Hot and Blue festival that is an annual staple in The Woodlands. Shenandoah and Oak Ridge North have reduced their Fourth of July events to morning only activities from 9 to 11 a.m. in both small cities.

It is a tough year, obviously. A tough spring and summer because we had so many great activities lined up with the township programs and the (Cynthia Woodlands Mitchell) Pavilion season and all of that, so you have to try to work around what you have, Wolda said of the COVID-19 cancellations. In this particular instance, the Board of Directors guided staff to try to create some kind of fireworks show to celebrate Americas independence and birthday.

The idea of having a centralized location for the fireworks to be launched from required having places for residents to watch, Wolda noted, which led to the recruitment of 15 businesses along the west side of Interstate 45 and on College Park Drive to allow parking for the event. The stores and businesses allowing their lots to be used will not enforce towing, however viewers will have to depart once the show is finished.

It is a drive-in type show. We looked for places with a lot of parking. We anticipate families will come together and they can easily practice social distancing either in their cars or close to them. Traditionally in years past, we had festivals in four different locations. (Fourth of July programming) Had expanded throughout the community. This is our second best effort, Wolda explained. It will be large shells that can be seen from far away. We have some media on it, people can tune into (KSTAR Country 99.7 FM radio) for the musical soundtrack and it will be shown on the township website so people can watch it that way, too. That is why it took so long, we had to get all these permissions (to use parking lots).

Wolda also stressed that fireworks are prohibited by the townships covenants and are illegal to shoot off inside township limits. Traditionally, fire officials and law enforcement officers will be on duty the night of July 4 to respond to calls for illegal fireworks or possible fires ignited by the devices.

We want to strongly emphasize to not shoot fireworks in the township which is why we have a fireworks show for residents, Wolda added.

jeff.forward@chron.com
A gate at the Dong Tam commune outside Hanoi is shown in an April 21, 2017 photo.

Vietnamese authorities arrested four people Wednesday for alerting foreign diplomats about a deadly clash between police and land rights protesters in January at the Dong Tam commune outside Hanoi, police and relatives of the detainees said.

The four had been outspoken in social media postings about the Dong Tam clash, in which three police officers and a village leader died in a raid on protesters in a bitter land dispute, and had openly offered information to embassies and other foreign figures to try to raise awareness of the incident.

Their arrests bring to a dozen the number of Vietnamese taken in for posts on Facebook, in what rights groups say is part of an intensifying crackdown on human rights activists and dissidents six months before the Communist Party of Vietnams next five-yearly party congress.

Activist Can Thi Theu, her sons Trinh Ba Phuong and Trinh Ba Tu, and land rights petitioner Nguyen Thi Tam were charged with making, storing, distributing or disseminating information, documents and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in violation of Article 117 of the penal code.

Trinh Thi Thao, daughter of Can Thi Theu and sister of the Trinh brothers, told RFAs Vietnamese Service how police took in her mother and brother Ba Phuong at their home in Duong Noi ward, Ha Dong district, Hanoi.

They read the search warrant and accused my brother of spreading information against the state, she said.

The Jan. 9 raid on Dong Tam protesters, involving 3,000 security officers, was the latest flare-up of a long-running dispute over a military airport construction site about 25 miles south of Hanoi.

Wednesdays arrests occurred about almost week after Hanoi Police concluded their investigation about the clash, with a finding accusing 29 citizens of murder and obstructing on-duty police officers.

In a video made and posted on Facebook in apparent anticipation of his arrest, Trinh Ba Phuong showed the police attempting to drag away two women who were standing in front of his house, while an officer in the uniform of a firefighter used pliers to break into the house.

Everybody, if I am arrested, do not worry about me, he said, adding that was in good health and had no thoughts of suicide -- a statement issued to thwart official deception should he die while in custody.

If they arrest me today it means they are arresting me because of Dong Tam. I hope the international community and all foreign organizations are taking notice of the Dong Tam incident, Trinh Ba Phuong said.

There are 29 people in Dong Tam commune facing harsh sentences.

I tried to send out truthful information, accurate images and photos to the Vietnamese public and the international community, but they consider everything I have done to be an attempt to affect the investigating organizations and the political system, he added.

An officer at the Duong Noi ward police station confirmed the arrests of Can and Trinh, but directed further questions to the Hanoi police hotline. The Hanoi police told RFA to contact the Ha Dong district police, but RFA was unable to connect with the district station.

Ba Tu, the older Trinh brother, was arrested in nearby Hoa Binh province, where police first detained his father, Trinh Ba Khiem from his home near, Ba Tus.

Early this morning, police came to my home before I was even up, he told RFAs Vietnamese Service.

They broke down my door and forced their way in and restrained me. They searched the house and collected come documents, then took me to Ba Tus house, he said.

The police entered his house and restrained him while they searched the place. I didnt hear anything about any arrest warrant, he added.

The family has had several run-ins with the authorities over the past few years.

In September 2014, the husband and wife were sentenced by Hanoi police to 15 months in jail for disturbing public order, for joining in land enforcement protests.

In 2016, Can was arrested again when she participated in a protest in Dong Da district. She was sentenced by the court to 20 months in jail for again disturbing public order.

Others arrested on article 117

Also on Wednesday, two activists in the southern part of the country were arrested for violating Article 117.

Nguyen Thi Cam Thuy of Khanh Hoa province had live-streamed herself and others burning Vietnamese flags and a portrait of revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh.

Vu Tien Chi of Lam Dong province had created several Facebook accounts and used them to share stories deemed to be slander against the state and party leaders.

John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, said the arrests for social media posts are part of a wide and heavy-handed campaign to suppress dissent to make the Communist Party of Vietnams 13th party congress scheduled for January 2021 appear to run smoothly.

Vietnam has basically made it a crime to use the internet or social media platforms to voice opinions or engage in debate, Sifton said in a statement on June 19.

The 88 Project, an Illinois-based NGO that tracks Vietnamese political prisoners, this week reported that in 2019 an increasing number of people were arrested under article 117.

Many of those charged with this crime had no history of activism and were solely targeted for their peaceful expression online. Forty percent of the people arrested in 2019 were online commentators, the NGO said.

Vietnam, with a population of 92 million people, of which 55 million are estimated to be users of Facebook, has been consistently rated not free in the areas of internet and press freedom by Freedom House, a U.S.-based watchdog group.

Dissent is not tolerated in the communist nation, and authorities routinely use a set of vague provisions in the penal code to detain dozens of writers and bloggers.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huy Le. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
A FATHER-of-four has admitted using the garage at his home in County Limerick as a distribution hub for illicit drugs.

Shaun Sparling, 28, of Rath, Murroe had pleaded guilty to possession of a significant quantity of cannabis resin for the purpose of sale or supply.

The drugs, which have an estimated street value of 176,000, were seized during a garda operation on July 7, 2018.

Detective Garda Marie Haugh of the divisional drugs unit told Limerick Circuit Court the defendants home was searched at around 8.50pm after she received information from a secret and sensitive source.

She said 8.6kgs of cannabis, in 17 vacuum-packed plastic bags or pillows, was located in an upstairs section of the garage which is detached from the house.

There were a number of other people in the property at the time but Mr Sparling made admissions and took responsibility for the drugs.

The detective told John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, the defendant had accumulated a drug debt and that he had agreed to store and distribute the drugs to reduce the debt.

She said Mr Sparling, who owed around 5,000, became emotional following his arrest. He told gardai he had initially attempted to hand back the cannabis but was told by the owners they would find his father and give him a hiding if he did not cooperate.

Judge Tom ODonnell was told large quantities of the drug had been delivered to the house and that Mr Sparling was storing them and would measure out smaller quantities for people who subsequently turned up at his home by arrangement.

In his evidence, Mr Sparling, said callers would arrive at his home on bikes or in cars but the drugs didnt go as fast as I thought they would.

Andrew Sexton SC said his client has turned his life around since and he urged the court to note the contents of a number of references and testimonials which he submitted.

He said Mr Sparling is currently working and is regarded as a respected employee and a key member of the team.

Judge ODonnell has indicated he will impose sentence later this week.
In the wake of rising COVID-19 cases in the city through local transmission, further measures for ten days were announced on Tuesday in Thiruvananthapuram city.

The general stores will be open on alternate days. Malls and supermarkets will be open only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while vegetable shops will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays," said a Thiruvananthapuram Corporation official.

So far, seven people were tested positive for the virus, without a source, which also raised an alarm regarding the communal transmission.

Protests and programmes organised by political parties are banned in the capital state. Also a total number of 20 people were only allowed for government programmes.
When is a second stimulus check coming? Soon, President Donald Trump promised Monday.

Forbes reports Trump confirmed another round of direct payments to Americans will be included in Congress next coronavirus relief package during an interview with Joe St. George, National Political Editor & Washington Correspondent for Scripps.

Yeah, we are ... We will be doing another stimulus package. Itll be very good, itll be very generous, Trump said. I think over the next, I think its going to be bi-partisan, I think its going to be over the couple of weeks, probably.

Trump didnt specify how much Americans could expect, but the $3 trillion Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act), already passed by the House, would again distribute $1,200 per person, via paper checks, direct deposit or debit cards, to help Americans whove lost income due to the Covid-19 pandemic. People with taxable income under $75,000 (or $150,000 for couples filing jointly) would be eligible, similar to the first round, and dependents would also qualify for $1,200 this time, regardless of age.

The first round of stimulus checks, which gave qualifying American adults a one-time direct payment of $1,200 plus $500 for each child under the age of 17, was part of Congress $2.2 trillion CARES Act passed in March. A family of four could receive $3,400, while the second package would potentially send them $4,800.

Senate Majority Leader and Republican Mitch McConnell said earlier this month that the HEROES legislation will likely be tweaked from its current form. If direct payments are included, it will be the last round, he said.

Another proposal, from Ways and Means Republican Leader Kevin Brady of Texas, is the Reopening America by Supporting Workers and Businesses Act of 2020, which turns unemployment benefits into a back-to-work bonus. Bradys proposal also includes a direct payment of $1,200  one week of unemployment benefits and $600 federal aid, as the additional federal payment is set to expire on July 31.

Former presidential candidates Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Andrew Yang have also pitched the Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act, which would give $2,000 to anyone earning less than $120,000 per year. Married couples who file jointly would receive up to $4,000, and a maximum of three dependents would get $2,000 each.

When will I get my second stimulus check?

Senate talks are not expected to get serious until early July, so a second payment may not come until early fall. McConnell said in late May that Congress would need about a month to negotiate a deal that includes the new payments; debates still havent started but if approved by the end of July, Americans could start seeing payments in late August.

We dont want to rush into that because we want to be both careful at this point in seeing how the money is in the economy, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship earlier this month.

A lot of the money is still not in it, he said, referring to $130 billion in unclaimed Paycheck Protection Program funds and as much as 35 million checks that still havent reached people.

The good news is checks would likely be delivered faster this time after millions verified their information on the IRS Get My Payment site. The IRS recently said it has paid all eligible Americans that it had enough information on for checks from the first round, for a total of $267 billion.

The first round of payments took about a month to begin arriving in peoples bank accounts after Trump signed the CARES economic relief package in March.

How much would I get?

Under the current HEROES Act, each American would receive $1,200; married couples would receive $2,400; and parents would receive $1,200 per child, regardless of the dependents age.

You can find out how much you would be eligible for by using the free Omni Calculator tool embedded below. Its also located on their site here.

Second Stimulus Check Calculator - HEROES Act
Through this partnership with Thunes, Commercial Bank of Dubai will be able to cater to corridors such as India, Philippines, Pakistan and Bangladesh providing customers with real-time remittance to bank accounts, mobile wallets and cash pick-up services at various locations. The service will be launched with remittances to bank accounts whilst remittances to cash-pick up locations and mobile wallets will be added shortly. According to the Central Bank of the UAE in 2019, AED 165 billion was sent back by migrant workers to their home countries from the UAE, with India, Pakistan and the Philippines being the top 3 destinations of remittances from the UAE.

With this new offering, CBD' customers can transfer money in real-time to India, Bangladesh, Philippines and Pakistan, conveniently, quickly and securely using the award-winning CBD Mobile App or CBD's online banking platform. With more countries to follow, the partnership is a strong testament to the hard work and dedication of both teams to improve the customer experience for remittance solutions in UAE.

"We are delighted to partner with Thunes, enabling us to optimize and streamline our processes with a single API to remit money to many countries. This is firmly in line with CBD's default digital strategy to provide customers with innovative and technological products and services to enrich their banking experiences and make banking more seamless and convenient," commented Dr. Bernd van Linder, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Bank of Dubai.

"We are glad to partner with Commercial Bank of Dubai and join them on their innovative path to become a digital-first bank in UAE. Bringing more services for banks and unlocking opportunities for their customers is part of our mission and we are delighted to offer many remittance destinations for CBD," noted Peter De Caluwe, CEO at Thunes.

https://youtu.be/Z-v3O7JHt7k

About Thunes

Thunes is a B2B cross-border payments network that enables corporates and financial institutions to move funds and provide financial services in emerging markets. Our global platform connects mobile wallet providers, banks, technology companies and money transfer operators in more than 100 countries and 60 currencies. Thunes is headquartered in Singapore with regional offices in London, Shanghai and New York.

For more information, visit www.thunes.com

About CBD

Commercial Bank of Dubai was established in 1969 and is registered as a Public Shareholding Company (PSC). Over the years, Commercial Bank of Dubai has built itself into a progressive and modern Banking institution, endowed with a strong financial structure and strong management, as well as a loyal and ever increasing customer and correspondent base. Today CBD is one of the leading banks in the United Arab Emirates and offers its customers a full range of retail and commercial banking products and services.

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A staff member of the Franklin County Board of Elections sorts through and de-stubs both mail in ballots and provisional ballots on April 28, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images)

National Campaign to Remove Vote-by-Mail Safeguard Gains Victory in Minnesota

Citing the current public health emergency, Democratic officials in Minnesota have decided to bypass a state law requiring absentee ballots to be accompanied by the signature of a witness, a move that critics say opens the door to voter fraud.

Removing the witness requirement for mail-in ballots is a goal in many recent lawsuits filed by Democrats and allied groups as part of a coordinated nationwide attack on laws enacted to protect electoral integrity.

Democrats say the witness requirement is unfair and overly burdensome, especially now during the pandemic. Republicans say its always essential to prevent voter fraud.

The new rule in Minnesota will affect voting in the Aug. 11 primary elections; early voting in the state begins June 26.

Minnesota is a battleground state this year after President Donald Trump, a Republican, came much closer to victory in the deep-blue state in 2016 than almost all election handicappers thought possible, losing to Democrat Hillary Clinton by just 1.5 percentage points, or 44,765 votes, out of close to 3 million ballots cast.

This administrative action, which comes as Republican complaints about the dangers of widespread mail-in voting grow louder, is taking place after a state judge gave it her blessing but a federal judge refused to do so, in what has been described as friendly or collusive litigation.

Waiving Witness Requirement

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon felt empowered to waive the provision in state law that requires absentee ballots to be witnessed, a move critics say creates opportunities for voter fraud, due to a decision by a state judge.

On June 17, Ramsey County District Judge Sara Grewing approved a consent decree in friendly litigation against the witness requirement that was filed by the Minnesota Alliance for Retired Americans Educational Fund.

Democrat lawyer Marc Elias of Perkins Coie, who has been leading a nationwide effort to institutionalize voting-by-mail, is acting in the case. A key argument presented during the case, which is cited as LaRose v. Simon, was that making people vote in person increased the possibility of the transmission of the CCP virus.

In her decision, Grewing noted that the plaintiffs were challenging the constitutionality and enforcement of Minnesotas requirement that each mail-in ballot be witnessed by a registered Minnesota voter, a notary, or person otherwise authorized to administer oaths, but acknowledged the parties had agreed to settle the matter.

The ruling affects only the primary elections, not the general elections in November.

A few days later, a similar lawsuit with the same legal objective filed by the left-leaning League of Women Voters (LWV) fell flat in federal court in Minnesota, after the Trump campaign legally intervened in the case.

On June 23, U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud rejected the consent decree offered by the LWV, telling the group to draft a narrower settlement agreement that deals with the specific harms claimed in the lawsuit.

The judge said the draft consent decree went well beyond the concerns raised by a voter who claimed her health could be jeopardized by having to comply with the witness requirement to vote during the current pandemic, according to The Star Tribune, based in Minneapolis.

The parties in the suit havent demonstrated the need for wholesale nonenforcement of the witness requirement, Tostrud reportedly said. He wasnt clear about the fate of the lawsuit, saying, There are many possibilities.

Simons spokeswoman said the state will rely on the favorable state-level court decision and dispense with the witness requirement contained in the state statute.

The U.S. District Court ruling does not affect last weeks state court ruling that the consent decree is fair, adequate, reasonable, and in the public interest, Risikat Adesaogun, Simons press secretary, told The Epoch Times.

We are bound by the ruling of the state district court and will comply with the order, which means two things: Minnesotans who vote absentee will not be required to provide a witness signature on their ballot for the August 11 primary. Additionally, ballots postmarked by Primary Election Day will be accepted up to two days after Primary Election Day.

Collusive Lawsuits

The lawsuits at hand were brought by pro-Democratic groups against Simon, an outspoken left-wing Democrat. This kind of friendly litigation, called collusive litigation, sue and settle, and lawfare, by its critics, has become increasingly common in recent years as a means of changing the law without going the traditional route of asking legislatures to change the law.

It happens all the time, John Hinderaker, president of the Minnesota-based think tank Center of the American Experiment, told The Epoch Times.

Its a really pernicious thing.

The lawsuits are also part of a nationwide push by the Democratic Party and left-leaning activist groups to make voting-by-mail, which experts say is prone to tampering and fraud, the preferred method, or in some cases, the sole method of casting election ballots.

Democrats are now suing in at least 13 states to overturn restrictions on mail-in votingand more lawsuits are promised, as The Epoch Times previously reported.

Voting-by-mail, or voting at home, as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, has called it, is better than risking ones health by voting in person while the CCP virus continues to stalk the land, the Democrats argue.

Hinderaker didnt seem surprised at Simons move.

It looks to me like the Democrats had several irons in the fire, he said.

Christian Adams, president of the Indianapolis-based Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) and a former U.S. Department of Justice civil rights attorney, said the lawsuit by the League of Women Voters was typical behavior for it.

The same thing happened in Virginia. The LWV are also trying to keep dead voters on the rolls in Detroit and are opposing PILF in our lawsuit there as intervenors. So they work both sidescollusive plaintiffs and intervenor defendants of a broken system. Thats what the LWV has degraded to.

Danger of Fraud

Republicans say preserving electoral integrity is of paramount importance in administering elections, but Democrats say maximizing the vote is key and that electoral integrity measures should not depress voter turnout.

Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history  unless this stupidity is ended, Trump wrote on Twitter on June 22. We voted [in person] during World War One & World War Two with no problem, but now they are using Covid in order to cheat by using Mail-Ins!

Trump was echoing Attorney General William Barr, who told Fox News Channel the day before that mail-in balloting opens the floodgates of potential fraud that undermine popular confidence in election results.

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, he said.

Experts say voting-by-mail is fraught with problems.

The consensus, among people who study fraud carefully, is that voting by mail is a much more fertile area for fraud than voting in person, Charles Stewart, the Kenan Sahin distinguished professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told NPR in 2018.

A bipartisan commission chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III found in 2005 that absentee ballots remain the largest source of potential voter fraud and that vote buying schemes are far more difficult to detect when citizens vote by mail.

Neither the Trump campaign nor the League of Women Voters could be reached immediately for comment.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  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 center 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.

Story continues

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.

I've 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 nonprofit Family Action Network Movement, also decried Constant's 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.
Official White House Photo by Shealah CraigheadBy JOHN SANTUCCI and AARON KATERSKY, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- The family of President Donald Trump is seeking a temporary restraining order against Mary Trump, a niece of the president who is writing a book about her famous uncle and family, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to ABC News.



The president's younger brother, Robert S. Trump, filed the complaint in Queens County Surrogate's Court seeking to stop the publication of Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man which is slated to be published by Simon & Schuster on July 28. The filing was made in the same court where the estate of the president's late father, Fred Trump Sr., was settled.



The news was first reported by The New York Times.



Mary Trump's attorney, Ted Boutrous, told ABC News in a statement that President Trump and his siblings are seeking to suppress a book that will discuss matters of utmost public importance. They are pursuing this unlawful prior restraint because they do not want the American people to know the truth. The courts will not tolerate this brazen effort to squelch speech in violation of the First Amendment.



Simon & Schuster, the publisher of the forthcoming book, also defended it.



As the plaintiff and his attorney well know, the courts take a dim view of prior restraint, and this attempt to block publication will meet the same fate as those that have gone before," the publisher said in a statement to ABC News. "In Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man, Mary Trump has written a compelling personal story of worldwide significance, and we look forward to helping her tell her story.



According to a description of Mary Trump's book on Amazon, "she describes a nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse. She explains how specific events and general family patterns created the damaged man who currently occupies the Oval Office."



An attorney for Robert Trump did not respond to a request for comment from ABC News. The Trump Organization declined to comment.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
This might be the hardest summer in recent history for college students seeking internships.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March, workplaces across the country went on lock down. The stock market plummeted, retail revenue dried up, and companies instituted hiring freezes. For college students, the swift downturn soon became a death knell for summer internships.

The situation is probably more difficult than Ive ever seen before for internships, said Barbara Hewitt, executive director of Career Services at the University of Pennsylvania, who has experienced four recessions. But the one sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic feels different.

Normally, the impact of a recession is very industry-specific, Hewitt said. While one group of companies might be suffering, others could be doing well. The need for social distancing means that many interns cannot go to work anymore.

It really has hit almost every industry, every part of the country, Hewitt said. Even though employers may have work and they may be able to pay their interns, theres all of the problems of trying to figure out how to do that remotely.

Hewitt has been referring students to a crowd-sourced database called Hiring20 that catalogs the internship status for companies across the country. It lists Comcast as rescinding some positions and Urban Outfitters as canceling its program. Neither company would discuss its interns.

Even where programs have been canceled, some firms are still hosting webinar series for interns, or finding ways to fast-track rising seniors for future openings.

Hewitt knows that students may be nervous about losing an internship this summer, because those programs often serve as pipelines to full-time positions.

But just being resilient and flexible, I think, is the best thing that students can do, and show how theyve been productive, she said. Its going to be looked at with a little bit of an asterisk, the summer of 2020.

Some companies are making it work by reducing the number of interns and going completely virtual.

Experience with remote work

SAP, a German software company with its U.S. headquarters in Newtown Square, retained all intern offers that had been made before late March.

In 2019, the company hired 271 interns to work at that location. In the first two quarters of 2020, it has hired 95, putting the company about 40 interns below its halfway point last year. What that means for the second half of the year, I dont know, intern coordinator Christine Archer said. Im guessing that we will still fall a little less.

Archer says SAP focused on how to virtually continue the success of its internship program  ranked as the top program in the U.S. in a 2019 survey from the career site WayUp.com. Although much of the company already conducts business virtually due to its international structure, Archer and her team wanted to provide new training for managers on how to better help this years interns. SAP encouraged its managers to turn on videos and microphones in all of its virtual meetings for easier communication, and to send interns a team organization chart with pictures of the office floor plan to help them envision what the normal working environment looks like.

Tyr Zong, a rising senior at Drexel University, has been working with SAP in a rotational internship program for more than a year. As a full-time student, he was already assisting the development team remotely. Zong says that the biggest difference is that his manager now has more virtual meetings and slightly less time to answer questions. But Zong thinks these changes have enabled him to become more autonomous in solving problems, and that the COVID situation improves my productivity by a little bit.

Product marketing intern Isabelle Hilder also noticed increased productivity on her projects. She works under SAP Concur, a division that offers management of travel expenses to other businesses. Im working to put together a write-up that explains opportunities and places where we can better support our customers to drive adoption for Concur travel and expense products, Hilder said. Being at home has given Hilder more freedom to work independently while also having access to her project manager for weekly check-ins.

Archer tried to re-create some of the more social aspects of the program. She is thankful for the companys commitment to its corporate social-responsibility program, which encourages employees to volunteer. Something that I felt was missing from my quarantine life was that I couldnt find ways to volunteer, and I think this has provided that for me, she said.

Michael Davis, an intern in the Success Factors cloud-based software division, says hes also found community in virtual lunches among the intern class and opportunities to be a part of groups like the Black Employee Network at SAP. Getting connected to others has been really awesome, he said.

Navigating the virtual office

TD Bank, which has its U.S. headquarters in Cherry Hill, also decided to revamp its internship program for the summer. There are only 72 interns this year, compared with 95 in 2019, but internship coordinator Erica Stauffer says the pandemic isnt a major reason for that, as intern offers are made in the fall.

The new program this year, Stauffer notes, emphasizes training for both interns and managers on how to navigate the virtual office. She says the company helped managers understand the need for professional and emotional check-ins with interns during meetings, and encouraged them to look out for implicit biases that come from communicating virtually. Weve put a lot of thought into how do we get them to walk away with a better understanding of the company, walk away with a better sense of the community, Stauffer said.

Part of that community comes from social engagement, too. Stauffer and the talent team set up a rotational lunch series for interns so that by the end of the summer, every intern will have had lunch with every other intern at least once.

And for each week of the 10-week program, intern teams from different divisions assemble a small newsletter to share their thoughts from morning work-from-home routines to how they feel about pineapple pizza. A recent newsletter featured intern reflections on unrest in the country, and how to be more inclusive. Sometimes we dont have the words, but being an active listener and participant in this political climate is becoming more important than ever, wrote intern Brandon Lauer wrote.

Kaylie Kenebrew, an intern for TD Banks health and education team, says that these programs, paired with regular coffee chats and an intern group chat, have helped her build connections at the company. Even though its not exactly the same [as being in person], Im happy that were able to have some sort of rapport.

She was surprised when she heard from TD Bank in March that the internship was still on. A lot of my friends in the same industry, their internships were canceled or postponed, she said.

Tyrek Henry, an intern working remotely from Philadelphia, was also surprised by the news. But his reaction was mixed with disappointment, because he thought a virtual experience wouldnt be as good.

Once the internship started, however, Henry found it more organized and engaging than he expected. Because of frequent meetings and Zoom check-ins, Henry says, hes been able to network just as well as I would be able to in person. With help from his manager and others, Henry can virtually meet and talk with employees who arent even in his department, which he thinks he might not have been able to do as much in person.

Checking in

GlaxoSmithKline also found a way to maintain its Esprit internship programs for MBA students this summer. The pharmaceutical company, which has a corporate office headquarters in the Navy Yard, chose to continue the program largely because it helps the company assess candidates for full-time jobs, according to talent business lead Rachel Bonner.

The program didnt lose any funding or rescind any offers for its seven interns this summer. Over the course of 12 weeks, the Esprit interns work on independent projects that they present to senior leaders at the end of the summer. One intern will lead a project in consumer marketing about how to deliver tailored messages to patients for Nucala, a treatment for severe asthma. Another intern will work on expanding the marketing campaign for Trelegy, a lung disease treatment, and assisting on developing promotions for COVID-19 information, said Sholeh Dadressan, Early Talent Program manager.

Beyond its projects, though, GlaxoSmithKline also wants to improve the intern experience with daily coffee check-ins and intern lunch programs. Part of whats missing, I think, is that personal connection, said Dadressan. But I think it has to adjust to the circumstances of the pandemic.

Some interns and managers are able to find work-arounds. Online, they have virtual happy hours or play trivia games with each other over video chat. And although the interns and managers are scattered across the country, those within driving distance have socially distanced meet-ups in parking lots from time to time. They felt the next day when they saw each other on camera, it felt a bit more connected because theyd seen each other, Dadressan said.
(Newser)  The Louisville Metro police department has fired one of the police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor. A termination letter for Officer Brett Hankison released by the citys police department Tuesday said Hankinson violated procedures by showing "extreme indifference to the value of human life" when he "wantonly and blindly" shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylors apartment in March, the AP reports. The letter also said Hankinson violated the rule against using deadly force.

story continues below

Taylor, an African American nurse and EMT, was shot eight times by officers who burst into her Louisville home using a no-knock warrant during a March 13 narcotics investigation. No drugs were found at her home. Mayor Greg Fischer said last week interim Louisville police Chief Robert Schroeder had started termination proceedings for Hankison. Two other officers remain on administrative reassignment while the shooting is investigated. ("It's about damn time," an attorney for Taylor's family said when termination proceedings were announced last week.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23

By Eldar Janashvili  Trend:

Some 1.5 million tons of cereals were collected from a 461,907-hectare area in Azerbaijan, as of June 23, which is 45.7 percent of the entire crop, Trend reports on June 23 referring to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Agriculture.

In particular, 860,970 tons of barley were harvested from a 369,700-hectare area, 594,370 tons of wheat - from a 178,700-hectare area.

The average barley yield is 30.4 centners per hectare, average wheat yield - 33.3 centners per hectare. The average grain yield is 31.5 centners per hectare.

Grain harvesting is underway in 22 districts.

Barley yield in Aghdam district reached 36.4 centners per hectare, Beylagan district - 30.5 centners per hectare, Barda district - 39.8 centners per hectare, Bilasuvar district - 32.3 centners per hectare, Fizuli district - 31.3 centners per hectare, Imishli district - 38.4 centners per hectare, Neftchala district - 27.8 centners per hectare, Saatli district - 36.4 centners per hectare, Sabirabad district - 37.9 centners per hectare and Yevlakh district - 28.6 centners per hectare.

Some 1,671 combines are involved in the harvesting process, of which 611 are combines that are on the balance of the regional offices of Agroleasing OJSC, as well as 918 combines owned by individuals and legal entities.

In total, more than 1,700 combines are planned to be involved in the harvesting process.

----

Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday that she will closely follow the matter where a female banker was assaulted within bank premises in Surat.

The female staff of Canara Bank was attacked by a police constable, on Monday evening, as seen in a short video that went viral on social media.

Taking to Twitter, the finance minister articulated that she had spoken to the Commissioner of Police, Surat City, R B Brahmbhatt, and concerned officials to ensure timely action in the matter. She added that Brahmbhatt had assured her of the suspension of accused constable with immediate effect.

Also Read: 25,000 migrants in 116 districts to benefit from Rs 50,000 crore Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan: FM

She further stated that nothing should threaten the safety and dignity of bank employees.

"Will be closely following this matter. Wish to assure that the safety of all members of staff in banks is of importance for us. Amid challenges, banks are extending all services to our people. Nothing should threaten their safety and dignity," Sitharaman tweeted.

Will be closely following this matter. Wish to assure that the safety of all members of staff in banks is of importance for us. Amid challenges, banks are extending all services to our people. Nothing should threaten their safety and dignity. @canarabank@PIB_India@CP_SuratCity - Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) June 24, 2020

The finance minister also stated that she had spoken to Surat Collector Dhaval Patel about the incident.

"Although currently on leave, he assured me that timely action will be taken on the FIR filed late night," she said.

Spoke to Dr. Dhaval Patel, Collector, Surat, on the incident of a lady staff of a Bank being assaulted in the premises. Although currently on leave, he assured me that timely action will be taken on the FIR filed late night. @canarabank@PIB_India@CP_SuratCity@DarshanaJardosh - Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) June 24, 2020

"My office spoke to the Commissioner of Police. He has assured us that he himself will visit the branch and assure the staff of their safety. Also, he assured that the accused constable shall be suspended immediately," Sitharaman added.

My office spoke to the Commissioner of Police, Shri. Bhrambhatt (IPS). He has assured us that he himself will visit the branch & assure the staff of their safety. Also he assured that the accused constable shall be suspended immediately. @CP_SuratCity@PIB_India@canarabank - Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) June 24, 2020

Also Read: 'Intent to pick holes': FM Nirmala Sitharaman responds to criticism of economic package

FM Sitharaman took note of the matter following a letter written to her by the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), urging the finance minister to save bank staff from such assaults.

Soon after the assault on the female banker, #ShameSuratPolice started trending on Twitter.
The tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and Chinese occupied Tibet is unlikely to abate any time soon. Despite efforts to de-escalate the situation, only incorrigible optimists will bet on things not spiralling out of control. There are reports that the Indian forces have been given freedom of action, which includes using fire-arms to respond to extra-ordinary situations.

This means that the border mechanisms that were in place to prevent any untoward incident that could blow apart the deceptive peace and tranquillity along the LAC, are now virtually redundant. After the Galwan clash, a hair-trigger situation obtains, with the Indians itching to exact their revenge.

Rising stridency

To put it very bluntly, this crisis is far from over. In fact, it might just be starting to unfold. Because the way the military build-up is continuing, the rising stridency in competing claims, the contracting politico-military and diplomatic space for any kind of compromise, it appears that the two countries are inexorably stumbling, bumbling and blustering towards a conflict. The next clash could involve shots being fired in anger, and from there it is anyones guess how much things escalate. It is possible that a localised conflict burns itself out as quickly as it starts. But it is just as likely that it moves up the escalation ladder into a limited conflict which then snowballs into something bigger involving either one or more or even all the sectors along the LAC.

There has been some talk in India about a limited military action to deliver a strong message to the Chinese. The problem, however, is that one side cannot alone decide if the conflict will remain limited; the other side also gets a vote. To initiate a limited action on the assumption that the other side will also agree to not expand or escalate the scale of the conflict is not only dangerous but could eventually prove disastrous.

The Pakistan factor

The Pakistanis found this to their cost in 1965 when they initiated a limited operation in Jammu and Kashmir without expecting that India will open another front in Punjab. However, in 1999, the Pakistani calculation proved partly correct when India kept the conflict limited to Kargil. But even there the Pakistanis paid a very heavy price because they never factored in the fire and fury with which India reacted. Therefore, before any limited action is contemplated, it is critical to factor in and prepare for the eventuality of the conflict escalating into a wider war.

If a shooting match starts between India and China, the Chinese will direct the Pakistanis to jump into the fray given their strategic collusion. (Photo: Reuters)

The one thing India must factor in any calculation about a possible conflict in the Eastern front is the eminent possibility of the Western front also becoming active. Given the strategic collusion between China and Pakistan, it is a virtual no-brainer that if a shooting match starts between India and China, the Chinese will direct the Pakistanis to jump into the fray. For their part, the Pakistanis who are already seething over the constitutional changes made in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, this will be seen as a golden opportunity to even the scores with India. The Pakistanis know that on their own there is no way they can launch a successful military operation to snatch Kashmir. Diplomatically and politically, their raving and ranting has got little traction. Their best hope is to catch India in a pincer  China on one side, they on the other  make some territorial gains in Kashmir. This means that India must be prepared for fighting on two fronts and not just one if things go downhill with the Chinese.

Some analysts believe that Pakistanis wont be so foolish as to jump into this war. But the fact is that the Pakistanis have always been foolish enough to underestimate India, time and time again. Therefore to imagine they will not once again give into to their foolishness and will resist the temptation to damage India is really expecting the moon. Even the fact that the Pakistan economy is broke and has foreign exchange reserves of only $10 billion (all of it borrowed money) will not dissuade it. Even during Kargil, the Pakistani economy was bankrupt and they had under a billion dollars in reserves and yet they indulged in military adventurism. Given the spate of meetings being held in Pakistan over the India-China stand-off, the noises being made by the Pakistan army high command and the escalation in exchange of firing across the LoC on the Western front, India should expect some action from the Pakistani side. It is possible that this could be just a feint at the moment. But if the situation on the LAC deteriorates, then India should brace for at least scaled up forays from the Pakistani side.

Deter the foes

Indian military officials have for long maintained that the armed forces are prepared for a two-front contingency. That moment of truth might be just around the corner. Even if the immediate crisis with China gets resolved, it should now be very clear that both India and China are now closer to a hot war than they have been in nearly half a century. Whenever that war happens  most probably within the next couple of years  India will almost certainly be fighting on two fronts. To prepare for such an eventuality, apart from beefing up its offensive capabilities, India needs to change its war doctrines, including its nuclear doctrine, to deter the enemies.

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Also read: Why we need to guard India against China's proxies
Many sites hosting uncopyrighted films have witnessed a decline in user numbers as paid services boasting better quality slowly gain popularity among movie lovers.

Thanh Huyen is a loyal fan of phimmoi, a popular pirated movie website in Vietnam. Recently, she decided to give up on her favorite free site due to the struggle of actually viewing the latest blockbuster.

"One 40-minute episode has about 10 advertisements," she said, adding an episode usually includes two ads at the beginning, two at the end, several in the middle, and appear whenever a film is rewound or fast-forward.

She often has to sit through two ads only to find she could not watch a film due to a site crash.

Tired of wading through a sea of advertisements, Huyen has opted for a paid service, offering her a better user experience.

Phimmoi is currently inaccessible in Vietnam.

In the last few years, with the increasing number of legal, fee-based movie and music sites in Vietnam like Netflix and Spotify, several pirate sites have experienced a decline in business due to worsening quality and the onslaught of local authorities and operators.

According to Similarweb, an American company providing web analytics services for businesses, traffic across pirate websites have been declining since January 2020.

Phimmoi, attracting about 100 million page views in March, saw a traffic decrease of 25 percent in the last two months. Bilutv, with 10 million views at the end of 2019, now has around two million.

Websites providing uncopyrighted films rely heavily on money earned from ad banners. To maximize the benefits, they have added countless advertisements, causing a terrible viewing experience for pirate users.

In January 2020, a report by U.K. research firm We Are Social revealed phimmoi was 14th among the top 20 websites experiencing the most traffic in Vietnam.

To trick cinephiles with click bait, many sites include fake "high definition" options to attract viewers. Many films are posted on such websites several days after official release, recorded from within cinemas.

Streaming platforms boasting better quality at affordable prices like Netflix, FPT Play, etc. offer a welcome alternative.

According to Vu Anh Tu, deputy director of telecom and internet service provider FPT Telecom, licensed movie websites outweigh pirated equivalents due to high quality movies with good definition and quick international and local updates.

Collective efforts

Phimmoi, HDonline, Phimbathu, etc. are among 83 websites violating copyright law, according to the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information. Most such sites use foreign domains and storage services, so managing them is not a simple task.

To deal with the situation, according to Nguyen Ha Yen, deputy head of the broadcasting body, local authorities would coordinate with Internet operators.

Currently, many pirated movie sites in Vietnam have been blocked.

"Blocking domains is a huge and effective step even it cannot solve the root problem," said Phan Thanh Gian, director of streaming platform ClipTV. He added that even if pirated movie suppliers create a new website, it would take Internet users a long time to get used to a new platform, leading to declining traffic and profits.

Many websites put on false "HD" indicators to lure viewers.

According to Gian, illegal movie services used to work based on advertisement revenue alongside a huge number of users and zero copyright fees. Furthermore, they use Google or Facebook CDN (Content Delivery Network) services to cut costs.

Now, many companies are more careful when it comes to accessing advertisements via these shady websites and many storage services have started tightening their policies.

Experts maintain it is not easy to eliminate the pirated movie market in Vietnam or worldwide, adding authorities and companies should establish collective efforts to tackle the problem. Increasing penalties, saying no to advertisements on pirated websites, and encouraging viewers to opt for paid streaming services, etc. are several options on the table.

The Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information estimated average revenue from a streaming user in Vietnam is less than $1, the lowest in South East Asia. This partly derives from the domination of pirated movie sites in the last few years.
The benchmark indices dropped 1.6 per cent on Wednesday amid a sell-off in the European markets and a drop in the US stock futures because of worries over a fresh wave of Covid-19. The Sensex fell 561 points, or 1.6 per cent, to end at 34,869. The index dropped as much as 911 points from the days high.

The Nifty fell 166 points, or 1.6 per cent, to end at 10,305. The index hit an intra-day high of 10,553  a level last seen in early March. While the markets traded with gains for the most part of the day, the decline in the European markets triggered profit-taking ahead of ...
[June 24, 2020] Over 100,000 people around the world tuned into Climate Curious premiere with Mark Ruffalo, Rev. Leo Woodberry, & Elizabeth Yeampierre

LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 100,000 people from 20 countries  including Ukraine, India, and Australia  tuned into the first episode of Climate Curious, a livestreamed show focused on real talk from solutionaries saving our planet. Leaders of color from the frontlines of the climate crisis talked about the injustices they've seen, the solutions they've created and helped implement, and the key role climate justice plays in the ongoing demand for racial justice. "The climate justice movement has always been anti-racist," said Elizabeth Yeampierre , executive director of UPROSE in Brooklyn, New York. "We started this work because it was our communities that were oversaturated with environmental burdens  with power plants, with waste treatment plants. It was our communities that couldn't breathe." "If we couldn't breathe, we couldn't fight for justice. I see those things as completely connected," she said. Seeing what was happening in his own backyard was also how the Rev. Leo Woodberry, co-founder of the Justice First tour, connected climate change to the struggle for justice. He was working on a youth mentoring program when he learned that people in his South Carolina community had to limit eating the fish they could catch locally because of mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants. "From the very beginning, our fight has been around saving our lives  about the food that we eat, about the water that we drink," he said . "Intersectionality has really become more apparent with COVID-19, because a lot of the people most susceptible to the virus are people who live in areas with food swamps and food deserts, and who disproportionately suffer from pre-existing conditions like asthma, hypertension and diabetes." Actor Mark Ruffalo, best known for playing The Hulk in the Avengers movies, co-founded and serves on the board of The Solutions Project , a nonprofit that promotes climate justice through grantmaking and amplifying the stories of frontline community leaders; the organization produces Climate Curious. He also started his climate justice journey in his own community when he joined the fight against fracking in New York State. "That was poor and working-class white people. I jumped into that, and fought shoulder to shoulder with them, because that's what I knew  that's where I was living," he said. As he became involved in other climate justice efforts, Ruffalo said , "It became really clear really quickly that this was a racial issue as well. In the communities in Los Angeles where they're drilling for oil? Those are Black and Brown communities. Or where they're doing processing of fossil fuels? Black and Brown communities. Where their water is being poisoned? Blackand Brown communities. Every single area that environmentalism touches a community, you will find Black and Brown and poor communities on the frontline."



The panelists emphasized the importance of ending environmental racism in all communities. Rev. Woodberry talked about working with Duke Energy to site a solar farm in a rural corner of South Carolina  and to give low-income residents energy efficiency upgrades, as well. And in a South Carolina community repeatedly evacuated because of hurricanes and flooding  extreme weather events scientists say will only become more common as climate change continues  he is working with community leaders to start ecotourism enterprises.

Elizabeth Yeampierre talked about building an intergenerational community movement that doubled the open space in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood, stopped the siting of a power plant there, and launched the first community-owned solar co-op in the state of New York. Yeampierre also talked about developing the next generation of climate leaders, including hosting youth summits and sending young neighbors to Antarctica and the North Pole. She also said, "We sent a young woman to the COP." When host Sean A. Watkins explained to viewers that "For those of you who are new to this, the COP is not the cops," everyone laughed. "It's a United Nations climate change conference that happens every year," he said, referring to the Convention of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change. Climate Curious livestreams at 4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT on Tuesdays, and can be seen on The Solutions Project's Facebook and YouTube accounts. The producers are grateful to NowThis for livestreaming the Climate Curious debut on its Politics , News , and Future Facebook channels, which gave access to tens of thousands of viewers who might not otherwise have seen the show. Next Tuesday's episode, titled Energy Solutions: Money, Utility Power, and Community Respect, will feature Chandra Farley of the Partnership for Southern Equity in Atlanta, who has been working for a nationwide moratorium on utility shut-offs during the coronavirus pandemic; and Groundswell CEO Michelle Moore , who is making solar energy more accessible to low-income communities and communities of color. Media contacts: Carina Daniels

[email protected]

510-847-1617 Dannie Tillman

[email protected]

323-487-0797 About the Reverend Leo Woodberry The Rev. Leo Woodberry is pastor of Kingdom Living Temple, executive director of the New Alpha Community Development Corporation in Florence, SC, and co-founder of the Justice First movement, which calls for environmental justice, forest protection and 100% clean energy. For three decades, he has been at the forefront of addressing issues of environmental racism and climate justice. As a member of the African American Environmental Justice Action Network (AAEJAN), Rev. Woodberry was instrumental in uniting people of color across America, and in influencing the Ford Foundation and other philanthropic entities to support people of color and communities disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards. Rev. Woodberry served on the steering committee of the Peoples Climate Movement, and continues to work on clean water and air issues and renewable and sustainable energy issues with South Carolina's Department of Health and Environmental Control. About Elizabeth Yeampierre Elizabeth Yeampierre is an internationally recognized Puerto Rican attorney and environmental and climate justice leader of African and Indigenous ancestry born and raised in New York City. A national leader in the climate justice movement, Elizabeth is the co-chair of the Climate Justice Alliance. She is Executive Director of UPROSE, Brooklyn's oldest Latino community-based organization. Her award-winning vision for an inter-generational, multi-cultural and community-led organization is the driving force behind UPROSE. She is a longtime advocate and trailblazer for community organizing around just, sustainable development, environmental justice, and community-led climate adaptation and community resiliency in Sunset Park. Prior to assuming the Executive Director position at UPROSE, Ms. Yeampierre was the Director of Legal Education and Training at the Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund, Director of Legal Services for the American Indian Law Alliance, and Dean of Puerto Rican Student Affairs at Yale University. She holds a BA from Fordham University and a law degree from Northeastern University. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/over-100-000-people-around-the-world-tuned-into-climate-curious-premiere-with-mark-ruffalo-rev-leo-woodberry--elizabeth-yeampierre-301083216.html SOURCE The Solutions Project

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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

Army Chief visits forward areas in eastern Ladakh, reviews situation

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, June 24: Indian Army Chief, General M M Naravane visited the forward areas in Eastern Ladakh. The Chief also reviewed operations on the ground, amidst the tensions with China along along the Line of Actual Control.

General Naravane during the visit, commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm.

Diesel costs more than petrol after 18th consecutive day of price rise | Oneindia News

No meaningful disengagement: China wants India to see itself differently

The Chief is on a two day visit to Ladakh. Genera Naravane who arrived on Tuesday, visited the forward locations in the Eastern Ladakh area today. He also interacted with the troops on the ground there.

While reviewing the situation, he would also be briefed about the military level talks between India and China.

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.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during his visit to the Incheon International Airport Corp. in May 2017. Korea Times file



By Kim Se-jeong



Incheon International Airport Corp.'s (IIAC) recent decision to change the status of 1,902 "irregular" workers to "regular" is drawing backlash from young jobseekers who claim they would be "victims" of the move.



One jobseeker expressed anger in an online petition on Cheong Wa Dae's website asking the company to stop the move. The petition drew more than 160,000 endorsements.



The petitioner wrote, "The move is devastating to those who are preparing for a chance to work for the Incheon International Airport Corporation. What wrong have we done? Have a look at Korail. It doesn't hire so many people now after it changed the status of irregular workers (to regular). This is reverse discrimination against young jobseekers."



The petitioner's claim drew more support after a Kakao message written by one of the 1,902 new "regular" workers was made public.



In the message, he talked of jumping to permanent status with a 50-million-won salary from formerly being "a part-time security worker without any direction for life."



Among the IIAC's 10,000 employees, only around 1,500 have regular status.






The final satellite to complete the third-generation network of China's Beidou Navigation Satellite System was launched on Tuesday morning, marking a milestone in the nation's space endeavor. As the countdown ticked down to zero at 9:43 am at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, eight engines on the first stage and four boosters of a Long March 3B carrier rocket spat orange flames as they lifted the 19-story-tall vehicle and the satellite into cloudy skies. About 30 minutes later, Zhang Xueyu, director of the Xichang center, announced at the command and control hall that the satellite, the 59th in the Beidou family and the 30th in the third-generation series, had been placed in a geostationary orbit in a normal state and the mission was a complete success. The launch was originally scheduled for June 16, but the mission command decided to postpone it several hours before the ignition due to a technical problem in the rocket. The deployment of the satellite marked the completion of the in-orbit construction of Beidou, one of four global navigation networks, along with the United States' GPS, Russia's GLONASS and the European Union's Galileo. Dozens of medical workers from across Sichuan province who have fought against COVID-19, and Li Lanjuan, a top epidemiologist who has played a major role in China's anti-coronavirus efforts, were invited by the space authorities to witness the launch. The launch was broadcast live by China Central Television, becoming the first Beidou mission to be on live TV and also the first televised launch at the Xichang center in a decade. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs sent a congratulatory letter on Tuesday to China's space authorities, appreciating Beidou's contribution to global economic and social development as well as the peaceful use of space and international cooperation in space. After a period of in-orbit tests, the new satellite will begin to work with other Beidou satellites, allowing users around the globe to access high-accuracy navigation, positioning and timing services, according to the China Satellite Navigation Office. The spacecraft, which was transported by rail to the Xichang center on April 4, was designed and manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology, a subsidiary of the State-owned space conglomerate China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. Based on the DFH-3B satellite platform, it is designed to work in orbit for at least 12 years, according to the academy. Since 2000, a total of 59 satellites, including the first four experimental ones, have been launched from Xichang on 44 Long March 3-series rockets, and some of them have already been retired. Following Tuesday's launch, there are 30 third-generation Beidou satellites in three types of orbit24 in medium-Earth orbit, three in inclined geosynchronous satellite orbit and three in geostationary orbit. There are also some second-generation Beidou satellites in operation offering regional services. "Compared with the second-generation satellites, the third-generation models have higher accuracy and stability, a clearer signal and more state-of-the-art technologies such as inter-satellite links, satellite-based augmentation and global emergency search capability," said Chen Zhonggui, chief designer of the third-generation satellite at the China Academy of Space Technology. Chen said that the third generation is 10 times stronger than the second generation in terms of overall service capability. In addition to optimized navigation and positioning capabilities, the third-generation model allows a user in areas with poor conventional communication signals to send 1,200 Chinese characters in a single message to receivers, while previous models can send only 120 characters, he added. Beidou not only has tens of satellites but also a vast ground-based network that includes dozens of stations, more than 200 subsystems and over 30,000 sets of equipment. More than 300,000 scientists, engineers and technicians from more than 400 domestic institutes and enterprises have been involved in Beidou's development and construction. Beidou began providing positioning, navigation, timing and messaging services to civilian users in China and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region in December 2012. At the end of 2018, Beidou started providing global services.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Around 1,058 cargo movement runs were carried out from Turkey to Lebanon by Turkish trucks, having shown a 37 percent sharp decrease compared to the same period of 2019, Trend reports referring to Turkeys International Freight Forwarders Association (UND).

Lebanon accounts for 0.23 percent of the total volume of cargo shipped to Turkey by trucks in the reporting period, the UND said.

The Association added that 164 cargo transportation runs were carried out from Turkey to Lebanon by Turkish trucks in May 2020, showing a 58 percent sharp decrease over the year.

In the first 5 months, foreign transport by Turkish trucks amounted to 459,738 runs, declining by 11 percent.

In May 2020, foreign transport by Turkish trucks amounted to 89,760 runs, which is 20 percent less compared to May 2019.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
I arrived in Hawaii fresh off the boat from Minnesota, naive and as white-skinned as they come.

About to cross the street to my first day of classes at the University of Manoa, a pickup truck came careening around the corner with two locals in the cab. Hey, look at the haole! One of them shouted, laughing at me. I did not know then exactly what the word meant. I didnt have to. I was keenly aware for the first time in my life that I was a minority. And I was disliked and unwelcome because of the color of my skin.

Most of the people who live in Hawaii are chop suey or a mix of various ethnicities; Philippine, Chinese, Japanese, Polynesian, Hawaiian, and Caucasian. Haole, the short version, is a term that refers to white people, foreigners, nonlocals. When Captain Cook arrived he was called haole. It was believed people were white because they didnt breathe, or had no breath.

My timing was such that I arrived that semester to a brewing debate in the campus newspaper between a Hawaiian professor, of Hawaiian Studies, and a white student over the use of the word. It was the students contention that the term was used in a derogatory manner. The professor countered that the word was steeped in Hawaiian history and was merely a word to describe white people.

Nearly 30 years later, the memory of this debate still stings. Not because I have bad feelings about being called haole. They come from the unbending, and unsympathetic position of the Hawaiian professor.

Along with being the head of her department, she belonged to an angry group of Hawaiians who advocate for the return of Hawaiian sovereignty. In short, they rail against the illegal take-over of the islands by the U.S. in 1893. Its a complicated history that involves sugar plantation owners and the abdication of the Hawaiian Monarchy at the time.

Really, the sovereignty movement should also target the missionaries who took away their language and their culture, but thats another story.

It is common knowledge  or should be  among white people, not to venture into certain areas of the Islands unless accompanied by locals, where brutality based on white skin color alone is not uncommon.

Is racism ever justified? The Hawaiians, as well as others including Native American Indians, and black people, have every right to be angry. White people have done  and continue to do  unforgivable, atrocious things to their fellow human beings. And in some peoples eyes I am just as guilty, based on the color of my skin.

In my 25 years in Hawaii, that feeling came and went on a daily basis. There were of course the majority of people who embraced the Aloha spirit, and my love of the people and place is as strong as ever.

In-between graduating from UH and moving to Hawaii for the long term, I spent a summer at the University of Oklahoma, as a linguistics consultant for a Native American program. I drove down there from Minnesota, and not three feet over the border of the state I was pulled over by a state trooper asking what I was doing in Oklahoma. There, it wasnt the color of my skin, but the state on my license plate. Later, it also became a case among certain women in my dorm, of my not being Christian in the Bible-quoting sense.

Back in Hawaii, I applied for an administrative job at the University of Hilo. I was granted an interview before some board members and department heads. I wore a new sweater, and in an odd turn it was the same sweater as one of the Hawaiian department heads was wearing. When she noticed, she took her sweater off.

During the interview she proceeded to grill me on what I knew about Hawaiian history and culture in a way that I can only describe as veiled hostility. There was one white guy at the table, and he tried to point out some positive aspects of my resume, like my graduate degree from UH, but it was futile. I didnt get the job, nor did I expect to.

You can reach Cynthia Sweeney at 942-4035 or csweeney@weeklycalistogan.com.

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A Chicago police officer blocks the road to the Adler Planetarium along Lake Michigan in Chicago, Ill., on March 26, 2020. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Photo)

Police: 16 Shot, 1 Dead Across Chicago on Tuesday

Police in Chicago said 16 people were shot, one fatally, in 24 hours ending on Tuesday, following several days of gun violence that left more than 100 people shot.

Officials said that a 19-year-old woman was fatally shot in Washington Park on the South Side, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The woman was shot in the back at around 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday on East 56th Street, police said, adding that she was taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

The Cook County Medical Examiners office identified the woman as Shanayah Brown. No suspects were taken into custody.

On Monday, 41 people were shot, six fatally, across Chicago, including two women who were gunned down in a domestic dispute in the South Side, officials said.

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. His comments came after protests and riots following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

He said that people have vilified police officers in the wake of Floyds death, leading to a surge in crime across the city.

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.

A Chicago police officer in a file photo. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

He added, This has been going on in the city of Chicago for 20-plus years. Homicide rates off the chart.

Over the weekend, more than 100 people were shot, including four children.

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 local news outlets.

Rev. Ira Acree, in a news conference, said the 3-year-old shooting death went too far.

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.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Becoming cloudy with snow likely overnight. Low 19F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected..

Tonight

Becoming cloudy with snow likely overnight. Low 19F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
COLUMBUS, OhioNine dance studios from across Ohio have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the DeWine administrations coronavirus reopening restrictions, as well as receive government compensation for being forced to close.

The lawsuit, filed by two Northeast Ohio attorneys in Lake County Common Pleas Court, is the latest in a series of suits seeking to tear down state and local health orders that kept most Ohio businesses closed for weeks  then allowed them to reopen only if they followed a long list of health rules.

The suit, which seeks class-action status, was filed against Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Health interim director Lance Himes (though the suit consistently misspells his name as Hines), ex-ODH director Dr. Amy Acton, and a range of other state and local officials. It claims the coronavirus orders violate state law, as well as the Ohio and U.S. constitutions guarantees of due process, equal protection, and no taking of property without compensation.

The powers Acton claimed to issue such orders are overly vague and broad and are unconstitutional, the suit asserts. Outside of nursing homes and prisons, the suit continues, there have been a mere 670 deaths, which represents 0.0057% of Ohios population of about 11.75 million.

DeWine and Acton  who has stayed on as the governors top health adviser  should both be considered faithless servants and removed from office, the suit contends.

Acton and DeWine has (sic) used a sledge hammer to kill the Ohio economy through their unconstitutional actions, destroying the Ohio economy, and destroying the constitutional rights of all Ohioans, individuals and businesses, outside of nursing homes and jails, the suit states, adding the two officials should have used a scalpel and a knife to delicately slice and dice the COVID-19.

The lawsuit then includes what it incorrectly claims to be a quote from a landmark 1866 U.S. Supreme Court case, Ex parte Milligan, that ANYONE who declares the suspension of constitutionally guaranteed rights ...is making war against our constitution(s) and therefore, we the people.

The two attorneys in the case, Robert Gargasz and Gerald Phillips, have each run for office as Republicans this year: Gargasz is the GOP nominee for Lorain County prosecutor, while Phillips lost a primary race for Lake County commissioner.

Some other lawsuits filed against Ohios coronavirus restrictions have been successful, and courts have ordered the reopening of gyms and water parks in the state. Earlier this week, another lawsuit was filed by a libertarian legal group seeking to scrap the DeWine administrations reopening rules for Ohio child-care centers.

Read the full lawsuit here:
Free State Agriculture (FSA), which represents more than 3,500 commercial farmers in the Free State, is very concerned about the increase in cross-border crimes occurring in farming communities located between the South African and Lesotho border.

Tyler Penner via Unsplash

Farm attacks escalate during lockdown

Greater co-operation is needed

Rural Safety Strategy to combat crime

Francois Wilken, president of FSA, says the organisation strongly condemns the farm attack on John Parr from the farm Yaxham in the Tweespruit area on 21 June this year. Parr, his wife, son-in-law and two children were attacked and assaulted by five armed attackers. Mitigating the emotional damage suffered by children who become victims of farm attacks should be prioritised.According to Wilken, the cross-border situation is even worse than before the lockdown. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the South African Police Service (SAPS) cannot enter Lesotho in search of criminals committing cross-border crimes. Apparently, Interpol is also unable to obtain authorisation because it is refused at the highest level by the Lesotho government.Criminals operating across borders have leverage and they target farming communities, thereby becoming a bigger security threat to such communities. FSA and farming communities cannot accept this situation. During lockdown, more than 30 cross-border crimes took place with more than 300 livestock (sheep and cattle) stolen  nearly 100 animals were later recovered at the Caledon River. Other serious cross-border crimes included house burglaries, theft of solar panels, vehicles, tractors, bales of fodder and even assaults on workers.In the Hobhouse area, two farm attacks took place where workers were attacked, assaulted and robbed of livestock. Criminal complaints have also been received from farming communities situated in other towns adjacent to Lesotho, namely Clarens, Clocolan, Ficksburg, Wepener and Zastron. The situation has been referred to Agri SA.Police capabilities are currently limited in rural areas and FSA once again calls on the SAPS to make greater capacity available, especially in the border areas, says Tommie Esterhuyse, vice-chairperson of FSA. Greater co-operation between the SAPS and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), involving increased patrols to prevent crimes, is also requested. The increase in cross-border crimes leaves farmers with no other choice but to take the law into their own hands in order to protect themselves, their families and their workers and to ensure food security.Jakkals le Roux, chairperson of FSAs Rural Safety Committee, commends the farmers in the Tweespruit and Hobhouse areas for their prompt response and actions to assist the victims. The rapid response and actions of residents in order to respond to the criminal actions of the attackers are also applauded. Such actions again confirm that an organised agricultural structure within the Rural Safety Strategy, in collaboration with the SAPS, is indispensable in order to arrest attackers.It emphasises that by implementing the strategy, crimes are combated. FSA expresses its gratitude to fellow farmers for their prompt response and preparedness and will assist farmers and victims to ensure that justice is continuously served.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Bangkok, Thailand  Wed, June 24, 2020 17:00 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406614f9ca 2 SE Asia Thailand,reopening,reopening-plan,foreigners,travelers,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,COVID-19-travel-ban,COVID-19-travel-restriction,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Thailand plans to allow some foreign travellers into the country starting next week, as it eases restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The first group of foreigners that have registered for 14-day state quarantine include those with work permits, investors and business executives, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, spokesman for the government's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration.

The new measures will be subject to approval by the government's task force that meets on Monday, he said, adding that medical tourists would also be allowed entry.

The Thai aviation regulator has banned international commercial flights up to the end of June, but has said some business travel could resume in July.

"There will not be a complete opening of skies any time soon because the crisis is still going on globally, but arrangements can be made for certain foreign travel," Taweesin told Reuters.

Short-term business travellers will be required to have a certificate showing they are free of the coronavirus, health insurance and to allow medical personnel to monitor them while in Thailand.

Travellers, however, may find it difficult to obtain virus-free certification due to limited testing and flights to Thailand because the pandemic has brought global air travel to a virtual standstill, with many airline fleets grounded.

Tourists from countries with "travel bubble" arrangements will be allowed to travel in August, but they will be limited to a certain space in what the government calls "villa quarantine".

Foreign arrivals this year are expected to be only around 8 million people, down from last year's record of 39.8 million, the central bank had said.

Thailand has so far recorded 58 deaths related to COVID-19 among 3,157 infections, of which 3,026 patients have recovered.

The government on Wednesday also announced that schools, bars and massage parlors would also re-open next month, but with strict health guidelines.
One of Victoria's biggest coronavirus clusters came from a Muslim family who broke public health orders to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

The state has had 128 new cases of COVID-19 in the past week, with 20 cases and a death recorded on Wednesday.

A gathering in Coburg, north of the city, last month has been linked to at least 14 cases across multiple households.

The party was to celebrate Eid - the end of the Muslim holy month - on the weekend of May 23 and 24.

Attendees were in breach of Victoria's lockdown measures, which at the time prohibited households from having more than five guests.

A gathering in Coburg, north of the city, last month has been linked to at least 14 cases across multiple households. Pictured: Muslims gather to perform the Eid Al Adha prayer at Sunshine Mosque in Melbourne, Australia on September 1, 2017. Large gatherings were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19

Victoria's active cases have jumped from 58 to 143 in the past eight days, while the rest of the country combined has only had 20. Pictured: Shoppers at Broadmeadows shopping centre on June 23

Australians have been warned to stay away from six council in Melbourne: Hume, Casey and Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin

A Health Department spokesman said the contact-tracing process relating to the Coburg family cluster is ongoing.

A woman who was tested at Pakenham Medical Clinic in Melbourne's southeast on June 10, and returned a positive result three days later, is believed to have contracted the virus at the gathering.

A receptionist from the clinic told The Australian that the doctor who treated the patient remained in quarantine and hasn't tested positive.

It's believed the woman's two children from Pakenham Springs Primary School, who tested positive, are part of the same cluster.

There are five active cases in Cardinia Shire, which includes Pakenham.

Brimbank, Casey, Cardinia, Darebin, Hume and Moreland were identified as coronavirus hotspots.

The areas are home to large migrant populations, with many speaking languages other than English at home.

Islamic Council of Victoria vice-president Adel Salman said he heard speculation about large gatherings within the Muslim community, but said there was no proof of links to new cases.

'By and large, I think the Muslim community has been exemplary,' Mr Salman said.

It comes amid concerns that cultural confusion over the lifting of lockdown restrictions contributed to the fresh outbreak in Melbourne.

Drive-through testing sites have experienced extremely high demand, with four hour-long waits at some sites and people turned away at others. Testing staff are seen at a pop-up site at Keilor Community Hub

Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria chairman Eddie Micallef expressed concern poor health literacy has exacerbated the latest wave of cases.

He believes it's the result of confusing messaging and general community complacency as lockdown restrictions eased in recent weeks.

'I think there was a little bit of complacency. I think the message started to get lost,' Mr Micallef said.

Victoria needs to 'lift our game' in ensuring the message gets out to ethnic communities, he told the ABC.

However there being 53 languages available on the Health Department website.

Victoria's active cases have jumped from 58 to 143 in the past eight days, while the rest of the country combined has only had 20.

Victoria called in the military and asked other states for help as it struggles to contain a surge in cases.

Victoria's latest COVID-19 cases 20 new cases in the last 24 hours 696, 263 tested 141 active cases 20 Victorians dead Advertisement

The Australian Defence Force, as well as NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland have been enlisted.

'This support will mean we can get even more tests done and results back quickly - and a stronger effort to remind Victorians if you are sick, stay home and get tested,' a government spokeswoman said in a statement.

It's understood Victoria has requested about 500 ADF personnel, who will assist with emergency management, logistics and hotel quarantine, with further details to be worked out.

At least 33 staff working at quarantine hotels have been infected with COVID-19 and health officials are investigating links between the workers and other outbreaks.

Currently, 30 people in hotel quarantine have the virus.

A Victorian man in his 80s is Australia's first coronavirus death in over a month, bringing the state's death toll to 20 and nationally to 103.

Of the state's 20 new cases on Wednesday, nine were identified through routine testing, seven are linked to known outbreaks and one is a returned traveller in hotel quarantine. Three cases remain under investigation.

Since the spike in new cases, drive-through testing sites have experienced extremely high demand, with four hour-long waits at some sites and people turned away at others.

The state's total number of infections is 1,884.

Do you know more? Email tips@dailymail.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Looks like the campaign for Staten Islands congressional seat will be a contentious one.

Rep. Max Roses campaign announced an attack ad and website against his opponent, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn), less than 12 hours after she clinched her primary win Tuesday night.

The ad and website focus on Malliotakis perceived flip-flops on national and local issues like the border wall and sanctuary cities, which help protect undocumented immigrants from deportation.

During her 2017 mayoral run, Malliotakis said she regretted voting for President Donald Trump, in part because of his pledge to build a wall at the southern border, and said she would continue the sanctuary city policy put in place by Mayor Ed Koch, while overhauling current policies that protect those who commit serious crimes.

Nicole Malliotakis is a fraud who represents everything we hate about politics, Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) said.

She has been on every side of every issue and took a $30,000 taxpayer-funded raise despite passing zero laws in her 10 years in Albany. Staten Islanders and Brooklynites want someone who is honest and gets things done -- shes neither, he continued.

Malliotakis, who assumed office in 2011, received the first of a three-part raise, which was approved by the temporary New York State Compensation Committee, in January 2019 along with her colleagues in the legislature. Subsequent parts of the raise have been blocked by the judicial system.

Her campaign shot back at Rose accusing him of his own flip-flops, and linking him to perceived-leftwing members of Congress like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-The Bronx/Queens) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota).

He opposed impeachment before he voted for it, he helped stall the job-creating U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement before Nancy Pelosi told him vote for it and he claims to support law enforcement, but votes to release convicted felons from federal prisons, campaign spokesman Rob Ryan said in an emailed statement.

One thing is abundantly clear, Max Rose does more flips than an Olympic gymnast, he continued.

Rose changed his position on impeachment after the revelation of the Trump-Ukraine scandal, which ultimately led to the presidents impeachment in the House and acquittal in the Senate.

Rose and other freshman House Democrats did delay the passage of the trade deal, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement, in part as an effort to secure better labor practices, environmental standards and to limit pharmaceutical monopolies.

Ryan said he was referencing legislation that took steps to release federal prisoners in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple prison and jail systems across the country have released prisoners in an effort to limit the virus spread within their facilities.

Attorney General William Barr took steps in April to transfer suitable prisoners from the system to home confinement.

For all inmates whom you deem suitable candidates for home confinement, you are directed to immediately process them for transfer and then immediately transfer them following a 14-day quarantine at an appropriate (Bureau of Prisons) facility, Barr wrote in an April 3 memo.

The anti-Malliotakis website, NicoletheFraud.com, launched by the Rose campaign, also brought up the repeated ties of her time working for Consolidated Edison to corporate lobbying.

Her campaign continued their repeated defense that while the company identified her as a lobbyist during her time there, she did not do any lobbying work, and that the company required it for her position in community relations out of an abundance of caution.

Malliotakis addressed her issues with Roses first term in Congress during her speech accepting the Republican nomination Tuesday night after her opponent, former Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Joseph Caldarera, conceded.

The Republican candidate presented herself as a counterweight to the Democratic monopoly in New York Citys congressional delegation. Before Roses election, Staten Island had the only Republican congressional district in the five boroughs.

Two years ago, he claimed to be a moderate Democrat, Malliotakis said of Rose. He said he would be independent of Nancy Pelosi, but yet once he was elected he proved to be just another liberal Democrat.

In an interview Wednesday, Rose countered that he has worked with Republicans during his time in office to secure wins for Staten Island and South Brooklyn.

Specifically, he cited the long-awaited start of the East Shore seawall meant to protect from future storm surges, the passage of two-way tolling on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge meant to reduce commuter congestion, and the passage of a bill meant to hold fentanyl-producing foreign companies accountable.

We have gotten things done in a short amount of time, Rose said. There are things happening, and were just getting started.
Piers Corbyn, the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, is to go on trial for attending mass protests during the coronavirus pandemic.

The 73-year-old, of Southwark in south London, pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday afternoon to two charges of participating in a gathering in public of more than two people in England during the coronavirus emergency period.

The charges relate to two incidents in Hyde Park in central London, on May 16 and May 30.

Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour leader Jeremy appeared this afternoon in Westminster Magistrates' Court, pictured, where he denied two charges of breaching lockdown regulations

Corbyn, 73, pictured outside Westminster Magistrates' Court today, cited human rights and freedom of expression when denying both charges relating to two demonstrations in Hyde Park

Mr Corbyn, pictured in Hyde Park on May 16, was led away by police officers while attending the demonstration against the government's continuing Covid-19 lockdown

Piers Corbyn's defence counsel, Richard Parry, said his client cited his human rights - and his right to freedom of expression - in denying the charges.

Mr Parry said: 'The issues are human rights ones.

'Article 10 and 11 are engaged, rights of freedom of expression and exercising those rights.'

Prosecutor Misha Majid said Piers Corbyn received a fixed penalty notice on May 9 for allegedly protesting over lockdown restrictions.

Corbyn, wearing a black suit, dark blue shirt and claret tie, sat with a newspaper tucked under his arm and wrote in a notebook during the 25-minute hearing.

The one-day trial is due to take place on October 23, at the same court.
Bombay high court (HC) has ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities to pay a monthly sum of Rs 28.38 lakh as expenses to keep around 950 high-risk contacts of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients under institutional quarantine in a private building.

These high-risk contacts are from the civic bodys E ward and are lodged at a newly constructed building in Byculla, which has been converted into a makeshift institutional quarantine facility.

The court last week allowed the BMC authorities to use the building that has been constructed by Neelkamal Realtors Tower on condition of paying transit rent for 218 residential and commercial tenants for temporarily taking over the property as an institutional quarantine facility.

A two-member division bench of the court, comprising Justices SJ Kathawalla and NR Borkar, said the civic body authorities would have to pay transit rent to the buildings tenants from April 24  the date on which it took over the property and also ordered to clear the arrears within 15 days and pay the regular monthly rent to each of the tenants from Wednesday (June 24).

The court allowed the use of the building as an institutional quarantine facility since the majority of its tenants didnt object to the BMCs move.

However, nine tenants filed an intervention application through advocate Vivek Shukla, objecting to the civic bodys temporary requisition of the building.

The court passed the order on a plea filed by Neelkamal Realtors Tower, challenging the validity of a clause of the Maharashtra Covid-19 Regulations, 2020, which empowered the revenue and civic authorities to requisition private buildings.

The developer also questioned the BMCs decision to take over a building that has been constructed as part of the Byculla rehabilitation project.

BMC responded to the plea, contending the lack of appropriate space for institutional quarantine facilities amid a spike in Covid-19 positive cases and their high-risk contacts in the E ward.

Senior advocate Anil Sakhare, who represented the civic body, said 975 people have tested Covid-19 positive at E ward, and 2,699 are high-risk contacts, who need to be quarantined immediately.

The civic body authorities have converted 234 flats in Neelkamal Realtors Tower into a makeshift quarantine facility.

It has a capacity of 1,000 beds of which 950 are currently occupied.
Only strong pressure from the US can stop the Indian government from further eroding religious freedom in the country.

On June 10, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released the 2019 International Religious Freedom Report which documents major instances of violations of religious freedom across the world.

The reports 27-page chapter on India is a scathing indictment of the sharp decline in religious freedom in the South Asian country under Prime Minister Narendra Modis watch.

Noting that there have been reports of religiously motivated killings, assaults, riots, discrimination, vandalism, and actions restricting the right of individuals to practice and speak about their religious beliefs, the report heavily criticises the Indian governments policies and actions that result in the erosion of religious freedoms of Indias minority communities.

The report highlights the revocation of Indian-administered Kashmirs autonomy in August, the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in December, undemocratic anti-conversion and anti-beef laws and their gross abuses, and the states reluctance to hold Hindu vigilante groups to account for their attacks on religious minorities. Authorities often protected perpetrators from prosecution and filed charges against victims, it notes.

With the report, the United States officially acknowledges the Modi governments crimes against Indias religious minorities. But this is not enough. Secretary Pompeo also needs to take policy action to hold India to account. Luckily, he has a list of policy recommendations readily laying on his desk that could help him do just that.

The case for CPC designation

In April, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal body that advises the US president and Congress, released its annual report. In the report, USCIRF called for India to be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. The federal body also recommended the imposition of targeted sanctions on Indian officials and agencies responsible for severe violations of religious freedom in India.

A CPC designation would confirm Indias status as one the worlds worst offenders of religious freedom, alongside Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, North Korea and China. It would amplify international pressure on India to take the necessary precautions to stop religious violence and discrimination. Moreover, it would allow the Trump administration to show that it is serious about countering religious discrimination, even when the perpetrator is an allied government.

The US has long been turning a blind eye to Indias failures due to its strong economic and strategic ties to the country  India is not only a major importer of US arms, but it is a key US partner against China in the Indo-Pacific region. But the USs tendency to ignore state-sanctioned rights abuses in India to remain in favour of the Modi government already had disastrous consequences for the countrys religious minorities.

Confident that he would not receive any pressure from the US, the Modi government instituted national level policies violating religious freedom, especially for Muslims, in the past few years. According to the USCIRF, it also engaged in hate speech and incitement to violence, allowing anti-minority violence to continue with impunity.

In December, the Modi government passed the CAA, which excludes Muslims from a path to citizenship for religious minorities from its neighbours. Many believe that the government will combine the CAA with the National Register for Citizens (NRC), a headcount that will seek from Indias 1.3 billion people proof-of-citizenship documents going back generations, to target Indias 200 million Muslims.

Millions of bona fide Indians, who do not possess any citizenship documents, will certainly fail the NRC test, as they did in a pilot in Assam state last year. According to the USCIRF, this will put their citizenship status, and all associated rights, under question. The CAA will provide non-Muslims in this situation a path to restore their citizenship and avoid detention or deportation, while Muslims will bear the indignities and consequences of potential statelessness.

In February, several leaders and prominent supporters of Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) incited violence against anti-CAA protesters in New Delhi. More than 50 people died in the resulting pogrom. The USCIRF blamed Delhi Police for failing to halt attacks and even directly participating in the violence.

Indias Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah, a Modi confidante who was once accused of ordering extrajudicial killings of Muslims, directly supervises Delhi Police. In December, the USCIRF had called on the US Government to sanction Shah, due to his role in the enactment of the CAA.

Indias 30 million Christians are also being targeted in Modis India. Empowered by anti-conversion laws and the polices complicity, Hindu vigilante mobs target Christians with campaigns of harassment, social exclusion and violence, according to the USCIRF. Instead of arresting the perpetrators, the police often arrest the religious minorities who have been attacked.

The US needs to realise that Modis relentless push for imposing a Hindu nationalist agenda will eventually destroy Indias social and religious fabric and cause internal strife. This will not only cause immense suffering for Indians of all religions but also negatively affect US geo-strategic interests in the region. A divided, conflict-ridden India cannot be a trusted economic partner to the US or help it control Chinas growing ambitions. It is thus in Washingtons self-interest to press India for greater adherence to religious freedom.

In 2016, Modi told the US Congress that just as the idea that all citizens are created equal is a central pillar of the American constitution, Indias founding fathers, too, shared the same belief and sought individual liberty. Indias Constitution is a holy book in which freedom of faith, speech and franchise, and equality of all citizens, regardless of background, are enshrined as fundamental rights, he added. The time has come for Pompeo to remind Modi of this speech.

It is not easy for the authors of this article  who are Indian-born US citizens  to recommend India to be designated as a CPC. But we support the USCIRFs recommendation for such a harsh measure precisely because we love India deeply. We believe only strong pressure from the US, and the wider global community, could save India from the dire consequences of its governments divisive policies, and guarantee that it remains a secular democracy.

Ahsan Khan, who is President of Indian American Muslim Council and is based in Bay Area, California, is a co-author of this article.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
By Cara Luddy, Communications Assistant at Central Library

On Tuesday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m., Friends of the Central Library (FOCL) will present a virtual lecture with Paula McLain, the fourth author in the 2019-2020 Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series. Originally scheduled to happen at the Civic Center in downtown Syracuse in spring, FOCL has reimagined its remaining author visits as online presentations to ensure the safety of all participants.

To purchase tickets for this lecture, visit www.foclsyracuse.org/tickets . Any tickets purchased for McLains original lecture at the Civic Center will be honored for this virtual event. If you have any questions, please email focl@onlib.org .

Beloved for her historical fiction, Paula McLain is the bestselling author of The Paris Wife (2011) which has more than 1.5 million copies in print and has been published in 34 languages. Circling the Sun (2016) was named one of the best books of the year by NPR. Her most recent novel Love and Ruin (2018) was recognized as one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post and the New York Public Library.

Visit www.onlib.org or call (315) 435-1900 to check out these books!

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

 The Paris Wife

The love story of Hadley Richardson and Ernest Hemingway. After a swift courtship, the newly married couple moves from Chicago to Paris in the 1920s. They settle into their new life, but struggle to maintain a healthy family balance as Hemingway pursues his own interests.

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain

 Circling the Sun

Beryl Markham was brought from England to Kenya, then abandoned by her mother. Raised by her father and people from the Kipsigis tribe, Markham grows up with a fierce appreciation for nature. After setting off on her own, an affair with Denys Finch Hatton helps her realize her passion to be an aviator.

Love and Ruin by Paula McLain

 Love and Ruin

Martha Gellhorn travels to Madrid to report on the horrors of the Spanish Civil War. There she meets Ernest Hemingway and the two start a passionate relationship. As they both pursue success in their careers, Gellhorn realizes she has to forge her own path.
Bhubaneswar, June 24 : The Odisha Police on Wednesday appealed to people not to visit the pilgrimage town of Puri as 'darshan' of the deities was still not allowed.

DGP Abhay said that even though the Puri district administration is witdrawing the curfew-like shutdown from Wednesday afternoon, it has put some restrictions on a few areas in Puri town.

"In view of the curfew in some parts of Puri, all devotees are requested to avoid going to Puri today. It is again reiterated that the 'darshan' of the deities by devotees is NOT allowed," the DGP said in a tweet.

The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings was held on Tuesday as the deities began their nine-day annual sojourn to Gundicha Temple, nearly 3 km away from the Jagannath Temple.

Presently, Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra are seated on their respective chariots and they will be carried inside Gundicha Temple in the evening.

Following the Supreme Court order, the district administration had imposed a curfew from 9 pm on June 22 to 2 pm on June 24 to stop the entry of people into the district during the Rath Yatra.

Notably, the Rath Yatra was a smooth afair on Tuesday in the absence of thousands of devotees as the three giant chariots were pulled by the temple servitors.

"In absence of general devotees, the world famous Shree Gundicha Jatra in Puri was successfully performed by the extraordinary 'seba' of the 'sreemandir sevaks', the efficient arrangements made by the state government and the temple administration within a very short time and the cooperation of all devotees, especially in Puri town. My sincere felicitations to one and all who made this unique event a success," said Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
South Korean soldiers walk along a road in Inje county near South Korea's north-east border, on June 16, 2020. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

South Korean Activists Float Anti-Kim Leaflets to North

SEOUL, South KoreaA South Korean group launched hundreds of thousands of leaflets by balloon across the border into North Korea overnight, an activist said on June 23, even after repeated warnings from the North that it would retaliate against such actions.

Activist Park Sang-hak said his organization floated 20 huge balloons carrying 500,000 leaflets, 2,000 one-dollar bills, and small books over North Korea from the border town of Paju on the night of June 22.

Park, a former North Korean who fled to South Korea, said in a statement that the leafleting is a struggle for justice for the sake of liberation of North Koreans.

The move is certain to intensify already high tensions between the Koreas. North Korea recently abruptly raised its rhetoric against South Korean civilian leafleting, destroying an empty, Seoul-built liaison office on its territory and pushing to resume its psychological warfare against the South.

Local officials in South Korea said they are looking into Parks account and may ask the police to investigate it as a potential safety threat to front-line residents. Seouls Unification Ministry, which handles relations with North Korea, issued a separate statement expressing deep regret over Parks attempt to send leaflets.

Calling North Korean leader Kim Jong Un an evil and his rule barbarism, Park said he will keep sending anti-Kim leaflets.

Though North Korean residents have become modern-day slaves with no basic rights, dont they have the right to know the truth? he said.

South Korean officials have vowed to ban leafleting and said they will press charges against Park and other anti-North Korea activists for allegedly raising animosities and potentially endangering border residents. In 2014, North Korean troops opened fire at propaganda balloons flying toward their territory, triggering an exchange of fire that caused no known casualties.

Park accused South Koreas liberal government of sympathizing with North Korea and caving to its threats. Parks brother, also an activist, last week canceled plans to release bottles filled with dried rice and face masks from a front-line island.

Gyeonggi province, which governs Paju, earlier issued an administrative order prohibiting activists from entering certain border areas including Paju to fly leaflets to the North.

If Parks leafleting is confirmed, Gyeonggi official Kim Min-yeong said the province will demand the police investigate him. The penalty is a year in prison and up to 10 million won ($8,200) fine.

The provincial office said in a statement on June 23 it had separately requested police investigate four activist groups, including Parks, for alleged fraud, diversion of official funds, and other charges. It said the four groups have been accused of exploiting leafleting as a way to collect donations as a money-making business, rather than a human rights movement.

North Korea doesnt tolerate criticism of its ruling family, which enjoys a strong personality cult built by North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, whose militarys surprise invasion of South Korea in June 1950 triggered a devastating three-year war.

Park previously said he would push to drop a million leaflets over the border around June 25, 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 June 22 shows an image of Kim Il Sung and accuses him of the slaughter of (the Korean) people and urges North Koreans to rise up against the Kim familys rule, according to photos distributed by Park.

At least one of the banners and a balloon with leaflets were found to have landed in Hongcheon, a South Korean town southeast of Paju, not in North Korea, Yonhap news agency reported. Hongcheon police said they couldnt immediately confirm the report.

In recent weeks, North Korea has unleashed insults against leafleting activists like Park, describing them as human scum and mongrel dogs. It said it would also take a series of steps to nullify the 2018 tension-reduction deals with South Korea. On June 22, North Koreas state media said it had manufactured 12 million propaganda leaflets to be floated toward South Korea in what it said would be the largest-ever anti-Seoul leafleting campaign.

Experts say North Korea is likely using the South Korean civilian leafleting as a chance to boost its internal unity and apply more pressure on Seoul and Washington amid stalled nuclear talks.

While Seoul has sometimes sent police to block activists from leafleting during sensitive times, it had previously resisted North Koreas calls for a ban, saying the activists were exercising their freedom of speech.

Seouls recent moves against leafleting have drawn criticism that the government is sacrificing democratic principles to keep alive its push for inter-Korean engagement.

By Hyung-Jin Kim & Tong-Hyung Kim
Masks and screening for coronavirus symptoms will be part of life in Illinois schools this fall as students return for in-person instruction as much as possible.

But even with an emphasis on returning students to the classroom, schools are being advised to prepare for a return to remote learning if there are signs COVID-19 is again surging in the state.

The Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association also issued a joint statement saying the guidelines don't sufficiently address concerns about social distancing and lack of protective equipment.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday outlined guidance for schools resuming operations in the fall, particularly K-12 schools, where the emphasis will be on once again bringing students into the same space as their teachers.

"Classroom learning provides necessary opportunities for our students to learn, socialize and grow," Pritzker said. "The benefits of in-person instruction cannot be overstated."

The Illinois State Board of Education developed guidelines for all of the 852 school districts in Illinois to follow. At the same time, though, each school district will be responsible for developing its own plan to adapt those guidelines to the district.

State school Superintendent Carmen Ayala said the plan to have local districts develop their own plans for implementing the guidelines reflects the state's great diversity.

"Reopening in southern Illinois is not the same as reopening in suburban or urban Illinois," she said.

"The guidance released today acknowledges that a one size fits all approach to the reopening of schools doesn't consider the context school community," said Tom Bertrand, executive director of the Illinois Association of School Boards. "School districts need flexibility to make decisions based upon the sometimes rapidly changing conditions in their communities."

The guidelines include a requirement that all staff and students must wear masks or other face coverings. To that end, Pritzker said the Illinois Emergency Management Agency will provide 2.5 million cloth masks to schools to ensure each student and staff member will have the proper face coverings needed to resume classroom instruction.

"A child's ability to afford or acquire a face covering should have no impact on whether they can go to school," Pritzker said.

The criteria require that social distancing be maintained whenever possible and that a system be set up to conduct symptom screenings and temperature checks or require that people entering a school building attest that they do not have any coronavirus symptoms.

School-wide cleaning and disinfecting will have to be increased. Pritzker said the state has secured purchase agreements for hand sanitizer, personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies that will be available to school districts at a lower cost than they would probably have to pay on the open market.

There is also a ban on more than 50 people gathering in one place. Pritzker said that means in spaces within a school building. He acknowledged that the ban will mean different things for different school districts and could also affect the ability of some kids to get to school.

The joint IEA/IFT statement said overcrowded classrooms, lack of school nurses and scarcity of protective equipment are concerns for the unions.

"Successfully incorporating the Illinois State Board of Education's guidelines will depend largely on the labor management relationship and whether or not all the support staff, teachers and stakeholders have a real voice in determining what school looks like in our new normal," the statement said. "We are committed to working with ISBE to help update the guidelines and give better guidance on what to do with crowded classrooms and schools, collective bargaining issues and the lack of critical staff and resources such as school nurses and PPE."

Pritzker emphasized that adjustments could be made over time.

"In the event of a dramatic reversal of local health metrics or a second wave of the virus at some point during the school year, schools in districts must prepare for the potential need to return to remote instruction," he said.

There are no penalties for schools failing to follow the guidelines, but Pritzker said that shouldn't be necessary.

"Everyone has the same interest, which is to protect children."

The state will not review the plans developed by local districts to implement the guidelines. Schools should consult with local health departments if they have questions about what to do, Ayala said.

Schools were ordered to stop in-person instruction in March as the coronavirus began spreading exponentially and officials worried that an unchecked increase in cases would overwhelm health care facilities. Illinois imposed stay at home orders, and nonessential businesses were ordered closed in an effort to control the virus.

Illinois has seen a decrease in the number of new cases and deaths from the virus and has been gradually loosening restrictions on businesses and other activities. Pritzker said the state is ready to enter Phase 4 at the end of this week, which will allow for resumption of indoor dining at restaurants, among other things.

State Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said the effort has paid off.

"The good news is, Illinois has seen declining cases and declining fatality totals week after week for the past five consecutive weeks," she said.

On Tuesday, the state reported 601 new confirmed cases and 38 additional deaths. That brought the totals to 137,825 cases and 6,707 deaths. Ezike noted that at its peak, the state saw a daily increase of more than 4,000 cases.

Nearly 1.4 million tests for the virus have been administered. The seven-day positive rate for tests is about 2 percent.

Ezike said the success in curtailing the spread of the virus was due to Illinois residents wearing masks, frequently washing their hands and practicing social distancing.

"I commend every resident of Illinois for thinking of your neighbors across the state during this ongoing battle against COVID-19," Ezike said. "Lives are in your hands, and you have saved so many with your actions."

Ezike said now is a good time for parents to get physicals for their children to return to school in the fall and to update any immunizations that they may have postponed during the worst of the outbreak. She advised adults, too, to get up to date on immunizations and on health screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies.

What reopens Friday under the 'Restore Illinois' plan

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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: 24 June 2020, 11:19
Mask sales have spiked in Victoria as the state braces for a second wave of coronavirus.

Melbourne Manufacturing firm Floatpac has seen an almost 200 per cent increase in the sale of protective cotton masks in the past few weeks.

The spike in sales coincides with a growing number of COVID-19 cases in Victoriam, and New South Wales.

Commuters leave Melbourne's Flinders Street Station while while wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19 on Sunday

Pictured: A woman in a face mask lands at Sydney Airport from Melbourne on Wednesday

Floatpac Group CEO Gavin Hodgins told Daily Mail Australia as case numbers grow, people are searching for some way to protect themselves.

'Particularly in the last week or so as Victoria's numbers have started to spike again, and with New South Wales numbers starting to spike again we saw a big uptick in our online traffic happen really quickly,' he said.

Floatpac has been supplying the equipment on a wholesale level to businesses involved in food manufacturing on a factory level, and at a retail level - serving food

'It's in the thousands.'

The company has been supplying the equipment on a wholesale level to businesses involved in food manufacturing on a factory level, and at a retail level - serving food.

The masks produced aren't medical grade, but manufactured out of cotton to cover people's mouths and prevent the spread of disease by capturing droplets.

While it's not mandatory to wear face-masks Mr Hodgins said companies are seeking to offer some level of comfort to their employees.

'I don't think necessarily people are scared, I think they're more aware if there is something they can do to protect themselves and their families and friends and realise hey it's obviously got some kind of benefit, and if it helps it helps,' he said.

Medical staff test patients at a drive-through clinic at Keilor Community Hall in Melbourne on Wednesday

Pictured: A long queue of cars wait at a drive-through COVID-19 testing site in Melbourne on Tuesday

VICTORIA'S SPIKE IN CORONAVIRUS CASES 24/6: 20 23/6: 17 22/6: 16 21/6: 19 20/6: 25 19/6: 13 18/6: 18 17/6: 21 Source: Department of Health and Human Services Advertisement

Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth confirmed they were not moving to mandate the wearing of face-masks during a press briefing on Sunday.

'Even though there has been an increase in the absolute number of cases in Victoria, or associated with those outbreaks, the overall numbers remain low, he said.

'So the position that we have taken, as the AHPPC, on face mask use in particular remains the same - in this circumstance where we only have very low levels of community transmission that the value of face masks in the community is limited and that recommendation hasn't changed.'

But Mr Hodgins believe maybe the government needs to consider changing its stance on the issue.

'If we are going to be moving into some sort of scenario where we're going to see a spike in numbers and we're talking about lockdowns and things like that, and if there are so many other countries who are saying face-masks do help then possibly the government needs to sit back and have a think about that,'

Victoria is considering bringing back strict lockdown measures as the state comes to grips with spike in infections.

A man in his 80s became the 20th person to die from COVID-19 in Victoria, as the state continues to battle the second spike in coronavirus cases.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said they 'won't rule out' reintroducing stay at home orders for coronavirus hotspots.

'Our government has said that if the public health advice from our experts is to reintroduce stay at home legal directions, in particular locations we will consider doing that,' Ms Mikakos told ABC Radio National Breakfast.

'Clearly some people think the pandemic is over. It's not over. We want people to remain at a heightened sense of awareness about physical distancing.'

There are 141 active cases in Victoria, and Wednesday marked the eighth day of double-digit growth in new cases, bringing the state's tally to 1,884.

Pictured: Medical workers at a drive-through COVID-19 testing site in a shopping centre car park in Melbourne on Tuesday

An elderly man in Victoria died on Tuesday night, taking the the state's toll to 20
National Guard members deploy near the White House as peaceful protests are scheduled against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, in Washington, on June 6, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

National Guard Deploying Personnel to Protect DC Monuments

The National Guard will deploy unarmed personnel to guard Washingtons national monuments.

It came after President Donald Trump and other officials issues warnings to demonstrators and rioters who have defaced or vandalized statues.

The District of Columbia National Guard is responding to a request to support law enforcement officials and has dispatched unarmed personnel, with others on stand-by, National Guard spokesman Maj. Robert Perino said in a statement, according to CNN. Activated Guardsmen are expected to provide security for local monuments and critical infrastructure.

The D.C. National Guard has not responded to a request for comment.

On Tuesday, the president vowed to crack down on people vandalizing a monument, saying they could face lengthy 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, Trump wrote on Twitter.

His posts came as vandals attempted to take down a statue of former President Andrew Jackson near the White House.

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)

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt wrote in a statement on Monday, I just left Lafayette Square where another so called peaceful protest led to destruction tonight  Let me be clear: we will not bow to anarchists. Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served. He said that law enforcement agencies responded to the incident, adding that the statue was not toppled.

The Interior Department noted that rioters have vandalized national memorials and monuments, ignited sacred sites, attacked law enforcement officers, and destroyed countless businesses.

U.S. Park Police keeps protesters away after a group of rioters attempted 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)

Across the country, some elected leaders of our cities have expressed enthusiasm and support for these criminals, exhibiting an undeniable unwillingness to protect law abiding citizens and their property. We live in the greatest country in the world, and I thank our dedicated law enforcement officials who stand tall against these coordinated attacks and seek peace and justice for all, the agency wrote.

On Tuesday, D.C. police officers were seen clearing 16th and H streets in Washington, removing tents and makeshift barricades after demonstrators and anarchists tried to set up an autonomous zone.
BCCL

On June 23, Delhi saw the biggest single-day spike in cases of coronavirus after it crossed the 66,000-mark. Delhi has surpassed Tamil Nadu and is now the second worst-affected state after Maharashtra in terms of number of cases. Read more

Here's more top news of the day:

1) At Least 70 COVID-19 Positive Patients Have 'Gone Missing' From Mumbai's Malad

BCCL

At a time when the city is battling an unprecedented health crisis due to the COVID-19 outbreak, a serious lapse has emerged from Mumbai where some 70 patients who had tested positive have 'gone missing'. Read more

2) Mumbai Gets A Breather, Reports Only 824 New Cases In 24 Hours, First Time In Over A Month

BCCL

Mumbai, the worst-affected city in the country, which also accounts for majority cases in the state of Maharashtra, is finally registering a downward swing in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Read more



3) India Has One COVID-19 Death Per Lakh Population As Against Global Average Of 6, Says Govt

Representational Image

The WHO Situation Report 154 dated 22 June, 2020 shows that India has one of the lowest deaths per lakh population, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Read more

4) Kudos To Delhi Police Who Bust International Drug Racket, Arrest Two With Heroin Worth Rs 50 Cr

Representational Image

Delhi Polices Special Cell has cracked down on an international drug cartel and taken into custody two major members in possession 10kg of heroin, which fetches a price of about Rs 50 crore, according to a TNN report. Read more

5) India Asks Pakistan High Commission To Downsize Staff In Next Seven Days

Representational Image

India has reacted strongly to the illegal custody and barbaric treatment last week of two Indian High Commission staffers in Islamabad - and on Tuesday asked Pakistan to reduce its staff at its High Commission in New Delhi by half within a week. Read more
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...
Photo credit: NBC NewsWire

From Esquire

Want to know what Ken Burns, noted history nut, thinks of the national debate raging over confederate statues, but dont have ten plus hours to spare for a typical Burns-length feature? Then have we got a video for you. Over at the opinion page of The Washington Post, Burns has created a brief video essay unpacking the role that these statues play in shoring up white supremacy, with the searing argument that Confederate statues are a paean to myth, not fact, and that, as we consider what role monuments play in our culture, its the history, not the mythology, that we must remember.



The video opens with archival footage of James Baldwin meditating on the meaning of liberty, speaking to Burns about the limits of liberty for people of color in an interview for his 1985 PBS documentary, The Statue of Liberty. Burns calls it one of the most memorable conversations Ive ever been a part of, saying Baldwin taught him that, our monuments, even those as revered as the Statue of Liberty, are representations of myth, not fact.

Burns draws a comparison between the construction of the Statue of Liberty and the construction of confederate statues across the United States. The Statue of Liberty, he notes, was constructed as a partnership between the United States and France, with laborers from both nations working together and pooling their own money to construct this visual celebration of democracy. Burns notes that in the ten years it took to construct the Statue of Liberty, twenty confederate monuments were erected across the United States in cities both large and small, with hundreds more constructed in the years to follow, even cropping up as recently as 2015.

These monuments were efforts to reimpose white supremacy and rewrite history, Burns says. They are racism memorialized in our public spaces. When we look at the Statue of Liberty and think about the ideals its meant to represent, we cannot forget the larger context in the country at the time.

Story continues

Burns cites the beginning of the Jim Crow era in the American South, as well as the Chinese Exclusion Act; meanwhile, over half the American population was barred from voting. He then circles back to James Baldwin, who said in their 1985 interview, Liberty is individual, passionate will to be free--but this passion, this will, is always contradicted by the necessities of the state. Everywhere--for as long as weve heard of mankind, as long as weve heard of states. I dont know if itll be like that forever. For Black Americans, for Black inhabitants of this country, the Statue of Liberty is simply a very bitter joke meaning nothing to us.

As Baldwins blistering words hang over the video, Burns concludes, Even our most venerated moments represent a mythology. While we may hope the statue represents our highest aspirations for what America can and should be, it can also be a reminder of where and how far we fall short.

The Statue of Liberty can be streamed on Amazon Prime .

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Michigan lawmakers overwhelmingly approved legislation allowing restaurants to sell cocktails to go Wednesday, a measure supported by the bar and restaurant industry as a way to help businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three bills - House Bills 5781 and 5811 and Senate Bill 942 - officially cleared both chambers Wednesday, meaning the legislation will soon head to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers desk.

Taken together, the bills allow liquor licensees to sell packaged and sealed containers of mixed drinks with delivery or takeout orders, similar to a bottle of wine or a growler of beer.

Local governments would also be allowed to create designated social districts where people of legal drinking age could purchase to-go drinks from adjacent bars and drink them off-premises as long as they remain in the designated area.

Senate Bill 942 temporarily lowers the cost of liquor prices from the states Liquor Control Commission. Through 2021, liquor licensees would get a 30 percent discount from the state.

Industry groups praised the move as a boost to the hospitality industry as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and expressed hope the legislation would become law prior to the July 4 holiday weekend.

By approving cocktails to-go, the legislature is throwing a much-needed economic lifeline to Michigan restaurants and bars, said David Wojnar, vice president of state government relations for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

House Bill 5811 includes a sunset on the legislation, meaning bars and restaurants would be able to sell cocktails to-go through Dec. 31, 2025.

Bar and restaurant owners have been allowed to reopen for in-person dining - but at 50 percent capacity and with strict guidelines for cleanliness, worker safety and social distancing. Theres also concern many customers wont want to return to restaurants until COVID-19 is more contained.

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.

Related coverage:

Cocktails to go? Bar, restaurant owners push Michigan to allow it during coronavirus

Cocktails to go, outdoor drinking districts earn support from Michigan House panel

Outdoor drinking districts proposed in state House to help Michigan bars and restaurants

Alcohol home delivery possible in proposed legislation to help Michigan bars and restaurants hurt by coronavirus
A woman from Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega County has called on police to arrest her son-in-law for assaulting her.

Flora Mwendwa from Isembe village in Indangalasia area said her son-in-law arrived at her home from Nairobi on Monday, June 22 accompanied by his brother.

Shortly after I ushered them into the house, my son-in-law descended on me with punches and kicks before snatching my 2-year-old granddaughter from me, said the elderly woman, adding that the 38-year-old suspect left behind his 5-year-old son.

Ms Mwendwa said the trio then got into a saloon car and left hurriedly.

The granny sustained head and neck injuries and was treated at a nearby health facility before filing a report at Emukaba Police Station.

She told K24 Digital that her daughter, 34, brought the kids home after schools were indefinitely closed in March.

I dont know how my son-in-law, who lives in Nairobi, managed to flout the travel restrictions put in place by the Government. He should be arrested for two things: one, causing grievous bodily harm to me, and two, endangering the lives of people by breaching the COVID-19 containment measures, said Mwendwa.

The suspect and the victims daughter both live and work in Nairobi and have been married for eight years.

It remains unclear why the suspect took away his child but Ms Mwendwa suspects that her daughter and her husband could have gotten into a marital dispute.
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
A claim that Ireland has had the highest rate of healthcare workers infected with Covid-19 in the world is being disputed by the HSE.

The allegation was made by Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha who said it was an "absolute scandal".

Fianna Fail health spokesman Stephen Donnelly called for a detailed investigation of the claim.

There have been 8,172 infections confirmed in healthcare workers, accounting for around one-third of all people who caught the virus here. Seven health workers have died from Covid-19. The majority believe they caught the virus at work while over 2,500 cases are still investigated for a mode of transmission.

A report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, which looked at comparative healthcare worker infection rates, showed a rate of 3pc in the US, 4pc in China, 10pc in Italy, and 20pc in Spain.

Ms Ni Sheaghdha told TDs: "Ireland has the highest number of infection rates amongst healthcare workers globally and that is an absolute scandal in our view."

She said her information on the infection rate came during a call with the International Council of Nurses last week. Ms Ni Sheaghdha blamed a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and said a mandatory policy of wearing face masks was not brought in until April 22.

The HSE last night disputed the INMO's claim.

A statement said Ireland uses a very broad definition for healthcare workers (HCWs) when it comes to Covid-19 surveillance. It includes anyone working in community and hospital settings like administrative staff, catering and maintenance workers. Other countries use a narrower definition of frontline workers "or even just doctors and nurses", the HSE said.

The HSE said there have been "several studies worldwide" which have shown an infection rate of 5pc to 10pc of HCWs, whereas in Ireland this rate "is close to 1pc". It said well over 90pc of HCWs have recovered so far, a higher rate than in the general population.

"The disease here was suppressed quickly after the restrictions were put in place on March 28, but a lot of patients were still hospitalised at that stage, so HCWs were more at risk than the general population," the HSE said.

"Hence the number of HCWs divided by a smaller number of cases in the general population gives an apparently high percentage of HCWs with Covid-19."

Ms Ni Sheaghdha said the rate of illness had put "enormous pressure" on 24-hour rosters. She said childcare had "always been very difficult" but this has been worsened with the closure of schools and creches.

Siptu's Paul Bell told the Dail committee some healthcare workers used up all their annual leave and had been left in financial difficulty due to the failure of the Government to find a solution for childcare for frontline staff.

Ms Ni Sheaghdha said nurses and midwives had incurred extra costs for attending work as a result of childcare issues and they should be repaid to them.

"They have been applauded and they have been abandoned," she said.

Mr Donnelly said it seemed "public expressions of support were not always matched where it matters".
Less than a week after the owners of MOMOlicious reported that their food truck had been stolen in plain sight, police say the truck has been recovered under a freeway overpass.

Oakland police located the MOMOlicious food truck wedged under an Interstate 880 overpass in West Oakland near a homeless encampment, according to KTVU.

When I went inside, I was so emotional, co-owner Sudeep Khatiwada told KTVU. I almost cried seeing what they did to the inside.

The ransacked vehicle was discovered just 2.5 miles from Emeryville where it was stolen, with fresh graffiti marks and without doors, seats or an engine. Additionally, because the food truck was wedged so tightly beneath the overpass, tow truck operators were required to remove its tires to extract the vehicle.

ALSO: Violations over dine-in service results in $35,000 penalty for Carmel restaurant

According to KTVU, Oakland police searched the area where the vehicle was found but couldnt find a suspect. Surveillance cameras were unable to capture the theft in Emeryville.

Last Wednesday, Khatiwada and co-owner Anup Bajracharya told the East Bay Times that their Nepalese food truck had been stolen from a lot in Emeryville at 63rd Street and Overland Avenue when they were inside a commissary kitchen.

Because the truck had been previously jump-started that day, the owners left the vehicles engine running with the keys inside. The vehicle had been parked for about 30 minutes before it was discovered missing.

Initially, the owners believed that they had been pranked, but once they processed the news, they were left dumbfounded.

ALSO: 'Hopefully, we are not forgotten': How Bay Area food trucks are surviving the pandemic

I couldnt believe it, Khatiwada told the East Bay Times. Who would want to do such a thing? We are good with everyone.

Now recovered, the owners believe that the damages will set them back tens of thousands of dollars to repair. They estimate the food truck to be valued at $100,000 with all the special gear, which included steamers from Nepal that were used to prepare dumplings.

This time was already tough for us due to COVID-19, Khatiwada told KTVU. This disaster has set us back, way back.

MOMOlicious has another food truck it can use while the stolen one is restored.

Susana Guerrero is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: Susana.Guerrero@sfgate.com | Twitter: @SusyGuerrero3
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Three members of a North Carolina police department have been fired after a department audit of a video recording captured one of the officers saying a civil war was necessary to wipe Black people off the map and that he was ready.

The Wilmington Police Department took the action on Wednesday against Cpl. Jessie Moore, and officers Kevin Piner and Brian Gilmore. Each was accused of violating standards of conduct, criticism and use of inappropriate jokes and slurs. After conferring with the city council, Wilmington City Manager Sterling Cheatham cleared Police Chief Donny Williams to release the details.

When I first learned of these conversations, I was shocked, saddened and disgusted, Williams said at a news conference on Wednesday. There is no place for this behaviour in our agency or our city and it will not be tolerated.

According to documents released by the police department, a sergeant was conducting a video audit as part of a monthly inspection and was reviewing footage from Piners car that had been classified as accidental activation. After the sergeant listened to the conversation and determined comments made by Piner and Moore were extremely racist, she contacted the department administrator for the camera system.

At the 46-minute mark of the video, Piner and Gilmore began talking from their respective cars, at which time Piner criticized the department, saying its only concern was kneeling down with the black folks. About 30 minutes later, Piner received a phone call from Moore, according to the investigation, a segment in which Moore referred to a Black female as a negro. He also referred to the woman by using a racial slur. He repeated the use of the slur in describing a Black magistrate, and Moore used a gay slur to describe the magistrate as well.

Later, according to the investigation, Piner told Moore that he feels a civil war is coming and that he is ready. Piner said he was going to buy a new assault rifle, and soon we are just going to go out and start slaughtering them (expletive) Blacks. I cant wait. God, I cant wait. Moore responded that he wouldnt do that.

Piner then told Moore that he felt a civil war was needed to wipe them off the (expletive) map. Thatll put them back about four or five generations. Moore told Piner he was crazy, and the recording stopped a short time later.

According to police, the officers admitted it was their voices on the video and didnt deny any of the content. While the officers denied that they were racists, they blamed their comments on the stress on law enforcement in light of the protests over the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a Black man, died last month after a Minneapolis police officer put his knee on Floyds neck for several minutes.

In addition to being fired, cases involving the Wilmington officers will be reviewed by the district attorneys office to determine if they committed any crimes or showed bias toward criminal defendants. Williams said he will recommend the three officers not be rehired by notifying the N.C. Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission about their behaviour.
It was a week where oil prices climbed sharply, while natural gas finished lower.



On the news front, oilfield service biggie Schlumberger SLB announced restructuring initiatives that will help it save roughly $1.5 billion in costs annually, while Bakken-focused E&P player Continental Resources CLR said that it will gradually restore its production on improving fundamentals.



Overall, it was a mixed week for the sector. While West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures surged 9.6% to close at $39.75 per barrel, natural gas prices fell 3.6% for the week to finish at 1.669 per million Btu (MMBtu). In particular, the oil markets reversed their loss from the previous week when the commodity recorded a sharp decline.



Coming back to the week ended Jun 19, the crude benchmark recorded a big gain after a OPEC+ monitoring meeting confirmed stepped-up compliance with the historic production cut deal. Further, U.S. government data revealing a drop in crude production and fuel inventories helped to keep the price elevated. Oil prices were also supported by the continued decline in rig count, which currently sits at its lowest since 2009.



Meanwhile, natural gas ended lower on weak LNG demand and continued oversupply.



Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories



1. Schlumberger is planning to bear about $1.4-billion charges related to the ongoing restructuring and associated job cuts, said its CEO Olivier Le Peuch. Notably, the one-time charge will be in the range of $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion. Per the restructuring initiative, the company will divide its 17 product lines into four units. The oilfield services behemoth will also restructure its global organization across five major oil basins.



Peuch believes that more layoffs and the restructuring program will help the company survive the coronavirus-induced downturn in the oilfield service business. With the pandemic hurting global energy demand and keeping oil in the bearish territory, explorers have little incentive to award contracts to oilfield service players for upstream operations.



On the brighter side, the restructuring will help Schlumberger save roughly $1.5 billion in costs every year, added Peuch. The company is reportedly looking to augment the use of automation and digital technologies in its field activities, highlighting its focus on lowering costs and boosting the bottom line. (Here's How Schlumberger Will Cut $1.5B in Costs Every Year)



2. Continental Resources recently announced that the company is planning to gradually restore curtailed production volumes. The Bakken-focused E&P player provided a detailed update on voluntary output curtailments as crude prices are improving.



Continental Resources previously announced plans of curtailing 70% production volumes in May. Curtailments are expected to continue in June as well. While it expects to bring some deferred output back online in July, 50% of its operated crude production will still likely be under the cap.



For June, total output is expected in the range of 150,000-160,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (Boe/d). For the second quarter, production is estimated in the range of 200,000-205,000 Boe/d. In July, production will likely rise from June to 225,000-250,000 Boe/d due to recovery in crude prices. This will in turn boost the companys profit levels. (Continental to Gradually Revive Output as Oil Price Improves)



3. ExxonMobil XOM has restored crude oil production offshore Guyana to the range of 80,000-90,000 barrels per day (bpd), after clearing up the technical glitch with the gas reinjection equipment. The director of Guyana's Environmental Protection Agency, Vincent Adams, confirmed about the production resumption at the site.



Problems associated with the gas reinjection equipment, which is used to avoid excessive gas flaring, reduced production at the site by 65% to 27,500 bpd last week from early-May levels. After addressing the problem, the energy major  carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) - is now flaring less amount of natural gas and reinjecting more, which is resulting in higher production volumes from the deepwater Stabroek block, offshore Guyana.



You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Two of its three gas handling systems are currently working, which is enabling it to use 85% of gas production from the reservoir. Once the third system comes online, the company is expected to reach the 120,000-bpd oil production mark. (ExxonMobil Fixes Compressor, Restores Offshore Guyana Output)



4. The Williams Companies WMB recently signed a tieback agreement with LLOG Exploration Offshore LLC to deliver offshore natural gas, and oil gathering and production-handling services for the Taggart development at its Devils Tower spar. The company will also oversee onshore gas treatment and processing services at its Devils Tower platform, located 140 miles southeast of New Orleans in the Mississippi Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico to aid the Taggart development.



This Oklahoma-based energy infrastructure provider is expected to collect crude and natural gas produced at Taggart through its Mountaineer and Canyon Chief pipeline systems. The natural gas output will be shipped to Williams Mobile Bay processing plant, and at the same time, natural gas liquids will be fractionated and marketed at the Baton Rouge Fractionator in Louisiana. Taggart development is likely to be completed in the first half of 2022. The reserves contained in Taggart are estimated to produce approximately 27 million barrels through an eight-year time span.



Williams Gulf of Mexico portfolio includes a 3,500-mile long natural gas and oil gathering and transmission pipeline with a cryogenic processing capacity worth 1.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) and 60,000 barrels per day of fractionation capacity. It also owns two floating production platforms, multiple fixed leg utility platforms and various other related facilities. (Williams Inks Tieback Deal With LLOG for Taggart Development)



5. In its weekly release, Baker Hughes Company BKR reported another drop in the U.S. rig count. Rigs engaged in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the United States fell to an all-time low of 266 in the week through Jun 19, compared with the prior-week count of 279. The current national rig count is well below the prior years 967.



Investors should know that with the recent all-time low mark, the tally has touched record-low levels for seven successive weeks, thanks to dented global energy demand owing to the coronavirus pandemic.



Oil rig count was 189 in the week through Jun 19, compared with 199 in the week ended Jun 12. Since crude prices are in the bearish territory, explorers are cutting their capital budget considerably. This led the weekly tally of oil rigs to fall for 14 consecutive weeks. (US Oil & Gas Rig Tally at Record Low for 7 Straight Weeks)



Price Performance



The following table shows the price movement of some the major oil and gas players over the past week and during the last 6 months.



Company Last Week Last 6 Months

XOM -2.5% -33.6%

CVX -1.9% -23.9%

COP -0.1% -32.6%

OXY +6.5% -49.9%

SLB +3.7% -51.4%

RIG -5% -67.9%

VLO -1% -34.2%

MPC +4.3% -36.4%



The Energy Select Sector SPDR  a popular way to track energy companies  was little changed last week. But longer-term, over six months, the sector tracker is down 36.7%. Offshore driller Transocean Ltd. RIG was the major loser during this period, experiencing a 67.9% price plunge.



Whats Next in the Energy World?



As global oil consumption gradually ticks up, market participants will be closely tracking the regular releases to watch for signs that could further validate a rebound. In this context, the U.S. government statistics on oil and natural gas - one of the few solid indicators that comes out regularly - will be on the energy traders' radar. Data on rig count from energy service firm Baker Hughes, which is a pointer to trends in U.S. crude production, will also be closely followed.



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Burma Myanmar Military: Rakhine Internet Blackout Still Required to Protect Military Secrets

Myanmar security forces patrol near the Bangladeshi border in northern Rakhine. / The Irrawaddy

YANGON Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said Tuesday that the internet shutdown in parts of conflict-torn Rakhine State and neighboring Chin State is still required in order to prevent leaks of military secrets and the spread of racial hatred on social media.

The internet shutdown was imposed in eight townships in Rakhine State and Chin States Paletwa Township last June at the request of the military amid intensifying clashes with the Arakan Army (AA). Authorities later lifted the restrictions for Maungdaw Township.

With the blackout turning one year old on Sunday, rights groups and activists are increasingly calling that the government end the internet shutdown in the remaining eight townships as it negatively affects the daily lives of approximately 1.4 million people, especially in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.

Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun said during a military press conference on Tuesday that the internet ban was required because information on troop movements in the region was leaking online and disinformation and racial hate speech were widespread on social media.

For the time being, we wont recommend [the government] restore internet [in the remaining townships], the spokesman added, replying to The Irrawaddys question over the plan to resume the internet access.

Ethnic affairs and Rakhine State analyst U Maung Maung Soe said that the internet ban shouldnt be imposed based on the spread of hate speech as the internet is widely used as a tool for communication, job opportunities, education, health and receiving information.

He added that if the ban is also aimed at preventing leaks of military secrets, the military should also review the results of the ban so far, to see whether the internet shutdown really works to prevent such leaks.

Over 100 local and international rights groups and diplomatic missions called on Sunday to end the blackout. Activists from different cities wearing T-shirts saying Oppose internet oppression posted their pictures on social media and held demonstrations in Yangon and in the Rakhine State capital, Sittwe, as part of a campaign to demand that the government lift the restrictions.

Local police opened cases against five rights activists in Yangon who denounced the internet shutdown by hanging posters on an overpass in the citys downtown area and against a youth activist in Rakhine under Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly Law.

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Construction on Chinas BRI Deep Sea Port to Start Soon in Myanmars Rakhine State: Govt

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Ryanair's CEO has criticised the government for "fudging around" with plans for air bridges between Ireland and other countries.

It is likely travel restrictions will only be eased for people arriving here from countries that have got the coronavirus outbreak under control.

A state-appointed taskforce has called for the two-week quarantine rule to be dropped completely.

Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson says Ireland needs to be in line with other EU countries.

"The rest of Europe is moving and Ireland is fudging around, talking about form-filling. Now it's air bridges," he said.

"They won't work within the European Union because you've got the free movement of people.

People are now sensible about what they need to do with face masks, particularly in areas where social distancing is challenging.

Meanwhile, a leading immunologist claims Ireland will 're-import' a wave of Covid-19 cases if restrictions on air travel are lifted.

The state's Aviation Recovery Taskforce says the 14-day quarantine rule and border restrictions should be removed from July 1.

Kingston Mills, professor of experimental immunology in Trinity College, strongly disagrees with the taskforce.

"Lifting all the restrictions on travel I don't think is the thing we need right now," he said.

I think we have to retain restrictions on travel and not re-import the infection again like we did in the very beginning when we brought it in from Italy and other places.

"If you allow travel unrestricted from countries that still have significant levels of Covid-19, you're going to get exactly the same problem that we started with in February of importing this disease from another country. Absolutely no, we cannot allow this to happen again."

The National Public Health Emergency Team will consider the taskforce's recommendations at a meeting tomorrow.
A husband and wife in Burlington County have been charged with conspiring to steal more than $6 million in an international romance scam involving victims found online, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

Martins Friday Inalegwu, 31, a Nigerian national, and Steincy Mathieu, 24, an American citizen, were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Inalegwu was arrested Tuesday and Mathieu remains at large.

The couple, who had been living in Maple Shade, conspired with others, including several people in Nigeria, said U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito. Between October 2016 and May 13, 2020, the conspirators found victims on dating sites and social media, then corresponded with them through email and by phone.

They allegedly duped victims into sending them money for fake emergencies and other fictitious needs. They also allegedly engaged in an apartment rental scam with at least three victims.

Inalegwu and Mathieu spent the money they collected on personal expenses and also transferred funds to bank accounts used by conspirators in Nigeria and Turkey.

Investigators identified 33 victims, but several million dollars were gained from duping one woman who resorted to embezzling her employer, prosecutors said.

According to the criminal complaint against Inalegwu, the victim began corresponding through Match.com with a person claiming to be named George Marek, who was from Kentucky but had relocated to Austin, Texas, following the death of his wife.

"Marek" told the victim he bought and sold jewels for a living. After about six weeks of developing what the victim believed was a romantic relationship, "Marek" started asking for money. "Marek" then claimed he was having business troubles and medical expenses and needed more money.

The victim exhausted her savings, liquidated her retirement account, borrowed from family and friends, maxed out her credit cards, and took out a personal loan to continue sending money to "Marek."

She then began stealing from her employer. The victim funneled more than $4 million to the conspirators, prosecutors said.

The victim was charged in local court with stealing the money and pleaded guilty, according to the criminal complaint.

Inalegwu and Mathieu each face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN

Basel, Switzerland, June 24, 2020

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN, the "Issuer") announces the launch of CHF 100 million senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2027 (the "Bonds"), with a provisional increase option of up to CHF 25 million that may be exercised at the Company's discretion on the pricing date. Such provisional allocation of the increase option remains subject to a pro-rata reduction, subject to the final amount of Outstanding Convertible Bonds tendered in the Tender Offer. With the envisaged issuance of the Bonds, Basilea aims to extend its debt maturity profile and to optimize its debt structure, targeting part of the outstanding senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2022 issued by the Issuer (the "Outstanding Convertible Bonds").

The proceeds from the offering will be used to finance a planned tender offer for the Outstanding Convertible Bonds and for general corporate purposes. In accordance with the Articles of Association, the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Convertible Bond and the Bonds will not exceed CHF 250 million upon completion of the transaction.

If the pricing and provisional allocation of the Bonds takes place today successfully, Basilea plans to invite all eligible holders of its outstanding senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2022 to tender their Outstanding Convertible Bonds for cash during the tender offer period (the "Tender Offer"). The tender offer price is planned to amount to at least 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. The publication of the Tender Offer notice is planned tomorrow, June 25, 2020 and the tender offer period is expected to commence on July 10, 2020 and expire July 16, 2020 on 4pm CEST. This Press Release is not an offer for the repurchase of the Outstanding Convertible Bonds, but only discloses the most important terms of the planned Tender Offer.

The Bonds will have a maturity of seven years and will be convertible into shares sourced from existing conditional capital and existing treasury shares (the "Shares"). Holders of the Bonds will be entitled to request an early redemption of their Bonds on the fifth anniversary of their issue, at 100% of the principal amount. The Bonds are expected to carry a coupon of between 2.75% and 3.75% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrear, and have a conversion price set at a premium of between 25% and 30% over the reference share price, being the placement price per Share in the Delta Placement (as further described below). The Bonds in the denomination of CHF 5,000 will be issued at par and, unless previously converted or repurchased and cancelled, redeemed at 100% of their principal amount.

The Issuer will be entitled to redeem the Bonds at the principal amount, plus accrued interest, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Bonds at any time (i) on or after the day which falls 15 calendar days after the fifth anniversary of the payment date, if the volume-weighted average price of the Shares is at least 130% of the conversion price on at least 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days or (ii) if less than 15% in aggregate of the total principal amount of the Bonds remains outstanding.

At the request of the Issuer, the Joint Global Coordinators intend to facilitate sales of Shares by buyers of the Bonds who wish to sell these Shares in short sales, at a placement price to be determined via an accelerated bookbuilding process, to purchasers procured by the Global Coordinators, in order to hedge the market risk to which the buyers of Bonds are exposed with respect to the Bonds (the "Delta Placement"). The Delta Placement is expected to take place within the first four business days after the successful completion of the Tender Offer. The Issuer will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Shares in any such offering.

The final allocation and issuance of the Bonds is subject to the following conditions precedents:

The Issuer reserves the right not to proceed with the issue of the Bonds if less than CHF 90 million of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Convertible Bonds have been tendered in the planned Tender Offer. The Bonds shall not be issued if the setting of the reference share price and Delta Placement have not occurred. The Bonds shall not be issued if the conversion price is below CHF 46.9993.

The Bonds will be provisionally allocated to investors participating in today's bookbuilding. Such allocation of the Bonds remains subject to a pro-rata reduction of the increase option, subject to the final amount of Outstanding Bonds tendered in the Tender Offer.

The final terms of the Bonds, with the initial conversion price, are expected to be announced after the Delta Placement, provided the conditions precedents are met or waived. The number of shares to be potentially delivered upon conversion will be determined at pricing and shall be sourced from existing conditional capital and from existing treasury shares.

Basilea intends to make an application for the Bonds to be admitted for listing and trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange with provisional trading expected to start on or about July 28, 2020. Payment and settlement of the Bonds is expected on or about July 28, 2020.

Basilea agreed to a lock-up of 90 days from the payment date, subject to customary exceptions.

The offering consists of a public offering in Switzerland and private placements in certain jurisdictions outside of Switzerland and the United States in reliance on Regulation S (Category 1) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in accordance with applicable securities laws, rules and regulations.

Goldman Sachs International and UBS are acting as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners on the offering.

Indicative timeline of the transaction

24 June 2020 Launch of the placement of Bonds ("New Issue")

Pricing / Allocation of the New Issue (excl. Reference Price) 25 June 2020 Planned publication of intended Tender Offer 16 July 2020 End of the planned Tender Offer (expected to expire at 4pm CEST) Expected on or around 20 July 2020 Expected Delta Placement, subject to market conditions

Setting of the reference price

Final Allocation Expected on 28 July 2020 New Issue Payment Date

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.

Disclaimer

This publication constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities of the Company and it does not constitute a prospectus or a similar notice within the meaning of article 652a, article 752 and/or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. The offer and listing will be made solely by means of, and on the basis of, a securities prospectus which is to be published. An investment decision regarding the publicly offered securities of the Company should only be made on the basis of the securities prospectus. The prospectus is available free of charge at UBS AG, Swiss Prospectus Library, P.O. Box, CH-8098 Zurich).

This communication is being distributed only to, and is directed only at (i) persons outside the United Kingdom, (ii) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments 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 otherwise lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person must not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents.

THIS COMMUNICATION IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN. THIS COMMUNICATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH IS UNLAWFUL TO DO SO. IN PARTICULAR, THIS COMMUNICATION IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES. SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO IN THIS COMMUNICATION HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND WILL NOT BE PUBLICLY OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.

This communication does not constitute an "offer of securities to the public" within the meaning of Regulation 2017/1129 of the European Union (the "Prospectus Regulation") 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 Regulation, as implemented in member states of the EEA, from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of the Securities.

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the Company and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company 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 media_relations@basilea.com (mailto:media_relations@basilea.com)

investor_relations@basilea.com (mailto:investor_relations@basilea.com)

This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com.

Attachment
- Sofia Andres became the talk of the town online after admitting that she already has a baby

- She gave birth to her daughter with Daniel Miranda on November 24 last year

- The actress shared on social media some clips about the happenings before she gave birth

- She was in pain but she evidently looked excited to finally welcome her first daughter

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Sofia Andres recently revealed to the public that she already has an adorable child with her current partner Daniel Miranda.

KAMI learned that the gorgeous actress also willingly showed some happenings before she gave birth to baby Zoe.

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Through her Instagram account, the 21-year-old celebrity uploaded a video where she was seen walking back and forth inside a room while wearing a yellow dress.

There was also a clip where Sofia was already lying down on a bed as her doctor checked up on her.

"Labor is real, she wrote.

"Ito na ata yung pinaka masakit sa lahat, she added.

Many netizens praised the prominent actress for enduring the pain of giving birth even at a young age.

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In a previous article by , Sofia shared the reason why she is not rushing to marry her boyfriend Daniel.

Sofia Andres is a popular actress and product endorser in the Philippines. She gave birth to baby Zoe on November 24, 2019 in Sydney, Australia.

POPULAR: Read more news about Sofia Andres!

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
Philippine villagers near a restive volcano on a central island are bracing for possible evacuations that would require physical distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic, an official said Wednesday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it detected dozens of small earthquakes on the western flank of Kanlaon volcano, which emitted plumes of steam up to 300 meters (980 feet) in the air overnight. Kanlaon on Negros island is one of about two dozen active volcanoes in the Philippines.

Those signs, along with a slight bulging of Kanlaon's slope, "indicate that hydrothermal or magmatic activity is occurring beneath the edifice," the institute said. It added that the volcano "is at an abnormal condition and has entered a period of unrest."

Zeaphard Caelian, who heads the disaster response agency in Negros Occidental province, said authorities issued an initial alert in March after Kanlaon began showing signs of restiveness, which intensified last weekend.

More than 20,000 people in eight villages within 6 to 12 kilometers (4 to 7 miles) of Kanlaon would have to be evacuated if the volcano shows signs of an imminent eruption. Officials are identifying evacuation centers where physical distancing could to be observed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Caelian said.

The Philippines has reported more than 32,000 confirmed coronavirus infections, including 1,204 deaths, among the highest in Southeast Asia.

The volcano-monitoring institute warned the public from venturing into a permanent 4-kilometer (2.4-mile) danger zone around Kanlaon due to possible sudden eruptions of steam. It advised airplanes to avoid flying close to the summit of the 2,465-meter (8,087-foot) mountain.

Explore further Philippine volcano rumbles back to life, thousands evacuated

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
OTTAWANew statistics show 21 people were apprehended by the RCMP crossing into Canada from the U.S. in May, despite the shutdown of the border.

Thats up from just six who were stopped in April, the first full month the border was closed to nearly everything but essential travel in a bid by the two countries to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The border deal gave Canada the right to turn people back to the U.S. if they sought to claim asylum here.

It was not immediately clear how many of those who arrived in May were returned to the U.S., or how many were allowed to file for asylum under existing rules around who can file a refugee claim in Canada.

Since 2017, nearly 57,000 people have crossed the border between Canada and the U.S. using unofficial entry points so they are able to file for asylum.

They do so because of the Safe Third Country Agreement, which governs asylum claims between Canada and the U.S., and forbids most people from lodging a claim when they arrive at a formal border point.

The agreement is based on the premise that both Canada and the United States are safe and a refugee claimant should seek asylum in whichever of the two he or she enters first. It does not forbid applications from people who are already on Canadian soil, however.

The vast majority of claimants leaving the United States arrived in Quebec, and as theyve awaited decisions on their claims, many have found work in health care.

With those positions now essential to the fight against COVID-19, the federal and Quebec governments are considering a program that could see asylum-seekers granted permanent residency.

A new study released this week by Statistics Canada highlights the oversized role newcomers to Canada play in the health sector.

Using data from the 2016 census  which wouldnt capture the arrival of thousands of asylum-seekers since then  the agency found that year, 245,000 people were employed as nurses aides, orderlies and patient service associates in Canada.

Of them, more than a third  87,925  were immigrants.

By comparison, the agency said, immigrants represented less than one in four people in all other occupations.

The percentage of immigrants working in health care in cities was even more pronounced.

In Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, over 70 per cent of nurses aides, orderlies and patient-service workers were immigrants, and the majority of those were women.

Statistics Canada pulled together the data as part of its effort to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting different communities in different ways.

The intersection between immigrants and the health-care sector was important to examine, the agency said in the introduction to its research.

One of the issues immigrants and visible minority groups have been facing since the start of the pandemic is that many of them are essential workers, which puts them at higher risk of contracting COVID-19, the introduction said.

In particular, nurse aides, orderlies and patient-service associates were at higher risk of contracting COVID-19, especially those working in long-term care facilities in Quebec and Ontario. A number of workers in these occupations contracted the virus, which was an additional risk factor for their families and communities.

The research also showed that certain communities within the broader pool are potentially more at risk.

In 2016, 30 per cent of immigrants working as nurse aides, orderlies and patient-service associates were Black, and 30 per cent were Filipino.

The main places of birth for immigrant workers in those occupations were Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and Bermuda and sub-Saharan Africa.

Of the population from the Caribbean, about half were born in Haiti.

Of those who have crossed into Canada from the U.S. since 2017 and filed for asylum, just over 9,000 are from Haiti.
MIDLAND, MI - The long-standing Edenville Market, a small town grocery store 15 miles north of Midland, faces an uncertain future after the collapse of nearby Edenville Dam destroyed bridges leading into the community.

Traffic on highway M-30 has dried up and those seeking to cross the Tittabawassee River face a 30- to 40-minute detour. A trip to the market from nearby Billings, just north of Wixom Lake, now takes more than 30 minutes, according to Google Maps.
(CNN)  As European Union nations continue to ease coronavirus restrictions, the EU is considering recommending that member states block American visitors from visiting their countries due to the surge of coronavirus cases in the US, according to two EU diplomats.

"The criteria will be focused on circulation of the virus," said one EU diplomat, adding that Brussels is looking to keep out travelers from countries "where the virus is circulating most actively."

No final decisions have been made and it is ultimately up to individual members to decide who can enter each country.

The New York Times was first to report on the possibility. The EU diplomats had not seen the draft lists of acceptable travelers the Times reported on, but they said they are aware that discussions are ongoing.

Sources told CNN the criteria of countries on being considered for the EU's travel ban list is being based on a maximum per capita infection rate of 50 people infected per 100,000 residents.

Among the options being discussed is travel restrictions based on US geographic regions, rather than a sweeping ban on the entire country, since some regions have higher infection rates than others, these people said.

The US placed severe travel restrictions on large parts of Europe earlier this year, due to concern over coronavirus spread.

Two European officials said the White House has thus far shown very little interest in engaging on the current issue of European restrictions. "The US travel ban is far more strict, so it's hard to imagine them putting up a fuss for this, and they haven't," a senior European official said.

A second European diplomat said that the travel ban considering has nothing to do with the EO signed by US President Donald Trump this week that freezes visas for foreign workers. "It's purely based on health considerations," this person said.

CNN has asked the State Department for comment.

This story wad first published on CNN.com European Union considering recommendation to block American visitors due to coronavirus
The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Wednesday denied receiving N118 million from the Oyo State government for the fight against the new Coronavirus pandemic.

The states Commissioner for Finance, Akinola Ojo, had on Tuesday said the state government has so far spent about N2.7 billion to contain Coronavirus in the state.

While giving a breakdown of the expenditure, Mr Ojo said N118 million was used to support UCH.

In terms of expenses and the breakdown, as a state and, as of today, we have spent N2,779,000,000, the commissioner said.

A breakdown of these expenses shows that we have spent N900 million to provide for palliatives to the indigent amongst us and also provide palliatives to the farmers in the form of seedlings.

The plan of the governor is to set up four world-class isolation centres across the regions of the state. And this, without doubt, has come with a cost. We have set up the Olodo Isolation Centre, which is a world-class facility. We are in the process of setting up isolation centres in Saki, Ogbomoso and Igbo Ora. All we need to actualise these has been set aside and included in the cost of roughly N2.8 billion that has been spent this far.

We have spent another N118 million in supporting UCH, a partner that is supporting us in testing coronavirus patients. We spent an additional N900 million on palliatives and for provision of seedling to farmers that were affected.

UCH Denies

But the UCH spokesperson, Toye Akinrinlola, in a statement on Wednesday said the hospital did not receive any money from Oyo State Government.

Mr Akinrinlola, who issued the statement on behalf of the hospitals Chief Medical Director (CMD), Jesse Otegbayo, said the hospital had only received 250 pieces of PPE from the state government.

He added that all other services rendered in the state by UCH have been strictly on humanitarian grounds and attracted no financial benefits to the hospital.

The attention of the management of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan has been drawn to the content of a press release from the Oyo State Government that the sum of N118 million was given to the hospital to fight against the COVID 19 pandemic.

The press release quoted the Oyo State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Akinola Ojo as saying the said amount was released to UCH.

We contacted some officials of Oyo State for a clarification on this, but it seems there is a misunderstanding in the difference between the College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital Ibadan. It, therefore, behoves the Management of the UCH to put the record straight.

We hereby state emphatically that the University College Hospital, Ibadan did not and has not received any monetary donation from the Oyo State Government.

The Chief Medical Director of the UCH is a member of the Oyo State COVID 19 task force. He should know if any money was given to UCH outside the 250 pieces of the PPE given to the hospital.

All other services rendered to Oyo State by UCH have been strictly humanitarian and no financial benefits have accrued to the hospital.

The UCH has been able to cope with the rigours of pandemic through donations from the NCDC (an organ of the Federal Government), some corporate bodies, well-meaning Nigerians, Alumni associations of the hospital, staff and students of the hospital.

I, therefore, wish to say once again that the UCH is not in receipt of any N118m as claimed by the Oyo State Government.

No difference between UCH and College of Medicine

But the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Taiwo Adisa, defended the commissioners statement, saying the state government does not differentiate between the College of Medicine and University College Hospital (UCH)

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Mr Adisa, however, said he does not know which of the two received the support from the state.

Well, they are the one that is differentiating between the two.

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If you are asked to go to Oritamefa in Ibadan, will you still ask if you are to go to UCH or College of medicine?.

We did not receive N118 million

The Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Emiola Olapade-Olaopa, also said the college did not receive any money from the Oyo state government.

Mr Olapade-Olaopa, a professor of medicine, spoke with PREMIUM TIMES over the phone on Wednesday.

Well, I cant speak for UCH. We are aware of the statement by UCH.

College of Medicine did not receive N118 million from Oyo state government.

Note that Oyo state government did not say that it gave N118 million to the College of Medicine.

University of Ibadan responds

The University of Ibadan on Wednesday said the controversy surrounding the N118m COVID-19 donation, Oyo state government claimed it allegedly given to University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan does not concern it.

The universitys director of communication, Tunji Oladejo, told PREMIUM TIMES the institution had already refuted the claim by the state government.
Strengthens Knolls Balance Sheet, Enhancing Financial Flexibility and Liquidity

EAST GREENVILLE, Pa., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Knoll, Inc. (KNL) today announced that an independently managed subsidiary of Investindustrial VII L.P. has agreed to purchase $164.0 million in newly issued convertible preferred stock of Knoll.

We are pleased to have Investindustrial VII as a shareholder, fortifying our balance sheet and enhancing our ability to continue to execute our strategic plan in the face of an uncertain macroeconomic environment, commented Andrew Cogan, Knoll Chairman and CEO. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Investindustrial over the years and believe that they are the right investor for our company. I am confident that all of our stakeholders will benefit from their long-term investment in Knoll as well as their commitment to the design space globally.

Andrea C. Bonomi, Chairman of the Investindustrial Industrial Advisory Board, noted, We are excited to invest in Knoll and its strong management team as they continue to develop their constellation of design-driven brands. We believe Knoll has the opportunity to capitalize on the increasing importance of design in the way we live and work, and continue to create value over the long-term.

Transaction terms follow:

$164.0 million of convertible, perpetual preferred stock, which will be convertible into shares of Knoll, Inc.

common stock at an initial conversion price of $16.75 per share, a 45% premium to Knolls thirty-trading day volume-weighted average price.

The preferred stock carries a 4.50% dividend, which will be payable at Knolls option in cash or in-kind for the first 2 years and payable in cash thereafter.

Knoll expects to use the net proceeds from the transaction for general corporate purposes, including to reduce outstanding borrowings under its credit facility. In addition, Knoll expects to appoint a director nominated by Investindustrial to its board at the closing of this transaction.

Story continues

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including anti-trust review.

Additional information regarding the transaction is included in a Form 8-K that will be filed later today by Knoll with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

BofA Securities acted as Knolls financial advisor and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP acted as legal advisor. J.P. Morgan acted as Investindustrials financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz acted as legal advisor.

About Knoll

Knoll, Inc. is a constellation of design-driven brands and people, working together with our clients to create inspired modern interiors, supporting clients wherever they work or live. Our internationally recognized portfolio includes furniture, textiles, lighting, accessories, and architectural and acoustical elements. Our brands  Knoll Office, KnollStudio, KnollTextiles, KnollExtra, Spinneybeck | FilzFelt, Edelman Leather, HOLLY HUNT, DatesWeiser, Muuto, and Fully  reflect our commitment to modern design that meets the diverse requirements of high-performance workplaces, work-from-home spaces and luxury interiors. A recipient of the National Design Award for Corporate and Institutional Achievement from the Smithsonians Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Knoll, Inc. is aligned with the U.S. Green Building Council and the Canadian Green Building Council and can help organizations achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) workplace certification. Our products can also help clients comply with the International Living Future Institute to achieve Living Building Challenge Certification, and with the International WELL Building Institute to attain WELL Building Certification. Knoll, Inc. is the founding sponsor of the World Monuments Fund Modernism at Risk program.

About Investindustrial

Investindustrial is a leading European group of independently managed investment, holding and advisory companies with $12.3 billion of raised fund capital. With ESG principles deeply embedded into the Firms core approach, Investindustrial has a 30-year history of providing mid-market companies capital, industrial expertise, operational focus, a sustainability vision and global platforms to accelerate value creation and international expansion.

The investment in Knoll is the first investment being made by an independently managed subsidiary of the $4.2 billion Investindustrial VII, and specifically within Strategic Capital Investments, a sub-strategy dedicated to investing in publicly listed companies. Investindustrial has a long-standing interest and experience in the world of architecture and design. It has in the past successfully invested in Permasteelisa, a leader in architectural envelopes (e.g. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Time Warner Center, Hearst Tower) and Neolith in the high-end surface materials for buildings, Castaldi, Flos and Louis Poulsen in lighting, and B&B Italia in designer home furniture (now part of Design Holding), and Jacuzzi Brands in hot tubs and spas.

Certain companies of the Investindustrial group are authorized by, and subject to regulatory supervision of the FCA in the United Kingdom and the CSSF in Luxembourg. Investindustrials investment companies act independently from each other and each Investindustrial fund. Additional information is available at www.investindustrial.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. All statements regarding Knolls expected future financial position, results of operations, revenue and profit levels, cash flows, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, capital expenditures, products, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, as well as statements that include words such as anticipate, if, believe, plan, goals, estimate, expect, intend, may, could, should, will, and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. This includes, without limitation, our statements and expectations regarding any current or future recovery in our industry, our plans for reduced capital and operating expenditures and enhanced liquidity measures, our integration of acquired businesses, our supply chain and manufacturing footprint optimization plans, and our expectations with respect to the payment of future dividends and leverage. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and readers must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the expectations of Knoll management. Knoll does not undertake a duty to update such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the successful closing of the investment by Investindustrial, corporate spending and service-sector employment, price competition, acceptance of Knolls new products, the pricing and availability of raw materials and components, foreign currency exchange, transportation costs, demand for high quality, well designed furniture and interior solutions, changes in the competitive marketplace, changes in the trends in the market for furniture or coverings, the financial strength and stability of our suppliers, customers and dealers, access to capital, our success in designing and implementing our new enterprise resource planning system, our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, our supply chain optimization initiatives, the uncertainty and ultimate economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other risks identified in Knolls annual report on Form 10-K, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of these factors are outside of Knolls control.

Contact

Charles Rayfield

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

215 679-1703 / crayfield@knoll.com

David E. Bright

Senior Vice President,

Communications

646 344-0791 / dbright@knoll.com
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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.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

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 aunts place and back.

It is the first time in the shrines 329-year-long history that the chariots did not roll out on the streets of Ranchi to head to maushi ma bari (maternal aunts 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 Ranchis 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.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After Staten Islanders headed to the polls Tuesday, results for a number of local primary races are starting to come in.

Multiple state officials have said since early May that the unique challenges presented by the coronavirus and the massive increases in absentee voting would likely lead to delays in the election results.

As of June 26, the city Board of Elections had processed and mailed 550,000 absentee ballots in the five boroughs with the help of two upstate vendors; a spokeswoman for the board did not respond to a request for information as to who the vendors are.

In the 2016 primaries, about 65,000 absentee ballots were processed, and about 144,000 were processed for the general election.

Here are the live updates. The are results for in-person voting.

***

11:30 p.m. -- Savino holds lead in Senate race

Incumbent state Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) holds a comfortable lead Tuesday night in her primary race against upstart opponent Rajiv Gowda.

As of 11:30 p.m., Savino leads by almost 4,300 votes after receiving the endorsement of the local Democratic party and multiple elected officials.

Savinos campaign expressed confidence Tuesday night that they would prevail after mail-in ballots are counted. Gowdas campaign did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.

11 p.m. -- Kepi wants to wait for absentee ballots

Assembly candidate Marko Kepi expressed Tuesday night that he wont concede until absentee ballots are counted in his race against Michael Tannousis.

As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Tannousis led Kepi by a little more than 1,000 votes with all election districts reporting, according to information from the state Board of Elections.

Kepi said he believes the race is still too close to call, and said more than 2,000 absentee ballots remain to be counted.

I want to thank all of my supporters for all of the hard work and dedication and my opponent for a very tough race, he said. In the end, we believe we will be victorious because of the hard work our volunteers put in reaching out to the voters affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. This is an unprecedented situation and we look forward to victory in this race and a united party in November.

Kepi did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.

10:45 p.m. -- Malliotakis clinches nomination

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) clinched the Republican nomination for the Islands congressional seat after her primary opponent Joseph Caldarera conceded Tuesday night.

He thanked the assemblywoman for her gracious acceptance of his concession, and said he looks forward to helping her take on incumbent Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) in the November general election.

Rose, who has repeatedly exchanged barbs with Malliotakis on social media, welcomed her to the general election shortly after Caldareras concession.

Malliotakis expressed her confidence looking forward to the general election, and said that the city needed a Republican representative in Washington.

This is a defining moment for our nation, she said. I think many people in our district are not happy with the one-party rule in the city, state and in our representation in the federal government.

10 p.m. -- S.I. Dems voting in-person pick Biden

Staten Island Democrats followed their fellow party members voting in-person around the state, and cast their ballots for former Vice President Joe Biden.

Statewide, Biden has 65.94% of New York votes counted so far with a little more than half of election districts reporting. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders remains in second with 19.62% of the vote.

On Staten Island, Biden has secured 67.19% of the vote, while Sanders has secured 17.92%.

9:45 p.m. -- Local party favorites lead major primary races with all districts reporting

The local party favorites remain in the lead of the Staten Island congressional, state Senate and Assembly races with all election districts reporting, according to unofficial state election results.

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis has a significant lead over former Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Joseph Caldarera by a margin of 8,612 to 3,955 votes with leads in both the Brooklyn and Staten Island sections of the district.

The two are vying for the Republican nomination for the congressional seat of Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn).

State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) leads upstart challenger Rajiv Gowda by a margin of 4,431 to 1,671 votes.

In the boroughs closest race, former Assistant District Attorney Michael Tannousis is leading Marine and former Brooklyn political operative Marko Kepi by 1,751 to 1,076 votes with 18 of the 95 districts reporting. The two are competing for the seat Malliotakis vacated to run for Congress.

Malliotakis and Tannousis were endorsed by Staten Island Republicans. Savino was endorsed by the local Democratic party.

Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, left, listens as Carlette Brooks, owner of Carlette's Hideaway, a soul food restaurant, talks during a meeting with small business owners, Wednesday, June 17, 2020, in Yeadon, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP

9:30 p.m. -- Biden leads early in presidential primary

Former Vice President Joe Biden took a commanding lead early in the states Democratic presidential primary.

The Scranton, Pa., native has already won enough delegates to clinch the nomination ahead of the Democratic National Convention scheduled to be held in Milwaukee in August.

Biden has 65.76% of the vote with 4,932 of 12,191 of election districts reporting statewide. Sen. Bernie Sanders is in second with 18.98% of the 103,780 votes counted so far.

Mayoral candidate Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis visits New Dorp High School which she graduated from in 1998. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Staff-ShotStaff-Shot

9:15 p.m. -- Local party favorites jump to early lead

Local party favorites in the boroughs three major primaries have pulled to early leads as results begin to come in through the New York Board of Elections.

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis is leading former Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Joseph Caldarera by a margin of 1,243 to 432 votes with 140 of the 489 election districts reporting. The two are vying for the Republican nomination for the congressional seat of Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn).

State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) leads upstart challenger Rajiv Gowda by a margin of 630 to 196 votes with four of the 221 election districts reporting.

Former Assistant District Attorney Michael Tannousis is leading Marine and former Brooklyn political operative Marko Kepi by 296 to 198 votes with 18 of the 95 districts reporting. The two are competing for the seat Malliotakis vacated to run for Congress.

Malliotakis and Tannousis were endorsed by Staten Island Republicans. Savino was endorsed by the local Democratic party.

9 p.m. -- Polls have closed

New Yorks polls officially closed at 9 p.m. Those who were in line before then should have still been able to vote.
The debate about opening overseas travel has ramped up. Here's the latest on where Ireland stands, and what's likely to happen our holidays.

What are the chances of getting away for a sun holiday?

They're on the rise.

Ireland's Aviation Recovery Taskforce has recommended that advice against non-essential overseas travel, and the 14-day quarantine requirement for arriving passengers, be dropped from July 1.

Although Ireland has had "equivalent or even better success" in containing Covid-19, it is significantly behind other EU countries in lifting restrictions, the Taskforce warned - and the economic damage is mounting.

If accepted, the recommendations could make sun holidays (and inbound tourism) possible from next Wednesday, the same date Ryanair begins ramping up its summer schedules.

This is far from guaranteed, however.

Other European countries are reopening, so why aren't we?

June has been a month of reopenings, with Italy welcoming EU visitors without quarantine since June 3, and major destinations like France, Spain and Portugal all now back in business.

The EU has also been actively encouraging member states to reopen borders, and Ryanair and Aer Lingus are pushing for a restart.

"This delay in lifting travel restrictions will further hurt our industry, as Irish customers will be forced to wait to book their holidays, which will in turn drastically slow the recovery of the Irish travel sector," says Pat Dawson, CEO of the Irish Travel Agents' Association.

However, the Government has not indicated whether it will accept the Taskforce recommendations, a Cabinet sub-committee seems to be steering towards at least the second week in July for unlocking, and An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, favours a "careful" approach.

"We've got our case load of this virus down so low now that there is a real risk of reimporting it from countries where the virus is still very prevalent," he told RTE's Prime Time this week.

Read More

So when could restrictions be lifted?

Cabinet will consider the Taskforce report on Thursday.

July 1 looks like the earliest date, but July 9, 10 and 16 have also been mentioned.

To allow travel, the Department of Foreign Affairs would need to lift its blanket advice against all "non-essential travel" until further notice - at least to certain countries.

Critical business is being lost with every day of delay, and it's possible that things could be accelerated - as has happened with the domestic Roadmap - but the Government and NPHET are also clearly wary about the risks of importing cases to the island.

There is lots of talk about 'air bridges'; how do they work?

"If we're going to open air travel between Ireland and other countries we need to do it safely," An Taoiseach has said, adding that this could be done by air bridges.

Air bridges are essentially agreed travel channels, where countries with similarly low levels of the virus (and strong healthcare systems) pair with each other to permit travel.

Spain, the Canary Islands, France, Portugal, Greece and Italy could be some examples of "approved" countries for initial overseas travel. Ireland could open to several of these first, for example, adding other countries if and when situations improved.

Britain, the US and long-haul travel, however, are likely to remain off-limits to non-essential travel, or the subject of returning quarantines, for longer.

Have people been booking flights?

Anecdotally, yes.

Ryanair has summer sale prices from 19.99, and some have been taking punts on July and August bookings (without adding extras like bags or seat selection) in the hope that restrictions will lift.

Irish customers are booking in their thousands to summer destinations in Spain and Portugal, such as Malaga, Lanzarote, Tenerife or Faro," the airline told us.

It has also seen "a surge" in bookings to Eastern Europe since restrictions eased there, it says, though inbound flight sales to Ireland are much slower.

"We're back flying to Europe this July," Aer Lingus says on its website, with summer fares to Faro, for example, advertised from 39.99 one-way.

Passenger numbers are slowly rising at Dublin Airport (albeit still at a trickle of normal levels), airlines are signalling a limited return, and both Ryanair and Aer Lingus have dropped change fees for bookings made for July and August, though you should carefully read the T&Cs on any offers.

Other holidaymakers had booked for July and August before Covid-19, and held off cancelling - whether they will have suntans in September remains to be seen.

Is it risky to book now?

If you jet off while the Government advises against such trips, your travel insurance won't cover you overseas - in almost all cases.

If there are further outbreaks or travel restrictions, and flights operate anyway, then you will not be able to claim a refund from the airline.

Will holidays be different once they resume?

Yes. When the go-ahead is given for air travel, passengers will need to prepare for a brave new world of airport and in-flight experiences.

Face masks, distancing and perspex screens will be widespread, and some countries are running not just temperature screening, but requiring Covid-19 tests for arrivals.

Potential travellers should think through the experience that awaits them and their families, prepare carefully for the journeys, and consider how the in-resort experience may differ, too. You may have to book pool, beach and activity slots by appointment, for instance, and activities will change considerably.

Holidays are coming, but not as we know them.

Sign up for our free travel newsletter!

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to 'Travel Insider', our free travel newsletter written by award-winning Travel Editor, Pol O Conghaile.
Liberias Education Minister has been flown into Accra and is undergoing treatment after testing positive for Covid-19, sources close to Ghanas Covid-19 management team have said.



Professor Ansu D. Sonii Snr, 70, is reported to have been flown into Ghana over the weekend, in what has been described as a diplomatic arrangement between the two countries, after his condition deteriorated.



He is reported to be currently responding to treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.



He is said to be in stable condition and receiving treatment in a regular ward, not an intensive care unit.



Liberia currently has 652 confirmed Covid-19 cases with 34 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Universitys Covid-19 tracker.



The country on Monday announced the reopening of schools for Grade 12 students in preparation for the 2020 West Africa senior secondary certificate exams (WASSCE).



In a statement, the countrys Education ministry noted that only 12th graders of the 707 senior high schools registered for the WASSCE are allowed back.



The first week after the reopening would be used by health authorities to set up safe school requirements and train teachers, support staff and students on safety measures.



Classes, according to the statement, will begin on Monday, June 29, 2020.

Source: myjoyonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
An Indian restaurant owned by a Sikh in the Sante Fe city in the US state of New Mexico was broken into and vandalised with hate messages scrawled on its walls, according to a media report.

The damages caused to India Palace restaurant is estimated to be worth $100,000 (Rs 75.6 lakh), local Santa Fe Reporter newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The attack is being investigated by local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), a non-profit civil rights organisation, condemned the incident. This kind of hate and violence is unacceptable and swift action must be taken to ensure the safety and security of all Americans, said SALDEF executive director Kiran Kaur Gill.

SMASHED, GUTTED AND ABUSED

According to the local daily, tables were overturned, glassware was smashed into piles on the floor, wine racks were emptied, a statue of a goddess was beheaded and computers were stolen. The vandals also turned over and destroyed food warmers, while the front desk area was gutted, plates smashed and the kitchen rendered completely unusable, it said.

I walked into the kitchen, I saw everything and I was like, hold on, what? What is going on here? owner Baljit Singh told Santa Fe Reporter. White power, Trump 2020, Go home, and far worse were spray-painted on walls, doors, counters and any other available surface. Some phrases contained threats of violence and derogatory racial slurs, the daily said.

The restaurant had reopened only recently after being closed due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Santa Fe is a peaceful town, and the Sikh community has lived here, beautifully integrated, since the 60s, said SALDEF board member Simran Singh, who lives minutes away from the restaurant.

Tensions have flared recently with the reinvigoration of the Black Lives Matter movement and the removal of statues associated with Spanish colonisers of this area, who committed a number of atrocities, he said.

Nevertheless, we are seeing an outpouring of love and support around the city and in my experience, our neighbours love and appreciate us, as we love and appreciate them, he added.

COMMUNITY COMES OUT IN SUPPORT

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham tweeted on Tuesday, We will not stand for such hatred in New Mexico. She added that she had spoken to Baljit Singh to let him know that our community is with him.

Mayor Alan Webber described the vandalism a sickening and appalling hate crime and vowed, We will find whoever did it and punish them to the full extent of the law.

He said, The Singhs are a long-standing Sikh family that has used its own resources to feed homeless Santa Feans through the goodness of their hearts. For them to be attacked this way breaks our hearts.

The Singh family distributes free packages of food and sanitary products for homeless people in the area and these items were stolen during the attack, according to the Reporter.

The Reporter said that five fundraising campaigns have been launched to help the restaurant.

A GoFundMe campaign by another restaurant, Paper Dosa, had raised more than $35,000 (Rs 26.4 lakh), the New Mexican said.

MISTAKEN FOR TERROR OUFIT ISLAMIC STATE

One of the pictures of the graffiti posted on the Reporters website was against the terrorist organisation Islamic State.

Because of their turbans, Sikhs are sometimes mistaken for Islamists or Iranian clergy who are represented in the media with turbans and are attacked.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said in a statement, This disturbing hate attack once again demonstrates that growing white supremacy, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and racism target every minority community and must be challenged by people of all races, faiths and backgrounds.

SALDEF said that it has seen an unprecedented rise in hate crimes including the April 29 incident wherein a Sikh American Lakhwant Singh was brutally attacked by a man identified as Eric Breeman in Lakewood, Colorado.

Lakhwant Singh was told to go back to your country, while being attacked. No formal hate crime charges have been brought against the attacker.
Brokers agreed that the focus on client comfort and safety is more important than ever, but during Phase 2 and possibly beyond it, the consideration of everyone involved in a single listing may be a little tricky to handle. For in-person showings, agents will not only have to communicate with the buyer and seller, but also building managers or co-op and condo boards, as many buildings will have their own rules and coronavirus protocols.

For the foreseeable future, virtual walk-throughs will probably remain a popular option. As the only way to do business during the pandemic, many agencies touted them as the wave of the future. Candace Adams, chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New York, New England and Westchester Properties, said in-person showings will eventually become the second and third step, not the first. Everyones time is so valuable today, she said. Virtual tours will be a forever thing for us going forward.

Sothebys International Realty has featured 3-D tours and virtual reality experiences on its website since 2016. Cathy Taub, a top Sothebys broker in Manhattan, said she has been getting more questions about virtual tours than ever before. Real estate has always been eye candy, she said, but during this time when weve all been sheltering at home, people have been browsing nonstop.

Even developers realize the benefit of boosting their online presence. Before leasing began, Sam Charney, of Charney Companies, and Nicholas Silvers, of Tavros Holdings, had already begun working with Listing 3-D, a start-up used by Corcoran, Douglas Elliman and Compass, among other agencies, to develop an online marketing tool for The Dime, a rental building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Plans to welcome potential clients on April 1 were pushed back to May 18 because of the coronavirus, but both men now see the timing as fortuitous.

I think our eyes were opened a little bit to what the market looks like due to Covid, said Mr. Charney. For a rental, we wouldnt have thought to do virtual tours because we were originally trying to attract locals, but recently weve seen a lot of interest from people out-of-state and other countries.

The Dime this week opened its on-site leasing office, allowing prospective renters to schedule socially distanced tours. Those who first previewed the building online can now walk through to feel out what Mr. Silvers described as an easy-to-use and touchless experience: doors are outfitted with keyless entry technology; tenants have access to a smart package room and a hands-free storage option, as well as a video intercom viewed through their smartphones.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg this week encouraged her prosecutors to attend a voter registration drive, where she would be present, in order for them to boost their standing in performance evaluations, according to an office-wide email circulating on Twitter.

Ogg, who is running for re-election as the Democratic candidate for district attorney, denied any ethical wrongdoing, and another prosecutor since said that the correspondence was a draft that contained incorrect information and was meant to be sent from his account. But the email has already contributed to one resignation from an assistant district attorney, who cited several examples of what she called Oggs paranoia and efforts to bolster her political status.

Your repeated misuse of county resources and inaction in response to extraordinary worldwide crises demonstrates a lack of professionalism and leadership, and shows what is truly important to you, Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Williamson Chapell wrote, according to a letter obtained by a reporter from the nonprofit news organization the Marshall Project. Indeed, you seem to have emboldened dishonesty. I simply cannot work for you any longer.

Oggs email, addressed on Tuesday to all assistant district attorneys, notified her prosecutors of a Ministers Coalition of Harris County voter registration drive and food giveaway on June 27. She would be speaking at the event and was looking for volunteers to help, the email read.

Part of every employees performance evaluation includes a grade for personal development, she continued. This includes community activities and volunteering for projects like this.

The prosecutors received a follow-up email Wednesday from Assistant District Attorney Mark Goldberg  a former city councilman who has become one of Oggs trusted employees  who said that Oggs email should have been sent under his name.

What you actually got was a draft form with some misinformation that was inadvertently distributed in that form, and I apologize for any confusion, he wrote in the email, which was also obtained by the Marshall Project.

Dane Schiller, Oggs spokesman, denied that his boss ever made a threat against her employees. Ogg was never scheduled to speak at the event, and volunteering became a part of evaluations at the request of an employee-led committee, he said.

Even if Ogg had sent the email personally, Schiller said, At the end of the day, all you have is her asking her employees to consider volunteering in this poor, underserved neighborhood.

Williamson Chapell then sent her email to Ogg and copied the staff on it, tendering her voluntary resignation.

In the letter, Williamson Chapell referenced an investigation Ogg initiated in March as to who might have leaked an internal document, actions that Texas Monthly reported. An investigator came to Williamson Chapells home to confiscate her work-issued laptop and cellphone, she said.

The prosecutor said she just received the email but denied distributing it, and declined to turn over her personal cell phone. When she did so, Ogg all but threatened to terminate my employment, she wrote.

She also accused Ogg of taking advantage of George Floyds death in Minneapolis as a way to advance her political stature, and said her boss implicitly threatened them into attending the voter registration drive.

Schiller declined to comment on that letter.

Defense attorney Murray Newman, who catalogues courthouse happenings on his blog and tweeted the original email sent from Oggs account, questioned why Ogg would be asking her prosecutors to come to a volunteer event when they are largely instructed not to come to the courthouse.

Ethically, its kind of a no-brainer, he said.

Oggs opponent for district attorney, Mary Nan Huffman, called the fallout just another example of why Kim Ogg is unfit for office. Huffman is a Houston Police Officers Union attorney and former Montgomery County prosecutor.

The ultimate verdict will be rendered by the voters in November, she said. In a job where justice is paramount  integrity is everything.
The Indian Railways saw gross receipts fall by over Rs 15,000 crore in 2019-20 compared to the previous fiscal and the Covid-19 pandemic only added to its woes further, with an even sharper earnings decline in April and May this year. So when freight loading began picking up in June, officials were naturally overjoyed. They said freight loading till June 21 has already reached 90% of the volume seen last June and that loading of steel, cement, foodgrain and fertilizers has actually exceeded the volumes seen in the same month last year.

Freight had dipped by more than a fourth or 28% (by 57.95 million tons) in April and May but 64.52 MT has been loaded in the first three weeks of June and with this, the year-on-year freight volume decline has come down to just 8.31%.

This increased freight loading by the Indian Railways in June is being clubbed with myriad other positive data points by the government to highlight the emergence of green shoots of growth in the economy. Latest numbers from the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE) are also being cited to show how unemployment has now fallen to pre-Covid levels. The government has been additionally highlighting increased power consumption, increased movement of goods, higher fuel consumption and a good harvest in June.

As India eased the worlds harshest lockdown progressively from the beginning of this month, after two months of a near complete lockdown, economic activity obviously resumed. Should resumption of activity after an unprecedented lockdown be a cause for cheer by itself?

DK Joshi, Chief Economist of ratings agency Crisil, said all indicators of economic activity showed improvement in June because economic activities were curtailed in April and May. But have things normalised? No, they have not. Are people eating out, taking flights? Our forecast (for GDP growth) remains at minus 5% for FY21 and plus 8.5% for FY22. And these numbers were based on the assumption that the Covid infections would peak in July this year.

The sale of commercial vehicles and cement are two of the lead markers economists typically use to assess economic recovery. A prominent Mumbai-based vehicle dealer said last week that while sales of two-wheelers were back to about 50% of pre-Covid levels and those of cars had also somewhat rebounded, there had not even been a single inquiry for CVs at his dealership. Vehicle registration data from the Federation of Indian Automobile Dealers (FADA) for May show not a single unit of any CV was registered in May in Delhi when 1,740 units had been registered in May 2019. In Himachal Pradesh, only two CVs were registered against 1,153 in the year ago period. On an overall basis, a mere 2,711 new commercial vehicles were registered in May throughout India against over 80,000 vehicle registrations seen in the same month last year, a decline of over 96%.

If any recovery has happened in June for CVs -- data is yet to come in -- it will most likely be slow and in the smaller CV category. The CV industry anyway continues to expect sales to remain lowest in at least a decade in 2020-21.

As for cement sales, a Mumbai-based brokerage has found through channel checks that demand in the north, south and west regions was merely at 25-50% of pre-Covid levels, but 70-90% in the east and central regions of the country. The spike in east and central is mainly due to rural and private infrastructure demand.

DK Srivastava, Chief Policy Advisor at EY, pointed out that of the eight output sectors which are usually tracked to assess the health of the economy, two remained positive throughout the April-June period -- agriculture and public and defence services.

These two sectors have a weight of 30%. So 30% of the economy showed growth even in Q1. The remaining 70% output was still negative but the contractionary momentum in these sectors has progressively come down, he said.

Srivastava said power and petroleum consumption are lead indicators for tracking manufacturing revival and a pickup in manufacturing was seen in June, though it was not on unexpected lines. These indicators had shown a very large contraction in April and early May, but now the contractionary momentum has slowed down.

While the government highlights data for three weeks of June to claim that an economic recovery is already underway, economists are still demanding a second round of fiscal stimulus to generate the near-absent demand. In its first attempt, the government has been miserly and mainly addressed supply side issues. Despite claims of a fiscal relief package equaling 10% of the countrys GDP, what has been actually pumped into the system till now is less than 2%.

On the unemployment figures too, what is being highlighted is only a part of the whole picture. The latest CMIE data show that the unemployment rate fell to its pre-lockdown level of 8.5% in the week ended June 21. The rate had spiked from 8.75% in March to 23.5% in April and May, peaking to 27.1% in the week ended May 3. A statement from CMIE showed that the reason for the improvement in employment levels lies in the rural growth story and that unemployment level in urban India was still distinctly higher than the pre-lockdown levels at 11.2% -- still over 200 basis points higher than the 9% average in the period before the lockdown.

Economist Jayati Ghosh said, This government is always seeing green shoots. The fact that the CMIE employment surveys find more people are back to work only tells us that people who are desperate have no alternative but to seek livelihood in whatever manner they can. Incomes from work would have fallen drastically, many small enterprises are collapsing and formal employment is down.

All in all, the resumption in economic activities is a welcome development but it is still too early to raise a toast to the Indian economy and its resilience. Because any sustained recovery is closely linked not just to further fiscal stimulus to generate demand, but it is also linked to the way the Covid-19 infection spread and how other global economies fare in the coming months.
Gandhinagar, June 25 : Blaming the state's BJP government and the Ahmedabad Jagannath temple trustees' "lackadaisical approach" in their case in the Gujarat High Court over the Rath Yatra, Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) President, Praveen Togadia on Wednesday said that Lord Jagannath should be taken around Ahmedabad on the next Ekadashi (July 1) to continue the over century-old tradition.

"The 143 year-old Ahmedabad Rath Yatra tradition has not been broken once, even while during the British Raj. And it should have continued this year also... for this humiliation, the BJP and the state government is entirely to blame. I also blame the Jagannath temple trustees for a lackadaisical approach to this issue. Crores of Hindus have been insulted through this act," Togadia told media persons here.

"The state government and the temple trustees did not act promptly. The state government, at the very last moment, put up their proposal to the Gujarat High Court, which was extremely late and there wasn't enough time to approach the apex court. They could have moved the Gujarat HC three days earlier," he added.

Togadia said that this tradition should continue and for this, his AHP has proposed to the Ahmedabad Jagannath temple trustees to take the deity around the city on the next Ekadashi.

"By carrying the lord on the temple Mahant's shoulder or head and without taking out any kind of procession, the lord can be taken around the city, in a vehicle moving at 25 to 30 km speed.... There can be no restrictions on the lord's movement. The lord's blessings will be all over the city," he said.

"For this, some of my associates are right there at the Ahmedabad Jagannath temple. We have also conveyed this to the state government. If the temple trustees cannot accept our proposals, then they should resign," he demanded.

Ahmedabad Jagannath temple Mahant Dilipdasji had also expressed displeasure over the break in the tradition, saying that they were fooled in trusting those who weren't trustworthy.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
EAST LANSING, MI  A coronavirus outbreak has been linked to an East Lansing bar with an additional 11 people testing positive for the respiratory illness one day after health officials advised patrons to watch for symptoms.

There are now 25 COVID-19 coronavirus cases linked to Harpers Restaurant and Brew Pub - and there are likely more people infected, health officials warn. The Ingham County Health Department is asking anyone who visited the bar from June 12-20 to self-quarantine for 14 days and to seek testing.

Given the number of cases in this outbreak, we consider this a higher risk exposure than a typical visit to a restaurant or bar, said Ingham County health officer Linda S. Vail. There are likely more people infected with COVID-19 not yet identified. We need help from people who went to Harpers during the exposure dates so that we can contain the outbreak. We need everyone exposed to stay home.

During the self-quarantine, people should stay home, monitor for symptoms and distance themselves from other members of the household.

Even Harper's patrons who test negative for the virus should continue to self-quarantine because there is a possibility of false-negative results, the health department said.

All the people with cases linked to Harpers are ages 18-23, the health department said. Some have permanent residence in other Michigan counties. None have been hospitalized; most have mild symptoms. Four are asymptomatic, which means they dont have symptoms but are contagious.

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 Wednesday, June 24, Michigan health officials reported 323 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, which is more than 100 more than the most recent seven-day moving average and the most of any day this month. There were also four new deaths due to the virus. The additions upped the states totals to 61,953 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5,868 deaths linked to the infectious respiratory disease.

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:

Coronavirus lag time makes it hard to identify superspreader events

Michigan reports 323 new coronavirus cases, most of any day in June

Respiratory therapist in Saginaw who died from COVID-19 loved God, her family and her job
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asia Pacific breast cancer screening was valued at US$ 798.57 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 1,120.77 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at CAGR of 5.4% from 2020 to 2027. Driving factors such as, increasing investments for research in breast cancer management and growing breast cancer prevalence across Asia Pacific are expected to propel the growth of the market during the forecast period. However, high cost associated with breast cancer screening is likely to pose a negative impact on the market growth.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05915398/?utm_source=PRN







Growing prevalence of cancer in china is likely to demand breast cancer screening technology.As per the Globocan report, in 2018, there were around 367,900 new cases of breast cancer and 97,972 deaths due to breast cancer in china.



Furthermore, increasing prevalence of breast cancer in Japan is likely to demand the breast cancer screening test in Japan.This is expected to drive market growth in Japan.



As per Globocan in 2018, Japan had around 66,101 new cases of breast cancer and 15,452 breast cancer deaths. Additionally, In India, as per the Globocan report, in 2018 there were around 1,62,468 new breast cancer cases and 87,090 breast cancer deaths.



Further, as per the Globocan report, in 2018, there were ~367,900 new cases of breast cancer and 97,972 deaths due to the same in China.In India, NGOs, government agencies, and charity organizations are emphasizing on breast cancer awareness among population to promote early detection, provide comprehensive treatment module, and extend support for breast cancer management.



Such initiatives are a result of the increasing prevalence of this type of cancer in the country. As per the Globocan report estimation, in 2018, India reported ~162,468 new breast cancer cases and 87,090 deaths due to the same.

The Asia Pacific breast cancer screening market is segmented on the basis of test type and end user.The imaging test segment based on test type held the largest share of the market in 2019.



The market based on test type has been segmented into imaging test, Immunohistochemistry test, genetic test, and blood marker test.Moreover, imaging test segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.



Based on end user, the Asia Pacific breast cancer screening market is segmented into hospitals, diagnostic centers, cancer institutes, and research laboratories. The hospitals segment held the largest share of the market in 2019; moreover, it is expected to register fastest growth during 2020-2027.

The Asia Pacifican Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer, Asia Pacifican Society of Surgical Oncology, Asia Pacific Burden Of Disease Study, World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and International Diabetes Federation area few of the essential primary and secondary sources referred to for preparing this report.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05915398/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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During a conference call with the nations governors in early May, Vice President Mike Pence strongly recommended that every nursing home resident and staff member be tested.

Yet it took more than a month after that call for Northam to finally announce last Friday that Virginia would spend $246 million (and mind you, most of this is federal money) to test every long-term care facility resident and staff member in Virginiaby July 15!

That means that more than three months after he declared a statewide emergency, testing of every resident and staff member at these known coronavirus hotspots has still not occurred. Without testing, theres no way to tell who is infected and possibly contagious, and who needs to be isolated or removed to a safer location.

The appalling death toll at these facilities is a direct result of the inexcusable foot-dragging and inaction by Northam and state health officials, who were apparently too busy monitoring the beaches and parks to make sure that the most vulnerable people in Virginia were protected from this lethal threat.

Sorry, governor, this latest after-the-fact announcement is too littleand way too late.
A total of $700,000 in state funding has been awarded to three projects in the Roanoke and New River valleys designed to help rebuild a regional economy crippled by the coronavirus pandemic.

The GO Virginia state board recently approved the grants, which will be supplemented by nearly $500,000 from other public and private sources, for initiatives proposed by the Roanoke Regional Partnership, the New River Health District and Virginia Tech.

Formed in 2016 by the General Assembly, GO Virginia provides funding for projects overseen by nine regional councils. Each region considers ideas from organizations, coalitions and entities to create high-wage jobs and revive an economy hampered by cutbacks to defense and other federal programs.

The program has since been temporarily retooled to address a more timely crisis.

In April, the GO Virginia state board allowed each region to seek up to $1 million under an expedited process to address the fiscal distress across the entire Commonwealth because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A requirement for local matches to state funding was waived, and the mandated amount of total matches was reduced by half.

For Region 2  a sprawling stretch of Virginia that includes the Roanoke and New River valleys, the Alleghany Highlands and the Lynchburg area  the following projects were approved by the state board:

A program run by the Roanoke Regional Partnership will assist companies with their immediate and long-term efforts to recover from the economic downturn, and to build future resilience. The targeted sectors are advanced manufacturing, food and beverage, technology and health care.

A team in the New River Valley will provide business owners with technical resources needed to operate in the pandemic environment. Working with the New River Health District and Virginia Department of Health, the team will help with on-site testing, public and employee relations, education, sanitization of workplaces and certification of best practices.

A task force from Virginia Tech will conduct COVID-19 testing for patients who currently have symptoms, and develop a wider testing system that will help determine when employees can safely re-enter the workforce. The project will also create a training program for workers in laboratories in Blacksburg and Roanoke.

Region 2 is also involved in a statewide initiative to address a critical shortage of personal protective equipment and provide related services to manufacturing companies.

Applications for new projects are being accepted through July 8 by Techs Office of Economic Development, which administers the GO Virginia program for the region.

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American tourists may be barred from Europe when EU reopens to outside world.

US travellers look set to be denied entry to the EU when the European bloc reopens its borders on 1 July, according to draft lists of countries seen by The New York Times.

The travel ban - apparently in response to the failure of the US to contain the coronavirus pandemic - would place the US in the same bracket as hard-hit countries Brazil and Russia, reports The New York Times.

The EU is reportedly drawing up lists of "acceptable" countries, based on how well they are faring in handling the covid-19 pandemic, with the final list expected to be announced shortly.

Brazil, India, Mexico and Russia also face the prospect that their citizens will remain barred from the European bloc which includes EU member states along with Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and the UK.

Countries identified as safe on draft lists seen by The New York Times were chosen based on several criteria including a benchmark of 16 or lower infections per 100,000 people over the last two weeks.

The average number of new infections in the EU over the last two weeks stands at 16 per 100,000 - reports The New York Times - whereas the figure in the US is 107.

International media is reporting that around 50 countries are likely to be told that their nationals will be admitted to the EU. These nations are expected to include Australia and New Zealand as well as - possibly - China.

A ban on travellers from the US would also be seen as a rebuke to Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic and would have significant economic consequences for the EU.

In March, when cases were rising in Europe, Trump angered Brussels by banning most EU citizens from entering the US in a bid to curb the outbreak there.

Since then the US has recorded more than 2.3 million coronavirus cases and over 120,000 deaths - more than any country in the world - and is currently experiencing a surge in new infections.

There was no immediate comment from the White House about the reported travel ban.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices fell on Wednesday to extend losses from the previous session after the American Petroleum Institute (API) reported another build in crude oil inventories, adding to worries about oversupply. Benchmark Brent crude dropped 1.2 percent to $42.11 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 1.5 percent at $39.77 a barrel. According to industry group API, U.S. crude inventories rose by a much bigger than expected 1.75 million barrels for the week ending June 19, well ahead of analysts' expectations for a build of 300,000 barrels. However, U.S. gasoline and distillate inventories fell, feeding optimism that fuel consumption is picking up amid easing of lockdown restrictions across the world. The numbers from the Energy Information Institute are due later in the day, with analysts expecting a build of 299,000 barrels after an increase of 1.2 million the previous week. Markets also remain concerned about rising coronavirus infection cases in the United States and elsewhere. Tokyo reported a jump in infections to mark its highest daily tally since May 5 while Germany reported 712 new cases, fueling concerns about a second wave of coronavirus infections. New cases of Covid-19 rose 25 percent in the United States in the week ended June 21 and the death toll in Latin America passed 100,000 on Tuesday, according to a Reuters analysis and tally. 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.
Bismarck State College has released details about its plan to bring students back to campus for the fall semester.

The State Board of Higher Education last month signaled its intent to have all college and university students in North Dakota back in the fall, after coronavirus-related closures ended spring semesters.

Our staff and faculty are working diligently to ensure that we offer an outstanding and exceptionally safe campus experience to our students this fall and moving forward, BSC President Larry Skogen said in a statement Tuesday.

BSC plans hybrid classes that will minimize the number of students gathered together, faculty training and physically distanced seating arrangements in gathering areas.

Students living on campus have staggered move-in dates and will be asked to abide by physical distancing and personal hygiene recommendations. The college also has isolation plans in place should a student test positive for the virus.

Screening stations at campus building entrances check students, employees and guests for high temperatures and virus symptoms, and masks are recommended when physical distance can't be maintained. Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures have been implemented. Some employees will not be back on campus full time.

The colleges return plan will be updated regularly in response to changes in state and federal guidelines, according to Skogen. For more information go to bismarckstate.edu/ReturnToCampus.

The college plans a virtual open house Wednesday, in which prospective students can see the campus; hear from leaders, faculty, and current students; and engage with admissions representatives. For more information go to bismarckstate.edu/VirtualOpenHouse.

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Turkey's Defense Ministry says one Turkish soldier has been killed and two others wounded in the southeastern part of the country after they came under fire from the Iranian side of the border.

The June 24 statement from the Defense Ministry did not say who had shot at its soldiers.

It said the Turkish soldiers were conducting a reconnaissance and surveillance mission in a mountainous border area near the town of Yuksekova in the southeastern province of Hakkari when they came under attack.

Turkish forces have been fighting for decades against the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) along its borders with Syria and Iraq, and in southeastern Turkey.

Interior Ministry Suleyman Soylu said on June 9 that a wall Turkey has been building along its border with Iran is nearly complete.

Soylu said the construction work is aimed at improving security by halting the infiltration of PKK militants and illegal smugglers who cross over from Iran.

Based on reporting by Reuters, Anadolu Agency, and Tasnim
Foreign tourists step out of the International Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC on March 13, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

Vietnamese carriers plans to resume international flights next month will come to naught, given fresh Covid-19 outbreaks in Asia and other factors, experts say.

They also note that apart from the new outbreaks, bilateral talks with other countries on lifting travel bans are still not complete.

"In this current situation, the reopening of international commercial flights from July 1 as planned by Vietnamese carriers in which passengers are not subject to the 14-day quarantine is unfeasible," Luong Hoai Nam, member of the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), told VnExpress.

The Vietnamese government has been considering the resumption of international flights to destinations that have had no new Covid-19 cases for at least 30 days.

Since early this month, Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways have announced plans to resume their international operations on select routes to destinations in South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and mainland China, which have successfully managed to contain the pandemic within their borders. They said the plans will take effect as soon as they can get official approval.

While Vietnamese carriers understandably want to resume international flights as soon as possible as they have suffered big losses because of flight suspensions, they know that "it is impossible to reopen doors to foreign tourists in an uncontrollable way that could bring Covid-19 back to Vietnam and lead to community transmission of the virus," Nam said.

Vietnam has suspended all international flights since March 25 and banned entry of foreign nationals since March 22 except for special cases. It has granted permission for some special flights to repatriate Vietnamese citizens stranded abroad.

Echoing Nam, an aviation expert who wished to remain anonymous said the reopening of international air routes in July was very unlikely as negotiations between Vietnam and other countries on the issue have not been concluded.

The government is holding talks with China, South Korea and Japan on a step-by-step resumption of air services, based on demand on both sides in compliance with measures to prevent the further Covid-19 outbreaks, the Foreign Ministry had said in a June 18 statement.

However, some of the Asian destinations being considered for early resumption of international flights, like Chinas Beijing and South Korea, have been struggling with a second wave of the Covid-19 infections. Meanwhile, the number of countries and territories with no new infections for at least 30 days is limited and not free of risk.

Inbound moratorium

A recent announcement from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) indicates another reason why international flights are unlikely to resume as the carriers have hoped.

The announcement said that Vietnam has not granted permission for inbound flights, except for special cases, from June 16 to September 16. The special cases include entry for diplomatic and official purposes, experts, business executives and highly qualified workers and those cases specified by the National Steering Committee for the Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

This means that it is unlikely that Vietnam will open doors to international visitors before September. Besides, countries are not ready to reopen the border to welcome flights from Vietnam amid complicated developments of the pandemic.

Moreover, Nam said, reopening international routes cannot be a one-way move.

"If negotiations with countries in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania are conducted soon, the reopening of some international routes in the next three months is feasible. However, European and North American markets will require a longer wait because the Covid-19 situation there is still very complicated," he added.

Nam also said that while looking forward to the restoration of regular international commercial flights, Vietnamese carriers should consider exploiting charter flights to new, safe markets as Covid-19 impacts could very well linger for the next two to three years.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 18:36 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066159f69 1 National MAKI,KPK,supervisory-council,Firli-Bahuri,Helimousine,helicopter-taxi Free

The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Community (MAKI) has reported Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Firli Bahuri to the antigraft body's supervisory board for an alleged ethics violation.

According to MAKI, the police general used a private helicopter on personal trip from South Sumatra's capital of Palembang to the city of Baturaja in the same province last week. They regarded this as indicative of a hedonistic lifestyle".

Read also: 100 days of blunders: Watchdog slams new KPK chairman's performance

"KPK leaders are banned from adopting a luxurious lifestyle," MAKI coordinator Boyamin Saiman said on Wednesday. He said this was required out of "empathy for the public" as stipulated in KPK supervisory board regulation No. 1/2020 on the KPK code of conduct.

Boyamin said the report had been submitted to the supervisory board by e-mail. The report contained photos of Firli riding the helicopter taxi, sometimes called a helimousine, which can cost up to US$1,400 for an hour of use according to a Reuters report.

MAKI also reported Firli's alleged negligence in complying with health protocols during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. He was not wearing a face mask during his visit to Baturaja, Boyamin said, as reported by kompas.com. (vny)
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From the first moments in the premiere of HBOs Watchmen last October, the show proved to be the most urgent and prescient series on television today. Rather than adapt the universally acclaimed 1986 graphic novel Watchmen written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons  which had already been made into a 2009 feature film by Zack Snyder  co-creator and executive producer Damon Lindelof chose instead to update the world of the novel from New York City in 1985 to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2019.

The reason for the change of venue was simple, but devastating: The shows main hero, Angela Abar, aka the police detective Sister Night (Regina King), is a direct descendant of a survivor of the very real 1921 massacre of the Tulsa neighborhood known as Black Wall Street. Lindelof first learned about the event from a 2014 piece in The Atlantic by Ta-Nehisi Coates called The Case for Reparations, and his shock that he hadnt known about it before grew into a resolve to make the event the centerpiece of his show.

More from Variety

During a Variety Streaming Room roundtable with the Watchmen cast, directors and executive producers, King said she had known about the Tulsa massacre. But I knew that so many people, black people as well, were not aware of the story, she said. What Id hoped actually did happen. When it premiered, people went online to see if it really existed, and they were able to discover that Tulsa wasnt the only massacre. There was Rosewood; there was Arkansas. Whenever you have an opportunity to express your art and also do it in a space where social commentary is really present in that moment, Im there for it.

Story continues

Indeed, Watchmen precipitated a major shift in awareness of the Tulsa 21 massacre, from the successful criticisms of President Trump scheduling his first rally since the COVID-19 pandemic in Tulsa on Juneteenth, to three separate documentary projects about the massacre that have been announced in just the last few weeks.

I was so horrified that Id never heard of it, said Jean Smart, who plays the tough FBI agent Laurie Blake on the show. It was just astonishing to me that something like that could have happened so recently and that we were not taught that in school. And so the fact that our show was able to educate people about that was very meaningful.

Even the Watchmen cast member who grew up in Tulsa, Tim Blake Nelson (the taciturn police detective known as Looking Glass), said he only really understood the full scope of the event when he was in his twenties.

It was virtually concealed in terms of the real lethality of it, Nelson said. When I was growing up in the late 70s, early 80s, nobody wanted to advertise that we had this in Tulsas history. And so it was referred to simply as, Yes, there was a race riot. It wasnt called a race massacre, it was called a race riot.

The irony that a straight, white man was the one who finally depicted the Tulsa massacre in a mainstream scripted drama is not lost on Lindelof.

There has been no shortage of storytellers who want to tell the story over the course of the last 99 years, he said. Unfortunately, I think that people who wanted to tell the story of Tulsa got pushed aside, as like, People dont want to see that. Its just another level of the marginalization of storytellers of color. Lindelof said part of him wishes that the Tulsa massacre didnt have to be Trojan horsed inside a genre series. But  Im just grateful that its now a part of the conversation.

As anyone who has seen Watchmen knows, there is plenty to talk about with this show. Joining Lindelof, King, Smart, and Nelson for the roundtable, which was shot earlier in June, were actors Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Angelas husband Cal Abar), Jeremy Irons (Adrian Veidt), Hong Chau (Lady Trieu), Louis Gossett Jr. (Will Reeves), Jovan Adepo (young Will Reeves), and directors and executive producers Nicole Kassell and Stephen Williams. They talked through six key scenes throughout the series.

SCENE ONE: The Tulsa 21 Massacre (Episode 1)

The shows premiere episode, written by Lindelof and directed by Kassell, opens with a very young Will Reeves (Danny Boyd Jr.) witnessing the total destruction of his Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma, so prosperous that it came to be known as Black Wall Street. (Warning: This scene depicts many acts of racial violence and murder.)

Damon Lindelof: When I first heard about the massacre, I was overwhelmed by two things. The first was just the sheer horror of what actually happened in this incredible place in 1921. There were black owned businesses, newspapers, auto mechanics, movie theaters, prospering in Oklahoma in 1921. Just the fact that it existed, then the fact that it was wiped from existence over the course of just 48 hours took my breath away. But the thing that was most shocking was that Id never heard of it. And I think that the more significant damage done over the course of last century, in addition to everything that was stolen from generations of everyone who lived in Greenwood, was that it was erased from history. So I knew that if we were going to depict this, it had to be the cornerstone of the show. It couldnt just be like a flashback in Episode 4; it really needed to be the event that catalyzed every part of our story.

Nicole Kassell: It was both emotional and technical [to direct]. The pressure to get it right was enormous, knowing that it is the linchpin of the show. I just rewatched the clip with you all and it still brings me to tears, because its true. And to see just [the] commitment every background actor and actor on screen gave and what the cast and crew went through to do it was harrowing, but so profoundly moving. We filmed that on the first day of filming on the anniversary of the event. So it was an extraordinary, powerful way to launch the series.

SCENE TWO: The Birth of Hooded Justice (Episode 6)

Along with the Tulsa Massacre, Lindelofs other main source of inspiration was revealing the identity of Hooded Justice, a mysterious peripheral character from the 1986 Watchmen graphic novel. Lindelof decided to make Hooded Justice into Will Reeves, a survivor of the Tulsa 21 massacre who becomes one of the only black police officers working in New York City in the 1930s. Reevess costume as Hooded Justice  a dark hood and a noose hanging from his neck  comes from an attempted lynching by white officers in the NYPD.

Its a harrowing past, and one that Will wants his granddaughter Angela to understand  so he provides her with his memories via a bottle of pills known as Nostalgia. Angela takes them all at once, and falls into a stream-of-consciousness fugue of Wills experiences of that time, which director Stephen Williams shot in black-and-white, in long, unbroken takes.

In this scene, Will (Adepo) and his wife June (Danielle Deadwyler) apply the make-up that will conceal not only Wills identity as Hooded Justice, but his skin color as well. (Warning: This scene depicts an act of murder.)

Stephen Williams: My recollection is that very early on when we started talking about the episode, I think it became clear that the intention was to take the audience on a journey that was one of subjective immersion, told from the point of view of young Will Reeves played by Jovan. And that we would stay inside his point of view, as rigorously as possible, with the understanding that that point of view was also shared by Reginas character. So the style of long takes was just a way of trying to immerse you as deeply as possible and connect you as deeply as possible with that subjective journey.

Lindelof: Yeah, my memory of it is, there was a mix of complete and utter audacious, Ive got this and I know exactly how to do it, with equal parts, Im going to fail miserably. I dont know how to do this. Im completely and totally overwhelmed by the material. And they were happening sometimes in the very same conversation.

The black and white part  it all goes back to Tulsa. The idea that there was a vividness to the Tulsa memories that was breaking through the origin story that [Will] wanted to tell [Angela]. We were having this conversation like, How do we do that? How do we make them break through so that were saying that Will, even as a 25 year old man, is still haunted by this trauma? Thats when I remember it being Stephen who said, Those memories should be in color and everything else should be in black and white.

Jovan, in this episode, you play one of the only black cops in New York City and who discovers the NYPD is infested with white supremacists. How did you prepare for this role?

Adepo: I dont think there was any clear-cut way for me to prepare.

Williams: You read the newspapers.

Adepo: Ive been fortunate to have quite a few members in my family be in law enforcement or the military and things like that. More specifically, one of my childhood best friends who I still talk to every week, hes actually an FBI agent. So when I first got this job, I started talking to him a lot, just because hes a black man. We got into this little rabbit hole about where law enforcement came from, about how, initially, the whole police system, it was a for-profit, private sector that was supposed to benefit the well-offs so that they could protect their goods or their shipping interests. And then even more specifically, in the South, it was used to preserve the slave trade. Before they were called police systems, they were called night watches. And a lot of the time, people in the community would have to volunteer, or if nobody volunteered, they would have to get voted in to do it. And they called those people watchmen.

When wealthy people didnt want to do their duty protecting the community, they would pay people to do it for them by proxy. And a lot of the time, the people who were in charge of these night watches ended up being criminals, or people who just had unfavorable reputations around town. So its weird to see from back then the police system started off as being filled with people who had bad reputations.

It was something that I really wanted to help tell the story of, [that] even though [my character] was one of the few black officers in the NYPD early in that time, there was still a private sector within that system that I couldnt be a part of, and it turns out is because it was the color of my skin. That was the main thing that I zeroed in on and wanted to help highlight with this cast and the creators, to show the imbalance and inequality in the police force.

SCENE THREE: Wounds Need Air (Episode 9)

Back in the present day, Will (Gossett Jr.) and Angela finally have a moment to talk about Angelas experience inside his memories, leading Will to deliver a lesson to his granddaughter that feels deeply relevant to the world as it is today: You cant heal under a mask, Angela. Wounds need air. It was a profound scene to play for Gossett and King  and discussing it led to a fascinating exchange between Gossett and Abdul-Mateen.

Louis Gossett Jr.: [It was] very special to play this character and having the knowledge of some of the uprisings that have happened in our history in America. Ive been very fortunate to be touched by some of our history before this, through [the groundbreaking miniseries] Roots and through other things. This one was very pointed and very special. Till I had locked eyes with Regina, I didnt know whats going to happen. And it just all came out. Shes almost like my family as it is, and it was one of those places when you dream as an actor, theres no acting involved. You just morph yourself into the moment. I could have done it again and again and again.

Im very blessed to be able to tell the story of our  its not a horrible story. Its a learning lesson from Tulsa and North Carolina and San Francisco and all the places we know about. And to be here today to talk about it as a piece of history is very special. So Im very glad to be here and participate with all of you at this very wonderful time in our history of our country, in our world.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: Hey, Lou?

Gossett: Yeah.

Abdul-Mateen: I wanted to ask you a question.

Gossett: I aint got no money.

Abdul-Mateen: [Smiles] I asked you for no money man. Not in front of all these people. I had a conversation with my uncle last week. I asked my uncle, Man, how are you not so enraged right now because of everything that youve experienced? You really deserve to be up in arms. My uncle is a 68-years-old Vietnam vet. Im asking this speaking out of turn because you just said look at this  pardon if Im paraphrasing  this wonderful moment right now.

Gossett: Oh, you have no idea. Being 84 and seeing this, its history to me. Its wonderful. Now, everybody knows and everybody is sensitive to it. It pulled us together in such a wonderful way that we wouldnt have to be brave about Holocausts anymore. Its out. So now we can grow. We can grow together the way its supposed to be. We tell these stories and we come with a sigh of relief. Im looking at you now and theres new family, theres a possibility of the new family not just in this country but in the world. So in my mind, its very poetically historical.

Abdul-Mateen: Trauma lasts man, it gets in our bodies, it gets in our families, it gets in our makeup, our DNA and we dont even know that we carry it. My grandfather was born in 1886. And I have no idea what kind of baggage and trauma that Im hanging on. This show has really caused me to perk up, to be attracted to conversations about trauma and trauma passed down because those are some things that I have, but this show really put it out there and let people watch how that could very easily be passed down and be inherited and land in someones lap today from an event that happened 100 years ago.

SCENE FOUR: Ozymandias Meets Lady Trieu (Episode 9)

Along with deepening the character of Hooded Justice, Watchmen also depicts several central characters in the original graphic novel, first among them Adrian Veidt, aka Ozymandias, the genius who orchestrated the massacre of 3 million people in New York City to stave off World War III. In this scene, Veidt meets the equally brilliant (and ruthless) Lady Trieu, who he doesnt yet realize is also his daughter.

Hong Chau: When I first met with him, Damon told me the overall arc of Lady Trieus story. But of course I really needed to be able to see the actual scripts. I read the first four episodes when I first signed on and a lot of what happens with Lady Trieu happens in the later episodes and I remember being really excited that Jeremy Irons was going to be my dad. I knew that right off the bat. That was very exciting for me to get to work with Jeremy. I emailed Damon the night before we had our scene together and I just thanked him for writing a nice, juicy six page scene between he and I.

Jeremy Irons: I didnt know what was going to happen to The Blonde Man and I didnt really know who The Blonde Man was. I was led through like a child really, by Nikki [Kassell] and Stephen and Damon. Just doing what I was asked, but not really knowing why. So it was a mystery to me. It all came together at the end, but I didnt think I knew about the last episode until a couple of weeks before we shot it. During a lot of my shooting, I had no idea where I was, who I was, why I was. And it became clear when I watched the program. But of course I didnt know what was going on. The core of this wonderful bit of work is what was happening in Tulsa. And because my character didnt know that because I was away elsewhere, I didnt read it. I thought, I dont need to know this. And it wasnt until I watched the program that I saw how it all came together.

Chau: I think Im the opposite of Jeremy mainly because I dont have the level of experience where I feel I like to know as much as possible beforehand. And I feel like Im white knuckling everything, but maybe eventually in a few decades Ill get to Jeremys very relaxed state.

SCENE FIVE: The Former Silk Spectre Interrogates Looking Glass (Episode 5)

In the graphic novel, Laurie Blake is known as Laurie Jupiter, aka the masked vigilante Silk Spectre, but by the events of the show, shes part of the FBIs anti-vigilante task force. Her displeasure with costumed heroes comes shining through in this scene with Tulsa detective Wade Tillman, who operates as Looking Glass, known for the reflective mask that covers his entire face.

Tim Blake Nelson: It was great to wear. They made it possible for us to do our work as easily as possible. Any inhibitions in terms of the mask or difficulties were very easy to use to my advantage. I just found that mask incredibly empowering for the character. Not only is it opaque, its beyond opaque, in that it implicates anybody speaking with Wade. And that just made it, as Id say, just very empowering, and it caused me as an actor to be able to do less and not more. Ive been craving a role that was more about restraint for many years, and I finally got the opportunity to do that.

Lindelof: I just want to state for the record that Tims mask was not a mirrored mask. It was a greenscreen sock with a GoPro [camera] in most cases mounted on his head, basically recording the environment around it so our incredible visual effects team could later map what he was seeing onto his face. So it was infinitely even more uncomfortable probably than the mirrored mask makes it look.

Jean, you get a real sense that Laurie has very little patience for people who are in masks. What was it like for you to get inside a character that had already been well established in a previous version of Watchmen to bring her into the world of the show?

Jean Smart: I had the advantage of the fact that the 30 plus years had gone by since she was last seen. So that certainly gave me a lot of leeway to think about how she would have changed over the years, and how she would not have changed. And her issues with vigilantes, for whatever reason, is so deep. It comes from her childhood, from her parents, from being now law enforcement whos rounding them up and arresting them, and occasionally shooting them. Its interesting because she became an FBI agent as part of a plea deal. But it seems to have suited her in most ways quite nicely in terms of her issues with vigilantes and her disdain for them. And the fact that she gets to mess with Wades mind all the time and give him a hard time about his mask is part of her game. But then she finds out that he was a survivor of the squid attack, which is like our version of 9/11. And so she suddenly sees a whole new layer of Mirror Guy.

SCENE SIX: Doctor Manhattan and Angela Abar Have A Fight (Episode 8)

One of the biggest moments in Watchmen is the revelation that Angelas husband Cal is really Jon Osterman, aka Doctor Manhattan, an omniscient, nearly all-powerful being who exists at every moment in time simultaneously. At the end of the graphic novel, Jon leaves Earth, but he returns in Episode 8, a flashback episode thats structured around the first time Jon and Angela meet in a bar in Vietnam. Its an unusually lengthy sequence in which Jon wears a Doctor Manhattan mask (long story), so director Nicole Kassell had to keep the camera largely focused on King. In that first conversation, Jon tells Angela they will be together until they get into a big fight  and in this clip, we see how that fight unfolds. Needless to say, playing an all-knowing being was a major challenge for Abdul-Mateen.

Abdul-Mateen: It was tough. I remember the scene in the bar in between takes, if I didnt say it, I definitely meant to say it to Regina: Im so sorry. Because I felt like I couldnt give her everything that she needed as an actor, just because of the way that this character processes information and emotes, hes not extremely accessible from the outside. Hes an extremely difficult person to have an argument with because he wont go there with you on the emotional level. He wont match you. I knew that for him, I had to make sure that he was present always in the moment, which is interesting for someone who is in every moment simultaneously. I knew that if I tried to do that, then I would overwhelm myself as an actor and just put myself at a disadvantage.

Regina King: Yahya and I were in the same place for 17 pages, I believe it was, and

Kassell: 25.

King: Oh, gosh! Maybe Im refusing that in my mind.

Kassell: And just in two days.

King: But working with Yahya, hes just an amazing scene partner. He was giving me everything that one could possibly give, but theres just no way we would have been able to get through that without Nicole. I mean, she definitely laid out for us what it was going to look like and what it was going to feel like. It was very helpful because when she told me, Well, [the cameras] only going to be on you Youre like, No way. Hows that going to work? And you easily get in your own head. Everything from, Gosh, people are going to see my gums, theyre going to be this big smile. I mean just the most trivial things come to mind when you are told that, but Nikki and the rest of the crew, the camera operators, everyone was were in a tight space for two days  24 hours pretty much together and you cant get there without a team and without great partners.

Kassell: When I read the script and I read the 25 pages  two people at a table in a bar, we dont show one of their faces  not very nice words to Damon came into my mind. It was the hardest episode because to take Reginas character on this very tiny journey from no to yes, just over 25 pages  its so subtle. How to make that cinematically dynamic? And it was interesting filming it because, like, day one, Regina was not in a good mood. And I was like, Oh no, were screwed. Was it me? What is it? And then by day two, I was like, Oh, she was in character. Whether or not that was conscious, she was annoyed and wanted to be alone and this guys barging into her space. And so we just got to film it in a way that was perfect.

This conversation has been edited and condensed.

Watch the full Variety Streaming Room with the cast and filmmakers of Watchmen here:

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth 24 crore belonging to a real estate firm that allegedly duped hundreds of investors of crores of rupees in various parts of Punjab.

The firm, Nature Heights Infra Ltd, was being run by Abohar-based Neeraj Thatai alias Neeraj Arora, his wife Doll Thatai and another director of company Amit Kukkar, sources at the ED zonal office in Jalandhar said. Neeraj and Kukkar figure as accused in 31 FIRs filed by the investors in various police stations of the state, and were declared proclaimed offenders in 2017.

In June 2019, ED had attached properties worth of 22.24 crore of Nature Heights, which was confirmed by the adjudicating authority in New Delhi. MG Gold Realtors Private Ltd, a sister concern of Nature Heights, was also involved in the fraud.

The attached immovable assets include 10-crore properties belonging to MG Gold in Abohar, Mohali, Rajasthan and other parts of Punjab, the central agencys officials said.

The ED had started probing the case in 2017. During the course of probe, it received 491 more complaints from investors and 497 complaints from various consumer courts of the state. Investigations revealed that Neeraj, in a pre-determined way, tried to launder investors money for personal benefits, ED officials said.

ED investigations so far have revealed that the firms promoters had duped investors to the tune of 50 crore on the pretext of allotting properties at different locations in Punjab. So far, firms properties worth of 46.5 crore have been attached. Investigations are on to trace the remaining amount of proceeds of crime which may lead to attachment of more properties of Nature Heights Infra Ltd, ED officials said.

An investor said the company had circulated brochures inviting investments in colonies to be developed in Chandigarh, Talwara, Anandpur Sahib, Gobindgarh, Mohali, Zirakpur, Ferozepur and other locations in Punjab. The company allegedly collected crores of rupees from customers before shutting down all branch offices across the state and the promoters vanished in thin air.

Investors neither got possession of properties nor their money was returned, officials said. The firm used to offer cheaper plots at prime locations. Later, it surfaced that most of the colonies awaited approvals from the departments concerned. The company neither allotted plots nor returned the money. Even, the cheques issued by the company were dishonoured, said another investor.

The case was investigated by ED assistant director Deepak Rajpoot and assistant director (PMLA) Rohit Trehan.
The Bright Armenia Party (LHK) said on Wednesday it will not join for now another parliamentary opposition group in challenging the legality of government-backed constitutional amendments calling for the dismissal of three of the nine members of the countrys Constitutional Court.

The LHKs keenly anticipated decision removed the last potential hurdle to their replacement by other judges to be appointed by the Armenian parliament.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians My Step bloc pushed the amendments through the National Assembly on Monday during an emergency session boycotted by all opposition lawmakers representing the LHK and the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK).

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 businessman Gagik Tsarukian went on to announce that it will try to appeal to the Constitutional Court to declare the amendments unconstitutional.

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.

LHK leader Edmon Marukian suggested on Monday that Armenian laws do not allow parliamentarians to ask the Constitutional Court to assess the legality of constitutional changes.

Marukian gave a different explanation when he announced his partys decision not to back the BHK initiative during a news conference in Yerevan.

He said that the Constitutional Court has decided to open on July 7 hearings on the legality of coup charges brought against former President Robert Kocharian and that appealing to the court now could be seen as taking sides in Kocharians standoff with the Armenian government.

Marukian said that the appeal should therefore be filed only after the Constitutional Court rules on the case against Kocharian. He claimed that it will not be too late for the parliamentary opposition to try to have the controversial constitutional changes repealed.

The BHK disagreed. I dont think that we should link the shameful constitutional coup that occurred in the National Assembly to what case will be heard in the Constitutional Court on July 1, July 7 or August 6, said Naira Zohrabian, a senior BHK lawmaker.

Other, more radical opposition forces not represented in the current parliament strongly condemned the LHKs decision and accused Marukians party of helping Pashinian gain control over the countrys highest court.

As well as amending the constitution, the parliament controlled by Pashinians bloc also passed on Monday a bill stipulating that constitutional changes will no longer have to be signed by the president of the republic in order to come into force. President Armen Sarkissian signed the bill into law in a decree released by his office on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday.

The BHKs Zohrabian decried Sarkisians decision, accusing the largely ceremonial head of state of placing his personal well-being and business interests above the rule of law. The Republic of Armenia does not have a president not only de facto but also de jure, she charged in a lengthy Facebook post.

The presidential decree means that the amendments will take effect one day after being formally promulgated by parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan. According to Justice Minister Rustam Badasian, the three Constitutional Court judges will be relieved of their duties while Hrayr Tovmasian will stop being the courts chairman on Friday.

Tovmasian will continue to serve only as an ordinary member of the high court. The court is to choose its next chairman after the appointment of the three new judges.

Tovmasian and two of the affected court justices -- Alvina Gyulumian and Felix Tokhian -- questioned the legality of the constitutional changes when they spoke to journalists on Tuesday. Tovmasian argued 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.

Badasian claimed, however, that legal provisions regulating the matter are not specific enough. Besides, seven Constitutional Court judges have an obvious conflict of interest, the minister told RFE/RLs Armenian service.

Pashinians administration decided to amend the constitution after a yearlong standoff with the Constitutional Court and Tovmasian in particular. The prime minister 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 sympathetic to him have dismissed these claims, saying that Pashinian is seeking to replace the seven judges with his loyalists.
A family of farmers in North Florida is seeking answers after a field of watermelons was sprayed with damaging chemicals.

Hugh Martin told the Gainesville Sun his family is offering a $10,000 reward for information that helps lead to the arrest and conviction of the person they believe intentionally poisoned 56 acres of melons.

The family rents the property in Newberry, near Gainesville, for their farming business, Martin Farms LLC. Martin and his stepson Joshua Moore said they believe someone filled their crop-sprayer with the harsh chemicals.

On June 1, Moore said he sprayed what he thought was a tank filled with pesticides over the crops to keep insects away. As he was spraying the crops that evening, one of the sprayers nozzles got damaged on a fence. So he stopped before the entire field was sprayed.

When he returned to the field, the watermelons were already wilting.

They looked like they were melted, like they didnt have any life to them, Moore told the newspaper.

A sample taken by a representative from the University of Floridas Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences tested positive for two types of herbicide.

The destroyed crops equate to about a half-million dollar loss, the farmers said.

Moore said the crop sprayer isnt locked up or monitored by camera, because theyve never had a reason to believe someone would intentionally fill their sprayer with herbicide.

Weve been doing this for years, and weve never had to put cameras around our sprayers, Moore said. In the future, well figure out some way to lock it.

Moore said before the incident, they farm was having the best season theyve had in years. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the family wasnt sure how business would fare. It has remained consistent, partly because fewer melons are being shipped to Florida from places like Arizona and Mexico, he said.

The loss equates to about 90 semi-trucks of melons, a report filed with the Alachua County Sheriffs Office said.

Sgt. Frank Kinsey, public information officer for the Alachua County Sheriffs Office, told the newspaper that hes only heard of physical vandalism on farms, such as people driving their trucks over crops. Chemical vandalism is a first.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida Agribusiness
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Travelers headed to New York, New Jersey or Connecticut from states with high coronavirus rates may be forced to reconsider their plans. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo joined with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont on Wednesday to announce that certain out-of-state visitors will be subject to a 14-day quarantine. The governors revealed the quarantine requirement will apply to anyone coming from a state with a positive test rate above 10 per 100,000 residents or 10 percent or more of the total population over a seven-day rolling average. Cuomo said the new requirement currently applies to travelers from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah, and Texas. 'We worked very hard to get the viral transmission rate down. We don't want to see it go up because a lot of people come into this region and they can literally bring the infection with them,' Cuomo said. The New York Governor said visitors that do not adhere to the new requirements will be subject to fines and a mandatory quarantine. Cuomo said the fines in New York would be $2,000 for a first violation, $5,000 for a second and up to $10,000 for someone who causes 'harm.' The latest development reflects a substantial turnaround, as the tri-state area had been one of the biggest coronavirus hotspots in the world, leading states such as Florida and Texas to require travelers from the region to quarantine. Now, the tri-state area seems to have the pandemic under control, while several states in the South and West are seeing spikes in confirmed coronavirus cases. (Photo: Pat Arnow) 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.
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.
Tom Reel /Staff photographer

Another Bexar County Sheriff's deputy has been placed on administrative leave after a racially insensitive Facebook post, the department confirmed Wednesday.

The department did not elaborate on what the post said, but Sheriff Salazar said he plans on handling the case "as swiftly and severely as possible." BCSO did not specify when the deputy posted the comments, but he was placed on leave Tuesday.
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Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have said they have eyes on the housing portfolio in the next government.

Both parties and the Greens are trying to sell the programme for government to their parties.

Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin have both warned this week that there

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But some divisions are also emerging as to what happens if the deal gets passed.

The Dail will sit on Saturday with Micheal Martin set to be elected as Taoiseach around midday should the deal get the go-ahead.

He would then appoint his new cabinet in the evening.

But with the issue of who gets what not settled, some tension is already emerging.

Leo Varadkar has said his party wants to keep hold of the housing brief.

He said his party have really only got started there. Micheal Martin though says Fianna Fail also has eyes on it.

Well again, thats a matter for the three leaders. Were very interested in housing as well, he said.

I think the three leaders have to meet to work through that issue of terms of departments.

It will be difficult for the Greens to sell this as a government for change if the housing portfolio stays in Fine Gael's hand.

All decisions that will only matter if the programme for government actually gets over the line this week.
A man was shot early Thursday when someone shot through the window of his home, Twin Falls Police said.
SPRINGFIELD  The social movement sparked by George Floyds death is one Illinoisans must harness together, Chicago Rep. Lamont Robinson Jr., said.

On May 25, Floyd, an unarmed Black man, died after a White Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. That incident set off daily demonstrations across Illinois and the U.S. calling for an end to systemic racism and use of excessive force by law enforcement.

There should not be a have and have not society. There should be one society where all people are doing well and flourishing, the Democratic representative said. ...My ask is that we all do our part. That part could simply be reaching out to your legislator and your elected officials and letting them know that they need to get back to work and they need to right the wrongs that are in our society right now.

Robinson is a first-term lawmaker who replaced Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the House, an adjunct professor at the City Colleges of Chicago and the first Black LGBTQ individual to serve in the state General Assembly.

He spoke with Capitol News Illinois for its Perspectives on Progress series, a collection of conversations about race in Illinois, describing improvements he said the Legislature needs to implement.

The 31-member Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, of which he is a member, is working in both chambers of the General Assembly to map out reforms  police rehabilitations, economic development and unemployment support improvements, for example.

But to achieve those changes, Robinson and a handful of his colleagues want the House speaker and Senate president to call for a special legislative session.

We need to be able to get back to work. We cannot wait until November (veto session) to get these reforms done, the representative said. We need to get these reforms done yesterday.

As the owner of two AllState insurance agencies, Robinson said he understands that small businesses are the backbone of any community  they hire local people and directly contribute to their neighborhoods.

Robinson said state government must allocate funds to help them get back to some semblance of normalcy, especially after COVID-19-related economic slowdowns and property damage resulting from some of the protests.

Officials must also address the inequitable distribution of state contracts, which he said are commonly granted to White-owned businesses as opposed to enterprises owned by minorities or women.

This is the time now that we have to put our demands out, and we have to put pressure on folks in leadership to be able to right the wrongs that weve been dealing with for almost 50-plus years, Robinson said.

Legislative leaders, agency directors and members of Gov. JB Pritzkers administration are absolutely listening to public outcry, he added, particularly because protests and demonstrations are not limited to the Chicagoland area.

You cannot make a left turn or a right turn or turn on the TV without hearing whats going on, the representative said. So absolutely, I think this is affecting everybody across the state.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

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"Shadowplay"

By Joseph O'Connor

Europa. 387 pp. $26

- - -

Back in 2009, Michael Holroyd brought out "A Strange Eventful History," a double biography of Henry Irving and Ellen Terry, the greatest actor and actress of late Victorian England. It was, to use a showbiz phrase, absolutely fabulous, one of those books that make you hug yourself with pleasure as you turn the pages, which, I might add, is no easy trick.

A little later, in 2016, David J. Skal produced "Something in the Blood," a life of Bram Stoker, whom we remember for "Dracula" but who earned his living as general manager of London's Lyceum Theatre. Like others before him, Skal speculated that Stoker partly modeled the Count after his boss, the imperious and volatile owner of the Lyceum, none other than Henry Irving.

As Joseph O'Connor acknowledges, these two books provide much of the background for "Shadowplay," a gorgeously written historical novel about Stoker's inner life, his never-quite-expressed love for Irving and Terry, and the gradual creation of "Dracula." Throughout, O'Connor mixes stream-of-consciousness narrative with fictitious correspondence, newspaper articles and interviews. One long section vividly evokes the fearful nights when "Saucy Jack" the Ripper stalked Whitechapel. Oscar Wilde even flounces briefly by in all his florid glory.

Yet having missed O'Connor's 2004 bestseller, "Star of the Sea," I wasn't prepared to be awed by his prose, which is so good you can taste it. For instance, in the following long, almost breathless passage, Stoker summarizes the Lyceum company's American tour:

"Then, 72 cities in 25 weeks, 122 shows. The exhaustion, the trains. The Niagara Falls of paperwork. The receipts and lost passports, the cancelled hotels, the actors suffering diarrhea and toothache and fevers, needing doctors in the middle of the night, losing their wages at cards, falling in love with attractive Midwesterners and not wanting to move on to the next city, getting rolled by finaglers, robbed by ladies of the street, being arrested, arraigned, jailed, bailed, bitten by mosquitoes, stung by hornets or roasting slowly on the flames of American success, everyone wanting to touch them and asking them to talk 'in that accent,' the impresarios arguing out every clause of the contract, bargaining, hectoring, in several cities weeping, not wanting to pay, pleading bankruptcy or a dying relative, scenery going missing, an actress absconding with a cowboy, the stagehands wanting more money, five broken limbs, three impregnations, one surgical procedure ('extraction of bullet from actor's thigh following misunderstanding at barn dance, $80'), the theatre destroyed by a tornado in Detroit."

O'Connor dazzles with such coloratura paragraphs, but he can do voices too. Here's Ellen Terry in old age: "Darling, I've played the late show at the Liverpool Apollo on a Saturday night. Hell itself holds no fears for me." And here's Irving, disdainfully responding to reporters asking if they might speak with "Miss Terry":

"That, my dear gentles, you must ask her yourselves. You will find her at the Lyceum ... posing this afternoon for a portrait by Mr. Whistler, nude but for some judiciously placed oak leaves. Miss Terry, I mean, not Whistler, thank Christ. Now if you'll excuse Mr. Stoker and me, we have young minds to corrupt."

O'Connor's virtuosity more quietly reveals itself in his descriptions, as when the young Bram sees "Smacks heading down the estuary, trailing petticoats of nets" or observes "the last bedraggled tarts streeling home to their rooms." As you might sense, Ireland's own James Joyce lurks in the corners of such prose, like the mysterious man in the mackintosh of "Ulysses." Joycean techniques pop up repeatedly: an abundance of sentence fragments, passages of question and response, short playlets, phantasmagoric interludes. A coda even emulates the earlier novel's Wandering Rocks section, as O'Connor tracks the carefully timed movement of two elderly people through London, who unknowingly pass each other, glimpse the same cheeky boy on a bus, and eventually intersect at Claridge's restaurant.

In its plot "Shadowplay" chronicles Stoker's lifelong loneliness, his suppressed desires (poignantly touched on in a letter to Walt Whitman), his feisty wife Florence's recognition that Irving is her "rival." At the same time, O'Connor intersperses details that might as well bear an asterisk and the note: "See 'Dracula.' " These include a police constable's sharp white incisors, a photograph of Sarah Bernhardt sleeping in her coffin, a stagehand named Jonathan Harker and a ghost named Mina, actors using garlic to fend off sore throats, a visit to a madhouse where an inmate eats flies, and even Stoker's childhood memory of being bled by leeches: "It was a terrible feeling, of losing one's lifeblood."

Many fans of "Dracula," however, will doubtless be surprised to learn that the Count once wrote to Stoker, complaining about the way he was portrayed:

"As the embodiment of evil bloodlust, I do understand that the challenges of capturing me on the page are not inconsiderable. But ought you to have stressed the negative?

"I will have you know, sir, that being a vampire is not easy. The hours are unsociable. The clothes are old-fashioned. Opportunities to meet girls are limited."

The actual author of this comic letter is Stoker's friend Ellen Terry, who almost alone believes in his genius. She is also kind, no-nonsense and irresistible, stealing every scene she's in:

"You see, acting is not a matter of pretending to be someone else but of finding the other person in oneself and then putting her on view. It's nothing mystifying ... it's being. I learned it when I was a little girl myself, my father ran a travelling pantomime. He never told me, 'Pretend to be a fairy.' He'd say, "Today you're a fairy, Len. Fly."

Terry ends by saying, "I don't like seeing the acting, I like seeing the fairies fly." In "Shadowplay," there are no fairies, but Joseph O'Connor's magnificent novel does even more than fly, it soars.
Last year EV news site Electrek reported that, according to Elon Musk, the companys energy division, Tesla Energy, is becoming a distributed global utility and it could eventually outgrow Teslas automotive business. And back in October of last year, Musk himself told investors that Tesla Energy is going to be a major part of Teslas activity in the future. And Teslas mission from the beginning has been to accelerate the advent of sustainable energy  that means sustainable energy generation and sustainable energy consumption in the form of electric vehicles. Just this May, Musk expanded the purview of Tesla Energy with the unveiling of a new Tesla Energy software asset called Autobidder, which enables both providers and consumers to exchange their energy capacity to help take Tesla energy to the giant distributor global utility level. The idea, according to Electreks reporting, is that Tesla would keep deploying more solar and energy storage systems, big and small, at the residential level and on utility-scale, and manage those distributed systems to act as a giant electric utility.

Now Tesla has made another move to bolster its non-EV enterprises with a bold slashing of its solar panel and installation prices, claiming to be one-third less expensive than the average solar industry prices. The companys Saturday statement stated: Today we are introducing the lowest-ever cost to go solar in the United States. Our average system size is now one-third less expensive than the industry average and we have recently introduced a lowest-price guarantee. If you change your mind after purchasing or are unhappy with the system, we will uninstall it and issue a full refund within seven days from system turn on.

Related: The Real Reason Russia Joined OPEC+



According to Tesla, the effect of this new cheaper pricing model will be that an average customer buying a large system in California will make their money back in only six years by reducing their electric bill, ultimately making an average of $88,000 over the systems lifetime. In New Mexico, that same system will make an average of $55,000 over its lifetime and in Vermont, $47,000. All systems, in all states, generate more value than ever when purchased with cash or financed with a solar loan.

How was Tesla able to undercut the rest of the market by a third? According to the company, it was thanks to some simple improvements to a decades-old industry which included implementing fixed panel sizes that are easier to order and install, eliminating the need for costly consultations. As Electrek reported,

Our new pricing is made possible by several simple improvements to a decades-old industry. With the update to its solar panel configurator, Tesla also updated its website to prominently feature its solar panel installation offering [...] It might be the first time that a product other than a vehicle is featured first on Teslas website, which says a lot about Teslas commitment to expanding its solar business.

Teslas ramped up solar sector comes at the same time that a massive debate over renewable energies in post-corona economic recovery plans is taking place. The pandemic has created a unique interruption to business-as-usual that many experts and pundits see as a singular opportunity for the world to effectively transition to clean energy. The World Economic Forum has questioned whether this disruption could bring a new energy order and a Forbes headline proclaimed that In A Post-Pandemic World, Renewable Energy Is The Only Way Forward.

These arguments are not without economic merit. In recent months, what PV Tech reports is a raft of new studies has come to underscore the business case of pushing renewables to the heart of the COVID-19 recovery, amid claims green energy plays offer a low-cost, high-return opportunity for investors. So far, the United States is lagging far behind the rest of the world in terms of including renewables in their COVID-19 stimulus packages, but in any case, Tesla is clearly charging ahead with or without Federal government subsidies.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The new punitive measures by the US administration will affect Syrias civilians, not their leaders. For the Syrian government, they open the door to terrorism. For Fr Amer, the problem "is not only material; meanwhile, an entire generation of young professionals is leaving. Donors and business people are afraid to send money and resources.

Damascus (AsiaNews)  The situation in Syria "is complicated at all levels" by ongoing conflicts in some regions and sanctions, which are "impoverishing" the country and forcing "an entire generation of young professionals to flee, this according to Fr Amer Kassar, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Damascus.

For the clergyman, There is not only a material problem, like money and resources, but also one of trust and hope in the future". This is compounded by the fact that the initiatives promoted by the Church also suffer from the punitive measures "and so she cannot guarantee hoped for help.

Speaking about the situation in Syria, Fr Amer points out that fighting is still going on "in the north-west, in the Idlib area, where various terrorist groups are clashing and civilians are caught up in the violence.

In the north-east "the problem is with the Kurds, who have prevented students from taking exams in recent days". The Kurds want to change the curriculum to make it Kurdish-Arab, separate from the Syrian one.

Conversely, "For those of us who live under government rule, the biggest problem is the economic situation, noted the 42-year-old Syro-Catholic priest.

Life has become very expensive; prices have increased whilst wages have remained the same, about 25-30 US dollars a month. Products, like food and basic necessities, are available but people cannot afford the 'luxury' of buying them.

Sanctions have interrupted "the purchase of goods from abroad, including medicines," putting the health system in crisis at a moment of "severe stress" due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, the Trump administration said that it would put more "political and economic" pressure on the Syrian government, with new sanctions, aimed also at President Assad's wife.

Washington's goal with the Caesar Act is to isolate Syrias leaders and force them to sit at UN-brokered peace talks from a position of weakness and inferiority.

However, despite the rhetoric and propaganda, the only effect of the new punitive measures, which come on top of those already imposed by the United States and the European Union, would affect the Syrian population, as some Christian leaders pointed out recently.

Ordinary Syrians rather than Syrias rulers will pay the heavy price for this, as prices rise, the national currency tanks, and shortages appear in stores.

Reacting to US policy, Syrian leaders have accused Washington of seeking to starve the [Syrian] people, opening the door for "terrorism" to the return to the war-torn country.

Syrias Foreign Minister, Walid al-Moallem, also believes that an attempt is underway to sway Syrias presidential election next year. As far as he is concerned, Assad will remain in power as long as the Syrian people want him to stay.

Meanwhile, donors, businesses and ordinary people are afraid of sending money or goods to Syria for fear of running up against sanctions" by the United States and Europe, Fr Amer explained.

Restrictions affect the people, not the government or the president he added. We are the ones who suffer; we are the ones without money to buy food to eat. These measures end up starving ordinary people.

In addition, the escalating crisis "is forcing more and more young doctors, engineers, graduates to flee, leaving the country "without an entire generation that should be the engine of its growth. They leave for lack of trust and hope in the future.

The clergyman adds that "Syria was rich; we had tourism, industries. Now there is nothing left and it is worse than during the darkest moments of the war. The only hope today is to have a small flat and some food on the table.

The Church is trying "to provide some support to the poorest families, but even we cannot do a lot since we have fewer funds and resources. Projects and initiatives have stopped because aid from abroad is blocked.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks about the unrest across the country from Philadelphia City Hall on June 2, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The chances of winning November's presidential election have moved "firmly" in favor of Democratic candidate Joe Biden, economists have projected.

In a report published Wednesday, analysts from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said the outlook for the election had changed dramatically in recent months, noting that while it would be closely fought, "the odds have now shifted firmly in Mr. Biden's favour."

At the beginning of this year, economists said, Trump looked set to win another term as president thanks to a thriving economy, low unemployment and disarray within the Democratic Party. However, they said "all of this has changed" amid the coronavirus crisis, the resulting recession, and the most serious wave of civil unrest in half a century.

"Trump's response to both crises has further exposed his divisive style, which is unpopular among the independent voters who will be critical in deciding the election's outcome," the report noted.

"Meanwhile, Democratic voters have rallied behind their nominee, Joe Biden."

Although Trump still benefited from a strong base, which analysts estimated accounts for 40% to 44% of the population, the EIU said the president would need to attract voters from outside of that core base in order to defeat Biden in November.

"The Trump campaign has lost most of its previous advantages in recent months," analysts said. "As a result, we do not expect him to be able to generate enough support from swing voters to follow the same narrow path to victory in 2020."
Xi eyes more stable, mature China-EU ties in post-pandemic era

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:20, June 23, 2020

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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Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci on Wednesday canceled a visit to Washington to discuss tensions with Serbia after he was charged with war crimes, the US mediator said.

Saturday's talks will go ahead with the participation of Kosovo's new Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, who has moved to ease friction with Serbia, envoy Richard Grenell said.

A tribunal in The Hague charged the veteran Kosovar leader with 10 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the country's conflict in the 1990s, accusing him and his counterparts of involvement in nearly 100 murders.

"I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settled," Grenell, a former ambassador to Germany and US intelligence chief, wrote on Twitter.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will join this weekend's talks, which are set to take place at the White House but without President Donald Trump personally.

At the heart of the dispute is Serbia's rejection of the independence that Kosovo, home to an ethnic Albanian majority, declared in 2008 after breaking away in a bloody war.

Hoti took charge earlier this month and quickly eased tensions by lifting a ban on Serbian imports.

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By The Associated Press

Jun. 24, 2020 | NASHVILLE

By The Associated Press Jun. 24, 2020 | 06:37 AM | NASHVILLE

A Tennessee newspaper has fired its advertising manager after a full-page advertisement from a religious group that predicts a terrorist attack in Nashville next month appeared in its pages.



The Tennessean reports the advertising manager at their newspaper was fired Monday after an internal investigation into the advertisement.



The ad said an attack would be carried out by unspecific interests of Islam.



An official with Gannett, the newspapers parent company, said the manager proceeded with the ad without fully reviewing it.



The newspaper says revenues from the ad sale will be refunded back to the group and Gannett will donate $14,000 to the American Muslim Advisory Council.
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A newly revised coronavirus model forecast that the US death toll will reach nearly 180,000 by October 1, and some 33,000 lives could be saved if 95% of Americans consistently wear face coverings in public.

The virus has been blamed for over 120,000 US deaths  the highest toll in the world  and more than 2.3 million confirmed infections nationwide.

The modeling released on Wednesday by University of Washington researchers forecasts 179,106 deaths (with a range of 159,497 to 213,715).

The school's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)'s new projections consider mask wearing at the current reported rates.

The modeling released on Wednesday by University of Washington researchers forecasts 179,106 deaths (with a range of 159,497 to 213,715) by October 1

Daily deaths would drop from 613 to 87 by October 1. A major difference could be seen as soon as August 1 when currently projection say there will be 551 daily deaths but 224 with 95% face mask use

The gap would increase by September 1 when the death rate will be 540 per day at the current projection rate but 96 with most of the country wearing face coverings in public. Guests wear face masks while visiting the Disney Springs shopping and dining district in Lake Buena Vista, Florida last Wednesday

But figures from the IHME estimates that the numbers would drop to 146,047 (with a range of 140,849 to 153,438) if most of the population used face masks. Current modeling is down 22,000 from the last prediction for deaths by August.

By August 1, 5,000 lives could be saved, September 1, 17,000 lives saved and October 1 a total of 33,000 lives spared with majority use of the nose and mouth coverings.

Daily deaths would drop from 613 to 87 by October 1. A major difference could be seen as soon as August 1 when currently projection say there will be 551 daily deaths but 224 with 95% face mask use.

The gap would increase by September 1 when the death rate will be 540 per day at the current rate but 96 with most of the country wearing face coverings in public.

The current daily infection rate for 61,000 by August 1 could drop to 15,000.

'People need to know that wearing masks can reduce transmission of the virus by as much as 50%, and those who refuse are putting their lives, their families, their friends, and their communities at risk,' IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray said in a statement on Wednesday.

He added that even as states open up, the US is still 'grappling with a large epidemic on a course to increase beginning in late August and intensifying in September'.

The current daily infection rate for 61,000 by August 1 could drop to 15,000 with 95% face mask use in the United States

The above graph shows how social distancing measures are expected to eased over the next few months but things could change depending on how the coronavirus cases surge in each state

The US could need 23,000 hospital beds by mid-September compared to the almost 21,000 today. The US is still 'grappling with a large epidemic on a course to increase beginning in late August and intensifying in September,' The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Director said Wednesday

Currently only Texas and Florida show signs of reaching a level of resurgence before October 1 that could include the re-imposition of strong social distancing mandates. The US could need 23,000 hospital beds by mid-September compared to the almost 21,000 today.

The mandates would be enforced when deaths per day reach 8 per one million people.

'These factors are vital in our projections and highlight how many lives can be saved,' Murray added.

While some of the increased numbers of cases can be attributed to more testing, the percentage of positive results is also climbing.

The average number of tests has risen 7.6% over the last seven days, according to data from The COVID Tracking Project, while the average number of new cases rose 30%.

'States are attempting the difficult balancing act of preserving health and enabling economic recovery,' Murray said.

'Going forward, IHME will continue to forecast for different scenarios including planned intermittent mandates in the fall when deaths per day may reach higher levels within each state, recognizing that solutions are not uniform across communities.'

On Wednesday, three states reported record increases in new cases -- Florida, Oklahoma and South Carolina. Earlier this week another seven states had record highs -- Arizona, California, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Texas and Wyoming.

The surge in cases nationwide of nearly 36,000 on Tuesday was the highest since a record of 36,426 new infections on April 24.

The virus has been blamed for over 120,000 US deaths  the highest toll in the world  and more than 2.3 million confirmed infections nationwide

At least four states are averaging double-digit rates of positive tests for the virus.

California reported over 7,100 new cases, an all-time high. Florida's single-day count surged to 5,500, a 25% jump from the record set last week and triple the level from just two weeks ago.

In Texas, which began lifting its shutdowns early on, on May 1, hospital admissions have doubled and new cases have tripled in two weeks. Governor Greg Abbott said the state is facing a 'massive outbreak' and might need new local restrictions to preserve hospital space.

The Houston area's intensive care units are nearly full, with coronavirus patients filling about one in four beds, and two local public hospitals are running at capacity, mayor Sylvester Turner said.

In Arizona, emergency rooms are seeing about 1,200 suspected COVID-19 patients a day, compared with around 500 a month ago. If the trends continue, the state will probably exceed its hospital bed capacity within the next several weeks, said Dr Joseph Gerald, a University of Arizona public health policy professor.

'We are in deep trouble,' said Dr Gerald, urging the state to impose new restrictions on businesses, which governor Doug Ducey has refused to do.

Infectious-disease expert Dr Peter Hotez of the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas said he worries that states will squander what time it has to head off a much larger crisis.

'We're still talking about subtlety, still arguing whether or not we should wear masks, and still not understanding that a vaccine is not going to rescue us,' he said.

Florida's single-day count surged to 5,500, a 25% jump from the record set last week and triple the level from just two weeks ago. Hundreds of people are pictured enjoying a warm day at Miami Beach on Wednesday

Coronavirus hospitalizations have doubled in Texas over the last month and tripled in the Greater Houston area. Pictured: A patient is wheeled into Houston Methodist Hospital, June 22

North Carolina governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, ordered people to wear masks in public as the daily count of hospital admissions and new cases hovered near records

Some of states also broke hospital admission records, as did North Carolina and South Carolina.

North Carolina governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, ordered people to wear masks in public as the daily count of hospital admissions and new cases hovered near records. In Florida, several counties and cities recently enacted mask requirements and cracked down on businesses that do not enforce social distancing rules.

By contrast, New York has been reporting positive test rates of around 1%.

The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut on Wednesday ordered travelers from nine other US states to quarantine for 14 days on arrival as COVID-19 showed signs of surging in areas not hit as hard by the initial outbreak.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said the tough new mandate was 'the smart thing to do' after the United States recorded its second-greatest increase in COVID-19 cases since in early March.

'We have taken our people, the three of us from these three states, through hell and back, and the last thing we need to do right now is subject our folks to another round,' Murphy said. COVID-19 is the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.

A White House spokesman, Judd Deere, said that he did not believe the quarantine applied to President Donald Trump, who just returned from a visit to Arizona and was scheduled to be in New Jersey this weekend.

'The President of the United States is not a civilian. Anyone who is in close proximity to him, including staff, guests, and press are tested for COVID-19 and confirmed to be negative,' Deere said.

New York City and surrounding areas were the early epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus pandemic. More than 31,000 people have died of COVID-19 in New York state, roughly one-quarter of the US total, according to a Reuters tally.

The 14-day quarantine applies to visitors from mostly southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Utah, as well as tri-state residents returning from those areas.

Violators of the order, which takes effect from midnight, could face fines of $1,000 for a first violation and $5,000 for repeat offenses, Cuomo said.

While the United States appeared to have tamped down the outbreak in May and states lifted sweeping stay-at-home orders, testing suggests the virus is moving into rural areas and other places that were initially not hit as hard.

The pandemic may also be resurgent in US states that opened earlier than others in a bid to blunt the devastating effect of coronavirus restrictions on workers and local economies as unemployment rates shot up.

Worldwide, more than 9.2 million people have been confirmed infected, and close to half a million have died.
Stocks in Asia Pacific mostly edged higher on Wednesday, as Hong Kong-listed shares of Chinese tech juggernaut Tencent slipped from record highs seen earlier in the day.

Over in South Korea, the Kospi rose 1.42% to close at 2,161.51, with shares of index heavyweight Samsung Electronics and chipmaker SK Hynix surging 2.92% and 2.26%, respectively.

Over in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index closed 0.5% lower at 24,781.58, as Tencent's stock slipped 1.33% on the day after earlier touching a new record high.

Mainland Chinese stocks were higher by their market close, with the Shanghai composite up 0.3% to about 2,979.55 while the Shenzhen component gained 0.165% to around 11,813.53.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was fractionally lower on the day at 22,534.32 while the Topix index shed 0.42% to close at 1,580.50. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.19% to finish its trading day at 5,965.70.

Overall, the MSCI Asia-ex Japan index gained 0.1%.

The moves regionally came as the coronavirus situation stateside continues to be watched, with White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci warning Tuesday that parts of the U.S. are beginning to see a "disturbing surge" of Covid-19 cases.

In a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Fauci said he is "quite concerned" about the rise in coronavirus cases in states that "reflect an increase in community spread." He did also say, however, that states with growing coronavirus outbreaks may not need to do an "absolute shutdown."

More than 2 million people in the U.S. have been infected with the coronavirus so far, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

"COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise in the US, but for now markets are having trouble with the implications given the high bar to re-imposing restrictions," Tapas Strickland, director of economics at National Australia Bank, wrote in a note.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan said: "It is still unclear when the spread of COVID-19 will subside on a global basis, as the spread is continuing in emerging economies in particular. It seems inevitable that the negative impact on the global economy, including Japan, will become prolonged without effective vaccines and medicines."

"Due to expectations for the future, prices in financial markets have been high compared with the current severe situation of the real economy. It is necessary to closely monitor future developments in the markets to see whether there will be a correction in asset prices," the BoJ said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jun. 24

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan amounted to $36 million over first four months of 2020 compared to $94.4 million during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee.

The share of Azerbaijan in total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at 0.1 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 0.3 percent during the same period of 2019.

Kazakhstans export to Azerbaijan amounted to $26.3 million over the period from January through April 2020 compared to $88.7 million during the same period of 2019.

Azerbaijans share in total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to 0.1 percent during the reporting period of 2020, compared to 0.5 percent during the same period of 2019.

In turn, Kazakhstans import from Azerbaijan amounted to $9.7 million over the reporting period compared to $5.7 million during the same period of 2019.

Azerbaijans total share in Kazakhstans import was 0.1 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 0.1 percent during the same period of 2019.

Total volume of Kazakhstans trade turnover made up $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).

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
Workers At Iran's Restive Industrial Complex On Strike For Second Week

Radio Farda June 23, 2020

Workers at one of Iran's most restive industrial units, the Haft Tapeh sugarcane complex resumed their strike for the eighth consecutive day on Monday, June 22.

They are demanding three-month overdue wages and protesting the non-renewal of their social welfare and medical insurance, as well as lack of job security.

According to the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Union, the protesting workers have held two rallies. One of the assemblies took place in front of the company's administration office and the other outside the governor's building in the city of Shush in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan, southwest Iran.

Workers at the vast complex also demand to return the mill to the public sector.

In 2015, the company was handed over to two businessmen with dubious records. The change has led to harsh criticism from thousands of sugarcane workers in Haft Tappeh, as well as dozens of economists, and even some members of parliament.

Handing over the ownership of the complex to the private sector has brought a plethora of problems for the once-lucrative complex, they argue. The workers have been sporadically protesting since 2018 and often they were met with harsh reactions by security forces and local officials. Many were arrested and sentenced to prison.

The Islamic Republic Judiciary has recently charged the principal owner of the mill, Omid Assadbeigi, with large-scale foreign currency violations. Eight court hearings related to his case have been held so far.

Mr. Assadbeigi is currently free on bail. The sugarcane workers insist that he was released on the condition of paying the overdue wages, but he has not fulfilled the promise so far.

The Haft Tappeh complex is the only factory of its kind in Iran. It was built more than half a century ago during the reign of the last shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The agro-industrial complex was lucrative until the Islamic Republic decided to sell it to the private sector in a murky transaction in 2015.

The complex, built on 2 hectares, was sold to the private buyers for a down payment of roughly $2 million. It is not clear if any other payments have ever been made.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/workers-at -iran-restive-industrial-complex-on- strike-for-second-week/30685851.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 Sons of Confederate Veterans say they were responsible for the Defund NASCAR Confederate flag banner that flew over the Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.

The Columbia, Tennessee-based group hired a small airplane to pass over the track before the race, which was postponed Sunday and completed Monday. NASCAR banned Confederate flags from its events last week at the request of driver Bubba Wallace, who is Black.

"NASCAR's banning the display of the Confederate battle flag by its fans is nothing less than trampling upon Southerners' First Amendment Right of free expression," Sons of Confederate Veterans Commander in Chief Paul C. Gramling Jr. said. "This un-American act shall not go unchallenged. [On Sunday], members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans' Confederate Air Force displayed its disapproval of NASCAR's trampling upon the First Amendment Rights of Southerners. During and before the start of the NASCAR race in Talladega, Alabama, race, our plane flew a banner announcing a drive to 'defund NASCAR.'

"It is the hope of the Sons of Confederate Veterans that NASCAR fans will be allowed the fundamental American right of displaying pride in their family and heritage. The Sons of Confederate Veterans is proud of the diversity of the Confederate military and our modern Southland. We believe NASCAR's slandering of our Southern heritage only further divides our nation. The Sons of Confederate Veterans will continue to defend not only our right but the Right of all Americans to celebrate their heritage. We trust NASCAR will do the same."

A banner, flying behind a plane over Talladega Superspeedway on June 21 ahead of the scheduled NASCAR Cup Series race, reads: "DEFUND NASCAR."

NASCAR did not acknowledge the plane or the banner. Executive vice president Steve O'Donnell tweeted a picture Sunday of Black and White hands shaking: "You won't see a photo of a jackass flying a flag over the track here ... but you will see this ... Hope EVERYONE enjoys the race today."

Signs prohibiting Confederate flags were posted outside entrances at Talladega Superspeedway before the GEICO 500. It was the second NASCAR race to allow spectators in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets were limited to 5,000 pre-selected fans.

Gramling said the flyover was paid for by the group's private donors. He said the decision harks back to 20 years ago, when the group flew over Chattanooga with protest messages when it had trouble hanging the flag in the city during conventions.

"What NASCAR did was a slap in the face to fans who made the sport what it is," Gramling said. "They don't know how upset they've made people with this decision. I really don't care what NASCAR thinks about what we did. It's the least of my concerns."

The group might fly the banner over more NASCAR venues this season. Gramling said supporters loved the idea and reacted with excitement after watching it on television.

"We've had quite a bit of reaction," Gramling said. "It's been very well received by everyone except NASCAR. This is the hottest, quickest thing we've done to raise awareness of flag issues and to get a strong reaction in quite a while."

The Sons of Confederate Veterans say on their website that they're "preserving the history and legacy of these heroes so that future generations can understand the motives that animated the Southern cause" in the Civil War.

The national organization's headquarters is located inside Elm Springs, a two-story brick Greek Revival house built in 1837, just south of Columbia at 740 Mooresville Pike. The group has built a National Confederate Museum on the property. Its grand opening has been delayed by the coronavirus until fall.



2020 The News-Journal, Daytona Beach, Fla.

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We're honored to have Mrs. Obama with us at our Summit this year. The impact she has made in this country, and around the world, is deeply inspiring and motivating to our girl leaders shes a role model for using your voice, said Melissa Kilby, Executive Director of Girl Up.

Girl Up, the gender equality initiative of the United Nations Foundation, today announced that former First Lady Michelle Obama will kick off its annual leadership conference with a special message for young female leaders and gender equality activists around the world. This news comes on the heels of Girl Ups announcement about the speaker line up for its virtual Girl Up Leadership Summit, which will take place online on July 13-15, 2020.

Mrs. Obama, a champion of girls education, will share a special message on behalf of the Obama Foundations Girls Opportunity Alliance, a program that seeks to empower adolescent girls around the world through education, enabling them to achieve their full potential and transform their families, communities, and countries. Girl Up and the Girls Opportunity Alliance have worked together in the past to promote grassroots and girl-led actions, and to mobilize their networks in support of girls education. Access to education is a human right, and girls access to quality education is essential to achieve gender equality and create an equitable world.

We're honored to have Mrs. Obama with us at our Summit this year. The impact she has made in this country, and around the world, is deeply inspiring and motivating to our girl leaders shes a role model for using your voice, said Melissa Kilby, Executive Director of Girl Up.

This years Summit, presented by P&G, is themed We Need To Talk, pushing conversations about issues intersecting with gender equality, like representation in STEM and sports, access to education, and how to create solutions for gender-based violence.

Also joining Mrs. Obama as part of the Girl Up Leadership Summit speaker line-up:



Nadia Murad, 2018 Nobel Peace Laureate, UN Goodwill Ambassador, and Founder and President of Nadias Initiative

Sheryl Sandberg, COO Facebook and Founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org

Storm Reid, Actress and Activist

Dr. Tererai Trent, Global Humanitarian, Author, Scholar and Educator

Monique Coleman, Emmy-Nominated Host, Actress, Champion for Young People

Liz Plank, Author, Activist and Journalist

Wade Davis, Thought Leader, Writer, Educator on Gender, Race, and Orientation Equality

More speakers will be announced in coming weeks. The in-person version of Girl Ups flagship Leadership Summit in the nations capital has brought together more than 3,000 young activists to learn the issues and advocate Congress in recent years. Girl Up expects thousands more to join this years Summit in an online setting. Registration is open until July 13, 2020. Visit GirlUp.org/Summit to learn more.

###

About Girl Up

Girl Up is a global leadership development initiative, positioning girls to be leaders in the movement for gender equality. With resources in six languages and 3,500 Girl Up Clubs in more than 120 countries, weve trained 65,000 girls of all backgrounds to create tangible change for girls everywhere.

Girl Up provides leadership training and gives girls tools to become gender equality advocates and activists. Through our programs, girls broaden their social impact skill set, benefit from a platform to tell their stories, and apply STEM for social good. Our girl leaders create real policy change at local and national levels, help raise millions of dollars to support United Nations programs that reach tens of thousands of girls around the world, and build community-based movements. Girl Up was founded by the United Nations Foundation in 2010, and continues to work across a global community of partners to achieve gender equality worldwide.


A Texas congresswoman who has been working with the family of Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen said that "foul play" is suspected in her disappearance. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat who represents Houston, gave the update in a news conference Tuesday after meeting Army officials at the base.

"They're using the words now, 'foul play,' and they're looking at potential criminal activity having occurred," Garcia said. "The question is who, what and when. And we've been reassured that they're going to do everything they can, they will leave no stone unturned until they find Vanessa."

Garcia said investigators did not reveal what led Army officials to the conclusion and only said that her last contact was at 11:30 a.m. on April 22. The 20-year-old has been missing since that day. Her car and room keys, identification card and wallet were found in an armory room where she was working earlier in the day.

The congresswoman said she spoke to Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Texas Senator Ted Cruz about the case, which is now being treated as a criminal investigation.

"Everyone is in agreement," she said. "We will give this base the assets and resources they need to find Vanessa."

Vanessa Guillen, 20, has been missing since April 22. / Credit: U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command

Last week, officials said they were launching a probe into allegations Guillen was sexually harassed before her disappearance. The family's attorney, Natalie Khawam, said Tuesday during the visit with Army ofiicials, they brought up Guillen's allegation that a sergeant went to her shower while she was naked.

"There's a lot of gaps in their stories or their interviews or their information that they provided us," Khawam said.

"What's more disturbing is that they refused to tell us who she was working with, the supervisor she was working with that day," she added.

Army officials invited Guillen's mother, Gloria, to accompany their search in Leon River earlier in the week, but she said she didn't feel well. She blasted the Army's handling of her daughter's disappearance.

Story continues

"They took too long to look for my daughter because I begged from the start for them to close the base and put their over 30,000 soldiers to look for my daughter and they didn't do it," she said in Spanish. "Why put on a show now to say you've looked for a my daughter? Why now? I demand justice and I demand their respect and for my daughter as a a soldier."

Guillen said her daughter had wanted to enlist in the Army since she was 10 years old. Now, she's demanding the Army to not hide anything.

"I want my daughter to be alive," she said. "Because if God forbid my daughter turns up dead, close this base!"

Guillen's case has sparked many people online to help in her search. In addition to Rep. Garcia, actress Salma Hayek has also been posting about the case on her social pages.

A $50,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to Guillen. The U.S. Army Criminal Command and the League of United Latin American Citizens are both contributing $25,000.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

By Fidan Babayeva  Trend:

The foreign trade operations of Azerbaijan and Belarus amounted to $112.6 million from January through May 2020, demonstrating a 21.2 percent growth compared to the same period of 2019, Trend reports citing the statistical bulletin of the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Azerbaijan.

According to report, the export of Azerbaijani products to Belarus in the first 5 months of this year amounted to $64.5 million, while a year earlier this figure was equal to $9.1 million.

Thus, over the reporting period, Belarus purchased 7 times more products from Azerbaijan than in the same period of the previous year. The share of Belarus in the total export of Azerbaijan also increased by about 0.8 percent, from 0.11 to 0.93 percent of the total export.

Import of Belarusian products to Azerbaijan almost doubled, declining year on year from $83.7 million to $48.1 million. The share of Belarus in the total import of Azerbaijan also decreased from 1.43 to 1.15 percent of the total import.

In general, the ratio of export-import in foreign trade relations between the two countries for the indicating period has become more balanced towards exports.

So, if from January through May 2019, the foreign trade relations were marked by a significant margin towards imports  10 percent and 90 percent, respectively, then the ratio of exports to imports in January through May 2020 amounted to 57 percent and 43 percent, respectively.

Thus, the balance of foreign trade between the two countries during the reporting period became positive and amounted to $16.4 million.

In general, in the first 5 months of 2020, the foreign trade turnover of Azerbaijan amounted to $11.1 billion, which is 22.9 percent less compared to the same period of 2019. The balance of foreign trade turnover on an annualized basis increased by 0.9 percent and remained positive, amounting to $2.8 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: Fidan_Babaeva
Vietnamese cybersecurity corporation Bkav has uncovered spyware being disseminated via a fake website of the Ministry of Public Security with the aim to secretly gather victims' sensitive data.

The spyware can be planted in a victim's smartphone to track and collect their data and then transfer it to the hackers' remote server, Bkav said in a statement on Tuesday,.

Bkav estimated there had been over 300 victims of the spyware, which is named VN84App.

Analysis by the firms cybersecurity experts shows that VN84App has been disseminated via many websites under the guise of public authorities, including one that pretends to be the official portal of Vietnams Ministry of Public Security.

Hackers trick online users into accessing the fake websites and lure them into downloading the VN84App app as an .apk file.

Once downloaded and installed, the spyware silently gathers sensitive data such as messages, contacts, the devices IMEI number, and more and sends the stolen information to the hackers remote server.

Bkavs experts also found that one of the hackers servers had a Chinese interface and the messages collected by the spyware contained information on bank transactions worth billions of Vietnam dong. (VND1 billion = US$43,000)

VN84App is dangerous spyware built to gather the victims' messages, including sensitive information such as one-time passwords for bank transactions and personal messages, said Nguyen Van Cuong, head of the Bkav analysis team.

The malicious software is also programmed to include other modules capable of conducting potential further attacks later on, Cuong added.

Bkav said it is working with competent authorities to intercept and deal with the VN84App spyware.

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Texas couple married for 53 years die from coronavirus while holding hands

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A beloved couple who died 50 minutes apart while holding hands at a hospital in Fort Worth are among the more than 2,200 coronavirus-related fatalities in Texas as the state has reported a surge in infections that has brought the total to at least 125,000 cases statewide Wednesday.

Curtis Tarpley, 79, and his wife Betty, 80, died last week at the Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital after brief battles with the virus, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

The couples son Tim Tarpley, a personal trainer who also works with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, told the publication that his mother began feeling ill a few weeks ago but believed it was a sinus infection or a toothache.

Tim Tarpley, who was temporarily staying with his parents during the pandemic, said he took his mother to the hospital. She tested positive for the virus on June 9. He urged his father to try to stay active and let him know if he felt ill.

He told me Thursday [June 11] that he was feeling weak so I said, Lets go, Tarpley recalled. I took him to the hospital Thursday afternoon and his first two tests were negative, but they admitted him.

On June 15, Tim Tarpley tested positive for the virus and his fathers condition declined. His father was eventually retested for the virus again and it was confirmed that he too had been infected with the coronavirus.

Mayor Price also quarantined herself and got tested because of her work with Tim Tarpley.

The couple, who had underlying conditions to go along with the virus, never improved.

In a Facebook video, Tim Tarpley said that his parents died in true Tarpley fashion by dying close to the same time while holding hands.

Its pretty romantic, Tim Tarpley said.

Tarpley and his sister, Tricia, said they knew their parents were ready to go.

My mother always said she didnt want to live to be 100 and she very much believed this world was temporary and it was a stop on going off to a better place, Tricia told the newspaper. She knew something better was coming and she was fine with that.

In their final moments, nurses at the hospital moved the couple into the same room so they could spend the time together as they held hands.

His mother and daddy, thanks to the nurses at the hospital, brought his father into the room with his mother. And his mother and father died holding hands after 51 years (sic) of marriage. And they died 50 minutes apart, Price said in a video message.

I think those nurses are to be commended and they are just a great example of what happens. And arent we blessed that they were able to have that and that Tim and his sister were able to have the closure that their parents were together even on the heels of a tragic loss like that from COVID?

In an interview with KBTX Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott said that Texas reached an all-time high of more than 5,000 new COVID-19 cases and urged residents to stay home whenever possible.

The governor also raised concern that too many Texans arent taking the virus seriously.

The first obligation that we have is to make sure people around the state really comprehend the magnitude of the challenge were dealing with, Abbott said. There remain a lot of people in the state of Texas who think that the spread of COVID-19 is really not a challenge.

Abbott warned that the hospitalization rate is at an all-time high.

The coronavirus is serious, he stressed. Its spreading in Brazos County, across the entire state of Texas, which is exactly why action is being taken.

KBXT reports that the state is increasing enforcement and testing in areas where the virus spreading and urging people to stay home whenever possible. Abbott also asked Texans to practice social distancing and wear masks.

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, he said. Unless you do need to go out, the safest place for you is at your home.

Other reports are also showing an upward trend in infections in southern states like Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina, particularly among the young.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 10:28:29|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

SHANGHAI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai reported two new imported COVID-19 cases and no increase in locally transmitted cases on Tuesday, the municipal health commission said Wednesday.

The imported cases included a Chinese student studying in Britain and an Indian.

The student departed from Britain on June 18 and arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on June 19 after transferring in Sri Lanka, showing symptoms during the isolated observation period and was confirmed as a COVID-19 patient.

The other person from India arrived in Shanghai on June 20, and later confirmed as a COVID-19 patient after showing symptoms during the isolated observation period.

The patients have been receiving treatment in a designated hospital. A total of 61 close contacts on the flights have been put under quarantine.

As of Tuesday, Shanghai had reported a total of 362 confirmed imported cases and 341 locally transmitted cases. Enditem
The disappearing symbols of democracy in Thailand lead to concerns that the government is trying to wipe out history.

Reminders of Thailands democratic history are vanishing, as monuments and historical buildings are taken down, altered or renamed.

Pro-democracy activists used Wednesdays anniversary of the 1932 revolution that introduced democracy to Thailand to raise the alarm about the governments attempt to erase history.

Al Jazeeras Scott Heidler reports from Bangkok.
Call it a club of not-so-miserable ghosts. Former UK prime minister David Cameron and local counterpart Malcolm Turnbull joined forces on Tuesday night in an online discussion for the Coalition for Conservation, a Liberal-interest group intent on promoting clean energy policy in coalition parties.

David Cameron and Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:Illustration: Joe Benke

The former British leader shared his experience spearheading the UK Tories Vote Blue, Go Green campaign that paved the way for Boris Johnsons net-zero emissions by 2050 policy. Turnbull, for his part, reverted to his favourite pastime - blasting his former conservative colleagues for their failure to take climate change seriously. Standard.

The improbably-named Coalition for Conservation includes Liberal heavyweights like former NSW premier Nick Greiner, federal ministers Robert Hill and Philip Ruddock, and former NSW minister Robyn Parker, as ambassadors. In Victoria, former premier Ted Baillieu is backing the group ahead of an official state launch next week.

As for the webinar, supposedly hosted under Chatham House rules, Turnbull dished on the reactionary elements of his former colleagues, labelling them terrorists who dynamited, sabotaged and subsequently abandoned his National Energy Guarantee.
Deputy chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) Vo Huy Cuong has recently affirmed there is no restriction on any international air route and that it is up to airlines to decide whether they want to resume regular flights in the context that Vietnam still bars entry to foreigners.

At a government meeting on June 10, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked authorities to enable experts, investors, business managers, and skilled workers to enter Vietnam to resume work following mandatory quarantine.

Vietnam has barred entry to foreign nationals since March 22 and suspended international flights from March 25 in a bid to curb the spread of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In accordance with PM Phucs direction on June 10, the CAAV has issued a notice to Vietnamese airlines that there is no longer restriction on any flight route, including to China  where the first COVID-19 outbreak was reported.

There are no restrictions on cargo flights to Vietnam and vice versa, and no restrictions on flights bringing people out of Vietnam, Cuong said.

Although there is not yet an exact time for the reopening of international routes, we are still seeking solutions to recover international routes. We now maintain international cargo arrivals and departures but still limit the entry of passengers, the official Vietnam News Agency quoted Cuong as saying in an article published earlier this month.

For instance, the flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has been operating four regular flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Seoul in South Korea on a weekly basis, according to the airlines deputy general director Le Hong Ha.

In addition, charter and cargo flights have also been bringing foreign passengers to Vietnam, Ha said.

Japanese and Taiwanese airlines also recently carried experts and skilled workers to Vietnam [with permission from the CAAV], Cuong, the CAAVs deputy chief, said.

According to Cuong, if airlines seek to resume regular international flights, the CAAV shall review their request to give permission.

However, as the mass admission of foreign nationals into Vietnam is still disallowed, carriers should take into consideration the efficiency of restoring such regular international services, he noted.

Cuong affirmed that Vietnamese airlines are capable of immediately resuming the operations of international flights thanks to rotating work schedules maintained by aircrews.

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Duane Smith has been acclaimed chair and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) after the only other candidate in the race withdrew. Patrick Gruben submitted his withdrawal in writing to Todd Orvitz, the returning officer, on Jan. 19, and the election, scheduled for Jan. 26, was cancelled. This will be Smith's fourth term at the helm of the IRC. Smith was born and raised in Inuvik, and has been the IRC's chair and CEO since 2016. The 42 directors of the six community corporations in th
Mel Gibson has denied claims made by Winona Ryder that he made anti-Semitic comments directed at her at a party in the 90s.



The actress recently told The Times Gibson made the comments at a Hollywood party in 1995.

Ryder, born Winona Laura Horowitz, told 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? The anti-Semitic term refers to Jews who were not incinerated at Nazi camps and escaped the Holocaust.

Gibsons reps told The New York Post This is 100% untrue, in an emailed statement. The reps said, She lied about it over a decade ago, when she talked to the press, and shes lying about it now.



Ryder discussed the reported incident in a 2010 GQ article, where she told the story and said he mentioned oven dodgers, but I didn't get it. I'd never heard that before. It was just this weird, weird moment. I was like, 'He's anti-Semitic and he's homophobic.' No one believed me!"

Gibsons reps said, Also, she lied about him trying to apologize 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.

Getty Images

This is not the first time Gibson has been accused of making anti-Semitic remarks.

In 2006, after the Passion of the Christ actor was booked for a DUI near Malibu, he told a police officer: Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.

Gibson is currently set to star in four movies in 2020, including the $23 million-budget Force of Nature.

Ryder has since responded with a statement. The Stranger Things star said: "I believe in redemption and forgiveness and hope that Mr. Gibson has found a healthy way to deal with his demons, but I am not one of them. Around 1996, my friend Kevyn Aucoin and I were on the receiving end of his hateful words. It is a painful and vivid memory for me. Only by accepting responsibility for our behavior in this life, can we make amends and truly respect each other, and I wish him well on this lifelong journey."
Blackstone Group Inc., BX 0.46% one of the most coveted employers on Wall Street, is throwing out a key section of its recruiting playbook in a bid to improve its hiring process and increase diversity.

The investing giant and its private-equity peers have long engaged in a yearly race to pluck junior investment bankers already trained in spreadsheet and PowerPoint wizardry from firms such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley. The prize for those lucky enough to make the jump: entry-level jobs that can pay as much as $300,000 a year at some firms.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS How do you think a more diverse talent pool would change Blackstone? Join the conversation below.

Now Blackstone officials say the firm plans to sit out that contest in favor of on-campus recruiting, already its main source of talent and one that it is expanding to bring in more candidates directly from schools, including historically black colleges and universities and womens colleges. Blackstone, which has been working for years to extend its campus reach, says it will directly recruit from 44 schools this academic year. That is up from just nine in 2015.

The change has been in the works since last year, but Blackstone is implementing it at a moment when companies are grappling with how to address racial inequality following the killing of George Floyd, an African-American man, while in custody of Minneapolis police.

Globally, 40% of Blackstones current incoming class of analysts are women, up from less than 20% in 2015. Nearly half of the members of its incoming U.S. analyst class are women or minorities, and the firm says half of its major businesses have a woman or minority as one of the top two leaders. But officials at Blackstone, which doesnt disclose overall diversity figures, acknowledge they have a lot of work to do to transform a business that is still overwhelmingly white and male, especially in its uppermost ranksas is the case with most of its main rivals.

We can widen our aperture of applicants to include a much more diverse group of people, says Paige Ross, Blackstones global head of human resources. PHOTO: BLACKSTONE

Given its heft and prestige, Blackstones decision to sit out the bank-recruitment rush has the potential to influence how other firms find talent in an industry in which only 11.5% of senior executives are women, according to a February report by Preqin, and an even smaller percentage are black or Hispanic.

Blackstone, the largest buyout firm with $538 billion of assets, received nearly 15,000 applications for just 90 full-time analyst roles that started last year. It has two main sources of new junior talent: campuses and investment banks, which have their own hotly competitive entry-level hiring operations.

In the case of the latter, recruitment used to happen during the summer after applicants first year on the job, but it has steadily crept forward as private-equity firms jump the starting gun in hopes of securing the best candidates. In 2019, recruiting took place in September, just a couple months after candidates began working at banksfor roles that wouldnt start until summer 2021.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel on Wednesday to abandon plans to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning this threatened prospects for peace with the Palestinians.

"If implemented, annexation would constitute a most serious violation of international law, grievously harm the prospect of a two-state solution and undercut the possibilities of a renewal of negotiations," Guterres told the UN Security Council.

"I call on the Israeli Government to abandon its annexation plans," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet is preparing to start discussions on July 1 on annexation of the West Bank, territory Israel captured in a 1967 war and that Palestinians seek for a state.

Palestinians vehemently oppose the annexation plan, as do most world powers. Palestinian leaders have also completely rejected a peace proposal unveiled in January by US President Donald Trump, in which Washington would recognise Jewish settlements as part of Israel.

"Should Israel decide to extend its sovereignty, it will be doing so with respect to areas over which it has always maintained a legitimate, historical and legal claim," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told the council.

Senior aides to Trump began discussions on Tuesday on whether to give Netanyahu a green light for his annexation plan. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that extending Israeli sovereignty was a decision "for Israelis to make."

"I understand that many of you have concerns," US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft told the council. "At the same time, we ask that you also hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for acts they are responsible for."

Guterres called on the Middle East Quartet of mediators - the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - "to take up our mandated mediation role and find a mutually agreeable framework for the parties to re-engage, without preconditions, with us and other key states."
H undreds of north London parents and former pupils are calling for a primary school named after an 18th century slave owner to be rechristened in honour of one of London's first black headteachers.

Beckford School in West Hampstead is believed to have been named in the 1920s after William Beckford, a former Lord Mayor of London who owned an estate in Jamaica with more than 3,000 slaves, or his son, an artist who lived off proceeds of the estate.

Following worldwide Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, statues to slave owners have been torn down in cities as far apart as Bristol and Virginia.

Universities and schools are now being pressured by parents and pupils to take down statues of slavers - and to change the names of institutions named after them.

In the past week more than 500 parents have signed a petition calling for Beckford School to be renamed after former headteacher Beryl Gilroy, who took over at the school in 1969.

The school has confirmed it is looking into the possibility of acquiring a new name / Getty Images

Parent Steve Hogarth launched a petition to both the school and Camden Council online, stating that re-naming the school in Ms Gilroys honour would be the perfect way of addressing contemporary concerns while also honouring the school's history of successful inclusion and diversity.

Ms Gilroy, who emigrated to London from Guyana as part of the Windrush generation, was head of the primary between 1969 and 1982. An education expert, Ms Gilroy - who died in 2001 aged 76 - was made an honorary fellow by the Institute of Education.

As well as a headteacher, she was a novelist and poet who The Guardian described in an obituary as "one of Britain's most significant post-war Caribbean migrants.

She took over at Beckford around the same time Yvonne Conolly became Britain's first black headteacher at a school in nearby Highbury.

Along with all Labour-led London councils, Camden this month announced a cross-party review to re-examine statues, monuments and place names in the borough.

The school has confirmed it will look to consult on a potential new name, and any formal renaming would take place in September 2021. Headteacher Sam Drake also told the Standard the school is already planning to paint a large mural to Ms Gilroy.

Dominic Dawes, a former pupil who attended the school between 174 and 1982, during Ms Gilroys tenure, said: "Beryl Gilroy was absolutely central in fostering this culture in the school and among the wider community.

"She inspired pupils, teachers and the community alike, and was a pioneering force in creating truly positive and caring community relations between people of many different backgrounds  and at a time when racism in Britain was still rife.

"The name of Mrs. Gilroy is a far more significant part of the history of Beckford school than that of William Beckford. Given the reason has already been taken to reconsider the name of the school... I and many other ex-pupils of the school believe there can be no more perfect solution than to name it after Beryl Gilroy.

"To do so would speak simultaneously to present concerns and past history, and would send a positive message about the school's past, its present and its future."

Bristol's Mayor has said the statue of slaver Edward Colston torn down by Black Lives Matter protesters in Bristol is to go to the city's museum / PA

Mr Drake said: "As a school, we stand together with the local authority in rejecting racism. We also believe in educating our children, so that we can move forward together towards an equal society.

"William Beckford is not an individual that we celebrate at school and there are no statues or paintings on the premises. In fact, most of the staff, including myself, were not aware of his significance until very recently.

"Once Camden have reviewed the origin of the name and we are told that it is definitely linked to William Beckford, we will start the consultation.

"Beryl Gilroy is a very significant figure in the history of Beckford Primary School and it understandable that her name would be considered. In my first assembly I referred to her and the children all know about her history.

"We will involve all of the schools stakeholders: parents, governors, staff and of course children. However, the final decision will rest with the governing body. Camden have informed us that the formal renaming would probably take place in September 2021.

"This will allow us to take into consideration all of the required changes, including uniform and logo."

Calls have also been made to rename east Londons Branfil Primary School, which is named after a slave-trading squire, while Queens' School in Bushey, Hertfordshire, has said it will rename a house named after Sir Francis Drake.

Leading private schools including Westminster School have been pressured to address curriculums accused of being colonialist.

The TES reported east Londons Sir John Cass Red Coat School last week called an emergency meeting of the school's Governing Bodyto discuss the legacy of John Cass and consider a proposal to remove his statue and bust located on the school premises and to rename the school.

Sir John Cass was a philanthropist and merchant who profited from the slave trade.
LONDON - Across the pond 

The arch phrase describing the Atlantic Ocean has long been an inside joke for those who regularly hopscotched over its untamed expanse. It implied that an ocean known for dashing helpless schooners upon jagged shores for centuries, swallowing the Titanic, leaving armies of fishermens widows and giving birth to devastating hurricanes every year was no issue to those with ties on both sides.

That has changed.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the Atlantic is a real live ocean once again, a barrier thousands of miles wide for a journalist in London who has a mother, three children, two grandchildren and scores of relatives on the other side.

What I have been denying for years, aided by FaceTime and frequent flights to all parts of the United States, is now staring me in the face: I am too far away.

This realization has taken months. In January, I was focused on Britains departure from the European Union. In February, as Italy discovered its coronavirus outbreak, I was on a Caribbean family vacation. I did not know those would be the last family hugs for the indefinite future.

By the time we fully realized the danger, my husband was down in South Africa for a monthlong hiking trip that was cancelled the day he arrived. As borders closed, it took him a week to get home, then 14 days in quarantine.

Work-wise, its been all COVID-19, all the time, so I know how lucky I am. My mother has not died alone and untested in an Italian nursing home. No grandchildren have been hospitalized for a mystery inflammatory disease. I did not lose my job overnight as lockdowns threw millions out of work. I can work from home, even if my husband grumbles about it.

But that ocean. The list of life events missed across that damn ocean is mushrooming.

We could not help my stepdaughter in Chicago as her husband came down with COVID-19 just as our 5-month-old granddaughter stopped sleeping at night. Then she herself became symptomatic. We were eager to soothe a cranky baby, cook some meals, feel useful.

You are not coming home in my lifetime, my mother declared last year. I said she would live to be 100. But COVID-19 does not care if you are the sportiest 84-year-old in Rochester, N.Y.

I did not go to my first college reunion in 20 years or host a birthday party for Mom. We did not babysit in Chicago to give the new parents an anniversary trip. We did not take Amtrak across the country to visit Glacier National Park or host a rehearsal dinner for my stepsons wedding in Montana. The wedding was cancelled. Last weekend we received a Facebook notification that he was married.

Now I stare out the window as my British neighbours chat, 8 feet apart, with relatives outside. Or as their children, the same age as my grandson, colour the driveway with chalk.

I used to fly across that ocean five times a year and shrug off the jet lag. Dont tell British Airways, but I would pay millions now to get on that London to Denver flight, which soars over Greenland, Hudson Bay and the vast Canadian tundra. Last time the sunlight was so beautiful I shot 15 minutes of Greenland glacier video and sent it to our feature team.

If the stars aligned, I could work early in London, fly to Ottawa and be in upstate New York with mom for a late dinner.

What am I going to do now? A second possible coronavirus wave looms over any cross-Atlantic plans this fall: grandchildrens birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas. I have already rescheduled a flight home this summer twice, but the Canadian border that I need to cross is not open.

So send me advice. Im all ears. I would hate for Mom to be right on this one.

___

Virus Diary, an occasional feature, showcases the coronavirus pandemic through the eyes of Associated Press journalists around the world. See previous entries here. Follow AP Europe Desk senior editor Sheila Norman-Culp on Twitter at http://twitter.com/snormanculp
NEWS RELEASE Release Number: 2020-53 June 23, 2020

Cal/OSHA Reminds Employers to Prevent Heat Illness during Period of High Heat

OaklandCal/OSHA is reminding all employers with outdoor workers to review high heat advisories in effect across California this week and to take steps to prevent heat illness. The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories this week for Monday through Saturday due to a period of high temperatures in many interior parts of the state from Shasta to Kern counties.

Californias heat illness prevention standard applies to all outdoor workers, including those in agriculture, construction, landscaping and those that spend a significant amount of time working outdoors such as security guards and groundskeepers, or in non-air conditioned vehicles such as transportation and delivery drivers.

While taking steps to protect their workers from heat illness, employers must also have a plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at each worksite. Employers should be attentive to allow enough space and time for employees to take breaks as needed in adequate shade while also maintaining a safe distance from one another. For many employers this will require staggered breaks or increased shaded break areas, or both. Extra infection prevention measures should be in place such as disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, including the water and restroom facilities.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, employers should provide cloth face coverings or allow workers to use their own. Cloth face coverings may help prevent the spread of the disease. Employers should be aware that wearing face coverings can make it more difficult to breathe and harder for a worker to cool off, so additional breaks may be needed to prevent overheating. Workers should have face coverings at all times, but they should be removed in outdoor high heat conditions to help prevent overheating as long as physical distancing can be maintained.

Supervisors and workers must be trained on the signs and symptoms of heat illness so that they know when to take steps that can prevent a coworker from getting sick. Employers must also evaluate each worksite and make sure their workers know their procedures for contacting emergency medical services, which includes directing them to the worksite if needed.

Employers with outdoor workers must take the following steps to prevent heat illness:

Plan  Develop and implement an effective written heat illness prevention plan that includes emergency response procedures.

Training  Train all employees and supervisors on heat illness prevention.

Water  Provide drinking water that is fresh, pure, suitably cool and free of charge so that each worker can drink at least 1 quart per hour, and encourage workers to do so.

Shade  Provide shade when workers request it or when temperatures exceed 80 degrees. Encourage workers to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least five minutes when they feel the need to do so. They should not wait until they feel sick to cool down.

Cal/OSHAs Heat Illness Prevention special emphasis program includes enforcement of heat regulations as well as multilingual outreach and training programs for Californias employers and workers. Details on heat illness prevention requirements and training materials are available online on Cal/OSHAs Heat Illness Prevention web page and the 99calor.org informational website. A Heat Illness Prevention online tool is also available on Cal/OSHAs website.

Read more on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at work on Cal/OSHAs webpage. Review and share DIRs Know Your Rights videos, with information on workers compensation, health and safety, paid sick leave and other labor laws in California.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers and workers who have questions or need assistance with workplace health and safety programs can call Cal/OSHAs Consultation Services Branch at 800-963-9424.

Complaints about workplace safety and health hazards can be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices. Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIRs Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734).

Contact: Erika Monterroza / Frank Polizzi, Communications@dir.ca.gov, (510) 286-1161.
Actor-filmmaker Shekhar Suman on Wednesday started a forum to demand a CBI probe in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death. The #JusticeforSushantForum has been created to pressurise the government for the CBI inquiry.

In a series of tweets, he also urged people to raise their voice against mafias to ensure that another tragedy like this is avoided in the future.

Shekhar Suman, who also hails from Bihar, tweeted in the afternoon, "I'm forming a forum called #JusticeForSushantForum, where I implore just about everyone one to pressurise the govt to launch a CBI inquiry into Sushant's death, raise their voices against this kind of tyranny and gangism and tear down the mafias. I solicit your support."

Im forming a Forum called #justiceforSushantforum.where i implore just about ev one to pressurize the govt to launch a CBI inquiry into Sushant's death,raise their voices against this kind of tyranny n gangism and tear down the mafias.i solicit your support.  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 23, 2020

"Don't let your anger die down.. keep the movement going.. we will not spare the culprits even if we have to go to the end of this," he added.

Don't let your anger die down..keep the movement going ..we will not spare the culprits even if we have to go to the end of this world.#justiceforSushantforum  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 24, 2020

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his home in Mumbai's Bandra on June 14. He died by suicide and was said to be under stress and depression for some months.

A police investigation is currently underway in his death case. His family members, close friends, including Rhea Chakraborty and work associates have been interrogated.

The police had said that no suicide note was recovered from his home, but Shekhar Suman says that "there's more than what meets the eye".

"It's crystal clear, if presuming Sushant Singh committed suicide, the way he was, strong-willed and intelligent, he would have definitely, definitely left a suicide note. My heart tells me, like many others, there is more than meets the eye," he tweeted.

It's crystal clear,if presuming Sushant Singh committed suicide,the way he was,strong willed and intelligent, he would have definitely definitely left a suicide https://t.co/DAWaU1WPiT heart tells me,like many others,there is more than meets the eye.  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 23, 2020

"Sushant was a Bihari that's why the Bihari sentiment is at the forefront. But I'm not taking away the fact that it concerns people from all the states of India and there shouldn't be another

Sushant was a Bihari that's why the Bihari sentiment is at the forefront.But im not taking away the fact that it concerns ppl from all the states of India and there shldnt be another Sushant kind of tragedy with any young talent trying to make it on his own.  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 23, 2020

Sushant kind of tragedy with any young talent trying to make it on his own," the 57-year-old actor further stated.

Sushant Singh Rajput's death has yet again brought the nepotism debate back in focus. A section of the internet has called out some Bollywood A-listers for promoting star kids and ignoring the real talent. Many have also demanded to boycott films of a few superstars and big filmmakers.
Seven has given more info on some of its big brand titles for 2020 and beyond.

Farmer Wants a Wife, The Full Monty: Guys & Gals, Murder In The Outback: The Falconio & Lees Mystery and Between Two Worlds are next in Sevens pipeline.

Programming boss Angus Ross told Mediaweek Plate of Origin was impacted by COVID-19 and is only 10 episodes.

We had to modify what we were doing in order to get something to air. We are quite happy with the way it has worked out, he said.

SAS Australia will now shoot in the snowy mountains rather than New Zealand and is due in Q4.

Holey Moley will also film in Australia, after US filming was abandoned, and screen in early 2021. Eureka Productions will build a full set with complete 18 holes, in a state yet to be determined.

We think we will also attract other countries who want to come and use the sets we build in Australia.

Chatter is also strong Seven will renew Big Brother with Ross describing it as bigger than bigger show than Im a Celebrity, Survivor, Amazing Race or The Bachelor.

Much kudos to the production team at Endemol Shine Australia  Mark and Carl Fennessy, Peter Newman and Amelia Fisk. They pitched us a version of the show for 2020 and they have delivered. None of us believed that the original Big Brother format could return. It had been cancelled twice in this marketplace. The reboot really had to work at attracting a new audience. It has evolved and has the storytelling techniques the marketplace now demands. They have delivered that in spades.

There was less detail around the future of My Kitchen Rules and House Rules, while Ross also confirmed the MKR series that screened this year was supposed to run at the end of 2019, with a regular version with new contestants to start 2020.

A confluence of events meant we couldnt do that, he added.

You can read more here.
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Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 07:28 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406611eaca 1 City North-Jakarta,Jakarta-police,North-Jakarta-Police,bullets,stray-bullet,Ciliwung-river Free

An 11-year-old elementary schoolboy was playing with his friends by the Ciliwung River in North Jakarta at around 9 p.m. last Tuesday when he suddenly felt a hot object hit his back.

The boy instantly fell to the ground. His playmates immediately checked on him and found he was bleeding in the back.

He and his friends did not hear any gunshot or popping sound, the boys grandfather, Gatot, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The section of the riverbank where the children were playing is adjacent to a toll road and neighbors the dense settlement of Kampung Tongkol in Pademangan district, North Jakarta, where the victim and his family live.

The day after the incident, the victims parents found the wound had swollen and was bleeding, so they took him to Koja General Hospital in North Jakarta.

After an X-ray examination, they found a bullet lodged in the victims back.

The boy was then transferred to Kramat Jati Police Hospital in East Jakarta for surgery.

On the same day, the victims parents reported the incident to the Pademangan Police, hoping it could be thoroughly investigated.

It was a sharp bullet. Alhamdulillah [thank God], he is fine now, Gatot said in a text message while also sending photos of his grandchild sitting shirtless at home with a white bandage on his right back.

Gatot said personnel of the North Jakarta Police paid a visit to the victims house at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday but did not inform the family of any developments in the case.

North Jakarta Police chief Sr. Cmr. Budhi Herdi Susianto said he questioned witnesses who were at the scene during the incident but none provided any leads.

We are now examining the bullet. Further investigation of the case, including the source of the bullet, will proceed according to the examination results, Budhi told the Post.
Earlier this week, Prince Harry and the former Meghan Markle visited the men and women of Los Angeles' Homeboy Industries, a community social justice organization working to improve the lives of people formerly incarcerated or previously involved in gangs.

Photos of their Tuesday afternoon visit were shared on Homeboy Industries' social media pages on Wednesday.

prince harry meghan markle duke and duchess of sussex (Homeboy Industries/Twitter)

Since 1988, the organization has provided essential social services and resources to former gang members, including counseling, addiction recovery support, job training and employment opportunities. Last year, Homeboy Industries supported 9,000 members of the Los Angeles community.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were just Harry and Meghan to the homies," Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, told TODAY in a statement. "They rolled up their sleeves and deeply engaged with our workers in the Bakery and Cafe. It was immediate kinship and heartening in its mutuality.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were just Harry and Meghan to the homies."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the Homies for an afternoon of cooking and conversation. Together, they prepared food for the #FeedHOPE program, which employs participants to provide meals to food-insecure seniors and youth during the coronavirus pandemic.

It was remarkable to share our Feed Hope program with Harry and Meghan today," Mariana Enriquez, manager of Homegirl Cafe, told TODAY in a statement. "They are both down to earth and kind. The staff was honored they took the time to see us, hear us and walk on our journey today. We will never forget it.

Meghan helps prepare meals alongside the men and women of Homeboy Industries. (Homeboy Industries/Twitter)

The duchess has been connected with the work of Homeboy Industries for some time now. Nearly 20 years ago, she and her mother had joined Boyle for a cooking workshop at Homeboy Industries.

Thomas Vozzo, the CEO of Homeboy Industries, told TODAY in a statement, With their visit, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex saw the dignity and power that comes from having a job. At Homeboy, through our social enterprise businesses, people can continue to heal and they work, learning skills and changing their lives, changing their families and changing communities.

Story continues

Despite stepping back from their duties as senior royals and moving to Los Angeles, the couple has remained involved with various nonprofits and social causes. Earlier this month, the duchess wrote in the foreword of the annual review for Mayhew, an animal welfare charity, that she is renewing her sponsorship for pets in need in the name of her son, Archie.

"I renewed my sponsorship of a dog kennel in the name of our son, Archie, to create an interim home for a pet in need,'' she wrote. "I hope you will show them your support in whatever ways you can. When you do, you will be contributing not just to animal welfare but to the shared welfare of us all."

In addition to her support of animals, Meghan has also spoken out about the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests that have taken place around the world.

"I wasn't sure what I could say to you,'' she said in her speech. "I wanted to say the right thing, and I was really nervous that I wouldn't or that it would get picked apart, and I realized the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing.

"Because George Floyd's life mattered, and Breonna Taylor's life mattered, and Philando Castile's life mattered, and Tamir Rice's life mattered, and so did so many other people whose names we know and do not know."
Following The March Against Racist Vigilantes, tensions once again erupted at the Marconi Plaza between protesters and residents. John Mooney was charged for allegedly assaulting photographer Mel D. Cole. Read more

Update: Philadelphia announces plans to remove Columbus statue after repeated violence at Marconi Plaza

A South Philadelphia man was arrested for an alleged assault Tuesday night in South Philadelphia, during the latest in a series of tense gatherings in which armed men convened saying they intended to defend their communities from protesters and looters.

John Mooney, 58, was charged with ethnic intimidation, simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment for allegedly attacking Mel D. Cole, a Black hip-hop photographer who was part of a protest calling to defund the Philadelphia Police. The incident occurred at Marconi Plaza, the locus of recent unrest as residents stood guard, some bearing bats and hammer, to warn against vandalism or removal of a statue of Christopher Columbus that looks over South Broad Street.

In a statement announcing the arrest, District Attorney Larry Krasner criticized the police for not doing more.

These incidents continue to raise serious questions about policing and unequal application of the law in the city of Philadelphia, Krasner said in the statement.

He added: During widely documented altercations in the Fishtown neighborhood and at Marconi Plaza in South Philly, antiracism protesters and journalists have been verbally and physically assaulted, in direct view of law enforcement officers who have  by the numbers  made far more arrests of protesters and journalists than they have of these bat-wielding, assaultive, and threatening individuals. It is no wonder, then, that Americans here and across the country have been marching nonstop since late May, following the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police, to demand equal accountability and equal treatment under the law.

Cole posted a video showing a punch, which he said landed on his jaw, thrown by a man who repeatedly yelled get outta here, boy.

Police immediately arrested Mooney. However, Cole, recovering from the punch, was initially unsure whether an arrest had been made. He told an Inquirer reporter on Tuesday night that he spent 10 minutes trying unsuccessfully to get a police officer to take a report of the incident, but later made a report at a nearby police district.

In a statement Wednesday, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said that, if thats the case, it would be highly reasonable and understandable for the victim to feel under-served by the officers to whom he attempted to make the report.

Outlaw said she would work to prevent such incidents going forward: We are committed to rendering service with fairness, impartiality and objectivity; and certainly understand the justifiable feelings of alienation and frustration that arise from even the appearance of partiality and preferential treatment.

Mooney, who was previously convicted of assault and harassment in 2000, is one of at least three who have been charged with assault at Marconi Plaza. Louis Paolino, 51, of South Philadelphia and T.J. Cahill, 51, of Northeast Philadelphia were both arrested June 16 on charges including harassment and simple assault.

Deana Gamble, a spokesperson for Mayor Jim Kenney, said in a statement that the mayors decision announced Wednesday that the city will seek to remove the Columbus statue was intended as a first step toward healing. She added, The mayor respects the liberties of people with opposing viewpoints to assemble and exercise their first amendment rights. He does not condone vigilantism in any form and takes any act of assault very seriously. He expects police officers to treat all protesters the same and enforce the law fairly.

That said, if anyone feels that they have been treated unfairly and wish to file a formal complaint, they are encouraged to either find a supervisor on the scene, visit any police station in person, call internal affairs division, or file the complaint online.

The following Instagram contains strong language and images.
T he UKs creative sector needs government help in weeks, not months, the chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall has warned.

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced theatres and concert halls would be allowed to reopen from July 4, but not for live performance, and with social-distancing measures cut from two metres to one-metre plus.

Craig Hassall, chief executive of the South Kensington venue, said the Hall had lost around 12m in potential income since lockdown began back in March.

He added that for his venue  as well as other London institutions such as The Old Vic and Shakespeares Globe  reopening with social distancing is financially untenable.

At two metres our capacity drops to about 10 per cent of total potential capacity, Mr Hassall told PA. At one metre it goes up to about 35 or 40 per cent and for a show to break even, ie, cover its costs, it generally has to have about 75 per cent or 80 per cent capacity and after that its profit.

BBC Proms Royal Albert Hall 1 /13 BBC Proms Royal Albert Hall Last Night of the Proms, Prom 75 Chris Christodoulou Last Night of the Proms, Prom 75 Chris Christodoulou Last Night of the Proms, Prom 75 Chris Christodoulou Royal Albert Hall Auditorium Chris Christodoulou Royal Albert Hall Auditorium Royal Albert Hall Royal Albert Hall Auditorium Royal Albert Hall Prom 5, 2016 Mark Allan Audiences and stage at the Royal Albert Hall Chris Christodoulou Royal Albert Hall Auditorium Royal Albert Hall Royal Albert Hall - Exterior South Entrance Royal Albert Hall

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.

He added that if the Government "want to help the creative sector, we need to have a solution within weeks, not months.

Mr Hassall said the pandemic 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.

His warning comes after the Music Venue Trust, which represents grassroots music venues across the UK, called for a 50m government support package immediately in order to help the sector survive for the next three months.

Additional reporting by PA
Activists in Boston are calling for the removal of the city's second-highest paid employee from a key committee, after it emerged that he was an infamous police figure nicknamed 'Pepper Jack' for his liberal use of pepper spray, according to the Boston Globe.

An officer who appears to be Captain John 'Jack' Danilecki, who has been investigated more than 20 times, was caught on camera at a Black Lives Matter protest last month in the Massachusetts city, appearing to snatch a sign from a Haitian protester and ripping it up.

'He's like the avatar of cop violence in Boston,' said Joey Peters, 37, who told The Boston Globe he found himself on the wrong end of Danilecki's pepper spray canister during a protest last year.

Captain John 'Jack' Danilecki, the second-highest public servant in Boston, is facing calls for his removal from a safer streets liaison committee

On June 9, the city's Vision Zero committee, which promotes safer streets, wrote to Mayor Martin Walsh to ask that Danilecki be removed from his liaison role.

They accused Danilecki of an acting in 'aggressive, escalatory, and unacceptable manner towards peaceful protestors'.

'It is unacceptable for an officer who engages in brutal tactics against civilians to be the liaison between BPD and those of us who are fighting to make our streets safer,' the committee wrote.

The incident involving a Black Lives Matter protester occurred on May 21.

The Haitian man was peacefully walking along the road, fellow activists claim, when his placard was seized.

In the moments before the encounter, captured on an eight-second video, an officer who appears to be Danilecki and other officers yelled at the group.

Someone within the group of officers allegedly told the protester to 'go back to the hood,' protesters told the Boston Globe.

The video does not capture the comment.

However, the person filming can be heard shouting, 'Are you going to tell him to go back to the hood again?'

An officer who appears to be Danilecki then grabs the sign and rips it apart.

Danilecki, a veteran of the BPD, has earned the nickname 'Pepper Jack' for his use of force, according to the Boston Globe

Danilecki, a supervisor at the police department, was paid $350,000 including overtime last year - second only to Lieutenant Timothy Kerbin.

The chief of Boston Police Department (BPD), William Gross, earns $255,000 a year.

Sergeant Detective John Boyle, BPD spokesman, confirmed that the department has six active internal investigations into Danilecki.

Since 1993, the department has investigated Danilecki 20 times, Boyle told the Boston Globe.

Of the 14 investigations that have been closed, he said, three were sustained, with punishments ranging from a verbal reprimand to a one-day suspension.

Last August Danilecki was seen confronting the crowds during the Straight Pride Parade, an event that drew thousands of pro-Trump and pro-military protesters and counter-protesters to downtown Boston.

Milo Yiannopoulos, a right-wing political commentator and former editor of Breitbart, who is openly gay, was the grand marshal of the Straight Pride Parade.

In various videos taken that day, Danilecki can be seen releasing pepper spray and allegedly aggressively grabbing and pushing protesters.

One video, posted by a user calling himself Long Johns Brown, shows Danilecki backing a protester away from him until he stumbled backwards and falls to the ground.

Another, tweeted by Christopher Schmidt, appears to show him forcibly attempting to rip the mask from a protester's face and arresting him.

Maybe the most shocking video I've seen yet of Captain Jack Danilecki's conduct at the Straight Pride Parade, sent to me by @TubeFerret. This was before the parade, while protesters were behind the barricade. He's clearly targeting this man for no reason whatsoever: pic.twitter.com/Ztu85sVhBM  Long Johns Brown (@hoping_raging) September 3, 2019

Danilecki is seen confronting a protester during the raucous Straight Pride Parade in August

According to the Boston Globe, in 2004, the department launched an internal investigation into Danilecki after a Boston Globe report identified 17 instances of so-called 'double-dipping'  collecting pay while working private details in different locations simultaneously.

The charge was ultimately sustained, according to Boyle, and Danilecki received a verbal reprimand.

In another incident two years earlier, the paper reported that Danilecki received a one-day suspension after a local attorney said he was prevented from filing a complaint against a patrolman who had allegedly shoved him outside the home of a client.

Neither the Boston Police Department nor Danilecki have responded to requests for comment.

Danilecki does maintain support within the community.

Danilecki, left, poses with a bicycle being considered for police use in April 1993

Arnold Pressman, a retired business owner in Mission Hill who got to know Danilecki when he worked in the area, praised the officer in the paper.

'He's not afraid to mix it up,' he said. 'If you're having a problem, he'd probably be the guy you'd want alongside you.'

The Rev. Jeffrey Brown of the Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury told the Globe he was surprised to learn this week of the recent allegations against Danilecki.

He said Danilecki played a 'critical' role in helping to broker a ceasefire during a surge in gang violence in the mid-2000s.

'During that period of time, there were very few police officers who were willing to work with clergy,' said Brown.

'Even though Boston is a very progressive police department, you saw people on the force who saw that as soft work.

'But Jack was always one of the first to jump in.'
CYBERSPACEAttorney Maxine Lynn will be welcoming her fourth special guest, Ricci Joy Levy, CEO of Woodhull Freedom Foundation, to the website Sex Tech Connect on June 28 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT for its online event series Virtual Brunch, Happy Hour, or a Late Night Drink.

Launched earlier this year during the COVID shutdowns, Sex Tech Connect aims to keep people in sex tech and related sexuality fields connected from around the world. Lynn also named Shakun Sethi as the co-founder of the Sex Tech Connect site.

Shakun has been with us from the beginning, said Lynn. She has been an avid supporter, and as a kick-ass Sex Tech founder, makes the perfect person to partner with as we grow this community of impactful voices.

Sethi is the creator and CEO of Tickle.Life, a "discovery platform" for sex and sexuality. The platform offers resources for sexual and mental wellness and is a bridge between the sex tech industry and their audiences. Tickle.Life believes in promoting a sex-positive environment that is safe, inclusive, free of judgment and which respects privacy.

"The purpose of this association is to bring the entire sex tech community together to share insights and talk about our challenges and how we can grow together. This is about making one big group of like-minded people, and taking the work and innovation in the realm of sexuality and sexual wellness forward," explained Sethi.

Sethi will moderate the event on June 28 with Levy. The Woodhull Freedom Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization devoted to education and public advocacy in support of the principle that consensual sexual expression is a fundamental human right.

Sexual freedom is a fundamental human right. Did you know that? Levy asked rhetorically. Im delighted to have this opportunity to talk about sexual freedom, human rights, and the work of my organization, the Woodhull Freedom Foundation. Lets talk about it together this coming Sunday.

To register for the upcoming Sex Tech Connect event or join its mailing list, visit SexTechConnect.com.

Those interested may learn more about Tickle.Life at Tickle.Life and Woodhull Freedom Foundation at WoodhullFoundation.org.
He tried without success to coax several heads of state to a Group of 7 summit in the Washington area this month, an event he said would signal a return to normalcy. But Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany quashed the idea in a statement saying the coronavirus made such a gathering unsafe.

For Mr. Duda, the political benefits clearly outweighed any risk of travel, even if his visit violated a longstanding American political norm.

There is a good rule in U.S. diplomacy where you dont do that, said Daniel Fried, a retired career diplomat who served as the U.S. ambassador to Poland in the Clinton administration. Trump doesnt much care about those things, but the reason you dont do it is because it injects the U.S. into the domestic politics of another country, and it alienates a whole bunch of people theres no reason to alienate.

The leaders said they discussed a range of issues, including efforts against the coronavirus, Polands purchase of liquid natural gas from the United States and American assistance for Polands civil nuclear program.

I dont think weve ever been closer to Poland than right now, Mr. Trump said in brief remarks to reporters in the Oval Office before the news conference. I have a very good personal relationship with the president.

The men also discussed American troop levels in Poland, which could rise if Mr. Trump follows through on his stated plans to withdraw 9,500 U.S. troops from Germany, capping Americas permanent presence there at 25,000 troops.

Many officials in Poland  whose battle-scarred history leaves it among the European nations most wary of potential Russian aggression  are hopeful that Mr. Trump will relocate some of those troops to their country, which now hosts some 4,500 American service members on a rotating basis.
Although COVID-19 is a new illness caused by a new virus, the fallout from the COVID-19 shutdown may put the world at risk for outbreaks of old illnesses: ones that were practically eradicated through vaccination.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

Although COVID-19 is a new illness caused by a new virus, the fallout from the COVID-19 shutdown may put the world at risk for outbreaks of old illnesses: ones that were practically eradicated through vaccination.

The World Health Organization estimates that 117 million people worldwide will miss out on vaccinations for preventable diseases due to COVID-19. Closer to home, the Canadian Paediatric Society is worried that Canadians will fall behind on their vaccination schedules. Vaccines are one of the most important public health tools at our disposal. Ignoring vaccinations can have dire consequences.

Lessons from 1918

I am a historian of medicine. I study the history of infectious diseases and vaccination. In recent months, I have focused my research on the understudied effects of the 1918 flu pandemic on public health in Canada.

The experience of the 1918 influenza should act as a warning for provincial public health programs. My research shows that in the years after the 1918 flu, Canada suffered a series of outbreaks of smallpox and typhoid after vaccination took a backseat to the pandemic.

Provincial governments need to have a plan to get children back on track when COVID-19 subsides, or run the risk of creating an environment ripe for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.

Establishing public health measures

Before the 1918 flu, local public health programs were temporary, and workers were volunteers. In 1923, the Health Board of Quebec provided financial support to create permanent public health units. As part of this, it instituted a hygiene week, when the government educated communities about the importance of public health measures, including vaccination. Ontario followed suit, in 1924, when the chief officer of health helped develop full-time public health units for the province.

Though it may seem that the 1918 flu directly spurred the development of permanent public health units and sophisticated routine vaccine programs, the truth is more complicated. My study of public health reports shows that after the 1918 flu, cases of smallpox and other preventable diseases spiked.

In 1920, Canada had 2,553 cases of smallpox, compared to a baseline of a couple of hundred a year. Cases continued climbing to a peak of 3,300 in 1927, before declining to near zero in the 1940s. In 1923, Cochrane, Ont., had an outbreak of typhoid with 800 cases and 50 deaths. With a population of 3,400, cases represented almost a quarter of the population.

Outbreaks in the wake of 1918 flu

It is difficult to track vaccination uptake in the early 1900s, because records of vaccination during this period were spotty at best. Nonetheless, these lapses in public health expose failures to maintain adequate vaccination levels in communities across Canada in the wake of the 1918 flu, which interrupted many aspects of life, including commerce, religion and vaccination.

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After the 1918 flu, however, public health officers did not take measures necessary to make up for lost time and missed vaccinations. It was not until several outbreaks had occurred, such as the one in Cochrane, that public health authorities regained control over preventable diseases.

Getting infectious diseases under control meant ensuring shots were administered as part of routine vaccination programs. This was a messy process and it did not happen all at once. However, by 1940 Toronto acheived the distinction of being the first city with a population over 500,000 to report no cases of smallpox. Toronto achieved this by tracking vaccinations closely and by advertising smallpox vaccination at the same time every year.

Vaccine misinformation

Today, Canadian vaccination programs are threatened by vaccine misinformation, rejection and apathy. At the same time, a growing number of Canadians are hesitant to vaccinate. These factors leave Canada with slim margins on maintaining herd immunity, which refers to the point at which the percentage of people immunized ensures protection of the whole community from disease. Even before COVID-19, Canada has had outbreaks of measles in under-vaccinated communities. In 2019, Canada reported 113 cases of measles.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created many problems that will need attention. Already, provinces are creating step-by-step plans to reopen their economies. What is needed now is for provinces to create step-by-step plans for identifying and contacting those who have fallen behind on their vaccinations.

Derek Cameron is a PhD candidate in history at the University of Saskatchewan.

This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca.
A few years ago, it was all about growth in oil, as fast as possible. Today, things are very different. Gone are the growth plans. Gone are the budgets based on $60 for a barrel of Brent. The boom is out. The bust is in. And the only way for oil majors to ride this bust out is to become as resilient as possible, even in the face of further shocks.

Some of them are already ahead of the competition: according to a study by Wood Mackenzie, Chevron and Shell are performing much better than Total and BP, at least in some respects. But there is more work to be done for long-term resilience.

Wood Mac analysts looked into supermajors costs, balance sheets, and portfolios, to rank them based on what the consultancy calls cash margin. It defines this cash margin as a post-tax cash flow plus capex per unit of production. The consultancy then looked at the cash margins of supermajors under two oil-price scenarios: $30 and $70 per barrel.

On this basis, Chevron topped the ranking with a cash margin of close to $18 per barrel of crude, if that barrel cost $30. Shell came second, with a cash margin of about $16 per barrel of crude. The rest, in descending order, were Exxon, Total, Equinor, BP, and Eni at the bottom, with a cash margin of about $12 per barrel of oil if that barrel cost $30.

Of course, the majors that are most resilient at low oil prices also do the best in the high-oil price scenario thanks to diversified and robust portfolios. LNG is a particular favorite, according to Wood Mac, as it can generate substantial cash returns that more than offset the upfront costs of LNG projects, usually calculated in billions. So are offshore projects: although high in upfront costs, these have long productive lives and low operating costs, Wood Macs chief analyst Simon Flowers noted.

Where does shale stack up against the other types of assets and projects in the oil industry? Well, on the one hand, shale operations provide their owners with production flexibility. A company can easily delay well-drilling operations when prices fall and boost them when prices rise, according to Wood Macs analysts. On the other hand, shale oil well drilling is very capital intensive because these wells, quick to drill and put on stream, are also quick to dry up.

All of the oil majors have shale operations but one, and thats French Total. For all the flexibility that shale offers, chances are, Total was not too sad it that it doesnt have acreage in the Permian given the latest developments there. And yet those that do have acreage in the Permian are pretty upbeat about it. Chevron, for example, is among the largest players in the Permian, and it also has the highest cash margin among the supermajors. BP was also happy with its purchase of the BHP assets in the U.S. shale patch. And Exxon has big plans for its Permian projects, eyeing production costs of as little as $15 a barrel. Related: The Real Reason Russia Joined OPEC+

All of the oil majors also have a solid offshore oil and gas presence, including in LNG. All of them either exited or drastically reduced their exposure to Canadian oil sands, which are rightly considered high-cost assets, and most of them are betting heavily on renewable energy. Will these diverse portfolios enhance or reduce their resilience in the future?

Judging by plans announced earlier this year by the three European supermajors, diversification is not a top priority. The shift away from oil seems to be the priority. Of course, it will be a while until we see how these plans pan out, but it does seem that oil and gas assets--these companies core business--may have become somewhat of a burden lately. Quite a burden, if BP is right: the company said it might take a hit of $13 to $17.5 billion in oil and gas asset writeoffs this year. It is unlikely to remain the only one suffering overexposure to oil and gas.

Yet oil and gas are not going anywhere. The world's demand for fossil fuels will continue for the observable future despite pressure from governments and environmentalist groups. As long as there is demand, there will be production. The question is, which production is most resilient to oil price shocks. And in the coming years, the answer would have to include carbon intensity.

High carbon-intensity doesnt affect resilience much today but increasingly will, Wood Macs Flowers noted. Assets with high carbon-intensity weaken emissions and ESG metrics so companies should look to reduce exposure to improve portfolio sustainability.

The future resilience of the oil and gas industry, in other words, is tied to its sustainability efforts. It could be a classic win-win situation if the majors can pull it off.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Ukraine has received another batch of humanitarian aid from the Government of the People's Republic of China to tackle the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces aircraft with the humanitarian aid from China has landed today at the military airport in Boryspil, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

The humanitarian cargo includes one million medical masks, medical respirators, protective suits, medical glasses, screens and gloves, infrared thermometers, coronavirus diagnostic test kits, disinfectants and antiseptics.

Some 39 state and municipal structures, companies, public organizations and groups of Chinese activists contributed to the provision of humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

The humanitarian cargo also included ten artificial lung ventilation devices, transferred to President Volodymyr Zelensky from Jack Ma, a founder of Alibaba Group.

As reported, Ukraines cases of coronavirus rose to 39,014 on June 24, including 940 new infections confirmed in the previous day.

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One of three Kentucky police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor this year was fired Tuesday, authorities said.

Image: Breonna Taylor (Courtesy of Family of Breonna Taylor / AFP - Getty Images)

In a two-page letter to Louisville Metro Police Department detective Brett Hankison, chief Robert J. Schroeder said that the detective violated department rules, procedures and deadly force standards when Taylor was killed.

When Hankison and two other plainclothes officers used a no-knock warrant to enter Taylors apartment March 13, he wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds, Schroeder wrote.

These rounds created a substantial danger of death and serious injury to Breonna Taylor and the three occupants of the apartment next to Ms. Taylors, he said.

Schroeder added that Hankison fired those rounds without knowing if that deadly force was directed at someone who posed an immediate threat.

Louisville police officer Brett Hankison. (Louisville Metro Police Department)

Based upon my review, these are extreme violations of our policies, he wrote. I find your conduct a shock to the conscience.

The two other officers who were with Hankison have been placed on administrative leave.

The death of Taylor, a 26-year-old African American emergency-room technician, has drawn widespread criticism. It spawned memes, prompted protests around the country and led to a local ban  "Breonna's Law"  on "no-knock" warrants.

Taylor was shot to death around 12:40 a.m. during a drug investigation focused on a trap house several miles away, her family has said. Her address was listed on the warrant because the apartment had allegedly been used to receive mail or keep drugs for a man authorities were searching for named Jamarcus Glover, who was already in police custody when Taylor's home was raided, according to the according to The Courier-Journal in Louisville.

Authorities have said the officers knocked several times and announced their presence before forcing their way into Taylors apartment. A lawsuit filed by her family contests this.

Police said the officers were immediately met by gunfire when they entered the home. The suit says that Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, 27, believed their apartment was being broken into, so Walker called 911 and fired at what he believed was an intruder, striking an officer in the leg.

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Walker had a license for the firearm, and no drugs were found in the apartment during the raid, the lawsuit says.

Walker was charged with assault and attempted murder of a police officer.

After Hankisons termination letter was released last week, lawyers for Taylors family argued that Kentuckys attorney general, who has been appointed as a special prosecutor in the case, should file criminal charges against the officer.

By the department's own assessment, he committed wanton endangerment, wanton murder and wanton attempted murder," lawyers Benjamin Crump, Lonita Baker and Sam Aguiar said in a joint statement.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron did not immediately comment on Hankisons firing. During a news conference last week, Cameron said he understood the urgency and public outcry around the case, but said he would provide no timeline on his office's investigation.

We are not going to strike foul blows in this case, he said. We are going to pursue the truth based on the law, whether that leads to convictions or exonerations.

The Louisville police union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Congress has hit back at BJP national president J.P. Nadda asking him to look at their "conduct" as opposition party during the UPA rule. Nadda had called Rahul Gandhi a "dynast" and said opposition is not only about one dynasty.

Hitting back at the BJP, the Congress said, "BJP should not hide on the back of the army."

The Congress said the BJP should look back its conduct when it attacked the government on delicate foreign policy issues during the UPA rule.

"Will the Prime Minister offer public apology for BJP for its conduct during 2004-2014 when BJP brought no confidence motion on Indo-US civil nuclear deal and Bhagat Singh Koshyari leading a delegation to India-China border, "said Congress MP Manish Tewari.

While in opposition, the BJP had sent a party delegation to the India-China border to get first hand information on Chinese incursions. The delegation was led by Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who is now Maharashtra Governor.

BJP president Nadda while criticising Rahul Gandhi had said, "One 'royal' dynasty and their 'loyal' courtiers have grand delusions of the Opposition being about one dynasty. A dynast throws tantrums and his courtiers peddle that fake narrative. Latest one relates to the Opposition asking questions to the Government."

Another Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said, "Instead of attacking Rahul Gandhi, BJP should listen to what he says and if they heed his advice the situation would have been better."

The Congress party has been targeting the government over the India-China border issue. Randeep Surjewala, Chief spokesperson of the party, had also launched a scathing attack on the BJP President and had asked him to show the courage to ask the Modi government about 2,264 Chinese transgressions since 2015, martyrdom of 471 jawans & 253 civilians in J&K alone, the highest in 30 years.

The Congress said there were 3,289 ceasefire violations by Pakistan in 2019 alone, the highest in 16 years, up from 583 in 2014.

"Stop compromising on 'National Security' & India's 'Territorial Integrity'. This would be the biggest disservice to our Armed Forces & our 20 martyrs," added Surjewala.
There is a growing list of companies that are rethinking their outdated marketing in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests recently triggered by the death of George Floyd. From pancake mix and syrup to movies and ice cream, many brands have had to reckon with racially insensitive logos, themes and marketing.

Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts, a professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and co-editor of the book "Race, Work, and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience," explained that she thinks of race as a channel on the radio, always playing 24/7, to which many people tune in but most people do not.

Things have happened because the world was really quiet and the George Floyd incident somehow captured the hearts and minds of people such that they started to tune into race, Roberts told TODAY. Now its out in the open. I think thats where we are. We also have leaders of large and small companies making a set of public commitments to fight against racial injustice. And we know those statements have taken many forms but theres just been a groundswell of people confronting race head-on and making a commitment or promise to improve the situation.

Below is a list and brief history of the brands so far that are adjusting their racially insensitive packaging.

Aunt Jemima

Perhaps one of the most recognizable breakfast brands in America, Aunt Jemima announced on June 17 plans to remove its logo and rename its brand amid the public outcry that it perpetuates a racist stereotype.

We recognize Aunt Jemimas origins are based on a racial stereotype," Kristin Kroepfl, vice president and chief marketing officer of Quaker Foods North America, said in a statement to TODAY. "While work has been done over the years to update the brand in a manner intended to be appropriate and respectful, we realize those changes are not enough.

A close-up shot of the modern Aunt Jemima logo (Samantha Kubota / TODAY)

Aunt Jemima was often mentioned in songs performed at minstrel shows during the reconstruction era, Cyndi Tiedt of the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia explained, adding that the first real-life Aunt Jemima was portrayed by a woman who had been born into slavery.

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Changing a persons appearance and moving away from what wed consider as a caricature  she still seemed ready and willing to cook and serve for a white family, Tiedt told TODAY. I think not enough was done to really acknowledge the history of the brand  to acknowledge the imagery and messaging really does have its origins in enslavement."

An example of a previous Aunt Jemima advertisement as provided by the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, an anti-racism institution. (Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia)

The original Aunt Jemima was a heavyset woman in the apparel one might find on a plantation during slavery. She was a mammy stereotype, Tiedt said, and though the brand tried to modernize the character, the imagery and its history can still be damaging today.

The damage that they cause today is not only are they perpetuating those same feelings of inferiority but having them stocked on shelves and portrayed in the media, its continuing to enforce that same system of institutionalized racism," she said.

Uncle Ben's

Uncle Ben's rice (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

Uncle Bens signature logo will likely be removed as well, after appearing on orange boxes of rice for decades.

Mars Inc., the parent company of Uncle Bens, said it is planning a brand evolution as a way to "take a stand in helping to put an end to racial bias and injustices."

We dont yet know what the exact changes or timing will be, but we are evaluating all possibilities, the statement said. "As we listen to the voices of consumers, especially in the Black community, and to the voices of our associates worldwide, we recognize that now is the right time to evolve the Uncle Bens brand, including its visual brand identity, which we will do.

Like the mammy caricature, the uncle stereotype of Black people draws its inspiration from slavery, Tiedt explained.

The mammy is the female version and we also have the male equivalent of Uncle Tom, she said. The thing about the mammy and Uncle Tom is they always have a smile on their face and that harkens back to that justification of slavery.

The parboiled rice product has been around for more than 70 years, and the brand name Uncle Ben's has been used since 1946.

Mrs. Butterworths

Though Conagra Brands says their famous Mrs. Butterworths syrup bottles, shaped like a matronly woman, are supposed to evoke a loving grandmother, the company announced plans to redesign as well.

Critics have long argued the bottles design, like Aunt Jemima, is rooted in the mammy stereotype.

We understand that our actions help play an important role in eliminating racial bias and as a result, we have begun a complete brand and packaging review on Mrs. Butterworths, Conagra said in a statement.

Cream of Wheat

B&G Foods Inc., which makes Cream of Wheat hot cereal, said on June 17 it is initiating an immediate review of its packaging. A smiling Black chef holding a bowl of cereal has appeared on Cream of Wheat packaging and in ads since at least 1918, according to the companys web site.

We understand there are concerns regarding the Chef image, and we are committed to evaluating our packaging and will proactively take steps to ensure that we and our brands do not inadvertently contribute to systemic racism, Parsippany, New Jersey-based B&G said in a statement.

Land OLakes

Another popular food brand, Land OLakes, announced plans to drop Mia, the Native American woman, from its packaging in April after being on the companys boxes for nearly 100 years.

The company said at the time they recognized they need packaging that reflects the foundation and heart of our company culture but did not acknowledge the controversy surrounding the logo.

Land O'Lakes Farmer-Owned Cooperative Products (Getty Images)

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the logo was first created by illustrator Arthur C. Hanson in the late 1920s. In the 1950s, Patrick DesJarlait, a member of the Ojibwe tribe, reimagined Mia. DesJarlait's son said he understands the company's decision to change the logo, but said he was sad to see her go, he told the paper.

The new packaging reads: Proud to be Farmer-Owned: As a farmer-owned co-op, we stand together to bring you the very best in dairy. Instead of Mia, some products will feature photos of real farmers.

The company has already started rolling out some of the new packaging and plans to finish the transition by the end of 2020.

Eskimo Pie

The owner of Eskimo Pie is changing the name and marketing of the nearly century-old chocolate-covered ice cream bar.

We are committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality, and recognize the term is derogatory," Elizabell Marquez, head of marketing for its parent Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, the U.S. subsidiary for Froneri, said in a statement. This move is part of a larger review to ensure our company and brands reflect our people values.

Eskimo Pie (dollargeneral.com)

The treat was patented by Christian Kent Nelson of Ohio and his business partner, Russell C. Stover, in 1922, according to Smithsonian Magazine. The name "Eskimo" is commonly used in Alaska to refer to Inuit and Yupik people, according to the Alaska Native Language Center. Their website explains, "This name is considered derogatory in many other places because it was given by non-Inuit people and was said to mean 'eater of raw meat.'"

Geechie Boy Mill

Geechie Boy Mill, a family-owned operation in South Carolina that makes locally-grown and milled white grits, said Wednesday it is listening and reviewing our overall branding, though no decisions have been made.

Geechie is a dialect spoken mainly by the descendants of African American slaves who settled on the Ogeechee River in Georgia, according to Merriam-Webster.com.

HBO Max and Gone with the Wind"

The HBO Max streaming service briefly pulled the 1939 movie Gone with the Wind for its portrayal of slavery and the antebellum South before returning it to the platform with additional videos explaining the film's context.

The classic film has long been considered controversial because of the way it portrays Black people and its glorification of slavery.

Gone With The Wind (Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images)

In a statement, HBO Max explained, 'Gone With The Wind is a product of its time and depicts some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that have, unfortunately, been commonplace in American society."

"These racist depictions were wrong then and are wrong today, and we felt that to keep this title up without an explanation and a denouncement of those depictions would be irresponsible," the statement continued.

Disneys Splash Mountain

Disney fans called on the company to redesign the Splash Mountain ride, which is based on the 1946 movie Song of the South  a film the NAACP said dangerously glorified slavery. Now, the company confirms it will be "completely reimagined."

An online petition called for the Splash Mountain ride, which has been a longtime staple at Disney World and Disneyland, to be re-themed to the 2009 Disney movie "The Princess and the Frog," which features Tiana, Disney's first Black princess.

"There is a huge need for diversity in the parks and this could help fill that need," the petition read. "Princess and the Frog is a beloved princess movie but has very little representation in the parks. Tiana would be one of the first princesses with a thrill ride, as well as giving her a much-deserved place in the parks."

Guests ride on the Splash Mountain attraction at the Walt Di (Bloomberg / Getty Images)

Two weeks later, Disney confirmed that they'll be implementing the change.

We're thrilled to share Splash Mountain at @Disneyland & @WaltDisneyWorld will be completely reimagined with a new story inspired by an all-time favorite @DisneyAnimation film, The Princess and the Frog. Learn about what Imagineers have in development: https://t.co/HyKfdDSH3j pic.twitter.com/DV6476KAVX  Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) June 25, 2020

Bob Weis, president of Walt Disney Imagineering, told the Disney fan site D23 that the change has actually been in the works for a year.

Tiana is a modern, courageous, and empowered woman who pursues her dreams while never losing sight of whats really important, he said when explaining why they chose The Princess and the Frog.

Lady Antebellum

The Grammy award-winning country group formerly known as Lady Antebellum announced on June 11 they would be changing their name to Lady A.

"As a band, we have strived for our music to be a refuge  inclusive of all," the group said in a statement shared on their social media. "Weve watched and listened more than ever these last few weeks, and our hearts have been stirred with conviction, our eyes opened wide to the injustices, inequality and biases Black women and men have always faced and continue to face everyday. Now, blindspots we didnt even know existed have been revealed. "

Lady Antebellum Launches

The group admitted they didn't recognize the heavy connotations of the word, which means "before the war" in Latin. In the United States, it's widely associated with the South both before and during the Civil War and is often related to slavery in its use.

"After much personal reflection, band discussion, prayer and many honest conversations with some of our closest Black friends and colleagues, we have decided to drop the word 'antebellum' from our name and move forward as Lady A, the nickname our fans gave us almost from the start. "

Dixie Chicks

Another popular country band, The Dixie Chicks, announced they will drop the Dixie from their name.

They announced as a group on June 25 the plan to go by a new moniker: The Chicks.

The Dixie Chicks announced they plan to go by just The Chicks. (Dixie Chicks)

"We want to meet this moment," the band wrote in a short statement on the website.

Dixie or Dixieland is a nickname for the South, most often associated with the states that made up the Confederacy south of the Mason-Dixon line.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 02:14:05|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan to dismiss the case against Michael Flynn, the first national security adviser to President Donald Trump, likely to end a long-run political fight stemming from the Russia investigation.

Ruling 2-1 with two Republican-appointed judges carrying the majority, a three-judge panel on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals approved Flynn's petition to intervene in the case and ordered Sullivan to grant the Department of Justice's (DOJ) move to drop charges against the former White House adviser.

If unchallenged with further appeals, the ruling exonerates Flynn after he sought to change his plea and claimed innocence, local media reported.

"Flynn's petition for a writ of mandamus be granted in part; the District Court is directed to grant the government's ... motion to dismiss; and the District Court's order appointing an amicus is hereby vacated as moot, in accordance with the opinion of the court filed herein this date," the court order read.

Trump cheered the decision immediately, tweeting: "Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request To Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn!"

Sullivan had tapped an outside counsel to argue against the DOJ's move and the panel said the judge overstepped his authority in second-guessing the prosecutors' decision.

"In this case, the district court's actions will result in specific harms to the exercise of the Executive Branch's exclusive prosecutorial power," judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed to the circuit court by Trump, wrote in the majority opinion.

"The contemplated proceedings would likely require the Executive to reveal the internal deliberative process behind its exercise of prosecutorial discretion, interfering with the Article II charging authority," Rao wrote.

Judge Robert Wilkins, an appointee by then democratic President Barack Obama, dissented from the decision, saying he would grant Sullivan the space to explore the DOJ's request for dismissal.

"It is a great irony that, in finding the District Court to have exceeded its jurisdiction, this Court so grievously oversteps its own," Wilkins wrote in his dissent.

"This appears to be the first time that we have issued a writ of mandamus to compel a district court to rule in a particular manner on a motion without first giving the lower court a reasonable opportunity to issue its own ruling," Wilkins wrote.

The Justice Department last month dropped its charge that Flynn had lied to the FBI about his communications with then Russian ambassador to the United States during Trump's presidential transition period in late 2016. Democrats have slammed the DOJ decision and cited it as an example of the department becoming politicized under Attorney General William Barr.

Instead of immediately grant the motion, Sullivan appointed an outside counsel, former federal judge John Gleeson, to outline a counter-argument to the DOJ's move.

Gleeson argued earlier this month that Sullivan should reject the DOJ's motion, accusing the DOJ of engaging in "highly irregular conduct to benefit a political ally of the president."

The DOJ move came after Flynn had twice pleaded guilty for lying to the FBI and agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the U.S. 2016 general elections.

The FBI probe into Flynn's link with Russia led to Flynn's ouster by Trump in February 2017. The retired general was the only White House official charged in Mueller's investigation. Enditem
Stormzy has revealed that he and his brother had to wear their elder sister's hand-me-downs as youngsters, due to his family being strapped for cash.

The grime star, 26, has shared that his mother worked multiple jobs to provide for the family as they lived together in south London, but it could only cover so much.

'I grew up in Norbury, that was my stomping ground, in a house of five of us, my mum, my two big sisters, my little brother and I grew up and we didnt have a lot of money at all,' The Sun quoted him as saying. 'Very working-class background.

Struggle: Stormzy has revealed that he and his brother had to wear their sister's hand-me-downs as youngsters, due to his family being strapped for cash. Pictured in December 2019

'I used to take all my sisters clothes. Lucky for me my big sister was a tomboy. So lucky for me I could go and take her clothes. New trainers were never a thing for me. School trips were a myth.'

He added: 'My mum was working two to three jobs at a time. She was a cleaner, dinner lady, so we didnt have much growing up at all. We didnt have anything growing up, to be fair. But what we did have was love.'

The musician's interview comes after he and his company have pledged 10 million over the next 10 years to organisations fighting for racial equality and social justice.

Family: The grime star, 26, has shared that his mother worked multiple jobs to provide for the family as they lived together, but it could only cover so much. Pictured in February

His announcement came after protests in the US and UK following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

The hugely popular rapper, who took part in a recent Black Lives Matter rally in London, released a statement through his #Merky company on earlier this month.

It said: 'The uncomfortable truth that our country continuously fails to recognise and admit, is that black people in the UK have been at a constant disadvantage in every aspect of life - simply due to the colour of our skin.

'I'm lucky enough to be in the position I'm in and I've heard people often dismiss the idea of racism existing in Britain by saying "If the country's so racist how have you become a success?!" and I reject that with this: I am not the UK's shining example of what supposedly happens when a black person works hard.

Inspirational: Stormzy, pictured at the Black Lives Matter protest in London earlier this month, has pledged to donate 10 million over 10 years to causes fighting racial injustice

'There are millions of us. We are not far and few. We have to fight against the odds of a racist system stacked against us and designed for us to fail from before we are even born.

'Black people have been playing on an uneven field for far too long and this pledge is a continuation in the fight to finally try and even it.'

Stormzy's donation will support organisations, charities and movements involved in tackling racial inequality, justice reform and black empowerment in the UK.

He said further information on the pledge would be released in due course and urged others to also pledge to support similar causes.

The Vossi Bop star has frequently spoken out about racial injustice in his career, and previously made headlines when he said Britain was a racist country.

Powerful: The star and his company #Merky released a statement saying they hope to even the playing field with their generous donations

He has used his platform to criticise the Government's reaction to the Grenfell Tower fire, performing a freestyle rap at the Brits in 2018 in which he called out then Prime Minister Theresa May.

He has also funded the Stormzy Scholarship for Black UK Students at the University of Cambridge, which covers tuition costs and maintenance grants for students.

During his memorable headline set at Glastonbury in 2019, he played a speech by David Lammy discussing the black and minority ethnic people in the criminal justice system, and he also included a performance by dance group Black Ballet.

Stormzy, real name Michael Omari, launched his own publishing imprint, #Merky Books, a collaboration with Penguin Random House, in July 2018.

It is due to publish the autobiography of Malorie Blackman, the author of the Noughts And Crosses books, in 2022.
[June 24, 2020]

HP Releases Annual Sustainable Impact Report

Expands Efforts to Promote Environmental Justice, Human Rights and Equality

HP Sustainable Impact Strength Helped Drive More Than $1.6 Billion in New Sales 1 in FY19  A 69 Percent Increase Year-Over-Year

News highlights:



Advances diversity and inclusion agenda: 63 percent of U.S. hires were from underrepresented groups; 40 percent of global new hires were women; exceeded veteran hiring goal by 43 percent.

Contributes $698 million in overall economic impact through its Supplier Diversity Program. 2

Announces commitment to double number of Black and African American executives by 2025; HP Foundation pledges $500,000 to social justice organizations as part of broader efforts to combat systemic racism, as well as 200 percent matching of employee donations.

Publishes inaugural Human Rights Progress Report to drive transparency and long-term community impact.

to drive transparency and long-term community impact. Commits to eliminate 75 percent of single-use plastic packaging by 2025 compared to 2018. 3

Expands HP Sustainable Forests Collaborative with addition of the Arbor Day Foundation, Chenming Paper, Domtar and New Leaf Paper.

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) today released its 2019 Sustainable Impact Report , highlighting the progress the company is making to drive greater diversity and inclusion, reduce its environmental footprint, and strengthen communities around the world.

As part of these commitments, HP announced a new goal to double the number of Black and African American executives inside the company by 2025.

HP also announced a new goal to eliminate 75 percent of single-use plastic packaging by 2025, supporting the companys efforts to drive a low-carbon, circular economy.

Efforts to make a sustainable impact on people, the planet and communities are integrated into HPs business strategy and operations, and have become an increasingly important driver of customer purchasing decisions. HPs Sustainable Impact efforts helped drive more than $1.6 billion in sales wins in 2019, up an estimated 69 percent, reflecting the growing business imperative for companies to lead with purpose.

The HP culture has long been built on the belief that how we do things is just as important as what we do. Recent events have laid bare the systemic racism and deep inequalities that remain a stain on society, and its imperative for all companies to act with urgency on all fronts, said Enrique Lores, HP President and CEO.

Its especially important for companies to hold themselves accountable and publicly report their progress, Lores continued. This years data shows that HP is making significant strides forward in many areas, while also revealing where we must do better. For example, the number of African American employees is below where it needs to be, and we are taking actions to improve. While we have a lot of hard work ahead, our values-driven culture that unites our teams and our partners gives me confidence in our ability to accelerate our progress and foster a more sustainable, equitable, and just society.

Embracing Diversity and Inclusion to Drive Action

HP is driving a culture of diversity and inclusion at all levels of the company and remains committed to fighting racial inequality in all forms. HPs Board of Directors continues to be the most diverse of any U.S. technology company, comprised of 42 percent women and 58 percent minorities. In 2019, 63 percent of U.S. hires were from underrepresented groups, including women, U.S. ethnicities, veterans, and persons with disabilities (compared to 57 percent in 2018). HP exceeded its target for hiring veterans by 43 percent, and 40 percent of new hires in the U.S. were minorities, up from 32 percent in 2018.

Globally, 40 percent of HP hires in 2019 were women, and the companys Global Supplier Diversity program spent $374 million with small and diverse suppliers including minority- and women-owned businesses, contributing $698 million in overall economic impact.

HP is entering its fourth year of the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Challenge, a business school competition, in partnership with the National HBCU Business Deans Roundtable . Forty-four schools have participated in the Challenge so far, providing students the opportunity to develop solutions to real HP business problems while gaining hands-on industry experience.

Earlier this year, HP re-committed to the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion , the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The HP Foundation pledged $500,000 to social justice organizations to confront and combat systemic racism and inequality in society.

HP is also leveraging its platforms to shine a spotlight on these issues globally. It is partnering with Girl Rising, a global nonprofit dedicated to eradicating poverty by providing education to women and girls, to launch My Story: The 2020 Storytelling Challenge . The challenge will bring to life examples of young leaders fighting for human rights, racial justice, gender equity and the advancement of education for girls.

Creating A World Without Waste

Three hundred million tonnes of plastic are produced each year worldwide, half of which are for single use and 91 percent are not recycled at all. Packaging is also experiencng an increase in demand as a result of COVID-19. Packaging comprises a significant portion of total waste produced and can affect the health of our planet and people, which is why HP today announced a new goal to eliminate 75 percent of single-use plastic packaging by 2025. The goal focuses on hardware unit packaging and is predicated on a move to molded fiber packaging cushions.







HPs environmental packaging strategy aims to eliminate unnecessary plastics and materials of concerns wherever possible. In 2019, HP decided to eliminate power cord plastic ties and plastic document bags in hardware packaging. HP also has shifted to more recyclable, paper-based alternatives. To accelerate this shift, the company is transitioning from plastic foam packaging cushions to those made with 100 percent recycled, molded pulp for HPs notebooks, desktops and displays. The transition to molded fiber Personal Systems packaging cushions eliminated 933 tonnes of hard-to-recycle expanded plastic foam last year.

In Printing, HP reduced plastic foam by 40 percent and eliminated over 95 tonnes of the material in 2019 just by redesigning the packaging of a printer model. Launched in 2019, the HP Tango Terra is HPs first printer with zero plastic packaging, using a combination of molded fiber cushions and glassine paper to replace the typical plastic foam and bag. In 3D printing, HP recently announced the availability of a new material called polypropylene (PP ) that helps reduce waste by enabling up to 100 percent reusability of surplus powder.

HP is also accelerating its use of recycled content plastics across its print and personal systems product portfolio. During 2019, HP used over 25,000 tonnes of post-consumer recycled content plastic in HP print and PS products, or equivalent to 9 percent plastics used. The company is working to increase this to 30 percent by 2025. HP has also sourced 1.7 million pounds  more than 60 million bottles  of ocean-bound plastic, and launched the worlds first notebook, display, mobile workstation and enterprise Chromebook made using ocean-bound plastics. With 111 Gold and 268 Silver EPEAT-registered products  more than any other company in the IT industry, HP has the worlds most sustainable PC portfolio.4

Protecting and Restoring Forests

HP aims to regenerate natural systems that sustain life with a focus on protecting and restoring global forests. After eliminating deforestation in the supply chain for HP brand paper in 2016, the company is on track to do the same for its paper-based product packaging by the end of 2020.

In 2019, HP announced its partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) . Together, HP and WWF aim to restore, protect and responsibly manage 200,000 acres of forest, an area equal to the size of New York City. Over five years, HP is contributing $11 million for WWF to restore part of Brazils critically threatened Atlantic Forest. In China, the project is focused on increasing the area of sustainably managed forest plantations to improve their resiliency and biodiversity. In both countries with the help of WWF, HP is advancing forest science to quantify the nature benefits of forest restoration activities.

HP has also launched the HP Sustainable Forest Collaborative and those efforts have inspired the Arbor Day Foundation , Chenming Paper , Domtar and New Leaf Paper to join the collaborative and accelerate efforts on forest restoration. The cross-industry collaboration will demonstrate scientific and viable approaches to keeping forests ecosystems healthy. Together, HP and the collaborative members seek others to join the movement of growing forests and biodiversity for future generations.

Building Resilient Communities Everywhere

Quality education is a human right and technology can be a great equalizer. Since 2015, HP has reached more than 28 million students and adult learners, driving progress toward enabling better learning outcomes for 100 million people by 2025. HP LIFE, a program of the HP Foundation, provides core business and IT skills for entrepreneurs, adult learners and students free of charge through online, offline and in-person training. HP LIFE has reached more than 800,000 users since 2012, and is on track to reach its goal to enroll one million users by 2025, compared to 2016.

Inclusive access to technologies, tools and materials that can advance education for people everywhere is a key strategy for HPs Sustainable Impact. In 2019, 6.3 million personal computers were shipped to schools worldwide. During COVID-19, many schools were closed and the shift to mobile and online learning has been a challenge for many students who lack access to devices or a reliable Internet connection to learn from home. In response, HP recently launched HP Turn to Learn , a program that is delivering educational content primarily focused on STEM and environmental topics to Title I school districts across the U.S. in partnership with TIME for Kids, NASA and Britannica. As part of the wide range of actions HP is taking to combat COVID-19 including more than 2.3 million 3D printed parts such as face shields, masks, nasal swabs and more for hospitals, HP and HP Foundation are committed to donating an estimated $8 million in products and grants to support blended learning and local communities.

HP is committed to building a more equitable, more resilient and more sustainable future for all. The company, along with more than 155 businesses signed the Recover Better statement , urging governments worldwide to align their COVID-19 economic aid and recovery efforts with the latest climate science, because planetary health affects human health. This type of public advocacy and collective action is an important part of HPs Sustainable Impact strategy and supports the systemic changes and policy action needed to help HP achieve its goals and commitments as we continue to protect our people, communities and the planet.

Learn more

Visit the following links for more details:

About HP

HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our product and service portfolio of personal systems, printers and 3D printing solutions, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at http://www.hp.com .

1 In 2019, we tracked more than $1.6 billion in sales wins (total contract value) in which sustainability criteria were a known consideration and were supported actively by HPs Sustainability and Compliance organization, an estimated 69% increase over the $900+ million reported in 2018.



2 Goods and services produced by HPs diverse suppliers and their supply chains.

3 Calculated as the percentage of primary plastic packaging (by weight) reduced per unit shipped. Excludes secondary and tertiary packaging components. Includes HP personal systems and printer hardware packaging. Does not include packaging for the following: Graphics Solutions Business (GSB) hardware other than PageWide XL and DesignJet printers; 3D printing hardware; print supplies; refurbished products; and accessories such as 3rd party options, drop in box, and aftermarket options.

4 Applies to HP PCs, Workstations, and Displays manufactured after January 2019. Based on most Gold and Silver EPEAT registrations by meeting all required criteria and achieving 50-74% of the optional points for EPEAT Silver and 75-100% of the optional points for EPEAT Gold according to IEEE 1680.1-2018 EPEAT. Status varies by country. Data is as of May 26, 2020. Visit www.epeat.net for more information.

Copyright 2020 HP Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.




Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 20:56:26|Editor: huaxia

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KUNMING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The 94th Mekong River joint patrol, involving law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, started Tuesday, the latest in a series of patrols basically on a monthly basis by the four nations.

Three Chinese vessels departed from Jingha Port, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, in southwest China's Yunnan Province, while a Laotian vessel departed from the Ban Mom Port in Laos, with the patrol due to last several days.

Before the operation, law-enforcement authorities of the four countries held a video conference to review the progress made by the joint patrol since 2011 when it was initiated to tackle safety concerns along the Mekong.

They also analyzed the current situation regarding drug-related crimes in the region, and conducted in-depth discussions on a range of topics, including combating cross-border crimes and strengthening law-enforcement cooperation.

During the operation, the joint patrol team will crack down on all types of illegal and criminal activities and make every effort to ensure the safety and stability of shipping lanes.

So far, the four countries have jointly busted seven drug-related cases and seized a total of 4,585.39 kg of drugs, capturing nine suspects, according to the Yunnan provincial public security department.

The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping. Enditem
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday extended the lockdown in West Bengal -- now effectively limited to coronavirus containment zones -- until July 31 because of the continuing increase in Covid-19 cases. Banerjee also said many lives could have been saved had private hospitals provided better treatment to coronavirus disease patients with comorbid conditions.

We could have saved a few more lives if they were given some better treatment. Private hospitals focused on Covid-19 treatments and neglected the comorbid condition like cardiac problems and kidney problems in Covid patients. As a result some people died. I am sorry to say. The government is sending instruction to the hospitals in this regard, Banerjee said after an all-party meeting held at the state secretariat on Wednesday.

At least 591 people have died in the state out of which 437 or nearly 74% had comorbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiac disease and kidney ailments, among others.

When a critical cardiac patient with Covid-19 is coming you should first attend to his cardiac problems. Later you can attend to his Covid problems, Banerjee added.

She also told reporters that the lockdown will continue until July 31, noting that Covid-19 cases were still rising and adding that most political parties favoured an extension. West Bengal this month relaxed lockdown curbs along with other parts of the country. The restrictions are now enforced primarily in containment zones with relaxations given to shops, offices, religious institutions and public transport in other places.

She said the state would request the NITI Aayog to formulate a master plan for the protection and development of the Sunderbans, home to more than four million people and around 100 tigers. The region was hit by cyclone Amphan on May 20.

All parties have raised the issue of Sunderbans which is repeatedly being devastated by cyclones. We will request NITI Aayog to send down a team and formulate a master plan and a permanent solution. The help of the World Bank can also be taken, she added.

An all-party committee, with state parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee as its head, has been formed, to look into the relief and restoration work in the aftermath of cyclone Amphan that affected around 100 million people in the state.

We had given some suggestions in the meeting. Let the government take actions on those suggestions. It is too early to say whether we are happy with the outcome of the meeting, said Dilip Ghosh, president of the Bharatiya Janata Partys West Bengal unit.

There have been allegations of corruption in cyclone relief work against the ruling Trinamool Congress in several villages. Angry villagers recently staged protests in many cyclone-hit areas and ransacked government offices.

I have instructed the chief secretary and the district administrations that no genuine cyclone victim should be deprived of the relief. Some of our panchayat leaders and members have been ousted. We wont tolerate any corruption, Banerjee added.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra said: There are certain gaps which need to be plugged, particularly in the health care sector. We have given our suggestions to the state.

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By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan has repatriated 250 citizens stranded on the border with Russias South Caucasus Republic of Dagestan due to the lockdown over COVID-19, the website of Dagestans administration reported on June 23.

This was followed by the telephone conversation of Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev and head of Dagestan Vladimir Vasilyev on June 23.

In line with the instructions of Azerbaijani and Russian Presidents, parties agreed to increase the number of citizens returning across the state border.

As a result of the work of the bilateral working group, 250 Azerbaijani citizens passed through Yarag-Kazmalyar checkpoint yesterday, and up to 450 Russian citizens will return back to Russia on June 25.

Moreover, according to the agreements, the issues of accommodation, food, improvement of living conditions and medical care of Azerbaijani citizens waiting to return to homeland, will be settled jointly by the two side.

Thus, it was decided to deploy, by Azerbaijani side, an additional field tent hospital with medical personnel from the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the tent camp located in the territory of Dagestan.

Additionally, Azerbaijan will also organize catering for its citizens and increase the number of seats in the canteen. It is planned to purchase food from local producers.

Earlier, according to the weekly schedule, 120 people crossed Samursky checkpoint on May 19, 131 people on May 26, 122 people on June 2, 130 people on June 9 and 155 people on June 16.

Presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev said on June 16 that Azerbaijan has repatriated 2,976 citizens from Russia.

Azerbaijani citizens stranded on the border are staying in temporary tents set up in Dagestan.

Azerbaijan closed its borders with Russia over COVID-19 on March 18.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Congress leader AK Antony, who served as Indias defence ministry from 2006 to 2014, when India was governed by a United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, spoke to Hindustan Times in the backdrop of the latest conflict with China. Edited excerpts:

There has been a lot of sparring between your party and the Union government about China. The allegation is that Congress governments have been soft on China over the last 60 years and conceded area to them. What is your response?

They are referring to 1962, which was a betrayal by China. The whole country never expected that China will betray us. India was arguing for Chinas inclusion at the UN Security Council at that time. The euphoria at the time was China saying Hindi Chini, Bhai Bhai. After that, the country was more careful, and successive governments started strengthening our borders, building more infrastructure, getting more equipment, weapons for the army, airforce and navy -- more aircraft, more tanks. All governments were doing that, but during the UPA time, we spent the maximum. It was an economic boom time, and we spent to strengthen the armed forces. I can tell you that after 2006, we spent more than double the amount for the defence budget. They are now well-equipped and their morale is high. In mountain warfare, the Indian Army is one of the best in the world. In a war-like situation, however, they will have to be supported more.

You say that the UPA strengthened the force, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says that the Congress did a tie-up with the Communist Party of China in 2008, and that is the reason you are soft on the Chinese?

It is totally wrong, totally false. What is wrong with the agreement between the Congress party and the Chinese Communist Party? The BJP is also sending delegations to Chinese Communist Party meetings, at the invitation of the Chinese. It is party to party, and not only the Congress. Narendra Modi is the only chief minister who visited China, I think, four times or more. He was invited so many times. At embassy-level meetings, so many people go; many MPs go. Those are different things, but when the question of national interest comes, then it is a different matter. The Congress party always stands for national unity.

Also Read: How India can keep China in check | Opinion

So why was the Congress the only party critical of the government in the all-party meet?

I can tell you my experience during Manmohan Singhs time. I attended the all-party meeting, I was defence minister for more than seven years. All parties used to raise many doubts and queries. It is the job of the opposition parties. Sonia Gandhi categorically said we are with the government, we are with the armed forces. She raised some doubts, which is natural. She had some doubts -- why did this happen?

In Ladakh, both armies identified over the years more than a dozen disputed sites  Galwan was not a disputed point; it was always Indian territory. So why have the Chinese suddenly attacked Indian territory when the whole country was still under the euphoria of the Mahalbalipuram meeting? And the Galwan Valley aggression was not an accident; it was premeditated and pre-planned, even though the incursion came to light in April, it was prepared for much before that. That is why they were able to mobilise tanks, equipment, tents. When I was defence minister, in 2010 we started the construction of the road to the Galwan Valley.

Also Read: China finally admits casualties in Galwan clash, claims numbers not very high

At that time, there was no objection from the Chinese army. Why suddenly this dispute; why suddenly has China decided to cheat India? Just like in 1962, when the whole country was under the euphoria of Bandung conference, we have now seen similar cheating  a betrayal. So, naturally, you have to ask the questions. The Chinese army is now up to the Finger 4 area; they are still there, they are still fortifying their positions, so it is natural as an opposition party to ask questions about that. During our time, we took the major decision of raising a strike corps, so she asked what happened, what is the status of these. But she also said that we are with the government, we are with the armed forces.

You talked about your experience as defence minister. I want you to walk us through the 2013 standoff: was it similar to that three-week incident?

Depsang, 2013, and Chumar, 2014 -- the Chinese came, but not like this. In Galwan Valley, they came with thousands of forces. In 2013, after 21 days of standoff, through army and diplomatic talks, the Chinese army withdrew to the original position. There was some scuffle face-to-face at that time too, but no injuries. This time, still they are there since mid- April. Every day, they seem to be fortifying.

Finally, how do you think this can be resolved?

Our army is well trained, well-equipped; in mountain warfare they are the best. To resolve the issue, we need army-level talks, diplomatic-level talks, and if needed, political-level talks. At the same time, the governments position should be status quo ante, which means Chinese army must go back to the position before this process started.
Maryam Ali Mohammed al-Jaberi, 29, was found with trauma to her upper body about 6:30 p.m. Monday in the 11000 block of Great Owl Circle, police said. A Virginia medical examiner ruled her death a homicide on Tuesday. Police said that the investigation continues and that no arrest has been made in the case.
While China may think it has nothing to fear and much to gain from a Donald Trump victory over Joe Biden, the real US-China story should be cause for alarm in Beijing

My favourite story in John Boltons book about the Donald Trump Fun House  sorry, White House  was that the president appealed to Chinas leader to buy more US agricultural products to boost Trumps farm vote and his reelection.

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 Americas a less formidable economic rival, and for Vlad, that means America is a less attractive democratic model for his people. They also both know that as long as youre president, the US will never be able to galvanise 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 US alliances.

Chinese officials, Martin reported, see a unified front on trade or human rights by the US and its allies as Washingtons greatest asset for checking Chinas widening influence, and Trumps behaviour ensures that will never come about.

But while China may think it has nothing to fear and much to gain from a Trump victory over Joe Biden, the real US-China story should be cause for alarm in Beijing.

The real story is that Chinas standing in America today is lower than at any time since Tiananmen Square in 1989. The real story is that if China was to buy a few more beans and Boeings from America, that would not fix Beijings problems here. The real question the Chinese should be asking themselves is not who will be Americas next president, but rather: Who in China lost America?

Because the real story is that the US and China are heading for a divorce.

The divorce papers will just say the cause was irreconcilable differences. But Mom and Dad know better. They are getting divorced, after 40 years of being one couple, two systems, because China badly overreached and America badly underperformed.

Love it or hate it, the US-China partnership forged between 1979 and 2019 delivered a lot of prosperity to a lot of people and a lot of relative peace to the world  and, baby, we will miss it when its gone.

It was a period of unconscious economic coupling. Steadily over this era, and then rapidly after China joined the World Trade Organisation in 2001, any America entrepreneur could wake up and say, I want to purchase from this Chinese company or I want to move this supply chain to China. Any US university could say, I want to open a campus in China, and any US tech company could say, I want to open a research lab in China or hire a Chinese scientist.

And any Chinese student could say, I want to study in America, and any Chinese company that qualified could say, I want to list on the New York Stock Exchange or invest in or buy an American company.

These four decades of unconscious coupling hurt some workers, benefited many others and especially benefited consumers; it also took the edge off the natural rivalry between the worlds most powerful country and the most important rising power and enabled them to collaborate on global problems, like climate change and the post-2008 economic crisis.

This 40 years of unconscious coupling is over. The two countries will still trade, still engage diplomatically; tourists will still come and go; US businesses will still look to operate in the giant China market, because they must to survive.

But the unconscious coupling is over. Henceforth, it will be more hedged, opportunities will be more restricted and the relationship will be full of a lot more conscious suspicion, pressures for self-sufficiency and fear that a rupture could happen at any time.

Compared with the last 40 years, it will feel like a divorce.

Both sides are saying, Weve had enough of you, remarked Jim McGregor, chairman of APCO Worldwide for Greater China. And as Trump himself put it in a tweet last week, the US has the option of a complete decoupling from China.

But both sides are not equally to blame. The Xi era in US-China relations, which began in 2012, has led the relationship steadily downhill. China went too far on a broad range of issues.

Start with business. For many years US companies thought they had enough market share inside China that they would tolerate the stealing of intellectual property and other trade abuses China engaged in. But in the last decade, China started to overreach, and the American Chamber of Commerce in China began to complain louder and louder. Gradually, many in the US business community, which was a key buffer in the relationship, began to endorse Trumps hard-line approach (although they dont like paying tariffs).

Since Xi took power and made himself effectively president for life and tightened the Communist Partys control over all matters, US journalists working in China have had their access sharply curtailed; China has become more aggressive in projecting its power into the South China Sea; its become more fixated on subsidising its high-tech startups to dominate key industries by 2025; it is imposing a new national security law to curtail long-standing freedoms in Hong Kong; its stepped up its bullying of Taiwan, taken a very aggressive approach toward India and intensified its internment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang; its jailed two innocent Canadians to swap for a detained Chinese businesswoman; and it even hammered countries that dared to ask for an independent inquiry into how the coronavirus emerged in Wuhan.

After Australias prime minister called for such an investigation in April, Chinas ambassador to Australia brazenly threatened economic retaliation, and a few weeks later China cut off beef and barley imports from Australian companies, citing bogus health and trade violations.

That is the kind of crude bullying that has helped to strip China of virtually every ally it had in Washington  allies for a policy that basically said, We have different systems, but lets build bridges with China where possible, engage where it is mutually beneficial and draw red lines where necessary.

That balanced policy approach always had to contain serious tensions, ugliness and disagreements on issues  but in the end it delivered enough mutual benefit to be sustained for 40 years. That balance is now off as far as many Americans are concerned. I am one of them.

As Orville Schell, one of the most sensible advocates of this balanced approach, wrote in an essay a few weeks ago on TheWireChina.com: Today, as the US faces its most adversarial state with the Peoples Republic of China in years, the always fragile policy framework of engagement feels like a burnt-out case.  A recent Pew poll shows that only 26 percent of Americans view China favourably, the lowest percentage since its surveys began in 2005.

But if China has increasingly overreached, America has increasingly underperformed.

It is not just that China reportedly has fewer than 5,000 COVID-19 deaths and America has over 120,000  and the virus started there. It is not just that it takes about 22 hours on Amtrak to go from New York to Chicago, while it takes 4.5 hours to take the bullet train from Beijing to Shanghai, slightly farther apart. Its not just that the pandemic has accelerated Chinas transformation to a cashless, digital society.

Its that we have reduced investments in the true sources of our strength  infrastructure, education, government-funded scientific research, immigration and the right rules to incentivise productive investment and prevent excessive risk-taking. And we have stopped leveraging our greatest advantage over China  that we have allies who share our values and China only has customers who fear its wrath.

If we got together with our allies, we could collectively influence China to accept new rules on trade and COVID-19 and a range of other issues. But Trump refused to do so, making everything a bilateral deal or a fight with Xi. So now China is offering sweetheart deals to US and other foreign companies to come into or stay in China, and its market is now so big, few companies can resist.

Summing up the relationship today, McGregor, of APCO Worldwide, noted: I dont know if the Chinese are taking America seriously anymore. They are happy to just let us keep damaging ourselves. We have to wake up and grow up  and get our own act and allies together. China respects one thing only: Leverage. Today, we have too little and China has too much.

Thomas L Friedman c.2020 The New York Times Company
Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi Tuesday requested Union minister of home affairs Amit Shah to extend Centres free food grain scheme by another three months in the state till September this year to provide cover to the poor, hit hard by the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

During a telephonic conversation with Shah, Sushil Modi said that the poor people were yet to emerge from the economic blow suffered during the lockdown.

As the impact of Covid-19 pandemic has failed to subside, many (economically poor class) have not been able to manage a source of income and need food grains to sustain. So the free distribution of food grains among the poor should be continued from July to September, Modi said.

Sushil Modi said that a total of 8.71 crore poor people were given five kilogram rice every month from April to June in a relief measure worth 5,057.30 crore. He added that 1.68 crore families were also given one kilogram of lentils worth two crore during the same period.

Also Read: ITC among four industrial houses keen to invest in Bihar

The deputy CM said that a large number of migrant labourers and non-ration card holders, who returned to the state during the lockdown period, were also provided assistance by the state government.

Over 86 lakh people among them were provided five-kilogram rice and two-kilogram gram worth 337.15 crore in May and June, free of cost, he said and added that relief material worth 6,024.45 crore was distributed among the poor during the lockdown period.

The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19

Modi said that the state government had endeavoured to ensure no poor family in the state is deprived of relief measures offered during the lockdown.

Despite all the economic activities being on hold, there has been no report of any starvation death in the state during this period, he said.

Bihar goes to assembly polls in October-November this year.
His fans will get to see him as the Man of Steel again when director Zack Snyder debuts his director's cut of Justice League to HBO Max next year.

But Henry Cavill revealed he's hoping that won't be the last time he dons the cape as Superman.

The 37-year-old actor said he's hoping to play the iconic character for years to come in a conversation with Patrick Stewart for Variety.

Can't give it up: Henry Cavill, 37, revealed he hopes to play Superman for years to come in a conversation with Patrick Stewart for Variety that was posted Wednesday

Stewart began by mentioning roles that can go on for years and create new opportunities for actors, much like the role of Jean-Luc Picard did for him on Star Trek: The Next Generation and subsequent films.

Cavill agreed and said he'd 'always been incredibly grateful for' the success of his superhero role.

'Ive always been a fan of Superman,' he continued. 'With a character like that, you carry the mantle with you off set. And it becomes part of your public representation.

'When you meet children, children dont necessarily see me as Henry Cavill, but they might see Superman, and theres a responsibility which comes with that. Because its such a wonderful character, its actually a responsibility Im happy to have, and I hope that I get to play more of Superman in years to come,' he said.

Keeps on giving: Stewart began by mentioning roles that can go on for years and create new opportunities for actors, much like the role of Jean-Luc Picard did for him on Star Trek: The Next Generation

Thankful: Cavill agreed and said he'd 'always been incredibly grateful for' the success of his superhero role

Hard to pass up: 'Ive always been a fan of Superman. With a character like that, you carry the mantle with you off set. And it becomes part of your public representation,' he said

Cavill added that playing Superman had completed shift his career arc.

'My life has changed dramatically because of it,' he said. 'And it has given me plenty of opportunity for roles, and yeah, its been one of those characters which changed the entire course of my career. Im incredibly grateful for it, and its also taught me a lot about myself.'

The X-Men star pushed Cavill to delve more into how playing Superman had changed him as person.

'Hes so good, hes so kind, and when you start to compare yourself to him, because youre playing him, you start to really look inwards,' the actor continued.

'You say, "Am I a good person? Can I be a good enough person to play Superman?" And if you ever hear a whisper in there which is like, "Hmm, hold on a second. Maybe not, then you adjust it, and you make sure you are a better person. I think thats all we can do in life.'

Opening up: The X-Men star pushed Cavill to delve more into how playing Superman had changed him as person

Living up to him: 'Hes so good, hes so kind, and when you start to compare yourself to him, because youre playing him, you start to really look inwards,' the actor replied; still from Man Of Steel

The feeling was a familiar one for Stewart.

'There was a touch of that with both Jean-Luc Picard and Charles Xavier,' he said of his Star Trek and X-Men characters.

'I felt with both of them that they do have an impact, like you have described, on my private life. In that there was a sort of standard of morality and behavior that you needed to uphold because if you didnt they would reflect badly, negatively, on the character that you were playing.'

In May, Deadline reported that Cavill actor would be back for another go as Superman, though he'll most likely not appear in a sequel to 2013's Man Of Steel.

There also aren't any films that would have a major role for Superman coming up, so he would likely be filming a small cameo, possibly in the Aquaman sequel or Dwayne Johnsons Black Adam.

He's back! In May, Deadline reported that Cavill actor would be back for another go as Superman, though he'll most likely not appear in a sequel to 2013's Man Of Steel; publicity image for Batman V Superman

Redux: Next year, Superman fans can see him in Zack Snyder's director's cut of Justice League (2017), which will premiere on HBO Max; still from Batman V Superman

Next year, Superman fans can see him in Zack Snyder's director's cut of Justice League (2017), which will premiere on HBO Max.

Snyder originally left the production following the death of his daughter, and Avengers director Joss Whedon was brought in to finish the film and do reshoots.

He brought some of his snarky brand of humor that has characterized rival Marvel films after Warner Brothers wanted to move away from the dark direction of the critically reviled Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice.

While the new cut won't be a true director's cut, as Snyder isn't being allowed to shoot any of the material he initially planned to, he'll have free reign to reedit with existing footage, including significant chunks that were cut out of the theatrical cut.

The Snyder Cut will likely need new vocal overdubs, so Cavill may still do some voice work for it.
Harris County housing has become more affordable for existing homeowners over the last decade, but as home prices have risen more steeply than incomes it is more difficult than ever for renters to transition to home ownership.

Those are some of the findings of a study released Tuesday by Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University, which examined housing cost burdens as part of a report on the region's housing.

With roughly a quarter of Houston renters spending half their income or more on housing, the lack of affordable options has become a weight on a growing number of family's finances, impacting the amount they're able to spend on other necessities such as healthcare and food.

The reputation of Harris County and Houston is that theyre an affordable place to most residents, said Kyle Shelton, the institutes deputy director. That reputation is at odds with rising housing prices and a lot of the trends that were seeing in the most recent data.

Savings: Survey finds many Houstonians unprepared for economic crisis

The median price of a home in Harris County has risen much faster than the median income of a renter. Between 2011 and 2018, the median price of a home rose 58 percent to $220,000 from $139,000, while the median household income for a renter rose just 21 percent, to $40,000 from $33,000.

And while the financial situation of homeowners improved during that time  only 21 percent of homeowners in 2018 were considered cost-burdened, meaning they spent more than 30 percent of their income on housing, compared to 29 percent in 2010  the same could not be said for renters, whose share of cost-burdened households remained around 47 percent.

Shelton noted that nearly a quarter of renters spent more than 50 percent of their income on rent, leaving them with very few resources to make up any other costs, from healthcare to education or food.

That was before the novel coronavirus pandemic and oil bust led to job losses on a massive scale.

All together, weve seen over 350,000 unemployment insurance claims in Harris County since March 20, 2020, Shelton said. And so we know hundreds of thousands of homes are seeing huge drops of income, which are complicating all sorts of things, including, especially, housing costs and being able to afford housing.

Lacy Wolf, president of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, said that COVID has made already vulnerable members of the community even more vulnerable.

When we surveyed our 95 affiliated unions at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in March, 41 percent listed paying rent as the top concern of their members, and this has only grown in the subsequent months, she said in an emailed statement. We continue to call on our leaders in Harris County and Houston to address this ongoing crisis by suspending evictions in Justice of the Peace courts and passing municipal ordinances that give renters grace periods to pay back rent.

Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox

Shelton said the financial pain being felt by renters has the potential to spread to landlords and lenders as stimulus support comes to an end. He pointed to the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley, which he said estimates newly unemployed households in the Houston area are responsible for $420 million in rent each month.

And the pandemic and oil bust are only the latest in a series of disasters that have been felt by the Houston area.

A significant number of low-income families still are in need of repair from Hurricane Harvey, said Allison Hay, executive director of Houston Habitat for Humanity. So to ask them to stay at home during a pandemic in a home that has not been completely repaired and has health issues with mold  we see an increased risk of health issues for these families coming.

Shelton agreed. Multiple disasters are catching up to us in Houston, he said.

While the report noted that homeownership rates in Houston are falling across races, they have dropped most precipitously since 2010 for black families in part due to patterns of climate change-related catastrophes.

A lot of the communities where black home ownership rates are falling most are also areas that have been hit by major flooding in the last five years, Shelton said.

Housing experts said that for Houston to fix its housing affordability problem, it will have to focus on increasing its supply of affordable housing stock.

Mixed-income housing: East End is roiled as mixed-income housing plans advance

Obviously supply isnt keeping up with demand, said Mary Cunningham, vice president of communities policy at the Urban Institute, a Washington think tank. She recommended the city and county set production targets for new housing thats affordable for various income bands.

Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, also called for increasing the supply of affordable housing.

That means, by necessity, were going to have to have more subsidies for the poorest households who are just out of reach from the private sector, he said. It means we have to think about ways to expand the ability of the private sector to reach those people who are in the middle of the income distribution  for example, looking at regulatory barriers that make it difficult for tiny homes to be built in Houston.

And while housing advocates look for ways to increase the supply of housing affordable to low and moderate incomes, they should also be taking actions to preserve housing that is currently affordable.

I think we often look in terms of production, Cunningham said. I think we also need to think about a preservation strategy. We dont want the affordable housing we have now to disappear.

rebecca.schuetz@chron.com;

twitter.com/raschuetz
A Missouri appeals court rejected Johnson & Johnsons JNJ appeal to overturn a St. Louis jury verdict in 2018 to pay $4.69 billion in damages to 22 women who claimed that its talc-based products caused them to develop ovarian cancer. The Eastern District Missouri Court of Appeals slammed the company for knowingly selling a drug that causes cancer. The court, however, reduced the verdict to $2.1 billion arguing that 17 of the 22 plaintiffs were not from Missouri and should not have been included in the verdict. J&J plans to further challenge the appeals decision in the Missouri Supreme Court.

J&J stock has declined 2% this year so far compared with the industrys decrease of 1.8%.

The company faces more than 19,000 lawsuits for its talc-based products, primarily its baby powders. Lawsuits have been primarily filed in state courts in Missouri, New Jersey and California as well as outside the United States. The lawsuits allege that the companys talc products contain asbestos, a known carcinogen, which afflicted many women with ovarian cancer. There have been verdicts against J&J in its talc lawsuits.

In May this year, J&J announced that it is permanently discontinuing the sale of its talc-based Johnsons Baby Powder in the United States and Canada. Management confirmed that demand for the product has been declining, which it blamed on misinformation around the safety of the product amid a barrage of legal challenges.

J&J consistently denied allegations and insisted thattalc-based products are safe and do not cause cancer. However, the issue has been weighing on the companys stock price for some time now.

The link between talc and cancer has been rumored for decades but remains scientifically unproven. It is suggested that the connection between talc and cancer may be due to the fact that traces of talc and asbestos often occur together in deposits and get inadvertently mixed.

Story continues

J&J currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).Some better-ranked large-cap pharma stocks are Eli Lilly & Company LLY with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, and AstraZeneca AZN and AbbVie ABBV, both currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Lillys shares have risen 21.2% this year so far. Its earnings estimates for 2020 and 2021 have inched up 0.7% and 1%, respectively, over the past 90 days.

AstraZenecas shares have rallied 8.8% this year so far. Its earnings estimates for 2020 and 2021 have risen 1% and 1.6%, respectively, over the past 60 days.

AbbVies shares have been up 9.9% this year so far while its earnings estimates for 2020 and 2021 have risen 6.5% and 6.6%, respectively, over the past 90 days

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When Bob Hawke appointed her in 1987, Mary Gaudron, QC, became the only female Australian High Court judge ever ("Howard stands by Heydon as questions mount over knowledge of alleged harassment", June 24 ). Years later, when she retired in 2002, she still was. The obvious thing would have been to appoint one of several eminently qualified women to replace her. But the Howard government  obsessed with what it called judicial activism  refused to do so. Instead, it dashed women's hopes by moving to alter the balance of the court with the appointment of a black-letter law, hard-right male  Dyson Heydon. That was a slap in the face for women then. How much more so now. Phil Teece, Sunshine Bay Heydon is entitled to the presumption of innocence and to deny the allegations. However, these allegations should have been reported to police and then the DPP if they were to go further. How many royal commissions will it take to realise no one is above the law? David Baran, Dover Heights The Honourable Dyson Heydon, AC, QC. There is talk about removing his Order of Australia. While we're at it, what about removing the "Honourable"? Honourable he ain't. Gay O'Connor, Manly Water needs will drain us As soon as dam levels start to rise, the state government's interest in Sydney's long-term water security typically starts to fall ("Water supply can't keep up with growth", June 24). So far the expanding city has survived largely through the foresight of earlier generations, but ageing infrastructure and water strategies will not be sufficient for the mega-metropolis Sydney is envisaged to become. The government seems far more interested in promoting coal extraction projects under precious water catchment areas that serve to literally undermine our future water security. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Our water supply, crucial for maintaining life, continues to be threatened. Yet the NSW government continues to allow coal mining near our catchments and wasteful practices by selfish individuals. Again the driveway washers are out in force, using water to move leaves away. John Cotterill, Kingsford It was always predictable that Sydney's water supply would not keep up with population growth. We can delay the inevitable by conservation measures, but continuing high migration levels will still doom us to water shortages and higher water prices. The way to prevent this is to rethink the Australian government's population strategy which does not really add to GDP per capita in the way it was supposed to do. Dick Harfield, Yagoona Grounds for mutiny The SCG Trust, an unrepresentative group of elites, spent years undermining Mike Baird's reasonable plan to renovate both of Sydney's major sporting venues ("New agency to have control of all stadiums", June 24). They got their way and now ANZ will remain a ground with inferior sightlines for most visitors. That the Premier rewarded them with control over all major venues in NSW including ANZ Stadium speaks volumes for her style of leadership, where patronage persistently prevails. Jeffrey Gabriel, Gladesville

Roll out the pork barrel Prime Minister Scott Morrison is hinting that the timeframe for the JobKeeper subsidy may be extended for some regional areas most affected by the pandemic ("PM may extend JobKeeper for regions", June 24). You can bet that one of those regions will be the Eden-Monaro electorate.

Rob Phillips, North Epping Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: Cheap shot As a person who has recently moved from Sydney to Melbourne, I am greatly saddened by the advice of Gladys Berejiklian not to interact with people from Melbourne ("Reject tourists from hot spots, Premier urges", June 24). I can't recall Dan Andrews tackling the NSW Premier following the Ruby Princess debacle in such a manner. This is a time when we need to come together as a country. Schadenfreude is both an ignoble and dangerous sentiment. Hazel Popp, Carlton North (Vic)

Gladys Berejiklian should show leadership and temporarily close the border instead of unfairly putting the onus on tourism operators to shun Victorian tourists during this spike in cases in Victoria. Leaving it up to private operators is not a reliable method of ensuring safety as some operators would be tempted to accept the out-of-state tourists. If the Premier truly believes that it is not safe to have tourists from Melbourne enter NSW, then urging private tourism operators to turn away these tourists would only create resentment between the citizens of NSW and Victoria and risks spreading the virus even further. Leo Sorbello, West Ryde I pulled up behind a Victorian car at the lights today. The number plate read "Victoria  the place to be". Is this false advertising? Paul Stone, Little Bay So Queensland not opening their border is bad and Victoria having an open border is bad.

Sounds like a mixed-up NSW Premier. Tony Doyle, Fairy Meadow The kids are alright If we teach our children well enough to think for themselves, innovation and independent thought will follow. ("Teens turn weapon of choice on their world", June 24) The delight in the ticket registration action for the Trump rally is to be commended. Effective, non-destructive and they didn't even have to leave their homes. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Secrets suspected The behaviour of the NSW government concerning the museum move to Parramatta provokes bewilderment, suspicion and despair (Letters, June 23). The government's refusal to explain its rationale and its enthusiasm to waste money suggest to me that major deals have been done in secret. No doubt we will find out about these deals after the event when a magnificent museum has been totally ruined. Helen Knight, Wherrol Flat Rules are fair Your article repeats well-worn criticisms, citing a report by the Jakarta-based ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights ("Coronavirus will sway Singapore's already unfair election, report says", June 18). Singapore has held 14 general elections since 1959, each robustly contested by many parties. It has never failed to hold elections every four or five years, never imposed emergency rule or suspended its constitution, never failed to conduct clean and fair elections. No other ASEAN country can claim a similar record.

The APHR report suggests that election be delayed until after the pandemic is over. The current Parliament must be dissolved by January 2021. The latest elections can be held is April 2021. There is no certainty the pandemic will end before then. Delaying elections till the last possible moment would risk not having a legislature to pass the next annual budget, due in February 2021. Singapore has announced election rules amid the pandemic as a matter of prudence and fairness. These rules apply equally to all parties. Neither your article nor the APHR report offers any evidence that they favour any party. Our system has produced stable and effective government for more than 60 years. Ultimately the decision of who should lead Singapore and how they are elected is for Singaporeans to decide. Kwok Fook Seng, Singapore High Commissioner in Canberra Aunty upside As a rusted-on friend of the ABC who now finds nothing to watch across its four channels except the 7pm news, I wonder: will the proposed changes result in the demise of the endless showings of those vacuous British panel shows in which "celebrities", largely unknown to Australians, jolly on with each other to the apparent delight of mostly unseen studio audiences ("ABC outlines plans to cope with freeze", June 24)? Kevin Harris, Beecroft

Name game Thank you for solving the mystery (Letters, June 24). Reece Hession dating Annie Ployment explains the depressed Greta Good. Paul Gray, Daylesford (Vic) There is no truth to the rumour that Annie Ployment is dating Reece Hession. Reece is in a close relationship with Dee Pression. Ian Falconer, Turramurra While Annie Ployment and Jobson Grothe are taking all the limelight during the pandemic, I feel sorry for Sarah Monie and Doug Deep now the Olympic Games have been cancelled. Graeme Woodlands, Wyee Point Sweet memories
scmp.com - Jan 20

Fumio Kishida, Japans new prime minister, may become the nations first leader in the post-Cold-War era to not have visited Washington in the first 10 months of his term, without a specific reason.
Catalent, the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies, development, and manufacturing solutions for drugs, biologics, cell and gene therapies, and consumer health products, today announced that a number of its experts will present at the upcoming Controlled Release Society (CRS) Annual Meeting, which will take place virtually on June 29  July 2, 2020.

Cornell Stamoran, Ph.D., founder of Catalents Applied Drug Delivery Institute, has been invited to chair two sessions during the conference. Dr. Stamoran will moderate a discussion analyzing the industrys response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will also chair Plenary Session 2, featuring Katherine High, M.D.

In her presentation, titled Data-Driven Formulation Approaches for Oral Small Molecule Drugs, Lisa Caralli, Director, Science & Technology, will examine the role of physicochemical and biopharmaceutical data in guiding early small molecule drug development decisions. Ms. Caralli will explain how to apply the developability classification system (DCS) to guide formulation design, relate physiochemical properties to the impact on solubility and bioavailability, and discuss the importance of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling in ascertaining a molecules developability.

During the conference, Catalent will also present the following scientific posters:



Calcium Methylfolate Compatibility Studies in Gelatin Capsules, presented by Tiago Barros, Senior Analyst, Research & Development

Quantitation of the Crystalline Phase in Milled Prototype Hot Melt Extrudate Indomethacin Formulations by X-ray Powder Diffraction, presented by Imre Vitez, Principal Scientist, Physical Pharmaceutics Formulations, Research & Development

Evaluation of Ribbon Porosity as an Indicator of Ribbon Properties of Roller Compacted Material, presented by Priya Batheja, Principal Scientist, Formulations, Research & Development

Fast and Flexible Preparation Strategy of Lipid-Based Formulation of Early Phase Clinical Study, presented by Benoit Hilbold, Product Development Supervisor, Research & Development

Dr. Stamoran leads Catalents strategic planning, market intelligence and government affairs efforts. He also founded and serves as Co-Chair of Catalents Applied Drug Delivery Institute (http://www.drugdeliveryinstitute.com). He has spent more than 30 years engaged with the healthcare industry, including more than 25 years in advanced drug and biologic delivery and outsourcing.

Ms. Caralli has over 27 years of industry experience, and in her role at Catalent, works with pharmaceutical companies to identify appropriate development pathways for early development drug candidates. She has previously held roles at Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, and began her career at the Immune Response Corporation. Ms. Caralli holds a bachelors degree in biochemistry from the University of California at Davis, California.

The presentations will be available to view on-demand through the conference platform. To register, please visit https://2020.controlledreleasesociety.org/registration.

About Catalent

Catalent is the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies, development, and manufacturing solutions for drugs, biologics, cell and gene therapies, and consumer health products. With over 85 years serving the industry, Catalent has proven expertise in bringing more customer products to market faster, enhancing product performance and ensuring reliable global clinical and commercial product supply. Catalent employs over 13,500 people, including over 2,400 scientists and technicians, at more than 40 facilities, and in fiscal year 2019 generated over $2.5 billion in annual revenue. Catalent is headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey. For more information, visit http://www.catalent.com

More products. Better treatments. Reliably supplied.
Confectionery giant Nestle has been slammed by Pauline Hanson for changing the names of Redskins and Chicos lollies to avoid 'marginalising' customers - with the One Nation leader also hitting out at the ABC for wanting to debate whether chess was racist.

Nestle announced on Tuesday that affiliate Allen's would be changing the names of the lollies because both terms could be used in a derogatory way.

'Red Skin' is a slang term used for Native Americans in the United States and is considered offensive, while 'chico' - Spanish for 'boy' - is also considered to be offensive to Latin-Americans.

But Hanson said the decision to rebrand was 'pathetic' and an example of 'caving to the hysterical left's demands'.

Pauline Hanson branded confectionery brand Allen's 'pathetic' after learning of the decision to change the names of Red Skins and Chicos

Red Skins (above) have been enjoyed by children for decades in Australia and New Zealand

'Pathetic... the only way to describe companies and politicians dealing with the cancel culture epidemic,' the One Nation leader wrote on her Facebook page.

Cancel culture is a new phrase used to describe a mob mentality that leads people to boycott certain products, people or programs.

It is most commonly associated with people who have caused offence through their actions or words.

'I keep telling people that caving in to the hysterical left's demands only makes things worse,' Hanson said.

Hanson said people have tried to 'cancel' her for decades, and encouraged companies to follow her lead by simply 'refusing to back down'.

'That's all it takes,' she said.

On Tuesday, John Adams, 38, from the Australian Chess Federation, took to twitter to lambaste the ABC for wasting taxpayer's money by holding a debate over whether chess was 'racist' because 'white always goes first'.

Mr Adams said using chess to discuss structural racism is a bridge too far.

'With all the drama resulting from COVID-19, I am amazed that the ABC is broadcasting on irrelevant topics,' he said.

'Chico' - Spanish for 'boy' - can be used in a derogatory way, leading to Nestle's decision to change the name of the confectionery sweet

Generations of Australian kids have also enjoyed Chicos, above, for their chocolaty taste - unaware the term was considered offensive to those of Latin-American descent.

'Cancel culture' Explained Cancel culture is a new phrase to describe a mob mentality that leads people to boycott certain products, people or programs. It is most commonly associated with people who have caused offence through their actions or through something they have said. But the concept has grown particularly prevalent over the past five years and is making it 'difficult' for comedians in particular - given certain comedic tropes have not aged well. From the time #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty began trending on Twitter to J.K Rowling being 'cancelled' for her divisive views on transgender people, the process involves refusing to celebrate or acknowledge a person or their work. Advertisement

Allen's Lollies is the latest in a string of brands to question the impact the names of their products could have on consumers.

Comedian Josh Thomas called for Coon cheese to be renamed because of its racist connotations. Coon was the surname of the creator of the manufacturing process.

Indigenous activists have also called for the state of Victoria to be renamed because it is named after Queen Victoria.

Colonial Brewing Co is considering changing its 'problematic' brand name after its beers were pulled from bottle shop shelves in Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania.

'In light of the current climate and recent events, Colonial Brewing Co acknowledge the significant stress and angst [of] the Black Lives Matter community,' Colonial Brewing Co managing director Lawrence Dowd said in a statement.

Nestle released a statement on Tuesday explaining the names of both Red Skins and Chicos have 'overtones which are out of step with Nestles values, which are rooted in respect'.

'This decision acknowledges the need to ensure that nothing we do marginalises our friends, neighbours and colleagues.'

The company is yet to announce new names for the classics, which Australian and New Zealand kids have been enjoying for decades.

Nestle said they 'will move quickly' to change the lolly names.

Allens Lollies released a similar statement on Tuesday.

'At Allens we are about creating smiles,' the statement read. 'Today we announced that we will change the name of Red Skins and Chicos lollies.

'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.

'We havent finalised the new names, but well keep you posted. We appreciate the comments we have received on the need for change.'

The One Nation leader shared her opinion of the matter on he Facebook page, writing: 'Pathetic... the only way to describe companies and politicians dealing with the cancel culture epidemic'
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 $50,000. 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 tUC 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 said.

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 ventilationThis 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 for 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 at 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.

MADVent: A low-cost ventilator for patients with COVID-19

Corresponding authors: James Friend, Dr. Lonnie Petersen UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering: Medically Advanced Devices Laboratory: James Friend, Aditya Vasan, Reiley Weekes, William, Connacher,

UC San Diego School of Medicine: Dr. Casper Petersen, Dr. Sidney Merritt, Dr. Preetham Suresh, Dr. Daniel E. Lee, Dr. William Mazzei, Theodore Vallejos, Jeremy Sieker,

Qualcomm Institute: Mark Stambaugh, Alex Grant

Eric Schlaepfer, independent researcher
The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Femi Gbajabiamila, has condemned Ghana for attacking the sovereignty of his country through the demolition of a prime property belonging to its High Commission in Accra.

A section of the staff quarters of the High Commission was bulldozed at the weekend by people described as unknown by Ghanaian authorities.

Speaking on behalf of the House of Representatives of Nigeria during an interactive session with the countrys Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, over the matter, Mr Gbajabiamila said: I think we should look at this thing from the premise that the Nigerian state was attacked, explaining: Its not that a building was demolished. No. I think if we look at it from that premise, well begin to understand or underscore the gravity of what were dealing with.

It is trite that the embassy of any country, is actually the sovereign location in that particular country, the Speaker said, adding: So, from that point of view, we need to address this in that context that Nigeria was attacked.

In his view, Its not an ordinary land dispute. No its not. It has now metamorphosed into a dispute between two countries.

The question I want to ask is this: If, per adventure, for argument sake, it was the US embassy that was demolished in Ghana, do we think the US will be talking about apology, well look into it?, thats all I want to know, he wondered.

It underscores the point when were told that this is the second time its happening. Of course, it happened the first time, they got away with it and, of course, they are going to do it again; they get away with it this time, they are going to do it the third time, he noted.

So, weve established a pattern and all we get is apology, well get into it.

The Speaker of Nigerias House of Representatives said he has tried reaching the Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye on the matter because it concerns him as much as it concerns him.

We must put a stop to what has become recurrent decimal or perennial problem between Nigeria and Ghana. To me, this is like a sibling rivalry between two sister countries but even in sibling rivalries, there is a line you just dont cross and they just crossed the line, albeit the second time. What are we going to do about it?

According to him, the demolition of the Nigerian property could just be a small manifestation of a bigger problem.

He noted that there is something called a non-citizens card in Ghana, which is speculated that it is targeted at the two million Nigerians living in Ghana.

So, we need to begin to peel off these layers to know exactly what has Nigeria done or what exactly is going on.

I think this has gone beyond court process ... its actually demeaning Nigeria to say this is a dispute between a land owner and the Nigeria state. So, if we can agree that its a dispute between two countries because that embassy represents Nigeria and whoever did that did it under the colour of law, so, its between Nigeria and Ghana. Will the proper forum for dispute resolution be a Ghanaian court?, he asked, pointing out that invariably, if Ghana has a problem [with Nigeria] and they are operating through subterranean moves, what do we think the outcome of the legal proceedings will be?

I think we should make it clear to the authorities in Ghana that Nigerian is not going to sit down and fold her arms, adding: Reciprocity is a legitimate instrument in foreign relations. I dont understand why a country would do that when you know you have prime property in the sister country that you have put under attack  theres property in Abuja, theres property everywhere, he told the session.

The Speaker said Nigeria must stop being soft with Ghana on the matter.

For you to now, without any fear of a country like Nigeria or any country, even the smallest country, go under the cover of the night, the police did not come, nobody showed up, and just demolished the place, shows high disrespect for the country and thats why were here to uphold our honour and glory otherwise well become sleeping giants, a laughing stock  South Africa did it, Ghana did it, tomorrow it will be the turn of Uganda, and the next time it will be Ethiopia and what will do? Because of the gentleman that we are as a country, well continue to send letters, and accept apologies.

Lets be a little bit more stern, a little bit more aggressive in our approach. The days of trying to be a gentleman and be diplomatic, I think we should put that aside ... you can excuse the first time but when it happens the second time, something sterner must happen, he insisted.
A Chinese citizen journalist who uploaded coronavirus reports from Wuhan onto social media to criticise the city's handling of the outbreak has been arrested, according to reports.

The Shanghai resident Zhang Zhan, reportedly to be 40, was allegedly removed by police on suspicion of 'picking quarrels and provoking trouble', a broad-brush charge often used against activists.

She is believed to be the fourth Chinese citizen reporter to have vanished or been detained after posting dispatches from Wuhan during the COVID-19 outbreak.

A Chinese citizen journalist (pictured) who uploaded coronavirus reports from Wuhan onto social media to criticise the city's handling of the outbreak has reportedly been arrested

One video published by Ms Zhang on YouTube purports to show the ER department of the Hubei Provincial People's Hospital overrun by patients who had to sleep in the corridor

In another clip, Ms Zhang alleged that one crematorium in the former epicentre was working in the middle of the night in mid-February, thought to be burning the bodies of COVID-19 victims

The news comes as Chinese officials claimed that Beijing's fresh coronavirus cluster linked to a wholesale market was 'largely under control'.

Ms Zhang, who is originally from the north-western province of Shaanxi, had been critical of the Communist Party before the pandemic.

Last year, she was detained by the police, also on suspicion of 'picking quarrels and provoking trouble', after showing her support to pro-democracy Hong Kong protesters, according to a Chinese website which publishes updates about activists.

'Picking quarrels and provoking trouble' is a vaguely defined charge often used by Chinese authorities to target activists and dissidents, which carries a prison sentence of up to five years.

It is said the independent journalist arrived in Wuhan around February 1 to report on the coronavirus outbreak.

According to Ms Zhang's YouTube channel, she visited some of the most sensitive places in Wuhan at the height of the city's COVID-19 outbreak, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology, crematoriums and hospitals.

In another video series, Ms Zhang said she wanted to visit the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been accused of being the origin of the coronavirus. The institute was surrounded by high-voltage electric fences and run by the military, Ms Zhang said while filming its exterior

China has repeatedly denied the allegations put against the Wuhan virus institute (pictured). Beijing insists that the WHO found no evidence that the novel coronavirus was man-made

In one clip uploaded on February 25, one man told Ms Zhang that he had just seen a crematorium van transporting corpses from Wuhan Wuchang Hospital. 'It's too scary,' the man is heard saying while standing outside the medical facility.

In five videos released the next day, she appeared to film the exterior of the tightly guarded Wuhan Institute of Virology, which was at the centre of startling theories that the virus escaped from there. The institute was surrounded by high-voltage electric fences and run by the military, Ms Zhang claimed.

She also captured how one crematorium was allegedly working overnight in mid-February, thought to be burning the bodies of COVID-19 victims.

In addition, the Hubei Provincial People's Hospital seemed to be packed with patients on March 1 when official figures claimed that the number of daily infections had dropped sharply.

Ms Zhang had live-streamed scenes onto Twitter and YouTube, including evidence of crematoriums operating at midnight. The picture from January 25 shows mask-donning Wuhan residents queuing for medical attention at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital

Grieving Wuhan families have sought legal help in suing the government after losing their loved ones to the coronavirus, according to the New York Times. But some had to drop the idea after being harassed and threatened by authorities, a New York-based activist told the paper

It is alleged that Ms Zhang was 'forced to disappear' by authorities in Wuhan on May 14 and formally arrested in Shanghai the next day.

The news was reported by various news outlets, including Radio Free Asia and The Times. Her father told South China Morning Post that he was notified by police of her daughter's arrest on Friday.

Before Ms Zhang, three other citizen journalists had vanished for publishing reports about Wuhan's epidemic on international social media outlets.

Chen, 34, who went to Wuhan to report about the coronavirus outbreak independently, has not been heard from since 7pm local time on February 6, according to posts on his Twitter account

Fang Bin (pictured), a Wuhan resident, went missing on February 9 after releasing a series of videos, including one showing piles of bodies being loaded into a bus (below)

Chen Qiushi, 34, was last heard from on February 6, and his whereabouts are unknown. Fang Bin, a businessman, also disappeared in early February, and is believed to have been taken into state custody. Li Zehua, 25, disappeared in late February and re-appearing in late April.

China has reportedly harassed, threatened and silenced multiple citizens who vowed to hold the government responsible for its perceived missteps in dealing with the new coronavirus outbreak.

One civil servant, Tan Jun, is said to have been interrogated and gagged by the police after filing the country's first lawsuit against the provincial government of Hubei for 'causing unprecedented losses' to its people's lives and properties.

Li Zehua (pictured) vanished on February 26 before re-appearing at the end of April. Li was likely targeted by secret police after visiting the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a report said

Ren Zhiqiang, a prominent Communist party member who criticised Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus outbreak, is being investigated on suspicion of a 'severe violation of discipline and law'. In this file photo from 2012, the then real estate mogul is seen in his office in Beijing

Dr Li Wenliang, 34, died of the coronavirus in February after being punished for sounding the alarm over the outbreak. The police accused Dr Li and other medics of spreading fake news

Other grieving Wuhan residents were allegedly hassled, intimidated and hushed by authorities after planning to draw up petitions against officials over their response to the health crisis, which has killed more than 477,000 worldwide.

Li Wenliang, an eye doctor in Wuhan, was given severe oral warnings by his boss and police officers after sending a message onto social media to warn other medics of a 'SARS-like' disease. The 34-year-old later died of COVID-19 after contracting it from a patient.

Ren Zhiqiang, an outspoken Chinese Communist Party critic and millionaire property tycoon, was detained after he penned an essay fiercely critical of Xi's response to the outbreak, calling the leader 'a clown'.

Also, three Beijing-based internet activists have disappeared and are likely in detention for saving backup copies of censored coronavirus news stories online, according to a relative.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued his first significant COVID-19 shutdown order on March 16. The order was subsequently continued and extended on March 25 with the ensuing loss of some 795,00 jobs. I wondered if Walz took any account of the economic devastation he was causing before he promulgated his shutdown orders.

On April 23 I submitted a Minnesota Data Practices Act request to Governor Walz seeking all economic data and economic analysis submitted to you in connection with each of the executive orders you have promulgated in connection with COVID-19, specifically including analysis of anticipated job losses.

Walz slow walked his response to my Data Practices Act request and you can see why. It is stunning. Consisting of three documents produced by email as PDF attachments this past Friday, it was too small to call it a Friday afternoon document dump. It was a Friday afternoon document trickle. The documents are dated respectively April 3 (six pages), April 17 (six pages), and May 27 (a two-page memo To whom it may concern summarizing the April 3 and April 17 memos).

I posted the April 3 memo here on Monday. The April 17 memo is posted below. Although they came after Walzs original shutdown orders, the memos accurately foretold the scale of the devastation wrought by Walzs shutdown orders. The devastation continues.

Kevin Roche comments on the two memos here. This is Kevins conclusion:

All in all, the memos paint a very grim picture of revenue and job loss, which is currently being largely offset by the federal top-off payments, but which are likely to persist beyond the end of those payments. None of this information was released to the public by [Walz], who has continually avoided any discussion of the economic, health or social impacts of his extreme shutdown; a shutdown that will kill more Minnesotans than coronavirus while leaving us with a severely weakened economy and health system, and governments with very limited finances to address these problems.

The highly regarded former investment officer of a financial services company based in Minnesota has forwarded a spreadsheet comparing job losses in Minnesota and its four neighboring states: Iowa, Wisconsin and the Dakotas. Having run the numbers for me previously, he now explains: I have updated the job loss data for the five-state area, and the story remains the same, but I think is worth repeating. Minnesota has experienced the worst job losses per capita in the five state area, more than 20 percent worse than every state, and more than double South Dakota. He concludes:

If Minnesota had [achieved] better outcomes [with respect to the epidemic], one might argue that the economic damage was worth it, but that does not appear to be the case. Minnesotas deaths per 100,000 are twice as bad as Wisconsins and 2.5 times as bad as South Dakotas. Why? I dont know. Maybe the other states did a better job of protecting vulnerable people in nursing homes. Regardless of the reason, it appears Minnesota has suffered the worst of both metrics.

For some reason, the Minnesota media have not taken the time to gather the documents or compile the data.

Responsive Data 2 by Scott Johnson on Scribd
Polls have closed in Malawi's hotly contested presidential vote, the second time in just over a year, after incumbent President Peter Mutharika's re-election was annulled by the courts over irregularities.





Some 6.8 million people were eligible to vote in Tuesday's rerun, practically a two-horse race between Mutharika and opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera. A third candidate, Peter Kuwani, was also in the running.





The election is much anticipated after the Constitutional Court in early February ruled that the May 2019 vote 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.





Mutharika slammed the verdict as a "serious miscarriage of justice" and, along with the electoral commission, filed an appeal. But on May 8, the Supreme Court upheld the earlier ruling, setting the stage for Malawians to return to the polls again.





On Tuesday, there was a big turnout in the cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba, with some voters arriving an hour before polling stations opened at 6am.





"I am happy because this rerun is the will of the people. And with this vote, I just hope that the best person wins. The will of the people will triumph," said Peter Chadza, 26, a businessman who arrived at a polling station in Lilongwe an hour and a half before voting was due to start.





Voting proceeded without major incident, although regional police spokesperson Williams Kaponda said 20 people had been arrested on Monday night after being found with a fake ballot box stuffed with pre-marked ballot sheets.





Mutharika, of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), voted in his home district of Thyolo in southern Malawi. He called for a peaceful election after hearing about a few reports of harassment





"People should be allowed to choose a leader they want, to govern this country," he said.





Chakwera, leader of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), who voted near Lilongwe, also called for non-violence.





Chifundo Kachale, the recently appointed chairperson of the electoral commission, assured voters the polling process would be fair.





"We do not want issues which were identified in last year's annulled poll to arise again," he told reporters on Monday.





He did not give a definite date for when results would be released.

In last year's nullified vote, the 79-year-old incumbent - an academic and brother of former president, the late Bingu wa Mutharika - was handed a second term in office with 38.57 percent of the vote, slightly ahead of his main challenger, Lazarus Chakwera, at 35.41 percent.





But now, a candidate will have to garner more than 50 percent of the votes to be declared the outright winner and avoid the possibility of a runoff.





In March, the two opposition parties that petitioned the constitutional court to review last year's election - the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), headed by Chakwera, and the United Transformation Movement (UTM) - announced that they would team up in the election re-run.





Chakwera, a 65-year-old pastor turned politician, was chosen to lead the newly formed Tonse Alliance, which also includes several smaller parties. His running mate is Saulos Chilima, UTM leader and Mutharika's former deputy who finished third in last year's poll. Combined, the pair's official 2019 vote tally surges to almost 56 percent, well above the threshold that guarantees an outright win.





For its part, Mutharika's DPP joined forces with the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by Atupele Muluzi, the son of former President Bakili Muluzi. If they repeat last year's electoral performance, the joint DPP-UFF ticket would gather a little more than 43 percent.





"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 Public Affairs Committee, an influential quasi-religious civic group, said in a statement.





Gift Trapence of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition, which led months-long countrywide protests against last year's election results, has high hopes this time around.








A nationwide clap to thank the NHS will take place a week on Sunday, which is hoped to become an annual tradition.

Following the success of the weekly Clap for Carers, people will be encouraged to reflect on the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic with family and friends at 5pm on July 5 - the 72nd anniversary of the NHS.

Broadcasters will also suspend transmissions for a moment as a mark of respect.

On July 4, the evening before, people will be asked to put a light in their windows in remembrance of those lost to Covid-19.

Public buildings will also be lit up in blue for the NHS including the Royal Albert Hall, Blackpool Tower, the Shard and the Wembley Arch.

A nationwide clap to thank the NHS will take place next Sunday, which is hoped to become an annual tradition. Following the success of the weekly Clap for Carers (above, outside the Chelsea & Westminster hospital in May), people will be encouraged to reflect on the heroes of the pandemic with family and friends at 5pm on July 5 - the 72nd anniversary of the NHS

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens (pictured) said he hopes the public will use the anniversary as an opportunity to 'say a heartfelt thank you' to hospital staff

On July 4, the evening before, people will also be asked to put a light in their windows in remembrance of those lost to the pandemic. Public buildings will also be lit up in blue for the NHS including the Royal Albert Hall (above), the Shard and the Wembley Arch

Blackpool Tower (above) is also among the public buildings which will be lit blue as a mark of respect for the NHS

Britain announces 154 more Covid-19 deaths as total number of victims tops 43,000 Britain today announced 154 more Covid-19 deaths and just 653 coronavirus cases, in the lowest daily jump for more than three months as the outbreak continues to fizzle out. Department of Health figures show the overall number of victims has now topped 43,000  but other grim data taking into account all suspected deaths reveals the actual tally is at least 53,000. Just 184 laboratory-confirmed deaths were recorded last Wednesday, meaning the daily toll has dropped 16 per cent in the space of a week. Only 171 fatalities were registered yesterday. During the peak of Britain's Covid-19 outbreak in April, more than 1,000 deaths were recorded on nine separate days. But the number of victims has been consistently dropping for eight weeks. Advertisement

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said he hopes the public will use the anniversary as an opportunity to 'say a heartfelt thank you' to hospital staff.

Sir Simon said: 'This year has been the most challenging in NHS history, with staff displaying extraordinary dedication, skill and compassion to care for the 100,000 patients with Covid-19 who needed specialist hospital treatment and many others besides.

'During this testing time, our nurses, doctors, physios, pharmacists and countless more colleagues were sustained by the support of the public, not least through the weekly applause for key workers.

'No health service, not even the NHS, could have coped alone with this coronavirus pandemic.

'From bus drivers and teachers to care staff and food retailers and, of course, the public who took action to stay at home to stop infection spreading, everyone played their part.'

It comes as Britain today announced 154 more Covid-19 deaths and just 653 coronavirus cases, in the lowest daily jump for more than three months as the outbreak continues to fizzle out.

Department of Health figures show the overall number of victims has now topped 43,000  but other grim data taking into account all suspected deaths reveals the actual tally is at least 53,000.

Just 184 laboratory-confirmed deaths were recorded last Wednesday, meaning the daily toll has dropped 16 per cent in the space of a week. Only 171 fatalities were registered yesterday.

During the peak of Britain's Covid-19 outbreak in April, more than 1,000 deaths were recorded on nine separate days.

But the number of victims has been consistently dropping for eight weeks.

Government figures also show the 653 new cases is the fewest recorded since three days before lockdown was imposed  just 643 people tested positive for the disease on March 19.

More than 6,000 people were being diagnosed each day across the UK during the darkest days of the crisis but only a fraction of infected people were being tested because of a lacklustre testing scheme.

Broadcasters will also suspend transmissions for a moment as a mark of respect on July 5. (Above, NHS staff take part in the weekly 'Clap for Carers' event at Aintree University Hospital, in Liverpool on May 28)

Chief executive for NHS Wales Dr Andrew Goodall said Clap for Carers was 'very much embraced' in Wales and he is 'delighted' to support the clap on July 5. (Pictured, residents in Wattsville, Gwent, applaud hospital staff on May 7)

Chief executive for NHS Wales Dr Andrew Goodall said Clap for Carers was 'very much embraced' in Wales and he is 'delighted' to support the clap on July 5.

'I know communities across Wales will want to pay tribute and thank everyone who has played their part in supporting our nation through this pandemic,' he said.

The nationwide clap has been organised following a letter from the Together coalition, in which influential figures including Sir Simon and the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby voiced their support for making July 5 an official day of commemoration.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal once again urged the Centre and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to restore the old system of assessing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients at their residence.

Delhis home isolation plan has been working very well. I have personally spoken to many patients on phone who underwent home isolation. I wud urge Centre and LG not to tinker wid it and restore it back, he said on Twitter on Wednesday.

Delhis home isolation plan has been working very well. I have personally spoken to many patients on phone who underwent home isolation. I wud urge Centre and LG not to tinker wid it and restore it back pic.twitter.com/aaFLl2aXY1  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 24, 2020

The Delhi government had formalised a new health assessment protocol on Monday, which said that new patients of the coronavirus disease had to visit a testing site to get themselves checked. The revised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) further said that the patients will be examined by a medical officer at the testing site to assess the severity of illness.

This, the Delhi government said, requires special ambulances and more medical staff, something the authorities say are short in number.

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, Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia at a press briefing on Tuesday.

The revised guidelines were announced after an order on home isolation by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal was modified.In view of the surge in the coronavirus cases, the Lt Governor had last week ordered mandatory institutional quarantine. The move was opposed by the AAP government.

The new SOPs say that the assessment centre will decide about the clinical conditions, severity of illness and presence of co-morbidities.Simultaneously, physical assessment will also be done whether adequate facilities for home isolation like minimum of two rooms and a separate toilet exists so that family members and neighbours are protected, and a cluster of cases does not develop in that locality, the order said.

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.
Pushkar Banakar and Kumar Vikram By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India is looking at the possibility of establishing bilateral arrangements with some nations allowing airlines of each country to operate international passenger flights, said the Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday. The statement came after the US Department of Transportation (DoT) announced that it will not allow Indias repatriation flights beyond July 22.

The ministry has received requests from authorities concerned in several countries including the US, France, Germany among others. These countries have requested 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, said the ministry.

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, it said.

The ministry also said it was looking at the prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles namely India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK. These are all destinations where demand for travel has not diminished, it said.

The US has accused India of indulging in unfair and discriminatory practices amid the coronavirus pandemic through charter flights. As per the order, Indian airlines will now have to take permission and authorisation from the DoT before flying charter flights to the US. The order seems to be an apparent retaliation for the Indian government not allowing American carriers to operate.

The order said that the move was aimed at creating a level playing field for US airlines in accordance with the US-India Transport Agreement.

India has suspended international passenger flights since March 25 due to Covid-19. Air India started international chartered flights under Vande Bharat Mission from May 6, primarily to help stranded Indians return home. The ministry said these flights are now also flying citizens of other countries to their home.
A Black man has sued a police department in Georgia for unnecessary and excessive use of force in a detainment from February.

Antonio Arnelo Smith, 47, filed a federal suit Friday alleging that Valdosta, Georgia, police officers injured him after body slamming him, and violated his civil rights when they wrongly detained him after identifying him as a suspect in a panhandling case. He is requesting $700,000 in compensation.

"From the moment Mr. Smith was slammed to the ground until he walked away, he cried and screamed in agonizing pain," reads the lawsuit, which was filed against the officers and the city of Valdosta.

A statement by the city said that it "takes any report of any injury to a citizen seriously," and said that Smith did not file a complaint with Valdosta police.

Per a police report obtained by the Valdosta Daily Times, a man, who was suspected of bothering customers outside a Walgreens, was wearing a brown hoodie and blue pants.

A patrolman approaches the man, who police identified as Smith. According to bodycam footage reviewed by USA TODAY, the man was wearing a red jacket and khaki pants.

An officer asks the man why he was at the Walgreens, and later asks for identification. Smith gives his ID to the officers. He explains that he was at the Walgreens to go to an in-store Western Union, waiting for his sister to wire him money.

Im not doing anything, Ive been around cameras, he said, telling officers to look at security footage recorded at the Walgreens.

A sergeant then arrives, immediately walking up to the man, grabbing him and restraining his arms in a bear hug." He instructs Smith three times to put his hands behind his back like hes told.

After the third instruction, the sergeant body slams Smith. He starts wailing in pain, exclaiming that the sergeant broke his wrist.

In the police account, the sergeant in question said Smith was "standing in a 'bladed stance' and he appeared to be arguing or debating with the patrolman."

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The sergeant then repeatedly tells him to relax, removing his cuffs and telling him that a warrant was issued for his arrest. Moments after, the patrolman who initially approached Smith informs the officers at the scene that they detained the wrong man.

This is another guy, the officer with the bodycam says. The guy with the warrants over there. They remove his cuffs.

Wheeler admits in the video that he thought Smith was "the guy with the warrants."

The patrolman then clarifies the situation to the officers, and they let Smith stand up. Another officer tells Smith an ambulance is on its way.

I was getting ready to put my hands behind my back, Smith said. He forcibly picked me up.

The sergeant asks Smith whether he understood what had just taken place. Smith said yes, walking away from the scene. Smith was later hospitalized at South Georgia Medical Center, per the lawsuit, where he was diagnosed with distal radial and ulnar fractures and his arm was put in a sling before being released with pain medication.

Smith's lawyer, Nathaniel Haugabrook, told the Valdosta Daily Times that officers violated Smiths civil rights to be free from an unlawful arrest, unlawful detention and all of the other rights that goes along with us being citizens.

Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man sues Georgia police for excessive use of force after wrong arrest
Staffers and families said the superintendents plans raise more questions than answers. Parents said they feel unclear about what forms of education, exactly, are being offered  will the virtual schooling be an in-home replica of the school day, or will it just be a half-hour of video class each day? And some are concerned that the proposed setup could force already stressed and struggling parents to balance child care with work responsibilities for more than a year to come, which could prove an impossible task.
6 out of 10 Americans reject idea that 'human life is sacred,' survey finds

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Around six in 10 Americans do not believe that human life is inherently sacred, though more than two-thirds believe human beings are basically good, new data suggests.

The recently launched Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University released a report on Tuesday examining how Americans value human life.

Data for the report came from a survey conducted in January of 2,000 adult respondents in the United States, 1,000 of whom were contacted by telephone and 1,000 reached by online questionnaires. The data has a margin of error of 2 percentage points.

Among respondents, only 39% said they agreed with the statement: human life is sacred.

The word sacred is defined by the researchers as having unconditional, intrinsic worth.

Many respondents who identified as religious were more likely than the total sample to believe that human life is sacred. For example, 60% of evangelical and born-again Christian respondents agreed that life is sacred.

Among other respondent groups, 46% of Pentecostals, 45% of mainline Protestants, and 43% of Roman Catholics agreed that human life is sacred.

Meanwhile, 12% of respondents said they believe people are only material substance  biological machines. Another 12% said that believe humans are part of the mind of the universe.

While most did not believe life was sacred, 69% of respondents concluded that people were basically good.

The researchers argue that seeing humans as just basically good runs counter to the foundational biblical teaching that human beings are created by God and made in His image but are fallen and in need of redemption.

CRC Director of Research George Barna, who founded the Barna Group, said in a statement that the view of mankind being basically good is negatively influencing current debates over law enforcement and systemic racism.

A movement to defund police departments might make sense if people are innately good. People with a humanistic worldview argue that crime and violence happen because of poverty, bad parenting, systemic discrimination, and other external forces, stated Barna.

Yet crime statistics, political tensions, tendencies toward anger and hatred, and Americas moral deterioration and confusion suggest that we are neither innately good nor that emotional responses to empirical challenges will solve the problems.

Barna went on to argue that one cannot change the hearts of people by outlawing racism.

You will not create peace by passing laws and forcing compliance, Barna contended.

Every society can benefit from specific systemic changes, present-day America included. But any systemic changes designed to transform the culture will be short-lived and of limited impact unless the hearts and minds of the people who populate that system are transformed first.

CRCs latest report was the seventh installment of its American Worldview Inventory 2020. Findings have been released every two weeks beginning in March.

The first installment of the report series suggests that only 6% of Americans adhere to a biblical worldview.

The survey asked 51 worldview questions and examined what people believe and how they conduct their lives.

The researchers concluded that about one-fifth of those who attend evangelical Protestant churches, one-sixth of those who attend charismatic or Pentecostal churches (16%), 8% of those who attend mainline Protestant churches and 1% of those who attend Catholic churches espouse biblical worldviews.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Floridians traveling to the New York City area will be required to quarantine as Florida's new confirmed coronavirus cases skyrocketed by 5,500 Wednesday, a 25% jump from the previous one-day record set last week and triple the level of just two weeks ago.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Floridians and visitors from eight other hard-hit states will have to quarantine for two weeks when they arrive in his state, Connecticut and New Jersey. For Florida, that's a reversal from April when Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered visitors from those states into quarantine, partially blaming them for the virus's arrival in his state.

After being an early U.S. hot spot for the disease, New York is now reporting about one-sixth the number of new cases per day on average compared with Florida, though the states have similar populations.

We now have to make sure the rates continue to drop, Cuomo said. We also have to make sure the virus doesnt come on a plane again.

DeSantis has a press conference scheduled later Wednesday.

Florida's rapidly escalating daily figures continue a trend that began when the state reopened its economy with some restrictions last month. In response, several counties and cities have implemented emergency orders requiring the wearing of masks in public places like stores and are cracking down on businesses that aren't enforcing social distancing rules.

Broward County, the state's second-most populous, announced Wednesday that it will shut down for 24 hours any businesses that do not enforce its rule requiring masks and social distancing and restaurants that exceed the 50% capacity restriction. They will be fined $500 and repeat violators could be fined $15,000.

Like many government leaders statewide in recent days, Broward Mayor Dale Holness said that if his county's exploding coronavirus numbers don't slow, he fears its hospitals will be overrun with patients and will be unable to treat everyone who needs assistance. He said reclosing the economy wouldn't be sustainable but people need to start wearing masks and social distance.

We must do everything we can to protect ourselves and each other so we can stay healthy and somehow maintain the economy, Holness said. Other local governments now requiring masks in public spaces include Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orange County, Palm Beach County and the Florida Keys.

Two weeks ago, Floridas one-day record for confirmed coronavirus cases was 1,601, set in mid-May. That has been exceeded every day since June 12 and the seven-day average for tests coming back positive has tripled from 3.8% on June 1 to 13%.

The state now has more than 109,000 confirmed cases since March 1. There have been 3,281 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, a jump of 43 since Monday. The average daily death toll has held steady in June at about 35, down from 60 in early May.

After a month of decline, hospital admissions for coronavirus also have been rising, with a daily average of 161 statewide over the past week, a 30% jump over two weeks ago. Still, that is about 25% below the state's peak in early May.

State and health officials have said the new cases have skewed younger in recent weeks and have been more likely to be mild or asymptomatic, which has kept the hospitalization and death totals below their peaks.

Theyve cited lax adherence to state guidelines on distancing and hygiene while socializing as a key reason for the surge. More than 40 cases have been linked to a single Orlando-area college pub where state officials have since suspended the liquor license.

Doctors at a major Orlando-area hospital system said many hospitalizations in the most recent wave are less acute than during an earlier peak in April. Dr. Sunil Desai, president of the Orlando Health hospital system that has about 1,800 beds in the Orlando area, said nearly half of the COVID-19 patients were on ventilators during part of April as compared with three of the 108 patients with the virus in the system now.

Also, because COVID-19 testing is now routine for everyone coming into system, the figures for coronavirus hospitalizations now include patients in for other reasons  a broken leg, a gunshot wound  but who happen to test positive, Dr. George Ralls said. They accounted for about 20% of cases last week, Ralls said.
Kate Garraway broke her social media silence on Tuesday to respond to a fan who urged her to 'keep hanging on' as her husband remains in intensive care.

The Good Morning Britain co-host, 53, has stepped back from all platforms in recent weeks, as her husband Derek Draper remains critically ill after coronavirus caused 'extraordinary damage'.

Kate replied to a follower's Tweet who encouraged her to watch a YouTube video of Australian mountaineer Lincoln Hall who explains the stages of unconsciousness he came back from.

Grateful: Kate Garraway broke her social media silence on Tuesday to respond to a fan who urged her to 'keep hanging on' as her husband remains in intensive care

The fan wrote: 'Keep going with the messages he is hanging on, for a reason, for you, the kids, he has to come back to you all and he will. Try to watch the YouTube clip about Lincoln Hall, he explains about the stages of unconsciousness that he came back from. Big hugs xxx'.

Kate typed back: 'Thanks - will do xxx'.

The fan had encouraged Kate to watch a video about Hall, who reached the summit of Mount Everest on his second attempt in 2006, miraculously surviving the night at 8,700m on descent, after his family was told he had died.

Kind: Kate replied to a follower's Tweet who encouraged her to watch a video of mountaineer Lincoln Hall who explains about the stages of unconsciousness he came back from

Worrying time: The Good Morning Britain co-host, 53, has stepped back from all platforms in recent weeks, as her husband Derek Draper remains critically ill (pictured last year)

Miracles do happen: The fan had encouraged Kate to watch a video about Lincoln Hall, who survived a night at the summit of Mount Everest after his team had to abandon him

Kate's husband Derek, 52, has been in a comatose state in intensive care for the past 12 weeks, after contracting coronavirus.

Former lobbyist Derek is now free of COVID-19, but is suffering from serious residual complications.

Kate broke down in tears earlier this month as she revealed Derek thanked her for 'saving his life' before he slipped into a coma.

Lovely surprise: The GMB host previously revealed the couple were set to renew their wedding vows after Derek popped the question again after she left the I'm A Celebrity jungle

REVEALED: HOW THE CRUEL LEGACY OF COVID MAY LAST A LIFETIME Covid-19 could leave survivors with debilitating illnesses that last for years, doctors have warned since the outbreak spiralled out of control. One leading medic called it 'this generation's polio' - a disease that killed thousands and left a generation with life-long mobility issues. Patients who spend weeks fighting for life in intensive care can suffer from long-term complications caused by permanent damage to their lungs and liver. Physiotherapists also warn patients can suffer a loss of mobility, if they are stuck on hospital wards for weeks, or endure flashbacks and emotional distress. But even patients who endure symptoms so mild they don't get admitted to hospital are plagued by fatigue, headaches and breathlessness that can linger for weeks. Several recent studies have highlighted proof Covid-19 causes fibrosis - scarring of the lung tissue that makes it harder for the organs to work. A research paper published in a Chinese journal in March said 'pulmonary fibrosis may be one of the major [long-term] complications in Covid-19 patients'. Evidence is also emerging that the virus 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 heart problems are thought to occur as a result of the virus triggering a 'cytokine storm', where the immune system overreacts to the infection. Number 10's panel of leading scientists - SAGE - called for studies to investigate the lasting effects of the illness. Advertisement

The presenter became overcome with emotion during a recent instalment of GMB as she admitted she 'doesn't know' if Derek can recover from the 'extraordinary damage' COVID-19 has inflicted on his body, and may be in a coma for a year.

Kate said: 'Well there will be tears, I'll try to keep them down, he's still with us, he has fought the most extraordinary battle, the fact that he's still here and holding on.

'I am so grateful that he's still here, and I've got the option of praying while others have lost that.

'He's very, very sick and as time goes on, it's a virus, it's like a computer virus, the doctors manage one but there seems to be a flicker of hope and other things emerge and they're fighting that.

'It has affected him from the top of his head to the tip of his toes.

She added: 'He is now COVID-free, he has tested negative, the fight with the virus is over but it's wreaked extraordinary damage on his body and we don't know if he can recover from that.'

Brave: During a recent appearance on This Morning, Kate broke down in tears as she revealed critically-ill husband Derek thanked her for 'saving his life' before he slipped into a coma

Kate spoke for the first time about Derek's initial admission to hospital in March, revealing the last thing he said to her before he was put in a medically-induced coma, was 'I love you, you saved my life.'

She said: 'In that first week it looked like he was rallying. But then he was very bad, he couldn't really speak to me, he could shout things to me on speakerphone.

'He was begging me, he said "I can't take this, I feel like I'm suffocating", he said "please let them put me in a coma" and they didn't want to do that. On Sunday they said "we're going to put him in a coma as overnight we think we have to do that."'

Struggling: The GMB presenter has talked about how her children (pictured, Billy with sister Darcey, 14) are struggling while missing their father

'He said: "I love you, I'm sorry I have to leave you, you've saved my life". I think he thought I had asked the doctors to put in him in a coma. He said "being married to you, the children, you saved my life".'

Derek has previously credited Kate for saving him from depression which started during his career as a political advisor and led to a nervous breakdown and a stint in The Priory in the late 1990s.

Kate and Derek have been married for 14 years, with the former lobbyist cheering his wife on for the duration of her stint on I'm A Celebrity last year.

They have two children; Billy, 10, and Darcey, 14.
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.

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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.
ALBANY  While billions of federal dollars remain available to small businesses, New York entrepreneurs now have an additional avenue to access coronavirus pandemic recovery funds through local industrial development agencies.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed a bill into law a week ago that allows local IDAs to provide no-interest loans to small businesses financially crippled during the height of COVID-19 cases in New York, a mechanism that builds on programs Cuomo announced in May to assist small businesses that have not received federal aid.

How the IDA loan program will work, however, remains uncertain, and local agency leaders said theyre fine-tuning their respective approaches.

Sarah Reginelli, the president of Capitalize Albany and CEO of the citys Industrial Development Agency, said its staff is working with other local agencies to determine the best way to leverage the newly approved IDA authority with other resources available to businesses.

Bob Pasinella, who leads Rensselaer County's IDA, said he envisions providing grants to small businesses. He said the IDA aims to make at least $250,000 available and is working with other agencies to facilitate the program.

We want to get this money out as quickly as possible, he said. Id like to keep it as simple as possible, too.

State legislators have held public hearings with business owners to discuss the challenges theyve faced in accessing the federal governments forgivable Paycheck Protection Program, including a Wednesday session that took testimony from 25 business owners and trade groups.

Many who testified confirmed that the first round of federal aid was hampered by rollout glitches and large companies that snagged the funds before Main Street businesses got a chance. The second round has proven more successful for smaller operators, but thousands still struggle to access the aid  particularly women-, minority- and immigrant-owned businesses.

The second round was ... still not enough, said Lisa Sorin, president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. The main reasons are the language barriers and the way some businesses do their banking and financials because they are so small and immigrant-based, and nothing of that sort has been taken into account.

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.

While over 300,000 loans through the federal program have been provided to businesses in New York, its unclear which businesses have benefited. The U.S. Small Business Administration is expected to release a list in the future.

Recognizing those discrepancies, New York in May launched a loan fund for small businesses. The program focuses on minority- and women-owned businesses, targeting those businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees and less than $3 million in gross revenues. It also includes small landlords who have seen lost income, according to Empire State Development.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to accurately reflect Sarah Reginelli's titles with Capitalize Albany and the city IDA.

3 1 of 3 Cayla Harris/Times Union Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Paul Sancya Show More Show Less 3 of 3




- The Uganda cranes impressed in the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2019

- President Museveni promised a token of KSh 100 million to the national side for a good performance

- Captain Dennis Onyango took to social media on Tuesday, June 23 to remind the President of his promise

Uganda national team captain Dennis Onyango on Tuesday, June 23 boldly took to social media to remind President Yoweri Museveni of his KSh 100 million pledge to the team for their AFCON heroics.

Onyango, in a Twitter post seen by TUKO.co.ke, shared a video of the President making the pledge along with a distress message.

READ ALSO: Wanyama: Video of Kenyan International's stunning moments during his time at Tottenham goes viral

We are hurting: Dennis Onyango reminds Museveni of KSh 100 million pledge after AFCON heroics. Photo: Getty Images.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Idadi ya walioambukizwa coronavirus Kenya yavuka 5,000

Reminder (to the President). In these tough Covid-19 times, we find the timing right to remind you about the KSh 100 million ($1m) promise after AFCON last year. We feel frustrated & unhappy our token of appreciation hangs in balance. Please intervene., Onyango said in a Twitter statement.

In 2019, amid excitement of the Africa Cup of Nations, Museveni vowed to reward the national side with a small token if they put up a solid performance in the competition.

READ ALSO: David Luiz: Arsenal hand Brazilian defender one year contract at the Emirates

I will work with the government to donate around one million dollars to distribute it among the 42 players and staff and then the officials. Of course the officials will not get as much as the players, Museveni said at the time.

Uganda had a fairly impressive run in the competition, considering the opponents they were placed against in the group stages.

Notably, Dennis Onyangos side went further than their East African counterparts in the competition.

READ ALSO: Jose Mourinho wins for the first time in 8 games as Spurs beat Westham 2-0

Despite being placed in the same group as Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, Uganda advanced to the last 16 after recording a win (vs DRC) , a draw( vs Zimbabwe) and a loss to Egypt.

They were however eliminated in the round of 16 by Sadio Manes Senegal who beat them 2-0.

Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Tuko news

I know my mum will walk one day - Anne Flavia | Tuko TV:

Source: TUKO.co.ke
The High Court has ruled that Irish Life was entitled to refuse to pay 250,000 life insurance for murdered gangster Eamon Dunne over his failure to disclose drug and alcohol misuse and depression when taking the policy out.

In a judgement Mr Justice Tony O Connor dismissed proceedings brought by Dunne's partner Georgina Saunders, after finding that the deceased was obliged to give details of his past drug and alcohol use and depression when he took out the policy with the insurer in 2008.

Dunne, the judge said failed to give such details which the policy required him to do.

There was nothing to lead the court to find that Dunne acted honestly when incorrect replies remained on the on line questionnaire he filled out when applying for the policy.

The judge said the insurer was not guilty of indolence or laziness when it considered Dunne's application for life cover, and said it had satisfactorily explained its process and how it was applied.

The judge further rejected a suggestion that the insurer caused Dunne to believe that he did not need to be accurate when giving details sought by the insurer when the policy was entered into.

Dunne (42) was shot six times in the head and back in April 2010 while attending a birthday party in a pub Cabra, Dublin.

He was linked to several gang murders, drug trafficking and was on bail awaiting trial at the time of his death for the robbery of a cash-in-transit van in Kildare.

The Irish Life Insurance policy, costing 103 a month, was taken out by Dunne and Ms Saunders two years before his death.

Ms Saunders, with an address in Finglas, Dublin, claimed Irish Life failed to make payment wrongfully and in breach of the terms and conditions of the life insurance contract.

Irish Life denied the claims and had argued the policy was void by reason of non-disclosure of material facts in an about Dunne when the policy was taken out.

These included that in 2003 he had attended his GP who noted he was suffering from a number of problems including cocaine and ecstasy use, that he was depressed, had feelings of paranoia and was drinking excessively.

His GP told the court that his initial attendance at the surgery was in 2001 after a break-up with a previous partner and he expressed suicidal thoughts. He was prescribed sleeping pills and anti-depressants.

He attended a GP several times in 2003 when it was noted he was "drinking eight cans a night" and snorting substantial amounts of cocaine.

He was no longer suicidal but was still depressed and had trouble sleeping and he was referred to a psychiatrist.

Irish Life claimed that in his insurance proposal form, Dunne had stated he drank six units of alcohol a week, never suffered from a mental or nervous disorder or had treatment for such a disorder in the last five years. He also said he was not taking prescribed medication and did not take non-prescribed drugs.

The information he provided in the proposal form was entirely misleading and if disclosed it would have led to the policy being declined, Irish Life argued.

In his judgement on Wednesday Mr Justice O'Connor said the central issue in the case was Dunne's omission to disclose material facts about his drug and alcohol abuse between 2001 and 2003.

The simple fact in the case was that Dunne had an obligation to correct any replies given to the insurer about material facts even if he was not prompted or inclined to do so in front of Ms Saunders when they were dealing with the insurer's agent.

It was the judge added unfortunate that Ms Saunders believes that that Dunne had no obligation to disclose his past substance abuse.

Dunne, he said, was "not honest" and when he gave or confirmed his replies to questions asked by the insurer regarding his health.

There was no evidence put to the court that Dunne had put his drug abuse out of his mind in 2008, when applying for the policy.

The judge also held that the speed in which the online application was completed did not cause Dunne to give incorrect replies to questions asked about his health.

The court noted Ms Saunders' evidence where she said she did not witness him abusing drugs and alcohol and was unaware of his prior abuse until the insurer informed her in 2011 that it would not pay out on the policy.

He said the couple got together in 2007, and she said they took out the policy after Dunne enquired about taking out a mortgage from PTSB some 12 months later.

The judge also said he was satisfied from the evidence given to the court that Ms Saunders was provided with information by the insurer when taking out the policy.

That information included that the answers given in the online application form regarding the applicants health matters "must be carefully reviewed" to "make sure they are correct."

Ms Saunders, the judge said had told the court that she had not read the policies terms and conditions booklet issued by Irish Life in relation to the policy, and had only gone through them when giving evidence to the court.
Sarah Sanelli describes her one-year-old chocolate labrador, Hank, as a cuddly clinger who is a star of her social scene.

Sanelli, 28, and her partner frequently drive their pup to social gatherings and, when theyre open, dog-friendly beer gardens. Ill take him along with me and not second guess that, she says. All our friends want to see him as well.

Sarah Sanelli and her chocolate lab Hank are ready to hit the road. Credit:Simon Schluter

The only trouble is Hank is 30 kilograms  far too big to sneak into a bag in a cab  meaning the return home to their apartment in Melbournes Brighton can be complicated if they want to have a few drinks.

Uber is on Thursday rolling out its Pet feature nationally, after a trial in Sydney and Brisbane, to allow app users to take their pets along for rides.
Chinas insects and other invertebrates are spoilt for choice with the countrys array of deserts, rainforests, mountains and tropical coastlines. The winning photographs of the Wild China Biodiversity Photography Contest hosted by Wild China Film present the countrys sweeping lands and rare plants from unexpected perspectives. Here is a pick of the crop

Jan 21, 2022 06:20 PM
The Supreme Court has moved its judgement in the case in which the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is challenging the exclusion of the existing voter ID card from the list of documents needed to register to vote to Thursday, January 25.

It was initially scheduled to pass its judgement on June 23.

The Court will also pronounce on whether Ghanas election management body can compile an electoral roll more than once.

The Lawyer for the NDC, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, on the question of the existing voter ID Card in Court, questioned the factual basis of the Electoral Commissions assertion that over 12 million voters enrolled onto the current register without any form of identification; the basis upon which it is seeking to compile an entirely new register.

---citinewsroom
Project Lead Tobias Plaputta said that the Spark app grew from an increasing frustration with the one-size-fits-all approach of many online dating sites. "We saw space in the online dating market for an app that could help people to truly customize the way in which they present themselves."

"We believe that people are more than just a bio, which is why we designed Spark around the concept of 'frames.' These include photo filters and interactive question cards that allow users to curate a unique profile, and match with others on what matters to them."

Plaputta said the Spark team has also "taken steps to foster matches based on personality first and demographics second"  such as not displaying users' ages on profiles. "We think an emphasis on age can distract people from finding the right match."

Spark has now successfully launched in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, and the team aims to significantly increase Spark's presence across Canada throughout the summer.

Plaputta said that his team deliberately chose Canada as the ideal market in which to launch Spark. "To help our members embrace self-expression, we wanted to create a comfortable and judgment-free environment. We felt that Canada was the perfect place to achieve this. Canadian singles have a reputation for being kind yet interesting, laid-back yet adventurous. This is exactly the melting pot of traits that we were looking for."

The iOS Spark app is currently available across Canada in English, with an Android release scheduled for the fall.

Press Contact

Sophie Watson | [email protected] | https://spark.com/

About Spark

Launched in 2020, Spark is a dating app centered around the concepts of creativity and self-expression. It is one of the portfolio brands of Spark Networks SE, a global leader in online dating with headquarters in Berlin and offices in New York and Utah.

SOURCE Spark

Related Links

https://spark.com


[June 24, 2020] DC BLOX Supports North Alabama Charitable Computing for COVID-19 Research

DC BLOX, a provider of interconnected multi-tenant data centers that deliver the infrastructure and connectivity essential to power today's digital business, is proud to announce its support of North Alabama Charitable Computing (NACC). NACC is a nonprofit organization that provides distributed computing resources for scientific research, including computing power for COVID-19 studies. DC BLOX is donating colocation space and power as well as providing dedicated Internet access for NACC's compute infrastructure. Founded in Huntsville, AL, by Timothy Mullican, NACC provides compute and storage resources in support of academic and scientific research. NACC resources are pooled via distributed computing platforms, as well as internally-managed clusters, and are currently provided at no cost to research organizations. In 2018, Mullican began participating in various distributed-computing scientific research projects through the BOINC platform (Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing), an open-source software platform for computing using volunteered resources. Recently, most of the organization's computing power has been used to support COVID-19 research. In just a few short months, NACC has provided 40 years of computer run time and returned 103,665 modeling and simulation tasks in support of COVID-19 research via the IBM World Community Grid OpenPandemics - COVID-19 project. As the organization grew, power and maintenance costs continued to rise, and the limitations of the garage-based solution was compromising the mission. Furthermore, NACC was looking to expand its charitable computing work by forming partnerships with local and national universities, but its reliability and power constraints needed to be addressed first. DC BLOX recognized the value for NACC in migrating its infrastructure to a reliable, commercial datacenter. In donating racks and power to support these efforts, NACC can now deliver the reliability, security, bandwidth and speed that enable new partnerships across the academic and scientific world.



"Serving locally is at the core of DC BLOX's ethos, and we couldn't be more proud and excited to provide North Alabama Charitable Computing with a firm foundation for success," comments Kurt Stoever, DC BLOX Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. "NACC is doing important work and we share their goal to improve our lives through research and technology. We look forward to seeing NACC grow and become an even greater resource for the research community." DC BLOX is providing NACC with 100Mbps of highly available Internet access backed by multiple providers, as well as a range of colocation services including redundant power, cooling, high-speed and high-capacity networking, and physical security. DC BLOX infrastructure provides the reliability, performance and security required by NACC and its clients.

"The need for computing power across today's research landscape is huge, and it didn't take long to realize the need for a highly available and cost-efficient professional environment that would eliminate cost, space, power and reliability limitations," states Timothy Mullican, President and Founder of North Alabama Charitable Computing. "DC BLOX gives us the credibility and infrastructure capabilities we need to establish new partnerships with institutions at the regional and national level and NACC thanks them for their support." To learn more about DC BLOX, please visit www.dcblox.com. About DC BLOX DC BLOX owns and operates interconnected multi-tenant data centers that deliver the infrastructure and connectivity essential to power today's digital business. DC BLOX's private network fabric and robust connectivity ecosystem enable access to built-in carriers, Internet exchanges, public cloud providers, and DC BLOX data centers to businesses across the Southeast. DC BLOX's data centers are located in Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; Huntsville, AL; and Chattanooga, TN. For more information, please visit www.dcblox.com, call +1. 877.590.1684, and connect with DC BLOX on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. About North Alabama Charitable Computing North Alabama Charitable Computing is the vision of Timothy Mullican, a Huntsville, AL native. In 2018, he began participating in various distributed computing scientific research projects through the BOINC platform. He purchased used computer, network, and storage equipment with his own savings and ran a small data center in his home garage. Over time, power and maintenance costs continued to rise and his home solution was no longer manageable. As a result, Mullican formed North Alabama Charitable Computing in June 2019, along with Kristy Halbrooks and Angela Case. North Alabama Charitable Computing accepts tax-deductible donations through the form of monetary donations, as well as donations of physical computer equipment. For more information, please visit www.nala-cc.org, and connect on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005095/en/

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A witness in the trial of a man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has said he decided to give evidence because he wanted justice for the garda and his family.

Daniel Cahill (28), giving evidence today from a building in New York, denied several times that he feared he would be sent to a detention centre for people with no legal status in the USA if he did not give a statement to gardai.

He said: "I took this on myself because I have many friends who are law enforcement officers and I wanted justice done for this man, for Garda Adrian Donohoe's family."

He later said that he was not giving testimony to secure his own status in America, adding: "This is for the family of Adrian Donohoe and this is for the justice system of Ireland."

He said he is married to an American citizen and his status is determined by her and through the process with Homeland Security. "It is not determined by this court case," he said.

The witness also told defence counsel Justin McQuade BL that Homeland Security would not have come to his door, "If your client hadn't shot a guard."

In wide ranging cross examination Mr Cahill denied being present during an assault on the accused man Aaron Brady and denied stealing his telephone.

Aaron Brady (28) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Siochana on active duty on January 25, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately e7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.

In his direct evidence last Monday Mr Cahill, a bartender, said the accused told him on three separate occasions that he shot a garda in Ireland.

Under cross examination today he told Mr McQuade that he is aware that in 2015 there was an allegation that Aaron Brady slept with a woman who was at the time going out with one of Mr Cahill's friends. Mr Cahill denied that he was one of a group of four men who entered Mr Brady's apartment while Mr Brady was asleep on St Patrick's Day 2015 and assaulted him. He said that he was working that night and there are pictures on Facebook to prove it.

He added: "I have never assaulted Aaron Brady in my life. I have never put a hand on him."

He further revealed that Homeland Security agents searched his home some years ago looking for Dean Evans, who has since been jailed for life for the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly outside the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath on March 6, 2013. Mr Cahill said that he welcomed the agents into his home and allowed them to search it. He told them he hadn't spoken to Evans in years and allowed them to check his phone. They were satisfied when they left, he said. When in July 2019 Homeland Security agents again called to his home he said they asked if he would be wiling to speak to gardai about Aaron Brady.

They told him he didn't have to and one agent, Mary Ann Wade, said Homeland Security was there to protect his rights. He said this was the only conversation he can remember having with Homeland Security at that time and said he wasn't aware that an Enforcement and Removal Operations officer was part of the team that came to his home.

The late Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (in green top) pictured in action for his beloved St Patrick's GFC. Pic Ciara Wilkinson.

In a brief reexamination following two days of cross examination Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution asked Mr Cahill if he had lied in his evidence. He replied: "I have not lied at all. My recollection has got me on some aspects but I have not lied."

The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of six men and seven women.
BAY CITY, MI - A man has filed a federal lawsuit against a Clare County Sheriffs Office sergeant, alleging he was stunned with a Taser while already in custody and restrained.

Byron E. Clemons, through Greenville attorney Joshua A. Blanchard, has filed a lawsuit against Sgt. Aaron Miller in the federal court in Bay City. The suits two counts allege Miller violated Clemons constitutional rights under the Fourth and 14th Amendments by using excessive force.

The suit states Miller and other deputies arrested Clemons on Jan. 5, 2018, and lodged him in the Clare County Jail on unspecified charges. Prior to arriving at the jail, deputies had handcuffed Clemons wrists behind his back.

The lawsuit states Clemons was pushed into a restraint chair after asking officers to videotape his jail booking.

While being pushed into the restraint chair, someone stated, Now were going to play games, to which Plaintiff replied, I didnt do nothing, the suit alleges. With at least four officers holding him down in the restraint chair, Plaintiff sat and remained handcuffed behind his back.

Miller threatened to stun Clemons with a Taser if he didnt relax, then applied an electric shock to Clemons thigh, the lawsuit alleges.

Clemons told Miller his arm was stuck, but rather than address this, Miller threatened to continue shocking him, the lawsuit states. The sergeant ended up shocking Clemons a second time, longer than he had the first time, the lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiff was not physically resisting the officers, the suit states. Plaintiff was not attempting to flee or escape custody. Plaintiff was not posing a physical threat to officers. Defendant Miller did not provide Plaintiff with a command which was capable of being complied with.

The suit is seeking a judgment against Miller in whatever amount is fair, just, and equitable for the injuries and damages, plus interest, costs, and attorney fees.

I think the law is pretty clear that a Taser cant be used as punishment, attorney Blanchard told MLive. You cant use a Taser against someone who is restrained already. Thats really the crux of the problem here.

MLive was unable to reach Sgt. Miller for comment. Court records indicate Miller was served the lawsuit on Monday, June 22, and has until July 13 to respond.

Sheriff John S. Wilson, who is not named as a party in the suit, told MLive Clemons had never made a citizens complaint with the department regarding excessive force.

Clemons is currently on parole. A Clare County judge in November 2018 had sentenced Clemons to two to 30 years in prison on convictions of third-offense domestic violence, assaulting a jail or prison employee, and assaulting, resisting, or obstructing police.

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L.A. Mayor Frank Shaw, who served from 1933 to 1938, was recalled by voters disgusted by rampant corruption in the city. (Times file photo)

Tuesdays arrest of L.A. Councilman Jose Huizar marks a long-awaited milestone in a multi-year federal investigation of corruption in L.A. City Hall. Now the question is whether the citys leaders will dismiss it as an aberration, or have the guts and vision to finally curb the corrupting influence of money in politics.

The assistant director in charge of the FBIs L.A. field office described Huizars operation as a criminal enterprise [that] sold the city to the highest bidder behind the backs of taxpayers. The former chair of the City Councils planning committee, Huizar stands accused of pressuring real estate developers for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash bribes, political donations and assorted favors in exchange for helping expedite their projects.

And it wasnt just Huizar. Earlier, his former colleague Mitch Englander pleaded guilty to accepting $15,000 in illegal cash gifts, female escorts, and expensive food and drinks in out-of-town casinos and resorts.

Most of the citys elected officials  and most of those seeking permits from the city  have not been implicated in the schemes to date. But thats the problem with corruption. The whiff of it emanating from L.A. City Hall taints everyone who represents or interacts with city government. And it reinforces public cynicism about both politicians and the businesses that seek city approvals.

L.A. corruption is, sadly, nothing new. During the early 20th century, the city earned a reputation as one of the most crooked cities in the country. Madams, gamblers, bootleggers and gangsters paid off the whole chain of command, including at times the mayor, City Council members, the district attorney, county supervisors and LAPD Vice Squad officers. The absolute low point may have been during the term of Mayor Frank L. Shaw, where anything and everything was for sale. Disgusted, voters revolted in 1938 and forced Shaw out of office in the city's only successful recall of a sitting official.

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About 50 years later, another mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, became ensnared in a scandal involving consulting fees he was paid by a local bank. Bradley was arguably the most consequential mayor in L.A. history, responsible for many tangible advances that shaped 21st-century L.A. And his handling of the 1989 incident was very different from Shaws. Bradley stepped out in front of the crisis, initiating a process to come up with a solution.

The mayor reached outside City Hall to appoint an independent, blue-ribbon commission to propose ethics reforms. He tapped Geoffrey Cowan, a former chair of California Common Cause, to head the commission, and put other civic leaders in supporting roles including then-Cardinal Roger Mahony and former Secretary of State Warren Christopher.

After deliberating for six months, the Cowan Commission agreed on a bold strategy that reached far beyond the conflict-of-interest case that had triggered the process. The groups report called for a pioneering voluntary system of public financing of campaigns and for campaign spending limits to reduce the need of candidates to constantly raise private donations (frequently from donors doing business with the city).

I served on the City Council at the time, chairing a new ad hoc committee on ethics reform, and it fell to me to try to round up the council votes for the reform package. I learned a bitter lesson about what happens when you ask a political body to reform itself.

Many council members found something to object to. Some questioned why rules for council members should change when it was the mayor who took questionable payments. When the reform package came up for a vote the first time, it fell short of a majority and was pronounced dead. But we kept at it, carefully crafting a few amendments. Another vote was scheduled, and in a dramatic turnaround we cobbled together a majority to put the reforms package on the ballot. Subsequent approval by the voters gave Los Angeles the furthest-reaching municipal ethics and campaign reform law in the country.

Now City Hall is beset with a new generation of unethical conduct. Corruption is an ever-present threat wherever power and money converge, adapting like a virus to changes in a host cell. But that doesnt mean the people of Los Angeles are helpless to control it.

The city needs once again to get ahead of the corruption. One crucial step would be appointing an inspector general  a fearless enforcer who would be politically independent (not relying upon the mayor or the City Council for a job or operating budget), uninterested in acceptance by the city family, and empowered to initiate criminal investigations. At the federal level, President Trumps recent firings of five inspectors general are an unintended testament to the power of independent watchdogs to shine a spotlight on corruption and waste.

Council member David Ryu, who started calling for a ban on campaign contributions from developers before he was elected four years ago, has introduced two new reform proposals. One would empower an investigator/auditor who could become City Halls inspector general. The other would take away the power of the City Council to override decisions of the L.A. City Planning Commission.

Reformers should seize upon the current infection of City Halls body politic to embrace these initiatives and come up with others. And if the elected officials fail to act decisively, lets use the power of the ballot box to replace them with leaders who will. The ensuing debate on cleaning up City Hall could set the reform agenda for the next mayor and council members to be elected in 2022.

Michael Woo was a member of the Los Angeles City Council from 1985 to 1993.
Guinness has pledged 14m in support funding to help pubs in Ireland recover from the Covid-19 crash.

The funding forms part of parent group Diageos $100m (89m) worldwide recovery fund for pubs and bars.

The money is targeted at Covid-related spending needs such as health and safety-driven retrofits, practical equipment needed to implement social distancing requirements, contactless payment technology and digital skills training for staff.

It is unclear as to when the actual funding will be available and the overall project has been given a two-year duration by Diageo, but pub owners can immediately begin registering their interest for funding to Diageo.

The hospitality sector in Ireland requires long-term investment and support to get back up and running, said Diageo Ireland managing director Oliver Loomes.

Not only has the financial impact to their business been significant, but they have missed their place at the centre of Irelands social fabric," he said.

Diageos group chief executive Ivan Menezes has called on governments around the world to provide long-term recovery packages for their hospitality sectors.

"So many outlets have been impacted by this crisis and badly need help to open their doors again," he said.
Arrivals from abroad leave South Korea's Incheon International Airport, June 23. Yonhap



South Korea's new coronavirus cases spiked again Wednesday as cluster infections in the greater Seoul area and outside the capital continued to increase. A sustained rise in imported cases also put health officials on high alert.



The country added 51 cases, including 31 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,535, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).



The tally marked a rise from 46 new cases reported Tuesday and 17 additional cases Monday, the lowest in almost a month.



Of the locally transmitted cases, 19 cases were reported in the densely populated Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas. Eight cases were reported in Daejeon, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul.



Community spread is the main challenge for health authorities, as sporadic cluster infections have continued to swell since the country relaxed strict social distancing on May 6 on the back of the flattened virus curve.



The KCDC said the Seoul metropolitan area is already in the second wave of the new coronavirus outbreak, warning that the country should brace for a protracted virus fight. The first wave of the virus outbreak gripped the country between February and March.



South Korea reported 20 additional imported cases, raising the total of such cases to 1,491.



Imported cases have emerged as a new source of concern for health authorities, with most tied to sailors on a Russia-flagged cargo ship that docked in the southeastern city of Busan, the country's second-largest city.





Population mobility unchanged in May amid pandemic KLPGA practice round canceled after recent visitor tests positive for coronavirus Outbreak among Russian sailors adds concerns over imported cases Moon calls for thorough infection control efforts in capital areas At least 16 sailors aboard the Ice Stream tested positive for COVID-19. Another sailor on a Russia-flagged vessel that docked near the ship was also infected with the virus.



Sailors from a Russian refrigeration ship docked at Gamcheon Port in Busan who were tested positive with COVID-19 are escorted to Busan Medical Center, June 23. Yonhap

Cluster infections on the Russian cargo ship laid bare a loophole in quarantine procedures at ports.



Port and quarantine officials permitted the Ice Stream to disembark at a Busan port and unload cargo, but the ship had submitted falsified electronic documents over its quarantine situation.



The operator of the ship did not inform South Korea that three of its sailors showed symptoms of high fever. Russia also did not notify the South that the captain who got off the ship a week earlier tested positive for the virus.



Health officials are conducting virus tests on 176 port workers, repairmen and sailors from another Russian ship who came into contact with the infected crewmembers.



Amid a continued rise in cluster infections, health authorities warned that they could consider expanding tougher infection preventive measures  currently in place only in the Seoul metropolitan area  across the country.



The Seoul metropolitan area accounted for most of the newly added cases this month.



South Korea has been gripped by multiple and sporadic cluster infections, with most traced to door-to-door retailers, churches and day care centers for senior citizens.



The country, meanwhile, reported no additional deaths, bringing the total death toll to 281. The fatality rate was 2.24 percent.



The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,930, up 22 from the previous day.




ATHENS, Ohio  A Westlake man who is the former president of a now-suspended fraternity at Ohio University has been sentenced to 31 days in jail after pleading guilty to charges connected with the death of a pledge in 2018.

Elijah R. Wahib, 22, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of felony obstruction of justice, felony permitting drug use, and two counts of misdemeanor hazing, the Columbus Dispatch reports. He was given credit for one day served of the jail sentence, and also must participate in a drug and alcohol diversion program.

Four other members of the Sigma Pi fraternity have pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the death of Collin Wiant, 18, of Dublin, Ohio, in November 2018, WCMH Channel 4 reports. None of the other students received jail time.

According to the Dispatch, Wahib apologized to the state and court for his behavior in previous hearings. He also gave a brief statement offering sincere condolences to Wiants family.

Wade Wiant, Collins father, said the loss of his son hit particularly hard during Fathers Day, the Dispatch reports.

Collins death wouldve been avoided with the right leadership in this organization, Wade Wiant said.

Wiant died on Nov. 12, 2018, at the unofficial Sigma Pi house of asphyxiation after ingesting nitrous oxide, according to Athens County Prosecutor Keller J. Blackburn. In an investigation in response to Wiants death, the university expelled the fraternity because of hazing and other student conduct violations.

According to the Dispatch, prosecutors say Wahib allowed fraternity members to haze pledges. Prosecutors say pledges were forced to consume hot sauce and exercise. Wahib is accused of allowing drug use at an unofficial, off-campus house in Athens.

Marijuana, cocaine, Xanax and ecstasy were found at the residence, the Dispatch reports. Wahib also is accused of telling fraternity members not to cooperate with investigators.

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Chesterfield County police arrested a Petersburg man early Wednesday in a shooting at Chesterfield Towne Center that critically wounded another man in the malls food court.

Less than nine hours after Tuesdays 6:10 p.m. shooting, officers apprehended William Ezell Taylor Jr., 23, of the 800 block of Hinton Street in Petersburg, and charged him with aggravated malicious wounding and felony use of a firearm.

He was leaving his residence in a vehicle and a traffic stop was conducted and he was taken into custody, said Chesterfield police Lt. Brad Conner. The handgun used in the shooting was recovered, he added.

The victim, who is 22 and from Chesterfield, suffered life-threatening injuries after being shot during a fight with Taylor, Conner said. The gunman fled the scene after the shooting.

Were not 100% sure what exactly precipitated this fight, Conner said. Neither one of these individuals know each other.

We didnt find any evidence of illegal substances or drugs at the mall nor when [Taylor] was taken into custody, so the fight and shooting does not appear to be drug related, Conner said.
Weeks after HBO Max pulled "Gone With the Wind" from its streaming catalog, the movie is back with commentary to place the film in historical context.

In a new segment before the film begins, Jacqueline Stewart, host of "Silent Sunday Nights" on Turner Classic Movies and professor of cinema and media studies at the University of Chicago, provides information about the Victor Fleming-directed film. Running for about four and a half minutes, the introduction discusses the controversial history of "Gone With the Wind" in detail.

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This comes after Stewart penned an op-ed for CNN on June 12 outlining how the movie will return -- this time with an opportunity to learn from it.

"HBO Max will bring 'Gone with The Wind' back to its line-up, and when it appears, I will provide an introduction placing the film in its multiple historical contexts," Stewart, who is the author of "Migrating to the Movies: Cinema and Black Urban Modernity," wrote. "For me, this is an opportunity to think about what classic films can teach us."

"Right now, people are turning to movies for racial re-education, and the top-selling books on Amazon are about anti-racism and racial inequality," Stewart continued. "If people are really doing their homework, we may be poised to have our most informed, honest and productive national conversations yet about Black lives on screen and off."

PHOTO: Hattie McDaniel tries to console Vivien Leigh in a scene from the film 'Gone With The Wind', 1939. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

HBO Max initially took "Gone With the Wind" offline in response to a petition made by "12 Years A Slave" screenwriter John Ridley.

The classic 1939 film has long been criticized for its somewhat romantic reimagination of the antebellum South. Ridley's June 8 op-ed in the Los Angeles Times reinvigorated calls for the film to be removed.

"It is a film that, when it is not ignoring the horrors of slavery, pauses only to perpetuate some of the most painful stereotypes of people of color," the screenwriter said. "The movie had the very best talents in Hollywood at that time working together to sentimentalize a history that never was."

Story continues

While Ridley asserted that he does not believe in censorship, he suggested that "after a respectful amount of time has passed, that the film be re-introduced to the HBO Max platform along with other films that give a more broad-based and complete picture of what slavery and the Confederacy truly were."

Ridley added, "Currently, there is not even a warning or disclaimer preceding the film."

A spokesperson for HBO Max told CNN the movie is "a product of its time and depicts some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that have, unfortunately, been commonplace in American society."

MORE: Virtual Pride events offer new way to celebrate LGBTQ history and culture in June

"These racist depictions were wrong then and are wrong today, and we felt that to keep this title up without an explanation and a denouncement of those depictions would be irresponsible," the streaming service continued, adding that when "Gone With the Wind" returned, it would do so "with a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those very depictions."

The movie will also be shown "as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed," the spokesperson noted, explaining that "we must first acknowledge and understand our history" if we want "to create a more just, equitable and inclusive future."

"Gone With the Wind," a four-hour film based on Margaret Mitchell's 1936 bestseller, was controversial for its depiction of the aftermath of the Civil War.

The movie went on to win eight Academy Awards, including best supporting actress for Hattie McDaniel, who was the first African American to be nominated for and win an Oscar.

McDaniel, who played Mammy, was forced to sit in the back of the room at the ceremony and apart from her co-stars due to segregation.

'Gone With the Wind' returns to HBO Max with intro detailing historical context originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Donald Trump

Washington: The suspension of H-1B and other non-immigrants visas 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.

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.

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H-1B visaThe US-India Strategic Partnership Forum President and CEO, Mukesh Aghi said, "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.

"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.

Donald TrumpTrump 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.

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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.
M onuments torn down by protesters in the United States should be replaced with statues of the president, Donald Trump Jr has suggested.

The call from the president's son came after Donald Trump authorised police to arrest anyone caught vandalising or destroying monuments.

Anyone who vandalises a monument or statue now faces up to 10 years in prison, Mr Trump announced on Tuesday.

Wading into the debate, his son wrote on Twitter: "Want to save our monuments? Let's get a movement going to replace any statue torn down during these riots with a new and more sturdy statue of @realDonaldTrump.

"The nonsense would stop instantly."

The announcement from the president follows weeks of anti-racism protests, with activists calling for the removal of memorials to the country's Confederate and slaver past.

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.

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.
If the three parties agree to what is proposed, then the real crisis will come in October, writes Gerard Howlin

IT IS over, bar the shouting. The votes are cast now, apart from a few stragglers whose postal ballot may not make it in time to be counted.

The results will be declared on Friday and on Saturday we may have a government. This round of government-making is concluding. Regardless of outcome, if any, the process is change-making.

The pre-eminence of parliamentary representatives has shifted to an extra-constitutional electoral college, comprising some TDs elected at the previous election, and members of their respective parties. It is unclear how this advances democracy.

However, it shifts power, and it is now a new normal. General elections were usually, but not always, decisive events. As politics fragments and the power of the membership within parties increases, the internal vote has become the prism for policy choices and the final arbitrator of the outcome. Ireland is now governed differently.

Comedy and humour blossomed too. The piousness, the plaintive earnestness, the unmistakable clarion call of a peculiarly middle-class demagoguery demanding the slap of firm government has been truly rib-tickling. Pseudo leftish, sort-of pseudo-liberal, pseudo cream as public funds provided with someone elses money for whatever ails them, they excelled themselves.

I first thought it was something new. But no. It was somehow familiar. It was the honeycomb itself of too-sweet-to-be-wholesome. Served as condescension, and intended to be eaten as humble pie, it was a demand that the Greens straighten themselves out, form an orderly queue, and govern as required for now.

The reasons seem to have been  and some of the commentary was so emotional as not to be completely cogent  that this planned-for government was the least worst that could be conjured. Another, but less cogent plea, was that this is the only one that could be at all.

Which brings me to the colourful finale of a threatened and awful crisis, if what was required was not delivered forthwith. It was played as a reverse protection racket, a gouging of Greta Thunberg. The remarkable thing is that it worked to a significant, perhaps decisive, extent. Underpinning the radicalism of the Greens is the ballast of being middle-class. Some of them I think, foolishly took it all to heart. There is no place in politics for anyone without a deep indifference towards the media. Never fall out with them, never tell an untruth but never, ever be influenced by them. Its just noise and attention-seeking, said he.

Regardless of the result, one thing that wont happen on Friday is a crisis of any sort. The spectre is the make-believe that no other government is possible, when one clearly is, and that time has run out, which is nonsense from people who have skilfully run down the clock. If the three parties agree to what is proposed then the real crisis will come in October when an almost entirely uncosted, unfunded programme for government faces reality.

However, this is not yet.

What will unfold on Saturday if a government is formed is a lot of personal drama for people who have given their lives to the most intense, public, and uncertain profession of politics. For Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin to become taoiseach would be an astonishing achievement. There is the fact of still being in the Dail 31 years after he was first elected, still on the right side of 60, and still in contention. There was the electoral armageddon of 2011, a moment after which it was uncertain whether Fianna Fail could survive.

Nine years later, after a long recovery, there was a well-based expectation of building on success in 2016, overtaking Fine Gael in seat numbers and being the larger part of a larger political centre.

Instead, voters gave Sinn Fein a surge on February 8. The political centre was further diminished.

Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are smaller parties, not larger. The Greens got a significant boost too.

Green Party candidates Catherine Martin Deputy leader Eamon Ryan Leader during the Green Party general election campaign launch on Merrion Square,Dublin. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

Its 12 seats make up the difference for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael combined getting into government. This is not the end of Civil War politics. That effectively ended with the outbreak of the Troubles.

With the exception of Charlie Haughey opportunistically going offside over the Anglo-Irish Agreement there has been a shared analysis on the national question since. That was predicated on de facto recognition of Northern Ireland, when Sean Lemass visited Stormont in 1965. Everything since, was karaoke singing old songs.

No, if this government happens, it is not the end of Civil War politics, it is its afterlife. The drama attending the formation of this government will be small ones, principally the elation of ministerial appointment and disappointment. There will be widespread disappointment in Fine Gael as a swathe of ministers are sent to the backbenches. For Leo Varadkar, it will be his night of the long knives. For Martin, he must explain a painful reality to several who have been his acolytes and train-bearers. Thus far can they come but no further.

Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his life, so Jeremy Thorpe quipped across the House of Commons to Harold Macmillan after the political bloodbath that gave the original night its memorable name. Fianna Fail was first steadied and then steered in the direction it travelled since February 8 partly on the basis of political ambitions, which will not be fulfilled. Sic transit gloria mundi.

What will matter ultimately is not whether this government is actually formed, it is what an eventual government can do to deal with the triple crises of Covid-19, Brexit, and recession.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin -left- and Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, share a joke during a break at the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

WITH some exceptions, the programme for government is praiseworthy. Apart from cycleways and investment in walking, little is specifically funded, however. It makes the Labour partys pre-election, Tesco- style ad in 2011 seem reticent in its promises, by comparison.

Economically, laudable Green aspirations aside, it is the continuation by bicycle of a watery version of the Fine Gael policies, supported by Fianna Fail, in place since 2011. It is a lemonade version of Keynesian economics. What is promised cannot be delivered.

If there is a crisis coming, it will be brought on by the lack of fortitude and fecklessness of a politics that cannot prioritise and will not face up to the reality that choices must be made. There cannot be recession without austerity, and there is no way forward for our country towards better times, without hard decisions. The miasma that has been created, unless arrested by reality on Friday, will by Saturday become unfolding disillusion.

First, that will be felt intimately by those who sponsored this but have been disowned by their own. Then it will be felt more intimately still by us, first as disillusion and then as blight. It is then that they will come again, commentating and full of canker, said he.

If the three parties agree to what is proposed, then the real crisis will come in October
Mayor Sylvester Turner warned that the city will crack down this weekend on businesses that are flouting state and local restrictions for COVID-19 amid the virus rapidly escalating spread in Houston.

The mayor said the city will actively monitor bars and restaurants to ensure they are complying, and it is looking into promoting a Board of Shame to tell residents which businesses are not falling in line.

I want to put people on notice now that as we move closer to the weekend we are going to be actively monitoring whether or not people are complying with the occupancy requirement and whether or not they are wearing their masks, because we want to really crack down on people who are not adhering to the rules, Turner said.

It was not immediately clear whether the new enforcement strategies will involve the police and fire department conducting patrols to catch violations. Until now, the fire department has relied on responding to complaints from the public to enforce restrictions, and has not issued any citations in weeks, relying instead on voluntary compliance.

Turner said he now has asked the departments to refer violators to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a potential license suspension. The state agency has been issuing 30-day license suspensions over the last week in a crack-down of its own.

Bars are supposed to limit their customers to 50 percent of their normal capacity, and restaurants to 75 percent, per an order by Gov. Greg Abbott. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo also issued an order compelling businesses to require their customers to wear masks.

Turner announced Wednesday that Houston had 987 new cases of the virus  91 percent of those tests came between June 14 and June 22  for a total of 16,253 cases to date. Hospital capacity in the area has more than doubled since Memorial Day.

A Board of Shame would provide incentives for businesses to follow the rules, Turner said, similar to how health inspections of residents affect consumer behavior.

This situation is very, very serious and customers make the business. I think customers are interested in knowing who is working for them and in their best interest, Turner said. And if there is a particular business that is blatantly abusing the rules and not working for them and the general good, they want to know who they are.

The mayor also left the door open for pursuing more stringent enforcement and restrictions if conditions continue to deteriorate. Gov. Greg Abbott has pre-empted many local measures and strategies during the re-opening process, including mandatory mask orders for individuals. He surprised officials last week when he OKd the issuance of an order in Bexar County that put the onus on businesses to require their customers wear masks.

Im not going to be the mayor of the City of Houston, and recognize and see a health care crisis, and people are getting infected and people are dying, and then just say theres nothing I can do because I dont necessarily have the authority, Turner said. Were going to find a way to get on top of this situation, even if it means  depending on what I continue to see  if I have to push the envelope and assume an authority that some say I dont have.

dylan.mcguinness@chron.com
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He caused a stir earlier this month when he announced he had cast Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in his film Spencer.

But before Chilean director Pablo Larrain calls action on the biopic, he is collaborating with the Twilight star on an anthology of short films for Netflix.

Stewart is one of 17 artists and filmmakers participating in the project that will be a compilation of five to seven minute films about life in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic.

Helmer: Kristen Stewart has directed a short film that will be part of a Netflix compilation of 17 shorts about life during the coronavirus lockdown in several different countries

It won't be the first time that Stewart has gone behind the camera for a change; she debuted her first directorial effort Come Swim in 2017.

Also contributing to the compilation titled Homemade is actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, best known for The Dark Night, The Honourable Woman and The Deuce.

There are also shorts from Britain, Italy, Japan, Lebanon and France.

'Were going through different situations, but there are many things we have in common,' Larrain said of the pandemic in an interview with Variety. 'That was the heart of this and the challenge we faced.'

He explained that an underlying theme was is 'adversity, and how we are all from different countries, cultures and circumstances, but for a very unique moment of humanity, were all sharing very similar circumstances in different contexts.'

Homemade will debut on Netflix on June 30.

Behind the camera: Maggie Gyllenhaal has also contributed a short film for the collection of five to seven minutes films titled Homemade that will drop on Netflix on June 30

Ambitious: Homemade is the brainchild of Chilean director Pablo Larrain who recruited 17 filmmakers for the project, explaining: 'For a very unique moment of humanity, were all sharing very similar circumstances in different contexts'

Larrain made a name for himself as the director of the 2016 biopic Jackie which earned Natalie Portman a best actress Oscar nomination.

In Spencer, he plans to tell a dramatized account of a 'critical' weekend in the early 1990s, when Princess Diana decided that her marriage to Prince Charles wasn't working.

In choosing Stewart to star, the Chilean filmmaker said he was impressed by her range.

'Kristen can be many things, and she can be very mysterious and very fragile an ultimately very strong as well, which is what we need,' Larrain told Deadline. 'The combination of those elements made me think of her.'

He added: 'The way she responded to the script and how she is approaching the character, it's very beautiful to see. I think she's going to do something stunning and intriguing at the same time.'

Controversial choice: Larrain caused a stir earlier this month when he announced he had cast Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in his upcoming film Spencer
Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. I will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for BorgWarner

What's the estimated valuation?

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$414.5m US$624.0m US$662.9m US$789.5m US$883.5m US$963.0m US$1.03b US$1.09b US$1.14b US$1.18b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x6 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ 11.9% Est @ 9% Est @ 6.96% Est @ 5.54% Est @ 4.54% Est @ 3.85% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 11% US$374 US$509 US$488 US$525 US$531 US$523 US$505 US$481 US$454 US$426

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$4.8b

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After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 10-year government bond rate of 2.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2029  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$1.2b (1 + 2.2%)  11% 2.2%) = US$14b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$14b ( 1 + 11%)10= US$5.1b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$9.9b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$35.4, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 26% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

NYSE:BWA Intrinsic value June 24th 2020

The assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at BorgWarner as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.414. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, DCF calculation shouldnt be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price to differ from the intrinsic value? For BorgWarner, There are three essential factors you should look at:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for BorgWarner that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does BWA's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

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.
A teenage girl was killed Saturday in a crash near Hillsboro that led to a charge of manslaughter against a teen driver whose blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit for adults, authorities said.

Both teens were thrown out of the car after it rolled multiple times near Southwest Hillsboro Highway and Bald Peak Road, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office.

The girl died at the crash site, and the driver was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, deputies said. The crash happened around 11:30 p.m.

Witnesses told deputies they knew the driver and believed he was drunk. Deputies said the driver may also have been speeding before the crash.

The sheriffs office said both teens involved in the crash were younger than 18. However, the agency declined to disclose the girls age or name, and claimed Oregon law prohibited it from releasing any information about the drivers identity.

The driver is currently accused of manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving, according to the sheriffs office. He has not been arraigned in adult court. The sheriffs office said the district attorney has not yet decided whether he will be tried as a juvenile.

-- Celina Tebor

ctebor@oregonian.com

@CelinaTebor
EasyJet Plc faces a lawsuit over a data breach disclosed last month that potentially exposed private details of 9 million passengers.

More than 10,000 people have joined the suit since it was filed last month, according to law firm PGMBM. Victims are entitled to as much as 2,000 pounds ($2,500) in compensation, meaning the case could be worth as much as 18 billion pounds.

EasyJet said last month that the email addresses and travel data of about 9 million customers were taken by hackers in one of the biggest privacy breaches to hit the airline industry. The credit card details of roughly 2,200 people was also accessed.

Business Cyber Losses Soar but Firms Fight Back with Extra Security Spending: Study Chinese Hackers Blamed for Accessing Records of 9 Million easyJet Customers

This is a monumental data breach and a terrible failure of responsibility that has a serious impact on EasyJets customers, who are coming forward in their thousands, Tom Goodhead, PGMBMs managing partner, said in a statement. This is personal information that we trust companies with, and customers should expect that every effort is made to protect their privacy.

The lawsuit comes amid a backdrop of difficult economic times for all airlines as the coronavirus pandemic curtails travel. Earlier this month EasyJet  along with British Airways and Ryanair Holdings Plc  challenged the U.K. rules that forces international travelers to quarantine for 14 days after arriving in the country.

We are aware that a class action law firm has filed a claim against EasyJet in the High Court and that other firms are advertising their services to do the same, the company said in an emailed statement. This is not uncommon and just because these firms are advertising does not mean they have a strong claim.

The carrier said that after discussions with the U.K. data regulator it notified approximately nine million additional customers out of an abundance of caution to alert them to the potentially heightened risk of phishing emails. There is no evidence that personal information of any nature, including credit card data, has been misused.

The Financial Times reported on the lawsuit earlier.

The airline isnt the only carrier to be beset by data issues. A year ago, British Airways, a unit of IAG SA, was told to expect a 183.4 million-pound U.K. fine over hacking incidents.

With assistance from Stephanie Bodoni and Siddharth Philip.

Photograph: Ground staff prepare a passenger flight, operated by EasyJet Plc, at a gate at London Gatwick Airport in Crawley, U.K., on Monday, June 22, 2020. Photo credit: Jason Alden/Bloomberg.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Cyber Aviation
Bollywood actor Arti Chabria celebrated her first wedding anniversary this week and shared a heartfelt message on the occasion. She posted a picture with her husband Visharad Beedassy.

Oh! How 1 year has flown by, it feels like yesterday that we were lying on the beaches of #Mauritius ~ Happy Anniversary to Us MY LOVE! May God bless us and protect our love. #goodvibesonly #jaibajrangbali #love #happiness #beach #blueksies #couple #couplegoals #perfectsoulmate #mymrperfect #happyanniversary #anniversary #weddinganniversary, she wrote.

Arti and Visharad got married last year and had said about him in an interview, I had many times given up on the idea that I would find my Mr Right, but my family members always felt that one day, I would find my soulmate. I feel it is because of my familys blessings that I found Visharad, because he is everything that I had ever dreamt of. I am extremely lucky to have found him after a long wait.

Arti also thanked fans for their wishes and love. She wrote, Thank you everyone for all your wishes and blessings.. For all those who made the effort to call us and wish us, and for all those messages, comments and posts.. for our first wedding anniversary. thank you from the bottom of my heart for each one God bless all those people looking out for their perfect soulmate too - May they find their true loves at the earliest. #love #soulmate #besteishes #happiness #goodvibesonly #thankyou #happy.

Also read: Shekhar Suman demands CBI probe in Sushant Singh Rajputs death, starts a forum

Arti was first seen in Rajkumar Santoshis 2001 film Lajja, based on Kalpana Lajmis book. She also featured in films Raju Bhaiyya, Shaadi No 1, Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon and Partner.

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Facing a watershed political moment, a divided United States Congress is struggling to respond to massive nationwide public demonstrations for police reform as Democrats in the Senate rejected a Republican policing proposal.

The Republican bill was opposed by a broad coalition of US civil rights groups and fell short of a 60-vote threshold needed to advance in the Senate by a 55-45 vote largely on party lines.

At the same time, a Democrat-backed police reform bill is moving rapidly towards passage in the Democrat-controlled US House of Representatives over the opposition of Republicans and President Donald Trump.

Whether Republicans and Democrats can find enough common ground to reach a bipartisan legislative agreement is unclear. Political pressure from the protests is building and public opinion is swinging in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. But the two US parties are far apart on policy and there is a lack of trust between key leaders who have been trading angry rhetoric.

President Trump mocked the Democrats in a campaign speech in Arizona on Tuesday for sympathising with the Black Lives Matter protesters.

Protesters set fire to an American flag at Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House, amid racial inequality protests in Washington, DC [Reuters/Tom Brenner]

Its crazy whats going on. Defund and abolish the police, how is that a good idea? Trump told an audience of conservative college students assembled in a megachurch in Phoenix.

When Trump first heard the protesters slogan Defund the Police, Trump said his first thought was: Oh great, I just won the election.

Trump and most members of Congress face re-election in November. More than 1,000 Americans are shot and killed each year by police in the US.

Trump said the 20 most dangerous cities in America are run by Democrats who, he implied, are weak on crime. Murder rates in Chicago and Baltimore are tougher than Afghanistan, all run by Democrats, Trump said.

They want to abolish borders and abolish every police department in the country, the president claimed.

The question of funding for police is one of the core points of departure between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and the protesters and civil rights groups.

Senator Tim Scott, left, is spearheading the Republican police reform bill that pours large amounts of federal funding into training and grants for local police departments [Reuters/Kevin Lamarque]

The Senate Republican bill would authorise nearly $7bn over five years in federal funding for training and grants to state and local police departments. By contrast, the House Democrats bill imposes new oversight conditions on federal monies for police and authorises more than $2.5bn for independent investigations of police abuse and federal oversight.

The large amount of funding that is poured into policing in this country could be better spent on social services, including more community-based social workers, and investment in programs that address the problems that communities face, said Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign.

We have to transform the system, not provide the system with more money and more power, David said in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.

The Human Rights Campaign, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, People for the American Way and the National Urban League are among 138 civil rights groups that have come out strongly against the Senate bill.

It is time now to reimagine public safety in a way that prioritises upfront investments in community-led solutions and resources that centre [around] dignity and respect for everyone, said Vanita Gupta, president of the Leadership Conference.

That means not just changing policing practices and culture, but also shrinking the footprint of the criminal legal system in Black and brown communities lives and investing in areas that truly make us safer, Gupta said.

US Senator Kamala Harris is leading the Democratic opposition to the GOP Senate bill [Reuters/Kevin Lamarque]

Democrats in the Senate said on Tuesday with civil rights groups vehemently opposed to the Republican bill, they could not agree to go forward with the debate. Instead, they want to use the House bill as a starting point.

The truth as we know it is that people by the thousands are marching in the streets of America, of every race, every age and gender, in every geographic location, in all the 50 states, unified, demanding we act, demanding that finally something is actually done, Senator Kamala Harris said at a news conference on Tuesday.

There is an opportunity in this moment, said Harris, who is one of three African Americans in the Senate. But she added: I do not intend to be part of a discussion where some might suggest Democrats are trying to stand in the way of police reform.

And yet that is what Republicans are saying as they lamented the unwillingness of Democrats to support even debating their proposed measure.

The only thing thats blocking this right now is the Senate Democrats, said Republican leader Mitch McConnell. Democrats just want to use this opportunity for nothing more than to score political points.

Civil rights groups hope that after Democrats reject the Republican bill in the vote on Wednesday, that McConnell will come back with another bill that has more accountability and things that the protesters want, Ed Chung, vice president for criminal justice reform at the Center for American Progress, told Al Jazeera.
The Melbourne Showgrounds will become a makeshift coronavirus testing site, as health authorities urge people who want to be tested to seek alternatives to overwhelmed drive-through sites in shopping centres.

The wait to be tested at some large shopping centres has been as long as three hours this week, with demand increasing amid mounting concern about new cases in hotspot areas.

There were long queues at the reopened pop-up testing centre at the Bunnings in Footscray on Wednesday morning. Credit:Joe Armao

More than 100 cars were turned away from Chadstone Shopping Centre on Wednesday morning not long after it opened for the day at 9am.

I got there at about 7.50am and they kicked everyone out at 8.40am, one person told The Age.
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MILAN  All you need is love, chants the iconic Beatles song.

In a world experiencing heightened emotions, ranging from anger and fear to courage and solidarity, the sentiment is perhaps the key to navigating these uncertain times.

More from WWD

The problem for our industry and risk is that we do not necessarily love people, we love product more than people, said Value Retails founder and chairman Scott Malkin during a webinar hosted by Altagamma on Tuesday.

The Italian luxury goods association presented two studies analyzing the evolving behavior of consumers and future scenarios retail-wise.

As putting consumers at the center of all business strategies has become a given, the next step for luxury companies is be in tune with not only customers preferences in terms of products and distribution channels, but also with their sentiments toward current and political events.

One key takeaway of the webinar was the shift firms should implement from being mere product sellers to value promoters and the need to step up their roles by communicating their beliefs and taking clear positions on social issues.

Important and strong values are arising in the consumer. Just look at the Black Lives Matter movement, which has been sending key signals that we have to be able to read, said the associations president Matteo Lunelli. Our brands should have the courage to express their opinions and where they stand in the world. This is a responsibility for sure, but it also heightens the role of what we do.

Sabina Belli, chief executive officer of the Kering-owned Pomellato jewelry house and vice president of Altagammas jewelry division, underscored that putting customers at the center of business models is part of what being sustainable truly means, as it consists of paying attention not only to the environment, but also to people.

In this sense, according to forecasts of trends formulated by the Boston Consulting Group for Altagamma, sustainability will evolve into a wider concept of responsibility, as consumers will increasingly take into account firms stance on environmental issues as well as on diversity and inclusivity before making a purchase.

Story continues

Belli underscored that Kerings philosophy encourages its brands to step up for social issues and to communicate who we are as corporate [citizens], not act just like industrials selling products.

This implies to listen to the world and pay attention to all signals. In the next years we will witness a social collision due to inequality and we will be called to formulate opinions that will have to be authentic, Belli said.

The executive also retraced the phases the industry of luxury goods has lived through, going from an exclusive dimension when people had to get close to brands to a masstige phase, when this dynamic was reversed. Now being a luxury company is not about knowing what to sell, but knowing what meaning you should give to products. Purchases have to become superfluous needs, which is challenging in the context of an economy shaken by the shaming of unnecessary purchases.

Overall, the coronavirus outbreak has caused consumers to rethink their priorities in terms of spending and accelerated a range of trends illustrated by the seventh edition of the True-Luxury Global Consumer Insight study compiled by the Boston Consulting Group for Altagamma. Conducted in two timeframes  in January (before COVID-19) and this month  the research focused on assessing the sentiment of luxury consumers, who account for 19 million people and only 5 percent of total global consumers.

The shift in consumer spending from personal goods to experiences was the focus. According to the study, 43 percent of high-end customers were said to be more interested in spending for experiential luxury rather than products even before the pandemic and 40 percent of them confirmed they will likely do so after the emergency, too.

Last year experiential luxury already accounted for two-thirds of spending. In 2020, it inevitably faced the biggest drop due to social distancing and travel limitations, down around 60 percent.

Purchases of personal luxury decreased 40 percent due to the virus outbreak. Even when the lockdown was lifted and commercial activities resumed, consumers remained skeptical, as 57 percent of those surveyed said they will avoid making significant purchases in the short term.

According to the study, Chinese consumers are the most pessimistic, as 65 percent said they will refrain from making investments. Yet 77 percent of them also said they were confident of a fast economic recovery, as the country is now ahead in the virus cycle, while European and U.S. customers were more cautions.

Within experiential luxury, the most affected categories will be the ones requiring more social interactions, such as hotels, cruises and nightlife locations. Conversely, the ones expected to rebound better all refer to a private and domestic sphere, including wines and spirits, fine dining, design, furniture and home tech, followed by yachts and private villas.

According to the research, consumers preference for experiential luxury will be here to stay, as 88 percent of those customers said this kind of purchase provides greater satisfaction and exclusivity. The intimate, less ostentatious dimension of private experiences is another element that will boost the sector, as it is in tune with the current macro-economic scenario favoring more sobriety and less socializing.

Within personal luxury categories, casualwear, sportswear and cosmetics are expected to rebound faster, while leather goods, jewelry and watches will be impacted longer-term.

Jewels have always been reassuring products because of their intrinsic value, said Belli. So my mission today is to reignite the perception that buying a jewel you buy a safe, guaranteed value. The executive said since the reopening of stores, Pomellato sales have spiked, partly because of birthday and anniversary gifting that was postponed due to the lockdown and partly because consumers invest in more timeless pieces.

Chinese consumers shift from global to local spending was another short-term trend forecast. Chinese customers will continue to represent a relevant part of total global purchases, accounting for 35 percent of the market. But if last year over half of those purchases were made during their travels, in the short-term these transactions will be finalized locally, having a significant impact.

We have two locations in China and the recovery there is absolute. Business is stronger this year than last year, also because they approached COVID-19 to crush it rather than to manage it, confirmed Malkin. Chinese consumers have a different energy, they are getting richer and are more optimistic. They look for authenticity, quality and total transparency, so thats a big opportunity for high-end made in Italy brands.

On a longer-term scope, Boston Consulting Group foresees a polarization of values and preferences between the West and China.

As Western consumers shift toward sobriety and a more discreet and timeless aesthetic, in China the coolness factor will continue to play a key role, as consumers penchant for bold and recognizable products is expected to grow 14 percent.

The world has moved with two different speeds in the past couple of years, but now it will move into two different directions, too, commented BCGs Filippo Bianchi. This will lead companies to reconsider their strategies and choose if they prefer to serve perfectly the Asian consumers or refocus part of their budgets to match the more sober expectations of Occidental ones.

An evolution of clienteling will be pivotal in the future, as the massive recruiting of customers on digital platforms has impacted consumers expectations in terms of shopping experiences. Shoppers now demand a seamless transition between the brick-and-mortar and digital channels as well as a more customized digital experience.

Overall, online sales are expected to increase, shifting from 12 percent of total sales in 2019 to 20 percent of sales in 2022. The secondhand market will continue to gain traction. It accounts for 8 percent of the total luxury market, but is growing four times faster than the sector of new products. For the first time, though, the luxury consumer expects brands to step up and directly control this segment, rather than relying on other retailers.

If consumption is expected to rebound in two years, the geography where transactions will be finalized will change. Italy, considered the first destination for Chinese and South Korean customers, is expected to now be the third one, surpassed by France, and paying the price of the more severe impact of the virus and of a communication that damaged the image of the country internationally.

It will be essential to bring back these tourists in Italy but also, in the meanwhile, to work to attract the European ones, which will be more inclined to come in our country due to proximity, said Lunelli.

We are collaborating with the government and working on a plan to relaunch the image of our country, he continued. Tourism is key now more than ever, as 60 percent of the purchases of Altagamma members goods are made by tourists. We will need to work deeply on repositioning our cities and repopulating them with more qualitative tourists. Its a trading up that the whole country needs to do.

The lack of international spenders due to travel limitations and the two-month lockdown had accelerated trends changing retails paradigms.

According to the eighth edition of the Bernstein study Altagamma Retail Evolution also presented during the webinar, department stores, travel retail and outlets already started to dent the traffic in mono-brand stores before the pandemic. During the confinement, the number of users downloading apps of online multibrand shopping destinations boomed, letting customers discover a new way of purchasing. The risk is that they continue to be loyal to the digital channel, also encouraged by discounts and promotions. Plus, the increasing role of social media and influencers further endangers the need for physical shopping tours.

To reduce the dispersion of traffic in their stores, big players including Louis Vuitton, have built a closed circuit, said Luca Solca, Bernsteins senior research analyst for luxury goods. They try to limit the temptation for the customers to buy with discounts by limiting their wholesale presence and focusing on mono-brand e-commerce. They also have a strong social media presence, which of course comes with multiplied costs in terms of tracking and knowing which influencer to tap.

Activities enabling customers to spend more time in stores and visit them more frequently include events, temporary exhibitions and pop-ups, personalized services, VIP rooms as well as an increasing number of product drops and customized interior concepts for each location.

Theres no evidence that people prefer to be only on their devices, but whats sure is that the quality of service and goods must rise higher than ever, said Malkin. Experience is what defines emotion and the first emotion is trust, so this is why the authenticity is so important. If a brand says a thing and delivers another in a store, especially a digital one, thats the end of the brand. The second, and strongest, emotion is love and for someone loving a brand theres no too hard a journey.

Yet brands are at a crossroads handling their spring 2020 collections and the risk of having surplus stock. According to Solca, to opt for discounts to save the bottom line might compromise the brand equity and cause an opposite reaction in consumers, who will be even less inclined to buy products at full price in the future. Therefore, many brands are opting to increase price points to limit the damage and preserve profits.

In the best scenario, bigger players will have a 5 percent inventory overhang, but many will likely to have 10 to 20 percent, concluded Solca.
It started many miles away in the latter part of 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 women's 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 world's 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 women's 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 Women's Empowerment and Rights (POWER) Project, Action Aid Ghana.
Japan will boost visa support, lure more international schools and streamline procedures for obtaining investment management licenses to attract highly skilled foreign finance workers, according to a draft proposal from the ruling party seen by Reuters.

Japan has sought for years to attract foreign professionals in the sector to improve Tokyo's standing as a global financial centre, and the proposal aims to push the government to accelerate such moves, with Hong Kong residents in mind.

China on Saturday unveiled details of a new national security law for Hong Kong, which has raised fears among democracy activists and some foreign governments that Beijing is further eroding autonomy there.

"Given the current geopolitical situation in Asia, Japan should take advantage of being a safe business location, which is supported by solid democracy and the rule of law," said the proposal by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, while not mentioning specific countries.

Japan will improve the educational environment for families of highly skilled foreign workers by enticing more international schools as well as boosting visa support for assistant staff, the proposal said.

The 20-page document is set to be submitted to the government later this week with the aim of being reflected in the annual economic policy guidelines, which will be finalised in mid-July, according to two government sources who declined to be identified.
Im not willing to accept that only Chicago can have high-speed internet access, Pritzker said at a Wednesday news conference. Our whole state must prosper. The disadvantages that persist when our communities are left out of opportunity demand an ambitious effort to bring them to a close.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 10:50:53|Editor: huaxia

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KUNMING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Police in southwest China's Yunnan Province cracked a drug trafficking case, apprehending eight suspects and seizing more than 166 kg of drugs, local authorities said Wednesday.

On May 21, local police nabbed the first six suspects in the city of Baoshan, situated along the China-Myanmar border. Later, two other suspects were caught.

Further investigation is underway.

Yunnan is a major front in China's battle against drug crime, as it borders the Golden Triangle known for its rampant drug production and trafficking. Enditem
Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar, who was arrested on June 23 following a years-long corruption probe, is shown in a file photo. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

LA Councilman Arrested in City Hall Corruption Probe

LOS ANGELES (CNS)Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar, the central figure in a five-year federal corruption probe targeting City Hall, was arrested June 23 at his Boyle Heights home for allegedly conspiring to accept roughly $1.5 million in bribes from developers trying to curry his favor.

Huizar, 51, made his initial federal court appearance on the afternoon of June 23 by videoconference from a downtown lockup before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul L. Abrams, who ordered the councilman released on a $100,000 bond. He was not asked to enter a plea, but a July 20 arraignment and a July 14 preliminary hearing were both tentatively set.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Huizar was charged June 22 with a single count of conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO, Act. The charge carries up to 20 years in federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna said the continuing probe has exposed significant and blatant corruption at Los Angeles landmark City Hall building.

Unfortunately its [City Halls] grand exterior has concealed a cancer, a disease of elected officials and staff members breaking a series of laws in order to line their own pockets, maintain power, and keep open a spigot of illicit bribes and other benefits, Hanna said. All of this comes at the expense of the citys 4 million residents, who simply want honest government, and law-abiding businesses who simply want a level playing field.

The case lays out a sordid tale of how Mr. Huizar and his cronies sold themselves to the highest bidder, and in so doing, sold out the residents of this city, he said.

Huizars attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

Hours after his arrest, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to immediately suspend Huizar, who has been on the council since 2005. According to the City Attorneys Office, the council cannot unilaterally remove Huizar from office because he has not yet been convicted of a crime.

While todays announcement on the arrest of council member Huizar is not unexpected, the horrendous and disgusting allegations leveled against him and others have painted a dark cloud over our City government for a long time now, said Council President Nury Martinez.

At the request of Martinez, Huizar had not been attending recent council meetings and agreed to limit his activities at City Hall, saying he did not want to be a distraction as the city dealt with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Voviette Morgan told reporters the investigation dated back to 2015, when Huizar was spotted cashing in a large amount of chips at a Las Vegas casino, allegedly provided to him by a developer. The origin of the investigation earned the probe the code name Operation Casino Loyale.

Morgan said Huizar was referred to by co-conspirators as the boss of a City Hall family, and he amassed so much power that a former deputy mayor suspected of helping originate the bribery scheme commented that if Huizar wouldnt put a project on a meeting agenda, the development would never see the light of day.

Hanna said Huizar, as chairman of the councils powerful Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee, decided which projects lived, and which projects died.

A 116-page court affidavit outlines wide-ranging allegations of bribery and favor-trading, including the exchange of large sums of cash in paper bags and liquor boxes, and hotel rooms provided to Huizar for sexual encounters with a mistress.

In one scheme alone, a developer provided $500,000 in cash in brown paper bags, Hanna said. I can also tell that you that when Mr. Huizars residence was searched by the FBI in late 2018, the FBI found $129,000 in cash in a closet.

Plea Agreements

Three weeks ago, the first of four defendants who have signed plea agreements with federal prosecutors formally entered a guilty plea in the ongoing pay-to-play public corruption probe. Justin Kim, a former City Hall fundraiser, pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge for arranging a $500,000 bribe for Huizar.

Last month, former Huizar aide George Esparza agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization statute and has been cooperating in the years-long probe.

Also last month, real estate broker and development consultant George Chiang agreed to plead guilty to the same racketeering charge, admitting he was involved in a scheme in which a Chinese real estate company bribed a council member in exchange for help on a major development project. Details in that filing also made clear prosecutors were referring to Huizar.

In November 2018, federal agents served search warrants at Huizars City Hall and field offices, along with his home, as part of the investigation. Huizar was chairman of the PLUM Committee at the time.

The bribery scheme involving Kim began in 2016 when a labor group filed an appeal claiming a developers proposed residential high-rise project violated the California Environmental Quality Act. The developer contacted Kim in hopes of gaining Huizars support, court papers indicate.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, the unnamed council member and developer negotiated a $500,000 payment, and in early 2017, the developer gave Kim $400,000 in cash inside a paper bag to deliver to the council member. Kim kept some cash for himself for acting as a go-between, then delivered the money to a staff member to pass along to Huizar, court papers indicate.

Prosecutors allege the developer later paid the other $100,000 when the appeal was resolved, but Kim kept the money for himself.

Court documents filed in connection with Esparzas plea agreement contend that his elected-official boss received more than $1 million in payments and financial benefits from a Chinese developer looking to build a 77- story skyscraper in Huizars district.

Prosecutors allege in court papers that the developer took Esparza and Huizar on more than a dozen trips to Las Vegas between 2014 and 2017 and provided them with flights on private jets, hotel rooms, spa services, meals, alcohol, prostitution/escort services and casino gambling chips. The court papers allege the council member received a total of more than $200,000 in casino chips during the trips.

Prosecutors also contend the developer bankrolled a January 2016 trip to Australia with Esparza and the council member. The court papers cite text messages between Esparza and the council member following the Australia and Las Vegas trips, detailing efforts to cover up the payments and expenses they received from the developer.

Prosecutors also contend in the papers the developerwith Esparzas knowledgesecured $600,000 in collateral so the council member could obtain a $570,000 bank loan to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against the elected official in 2013 by a former employee.

Huizar was sued in 2013 for alleged sexual harassment by former aide Francine Godoy. The married Huizar later claimed the two had a consensual affair. The lawsuit was settled in 2014, but the terms were never disclosed.

A date has not yet been set for Esparza to enter his guilty plea. Chiang is expected to plead guilty on June 25.

Prosecutors contend that yet another Chinese developer looking to build a project in Huizars district bankrolled a trip to China for the councilman and his family, then later donated $100,000 to a political action committee on behalf of one of Huizars relatives seeking to replace him when he is termed out of office this year. The relative isnt named in court papers, but Huizars wife, Richelle, was actively campaigning for the seat until she dropped out of the race following the FBI searches.

Federal authorities also contend that various other developers donated to political action committees in support of his wifes campaign, in exchange for Huizars support of their projects. According to the U.S. Attorneys office, one of those developers also conducted opposition research on two female staffers who had sued Huizar for sexual harassment. That developer later received approval to build a 35-story project in the Arts District with minimal affordable housing units and union labor requirements, saving the company an estimated $14 million, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also contend that Huizar was receiving $10,000 monthly cash retainers from an unnamed businessman interested in facilitating various business opportunities.

That businessman also allegedly provided Huizar with $10,000 worth of hotel accommodations on 21 different occasions in early 2017, along with $18,000 in gifts including suits, shoes, and meals. The court papers state that Huizar would use the hotel rooms for discreet encounters with a woman with whom he was having an affair.

The criminal complaint also alleges that Huizar conspired with others involved in the scheme in an effort to get them to lie to federal prosecutors and the FBI during the probe.

The federal investigation has been a dark cloud over City Hall for the past two years. In March, former City Councilman Mitch Englander separately agreed to plead guilty to scheming to falsify facts in a probe of his acceptance of cash and other gifts from a businessmanthe same one accused of bribing Huizar. He is expected to formally enter his plea on July 7.

Our goal is to return the power to the people, the FBIs Morgan said, and restore honest services to the city.

By Fred Shuster


Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 11:19:33|Editor: huaxia

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LOS ANGELES, June 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated the completion of 200 miles (around 320 km) of border wall along the border with Mexico during his visit to the southwestern state of Arizona on Tuesday.

The president flew to Yuma, a city in southwest Arizona, on Air Force One in the morning and then examined the tall metal fence amid dust and scorching heat, calling it "really foolproof." He signed a commemorative plaque recognizing the completion of 200 miles, a local news outlet, AZcentral.com reported.

"This is the most powerful and comprehensive border wall structure anywhere in the world. It's got technology that nobody would even believe, between sensors and cameras and everything else," said Trump, according to a press release from the White House.

"We're on pace to complete 450 miles by the end of the year, and 500 miles, almost immediately thereafter. We may even have the 500 miles by the end of the year. We're doing a real job," he noted.

Arizona is one of the battleground states in Trump's reelection campaign.

In his 2016 campaign for president, Trump had pledged to build "a great wall" along the U.S.-Mexico border.

During his presidency, Trump has maintained a hardline stance on immigration and border security, and pushed for a series of controversial measures, including erecting a border wall along the nation's southern border with Mexico, in a bid to deter illegal immigrants. Enditem
Aditi Rao Hydari

Mumbai: Actor Aditi Rao Hydari on Wednesday said she is looking forward to her upcoming Malayalam movie 'Sufiyum Sujatayum', which is the first film in the language to have a direct-to-OTT release.

Also starring Jayasurya, the musical love story is set to premiere on July 3 on Amazon Prime Video.

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Sufiyum SujatayumThe film marks Aditi's return to Malayalam cinema, 14 years after her big screen debut with 'Prajapathi', co-starring south star Mammootty.

Aditi said that 'Sufiyum Sujatayum' is a special film for me. I been lucky to work with some incredible people across India, and this film marks my debut as the leading lady of a Malayalam film. The film is an innocent love story, where love is unburdened by prejudices and discrimination.

"I'm looking forward to the audience's response. I hope they get immersed in the world of Sufi and Sujata like I did and I hope everyone makes their own special connection to the characters and the story," she added.

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The streaming platform also unveiled the trailer of 'Sufiyum Sujatayum'.

PhotoThe film joins a host of other titles across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu acquired by Amazon Prime Video to have a digital release.

Amitabh Bachchan-Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer 'Gulabo Sitabo', helmed by Shoojit Sircar, and 'Penguin', the Tamil/Telugu thriller, featuring Keerthy Suresh, hit the platform this month.

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Vidya Balan's 'Shakuntala Devi' biopic is scheduled to directly head to Amazon in near future, skipping a theatrical release owing to the coronavirus pandemic-induced shutdown.
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A new report has revealed Kiwis still vastly prefer print books, with sales of physical books growing while demand for ebooks has shrunk.

Despite significant investment by publishers in digital formats, ebooks make up just 7.2 per cent of total trade and education sales in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Publishing Market Size Report 2019, completed by Nielsen Book Research for PANZ, shows that in the general consumer market print book sales increased by 7.1 per cent in 2019, while digital books declined by 4.5 per cent.

"The report confirms that New Zealanders continue to prefer the experience that a physical book has to offer," says PANZ president Julia Marshall.

The report provides a snapshot of an industry that was in good heart at the end of 2019, experiencing a 6 per cent increase in total revenue on the previous year. An impressive 21.1 million books were sold in the country.

But the closure of physical and online bookshops in level four lockdown caused a 20 per cent decline in domestic book sales to the end of May 2020.

Consumers clearly missed access to books, Nielsen reports that in the second week of level two, domestic revenue through bookstores was up 22 per cent compared to the same week in 2019, although sales overall are still down year-on-year.

The book trade is an important contributor to New Zealands economy, generating $292.2 million in total revenue last year with content exported around the world.

Last year New Zealand publishers issued 2662 new books, accounting for 23 per cent of all domestic sales. That figure is up 11 per cent on 2018.

The report also shows a renewed interest in books written in te reo Maori, with these titles seeing 61 per cent growth in unit sales over 2018.

"In the post COVID-19 world, we hope to consolidate the gains made as many consumers rediscovered the pleasure of reading, at a time when they needed it most," says Julia.

"The publishing industry is determined to encourage new readers and serve existing ones - providing them with the education, entertainment, reflection and challenge that good books offer."
President Donald Trump and the President of Poland Andrzej Duda speak to the media during a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington on June 12, 2019. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Polish President to Visit US for Talks With Trump on Security, Health, Trade

Polish President Andrzej Duda will visit President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday. The two heads of state are expected to discuss energy security, regional security, trade and investment, and 5G security.

Trump administration officials have welcomed Polands purchase of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) starting in 2022. This will help Poland to diversify energy sources and stop relying on one energy supplierRussian state-controlled Gazpromachieving energy independence, senior administration officials said.

Poland has not renewed its contract with Gazprom for importing natural gas which is set to expire in 2022.

Poland and the United States are negotiating an agreement to build large-scale nuclear plants in Poland with American technology, officials said.

Trump has also discussed with Duda the Three Seas Initiative led by Poland and Croatia with the goal of promoting connectivity between nations in Central and Eastern Europe by supporting infrastructure, energy, and digital interconnectivity.

The United States has pledged up to $1 billion to the Three Seas Initiative and thanked Poland for investing 500 million euros ($565 million).

The Three Seas Initiative is different from Chinas Belt and Road or 17+1 initiatives that often use opaque lending practices that could lead participating countries to become over-indebted to the point of losing their sovereignty. The Three Seas Initiative relies on transparency, Western values, and cooperation among its members, officials said.

In September, Poland and the United States signed a joint declaration on 5G to select only trusted 5G providers and equipment that ensures telecommunication security and data privacy. Both governments are planning to launch concrete projects in agreement with the declaration.

A Lockheed Martin F-16 Falcon of the Belgian Air Force performs at the Airpower 2019 airshow in Zeltweg near Graz, Austria, on Sept. 6, 2019. (Erwin Scheria/AFP/Getty Images)

Also being discussed is regional security on NATOS Eastern Flank which includes Poland. Poland belongs to a small group of NATO allies that spend 2 percent of their GDP on defense, as agreed by all NATO members.

The country is in the process of modernizing its entire military and investing in equipment and readiness to ensure the deterrence and defense of NATOs Eastern Flank, officials said.

Poland has 126 contracts to buy American military equipment including the F-35 fighter aircraft program; the Patriot air and missile defense system; the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS); and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, according to officials.

The country also participates in NATOs missions around the world such as Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan where Polish forces assisted Afghan ministries of defense and interior to build capabilities to ensure peace and stability. Polish military forces are also part of the Kosovo Force.

When asked about whether American troops that the United States plans to withdraw from Germany would be relocated to Poland, an official said that some will potentially be deployed to other places in Europe but did not provide any further details.

Poland has just been a model defense partner of both the United States and the broader NATO Alliance, said senior administration officials.

Both nations also cooperated when responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States sent Poland millions of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items in addition to millions donated by private businesses and American citizens around the world, senior administration officials said.

Poland in turn sent a team of doctors to Chicago to treat American patients and theyve saved countless lives, the officials said, adding that Trump is looking forward to personally thanking the leader of that team who will join both heads of state in the White House. Both countries also cooperate in research on therapeutics and vaccines.

Poland has joined the visa waiver program that has ensured that people-to-people ties remain strong for the centuries to come, the senior administration officials said.

Duda will be the first head of state visiting Trump since the outbreak of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Dudas visit occurs just four days before the country holds the first round of its presidential election. Duda, a candidate of Polands ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, is seeking reelection.

The apps for Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple with the reflection of binary code are displayed on a tablet screen in Paris on April 20, 2018. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images)

Trade

Since Trump took office the trade volume between the two countries has increased by 50 percent and U.S. investments in Poland continue to grow to reach in 2019 a record level of $14.3 billion, officials said.

Among companies investing in Poland are cutting-edge technology companies like Google and Microsoft  because Poland graduates a high number of engineers every year compared to other EU countries, the officials said.

According to data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. commodity exports to Poland in 2019 amounted to $5.96 billion. Imports from Poland in the same period, on the other hand, amounted to $8.38 billion, Polands Ambassador to the United States Piotr Wilczek said in a statement published by the Warsaw Institute.

The U.S. trade deficit with Poland amounted to $2.42 billion in 2019 and was lower than one year prior, Wilczek said in the statement.

Poland has become the United States 37th most important trade partner, and the United States is Polands 9th most important trade partner, and 4th among non-EU countries after China, Russia, and the UK, Wilczek said.
Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) has commenced the production of the 5th Generation Honda City in India. The car is being manufactured at its Greater Noida plant in Uttar-Pradesh. The companys plant had resumed manufacturing operations from mid-June following all government regulations and companys safety protocols for COVID-19 prevention. The launch of the 5th Generation City is scheduled in July 2020.

Rajesh Goel, Sr. Vice President and Director, Honda Cars India Ltd said, We are delighted to begin the Production of 5th Generation Honda City which will be launched next month. The aspirational sedan comes with a rich legacy of over 22 years across four generations and has been synonymous with Honda brand in India. The excitement and anticipation around the 5th Generation City in the pre-launch phase has been extremely encouraging despite the currently prevailing market challenges.

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The new-gen City comes with a 1.5-litre i-VTEC DOHC engine with VTC in Petrol version and refined 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine, both compliant with BS-6 emission norms. The new City is Indias First Connected Car with Alexa remote capability and is equipped with Next Generation Honda Connect with Telematics Control Unit. The newly designed platform is claimed by the company to be light-weight with high rigidity and collision safety structure offers advanced safety. The new model comes loaded with segment-first features like Full LED headlamps, Z- Shaped wrap-around LED Tail lamp, 17.7 cm HD full-color TFT meter with G-meter, LaneWatch camera, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Agile Handling Assist (AHA) and many more.
AUGUSTA, Ga., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 20 years ago, President Bill Clinton signed into law the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (See parts of Executive Order 13179 below)

Due to bureaucratic red tape, thousands of former nuclear workers will die fighting for money.

Compensation claims are to help offset lack of employment, medical bills, and family needs.

Gary Vanderboegh formed the Commonwealth Environmental Services, LLC company in 2007, after becoming a whistleblower about toxic working conditionsand-- getting terminated by a contractor at the Paducah, Kentucky Department of Energy Diffusion Plant.

He is working to help 480 cancer-stricken, sick nuclear workers-- like himself-- navigate through the complicated filing process and administration appeals and hearings.

However, Vanderboegh has terminal Beryllium cancer, he says contracted at the Kentucky plant while working there for 14 years. "Our team cleaned radioactive machinery and breathed in beryllium dust and other vapors," said the Kentucky native.

"Like so many other former DOE workers, Gary is facing diminishing abilities and asked me to take the lead to make his client's families whole," said civil rights legal expert James Faller, who has a long history of working with the "underdog"such as falsely convicted prisoners.

Faller's based in Augusta, Georgia near the Savannah River Nuclear Site. He's helping Harvey Reifwho worked at SRS for many years and developed kidney cancer in 2004 while working at a DOE site and then pancreatic cancer. He was out of work for 2 years from his highly paid consulting work at nuclear plants. (WATCH VIDEO) https://www.dropbox.com/s/2cyvi7nvn017u7a/Harvey%20Edit%20Master.mp4?dl=0

"According to letters from 4 physiciansthat tended to me and cared for me, these cancers can be directly related to my work environment," said Reif

Faller sees a pattern in his research that sick nuclear workers are getting caught up in administrative loopholes. He intends to hold officials accountable at powerful, federal government offices.

Executive Order 13179 clearly states, "Thousands of these courageous Americans, however, paid a high price for their service, developing disabling or fatal illnesses as a result of exposure to beryllium, ionizing radiation, and other hazards unique to nuclear weapons production and testing. Too often, these workers were neither adequately protected from, nor informed of, the occupational hazards to which they were exposed."This order sets out agency responsibilities to accomplish these goals, building on the Administration's articulated principles and the framework set forth in the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000. The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Energy shall be responsible for developing and implementing actions under the Act to compensate these workers and their families in a manner that is compassionate, fair, and timely. Other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall assist in this effort."

"We want them to go back and investigate every claim and ensure compensation to the intent of the order signed in 2000. They are not following the law," added Faller.

Press Contact: Neil Gordon, 706.589.6727, [email protected]

SOURCE James Faller
Two security guards have been stabbed in a Melbourne shopping centre infamous for gang bashings, sexual assaults and shoplifting.

The shocking afternoon knife attack played out in front of terrified shoppers at the Westfield Fountain Gate centre in Melbourne's southeast on Wednesday evening.

Security staff attempted to intervene after a couple were allegedly caught stealing $500 worth of items from Kmart, and were stabbed in the ensuing melee.

Police and emergency services were called to the scene and two people were arrested. Paramedics treated two patients with non-life threatening injuries.

The incident is just the latest crime to rock the notorious shopping centre.

Two security guards were stabbed at Melbourne's Westfield Fountain Gate shopping centre (pictured)

'It was really confronting, they asked everyone to evacuate and roped off the store,' shopper Danielle told the Herald Sun.

Another shopper named Christina said: 'It's just so scary for this to happen here, the crime is just getting out of control here.'

'I always see security around here but I think the centre needs more police patrolling at night too,' she added.

Crimes committed at the Westfield shopping centre have become so serious that police have been forced to patrol the area on horseback to keep patrons safe.

An army of intimidating security guards have also been brought in to add extra muscle and reassure customers.

The rate of offences at the shopping centre have increased 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.

Concerned business owners told The Cranbourne Leader last week that they are helpless to act when groups of up to a dozen teenagers storm their stores, damaging and stealing items.

Several retailers told the publication their stores had been 'ransacked' by gangs in recent weeks and a poll of 3,000 locals found 74 per cent admitted they steered clear of the centre due to fears of violence.
A Jefferson Hospital public safety officer (center) talks with Philadelphia police as they gather outside Jefferson Health Torresdale Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa. on June 24, 2020. Immigration activists say Jefferson Health is trying to medically repatriate an undocumented Guatemalan man with a serious brain injury in an effort to rid itself of his care, and they vowed to block any vehicle attempting to transport him to the airport. Read more

Immigration activists say Jefferson Health is trying to medically repatriate an undocumented Guatemalan man with a serious brain injury in an effort to rid itself of his care.

The drama began Tuesday evening and spiraled into Wednesday, with medical students starting an online petition to stop the removal of the man, who was injured in a motorcycle accident in May, from Jefferson Torresdale Hospital. On Wednesday morning, activists gathered at the hospital for what they said would be a physical attempt to block any vehicle carrying him to the airport.

That turned out to be unnecessary. By Wednesday afternoon, any plan to remove the 48-year-old man, whose name was withheld by his family, had been put on hold.

His niece Claudia Martinez told reporters he would not be moved for four weeks. It was unclear what might happen in the interim or where he might go.

A statement issued Tuesday night by the health system did not deny that the man, dubbed Patient X by supporters, was being in effect privately deported. It said that it could not discuss specific cases, but that all decisions about care are made by patients in consultation with medical staff.

We explore all options and engage in a patient-centered, collaborative process, the health system said. We do not, nor would we ever, make an independent decision related to a patients care or their placement. While those decisions are informed by the patients clinical needs, final decisions are made by the patient, or if the patient cannot make such decisions, their family or legal representative.

The Free Migration Project, directed by Philadelphia immigration lawyer David Bennion, responded, This is false, according to family members with direct knowledge.

The health institution issued a two-sentence statement on Wednesday afternoon that repeated its assertion about patient consent and added, We have no out-of-country transfers scheduled from Jefferson Health-Northeast.

Jefferson did not respond to follow-up questions about who may have given consent in this case, or whether an out-of-country flight was scheduled but then canceled.

Advocates say the man, who has lived in the United States for about 20 years, could die if returned to Guatemala.

Federal immigration authorities are not involved in the situation, according to advocates who said the hospital was chartering a private flight to Guatemala.

The issues around the patients removal emerge in the middle of a lethal pandemic and amid ongoing national protests over systemic racism. Doctors and nurses in Philadelphia and other cities have marched in the streets to demand an end to health disparities and better treatment for Black Americans and others, including immigrants, who often lack access to quality care.

Medical repatriations have gone on quietly for a long time in the U.S., occurring when hospitals transfer undocumented patients who need chronic care back to their home country. The practice is unregulated, and often patients have not given their consent to be removed, according to the Norris McLaughlin law firm, which practices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

Decisions are made by insurance companies, doctors, hospital financial officers and administrators, and patients and their families may not necessarily be part of those discussions, according to the law firm.

Hospitals are bound by federal laws to arrange post-hospital care for patients who need it. But these kinds of cases present financial predicaments, particularly with patients whose brain injuries mean they will require lifelong care.

Undocumented patients generally are ineligible for long-term, government-paid services, so hospitals may not be able to discharge them to nursing homes or home-care agencies. Community agencies wont take on huge costs with no chance for reimbursement. So hospitals can see their choices as limited: Keep the patients forever, or remove them to their homelands in a medical repatriation.

The practice has been criticized as international patient dumping, carried out through an informal policy of screen, stabilize and ship. Hospitals rent air ambulances and send uninsured, undocumented immigrant patients  whose catastrophic injuries require continuous care  to home countries including Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala.

When patients arrive, its usually only a matter of time before they die, because theyre too poor to afford the care needed to survive, according to a study by Jennifer Smith, a law professor at the Florida A&M University College of Law.

The online petition by Jefferson medical students calls the mans removal unjust, unethical, and medically dangerous.

Deporting Patient X with no contingency plan or support system is blatant medical harm, the petition stated. When you forcibly separate an individual from their family, especially without their consent, you are doing harm.  When you fly an individual across the border in the midst of a catastrophic pandemic that could take the life of them or anyone they encounter, you are doing harm.

The petitioners said Dr. Stephen Klasko, president of Thomas Jefferson University and CEO of Jefferson Health, has spoken out for racial justice and diversity, saying in a recent note to students and employees: As an institution, we are united, and we are clear: The suffering of any community injures us all. Racism is unacceptable. We stand together against racial oppression.

The health system did not respond to requests for comment from Klasko.

City Councilmember Helen Gym went to the hospital to support the family and seek more information about what was occurring.

Jefferson remains an essential partner in delivering compassionate and excellent care to residents in Philadelphia, and we will be staying on top of this situation moving forward, Gym said late Wednesday. We want to ensure that all decisions are determined by the patients best interest and not by their immigration status.

Philadelphia is a sanctuary city, meaning that its government strives to treat all residents the same, whether or not they are U.S. citizens.

The hospital wants to deport him because its cheaper to spend $50,000 to send him to Guatemala than continue to care for him, Jasmine Rivera, a leader of the immigrant advocacy group Shut Down Berks, posted on Facebook. Despite his family saying no to this. And despite the fact that he cant walk and has a brain injury, therefore cant consent.
From this point forward, NASAs Washington DC headquarters will be known as the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters, named after the agencys first Black female engineer. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the change today.

Jackson was one of the women who inspired the book and movie Hidden Figures, about the Black women who helped NASA launch the first American into orbit. Fittingly, the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters is located on Hidden Figures Way.

Mary W. Jackson was part of a group of very important women who helped NASA succeed in getting American astronauts into space. Mary never accepted the status quo, she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology, Bridenstine said in a statement.

Jackson was born in Hampton, Virginia, and earned a dual degree in math and physical sciences from Hampton Institute in 1942. She worked as a math teacher, bookkeeper and US Army secretary before joining the segregated West Area Computing Unit of the Langley Research Center. In 1951, she was recruited by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which was later succeeded by NASA.

Jackson worked as a human computer for two years. After which, she conducted experiments in the 60,000-horsepower Supersonic Pressure Tunnel, which blasted models with winds nearly twice the speed of sound. Jackson was encouraged to take a training program that would allow her to advance from mathematician to engineer. But because the classes were held at the then-segregated Hampton High School, she needed special permission to attend.

Jackson did complete the training, and in 1958 she became NASAs first Black female engineer. She authored and co-authored numerous reports and joined Langleys Federal Womens Program, where she worked to address the hiring and advancement of the next generation of female mathematicians, engineers and scientists. She worked alongside Katherine Johnson, Dororhty Vaughan and Christine Darden, also featured in Hidden Figures.

Jackson retired in 1985 and was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously in 2019.
What can be done to defend nations against attack? And how big is the risk that cyber attacks could spill over into open warfare? It didn't take long for cybersecurity experts to understand the sub-text of Morrison's remarks. Although he didn't mention China by name, it was clear where the finger of blame was being pointed. China immediately denied any involvement. The usual suspect "Chinese state cyber attacks of this type are not new but have progressed from large scale and low sophistication to high grade, carefully targeted attacks in recent years," says Robert Hannigan, the former director of GCHQ who is now the chairman of cybersecurity business BlueVoyant. "China still harvests intellectual property from the private sector on an industrial scale, but the sophistication of their targeted attacks against states is increasingly alarming," he adds. The question faced by many countries including Britain is how to respond.

Should we retaliate by launching our own hacking campaigns? Should we consider diplomatic or economic sanctions? When Russia hacked Ukraine's energy networks in 2015, it was a delicate operation. Skilled hackers quietly infiltrated systems for months and caused serious economic damage. Even so, it was not considered an act of war. But Ciaran Martin, the head of Britain's National Cyber Security Centre, has repeatedly warned that "it is a matter of when, not if" a so-called "category one" cyber attack, which has the potential to cause loss of life, occurs in the UK. For now, the British government favours a similar approach to Australia, which is a partner in the global Five Eyes intelligence-sharing system alongside the US, Canada and New Zealand.

Last month, departments of the UK and US governments made a similar announcement when they warned that state-backed hackers were targeting healthcare organisations on the front line against the coronavirus. Alan Woodward, a professor of cybersecurity at the University of Surrey, says he expects to see more transparency. "It's so easy to think everything is fine and dandy - but actually there's quite a battle going on in cyberspace," he says. Cyber deterrence Cybersecurity experts inside spy agencies, who previously remained anonymous, are now breaking cover to talk publicly about their work. The UK is also boasting of an increased ability to conduct its own hacking attacks. Earlier this month, the British Army launched its first dedicated cyber warfare division, the 13th Signal Regiment. And earlier this year, the British government said it was preparing to launch the National Cyber Force, a 500-strong force of hackers.

Loading Insiders say the UK already conducts its own officially sanctioned hacking activities, probing for vulnerabilities in software and equipment used by other countries, just as China, Iran and Russia do to western countries. "One shouldn't be naive," Woodward says. "The UK and the US, Five Eyes countries in general, have always had a very active signals intelligence capability." Lukasz Olejnik, an independent cybersecurity researcher, says boosting a nation's hacking capabilities can help to deter hostile countries. "On their own, offensive cyber operations do not protect systems from cyber attacks," he says.

"But offensive cyber capabilities may be thought of as a component of cyber deterrence." Hannigan, however, says the UK should look to other ways to respond to hacking attacks. "Offensive cyber capabilities have niche uses but in general the best responses to wholesale cyber attacks of this kind will be economic and political sanctions," he says. Retaliatory attacks remain a rare topic of discussion. Jeremy Fleming, Hannigan's successor at GCHQ, revealed in 2018 that the UK had carried out a "major offensive cyber campaign" against Isis.
[June 24, 2020] Washtenaw Community College Has Been Designated A National Center Of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education

ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Washtenaw Community College has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The announcement places WCC among a select group of two-year, four-year and graduate-level institutions nationwide to receive the prestigious distinction. The NSA extensively reviewed WCC's Associate in Applied Science in Cybersecurity program and determined it is providing rigorous instruction with the most current cybersecurity industry trends to students. "This is an important designation for our Cybersecurity program and the college in general, but it's really our students who will benefit the most," said program advisor Cyndi Millns, a faculty member and department chair in WCC's Computer Science and Information Technologies department. "It's a rigorous standard we were able to meet, which shows future employers that our students copleted a program that meets the criteria of the National Security Agency."



The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has forecasted a 32% growth rate in the cybersecurity industry through 2028, highlighting the critical importance of quality higher education in the field. WCC has been a leader in cybersecurity education since it became one of the first institutions in the state to offer a degree program in the early 2000s. The current program, which was revamped in 2017, prepares students for an entry-level job in the high-demand field or the ability to transfer to a four-year institution. In fact, the WCC program was designed in coordination with Eastern Michigan University so graduates could transfer directly into EMU's Information Assurance & Cyber Defense bachelor's degree program.

Although the designation recognizes the strength of the college's Cybersecurity program in particular, Millns said the entire college was scrutinized during the months-long application process. She credited the college's "mindset as an institution" with helping the program achieve National Center of Academic Excellence status. The goal of the Center for Academic Excellence program is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure and defend U.S. government, business and infrastructure sectors by promoting higher education and expertise in cyber defense. "(WCC's) ability to meet the increasing demands of the NSA CAE program criteria will serve the nation well in contributing to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure," said Karen Leuschner, CAE Program Manager. "The National Cyber Strategy addresses the critical shortage of professionals with cybersecurity skills and highlights the importance of higher education as a solution to defending America's cyberspace. A highly skilled cybersecurity workforce is a strategic national security advantage." View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/washtenaw-community-college-has-been-designated-a-national-center-of-academic-excellence-in-cyber-defense-education-301083180.html SOURCE Washtenaw Community College

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Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday hit out at the Congress and the Gandhi family for questioning the governments stand on June 15 face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh, saying a rejected and ejected dynasty is not equal to the entire opposition.

Nadda called it the oppositions right to ask questions and added healthy deliberations took place at the all-party meeting over the face-off in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. He added several opposition leaders gave their valuable inputs at the meeting. They also fully supported the Centre in determining the way ahead. One family was an exception. Any guesses who? Nadda said in another tweet.

One royal dynasty and their loyal courtiers have grand delusions of the opposition being about one dynasty. A dynast throws tantrums and his courtiers peddle that fake narrative. Latest one relates to the opposition asking questions to the government.

He added a time rejected and ejected dynasty is NOT equal to the entire opposition. One dynastys interests are not Indias interests. Today, the nation is united and supportive of our armed forces. This is the time for unity and solidarity. Relaunch of the scion for the nth time can wait, added Nadda.

The reference to relaunch came amid speculation over Rahul Gandhis return as the Congress chief a year after he stepped down following his party dismal performance in the 2019 national polls.

Due to the misadventures of one dynasty: We lost thousands of square kilometers of our land. The Siachen glacier was almost gone. And much more. No wonder India has rejected them, Nadda tweeted.

The Congress hit back and reminded Nadda of the BJPs conduct as an opposition party until 2014. BJP should not hide behind the army. The BJP should look back at its conduct when it attacked the government on delicate foreign policy issues during the [Congress-led ] UPA [United Progressive Alliance] rule, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said.

He also referred to BJP member Tapir Gao in the Lok Sabha in November 2019 when he claimed that Chinese forces had intruded into Indian territory in his home state of Arunachal Pradesh, and said that the PM should clear up the remarks made by his party colleague. But the government remained silent on the issue, Tewari said.

He asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer an apology for the BJPs conduct from 2004 to 2014 as the opposition party and for bringing a no-confidence motion over the India-US civil nuclear deal. Tewari said the BJP also sent a delegation to India-China border when it was in opposition in 2010 following Chinese incursions.

The BJP is taking comfort from the outcome of the June 19 all-party meeting even as the Congress attacked the government over its handling of the border standoff with China.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar spoke about the strategic importance of the Galwan Valley at the meeting. He underlined the need to evacuate the Chinese forces from there.

Other leaders like Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president MK Stalin backed the governments position on the issue.

Mayawati continues to support the government, while other opposition leaders have not spoken about the standoff since the meeting.

The Congress questioned Modis stand and sought to know if there was an intelligence failure over the Chinese build-up along the border. Sonia Gandhi, the Congress president, sought an assurance from the government that status quo ante would be restored and China will return to its original positions along the contested border.

The party has rejected as completely wrong suggestion that the Congress was isolated at the all-party meeting.

All parties including the Congress expressed their solidarity with the government and armed forces and said we will stand by the armed forces, the government in the defence of India and the territorial integrity. So, there is no contradiction between Congress and other opposition parties, Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Saturday.

He said the Congress raised questions because its representative was the first speaker at the meeting. We have raised a series of questions through the Congress president. Now, succeeding speakers did not raise the same questions... that does not mean that they disagree with those questions or distance themselves from those questions. He added they also want answers to the same questions. Do not try to create a division between Congress and other opposition parties.
by Paul Wang

In the first official statement by a leader of the Catholic Church, Card Tong says he understands the need for a security law, noting that freedom of religion and speech are guaranteed by the Basic Law and must be respected. For the prelate, the relationship with the Vatican cannot be considered collusion with foreign forces". Card Zen is "concerned" about Beijing's influence.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  The new security law that Beijing wants to impose on Hong Kong will not harm religious freedom, nor the right of the Church to speak out on social issues, this according to Card John Tong Hong, Hong Kongs former bishop and apostolic administrator.

In an interview that will appear in Kung Kao Po, the dioceses Chinese language weekly, the prelate said he understood the need for a security law, as provided for by Hong Kongs Basic Law.

He also noted that the Basic Law itself guarantees religious freedom and the right of churches to comment on social issues. The new law is not expected to curtail that.

At the same time, Card Tong calls on Beijing and the local government to address the concerns of the people of Hong Kong.

The cardinal's remarks are the first by a Catholic official, and seemingly contradict statements made by members of the Justice and Peace Commission who want Beijing to fully implement democracy in the territory before introducing a security law.

In recent days, a group of lay Catholics issued a statement in which they expressed concerns about possible limits to the religious freedom of Hong Kong Catholics, suggesting that relations with the Vatican could be deemed as "collusion with foreign forces" under the new law.

For Card Tong, the Hong Kong Catholic Church has always had a direct relationship with the Vatican; the relationship between the Hong Kong diocese and the Vatican should be regarded as an internal matter and not collusion with foreign forces.

In recent weeks, many international and local leaders have spoken out against the law, which would do away with the "One country, two systems" principle on which Hong Kong's life has been based.

Even Hong Kongs former chief judge expressed fears that the new law could undermine the independence of the local judiciary.

Card Tongs position is also different from that of Card Joseph Zen, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong. In a number of interviews with international media, Zen said that he was "worried" about the new law, whose interpretation would be in the hands of Beijing, allowing the mainland to intervene in Hong Kongs justice system.

A priest, who preferred anonymity, said that Card Tongs position is understandable. The security law is provided for in the Basic Law and therefore no one can be against it. And the Basic Law itself guarantees religious rights and free speech, which Beijing would be forced to respect.
Donald J. Trump Jr. tweeted on Tuesday that the current effort to tear down and remove statues of confederate leaders could be stopped by an initiative to replace them with statues of his father.

Across the country, peaceful protesters are tearing down and toppling statues of confederate leaders. The majority of Americans realize that these statues are of traitors to our country and glorify the torture, rape, and slavery.

The new awareness of the real history behind these statues and the confederate battle flag has become recognized not just by African Americans but also by the kaleidoscope of citizens of all races and creeds. The battle for social justice and against police brutality and murder is leading to a growing number of states, cities, and businesses to recognize the terror and treason the soldiers of the Confederate States of America represented.

Donald Jr. clearly sees his father as the second president of the Confederacy, so his suggestion to replace these toppled statues with one of his father makes sense. However, hes missing the obvious unintended consequences of his suggestion beyond the threat, not doing anything to stop protesters from tearing every confederate statue down.





Donald Jr. is 100% right that progressive, liberal, and social justice-minded Americans loathe his father. His belief they would instead protect statues of slaveholders, traitors than erect new ones of the 45th president is hilarious. The truth is if those who both have loyalty to the Confederacy and President Trump should be encouraged to erect statues of him. Im all for it.

Erecting hundreds of statues to replace those of traitors and slavers with President Trump will give peaceful protesters the satisfaction of tearing everyone of these proposed Trump statues down. They would serve as an inspiration to progressive, liberal, and social justice-minded Americans to take to the streets again to protest and show their contempt for the 45th president racism and contempt for his abuse of power.











President Trump and his oldest three children are ignorant of our nations history, as they are in most things. They operate on the assumption that our countrys history should be celebrated as a whole, and Americans should ignore its crimes against humanity. They lack the intellectual capacity of those who recognize that U.S. history consists of a steady march towards as President Lincoln called our better angels. For America to be great, its citizens must acknowledge our countrys evils, and by exposing them to the sunlight, make sure evil is not celebrated but condemned.

Given the disasters, chaos, and contempt for the rule of law, Donald Trump has displayed as President of the United States; its not surprising that from at least 2017, he has defended monuments to various confederate figures. Also, he has personally celebrated the Washington, DC statue of President Andrew Jackson. The Indian Removal of the latter Act saw hundreds of thousands of indigenous Americans forcibly removed from the South via what is now known as the Trail of Tears. And hundreds of indigenous Americans killed to complete his relocation instructions.

Trumps affection for murderous tyrants of past and present is well known. He has freely admitted that he is in love with North Koreas dictator, Kim Jong-un. Trump admires and respects the dictators in Saudi Arabia, Russia, and claims to have a friendship with Chinas Xi, who he gave his approval to build concentration camps according to John Boltons new book In the room where it happened.

Donald Trump Jr. and his family will live to see his family rejected by the American people and be subjected to scorn for his fathers love for all that is evil and the crimes he committed while he was in and out of office.

Nate Silvers FiveThirtyEight.com president poll, an average of all polls, shows President Trump down 9.7% and trailing in all the swing states. There are 42 million Americans unemployed, and extremely credible economists say the recession underway will turn into a depression. Updated economic projections are indicating the U.S. economy will contract by 8.5% in 2021 while the coronavirus is now on course to take the lives of over 200,000+ Americans by Election Day November 3, 2020.







Trump: Protesters Who Tear Down Monuments Face 'Long-Term Jail Sentences' | MSNBC




WILMINGTON, Del., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As the U.S. begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and business leaders confront new and unique challenges, peer networks are more critical than ever in helping business owners survive and thrive. Yet, according to a new survey, Wilmington Trust Business Owners Outlook: The Power of the Packdeveloped in collaboration with the Committee of 200 (C200), a women's executive leadership organizationfemale business owners are increasingly facing substantial challenges in gaining equal access to support networks, obtaining capital to grow their businesses, and managing family dynamics.

Key findings:

26% of women surveyed cited a lack of peer networks as a challenge to growing their business compared to just 14% of men; further exacerbated by COVID-19

Twice as many women entrepreneurs (16%) as men (8%) feel that women will never be equal to men when it comes to accessing capital

Female founders of businesses only obtain 61% of the capital they are seeking, compared to 68% for men

Women are far more likely than men to have a spouse involved in running the business50% of women vs. 39% of mencomplicating family dynamics

"Networks are so important to business owners regardless of gender. They create an ecosystem to help businesses succeed against the odds," said Doris Meister, head of Wealth Management, Wilmington Trust. "They offer much more than just capital. They can open doors to technology, industry knowledge, experienced peers, research, and financial planning. During this crisis, business owners should rely on networks to restrategize, prioritize, and stay on track to meet their long-term objectives, while navigating a changing landscape."

In conjunction with the report, Wilmington Trust and the C200 interviewed a number of women business owners about their unique personal experiences of owning and operating a business. Their video stories are available on Wilmington Trust's Business Owners Outlook microsite. The microsite also features a recent webinar hosted by Wilmington Trust that looked in depth at issues women business owners are facing in the COVID-19 era, including challenges and opportunities for minority women-owned businesses.

In 2019, M&T Bank, the parent company of Wilmington Trust, created a new banking group to work with and support minority- and women-owned businesses. The bank recognized that minority- and women-owned businesses are a fast-growing segment, but they continue to face a number of hurdles, including access to capital, winning government contracts, and expanding their networks.

"Over the past 50 years, there's been an incredible surge in minority women-owned businesses. From 1972 to 2019, the percentage of women-owned businesses increased from 4.2% to 42%. We've seen a similar increase with the minority-owned business demographic, and much of that growth has been driven by businesses owned by women of color," said Detra Miller, head of Minority Owned Business Banking for M&T Bank. "Our team was created to listen to the needs of minority- and women-owned businesses in our communities, understand the challenges they are facing on their entrepreneurial journey, and work with them to increase access to capital, help them expand their networks, and provide the resources they need to succeed."

"The pandemic has transformed the way in which we network and interact, and has underscored the need for transparent, authentic, and frequent communication," said Carolyn Dolezal. "For business owners, and women business owners in particular, this means focusing on the quality of your connections versus the quantity, whether that means doing virtual coffees or even personalized messages and cards. Being creative in this environment is the key to ensuring your network can thrive and grow."

Additional findings:

When it comes to using personal funds for business, the report found that women less frequently tap personal assets to support their enterprises than men do (31% versus 43%, respectively)

When women do invest in their own companies, however, they tend to do so at a higher level than men, especially company founders (45% women versus 36% men)

Though more business owners involve sons in their businesses than daughters (65% versus 43%, respectively), women business owners (56%) are far more likely to involve daughters than male business owners (38%)

"Traditionally, business owners across genders have not invested in developing the business skills of their female heirs into business leaders," said Marguerite Weese, national director, Family Legacy Strategies at Wilmington Trust. "But it's clear that women are eager to get their daughters involved. By educating them on business fundamentals and financial literacy from an early ageand by identifying mentors, both inside and outside the familyowners can help the next generation of women build the leadership skills they need to prosper."



Owners of businesses with revenue of $5 million+ were asked to complete a survey regarding business and economic outlooks, along with perceptions of personal business performance. The survey took place February 21 to March 11 and feedback was provided by 1,009 owners. For more information, please visit: https://www.wilmingtontrust.com/businessowners/.

About Wilmington Trust

Wilmington Trust's Wealth Advisory offers a wide array of personal trust, financial planning, fiduciary, asset management, private banking, and family office services designed to help high-net-worth individuals and families grow, preserve, and transfer wealth. Wilmington Trust focuses on serving families with whom it can build long-term relationships, many of which span multiple generations.



Wilmington Trust also provides Corporate and Institutional Services for clients around the world.



Wilmington Trust has clients in all 50 states and numerous countries, with offices throughout the United States and internationally in London, Dublin, Paris, and Frankfurt. For more information, visit www.wilmingtontrust.com.

About C200

C200 is a not-for-profit organization with an educational mission whose members include more than 500 of the world's most successful female corporate executives and entrepreneurs. By sharing their success, C200 members are supporting and advancing future generations of women leaders worldwide.

This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the sale of any financial product or service.

Wilmington Trust is a registered service mark used in connection with various fiduciary and non-fiduciary services offered by certain subsidiaries of M&T Bank Corporation.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Maya Dillon, Head of Communications, Wilmington Trust (212) 415-0557

SOURCE Wilmington Trust

Related Links

http://www.wilmingtontrust.com


Sometime in mid-May, Joseph Osuigwe, 35, started noticing a sudden loss of the senses of taste and smell. He could not perceive the aroma of his wifes food; he thought her food that used to be irresistible tasted bland. The symptoms became worse.

I started noticing I could no longer smell my bathing soap or perfume. I concluded that something was wrong when I bought a balm and rubbed it all over my nose but felt nothing, said Mr Osuigwe, a human rights activist.

The medical term of what Mr Osuigwe was experiencing is anosmia  the loss of sense of smell, and ageusia  an accompanying diminished sense of taste.

In April, the World Health Organisation (WHO) listed the loss of smell and taste as some of the less common symptoms of coronavirus also known as COVID-19.

In recent weeks several Nigerians have taken to social media to complain of symptoms similar to that experienced by Mr Osuigwe, during or after treating a fever.

The increasing complaints have triggered a coronavirus scare among Nigerians. Surprisingly there has been no official response from health authorities about the symptoms.

Spike?

A post by Tunde Ajayi, a Twitter user asking Lagosians to click like on his thread if they have experienced the sudden loss of smell and taste garnered more than 3,300 likes within a day.

Mr Osuigwe said on realising that he could have been exposed to the coronavirus, he tried to get tested but was initially turned away. He was later tested after he insisted.

I went to the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) COVID-19 testing centre in Abuja to test myself but they refused to attend to me. Some staff told me what I have presented is not really a symptom of COVID-19 because I have not travelled out and there is no record I have contact with a known COVID19 patient that tested positive.

They said its a minor thing that will clear at anything but when I persisted for two days, they reluctantly tested me, he said.

Mr Osuigwe tested positive for COVID-19.

Conundrum

The rising loss of the sense of smell and taste has drawn several debates not just in Nigeria but globally as the coronavirus virus remains unrelentingly.

According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, reports of people who tested positive for the disease but had no noticeable symptoms, apart from the mysterious loss or reduction of their sense of smell, are mounting.

In South Korea, where testing has been widespread, 30 per cent of 2,000 patients who tested positive experienced anosmia as their major presenting symptom, according to a recent report by The Times.

But some health experts said the loss of smell and taste does not necessarily mean a person has coronavirus. They say the best way of knowing if a person has the disease is by testing for the disease.

Even if there is a link, they say, simply losing your sense of smell isnt enough to say for sure that you have the coronavirus.

Godwin Ntadom, the head of Nigerias National Malaria Elimination Programme says the only way of knowing if someone has coronavirus is for them to test for coronavirus.

It all boils down to testing because you need a diagnosis to confirm if someone has malaria as you need testing to ascertain for sure if a person is COVID-19 positive, he said.

Many Nigerians who have recently complained of a loss of the senses of taste and smell have associated it with malaria.

Valentine Osondu, an Abuja resident who shared a similar experience, said his test result showed he had high-grade malaria.

He said he did not test for coronavirus but used a treatment regimen recommended by a friend who also had the loss of the senses of smell and taste.

I was treating malaria for almost a week but it was not working. The loss of sense of smell and taste got worse. A friend recommended that I should buy ginger, garlic and lime then boil them together. That is what I have been drinking every morning and I am getting myself, he explained.

However, Mr Ntadom said it was wrong to link the frequency of sensory deprivation to malaria without proper diagnosis.

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We are not in the malaria season so its a question difficult to answer without a diagnosis. The dividing line between both sicknesses is very thin. They are synonymous with fever, body weakness and difficulty breathing.

Ifunanya Ezeigwe, a public health nurse, said even if anosmia has been included as one of the symptoms of COVID-19, there is also differential diagnosis where someone can lose senses of smell and taste and still be negative to the Coronavirus.

Nigerias slow testing capacity

Since Mr Osuigwe tried to get tested and was initially turned away, the NCDC has updated its case definition of common symptoms of COVID-19 to include sudden loss of sense of smell and or taste.

A sudden loss of taste and smell with fever, headache or runny nose may be #COVID19. Please do not ignore these symptoms. Call your state hotline immediately to arrange for a test, the NCDC twitted on its official handle Monday, few weeks after the agency denied but eventually tested Mr Osuigwe reluctantly.

But with Nigerias limited testing capacity , here is little chance that people whose primary symptoms is the loss of taste and smell will be given prompt attention.

These reported losses of the senses of smell and taste should ordinarily warrant massive screening for the coronavirus and deserve serious consideration for self-isolation and testing of individuals showing such symptoms, said the president of the National Association of Residents Doctors (NARD), Aliyu Sokomba.

But the fact remains that the government doesnt have the capacity to test the people that are supposed to be tested. Our case definition is still limited. Critically impaired people are not even tested due to lack of test kits let alone people suffering from the loss of smell and test, he explained.

On April 28, the Nigerian government announced its target of testing at least two million people within the next three months.

Almost halfway into the ambitious 90 days target, the country is yet to cover 10 per cent of the two million.

Nigeria still conducts only about 900 to 1,400 tests per day across 26 molecular laboratories in the country, a source confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES.

As of June 22, Nigeria has conducted a little over 115,760 tests of its estimated 200 million population and found more than 20, 000 infected persons. Out of these, over 7,000 have been treated and discharged and over 500 fatalities recorded.

Repeated calls and texts to Chikwe Ihekweazu, NCDC Executive Director, on seeking to find how the agency would expand testing to include those with symptoms of loss of smell and taste were not responded to as of press time.

Health minister, Osagie Ehanire, also did not give a definitive response when questioned over the current trend during the Presidential Task Force meeting last Thursday.

The minister, however, alluded to the possibility of a new strain of COVID-19 in the country.

Self-medication

But amid the controversy trailing the strange symptoms, many Nigerians have resorted to self-medication.

Unlike Mr Osuigwe, several Nigerians sharing their experience on social media appeared not to have done any COVID-19 tests.

Anayo Acho, a Lagos based ICT manager who resorted to self-diagnosis, shared his experience with PREMIUM TIMES.

It started with fever which I treated with basic malaria drugs which went away but then I started having a loss of sense of smell. I could not eat food properly.

I researched online and also visited a pharmacist who told me to use chloroquine, vitamin C and some other drugs and everything returned to normal within days.

I didnt try to go for COVID-19 tests because I know the drugs I got will purge the virus if it was actually in my system, he narrated.

Mr Acho is one of five others interviewed by this newspaper who used various self-remedies.

A concoction of ginger, garlic and lime was the predominant homemade treatment used, as explained by Mr Osondu.

Others resorted to the malaria drug, chloroquine, and a related drug, hydroxychloroquine, which was banned in Nigeria in 2005 due to high treatment failures resulting from drug resistance.

If someone like me could have these symptoms and test positive of COVID-19, what about people that have same symptoms and didnt go for tests, queried Mr Osuigwe who was recently discharged from the isolation centre inside Asokoro general hospital.

He has since tested negative after being treated for two weeks.

We have more people carrying this virus than we know because people who have a strong immune system can stay for 10 days and still be going around and sharing it.

The NCDC has repeatedly warned Nigerians against self-medication, especially when experiencing symptoms similar to that of COVID-19.

Solution

Some health experts have advised the government on how to handle the situation.

Tolu Fakeye, a public health physician, said the NCDC needs scientific evidence in order to expand testing to cover symptoms such as loss of smell.

NCDC has a record of over 17,000 (now more than that) cases in Nigeria. I am sure they have records of individual symptoms patients exhibit.

With this, they can look at if these symptoms have occurred in a significant proportion of cases in early stages. It then boils down to the preponderance of the availability of the test kits.

If they have a lot of test kits then as they are planning to test two million in the next two months, the strange symptoms will become one of the criteria for testing COVID19 but if there is no abundance of test kits, they will be prudent in testing.

Its a matter of balance between science and availability of resources.

Roland Aigbovo, the president of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) Abuja chapter, said the only option is for the NCDC to improve the testing capacity of teaching and specialist hospitals.

This is to make the testing process less cumbersome and more accessible. With the active community transmission, more people have to be tested with less encumbrance, he said.

For Emeka Onwuali, a public health physician, the job is not for the NCDC alone.

What is the National Orientation Agency doing? They should also be very vocal this period in persuading people to go for testing for any sickness symptom not just COVID-19, he said.

The habit of home treatment and self-medication has eaten deep into the countrys fabric. This is not something that can be corrected without massive sensitisation campaigns.

Stigma, misinformation

Mr Fakeye, the physician, said there is still stigma and misinformation associated with the pandemic making people resist visiting the isolation centre.

About three in ten Nigerians believe they have some form of immunity to the coronavirus, according to a poll conducted in April.

The survey, which was conducted by NOIPolls Limited, a country-specific polling service, shows that poor knowledge and perception of the virus is still rife, even as fact-checkers and health officials work to provide accurate information and save lives.

The government should through the National Orientation Agency (NOA) take enlightenment sensitisation to the grassroots. Many Nigerians no longer take coronavirus seriously and that is dangerous.

Religious and traditional leaders advocating for places of worship to open should be more focused on sensitising people on why they should be committed to getting tested, Mr Fakeye said.
In light of recent events that have forced this nation to more closely examine its record of racial injustice, ECPI University is issuing the following statement to support its African-American students:

The senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor and subsequent events has opened a dialogue surrounding racial inequality that takes many of us out of our comfort zones. Many Americans often feel like they cant say or do the right thing when in a discussion about race and so they avoid the dialogue. Today, we can no longer look the other way, and hope the dialogue will disappear. The issues of police brutality, racial inequality, and racism have been brought to the forefront of our conscience. As many individuals and organizations are actively engaged in discussions surrounding these issues, we are hopeful that some positive change can come from them.

Many are trying to view this as a time of awakening. A time where we will all have to face a difficult discussion, but together we will make progress. ECPI University is proud of our long-standing commitment to diversity within our students, faculty, and staff, and to assisting underserved students wherever and whenever we can. We play our part towards a solution by changing lives and helping reduce income inequality in the nation.

We want to be very clear, we do not and never will support excessive police force or racism. ECPI University continues to be part of the solution by educating future law enforcement officers in our Criminal Justice program which emphasizes diversity training across our curriculum, addressing the multiracial communities in which law enforcement serves. Courses address diverse cultures, responding to emergency situations involving individuals with mental health needs and supporting victims of complex traumatic crimes. We integrate scenarios in our interactive simulation MILO ranges that immerse law enforcement to respond appropriately to de-escalate situations and select appropriate options that are less likely to result in the use of unnecessary force. Educating law enforcement and accountability are two of the keys to eliminating future incidents.

In every way, education can be a great equalizer. By finding meaningful ways to increase access to education, in all communities, our society stands a chance to break down the barriers to racial inequality and income inequality.

That is why ECPI University is taking action now to improve access for African-Americans into programs that offer economic opportunity and upward mobility. We know we can do more. As part of our contribution to this effort, our ECPI community is proud to announce the LIFT Scholarship. (Lead, Instruct, Foster, Transform)



This program will consist of $4 million in tuition scholarships, computers, and Wi-Fi access for African Americans in STEM + Health Care programs

ECPI University will encourage all recipients to participate in a community service project to help underserved communities.

ECPI University faculty will conduct opportunity sessions for minority K-12 students to highlight opportunities in STEM+H health careers.

ECPI University has a strong record of graduating minorities into careers in health care, information technology, business, criminal justice, and hospitality. We are recognized for being 3rd in the nation in the number of African-Americans graduating with undergraduate computer science degrees  nearly 2.4% of all such degrees earned in the U.S. We are also the largest provider of African-American nurses in the Mid-Atlantic region.

In addition, ECPI University is working in conjunction with the Beacon Education Foundation (a Virginia 501(C)3 to raise additional funding for the LIFT Scholarship. If you would like to make a donation, please visit https://www.beaconedu.org/

About ECPI University

ECPI University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate's, baccalaureate, and master's degrees and diplomas. SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. A private university founded in 1966, ECPI University has campuses in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas, and offers convenient classes during the day, evening, and online; graduate employment services, continuing education, certification classes, and testing are also available.

On campus or online, fields of study include: HEALTH SCIENCES: Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing (RN to BSN), BS to BSN, Nursing (RN), Practical Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Health Information Management, Physical Therapist Assistant, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Radiography, Sonography, Surgical Technology, Paramedic (EMT); TECHNOLOGY: Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Cyber and Information Security Technology, Data Analytics, Digital Forensics Technology, Information Systems, Software Development, Cloud Computing, Web Development, Database Programming, Electronics Engineering Technology, Mechatronics/Advanced Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering Technology; BUSINESS: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Accounting, Business Administration, IT Management, Operations, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management, Hospitality Management; CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Digital Forensics Crime and Intelligence Analysis; CULINARY: Culinary Arts, Culinary Nutrition, Food Service Management, Baking and Pastry Arts. (Program field availability varies by campus.) For more information, visit http://www.ecpi.edu.
Siemens Energy said it has signed a contract with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity for setting up a new power substation in the Al Hamudhia region of the country.

Work on the new substation will begin next month and is scheduled for completion in July 2022.

Located about 20 km away from Ramadi city, the turnkey 400-kilovolt (kV) Al Hamudhia substation is one of the projects being financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Once ready, it will provide reliable and efficient power supply to the cities of Ramadi, Fallujah, Saqlawyah, Khalediyah and surrounding areas in Al Anbar governorate, North West of Baghdad.

Connecting up to 750 megavolt amperes (MVA) to the national grid, the project will help decrease bottlenecks and transmission losses.

The Al Hamudhia substation will support greater grid connectivity and also permit a higher utilisation of the Al Anbar power plants generated power, supporting anticipated energy demand growth of 10% annually, it added.

Siemens Energy said the scope of work includes design, construction, equipment supply, erection, testing and commissioning and training of personnel. The project will be completed by the company's engineers in collaboration with specialised local Iraqi subcontractors.

The company is currently building 13, 132/33-kilovolt substations as part of the Siemens Roadmap for the Electrification of Iraq.

These projects aim to strengthen the countrys electricity transmission and distribution network  with a particular focus on the governorate of Basra as well as the other governorates that are located in the middle and south of the country. Siemens is also supplying 35 power transformers to support the Iraqi power grid.

Ammar Mohammed Kadhim, General Director of Planning and Studies Department, Iraqi Ministry of Electricity and the Head of the Japanese loan team IQP22 projects at the ministry, which are being financed by JICA, said: "A top priority for the new government of Iraq is rebuilding the countrys power infrastructure."

"Upgrading and strengthening the Iraqi power grid is crucial to this ambitious plan, which will ultimately support Iraqs economic, industrial and infrastructure development. Were already working on comprehensive grid projects across the country in collaboration with international partners, like Siemens, to deploy the most reliable and advanced technologies," he noted.

Mahmoud Hanafy, Senior VP, Transmission Solutions at Siemens Energy (Middle East), said:

"The new substation will support in providing reliable power to the homes and industries in the governorate of Al Anbar."

"Our grid technology enables more reliable, sustainable, efficient and flexible power systems. From transporting electricity from power plants to the distribution stations, all the way to the citizens, our ability to optimize flexibility and efficiency will contribute to boosting the transmission infrastructure of Iraq," noted Hanafy.

In April last year, Siemens and the Iraqi government had signed an agreement to implement Phase One of the roadmap, which is designed to meet the countrys reconstruction and power sector goals, and includes the addition of new and highly-efficient power generation capacity, rehabilitation and upgrade of existing power plants and the expansion of transmission and distribution networks.

Following Siemens Roadmap for the Electrification of Iraq agreement, 791 MW of electricity has already been added to the countrys grid, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
"Our vision is to make Louisiana home to the healthiest and safest workforce in America," said John Hawie, LWCC Foundation Board Chair. "Right now, a sector of this workforce is being challenged in unprecedented ways while trying to make Louisiana citizens safe and healthy, and we're honored to help them continue to fight this important battle."

With medical supplies running low at many hospitals, even as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to spike in areas statewide, some grants recipients will use their awards to purchase much-needed PPE and additional supplies. Others will allocate the funds to support critical childcare for frontline hospital workers  everyone from nurses volunteering their time to medical residents to staff making minimum wage. And some healthcare centers will use the grants to buy iPads that enable isolated patients to connect with their loved ones; provide groceries to those working long shifts or facing food insecurity; or offer mental health services to workers struggling with the emotional toll of treating so many severely ill patients, as well as the fears they face around contracting the disease and bringing it home to their families.



"COVID-19 has placed unprecedented forms of stress on the healthcare system," said Kendra Harris, MD MSc, Tulane University School of Medicine. "Frontline providers  from doctors to nurses to essential personnel like custodians  had to worry about securing adequate personal protective equipment. The workforce had to grapple with a childcare crisis of epic proportions with schools and daycares shutting abruptly. Additionally, many industries are shedding jobs. It is through the help of community partners, such as the LWCC Foundation, that we were able to rise and meet this challenge. And although we are through the first surge, we all must prepare for what the fall and winter hold."



These awards conclude Phase 2 of the LWCC Foundation's Louisiana Well Again: COVID-19 Response Package. Phase 1 entailed the distribution of a $100,000 gift to Feeding Louisiana, a nonprofit organization that supports food banks across the state. Phase 3 will see another $500,000 in grant money awarded, this time to fund initiatives focused on long-term solutions to improve the health, wellness, and safety of Louisiana workers, and will begin once there is greater clarity on the impact of COVID-19 on Louisiana's workforce.

Please visit louisianaloyal.com for more information on the LWCC Foundation, the Louisiana Well Again: COVID-19 Response Package, and LWCC's overall vision for elevating Louisiana.

The LWCC Foundation



The LWCC Foundation is a private foundation created by LWCC to formalize the company's commitment to its vision of being a catalyst to elevate Louisiana's position in America. Our mission is to inspire and create transformational change in Louisiana businesses and workers by partnering with nonprofits focused on health, wellness, and safety. Today, the best way we can be true to our mission and purpose is to help fight COVID-19. We have repurposed the foundation's resources through the Louisiana Well Again: COVID-19 Response Package, a $1.1 million commitment to help Louisiana respond to and recover from COVID-19 in three phases. Information about the foundation and Louisiana Well Again can be found at louisianaloyal.com/foundation.



LWCC  Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation



LWCC is a champion of Louisiana business and proud to be headquartered in the state capital, Baton Rouge. As a model single-state, private mutual workers' comp company, we promote safety, security, and stability in Louisiana. LWCC is dedicated to excellence in execution, from underwriting to life-long care of injured workers. We are proud to partner with our agents, and together deliver outstanding service to our policyholders and their workers. Our commitment is to be there for Louisiana. Always. Our mission is to help Louisiana thrive by bettering our state one business and one worker at a time. LWCC has been recognized by industry leading benchmarker AON and named to the Ward's 50 group of top-performing insurance companies for achieving outstanding results in the areas of safety, consistency, and performance over a five-year period, 2014-2018. For more information on the corporation and its services, please visit www.lwcc.com.

Snapshots: A Sampling of How LWCC Foundation Grants Will Be Used by Louisiana Hospitals



Lafayette General Medical Center has been highly focused on keeping staff safe during the pandemic, and to date, just 1% of staff has contracted COVID-19. Lafayette General will use the grants funds to restock PPE and other critical supplies to help ensure this low infection rate does not rise.



St. Bernard Parish Hospital , a rural medical center located outside New Orleans, will use its grant to engage a local food provider to create healthy food boxes for frontline healthcare workers. Given the long shifts required during the pandemic, the hospital recognized that many workers have been unable to get to the grocery store for essential food supplies for their families. In addition, the economic impacts of COVID-19 and the closing of schools and summer camps has led to greater food insecurity.

Union General Hospital , located near Monroe, will use its award to purchase much-needed supplies. The region is still seeing an increase in COVID-19 patients, including many from area nursing homes. Additional medical supplies will help this small rural hospital slow the spread of the coronavirus.

SOURCE LWCC

Related Links

http://www.lwcc.com


(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Its understandable that, after four years of Donald Trumps voluminous corruption, fatigue has settled across the land. Its less understandable that the Army of the Exhausted includes the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

On Sunday, Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler 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. Bermans office had investigated Trumps 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 Trumps 2016 campaign, has already officially logged one Trump felony. In addition, Bermans office has been investigating Trumps other personal attorney, Rudolph Giuliani, as well as Trumps bank, Deutsche Bank, and Trumps inaugural committee.

Nadler acknowledged the obvious. On top of Barrs 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 Trumps former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and Trump friend and self-avowed political dirty trickster Roger Stone. Barrs 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 nations chief law enforcement officer is corrupt. Bermans 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 Senates corruption, looks like another instance of enabling an authoritarian encroachment of the federal government.

Story continues

There are at least four reasons to rethink this.

First, Barrs conduct, which includes his aggressive clearing of protesters exercising First Amendment rights of speech and assembly in Washingtons Lafayette Square, to enable a presidential photo op, clearly invites impeachment. Yet Barr has received little scrutiny in Congress because Republicans wont allow it in the Senate, and Barr, in another authoritarian move, has refused to accept House oversight.

Investigations and hearings produce witnesses and information. Trumps 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 doesnt 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 Barrs service as a prop at Trumps 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 Trumps 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 wont pay much attention to corruption, and arent 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 like you support the rule of law and be seen supporting the rule of law. That means coming to its defense when its under attack  as it is.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Francis Wilkinson writes editorials on politics and U.S. domestic policy for Bloomberg Opinion. He was executive editor of the Week. He was previously a writer for Rolling Stone, a communications consultant and a political media strategist.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
The US Senate headed for a showdown on Wednesday over a Republican police reform bill that Democrats have rejected as too limited to rein in police misconduct, as public protests continue over George Floyd's death.

The bill, crafted by the Senate's only Black Republican, Senator Tim Scott, must garner 60 votes to move forward in the 100-seat chamber. But Republicans control only 53 votes, and Democrats have vowed to oppose the measure while urging talks on a new bipartisan measure.

"It will never get 60 votes," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer vowed on Tuesday. "We need a bipartisan bill and a process to get there. That's when we will move a bill."

The Congressional Black Caucus, which represents more than 50 African-American lawmakers, called on senators to oppose the Republican measure, calling it "a completely watered-down fake reform bill."

A vote is expected around midday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pledged to take steps to allow additional votes on the measure. But Republicans warn that a failed vote could mean a political stalemate.

"This is more about campaign rhetoric and presidential elections," Scott said of Democrats' opposition.

Floyd's May 25 death in Minneapolis, after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, sparked weeks of protests and stirred strong US public sentiment for stopping excessive force by police, especially against African Americans.

But a month later, Republicans and Democrats in Congress are pursuing partisan bills with little chance of winning approval from the Senate and the House of Representatives and being signed into law by President Donald Trump.

As the Senate moves to vote on the Republican bill, a House committee on Wednesday will debate rules for a Thursday vote on more sweeping Democratic legislation that Republicans warn would undermine American law enforcement.
Ginger McCall

McCall served as Oregons first public records advocate from April 2018 to October 2019.

In my previous role as Oregons public records advocate, I encountered many troubling aspects of Oregons public records law. Perhaps the most concerning is the secrecy surrounding disciplinary proceedings and records for police officers accused of wrongdoing. The continued evidence of police brutality by officers with previous complaints clearly demonstrates that this policy is unacceptable and must change.

A few months into my tenure as public records advocate, I was contacted by a young woman who shared her story about a Portland Police officer  her former stepmother  who had inappropriately used a law enforcement database to track her in 2015. As news accounts at the time reported, Officer Scherise Hobbs had prior disciplinary actions on record and a well-documented animosity toward the young woman. An investigation by internal affairs sustained wrongdoing, but the officer remained on the job with no punishment for several months. In fact, its unclear whether Hobbs, who remains employed by Portland Police, was ever disciplined. A 2016 public-records request to view the investigation files was denied, despite the clear public interest in keeping police officers from unethically monitoring innocent citizens. The Multnomah County District Attorneys office denied an appeal, noting that two provisions exempt all personnel investigations of law enforcement officers from disclosure under the public records law and referred to the exemption again in a follow-up discussion two years later.

This practice denied the victim - and the public - the opportunity to evaluate the fairness of the internal affairs investigation and understand whether an abusive officer ever faced any consequences.

Unfortunately, Oregons public records law is deliberately set up to make it difficult for the public to learn about a police officers disciplinary record. If an ordinary government employee is found guilty of wrongdoing during a disciplinary proceeding, the documents related to that proceeding are exempt from public records requests. Police officers are afforded an even greater level of secrecy; personnel disciplinary actions for police officers are typically withheld whether the officer is found guilty of wrongdoing or not. This shrouds both the questionable actions of police and the efficacy of the disciplinary system in secrecy.

I saw similar secrecy many times. Even when police officers kill civilians, there is little transparency regarding internal affairs investigations. While the law appears to allow for disclosure if the requester can prove a public interest, in practice, there is little that any requester, even a journalist, can do to pry police disciplinary records loose from the hands of the government. This practice potentially allows abusive officers to continue on the job protected by inadequate internal affairs investigations or an indulgent command staff and, over time, it erodes public trust in police and government.

Police officers exercise the most extreme forms of government power - they are armed with deadly weapons and are sometimes permitted to use deadly force. That level of power ought to be subject to greater transparency than your average government employee, not less.

In the interest of justice, these public records exemptions must be repealed. If a police officer is found guilty of wrongdoing, all records related to that should be made public. This is the only way for the community to determine if there is actual accountability for governmental agents armed with deadly weapons.

If, on the other hand, the officer is found not to be guilty of wrongdoing, the records of that disciplinary action ought to be released with as few redactions as possible, because there is a strong public interest in transparency of the investigation itself. This ensures fairness and efficacy of internal affairs investigations and builds trust with the public, which must be able to see the details of the investigatory process and the decision-making to have faith that the actions made sense.

It is worth remembering that the stated purpose of policing is ultimately the welfare of the community. Without the confidence of that community, police departments have no hope of achieving this goal. These reforms may be uncomfortable for some departments, but police departments and unions must recognize that the current system is not working and embrace changes that ensure accountability and build greater trust.

Public records exemptions which allow for withholding of police misconduct investigations have been repealed in other states  including recently in New York and California. This is just one small reform that must be part of a larger slate of reforms which address systemic injustices.

The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many others illustrate the urgent need for change. It is long past time for the Legislature and the police unions to stop protecting abusive officers and, instead, work to protect justice and public safety by fostering transparency and accountability for Oregon police officers.

Sign up for our opinion newsletter with links to some of the weeks editorials, op-eds and letters to the editor at oregonlive.com/newsletters.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 21:07:51|Editor: huaxia

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JINAN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A former senior legislator of north China's Shanxi Province was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday for taking bribes.

The Intermediate People's Court of Zibo City in eastern Shandong Province also fined Zhang Maocai 6 million yuan (about 840,000 U.S. dollars).

All of Zhang's illicit wealth has been confiscated and will be turned over to the national treasury, according to the verdict.

The court found that between 2002 and 2018, Zhang took undue advantage of his various positions in Shanxi or the convenience associated with his status to assist certain organizations and individuals with their business operations, project contracting and job promotion or transfer. In return, Zhang accepted money and valuables worth over 72.4 million yuan, according to the court.

The court said it has given the defendant a lenient punishment because he confessed to his crimes and surrendered his illicit gains. Enditem
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NASA has funded a new research collaborative research effort between Harvard, the Smithsonian Institutions, and the University of Rochester to search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). This is the first NASA grant for SETI in three decades and the first ever to search for signs of ET that aren't radio transmissions. Instead, the scientists will look for technosignatures in the atmosphere that reveal the use of advanced technology on other planets. From Harvard:



"Technosignatures relate to signatures of advanced alien technologies similar to, or perhaps more sophisticated than, what we possess," said Avi Loeb, Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard. "Such signatures might include industrial pollution of atmospheres, city lights, photovoltaic cells (solar panels), megastructures, or swarms of satellites." []





"We pollute Earth's atmosphere with our industrial activity," said Loeb. "If another civilization had been doing it for much longer than we have, then their planet's atmosphere might show detectable signs of artificially produced molecules that nature is very unlikely to produce spontaneously, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)." The presence of CFCsor refrigeranttherefore, could indicate the presence of industrial activity. []





"My hope is that, using this grant, we will quantify new ways to probe signs of alien technological civilizations that are similar to or much more advanced than our own," said Loeb. "The fundamental question we are trying to address is: are we alone? But I would add to that: even if we are alone right now, were we alone in the past?"


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (REGN) said that there is no merit to the civil complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. It is unfortunate that a misguided lawsuit is attempting to assign wrongful intent to entirely legal conduct.



Regeneron said it has fully cooperated with the government's investigation and will vigorously defend the company's case.



In 2017, Regeneron disclosed it was among a large number of companies that received subpoenas in connection with a government inquiry related to charitable organizations that provide financial assistance to patients. Regeneron has not settled the case because the Company did not engage in illegal or wrongful conduct.



The complaint relates to lawful, charitable donations Regeneron made in 2013 and early 2014 to an independent charitable patient assistance foundation to assist financially disadvantaged elderly patients with wet age-related macular degeneration or 'wet AMD' gain access to treatments designed to prevent blindness. Many wet AMD patients who could not afford their medicines historically turned to repackaged, off-label medicines in the hope of maintaining their vision.



Separately, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts said that the government has filed a civil False Claims Act complaint against drug manufacturer Regeneron.



The complaint alleged that Regeneron paid tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks for its macular degeneration drug Eylea, using a foundation as a conduit to cover co-pays for Eylea.



The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits pharmaceutical companies from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration - which includes money or any other thing of value, including coverage of co-pays - to induce Medicare patients to purchase the companies' drugs.



EYLEA Injection is a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor formulated as an injection for the eye. It is designed to block the growth of new blood vessels and decrease the ability of fluid to pass through blood vessels in the eye by blocking VEGF-A and placental growth factor, two growth factors involved in angiogenesis.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Abuja (AFP) - 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.
By Finian Cunningham

June 23, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Most people would like to see a world freed from the shadow of nuclear destruction. It might seem odd therefore to agree with Chinas insistence on not joining in arms control talks with the United States.

This week saw the US and Russia resuming long-overdue discussions on arms control. The Trump administration has repeatedly called on Beijing to join the talks to hammer out a trilateral deal for disarmament. American envoy Marshall Billingslea castigated China for no show during the two-day summit in Vienna.

China is right, however, when it refuses American entreaties to limit its nuclear arsenal. At this stage.

Thats because the obligation is very much on the US and Russia to vastly scale back their arsenals first. Both these powers account for over 90 per cent of the worlds total number of nuclear weapons, possessing approximately 6,000 warheads each.

China has an estimated total of 320 nuclear weapons, according to the Federation of American Scientists. That is roughly 20 times less the stockpiles of both the US and Russia.

As Chinese officials have pointed out, it is up to the US and Russia to dismantle their huge arsenals to levels comparable to Chinas before the latter can participate in further disarmament. Moscow has said it respects the Chinese position.

Under the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), signatory nations are mandated to seek comprehensive nuclear disarmament. While the total number of warheads possessed by the US and Russia have significantly decreased from the height of the Cold War years, both powers have still a long way to go towards ridding their stockpiles.

The Trump administration says it wants to include China in talks with Russia to form a new trilateral arms control treaty. It claims that bilateral accords with Moscow are out of date with todays global configuration.

Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter

The Trump White House walked away from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia last year. The only one remaining between Washington and Moscow is the New START accord governing long-range strategic missiles. The talks this week in Vienna are an effort to extend the New START which is due to expire in February.

Washington has strongly hinted that extending New START with Russia is conditional on China being brought into the fold of arms control. If no agreement can be found with Moscow, then there is a real danger of a new arms race being unleashed. In other words, the Trump administration is using the fear of global insecurity as a bargaining chip to entice China into talks.

This is a reprehensible approach by the Americans. Washington should first honor its bilateral agreements with Moscow. Given their inordinately destructive firepower, the US and Russia have a special duty to oversee disarmament between themselves as a top priority.

Eventually, all nuclear powers should be disarmed. In addition to the US and Russia that includes China, France, Britain, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea.

But first lets see Washington and Moscow lead by example, by massively paring back their nukes.

Out of the two super powers, Russia seems to understand its global obligations for disarmament. It has repeatedly urged the US side to resume earnest negotiations on arms control. Washington appears to have adopted a policy of procrastination to sow doubts about its intentions with regard to the New START treaty.

Having quit the nuclear accord with Iran, and the INF treaty with Russia, plus the Open Skies Treaty last month, Washington appears to be deliberately aggravating tensions and conditions of nuclear blackmail. The purpose seems to be to coerce both Russia and China into a new trilateral arrangement that benefits Washingtons geopolitical agenda of rivalry with Moscow and Beijing.

Given the record of backsliding by the Trump administration on international agreements, its entreaties to China regarding arms control should be viewed with deep skepticism.

Moreover, given the recent toxic campaign of vilification against China by the Trump White House, who could possibly believe a word said by Washington purporting to seek an agreement with Beijing?

Chinese commentators are correct to dismiss Washingtons arms control propositions as a trap.

US envoy on nuclear talks Marshall Billingslea tried to shame China for not showing up in Vienna this week for talks. The real shame is on the US for the nuclear shadow it continues to cast over the rest of the world. If Uncle Sam gets serious about disarmament then he might have some credibility. Until then, its all just smoke and mirrors to conceal Washingtons ambitions for hegemony.
Since the beginning, the royal family has established protocols that should be strictly followed by its members. This includes keeping their actions modest beneath all the prestige and social graces.

For instance, Queen Elizabeth got into the spotlight after forcing herself to hide her tears even during the most tragic event in her life -- the death of her husband, King George VI.

King George VI suffered from lung cancer and underwent surgery in hopes of eliminating the cancer cells. The King never knew about the condition as he even went out to hare-shoot one day before he died in his sleep due to coronary thrombosis on Feb. 6, 1952.

In Feb. 15, 1952 during his burial, the Queen Mother was veiled heavily together with her mother Queen Mary and two daughters, Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret.

Throughout the funeral service, however, the Queen Mother maintained her composure to avoid embarrassing her late husband, royal expert Angela Levin said.

During her appearance on Channel 5 documentary "King George VI: The Accidental King," Levin revealed that the Queen Mother refused to cry as she was instructed not to show any emotion.

"But of course she would have wanted the King not be embarrassed by her weeping. She could cry in private," Levin claimed.

King George VI's death became the second bomb to damage the monarchy after Edward VIII abdicated in 1936. The former Duke of Windsor gave up his royal life before moving to France and spending the rest of his life with Wallis Simpson. His decision came after neither the Buckingham Palace nor the British government approved the twice-divorcee as his wife.

Because of this sudden transition, Queen Elizabeth reportedly developed a resentment towards her brother-in-law, as she believed that the pressure put on her husband caused him to fall ill.

"The Queen Mother, obviously, distraught and she did, rightly or wrongly, did put the blame of his death on the Duke of Windsor," royal commentator Sarah Gristwood said. "If her husband hadn't had the role forced upon him, then he might still be alive."

Queen Elizabeth II Also Did The Same

Queen Elizabeth II dealt with the same amount of pain as the Queen Mother, especially when she learned about her father's death while she was away from the Palace.

At that time, Her Majesty was on tour in Kenya with Prince Philip, and she saw her father for the last time when he waved them off at Heathrow Airport.

Like her mother, Queen Elizabeth II felt like his death was a major blow to her. In fact, she was only able to let her feelings out through a letter.

"It all seems so unbelievable still that my father is no longer here, and it is only after some time has passed one begins to realise how much he is missed," Queen Elizabeth II penned after the funeral.

In February 1953, the then-25-year-old Princess Elizabeth became Britain's Queen following her accession on the same day King George VI died.

The royal family held the official coronation ceremony, during which more than three million people lined up from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace to show their support to the new Queen.

"By the sudden death of my dear father I am called to assume the duties and responsibilities of sovereignty," the young Queen said to the council.

Until now, seeing the members of the royal family cry in public is a rare event, and it is expected that they will keep the "too prestigious for a normal life" image until the end of the monarchy.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle DITCHED Royal Life To Become U.S. President, Claims Expert
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Traders' body CAIT on Wednesday wrote to Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani and 50 other captains of India Inc including Ratan Tata, Azim Premji, Gautam Adani, Ajay Piramal, Anand Mahindra and Sunil Bharti Mittal seeking their support in its campaign to boycott Chinese goods.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) also urged Kumar Mangalam Birla, Vikram Kirloskar, Rahul Bajaj, Shiv Nadar, Pallonji Mistry, Uday Kotak, Nusli Wadia, Shashi Ruia, Madhukar Parekh, Harsh Mariwala, Satish Reddy and Pankaj Patel, among other prominent industrialists, to join its "Bhartiya Samaan-Humaara Abhimaan" campaign.

The traders' body in the letter to Ambani said "at a time when China's army in the most clandestine manner has committed a barbaric attack on the Indian army at Ladakh border resulting into the brutal killing of 20 brave sons of the country, the heart of every Indian is filled with deep anguish, resentment and abhorrence against the atrocities of the Chinese and their persistent attitude of antagonism towards India".

It said the there is a firm resolve among Indians to hit back at China not only militarily but also economically.

"You and your organisation has always stood firmly in solidarity and support of the nation and this could be a great opportunity for you to show that nothing comes before nation and your support and initiative will surely encourage other Industrialists of the country to follow you in order to make India a self-dependent Bharat," CAIT said to Ambani.

The trader's body expressed hope that Ambani would give a clarion call to promote Indian goods.

"Your positive decision could be a big boost for the campaign and a great service to the Soldiers who have laid down their lives for their motherland," CAIT said to Ambani.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that being a successful entrepreneur and one of the captains of Indian Industry, it has invited the group of Industrialists led by Ambani to join the movement as a valued partner and sought their support, terming it a "game changing initiative that has the potential to reshape India's journey as a global superpower by reducing China's dominance".

CAIT has decided to boycott Chinese Goods in a phased manner and for the first phase it has earmarked "finished goods" from an identified list of about 450 broad categories of products which nearly has more than 3,000 products and those products are already been manufactured in India.

In the meantime, it will be pursuing the government to draw a comprehensive strategy to facilitate Indian Industry, small industry, entrepreneurs, startups and others to evolve and manufacture goods in India pertaining to raw material, spare parts and technology driven goods, which are currently being imported from China.
(Natural News) The Black Lives Matter movement is spilling out into rural America. Demonstrations and riots can now be found in smaller, less diverse neighborhoods outside of the United States largest metropolitan areas. One example is Coeur dAlene, Idaho, a 93 percent White city of just around 50,000 people.

Relatively peaceful demonstrations have been occurring in Coeur dAlene on a near-daily basis since as early as June 13. The organizers have been conducting marches across the city and sit-ins for peace in a town which, just two decades ago, had to deal with parades from the Aryan Nations, a White supremacist organization. On Juneteenth, locals even held a panel discussion with BLM members to talk about racism.

I was just tired of staying silent when the Black community continues to struggle, said Laurali Strong, an 18-year-old White woman who helped organize one of the demonstrations.

The demonstrations in Coeur dAlene werent without tensions, however. BLM-affiliated events have brought out as many as 300 counter-protesters carrying rifles, AR-15 style weapons and other firearms. Many of these counter-protesters have described themselves as members of local militia groups.

Jeff Stankiewicz, founder of the Idaho Light Foot Militia, said that he dispatched his members to the small city to protect it against the looting that has characterized BLM demonstrations in more urban areas.

Were Americans and we believe in law and order, said Kandy Breckenridge, owner of a boutique store in Coeur dAlene. She guarded her store with an AR-15 during one of the demonstrations. She further stated that some of the marchers thanked her, saying that the presence of armed locals made them feel safer.

City officials have done nothing to stop the BLM demonstrations. Mayor Steve Widmyer, an independent, said that the most important thing was that the demonstrations were able to communicate their message in peace. (Related: BLM rioters in Olympia, Washington vandalized their mayors home in an act of domestic terrorism  but she still DEFENDS them.)

Demonstrations happening in dozens of small towns across the United States

This phenomenon is happening in other rural, majority White parts of the country as well.

In Cadillac, Michigan, a town of just 10,000 people and home to a branch of the neo-Nazi organization the National Socialist Movement, hundreds danced, prayed and protested for racial justice. Similar demonstrations have sprung up in Manheim, Pennsylvania, which has a small and active Ku Klux Klan presence, and in Mount Vernon, Ohio, which was a history of racial intolerance.

Whats surprising about these demonstrations is how they are happening in the rural parts of the country that overwhelmingly voted for President Donald Trump in 2016.

In Yuma, Yuma County, Colorado, Tony Rayl, editor of the Yuma Pioneer said that the day he saw 60 of his neighbors holding signs and demonstrating silently was the most bizarre day of his life.

Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, as he talks about all of the scary similarities between the supporters of Black Lives Matter and the supporters of Nazi Germany in 1937.

Growth of BLM in rural America dangerous for President Trump

Trump won all the counties the cities above are present in. In Wexford County, Michigan, he won with 65 percent of the vote; in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 56 percent; in Knox County, 66 percent; and in Yuma County, Colorado, he won with an overwhelming 80 percent of the vote.

These protests are growing in the four key battleground states that catapulted Trump to the White House  Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan. Among them, Portage and Mahoning counties in Ohio, Macomb County in Michigan and, perhaps most dramatically, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, which voted for Obama in 2012.

According to Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, if President Trump is unable to hold onto the rural White working class voters that were able to give him a victory in the election, especially in swing states like Pennsylvania, its possible that he might lose the election.

In 2016, Trump won in states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin by insanely narrow margins thanks in part to overwhelming Republican support from rural, working class and sometimes majority White counties.

Other experts have noted that this kind of activism in rural parts of the country is very unusual. Judy Muller, professor emeritus at the University of Southern California, said that the death of George Floyd may have triggered a major cultural change in the nation.

Hundreds of demonstrations have occurred in over 200 small cities and towns across these four states, with a majority of them having populations under 20,000 and being located in the heart of Trump Country, or counties that either flipped to the GOP or voted Republican by a high margin.

This phenomenon shows just how far BLMs reach has taken them, and how beguiling their supposed message of racial justice is. If it isnt countered quickly, it can spell trouble for Trumps reelection campaign.

Betsy Coffia, Democratic commissioner for Grand Traverse County in northern Michigan, where protests have been occurring in the county seat of Traverse City, said that all it takes for the Democratic Party to take back Michigan is a few extra votes here and there, were talking, like, a handful of votes per county.

The wave of rioting and criminality can be difficult to follow. Fortunately, Rioting.news published articles about the most heinous recent events plaguing the country.

Sources include:

WSJ.com

PBS.org

ABCNews.go.com

Politico.com

EchelonInsights.com
Cabinet clears repeal of farm laws: Bill to be placed in Parliament

Cabinet approves infusion of Rs 1,500 crore in IREDA: Here are the Highlights

Govt approves Rs 15,000 cr infra fund for dairy, poultry and meat units

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jun 24: The government on Wednesday announced a new Rs 15,000 crore infrastructure fund to provide interest subvention of up to 3 per cent to private players for setting up of dairy, poultry and meat processing units.

A decision in this regard was taken in the Cabinet meeting, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP retains Manipur, ally NPP back in fold after meeting with Amit Shah

Coronavirus: Covid-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh crosses 10,000 mark | Oneindia news

"A Rs 15,000 crore fund has been approved by the Cabinet that will be open to all and will help in increasing milk production, boost exports and create 35 lakh jobs in the country," Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters.

Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh said that the new infrastructure fund is part of the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package announced to help those affected due to the lockdown clamped to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"For the first time, we will give interest subvention up to 3 per cent to private players for setting up of processing infrastructure for dairy, poultry and meat," he added.
SACRAMENTO  Six years ago, a legislative push to restore affirmative action at Californias public universities galvanized a new class of activists in state politics: largely first-generation Chinese Americans who worried the measure would lead to quotas on Asian American students at elite college campuses.

As lawmakers move to place an even more sweeping measure before voters this year to reverse Californias ban on the consideration of race and sex in public education, employment and contracting, the same coalition is once again leading the charge to stop it. Several primarily Chinese American groups are behind the highly visible opposition to ACA5, a constitutional amendment that appears headed for the November ballot.

I want people to judge me by the content of my character, not the color of my skin, said Jason Xu, vice president of the Silicon Valley Chinese Association Foundation, one of the groups fighting ACA5. Thats one of the reasons the United States is the best in the world. Because its merit-based.

Proponents of the measure note that polls indicate most Asian Americans support affirmative action, as do a majority of all voters. But the active, sometimes aggressive, opposition  organizing on social media and online petitions, inundating legislative offices with phone calls  has thrust a vocal rift within the Asian American community into the center of the debate over the bill.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle 2020

This absolutely has been the toughest vote that Ive made in close to 15 years in public office, said Assemblyman Evan Low, D-Campbell, who voted this month for ACA5. The Assembly overwhelmingly passed the measure and sent it to the state Senate, which must take it up by Thursday.

Low said that his office got more than 3,000 calls opposing the measure, the most he has ever received on a bill, and that some constituents and local leaders accused him of abandoning his race. This notion in many circles that I still am part of or go to, that my own community would think I betrayed them, of course it hurts. Its personal, he said.

California voters approved Proposition 209 in 1996, prohibiting universities, schools and government agencies from using race or sex in their admissions criteria, hiring and procurement decisions. While supporters hailed it as a new era of equal opportunity under the law, critics contend that the change undermined efforts to diversify police departments and school workforces, and cost businesses owned by women and people of color billions of dollars in public contracts.

Debate over Prop. 209, however, has focused largely on race-conscious policies in college admissions  and how bringing back affirmative action could reshape the University of California, particularly its most elite campuses, where Asian Americans make up the biggest share of the student body by race.

At UC Berkeley, for example, one of the most selective universities in the state, the proportion of Latino and Black freshmen dropped by half immediately after Prop. 209 took effect. Despite gains, those students continue to make up only 15% and 3% of undergraduates, respectively, whereas 45% of California high school seniors who meet UC requirements are Latino and 4% are Black. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are about 20% of UC-eligible graduates, but 40% of Berkeley students.

Crystal Lu, president of the Silicon Valley Chinese Association Foundation, said referring to the disparity as an overrepresentation of Asian Americans concerns her. She said it implies that everything must be proportional, and fears that efforts to diversify campuses will mean fewer spots for Asian Americans.

It shows the intention is to conduct racial balancing. Its a hidden quota system, Lu said.

The issue is personal for Xu, Lu and many of their fellow advocates, who emigrated from China to attend college or graduate school in the U.S. and say they overcame a poor upbringing through their education to rise into the middle class.

Before the affirmative action fight resurfaced in California, many had never been politically active. The Silicon Valley Chinese Association Foundation formed in 2014 when Xu and other members met at a demonstration outside the office of then-Assemblyman Paul Fong, a Cupertino Democrat who was head of the Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.

In the years since, they have lobbied at the Capitol and joined a lawsuit over Harvard Universitys admissions policy. They often quote the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote a vision of a color-blind future.

We just feel this passionate about racial equality. The true sense of equality, where nobody is above anybody else, Lu said.

Intense pushback by Asian American groups ultimately persuaded lawmakers to kill the 2014 affirmative action measure. A diverse coalition of advocates is trying again this year, emphasizing that ACA5 could create opportunities for all who have been discriminated against.

Vincent Pan, executive director of the San Francisco civil rights organization Chinese for Affirmative Action and co-chair of the ACA5 campaign, noted that Asian Americans have suffered from systemic racism in the United States for more than 100 years, including laws limiting their ability to immigrate and to own property.

Weve always stood alongside other communities that have been oppressed by systems of white supremacy and patriarchy, he said. Were not interested in making this just an Asian American issue. This is something thats about equality for everyone.

Pan said the divide over the bill is not necessarily racial as much as ideological. Conservatives have long worked to defeat affirmative action policies  former Gov. Pete Wilson used Prop. 209 to launch an unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination  and many Asian Americans are conservative.

A 2018 survey of Asian American voters, led by a UC Riverside researcher, found that 58% believed affirmative action programs designed to increase the number of Black and minority students on college campuses were a good thing. But fewer than 40% of a subset of Chinese American and Vietnamese American respondents agreed.

The outspoken activism by the Silicon Valley Chinese Association Foundation and other groups has put lawmakers in a tough spot. The Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, after initially not taking a position, endorsed ACA5 on Monday. That same day, the 80-20 Asian American Empowerment PAC sent an email with the subject, ACA5; Punishing Officials Who Deserted You, encouraging its members to recruit people to run against Asian American legislators who voted for the bill.

Low spoke emotionally on the floor of the Assembly about his experience as district director for Fong, who lost a San Jose City Council race in 2014 in which his position on that years affirmative action measure became an issue.

In an interview, Low said he had to follow his moral compass and decided the morning of the Assembly vote to support ACA5. In the run-up to November, he added, Californians need to consider what it means to share power with minorities, including the possibility that bringing back the consideration of race in college admissions could lead to fewer Asian Americans being admitted at some universities.

We might all be equal on paper, but the reality is were not, Low said. This is society and we must do our own part, and sometimes we must sacrifice of ourselves for others.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
A sailboat from Germany and another from Denmark were the first foreign-flagged vessels to visit Sydney harbour in Cape Breton during the pandemic.

Paul Carrigan, general manager for the Port of Sydney, said the boats docked at the Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club marina and then moored overnight on Tuesday in the harbour.

He said people often like to talk about ships coming and going, but there was an extra buzz about the port as pandemic restrictions start to ease up.

"The community gets excited when foreign-flagged vessels or any nice sailboats or yachts ... come into the port, so it was nice," he said.

"It was good scenery, something good to watch during COVID, because typically we haven't seen many foreign-flagged vessels come into our port."

Carrigan said the Canada Border Services Agency cleared the vessels, but under pandemic rules, the crews remained on board and the captains only were allowed ashore to get supplies.

Grateful for showers

The captains were grateful to get access to some of the services at the marina, he said.

"I guess they'd been sailing for quite a while and their eyes lit up when I mentioned that we had shower facilities here."

Carrigan said the visitors were welcomed as a sign that COVID-19 restrictions are slowly lifting.

"It's great for tourism and it's giving some normalcy to our marina."

Carrigan said he spoke briefly with the captains of the sailboats, but didn't get many details about their trip.

The Vessel Tracker website shows the boats travelled from the Canary Islands off Spain to Bermuda and then Sydney. Carrigan said the captains indicated they were heading to Greenland next.

Even though the cruise ship season is cancelled this year, Carrigan said port staff have been busy preparing and maintaining the marina and marine terminal building.

Restaurants like Portside and Flavor on the Water and the fish-and-chips and ice-cream kiosks on the boardwalk are open and Carrigan said pedestrian traffic has been getting busy.

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The recent events in the United Statesno, this time, not COVID-19the recent events surrounding the urgent call for equality led me back to Martin Luther King, Jr.s letter from a Birmingham jail. I often return to this brilliant piece of literary history, from which I find great guidance and direction, but never so much as I have recently.

In his letter, dated April 16, 1963, he wrote: We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial outside agitator idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds. Never have truer words been spoken of these, our United States, or indeed the world. But we should also take an important lesson from these words for the organizations that we lead.

I hear so much lately about organizations and boardsparticularly in the credit union spacetaking up the cause of DEI, or diversity, equity and inclusion. In fact, in our 2020 State of Credit Union Governance, diversity was listed as the highest priority when recruiting new board members among those surveyed. As those at BoardSource, a national organization working to empower boards and inspire leadership, say, As the decision-making body at the highest level of organizational leadership, boards play a critical role in creating an organization that prioritizes, supports and invests in equity, diversity and inclusion.

And I couldnt agree more.
Fashion fans claim there's a noted contrast between how the Instagram pages of designer brands in the world of couture look now compared to the period before the recent Black Lives Matter protests began.

Earlier this month, US actress Niccole Thurman, who has starred in shows including hit comedy Shrill, tweeted an image of an Instagram page laid out in emojis, showing a sea of white faces, with emojis representing black people added at the top to reflect, she claimed, the recent Instagram activity of fashion companies.

Explaining how she felt many couture houses have begun including more black models since the global protests began following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on 25th May, she wrote: 'Feel like this tweet will get me yelled at somehow, so let me just say I'm GLAD to see more beautiful black women in my feed.

This tweet by actress Niccole Thurman has gone viral since she posted it over a week ago; she tweeted an image of an Instagram page laid out in emojis, showing a sea of white faces, with emojis representing black people added at the top to reflect recent Instagram activity of fashion companies

Many of those responding to Thurman's image, which has had 60,000 views, agreed with her sentiment (Pictured: A recent trio of posts by Ralph Lauren on Instagram. Right: Images posted six weeks ago)

Thurman asks why fashion brands are just seeing 'black, beautiful women' now, adding 'don't think we're not going to check in on you a month from now' (Pictured: recent Instagram feeds of, left, Chanel, and, right, Dolce & Gabbana)

Thurman, who has now seen her post liked more than 60,000 times, then added: 'It's just THEY'VE BEEN THERE. THEY'VE *BEEN* BEAUTIFUL.

'Why're brands just now seeing them? Don't think we're not going to check in on you a month from now.'

MailOnline has contacted major fashion houses including Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren and Chanel for comment.

Many people who saw Thurman's emoji illustration agreed with its sentiment.

@LoveCrimeCat wrote: 'Yeees!! And every goddamn photographer (nature photographer aside) I follow probably frantically searched their picture archive for that one shot of a black model they have to post last week, like "Look! Im good! I take pictures of black people once in a while!!"

@IamSAMLDN wrote: 'It's only a matter of time until they go back to regular programming. I hope not but for some of these brands, it's all performance.'

Others said they'd worked hard to always be inclusive. One fashion company wrote: 'Not my fashion brand. I've always been inclusive. I've worked very hard to keep it that way for over a decade. It was part of my business plan from the beginning! Some of us TRY.'

Pictured left: British fashion brand Burberry's recent posts on Instagram. Right: the last 21 squares on Hermes Insta page

Ralph Lauren referred FEMAIL to an open letter published on June 10th by the fashion house, saying the brand 'was listening, learning and taking action'.

The brand wrote: 'We recognize that, while dialogue is a much-needed first step, it is not enough.

We will also look critically at the structures and practices inside our Company, how we use our voice as a leader in our industry and the role we play in portraying American culture.'

Earlier this month, the editor-in-chief of British Vogue revealed how he's 'always aware of his increased personal danger' when leaving his home, because of the colour of his skin.

British Vogue's editor-in-chief Edward Enninful (pictured) wrote for Vogue this month that he is 'always aware of his increased personal danger' when leaving his home, because of his skin colour after contributing to the discussion on racism

Edward Enninful, 48, wrote an emotive piece on the death of 46-year-old Floyd, who died in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25th after having his neck crushed by US police officer Derek Chauvin.

Reflecting on the global protests that have followed after a video surfacing of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck, Enninful said he felt 'intense sadness' at the killing.

The editor of the British fashion bible said that racism is an issue entrenched in all societies, and not just prevalent in the United States.

Enniful said he has been taught from childhood to 'watch himself' when leaving his home, and witnessed police persecuting and abusing black people from a young age.

He wrote: 'When I step out of my door in the morning, to take a walk or to wander alone, I am always aware of increased personal danger because of the colour of my skin.'

Edward told that while he has privilege as an esteemed fashion editor, his life could still 'feel worthless' as a black and gay man.

Reflecting on the death of Floyd, Edward told that his emotions have ranged between 'rage and sadness and fear' and said the killing has shone a light on the amount of work globally that there still needs to be done to tackle racism.

The fashion guru was born in Ghana, but moved to Ladbroke Grove, West London, as a young boy, with his parents and five siblings.
Police say three people targeted but did not injure one person during a shooting in Steelton on Tuesday afternoon.

Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Locust and Front Streets for a report of shots fired at 2:56 p.m., Steelton police said.

Witnesses told investigators that two males and one female, ages not provided, got out of a black SUV and fired three rounds at a person walking on Front Street, police said. The person was not injured, but police believe the shooting was targeted.

Police ask that anyone with information on the shooting contact Steelton police at 717-939-9841, email Det. Sgt. Shaub at wshaub@steeltonpa.com or submit a tip through the departments Crimewatch website.

Read more on PennLive:
Its been more than eight years since the Montgomery County Commissioners Court began looking at updating its towing ordinance, but after numerous discussions commissioners adopted a new policy Tuesday.

The 35-page document takes the county from an antiquated chip system to a rotation system. The action comes after a two hour workshop on the item in January.

House Bill 2213, authored and passed in 2015 by state Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, enables the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office to create tow-rotation lists for unincorporated areas of the county, instead of using the existing chipping system that promotes numerous tow-truck drivers hastily trying to get to scenes to get their chip in the bag.

We have been dealing with this for quite a while, we been dealing with it longer than we should have been dealing with it, Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley said. I think weve got a towing ordinance about as close as we can get it. We arent going to please everybody, we know that. This is a living document, so if there is something on there that isnt going to work, wants the sheriffs office and people that know towing to change it and lets move on.

We dont want to go through this again.

Over the several years of discussions, many local towing company representatives were part of the process bringing their industry knowledge to the court as commissioners and the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office worked with county legal staff to craft the ordinance.

The towing rotation process will require drivers or companies to be on an approved list where drivers can be summoned to an accident scene or location where law enforcement officers need a vehicle towed. Tow drivers are required to take all non-consent towed vehicles to their own storage lot. However, MCSO Capt. Tim Holifield said that doesnt mean the driver or company must own the real estate, they just must have an interest in it, via lease or other agreement, to store vehicles.

Riley said the ordinance will go into effect in January. MCSO will administer and enforce the ordinance.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
The coronavirus pandemic will likely impel growth in Canadian debt levels by an average of 20% of GDP this year, according to an analysis by Moodys.

We estimate that on average  debt/GDP ratios will rise by around 19% points, nearly twice as much as in 2009 during the Great Financial Crisis, the Moodys report said. Compared with the GFC, the rise in debt burdens will be more immediate and pervasive, reflecting the acuteness and breadth of the shock posed by the coronavirus.

Other nations that might see debt ratio growth of around 20% include France, Spain, New Zealand, and the United States.
The Delhi High Court Wednesday granted bail to AAP MLA Prakash Jarwal in connection with the alleged suicide of a doctor in south Delhi in April. The bail has been granted on a personal bond of Rs 25,000. The court directed Jarwal not to contact or influence the prosecution witnesses in any manner.

Jarwal was arrested on May 9, a day later after the Delhi court issued a non-bailable warrant against him and his close aide Kapil Nagar in connection with the doctor's death.

The AAP MLA had moved a Delhi court May 26 seeking bail in the case. The application had claimed that the allegations against the accused were completely false and fabricated and he had no role in the unfortunate suicide of the deceased and as public representative he is equally pained by the death of the person.

The application stated that there was no direct and indirect contact from the deceased in recent past and there was no question of harassment or money was ever being asked from him or his family. It further said that the veracity of the suicide note is a "matter of the investigation and there might be a case that the same has been used as tool to take revenge as the Applicant/Accused acted heavily against the tanker mafia".

Rajendra Singh, 52, allegedly committed suicide in Durga Vihar in south Delhi on April 18. In his suicide note, the doctor held Jarwal responsible for his death.

Like Jarwal, Singh was also involved in the business of water supply with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) since 2007, and police alleged that the MLA and his associates were extorting money from other water-tanker owners, including the doctor.

Jarwal represents the Deoli assembly constituency.
Activists of Bharatiya Janta Party's (BJP) Youth Wing shout slogans as they burn a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping, with a garland of shoes put around it, during a protest against China, in Amritsar, India, June 22, 2020. EPA-Yonhap



By Keegan Elmer





Beijing has dismissed Indian media reports that at least 40 Chinese soldiers were killed in last week's border conflict, even as the two countries work to defuse tensions after their worst fighting for decades. China's foreign ministry on Tuesday described the reports as "fake news".



"I can tell you responsibly that it is false information," ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.



Despite the rebuttal, Zhao said senior security officers from the two sides met in the border region on Monday for a "frank and in-depth" exchange of views and had agreed to take steps to improve the situation.



"The meeting indicated that China and India are willing to appropriately handle the disputes through dialogue, manage the situations and lower tensions," he said. "We also agreed to continue the dialogue and work together to promote peace and stability in the border areas."



The meeting, which Indian news reports said lasted for more than 10 hours, was held ahead of a three-way videoconference between the foreign ministers of China, India and Russia.



Speaking later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would not interfere in the dispute between China and India.





This May 22, 2020, satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) base in the Galwan Valley in Line of Actual Control, the border between India and China. Maxar Technologies via AP



"We never had a goal to help India and China develop their bilateral ties. India and China have every opportunity to tackle and solve any problems in relations between them," he was quoted as saying in a report by Associated Press.



India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar did not mention the border conflict when speaking to Wang and Lavrov, Indian media reported.



Instead, he told them that he "reiterates our belief in the time-tested principles of international relations", and that "the challenge today is not just one of concepts and norms, but equally of their practice" at the meeting.



"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 was quoted as saying.



The meeting was the latest of several high-level engagements between India and China following the deadly clashes in the Galwan valley.



On Wednesday, China's Defence Minister Wei Fenghe and his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, will attend a military parade in Moscow.





Doctors pay tributes to Indian soldiers killed during confrontation with Chinese soldiers in the Ladakh region, while holding their photos in New Delhi, India, Thursday, June 18, 2020. AP



It is unclear if they will meet, but Indian and Chinese troop delegations will take part in the parade, which marks the 75th of Russia's victory over Nazi Germany at the end of the second world war.



While China and India have pledged to de-escalate tensions, both sides are increasing their military relations with Russia, with New Delhi pushing ahead to buy more planes, missiles and anti-drone technology from Moscow, which could anger Washington.



Li Lifan, an associate research professor at Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said Russia had maintained close relationships with India and China, including military ties and arms deals.



"The trilateral talks (on Tuesday) should be seen as a method of de-escalation. Talks between diplomats will generate a better atmosphere than those between militaries," he said.



Russia and China shared a greater concern about the United States' relationship with India, Li said.



US President Donald Trump earlier offered to mediate in the India-China border dispute, but both sides declined. On Saturday, Trump said the US was talking to India and China about the conflict.





Indian traders burn Chinese products and a poster president Xi Jinping during a protest in New Delhi, India, Monday, June 22, 2020. AP
LOUISVILLE  Benjy Brednich was four days into his new job as administrator of a Kentucky nursing home when the facility learned of its first case of COVID-19.

It was a resident who'd already been transferred to a hospital. But with help from the outgoing administrator, Brednich and his employees at Louisville East Post Acute got to work testing other residents, calling family members and constructing a COVID-19 wing where sick patients could be separated.

The moves proved necessary. Within days, 27 of the building's 170 residents had tested positive for the coronavirus, which has killed more than 500 Kentuckians since March.

And for weeks, employees at Louisville East rarely took breaks as they fought to keep their patients from adding to the fatalities.

It's a scenario that's likely played out in nursing homes across the country, where the virus has preyed on elderly residents who need the highest level of care.

Nationwide, nursing homes reported nearly 179,000 suspected or confirmed cases among residents and 29,497 deaths through June 7, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data released last week.

For weeks, the staff of Louisville East Post Acute found themselves working long hours to keep patients alive and families informed after dozens of residents and staff members tested positive for the coronavirus. The facility is now coronavirus-free.

And while officials have rallied to support long-term care facilities, some employees say they don't feel they've received the recognition they deserve for keeping thousands of residents safe through an outbreak unlike anything they've ever seen.

"Part of what's happened with COVID is that it's created a stigma for nursing homes," said Brednich, who has worked in the industry for four years. "Even when (residents' family members) were unable to take care of their loved ones, there were people here who were sacrificing and doing what they were born to do."

In This Together: When her parents fell ill with COVID-19, nurse began a wrenching mission of mercy

Chrissy Wilson, a manager in Louisville East's rehab unit, volunteered to become a floor nurse in the coronavirus wing. For more than two weeks she worked 12-hour shifts daily, leaving only to shower and sleep. At home, she quarantined herself from her family  cut off from them by an always-closed bedroom door.

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Heather Fritsch, the facility's infection preventionist, moved into a nearby hotel through the outbreak. She lives more than an hour's drive from Louisville East, and she couldn't bear being that far away as the rest of the staff picked up extra hours and shifts.

Pam Pearson, director of the Pathways Brain Injury program, meanwhile, has helped the unit's 20 or so residents maintain structured routines through months of uncertainty. And while family members still can't visit, she and other employees have shared patients' progress through videos and phone calls.

Heather Fritsch, Assistant Director of Nursing and infection preventionist at Louisville East Post Acute Center.

Bryan Trujillo, a social worker, has also spent hours on the phone, making sure residents' loved ones stay up to date on everything taking place within the home. The staff could have sent text messages instead. But they felt it was important that people be able to ask questions, state their concerns and just hear a voice.

If the actions sound extreme, they were worth it to the employees, who said nursing homes aren't like other health care facilities.

In long-term care, residents become like family, the employees said.

"When it broke out, it was the most helpless feeling you've ever felt in your life," said Amanda Russo, director of admissions. "These are people you've taken care of and loved for years, and it's devastating."

Through two stints of the coronavirus, more than 50 residents and nearly 30 staff members have tested positive at Louisville East, including six residents who've died.

But as of this month, every patient and employee has tested negative.

The facility is now coronavirus-free.

In This Together: A daughter steps from fathers protective shadow to be a new kind of hero

That's a huge weight lifted for Brednich, who said the outbreak was "a burden I don't think anyone can describe."

But employees at the home recognize that they must remain vigilant as new coronavirus cases continue to pop up across Jefferson County and Kentucky.

"It is still in our community; our patients are still at risk," said Fritsch, who has worked at Louisville East for three years. "We will continue to do whatever we need to do to protect them. We're super-heightened here, just because of everything we went through. And we never want to be there again."

Pam Pearson - director for the Pathways Brain Injury program at Louisville East Post Acute Center.

Wilson, a 16-year employee of Louisville East, said she's back to her role as a unit manager. But she would return to the COVID-19 wing in a heartbeat if needed.

Her time there was emotional, she said, as she and a dedicated group of employees worked to keep residents healthy and happy through dance parties, small gifts and loving gestures, like a cold rag for the head or a comforting rub of the arm.

But it also reminded her of why she entered the long-term care industry in the first place.

"It's where my heart is, I guess," she said. "Not all days are easy. There are days I walk out and it's like, 'Lord, why did I do this?' But there are days I walk out, and I'm so proud to be a nurse. I'm thankful I can give to people. People deserve it."

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Coronavirus: A Kentucky nursing home's fight to keep residents alive
Analysts and sector specialists said that the latest move by the Trump government is not expected to have much impact on the Indian tech sector which has a significant presence in the US.

The Donald Trump governments latest salvo with regard to H-1B visas is not a surprise. Since Trumps election in December 2016, the H-1B visa has been a focal point of discussion and has come in for a three-pronged attack from the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Trump, who campaigned on an America First platform of favouring Americans for hiring, has remained true to his promise by putting in jeopardy jobs and lives of IT professionals from across the world who work in the US.

The latest move by the US government though has come in for criticism across Silicon Valley and the technology sector in general. Nasscom, a trade association of Indian Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), in a statement on 23 June said, the US governments new proclamation will prevent our companies and thousands of other organisations from accessing the talent they need from overseas. With very few exceptions, Indian nationals and others who are granted new H-1Bs or L-1s as well as other visa types after 23 June will not be allowed to enter the US until the proclamation expires.

Wont impact Indian tech sector

Analysts and sector specialists said that the latest move by the Trump government is not expected to have much impact on the Indian tech sector which has a significant presence in the US. Analysts felt the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown for over three months has led to businesses and bottom lines taking a hit -- be it manufacturing, services, or hospitality among other sectors.

Vidya Mahambare, professor of Economics, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, said, There isnt going to be much direct impact of the visa suspension for the rest of the year or a hike in visa fee on Indian tech companies. The travel in the remaining part of this year would have been minimal in any case due to the pandemic. In addition, it would take time for the demand for IT services to recover, so the requirement for on-site projects would have been lower. Rather, if there is a shortage of skilled workers in the US, existing skilled workers including Indians already in the US may benefit.

Election posturing by Donald Trump

Industry observers termed the latest move on visas as election posturing by Trump. The US unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, down from 14.7 percent in April. It is natural for the leadership to take such actions in an election year, said a sector specialist.

BV Mohan Reddy, executive chairman and founder at Cyient-a global engineering and technology solutions company, had met up with Trump during his two-day visit in February 2020 to India. Reddy said he had appraised the US president of the fallout if visa norms were changed. Trump told me he would find solutions. But I understand he too has political compulsions, he said.

The unemployment rate for technology occupations in the US fell to a 20-year low of 1.3 percent in May as hiring gains were recorded in both the tech sector and across the economy, according to an analysis of US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation report by CompTIA, a technology industry association. The tech sector continued to be the bright spot where employment for May remained in the positive territory. An estimated 5,800 new hires were added to the tech sector workforce in May, CompTIA said.

Digitisation surges post-COVID

Under the H-1B visa programme, US-based companies hire highly skilled foreign workers. They are hired as there is a shortage of talent in the country. If you dont allow highly skilled foreign workers to enter the US, projects that are based there will not only be delayed but the cost too will escalate, said Reddy of Cyient.

Industry veteran TV Mohandas Pai said the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown has pushed businesses to increasingly adopt digitisation even more than earlier. The need to go abroad to do work has come down during lockdown. Indians account for a mere 12-15 percent application for H-1B visas, he said. Organisations will have to reorient their business model in the post-COVID era, he said, adding by September more work in the sector will come to India.

Reddy, like Pai, was optimistic about how the US governments latest move would work well for India with the Narendra Modi governments Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan promoting the local economy. The workforce talent will be available for three sectors viz: defence, telecom and healthcare, Reddy said.

The local talent in the US, said analysts, were found to be wanting on efficiency, work level ethics among other parameters compared to their Indian counterparts. But the rules mandating more hires to be made locally has also led to the relevance of offshore jobs coming down. Many Indian IT companies have been hiring locally in the US and subsequently train them to suit the requirements of the organisations.

The Indian economy in general benefits because on-site, skilled workers learn processes, get exposed to different work practice and accumulate new knowledge/ideas. This stays with them and any firm/sector they work after returning to India benefit those organisations, said Mahambare.

IT sector prepared for challenges

If the change in visa rules were to come into force, say about five to six years ago, the trajectory of the Indian IT sector in the US would have been different. However, the constant change in the visa rules in recent times has led to the sector becoming prepared for these challenges.

Many Indian companies have shifted to nearby Vancouver and Toronto in Canada where the government has welcomed them. Besides, Canadas easy merit-based immigration has helped attract talent, said Shaan Ray, blockchain advisor, Ionixx Technologies- an IT and Services firm.

The Trump government putting a hold on the H-1B visa won't have a major impact on the Indian IT sector. While some companies may choose to move parts of their operations to Canada due to proximity and ease of doing business, others could keep their employees remote and work from India or anywhere else in the world, Ray said.

The COVID-19 lockdown has led to the IT sector, especially, becoming an early adaptor of the work from home culture. Benoy CS, vice-president, Digital Transformation Practice and Head-South Asia, Frost & Sullivan, a research and consulting firm, said the change in work culture brought about by the lockdown has made boundaries redundant.

Tech can work from any location. With employees forced to work from home, offshore work was also done from remote location leaving just a manager on site. With the change in visa norms, the US will be the most affected as offshore jobs will come at a heavy cost. Even if you want a local hire to oversee the job, the employee will have to be paid significantly higher in the post-COVID era and it will turn out to be far more expensive to send engineers from India for offshore work. But the good news is that the percentage of these jobs are coming down, he said.

Silicon Valley in the US is not the only source for innovation and talent. There are multiple such sources and hubs in China, Israel and India, for instance. People are open to remote working especially post-COVID, said Shiv Sundar, co-founder and COO, Esper, an Android mobility and IoT startup founded in 2018.

Sundar said the company hired a youngster from Maharashtra, who as a 17-year-old turned out to be an Android app expert. He became our first employee. So what it means is that talent will be sourced from any part of the globe, he said.

Is the suspension of visas by the US government a source of worry for the Indian tech sector? Not yet. For starters, the suspension is only till the year-end. But a few Indian firms who have applied for these visas and whose documentation process would be half-way this month would be stumped with this latest move by the Trump government.

All these processes will come to a standstill and there will be a further delay if and when these will be revived. But it is no cause for alarm as the cascading effects of this move will be felt more in the US where Trump is trying to promote and protect jobs for locals. Indian firms are known to provide high-quality services at a competitive cost and they won't go out of business but will have to juggle a few employees around. The good news is that this may keep good talent in India for a while longer rather than continue the brain drain into the US.

The author tweets at @SulekhaNair8
The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) says it remains open to engaging the National Communications Authority (NCA) further on its contentions with the introduction of Conditional Access System for Free-to-Air TV broadcast in Ghana.

This is after its case presented to the Supreme Court earlier in 2020 against the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Attorney General on the issue was thrown out yesterday [Tuesday].

The association was asking the Court to declare the Conditional Access System as an unnecessary restraint on the establishment and operation of private media.

They are of the view that the Conditional Access System is a breach of the right to free press enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

But the seven-panel court unanimously held that GIBA's concerns were merely anticipatory.

Answering the question on the Associations next move now that the case has been dismissed, Andrew Aninkrah, the President of GIBA, said his association will keep performing their normal duties and will stand by their opposition to the policy.

We hope they [the NCA] do not breach anything. That is what we are praying for. We are not interested in going to court. We have always opened our doors for discussion with the Ministry of Communications and NCA.

We will continue to play our roles as watchmen. Well continue to protect the constitution. Well do our best. We would educate the public when we go forward. We hope that this will then bring finality to whatever there is. We need to announce the fact that we are still in the DTT era where people are receiving DTT through various decoders without conditional access and so it is possible to continue that way, he stated on Eyewitness News.

How the controversy began

The Ministry of Communications through the NCA has since 2017 been attempting to implement changes to the television broadcast sector with the introduction of systems of control which GIBA frowned upon because of access concerns.

GIBA has over the last three years argued that the policy will take away the public's right to freely access free television programming.

After previous misgivings, GIBA welcomed a revised standard on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and Direct-To-Home (DTH) Receivers by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) after the Conditional Access System was made non-mandatory for Free-To-Air TV Receivers on December 18, 2019.

But on January 8, 2020, GIBA came out with a statement saying the NCA published a document on its website on December 30 that was at odds with the GSA standards agreed upon indicating the Ghana Minimum Technical Specifications for DTT and DTH receivers for Free-to-Air Television Reception.

It described the purportedly new document as alarming.

GIBA subsequently dragged the NCA to court over the issue.

---citinewsroom
Tan Wu Meng and Pritam Singh (Photos: Facebook, Dhany Osman/Yahoo News Singapore)

By Bertha Henson

I didnt realise that this kerfuffle over an opinion piece would last so many days. Frankly, I had hoped that the Peoples Action Party website had been hacked and that Dr Tan Wu Meng, whom I know to be a perfectly friendly person, had had his name mis-used for an opinion piece.

But now it is clear that the PAP is serious about defending his column, which raised so many eyebrows because it seemed so uncharacteristic of the PAP. What had since looked like character assassination has morphed into a question of the Workers Party position on bilateral relations. Only a seasoned debater like Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam could have achieved such a re-direction of the issues.

In between, many people have dived into the row, more to attack the PAP MP, than to defend his column. You may say that this just a small segment of the population, and the rest havent been following or just reading what others have read. Whether the segment is large or small is immaterial. It is whether that segment which has read the to-ing and fro-ing have made points that require further reflection.

The timing of Dr Tans missive seems to herald the start of PAPs campaigning. For its staid and boring website to have printed such a column is itself remarkable. The party must have anticipated a response. I can actually understand if comments were thrown up in the heat of an election campaign, impugning anothers character and questioning his or her fitness for public office. Usually, these remarks relate to the individual themselves, some action or speech which is plainly egregious, like conducting extra-marital affairs. Sometimes, they refer to remarks made to foreign audiences which go beyond criticism into condemnation.

That is why Dr Tans missive boggles the mind. I am not sure Ive come across such a roundabout attack in Singapore politics. He picked on a couple of lines in Mr Pritam Singhs speech during the debate on the Fortitude budget: We should count ourselves fortunate that we have citizens who are the loving critics amongst us, some of whom have been questioned in this very House in this term of government. Members would recall one citizens poems were nit-picked with a view to cast wholly negative aspersions on his character, even though that individual was not present in the House to defend himself.

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Dr Tan, citing some of Mr Alfian Saats work, said the poet was consistently running down Singapore. I suggest he read them carefully, and then tell us if he still thinks Alfian is a loving critic of Singapore. If he does, perhaps Mr Singh considers himself a loving critic of Singapore too?

It is the politicians way of disarming his opponent  and there is no question about the point of the column: It was that Mr Singh liked how Mr Alfian ran down Singapore and, therefore, Mr Singh is anti-Singapore; so, he should explain himself. As a writer, I know all the different ways to skin a cat, without actually showing the knife. So, on the face of it, Dr Tans column could be described as an innocent framing of a legitimate question about Dr Singhs leanings towards Malaysia.

It is clear that Dr Tan does not have a high opinion of Mr Alfian or his works, although he did not weigh in on the side of Education Minister Ong Ye Kung who brought the poet into the public eye when Parliament discussed his participation in a programme run by Yale-NUS College. Nor did Dr Tan respond to Mr Singhs speech during the Budget debate. Instead, the opinion piece was put out in the midst of the national broadcasts, which makes me wonder if the PAPs media machinery was doing this on purpose for some unknown reason or simply has no sense of what are the important issues of the day.

Any editor would have asked Dr Tan how he would defend his piece if it was pointed out that the term loving critic was coined by a distinguished Singaporean, Professor Tommy Koh, who had also used it to describe the poet. Just as Mr Singh might not have read all of Mr Alfians work, surely Dr Tan would know what Prof Koh said given the immense publicity at that time. Or is this purely because its Mr Singh  not Prof Koh  running for re-election? I would have thought that it would be more damning if a respected diplomat agrees with Mr Alfians view. I mean, what will other countries think?

Also, just as Mr Alfian had put up his other writings to counter Mr Ongs selective rendition of his work in Parliament, Dr Tan would realise that the award-winning poet and playwright would be able to rummage through his treasure trove to counter his supposed anti-Singapore/pro-Malaysia writings?

It seems like what is needed a brain scan of sorts to determine Mr Alfians leanings, or a distinguished review of all his work, to analyse his intentions and agendas.

But then again, the column isnt about Mr Alfian is it?

Going by Dr Tans argument, even if Mr Singh is not anti-Singapore, he is terrible at assessing people for praise or defence. So his shortcomings would be not reading Mr Alfians work more widely and, therefore, siding with people indiscriminately.

Along the way, discussion on the Internet on this Bermuda Triangle turned to the term gutter politics and whether an examination of character is fair game. So if someone was a bully in National Service, he should be called out, one commentator said. It strikes me that if we want to delve into someones past, then every prospective candidate should start his or her campaign by apologising and accounting for every single bad thing he or she did, lest they get outed. This is hardly an encouraging way to get people into politics, because even the best people are not saints.

Of course, character is important, which is why people with criminal records are banned from contesting in elections. Society dictates that people in public office must have other virtues, such as incorruptibility and sticking to their marriage vows. But we must be careful not to let discussions on character defects and past follies degenerate into demagoguery. Also, to remember that he who casts the first stone should be without sin  lest this be an invitation to a stone-throwing competition.

But what a person says about another, and how he says it, also reflects on his character and outlook. Too many people have pointed out that Dr Tans column was condescending to minorities. When referring to Mr Alfian, he wrote: This man grew up in Singapore. Singapore gave him his education and he earns a living here. An education and a living that is denied to many minorities in the region.

That was, to put it mildly, not nice.

Dr Tan opened a new can of worms called Chinese privilege. It doesnt help when his supporters note his excellent academic record and sterling career path, achievements which have no bearing on character. Instead, what comes across is an unconscious, blinding arrogance.

There is a view that people are yelping only because the words came from the PAP, but they will condone or keep silent when opposition politicians make similar remarks. In other words, they are hypocrites. That might well be the case for extremists on both sides of the political debate. I daresay no worse epithets are used on opposition politicians who make silly noises, than those on the PAP. If people are surprised, it might be also because they hold the PAP in higher regard than the opposition parties. I, for one, have yet to see a roundabout attack based on a persons endorsement for a third-party who is doubtless a controversial figure. But Mr Alfian is not Hitler.

The PAP can do better than that if it wants to take down the opposition and ask for explanations of their position on this or that. But if this kind of salvo continues, Id rather listen again to the national broadcasts.

Im getting out of the Bermuda Triangle. Getting lost is a waste of time.

Bertha Henson is a veteran Singapore journalist who now lectures at NUS. The views expressed are her own. This commentary was reproduced from here blog Bertha Harian.

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Work at a well known Naas hotel was stopped today on the instruction of Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas Courthouse, while the court was sitting.

Judge Zaidan complained about noise emanating from a tool coming from next door - the Court Hotel.

Read more County Kildare news

The noise was audible in the courtroom at Naas Courthouse; but only because the building is adjacent to the hotel.

And the only windows in that courtroom open out on to the hotel side of the building at South Main Street, allowing all manner of noises drift in - and not just from the hotel area but from the main street.

Judge Zaidan commented that the work, probably taking place in advance of the reopening of the popular venue after the Covid-19 outbreak, could be done either before the court starts or after it ends.

A garda sergeant was despatched to the hotel site to convey the judge's request for a cessation of work.

Ironically the hotel venue served at the towns garda station for many years before the new building opened at Kilcullen Road over two decades ago.
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.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

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 e-mail. 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 USD 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 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. 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.
You need to get to your local health departments, based on your area of the state, what COVID looks like with numbers, the risk, all of that plays into it, McCormick said when talking about the masks. From the educator point of view, Im not going to give you an answer on that, and as a superintendent I would certainly want some medical folks to weigh in on that.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 00:01:04|Editor: huaxia

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Malawian presidential candidate Arthur Peter Mutharika (C) casts his vote at a polling station in Thyolo, Malawi on June 23, 2020. (Xinhua)

Malawians Tuesday went to the poll to elect a president following the court's Feb. 3 annulment of the May 2019 election.



LILONGWE, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Malawians Tuesday went to the poll to elect a president following the court's Feb. 3 annulment of the May 2019 election.

A voter is seen at a polling station in Thyolo, Malawi on June 23, 2020. (Xinhua)

Incumbent president Peter Mutharika, 79, faces opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera, 65, in the much-awaited election precedented by a series of violent protests since June 2019.

Voting commenced at 6 a.m. local time in 5,002 polling centers across the country where 6.8 million Malawians who registered in the May 2019 election were supposed to cast their vote.

Voters wait for casting their votes at a polling station in Thyolo, Malawi on June 23, 2020. (Xinhua)

Mutharika was captured casting his vote at Goliati Village in his home district, Thyolo, Tuesday morning while Chakwera and his running mate, Saulos Chilima, who is also the Vice President of the country cast their votes in the capital Lilongwe.

The voting process has been reported to be generally peaceful with COVID-19 preventive measures such as social distancing and handwashing observed in all the 5,002 polling centres.

A voter casts her vote at a polling station in Thyolo, Malawi on June 23, 2020. (Xinhua)

Counting of the votes is expected to commence immediately after the official closing of polling at 6 p.m. local time and the final results are expected anytime thereafter.

Meanwhile, new Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, Justice Chifundo Kachale, has assured the public that the commission "shall strive to protect the integrity of the election". 
The recent Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020, recently signed into law by the U.S., reflects the countrys extreme ignorance of human rights in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Though some U.S. politicians repeatedly vowed to defend human rights in Xinjiang, 25 million residents living in the region were never asked what they want.

A lively food market in Xinjiang. Photo by Cui Meng / Global Times

China Media Group's China Global Television Network has released three documentaries on the fight against terrorism in Xinjiang since last year, attracting 1 billion views.

Chinese netizens have highly aligned views on the documentaries: they want to see a stable Xinjiang with lasting peace. As a resident in Xinjiang, I really appreciate counter-terrorism officers for saving lives in the region and feel sad that some foreign politicians slandered their efforts. I wish peace in my hometown, a beautiful and affluent land, said a netizen from the region.

From the 1990s to the end of 2016, thousands of violent terrorist attacks happened in Xinjiang as a result of instigation by the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and other terrorist forces. Victims of those violent terrorist attacks testify to the hypocrisy of the new so-called law.

When Dilqemer Tursun, a girl who is good at singing and dancing, lost her leg to a bomb attack in 2014, did U.S. politicians see?

When Rozalahong, an ETIM member, forced his six-year-old son to shoot, did U.S. politicians hear the boy crying?

When Xia Yeling, a psychologist, said she has been treating patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder for the past decade due to the July 5 riots in 2009 in the capital city of Xinjiang, what did U.S. politicians think?

However, when no violent terrorist incident has occurred in Xinjiang for over 40 months since China has taken counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures, some U.S. politicians, agitated and flustered, signed into law the unwarranted act.

The right to life and development are the most basic human rights. It is Chinas counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures that guarantee such rights for tens of millions of residents in Xinjiang.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Xinjiangs GDP grew at an average annual rate of 8.5 percent, and the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents rose by an annual average of 8.4 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively.

From January to October in 2019, Xinjiang received over 200 million tourists, generating over 300 billion yuan (over $42 million) in revenue, an average increase of more than 40 percent year-on-year.

The vocational education and training centers established in accordance with law in Xinjiang, which are not essentially different from the community corrections programs launched by the U.S. and the UKs Desistance and Disengagement Programme (DDP), have effectively curbed the breeding and spread of terrorism.

U.S. magazine International Focus published an article titled A Journey to the Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, China in its May 2019 issue, saying that people in the centers were learning a vocational skill and being taught a better way of life. They were well fed, and they had good sleeping conditions, the article reads, adding that people there have their freedom of religious belief fully protected.

"If the centers had not existed, those young culprits would have ended up in prison. I wonder if those in the West who harshly criticize the centers in Xinjiang would be happier for the fate of those young people?" said Vadim Pisarevich, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Belarus to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Some U.S. politicians were impatient to label vocational education and training centers in Xinjiang tabloid concentration camps and re-education camps based on interviews with eight people. They were playing with words, so as to cover up the truth with lies, spread rumors despite facts, and make trouble regardless of reason and justice.

The move is nothing more than what U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said We lied, we cheated, we stole... in a speech in 2019.

The human rights issues in Xinjiang fabricated by the U.S. reflect its attempts to split China and hinder the countrys growth under the cloak of human rights.

It is the U.S. that should have seriously reflected on its human rights conditions after the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council condemned violent policing on June 19, after the death of George Floyd, an African-American man.

According to an annual report issued by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on June 18, an unprecedented 79.5 million were displaced as of the end of 2019. Among the countries with a large number of refugees, Syria, Venezuela and others are sanctioned by the U.S.

The U.S. has long been notorious for its double standards on issues including counter-terrorism and human rights.

People who fan the flames of trouble are accomplices. Some U.S. politicians had better not to do so. The international community will surely realize the truth about Xinjiang, and the autonomous region will enjoy lasting peace.
G'day G'day Folks,

You may be wondering why I am posting this. So am I. Mostly it is therapy for me, but it is also to give others the confidence to discuss some of the less glamorous complications that elections in Africa bring about. If I achieve that I will be well satisfied

I don't have much confidence in Uganda's 'scientific' elections planned to take place next year in 2021.No matter who wins, we are going to be in deep trouble. I agree that the word, scientific' may be alien to the majority of Ugandans, but the use of radios, TVs, social media, e.t.c, for campaigning isn't-- we have used them before during campaigns. There is everything wrong with having rallies now, and I also think that Museveni is luckyCorvid-19 makes the rigging easier compared to previous elections. The disease is an international epidemic- Just because it hasnt supposedly hit Uganda so hard, it doesnt mean that the virus isnt there, or wont be there.

I am not really against rallies per say, but I understand why we arent going to have rallies during campaigns, and I expect people to understand this. Voting for someone is not like pregnancy where two people meet face to face (excluding those who seek medical intervention). Voting for someone does not necessarily require one to meet the person he or she intends to vote for. In most cases, what is required is for the candidate to present their ideas in the form of a manifesto, and then the voter decides what to do with that information. A manifesto can be communicated via rallies, radios, TVs, emails, Facebook,e.t.c, and this is something we have been doing for ages. The only difference is that there wont be rallies and I think this is understandable.

I know most in the opposition are convinced that scientific elections only disfavour the opposition, which is arguably true, but they are looking at the situation from simply one angle. I am, on the other hand, looking at it from a public health point of view. There are now more than over 300,000 confirmed cases and 8,621 deaths of coronavirus across Africa. Rallies spread viruses because they are not a one-off thing. Voting in a poll station can potentially spread viruses, too, but it is a controllable environment and its a one-day thing.

Some are making their case based on the campaigns going on in the USA this month, yet the country has been hit by a lot of Corvid cases, compared to Uganda or elsewhere in Africa. It is unfair to compare the USA to Uganda--the former has a capacity to control this virus, if it hits them harder, and we don't. So, why take chances in the name of an election whose outcome is already known, anyway.

Here in the UK- I never meet my MP during campaigning but I vote for him over ideas, and I don't see anything wrong with that. Uganda has over 300 radio stations and I think that is a good number for campaigning, though it won't make a difference to the already rigged system in place. I am aware that most radio stations in Uganda are NRM owned, such that the Uganda Communication Commission makes it harder for the opposition to get enough airtime. This is something that has been happening in all previous elections, but I am also aware that with or without scientific elections, Museveni wont be beat in next year's elections, if he is still alive and kicking.

One thing that bothers me more is for some in the opposition to think that elections will bring change in the country. Ugandan elections are like an owner walking the dog at particular times of the day. BTW, walking the dogs was the name of a book written by a bank robber whose wife did not know what he was up to. She thought he was "Walking the dogs." There are so many 'dogs' lining up to legitimise Museveni's next presidency-- very well knowing that the 'dog owner' will decide everything to do with the dogs. Actually, I have a feeling that the list of MPs in the next parliament has already been decided and kept somewhere safe, and I can see sister Nabilah Naggayi Sempala and others sneaking in, to the surprise of everyone. Basically, let elections under M7 stop wasting your time--they don't change much in our country. And it is not worth risking our people to get Corvid over, simply because we want music, videos and pictures of certain candidates with big crowds.

I read somewhere in the Daily Monitor where Bobi Wine was saying that he is going to do rallies whether the state likes or not, and I was stunned. Before the campaigns start, every candidate is assigned special protection from the police, and they are there to serve the interests of the state, and that includes following the directives of the Electoral Commission. So, I do not know how he is going to do rallies when the state doesn't want anybody to do them. Providing protection to presidential candidates is a universal rule all over the world. For example, in the USA all candidates are assigned Secret Service protection. Barack Obama holds the record for earliest death threats against a political candidate in an active campaign. The Secret Service went into action protecting him a lot earlier than they usually do with candidates for president.

If people did as much research on health issues as many of us do on politically related matters, there would be far less emotion involved in the political decisions that will affect their lives. I say this in the most non-partisan way. A lot of opposition MPs are asking the government to postpone the elections in a form of declaring a state of emergency in the country, and this would see Speaker Rebecca Kadaga becoming president the next 3-6 months, or when the emergency period is over. But none of them can tell us exactly when Corvid will be declared a non-emergence disease. Museveni earlier on suggested a postponement in an interview with journalist, Canary Mugisha, and a lot of people were outraged, and I dont think they have thought this one,too, through. Nobody has a timeline on when the vaccination for Corvid is going to be found.

Lastly, there has always been violence or chaos during our previous elections. Large crowds of people can, in theory, set off chaos, according to the Chaos Theory of Edward Lonrez, who was, at the time (early 1960's), working on a mathematical weather problem for predicting the weather. Chaos theory involves a sensitive dependence upon initial conditions, such that even a small change in initial conditions can cause a drastic change in long-term outcomes, or behaviours, in the system.Therefore, I suspect that the proposal to hold campaigns without rallies was precipitated by the behaviour of some of Bobi Wines people on and off social media. The recent messages from both Bobi and Dr.Kiiza Besigye showed that many are fed up with some of their antisocial actions. Therefore, When the EC chairman met Museveni, I believe that one approach discussed was to shut down some internet functions and regroup from what has been learned. But that was supposedly ruled out because it will appear that Museveni fears the internet a lot, and he does, and that is why he will supposedly shut it again when the presidential results are released. The problem for the crazies is in the long term is they self-destruct. Most are all mouth trying to exploit others. But, generally speaking, I suspect that the antisocial behaviour of Bobis fans is one of many reasons there is great concern by the people in govt and now have the clout to enforce anything they want.

Somehow, I think we have something new introduced as a way of campaigning without rallies, and we need to embrace it beyond Corvid. Above all, I would not recommend intellectual suicide for anyone who wants to live life to the fullest.
By Kang Seung-woo



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has suspended envisaged military action against South Korea, the North's state-run media reported Wednesday, a move seen as diffusing rapidly escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula "temporarily."





North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / Korea Times file
Megyn Kelly has taken aim at her former employer's hypocrisy with a scathing tweet.

The political commentator, 49, who had her NBC show Megyn Kelly Today canceled following her remarks surrounding the appropriateness of blackface during Halloween, poked fun at the network when it was forced to pull episodes of 30 Rock for depicting the same racially insensitive practice.

'Wait - what network aired those episodes again?' asked the former Fox star in a sarcastic tweet on Tuesday.

Shade: Megyn Kelly has taken aim at her former employer's hypocrisy with a scathing tweet. She's seen here in May 2019

The tweet was in response to a Variety article covering the network pulling the sitcom episodes in question from streaming services and syndication.

Kelly's brief career at NBC ended in the wake of her comments defending RHONY star Luann de Lesseps use of blackface to dress like Diana Ross for Halloween.

The journalist recollected that 'when I was a kid, that was okay as long as you were dressing up as like a character'.

Despite later apologizing for the remarks, her show was canceled three days later.

Megyn's contract with NBC was terminated January 11, 2019.

Burn: The political commentator, 49, poked fun at the network when it was forced to pull episodes of 30 Rock for depicting the racially insensitive practice

Flash in the pan: Kelly's brief career at NBC ended in the wake of her comments defending RHONY star Luann de Lesseps use of blackface to dress like Diana Ross for Halloween. Seen here on the network in 2018

Megyn's tweet comes after Tina Fey along with her 30 Rock co-creator Robert Carlock and NBCUniversal 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.

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

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 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.
KERRVILLE, Texas, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- James Avery Artisan Jewelry, a family-owned jewelry retailer based in Texas, announces the opening of its new store today in Waxahachie, Texas located at 1700 North U.S. Highway 77, Suite 195.

"Customers are invited to visit and discover the artistry, tradition and craftsmanship of James Avery jewelry," James Avery CEO John McCullough said. "Our Associates look forward to welcoming our long-time customers and introducing new customers to James Avery in our new Waxahachie store."

Putting customer and associate safety first, the Waxahachie store is following recommended COVID-19 health protocols and guidelines which have been implemented in all James Avery stores. Hand sanitizing stations are set up in store for customers and associates and all high-touch areas of the store and jewelry is regularly cleaned and sanitized. Additionally, the company asks customers to honor social distancing guidelines when possible and consider wearing face coverings when in the store. James Avery associates undergo daily health screenings and wear facemasks.

The Waxahachie Marketplace James Avery Artisan Jewelry store is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m. Customers are welcome to shop in the new store or use the Contactless, Curbside Pickup or Buy Online, Pickup in Store options at JamesAvery.com. The James Avery team will announce plans for a grand opening celebration after regular store operations resume across the company.

About James Avery Artisan Jewelry James Avery is a vertically integrated, family-owned company located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. We offer finely crafted jewelry designs for men and women in sterling silver, 14K and 18K gold, gemstones and leather handbags. James Avery jewelry is designed by our own skilled artisans in Kerrville, Texas. We are a multi-channel retailer with 93 James Avery stores in four states. Our jewelry is also available in more than 220 Dillard's stores in Texas and 28 additional states, airport stores in Austin and Houston, Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations at Fort Hood and Fort Belvoir and nationwide through JamesAvery.com. James Avery crafts jewelry in Texas workshops in Comfort, Hondo and Kerrville, made of the finest materials sourced worldwide. For more information, visit JamesAvery.com or facebook.com/JamesAvery.

SOURCE James Avery Artisan Jewelry

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People gather at an outdoor area to take a swab test during mass testing for COVID-19 in Beijing on June 23, 2020. (NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing Authorities Add Beds in Hospitals as Virus Reaches Community Spread

Beijing health authorities are requiring that hospitals prepare additional beds in anticipation of a surge in COVID-19 patients, according to a series of city government internal documents obtained by The Epoch Times.

The city has experienced a second wave outbreak, with local authorities confirming that 256 people have been infected with the CCP virus since June 11.

Some of the newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients did not visit the Xinfadi food market, which authorities have attributed as the source of the new outbreak, or come into contact with infected individualsindicating that there is now community spread in the capital.

Authorities claim that all diagnosed patients are currently being treated at the Beijing Ditan Hospital. But the leaked documents show that the city is preparing for an influx of COVID-19 patients at several other hospitals.

Community Spread

Zeng Xiaofan, director of Beijing municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announced at a June 23 press conference that a 47-year-old food delivery man who works for a popular meal ordering platform was diagnosed on June 21.

The delivery man was sent to the hospital after developing a fever on the morning of June 21. Prior to that, he was working 12 to 14 hours per day, Zeng said.

The delivery man took about 50 orders per day, picking up food packages from restaurants, supermarkets, and stores, Zeng added. The man traveled on his scooter in an area about 40 square miles in central and southeastern Beijing.

The delivery man did not go to the area where Xinfadi market is located in recent weeks. Authorities have not explained where or how he contracted the virus.

Since June 21, several COVID-19 patients have not visited the Xinfadi market, or contacted any previous diagnosed patient.

The city-government-operated newspaper Beijing Daily alerted people in an June 23 article: right now, one of the most important tasks to prevent the virus from spreading is to be vigilant about community infection.

On June 23, Pepsis chips factory located in the city announced three more diagnosed employees. PepsiCo China announced that there are now a total of 12 employees from that factory diagnosed with COVID-19.

The company has now closed the factory, and isolated 480 employees. According to Chinas enterprise database Tianyancha, there are 869 employees at that factory; it is unclear what happened with the other roughly 380 staff.

A Chinese doctor gives instruction to nurses in protective suits before performing nucleic acid swab tests for COVID-19 on citizens at a government testing site in Beijing, China on June 22, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Cluster Outbreak in Hospitals?

On June 19, the city government announced that a nurse who works at the emergency department of Peking University International Hospital was diagnosed with the virus on June 18.

Since then, the hospital stopped taking new patients and launched a lockdown policy.

After the nurses diagnosis, health officials are now on high alert about the potential for virus spread.

The Epoch Times obtained an emergency notice released by the Daxing district (one of 16 districts in the city) health commission on June 19, in which the commission ordered all hospitals in the district to report that day whether they received any patients who were previously treated at the Peking University International Hospital.

If they dont have any such patients, they need to report zero. If they did, they must manage and control the patients immediately, according to the document.

Hospital facilities would need to isolate such patients from others and medical staff should treat them as suspected COVID-19 patients who can spread the virus to others, the document noted.

Another document, which contained a series of daily meeting summaries released by the Pinggu district government, showed that on June 21, Zhang Tian, an official from the district health commission, ordered all hospitals in Pinggu district to investigate and report whether any of their employees or patients had visited Peking University International Hospital in the past 14 days.

Residents who visited or live near Xinfadi Market line up for a nucleic acid test in Beijing, China on June 19, 2020. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Makeshift Units

The Epoch Times previously obtained classified documents that urged local governments to treat all pandemic-related documents as state secrets.

A new document, issued by the Beijing municipal health commission on June 13, similarly emphasized that each district government had to keep secret all virus data and could not publicize or leak the information before getting approval from the health commission.

Meanwhile, in another meeting summary on June 20, Jin Daqing, director of the Pinggu district health commission, ordered the Pinggu Hospital and Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pinggu branch to set up makeshift units dedicated to treating COVID-19 patients. The document only used the Chinese characters fangcang and did not specify whether these would be additional beds inside the hospital or new mobile facilities.

Jin also ordered the Yuexie Hospital, located in the district, to set up a makeshift laboratory for running nucleic acid testing on samples.

Then, on June 21, Jin ordered district health officials and hospital officials to help set up makeshift units at the Yuexie Hospital, Huici Hospital, and Jinggu Friendship Hospital.

Each fangcang should purchase at least 16 CT scanners as soon as possible, with a budget of 2 million yuan ($283,300) for each scanner, according to the document.

Volunteers in protective suits disinfect the Yuegezhuang wholesale market, following new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in Beijing, China on June 16, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters)

Underreporting

Since the virus first broke out in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, local authorities have been opaque with virus information and intentionally underreported cases.

Zhang Bo (pseudonym), who lives in a military compound for officers and their families located in Beijings Haidian district, told the Chinese-language Epoch Times in a June 23 phone interview that three residents at a nearby compound were recently diagnosed with COVID-19. All were male between 45 to 50 years old, he said.

Zhang lives close to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, also called the PLA 301 Hospital. Several hundred military compounds are situated in that neighborhood.

Schools [in the neighborhood] notified students to study at home, Zhang said. I also received notification from the compound [I live in] to avoid going to other compounds where residents have been diagnosed or identified as close contacts of the diagnosed patients.

Zhang shared the notification with The Epoch Times, which listed over 100 military compounds in Haidian district.

The Epoch Times could not independently verify the information Zhang provided.

A near-deserted expressway is seen in Beijing, China after the CCP virus outbreak in the city in recent weeks on June 20, 2020. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images)

Escalating Outbreak

Chinese state-run media recently quoted local officials to claim that the Beijing outbreak is now under control.

But Guo Yanhong, ombudswoman at the medical administration of Chinas National Health Commission, announced at a June 24 press conference that 20 medical teams from 12 provinces have traveled to Beijing to help perform nucleic acid testing on residents.

Guo did not say how many people were in each medical team. But she said Hubei Province sent three medical teams to Beijing, with the first two groups totaling 416 medical staff.

Chinas Ministry of Transportation (MOT) also announced that it would now place restrictions on people who travel out of Beijing.

MOT spokesman Sun Wenjian said at a June 23 press conference that all individuals who wish to leave Beijing must have a green health code on their mobile app and a negative nucleic acid test result that was taken within the past seven days. The rule applies to all travelers, whether they are going by plane, train, or private vehicle.

Sun also announced that all taxi services and car-pool services in Beijing and neighboring cities would be prohibited from leaving or entering Beijing. People can only take taxis to travel within the city.
Due to a pungent suspect package, six German postal workers had to receive medical treatment and dozens more were evacuated. The said package turned out to be a shipment of the durian fruit, which is notorious for its awful smell.

False emergency

Firefighters, police, and emergency services were all called to a post office in the Bavarian town of Schweinfurt on June 20 after the staff noticed a bad smell coming from a package, according to The Guardian.

A statement from the Schweinfurt police department explained that because of the unknown content, it was not clear whether the suspect package posed a greater risk.

Around 60 employees were asked to immediately evacuate the building before the responders examined the suspicious package.

After the investigation, the package contained four durian fruits and it was sent home by a 50-year-old resident of Schweinfurt who claimed that a friend in Nuremberg shipped it to him.

Durian is a spiky, round fruit that has a creamy texture and sweet flavor. It is very popular in Southeast Asia, but it is infamous all over the world for its odor. In fact, durian is prohibited in hotels, airplanes, and other enclosed areas.

The fruit is not allowed in the subway Singapore. Many critics of the fruit have compared their smell to dirty socks or rotten food.

Also Read: Alcoholic Monkey in India Kills One, Bites 250 People in Deadly Rampage

According to the police, twelve people complained of nausea and had to be given first aid. Six people were immediately rushed to the hospital as part of their precaution. Two emergency cars, five first-responder cars, three fire departments, and six ambulances attended the incident. The fruit was delivered to its recipient.

Other incidents

According to Smithsonian Mag, there were numerous incidents that involved durian and its infamous smell. In 2019, the staff at the University of Canberra library were asked to evacuate the building because they thought there was a gas leak.

However, the first responders found out that the bad odor came from a durian fruit that was left near the library's air vent.

Also in 2019, Simple Flying reported that an Air Canada Rouge flight made an emergency landing after a bad smell made its way into the cabin. The bad odor was so strong that the crew members had to wear oxygen masks.

The flight 1566 was immediately diverted from its journey to Montreal from Vancouver. The flight returned to Montreal Airport, and that was when the investigators discovered that the foul odor came from a durian that was in the forward cargo compartment. The smell of the fruit made its way into the cabin during the flight.

In 2018, a plane from Indonesia was forced to halt its operations after the passengers complained of a foul odor, as reported by CNN. After investigations, it turns out that the bad smell came from a cargo of durian and it made its way into the cabin during the flight.

In 2014, according to ABC News, a hospital in Melbourne, Australia, was evacuated because they thought there was a gas leak. Firefighters were immediately called to Mitcham Private Hospital, but it turns out that the smell came from a durian fruit that was given to a patient as a gift.

Related Article: FDA Warns Consumers to Avoid These 9 Hand Sanitizers With Fatal Ingredient

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CHANDIGARH:Cabinet also okays Re-Employment of medical ayurvedic & dental faculty in govt colleges

To strengthen its fight against Covid, the Punjab government has decided to set up four new testing laboratories, with priority appointment of the 131 essential staff needed for these labs.

The Cabinet also cleared the proposal of Medical Education & Research Department to create and fill up four posts of Assistant Professor (Microbiology) on adhoc basis in these four viral testing laboratories.

The state cabinet, at its meeting today under Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, gave the go-ahead to setting up the new labs in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Mohali, to help scale up the testing capacity from the current 9000 a day, in the three Government Medical Colleges at Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot, to 13000 tests per day.

The new laboratories would be established in Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana; Punjab State Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Mohali; Northern Regional Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory, Jalandhar; and Punjab Biotechnology Incubator, Mohali.

All the appointments will be made through outsourcing from Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, said an official spokesperson. The expenditure of Rs 17.46 lakh per month to be incurred against the 131 staff appointments and Rs 3.06 lakh per month against the ad-hoc Assistant Professor posts would be met from the State Disaster Response Fund. The 131 staff positions positions would include Research Scientists (Non-Medical), Research Assistants, Lab Technicians, Data Entry Operators, Lab Attendants and Sweepers.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has also given the nod to re-employment of the medical, ayurvedic and dental faculty at the Government Medical Colleges and the Government Dental Colleges in Patiala and Amritsar , as well as the Government Ayurvedic College, Patiala, after their retirement at 62 years. While re-employment will be up to the age of 70 years for Medical/Ayurvedic teachers, for Dental faculty, it will be till the age of 65.

The step would be helpful in meeting the scarcity of Medical, Dental, Ayurvedic teaching faculty, besides keeping the seats of PG courses intact as per the norms of Medical Council of India/Dental Council of India and the Central Council of Indian Medicine.
New Delhi:

Terming terrorism as the foremost challenge in the region, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said it should be delegitimised as a State policy and urged ASEAN countries to cooperate unreservedly to locate and destroy terror networks.



Security frameworks in ASEAN region still do not give enough attention to terrorism. This must change, he said at 20th ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities Meet in New Delhi.



Terrorism remains the foremost challenge to our region. We need to oppose terrorism resolutely everywhere, delegitimise it as an instrument of State policy and cooperate unreservedly to locate and destroy terrorist networks, he said.



The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam as members.



Parrikars remarks came on a day when terrorists launched another attack on an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir. Three terrorists, believed to be Pakistan backed, were killed in the attack on the army camp north Kashmirs Kupwara district.



Nineteen soldiers were killed in a militant attack on an army camp in Uri on September 18. The Army had launched surgical strikes targeting terror camps located across the LoC on September 28 night.

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A woman who considered herself the spiritual leader of a doomsday cult in Colorado has been sentenced to 64 years in prison for causing the deaths of two young girls who were deprived of food and water because they were thought to have been impure.

Madani Ceus, 40, was sentenced last Friday on two counts of felony child abuse resulting in death. Sisters Makayla Roberts, 10, and Hannah Marshall, eight, 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, a native of Haiti, declared that the two girls were possessed by unclean spirits during a past life and ordered them banished to a car as the rest of the cult waited for the apocalypse before the 2017 solar eclipse.

Doomsday cult leader Madani Ceus, 40 (left), has been sentenced to 64 years in prison for the starvation and dehydration deaths of sisters Makayla Roberts, 10 (pictured with blue hair accessories), and Hannah Marshall, eight (right)

The children's mother, Nashika Bramble, 39, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced in September 2019 to life in prison without parole

The girls likely died of starvation, heat and dehydration, but because the bodies were in a partly mummified condition by the time they were found two weeks later, 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. 'In my 37 years as sheriff, I have never seen anything as cruel and heartless as this.'

The children's mother, Nashika Bramble, 39, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced in September 2019 to life in prison without parole.

Ceus' 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, 25, who owned the marijuana 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.

Ashford Archer, Ceus' husband (left), 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. Frederic Blair (right), the owner of the farm where the girls died, was sentenced to 12 years in prison

Blair told investigators he met the group made up of nine people, including Bramble's daughters and Ceus' two children, at a gas station outside Grand Junction in May 2017 and invited them to use his property. He soon joined them in living on the land in tents and cars, according to court documents cited by Fox 23.

Blair said Ceus told the others to call her 'Ama' or 'Yahweh,' and said they were on a mission to find St Michael the Archangel.

Ceus had her followers call her 'Yahweh' and believed they were 'spiritual beasts' on a mission to find St Michael

According to the affidavit, the cult leader claimed the members of her group were 'spiritual beats' that were going to survive the coming apocalypse.

In the summer of 2017, Ceus ordered Bramble's two daughters to stay in the car without food or water because she considered them 'unclean.' According to court records, she claimed that 10-year-old Makayla was a 'harlot' in a past life.

The documents say that another member of the group, Nathan Yah, told police that the girls were allowed to leave the car to use the bathroom and did receive food and water.

When police interviewed Ceus, she 'would not say who was responsible' for making the girls stay in the car, according to the record.

Blair told police that Ceus didn't have any weapons but he was afraid she would 'shatter his spirit with some kind of magical powers' and felt others were under Ceus's 'direction and control.'

Ceus allegedly claimed Makayla, 10 (left), was a 'harlot' in a past life. The girl and her younger sister (right) were ordered to stay in a car without food or water until they died

According to the document, Blair told his father about the girls' deaths on September 8. Blair's father, who lives in Texas but was visiting Colorado, called the sheriff's office.

When deputies searched the property, they found the girls' bodies inside a gray Toyota registered to another woman who was with the group. Officers said the bodies 'had been in the car for an extended period of time.'

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.
From left, Obinna Okorie, Xandria McKinley, Noah Bereketab, Joy Thomas, Machayla Randall, and Danielle Maddred stand in front of Cherry Hill High School East. Several of the students, who are part of the school's African American Culture Club, organized a demonstration June 19. They want their school district to require a course in African American studies, among other changes addressing racism. Read more

As protests swept the nation after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, Machayla Randall thought about her own brushes with racism, most of which had taken place in school.

A rising senior at Cherry Hill East, Randall, who is Black and Native American, said shes sometimes told youre not Black, or youre kind of white. People touch her hair. Despite earning straight As, she said she was recommended for only one honors class going into high school  unlike friends with similar grades.

She and Black classmates with similar experiences decided to take action, organizing a march last Friday and calling on Cherry Hill to require a high school course in African American studies and make other changes to curriculum, examine school discipline rates, and address implicit bias among staff and students.

If you look at everything going on, you can reflect back  why is this happening? Randall said. Like other students, she believes part of the answer is in the classroom.

Schools are the latest institutions facing a reckoning over racism  a conversation led by high school students and recent graduates who say their educations on race stopped with To Kill a Mockingbird and the civil rights movement, and failed to explain the systemic racism underlying modern unrest.

And Black students are speaking out about discrimination they have endured in schools, inflicted by peers or disproportionately white teaching staffs.

 READ MORE: They dont look at us like students: At board hearing, Philly students, advocates call for police-free schools

On the Instagram account blackmainlinespeaks, which has more than 16,000 followers, anonymous posters who describe themselves as Black students and alumni at some of the regions elite schools have been sharing their experiences  from stories of white students using the N-word without punishment, to teachers falsely accusing Black students of plagiarism, and administrators siding with white students in disputes.

The accounts first post, dated June 11, reads: The Main Line. Best known for its expensive stores, exotic cars, exclusive schools and racism. Through Tuesday, it had more than 280 posts, recounting experiences at private institutions ranging from Friends Central, the Haverford School, and Notre Dame Academy to the public schools in Lower Merion and Radnor.

Recent posts include a person identified as an Agnes Irwin student describing being mocked by a teacher for getting a math problem wrong  She then asked the class, Can you recall a black mathematician?   to another identified as a Baldwin student who wrote that the day after President Donald Trump was elected, a white student remarked, Thats what you minorities get.

Other social media efforts calling out schools are also catching fire. Accounts have sprung up in Philadelphia, including blackatGFS, an account specific to Germantown Friends School, and blackatmasterman, about the citys Julia R. Masterman special admissions school.

School officials arent always addressing specific allegations, but say they are listening.

Many of our youth are telling us they dont feel safe, theyre not feeling heard or represented in our schools. This is unequivocally not acceptable, Melissa Gilbert, president of the Lower Merion School Board, said during a virtual board meeting Monday night, as she announced a committee on equity and antiracism. (Later in the meeting, the board solicitor read several comments from students, including one who said, Racism runs deep here, and the recent milquetoast statements are not going to cut it.)

A number of private schools named on social media have issued statements.

We are deeply sorry for the hurt felt by our community and our failure to foster an environment where our entire community always feels heard, affirmed, and celebrated, Wendy Hill, head of school at Agnes Irwin, said Sunday. She said the all-girls school was committed to becoming an anti-racist institution and would take further steps, including holding a community meeting in mid-July.

Craig Sellers, head of school at Friends Central, wrote on Instagram on Monday that what weve read is simply unacceptable and antithetical to our mission and vision, and promised changes including a bias reporting system and staff training.

The creators of blackmainlinespeaks  who said the effort was inspired by a similar account about a New York private school  declined to provide their names, but said in an email they are three Black recent alumnae from private Main Line schools.

Like most Black students who have attended majority-white schools, we know the frustrating feeling of knowing that administration and teachers are not your allies, they said. We hope to tell the truth about these schools, to warn parents of future students ... and to make these schools aware that their silencing of us is over.

White and non-Black students of color and graduates are also pushing for change. Petitions circulating in districts ranging from West Chester to Central Bucks demand that their schools take steps to address racism, including by incorporating more Black history, authors, and perspectives in curricula, and by hiring more Black teachers.

 READ MORE: Why having more black male teachers matters

We felt we were in a bubble. We were set back, said Sravya Alla, a 2017 graduate of the Great Valley School District and a rising senior at the University of Pennsylvania. And thats a huge failing in the education system.

A petition she started with high school classmate and Penn senior Joshita Varshney calling for the Chester County district to educate students on systemic and institutional racism, police brutality, and white privilege  Our curriculum must recognize and reflect the honest truth that racism still exists today, it reads  garnered more than 1,000 signatures from students, alumni, and parents.

Alla and Varshney said they were inspired by Penn classmates. They have been communicating with students in other districts, including Upper Merion and Downingtown, and aim to take their effort to the Pennsylvania Board of Education.

In Bucks County, Drew Vogelsang, a rising senior at New York University, was quarantining at home in New Hope but wanted to take part in the activism he saw among his peers.

Growing up, he said of his school district, the conversation on race and our countrys history with racism never took place because we were 92% white. A petition he helped launch calls for changes in both curriculum and school culture, and has more than 550 signatures.

Some school leaders have pointed to student efforts as key for change. We seem to be at a point where a growing majority here agrees that racism is a human rights issue, not a political one, Liz Sheehan, president of the New Hope-Solebury school board, said at a recent protest.

Others are skeptical. In an email, the blackmainlinespeaks creators said they and others didnt trust schools to make changes because of the history of broken promises and of administrations and boards not respecting the importance of the initiatives.

In Cherry Hill, Superintendent Joe Meloche joined Randall and other students at the march they led Friday, pledging that the district would fully review its curriculum this summer.

The task ahead isnt just adding new books  but acknowledging and empowering student voices that have not always risen beyond the individual classrooms or schools, Meloche said in an interview. He said it was the responsibility of adults to listen and have empathy, and said the district must truly announce ourselves as being antiracist through policies, classes, and expectations for students and staff.

The frustrations felt by Randall and her peers had been brewing before the recent wave of protests. We never realized we had a voice, and we could use it, she said.

Shes hopeful their work will bring change, but feels a responsibility: Its in our hands now to keep it going.
The Greens are struggling to sustain their momentum as Covid-19 upends German politics.

The party led the polls in Germany last year but their rise has been arrested by the resurgence of the Christian Democrats, boosted by Chancellor Angela Merkels measured handling of the pandemic. With an election due next year, the Greens have slipped back below 20%, barely half the level of Merkels CDU-led bloc, and Co-Chairman Robert Habeck, once tied as the nations most popular politician, now ranks a distant seventh.

Thats a blow to those hoping that the post-Merkel era might see a step change in Berlin that would place Germany at the forefront of the European Unions push to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, the next government is more likely to mean just an incremental change from the current one.

The Greens will probably still be the only party willing and able to give the Christian Democrats a majority after next years general election. But they are unlikely to have enough political capital to really set the agenda with neither of Merkels likely successors boasting particularly green credentials.

From todays standpoint, the Greens would be the smaller partner, a majority-maker, said Thomas Jaeger, a professor of politics at the University of Cologne.

Thats a comedown from earlier this year when Berlin insiders were speculating that next years election could produce the first Green chancellor, or when French President Emmanuel Macron met with Habeck and co-chair Annalena Baerbock for an unprecedented three-hour chat at Februarys Munich Security Conference. In January, Habeck had made his debut at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

After emerging from the anti-nuclear movement and the left-wing fringe in the 1980s, the Greens served eight years with the Social Democrats before Merkel came to power in 2005, and they have made no secret of their ambitions for a return to power.

The party has steadily moved toward the center -- so much so, that on its 40th anniversary in January former Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble called them a dead ordinary party. Theyve also established themselves as a major force in German politics. Even after their recent dip, they are still the countrys second-most popular party.

We are at about the level we were in the last European election, historically our best result nationwide, Michael Kellner, the partys political managing director, said in an email. Were not going to be driven crazy if it goes up or down a few percentage points.

Im not sure

Whether the Greens can get back into position to challenge the CDUs ascendancy before next years vote will depend on the economy and the climate, as well as the virus.

Another harsh drought or an international climate crisis like last years fires could reignite support beyond young, urban professionals and the CDU itself will be something of an unknown quantity fighting its first election in a generation without Merkel as the chancellor candidate.

On the other hand, a prolonged recession would mean a struggle for the Greens, who are still seen as inexperienced on the economy.

Im not sure its the right party at the right time to ensure Germanys prosperity, theres lots of uncertainty and fear, said Richard Martin, a former party member who runs a small IT company in the suburbs of Berlin.The partys unbridled pro-immigration stance and apparent hunger for power dont sit entirely well with him either. Theyve lost authenticity, he said.

New Challenges

The pandemic posed a whole new set of challenges to the Greens at a moment when they were starting to be taken seriously as a mainstream force.

At first they backed the lockdown but then switched tack to criticize the social inequality of the measures, insisting the post-corona world needs to be a more equitable and sustainable place. On a recent TV talk show, Habeck highlighted the need for larger pig sties.

The bigger problem though was that incumbents in Berlin and Brussels elbowed their way onto traditional Green territory with billions of euros for climate policy as part of their efforts to shore up the economy.

But their future as a coalition partner for the post-Merkel CDU still has an air of inevitability about it in Berlin. Not least because the partys existing partner, the SPD, is determined to go into opposition to rebuild when the current term ends. That alone means that the Greens will still have some leverage.Its clear that the Greens wont have the power to advance the climate agenda they want, Oskar Niedermayer, profesor emeritus of political science at the Free University in Berlin, said in a phone interview. But they also have an important bargaining chip because there may be no other coalition option.
Threshold Ireland says that there are families in rented accommodation who have been given notice, and people who can no longer afford their rent and have no alternative accommodation.

There are also reports of families being hit with ESB bills throughout the pandemic and struggling to pay them, with concerns about how to feed their children.

Calls are being made for a more reasonable extension from the Government for protection from evictions and rent increases.

The Dining Room, Newbridge, a charity which gives hot meals to families, is concerned that rising unemployment will put more pressure on their services.

Threshold Ireland said: "Weve been firefighting on our clients behalf. Its a very uncertain time. Emergency legislation is in place but, people are wondering what will happen when that is lifted."

As the public health advice is to stay at home when at all possible, our collective understanding of home as a refuge, where one is protected and safe, has taken on even greater meaning, said Aideen Hayden, Chairperson of Threshold. There are tenants living under the threat of forced eviction and the moratorium offers a layer of protection to these tenants. Unfortunately despite the moratorium, a small number of landlords have evicted tenants during this time, taking away their refuge. Additional supports are required to keep these tenants in their homes and hold these landlords to account."
WASHINGTON  Once again, coronavirus proved that elections during a pandemic are not business as usual.

Over the past several months, voters have faced long lines and fewer in-person polling locations due to safety protocols related to the coronavirus pandemic and a related decrease in the number of people willing to work the polls. Even in Kentucky, where bipartisan changes were made in an attempt to expand access to the polls, there were still issues.

In Louisville, Kentucky, some voters were stuck waiting to park their cars outside the Kentucky Exposition Center, causing them to miss the deadline to get in line when polls closed at 6 p.m. The center was the only site open in Louisville and Jefferson County due to changes made because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Videos showed voters locked outside the center, some running to the doors or pounding on the glass windows in hopes of being let in. Shortly thereafter, U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker secured a court order that opened the doors and extended the poll hours to 6:30 p.m. And waits of over an hour had been reported earlier in the day in Lexington.

Kentucky is one of several states that have expanded access to absentee voting, and officials expected a record turnout of over 1 million people voting in the primary. Full results will likely not be released until June 30, Secretary of State Michael Adams said, according to the Louisville Courier Journal.

That meant the winner in of key race, the U.S. Senate Democratic primary, was not expected Tuesday night. Amy McGrath, who has the backing of Democratic Party establishment, and Booker, who recently gained national attention for protesting after the death of Breonna Taylor and has been endorsed by key progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders, are in a tight race to be the candidate who will go on to face Sen. Mitch McConnell in November.

Here are other key takeaways from Tuesdays primary:

Ocasio-Cortez holds her seat against primary challengers

Story continues

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had a blowout win in her districts Democratic primary.

Ocasio-Cortez warded off three Democratic primary challengers in New York's 14th Congressional District. The freshman lawmaker noted on social media Tuesday evening that her surprise upset in 2018 was not a fluke.

Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic socialist, shocked political pundits after defeating 10-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley during the 2018 midterms.

Our win was treated as an aberration, or (because) my opponent didnt try, Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a tweet. So from the start, tonights race was important to me. Tonight we are proving that the peoples movement in NY isnt an accident. Its a mandate.

New York incumbents try to hold on to seats against progressive challengers

Progressive Democrat Jamaal Bowman continues to hold a large lead over incumbent Rep. Eliot Engel in the New York's 16th Congressional District primary race, with some pundits calling the race for Bowman.

With 92% of precincts reporting Wednesday, Bowman is up 25 percentage points over Engel. An official winner has yet to be declared and full results likely won't be announced until next week. The final results are delayed due to thousands of mail ballots that won't be opened until June 30.

Over the past several weeks, Bowman has gained national attention and has been backed by progressives like Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders. Engel, a 16-term incumbent, received support from establishment Democrats and got a high profile endorsement from Hillary Clinton.

If Engel loses the race, by seniority, Rep. Brad Sherman, a California Democrat, would be next in line to chair the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee. But other lawmakers could make a play for the gavel as well.

Ranking member of the House Foreign Relations Committee, Rep. Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY), who is a leading candidate to take over the panel, poses for a portrait in his office on Capitol Hill November 15, 2018 in Washington, DC.

As chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Engel was at the forefront of the House impeachment probe, which centered on allegations that Trump pressured Ukrainian officials to open an investigation into Joe Biden.

More recently, he has led an investigation into Trumps controversial decision to fire the State Departments long-time independent watchdog, who was probing allegations that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked a staffer to run personal errands for himself and his wife.

But Engel is more in line with the Trump administration on high-profile foreign policy issues  including his staunch support for Israel  than some of his liberal colleagues.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney is locked in an even tighter race with challenger Suraj Patel in New York's 12th Congressional District Democratic primary. It is a rematch of the 2018 midterm election, where Patel won more than 40 percent of the vote.

Maloney, 74, is in her 14th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Patel, 36, released a statement Tuesday evening declaring an early victory, though no official winner declared. The candidates were nearly tied with about 80% of the vote counted Wednesday morning.

Republican newcomer wins N.C. runoff election for Mark Meadows seat

Newcomer Madison Cawthorn bested Republican Lynda Bennett, who was endorsed by Trump, in a runoff election to fill former Rep. Mark Meadows House seat.

Trump wrote in a tweet in June that Bennett  is strong on Crime, Borders, Military, our Great Vets & 2A. She will be a great help to me in DC. Despite that endorsement, Cawthorn, 24, won roughly two-thirds of the vote.

I do not believe this election has been a referendum on the presidents influence, Cawthorn wrote in a statement on election night. The people of western North Carolina are wise and discerning. You observed both candidates and simply made the choice you believed is best for our district.

Meadows was appointed White House Chief of Staff earlier this year.

In this June 28, 2013, file photo, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., attends a hearing on Capitol Hill.

Kentucky's Massie declared winner after testy primary

Rep. Thomas Massie was declared the winner of the Republican primary in Kentucky 4th Congressional District Tuesday evening.

The victory comes after President Donald Trump called for Massie's removal from the Republican Party after the congressmans efforts to fight a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package.

Massie faced one primary challenger, Todd McMurtry. This was the first time Massie had to face a primary challenger since his first congressional campaign eight years ago. Massie is vying for a fifth term.

People wait to vote at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

Although the full results will likely not be in until next week, Massie claimed 88% of the early and unofficial vote, according to election data, which included just in-person votes cast Tuesday. McMurtry also conceded Tuesday evening, writing on Twitter: I congratulate Thomas Massie on a strong race and wish him success in the November election. I want to thank everyone who supported me. I am eternally grateful to everyone who helped me with this journey.

Contributing: Deirdre Shesgreen and William Cummings, USA TODAY; Morgan Watkins, Matt Mencarini and Ben Tobin, Louisville Courier Journal; Paul Moon, Asheville Citizen Times; Julia Fair and Ian McKenzie, Cincinnati Enquirer; Mark Lungariello, Rockland/Westchester Journal News

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: June 23 primary: AOC wins, Charles Booker, Amy McGrath results delayed
Cabinet clears repeal of farm laws: Bill to be placed in Parliament

Cabinet approves infusion of Rs 1,500 crore in IREDA: Here are the Highlights

Union Cabinet Meeting today: Highlights and key decisions

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, June 24: The Union Cabinet today decided that government banks, including 1,482 urban cooperative banks will be brought under the supervisory power of the RBI.

The Cabinet also approved the declaration of Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh as an International Airport. Addressing the media after the meeting, Union Minister, Prakash Javadekar said, 'we have build up good space assets. These are now in a way being opened for use for everyone.

Coronavirus: Covid-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh crosses 10,000 mark | Oneindia news

Here are the highlights of the decisions taken by the Union Cabinet:

Govt banks, including 1482 urban cooperative banks & 58 multi-state cooperative banks, are now being brought under supervisory powers of Reserve Bank of India(RBI); RBI's powers as they apply to scheduled banks will apply for cooperative banks as well.

The decision to bring 1,540 cooperative banks under RBI's supervision will give an assurance to more than 8.6 crore depositors in these banks that their money amounting to Rs 4.84 lakh crore will stay safe: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar

Union Cabinet approves declaration of Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh as an International Airport.

Union Cabinet approves the extension of tenure of the Commission constituted under Article 340 of the constitution to examine the issue of sub-categorization within Other Backward Classes, by 6 months - upto 31-1-2021.

Union Cabinet has approved a scheme for interest subvention of 2% to Shishu loan category borrowers under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, outstanding as on 31st March 2020, for a period of 12 months to eligible borrowers: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar

Union Cabinet approves establishment of Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund. Government will provide 3% interest subvention to eligible beneficiaries.

ISRO is the basic organisation - what activites or projects or missions wil be carried out, it will play a major role in deciding that. But this new facility has been introduced to fill the gap and fulfil demand mode.

Indian National Space, Promotion & Authorisation Centre is not a new institution but it's role has been extended into ISRO. This is a new turn in the arena of Space. They will supplement each other's work they will not work at cross purposes.

A new institution has been formed. It will be known as Indian National Space, Promotion & Authorisation Centre. It'll guide the private industries in space activities through encouraging policies in a friendly regulatory environment.

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Story first published: Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 16:56 [IST]
New Delhi: Amid the India-China face-off, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government is planning to make it compulsory for e-commerce websites to display the 'country of origin' tag on all the products for its customers, according to sources. The recent clashes between the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh along with the motive to promote the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, is likely to the reason behind taking such a call.

Earlier on June 22, the government made it compulsory for all products on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal to be labelled with the country of origin. All new and old products must declare their country of origin. The government will give reminders to those companies which do not comply with the norm. If they still fail to declare the country of origin, the government will withdraw the product from the GeM portal.

According to sources, a meeting was held on June 24 at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) which comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to take a call on similar norms to be implemented for the e-commerce websites.

Sources say that in the meeting the DPIIT officials made it clear to the e-commerce players that the rule of 'country of origin' can be implemented soon and if they don't comply accordingly, the product will not be listed on the portal.

If the product has been imported, then the full details of the importer will have to be given by the sellers. The purchasers will also have an option to select a filter where they will only be shown the products that have been made in India.
The swimming season in The Woodlands, already hammered by the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, will remain limited to seven community swimming pools for the rest of the 2020 season, officials announced.

The largest swimming facility in the township  Rob Fleming Aquatic Center  will not be reopened until the 2021 season.

Related: Woodlands to open 7 community swimming pools next weekend

There are 14 swimming facilities in the township operated by the Parks and Recreation Department staff and manned by hundreds of seasonal lifeguards, many who are high school or college students.

After COVID-19 restrictions prevented the opening of any pools in May  the traditional preseason before the full summer aquatics schedule  officials worked daily to develop a plan to reopen the facilities once restrictions were loosened.

On June 6, seven community pools opened with limited hours and capacity. The other seven community pools and Rob Fleming have never opened and will not be available to residents again until 2021.

The Alden Bridge pool was briefly closed on June 16 after a staff member was discovered to have tested positive for COVID-19.

On June 19, township officials announced expanded evening hours at two community pools as well as other details of the 2020 season. Two pools  Bear Branch and Wendtwoods  began new evening hours on June 22, with both pools open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m.

Chris Nunes, the townships director of Parks and Recreation, said the challenges of ever-changing and unknown pandemic guidelines and difficulties with lifeguard staffing, township board members felt it best to not open the other six community pools or Rob Fleming Aquatic Center this year.

The recruitment and training of lifeguards this spring was hampered significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic as many lifeguard hopefuls were unable to do First Aid training classes needed to become licensed.

We are only opening the seven pools this year. We did revise some hours and we reviewed that last week and modified those hours and were waiting to see what kind of response we are getting. It also deals with the availability of lifeguards because of training requirements and social distancing are really a challenge, Nunes added. We are basically using second and third-year lifeguards, people who have been with us. We have very, very few first-year (lifeguards). We traditionally we do all that training in March, April and May and we were not permitted to (this year).

The 2020 season was expected to be a busy one for the swimming pool division, with an analysis of the fees and user statistics being conducted at Rob Fleming Aquatic Center. The facility, which is in Harris County, was put into the spotlight in August 2019 after residents complained the massive complex was being over-crowded by non-residents coming from Houston. There were claims of unsafe behavior, hogging of shade space and chaise lounges and demands for changes to fees and access.

Related: Controversy at Rob Fleming aquatic center leads to special meeting

Those who spoke out in public comment during a regular board meeting and later at a public hearing hosted about the issue sought higher entry costs for non-residents and also asked for other limitations on non-resident use to be examined. Their goal, most said, was to ensure residents who pay local property taxes for the facility are the ones who benefit from it the most.

Related: Fleming pool fees double in The Woodlands

In mid-August 2019, the board approved a price hike for Rob Fleming Aquatic Center with less than a week before the full-time summer swim season ended.

Under the changes, non-residents of The Woodlands pay $20 per day Monday through Thursday and $30 per day on Friday through Sunday and all holidays. The previous cost was only $10 for a non-resident to use the facility. The changes also affected residents, raising the day-use cost for residents on Friday through Sunday and holidays by $5 to a new price of $15.

Nunes said the township board approved shifting the fee and use analysis and subsequent discussion and possible implementation of additional changes to the 2021season. He also said the loss of the much of the fun from the planned swimming season was challenging for the Parks and Recreation staff.

It is always disappointing when you cannot open facilities when there is public demand, but these are unique time periods and (were) trying to do the best that we can with the resources, Nunes added. You are trying to manage not only people wanting to come out, but that they are safe as well as your staff is safe.

jeff.forward@chron.com
Chinese Police Formally Arrest Dissident Who Told President to Step Down

2020-06-23 -- 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 Jiaxi's 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, China's 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.

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Small bit of camera news this morning. But perhaps a sentimental bit of news for some.

Olympus Corporation is exiting the camera business.

According to DPReview, the maker of the once iconic Olympus camera bodies (think journalists during the Vietnam war) are selling the business to Japan Industrial Partners  coincidentally the same company that previously bought the Vaio computer line from Sony.

However, it sounds like the Olympus brand (which was created in 1936) itself will remain, and that support for existing customers will continue:

In a statement, Olympus says the new company will carry on making and selling camera equipment and suggests it will maintain R&D and manufacturing facilities around the world. Crucially, the new company will also provide support to existing Olympus camera owners. Source: DPreview

Instead, going forward Olympus will focus on selling medical equipment such as endoscopes. Margin wise, this sounds prudent.

Given the slumping camera market due to the advent of the smartphone camera this really is not much of a surprise. Olympus imaging division lost money three years straight and has struggled for market and mind share against much larger players such as Canon, Sony and Panasonic. Meanwhile the overall market for dedicated camera bodies continues to fall.

Further, the demand for the Micro Four Thirds sensor that Olympus mirrorless cameras utilize is waning. Most consumers these days tend to be favoring full-frame sensors. Hence why we are seeing a flurry of new models in that space: Panasonic S1/S1H, Sony a7 III, Canon EOS R, RP, R5 and R6. Among others.

Ive never shot with Olympus here on Stark Insider, though in recent years I have been using the Panasonic GH5  also a MFT-based mirrorless camera  for many of our videos, including Crazy or Die and Azul (which we shot in Loreto and Loreto Bay in Baja California Sur, Mexico).

Given the exodus of Olympus Im almost tempted to pick up a low cost model, just for posterity, and in case the brand eventually ceases to exist. For example, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II while not the latest and greatest is still a wonderful little camera with that hallmark Olympus build and look. At under $400 USD its perhaps an enticing way to hang on to a piece of fleeting camera history.
Comstock Images | Stockbyte | Getty Images

One benefit of the lockdown triggered by the coronavirus epidemic has been a renewed enthusiasm for working at home. Forced to let millions of employees work from home to avoid contagion, companies that had been hesitant about taking that step have concluded they can benefit from telecommuters, after all. Companies from American Express and Facebook to Twitter and Zillow are now embracing a work-from-home culture, extending that option to employees even as confinement rules are lifted. One of the main drivers behind this shift is the economic incentive. According to a survey by software maker Atlas VPN, monitoring a single employee working remotely costs about $7 a month, and having an employee work from home half the time can save an employer $11,000 a year in increased productivity, lower real estate costs and reduced absenteeism, according to Global Workplace Analytics, a consultant on workplace trends and strategies.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, just 3.6% of U.S. workers regularly worked from home. But according to Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics, many more U.S. workers could work remotely than actually do. She cites a recent study by two University of Chicago economists in which they estimated that 37% of U.S. jobs could be done completely from home. Lister estimated that 56% of employees hold a job compatible, at least partially, with remote work. And employees have long been more enthusiastic than their bosses in working from home. Lister cites a survey indicating that 80% of employees would like to work from home at least part of the time. "Our prediction is that the longer people are required to work at home, the greater the adoption we will see when the dust settles," she said. A recent survey conducted by CNBC among technology executives across a wide variety of industries indicates that while many employees may be heading back to offices in September, that is not because remote work has led to a decline in worker productivity. In fact, 48% of respondents to the CNBC Technology Executive Council survey for Q2 2020 said that team productivity had increased since the pandemic began. Forty percent said it had remained the same, while 12% cited a productivity decrease. The CNBC survey also found 72% of technology executives saying that team workloads had increased more and everyone was working harder. Firms are also ramping up remote-work resources, with 68% saying their remote capabilities were better than when the pandemic began, and 40% saying remote technology resources were "much better." Twenty-five of the 146 members of the CNBC Technology Executive Council responded to this survey, which was conducted from June 315, 2020.

Keeping tabs on the untethered

Technology has made working from home easier, with widely adopted applications like Zoom and Slack enabling cooperation with co-workers and clients. Technology has also enabled managers to overcome their greatest objection to not having their employees in the office. "One of the biggest holdbacks of remote work is trust  managers simply don't trust their people to work untethered," said Lister. "They're used to managing by counting butts in seats rather than by results. " Companies such as ActiveTrak, Hivedesk, Teramind, Time Doctor and WorkExaminer enable companies to track the activities of their employees by installing software on their computers. Most monitoring software will track keystrokes, email, file transfers, applications used and how much time the employee spends on each task. Most will take periodic screenshots to let managers know what is on the employee's screen.

One of the biggest holdbacks of remote work is trust  managers simply don't trust their people to work untethered. They're used to managing by counting butts in seats rather than by results. " Kate Lister president of Global Workplace Analytics

"Organizations want to make sure that users working from home are actually being productive on company time," said Eli Sutton, vice president of operations at Teramind, a six-year-old Miami-based company that sells monitoring software. During the pandemic the level of interest in Teramind has tripled, said Sutton. In its promotional material, Teramind promises to monitor "all employee activity covering 12+ system objects, like web pages, applications, email, console commands, file transfers, instant messaging, social media, keystrokes, clipboard, searches, printing and even on-screen content in real time." The company offers a "revealed agent" that is visible to the employee and a "hidden agent" that performs certain security functions.

Invasion of privacy?

If monitoring sounds invasive, it's not limited to those working remotely. Employees in the U.S. don't have many privacy rights. "When you're on your office computer, you have no privacy at all," said Lewis Maltby, president of the National Workrights Institute. "Anything and everything you do is probably monitored by your boss." Maltby, a former director of employment rights at the ACLU, said the courts generally have supported the view that if you work on company equipment, your data belongs to the company. This sweeping view is based on the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, drawn up at a time before desktop computers were common. "Electronic communications in 1986 was the telephone." Lewis notes that some monitoring systems let you log off the corporate network to perform personal tasks and log back on, but few employees remember to do that. Alternatively, employees can use a personal wireless device (cellphone) to assure that communication is private. European privacy laws are more up to date and far more strict. Under the General Data Protection Regulations, adopted in 2016, individuals living in the European Union have far more control of their data, where it is stored and can even ask to have data removed if they disagree with its accuracy. One software vendor noted that by simply marking a document private, a worker in Europe can place it off limits to an employer  even on a company-owned device.

Maltby is pessimistic about tightening U.S. privacy laws to give employees more protection. He says he spent 20 years at the ACLU trying to get Congress to act. "If you take a poll, most people will say they care about privacy, but if you look in the average Congressman's mailbox, there's nothing about privacy," said Maltby. "Constituent silence on issues of privacy is deafening."

Managing with trust and empathy
Mr Hamidu Issaka, Kumawu Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has donated quantities of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all the constituency leaders of the Party.



The aim is to assist the branch executives and all other leaders playing various roles in the Party, to protect themselves from catching and spreading the coronavirus in their communities.



The item, which included face masks and hand sanitizers, were also to motivate and encourage the grassroots of the Party to be able to conduct their campaigns without much difficulty in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic.



Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Oyoko after the presentation, Mr Issaka said the exercise was to support the grassroots and volunteers of the Party who always cared and toiled for the Party to win elections.



This is not a political gimmick, but a demonstration of the fact that our grassroots and volunteers mattered in being kept safe and protected from contracting and spreading the disease, he emphasized.



According to him, all the 66 branches of the Constituency would receive the items and urged all Party members not to politicize government directives for curbing the further spread of the disease in the country.



Mr. Abu Mohammed, the branch Executive Chairman of the Oyoko Zongo, commended the Constituency Chairman for the philanthropic gesture and assured him of the judicious use of the items.



He called on all Party members and sympathizers to observe all government preventive and protection directives and protocols, to remain safe and protected from the disease.





Source: GNA









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The statues have stood for more than a century in some places. Some are cast in bronze, others carved in stone. And all over the world, as protests against racism and police violence have renewed attention on legacies of injustices, people have been asking: Does this statue still need to be here?

The answer from some protesters has been a resounding no.

In England, a 17th-century slave trader was dumped into Bristol Harbor. In Antwerp, a Belgian king who brutalized Congo was burned and ultimately removed. And in the United States, more than a dozen statues have been toppled, including several Confederate figures.

In dozens more cities, those that still stand have been marked with graffiti, challenged anew with petitions and protests, or scheduled for removal.
Is there Karnataka weekend lockdowns or night curfew? Here's what minister has to say

Karnataka issues order notifying setting up of fever clinics in pvt hospitals

India

pti-PTI

Bengaluru, June 24: The Karnataka government on Wednesday issued an order notifying establishment of fever clinics and swab collection centres in 66 private hospitals or medical colleges in the city, aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-l9.

It said, with the spike in number of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases, there is a need to increase the number of fever clinics and swab collection centres.

Karnataka Minister K Sudhakar's wife, daughter test positive for Covid-19

"The private medical colleges and private hospitals are instructed to work as fever clinics cum swab collection centres," the order dated Tuesday with a list of 66 private medical colleges and hospitals said.

Diesel costs more than petrol after 18th consecutive day of price rise | Oneindia News

It said they should do the triaging of ILI and SARI cases to find COVID-19 suspects, draw the swabs as per testing policy of the state government, use the software application meant for fever clinics and swab collection centres and make it available for transportation to labs identified by the government.

"The institution will collect their regular OPD charges for triaging and a maximum of Rs 350 for each swab from the patient. The test will be conducted at government's cost," it added.

Karnataka was the first state in the country to come out with the concept of fever or flu clinics. These have been established as the first point of contact for persons suffering from coronavirus like symptoms- fever, cold, cough, sore throat, breathlessness etc.

The state has improved its daily testing capacity from a few hundred tests in April to more than 10,000 now. Noting that the state has more than 600 fever clinics and over 1,172 Swab collection centres to screen patients and collect the swab in case the patient was suspected of Covid- 19, the notification said, in Bengaluru city the various urban public health centres have been converted into fever clinics.

Already 52 government managed fever clinics cum swab collection centres are functional. Pointing to the rise in number of ILIs and SARI cases and the need to increase the number of fever clinics and swab collection centres, it said many private hospitals or all medical colleges in Bengaluru have the capacity to run such clinic cum collection centres.

"Therefore, the order is passed under Sec.2 of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, read with Karnataka Epidemic Disease Ordinance, 2020 to control the spread of COVID-l9 & in the public interest," it added. Bengaluru till last evening has reported a total of 1,505 positive cases of COVID -19, which includes 73 deaths and 435 discharges. The city on Tuesday reported 107 new positive cases.
By Philip Weiss

June 22, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Embattled congressman Eliot Engel, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has bragged that he sits down with the rightwing pro-Israel organization AIPAC on every piece of legislation coming out of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

In a 2018 speech to an AIPAC gathering in his NY district, Engel noted that he and Rep. Nita Lowey had both been in the House 30 years and were soon to assume chair positions that they could use to help Israel.

We are at the cusp of being in a position as chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Appropriations Committee to make sure that Israel continue to receive support, and the United States and Israel stand as one. Theres a bunch of legislation coming out of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I want to tell you that I sit down with AIPAC on every piece of legislation that comes out. I think its very, very important. In the past 30 years I have attended 31 consecutive AIPAC conferences in March, I havent missed one. [Applause].

Engel personifies a tradition in the Democratic Party of being PEP  or progressive except Palestine.

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In his campaign to hold his seat representing the Bronx and Westchester in next weeks Democratic primary, Engel has repeatedly hailed the demonstrations over racial injustice and bragged of marching with Black Lives Matter, to protest the systemic forces of racism, police brutality, and abuse of power. He has endorsed much of the progressive program of his challenger Jamaal Bowman. He says he is for a Green New Deal, immigrants rights, a higher minimum wage, and universal health care as a human right.

Engel and Bowman differ most sharply on Israel. Bowman is for conditioning aid to Israel over its unending settlement project. While Engel has said that is out of the question, and has refused to criticize settlements.

Engel gave a speech to AIPAC in a White Plains temple two years ago, when the first crop of insurgent Democrats in Bowmans camp, Justice Democrats, were about to be elected to Congress. Engel said that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and two other soon-to-be-congresswomen who offered sharp criticism of Israel need to be educated about Israel, so that the Congress would maintain its overwhelming bipartisan support for Israel.

Engel took a one-sided view of the conflict, saying that Israel wanted peace and Palestinians had repeatedly rejected offers.

Were going to continue to strive for peace. But when it comes to peace it takes two to tango. The Israelis have shown time and time again over the years, that they are willing to compromise, theyre willing to come to a decision to have peace with the Palestinians, and each time the Palestinians have rejected it. Once with Ehud Olmert, once with Ehud Barak, the Israelis said yes to a peace deal and the Palestinians said No.

And he said Arabs have wanted to push Jews into the sea since 1947.

I also like to remind people that in 1947 the United Nations met, the Security Council, and they decided to partition what was then historic Palestine We all know the history. The Jews said yes, once again, the first time, and the Arabs said no they tried to push the Jews into the sea. It didnt work. Each time that is what happened, the Israelis said yes, and the Palestinians said no.

He concluded his remarks, Am Yisrael Chai, the people of Israel live.

Engel said that the House Foreign Affairs Committee was a model of bipartisanship and as chair he would maintain overwhelming support for Israel across the aisle.

That bipartisanship has filled Engels campaign coffers as he battles down to the wire. He has received over $600,000 from a pro-Israel group with close ties to AIPAC and to Republican sources of money. Many pro-Israel groups have rallied to his cause.

P.S. How odd that of all Engels issue links on his website, the Israel tab takes you to a 404 error. I wonder if this isnt a reflection of the fact that the Democratic base is actually critical of Israel and willing to support sanctions.
The County Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved a lean, no-tax-increase budget after a move failed by Commissioner Tim Boyd to pull $810,000 from supported agencies and re-instate discretionary funds.

Commissioner Boyd, at the start of the budget discussion, said he detected "mission drift" in some supported agencies. Asked for an example, he said the Chamber of Commerce had long been funded by the county to produce new jobs.

He said the Chamber recently was the primary sponsor for a Gay Rights parade that was "outside their mission." He said, "What's that got to do with recruiting jobs to Hamilton County?"

Commissioner Boyd said of the Chamber, "There doesn't seem to be the same focus on producing jobs, but on equity and diversity. Other groups can focus on that."

He proposed pulling a total of $810,000 from several agencies and allowing the commissioners to divvy up that amount for support of non-profit groups.

Commissioner Boyd said $40,000 could come from the Agriculture allotment, $12,500 each from the Southeast Tennessee Development District and the Air Pollution Control Bureau, $50,000 from the Enterprise Center, $300,000 from the Humane Educational Society and $395,000 from the Chamber.

That would leave Agriculture with $228,717, SETDD with $80,686, Air Pollution with $176,048, HES with $320,970, the Enterprise Center with $50,000 and the Chamber with $205,000.

He said the county mayor and his staff could decide for themselves which agencies to cut to reach the $810,000 total.

Commissioner Warren Mackey, who has long advocated for the return of discretionary funds, seconded the motion. Of cutting HES, he said, "I'm going to put human needs over animal needs every day. To give consideration to four-legged animals over a human being, it seems like our priorities are messed up."

County Mayor Jim Coppinger said the proposal "came totally out of the blue." He said if there was support to pass the motion, then the commissioners would need to outline what they wanted pulled from the agencies.

He said if the commissioners want discretionary funds they could "pull it straight out of the fund balance (savings)."

Commissioner David Sharpe said the last-minute move "would be pulling the rug out from under the affected agencies at a moment's notice."

Only Chester Bankston joined Commissioners Boyd and Mackey is supporting the idea, so if failed.

The budget total is $796.6 million.

County Mayor Coppinger expressed his appreciation to the countys financial team, headed by Al Kiser, Lee Brouner and Vonda Patrick "for their long hours and hard work on one of the most difficult budgets in recent years. This has been a difficult financial year, due to the challenges we have faced. My goal this year is to maintain service with our current fiscal constraints while meeting all maintenance of effort requirements and not raise property taxes. No one anticipated the tornadoes that ravaged part of neither our community nor the economic impact Covid 19 would have upon Hamilton County and its residents and businesses. Many requests for additional funding were denied this year, a total of $29.5 million dollars in requested funds were cut.

Despite this financial challenge, we have again presented a balanced budget to taxpayers which meets our governmental, education and public safety needs while maintaining our valued AAA bond rating from the three major rating agencies. The mayor continued his comments saying, Our longstanding commitment to running government in a fiscally conservative manner has enabled us to weather the events of the first half of 2020 with some prudent budget tightening.

County Mayor Coppinger also thanked the county commissioners "who have worked with me on not only the budget, but throughout the year to provide the services taxpayers expect during this challenging year."

Sixty-four percent of Hamilton Countys budget will go to fund the education system. The school systems budget is now $473 million.

County Mayor Coppinger reiterated his support for education stating, Despite the need to have a flat budget this year, education remains one of my foremost priorities.

He said, "Public safety remains a key element of the service Hamilton County provides to its citizens and the value of Hamilton Countys Health Department and Emergency Management Agency has been on full display in recent months as we continue to battle Covid 19 and recover from the Easter tornadoes."

County Mayor Coppinger added due to the current economic climate employees will not receive raises this year. However the county was able to hold the line on employees health insurance costs with no increase.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 11:38:23|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Wednesday renewed a yellow alert for rainstorms across vast stretches of the country for the next 24 hours.

From Wednesday morning to Thursday morning, heavy rain and rainstorms are expected in the regions of Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Anhui and Zhejiang, 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 of Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan and Jiangxi will experience downpours with up to 180 mm of daily rainfall.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

The center advised local authorities to remain alert for possible flooding, landslides and mudslides and recommended halting outdoor operations in hazardous areas.

Since June, continuous downpours have lashed large parts of southern China and the water level of many rivers in the affected areas exceeded the dangerous mark.

China's Ministry of Water Resources has called for all-out efforts to prevent floods and has dispatched six teams to the affected areas, including the provinces of Anhui and Hunan, to facilitate flood prevention and control. Enditem
Joe Biden keeps trying to out-warmonger Donald Trump, and by Joe Biden, I of course mean the team of handlers who are animating the dementia-ravaged corpse of the Biden campaign like a ventriloquist operating a wooden dummy.

In response to Trump suggesting an openness to scaling back his administrations murderous Venezuela policy and meeting with President Nicolas Maduro, whoever runs Bidens Twitter account for him seized upon the moment to assert that the former vice president will be doing no such thing if elected commander-in-chief.

Trump talks tough on Venezuela, but admires thugs and dictators like Nicolas Maduro, tweeted Biden Incorporated. As President, I will stand with the Venezuelan people and for democracy.

Translation: if Trump retreats from his current policy of trying to sanction and suffocate Venezuelan into submission, Biden will make sure to revive it, journalist Aaron Mate said in response.

To be clear, Joe Biden is now attacking Donald Trump from the right on Venezuela, said journalist Walker Bragman.

Trump talks tough on Venezuela, but admires thugs and dictators like Nicolas Maduro.



As President, I will stand with the Venezuelan people and for democracy. https://t.co/eUt28UxyXS  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 22, 2020

As FAIR.orgs Alan MacLeod accurately observed last year, this phrase the Venezuelan people is only ever invoked by the political/media class of the US-centralized empire for sloganeering purposes in support of US-led regime change interventionism in that nation, despite an overwhelming majority of Venezuelans opposing all US interventionism including sanctions.

This tactic of attacking Donald Trump for being insufficiently warlike is nothing new for Biden Inc, nor is it limited to Venezuela.

During the primary debates Biden attacked Trump for being insufficiently hawkish toward North Korea, claiming the president was wrong to meet with Kim Jong Un because it gives the leader legitimacy, whatever that means.

An April Biden campaign ad accused the president of being too soft on China by failing to force Beijing to allow US government officials into Wuhan to monitor the governing of a sovereign nation during a pandemic outbreak.

Trump praised the Chinese 15 times in January and February as the coronavirus spread across the world, says the ads narrator in an ominous voice. Trump never got a CDC team on the ground in China. And the travel ban he brags about? Trump let in 40,000 travelers from China into America after he signed it. Not exactly airtight.

I wouldnt meet with Kim Jong Un without pre-conditions. By meeting with him, Donald Trump gave Kim Jong Un what he was looking for: legitimacy. I will work closely with our allies and hold China accountable for its lack of pressure on the Kim regimes bad behavior. #DemDebate  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 15, 2020

Biden has attacked Trumps partial troop withdrawal from Syria, using talking points from the so-called war on terror to absurdly claim during a primary debate that the president is putting America at risk of a terrorist strike from ISIS.

We have ISIS thats going to come here, Biden said. They are going to damage the United States of America. Thats why we got involved in the first place.

And of course Biden & Co have been attacking Trump for being too soft on Russia, despite this administrations many, many dangerously hawkish new cold war escalations against Moscow.

We need a President who will stand up to the Kremlin, push back against Putin, and take immediate steps to ensure the security of our elections, Bidens Twitter account said last year.

This line of attack is so ubiquitous in the Biden campaign that it sometimes just takes the form of a vague, general swipe at Trumps unwillingness to be more warlike, with an April tweet reading simply Donald Trump says hes a wartime president  its time for him to act like one.

Donald Trump says hes a wartime president  its time for him to act like one.  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 18, 2020

Again, this is Donald Trump these people are talking about. The same president who imprisoned Julian Assange for exposing US war crimes, killed tens of thousands of Venezuelans with starvation sanctions, vetoed attempts to save Yemen from US-backed genocide, is working to foment civil war in Iran using starvation sanctions and CIA ops with the stated goal of effecting regime change, nearly started a full-scale war with Iran by assassinating its top general, occupied Syrian oil fields and implemented devastating sanctions with the goal of preventing Syrias reconstruction, greatly increased the number of troops in the Middle East and elsewhere, greatly increased the number of bombs dropped per day from the previous administration, killing record numbers of civilians, and reduced military accountability for those airstrikes.

The second-to-last thing the world needs is political pressure placed on Donald fucking Trump to be more warlike. The very last thing the world needs is a US president who ends up being even more warlike than Trump.

America is a war machine on top of a police state on top of a mass media psyop. Only people who are willing to keep these psychopathic mechanisms in place are permitted to ascend to presidential candidacy. While all the news cameras focus on the relatively minor differences between presidents and presidential candidates, you can learn a lot more about America and what drives it by looking at their similarities.

___________________________

Internet censorship is getting pretty bad, so the best way to keep seeing the stuff I publish is to get on the mailing list for my website, so youll get an email notification for everything I publish. My articles and podcasts are entirely reader and listener-funded, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking me on Facebook, following my antics on Twitter, checking out my podcast, throwing some money into my hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying my book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers.

*(Top image: credit: Tara Giancaspro/ Flickr)
MAK's new logo This milestone celebrates the achievements of everyone who has contributed to the companys success.

MAK Technologies (MAK), a company of ST Engineering North America, celebrates its 30th year milestone with the launch of a new logo. With this new look, the company continues to position itself for future growth in the modeling and simulation industry while maintaining the longstanding values that have guided its advancement to date.

Since 1990, MAK has delivered simulation, gaming, and networking technology solutions to help customers, particularly from the aerospace defense, and transportation industries, enhance their training and experimentation standards.

MAK is a wholly-owned subsidiary of its US parent company ST Engineering North America. It continues to maintain a Special Security Agreement with the US government to mitigate foreign ownership, control, and influence. Additionally, MAK is a Non-Traditional Defense Contractor able to enter into Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2371b.

We have come a long way in the past 30 years. This milestone celebrates the achievements of everyone who has contributed to the companys success. We are very excited to launch our new logo and our new look, but as we do that, we do not forget the values that have brought us to this success. Customers always remain our priority, and we continue to deliver our highest standards of products and services that exceed expectations, said Bill Cole, President and CEO of MAK.

The new logo will be implemented with immediate effect across the companys range of products and services.

*****

ST Engineering North America is the U.S. headquarters of ST Engineering, a global technology and engineering group, providing integrated solutions to the commercial and government markets in the aerospace, electronics, land systems, and marine sectors. Within the US, we have major operations in 17 cities across 13 states and more than 5,000 employees, providing innovative products and services across these diverse market segments. Please visit http://www.stengg.us.

MAK Technologies develops software for live, virtual, and constructive simulation. Built upon a strong foundation of COTS products, MAK delivers simulation, gaming, and networking technology in a flexible platform to meet the requirements of training system integrators, experimentation labs, and end-users. Our primary users are in the aerospace and defense industries. Yet, our products and services can help customers anywhere modeling and simulation is needed to train, plan, analyze, experiment, prototype, and demonstrate. MAK is dedicated to serving our customers by building capable products, offering superior technical support, and innovating new ways to build, populate, and view interoperable 3D simulated worlds. MAK continues to take advantage of new technologies that further the state of simulation. Our products help users link, simulate, and visualize their world. MAK Technologies is a company of ST Engineering North America. Please visit http://www.mak.com for more information.
Mumbai, June 24 : Popular TV actor Vijayendra Kumeria recently became a victim of fake casting calls.

He took to his Instagram account to share screenshots of the same as a warning to both struggling and experienced actors.

Vijeyandra revealed that it was not his first such experience. "In some cases you can figure out that it's a fake one in the first two messages only. They don't want to share their office address, and ask for pictures like bare body shots etc., so you get to know it's a fake one. But this time, they had a narration, they were ready with a script, name of a production house, etc., and I made an audition video for them too, but after I sent it across they started asking me for such pictures," he said.

"A genuine casting director or his team will never ask you for such pictures. That guy even tried to convince me that it was a genuine one, but eventually it stopped. So a friend told me that it has happened with him and I realised these people are sending it to a lot of actors. That's when I decided to post it on social media," he added.

If you are a struggling or an aspiring actor, it's very easy to fall into their trap, so he suggested: "No casting director or his team will ask for pictures in boxers or a bare body shot. So if something like that happens, then they should realise it's a fake call. They should immediately report that person or block him. Real casting people will never ask this on WhatsApp. So by posting it on my social media account, I wanted to let my followers know that this is happening with experienced actors too, so the ones who are struggling or aspiring should be a little alert." The actor, however, mentioned that one needs to be alert as actors are being asked to send across audition videos and look tests from home.

Vijayendra revealed that after his post, he received obscene and abusive messages from that number and added: "I have blocked his number, and I am thinking of complaining because I feel these things should be stopped. Also, I feel we are television actors and we want to make it big and do web series et cetera, so of course we get excited with such messages but the sad reality is that it's fake."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
SNWOT - South West/North West Women's Task Force members SNWOT

Human rights and civil society groupings have condemned Chris Anu, Secretary for Communication and IT of the Ambazonia Interim Government after he ordered armed separatist fighters to attack members of the South West North West Womens Task Force, SNWOT.

Chris Anu dished out the orders Tuesday in reaction to a SNWOT communique made public on Monday. In the dispatch, Sally Mboumien, General Coordinator, South West North West Womens Taskforce (SNWOT) said the civil disobedience strategy of imposing lockdowns and ghost towns only drowns an already very feeble people into the rivers of more pain and misery.

The women said they are passionate about restoring sustainable peace and encouraging initiatives and actions that are geared towards alleviating the plight of feeble communities.

We expect everyone to be empathetic, with IDPs, the vulnerable group (PLWD), aged, women, girls, and children, who are now living in abject poverty and deplorable conditions due to the on-going socio-political crisis plaguing the North West and South West regions. This deplorable situation has been aggravated with the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, SNWOTs General Coordinator wrote. We, therefore, decry the constant use of lockdowns as a strategy for civil disobedience within the on-going crisis. This strategy only drowns our already very feeble people into the rivers of more pain and misery.

Mboumien posited that if the priority remains the well-being of humanity, then this civil disobedience strategy of calling for lockdowns should be revisited, for the people of the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon need to enjoy their fundamental human rights to an adequate and decent standard of living.

In a shocking outing, Chris Anu described the women as blacklegs and traitors to the revolution. He went as far as alleging that as humanitarian workers, the women have been the ones giving out information to the military about the positions of the camps run by the non-state armed groups.

As Paul Tasong, National Coordinator of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions began a 12-day fact-finding and awareness mission to the restive area, Anu took to social media on Sunday to call for a three-day lockdown. In his call, he observed that the lockdowns were weighing down on the population, the same opinion expressed by the women in their communique.

Anu took 2018 and 2019 pictures and videos of the women and alleged that they were images from a protest staged on June 22, 2020. They came out yesterday protesting against the lockdown. They are saying that it is unnecessary, said Anu. These are enemies of this struggle. They are enablers. They are the people who are selling our restoration forces. They are very dangerous.

Without mincing words, Anu ordered members of the non-state armed groups to attack the women  kidnap and/or even ensure they do not live.

They should not live near you. They are selling us for contracts. They should not be seen talking peace. Let us locate them one by one and go after them let them begin to explain. We must stop those women, said Anu.

He failed to tell his audience that these are the same women who confronted Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute in Bamenda with the grievances of the people. Anu also failed to say that SNWOT has been calling the government to account for several incidents including the killing of the baby in Muyuka and the killing of women and children in Ngarbuh.

Agbor Balla reacts

Speaking on the line to Buea, Human Rights Lawyer Nkongho Felix Agbor alias Agbor Balla, President of the Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, said it is intolerable for civilians and aid workers to be attacked by members of the non-state armed groups.

He described Chris Anus utterances as an attempt to incite hatred and violence.

It is insensitive and a blatant incitement of hate and violence against civilians. If anything happens to any member of the South West North West Women's Task Force, it would be punishable by existing laws, Agbor Balla said. These are women who are in the field struggling to provide humanitarian assistance and basic help to those badly affected by the crisis. Any attack on civilians and/or humanitarian workers is intolerable. I condemn it in very strong terms. At the end of the day, who are these people fighting for?

SNOWT General Coordinator sets records straight

Contacted on Wednesday evening, Sally Mboumien, General Coordinator, South West North West Womens Taskforce (SNWOT), said she was taken aback by the comments made by Chris Anu. She said it was unfair for Anu to use old pictures and videos to run an untrue narrative.

Hear Mboumien: Secretary Chris as one of the leaders who have an opinion in this conflict, we respect him. But I am just taken back after, the live show he had yesterday, on what he said about SNWOT and the women. I wonder why he had to tell a lie that we were in the streets protesting, took pictures of lamentation campaigns in 2018 calling for an inclusive and sincere dialogue as well as an uplift of the ban on schooling in the NW/SW regions and the call for women to contribute their voices in ending the conflict campaign that we did in 2019 and is talking that we were in the streets a few days back to protest lockdowns. I dont think that is fair; if we want to have change within our communities, we must work with truth so that we can have a better community.

Secondly, I wonder why he should insult and question the womens integrity and womanhood as well as assume about us the women because we are a people that have given to them as parties in conflict and the entire whole what we stand for and we have not changed. SNWOT is out to see how women can significantly contribute in ending the conflict that is going on in the North West and South West Regions and to make sure that women are included in decision-making processes. And we have not changed from that goal; we are not a partisan group, but a group that talks about the situation and the wellbeing of women, most especially in conflict times as we advocate for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

I equally wonder why Secretary Chris will call for women to be attacked and violated when we merely stated our opinions on lockdowns following our interactions in the field. It is particularly alarming because I listened to him, Secretary Chris, acknowledging that lockdowns are not good for the people while he was making this same call for lockdowns on the 21st of June 2020.

This is no fight amongst us. It is a fight of opinions of political leaders. Our role has been to call for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and will be till we get a peaceful and sustainable community. I will also repeat the fact that SNWOT is calling on all warring factions to silence the guns preferably through an agreed ceasefire and work together through a negotiated settlement for sustainable peace and development to return to the regions. This will enable the people to have their lives back.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

By Fidan Babayeva  Trend:

Azerbaijans Kristall Plus CJSC plans to increase export of alcoholic beverages in post-pandemic period, Director of the company Ali Huseynov told Trend.

At the moment, the company has no plans to expand the geography of exports. We have been exporting our products to Ukraine, England and India for two years. Following the end of the pandemic, we plan to increase export volumes, the director emphasized.

Since early 2020, the Kristall Plus has produced 611,739 liters of alcoholic beverages.

This year, 568,447 liters of vodka, 39,041 liters of wine and 4,251 liters of cognac were produced by the company, Huseynov said.

The volume of production slightly changed over the year, but sales decreased by 24.4 percent. This is due to the limited export of products to foreign markets caused by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

On March 25, 2020 the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Development Agency of Azerbaijan provided Kristall Plus CJSC with financial support for production of medical alcohol.

Since March 25, 2020, Kristall Plus has produced 208,479 liters of medical alcohol.

Kristall Plus CSJC that has been operating since 2004, specializes in the production of various wines and spirits.

The company uses the latest equipment of leading manufacturers in the production process.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: Fidan_Babaeva
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 21:31:40|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Namibia continues to be recognized for having the best road infrastructure in Africa, the country's Roads Authority (RA) announced on Wednesday.

The recognition is according to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Quality of Road Infrastructure Report for 2019, the RA said in a statement.

Namibia's score has gone up to 5.3 from the previous score of 5.1 in 2018, putting Namibia in the same category as countries including Germany and Sweden.

"The improvement in points and ranking can be attributed to a number of factors, such as the continued maintenance of our existing roads, completion of new roads and the currently ongoing construction of major capital projects such as the Windhoek-Okahandja road, Windhoek-Hosea Kutako Airport road, Swakop-Henties Bay road project and Swakop-Walvis Bay road, among others," RA CEO Conrad Lutombi said.

Namibia's overall global ranking has also moved up to number 21, a major move from the 28th spot the country occupied in 2018, Lutombi added.

"With the continued support of financial resources from our government and other funders, it is our wish to emulate top-performing countries such as Singapore that have remained at the top of the ranks since 2018", Lutombi concluded.

Meanwhile, this is the fourth consecutive year that Namibia maintains top position in the rankings of good quality road infrastructure in Africa, outperforming competitors such as South Africa and Rwanda, he said. Enditem
Cognizant's net profit declined 29 percent to $361 million in the June quarter due to COVID-19 pandemic (Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

IT major Cognizant has begun terminating its bench employees as the business has taken a hit on the back of COVID-19, several executives said, on condition of anonymity.

The terminations are happening at the associate level (mostly mid-level employees) and above, sources told Moneycontrol. Those employees who are on the bench for more than 35 days are being scrutinised, and their inability to secure a project within the short span is leading to termination, the sources added.

These employees are from different locations such as Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad and Kochi.

In an email to a retrenched employee, which Moneycontrol has seen, the company said,  (We are) left with no other option other than to terminate your employment for reasonable cause of failure to secure work allocation and being in the bench for longer period with full salary.

The mail further added that the employee will have to attend a personal hearing to explain why he/she was on the bench for more than the allowed bench period of 35 days. In the event the employee does not appear, the company would consider the absence as accepting his inability and proceed further.

One executive added that poor performers too were being asked to leave. There have also been concerns about the severance package the company is offering, which employees said, was 'unfair.'

The Chennai-based IT union All India Forum for IT/ITeS Employees had written a petition to the Chennai labour commission on June 12 and another letter to the deputy commission of labour (Central), New Delhi on June 22. In the letter, the union has said that the company is forcing employees to resign in the event that they were unable to secure the project or their rating was poor.

The respondent terminated illegally and unethically number of employees recently using this pandemic situation, the statement added. Moneycontrol has seen copies of both letters.

Though the scale of these terminations is not clear, the IT union said in its press release that there are close to 18,000 employees on the bench and over 27,000 rated with poor performance.

In a statement, Cognizant spokesperson said, Performance management is a normal process across all companies in the IT industry, including Cognizant.

While Cognizant does not comment on rumor and speculation in the marketplace, we would like to clarify that recent third party allegations regarding a specific number of job actions are not accurate, not based on facts, and were not announced by Cognizant. Cognizant continues to hire at all levels in India and globally, the statement added.

The spokesperson said the company is also investing in upskilling and reskilling its employees at scale in newer digital technologies, including cloud, analytics, digital engineering and IoT, where the company is seeing above industry-average growth.

Industry experts Moneycontrol spoke to, warned that coming months will see more performance and bench-related layoff measures as companies struggle to protect margins.

Pareekh Jain, founder, Pareekh consulting, a tech consultancy firm, said this comes on the back of COVID-19 that had led to clients cutting down spend on digital projects and core business volumes coming down.

This translates to more people released from projects and fewer projects to choose from.

Earlier, even during slump, companies would wait for a month or two before releasing resources to the bench. These employees would be shadow resources for existing projects or work on internal projects. After COVID-19, there is uncertainty around new deals and the possibility of existing projects deferred, limiting the scope.

This could have led Cognizant and most likely other IT companies to scrutinise bench employees, added another expert.

Jain explained that going forward, there will be huge pressure on employees to perform and evaluation standards would be set high. As a result, the number of employees rated poor performers is increasing. So if they were 5 percent earlier, it would be 10 percent now, he added.
Many consider Alaska to be the last frontier. For some retirees, that alone makes the state an appealing choice for retirement. Not everyone wants to head to the beach when they leave the workforce. Being near the wilderness may feel like a better choice. Plus, Alaska has a lot to offer retirees. If you want to figure out how to retire well in Alaska, heres what you need to know about the most northerly state.

Cost of Living

Most people assume that retiring in Alaska doesnt make financial sense. However, when properly managed, retiring anywhere is possible.

First, its important to understand that many of the states services are better funded in Alaska than they are in other popular retirement states. That means youll have access to more support and better quality of care.

However, housing and food prices can be higher, depending on your area. Like Hawaii, Alaska isnt near major food distribution centers, so everything is being shipped in, and that cost is passed on to you. Additionally, apartments in larger cities can be costly, just like they can be in any other city. If you head to a smaller town instead, you may do better in that department.

Overall, the cost of living is 28 percent higher in Anchorage than the national average. Housing and grocery costs are largely responsible for that, as well as slightly higher utilities. However, Alaska isnt the highest when it comes to cost of living. Hawaii, California, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Oregon all rank higher, which is something to consider.

Tax Considerations

When it comes to taxes, Alaska is a winner. The state doesnt have an income tax, allowing you to keep more of your retirement money in your pocket.

Additionally, there isnt a state sales tax, either. However, there are municipalities that have sales tax. That means, depending on where you shop, you could end up dealing with sales tax. But the average sales tax is fairly low, usually below 2 percent. And many cities dont have one at all, so you might be able to avoid it entirely.

When it comes to property taxes, there is no state-level exemption for seniors. However, some municipalities do have one, including Anchorage. The exact limits and requirements vary, so youll need to explore each area to see if you qualify and to learn more about the size of the exemption.

Overall, many of these tax breaks can help offset the higher cost of living in Alaska. It is perfectly plausible that retiring elsewhere could cost you more. However, youll want to examine each factor carefully. That way, you can make a reasonable decision about your retirement.

Part-Time Job Opportunities

Generally speaking, the Alaska economy is fairly strong. This is especially true during the summer when tourism bolsters the hospitality and service industries.

Many seniors can find summer positions, allowing them to bolster their retirement accounts or reduce their reliance on them. However, this situation is a bit tricky in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Should conditions return to normal, opportunities will likely be available. Until that time, they are going to be limited, especially with many taking a break from travel due to the coronavirus.

Best Cities for Retirees in Alaska

When it comes to the best cities in Alaska for retirees, there are plenty of choices available. Anchorage can be a solid choice. The states largest city has plenty of amenities, including recreation centers and retirement communities, even though retirees make up less than 10 percent of the states population. Medical centers are also widely accessible.

If youd rather explore different options, Wasilla, which is just outside of Anchorage, can be a great option. The city is home to the start of the Iditarod and has a host of outdoor attractions nearby, including Lucile Lake and Jacobsen Lake. Palmer, home of the Alaska State Fair, is also in the Anchorage metro area.

For those who want to head to a different region, Fairbanks should be on the table. Its the second most popular metro area, offering a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities and city amenities.

If youd prefer to go for a smaller city, consider Sterling. Retirees make up about 18 percent of the population, and with good reason. Sitka, home of the Alaska Day Festival, as well as Bethel, should also be on the table.

You may be able to live comfortably in Alaska for as little as $36,000 a year, depending on the city you choose. However, if you have access to $50,000 a year or more, retiring well in Alaska is certainly possible.

Do you have any tips that can help someone retire well in Alaska? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.
The funeral of a prominent uncle of President Sebastian Pinera is the latest bone of contention in Chile,

Chiles President Sebastian Pinera is being accused of breaking his own governments coronavirus rules.

He attended the funeral of his 104-year-old uncle, former Archbishop Bernardino Pinera, along with more than 30 others, 10 more than is allowed. The ceremony included live music and photographers.

More than 250,000 people are known to have contracted the disease in Chile.

Al Jazeeras Lucia Newman reports from Santiago, Chile.
Protesters with Black Future Project occupy a Boyle Heights intersection June 23. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)

As tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest police brutality earlier this month, health officials hammered home a single message: Get tested for the coronavirus. The massive demonstrations could become hotbeds for transmission, officials warned.

Widespread testing might allow detection of those cases before they spread further. But in the weeks since the protests, Los Angeles County residents say they have struggled to secure testing appointments, even as officials report a troubling surge in people infected with COVID-19.

"The fact that we are having these huge public congregations and if we want to go get tested, we cant  its disturbing," said Tannaz Sassooni, 42. "I don't know if it's a glitch, or if [the website] is truly just not taking anyone right now, but it's pretty bad."

Sassooni, who lives in Atwater Village, has tried unsuccessfully to make an appointment for COVID-19 testing multiple times after attending an anti-police-brutality demonstration last week. She and others say they fear that the window to learn whether they contracted COVID at a protest is narrowing quickly.

On Tuesday, L.A. County officials confirmed that there were no appointments available at the more than 40 sites run by the city, county and state. Some sites were temporarily closed and the number of open slots at available sites had been reduced, though in the late afternoon they added some to accommodate demand, they said.

The announcement about the testing shortfalls was widely criticized, in part due to the timing. Over the weekend, President Trump declared at a rally that he ordered testing to be slowed down nationally so that fewer cases would be detected.

The testing issues come as Los Angeles County and California is seeing a major jump in people sick with the virus on Monday. California shattered a daily record for new coronavirus cases with more than 6,000 infections reported Monday  the largest single-day count in the state since the pandemic hit the U.S.

Story continues

"Testing is the only way to truly know where the infection is, and where it's going," said UCLA epidemiologist Dr. Tim Brewer. "So if you ultimately want to be able to contain and control it, you're going to have to have testing as a major component of that strategy."

L.A. struggled with testing enough people early in the pandemic, but was then lauded for greatly expanding its capacity and becoming the first major city to provide testing to people who don't have symptoms of the virus.

But officials faced criticism for closing many testing sites during the protests, which resulted in a 20% drop in the number of people tested in the first week of June. Then Angelenos began having problems scheduling appointments on the website.

When a reporter asked L.A. County health officials on June 17 why there were no available appointments, officials said the problems were due to adjusting the criteria for who could get tested and where, and would be fixed soon. But they weren't.

On Monday morning, Sandra Medina decided she needed a COVID test. She'd had a sore throat for a few days and wanted to make sure she wasn't infected with the virus.

She clicked a link for the testing website and got a message saying no appointments were available. She tried again, and again. The same message appeared.

"Then I tried for the fourth time, and the fourth time when I did it again, the message popped up immediately, so I didn't make the appointment," said Medina, 25.

Officials said Tuesday that the testing shortfall is in part due to paring down of testing sites and slots, a move that they had been discussing for weeks because of a large number of unfilled appointments.

In the second week of June, the most recent week for which data is available, 90,863 people were tested for COVID-19 at government-run sites, while 38,417 slots were either unfilled or no-shows.

On Tuesday morning, the testing website was only offering appointments through Friday, all of which had filled up. So in the afternoon, officials added appointments for Saturday through Monday so people could continue to sign up, they said. The county will also open an additional dozen testing sites on Monday, they said.

Any drop in testing would likely complicate efforts to combat a recent rise in COVID-19 cases in California and in L.A. County, which have both seen record-breaking numbers of cases reported in the past week.

L.A. County public health department director Barbara Ferrer said Monday that it is "highly likely" the local surge is linked in part to protests, but also probably to social gatherings and other events. Officials from other counties, including San Diego and Contra Costa, told The Times that while some people who attended protests have been diagnosed with COVID-19, they don't seem to be a major group driving outbreaks.

The limited coronavirus transmission that has been documented as a result of the protests suggests that being outdoors and wearing masks can greatly reduce spread of the coronavirus. The same numbers of people indoors, without masks, could have easily been a disaster, said UCSF epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford.

But knowing definitively what has caused the recent spike in cases would require careful analysis, and it may never be possible to disentangle whether it was the protests, the reopening of the economy, or something else entirely, said UCLA's Brewer.

He said that regardless, the virus remains a threat and people need to stay vigilant. California has become a state where case numbers have continued a troubling rise, he said.

"Clearly, were not where we need to be right now," he said.

Coronavirus infections among Los Angeles police officers have spiked in recent weeks, and officials are trying to determine whether the protest might be a source of the infections.

Police officials have said that officers were exposed on skirmish lines as they worked to disperse screaming crowds. Protesters say officers recklessly arrested people en masse without wearing masks, exposing not just themselves but others.

In the last week, positive cases within the LAPD workforce jumped from 170 to 206, Chief Michel Moore told the civilian Police Commission on Tuesday.

Officers in many instances attempted to wear face coverings but were challenged in effectively communicating with each other or over the radio, given the conditions, Moore said.

Protesters and their supporters, meanwhile, have lambasted the LAPD and individual officers for weeks for not wearing masks during the protests, which they said put them at risk. Multiple lawsuits over the LAPDs protest response cite the lack of masks on officers and the crowding of arrested protesters into packed buses during a pandemic .

During a public comment portion of the Police Commissions online meeting Tuesday, multiple callers ripped into Moore over the issue, saying he should not be surprised that officers had contracted the virus, given that many of them had dismissed public safety concerns and refused to wear masks amid the protest crackdowns.

Times staff writers Kevin Rector and Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.




The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ordered the judge in the Michael Flynn case to grant the Justice Department's request to dismiss the case.

"Upon consideration of the emergency petition for a writ of mandamus, the responses thereto, and the reply, the briefs of amici curiae in support of the parties, and the argument by counsel, it is ORDERED that Flynn's petition for a writ of mandamus be granted in part; the District Court is directed to grant the government's Rule 48(a) motion to dismiss; nd the District Court's order appointing an amicus is hereby vacated as moot, in accordance with the opinion of the court filed herein this date," reads the order.

Appeals court orders Flynn judge to grant dismissal of the case pic.twitter.com/MmWSDrzHCh  kadhim (^) (@kadhim) June 24, 2020

Developing...
London:

According to new data from the Cassini mission, Saturn moons Titan and Enceladus are already known to hide global oceans beneath their icy crusts, but a new study suggests an ocean exists on Dione as well.The ocean is several tens of kilometres deep and surrounds a large rocky core, researchers said. Researchers from the Royal Observatory of Belgium show gravity data from recent Cassini flybys can be explained if Dione's crust floats on an ocean located 100 kilometres below the surface.

Dione is very similar to its smaller but more famous neighbour Enceladus, whose south polar region spurts huge jets of water vapour into space.

Dione seems to be quiet now, but its broken surface bears witness of a more tumultuous past.

"As an additional principle, we assumed that the icy crust can stand only the minimum amount of tension or compression necessary to maintain surface landforms," said Mikael Beuthe, lead author of the study."More stress would break the crust down to pieces," Beuthe said.

Ocean is much closer to the surface, especially near the south pole where geysers erupt through a few kilometres of crust.

Dione's ocean has probably survived for the whole history of the moon, and thus offers a long-lived habitable zone for microbial life.

"The contact between the ocean and the rocky core is crucial," said Attilio Rivoldini, co-author of the study."Rock-water interactions provide key nutrients and a source of energy, both being essential ingredients for life," said Rivoldini. The study was published in the journal Geophysical Research.

With PTI inputs

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Libya warns Egypt against military intervention; France backs Cairo

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 8:34 AM

Libya's High Council of State, an advisory body to the internationally-recognized government in the country, has warned Egypt against military intervention in Libya.

"We urge the Egyptian army not to be dragged into a gamble, whose fate will be similar to previous gambles, like the case in Yemen," the Libyan council said in a statement on Monday, in an apparent reference to Egypt's costly intervention in Yemen in the 1960s.

Egypt supports Libyan rebels under the command of a military strongman named Khalifa Haftar, even though reports suggested recently that Haftar himself had fallen from grace with his foreign patrons, including Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah el-Sisi.

Sisi  whose inchoate attempts to spearhead a peace process for Libya have been ignored by stronger international actors  said on Saturday that he had ordered the Egyptian military to prepare for "external military missions" in Libya "if required."

The Libyan council also decried Sisi's call for training and arming Libyan tribesmen as "an attempt to fuel sedition and turn Libyans against each other."

"Libya is an independent and sovereign state, and it is the duty of Libya's legitimate government to extend its control over the entire Libyan territory," the council added in its statement.

Haftar and his rebels have been attempting to shore up a parallel government in Libya's eastern Tobruk.

In its statement, the council condemned the speaker of the Tobruk-based parliament, Aguila Saleh, for supporting Egypt's potential military intervention in Libya.

Libya's internationally-recognized government is headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and is based in Tripoli. It receives backing from Turkey in particular.

Haftar's rebel forces  who are backed by the UAE, France, and Russia, besides Egypt  launched an offensive to seize the capital and unseat Sarraj's government in April 2019, triggering some of the most intense fighting in the country.

Recently, government forces have managed to gain the upper hand.

Turkey has been of significant help to the Tripoli-based government by sending sophisticated drones and air defense systems, and also dispatching allied militants from Syria.

Libya Review on Sunday claimed that the Libyan government had given 12 billion dollars to Turkey for military support.

The report came after a high-level Turkish delegation, led by Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, paid a visit to Tripoli on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen mutual cooperation.

Macron: Turkey playing 'dangerous game' in Libya

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron denounced Turkey's military support for Tripoli, saying Ankara was playing "a dangerous game."

"I have already had the opportunity to say very clearly to President [Recep 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 on Monday, referring to a Libya peace conference hosted by Berlin earlier this year.

"We won't tolerate the role that Turkey is playing in Libya," Macron added.

But the French president backed Egypt's potential military intervention in Libya, asserting that Sisi had a right to intervene in Libya.

"You noted the legitimate concern of President Sisi when he sees troops arriving at his border," Macron said.

Ankara-backed troops are not known to have operated near Egypt's border.

Macron claimed France was a concerned party "because today, from Libya, each day, men and women are fleeing misery to come to Europe."

Earlier, a peace process proposed by Sisi had been dismissed by European powerhouse Germany.

UN orders probe into Libya abuses

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) has ordered an investigation into alleged human rights violations in Libya, after the International Criminal Court raised the possibility of the mass graves discovered there amounting to war crimes.

The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution calling on UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet to deploy a fact-finding mission to the war-torn country to document violations committed since 2016.

The resolution, which was adopted without a vote on Monday, strongly denounced all acts of violence in Libya and expressed concern about reports of "torture, sexual and gender-based violence and harsh conditions in prisons and detention centers."

The resolution had been drafted by a group of African countries and put forward in March, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the Geneva-based body to suspend its main annual session for three months.

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President Donald Trump is lagging behind Joe Biden by 14 points in a new poll that also shows him struggling to retain majority support among men, white Americans and older voters - crucial GOP voting blocs.

A New York Times/Siena College poll that dropped Wednesday shows that Biden currently has the support of 50 per cent of registered voters, while Trump sits at 36 per cent.

Additionally, 50 per cent of those surveyed said they had 'very unfavorable' views of Trump, while about half of that - 27 per cent - held the same view of Biden.

President Trump is down by 14 points nationally in a new poll by The New York Times and Siena College, where 50 per cent of voters said they had a 'very unfavorable' view of the president

Joe Biden, the Democrats' presumptive nominee, is beating Trump among the typical Democrat-friendly voting blocs, as well as groups the president won in 2016

About the same percentage of Americans view each candidate very favorably - with 27 pe cent saying that of Trump and 26 per cent believing that about Biden, the Democrats' presumptive nominee.

Similar to how the demographic groups broke down in last week's Rasmussen poll, Biden does well with groups who typically vote Democratic.

He has a 74-point advantage among black voters and a 39-point lead among Latinos.

He wins women voters of all races by 22 points.

He has a 34-point advantage among voters ages 18 to 34 and a 23-point advantage among voters who are ages 35 to 49.

But Biden is starting to challenge Trump with groups who generally tilt Republican.

Voters ages 50 to 64 only prefer Trump by 1 point, while Biden leads by 2 points among voters age 65 and up.

Trump also only has a 1-point lead among white voters, however when college and non-college are split, the president leads by 19 points among those who didn't go to college, while Biden leads by 28 points among those who did.

Trump also has lost his edge among men, who now favor Biden by 3 points.

In 2016, Trump beat Hillary Clinton because he had an 11-point advantage with male voters.

He won white voters nationally by 15 points.

And he had an advantage with voters over 50 years old, according to data from the Pew Research Center.

A glimmer of good news for Trump is that he still gets a thumbs up on his handling of the economy, with 50 per cent of voters giving him a favorable rating, compared with 45 per cent who don't.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Two Republican legislative leaders in the House are asking the state Supreme Court to strike down New Mexicos emergency public health orders.

They filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a case that otherwise challenges the states authority to levy $5,000 daily fines on businesses that violate health orders.

The brief goes further than the initial lawsuit  by asking the justices to void the orders altogether, not just rule on the fines.

It was filed by House Minority Leader James Townsend of Artesia, House Minority Whip Rod Montoya of Farmington, the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and the New Mexico Business Coalition.

They say the health orders are beyond the legal authority of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration and have caused staggering economic damage.

The orders are overreaching, vague and ambiguous at many critical points, and lack any basic due process protection, the filing contends.

In a written statement, Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett said the public health orders  and the states ability to enforce them  are explicitly created by and allowed by state statute. Furthermore, she said, if the legislators take issue with the states health and emergency laws, they should propose changing them through the legislative process.

It continues to be incredibly disappointing that they seem to value attempting to score political points over protecting the health and safety of New Mexicans, including their own constituents, Sackett said.

The Lujan Grisham administration ordered the closure of nonessential businesses this spring as part of a broader plan to limit the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory disease that has contributed to the deaths of 476 New Mexicans.

But state officials are now relaxing the restrictions in phases every few weeks, citing a decline in the transmission rate of the disease.

In May, about a dozen business owners and companies  with support from the state Republican Party  filed a lawsuit challenging the states authority to issue $5,000 fines for violating health orders.

Attorneys for Lujan Grisham in June asked the Supreme Court to resolve the question, contending it was a novel legal issue but that state law empowers the administration, in emergencies, to levy the large fines as part of its police powers.

The case is now pending before the Supreme Court.

Besides GOP legislative leaders, a pawnshop in Grants  represented by attorney Zachary Cook, a Republican state representative from Ruidoso  also moved to join the case. Papas Pawn said the state has threatened the store with a $60,000 fine for remaining open for 12 days in defiance of state health orders.
SEATTLE, WA Tuesday, state health officials confirmed eight new deaths linked to COVID-19 in Washington and 516 new confirmed cases of the disease.

That's a large jump in new cases, but not an unexpected one. On Monday, the state Department of Health reported an issue collecting new data between Saturday night and Monday morning, meaning that many of the new cases Tuesday can be attributed to that backlog of weekend cases finally being reported.

Deaths Tuesday were reported in Franklin, King, Pierce, and Yakima counties.

The new numbers mean a total of 29,386 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the state since the outbreak began, and 1,284 people have died.

A total of 487,059 Washingtonians have been tested for the coronavirus, meaning roughly 6 percent of tests come back positive.

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in Washington. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.



Catch up on the latest developments:

Inslee announces mask mandate

Gov. Inslee has announced that, starting Friday, Washingtonians will be required to wear masks while out in public, or face a potential misdemeanor.

(Washington Governor's Office)

Under the mandate, residents will have to wear facial coverings in all public spaces where they cannot maintain a safe physical distance of more than six feet apart: including inside and immediately outside stores and businesses, and on public transport.

The type of mask or facial covering does not matter as long as it covers both the mouth and the nose.

State health officials say they believe the mandate is the best way to tamp down on the coronavirus while still allowing counties to reopen businesses.

The science is clear that when we use face coverings, we limit the spread of droplets being passed on to others when we talk, cough or sneeze," said Secretary of Health John Wiesman. "While some of us are wearing face coverings in public, we must increase usage to best control the virus. Washingtons strategy to restart the economy and get people back to work will only be successful if, together, we act safely and follow health recommendations."



Story continues

There are several exceptions to the mandate including for those who cannot safely wear masks because of breathing issues, or for children under five. Kids under two should also not wear masks at all, as they can be a choking hazard for smaller children.

At the same news conference Inslee also announced a second mandate exclusive to Yakima County. Yakima has seen an explosion of new coronavirus cases, so the state will now require businesses to refuse service to customers who are not wearing masks. Businesses that continue to serve mask-less customers could end up facing thousands of dollars in fines.

Read more: Inslee Announces Statewide Facial Covering Mandate

King could be stuck in Phase 2 longer than expected

King County has made significant progress preventing coronavirus-related deaths, but the number of new cases could keep it stuck in Phase 2 for longer than the three-week minimum. Crosscut spoke to several local health officials, who said they wouldn't be surprised if the county was held back, especially as the county falls behind on contact tracing metrics.

The contact tracing program is not working, Harborview's Dr. John Lynch told Crosscut. We need to find ways for the health department to be able to do contact tracing effectively and if thats not working, I am quite concerned about our ability to progress.



The state expects counties to use contact tracing to interview 80 percent of people who test positive for the coronavirus within 24 hours of those patients receiving the positive test result, but so far it has failed to meet that metric, and that could hold a potential Phase 3 application back.

Read the full report on Crosscut's website here.

Coronavirus cases by county:



County Confirmed Cases Hospitalizations Deaths Adams 109 (+1) 8 0 Asotin 20 1 2 Benton 1,463 (+26) 187 76 Chelan 289 (+3) 19 6 Clallam 33 3 0 Clark 660 (+6) 98 30 Columbia 8 (+6) 0 0 Cowlitz 149 (+4) 19 0 Douglas 195 12 3 Ferry 1 0 0 Franklin 1,335 (+29) 128 (+2) 30 (+1) Garfield 0 0 0 Grant 405 (+29) 36 6 (+1) Grays Harbor 23 8 0 Island 187 32 12 Jefferson 33 7 0 King 9,366 (+113) 1,731 (-3) 604 (+2) Kitsap 195 (+4) 28 2 Kittitas 100 (+1) 2 0 Klickitat 53 (+1) 8 3 Lewis 50 (+1) 13 3 Lincoln 2 0 0 Mason 43 5 1 Okanogan 63 5 2 Pacific 13 2 1 Pend Orielle 3 0 0 Pierce 2,321 (+33) 396 (+4) 93 (+1) San Juan 19 1 0 Skagit 486 (+1) 56 (+1) 15 Skamania 4 (+1) 1 0 Snohomish 3,329 (+80) 595 164 Spokane 1,021 (+36) 108 38 Stevens 16 4 1 Thurston 221 (+5) 35 (+1) 7 Wahkiakum 4 0 0 Walla Walla 144 (+4) 9 3 Whatcom 521 (+22) 52 40 Whitman 31 (+3) 0 0 Yakima 6,135 (+109) 457 (+1) 142 (+4) Unassigned 36 1 0 Total 29,386 4,067 1,284

The above numbers are provided by the state Department of Health, and some numbers differ from the totals provided separately by county health agencies.

[NORECIRC]

This article originally appeared on the Seattle Patch
Three people have died and hundreds have fled their homes in western Ukraine following the worst flooding in a decade, authorities said Wednesday. "The situation is critical," said Prime Minister Denys Shmygal, who flew to the disaster zone with the interior minister and the head of the emergency services. Floods caused by heavy rains that began this week hit 200 villages, damaging almost 6,000 homes, the emergency services said in a statement. Later in the day, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged officials "to find a systemic solution, strengthen the banks of the rivers." The worst-hit region is Ivano-Frankivsk on the Romanian border. The flooding forced the evacuation of a hospital in the town of Galych. "The situation is complicated by the fact that there are patients with the coronavirus," Prime Minister Shmygal said. In some regions, around 70 percent of the monthly rainfall average fell over several days, said Interior Minister Arsen Avakov. More than 100 kilometres (60 miles) of road and around 90 bridges have been destroyed, the interior ministry said. Authorities were to start delivering food by helicopter to villages cut off by the flood waters. The scale of this flood has already exceeded the one in 2008, when 39 people were killed in western Ukraine, Shmygal said. Due to heavy rains on Tuesday, there was a sharp rise in the water level of the Tysa river, in some places by four or five metres. Some experts blame large-scale and often illegal logging operations in the Carpathian mountains for removing trees that would normally help contain the run-off.
Islamabad: The pilots of a Pakistan airliner that crashed last month, killing 97 people, were distracted and preoccupied as they talked about the coronavirus pandemic while preparing for an initial failed attempt to land, the country's aviation minister says.

The Airbus A320 of national carrier Pakistan International Airlines crashed on May 22 in the southern city of Karachi, killing all but two of those aboard as it came down one kilometre short of the runway on its second try.

Volunteers look for survivors of the plane that crashed in a residential area of Karachi in Pakistan last month. Credit:AP

The engines of the aircraft had touched the ground as it landed without its wheels down on the first attempt, before taking off again, minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan told parliament as he presented an initial report on the disaster.

The flight data showed the landing gear was lowered at 10 nautical miles, Khan said, but then raised again 5 nautical miles from the runway, which he described as "beyond comprehension".
Under the last two pastors at their parish, the church has gained a reputation as a progressive community committed to social justice. And that has been a tension point with the more conservative leadership in the archdiocese.

Its just an unbelievable thing thats happening. Terry is one of the nicest people youd ever want to know and Kirsti is just delightful, said Alyce Gilroy, of Auburn Hills, who has been a member of St. John Fisher for 40 years. I am currently looking to find a new church that aligns with my values. At age 97, that is pretty sad.

Michael and Sandra Ginger, of Rochester Hills, met Ms. Gonda and Ms. Reeve at church more than 15 years ago and asked them to perform the music at their wedding in 2009 and become godparents to their 4-year-old son.

Whatever her lifestyle is, it has no real bearing on how she does her job, Ms. Ginger said. She has done it professionally for decades and she should not be fired for what she does in her personal life.

For Ms. Gonda, the music directors job is not about the money: It pays about $21,000 a year, split among four people, and is a small supplement to her full-time job as an engineer at the U.S. Armys Tank Automotive and Armament Command facility in Warren, Michigan. Its about her faith and how shes been able to express her spirituality since she joined the parish as a student at Oakland University, which is across the street from the church. She spent 24 years as the assistant music director at St. John Fisher and the last six years as music director.

Her love of music helped her as she was figuring out her sexual orientation as a member of St. Valentine Church in Redford, Mich., she recalled.

Our church became a regional hub for young adults because we started doing musicals. We did Jesus Christ Superstar and then we did Godspell, Ms. Gonda said. The camaraderie and the spirituality had a profound impact on me. It was a powerful, powerful time.
Harry and Meghan are the subjects of several royal biographies this year. (Getty Images)

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In a year that has rocked the Royal Family, its not surprising that there are plenty of biographies set to be released in 2020 charting some of the biggest moments.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles shock decision to step back as senior royals will be examined in at least five books released throughout the year, including in one which is said to be causing particular concern for courtiers.

But the Sussexes were not the only royal hitting headlines, and Prince Andrews handling of his friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is also the topic of one book.

Read more: Why are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping back as senior royals?

Yahoo UK has rounded up some of this years must-reads for royal fans.

Meghan and Harry: The Real Story

Pre-order: Meghan and Harry: The Real Story | 24.99 from Amazon

Lady Colin Campbell, best known for her 1992 book Diana in Private, has written a balanced account of game changes, conflicts and ambitions.

The book looks at the fall from popular grace of the previously adulated brother of the heir to the British throne as a consequence of his marriage to a beautiful and dynamic Hollywood starlet of colour calling it an extraordinary story.

Lady Campbell was born in Jamaica and says the time she has spent living between Britain and America is what gives her a breadth of insight when it comes to royal matters.

She says she has spoken to friends, relations, courtiers, and colleagues in putting the book together.

Revelations which have already emerged are claims that Meghan wants to become president of the US, and that Meghan was given greater privileges than any other royal fiancee.

Release date: 25 June, 2020.

Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family

Pre-order: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family | 13.60 from Amazon

Story continues

Written by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, this book is one said to be causing concern among royal courtiers.

Its said Harry and Meghan were relaxed about who the authors had access to as they wrote it, and the publishers say it was written with the participation of those closest to the couple.

The books synopsis reads: For the very first time, Finding Freedom goes beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghan's life together, dispelling the many rumours and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond.

As members of the select group of reporters that cover the British Royal Family and their engagements, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand have witnessed the young couple's lives as few outsiders can.

In recent weeks, Scobie, who is royal editor for Harpers Bazaar, has had to bat away claims that the books manuscript has been rewritten.

Release date: 11 August, 2020.

Battle of Brothers: William and Harry, the Friendship and Feuds

Much has been speculated over the alleged rift between two brothers who were once the best of friends, and author Robert Lacey is to lay it out in a book due out in the Autumn.

The books synopsis claims the last 18 months has seen a devastating breakdown of their once unbreakable bond.

Lacey, who is also a consultant on Netflixs The Crown, said of writing the book: I have been astonished and sometimes moved to tears by the fresh details and insights I have discovered in researching this story of family conflict. It has been both enthralling and painful to trace this drama through the memories of close witnesses and some of the people most intimately involved.

We have seen conflicts between heir and spare in every recent generation of the royal family  but nothing so profound as this.

Release date: October 2020.

Meghan Misunderstood

Pre-order: Meghan Misunderstood | 9.99 from Amazon

Sunday Times bestselling author Sean Smith turns his attention to Meghan in a new biography which explores her life from childhood to marriage.

The book calls itself a pioneering book that sets the record straight on the most talked about, unfairly vilified and misrepresented woman in the world.

Of his inspiration to research and write about Meghan, Smith said: Last November, I watched the TV documentary in which Meghan Markle confided it was not enough to survive something, that was not the point of life.

I immediately wanted to know how it had come to this: why was the most charismatic member of the Royal Family clearly so upset? Meghan Misunderstood is her story, her amazing journey.

Smith has also written about Tom Jones and Kate Middleton, so his are safe hands.

Release date: 12 November 2020.

Read more: Things you never knew were on the Queen's land - from fast food chains and shopping centres

Prince Philip: A Man of His Century

Pre-order: Prince Philip: A Man of His Century | 20 from Amazon

Ingrid Seward adds another royal biography to her collection, turning her focus to Prince Philip, the man who has been the monarchs strength and stay for decades.

Seward charts the princes life from birth into Greek and Danish royalty, to spending his time walking two steps behind his wife.

She looks at how Philip modernised the monarchy, campaigned on the environment and encouraged children outside with the Duke of Edinburgh award.

The biography explores major influences on his life... [and] is packed with revealing behind-the-scenes details and great insight.

Seward has written plenty of other royal books, mainly on the women of the family, including Sarah Ferguson, the Queen and Princess Diana.

Release date: 1 October 2020

The Windsor Diaries: A Childhood with the Princesses

Pre-order: The Windsor Diaries: A Childhood with the Princesses | 20 from Amazon

Alathea Fitzalan Howard may not be a household name but in the Second World War she was a name well-known in the royal house of Windsor.

Howard was sent to live with her widowed grandfather, a distinguished statesman, Viscount Fitzalan of Derwent, at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park during the war and spent a lot of her time with Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose.

She also knew the future queen from London, as she was in Guides and dance classes with her.

When she died, she left her personal diaries and letters to her nephews wife, who has now given permission for them to be published.

The diaries are said to shed a new light on the princesses and contain detail which is not to be found in royal biographies according to The Bookseller.

It will show what life was like for the teenagers, with details of regular Saturday films at the castle, balls, parties for Canadian soldiers, pantomimes with local school children and evacuees and lessons with their governess, Crawfie.

The book also promises to show a glimpse of the late Queen Mother and the former King - including how much Elizabeth loved her father.

Release date: 8 October 2020.

Diana: The Peoples Princess

Nicolas Owens biography promises to be a dignified and unexploitative celebration of the late Princess Dianas life, from birth to her tragic death.

Originally released in 2017, the updated edition includes new material in the aftermath of her death, including how Princes Harry and William have sought to maintain her legacy.

The synopsis adds: The book is brought right up to date with the marriage of Harry to Meghan Markle, who some compare to the Princess of Wales. Diana: The People's Princess is a respectful, sensitive and poignant tribute to this elegant, charming and sympathetic symbol of our times.

Release date: 23 July 2020

Read more: Chocolate cake and a cheeky Nando's: Surprising foods the Royal Family loves

Royals at War: The Untold Story of Harry and Meghan's Shocking Split with the House of Windsor

Pre-order: Royals at War: The Untold Story of Harry and Meghan's Shocking Split with the House of Windsor | 13.98 from Amazon

Dubbed an explosive expose, this book by Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett promises revealing interviews with royal family insiders, friends, aides, historians, royal watchers, and others with intimate knowledge.

Howard answers questions including whether Harry ever recovered from the death of his mother Diana, and why Meghan refuse[d] to conform to royal conventions unlike Kate.

He will also look at accusations of racism toward Meghan.

Howard has previously written on Diana as well as Jeffrey Epstein.

Release date: 30 June, 2020.

Prince Andrew: Epstein and the Palace

Buy it: Prince Andrew: Epstein and the Palace | 18.79 from Amazon

The royals greatest fear is how this book refers to the arrest and charge of Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrews former friend, who died awaiting trial for sex trafficking offences.

This book investigates the story of the key players, allegations and counter-allegations in this unique, high-stakes royal drama.

Cawthorne said: Prince Andrew, Epstein and the Palace is the first book on the relationship between the Queen and her favourite son, and his disappointing life.

The Sunday Times said the book was not teeming with new details, but the scandal of Andrews friendship with a convicted sex offender is laid out in what will be excruciating detail for the palace and that it still hit hard.

Release date: 4 June, 2020
The Trump administration will end federal funding for 13 community-based coronavirus testing sites by the end of June as part of a previously announced plan to extend financial support for Covid-19 testing across the nation by other means.

The move, confirmed by NBC News, will affect seven sites in Texas, which has seen a surge of Covid-19 cases. The six other affected sites are located in Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

"We are not withdrawing federal support" for coronavirus testing, the Trump administration's testing czar, Adm. Brett Giroir, told reporters during a call by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department.

"We are providing federal support in a different way," Giroir said as he outlined how hundreds of other testing locations are providing coronavirus tests funded by federal money.

He also said, "We are going to increase testing, both in the number and the quality, and in the targeting on social media."

Giroir noted that the 13 sites, which will remain open under state and local control, are 28 fewer than the original number of community-based testing sites set up when the Covid-19 pandemic began spreading aggressively in the U.S. in mid-March.

But Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, is pushing back against the decision by the administration to withdraw from direct funding to the sites.

A Cruz spokesman told NBC News that the senator "has urged and will continue to urge [health officials] to extend the community testing sites in Texas."

The other Republican who represents Texas in the Senate, John Cornyn, said, "I know there's concern, concern I share, over some of the statements being made about withdrawing federal support for coronavirus testing in Texas at the end of June. It's pretty clear to me, and I think it's clear to all of us, that with the uptick of cases, now is not a time to retreat from our vigilance in testing."

"I believe that they need to extend that federal support in Texas, at least until we get this most recent uptick in cases addressed," Cornyn said.

Rocky Vaz, the director of emergency management for Dallas, Texas, told NBC that the city has "a plan and the capacity to continue testing."

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The Trump administration originally announced in April that it would discontinue federal support for the baker's dozen of community-based Covid-19 test sites, saying the move was part of an effort to broaden community testing and encourage more private-public partnerships for testing.

The administration had delayed the decision, which had met with resistance from lawmakers, until now.

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Giroir said that the original 41 community testing sites has been expanded to more than 600 testing sites in 48 states under a federal bundled payment program to pharmacies, and that more than 1,400 other pharmacy sites, primarily run by CVS, are providing tests "through regulatory flexibility empowering pharmacists and facilitating billing and reimbursement."
We are halfway into 2020 and who could have predicted that this year a virus would put the whole world into lockdown, severely impacting global trade, business and education.

Along with the immense human, economic and social losses, the past few months have also been filled with learnings about the human capacity for resilience.

As sudden and unprecedented as the crisis has been, the way governments and businesses have responded to it has been telling, writes Hamid Tamimi, Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton.

The Bahrain government launched the Covid-19 BeAware app to automatically alert users if they come in contact with infected people. Bahrain was also the first country in the world to offer Covid-19 test results by WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

Launched by the Ministry of Health, the chatbot delivers up-to-date information on the spread of coronavirus and provides direct links to YouTube guidance videos as well as the BeAware app. In several cities across the world, barriers of scale and speed were overcome to construct hospitals with thousands of beds in a matter of days.

Today, the digital journey for many businesses has been compressed from months or years to a matter of days. What remains a constant in this rapidly changing business environment is the need for empathy with customers and employees and the ability to anticipate both their present and future needs.

Now more than ever, businesses need to develop and deliver value to internal and external customers, aligning priorities, investments, resources, and incentives accordingly.

For many organisations this requires a rapid shift from a classically inward-focused, efficiency-driven model to an outward-focused one that intimately puts the customer at the center of everything an organisation does. When it comes to providing services, this shift translates to an increased focus on safety, speed, sustainability, and transparency in addition to the usual focus areas of efficiency and convenience.

During this crisis, one of the worlds biggest malls, The Dubai Mall, has moved online to offer customers a virtual shopping experience at home. Listening to customers along every step of the online transaction, developing the emotional compass to gauge their mood, and harnessing the data to anticipate future needs  these businesses are well-positioned to retain their customers once the crisis is over.

Instead of being the disruptor, digital is now the only way to do business in many cases. The digital model has proved to be socially and economically viable, boldly overtaking existing physical models. For customers the barrier to digital adoption has been crossed, and there is no going back.

Unlocking digital agility and realising its full potential is key to being successful in todays volatile operating environment.

Based on our experience working with leading global and regional public and private sector clients, here are recommendations and best practices to help organisations pivot their digital transformation efforts

in the new reality:

*Focus on what matters - think long term but act now. During and amid the Covid-19 crisis, be prepared to shift focus to act fast on your digital services and channels as the business environment is changing daily. Establish dynamic, flexible targets over static ones through a greater focus on speed, sustainability, transparency, physical and mental safety, and overall value for customers.

*Adopt an agile work model and pivot talent. The era of remote work has arrived rather dramatically and is increasingly being institutionalised. It is now essential to promote a diverse digitally savvy culture  one that focuses on the customer, favors experimentation, and supports employee engagement  and develop a supportive, creative work environment that fosters and nurtures talent. Develop and/or acquire agile and digital competencies that are critical to building the dynamic capabilities needed to manage and thrive today and tomorrow.

*Leverage quality knowledge and insights. Organisations today need to develop intimate empathy for their customers. It requires pushing analytics beyond their head office to frontlines before, during, and after customer interactions, while being able to rapidly predict and identify patterns and analyse potential scenarios.

*Act fast and strengthen digital capabilities as you go. Investing in Industry 4.0 technologies such as Blockchain, AI, and VR/AR, leveraging a prioritised use-case driven approach fosters innovative and new business models. Technology lets us create a digital twin of an organisation, enable rapid prototyping and iterative and incremental development of products and services to ensure we are building them right, and at the right speed.

*Protect yourself. Prepare yourself. Be proactive. Remote work makes organisations more vulnerable to threats than before. Regularly assessing the cyber landscape, strengthening monitoring and response capabilities, conducting cybersecurity threat and vulnerability assessments, and implementing the right measures promptly and proactively, become critical.

*Dont wait to innovate. While there is no definite end in sight to the current crisis, whats clear is that those who learn from these difficult times and master the art of driving digital transformation, with innovation and agility, will thrive.

Though the Covid-19 crisis is still unfolding, it has irrevocably altered the global social and business landscape. With digital rising to the challenge, remote work, online learning, and social distancing are all part of the new normal. Organisations that embrace digitalisation, with agility and empathy, will emerge on the other side with a stronger value offering, enjoy a loyal and expanding customer base, and retain an engaged, motivated and innovative workforce. -- Tradearabia News Service
Indian soldiers are seen in a flashpoint Himalayan region also claimed by China and Pakistan

Indian fighter jets roared over a flashpoint Himalayan region Wednesday as part of a show of strength following what military sources say has been a Chinese takeover of contested territory.

Chinese forces have held onto a chunk of land covering several square kilometres (miles) at the mouth of the Galwan valley following a deadly brawl there on June 15, the Indian military sources told AFP.

The two sides publicly declared they would pull back following the clash, which left 20 Indian soldiers dead after a battle involving rocks and nail-studded batons.

But both countries have maintained troops around the valley, with India deploying more forces and trying to project military might.

Indian jets regularly took off Wednesday from a military base in Leh, the main Indian town in the contested region, and headed towards the mountainous border 240 kilometres (150 miles) away.

There were also checkpoints on main roads out of Leh and a frenzy of military activity around the town, which lies at 3,500 metres (11,500 feet).

Residents reported long lines of military trucks and artillery on nearby roads.

Indian jets are regularly taking off from a military base in Leh

"We now have a good strength present in the area," an official of the Indian army's Northern Command told AFP on condition of anonymity, referring to the reinforcements.

Tashi Chhepal, a retired Indian army captain who has served in the area and is based in Leh, said the mobilisation was unprecedented in a sensitive region touching Pakistan as well as China.

"I haven't seen this kind of military movement before," he told AFP.

- China gains -

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Wednesday called on India to observe previous bilateral agreements and "work with China to take concrete actions and resume peace and stability in the border areas".

Beijing had made similar calls for resolution after a fist-fight in May that proved to be a warm-up for the medieval-style battle at Galwan.

Images taken on Sunday by the US satellite firm Maxar showed trucks and huts at camps on the river near the scene of the fighting. It was not clear which side they belonged to.

The two countries fought a border war in 1962, but this month's fighting was their deadliest encounter in 53 years.

A look at China and India's military spending, troops and major hardware

According to Indian military sources, Chinese troops ambushed Indian soldiers and forced them down a ridge where they had gone to remove a Chinese "encroachment".

A bilateral accord prevents the use of guns, but the fighting was still fierce, with rudimentary weapons.

China has in turn accused Indian soldiers of twice crossing the Line of Actual Control, the unofficial boundary, provoking its troops.

But the Chinese appear to be sticking to their gains at Galwan and the nearby Pangong Tso lake, police intelligence and military sources told AFP.

China is now claiming the valley as its own, in statements that India has rejected.

- Lesson learnt -

Indian analysts are dubious of the chances of a major easing of the tensions or that India will reclaim the territory.

Harsh Pant from the Observer Research Foundation think-tank in New Delhi said: "Anything that the Chinese now say can't be taken on face value. India, hopefully, has learnt its lessons now."

Amid calls for a boycott of Chinese goods, media reports say Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government could make it more difficult for Chinese companies to do business.

India protesters have turned out regularly to demonstrate against Chinese President Xi Jinping and call for a boycott of Chinese goods since the original incident, which left 20 Indian soldiers dead

But analysts say there is recognition on both sides that their economies need each other.

"There may be some short-term public backlash against China in India, but publicly, Pakistan swamps China as a perceived threat," said Vipin Narang, a security specialist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"The effects of this crisis, even if it slow burns, may be short lived amongst India's public. And cheap TVs are still cheap TVs."
Statehood should not significantly increase funding for federal assistance programs for D.C. residents, because the District in general is already treated like a state for those allocations, the CBO said. A notable exception arose this year when the District was treated like a territory for the purposes of coronavirus relief funding, meaning it received about $750 million less than the minimum payments that states received.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 18:47:55|Editor: huaxia

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia reported six new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, pushing the national total to 8,596, the Health Ministry said.

Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press briefing that two of the cases are imported, and of the four local transmissions, all are Malaysian nationals.

The official said three new clusters had been identified , a district in Kuala Lumpur, a construction site in the northern Borneo state of Sarawak and a condominium complex in Selangor state.

Of the 244 remaining active cases, two are being held in intensive care and none of those are in need of assisted breathing.

Another 45 cases have been released, bringing the total cured and discharged to 8,231 or 95.8 percent of all cases.

No new deaths had been reported, leaving the total deaths at 121.

The reopening of schools for middle schools senior grade students proceeded on Wednesday in compliance with new standard operating procedures (SOP), after a nearly three month closure due to the outbreak.

Some 2,440 secondary schools across the country opened their doors to some 500,000 students, who are facing important exams for further studies, reported state news agency Bernama.

The government said earlier that school will reopen in stages for other students. Enditem
With schools rethinking how to educate students in 2020-21, some may turn to options theyd previously dismissed as too disruptive, too unpopular, or too onerous to plan for and execute.

The most prominent one? Year-round schooling, or a balanced calendar schedule, its lesser-known but more accurate name. In short, this option extends the academic calendar, shortens the summer break, and builds in regular intersessions for remediation, enrichment, and accelerated programs.

Year-round schools have been touted for reducing summer learning loss and improving teacher and student morale. But its proven unpopular too, for its disruption to family and communities routines, which are closely intertwined with the traditional school calendar. An estimated four percent of schools, serving about 3 million students, follow a year-round schedule, according to the National Association for Year-Round Education.

But the model provides some clear upsides for schools as the pandemic continues.

District and school leaders are confronting difficult, high-stakes decisions as they plan for how to reopen schools amid a global pandemic. Through eight installments, Education Week journalists explore the big challenges education leaders must address, including running a socially distanced school, rethinking how to get students to and from school, and making up for learning losses. We present a broad spectrum of options endorsed by public health officials, explain strategies that some districts will adopt, and provide estimated costs. Part 1: The Socially Distanced School Day

Part 2: Scheduling the COVID-19 School Year

It spreads attendance out across more months, and opens up more space on campuses to adhere to social distancing guidelines if districts opt to use more than one attendance track, where one group attends school for a particular period, while others are on break, and vice versa.

It allows schools to easily recoup learning days if they have to shut down because of a local outbreak. And it has built-in opportunities for remediation to address the learning losses that accrued during remote learning in the spring.

Im thinking were going to see more balanced calendar schools next fall and going forward as we continue to grapple with this particular virus, said David G. Hornak, the superintendent of Holt Public Schools, in Holt, Mich., and the executive director of the National Association for Year-Round Education.

Heres what a year-round schedule can look like:

Students receive at least 180 days of in-person instruction, as required by most states. Summer break is one month, not two. Other breaks are sprinkled across the year.

In one version, students attend school for six to nine weeks and then break for three weeks.

In the 6,000-student Holt school system, for example, schools on a balanced calendar start the first week of August and end in late June. (In contrast, schools on a traditional calendar in Michigan often open after Labor Day, and the school year continues through early June.)

The schools take a two-week break in October, during which students can participate in enrichment and remediation programs. Theres another weeklong break in February, and two weeks off in April. Because intersessions are used for enrichment or remediation, the district technically adds 25 more instructional days to the school year than Michigans required minimum of 180 days.

Adopting this model will still require adherence to public health practices during the pandemic, including social distancing, mask-wearing, hand-washing and sanitizing, and increased cleaning protocols in and around school buildings.

How to make it work:

Local context is everything. How school districts structure their year-round calendars hinges on what local communities decide works best. Enrollment size is a key factor, for example, in deciding whether all students can attend at the same time or whether multi-track attendance is better.

Local infection rates and other public health guidelines will also heavily influence districts decisions.

Buy-in from teachers is an essential first step and in districts with collective bargaining, the teachers union is a critical partner. Outlining the benefits of a year-round calendar, along with articulating clear goals for the switch to a new calendar are part of getting buy-in.

Once theyve got teachers on board, leaders can approach parents and the community. Community support is crucial because the district must work with local child-care providers to ensure there are child-care options for parents during the more frequently scheduled breaks. And many local businesses often rely on high school students to work during the summera less pressing concern now, perhaps, in the pandemic; but those businesses also need to be included, Hornak said.

Districts must set up enrichment and remediation programseither in person or remotelyfor students during the intermissions. Teachers who agree to provide that instruction and support must be paid stipends for their work during those breaks, in addition to their salaries.

Because its a dramatic change, Hornak recommends that district leaders work with an expert who has experience with year-round schools. A proposal, he said, can be derailed if a community member asks a question and district leaders dont have the answer.

Typically, more teachers arent necessary. But in the pandemicwith social distancing protocols in placesome new hiring and/or expansion of the substitute pool may be required. Staffing for transportation on a year-round basis may need to change. And how custodians and nurses are assigned to school may need to be adapted for following increased sanitizing and cleaning schedules and health protocols.

And because district leaders are pressed for time to get this rolling during the summer, they should immediately ask principals and supervisors to start working on plans they can execute on a quick turnaround.

Pros:

Schools provide a daily routine of face-to-face teaching, which puts them in a better position to respond to students educational, social, emotional, and mental-health needs.

Year-round schools traditionally start earlier, so students can be back in classrooms sooner.

The built-in intersessions will allow schools to readily plug in remediation and support programs to address learning loss.

The shorter teaching cycles are less stressful for teachers and students. Teachers only have to plan for a few weeks at a time, and students get to take regular breaks and recharge.

Multi-track year-round calendars can help districts efficiently use the space they have.

Allows schools to shut down if an outbreak occurs without losing a lot of instructional time.

Helps close opportunity gaps for lower income, special education, and other at-risk students who may not have access to the same resources and learning opportunities as their more-affluent peers during traditional summer breaks.

Cons:
Amid the India-China border row along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to beef up the presence of the security forces to counter the Chinese aggression. Republic TV sources on Wednesday said that Indo-Tibetan Border Police is now deploying 40 more companies at the LAC.

Security to be beefed up in Ladakh & Arunachal Pradesh

Sources added that 4000 troops are being relocated from internal deployments to forward postings with immediate effect. This will be done mainly in 2 sectors of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. The Home Ministry has taken this decision acting upon a report which mentions that across 3,488 km border they have 180 border posts and 50 staging and holding forward camps. All of them ranging from the Karakoram to Jachep la will be covered extensively by this in the next 96 hours.

Republic TV sources on Monday said that in the backdrop of increased activity by the Chinese Choppers, the Indian Armed Forces have deployed Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) defence system in Ladakh area. The air defence system was deployed to take care of the area and to prevent violations by the Chinese Army, sources added.

QRSAM deployed at the Eastern Ladakh Sector

Sources said that the Chinese activity was increased in the Eastern Ladakh area before the Galwan Valley incident and their choppers were spotted as they tried to enter the Indian territory. To counter any such activity by the PLA army, the Armed Forces have deployed Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile System (QRSAM) at the Eastern Ladakh Sector.

READ | India-China joint secretaries to hold WMCC meet on border tension amid 'cordial' LAC talks

Meanwhile, the Centre on Sunday gave the three defence forces financial powers up to Rs 500 crore per project for the acquisition of critical ammunition required in case an all-out or limited conflict breaks out, according to ANI. This move has been taken in amid the Galwan valley face-off where 20 soldiers were martyred. Similar financial powers were given to the armed forces after the Uri attack and the Balakot aerial strikes against Pakistan.

READ | Yes, there were incursions but...: Chidambaram issues counter-dare to BJP's Nadda on China

In the Corps Commander level talks between India and China at Moldo on Monday, both sides have reached a mutual consensus to disengage in the Eastern Ladakh sector, as per sources.

READ | China's casualty denial escalates; after refuting '20', Beijing now calls '40' fake news

READ | 'India is that of 2020 & not 1962': U'khand CM warns China; exudes confidence in soldiers
This report provides detailed analysis of the growth trends among each of the segments as well as accurate forecasts in terms of the value and volume.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample/?rid=42365

Browse in-depth TOC on "In-vitro Diagnostics Market"

248- Pages

198  Tables

41  Figures

Global In-vitro Diagnostics Market Overview

The increased frequency of infectious diseases and chronic diseases and the rise in geriatric populace is the crucial factor responsible for the growth in the market. The World Health Organization has summoned the onset of the global crisis. Infectious diseases kill over 17 million people a year. The increased call for fully automated instrumentation in laboratories is fueling market growth. Automation is the utilization of electronics and computer-controlled devices to regulate the process. The goal of automation is to enhance efficacy and dependability.

In most cases, automation replaces labor workforce. Today, economists fear that new technology will cause a surge in the unemployment rates significantly. Test automation software is a convenient way to increase the effectiveness and coverage of your software testing. The automated tests are created; they can be repetitive and can be extended to perform tasks impossible with manual testing. The Miura, by ISE Diagnostic Systems, is a completed automated analyzer for Clinical Chemistry, operating in the upper segment of mid-sized laboratories. The increased consciousness about the use of personalized medicine is gaining traction. It is a unique method to tailor disease prevention and treatment that takes into account differences in people's genes, environments, and lifestyles. The goal of precision medicine is to target the right therapies to the right patients at the right time.

Advances in precision medicine have already led to discoveries and FDA-approved treatments that are custom-made to specific characteristics of individuals, such as a person's genetic makeup. The significance of companion diagnostic will pave the way for lucrative opportunities in the market. It is an in-vitro medical device, which delivers information that is essential for safe and reliable use of a similar biological product. The BRAC Analysis CDx is used to cure breast cancer and has been approved by the FDA. The major players in the market are Roche Diagnostics, Danaher Corporation, Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Siemens AG, Sysmex Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Biomerieux Sa, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Johnson & Johnson.

Verified Market Research has segmented In-vitro Diagnostics Market on the basis of Product & Services, Technology, End User, Application & Geography.

In-vitro Diagnostics Market by Application

Diabetes



Infectious Diseases



Oncology



Cardiology



Nephrology



Autoimmune Diseases



Drug Testing or Pharmacogenomics



HIV/AIDS

In-vitro Diagnostics Market by End User

Laboratories



Hospitals



Academics



Point-Of-Care Testing



Patient Self-Testing

In-vitro Diagnostics Market by Product & Service

Reagents and Kits



Instruments



Data Management Software



Services

In-vitro Diagnostics Market by Geographic Scope

North America



U.S





Canada





Mexico



Europe



Germany





France





U.K





Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





India





Rest of Asia Pacific



ROW



Middle East & Africa

&



Latin America

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In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Quality Control Market by Product (Serum/Plasma-based products, Whole blood-based products, Urine based products), by Application (Immunochemistry, Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Molecular Diagnostics, Coagulation/Hemostasis, Microbiology), by End User, Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027

Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market by Type (Deuterium, Oxygen-18, Carbon-13, and Nitrogen-15), by End-Use (Research Institutes, Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical, and Others), Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027

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The Johnson government has handed out about 400 contracts totalling 1.7 billion to the private sector during the pandemic. Seven contracts were each worth more than 100 million. The Department for Education awarded the largest, for 234 million, to Edenred to deliver supermarket vouchers.

The corporate raid underscores the cynicism of government ministers clapping frontline workers and hailing National Health Service (NHS) workers as heroes. The Department of Health gave over huge contracts to private firms to supply materials, train medical laboratories, and test key workers. These included 151 million to Hologic, 133 million to Randox Laboratories, and 64 million to Life Technologies.

National Health Service (Source: Wikipedia Commons)

Due to the pandemic, the government utilised emergency procurement rules to ensure that most of the deals were exempt from the usual competitive tendering process.

A campaign has been launched for a judicial review into why a small company was awarded a hefty contract to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) in the UK. PestFix, the trading name for Crisp Websites Ltdnet assets just 19,000works out of Littlehampton in Sussex with just 16 staff. It was awarded a contract worth 108 million in early April to supply gowns and face masks to the NHS. This is nearly a third of the value of the 350 million in PPE-related contracts signed earlier in the year. PestFix deals in pest control supplies and has no experience providing PPE.

The Good Law Project, is suing the government over the PestFix deal, describing it as unlawful and disproportionate. It is demanding to know where the contract was advertised, on what basis was the company chosen, whether the 108 million was paid upfront, why the contract lasts 12 months, to March 2021, and why was notice not made public within the required 30 days. It demands the publication of the full contract.

Founder of the Good Law Project, barrister Jolyon Maugham, commented, This is the most bizarre thing Ive seen in my 25 years at the bar. We just cannot understand why the government paid 108 million to two guys who run a pest control firm using public money.

Privatisation policies have encroached on the public provision of health care for decades, with disastrous consequences. As the pandemic took hold in Britain, NHS and social care staff were left to battle the deadly virus without the necessary PPE. As part of the austerity drive since the 2008 bank bailout, the refusal to stockpile basic items required by health workers was part of the multibillion-pounds efficiency savings NHS cuts programme of the 20102015 Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition. Between 2013 and 2016, the value of the national PPE stockpile was slashed by 40 percent.

Procurement, including sourcing, delivery and supply of health care products, services and food for NHS trusts and health care organisations in England and Wales, has been managed by NHS Supply Chain Coordinated Ltd since 2016. Its stated aim is to leverage the buying power of the NHS to negotiate the best deals from suppliers and deliver savings of 2.4 billion back into NHS frontline services by the end of the financial year 2022/23.

Greenwich University and campaign group We Own It published a report last month, Privatised and Unprepared: The NHS Supply Chain. Its introduction states, NHS Supply Chainthe organisation at the centre of this problemwas created in 2018, after years of outsourcing of NHS Logistics. NHS Supply Chain is technically a part of the NHS, headed by the Secretary of State. But this status is merely a fig-leaf for a needlessly complex web of contracts with private companies that answer to shareholders first.

Immediately upon its formation NHS Supply Chain outsourced two major contracts for IT and logistics, and then broke up and outsourced the whole procurement system, by delegating eleven supply areas to various contractors. The parcel-delivery company DHL was put in charge of finding wholesalers to supply ward based consumables, including PPE kits. Unipart [a logistics firm] was given control over supply chain logistics, including the delivery of PPE. The stated rationale for this approachan almost obsessive drive towards greater outsourcing and greater fragmentationwas efficiency savings

The system is horribly complicated and bureaucratic, with 11 key outsourced procurement contracts and four levels of profit taking before equipment arrives at the hospital or care home:

* The producers, who deal with

* The wholesale suppliers, who receive their contracts from

* Supply Chains Category Tower Service Providers (CTSPs), paid to contract suppliers like DHL, who transport the equipment to

* Companies with a logistics contract that deliver to its destination.

The report finds that NHS Supply Chain helped turn the pandemic into an utter disaster.  It is a system in which a just in time ethosdevised by logistics companies in order to win contracts and enrich shareholderstakes priority over public health.

The report emphasises that all countries were forewarned about the need to stockpile PPE to prepare for a pandemic, but the privatisation of NHS procurement generated perverse incentives that encouraged a rationing of the demand for PPE, rather than a boosting of supply.

On March 7, government guidelines on the wearing of PPE were made less stringent, contradicting advice from the World Health Organisation. Workers on COVID-19 wards were told they only needed plastic, not fluid-repellent aprons and a surgical mask and eye protection based on a risk assessment if within one metre of a patient.

In late March, consultancy firm Deloitte was given responsibility for procuring emergency supplies of PPE. Tory Cabinet Minister Chloe Smith was a consultant at Deloitte before going into politics. Deloitte ignored e-mails from 8,000 potential UK suppliers of PPE who then exported millions of items.

One British factory owner cited in the report told the Telegraph , They [Deloitte] dont seem to understand how supply chains workwhy have they barely spoken to factories across this country who know how to make this kit?

By early May, doctors still reported having to buy their own PPE kit. On May 3, the government instructed hospital trusts to stop ordering their own PPE supplies. This was taken over by Supply Chain Coordination Ltd, enabling the NHS Supply Chain to protect their own contracts with other private companies, states the report, and to manage demand to fit the supply, rather than responding to demands from the NHS for resources.

The system proved disastrous. Manchester-based wholesaler IMS Euro Ltd, not a manufacturer, was given the monopoly to supply surgical gowns, which require a high degree of specificity for dealing with COVID-19 patients. Outsourcing to Turkey, what arrived were not the 400,000 fluid-repellent gowns required, but a delivery of 67,000thousands of which were useless.

Successive Conservative and Labour governments share responsibility for the tragic deaths of at least 312 NHS workers and social care workers from COVID-19. According to Alex Bailin QC, an expert in corporate manslaughter law, in many cases these fatalities were avoidable with proper PPE.

For four decades, private companies have bled the NHS dry. DHL managed the supply chain on a 10-year contract from 2006 on behalf of the NHS Business Services Authority. In less than a year to April 2020, DHL put out 64 tenders to supply NHS equipment worth at least 4.1 billion.

It is estimated by news source TruePublica that more than a quarter (29 percent) of all NHS England spending in 2018/2019totalling 29 billion went to the private sector.
The University of Pretoria has retracted a statement that it issued last week where it banned smoking at its campuses and other facilities.

This was based on what we believed was a statement from the [office of the Minister of Higher Education]. This turned out not to be the case and I hereby retract the notice and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The university said that it issued its original notice in the best interest of students and staff, as it takes their health and well-being seriously.

We urge everyone to continue to comply with the safety precautions that were put in place on the different campuses and in our residences, the university said.

On Friday, the University of Pretoria issued a notice banning smoking at all its facilities, including campuses and residences, for the duration of the ban on the sale of tobacco products in South Africa.

It said that this was in accordance with a notice received from the Department of Higher Education and in line with the directives from the National Command Council.

When MyBroadband asked the Department of Higher Education and Training, Science and Innovation (DHET/SI) for comment, spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi said: In terms of the NCC Regulations, cigarettes are prohibited under level 3.

Mnisi previously confirmed that smoking at universities and TVET colleges would be prohibited for the duration of South Africas ban on tobacco products.

When asked about the University of Pretorias latest statement, Mnisi provided the following feedback:

The Department will be guided by the NCC Regulations on the issue. However, note that smoking in public places is ordinarily not permitted even outside of COVID-19.

Ban on sale of tobacco products

When South Africa began its COVID-19 lockdown on 27 March, the National Coronavirus Command Council banned the sale of tobacco products along with alcohol and other non-essential goods.

The government extended the lockdown and implemented its risk-adjusted strategy for economic activity with five COVID-19 alert levels, but did not allow citizens to restock on items deemed non-essential, including cigarettes and alcohol.

Even after the move to alert level 3, which allowed alcohol to be sold for home consumption, the sale of tobacco products remains banned.

If you are convicted of selling cigarettes during the lockdown, you face a possible fine, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

The Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) and British American Tobacco South Africa have taken legal action against the cigarette ban imposed by the government.

Among the concerns raised is that the continued ban on smoking has allowed the trade of illegal cigarettes to flourish in South Africa. They argue that the ban has not encouraged people to quit smoking, but to buy unregulated, untaxed cigarettes at inflated prices from illicit traders.

In response to Parliamentary questions, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the decision to prohibit the sale of cigarettes was based on a variety of factors.

At this stage, it is difficult to determine when the ban on the sale of tobacco and related products will be lifted, he said.

Ramaphosa said that this decision would depend on factors including the progression of the disease in South Africa, the readiness of local health systems, and the evolving knowledge on the nature and impact of the virus itself.
The Philadelphia Police Department' headquarters, which is known as the Roundhouse. Read more

Last year, Philadelphia police narcotics officers sent confidential informants to buy drugs from a house in North Philadelphia and then  based on the informants report  issued an arrest warrant for a man named Encarnacion Guzman on drug-dealing charges.

Now, Philadelphias public defender is arguing not only that the case against Guzman is built on false information, but that its part of a pattern that calls into question any testimony by officers of the departments Narcotics Bureau.

In a motion requesting all documents and evidence related to Guzmans case, the defender referenced an incident that has hung over the bureau since 2017, when a commanding officer allegedly encouraged a practice of falsifying reports to flip those facing arrest into off-the-books informants.

The filing also documents numerous incidents of misconduct within the Narcotics Bureau  which includes more than 150 officers across a strike force, a field unit, and an intensive drug investigation unit. The incidents, many of which have not previously been reported, include nine cases thrown out after video evidence discredited police accounts; a pattern of prosecutors withdrawing cases involving one unnamed, problematic informant; a squad of officers who were found in multiple cases to have fabricated paperwork or used threats of false arrest to flip informants; and two officers arrested for perjury within the last year.

The Defender Association acknowledged the motion filed this month is only partly about Guzmans case. It hopes to use it to force a broader reexamination of a dormant probe into whether narcotics officers have been systematically falsifying reports. Because the District Attorneys Office dropped the ball with their responsibility to look into this, Defender Association lawyer Michael Mellon said, he wants the courts to intervene.

Its our position there are hundreds of cases they will need to reverse, he said.

And, he argued, cases going forward also demand careful review. The recent history of misconduct by numerous members of the Narcotics Unit, including its supervisors, supports the argument that any determinations by the court must be made by examining the record of the unit as a whole and not in a vacuum, he said.

 READ MORE: Philly narcotics cops faked paperwork to hide informants. Hundreds of cases may be challenged.

A police spokesperson declined to comment on the motion because it referenced ongoing investigations. A spokesperson for the district attorney said the office is applying due diligence to this motion and exploring all available options for an appropriate response, which could include issuing subpoenas to ensure discovery obligations are met.

Though the motion is unusual, it aligns with a broader push to track when police are caught in lies  including a New York City pilot program launched by the state court system this year to monitor such incidents  and to act on such misconduct, said Julia Simon-Kerr, a University of Connecticut law professor who studies evidence and credibility.

It is the other side of the coin of this issue of police brutality, she said. In the same way that we havent had good methods of keeping track of police brutality by particular officers, there has been even less keeping track of lying by officers.

Unless we know whats going on, she added, its very hard to know whether this is a systemic problem and we should be discounting or discrediting testimony or not.

It also aligns with another common but controversial concept in criminal cases, the right of prosecutors to tell jurors about a defendants prior bad acts if an alleged crime seems to fit a pattern of misconduct.

Legal experts differ on whether a motion such as the Philadelphia defenders is likely to carry weight.

Pace University law professor Bennett Gershman said a theory that sounds like guilt by association wouldnt hold up. A judge would say, No, its not relevant, he said, unless the officer involved in the arrest had been shown to have a history of perjury.

The defenders did not document any instances of perjury by the officers who made the case against Guzman, who turned himself in after learning that an arrest warrant had been issued based on drug sales reported by confidential informants. However, during an Internal Affairs investigation, one of those officers acknowledged being aware of instructions to falsify paperwork for potential informants, and in at least one case followed orders to interview and release such an informant without charges.

 READ MORE: How a confidential informant ran a North Philly drug business  all while working for the DEA

Instead, the filing cites cases like a raid on a Southwest Philadelphia deli in March 2019, when Narcotics Strike Force Officers Duane Watson and Richard Rivera arrested five people for drug transactions, allegations contradicted by surveillance video.

One case was withdrawn after a judge viewed the video and found Watsons testimony not credible, according to the filing. Watson was arrested for perjury on Feb. 25, 2020. (He and a lawyer representing him did not respond to requests for comment.)

A second case was dropped in July 2019 after Watsons partner, Rivera  who the defenders say had testified falsely at a preliminary hearing in the same case  refused to testify. Rivera retired from the Police Department in December.

In an interview, Rivera said he did not recall the deli case, noting he worked more than 20,000 cases, and did not know the details of the charges against his former partner. He said there are many legitimate reasons why he might have refused to testify at the trial.

The last three years havent been good for Narcotics, he said, acknowledging recent arrests in the department, including Officer James Coolen, for using a confiscated Porsche; Officer Charles Myers, for perjury; and Officer Stanley Davis, for trading drugs for sex in his police car.

Rivera said he and his squad were diligent in their work: Ive never seen anything out of the ordinary. If it was wrong or illegal, I know my squad would speak up. Everyone there got over 20 years in, and theyre not going to ruin their career for something stupid.

Paula Sen, the public defender who handled that case, said video showed that the officers had stopped and frisked everyone at the deli during the raid without cause. She questioned Riveras lack of recall: Either lying in police paperwork and authorizing or looking the other way in unconstitutional searches and seizures and arrests is so part of his daily activity that it doesnt stand out in any way  or hes lying.

 READ MORE: Philly narcotics cops turned suspects into off-the-books confidential informants. Now, defense lawyers want to know more.

Incidents where video or other evidence discredited officers statements spanned both the Narcotics field unit and its strike force.

Two separate judges found a pair of strike force officers could not have smelled marijuana in stops of moving vehicles. Another officer was deemed to be not a credible witness after his testimony contradicted his own paperwork. And one narcotics field unit squad was found to have falsified arrest paperwork in order to flip informal informants; threatened in a voice mail to arrest a defendants girlfriend if he would not flip; and omitted potentially exonerating information from multiple arrest reports. All of those cases were thrown out.

Jules Epstein, a Temple University law professor, said that if the Defender Association prevails in persuading a judge to consider this collective history, it could change how narcotics cases are prosecuted in Philadelphia.

In a particular case, they may have other strong corroborating evidence  fingerprints or body cam supporting an officers testimony, he said. But what it does is, it gives the jury more facts to weigh. And this type of proof would remind juries that police dont get an edge on credibility and, yes, sometimes police lie, too, just like some civilians do.
"First and foremost, I would like to extend an apology on behalf of the District and the Board of School Directors to the student who was involved and to his family. They did not ask for this incident to occur, nor do they deserve the negative attention that it has brought." - school board President Tina Stoll
Bernard Vonderhaar II Managing Director  Institutional Sales We are pleased to have Ben join us in this critical position within our investment sales division and look forward to his leadership to help us achieve our goals, said Al Hartman.

Hartman, sponsor of Texas-centric commercial real estate investment programs with more than $750 million in assets under management, announced the appointment of Bernard (Ben) Vonderhaar II as Managing Director of Institutional Sales. He has more than 20 years of experience in credit, distressed, and energy investing as well as private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds.

We are pleased to have Ben join us in this critical position within our investment sales division and look forward to his leadership to help us achieve our goals, said Al Hartman.

Ben added, I am excited at the opportunity to join the Hartman group and be part of a team to help leverage the great work that they have done for investors. The demands of institutional investors match up nicely with the Hartman value proposition (Exceptional Service, inspired Values.)

Prior to Hartman, he was a Managing Director of Fundraising at BlackGold Capital Management LP. He also headed the Endowment & Foundation, Healthcare, and Family Office fundraising practices at Highland Capital Management, LP, and led the Central and Southwest Division as a Managing Director at The Commonfund. Mr. Vonderhaar has held Vice President positions at several large banking organizations including Deutsche Bank/Bankers Trust, BBVA/Compass, and (J.P. Morgan, then Chemical Bank/Texas Commerce Bancshares).

He was an Adjunct Professor at The University of Texas at Dallas  Jindal School of Management. Ben earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from The University of Findlay and an M.B.A. from Ashland University (Economics Concentration). He has FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 licenses.

Ben can be reached directly at (832) 963.5869, and via email at bvonderhaar@hartmaninvestment.com.

About Hartman

Hartman has extensive experience acquiring, owning, managing, and leasing commercial office, retail, light industrial and warehouse properties located in Texas. Since 1983, Hartman and its affiliated entities (including founder, Allen R. Hartman) have sponsored 23 programs and acquired interests in more than 90 real assets totaling approximately $750 million as of December 31, 2019.

THIS IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO SELL NOR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN OR DESCRIBED ELSEWHERE. AN OFFERING IS MADE ONLY BY PROSPECTUS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) OR PURSUANT TO A VALID EXEMPTION. A COPY OF THE CURRENT PROSPECTUS OR OFFERING DOCUMENT MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OFFERING AND SHOULD BE READ IN ORDER TO MORE FULLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS AND RISKS OF THE OFFERING TO WHICH IT RELATES. NON-TRADED REIT INVESTMENTS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS. INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTING IN A SPECIFIC NON-TRADED REIT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS, WHICH SHOULD BE READ PRIOR TO INVESTING.

Neither the SEC nor any other U. S. state or federal regulator has passed on or endorsed the merits of any offering or securities described herein or confirmed the adequacy or accuracy of the prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful. All information contained in this material is qualified in its entirety by the terms of a current prospectus. Investors should consider a programs investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. The achievement of any goals is not guaranteed. For more complete information about investing in any program, including risks, charges, and expenses, refer to the programs prospectus. Securities offered through D.H. Hill Securities, LLLP, Member FINRA/SIPC, 1543 Green Oak Place, Suite 100, Kingwood, TX 77339. 800.880.2212.
Mumbai, June 24 : Actress Karisma Kapoor says the 1999 film, "Haseena Maan Jaayegi", which will complete 21 years since release this month, is a timeless piece.

"21 years of 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi' -- seems unreal! The film is timeless, be it the comedy, the romance or the drama. The memory is still fresh of how the film charmed audiences and now that we achieve this milestone looking at the next generation groove to the music, knowing each character and the hook steps, just warms my heart," Karisma said.

"I feel tremendously nostalgic, the film is very special to me," she added.

Directed by David Dhawan, the film narrates the hilarious adventures of two mischievous brothers played by Sanjay Dutt and Govinda. The film also stars Kader Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Pooja Batra, Anupam Kher, Aruna Irani and Paresh Rawal in interesting roles. It will air on June 25 on Zee Bollywood.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
[June 24, 2020] Local Houston Event Center Hosts Weekly Food Drive, Giving Back to Families Affected by COVID-19

With close to 450,000 Houstonians furloughed or unemployed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, in an effort to support Houston families and farmers, Rob Ferdows, president of Imagen Venues is joining the USDA's Farmers-to-Families Food Box program by hosting a drive-by food drive providing two fresh local vegetable boxs and two gallons of milk to over 1,500 local families in need.



"As a longstanding business in the Houston area, it gives me great pride that my staff and I can utilize our space to help meet the current needs of our community," says Ferdows, "We are partnering with Borden Dairy, and DiMare Fresh to make sure families have access to fresh vegetables and milk during these times of needs." Minutes from downtown Houston and the George R. Brown Convention Center, the food drive is located at 11903 Eastex Freeway - home to Imagen Venues' premier full-service event spaces, Escapade Event Center and Stampede Event Center. Additionally, a 20+ acre paved parking lot surrounds the venues ensuring enough room to maintain social distancing. Recipients simply need only line up in their cars and pop open their trunks for contactless delivery by Imagen Venues staff. The food drive is open to the public Thursdays between 6/25/2020- 8/27/2020 (closed on 7/2/20) from 7 am CDT (News - Alert) to 11 am CDT (while supplies last).

Serving the community throughout the years, Imagen Venues has utilized their event spaces to host food drives in times of need, such as during Hurricane Harvey. The central location and large parking lot is a convenient facility resource that can accommodate the Houston community during times of need. "We applaud our farmers for their hard work every day, making sure Houstonians are well fed with nutritious foods," adds Ferdows. "The USDA's program is an ideal way for farmers to know their produce isn't going to waste. We are thrilled to be part of an initiative that goes beyond farm to table; it touches the hearts of our recipients and brings healthy meals to families in need across the city." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005598/en/

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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."
SEATTLELast week, Jeff Bezos, Amazons chief executive, wrote a rare note to all of the companys employees. His leadership team had been reflecting on the systemic racism facing Black communities, he said, and he urged employees to take time to learn and reflect on Juneteenth, the holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States.

Im canceling all my meetings on Friday, and I encourage you to do the same if you can, he said.

But some of Amazons employees said there was one big problem with his suggestion: For the vast majority of Amazons Black workers, cancelling a meeting is not an option. They work in Amazons fulfilment operations, packing, shipping and delivering products to millions of customers.

Several other retailers, like Target, J.C. Penney and Nike, made Juneteenth a paid holiday. At Amazon, many warehouses recognized the day by encouraging workers to dress in black.

What does a black shirt do for anybody in terms of social justice? said Adrienne Williams, a Black contract driver for Amazon in the Bay Area, who organized a vigil for Juneteenth. Better pay, she said, would do far more. That would cut down the pre-existing condition that is poverty, she said.

Williams and more employees and contractors are arguing that Amazon, one of the nations largest employers, needs to do much more to address racial inequality within its own walls. The calls for change  including diversifying its top ranks and addressing racism in its warehouses  have generated an unusual degree of turmoil inside the tech giant.

Many other large businesses also face calls for change from within. But Amazon stands out because it has a large percentage of Black employees  more than a quarter of its 500,000-person domestic workforce, most of them in hourly jobs at its sprawling logistics operations, where they earn far less than their corporate counterparts. That percentage is slightly higher than among Walmarts employees in the United States, and far higher than at other big tech companies. At Facebook, for example, less than four per cent of its workforce is Black.

And few executives have been as blunt in their public support of the Black Lives Matter movement as Bezos, the worlds richest person. On Instagram, Bezos posted disturbing messages he had received in response to his support of racial equality, including an email from a person named Dave, who used racist slurs and said that he would no longer do business with Amazon.

Dave, Bezos wrote, youre the kind of customer Im happy to lose.

Johnnie Corina III, who last week filed a discrimination complaint accusing Amazon of fostering a hostile work environment for Black warehouse employees, said it was hard to consider those statements as more than lip service.

The in thing right now is Black Lives Matter and equal justice, Corina said. You can tell when something is genuine and something is not.

An Amazon spokeswoman, Jaci Anderson, said that the company stood in solidarity with the Black community, and that it was committed to helping build a country and a world where everyone can live with dignity and free from fear. She said employees had been free to take vacation or accrued unpaid time off to attend Juneteenth events. We respect and encourage their choice to do so, she said.

This month, the company said it would temporarily stop selling its facial recognition software, which researchers have found to misidentify people of colour, to police departments. The one-year moratorium was striking because Amazon had long denied problems and resisted calls to slow its deployment.

But Amazons critics, including some employees, say even that was a half-step  pointing out that the company did not directly acknowledge concerns about the technology nor did it stop selling the tools to federal law enforcement offices.

The pause is a great start, one employee wrote on an internal website. But the goal, the person wrote, should be broader, to ensure the products Amazon builds are not directly at odds with promoting inclusion and diversity and perpetuating biases and injustices to Black and brown communities.

Employees and some shareholders have long groused about the lack of diversity on Bezos senior leadership team, a group known as the S-Team that has 22 executives, none of whom are Black.

At a town hall in 2017, after Michael Brown, Philando Castile and Sandra Bland had already become household names, an employee asked Bezos about the lack of diversity on his team. Bezos said his top deputies had been by his side for years, and he saw the low turnover as an asset. Any transition on the team, he said, would happen very incrementally over a long period of time.

In April, before George Floyd was killed in police custody in Minneapolis, a group of midlevel employees wrote to Bezos and his senior team, saying there was a systemic pattern of racial bias that permeates Amazon, according to emails viewed by The New York Times. They said they were prompted to write after a leak of meeting notes showed that David Zapolsky, Amazons general counsel, had called a Black warehouse employee in Staten Island not smart or articulate.

Zapolsky had said his comments were personal and emotional and that he did not know the employee was Black. But in their email, the corporate employees said it was not an isolated incident, but rather a symptom of a bigger problem.

They said Amazon adopted the entrenched racism that plagued America, evidenced by the homogeneity of the its leadership compared with the rich racial and ethic diversity amongst our hourly worker population.

The group proposed almost a dozen specific changes, including conducting a third-party audit of bias, releasing detailed figures on race and promotions, establishing goals for representation in management and leadership roles, and having the head of diversity be a member of Bezos S-Team.

Amazon said that senior leaders offered resources to help the group develop their suggestions into a formal proposal.

On Tuesday, Microsoft, one of Amazons top competitors for tech talent, said it would spend $150 million U.S. on diversity efforts and planned to double the number of Black managers and senior employees by 2025.

Bezos leadership team in recent weeks has been holding listening circles with Black employees, and many Amazon executives have written personal emails to their departments. Some teams have moved away from biased technical terms, ditching phrases like black lists and white lists to connote network access, according to an email shared among some employees.

But many employees want more to be done. They have been collaborating on a document to propose that Amazon make diversity a new leadership principle, the guiding list of attributes Amazon uses to hire, review and promote workers.

In the document, dozens of employees anonymously cited experiences of discrimination in daily work interactions. When a Black employee said something honest, he was told, Youre not earning trust, one wrote. But when a White Stanford MBA said the exact same thing, he got an accolade. Others wrote about being passed over for promotions, or not being mentored.

Anderson said that the anecdotes do not reflect our values. The company does not tolerate workplace discrimination, she said, and it investigates all claims reported through official channels. She added that the current leadership principles encouraged diversity because they remind team members to seek diverse perspectives, learn and be curious, and constantly earn others trust.

In the warehouses where Williams and the bulk of Amazons Black employees work, the concerns of some workers can be even more explicit. Corina, in his discrimination complaint filed in California, said Amazon repeatedly failed to adequately respond to racist graffiti in bathrooms of the warehouse where he works east of Los Angeles.

Corina, who is involved with the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said that since November he had repeatedly reported racist graffiti and that the language worsened after Floyds death. Some used racial epithets to express hatred toward Black people and said that they should go back to Africa.

He said Amazon had not addressed the warehouses employees to say such behaviour was unacceptable, nor had he seen any evidence that Amazon has investigated who wrote the racist graffiti, even though he had asked.

The result, he said, left him scared to go to work. To not do any interventions is really not a safe environment for a Black person, he said.

In another complaint filed last week with Californias fair employment agency, a Black janitorial contractor at the same warehouse said he was fired in early June because Amazon thought he had taken a photo of new racist graffiti that a colleague posted on Twitter.

The contractor, Donald Archie II, said that Amazon had not tried to uncover who wrote the racist words.

They are firing a Black guy because of their perception that he was responsible for calling out racism in their facility, said Dennis Moss of Moss Bollinger, the lawyer representing Corina and Archie.

Amazon said it told warehouse employees about unacceptable graffiti in December, and then discussed it again in February. The company said it started to investigate the markings in June. Archie was removed from Amazon buildings for not escalating concerns about the graffiti and violating the companys cellphone use policy, the company said.

On June 16, a colleague sent Archie a photo from the bathroom, with racist phrases once again scrawled on the wall. Below it was an internal newsletter that quoted Amazons public statement from May 31, reading, The inequitable and brutal treatment of Black people in our country must stop.

Read more about:
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has heaped praises on the Chinese government for its continuous support to the development of Ghana.



In a meeting with the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Ghana at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said the Chinese government and businesses have, over the years, supported the growth and development of the Ghanaian economy.



While expressing gratitude to China for the support, he thanked the Asian country for supplying Ghana with medical equipment to combat the outbreak of the Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.



He said Ghana and China will be celebrating 60 years of diplomatic ties next month and commended the outgoing ambassador, Mr Shi Ting Wang, for taking the China-Ghana relationship to new heights, despite his short tenure.



Two years is a short tenure but so much has happened in our relations with China largely because of you. You have proved to be a strong and dedicated friend of our country, he said and added that it would be sad to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the China-Ghana diplomatic relations without Mr Wang.



Aside the Synohydro Agreement, he said the Chinese government is supporting the establishment of the James Town Habour, among other projects and acknowledged the important role Mr Wang played in those projects.



President Akufo-Addo said the outgoing ambassador helped facilitate high level contacts between the Ghanaian and Chinese governments, adding that, We will continue to be a friend to China.



Also at the Jubilee House to bid farewell to the President was the outgoing Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Andrew Barnes.



President Akufo-Addo thanked Mr Barnes for his service to the country and thanked the Australian government for its support to Ghana.



He said Australia has supported Ghana in areas of agriculture, mining, education, among others, and wished Mr Barnes the best of luck in his next assignment.



The outgoing Chinese Ambassador and Australian High Commissioner thanked President Akufo-Addo and the government of Ghana for their support.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Scientists have always been in a quest of knowing new things about events taking place in space. Last year in August, they observed unique gravitational wave using fine-tuned lasers in the US and Italy - LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors. The ripples revealed a distant collision between a black hole and a mystery object. The two objects are said to have spiralled towards each other and eventually merged, generating ripples in spacetime.

The mystery object appears too massive to be a neutron star but not big enough to be a black hole.

However, a new study, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, suggests that a black hole about 23 times as massive as the sun collided with an object of about 2.6 solar masses.

The compact object is heavier than the presumed 2.5-solar-mass cap on neutron star size, but smaller than the most lightweight black hole ever observed.

We have [here] either the heaviest known neutron star  or we have the lightest known black hole, says Cole Miller, an astrophysicist at the University of Maryland in College Park not involved in the work.

Rory Smith, an astrophysicist at Monash University in Australia, said that he has been in LIGO for just over 10 years and this is one of the most exciting events he has seen.

The observation by researchers shows GW190814 pair collided around in a deep corner of space, 800 million light-years away.

What generally happens is that when extreme astronomical objects like black holes and neutron stars collide, they send out waves across the cosmos.

"It's hard to explain how either a black hole or a neutron star could be around 2.6 solar masses," Smith said.

The researchers say the event is rare, adding that they have seen only one during their three years of observation.

The LIGO and Virgo detectors were shut down in March due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and they have not started functioning again.

When the detectors resume work, the scientists expect to see not only more systems like GW190814, but probably other unexpected sources of gravitational waves too.
The Air India Flight 182 disaster off the southwest coast happened 35 years ago this week when on June 23, 1985, a passenger jet travelling from Toronto to London on route to Bombay exploded in the sky over Castletownbere, killing all 329 passengers and crew on board. Sikh extremists were later accused of bringing down the Air India aircraft.

It's hard to countenance the horrific scenes in the aftermath as dead bodies and debris were removed from the water in the hours and days following the explosion when a joint recovery operation involving local RNLI units, Irish Navy and Royal Navy was put in place.

The Kerryman photographer Michelle Cooper Galvin recalls being at home in Killarney on the evening of the explosion minding her children when a call came through from the late Seamus McConville, editor of The Kerryman, asking her to head to Valentia where the RNLI was due to land with dead bodies.

Valentia RNLI had already been several hours searching for bodies off the Kerry coast when Michelle and her husband Dermot headed for Valentia. Michelle says that in all her 40 years as a press photographer the Air India tragedy was 'the worst' she had witnessed.

"The bodies of six people were literally at my feet. It was the worst story I've covered, it was devastating. We went down that night and I remember meeting a Paddy Gallagher from the RNLI in Valentia who was a great organiser. We were put up in a hotel for the night," said Michelle.

"People were on standby all through the night waiting for the call to say the boat was approaching. This was early in the morning and I can still see myself standing on the pier watching the lifeboat coming in and the bodies in black bags lined along the side of the boat. It was an awful sight," Michelle said.

Being a mother to two small children at the time, Michelle explains how the sight of children in body bags had a lasting impact on her.

"I got very upset at that point. There was a channel down both sides of the lifeboat where the bodies were laid out. It was all Valentia islanders that lifted those bodies from the boat.

"I remember the local doctor and cleric going on-board to talk to the crew. It was very upsetting for them. The army put the bodies onto a truck to take them to Cork Regional Hospital."

The disaster went down as the worst terrorist attack in Canadian history, but it would also have a profound effect on local communities near the coast. Some 131 bodies were retrieved in the days following the crash as the victims' families came to the southwest to be reunited with the remains of loved ones.

In 2006 a Canadian Commission set up an inquiry into the attack. Publication of its report in 2010 cited a lapse in intelligence communication into terrorist activities that overlooked the plot to bring down Flight 182.

Today a sundial monument at Ahakista, Co Cork, sculpted by Ken Thompson, serves as a reminder of the tragedy. It was donated by the people of Canada, India and Ireland, and a yearly commemoration still takes place at the site.

"The local people of Valentia were absolutely marvellous during it all. It was a very tough assignment for the local RNLI as they were all young men who were out searching for hours. It was very moving. Often when I'm down in that part of the county doing jobs I will think of that morning," Michelle said.
Dubais largest bank Emirates NBD Tuesday laid off 800 employees as the institution launches adjustment plan to navigate impacts of the covid-19 pandemic.

A spokesperson for the bank told The Khaleej Times the decision comes as result of the impacts of the pandemic on the economy, financial services sector and the lender itself.

Unfortunately, this has meant letting go of some of our colleagues as we right size to meet our anticipated future business needs, especially in the light of the economic forecasts that point towards challenging times ahead, the spokesman said.

Gulf News indicated that the Emirates NBD has planned the layoffs especially with the digitalization of the bank, but the impact of coronavirus accelerated it.

The cuts only concern 10 per cent of staff and across various sections.

The move comes after credit ratings agency Moodys changed the banks outlook to negative over a challenging operating environment in the UAE due to the coronavirus outbreak, low oil prices and pre-existing economic challenges.

The bank has reported a decline in its Q1 profit. It also announced that impairment allowances rose in anticipation of a deterioration in credit quality, Gulf News reports.
File photo. [Photo/Xinhua]

Related crimes pose serious threats to people's lives and health, says president

President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to continue the tough fight against drugs and make new progress in drug control.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that drug problems at home and abroad, as well as related crimes, both online and offline, pose serious threats to people's lives and health and to social stability, therefore, unremitting, decisive and thorough anti-drug efforts should be continued.

Noting the nation's tough stance against drugs, he ordered Party committees and governments at all levels to adhere to the concept of people-centered development, improve the governance system on drug control and deepen international anti-drug cooperation to make greater contributions to maintaining social harmony and stability and protecting the people and their livelihoods.

Xi gave the instructions to a conference held on Tuesday to commend organizations and individuals engaged in the nation's anti-drug work.

The conference, which was held in Beijing via video and teleconference, recognized the prominent contributions of 100 organizations and 100 individuals to drug control in China since 2015. It was held ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which falls annually on June 26.

According to the office of the National Narcotics Control Commission, the number of newly discovered drug users in China in 2019 dropped by 11.9 percent year-on-year, marking a downward trend for the fifth consecutive year. The country has made significant achievements in drug control, with drug-related criminal activities effectively curbed in recent years.

In 2019, the number of new drug users under the age of 35 dropped by 64 percent from 2015, the office said.

In the past five years, China has uncovered 638,000 drug-related crimes, busted 32,000 organizations that produced and trafficked in drugs, arrested 780,000 suspects and seized over 400 tons of various drugs, it said.

The committee carried out special campaigns at border areas to control drug trafficking. Anti-drug authorities from 14 provinces jointly carried out a special campaign in which 13.5 tons of drugs and 3,221 tons of materials for manufacturing drugs were seized, it said.

The committee has also intensified its crackdown on the online drug trade. The authorities have uncovered a total of 29,000 online drug-related cases, arrested over 39,000 suspects, seized 12 tons of drugs and shut down 960 drug-related websites.

China has actively improved the mechanism of international cooperation in drug control, expanding areas and channels of cooperation. The country has carried out pragmatic bilateral cooperation in anti-drug work with key countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, including Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

A series of international anti-narcotic cooperation measures have been introduced with neighboring countries, including poppy replacement programs in Myanmar and Laos.

With the help of remote-sensing satellites and drones, China has destroyed more than 10.2 million illicit poppy plants and more than 3.4 million cannabis plants over the past five years.

It also strengthened intelligence exchanges and law enforcement cooperation with countries including the United States, Russia, Canada and New Zealand.
United States government provided 250 ventilators to Peru on Tuesday in a move to help the country fight the coronavirus crisis.

The plane, loaded with compact, deployable ventilators, produced in the United States landed at Jorge Chavez international airport in the city of Callao.

The donation 'will be immediately distributed throughout the country so that we can continue to fight relentlessly against coronavirus' said Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra.

The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), offered additional support on technical assistance and service plans.

The South American nation has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, confirming 257,000 cases, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, the second-highest number in the region, after Brazil.

(Representative Image)
The Late Show host Stephen Colbert grilled President Donald Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton in a new interview Tuesday night, calling Bolton naive.

Bolton, whos promoting his new tell-all book The Room Where It Happened, supported Trump in 2016 and worked in the White House for more than a year. A former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, he replaced H.R. McMaster as the presidents national security adviser in 2018 after regularly praising him on Fox News.

Bolton now calls Trump unfit to be president and, in his memoir, says Trump begged Chinas Xi Jinping to help with his reelection similar to his efforts to get political help from Ukraine that led to his impeachment.

Whatever we think of him, hes not going to be a Democrat subject to the pressure  especially now  of the Left. I bought that argument in 2016, Bolton told Colbert.

No, hes going to be subject to the pressure of Vladimir Putin! And Xi Jinping! Colbert responded. Hes a person willing to sell out the interest of the American people for his own reelection. What could be worse in Hillary Clinton or Joe Bidens philosophy than betraying your country to a hostile foreign leader?

Trust me, I understand that point, replied Bolton. What I thought in 2016 was, Well, at least we have to try it out.

I guess whats exasperating is there is absolutely nothing that Donald Trump has done thats surprising to me, Colbert continued. My rule is: whatever you think hes done is probably true. Hes not deep enough to get your socks wet in. Thats why, when he ran casinos, the house lost. There was noting to learn about him ... How did you not know beforehand that he was that callow?

Because I couldnt believe it was that bad, Bolton insisted.

Colbert laughed out loud, calling Bolton naive.

Youve really insulted me now by calling me naive, Bolton said.

Boltons book, The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, will be released Tuesday. A federal judge ruled Saturday that it can move forward despite efforts by the Trump administration to block the release because of concerns that classified information could be exposed.

Bolton also told Colbert he wouldnt be voting for Trump or Joe Biden in the 2020 election, and admitted that he was likely done with government work.
As the buzz around Bihar elections begins to build up, News18 Bihar / Jharkhand is all set to present e-Agenda Bihar  a platform that will bring different political parties and leaders across the spectrum to discuss and debate issues and strategies relating to the upcoming polls. The Agenda series, from News18 Network - Indias No. 1 News Network, has become established as the most definitive platform that brings a ring side view of the thinking and shaping political strategy in the lead- up to elections.

e-Agenda Bihar promises to be a high impact virtual summit with participation from top leaders from Bihar. The show will have multiple sessions with an array of eminent panelists participating in each session. The sessions will revolve around the current political scenario and how it will impact the upcoming Assembly elections. From NDAs plans to retain power to the relevance of a strong & combined opposition, from the effect of Lalu Yadavs stranglehold on state politics to different electoral arithmetic impacting the outcome, the Summit will aim to touch upon crucial factors that will be defining the electoral discourse over the next few months in the state. There will also be a special session on the struggle of Bihari actors in Bollywood  a subject that is especially relevant given the recent suicide by the very talented actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Some of the top luminaries who will be a part of this virtual Summit include the Deputy CM of Bihar Sushil Modi, Leader of Opposition Tejaswi Yadav, LJPs national president Chirag Paswan, former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, state BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal, state minister Neeraj Kumar, RJDs state unit president Jagadanand Singh, RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, JAP chief Pappu Yadav, RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav, Congress leader Prem Chandra Mishra, JDU leader Ajay Alok, MP & former Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari as well as actors Shekhar Suman & Akshara Singh.

The programme will be telecast live on News18 Bihar Jharkhand and its social & digital platforms. News18 Bihar / Jharkhand as the states No.1 channel has always taken the lead on all key matters relating to Bihar. The channel has been at the forefront of covering elections bringing the most accurate and fastest updates on the same. News18 Bihar / Jharkhand is once again all geared up for the most comprehensive coverage of the upcoming Assembly elections kicking off its programming with e-Agenda Bihar.

Tune in to e-Agenda Bihar, 12 PM onwards on 24th June, only on News18 Bihar / Jharkhand.
By Miya Tanaka, KYODO NEWS - Jun 24, 2020 - 03:47 | All, World, Japan

Just days before his much-awaited White House memoir hit the shelves, former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said in a TV interview that he hopes to provide the "basic evidence" that will help the public know what they would actually be voting for if they choose incumbent Republican President Donald Trump in the November election.

In terms of the U.S.-Japan relationship, possible repercussions of a second Trump term may include a standoff over the costs of stationing U.S. military troops in Japan that could overshadow the decades-old alliance, experts say.

The 592-page book "The Room Where It Happened" went on sale Tuesday as scheduled, even as the Trump administration has scrambled to block its publication, claiming that it contained classified information to which Bolton gained access while serving as a high-level adviser for more than a year before being sacked by the president in September 2019.

It is no secret that Trump has been vocal about the need for allies to pay their "fair share" for U.S. security support or else defend themselves, an argument he has made including during his 2016 presidential campaign.

But the memoir offers a close-up look at his approach to alliances based on his cost-benefit calculations, underscoring two issues on which some experts say the 74-year-old businessman-turned-president is "uniquely stubborn" -- so-called host-nation support and trade imbalances.

James Schoff, an expert on Japan-U.S. relations at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said he believes Trump, to some extent, has come to appreciate the value of the friendship with Japan, which "never creates the same kind of drama at multilateral forums" that sometimes happens with Germany and other countries.

"But he can't get over those two big things, the trade deficit and the burden-sharing piece," he said, adding, "So that constantly interrupts or disturbs what is otherwise a pretty smooth-functioning alliance relationship."

In the memoir, Bolton wrote that Trump, despite "countless discussions," thought allies were not paying enough and the U.S. troops stationed in countries like Japan and South Korea are there to defend the Asian countries, in which the United States had no particular interest.

"We were not there for 'collective defense' or 'mutual security' or any of that complex international stuff," Bolton said as he explained Trump's standpoint. "Moreover, as any good businessperson would tell you, we should make a profit from defending all these countries."

Trump at least wanted to start negotiations on host-nation support with "cost plus 50 percent," a phrase which he was persuaded to obliquely call a "fair share" because the former term sounded "too raw."

During his trip to Japan in July 2019, Bolton conveyed Trump's request that Japan pay $8 billion annually, more than four times the current amount Tokyo shoulders.

When Bolton returned to Washington and briefed Trump, the president said, while also referring to a demand for $5 billion in host-nation support from South Korea, that "the way to get the $8 and $5 billion annual payments, respectively, was to threaten to withdraw all U.S. forces."

Japan's top government officials have denied that the U.S. side urged Tokyo to pay much higher costs for the U.S. military, with Defense Minister Taro Kono saying that negotiations have not "even started."

Schoff said the pullout of U.S. troops may be "an empty threat" as it would be logistically difficult and costly to do so given the types of military assets deployed in Japan. But he warned that Trump's approach could be "a huge thorn" in the alliance, and eventually would create an "irritation" that begins to overwhelm some of the better-functioning aspects of the relationship.

The cost-sharing negotiations have, according to Bolton, "bedeviled relations" with South Korea. Washington and Seoul have not been able to reach a new deal after the previous agreement expired at the end of last year.

Japan and the United States are expected to start negotiations on host-nation support later this year, given that the current five-year payment agreement is set to expire at the end of next March. Japan's financial support totals nearly 200 billion yen ($1.9 billion) annually, covering costs for base workers, utilities and other items.

In 2017, then U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Japan's cost-sharing burden for hosting U.S. forces is "a model" for other nations to follow. As of fiscal 2015, Japan was shouldering 86.4 percent of the cost, according to Japanese Defense Ministry calculations.

Tokyo has also maintained that the Japan-U.S. alliance is a mechanism that provides benefits to both countries.

Under the Japan-U.S. security treaty, about 50,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan, enabling the United States to respond rapidly to contingencies in the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. 7th Fleet -- the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet whose area of responsibility stretches from the Western Pacific to the Indian Oceans -- is based in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo.

While a one-term Trump presidency has not been a "terribly damaging thing to the alliance," a second term could have a different meaning than when he was first elected in 2017 after starting off his campaign as a political outsider and an underdog candidate, Schoff said.

"It was easy enough for a lot of Americans to, even if they didn't completely buy into the 'America First' rhetoric or other things, they thought 'Well, Trump's a businessman, you know, other people will be around him.' And that he'll be moderated and it won't be so disruptive. That's clearly not the case," said the senior fellow at the Washington-based think tank.

"I think, if the American voter re-elects Trump in a one-on-one with (Democratic presumptive nominee) Joe Biden...Japan's calculations change to some extent -- that this is not just a Trump phenomenon, this is a broader U.S. political phenomenon that has potentially longer lasting implications for Japan's strategy in security," he said.
An artist's rendering of a proposed California high-speed rail station is shown. (California High-Speed Rail Authority)

Following a stunning rebuke by the State Assembly, the board of California's high-speed rail authority this week put off approving a crucial 2020 business plan, a sign it has agreed to reassess the project's current blueprint.

The authority's board had planned to routinely approve the business plan at a meeting scheduled for Thursday and submit it to the Legislature as it has done every two years over the last decade.

The plan formally laid out a $20.4 billion blueprint to build a partial operating system in the San Joaquin Valley under a massive 30-year contract that would be issued this year.

But earlier this month, the Assembly approved a resolution that called on the rail authority to delay that contract and reassess the entire strategy of putting all of the remaining bullet train funds into the single stretch of high speed rail between Bakersfield and Merced.

The resolution attracted 67 of the 79 sitting members of the Assembly as cosponsors, including a majority of the Democrats who have never previously opposed any aspect of the rail authority's development of the $80 billion system.

Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) set the process in motion last year, when he proposed shifting about $5 billion of the bullet train funds from the Central Valley to segments in the Bay Area and Southern California, including the Burbank to Anaheim corridor that the bullet train would eventually use.

Metrolink outlined a plan that would double ridership and sharply reduce emissions if it could fund an electrified system, drawing riders out of cars on the heavily congested I-5 corridor.

The idea has gained support among members who worry an isolated bullet train system between medium-sized cities in the state's agricultural heartland would fail to attract enough riders to break even or improve the region's notoriously bad air quality.

In the adoption of the resolution on June 11, Democrats and Republicans lambasted the rail authority's performance.

Story continues

"I have personally lost all confidence in this group to develop and deliver what they promise," said Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) before the vote. "From inconsistent cost estimates to impossible program schedules, they provide fictional ridership expectations and exaggerated benefits."

Following the Assembly vote, the delay was decided in discussions between Rendon, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the rail authority board, according to sources knowledgeable about the matter who were not authorized to speak to the press. Under state law, the rail authority is supposed to send the business plan to the Legislature in the summer, but a legislative rider was put in a budget bill that extended the deadline until the end of the year.

Rail authority spokeswoman Annie Parker attributed the delay to both more time for analysis but also to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations.

This additional time will allow for the more robust analysis we have been discussing with both the Legislature and our stakeholders given the current COVID-19 pandemic," she said. "We will use this time to review the projects status and identify a path forward in partnership with policymakers and the public, while at the same time, working to ensure that we continue to meet our federal obligations and the requirements of Proposition 1A."

In a letter on Monday to Rendon, rail authority vice chairman Tom Richards, a Fresno developer, said the authority "shares your concerns as well as those of chair Frazier's and his colleagues." Richards pledged to conduct further analysis of the project's plans.

The contrite language reflects a growing reality that fighting 85% of Assembly lawmakers who cosponsored the resolution would be "fruitless."

The rail authority was originally planning to issue the massive contract to install an electrified signal and track system in the Central Valley by this summer but had indicated the pandemic delayed that decision. It remains unclear whether the delay in the business plan takes the contract off the table for the rest of this year.

It also remains unclear what the Senate will do, but some officials close to the matter say it is unlikely that Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) will intervene. It was Rendon and Newsom who struck the current deal and may be the key players in any future deal.

The rail authority will need Rendon and other Assembly members' support to appropriate about $4.5 billion out of bond funds by early next year for continuing work in the Central Valley, regardless of what position the Senate takes.

During the coming months, the rail authority will come under renewed pressure to conduct an independent assessment of its estimates of ridership on a future Merced to Bakersfield system. Even under the best scenarios, such an operation would require a prohibited state subsidy.

Apart from the political controversy over a subsidy for the rail authority's plan, the matter is awaiting a ruling by a state appeals panel in a civil suit.

Stuart Flashman, an attorney who represents plaintiffs who brought the suit, said he believes "the authority is probably working behind the scenes with legislators to put together a substitute business plan.

Flashman said he suspects that plan would only fund completion of 119 miles of track legally required under a federal grant agreement and then hand that system over for use by Amtrak.

I suspect the deal would funnel the rest of the bond funds to Northern and Southern California local transit improvement projects," he said.
OAK LAWN, IL  A Mount Greenwood man who is listed in state records as a registered sex offender is accused of stealing cash and jewelry while in a dating relationship with an elderly Oak Lawn woman. Thomas Felton, 53, who also spells his last name Felten, was charged with felony theft. The relationship has since been terminated.

Police said the woman came to the Oak Lawn police station on May 9 to file a theft report. The woman told police that Felton came to her residence in January to fix the furnace. Felton and the woman developed a friendship that evolved into a dating relationship.

During their relationship, Felton stole $3,400 in cash, $300 in silver coins and a gold bracelet and necklace worth $5,000 from inside the womans home, according to the police report. The woman also reported that she was missing a set of house keys. She was advised to change her locks.

The matter was referred to Oak Lawns detective division, and Felton was taken into custody on June 20. Felton was released on an I-bond and his next court date is Aug. 11 in Bridgeview.

Felton, whose last known address is the 11100 block of South Trumbull Ave. in Chicagos Mount Greenwood neighborhood, was previously convicted on two counts or attempted murder, three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and home invasion in March 1997. Felton was sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He was released in 2017 when his sentence terminated. Felton is listed in the Illinois Sex Offender Registry as being non-compliant with requirements to maintain accurate records. Chicago police suspended sex offender registrations on March 19 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Thomas Felton, 53 | Illinois Sex Offender Registry





This article originally appeared on the Oak Lawn Patch
Despite the lack of dine-in customers for nearly 2 long months during the coronavirus shutdown, Darrell Loo of Waldo Thai stayed busy.

Loo is the bar manager for the popular restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, and he credits increased drinking and looser liquor laws during the pandemic for his brisk business. Alcohol also seemed to help his customers deal with all the uncertainty and fear.

"Drinking definitely was a way of coping with it," said Loo. "People did drink a lot more when it happened. I, myself, did drink a lot more."

Many state laws seemed to be waived overnight as stay-at-home orders were put into place, and drinkers embraced trends such as liquor delivery, virtual happy hours and online wine tasting. Curbside cocktails in 12- and 16-ounce bottles particularly helped Waldo Thai make up for its lost revenue from dine-in customers.

Retail alcohol sales jumped by 55% nationally during the third week of March, when many stay-at-home orders were put in place, according to Nielsen data, and online sales skyrocketed.

Many of these trends remained for weeks. Nielsen also notes that the selling of to-go alcohol has helped sustain businesses.

But the consumption of all this alcohol can be problematic for individuals, even those who haven't had trouble with drinking in the past.

Dr. Sarah Johnson, medical director of Landmark Recovery, an addiction treatment program based in Louisville, Kentucky, with locations in the Midwest said that, virtual events aside, the pandemic has nearly put an end to social drinking.

"It's not as much going out and incorporating alcohol into a dinner or time spent with family or friends," Johnson said. "Lots of people are sitting home drinking alone now and, historically, that's been viewed as more of a high-risk drinking behavior."

There are some objective measures of problematic drinking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines heavy drinking as 15 or more drinks a week for a man or eight or more for a woman.

But Johnson said that more important clues come from changes in behavior. She explains that, for some people, a bit of extra drinking now and then isn't a big deal.

"If they are still meeting all of their life obligations, like they are still getting up and making their Zoom meetings on time, and they're not feeling so bad from drinking that they can't do things, and taking care of their children and not having life problems, then it's not a problem," Johnson said. "It's when people start to have problems in other areas of their life, then it would be a signal that they are drinking too much and that it's a problem."

But there are signs to watch out for, she says. They include:

Big increases in the amount of alcohol consumed

Concern expressed by family or friends

Changes in sleep patterns, either more or less sleep than usual

Any time that drinking interferes with everyday life

Johnson noted that for many people, living under stay-at-home orders without the demands of a daily commute or lunch break could be problematic.

Darrell Loo, the bar manager for Waldo Thai in Kansas City, Missouri, says curbside cocktail sales helped his restaurant get through the pandemic shutdown.(Alex Smith/KCUR)

"Routine and structure are important to overall mental health because they reduce stress and elements of unknown or unexpected events in daily life," Johnson said. "These can trigger individuals in recovery to revert to unhealthy coping skills, such as drinking."

Johnson explained that while some people may be predisposed to problematic drinking or alcohol-use disorder, these can also result from someone's environment.

Johnson said that people who are unable to stop problematic drinking on their own should seek help. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration runs a 24/7 helpline (800-662-HELP) and website, www.findtreatment.gov, offering referrals for addiction treatment.

Peer support is also available online. Many Alcoholics Anonymous groups have started to offer virtual meetings, as does the secular recovery group LifeRing. And for people who are looking for more informal peer support, apps such as Loosid help connect communities of sober people.

Darrell Loo at Waldo Thai said that he has been concerned at times about people's drinking but that he generally has seen customers back off from the heavy drinking they were doing early in the pandemic.

Loo and others in the Kansas City restaurant business are pushing for the carryout cocktails and other looser laws to stay in place even as restaurants slowly start to reopen.

"This will go on for a while. It's going to change people's habit," Loo said. "People's spending habit. People's dining out habit. So there's definitely a need to keep doing it."

This story is part of a partnership that includes KCUR, NPR and Kaiser Health News.
YEREVAN.  Today I learned that I had to be questioned as a witness in two different, unrelated criminal cases, and today, at the beginning of the Council of Elders session, a representative of the criminal department handed me the notice. Davit Khazhakyan, head of the opposition Luys faction of the Yerevan Council of Elders, on Wednesday noted this outside the police general department of criminal cases, before entering for the questioning.

"The case concerns the Luys faction's [service] car attached by law, which, of course, has a driver who carries out the cars service. And the driver was taken out of the house early in the morning, brought to the criminal department, and later his wife was called there. And the nature of the questions, and perhaps also the result that the police expected was that he is a fictitiously-registered driver, and who gets the money, what does he do. They started asking questions about me, and so on." Khazhakyan said.

According to him, however, he has no worries about this issue, as there is no basis.

As per the Yerevan municipal council member, taking into account what this case is about and what they are trying to accuse him of, he realizes that the incumbent authorities are facing a very serious problem. "The driver, who has nothing to do with the [opposition] Bright Armenia Party, does his job, and the pressure in that regard is aimed at us," Khazhakyan said.

"I am convinced that it may be upon the instructions of one person, [PM] Nikol Pashinyan, who seems to be very upset (). I want to grasp to what extent the halls of power are worried about their situation that they are resorting to such things, Davit Khazhakyan added.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 05:01:03|Editor: huaxia

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BELGRADE, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Kosovo leader Hashim Thaci has canceled his visit to Washington after the Special Prosecutor's Office (SPO) in The Hague on Wednesday filed an indictment, charging him with a range of crimes against humanity.

Thaci's press office informed in a statement that Thaci interrupted his trip to the U.S. after hearing the news of indictment against him and will return to Kosovo and Metohija province on Thursday.

Thaci was expected to participate in a meeting with U.S. special envoy Richard Grenell at the White House together with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia rejects it and considers Kosovo its own province. The two sides had reached the so-called Brussels agreement and pledged they will lead dialogues on the normalization of the relationships.

The Hague-based SPO filed a ten-count indictment with the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC), "charging Hashim Thachi, Kadri Veseli (leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo) and others with a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, enforced disappearance of persons, persecution, and torture."

"The indictment alleges that Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, and the other charged suspects are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders," the SPO said in a press statement. Enditem
Health authorities move Russian sailors who have been confirmed to have COVID-19 to hospitals from a Russian vessel docked at Gamcheon Port in Busan, Tuesday. / Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye



The government is facing criticism over its bungled COVID-19 screening procedures for arrivals at seaports following an outbreak involving at least 17 Russian sailors on a vessel that docked at the southern port city of Busan.



Fears are growing about a possible community spread of the coronavirus from the infected Russians as they have already come into contact with more than 150 Korean dockworkers.



Health experts said the contact between the Russians and Koreans could have been prevented if the authorities at the port had carried out stricter screening procedures for arrivals from Russia amid the recent rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases there.



"The government's virus management system aimed at preventing an inflow of COVID-19 from overseas has focused more on airports rather than seaports," professor Ki Mo-ran at the National Cancer Center said. "It seems the government failed to take Russia's recent situation into consideration."



The Russian cargo ship Ice Stream with 21 sailors on board departed from Vladivostok, June 16, and docked at Gamcheon Port in Busan, Sunday, carrying frozen marine products.



The government has asked foreign ships, except for those coming from China, Iran and Italy, to fill in electronically registered documents to submit the health condition of sailors and a ship's log to the local authorities. The Russian vessel was allowed to dock at the port after stating in its document that there were no significant health issues among its crew.



The sailors then conducted loading and unloading work with Korean dockworkers the same day.



The authorities conducted coronavirus tests on the sailors Monday, only after receiving notice that the ship's captain, who had returned to Russia, was confirmed to have COVID-19.



Sixteen sailors were found to be infected with the virus, and the crew's claim that there were no sick sailors turned out to be a lie as three of them had already been showing symptoms of a fever.



One more Russian sailor was infected with the virus on another Russian ship that arrived at the port earlier than the Ice Stream.



Experts said letting the Russian sailors only fill in the electronically registered documents was insufficient to contain the influx of the virus, considering the spike in the number of new cases in that country.



Amid mounting criticism, the authorities began boarding ships arriving at Busan from Russia to carry out a more thorough screening procedure, Wednesday.



"The government will restrict port entry to ships if they do not report sailors showing symptoms associated with the coronavirus," said Kim Joon-seok, a senior official of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.



Korea added 51 COVID-19 cases  31 local and 20 imported infections  Tuesday, raising the nation's total to 12,535, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Pevention. The death toll remained unchanged at 281.


By Senior Colonel Wu Qian, Director General of the Information Office of China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers reporters' questions at a regular press conference on June 24, 2020. (Photo: mod.gov.cn)

(The following English text of the press conference is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

Wu Qian: At the invitation of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe will attend the military parade celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Unions victory against the Nazis in World War II in Russia from June 23 to 25. His visit to Russia during the critical moment of global anti-pandemic campaign will further deepen the mutual trust and cooperation between the Chinese and Russian militaries, and push the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to a new height. The Chinese military has also dispatched the guard of honor to participate in the Russian Victory Day parade.

Question: The Chinese and Indian border troops recently had serious clashes at the Galwan Valley. Whats the current situation there? Looking ahead, whats the Chinese militarys view on the China India border?

Answer: China has sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region. Over the years, the Chinese border troops have been patrolling and guarding this region. Since April this year, the Indian border troops have unilaterally built facilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. The Chinese side has lodged representations and oppositions to the Indian side many times. In the early morning of May 6, the Indian border troops trespassed into Chinas territory, built fortification and barricades and impeded the patrol of Chinese border troops, in an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo of border control and management. The Chinese border troops have been forced to take necessary measures to respond to the situation on the ground and strengthen management and control in the border areas.

With Chinas strong efforts, the two sides agreed to hold bilateral communication through multiple channels. On June 6, the border troops of both countries held the first commander-level meeting and reached consensus on easing the situation through concrete measures. The Indian side promised that they would not cross the estuary of the Galwan River to patrol or build facilities, and the two sides would discuss and decide phased withdrawal of troops through the meetings between commanders on the ground. Shockingly, on the evening of June 15, Indias front-line troops, in violation of the agreement reached at the commander-level meeting, once again crossed the LAC for deliberate provocation, and even violently attacked the Chinese officers and soldiers who went there for negotiation, thus triggering fierce physical conflicts and causing casualties.

The Chinese border troops took decisive countermeasures in self-defense, resolutely fought back against the violent acts of the Indian side, and effectively safeguarded our national sovereignty and territorial integrity. India should bear full responsibility for the incident that was solely and completely triggered by its breach of consensus and unilateral provocations. The Chinese side demanded the Indian side severely punish those who should be held accountable, strictly discipline its frontline troops so as to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.

After the clash, China and India have stayed in close communication through military and diplomatic channels. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reached an agreement over a phone conservation to handle the Galwan Valley clash justly and fairly and cool down the situation on the ground. A second commander-level meeting was held on June 22 where the two sides exchanged views on the management and control of border tension and the maintenance of peace and stability in the border areas.

China and India are important neighbors to each other. Maintaining a peaceful and tranquil border region is in the common interests of both sides and requires common efforts as well. We hopes that India will work with China, follow faithfully the important consensus reached between the two leaders, abide by the agreements reached between the two governments, and properly handle relevant issues through dialogue and negotiation on various levels. The two sides should make great efforts to jointly ease the current border situation and uphold peace and stability in the border areas.

Question: When attending a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and People's Armed Police (PAP) Force to the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), President Xi Jinping called for efforts to explore new approaches of training for combat readiness in the context of long-term epidemic prevention and control.

He urged the PLA and PAP Force to carry out science-based epidemic prevention and control according to actual conditions, step up combat preparedness, flexibly conduct realistic training and enhance Chinese militarys task-performing capabilities across the board. Could you please tell us what plans and measures the military has to implement the presidents requirements?

Answer: Since the COVID-19 broke out, the whole military has resolutely responded to President Xis orders and taken the challenge of the epidemic as a special opportunity of training and tempering our service members both in combat readiness and in epidemic containment. The military has taken the following measures.

First, we have improved coordinated training under epidemic conditions. Aiming to minimize the impact of the epidemic while achieving the annual training objectives, we have made holistic training plans in terms of tasks, schedules, resources, and supervision, with dynamic and precise adjustment of various tasks.

Second, we have enhanced emergency and combat training under epidemic conditions. Training of task forces capabilities, commanding, systematic capacities and training-to-combat transitions has all been intensified to temper the troops ability to respond to emergencies and combat calls quickly.

Third, we have created new training modes under epidemic conditions. The long-term epidemic prevention and control have changed the time, space, rhythm, and approach of military training, so the troops are actively summarizing experience and promoting online training, small-group training, enclosed training at bases, and differentiated training.

Fourth, we have strictly prevented and controlled training risks under epidemic conditions. Eyeing the training features amid long-term epidemic control, we have placed equal emphasis on preventing and controlling epidemic and accidents to ensure risk-free training.

Question: It is reported that the PLA Tibet Military Command recently organized a real-combat exercise in the plateau area. Could you please confirm and brief us on this?

Answer: Recently, the PLA Tibet Military Command held an all-dimensional live-fire exercise involving combat groups of combined arms and multiple types of equipment in a high-elevation region, to comprehensively test the troops joint combat capabilities in plateau environment. The exercise was part of the annual training plan, not targeting any specific country.

Question: You just released the news about Minister Weis upcoming visit to Russias military parade. We noticed that of all the foreign defense ministers to attend the event, Minister Wei is the only one from a permanent member of the UN Security Council. What message does that send to the world? Can you comment on the current mil-to-mil relationship between China and Russia?

Answer: Minister Wei attendance to the military parade celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Unions victory against Nazis in WWII reflects the high level of mil-to-mil relationship between China and Russia as well as their firm resolve and sincere wish to jointly protect the victorious results of WWII and maintain world peace and stability.

Under the strategic guidance of both Chinese and Russian presidents, the two militaries have been maintaining a sound relationship with close cooperation in terms of high-level exchanges, strategic cooperation, and joint exercises and competitions. Its fair to say that the China-Russia mil-to-mil relationship is stronger than ever.

It should be stressed that the two militaries have had fruitful and pragmatic cooperation in epidemic prevention and control since COVID-19 broke out. Firstly, leaders of the two militaries have maintained close communication. They exchanged letters, held phone talks, expressed sympathy and support to each other, and had a full exchange of views on a series of commonly concerned issues. Secondly, video conferences on sharing anti-COVID-19 experience were held. The medical departments and relevant experts from Chinese and Russian militaries held two video conferences to exchange their experience in epidemic prevention and control and disease diagnosis and treatment. Finally, the two sides supported each other by providing anti-epidemic supplies. The Chinese military have provided its Russian counterpart with anti-epidemic supplies including masks, protective clothing, ventilators, and testing kits.

China will work with Russia to jointly implement the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, and continuously promote innovative development of mil-to-mil relationship as well as the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

Question: Recently, President Xi Jinping chaired the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19, and he exchanged views and reached broad consensuses at the meeting with various parties on supporting Africa in fighting COVID-19 and promoting China-Africa and international anti-epidemic cooperation. Please brief us on the cooperation between the Chinese military and the militaries of African countries in the fight against COVID-19.

Answer: In his keynote speech at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19, President Xi stressed that China and Africa must stay committed to fighting COVID-19 together, enhancing China-Africa cooperation, upholding multilateralism, and taking China-Africa friendship forward, in the endeavor to build a China-Africa community of health for all and a stronger China-Africa community with a shared future.

China and Africa have a long tradition of being good friends, partners and brothers. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the Chinese military has fought side by side with African militaries through this challenging period. When China was at its height of fighting the outbreak, militaries of African countries expressed their sympathy and support in various ways. After the outbreak spread to Africa, Chinese military leaders sent letters of sympathy to the militaries of multiple African countries. We held experience-sharing video conferences with the militaries of South Africa and Ethiopia, provided emergency epidemic control supplies to the militaries of 15 African countries such as Mozambique, and dispatched transport planes of the air force to deliver the supplies to many of them.

China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future. The Chinese military stands ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with African counterparts to jointly build the China-Africa community of health for all and make contributions to safeguarding regional and global public health security.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers reporters' questions at a regular press conference on June 24, 2020. (Photo: mod.gov.cn)

Question: According to online photos, the service members at PLA Djibouti Support Base have dressed in a new-style combat camouflage uniform. Could you please confirm that? Is this the same new-style uniform that debuted during the 70th anniversary military parade in 2019? When will the new outfit be distributed to the whole military?

Answer: What the service members at PLA Djibouti Support Base are wearing is the new combat uniform presented during the military parade in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. The outfit is currently being tried out by some troops and will be gradually distributed to all troops as planned.

Question: US Defense Secretary Mark Esper recently claimed that Chinas actions in the East and South China Seas are destabilizing the Indo-Pacific region and that the US will stand with its regional allies to confront a China that is trying to weaken the sovereignty of other countries and undermine international rules. The secretary also accused China of attempting to use the novel coronavirus to spread turmoil and blame other countries. Whats your comment on that and the current mil-to-mil relationship between China and the US?

Answer: Recently, US defense leadership has been hyping up the so-called China threat in total disregard of facts, trying to sow discord among the regional countries and stigmatize Chinas anti-epidemic efforts. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to those remarks.

Thanks to the united efforts of all countries in the region, the situations in East and South China Seas have maintained generally stable. This speaks volumes for the regional countries wisdom, capabilities and means to properly handle their differences through direct negotiations and consultations, and jointly safeguard regional peace. In contrast, the US, as a country out of the region, has dispatched military vessels and aircraft to make provocations in the East and South China Seas under the pretext of freedom of navigation, frequently conducted close-in reconnaissance on China and held highly targeted military exercises. The US moves have seriously harmed the sovereignty and security interests of regional countries and undermined peace and stability in the region. The accusation of weaken the sovereignty of other countries and undermine international rules fabricated by the US against China should be put on its own head where it rightly belongs.

Some American politicians have spared no effort in smearing and slandering China by stirring up hostility and calling black white, in the vicious and shameful attempt to divert domestic conflicts and shirk responsibilities for their poor pandemic response. The international community will have a righteous conclusion about right and wrong, and the people know very well where justice lies. Blaming China is no way to solve Americas own problems.

China and the US, both important countries in the world, will gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Cooperation is the only right choice for the two countries. The mil-to-mil relationship is an essential part of bilateral ties. Maintaining a generally stable relationship between the two militaries is in the interests of both countries, and it is the responsibility of service members of both sides as well as the expectation of the international community. It is hoped that the US side will work with China under the overarching guideline of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. The two sides should strengthen strategic communication, deepen practical cooperation and properly manage and control differences, so as to create more favorable conditions for promoting a coordinated, cooperative and stable China-US relationship.

Question: The US and Taiwan have had close interactions this month. A US transport plane flew over the Taiwan island for the first time, and its destroyers passed through the Taiwan Strait again. The US Defense Secretary Mark Esper even tweeted that America would remain committed to a democratic Taiwan. Whats your comment on that?

Answer: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Taiwan affairs are purely Chinas internal affairs that brook no external interference. The US frequent playing of the so-called Taiwan card in an attempt to harm Chinas national sovereignty and territorial integrity in the sausage-slicing approach is a sheer pipe dream. The PLA has been on high alert, and has the firm resolve, full confidence and sufficient capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Question: Following the US ban on some Chinese students and scholars from entering the country early this month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a press statement that the US will not tolerate PRC attempts to illicitly acquire American technology and intellectual property from our academic institution and research facilities for Chinese military ends.Whats your comment on that?

Answer: China has always followed a path of independent scientific research and made remarkable achievements in a range of high-tech fields, which is a fact widely acknowledged by the international community. The groundless accusation from the US is nothing but another bout of persecution mania. We have noticed the visa restrictions rolled out by the US side on Chinese students and researchers, which is a grave violation of their lawful rights and interests. The move, which harms others with no benefit to the US itself, seriously disrupts technological and cultural exchanges between China and the US, and damages the atmosphere of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. We advise the US administration to view Chinas development from an objective and rational perspective, introspect about its own problems, and refrain from going down the wrong path any further.

Question: It was reported by Japanese media that after unilaterally withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the US is discussing with Japan about deploying intermediate-range missiles at American military bases in Japan. The media commented that the deployment would put Japan in a dangerous position. May I have your comment on this?

Answer: China is firmly opposed to the deployment of intermediate-range missiles by the US in the Asia Pacific region. If the US insists on the deployment, it will be a provocation at Chinas doorstep. China will never sit idle and will take all necessary countermeasures.

At the same time, China hopes that Japan and other countries concerned can act cautiously with the big picture of regional peace and stability in mind, and should not allow the US to deploy medium-range missiles on their territories, so as not to fall victim to Washingtons geopolitical ploys.

Question: It is reported that the PLA has started the recruitment of civilian personnel from the public in 2020. Please give us more details.

Answer: To recruit more talent from society to serve military build-up, the Chinese military has started this years public recruitment of civilian personnel. Applicants may obtain the recruitment information at the Military Talent Website (http://81rc.81.cn/) and sign up for the application. According to the plan, the unified exams for public and specific subjects will be held on August 23, and the interview, political review, physical examination, public notice and administrative approval will be completed before the end of November.

As an integral part of the military personnel, civilian personnel are non-active members in the military system working in management and technical posts. With a growing number in recent years, civilian personnel have made important contributions to the development of the military. We welcome more young people to join the civilian team of the military and make contributions to the development of our country with your youth and dedication.

Question: According to media reports, as of the end of May 2020, all the 4,100 impoverished villages that the Chinese military was designated to assist had been lifted out of poverty. What are the features and highlights of the assistance provided by the military in poverty alleviation?

Answer: The Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and President Xi Jinping attach great importance to the militarys participation in poverty alleviation. Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed on many occasions that the military should give full play to its own advantages, do a good job in poverty alleviation, educational development, and medical support, and help the villagers live a well-off life earlier. The military has resolutely implemented the decision of President Xi, and insisted on satisfying local needs and fulfilling the expectations of the masses within the military capabilities, having formed a distinctive brand in poverty alleviation.

The military has supported Party building of local Party branches to strengthen their role as a fortress. A total of 3,468 Party branches in poverty-stricken villages were established to deepen mutual learning and support between military and grass-roots party organizations. More than 5,100 outstanding veterans were recommended to serve as secretaries or committee members of these Party branches, forming a standing poverty alleviation team.

The military has supported local medical and health care. A total of 1,458 clinics were built in the impoverished villages, and 113 county-level hospitals in poverty-stricken counties. Military doctor tours have been organized in more than 100 old revolutionary base areas to treat poor patients and address the problem of unaffordable medical care.

The military has promoted education to lay a solid foundation for future development. It has helped build 156 schools along the route of the Long March and 1,544 primary schools in designated villages. The Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission conducted the Bayi student aid program in old revolutionary bases and the PLA Air Force organized the Lantian Chunlei Program for 26 consecutive years. The teaching conditions therein have been effectively improved.

When it comes to poverty alleviation through education, I want to share with you a story that has lasted for 58 years. In 1962, across hills and rivers, a PLA company reached Maidan, a small village on the Pamirs, and settled down there. As a result, the company was named as Maidan Border Defense Company. There was not even a primary school in the village at that time, and the school-age children could only herd sheep or horses. The company's officers and soldiers decided to help the villagers change their living by building classrooms, donating stationeries, and working as teachers... Over the past 58 years, the officers and soldiers stationed there have been shifting, but the work of helping and supporting the poor has never stopped.

Since the 1960s, to make up for the shortage of teachers in the school, most of the military spouses who came to the camp for family visits have undertaken a special task-- to work as part-time teachers in Maidan Primary School. Some children do not want to go to school, and the officers and soldiers therein will tirelessly persuade them and their parents. The current principal of Maidan Primary School says he will never forget that when he was a boy, he was "grabbed" back to the school by the company commander when herding sheep. The company commander even gave his own allowance to him.

Ma Kuban, a villager, said: "My grandfather, my father, and I all graduated from Maidan Primary School. We have witnessed the great changes in our hometown thanks to the help of the PLA." Gulizhana Pahar, who was admitted to Jilin University in 2018, said: "it's the PLA servicemen of the border defense company who made my deserted life an oasis."

With the vigorous support of the country and the armed forces, Maidan Village has been successfully lifted out of poverty in 2018. The construction and development of Maidan is only a microcosm of the Chinese military's assistance in poverty alleviation, reflecting the original intention and purpose that the PLA has always adhered to-serving the people wholeheartedly. All the officers and soldiers of the PLA will resolutely implement President Xi Jinping's people-centered philosophy of development, make every effort to help poverty alleviation, and write a new chapter in the era of deep military-civilian affection.
Wednesday, June 24th, 2020 (2:22 pm) - Score 2,865

The Welsh Government (WG) has today issued a short update on their various broadband schemes, which among other things reveals that 79,000 properties (categorised as white premises) still do not have access to superfast broadband (30Mbps+) and wont benefit from any future roll-out plans within the next 3 years.

At present the WG has an on-going 22.5m Phase 2 Superfast Cymru contract with Openreach (BT), which aims to extend gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology to a further 26,000 premises by March 2021 (here and here). So far this contract is already known to have completed 8,283 premises from its target (May 2020 progress update).

NOTE: The Phase 2 contract is focused on tackling premises in the final 4% of Wales that cant yet access speeds of 30Mbps+.

On top of that the WG has now posted the final outcome of their latest Open Market Review (OMR) which, after factoring in the above contract and other commercial developments, has found that a total of 79,000 properties do not have access to superfast broadband and are not in any plans to be given access in the next three years (see further below for a regional breakdown of that figure).

The WG states that one of the ways they intend to tackle this gap is by using some of their remaining broadband funding to top-up vouchers under the UK Governments 200m Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) programme (due to run until March 2021), which normally offers up to 3,500 for small rural businesses and up to 1,500 for homes to get a gigabit-capable connection. But this will now be doubled for rural Wales.

WG Statement We will continue to support those still not connected through our range of measures. Members will be aware that the Welsh Government has been providing a top-up to the UK Government led Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme to reflect the higher costs of providing full fibre connectivity in Wales. The scheme has now come to an end and has been replaced by the Rural Gigabit Connectivity project. I am pleased to inform you that we are again stepping in to provide additional Welsh Government resources to give Wales a generous package of measures not bettered anywhere in the UK. We will provide a Wales top-up for the new scheme of an additional 1,500 for residential properties and 3,500 for businesses. This will take the maximum available to premises in Wales to 3,000 and 7,000 respectively. To help focus the funding on properties that need it most only white premises will be eligible. The top-up funding will only be released when the UK funding ceilings are breached. As clearly demonstrated in the findings of the OMR there remain homes and businesses in Wales that arent being served by the market. So we are using our funding to deliver new and innovative ways of connecting whole communities working with local government and social enterprises through our 10 million Local Broadband Fund, which I outlined in November last year. Work on the fund had been paused because resources both within the Welsh Government and local authorities have been redeployed to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, however, the scheme is now underway.

Unfortunately the WG still doesnt say precisely how the 10m Local Broadband Fund will actually work, although we assume that it may form some kind of co-funded approach like Openreachs Community Fibre Partnerships (CFP) scheme. In any case 10m is still just a drop in the ocean of what will actually be needed to plug the gap.

The big X factor in all this is how much public investment will be coming to Wales as a result of Boris Johnsons (PM) new 5bn commitment to have gigabit-capable broadband  sprouting in every household by the end of 2025, which is focused on the final 20% of UK premises and will no doubt also help to tackle some of the remaining problem areas.

Now heres how that 79,000 figure is being broken down by area.

Breakdown by local authority (Wales)

Local Authority White BLAENAU GWENT 1,354 BRIDGEND 2,403 CAERPHILLY COUNTY BOROUGH 2,017 CARDIFF 2,769 CARMARTHENSHIRE 9,480 CEREDIGION 5,246 CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER * 3 CONWY 3,295 DENBIGHSHIRE 4,509 FLINTSHIRE 2,970 GLOUCESTERSHIRE * 1 GWYNEDD 6,006 ISLE OF ANGLESEY 2,801 MERTHYR TYDFIL 805 MONMOUTHSHIRE 2,405 NEATH PORT TALBOT 1,650 NEWPORT 2,013 PEMBROKESHIRE 6,366 POWYS 10,701 RHONDDA CYNON TAFF 3,544 SHROPSHIRE * 5 SWANSEA 3,052 TORFAEN 1,071 VALE OF GLAMORGAN 1,857 WREXHAM 2,700 Total 79,023

* These premises are physically within Wales but are categorised by Address Base Premium as being associated with an English Local Authority.

UPDATE 4:24pm

The UK Government have now issued a separate press release to confirm the aforementioned voucher change, which is apparently being made available to 50,000 premises in Wales (we assume its not 79,000 due to a quirk of eligibility somewhere, perhaps with the speed criteria).

Matt Warman, UK Government Minister for Digital Infrastructure, said: Our 1.8 billion superfast broadband programme transformed Wales digital landscape, allowing many people to work remotely during lockdown. We are now focusing on future-proofing internet networks with gigabit speeds and, working with the Welsh Government, I am pleased to offer even more vital funding to bring this next-generation connectivity to rural businesses and homes. I encourage all those who qualify to apply to feel the benefits of much faster internet connections.

Lee Waters, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, said: Fast, reliable internet is vital for our communities, as the covid-19 outbreak has highlighted. Following our Superfast Cymru programme 95 per cent of premises in Wales can access faster broadband, and we need to look at innovative ways to reach the final five per cent. We are pleased to provide this top up for the UK Governments scheme which takes into account the challenges of reaching some premises in rural areas. I would urge communities and businesses to explore the options these vouchers will offer so they can access some of the fastest speeds available.

Anyone who is interested can use the postcode checker at the following link to find registered suppliers in their area and their chosen supplier will then guide them through the application. For more information and to check eligibility visit: https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk .
The government is mulling putting colour codes on products to separate desi and foreign-made. This development comes after the government asked sellers to specify country of origin on products sold on government e-marketplace. Moreover, online retailers such as Amazon and Flipkart might also require to specify the country of origin of products. These measures are part of the government's policy to influence customer preference as calls to boycott Chinese goods grow louder.

The colour codes the government is planning to implement would be on the same lines of green for vegetarian and red for non-vegetarian food items. The colour code for India is likely to be orange or saffron, as mentioned in a report in Times of India.

On Tuesday, the government made it mandatory for GeM sellers to specify the origin of products. The government said that the products would be removed from the platform if the seller fails to specify origin. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said, "GeM has taken this significant step to promote 'Make in India' and 'Atma Nirbhar 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."

The government had also enabled 'Make in India' filter for products on the platform.

Additionally, online platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart might also have to declare the origin of country of products on display after Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and small manufacturers under the banner of Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) had proposed the same. The industry bodies claim that around 70 per cent of items sold on Amazon and Flipkart are of Chinese origin and that local manufacturers do not benefit from the boom in the e-commerce sector.

Also read: Now, 'country of origin' mandatory for products on govt's e-marketplace

Also read: 70% 'Made in China', eh? Centre to ask Flipkart, Amazon, others to disclose 'origin'
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)
HOLLAND, MI -- Bystanders helped rescue two children and an adult from rough waters at Holland State Park.

Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said two girls, ages 15 and 9, were in the water near the shoreline about 12:40 p.m. Tuesday, June 23.

Waves were about five feet high, according to some observers. The red flags, signaling dangerous swim conditions, also were flying.

Observers told police that a rip current began to pull the girls out further and they began to struggle. At that point, their aunt jumped into the water and tried to help them but she also began to struggle.

Bystanders then started to help and threw life rings to the struggling people. Some also went into the water to help them.

All three were brought to shore and they all declined further treatment by rescuers who had since arrived at the scene.

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A teen influencer who is known as Anastasia Tropitsel with about 1 million followers tragically died just a few moments after filming herself smiling straight into her bike's mirror. The horrific death of this 18-year-old Russian blogger happened on a motorcycle in an accident in Bali.

Anastasia Tropitsel is known as a popular Instagram influencer who was able to become a millionaire at an early age of 15, was traveling riding on a bike alongside her 30-year-old boyfriend known as Viktor Maydanovich, when he said she suddenly began to "wobble" while traveling at a speed of over 90kkmph.

Instagram Influencer's death

She suddenly lost control of the Kawasaki she was driving and proceeded to collide with a roadside fence which caused her to suffer from head injuries. The shocking video footage shows the particular Instagram influencer's last moments where she was filming herself on the popular Ninja 250 motorbike while wearing a helmet and giving her best smile into the mirror before being able to capture a panning sunset view on the sandy beach.

Anastasia, or rather her real surname Zubrina, had already been a blogger ever since she was only 12 years old with a massive Instagram following of 1.2 million. She has stated that she "became a millionaire at 15" due to the success of her internet presence. She also stated that she would often share certain motivational posts alongside those popular glamorous traveling snaps of the time she spent in Bali.

One of her posts even says that she inspires people to do what they can't do and that she wants people to grow their wings and even to go freelance. Anastasia also reportedly stayed in Bali for the long lockdown after a certain trip to the island immediately boosted her Instagram.

She was also embroiled in a certain public row with her father just a short while before she died. She was apparently warned that her popular online success story was slowly turning into a failure, according to the Daily Mail.

Read Also: 'Elon Musk' GoFundMe Account Asking Support to Colonize Mars Spotted: How Much Did It Make So Far?

The fight with her father

Her father told her that her business was collapsing and that her team is actually just having fun at her own expense. She was also told that she was not finishing her own projects and that she was only focusing on having fun. She was then told to think about working if she really wanted to live well.

The publication even reported that her father claimed that her own boyfriend was pulling her down while she, on the other hand, accused her father of "burning" her deeply emotionally as well as betraying her.

Her 30-year-old boyfriend also shared a certain emotional post online stating "My beloved girl is not with us." the post continued to tell people to say their last farewells to her with all of their good thoughts and meditations.

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- Maxene Magalona recently penned a lengthy appreciation post for her husband Rob Mananquil

- She discussed how blessed she is for having him as her life partner

- Maxene said Rob encourages her to seek psychiatric help for her mental illness

- It was also him who pushes her to practice meditation for her spiritual growth

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Maxene Magalona recently penned a lengthy post on social media to express how blessed she is for having Rob Mananquil as her husband.

In an Instagram post, Maxene said Rob encourages her to seek psychiatric help for her mental health.

It was also him who pushes her to do inner healing exercises and backed her for her spiritual growth as well.

Here is Maxenes full post:

Men who are doing inner healing work is the new sexy. So proud of my husband @robmananquil who has been devoting his time and efforts everyday to really look within and focus on inner work during this pandemic.

Our marriage is far from perfect but these last 4 months have really shown me how blessed I am to be with someone who truly understands the importance of healing. Not only has he inspired me to take care of my physical body through fitness and healthy vegan food, he also encourages me to embrace my true potential by seeking therapy for my mental health and practicing yoga and meditation for my spiritual growth.

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He was also the one who brought me closer to God as he would often bring me to church on Sundays and always prayed for me especially during times when I felt all alone. I always thought of myself as strong and independent and was too proud to admit that I needed help but I guess God saw just how lost I was and wanted me to find way my home the day He brought Rob into my life. 

Im so grateful for you, my dear husband. With you, I am home.

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In a previous report by KAMI, Maxene Magalona revealed that she has been seeing a psychiatrist for a year now due to her mental illness called Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Maxene Magalona is an actress and social media star in the Philippines. Her father is the late rap legend, Francis Magalona. She is married to Rob Mananquil.

Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters!

Source: KAMI.com.gh
The vigilance bureau has booked four persons, including the owners of Tuli Diagnostic Centre in Amritsar, under attempt to murder charges for endangering the lives of the people by issuing fake reports of Covid-19. Besides, the bureau has also booked a private hospital owner and its doctor for allegedly colluding with the lab and committing fraud.

The accused are diagnostic centres owner Dr Robin Tuli, his wife Dr Ridham Tuli, pathologist Dr Sanjay Piplani and Dr Mohinder Singh, and EMC superspecialty hospitals owner Dr Pawan Arora, and Dr Pankaj Soni.

As per the first information report (FIR), the copy of which with HT, the vigilance bureau has also found in its preliminary investigation the connivance of some health department officials and doctors into the alleged scam, which was being run by the private lab, situated opposite Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Hospital.

The senior superintendent of police (SSP-vigilance), Amritsar, had got three complaints against the private lab and the hospital on June 20. After this, a team of vigilance sleuths conducted raids on the lab and the hospital seizing Covid-19 testing records and other documents. Besides, the teams also sealed the testing machine of the lab till further orders.

The first complaint was lodged by Raj Kumar Khular of Rani Ka Bagh area in Amritsar. He informed the vigilance bureau that his daughter-in-law was pregnant and was being treated in a private hospital. The hospital had asked us to conduct her Covid-19 test before getting her admitted for her delivery. On June 6, my daughter-in-law was tested positive for Covid-19 by Tuli lab. After this she was admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospitals isolation ward. After we got suspicious, her re-test was conducted at the government lab in the Government Medical College (GMC) where she tested negative, he said.

The second complaint was lodged by Varinder Dutta of Namak Mandi area in Amritsar. He alleged his wife Preeti Dutta and her maternal family members were deliberately tested positive for Covid-19 by Tuli lab with the collusion of the EMC hospitals owner. Due to the fake positive reports of my wife and her maternal family, they were admitted in the isolation block of the EMC hospital. They were negative, but after getting in contact with the other patients there, they became Covid-19 positive. The lab and the hospital had put the lives of my family members at risk.

The third complaint was lodged by Ashok Taneja of Mehta Chowk area. He alleged that he along with his wife and son had returned from England and their tests were conducted from Tuli lab. He said the lab had got Rs 5,500 for per test but gave Rs 4,500 receipts only. The report of my wife was declared negative while my son and I were tested positive. We were admitted to the EMC hospital. We wanted to conduct our retesting, but were not allowed by the hospital doctors. We, somehow, managed to get our retesting done from the GMC and the reports were negative, he said.

The FIR further reads that the health department had also conducted retesting of four persons who were tested positive by the lab, on June 4, and all the four persons were tested negative. The FIR, which is registered by inspector Kuldeep Singh, reads the vigilance, in its prima facie, has found that a scam was being run by the lab and the hospital with connivance with some government doctors.

The lab owner and its staff have been booked under sections 307 (murder bid), 336 (endangering life of others), 270 (spreading infection of disease), 420 (fraud), 467-68 (forgery), 471 (using as genuine a forged), 188 (disobedience to order), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian penal code (IPC), and various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act in Amritsar.

The hospital owner and the doctor were booked under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC.
On June 30th,. The actor made his debut with J.P Duttas Refugee in 2000 and has delivered some memorable performances since then. In the last few weeks, the actor has been on a nostalgic trip remembering the films that have been part of the journey stretching across two decades.from hisseries dedicating it to the year 2011 where the actor was seen in films like Game and Dum Maaro Dum. Along with sharing a short video, the actor wrote, #RoadTo20 Year-2011 #GameGame was a very cool and slick whodunnit. A genre Ive always wanted to do being a big fan of Poirot. The film gave me the opportunity to work with wonderful actors and an awesome crew helmed by Abhinay Deo and produced by my good friends @ritesh_sid and @faroutakhtar . Farhan also wrote the dialogues. Never in a million years would I have dreamt that as two young kids at each others birthday parties participating in the dance competitions (unsuccessfully) that I would act in a film that was produced by and mouth dialogues written by Farhan; something our fathers did rather successfully a super cast filled with talent and fun. @boman_irani , #kanganaranaut , @anupampkher , @sarahjanedias , @jimmysheirgill , @shahanagoswami , #GauharKhan such a fun crew. Such fun times shooting the film, especially when we shot in Greece and Turkey! Dum maaro dum was my 3rd film with @rohansippy and a totally different genre to his last two films. A rom-com to a cool con film to now a gritty thriller! Speaks volumes about his range and versatility as a director. We shot this film entirely in Goa except for the Thayn Thayn video. Rohan, through the shooting of the film introduced me to a Goa that I had never seen. Locations I wouldnt have even imagined existed. Again, a huge cast of (then (family face)) young energetic talent. @bipashabasu , @ranadaggubati , @_prat , @deepikapadukone (in a special appearance) , @balanvidya (in a cameo) and @gulshandevaiah78 an actor who just blew me away with his ease and talent. So exciting to watch. I would love to get the opportunity to work with him again. Not many know, Bipasha was the first actor I ever faced the movie camera with. We had both screen tested together for JP saab. Kamaalistan studious in the year 1998. That was for a different film/script. Weve remained dear friends since. Take a look at the post below.The actor will next be seen inwhich also features Aditya Roy Kapur, Rajkummar Rao, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Suresh Saraf and Pankaj Tripathi in leading roles.
CNBC's Jim Cramer on Wednesday said that Albertsons, the U.S. grocery operator making its third IPO attempt, is worth owning if investors can get the stock at the right price.

Albertsons, which owns Albertsons, Safeway, Acme and Shaw's supermarkets in dozens of states, plans to raise up to $1.32 billion when it goes public this week. A group of stockholders is offering almost 66 million shares to the public in the $18 to $20 price range.

"I think that Albertsons could be worth owning" but should be bought at "no more than $24 to $25," the "Mad Money" host said. "It's definitely not best of breed, but it's not garbage either."

Cramer is recommending the stock after he saw the grocery retailer take several steps to address its debt load, bring in a new chief executive and rehab its stores and operations.

He noted that Albertsons improved its balance sheet, where debt was cut from almost $12 billion in 2015 to $8.7 billion; installed a new CEO in Vivek Sankaran, who previously headed PepsiCo's food business in North America; and added delivery services at most of its roughly 2,520 stores.

Albertsons failed in their public offerings in both 2015 and 2018. The latter attempt was put off due to suboptimal market conditions.

As the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has given grocery stores a lift, Cramer is convinced that the third time could be a charm now that the Idaho-based parent company is a "better company" than it once was.

"All these moves are working. After years of stagnating, Albertsons' sales grew by more than 3% last year" including "2% same-store sales growth. Big improvement over where they were," he said.

Some concerns still linger for the stock expert. Cerberus Capital, who took the grocery operator private more than a decade ago through a leveraged buyout, will retain control of the company on the public market, watering down the power public shareholders will have in directing the business. Furthermore, the grocery industry is full of competition and their sales will come back down to earth after Covid-19 is solved.

"This Albertsons deal may be better than you'd expect, but I think the best part of the IPO cycle may have already come and gone, along maybe with a lot of this market and so I'm telling you exercise with caution," Cramer said.

Should Albertsons IPO on the high end, the company would be valued at $11.61 billion, considering outstanding shares and certain convertible preferred stocks. BofA Securities, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and Citigroup are the lead underwriters for the offering.

Underwriters have an option to buy another 9.9 million shares. Should that option be tapped, the offering could go for about $1.5 billion.
The Supreme Court has thrown out an application filed by four Civil Society Organisations to be friends of the suit filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) and the Attorney General.



The CSOs; IMANI Africa, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation and Conservative Policy Research Center, had served notice to volunteer relevant information to the court in what is often referred to as amicus brief in law.



But the Electoral Commission on Tuesday, June 23 prayed the Supreme Court to dismiss the application by the CSOs, arguing the public utterances of the CSOs on the matter is a clear indication that they are not disinterested in the outcome of the case, and can thus not file an amicus brief.



On Wednesday, June 24, the Supreme Court unanimously threw out the application, saying it has no place in law.



The need for an amicus brief is not supported by law, President of the panel and Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah said.



We have therefore dismissed the application for the CSOs on the amicus brief, he concluded.



The amicus brief, according to the EC, was sought by the CSOs to seek leave of the court to point to the court some decision, whether reported or unreported or some point of law which appeared not to have been canvassed by the litigating parties or to bring for the benefit of the court some special expertise relating to the matter before it.



By this decision, the Court can decide on the date on which to give judgement on the substantive case.



Background



Policy Think Tank, IMANI Africa served notice of an intention to petition the Supreme Court in the ongoing case between the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Electoral Commission (EC).



IMANI, ASEPA and other CSOs say they will file amicus curiae in the landmark case challenging the Electoral Commissions decision to limit eligibility criteria for the compilation of the proposed voters register to only National ID Card and the Ghanaian passport.



This according to Founder of IMANI, Franklyn Cudjoe has become necessary due to supplementary evidence and information they have uncovered which they believe could help the Judges avoid a travesty of Justice.



He noted in a statement that the 44-page amicus curiae captures in details form what their position is relative to the matter currently being heard in Court.



The development comes in the wake of growing public opinion including formal statements by Ghanas former Presidents, National House of Chiefs, CSOs, election observer groups including CODEO, Center for Democratic Governance, CDD and the Institute for Democratic Development, IDEG, against ECs entranced position to compile a new register and resort to the use of only Ghana card and passport as prove of citizenship.

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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Chandigarh, June : The first plasma therapy has been given to two Covid-19 patients in Amritsar, Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister O.P. Soni said, here on Wednesday.

The plasma was donated on Tuesday by a cured Covid-19 patient from Amritsar. He had tested Covid-19 positive on return from Dubai.

Soni said the plasma therapy had been given to Covid-19 patients -- one from Pathankot and the other from Amritsar -- admitted at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Government Medical College in Amritsar.

"The plasma of convalescent patient is given to moderate coronavirus infected persons. The therapy is being used across globe for management for Covid-19 cases," said Soni.

The ICMR had given the sanction to the Government Medical College in Faridkot under the national clinical trial to use the plasma therapy. It has become one of the leading institutes in the country to introduce this therapy.
Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso takes questions from reporters at the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington

By Tetsushi Kajimoto

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will stick to its target of getting its budget back to surplus by 2025, its finance minister said on Tuesday, even as the heavily indebted government ramps up spending to offset the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

When asked about S&P Global Ratings' recent cut to the outlook on Japan's sovereign credit rating, Finance Minister Taro Aso said the country could avert a ratings downgrade if pledged stimulus revived the economy and restored revenue.

"We have no immediate plan to review the primary budget goal," Aso told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The fiscal goal will be included in the government's key mid-year policy platform, to be issued by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's top economic advisory council next month.

Having rolled out a combined $2.2 trillion in two stimulus packages to avert a deeper recession, Abe's government remains under pressure to prioritise growth over fiscal reform in the short term.

"We are not in a position to prioritise fiscal reform now, so we will give it just a modest mention," said a government source, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to media publicly.

The prospects of falling tax revenue and snowballing social security spending to support the fast-ageing population have already made it difficult to reach a primary budget surplus by the end of the March 2026 fiscal year.

Still, the budget target, which excludes new bond sales and debt-servicing costs, is seen as the government's commitment to fix the industrial world's heaviest public debt, which is more than twice the size of its $5 trillion economy.

"If we give up on the target, fiscal discipline would be thrown out of the window, leading to Japan selling among investors in the future," another government source told Reuters.

S&P Global Ratings this month cut its outlook on Japan's sovereign debt rating to stable from positive, citing uncertainty over the country's fiscal health.

Story continues

In 2017, Abe postponed a commitment to balance the budget by five years to 2025, due to increased spending needs to meet promised social security commitments.

The heavy stimulus has boosted Japan's primary budget deficit sevenfold to 66 trillion yen ($616.25 billion) this fiscal year, raising the reliance on debt as tax and other income failed to finance policy spending like defence and education by as much.

($1 = 107.1000 yen)

(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Additional reporting by Izumi Nakagawa; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Sam Holmes)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 01:40:57|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Tuesday said that there is an international consensus on rejecting the Israeli plan to annex parts of the West Bank.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye made the remarks after meeting with Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to Palestine Masayuki Magoshi and Italian Consul General in Jerusalem Giuseppe Fedele separately in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

"We now have an international consensus rejecting the Israel's annexation, but we want an international recognition of the Palestinian state as a preemptive step and impose sanctions on Israel if it presses ahead with its plan," Ishtaye was quoted as saying in a press statement by his office.

Ishtaye underscored the importance of compliance with international law and legitimate resolutions, expressing his appreciation to the role of Japan in supporting the two-state solution and the Palestinian people.

Magoshi said that the Israeli annexation plan would "destroy the chances of peace," said the statement.

Meanwhile, Ishtaye briefed Fedele on the latest political developments and the dangers of the Israeli annexation plan.

In the two meetings, the Palestinian prime minister reiterated the importance of applying international pressure on Israel and the United States to prevent the annexation plan from being implemented, the statement said. 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.
The Star Wars franchise is one of the largest and most successful franchises in the world. The franchise all started with a lonely farm boy on a desert planet called Tatooine, and from there, its become a phenomenon that few people can imagine.

One of the key reasons for the success of the original trilogy was due to the main trio of characters, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo. All three of them were played by unknown actors at the time, and due to the trilogys success, they all became household names.

That said, one interesting fact is that Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker, almost died in a car accident before he made it big.

A look at Mark Hamills car accident

Mark Hamill attends the Premiere of Disneys Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker on December 16, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

As Insider wrote, in January 1977, Hamill got into a bad accident where he broke his nose. What had happened was that Hamill was driving his car on a highway in the middle of nowhere, and as Insider said, he was going about 65-70 MPH.

Then, he tried to get onto an off-ramp, but he lost control of his car and it went off the road.

He survived this accident, but he was pretty injured as a result of it. In fact, Insider said that George Lucas wanted to shoot a few more scenes for the first movie but since Hamill was injured, Lucas just used a stunt double instead.

In an interview with Michael Aspel, Hamill also mentions that while he was injured from the accident, he only needed to get his nose fixed. The rest of his face didnt need plastic surgery, unlike what some people were saying at the time. That said, his nose still looks different than before.

How this accident affected the franchise

RELATED: Mark Hamill Wanted George Lucas to Go in a Crazy Different Direction

While Hamill downplayed the severity of the accident, it did have an effect on the next Star Wars movie that he worked on, The Empire Strikes Back. That said, there is some conflicting sources on how exactly it affected that movie. For example, Insider said that Lucas didnt write the scene at the start of the movie where a Wampa attacks Lukes face to explain away Hamills different appearance.

However, Carrie Fisher, who played Leia, said that the scene was changed so that the Wampa attacks Lukes face in order to explain Hamills different appearance. As a result of this conflict of evidence, fans are divided on why that Wampa scene was written in the first place. That said, all fans agree that had Hamills accident been worse, the whole franchise mightve been derailed.

Why Mark Hamills death couldve sunk the franchise

Not many actors or actresses pass away while theyre in the middle of filming for a major franchise, but its happened before. For example, Paul Walker, who starred in the Fast & Furious movies, passed away while filming Furious 7. As a result, the filmmakers used CGI and Walkers brothers to film a sendoff for Walker, and this worked out pretty well.

That said, if Hamill had died in his car accident, or if he was left severely injured and unable to work, then Lucas wouldnt be able to do those things. CGI technology was not really around in the 70s, so Lucas only option would be to recast Luke.

This couldve potentially sunk the franchise entirely since fans fell in love with the original trio, so much so that recasting them is practically off-limits nowadays.

If Lucas had to recast Luke, then theres no guarantee that fans would fall in love with the franchise. Without that type of fan support, the Star Wars franchise probably wouldnt have been able to last as long as it did.
EDMONTONThe Alberta government has quietly halted the closure of 17 provincial parks and recreation sites this year because of COVID-19.

The province had initially planned to fully or partially close 20 provincial parks and hand off another 164 to third-party managers, but officials quietly updated the COVID-19 response page on the Alberta Parks website.

We will operate the 17 parks sites previously identified for closure this season because we want to give Albertans more opportunities to camp and connect with nature over the summer as we all recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, says a note on the website.

This is a temporary measure for this camping season.

Some of the parks and recreation areas staying open this summer include: Twin Lakes, Sheep Creek, Chain Lakes and Dry Island Buffalo Jump.

The plan to close some sites and hand over others has raised concerns among many, with one online petition getting more than 52,000 signatures.

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society said the move to keep some parks open this season is an important step in the right direction that shows the voices of Albertans are making a difference.

We are relieved to see this update, but emphasize that these sites need to be available to Albertans not just this summer, but also in the future, the organization said in a statement.

It noted that the website doesnt address what is happening with the 164 sites that were to be handed off to third-party managers.

No one from Alberta Environment was immediately available for comment.

Environment Minister Jason Nixon has previously said the sites for which no manager can be found will lose park status and revert to general Crown land, which can be sold.

Prior to the changes for this year, the plan would have seen the loss of about 16,000 hectares of parks and recreation area  small compared with the provinces total park system, but one-third of the number of sites the province manages.

Budget documents suggest the move would have saved about $5 million.

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Madhya Pradesh government will launch a Kill Corona campaign from July 1 to screen entire population of the state in a fortnight, said government officials.

This was decided at a meeting chaired by chief minister Shviraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday evening.

The campaign will start from Bhopal. In this important campaign of controlling virus and to generate health awareness, the government and society will work together in all districts of the state. Kill Corona campaign will cover each family. Teams are being formed in this regard. Covid mitra will also be made, who will work voluntarily for this campaign, said an official communique.

As per the communique, CM issued instructions commissioners and collectors across the state to start necessary preparations for this campaign immediately. A meaningful message will be conveyed by this unique and major campaign to other states too, he added.

Chouhan said, Now, the task of identifying the suspected patients quickly and treatment to them will become easier through door to door survey in the state. The speed of the campaign should be accelerated with the support of members of crisis management groups of the districts and all. The growth rate and number of corona active cases is less in Madhya Pradesh. The state stood at the second position in the country with recovery rate of 76.1%.

He made an appeal to people to cooperate with the survey teams in providing information to them. The survey teams will comprise female and male health workers, Asha Workers and Aaganbadi Workers. Citizens will be able to get necessary consultation and treatment if symptoms of cough and cold besides dengue, malaria and diarrhoea are found. Entry of this information will be registered by using Sarthak App. Total 10,000 survey teams will function and at an estimate they will visit 10 lakh houses every day. One team will cover about 100 houses, said the CM.

Additional chief secretary, health department Mohd Suleman said, Population of Madhya Pradesh is around 8 crore now. The entire population will be covered in a fortnight during this door to door campaign. Hence, there will be equal emphasis on urban as well as rural areas. During the survey the teams will gather information about vector borne diseases too so that people could be treated immediately for such diseases too.

As per the health departments bulletin released on Wednesday evening the state has registered so far as many as 12,448 Covid-19 patients out of whom 9473 have recovered from the disease and discharged from hospitals and 534 have died.
Venezuela blamed US sanctions for the non-payment of its United Nations fees, in a letter to the Secretary-General made public on Monday.

The outstanding debt has since January prevented Caracas from voting at the world body.

Last week, it was the only one of the UN's 193 members not to be allowed to vote for the new head of the General Assembly or in elections for the five new non-permanent members of the Security Council for the year 2021-22.

Caracas owes the United Nations tens of millions of dollars for its operating budget and for its peacekeeping operations.

US sanctions "have prevented us from transferring the funds to UN bank accounts located not just in the United States but in other countries too," said the letter from Venezuela's UN ambassador, Samuel Moncada, dated June 15 and addressed to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"Each time we have tried to make an electronic transfer, the transactions have been rejected and, in the best case scenarios, returned to our accounts," it added.

At other times, the Venezuelan ambassador said, the funds had been "frozen or confiscated."

Venezuela "has always had both the political will and the financial capacity to pay, on time, its dues to the organization," the letter said.

It called on Guterres to "find and establish a financial route" that would allow Venezuela to meet its obligations.

To regain its voting rights, Venezuela will have to come up with almost $22 million in unpaid dues.

"We have sufficient financial resources to meet our obligations to the UN," Moncada said.
The man told police he had been having issues with Amazon drivers speeding and "driving recklessly" down his driveway and that he fears for his safety, so he blocked her in with his truck.

The woman followed up by filing a citizen's complaint the following Monday with the sheriff's department.

She said she filed the complaint because she felt the incident was not being taken seriously by the officers on scene and that they didn't treat her as if she was a victim of a crime.

She has retained an attorney, former Sheriff Roy Dominguez, who has questioned if his client's case and complaint weren't taken seriously because she is Black.

But Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez confirmed Tuesday that the officer involved with the case presented reports to the Lake County prosecutor Friday, seeking criminal charges in the matter.

Martinez said Tuesday that the case was being processed by the prosecutor's office for possible felony charges.

A review of the video shows the officer firmly warning the man never to confine someone like that again, even in cases in which speeding occurs on his private property.
LONDON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis will open its borders upon scientific advice, other countries' experience and close coordination with other Caribbean neighbours. Prime Minister Timothy Harris explained this during a radio broadcast on June 23rd. Meanwhile, the economy is steadily reopening, and foreign investors continue applying to the country's Citizenship by Investment Programme remotely.

PM Harris told listeners that regional leaders have been discussing their coordinated response to border control. St Kitts and Nevis successfully contained the spread of COVID-19 with only 15 cases and no deaths. However, Prime Minister Harris warns of the risks of a second wave that may come with allowing visitors back to the Caribbean.

"Any decision to open the borders will again be based on health advice," says PM Harris. He announced that the National Emergency Operating Centre "are giving consideration to behold the protocols that must be in place [] when it is deemed prudent to open the borders." The Prime Minister explained that the Government was also "looking at what is happening in countries where the borders have opened."

Following talks with other Caribbean leaders, PM Harris said that "the advice is that it has to be done in a very thoughtful way," considering a "second surge, if it were to come, could be even more difficult than the first one." However, the Prime Minister reassured that the country's healthcare system was not overwhelmed, continuing preventive and contact tracing measures.

Regarding economic revival, the PM said: "we put the welfare of the people of St Kitts and Nevis first and we have to always strive for that delicate balance between people's livelihood and people's life. We appreciate that opening of the economy is critically important and we have had so far a well-managed approach."

In March, St Kitts and Nevis made it easier for foreign investors seeking second citizenship to apply remotely to its Citizenship by Investment Programme. The fund option remained the fastest way to obtain the country's valuable citizenship, bringing important revenue to the country's national budget. In return, new economic citizens earn the right to live, work and study on the twin islands. They can also travel visa-free to over 150 countries and territories, a list that grew by 17 destinations thanks to re-elected Foreign Minister and Premier of Nevis, Mark Brantley.

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Officer Involved in Breonna Taylor Shooting Fired by Louisville Police Department

The Louisville Metro police department on June 23 fired a police officer who was involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old woman who was killed in her home in March.

In a letter from the citys police department shared on Twitter Tuesday, interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said that Louisville Metro Police Officer Brett Hankison violated procedures by showing extreme indifference to the value of human life when he wantonly and blindly fired 10 shots into Taylors apartment.

Schroeder also said that Hankison violated the rule against using deadly force. The letter states that his termination would be effective immediately.

Taylor, a Kentucky medical worker, was killed in her home on March 13 after law enforcement officers executed a no-knock drug warrant after midnight. No-knock warrants allow law enforcement officials enter a residence forcibly without having to announce their purpose or identifying themselves as police.

Hankison was one of three officers involved in her shooting.

Kenneth Walker, the boyfriend of Taylor, fired a handgun which he legally owned, believing the Louisville home he and Taylor shared was being broken into.

In the confrontation, a police officer was struck by a round. Police returned fire, hitting Taylor eight times, resulting in her death. No drugs were found in the home.

A man holds up a placard showing fallen Breonna Taylor, as he addresses a rally in Boston, Mass., on June 9, 2020. (Steven Senne/AP Photo)

Hankisons firing comes after Mayor Greg Fischer announced Friday that Schroeder had started termination proceedings for Hankison while two other officers remain on administrative reassignment as the shooting is investigated.

The ten rounds you fired were into a patio door and window which were covered with material that completely prevented you from verifying any person as an immediate threat or more importantly any innocent persons present, Schroeder said in his letter, addressing Hankisons violation of the rule against using deadly force.

I find your conduct a shock to the conscience, he continued. I am alarmed and stunned you used deadly force in this fashion.

Your conduct demands your termination, Schroeder wrote. I have the utmost confidence in my decision to terminate your employment for the best interest for the Louisville Metro Police Department and our community.

Sam Aguiar, an attorney for Taylors family, previously said the move to fire Hankison was long overdue. Its about damn time, he said, adding Hankison was an officer who plagued our streets and made this city worse for over a dozen years.

Lets hope that this is a start to some good, strong criminal proceedings against Officer Hankison, because he definitely deserves to at least be charged, Aguiar added.

Protesters calling for justice in Taylors shooting have taken their calls to the streets amid the international protests after the May 25 death of George Floyd who died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyds neck for nearly eight minutes.

Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) at the US Capitol in Washington on Jan. 27, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Following Taylors death, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced a bill to ban no-knock warrants. He said in a press release on June 11 that the bill is named in memory and honor of Taylor.

After talking with Breonna Taylors family, Ive come to the conclusion that its long past time to get rid of no-knock warrants. This bill will effectively end no-knock raids in the United States, said Sen. Paul.

The bill, called the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act (pdf), prohibits any state or local police agency nationwide from executing a warrant that does not require the law enforcement officer serving the warrant to provide notice of his or her authority and purpose before forcibly entering a premises.

Tom Ozimek and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump administration is seeking to block Irans energy trade and to bring down Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on five Iranian ship captains who had delivered oil to Venezuela, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reaffirmed the Trump administrations backing for Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaido.

Speaking at a news conference at the US State Department, Pompeo said the ships delivered approximately 1.5 million barrels of Iranian gasoline and related components, and warned any mariners against doing business with the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose removal Washington wants.

As a result of todays sanctions, these captains assets will be blocked. Their careers and prospects will suffer from this designation, Pompeo said in a statement later. Mariners who are considering work with Iran and Venezuela should understand that aiding these oppressive regimes is simply not worth the risk.

The Trump administration, which is seeking to block Irans energy trade and to bring down Maduro, has threatened reprisals and warned ports, shipping companies and insurers against facilitating the tankers.





The OPEC members exports are hovering near their lowest levels in more than 70 years and the economy has collapsed, but Maduro has held on  to the frustration of the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Iran has since April sent five tankers totalling about 1.5 million barrels to the government of fuel-starved Venezuela, though the shipments have done little to alleviate hours-long lines at gas stations.
The earthquake struck at the height of morning rush hour, toppling buildings, igniting fires and leaving residents panicked in the streets.

It happened 32 years ago, exactly. On Sept. 19, 1985, a 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the southwest coast of Mexico, jolting the capital city and small towns throughout the country. At least 4,200 people died  possibly many more  and hundreds of thousands were left homeless.



For the record: An earlier version of this article said the 1985 earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8. The magnitude was 8.0.

Chaos again erupted in Mexico on Tuesday, the anniversary of the 1985 temblor, when a 7.1 earthquake hit the country, killing at least several dozen.

The irony was not lost, nor the sense of remembered panic, as frightened residents in Mexico City raced out of their homes and stood in the streets, terrified to go back inside.

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The earthquake in 1985 hit Mexico City especially hard. At General Hospital, near the citys central core, more than 250 people died when a tower on the building collapsed.

At the time, President Miguel de la Madrid went on the radio to appeal for calm.

Above all, the first priority is to save human lives, de la Madrid told listeners. Unfortunately, there appear to be many dead. All of the hospitals are on a state of alert to take care of the injured. The army is on a state of alert.

Howard L. Lester, an amateur radio operator in Schenectady, N.Y., reported that he had monitored a transmission between a Mexico City operator and another in Tucson, Ariz.

Speaking in English, the Mexico City operator said:

This is no joke.  We have only one radio channel left. Its a government channel. Were trying to get it working so we can tell the world what is happening.

In the hours after the earthquake, 10 aftershocks hit Mexico City as streets were blocked with debris and medical personnel trying to help those trapped.

kurtis.lee@latimes.com

Twitter: @kurtisalee
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Employees who have worked from home during the COVID-19 pandemic are entitled to claim a deduction this tax time for the extra expenses they have incurred. They must choose from three potential methods to calculate the value of their claim. The first  and by far the simplest  is a new shortcut method which applies for the period between March 1 and June 30. All you need is a timesheet, or other proof of your working hours, to claim a flat deduction of 80 cents for every hour worked from home. For an employee who worked 40 hours from home each week during the period, it amounts to a deduction of just over $500. However, workers who have incurred particularly high costs in working from home may be better off calculating their claim via one of two older methods. The 52 cents method is where you claim 52 cents for every hour worked at home to cover the costs of electricity, gas and home office furniture, and then add in separately the costs you have incurred for phone calls, internet, stationery and the decline in value of equipment such as laptops and phones. Purchases under $300 can be claimed in full in the first year, while purchases over $300 must be spread over multiple years. The "actual expenses" method is the most intricate, requiring you to individually calculate the work-related portion of all costs you have incurred working from home.

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So, which is the best approach for you to take? To get to the bottom of what you can and cannot claim  from toilet paper to Mont Blanc pens  economics writer Jess Irvine sat down with the Australian Tax Officess assistant commissioner, Karen Foat. Credit: Can you claim the value of a home desk you bought pre-COVID-19? So, if youre using, lets say, the actual expenses method and youre wanting to claim deductions for an asset that costs more than $300, then it depends on the effective life of the asset. So something like laptops have an effective life of two years, so they're normally written off over two years. Desks are quite a bit longer, so you may be able to claim a portion of a desk that youd bought more than a couple of years ago. But you would need the receipt and, whether or not youre using it for work purposes, it declines in value from the moment you purchase it. So youll have to work out how much its declined in value from when you bought it through to now and then this year how much has it declined in value and how much have you used it for work purposes." What if you bought home office furniture secondhand? Thats a very good question. You still need to be able to show enough to show a) that you spent the money b) what you spent it on. So, if youve got those combination of things between your Gumtree and your bank statement youre probably starting to get close to having enough information." Can you just claim everything from Officeworks? For example, a labelmaker you use for home organisation?

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So, Id come back to our three golden rules of deductions. You need to have spent the money and not been reimbursed for it, the item needs to be directly for work-related purposes and you cant claim any private use of an item and, finally, you need a record to prove it and that record needs to show that you spent the money and what the item was  not just that you paid a certain supplier a certain amount ... If you bought something and its actually really for private purposes and then you just decide, oh Im just going to print one label to make it work-related, thats not gonna fly. What if you buy deluxe stationery, like kikki.K ? We try to be quite pragmatic ... in an audit situation we will actually go back to those golden rules. So, if youre using these things 100 per cent for work purposes  and thats the only reason that youve got them  youve spent the money, and youve got a record to prove it, then youre going to be able to claim your stationery. But if youve bought a fancy planner from a place like the one youve described and youre using it partly for work but youre also using it a fair bit for private  or even just a little bit for private  then you need to take into account that private use. Can you claim a $700 pen from Mont Blanc? "I think youd have a fairly hard time. Something of that value would be a depreciable asset anyway, being that much. But I think youd find it hard to justify that you need a $700 pen to do your work. Its really not actually that substantially different from a $2 pen. Im sure its much nicer and writes smoother. Look, we try to be fair and reasonable with people but at the same time, were trying to be quite generous with people in having an easy way to calculate from that 80 cents per hour method. But if people have genuine bigger expenses and they want to use one of the other methods, thats fine. But we also cant let people kind of take us for a ride. So, you know, a little bit of overclaiming by a lot of people adds up to billions of dollars every year. We want people to claim what theyre entitled to, but we also cant turn a blind eye to overclaiming. So people need to have a reasonable position about what theyre going to claim." Don't even think about it Snacks

Toilet paper

Coffee, tea and milk

Luxury stationery

Childcare or home schooling costs

Items your employer has already reimbursed you for Do you need a dedicated work area to make a working from home claim?

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Ill just clarify: for the short-cut method, you dont need a dedicated work area. For the fixed-rate method  so 52 cents per hour plus some other things  you do need a dedicated work area. For the actual costs method, if youre not claiming for household running costs such as cleaning, heating, cooling, electricity then you dont need a dedicated work area. But if youre going to try to claim for those sorts of things, then you do need a dedicated work area. Do you need a separate study, or does a corner of an open-plan living area qualify as a dedicated work area? Yeah, you can make the case that that is a dedicated working areas. Lots of houses are sold with something like a study nook ... But if youre doing the actual expenses method rather than the fixed rate, then youll also be looking at your floor area that that study nook takes up and so youre probably looking at quite a small area if thats what youre talking about and that will reduce your claim." What about a dining room table? You cant kind of say, like, the left-hand side of my dining table is my dedicated work area ... if youre using part of your dining table, you dont actually really have a dedicated work area. Credit:iStock Is it ever OK to claim snacks?

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No. And look thats a big myth. A lot of people think that, oh, but my workplace used to provide me with tea and coffee and biscuits, if theyre lucky, and we even had some questions earlier in the year about toilet paper, which was quite topical at the time. Because, of course, your employer  well, I hope your employer  provides you such things when youre working in the office. But just because youve got to buy those things when youre at home, does not mean that you can claim them." Can you claim expenses like your mortgage, rent and council rates? Those things are really limited to where your home is a formal place of business. So its more likely to apply to a small business person who is actually running their business from home, and they might have business signage and a place where clients visit and those types of things. Most employees are not going to meet those requirements. And whats important also is that if they do, then there will be capital gains tax consequences at the other end because then theyve claimed for business use of their asset and so they wont be able to get the full main residence exemption when they sell their home. What if youre a couple working from home together? Do you need to split bills? "So, under the actual expenses [method], you can only claim your actual expenses. So you have to do some calculations to work out what those actual expenses are, and where youve got multiple people working from the household, that can get quite tricky to work out and thats why weve developed the short cut method so that it's really easy for people to work out what they can claim. But people are entitled to do those calculations. But they need to work out what is their own personal part of those expenses." Credit:iStock What about the cost of Zoom calls?

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An Indian restaurant owned by a Sikh in the Sante Fe city in the US state of New Mexico was broken into and vandalised with hate messages scrawled on its walls, according to a media report.

Washington: An Indian restaurant owned by a Sikh in the Sante Fe city in the US state of New Mexico was broken into and vandalised with hate messages scrawled on its walls, according to a media report.

The damage caused to India Palace restaurant is estimated to be worth USD 1,00,000, local Santa Fe Reporter newspaper reported on Tuesday. The vandalisation is being investigated by local police and the FBI, it said.

The Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), a non-profit civil rights organisation, has condemned the incident.

"This kind of hate and violence is unacceptable and swift action must be taken to ensure the safety and security of all Americans," said SALDEF executive director Kiran Kaur Gill.

According to the local daily, tables were overturned, glassware was smashed into piles on the floor, wine racks were emptied, a statue of a goddess was beheaded and computers were stolen.

The vandals also turned over and destroyed food warmers, while the front desk area was gutted, plates smashed and the kitchen rendered completely unusable, it said.

I walked into the kitchen, I saw everything and I was like, hold on, what? What is going on here? owner Baljit Singh told Santa Fe Reporter. White power, Trump 2020, go home, and far worse were spray-painted on walls, doors, counters and any other available surface. Some phrases contained threats of violence and derogatory racial slurs, the daily said.

Santa Fe is a peaceful town, and the Sikh community has lived here, beautifully integrated, since the 60s, said SALDEF board member Simran Singh, who lives minutes away from the restaurant.

Tensions have flared recently with the reinvigoration of the Black Lives Matter movement and the removal of statues associated with Spanish colonisers of this area, who committed a number of atrocities, he said.

Nevertheless, we are seeing an outpouring of love and support around the city and in my experience, our neighbours love and appreciate us, as we love and appreciate them, he added.

SALDEF said that it has seen an unprecedented rise in hate crimes including the April 29 incident wherein a Sikh American Lakhwant Singh was brutally attacked by a man identified as Eric Breeman in Lakewood, Colorado.

Lakhwant Singh was told to go back to your country, while being attacked. No formal hate crime charges have been brought against the attacker.
President Donald Trump's re-election campaign is doubling down on the battleground state of Wisconsin this week as pundits say the Badger State is looking like a toss up between the incumbent and Democrat Joe Biden.

Vice President Mike Pence made two stops in the Milwaukee area Tuesday.

The Vice President's first stop was at Waukesha STEM Academy with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and White House Adviser Kellyanne Conway. They took part in a roundtable discussion with school choice supporters.

Vice President Roundtable WATCH: Vice President Mike Pence holds a school choice roundtable in Waukesha. Posted by WBAY TV-2 on Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Pence touted the White House's support for school choice and announced work on a new program for school choice scholarships.

"We're working on a new program that would make more than $5 billion available across the country in the form of education freedom scholarships. We want to make it possible to empower parents to make that choice where their children go to school," said Pence.

Wisconsin's statewide school choice program went into effect in 2013. Critics argue the program takes taxpayer money from public schools to fund enrollment in private schools.

shows Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes could go either way.

"I'm in Wisconsin for one reason and one reason only and that is Wisconsin and America need four more years of President Donald Trump in the White House," Pence said.

Guests received temperature checks, face masks and hand sanitizer before heading into ballroom.

But few wore face masks during Pence's speech.

Chairs were spread apart and some watched from an overflow area outside.

Attendees also had to sign a coronavirus waiver.

It stated the hotel and campaign cannot be held responsible if attendees contract the coronavirus.

Pence addressed the pandemic.

"Some 40 states just like Wisconsin are opening up again," he said. "We forfeited some of our personal freedom for the health of our families and our neighbors first and we know we're going to continue to use common sense."

Pence stayed after his speech to shake hands with supporters.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker spoke to the crowd ahead of Pence.

Several protesters gathered outside the hotel to oppose the vice president's visit.

Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden responded to Pence's visit by saying he was gambling with the health of Wisconsin families.

Pence last visited Wisconsin in April to tour a GE facility that was making ventilators.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump will visit Fincantieri Marinette Marine and then hold a Town Hall event in Green Bay with Fox News host Sean Hannity.

May's Marquette University Law School Poll shows Biden with a slight edge over Trump, 46-43 percent.

The same poll shows 47 percent approve of President Trump's job in office, while 49 percent disapprove.

for poll results.

Trump flipped Wisconsin from blue to red in 2016, even after polls consistently showed him trailing Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Clinton did not visit Wisconsin in the lead up to the 2016 election. Trump made several stops in the state to rally voters.

Biden has announced no upcoming plans to visit Wisconsin. The campaign released the following statement on Pence's visit to Wisconsin:

Donald Trump has gambled with the health of Wisconsin families to benefit his own political fortune at every turn. And once again  just days after Trump admitted he ordered COVID-19 testing to be slowed down during the middle of a global pandemic  Mike Pence is back in Wisconsin to clean up Trumps mess. While Trumps admission was stunning and outrageous, there are few actions that have done more damage to public health than Trumps reckless order to slow down testing. From the Trump Administrations catastrophic response to the COVID-19 pandemic to their repeated attempts to repeal and undermine the Affordable Care Act, theres no question Mike Pence owes Wisconsin families answers today. Instead, hes parachuting in with Betsy DeVos.

As Secretary of Education, DeVos has pursued a radical, destructive agenda to reduce funding for our public K-12 schools and universities. Shes even made it harder for sexual assault survivors to come forward and seek justice on our college campuses. As president, Joe Biden will fire DeVos and nominate a Secretary of Education with experience in a public school classroom. And unlike Trump, hell pay teachers what they deserve and triple funding for schools that serve low-income students.

TRUMP VISIT

FOX News commentator Sean Hannity has announced he will present a one-hour town hall with President Trump on Thursday in Green Bay.

Hannity made the announcement Monday night, saying the town hall will air Thursday, June 25 at 8 p.m. on Fox News Channel.

Brian Stelter, the chief media correspondent for CNN, tweeted shortly after the announcement that the town hall will originate from the Jet Air facility at Green Bay's Austin Straubel International Airport, and will cover the latest on police reform and the 2020 election.

President Trump will be in northeast Wisconsin Thursday, and is scheduled to tour the shipyard at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, and also deliver a speech. He is expected to discuss the recent contract awarded to Marinette Marine to build up to 10 new ships for the U.S. Navy during the speech.

Action 2 News will have complete coverage of President Trump's visit on our digital, social and on air platforms
Gov. Charlie Baker said his administration failed to oversee the Holyoke Soldiers Home leadership, including ousted Veterans Affairs Secretary Francisco Urena, but he defended top health officials who had some knowledge of the coronavirus outbreak that would eventually kill dozens of veteran residents.

Baker acknowledged failures in the administration to fill key positions to oversee the Soldiers Home, including an executive director of Veterans Services position that has sat vacant since its creation in 2016. While Sudders and Undersecretary Daniel Tsai learned residents had COVID-19 symptoms days before the governor, he said he had full confidence in them because of their response after learning on March 29 that 10 veteran residents had died.

When the full extent of what was going on there became available to both of them within 11 hours, they had a new management team on the ground there, brought in Holyoke Medical center as a partner, brought in resources from across Western Mass. and across the commonwealth, brought the National Guard in and created a framework and an operating model that actually made it possible to get to the point where today there are no positive cases at the Holyoke Soldiers Home, Baker said Wednesday when asked about Sudders. Yes, I have full confidence and faith in the secretary and in undersecretary Tsai.

Superintendent Bennett Walsh was placed on administrative leave after Baker administration officials learned at least 10 veteran residents had died and others were showing COVID-19 symptoms. The Soldiers Home would go on to lose 76 veteran residents due to complications related to the coronavirus.

The 174-page report states the most egregious error is the staffs decision to consolidate two locked dementia units into one on March 27 after employees called out sick, mixing veteran residents who looked healthy with those showing COVID-19 symptoms.

The superintendent was not around when that key decision was made, Sudders said during a news conference Wednesday. Dr. David Clinton, director of medical services for the Soldiers Home, said he was not aware of the decision. The report states he should have known.

Leadership was absent, and staff were left on their own to deal with a crisis, Sudders said, citing details revealed in the report.

The roles of the states top veterans and health officials have also come under scrutiny.

The independent investigation highlighted Urena failure to oversee Walsh, who had no clinical care experience, despite concerns about his performance. He did not fill the executive position created four years ago, saying the Legislature had never funded the position.

Urena was asked to resign after meeting with Sudders this weekend, Baker said.

Tsai, who was named acting secretary as Sudders took control of the COVID-19 command center, kept in contact with Urena, Sudders and Soldiers Home management as the situation devolved.

Tsai emailed Sudders on March 22, informing her there was at least one COVID-19 case and five veteran residents were believed to be isolated. Throughout the week, several officials from the Executive Office and Health and Human Services were communicating with Walsh and Urena on outbreak on the Soldiers Home. At least one official agreed at the time that the office wanted a count of cases and deaths of COVID-19 patients, not of those whose test results were still pending.

Sudders learned on March 25 about more veteran residents showing COVID-19 symptoms. She spoke with SEIU Local 888 president Brenda Rodrigues on March 28 after Rodrigues sent an email saying I just received word that another 2 Veterans passed away, bringing the total to 6 in less than 24 hours, and 8 within days at the Holyoke Soldiers Home.

The Holyoke Soldiers Home on May 1, 2020.Greg Saulmon / The Republican

Sudders heard conflicting details on the death toll throughout the day on March 29, according to the report. Colleen Arons, HHS spokeswoman, and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse said the death toll was at eight. Tsai was told by the homes leadership the death toll remained at two, which he relayed to Sudders. When Sudders spoke with Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, she believed the number of deaths was two, not eight.

Sudders spent the night juggling calls between local and state officials aware of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the report. She called Morse, who pushed back on the death toll.

Sudders then hopped on a call with Walsh and Vanessa Lauziere, the chief nursing officer. Lauziere was involved in combining the two locked dementia units days later, according to the report. Also on the call were Urena, Tsai, Health and Human Services Undersecretary Catherine Mick, the departments human resources officer Catherine Starr and Arons.

What followed was a tense conversation that laid bare the discrepancies. When Sudders asked Walsh to explain how the death toll skyrocketed and what the accurate numbers were, Walsh hesitated. He eventually said there were eight deaths after telling Urena there were four, according to the report. Walsh said he put the death toll at four earlier because he wasnt counting deaths were COVID-19 test results were still pending.

According to the report: Secretary Sudders shut down this conversation. Secretary Sudders then asked Ms. Lauziere to report the accurate number of deaths. Ms. Lauziere was shuffling papers in the background and put the phone on hold for a few minutes,' where Acting Secretary Tsai perceived that she was calling other people.

Lauziere eventually confirmed there were eight deaths, after which Sudders reprimanded Walsh expressing her outrage and disappointment, according to the report.

Sudders last call on the matter the night of March 29 was to Baker, according to the report. She informed him that Morses estimates were right.

I grieve with each and every family who has lost a family member. The Pearlstein report documents in excruciating detail a lack of leadership at the Holyoke Soldiers Home, Sudders said after the report was released Wednesday afternoon.

Sudders outlined steps the Baker administration took after March 29, a Sunday. Sudders said Cheryl Poppe, the superintendent of the Chelsea Soldiers Home, was the first person on site in Holyoke to help on March 30. Sudders brought in a clinical management team led by Western Massachusetts hospital superintendent Val Liptak and Commonwealth Medicine Vice President Lisa Colombo, as well as the National Guard.

Walsh also said he requested help from the National Guard on March 27 but that his request was denied.

Sudders said she accepted the resignations on Wednesday from Clinton and Stuart Ivimey, department of Veteran Services at the Soldiers Home.

Sudders said when she was a superintendent, she would walk the halls of a hospital during various shifts and get to know the veteran residents, staff and families to learn about the culture of the facility and its needs.

Leadership is paramount during a time of crisis, she said, and its absence at the Holyoke Soldiers Home created a chaotic environment for staff and devastating consequences for residents and their loved ones.

Related Content:
Q) We are back above 10,200 levels, but is facing some resistance above 10300-10500 levels. What led to the rally on D-Street in the week gone by despite negative news related to COVID, Fitch rating, and the India-China border dispute?

The Nifty Mid-cap 100 P/E ratio now trades at ~15-17% discount to large-caps, but given the uncertain times, we would suggest investors to largely stay with quality large-caps while mid-caps may be looked upon on a selective basis, Siddharth Khemka, Head  Retail Research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd, said in an interview with Moneycontrols Kshitij Anand.

A) Indian equity markets ended last week with strong gains, largely led by positive global cues and rally in the banking and financial stocks. The market ignored the potential fallout of geopolitical tensions and the rising number of virus infections.

It resumed cheering a gradual resumption in business activities and an earlier-than-expected normalization in certain consumption sectors.

During the week gone by, global markets consolidated for some time due to jump in coronavirus in the US and resurgence of cases in China, raising fears of the return on lockdowns.

However, post the US Feds launch of a massive program under which it announced buying of USD 750 billion in corporate bonds to support businesses, it lifted the markets again.

On the domestic front, the Supreme Court ruled out the possibility of a complete interest waiver during the moratorium period. It deferred the plea to consider waiver of interest on interest for loan EMI during six months moratorium period.

Further SC in the telecom AGR ruling provided a respite to the exposed banks by allowing the DoT time till the third week of July to consider the telcos proposal and formulate a scheme for payment of the dues in a phased manner.

Even Index heavyweight, Reliance pulled the market up by surging to its record high after it became net-debt free due to a record Rs 1.69 lakh crore fundraising in under two months.

Q) What are the important levels which investors should watch out for in this week which is also an expiry week?

A) The index has been moving in a rising channel on a daily scale by connecting swing lows of 7511, 9004, and 9544 and 9845 marks, and recently it has turned from its support zones withhold of 50-Days EMA.

We witnessed a follow up buying post a breakout from a Triangle pattern which indicates that momentum may continue. RSI also turned northwards and gave positive crossover with its average, which has a bullish implication.

Now, the way many heavyweights like Reliance, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank are contributing, the index has the potential to extend its move towards 10500 then 10800 zone, while support is now shifting higher to psychological 10000 levels.

Q) The big news of Friday was RIL which has become debt-free and proposes to list Jio and Retail business in the next 5 years. What is your view and do you think it warrants for a rerating of the stock?

A) Reliance Industries became the first Indian company to cross Rs11lakh crore in market cap on Friday after it declared itself net debt-free, nearly nine months ahead of schedule. The decline in overall debt is a major factor, can lead to the next leg of the rerating of the stock.

Overall, the company has raised more than Rs1.68 lakh crore in two months since April. The fund-raising included the rights issue of Rs53,124 crore and Rs 1,15,694 crore raised through a series of secondary stake sale in Jio Platforms to a variety of global investors ranging from a global network media leader (Facebook), private equity and global investment firm (Silver Lake, General Atlantic, KKR, TPG) and sovereign wealth funds (Abu Dhabis Mubadala and Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund).

Not only does this reaffirm Jios potential transformation as a technology giant in the eyes of global investors, it also helped in RILs goal of reaching its net-zero debt goal at a faster clip. RJios dominant position should allow it to garner strong consistent growth over the long term.

We are positive on RJios multiple monetization avenues coming from increasing long-term ARPUs and other digital applications with the Facebook deal. Reliance Retail too has maintained robust performance amidst a slowing economy.

Its grocery segment is likely to support revenues during the lockdown phase and its strategic venture with Facebook to connect local kirana stores should provide synergies and scale its online business further.

Q) Small & midcaps outperform benchmark indices in the week gone by. Is it the valuation that is fueling optimism in the small & midcaps space?

A) Last week, while Nifty50 gained 2.7%, Nifty Midcap100/ Smallcap100 were up 1.6%/4.2% respectively. Mid and Smallcaps have equally participated in the market rally along with the larger benchmark over the last few weeks.

While Nifty has recovered 36 percent from its March lows, the Nifty Midcap index is up 35 percent and the Nifty Smallcap Index is up 43 percent.

We have seen increased market interest in Mid/small caps in the last few days as market optimism increased over the gradual reopening and faster than expected recovery in the economy.

Management commentaries from various companies across sectors are pointing out towards a pent-up demand which at least takes care of the near term.

The Mid/small caps have been underperforming the larger peers over the last 2 years. The Nifty Mid-cap 100 P/E ratio now trades at ~15-17% discount to large-caps.

However, given the uncertain times, markets are likely to remain volatile. Hence, we would suggest investors to largely stay with quality large-caps while mid-caps may be looked upon on a selective basis.

Q) What is your call on the telecom space post the SC AGR hearing? Banking and financial stocks saw a big boost on Thursday. What are your views?

A) View on telecom remains positive as we believe that the system recognizes the strategic significance of the sector. Also, we believe that Vodafone Idea needs to survive, and India cannot be a two-player telecom market, as it would result in an extended effect on other sectors such as Banking, telecom vendors, technology partners, and others.

Marquee global technology giants, PE investors, and sovereign funds are confident of the Indian Technology-Telecom sector. This can be observed from ~INR1.2t in inflows into RJio and further news of Amazon & Alphabet eyeing stake in Bharti Airtel and VIL, respectively.

Deferring the hearing to the third week of July20, the Supreme Court asked telcos to create a proposal to either make a reasonable upfront payment or furnish undertakings to claim the benefit of staggered payments.

Further, the Supreme Court also allowed time for the DoT to consider the operators fresh proposal. With regard to the timelines, both telcos have sought 20 years to make the repayment.

The biggest positive was that the SC took cognizance of VILs statement that it did not have the means to make additional bank guarantees and would be compelled to shut shop, witnessing major repercussions if asked to pay immediately. However, the SC seems unrelenting and determined to not concede without any concrete plan.

We believe another tariff hike is inevitable, driven by VILs need for survival, the stressed balance sheets of the telcos, and an increase in the sectors importance due to the current crisis. Given both BHARTI and RJios better cashflow positions, these companies could see a strong benefits from the potential tariff hikes.

On the banking front, the Supreme Court has ruled out the possibility of a complete waiver of interest during the moratorium period and added that the scope of the hearing is limited to the waiver of interest, which is levied on the accrued interest.

The government has further stated that it would hold a meeting of the stakeholders (including the RBI, banks, and the Finance Ministry) this weekend to arrive at a response and would submit it to the SC by 17th Jun20.

This comes as a sign of relief to the banking system, which otherwise would have faced significant operating losses coupled with triggered capital calls across banks. Loan waivers in the past have impacted credit behaviour and to that extent any decision against it is positive. Within the banking space, we continue to maintain our preference for ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and SBI.

Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.

The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
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
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Linkedin Jesse Vad (The Jakarta Post) California, United States  Wed, June 24, 2020 17:51 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066154ef8 1 Lifestyle california,united-states,inclusiveness,playgrounds,children,disabled-people,Magical-Bridge-Foundation,senior-citizen Free

Playgrounds probably arent what most people are thinking about these days, but some developers are still building playgrounds despite increased challenges.

The Magical Bridge Foundation develops inclusive playgrounds that can be accessed by anyone, including adults, seniors and people with disabilities. Even though COVID-19 has delayed timelines and complicated fundraising, the foundation is moving forward with its plans and is even looking to Singapore for future projects.

So far, Magical Bridge only runs a playground in Palo Alto, California, United States, but it is preparing to open a second one in Redwood City. The first was opened in 2015.

These playgrounds are meticulously designed with accessibility in mind. They are divided into zones, such as the spinning zone, the swinging zone and the kindness corner. These zones allow participants to avoid areas they dont want to partake in. Magical Bridge also incorporates gentle auditory features and specific color patterns designed to accommodate playground goers who are impaired or medically fragile.

It welcomes the body you were born into, the body you live in today and the body you will live in in the future, said Jill Asher, executive director of the Magical Bridge Foundation.

The foundation was started by Ashers business partner, Olenka Villarreal, who had difficulty finding playgrounds for her 17-year-old daughter who is disabled and functions at the cognitive level of a 1-year old.

After they opened the first playground in 2015, their lives changed as requests for more playgrounds came flooding in. Asher and Villarreal quit their jobs and dedicated themselves full-time to building playgrounds.

Their second playground in Redwood City was slated to open in June, but COVID-19 disrupted that plan. The playground is about 95 percent finished, but there are still finishing touches to be done. Asher estimated it would be complete within a month.

But moving forward isnt as simple anymore. New considerations must be taken into account when the time comes to open. They also need to wait until California enters Phase 4 of reopening.

There are just things we have to think about that we never had to before, said Asher.

Now, Asher and others are trying to figure out how to make the playground as safe as possible in response to the ongoing pandemic.

Chris Beth, director of parks, recreation and community services of Redwood City, said the Magical Bridge playgrounds are naturally COVID-19 era friendly due to their open space and separated zones.

Beth said theyre thinking about installing handwashing stations, monitoring usage and having the community help keep the area disinfected. They may have to hire staff to help monitor the playground.

Read also: Terartai helps special-needs students find a purpose in life

Still, Beth hopes other communities around the world can look to Redwood City and see the benefits of such a playground. He hopes theyre able to incorporate aspects of Magical Bridge designs into other projects.

With funding and the endorsement or support we could do more of this, said Beth. Why not be the leader in that?

The pandemic has also created other challenges. These playgrounds are not cheap endeavors, costing millions of dollars to develop and relying on donations from philanthropists and companies.

Magical Bridge has ten more projects in progress, but one playground in Santa Clara, California, still needs about US$1 million to be fully funded. Asher said that, since the pandemic, donations had dried up.

Now shes concerned about getting the funding needed. She believes that these community spaces will be necessary after the worst of the pandemic is over.

This is something the community will need when we have the vaccine, once were back to some type of new normal said Asher.

Despite the challenges, Magical Bridge is still looking ahead into the future. The foundation has a donor who is funding potentially up to three playgrounds in Singapore. On June 19, Singapore reopened playgrounds and other community spaces, although people are required to wear masks and limit group numbers.

Asher says she wants to expand further: We would love to explore ways of bringing a Magical Bridge playground to Indonesia. (wng)

-----------------------

The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post.
Even as chorus for boycotting Chinese goods rises, Xiaomi India is hopeful that its sales may not be hit in the long term. The smartphone maker is among the Chinese companies facing backlash on social media after the recent India-China border clash. "Of course, there's a backlash on social media, a mob mentality, which we are facing. But will it impact our business? I don't think so," Xiaomi India MD Manu Kumar Jain told The Economic Times.

Xiaomi India is more Indian than many other Indian handset companies, Jain said. On average, the company sources 65 per cent of the components for its smartphones and TVs locally, Jain noted. The company has provided employment to 50,000 Indian employees, he said, adding that 100 per cent of the data of Indian users stays in the country. He also told the daily that various non-Chinese firms including a US company import all their phones from China. The India smartphone market is dominated by Chinese players.

Also read: 'Boycott China' chorus grows stronger; no entry for Chinese guests in Delhi, says hotels' body

A recent tweet by Jain that announced the next sale date for its newly-launched Mi Notebooks was trolled on social media.

"There are a few people who are very loud, and will go bash anyone who says positive things about us and it's a good opportunity for them to be seen on TV," Jain also told the daily.

Also read: 'Don't promote Chinese goods': Traders body tells Kohli, Deepika, Ranbir, other celebs

Meanwhile, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) recently released a list of more than 500 Chinese products to be boycotted. The list includes FMCG products, consumer durables, toys, furnishing fabrics, textiles, builder hardware, footwear, apparel, kitchen items, among others.

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).

Also Read: CAIT requests celebrities to stop endorsing Chinese brands
Actor Penn Badgley says that he believes women in light of allegations of sexual harassment made against his You co-star, the comedian Chris DElia.

Badgley told The Los Angeles Times that he was very troubled by the accusations against DElia, who appeared in the second series of the Netflix series as a comedian who drugs and assaults young women.

The idea that a show like ours would indirectly, unwittingly be a haven for people who are abusive is disturbing. Its very disturbing, Badgley said.

You know  it did affect me deeply. I was very troubled by it. I am very troubled by it. I dont know Chris. I know that, if theres anything we need to do in this age, its to believe women.

He continued: But what is really important is to recognise that the policies that underwrite every given system  the practices, the regulations, the laws that underwrite every one of these systems which act as a haven for the individuals that take advantage, namely white men.

The actor also revealed that Yous producers had reached out to the teenage actors who had starred opposite DElia on the show just to make sure [they] felt safe.

Last week 40-year-old DElia was accused of inappropriate conduct, including with underage girls.

He denied the allegations in a statement to TMZ, saying: I know I have said and done things that might have offended people during my career, but I have never knowingly pursued any underage women at any point.

DElia added: All of my relationships have been both legal and consensual and I have never met or exchanged any inappropriate photos with the people who have tweeted about me.
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.
A statue of John C. Calhoun, a staunch defender of slavery and former U.S. vice president, was coming down Wednesday in Charleston, South Carolina, the latest memorial of a historical figure with a known racist past to be removed.

Charleston's city council voted unanimously late Tuesday to remove the statue of Calhoun from a downtown square, and crews were still working Wednesday to lift the massive statue from its pedestal. Hundreds gathered to see the memorial come down as straps were wrapped around the more than 100-foot statue of the politician from the Palmetto State.

The Post and Courier in Charleston reported that crews were struggling to bring the monument down by into Wednesday afternoon as a lift failed and another crane was being brought in to help.

Workers use cherry pickers to access the statue of John C. Calhoun atop the monument in his honor at Marion Square on June 24, 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina. Work crews began dismantling the monument in Tuesday evening.

Calhoun's statue is the latest in a string of monuments that have been torn down or are slated for removal in the wake of protests around the country demanding racial justice. Many of the statues targeted have been of Confederate leaders or other historical figures known for espousing racist views or defending slavery.

The protests were sparked after the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes in late May. The deaths of Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many other Black Americans killed at the hands of police or former officers have also led to demonstrations and calls for reforms to police departments around the United States.

Watch: Confederate monuments are being taken down or defaced by protesters all around the world

Calhoun, a former vice president, advocated strongly to protect the institution of slavery and called slavery a "positive good." Calhoun also argued that enslaved people in the South were better off than free Black people in the North, and he helped push ideologies that led the South to secede, though he died in 1850, more than a decade before the start of the Civil War.

Story continues

The monument has towered over Charleston  home to the port through which 40% of enslaved Africans brought to North America first traveled  since 1898.

The statue was located in Marion Square, which sits along Calhoun Street and is named after Francis Marion. According to Smithsonian Magazine, Marion was a American Revolutionary War hero who also owned slaves and fought against Cherokee Native Americans.

Mayor John Tecklenburg, who called for the Calhoun statue's removal, said that "we are setting a new chapter, a more equitable chapter, in our citys history."

South Carolinas Heritage Act protects historical monuments and the names of buildings, but the mayor said the monument is not on public property, nor does it commemorate one of the historical events listed in the act. According to the National Park Service, the city technically leases the land, which is to be kept open forever as a parade ground for the Sumter Guards and the Washington Light Infantry.

City officials said the statue will be placed permanently at an appropriate site where it will be protected and preserved.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John C. Calhoun statue in Charleston, South Carolina, being removed
Mavenir, the industrys only end-to-end, cloud-native Network Software Provider and a leader in messaging and Rich Communication Services (RCS) today announced its Mobile Business Messaging Cloud in Europe completed peer-to-peer (P2P) RCS interconnection with the networks of Telefonica (BME:TEF), Vodafone (OTCMKTS: VODPF) and Deutsche Telekom Germany.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005331/en/

This represents one of the largest RCS carrier interconnections achieved to date, with an estimated addressable market of more than 158 million RCS-upgradeable mobile subscribersi in 13 countries. This includes 3 Telefonica markets, 13 Vodafone markets, and Deutsche Telekom Germany, as well as other carriers.

With three MNOs currently under deployment, covering up to 40 million RCS upgradeable users, Mavenir Mobile Business Messaging Cloud is one of the largest RCS cloud services in the market with interconnection.

These interconnections allow MNOs choosing Mavenirs Mobile Business Messaging Cloud to eliminate the technical complexities and costs of interconnecting with other MNOs in their regions of operation and lets them focus on commercial terms.

Interconnecting with these partners required a significant amount of expertise and effort by all parties. Our engineering and operations teams worked very closely with their peers at Vodafone, Telefonica and Deutsche Telekom. It was a team effort, with all parties at the table willing to participate and it shows in the results, said Guillaume Le Mener, SVP Business Mobility, Mavenir. This milestone paves the way for accelerated and simplified future MNO onboarding and participation.

Mavenirs Mobile Business Messaging Cloud is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) RCS Business Messaging (RBM) implementationoperated by Mavenirthat allows MNOs to easily deliver consumer and business RCS messaging services. The cloud solution includes the RCS and IMS Cores, as well as the session border controllers (SBC) and firewalls required for RCS P2P messaging, and the MaaP (Messaging as a Platform) layer to deliver application-to-person (A2P) and person-to-application (P2A) business messaging to users, including chatbot experiences and advanced business messaging services.

Mavenirs fully compliant with Universal Profile 2.0 RCS solution, supports enhanced mobile messaging features such as open group chat, delivery, is-typing, read notifications, image and file transfer, and audio/video messages for P2P communications. It also supports rich cards and rich card carousels, buttons and suggested responses, among other features, to provide enhanced A2P and P2A business messaging interactions with brands. The solution also leverages Mavenirs growing Business Messaging Ecosystem, which has close to 70 members, including aggregators, chatbot and business application developers, as well as CPaaS providers.

About Mavenir:

Mavenir is the industry's only end-to-end, cloud-native Network Software Provider focused on accelerating software network transformation and redefining network economics for Communications Service Providers (CSPs). Mavenir offers a comprehensive end-to-end product portfolio across every layer of the network infrastructure stack. From 5G application/service layers to packet core and RAN, Mavenir leads the way in evolved, cloud-native networking solutions enabling innovative and secure experiences for end users. Leveraging innovations in IMS (VoLTE, VoWiFi, Advanced Messaging (RCS), Private Networks as well as vEPC, 5G Core and OpenRAN vRAN, Mavenir accelerates network transformation for more than 250+ CSP customers in over 140 countries, which serve over 50% of the worlds subscribers.

Mavenir embraces disruptive, innovative technology architectures and business models that drive service agility, flexibility, and velocity. With solutions that propel NFV evolution to achieve web-scale economics, Mavenir offers solutions to help CSPs with cost reduction, revenue generation, and revenue protection. www.mavenir.com

Mavenir and the M logo are trademarks owned by Mavenir Systems, Inc.

Copyright  2020 Mavenir Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

_________

i Mavenir estimation based on Smartphone numbers and Android penetration per country from GSMA data and other sources.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005331/en/
BEACHWOOD, Ohio

Aggravated menacing: Brentwood Road

At 12:40 p.m. June 21, police cited a Willoughby Hills man, 30, with aggravated menacing after a witness saw him use his Jeep to twice ram and damage the back of his ex-fiancees car as it was parked in a residential driveway.

Disturbance: Cedar Road

At 3:40 p.m. June 17, police were called to the parking lot outside of Saks Fifth Avenue at Beachwood Place mall, 26300 Cedar Road. When officers arrived, they found two women, one with her head on the shoulder of the other.

Minutes earlier, the women had created a disturbance inside the mall by arguing and shouting at each other. Although the women had patched up their difference by the time police found them, they were, nonetheless, each issued a trespass warning and were banned from the mall for one year.

The women, 18 and 23, both live in Cleveland.

Receiving stolen property: Chagrin Boulevard

At 11:40 a.m. June 17, a Cleveland man, 38, was charged with receiving stolen property after he was found in possession of $6.13 worth of stolen goods from Giant Eagle, 24601 Chagrin Blvd. The man was also cited for trespassing stemming from a prior trespass warning he had received at Giant Eagle.

Criminal mischief: Campus Road

At 10:05 p.m. June 18, police arrested and charged a Beachwood man, 51, with criminal mischief after the man threw a raw egg at a security vehicle parked near his home. The man was upset because he had been told by the security guard, an off-duty police officer, that he couldnt park his car partially upon a sidewalk.

Theft: Cedar Road

At 2:50 p.m. June 17, police arrested a Cleveland Heights man, 25, for stealing merchandise valued at $623.50 from Dillards at Beachwood Place.

Warrant arrest: Cedar Road

At 3:05 p.m. June 17, a traffic stop was conducted after an officer saw that the owner of a passing car was wanted on a warrant. The cars owner, a Streetsboro woman, 28, was a passenger in the car. The woman was arrested on the warrant.

The cars driver, a Twinsburg man, also 28, was cited for driving with a suspended license.

Indecent exposure: Cedar Road

At 2:15 p.m. June 18, police cited a Cleveland man, 56, for indecent exposure after the man was seen urinating in the Saks Fifth Avenue parking lot. The man was also charged with criminal trespassing.

Warrant arrest: Cedar Road

At 4:45 p.m. June 18, a traffic stop was conducted after it was found that the owner of a passing car was wanted on a warrant. The driver, a Cleveland woman, 24, was arrested on the warrant.

She also was charged with receiving stolen property after being found in possession of $1,052.55 worth of merchandise stolen that day from Dillards. Dillards video surveillance footage tied the woman to the theft.

Theft: Bryden Road

At 6:40 p.m. June 18, a man, 97, reported that $4,500 worth of sterling silver had been stolen from his home. The man told police that relatives, healthcare workers and others had been in his home in recent times.

Handicapped parking violation: Cedar Road

At 2:50 p.m. June 19, a Bedford woman, 69, was cited for using a parking spot reserved for the handicapped at Beachwood Place. The woman had used a handicapped parking placard that had been reported to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles as stolen.

Read more from the Sun Press.
As we know, President Donald Trump sought to fire his handpicked U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey Berman. Berman had managed a number of prosecutions, including the cases against Michael Stone, Lev Parnas and Rudy Giuliani. He was also handling an investigation into Trumps finances. U.S. Attorney General William Barr issued a statement indicating that Berman would be stepping down, which Berman found out about when the statement was issued.

Bermans proposed replacement is a man who heads up the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and has never been a prosecutor.

All this takes place five months before the presidential election.

Dont you wonder what is really going on here?

Anita Gray,

Beachwood
[June 24, 2020] NTTF's Free Webinar on 'International Diploma in Information Technology and Data Science' With NCC Education, UK on Global Study and Career Opportunities

BANGALORE, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF) is organizing a free webinar on 'International Diploma in Information Technology and Data Science' along with NCC Education, UK, Offering Global career pathways and study opportunities in USA, UK and Australian universities on June 30, 2020 at 1:00 PM. The online seminar will be presented by Esther Chesterman, GM, NCC Education, UK and B V Sudharshan, Deputy Managing Director, NTTF. Join the online seminar to get valuable insights into the International education opportunities that can be leveraged. Participants can learn about the International Diploma programs offered by NTTF in collaboration with NCC Education, UK. To register for the online seminar, please visit: https://www.nttftrg.com/blog/free-webinar-on-international-diploma-of-nttf-india-with-ncc-uk Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF) has recently reached a milestone in their journey. It is now accredited by the prestigious NCC Education Ltd, UK. NTTF is one of the premier institutions of India which is addressing the industry-academia gap and training their students to be industry ready with employment-based and industry-integrated courses. It offers a wide range of industry-integrated programs at Diploma and Post-Diploma levels. NCC Education Ltd. is a global provider and awarding body of British education. The NCC Education, UK provides students with the pportunity to gain internationally recognized British qualifications by studying at one of its global network of Accredited Partner Canters, either through the classroom or online.



Join FREE Webinar on International Diploma of NTTF, India with NCC, UK. Explore Study and Work abroad Opportunities : https://www.nttftrg.com/blog/free-webinar-on-international-diploma-of-nttf-india-with-ncc-uk The accreditation has been issued by NCC Education, UK after a thorough verification of NTTF's 'International Diploma in IT and Data Science' offering Global study and career options.

NTTF is accredited to offer the following NCC Education, UK programs: Level 3 Diploma in Computing (L3DC)

Level 4 Diploma in Computing (L4DC)

Level 4 Diploma in Business Information Technology (L4DBIT) Level 5 Diploma in Computing (L5DC)

Level 5 Diploma in Business Information Technology (L5DBIT)

UCLAN BSc (Hons) Business Computing and Information System (UCLAN BCIS) International Degree in partnership with NCC Education Ltd. All students must enrol for 3 year NTTF program. Eligibility for entry: 12 std / ITI. On completion NTTF students are eligible to receive: NTTF Diploma

Level 5 Diploma In Business Information Technology from NCC, UK Level 5 (L5DBIT) (RQF)

Certifications from NSDC, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Govt of India . Subsequently students are eligible to pursue higher studies in various UK,USA, Australia universities, online UCLAN or Onsite, UK at additional costs. National Computing Centre NCC established in 1991 and globally recognised. Fully accredited UK awarding body and global provider of British education in Business, Computing and University access courses. Strong partnerships with 70 well established UK and International Universities over 50 countries. Ofqual is the regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland and the regulatory body of UK. NCC, Education is recognised by Ofqual https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/Detail/Index/1111?category=organisations&query=NCC About Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF): Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF), a premier institute of India, has been imparting technical training since 1959 with centres spread across India in 16 states. It has always focused on offering vocational training and education to the youth in India. It has gained support from the Central government of India, MSDE, and gained popularity among many State governments. It operates from 16 centres and delivers high standards of corporate and vocational training with an impressive industry-connect. NTTF has positively impacted thousands of youth and working professionals through 'learn and earn' and other models of work-integrated programs delivered in close collaboration with the industry. 60+ Years Institution | PAN India presence | 50,000 + graduated | Worldwide spread of Alumni Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1191662/NTTF_Diploma_Programs_Webinar.jpg

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Bayer, the world's largest seed and pesticide maker, has agreed to pay more than $US10 billion ($14.6 billion) to settle tens of thousands of claims in the United States that its popular weedkiller Roundup causes cancer, the company announced.

The figure includes $US1.25 billion to deal with potential future claims from people who used Roundup and may develop the form of cancer known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the years to come.

The settlement, which covers an estimated 95,000 cases, was extraordinarily complex because it includes separate agreements with 25 lead law firms whose clients will receive varying amounts. Credit:AP

"It's rare that we see a consensual settlement with that many zeroes on it," said Nora Freeman Engstrom, a professor at Stanford University Law School.

Bayer, a German company, inherited the legal morass when it bought Roundup's manufacturer, Monsanto, for $US63 billion in June 2018. It has repeatedly maintained that Roundup is safe and will continue to sell the product without adding a warning on the label.
A judge has given a west Clare farmer two weeks to pay compensation concerning criminal damage he committed to a fuse box arising from a property dispute with his brother.

Last month, Gardai arrested John Morrissey of Clonreddan, Cooraclare the same day his mother was buried as a result of the criminal damage offence.

At Ennis District Court today, father of six children aged 25 to 13, John Morrissey (53) pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a fuse box at the home of his brother, Tom Morrissey at Alva, Cooraclare on May 5.

When arrested and cautioned on the charge last month, John Morrissey replied: Thats not Tom Morrisseys f**king home.

The estimated cost of the criminal damage was put at 150 today in court and Mr Morrissey has already spent seven weeks in jail on remand for the offence after failing to secure bail last month.

The farmer has no previous convictions and Judge Patrick Durcan has now given two weeks to John Morrissey to pay compensation for the damage.

Judge Durcan told Mr Morrissey: There are times when you have to get out of the hole you are in."

In response, Mr Morrissey, wearing a face mask, stated: Im not in a hole.

Judge Durcan replied: Im not talking about you.

In court today, solicitor for John Morrissey, Stiofan Fitxpatrick stated that there are massive family issues involved.

Mr Fitzpatrick stated there is a huge context and scale" to what occurred.

Mr Fitzpatrick stated that: Mr Morrissey is a self taught tradesman working as a farmer back in west Clare on very marginal land.

Mr Fitzpatrick stated that Mr Morrissey is a hard working man and is one of 13 siblings.

He stated: He came back home from England with his long term partner of 28 years to west Clare.

Between a myriad of things, he took on the family farm and liaised with his mother in relation to the transfer of that farm.

None of this happened lightly.

Mr Fitzpatrick previously told the court: My client believes that this isnt the property of his brother who is the complainant and he believes that this will be borne out in time when the estate is dealt with.

Mr Fitzpatrick stated that the property is owned by Mr Morrisseys late mother.

Mr Fitzpatrick stated that John Morrissey farms all of the land surrounding the house.

Judge Durcan told the court today: Obviously its a family dispute. Lets not go there because the worst place any of us can go is inside someones front door. I want the compensation paid.

Judge Durcan told John Morrissey that there is a level of frustration with him.

Judge Durcan stated: What we have to do is de-frustrate you - you are allowing the problems to overtake you.

Concerning a separate careless driving and public order charge dating from December 7th in Ennis last, Judge Durcan fined Mr Morrissey a total of 500.

Judge Durcan further remanded Mr Morrissey in custody for two weeks to re-appear before court on July 8th for the payment of compensation.
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Columns of tanks and troops are parading through Red Square today as President Vladimir Putin oversees grand World War II commemorations to stir up patriotic fervour ahead of a vote on extending his rule.

Forced to postpone the country's traditional May 9 Victory Day celebrations by the coronavirus pandemic, Putin rescheduled the parade for just a week ahead of a July 1 public vote on controversial constitutional reforms.

Among other changes, the reforms Putin proposed earlier this year would reset the presidential term-limit clock to zero, allowing him to potentially stay in the Kremlin until 2036.

He announced the new dates for the parade and the vote - initially planned for April - last month despite Russia still recording thousands of new coronavirus cases every day.

The rate of new infections has fallen in recent weeks and cities including Moscow have lifted lockdowns, but Russia still has the third highest coronavirus caseload in the world and critics say Putin is rushing ahead for his own political ends.

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Russian servicewoman salute as they walk in front of President Vladimir Putin, his guests and Russian dignitaries in Moscow's Red Square on Wednesday for the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat

Soviet WWII T-34-85 tanks during the Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Russia's President Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu leave after the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow, Russia

An aerial view shows Red Square before the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday as crowds begin to enter the stands ahead of the 75th anniversary of victory in WWII, known in the country as the Great Patriotic War

Servicewomen stand in formation ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II. Victory Day parades across Russia have been postponed from May 9 to 24 June due to restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus

A column of Msta-SM self-propelled tracked howitzers and a BTR-82A armoured personnel carrier (L-R) move along Tverskaya Street ahead of a Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War

Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow on Wednesday. Ahead of the parade, he slammed the West for 'insulting Russia' by playing down the USSR's role in winning the war.

Russian snipers secure the area prior to a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, at Red Square in Moscow on Wednesday. Putin rescheduled the parade for just a week ahead of a July 1 public vote on controversial constitutional reforms. Officials say the date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the first post-war parade on Red Square, which saw Soviet troops throw down Nazi standards in front of the Lenin mausoleum on June 24, 1945.

Russian military students arrive in Red Square to participate a military parade, marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat, in Moscow

A Russian servicewoman takes pictures of her comrades at an embankment of the Moskva river prior to a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow on Wednesday

Guards marching with flags on Red Square during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. The Kremlin said that safety precautions were being taken in the lead-up to the parade - but participants will not wear masks and there is still a ban on mass gatherings in Moscow

Soldiers in blue parade uniforms take part in the Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II on Wednesday

Russian President Vladimir Putin and guests waiting to watch a military parade. Prior to the start of the event Russian media had claimed that war veterans quarantined ahead of the event in sanatoriums will be seated at intervals in the stands on Red Square.

Soldiers from China's People's Liberation Army march toward Red Square during the Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday

This year's parade, marking 75 years since the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany, includes some 13,000 troops from 13 countries, as well as vintage equipment and the latest military hardware showing off Russia's fighting capabilities.

More than 20 pieces of new equipment are on show for the first time including Tosochka flame-throwers, T-90M tanks and Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile systems.

As the parade got underway, the speaker announced: 'Attention, this is Moscow speaking and showing. Listen to and watch Red Square. The Victory Parade in honour of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War!'

Tanks and missiles are paraded through Red Square in blazing sun on Wednesday morning. The military parade, marking the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, was scheduled for May 9 but postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease

Russian warplanes fly over Red Square leaving trails of smoke in colors of national flag during the Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat

Russian Mi-8 military helicopters fly in formation over Red Square during the Victory Day Parade on Wednesday morning

Russian soldiers march in formation as they head to Red Square for a Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

embers of the Yunarmiya (Young Army) military patriotic movement march during a military parade, marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat

Russian Su-25 jet aircraft release smoke in the colours of the Russian state flag during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on Wednesday morning

Russian servicewomen beam as they march during the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow on Wednesday morning

A Russian Yars RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile system and other military vehicles move through Red Square during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow on Wednesday morning

Sukhoi SU-25 fighter jets leave a trail in the Russian national colours over central Moscow during Wednesday's parade

A Russian Il-78 air tanker demonstrates refuelling a Tu-160 strategic bomber during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow

Soviet WWII-era T-34 tanks move through Red Square during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two

Armoured vehicles and tanks roll through Red Square on Wednesday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis

Troops parade in front of President Vladimir Putin and other dignitaries and guests during the Victory Day celebrations in Red Square on a balmy Wednesday in Moscow

Soviet WWII-era T-34 tanks move through Red Square during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army Forces, Colonel General Oleg Salyukov, take part in the Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

A MSTA-SM self-propelled howitzer moves along Tverskaya Street ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Parade formations line up before the start of the Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Russian artillery fires a salute during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow

S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile systems move along Tverskaya Street ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

A Soviet WWII-era T-34 tank moving through Red Square during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow on June 24, 2020

Russian military students arrive in Red Square to participate a military parade, marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat, in Moscow, Russia

Head of the Military University of the Russian Defense Ministry Lieutenant Genral Igor Mishutkin, center, is seen with colleagues before the Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Russian servicemen salute as they carry the Russian Federation flag and a red Soviet hammer and sickle standard passed dignitaries gathered to watch the 75th anniversary of the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow

Servicemen march in formation ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

An officer inspecting his men before the start of the parades to mark Russia's victory against the Nazis in the so-called Great Patriotic War (World War Two)

Officials say the date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the first post-war parade on Red Square, which saw Soviet troops throw down Nazi standards in front of the Lenin mausoleum on June 24, 1945.

In his two decades in office, Putin has harnessed the legacy of the Soviet Union's victory in World War II to boost patriotic sentiment and support for his government.

Ahead of the parade, he slammed the West for 'insulting Russia' by playing down the USSR's role in winning the war.

A TOS-1A Buratino multiple rocket launcher moves along Tverskaya Street ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II. Victory Day parades across Russia have been postponed from 9 May to 24 June due to restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus

Servicemen stand in formation in front of the State Historical Museum ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II. Victory Day parades across Russia have been postponed from 9 May to 24 June due to restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus

B4 surface-to-air missile launchers drive through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Russian Sukhoi Su-25 assault aircrafts release smoke in the colours of the Russian flag while flying over downtown Moscow during a military parade

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu drives an Aurus cabriolet during the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow. As the parade got underway, the speaker announced: 'Attention, this is Moscow speaking and showing. Listen to and watch Red Square. The Victory Parade in honour of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War!'

A T-72B3M tank moves along Lenin Square during a Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Thousands of Russian soldiers march toward Red Square during the Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in Red Square in Moscow

Deputy Head of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev (formerly the Prime Minister) and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia attend the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow

A BTR-82A amphibious armoured personnel carrier (front) moves in central Moscow ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Russian soldiers in WWII-era uniforms are seen in Lenin Square during a Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II. Victory Day parades across Russia have been postponed from 9 May to 24 June due to restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus

Officials stand guard at Red Square prior to a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow

Parade formations before the Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Pantsir-SA missile system moves in central Moscow ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

T-34 Soviet-era tanks drive during the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow, Russia,

A Rosgvardia soldier in a face mask stands guard as military hardware heads to Red Square for a Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron had been scheduled before the pandemic to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Kremlin chief at the parade, in a testament to Russia's growing international influence under Putin.

Now the Russian president will be flanked by the heads of breakaway statelets in the former Soviet Union and leaders of close allies like Serbia and Belarus.

With more than 8,000 recorded fatalities and around 600,000 confirmed infections, Russia has the third-largest coronavirus caseload in the world after the United States and Brazil.

The Kremlin said that safety precautions were being taken in the lead-up to the parade - but participants will not wear masks and there is still a ban on mass gatherings in Moscow.

Dozens of regions have decided not to go ahead with their own commemorative parades, citing concerns that a spike in cases could overwhelm underfunded and poorly equipped hospitals throughout the country.

Russian Mi-8 military helicopters fly over the city during the Victory Day Parade in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Other regions are today going ahead with their local parades, as dozens of others have cancelled theirs due to the pandemic

Guests arriving to watch a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, at Red Square in Moscow on Wednesday

Soviet WWII-era T-34 tank commander salute as they move through Red Square during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two

Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Defense Ministry's Chief of Staff Yury Sadovenko before the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu crosses himself as he rides in an Aurus cabriolet to inspect the troops during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, at Red Square

A specialist wearing protective gear sprays disinfectant before the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow amid the coronavirus pandemic

Servicemen march in formation ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II. Victory Day parades across Russia have been postponed from 9 May to 24 June due to restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus

Servicewomen stand in formation ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Russian soldiers in face masks stand in formation during a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Russian servicemen line up before the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow, Russia

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the Russian Land Forces Oleg Salyukov drive Aurus cabriolets during the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow

S-400 Rosgvardia officers ride a Typhoon-K armoured vehicle in central Moscow ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Russian servicemen line up before the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov have advised people to watch the procession on television rather than attend in person.

Yet events marking the Soviet victory will go ahead in Saint Petersburg, Volgograd and Simferopol in Russian-annexed Crimea.

Reflecting these concerns, both Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov have advised people to watch the procession on television rather than attend in person.

Precautions are also being taken for the constitutional vote, with early balloting starting on Thursday and continuing through to the official vote day on July 1.

Prior to the start of the event Russian media had claimed that war veterans quarantined ahead of the event in sanatoriums will be seated at intervals in the stands on Red Square.

However, Putin was pictured seated with older men and women decorated with military medals, presumably the veterans, with no signs of social distancing in place.

Journalists film as Russian military helicopters fly in formation during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow

Servicemen march in formation ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Russian snipers secure the area prior to a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two

Russian servicemen line up during the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow, Russia June 24, 2020. The military parade, marking the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, was scheduled for May 9 but postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes to soldiers as he is driven along Red Square during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow on June 24, 2020

Russian sailors stand in formation ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square

Servicemen march at Red Square during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow

Servicemen stand in formation in front of the famed State Historical Museum ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

Russian paratroopers shout during military parade, marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat, in Moscow

TOS-1A Solntsepyok (Blazing Sun) multiple thermobaric rocket launchers during the Victory Day military parade in Red Square this morning

Chief opposition figure and one-time presidential hopeful Alexei Navalny has criticised authorities for spending vast sums on the parade and urged his supporters to boycott the ballot.

'One crazy, greedy man who has gone mad with power is making the whole country engage in delirium,' he said.

Russia on Wednesday reported 7,176 new cases of the novel coronavirus, pushing its nationwide case total to 606,881, the world's third highest tally.

The country's coronavirus crisis response centre said 154 people had died in the past 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 8,513.

Servicemen stand in formation ahead of a Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II

A serviceman stands by a huge historical photograph prior to a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two

Officials stand in front of a banner at Red Square during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two
Business Council of Australia president Tim Reed is encouraging the government to extend the $70 billion JobKeeper program beyond September for hard-hit industries while winding back the flat rate wage subsidy for those getting more in their pay packet than before the pandemic began.

The business lobby group said the federal government should get companies to reapply for the scheme to prove their turnover was still down enough to qualify and asked for a close examination of the "overpayment" of staff who were previously paid less than the $1500-a-fortnight they are now receiving under the scheme.

Business Council of Australia president Tim Reed is encouraging the government to extend the JobKeeper program beyond September for hard-hit industries. Credit:AAP

"We think a very targeted stepping down [of the] program is warranted," Mr Reed told the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 on Wednesday morning.

"JobKeeper has been an enormous success and as a nation we should congratulate everyone involved," Mr Reed said, acknowledging it has helped with the wellbeing of employers and employees.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government's decision to allow expatriates wearing PPE kits if the countries from where they depart do not conduct COVID-19 tests is a face-saving gesture after widespread protests by the UDF, said Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.

"The deaths of expats have reached almost 300. Why did the government insist on production of COVID-19 negative certificates till now," he lashed out at the government.

Chennithala pointed out that until Tuesday the government was clamouring for COVID-19 negative certificates. The LDF government is embarrassed to admit that it had to revoke the decision, he said.

At a media briefing at Cantonment House here on Wednesday, Chennithala also criticised the appointment of CPM nominee KV Manoj Kumar as chairman of the Kerala Child Rights Commission.

He alleged that the controversial appointment is a challenge to the people as the appointee has no experience in the field.

"The post is equivalent to the rank of Chief Secretary. The Commission has seen former chief secretaries holding office. The latest appointment shows the highhandedness of the LDF Government. Currently there is an increase of POCSO cases. The majority of them remain unsolved. The people of Kerala will not approve Manoj Kumar's appointment," added Chennithala.
Salad maker Fresh Express is facing a lawsuit filed by noted food lawyer Bill Marler on behalf of an Iowa couple  a man who says he was sickened by one of the company's salads and his wife, who took him to the emergency room.

Aldi, Hy-Vee and Jewel-Osco stores in a dozen states have recalled Fresh Express-distributed select salads "potentially linked" to Cyclospora infections, according to the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agencies reported 122 confirmed illnesses and 19 hospitalizations  but no deaths  in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Health officials say the illnesses occurred from May 11 to June 15.

Target store hours: Retailer increases open hours after cutting them in March due to COVID-19

Tesla: J.D. Power rates car maker's electric vehicles as lowest quality auto brand in 2020 study

The investigation involves Cyclospora infections linked to bagged salad mixes containing carrots, red cabbage and iceberg lettuce purchased at the three supermarket chains. The microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which is spread through fecal matter, can cause symptoms including diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue, according to the CDC.

Products were also recalled from stores in Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota.

Fresh Express did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.

This is not the first wave of recalls to hit the company. Its salads served at McDonald's in 2018 eventually sickened more than 500 customers. McDonald's pulled the salads.

The suit charges Fresh Express with negligence in food safety failures. The lawsuit says Matthew Phillips became ill June 3 and went to a hospital June 7, where he was put on an IV. After he was stabilized, Phillips was sent home, but a test confirmed evidence of Cyclospora, and he continued getting medical treatment through June 20.

Story continues

"It is highly likely that this outbreak will grow and that other stores will be implicated," said Marler, a Seattle-based food safety lawyer and one of the attorneys representing the Phillipses, of Centerville, Iowa.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Recall of salad mixes at Aldi, Hy-Vee leads to Iowa lawsuit
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Asia Pacific Endodontic Reparative Cement Market to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact Analysis and Regional Analysis and Forecast by Product Type, Indication, and End User.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05915401/?utm_source=PRN





The Asia Pacific endodontic reparative cement market is expected to reach US$ 94.95 million by 2027 from US$ 64.98 million in 2019. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% from 2020 to 2027.

The endodontic reparative cement market is growing primarily due to rise in endodontic procedures and growing support from government in Asian countries in the Asia Pacific region that are boosting the growth of the market over the years.Restraining factors, such as lack of access to dental care, unavailability of insurance cover, and COVID-19 pandemic are likely to slow down the growth of the market in the coming years.



Additionally, adoption of clinical practices of endodontic and advancements in endodontic procedures are likely to increase the growth of the endodontic reparative cement market during the forecast period.

Endodontic reparative cement is extensively used in a range of regenerative endodontic procedures, particularly while performing repairs of apical materials in teeth with necrotic pulps, and root canal filling in surgical processes. Additionally, the market has seen demands for these cements for managing periapical health in immature teeth with pulp necrosis and where roots are underdeveloped.

As the root canal procedures are safer and efficient, they are widely performed across Asia Pacific countries. According to the National Oral Health Survey of India (2002-03), the incidence of periodontal diseases was 57.0%, 67.7%, 89.6%, and 79.9% in the age brackets 12, 15, 35-44, and 65-74 years respectively. In India, the age-standard incidence of oral cancer is 12.6 per 100,000 people. In the age group from 65 to 74 years, 19% in India are toothless. According to FDI World Dental Federation, oral cancer is among the ten most common cancers globally, and is more prevalent in South Asia, due to increasing tobacco and alcohol consumption. According to the Indian Journal of Dental Research, for every 100,000 Indians, compared to South Asian males (30,903 in every 100,000), Indian males (31,489) had prevalence of dental caries. Among females, the same was 33,926 for South Asians and 34,426 for Indians. Thus, due to the growing number of endodontic procedures is boosting the demand for endodontic reparative cement.

The high cost of root canal procedures and limited coverage for dental care creates challenges for endodontic procedures.However, the presence of alternative techniques such as vital pulp therapy (VPT) and basic root canal therapy (BRT) are expected to accelerate the use of endodontic reparative cement for sealing.



These techniques utilize endodontic reparative cement, such as MTA and calcium hydroxide, as cavity liner pulp capping agents. The cost-effectiveness of VPT, compared to root canal treatment, has gained much attention and is expected to fuel the demand for endodontic reparative cement.

Asia Pacific countries are expecting to witness a huge challenge due to growing COVID-19.Due to the outbreak of disease, healthcare industries have been affected severely, considering the economic conditions in the current situation.



This pandemic is affecting the business operation of the various key players operating in this region. For instance, as per the Dental Tribune International, Dentsply Sirona among the market leader in the dental business is expecting a fall in its sales about US$60-70 million in the first quarter in the APAC countries such as Chinese, Japanese, South Korean, and Taiwanese markets the first quarter of this year.

In 2019, the bioceramic-based sealers segment accounted for the largest market share in the Asia Pacific endodontic reparative cement market.The growth of bioceramic-based sealers segment is due to growing preference in orthopedic treatments, such as joint or tissue replacements, and for coating metal implants to improve biocompatibility.



Therefore, due to large force of acceptance bioceramic-based sealers is likely to grow in the forecast period.

Some of the significant secondary sources for endodontic reparative cement market included in the report are the World Health Organization (WHO), National Oral Health Survey of India, Indian Journal of Dental Research, Australian Dental Association, and others.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05915401/?utm_source=PRN



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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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About a third of the presidents falsehoods were general warnings about widespread fraud in mail-in voting. Another 11 were specific claims about held-up mail carriers, stolen and forged ballots and dead people voting.

Figures released Wednesday from a New York Times/Siena College survey of battleground-state voters showed that 61 percent strongly or somewhat support allowing all voters to use mail-in ballots if necessary, while 37 percent strongly or somewhat oppose it.

But the poll also suggested that Mr. Trumps message was getting through to his base: 88 percent of Biden supporters in six battleground states strongly or somewhat support mail-in voting, while 72 percent of Mr. Trumps supporters strongly or somewhat oppose it.

Justin Clark, the senior counsel to the Trump campaign, defended the presidents words. He said that Mr. Trump was voicing legitimate concerns about how many people would have their hands on ballots with broad mail-in voting, adding, This is all in the context of a broad Democratic push to greatly expand vote by mail four months before the general election.

The presidents supporters have already shown that they are taking his assertions to heart. In Michigan, voters began to burn their absentee ballot applications that were sent to them by the state in an act of protest. In Alabama and Kansas, state legislatures have started to pull back from expanded vote-by-mail initiatives.

The presidents attacks on voting by mail stirred widespread concern from current and former election officials and election experts.

His comments are exceedingly damaging to democracy, to Americas standing in the world, to voters confidence in our elections, said Wendy R. Weiser, the director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan think tank. If you are riling up supporters into a state of anger over the legitimacy of the election, they might actually take steps to try to suppress votes and to undermine the actual legitimate running of the election.
The US State Department Country Reports on Terrorism 2019 has punched holes in a claim that Pakistan made to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) earlier this year -- that terrorist Masood Azhar is missing.

The US report says that Pakistan did not take action against other known terrorists such as JeM founder and UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar and 2008 Mumbai attack 'project manager' Sajid Mir, both of whom are believed to remain free in Pakistan.

The report also raps Pakistan for continuing to act as safe harbour for other regionally focused terrorist groups. It allowed groups targeting India, including LeT and its affiliated front organisations, and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), to operate from its territory, said the report.

However, the report added that Pakistan took modest steps in 2019 to counter terror financing and restrain India-focused militant groups from conducting large-scale attacks following the February attack on a security convoy in Jammu and Kashmir linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Shortly afterward, global terror financing watchdog FATF decided to keep Pakistan in the "Grey List" as it has failed to check flow of money to terror groups like the LeT and the JeM, officials said. The decision was taken at the Financial Action Task Force's third and final plenary held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The direct mention of JeM to Pulwama also endorses Indias claim that the attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed was carried out by the Azhar-headed terror outfit. Pakistan had rejected Indian allegations, calling them knee-jerk and pre-conceived.

As reported by News18.com in February, Pakistan had told the FATF task force that Azhar and his family were missing, so no action could be taken against him. Intelligence sources had told News18 that if Pakistan lies would be unmasked if they repeat such claims as India had the exact coordinates of Azhar.

Sources had said that Azhar was in Chakshahzad and was sheltered by the Pakistan ISI. Azhar was designated a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council 1267 sanctions committee in May last year after the Pulwama Terror attack.
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia - Mongolians voted in parliamentary elections Wednesday across the vast, lightly populated country, a U.S. ally squeezed between authoritarian governments in China and Russia.

The polls were held amid considerable success in the countrys fight against the coronavirus, with just 215 cases of COVID-19 recorded. All of them were imported and no one has died.

People lining up to vote in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, were required to maintain a distance of 2 metres (6.5 feet) between them. Once inside the polling place, election workers checked their temperatures and distributed hand sanitizer.

Police, interior troops and intelligence agents kept a close watch on polling places in response to fears the result to be affected by the buying of votes with cash or free transportation provided by candidates.

Economic malaise, corruption and weak public services dominate concerns among the countrys 3.2 million people, about half of whom live in Ulaanbaatar. Electricity and sewage treatment are in particularly short supply in the slum communities that surround the capital, mostly populated by former herders who have given up life on the steppe.

Polling places opened at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. with finals results not expected until Thursday. Some of the countrys 2 million eligible voters also cast their ballots mobile polling stations on Tuesday.

Mongolia has maintained a nearly 30-year democracy instituted after a new constitution was adopted in 1992 following six decades of communism. The Mongolian Peoples Party is seeking to retain the 65 seats it won in the 76-seat State Great Khural in 2016 while its chief rival, the Democratic Party, will seek to claw back some of its losses. More than 600 candidates are running in 29 constituencies under a system that returns two to three members from each district.

Lawmaker and Democratic Party Chairman Erdene Sodnomzundui said he hoped there would be high turnout for what he described as a particularly momentous vote.

This election is very important as it will decide the future development of our country, not only for the next four years, but maybe the next 40, 50 years, Sodnomzundui told reporters.

Urban areas in the largely rural country are the most hotly contested, with 28 candidates running in one district of Ulaanbaatar.

Landlocked Mongolia boasts vast mineral wealth but has struggled to attract foreign investment because of plunging commodity prices and high-profile disputes between the government and large investors such as mining giant Rio Tinto. Despite its success in holding down infections, Mongolias economy is set to shrink because of the pandemic and prices are rising.

Corruption and a bulging national debt of about $23 billion, or twice the countrys annual economic output, have also been a major drag on the economy.

Thats left more than 30% of Mongolias people living below the poverty line, and resentment over income inequality and graft could boost the odds for outsider candidates.

Mongolia also walks a narrow tightrope between maintaining its political and economic independence from both Soviet-era patron Moscow and rising regional power China. Almost 95% of Mongolias petroleum and energy needs are met by Russia, while China buys more than 90% of the countrys mining exports, mainly coal and copper.

Washington has sought to encourage good governance and the growth of civil society in Mongolia, along with holding joint military drills and making Mongolia a NATO partner nation. Many Mongolias refer to the U.S. as their countrys third neighbour in recognition of the many varied exchanges between the two that help counter both Russian and Chinese influence.

Despite public discontent, the MPP is expected to make a strong showing based on its general competence in running government affairs and deft handling of COVID-19.

Mongolia moved swiftly to close its borders in January to prevent the virus from spreading into its territory. Those diagnosed generally have been Mongolians returning from Russia and other nearby nations. The Ministry of Health says 158 have recovered and 57 remain in treatment and isolation.

The two most recent cases were people who were isolated upon arrival on June 10 from Kazakhstan.

Another 255 Mongolians arrived Wednesday aboard a charter flight from Seattle, according to Mongolias official Montsame news agency. All will be tested and quarantined.

Among the MPPs leading candidates are current Prime Minister Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Cabinet Secretary Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene and former presidential candidate Badmaanyambuugiin Bat-Erdene. The head of state, President Khaltmaagiin Battulga of the Democratic Party, elected in 2017, is not on the ballot.
HOLYOKE  Veterans and their advocates, urging a taxpayer-funded renovation of the Soldiers Home in Holyoke, drew a chorus of blaring horns from passing motorists at their first public demonstration Tuesday.

Fund Holyoke Soldiers Home Now, a grassroots group of former Soldiers Home executives, veterans and their families, hopes the cacophony resonates to the highest levels of the Statehouse.

The coalition  which launched an online petition and other outreach efforts  aims to usher the Soldiers Home into a brighter era following the dark one of COVID-19, which took the lives of a third of the patient population.

They held signs that read Fund the Soldiers Home Now and similar messages while waving American flags at an intersection on Northampton Street.

Weve got a lot of people behind us now. I hope our Legislature opens their eyes, said John Hurley of Chicopee, a former U.S. Marine Corps corporal and Vietnam War veteran, Purple Heart recipient and outreach captain for the coalition.

The first public showing from the group came as a hotly anticipated independent report commissioned by Gov. Charlie Baker into the breakdown at the Soldiers Home is expected to be released  perhaps as early as Wednesday.

The coalitions primary aim is to revive a 2012 plan to renovate the Soldiers Home and add a five-story wing to the campus.

Among the activists were state Sen. John Velis, a U.S. Army Reserve combat veteran himself.

The Holyoke Soldiers Home as we know it isnt going to satisfy whats going to be the needs in the future for our veteran population for the commonwealth of Massachusetts, Velis said. I dont need to tell you that the Holyoke Soldiers Home is hallowed, sacred ground for veterans. We need to do this in a way that is safe, and serves the needs of future generations of veterans.

Velis, a former state representative elected to the state Senate in May, said he is mindful of maintaining the 277-resident census at the Soldiers Home and looking forward to future veteran populations with more women and amputees.

We need to get it right, right now, Velis said.

In addition to the death toll, the administrative fallout of COVID-19 at the Soldiers Home included the suspension of Superintendent Bennett Walsh, the resignation of its medical director and the smudging of the reputation of state Veterans Administration Secretary Francisco Urena.

Members of the coalition believe lives lost to the pandemic could have been saved with a more modern, spread-out campus with fewer veterans to a room.

If we had a new facility with single bedrooms, we could have prevented some deaths. Maybe not all of them, but some of them, Hurley said.

Visitors said infected men were crammed in common rooms next to well patients and the spread of the virus was insidious. The state has only recently begun reporting recoveries after months of death after death.

A spokeswoman for Bakers Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the agency that oversees the Soldiers Home, said the administration is paying attention.

The administration is taking immediate steps to improve the Holyoke Soldiers Home to support infection control and resident safety now, and has been in discussions with the VA on options for capital support going forward. Long-term solutions must include current needs for infection control, revised VA building standards and codes, and other needs to support safe and quality care for veterans, a spokeswoman said in response to a request for comment.

The 2012 plan approved by the state, but shelved, may need a fresh look given changes to medical standards and other factors, she said. But Baker is committed to steering resources to the Soldiers Home.

Unfortunately, sometimes good things come from bad things. We had a lot of guys lose their lives who shouldnt have, said Richard Connor, of Longmeadow, a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War and is among the organizers of the coalition.

Connor said he was heartened by the turnout at Tuesdays first demonstration, which he expected to attract around 25 in the sweltering heat. It drew at least double that. He added that other demonstrations are planned this week in Chicopee, Longmeadow and Agawam. He hopes momentum will build.

Passers-by offered to give coalition members cash donations, he said, which they turned down.

We are not looking for their money, Connor said, with a grin. This is about raising awareness.

Related Content:
Strictly Coming Dancing bosses have revealed that this year's series will be shorter than usual and stars will be in 'couple bubbles' amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following months of speculation as to whether to hugely popular BBC ballroom show would go ahead this winter, it has now been confirmed that it will be back on screens, but with major changes as Britain emerges from a stringent lockdown.

A statement released to MailOnline reads: 'The Strictly Come Dancing team are doing everything they can to bring the nation plenty of Strictly magic later this year.

Cut: Strictly Come Dancing will have a shorter than usual series this year. Pictured are judges (L-R) Bruno Tonioli, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood

'To ensure we deliver the high standards audiences know and love, and in light of the ongoing considerations around COVID-19, this years series of Strictly will have a slightly shorter run than usual.

'The safety of our cast and crew is of the utmost importance to us and further updates will be made in due course.'

News of the changes on the beloved show comes one day after Craig Revel Horwood confirmed that it will be returning to screens.

Speaking with Loose Women panellists on Tuesday, Craig, 55, revealed: 'I'm looking forward to the show this year. It's going ahead, I know that! It gives us a chance to look at the show in a new creative light.'

Safety first: The series has been shortened in a bid to implement safety measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured are last year's winners Oti Mabuse and Kelvin Fletcher

The choreographer was also grilled about whether same-sex couples will be a feature on the upcoming series after rival show Dancing On Ice made history with an all-male pairing.

Talking about the reports, Craig said: 'I have heard the same rumours about a same-sex couple on Strictly this year. So it looks like it but I don't know.'

The judge's revelation came after Strictly bosses imposed new restrictions to ensure the forthcoming series complies with the government's coronavirus guidelines.

Sources claimed that TV executives hoped celebrities and their professional dancers will be able to 'exclusively bubble' by the show's anticipated launch date in September.

Confirmed! On Tuesday, Craig confirmed during an appearance on ITV's Loose Women that Strictly is still going ahead this year (pictured with new fiance Jonathan Myring)

Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman could front the show from separate rooms to adhere to the social distancing rules, while costume fittings may be conducted over Zoom as producers adjust to the TV industry's new normal.

An insider told The Mirror: 'At the moment only singles can bubble with another household but by September its very likely to have been extended to couples and even whole households.

'The celebs and their pros will exclusively bubble together  allowing them to dance all day and still go home to their loved ones in the evening.

'It'll be easier for Tess in the main studio than Claudia in the so-called Clauditorium, where shell have to try and stay apart from all the dancers.'

The new normal: Strictly bosses have reportedly imposed restrictions to ensure the new series complies with COVID-19 guidelines. Pictured are hosts (L-R) Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly

The source added that weekly coronavirus tests and daily temperature checks may be included as part of the crew's new routine, while hair and make-up artists can resume their normal duties using suitable PPE.

As reported earlier this month, the choreographers will isolate together in a hotel for two weeks from the end of July to practise and pre-record their group dances.

Judge Bruno Tonioli, who is currently in Los Angeles, is said to have pulled out of the franchise after prioritising the US series Dancing With The Stars over the UK version of the hit show.

Sources have claimed that no decision has been made about the future of Blackpool, after reports alleged that producers scrapped the much-loved week in an attempt to save the show.

The publication also states that a same-sex pairing could be delayed until next year, while bosses are said to have secured the majority of the line-up, with Jamie Laing expected to make a return after departing the show prematurely due to an injury.
Beijing: Chinese and Indian military commanders have agreed to disengage their forces in a disputed area of the Himalayas following a clash that left at least 20 soldiers dead, both countries have said.

The commanders reached the agreement on Monday in their first meeting since the June 15 confrontation, the countries said on Tuesday.

The confrontation in the Galwan Valley, part of the disputed Ladakh region along the Himalayan frontier, was the deadliest between the two countries in 45 years.

The treacherous terrain of the Ladakh region. Credit:AP

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said "the two sides had a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the prominent issues in the current border control and agreed to take necessary measures to cool down the situation".
TORONTO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Facebook's head of security during the 2016 US presidential election today said "Covid has created a chaotic situation on the ground," which could lead to increased instability during the 2020 election. Alex Stamos made the remarks at the 30,000-attendee online conference Collision from Home  produced by the team behind Web Summit, the largest tech conference in the world.

"In a disinformation environment that continues to be extremely aggressive, I'm really afraid of what's going to happen. What I'm really afraid is not between now and election day, but the three or four days after election day, because in a vote-by-mail situation it is possible we won't know who the president is for three or four days, and that's going to be a really open time for people to spin that delay as something nefarious," said Stamos.

Stamos went on to address Facebook's role in race relations in the US, saying the company should focus on not making things worse, rather than trying to fix US society.

"Facebook is not going to fix 400 years of racial inequality in the United States but what it can do is think, 'What are the things we do that make things worse?' and to be careful to balance the fact that there are people with individual beliefs that the executives of Facebook don't agree with that need to exist, but to allow those things to exist in a way that it does not have a viral aspect," he said.

Watch a clip from the interview here .

About Alex Stamos:

Alex Stamos is working to improve the security and safety of the internet through his teaching and research at Stanford University. He previously served as chief information security officer at Yahoo! and Facebook.

About Collision:

Collision is known by CBC as the "TIFF for tech", while Inc. Magazine calls it the "fastest-growing tech conference in North America". Collision is set to move online for 2020 with Collision from Home. Collision will return to Toronto as a physical event for the second year from June 21-24, 2021 at the Enercare Centre.

About Web Summit:

Forbes says Web Summit is "the best tech conference on the planet"; Bloomberg calls it "Davos for geeks"; Politico, "the Olympics of tech"; The Guardian, "Glastonbury for geeks"; and, in the words of Inc. Magazine, "Web Summit is the largest technology conference in the world".

Whatever Web Summit is, it wouldn't be possible without an incredible team of over 200 employees based in Dublin, Lisbon, Toronto and Hong Kong, including world-class engineers, data scientists, designers, producers, marketers, salespeople, and more. They've disrupted an old industry by building incredible software and designing mind-blowing events, revolutionising how people and ideas come together to change the world.

Useful links:

Collision images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/collisionconf/

Collision speaker lineup: https://collisionconf.com/speakers

Collision schedule: https://collisionconf.com/schedule

SOURCE Web Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed delight over the Union Cabinet's decision to turn Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar Airport to an international one. Lauding the move, Prime Minister stated that it will improve connectivity 'significantly' and also increase tourism opportunities. He added that it will also bring better opportunities for the local population as well.

Announcing the decision on Wednesday, the Union Cabinet stated that the Buddhist Circuit is a key pilgrimage destination for 530 million practising Buddhists across the globe and the declaration of Kushinagar Airport as an 'International Airport' will offer improved connectivity, a wider choice of services at competitive costs to the air-travellers resulting in boosting of domestic/international tourism and economic development of the region.

Great news for Uttar Pradesh, tourism and those inspired by the noble thoughts of Lord Buddha!



Kushinagar Airport will now be an international airport. Connectivity will improve significantly. More tourists and pilgrims will also mean better opportunities for local population.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 24, 2020

READ | Coronavirus Live Updates: All Houses In Delhi To Be Screened By July 6; Cases At 4,56,183

"Direct international connectivity to Kushinagar would substantially increase the number of foreigners and domestic tourists visiting Kushinagar, which will also provide impetus to the economic development of the region. The international airport is expected to boost the already growing tourism and hospitality ecosystem in the country," a press release by the Union Government read.

READ | Modi Cabinet Approves 2% Interest Subvention On Repayment Of Shishu Loans Under PMMY

Kushinagar is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana. It is regarded as a very sacred Buddhist pilgrimage centre where Buddhists pilgrims from all over the world come for a pilgrimage. Kushinagar is dotted with several other Buddhist sites in the nearby surroundings like Sravasti (238 km), Kapilvastu (190 km) and Lumbini (195 km) that makes it an attraction for both followers and visitors alike. Kushinagar already serves as the presenting site for Buddhist circuit pilgrimage spanning across India and Nepal.

READ | 'Making India Technologically Advanced': PM Modi After Cabinet Clears Space Sector Reforms

1,540 Co-operative Banks Under RBI Supervision

In a major decision on Wednesday, the Union Cabinet also decided to bring Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) and Multi-State Co-operative Banks under the governance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday announced that over 1,500 UCBs and multi-state co-operative banks will be brought under the supervisory power of the central bank.

READ | Union Cabinet Approves Reforms To Allow Private Sector Participation In Space Activities

"Government banks, including 1,482 urban cooperative banks and 58 multi-state cooperative banks, are now being brought under supervisory powers of Reserve Bank of India; RBI's powers as they apply to scheduled banks will apply for cooperative banks as well," Javadekar told reporters through video conferencing.
Google, Apple, Microsoft and other tech firms have long relied on skilled immigrants to fill key positions of engineers and data scientists.

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. In this picture, a view of Tesla headquarters in Palo Alto, in the San Francisco Bay Area, considered part of 'Silicon Valley' in the United States. (Photo | Wikimedia Commons - Tumbenhaur)

Washington: The US tech sector is likely to be hit hard by President Donald Trumps 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 employersin the tech sector and beyondto 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.

Trumps 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.

This is a full-frontal attack on American innovation and our nations ability to benefit from attracting talent from around the world, the groups 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 administrations arguments.

India-born Google CEO Sundar Pichai said Immigration has contributed immensely to Americas 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.
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: After negotiating with the officials of local administration of India, officials of Nepal government on Tuesday agreed on conditions to allow the repair works on the embankment of Valmiki Nagar-based Gandak barrage in West Champaran.

The repair works were also stopped in Valmiki Nagar barrage embankment areas before the works of dam repairing were stopped on Lalakiya river in East Champaran on June 15 by Nepal. The Nepal government allowed movement of labourers with material on embankment in West Champaran only after they produce the certificates of not being infected with Covid-19.

A official source said, the repairing works started on Tuesday, with labourers and engineers of WRD (Water Resource Department) went towards Nepal side. Bagaha SDM Vishal Raj said that groups of 50 labourers of WRD (Water Resource Department) of Bihar were permitted first and more will go if needed. Officials are in negotiations with Nepal government to sort out the issue at Lalakiya river in East Champaran also.

The WRD had also requested the MEA and water resources in the Centre to intervene to sort out the issues before the flood hits the state.
WASHINGTON - The Senate has approved the nomination of a Mississippi judge to a federal appeals court, the 200th federal judge named by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Republican-controlled chamber. Its the highest number of judicial nominees confirmed at this stage of a presidency in four decades.

Cory Wilson was elevated to a seat on the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal despite Democratic objections that he has a record of working to undermine voting rights of African Americans and other minorities.

Approval came on a nearly party-line, 52-48 vote Wednesday. Maine Sen. Susan Collins was the only Republican to vote against Wilson.

Wilson, a former Republican state legislator, has been a state appeals court judge for 16 months. The 5th Circuit, which hears cases from Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, is considered one of the most conservative appeals courts in the nation.

Democrats and civil rights groups said Wilson has been a longtime proponent of voter ID laws that disproportionately harm communities of colour, students, voters with disabilities and the elderly. He also has made false claims about the prevalence of voter fraud in the United States and expressed opposition to enforcement of the federal Voting Rights Act, Democrats said.

Judge Wilsons troubling record on voting rights is highly relevant to his nomination, said California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The 5th Circuit is a majority-minority circuit, she noted. About 55 per cent of those who live in the region are minorities.

The Senate should not confirm a nominee who would work to further restrict the right to vote from the bench, Feinstein said.

Feinstein and other Democrats said Wilson has demonstrated hostility to voting rights in Mississippi. In 2011, he dismissed concerns from the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP that a voter ID law would suppress the vote as poppycock. In 2013, he said then-Attorney General Eric Holder whined that voter ID laws were part of an orchestrated effort by Republicans to suppress poor and minority voting.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., called Wilsons record extremely problematic at this moment in time as the nation faces a reckoning over racism in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and other African Americans.

Harris, one of three Black senators, said it would be a particular affront to the people of Mississippi, a population that has 38% African Americans, to have Judge Wilson preside over voting rights cases in that state.?

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called Wilson an outstanding nominee, and noted that he has served as a lawyer in private practice, a state lawmaker, adviser to top state officials and a judge. The American Bar Association rates Wilson as well-qualified.

McConnell, who has made confirmation of judicial nominees a priority, said that with Wilsons confirmation, there will be no appeals court vacancies in the nation for the first time in at least 40 years.

As Ive said many times, our work with the administration to renew our federal courts is not a partisan or political victory. It is a victory for the rule of law and for the Constitution itself, McConnell said.

Democrats countered that McConnell and Trump were focused on far-right judicial nominees at the expense of legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence, voting rights and other issues.

Over the last three years, instead of focusing on legislation to help the American people, Leader McConnell and President Trump have dedicated almost every ounce of their energy and focus to packing the courts with right-wing ideologues who they know will do their bidding from the bench, said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network, a group that champions conservative judges, called the 200-judge milestone a tremendous accomplishment that will have an impact on federal courts for decades to come. The 53 appeals court judges and two Supreme Court justices approved under Trump are among the finest legal minds who will interpret the law as it is written, not make it up based on their own politics and policy preferences, she said.

But Christopher Kang, chief counsel for Demand Justice, a liberal group that has opposed most of Trumps judicial nominees, said it will take years to undo the damage caused by Trump and McConnell.

While President Barack Obama picked the most diverse judicial nominees in history, McConnell routinely blocked them, Kang said, leaving more than 100 vacancies for Trump to fill. Trump has done so overwhelmingly with young, white men who have done enormous damage to our courts diversity and legitimacy, Kang said.

Collins, who also opposed a federal appeals court judge confirmed last week, said Wilson had made inappropriate comments about the Affordable Care Act, the health law passed under President Barack Obama. Before becoming a judge last year, Wilson frequently criticized Obama and other Democrats and called passage of that law perverse and illegitimate.? Wilson also wrote that he hopes the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the law, which Obama signed in 2010.

While Judge Wilson is entitled to his personal views, his comments about the legality of the Affordable Care Act ... raise doubts about his ability to rule impartially on matters where he holds very strong personal views, said Collins, one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the Senate.

Wilson, 49, pledged during his confirmation hearing to abide by a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the health care law.
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A detailed analysis report of the Global Nail Polish 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.

Drivers

Rising brand consciousness among women population

Growing women population across the globe

Restraints

High cost of products

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Essie

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NARS Cosmetics

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Revlon, Inc.

Sally Hansen

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SEGMENTATIONS IN THE REPORT:

By Product:

Liquid nail polish

Gel nail polish

By Geography:

North America (NA)  US, Canada & Rest of North America

Europe (EU)  UK, Germany, France & Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific (APAC)  China, Japan, India & Rest of APAC

Latin America (LA)  Brazil & Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA)  Middle East and Africa

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Ana Morales, granddaughter Hannah Paredes, 8, Julie Rodriguez and niece Paige Paredes, 6, all of Los Angeles, walk to the grocery store while wearing masks in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

California has broken back-to-back records this week in its daily number of coronavirus cases as the state continues to see dangerous spikes in the number of infections.

On Monday, the state shattered a daily record for new cases, reporting more than 6,000 infections for the first time since the pandemic hit the U.S. One day later, that number shot up even higher, as 6,652 new cases were reported Tuesday.

Throughout the state, where nearly than 193,900 infections and more than 5,600 related deaths have been announced, cases have surged in recent days, and hospitalizations have continued to tick up.

In Orange County, the number of infections surpassed 10,000 over the weekend and jumped to more than 10,700 Tuesday.

Despite that increase, as well as a rise in daily average hospitalizations last week, Orange County is not one of the 10 counties the state is monitoring. That list includes Los Angeles and Riverside counties, where the two highest case counts of the coronavirus can be found in California.

At least three restaurants in Orange County have recently closed after employees tested positive for the virus.

Baja Sharkeez in Huntington Beach and Meat Up BBQ in Placentia both closed after an employee at each establishment tested positive. Javiers in Newport Beach voluntarily closed for deep cleaning last week, according to an answering machine message, and remains closed without further explanation. The county confirmed last week it was investigating a possible outbreak at the eatery.

On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom called on residents to report businesses and restaurants that are not meeting reopening guidelines.

When you go to a restaurant and its clear that theyre not practicing what we are preaching, report them. Give us the tools to enforce, he said.

Los Angeles County made a similar plea last week for residents to contact the Public Health Department if they spot a business that isnt up to county standards after roughly 1,000 restaurants were found in violation of new protocols.

Story continues

On Wednesday, L.A. County reported 34 additional coronavirus-linked deaths and 1,260 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to nearly 89,500. The update comes after officials reported on Tuesday more than 2,000 cases for the fourth time in a week.

Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer previously said it is highly likely that the surge is connected to mass protests that erupted over the death of George Floyd, in addition to clusters at restaurants and parties. But officials are not tracking the origin of spread in public spaces, so it is impossible to know for certain where the virus traveled to and from.

Officials have continued to stress the need for residents to wear face coverings and get tested if they believe theyve been exposed. But in L.A. County, officials said Tuesday that testing appointments at city- and county-run sites were full for the rest of the week. People with symptoms were advised to contact their physicians or try independently run sites.

Additionally, the county reported there was a drop in the total number of available tests in the first week of June, largely because of closures at sites during the protests. There was also an increase in the number of scheduled appointments for people who did not show up for testing.

"Those two things combined resulted in a decline in the number of total tests that were completed," said Kathleen Piche of the Department of Health Services.

In Orange County, the number of reported testing also fell in recent days. According to the county's dashboard, 1,582 tests were conducted Monday, the lowest number since testing was made available.
Russia and China will be isolated at the United Nations if they continue down the "road to dystopia" by blocking a US bid to extend a weapons ban on Iran, US Iran envoy Brian Hook told Reuters ahead of his formal pitch of the embargo to the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

The 13-year-old arms restrictions on Iran are due to expire in October under the terms of Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Russia and China have signaled they oppose extending the embargo.

While Washington has long argued that the embargo should not be lifted, the international community has been waiting for it to formally push the measure. Hook and US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft will make the case for why the 15-member council should support a draft resolution extending the embargo behind closed doors on Wednesday.

"We see a widening gap between Russia and China and the international community," Hook said in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday evening.

"Russia and China were isolated at the (International Atomic Energy Agency) last week and they will be isolated in the Security Council if they continue down this road to dystopia," Hook said.

The IAEA's 35-nation board of governors on Friday called on Iran to allow the UN nuclear watchdog access to two sites suspected of nuclear weapons activities, and to cooperate fully. Iranian allies Russia and China opposed that move but could not block it, whereas at the Security Council they have veto powers.

A council resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, China, Russia, Britain or France to pass.

Earlier this month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on Russia and China to resist Washington's push, pledging to "increase our defense capabilities as we have been doing so even under sanctions."

'CLEAR LIMITS'

"Extending the arms embargo is the right and necessary thing to do and every member of the Security Council knows this whether they say this publicly or not," Hook said.

"The embargo has not prevented all Iranian weapons transfers, but the export and import bans have been effective at establishing clear limits on Iran's behavior," he argued.

The United States circulated the draft resolution on Monday after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reported to the council earlier this month that cruise missiles used in several attacks on oil facilities and an international airport in Saudi Arabia last year were of "Iranian origin."

If the United States is unsuccessful in extending the embargo, it has threatened to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran under a process agreed in the 2015 nuclear deal, even though the United States quit the accord in 2018.

Such a move would kill the nuclear deal, touted by the United States and others in 2015 as a way to suspend Tehran's suspected drive to develop nuclear weapons, and diplomats say Washington would face a tough battle in the council.

The United States argues it can trigger the sanctions because a Security Council resolution enshrining the 2015 nuclear deal still names Washington as a participant.

Iran has breached parts of the nuclear deal in response to the US withdrawal and Washington's reimposition of sanctions.

Rouhani said on Wednesday that Tehran would be open to talks with the United States if Washington apologizes for quitting the nuclear deal and compensates Tehran.

"We are happy to engage in conversations with them when the time is right but the conditions that suggest somehow we give a bunch of money to the Iranians so they can foment terror around the world is simply ludicrous," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.
Attorney general William Barr has agreed to testify next month before the House Judiciary Committee, which is investigating him for the unprecedented politicisation of the Justice Department.

It will be the first time Mr Barr, who assumed in February last year after being picked by Donald Trump, has appeared before the panel tasked with overseeing his actions.

As Mr Barrs spokeswoman announced via Twitter on Wednesday, the attorney generals decision to testify on 28 July, the Judiciary panel was interviewing three current and former Department of Justice officials who have accused Mr Barr of applying political pressures within the department to help the friends of the president

I was privileged to serve in the Department of Justice under two Republican and one Democratic [presidents], and I am here because I believe that William Barr poses the greatest threat in my lifetime to our rule of law and to public trust in it, former deputy attorney general Donald Ayer told lawmakers on Wednesday.

Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton has also said he might be willing to testify against Mr Barr.

Over the last 16 months, House Democrats and former Justice Department officials from both parties have excoriated Mr Barr for his departments actions surrounding the report of former special counsel Robert Mueller; the criminal cases against Trump associates Roger Stone and Michael Flynn; and protests in Washington, DC, after the death of George Floyd.

Some Democratic members have even flirted with impeaching Mr Barr, although House judiciary chairman Jerry Nadler dismissed such calls as a waste of time because corrupt Republicans in the Senate would prevent his removal from office.

Along with Mr Ayer, two current DOJ employees testified as whistleblowers about political corruption at the department under Mr Barrs tenure.

Aaron Zelinsky, a former lawyer on Mr Muellers team who worked on the DOJs criminal case against former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone, said he and his team were pressured by higher-ups to cut Stone a break.

Stone was convicted earlier this year of lying to Congress. The start of his prison sentence has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

What I heard  repeatedly  was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the president, Mr Zelinsky testified.

I was also told that [acting US attorney Timothy Shea] was giving Stone such unprecedentedly favourable treatment because he was afraid of the President, he said.

At the hearing, Mr Nadler accused Mr Barr of being Mr Trumps fixer, a term often used to describe the presidents former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to lying to the Senate about his attempts to broker a deal to build a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 campaign.

Mr Barrs work at the Department of Justice has nothing to do with correcting injustice, Mr Nadler said in his opening remarks.

He has shown us that there is one set of rules for the presidents friends, and another set of rules for the rest of us, Mr Nadler said.

The panel also heard a scathing review of Mr Trump and Mr Barr from John Elias, a lawyer from the DOJs antitrust division who has accused the two men of abusing their power to unfairly target industries they do not like, including the USs growing cannabis industry and automobile manufacturers.

Mr Elias has referred multiple antitrust investigations launched under Mr Barr to DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz.

I asked him to investigate whether these matters constituted an abuse of authority, a gross waste of funds, and gross mismanagement, Mr Elias said of his request for a probe.

Meanwhile, a federal appeals court has intervened to allow the DOJ to proceed with its motion to dismiss its own case against Mr Flynn, who had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, despite the decision of a lesser court to halt that motion over concerns it was politically motivated.

Mr Trump took a victory lap after the circuit courts decision on Wednesday.

Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request To Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn! the president tweeted.
The son of a retired garda has been jailed for eight years after he was caught storing over 1.3 million worth of cocaine in a rented storage unit.

Graeme Burke (34), described by his barrister as a sitting duck, had rented the storage unit in his own name using his personal documentation to secure the lease.

Detective Garda Redmond O'Leary told Judge Martin Nolan that while gardai accepted that Burke did not own the drugs and was holding them for some form of reward, he was not at the lowest level of the operation.

Two phones founds on Burke were discovered on technical examination to be encrypted devices.

Gda O'Leary said such mobile phones operate on their own network and are very costly to run. He said gardai cannot access the information stored on them and they are used by organised crime gangs.

Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, accepted that his client could not be portrayed as some gullible person who was induced into this but asked Judge Nolan to accept that it was not a sophisticated crime in that the unit was rented in his own name.

He was a sitting duck, to be differentiated from others higher up the ladder who had insulated themselves, Mr O'Higgins said before he added that his client had faced his responsibilities head on by admitting his guilt.

Burke of Woodlands, Ratoath, Co Meath pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 19kg of the drug, worth an estimated 1.336 million at a storage facility on the N2 in Ashbourne, on January 30, 2020. He has three previous convictions including one for robbery for which he received a four year suspended sentence in August 27, 2005.

Det Gda Burke told John Byrne BL, prosecuting, that both the unit and Burke's van were under surveillance following a tip off to the gardai. Burke was spotted leaving his home address, driving to the storage unit, staying there for ten minutes and driving off again.

He was followed and approached by gardai after parking up in an area in Tallaght, Dublin. Burke immediately confirmed there were drugs in the van and the keys to the storage unit were found on him.

Gda O'Leary said there was seven kilograms of cocaine in Burke's van and a further 12 kilograms were later found in the storage unit, along with other drug paraphernalia including a money counting machine.

Gda O'Leary agreed with Mr O'Higgins that the storage unit was rented in Burke's own name and his own personal documentation used to organised the lease of it.

He accepted that Burke's father is a retired member of An Garda Siochana and as such, his time in prison may be more difficult.

Mr O'Higgins said his client left school at a young age before training as a painter and decorator and later working as a taxi driver. He said the crime had had a devastating impact on Burke's family.

Judge Nolan accepted that Burke's involvement was to store, transport and distribute the drugs and noted that he had been equipped with the encrypted mobile phones.

It is difficult to know what led him into this. He is a mature man and should have known better, Judge Nolan commented before he jailed Burke for eight years.
Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced that the Maldives will re-open its borders for international tourists on July 15. Resorts and hotels located at uninhabited islands will be open from July 15 and guesthouses and hotels in inhabited islands will open from August 1.

According to the guidelines, tourists are not required to pay an additional fee, produce a certificate or test result indicative of negative status for COVID-19 prior to entry into the Maldives. For tourists without symptoms, there is no requirement for quarantine either.

The guidelines for re-opening the tourism sector was also released by the Ministry of Tourism giving comprehensive information for all sectors across the tourism industry on their standard operating procedures, as well as important information to tourists.

Before your travel to the Maldives:

* Travellers who have a history of contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID- 19 within the past 14 days and persons who have fever or respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, shortness of breath within the past 14 days are advised not to travel to Maldives.

* Regular official updates on travel to the Maldives re provided on the websites of the Ministry of Tourism (https://www.tourism.gov.mv/) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (https://www.foreign.gov.mv/) of the Maldives

* A confirmed booking in a tourist establishment registered with the Ministry of Tourism, prior to travelling is mandatory.

* Tourist resorts, liveaboard vessels and hotels located on uninhabited islands are open for bookings starting from July 15 th , 2020.

* Guest houses and hotels located on inhabited islands will open for bookings starting from 1 st August, 2020.

* However, guest houses and hotels located on inhabited islands will be allowed to accommodate transiting passengers waiting for domestic transfers under special permits. Transit arrangements can be made through the primary facility where the stay is booked.

* Tourists are advised to directly check offers and operational status with the preferred tourist establishments on their websites and mobile applications.

* Tourists who are visiting Maldives during phase 1 of opening shall book their entire stay in one registered establishment. Stays at multiple resorts and hotels are not permitted during this period. However, exemptions will be made for transit arrangements.

During your flight:

* All passengers should submit a health declaration card upon arrival, completed onboard the aircraft.

* As per border health and aviation procedure, if a passenger has fever, cough or shortness of breath on board the flight it should be informed to the Health Protection Agency.

Arrival at the airport:

* Tourists travelling to Maldives will be provided a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival.

* A health declaration card will be required as part of the on-arrival procedure.

* All arriving passengers should wear masks

* Physical distancing should be ensured.

* Hand sanitization at entry to the arrival terminal.

* All arriving passengers must undergo thermal screening at entry.

* Tourists will not be subject to any quarantine measures upon arrival to the Maldives.

* Tourists will not be required to submit any medical test results for entry to the Maldives. However, travellers presenting with symptoms of Covid-19 upon arrival will be subject to a PCR test at the travellers cost. The tourist will be sent to a designated facility for isolation.

Isolation will be done at a designated transit facility or at the tourists destination resort (depending on the resort policy). If the result of the PCR test is positive, the tourist may continue isolation at the resort or will be transferred to a designated state-run isolation facility.

If the result of the PCR test is negative, the tourist will be released from isolation. In the case of negative PCR test in a tourist who is isolated temporarily at a transit facility, he/she will be released from isolation and may travel to the destination resort. Although released from isolation, a symptomatic tourist will have to follow restrictions on attending public places such as restaurants until the symptoms resolve.

* Contact tracing should be done for the symptomatic patient to identify passengers who were close contacts during the flight and during the journey. Contacts who are tourists can be quarantined in their destination resorts until the PCR test result of the patient is known. Contacts will be released from quarantine if the patients PCR test is negative.

* On arrival, if any tourist gives history of contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 within 14 days prior to arrival (as per passenger health declaration card), the tourist must be examined by the doctor at the airport clinic. If the person is asymptomatic, he/she will require to be quarantined. If the person is symptomatic, a sample should be taken for PCR for COVID-19 and the patient should be sent to a designated facility for isolation.

* Installing the contact tracing app TraceEkee is encouraged for all tourists.

* Additionally, local health authorities may conduct random testing at no cost to travellers.

* Mandatory restrictions on travel within Maldives for tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic: restrictions on inter island travel. The Ministry of Tourism should continuously update and inform the tourist establishments regarding the travel restrictions imposed by HPA.

* Requirement for tourists to inform the resort if he/she tests positive for COVID-19 upon return from Maldives: All tourists should inform the resort if they test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of departure from the resort.

At departure from your place of stay:

* Tourists will have to undergo an exit screening prior to departure from the place of stay.

* The exit screening questionnaire should document any history of fever or respiratory symptoms such as cough or shortness of breath within the prior 14 days. It should be ensured that the guest is not under quarantine or isolation. Temperature should be checked to exclude fever.

* Routine testing for COVID-19 is not required prior to departure, however during exit screening if any tourist is found to have fever or symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 within the prior 14 days, they should undergo PCR testing for COVID-19.

* Testing services are available in the Maldives for tourists who require Covid-19 test results to return to their countries of origin or another destination.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  SM Investments Corporation says it is taking a new approach to boost sales amid the pandemic, tapping e-commerce channels as Filipinos get reluctant to shop in malls.

"The pandemic has made us even more aware of two important things. For our customers, it's convenience and safety, and for ourselves, it's adaptability and transformation... Coming from this lockdown, we were able to operate a hybrid way of reaching our customers," SMIC Vice Chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson said in the conglomerate's annual shareholders' meeting on Wednesday.

SMIC reported a 13.8 billion net income from January to March, 16 percent lower than the 16.4 billion profit a year ago.

The SM Group is boosting its online presence to reach out to more customers, as quarantine protocols keep more people indoors. Malls have reopened at limited capacity, with strict rules such as temperature checks and social distancing in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among shoppers.

RELATED: Govt threatens to close down malls that fail to enforce physical distancing rules

The Sy-led firm added that adjustments to the online and on-site customer experience is also being implemented in the group's banking and property businesses. The mall operator waived more than 8 billion worth of rental fees to tenants during the peak of the Luzon lockdown.

SMIC President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic DyBuncio added that the company is looking to be a direct participant and service provider for digital transactions. The retailer is boosting its online shopping sites and "click and collect" scheme for shoppers, and is also eyeing to develop its own grocery delivery service. SM products have also been made available in platforms like Shopee, while its banks extended payment networks to Grab Philippines.

SMIC declared cash dividends at 4.25 per share for a total of 5.1 billion, which will be paid to stockholders on July 23.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 24, 2020 - 13:10 | All, Feature, Japan, Coronavirus

A survey by Japan's largest labor organization has found that about 52 percent of respondents who have started teleworking due to the novel coronavirus pandemic are working longer hours, the union said Wednesday.

The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, known as Rengo, said its online survey also revealed many people are not reporting overtime, highlighting challenges in the labor management of teleworkers.

"Workers and employers should thoroughly communicate with each other to set rules for teleworking swiftly," Rengo President Rikio Kozu said.

The survey was conducted in early June targeting people aged 18 to 65, who began telecommuting in April or later, after many workplaces introduced the practice to contain the spread of the virus. A total of 1,000 people across Japan gave valid responses.

It showed that 65 percent of those that worked beyond their regular hours at home did not report the overtime they worked, with many citing a corporate culture against reporting it.

Regarding expenses incurred by teleworking, including internet connection and mobile phone fees, some 66 percent said they pay them out of their own pocket, while 20 percent said they receive subsidies from their workplaces.

Asked about the benefits of teleworking in a multiple-choice question, about 75 percent said they can make better use of their time as they do not need to spend any time commuting.

As for shortcomings, 45 percent said they have trouble separating work from everything else, and 38 percent said they missed socializing with their bosses and coworkers.

Among those with children of school age, about 70 percent said they find it hard to telework, particularly those with preschoolers as they need to care for them and play with them.

Many schools and day-care centers were closed or inaccessible during the state of emergency, which was declared in April to contain the virus and fully lifted in late May, forcing many parents to look after their children at home while working.
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 cachet 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.
EQS Group-News: Netcetera AG / Key word(s): Product Launch



Media release

Zurich/Vienna, 24 June 2020 Milestone for the Austrian payment industry: Netcetera digitizes credit and debit cards for PSA



The Swiss software company Netcetera, market leader for 3-D Secure and digital payment solutions, implemented a white-label wallet for Payment Services Austria (PSA), the largest transaction service provider in Austria. This is an important step in the digitization of debit and credit cards. In addition to Maestro, the wallet now supports the latest generation of Mastercard debit cards, thus promoting the digital transformation of the Austrian payment industry.



With the ongoing advance of online commerce and "mobile first", conventional physical payment cards are no longer the only opportunity for card issuers. They can also support their digitization on mobile devices. After all, digital payments are everywhere: In web shops, in apps and at the cash register with the smartphone. Wallets on mobile devices are becoming the main interface with the consumer. Banks or card issuers use this to offer their customers the next generation of payments with value-added services. Netcetera's digital wallet implementation for PSA is based on its scheme-certified product suite ToPay and contains exactly these added values. Netcetera's white-label wallet product offers end customers secure, easier and faster digital payments. User onboarding is supported by strong customer authentication (SCA) according to PSD2. With the user-friendly wallet, banks can offer their end customers new and important functions for digital payments. These include, for example, the digitization of payment cards, contactless payments and peer-to-peer payments. Loyalty functions are also available for customer retention. Peter Frick, Managing Director Secure Digital Payments at Netcetera, adds: "The wallet project for PSA represents another big step in the digitization of the Austrian payment industry. Since April 2020, we have been supporting Mastercard debit cards in the wallet in addition to Maestro, and in the second half of the year, we will also support credit cards for PSA. With the digitization of the latest generation of Mastercard debit cards, end customers now have a digital card for paying for their daily purchases, as well as for international travel." Payment function for Android and iOS devices

With the Wallet solution, the banks' end customers can no longer pay only with Android devices. Thanks to the integration of Apple Pay, iOS users now also make mobile and contactless payments with their banking app. Netcetera's solution initiates the digitization of the card in the Apple Pay Wallet. Martin Zeisel, Head of Sales Digital Finance CEE & SEE at Netcetera, comments on the product: "The ToPay Mobile Wallet extends the customer relationship beyond mobile contactless payments. It enables tap to pay for mobile devices based on the leading international card payment systems. The integration into the existing banking app - where cardholders already check their account balance and transactions - gives them the security to try the new payment functions and pay faster without taking out their physical wallet". Further information:

https://topay.netcetera.com/topay-mobile-wallet/

https://www.psa.at/ Media contact

Netcetera

Angelika Seiler

Head of Content Marketing & PR

angelika.seiler@netcetera.com

+41 44 297 58 09 About Netcetera Netcetera supports its customers worldwide with cutting-edge services, products and custom software. As market leader for payment security, the software company offers innovative digital payment solutions with a strong focus on convenience, security and mobile use. More than 2,000 banking institutions and payment card issuers rely on its high-quality, scheme certified products for 3-D Secure, mobile contactless payment, digital wallets, risk-based and convenient authentication or digital banking apps for optimized banking. With headquarters in Switzerland, Netcetera employs 600 experts in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The company operates 24/7 PCI-certified digital payment services covering all major card networks and serves over 30 million cards. More information: netcetera.com

End of Corporate News


LONDON  Israel's plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank would be fatal to the prospects of Israeli-Palestinian peace, according to a letter signed by more than 1,000 lawmakers from 25 European countries.

Politicians from countries including the United Kingdom, Germany and France expressed serious concerns about the Trump administrations Mideast peace plan and the prospect of imminent Israeli annexation of occupied territory, in the letter to European governments published Tuesday.

Unilateral annexation would be fatal to the prospects of Israeli-Palestinian peace, the letter said. Acquisition of territory by force has no place in 2020 and must have commensurate consequences.

Image: Palestinians argue with Israeli soldiers (Mussa Qawasma / Reuters)

A spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry was not immediately able to comment.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Cabinet discussions would begin as early as July 1 on his plan to extend Israeli sovereignty to territory in the West Bank, land that Palestinians seek for a future state. Annexation was one of Netanyahu's major campaign pledges in a bid to win over right-wing voters before the election in March.

It remains unclear exactly what land Netanyahu plans to annex, but he has indicated that it will fit within the Trump administrations plan for peace in the region, which was announced in January.

The U.S. plan would allow Israel to annex about a third of the West Bank, including major settlement blocs, as well as the strategic and fertile Jordan Valley, the region's breadbasket, on the border with Jordan.

However, Palestinians have emphatically rejected the plan as unworkable and skewed toward Israel. Palestinians hope the territory, which was captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, will form a major part of a future Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital.

It remains unclear whether the U.S. will greenlight unilateral annexation if there is no sign of Israeli negotiations with the Palestinians. Israel's agreeing to negotiations was one of the conditions for the U.S. to recognize Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, a senior administration official told NBC News this year.

Story continues

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated Wednesday that decisions about extending sovereignty were for Israel to make and that the Palestinians had rejected the Trump administrations Mideast peace deal out of hand.

It is not the first time members of the international community have spoken out against Israel's annexation plans.

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said in February that annexation, "if implemented, could not pass unchallenged." It remains unclear, however, what this challenge would look like.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hope Tuesday that Israel would listen to international calls and not go ahead with its annexation plans.

The U.N. has been consistently conveying the message that annexation would be not only against international law but it would be a major factor to destabilize the region, he told The Associated Press.

His remarks came ahead of a high-level U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday where annexation was expected to be discussed.

In April, Arab countries said implementing the annexation plan would be a new war crime against Palestinians, according to Reuters.

Image: Protesters in Tel Aviv (Jack Guez / AFP - Getty Images)

As international opposition to Israel's annexation plans grows, Israeli border police shot dead a Palestinian man Tuesday who they said had tried to run his car into a border officer at a checkpoint in the West Bank.

Palestinian officials, however, disputed the Israeli polices account of what happened to the man, identified as Ahmed Erekat.

One Veteran Palestinian politician, Hanan Ashrawi, described the death as cold-blooded murder." She said Erekat was on his way to pick up his mother and sister who were preparing for his sisters wedding later that day when he was "executed."

Israel continues its policy of shoot first and ask questions later, with full impunity and in the absence of accountability from a dysfunctional international community, Ashrawi said in a statement.

This shooting is symptomatic of a brutal and racist system of structural violence that treats Palestinian lives and rights with abject disdain, considering the lives of our young men and women discardable.

In the U.S., 116 Republicans in the House of Representatives sent a letter to Netanyahu on Monday defending Israels right to make sovereign decisions independent of outside pressure.

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, the letter said.

It comes as another letter is currently circulating among Democrats in the House that warns Israel against unilateral annexation.

Our fear is that unilateral actions, taken by either side, will push the parties further from negotiations and the possibility of a final, negotiated agreement, says the letter, which was obtained by NBC News from a House Democratic aide and as of Wednesday morning had attracted 171 signatories.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Under the Vande Bharat Mission, an Air India flight carrying 169 stranded Indians took off from Yerevan for Delhi and Chennai on June 23. The MEA had earlier confirmed that as many as 2,50,087 Indian nationals stranded abroad have been repatriated since the beginning of Vande Bharat Mission last month.

READ: India To Expand Vande Bharat Mission To Evacuate More Indians From Abroad

Earlier on May 29, the Indian Embassy in Armenia had tweeted: "#VandeBharatMission successfully evacuated stranded 129 Indians in #Armenia by @airindiainflight AI 1960 YER-DEL-COK. Thank you all who made it happen @PMOIndia@narendramodi@DrSJaishankar@harshvshringla@MEAIndia@IndianDiplomacy@MFAofArmenia@MinHealth_Armenia #ACAA".

READ: Vande Bharat Mission: Over 800 Stranded Indians Brought Home Via Four Flights On May 25

India adds more flights to Vande Bharat Mission

As per reports, the third phase of Vande Bharat Mission has widened the scope of the mission and there were more countries, thereby increasing the number of entry points.

India has added 58 more flights to evacuate stranded and distressed nationals from Gulf countries between now and June 30, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on June 10. He informed that the number of flights from Gulf under phase-3 of the 'Vande Bharat Mission' has been increased from originally planned 107 to 165.

The minister further said that Phase 3 of Vande Bharat Mission will have 80 flights to Europe, including two daily flights to London and two to other European destinations, between now and 30 June. Moreover, 10 additional flights to the United States and Canada will be flown apart from 70 that have already been announced.

State-run carrier Air India had previously announced that it will operate around 300 flights to Europe, Australia, Canada, the USA, the UK and Africa between June 10 and July 1 during phase 3 of Vande Bharat Mission.

READ: Air India Reveals Bringing Back 50 Moms-to-be Aboard One Vande Bharat flight On May 11

READ: Vande Bharat Mission: Over 20,000 People Returned To India By Special Flights Since May 6

Image: @IndiainArmenia
While the number of COVID-19 cases are still on the rise, the stock market is in upward trend on the hope that opening up of economic activities will bring back growth.

The benchmark indices have in fact gained 37 percent each from their recent lows recorded on March 23.

The rally in global equities on the back of liquidity boost after global central banks infused trillions of dollars into their economies also lifted sentiment on the Street.

The broader market also gained momentum in line with benchmarks as BSE Midcap index surged 37 percent and Smallcap index rose 41 percent in last three months.

Sectoral indices also reported double-digit gains during this period. Pharma was the biggest gainer with 60 up move following lot of demand for drugs which can minimise the risk of COVID-19, while other indices rallied between 27 percent and 51 percent.

While indices witnessed double-digit gains, these 33 stocks out of BSE 500 turned multibaggers in a short span of three months.

Out of these 33 stocks, top five stocks - Adani Green Energy, Vodafone Idea, Reliance Power, Hathway Cable and Reliance Infrastructure - rallied 205-243 percent in three months.

Six stocks after these 33 - Alkyl Amines Chemicals, HEG, Piramal Enterprises, Dish TV India, Reliance Industries and Manappuram Finance - surged 96-99 percent.

Nearly 450 stocks out of BSE 500 reported double-digit gains from their March lows, whereas around 25 stocks were in the red.

These 25 stocks include Chalet Hotels, Shriram City Union Finance, Aditya Birla Fashion, PVR, Repco Home Finance, AU Small Finance Bank, Shoppers Stop and Bank Of Baroda.

Experts feel momentum is expected to continue going forward but with intermittent correction and consolidation, and if the liquidity continues and vaccine is found for COVID-19 then it could move faster.

"As and when we have an effective vaccine, markets will respond positively at that time. As of now 11,000 seems to be the best case scenario for Nifty-50 based on earnings and valuations," Rusmik Oza, Executive Vice President, Head of fundamental Research at Kotak Securities told Moneycontrol.

The broader markets participation equally with benchmarks was the key in this rally as in previous two years, Midcap and Smallcap indices underperformed significantly to benchmarks after stellar rally of 50-60 percent in 2017.

"We have seen increased market interest in Mid/small caps in the last few days as market optimism increased over the gradual reopening and faster than expected recovery in the economy," Siddharth Khemka, Head  Retail Research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services told Moneycontrol.

Management commentaries from various companies across sectors are pointing out towards a pent-up demand which at least takes care of the near term, he said, adding the Mid/small caps have been underperforming the larger peers over the last 2 years.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that 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 TV18 Broadcase, and Network18 Media & Investments Ltd which publishes Moneycontrol."
[June 24, 2020] UST Global Makes Strategic Investment in Ksubaka

- Ksubaka Reshaping the Retail landscape with Innovative Customer Experience BENGALURU, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- UST Global, a leading digital transformation solutions company, announced a strategic investment in London headquartered Ksubaka, a provider of innovative in-store gamified sales, data collection, and marketing tools for retailers. The collaboration combines Ksubaka's platform to deliver fast-to-market solutions and UST Global's broad reach for deep system integrations and working with most of the top retailers in the world. "At UST Global, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to help our clients find their crucial edge in the rapidly shifting and highly competitive retail market. Ksubaka will help us revolutionize the digital landscape for our retail clients globally," said Sunil Kanchi, Chief Investment Officer, UST Global. "Ksubaka's vast experience in enhancing customer experience and their unique business strategy has helped them carve a niche in the retail industry. Our clients will now have access to a framework that allows retailers to grow their solution, integrate, and scale," he added. Ksubaka has developed a wide range of cutting-edge products that enable retailers to deliver a superior customer experience. The company's solution portfolio includes Smiles, a customer research app; Cloudshelf, a powerful offline-to-online aisle for retail stores; and Gamified Experience, a range of custom games to connect with customers, encourage exploration, and promote brands. Ksubaka is on a mission to help retailers get more visitors, convrt visitors into customers, and deliver outstanding customer experiences through their robust analytics solutions. Ksubaka enables brands to engage directly with consumers just before they make a purchasing decision through short and interactive games. Their solutions help engage customers, facilitate offline-to-online (O2O), ordering, and harvest rich insights into customer behaviour and attitudes. Using short interactive experiences, playful surveys, and the Cloudshelf product discovery platform, customers have new reasons to visit retail stores.



"Ksubaka is excited to be at the heart of the digitization of physical space that is underway. Our solutions deliver trackable results via touchscreens, without any of the pain points they are accustomed to," said Julian Corbett, Co-Founder, and Chairman, Ksubaka. "We aim to constantly improve the retail space by helping retailers better engage, communicate with, and understand their shoppers. We are very excited to partner with UST Global and deliver these innovative in-store experiences," Giles Corbett, Co-founder, and CEO, Ksubaka added. Ksubaka has helped several retailers drive growth through their shopper-centric approach. Ksubaka assisted an American multinational confectionery, food, and beverage company, with the launch of one of their products in China, where they delivered a campaign through 8,000+ interactive displays across 150 cities. A lifestyle clothing and accessories retailer is using Smiles to improve their net promoter scores (NPS) and learn the ways in real-time to improve customer experience store by store. In another instance, an ultraluxury retailer uses Cloudshelf to help shoppers select their products.

Adapting to the Covid-19 situation of their clients, Ksubaka has released a suite of products to support their return-to-market, most recently a remote temperature sensing kiosk to reassure and help keep safe staff and visitors as they return to stores. For more details about Ksubaka, visit https://ksubaka.com Media Contacts, Ksubaka:

Andrew Durkin

+44-7887-998407

[email protected] About UST Global UST Global is a technology partner dedicated to transforming businesses, communities, and the people who live within them. Operating in 25 countries, we deliver future-ready digital transformation strategy services, products, and platforms that create new possibilities and help you imagine what's next in banking and finance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, semiconductor, technology and media. But what matters most is the deep partnership we forge with you to solve the unique challenges you face today, while preparing you for tomorrow. That's us together. That's UST Global. Visit us at www.UST-Global.com Media Contacts, UST Global:

Tinu Cherian Abraham

+1-(949)-415-9857 Media Contacts, US:

Suzanne Dawson

S&C PR

+1-646-941-9140

[email protected] Cecile Fradkin

S&C PR

+1-646-941-9139

[email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/540539/UST_Global_Logo.jpg

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Wirecard HQ in Aschheim near Munich, southern Germany. Photo: Christof Stache/AFP via Getty Images

German prosecutors are poised to issue an arrest warrant for the recently sacked chief operating officer of Wirecard (WDI.DE), according to business daily Handelsblatt.

Jan Marsalek was suspended from his post as COO last week and then dismissed on Monday (22 June) after Wirecard said that 1.9bn (1.7bn, $2.1bn) was missing from its balance sheets  and auditor EY refused to sign off on the companys 2019 accounts.

Marsaleks current whereabouts are unclear, however. Philippines justice minister Menardo Guevarra said on Thursday that Marsalek, who had also been in charge of the Asian business at the German payments provider, may be in the country.

Guevarra said Marsalek had come to the Philippines on 3 March for two days, and that there was some evidence that he recently returned and may still be here.

The Munich prosecutor's office has so far declined to comment on the arrest warrant.

After claiming last week that 1.9bn had gone missing from escrow accounts in the Philippines, and that it may have been the victim of considerable fraud, Wirecard then said "there is a prevailing likelihood that the bank trust account balances in the amount of 1.9bn do not exist."

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.

Guevarra said he has instructed the National Bureau of Investigation to work with the anti-money laundering council to investigate the case.

The Munich prosecutors office arrested Wirecards former chief executive Markus Braun on Monday (22 June), freeing him on Tuesday (23 June) on a 5m bail.

READ MORE: Grab puts partnership with scandal-hit Wirecard on hold

Both Marsalek and Braun are under suspicion of market manipulation by inflating the companys financials.

The companys survival is now hanging in the balance, with big clients nervously watching what is in store for Wirecard in the coming days.

Uber rival Grab announced on Wednesday it was putting its relationship with the payments provider on ice until further notice, and digital bank Revolut is migrating its customers away from Wirecard to another provider.

A new member of the German 30-company DAX since 2018, Wirecard has seen its value nearly wiped out since last week.
Amid the tensions between India and China, Canadian Indians on Wednesday took to streets and staged a protest outside the Chinese Consulate office in Vancouver against China. The protesters were seen holding placards that read "Back off China", "Stop Killing Indians", "We stand with India", and others.

One of the protesters said, "Even after owning much land, they are trying to take over India's land. They have killed our soldiers. But India has also given a good reply that Chinese media does not want to show. Today, we want to show that we stand against China. I appeal to everyone to stop using Chinese products." Another protester said, "We in Canada support India. We are for India."

As many as 20 Indian Army soldiers including a Colonel were martyred during a violent face-off between India and China while the de-escalation process was underway in the Galwan Valley. 76 others suffered injuries in the clash, in which hundreds of soldiers from both sides are said to have engaged. As per the US intelligence reports, 35 Chinese soldiers have been killed, which China has denied in an increasingly questionable manner.

Read: India-China joint secretaries to hold WMCC meet on border tension amid 'cordial' LAC talks

India-China joint secretaries to hold meet

The Working Mechanism on Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) for India-China Border is scheduled to hold a virtual meet on Wednesday to discuss the border tensions between the two countries. According to sources, the WMCC talks are headed by joint secretary-level officials from both sides.

Read: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh emphasises 'India must realize that China cannot be trusted'

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane arrived in Leh on Tuesday to review the on-ground situation and visited forward locations including hospitals where Indian Army Jawans are recovering after the clash. The Corps Commander level talks with China at Moldo that were scheduled to continue for the second day on Tuesday were put on hold, though the first day had seemed promising, as per sources.

Read: Yes, there were incursions but...: Chidambaram issues counter-dare to BJP's Nadda on China

Read: China's casualty denial escalates; after refuting '20', Beijing now calls '40' fake news
BORDEAUX, France  At a bend in the river, a succession of stately stone buildings, each more imposing than the last, stretches along the left bank. Their elegant 18th-century facades had helped Bordeaux, already famous for its wineries, become a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This facade, its a monumental and extraordinary heritage  and a sort of stage metaphor, said Laurent Vedrine, director of the Museum of Aquitaine. Lets go look behind the stone facade: Where did this wealth come from?

Bordeaux, unlike much of France, began digging into that question more than a decade ago. It found that its grand buildings had been financed, in part, by the slave trade. Slavery touched on its monuments and its architecture. So the city began to address the past, but instead of tearing down the telltales of its ugly history, it has put up plaques to acknowledge and explain it.

Other European cities with similar histories have preferred to remain silent. But the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis has now widened and invigorated the debate over Europes long, brutal and lucrative history in Africa, punctuated by the recent toppling of statues of colonial-era figures.
DENVER, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- EnerCom, Inc. is pleased to announce that registration is open for the 25th annual edition of its popular The Oil & Gas Conference August 17th to the 19th, 2020. This year's event will be held in a hybrid format, allowing for limited in-person attendance in Denver, Dallas, Houston, and Calgary, as well as virtual attendance globally.

Buyside investors and oil and gas company professionals may register for the event through the conference website.

Health and Safety: EnerCom remains focused on the health and safety of our attendees, presenters, sponsors and staff. As such, this year's conference will be held in a hybrid format allowing everyone attending in-person to maintain a safe distance between other attendees. The bulk of attendees will be able to participate in the conference virtually further protecting the health of all of those involved in the event.

Conference Details: The Oil & Gas Conference 25 offers investment professionals the opportunity to listen to senior management teams in the oil and gas industry present operational and financial strategies and to gain exposure to important energy topics affecting the global oil and gas industry.

Public and Private Company Presenters: The 2020 edition of EnerCom's The Oil & Gas Conference will feature public and private oil and gas companies with operations around the world including the U.S. shale basins, the Gulf of Mexico and Canada. A list of presenting companies will be provided on the conference website at a future date and updated periodically.

Additional Speakers: Global energy industry leaders, economists, market strategists, government officials and other energy experts will provide their insights on global commodities markets, ESG policy and reporting, exports of crude oil and natural gas, frac sand supply and logistics, and capital sources for energy development.

Who Attends the Conference: More than 2,000 institutional, private equity and hedge fund investors, energy research analysts, retail brokers, trust officers, high net worth investors, investment bankers and energy industry professionals gather for the conference.

One-on-One Meetings: EnerCom works in advance with presenting company management teams to arrange one-on-one meetings with the attending institutional investors and research analysts at the conference venue. Traditionally, EnerCom arranged and managed more than 2,000 one-on-one meeting requests. Registered buy- and sell-side attendees will be able to schedule meetings with presenting management teams in-person and online as appropriate.

How to Register: Investment professionals and oil and gas companies can register for the event through the conference website.

EnerCom History and Sponsors: EnerCom ( Ener gy Com munications) has a rich history of working with clients to differentiate and deliver targeted messages to investors. EnerCom, Inc. founded The Oil & Gas Conference in 1996 with this goal in mind.

Global sponsors of EnerCom's conferences are Netherland, Sewell & Associates; and Moss Adams, LLP. Additional sponsors of The Oil & Gas Conference 25 include Enverus; CAC Specialty; Haynes and Boone, LLP; PNC; and Bank of America.

About EnerCom, Inc.

Since 1994 EnerCom, Inc. has developed into a nationally recognized management consultancy advising oil and gas industry clients on corporate strategy, asset valuations, investor relations, media relations, external communications and visual communications design.

EnerCom produces and publishes numerous data products and external communications tools for public energy companies and oil and gas investors including:

ESG consulting and reporting

peer group company valuations that are specific to the oil and gas industry;

corporate annual reports, oil and gas company websites, custom stratigraphic and subsurface illustrations;

company investor presentations; and

Oil & Gas 360 - an online daily industry news portal.

Headquartered in Denver, with senior consultants in Texas, EnerCom uses the team approach for delivering its wide range of services to public and private companies, large and small, operating in the global exploration and production, OilService, capital markets, and associated advanced-technology industries. EnerCom's professionals have more than 170 years of industry and business experience and a proven track record of success.

For more information about EnerCom and its services, please visit http://www.enercominc.com/ or call +1 303-296-8834.

About Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI) was founded in 1961 to provide the highest quality engineering and geological consulting to the petroleum industry. Today they are recognized as the worldwide leader of petroleum property analysis to industry and financial organizations and government agencies. With offices in Dallas and Houston, NSAI provides a complete range of geological, geophysical, petrophysical, and engineering services and has the technical experience and ability to perform these services in any of the onshore and offshore oil and gas producing areas of the world. They provide reserves reports and audits, acquisition and divestiture evaluations, simulation studies, exploration resources assessments, equity determinations, and management and advisory services. For a complete list of services or to learn more about Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. please visit www.netherlandsewell.com

For more information about NSAI, call C.H. (Scott) Rees, Chief Executive Officer, at 214-969-5401 or send an email to [email protected].

About Moss Adams LLP

Moss Adams is a fully integrated professional services firm dedicated to assisting clients with growing, managing, and protecting prosperity.

With more than 3,200 professionals and staff across more than 25 locations in the West and beyond, we work with many of the world's most innovative companies and leaders. Our strength in the middle market enables us to advise clients at all intervals of developmentfrom start-up, to rapid growth and expansion, to transition.

For more information, please contact Joe Blice, Partner, National Practice Leader, Oil & Gas, CPA.

[email protected], 972.687.7818.

Moss Adams LLP provides details at mossadams.com/industries/oil-and-gas

About Enverus

In 1999, Enverus was founded as Drillinginfo, a groundbreaking provider of reliable oil & gas data, when the industry was on the brink of a digital revolutiona revolution that we would eventually fuel. Over the years, we grew exponentially through product innovation, market expansion, and acquisitions. Today, we are the energy industry's leading data, insights, and software company, helping customers outpace their competition and influence their respective industries.

For more information, visit https://www.enverus.com

About CAC Specialty

CAC Specialty is an employee owned risk solutions company of seasoned and proactive industry leaders, operating as a nimble and collaborative partner who puts you and your business first. With a knowledge-driven approach informed by industry data and decades of honed instinct, CAC brings an innovative vision to insurance broking and merchant banking by providing solutions to solve your risk challenges  from the simple to the previously unsolvable. Backed by a $40B AUM asset manager and not constrained by traditional risk transfer thinking, CAC can expand the range of risk transfer through access to private debt and alternative pools of risk capital.

Read CAC's most recent insights here, and for more information contact Brad Elliott, Senior Vice President and Team Lead.

About Haynes and Boone

Haynes and Boone, LLP is an energy focused corporate law firm that provides a full spectrum of legal services and solutions to clients across the oil and gas industry, including the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. Our team of more than 100 energy lawyers and landmen has been helping operators, lenders and private equity firms complete some of the largest financings and M&A transactions in recent years. With more than 575 lawyers in offices in Texas, New York, California, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Washington, D.C., London, Mexico City and Shanghai, Haynes and Boone is ranked among the nation's most recommended law firms by general counsel for client service according to BTI Consulting Group's "Most Recommended Law Firms 2019" report.

For more information, please visit www.haynesboone.com.

About PNC

For more than 160 years, we have been committed to providing our clients with great service and powerful financial expertise to help them meet their financial goals. We are proud of our longstanding history of supporting not only our customers but also our communities, employees and shareholders.

For more information, please visit www.pnc.com.

Bank of America

Whether expanding a local business in the US, raising capital in Singapore or hedging currencies in Frankfurt, Bank of America Merrill Lynch understands the challenges our clients face in the US and around the world. We use the full resources of our company to help them achieve their goals. Our solutions span the complete range of advisory, capital raising, banking, treasury, as well as liquidity, sales and trading, and research capabilities.

Our Global Banking & Markets division serves mid- to large-sized companies, corporations and institutions. It comprises Business Banking, Global Commercial Banking, Global Corporate & Investment Banking and Global Markets. Aligned with these client-facing groups are Global Capital Markets, Global Research, Global Transaction Services and Wholesale Credit.

For more information, please visit www.bankofamerica.com.

SOURCE EnerCom, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.enercominc.com


SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Dozens of activists marched through San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, denouncing a plan by the city to move hundreds of homeless people from the area in accordance with a settlement between the city and the University of California Hastings College of Law, among others.

Less than two weeks ago, the city announced it had settled a lawsuit filed by UC Hastings and the Tenderloin Merchants and Property Owners Association, among others.

In the suit, the plaintiffs called on the city to address unsanitary conditions on the neighborhood's sidewalks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the settlement agreement, the city will remove up to 300 tents, or 70 percent of the tents and encampments reported in the area during a recent June 5 census, by July 20. The tents and encampments' occupants will be offered free COVID-19 testing and be relocated to hotel rooms or other safe sleeping sites, city officials said.

According to the activists, made up of homeliness advocates, UC Hastings students and Black Lives Matter organizers, the settlement agreement goes against the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 guidelines for homeless people, which recommends that municipalities allow homeless people living on the streets to stay where they are, as clearing encampments could possibly increase the risk of infection.

The activists are also seeking to shed light on the criminalization of homeless people, in particular the city's Black homeless residents. The activists allege that criminalization will only worsen if the settlement is enforced.

During the rally, which began at 3 p.m., activists gathered outside UC Hastings before marching to the police station in the Tenderloin, chanting things like "black lives matter" and "defund the police."

"Historic police enforcement of homelessness through citations, move along orders, and daily harassment has no place in our city and must be stopped," the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness said in a statement.

"UC Hastings has chosen human removal over human rights--a dangerous precedent. Now is the time for more justice--not more racism," Joe Wilson, executive director of Hospitality House, said.

"It is clear that the lawsuit places the public health of housed residents and businesses over the public health of the homeless community. Despite Mayor Breed calling for a reform to end police responses to non-criminal activities, community organizations have already witnessed an increased police presence in the Tenderloin as a result of this settlement," Wilson said.

The activists are demanding that some of the San Francisco Police Department's more than $700 million budget be reallocated to create more affordable housing measures like permanent supportive housing and vouchers, create more safe sleeping sites and shelters, and expand mental health services, particularly for Black community members.

The activists have also sent a letter to UC Hastings Chancellor and Dean David Faigman, denouncing the settlement and alleging it will lead to increased police presence and exacerbate the criminalization of homeless people.

Rhiannon Bailard, UC Hastings' executive director of operations, said that both the school and the activists have a shared goal, which is to provide alternative housing sites for the homeless, prioritizing both hotel rooms and safe sleeping sites.

While Bailard recognized the importance of the activists shedding light on the plight of the area's Black and Brown homeless residents, she added, "But we can't forget the residents of the Tenderloin, often forgotten; the low-income, people of color, the disabled, and children.

"It's important that while we're amplifying the voices of the unhoused, we also amplify the voices of the residents of the Tenderloin," she said.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
A transgender author who quit JK Rowlings literary agency today declared she had 'got in with the wrong crowd' who had made her 'very scared' of trans people.

Fox Fisher and three other writers resigned from The Blair Partnership, which has long represented the Harry Potter author, who has been criticised for defending a Scottish researcher who was fired for claiming that men cannot change into women.

Fisher said today that Ms Rowling had failed to 'open her eyes' on the issue and claimed The Blair Partnership had refused to release a public statement in support of transgender people and claimed it had retweeted 'toxic' tweets on the issue from an official account.

Fox also suggested that because of JK's huge sales the agency 'is not an equal playing ground' for trans authors because it was 'built around her'.

Trans author Fox Fisher and three other writers resigned from The Blair Partnership, an agency 'built around' JK Rowling, and said today that because of JK's huge sales the agency 'is not an equal playing ground' for trans authors

Gender activist Ugla Stefania Kristjonudottir Jonsdottir  known as Owl  and partner Fox Fisher, a self-styled trans queer artist, as well as their novelist friend Drew Davies, announced they were not convinced the literary agency supports our rights at all avenues. The fourth author asked to remain anonymous.

Speaking to the BBC today Fox Fisher said of Ms Rowling: 'I think she's fallen in with the wrong crowd. And that she is very scared and fearful of things when she just needs to spend some time with some transgender people who might also have been her fans.

'I think when we are not transgender we get our information from other sources including non-transgender people and I think that information can be very flawed.

'I just think that if she opened her eyes and saw that transgender women are women then we'd be able to move forward'.

Fisher identifies as a non-binary trans person, meaning they prefer to use the pronoun they rather than he or she.

They added: 'It is not an equal playing ground. JK Rowling is an absolutely huge author and the agency was created around JK Rowling. Even combined we'd never have the same sales as she does. Since December I've been trying to speak to the agency about JK Rowling's tweets and while I'd never be able to change her views - or demand to - all we wanted really was an open conversation'.

It came after Miss Rowling expressed deep concerns about transgender activism in an essay earlier this month, in which she described being a victim of domestic violence and sexual assault.

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 while their novelist friend Drew Davies (right) has also quit

Harry Potter film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint issued statements in support of transgender people, pointedly not backing Miss Rowling.

A handful of staff at publishers Hachette involved in her new childrens book, The Ickabog, also staged a rebellion.

The Blair Partnership has said it could not compromise on the fundamental freedom of allowing authors the right to express their thoughts and beliefs.

A spokesman said: 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.

Ms Rowling, 54, had first clashed with gender activists after appearing to like a post on Twitter saying that trans women are men in dresses, which she said was an accident. Then last year she faced the biggest backlash of her career after defending a female researcher who was fired for claiming that men cannot change into women.

This month, she made a jibe at an article titled Creating a more equal post-Covid-19 world for people who menstruate.

She tweeted: Im sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?

Some staff at Hachette told bosses they were unhappy working on The Ickabog. In response, they were told that while they would not be forced to work on books they disagreed with, they should not down tools over views that were nothing to do with the book in question, a fairytale.

Hachette issued a statement siding with Miss Rowlings right to freedom of speech.

Jonsdottir, 29, was one of the youngest people in Iceland to undergo a medical transition in 2010. The co-author of the Trans Teen Survival Guide suggested The Blair Partnership should conduct staff training with a group called All About Trans but these requests werent met positively by the management.
SPRINGFIELD  The state School Building Authority on Wednesday approved the schematic design and funding aid for the $95 million consolidated school project to replace the Deberry and Homer Street schools in the Mason Square neighborhood.

The action will provide up to $66.4 million in state aid for the elementary school project, said Peter Garvey, the citys director of capital asset construction.

More fantastic news for Springfield, Mayor. Domenic J. Sarno said.

The Homer-Deberry School, as in the case of the Brightwood-Lincoln consolidated school under construction in the North End, will be the first of its kind in Massachusetts and state-of-the-art for our children, families, educators, and our other positive neighborhood enhancements, Sarno said.

The new school will be on the site of the existing Deberry School property on Union Street and Deberry Park. The Deberry School will remain in use during construction, and the park is being relocated, officials said.

The new school will be bordered by Union, Hancock and Monroe streets and Eastern Avenue.

The school is scheduled to be completed and open by August 2023. The old Deberry School would then be demolished and a new parking lot created by August 2024.

The state will provide up to 80 percent reimbursement of eligible costs, officials said.

The new consolidated school will have separate entrances and each school would retain their names, but would share some common areas such as a gymnasium and cafeteria-auditorium, officials said.

Superintendent of schools Daniel Warwick said the Homer Street school was built in 1898, lacks a gymnasium and is outdated and antiquated. The Deberry School, built in 1951, is flawed and does not meet the needs of 21st century education, he said.

In related news, the City Council on Monday approved $5.5 million in city bond funds for the relocation and construction of Deberry Park to provide space for the new school and for demolition and cleanup of the former Massachusetts Career Development Institute property.

Construction of the new park is scheduled in July at Wilbraham Avenue and King Street

The new school property will have space for parents to drop off their children on the Monroe Street side of the property, and for buses to drop off students on the Union Street side, away from travel lanes, officials said.

Sarno said the city has had an outstanding working relationship with the state building authority and with state treasurer Deb Goldberg. The building authority has approved more than $600 million for new schools and school rehab projects, he said.
MOSCOW  Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the defeat of Nazi Germany at the traditional massive Red Square military parade in Moscow, which was delayed by more than a month because of the invisible enemy of coronavirus.

The parade is usually held May 9 on Victory Day, Russias most important secular holiday, but was postponed until Wednesday due to the pandemic. But the timing allowed Russia to mark another significant war-era event  the 75th anniversary of the Red Square parade by troops returning home after the Nazis defeat.

It is impossible to imagine what would have happened to the world if the Red Army did not stand up to its defense, Putin said in an address to the parade.

Some 14,000 soldiers took part in the parade, including units from several former Soviet republics and from Mongolia and Serbia.

More than 230 military vehicles drove across the vast square in the Russian capital, ranging from renowned WWII-era T-34 tanks to hulking Topol intercontinental ballistic missile-launchers. A flyover of helicopters, bombers and fighter planes completed the show of military might.

An estimated 27 million Soviets died in the war, either on the battlefield or as civilian casualties. Their valor and suffering has become key to Russias national identity.

It was our people who were able to overcome a terrible, total evil, Putin said. This is the main, honest, in-no-way-unclear truth about the war. We must protect and defend it, pass it on to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Putin and other Russian officials have frequently expressed umbrage at what they see as attempts by other countries to rewrite history by downplaying the Soviets role in World War II.

The appeal to Russian patriotism comes at an important time for Putin, with early voting beginning Thursday in a referendum on constitutional amendments that would allow him to run for another two terms as president, possibly in office until 2036.

Putin made no mention of the coronavirus pandemic in his speech, tacitly reinforcing his claim the previous day that Russia has passed the most dangerous stage in the pandemic. However, Russia has reported more than 7,000 new infection cases daily this week and has the third-highest confirmed number of infections in the world after the United States and Brazil.

Many spectators in the viewing stands were wearing masks, but Russian soldiers in close formation on the square did not. Putin and other dignitaries on the main viewing stage also did not wear masks.

Those dignitaries included elderly war veterans with rows of medals cascading down their chests. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said all the veterans in attendance had undergone quarantines before the event.

Virus concerns forced Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov to abandon plans to attend the parade when two members of his delegation tested positive for the virus after arriving in Moscow on Tuesday. He and the delegation returned to Kyrgyzstan and the president went into self-isolation, according to his office.

The virus also blocked an impressive event usually held in parallel to the parade. In recent years, vast crowds have streamed into the streets of Moscow and other Russian cities carrying photos of relatives who died in the war or endured it in processions called The Immortal Regiment. Although many coronavirus restrictions have been rescinded in Russia in recent weeks, bans on mass gatherings remain.

___

Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
South Africa's budget deficit is projected to widen sharply while debt is seen ballooning significantly, the Treasury said on Wednesday, as the COVID-19 pandemic further stifles the recession-hit economy.

In a supplementary budget in response to the coronavirus crisis, the Treasury projected the budget deficit would widen to 14.6% of gross domestic product in the current 2020/21 fiscal year, from a shortfall of 6.8% of GDP seen in February.

The projected deficit would be the highest in South Africa's post-apartheid era.

The Treasury said gross government debt will rise to 81.8% of GDP in the current fiscal year from 63.5% last year.

"Debt is our weakness. We have accumulated far too much debt; this downturn will add more," Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said in his budget speech.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a 500 billion rand relief package in April, equivalent to 10% of South Africa's GDP, to cushion the economic blow of the pandemic on an economy that was in recession when the virus outbreak hit the country.

A strict nationwide lockdown from late March severely curtailed production across key sectors like mining and retail, with the Treasury now predicting a GDP contraction of 7.2% this year.

Some lockdown restrictions have since been eased to allow key sectors to resume operations.
Story Highlights British business leaders fall behind the U.S. on employee trust metrics

Low trust in leadership correlates with low employee engagement

Leaders can address employees' concerns by communicating more

In a crisis, employees need to know their leaders value and appreciate them as people.

Employees' engagement and wellbeing depend on feeling informed and guided, heard and taken seriously, and supported as much as possible -- and not feeling like just another number on the payroll.

And right now, British business leaders are falling behind their American counterparts on providing these assurances for their employees.

35% of U.K. employees strongly agree that their employer has communicated a clear plan of action in response to the coronavirus, compared with 50% of U.S. employees.

27% of U.K. employees strongly agree that their company cares about their overall wellbeing (down from 41% in 2019), compared with 51% of U.S. employees.

28% of U.K. employees have confidence in the leadership of their company to successfully manage emerging challenges (down from 35% a year ago), compared with 38% of U.S. employees.

It is possible that U.K. workers' reaction will only grow more negative. There have been more coronavirus-related deaths in the U.K. than anywhere else in Europe, and labor economists have predicted that roughly 2 million Britons will lose their jobs. British workers have reason to worry.

Their leaders should be worried too.

Workers who don't trust their employers aren't as likely to be engaged. A 2019 Gallup analysis found a correlation between U.K. workers' engagement and their trust in leadership and management -- more trust equaled higher engagement.

And employee engagement, or the lack thereof, also affects workers' productivity and performance outcomes.

35% of U.K. employees strongly agree that their employer has communicated a clear plan of action in response to the coronavirus, compared with 50% of U.S. employees.

As companies make plans to resize and reshape their businesses (which may destabilize employees further), British employers should start learning how their crisis management strategies are being perceived and address employees' concerns about returning to the office and any other changes happening.

Communicate more than ever before.

Although leaders' business plans and priorities have shifted from week to week -- from dealing with the onslaught of the pandemic to forecasting the aftereffects -- communicating a plan still reassures employees.

U.K. employees who strongly agree that their employer has communicated a clear plan of action in response to the coronavirus are significantly more likely to have confidence in the leadership of their company to successfully manage emerging challenges (57%). But when employees rate their company's COVID-19 response even slightly lower (when they give a rating of "4" rather than "5," on a five-point scale), they express much less confidence in their leadership's ability to handle emerging challenges (18%).

In addition, among those who strongly agree that their employer has communicated a clear plan of action in response to the coronavirus, 55% say they feel absolutely certain that nothing bad will happen to them if they follow their company's health guidelines -- compared with 16% of those who rate their employer's COVID-19 response as a "4." Workers who perceive a lack of careful planning in their employer's handling of COVID-19 feel the most unsafe in a crisis.

The more aimless employers seem, the less employees trust them.

So, as employees are wondering when they will return to the office and what their new world will be like, it's good to share your plan, even if it's subject to change.

Be realistic and accurate.

Any information is better than none if it's honest, open and transparent.

Effective and relevant communication requires continually reviewing decisions to ensure they're still meeting the demands of the times. Accordingly, it may be necessary to quickly adapt recommendations for action on short notice.

These changes and corrections must be passed on to the workforce as soon as possible.

Leaders and managers should reach out to their teams to proactively communicate companywide changes, rather than waiting to be asked about them. It shows they care. It also builds trust -- and it's a vital aspect of good people management, especially when the workforce is as skittish as it is now.

People are looking to their leaders for confidence and reassurance. In times of trouble, we look to great leaders who can provide us with a sense of trust, compassion, stability and hope.

Crises reveal the quality of a leader.

Prior disasters have shown that talented managers maintain their employees' engagement and resilience even in difficult circumstances. Good leaders focus on employees, treat them like people and not numbers, guide them, listen to them, and take them seriously.

U.K. business leaders may not have felt urgently compelled to do that -- or not with consistency -- but now is the time to start. As Gallup's U.S. data show, leaders can create a sense of wellbeing and security in the workplace.

So, British leaders can do what many of their compatriots across the pond have done by communicating a plan that shows workers they're safe. And leaders need to do it soon, before things get worse.

Discover more insights on how to lead through disruption: Learn about the COVID-19 strategies and policies of the world's largest companies.

Watch this webinar for more Gallup insights on workers' views of leadership during the pandemic.

Discover our learning programs that help leaders and managers build relationships based on trust.
The Willis Independent School District is seeking the communitys input to help plan the upcoming school year, which has become a new challenge for school officials navigating the unprecedented novel coronavirus pandemic.

Superintendent Tim Harkrider shared a public video message on the school districts Twitter account on Wednesday informing parents that the team has been busy planning for the return of students this fall. As previously approved in February, the school year is still set to begin Aug. 12.

The unfortunate part is that we dont know exactly what thats going to look like yet, Harkrider said in the video message.

Harkrider said school officials were informed yesterday by the Texas Education Agency that they would have two online learning opportunities for students, which he expected to be much more targeted than March through May.

NEED TO KNOW: CDC releases new guidelines for schools reopening amid COVID-19 pandemic

He added the team has worked extremely hard to prepare for the upcoming school year and they think there are exciting options for the school community.

The unfortunate part about this guidance right now is that we still dont know what in person attendance will look like this fall, Harkrider said. We are preparing as a team for a hybrid approach particularly or all of our students coming back at one particular time.

There are still a lot of moving parts, its difficult for our team to prepare, very few times do we have to wait on guidance for us to wait on our school year, he continued.  Obviously we are dealing with some unprecedented times, but our team is going to be ready.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Texas schools will look different come August. Heres how.

Following the post, Willis ISD Communications Director Jamie Fails confirmed the school district is preparing for three different scenarios: normal in-person, hybrid, or completely online instruction due to the pandemic. Under a hybrid model, a portion of the instruction would be conducted in-person and a portion of the instruction would be online.

The school district continues to monitor the community and the pandemic and will providing another update by mid-July, if not not sooner, Fails said. The school officials are also awaiting further guidance from the TEA such as regarding masks, attendance requirements, and more. The online instruction or from home instruction, such as if a student had a digital device with preloaded instruction, is expected to be more consistent and structured, she said.

The district plans to send out a survey, which Harkrider said will help prepare for the 2021 school year and give the school officials needed information. The survey, including with Spanish translation, was expected to be posted by Wednesday evening on the school districts website and social media.

MORNING REPORT: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox

We are very excited to get your kids back with us, we miss them, we miss our staff members, Harkrider said. Despite whats going on in the world right now with COVID and the pandemic we are going to make this a great school year for you and your kids, and we look forward to working with you to make this a tremendous school year.

For more information, contact Willis ISD or visit the school districts website or social media pages.

mellsworth@hcnonline.com
The upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic has caused disruption to most Americans' lives, and for some of us, that disruption has unfortunately also affected our finances.

Thankfully, the IRS extended tax filing deadlines to July 15 this year in a bid to help Americans coping with unexpected changes. But with July 15 now rapidly approaching, some of us might still be scrambling to file our taxes and wondering how to get an extension.

While Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last week his department was considering delaying the 2019 tax filing deadline again, the IRS and Treasury announced Monday that there would be no further postponement. However, the agencies said taxpayers who cannot meet the July 15 due date can request an automatic extension of time to file until October 15.

"The IRS understands that those affected by the coronavirus may not be able to pay their balances in full by July 15, but we have many payment options to help taxpayers," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "These easy-to-use payment options are available on IRS.gov, and most can be done automatically without reaching out to an IRS representative."
A lightning-filled downpour delayed a food distribution event at Toyota Field for more than an hour Tuesday, but it didnt dampen the enthusiasm of San Antonio Food Bank staffers and volunteers.

You just push through because, at the end of the day, you are just kind of like, Those people need food,  said Maritza Benavides, a student at Our Lady of the Lake University who is serving an internship at the Food Bank.

About 850 households received food during the drive-through event, the majority finding themselves in need because of the novel coronavirus-fueled recession.

The bad weather sent Food Bank staffers and volunteers running for cover at Toyota Field while people in the vehicles remained in line. When the rain stopped, the workers returned to the parking lot to repair fallen tents and restack wet food boxes that had been delivered to the Food Bank by contractors with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

Soon the line was moving again.

Those waiting to receive food applauded the Food Bank for waiting out the storm, then working quickly to make repairs and start the distribution.

I feel sorry for these guys out here with the lighting and the weather and everything, Charles Chapman said. Diehards is what they are. You have to be patient. Its a blessing.

Tuesday marked the first time during the pandemic it has rained during a Food Bank giveaway. Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the nonprofit, praised workers for muscling through the storm.

Lots of people describe volunteer work as feel good work, and todays feel good work was all on the inside because the outside was pretty messy, Cooper said. We want our volunteers to know how much we love em and how grateful we are for their service. And to my staff, boy, you cant give them enough attaboys for hanging in there.

Volunteer Renee Ozment, working at her ninth distribution since the pandemic started in mid-March, said shes been humbled by the gratitude expressed by those receiving food.

Bless these peoples hearts, they have a lot of patience waiting on us, Ozment said.

torsborn@expres-news.net

Tom Orsborn covers sports news in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Tom, become a subscriber. torsborn@express-news.net | Twitter: @tom_orsborn
Tracy Tutor 's***-talked' her castmates James Harris and David Parnes and tried to steal a deal from them on Tuesday's episode of Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles.

The real-estate duo had been contacted by a seller to represent his $1.7 million home in Pasadena, but they heard that rival broker Tracy, 44, had tried to steal the listing.

She'd apparently told the seller that David wouldn't stop by his home for anything less than $10 million, and noted that he'd passed its sale on to Gus, his associate in Pasadena.

Business rivals: Tracy Tutor 's***-talked' her castmates James Harris and David Parnes and tried to steal a deal from them on Tuesday's episode of Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles

At an open house in La Jolla, California, David cornered Tracy, saying, 'I received an email from the seller, about what you had been saying about me.'

Tracy said she'd sat down with the seller and his mother for an hour, and admitted to telling them, 'With all due respect to Gus, I'm a West Side agent, and I'm sitting in front of you here right nowand I don't think David is anywhere to be found.'

'If it was a $10 million or $20 million house in Pasadena, I don't think you would have sent Gus,' she told David at the event, a party for the $25 million Razor House in La Jolla, California, represented by Josh Altman, 41, and Josh Flagg, 34.

'I think you would have made an appointment with James, and the two of you would have found your butts sitting in the chair across from that man at the folding table that I was at.'

Behind back: At an open house in La Jolla, California, David cornered Tracy, saying, 'I received an email from the seller, about what you had been saying about me'

David said he wouldn't turn business down, that's why they were expanding into Pasadena.

'In fairness, you're not expanding into Pasadena,' Tracy said. 'That's why you sent Gus. Let's just call a spade a spade. You're listing $40 million houses in Bel-Air. I took the time and I went there.'

'So did I,' David insisted, to which Tracy replied, 'After I told him that you wouldn't show up, or before?'

Candid conversation: Tracy said she'd sat down with the seller and his mother for an hour, and admitted to telling them, 'With all due respect to Gus, I'm a West Side agent, and I'm sitting in front of you here right nowand I don't think David is anywhere to be found'

'I love David,' Tracy said in a confessional. 'But at the end of the day, I didn't say anything shady. I just spoke the truth.'

She denied telling the seller that David was 'a complete unknown on the West Side,' as he claimed, but agreed that she said he'd never post the home on his social media accounts.

'Tracy was s***-talking about me, and that's not something I would ever do to her,' David told Altman, who asked why they were quarrelling.

Talking trash: 'Tracy was s***-talking about me, and that's not something I would ever do to her,' David told Altman, who asked why they were quarrelling

'If I can say one word kids, from Yoda, who has been in the real-estate business longer than all of you,' offered Flagg. 'There is nothing wrong with s***-talking someone else to get a listing. I mean, we talk s*** about each other all the time.'

'There is one thing that you can never do though. That's put it in writing.'

'You can't mess with Tracy,' Altman noted privately. 'She's a badass b****. She will put David in his place so quickly that he'll put his tail between his legs and run back to L.A. Not even L.A. He might make his way back to England.'

Sage advice: 'If I can say one word kids, from Yoda, who has been in the real-estate business longer than all of you,' offered Josh Flagg. 'There is nothing wrong with s***-talking someone else to get a listing. I mean, we talk s*** about each other all the time'

As the episode opened, the two Joshes were leading buyers through tours of the Razor House, an architecturally stunning property.

They'd only just won the commission, and sought to learn everything they could about the 10,240-square-foot place, even speaking with its designer, Wallace Cunningham.

They told buyers about the custom bar, blackout ceiling in the master bedroom, subterranean garage, infinity pool, retracting kitchen appliances and more.

Stunning property: As the episode opened, the two Joshes were leading buyers through tours of the Razor House, an architecturally stunning property

Rooftop terrace: The home in La Jolla featured a rooftop terrace with panoramic ocean views

Underground garage: An underground garage also came with the home

'I'm not saying this house is perfect for you, but this house is perfect for you,' Altman told one prospective buyer, a tech tycoon named Michael.

To attract more clients, they threw a posh event for high-end realtors and bused them down from L.A., serving them wine and ahi tuna and hiring luxury cars to set a certain tone out front.

'We're here to make a deal,' Altman told the realtors, who were wooed by its rooftop terrace, ocean views and secret hot tub.

Deal time: 'We're here to make a deal,' Altman told the realtors, who were wooed by its rooftop terrace, ocean views and secret hot tub

Back in L.A., James, 35, and David had just been trying to score $3 million for a client's renovated 1914 home, located in a 'streetcar suburb' of Los Angeles.

The seller had spent $2.6 million fixing up the three-bedroom property and getting approvals for historical tweaks, so they started high, charging $450 more per square foot than usual.

Buyers didn't still seem interested at that price, and James urged the seller, Joey, to bring the price down to $2.4 million, which the man felt was 'taking food off the table for my family.'

Historic neighborhood: Back in L.A., James, 35, and David had just been trying to score $3 million for a client's renovated 1914 home, located in a 'streetcar suburb' of Los Angeles

He reluctantly agreed to $2.495 million, then $2.35 million, and settled for $2.25 million.

'James, you do realize how f***ed I am right now, right?' he told the broker, who convinced him that sometimes you don't make money on real-estate deals.

Meanwhile, Tracy was working on selling her own 11,000-square-foot home, and seeking a 'fresh start' after her recent divorce.

Tough sell: James and the seller had a tough conversation about lowering the price

She'd paid more than $13 million for it back when she and her ex bought it in 2009, and wanted to sell it for nearly $24 million, with an escrow in 45 days.

Unable to trust herself during an emotional time, she handed the listing over to her own brokers, but admitted she would be on their case while they tried to sell it.

Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles will return next week on Bravo.
One more person has died as a result of Covid-19 in the North.

Meanwhile, two new cases were confirmed through tests conducted in health trust labs in the region, bringing the total recorded by the labs since the outbreak began to 4,873.

The death toll in Northern Ireland is now 547, while the number of cases of coronavirus is 4,873.

Last night, three further deaths were confirmed in the Republic. It brings the death toll here to 1,720.

Meanwhile, it was announced today that the British Government will be setting out more detailed plans for extensive HMRC support for NI businesses in the summer.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis announced the news as he faced cross-party calls for clarity over Brexit trade arrangements.

Tory chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee Simon Hoare said that businesses dont quite know what they are preparing for in the run-up to the end of the transition period.

Speaking during Commons NI questions, Mr Hoare said: (He) knows that NI business wants to prepare to make Brexit a success, the problem is that they dont quite know what they are preparing for 

Is he persuaded of the merits of providing stepping stones between now and December 31 so that business knows what to prepare for and in what time frame?

Mr Lewis said: We will set out further details to help businesses prepare for the end of the transition period at the earliest appropriate moment  further guidance will be published this summer to make sure that people and businesses know what they need to do to prepare for the end of the transition period which will be at the end of December this year.
Ghana's former High Commissioner to India, Samuel Pee Yalley has throw his weight behind the cry of the Majority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu for mechanisms to maintain experienced Members of Parliament (MPs).



Forty (40) Incumbent NPP MP's at its just ended primaries, lost their seats, which according to the Majority Leader is a setback as it impedes the effectiveness of work in the House.



Some of the casualties had served only one term in office, and, according to the Majority Leader, he hoped the situation would improve to help strengthen democratic dispensation.



Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu therefore believes that its about time the NPP institutes an in-built mechanism to protect experienced MPs.



The NDC stalwart, contributing to a panel discussion on UTV's 'Adekye Nsroma' show believed that "the constitution review committee in parliament must work hard to review Article 78 in order that executive powers would be separated from that of the legislation so that the role of parliamentary affairs can be accountable for".



He pointed out that after twenty years of democracy it should be clear by now the caliber of persons needed in parliament.



"Indeed we need to review the system for our parliamentary accountability for it is not the best that qualification for Parliament entry is based on who knows who or who is paying who with huge sums of monies," he lamented.



The former Commissioner to India, commenting on the lack of adherence to safety protocols at NPP's just ended primaries lashed at the ruling party for allowing its members to disregard social distancing and wearing of nose-masks "don't look for any adjective to qualify your mess, rather address the issue in an appropriate manner. Also stop behaving as if there are two type of Ghanaians."







Source: Elizabeth Semiheva Bedi, 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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If there is one lesson landlords and would-be property investors should learn from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it would be to always plan for the worst.

Saskia Wrobluskie (pictured), CEO of Advantas Property Group, said the unfolding impacts of the pandemic on the housing market serve as a good reminder for landlords to constantly assess every aspect of their investment, including their portfolios, the overall market performance, and their current mortgages.

"The investors that have been proactive in keeping their team of professionals close and in review are the ones that won't be impacted as much," she said. "The good news is, it's never too late to start a healthy habit and with the end-of-financial-year in sight, now is a great time to do just that."

Responding to potential changes

Landlords, particularly in locations where certain sectors are severely impacted by the outbreak, should expect vacancy rates to increase.

"You will need to be competitive with rent in order to avoid long vacancy periods. Ensure you are using the notice period given from your tenant to market your property effectively to lease promptly," Wrobluskie said.

Given the current climate, she said it is a must for landlords to assess the finances of their potential tenants thoroughly.

There is also a recent shift in trends that landlords should be aware of. These new and emerging trends in the wake of the pandemic will change the way tenants look for a potential home.

"Tech-savvy homes with access to fast internet, study areas or office are going to be at the top of search criteria," Wrobluskie said.

In addition to these changes, landlords should also be aware of the changes the outbreak will bring in managing their own finances.

Also read: What Support Is On Offer For Landlords During The COVID-19 Pandemic?

Protecting their finances

States are starting to reopen their economies, with restrictions being gradually lifted. These signal the impending termination of financial support such as the JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments and the banks mortgage deferral option.

Given these, Wrobluskie said it is crucial for landlords to recognise that the economic impacts of the outbreak are not completely over and that they should plan ahead as if the pandemic were to hit again.

Cash flow, she believes, is and always will be king in business and in property investment, making it critical for landlords to find ways to free up their budget.

"Spread out other expenses like council rates, water, strata or body corporate fees by paying them in agreed increments rather than in one hit," Wrobluskie said.

It is also a prudent move to speak with banks about options to switch to interest-only payments to help their cash flow.

Dealing with tenants

Given the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on the jobs market, landlords are expected to look after their tenants who might not be able to afford full rents. Wrobluskie said with the moratorium on evictions currently in place, landlords have the responsibility to negotiate with their tenants about rent payments.

"Landlords should contact their local residential tenancy authority to see what grants, rent relief and resources are available to them," she said.

It is essential, however, to properly document the agreement, leaving no uncertainties in regards to the terms and conditions of the rental deductions or waiver.

"I would strongly urge landlords to approach each circumstance from a place of compassion. There is only ever a small minority that may try to take advantage of such terrible circumstances, but the majority are not," Wrobluskie said.

Communicating with insurers

When negotiating rental payments with tenants, landlords must consider their insurance policy.

Wrobluskie said agreeing to a reduced rent before speaking to an insurer might put the landlords ability to claim rent default at risk. This makes it necessary for them to read the fine print of their insurance policies.

"Rent default claims are typically triggered by events such as tenants unlawfully not paying rent or abandoning the property during the lease," she said. "If you are going to consider rent reductions, then a call to your insurer to better understand your position would be wise."

Wrobluskie said landlords who are planning to get insurance should, at the onset, make sure that they understand the coverage of their policies. For many insurers, entitlements are treated on a case-by-case basis.

"When it comes to the loss of rent, they generally want to see you have attempted to mitigate your loss. In the case of the pandemic, it is likely they would want to see communication surrounding payment plans," she said. Every policy is different, so it is critical to talk with your provider and read your product disclosure statement."

Seeking help from banks

Landlords should also keep in mind to ask what options are available for them, especially when speaking with their banks. In planning how to future-proof their assets, Wrobluskie said landlords should ask their banks and financial providers the following questions:

Are you able to defer payments if required?

How long is this option available?

What happens to those payments when deferred?

How much interest will be accrued?

What are the criteria to qualify for hardship concession?

Do you have the ability to switch to interest-only defer the principal amount to minimise additional costs across the life of the loan?

For Wrobluskie, it will be beneficial for many landlords and investors to reach out to professionals to be able to mitigate future risks.

"From the right lenders, landlord insurers, property tax accountants and of course proactive and experienced real estate agents. Just like a business, it takes a team of professionals to get the best result," she said.
Within this this framework, the Government intends to set an adequate rate for patients who cannot be provided care at public health care facilities and therefore must go to private establishments.

However, an agreement has not been reached with private clinics yet.

"We are going to wait 48 hours to reach an agreement, let's hope it will be so, but if that is not the case and thinking about health and lives we will invoke Article 70 of the Constitution," he stated.

"If in the most serious crisis in history we are not in a context of public necessity, when?" the President expressed after reiterating his desire to reach a satisfactory agreement with those institutions.

Likewise, the Head of State stressed that despite efforts to increase the response capacity of public health facilities the clinics' commitment and contribution are needed.

In this sense, the top official said that if a citizen who is affected by COVID-19 arrived at a public health care facility which is full he would have to go to a private clinic, and the cost would be assumed by the Government.

"The offer and counteroffer have been made, and we have been in this negotiation for so long. We are in this situation that is already reaching the limit," he noted after lamenting the cases of people whom some clinics have charged extremely-high rates.

"We have to protect people's health supported by law and the Constitution," he said after stressing that the Government respects the right to private property, but the greatest asset is the human being, even more so in a context of pandemic.

El presidente @MartinVizcarraC informa sobre la situacion del Estado de Emergencia en el #Dia101 y las acciones que realiza el Gobierno para contener la propagacion del COVID-19. En vivo: https://t.co/EiTrzMqwkN https://t.co/n7J4aDDpfG
Hours after he got a court order permitting a motion on restraining order to be served on him, Gov. Godwin Obaseki bounced back again with another court order declaring him eligible to run for the PDP primary election on Thursday.

The latest order came from a high court in Edo, of the Ekpoma judicial division, on Tuesday.

The earlier petition seeking to restraint him was brought by Omoregir Ogbeide-Ihama, one of the PDP aspirants, in the Thursday election.

Speaking trough his media aide Crusoe Osagie, the governor said his opponents in the PDP were already jittery about the overwhelming support the party was receiving from the people.

The court order was obtained last night. Our opponents outside the party are trying to use fifth columnists within us to replicate the chaos in their party.

They are worried about the popularity and acceptance of the PDP and our amiable Governor so much so that they have become desperate in their quest to stop a contest they know they will lose.
From the beginning, a civil war was inevitable.

The first seven decades of our history are a story of compromise, accommodation and temporizing, all in the attempt to avert armed conflict as long as possible.

The Three-Fifths Compromise, the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 eased tensions temporarily.

But the conflict between an industrializing, modernizing, free-labor North and an agricultural South that depended on slaves and white supremacy was irresolvable, except, eventually, by war.

Hostilities began on April 12, 1861, when confederates opened fire on U.S. troops garrisoned in Fort Sumter, South Carolina. We usually say the war ended four years later on April 9, 1865, when Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia.

But dissatisfied interests in both the North and South began almost immediately to work to re-establish the pre-war status quo. In some respects, the Civil War transcends the four bloody years in the 1860s. It began with our founding and has continued through the long years of Reconstruction and Jim Crow, up to the current protests coalescing around Black Lives Matter.

In fact, the war will never be entirely over until two things happen. The first is the achievement of genuine, practical equality for African Americans. Slavery and segregation have given way to their modern equivalents, de facto segregation in our schools, churches and neighborhoods and economic conditions that guarantee that Black family wealth is a fraction of white wealth.

Second, we have to abandon the cult of the Civil War. This means dismantling the monuments that glorify the so-called Lost Cause, the revisionist idea that the South was fighting for states rights or the preservation of a benign, honorable way of life. It means letting go of our fetish for the Confederate flag, and it means renaming the 10 military installations that still commemorate Confederate officers.

This is not erasing history; its embracing it honestly. The courage and gallantry these honored confederates might have displayed cannot redeem the fact that they were fighting to preserve white supremacy.

And they werent terribly good at it. Robert E. Lee was a competent tactician, but he was no strategist, and his unrealistic stubbornness after his defeat was inevitable cost the lives of many Americans, on both sides.

Lee was a slaveholder who sometimes had slaves flogged; sometimes he flogged them himself. And like much of the Southern aristocracy, after the fighting stopped, Lee put his efforts into maintaining white supremacy.

In 1866, Grant said about Lee: Lee is behaving badly. He is conducting himself very differently from what I had reason, from what he said at the time of the surrender, to suppose he would. No man at the South is capable of exercising a tenth part of the influence for good that he is, but instead of using it, he is setting an example of forced acquiescence so grudging and pernicious in its effect as to be hardly realized.

It would be better to understand Lee than to maintain monuments to his glory.

Lest you think that Im just another liberal Yankee with no appreciation for the Old South, Id be happy to put my confederate bona fides up against yours.

Ive lived in Texas all my life. Some of my ancestors fought for the Confederacy. In fact, one of them, Francis Hays, a Texas frontier lawyer in my mothers direct line of descent, on March 6, 1860, went to a negro auction and purchased one little boy about 10 years old for $1150.00. He called it a good bargain.

Commentary: How Pocahontas - the myth and the slur - props up white supremacy People all along the political spectrum have criticized Trump for wielding the moniker "Pocahontas" as a weapon. It is crass and degrading of Native American people. But this is not just a racial joke being made in poor taste.

Am I embarrassed by this slave-holding heritage? Not at all. After a few generations, family trees ramify so extensively that everyones is filled with sinners and saints, priests and prostitutes, slaveholders and abolitionists. So is yours. Southern heritage is nothing to be ashamed of, but its nothing to be proud of, either.

The Civil War wasnt a Lost Cause, it was a Bad Cause. Well never bring the war to an end until we stop glorifying the men who fought to preserve white supremacy, no matter how gallantly.

John M. Crisp, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, lives in Georgetown, Texas.
Earlier, three BJP MLAs resigned and joined Congress while four NPP MLAs, an independent MLA and a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA withdrew support to the N Biren Singh-led government.

Imphal: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and National People's Party (NPP) on Tuesday continued negotiations to resolve the political instability in Manipur.

Meghalaya Chief Minister, NPP president Conrad Sangma and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Imphal for the second time in a bid to stop the Congress from forming a Secular Progressive Front government.

The leaders of both the parties held several rounds of meetings with MLAs and party officials, both together and separately. However, the outcome of the talks is not known yet.

As concrete solutions could not be resolved at this level, all the NPP MLAs headed by Yumnam Joykumar Singh, L Jayantakumar Singh, Letpao Haokip and N Kayisii left for Delhi on a chartered flight with Sarma and Sangma.

Before leaving the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Sarma told media persons, "They have certain issues and that is why they left for Delhi to continue the next round of discussion. This discussion will also be attended by my senior colleagues."

He said, "Today, we had a very productive discussion with NPP and with some other friends who are supporting us from the very beginning. I think that step by step we will be able to resolve the issues soon."

"Some differences of opinion keep on coming up. So, we want to finally resolve the issues this time so that there is no further conflict and we can concentrate on Manipur's development," he further said.

Earlier, three BJP MLAs resigned and joined Congress while four NPP MLAs, an independent MLA and a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA withdrew support to the N Biren Singh-led government.
After three Bay Area verdicts awarded $190 million to cancer victims who sprayed Monsantos widely used herbicide on their crops, parent company Bayer AG said Wednesday it would pay more than $10 billion to settle as many as 125,000 lawsuits by ailing U.S. users of the product.

The settlement will also establish a scientific panel to determine whether the Roundup weed-killer and its active ingredient, glyphosate, cause cancer.

While Monsanto and Bayer maintain that Roundup, the worlds most widely used herbicide, poses no health hazards, the settlement will bring a long period of uncertainty to an end, Werner Baumann, Bayers chief executive officer, said in a statement.

It is financially reasonable when viewed against the significant financial risks of continued, multiyear litigation and the related impacts to our reputation and to our business, Baumann said. It will also return the conversation about the safety and utility of glyphosate-based herbicides to the scientific and regulatory arena.

Bayer acquired Monsanto for $63 billion in 2018.

Brent Wisner, a lawyer for cancer victims suing Monsanto, called the settlement a huge first step in correcting 40 years of glyphosate harm.

One of Wisners clients is Dewayne Lee Johnson, a groundskeeper and pest-control manager for the Benicia Unified School District from 2012 to May 2016, whose case was the first in the nation to go to trial. Johnson, who sprayed a highly concentrated form of glyphosate called Ranger Pro 20 to 30 times a year for two to three hours a day, had been diagnosed with a terminal case of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a form of lymph cancer.

A San Francisco jury found in 2018 that Monsanto was responsible for his illness and should have known of the products dangers. The jury awarded the 46-year-old man $289 million in damages, an amount the trial judge later reduced to $78.5 million. A state appeals court has heard arguments in the companys appeal and is expected to rule shortly. Johnson remains alive.

Bayer said its settlement would not affect Johnsons appeal or the companys appeals in two other cases: $25.2 million in the federal court case of Edwin Hardeman, who sprayed Roundup on his property in Sonoma County for more than 26 years, and $86.2 million to Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a Livermore couple who sprayed the herbicide on three of their properties for more than 30 years and were represented by Wisner in their Alameda County trial. Hardemans and the Pilliods cancers are in remission.

With as many as 125,000 claimants, awaiting their day in court, the settlement is the only way most of them could receive any compensation in their lifetimes, said Robin Greenwald, a New York attorney with 33 clients who have sued the company.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has repeatedly found Roundup to be safe for use, most recently last August, and most regulatory agencies in other countries have concurred. But the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization, said in 2015 that glyphosate was a probable cause of human cancer.

A California health agency relied on that finding in 2017 when it added the herbicide to the products covered by Proposition 65, a 1986 ballot measure requiring the state to warn the public about chemicals that can cause cancer or birth defects. That listing remains intact, but a federal judge has prohibited the state from requiring Monsanto to add a warning to its product label, saying the great weight of evidence supports the companys position.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The settlement, somewhere between $10.1 billion and $10.9 billion, will cover about 95% of the U.S. lawsuits that have been filed or are in pre-filing stages, Baumann told reporters in a conference call from Germany. The plaintiffs and their lawyers will determine how the money will be apportioned and how much will go to attorneys fees, said William Dodero, Bayers litigation chief.

For further lawsuits by those who have used the herbicide, Dodero said, both sides have agreed to follow the conclusions of an independent scientific panel. If the company and plaintiffs lawyers cannot agree on the members, he said, each side will choose two panelists and those four will agree on a fifth member. The panel will take up to four years to determine whether glyphosate causes cancer and, if so, at what dosage levels.

Bayer will provide $1.25 billion to finance the panel and pay for medical assistance to plaintiffs during the deliberations. Those provisions of the settlement are subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria of San Francisco.

Were very confident, given the 40-plus years of strong science supporting our product, said Dodero, who called the Bay Area jury verdicts fiction. He would not say whether Bayer would agree to government regulation or warning labels if the panel found the product to be dangerous.

Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization not involved in the lawsuits, said documents unearthed at the trials showed how Monsanto aggressively conspired for decades to withhold or lie about the evidence to the public and to regulators, while relentlessly attacking scientists and organizations that sought to tell the truth about the companys products.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Editor's Note:

On June 24th, an error occurred and the incorrect press release was attached to the PLOS paper: The association between long term exposure to low level PM 2.5 & mortality in the state of Queensland, Australia. A Modelling study with a differences in differences approach. Please see the correct copy.

A landmark study of more than 240,000 deaths in Queensland over a 15-year period to 2013 has found even low levels of PM2.5, fine particulate matter found in air pollution, results in an increased risk of death from diseases such as cardiovascular and respiratory disease.

Importantly, the study showed that for every 1 ug/m3 increase in PM 2.5 there is a 2 percent increased risk of early death  and that these pollutants can kill even when they are at less than the current World Health Organization (WHO) annual standards.

The study, led by Professor Yuming Guo and Dr Shanshan Li from the Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, linked death rates to postcode and satellite data on air quality.

While overall concentrations of PM2.5 were low in Queensland during the study - between 1 and 9 ug/m3 (highest in Brisbane) - it still impacted death rates. The WHO annual standard for safety is 10 mg/m3.

Air pollution containing PM2.5 was identified in 2015 as the fifth leading cause of mortality but this study is the first to link very low levels to increased mortality and to show that  as the particulate matter increases  so does the risk of disease and death.

The study, published in PLOS Medicine, looked at 242,320 deaths in 7 categories: mental and behavioural disorders, and diseases of the nervous system, circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system and genito-urinary system, with an emphasis on respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, according to Professor Guo.

What we found is that even very low levels of air pollution can have a serious effect on health and hasten death, and there is a potential threshold around 4.5 ug/m3 above which there is increased risk of death. When renewing the air quality standard, this threshold should be considered he said.

Previous Animal studies have found PM2.5 can go from the lungs into the bloodstream and into specific organs, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation and plaque instability, potentially causing stroke or heart disease.

###
This photo taken on Friday, June 19, 2020 and provided by ECMWF Copernicus Climate Change Service shows the land surface temperature in the Siberia region of Russia. A record-breaking temperature of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) was registered in the Arctic town of Verkhoyansk on Saturday, June 20 in a prolonged heatwave that has alarmed scientists around the world. (ECMWF Copernicus Climate Change Service via AP)

The Arctic is feverish and on fireat least parts of it are. And that's got scientists worried about what it means for the rest of the world.

The thermometer hit a likely record of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Russian Arctic town of Verkhoyansk on Saturday, a temperature that would be a fever for a personbut this is Siberia, known for being frozen. The catastrophic oil spill from a collapsed storage tank last month near the Arctic city of Norilsk was partly blamed on melting permafrost. In 2011, part of a residential building in Yakutsk, the biggest city in the Sakha Republic, collapsed due to thawing and subsidence of the ground.

Last August, more than 4 million hectares of forests in Siberia were on fire, according to Greenpeace. This year the fires have already started raging much earlier than the usual start in July, said Vladimir Chuprov, director of the project department at Greenpeace Russia.

Persistently warm weather, especially if coupled with wildfires, causes permafrost to thaw faster, which in turn exacerbates global warming by releasing large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that's 28 times stronger than carbon dioxide, said Katey Walter Anthony, a University of Alaska Fairbanks expert on methane release from frozen Arctic soil.

In this handout photo taken Tuesday, June 23, 2020 and provided by Olga Burtseva, a beach on the bank of Yana river is empty due to hot weather, during sunset outside Verkhoyansk, the Sakha Republic, about 4660 kilometers (2900 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. A record-breaking temperature of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) was registered in the Arctic town of Verkhoyansk on Saturday, June 20 in a prolonged heatwave that has alarmed scientists around the world. (Olga Burtseva via AP)

"Methane escaping from permafrost thaw sites enters the atmosphere and circulates around the globe," she said. "Methane that originates in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. It has global ramifications."

And what happens in the Arctic can even warp the weather in the United States and Europe.

In the summer, the unusual warming lessens the temperature and pressure difference between the Arctic and lower latitudes where more people live, said Judah Cohen, a winter weather expert at Atmospheric Environmental Research, a commercial firm outside Boston.

That seems to weaken and sometimes even stall the jet stream, meaning weather systems such as those bringing extreme heat or rain can stay parked over places for days on end, Cohen said.

According to meteorologists at the Russian weather agency Rosgidrome t, a combination of factorssuch as a high pressure system with a clear sky and the sun being very high, extremely long daylight hours and short warm nightshave contributed to the Siberian temperature spike.

In this handout photo taken Sunday, June 21, 2020 and provided by Olga Burtseva, an outside thermometer shows 30 Celsius (86 F) around 11 p.m in Verkhoyansk, the Sakha Republic, about 4660 kilometers (2900 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. A record-breaking temperature of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) was registered in the Arctic town of Verkhoyansk on Saturday, June 20 in a prolonged heatwave that has alarmed scientists around the world. (Olga Burtseva via AP)

In this handout photo taken Sunday, June 21, 2020 and provided by Olga Burtseva, children play in the Krugloe lake outside Verkhoyansk, the Sakha Republic, about 4660 kilometers (2900 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. A record-breaking temperature of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) was registered in the Arctic town of Verkhoyansk on Saturday, June 20 in a prolonged heatwave that has alarmed scientists around the world. (Olga Burtseva via AP)

In this handout file photo dated Tuesday, June 2, 2020, provided by the Russian Marine Rescue Service, rescuers work to prevent the spread from an oil spill outside Norilsk, 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday June 19, 2020, has ordered his government to fully repair environmental damage from a massive fuel leak in the Arctic. A power plant in the Siberian city of Norilsk leaked 20,000 tons of diesel fuel into the ecologically fragile region when a storage tank collapsed on May 29. (Russian Marine Rescue Service via AP, File)

This handout photo provided by Vasiliy Ryabinin shows oil spill outside Norilsk, 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 29, 2020. Russian authorities have charged Vyacheslav Starostin, the director of an Arctic power plant that leaked 20,000 tons of diesel fuel into the ecologically fragile region on May 29, 2020, with violating environmental regulations. An investigation is ongoing Monday JUne 8, 2020, into the alleged crime, that could bring five years in prison if Starostin is found guilty. (Vasiliy Ryabinin via AP)

In this Thursday, June 18, 2020, handout photo provided by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, workers prepare an area for reservoirs for soil contaminated with fuel at an oil spill outside Norilsk, 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his government to fully repair environmental damage from a massive fuel leak in the Arctic. A power plant in the Siberian city of Norilsk leaked 20,000 tons of diesel fuel into the ecologically fragile region when a storage tank collapsed on May 29. (Russian Emergency Situations Ministry via AP)

"The ground surface heats up intensively. . The nights are very warm, the air doesn't have time to cool and continues to heat up for several days," said Marina Makarova, chief meteorologist at Rosgidromet.

Makarova added that the temperature in Verkhoyansk remained unusually high from Friday through Monday.

Scientists agree that the spike is indicative of a much bigger global warming trend.

"The key point is that the climate is changing and global temperatures are warming," said Freja Vamborg, senior scientist at the Copernicus Climate Change Service in the U.K. "We will be breaking more and more records as we go."

"What is clear is that the warming Arctic adds fuel to the warming of the whole planet," said Waleed Abdalati, a former NASA chief scientist who is now at the University of Colorado.

Explore further Warmest May on record, Siberia 10C hotter

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Weapons find sparks new unrest fears

BANGKOK: Police are on high alert after a cache of weapons and ammunition found on Tuesday (June 23) in Taks Mae Sot district were suspected of being part of a plot to stir up political unrest.



By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 24 June 2020, 08:52AM

Soldiers display weapons and ammunition found at a home in Taks Mae Sot district on Tuesday. The weapons are suspected to be part of a plot to stir up political unrest. Photo: Royal Thai Police

Citing intelligence information, national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said it was likely the firearms were intended for use in a fresh round of political chaos and that police were expanding their investigation, reports the Bangkok Post.

Two machine guns, four M16 rifles, three M79 grenade launchers, 13 AK assault rifles and 10 small rifles and ammunition were among items seized by troops and border patrol police in a joint raid on a house in tambon Mae Tao.

Two people were arrested and taken to the 4th Infantry Regiments Task Force for questioning. Naresuan Task Force commander Maj Gen Ukrit Nutkhamhaeng and Border Patrol Police Region 3 chief Pol Maj Gen Noppol Chatiwong travelled to Tak to examine the firearms.

Were still investigating the motive. But according to intelligence information, the weapons could be linked to political elements looking to engineer unrest, Pol Gen Chakthip said.

He said he has instructed police across the country, especially those in high-risk provinces to step up security for activities marking the 88th anniversary of the 1932 revolution today (June 24).

The revolution led by a group of military officers and civilians under the "Khana Ratsadon" banner culminated in the abolition of absolute monarchy in favour of a constitutional one.

The authorities believe about 300 government opponents will gather at the Skywalk in central Bangkoks Pathumwan district today to mark the event.

The gathering is expected to take place despite the emergency decree, declared to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, banning large crowds.

Deputy police spokesman Pol Col Kissana Phattanacharoen, said it is believed the seized weapons were intended to create havoc and the discovery comes amid intelligence reports about suspicious activities being planned by a certain group of people.

He said police are investigating to determine what political connections the group has.

Col Kissana also said security was being beefed up for todays activities to mark the 1932 revolution.

Measures include the setting up of checkpoints around venues where commemorative events are to take place.

He said police in 10 provinces, including Khon Kaen, Phrae, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai have been put on high alert regarding political activities today.

The police spokesman urged organisers of such events and their participants to heed the law and the emergency decree which is still in effect.

According to Col Kissana, violators of the decrees ban on large gatherings are subject to a two-year jail term and/or a fine of B40,000.






Carrying her three-year-old son and gently patting him on the back, she appears like any other mother, till you learn the toddler has been found Covid-19 positive, though the woman is fine in health.

Her health and also her life are at risk but she comfortably shares the bed with her son in Covid-19 ward on the first floor of the neurology department at LLR hospital in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur.

At present, three mothers are inside this dangerous and infectious zone with their children who are recovering from the virus they contracted. Before them, two women left the facility with fully recovered children after spending more than two weeks in the ward.

I salute these mothers who despite being at severe risk are taking care of their children in the Covid-19 ward. None of them was infected but no one knows how their children got this virus. We are treating them and hopefully they will be cured and go home like the others, said a doctor.

The children, aged between three and four years, are the morale boosters for the other 50 patients admitted to the ward. Their activities and frolic keep the patients entertained and those sitting in the central control room watching the CCTV feed cant stop smiling.

During the day, they play a lot and their mothers keep running after them. They feed them, put them to sleep and ensure they are given medicines on time, said the doctor posted at the control room in the deputy principals office.

According to health officials, there is no rule or a guideline that says a non-infected person cannot stay with a Covid-19 patient in the hospital.

A woman, whose daughter was admitted to the hospital in May with Covid-19, said her child was so young that she could not have left her with the health workers in the hospital. Nothing is more important than my daughter. I immediately volunteered to take care of her even it meant putting my life at stake. With the blessings of God nothing happened. I was tested twice and each time I came out negative, she said.

Deputy principal of GSVM medical college and superintendent in chief of LLR hospital, Dr Richa Giri, said indeed there was provision of very young Covid-19 infected children staying with their mother in the ward but at times one faced issues having no immediate solution in sight.

We do not have enough people to take care of such small children but we keep a close watch and ensure the mothers are protected and wear masks all the time, she said, adding work was on for new arrangements so mothers would not have to put up with the infected children.
Im Not Afraid Of You has only just been released, but the remedial effect Annette hoped it would have on other women is already being felt by its author. "I wrote this book to explain events because I myself found it hard to understand how they could have taken place," she said. "If my story helps one person, then it was worth telling." Annette's harrowing account of life with Mr Anderson includes incidents where she was thrown through a glass door by her former partner, dragged around by her hair, had her ribs broken and was bitten. "He used to give me a bloody nose, split eyes and pull my hair out," she said.

"He'd often strangle me, choking me. He also used to bite me. Once he bit me on the nose and told everyone the puppy had done it." And while it was traumatic living with Mr Anderson  which Annette did for five years  things got worse for the young mum following his death. That fateful night "It was all a f---ing mess," Annette said of the night her friend BJ  Robert Johnston, who spent just over four years in prison for manslaughter  killed her then-partner.

"There was a lot of blood around Bevan's head ... and all over the floor. "I didn't think this could be happening. I felt sick, I couldn't think properly, I was stressed out, I was scared." Between the two of them they got Mr Anderson's body into the back of a ute. The plan was for BJ to bury the body somewhere, but a routine police stop saw him quickly caught out, arrested and charged over the killing. Fast-forward three months and Annette was arrested by police and charged with the wilful murder of her former partner. "At six in the morning they came for me," she said.

"I had never felt so lonely. I felt sick with loneliness." A three-day drive in a custodial truck from her home in WA's Pilbara to Bandyup Prison in Perth left her wanting to die. But things were about to get worse. Separated from her young son and imprisoned with "psychopaths, murderers and raving lunatics" while the state built a case against her and BJ, Annette became suicidal. After 16 months in custody on remand she was diagnosed with cancer and finally granted bail after footage showing her shackled to a bed in a hospital emergency department was aired in court. After trial, Annette was found guilty of being an accessory to manslaughter, but walked free when the judge handed her a suspended sentence.

Moving on Happier times: Annette has moved on, and is happy she finally gets to speak for herself. "Even now when I think about it I get this pain in my stomach and in my heart," Annette said of her time in prison. "I don't know what it is, depression maybe, this thing comes and goes ... it's like a shadow over me all the time." It's worth reliving though, according to Annette, who said she hoped her book would let women being subjected to abuse by their partners know it was OK to leave an abusive relationship.

"[Domestic violence] doesn't get better," she said. "It just gets worse." "I want women to know they don't have to be ashamed, and they don't have to stay." Annette is now living happily in Perth with a "lovely" partner. She enjoys fishing and spending time with her son and said she was finally in a really good place. "I now just enjoy living actually," she said.
New Delhi, June 24 : The Hinduja family is locked in a dispute over the future of the $11.2 billion fortune with ongoing litigation in the UK.

Three brothers of the Hinduja Family -- G.P. Hinduja, P.P. Hinduja and A.P. Hinduja -- on Tuesday issued a statement on the litigation issue.

"It will be apparent from the Judgment of the High Court in England, that Mr. S.P. Hinduja's health has been deteriorating for a number of years suffering from Lewy Body disease, which is a form of dementia. Vinoo, his younger daughter, acting as his Litigation Friend, is bringing these proceedings on his behalf," they said.

The brothers called the litigation unfortunate. "It is very unfortunate that these proceedings are taking place as they go against our Founder's and family's values and principles that have stood for many decades, especially, 'everything belongs to everyone and nothing belongs to anyone'. We intend to defend the claim to uphold these dearly held family values," they added.

The Hindujas have emphasised that this will not affect the operations of their companies. "We would also stress that this litigation will not have any impact on our global businesses, which will continue to function as they have been." they added.

"We hope you will understand that these are private family matters which are now the subject of litigation and we cannot comment any further," the statement read.

At the centre of the dispute is a letter signed by the four Hinduja brothers which has implications for the future of the family's $11.2 billion fortune.

The 2014 letter says that the assets held by one brother belong to all, and that each man will appoint the others as their executors. However, now Srichand Hinduja or 'SP' (84), as mentioned in the Hinduja family statement, considered to be the the patriarch of the family, and his younger daughter, Vinoo, have moved for declaring the letter worthless.

According to reports, the dispute between the family was revealed in a ruling delivered on Tuesday by a London judge, who said that the three other brothers, Gopichand, Prakash and Ashok, tried to use the letter to take control of Hinduja Bank -- an asset that was in Srichand's sole name.

Srichand and Vinoo want the court to rule that the letter should have "no legal effect" and cannot be used as a will, the judge said. Vinoo said that Srichand had insisted as early as in 2016 that the July letter doesn't reflect his wishes and that the family's assets should be separated.

Reports said that if the claim succeeds, then all assets in Srichand's name would pass to his daughter, Vinoo, and her immediate family, including the entire shareholding in Hinduja Bank, according to the ruling. The judge said that Srichand lacks capacity to give instructions to his lawyers and appointed Vinoo to act on his behalf.
The Communist Party of India (CPI M) on Wednesday demanded that the state government should provide a Covid-19 relief package to people of Himachal Pradesh.

In a letter to chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, the CPI (M) said collection of taxes and recovery of loans from people involved in tourism, industrial sector, transportation, shopkeepers and other businesses should be postponed for a year.

The party also demanded Rs 7,500 for next six months to families out of the income tax slab, atleast 10kg free ration to the needy, ration at cheaper rates in all public distribution system, hiked prices of ration should be withdrawn, Rs 600 as daily wages to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee act (MGNREGA) workers and ensuring minimum 200 days work under MGNREGA among others.

CPI (M) leader Sanjay Chauhan said commercial and economic activities in the state have been adversely affected due to the pandemic. Unemployment has increased and it is difficult for people to overcome this situation without the governments assistance. Therefore, the state government should provide a financial relief, he said.
Ethnic Rohingya people sit on the deck of a boat off North Aceh, Indonesia (Zik Maulana/AP)

Indonesian fishermen discovered 94 hungry, weak Rohingya Muslims on a wooden boat adrift off Indonesias northernmost province of Aceh, an official said.

The people were found by three fishermen late on Monday on the rickety boat about four miles off the coast, local police chief Muhammad Jamil said.

He said the group of Rohingya cried out for help and jumped onto the fishermens boat, but its engine also stopped working on the way to shore.

They remained on the boat Wednesday awaiting a decision by the local government whether to accept them.

We are still waiting for further instructions on what we should do with them, Mr Jamil said.

Expand Close A drone shot shows a boat carrying ethnic-Rohingya Muslims (Zik Maulana/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A drone shot shows a boat carrying ethnic-Rohingya Muslims (Zik Maulana/AP)

He said authorities provided them with food and water and villagers donated clothes.

The 49 women, 15 men and 30 children were weak from hunger and dehydration after a two-week voyage, Mr Jamil said.

He said it was not clear where the group was travelling from or where it was headed because none could speak English or Malay.

In April, Malaysia denied entry to a boat carrying about 200 Rohingya due to coronavirus fears.

Rights activists are fearful that large numbers of Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority from mainly Buddhist Burma, may be trapped on boats at sea.

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Whatsapp Ethnic Rohingya people react to a rescue ship (Zik Maulana/AP)

Reports say they are fleeing ongoing persecution in Burma and hardship in refugee camps in Bangladesh where many have fled.

More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled Burma since August 2017, when the military launched a clearance operation in response to attacks by a rebel group.

Security forces have been accused of mass rapes, killings and the burning of thousands of homes.

Authorities in Burma say the Rohingya migrated illegally from Bangladesh, even though many families have lived in Burma for decades.

Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982, effectively rendering them stateless.

They are also denied freedom of movement and other rights including education.
North Korea has suspended its plans for more military action against the South, the country's state media has said.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the country's Central Military Commission which was chaired by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.

It comes a week after his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, threatened unspecified military action - shortly after she gave the order to blow up a joint liaison office.

Kim Jong-un (left) has suspended North Korea's planned military actions against the South, state media said, after sister Kim Yo-jong (right) threatened to carry them out last week

The younger Kim has spearheaded a recent escalation in tensions with South Korea, giving the order to blow up a joint liaison office last week

The younger Kim had repeatedly warned South Korea to stop sending propaganda leaflets across the border, before giving the order to destroy the office.

She had also threatened to send 12million North Korea leaflets to the South and to deploy troops to the demilitarised zone.

Ms Kim had also overseen the erection of propaganda loudspeakers at the border, some of which are now being dismantled.

While observers say it is not immediately clear why North Korea suddenly decided to ease tensions, it is possible the two Kims are establishing a new 'good cop, bad cop' dynamic.

The moves could also have been designed to boost Ms Kim's standing within the country and groom her for leadership, amid fears for her brother's health.

Having made the public and wider world aware of her new, active, role within the North's leadership, it is possible the Hermit Kingdom is now easing off.

The elder Kim 'took stock of the prevailing situation' before deciding to suspend the military plans on Tuesday, state-run media said, without elaborating.

Ms Kim had also overseen the erection of propaganda loudspeakers at the border, some of which are now being taken down again

The committee also discussed documents outlining measures for 'further bolstering the war deterrent of the country,' KCNA reported.

North Korea's military was seen removing about 10 loudspeakers near the demilitarised zone (DMZ) on Wednesday, just days after they were seen reinstalling around 20 of the devices, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

About 40 such systems were taken down after the two Koreas signed an accord in 2018 to cease 'all hostile acts'.

A spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles relations with the North, said it is monitoring the situation.

The ministry also confirmed reports that a number of official North Korea propaganda websites had removed some articles critical of South Korea, though the spokesman said it was unclear why.

Kim Jong Un's decision to suspend the unspecified military actions may represent a reprieve from weeks of increasingly provocative moves by North Korea.

North Korea had also threatened to send 12million anti-South leaflets across the border, in retaliation for a leaflet campaign orchestrated by Seoul

Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, warned last week of retaliatory measures against South Korea that could involve the military, without elaborating.

The General Staff of the Korean People's Army (KPA) later said it had been studying an 'action plan' that included sending troops into joint tourism and economic zones.

Plans could also involve reoccupying abandoned border guard posts that had been, taking steps to 'turn the front line into a fortress,' and supporting plans for the North to send its own propaganda leaflets into the South.

Jenny Town, with the U.S.-based North Korea-monitoring website 38 North, said anti-South Korea rhetoric from the North over the past week had left room for flexibility, but it was still unclear where the latest moves will lead.

'Overall, it doesnt appear that the North has necessarily wanted to be overly provocative,' she said.

'While it seems set on reversing the measures taken in the inter-Korean agreements -in a dramatic fashion - so far, the rhetoric has already been milder since the demolition of the liaison office.'
Joe Jackman, Nancy Marcus, Morris Saffer, Brian Scudamore, and Anthony von Mandl are recognized for their impact on the Canadian marketing field

TORONTO, June 24, 2020 /CNW/ - The Toronto chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA Toronto) is proud to announce the class of 2020 inductees into Canada's Marketing Hall of Legends (CMHOL), one of Canada's most respected and renowned industry awards. For over 12 years, nomination and induction into Canada's Marketing Hall of Legends has been a widely recognized mark of distinction and one of the most coveted awards celebrating the careers of our industry's most successful leaders.

Joe Jackman, CEO of Jackman Reinvents; Nancy Marcus, one of Canada's most recognized marketing professionals in the CPG industry; Morris Saffer, Chairman of Saffer Retail; Brian Scudamore, founder of home-service brands such as 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, WOW 1 DAY PAINTING, Shack Shine and author; and Anthony von Mandl, Founder & CEO of The Mark Anthony Group of Companies, have been selected by a Jury Committee, made up of a distinguished group of marketing experts as standout exemplars of the Canadian advertising and marketing industry and are recognized for their impact on the Canadian and International marketplace.

"On behalf of AMA-Toronto, it is my honour to welcome this esteemed group of leaders to Canada's Marketing Hall of Legends. To acknowledge and recognize their achievements and contributions serves and inspires our entire community," says Michelle Flynn, President of AMA-Toronto.

The spotlight and recognition of this year's new inductees to the Hall will continue throughout the year with new content and programming, including an invite-only dinner honouring the Legends.

The 2020/21 presenting sponsor for CMHOL is Architech, a Toronto-based software company with over 15 years of Digital Transformation for clients across North America by leveraging the latest cloud technology and hiring top talent to modernize applications.

About AMA Toronto

The Toronto Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) is a not-for-profit community of volunteer marketers who have been creating opportunities for personal and business growth for more than 70 years in Canada. The AMA, with more than 30,000 members and 70 chapters across North America, is the largest marketing association in the world serving organizations and individuals who practice, teach and study marketing. To learn more about the Toronto chapter of the AMA visit AMA-Toronto.com .

Associated Links

Marketing Hall of Legends

https://www.amamarketinghalloflegends.ca/

https://www.amamarketinghalloflegends.ca/legends/2020%20Inductees/

AMA Toronto

https://www.ama-toronto.com

SOURCE AMA-Toronto

For further information: Lorena Lujan, Director, Public Relations, AMA Toronto, [email protected], (437) 992-8166
(Natural News) In further proof that liberals in America have completely lost their collective minds, the city of Oakland, California has now launched a hate crime investigation into exercise equipment that was placed in a park there.

After a local resident posted on social media that he had found what he described as a noose, police searched the area in Lake Merritt and found five ropes that had been attached to trees. Some of them were knotted, and one had a piece of plastic pipe attached to it. The ropes were promptly removed by city officials.

One person posted on Twitter that the so-called noose was These white supremacists sending a message, but resident Victor Sengbe told local station KGO-TV that the ropes served as part of a larger swing system used by the man and his friends. He even shared video of the system in use.

Sengbe, who happens to be black, said that it looks nothing like a noose and that he is horrified by how overblown the situation has become. He told the station that thousands of people have walked past it and not one has ever told him it looked remotely like a noose; he said they were just trying to create a fun addition to the park.

He added: Its unfortunate that a genuine gesture of just wanting to have a good time got misinterpreted into something so heinous.

City officials have said that they simply dont care why the ropes were put up. Mayor Libby Schaaf actually had the audacity to say: Intentions do not matter. We will not tolerate symbols of hate in our city. The nooses found at Lake Merritt will be investigated as hate crimes.

The citys parks and recreation director, Nicholas Williams, took a similar stance, saying: The symbolism of the rope hanging in the tree is malicious regardless of intent. Its evil, and it symbolizes hatred.

How can they say that intentions dont matter when the very concept of a hate crime all boils down to intention, and the intention of those who placed the ropes has already been clearly stated?

Local police issued a statement reminding the community to be mindful and saying that any ropes on or attached to trees, limbs or other objects can be associated with hate crimes and racial violence.

Even though police have said that several members of the community came forward to confirm the ropes were intended for exercise, the department still saw the need to notify the FBI.

This type of overreaction is nothing new

This incident is reminiscent of one that took place at the University of Mississippi in 2017, when three black students were upset after they stumbled upon a banana peel in a tree in the woods during a retreat for Greek Life leaders.

It turned out that another student had discarded the banana peel there when he was unable to find a garbage can; the bananas had been given to attendees as part of their breakfast. Although he apologized profusely for his innocent mistake, many students said the incident was upsetting because, as one sorority president put it, bananas have historically been used to demean black people.

The incident prompted a day-long camp-wide conversation about the bananas symbolism, and the remainder of the retreat was canceled as many students were too upset by the discarded banana peel to continue.

Since its hard to believe that educated adults actually think that exercise ropes in a recreational spot have some deeper meaning  especially when people, including at least one black person, have said their motivation was fitness, not racism  it would appear that those involved in this investigation and the community members claiming to be outraged are just looking to sow hate and stir the pot. The reaction of these officials is further proof that you cannot reason with people who are looking for any excuse to find racism where there is none.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

KCRG.com

TownHall.com
Herd immunity to COVID-19, which happens when so many people in a community become immune to the disease that it stops spreading, could be achieved with fewer people being infected than previously estimated, according to a new study.

Scientists, including those from the University of Nottingham in the UK, noted that herd immunity develops when individuals contracting the disease build up natural immunity, and by people receiving a vaccine.

They explained that when a large percentage of the population becomes immune to a disease, the spread of the disease slows down or stops and the chain of transmission is broken. In the current study, published in the journal Science, the researchers devised a mathematical model categorising people into groups reflecting age and social activity level to determine the threshold of the population that needed to be immune for herd immunity to develop.

When they factored in differences in age and social activity in the model, they found that the herd immunity level reduced from 60 to 43 per cent.

The 43 per cent figure, according to the scientists, should be interpreted as an illustration rather than an exact value, or even a best estimate.

For COVID-19, they said herd immunity is often stated as around 60 per cent, a figure derived from the fraction of the population that must be vaccinated in advance of an epidemic to prevent a large outbreak.

This figure assumes that each individual in the population is equally likely to be vaccinated, and hence immune, the scientists explained.

However, they said this is not the case if immunity arises as a result of disease spreading in a population consisting of people with many different behaviours.

"By taking this new mathematical approach to estimating the level for herd immunity to be achieved we found it could potentially be reduced to 43 per cent and that this reduction is mainly due to activity level rather than age structure," explained study co-author Frank Ball from the University of Nottingham.

According to the scientists, the more socially active individuals are, the more likely they are to get infected, than the less socially active ones -- and they are also more likely to infect people if they become infected.

The researchers said the herd immunity level is lower when immunity is caused by disease spreading than when immunity comes from vaccination.

They believe that the findings have potential consequences for the release of lockdown measures across the world, and suggested that individual variation is an important feature to include in models that guide policy.
A former Big Brother Australia star has revealed her horrifying experience of being told to 'go back where you came from' on the Indian version of the show - despite being Indian herself.

Priya Malik, 33, appeared on the Australian reality show in 2014, six years after arriving in the country on a student visa. The following year, she starred in the Indian version, known as Bigg Boss.

Now working as a teacher in Mumbai, Priya said she had experienced racism on both programs - but was particularly upset by the discrimination she faced on Bigg Boss.

Speaking out: Former Big Brother Australia star Priya Malik has revealed her horrifying experience of being told to 'go back where you came from' on the Indian version of the show - despite being Indian herself. Pictured on the Australian version

She claimed the Indian housemates saw her as an outsider because she had been educated overseas.

'Isn't that awful? In Australia I was discriminated against for being Indian and in India I was discriminated against for being too Australian,' Priya told HuffPost this week.

She said that during her time on Big Brother Australia, her co-stars welcomed her with her open arms but she copped 'race-based hate' from the public.

Outside: Priya, 33, appeared on the Australian reality show in 2014, six years after arriving in the country on a student visa. The following year, she starred in the Indian version, known as Bigg Boss (pictured). She claimed the Indian housemates saw her as an outsider because she had been educated overseas

Reflecting on the hostility she subsequently faced on Bigg Boss, Priya added: 'Racism rears its ugly head everywhere.'

Priya, who has since returned to India after years living in Adelaide, came fourth on Big Brother Australia.

She had arrived Down Under in 2008 on a student visa and went on to study at the University of South Australia.

In December 2014, she told Daily Mail that while she had experienced some discrimination since leaving the show, she was glad to be an example of racial diversity on Australian television.

Racism: 'Isn't that awful? In Australia I was discriminated against for being Indian and in India I was discriminated against for being too Australian,' Priya told HuffPost this week. Pictured in traditional Indian dress on Big Brother Australia with host Sonia Kruger (right)

'I think Australian media does need a bit of ethnic diversity considering one in every four Australians are born overseas,' Priya said at the time.

'I don't think we see that very much when we watch TV.'

Priya decided to wear a traditional Indian dress when she first entered the Big Brother Australia house.

Journey: Priya, who has since returned to India after years living in Adelaide, came fourth on Big Brother Australia in 2014. She had arrived Down Under in 2008 on a student visa

Throughout her time on the show, she acted 'unapologetically Indian' in order to show her national pride.

'It's not something I'm going to deny about myself,' she said of her ethnicity.

'I think your culture does shape you to a large extent.'
With the release of a report on the deadly coronavirus outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers Home on the horizon, the head of the states Department of Veterans Services has resigned, according to several news organizations.

Ive been asked to resign and yes I did, Secretary Francisco A. Urena told the Boston Herald Tuesday.

Television stations WBZ-CBS Boston and Boston 25 News also reported Urenas resignation, citing sources.

More than 95 veterans have died at the home since mid-March, with 76 testing positive for COVID-19. All of the surviving veterans who tested positive have now recovered, state officials said last week.

In early April, Gov. Charlie Baker appointed former federal prosecutor Mark W. Pearlstein to conduct an independent investigation of the outbreak at the state-run facility. Sources told The Republican this week that Pearlsteins report could be released as early as Wednesday.

News of the first Soldiers Home deaths tied to COVID-19 became public on March 30, and the state immediately put Bennett Walsh  the superintendent of the facility, appointed by Baker in 2016  on paid leave.

Walsh has denied allegations that he failed to alert state leaders to the growing crisis. Last month Walshs attorney and uncle, former Hampden District Attorney William Bennett, released text messages and emails Walsh sent to several state officials, including Urena, providing updates about confirmed cases and staffing concerns.

On March 27 Walsh wrote to Urena requesting medical personnel from the Massachusetts National Guard. We are exploring all options at this time, Urena responded, according to the documents. Where are you with our recent retirees who can come in.

Urena is a Marine Corps combat veteran awarded the Purple Heart for an injury he suffered as a tank commander in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In interviews, former Soldiers Home administrators and trustees have described an adversarial relationship between Urena and the homes staff and stakeholders.

Five years ago, former Superintendent Paul Barabani blamed his decision to retire on what he described as a lack of support from state officials who declined to increase funding for the home. Current staffing levels are inadequate and jeopardize patient care, Barabani said at a public hearing in December 2015 as Urena looked on.

Urena has not responded to previous requests for interviews by The Republican / MassLive.

Other investigations into the outbreak are being conducted by state Attorney General Maura Healey, state Inspector General Glenn Cunha and U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. State legislators have also called for a hearing about the crisis.

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Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez easily beat her challenger in the New York primary Tuesday with more than 70 percent of the vote.

Ocasio-Cortez, the 30-year-old progressive firebrand better known as AOC, ran far ahead of former CNBC television anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, 53, in New York's 14th District.

Caruso-Cabrera had campaigned as a more moderate replacement to the democratic socialist lawmaker.

Ocasio-Cortez used the win to hit out at those who claimed her 2018 defeat of former New York congressman Joe Crowley was an 'accident' or a 'fluke'.

Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, pictured took an easy victory in New York's 14 district primary on Tuesday. She is now favored to be elected in November

AOC's Democratic primary challenger Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, 53, pictured, a former CNBC television anchor, campaigned as a moderate alternative to the freshman lawmaker

Ocasio-Cortez took her success Tuesday as an opportunity to criticize those who had said her 2018 defeat of former New York congressman Joe Crowley was an 'accident' or a 'fluke'

She made history in 2018 when she was elected as the youngest woman ever to serve in Congress in the U.S.

'When I won in 2018, many dismissed our victory as a 'fluke.' Our win was treated as an aberration, or bc my opponent 'didn't try',' she wrote on Twitter as her victory was announced.

'So from the start, tonight's race was important to me. Tonight we are proving that the people's movement in NY isn't an accident. It's a mandate.'

She later thanked those who voted for her and criticized 'Wall Street CEOs' who had pumped money into unseating her.

'Wall Street CEOs, from Goldman Sachs to Blackstone, poured in millions to defeat our grassroots campaign tonight,' she wrote.

'But their money couldn't buy a movement.'

Caruso-Cabrera had been backed by the conservative-leaning U.S. Chamber of Commerce in a New York City district.

They spent six figures on Caruso-Cabrera' advertising against the young lawmaker.

Ocasio-Cortez said her reported results of about 70 percent of the vote would be a 'transformative' mandate.

Caruso-Cabrera had 18.96 percent of the vote, as of late Tuesday night.

AOC also criticized the 'Wall Street CEOs' who gave money to her rival's campaign

Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez talking with voters ahead of the New York primary on Tuesday. She easily beat off her challenger with 70 percent of the vote

The progressive movement suffered setbacks at the national level earlier this year when former Vice President Joe Biden won the party's race to take on Trump in November's election, with dominant wins over Warren and Sanders in the state-by-state nominating contests.

Sanders was among the first to congratulate Ocasio-Cortez Tuesday.

'In less than two years, she has become a major leader in Congress on many important issues, and I look forward to continue working with her to achieve justice for all working people,' he said.

New York's 14th District seat, which represents parts of the Bronx and Queens, is solidly Democrat and Ocasio-Cortez is favored to be reelected in November.

She will face off against retired New York Police Department officer John Cummings.

Senator Bernie Sanders was among the first to congratulate the freshman congresswoman

Democratic challenger Michelle Caruso-Cabrera as she debated against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on June 17. She was reported less than 2- percent of the vote Tuesday night

The freshman lawmaker proved a successful fundraiser and pulled in $2.4 million in April and May to bring her total raised this cycle to $10.5 million, according to Fox News.

Elsewhere in New York, the congresswoman threw her support behind progressive middle school principal Jamaal Bowman, who was challenging Rep. Eliot Engel for a seat he's held since 1988.

As of early Wednesday morning, Bowman, 44, was leading Engel, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, by 59.48 percent to 35.31 percent, the New York state elections board said, with 627 of 732 election precincts reporting.

Whoever wins the Democratic nomination in the district is likely to win the seat in November.

'Eliot Engel used to say he was a thorn in the side of (Republican President) Donald Trump,' Bowman told supporters.

'But you know what Donald Trump is more afraid of than anything else? A Black man with power. That is what Donald Trump is afraid of,' he added.
UK must prepare for second wave of coronavirus, health experts warn

Health leaders have called for an urgent review on the "real risk" of a second wave of coronavirus following an announcement on the biggest easing of lockdown to date.

Ministers have been warned that urgent action is needed to prevent further loss of life and to protect the economy amid growing fears of a renewed Covid-19 outbreak over the winter.

The appeal is backed by the presidents of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Surgeons, GPs and Nursing - as well as the chairman of the British Medical Association.

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced yesterday further easing of the coronavirus lockdown in England.

The two-metre social-distancing guidance will be replaced with a "one-metre plus" rule, paving the way for pubs, restaurants, hotels and cinemas to begin reopening from July 4.

Mourners pay final respects at Rayshard Brooks' funeral in Atlanta

Scores 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 last night.

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.

Police say Burnley 'White Live Matter' banner not criminal offence

Police investigating an incident in which a 'White Lives Matter' banner was flown over the Etihad Stadium have said no crime was committed.

Lancashire Police launched a probe after a plane flew above Manchester Citys stadium carrying the banner just after kick-off in the clubs game against Burnley on Monday night.

Burnley FC said afterwards it was "ashamed and embarrassed and has since vowed to "root out the racists following the incident.

Police said it was looking into the incident to see whether any criminal offences had taken place. The force last night said that, after assessing all the information available, officers had concluded that no crime was committed.

Hollywood filmmaker Steve Bing took his own life, coroner says

Filmmaker and philanthropist Steve Bing took his own life, a coroner in Los Angeles has said.

The 55-year-old, who shared a son with actress Elizabeth Hurley, was found dead in Century City on Monday.

On its website, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office listed Bing's cause of death as "multiple blunt trauma" and said the manner was suicide.

The case is now closed, the coroner added.

Health warnings as temperatures to soar into mid-30s

Soaring temperatures across the UK has sparked warnings about health risks during heatwaves.

The mercury is expected to hit the mid-30s in the south of England before Friday, leading forecasters and medics to tell people to take extra precautions to stay safe in the sun.

Warnings have been issued about UV levels, which are going to be "exceptionally high" over the next couple of days.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said UV levels will be "reaching eight across many places and will be reaching nine across parts of Devon and Cornwall from today.

On this day...

1314: The Battle of Bannockburn took place near Stirling Castle - Robert the Bruce (of spider fame) inflicted a crushing defeat on Edward II of England.

1717: The Grand Lodge of English Freemasons was formed in London.

1840: The Birmingham and Gloucester Railway between Cheltenham and Bromsgrove was opened, a stretch that includes the Lickey incline, one of the severest gradients on a British main line.

1859: Henri Dunant, a Swiss businessman travelling through Italy, saw the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino and was inspired to found the International Red Cross.

1878: St John Ambulance was formed.

1947: The series of "flying saucer" stories started when a pilot, Kenneth Arnold, reported seeing nine disc-shaped objects over Mount Rainier, Washington.

1948: The Berlin Airlift began when the USSR blockaded Berlin, requiring the Allies to fly in food and other essential supplies.

1981: The bridge over the Humber Estuary opened to traffic - its official opening by the Queen took place on July 17.
Sumi Sukanya Dutta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: An UGC committee has recommended to the government cancelling examinations for final year students in universities and institutes of higher education across India and evaluating them based on the previous semester examinations and internal assessments instead.

The committee had been formed by the higher education regulator to suggest alternative ways of assessing university students in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic which has caused massive disruptions in schools and colleges.

The panel, headed by Haryana University vice-chancellor R C Kuhad, has said that the final semester examinations, due in July in most universities as per the revised academic calendar, can not be held due to the risk of exposure to lakhs of students, officials in the HRD ministry told The New Indian Express.

It has therefore been suggested that the examinations be cancelled and marks for the final examination be extrapolated based on the past performance of each student.

The committee further said that the students, who are not happy with the final marks being given to them based on previous examinations, can be given a chance to improvise their scores by taking examinations later when the pandemic subsides.

Based on these recommendations, the UGC is expected to release comprehensive guidelines for higher education institutes later this week, officials added.

The recommendations are meant to guide over 40 central universities and hundreds of state, private and deemed to be universities and colleges.

The UGC panel has also recommended that the new session planned in July for old students and in August for fresh batches should be deferred to October.

The recommendations came at a time when technical institutions such as Indian Institutes of Technology are mulling to start the new session only through online mode in the wake of the pandemic.

IITs, sources said, have asked the HRD ministry to permit Ph.D. students to go to the campuses while the B Tech and M Tech students be asked to stick to the online mode of learning.
Japan's health authorities reported 57 new coronavirus cases and four deaths on Tuesday.

The number of confirmed infections stands at 18,034, excluding cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

With the addition of 712 cases from the ship, which was quarantined in Yokohama, the total number of infections comes to 18,746.

The country's death toll stands at 978, including 13 from the cruise ship.

By prefecture, Tokyo tops the list with 5,840 cases, followed by Osaka with 1,809, Kanagawa with 1,432, Hokkaido with 1,200 and Saitama with 1,051.

Officials say 286 cases were confirmed in quarantine at airports, and 173 were government employees, quarantine officials and people who returned from China on government-chartered planes.

Health officials say 63 people remain in serious condition, including one from the Diamond Princess, as of Tuesday.

A total of 16,870 people, including 658 from the cruise ship, have recovered and left hospital.
Friends have paid tribute to a 20-year-old 'gentle giant' after he died of a suspected drug overdose at an illegal rave attended by around 2,000 people.

Thousands descended on Daisy Nook Country Park, Oldham on June 13, in the biggest of three illegal 'lockdown raves' held that weekend.

Joe Robinson, 20, collapsed and died the following day of a suspected drug overdose, Greater Manchester Police said at the time.

Joe Robinson, 20, collapsed at a 'quarantine rave' in Daisy Nook Country Park, Oldham, on June 13

The aftermath of an illegal 'quarantine rave' in Daisy Nook Country Park, Oldham. Joe Robinson, 20, collapsed at the rave on June 13 and died the following day

Last week friends set up a GoFundMe page in Joe's memory, which has so far raised more than 6,000.

In a tribute to the 'gentle giant', friends wrote: 'The family have unexpectedly lost their son and brother and this page is her to help with the funeral costs.

'Joe was a loved son, brother and friend and was adored by all.

'Joe treated everyone as family and would do anything for anyone.

Around 2,000 people are thought to have attended the quarantine rave in Oldham on June 13

'The room lit up when he entered and smiles were brought to everyone's face.

'He simply didn't have a bad bone in his body. Joe was the gentle giant.

'Rest in peace Joe, Fly High.'

According to Manchester Evening News, Manchester South Coroner's Court has received a file on the case.

A file on the case has been sent to Manchester South Coroner's Court in Stockport.

A spokesperson for the Coroner's Office said: 'At this time I can confirm we have received notification and the Coroner is undertaking initial enquiries.'

On Saturday Greater Manchester Police announced they had arrested a man on suspicion of public nuisance and criminal damage in relation to the rave in Oldham.

It was one of three illegal raves to take place over the course of the weekend of June 13.

The gathering in Oldham was one of three illegal raves to take place in Greater Manchester and Leeds on June 13 and 14

A total of 6,000 people were thought to have attended raves in Oldham, Carrington and Leeds, during which an 18-year-old woman was reportedly raped and three men were stabbed.

Speaking in relation to the raves in Oldham and Carrington, GMP Detective Inspector Julian Scarsbrook said: 'We have established a dedicated policing operation and are working alongside our partners to gather intelligence and protect our communities  this operation remains ongoing.

'We have now arrested two individuals in connection with this illegal rave in Carrington, and we remain committed to investigating all lines of enquiry available to us as we identify and pursue anyone involved in the organisation of illegal raves.'
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.
The simple truth of the recent U.S. Supreme Court case of Bostock v. Clayton County is that, for the first time ever, it has been ruled that all people in the United States have equal-employment protections. There may not yet be true equality in this country, but we are equal on paper for the very first time.

When I was born in 1964, Illinois was the only state that did not have an anti-sodomy law that criminalized gay relationships. Some states kept these laws until they were overturned by the Supreme Court in 2003. As a student, I never heard a teacher say a positive thing about lesbian, bisexual, gay, or transgender people. But as my own high school graduation loomed, an incredibly brave teacher taught me one of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned from a teacher: how to step up when students are in danger.

As AIDS burned its way across the country, he found the bravery to warn a friend of mine of the growing epidemic and urged my friend to share the information with me. In 1982, in my conservative ultra-Christian Oregon town, this teacher risked everything to keep us safe. Im probably alive today because of him.

When I told my mother I was going to be a teacher she said, You are gay. You cant be a teacher. In my first year of teaching in 1992, an Oregon right-wing religious group very nearly succeeded in passing a ballot measure that could have been used to remove LGBT people from their teaching positions. All across my state, teachers stood up in opposition. Gay teachers. Straight teachers. A bunch of really angry kindergarten teachers.

Shortly after I became the Oregon State Teacher of the Year in 2014, I was fired for not being able to keep my mouth shut after my school warned me not to say in public that I was gay. But I knew I couldnt stay in the classroom closet. As a gay man, I can make the life of Ls, Gs, Bs, and Ts better by having a picture of my family on my desk. It might be the only time in their K-12 school experience when a student sees that gay people have normal lives with dogs and barbecues in the backyard.

I want students to see these normal futures because I have seen the suicide rates of LGBT students. I personally know the costs of those statistics.

When I was 15, my best friend came out to me. I cant remember everything I said, but I know I told him I loved him. Im thankful for that, because it was the last thing I said to him. He died by suicide that weekend. He didnt see a future he could live with.

I knew I couldnt stay in the classroom closet."

That is why it is important to have openly LGBT teachers. That is why it is important to fill your classroom and school library bookshelves with LGBT characters and authors. That is why it was important for me to defy my schools order to stay silent about my sexuality.

I fought back in court and eventually accepted a financial settlement from the district. I walked away, battered, bruised, but a winner. But I won for losing.

My district fired the superintendent only the week before reinstating me. The school board never publicly said why. The head of special education and everyone in the chain of command, except one, was reprimanded, removed, or fired. There was no public comment about any of that. I only know about it from a school board member who told me. But a quick look at the district website showed me that yes, in fact, they were all gone.

I wrote a social-media post last week about how proud I was that the Southern Poverty Law Center had included my story in an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court for this case .

The court has now ruled that what happened to me violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I poured out my feelings about the historic ruling on Twitter, and within several days, that Twitter thread had received over 40 million impressions.

The outcry from the education community at how I had been treated has been a roar. It has spread to Facebook, Imgur, Reddit, and Instagram. After five years of silence by my district, the pressure finally broke its leaders. Last Tuesday, without any fanfare, the district published a public apology . Reading the district Twitter feed is like watching a sickly goat being taken down by a pack of hyenas.

There is no pleasure in this for me. The administration that made those decisions is gone.

Victory, to be honest, feels dirty. It tastes bad. It doesnt take away the hurt of losing my students in a cold February, never to see them again. I think of my autistic student who was blind. He liked my voice, and sometimes it was the only thing that would calm him. One day I just disappeared.

Where is their apology to him?

But this ruling is now the future of education. Mr. Bostock was fired because he joined a gay softball league. Read that sentence but take out the word gay. I was fired because I was openly gay. Take out gay and replace it with all the other things I am: ginger, Irish, a lapsed Catholic, a member since 1973 with lifetime standing of the Archie Comics Fan Club. Im a lot of things, none of which I should have been fired for.

When schools eventually reopen, LGBT teachers will walk through those doors for the first time knowing they can no longer be fired for being gay.

Not in my town! you may think.

But I have a story to tell you about a nice teacher, from Portland, Ore., one of the most liberal cities in the country. One day, at the White House, just after receiving honors from President Barack Obama, this teacher spoke up for LGBT students. He asked that we stop passing laws that hurt our young people. He stood up. And, then, he was fired.

He was victorious because his state, Oregon, had laws to protect him. But if this discrimination could happen here, it could happen anywhere.

And, now, the Supreme Court said, no, it actually cant happen anywhere.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 24, 2020 - 23:11 | World, Japan, All

Japan hit back on Wednesday at South Korea's efforts to have Japanese historical sites removed from the World Heritage list, dismissing claims that it has failed to recognize the suffering of Koreans who were forced to work at some of the facilities during World War II.

In a videoconference, Shigeki Takizaki, the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, told his South Korean counterpart, Kim Jung Han, that Japan is fulfilling its commitments to UNESCO and that South Korea's criticisms are "unacceptable," according to the ministry.

A total of 23 sites were inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2015 under the "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining."

South Korea had initially been against the sites being listed because of the history of Koreans being coerced into working at several of the sites, among them Hashima Coal Mine in Nagasaki Prefecture, also known as "Battleship Island" because of its shape.

Eventually, South Korea agreed to their addition after Japan promised to take measures to allow an understanding that many Koreans were "brought against their will and forced to work under harsh conditions."

South Korea has sharply criticized Japan as failing to keep up its end of the bargain, however, saying an exhibit on the sites that opened last week "completely distorts historical facts."

The exhibit at the Industrial Heritage Information Center in the Japanese capital includes descriptions of Koreans who were requisitioned during the war but also quotes second-generation Koreans who live in Japan, claiming that there was no discrimination at the coal mine.

Kim expressed "strong regret and protest, and sternly urged Japan to take corrective action," according to the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung Wha on Monday formally requested that UNESCO consider taking the sites off the World Heritage list in a letter to UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay.

Takizaki also told Kim that Seoul's complaint at the World Trade Organization against Tokyo's decision last year to tighten export controls on some key materials, critical for South Korea's chip and display-panel industries, was "extremely regrettable."

South Korea had originally filed the claim last September, but suspended it after the countries agreed to start bilateral consultations. Last week, Seoul said it was picking the case back up because Tokyo did not show willingness to ease the controls despite efforts to address Japanese security concerns.

The Japanese and South Korean directors general agreed to continue close communication and consultations to resolve the outstanding disputes between their countries.

Often strained due to differing views of wartime history, relations between Japan and South Korea have been particularly rocky following a series of South Korean court rulings from October 2018 ordering Japanese companies to compensate Koreans ruled to have been forced to work in their factories during the 1910-1945 period of colonial rule on the Korean Peninsula.

Japan argues that the issue of wartime compensation was resolved by a 1965 bilateral agreement, and has warned South Korea not to go through with liquidating assets seized from the companies.

Liquidating the assets would bring about a "serious situation," Takizaki told Kim during the videoconference.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 22:25:07|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Germany will focus on the "immediate handling" of the COVID-19 pandemic during its presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) starting July, the government said Wednesday.

"The coronavirus had to be contained, the European economy rebuilt and social cohesion in Europe strengthened," the government announced after approving the agenda for the presidency.

Last week, Chancellor Angela Merkel had presented a basic outline of the German agenda in a speech in the parliament. Merkel stressed that "no country can weather the crisis alone, in isolation."

Germany's COVID-19 crisis plan included a massive economic recovery fund for the EU. In mid-May, France and Germany presented a joint initiative asking the European Commission to borrow 500 billion euros (565 U.S. billion dollars) from the financial market, all of which would then be distributed as grants to member states.

The EU executive's proposal echoed that initiative and added another 250 billion euros of further borrowing, which is intended to be loans to member states.

According to the German government, Merkel was working to ensure that EU member states would "reach an agreement as soon as possible" both on the recovery fund and a multiannual financial framework.

Another focus of the six-month German presidency of the Council would be the conclusion of negotiations on Britain's withdrawal from the EU, as well as "major transformation processes" such as climate change or digitization.

"Together. Making Europe strong again" is the motto of the German presidency. Merkel said that she would work towards this goal "with all her power and passion."

"Europe needs us, just as we need Europe," stressed Merkel. Europe was not only a historical legacy, but "a project that will lead us into the future." (1 euro = 1.13 U.S. dollars) Enditem
Nasa has announced how it plans to fly a helicopter on Mars in an attempt to prove that powered-flight is possible on another planet.

The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter will launch from Earth this summer attached to the belly of the Perseverance rover as part of the space agency's next mission to Mars.

After landing on Mars on 18 February 2021, the helicopter will then need to safely detach and navigate the 5-inch journey from the rover to the surface of Mars before attempting lift off.

Ingenuity is unlike any other helicopter ever built because powered controlled flight at Mars is unlike anything ever attempted, said MiMi Aung, project manager of the Mars Helicopter at Nasas Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

And then we had to figure out how to hitch a ride a safely get deployed from the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover.

The team at Nasas Jet Propulsion Laboratory plans to locate a suitable airfield after the rover lands, which could take up to two months.

It will need to be a 10-by-10 metre patch of Martian surface that is relatively flat, obstruction-free, and viewable by Perseverance from around 100 metres away.

The Ingenuity helicopter will travel to Mars attached to the Perseverance rover (Nasa)

If the experimental flight test proves successful, Nasa hopes to deploy second-generation helicopters on future Mars missions to add an aerial dimension to their explorations.

Potential uses could include scouting for human crews, investigating caves and craters, and carrying small payloads from one part of the planet to another.

Gravity on Mars is around 38 per cent of Earths due to the planets smaller mass, however the thin atmosphere makes it extremely difficult to fly.

Ingenuity will be the first experimental flight test on another planet (Nasa)

The helicopter is therefore very light  less than 2 kilograms  and uses a dual system of counter-rotating blades that will attempt to generate lift in an atmosphere that is just 1 per cent as dense as Earth's.

Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine said at a news conference that the mission, which launches on 20 July, is the thing he is most looking forward to.

He said: "I'll tell you, the thing that has me the most excited as a Nasa administrator is getting ready to watch a helicopter fly on another world."
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.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA (June 18, 2020) Two combatant craft medium (CCM) operate in the Mediterranean Sea near the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), June 18, 2020. New York is conducting operations in U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners, and U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lyle Wilkie)

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NEW HAVEN  The Christopher Columbus statue that overlooked Chapel Street from Wooster Square Park for nearly 130 years stood on its perch for the last time Wednesday.

But while cheers met the statues removal, it didnt come down without a fight.

After word got out that the city planned to remove the statue Wednesday morning, a group of several dozen people came out to defend it and had formed a crowd of 40 to 50 people by about 6 a.m., according to police Capt. Anthony Duff.

Warning: The videos posted here include graphic language.

Protesters who favored the statues removal began trickling in around 8:30 a.m., and tensions between the two sides led to confrontation and several skirmishes.

Over the next couple hours, the crowd grew and transformed, with around 150 people at the park by 10 a.m., according to an estimate from Duff.

By about 10:30, the vast majority of people present at the park expressed support for the statues removal. Many held signs supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement and said the statue was a symbol of racism and genocide.

Tear it down! they yelled.

A change is gonna come, a woman with a megaphone sang.

Meanwhile, some of those at the park who said they are of Italian American heritage watched from the fence, angry at what was to unfold as a man in a hard hat prepared the statue for removal via crane.

Skirmishes erupt

After those defending the statue had gathered for at least two-and-a-half hours Wednesday, several anti-statue protesters arrived.

They got caught up in ensuing altercations. A New Haven Independent video shows how the skirmishes unfolded.

In the video, a man can be seen holding a sign above his head and criticizing Columbus legacy.

Eden Almasude, a Wooster Square resident, walked by during the events, she said. She saw a group of statue supporters surround the sign holder, including one man who hit the anti-statue protesters sign with a cane, she said.

Almasude shared a clip of the incident with the Register.

The Independents video shows that a verbal argument took place between statue supporters, the sign holder and one other man who favored the removal of the statue.

The physical skirmish that ensued also was witnessed by a Register staffer on scene.

At the City Hall press conference, Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said there were no arrests made, although one man was detained.

There have been no decisions made on whether charges will be filed, Reyes said.

Mayor Justin Elicker said in a statement that it was disappointing that some at the protest incited fighting. New Haven has a long history of lively dialogue, but violence has no place in our city. We face a very challenging moment in history. We must work as a community to listen, understand, and have respectful dialogue with each other. This moment, while challenging, is also an opportunity to bring people together.

The video of the skirmish prompted additional anti-statue activists to head to the park.

One was a man who declined to give his full name.

Around 10 a.m., a reporter saw the man get pushed by a police officer as the man stood next to the statue with a group of its defenders. The man said he was being pushed by a statue supporter when the officer pushed him, too.

The officer physically separated would-be combatants and no arrests were made, Duff said Wednesday evening.

A neighborhood decision

The statue, erected in 1892, was iconic for much of the 40-acre neighborhood east of downtown, particularly Italian Americans who rally at the statue each Columbus Day, celebrating their heritage in the city.

But in recent years and days, Columbus, who sailed to the Caribbean in 1492, has become infamous for bringing imperialism, disease and racist violence to the New World, prompting calls to remove his image around the country.

In New Haven, Wilbur Cross High School junior Rhea McTiernan Huge circulated one petition asking for the statues removal, to which she attached her historical sources. That was signed by 667 residents. A second, similar petition got 2,041 signatures.

A group of Wooster Square neighborhood residents agreed to remove the statute earlier this month, with Mayor Justin Elicker praising the decision.

The Christopher Columbus statue for many Italians is a celebration of Italian heritage. But the statue of Christopher Columbus also represents a time of colonialism and atrocities committed. It is the right decision to remove the statue, Elicker said at the time. After the statue is removed, I believe it is important that we, as a community, have a conversation about how to best honor the heritage of so many Italians who have made New Haven their home.

Elicker reemphasized Wednesday that the decision to remove the statue of Columbus today was one that was spearheaded by a group of leaders in the Italian community.

While this decision for those leaders was not easy, they courageously did the right thing, Elicker said in a statement. I support this decision. I want to take a moment to thank those leaders for their support in recognizing the history of colonialism and its negative effects on many cultures, and their help to identify a place where the statue can reside.

Protesters say statue is heritage

Not everyone was happy with the decision, however.

By around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, about 40 protester who opposed the removal gathered had around the statue.

Several pro-statue protesters identified themselves as Italian American.

Peter Criscuolo, 70, of North Haven, said he grew up in the Wooster Square neighborhood and arrived at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday when he heard a rumor that the statue would be taken down.

He said Columbus was only one of many who did things that were later seen in a negative light.

If were looking for a hero that never did anything wrong, well never find a hero, Criscuolo said.

The statues important to me because its my heritage, he said. I played here every single day when I left St. Michaels School. He said rather than take the statue down he would have preferred a plaque be added that presents other perspectives.

Rose Monaco, who said she used to live in New Haven, also came out to oppose the statues removal.

This is part of our history, good, bad or indifferent, she said. You cannot just throw away history ... What he did was an important part of history. I dont condone any bad things that occurred.

Believe me I dont condone anything that was done to minorities. I dont condone it. Its awful, Monaco continued, referring to the historical record of Columbus actions.

A sign Monaco carried read, wheres Rosa? in reference to U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3.

Carl Murano, a North Haven resident who identified himself as president of the Campania club, said he grew up in the citys Fair Haven neighborhood and that his parents and grandparents lived in New Haven.

The Italian Americans worked hard on this community, he said. Please allow us our heritage.

The statue was erected around the time Muranos relatives first moved to the city, he said, adding that the monument feels especially important to him because of his ancestry.

As an American I respect Columbus because he opened up the Americas, Murano said. All the statuestheyre human beings, they have their faults... We should worship the good things they did and learn from the bad.

Another protester who wanted the statue to stay up was Josephine Amarone of Hamden.

She grew up in New Haven, she said, and her grandparents raised their kids in Wooster Square, which she described as her fathers neighborhood. The family church is St. Michaels, she said.

My fathers passed and Im here to represent him and his heritage, Amarone said of why she showed up Wednesday.

Amarone believes the intent of the statue was to welcome immigrants to our shores, she said.

She has no ill feelings toward Columbus and does not believe the reports that Columbus was a racist, did bad things or killed native people, she said. Even if he did, where is the relevance to today? she asked

Of Wooster square, she said, I feel a connection every time I come down here, adding that being an Italian-American strengthens that feeling.

After the statue was removed, Elicker said that he knows there are some people who strongly disagree with the decision to remove the statute. People have the right to protest and express their opinions peacefully.

At a brief press conference at City Hall later Wednesday, Elicker said he would look for ways to engage the citys Italian-American community to find an alternative way to celebrate the contributions of Italian-Americans to New Haven. However, he said, there is currently no process or plan for how the city would solicit feedback or to create a community conversation.

The mayor, who has been present at many of the protests, rallies, marches and mass gatherings that have occurred in the first six months of his tenure as mayor, was absent from Wednesday mornings events. He said he made a decision that his presence was more likely to escalate an already tense situation.

Laura Florio Luzzi, board chairwoman of the Columbus Day Committee of Greater New Haven, released a statement about the events.

It is time for our community to unite in embracing this moment of social change, she said. We welcome a dialogue with the City of New Haven and members of the Wooster Square community to discuss the future of the Columbus monument and what may come in its place to honor Italian-American heritage and our contribution to history.

Alfonso Panico, former honorary vice consul of Italy for Connecticut and former president and chairman of the board of the Columbus Day Committee of New Haven, said the statue removal marked a sad day for me and the Italian community.

Panico said the statue was erected with great pride, with the funds raised by the Italian immigrants  our ancestors  to mark the 100 years since the discovery of our great country. I am very proud of the people who filed for the court injunction to keep the statue and I great respect for the small group of old timers from Wooster Street who were there trying to protect the statue showing their concerns and defend their heritage and pride.

Exhausting and revitalizing

The morning of the protest was filled with heated debates.

Expletives were called out; someone screamed you animals into the crowd.

But by 10:30 a.m., the scene had taken on a different tone.

An estimated couple hundred onlookers who cheered the statues removal had taken over the park, singing songs and chanting as a crew brought in a crane and prepared the statue for removal.

Its one little victory at a time, said Rickie Lookingcrow, who identified himself as full-blooded Passamaquoddy.

He did not think he would ever see the statue come down, he said.

The Rev. Kelcy Steele, who recently formed a coalition to fight racism, called the moment a symbol of racism falling in New Haven.

Its exhausting and revitalizing at the same time, Steele said. Its long overdue.

Note: An earlier version of this story quoted a city spokesman who said the statue will be housed at the Knights of Columbus Museum. No such plan is yet in place.

meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com; Ed Stannard, Brian Zahn and Tara ONeill contributed to this story.
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The financial services industry maintained its 2019 spot, ranking 11th out of 15 industries studied in MBLM's Brand Intimacy 2020 Study, which is the largest study of brands based on emotions. MBLM (pronounced Emblem), the agency using emotional science to build more intimate brands during these unprecedented times, is also analyzing COVID-19's impact on the industry, how brands are responding to the crisis and the ways they are communicating with their customers. Brand Intimacy is defined as the emotional science that measures the bonds we form with the brands we use and love, and has become increasingly important as brands adjust the way they connect with consumers in today's challenging landscape.

U.S. Top 10 Most Intimate Financial Services Brands, According to MBLMs Brand Intimacy 2020 Study

MBLM's study, now in its 10th year, revealed that PayPal ranked #1 in the financial services industry followed by American Express and Capital One. The remaining brands in the top 10 for the industry were: Visa, Chase, Bank of America, Mastercard, Citibank, Wells Fargo and US Bank. Additionally, top intimate brands in the U.S. continued to significantly outperform the top brands in the Fortune 500 and S&P indices in both revenue and profit over the past 10 years, according to the study.

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on the financial services industry. Banks have become a gateway for government help, increasing the significance of their roles. They have been the frontline for small businesses seeking to participate in the Payment Protection Program as well as consumers receiving government stimulus payments through direct deposit or debit cards. The pandemic has also increased the role technology has played, forcing banks to optimize their systems with fewer consumers going to branches.

Several banks and credit cards are adjusting their perks to adapt to the changing purchasing profiles of consumers during COVID-19. For example, some American Express cardholders can receive cash back for wireless phone service or streaming services, while some Chase cardholders are able to collect statement credit points to go towards grocery, restaurant and home improvement transactions.1 Certain brands are also giving back during these difficult times. In March, JPMorgan Chase donated $50 million to help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.2 Recently, Bank of America announced that over the next four years, it will donate $1 billion to support communities that are facing economic issues and racial injustice due to the pandemic.3

"Traditionally, the financial services industry has struggled to cultivate deep emotional connections with consumers," stated Mario Natarelli, managing partner, MBLM. "The pandemic has affected the finances of millions across the country and how brands in the industry react, communicate and adjust their services will impact how they are seen in the future. Those able to innovate their platforms and provide transparency and support will likely build stronger bonds with consumers in the future."

Additional significant financial services industry findings in the U.S. include:

The industry had a Brand Intimacy Quotient of 24.3

PayPal, the #1 brand in the industry, had broad appeal. Both millennials and users over 35 years old ranked PayPal as their favorite intimate financial services brand

Similarly, PayPal led among consumers with incomes over and under $100,000

PayPal was also the top brand in the category among men, whereas Bank of America led among women

Enhancement, which is related to becoming better through use of the brand, was the archetype most associated with the category, and PayPal was also the top financial services brand for enhancement

MBLM also further studied the industry in a piece entitled, "Financial Services Brands & COVID-19. Examining how banks are communicating and connecting during the pandemic." The article provides an overview of the financial services findings of the study and how the industry's strong link to enhancement may help explain why people reached out for help and advice during the pandemic. The piece reviews what brands in the industry are doing to help consumers navigate these times. MBLM also augmented its research with social listening research, which revealed that financial services have assumed a larger and more significant role during the pandemic, influencing the way these brands communicate and the way people relate to them. Moving forward, the industry will have certain challenges, with many consumers facing financial issues. MBLM believes that banks that remain less compassionate and more focused on transactions will likely have an erosion of trust, while those that are helpful will create stronger bonds and deeper connections with consumers.

The Brand Intimacy 2020 Report contains the most comprehensive rankings of brands based on emotion, analyzing the responses of 6,200 consumers and 56,000 brand evaluations across 15 industries in the U.S., Mexico and UAE. MBLM's reports and rankings tool showcase the performance of almost 400 brands, revealing the characteristics and intensity of the consumer bonds.

To view the financial services industry findings, please click here. Additionally, MBLM offers Custom Dashboards providing extensive data for brands included in its annual Brand Intimacy Study. To download the full Brand Intimacy 2020 Study or explore the Rankings click here.

Methodology

During 2019, MBLM with Praxis Research Partners conducted an online quantitative survey among 6,200 consumers in the U.S. (3,000), Mexico (2,000), and the United Arab Emirates (1,200). Participants were respondents who were screened for age (18 to 64 years of age) and annual household income ($35,000 or more) in the U.S. and socioeconomic levels in Mexico and the UAE (A, B and C socioeconomic levels). Quotas were established to ensure that the sample mirrored census data for age, gender, income/socioeconomic level, and region. The survey was designed primarily to understand the extent to which consumers have relationships with brands and the strength of those relationships from fairly detached to highly intimate. It is important to note that this research provides more than a mere ranking of brand performance and was specifically designed to provide prescriptive guidance to marketers. We modeled data from over 6,200 interviews and approximately 56,000 brand evaluations to quantify the mechanisms that drive intimacy. Through factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and other sophisticated analytic techniques, the research allows marketers to better understand which levers need to be pulled to build intimacy between their brand and consumers. Thus, marketers will understand not only where their brand falls in the hierarchy of performance but also how to strengthen performance in the future.

To read a more detailed description of MBLM's approach, visit its Methodology page.

About MBLM: MBLM has invented a new marketing paradigm, Brand Intimacy, delivering expertise and offerings across three areas of focus: Agency, Lab and Platform. With offices in seven countries, our multidisciplinary teams help clients build stronger bonds and deliver optimized marketing outcomes and returns for the long term. To learn more about how we can help you create and sustain ultimate brand relationships, visit mblm.com.

1 Credit Cards Dish Out More Perks, Bonus Points, And Cash Back During Covid-19

2 JPMorgan Chase Makes $50 Million Philanthropic Investment to Help Address Immediate and Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19

3 Bank of America pledges $1 billion to assist economic and racial inequality intensified by pandemic

RUBENSTEIN PUBLIC RELATIONS

CONTACT: KATI WALDENBURG, 212-805-3014

[email protected]

SOURCE MBLM

Related Links

http://www.mblm.com


Democrats have out-raised their Republican opponents in three of the four so-called Tier B statewide races and have eclipsed the GOP candidates in all those races if self-financing isn't factored in.

A similar scenario played out in 2016, the last time the offices were on the ballot. That year's September's finance reports showed Democrats raised more than Republicans for three positions  secretary of state, state auditor and superintendent of public instruction.

But Democrats lost all of those races, as well as the attorney general race, in which the incumbent Republican faced minimal challenge.

The race for governor this year looks much different than the other statewide offices, however, as Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte has raised $3.8 million to Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney's $1.09 million. Though Gianforte has loaned his campaign $1.55 million over the course of this election, he still has out-raised Cooney when not including the self-financing.

In this year's race for attorney general, Democrat Raph Graybill is facing off against Republican Austin Knudsen. Graybill is the chief legal counsel for Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock and Knudsen is the Roosevelt County district attorney and former speaker of the state House.

The office is open as Republican Attorney General Tim Fox is termed out from running again.

Graybill out-raised Knudsen over the last month, bringing in just shy of $58,400 to Knudsens roughly $27,900 over the period from May 15-June 15. Over the election, the Democrat has brought in nearly double the Republican, with Graybill at $371,900 and Knudsen at $193,300.

On the most recent finance reports, Graybill benefited from $9,250 from the Montana Democratic Party given after the primary election. Previously he has received money from the political action committee for the states largest public employees union, the Montana Federation of Public Employees, as well as a Great Falls PAC representing firefighters.

Knudsen has reported getting money from the PAC for tobacco giant Reynolds American and the PACs attached to the Montana Beer and Wine Distributors Association and Charter Communications.

On June 2, Knudsen came out of his primary race against Chief Deputy Attorney General Jon Bennion with 60% of the vote, while Graybill defeated his opponent, Missoula state lawmaker and attorney Kimberly Dudik, with 57%.

The report said Bennion was seen as a stronger general election candidate" and said Graybill would try to pick off Bennion supporters. The report also said the U.S. Senate bid from Graybills boss, Bullock, may rally Democratic voters, though Knudsens vigorous backing of Trump and Gianforte could energize the GOP base.

Graybill reported about $94,500 cash in the bank to Knudsens nearly $60,300.

Secretary of state

Democratic secretary of state candidate and state Sen. Bryce Bennett did not have an opponent in the primary. He raised $22,640 over the last month and has brought in $197,700 over the election, according to filings with the state Commissioner of Political Practices.

That outpaces his opponent, Republican Deputy Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen. She brought in $15,160 over the last month, which includes a $10,000 loan on May 26. Shes raised more than $163,100 over the election and reported more than $92,000 in loans to her campaign. Jacobsen emerged from a five-way Republican primary with 29% of the vote.

Bennett was also up when it came to cash in the bank, reporting $143,140 to Jacobsens $23,000.

In the last month, Bennett received $900 from the Missoula County Democrats. Previously hes gotten money from the political action committee for the Montana Federation of Public Employees and a firefighters PAC in Missoula. Jacobsen reported no money from PACs or political committees.

The office is open this year as Republican Secretary of State Corey Stapleton did not seek reelection and instead ran in the U.S. House primary, where he came in second.

State auditor

Republican candidate Troy Downing, a Bozeman businessman who ran for U.S. Senate in 2016, reported raising $64,850 in the last month, though that included $50,000 in loans to himself. Downing has raised about $196,400 over the election, including $118,000 from the candidate. He'd be at about $78,300 without the loans.

Democratic State Rep. Shane Morigeau, of Missoula, reported raising $35,150 over the last month, and has brought in $150,600 over the election. He also reported about $13,500 in self-financing.

On the last finance report, Downing reported $22,400 in cash on hand, compared to Morigeau at $21,500.

Morigeau has reported getting money from the PAC associated with the drug-maker Pfizer and the Montana Federation of Public Employees PAC. Downing has not received money from PACs.

Morigeau came out with 61% of the vote over his primary opponent, Helena resident Mike Winsor, while Downing got 50% of the vote in a three-way Republican primary that included Nelly Nicol of Billings and Scott Tuxbury of Missoula.

The office is open as Republican state Auditor Matt Rosendale is not seeking reelection and is running for U.S. House.

Office of Public Instruction

Neither Republican incumbent Elsie Artnzen nor Helena Democrat and former teacher Melissa Romano were challenged in their primaries. Their race is a rematch of the 2016 election, which Arntzen won with 51% of the vote in a year when Romano out-raised her.

Romano raised $33,220 over the last month, and $183,000 for the election so far.

Arntzen reported raising $39,850 over the last month and has raised $93,200 over the election, including $35,000 shes loaned herself.

Romano had $152,820 in the bank when she filed her last finance report, while Arntzen reported $21,900.

Arntzen reported receiving money from the Charter Communications PAC. Romano reported receiving money from the Montana Federation of Public Employees PAC, as well as the Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell and Helena education associations.

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Lucknow, June 24 : Reviving its campaign against the land mafia, the Yogi Adityanath government got a portion of a private medical college and associated hospital on the IIM Road here bulldozed by the district administration on Tuesday despite incessant rains.

The medical facility is owned by former Samajwadi Party Minister of State, Mohd Iqbal, and he had encroached upon land owned by the state irrigation department.

The building was razed on the orders of the revenue court. According to the court, the building was encroaching government land meant for construction of a road.

The hospital had been designated as a level-1 COVID-19 hospital by the administration, but no patient has been admitted here so far.

A heavy posse of personnel from three police stations and a company of the Provincial Armed Constabulary was deployed at the site and three bulldozers took all day to demolish the part said to be constructed on an encroached land.

Additional District Magistrate (Administration) Amar Pal Singh said that the revenue court had in February directed to remove the encroachment but the institute's administration did not comply with it, hence bulldozing became necessary.

"The court had also imposed a penalty of Rs three lakh on the institute. Power supply to the institute was disconnected before the bulldozing started," he added.

Administration officer of the medical college Captain R. K. Pandey said that the OPD services were affected because of the exercise.

He said that the demolition will also affect studies of around 500 students currently enrolled with the institute. He said that the institute had offered land behind the building for construction of the road but it was not accepted.

Director General Medical Education K.K. Gupta said, "Around 150 seats for the UG programme and 20 seats for the PG had been approved for the institute." Meanwhile, the government spokesman said that during the past three years, the state government had received 2,80,518 complaints of encroachment and land grabbing on its anti-land mafia portal.

Of these, 2,79,0210 complaints had been resolved and nearly 69,619-hectare land was freed from encroachment.

The spokesman said that 2,084 persons had been identified as land mafia and 181 had been arrested. Sixty-nine land mafia were booked under the Gangster Act and four under the National Security Act.
The remains of 147 South Korean soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War are laid on seats inside an aerial tanker to be returned to Korea at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, Tuesday. The remains were part of those brought to the U.S. after joint excavation work in North Korea from 1990 to 1994 and following the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018. Through two joint forensic reviews, South Korea and the U.S. identified 147 sets of remains as those belonging to South Koreans. The remains were repatriated to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War that falls today and will be welcomed home in an official ceremony by President Moon Jae-in. / Yonhap
Bolton credits himself with convincing Trump to withdraw the U.S. from the multilateral nuclear deal with Iran. The decision, which has now left the U.S. sidelined, has pushed the other signatories -- European nations keen to do business with Iran  economically closer to fellow signatories and longstanding Iranian allies, Russia and China.

Instead of staying the course with the profitable long-term business approach that the deal afforded, Bolton says that he told Trump that an attack on Irans nuclear program was the only lasting solution.

On Venezuela, which at least has the good fortune of not being Iran, Bolton positions himself as a voice of reason. Even though Bolton sees Maduros leadership as a threat because it could open the door to foes  like Iran  he claims to have talked Trump down from attacking Venezuela. According to Bolton, former Trump chief of staff, Gen. John Kelly, said that Trump qualified a potential invasion of Venezuela as cool. Bolton said that he tried to convince Trump that regime change could be just as easily achieved by working with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros opponents. Smells a lot like political meddling in the affairs of a sovereign nation.
A report by the Survey Department of the Agriculture Ministry of Nepal suggests that China is occupying its territory and setting up border outposts through increased road construction in Tibet, reported ANI. The report highlighted that 10 out of 11 places in Nepal have already been encroached upon by China. The report noted that a whopping 33 hectares of land has been occupied by diverting the flow of rivers, often considered as a natural boundary.

ANI reported that by increasing the road network in Tibet, an autonomous region of China, the Communist-run country had diverted several rivers and its tributaries to 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 Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), the report noted.

Reportedly, around 10 hectares of land in the Humla district of Nepal has been occupied by China through the diversion of Karnali and Badgare Khola river. Similarly, China encroached about 6 hectares of Nepali land in Rasuwa district through the diversion of Sinjen, Bhurjuk, and Jambu Khola rivers. The report observed that owing to massive road construction work in Tibet, rivers such as Kharane Khola and Bhote Kosi have diverted to Sindhupalchowk district. As such, China now claims the 11 hectares of land in Sindhupalchowk district belongs to Tibet. Moreover, around 9 hectares of Nepali land have also been lost to China due to the diversion of Sumjung, Kam Khola and Arun rivers to Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal.

The report cautioned that if the new direction of the flow of rivers continues unabated, then, hundreds of hectares of Nepali land may be annexed to Tibet. Emphasising on the need for immediate actions, the report observed, 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. ANI stated that Nepal had not undertaken steps to secure its borders, following a survey in 1960s and subsequent erection of 100 pillars on the northern border with China. Interestingly, Nepal has 8,553 border pillars with India.
A day after an assault on a female staff within bank premises in Surat, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said nothing should threaten the safety and dignity of bank employees and that she will closely follow the matter.

Taking to twitter, Sitharaman said her office has spoken to Commissioner of Police, Surat City, R B Brahmbhatt, who has assured her that the accused constable shall be suspended immediately.

A short video went viral on Twitter on Tuesday which showed a person manhandling a female banker, following which #ShameSuratPolice started trending on the social media platform.

"Will be closely following this matter. Wish to assure that the safety of all members of staff in banks is of importance for us. Amid challenges, banks are extending all services to our people. Nothing should threaten their safety and dignity," Sitharaman said.

She further said that she has spoken to Surat Collector Dhaval Patel on the incident. Although currently on leave, he assured me that timely action will be taken on the FIR filed late night, she said.

My office spoke to the Commissioner of Police... He has assured us that he himself will visit the branch and assure the staff of their safety. Also he assured that the accused constable shall be suspended immediately, Sitharaman added.
Oil trading house Mercuria expects global oil stocks to start drawing down at a pace of around 2 million barrels per day (bpd) beginning in July, thanks to the eased lockdowns around the world.

Currently, there is an 800-million-barrel surplus on the market compared to last year, Mercurias chief executive officer Marco Dunand told a webinar organized by Reuters on Wednesday.

According to the top executive at one of the largest oil traders in the world, $40 a barrel oil  roughly the level at which oil traded early on Wednesday  will act as a floor under oil prices next year.

Last week, top managers at two other major independent oil traders, Vitol and Trafigura, told Bloomberg that global oil demand is bouncing back rapidly in June, thanks to eased lockdowns in Europe and the United States.

The biggest oil trader in the world, Vitol, sees oil consumption in the world growing by 1.4 million bpd every week this month, and reaching monthly growth of more than 5.5 million bpd in June.

China led the recovery in April and May and in the past couple of weeks, U.S. and European countries have followed, Vitols Chief Economist Giovanni Serio told Bloomberg.

Trafiguras Co-Head of Oil Trading, Ben Luckock, for his part, sees global demand likely back to 90 percent of the usual, but the exact percentage varies with the location.

Analysts largely concur that the oil market is swinging into deficit as early as this month, but it will still have to draw down the enormous inventory build everywhere due to the demand collapse earlier this year.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), oil demand will take over a year and a half to (potentially) return to pre-pandemic levels.

The IEA and the EIA expect the market to start drawing down record global oil inventories in the second half of this year.

EIA expects high inventory levels and spare crude oil production capacity will limit upward price pressures in the coming months, the U.S. administration said in its June Short-Term Energy Outlook as it estimated that global oil inventories at the end of May stood 1.4 billion barrels higher than they were at the end of 2019.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
An incoming senator who doesn't identify as Australian has been slammed for backtracking and declaring she will swear allegiance to the Queen to collect a $211,250 salary.

Lidia Thorpe, who lost her seat at the 2018 Victorian election after only a year as a state MP, has been chosen by the Greens party faithful to replace former leader Richard Di Natale in federal Parliament in August.

She defeated prominent Queen's counsel barrister Julian Burnside in a ballot of Greens members to fill a casual vacancy to be a senator for Victoria - a role that pays a base salary of $211,250 a year.

Ms Thorpe has hit back at her critics accusing her of hypocrisy, pointing out white politicians who favoured a republic over a constitutional monarchy, like former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, weren't unfairly labelled as hypocrites when they swore allegiance to the Queen.

The first indigenous woman elected to the Victorian Parliament last year declared to Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes she didn't regard herself as Australian.

Scroll down for video

Incoming senator Lidia Thorpe, who doesn't identify as Australian, has been slammed for backtracking and declaring she will swear allegiance to the Queen to collect a $211,250 salary

'I don't identify as being Australian. It's a concept that's been imposed on our people since we're invaded,' she told the Almost Australian documentary, which aired last month on the ABC.

Lidia Thorpe's response to Daily Mail Australia I identify as a Gunai Gunditjmara woman first and foremost. I want to enter parliament as a unifying force, and to make sure that all Aboriginal people feel theyre represented by our parliament. The hypocrisy here is not having the same standards for white republicans as Aboriginal women. Malcolm Turnbull wasn't labelled as a hypocrite when he chaired the Republic Advisory Committee despite swearing an oath to the Queen, why is my national identity as an Aboriginal woman in parliament controversial? Advertisement

'The colonisers came and set up the colony which they now call Australia.

'Mass genocide occurred.'

Australian law experts, Professor Anne Twomey from the University of Sydney and Professor George Williams from the University of New South Wales, told Daily Mail Australia that under Section 42 of the Constitution, Ms Thorpe could not be sworn in as a senator unless she pledged an oath or an allegiance to the Queen, Australia's head of state.

Following that advice, Ms Thorpe told her Facebook followers she would pledge allegiance to the Queen to become a senator in the federal Parliament.

'I swore allegiance to the Queen when I became MP for Northcote, and I'll do it again in Canberra in August,' she said.

Ms Thorpe in November 2017 became the first Aboriginal woman elected to the Victorian Parliament when she won the inner-Melbourne seat of Northcote at a by-election following the death of former Labor minister Fiona Richardson.

She lost her seat at general elections a year later, as Labor's Kat Theophanous, the daughter of a former state MP, won back the seat which the ALP had previously held uninterrupted since 1927.

Ms Thorpe said white MPs who favoured a republic over a constitutional monarchy, including former Liberal PM Malcolm Turnbull, weren't labelled as hypocrites as she had been when they pledged allegiance to the Queen to be sworn into Parliament.

Thorpe, who became the first indigenous woman elected to the Victorian Parliament last year, declared to Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes she didn't regard herself as Australian

Ms Thorpe has hit back at her critics accusing her of hypocrisy, pointing out white politicians who favoured a republic over a constitutional monarchy, like former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, weren't unfairly labelled as hypocrites when they swore allegiance to the Queen - pictured in Cairns, March 2002

'I identify as a Gunai Gunditjmara woman first and foremost,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I want to enter parliament as a unifying force, and to make sure that all Aboriginal people feel they're represented by our parliament.

'The hypocrisy here is not having the same standards for white republicans as Aboriginal women.

'Malcolm Turnbull wasn't labelled as a hypocrite when he chaired the Republic Advisory Committee despite swearing an oath to the Queen, why is my national identity as an Aboriginal woman in parliament controversial?'

Michael Atkinson, a former Labor attorney-general of South Australia, suggested Thorpe follow the example of UK MPs from Northern Ireland who refuse to swear allegiance to the Queen, denying them the chance to vote in the House of Commons

The Australian Greens party has been led by white men who favour a republic, including Bob Brown, Senator Di Natale and Adam Bandt who all pledged allegiance to the Queen.

Ms Thorpe was mocked on social media for declaring she didn't identify as Australian despite aspiring to sit in federal Parliament.

Michael Atkinson, a former Labor attorney-general of South Australia, suggested she follow the example of UK MPs from Northern Ireland who refuse to swear allegiance to the Queen because they are from the Irish Republican political party Sinn Fein, denying them the chance to vote in the House of Commons.

Ms Thorpe told her Facebook followers she would after all pledge allegiance to the Queen to become a senator in the federal Parliament, after constitutional law experts professor Anne Twomey and George Williams said failing to do so meant she couldn't sit in the Senate

'A principled way forward for new Victorian Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe is to refuse, like Sinn Fein, to take the oath of allegiance to Her Majesty and abstain from the Chamber,' he tweeted.

Why MPs must pledge an allegiance to the Queen Queen Elizabeth II is Australia's head of state under the Constitution Her representative in Australia, Governor-General David Hurley, exercises power over the government and has the power to sack Prime Minister Scott Morrison Under Section 42 of the Constitution, federal members of Parliament from both the Senate and the House of Representatives must swear an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the Queen While many MPs favour a republic over a monarchy, they are still required to pledge loyalty to the Queen as a referendum is required to change the Constitution Sources: Australian government, constitutional law professors Anne Twomey, George Williams Advertisement

Former Liberal powerbroker Michael Kroger suggested swearing an oath of allegiance to the Queen, after declaring she didn't identify as an Australian, would make Thorpe a hypocrite.

'The Greens say that they're true to their principles, this is the thing the Greens are founded on, this freakish, nutty sort of caveman and woman view of the world,' he told Sky News commentator Andrew Bolt.

'To this new senator, you'll be sitting outside the Senate because you will not swear allegiance to the Queen and if you do you are a gross hypocrite and shouldn't be there.

'She won't do that and I presume she won't be a senator.'

Mr Kroger argued that someone who 'doesn't identify as Australian' could not possibly swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen under Section 42 of the Constitution 'which she has to do, as every member of Parliament has to do, before they can take their seat'.

'If she won't swear allegiance to the Queen, which obviously she won't if she's not even an Australian,' he said.

Former Labor cabinet minister Stephen Conroy said Ms Thorpe's comments were inflammatory.

Ms Thorpe in November 2017 became the first Aboriginal woman elected to the Victorian Parliament when she won the inner-Melbourne seat of Northcote at a by-election following the death of former Labor minister Fiona Richardson

Former Liberal powerbroker Michael Kroger suggested swearing an oath of allegiance to the Queen, after declaring she didn't identify as an Australian, would make her a hypocrite

'Most of her language today was very inflammatory,' he told Sky News.

Members of federal Parliament from both sides of politics have pledged allegiance to the Queen despite favouring constitutional change to turn Australia from a constitutional monarchy into a republic.

A referendum for a republic was lost in November 1999, with the 'yes' case receiving just 45 per cent of the national popular vote, and failing to win a majority in any state or territory outside of the Australian Capital Territory.
Trump is accused of supporting those who discriminate against LGBTQ people by hosting Polish President Andrzej Duda.

US President Donald Trump is facing criticism for hosting Polands president at the White House days before his visitor faces a tougher than expected fight for re-election.

Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda are scheduled to meet on Wednesday. Duda is competing for a second five-year term in Polands presidential election this weekend.

Duda recently attracted international attention for promising to protect Polish families from what he called an LGBT ideology more dangerous than communism. Critics said by welcoming him Trump is giving support to those looking to discriminate against LGBTQ people and other minorities.

The meeting is scheduled to take place four days before the first round of Polands presidential election. The visit, announced last week after Trump said he planned to remove thousands of US troops from Germany, is expected to include discussions on defence and economic issues.

It is believed that some of the US troops could be transferred to Poland, a NATO member on the alliances eastern flank. Poland is one of Europes most enthusiastically pro-American countries and the visit could give Duda a boost as he seeks leading up to the election.

Public television in Poland, which is controlled by the governing Law and Justice party that backs Duda, has pushed a similar message about the LGBTQ rights movement, which many conservatives in mostly Catholic Poland see as a foreign import and a threat to their culture.

The populist Law and Justice party embraced the same messages critical of the LGBTQ rights movement before the parliamentary election it won last year. Several municipalities in Poland have declared themselves LGBT free.









Public television has also been using anti-Semitic tropes in a series of reports meant to undermine Dudas main presidential rival, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

We are concerned that the White House visit is sending a signal of political support for a candidate whose campaign has engaged in homophobic and antisemitic rhetoric, said Zselyke Csaky, research director for Europe and Eurasia at Freedom House. a US-based organization. The scapegoating of minority groups is a dangerous strategy and should be condemned, not supported by the president of the United States.

The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ rights advocacy group in Washington, DC, also criticised Dudas visit to the White House so close to Sundays election.

It said Dudas use of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is vile, manipulative and dangerous, and that Trump was showing he is no friend to the gay rights community.

US Congressman Eliot Engel, a Democrat who is the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called Trumps invitation to Duda an example of Trumps infatuation with leaders who have demonstrated autocratic tendencies.

President Duda and his party promote horrifying homophobic and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes and policies that run counter to the human rights and values that America should strive to uphold, Eliot said in a statement last week.

Duda is the frontrunner in a field of 11 candidates, but his support has been falling lately as the coronavirus pandemic hit Polands economy.

Polish President Andrzej Duda at an election rally in Zakopane, Poland. Poles head to the polls for a national election on Sunday [Reuters]

Polls suggest he will win about 40 percent of the votes, below a 50 percent threshold for outright victory. That would trigger a runoff on July 12, which is likely to pit him against Trzaskowski, who has been gaining popularity. Polls show them tied for support in a second round.

One of Dudas challengers in the presidential race, nonaligned Szymon Holownia, said Duda must see his visit to Washington as a potential game-changer in the race if he is suspending campaigning to go there during the crucial week before the election.

He said he saw it as nothing more than a propaganda event.

Before taking off for Washington, DC, from Krakow on Tuesday, Duda said his fifth meeting with Trump would focus on fundamental issues such as Polands military and energy security, telecommunications and cybersecurity and economic cooperation.

Duda pointed to Microsofts announcement last month of a planned $1bn investment for a data processing centre in Poland as an example of growing cooperation in the IT sector.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- Two U.S. Army research projects advance quantum networking, which will likely play a key role in future battlefield operations.

Quantum networks will potentially deliver multiple novel capabilities not achievable with classical networks, one of which is secure quantum communication. In quantum communication protocols, information is typically sent through entangled photon particles. It is nearly impossible to eavesdrop on quantum communication, and those who try leave evidence of their tampering; however, sending quantum information via photons over traditional channels, such as fiber-optic lines, is difficult - the photons carrying the information are often corrupted or lost, making the signals weak or incoherent.

In the first project, the University of Chicago research team, funded and managed by the U.S. Army's Combat Capability Development's Army Research Laboratory's Center for Distributed Quantum Information, demonstrated a new quantum communication technique that bypasses those traditional channels. The research linked two communication nodes with a channel and sent information quantum-mechanically between the nodes--without ever occupying the linking channel.

"This result is particularly exciting not only because of the high transfer efficiency the team achieved, but also because the system they developed will enable further exploration of quantum protocols in the presence of variable signal loss," said Dr. Sara Gamble, program manager at the lab's Army Research Office and co-manager of the Center for Distributed Quantum Information. "Overcoming loss is a key obstacle in realizing robust quantum communication and quantum networks."

The research, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, developed a system that entangled two communication nodes using microwave photons--the same photons used in cell phones--through a microwave cable. For this experiment, they used a microwave cable about a meter in length. By turning the system on and off in a controlled manner, they were able to quantum-entangle the two nodes and send information between them--without ever having to send photons through the cable.

"We transferred information over a one-meter cable without sending any photons to do this, a pretty unusual achievement," said Dr. Andrew Cleland, the John A. MacLean Sr. Professor of Molecular Engineering at Pritzker Molecular Engineering at University of Chicago and a senior scientist at Argonne National Laboratory. "In principle, this would also work over a much longer distance. It would be much faster and more efficient than systems that send photons through fiber-optic channels."

Though the system has limitations, it must be kept very cold, at temperatures a few degrees above absolute zero, the researchers said it could also potentially work at room temperature with atoms instead of photons.

The team is now conducting experiments that would entangle several photons together in a more complicated state, which could ultimately enable enhanced quantum communication protocols and capabilities.

Entangled particles aren't just limited to photons or atoms, however. In a second paper published June 12 in the peer-reviewed journal Physical Review X, the same Chicago team entangled two phonons--the quantum particle of sound--for the first time.

Using a system built to communicate with phonons, similar to the photon quantum communication system, the team entangled two microwave phonons, which have roughly a million times higher pitch than can be heard with the human ear.

Once the phonons were entangled, the team used one of the phonons as a herald, which was used to affect how their quantum system used the other phonon. The herald allowed the team to perform a so-called quantum eraser experiment, in which information is erased from a measurement, even after the measurement has been completed.

"Phonons give you a much bigger time window to do things and relieve some of the challenges in doing a quantum eraser experiment," Cleland said.

Though phonons have a lot of disadvantages over photons--for example, they tend to be shorter-lived--they interact strongly with a number of solid-state quantum systems that may not interact strongly with photons. As a result, phonons could provide a better way to couple to these systems.

This coupling is a critical capability for many quantum networking applications, and may also benefit other quantum information science applications such as quantum computing. Additionally, the wavelengths of phonons are shorter than those of photons for the same frequency, potentially enabling smaller quantum circuits.

"Together, these experiments provide multiple avenues for future research into how we construct quantum networks that function in non-ideal environments, and reliably transfer quantum information between systems," said Dr. Fredrik Fatemi, researcher at the laboratory and co-manager of the Center for Distributed Quantum Information. "Both are critically important for developing future quantum technologies."

###

CCDC Army Research Laboratory is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. As the Army's corporate research laboratory, ARL discovers, innovates and transitions science and technology to ensure dominant strategic land power. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, CCDC leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win the nation's wars and come home safely. CCDC is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.
The radio group which operates FM104 in Dublin has blamed a 2pc drop in revenue to 22.2m on a very challenging commercial environment with the continued migration of revenue to unregulated digital operators.

New accounts filed by the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wireless Group, which also owns Limerick's Live 95, Cork's 96FM and Q102 in Dublin, show earnings at the group decreased by 22.6pc to 2.7m in the 12 months to the end of last June 30.

The business's earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) of 2.7m compared to 3.49m for the previous 12 months.

The group also owns LMFM in Co Louth and Co Meath and C103 in Cork.

Wireless Radio (ROI) last year recorded pre-tax losses of 2.9m, a 33pc increase on the 2.2m pre-tax loss in 2018.

The company recorded a post-tax loss of 771,000 last year after recording a corporation tax credit of 1.63m.

In their report, the directors blamed the decline in revenue due to the "very challenging commercial environment with the continued migration of revenue to unregulated digital operators".

The said: "The radio market remains in decline, however industry initiatives such as Choose Radio are welcome developments in promoting the positive virtues of the sector."

The directors said higher costs resulted in the lower ebitda and larger loss in the year. The higher costs were as a result of investment in digital technologies and launching new streams and podcasts to broaden the business's listenership base.

They added that 880,000 tune into Wireless Group stations and market share has increased from 12pc to 13.8pc.

In terms of individual stations, they said FM104 and Q102 now rank first and second commercial stations in Dublin with a combined market share of 18.7pc.

Numbers employed by the group last year increased from 240 to 258, with staff costs rising from 11.25m to 12m.

Directors' pay dropped sharply during the year from 1.1m to 694,000.

The group's combined non-cash depreciation and amortisation costs last year totalled 5.7m.

At the end of last June, the group's had a shareholders' deficit of 1.2m. This was made up of accumulated losses of 44.96m, offset by share capital of 43.56m. The group's cash reduced to 4.1m.
More than 4,000 personnel of the state police force have till now tested positive for coronavirus

Mumbai: At least 51 Maharashtra Police personnel, including two officers, have died of COVID-19 so far, a senior police official said on Wednesday.

More than 4,000 personnel of the state police force have till now tested positive for coronavirus, he said.

"So far, 51 police personnel, including two officers, have died due to the coronavirus infection in the state, a senior police official said.

These include 34 personnel of the Mumbai Police force, he said.

Till now, over 4,000 police personnel in the state have tested positive for coronavirus since the outbreak of the disease. Of these, more than 3,000 personnel have recovered from the viral infection, the official said.

So far, there are 998 active cases in the state police force, including 104 officers, and all are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, he said.

Since the lockdown was enforced in March, there have been 279 incidents of assault on police in which 86 personnel received injuries, the official said, adding that 858 people have been arrested in this connection.

At least 52 incidents of attack on health professionals were also reported during the period. Stern action was initiated against people attacking those at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19, he said.

Besides, 1,34,604 offences were registered under IPC Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) during the lockdown, for which 27,481 people were arrested and 84,187 vehicles were seized, he said.

So far, police have collected Rs 8.72 crore as fine for various offences during the lockdown, he said.
FRANKFURT - An accounting scandal at one of Germanys fastest-growing blue-chip companies has raised doubts about the national financial watchdog and, coming on top of other high-profile cases of fraud, led to questions about the countrys ability to oversee its corporate titans.

Some 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) vanished from payment systems provider Wirecard, until recently heralded as Germanys emerging giant of the financial tech sector. Its CEO was arrested on suspicion of market manipulation and inflating financial numbers.

Adding to the damage to Germanys corporate reputation was the reaction of the financial regulator, BaFin, when media reports last year questioned the companys accounting. Rather than investigate Wirecard, it targeted investors, banning them from betting on a drop in the share price, which plunged more than 40%.

That is a documented failure of supervision to intervene when there was clear evidence in this case, Florian Toncar, a member of parliament for the opposition Free Democratic Party, said in an interview on Norddeutscher Rundfunk public radio.

He said the case was a heavy blow for Germanys reputation as a financial centre.

WireCard was until now one of the few functioning tech companies that have come up with new ideas in the market place and now it turns out that that was to a great extent smoke and mirrors.

BaFins head, Felix Hufeld, has conceded that Wirecards implosion was a disaster. But the agency is standing by its decisions throughout the scandal, details of which are still emerging.

Wirecard provides the technology to companies and consumers to make cashless payments, a growing and competitive market globally. Its founder and CEO, Markus Braun, resigned last week and said it cannot be ruled out that the company could have been the victim of fraud.

He was arrested Monday on suspicion of inflating the companys financial numbers and later released on bail.

Under the new CEO, James Freis, the company has said that previous descriptions of its business in countries where it worked with partners  a key pillar of earnings  were inaccurate, and that it was probing whether those businesses were always run in the best interest of the company. The missing 1.9 billion euros was supposed to be in trustee accounts but the two Philippine banks the company said held the money have said they have no dealings with Wirecard. Auditor EY refused to sign off on the companys annual report.

Corporate wrongdoing is not unheard of in Germany to say the least.

Volkswagen was caught rigging diesel engines to cheat on U.S. emissions tests and paid more than 33 billion euros ($37 billion) in fines and settlements, while the chief executive and board chair of industrial conglomerate Siemens quit over a 2006-2007 scandal over bribing foreign officials to gain contracts. Banking giant Deutsche Bank has paid fines for breaking money laundering rules.

Wirecards troubles have a specific focus: they call into question the honesty of the financial statements that its investors and creditors relied on. In that sense, it echoes the accounting scandals of the early 2000s that rocked U.S. equity markets such as the one around energy company Enron.

BaFin has come under scrutiny in part for its decision in February 2018 to prevent traders from betting against the companys stock. BaFin imposed the ban after the shares plunged on reports by the Financial Times that raised questions about the companys accounting, including reports of backdated sales contracts that inflated revenue to meeting financial targets. BaFin said the short sales ban was to protect market integrity and investors, not the company.

In trying to explain what went wrong at the regulator, Troncar and others have pointed to BaFins limited range of authority. As a financial regulator, it was responsible for Wirecard Bank AG, the German banking arm of Wirecard, not the company as a whole.

Thorsten Sellhorn, professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, said that Germanys accounting watchdog, the Financial Reporting Enforcement Panel, was the first line of defence, not BaFin. Sellhorn, who is president of the European Accounting Association, said it was too early to point out the culprits before criminal investigations are resolved.

He said, however, that he does not see a smoking gun at BaFin.

Instead, the companys board of directors would be much closer to home and the first stop if outside auditors had questions. Germany has made what he called slow progress in improving board oversight, such as a corporate governance code that calls for CEOs to wait two years before taking board seats, more women on boards, and independent financial expertise among board appointees.

Carola Rinker, an economist and consultant who has studied accounting fraud, said several factors might have hindered BaFin and its auditors, EY. One is the complexity of Wirecards business model, which involves handling cashless payments among a complex network of credit card companies, merchants and and banks.

Another is that, unlike an industrial company, much of the value listed on Wirecards balance sheet was in the form of intangible financial factors such as accounting goodwill and customer relationships.

Rinker said that such intangibles were high at Wirecard, amounting to 1.4 billion euros out of a 5.8 billion euros on the balance sheet. She contrasted Wirecard with the 2000 scandal over FlowTex, which borrowed 2 billion euros on the basis of drilling machines  a tangible asset  that didnt exist. The problem with intangibles is that you cannot see their existence because they are not physical, so it is more difficult to show their value, she said.

Those are complexities and issues BaFin head Hufeld will have a chance to discuss soon. He is scheduled to appear next week before the finance committee in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament.
China expects Australia to be "compliant" with its aggressive foreign policy moves, treating it not as an equal in power but as a weaker country, according to former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

In an exclusive interview with The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Turnbull also said China had developed islands in the South China Sea to such an extent that, short of "kinetic action" or warfare, there was nothing south-east Asian countries  or the United States, Japan and Australia  could do to demilitarise them.

Malcolm Turnbull says countries need to keep pressure on China and refuse its claims over much of the South China Sea. Credit:Nic Walker

China had "created facts on the ground, above the water, in a way that is quite contrary to international law", Mr Turnbull said.

"That's been determined by the court in The Hague. Unless you are prepared to take kinetic action, there is nothing you can do about those islands," he said referring to The Philippines' 2016 win in the International Court, which ruled against China's claim to historic rights over most of the South China Sea.
Actor-filmmaker Shekhar Suman has revealed that he has started a forum to demand a probe by the CBI in actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death. Shekhar also wrote all efforts must be made to ensure that such a tragedy is avoided in a future.

Taking to Twitter, Shekhar wrote, Its crystal clear,if presuming Sushant Singh committed suicide,the way he was,strong willed and intelligent, he would have definitely definitely left a suicide note.My heart tells me,like many others,there is more than meets the eye. Sushant was a Bihari thats why the Bihari sentiment is at the forefront.But im not taking away the fact that it concerns ppl from all the states of India and there shldnt be another Sushant kind of tragedy with any young talent trying to make it on his own.

Sushant was a Bihari that's why the Bihari sentiment is at the forefront.But im not taking away the fact that it concerns ppl from all the states of India and there shldnt be another Sushant kind of tragedy with any young talent trying to make it on his own.  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 23, 2020

It's crystal clear,if presuming Sushant Singh committed suicide,the way he was,strong willed and intelligent, he would have definitely definitely left a suicide https://t.co/DAWaU1WPiT heart tells me,like many others,there is more than meets the eye.  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 23, 2020

He further wrote, Im forming a Forum called #justiceforSushantforum.where i implore just about ev one to pressurize the govt to launch a CBI inquiry into Sushants death,raise their voices against this kind of tyranny n gangism and tear down the mafias.i solicit your support.

Im forming a Forum called #justiceforSushantforum.where i implore just about ev one to pressurize the govt to launch a CBI inquiry into Sushant's death,raise their voices against this kind of tyranny n gangism and tear down the mafias.i solicit your support.  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 23, 2020

Sushant was found dead in his Mumbai residence on June 14. Mumbai Police have conformed death by suicide and that the actor was battling depression. His death have again brought focus on nepotism and cliques in the industry, with many believing that the actor was ostracised by the Bollywood privilege club.

Also read: Irrfan Khans son Babil issues appeal: Rebel against nepotism, but dont use Sushant Singh Rajput as a reason

Shekhar had earlier written on Twitter, A young life snuffed out..i remember him as an effervescent fun loving guy with no hang ups,loving, http://lovable.my competitor in Jhalak Dikhla Ja,from my home town Patna. i wish you fought your demons RIP Sushant Singh Rajput.

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The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it has obtained a final judgment by consent against Pennsylvania attorney Todd H. Lahr for orchestrating a $1.4 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded at least 10 retail investors, including his own law clients.

The SEC's complaint, filed on March 24, 2020 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, alleged that Lahr, together with co-defendant Thomas Megas of Switzerland, targeted Lahr's clients to raise funds for several Megas-led business ventures, including mining operations in Papua New Guinea and real estate investments in Barcelona and London. Instead, Lahr and Megas allegedly used investor funds to pay earlier investors and for various personal expenses, including Lahr's mortgage payments and credit card bills and Megas' restaurant bills and ATM withdrawals.

In a parallel criminal action by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Fraud Section of the Department of Justice, Lahr pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

The final judgment against Lahr permanently enjoins him from violating the registration provisions of Sections 5(a) and (c) of the Securities Act of 1933, and the antifraud provisions of Sections 17(a)(1) and (3) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 10b-5(a) and (c) thereunder. The final judgment also orders Lahr to disgorge ill-gotten gains of $976,879 plus $179,888 in prejudgment interest, for a total of $1,156,767, which will be offset by the forfeiture and restitution ordered in the parallel criminal action.

In a related administrative proceeding, the SEC today issued an order permanently suspending Lahr from appearing and practicing before the SEC as an attorney.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Jonathan Shapiro, Sonia Torrico, and Cecilia Connor, with assistance from Donato Furlano, and supervised by Carolyn Welshhans and Amy Friedman. The SEC's litigation, which continues against Megas, is being handled by Matthew Scarlato and supervised by Jan Folena. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fraud Section of the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Southern Companys SO subsidiary Southern Power recently announced that its 200-MW Reading Wind Facility in Osage and Lyon Counties, KS became active. Being the first wind project in the state of Kansas, this facility exhibits the companys commitment toward the developing wind energy and is an impressive addition to its growing renewable fleet.

Southern Power, which acquired the Reading wind project in August 2018 from developer Renewable Energy Systems Ltd, is the 11th wind park in Southern Powers portfolio comprising 4,510 megawatt (MW) of renewable energy assets, of which more than 2,100 MW are wind farms. The Southern Company unit will oversee the operations and maintenance of the plant while Siemens Gamesa will supply annual maintenance services.

This project is the first to-be-approved carbon offset project under the Verified Carbon Standard Program through an agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises RCL. Besides, the carbon offsets generated will be sold to Royal Caribbean under a 12-year power purchase contract. This initiative is projected to reduce more than 10% of Royal Caribbeans carbon emissions annually.

Last month, the Southern Companyaffiliate purchased the 56 MW Beech Ridge Wind Facility from Invenergy, a Chicago-based developer, owner and operator of power- generation assets and energy solutions. The Beech Ridge II project is Southern Powers 13th wind scheme and its first venture in the Mid-Atlantic region.

With this acquisition, Southern Power, which is an Atlanta wholesale energy provider, became the majority owner of Beech Ridge II project while a minor stake will be held by Invenergy. The electricity generated as well as the related renewable energy credits are being sold under a 12-year power purchase pact.

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Southern Power, a Southern Company arm, primarily engages in developing, owning and managing power-generation assets including renewable energy projects. This apart, it sells electricity at market-based rates in the wholesale market.

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A pedestrian walks past a storefront for rent on Madison Avenue, in New York on March 19, 2020. (Mary Altaffer/AP Photo)

Travelers to NY, New Jersey, Connecticut Are Told to Isolate

NEW YORKThe governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut announced on Wednesday that visitors from states with high CCP virus infection rates must self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

We now have to make sure the rates continue to drop, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday at a video briefing with Govs. Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Ned Lamont of Connecticut. We also have to make sure the virus doesnt come on a plane again.

As of Wednesday, states over the threshold were Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington, Cuomo told reporters.

What was presented as a travel advisory affects three adjacent Northeastern states that after time were able to check the spread of the virus this spring as New York City became a hot spot for the pandemic.

And the governors are now warily eying other states with rising caseloads, trying to keep history from repeating itself.

This is a smart thing to do, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said via video at a joint news conference in New York City. We have taken our people, the three of us from these three states, through hell and back, and the last thing we need to do right now is subject our folks to another round.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy tours an emergency field hospital being prepared at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, N.J., on April 2, 2020. (Michael Mancuso/Getty Images)

The states health departments will provide details of how the rule will work, Murphy said. Visitors to New York from affected states will be informed that they need to quarantine and that violators could face a mandatory quarantine and a fine, Cuomo said.

The quarantine is voluntary but urgent guidance, Lamont said at a briefing in Hartford, noting it will be enforced differently in each state. Connecticut is considering putting up signs at entry points and getting the word out via social media.

The announcement comes as summer travel to the states beaches, parks and other attractionsnot to mention New York Citywould normally swing into high gear.

New York was for a time the epicenter of the CCP virus outbreak but has since lowered its infection rate after locking down much of its economy.

We had the worst infection rate. The rate of transmission was the highest. We now have the lowest rate of transmission, Cuomo said last week, citing new lows in the number of hospitalizations and deaths.

Our number of hospitalizations, lowest level since we started, amen, 1,400, Cuomo said. Number of deaths, 17 deaths in the state of New York. 17. Lowest number since we started.

Reuters and Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.
Could there soon be a real city named Flavortown?

That could happen if Tyler Woodbridge gets his wish. The 32-year-old, who spent seven years of his life in Columbus, Ohio, has started a petition to rename the city in honor of Columbus native Guy Fieri, according to The Hill.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the petition has received more than 75,000 signatures.

Fieri refers to a fictional town as Flavortown on his shows on The Food Network, especially on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. In fact, he is the self-proclaimed Mayor of Flavortown.

Columbus is an amazing city, but one whose name is tarnished by the very name itself. Its namesake, Christopher Columbus, is in The Bad Place because of all his raping, slave trading, and genocide. Thats not exactly a proud legacy, the petition states, referring to a line from the NBC series The Good Place and passages in the explorers own diary describing atrocities committed on the island of Hispaniola.

Why not rename the city Flavortown? For one, it honors Central Ohios proud heritage as a culinary crossroads and one of the nations largest test markets for the food industry. Secondly, chef and celebrity Guy Fieri was born in Columbus according to the petition.

Im Guy Fieri and I approve this Tweet.



: https://t.co/N6NSC1Ph4t pic.twitter.com/bSYNjWMZux  Guy Fieri (@GuyFieri) June 23, 2020

Fieri was indeed born in Columbus on Jan. 22, 1968, as Guy Ramsay Ferry. He grew up in Ferndale, California. When Fieri got married in 1995, he changed his surname from Ferry to Fieri as an ode to his paternal grandfather, Giuseppe Fieri, an Italian immigrant who had modified his surname to Ferry upon his arrival in the United States.

Even though its my favorite city, I was always a bit ashamed of the name, Tyler Woodbridge, who started the petition, told CNN.

Woodbridge also said that Fieris charitable work on behalf of restaurant workers has made him a worthy namesake for the city. It is estimated that Fieri has helped raise more than $20 million for those who lost work or wages during the coronavirus pandemic through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

"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.

The CNN report states that the petition has grabbed the attention of Bud Light, which has offered to distribute free Bud Light Seltzers to all city residents if the petition is successful.
Press Release

June 24, 2020 Speech by SEN. PANFILO M. LACSON

Management Association for the Philippines 2nd Webinar on the Anti-Terrorism Bill

More at: https://pinglacson.net/2020/06/24/speech-at-the-webinar-of-the-management-association-of-the-philippines/ The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) President Francis Lim, National Issues Committee Chair Rizalina Mantaring, respected members of this great association, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. When two great legal minds clash, not symmetrically, nor tangentially, but squarely, as in head-on, what do laymen like me and probably some of you in this virtual gathering, do? I am referring to your last week's guest, retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on the one hand, and on the other - an equally eminent legal eagle, a former Justice Secretary, and also my colleague in the Senate - Minority Leader Franklin Drilon. Let me explain. The records of the Senate archives will tell us that the phrase "having been duly authorized in writing by the Anti-Terrorism Council..." under Section 29, which is now being challenged as unconstitutional by Justice Carpio as well as IBP President Domingo Egon Cayosa, was actually Senator Franklin Drilon's amendment in the Human Security Act of 2007, later accepted by another giant in the legal profession, the sponsor of the Human Security Act of 2007, former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, and is merely being retained in the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. The legislative intent of the bill is clearly to premise Section 29 on a valid warrantless arrest, as also lawfully allowed in other crimes that are not related to terrorism. The provision is compliant with Rule 113, Section 5 of the Revised Rules of Court. Under the proposed Anti-Terrorism Law, a warrantless arrest is allowed under the same circumstances as in any other crime, by virtue of: (a) in flagrante delicto arrest; and (b) a hot pursuit arrest. It was never the intention of Congress to amend the rules on warrantless arrest or what we also refer to as a citizen's arrest. The same phrase contained in Section 18, (entitled "Period of Detention in the Event of an Actual or Imminent Terrorist Attack") of the Human Security Act of 2007 and which has the same language of Section 29 of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, was voted favorably by a number of distinguished legal experts and luminaries, among others, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Without taking anything away from the honorable Justice Carpio, who I respect and admire, I would prefer to go along with my former and present colleagues in the Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, not only because of the power of overwhelming numbers, but more so, I am absolutely certain these legislators as well as their respective legislative staffs and legal researchers had diligently studied, researched, and scrutinized a landmark measure like the Human Security Act of 2007 before casting their affirmative votes, as this is the usual and time-honored practice in legislative work. Nothing less could be said of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as proposed. I must tell you this: my own legislative staff - all six of them, lawyers in their own right, and in further consultation with counter-terrorism experts both local and foreign, notably from Australia and the United States, unarguably countries with strong democracies - burned the proverbial midnight oils to help me ably defend this measure on the Senate floor for seven straight session days of intense interpellations and three days of back-and-forth period of amendments by many of my colleagues, including such distinguished members of the Bar as eminently qualified as Justice Carpio and Atty. Cayosa, such as Senators Drilon, himself a Bar placer; Koko Pimentel, a Bar topnotcher; Francis Tolentino, Richard Gordon, to name some of them. Justice Carpio has acknowledged that Section 18, similarly worded as Section 29 of the Anti-Terror Bill, has NOT been ruled unconstitutional by the High Court. Sadly, he said it in another way, the reason of which he alone would know. For the life of me, I could not understand why the honorable Justice thinks this argument works for his cause when the Supreme Court is clear on the matter of "presumption of constitutionality." To underscore, the Supreme Court, in Tano vs Socrates, GR No. 110249 dated August 21, 1997 ruled, and I quote: "It is of course settled that laws (including ordinances enacted by local government units) enjoy the presumption of constitutionality. To overthrow this presumption, there must be a clear and unequivocal breach of the Constitution, not merely a doubtful or argumentative contradiction. In short, the conflict with the Constitution must be shown beyond reasonable doubt. Where doubt exists, even if well-founded, there can be no finding of unconstitutionality. To doubt is to sustain." It is difficult to understand why a former justice would not know such basic and significant jurisprudence. Anyway, to allay any fears, Section 29 ensures safeguards to avoid abuses by requiring a written notification to be immediately given to the judge of the court nearest to the place of arrest, with copy furnished to the Anti-Terrorism Council. We have proposed that the same notification be also provided to the Commission on Human Rights - a requirement not present under the Human Security Act of 2007. On its face, it may appear downright stupid and a virtual disaster to be locking horns with a recently retired justice of the Supreme Court, hailed by some of his colleagues in the bench as "the best Chief Justice they never had," and the incumbent president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Atty. Cayosa, especially on legal matters, even touching on some very delicate constitutional issues. Worse, it is not a three-cornered debate, but two against one who is not even a lawyer. But why am I doing this, and gamely at that? My explanation is simple enough. Somehow, I have this habit of standing my ground when I am backed by hard facts to argue my case. I don't stand down when I know I am right. In the same talk during a webinar last June 17, the honorable Justice Carpio emphasized the inviolable fundamental rights that no less than the Constitution has clearly expressed: first is that only a judge can issue warrants of arrest; and second, that warrants of arrest must be issued only upon probable cause. I have no argument on this. Neither is there anything in the Anti-Terrorism Bill that says otherwise. But what I will argue, is his averment that the proposed measure blatantly transgresses such fundamental rights. Let me be clear at the outset: the Anti-Terrorism Bill does not allow encroachment by the executive (particularly the Anti-Terrorism Council) on the court's exercise of judicial powers, such as the issuance of warrants of arrest; nor does it propose to amend Rule 113, Section 5 of the Revised Rules of Court by adding another circumstance in the conduct of a valid and lawful warrantless arrest. This is contrary to Justice Carpio and other critics' oft-repeated claims that Section 29, which I think is the most assailed provision of the proposed measure, allows the Anti-Terrorism Council, a body composed of officials from the Executive Department to give a written authority to police and military personnel to arrest without warrant any person on mere suspicion of being a terrorist. Nothing can be further from the truth. I will belabor these points later on. As we have anticipated, the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill stirs heated debates. Rightly so - we encourage public discourse, especially among the Filipino masses, for a proposed measure as important as the Anti-Terrorism Bill. But unfortunately, the course of the opposing views and opinions unfairly devalues the measure on many fronts, largely because of the various misconceptions, disinformation and misinformation. Hence, as the principal sponsor and one of the authors of the bill, it is incumbent upon me to take every available platform to shed light on the legislative intent and merit of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, and how it is fundamentally founded on the rule of law and protection of basic civil rights, contrary to the massive disinformation which has already gained traction especially on social media. Allow me to debunk these false claims against Section 29 of the bill, by stating these facts: First, a law enforcer cannot arrest or detain a person on mere suspicion alone. Justice Carpio has stretched his qualms over the bill by citing my statement during a Senate deliberation. He said, and I quote: "In the exact words of the principal author of the law, even if hindi naman siya nag-commit ng crime, hindi pa nangyari, puwede na natin arestuhin." Unintentionally or not, he ignored the context of my response to the interpellation of Senator Gordon. The statement nitpicked by Justice Carpio was in reference to acts preparatory to the commission of terrorism. As we deal with the crime of terrorism, we need to adopt proactive measures that will prevent even the planning phase of the crime. Thus, I explained that under the proposal, we included the proposition to penalize INCHOATE OFFENSES, or preparatory acts that are deemed criminal even without the actual harm being done, provided that the harm that would have occurred is one the law tries to prevent, such as terrorism. Preparatory acts, as a rule, are not punishable unless - I repeat, UNLESS - these acts are punishable in themselves as independent crimes. It is for this reason that the Revised Penal Code specifically provides that conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion, treason, insurrection and coup d'etat are indeed, crimes. We added planning, training, preparing and facilitating the commission of terrorism under Section 6 as INCHOATE OFFENSES punishable under the bill pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1373, which states that planning and preparation, among others, are established as serious criminal offenses in domestic laws, and that the punishment should duly reflect the seriousness of such terrorist acts. In these enumerated acts, an inchoate offense is being performed towards the accomplishment of the desired purpose that is - terrorism. Hence, these acts are criminal in nature. It does negate Justice Carpio's assertion that under the bill, one can be arrested without doing any criminal act. Let me ask you: When one lays out the plan when and where to detonate a bomb, trains youngsters how to use guns against our uniformed men as well as unarmed civilians and facilitates the conduct of coordinated attacks without being present in the actual 'act' of terrorism, and which has not occurred yet, and with a clear intent or purpose as enumerated under the definition of terrorism, are they not considered criminals? Do you honestly think people responsible for preparing the grand, vicious acts of terrorism do not deserve to be behind bars? Kapag nakita ng mga pulis habang nagpapatrolya, in plain view sa isang liblib na lugar sa kagubatan ng Sulu o Basilan na may mga nagtitipon-tipon at nagsasagawa ng pagsasanay at pagpaplano ng sabay-sabay na pagpapasabog ng iba't-ibang pasilidad ng irigasyon at tore ng linya ng kuryente, pati ang ilang simbahang Katoliko at mga palengke - kumpleto ang mga sketches sa mapa kung saan ang mga lokasyon ng targets nila, kasama na ang improvised suicide vests at detonating devices - ang gusto bang mangyari ng butihing dating mahistrado ay maghintay muna ang mga pulis na may mangyaring aktwal na pagsabog at pagkikitil ng buhay ng maraming inosenteng sibilyan bago nila isagawa ang panghuhuli sa mga taong halos nasa harapan na nila? Hindi ba krimen nang maituturing ang ganung gawain kahit hindi pa nagaganap ang malawakang pagpapasabog? Yan po ay isa lamang halimbawa ng INCHOATE OFFENSE na hinahangad na maparusahan sa ilalim ng panukalang batas na Anti-Terrorism Law. Kayo na po ang humusga. Moving on. If the ATC has no authority to order an arrest based on suspicion, it clearly has no authority to detain suspected terrorists and much more, fix the period of detention to 14 days, extendible to another 10 days. The proposed period of detention of up to 14 days, provided in the bill itself, and its extension to another 10 days is to be treated as a policy decision of Congress after considering the unique nature and effects of the crime of terrorism. To emphasize, the allowable periods of detention are determined by Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code, a general law which can be amended by Congress. Looking back at the deliberations of the Constitutional Commission in 1986, records would show that the ConCom delegates did not have any intention of restricting the powers of Congress to fix the allowable period of detention arising from an arrest. Clearly, the three-day limitation to deny a person the privilege to file a petition for the writ of habeas corpus was incorporated in the provisions of Article VII, Section 18 of the Constitution as a "safeguard" in case the President, in the exercise of his powers, suspends the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code mandates the law enforcer to deliver an arrested person to the proper judicial authorities through the inquest prosecutor within the allowable period of detention. Why do some lawyers insist that Section 18, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution and Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code are the same? Applying the theory of strict construction, we should follow the word of the law to its strictest sense when technical terms have been used and there should be no room for further interpretation. The express mention of the crimes of rebellion and invasion, qualified by the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, clearly excludes all other crimes from Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution on detention pursuant to the age-old legal maxim, "expressio unius est exclusio alterius" (When one or more things of a class are expressly mentioned, others of the same class are excluded). Simply stated: What the law does not include, it excludes. Secondly, the Anti-Terrorism Council's "written authority" under Section 29 is NOT AN AUTHORITY to order an arrest. As I have mentioned, the Anti-Terrorism Bill strictly complies with lawful warrantless arrest by virtue of the in flagrante delicto and hot pursuit rule under the Revised Rules of Court - in both cases, the arrests are immediate in nature. That said, it is illogical, inconsistent and even absurd to think that the ATC will issue a "written authorization" to an arresting officer before effecting the warrantless arrest granting the immediacy and spontaneousness of the circumstances leading to the arrest. Further, when we asked Director General Alex Monteagudo of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), which is the Secretariat of the ATC, he said that never since the passage of HSA in 2007 has the agency released a "written authority" to law enforcers to arrest or detain suspected terrorists. Isn't that enough proof that the written authority mentioned in Sec. 18 of the Human Security Act of 2007, as similarly written in Section 29 of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, is never intended to authorize the ATC to order an arrest? In actual fact, the written authority issued by the ATC under Section 29 of the ATB is to be directed to its duly designated deputies such as law enforcement agents and military personnel specially tasked and trained to handle the "custodial investigation" involving violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as proposed, considering the complexities and nature of terrorism. Not all police officers are trained interrogators and investigators, especially involving a crime as complex and complicated as an act of terrorism. These specially trained law enforcement officers and military personnel shall need a written authority to be deputized by the ATC to perform such tasks. Atty. Cayosa, in his letter-reply to this representation, stated that "Section 29 could not refer to allowable warrantless arrest under Rule 113 because anyone can actually effect a warrantless arrest under Rule 113 without any need for any written authority from anyone." While it is true that anyone can effect a warrantless arrest - in fact, even a civilian can effect a warrantless arrest - not everybody is trained to properly conduct a custodial investigation particularly of a crime as complex as terrorism. Atty. Cayosa remains adamant in his own interpretation of Section 29 of the ATB, notwithstanding receipt of my letter addressing his concerns. The term "custody" in Section 29 of the Anti-Terrorism Bill pertains to the lawful custody after a valid warrantless arrest pursuant to Section 5, Rule 113 of the Revised Rules of Court. It is only after a valid warrantless arrest that the law enforcement agent or military personnel, authorized in writing by the ATC, may conduct a custodial investigation. Section 29 does NOT amend the Rules on Warrantless Arrest. Section 29 seeks to provide an exception to the periods stated in Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code with regard to the crime of terrorism. Third, the Anti-Terrorism Council CANNOT order a law enforcement agent or military personnel to conduct electronic or technical surveillance of suspected terrorist groups or individuals. Another misinformation is the proposition that the Anti-Terrorism Council shall be the sole arbiter in determining "terrorists" based on their assessment of "suspicious" activities like the expression of dissent against the government. Please note that the ATC is not a creation of this legislative measure as it has been existing since the passage of the Human Security Act of 2007 and still functions to this day as a policy-making body. Moreover, by express provision of Section 45, particularly the last paragraph thereof, it is expressly stated that: "Nowhere herein shall be interpreted to empower the ATC to exercise any judicial or quasi-judicial power or authority." Thus, under the bill, it is not the ATC but the Court of Appeals that grants judicial authorization for the conduct of electronic and technical surveillance of suspected terrorist groups or individuals. A look at Sections 16 and 17 of the proposed measure would show that the only duty of the Anti-Terrorism Council in this regard is to authorize a law enforcement agent or military personnel TO FILE an ex parte application with the Court of Appeals to conduct electronic and technical surveillance of suspected terrorist groups or individuals, the reason being, again, to prevent possible indiscriminate filing of the ex parte application for such judicial authorization. Lastly, the Anti-Terrorism Council's authority to "designate" terrorist individuals and organizations does not authorize arrest and detention. On the provision for "Designation of Terrorist Individual, Group of Persons, Organizations or Associations" under Section 25, Justice Carpio argues that, and I quote: "once so designated, the individual can now be arrested upon order of the ATC because the individual is engaged in terrorism." This is not only inaccurate. This is plain and simple wrong. Arrests, same as detention, are not intended consequences of "designation." Designation is purely an executive and administrative process intended to trigger the issuance of a "freeze order" of properties and assets of designated terrorist individuals or terrorist organizations or associations. In fact, not a single mention of the word "arrest" is found under Section 25 of the bill. A thorough reading and analysis of the provisions in the proposed measure will prove former Justice Carpio dead wrong in his assertion. Designation serves as a mechanism to trigger the enforcement of targeted financial sanctions currently lacking in our present law. This mechanism, made possible only through an order issued by the Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLC), not the Anti-Terrorism Council - I repeat, not the Anti-Terrorism Council - could stop the flow and use of funds or assets to terrorist organizations or associations. As businessmen, you all know how important accessible and easy financial transactions are in our day-to-day functions. Terrorism in the Philippines works the same way, with financing as the lifeblood of their terrorist operations and networks. More so, "freezing of assets" under this proposed measure is not a new feature under the bill. As mentioned by President Lim in his opening statement, the proviso is also actually consistent with the existing provision of Section 11 of RA 10168, known as the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. We deemed it important to include "designation of terrorists" under the bill to comply with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 and for the purpose of preventing designated terrorists from accessing their funding by freezing their accounts so the same cannot be used to carry out a terrorist attack. Contrary to claims that the bill does not expressly provide a remedy for persons or groups whose accounts were frozen, a designated person is allowed under this measure to question the freeze order by filing the necessary petition with the Court of Appeals. We even added a provision under this bill, not present under the HSA of 2007 to allow partial withdrawal of frozen funds/assets for humanitarian reasons as well as for reasonable family needs and sustenance of the designated person. Ano pa ba ang gusto nila, Mr. President? With respect to Justice Carpio, he must have confused "designation" with "proscription" of terrorist groups, organizations or associations. Designation is administrative and not criminal in nature. To effect an arrest, a designated terrorist group or organization must first be proscribed. Proscription under Section 26 requires court intervention where a full-blown hearing will take place before a group or organization may be considered a terrorist organization. It may be done only upon an application filed by the DOJ before the Court of Appeals, with due notice and opportunity to be heard given to the suspected terrorist groups or organizations or associations. Even membership in a proscribed terrorist organization goes through the same due process of law where the burden is on the DOJ to prove. As a legislator who has advocated accountability and transparency through and through, I have personally valued public discourse and critical thinking to all the matters of the State. This is, after all, the cornerstone of democracy. Lest we forget, as we speak, our country ranks 9th among countries in the world that were most negatively impacted by terrorism based on the Global Terrorism Index released in 2019. Needless to say, terrorism generates a circle of fear that broadens and widens through time and across borders. When a church or a building or a public transport system blows up, killing tens and hundreds of unknowing passers-by, everyone shares the sense of "It could have been me." It sows fear and violence so broad and indiscriminate that everyone, literally you and I, could fall prey to these heinous acts of terrorism which are bound by a single, evident truth: Terrorism puts innocent lives in peril. Hence, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as a proposed bill has one clear message: To "terrorists" who commit crimes against the Filipino people, against humanity, and against the Law of Nations, our policy will be one that is swift, effective and constitutional. In conclusion, let me leave you with a simple quote from British philosopher John Stuart Mill: "A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury." Again, I wish to thank all the officers and members of the Management Association of the Philippines for this opportunity. I am now ready to answer questions from the members.
A research team from The University of Texas at El Paso has made strides in understanding how memories are formed through the brain mechanisms of fruit flies, findings that could enhance our understanding of brain disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and substance addiction, according to an article published in the highly renowned Journal of Neuroscience.

The article, titled "Concerted Actions of Octopamine and Dopamine Receptors Drive Olfactory Learning," focuses on flexible behavioral choices that are shaped by experiences and cognitive memory processes of fruit flies in a laboratory setting.

The study was led by Kyung-An Han, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences and director of the Master of Arts in Teaching Science (MATS) program at UTEP; brothers John Martin Sabandal, a UTEP graduate who is currently a doctoral student at Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida, and Paul Rafael Sabandal, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in Han's laboratory.

Martin Sabandal was an undergraduate student in Han's research lab when he performed research that contributed to the study. A former postdoctoral associate, Youngcho Kim, Ph.D., who is currently a faculty member at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, is also a co-author of the study.

The research team identified the actions of the neurotransmitters octopamine and dopamine as a key neural mechanism for associative learning in fruit flies.

This is vital for animals to appropriately respond to the cues predicting benefit or harm. If animals cannot promptly learn and remember the cues, they would not be able to survive or have a decent quality of life.

"I am beyond thrilled about this work getting published," John Martin Sabandal said.

"We expanded our knowledge about the importance of aminergic signaling for olfactory learning in fruit flies. This represents a significant finding in the invertebrate field since octopamine was previously shown to be only important for positively-reinforced learning. This publication was a culmination of the hard work spent during my undergraduate years at UTEP."

Paul Sabandal said olfactory conditioning in fruit flies has greatly contributed to an overall understanding of the mechanisms underlying associative learning and memory.

Historically, in fruit flies, dopamine is implicated in both punishment- and reward-based learning while octopamine is widely considered to be essential only for reward.

"This pioneering work serves as an essential framework for future studies to delineate the signals and circuits that shape appropriate behavioral choices important for fitness and survival," he said.

"We strongly believe that our study advanced not only the learning and memory field but may have implications on related disciplines including dementia and addiction."

Han said the study may help enhance our understanding of the brain disorders with anomalous memories such as PTSD (augmented memory on traumatic events), addiction (intensified memory on drug-associated cues), or learning disabilities (impaired memory).

"Many aspects of our behaviors are the representations of our memories that are formed by associating information or stimuli that we experience," Han said.

For example, celebrities are often featured in commercial advertisements, which is because we tend to associate their social status or star power with product values. This is a typical case of classical conditioning for associative learning and memory." Kyung-An Han, Ph.D, Professor of Biological Sciences and Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching Science (MATS) program, University of Texas at El Paso

"Our study tackles the key question of how the association is occurring in the brain using the genetic model Drosophila melanogaster, or fruit flies."

Kim added that fruit flies provided an excellent primer for the research team to uncover their findings.

"Associative learning is a fundamental form of behavioral plasticity," Kim said. "Drosophila provides a powerful system to uncover the mechanisms for learning and memory."

The University of Texas at El Paso is one of the largest and most successful Hispanic-serving institutions in the country, with a student body that is over 80% Hispanic. It enrolls more than 25,000 students in 166 bachelor's, master, and doctoral programs in 10 colleges and schools.

With $108 million in total annual research expenditures, UTEP is ranked in the top 5% of research institutions nationally and fifth in Texas for federal research expenditures at public universities.
The US government is doubling the reward offered for information on the whereabouts of the man believed to be the current leader of the Islamic State (IS, or ISIS).

I am pleased today to announce the State Department has increased our reward offer, now up to $10 million, for information about the new leader of ISIS, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters Wednesday.

Amir Muhammad Said Abdal-Rahman al-Mawla, also known as Hajji Abdallah and Abu-Umar al-Turkmani, is listed as a specially designated global terrorist by the United States and is also sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council.

The US State Department describes him as one of IS's most senior ideologues who led some of the groups global operations and helped orchestrate the slaughter and trafficking of the Yazidi religious minority in Iraq.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's replacement as IS chief is shrouded in mystery. Shortly after the US commando raid that killed Baghdadi in October, an IS spokesperson announced that Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi would take over as the groups new caliph. US officials believe al-Qurayshi is a nom de guerre for Mawla, although there is some skepticism over his true identity.

A United Nations report from January noted Mawlas Turkmen ethnicity indicates he might only be a temporary choice until the group finds a more legitimate emir who is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad's Quraysh tribe, which IS considers a prerequisite for its leader.

Why it matters: The hunt for Mawla comes as IS, unable to hold territory in Iraq and Syria, continues to wage what the Pentagon describes as a low-level insurgency."

More than a year after losing its last pocket of territory in Syria, the terrorist group is reasserting itself with an increasing number of attacks in Syrias eastern provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah and Raqqa. The Rojava Information Center reports IS sleeper cells killed 36 people in the month of May, mostly through roadside bombs.

In neighboring Iraq, the militants have reverted to insurgent tactics and exploited the security vacuum in areas contested by the central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government. IS has also conducted attacks on the Shiite-led Popular Mobilization Units not far from the capital city of Baghdad.

Whats next: Amid the resurgence of IS attacks in Iraq, US troops have withdrawn from several smaller bases in the country. The United States, which maintains some 5,000 troops in Iraq to advise and train partner forces, has said it will continue reducing the American military presence in the coming months. A number of coalition countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain and France, have also downsized their training missions over coronavirus concerns.

Know more: Shelly Kittleson takes a look at the joint operation to rout out IS sleeper cells in Kirkuk, and Jared Szuba has the story on a recent US drone strike in northwest Syria that killed two members of the al-Qaeda-linked Huras al-Din group.
Cambodias government on Wednesday launched an emergency cash transfer program for impoverished families hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, drawing the support of international donors, but criticism from observers who said the package is too small to be of much help.

In announcing the countrys first cash-transfer package, Prime Minister Hun Sen said it will provide funding to 562,686 familiesor some 2.3 million Cambodianswho are classified as poor and vulnerable by the Ministry of Planning.

According to Hun Sen, the first round of the cash transfer will be distributed in the fourth week of the month in both June and July, at which point a government assessment will determine if it is still required, based on the situation of the outbreak in the country. If it is no longer deemed necessary, the remainder of the budget will be used to improve the economy, he said.

The government is expected to distribute around U.S. $25 million per month via the transfer, he said, but the public should not expect to rely on handouts forever.

I would like to remind you that the stimulus package is for helping the poor who are being affected by the  pandemic, but we need to avoid creating a habit in which people solely rely on the government, Hun Sen warned.

The prime minister said he is plans to spend U.S. $30-40 million to register the poor to make sure that no one starves to death, without elaborating.

The eligible recipients are made up of families classified as level 1 and 2 of the Ministry of Plannings Identification of Poor Households (IDPoor) Program, who are further divided by whether they are urban or rural residents.

Level 1 families are from the suburbs of the capital Phnom Penh and will receive U.S. $30, including an additional U.S. $10 per family member and another U.S. $10 for any children under the age of five, people with disabilities, senior citizens, or those who are HIV/AIDS positive.

Level 2 families are from within Phnom Penh municipality and will also receive U.S. $30, with an additional U.S. $7 per family member from the remaining categories.

Level 1 and 2 families from rural areas will each get U.S. $20 per household and U.S. $6 and U.S. $4 for family members from the remaining categories, respectively.

Donors welcome package

In a joint statement, Australia and Germany welcomed the initiative through the IDPoor program, which the two governments donate funds in support of through German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), calling the launching of the countrys first large-scale cash transfer program a historic moment for Cambodia.

Pablo Kang, Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, said Canberra is committed to working with a broad range of partners to improve the lives of all Cambodians.

We congratulate the Royal Government of Cambodia for utilizing the IDPoor database, which Australia has helped to establish over the past decade, in order to target cash transfers towards those most in need, Kang said.

German Ambassador to Cambodia Christian Berger applauded Cambodias government for having successfully managed the health crisis of the coronavirus outbreak, which has led to only 130 confirmed infections, and turning its attention to its socio-economic impact.

The planned cash-transfer is a very effective instrument: It targets those in need and at the same time accelerates consumption, which helps the overall economy, he said.

I am proud that with support from Germany and Australia the Cambodian Government has now a system in place to assist directly poor and vulnerable people.

Hun Sen said earlier this month that the economy was expected to contract by 1.9 percent in 2020, as the pandemic hit garment and footwear exports, as well as tourism, construction and agriculture. International Monetary Fund (IMF) figures show Cambodias nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was U.S. $1,620 in 2019, ninth among the 10-nation ASEAN group.

Too little, too late

However, critics of the cash transfer program said the governments action had come too late to be of use to the public.

Vorn Pao, president of the Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), told RFAs Khmer Service that the government should have begun assisting people in March, when the outbreak began causing factory shutdowns and layoffs.

Additionally, he said, the money will do little to help people cover their monthly expenses, noting that residents of Phnom Penh need at least U.S. $300 to meet their needs while those in rural areas require at least U.S $190.

He also condemned Hun Sen for warning the public against depending on the government to provide financial assistance.

Cambodia is not like the U.S. and the EU, which provide unemployment benefits [ to their citizens], he said.

So far, the people have had to rely on their hard work because no one will support them.

Mu Sochua, deputy president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), told RFA that Hun Sen waited until the last minute to provide people with just enough help to ensure that they dont die.

Hun Sen is giving the people a drop of water at a time, she said.

The money isnt Hun Sensit is part of the government budget.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
North Koreas military vowed last week to reoccupy border zones that had been demilitarized under agreements with the South. The Korean Peoples Army had said it would resume military exercises and reestablish guard posts in the border areas where troops had previously been withdrawn as part of a tension-reducing agreement with South Korea.
critic's rating: 3.5/5

Trailer : Bulbbul

Anvita Dutt, who has also written the film, has made a prodigious directorial debut with Bulbbul. The film combines the classic elements of Gothic horror with the sensibilities of a Rabindranath Tagore story. The film is big on thriller elements and is a hugely feminist product as well. The film makes you think that Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt and Satyajit Ray are Anvitas idols. The film makes you think of the eerie atmosphere of Roys Madhumati (1958). The Badi bahu reference is straight from Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) and the female gaze is reminiscent of Rays immortal Charulata (1964). The English title of Charulata was The Lonely Wife. And thats the case here as well.Bulbbul (Tripti Dimri) the child bride, is married off to Thakur Indraneel (Rahul Bose), who is at least 20 years her senior. She grows up with Satya (Avinash Tiwary), who is somewhat of her age. They both are fond of telling ghost stories to each other. Indraneel has another brother, his twin Mahendra (Rahul Bose), who is mentally retarded. Hes married off to Binodini (Paoli Dam), who is almost a second wife to Indraneel. Bulbbul is completely isolated in the large mansion of Indraneel. She has no one to talk to except Satya. A jealous Indraneel sends him off to England for further studies and shes completely alone. All sorts of atrocities happen to her, which Satya is unaware of. Upon his return, he finds that Indraneel doesnt live there anymore, Mahendra is dead and Binodini lives as a widow elsewhere. There is a supernatural entity roaming around, which the villagers call a chudail, who is accused of killing people. Doctor Sudeep (Parambrata Chattopadhyay) is close to Bulbbul and Satya doesnt like that either. When he questions her about her behaviour, Bulbbul mocks him by saying hes also just like other men. The film goes back in time and were shown what horrors were visited on her by both Mahendra and Indraneel. Though shes still fond of him, Bulbbul no longer needs Satya in her life. Shes grown past all that. The only person who interests her is Sudeep, who somewhat knows her history but doesnt consider himself as more than a friend.The huge mansion, teeming with its secrets, sets the tone of the film. The period details are excellent and you actually feel youve travelled to 19th century Bengal. Siddharth Diwans cinematography is excellent and captures the rustic beauty of the place in all its glory. Amit Trivedis haunting background score too adds to the film. The film has somewhat of a languid pace at first which no way hinders the narration. The horror is atmospheric and is escalated gradually. The narrative goes back and forth to provide us with a complete view of how things transpired.Its said were all victims of our circumstances. Binodini isnt a bad person at heart but being married to a mentally-retarded man must have taken its toll. Satya finds himself making the same mistakes as his brother. Bulbbul has made peace with being married to a much senior person. All she needs is a small amount of private space all for herself. Shes shattered when even that is denied to her. Whatever happens to her next is much more gruesome physically but her heart has already been broken. But she proves to be the strongest of them all, learning to pick the pieces and live her life on her own terms, without the interference of her menfolk. Satyas return threatens that independence, and hence she isnt entirely pleased with it. Instead of talking to her, learning about what has happened, Satya starts behaving like Sherlock Holmes, and that proves to be his undoing.Avinash Tiwary and Tripti Dimri were last seen together in Sajid Alis Laila Majnu (2018) and carry forward their chemistry here. They share a distinct camaraderie where they are comfortable in each others presence. They dont speak of their love -- its evident in their body language. The film belongs to Tripti, who has imbibed the spirit of Bulbbul. Her silences, her eyes, mocking smile -- all speak volumes. She becomes what each frame demands of her. Avinash too looks the part of a foreign returned younger brother who doesnt know what to make of the growing attraction he feels towards his Bhabhi and takes refuge in playing detective to escape that. The rest of the cast, be it Rahul Bose in his twin roles, Paoli as the grievance-filled Chhoti bahu or the Parambrata as the good doctor too have done their job admirably well.Overall, its a fantastic debut for Anvita Dutt. Bulbbul feels like its been directed by an experienced hand and not a newbie. The film deserved a big-screen release and we hope it gets one in the future.
A warning from the NSW Premier managed to spook, but not deter, a hardy army of interstate travellers at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday, who rejected her advice to reconsider travelling to Melbourne.

The travellers reasoned that politicians hadnt closed the Victorian-NSW border  at least yet  and they didnt feel that travel was unsafe enough to warrant it.

Hannah Richardson. Credit:Justin McManus

In the meantime they were getting on with life while taking precautions.

Hannah Richardson, 33, who was returning to Melbourne after more than a week visiting her parents and brother in Croydon, in Sydneys inner west, said NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was "being a bit over-cautious".
Value Investor Insight is an investment newsletter created by money manager Whitney Tilson and John Heins. Value Investor Insight aims to deliver the highest-quality investment ideas, analysis, and insight to the just-starting-out investor and sophisticated investors. At the core of Value Investor Insight is the philosophy of the true value investor: buy something only for less than its intrinsic worth. In a recent edition of Value Investor Insight, Harris Associates' Bill Nygren highlighted the top 5 stock picks for investors to buy right now, which could be the biggest winners of the stock market crash. You can download a copy of Value Investor Insight here.

In the said letter, Bill Nygren highlighted a few stocks and Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE:STZ) is one of them. Constellation Brands is producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits. Year-to-date, Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE:STZ) stock lost 8.1% and on June 23rd it had a closing price of $180.46. Here is what Bill Nygren said:

"Another stock we added was Constellation Brands [STZ], the large importer of popular Mexican beer labels, including Modelo, Pacifico, and to their misfortune, Corona. The big market concern seemed to be that people are not going to bars any more, which is true, but we concluded that the 15% of Constellations sales from restaurants and bars could be largely offset by increased consumption at home. We think its very possible earnings wont go down at all even this year, but the stock price had been cut in half. That made it interesting to us."

In Q1 2020, the number of bullish hedge fund positions on Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE:STZ) stock decreased by about 4% from the previous quarter (see the chart here), so a number of other hedge fund managers don't seem to agree with Constellation Brands upside potential. Our calculations showed that Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE:STZ) isn't ranked among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds.

Story continues

The top 10 stocks among hedge funds returned 185% since the end of 2014 and outperformed the S&P 500 Index ETFs by more than 109 percentage points. We know it sounds unbelievable. You have been dismissing our articles about top hedge fund stocks mostly because you were fed biased information by other media outlets about hedge funds' poor performance. You could have doubled the size of your nest egg by investing in the top hedge fund stocks instead of dumb S&P 500 ETFs. Below you can watch our video about the top 5 hedge fund stocks right now. All of these stocks had positive returns in 2020.

Video: Top 5 Stocks Among Hedge Funds

At Insider Monkey we leave no stone unturned when looking for the next great investment idea. For example, 2020s unprecedented market conditions provide us with the highest number of trading opportunities in a decade. So we are checking out stocks recommended/scorned by legendary Bill Miller. We interview hedge fund managers and ask them about their best ideas. If you want to find out the best healthcare stock to buy right now, you can watch our latest hedge fund manager interview here. We read hedge fund investor letters and listen to stock pitches at hedge fund conferences. Our best call in 2020 was shorting the market when the S&P 500 was trading at 3150 after realizing the coronavirus pandemics significance before most investors. You can subscribe to our free enewsletter below to receive our stories in your inbox:

[daily-newsletter][/daily-newsletter]

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
There are no guarantees in investing, especially when it comes to dividends. Dividends are often among the first things to go when times get tough. However, there are companies that combine vibrant business models with a long-term commitment to returning value to shareholders, setting themselves apart from peers. That's exactly the case at 3M (NYSE:MMM), W.P. Carey (NYSE:WPC), and The Southern Company (NYSE:SO) -- and here's why you can expect these dividend stocks to pay you for the rest of your life.

1. Research leads the way at 3M

Once known as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, 3M is a globally diversified industrial powerhouse. Although it breaks its business down into just four divisions (Safety & Industrial, Transportation & Electronics, Health Care, and Consumer), it's products span a huge spectrum. From face masks to specialty adhesives, 3M has its fingers in a massive array of products and industries. You likely touch something that this $90-billion-market-cap giant made every single day.

But the really big issue here is how the company goes about doing business. For starters, it has a long-term commitment to research and development, creating technologies that drive the future. However, it also makes sure to make the best use of those technologies across its businesses, getting every mile out of its research. This helps set the company apart and tends to give it a notable edge in the market, because it can charge top dollar and drive margins. In fact, each of its four divisions had 20%-plus adjusted operating margins in the first quarter, despite the headwind from COVID-19.

On the dividend front, 3M has increased its disbursement annually for an incredible 62 consecutive years. Remember, this is a company operating in a cyclical industry, so that streak is even more impressive than it initially looks. Today the industrial giant's payout ratio is a not-unreasonable 66% or so, with a yield of 3.7%, which is toward the high end of its historical range. That suggests that now could be a good time to take a closer look at 3M.

2. A diversified landlord

W.P. Carey is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that is anything but your typical property owner. It uses a net-lease model, meaning it owns buildings but the lessees have to pay most of the assets' operating costs. This relatively low-risk approach is pretty common. But what W.P. Carey does from this base sets it apart.

For starters, the REIT is an active and opportunistic investor. That means that it is always buying and selling properties, using sales to help self-fund new acquisitions and ground-up development efforts. To make sure it has the broadest possible set of opportunities, meanwhile, it doesn't focus on just one sector like many peers. Its portfolio includes industrial (24% of rent), office (23%), warehouse (22%), retail (17%), self storage (5%), and "other" (the rest). In addition to this, W.P. Carey generates about a third of its top line from Europe. It's a unique portfolio that allows an incredible amount of flexibility. For example, the vast majority of its retail exposure is in Europe, where the sector is less overdeveloped than in the United States.

The model has worked incredibly well over time, and the dividend has increased for 23 years -- every year since the REIT's IPO. In fact, despite the huge headwinds that landlords are facing today, which have led many REITs to cut their dividends, W.P. Carey just inched its dividend higher as a show of strength. With a generous 6% yield, it's well worth getting to know this REIT while investors are worried about the broader REIT sector.

3. A slow but steady utility

The last name, U.S. utility giant The Southern Company, is the most boring on the surface. It's a utility, which puts it in a highly regulated industry. That's good and bad: On the one hand, Southern has government-granted monopolies in the regions it serves, providing a solid business foundation. But that means that it has to get regulator permission when it sets customer rates, which limits growth. However, this process tends to pull capital spending and growth plans out of the general Wall Street cycle, meaning that Southern will often keep moving forward on plans no matter what's going on in the broader market.

But The Southern Company is truly focused on the long term, doing the things it believes are right regardless of the market's opinion. At times it misses the mark, like its failed attempt to build a coal power plant with carbon capture technology. But these risks, built on a solid utility foundation, can set it up for a brighter future. Today that involves being the only company constructing a domestic nuclear power plant. Although controversial in other ways, nuclear power is a clean energy source. You can argue that these are risky ventures, which is true. But they are also vital efforts to adjust to a changing world, in which global warming is considered an increasing threat. Over the past decade, Southern has more than halved its use of coal.

Meanwhile, the company has paid a dividend at an equal or greater rate for more than 70 consecutive years. The payout ratio, at roughly 74%, is in line with the company's historical range and those of its closest peers. And the yield, at nearly 4.8%, is toward the high end of the utility sector. Using its boring business to build for the future, Southern is a good option for long-term dividend investors looking to add a little diversification to their portfolios.

Time for some deep dives

With sizable yields and differentiated approaches within the various industries in which they operate, 3M, W.P. Carey, and Southern are all the types of companies that can keep paying you dividends for the rest of your life. If that sounds good, you should dig into the details on these companies. If you take the time to get to know this trio, it's likely that one or more of these stocks could end up in your portfolio today.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Lefty is a playful black Labrador retriever who loves being petted and chasing after toys.

She would not seem to fit the description of what many think a military working dog would look like. But the 3-year-old is good at sniffing out drugs and other contraband and has already worked with the Marine Corps.

She is one of three new military working dogs at Kirtland Air Force Base, having arrived last week from Camp Pendleton in California.

Waiting on her were a pair of Belgian Malinois named TTaylor and Betyar, who arrived at the base within the past three months from Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

She has that detection capability that we need to protect the base, but no patrol work, no bite work for Lefty, said Tech Sgt. Joseph Tejada, Kirtlands kennel master. Shes going to be used for detection, finding contraband, protecting the base from stuff that could harm people and other resources as well.

Her more intimidating-looking colleagues, TTaylor and Betyar, will be used for patrol work.

They are patrol-capable, find the bad guy, attack, Tejada said. If someone sneaks on the base, they would be able to track them down and bite, hold and release, when the handler tells them to release.

All three dogs seemed to be in a playful mood outside the 377th Air Base Wing headquarters on Tuesday morning. They still have puppy tendencies, Tejada and their handlers said.

TTaylor, whose extra T is designation of being part of the breeding program at Lackland, may be the youngest working dog on base, turning 2 this week. Betyar is about 3 years old, Tejada said.

The dogs are bonding with their handlers, which can take one to four months, said Leftys handler, Staff Sgt. Brenden David.

They have a rapport-building time, Tejada said. They just interact with each other. Its all positive, all play for the dog. They normally do that for a week or two, until the dog and the handler get to know one another or become familiar with one another.

The bonding between David and Lefty seems to be going well.

Every time she sees me, she knows shes going to get pets, get a toy and go play and go for a walk, David said. She loves me just because of that.

Tejada said dogs train for thousands of hours before they become certified. And the training doesnt end once they come on base. Betyars been in training for about 2 months, TTaylor a little more than a month.

Were building on what they already know, Tejada said.

TTaylor is honing his obedience skills, patrol skills and detection skills.

Hes doing very good, his handler, Staff Sgt. Collin Lewis, said. Hes got a really strong drive to find people and decoys who are hiding out. His patrol work is very strong.

And Betyar surpassed the standard, said Staff Sgt. Tyler Adams, who was subbing for the dogs handler.

Depending on their health, dogs like Lefty, TTaylor and Betyar could serve as working dogs up to 12 years of age, although some retire when they are 6 or 7, Tejada said.

When they retire, the Air Force makes an effort to adopt them out.

More often than not, they go with their most recent handler or a previous handler, Tejada said.
Five women-led startups selected from nationwide applicants

CHICAGO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - 1871 and BMO Harris Bank are proud to announce the five participating companies selected to join WMNFINtech on June 15, 2020. WMNFINtech is the latest evolution of the BMO Harris / 1871 Innovation Program, and the first iteration to be dedicated solely to women-led startups in fintech.

Of the startups that applied to the program, 10 semifinalists were invited to partake in a selection day hosted by 1871 and BMO on May 20, 2020. Those chosen to attend were called to give a pitch and interview amongst a set of judges in hopes to become one of the 5 finalists accepted to the program.

"We were very excited to have the opportunity to meet so many female founders solving fintech problems," said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. "This program brings cutting-edge technology and products forward with undeniable energy and access, and we believe through this program all five participants will exceed their own expectations on growth and impact."

Ben Schack, Head of Digital Partnerships for BMO Harris Bank, added, "When the people leading companies, designing products and developing solutions represent a diverse population, better, more inclusive customer experiences result. The companies that applied for the WMNFINtech program reinforced that idea - reflecting consideration of those with special needs, lower income consumers, the elderly and more. By offering our mentorship and support through the program, we hope to help the founders continue to succeed and inspire more women representation in the fintech sector."

With much excitement and deliberation, the selection committee from 1871 and BMO proudly invited the following five women-led companies to participate in the first cohort of WMNFINtech:

DelShan, Inc.

DelShan, Inc. by AtkCo is the go-to finance, employee safety, and human resources partner based out of Chicago that improves and develops best practices through the implementation of automated operational procedures and employee workflow.

Shayna Atkins - Founder & Senior Product Manager

- Founder & Senior Product Manager Delmar Johnson - President, Secretary and Assistant Treasurer

Hope Trust

Working as a trustee, or seamlessly with third-party trustees and investment managers, Hope Trust enables families and professionals to provide holistic financial planning, case management, and fiduciary services, such as managed distributions and government benefits navigation. Hope Trust is headquartered in Eatontown, N.J.

Daria Placitella - Founder & CEO

- Founder & CEO Amanda Lukof - Assistant General Counsel

Plinqit

Plinqit by HTMA, based out of Ann Arbor, Mich., is a brandable, mobile-first platform that is elegant and highly powerful at the same time. Unlike any other savings app on the market, its patent-pending Build Skills pays users for engaging with content, creating higher user engagement for financial institutions and improved financial literacy for users with a reward. Created by Millennials for Millennials, Plinqit helps financial institutions connect with this important demographic in a meaningful, relevant way. The app has successfully helped users save over $1 million since launching last year.

Kathleen Craig - Founder & CEO

- Founder & CEO Raquel Hart - Administration Manager

- Administration Manager Brooke McArthur - Business Development

Pocketnest

Pocketnest, headquartered in Detroit, provides comprehensive financial planning to GenX and Millennials through a white label of our software to financial institutions like banks, credit unions, advisors and retirement plan sponsors. Under their own brand, a financial institution can take their customers through step by step guidance. Users end up with a customized to-do list consisting of actionable recommendations, education and tasks. Pocketnest's customers, the financial institutions, benefit from efficiently knowing who their customers are and what financial solutions are right for them.

The Wealth Factory

The Wealth Factory, based in Washington, D.C., designs WealthyLife Financial Literacy education technology games, curriculum and fintech products that walk users from birth to retirement in 12 interactive modules to exceed the personal finance common core standards. Similar to Candy Crush, their first app, CreditStacker, allows users to swap credit pieces to pay debt, achieve a high credit score and learn from the multiple choice questions. Named the best financial literacy company in the country by the White House and Department of Education, their app climbed to the number one education app in 14 countries on Apple, top five in 40 countries and has been inducted into the top 50 apps department at Google.

Angel Rich - Founder & CEO

- Founder & CEO Yusuf Henriques - Chief Strategy Officer

All of the WMNFINtech participants have access to 1871's "PYROS" initiative, a 13-week series of workshops, seminars and one-to-one mentoring built to help founders gain and grow customers and investor traction. PYROS offers WMNFINtech participants a path to scale a financial technology or service business.

The selection day judges included:

About WMNFINtech

WMNFINtech is designed for startups that create services or solutions for the financial sector, offer insights and advice to customers or help identify customer needs. WMNFINtech provides selected startups with:

A three-month mentoring program with guidance from industry experts at BMO Harris Bank

A four-month membership to 1871, the number one private business incubator in the world

Curriculum focused on teaching enterprise sales, vendor management, information security and risk and regulatory requirements

The opportunity to pitch venture capital investors for feedback, mentoring, continued connections and potential for funding

To be eligible, the startups must have a woman founder or co-founder and be based in the U.S. The program includes a pitch day designed for startups to gather feedback from and network with BMO senior executives. Participants may also have a potential future opportunity to pilot their products with BMO.

About 1871

1871 is Chicago's technology hub and the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world. It exists to inspire, equip, and support founders, growth-scalers, and innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~450 technology startups, ~400+ growth-stage companies, and ~1,500 members, and is supported by an entire ecosystem focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. The member experience includes virtual and in person access to workshops, events, mentorship, and more. The nonprofit organization has 350 mentors available to its members, alongside access to more than 100 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 650 alumni companies are currently still active, have created over 11,000 jobs, and have raised more than $1.65 billion in follow-on capital.

About BMO Harris Bank

BMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through more than 500 branches and fee-free access to over 40,000 ATMs across the United States. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the United States. For more information about BMO Harris Bank, visit the company fact sheet. Accounts are subject to approval. BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a highly diversified financial services provider with total assets of CDN$987 billion as of April 30, 2020.

SOURCE BMO Harris Bank
As Texas hit an an all-time record, reporting 5,489 new COVID cases in a single-day on Tuesday, the number of COVID patients at Houston Methodist hospitals has tripled since Memorial Day, from 104 people to 332 on Wednesday.

PANDEMIC OUTLOOK: New data shows nearly $29M in lost rent, grim housing outlook for Houston

Dr. Marc Boom, CEO of Houston Methodist and a member of the COVID-19 response team in the Texas Medical Center, said the current spike is concerning.

"We've seen a tripling of our volumes," Boom said. "I'm obviously concerned that if we're going in the direction, we may be in a difficult situation. We're at 85 percent of our ICU bed capacity now."

Houston Methodist officials are now adding 19 ICU beds, and preparing another Highly Infectious Disease Unit for the intake of COVID-19 patients.

"Were seeing younger patients, " Boom said. "Were concerned about the growth."

Boom said although Methodist has seen a dramatic rise in patients, the hospital is working diligently to accommodate the surge.

"It is manageable, and we do have capacity," Boom said.

Boom added that the mortality rates are down, and there are are fewer patients who need ICU treatment.

"We were the first hospital in the U.S. to use convalescent plasma," Boom said. "We've treated somewhere around 250 people with plasma now. We believe it works best earlier. "

TEXAS QUARANTINE: Texas travelers must quarantine when arriving in NY, NJ, CT

The hospital has also had success with other alternative treatments, including Remdesivir and prone positioning.

"Weve used Remdesivir on many patients," Boom said. "Were getting as much as we can, but we dont have as much as we want. We're also putting patients on prone positioning. We're always asking, 'how can I do it better the next time in order to get better results?'"

For COVID-19 patients, prone positioning, or flipping patients on their stomach, has significantly helped air flow and breathing.

Boom added that the Houston community does an incredible job coming together in a time of need.

"Houstonians have always banded together to do the right thing," Boom said. "We, together as a community, need to do a better job to make sure that COVID-19 doesn't slip out of hands."

alison.medley@chron.com
DUBLIN and LONDON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fenergo, the leading provider of digital transformation, customer journey and client lifecycle management (CLM) solutions for financial institutions has been selected by Aviva, to replace Know Your Customer (KYC), Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) systems and services. Fenergo will work initially with Aviva Investors and later with Aviva UK Insurance, to rapidly onboard all legal entities associated with investors and clients across all jurisdictions, transforming the investor and client onboarding experience.

Aviva selected Fenergo to deliver an end-to-end solution to streamline the management of multi-jurisdictional KYC, CDD, and AML regulatory processes, while improving the customer journey and driving efficiencies. Fenergo will enable Aviva Investors to achieve a single client view through a central data repository which will also serve as a golden source for all KYC data. The centralisation of data will reduce the number of information outreach requests to new and existing customers and will allow resources to focus on more value-add and revenue generating tasks within the business.

"Aviva Investors has continued to focus heavily on improving our clients' onboarding process, as we strive to provide the seamless experience that our clients expect and deserve," said Michelle Calcutt, Head of Client Experience at Aviva. "Implementing the Fenergo solution will be a great step forward, as it will enable us to make best use of publicly available data and streamline the process further. In reality this will mean less onerous documentation requests to our clients, resulting in a faster and smoother onboarding experience."

With Fenergo's solution, Aviva Investors will be able to easily identify and trace Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBO) and better understand complex legal entity hierarchies and ownership relationships. Fenergo's solution ensures accurate regulatory classifications and reporting across multiple jurisdictions and provides increased transparency required by third parties such as auditors and regulators. In addition, Fenergo's solution will automate all periodic and ongoing KYC reviews and maintenance requests as well as requisite risk assessments within a secure platform.

Kevin O'Neill, Global Head of Asset Management & Asset Servicing at Fenergo, said: "We are delighted to partner with Aviva Investors, one of the world's leading Asset Management businesses. In today's competitive and challenging climate, the Asset Management industry has recognised the need to digitalise the onboarding process and streamline compliance amid the various regulatory headwinds. Our solution will help Aviva Investors to optimise client experiences while ensuring that all AML, KYC and CDD requirements are automated in a rules-based secure environment."

"In working with Aviva Investors, we also look forward to expanding our services into Aviva Insurance and in time, extending our CLM solution into the Global Insurance industry," continued Kevin.

Aviva, a leading international savings, retirement, and insurance business serving 33.4 million customers globally, joins Fenergo's growing roster of Asset Management and buy-side financial institutions.

About Fenergo

Fenergo is the leading provider of digital transformation, customer journey and client lifecycle management (CLM) solutions for financial institutions. Its software digitally transforms and streamlines end-to-end CLM processes - from regulatory onboarding, data integration, client and counterparty data management, client lifecycle reviews and remediation, all the way to client offboarding. Fenergo is recognised for its in-depth financial services and regulatory expertise (from a team of over 30 global regulatory specialists), community-based approach to product development and out-of-the-box rules engine which ensures financial institutions are future-proofed against evolving Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money-Laundering (AML), tax and OTC derivatives-based regulations across 100 jurisdictions. Fenergo recently expanded into new markets including asset and wealth management, private, retail, business and commercial banking and has over 80 global clients. The solution is underpinned by Artificial Intelligence, Robotics Process Automation and Machine Learning technologies, using advanced OCR and NLP capabilities to extract information, expedite compliance and improve operational efficiencies.

Media contact - [email protected].

SOURCE Fenergo
Investors who take an interest in Volex plc (LON:VLX) should definitely note that the Executive Chairman, Nathaniel Philip Victor Rothschild, recently paid UK1.51 per share to buy UK101k worth of the stock. Although the purchase is not a big one, by either a percentage standpoint or absolute value, it can be seen as a good sign.

View our latest analysis for Volex

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Volex

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Chief Operating Officer Dom Molloy bought UK188k worth of shares at a price of UK1.04 per share. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of UK1.56. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price.

In the last twelve months Volex 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!

AIM:VLX Recent Insider Trading June 24th 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.

Insider Ownership

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 26% of Volex shares, worth about UK61m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Volex Tell Us?

The recent insider purchases are heartening. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest Volex insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Volex you should be aware of.

Story continues

But note: Volex may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

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.
What never fails to blow us away here in The Kerryman is the sheer generosity of the people in the local communities who, year on year, go above and beyond their call of duty to help out those less fortunate.

One such person who rises to the occasion every year is Templeglantine man Tony Noonan, whose house you may recognise from Christmas time every year, when it lights up spectacularly in aid of different charities.

Well, Christmas 2019 was no different as Tony's house once again became a small beacon of light for his six chosen charities of: Milford Care Centre, Cry Monagea, Brothers of Charity Foynes, the Adare Alzheimer's Branch, Recovery Haven Tralee and finally, The Brothers of Charity in Newcastle West.

Now, this week, Tony was delighted to finally be able to inform us that he had successfully raised a whopping 25,247 for those six groups.

"Everyone here at Noonan Christmas lights would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who supported our Christmas lights for charity fundraising event," said Tony this week.

"Due to COVID-19, we were obviously unable to have our usual cheque presentation with the charities present, so instead we have posted out the donations to each group," he continued.

"So again, many, many thanks to everyone for their continued support and generosity for what we do," he said.

It was not the only good news that Tony and his team of helpers received this year as, earlier in the year, they were crowned the All-Ireland winners for the best Christmas Lights for Charity house in Ireland, winning 3000 in the process.
Pope Francis has called for the coronavirus crisis to lead to less hypocrisy in politics.

The pontiff said the Covid-19 outbreak has exposed divisions in society and that there is a need for less consumption and more help for the poor.

In an interview he contributed to a BBC Rethink set of talks about what should happen in the wake of the disease, he said: This crisis is affecting us all, rich and poor alike.

And putting a spotlight on hypocrisy.

I am worried by the hypocrisy of certain political personalities who speak of facing up to the crisis.



Of the problem of hunger in the world, but who in the meantime manufacture weapons.

This is a time to be converted from this kind of function of hypocrisy. Its a time for integrity.

The Pope said the rate of consumption needs to be slowed.

Every crisis contains both danger and opportunity, he said.

Today I believe we have to slow down our rate of production and consumption and to learn to understand and contemplate the natural world.

We need to reconnect with our real surroundings. This is the opportunity for conversion.

I see early signs of an economy that is more human. But let us not lose our memory once all this is past, let us not file it away and go back to where we were.

The Pope called for a different attitude to the poor.

This is the moment to see the poor. Jesus says we will have the poor with us always, and its true. They are a reality we cannot deny. But the poor are hidden, because poverty is bashful.

There is such a large number of people who are on the margins. And we dont see them, because poverty is bashful. They have become part of the landscape; they are things.

We cant settle for a welfare policy such as we have for rescued animals, which is how the poor are often treated.

The Popes contribution to the BBC project was provided by the Vatican in the form of an interview with with his biographer, Austen Ivereigh.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 20:02:10|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China has completed the deployment of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) with the recent launch of its last satellite, the 55th of the BeiDou family.

So far, the BDS system has been widely used in transportation, agriculture, forestry and fishery, hydrological monitoring, weather forecasts, communication time unification, power dispatching, disaster relief and mitigation, public security and other fields.

The following are some facts which briefly describe how BeiDou has been used in China and around the world.

TRANSPORTATION

As of the end of 2019, more than 6.5 million freight vehicles, 30,000 postal and express vehicles, 80,000 buses in 36 cities, 3,200 inland river navigation facilities and 2,900 maritime navigation facilities in China had used the BDS system.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China has released a three-phase roadmap for the application of BDS, setting specific targets for 2021, 2025 and 2035 to gradually see full coverage of BDS to enhance the safety and efficiency of the industry.

WARNING AND RESCUE

China's earthquake and geo-information authorities have used BDS and gravitation satellites for quake relief and disaster reduction.

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 a time, as well as pictures, a useful function during emergencies.

As of 2019, over 70,000 fishing boats and law enforcement vessels had been equipped with the BDS system. The system's positioning and short message communication functions have helped rescue over 10,000 fishermen.

The system has covered many scenic spots in China to aid rescue missions and routine management, enabling rescuers to pinpoint and reach lost tourists.

AGRICULTURE

BDS has made agricultural production smarter and more precise.

As of April 2019, the BDS system had served more than 50,000 pieces of agricultural machinery, saving 10 percent of fuel.

Nanjing Agricultural University has developed a BDS-supported unmanned wheat seeding and harvesting technology, empowering agricultural production with the help of advanced navigation services.

Self-driving tractors and unmanned farming vehicles based on the BDS system have been used to explore precision farming in northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northeastern Heilongjiang Province, and at an automated farm in eastern Jiangsu Province.

EVERYDAY LIFE

Navigation services based on the BDS are also changing people's lifestyle, by finding application in e-commerce, manufacturing of mobile intelligent terminals and positioning services.

Many Chinese e-commerce enterprises have adopted the BDS vehicle terminals for real-time dispatching of vehicles, people and cargo information.

In the field of smartphone applications, mainstream chip manufacturers at home and abroad have all developed chips that are compatible with BDS. More than 70 percent of mobile phones applying for internet access support the positioning service provided by BDS.

Smart wearable devices such as watches and bracelets that support the BDS system, as well as products for special groups, have been widely used.

FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

BDS has helped the country fight COVID-19 with high precision from space.

When China was building the two makeshift hospitals--Huoshenshan and Leishenshan in Wuhan, once the epicenter of the disease, equipment based on BDS provided high-precision positioning services and hastened the construction.

Drones based on the BDS have been used to spray disinfectant.

China's Ministry of Transport sent epidemic prevention and transportation service information to more than 6 million vehicles via BDS terminals.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS

Following the principle of "developed by China, dedicated to the world," BDS is also used by more than half of the countries on the globe.

The satellite system started providing services for users in the Asia-Pacific region in December 2012, after the deployment of the BDS-2 system was completed.

In February 2018, the quick positioning platform of BDS was serving more than 200 countries and regions around the globe.

In December 2018, BDS started providing global services.

By the end of 2019, China had exported its BDS-based products to more than 120 countries and regions. The BDS has entered a new era of global service, benefiting precision farming, digital development and smart port construction in ASEAN, South Asia, Eastern Europe, West Asia and Africa. Enditem
Surrey-based housebuilder Crest Nicholson has said it is making around 130 people redundant as it revealed that it fell to a 44million half-year loss.

About 14 per cent of the company's staff are affected by the decision, which is expected to save then 5million per year.

Crest Nicholson has been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which it blamed for causing a lower number of housing completions and 'indecision' in many bulk deal negotiations.

Crest Nicholson's Rosewood development in Colchester, England.

As a result, the FTSE 250 firm's revenues dropped by 52 per cent to 240million in the six months to the end of April 2020, with significantly lower open market housing and affordable home revenues, as well as smaller land and commercial sales.

Crest also said its profitability was hurt by 'significant volatility and uncertainty' related to Brexit and the 2019 General Election. However, it stated that sales 'gained strong momentum' after the Conservatives won a comfortable majority.

The company declared on April 9 that it was closing all its building sites, and sales and management offices. It also furloughed three-quarters of its employees and cancelled dividends for the 2019 financial year.

Shares in the firm fell 9.6 per cent by late morning after it disclosed that it expects underlying full-year profits this year to be between 35million and 45million compared to 121.1million in 2019.

The cost-cutting comes less than six months after Crest had already announced a shake-up to save 30million and get financials back on track.

Chief executive Peter Truscott, who joined Crest last September after leaving rival Galliford Try, unveiled new plans in January after admitting he was 'disappointed' with results for 2019 when profits fell 28 per cent.

'We cannot ignore the risks that COVID-19 presents to the UK housing market even if we cannot predict with certainty what the impact of those risks will be,' he remarked.

'Taking decisive action now will ensure Crest Nicholson is able to flourish in whatever market conditions may emerge in the future including if the market quickly returns to growth.'

The business had initially planned to create a new Southern Counties division, but has put that on hold and is now seeking to combine its strategic projects and its partnerships and regeneration divisions.

Crest said it had been encouraged by improved trading since England's housing market reopened last month, with a 'modest' number of reservations and completions for the six weeks to May 18.

'We will be a leaner organisation than we envisaged in January, but we will be more appropriately sized for the market conditions now anticipated,' it commented. However, it cautioned over a 'highly uncertain operating environment.'

Despite the problems affecting the housebuilding sector in recent months, Crest has done comparatively worse than some other firms in their industry.

Taylor Wimpey has vowed to repay the cash it took from the government's furlough scheme because it said it no longer required the money. In contrast, Persimmon, who announced a new chief executive today, have avoided the programme altogether.
One of north Longford's largest employers and a local community group are on collision course over the proposed erection of an "inhumane" 169 metre high wind turbine.

Granard based firm Kiernan Milling want to construct the turbine as part of an ongoing and large scale expansion of its premises on the outskirts of the town.

In a planning file lodged with Longford County Council last month, it outlined its intentions to seek a ten year planning approval for the structure at Granardkill, just off the main Ballinalee Road.

However, details of the proposal have been met with strong opposition locally.

In a statement issued by the recently set up 'Granard Against Industrial Turbine' group, its members said they had been left stunned by the plans.

"The Granard Against Industrial Turbine group strongly object to the proposed development of an Industrial Wind Turbine by Kiernan Milling," read a statement, dubbing the size of the planned turbine as both "excessive" and one which raised significant safety concerns.

"To put in context, the proposed turbine will be more than 1.5 times the height of the Millennium Spire in Dublin which stands at 120m and 3.25 times the height of St.Mary's Church (including spire and cross) and will soar well above Granard Motte, a protected national monument.

"The visual amenity of the area will be severely affected along with property values given the type and scale of the development."

The group said, should Longford County Council approve its development, such a structure would have far-reaching and negative connotations for the future of the town's much vaunted Knights & Conquests Heritage Centre.

Only last July, the venture was allotted over 600,000 from Failte Ireland to develop a state of the art heritage park which, when complete, is likely to see a near 4m investment being brought to the town.

"Another huge concern is the impact that this will have on the major tourism and amenity attraction featuring a "living model" of a Norman village which is to be developed at the site of Granard Motte," the group added.

"This major tourist attraction is set to bring many visitors and much-needed income to the area. Not only will the proposed wind turbine dwarf the much-loved monument but it will also take away from the beautiful landscape and the 360 degree view from the summit of the Motte.

"The Knights & Conquests Heritage Centre is adjacent to this site and tells the story of the Norman invasion of Ireland. It seeks to attract many visitors to the area and the project only came to fruition after the site was bought as part of a huge community effort."

The group likewise questioned the merit behind council planners giving the turbine's development the green light in view of the local authority's recent announcement it intended purchasing just over eight acres of land beside Granard Motte.

"This huge wind turbine could have a serious negative effect on the tourism industry and on the natural local heritage," the group added.

"The opinion of the Granard Against Industrial Turbine group is that it is not humane, safe or responsible to place such a large industrial structure within the community."

The deadline for submissions to Longford County Council over the planned development is this Friday (June 26) ahead of a final decision being made on or before July 17
A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the odds of a fatal opioid overdose were 1.5 times higher for individuals with one to two visits to the emergency department for any medical issue than for people with no hospital visits. The researchers also found that individuals with a hospital visit where opioid use disorder was addressed were 2.9 times more likely to die from an overdose over the coming year, compared with other people.

For their analysis, the researchers matched de-identified individual records across five Maryland-based databases that encompassed hospital visits, prescription-drug monitoring, treatment programs, and criminal justice records from 2015. Maryland is one of the first states to have linked records across databases in an attempt to identify those at risk for opioid overdose.

The findings, published online June 24 in JAMA Psychiatry, suggest that risk of an overdose can be accurately predicted by leveraging information found across databases.

Using these linked databases, the researchers found that individuals who were recently released from prison were more than four times likely to experience a fatal overdose. Being on probation and parole were also associated with double the odds of an overdose.

Among demographic predictors of opioid overdose, men had 2.4 higher odds of fatal overdose and 1.4 times higher odds of nonfatal overdose compared to women.

"A lot of the individuals with the highest risk for an overdose come in contact with the hospital or prison system," says lead author Brendan Saloner, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Bloomberg School. "There's a high opportunity in those places to help those individuals and we can save a lot of lives if we focus efforts there."

Between 1999 and 2017, drug overdose deaths in the U.S. quadrupled and two out of three overdose deaths are linked to opioids. Initial reports suggest that during the COVID-19 lockdown period overdoses have dramatically increased in some locales.

Maryland and other states have applied several strategies to curb the opioid epidemic, including expanded treatment for people with opioid use disorder, safer prescribing policies, and harm reduction programs like naloxone distribution that can be administered to reverse an overdose.

The study findings suggest that predictive data analytics could be used to more effectively target these strategies towards those with the greatest risk by identifying groups that could most benefit from intensive support services such as peer counselors.

Maryland is among a handful of states that have built single comprehensive individual-level databases that include major risk factors that affect critical health outcomes, such as opioid overdoses. The merged database paints a far more complete picture than any one of the component parts, with a "lens" that combines medical, public health, and human service perspectives.

In collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health and the state's Health Information exchange, the researchers matched deidentified individual records across five Maryland databases including all-payer hospital discharge data, which includes private insurance as well as Medicare and Medicaid; Maryland's prescription drug-monitoring program, a registry of controlled prescriptions; behavioral treatment programs that participate in Medicaid; as well as criminal justice records for property or drug-related offenses.

The study sample of more than 2.29 million linked records, included Maryland residents ages 18-80 with one or more records in any of the four databases in 2015. Using statistical modeling, the researchers predicted opioid-related overdoses in 2016 from variables derived from 2015. The researchers tracked fatal opioid overdoses using medical examiner records and nonfatal opioid overdoses from emergency department or inpatient hospital-settings data.

Of the study sample, approximately 43 percent were male and 53 percent were aged 50 or younger. In 2016, 0.05 percent of the sample, or approximately 1,204 individuals, experienced a fatal opioid overdose and 0.37 percent, or approximately 8,430 individuals, had a nonfatal overdose. In 2015, 63.9 percent of the study sample had hospital records, 32 percent had one to two emergency department visits, and 1.2 percent were diagnosed with an opioid use disorder in the hospital.

Approximately two-thirds of the sample (66.8 percent) had records in the prescription drug-monitoring program, but a very small number, only 1.1 percent, had involvement in the criminal justice system. The study drew on a limited criminal justice sample of only individuals with drug or property offenses. About 7.4 percent of the study sample had used behavioral health services.

"The COVID-19 experience has taught us the importance of using linked medical and public health data to identify and respond to health risks on a real-time basis," says the study's senior author Jonathan Weiner, DrPH, co-director of the Center for Population Health Information Technology and professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management. "This study offers evidence that data already in every state's possession can be used to redouble our efforts to help individuals and communities still being decimated by the opioid overdose epidemic."

###

"Predicting Opioid Overdose Using Linked Statewide Medical and Criminal Justice Data: A Cross-Sectional Predictive Modeling Study" was written by Brendan Saloner, Hsien Yen Chang, Noa Krawczyk, Lindsey Ferris, Matthew Eisenberg, Thomas Richards, Klaus Lemke, Kristin E Schneider, Michael Baier and Jonathan Weiner.

The study was supported by a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice.
She's an iconic supermodel with a jaw-dropping physique.

And Doutzen Kroes looked incredible as she displayed her eye-popping frame in a pink one-piece bathing suit while posing for a series of sun-kissed snaps.

The former Victoria's Secret model, 35, looked radiant in the photo where she labelled the Hunkemoller outfit 'Knot on my Planet' in a bid to promote wildlife conservation efforts.

Wow: Doutzen Kroes, 35, looked incredible as she displayed her eye-popping frame in a pink one-piece bathing suit

The garment featured a cut out at the chest along with a strap around the waist while Doutzen wore her locks slicked back.

Flashing the camera with a grin, the model raised her hands in the air as she appeared to pose in a luxurious resort location.

In a second snap, Doutzen, who is Hunkemoller's brand ambassador, donned a dark green bikini as she posed in front of a swimming pool.

Her blonde tresses styled into loose waves, the model completed her look with a pair of white rimmed sunglasses.

Beauty: In a second snap, Doutzen, who is Hunkemoller's brand ambassador, donned a dark green bikini as she posed in front of a swimming pool

Incredible: In a third shot, the star turned up the heat as she posed in pink lace lingerie with a dark patterned embellishment

In a third shot, the star turned up the heat as she posed in pink lace lingerie with a dark patterned embellishment.

Doutzen is married to Dutch DJ Sunnery James and the couple are parents to son Phyllon, nine, and daughter Myllena, five.

Doutzen began her modelling career in 2003, and is said to be one of the highest-paid models, with an estimated income of more than $5 million per year.

Back in 2014, she came in second on the Forbes top-earning models list, estimated to have earned $8 million in one year.

Style maven Doutzen was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 2008 to 2014, and in 2013 she made history as the first model to land four different solo international covers of Vogue's September issue in a single year.
Nicaraguan miner Calibre Mining (TSX:CXB) said Wednesday that it expects 2020 gold production of between 110,000 and 125,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining costs of between $1,070 and $1,100 an ounce.

CEO Russell Ball said that the 10-week COVID-19 suspension added just 4% to costs.

The phased restart of operations continues as planned with enhanced safety and health protocols in place and we anticipate reaching steady-state production levels in July. With operations suspended for the majority of the second quarter, we now estimate 2020 gold production of between 110,000 and 125,000 ounces, or approximately 20% less than our original guidance, said Ball.

Ball said the company is guiding to just a 4% increase in costs on a per ounce basis.

"[We] see increased benefits from our hub-and-spoke operating philosophy and are now starting to see the bottom-line impact of our increased focus on operating efficiencies and supply chain management practices.
A body found in a garbage bag in Philadelphia may be that of a missing Delaware County woman.

Police in Haverford Township say they took someone into custody in connection with the disappearance of a 25-year-old woman who was reported missing in May, and that person told investigators where her body could be found, NBC 10 is reporting.

Her remains were discovered Tuesday evening in a trash bag in a vacant lot under a train trestle on the 5700 block of Musgrave Street in the citys East Germantown section, Action News 6 ABC is reporting.

Police and the medical examiners office have not yet identified the body or determined if its the missing woman, reports indicate.

Police believe the woman, whose identity has not yet been released, was killed in Upper Darby and later dumped in Philadelphia, according to reports.

No cause of death has been released.

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Deputy Foreign Minister and General Secretary of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee Nguyen Quoc Dung (L) speaks at the press conference (Photo: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

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.
Several yearly Fourth of July celebrations have been canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but some communities are still hosting events, even if abbreviated and aligned with social distancing regulations.

June 25-July 4: Live music, firework shows planned in northwest Houston area

Here are a few options for families looking to enjoy some patriotic fun and fireworks around the northwest greater Houston area this July 4.

Tomball July Fourth Celebration

The City of Tomballs annual July Fourth Celebration wont include a street festival this year because of the pandemic, but people can enjoy a patriotic firework show viewable from the Four Corners area at FM 2920 and State Hwy. 249. The display begins at 9:30 p.m.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Videos turn Houston Symphony players kids into social-media stars

Tomballs radio station 95.3 KTTF FM will be playing music leading up to the show. Listeners can stay tuned during the show to hear patriotic songs while watching the fireworks.

For more information, visit the Tomball Texan for Fun Facebook page.

Magnolia Fourth of July in Unity Park

Instead of a childrens bike parade, the City of Magnolia will hold a Childrens Decorative Bike Show at the Pavilion at Unity Park, 19450 Unity Park Drive, according to the City of Magnolia Facebook page. Registration starts at 5 p.m. and decorated bikes will be judged at 5:30 p.m. Magnolias annual firework show will begin around 9 p.m.

For more information, visit the Magnolia Festival Committee Facebook page.

The Woodlands Fourth of July Firework Show

The Woodlands Township invites the public to a Drive-in Fireworks Extravaganza on July 4 at 9:30 p.m. The drive-in firework display can be viewed from several locations near Lone Star College-Montgomery, where the fireworks will be launched. Viewers can listen to a firework soundtrack during the display by tuning in to 99.7 FM.

For more information, visit www.redhotblue.org.

Jersey Village Fourth of July Parade

The City of Jersey Village will host a parade July 4. The parade will depart at 10 a.m. on a route that runs from the Jersey Village Fire Department, 16503 Jersey Drive, along Jersey Drive to Clark Henry Park, according to the citys Facebook page. Following the parade, community members are invited to enjoy a free snow cone and a swim at Clark Henry Pool, 7804 Equador Street.

For more information, visit the Jersey Village, Texas Facebook page.
Even if your credit union is well established as community benefactor, in times of intense turmoil you may feel called upon to stand up and make a new, visible act of leadership and service. This maybe a perfect time to create a charitable foundation and to use it as a platform to engage and support your community on behalf of your employees and members.

More Than a Charity

A foundation gives you more than a mechanism for distributing donations. The advantages include:

It creates a public forum that can shine a light on specific community needs, and the leverage to gather donations from employees, members and other charitable organizations.

Contributions to a properly set up foundation are tax-deductible. This can be crucial for certain community development or relief causes that dont otherwise have a channel for tax-deductible contributions. For example, local small businesses affected by the pandemic or another catastrophe probably cant get tax-deductible contributions directlybut your foundation could accept tax-deductible contributions and distribute them to these businesses.
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 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 uses a wheelchair following an accident, will meet the constitutionally mandated minimum age of 25 when the next Congress convenes. Cawthorn 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 whos 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 with 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 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 sought 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. Hell 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 Webb, an African American, can capture the seat.

Voters endured 90-minute waits in Kentuckys second-largest city, Lexington. 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 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 watched 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 with Bookers $2 million, according to Advertising Analytics, which studies campaign advertising.

In New York, Engel is supported by Democratic stars including 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 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.

___

Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.
Reviving his so-far unproven "Obamagate" conspiracy theory, Donald Trump on Wednesday again contended the Obama administration "spied" on his 2016 campaign.

"The Obama administration spied on a campaign," the president said several times during brief remarks alongside his Polish counterpart in the Oval Office.

Mr Trump made the remarks as part of a congratulatory message he sent to Michael Flynn, the retired Army three-star general and his first White House national security adviser.

A federal judge ordered the Justice Department earlier in the day to drop its case against Mr Flynn. He had been charged with twice lying to federal investigators about his communications with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential transition after Mr Trump's 2016 win. Trump critics, including many congressional Democrats, have accused the president and Attorney General William Barr of intervening in the probe and orchestrating a decision to drop the charges.

But Mr Trump, during his first of the day's two planned media appearances, was focused on his predecessor, as he so often is.

"There's never been anything like that around," Mr Trump said of his conspiracy theory about the Obama administration. He claimed that if a Republican administration had done what he claims Barack Obama's did, those GOP officials would be in jail "for 50 years."

The "Obamagate" theory maintains that the 44th president and his top intelligence chiefs sought to entrap incoming Trump officials in legal controversies to kneecap Mr Trump's presidency from the start.

Some aspects of the president's theory have yet to be corroborated, but he and his top aides and surrogates are pushing the narratives by asking questions about the motives of a number of individuals who were senior members of the Obama administration's national security, intelligence and foreign policy team.

The president did not respond to questions about whether he has spoken to Mr Flynn about Wednesday's court ruling.
Kochi, June 24 : An NIA team probing the theft of computer parts from the under-construction Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd on Wednesday recovered the processors from a person who had brought the gadgets from the two arrested thieves.

In September last year, theft on board 'INS Vikrant' had surfaced. Kerala Police had registered a case of criminal trespass and theft of critical electronic components installed on board the IAC following complaint by the Cochin Shipyard authorities.

The NIA took over the probe on September 26, 2019 following national security concerns since sensitive information was stored in these hard disks.

The NIA had arrested two suspects from Bihar and Rajasthan this month. The arrested accused Sumit Kumar Singh, 23, of Munger district, and Daya Ram, 22, of Hanumangarh were engaged in painting activities when they committed the crime.

After their arrest, the NIA team had brought the two here and continued with its probe.

According to NIA officials, four computers were dismantled and their hardwares stolen, including five micro-processors, 10 RAMs, five Solid State Drives (SSDs), from the Multi-Functional Consoles (MFCs) aboard the ship.

By now, the NIA team has recovered all stolen parts of the computers.

INS Vikrant is the first indigenous aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. The work on the ship's design began in 1999, and the keel was laid in February 2009. As of 2019, the ship is expected to start sea trials in February 2021 and enter active service as early as 2023. The project cost has neared Rs 20,000 crore.

With the completion of INS Vikrant, India will join the ranks of the US, UK, Russia, France and China in the construction of aircraft carriers.
Seamless digital money transfer from UAE

SINGAPORE and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Commercial Bank of Dubai, one of the leading national banks in the UAE, and global cross-border payment provider Thunes announced a partnership that will facilitate real-time cross-border transaction flows between the UAE and the rest of the world.

Through this partnership with Thunes, Commercial Bank of Dubai will be able to cater to corridors such as India, Philippines, Pakistan and Bangladesh providing customers with real-time remittance to bank accounts, mobile wallets and cash pick-up services at various locations. The service will be launched with remittances to bank accounts whilst remittances to cash-pick up locations and mobile wallets will be added shortly. According to the Central Bank of the UAE in 2019, AED 165 billion was sent back by migrant workers to their home countries from the UAE, with India, Pakistan and the Philippines being the top 3 destinations of remittances from the UAE.

With this new offering, CBD' customers can transfer money in real-time to India, Bangladesh, Philippines and Pakistan, conveniently, quickly and securely using the award-winning CBD Mobile App or CBD's online banking platform. With more countries to follow, the partnership is a strong testament to the hard work and dedication of both teams to improve the customer experience for remittance solutions in UAE.

"We are delighted to partner with Thunes, enabling us to optimize and streamline our processes with a single API to remit money to many countries. This is firmly in line with CBD's default digital strategy to provide customers with innovative and technological products and services to enrich their banking experiences and make banking more seamless and convenient," commented Dr. Bernd van Linder, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Bank of Dubai.

"We are glad to partner with Commercial Bank of Dubai and join them on their innovative path to become a digital-first bank in UAE. Bringing more services for banks and unlocking opportunities for their customers is part of our mission and we are delighted to offer many remittance destinations for CBD," noted Peter De Caluwe, CEO at Thunes.

https://youtu.be/Z-v3O7JHt7k

About Thunes

Thunes is a B2B cross-border payments network that enables corporates and financial institutions to move funds and provide financial services in emerging markets. Our global platform connects mobile wallet providers, banks, technology companies and money transfer operators in more than 100 countries and 60 currencies. Thunes is headquartered in Singapore with regional offices in London, Shanghai and New York.

For more information, visit www.thunes.com

About CBD

Commercial Bank of Dubai was established in 1969 and is registered as a Public Shareholding Company (PSC). Over the years, Commercial Bank of Dubai has built itself into a progressive and modern Banking institution, endowed with a strong financial structure and strong management, as well as a loyal and ever increasing customer and correspondent base. Today CBD is one of the leading banks in the United Arab Emirates and offers its customers a full range of retail and commercial banking products and services.

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1195758/20200624_Thunes.mp4

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1195744/Thunes_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1195743/CBD_Logo.jpg
WINNIPEG, MB, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Librestream, a leading provider of augmented worker enterprise solutions, announced a new $24M Series D capital raise from new and existing investors. This Series D raise brings total financing to over $55M.

The financing will be used to accelerate customer acquisition and growth in expanded geographic and vertical markets. As a core part of this growth, the company will invest in sales and marketing expansion and the advancement of its Onsight augmented worker platform. The funds will be used for:

Developing new regions including APAC, Middle East , Africa and Latin America to build on Librestream's success within North America and Europe .

, and to build on Librestream's success within and . Expanding the company's footprint to include high growth verticals such as telehealth and retail in addition to core industrial markets.

Accelerating innovation and the delivery of the company's AI Connected Expert vision.

Enlarging headcount by at least 50 percent over the next 24 months to meet demand.

Librestream experienced tremendous growth over the past 36 months as the needs of the remote workforce and immersive technologies became top priorities for digital transformation. In fact, the size of customer deployments grew more than 250 percent during this timeframe.

"Digital transformation initiatives traditionally focused on digitizing systems and assets, often leaving people out of the equation. Librestream's focus on providing workers with a digital connection to information enables safe, effective performance - whether on an oil rig, a manufacturing floor, or in an aircraft hangar," explained John Bishop, president & CEO at Librestream. "This new capital allows us to expand our reach to new markets and regions while broadening our leadership position. We thank our new and existing investors for their support of our vision of a digitally-enabled remote workforce."

Leading analysts like Gartner have identified the augmented human and immersive experiences as top technologies for 2020. By 2023, two out of three large field service organizations will equip field techs with immersive applications to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction, up from less than 1% in 2019.

The lead investor for Librestream's Series D financing, Canadian Business Growth Fund (CBGF), was joined by Export Development Canada (EDC) and Pender Technology Inflection Fund as new investors to Librestream.

"We are excited to back John Bishop and the Librestream team," said George Rossolatos, CEO at CBGF. "Librestream pioneered the remote expert space and successfully demonstrated that its product offering improves the safety and operational efficiency of a global workforce. As a result of the global pandemic, leaders are realizing that a largely remote workforce will be the new normal. Librestream is particularly well positioned to help continue its growth moving forward."

Existing investors including Swiss-based Emerald Technology Ventures and BDC Capital participated in this Series D round.

Charles Vaslet, Partner at Emerald Technology Ventures added, "We first invested in Librestream in 2016. At that time, we saw the potential and it has been rewarding to see the company expand its customer base and technology. We believe digital transformation continues to accelerate as a critical investment for leading companies. This financing comes at a market inflection point that positions the company to achieve its high growth goals."

Librestream recently launched a business continuity program to assist organizations impacted by COVID-19 restrictions and expanding worker safety program. Since March, Librestream tracked a 433% spike in usage globally and assisted hundreds of global enterprises, such as Safran Group, DNV-GL and Volvo Group, with their business continuity initiatives.

"Librestream's strong partnership over the past four years, and especially during this pandemic, proved invaluable in driving innovation within our processes and service delivery. The ability to remotely perform inspections has tremendous business impact from cost savings and productivity to improved customer service. We are believers in Librestream's vision for the augmented worker and are excited to see Librestream secure the financing to accelerate the vision of its leadership team," Tina Bender, Manager Business systems & IT at Volvo Group.

The company also launched solutions to highly impacted verticals and use cases including the Telehealth solution in conjunction with wearable partner, Vuzix, and thermal body temperature screening applications for worker safety across market segments.

Press Kit Materials: https://bit.ly/Librestream_Funding_2020

About Librestream

Librestream is the pioneer of augmented remote expert technology, a core capability within the Onsight augmented reality platform. Onsight, deployed in over 120 countries, is built for workers to collaborate virtually and access content from the world's toughest environments and for the most demanding enterprises. Onsight delivers measurable business outcomes including worker safety and productivity, cost savings, reduced emissions, asset uptime gains, and improved customer service delivery. The company has been honored with numerous awards including the R&D100, the Delegates Award at Hazardex 2020, and the Field Service WBR Innovation award. Visit Librestream at www.librestream.com and connect with us on LinkedIn , Facebook & Twitter.

Contact: Michael Farino, Lightspeed PR, [email protected]

SOURCE Librestream
A MOTHER-of-three accused of murdering a man in a knife attack in Dublin is in a vulnerable position in custody and has asked for faster progress to be made in her case.

Christina Anderson (38), who was charged with killing father-of-seven Garreth Kelly (39) four months ago, was still too unwell to attend court today.

Judge Bryan Smyth remanded her further in custody in her absence, for the preparation of a book of evidence.

Mr Kelly died after he was stabbed while trying to start his car on the street at Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood on February 25 last.

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The accused, with an address at Brownsbarn Wood has not attended Dublin District Court since her first appearance on the charge in February.

Her case has been adjourned a number of times since.

Ms Anderson was not present when her case was called today and Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy said there was a sick note to say she was still in hospital.

Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher said the case had been going on for quite some time in his clients absence and she had been unfit to attend.

The case had been adjourned a number of times for the service of a book of evidence but Mr Kelleher said he understood there was no book yet, four months later, and the investigation file had not been submitted to the DPP yet.

He appreciated it was a most serious charge but said Ms Anderson was in a vulnerable position and was entitled to have matters expedited.

The accused was in custody in difficult circumstances in the Central Mental Hospital and Mr Kelleher was concerned that after four months there was no file.

Because she is sick and unable to attend, we cant keep putting it back as if theres no urgency, Mr Kelleher said.

Judge Smyth said it was a most serious charge and it was not suggested that the state was taking advantage of the situation.

Sgt Murphy said the prosecuting gardai were investigating to the best of their ability and there were a number of expert witnesses involved.

Judge Smyth adjourned the case to July 8.

The court has previously ordered the accused to be medically and psychiatrically assessed.

Det Sgt Dara Kenny previously said Ms Anderson made no reply when charged.

Mr Kelly, from Tallaght, had been living in Clondalkin and was believed to have been staying over at a house in the Brownsbarn estate at the time of the incident.
The Alberta First Nation chief whose violent arrest became part of a national conversation on systemic racism says he was shocked to learn the Mountie who tackled him had recently been charged with assault in connection with a previous, off-duty incident.

Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation made the comment Wednesday, as the charges of resisting arrest and assaulting a peace officer that he himself had faced were dropped by the Crown in front of a Fort McMurray provincial court judge.

I was shocked ... that the RCMP had one of their members brought before the court for a felony charges, and allowed him (to continue) to make decisions as an RCMP officer, Adam told a news conference after the court hearing.

Alberta RCMP said Wood Buffalo RCMP Const. Simon Seguin, who Adams lawyer has identified as the officer seen tackling Adam to the ground in a dash-cam video from March, was charged while off-duty with assault, mischief and unlawfully (being in) a dwelling house on Aug. 5, 2019. He is scheduled to attend court on Sept. 20.

When asked if he wanted to see if the involved officer charged or fired, the chief said he believed it would be more beneficial for the entire RCMP organization to be overhauled.

If I ask for them to be charged or to be fired, what would that accomplish?  In this matter, I leave that up their peers.

Adam said he hopes the dropping of charges against him  and his ordeal as a whole  will serve as a wake-up call about what Indigenous people deal with in Canada.

If we are to move forward in any capacity, then we need to seriously open our eyes, for each and every non-Native, to the realities that we, Indigenous people of the land (face), Adam said.

Adam went further Wednesday, making several recommendations to achieve justice for Indigenous people when it comes to policing  including the establishment of an Indigenous police force with full authority; a liaison between police and Indigenous peoples; and more cross-cultural training.

He also said criminal charges against First Nations people should also be considered as a mental health matter.

RCMP acknowledged the Crown had decided to withdraw the charges.

The role of the police is to investigate and gather evidence in support of a charge and the RCMP fulfilled that role on this file. The Crowns role is to assess the elements of the offence and to determine if they prosecute. As weve heard today, the Crown has made the decision to withdraw the charges, RCMP said in an e-mailed statement.

The development came after the RCMP dash-cam footage of Adams arrest was made public earlier this month.

The 12-minute video shows Adam, who was stopped for an expired plate, walking back and forth between his truck and a RCMP cruiser, shouting profanities at an officer.

Another Mountie then charges at Adam, tackling him to the ground and punching him in the head.

The RCMP initially stated that the officers actions were reasonable, while the provinces police watchdog has since said it is investigating the arrest.

Adams lawyer, Brian A. Beresh, called the decision to drop the charges a true victory not only for Allan Adam and his family, and other Indigenous accused, but for our society generally.

Beresh said the incident shines a clear spotlight on systemic racism that has for too long gone unchecked. He said it was clear police charged Adam as a shield for their own actions.

Today, I hope casts light on an unfortunate event, Beresh said. But one, which typifies how Indigenous people have too often been treated where they havent had the benefit of Chief Allan Adams eloquence, his determination to stand for his rights.

He said the incident highlighted the need for more checks and balances when it comes to police conduct.

Adam was asked for his thoughts on the RCMP launching a reconciliation strategy last week, where they said they would take feedback from working groups, Indigenous leaders, Elders, advisers, communities and staff to re-evaluate how they police and ensure cultural sensitivity.

Adam said he was not aware of the strategy, but suggested they look at the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation report.

He said if RCMP really want to understand Indigenous Peoples and what they go through on a day-to-day basis, they should spend two weeks in the bush with an Indigenous Elder.

If you cant make that commitment to go live in a bush with an Elder, and learn our ways, every commissioner and deputy commissioner across this country should step down, Adam said.

Omar Mosleh is an Edmonton-based reporter covering inner-city issues, affordable housing and reconciliation for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @OmarMosleh

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D onald Trump has claimed the US border wall has stopped Covid on a visit to Arizona  as a string of states reported record rises in new infections.

The US President inspected a stretch of the barrier to celebrate progress towards delivering his big campaign pledge in 2016, and try to rally his supporters ahead of Novembers election.

Speaking at a roundtable briefing on security in Yuma, Mr Trump credited the wall with halting not just illegal immigration but also coronavirus, saying: It stopped Covid, it stopped everything.

Our border has never been more secure, he declared as he met Republican Governor Doug Ducey and border patrol officials. It has technology that nobody would even believe, between sensors and cameras and everything else, he said.

Mr Trump said at least 450 miles of wall would be completed by the end of the year and well be very close to 500 miles. He also said the border wall has cut back on human trafficking and drug smuggling from Mexico, and helped prevent a coronavirus catastrophe on the southern border.

Addressing a packed rally of young conservative students at a megachurch in Phoenix later in the day, Mr Trump referred to coronavirus as kung flu, as he did at a weekend event in Oklahoma.

His visit to Arizona came as the southwestern state reported a record 3,591 new coronavirus cases and a high of 42 deaths.

Trump calls coronavirus 'kung flu' again

Across the US, new cases of the coronavirus surged to the highest level in two months with 34,700 infections reported yesterday.

While early hot spots like New York and New Jersey have seen cases steadily decrease, the virus has been hitting the south and west hard in recent weeks. Several other states yesterday reported single-day records, including California, Mississippi, Nevada and Texas.

Some 2.3 million Americans have been infected and some 120,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Before the Presidents latest rally in Tulsa, Americas top infectious diseases expert issued a plea before Congress for people to avoid crowds and wear masks, something Mr Trump has consistently refused to do.

Plan A, dont go in a crowd. Plan B, if you do, make sure you wear a mask, Dr Anthony Fauci told politicians.

He said the US is seeing a disturbing surge in coronavirus infections in some states, and warned the next few days will be crucial to stem the new outbreaks.
The Head Master of Eton College, Simon Henderson, says he is appalled by the racism experienced by Dillibe Onyeama, the first Nigerian and first black student to graduate from the school.



Onyeama, an accomplished writer, obtained his school-leaving certificate from Eton in 1969, according to the BBC.



He documented his experience in racial Britain in a book and was subsequently banned from visiting the school.



But Henderson said, We have made significant strides since 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.



He said he would invite Onyeama in order to apologise in person and to make it clear that he will always be welcome at Eton.



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, the headmaster added.



However, Onyeama said the apology was unnecessary and did not change his view of Eton, which on the whole was positive.



The writer, who earlier said he had been taunted on a daily basis at Eton by fellow students, added that the apology compels the recognition that prejudice on the grounds of colour or race dehumanises its victims in a way that ordinary forms of prejudice do not.



Eton has a reputation for educating some of the highest-ranking members of British society, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is the 20th British prime minister to have attended the school, as did Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and both the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex.





Source: punchng.com









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Wheatgrass is packed with beneficial nutrients, which makes the crop a popular superfood. And now, more farmers will have access to growing this beneficial crop.

Historically, wheatgrass has been used as a crop in animal feed. However, a partnership between The Land Institute and the University of Minnesota changed that.

The University of Minnesota recently released the first food-grade wheatgrass variety for public use. Now, this eco-friendly and cost-effective crop can be commonly grown as human food, too.

"The Land Institute has been breeding intermediate wheatgrass since 2002," explains James Anderson, a professor at the University of Minnesota. "Developed using germplasm provided by The Land Institute in 2011, this variety of wheatgrass is the first to be available for public use."

The new variety, called MN-Clearwater, was produced by crossing seven wheatgrass parents with desired qualities. These qualities include high grain yield and seed size, which are ideal for farmers. Breeders have been successful in the domestication of this perennial crop that provides benefits to both farmers and the environment.

"Because wheatgrass is a perennial, it's known to be a soil builder," said Anderson. "It provides soil cover throughout the year."

Soil coverage prevents soil and nutrient runoff during heavy rainfall. Wheatgrass also has deep, dense roots that capture nutrients before it gets into groundwater. This helps to protect groundwater-based water systems.

Other benefits of this new wheatgrass variety compared to other crops like corn and soybeans, are:

-Less soil loss from the field; -Fewer chemicals and fertilizers entering the groundwater system; and -Improved carbon storage.

There are also economic advantages for the farmer growing wheatgrass. As a perennial crop, wheatgrass uses less fertilizer and machinery than annual crops.

"Wheatgrass can lower the growth of certain weed species," explains Anderson. Natural weed control also reduces potential costs for herbicides.

For farmers, the big advantage is that they only must plant once every three years and will have multiple harvests off of the one crop.

"But the farmer isn't the only one who benefits," explains Anderson. "As the first food-grade wheatgrass, food processers and consumers can see a benefit, too."

End-users are always searching for new items. MN-Clearwater wheatgrass provides new flavors and nutritional properties that can be added to food products.

The harvested wheatgrass goes well with wheat-based products. It can be used as a replacement for wheat, but it is best used with it. By using both wheat and wheatgrass as ingredients, the product can maintain its baking and functional properties while offering new flavors.

The first registered food product using the MN-Clearwater wheatgrass was a beer from Patagonia Provisions, and other products include several locally brewed beers and a limited-edition cereal from Cascadian Farm.

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More information about MN-Clearwater, the first food-grade wheatgrass variety for public use, can be found in the Journal of Plant Registrations. Funding for this work was provided by the Initiative for Renewable Energy & the Environment, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, The Forever Green Initiative, and General Mills Foundation.
A book of condolences and floral tributes as serving and retired members of the force join to pay tribute to their fallen colleague, Detective Garda Coln Horkan, at Castleisland Garda Station as his Funeral service was being conducted in County Mayo. Picture: John Reidy

While the state Funeral of Detective Garda Colm Horkan was being held from mid-day on Sunday in St James' Church in Charlestown, County Mayo, his Garda colleagues around the country stood in respect and silence.

In Castleisland, present and retired members of the force were joined - at a distance - by local people and elected representatives including Cllr. Bobby O'Connell, Cllr Charlie Farrelly and Cllr Fionnan Fitzgerald.

Detective Garda Colm Horkan's epitaph from his own people stands as a powerful testimony to how he advised, protected and served them in the course of the life he gave in the line of duty.

Castleisland's tribute was probably the longest in Ireland as the 'Guard' of honour had to wait in place for local PP Fr Mossie Brick to finish Mass at the nearby parish church.

And it was on the longest day of the year after all.

When he arrived, Fr Brick passed on his condolences to the row of Garda Horkan's colleagues spread in a line across the length of the Garda station on the town's Tralee Road.

He also used the occasion to express his admiration and thanks to the members of the force for the work they do and what they have done in the extremely tough times we are all going through.

Fr Brick then recited a few lines of a Brendan Kennelly poem. After all, and fittingly, didn't the Ballylongford-born Kennelly say that poetry is the ultimate democracy.

And the men and women who stood out before Fr Brick on Sunday, in solidarity with their fallen colleague, are the ultimate upholders of democracy in their often-dangerous lines of duty.
Pakistan had to face yet another embarrassment when the United Nation Security Council refused to designate an Indian Citizen as Global Terrorist after Pakistan moved the proposal.

Pakistan has once again moved to United Nation Security Council to designate three more Indians citizens as Global Terrorists after Pakistan fabricated a fake claim that these Indian citizens were involved in supporting terrorism in Pakistan.

We are disappointed that Pakistans proposal to designate Venu Madhav Dongara as a terrorist has been objected to, a spokesperson of Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

He said that Pakistan hopes that the listing request of other three Indians will be given due consideration by the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee in an objective and transparent manner. Pakistan has made a fabricated claim stating that India is trying to take advantage of the prolonged conflict in the neighbourhood. India has fomented terrorism inside Pakistan by providing training, financial and material support to terrorist groups to kill innocent people in Pakistan, the spokesperson said.

Pakistans move comes at a time when the sword of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklisting Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism hangs on its head. Several of Pakistani citizens including Hafeez Mohd Syed and Maulana Masood Azhar have already been designated as Global Terrorist. Sources say that Pakistan will have to again face embarrassment as UNSC will once again reject Pakistans claim.

Read: 'India To Be Voice Of Reason & Moderation At UNSC': Former MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup

Read: India Committed Towards Strengthening Security & Peace: Rajnath Singh Thanks UNSC Members

Pakistan is frustrated and in order to hide its failures to follow the guidelines given by FATF, it has fabricated this story and we know that the United Nations will reject this claim and terror state called Pakistan once again will have to face embarrassment as this is a fabricated case which they have built and there is no truth in this case, a source privy to the developments told Republic World.

Pakistan has moved a proposal to designate four Indian Nationals identified as Venu Madhav Dongara, Ajoy Mistri, Gobinda Patnaik, and Anagara Appaji. However incase of Venu Madhav Dongara, the United Nations has turned down the request.

Pakistan in its fabricated case claimed that these individuals were financing, sponsoring, and organising terrorism inside Pakistan by providing financial technical and material support to terror groups including TTP, Jamat Ul Ahrar and others.

Read: MEA Highlights PM Modi's '5S Vision' At UNSC After Being Elected, Outlines 4-point Mission

Read: 'Russia Supports India's Bid For Permanent UNSC Seat': Foreign Minister At RIC Meet
Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) today released its regular weekly Net Asset Value ("NAV") and performance returns on its website, https://www.pershingsquareholdings.com/company-reports/weekly-navs/. The NAV and returns were computed as of the close of business on Tuesday, 23 June 2020.

PSH NAV per share as of close of business on 23 June 2020 was 34.48 USD 27.55 GBP and year-to-date performance was 28.7%.

Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft).

Performance is presented on a net-of-fees basis and reflects the deduction of, among other expenses: management fees, brokerage commissions, administrative fees and accrued performance fees, if any. The performance figure includes the reinvestment of all dividends, interest and capital gains. Depending on the timing of a specific investment, net performance for an individual investor may vary from the net performance as stated herein. Net performance is a geometrically linked time weighted calculation.

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. All investments involve risk including the loss of principal.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005822/en/

Contacts:

Media

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
Two African American candidates seized the momentum in recent weeks as the nation grappled with the question of racial justice and earned a groundswell of support in Democratic primaries on Tuesday - one in Kentucky and the other in New York - that could propel them to upset victories.

Charles Booker, a state legislator, was locked in a close race with retired Marine Corps fighter pilot Amy McGrath, a top recruit of national Democrats, for the chance to wage a long-shot bid against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

"We are bending the arc of our future right now in real time," Booker told supporters. "We are redefining the course of Kentucky in real time. In fact, we are redefining the course of our country. The entire country is watching us right now."

McGrath acknowledged it was unlikely the race would be decided Tuesday night.

"As eager as we all are to get results, I am grateful for the extra effort and due diligence to make sure every voice is heard and every vote is counted," she said in a statement. "As we wait for results, I hope everyone takes a moment to get a little rest, recharge your battery, and buckle up for what's next. The mission to defeat Mitch McConnell and defend our democracy goes on."

As of 11 p.m., McGrath was leading Booker 45 percent to 36 with 51 percent of precincts reporting, but the results did not include Jefferson County, which includes Louisville, where Booker is expected to perform best.

In New York, Jamaal Bowman, a former middle school principal, took an early lead against longtime Rep. Eliot Engel, a Democrat, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who was elected to the House in 1988.

Both Booker and Bowman ran to the left of their more moderate opponents and have been embraced by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, including securing endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

A third African American candidate was leading in a seven-way primary to replace retiring Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D-N.Y. If Mondaire Jones wins the seat, he'd be the first openly gay black man in Congress.

Race calls were unlikely Tuesday night, as the states received significantly more mail-in ballots than normal because of the coronavirus pandemic. Both primaries were postponed from earlier dates because of the public health crisis.

Engel wasn't the only longtime incumbent in a close race.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., who leads the House Oversight Committee, held a narrow lead over Suraj Patel, a hotel executive and former Obama campaign staffer. The contest was a rematch from 2018 for the 14-term Maloney, who won it then by 19 points.

In one outcome Tuesday, Madison Cawthorn, just 24 years old, beat Lynda Bennett to secure the GOP nomination for a North Carolina House seat left vacant by Mark Meadows, a Republican, who became White House chief of staff. President Donald Trump and Meadows had endorsed Bennett. Meadows had nominated Cawthorn to the U.S. Naval Academy in 2014, but he never attended as he was partially paralyzed in a near-fatal car accident and is in a wheelchair. He is likely to win the conservative district in November, which would make him the first member of Congress to start the job at 25 - the youngest allowed - since 1977.

In a tweet written about a month ago, Cawthorn wrote: "If you elect me I will boldly, and passionately defend our values and traditions in Washington DC. I will not cower in fear behind big names and outside money."

The performance of Booker and Bowman will be one of the first real-world indicators of how deeply the national reckoning on race has resonated with voters nearly a month after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in police custody. Both candidates have criticized their top opponents for not prioritizing issues that directly affect black communities.

In Kentucky's most populous cities, Louisville and Lexington, Booker seemed to have all the momentum.

Jeremy Horton, 50, a filmmaker, said he was supporting Booker and challenged the notion that you have to be a conservative Democrat to win Kentucky statewide.

"Mitch McConnell, he's a monster campaigner. And it's going to be an uphill battle for anybody. But people vote for conviction over policy," Horton said. "You can't beat momentum and a good storm. Amy McGrath has run a strong fundraising campaign. But that only takes you so far."

Booker, born and raised in the poorest area of Louisville, rose as a natural leader for the city as it grieved and protested the death of Breonna Taylor, a black medical technician who was killed by police in her home. Booker, who says Taylor was a family friend, spoke passionately at those demonstrations about his own lived experience with generational poverty and racial injustice.

A race that was supposed to be a sure thing for McGrath, who had raised $41 million to take on McConnell, became immensely competitive in the final weeks. While Booker seized a moment tailor-made for his message, McGrath stumbled and struggled to explain why it took her weeks to show up at one of the protests.

Because Booker's rise came so late in the race, he may have lost out on potential voters who cast their ballots early, either by mail or in person. Voting on Election Day was also less convenient than in previous years, with polling locations reduced from the usual 3,700 to fewer than 200 due to a shortage of poll workers amid the pandemic.

Julie Heinz, 27, voted in person because she said she'd kept putting off requesting an absentee ballot. She voted for Booker, whom she said she thinks has a good chance of winning, but said she'll support McGrath if he doesn't.

"I'd vote for day-old roadkill over Mitch McConnell," she said. "At least day-old roadkill can feed a family of four."

In the north Bronx and southern Westchester County, Bowman is seeking to replicate Ocasio-Cortez's success two years ago when she unseated the fourth-ranked Democrat, Joseph Crowley.

Bowman repeatedly hit Engel over his absence from New York as the coronavirus ravaged the city. But Bowman started getting a more serious look after Engel was caught on a hot mic during a news conference, urging organizers to let him speak about Floyd's death and protests, saying, "If I didn't have a primary, I wouldn't care."

At a polling location in the east Bronx, 21-year-old Dacia Sue, a first-timer voter, said she was motivated to vote for Bowman in part because of Engel's comment.

"For him to say that the Black Lives Movement, like that if he didn't have . . . a primary right now, he wouldn't care, it's, like, surprising to me. It's, like, all right, just for you to say that out loud is crazy," Sue said. "So I was like, yeah, I'm just gonna vote against you."

Among the other races Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., faced a primary opponent, Todd McMurtry, who for a time seemed to have a shot after President Trump repudiated Massie and suggested he should be thrown out of the GOP. The criticism stemmed from Massie forcing more than half the House to return to Washington for a voice vote on the $2 trillion Cares Act amid health warnings that lawmakers should steer clear of gathering in large numbers.

Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., a senior member of GOP leadership, and Michael Turner, R-Ohio, donated to McMurtry's campaign as a sign of revolt against Massie, whose libertarian ways have often irked national security hawks such as Cheney and Turner.

But they soon retracted their endorsements and demanded refunds when Massie's campaign unearthed old McMurtry tweets that were racist and demeaning toward Mexicans and transgender people.

Trump never spoke of Massie again, staying neutral in the race and giving the four-term lawmaker breathing room despite the late March controversy.

Voters in New York are also picking a replacement for former Rep. Chris Collins, a Republican, who was found guilty of 26 counts of insider trading.

- - -

Itkowitz reported from Washington, and Wood and DePaolo from Kentucky. The Washington Post's Kayla Ruble in New York and Paul Kane in New Jersey contributed to this report.
TDT | Manama

Private organisations in Bahrain chartered 16 Gulf Air flights to three different Indian cities, at the request of many stranded Indian nationals. Nine of the flights departed yesterday while the remaining seven are scheduled to fly today. Of yesterdays nine flights, three were arranged by Bahrain Keralyeeya Samajam (BKS) and four others by other regional community organisations to the coastal Indian state of Kerala.

The two other flights, under the initiative of the Indian Club Bahrain (ICB), flew to the state capital cities of Hyderabad and Bangalore. The ICBs flight to Hyderabad carried 282 passengers hailing from the Indian state of Telangana in a jumbo jet. It was the first time that a jumbo jet was used for a repatriation mission from Bahrain.

The flight departed the Kingdom at 5.59pm, in association with the Telangana Cultural Association and Telangana Jagruthi Bahrain. Despite a delay in landing permission approvals, for this jumbo jet flight to Hyderabad, Gulf Air officials extended the scheduled time by an hour. The Indian Club officials extended their heartfelt thanks to them for their consideration and support for the stranded passengers.

All of the 16 charter flights have been approved by the Indian Embassy. Except for a few cases for whom ticket charges were waived on humanitarian grounds, all passengers were expected to pay for their own flight tickets. The Indian government yesterday rejected the Kerala state governments demand that all incoming passengers from abroad must provide COVID-19 negative certificates on arrival.

As per the governments revised procedures for the operation of chartered flights to repatriate stranded Indians, the organisations must receive clearance from the state governments of each flights destination as well as the Embassys.
Trump: Messianic or demonic?

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The most fervent of Donald Trumps supporters view him as a messianic-type figure who will save Judeo-Christian civilization. Many of Trumps detractors, ranging from pensive concern to outright hatred, see him as demonic, a spiritual danger.

Thus, Professor Ron Sider, with twenty-nine other evangelical scholars, has produced a book, The Spiritual Danger of Donald Trump: 30 Evangelical Christians on Justice, Truth, and Moral Integrity.

Trump is a man of extremes and inspires or incites extreme responses and reactions.

Sider, in his Introduction, writes: We are evangelical Christians, pleading with other Christians, especially evangelicals, to allow biblical principles to shape all our political activity.

Sider and his colleagues have undertaken a risky business since their book could be dismissed as a gaggle of academics instructing us deplorables about how to vote for president. That would be unfortunate because there are important concerns here that deserve a wide reading.

I do not intend here a rebuttal. I summed up my own concerns in my newest book, Two Men From Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar, Trump, and the Lord of History. There I wrote that I wished Trump would:

set a better example of personal morality

be less adolescent

be careful about setting precedent with respect to emergency powers

not encourage a civil religion

distinguish between authoritarianism, raw power, and true authority

not stifle freedom of the press midst his efforts to point out fake news

not fall into the trap of overwrought nationalism

I wish Trump would abandon ad hominem attacks and focus on his policies, many of which have been major successes.

Trump is a coarse man. According to Romans 1 there comes a point in humanitys rebellion against Gods holy character when the Lord removes His hand of guidance and protection and gives them over to what their actions prove they really want.

In my seven decades of life I have never known such cultural coarseness as now. In a society where small children know and use the F-word, tragically, it should be no surprise that the national leader is the embodiment of the culture.

But there are other concerns that should bring even greater alarm than coarseness: the right to life, preservation of the biblically defined family, freedom of belief and speech, and the opportunity to work and enjoy the fruits of ones labors.

The numbers related to these issues reveal why so many, including conservative Christians, continue to support Trump. Consider the following from an Internet search:

60,000,000[1]  This is the approximate number of babies who have died in Americas abortion chambers since 1973 and the Supreme Courts decision in Roe v. Wade. In the Christian Post interview Dr. Sider asked, rhetorically, What does God care about? He then answered his own question: God cares about the sanctity of life.

If Joe Biden wins the White House because conservative Christians desert Trump, that staggering number of infant deaths will continue to climb. Biden will be under the sway of a Party that includes powerful politicians who want to push abortion all the way to birth.

5,000,000[2]  At least this many jobs were added to the pre-COVID American economy during Trumps first term. Professor Sider identified as another of the things God cares about as justice for the poor. And that leads to another number.

4,500,000[3]  This is the approximate number of minority hires in the Trump years prior to COVIDs impact on the economy. The jobless rate for Hispanics fell to 3.9 percent, and for African Americans, 5.5 percent. Many of these individuals were classed as poor. It is better to give those suffering poverty a job rather than a handout.

80 percent[4]  This is the estimated proportion of the global population living in places where there is restriction on freedom of religion. President Trump recently signed an executive order implementing strategies to promote religious freedom worldwide, and an end to persecution of religious people and groups.

Though I did not support Trump in the 2015 primaries I did vote for him in 2016. Considering the issues discussed above I plan to vote for Donald Trump in 2020. Often, I have wished that some more respectable leader were carrying the banner on these issues, but Trump is at the point on these concerns. Frankly, no one is perfect enough for the presidency.

Both Biden and Trump are volatile men. Biden might sink his campaign with one disastrous senior moment. Trump may torpedo himself through his hubris  so evident in Tulsa. Volatility can quickly deteriorate into campaign-destroying vulnerability.

Professor Sider fears that Trump is causing the broader culture to develop a negative view of Christianity. One wonders how such a fret would have gone over in the first century church in Rome. Trump aside, shouldnt we expect the culture to hate us if we live and speak biblically regarding abortion, family, freedom of religion, productive work? Is being hated by the world not a mark of faithfulness to the values espoused by Christ? (Matthew 10:22)

I get it: We must be hated for the right reasons.

Siders scholars are right in calling Donald Trump and his supporters to biblical standards. Sider and his colleagues should continue to press Trump to model Christian character, especially if he is going to seek evangelical support for a second term.

But they also need to look at the data and face the hard issue: If not Trump, who? Will Joe Biden or another Democrat  or Republican  behave more Christianly, fight abortion, build an economy that benefits poor as well as rich, encourage policies that help strengthen the traditional family, and take a strong stand for global religious freedom?

If so, thirty PhDs ought to be able to tell us who it is.

[1]https://www.lifenews.com/2020/01/10/61628584-babies-have-been-killed-in-abortions-since-roe-v-wade-in-1973/

[2]https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/jobs-unemployment-donald-trump-administration/2019/12/09/id/945121/

[3]https://www.westernjournal.com/study-reveals-u-s-minority-groups-made-historic-employment-gains-trump-administration/

[4]https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/world-china-iran-russia-report-religious-freedom
In celebration of the 150th birthday of the Sherry-Butt House, we are featuring brief biographies of the people who lived in the home. The house is located at 795 N. Main St. in Viroqua, and is owned and operated as a museum by the Vernon County Historical Society.

This week we feature Margaret (Mc Auley) Butt, wife of Cyrus M. Butt. Col. and Mrs. Butt built their home in Viroqua in 1870.

Margaret was born in Indiana in 1836, one of 13 children born to William and Jane (Megee) Mc Auley. Their family moved to Grant County, which was then a part of Iowa, and owned 240 acres near Lancaster. In 1854 they moved to the town of Utica, Crawford County, near Mt. Sterling.

In 1864, during the Civil War, Margaret married Cyrus M. Butt of Viroqua, a young attorney and a first lieutenant in Company A of the 25th Wisconsin Volunteers. Margaret gave birth to their first child, Esther, in 1868. Their son William Edward, known as Tom, was born in 1870, before the family moved into their new home.

Margaret raised three more children in this home: Jane, also known as Jennie, born in 1872; Cyrus M. Junior, born in 1874; and Margaret Elizabeth, known as Beth, in 1878.

Mrs. Butt was described in her obituary as a good wife and mother and a splendid neighbor, ever generous and kind and especially ready to help the unfortunate poor and needy, and her many deeds of kindness will be remembered by many in the community in which she was so long an honored member and ever friend.

According to her obituary, Mrs. Butt suffered from epilepsy and nervous and mental trouble. She was ill for approximately two weeks before her passing at the age of 78 in 1913. Her funeral was held from the home and she was laid to rest in the Viroqua Cemetery.

Learn more about Margaret Butt and all the other past residents of this gracious historic home by visiting the site for a tour. The Sherry-Butt House is open to visitors on summer Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m., Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Admission is $5, and children under age 9 are free.

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Sergei Khrushchev, the son of late Cold War-era Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and who became a US citizen in 1999, has died at his Rhode Island home, authorities said. He was 84.

The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, according to Joseph Wendelken, a spokesman for the state medical examiner's office.

Cranston police Maj. Todd Patalano told The Providence Journal there were no signs of foul play.

Police responded to Khrushchev's Cranston home last Thursday morning after getting a call from his wife, Patalano said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The younger Khrushchev was a rocket scientist in the Soviet Union and moved to Rhode Island in 1991 to lecture on the Cold War at Brown University.

He and his wife, Valentina, became naturalized US citizens in July 1999.

"I'm feeling like a newborn. It's the beginning of a new life," Sergei Khrushchev told The Associated Press after taking the oath of citizenship inside a Roman Catholic school auditorium.

In a different interview, he said he hoped his father, who died in 1971, would be supportive of his American citizenship.

"After all, it's not as if I'm defecting," he said.

Khrushchev's funeral will be held in Moscow in October, his widow told TASS, the Russian news agency. She said she did not wish to speak when reached by The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has been ordered to attend a sitting of Longford District Court to explain his department's response to fears of how a rising cohort of 'rogue farmers' are undermining Ireland's beef industry for financial gain.

Judge Seamus Hughes issued the invite to the Fine Gael minister after Department of Agriculture officials prosecuted a Co Westmeath man for allegedly procuring medication for cattle without a required veterinary prescription.

The case, taken against a Co Westmeath farmer concerning allegations five bottles of Imizol, a sterile solution used for the treatment and prevention of bovine babesiosis or redwater fever were obtained at a veterinary clinic across the border in Co Fermanagh.

It was alleged a pre-signed cheque had been handed to another individual as part of the transaction in an offence which took place in May 2018 at Baratogher, Rathowen, Co Westmeath.

In evidence provided by Department of Agriculture veterinary surgeon Luie O'Riordan, the court was told of how such incidences were becoming more difficult to detect due to government cutbacks.

"I think there is an absence of political will," he said.

"In my view, it's a case of don't look, don't find."

The comments drew a terse reaction from Judge Seamus Hughes who said there appeared to be an increasing number of what he termed "rogue farmers" that were hellbent on compromising the quality of Ireland's export beef trade for monetary gain.

And, in a further unexpected step, Judge Hughes said he would be asking Mr Creed to Longford in order to explain his department's response to the allegations.

"I am not completing this case here today," he said.

"I will invite Michael Creed to come to court. He won't come, I know that and he will send a senior civil servant but I want a representative from the department here in court as this is of grave consequence to the national herd and export trade."

Judge Hughes added it was his view the case had shone a light on the level of ambidexterity which now existed in Ireland's beef sector.

"This is the tip of the iceberg," he said.

"Something is awry here and there is billions of euro at stake."

The case was adjourned until September 15 next.
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11 Secrets for Successful Remote-First Working

Weve all spoken about and planned for a pandemic for years, but now it is real. Business are shut down. Airports are empty. Hospitals are full. Many Governors (21 states) have issued Stay-At-Home Executive Orders closing all non-essential businesses and eliminating all public meetings. How does government and education provide Continuity of Operations (CooP) in this pandemic?All level of government organizations are trying to find ways to deliver essential services with a remote workforce. Education institutions, k-12 and universities, are forced to close their doors and now expected to deliver the same education through online and distance learning platforms. Some organizations have developed policies, processes and infrastructure to support this new remote demand, but others are trying to keep up.At VMware, we are seeing hundreds of organizations reach out to us for assistance in building platform capabilities and implementing best practices to support their Continuity of Operations. Below is a list of new business requirements our customers have asked us to help address with Covid-19 and how we have helped.With Covid-19 many of our customers now are seeing a need for new service delivery centers close to the citizen for things like child welfare, job centers, community corrections and public health. These customers are setting up Remote Field Offices to provide the needed office infrastructure (copying, printing, video conferencing) without the need to go to large central office. This brings up the need to set up a site with secure internet quickly without waiting 90 days for traditional carrier-based installations. Around the country VMware is helping customers establish new secure internet-based networks which can be strictly controlled and managed by network staff. These new networks, set up in a day, are fully encrypted and managed, enabling government organization departments to meet citizen demand.Now faced with Stay-At-Home orders, many customers are asking for large quantities of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) or access to critical applications (BYOD) from non-government owned devices. Organizations are now faced to support 80% of their workforce remotely vs sitting in an office. VMware is helping customers provide highly secure remote access to the mission critical applications, like Child Welfare, to their employees on any device. Remote employees, either issued a government notebook or using their own device, need secure access to published applications and sometimes full access to a VDI desktop. Customers can both publish applications and implement VDI either in the data center or in a public cloud. This remote capability enables our government organizations to continue to provide critical services from anywhere. Some of our customers are able to quickly migrate into a BYOD to meet the remote worker need through VMwares ability to provide device, network and data security through segmentation.Universities and K-12 organizations now have closed their doors and had to quickly adapt to online course delivery, changing the paradigm from classroom-based education to a digital-collaborative education. Faculty and administrators are now required to stay home and need the capability to create, manage and deliver digital online education. Additionally, some organizations have very complex physical training lab environments, with highly specialized compute intensive software like CAD, on campus to augmented the classroom. These labs are now inaccessible and need to be accessed virtually. VMware is helping our customers establish the virtual environment with the capability and capacity to meet their training needs. We are helping the faculty and administrators gain access to their systems through VDI enabling digital content to be delivered to students. We are helping students gain remote access, from any device, to the content and the sophisticated virtual training lab environment remotely enabling them to continue with their education requirements. All of these virtual environments are wrapped with sophisticated security to manage the content, access and data to meet federal requirements.The demand for remote access outside of lock down networks is high but opens us a large security risk. How do we trust the user, the device and network outside of normal security controls? Now with access from remote devices, opposed to a traditional on-premise network, our customers are faced with having to lock these systems down. New security controls from device, thru the network to the data center and the cloud are required. VMware is helping our customers answer these security questions. VMware is providing customers the ability to implement a zero-trust security architecture to ensure appropriate security controls are maintained even though the scale of remote access has quadrupled. Customers can meet their data and application security requirements through a comprehensive security platform enabling strong device management, controlled user access, application level VPN and application network segmentation.VMware has many new resources to help our customers with business continuity through this pandemic:
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Gold climbed to its highest level in nearly eight years on Wednesday, as worries over a surge in coronavirus infections and hopes of more stimulus measures boosted safe-haven demand for the precious metal. Spot gold rose 0.6 percent to $1,778.20 per ounce, its highest level since October 2012. U.S. gold futures were up 0.7 percent at $1,794.30. Tokyo reported a jump in infections to mark its highest daily tally since May 5 while Germany reported 712 new cases, fueling concerns about a second wave of coronavirus infections. New cases of Covid-19 rose 25 percent in the United States in the week ended June 21 and the death toll in Latin America passed 100,000 on Tuesday, according to a Reuters analysis and tally. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top virus expert in the U.S.told Congress on Tuesday that the next two weeks would be critical in trying to keep the virus under control. Meanwhile, there are reports that the European Union is mulling a ban on American travelers when it reopens its borders on July 1. Hopes of more monetary stimulus by central banks also helped support gold's safe-haven appeal. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the next stimulus bill will focus on getting people back to work quickly and he would consider a further delay of the deadline to file tax return. 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.
Victor Giadom, the sacked deputy national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has issued a notice for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC.

However, a top official of the party said on Tuesday night that Mr Giadom was an impostor and should be disregarded by Nigerians.

The APC, Nigerias ruling party, has been thrown into a leadership crisis after the Court of Appeal upheld the suspension of its national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, a few days ago.

Following the court ruling, Mr Giadom, defiant to a decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, declared himself the acting chairman of the party. He said he was backed by a court order.

The NWC had appointed the deputy national chairman (South), Abiola Ajimobi, the acting chairman.

Mr Giadom, while declaring himself chairman, went ahead to announce the cancellation of the APC screening which led to the disqualification of the Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki, from contesting the party governorship primary in Edo state. But Mr Obaseki defected from the APC to the PDP where he hopes to secure a ticket to run for re-election in September.

In a letter he sent on Tuesday to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Giadom said the APC NEC meeting would take place by 10 a.m. on Thursday at the Presidential Villa.

The letter was personally signed by him.

A stamp on a copy of the letter seen by PREMIUM TIMES indicates that INEC has received the letter.

A notice of the NEC meeting, still signed by Mr Giadom, however, indicates that the meeting would be a virtual one. Mr Giadom said he would send the code for the meeting to members of NEC.

Hilliard Eta, the National Vice Chairman (South-South), who is standing in for the acting chairman, Mr Ajimobi, who is hospitalised at the moment, told journalists Tuesday night, As we speak, the membership of Victor Giadom has been suspended by a competent court of jurisdiction in Port Harcourt this afternoon.

Not only is he no longer a member of the NWC, for today, his membership has been suspended, Mr Eta added.

The APC national spokesperson, Lanre Issa-Onilu told PREMIUM TIMES, Wednesday morning, that the APC constitution states clearly who has the powers to call for NEC meeting and that journalists should be aware of this, so they could interrogate Giadom further on his locus.

The APCs NEC consists of 39 statutory members.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, including the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the APC governors are members of the APC NEC.

There was a push for the partys NEC to hold in March, which would have decided the fate of Mr Oshiomhole, but for the intervention of Mr Buhari, who postponed it indefinitely.

Meanwhile, a High Court in Rivers State has reportedly barred Mr Giadom from parading himself as an officer or a member of the APC.

The court ruled that Mr Giadom should not participate in the activities of the APC since he has been suspended by the leadership of the party in Rivers state where he hails from, The Nation newspaper reported.

The power tussle between Bola Tinubu, who is regarded as the APC national leader, and Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, is tearing the APC apart.

Mr Giadom is Mr Amaechis political ally.

As the APC crisis continues to degenerate, some Nigerians are concerned about when the crisis would likely come to end. PREMIUM TIMES asked the partys spokesperson, Mr Issa-Onilu, to speak on the matter.

I am also worried, I am a Nigerian as well, Mr Issa-Onilu responded.

I am also worried because the government needs to focus on governance and this can be a huge distraction.

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But you have people whose interests differ, it is not about the mandate we have, it is about their own ambition. They would do anything to achieve whatever they want to achieve. And we have a responsibility to live up to the principles of our party and we have to stand by the truth, he said
The state of Rhode Island is moving to eliminate the second half of its official name, The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in response to activists claims that it serves as a painful reminder of slavery.

Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order on Monday calling for the governors office and agencies under the direction of the governor to halt the use of the second part of the official name, and Providence Plantations, as soon as possible. The name will read as just Rhode Island on government documents. The state seal may also be altered to eliminate the phrase.

Many of the States residents find it painful that a word so closely associated with slavery should appear in the official name of the State, Raimondo wrote in the order. The pain that this association causes to some of our residents should be of concern to all Rhode Islanders and we should do everything in our power to ensure that all communities can take pride in our State.

I urge the voters to approve the name change in November but will take all measures now that are within my control to eliminate the name from my official communications and those of my executive agencies, Raimondo said in the order.

The push to change Rhode Islands official name has received fresh attention amid protests across the nation against racism and police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis last month.

The state Senates only black member, Harold Metts, introduced legislation last week calling for a statewide vote on removing Providence Plantations from the states official name. The Rhode Island senate passed the resolution. The permanent name change would require voters to approve altering the Rhode Island Constitution in November.

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, Metts told the Providence Journal.

Story continues

The images that come to mind when I hear the word plantations are of the inhuman and degrading treatment of the African-Americans who came before me, families ripped apart by slave sales, rapes and lynchings. It is a hurtful term to so many of us, continued Metts, who traces his ancestry back to Speck Plantation near Charlottesville, Virginia.

The Providence Democrat compared the phrases presence in the states official name to the Confederate flag, saying that keeping plantation in the name does not memorialize history but conjures an unnecessary and painful reminder of our racist past.

A petition in favor of the name change has garnered more than 7,500 signatures.

More from National Review
In a runoff election Tuesday night, Madison Cawthorn unexpectedly crushed Lynda Bennett to be the Republican nominee for North Carolinas 11th District, a safe Republican seat in western North Carolina.

The most interesting immediate thing about Madison Cawthorn is that he is younger than YOU! (Maybe.) Hawthorn was born in 1995, and will turn the requisite 25 years of age later this year. That means that he is, at the present moment, as I type this story, as we live and breathe, a 24-year-old person, who is almost certainly going to Congress. The Pew Research Center classifies those born in 1995 as part of the last years of the millennial generation, so this may not be the first Zoomer member of Congress. But that all-important moment (the Singularity) is approaching.

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Cawthorn, who is very conservative on every issue, has an interesting story. He was nominated to go to the U.S. Naval Academy at 18, but a car crash in 2014 left him a paraplegic. His bills, he said, left him $3 million in medical debt as a teenager; he has since become a motivational speaker. As he told the Washington Examiner in a recent profile, he hopes his experience can allow him to be the face of the Republican Party when it comes to healthcare. (The health care section of his website says the following, on health care: I believe patients and doctors, certainly not government bureaucrats, should be in charge of health care decisions. Im for expanding choice and competition in our health care system. I strongly oppose the Democrats plans to create socialized medicine. Well, sure, a new face.)

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Whats delightful about Cawthorns win, though, is how mad its going to make President Donald Trump at the person Cawthorn is replacing. North Carolinas 11th District was previously represented by Mark Meadows, the former Freedom Caucus chairman who resigned from Congress earlier this year to serve as Trumps chief of staff. Meadows had backed Bennett, a friend of his, and some North Carolina GOP observers suspected that the last-minute timing of his retirement announcement before the filing deadline was designed to benefit her. Meadows, further, convinced his boss, President Trump, to endorse Bennett. Trump recorded robocalls for her.

So there is now a 24-year-old Republican with a great story whos about to be the beneficiary of both significant national press and a GOP marketing push as the rising star counterweight to AOC or some such (theyre both young, etc.). And Trump, at his chiefs prompting, will have endorsed the other candidate, who lost by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

Its going to be an unpleasant few days for Mark Meadows.

For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below.
A lawyer who exposed wrongdoing and corruption among officials in the northern Chinese province of Hebei has been jailed for 14-and-a-half years on charges of "blackmail," RFA has learned.



Wu Quan was handed the sentence by the Qiaoxi District People's Court in Hebei's Zhangjiakou city, which found him guilty of the charge, after being held in pretrial detention since December 2017.



Wu's former defense attorney Huang Hanzhong said he was surprised by the harsh sentence.



"The case against Wu was unusual in that it [the material facts it rested on] was entirely fabricated, rather than being a wrong decision or miscarriage of justice [based on undisputed facts]," Huang told RFA on Wednesday.



"The case was totally fake."



Wu's detention came after he wrote an article criticizing Wang Jiang, chairman of the Zhangjiakou Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference, for being behind the forcible requisitioning of farmland, the sale of a factory making alcoholic beverages at a below-market price, and covering up a mining disaster.



"Family members of those affected by the mine disaster turned to Wu Quan for to fight for their rights," Huang said. "Wu Quan learned the facts of the mine disaster during the process of representing them."



"So he reported it to the relevant departments and found that municipal authorities in Zhangjiakou had colluded with the mine owner to cover up the mining disaster," he said.



Huang dismissed the allegations of "blackmail" against Wu, saying the case hadn't been proven and that there was no motive for such a crime.



He said the Zhangjiakou police department had put out a public call for "evidence" against Wu after they detained him.



"They crowd-sourced this so-called evidence after they arrested Wu Quan," Huang said. "They had no evidence of any crime having been committed before they detained him."



Tortured by police



Wu Quan had also been subjected to torture by police, who were looking for a "confession," Huang said.



Wu's hands and feet were handcuffed to the interrogation chair for 48 hours straight, and he was denied access to sleep and water for long periods of time, he said.



"He was locked up in a place where there was no heating in the basement for a long time, and subjected to methods of continuous fatigue, interrogation, and sleep deprivation, which is torture," Huang said.



Repeated calls to Wu Quan's family members and defense lawyers went unanswered or unconnected on Wednesday.



The public announcement calling for "evidence" against Wu on Dec. 19 read: "Wu Quan, male, lawyer from Weizhou township, Wei county. Criminally detained by the Zhangjiakou City Public Security Bureau on Dec. 18, 2017 on suspicion of extortion and blackmail."



"In order to ascertain the facts of the case in accordance with the law and to effectively combat the crime, we are now soliciting clues about his criminal offense," the statement, which was posted to the Zhangjiakou police departments social media and mass SMS messaging service, said.



"Anyone with knowledge of the case may provide the Zhangjiakou Municipal Public Security Bureau with clues," it said.



Another rights lawyer tried



Meanwhile, authorities in the southwestern region of Guangxi held the trial of rights attorney Chen Jiahong for "incitement to subvert state power" on Tuesday.



However, Chen didn't attend court owing to coronavirus restrictions, participating via video link instead.



His attorney Chen Yang declined to discuss the case.



"I really want to talk about it, but it is inconvenient to talk about it, and I daren't," Chen Yang said.



"Inconvenient" is frequently used by rights activists, lawyers and dissidents to refer to official pressure, harassment, or surveillance as the reason for their refusal to speak to the media.



Court blocked off



Hunan-based rights attorney Xie Yang, who went to the court buildings on Tuesday, said police had cordoned off the street near the court building.



"I think all other court business was suspended just for the trial of Chen Jiahong," Xie told RFA. "They didn't let his mother sit in the public section; they said there wasn't enough room."



"I had an altercation with them ... I said they should allow his parent to see her child for ethical reasons," he said.



Chen was detained in April 2019 after he posted calligraphy to social media that read: "Liquidate this evil bureaucracy and promote democracy!"



Xie said he wasn't optimistic about the outcome.



Chen was a vocal supporter of Wang Quanzhang, Yu Wensheng, and other rights lawyer detained in a nationwide operation that began on July 9, 2015 and saw more than 300 lawyers and activists detained, questioned, or placed under surveillance and travel bans.



Chen later had his license to practice as an attorney revoked in an annual review process often used to target outspoken lawyers.



Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
New Delhi, June 24 : After nationwide protest by the Congress party on Wednesday over the issue of rising fuel prices, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra upped ante on the social media.

She tweeted: "During this crisis, the central government has created a history of hurting public financially. Diesel has now exceeded petrol's rate. While there is a huge decline in the price of crude oil worldwide." Dubbing it as "robbery", Priyanka Gandhi alleged, "Look at the robbery. The government raises the rate every day so that the amounts that are collected by Rs 8 or Rs 9 does not seem as loot." She further asked, "Why is the public being harassed during the economic devastation caused by the epidemic?" Diesel has become the most expensive auto-fuel in the country overtaking petrol for the first time as the oil marketing companies on Wednesday raised its pump prices by 48 paise per litre while keeping the price of petrol unchanged.

In the Capital, diesel is now priced at Rs 79.88 per litre while petrol prices remain at Tuesday level of Rs 79.76 a litre. This makes diesel the most expensive auto fuel in the basket for the first time in the Capital.

The Congress on Wednesday held protests across India, against the petrol-diesel price hike.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said his government would simplify the process of permissions required for setting up industries in the state. Interacting with private equity (PE) firms through video conference, Thackeray said the MVA government has adopted a pro-industry policy to attract investment in the post-COVID-19 era.

"Just like coronavirus has taught us to stay home, stay safe, you (PE firms) advise investors to invest in Maharashtra. Their investment will be safe here," he said.

He said the government would simplify the process of permissions required for setting up industries in the state. The chief minister said industries which don't require too many permissions can start operations immediately.

Such industries can be started in green industrial zone and they can benefit from the existing single window system for clearances, he said.

Industries minister Subhash Desai, who also attended the video meeting, said the number of permissions needed to set up ventures in the state has already been brought down from 76 to 25.

He said a pharma park and an electronic park have been proposed to be set up near Mumbai. Manish Kejriwal of Kedaara Capital, Sanjay Nair of KKR India, Amit Dixit of Blackstone and Amit Chandra of Bain Capital, among others, participated in the meeting.

Also read: How COVID-19 led to retail startups reinventing themselves
Chinese authorities in the northern region of Inner Mongolia are winding up native-language tuition in and around Tongliao city, beginning in September, RFA has learned.



Officials from the Tongliao municipal education bureau recently began giving verbal notification to schools in their jurisdiction that Mongolian-medium education will end with the start of the new academic year.



Teachers at a Mongolian-medium high school in the city had been warned of the move by education bureau officials during a recent inspection, an ethnic Mongolian high-school teacher wrote in a social media post.



From September, classes in math, physics, chemistry, and political and physical education will be taught instead in Mandarin Chinese, the post said.



Ethnic Mongolian rights activist Xinna, who was herself once a teacher in the region's capital, Hohhot, said she had also heard from residents of the region about the changes.



"In Tongliao, the local education bureau is requiring all subjects other than the Mongolian language to be taught in Chinese," Xinna said.



"I am hearing that they will also be sending officials to supervise its enforcement," she said. "The Inner Mongolian authorities are forcing Chinese-medium education on schools that previously offered a Mongolian-medium education."



She said mother-tongue education in the region is now in a state of crisis.



"In spite of [online censorship], I am still hearing opposition [to this plan] from many Mongolians," Xinna said.



An ethnic Mongolian resident of Tongliao told RFA that similar policies are also being implemented at the university level.



"The leadership program at Tongliao Nationalities University will start teaching their history and politics classes in Chinese, starting with the new semester," the resident said.



"The next step will be the teaching chemistry, physics, medicine, and other natural sciences in Chinese," he said.



A teacher at the Tongliao No. 1 High School said the move is part of an overall plan to abolish mother-tongue education for China's ethnic Mongolian population.



Oppressive policies



China's 5.8 million-strong ethnic Mongolian community have long complained about oppressive policies in the region, which borders the independent country of Mongolia.



Ethnic Mongolian children have previously had much more opportunity to learn their native language and its cursive, flowing script during their early schooling than in recent years.



According to research carried out by veteran ethnic Mongolian activist Hada, the regional capital Hohhot only offers 3,000 Mongolian-medium primary school places to serve an ethnic Mongolian population of some 210,000, the New York-based Southern Mongolia Human Rights and Information Center (SMHRIC) said in a 2016 report.



The number of Mongolian-medium primary school places across the whole region fell from 110,000 in the early 1980s to just 19,000 in 2009, it said.



Similar plans by education authorities in Ujimqin Banner were shelved following a protest by parents in 2018.



"The mother tongue is a crucial part of the culture of a nation," Xinna said. "Once the language is lost, the culture will soon follow."



"Mongolians originally chose to stick with the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party in large part because it claimed to respect Mongolian Culture," she said.



She cited a working plan issued by the Inner Mongolia regional government for 2020, which called for the "vigorous promotion" of Mandarin Chinese, to achieve 80 percent fluency and literacy in the region.



Strategy of assimilation



Exile ethnic Mongolian rights activist Xi Haiming, who lives in Germany, also said the move is part of a long-running strategy aimed at assimilating ethnic minority groups into mainstream Communist Party ideology and a state-approved version of Han Chinese culture.



"Why are they implementing this in Tongliao first? Well, they originally wanted to do it in Shilingol Banner but it didn't meet with everyone's approval," Xi said.



"Tongliao is a place with the largest ethnic Mongolian population; nearly one million people," he said. "This is a blatant form of ethnic assimilation."



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The Greater Accra Regional Office of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) on Wednesday, stopped an encroacher from developing a structure on the course of the Densu River, at Tetegu, near Accra.



The developer, identified as Nii Ayi Okoforobuo I, Ngleshie Lafa Mantse, said he was constructing a washing bay, after filling the site, which is also near a highway, with about 200 trips of sand.



However, the team, led by the GHA Director, Mr Lawrence L. L. Lamptey, and included personnel from National Security, told him that it was illegal to build on a waterway, besides his project worsened the flooding of the area whenever there was a downpour.



Nii Ayi explained that he inherited the land from his deceased mother and he possessed all the requisite documents of ownership.



He claimed he had no idea that he had to seek a permit from the Ga South Municipal Assembly and other relevant authorities before undertaking any development and declared his readiness to present all the documents he had to the Authorities.



He pleaded with the team not to destroy the work he had done so far on the site because he would comply with the necessary standards required of such a project.



Mr Lamptey, however, made it clear that wetlands were to be protected for the sustenance of biodiversity and environment protection, therefore, there was no way a permit could be granted for the construction of any structure.



In an interview, Mr Lamptey explained that when the Authority saw the development on the waterway, it gave the developer a two week-ultimatum through written notices for him to stop the work.



He, however, overlooked the warning and continued with the work, he said.



So today, we came here with the National Security to clear the way and block the access to what he is doing, which is illegal. You can see that behind me is a water way and all the water from this area flows through it.



Now when the water flows and there is an obstruction, it starts to lead to flooding and its a problem weve been facing for many years.



We dont want that to continue, so we need to stop that development so that water can flow through freely, he explained.



The developer, Mr Lamptey said, only availed himself for the first time when he was notified by his land guards that the Authority and Police Personnel had arrived on the land to block his access to it with caterpillars.



Meanwhile, the Authority, he said, would wait for the Chief to present all his documents before taking the next step over his action.



Should they fail to produce all the requisite documents, the Director said, the Authority would take him to court for trespassing and encroachment and pull down the structures (pillars) he had constructed.



In the meantime, we are going to create a gorge here, deepen it, so that nobody can get access to the place and put concrete barriers to stop anyone from entering this land, he said.



He advised anyone who wanted to construct a building to seek the approval of their respective Municipal Assemblies and the Ghana Highway Authority if the building was close to the highway to be directed towards taking the right channels.

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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Magpies in Australia are best known for swooping on cyclists during spring

A cache of native Australian animalsincluding some of the country's deadliest snakes and a bird known for its swooping attackswas seized Wednesday in raids on suspected international wildlife traffickers, police said.

New South Wales police said they had searched six homes across Sydney in connection with an illegal trafficking ring spanning Australia, Asia and North America.

Officers discovered three feared Australian snakesa death adder, a python and a red-bellied blackas well as lizards, turtles and magpies, the black-and-white birds best known Down Under for swooping on unsuspecting cyclists, and unrelated to the covetous Eurasian magpie.

Police said the raids were part of a wider investigation that began last year into a criminal syndicate operating in three continents and involved in wildlife trafficking, large-scale fraud and money laundering.

Two men, aged 27 and 55, were arrested Wednesday. Police said they expected to lay charges.

The animals will be released into the care of professional wildlife handlers.

 2020 AFP
Just when you thought Gwyneth Paltrows world couldnt get any barmier, the actress has created a candle  that smells like her orgasm.

With notes of grapefruit and berries, blended with gunpowder tea and Turkish rose, Gwynnie says the aroma is sexy, surprising and wildly addictive. Selling for 75 on her website Goop, the candle is a follow-up to another risque scent, This Smells Like My Vagina, which sold out in two days when it launched in January.

Candle lovers, it seems, cant get enough of bonkers fragrances. From ash to diesel, pencil shavings to treehouse, we test the strangest-smelling  and most ridiculously-named  designer candles ...

PENCIL SHAVINGS

50, anyahindmarch.com

FEMAIL gives verdict on a selection of the strangest-smelling candles including Pencil Shavings by Anya Hindmarch (pictured)

WHAT IS IT: Created for the designer by expert nose Marianne Martin, vice president of the British Society of Perfumers, this scent was launched alongside Chewing Gum and Lollipop candles.

It blends mandarin, pink pepper, rose, cedar, cypress and patchouli, with amber and cardamom in an attempt to evoke the aroma of fresh notebooks and novelty erasers.

SMELLS LIKE: The bark of a wet tree. It reminds me of a hippy festival in a forest.

BURN TIME: 30 to 40 hours

VERDICT: Why anyone would want their home to smell like sharpened pencils is beyond me, and this doesnt even achieve that.0/5

BOOKSHELF

40, no-22.com

This Bookshelf candle (pictured) created by No22, burns for up to 60 hours and is perfect for a cosy night in with a book

WHAT IS IT: From cult fragrance brand No 22, founded by Elle beauty director Sophie Beresiner, Bookshelf is a sophisticated scent, inspired by the ritual of curling up by the fire with a classic novel. It contains base notes of musk, with tar and leather, and is described as warm, dusty, with . . . a very subtle sweetness.

SMELLS LIKE: A dusty bookshelf; exactly what it says on the tin. Theres something comforting and nostalgic about the smell of old books. Fresher than Id expected, I can also detect herbs, citrus and spices.

BURN TIME: 55 to 60 hours

VERDICT: Perfect for a cosy night in with a book, of course.5/5

85 DIESEL

60, osmology.co

This '85 Diesel scent (pictured) smells like a combination of a new car and petrol, and burns up to 60 hours

WHAT IS IT: From New York perfumers D.S. & Durga, this candle promises to take you out on the open road. Inspired by a 1980s road trip, it has notes of suede, leather, vinyl and white violet, with hints of leather seats, damp earth and diesel smoke. Mmmm!

SMELLS LIKE: A blend of new car and petrol. Sharp, smoky and earthy. The only place Id burn this is in the garage.

BURN TIME: 60 hours

VERDICT: Its too much like a diesel pump to be pleasant. 1/5

PSYCHOANALYSIS

45, bellafreud.com

Bella Freud's psychoanalysis candle (pictured) is a combination of neroli and lilac flowers with tobacco and cedarwood

WHAT IS IT: As quirky as her fashion line, Bella Freuds candles all have esoteric names such as Lion and Night Music. Psychoanalysis (what else would you expect from the great granddaughter of Sigmund Freud?) combines heady neroli and lilac flowers with tobacco and cedarwood, and is one of the most popular in the range.

SMELLS LIKE: A rebellious teenagers bedroom: the perfume is so strong its like a musty Moroccan bazaar.

After an hour, I find myself coughing and having to fling open the windows.

BURN TIME: 40 hours

VERDICT: A bit too too try-hard for me, but this would be a hit with teenage girls.2/5

ASH

35, farfetch.com

Boy Smells' Ash candle (pictured) evokes memories of summer nights and crackling campfires

WHAT IS IT: By offbeat Los Angeles brand Boy Smells, which focuses on masculine scents. Described as a modern, smoky scent, its made of the essence of dry hay, firewood, smoke and charcoal, with notes of juniper berries.

SMELLS LIKE: That slightly sharp, addictive, smoky scent of a bonfire. The juniper makes it smell like pepper, pine cones and freshly-cut grass.

BURN TIME: 50 hours

VERDICT: Reminds me of summer nights and crackling campfires. Its much nicer than sniffing the embers of a fire. 4/5

TREEHOUSE

57, byredo.com

Swedish fragrance house Byredo's Treehouse (pictured) burns for up to 60 hours, with a woody smell

WHAT IS IT: A favourite of celebrities Sienna Miller and Kate Bosworth, Swedish fragrance house Byredo is known for its whimsical, fairy tale-inspired scents. Treehouse contains essence of cedar, bamboo, sandalwood and hay, as well as myrrh.

SMELLS LIKE: A sophisticated treehouse. Its so woody, it smells like a mans cologne, but with an unpleasant medicinal fragrance from the myrrh.

BURN TIME: 60 hours

VERDICT: Disappointing. 1/5

MOON

48, evermorelondon.com

Evermore's Moon candle (pictured) smells like fresh roses and smoky fragrance with a hint of cheese

WHAT IS IT: This one, by Evermore, is inspired by nocturnal roses, which unfurl by moonlight  so, sadly, it doesnt smell like the moon. It contains rose, saffron and cade (juniper).

SMELLS LIKE: Fresh roses, with a spicy, smoky fragrance. Mercifully, there isnt a hint of cheese. It smells delicious.

BURN TIME: 60 hours

VERDICT: Lovely, but should have been called plain old rose instead.4/5
Keanu Reeves was joined by his girlfriend Alexandra Grant at Berlin's Schonefeld Airport late last week alongside his The Matrix 4 co-stars.

The esteemed actor, 55, was giggling and looking happy alongside the artist and philanthropist, 47, as he prepared to resume shooting alongside Neil Patrick Harris and Carrie-Ann Moss after things skidded to a halt amid coronavirus.

The Matrix 4 will be released in 2021 and production began in early January with Lana Wachowski returning as co-writing and director, and while filming stopped in Berlin in March the stars were returning to the German capital on Sunday.

He's back! Keanu Reeves was joined by his girlfriend Alexandra Grant at Berlin's Schonefeld Airport late last week alongside his The Matrix 4 co-stars

Keanu cut a low-key figure in an all-black ensemble while Alexandra was similarly low-key yet wrapped up with a white scarf.

When the new movie was announced, Lana said in a statement: 'Many of the ideas Lilly and I explored 20 years ago about our reality are even more relevant now...

'I'm very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends.'

Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchell co-wrote the Matrix 4 script alongside Wachowski. Keanu is again playing Neo with Carrie-Ann back as well.

Happy days: The esteemed actor, 55, was giggling and looking happy alongside the artist and philanthropist, 47, as he prepared to resume shooting alongside Neil Patrick Harris and Carrie-Ann Moss after things skidded to a halt amid coronavirus

Tender moments: The duo had a giggle and shared a tender moment

Sweet: Ever since Reeves and Grant went public in November, there has been much speculation about when they first started dating

The Matrix 4 will also also feature Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who's best known to audiences as Black Manta in 2018's Aquaman.

Reeves' next film is the next Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure with Alex Winter.

Ever since Reeves and Grant went public in November, there has been much speculation about when they first started dating.

The gang: Keanu cut a low-key figure in an all-black ensemble while Alexandra was similarly low-key yet wrapped up with a white scarf

Some publications said they had been romantic for only a few months but then earlier this month Jennifer Tilly told Page Six that they had been an item for 'years.'

Grant is an artist and philanthropist. Born in Ohio, Alexandra has been working in the arts since graduating from Swarthmore College in 1994 with a BA in history and studio art.

The artist is known for her use of language and exchanges with writers as a source for imagery in her sculpture, painting, drawing, and video works.

Way back when: Joe Pantoliano, Laurence Fishburne, Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss pictured in the poster for the original Matrix in 1999

Elegant: Carrie-Anne Moss, who plays Trinity in the franchise, was also in tow

The talented artist fostered her love for the spoken word as a child, after growing up around the world, living in Mexico, Spain and France.

She has exhibited at prestigious spaces around the world including Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Galerie Gradiva in Paris and The Harris Lieberman Gallery in New York.

In 2008, Alexandra founded the philanthropic grantLOVE project which produces and sells original artworks and editions to benefit artist projects and arts non-profits.

Star: It was revealed in October that Neil Patrick Harris was added to the ensemble cast

Happy days: Alexandra slotted in to the group happily

The star: Shadows is compiled of dark silhouette images of Reeves taken by Grant and poetry written by the Matrix actor

Alexandra and Keanu have a history that goes back years, first collaborating together on a grown-up's picture book, Ode to Happiness, in 2011.

The book was a success, sparking the poet-artist duo to create their second book together, Shadows, in 2016, with Grant photographing Reeves while he was filming John Wick.

Since then, the two have been spotted together at art galleries, book signings, posed for Vogue Spain and even traveled to Germany to work together.

Speaking of working together on their second book, Grant told W Magazine: 'We can spend a lot of time debating. Like, A raspberry hue? And should it be darker? We can get obsessive.'

The Matrix 4: The Matrix franchise is the brainchild of transgender sisters Lana and Lilly Wachowski who created and wrote the billion dollar trilogy and the pair are returning to helm the fourth film which began filming in San Francisco in February (pictured)

Unknown: Neil's role in the movie is thus far unknown

Shadows is compiled of dark silhouette images of Reeves taken by Grant and poetry written by the Matrix actor.

Grant told the LA Times of her collaborator: 'No one can move the way he can. He's a really extreme performer. That's a huge piece of why those images are so interesting...

'I knew that if I moved the camera as we danced together, as photographer and subject, we could create these wonderful optical illusions.'

The two founded publishing company X Artists' Books in 2017, with a focus on 'unusual collaborations' and books that 'don't really have a place because they're between genres'.

Low-key: Keanu was casually clad as he arrived in Germany
Aiven is one of the largest managed Kafka providers, and were excited to expand our Kafka portfolio with the addition of managed MirrorMaker 2, said Hannu Valtonen, Chief Product Officer at Aiven.

Aiven, a leading technology company combining the best open source technologies with cloud infrastructure, announced today the release of Kafka MirrorMaker 2 as a stand-alone service, enabling enterprises to access the Apache Kafka ecosystem more easily.

Aiven is one of the largest managed Kafka providers, and were excited to expand our Kafka portfolio with the addition of managed MirrorMaker 2, said Hannu Valtonen, Chief Product Officer at Aiven. Our customers have come to know and rely on our Kafka offering, and we have ambitious goals to continue to innovate and develop new services that enable our customers to easily incorporate Kafka into their architecture.

With Apache Kafka, Kafka Connect, and now MirrorMaker 2 as a service, Aiven customers can specialize their workloads, reducing dependency while increasing resilience. MirrorMaker 2 helps enterprises ensure data continuity by allowing them to easily replicate data among Kafka clusters. Aivens multi-cloud platform further enhances this by allowing the replication of data across cloud providers.

MirrorMaker 2.0 itself comes with a number of improvements, including the ability to maintain offset mappings between clusters, critical for disaster recovery  one of the top use cases for MirrorMaker.

Additional MirrorMaker 2.0 improvements include:



Topic configuration is synchronized from source to target clusters, removing the need for external tools

Preserved partitions during the replication process

The ability to run multiple replication flows for a single MirrorMaker cluster and the prevention of infinite loops

Increased reliability, scalability and performance by leveraging the Kafka Connect framework

Users can now easily set up replication flows between Kafka clusters through the Aiven Console, the command line client, the Terraform provider or the REST API.

To learn more about Aiven for Kafka MirrorMaker 2, visit https://aiven.io/mirrormaker.

About Aiven

Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland and with offices in Berlin, Germany and Sydney, Australia and Boston, MA, Aiven is an ISO 27001 certified cloud data platform provider, operating managed open-source database, event streaming, cache, search, and graphing solutions for customers worldwide.

You can visit https://aiven.io for more information or follow Aiven on Twitter: @aiven_io.
PHOENIXVILLE, PA  The green phase of coronavirus mitigation is finally here in Chester County, and Phoenixville's powerful local economy is starting to hum once again. On Friday, June 26, Chester County will move into the green phase along with the rest of southeastern Pennsylvania, the most lax phase of Gov. Wolf's reopening plan.

For the first time since the pandemic brought the region and much of the world to a grinding halt in mid-March, indoor dining and drinking, barbershops, gyms, and more are allowed to open.

Green phase does not mean business as usual, however, officials are quick to remind the public. Coronavirus cases have steeply dropped around southeastern Pennsylvania and specifically in Chester County, which has seen just 68 new cases since June 18. But the threat of the virus remains, and all businesses must continue to abide by the state Department of Health's guidance for operating in the COVID-19 disaster emergency.

"While green means go, in this instance, green is not the all clear to go quickly," Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell said. "We must proceed with caution. For businesses and employers, the green phase will look similar to the yellow phase, with some relaxation of restrictions."

The borough will continue to shut down stretches of Bridge Street from Thursday through Sunday to accomodate outdoor dining and shopping on the sidewalks and street. Whether indoors or out, customers must wear masks unless they are seated at their table.

The closures are in place from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. each Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays. No vehicular traffic is allowed on Bridge from Starr Street down to Gay Street, while Main Street remains open. The Main and Bridge parking lot is also shut down.

One of the biggest changes from yellow to green is that restaurants and bars are permitted to open up to 50 percent capacity. In Phoenixville, what this will look like will vary based on the establishment.

Story continues

"Besides a dozen barstools inside things are basically the same for us as the past few weeks," John Sakos, executive chef at Great American Pub, told Patch.



Great American's large outdoor areas will remain open, while its bar areas and small dining rooms downstairs with open doors will also open up at 50 percent capacity. Bathrooms will be sanitized every 30 minutes. All tables will have at least six feet between them, and all meals will be served on disposable plates and with disposable utensils.

Sakos was optimistic that the restaurant could safely, slowly expand its offerings. Employees routintely have their temperatures checked.

"We continue to strive towards peace and prosperity," he said.



Just down Bridge Street, one of the borough's newest eateries, Avlos Greek Cuisine, is taking a slightly more conservative tactic.



On Friday, they're opening the front portion of the inside of their restaurant to 25 percent of capacity. Eventually, they plan on moving that to the maximum allowed of 50 percent capacity, over the next few weeks.

In the meantime, "we will focus on serving our customers outside in our outdoor space," manager Katerina Skartsila said.



Drinking is allowed outdoors within designated open container areas on Bridge Street. The borough has published this open container map laying out the details:

The green phase also means that other sorts of gatherings are allowed, including concerts. Steel City Coffeehouse said that their popular weekly open mic night will resume on Thursday, July 2. Their first concert since the outbreak began will be Wake Up John on Saturday, July 11.

"This will be our first show since early March, so it will be a free event," co-owner Laura Vernola told Patch. "We've been reaching out to community sponsors for shows which allows us to pay the band and not stress about the overhead on a show night."



Vernola said that Steel City is expanding their hours in the green phase. They're now open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

They're also moving to seating their indoor tables up to 50 percent occupancy. Occupancy will constantly monitored, and all tables will be six feet apart. At peak hours, customers will be permitted to stay at their table for 45 minutes after their food arrives.

Vernola was hopeful that the borough would continue to keep Bridge Street closed through the near future.

"This is good news for all of our residents and local businesses," Maxwell said. "Chester County residents have all done their part."

Area barbershops, which were not permitted to open in even a limited capacity in the yellow phase, are scrambling to prepare for their reopening Friday. Lox Barbershop on Gay Street was undergoing a deep clean over the past week. And faced with a large number of appointment requests, most salons urged customers to book online.

The Phoenixville YMCA has announced that they are opening to the public on Monday, June 29, at 5 a.m. Their outdoor pool will open on July 3, with numerous health restrictions in place.

For other local businesses, the green phase does not have as significant of an impact. Buds, a pet service operation based on Church Street, said they were continuing with their precautions.

"Our team members wear masks while inside clients' homes, shoes are removed prior to home entry and hand sanitization occurs before and after all visits," owner Shaunna Bowlby told Patch. "We continue to carefully maintain balance between the loving, personal care that our clients expect and the safety of our clients and staff."

Some smaller businesses have determined, independently, that they cannot safely reopen. Among them is Soltane Cafe.

Unfortunately, we are not sure when that time (to reopen) will come. Our first commitment is to the health and safety of our staff and customers, and based on the size of our cafe space and the current state of the Covid-19 pandemic, we cannot safely reopen at this time.

A spokesperson for the cafe said that they hoped to have more concrete information on a potential opening by the end of July.

As of late Wednesday, Phoenixville has 169 cases and 21 deaths due to coronavirus since the outbreak began.

Our Way Forward: See more stories about Pennsylvania's coronavirus recovery



This article originally appeared on the Phoenixville Patch
Vandals have scrawled 'Nazi' across a monument to the first women to take her seat in the Houses of Parliament.

Workers in Plymouth discovered the graffiti on a statue of Nancy Astor in Plymouth Hoe on Tuesday, after weeks of monuments being targeted across the country.

The plinth of the statue, unveiled by Theresa May last November to celebrate 100 years since Mrs Astor's election, had 'Nazi' written across the former MP's signature and the Antifascist Circle, a political symbol associated with the Social Democratic Party of Germany in the 1930s, was also scrawled on the monument.

The Nancy Astor statue at the Plymouth Hoe has been boarded up after vandals painted the word 'Nazi' on the monument. The graffiti was discovered on Tuesday

It comes amid a nationwide discussion of Britain's imperial past prompted by the killing of George Floyd by US police officers.

Mr Floyd's death has sparked worldwide protests with millions of people taking to the streets. It has also prompted debate about the background of people who have monuments that sit in public spaces throughout the UK.

Workers in Plymouth have boarded up the bottom of the statue to Ms Astor - who has garnered criticm post-humously in recent years for having anti-catholic and anti-semitic views, and some claim she may have been a Nazi sympathiser.

In 1934, as Jewish people fled Nazi Germany, she was heard to ask: 'There must be something in the Jews themselves that had brought them persecution throughout the ages'.

The statue was paid for by a crowd-funding campaign and unveiled in November last year.

Vandals scrawled 'Nazi' where Nancy Astor's signature is inscribed on her statue in Plymouth Hoe on Tuesday

The Nancy Astor statue was unveiled in November 2019 by former Prime Minister Theresa May, who called her a 'brave and trailblazing woman'

Who was Nancy Astor? The American-born British politician was the second woman to be elected as an MP in Britain and the first to take her seat in the Houses of Parliament. Nancy Astor took her seat in the Houses of Parliament in 2019 She stood for Plymouth Sutton from 1919 to 1945, winning the seat for the Conservative Party after her husband Waldorf Astor inherited his father's peerage and joined the House of Lords in 1918. Known for her wit and sharp tongue, in a meeting with Josef Stalin in 1931, Viscountess Astor reportedly asked the Soviet leader: 'When are you going to stop killing people?', to which Stalin replied 'When it is no longer necessary for the protection of the state'. There has been criticism of her anti-Catholic and anti-semitic views, particularly after a campaign succesfully raised the money to build a statue in her honour in Plymouth last year. During one conversation at London's Savoy Hotel, in 1934, as Jewish people fled Nazi Germany, she was heard to ask: 'There must be something in the Jews themselves that had brought them persecution throughout the ages'. During the Second World War one pro-Soviet MP referred to her as 'The Member for Berlin'. Advertisement

Speaking at the unveiling last year, Theresa May said: 'I am honoured to be here to unveil this magnificent statue to a brave and trailblazing woman

'When Nancy Astor become the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons 100 years ago our country and our democracy was changed for the better.

'Her arrival in parliament ushered in a new era, finally giving a voice to a huge swathe of the population who, for too long, had been missing from our politics and our lawmaking.

'It was of course the culmination of many generations of campaigning, protest, suffering and struggle.

'She was the first woman to enter it by her own right - the first to take her seats on the green benches among more than 700 men.

'And the first to raise to her feet and speak not just for the people of Plymouth, but for more than half the population.'

Elsewhere this week, a Manchester councillor has slammed graffiti on a statue of Oliver Cromwell as 'mindless vandalism'.

The leader of the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War is a controversial figure over his conquest of Ireland, which saw many Irish civilians killed.

On Monday a statue of the general in Wythenshawe Park, Manchester, had the words 'Cromwell is a cockroach,' 'f*** racist' and the Black Lives Matter acronym 'BLM' scrawled across it.

Thousands of people were massacred during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

The vandalism of the statue has divided opinion in Wythenshawe.

Councillor Glynn Evans, who represents the Brooklands ward, said: 'It's just mindless graffiti. He did some things wrong, like with the Irish people.

'The pyramids were built by slave labourers - would we pull them down? It's history. People haven't found that statue offensive for many years. It's just because of what has happened in America and all over. It's somebody jumping on the bandwagon.

'If the council decides to move it then fine, but (the vandalism) is making the park look a mess. People take their children to the park, we have visitors from all over. To go on and spoil that, it's mindless vandalism.'

Councillor Sarah Judge, who represents Woodhouse Park, said she supported the Black Lives Matter protests, but said she feared that the act of spraying the statue with graffiti could 'distract' from the movement.

A monument to Lord Holland, which sits in a park of the same name, in west London, has been splattered with red paint, and a cardboard sign in perched on his arms saying 'I owned 401 slaves.'

The base of the statue is covered in hand prints and the number of slaves he owned has also been daubed onto the statue which sits in the picturesque park.

A statue of Oliver Cromwell has been defaced in Wythenshawe Park, declaring the Civil War general a 'cockroach'

A monument to Lord Holland, which sits in Holland Park, west London, has been splattered with red paint, and a cardboard sign in perched on his arms saying 'I owned 401 slaves'

Lord Holland, whose full name was Henry Richard Vassall-Fox, owned 401 slaves in Jamaica.

The Legacies of British Slave Ownership, a project by UCL, shows that he was given payment following the Slave Compensation Act 1837.

The UK emancipated enslaved people in 1833, but then raised the equivalent of 17billion in compensation money, and awarded it to slave owners such as Lord Holland.

Prior to the 2008 financial crash It was the largest state-sponsored pay-out in British history.

Lord Holland was associated with three claims in total, and received a 7,211 payment.

Henry Richard Vassall Fox, 3rd Baron Holland, by Sir George Hayter (died 1871), given to the National Portrait Gallery, London in 1978

The statue, which commemorates the 17th century merchant Edward Colston, was taken down from its plinth by Black Lives Matter protestors before being thrown into Bristol Harbour earlier this month

Vassall-Fox came to own the slaves through his marriage to Elizabeth Vassall after the death of her former husband in 1800.

Who was Lord Holland? The slave owner was born on November 21, 1773, in Wilshire and became a major force in politics during the 19th century. He was the son of Stephen Fox, second Baron of Holland and Lady Fitzpatrick. Holland inherited the Barony at the tender age of one in 1774 after his father died, and his mother passed away just a few years later on his fifth birthday. As a teenager he studied at Eton before going to university at Oxford. He took his seat in the House of Lords on 5 October 1796 and was later admitted to the Privy Council on August 27, 1806. Holland married Elizabeth Vassall on July 6 1797 and they had two sons and two daughters. Despite owning a number of plantations in Jamaica through his wife, Lord Holland was against the slave trade. Lord Holland died on October 22, 1840, after a short illness at his home, Holland House. He was buried on 28 October in Millbrook Church, near Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Advertisement

After his demise Lord Holland was said to have adopted the name Vassall in 1800 'to safeguard his children's rights to his wife's West Indian fortune'.

However the slave trade was reportedly something the British politician despised.

However an article by VE Chancellor, called 'Slaveowner and antislaver: Henry Richard Vassall Fox, 3rd Lord Holland, 18001840' claims that Vassall-Fox hated the slave trade.

It said: 'By the unexpected death of his wife's first husband in 1800, Holland found himself the reluctant, but effectual proprietor of the Vassall plantations in Jamaica.

'This placed him in a moral and political dilemma which confused his thinking.'

The piece - which appears in Volume I, 1980, of the Slavery and Abolition Journal - adds that he 'abhorred the slave trade' but when challenged on it he justified the existence of slavery in terms of the right to property.

It is not clear at this stage if any specific group was responsible for vandalising the statue.

A spokesman for Kensington and Chelsea Council said: 'We intend to remove graffiti later today but it is right that we have a conversation about the figures we see in our public realm.

'In London we must oppose racism in all its forms and we fully support everyone's right to protest peacefully.

'The Mayor of London has launched his London-wide public realm review and we expect this to consider station names, statues and street names.

'Any decisions will need to take into account the views of local people and we are absolutely committed to representing the views of residents in our diverse communities in Kensington and Chelsea.'

The statue of Lord Holland is not on the list compiled by a website called 'Topple The Racists' which was created in the wake of the Black Live Matter movement.

A 'hit list' of 78 statues and memorials to some of Britain's most famous figures has been created by an anti-racism group urging local communities to remove them because they 'celebrate racism and slavery'

It has identified dozens of landmarks from Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert's Bodmin Beacon to Lord Kitchener's memorial in the Orkney Islands that they say need to be removed 'so that Britain can finally face the truth about its past'.

Organisers have said they were inspired by the 'direct action taken by Bristolians', referring to the tearing down of slave trader Edward Colston's statue on earlier this month, before it was thrown into the harbour.

In details showing how statues are chosen, the website says the hit list includes 'cases where there is responsibility for colonial violence', adding that 'judgement calls' had been on cases where history is more 'complicated'.

Memorials to monarchs such as King Charles II and King James II make appearances on the list, as well as Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell.
Employees in South Africa's advertising communications services industry are more uncertain about their employers' business continuity than they were at the beginning of the country's Covid-19 lockdown.

Claudia Schonitz - head of insights and consumer research, HaveYouHeard

Thats according to the ongoing research being done by HaveYouHeard, in conjunction with industry news site, MarkLives.com, to track how the Covid-19 pandemic is impacting the industry during the pandemic.A joint initiative from, and Cape Town-based full-service agency, HaveYouHeard, the voluntary survey attracted 110 participants, all of whom work in advertising, marketing, production or a brand-related role at a company.At the beginning of lockdown, a total of 65% of employees said they were either extremely confident (18%) or fairly confident (47%) about their companys future. During Level 4, this confidence ebbed to a total of 55% being either extremely confident (16%) or fairly confident (39%). Some 12% changed their opinion to poor and 6% to very poor.At the same time, employees revised their projections on company income for the next three to six months with 56% saying it will decrease substantially (up from 37%), 16% said it would decrease slightly (31%), 10% said it would stay the same (6%), 7% were unsure (20%), 8% thought it would increase slightly (4%) and 3% said it would increase substantially (3%).Interestingly, there was little change in how employees predicted the pandemic and lockdown would impact their careers. At least 10% said it would have an extremely positive impact (up from 3%), 19% said fairly positive (versus 23%), 16% said no impact (24%), 43% said fairly negative (42%) and 12% said extremely negative (8%).Not surprisingly, the industrys employees  like most South Africans  are experiencing more stress. Only 8% said their stress levels had decreased while 80% were experiencing increased anxiety and stress.As a result of the uncertainty, bleak outlook for business continuity and increased stress, some 16% of the industries employees are considering leaving the industry while 25% will seek greater control by starting their own company or freelancing, 14% studying, and 36% are actively looking for a new job within the industry.According to our respondents, the pandemic has had negative and positive consequences, said HaveYouHeard head of research and insights, Claudia Schonitz.The cons include decreased billings, retrenchments and salary cuts (which have increased substantially), decreased staff morale and changes to the type of work commissioned. While the pros include flexibility and ability to change, improved processing and ways of working and better internal communication.Also, trust in company leadership has stayed the same (34%) or increased (35%) since the start of lockdown. This, I think, bodes very well for the industry post the pandemic. It seems to me many will emerge stronger, more resilient and more agile on both an organisation and personal level.
[June 24, 2020] Essential Utilities Inc. Announces New Vice President of Finance for Peoples

Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) announced the appointment of Kim Edvardsson as vice president of finance for Peoples. Peoples, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, is the natural gas division of Essential Utilities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005548/en/ Kim Mangano Edvardsson (Photo: Business Wire) Edvardsson brings more than 30 years of extensive experience in public accounting, financial reporting, treasury, and tax leadership to Peoples. Most recently, she worked as the vice president, controller for HM Health Solutions. Prior to that, she served as corporate controller for Everpower Wind Holdings, Inc. where she was responsible for developing and leading accounting, financial reporting, budgt and tax functions during its growth stage, after being acquired by the private equity firm Terra Firma. In addition, Kim spent eight years working for PPG Industries, Inc. in various roles including Assistant Treasurer, and previously led KPMG audit teams in both the U.S. and in Sweden.



"Kim's background and expertise make her a great fit to lead the Finance team for our natural gas division," said Essential Chairman and CEO Christopher Franklin. "She is a great addition to a strong leadership team at Peoples. I look forward to working with her." Edvardsson will report to Daniel Schuller, executive vice president & CFO for Essential.

"Kim is a creative, accomplished finance leader focused on mentoring junior team members and applying a collaborative, structured approach to decision making. It's a pleasure to welcome her to the team," said Schuller. Edvardsson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also is a certified public accountant. About Essential Essential is one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the U.S., serving approximately 5 million people across 10 states under the Aqua and Peoples brands. Essential is committed to excellence in proactive infrastructure investment, regulatory expertise, operational efficiency and environmental stewardship. The company recognizes the importance water and natural gas play in everyday life and is proud to deliver safe, reliable services that contribute to the quality of life in the communities it serves. For more information, visit http://www.essential.co. WTRG (General) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005548/en/

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WINSTED  The Winchester Board of Education voted to lease the now-vacant St. Anthony School to help address social distancing needs during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The move comes as school districts around the state look ahead to September, when students may return to their classrooms.

The Winchester Board of Education voted to lease the school, to better socially distance our students and to run school five days a week, with full time instruction in light of COVID, according to the boards minutes.

Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley said the decision to lease St. Anthony was a relief for the district. The former Catholic school closed in June.

Its great for us, because its going to allow us to come back in the fall in a full-time capacity, she said. We can get our parents back to work, and our kids back to the classroom.

The board plans to lease the school for one year, with an option to renew the lease, for $72,000. Leasing the building will increase the public schools classroom space, by adding 11 rooms.

Grades two and three will attend classes at the St. Anthony building one grade from the Batcheller school and one from Pearson school, the school board said. Brady-Shanley said an estimated 160 and 170 students will attend at the St. Anthony building. Enrollment numbers for September wont be confirmed until August.

The idea behind that is to have one grade from each of our school buildings  Batcheller and Pearson, she said. That can be done no matter how many sites we have.

In May, Gov. Ned Lamont and a committee of educators began discussing school reopening plans for the fall, focusing on colleges and universities. A separate state committee, of which Brady-Shanely is a member, is focusing on public and private elementary and high schools reopening in August/September.

As far as state guidelines for the fall are concerned, the superintendent said the latest rules wont be released until the end of the week.

Theyre going to want us to keep kids and staff socially distant, and that means wearing face coverings, she said.

There will be more cleaning and sanitizing than in the past, and teaching the kids and staff about it, whether its hand washing or other hygiene, she said. Well want to make sure theyre all properly informed on whats expected.

Winchester is also getting ready to hold its summer school program, which begins July 7 and runs Monday through Thursday until July 30. The three-hour day program has between 50 and 60 students enrolled this year, Brady-Shanley said. Early next week our reopening plan for summer school will be posted on our website, she said.

The St. Anthonys school grounds will be maintained by St. Joseph Church, while the interiors maintenance will be handled by the school districts custodial staff.

COVID funds will be used if there is a need to hire an extra custodian, school board members said.

The funding saved this year will be used to cover the lease costs, according to the school board. Insurance costs to cover this building will not be significant.

Busing students to the school will follow state guidelines once they are announced by the governors office. In the past, our bus runs did include St. Anthony, so this cost on busing should be negligible, according to the board.

Any religious symbols now on display inside the school will be removed, and school signage can be used instead, the board said.

St. Anthony School, which is owned by St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, closed permanently in June after operating for 155 years. Enrollment for the school program for Pre-K through grade eight continued to drop in recent years, making it financially difficult for the school to continue operating, according to school and church officials.
U.S. Congressman Asks the EU to Join Efforts to Fight Against the CCP

Honest News Straight to Your Home. Try the Epoch Times yourself, and get a free gift.

On June 22nd, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the Premier of the State Council of China, Li Keqiang, had a virtual meeting discussing issues of human rights and the responses to the pandemic. Michael McCaul, an U.S. Congressman, called on the European Union to question the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as to why it concealed the epidemic and called for a joint effort to confront the CCPs threat.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 07:04:20|Editor: huaxia

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BUENOS AIRES, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Argentine authorities on Tuesday called on the public to "make more of an effort" to contain the COVID-19 pandemic or risk a return to stricter lockdown measures in the capital Buenos Aires and the Metropolitan Area (AMBA).

When lockdown measures were first launched on March 20, "we made a great effort, there was a great commitment on the part of the people, and we have to persuade them to return to that commitment and make more of an effort," Health Minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia said.

"I don't think this is going to be eternal, but we have to bring things to a stop. It could be very useful to stop a little, because there is a lot of circulating and we are at a critical moment," Gonzalez told local Mitre radio station.

Argentina's capital needs to intensify its efforts to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system, something it has so far managed to do, he said.

Argentina has reported a total of 44,931 cases of infection -- 20,366 in Buenos Aires province and 20,031 in the capital Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta called the data of the outbreak in the AMBA region "very concerning."

"If cases continue to rise, we will necessarily have to apply greater restrictions," Rodriguez told local media.

On Monday night, the country reported 2,146 daily new cases of infection, the largest single-day figure since the outbreak was detected here on March 3.

Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez is set to meet with Rodriguez and the governor of Buenos Aires province, Axel Kicillof, on Thursday to map out the next phase of pandemic strategy. Enditem
Russia and China will be isolated at the United Nations if they continue down the "road to dystopia" by blocking a US bid to extend a weapons ban on Iran, US Iran envoy Brian Hook told Reuters ahead of his formal pitch of the embargo to the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

The 13-year-old arms restrictions on Iran are due to expire in October under the terms of Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Russia and China have signaled they oppose extending the embargo.

While Washington has long argued that the embargo should not be lifted, the international community has been waiting for it to formally push the measure. Hook and US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft will make the case for why the 15-member council should support a draft resolution extending the embargo behind closed doors on Wednesday.

"We see a widening gap between Russia and China and the international community," Hook said in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday evening.

"Russia and China were isolated at the (International Atomic Energy Agency) last week and they will be isolated in the Security Council if they continue down this road to dystopia," Hook said.

The IAEA's 35-nation board of governors on Friday called on Iran to allow the UN nuclear watchdog access to two sites suspected of nuclear weapons activities, and to cooperate fully. Iranian allies Russia and China opposed that move but could not block it, whereas at the Security Council they have veto powers.

A council resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, China, Russia, Britain or France to pass.

Earlier this month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on Russia and China to resist Washington's push, pledging to "increase our defense capabilities as we have been doing so even under sanctions."

'Clear Limits'

"Extending the arms embargo is the right and necessary thing to do and every member of the Security Council knows this whether they say this publicly or not," Hook said.

"The embargo has not prevented all Iranian weapons transfers, but the export and import bans have been effective at establishing clear limits on Iran's behavior," he argued.

The United States circulated the draft resolution on Monday after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reported to the council earlier this month that cruise missiles used in several attacks on oil facilities and an international airport in Saudi Arabia last year were of "Iranian origin."

If the United States is unsuccessful in extending the embargo, it has threatened to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran under a process agreed in the 2015 nuclear deal, even though the United States quit the accord in 2018.

Such a move would kill the nuclear deal, touted by the United States and others in 2015 as a way to suspend Tehran's suspected drive to develop nuclear weapons, and diplomats say Washington would face a tough battle in the council.

The United States argues it can trigger the sanctions because a Security Council resolution enshrining the 2015 nuclear deal still names Washington as a participant.

Iran has breached parts of the nuclear deal in response to the US withdrawal and Washington's reimposition of sanctions.

Rouhani said on Wednesday that Tehran would be open to talks with the United States if Washington apologizes for quitting the nuclear deal and compensates Tehran.

"We are happy to engage in conversations with them when the time is right but the conditions that suggest somehow we give a bunch of money to the Iranians so they can foment terror around the world is simply ludicrous," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 13:26:20|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, June 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korea reported 51 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of 0:00 a.m. Wednesday local time, raising the total number of infections to 12,535.

The daily caseload rose above 50 in four days owing to the continued growth in both local and imported cases. Of the new cases, 20 were imported from overseas, lifting the combined figure to 1,491.

Small cluster infections were still found linked to health product retailer and distribution centers.

Sixteen cases have been found from a Russia-flagged ship docked in the country's southeastern port city of Busan.

A total of 170 port workers have been in isolation because of their contact with the sailors of the Russian vessel.

No more death was confirmed, leaving the death toll at 281. The total fatality rate stood at 2.24 percent.

A total of 22 more patients were discharged from quarantine after making full recovery, pulling up the combined number to 10,930. The total recovery rate was 87.2 percent.

Since Jan. 3, the country has tested more than 1.20 million people, among whom 1,175,817 tested negative for the virus and 20,245 are being checked. Enditem
Just in time for your next summer holiday, Amazon has heavily discounted a selection of hard-sided suitcases, backpacks and padded laptop bags in The Big Style Sale.

Running for an entire week from June 22 - 28, you'll be able to shop favourite luggage brands such as Samsonite, Eastpak and Vans at discounted prices in the sale.

Whether you're looking for a lightweight suitcase, child's luggage or a classic backpack to carry your everyday essentials, we've selected five of the most popular luggage options currently on sale, so you can travel in style and save pennies too.

Suitcases are a travel essential, especially if you're heading to the airport for an international trip. If that's the case, then you need to invest in a large and lightweight hardshell suitcase like the Samsonite Termo Young Suitcase.

Now with 59 per cent off, the classic black suitcase should meet your travel needs with its three-point locking system for extra security and hardshell case to protect your belongings.

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The adjustable shoulder straps and the back of the bag are lined with protective padding for maximum comfort on your next commute. Even better, this backpack has a 24-litre capacity to store all your essentials.

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Enjoy great savings on top-rated Samsonite laptop bags. Now 31 per cent off, this bag allows you to keep your computer and hard drive protected from any knocks or scratches.

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It's a desirable and affordable large business bag that will carry a variety of laptop sizes (three options available).

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Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's Canadian extradition case is set to continue until at least April 30 next year, extending a proceeding that has triggered a crisis in China's relations with the US and Canada.

Ruling in the British Columbia Supreme Court on Tuesday, Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes agreed to a schedule jointly submitted by Meng's counsel and the Canadian crown lawyers who are representing US interests in the case.

The US wants Meng, who is Huawei's chief financial officer and the daughter of founder Ren Zhengfei, to face trial on fraud charges in New York. Meng was arrested by Canadian police, acting on a US warrant, at Vancouver's international airport on December 1, 2018, infuriating Beijing.

The original case schedule, which could have seen hearings wrap up this October, was thrown into disarray by the coronavirus pandemic, which forced courts in Vancouver to suspend normal operations.

Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies, leaves the BC Supreme Court in Vancouver on May 27. Photo: AP alt=Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies, leaves the BC Supreme Court in Vancouver on May 27. Photo: AP

Public hearings will resume on August 17, with arguments about the admissibility of various evidence.

Arguments about whether Meng has been subjected to an abuse of process will then last until March before the last scheduled hearings conclude on April 30.

Holmes must then rule whether Meng can be extradited before a decision by Canada's justice minister on whether to grant final approval. But court appeals could drag out the process by years.

Holmes will not make any decision on whether Meng is guilty or innocent of the US charges, which say that she defrauded HSBC bank by lying about Huawei's business dealings in Iran, in possible breach of US sanctions.

Meng and both sets of lawyers attended Tuesday's case management hearing by phone. The case was adjourned until the August 17 hearing, with Meng bound over until then.

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In a letter to court managers outlining the schedule, crown counsel Robert Frater said his team and Meng's lawyers agreed that the timeline "is a realistic one".

However, "[both] sides are conscious that, as recent history has shown, unforeseen events may cause us to have to reconsider the schedule," he said.

Meng's arrest and the extradition case have angered China and sent relations with Ottawa and Washington plummeting.

About a week after Meng's arrest, China arrested Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, and last week charged them with espionage.

On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was "obvious from the beginning" that China's detention of Kovrig and Spavor was "a political decision made by the Chinese government" in retaliation for Meng's arrest.

"We will continue to advocate strongly and firmly for the release of these two Canadians, who have been arbitrarily detained," Trudeau said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded on Tuesday that it was "blatant and presumptuous [of the US and Canada] to talk about 'political motivation', 'unjustified detention' and 'arbitrary detention'."

"The Meng Wanzhou incident is a serious political incident, as proved by a Canadian Security Intelligence Service report recently disclosed by a Canadian court," said Zhao, referring to a report written by Canada's spy agency on the morning before Meng's arrest that predicted it would send "shock waves" around the world.

Also on Monday, Kovrig's wife, Vina Nadjibulla, told CBC News that she wanted to tell Chinese authorities that "you are holding an innocent man ... Michael has devoted his professional career to building peace in the world, to building bridges between China and the rest of the world."

"Detaining an innocent man and inflicting so much suffering on him and his family does not in any way serve the interests of China. In fact it does the opposite," she said, pleading for Kovrig's release.

Meng is living under partial house arrest at her home in Vancouver on C$10 million (US$7.37 million) bail.

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.
The pro-China president of Kiribati has won reelection, state media in the tiny Pacific nation reported Tuesday, fending off a challenge from his Taiwan-supporting rival. Radio Kiribati said incumbent Taneti Maamau garnered 26,053 votes to claim a second four-year term, finishing more than 8,000 ahead of opposition leader Banuera Berina. "The president-elect of Kiribati is Taneti Maamau," Chief Justice John Muria told the radio station. "Congratulations Taneti Maamau and congratulations to the people of Kiribati. God bless you all." Maamau switched Kiribati's allegiance from Taiwan to China in September last year, just a few days after another Pacific nation, the Solomon Islands, did the same. Berina was highly critical of the move and praised Taiwan, raising the possibility he could rekindle ties with Taipei, which has been engaged in a battle for diplomatic influence with Beijing in the Pacific. At the time of the switch, Taiwan accused China of engaging in "dollar diplomacy" to buy off its few remaining allies. China and Taiwan have been governed separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949, but Beijing sees the self-ruled democratic island as part of its territory to be brought back into the fold. Taiwan and China have been engaged for years in a diplomatic tug-of-war in developing countries, with economic support and other aid often used as bargaining chips for diplomatic recognition. The island nation of Kiribati, with a population of about 110,000, is a collection of 33 far-flung atolls and reefs scattered over an area the size of the continental United States that sits about halfway between Australia and Hawaii.
Andalusia Knoll Soloff, a freelance journalist in Mexico City who has documented migrant farm workers for years, says she wasn't surprised when she heard the news of three migrant workers who died in Ontario after contracting COVID-19.

She said she's seen the poor conditions farm employees have had to work in, adding that she suspects proper health measures are not taking place at these facilities, resulting in the spread of the virus.

"There is very little access to information, I think, for workers both about their labour rights and about their rights concerning health conditions," Soloff said.

"I think many of the people who work in Canada or in the United States are fearful that if they make a fuss about anything, they won't get their visa, they won't get the job, they'll be fired, they'll be sent home."

Submitted by Andalusia Knoll Soloff

She said people in Mexico aren't really aware of the migrant worker situation in Canada and that there is very little public discussion around it.

"There's so many other things going on in the news that there is very little mention of it, if any mention at all," she said.

Soloff asked people in her social networks about the three migrant workers who died on Canadian soil. Some people responded by saying, "If here in Mexico we don't even care about what's happening with the farm workers that work within our own country, how are we going to care about what's happening with farm workers in Canada?"

From her experience, Soloff has noticed many of the migrant workers from Mexico speak idigenous languages and have lower access to education. If Spanish is their second language, this further prevents them from learning about COVID-19 and the working conditions on Canadian farms.

And yet, Soloff said farm workers from Mexico would rather risk contracting COVID-19 than starving to death, as they think they have a low probability of contracting the virus or don't believe in it at all.

"They think that you get sick in the hospital or that you're injected with a sickness in the hospital and that's what kills you or you die from another disease," Soloff said.

Story continues

Jacob Barker/CBC

When CBC News spoke with Antonio Hernandez, a migrant worker in Leamington, he said he's not nervous about the virus itself.

"I'm calm. God willing, everything will be fine. As long as we take the necessary precautions, everything will be fine," he said.

Soloff said workers who decide to move to Canada or the U.S. to work in farms likely don't have much of a choice in terms of employment back home.

This is the case for migrant worker Israel. CBC News has agreed not to use Israel's last name.

"I'm here in Canada, because I'm from Guatemala and in our country, there aren't a lot of job opportunities," he said.

"It's very difficult to find a job, so I chose to be here to give my family a better livelihood in Guatemala. It's a bit tough to be here, because I'm away from my family, but it's a sacrifice you make."

A migrant worker from a farm near Simcoe, Ont. died earlier this week from COVID-19, becoming the third Ontario migrant worker to die after contracting the disease.

At the end of May, 31-year-old Bonifacio Eugenio Romero from Mexico was the first death and Rogelio Munoz Santos, a 24-year-old worker also from Mexico, died about a week later. Both men worked at farms in Windsor-Essex.
The Texas Medical Centers intensive care capacity could be exceeded as soon as Thursday because of the surge in COVID-19 patients, the hospital system projects.

A TMC model also predicts ICU surge capacity  extra, temporary beds and equipment used in emergencies  could be exceeded as soon as July 6 if the steep rate of new COVID hospitalizations continues, the most aggressive modeling to date.

Eleven leaders of the systems member hospitals and medical schools said in a joint statement that COVID-related admissions were increasing at an alarming rate, stretching the capacity of ICU units. Texas Childrens Hospital this week began admitting adult patients to handle the surge.

If this trend continues, our hospital system capacity will become overwhelmed, leading us to make difficult choices of delaying much-needed non-COVID care to accommodate a greater number of COVID patients, the group wrote.

The leaders urged residents to stay home when possible, practice social distancing and wear masks.

The TMC system reported its intensive care units were at 98 percent capacity on Wednesday. Twenty-seven percent of that total were COVID patients, nearly double the 15 percent benchmark set by health experts.

There are two tiers of ICU surge capacity in the TMC system, said Dr. James McDeavitt, an executive vice president at the Baylor College of Medicine. There are 373 sustainable surge beds, which include general beds converted to intensive care by adding staff and equipment such as ventilators. This level of care can be provided indefinitely.

Should those beds fill, the system has an unsustainable surge capacity of 504 patients. This stage includes placing two beds in each room, converting non-residential areas to makeshift wards and decreasing staffing levels to treat more patients. This level of care can be maintained only for several weeks.

McDeavitt said he is confident in the near-term the system can manage the spike in COVID patients.

Were worried, but we dont have a crisis today, he said. If this goes on for another three weeks, and the slope of the virus continues to be what it has been, then well get to a point where we start to dip into that unsustainable surge capacity, and thats a place nobody wants to go.

Key metrics for measuring the severity of the pandemic in the Houston area, including the rate of positive tests and the number of new cases and hospitalizations, continue to trend in the wrong direction. Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday urged residents to remain home, and the governor of New York said Wednesday that travelers from Texas must quarantine for two weeks after arriving in the Empire State.

The 25-county region surrounding Houston set a new COVID hospitalization record Wednesday with 2,251 patients. That figure has tripled since Memorial Day, putting pressure on health care facilities.

The increase in cases, a fraction of which become hospitalizations, is due to residents coming more into contact each other since Harris Countys stay-at-home order expired at the end of April, said Dr. Umair Shah, the countys health director. Gov. Greg Abbott began reopening Texas on May 1 in a series of phases.

Texas reported more than 5,000 new cases Tuesday and nearly 6,000 Wednesday. The number of infections across the state steadily has risen since Memorial Day. Harris County added 1,365 cases on Wednesday, along with 14 deaths.

Local leaders, including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, say the states reopening was premature and left the region susceptible to a more severe outbreak. Turner said Monday that Houston had squandered much of the success of the stay-at-home period, which health experts had credited for keeping the number of new cases down.

Wednesday, Turner announced a weekend crackdown on businesses violating capacity restrictions and Hidalgos most recent mask order compelling businesses to require their customers wear face masks. That strategy, he said, could include the creation of a Board of Shame.

I want to put people on notice now that as we move closer to the weekend we are going to be actively monitoring whether or not people are complying with the occupancy requirement and whether or not they are wearing their masks, because we want to really crack down on people who are not adhering to the rules, Turner said.

The mayor also left the door open for pursuing more stringent enforcement and restrictions if conditions continue to deteriorate. Abbott has pre-empted many local measures and strategies during the re-opening process, including mandatory mask orders for individuals. He surprised officials last week when he OKd the issuance of an order in Bexar County that put the onus on businesses to require their customers wear masks.

Hidalgo again urged residents to socially distance from each other and wear masks to slow the spread of the virus, saying that only a collective change of behavior by residents can again bring the outbreak under control.

The truth is, whichever way you slice it, were in a very dire situation, Hidalgo said. That hospitalization curve isnt going to flatten itself.

Greater Houston Partnership CEO Bob Harvey sounded a similar note, urging businesses to send employees back to working from home, if possible.

Since last week, the worsening pandemic has helped Harris County meet four of the five criteria to move to the worst of four stages on its threat level system. These include a 7-day average of greater than 100 new COVID cases, 7-day increasing trend in daily hospital population and more than three days of greater than 15 percent ICU usage by COVID patients.

The only unmet criteria concerns supply of personal protective equipment for health care workers, which remains ample.

McDeavitt, from Baylor, said there are some encouraging signs. Patients appear to be less sick than those in the spring, in part because they often are younger. Physicians have also had months to gain experience treating the virus. Still, he implored residents to follow health guidelines and minimize contact with others.

Assume everyone you meet is infected, he said.

Dylan McGuinness contributed reporting.

zach.despart@chron.com
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gives news conference in Washington

By Humeyra Pamuk and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday it was up to Israel to decide whether to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to do despite international opposition.

Senior aides to U.S. President Donald Trump met for a second day to discuss whether to give Netanyahu the green light for annexation, which has drawn condemnation from the Palestinians, U.S. Arab allies and other foreign governments.

Despite that, Pompeo - speaking to reporters ahead of Netanyahu's July 1 target date - said extending Israeli sovereignty was a decision "for Israelis to make."

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to abandon plans to annex parts of the West Bank, warning this threatened prospects for peace with the Palestinians.

Under Trumps peace proposal unveiled in January and met with widespread skepticism, the United States would recognize the Jewish settlements - built on land the Palestinians seek for a state - as part of Israel.

The proposal would create a Palestinian state but impose strict conditions. Palestinian leaders have dismissed the initiative and it has gone nowhere.

Netanyahu intends to launch his project of extending sovereignty over settlements and the Jordan Valley, hoping for U.S. approval. Most countries view Israel's settlements as illegal, and the Palestinians have voiced outrage at annexation.

While criticizing Palestinian leaders for rejecting Trump's "vision for peace," Pompeo did not provide any signs of where the administration stands on the specifics of Netanyahu's plan.

Pompeo was at the White House to join the discussions, and Trump could also take part, a U.S. official said.

Among the main options under U.S. consideration is a gradual, step-by-step process in which Israel would initially declare sovereignty over several settlements close to Jerusalem instead of the 30% of the West Bank envisaged in Netanyahus original plan, according to a person close to matter.

Story continues

The Trump administration has not closed the door to a larger annexation.

But Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser is concerned that allowing Israel to move too fast could kill hopes of drawing the Palestinians into talks on the peace plan he mostly authored, the source said.

There are also concerns about opposition from Jordan, one of only two countries that have a peace treaty with Israel, and from Gulf states that have quietly expanded engagement with Israel. Washington has also made clear it wants Israels unity government, divided on the issue, to reach a consensus.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Matt Spetalnick, Arshad Mohammed, David Brunnstrom; writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Tom Brown)
Since the June 15 clash, the PLA has inducted large numbers of troops, armoured vehicles and artillery along the LAC, from Depsang and Galwan in northern Ladakh to Hot Springs, Pangong Tso, and Chushul in central Ladakh, to Demchok and Chumar in southern Ladakh.

Ajai Shukla reports.

After a 11-hour border meeting between senior military commanders of India and China on Monday, Beijing has welcomed an agreement to cool down the situation.

China said it would continue holding talks 'for peace and tranquillity' along the Line of Actual Control.

Describing the meeting, China's ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson said: 'This meeting showed that the two sides wish to control and alleviate the situation through dialogue and consultation.'

Beijing flatly rejected the contention of Union Minister General V K Singh (retd) that more than 40 Chinese soldiers had been killed in the Ladakh face-off.

'I can tell you for sure this is fake news,' the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Accompanying Beijing's talk of 'dialogue and consultation', however, is a massive Chinese troop build-up along the border in Ladakh.

Since the June 15 clash, the People's Liberation Army has inducted large numbers of troops, armoured vehicles and artillery along the LAC, from Depsang and Galwan in northern Ladakh to Hot Springs, Pangong Tso, and Chushul in central Ladakh, to Demchok and Chumar in southern Ladakh, said a well-informed government source.

Indian planners assess the Chinese have stepped up their forces by at least 30 per cent since June 15, along the Ladakh frontier.

In northern Ladakh, the PLA has activated the Depsang area, north of Galwan, where both sides had faced off earlier in 2013.

Indian patrols have traditionally patrolled here up to Patrolling Point 10, 11, 12, and 13. Now they are being stopped by the Chinese, who have built tracks bypassing these PPs and extending 15-17 kilometre into Indian-claimed territory.

This includes advancing deeper into Indian territory at Jeevan Nullah (PP13) and ongoing attempts to cross the so-called bottleneck area on Raki Nullah (PP12).

In the Galwan Valley, the Chinese have established a camp about 1 km inside the Indian side (west) of the LAC near PP14, where the June 15 clash occurred.

The Indian Army currently has no camps or posts in the Galwan River Valley, with both sides having agreed to demilitarise the valley.

Controversially, India has agreed to a 5 to 7-km deep 'no-man's land' on the Indian side of the LAC.

While Indian troops are patrolling close to PP14, Chinese patrols are visiting the heights along the Galwan river, especially those closer to the LAC.

Meanwhile, at PP15, which is 25 km south of PP14, the Chinese have entered about 2 km inside the Indian side of the LAC and have constructed two tracks on Indian-claimed territory, say sources.

While there is no Chinese ingress at PP16, the confrontation continues in the Hot Springs sector, which includes PP17 (called the Gogra Heights), PP18, and PP19 (called Kongka La).

Further south, the Chinese are strengthening their defensive positions on the north bank of the Pangong Tso, having ingressed 8 km from Finger 8 to Finger 4.

Indian planners, therefore, face the worrisome prospect of a dual threat to northern Ladakh.

The Chinese move towards the Galwan-Shyok river junction is a pressure point for the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi road, while the PLA's advance into the Depsang Plain at the Jeevan Nullah and Raki Nullah could choke India's access to the Karakoram Pass at two more points.
Amid the unprecedented outbreak of coronavirus, Italy became one of the most severely affected nations outside China where it had originated. However, during these gloomy times, people across the country have time and again resorted to different forms of art to find a breather. In the same light, the Blues musicians in Castiglione del Lago, Italy came up with a unique way of paying on borrowed fishing boats to please the music lovers while also following the restrictions placed by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The musicians, who are being praised across the social media and are being called great, loaded the boats with all the necessary instruments and appliances that are required to play songs and assembled near the shoreline of the largest lake in central Italy, Lake Trasimeno.

The Trasimeno Blues Festival is scheduled to take place from August 28 to 30 and the artists played for the public during their rehearsals from June 21 to give a sneak-peak of how the original event would be like. The videos and pictures from the event have not only taken the internet by storm but have also left netizens with warm heart. One of the Facebook users even said that 'this is the kind of sunset I want to watch every day'. Watch some of the clips here:

Read - Good News: Five Positive Stories Winning Internet Amid COVID-19 Gloom

Read - Adorable Pug Named Milkshake Mesmerises Netizens With Its Pinkish Fur; See Pics

Read - Instagram Influencer Reveals Truth About Perfect Photos With Side-by-side Candid Shots

'Came up with this formula'

The mayor of the town that lies in Umbra region, Matteo Burico told an international media agency that the entire set up felt like people were on the Mississippi Delta. He also reiterated that the visitors of Lake Trasimeno were adhering to the social distancing guidelines. Gianluca Di Maggio, artistic director of the annual Trasimeno Blues festival reportedly said that they came up with this formula only to permit a greater number of people for participation without facing the risk of contracting the deadly disease. However, the novel coronavirus has till now infected at least 238,833 people in Italy and caused 34,675 deaths as per Johns Hopkins University tally on June 24.

Read - US: 10 Year Old Boy Asks Neighbour To Be Dog Sitter With A Letter, Netizens Pour Love

Inputs: Agency
BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar on Wednesday said NCP chief Sharad Pawar is a "corona" that has infected Maharashtra, drawing an acerbic retort from the ruling coalition party.

The NCP swiftly hit back at the BJP over Padalkar's objectionable comments and said everyday leaders from the opposition party make some or the other statements which better be not taken seriously.

Padalkar also accused Pawar of doing politics over the long-pending issue of reservation for the Dhangar (shepherd) community.

Addressing a press conference at Pandharpur in Solapur district, Padalkar, who hails from the Dhangar community, alleged that the "bahujan samaj" has been suffering because of the policies of Pawar, whose party is a key constituent in the Shiv Sena-led MVA government.

"According to me, Sharad Pawar is the 'corona' that has infected the state. Pawar has always taken steps that would hamper the prospects of masses," he sai.

"I do not think he (Pawar) is positive about the Dhangar reservation," the MLC said.

The previous government had announced a Rs 1,000 crore package for the Dhangar community, but it could not be implemented as Devendra Fadnavis had to forgo power due to "backstabbing".

"But, the present government has not given a single penny so far from that package," said Padalkar. "Once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, we will stage a statewide agitation over our various demands," he said.

In Mumbai, Maharashtra Minister and NCP's national spokesperson Nawab Malik slammed the BJP over Padalkar's attack on Pawar and said such statements should not be taken seriously.

Hitting out at Padalkar, another NCP leader and Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde said Padalkar's intention was to gain name and fame in politics by criticising the leader of the stature like Pawar.

Padalkar, who had joined the BJP ahead of the 2019 Assembly election, lost his deposit to NCP's Ajit Pawar in Baramati constituency.

Dismissing Padalkar's allegation that Pawar had committed atrocities against "Bahujan" people in the state, Munde said the NCP chief changed the lives of the community members for the better.

Another NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto took a dig at Padalkar with a cartoon, which depicts the BJP's symbol lotus as being the puppet master which pulled the strings as the BJP MLC made the remark.

NCP Pune unit spokesperson Ankush Kakde condemned Padalkar's "undeserving" comment against Pawar, and said the party will stage an agitation in the city on Thursday against the MLC's remarks.

Meanwhile, members of the NCP's youth wing, led by its state unit head Mehboob Sheikh, staged a protest in Beed, central Maharashtra, against Padalkar. They hit Padalkar's poster with footwear and set it on fire.

Later, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said Padalkar's remarks are not appropriate but an emotional outburst. "Making such remarks against senior leaders is not appropriate," the former chief minister told reporters in Solapur.

"I had a word with Padalkar. I told him that though Pawar saheb is our political opponent he is not our enemy. I told him that forget Pawar saheb, making such remarks against any senior leader is not appropriate.

"If anyone wants to express his opposition, it should be done using appropriate words," said Fadnavis, who is the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly.

Fadnavis said Padalkar had accepted that it was an emotional outburst against Pawar.

"Padalkar said he will give a clarification. He has accepted... Young leaders from all parties should exercise restraint while speaking," he added.
A region can achieve herd immunity against Covid-19 with fewer people than previously estimated, a new study said on Wednesday, but experts cautioned that the humanitarian and medical costs of taking the route continue to remain high, especially in India.

The study, published in the journal Science and conducted by mathematicians from the University of Nottingham and University of Stockholm, categorized people into separate groups reflecting their age and social activity levels.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

Their model found that the threshold percentage of population who need to be infected for the chain of transmission to be broken  known as herd immunity  was 43% and not 60%, as thought earlier.

It is a positive result that herd immunity appears earlier, but also that immunity prior to herd immunity has a bigger effect on reducing disease spread, said Tom Britton of Stockholm University and the lead author of the paper.

But the scientists warned that the 43% figure should not be interpreted literally as an exact value and instead should be seen as a study of how population differences affect herd immunity.

Also read: Oxford vaccine against Covid-19 in final stage of clinical trials

Our findings have potential consequences for the current Covid-19 pandemic and the release of lockdown and suggests that individual variation (for example in activity level) is an important feature to include in models that guide policy, said Professor Frank Ball from the University of Nottingham, one of the authors of the paper.

The study devised six age categories and three activity categories: high, medium and low; and assumed that within each age bracket, 50% have normal activity, and 25% each have low and high activity level. The basic reproduction number, or the number of people infected by one patient, was assumed at 2.5

The scientists flagged two important things.

One, that activity level mattered more than age differences and that more socially active individuals were found more likely to get infected and spread the virus.

Also read| Covid-19: What you need to know today

The second was that herd immunity can be achieved in two ways: by vaccinating enough number of people or if enough people are infected and develop immunity against the disease. The herd immunity level is lower when immunity is caused by disease spreading than when immunity comes from vaccination, Bell said.

The study also said the previous figure of 60% assumed that each individual in the population was equally likely to be vaccinated, and hence immune. However, that was not the case if immunity arises as a result of disease spreading in a population consisting of people with many different behaviours. This is why the herd immunity threshold was lower in a heterogeneous model.

The debate around herd immunity, which happens when so many people in a community become immune to an infectious disease that it stops the disease from spreading, is at least six months old. Countries such as the United Kingdom backed off from the herd immunity strategy after studies predicted millions of deaths.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

While publishing the study, Science editor-in-chief Holden Thorp noted that even if the models prediction was correct, none of the seroprevalence studies suggested that any country was close to achieving herd immunity. Continuing non-pharmaceutical interventions around the world is still of great importance, he said.

Other experts pointed to a recent study that showed levels of an antibody found in recovered Covid-19 patients fell sharply in 2-3 months after infection for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients  which means immunity to the virus may not last.

So, even if herd immunity was achieved, there is no guarantee that antibody levels will stay the same, said V Ramana Dhara, professor at the Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad.

The immunity depends on whether protective antibodies are produced. Both the CDC and WHO are stating there is yet no evidence of this so it should not be assumed that Covid antibodies are protective. The authors model has assumed immunity for an extended period but if thats not the case, other models are needed. If the herd immunity does turn out to be protective, then the 43% makes it more feasible, but thats a big if right now, he added.

Snehal Shekatkar, a professor at the Centre for Modelling and Simulation, Savitribai Phule Pune University, said the studys prediction should be taken with a large pinch of salt since the study uses compartmental models of epidemiology instead of more accurate contact-network based models.

Adding heterogeneity in the population in the form of age-structure based contact rates certainly improves compartmental models but they nevertheless lack many important structural features present in the real-world contact networks. Also it is important to note that a particular value for R0 has been used in the study (R0=2.5), and for different R0 values, the threshold would be different, he added.

Shekatkar said achieving herd immunity was not feasible unless a region was very sparsely populated. Even .1% of the population is a very high number of people to get infected or die, he said.

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Polish President Andrzej Duda will visit the White House on Wednesday, a mere four days before the first round of Polands presidential election. While the United States and Poland are close allies, Trumps meeting with Duda immediately before his re-election bid is problematic for both countries. It should be called for what it really is: two leaders putting their own political interests above national security.

Duda expects to return to Warsaw with the promise of U.S. military hardware -- reportedly the opening of the European headquarters of the 5th Army Corps in Poland, as well as 30 F-16s and five C-130 Hercules. These would add to the assets that already rotate through Poland under an existing aviation detachment, though as always the details and implementation remain to be seen. Duda hopes the visit will boost him in an election bid that he could conceivably lose in a second round in July.

Trump, in turn, hopes the gesture will keep one of Europes most pro-Trump heads of state in power, while helping the U.S. president make inroads with Polish-Americans, many of whom live in electorally critical swing states. The leaders risk harming the U.S.-Poland relationship with their meeting, even as they shortsightedly hope to gain from it politically.

The inappropriately timed visit also coincides with the Trump administrations politically charged decision to move U.S. troops out of Germany without consulting Berlin or other allies, which risks undermining NATOs cohesion. Simply put, the visit risks politicizing a close bilateral relationship that has long enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington.

Polands presidential election was fraught even before the prospects of a White House visit emerged. The election was originally scheduled for May 10 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Law and Justice Party, or PiS, which is allied with Duda, pushed to keep the election in May despite the risk of spreading the virus among voters. They relented only at the last moment. PiS calculated that if it postponed the election over health concerns, Duda could dip in the polls later as the economy slowed. This calculation proved to be correct, and recent polls now show a competitive race. Civic Coalition candidate Rafal Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw, is narrowly leading or tied with Duda in some polls that survey the second round of voting, which will take place in July if no candidate clears 50 percent in the first round.

The strength of the oppositions showing defies PiSs efforts since 2015 to consolidate its own power and standing -- efforts that have put Polish democracy on shaky ground. PiS has tried every trick in the book to weaken opposition parties, including by pressuring independent media and eroding the judiciarys independence. PiS has supercharged these efforts amid Dudas slippage in the polls, including by passing laws allowing Trzaskowski to spend half the amount other candidates can spend. They are also fully exploiting the media advantage afforded to an incumbent during a global pandemic.

Given the competitive election, PiS calculates that they need to bring home a win from Washington, and they hope to bring home U.S. military hardware. PiS is suffering at home as a result of increasing discontent with the ruling partys management of the pandemic and the economic downturn, so it is not clear the promise of more U.S. military assets will salvage Dudas electoral prospects. PiS hopes to overcome these domestic challenges by implementing a two-pronged strategy. For one, it is trying to firm up its hold over socially conservative voters, with Duda hugging the Catholic Church closely and provoking international outcry by claiming that LGBT ideology is worse than communism. Additionally, PiS is trying to win over moderate voters by exploiting national security issues and Polands alliance with the United States.

Specifically, Duda wants to secure the promise of bringing American troops to Poland. Past Polish presidents have long sought an increase in U.S. troops in Poland in order to establish a tripwire and deter Russia. However, the details, particularly the cost to Poland, remain to be seen and may in substance not be dramatically different from previous U.S. promises. Still, a photo op with Trump would allow Duda to present himself as a statesman in the final days of his campaign. This strategy also gives Trzaskowski little opportunity to respond. Trzaskowskis own policy platform focuses on improving the readiness of the Polish armed forces and strengthening their position within NATO. He has promised to assess the state of the Polish military, in particular vowing to bring ex-Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz before the Constitutional Tribunal to answer for what Trzaskowski says was his mismanagement of the Polish armed forces.

Duda is embarking on a risky strategy, and it could well backfire. For one, spending more on U.S. military hardware may not prove to be as popular as he thinks it is with the Polish economy sputtering. After all, Trump has previously called for allies to pay the full cost of hosting U.S. troops, plus 50% more. A grave risk for Poland is that Duda and Trumps announcement could weaken Polish long-term security by eroding NATOs cohesion. Despite Prime Minister Morawieckis insistence that Poland does not seek to gain U.S. security investments at Germanys expense, the appearance of pitting allies against each other even as Washington undermines Germanys position within NATO is counterproductive to Polands long-term security. Russia is more thrilled than anyone about the prospect of a U.S. troop drawdown in Germany. The trust of many Europeans in their security relationship with America could further erode -- and that is not in Polands security interest.

This is, indeed, a gamble for Duda. But it is also a gamble for the Trump administration. The decision to invite President Duda to the White House, just four days in advance of his re-election bid, is yet another example of the Trump administration putting its own interests above national security interests and bolstering an anti-democratic and populist leader -- even as he goes out of his way to snub another important U.S. ally, Germany, and its leader, Angela Merkel. The stunt politicizes the U.S.-Polish relationship, and it may weaken Polish and U.S. security by pitting allies against one another and undermining NATO. Ultimately, Duda and Trump are gambling with NATOs cohesion for their own re-election bids.

Adam Twardowski is a Washington-based foreign policy analyst who focuses on Europe and Russia. Carisa Nietsche is a Research Associate in the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security.
In a move prompted by European countries and the USA, India is considering an expansion of the Vande Bharat Mission to fuel flight connectivity.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Two commercial airliners appear to fly close together as the pass over London on March 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

India is likely to allow carriers from select European countries and the United States to launch flight connectivity in and out of India on the lines of Vande Bharat Mission. This will allow carriers to bring in Indian passengers and also fly out from India with passengers, thus, providing more options to stranded Indians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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, Indias aviation ministry said.

Meanwhile; India has received a request from many countries to allow them to start flight to and from India along the line of Vande Bharat mission flights. 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, a statement read.

Read Also: IATA provides standard basis for Covid-19 testing of airline passengers

Read Also: Overwhelming number of Indians likely to take a holiday post Covid-19 lockdown: Thomas Cook survey

Recently the US had accused the Government of India of being involved in discriminatory and restrictive practices by violating a treaty governing aviation between the two countries, the US government on Monday restricted charter flights for Air Indias Vande Bharat Mission.

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, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said in a statement.

India had started Vande Bharat mission for the evacuation of Indian citizens from all over the world, and the outbound flights are now also increasingly carrying Indians and citizens of other countries to the destinations where they are normal residents.

A request for resumption of scheduled flights from the Gulf countries is also pending with the MoCA.

Read Also: Major airports scale back renovation projects amid Covid-19 restrictions on air travel
BEIJING, June 24 -- A spokesperson of Chinas Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday criticized the United States slanderous nonsense on China-related intellectual property issues and its visa restrictions on Chinese students and researchers.

Following the US banning some Chinese students and scholars from entering the country early this month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a press statement that the US will not tolerate Chinas attempts to illicitly acquire American technology and intellectual property from the US academic institutions and research facilities for Chinese military ends.

The slanderous nonsense from the US is nothing but another bout of persecution mania, said Chinese Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian at a regular press conference when being asked to comment on the slander. China has always followed a path of independent scientific research and has made remarkable achievements in a range of high-tech fields, which is a fact widely acknowledged by the international community, he refuted.

Speaking of the visa restrictions, Wu said that it violates the lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and researchers. The move, which harms others without benefit to the US itself, seriously disrupts technological and cultural exchanges between China and the US, and damages people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, said Wu.

Wu urged the US administration to view Chinas development from an objective and rational perspective, introspect about its own problems, and refrain from going down the wrong path any further.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has moved its headquarters to Abuja.

This is in compliance with the directive of the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, that all agencies in the sector relocate their headquarters to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to a statement by the authoritys spokesperson, Henrietta Yakubu, the relocation was aimed at ensuring operational efficiency, while improving the quality of service delivery to customers.

The authoritys Managing Director, Rabiu Yadudu, directors and other critical members of staff have relocated and other directors and managers will follow in batches.

The agency said all correspondents to the Authority should be addressed to its headquarters at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Last week, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) announced the relocation of its headquarters to the nations capital.

Other agencies affected by the ministers directive include the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung last week told the 14th National Assemblys (NA) ninth session, which was rounded off last week, that under his ministrys (MoF) latest statistics, the nation will surely not go far from the permissible limit of public debt of 65 per cent strictly set by the legislature in late last year.

The MoF estimated that in this year, if the countrys GDP grows 4.5 per cent, the fiscal deficit will be about 4.73 per cent of GDP, or VND75 trillion ($3.26 billion), resulting in a public debt level of 55.5 per cent of GDP.

In the case that the economy grows 3.6 per cent, the state budget will suffer from a deficit of 5.02 per cent of GDP, or VND90 trillion ($3.9 billion), leading to a public debt level of 56.4 per cent of GDP. The government is considering a plan to borrow more loans from international organisations.

However, with these two economic growth scenarios, it is expected that the average fiscal deficit for the past five years will be lower than 3.9 per cent of GDP, and the public debt will also be less than 65 per cent which is a limit earlier set by the NA, Minister Dung stated.

The main reason behind this fiscal deficit is, he explained, the governments policy to support enterprises and people hit by COVID-19.

We have been applying exemptions, reductions, and extensions of assorted taxes, charges, and fees. For example, we offer a five-month extension of corporate income tax (CIT) and land rental to enterprises and business households, Dung said.

We have also been giving an import tax exemption for healthcare items and materials used for fighting the pandemic, and goods and materials used for producing footwear, textiles and garments, and processing agro-fishery products, mechanics, supporting industries, and automobile manufacturing.

Last week, the NA also adopted a resolution for reducing 30 per cent of CIT for micro-sized and small-sized enterprises from now until the years end. Besides that, the NA Standing Committee will likely allow the 30 per cent reduction in fuel for aviation businesses with aircraft. The government will also offer a 50 per cent reduction in registration fees for domestically-manufactured and assembled automobiles until late 2020.

Notably, the government will use over VND700 trillion ($30.4 billion), which is 2.2 times higher than VND312 trillion ($13.56 billion) of last year, for public investment which is now required to become a strong pillar for economic growth and job creation.

About VND31.1 trillion ($1.35 billion) was disbursed in May, up 17.5 per cent on-year. In the first five months, the figure was VND116.3 trillion (over $5 billion), up 15.6 per cent on-year.

Over the past few months, the government has been deploying some sturdy solutions to support enterprises. Specifically, the State Bank of Vietnam has been deploying a package worth over VND300 trillion ($13 billion) for enterprises and households in the form of debt payment deferral and preferential loans.

The MoF has been carrying out a VND180 trillion ($7.82 billion) credit package to support people and enterprises. Also, the government has been implementing a VND62 trillion ($2.7 billion) package to support poor and unemployed people. The government has also been using about VND3.4 trillion ($147.8 million) to deploy measures against COVID-19 within this year.

In the first five months of 2020, total state budget revenue was estimated to be VND577 trillion (over $25 billion), down 9.2 per cent on-year, while total state budget spending reached VND603.4 trillion ($26.23 billion), up 9.1 per cent on-year. This means a $1.23 billion in budget deficit in the period.

The legislative body last November adopted a resolution on the state budget for 2020, with total revenue of over VND1.51 quadrillion ($65.65 billion), and total state budget expenditure of nearly VND1.75 quadrillion ($76 billion). Total budget deficit will be VND234.8 trillion ($10.35 billion), equivalent to 3.44 per cent of GDP. Of which, the central budget deficit will be VND217.8 trillion ($9.47 billion) or 3.2 per cent of GDP, and the local budget deficit will be VND17 trillion ($880 million) or 0.24 per cent of GDP.
Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/24/2020 -- The report "Thermal Spray Coatings Market by Materials (Ceramics and Metals & Alloys), Process (Combustion Flame and Electrical), End-Use Industry (Aerospace, Automotive, Healthcare, Agriculture, Energy & Power and Electronics) and Region - Global Forecast to 2025 ", is expected to grow from USD 7.6 billion in 2020 to USD 10.7 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 7.0%. The growth of the thermal spray coatings market is attributed towards increasing consumption of thermal spray coatings from aerospace, automotive and other end-use industries. However, lack of knowledge and technical skills is restraining the growth of thermal spray coatings market. Additionally, recent outbreak of Covid-19 has resulted in shutting of manufacturing facilities across the globe which will have severe effect on the Thermal spray coatings market.



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The ceramics material is projected to have the highest share during the forecast period.

Based on materials, the thermal spray coatings market has been segmented into ceramics, metals & alloys, and others (carbides, composites and polymers). Ceramics material is projected to have largest share in the thermal spray coatings market during the forecast period. The growing demand for ceramics is attributed towards its properties such as thermal resistance, corrosion resistance and other. Moreover, the cost efficiency of ceramics is contributing to the growth of this material.



Aerospace industry is projected to register the highest CAGR, in terms of value, in the thermal spray coatings market during the forecast period.

Based on end-use industry, the thermal spray coatings market has been segmented into aerospace, automotive, healthcare, agricultural machinery, energy & power, electronics and others. Among these aerospace industry is projected to have largest share in the market during the forecast period. There is a boom in aerospace industry due to demand backlog which is almost equal to 10 years. Automotive is another big industry which consumes thermal spray coatings. Moreover, increasing automotive production in many regions is expected to drive the growth of thermal spray coatings market. Healthcare industry is the major consumer of thermal spray coatings market.



North America to lead Thermal Spray Coatings market during the forecast period.

The thermal spray coatings market has been studied for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is the largest consumer of thermal spray coatings market. The global thermal spray coatings market has witnessed a significant growth. This created huge opportunities for the consumption of thermal spray coatings in North America. Urbanization, modernization, technological advancement and increase in personal disposable income of the consumers in this region is also driving the use of thermal spray coatings in various end-use industries such as aerospace, automotive, healthcare and others.



Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc (US), BodyCote (UK), Oerlikon Metco (Switzerland), Surface Technology (UK), H.C Starck Gmbh (Germany), F.W. Gartner Thermal Spraying (US), Arc Spray (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Metallisation Limited (UK), Plasma-Tec, Inc. (US), C&M Technologies GmbH (Germany), AMETEK Inc. (US), Flame Spray SpA (Italy), BryCoat Inc. (US), Thermal Spray Technologies, Inc. (tst) (US) are the key players operating in the thermal spray coatings market.



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Recent Developments :

- In December 2019, Bodycote acquired Ellison Surface Technologies. The acquisition enhances the company for being one of the largest providers of thermal spray and engineered coating surface technology services in the world. Ellison's business is an excellent strategic fit with Bodycote's existing Surface Technology business, which itself has seen strong structural growth in recent years. Together, the enlarged business offers additional technologies and added resources to consolidate its leadership in surface coating solutions and specialist processes, including thermal spray coating, liquid coating, thermal processing, and diffusion coating. Ellison's operations will be fully integrated into Bodycote's business model both from an operational and commercial perspective, and will operate going forward under the Bodycote brand.

- In June 2019, Oerlikon signed an agreement to acquire AMT AG in Kleindottingen, Switzerland. The acquisition is in line with Oerlikon's strategy to focus and expand its surface solution technologies while increasing market applications and service accessibility to customers. AMT extends the product and service offerings for thermal spray applications and turnkey solutions for Oerlikon Metco.

- In February 2018, PG Technologies, Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Praxair Surface Technologies and GE Aviation, expanded its production to add additional coating capacity in Singapore to meet the aviation industry's growing demand. The facility plans to double its electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) coating capacity as well as add other aviation-related coating processes in a new facility.

- In June 2018, H.C. Starck launched molybdenum thermal spray powders, which are sphericalAnin shape and are designed for maximum flowability. These thermal spray powders are technologically advanced and are used for coating large areas to small metal components that are prone to corrosion, erosion, and wear. Molybdenum thermal spray powders are optimized for diverse spraying processes in plasma, flame, detonation, HVAF, and HVOF for high-velocity spray coating applications.

- In December 2017, Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc. and GE Aviation opened a new advanced jet engine coatings facility in Ellisville, Mississippi. This facility offers advanced coatings for jet engines to enable them to withstand high temperatures and stresses. This expansion helped both companies in expanding their foothold in the core aviation industry.



Key Questions addressed by the report :



- What are the future revenue pockets in the thermal spray coatings market?

- Which key developments are expected to have a long-term impact on the thermal spray coatings market?

- Which products, equipment and processes are expected to cannibalize existing markets?

- How is the current regulatory framework expected to impact the market?

- What will be the future product mix of the thermal spray coatings market?

- What are the prime strategies of leaders in the thermal spray coatings market?



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Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) share price gained nearly 3% amid a volatile session on Wednesday on reports that conglomerate's MD and CEO Mukesh Ambani is talks for defining a strategic partnership with Saudi Aramco (Aramco).

After raising Rs 1.15 lakh crore from global tech investors, the oil conglomerate is in talks for defining a strategic partnership with Saudi Aramco (Aramco).

Currently, RIL stock trades mere 3.46% away from its all-time high of Rs 1,804.1.

RIL stock today touched an intraday high of Rs 1,772, rising 3.02% against the previous close of Rs 1,720 on BSE. The stock opened at Rs 1,739 and also hit an intraday low of Rs 1,712 today.

Reliance Industries share price is trading higher than 5, 20, 50, 100 and 200-day moving averages.

RIL stock has gained after 2 days of consecutive fall. The stock has delivered 7% returns in one week, 20% in one month and 14% year-to-date.

Market capitalisation of the firm stood at Rs 10.97 lakh crore as of today's session.

During the oil-to-telecom conglomerate's last year annual general meeting (AGM), Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani said they are working to complete contours of a $15-billion deal with Saudi Aramco. However, the company has not yet given a fresh any timeline for completion of the deal.

Share Market LIVE: Sensex drops 80 points, Nifty at 10,445; HCL Tech, PowerGrid, Cipla top losers

Rupee vs Dollar: Rupee rises 5 paise to 75.61 amid weak dollar, fund inflows
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
A group of 29 global investment firms that manage $3.7 trillion are demanding meetings with Brazilian diplomats around the world to call on right-wing President Jair Bolsonaros government to stop soaring deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

The investors, led by Norwegian insurance and pension firm Storebrand Asset Management, sent letters to Brazilian embassies in seven countries, calling for meetings and expressing concern that Brazil is rolling back environmental protections, according to a statement that included a copy of the letter.

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 said.

Environmental advocates blame Bolsonaro for weakening protections and causing a surge in deforestation and forest fires since he took office in 2019.

Bolsonaro has argued Brazil is a model of conservation, while calling for more mining and farming in the Amazon region.

Brazils Foreign Ministry said some embassies had received the letter and that it was examining the issue in coordination with government agencies responsible for environmental policies.

Storebrand Asset Management CEO Jan Erik Saugestad said in an interview that while previous initiatives focused on pressuring Brazilian companies, this new effort is aimed squarely at the government.

The 25 European signatories include Norways Nordea Asset Management and the Church of England, which has a 2.8 billion pound ($3.5 billion) pension fund. The UKs Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) is among the largest investors with 1.2 trillion pounds under management.

U.S.-based firms Domini Impact Investment and Pax World Funds have also signed the letter, while Sao Paulo-based Fram Capital is the only Brazilian signatory.

While Europe has traditionally been the most vocal critic of Amazon deforestation, Japans Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management signed the letter, and Senior Sustainability Officer Seiji Kawazoe said he expects more Japanese firms to take issue with deforestation in the future.

The letter does not spell out consequences if Brazils government does not take action, but seven European financial firms told Reuters last week they could divest from Brazil-linked holdings if environmental destruction continues. Many of those firms also signed the letter to embassies.

($1 = 0.8094 pounds) (Reporting by Jake Spring; editing by Richard Pullin and Sam Holmes)

Photograph: Fire consumes the Amazon rainforest in Altamira, Brazil, on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. Fires across the Brazilian Amazon have sparked an international outcry for preservation of the worlds largest rainforest. Photo credit: AP Photo/Leo Correa.

Topics Carriers Europe Pollution Amazon
A man gets a haircut on a street in Hanoi, Vietnam Monday, May 3,2010.

A Vietnamese court Tuesday sentenced 57-year-old Nguyen Van Nghiem, known online as Dr. Haircut, to six years in prison Tuesday for live-streaming material critical of the government, after the defendant opted to forego lawyers and represent himself during the trial.

Authorities in Hoa Binh province arrested Nguyen on Nov. 5, 2019 on charges of making, storing, distributing or disseminating information, documents and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in violation of Article 117 of the Vietnamese penal code.

Dr. Haircuts wife Pham Thi Xuan told RFAs Vietnamese Service Tuesday that her husband, a hairdresser by trade, refused legal counsel during the trial at the Hoa Binh Peoples Court.

My husband refused to hire a lawyer. He just told me he would leave the family several years. Therefore the children and I must take care of ourselves, she said.

According to the indictment, Nguyen had, since 2011, created and managed many different Facebook accounts, including Nghiem Nguyen, Dr. Haircut, Professor Hairdresser, and Muong Bi High School Student, with the aim of sharing stories and videos that cast a negative light on the countrys political situation and societal issues.

The international community is not doing enough to prevent Vietnam from handing down such harsh sentences for sharing political opinions, according Le Van Dung, an activist known better by his nickname Le Dung VoVa.

I want to appeal to the United Nations, said Le Dung VoVa.

The sentences these people are getting are to protect the rights of the Vietnamese state, but the state has a responsibility to explain to the international community, the activist said, implying that Vietnam must adhere to international norms regarding freedom of expression.

Vietnam has signed many agreements allowing Vietnamese citizens to use the internet but then turns around and sentences to jail a citizen who just posts videos and stories on Facebook and Youtube. It proves that the UN has current [power] at all, said Le Dung Vova.

Prior to his 2019 arrest, Dr. Haircut was in January 2018 fined 49 million dong (U.S. $2,100) for distorting historical facts and slander, but Nguyen never paid.

The indictment said that between June 2018 and June 2019, Dr. Haircut had shared 31 videos, causing confusion among the people, with the aim of opposing the state.

Rights situation worsening

The 88 Project, an Illinois-based NGO that tracks political prisoners, found that last year Vietnam arrested 41 people for peaceful activism and tried 61 for national security crimes.

In addition the 88 Project documented 96 incidents of activists being harassed, and 16 cases of torture of political prisoners.

Vietnam has failed to uphold its international commitments made during its [UN Human Rights Council] 2019 Universal Periodic Review, the 88 Project said in the 2019 Report on Political Prisoners and Activists at Risk in Vietnam.

The crackdown on dissent shows no signs of slowing down in 2020, and it is highly unlikely that Vietnam will fulfill its human rights obligations moving forward, it added.

Vietnam, with a population of 92 million people, of which 55 million are estimated to be users of Facebook, has been consistently rated not free in the areas of internet and press freedom by Freedom House, a U.S.-based watchdog group.

Dissent is not tolerated in the communist nation, and authorities routinely use a set of vague provisions in the penal code to detain dozens of writers and bloggers.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huy Le. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
New Delhi:

In a stinging criticism of the handling of dengue and chikungunya menace in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Thursday said the authorities here were not interested and the people have been left to suffer.



It also expressed disappointment over the outcome of Wednesdays meeting between the Lieutenant Governor and Delhi government on curbing vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya and asked them to hold another meeting this evening to firm up steps to check the diseases.



We have gone through the minutes of meeting held on Wednesday and we are quiet disappointed with the outcome, a bench of justices M B Lokur and Amitava Rao said.



These people are not interested and the people of Delhi are left to suffer, the bench observed and asked the LG and Delhi Government to hold a meeting at 5.30 PM today to discuss the matter.



During the hearing, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Delhi Chief Secretary, told the bench that LG Najeeb Jung would convene a meeting in which those officers, who were directed to attend the meeting by the court in its October 4 order, would be present.



The bench also asked senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who is an amicus curiae in the matter, to participate in the meeting and express his views on how to tackle the menace of these vector-borne diseases.



The bench directed that the participants should discuss the steps to be taken to prevent the problem faced by the people of Delhi this year and also the future measures.



We expect the participants to keep the interest of people of Delhi in mind while doing the entire exercise, the bench said, adding we expect that the action taken is collaborative and cooperative.



It fixed the matter for further hearing on October 17.



The apex court had on October 4 directed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendra Jain to hold a meeting with LG Najeeb Jung, which was held yesterday, to chalk out a strategy for curbing vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya in the national capital, while warning Delhi government against indulging in blame game.

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US president Donald Trump drew something closer to the jam-packed audience of political supporters he has been craving as he urged hundreds of young conservatives in Arizona to get behind his re-election effort.

The Students For Trump gathering at a crowded Dream City Church in Phoenix offered a starkly different feel compared to Mr Trumps weekend rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma  his first of the coronavirus era  which drew a sparse turnout.

In Phoenix, Mr Trump hailed patriotic young Americans who stand up tall for America and refuse to kneel to the radical left.

He said: You are the courageous warriors standing in the way of what they want to do and their goals.

They hate our history. They hate our values, and they hate everything we prize as Americans.

The US leader was looking to regain campaign momentum after Tulsa, which was supposed to be a sign of Americas reopening and a show of political force.

Supporters of President Donald Trump listen to him speak at the Students For Trump conference at Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona (AP)

Instead, it generated thousands of empty seats and led to questions about the presidents campaign leadership and his case for another four years in office.

The low turnout sharpened the focus on Mr Trumps visit to Arizona, which doubles as both a 2020 battleground state and a surging coronavirus hotspot.

With the Phoenix event, which was organised by Turning Point Action, a group chaired by Trump ally Charlie Kirk, the president hoped to turn attention away from his slumping poll numbers, surging coronavirus infections in huge swathes of the US south and west, and a virus-ravaged economy.

His address featured typical Trump lines  boasts about television ratings, ridicule of his likely Democratic presidential opponent Joe Biden, and resentment over Chinas handling of the coronavirus crisis.

As he did in Oklahoma over the weekend, Mr Trump referred to the virus as kung flu, a pejorative term which Asian-Americans and many other people say is racist.

Story continues

Mr Trump seemed to revel in the energy of a packed 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, he said. And we cannot let this happen.

Mr Trump has in recent days stepped up claims that expanded postal voting will lead to electoral fraud.

Throughout his trip to Arizona, which included a visit to the US-Mexico border, the Covid-19 pandemic shadowed Mr Trump.

A GREAT DAY IN ARIZONA! pic.twitter.com/jsohSb5QF6  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2020

Democratic mayor of Phoenix Kate Gallego made it clear she did not believe Mr Trumps speech could be safely held in her city  and urged the president to wear a face mask.

However, Mr 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.

The audience contrasted with the low turn-out at the rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma (AP)

Arizona is seeing disturbing trends in several benchmarks, including the percentage of tests that prove positive for the virus, which is the highest in America.

The US state reported a new daily record of nearly 3,600 additional coronavirus cases on Tuesday as it continued to set records for the number of people taken to hospital, 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.

Trump campaign officials believe the presidents ability to draw thousands of supporters out during a pandemic sets up a favourable contrasting image with Joe Biden.

However, the campaign has struggled to find effective attack lines on the former vice president.
Chicago, IL, June 24, 2020  Prime Property & Casualty Insurance Inc. (PPCI) has announced its debut into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts commercial auto market as an admitted carrier specializing in insurance solutions for distressed and substandard risks. With PPCI, producers now have an insurance company to write commercial auto risks and expand their book of business. PPCI offers the capacity to insure any commercial auto risk class with adverse account experiences such as unsatisfactory loss experience, poor driving records or lack of insurance history. PPCIs partnership approach, based on customized underwriting, extraordinary claims handling and risk management, produces outstanding results for producers and insureds.

Commercial auto owners, employers and operators who need to insure their vehicles and drivers are having tremendous difficulty obtaining insurance due to imperfect histories or atypical business arrangements. Producers have been frustrated by their inability to meet the needs of clients about offering a market for difficult risks to the commercial auto marketplace. PPCI provides exactly that market said Rick J. Lindsey, President and CEO of PPCI. Unlike other insurance providers, PPCI delivers coverage solutions to the entire spectrum of commercial auto risk classes including trucking, taxi cabs, towing, waste hauling and paratransit operations despite circumstances like adverse loss experiences, poor SAFER scores, hazardous cargo, prior insurance cancellations and more. Producers now have an insurance carrier with the stability, expertise and risk appetite to place their most difficult commercial auto liability risks.

The NAIC data report states that in the period of 2014-2018 commercial auto incurred losses were $17,774,663 for liability claims and $4,993,846 for physical damage.* PPCI distinguishes itself by handling claims in-house through its Claims Direct Access (CDA) service. CDA is committed to thorough and cost-effective resolutions, having successfully resolved over 60,000 property and casualty claims and lawsuits.

PPCI is a subsidiary of Prime Holdings Insurance Services, Inc. with offices in Salt Lake City, Utah; Chicago, Illinois; Naples, Florida; and Exton, Pennsylvania.

Media Contact:

Barbara Malkowski

SVP Marketing and PPCI Board Member

312-884-5801

barbaram@primeis.com

*Source: NAIC  https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-auto-insurance

Topics Mergers Auto Claims Commercial Lines Business Insurance Massachusetts Property Property Casualty Casualty
FILE - In this May 18, 2020, file photo, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne comments in Penrith, Australia. Foreign Minister Payne says China and Russia are using anxiety around the coronavirus pandemic to undermine Western democracies by spreading disinformation online. Payne said Tuesday, June 17, 2020, in a university speech that the disinformation contributed to a climate of fear and division when the world needed cooperation and understanding. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  China and Russia have used the anxiety around the coronavirus pandemic to undermine Western democracies by spreading disinformation online, Australias foreign minister said.

The disinformation contributed to a climate of fear and division when the world needed cooperation and understanding, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a speech at Australian National University, a text of which was released by her office late Tuesday.

Concerningly, we have seen disinformation pushed and promoted around the coronavirus pandemic and around some of the social pressures that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, Payne said.

It is troubling that some countries are using the pandemic to undermine liberal democracy to promote their own more authoritarian models, she added.

Payne referred to a European Union commission report last week that said foreign actors and certain third countries, in particular Russia and China, are flooding Europe with targeted influence operations and disinformation campaigns. It cited dangerous misinformation like claims that drinking bleach can cure the disease and that washing hands does not help prevent its spread.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian rejected Payne's accusations and said that China had never used disinformation to improve our image, and there is no need for us to do so, either."

Many facts have proved that it is the Australian side that is suitable for the label of disinformation instead of China," Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing, citing no examples but referring to allegations widely disseminated by China of discrimination and violence against Chinese in Australia.

Frankly speaking, Australia conducted such political manipulations of the epidemic in disregard of the facts and simply out of its own political interest," Zhao said.

Payne last week rejected as disinformation Chinas warning to its citizens against visiting Australia because of pandemic-related racism.

Story continues

China has also banned beef exports from Australias largest abattoirs and ended the trade in Australian barley with prohibitive tariffs in what is widely regarded as punishment for Australias advocacy for an independent inquiry into the origins and responses to the pandemic.

Some suspect that Chinas decision two weeks ago to sentence an Australian man to death seven years after his arrest for drug trafficking is also linked to the bilateral rift.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said he was disappointed that his Chinese counterpart has yet to accept his phone calls one month after China placed 80% tariffs on Australian barley.

Its frustrating, its more disappointing in the sense that I think it is lost opportunity, Birmingham told the National Press Club.

"The best way to resolve and to work through differences is through dialogue, and Australia is ready and willing to have that mature, sensible dialogue that grownups have even when you have differences of opinion," he added.

Australia claimed vindication when the World Health Organization last month bowed to calls from most of its member states to launch an independent probe into how it managed the international response to the coronavirus. The evaluation would stop short of looking into contentious issues such as the origins of the virus, which was initially identified after an outbreak in China late last year.

Payne acknowledged there were critics who argued that Australia should have gathered powerful allies before it antagonized China with demands for transparency.

There were those who said that by speaking out, by seeking a review, we made ourselves a target and brought upon ourselves an unnecessary cost for a cause that would have been championed anyway by others whose size and stature made them more suitable standard-bearers, she said.

There are times to pursue quiet diplomacy behind the scenes. But there are also times to voice our concerns and persuade others of the need for a course of action, she added.
In a new twist to the political drama in Manipur, the four National Peoples Party (NPP) legislators, who had withdrawn support to N Biren Singh headed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government last week, left Imphal on Tuesday to meet central leaders in Delhi.

Prior to their departure from the Bir Tikendrajit International airport near Imphal in the afternoon, Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said they will try to resolve the issue with the spirit of friendship and solidarity.

This time we want to address all the issues raised by the MLAs. We want to resolve all the issues once for all so that we can concentrate on development and elections, Sarma, who is also the convener of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), said.

Admitting that this will be very productive and constructive engagement.

Sarma along with Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma, who is also the national president of NPP, air dashed to Imphal on a chartered flight earlier in the day to meet leaders and resolve the ongoing political crisis.

Both Sarma and Sangma had already visited the state on Sunday.

Miffed at the functioning of chief minister Biren Singh, the four NPP MLAs along with one All India Trinamool Congress MLA and one Independent legislator had withdrawn support to the coalition government on June 17.

The same day three BJP MLAs resigned both from the party and membership of the Manipur Legislative Assembly taking the partys tally to 18 and the coalitions total to 23.

The NPP, a key member of the NEDA - a non-Congress political platform floated by the BJP after winning the Assam elections in 2016, has been a key BJP ally in Manipur too.

Despite the developments, the BJPs candidate secured a win in the Rajya Sabha polls on June 19 securing 28 votes to the Congress nominees 24.

NPP chief Sangma and all the four NPP MLAs of the state refused to comment on the development.

The Congress, which has been seeking convening of a special assembly session to test the majority of the government, also refused to comment on the latest developments.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 09:19:07|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe on Tuesday conducted its first foreign currency auction in years to boost transparency and efficiency in the forex market.

Last week, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) announced that it will discard the 1:25 fixed interbank exchange rate system, which had been in place since February this year.

The central bank said that the auction system, to be held every Tuesday, was designed to give fair value of the local currency in relation to the U.S. dollar. At the auction system, the Zimbabwe dollar debuted at 57 against 1 U.S. dollar.

The new official exchange rate, however, remains below the parallel market rate which is running at between 80 and 95 per U.S. dollar depending on the method of payment.

Results of the auction conducted by the RBZ showed that the highest rate to the greenback on offer was 100 Zimbabwe dollars while the lowest was 25.5 Zimbabwe dollars.

Those who want to buy hard currency through the auction system would be expected to present one bid per auction ranging from 50,000 U.S. dollars to 500,000 U.S. dollars. Enditem
Diageo India today announced Raising the Bar, a 75- crore programme committed to support bars, pubs and restaurants serving alcohol to welcome customers back and recover following the COVID-19 pandemic. Raising the Bar will be a two year programme to support the revival and recovery of qualifying bars, pubs and restaurants serving alcohol across New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other cities. Diageo designed the Raising the Bar programme following a global survey of bar owners to identify key priorities to support reopening.

Their top priorities included hygiene measures, digital support and practical equipment and training to transform how their outlets will work when they reopen. The Raising the Bar programme will provide targeted non-cash support including physical equipment needed for outlets to re-open like hygiene kits with high-quality permanent sanitiser dispensers, medical grade hand sanitiser and a range of personal protection equipment (such as masks and gloves); help to bars, pubs and restaurants serving alcohol to establish partnerships with online reservations and cashless systems; mobile bars and outdoor equipment. Following resumption of business operations and the sale of alcohol in bars, pubs and restaurants, outlets will be able to register their interest for the Raising the Bar programme via www.diageobaracademy.com. 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. Commenting on the launch, Anand Kripalu, Managing Director & CEO, Diageo India said, The Indian Hospitality and F&B industry has witnessed unprecedented loss of revenues. This has impacted many start-ups and MSMEs as well as the livelihood of millions of people. Pubs, Bars and Restaurants are an integral part of our communities, bringing people together to socialise and celebrate - something we have all missed during the lockdown. Diageo has always had strong linkages with the Hospitality and F&B industry, jointly curating unique experiences for consumers. The revival of this sector is vital to the economy and to the success of our business.

Raising the Bar is our commitment to qualifying Pubs, Bars & Restaurants that serve alcohol. This support extends to providing enhanced safety measures when they resume operations so that their business and employment can revive, enabling our consumers to feel confident once again to socialise and lead normal lives. Diageo Indias commitment is part of the USD 100 million commitment by Diageo, benefitting global cities like New York, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kampala and Sydney. In India, the programme will be owned and led by Black Dog, our locally blended iconic scotch whisky. According to a recent Pahle India Foundation report, the Indian restaurant industry is the third largest in the service segment, contributing over 2.1 per cent to the GDP. The industry valued at INR 30 billion (USD 426 million) is projected to grow at 10 per cent CAGR to INR 50 billion (USD 710 million) by 2021. Furthermore, it contributes almost INR 24 billion (USD 340 million) to the government exchequer and employs 7.2 million people. The impact of COVID-19 on hospitality industry has been widespread, with the closure of venues across the country.

The industry, home to many start-ups and MSMEs, is facing a tremendous liquidity crisis owing to lockdown closures, high rentals and additional pressures of securing hygiene equipment. As governments begin to ease lockdown measures, people want to come together again to connect with their community and socialise safely. By bringing international best practices, providing access to free digital support, technology, training and equipment, Diageo aims to help bars, pubs and restaurants serving alcohol in India, open its doors again.
Guildford train station was evacuated following a 'security alert' - and an Army bomb disposal squad carried out two controlled explosions at the scene.

Just before 11am today all lines were blocked while emergency services attended the scene, and the first controlled explosion took place at around 1pm.

A second, larger controlled explosion was then heard at around 1.15pm as bomb disposal teams worked at the far end of the station, Surrey Live reported.

Shortly before 2pm the station reopened and the first train arrived from Reading - as passengers piled back into the station.

Two bomb disposal trucks are still at the station along with police officers - one of whom said that an investigation is underway at the scene.

Just before 11am today all lines were blocked while emergency services attended the scene, (pictured) and the first controlled explosion took place at around 1pm.

National Rail had said a security alert at Guildford meant all lines were blocked through the station.

Taxis had been picking up stranded passengers from the nearby YMCA and replacement buses were being organised from The Friary.

A British Transport Police spokesperson had said: 'Officers were called to Guildford station at 10.42am this morning following reports of a suspicious package.

'The station is currently closed while specialist officers assess the item.'

National Rail had said a security alert at Guildford meant all lines were blocked through the station.

They said trains could be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes, with disruption expected until around 2pm.
Andhra's Minister of Industries, IT, and Skills discussed strategies to revive economic growth, urged ISB to come up with a synchronous government model for various departments of development.

An Advisory Council on Development of Andhra Pradesh to be formed with ISB as the Nodal Agency. M Goutham Reddy, Minister for Industries, IT and Skills, Government of Andhra Pradesh visited the Indian School of Business at Hyderabad today and interacted with key professors to discuss upon strategies to revive economic growth in the state and come up with a long term roadmap for sustainable development in the State through data-driven policy making.

Speaking at the meeting Minister expressed his keenness to see a seamless functioning of various departments towards development and urged ISB to come up with a governance model to create a synchronous functioning of departments of development.

Minister also expressed to work together on creating jobs where the labour is, creating quality management structure in government, skill gaps among others. It is important to strategize a model for synchronous functioning which will be used as a test model for a seamless and transparent governance, he said.

Also read: Centre to bring over 1500 cooperative banks under RBIs ambit, says Prakash Javadekar

Also read: Tapping the virtual space amid a pandemic

The Industries Minister also mentioned that an Advisory Council on Development of Andhra Pradesh will be formed with ISB as a Nodal Agency. The key areas of engagement identified to be taken up as project mode are:

Synchronous functioning of departments of development: The objective of the proposed project is to see a greater synergy between departments to address the larger issues of development. The need is to study the entire value chain of development from a horizontal perspective. This could be looked from the perspective of Organizational Behaviour and integrative public policies of development.

Andhra Pradesh Pulse: In order to help governance reach the last mile, Pulse is a an advanced data analytics application using near real-time digital data on citizen interactions with government schemes and systems. The process integrates continuous data streams into a common framework for analytics and will be designed to detect anomalies that signify potential challenges at an aggregate spatial level (such as the panchayat). The project will provide dashboards for ground level actionable intelligence on potential exclusion and establish advance warning mechanisms.

Attracting investments: Every state is offering a suite of incentives to attract investments in industrial development, often customized to local endowments. We will undertake a comparative analysis of incentives and investment patterns across states. This will allow Andhra Pradesh to learn from experience across India and structure incentives to make the state more attractive for targeted investment. This analysis will include an evaluation of the performance of the state in comparison to its peers, identification of relative strengths and comparative advantage, description of major bottlenecks and obstacles to investment in specific sectors, and recommendations for policy actions that align growth opportunities with resource endowments.

Matching Skills to Jobs: With a few million returning migrants, several states in India are struggling to implement relief measures to alleviate distress in the immediate short term. However, these returning migrants are often skilled workers who can be deployed productively in local jobs requiring similar or adjacent skills, which will also contribute to local economic recovery. ISB would like to contribute towards building a system to record the skill sets of returning migrants in order to assess the gap between skills and available jobs in post-pandemic times. This will also help the government design public investments to maximize employment opportunities for returning migrant populations. Over time, the system will be able to address the skills gap effectively, and help in attracting investments based on availability of local skilled workers.

Speaking at the meeting Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor of Public Policy, ISB said: ISB Faculty and students are delighted to collaborate with Government of Andhra Pradesh on the agenda of inclusive and sustainable development through the JumpStartIndia@ISB initiative. We applaud the spirit of openness and collaboration, and pledge to support the Government of Andhra Pradesh to the fullest extent possible.

Participants:

1. Professor Bhagwan Chowdhry, Professor of Finance and Executive Director, Digital Identity and Research Initiative (DIRI), ISB

2. Professor Chandrashekhar Sripada, Clinical Professor  OB and Strategic Human Capital, ISB

3. Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Professor of Public Policy, ISB

4. Shri DNV Kumara Guru, Director External Relations, ISB

5. Shri Sundeep Jammalamada, Associate Director, ISB

6. Dr Sridhar Bhagavatula, Senior Manager, ISB

Also read: Amid boycott calls, Govt asks companies to spell out Country of Origin

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About the statue

The statue was designed by J. Massey Rhind, a Scottish-American sculptor.

According to a Nov. 26, 1894, story in The Evening Post citing The New York Times, Rhind won the competition for the job among four New Yorkers and two Bostonians.

"While this will be an additional honor to Charleston, it will also be an honor to New York City, in that the monument is the work of a well-known New York artist and sculptor."

Rhind's work, which appears in cities across the world, include:

Grand Army of the Republic Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Gen. George Washington, Washington Park, Newark, New Jersey

William T. Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant monuments, Muskegon, Michigan

Dr. Crawford W. Long in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C.

A June 5, 1896, story in The Evening Post citing The New York Sun described the construction of the statue:

"It is by all odds the largest bronze ever cast (in Brooklyn). ... The Calhoun statue was cast in ten pieces, and seven months was consumed in preparing the moulds and doing the casting. The total weight of the statue is nearly 6,000 pounds, and it stands 12 feet 8 inches in height. It is to stand upon a pedestal forty feet high."

The combined money spent on the previous 1887 monument and the current statue in 1896 is believed to be around $64,000. That amounts to around $1.8 million in 2020.

 Cleve O'Quinn
The Houston Association of Realtors has stopped using the word "master" to describe bedrooms or bathrooms, a change prompted by a group of real estate agents that requested a review of the term.

The association agreed to update the phrase to "primary bedroom" and "primary bath." It implemented the changes in its Multiple Listing Service and on har.com June 15.

"This topic is currently being debated across the real estate industry, and the national standards organization for MLSs will be considering a similar change that could make 'primary' the new standard nationally," according to a statement from HAR.

LOOPED IN: How the pandemic may change the way we build homes

Tiffany Curry, a Houston real estate broker who recently became the first African-American owner of a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices franchise, said she personally supports the change, though she was not part of the group that requested it.

"'Master' represents a stigma and place in time that we need to move forward from. As a progressive, diverse city, Houston should be reflective of its citizenship," said Curry, a past National Association of Realtors board member.

Some builders have already dropped the term. David Weekley Homes, for example, calls a home's primary bedroom an "owner's retreat."

OPEN HOUSES: Once fancy affairs, open houses are stripped down, but surviving

The National Association of Realtors said it is focused on addressing discrimination that still occurs in housing transactions. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, however, has advised NAR that the term "master bedroom" is not discriminatory and does not violate fair housing laws.

"NAR sees no reason that real estate professionals cannot use the term, as there is also no evidence that it has any historical connection to slavery or any other kind of discrimination," according to a statement from NAR President Vince Malta.

While HAR will no longer use the nomenclature, it will not block agents from doing so through discussions or marketing purposes.

This article has been updated to provide additional information.
Researchers from Swansea University have developed a new environmentally friendly method for removing toxic chemicals from water.

A newly invented machine, called the Matrix Assembly Cluster Source (MACS), has been used to design a breakthrough water treatment method using a solvent-free approach.

The research, from The Institute for Innovative Materials, Processing and Numerical Technologies (IMPACT) within the College of Engineering at Swansea University, was funded by the EPSRC and led by Professor Richard Palmer.

Professor Richard Palmer explains:

"The harmful organic molecules are destroyed by a powerful oxidising agent, ozone, which is boosted by a catalyst. Usually such catalysts are manufactured by chemical methods using solvents, which creates another problem - how to deal with the effluents from the manufacturing process?

The Swansea innovation is a newly invented machine that manufactures the catalyst by physical methods, involving no solvent, and therefore no effluent. The new technique is a step change in the approach to water treatment and other catalytic processes."

Professor Palmer continues:

"Our new approach to making catalysts for water treatments uses a physical process which is vacuum-based and solvent free method. The catalyst particles are clusters of silver atoms, made with the newly invented MACS machine.

It solves the long-standing problem of low cluster production rate - meaning, for the first time, it is now possible to produce enough clusters for study at the test-tube level, with the potential to then scale-up further to the level of small batch manufacturing and beyond."

The clusters are approximately 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair and have been of significant interest to researchers because of their unique properties. However, due to the inadequate rate of cluster production, research in this area has been limited.

The new MACS method has changed this - it scales up the intensity of the cluster beam to produce enough grams of cluster powder for practical testing. The addition of ozone to the powder then destroys pollutant chemicals from water, in this case nitrophenol.

On the future potential of this breakthrough technology, Professor Palmer summarises:

"The MACS approach to the nanoscale design of functional materials opens up completely new horizons across a wide range of disciplines - from physics and chemistry to biology and engineering. Thus, it has the power to enable radical advances in advanced technology - catalysts, biosensors, materials for renewable energy generation and storage.

It seems highly appropriate that the first practical demonstration of Swansea's environmentally friendly manufacturing process concerns something we are all concerned about - clean water!"

###

The research team includes Dr Chedly Tizaoui at Swansea, collaborating with Profs Nikos Dimitratos and Stefania Albonetti in Bologna, Italy.

The IMPACT operation is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government and Swansea University.

The research was published in Applied Materials and Interfaces.

Notes to editors:

The Institute for Innovative Materials, Processing and Numerical Technologies (IMPACT) is a state-of-the-art engineering research institute specialising in fundamental and applied research and innovation in advanced engineering, modelling and materials. The operation has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government and Swansea University.

As a Centre of Excellence, IMPACT supports the regional, the UK and global engineering economy with collaborative, fundamental and applied research. The Engineering North building, home to IMPACT, is based at Swansea University Bay Campus and forms part of the College of Engineering - offering a unique colocation facility for academia-industry partnerships within a transformative research environment.

Completed in May 2019, the building comprises of two distinct areas - linked by the central, light filled atrium: a research office building and a laboratory block: with 1,600m2 open plan laboratory space. Together they house 80 single occupancy offices, provide hub space for over 150 researchers and colocation space for 50 industrial and academic collaborators. Externally, the north entrance features a large living wall of plants and flowers, approximately 114m2 square, promoting biodiversity, and providing year-round texture and colour.

The ethos of IMPACT is to foster academia-industry partnerships, promoting cross-disciplinary fertilisation of ideas in the pursuit of new pioneering science and technology. This will be achieved by bringing together first-class expertise from the College, attracting leading talent and partnering with the World's innovative companies and regional partners.

Designed to BREEAM* excellent standards, it will provide future proof highly specialised laboratories with a dynamic environment for collaboration of industry and academia. This unique operation aims to attract world leading expertise and significant research funding.

*BREEAM is the world's leading sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It recognises and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment.

http://www.swansea.ac.uk/engineering/impact/ @SU_engIMPACT

Swansea University is a world-class, research-led, dual campus university offering a first-class student experience and has one of the best employability rates of graduates in the UK. The University has the highest possible rating for teaching - the Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in 2018 and was commended for its high proportions of students achieving consistently outstanding outcomes.

Swansea climbed 14 places to 31st in the Guardian University Guide 2019, making us Wales' top ranked university, with one of the best success rates of graduates gaining employment in the UK and the same overall satisfaction level as the Number 1 ranked university.

The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 results saw Swansea make the 'biggest leap among research-intensive institutions' in the UK (Times Higher Education, December 2014) and achieved its ambition to be a top 30 research University, soaring up the league table to 26th in the UK.

The University is in the top 300 best universities in the world, ranked in the 251-300 group in The Times Higher Education World University rankings 2018. Swansea University now has 23 main partners, awarding joint degrees and post-graduate qualifications.

The University was established in 1920 and was the first campus university in the UK. It currently offers around 350 undergraduate courses and 350 postgraduate courses to circa 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The University has ambitious expansion plans as it moves towards its centenary in 2020 and aims to continue to extend its global reach and realise its domestic and international potential.

Swansea University is a registered charity. No.1138342. Visit http://www.swansea.ac.uk

For more information:

Kevin Sullivan, Swansea University Public Relations Office k.g.sullivan@swansea.ac.uk

Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SwanseaUni

Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/swanseauniversity
By Alasdair Pal

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India said on Tuesday it would expel half the staff in Pakistan's 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 detaining 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.

In response, Pakistan's foreign ministry said its staff had acted lawfully, and that it would expel half of India's embassy in Islamabad "as a reciprocal measure".

India earlier said it intended to voluntarily cut staff at its embassy in Islamabad by the same amount.

Both countries said the affected officials had been asked to leave within a week.

The latest round of hostility began when India expelled two Pakistani diplomats on May 31, after they were held 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.

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Gareth Jones)
Texas broke its previous all-time daily high after Governor Greg Abbot reported 5,489 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Tuesday.

The state's governor revealed the grim record in an interview with KBTX.

During the interview, Abbot urged Texans to take the virus seriously.

He also encouraged residents to observe social distancing guidelines to curb the spread of the virus and hinted at the possibility of new restrictions, including placing the state's economy into another lockdown.

Texas is seeing a dramatic spike in the number of coronavirus cases as it hit the 4,000-case mark for the first time just two days ago.

In Houston, the Texas Children's Hospital has also started admitting adult patients due to a surge in hospitalization.

According to NPR, the children's hospital is providing additional ICU capacity and acute care bed spaces for both young and adult patients.

Texas has recently boosted its capacity to conduct COVID-19 tests.

However, health experts said the increase doesn't explain the sudden flood of new cases.

While there has been a steep rise in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, experts said they do not represent a second wave.

A graph from the state's health department showed a steady rise in daily new cases since the pandemic swept across the nation in March.

State of California

On Tuesday, Californian health officials reported over 5,019 new COVID-19 cases, breaking Monday's record of 4,230.

Hospitalizations also rose to 3,868 from Saturday's 3,702, Deadline reports.

In Los Angeles County, health officials reported 2,000 new cases for the fourth time in the last week.

Meanwhile, county officials in San Diego reported more than 300 new cases for the second consecutive day.

A Twitter post by California Public Health said young adults, between the ages of 18 and 49, made up most of the cases with 101,474 diagnosed, as of June 22.

California was one of the seven states that reported the highest number of hospitalizations since the pandemic began.

Hospitalized patient figures are rapidly increasing in Southern California, Central Valley, and the Bay Area.

Health experts have repeatedly warned that reopening businesses and allowing people to resume normal activities would lead to an increase in cases.

Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County's Public Health Director, said it is likely that the overall increase is linked to the nationwide protests that began after white Minneapolis officer knelt on the neck of black African-American man, George Floyd.

Ferrer also claimed that lifting the restrictions led to clusters of social gatherings at restaurants and private spaces, the Yahoo News reported.

Despite the rising numbers, more cities and counties are pushing forward with the reopening of their economies.

In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed announced that the next reopening phase will begin on June 29.

Some businesses like hair and nail salons, barbershops, tattoo parlors, and massage establishments, which originally planned to open in mid-July or later, will be allowed to operate.

Museums, zoos, and outdoor bars would also be granted permission to reopen.



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A Rockdale woman accused of killing her daughter was among 40 people indicted last week by a Milam County grand jury, officials said.

According to the Milam County district attorneys office, Frances Arline Valdez, 70, was indicted on the first-degree felony charge on June 18. If convicted, she faces up to 99 years in prison.

Valdez is accused of killing her 25-year-old daughter in June 2019. According to KCEN-TV, authorities found that Valerie Valdez  who had Down syndrome  died of dehydration and an overdose of Tylenol and cough syrup. Frances Valdez was charged in her daughters death in May. She remains in the Milam County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Also on June 18, Robert William Phillips Jr., 27, of Milano, was indicted on an aggravated kidnapping charge.

An indictment by grand jury is not an indication of guilt. Grand jurors meet to determine whether there is enough evidence to move forward with prosecution in a case.
Two of Canada's biggest cinema chains say they will reopen their Saskatchewan movie theatres next week, nearly three months after the COVID-19 pandemic brought the theatrical distribution business to a halt.

Cineplex Inc. and Landmark Theatres will both reopen their Saskatchewan locations on July 3, the companies confirmed Wednesday.

The news came a day after the provincial government announced theatres could restart operations as soon as this coming Monday under the second part of Phase Four of Saskatchewan's reopening plan.

The experience will initially be quite different from what moviegoers are used to.

Sarah Van Lange, a spokesperson for Cineplex, said every other auditorium row will be kept empty and available seats will be in pairs "with proper physical distancing in all directions."

Altogether, auditorium capacity will be reduced by 60 to 80 per cent, Van Lange said.

Cineplex

Popcorn will still be available, but not items like pizza and poutine, she said.

Staff will wear masks and have other masks on hand for customers who forget to bring their own, but customers will not be required to wear one, Van Lange said.

"We're taking guidance from Canada's public health authorities in all levels of government," Van Lange said. "In markets where it's not mandated at the municipal level, we're recommending but not requiring our guests to wear a mask. That said, health and safety is obviously the number one priority here."

The VIP auditoriums at Cineplex's downtown Saskatoon location and the clubhouse theatre at the company's newly opened Saskatoon location on Eighth Street E  which includes a jungle gym for kids  will remain closed.

Exactly what new films the theatres will show remains unclear. Van Lange said the slate will be announced soon but that customers can expect to see some late 2019 and early 2020 releases such as Bad Boys For Life and Jumanji: The Next Level.

Movie studios have either delayed the releases of most of their films. One holdout is the Christopher Nolan thriller Tenet, which is scheduled for release on July 31.

Story continues

Reopening unclear for independent chain

A smaller, independent Canadian theatre chain said its own reopening plans are less clear.

Tom Hutchinson, the president of Magic Lantern Theatres, which owns nine cinemas in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario. said the company has been monitoring cinemas that have recently opened in Alberta, B.C. and the United States.

"The grosses have been beyond dismal," Hutchinson said via email. "As an example, on the weekend one cinema we monitor held nine performances and the total revenue was $256. Similar stories from everyone; no examples of areas where people want to come back to the movies.

"In short, provinces can close cinemas. They can't reopen them. When we have something to offer our customers that they want to see, we will be open."

Hutchinson said the company is working to come up with ideas or a model that would allow its theatres to return to normalcy.

"So far nothing seems to work," he said.
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The stumbling block for political satire is that its almost always partisan  which is great if it flatters your views, and grating if it doesnt. But not for Jon Stewart. In his first writing-directing gig since 2014s docudrama Rosewater, the former late-night fixture ingeniously makes it impossible to take sides  since both sides totally suck. As host of The Daily Show between 1999 and 2015, Stewart knew that the only way to deal with the toxic mix of politics, media, and money afflicting the body politic was to resist. Or at least to see it as something other than the inevitable result of an artificially engineered war between the left and the right. His target isnt one political party. Its passivity.

Fuck you, America. Those are among the first words spoken by Gary Zimmer, the shithead Democratic strategist sensationally played by Steve Carell, just as the 2016 election announces its winner. Were miles away from the cockeyed optimism in the films of Frank Capra (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Meet John Doe), but no way is Stewart writing off American resilience. In fact, hes counting on it. Gary is loosely modeled on Bob Shrum, the highly paid adviser in a string of losing presidential campaigns, from Michael Dukakis to Al Gore. As Irresistible begins, Gary is looking for his ticket back into the Forbidden City of presidential politics.

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His unlikely vehicle? A Republican widower farmer and retired Marine colonel named Jack Hastings (Chris Cooper), whos thinking of running for mayor of nowhere Deerlaken, in the swing state of Wisconsin. What gets Garys attention is a video of the Colonel busting the chops of Town Hall reactionaries for denying health benefits to undocumented immigrants. Garys greedy eyes glow at the sight of this square-jawed paragon of Americana who looks conservative but talks progressive. Hes a Democrat, says Gary to his seen-it-all staff, led by Kurt (Topher Grace). He just doesnt know it yet.

Story continues

So off goes city-slicker Gary to Deerlaken to use the Colonel as raw clay in his plan for national domination. There are jokes aimed at D.C. Gary, as the locals dub him, after he orders a Bud in a Miller town and patronizes the rubes. But the Colonel is no easy mark. He loves Deerlaken, which Stewart and the keenly observant cinematographer Bobby Bukowski take pains to portray as the new America of scarce jobs, closed shops, financial hardships, and, in Deerlakens case, a population reduced from 15,000 to 5,000 after the military base closed. That authenticity pays dividends as Garys campaigning  he enlists the Colonels attractive daughter, Diana (Mackenzie Davis,) to spearhead a fundraising drive  touches a chord for voters.

The comedy turns broader when the Republican National Committee sends in its closer, Faith Brewster (the devilishly deadpan Rose Byrne), to make sure incumbent Mayor Braun (Brent Sexton) wins re-election and the Colonel goes back to the farm. Carell and Byrne are dynamite as these dueling political assassins, who insist that any lie becomes truth if you say it repeatedly, doggedly, and with unearned confidence. The closest Irresistible comes to a Capra-esque hero is the Colonel, and the reliably superb Cooper plays him close to the vest and with seemingly incorruptible integrity. His big moment comes when Gary takes him to New York to squeeze some cash out of Manhattan elites, and the big man  Gary calls him Bill Clinton with impulse control  tells the crowd that their money is not the solution but the problem. Naturally, the guilty, liberal, self-flagellating narcissists eat it up.

Crazy? Hardly. The alleged absurdities of this political satire are not far off from the 2017 special congressional election for Georgias Sixth Congressional District, where both parties spent more than $55 million to score a symbolic victory to bolster their own power and profit incentives. Stewart keeps the action percolating with a large cast of characters that suggests another key influence on him is Preston Sturges, the screwball-comedy auteur who filled his films  think Sullivans Travels and Hail the Conquering Hero  with a rotating stock company of expert character actors. Hes not on that level, at least not yet. But hes got the right idea. And Stewarts work as a director of actors is exemplary. Sexton is a mayor whos not so easy to figure; Will Sasso and Will McLaughlin are Deerlaken cronies who know the difference between a simile and metaphor; and Natasha Lyonne is an exorbitantly compensated computer genius who Gary brings in to dig up dirt no one knew existed.

What Stewart is really asking in Irresistible is: In what world is it OK for us to ignore the special interests that have hijacked our electoral process for fun and profit while the people they steal from go without? Stewart is rigorously unsentimental in his approach. He fails to provide backstories for Gary and Faith because their soullessness is what makes them functional  and infectious. But whats our excuse? In a twist ending, Stewart leaves us wondering if gaming the system is preferable to changing it. Can a political satire that dances on the border between silly and profound really make us take off the blinders, even for a few hours? Its available on demand starting June 26th. Proceed accordingly.

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LORAIN, Ohio -- It was Sunday that Joshua Garcia of Lorain called Mayor Jack Bradley to ask if he would fly an LGBTQ flag outside of City Hall.

By Wednesday, the flag, featuring the seven colors of the rainbow, flew high next to the American flag and the Thin Blue Line American flag in front of the Lorain City Hall building.

We should recognize the gay community to show that were in support of them, in support of them being treated equally, Bradley said. Based upon that, I said I would fly the flag today.

After talking with Garcia, Bradley wanted to commemorate the momentous The United States Supreme Court ruling earlier this month that stops discrimination against gay and transgender employees by their employers.

The mayor also wanted to show that Lorain, specifically, believes in the message of unity for all.

It shows were all united, Bradley said. Were supporting all communities within our larger community in Lorain.

Division doesnt work. Unity works... The more we can be united and be together, the more we can accomplish.

Reporter Hayden Grove showed the flag live on the cleveland.com Facebook page.

You can check out the broadcast below.

Get Browns, Indians, Cavs and Buckeyes insider texts in your phone from Hayden Grove: Weve engaged with each other plenty through my coverage on Facebook Live, and we can get to know each other even better on the more friendly platform of Project Text. Sign up here for just $3.99 a month to get all of your Browns/Indians/Cavs and Buckeyes information!
More than half of the member states of the International Criminal Court  including 13 from Africa  have come out in support of the Court in response to new US sanctions against the institution.



On June 11, in retaliation for the ICC proceeding with investigations into war crimes committed in Afghanistan by all forces, including those from the US, Washington imposed visa restrictions on families of ICC officials, who are already under American government sanctions.



The US Attorney General, William Barr, also announced that the Trump administration was launching an investigation into alleged corruption at the Court.



On Tuesday, a cross-regional group of 67 ICC member countries, out of 123, responded in a joint statement, which said: "We remain committed to an international rules-based order.



The ICC is an integral part of this order and a central institution in the fight against impunity and the pursuit of justice, which are essential components of sustainable peace, security and reconciliation.



We will therefore continue to respect our cooperation obligations under the Rome Statute and we call on all states to ensure full cooperation with the Court for it to carry out its important mandate of ensuring justice for the victims of the most serious crimes of international concern.



The US, which is not a party to the Courts Rome Statute, objects to the ICCs jurisdiction over nationals of non-member countries without a referral to the Court by the UN Security Council.



Afghanistan, however, is an ICC member country, giving the Court authority to investigate and prosecute crimes committed by anyone  regardless of nationality  on Afghan territory.

Human Rights Watch pointed out: The courts authority is nothing unusual.



US and other citizens who commit crimes abroad are already subject to the jurisdiction of foreign courts.



The joint statement by the ICC group noted: the ICC is a court of last resort, which anchors a system of justice for serious international crimes rooted in national courts.



National authorities have the primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute Rome Statute crimes.



The ICC only steps in when states are unwilling or unable to genuinely carry out national proceedings.



The statement added: By giving our full support to the ICC and promoting its universal reach, we defend the progress we have made together towards an international rules-based order, of which international justice is an indispensable pillar.



Richard Dicker, International Justice Director at human Rights Watch, said: ICC member countries, including many key US allies, are speaking out for the international court in the face of the Trump administrations effective extortion.



Their statement sends a strong message that governments have the Courts back and will not bow to Washingtons misguided pressure.



He added: Multilateral support for the ICC is key to deterring the chilling effect of the Trump administrations outrageous effort to undermine justice for victims.



Member countries will need sustained vigilance and to be ready to take further steps to push back against US bullying of the Court.



The US sanctions, which include assets freeze, can be applied on a case-by-case basis in relation to ICC investigations of US personnel or personnel of US allies.



However, Mr Dicker said: Asset freezes and travel bans are for human rights violators, not those seeking to bring rights violators to justice.



By targeting the ICC, the Trump administration continues its assault on the global rule of law, putting the US on the side of those who commit and cover up grave abuses, not those who prosecute them.



The ICC had earlier reacted to the US action through a statement, which said: These are the latest in a series of unprecedented attacks on the ICC, an independent international judicial institution, as well as on the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice, which reflects the commitment and cooperation of the ICC's 123 States Parties, representing all regions of the world, the statement said.



These attacks constitute an escalation and an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the Courts judicial proceedings.



They are announced with the declared aim of influencing the actions of ICC officials in the context of the Courts independent and objective investigations and impartial judicial proceedings.

An attack on the ICC also represents an attack against the interests of victims of atrocity crimes, for many of whom the Court represents the last hope for justice, the statement added.



The President of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), O-Gon Kwon, also reacted to the measures announced by the US.



These measures are unprecedented [and] they undermine our common endeavour to fight impunity and to ensure accountability for mass atrocities, he said.



The African ICC members that agreed to the statement are: Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, The Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Nigeria Namibia, South Africa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, and Uganda.



US allies that also endorsed the statement include Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, New Zealand and the UK.

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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According to the decree, which was published in the official state gazette, El-Sisi appointed Karam Gabr, the incumbent head of the National Press Authority (NPA), as the new head of the SCMR, replacing veteran journalist Makram Mohamed Ahmed.

The SCMR includes representatives from the State Council, the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA), the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), and several journalists.

As per the decree, Abdel-Sadek El-Shorbagy will replace Gabr as the head of the NPA, the reshuffle for which includes representatives from the State Council, the finance ministry, the national press, and workers at press institutions.

Hussein Zein will remain the head of the National Media Authority, the decree showed, with other members in the reshuffle including representatives from the State Council, the finance ministry, the NTRA, and public figures.

All the media entities will see a four-year term, as stipulated by the decree.

Under Egypt's 2014 constitution, TV, radio, print and online media are regulated by three bodies: the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, the National Press Authority, and the National Media Authority.

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Egyptian activist Sanaa Seif was abducted outside the public prosecutors office in Cairo, her sister said Tuesday.

"Sanaa was just abducted by a microbus from in front of general prosecutor office!" Mona Seif tweeted. Sanaa was ABDUCTED, and her abduction was facilitated by the official guards of the general prosecutor's office, she added.

According to the family, authorities detained Sanaa and are charging her with "spreading false rumors, inciting terrorist crimes" and "misuse of social media."

The 26-year-old activist was waiting outside the public prosecutors office on Tuesday to file a complaint related to an attack on her family the previous day. She, Mona and their mother say they were attacked by a group of armed women outside the Tora prison complex Monday while police looked the other way.

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 tweeted.

The three women were there to receive a letter from Sanaas older brother, activist Alaa Abdel Fatah, who has been detained since September 2019 over anti-government protests. He launched a hunger strike, and his family has sought his release amid the coronavirus outbreak in Egypts prisons.

In a statement Tuesday, Amnesty International called on Egypts authorities to end their relentless harassment of the family and immediately and unconditionally release both Sanaa and her brother.

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, Amnesty Internationals 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, Luther said.

Acting under the authority of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Egypts security forces have stepped up their crackdown on dissenting voices. In May, the editor-in-chief of a prominent independent newspaper was arrested while interviewing Sanaa's mother, Laila, about her jailed son.

Rights groups say a number of political activists and journalists have been forcibly disappeared or imprisoned for criticizing the Egyptian governments handling of the coronavirus in recent months. Security forces recently arrested Mohamed Monir, a prominent journalist, after his interview with Qatari TV channel Al Jazeera, and charged him with joining a terrorist group and spreading false news.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  The Department of Health said the critical care utilization rate in Central Visayas, including Cebu province, is now within "warning zone," raising the need to boost the region's capacity to respond to COVID-19 cases.

We need to monitor closely the critical care capacity in Region 7. The whole region is in warning zone, with Cebu City having higher utilization rates, the DOH said in a statement late Tuesday.

The critical care utilization rate refers to the percentage utilized out of all available mechanical ventilators and isolation beds in temporary health facilities as well as hospitals. It is a metric to determine whether a healthcare system will be overwhelmed.

A healthcare system is considered in a safe zone if less than 30 percent of the beds and ventilators are occupied, while it is in warning zone if 30 to 70 percent are utilized. On the other hand, the system faces danger if more than 70 percent of their beds and ventilators are used.

The DOH tracker showed that as of June 22, 57.7 percent of the isolation and ward beds in Central Visayas are taken, while 57.31 of the total ventilators are being utilized. In Cebu province, 62.7 percent of the beds are being used while 60.27 percent of ventilators are utilized. The DOH said that Cebu is currently ramping up its healthcare capacity, increasing its supply of beds for COVID-19 patients.

Meanwhile, in COVID-19 hotspot Cebu City, 77.7 percent of the beds in hospitals and temporary isolation facilities are occupied while 64.35 percent of the ventilators are being used. These indicators prompted the DOH to recommend that the city revert to enhanced community quarantine for 15 days, Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire has said.

According to the national government data, Central Visayas logged 6,270 COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 4,160 coronavirus infections were recorded in Cebu City.
Although most Americans have already spent their COVID-19 stimulus money on necessities, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have been dragging their feet on negotiating a second coronavirus payment. Sadly, the chances of a compromise are far from certain, the timeline is tight, and there's a good chance no second check will come from the federal government.

But that doesn't mean there's no hope for more COVID-19 money. In fact, throughout the country, some places have already begun providing additional funds for residents who need them. And more may follow suit.

More stimulus money is already available in these states

Stimulus funds have already been made available by local governments across the country, in places as diverse as Alaska and Florida.

In Orange County, Florida, for example, residents are eligible for one-time payments up to $1,000 while businesses can qualify for $10,000 grants. The county started accepting applications June 8, and the funds are available to local residents who rent or own a home in the area and who experienced a job loss or reduction in hours in their households due to COVID-19. Information and the link to apply can be found on the county's website.

Chicago is also providing stimulus money through a program called the Chicago Resiliency Fund, but these payments are limited to those who were excluded from the federal coronavirus stimulus checks. Applications will be accessible online beginning June 22, and grants of up to $1,000 will be available to qualifying city residents.

And residents of Skagway, Alaska, will get even more help from their local government after a municipal resolution established the Emergency Assistance and Economic Stimulus Program to provide monthly stimulus checks valued at $1,000 per household member (including children) for six months. Applications are available online, and eligibility is based on demonstrated need.

Both Orange County and Skagway are using funds made available by the CARES Act to provide this COVID-19 money to local residents. The CARES Act established a $150 billion relief fund that offers aid to state, local, and tribal governments. Distributing money to those in need is one of the permissible uses of these funds.

Because this federal money is available, there's a good chance that other locales could soon follow suit and pass some of it on to people in need.

Will your state provide a COVID-19 payment?

The best way to find out if your state will provide any relief is to watch your local newspaper, sign up for email alerts from your governor or other local politicians, or check with your state's health and human services department.

If more funds become available, you can use them to save or invest. Since the federal government potentially won't distribute a second round of stimulus checks even as the country enters a recession, the funds from your state or local government may be the last payment to help you through the COVID-19 crisis.
Jesus Culture's worship leader Kim Walker-Smith returns with her brand new solo album August 14. Wild Heart was recorded live at the Cascade Theater in Redding, California. In her fifth solo album, Kim Walker-Smith returns to the place she recorded Still Believe, Consumed (with Jesus Culture), and got married.

Wild Heart explores themes of life, beginning again, and returning to our First Love. The title song, "Wild Heart," expresses the jubilant love of the Father, running to meet the prodigal child. "Protector" is a powerful anthem and declaration of Who God is and His promise to never leave, nor forsake us.Kim's personal favorite is "You'll Always Be," which is a sweet melody that rides beneath lyrics that take a strong stance on Who God is in her life.

Wild Heart was recorded in one night, among a full room of people who traveled from New York, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, Washington, Idaho, and other states. This album is a collection of songs and moments that are joyful, raw, honest, and intimate.

Track Listing:

1. Stones

2. Come Through

3. Wild Heart

4. Breathing Room

5. Simple Days

6. Returning

7. You'll Always Be

8. Only You

9. Protector

10. Already Have (Bear's Song)

11. Just To Have You

12. Just Be

Kim Walker-Smith has quickly become one of the strongest voices in worship music. She is a passionate worship leader with an anointing to bring an entire generation into an encounter with God. Her heart is to see people transformed by experiencing God's love and for this generation to see themselves the way God sees them. She believes when that happens, hearts are set free. Kim is one of the worship leaders for the Jesus Culture band and serves on the Jesus Culture Senior Leadership Team. She's been with Jesus Culture since the beginning of the ministry. Her heart to serve has brought her to where she is today. Kim carries a genuine heart to see worship change the course of lives and nations. She is married to Skyler Smith and together they have their son, Wyatt.

Tags : Kim Walker-Smith kim walker-smith new album kim walker-smith news Kim Walker-Smith wild heart Jesus Culture
A witness in the trial of a man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has said he decided to give evidence because he wanted justice for the garda and his family.

Daniel Cahill (28), giving evidence today from a building in New York, denied several times that he feared he would be sent to a detention centre for people with no legal status in the USA if he did not give a statement to gardai.

He said: "I took this on myself because I have many friends who are law enforcement officers and I wanted justice done for this man, for Garda Adrian Donohoe's family." He later said that he was not giving testimony to secure his own status in America, adding: "This is for the family of Adrian Donohoe and this is for the justice system of Ireland." He said he is married to an American citizen and his status is determined by her and through the process with Homeland Security. "It is not determined by this court case," he said.

The witness also told defence counsel Justin McQuade BL that Homeland Security would not have come to his door, "If your client hadn't shot a guard." In wide ranging cross examination Mr Cahill denied being present during an assault on the accused man Aaron Brady and denied stealing his telephone.

Aaron Brady (28) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Siochana on active duty on January 25, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately e7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.

In his direct evidence last Monday Mr Cahill, a bartender, said the accused told him on three separate occasions that he shot a garda in Ireland.

Under cross examination today he told Mr McQuade that he is aware that in 2015 there was an allegation that Aaron Brady slept with a woman who was at the time going out with one of Mr Cahill's friends. Mr Cahill denied that he was one of a group of four men who entered Mr Brady's apartment while Mr Brady was asleep on St Patrick's Day 2015 and assaulted him. He said that he was working that night and there are pictures on Facebook to prove it.

He added: "I have never assaulted Aaron Brady in my life. I have never put a hand on him."

He further revealed that Homeland Security agents searched his home some years ago looking for Dean Evans, who has since been jailed for life for the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly outside the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath on March 6, 2013. Mr Cahill said that he welcomed the agents into his home and allowed them to search it. He told them he hadn't spoken to Evans in years and allowed them to check his phone. They were satisfied when they left, he said. When in July 2019 Homeland Security agents again called to his home he said they asked if he would be wiling to speak to gardai about Aaron Brady.

They told him he didn't have to and one agent, Mary Ann Wade, said Homeland Security was there to protect his rights. He said this was the only conversation he can remember having with Homeland Security at that time and said he wasn't aware that an Enforcement and Removal Operations officer was part of the team that came to his home. He denied on numerous occasions that he feared he would be sent to a detention centre if he did not give a statement about Aaron Brady.

In a brief reexamination following two days of cross examination Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution asked Mr Cahill if he had lied in his evidence. He replied: "I have not lied at all. My recollection has got me on some aspects but I have not lied."

The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of six men and seven women.
Will Pompeo drastically change the United States approach to international human rights?

Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, established an advisory panel at the State Department last year charged with reworking the United States approach to human rights.

To run it, he tapped Mary Ann Glendon, a Harvard professor and former ambassador to the Vatican known for her conservative views. And in public statements, he made clear that he was confident the panel would produce a document centered on the idea of safeguarding religious freedom  which is often used as a cudgel against calls for L.G.B.T.Q. and womens rights.

The panel is set to release its report next month. Pranshu Verma took a look into what human-rights advocates are expecting. Then he answered a few questions specifically for us.

Hi, Pranshu. First of all, set the stage for us. What role has the State Department historically played in promoting human rights around the world? Are there certain core principles that have tended to guide it in this pursuit through the years?

The State Department has been active in every major human-rights conversation since the late 1940s. The core principle it has adhered to for decades has been that all human rights are created equal. Scholars call this a universalist approach. It differs from a relativist approach, which argues some rights should be valued more than others. Proponents of a universalist approach argue there cannot be competition among human rights. The right to vote must be equally valued as the right to speech.
Days after 57 girls tested positive for coronavirus at a Kanpur shelter home, the authorities lodged a case against unknown people for misleading public by allegedly claiming that two girls there suffered from HIV and hepatitis.

A complaint in this regard was given by Kanpur Nagar District Probation Officer Ajit Kumar after which a case under various sections of the IPC, Juvenile Justice Act, Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act was registered. Kumar complained that on June 21, without any official confirmation, it was broadcasted that two girls were suffering from HIV and hepatitis.

This was an effort to malign the image of the administration and disrespect the dignity of the inmates, the official alleged.

Meanwhile, District Magistrate Brahmadev Ram Tiwari urged people not to spread rumours.

He also rejected the claim that girls got pregnant after coming to the shelter home. Five girls at the shelter were pregnant. Two other pregnant girls had tested negative for the virus.

"The news of any girl getting pregnant after coming to the shelter home is completely false. When the girls were brought to the shelter home, their medical examination was done and they were found positive. This is clearly mentioned in their medical report," he said.

Earlier on Sunday, the Kanpur district administration had clarified that the girls were pregnant at the time they came to the shelter home.

In his complaint to the police, Kumar too said the five girls were already pregnant and they (rape survivors) were linked to the POCSO cases.

He added that at the time of their entry to the shelter home, their pregnancy test was done.

These girls were pregnant before entering the shelter home," he said.
The Victorian government has requested military support to help manage its quarantine hotels, where security guards have been infected and taken the coronavirus home to their families, contributing to the state's escalating COVID-19 outbreak.

Defence officials will meet with Victorian health authorities on Wednesday afternoon to finalise details of the plan to deploy as many as 1000 military personnel on the ground in Melbourne, to assist with emergency management, planning and logistics support.

Defence officials will meet with Victorian health authorities to finalise details of the plan to deploy as many as 1000 military personnel on the ground in Melbourne. Credit:AAP

It comes after a plan to divert repatriation flights from high-risk countries away from Melbourne airport was abandoned on Tuesday night, amid federal health authorities' concerns about infection control breaches in the hotels where returned travellers are detained.

At least 33 staff members were infected with COVID-19 in Melbourne quarantine hotels and state health officials are investigating links between the workers and multiple family outbreaks. Hundreds of quarantine hotel workers have had to isolate while being tested.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 19:57:23|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian defender David Luiz has agreed to extend his contract with Arsenal, confirmed the Premier League club on Wednesday.

Luiz as well as Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares all extended their deals to stay with the London club beyond the end of this season.

"David Luiz, who signed from Chelsea last summer, has agreed a new one-year deal. Pablo will complete his formal move from Flamengo on a long-term deal when the transfer window opens next month. Cedric will also join us permanently on a long-term deal from Southampton," said Arsenal.

Luiz, 33, was sent off during Arsenal's 3-0 loss to Manchester City last Wednesday as the Premier League resumed after a suspension of more than three months due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The 26-year-old Mari from Spain suffered a significant sprain to his left ankle during the match against Manchester City and was likely to return to action in two to three months.

Portuguese Soares joined Arsenal on a six-month loan from Southampton in January but the 28-year-old made no appearance during his loan spell due to injury.

Arsenal have lost two games in a row since the restart of the Premier League and are 10th on the table with eight games remaining. They will travel to Southampton on Thursday. Enditem
Apple, Cisco and Dell products are among the goods from U.S. companies being caught up in Indias border tensions with China, as Indian ports hold up imports from China, two sources told Reuters on Wednesday. Though no government notice has been issued, customs officers at major Indian port have held back containers coming from China, seeking additional clearances, government and industry sources have said.

The move comes amid heightened tensions between India and China after border clashes last week that saw at least 20 Indian soldiers killed. The U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), a lobby group representing U.S. firms, told Indias commerce ministry in a letter dated June 23 that lack of clarity and delays could disrupt business and manufacturing operations.

Authorities have abruptly halted the clearance of industry consignments coming in from China (and perhaps other destinations) at most major ports and airports, USISPF said in the letter, seen by Reuters. This will send a chilling signal to foreign investors who look for predictability and transparency, it said. The commerce ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Two industry sources said Apple, Cisco, Dell and Ford Motor Co products were among those held up. Electronics components of Taiwans Foxconn, a contract manufacturer for Apple in India, were also affected, a third source said. It was not immediately clear which ports were holding back the goods. Apple, Cisco and Foxconn did not respond to requests for comment. A Dell spokeswoman declined to comment, while Ford said a consignment of auto parts was held up at a port in Chennai and the company was providing information sought by the authorities.

The delays come as India is restarting factory operations after a nationwide lockdown to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Indian electronics and mobile industry group ICEA said its members had been told Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi Airports would have a new examination procedure for all consignments coming from China. Normally, goods for regular importers are cleared automatically, ICEA said in a letter to the finance ministry, urging it to intervene. Indias finance ministry, which oversees the customs department, did not respond to a request for comment.
Alert readers will notice that I mentioned which president appointed each of the three judges, a practice that makes some good people uneasy. They want our justice system to work in a nonpartisan way, and so do I. But with Trump and the Republican Senate speeding up their assembly line to load the benches with conservative judges  the Senate confirmed Trumps 200th judicial appointee on Wednesday  we need to face the consequences of what theyre doing. And in the Flynn case, its very hard not to see the decision as partisan.
Events are related to the sit-in protest called by a group of women in UP's Azamgarh district to protest against CAA and NRC. The FIR contradicts Rashadis version. Dubbing the protesters 'rioters', the FIR said that in spite of warning them about the Section 144, which prohibits gathering of more than 3 people, they did not withdraw the protest.

On 4 February earlier this year at around 5 in the evening, Tahir Madni was trying to defuse a protest on behalf of the police. Twenty-four hours later, he was accused of inciting the same protest and was arrested on charges of sedition.

Women in the small town of Bilariyaganj in Uttar Pradeshs Azamgarh district were staging a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), which critics of the current BJP government have slammed as discriminatory against Indian Muslims. It was a sit-in inspired by Shaheen Bagh in Delhi.

At the time, Madni, the general secretary of Rashtriya Ulema Council, had been attending a meeting in Azamgarh town  15 kilometers from Bilariyaganj. "The protest started in the morning," he said, "I got a call from the police as well as the District Magistrate (DM) in the afternoon. They requested me to convince the protesters to withdraw the agitation."

Sixty-two-year-old Madni, who teaches about 5,000 kids at a madrasa in Bilariyaganj, is one of the respected residents from the town. After he reached the protest site on the evening of 4 February, he tried to pacify the protesters but the women refused to leave. "They said it is a peaceful protest that does not block any road neither does it cause any inconvenience," Madni recollected, "They wanted to exercise their democratic right to protest."

But the administration wasnt convinced. More officials arrived at the site as the evening unfolded. "At 11.45 pm, even the DM came to the spot. I appealed to the protesters again, but they did not budge," said Madni.

Soon after, Madni was detained by the police along with two other youngsters, who had been helping the 62-year-old negotiate with the protesting women. "They took us to another block and accused me of being the organiser of the protest, said Madni. The police said that is the feedback they have received. I flatly denied it since I had nothing to do with the protest.

According to Madni, the district magistrate asked him to take a last shot at convincing the protesters. At 3 am, Madni, who has survived an open-heart surgery, returned to the site again to speak to the protesters. "I told the women I have been detained, and that I am a heart patient. I further said that the situation is sensitive, and requested them to go home. The women understood. They said it is just two hours for the morning namaaz. 'We would offer our prayers and go home', they told me," Madni added.

After getting back to the police and the administration, Madni told them it was just a matter of two hours. However, the protest ended up being quelled with force before sunrise.

The police and the protesters have completely different versions of how the night unfolded.

Police version of the event

The next afternoon, on 5 February, Bilariyaganj police station filed a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the violence at the site of the protest and named 35 Muslims. The first name was Madnis.

According to the FIR, 35 of those mentioned, including Madni, led the protest, and put up women and kids at the forefront of their conspiracy. The protestors carried sticks, rods, bricks and stones, the FIR, which was filed by a cop, claimed. They chanted anti-government and anti-national slogans. They said unspeakable things against Hindu religion, and abused the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, while sloganeering against CAA and NRC.

The anti-national slogans cited in the FIR are the azaadi chants popularised by JNUs Kanhaiya Kumar. Talha Rashadi, the lawyer representing the accused, said these slogans were being chanted all over the country. How does it become seditious in Uttar Pradesh? he asked and said that the protesters were peaceful.

The FIR contradicts Rashadis version. Dubbing the protesters 'rioters', the FIR said that in spite of warning them about the Section 144, which prohibits gathering of more than 3 people, they did not withdraw the protest.

"They started blocking the road, which even caused inconvenience to ambulances, jeopardising lives of patients. They created an atmosphere of terror and chaos, which could have led to a communal riot. The protestors attacked police with stones and rods, and the police had to fire tear gas in retaliation," the FIR claimed.

The FIR names Madni as the one leading the protests and goading the protesters. However, there are videos and photos of him appealing to the protesters while standing alongside the police and administration. "They first sought my help," said Madni, "And later framed me."

When contacted for a comment, the station officer at the Bilariyaganj police station said that Raunapar police is handling the investigations. The station officer at Raunapar Police Station, Naval Kishor Singh, said, I have just arrived here on a transfer. But why would police call Madni to stop the protest? Nobody helped the police that day.

The police arrested Madni on 5 February, with 18 others, and slapped them with 19 charges under the IPC. Among them were sedition, rioting and attempt to murder. The claims are repeated in the chargesheet filed in the first week of May.

'Charges are fabricated'

A woman, who was part of the protest at Bilariyagan, said the charges are fabricated. Why would a bunch of women attack an armed police force that had encircled the park where we were protesting? she asked, requesting anonymity. The police attacked us with tear gas and lathis, which led to chaos. When the men in the vicinity arrived out of concern for the women, the police beat them up as well."

The woman said the police harassed them through the day, and then attacked at night. Police are supposed to protect us or threaten us? They threatened to beat us up. When some of the men in the area offered water and food to us, the police ensured we didnt get that either," she further added.

According to her, Madni had nothing to do with what they had organised. It was completely led by women, she said. It is unfair to assume that men were the brain behind it. And Madni sahib had been asking us to withdraw the protest.

Rashadi said that a loophole in the police investigation is that they arrested 19 men while cracking down on a peaceful protest led by women, which exposes the fallacy of the FIR filed by the police. They have picked up random people and arrested them, he said. Two of them were minors. They spent months in adult prison.

Station officer Naval Kishor Singh, however, denied the allegation and said, I dont know about any minor being arrested.

Meanwhile, the elder brother of one of the minors told Firstpost that the police picked him up while he was on his way to work early morning. They even took the cash he had on him, he said. When I approached the police with his mark sheet, they threatened to jail me as well. We have been extremely worried for him. Our mother wouldnt stop crying. We come from a poor family. He works at a hotel and I am a driver.

The brother said the atmosphere at home was gloomy because of this during Eid. We had sent him a pair of new clothes and sewaiyyan for Eid while he was in prison. We asked him about it after he got bail, but he said he didnt get anything," the elder brother said.

The minor received bail in the first week of June. In other words, he spent four months in an adult prison. The Allahabad High Court, citing Madnis bail on 15 May, said the minor has been languishing in jail since 5 February. He deserves bail on ground of parity. Of the 19, 15 received bail by 21 June. On 24 June, the remaining four were released too.

However, they are unsure of their future after this. "I have been a law-abiding citizen," said Madni. "I have lived in Bilariyaganj all my life, and I have always had amiable relations with police and administration."

In fact, Madni had planned an anti-CAA protest on 23 December, 2019. He had written to the administration asking permission for the same. But they said the atmosphere is sensitive, so I postponed it to 4 January," Madni said. "When that date approached, they asked me to postpone it again and I complied. I had no intention of going ahead with the protest without proper permission. I did not instigate anyone. It is against my beliefs. I hope truth prevails."
S Godson Wisely Dass By

Express News Service

THOOTHUKUDI: Following the military standoff and deadly clash at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the eastern Ladakh region, Chinese consignments imported toThoothukudi VO Chidambaranar port are allegedly being stocked at various Container Freight Stations (CFS) without customs clearance. The violence along the borders had triggered Boycott Chinese Products' campaigns in the country.

Sources said that the Chinese consignments are being verified intensely for product details, consignee details and valid documents before being checked in. The customs department had stopped issuing clearances from Monday midnight onwards, said reliable sources, adding that the consignments are subjected to 100 percent check instead of random check.

Chinese imports amount to at least 30 percent of the goods handled at Thoothukudi VOC port. The Chinese products include household goods, cutleries, toys, furniture, chemicals, electronic gadgets and others are. The Chinese consignments reach Colombo port through various ships and from there it will be shifted to VOC port through feeder vessels.

Customs department is supposed to examine the cargo for legality and issue Out of Custom Charge (OCC) for allowing to move the cargo from CFS to its destination.

A customs broker said that the Chinese consignment he transported washeld up at a private CFS in the outskirts of Thoothukudi.A CFS official also confirmed that Chinese goods did not move out of CFS on Tuesday.

Thoothukudi custom brokers association members confirmed that there is inordinate delay in issuing clearance for Chinese consignments. The customs department had raised many queries for validating the documents for each consignment, he said. Similar constraints prevailed in Chennai ports as well, said customs agents.

When asked, a senior Customs official told TNIE that neither he was instructed to hold back Chinese goods nor he received any complaint from the clients. However, he could not comment further on this, he said.

David Raja, Convenor (Logistic) of Thoothukudi chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) told TNIE that the Chinese goods are being held up at CFS without OCC from the customs department. Being an industrialist, Raja said India is importing hundreds of products from China that can be manufactured domestically. The union government might assess the Chinese imports on that line as India suffers trade deficit with China with the larger imports compared to exports, he said.

Industrialists noted that there were talks about reducing the imports from China. It was taken forward during the economic crisis, and it has come to the fore after the Chinese violence killing 20 Indian soldiers at the eastern Ladakh Region.

The union government was working to increase import duties on at least 300 Chinese products in a bid to promote domestic business, said another industrialist.
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You know what, were back, said Los Angeles retail real estate impresario Rick Caruso, surveying the smaller-than-usual but not insignificant crowd on a recent weekday afternoon at The Grove, which reopened June 10. Were back, he repeated for emphasis, eyes gazing out at his kingdom over a businesslike black face mask, while sitting at an outdoor table at a sushi restaurant.

Since 2002, The Grove has been a center for a city without one, drawing more visitors annually than Disneyland, who flock to the open-air shopping area and faux Main Street with dancing fountain and an old-time trolley ride, where fireworks blaze on the Fourth of July and it snows in sunny California at Christmastime.

More from WWD

After closing in March because of the coronavirus, The Grove was due to reopen June 1, but the plan was scrapped May 30 when the Black Lives Matter protest arrived on its doorstep. It was scary, scary to watchand anguishing, said the civic-minded billionaire, who was a two-term president of the Los Angeles Police Commission from 2001 to 2005 and is serving on economic recovery task forces for both California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the White House.

The historic twin challenges of the pandemic and the call for racial equality have renewed Carusos interest in politics and hes hinted at a run for mayor in 2022. We are a nation called to duty, he posted in a public letter to Angelenos about George Floyds killing, pledging to speak up to leaders who need to be held accountable, and recommit to his foundations philanthropic work with Operation Progress and SCS Noonan Scholars to deliver high-quality education to children in Watts and South Los Angeles.

In response to COVID-19, Caruso has enacted a stringent Health & Safety Standards policy at his properties overseen by an epidemiologist at USCs Keck School of Medicine, and he is optimistic that The Grove and his other open-air centers, including Palisades Village and Americana at The Brand in Glendale, as well as his first hotel, the Rosewood Miramar Beach up the coast in Montecito, are indeed back for good.

Story continues

At The Grove, the movie theater has yet to open; the trolley is grounded, and valet parking is unavailable. But there are other things on offer  like face masks (theyre mandatory in California) and hand sanitizer distributed by physical distancing ambassadors stationed around the property. (Community builder Caruso prefers physical distancing over social distancing.) Restaurants are open for (sparsely crowded) outdoor dining with the occasional temperature check, and while there arent any live family concerts yet, there are physically distant circles for sitting on the grass and enjoying a Cronut or Sprinkles cupcake.

Some retail tenants may be on more tenuous footing than others (J. Crew, for one), but Lululemon just moved in, and construction is under way for a still-under-wraps store next to Nordstrom. There werent a ton of shopping bags on a recent afternoon, but there was a 20-plus person line to get into the Nike store and plenty of selfie-taking going on in front of the famed fountain.

Caruso sat down with WWD to discuss his reopening strategy, retail formula and his outlook for an economic recovery, which he said will require an alignment between Wall Street and Main Street.

WWD: How has it been going?

Rick Caruso: All of the properties have really bounced back very quickly. I was out at Palisades yesterday, it was very busy. Americana has been very busy, so its good.

WWD: There is no trolley and no valet, but you have some new touchpoints.

R.C.: We have ambassadors who will gently and nicely let people know you need to be distant. Theyre walking around. And we have extensive cleaning protocols, and hand sanitizer everywhere. If you dont have a mask, we have masks for you. Our first obligation is to keep everyone as safe as we can, we want everyone to feel welcome and safe. And I think people are going to go where they feel that way.

WWD: As part of your new protocols, you teamed up with a doctor from USCs Keck School of Medicine. Do you think thats the way to go now for property owners and retailers, to enlist some branded medical expertise?

R.C.: One hundred percent. We also hired a full-time registered nurse in infectious disease and all that R.N. is doing is working with our cleaning crews, making sure the protocols are followed. She travels around to all the properties, including the hotel. I dont think that changes, even when the virus goes away or there is a vaccine or therapeutic, this whole idea that we care about you and are going to keep you safe and clean is critically important. We own our own restaurants, and at the hotel, when you put your head on the pillow, we want you to know youre safe.

WWD: What can retailers do to encourage people to come back to stores again?

R.C.: They have to reinforce their stores are safe that they have cleaning protocols. All the things were doing, our stores have been doing the same. You see we have lines outside Nike, Nordstrom is very busy. The Grove, all of our properties were fortunate to have a great loyalty to them so people are going to return. Second to being safe, they have to be relevant. A lot of these retailers have taken the time to reinvent themselves, theyve gotten better online, they have to deliver to stores and pick up in stores. All of that stuff is important and I dont think any of it is going away. Omnichannel is an important way to do business.

WWD: How have retail sales been at the properties since they opened?

R.C.: Conversion has been very high. People who are showing up are showing up with a mission in mind. The mission is to shop.

WWD: Are all of the tenants paying their rent?

R.C.: The smaller tenants and restaurateurs we have given a lot of relief to and support and we want to continue to do that. We will continue to support them until they get back in business. The larger tenants who have the wherewithal and capital to pay, we expect to be paid. But our collections have gone up dramatically, so we are doing well.

WWD: Is there anyone you will have to kick out?

R.C.: There may be but Im hoping not. Were different because were not trying to operate a 2 million-square-foot indoor mall. Were outdoors and people want to be outdoors.The sunshine is a natural disinfectant so it gives people comfort to be here anyway, and our properties are 700,000 square feet and they are all best-in-class retailers. Are there a few in-pain points, like J. Crew, yes, but they also didnt reject these leases because they know if they are going to come back, this is going to be a high likelihood where they will do well. So I think we are going to lose a couple of tenants unfortunately, but we have demand for space, were actually signing new leases. We just signed four new leases between here and Americana, so Im optimistic.

WWD: Palisades Village is an even smaller, more elevated and locally tailored experience, with Elyse Walker Towne, A.L.C., Jennifer Meyer and several other first-time retailers. Is that approach still going to be relevant in the new world?

R.C.: More relevant than ever. The Palisades has gained the most momentum because you have the support of the local community and now more than ever people want to stay pretty close to home. But what were also seeing in the last week is the zip codes that are coming into shop at the Palisades have expanded. So the smaller nature of it  its charming, its safe and feels comfortable, weve got great retail and fashion  thats really resonating. So were pulling a lot from Beverly Hills, Bel Air, were getting Calabasas. Its a pretty significant draw.

WWD: So overall, since you opened in 2018, its performed up to what you expected?

R.C.: Oh yeah, we were on an enormous trajectory until we stopped, but we have retailers there now that are already back to pre-closure levels.

WWD: Like who?

R.C.: Elyse Walker Towne, there are about three or four that are back. And the restaurants, Blue Ribbon Sushi and Hanks, are back to where they were.

WWD: There was a rumor that you gave incentives, lower rent or free rent to some tenants, to move in.

R.C.: Weve never given free rent to anybody in my career, we never would!

WWD: Do you see the potential to replicate the Palisades model in other places?

R.C.: Yes, and that was always designed to be a new format, a little more forward-thinking, smaller stores. Its worked as designed better than expected and we want to do more. We just need to find the locations where we can do it.

WWD: Its not promoting elitism in a city thats been accused of having an elitist problem?

R.C.: The beauty of our projects, no matter where they are located, is they are open to everybody. We dont put turnstiles on them. You look here and the Palisades, its every race, creed and economic status. Not at all. Were probably the most democratic of anybody.

WWD: You could see replicating it in other neighborhoods of Los Angeles that are not on the West Side?

R.C.: Oh yeah, absolutely.

WWD: What was it like to have the Black Lives Matter protests come to The Grove?

R.C.: It was scary, and it was scary to watch, and anguishing, Im grateful it wasnt worse. We lost seven storefronts; our team did an amazing job and had everything repaired in a matter of days. Everything pristine as you can see in a matter of days. But my anger was more about what happened around us, because I am a big proponent of small business, and all of these small businesses on Fairfax, Beverly, Melrose, they had been closed for 10 weeks. It was the first weekend they could come back and open their stores. They were fully stocked up. And the fact that the city didnt protect them, that there was so much looting and devastation, that really bothered me because all of our properties are part of a broader community and thats what we take pride in. We want to be part of the fabric of the community where you dont know where The Grove begins and ends, so to have our neighbors in that much pain was troubling. And I shared that frustration to the local authorities and I felt they failed us.

WWD: Do you think the LAPD should have handled it differently?

R.C.: I think the police were hampered by the local leaders. I know the LAPD, and I dont know what the standing orders were and whatnot, but I think the local leaders are the ones accountable for it, whether they are the elected or appointed officials. It was tough to watch, especially being a former police commissioner. It was tough to watch.

WWD: Were you here that day?

R.C.: We had a family weekend away, and probably the hidden blessing in that I was limited to CNN, I couldnt get a local station. So I wasnt watching the local news as it was happening. I probably would have been more frustrated, so I was getting reports over my phone and watching it on CNN.

WWD: The National Guard was stationed here for a while afterward. Did you request that?

R.C.: That was organized by the police, those were located where they thought there were flashpoints. What I learned is the National Guard comes in where there has already been destruction. So they were here at the Farmers Market, which had a lot of graffiti and looting. I was glad to see them here, though. I think they were calming to the local community and a deterrent to people looking to do something bad.

WWD: What can we do to bring communities together and end police brutality?

R.C.: We have to acknowledge racism is systemic, its been part of our society and its wrong and we have to call it out. And we need to get some leaders together who are really smart and really care and create some unity. Its not just about  and listen, there needs to be more police reform and there should be. The LAPD is a very good department, and we need to quickly root out where theres bad cops. But we need to help the communities hurting the most, the underprivileged communities, we need to invest in them and give them opportunity, they need to have better education and health care. I dedicated my time and resources to education in the Black and Latino communities. We need to do more than that. There shouldnt be so much of a difference between being here and being 20 minutes away, its just not right. We just have to acknowledge it and figure out ways to have everyone working together.

WWD: Do you have ideas about how you could incorporate businesses owned by people of color or businesses from other parts of the city into your properties?

R.C.: Were very open to that. Im a big proponent of small business, so Im very into that. If you take a look at all of our properties, we get small businesses from every community. And we want to do more of that.

WWD: What should business in general be doing about fixing systemic racism?

R.C.: We should all get our hands a little dirty, support local businesses, families and schools. And Im not talking about with just money, money is great, but actually go down and work there. Me and my family go to the schools, work with the kids, get to know the families. Walk around and see what the living conditions are like. Its bad, its very tough. We first have to gain knowledge and insight, open our minds and our hearts, understand how people are suffering and how they have been struggling. If you see it with your own eyes, it will change you. You will become a better person. Im not trying to be holier than thou, but for me, its changed my life. I cant imagine what they live with every day, and through that struggle how so many of these young kids take off and succeed. We have 80 kids in college out of the projects at Watts, Im talking about MIT, Harvard, Columbia, so we need to give people opportunity, an equal platform.

WWD: Whats your outlook for economic recovery?

R.C.: I think we are going to have a bumpy 2020, a bumpy 2021, who knows what will happen with the politics with the elected officials, so that will be up in the air. But I think there is a lot of optimism, and a lot of consumer confidence. I think if businesses readjust and retool and meet the customer where and how they want to be met, they are going to be mightily rewarded. Through that, the economy is going to come back. There has to be an alignment between Wall Street and Main Street. Wall Street cant continue to do well unless Main Street does well, because every one of these small shops, they are buying product from somebody, getting deliveries from UPS, that fuels their business, so the more we can get alignment, the economy will go back again.

WWD: How do you build those bridges?

R.C.: You have to get larger businesses that are dependent on smaller ones to have programs to support them. Just like we did. We leaned in, we said to small businesses, dont worry about rent, build your business back up, reach out to your customers, and its happening. The patios have people on them. UPS could say, if youre a small business, were going to give you a 75 percent discount the next 90 days. The better your customers are doing, the better you are going to do.

WWD: Will luxury will be slower to recover?

R.C.: I think there are still people who will want luxury. I do think there is probably a bit of a shift in everybodys mind on priorities. We have all lived through this pandemic where there is a silent killer and you know people who have got sick or died, and it does readjust your priorities quickly. But I dont think luxury is going away. Human nature is people will want some nice things. All the boats will rise in the tide.

WWD: How do you keep the community sense that your properties are known for, in a time when people have to be distant?

R.C.: You set out rules that make sense from a science standpoint, so everyone understands it and is respectful. You also have to believe in people self-regulating. We need human contact, fellowship and conversation. And you have to create beautiful spaces; it doesnt happen overnight.

WWD: How do you rate the response to the economic crisis?

R.C.: Gavin [Newsom] is doing a good job. But he has a very tough task ahead of him  hes going to have a massive budget deficit. The federal government, especially the Treasury, the federal support thats been out there financially, has been good. Its been a savior. The small business loans have really kept the economy going. The amount of money the Treasury has put into the economy has stabilized the economy.

WWD: Do you think that needs to keep going and not stop now?

R.C.: Yes, absolutely.

WWD: Has this crisis moment made you think seriously about entering politics?

R.C.: Right now, my focus is on getting the properties opened up, and getting the neighborhoods around us supported. I want to lean into Operation Progress and what we do in the inner city, thats my focus. The election is a couple of years away, so Ive got time.

WWD: What are your benchmarks for evaluating how your business is recovering?

R.C.: Our little micro-set is going to be the performance of our properties. We have been open a week, the numbers are better than I expected. If that continues, it will be a positive sign.

WWD: Can you share any numbers?

R.C.: No.

WWD: What has warmed your heart?

R.C.: Honestly, this does. Its a good crowd here. Like Elyse Walker getting back to her numbers, the restaurants getting back. Thats a positive sign. Weve created and have an atmosphere that gives people the opportunity to come back. We have a platform that motivates people to come out and thats what you need right now, because all of us are still a little scared, right? You hear bad news every day, you come here, there is no bad news. Thats why people come here!

WWD: Do you think fashion will have a harder time bouncing back?

R.C.: I think technology will continue to take off, because were all dependent on it, so are the Apples and Samsungs. Home improvement is doing well. The biggest issue for fashion or any store is are you relevant to your customer? Or are you a disconnect that people dont think about? Then you have to reinvent yourself.

WWD: Do you see a day when there might not be a J. Crew or Gap at The Grove?

R.C.: Gap is super productive, we just got their numbers. This is a really big store for them, at The Grove, and it bounced back quickly. J. Crew, historically I have loved that brand, I was a massive fan and still am of Mickey Drexler. But they have to reinvent themselves. It just depends with innovation and ingenuity if they can connect with the customer again. They had it once, Im sure they can do it again.

WWD: I heard the rates at your hotel in Montecito are higher than they were the last time last year, and youre almost at full occupancy.

R.C.: Its off the charts. You have a beautiful resort on a beautiful beach thats an hour and a half away from millions of people. Right now, and this isnt going to change for a long time, people want to get in their car and drive and not go to an airport, not get on a plane, not hassle traveling and were booked. Were slammed and actually hiring more people because we are so busy up there. The spa is not open, but the pool, the beaches, bar and restaurants are open. The trick up there is God created a beautiful set, our team did an incredible job designing it and its all outdoors. You dont have to share a corridor or elevator, you walk straight to your room, you are standing on that beach and watch the sunset, its pretty glorious.

WWD: Do you see more of a merging of hospitality and retail in the future?

R.C.: Absolutely, and we have been doing that for years.
People stand in line for a temperature check outside an office building. SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty Images

As many U.S. cities and states begin to enter phases 2 and 3 of coronavirus reopenings, employees around the country are wondering when their office will call them back. With building concerns about a second wave of infections and uncertain progress on a potential Covid-19 vaccine, most large employers have not formally disclosed when, if at all, they plan to bring their employees back from remote work. But there is reason for many workers to be pegging an office return to September. Recent surveys of senior executives conducted by CNBC indicate that many companies expect 50% of their employees or more to be coming back to workplaces in September. Just about three-fourths (74%) of executives holding senior technology positions at firms across various sectors of the economy say that at least 50%, it not more, of their firm's workers are currently working remote. But that is expected to change after the summer. A little over half (52%) of respondents to a recent CNBC Technology Executive Council survey indicated that less than half of their workers would be remote after Sept. 1. Approximately what percentage of your organization's workforce do you anticipate will be working remotely on Sept. 1? (CNBC Technology Executive Council survey, June 2020)

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Many senior technology executives in top positions at firms across a variety of sectors of the economy expect the percentage of their workforce still performing jobs remotely to be under 50% by September. CNBC Technology Executive Council Q2 2020 Survey.

Twenty-five of the 146 members of the CNBC Technology Executive Council responded to this survey, which was conducted from June 315, 2020. The coming shift back to the office for many workers was also indicated by chief financial officers in a May survey of the CNBC Global CFO Council. A majority of workforces (at least 75%) were remote, according to North American respondents to the CFO survey. But that is expected to drop below 50% by September, among North American-based firms. About one-third (34%) of global CFOs taking the survey said they expect that less than a quarter of their workforce will still be working remotely as of September. Approximately what percentage of your organization's workforce do you anticipate will be working remotely on Sept. 1? (CNBC Global CFO Council, May 2020)

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards U.S.-based CFOs, as well as their global counterparts, also expect a significant workforce shift away from remote and back to the office in September. CNBC Global CFO Council Survey, Q2 2020

The CNBC Global CFO Council survey was conducted May 1428, 2020, and included responses from 41 of the 130 global members. Some workers will never be coming back. Major technology companies, including Twitter, Facebook and Google, have told employees they can work from home until the end of 2020. In some cases, that may become forever or, in the least, result in companies having 50% of their employees remote over the next decade. "They wouldn't be doing that if they didn't have good data that people are being productive and still getting their work done diligently at home," said Andrew Challenger, senior vice president of firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a firm that works with companies on workforce issues. The CNBC Technology Executive Council survey found that only 10% of respondents said workplace productivity had declined during the migration to majority remote work. Forty-eight percent of survey takers said their team's productivity was higher, while 40% said it was about the same as before the pandemic. Employers may not be in a rush to bring all workers back with productivity not suffering and many workers working harder and longer hours from home, according to the survey. There are also indications from additional survey work that firms are still planning layoffs in the coming months.

While some manufacturing operations never closed, or closed only briefly, essential employees across industries are now coming back in the professional sector. Investment banks such as Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan are bringing traders back to New York City offices in June. CNN started bringing some workers back in June and said another phase of returning workers would come in early September. But its president, Jeff Zucker, said in a late May memo to employees, "We expect that the majority of you will not be able to return to our offices this calendar year." Tom Gimbel, founder and CEO of the recruiting and staffing firm LaSalle Network, said that bringing employees back to the office will depend on several factors, including a potential second spike of coronavirus cases, the correlation between company profits and flexibility, and the unemployment rate. Gimbel expects many companies to offer an optional return date. "The advice I've seen a lot of people give is give a voluntary return date and ease people back into it so that post-Labor Day, mandatory return to work won't be that much of a mental obstacle." Companies may also need to be flexible with returning workers based on child-care needs, with the potential for schools to reopen in the fall with staggered schedules and students attending on alternating days or weeks. While not for a majority of jobs in the U.S., there are many positions that can be performed remotely as a permanent position. "Thirty-five percent to 40% of all jobs in the country can be done from home, so the pool of people that are going to continue to work from home is certainly going to be much larger than before the pandemic," Challenger said.
Wood material producers in Vietnam are able to turn out 8.4 million cubic meters of plywood per year, which is four times higher than the countrys current plywood exports, a fact that may help Hanoi dismiss Washington's accusations of circumventing U.S. duties on plywood imports.

The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV) said the Ministry of Industry and Trade had worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, wood exporters, and trade associations to draw up a plan in response to a possible U.S. probe even before the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) initiated the circumvention inquiry on hardwood plywood.

On June 10, the DOC said it would examine whether hardwood plywood imports completed in Vietnam using Chinese components are circumventing U.S. antidumping and countervailing duties on imports from China, a move that could see similar duties on Vietnamese imports.

The U.S. regulator added it was initiating the inquiry in response to requests from the Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, which represents plywood makers in North Carolina and Oregon.

Domestic raw wood is enough for the production of around 8.4 million cubic meters of plywood annually. Last year, the Southeast Asian nation shipped about 2.5 million cubic meters of plywood overseas.

The TRAV said Vietnamese wood producers are capable of providing plywood plants with sufficient raw wood.

The authority cited the views of the U.S. regulator that Vietnamese products that are made from raw materials available in Vietnam, or imported from countries other than China, will be subject to a declaration system which exempts Vietnamese producers from measures to counter tax evasion.

U.S. authorities are expected to send a questionnaire to relevant wood exporters in Vietnam, asking them for additional information, according to the TRAV.

The DOC will take five factors into account to determine whether the manufacturing, assembly or completion of finished products in a country has evaded trade duties.

The first four factors include the investment scale of producers and exporters, their investment in product research and development, the manufacturing process in exporting countries, and the scale of manufacturing facilities in exporting countries.

The final factor involves the added value of finished products created in exporting countries before being shipped to the United States.

If the DOC determines that Vietnamese plywood is circumventing existing duties on Chinese products, the United States will impose duties on future imports and on any unliquidated entries since the launch of the investigation.

In 2017, the U.S. International Trade Commission found that hardwood plywood imports from China, used in wall panels, kitchen cabinets, table and desk tops, and flooring, harm U.S. producers, deciding to lock in U.S. duties on hardwood plywood imports for five years, according to Reuters.

The DOC imposed an anti-dumping duty of 183.6 percent and anti-subsidy duties ranging up to 194.9 percent on Chinese imports of hardwood plywood after finding they were being subsidized and dumped in U.S. markets.

Last year, U.S. imports of Vietnamese hardwood plywood were worth around US$300 million.

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The trader's body expressed hope that Ambani would give a clarion call to promote Indian goods

Traders' body CAIT on Wednesday wrote to Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani and 50 other captains of India Inc. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Traders' body CAIT on Wednesday wrote to Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani and 50 other captains of India Inc including Ratan Tata, Azim Premji, Gautam Adani, Ajay Piramal, Anand Mahindra and Sunil Bharti Mittal seeking their support in its campaign to boycott Chinese goods.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) also urged Kumar Mangalam Birla, Vikram Kirloskar, Rahul Bajaj, Shiv Nadar, Pallonji Mistry, Uday Kotak, Nusli Wadia, Shashi Ruia, Madhukar Parekh, Harsh Mariwala, Satish Reddy and Pankaj Patel, among other prominent industrialists, to join its "Bhartiya Samaan-Humaara Abhimaan" campaign.

The traders' body in the letter to Ambani said "at a time when China's army in the most clandestine manner has committed a barbaric attack on the Indian army at Ladakh border resulting into the brutal killing of 20 brave sons of the country, the heart of every Indian is filled with deep anguish, resentment and abhorrence against the atrocities of the Chinese and their persistent attitude of antagonism towards India".

It said the there is a firm resolve among Indians to hit back at China not only militarily but also economically.

"You and your organisation has always stood firmly in solidarity and support of the nation and this could be a great opportunity for you to show that nothing comes before nation and your support and initiative will surely encourage other Industrialists of the country to follow you in order to make India a self-dependent Bharat," CAIT said to Ambani.

The trader's body expressed hope that Ambani would give a clarion call to promote Indian goods.

"Your positive decision could be a big boost for the campaign and a great service to the Soldiers who have laid down their lives for their motherland," CAIT said to Ambani.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that being a successful entrepreneur and one of the captains of Indian Industry, it has invited the group of Industrialists led by Ambani to join the movement as a valued partner and sought their support, terming it a "game changing initiative that has the potential to reshape India's journey as a global superpower by reducing China's dominance".

CAIT has decided to boycott Chinese Goods in a phased manner and for the first phase it has earmarked "finished goods" from an identified list of about 450 broad categories of products which nearly has more than 3,000 products and those products are already been manufactured in India.

In the meantime, it will be pursuing the government to draw a comprehensive strategy to facilitate Indian Industry, small industry, entrepreneurs, startups and others to evolve and manufacture goods in India pertaining to raw material, spare parts and technology driven goods, which are currently being imported from China.
Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, the company promoted by yoga guru Ramdev, did not mention it was developing a drug for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) while applying for a license, an official of the Uttarakhand government said, news agency ANI reported on Wednesday.

Hours after Ramdev launched the drugs, the government on Tuesday sought clarification from Patanjali over its claim of having developed a cure for Covid-19 and asked it to stop advertising the product until the claim is verified.

The Centre also asked the Uttarakhand government for details of Patanjalis new drugsCoronil and Swasari.

ALSO WATCH | Coronil and Swasari: Ramdevs Covid medicines available at Rs 545 for 30 days

The Uttarakhand government, which is the state licensing authority for the Haridwar-based Patanjali, approved the manufacturing and marketing for the drugs.

As per Patanjalis application, we issued them a license. They didnt mention coronavirus. We only approved the license for immunity booster, cough and fever, a licencing officer of the states Ayurveda department was quoted as saying by ANI.

We will issue them a notice asking how they got permission to make the kit (for Covid-19), the official added.

The ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) said in a statement on Tuesday that it has requested the licensing authority of Uttarakhand government to provide copies of the license and product approval details of the Ayurvedic medicines being claimed for the treatment of Covid-19.

Patanjali had claimed that the drugs have been made in association with the privately-owned National Institute of Medical Science (NIMS) in Jaipur.

It also claimed the medicines cleared a clinical trial in several cities including Delhi, Ahmedabad and Meerut and that the Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) controlled with placebo at NIMS. However, it did not release any clinical testing data.

Earlier in the day, AYUSH minister Shripad Naik said that Patanjalis drugs will be given a go-ahead only after the government looks into the report sent by the company.

Its a good thing that Baba Ramdev has given a new medicine to the country but as per rule, it has to come to AYUSH ministry first, Naik said, according to ANI.

They even said that they have sent a report. Well look into it and permission will be given after seeing the report, Naik added.
How much is a person's life worth? For some, its only $60 worth of four phone chargers in a Target store.

Florida inmate killed in prison for doing this crime

In 2018, a man in Florida was arrested for robbery using a deadly weapon after caught stealing four sets of phone chargers in a Target store.

The man, identified as 51-year-old Christopher Howell of Palm Beach County, admitted pointing a knife on the store's security guard after he was caught stealing the items.

He first walked out of a Home Depot store and stole a new folding knife. After this, Howell tried to steal some more and went inside of a Target store wherein he stole the chargers. When the guard sees him walking out without trying to pay for the items, the guard immediately approaches the man.

At first, he gave up the two sets of phone chargers. But when he was pressed to give out all the items he stole, Howell already felt the need to fight against the guard, and pointed a knife at him, to let him go.

The estimated amount of the four phone chargers ranges at $60, making it $15 each. The ruling of his case charged him with a four-year sentence in prison due to the deadly weapon used at the guard.

Then this happens...

Howell was already on the halfway of his sentence and scheduled to be released on June 3, 2022. However, this did not happen.

The inmate, according to Fox News, was beaten to death in prison by a corrections officer while being handcuffed after refusing a command. Other police officers in the scene did not stop the said crime and only watched the incident.

Miami Herald reported that officials from the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) will not release the details about the death of the inmate.

They only said that this case was "an isolated incident occurred involving a use of force."

Sources also told that Howell suffers from a broken neck. After he was done beating, other officers went to revive him but failed to do so.

The organization wants officers to be punished

It was reported that due to the misdemeanor acts of the correction officer that killed Howell, organizations planned to demonstrate outside of State Attorney Brad King's office, whose jurisdiction includes Lake County, in order to serve some justice with the death of the inmate.

"These brutal attacks must stop in our Florida Correctional Institutions," Hart, D-Tampa, said in a statement. "This is not the first time the use of force has caused injury or death to inmates at this facility."

ALSO READ: You're Charging Your Smartphone The Wrong Way: 7 Charging Mistakes That Affect Battery Life

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A new species of velvet spider has been named after actor and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix for his role in the 2019 film 'Joker.'

The creature was discovered in Iran and given its name due to the male's abdominal pattern that resembles the famous facial makeup worn by Phoenix in the movie.

Named Loureedia phoenixi, the spider has black thin hair on the majority of its body with a bright red line down its back and white spots at each tip.

All other species of velvet spiders have been located in Morocco and Spain to Israel, this newly discovered one is the first found living outside of the Mediterranean.

The spider was discovered in Iran and given its name due to male's abdominal pattern that resembles the famous facial makeup worn by Phoenix in the movie. Named Loureedia phoenixi, the spider has black thin hair on the majority of its body with a bright red line down its back and white spots at each tip

Velvet spiders are typically found in Eurasia and parts of Africa.

Their hair is glossy and thick, which earned them the name 'velvet,' and their webs are usually cluttered with debris and sand.

The velvet spider is not likely to be venomous for humans, but it may have some venom, potent for killing insects.

Alireza Zamani, an arachnologist and taxonomist, told DailyMail.com: 'Many groups of velvet spiders exhibit sexual dimorphism, resulting in the smaller size and more colorful general appearance of the male.

All other species of velvet spiders have been located in Morocco and Spain to Israel, this newly discovered one is the first found living outside of the Mediterranean

The velvet spider is not likely to be venomous for humans, but it may have some venom, potent for killing insects

'Also, some other groups of velvet spiders are very interesting ethologically e.g. suicidal maternal care, cooperation in in building communal nests and brood care.'

Zamani and his team discovered two male species of the Loureedia phoenixi in Alborz Province of Iran.

'Recently, me and my colleague named a new species of this genus from Iran as Loureedia phoenixi, after the American actor, producer and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix in recognition of his praised portrayal of the title character in the 2019 movie 'Joker' and as a reference to the male abdominal pattern of the new species, which resembles the famous facial makeup of the character,' said Zamani.

A new species of velvet spider has been named after actor and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix for his role in the 2019 film 'Joker'

'Currently, this species is only known by males and the cryptic female remains undiscovered.'

'This new finding belong to the spider family Eresidae (with about 100 known species globally), commonly known as velvet spiders due to their body being covered by a velvety-coat of short and dense setae.'

'Many groups of velvet spiders exhibit sexual dimorphism, resulting in the smaller size and more colorful general appearance of the male.'

The new spider is mostly black, with hit hair lining its joints.

Down its back is a bright red line, which resembles the famous smile of the Joke, with a white outline on the edges.

These creatures may look stunning, but have a horrific start in life when they are born.

Scientists found that female velvet spiders biologically prepare themselves to be eaten by their young because their abdominal tissue degenerates to make them more palatable.

Stegodyphus lineatus are found in parts of southern Europe and North Africa.

After babies have hatched, their mother regurgitates food for them, but more sinister changes are happening to the adult spider.

The new spider is mostly black, with hit hair lining its joints. Down its back is a bright red line, which resembles the famous smile of the Joke, with a white outline on the edges

Even before the spiderlings hatch, the female's abdominal tissues break down, to make her easier for the young spiders to eat - an act known as matriphagy.

This happens during the egg sac incubation period.

By time the offspring hatch, a large portion of the mother's body has started to degrade her tissues and are partially liquefied.

After two weeks of being nurtured by their mother, the spiderlings pierce their mother's abdomen and devour her insides by sucking the nutritious liquid she has made.
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MOUNT VERNON, Skagit County (AP)  Washington state firefighters are preparing for a season of potential summer wildfires while adopting new health safety measures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has added a new layer of uncertainty to the work of preparing for wildfire season, The Skagit Valley Herald reported Sunday.





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(Newser)  South Dakota's Republican governor has, unsurprisingly, confirmed that she won't allow Mount Rushmore to be dynamited. "Not on my watch," Gov. Kristi Noem said when conservative commentator Ben Shapiro asked in a tweet: "So, when is our woke historical revisionist priesthood going to insist on blowing up Mount Rushmore?" There is no sign yet of "any serious push" against the monument in the Black Hills, though statues of two of the four presidents depicted, slaveowners George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, have been targeted elsewhere, Fox reports. Noem and President Trump plan to visit Mount Rushmore, which also depicts Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, for a July 3 fireworks display.

story continues below

The governor later told Fox & Friends that she wouldn't stand for "radical rewriting of history" and she will make sure the monument "stays as majestic as it is today." Asked how she plans on "stopping it if it does go that far," Noem said: "This is obviously a federal mountain, it is a national monument, it is something that we will partner with them and use the resources of the state to make sure that we have security measures in place." The Sioux Falls Argus Leader notes that controversy over Mount Rushmore dates back many years: It was carved between 1927 and 1941 on land that Native American tribes had been granted 'in perpetuity" in an 1868 treaty, but were forced to relinquish eight years later after gold was discovered. The Sioux Nation is still fighting for the return of the Black Hills. (Read more Mount Rushmore stories.)
Three senators, including high-profile former TD Lisa Chambers, have hired family members for taxpayer-funded jobs.

Ms Chambers employed two of her sisters to work as secretarial assistants (SAs).

Her party colleague Ned O'Sullivan hired his wife as an SA and Fine Gael's Martin Conway also employs his spouse who shares the SA role with another individual.

It comes after the Irish Independent revealed that around one in seven TDs hired family members to work either as their SA or parliamentary assistant (PA).

Senators are entitled to hire one SA - though more than one individual can share the role and the wages.

The salary scale ranges from 24,000 to just under 47,000.

Ms Chambers is eligible for two SAs. She had a baby in April and can employ an extra staff member temporarily because senators and TDs are not entitled to maternity leave.

The former Mayo TD - who rose to prominence as Fianna Fail's Brexit spokesperson during the last Dail - lost her seat in the General Election.

She said her sister Ciara -who shared the PA job when Ms Chambers was a member of the Dail - "has been with me since 2016". She added: "My sister Michelle has been hired on the new maternity scheme for members. It's a six-month temporary contract to help members who have had a baby and don't get maternity leave."

Kerry-based Fianna Fail senator Mr O'Sullivan has re-hired his wife Madeline as his SA.

"My wife worked as my part-time secretarial assistant, mostly unpaid, for 35 years," he said.

Mr O'Sullivan added that she took early retirement as a primary school teacher to work for him part-time when he was first elected to the Seanad, "incurring a significant drop in salary as a result".

"The resultant drop in family income was the price we paid in order to give the best possible service to my constituents," he said.

"I also retain the paid services of two other non-family staff at my own expense and we offer a constituency service of the highest quality," Mr O'Sullivan added.

Clare-based Fine Gael senator Mr Conway has also re-hired his wife Breege Hannify for the SA role which she shares with another individual.

Mr Conway is visually impaired and it is understood that part of her job is driving for him.

The Oireachtas released details of the staff employed by TDs and senators after a freedom of information request.

The practice is controversial but not against the rules.

An analysis of the records released shows that 23 TDs have hired family members.

They include Tipperary Independent Mattie McGrath who employs two daughters and a niece, and Kerry Independents Michael and Danny Healy-Rae who both hired one family member each.

Fine Gael ministers who employed relatives were Michael Ring, Helen McEntee, Brendan Griffin and Ciaran Cannon.

Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail hired his sister while other Fianna Fail TDs who employed family members include finance spokesman Michael McGrath and new deputy Christopher O'Sullivan.

New Green Party TD Steven Matthews - whose wife Erika Doyle replaced him as a county councillor - hired her as an SA.

When she was co-opted onto Wicklow County Council she said she was "transparently" selected and was nominated to take the seat by her local party organisation. Mr Matthews said Ms Doyle is "more than qualified" for the SA role and is the "best person for the job".

He said she received other job offers in the political arena "and I'm delighted she chose to accept mine".
Hyderabad: Mild and asymptomatic Covid-19 patients do not require hospitalisation and home isolation is the treatment for them, according to the Telangana Super Specialty Hospital Association (TSHA). Such people rushing to hospitals increases the chances of co-infection.

There are only a limited number of isolation wards, and non-Covid-19 diseases require attention. This has prompted private hospitals to advise patients to opt for video consultancy and home isolation if they do not have severe symptoms.

Severe symptoms are categorised as persistent cough, wheezing, breathlessness while walking and talking, weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting and high grade fever.

Dr Bhaskar Rao, president of TSHA said, Patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms do not require hospitalisation. If their Covid-19 test is positive, they must isolate themselves in a separate room with a bathroom at home. They must be in touch with doctors through video consultancy. They must have a pulse oximeter to check their oxygen levels. If they develop severe symptoms of breathlessness, less oxygen (below 90) then only they require treatment at a hospital.

Private hospitals are urging patients with mild symptoms to test but not to seek hospitalisation. There is scarcity of beds and shortage of manpower and equipment and following distancing and disinfection rules adds to the burden.

There have been successful outcomes in private hospitals giving confidence that the disease can be managed at home and only severe cases need hospitalisation.

The severe cases require oxygen therapy, management of co-morbid conditions like diabetes, cardiac disorders, cancers and other immune compromised conditions. Those patients who are on dialysis need admission when infected with Covid-19 as they are in the high risk group.

Who can be in home isolation

Those who are below 55 years of age can be treated in home isolation via video counselling.

A person whose diabetes and hypertension under control and is below 50 years of age. One co-morbidity but controlled through medication.

Home isolation requires pulse oximeter to check oxygen levels. Oxygen saturation level is 96 and 97 per cent. If the level falls below 90 per cent it is an emergency.

Equipment to check blood pressure and blood sugar must be kept by people.

Vitamin C (chewables), zinc and multipurpose vitamins and Vitamin D tablets are important for those who have tested positive apart from the prescribed HCQ by doctors.
TDT | Manama

Philippine nationals in Bahrain wishing to return home in the near future must follow a new set of guidelines both prior to departure and upon arrival at Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Philippine Embassy in the Kingdom has announced. These steps apply to all Filipinos, including Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), seafarers, and non-OFW returning citizens.

Prior to departure, each traveller must register and fill out an electronic Case Investigation Form (e-CIF), available online at e-cif.redcross.org.ph/. All procedures must be followed to secure a QR Code, which the returning travellers must save on a mobile device by taking a screenshot or have a copy printed out. After landing at NAIA, a mandatory briefing will be given to explain the remaining process.

The QR Code must then be presented for coronavirus (COVID-19) swab testing at NAIA, to be performed by trained personnel from the countrys Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ). Returning Filipinos can then go through immigration, after which they must head to the relevant desk for booking of their quarantine facilityeither a government-designated quarantine centre or a BOQ-approved quarantine hotel.

Travellers must remain there until they receive the result of their COVID-19 tests via text message or e-mail within 72 hours. Travellers whose test results are negative will be allowed to move out and undergo a 14-day quarantine at home or at an appropriate local monitoring facility, while those whose test results are positive will be transferred to a designated hospital for further medical management.

The Philippine Embassy has also noted that OFWs are requested to register in the Department of Labour and Employments OFW Assistance Information System (OASIS) through the following links: dole.gov.ph/ofw-assistance-information-system-oasis/ or oasis.owwa.gov.ph. Accomplishing the e-CIF and registering in the OASIS system before arrival will facilitate immigration and quarantine clearance for entry into the Philippines.
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Linkedin Luis Felipe Castilleja (Reuters) Barcelona, Spain  Wed, June 24, 2020 08:05 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066121d11 2 Art & Culture Barcelona,Spain,Opera,concert,plants Free

Barcelona's Liceu opera house reopened its doors on Monday for the first time in over three months to hold a concert - exclusively for a quiet, leafy audience of nearly 2,300 house plants,

Organisers said the intention was to reflect on the absurdity of the human condition in the era of the coronavirus, which deprives people of their position as spectators.

"Nature advanced to occupy the spaces we snatched from it," executive producer Eugenio Ampudio said on stage at an afternoon rehearsal before the concert.

"Can we extend our empathy? Let's begin with art and music, in a great theater, by inviting nature in," he said inside the eclectic, neo-classical venue that dates back to the 19th century and is one of Europe's largest opera houses.

After the concert, which was live streamed, the 2,292 nursery plants placed on every seat were to be donated to frontline health workers.

Read also: Opera returns to Vienna with hotel 'window concert'

The "Concert for the Biocene" was made possible by the ending of Spain's state of emergency on Sunday. It featured a string quartet playing Italian composer Giacomo Puccini's "Chrysanthemum", chosen for its requiem-like sadness.

The Liceu observed all the usual rituals of a regular musical performance, with announcements given over loud speakers that the concert was about to begin.

Both before and after the six-minute performance, the four elegantly-dressed musicians respectfully bowed to the "audience".

The Liceu said it hoped the show would reaffirm the value of art, music and nature and serve as a roadmap for returning to normal activity after the pandemic.

Spain has been one of the nations worst-affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 28,323 deaths and 246,272 cases so far.

Topics : Barcelona Spain Opera concert plants
Twenty-eight migrants rescued from the Mediterranean Sea have tested positive for coronavirus, Sicily's governor said today.

The positive tests represent the largest cluster yet among newly arrived migrants. A handful of positive cases were recorded among new arrivals to Greece in May.

The migrants were being held on a ship off the Sicilian town of Porto Empedocle where some would-be asylum seekers are taken to undergo quarantine after being rescued at sea.

SeaWatch, the German aid group that is active in migrant rescues, had flagged an asymptomatic migrant it had rescued earlier in the week who turned out positive.

SeaWatch said it was then ordered to undergo at-sea quarantine and more tests among other migrants.

A file photo shows migrants on board the German NGO search and rescue ship Sea-Watch 3 in Porto Empledocle, Italy on June 17

It said tests among the crew were negative, and insisted it had followed all relevant health protocols designed to prevent transmission.

But SeaWatch acknowledged it was operating in the context of a pandemic and that cases of coronavirus were increasing in Libyan migrant camps.

Sicily governor Nello Musumeci said in a Facebook post Wednesday that the 28 positive tests confirmed that he was right to demand special at-sea quarantine measures for migrants to prevent new virus clusters from forming in Italy, the one-time European epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Right-wing opposition leader Matteo Salvini, who implemented a hard-line anti-migrant policy when he was Italy's interior minister, said the positive tests proved migrants were a threat.

Migrants wearing face masks as a means of protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) wait to disembark from the German NGO search and rescue ship Sea-Watch 3, before being transferred on board the Moby Zaza ferry to be quarantined, in the port of Porto Empledocle, Italy on Sunday

In a series of tweets, Salvini pushed back at critics who accused him of being racist and faulted Premier Giuseppe Conte's government for seeking to soften Italy's migrant policy.

'While Conte takes apart the security decree and opens the ports, the NGOs bring COVID-19 migrants to Italy. Public health is at risk,' he tweeted, adding #stopinvasion.

The positive tests come as a parliamentary commission is visiting Porto Empedocle to check on migrant and health care issues.

Summertime has traditionally been peak season for migrant smugglers operating in lawless Libya.

Italian officials have predicted new waves of migrants might set out this year with the easing of Italy's coronavirus health emergency and the resumption of humanitarian rescue ships in the Mediterranean.
In Moscow, the event is seeing the same disregard for safety rules.

The so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") terrorist group has staged a military parade in the occupied city of Donetsk said to mark the 75th anniversary of victory over Nazism in World War 2.

Like in Moscow, the event was postponed from May 9 to June 24 over the COVID-19 pandemic, the Novosti Donbassa media outlet reported.

The number of COVID-19 cases keeps growing: yesterday, the "DPR" confirmed 26 new cases over the past 24 hours. In total, 676 people are undergoing treatment, according to formal reports.

Despite this fact, crowds attending the parade are seen wearing no face masks and failing to observe social distancing rules.

WW2 veterans are also seen at the venue, sitting on the podium without observing social distancing and some also failing to wear face masks.

Members of illegal armed groups marched along the central street of Donetsk, following the drive of heavy military hardware.

Read also"Surprise" awaiting foreign delegations set to attend Moscow parade

Military hardware showcased included tanks, artillery systems, and rocket launchers used by the "DPR" against Ukrainian Army.

Many pieces of hardware deployed in the city center are subject to an OSCE ban, which testifies to the violation of Minsk agreements. OSCE monitors reported the same breach during similar parades in previous years. The event is also attended by the self-styled "DPR" leadership.

Sham head of "DPR" leader Denis Pushilin's security service was spotted sporting the uniform of the USSR's NKVD [punitive security agency].

In Russia's Moscow, despite the growing numbers of new active coronavirus cases, the parade is seeing the same disregard for safety rules, as seen in the following pictures.
After months of lockdown in an effort to control the Coronavirus pandemic, European countries are looking to open up their borders to visitors.

Reuters

Recent reports, however, indicate that Americans might not be allowed to enter the European Union boundaries. Reason - the failure of the United States to control the spread of COVID-19 within its borders.

The development is being reported by New York Times, which has reviewed draft lists of acceptable travellers planned by the European Union post its border opening in July. As per the publication, two such lists of acceptable travellers are under finalisation and none of them contains US travellers.

One of the two lists contains 47 countries which have a COVID-19 infection rate lower than the E.U. average. The other, longer list names 54 countries and includes nations which have slightly worse infection rates than the E.U. average, as high as 20 new cases per 1,00,000 people.

Travelling with COVID-19 in EU

(Representative Image: Reuters)

The draft lists by the European Union have been created on the basis of a combination of epidemiological criteria. For this, the union has kept the EUs average number of new infections as the benchmark. These cases are marked out of 1,00,000 people for the last 14 days.



The average number of new infections in E.U. stands at 16. The same number for the United States is 107, while for Brazil and Russia, which will also be possibly banned from the list, is 190 and 80 respectively.

The lists thus only name the countries marked safe under this criteria. Though it might also have made sense for free travel to all, backed by a screening for all the visitors at the entry points, the fact that several have checked COVID-19 positive mid-flights to their destinations and even after poses a substantial risk for the infection being spread.

EU's COVID-19 travel restrictions

As of now, all 27 member states of the European Union plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein have a restriction on non-essential travel. Now the countries are rushing to remove these restrictions to enable tourism and boost the airlines revenue.

This, however, cannot be done on an open-to-all basis at a time when COVID-19 is still on the spread in around half of the globe and is even resurfacing in places which have recovered from its first wave.

After the most recent extension of the restrictions, EU is now looking to reopen the borders on July 1. The Union, however, faces a unique challenge.

(Representative Image: Reuters)

The reopening of borders will mainly be to enable commute within the 27 European nations. In addition, EU cannot impose the draft lists of travel restrictions on all its members, so it is up to the members, whether to adopt it or not.



Saving airlines impacted by COVID-19

However, in case any of the members fail to stick to this list, it might mean that the border restrictions within the European Union will have to be reintroduced. That is because the EU facilitates travel connectivity within the 27 nations. So if visitors from the non approved nations land in one European country, they can easily visit other EU nations undetected.

Despite the risks, European nations seem ready and to some point, desperate to reopen their borders to visitors. Movement of this accord will facilitate revenue for and from the airlines industry, which, for the first time in over a decade, is looking to record a loss in revenue.

If the International Air Transport Association is to be believed, this loss can be monumental, to the amount of USD 29 billion in revenue. With domestic flights now starting across the globe and countries opening their borders for outside visitors, there is a ray of hope for the industry to bounce back from this loss in time.
The Supreme Lama Dzhampel Lodoi of Russia's Siberian region of Tyva -- a remote area of 330,000 people near the Russia-Mongolia border -- has died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The region's leader, Sholban Kara-Ool, said on June 23 that Lama Dzhampel Lodoi died at the age of 44 while in the hospital, where he had been treated since June 10 after testing positive for the virus.

"I once more want to remind our youth that this illness could be lethal for anyone. We see that this disease can be dangerous for anyone, even for young people," Kara-Ool said.

Dzhampel Lodoi, legally known as Apysh Sat, was elected as Tyva's supreme lama on November 29, 2019. The Turkic-speaking indigenous Tuvan people are mostly Buddhists.

Dzhampel Lodoi's death has highlighted the worsening of the coronavirus situation in the region. On June 23, Tyva's capital, Kyzyl, suspended the operations of the entire public transportation system.

In all, the number of coronavirus cases in Tyva is more than 3,700. Some 1,819 people have been cured of the illness, while at least 39 people diagnosed with COVID-19 have died.

Russia's federal health officials said on June 24 that the total number of coronavirus cases across the country was 606,881, including 8,513 deaths.

With Reporting by Taiga.Info and TuvaOnline
Barranquilla, Colombia, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tecnoglass, Inc. (TGLS) ("Tecnoglass" or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer of architectural glass, windows, and associated aluminum products for the global commercial and residential construction industries, today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0275 per share, or $0.11 per share on an annualized basis, for the second quarter of 2020. The dividend will be paid on July 31, 2020 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 8, 2020.



About Tecnoglass

Tecnoglass Inc. is a leading manufacturer of architectural glass, windows, and associated aluminum products for the global commercial and residential construction industries. Tecnoglass is the #1 architectural glass transformation company in Latin America and the second largest glass fabricator serving the United States. Headquartered in Barranquilla, Colombia, the Company operates out of a 2.7 million square foot vertically-integrated, state- of-the-art manufacturing complex that provides easy access to the Americas, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Tecnoglass supplies over 1000 customers in North, Central and South America, with the United States accounting for more than 80% of revenues. Tecnoglass' tailored, high-end products are found on some of the world's most distinctive properties, including the El Dorado Airport (Bogota), 50 United Nations Plaza (New York), Trump Plaza (Panama), Icon Bay (Miami), and Salesforce Tower (San Francisco). For more information, please visit www.tecnoglass.com or view our corporate video at https://vimeo.com/134429998 .

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on Tecnoglass current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of Tecnoglass business. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies are indicated from time to time in Tecnoglass filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. Tecnoglass is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events and changes in assumptions or otherwise, except as required by law.
French President Emmanuel Macron met Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague on Tuesday, for talks on the European Union's proposal for a 750 billion euro (approx. 850 billion US dollars) recovery fund for countries affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Devised to help member states' economies cushion the impact of the virus, the package is far from being unanimously welcomed.

The aid plan - a blend of debt mutualisation, grants and loans - has failed to gain the approval of the Netherlands, part of a group of countries known as the Frugal Four along with Denmark, Austria and Sweden.

They oppose issuing too much common debt to support the hardest-hit countries and argue that the money should mainly be handed out in loans instead of grants.

Macron is hoping to reach a compromise during bilateral talks with his fiscally conservative Dutch counterpart ahead of an EU summit next month.
The Karnataka government's decision to conduct school leaving exams of over eight lakh students amid steady rise in coronavirus cases has led to fear and protests by parents and political parties.

Starting Thursday, the more-than-eight lakh students are expected to write their Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exams with several precautionary measures in place to ensure the examinees safety.

Several parents and children were seen outside examination centres on Wednesday to assess the safety measures in place.

Manjunath K, a parent, said they have no choice as the government has decided not to cancel exams. "The education minister (Suresh Kumar) said they won't cancel, it will be held as per schedule. So we have no choice. The arrangements seem fine for children to write their exams.

"We have to write the exam anyway. I want the exam to be held. So that it is over soon," said Taniya Taj, a student. Her father Ajaz Pasha said he is worried about the virus, but feels that it would be safe if social distancing is maintained.

"We have been studying for so long. If they postpone it, can't study anymore. We are forgetting everything that we studied with such a long gap," said Varalakshmi, another student, while her father Elumalai said there was so much fear.

"There is a lot of fear around due to the pandemic. Cases are increasing by the day. You don't know from where who is getting it," he said.

A criminal miscellaneous petition has been filed against Minister Suresh Kumar seeking registration an FIR against him for conducting the exams amid the outbreak.

"By going ahead with the exams, the minister is putting the lives of lakhs of students at risk. It could be to show his achievement politically, but he is playing with the students' lives," said Adarsh Iyer, co-president of Janaadhikara Sangharsha Parishath, who filed the petition.

The state government, however, seems to have taken this 10-day exercise to hold board exams as a challenge to its management capabilities. Neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have cancelled their board exams.

Also, it comes at a time when the Karnataka government is mulling a second round of lockdown in Bengaluru amid increasing number of cases. The states COVID-19 tally crossed the 10,000-mark on Wednesday.

The exams will be held for 8,48,203 students across 2879 centres in the state. Additional 330 centres have also been set up.

Students from containment zones will also appear for their exams. These students and those who have symptoms of the virus will be seated in separate rooms.

If a centre is falls in a containment zone in the coming days, it will be shifted to a different centre reserved for the same.

Boxes drawn on floors to ensure distancing, thermal screening at entrances, desks placed far apart inside classrooms are some of the measures in place at these centers.

Initially scheduled to be held in March, the exams were given a go-ahead by the high court and the Supreme Court and will continue till July 5.

Students must mandatorily wear a mask throughout the examination, bring their own water bottles and have been asked to report as early as at 7.30am to ensure distancing. Exams will begin at 10.30am.

Former chief minister and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said the exams should have been postponed in view of the pandemic.

The education minister, however, said the cases may go up further in the coming months as per experts. "He (HD Kumaraswamy) says exams can be postponed to August or some other time, but experts think otherwise. This is the right time for students to write their exams with all the safety measures in place."
As the majority of American citizens have received their first stimulus checks that were distributed amid the coronavirus pandemic, they are still patiently waiting for news regarding the second round of payments to be discussed by government officials.

Higher second stimulus check

While the possibilities of a second stimulus check are not guaranteed, if it does pass, the amount could see a significant rise of approximately 25.5% from the first one, as reported by Newsbreak.

Several lawmakers are at a standstill with their decision on whether or not to send out a second stimulus check. However, the US House of Representatives has passed a bill that will provide one to United States citizens.

The bill is named the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. The bill would provide not only a second stimulus check but also see a rise in the amount that would be distributed to millions of Americans.

The American Enterprise Institute states that the average amount that would be given to eligible taxpayers under the HEROES Act would become $2,170 from the CARES Act $1,729, more than a 25% increase.

The main reason for the increased amount is due to the HEROES Act offering more funds to dependents than the previous CARES Act, and it also expands on who it considers as a dependent.

Also Read: Fact Check: Did Donald Trump Confirm Second Stimulus Checks are Coming?

Difference between the first and second

Under the previous CARES Act, dependents received $500 in stimulus payments, but under the new HEROES Act, each dependent would now receive $1,200 in stimulus.

The drawback, however, is that the number of dependents that would be given stimulus would be capped at three per household, making the total possible amount one household could receive to $6,000.

Another significant difference is that under the first stimulus, dependents were those who were aged 17 or under while the HEROES Act includes those aged 17 and up along with elderly relatives. An estimated 26 million more dependents would receive stimulus under the HEROES Act.

According to The Motley Fool, those who do not have dependents would receive the same amount of stimulus as the first one. This would include millions of American retirees who receive Social Security benefits who have no children of their own.

The income limits, however, remained the same from the CARES Act to the HEROES Act, working similarly to begin the phase-out by $5 for every $100 pass $75,000 for individual taxpayers, $112,500 for joint filers, and $150,000 for household heads. This means that those who earn a lot would not be benefited by the second stimulus check.

Congress would be the deciding body if the second stimulus check will come to Americans as it is the one who authorizes federal funds and not the US president. The next stimulus package will most likely be decided on by Congress next month before August comes.

The distribution of the second stimulus check, if passed, would probably require months to be received by all eligible taxpayers.

Related Article: Stimulus Check Update: How Would a $4,000 Travel Tax Credit Work?

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Rhode Island, known formally as the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, will drop the latter half of its official name on state documents and websites following an executive order signed by Gov. Gina Raimondo.

We have to acknowledge our history, thats true, but we can acknowledge our history without elevating a phrase thats so deeply associated with the ugliest time in our state and in our countrys history, Ms. Raimondo, a Democrat, said at a news conference Monday announcing the order.

Rhode Island, one of the original 13 colonies, traces its history back to Providence Plantations, founded by Roger Williams in 1636. Though it was the first colony to abolish slavery, in 1652, historians argue that there is little evidence that the law was ever enforced before slavery was abolished nationwide.

Though the word plantation can refer to a settlement or a large group of cultivated plants or trees, the governor and others in support of the change say that the connotations of slavery were unavoidable.
Soon after it lifted most restrictions associated with COVID-19 health measures, the Jordanian government launched an unprecedented anti-corruption campaign June 6 against former officials, businessmen and companies suspected of involvement in tax evasion, money laundering, abuse of power and embezzlement.

There have been various news reports of police raids at the request of the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (JIACC) of offices belonging to major businessmen, including one linked to a senior parliamentary figure. The owner of a cigarette manufacturing company is being investigated for unpaid taxes estimated at 134 million Jordanian dinars ($189 million), Al-Monitor has learned.

On June 10, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz was quoted by the Jordan Times as saying that the government is committed to implementing all of its anti-corruption measures, adding that corrupt persons have no immunity and that the law applies to all. Razzaz added, What the JIACC is doing on the procedural level must be strengthened through legislation and regulations to help it play its role in recovering public money in the public sector as well as in the private sector in regard to tax evasion.

Economic analyst and editor of the Maqar news site Salameh al-Darawi told Al-Monitor, Tax evasion has challenged previous governments and since the government cannot raise taxes during these difficult times to generate income, it had to confront this issue directly. He added that according to a World Bank study, tax evasion costs the treasury between 600 million to 800 million Jordanian dinars ($845 million-$1.1 billion) annually.

On June 14, Minister of Finance Mohammad al-Ississ announced at a press conference that tax evasion will be treated as money laundering, which carries a harsher sentence. He added that police raids are used as a last resort and that the current campaign is not political but part of genuine structural reform.

In the same press conference, Minister of Media Affairs Amjad al-Adaileh said the government has made amendments to the 2020 Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission Law that will grant the anti-corruption body greater autonomy and legal backing to investigate a wider scope of crimes. The amendments allow the commission to monitor and investigate sudden and questionable gains of wealth or assets by officials, private individuals and groups.

On June 16, a government official told a local news site that the government's income tax department had managed to collect an additional 54 million dinars ($76 million) in unpaid taxes in addition to 95 million dinars ($133 million) in fines during the first five months of this year.

According to Ississ, the list of those being investigated is long and that the law will have the final say on all cases. According to local observers, the campaign shows a new political will to fight corruption, enforce the rule of law and enhance transparency. Needless to say, the campaign has been welcomed by the general public. Some have described it as Jordans version of the Saudi Ritz Carlton affair, in which the the authorities gathered prominent Saudi businessmen and negotiated billion-dollar settlements with them.

Political columnist Fahd al-Khitan wrote June 7 in Al-Ghad that it was time the government took measures to confront tax evasion instead of relying on ordinary peoples pockets for revenue through VAT or sales tax. Jordanians have long called on governments to fight tax and customs evasion by influential figures instead of raising taxes on small and medium businesses, he added.

Khitan likened the governments campaign to attacking a hornets nest, adding that the plan had preceded the COVID-19 crisis. He advised the government to make the campaign a permanent policy and not a passing operation. The problem is endemic and had cost Jordanians hundreds of millions of dollars in money that was not collected by the treasury or was smuggled out of the country, he said.

One important triumph for the government came on June 8, when an international arbitration center in Washington, DC, overturned a ruling against the Jordanian government in a case involving an international cellular phone companys sale of its shares to a local company in 2006. The new ruling means the government can pursue a legal case against the company and ask for compensation worth 123 million dinars ($173 million).

But some Jordanians wonder if the government has the will and backing to effectively question former prominent officials about their sources of wealth or to reach settlement deals to repatriate millions of dinars. One local businessman who requested anonymity told Al-Monitor that Jordanians had been promised by previous governments to fight corruption and abuse of public office in cases that have become well known, but nothing had happened. Its a good thing, what this government is doing now, but can its efforts continue as it investigates powerful figures? he asked.


CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar climbed against its major counterparts in the European session on Wednesday, as rising coronavirus infection cases in the United States and elsewhere soured market sentiment.



Tokyo reported a jump in infections to mark its highest daily tally since May 5 while Germany reported 712 new cases, fueling concerns about a second wave of coronavirus infections.



New infections rose 25 percent in the United States in the week ended June 21 and the death toll in Latin America passed 100,000 on Tuesday, according to a Reuters analysis and tally.



Anthony Fauci, the top virus expert in the U.S., told Congress on Tuesday that the next two weeks would be critical in trying to keep the virus under control.



The European Union may impose a ban on American travellers when it eases controls on its external borders.



U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the Trump administration is discussing another stimulus package that could be passed in July.



The greenback rose to 1.1269 against the euro and 0.9461 against the franc, from its early lows of 1.1326 and 0.9433, respectively. The greenback is seen finding resistance around 1.10 against the euro and 0.97 against the franc.



The greenback firmed to 2-day highs of 1.3584 against the loonie and 0.6423 against the kiwi, off its early lows of 1.3528 and 0.6514, respectively. The greenback is likely to find resistance around 1.37 against the loonie and 0.62 against the kiwi.



The greenback reversed from an early 6-day low of 1.2543 against the pound and rose to 1.2466. Against the aussie and the yen, the greenback climbed to 0.6897 and 106.65, respectively. Next key resistance for the greenback is seen around 1.22 against the pound, 0.64 against the aussie and 108.00 against the yen.



The Federal Housing Finance Agency's U.S. house price index for April will be issued at 9.00 am ET.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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After shutting its doors for nearly five months as Hong Kong confirmed its first coronavirus case, Disneyland Hong Kong reopened to the public last week  but with new safety precautions including compulsory face masks for all guests, temperature checks and safe distancing measures.

CNBC attended its re-opening day to see how theme parks in the post-pandemic world might look like.

Hong Kong Disneyland is only the second of Disney's parks to reopen. It follows in the footsteps of Shanghai, which reopened its park last month at 30% capacity, due to government mandates.

Likewise, Hong Kong is operating at a reduced capacity. However, a Hong Kong Disneyland spokesperson told CNBC that Shanghai's capacity is significantly lower than its own, but did not elaborate.

Disneyland, Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disneyland are planning to reopen their parks in July with similar measures. Likewise, Universal Studios Parks & Resorts is also gradually reopening in phases at limited capacity.
Haddonfield police search and rescue dog Blue, a one and a half year old bloodhound, stares into the camera on June 19, 2020. Haddonfield Cpl. Jake Sorg works with Blue and recently the Haddonfield police got a call from the Audubon police asking for help locating a lost child. The dog was given a scent of the child's pillow and eventually found him two blocks away safe and asleep. Read more

The call came into the Haddonfield Police Department about 11:30 on the evening of June 8. On the other end was an official from the Audubon Police Department, two Camden County towns over, requesting assistance:

A 10-year-old Audubon boy had been reported missing an hour earlier. It was now close to midnight, and his parents were frantic.

The Audubon officer asked, would the Haddonfield Police Department be willing to lend its search team  a bloodhound named Blue and his human partner, Cpl. Jake Sorg  to the effort to find the boy?

Sorg and Blue leaped into action. After all, its what they have been training for since January 2019, when Sorg, 29, picked up the dog (who was about 8 weeks old at the time) from a breeder in upstate New York, with the help of the New York State Police. The plan was to integrate Blue into the Haddonfield Police Department as a search dog.

Sorg and Blue would subsequently spend two and a half months at a bloodhound training academy run by the Cape May Sheriffs Department, graduating in November. They continued training ever since with once-a-month, eight-hour drills to keep their chops strong and to maintain Blues certification with the state.

Since joining the department, Blue has sniffed out evidence that aided in solving other cases, said Haddonfield Police Lt. Stephen Camiscioli, who pushed for the department to add its first-ever rescue dog. But Blue knew what to do.

Sorg sensed the familys fear when he and Blue arrived that night in Audubon.

The stress is heightened, and the parents are looking at you and the dog for help, Sorg recalled.

All Blue needed to get started was a sniff of the childs bed pillow, and then he trotted from the familys back porch, to the front yard, and down the sidewalk, sniffing for other traces of the childs scent. Within 15 minutes, Blues trained nose led police right to the young boy  who was sound asleep under a tree in the backyard of a private residence four houses away.

The child, who was in good health, was quickly reunited with his family.

(The parents, who declined to comment, asked not to be identified, said an Audubon Police official, who described them as very emotional and obviously very thankful.)

The evenings happy ending reminded Sorg of the importance of Blues presence on the force.

When I saw that youngster laying there, said Sorg, it was a great feeling to know that, number one, he was safe, and, number two, the dog did what we trained him to do.

Its unusual for a police department to have a dog like Blue in its ranks, according to Jeff Hibert, spokesperson for Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States (SARDUS), a national nonprofit that trains, evaluates, and certifies dog-and-handler teams.

Most police K-9s are used for apprehension or drugs, etc., Hibert said in an email. There are departments that have bloodhounds, but in Colorado, for example (where SARDUS is headquartered), I can think of only four.

Most SAR dogs, he added, are handled by volunteers, with probably not more than 2,000 in the whole country. The number is uncertain, he said, because there is no one organization that tracks the numbers overall.

Sorg and Blue are more than work partners  theyre also housemates. Sorg and his fiancee live in Bellmawr, Camden County. The couple has developed a great relationship with their hero pup. But getting used to Blues ways took time.

It hasnt always been easy, said Sorg. Blue was my first working dog, and he had a lot more energy than I was expecting. He digs holes, and tries to jump the fence, and gets into a lot of stuff. If we leave anything out, on the ground, hell try to run away with it. Hes always trying to work; he sees it as a game. I had to get adjusted to him.

Even when hes off-duty, he said, Blue is always kind of on.

He is always coming up and trying to sniff people, said Sorg, laughing. The dog has been a boon to community policing, where he comes in constant contact with adoring youngsters and adults alike. He loves it when people play with him, and hes always loving.

Haddonfield Police Lt. Camiscioli is especially smitten by the dog.

Corporal Sorg gets mad at me for giving Blue [treats] in the lunch room, Camiscioli laughed. I say I cant help it. Besides, he added, We dont have to spoil Blue, because, the town does. They have adopted him as their own.

That leaves it to Sorg to play, well, bad cop. But he has to, if he wants a focused partner. Blue is a working dog, not a house pet. Lives depend on Sorg distinguishing between the two.

Its hard to be strict, but I want him locked in when were working, he said.

Sorg is proud of Blues drive and determination, qualities the bloodhound exhibits every single day.

He was here to do what he did when he found the youngster, Sorg said. Hes a great dog and I love to work with him.
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What a smashing spread. It really does look mouthwateringly good enough to eat. But if you tried to tuck into this tempting array of cakes, doughnuts, loaves and bagels youd be left feeling a bit of a nitwit. Or should that be knit-wit?

For the 1,000-plus goodies on display on this peculiarly impressive patisserie counter are in fact made of nothing more tasty thanwool.

Balls and balls and balls of it. So much that nearly 5st (30kg) of yarn was used by knitwear artist extraordinaire Kate Jenkins as she created her latest masterpiece over six months.

And what a feast for the eyes  if, sadly, not for the stomach  it has turned out to be.

Purly queen Kate Jenkins' amazingly realistic patisserie counter

Cream of the crop: A scrumptious strawberry puff

With cream and jam sponges topped with fresh fruit, tarts, macaroons, sourdough bread, seeded loaves, sausage rolls and Cornish pasties, she has made sure she has both the sweet and savoury ends of the spectrum well and truly, er, sewn up.

Miss Jenkins, 48, from Brighton, East Sussex, first got busy with her knitting needles and crochet hooks for the project  titled Kates Bakes  in January last year.

By the time of its debut display at the Handmade Festival in Barcelona that May, it comprised about 500 bakery items and since then it has grown in number as it has travelled elsewhere.

Kate fell in love with knitting as an eight-year-old growing up in the Rhymney Valley, South Wales

Sprinkled with knitmeg: Tasty-looking egg custard

Kate said: In Barcelona some people did actually think it was part of the food stalls.

They came up and couldnt work out what it was at first, then did a double take and realised, Oh, you cant eat it, its fake food.

I like the optical illusion and playing with peoples perceptions of art. Its also been on display in a top-end shopping mall in Hong Kong and I hope to take it elsewhere round the world when I can.

Dough-nots: Choc treats top this high tea selection

A work of tart: Fruit concoction with kiwi, grapes and mixed berries

Kate fell in love with knitting as an eight-year-old growing up in the Rhymney Valley, South Wales.

She trained as a fashion knitwear designer, graduating from the University of Brighton with a BA in fashion and textiles.

But she soon branched out from clothing into witty depictions of food.

In 2007 in London, she staged her first exhibition, Comfort Food, for which she recreated a cafe.

Since then her creations have included a crocheted dinner party and an entire fish counter.

For the bakery, as well as knitting and crocheting, she used a few beads for poppy seeds on bagels and embroidery stitches to recreate the texture of crusty bread.

Holesome: These seeded bagels are dead, er, ringers

She also included a few jokes including a cross-ant  a cross-looking croissant with an angry face; a French baguette in a stripy Breton top and beret; and a Cornish pasty dressed like a pirate with a beard.

Kate is already working on her next project  titled The Art of Self Isolatin and devised while in lockdown with her sister Helen Jenkins who is a really good cook.

The concept is to create art pieces from various tins which Helen uses the contents of to create tasty dishes, she said.

I then repurpose the tins so, for example, if we had a tin of sardines to eat, I knit four sardines and put them back in the tin and frame it. We hope to end up with a combined recipes and art book.'
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media to announce lifting of restrictions, Melbourne, Australia, May 11, 2020. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Australian Defence Force to Assist Victorian Virus Effort

Defence members are expected to be sent to Melbourne to help Victorian efforts to contain a spike in COVID-19 cases that has led to Australias first death from the disease in a month.

A Victorian man in his 80s has died from coronavirus, bringing the national death tally to 103.

The state recorded another 20 new cases, bringing the number of community transmissions to 241 and more than doubling its active cases in the past week to 141.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says Victoria is able to test 20,000 people a day for the virus as officials move to crack down on several clusters, and trace and quarantine contacts of infected people.

Health officials have begun door knocking six hotspots across Melbourne to ensure residents are sticking to government guidelines.

Australian Defence Force personnel are helping with planning issues and Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been talking regularly with Premier Daniel Andrews about a further deployment.

We work as one single country, and when somebody needs the help, we are here to help, and they will accept and ask for what it is that they need, Health Minister Greg Hunt said on June 24.

A spokesman for Morrison said commonwealth departments were waiting on the Victorian state control team to determine what support it requires.

Information in languages other than English will also be provided for multicultural communities in heavily affected areas.

Advocacy groups have called for a beefed-up campaign to make sure migrant communities understood the danger coronavirus posed

Community Migrant Resource Centre chief Melissa Monteiro said communications must be multi-pronged across television, radio, online, face-to-face, in newspapers and through letterbox drops.

We communicate the message when our clients are here with us and online, but how many have access to all this? she said.

The states hotels are under fire for failing to effectively quarantine people with coronavirus after several security guards became infected, leading to some of the clusters of cases among extended family members.

Sutton said social distancing requirements had been reinforced to contracted security staff.

The issue will be raised at a national cabinet meeting on Friday.

Leaders from other states have warned people not to visit Melbourne, with NSW rolling out a social media advertising campaign telling its residents to think twice about travel.

Katina Curtis and Rebecca Gredley
SINGAPORE  Lee Hsien Yang has joined Progress Singapore Party (PSP), but it is unclear if he will be contesting in the General Election this year.

The youngest child of Singapores first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was at a breakfast meeting with opposition leader Dr Tan Cheng Bock at Tiong Bahru Market on Wednesday morning (24 June).

I joined the party because I think that Dr Tan is committed to doing the right thing for Singapore and Singaporeans, Lee told reporters.

He loves the country and he has brought together a group of people who share his vision, which I believe will build a better Singapore. PSP has an approach which will emphasise compassion.

When asked by reporters if he was trying to send a message by having his announcement at Tiong Bahru Market, which is in Tanjong Pagar GRC where his father was a Member of Parliament for 60 years, Lee said, Im here to have breakfast. The wanton noodle was very good.

Lees presence is strong indication of PSP support: Tan

Progress Singapore Party member Lee Hsien Yang seen at a breakfast meeting with other party members at the Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre on 24 June 2020. (PHOTO: Nicholas Tan for Yahoo News Singapore)

Tan said that Lee joined PSP about three months ago, but things were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also declined to reveal if Lee was running for GE.

Youll find out when he is ready. But there are many other ways he can contribute to the party. I think his very presence is a strong indication of the support for PSP already, he said.

He's not just an ordinary person. His father is the founder of Singapore, so that's very important. And the fact that he decided to join us is a clear indication that the current (government) didn't follow what his dad wanted.

When asked by Yahoo News Singapore why Lee is joining the party, Tan quipped, Because he likes us.

Lee, 62, first stated his full support for PSP in a Facebook post on 28 July last year, days after Dr Tan launched his party.

Last year, he helped fund prominent civil activists involved in court cases. These include activist Jolovan Whams appeal against a contempt of court conviction and blogger Leong Sze Hian, who filed a counterclaim against PM Lee in the latters defamation suit.

Story continues

Since 2017, he and his older sister Wei Ling have been embroiled in a long-running public spat with PM Lee over the fate of their old family home at 38 Oxley Road and the last wishes of their late father.

On Tuesday, it was announced that nomination day would be on 30 June. Parties running for the elections will be campaigning then and stop for a single cooling-off day before Singaporeans head to the polls on 10 July.

Tan criticises calling of GE during COVID-19

Lee Hsien Yang (seated) has joined Progress Singapore Party and was with secretary-general Tan Cheng Bock (white cap) at a party event at Tiong Bahru Market. (PHOTO: Nicholas Tan for Yahoo News Singapore)

Lee said that there are several issues he is interested in.

We have issues of income inequality, issues of poverty, issues of governance and transparency, issues around housing, he said. There are many issues that are alive and different people have different views. I think many things need to be dealt with.

During the breakfast meeting, Tan also criticised the governments decision to call the GE amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that its a very irresponsible act.

This election shouldn't have been called. You have to think of the people first, the 80-year-old said. The government talks about the Merdeka Generation... On the one hand, you reward them and you praise them. On the other hand, you are pushing them and exposing all these people (to the coronavirus). It is very dangerous everywhere, so it is a very irresponsible act by the government.

On Tuesday night, the Reform Party (RP) stated that, after discussions with Tan and PSP assistant secretary-general Leong Mun Wai, it will not contest in West Coast group representation constituency (GRC) to avoid a three-way contest with PSP there.

Instead, RP will be contesting in the Ang Mo Kio GRC, together with Yio Chu Kang and Radin Mas single-member constituencies.

I thank RP for not contesting in West Coast GRC, Tan said. Frankly speaking, were all on good terms, and it was not difficult to iron out (differences).

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

Related stories:

GE 2020: This GE is 'like no other', Singaporeans must be 'completely united'  PM Lee

GE2020: Bread-and-butter issues to dominate more than ever amid COVID-19  analysts

GE2020: Polling Day on Friday, 10 July
Two pioneer statues on the University of Oregon campus were the subject of calls for removal for years before protesters toppled the bronze figures earlier in June.

Calls to take down the statues had gained momentum in the wake of the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd and the global protests that followed his death. Demonstrators and public officials have removed racist or offensive monuments across the nation in recent weeks.

University of Oregon President Michael Schill said soon after the statues were felled that school officials would not return the pioneer man and woman to their original platforms. The decision followed years of inaction by university officials, including in response to May 2019 protests by a Native American student group to remove one of the statues, The Pioneer.

Schill said in 2018 that he would not consider removing monuments at the recommendation of an advisory committee convened to recommend changes, modifications and additions to spaces and monuments which still narrate the campus along the lines of white supremacist mythologies.

A 2019 report about The Pioneer by doctoral candidate Marc Carpenter found sculptor Alexander Phimister Proctor had a long history of racist remarks and the statue itself had racist origins. The report recommended the removal of The Pioneer, sometimes referred to as the Pioneer Father, and was made available to the university.

It celebrates a murderous Indian killer and white supremacy, more generally, Carpenter said about the statue. The city of Eugene and the University of Oregon should want to have nothing to do with that.

Schill did not respond to detailed questions about his decisions regarding the statues and his response to earlier calls to remove them.

Ryan Reed, affiliated with the Karuk, Hupa and Yurok tribes and co-director of the Native American Student Union, said Schill did not contact the group or invite members to join the advisory committee after the group called for the removal of The Pioneer in May 2019. No university officials reached out to the group after the statues were removed, Reed said.

Its hard to have change when youre not able to have a sit-down conversation and talk about these things and why we see that these things are racist, Reed said.

Reed said as academics, university leaders have endless resources to know the statues represent white supremacy.

As a Native person who grew up on his own ancestral homeland, I have to leave my home and to go to an institution over six hours away to teach someone else about their own local history, while Im trying to figure out who I am when Im home right here on my homeland, Reed said.

The burden should not be placed on Native students to teach university administrators about the universitys or the nations history, Reed said.

When representing of what that statue is, all that comes out in me, all that trauma that Im talking about, Reed said. All that loss of identity, loss of culture, the stripping of identity, the rape and genocide that continues to be erased comes out in those statues.

Carpenter said in his research he found The Pioneer is somewhat unique, though not alone, in its specific celebration of violence. The figure in the statue is carrying a whip and a rifle, and Carpenters research showed the sculptor was particularly drawn to the violent nature of his subject, a man he called Big Frank, of whom Proctor wrote, killing a Native person was all in a days work for him. Proctor also sculpted a Robert E. Lee statue that was removed in 2017 by the city of Dallas, Texas.

The University of Oregon faculty senate called for a presidential advisory group to look into such statues on campus in 2018. But the Committee on Recognizing Our Diverse History was ultimately precluded from making recommendations for removals of statues found to be racist or otherwise harmful.

I will not consider recommendations that move or remove any of the existing structures on campus (e.g., artwork, statues, building names), Schill is quoted as saying on the committees webpage. It is critical that we learn from our history and not hide it from ourselves or future generations.

Carpenter said the idea that racist monuments need to be left alone to preserve history is wrong.

Taking down these monuments is actually getting rid of prior erasure, Carpenter said. One of the arguments against other pioneer monuments is that they effectively erase or celebrate, depending on the monument, a history of violence in the region.

Carpenter said removing them and placing them in settings that allow for more context about the history of colonization allows a more accurate history to be restored.

In a statement issued after the statues were pushed down, Schill said he would ask the Committee on Recognizing Our Diverse Histories to work with university museums to determine possible landing points for the statues.

While I strongly believe in the power of peaceful protest and the right to free expression and dissent, I condemn these acts of destruction, Schill wrote.

-- K. Rambo

krambo@oregonian.com

@k_rambo_

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Comcast announced Wednesday it was extending free WiFi hotspots to anyone who needs it for the remainder of 2020.

The announcement applies to 1.5 million of its public Xfinity WiFi hotspots, including 12,000 in Alabama. The biggest markets in Alabama are Huntsville, Gadsden, Florence, Tuscaloosa and Mobile.

We saw a huge jump in usage after we opened up our public hotspots, and were excited to keep them open through the end of the year as the nation begins taking steps to reopen, said Dana Strong, president of Xfinity Consumer Services.

Comcast also announced it had extended an offer of 60 days for free home Internet access for new eligible Internet Essential Customers. The company says the offer will help provide additional support for students and families in need through the end of 2020.

Comcast announced earlier in March that the hotspots will be available to everyone, including non-Xfinity customers, for 60 days during the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

Comcast will also continue to waive the requirement that those customers not have a past due balance with the company to qualify for the free offer.

According to the company, hundreds of thousands of non-Xfinity customers have taken advantage of the free hotspots driving up the overall usage of the free public WiFi. Comcasts public WiFi network is the largest of its kind in the country.
In April 2013, the defendant was sentenced to a 2,500 fine. The court of appeal ruled this Wednesday that he also has to pay around 55,000 in damages to the victim.

The defendant, a doctor who worked for the medical service of the Herrenberg military headquarters, was sentenced to pay his victim 55,000 in damages for obsessional harassment.

The court case lasted around 8 years. The victim had lodged a complaint in 2011.
BEIJING, June 24  The Chinese military's new-style combat uniforms featuring the newest camouflage pattern that debuted during the military parade in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China are currently being tried on by some troops and will be allocated to all troops as planned, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at the regular press conference on the afternoon of June 24.

Snr. Col. Wu also confirmed that the service members at the Chinese PLA Support Base in Djibouti are wearing the latest outfit, as online photos showed.

The new camouflage uniform is designed and developed independently by China. Based on the Type-07 camo, improvements have been applied to the new uniform in terms of color, patterns, fabrics and military accessories.
Global crude steel production took a tumble in May as disruptions associated with the coronavirus pandemic hurt output across the world and crippled demand in major steel-consuming sectors. A surge in production from China to a new record high was more than offset by declines across other major producers.



Per the latest World Steel Association (WSA) report, crude steel production for 64 reporting nations plummeted 8.7% year over year to 148.8 million tons (Mt) in May. Notably, output declined in every region during the reported month.



China Churns Out Record Production



Crude steel production from China  the world's biggest steel producer  shot up in May to an all-time high on an uptick in demand from construction and manufacturing sectors as the country continues its gradual recovery from the fallout of the pandemic. Per the WSA, production in China, which now accounts for more than 60% of the global steel output, went up 4.2% year over year to 92.3 Mt in May. Output also surged 8.5% from April.



China, which came out of the lockdown ahead of other countries, is slowly clawing back from the coronavirus-led slump. Chinas steel production tumbled in March as steel mills in the country scaled down production in the wake of a slowdown in domestic demand and a pile-up in finished steel inventories. Production started to recover in April on the back of the restart of idled capacity and increased utilizations.



However, Chinas overcapacity remains an overhang for the steel sector. Despite the coronavirus-induced demand destruction, Chinas crude steel production expanded in the first quarter of 2020. For the first five months of 2020, output rose 1.9% year over year to roughly 411.8 Mt, according to the WSA.



Rising production would further add to Chinas finished steel inventories which have already swelled due to disruptions associated with coronavirus. Continued build-up of inventories of steel products including hot-rolled coil and rebar will likely exert pressure on steel prices in China and globally.



How Other Major Producers Fared in May?



Among other major Asian producers, India saw a 39.1% decline in production to 5.8 Mt in May, the third consecutive month of decline. The stringent nationwide lockdown to blunt the spread of the coronavirus forced steel manufacturers in the country to cut production amid shortage of labor and raw materials. Disruptions due to the coronavirus crisis also hurt domestic steel demand.



Production in Japan dropped 31.8% to 5.9 Mt in the reported month. Steel makers in the country have been hit by weak demand in automotive and machinery amid the virus crisis. Crude steel output in South Korea also fell 14.1% to 5.4 Mt. Consolidated output dipped 3.3% to 113.5 Mt in Asia.



In North America, crude steel production slumped 36.6% to 4.8 Mt in the United States in May.

Coronavirus has taken a big bite out of the U.S. steel industry. The pandemic has squeezed demand for steel across major end-use markets such as construction and automotive. Ebbing demand has forced domestic steel mills to curtail production with capacity utilization plummeting to multi-year lows. U.S. steel prices have also come under pressure this year amid a weak demand environment.



Meanwhile, output in Canada dropped 19.6% to around 0.8 Mt while in Mexico it fell 13.2% to roughly 1.5 Mt in May. Overall production in North America tumbled 31% to roughly 7.1 Mt.



In the Europe Union (EU), production from Germany, the biggest producer in the region, went down 18.9% to 2.9 Mt. Output skid 43.6% in Italy to roughly 1.3 Mt. France also saw a 36.5% slump to 0.8 Mt while output dropped 33.7% in Spain to around 0.8 Mt. Muted demand in automotive and slowing construction is hurting steel consumption in Europe. Total output was down 26.8% in the EU to around 10.5 Mt.



The WSA sees steel demand in the EU to contract 15.8% this year. The manufacturing sector in the EU was expected to rebound in 2020 following a recession in 2019. However, it has been pushed into a deeper recession amid lockdowns that led to a significant decline in orders. The trade body expects the automotive sector in the region to be the worst hit.



Moreover, output in the Middle East slipped 7.3% to 3.1 Mt in May. Iran, the top producer in the region, saw an 8.9% rise to roughly 2.4 Mt. Africa recorded a 42% decline to around 0.7 Mt in May.



Among other notable producers, output from Turkey fell 25.8% to 2.3 Mt. Production from Brazil, the largest producer in South America, dropped 22.6% to roughly 2.2 Mt.



The WSA noted that due to the difficulties presented by the pandemic, many of the figures for May are estimates that may be revised with next months production update.



What Lies Ahead?



Crude steel production in China is likely to continue to rise moving ahead on the back of a rebound in domestic demand and economic activities. A recovery in construction and manufacturing activities is driving demand for steel in China, the worlds top consumer of the commodity.



Steel mills in China are likely to further ramp up production on recovering profit margins and optimism that government stimulus measures will boost domestic steel demand. Beijing is looking to stimulate the economy with big infrastructure spending and is also taking steps to boost domestic consumption.



The WSA expects steel demand in China to rise 1% in 2020. All major steel-consuming sectors in China were back to near full productivity by the end of April. The WSA envisions steel demand in China to be driven, in the second half of 2020, by the construction sector that has already attained full productivity.



Construction will be supported by infrastructure investment driven by Beijings new infrastructure push. The automotive industry is also expected to be backed by incentive measures. However, the recovery in Chinas manufacturing sector is expected to be slow due to the global economic slowdown, per the trade body. A faster recovery in China than the rest of the world is expected to mitigate the anticipated decline in this years global steel demand.



Meanwhile, steel stocks are gaining traction of late partly due to the demand recovery in China. Shares of major steel makers such as ArcelorMittal MT , United States Steel Corp. X, Nucor Corporation NUE, Steel Dynamics, Inc. STLD and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. CLF, which completed the purchase of AK Steel earlier this year, have spiked roughly 15%, 36%, 35%, 39% and 52% respectively, over the past three months.



While ArcelorMittal, United States Steel, Nucor and Steel Dynamics currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), Cleveland-Cliffs is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock.



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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jun. 24

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

The project for polyethylene production in Kazakhstan was already well-developed by the time Germany's Borealis company made the decision to discontinue the project, Kazakhstans Ministry of Energy told Trend.

On May 19, 2020, German Borealis publicly announced that is suspends development of a polyethylene project in Kazakhstan.

The company said that the decision to discontinue the project is based on a thorough assessment of all aspects of the prospective venture and impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the increased uncertainty of future market assumptions.

The ministry official said that Borealis notified the ministry on its decision to suspend participation in the project on Apr. 20, 2020.

By the time the Borealis decided against participation in the project, the issue of providing raw materials (ethane) at an attractive cost was already solved, a feasibility study and a Government Support Agreement draft were already developed, the official said.

The ministry official said that currently the process of looking for a new strategic partner is underway.

The new partner will be chosen taking into account three factors: availability of its own licensed technology for the production of polyethylene, possibility of self-financing and provision of a sales market (offtake contract), the official said.

Borealis and Kazakhstan's United Chemical Company LLP (UCC) signed Joint Development Agreement in Abu Dhabi on Mar. 24, 2018.

The agreement oversaw development of a world-scale polyethylene project, integrated with an ethane cracker, in Kazakhstan.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
A Chinese mother-of-two broke down in tears after being jailed for playing a pivotal role in a baby formula export syndicate.

Lie Ke, 50, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison after she made hundreds of thousands of dollars by on-selling stolen Australian baby formula from her Sydney store to a network of buyers in China.

Detectives set up a series of cameras in 2018 which captured Ke buying baby formula tins from an organised shop-lifting ring.

Lie Ke, 50, (pictured) was sentenced to two years and three months in prison after she made hundreds of thousands of dollars by on-selling stolen Australian baby formula from her Sydney store to a network of buyers in China.

The thieves hit stores and supermarkets across Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle, and would then sell the milk powder at rock bottom prices to Ke.

Agreed facts state that Ke bought the tins for $16 to $25 and would often exchange the products in public places like car parks and Bunnings stores.

Ke, who moved to Carlingford in Western Sydney from China in 2001, was able to use her connections to sell the tins back in China for more than $80 each.

Defence lawyers for Ke argued to the Parramatta District Court on Wednesday that their client was not aware the baby formula goods were stolen and asked for her lack of criminal history to be taken into account, the Daily Telegraph reported.

But Judge Siobhan Herbert disagreed and said the Bankstown gift shop owner was motivated by money and greed.

'[Ke] said there was a milk shortage in China and that customers would attend her store looking for baby formula to send to China and she saw a business opportunity,' the judge said.

'She said she never asked where the product came from and was just grateful she did not have to go buy it in the morning or late at night herself.

'Lie Ke selected a meeting place which was clearly designed to reduce the likelihood of it being not seen by others.

'She was responsible for meeting people who had stolen the tins, made payments and was responsible for the onselling.'

Ke bought the stolen baby formula tins for $16 to $25 and would sell the tins back in China for more than $80 each

Police uncovered 'thousands of transactions of baby formula between customers in China and Lie Ke between November 2017 and August 2018  these customers were Chinese individuals'.

Investigators also seized 4,000 tins and discovered Ke transferred $394,000 into accounts controlled by her partner which police say was 'partly proceeds of the sale of stolen baby formula'.

Ke pleaded guilty to recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime and was given a non-parole period of one year and six months. She will be eligible for parole in December 2021.

Her partner Yueqi Ke, 53, also pleaded guilty to the same charge but avoided a prison sentence

Instead, he will serve an intensive corrections order for one year and four months in the community.

Personal shoppers, known as Daigou buyers, are big business in China - particularly around health and nutrition products.

Ke often exchangde the products in public places like car parks and Bunnings stores

Daigous send hard-to-get high-quality foreign products back to China and sell them at a significant mark up, most commonly to people they know.

Goods privately sold by personal shoppers are often regarded as more prestigious and trusted, compared to large companies who sell the same products in regular stores.

This is because China has a long history of fraudulently tampering with products to increase profits.

The demand for baby powder in China skyrocketed after batches were adulterated with melamine in 2008 - a chemical used to increase the nitrogen content of diluted milk in order to make the protein content appear higher.

Six babies died as a result.
President Muhammadu Buhari has backed Victor Giadom, deputy national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the acting ...





President Muhammadu Buhari has backed Victor Giadom, deputy national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the acting national chairman.





Garba Shehu, spokesman of the president, disclosed this to state house correspondents on Wednesday.





Shehu said Buhari will attend the national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the APC which Giadom fixed for Thursday.





The President has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned and has determined that the law is on the side of Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman. Because he will always act in accordance with the law, the President will be attending the virtual meeting Giadom called for tomorrow afternoon, he said.

We urge the media to stop promoting manufactured controversies and to not give any further room for mischievous interpretations of the law on this matter.





In addition to the President, the Giadom meeting will, hopefully, be attended by our Governors and the leaders of the National Assembly.





The APC has been embroiled in a leadership crisis following an appeal court order that upheld the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the partys national chairman.





While Abiola Ajimobi, former Oyo governor, was named acting chairman, Giadom said he had taken over the leadership of the party.





Members of the national working committee (NWC) loyal to the former Oyo later announced that Eta Hilliard, vice-chairman south-south, would act on behalf of Ajimobi who is unavoidably absent.





Ajimobi who is the APC deputy chairman (south) is reportedly battling a health challenge.





But Eta had described Gaidom as an imposter.





While citing court orders, the vice-chairman said Giadom is no longer a member of the NWC and an APC member.





Eta spoke when he received the report of Edo governorship primary election at the partys national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday night.





The membership of Victor Giadom has been suspended by a competent court of jurisdiction in Port Harcourt this afternoon. Not only is he no longer a member of the NWC and today his membership has been suspended, he said while responding to questions from journalists on Giadoms letter.




KERRVILLE, Texas, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- James Avery Artisan Jewelry, a family-owned jewelry retailer based in Texas, announces the upcoming opening of its new store on Wednesday, July 1 in Temple, Texas. The Temple Town Center James Avery Artisan Jewelry store is located at 2318 Southwest H K Dodgen Loop, Suite 100 in front of Bed Bath & Beyond.

"It's always exciting for us when we move into a new city, and we can't wait to open our newest store in Temple," says James Avery Director of Customer Service and Marketing Communications Lindsey Avery Tognietti. "The shopping experience may be a little different at the moment, but we continue to make each visit to our stores convenient, inviting and memorable for customers."

Tognietti says customer and associate safety is the number one priority. The Temple Town Center store will open following recommended health protocols and other guidelines which have been implemented in all James Avery stores. The company is placing hand sanitizing stations in the store for customers and associates as well as regularly cleaning and sanitizing all jewelry and high-touch areas of the store. The company also encourages customers to honor social distancing guidelines when possible and consider wearing face coverings when in the store. James Avery associates will undergo daily health screenings and wear facemasks.

Store hours will be Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m. Temple Town Center customers are welcome to shop in the new store or use the Contactless, Curbside Pickup or Buy Online, Pickup in Store options at JamesAvery.com. The James Avery team will announce plans for a grand opening celebration after regular store operations resume across the company.

About James Avery Artisan Jewelry James Avery is a vertically integrated, family-owned company located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. We offer finely crafted jewelry designs for men and women in sterling silver, 14K and 18K gold, gemstones and leather handbags. James Avery jewelry is designed by our own skilled artisans in Kerrville, Texas. We are a multi-channel retailer with 93 James Avery stores in four states. Our jewelry is also available in more than 220 Dillard's stores in Texas and 28 additional states, airport stores in Austin and Houston, Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations at Fort Hood and Fort Belvoir and nationwide through JamesAvery.com. James Avery crafts jewelry in Texas workshops in Comfort, Hondo and Kerrville, made of the finest materials sourced worldwide. For more information, visit JamesAvery.com or facebook.com/JamesAvery.

SOURCE James Avery Artisan Jewelry

Related Links

https://www.jamesavery.com


Women will start receiving letters for a CervicalCheck screening appointment from July 6 and the HSE expects to clear a backlog that built up because of Covid-19 by October.

The health authority is restarting the screening service with priority groups, including women needing to be recalled after one year and new cases.

HSE chief clinical officer, Dr Colm Henry, said the new HPV test would be used when screening started next month.

CervicalCheck, BreastCheck, Diabetic RetinaScreen and BowelScreen were suspended in March on public health advice due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

BreastCheck and BowelScreen will resume screening in September and Diabetic RetinaScreen will start screening again next month.

Dr Henry stressed the restarting of the screening programme was based on the assumption that there would be no worsening of the Covid-19 situation and restrictions continue to ease.

Diabetic retinopathy was relatively easy to restart but breast cancer screening was more complicated because people had to come a congregated setting in four static units in the country.

Dr Henry said BreastCheck's mobile units had repurposed  to allow for control measures so that when healthy people came for screening they felt safe and secure.

The health authority's chief executive, Paul Reid, said the average number of close contacts of Covid-19 positive cases was 4.6 and had increased marginally over the last few weeks.

He said the turnaround time from referral for a test to the time contact tracing has been completed was 1.78 days last week, which was well within their target.

Mr Reid also referred to figures from the World Health Organisation that showed Ireland was in the top six countries for testing.

However, surgery could take two to three times longer because of the planning and preparation involved.

A person undergoing surgery would need to be isolated for 14 days and must test negative for the coronavirus 72 hours before the planned procedure was due to take place.

Mr Reid said the HSE hoped to launch its contact tracing app next week but it would have to be brought to Cabinet first.

The health authority had been very clear about the data on the app that would be used to curb the spread of Covid-19.

This (the app) is what we call a decentralised model so the data is held on the person's phone," he said.
Eve Hewson is currently starring in new BBC drama The Luminaries, which was filmed in New Zealand

Eve Hewson has revealed her famous name has been both a help and a hindrance in her screen career.

The 28-year-old moved to New York 10 years ago to study at the prestigious Tisch School of Arts and has appeared in a number of TV and film roles over the past decade.

The youngest daughter of Bono, who is currently starring in new BBC drama The Luminaries, admitted her name has probably opened doors for her.

Underestimated

However, she told the Radio Times that she also gets underestimated as an actress because of her father's fame.

"In the beginning I think it was easier for me to get in the door," she said.

"Some of the friends I went to Tisch with are the most talented actors but have found it difficult to get an agent or an audition.

"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."

She said having a famous father also has its downsides.

"It can then become a bit of a hindrance because they can't separate you from your father or see you as an individual," she said.

"Often they have very low expectations and they really don't think you're going to be good.

"Then you are quite good and they're quite surprised."

At the start of her career, she said her parents warned her about the pitfalls of acting.

"They were vocal about its downsides - unpredictability, instability," she added.

"They were trying to prepare me for a lifetime of rejection and there have been times I've said to them, 'You were right, this was not the smartest move'.

"I've announced I'm going into early retirement a million times over family dinners."

She said she took time off after spending six months filming The Luminaries in New Zealand with plans to go back to acting in March.

"Then of course March came around and that absolutely didn't happen so I'm never going to say anything like that again," she said.

The actress, who lives in Brooklyn, flew back to Ireland on March 16. She has spent the pandemic with her parents and siblings in Dublin.

"It's like a throwback to my teenage years but it's been great," she said.

"Everybody is usually always so busy with their own lives and careers so it's been lovely to spend all this time together - and nobody has killed each other yet."
Muslims expressed disappointment Tuesday at Saudi Arabia's decision to scale back this year's hajj pilgrimage, but many accepted it was necessary as the kingdom battles a major coronavirus outbreak. Around 1,000 people residing in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to perform Islam's main pilgrimage this year, authorities said -- compared to some 2.5 million from around the world last year. The move had looked inevitable for some time and several countries had already pulled out, but the announcement added to disappointment of Muslims, many of whom invest huge sums and wait years to perform the rite. "My hopes of going to (the holy Saudi city of Mecca) were so high," said Kamariah Yahya, 68, from Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, which had already barred its citizens from the hajj earlier this month. "I've been preparing for years. But what can I do? This is Allah's will -- it's destiny." Shahid Rafique, chairman of a Pakistani hajj tour operators' group, said it was "a moment of sorrow for all the Muslims, especially for those who were making plans for years and years". "Professionally, it is a big loss for us, for all the private hajj organisers, and we may not be able to recover from this loss for many years," he said. But in Iran, where authorities are battling the Middle East's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak, many backed the decision. Retired public transport worker Abdollah Pouyan pointed to an upswing in cases and deaths from the disease in the Islamic Republic in recent weeks, saying "this is all because of large gatherings". "When it gets really busy, when there are so many people there, can they really control the situation or maintain social distancing?" he asked. "Overall, this is for the benefit of everyone." Worshippers at a mosque in Tunis also approved of a move by Tunisian authorities to postpone the hajj in line with the Saudi decision. "God willing, it'll be for next year... These are exceptional conditions and it's also for their protection," worshipper Mohamed-Amine said. - 'Shattered' - In Bangladesh, the head of a hajj travel agencies' group said many people would be "shattered" by the decision, but accepted it was for the best. "Unlike other countries, the majority of Bangladeshi pilgrims are elderly people, and they are vulnerable to COVID-19," Shahadat Hossain Taslim said. India's minister for minority affairs said more than 200,000 people from the country had applied to go on the five-day event, scheduled for the end of July, and they would receive a full refund of any money deposited for the pilgrimage. A requirement for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, the hajj pilgrimage sees millions of people pack into congested religious sites. Many feared it could have become a major source of virus transmission. Saudi citizen Yazeed Daajani told AFP more "precautions and organisation" were in place for this year's hajj than in previous years. Officials in the kingdom, where virus cases have surpassed 161,000, say the pilgrimage will be limited to those below 65 years of age and with no chronic illnesses. Pilgrims will be tested for the virus before arriving in Mecca, and will be required to quarantine at home afterwards, they said. But some Muslims had opposed moves to shut down the event altogether. "The hajj is one of the rituals of Islam, so there's no reason for cancelling or postponing it," said Ahmed al-Khoury, 29, a Jordanian living in Riyadh. "There are precautions that can be followed to stem the spread of the virus, whether it's during the hajj or during any other rituals of Islam." - 'Collective decision' - The decision has prompted renewed questions about Saudi Arabia's custodianship of Islam's holiest sites -- the kingdom's most powerful source of political legitimacy. A series of deadly disasters including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 worshippers have seen the kingdom criticised over its management of the hajj. Mohamad Azmi Abdul Hamid, from the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations, said Muslim nations should have been allowed to take a "collective decision", rather than leaving it to Riyadh. "It's high time (Mecca and Medina) are managed by an international board represented by Muslim countries," he told AFP. The decision also risks annoying hardline Muslims for whom religion trumps health concerns. But others, like Yahya in Indonesia, are looking to the future in hopes of performing the pilgrimage in 2021. "I'm still hoping to go on hajj next year, and pray that I'll stay healthy until then," Yahya said. burs-sr/je/sw/par The hajj last year drew about 2.5 million pilgrims from around the world
Kmart has attracted legions of fans with its on-trend products and low prices for everything from marble tables to heated rugs and $69 air fryers.

Entire social media groups are dedicated to mums revamping their homes with brand new furnishings or super-organised Kmart inspired kitchens.

The chain's more-for-less popularity saw its sales jump 7.6 per cent in the second half of last year, even as its sister company Target hit dire straits.

But there's one reason why Kmart is able to sell a whole coffee machine for $89 - all the products its fans rave about are made in China.

So reliant on cheap Chinese labour is Kmart that entire aisles across its stores are empty until at least July after coronavirus ripped through Asia

Shelves are completely bare in many parts of its stores like this one in Parramatta in western Sydney

So reliant on cheap Chinese labour is Kmart that entire aisles across its stores are empty until at least July after coronavirus ripped through Asia.

Queensland University of Technology consumer expert and researcher Gary Mortimer said the stores were reliant on cheap overseas manufacturing.

Poll Would you pay more for Australian made products? Yes, Australia first No, just want best price Would you pay more for Australian made products? Yes, Australia first 510 votes

No, just want best price 96 votes Now share your opinion





'Australian discount department stores are heavily reliant on overseas production, whether that comes out of India, China, Pakistan or Bangladesh,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Australian Workers Union national secretary Daniel Walton said it shouldn't be the country's 'destiny' to buy everything from China.

'We are in this position today because of deliberate choices made by our governments. It's certainly possible to recalibrate and we should,' he said.

'Australians can and should be making more things  preferably things that we want to hang onto instead of ending up in landfill.'

Kmart said it worked with suppliers across the globe, 'to develop and source the best quality, style and priced products that our customers love'.

Air fryers and pie makers

Kmart's incredibly popular line of air fryers, costing between $49 for a 1.5L version and $129 for the 3-in-1 version, are used to cook just about anything.

Customers were up in arms when they sold out around the country earlier this month, with many models still gone from shelves today.

Kmart's incredibly popular line of air fryers, costing between $49 for a 1.5L version , are used to cook just about anything

The 3-in-1 version costs $129 and was the only model available on shelves this week

The same is true for Kmart's sandwich and waffle makers, microwaves, ovens, and electric frying pans (pictured)

This 3L deep fryer cooks hot chips in your home and only costs $29. It's made in China

A home cook shocked social media after opting to use hot chips as a sandwich filling and cooked the lunchtime snack in the $29 pie maker

The reason for the dire shortage is the entire range is made in China, as clearly labelled on the side of the boxes they come in.

The same is true for Kmart's sandwich makers, microwaves, ovens, electric frying pans, and $29 double hot plate.

Kmart's legendary $29 pie maker is another smashing success, used to make an astonishing variety of lunch box treats - and even barbeque sausages.

For the same price you can scoop up a sausage roll maker that ex-MasterChef host Matt Preston has used to make apple pies and mac-n-cheese fingers.

'I lashed out on a sausage roll maker... I call it $29 well spent,' he captioned a photo of it being put to use.

'I couldn't be prouder... making apple pies in the sausage roll maker with puff was pretty good but when my daughter suggested using up the filo in the freezer with the last of the filling, we were on to a winner!'

Just a day earlier, Preston used his pie maker to whip up spanakopita, a Greek spinach and feta cheese pie.

Both of these appliances are made in China and now barely available in store thanks to their popularity and supply problems thanks to coronavirus.

Kmart's legendary $29 pie maker is another smashing success, used to make an astonishing variety of lunch box treats

For the same price you can scoop up a sausage roll maker that ex-MasterChef host Matt Preston swears by

Preston used his $29 Kmart sausage roll maker to make 'Mac-n-Cheese Fingers'

'So I lashed out on a sausage roll maker... I call it $29 well spent,' he captioned a photo of it being put to use

Bargain blenders

On shelves opposite are a dazzling array of blenders and food processors for as little as $50 - all of which are made in China.

One particularly popular model, a $49 digital 1.5L blender, scored high marks from a Choice test that gave it a better grade than a $2,200 competitor.

'Look, it's no Vitamix in the status department, but this $49 blender held its own in the kitchen, receiving a more-than-respectable 90 per cent performance score,' the consumer watchdog said.

Consumer review website Canstar Blue also weighed in on the digital blender.

'The digital blender packs a lot in for the price, and has features that other brands have on their blenders for much more money,' the experts said.

Choice included the blender in a roundup of bargain Kmart products that provide great value for money.

A Kmart $49 digital 1.5L blender, scored high marks from a Choice test that gave it a better grade than a $2,200 competitor

This juicer is elaborate and high performing, and costs just $59 because it is made in China

This blender, aiming to compete with extremely popular alternatives, is just $59 thanks to being made offshore in China

$89 Coffee maker better than $949 one

They included an $89 espresso coffee machine that was recommended for any family that wanted a tasty on a budget.

'In our tests, it outperformed a $949 coffee machine on flavour and pumped out consistently hot coffees. And it'll pretty up your kitchen bench, too: it looks the business,' Choice declared.

A $49 carry-on suitcase measuring 45.5cm was rated better than a $500 competitor, and a $55 electric blanket also received a 'red hot' rating.

The review also listed Kmart's range of vacuum cleaners, costing $50 to $100, which were given scathing reviews but are nonetheless widely sold.

All these outrageously popular, and in many cases high-performing, products are made in China, as seen on their packaging.

Kmart has a $89 espresso coffee machine that outperformed a $949 coffee machine in a review by Choice - it's made in China

The review also listed Kmart's range of vacuum cleaners, costing $50 to $100 and made in China, which were given scathing reviews but are nonetheless widely sold

Kit out kitchens for $13

Elsewhere in the kitchen, Choice also raved about Kmart's 24cm frying pans that now cost just $13 - alongside similarly cheap other sizes.

The group found it delivered better performance, ease of use, and durability than other popular brands costing hundreds of dollars.

'It's a lightweight, well-balanced pan that's easy to clean,' kitchen expert Chantelle Dart said.

'Even though it's only $16, it's comparable with other brands that are significantly more expensive.'

The pan survived 10,000 scrubs with a scourer and the only downside was its thin base making it get too hot when used for long periods.

All Kmart's kitchen pots and pans are made in China.

Another recent sensation was a $35 heated throw rug, far cheaper than the $150 versions sold elsewhere.

Customers said the rug was so good it saved them $500 on heating costs, and was widely sold out at the beginning of winter.

Like all of Kmart's electric blankets, the heated throw rug is made in China.

Choice also raved about Kmart's 24cm frying pans that now cost just $13 - alongside similarly cheap other sizes

All Kmart's pots and pans, along with almost all its other kitchen gear, are made in China

Kmart is now selling heated throw rugs for only $35 (pictured) which is a lot cheaper compared to other brands who sell similar products between $50 and $150

Like all of Kmart's electric blankets, the heated throw rug - seen here on the shelf - is made in China

Hack Queen's made in China decor

Social media is littered with lists of must-have Kmart products and stories of elaborate home redecoration done for next to nothing - all with stuff made in China.

'Kmart hack queen' Samantha this month shared her must-have Kmart buys of 2020 - including a marble coffee table and a $4 glass canister.

Samantha said her favourite product at the moment is the $49 rattan floor lamp.

'I love this lamp because it's so versatile. You can place it in the bedroom or living space - it suits a contemporary and natural scheme,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Her other top picks include the marble range - $49 coffee table and $35 side table.

'Marble tables are great, solid pieces of furniture with heavy marble. I actually don't understand how something is made with such good quality but is still well priced,' she said.

Samantha said she's loving her 'stylish' set of two black round coffee tables, which costs $39 for the larger size and $29 for the smaller version.

Her list of 10 must-have items she used in a spectacular home redecoration are all made in China, which is how she was able to pull it off for such a low price.

'Hack queen' must-have Kmart buys 1. Rattan floor lamp - $49 2. Faux flowers - $3 to $8 3. Large tall glass vase - $12 4. Furniture pieces - including the $35 half moon table and the $39 entertainment unit 5. Hanging plant in pot - $9 6. Hammered Triple Wick Fragrant Candle - $15 7. Mable table - $35 8. Set of two round oak table - $49 9. Black coffee table - large $39, and small $29 10. Glass canister - large $5.50, small $4 and a set of two mini $4 Advertisement

'Kmart hack queen' Samantha recommended this $35 Kmart side table. It's made in China

Kmart's range of affordable furniture wouldn't look out of place in Ikea, but is a fraction of the price - because it's made in China (as seen on the box)

Homes transformed for next to nothing

Similarly, Erana Rosa, 39, transformed the space under her stairs into a cubby house for her daughter for just $250.

Her design included a toy kitchen for $89, beanbag for $43, and dinosaur lights for $8 from Kmart - all of which are made in China.

'I think she was in shock when she first opened the door and wasn't sure what to say or do but she loved the dinosaur lights and has been cooking up a storm in the kitchen,' she said of the Kmart products.

Another woman shared her dressing room makeover by her fiance, complete with a Hollywood mirror, marble worktop and a chandelier.

The bride-to-be shared images of the luxury space to Facebook which houses her extensive Louboutin shoe collection, makeup, bags and jewellery.

Erana Rosa, 39, transformed the space under her stairs into a cubby house for her daughter for just $250

Her design included a toy kitchen for $89, which is sold out due to problems sourcing from China during coronavirus - this is a different deluxe model still available

Another woman shared her dressing room makeover by her fiance, complete with a Hollywood mirror, marble worktop and a chandelier

The grey velvet bench ($45) is a stoop to hold her candles, artworks and frames, with most things on top of it printed at the Kmart store. It is made in China

These fake flowers, similar to the ones used in the dressing room, costs just $5 and are made in China

Kmart provided a grey velvet bench ($45) as a stoop to hold her candles, cosmetics holders, vases and fake flowers, along with the $8 curtain string lights behind the makeup station - all made in China.

Other popular Kmart products that are made in China include a $99 air purifier that took off during the summer's bushfires, a $49 three-piece luggage set, and a set of knives with a block for just $7.

Camping and recreation gear and kids toys are also overwhelmingly Chinese made including the store's entire fishing rod and tent ranges.

Most of the plastic toys are sourced from China, though Hot Wheels cars are made in Thailand and Lego is still made in Denmark where it was invented.

Even products you would expect to be made in Australia are from China, like a eucalyptus mint fragrance diffuser.

Even products you would expect to be made in Australia are from China, like a eucalyptus mint fragrance diffuser

Most of the plastic toys Kmart has available are sourced from China - like everything on this shelf

Just $10 for this whole box of kids toys - because it's made in China

Other popular Kmart products that are made in China include a $99 air purifier that took off during the summer's bushfires

How Kmart keeps prices low - buying from China

Kmart said it was committed to preserving and nurture its relationships with suppliers and partners.

'This includes working alongside these suppliers and partners that operate across the globe, to develop and source the best quality, style and priced products that our customers love,' it said.

'During these unique times, together we have been able to navigate and move through this period with positive outcomes that have allowed us to continue to pass on the best products at the best price to customers.'

Kmart claimed the empty shelves were the result of it scaling back orders under the incorrect assumption that Australians would buy less, not that its supply was interrupted.

'During the early stages of Covid-19 and the uncertainty of the coming months, we reduced the number of product orders,' it said.

'The team have worked hard to bring product forward and encourage customers to be patient as stock levels will start to come back in the next few weeks and all product availabilities to normalise by July 2020.'

This set of knives, complete with a storage block, costs just $7 - it is made in China

Some a wide variety of fake pot plants and flowers, all made of plastic, that arrive from China

Camping and recreation gear and kids toys are also overwhelmingly Chinese made including the store's entire fishing rod and tent ranges

Most toys are also imported from China, but Lego is still made in Denmark where it was invented

Retail director John Gualtieri also blamed changes to manufacturing overseas for the slow return of products to the retailers shelves.

'Some of the countries where we manufacture our physical products were also put into lockdown at this time, putting production of some of our goods on hold for a period of time,' he said.

Commsec chief economist Craig James told 9 News the shortage is a byproduct of Australia's dependency on foreign imports.

'Australia is one of the most dependent countries in the world on China. Something like 38 per cent of exports go to China and something like a third of our imports come from China,' he said.

The supply chain fell into disarray as workers went into lockdown, worsened by the run on goods with Australian restaurants closed during the pandemic.

Kmart Australia says it expects stock levels to 'normalise' by the end of July

A YouGov poll found about 80 per cent of Australians thought Australian materials should be used for infrastructure projects - even if they cost more.

'Let's break the addiction to cheap Chinese imported product. It's a stupid false economy. Australian-made building materials are not only top quality, they're globally competitive,' Mr Walton said.

'COVID-19 has shown that when push comes to shove, we need to be able to produce the things we need, when we need them.'

This could be extended to consumer products available at Kmart as well.
More Drama In APC As Police Seals Off National Secretariat

The National Secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja has been sealed off on the orders of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

This comes amidst the leadership crisis rocking the ruling party. The IGP has instructed that members of the National Working Committee(NWC) should not be allowed to enter the party secretariat.

A party source said the seal off was to enable the Police chief and the two NWC groups to review and discuss the various court orders being brandished.

The party has been in a leadership crisis following an appeal court order upholding the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the party.
Cara Credit Union has donated 6,500 to Meals on Wheels in Castleisland, Tralee and Killorglin since March.

"Cara Credit Union was the first sponsor to support our work within days of the lockdown in March, and we are delighted that they have continued to do so every month since we began our COVID-19 Response," said Paddy Kevane, Meals on Wheels, Tralee and surrounding areas.

To date Cara Credit Union has donated 6,500 over four months to: Meals on Wheels Tralee; Saint Vincent de Paul in Castleisland and Killorglin; Castleisland Day Care Centre; Knocknagoshel Meals on Wheels; Killorglin Family Resource Centre and Tralee Soup Kitchen.

"We would support these community groups throughout the year, but our priority back in March when the lockdown was announced that the most vulnerable in our society would be looked after during the pandemic," said CEO Cara Credit Union Pa Laide.

"We contacted Meals on Wheels Tralee just before St Patrick's Day and the members were busy at the time putting necessary measures in place, sourcing chefs, supplies etcetera.

"In the four months they have gone from serving 70 meals over a weekend to delivering 1,450 meals a week," said Mr Laide.

"Additionally, we contacted these vital services in Castleisland, Killorglin, Knocknagoshel and Killorglin Family Resource Centre and Tralee Soup Kitchen and have continued to work with them by way of donations over the past four months since the lock-down.

"It was also great to see all the community and voluntary groups in Kerry along with many volunteers, including those from the hospitality industry come together to form the COVID-19 Community Response, whose work has been phenomenal.

"They have linked into the meals and wheels initiative in our local areas to ensure that everyone in our community has access to services, and we were delighted to assist in whatever way we could and are delighted to continue to do so," Mr Laide concluded.
To combat COVID-19, several tracing apps were made to keep track of individuals who are infected by the virus. There were several smart apps released in early 2020. They are mostly used to track all users who were infected with COVID-19 and the people they interacted with.

All these apps were used to identify positive infections, give advice on how to lessen transmission to others all while keeping identities confidential too.

Misleading posts on Facebook about tracing apps

Some Facebook posts in May 2020 claimed that these apps are collecting information from contacts. Mobile applications such as Healthy Together or ABTraceTogether were accused of gathering confidential data, as reported in Snopes.

However, these misleading posts are not telling the truth, rather they are just amplifying fears of being monitored online. Healthy Together was released in Utah in April and May 2020 to help trace COVID-19 positive individuals. They also find the nearest testing center in your area.

The use of Bluetooth technology allows more precise tracking, with GPS as well to check how fast the contagion might spread.

Downloading Healthy Together was recommended and on the 13th of May, there were already 45,000 downloads according to CNBC.

The app will determine how the data gained is used, but for users who are not comfortable with this, deletion is always an option. Even the GPS is scrubbed in 30 days and the user has ultimate control over the data of their smartphone.

For the app's use, officials respect the user's privacy. The ones with access to phone data are officials and some employees of the apps developers, but all for tracing individuals only, and the data are treated as confidential too.

Utah will use the data to combat the virus only and nothing more. GPS data gathered from users will be used to determine the transmission of the virus to support policies against the further spread of COVID-19.

Also read: Coronavirus: Experts Say We're Still on the First Wave, Is There a Second Wave Coming?

Healthy Together users are concerned with the privacy policy due to the accurate and extensive details needed to log in. One of these is the registration and profile data, which requires a full name, phone numbers, and device identifiers to track better.

For the contact list, it will be accessed by the Healthy Together app, then store all the phone contacts in the list. If anyone would want, the contacts in any mobile can be invited to try tracing app for better user experience according to WUSA9.

User-controlled features of contact list

All invitations sent via the app is by choice or opt-in, and anyone can be part of the Healthy Together and it is all by choice. Another is an invitation will not be collecting or tracking another device. Permission is given by the user for all functions.

Healthy together is not linked to FB, nor can invitations be sent via the Facebook app. This app will not trace a non-user and is totally by choice, since the users have control over the data.

Compared to Healthy Together, the app ABTraceTogether only needs a mobile number to warn if anyone is close to a positively infected individual. It is opt-in but doesn't connect the list or the FB address list, according to Global News.

Both of these apps, Healthy Together and ABTraceTogether, do not harvest data but are for tracking and notifying users only.

Related article: Coronavirus Oxford Vaccine Effective in Monkeys to be Mass-Produced in India

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Photo taken on June 8, 2020 shows the Three Gorges Dam in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. The water level of the Three Gorges reservoir dropped to 144.99 meters as of Monday afternoon, two days ahead of schedule, in a bid to make room to contain water from potential seasonal flooding. (Photo by Xiang Hongmei/Xinhua)

Chinese experts have dismissed rumors hyped by some Western media that the Three Gorges Dam, the world's biggest hydropower project, is at risk of collapse, noting the dam is intact and has spare capacity to hold the current inflows of water after southern parts of China experienced heavy rainfall and the Three Gorges reservoir's water level exceeded the flood control line.

Since China entered the flood season in June, southern and eastern regions of the country have experienced heavy and extensive rainfall. Floods have affected more than 2 million people and caused economic losses of billions of yuan.

The water level in China's massive Three Gorges Reservoir reached 147 meters on Saturday, two meters above the flood warning line. Meanwhile, the inflow increased to 26,500 cubic meters per second from 20,500 cubic meters per second on the previous day.

The alarming water level gave rise to rumors that the dam is under structural strain and nearby residents should evacuate. Some Western media hyped claims that the dam is at risk of collapse, which was not new in their discredit of the project.

Guo Xun, a research fellow at the Institute of Engineering Mechanics at the China Earthquake Administration in Beijing, refuted the rumors and speculation, saying that the dam is capable of holding far larger inflows than it is seeing now.

The dam is designed to meet "once-in-a-millennium" water level at 175 meters or flow up to 70,000 cubic meters per second. Currently, the 147-meter water level and 26,500 cubic meters per second levels are absolutely safe for the dam to bear, Guo told the Global Times on Monday.

Guo noted that the two-meter excess indicates that water in the reservoir needs to be discharged to balance outflow and inflow to prevent the water level from continuing to mount, a common practice in rain seasons. But the water is not a challenge to the reservoir, Guo said.

Speculation that the dam is an impending disaster have long circulated online both at home and abroad.

In July 2019, a satellite image of Google Maps appeared to show that the Three Gorges Dam was distorted, sparking concerns that it is at the edge of breaking.

The operator of the dam, the China Three Gorges Corp (CTGC), said in a statement then that monitoring data showed the dam was in normal working condition and the project was safe and reliable. Minor deformation happens all the time and it will not affect the dam's safety as long as it's within an elastic range, analysts explained then.

Guo said that the dam is equipped with a multi-channel "health monitoring system" that will issue an alert when there is an abnormity such as deformation, long before the change is visible.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Expatriates can use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits in case the countries, from where they are departing on flights to the state, do not conduct Covid tests. A decision to this effect was taken by the state cabinet which met here on Wednesday.

The PPE kits will be provided by airline companies. The state government had earlier insisted that Covid test was mandatory for all expatriates returning to the state with effect from June 25.

The state's climbdown from its earlier stance came after the Centre informed that some Gulf countries have conveyed to Indian embassies concerned about practical difficulties in conducting Covid tests.

The Centre had also reportedly turned down two proposals put forward by the state on return of expatriates. The Centre informed the state Chief Secretary that it's proposal to conduct TrueNat test for the NRKs prior to departure was not feasible as Gulf countries do not pprove such a test.

Another demand by the state to bring back all the expatriates who have tested Covid-19 positive in a separate flight was also turned down citing 'practical difficulties'.

The state's insistence on Covid tests had triggered a huge outcry from expatriates, mainly due to the practical difficulties and huge costs involved. Opposition parties in the state too had urged the goverment to revoke the norm.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday said he has written to Home Minister Amit Shah to revoke Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijals order under which every COVID-19 patient is required to visit a quarantine centre for assessment.

I would request Amit Shah to intervene like he had earlier and reverse the five days compulsory quarantine orders given by the LG. Similarly, this order too should be revoked otherwise there will be chaos in Delhi, Sisodia told ANI here.

The Deputy CM, who also holds the additional charge of health ministry in the national capital, said that he had previously written to Baijal to change the rule but has not yet received any response.

Every day three to four thousand cases are being found in Delhi. Yesterday four thousand new patients were found. Yesterday, I had mentioned that I had written to LG for changing his order under which every COVID-19 patient is required to visit a quarantine centre for assessment. This has created pressure on the hospital and administrations facilities. The situation is such that people are being taken to quarantine centres in buses, Sisodia said.

Also read: Army chief to review forward locations in Eastern Ladakh today

Also read: Indias Covid-19 tally crosses 4.6 lakh, spike of 15,968 cases in last 24 hours

Today I have written to Home Minister Amit Shah on the same issue, and asked him to put a stop to this practice, he added.

Sisodia also said that said that currently, two models for COVID-19 positive patients are operating in Delhi. Under the first, which is of Home Minister Shahs, every positive person is being taken to quarantine centre, while in the second model of Arvind Kerjriwal, the medical team visits the patient at his house and carries out an assessment. If the facilities do not exist at his house, only then he is sent to the quarantine centre, he said.

The Deputy chief minister said that this was not a fight between Amit Shahs model and Kejriwals model which model is better, but rather the interests of the public should be taken into consideration while deciding the model to be implemented.

The national capitals confirmed coronavirus cases reached 66,602 on Wednesday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

This includes 24,988 active cases and 39,313 cured and discharged patients. 2,301 deaths have been reported in Delhi due to the infection so far.

Also read: 50,000 Made in India ventilators to be distributed in Covid-19 hospitals through PM-CARES Fund

For all the latest National News, download NewsX App
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Smoking rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have declined by almost 10 percent in the last 15 years, according to a new review by The Australian National University (ANU).

Co-author of the review, ANU Associate Professor Ray Lovett, says the drop will save tens of thousands of lives. The study has also identified further ways to drive change.

"Up until the late 1960s, Aboriginal peoples were paid in tobacco and this context helps explain high rates of tobacco use and the complexity involved in shifting change within that context," Associate Professor Lovett said.

"This research shows reducing tobacco use is achievable with a suite of approaches."

The review includes detailed key actions to further reduce smoking and its associated harms. This includes programs and policies specifically developed and led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from the national to local level, as well as expanded and long-term funding and rigorous evaluation.

Experts say these should be complemented by national policies affecting Australians more broadly.

"Tobacco is the largest contributor to the burden of disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and there is substantial potential for health gains through reducing tobacco use," ANU lead author Ms Emily Colonna said.

"It is a really complex behavior. Smoking is influenced by a range of factors including colonization and its ongoing impacts, stress, racism, and exclusion from economic structures like employment and education. To address tobacco use most effectively, we need to take this context into account."

HealthInfoNet Director Professor Neil Drew, who collaborated on the project, said: "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience discrimination and barriers to both education and employment, at least in part due to colonization and its lasting impacts. This review shows these factors can contribute to smoking, or make it harder to quit."

The review will be published by The Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre today.

The review is accompanied by a summary, factsheet and video of the key findings.

Explore further Stress not a barrier to quitting the smokes

More information: The review is accompanied by a The review is accompanied by a summary factsheet and video of the key findings.
Press Release

June 24, 2020 HONTIVEROS URGES GOV'T TO PRIORITIZE HIRING

OF PINOYS IN FLAGSHIP PROJECTS

Senator urges 'economic masterplan' to address unemployment Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday asked the Philippine government to address the rising unemployment among Filipinos, amid Malacanan's pronouncement that it is looking into proposals to allow foreigners working in state flagship projects to come to the country. "Hire Filipinos first," Hontiveros said. "Milyon-milyong mga Pilipino ang nawalan ng kabuhayan at nagugutom sa ngayon. Daan-daang libong mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) din ang babalik sa bansa nang walang trabaho. Unahin natin sila," she urged, citing the latest data of 7.3 million jobless Filipinos and around 300,000-400,000 OFWs who will have to be repatriated due to loss of livelihood. Job-skills matching Hontiveros said that jobless Filipinos should be surveyed for their skills and matched with existing and future flagship projects. "Kailangan ng solusyon sa kawalan ng trabaho. We need to match skills to available and future jobs. The government has to step in as one of our major employers through its flagship projects while we are in crisis," the Senator explained. Hontiveros also said that many of those who are unemployed are skilled. "Sa hanay pa lang ng mga bumabalik na OFWs, marami dito ay health workers, engineers, architects, at iba pa. The government needs to survey the population for it to properly address the looming unemployment crisis," she explained further. Economic masterplan Hontiveros also urged the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the economic cluster of the Cabinet "to quickly put together a masterplan that will generate new sources of employment and new investments that will be ready to replace those that have been lost." The senator explained that investment in industries such as information and communication technology, agriculture, food manufacturing, the health sector, and urban-rural transport networks should be prioritized. "We need to harness local skills and talent that are available to us. Siguraduhin muna nating may trabaho ang mga Pilipino, bago tayo magbukas ng trabaho sa iba," she concluded.
The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement has reached an arrangement with former FAI CEO John Delaney over how the inspection of certain documents and emails seized from the association is to be conducted.

The corporate watchdog, as part of its ongoing investigation into certain matters concerning the FAI, seized a number of documents and material from the FAI's offices at Abbottstown on foot of a search warrant last February.

In proceedings before the High Court the ODCE seeks to inspect these documents to see if they are relevant to the investigation.

If the court finds that information contained in the documents are legally privileged then it cannot be used by the ODCE as part of its investigation.

Former FAI CEO John Delaney, who the court was told now lives and works in the UK, was joined as a notice part to proceedings, because some of the material taken may be private to him.

The matter was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on Wednesday afternoon.

Kerida Naidoo SC, appearing with Elva Duffy Bl for the ODCE, said that the contents of some 13 documents and a digital device with an unknown number of emails may contain information private to Mr Delaney.

Counsel said steps had been agreed between the parties to allow Mr Delaney, who left the FAI last September, to inspect and identify any material on the device or in the documents which he says is private.

Mr Delaney would be allowed to inspect a forensic copy of the digital device, counsel said.

Counsel said in order to protect his rights that any matter Mr Delaney deems private, which the ODCE considers relevant to its investigation will be considered by just one member of the watchdog's investigation team.

Counsel said it had also been agreed that the ODCE's application for the High Court determine if any of seized documents and material are legally privileged can be heard in July.

Jack Tchrakian BL for Mr Delaney said his client, who is currently living and working in the UK, was consenting to the making of orders allowing the proposed method of examining the documents and the emails to take place.

Brian Gageby Bl for the FAI said his client was also consenting to the orders.

After making the orders Ms Justice Leonie expressed her wish to see matters move forward with some expedition, and without any further delays.

The judge made her comments after being informed by Mr Delaney's counsel that he is prepared to travel to Ireland for the inspection, there were concerns that those plans might be impacted on by possible covid19 travel restrictions.

In adjourning the proceedings the judge said it was important the inspection is carried out in the presence of Mr Delaney in the next two weeks.

This would allow the ODCE's application to proceed on schedule in July, the judge added.
RALEIGH, N.C. - A 24-year-old real estate investment CEO won Tuesdays Republican primary runoff for a western North Carolina congressional seat over President Donald Trumps endorsed candidate for the nomination.

Madison Cawthorn handily defeated Lynda Bennett to complete an upset for the GOP nomination in the 11th Congressional District. Bennett had received the presidents backing on Twitter and the earlier endorsement of Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who until recently had held the seat.

Cawthorn, who also supports Trump, won by a roughly 2-to-1 margin while handing a setback for the president, who had recorded a phone message for Bennetts campaign. Meadows is a former House Freedom Caucus leader who represented the 11th District for more than seven years.

Cawthorn won despite other notable Bennett endorsements  Sen. Ted Cruz among them  and outside support from the political arms of the Freedom Caucus.

On Tuesday night, Cawthorn said he won because of a superior ground game with voters and a message about freedom that translated across generations and across ethnic groups.

My opponent seemed like she was really focused on national politics, but I wanted to be a representative for the people of North Carolina, he told The Associated Press in a phone interview. Cawthorns campaign also got help from a super PAC that backs candidates allied with Sen. Rand Paul.

Cawthorn, who would reach the constitutionally-mandated age of 25 to serve in the House in August, was paralyzed from the abdomen down after a 2014 car accident. Hell face Democrat Moe Davis, a former military prosecutor, and other party nominees in November. The district is still considered Republican-leaning despite recent boundary changes following litigation.

Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, said Cawthorn had a compelling story and benefited from local Republicans unhappy with details around how Bennett entered the race.

Meadows announced the day before the December filing deadline that he wouldnt seek reelection. The surprise departure came so late that candidates who had already committed to run for other elected offices were barred from switching.

Some disgruntled GOP activists felt that Meadows concealed his decision from them, while Bennett, a friend of Meadows wife, announced her candidacy within a few hours of his announcement.

The Trump endorsement obviously didnt play well, and I dont think that Trump is unpopular in the district, Cooper said. Rather, he said, the endorsement looked like it was done as a favour to Meadows.

A House Freedom Caucus spokeswoman didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither did Bennetts campaign.

Cawthorn called for the runoff after he finished second to Bennett in a 12-candidate primary in early March. Bennett had failed to get more than 30% of the vote needed to win outright.

Cooper said the size of Cawthorns victory signals the local party isnt fiercely divided, which should help Cawthorn in his general election race. Davis is a former chief prosecutor for military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who later became a critic of how cases there were being handled.

The scheduled May runoff was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With voters worried about the pandemics spread, mail-in absentee ballots were popular in the 17 mountain counties within the 11th District leading up to the runoff. Poll workers at in-person voting sites wore face masks and provided voters single-use pens and cotton swabs to mark ballots.

Meadows wasnt named chief of staff until after the March primary and resigned from the House a few weeks later. The 11th District seat is currently vacant.
Wirecard stunned the traditional German banking sector last year by displacing financial stalwart Commerzbank from the prestigious DAX index

By Chanyaporn Chanjaroen

(Bloomberg) -- Singapore has told Wirecard AGs local entities to ensure they keep customer funds from their domestic payments processing business in the countrys banks, the financial regulator said.

Wirecards primary business activities in Singapore are to process payments for merchants and help companies issue prepaid cards, the Monetary Authority of Singapore said Tuesday in an emailed reply to questions.

MAS has required Wirecard to ensure that they keep customer funds arising from these activities in banks in Singapore, a MAS spokesperson said in the email.

Shares in the German firm have collapsed in recent days amid an accounting scandal and worries about Wirecards banking facilities.

The company on Monday acknowledged that 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) previously reported as assets probably doesnt exist. Bank of China Ltd., Chinas fourth-largest lender, may write off most of the 80 million euros it is owed and not extend the credit line, according to people familiar with the matter.

On Tuesday, the Munich prosecutors office said former Wirecard Chief Executive Officer Markus Braun has been arrested.

Wirecard entities in Singapore are not currently regulated by the MAS, though the central bank has received a license application from the German firm under the new Payments Services Act, the regulator said.

The act provides for a grace period for entities conducting regulated activities to apply for a license, the MAS said. It may issue requirements to such entities during the grace period, it added.

Two local entities -- Wirecard Asia Holdings Pte and Wirecard Singapore Pte -- are on the MASs exemption list, according to the authoritys website.

Singapore is home to Wirecards Asia-Pacific headquarters and the company has been expanding aggressively in the region, which accounted for almost 45% of the groups reported revenue in 2018, second only to Europe.

Last year, Singapore police raided Wirecards local offices after an employee in the city state alleged that a member of the companys finance team engaged in accounting breaches.

Story continues

Business Relationships

Meanwhile, there are signs that the Wirecard scandal is affecting its business relationships in the region. Grab Holdings Inc., the leading ride-hailing firm in Southeast Asia, said Tuesday the company is reviewing its partnership with the German firm.

At this moment, there are no plans to have Wirecard process payments or acquire merchants for us, Grab said in an emailed reply to queries from Bloomberg.

Earlier this year, both companies agreed to have Wirecard process payment transactions made via Grabs mobile-based wallet in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. The pact also involved Wirecard extending GrabPay to more merchants and shops.

That business, known as merchant acquisition, is one of Wirecards major propositions and there could be a degree of nervousness among retailers using the system, DBS Group Holdings Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Piyush Gupta said Tuesday.

You will always find challenges and individual idiosyncratic problems in every industry - and Wirecard is likely to be one of those, Gupta said at the Bloomberg Invest virtual conference, when asked about the industry impact of the scandal.

I dont see that having a significant impact on confidence in general in the e-payments regime or the infrastructure across the board, he added.

Wirecards regional operations cover Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, according to its website.

(Updates with DBS comment in the 15th paragraph)

 2020 Bloomberg L.P.
WASHINGTON, D. C. - Democrats in the U.S. Senate including Ohios Sherrod Brown blocked a Republican police reform bill from Senate floor consideration on Wednesday, calling it nothing more than a fig leaf that would provide political cover. Instead, they said they want the Senate to consider a bill the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is expected to approve Thursday along party lines.

Before the 55 to 45 vote against debating the Republican bill, Democrats criticized it for failing to ban chokeholds of the type that killed George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and failing to ban no-knock warrants of the sort that led to the police shooting death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. Senate rules require 60 votes to move forward with debate on a bill.

I am not willing to participate in a political charade to vote on something that has no chance to lead to real change, Brown said in a Tuesday Senate floor speech. It just checks a box and provides politicians with a talking point. It is an insult to Black families who have been fed empty promise after empty promise, year after year, decade after decade, generation after generation.

Republicans described the bill as a starting point for debate, and argued Democrats should allow it to be improved on the Senate floor through the amendment process. Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman said the bill would strengthen police training methods, particularly with respect to use of force; improve the collection of data on violence by and against law enforcement; provide funding to increase the use of body cameras; reform hiring practices by providing more resources to ensure the makeup of police departments more closely matches the communities they serve; increase accountability and transparency; and make lynching a federal crime.

A statement from Portman called it outrageous and unacceptable that Democrats voted to block debate on the bill, and said he hopes Democrats will reconsider their decision and join us in working towards real reform on this issue.

If Democrats believed the underlying bill should be amended, they would have had every opportunity to do so yet instead they chose to obstruct and block progress on this issue, said Portman. Over the last month weve continued to see egregious examples of injustice and violence against people of color. Americans want to see progress on meaningful police reform.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, an African-American Republican who drafted the GOP bill, noted the Democrats proposal would only ban no-knock warrants and chokeholds by federal agents, and wouldnt cover the local police officers who killed Floyd and Taylor. He said his bill would get the data around no-knock warrants so that we can actually direct the resources and the decisions in the right way, and would cut off chokeholds by holding off on grant dollars to police agencies that permit them.

There is so much common ground on which we can work, and to lose this moment for the kids and the young adults who are watching this process would be terrible, Scott argued in a Senate floor speech.

In his speech, Brown said he wants to work with Scott and with anyone of either party on real solutions. All of us on our side do. He said organizations that represent the communities that suffer the most at the hands of police violence oppose the bill, such as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund; the Urban League; the Young Womens Christian Association, one of the most important civil rights and womens rights organizations in the country.

The Urban League put out a plan for reform around the time of the murder of Tamir Rice, after Michael Browns murder in 2014, said Brown. Since then, nearly 1,300 Black men and womenthink of that more than 1,300 Black men and women have been fatally shot by the police since the deaths of Michael Brown and Tamir Rice 6 years ago. This bill does nothing to stop the practices that killed them. Black Americans know their lives are put in danger by police every day. We must listen to them.

Brown told reporters that instead of allowing consideration of the GOP bill on the Senate floor so Republicans can score a few political points, the Senate should work bipartisanly in committees to produce a consensus bill. He said the Senate Judiciary Committee has done that with past bills and should do so with this one. He said the Republican bill is not a serious proposal.

Their legislation creates studies and gathers data but makes no real, significant reforms, Brown said.

More coverage:

Ohios U.S. Senators urge support for Asian tire dumping complaint

Vice President Mike Pence to visit Lordstown on Thursday

Ohio Congress members introduce bill to help hospitals financially hit by coronavirus

Can he do that? Local health experts question President Trumps decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization

Q & A: Trump adviser and Cleveland native JaRon Smith discusses police reform

Ohio Democrats in Congress praise Supreme Court DACA decision decried by Trump: Read it here

Prompted by Cleveland case, Sen. Rob Portman introduces bill to crack down on Chinese intellectual property theft

Senate passes bill by Sen. Rob Portman to fund National Park repairs

What is Juneteenth and should it be a federal holiday?

Panel chaired by Rep. Marcia Fudge examines voting during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown decries calls for business liability relief in COVID-19 legislation

The $600 question: Should the federal unemployment subsidy continue?

Local pastor tells congressional police reform hearing that police cuts made Cleveland 'unbelievably unsafe

Sherrod Brown chides Housing Secretary Ben Carson at Senate hearing

Federal oversight of Chinese telecom companies is lacking, says report from Ohio U.S. Sen. Rob Portman

Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur questions Trump administration proposal to resume nuclear tests
Kiklabb has announced that it now offers registration for Dubai Free Zone and onshore DED trade licences entirely over a smartphone.

The new service has been designed to not only make it easier to open a business in Dubai, but to transform the way that the licensing industry is traditionally managed.

Using the popular messaging service WhatsApp, Kiklabb provides customers with a detailed step-by-step licensing process, with user-friendly forms that can easily be filled out in minutes and are designed to be used on a smartphone.

The service also provides a channel for responsive customer service, which allows quotations, enquiries, requests, as well as payment links to be shared seamlessly. Kiklabbs customer service team responds to queries within 24 hours and are also available via email and phone. The service reflects Kiklabbs continuous ability to innovate its services in a dynamic business environment.

Despite the impact various industries are facing due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Kiklabb has seen a significant increase in trade licences for entrepreneurs and international companies in the first half of 2020. The new service comes at a time where the need to combine business continuity with personal safety is crucial.

Commenting on the launch of the service, Tasawar Ulhaq, CEO of Kiklabb said: We are excited to be launching this new service, and we are delighted with the feedback that we have received so far. Kiklabb remains the premier licensing option in Dubai, and with the use of WhatsApp Business Solutions, its never been easier to set up and register a business.

Kiklabb is owned by the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), a Government of Dubai organisation and provides entrepreneurs, SMEs and international corporations with the tools they need to launch a business in Dubai, with clear transparent costs and no hidden fees.

Other benefits of choosing Kiklabb include a Dubai PO Box, a Dubai stamp, and a physical address at the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 in Mina Rashid, one of the largest ports in the region. All businesses that use KILABB are eligible for Dubai residency visas, placing them at the heart of the regions business hub.

Ulhaq adds: With our transparent pricing and strategic location, Kiklabb remains one of the most affordable and convenient options for those who wish to licence and launch their businesses in Dubai. We are very passionate about the companies that we work with and we are dedicated towards creating the trust, stability and support they need to help them thrive. -- Tradearabia News Service
PLEASANT PRAIRE, Wis., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Products, LLLC. (Quest) today announced its acquisition of Summit Pharmaceuticals / Alliance Labs. Quest is a portfolio company of Promus Equity Partners (Promus).

With this merger, Quest will add the Enemeez and DocuSol brands of bowel care products, to its' portfolio of self-care products including OraCoat for Dry Mouth, Clinere for Ear Cleaning, Alocane for Emergency Burns, SUNBURNT for after-sun skin recovery and ProVent for various First Aid Skin Conditions.

Enemeez - DocuSol brands

Enemeez DocuSol have been a preferred and trusted formula assisting patients improve their bowel care needs for more than 15 years. The formulation utilized in these products was developed for patients who experience autonomic dysreflexia, hemorrhoids, fissures, or painful bowel movements.

"We are proud to add both the Enemeez and DocuSol brands to our portfolio of category-leading brands" Mike Brennan President & CEO of Quest commented. "We are excited to partner with the Summit Pharmaceuticals Team and to expand both the Medical and OTC businesses domestically and internationally."

Amy Powers, CEO and founder of Summit Pharmaceuticals/Alliance Labs, "I am very proud of what the team has accomplished to build both the Enemeez and DocuSol brands so patients and consumers can maximize their lives. We have built a great company, we have helped improve lives, and I'm excited to see the Quest Team take it to new levels of success in the years to come."

Bentley Associates, LP advised Summit Pharmaceuticals / Alliance Labs in the transaction, while Norton Rose Fulbright provided legal representation. Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren provided legal counsel to Quest.

PGIM, Inc. provided a senior credit facility. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.

About Summit Pharmaceuticals / Alliance Labs

The company manufactures and distributes mini-enema laxatives sold under the Enemeez brand to healthcare and the DocuSol brand to retailers, to both pediatric and adults who suffer from some form of constipation or painful bowel movements, patients who suffer from spinal cord injury or diseases, autonomic dysreflexia, hemorrhoids and fissures.

About Quest Products

Quest Products LLC. is a branded consumer packaged goods company that manufactures and sells and distributes national brands to retail and online stores. Quest seeks to bring innovative, self-care solutions to help people take charge of their health. Quest brands include OraCoat, Clinere, Alocane, ProVent, SuBurnt, AlcoHawk, CopperFixx and BeWELL Brands. Find out more at www.questproductsinc.com .

About Promus Equity Partners

Promus Equity Partners is a private equity firm affiliated with Promus Holdings, a Chicago-based multi-family office. Promus targets healthy lower-middle-market companies with a strong value proposition and outstanding growth prospects. Promus team members are proven investors with wide-ranging experience over numerous economic cycles in a variety of industries. For more information about Promus Equity Partners, contact Steve Brown at [email protected] or Sarah Wuellner at [email protected].

Media Contact:

Mark McGreevy, Quest Products, LLC.

262.925.0970

[email protected]

SOURCE Quest Products, LLC

Related Links

http://www.questproductsinc.com


A giant asteroid, which has been named as 441987 (2010 NY65), shot past the earth on Wednesday June 24. This incident occurred in the early hours of the day. It is being said that the flyby roughly occurred around 06:44 UTC.

According to a report published in Express, quoting NASA, the size of this huge asteroid is somewhere between 40 metres and 310 metres. The size of this asteroid was three times that of Londons Big Ben. Further, the speed of it is speculated to be 46,400 kmph and the distance at which it would have passed will possibly be around 2.3 million miles away from Earth. However, the space agency has mentioned that this asteroid does not possess any threat for Earth.

The agency, though, has also classed this as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid. It said, Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are currently defined based on parameters that measure the asteroids potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth. Specifically, all asteroids with a minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) of 0.05 au or less are considered PHAs.

What must also be taken in account is the fact that NASA as of now has not ruled out the entire possibility of space rock causing regional damage to some part of Earth. According to the space agency, there is a one in 300,000 chance every year that a space rock that can cause regional damage will hit.
Islamabad, Pakistan  A commercial plane crash that killed 98 people in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi last month was primarily due to human error, according to an interim investigation report into the disaster.

Pakistans aviation minister read out parts of the report and presented it to Parliament in the capital Islamabad on Wednesday.

According to the initial investigative report, the pilot and the [air traffic] controller both did not adopt the proper procedure, said Ghulam Sarwar Khan.

The initial report was based on data from the aircrafts digital flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, decoded by investigators in France earlier this month, days after the May 22 crash.

The reports accuracy has been disputed by the countrys main pilots body, the Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association (PALPA), according to a spokesperson.

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Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-8303 crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Karachi, Pakistans largest city, after an earlier aborted landing attempt, falling two kilometres (1.24 miles) short of the runway at the Jinnah International Airport.

Khan said the aircraft had been approaching the runway at an unsafe approach angle after ignoring air traffic control warnings to lower its altitude while still 10 nautical miles (18.5km) from the runway.

The pilot deployed his landing gear at that point, but flight data shows the gear was retracted again five nautical miles (9.3km) from the runway.

The aircraft scraped the ground on its aborted landing, the engines hitting the runway at least three times, initial reports indicated.

On one side, the pilot ignored the controllers advice, and on the other side the controller did not tell the pilot about the damage to his engines after they scraped [the ground].

The pilots then attempted to go around for another landing, but the plane was not able to gain altitude as its engines failed, causing it to plummet to the ground into the Model Colony residential neighbourhood.





Ninety-seven of the 99 people on board the aircraft were killed, only two passengers surviving after they were thrown from the wreckage on first impact.

A child, who was in one of the 29 homes destroyed by the plane, was killed on the ground by the aircrafts impact.

Khan said the initial investigation had ruled out any technical faults in the aircraft.

Based on this preliminary report, this [] aircraft was 100 percent fit to fly, he said. There was no technical fault of any kind in it.

No clue

PALPA responded to the report by disputing its findings, questioning its accuracy when none of the four members of the Pakistani Air Accident Investigation Board was a pilot rated to fly the Airbus A320 aircraft, the model of the crashed airliner.

We have no clue about it, we have not even seen the report, PALPA spokesman Qasim Qadir told Al Jazeera.

We have not at all been included in this, not even as a silent observer, Qadir said. None of [the investigators] are rated on this plane or know this plane.

Wreckage of state-run Pakistan International Airlines plane lying amid houses of a residential district days after it crashed [EPA]

Speaking to Parliament, Aviation Minister Khan said Pakistans air-crash investigators had been assisted by a 10-person international team, including members from France and the United States.

He said a senior Turkish pilot had been included as a technical adviser.

There is free, fair and transparent investigation ongoing, and this is its preliminary report, he said.

The International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations, which offered its technical assistance to the Pakistani investigation in a letter on May 24, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the initial report.

According to Khan, the pilot and co-pilot were not focused and had been discussing the coronavirus pandemic when air traffic control first alerted them to their excessive altitude.

[The pilot] listened in haste and replied that he would manage it. And then returned to talking about corona, said Khan.

There was an overconfidence, unfortunately, and that focus and concentration was not there.

Khan also said air traffic controllers were also at fault during the failed initial landing.

The controller is also negligent that when he saw the aircraft touch down on its engines and saw fire coming out of the engines, he should have informed [the pilot], said Khan. But the control tower did not inform the pilot.

Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim
The following article is a written adaptation of an episode of Thrilling Tales of Modern Capitalism, Slates new podcast about companies in the news and how they got there.

What exactly do management consultants do? Well, consultants help solve problems for people who run companies and other organizations. The client defines the problem, and the consultant helps find a solution. But there are consultants  and then theres McKinsey & Company.

The idea that McKinsey hires the best of the best is central to the story that the firm tells about itself. It tackles the hardest problems for the biggest clientsand the fees it charges those clients reflect all this. Theyre the bluest-chip management consultants around. And thats why, over the course of nearly 100 years in business, McKinsey has been able to adapt to changing market conditions and skate through crises with little harm to its bottom line. Most companies see periodic dips in demand for their products and services, but theres rarely been a down market for what McKinsey has to offerbecause McKinsey sells solutions to other companies problems. What sorts of problems? Whatever you got.

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For all my criticisms and questions about McKinsey, I think its one of the most brilliant ideas for a business that anybodys ever had, says Duff McDonald, who wrote a history of McKinsey titled The Firm: The Story of McKinsey and Its Secret Influence on American Business. He called management consulting one of the most flexible business models in the history of Western capitalism. There is a certain brilliant essence to a company which sells what youre buying, as opposed to what theyre selling, McDonald says.

The guy who had that idea, back in the 1920s, was an accounting professor named James McKinsey. At the time, accounting basically meant one thing: keeping track of the money that came in and the money that went out. You spend a dollar, you wrote it down. You earned $5, you wrote it down. At the end of the month, you added it all up and reconciled the past with the present. But what James McKinsey realized was that a smart company could use those same techniques to see the future. You could look at those numbersnumbers that represented costs and revenuesand use them as the basis for next years budget, or to chart a long-term corporate strategy. Maybe that seems sort of obvious? Well, it wasnt obvious in 1926. And while a few people had similar insights right around that time, James McKinsey was the only one to build a massive consulting company around it.

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He positioned his company as elite right from the start. The young firm was very selective about its client list, on the notion that youre judged by the company you keep. How do you become a top-tier firm? By working exclusively for top-tier clientsand thus the McKinsey mythos was born. But though James McKinsey lent his name to the enterprise, it was his successor who gave the firm its soul. If youre going to be serious about a real history of McKinsey, you have to quickly move to the man who inherited or grabbed leadership of the firm, Marvin Bower, says McDonald.

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Under Marvin Bower, McKinsey would respect the numbers, but it would refuse to be bound by them. Instead, the firm would offer advice and counsel of all sorts. If James McKinsey had turned accountants into consultants, then Bower turned consultants into professionals. To Bower, a professional was discreet; a professional talked and dressed like those top executives. McKinsey consultants were even required to wear hats right up until the 1960s, when John F. Kennedy changed the world by appearing in public with a bare head. But most importantly, Bower thought a professional should give clients the good advice they might not get internally and tell them the hard truths they might not want to hear. A professional, in Bowers estimation, would do what was best for the client, not what was most lucrative for the adviser. He basically said to their clients, We will put your interests ahead of ours always,  says McDonald. And that is the foundation upon which McKinseys entire reputation and business was built.

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Its a lot easier to say to your employees  I didnt want to do this, but we went and asked McKinsey, and this is their advice. McKinsey will willingly be the scapegoat.  Duff McDonald

So, OK, consultants work for management. Theyre trained to identify with management. And when theres a conflict between whats good for people who run the companies and whats good for everyone else, which side would you expect the consultants to be on?

In 1951, a McKinsey consultant published a study in Harvard Business Review showing that ordinary worker wages were rising roughly three times as fast as executive wages. This study made the rounds among elite American executives, says Daniel Markovits, a Yale law professor and author of The Meritocracy Trap. The elite executives took the view that they would like their compensation to grow more quickly.

So the executives started bringing new problems to the consultants: foreign competition, increasing costs, declining profits. And what the McKinsey consultants started telling them was, broadly, Do you really need all those middle managers? Of course, most executives dont enjoy putting people out of work, and they certainly dont like being seen as heartless. Fortunately, thats another problem McKinsey can help them with. Once a company has decided to fire a bunch of people, McDonald says, its a lot easier to say to your employees  the ones who will still be showing up to work, that I didnt want to do this, but we went and asked McKinsey, and this is their advice. McKinsey will willingly be the scapegoat for that story.

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And the McKinsey consultant who gives the manager that advice also gets to avoid having to feel responsible for putting people out of work. If Im working at McKinsey, when I decide to give the best professional advice I can, following the principles of integrity that McKinsey insists on for its workers, I dont characterize myself as having fired 50,000 people, Markovits explains. What Ive done is give the best professional advice that I can. And thats a perfectly apt way to think about your life, but from a systematic or a structural perspective, it insulates everybody from responsibility for terrible outcomes.

Over the course of its history, McKinsey has advised downsizing for so many different companies that, according to Duff McDonald, the firm may well be the single greatest legitimizer of mass layoffs [of] anyone, anywhere, at any time in modern history. The wave of layoffs that tore through the economy from the 70s through the 90s changed the shape of the American corporation. Afterward, there were fewer employees in that middle tier coordinating between the production line and the executive suite. Corporate jobs were increasingly divided between replaceable cogs at the bottom and stressed-out captains of industry at the top.

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Of course, losing all those white-collar workers in the middle saved companies a lot of money. Some of that money went to profits. Some of it went to the consulting firms they brought in to help them. And some of it went to the salaries of those increasingly important top executives. According to Markovits, this is exactly how the meritocracy looks after its own interests. Its not part of my argument that places like McKinsey or Boston Consulting Group or Bain or any of these other elite consulting shops are snake oil salespeople, he says. They are providing real skill and expertise. Its just that when companies manage themselves using skill and expertise delivered in this way, what ends up happening is that they increase the wages of really elite managers and graduates of fancy universities and decrease everybody elses wages.

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The changes to business practices that began in the 1970s were soon consolidated into an ideology: the idea that a companys only responsibility is to maximize the value of its shares. This idea, known as shareholder value, was promoted by the conservative economist Milton Friedman and taken up by a variety of CEOs and corporate raiders who saw it as a path to growth and profit in that eras stagnant economy. For consulting firms such as McKinsey, that meant a booming market for cost-controlling, value-maximizing adviceand sometimes this advice went wrong. McKinsey advised Time Warner on its merger with AOL, one of the largest and most disastrous mergers in history. It spent more than a decade consulting for a sleepy Houston energy company named Enron, which, under the leadership of former McKinsey partner Jeffrey Skilling, grew into a $100 billion fraud that collapsed in 2001.

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Over the past 20 years, McKinsey has also expanded its work for governments and the public sector, and governments all over the world have signed on. This very April, as a matter of fact, Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York hired McKinsey to consult on coronavirus recovery plans. The mission, one source told Reuters, is to make the plan Trump-proof.

But at the same time, according to New York magazine, McKinsey is also working for the Trump administration. The firm has contracts with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and was at one point even involved in Jared Kushners coronavirus task force. And its not just for public health, either. According to ProPublica and the New York Times, when the Trump administration in 2017 directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ramp up detentions, McKinsey consultants allegedly suggested that the agency save money by cutting spending on food and medical care for detainees. These recommendations were a bridge too far even for ICE, according to ProPublica and the Times, and the agency did not pursue them.

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Outside the U.S., according to the New York Times, McKinsey has consulted for repressive governments in China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. It was involved in a massive corruption scandal in South Africa. It worked on behalf of the thoroughly corrupt ex-president of Ukraine and for Russian companies under sanctions. It was horrified to learn that a report they prepared on the publics reaction to Saudi Arabian government austerity measures may have been used by that regime for the purpose of silencing dissidents. McKinsey has challenged the Times conclusions about its work with ICE and on behalf of governments in Southeast Asia, China, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

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Marvin Bower lived to see McKinsey change inarguably from a profession to a business. Before Bower died in 2003, according to Duff McDonalds book, he told a friend the firm had become greedy fucks. McKinsey started as a business that sold candid, dispassionate advice to corporate managers, but selling advice and building a brand around it also sets up a mechanism for diffusing responsibility. The managers can say theyre just following the best available advice, and the consultants can say theyre just trying to help their clients boost profits and efficiency. But if you work for anyone, and you serve their interests as best you can, and you define those interests in the narrowest and most mercenary terms, youre going to end up with dirty hands.

To listen to the full episode, click the player below or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 11:47:32|Editor: huaxia

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SYDNEY, June 24 (Xinua) -- Two men have been arrested in Australia in relation to an alleged international people smuggling network, Australian Federal Police (AFP) revealed on Wednesday.

Police allege the pair were involved in facilitating an illegal vessel carrying six people which was intercepted by Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) en-route to Australia earlier this year.

According to the police, the network informs potential illegal immigrants they will be brought to Australia and forced to work for a year without income in "debt bondage", in order to repay the criminal syndicate's price for their journey.

The men, aged 30 and 31, came to the attention of police in January when the vehicle they were travelling in became stuck in a remote region of Australia's Northern Territory.

A distress message was sounded and when authorities arrived the pair claimed that they were in the area on a camping trip, despite carrying only a carton of water and one small bag between them.

Police allege that the pair were in fact there to meet the boatload of illegal immigrants and facilitate their onwards journey into Australia, however the boat was intercepted and never arrived.

Following subsequent investigations the pair were arrested at their homes in the country's east on Tuesday, with investigators also uncovering visa applications on a computer hard drive.

"We know that people smugglers operate across borders and regions in an attempt to promise something they cannot deliver; illegal access to Australia," AFP Commander Crime Coordination Paul Osborne said.

"Our combined focus is to protect the lives and safety of these people, who people smugglers seek to take advantage of, and to secure Australia's borders."

Since the implementation of OSB in 2013, Australia has returned 873 people from 38 people smuggling ventures to their countries of origin or departure, according to AFP figures. Enditem
The study met its key objectives; PXL770 was observed to demonstrate a consistent PK profile in the likely-NASH patient population and was observed to be safe and well-tolerated

Results demonstrate target engagement and efficacy signals that support the potential for PXL770 in NASH and for the AMPK platform in other chronic and rare metabolic diseases

Efficacy and safety results from the PXL770 Phase 2a study for the treatment of NASH are anticipated late Q3 2020

POXEL SA (Euronext: POXEL FR0012432516), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative treatments for metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), today announced positive results from a PXL770 four-week placebo-controlled PK/PD study in 16 likely-NASH patients with insulin resistance. The primary objective of the study was to assess the full pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of PXL770 as well as to evaluate safety and tolerability. PXL770 is a first-in-class direct adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, which is being evaluated for the treatment of NASH. AMPK is a master regulator of several important metabolic pathways, including lipid metabolism, glucose control and inflammation, and is a novel target for NASH and a range of other chronic and rare metabolic diseases.

In the results observed from the PK/PD trial, PXL770 met its study objectives showing a PK profile in likely-NASH patients that was similar to the one observed in healthy volunteers in the Company's Phase 1 program. In the PK/PD trial, PXL770 was also observed to be safe and well-tolerated. PXL770 induced a statistically significant suppression of de novo lipogenesis (DNL) known to be one of the important contributors to the progression of NASH. A statistically significant effect was also observed on glucose tolerance during a glucose challenge test (OGTT) in this population of non-diabetic patients. This trial confirmed the target engagement of PXL770 on the AMPK pathway and the potential of the drug in other metabolic diseases.

"We are pleased with these results in likely-NASH patients; they confirm that target engagement in patients has been achieved and that some of the effects observed with PXL770 in various preclinical models can be translated in the clinic. They also support the role of AMPK as an important player in the NASH pathophysiology as suggested in published literature," commented Pascale Fouqueray, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President, Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs at Poxel.

"These results support our hypothesis that AMPK activation could have a beneficial role in controlling key pathways that lead to liver injury and NASH, and these data provide additional understanding of this novel mechanism," said Thomas Kuhn, CEO of Poxel. "We look forward to the upcoming results from the Phase 2a study, which is evaluating PXL770 in approximately 100 likely-NASH patients. Topline results from the study are expected toward the end of the third quarter in 2020."

"AMPK is a compelling pharmaceutical target and we are encouraged by the outcome of this study. Not only does the data further demonstrate the potential for PXL770 in NASH, the positive effects on DNL and OGTT suggest that AMPK activation may be useful in addressing a broader range of other diseases mediated by metabolic pathway dysfunction," said David E. Moller, MD, Chief Scientific Officer of Poxel. "Thus, we are also currently evaluating our library of AMPK targeted molecules which could have the potential to expand our pipeline into programs for other chronic and rare metabolic diseases."

About the PXL770 PK/PD Study

The four-week PK/PD study was conducted to assess the full PK profile, and safety and tolerability of PXL770 in 16 likely-NASH patients with insulin resistance. Primary enrollment criteria were evidence of hepatic steatosis (NAFLD) based on a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) score of >300 db/m measured by transient elastography (FibroScan) along with a HOMA-IR (calculated measure of insulin resistance) score >2.5. Patients were randomized into two groups; twelve patients were administered PXL770 at 500 mg once-daily versus four patients who received placebo. The study assessed the effect of PXL770 on several target pathways, including hepatic DNL, glucose tolerance, as well as other fasting biomarkers.

The observed PK profile of PXL770 at the dose of 500 mg once-daily in these likely-NASH patients was consistent with results obtained in the Company's Phase 1 program in healthy subjects.

Relative to baseline measurements, PXL770 treatment was observed to produce statistically significant (p=0.0045) suppression of DNL along with a statistically significant (p0.03) improvement in glycemia (total and incremental glucose AUC) following an oral glucose challenge test (OGTT). Neither dynamic test was affected in subjects who received placebo. A statistically significant reduction (p=0.0134) in HOMA-IR was also observed in PXL770 treated subjects, suggesting improved insulin sensitivity. Since mean values for a number of parameters were within the normal range of healthy individuals at baseline and the study duration was limited, as expected, additional secondary endpoints including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), circulating lipids, or markers of inflammation were unaffected by PXL770 treatment.

The safety results from the PK/PD trial are consistent with the PXL770 Phase 1 program that included 132 subjects and evaluated the safety, tolerability and PK of PXL770 administered once- or twice-daily after single or 10-day repeated administration ranging from 30 mg to 500 mg. In both the Phase 1 studies and this PK/PD trial, there were no serious adverse events or adverse events leading to withdrawal. In the PK/PD trial, the overall incidence of patients presenting with treatment emergent adverse events was lower in the PXL770 group versus the placebo group.

The efficacy and safety of PXL770 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2a twelve-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial. This trial is expected to evaluate approximately 100 diabetic and non-diabetic likely-NASH patients in the U.S. and will investigate three doses of PXL770 versus placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial will measure the change in liver fat content based on magnetic resonance imaging-estimated proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), an imaging-based biomarker that allows fat mapping of the entire liver. The trial will also assess the effects of PXL770 on other metabolic and non-metabolic biomarkers as well as safety and tolerability. Results from the Phase 2a trial are expected late in the third quarter of 2020.

About NASH

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a metabolic disease with no clear disease origin that is quickly becoming a worldwide epidemic. It is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver causing inflammation and fibrosis. The disease can be silent for a long period of time, but once it accelerates, severe damage and liver cirrhosis can occur, which can significantly impact liver function and can even result in liver failure or hepatocellular cancer. Typical risk factors for NASH include obesity, elevated levels of blood lipids (such as cholesterol and triglycerides) and diabetes. Currently no curative or specific therapies are available.

About PXL770

PXL770 is a first-in-class direct adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator. AMPK is a central regulator of multiple metabolic pathways leading to the control of lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis and inflammation. Based on its central metabolic role, targeting AMPK offers the opportunity to pursue a wide range of indications to treat chronic metabolic diseases, including diseases that affect the liver, such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

About Poxel SA

Poxel is a dynamic biopharmaceutical company that uses its extensive expertise in developing innovative drugs for metabolic diseases, with a focus on type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In its mid-to-late stage pipeline, the Company is currently advancing three drug candidates as well as earlier-stage opportunities. Imeglimin, Poxel's first-in-class lead product, targets mitochondrial dysfunction. Together, with its partner Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, Poxel successfully completed the Phase 3 Trials of IMeglimin for Efficacy and Safety (TIMES) program for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in Japan. Poxel also established a partnership with Roivant Sciences for Imeglimin's development and commercialization in countries outside of the partnership with Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, including the U.S. and Europe. PXL770, a first-in-class direct adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, is in a Phase 2a proof-of-concept program for the treatment of NASH. PXL770 could also have the potential to treat additional metabolic diseases. PXL065 (deuterium-stabilized R-pioglitazone), a mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) inhibitor, is advancing into a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of NASH. Poxel also has additional earlier-stage programs from its AMPK activator and TZD platforms targeting chronic and rare metabolic diseases. The Company intends to generate further growth through strategic partnerships and pipeline development. Listed on Euronext Paris, Poxel is headquartered in Lyon, France, and has subsidiaries in Boston, MA, and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, please visit: www.poxelpharma.com.

In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 12, 2020, the Company has undertaken a full review of the impact of the outbreak on its business. Considering the rapidly evolving situation, the Company is updating this assessment on a regular basis.

The Company anticipates that the COVID-19 pandemic could have a material negative impact on its business operations. The worldwide impact of COVID-19 may notably affect the Company's internal organization and efficiency, particularly in countries where it operates and where confinement measures have been implemented by the authorities. In addition, the deteriorating market conditions may impact the Company's ability to raise additional funding and/or to enter into partnerships. Particularly, delays in the supply of drug substance or drug products, in pre-clinical and/or clinical trials, as well as delays linked to the responsiveness of regulatory authorities could occur, which could potentially have an impact on the Company's development programs. The Company will continue to proactively monitor the situation.

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005914/en/

Contacts:

Poxel SA

Jonae R. Barnes

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, Corporate Communications and Public Relations

jonae.barnes@poxelpharma.com

+1 617 818 2985

Aurelie Bozza

Investor Relations Communication Director

aurelie.bozza@poxelpharma.com

+33 6 99 81 08 36

Investor relations Media EU/US

Trophic Communications

Joanne Tudorica or Valeria Fisher

tudorica@trophic.eu or fisher@trophic.eu

+49 171 351 2733 or +49 175 804 1816

Investor relations Media France

NewCap

Emmanuel Huynh or Arthur Rouille

poxel@newcap.eu

+33 1 44 71 94 94
[June 24, 2020] NASA Names Headquarters After 'Hidden Figure' Mary W. Jackson

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced Wednesday the agency's headquarters building in Washington, D.C., will be named after Mary W. Jackson, the first African American female engineer at NASA. Jackson started her NASA career in the segregated West Area Computing Unit of the agency's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Jackson, a mathematician and aerospace engineer, went on to lead programs influencing the hiring and promotion of women in NASA's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. In 2019, she was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. "Mary W. Jackson was part of a group of very important women who helped NASA succeed in getting American astronauts into space. Mary never accepted the status quo, she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology," said Bridenstine. "Today, we proudly announce the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building. It appropriately sits on 'Hidden Figures Way,' a reminder that Mary is one of many incredible and talented professionals in NASA's history who contributed to this agency's success. Hidden no more, we will continue to recognize the contributions of women, African Americans, and people of all backgrounds who have helped construct NASA's successful history to explore." The work of the West Area Computing Unit caught widespread national attention in the 2016 Margot Lee Shetterly book "Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race." The book was made into a popular movie that same year and Jackson's character was played by award-winning actress Janelle Monae. In 2019, after a bipartisan bill by Sens. Ted Cruz, Ed Markey, John Thune, and Bill Nelson made its way through Congress, the portion of E Street SW in front of NASA Headquarters was renamed Hidden Figures Way. "We are honored that NASA continues to celebrate the legacy of our mother and grandmother Mary W. Jackson," said, Carolyn Lewis, Mary's daughter. "She was a scientist, humanitarian, wife, mother, and trailblazer who pave the way for thousands of others to succeed, not only at NASA, but throughout this nation."



Jackson was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia. After graduating high school, she graduated from Hampton Institute in 1942 with a dual degree in math and physical sciences, and initially accepted a job as a math teacher in Calvert County, Maryland. She would work as a bookkeeper, marry Levi Jackson and start a family, and work a job as a U.S. Army secretary before her aerospace career would take off. In 1951, Jackson was recruited by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which in 1958 was succeeded by NASA. She started as a research mathematician who became known as one of the human computers at Langley. She worked under fellow "Hidden Figure" Dorothy Vaughan in the segregated West Area Computing Unit.

After two years in the computing pool, Jackson received an offer to work in the 4-foot by 4-foot Supersonic Pressure Tunnel, a 60,000 horsepower wind tunnel capable of blasting models with winds approaching twice the speed of sound. There, she received hands-on experience conducting experiments. Her supervisor eventually suggested she enter a training program that would allow Jackson to earn a promotion from mathematician to engineer. Because the classes were held at then-segregated Hampton High School, Jackson needed special permission to join her white peers in the classroom. Jackson completed the courses, earned the promotion, and in 1958 became NASA's first Black female engineer. For nearly two decades during her engineering career, she authored or co-authored research numerous reports, most focused on the behavior of the boundary layer of air around airplanes. In 1979, she joined Langley's Federal Women's Program, where she worked hard to address the hiring and promotion of the next generation of female mathematicians, engineers and scientists. Mary retired from Langley in 1985. In 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act that posthumously awarded the honor to Jackson, who passed away in 2005, and her "Hidden Figures" colleagues Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden. In 2017, then 99-year-old Katherine Johnson was there to personally dedicate a new state-of-the-art computer research facility the bears her name at Langley. Johnson, another original member of the West Area Computing Unit, also was honored as a trailblazer and given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. In addition, Johnson was part of the group honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, and NASA's Independent Verification and Validation facility in Fairmont, West Virginia, also bears Johnson's name. "NASA facilities across the country are named after people who dedicated their lives to push the frontiers of the aerospace industry. The nation is beginning to awaken to the greater need to honor the full diversity of people who helped pioneer our great nation. Over the years NASA has worked to honor the work of these Hidden Figures in various ways, including naming facilities, renaming streets and celebrating their legacy," added Bridenstine. "We know there are many other people of color and diverse backgrounds who have contributed to our success, which is why we're continuing the conversations started about a year ago with the agency's Unity Campaign. NASA is dedicated to advancing diversity, and we will continue to take steps to do so." For additional information on Mary W. Jackson, the "Hidden Figures," and today's Modern Figures, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/modernfigures View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-names-headquarters-after-hidden-figure-mary-w-jackson-301083138.html SOURCE NASA

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Islamabad:

Pakistan wants peaceful relations with all its neighbours, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said and accused India of resorting to double standards on the Kashmir issue. Sharif's remarks came as General Peter Pavel, Chairman Military Committee NATO, called on the Prime Minister here.

According to an official statement, Sharif said on the occasion that India was creating problems and has resorted to double standards on the issue of Kashmir. He said that "India unfairly blamed Pakistan for Uri attack without investigating the incident," according to the statement.

He said Pakistan would continue to extend moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmir cause. Sharif said that "the atrocities by the Indian forces have resulted into the loss of precious human lives and blinded hundreds through the use of brutal force".

Sharif also reiterated desire for peaceful ties with India. "We want peaceful relations with all of our neighbours," he said. According to the statement, Pavel said, "I have listened to your yesterday's speech in the Parliament where you eloquently raised the issue of Kashmir.

The Kashmir issue has to be addressed as two nuclear powers are party to it and the world cannot remain indifferent and must be concerned." The Prime Minister said that the Pakistani armed forces have rendered matchless sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Actor Chris Hemsworth is one of most popular global celebrities, who shot to fame with the role of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. The Australian actor, who first appeared in the first Thor film in 2011 was comparatively unknown globally and had mostly worked in his home country.

In Australia, Hemsworth participated in Dancing With the Stars, which almost led him to lose out on Thor's role. He has said in a 2017 interview with BBC One, Kevin Feige (Marvel Studios president and producer) said that almost lost me the job. He went on to share that Feige said, We all saw your audition. Were passing it around the office, and everyone was really, you know, into it. And then, a few of the girls started googling your name and up came this dancing video, and I thought, Oh no. Thor dancing! The fans are going to eat us alive.

Hemsworth however said that his stint in the reality show had improved his skills required to play God of Thunder. It made me more nimble on my feet. I needed to be with the cape. You might see a bit of that Dancing With The Stars quality in Thor, he said.

After Thor (2011) Chris Hemsworth reprised his role as the superhero in The Avengers (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). He also appeared in the post-credit scenes of Doctor Strange in 2016.

Chris Hemsworth will be reprising the role in Thor: Love and Thunder directed by Taika Waititi, making him the first and only Marvel hero to have four stand-alone movies. Tessa Thompson and Natalie Portman will reprise their roles from the franchise. Christian Bale has been roped in to play the villain in the upcoming film.

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Jeff Ubbens plan to end finance as usual

One of Americas top activist investors said that hes leaving the $16 billion hedge fund, ValueAct, that he has turned into a major force in corporate boardrooms. His reason is, perhaps, even bigger news.

Mr. Ubben is a force in shareholder activism, who has made companies like Microsoft change strategy to improve returns for investors. But unlike others in the field, he largely avoids splashy public fights  winning praise from defenders of corporate boards like Marty Lipton.

Hes leaving to start a new hedge fund, Inclusive Capital Partners, with co-founders like the investor Lynn Forester de Rothschild, whos focused on  you guessed it  inclusive capitalism. The new firm is focused on environmental and social impact investments. (Mr. Ubben will still manage ValueActs $1 billion impact fund as well  for now. More on that below.)

 Definitions can be squishy, but assets tied to socially responsible investment are generally estimated at around $12 trillion in the U.S., out of $30 trillion worldwide.
Inconsistencies in how a Sydney nurse described her alleged rape would lead a jury to have "grave doubts" about her credibility, a defence barrister says.

But the Crown argues the Sydney District Court jury should expect discrepancies in what she told people shortly after the alleged attack in inner Sydney, given her distress and intoxication.

After a week-long trial, jury deliberations are expected to begin on Thursday into allegations a furniture removalist sexually assaulted a 26-year-old woman in his van on August 13, 2017.

Tareq Mikhael Setto, 39, denies any sexual incident occurred while the van was parked in Woolloomooloo.
A senior graduating from Mount Vernon, Washington made two great achievements on her way out: Class valedictorian and a spotless attendance record her entire education.



Ashanti Palmer recently graduated from Nellie A. Thornton High School in the Performing & Visual Arts Magnet Program, ABC7 reports.

"I've never had a bad teacher; my teachers made it easy for me, made me enthusiastic to go to school," said Palmer.

On the back of her accomplishments, Palmer earned multiple scholarships adding up to more than $430,000. The haul will cover the entirety of her expenses as she pursues a four-year biomedical engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Dr. Kenneth Hamilton, superintendent of Mount Vernon City School District, gave Palmer praise for her "remarkable" achievements.



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"We strive to ensure our students graduate from here college- and career-ready, and Ashanti is a testament to that goal," said Hamilton. "Her perfect attendance record throughout her many years in the District have helped build a foundation of academic excellence that she will utilize in the next chapter as a student of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute."

"Being named valedictorian feels good because it shows that all the hard work I've put in over the years has paid off, and that effort is being celebrated in a big way," said Palmer from a broadcasted valedictorian speech. "In terms of my perfect attendance, it wasn't something that I sought out. I knew that showing up to school every day was important, because even missing one day can set you back. It wasn't until 10th grade that I realized I hadn't missed a day, and then I wanted to keep up the streak."

Palmer hopes to use her education to open her own research company, with an aim to employ more women of color in STEM fields.


The Duke of Cambridge has described the work being done in the UK to find a Covid-19 vaccine as incredibly exciting and fascinating, before meeting guinea pig volunteers taking part in the University of Oxford trial.

William, who said his family is proud of the ongoing efforts by researchers in Britain in the fight against coronavirus, took a trip to the Oxford Vaccine Groups facility at the Churchill Hospital in the city on Wednesday.

Wearing a mask, a protective coat and goggles for much of the visit, the future king toured the laboratory where samples from the clinical trial are being examined by researchers.

As well as meeting Professor Sarah Gilbert who is leading the trial and Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the vaccine group, he also spoke to members of the public who have volunteered to take part.

More than 4,000 participants are already enrolled in the UK, with enrolment of a further 10,000 people planned as researchers test the vaccine  known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.

Trials are also taking place in South Africa and Brazil and it is hoped an effective vaccine could be ready later this year.

Speaking to volunteers William enquired of one woman what had motivated her to take part, asking: Were you just a willing guinea pig?

As Prof Pollard paid tribute to the crucially important volunteers, William remarked: Youre in good hands, Im sure.

The Oxford study was described as probably the most advanced in the world, this week by the Governments chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

My family is very proud of everything that is going on here, particularly with the Oxford research side of things The Duke of Cambridge

The Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group began development on a vaccine in January and earlier this month pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca signed a deal with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) to help manufacture 300 million globally accessible doses.

During the visit, while discussing the hopes for the vaccine to succeed, William said if it was announced the Oxford team had cracked it people would breathe a huge sigh of relief.

People want there to be some sort of finality to it, he said.

After William asked how the team might feel if things do not work out, Prof Gilbert said she was hopeful they would see something.

The only question is how good it is and how long it will last, she added.

Expand Close The Duke of Cambridge wore a mask for some of the visit (Steve Parsons/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Duke of Cambridge wore a mask for some of the visit (Steve Parsons/PA)

The royal told the scientists he had recently spoken to an expert who said there were 1.5 million potential viruses that could hop from animals into humans.

He added: Hopefully this will be a wake-up call to people.

Highlighting the enormity of the challenge, Prof Pollard told William: Its success for the country and the world if these vaccines work, not for us.

A day ahead of the visit William took part in a video call with some of those involved in the partnership, including AstraZenecas CEO Pascal Soriot and Oxford Universitys vice chancellor Professor Louise Richardson.

Expand Close The Duke of Cambridge talks to staff at the Oxford Vaccine Groups facility at the Churchill Hospital (Steve Parsons/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Duke of Cambridge talks to staff at the Oxford Vaccine Groups facility at the Churchill Hospital (Steve Parsons/PA)

The duke, who said he had always been interested in medical science told them: Its the most incredibly exciting and very welcome project that youre all doing which is why its fascinating.

Prof Richardson said Williams visit was a real shot in the arm for a team of researchers at the university who she said had been working flat out, every weekend, every night.

She said it had been important to those involved right from the beginning to ensure a vaccine could be accessed at reasonable prices by low and middle income countries, and for there not to be any profiteering.

Congratulating everyone involved, William said: My family is very proud of everything that is going on here, particularly with the Oxford research side of things and the collaboration you are showing with AstraZeneca, I think its fantastic.

If we can amplify and exemplify what is going on here to the rest of the world, then like you said Pascal, thats going to be the quickest and best way to end everyones problems really, so please keep up the good work and just a huge well done.
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Average daily coronavirus cases on the rise

The average daily number of new coronavirus cases in Michigan is trending up slightly.

Michigans seven-day average of new daily cases as of Saturday reached 206 cases, the highest total since the seven-day average hit 210 on June 5. There were 221 new cases reported by Michigan health officials Tuesday, June 23, which will push the seven-day average even higher and brings the state case total to 61,630.

There were also 11 new deaths reported Tuesday, raising the number of fatal COVID-19 cases to 5,864.

Harper's in East Lansing is closed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. A usually raucous St. Patrick's Day in the college town was very subdued due to concerns over the coronavirus and many students leaving town.J. Scott Park | MLive.com

14 coronavirus cases tied to East Lansing bar

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.

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci arrives testify before a House Committee on Energy and Commerce on the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool via AP)AP

Dr. Fauci says vaccine is coming

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the U.S. told a House committee on Tuesday he is cautiously optimistic a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus will be ready by the end of this year, but it could be early 2021 before the vaccine is available.

It will be when and not if Fauci said about the vaccine, according to the Associated Press.

Faucis statement came during a meeting with the House Energy and Commerce Committee in which he testified alongside 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.

Second graders get busy during the first day of school at Northwest Early Elementary School on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. It is the first day of classes in all Jackson County public school districts. (J. Scott Park | MLive.com)

Republican propose $1.3 billion for schools

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.

An unemployed Michigan worker looks at the State of Michigan unemployment site, Wednesday, April 29, 2020. Michigans workforce continues to be one of the hardest hit in the nation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data released May 7, from the U.S. Department of Labor. (AP Photo|Carlos Osorio)AP

Unemployment claims in limbo

Michigan has committed to answering every unresolved unemployment claim filed prior to May 1 by the Fourth of July. However, it hasnt said how long it will take to issue determinations or payments for the pending claims filed since.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency has about 120,000 unresolved claims, including 11,824 filed prior to May 1.

The press release noted the agency has yet to announce a target date to make a determination on claims filed after May 1st, but plans to soon.

Stocking Elementary teacher Rebecca Ophoff helps a student in her classroom in Grand Rapids on April 16, 2018. (Neil Blake | MLive.com)Neil Blake | MLive.com

Plan discusses how schools can recover from coronavirus

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 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.

Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, right, gives an update on the state's efforts to deal with coronavirus on March 26, 2020.

Dr. Khaldun blasts Trump administration COVID-19 response

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.

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.

Hand sanitizer at Terminal B at Newark several months into the coronavirus, in Newark, N.J. June, 22, 2020 Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

FDA warns of toxic hand sanitizer

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.

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)

The campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Joel Bissell

Western Michigan University students to return to classroom

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.

Members of the American Rosie the Riveter Association ride on Willys jeeps during Ypsilanti's Fourth of July parade on West Cross Street in Ypsilanti Thursday, July 4 2019.Jacob Hamilton/MLive.com

Ypsilanti to host virtual Fourth of July parade

Ypsilantis Fourth of July Parade is not being stopped by the novel coronavirus.

This years parade is being uploaded a Facebook page dedicated to it, after a flag ceremony livestream that starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 4. The parade video being shown is a compilation of submitted clips, parade facilitator Erica Hampton said.

Local businesses, bands, groups and organizations can submit videos up to June 25. They can feature songs for two minutes, dancing for one minute and speaking for 30 seconds, according to a news release.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks to media during a press conference at Skytron, LLC on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Justin P. Hicks | MLive.com)

Secretary Alex Azar visits Michigan plant

President Donald Trumps Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said he was very impressed by the infection prevention technology he saw first-hand while touring a Grand Rapids manufacturing company Tuesday, June 23.

Azar visited Skytron LLC, which specializes in health industry disinfection processes and equipment, as part of an ongoing mission to learn about the countrys effort to reopen safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 on MLive:

Report offers Michigan schools plan to recover from coronavirus hiatus, $1.2 billion deficit

FDA issues warning for 9 hand sanitizers with toxic ingredient

Tuesday, June 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Judge rejects Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers request to delay reopening of gyms
PennLives readers want to talk. They know theyre living through unprecedented times, and they want to get reliable, accurate information about the forces impacting their daily lives.

Comments on our Facebook Live events have thanked us for providing a forum for dialogue, and they want more. So, PennLive will bring together activists, law enforcement officials as well as elected officials leading the battle to address problems in policing in a Facebook Live Town Hall from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 30.

From Protest to Progress: A Community Conversation on Race and Equality, is in response to the clear demand from our readers to continue the dialogue we started with the weekday Facebook Live discussions that began in March to talk through the coronavirus as well as the uproar over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Live On with Joyce Davis Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has taken the lead as an advocate for one form of police reform  making sure bad cops dont go from city to city without anyone knowing of their records of misconduct. Shapiro is our guest today for a conversation on police reform, as well as on the Supreme Court ruling on DACA. Get your questions and comments ready for today's discussion. Posted by PennLive.com on Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Engage in conversation the most important thing to do, wrote Anju Singh in a recent Facebook Live discussion with Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who is leading efforts to create a database of police misconduct.

Civil dialogue, wrote Erica Blanton.

We need more of this. Conversations are NEEDED . . . mutual respect, " echoed Melissa Musotto.

From Protest to Progress: A Community Conversation on Race and Equality will provide a virtual forum to encourage discussion on what has motivated protesters to take to the streets for weeks and what officials are doing to respond. We will explore what is happening that has caused a clear rethinking and an awakening in our community of the need to purge racism from American society. But most of all, we will hear your views, take your questions and work with you to help leaders come up with solutions.

Live On PennLive with Joyce Davis Brenton Lipscomb, a leader of Pennsylvanias Black Lives Matter movement, and Shavonnia Corbin-Johnson join Joyce Davis to discuss the ongoing protests, police reform as well as the killing of another African American man in Atlanta. Get your questions and comments ready for today's Facebook Live with Joyce Davis. Posted by PennLive.com on Monday, June 15, 2020

PennLive Opinion Editor Joyce M. Davis will moderate the Facebook Live Town Hall that will include young people such as Brenton Lipscomb, of the Black Lives Matter movement, and community leader Shavonnia Corbin-Johnson, who have taken to the streets in Harrisburg, Shippensburg, Carlisle, Elizabethtown and Mechanicsburg to call for police reform and an end to racism.

The Town Hall also will feature law enforcement representatives, including Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas C. Carter, as well as former Susquehanna Township Police Lt. Francia Danon Henry, one of a few African American women to serve on the force.

Brandon Flood, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, and Francia Danon-Henry, a former officer with the Susquehanna Township Police Department, join Live On with Joyce Davis, PennLives Facebook Live today to discuss the protests, calls for police reform and racism in law enforcement. Get your questions and comments ready for today's Facebook Live with Joyce Davis. Posted by PennLive.com on Tuesday, June 9, 2020

The Town Hall will conclude with a discussion of the way forward and several lawmakers have been invited to participate, including Sen. Bob Casey, who is supporting significant police reform legislation at the national level.

You dont want to miss this opportunity to ask questions and share your respectful comments during these historic times.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

And please subscribe to Battleground PA to stay abreast of the issues in the 2020 elections!
Loudmouth politician Kennedy Agyapong has disclosed that he has forgiven Ibra One, otherwise called Ibra Dauda, for insulting him and President Akufo-Addo but will still face the law for defrauding people.

A week ago, Ibra One threatened to take the life of Mr. Agyapong. Prior to that, he dared the Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP) to respond to him within 24 hours if he claims to be perfect and is not afraid of him.

In reaction, Mr. Agyapong promised to expose Ibra's fraudulent and money laundering activities with his forex bureau. Also, he has allegedly been using cars he has not paid Customs duty on.

On Monday, Ibrah Ones elder brother, Abass Dawud, was on The Seat Show to apologise to the President, Mr. Agyapong and Ghanaians in general.

According to him, Ibrah One is suffering from a bipolar disorder and should be forgiven. He also pleaded with Ghanaians not to give Ibra One any serious attention whenever he shares anything on social media.

His medical report was shown to Mr. Agyapong to confirm his condition.

However, he was quick to add that Ibra would still face the law for criminal activities.

We can let go is where he insulted me and the President. If you look at his medical report and the messages he has sent, you can tell he is not normal He is not mentally stable. The time he was supposed to be picked up was the same time his brother called and brought his medical report, he revealed.

We can forgive him on his sickness but we can't forgive him on his criminal activities. It is deliberate on his part to defraud people. So, he will face the law, he added.

---Daily Guide
Daniel Milian, from right, Miguel Martinez, and Laura De Armas chat as they relax on South Beach in Miami Beach, FL on Friday, June 19, 2020.

In addition to rising cases, the percentage of tests coming back positive is also on the rise, indicating that the surge is not due to ramped-up testing. The state reported that 15.91% of all tests came back positive Wednesday, up from 10.82% on Tuesday.

The state reported 5,508 new cases overnight, according to data published by the health department, bringing the total in the state to 109,014. The previous highest single-day jump in new cases was 4,049 new cases reported on Saturday.

The Florida Department of Health reported another record spike in coronavirus cases as the state continues to grapple with an expanding outbreak.

Florida is one of several states experiencing expanding coronavirus outbreaks, mostly across the South and West. Cases are also increasing by the thousands every day in Texas, Arizona, California and other states. On Tuesday, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci told members of Congress that the rise in several states represents a "disturbing surge."

While new cases continue to increase across Florida, the average age of an infected person has continued to decline. On Wednesday, the state reported that the average age of patients was 33 years old, down from over 65 years old in March.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has pointed to the decreasing average ageof patients as evidence that the state is effectively protecting its most vulnerable residents. Younger people are less likely to become severely sick and die from Covid-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, Fauci warned Tuesday that scientists are seeing "more and more" complications with Covid-19 in young people.

Florida was among the first states to reopen, with DeSantis allowing most restaurants and stores to open with limited capacity on May 4. The heavily populated Miami-Dade and Broward counties did not reopen until May 18. On June 5, most of the state moved deeper into reopening, allowing more stores to operate, some at full capacity. Gyms also reopened.

Last week, after the state reported a previous record single-day increase in infections, DeSantis said the state would not reimplement more restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

"We're not shutting down. We're going to go forward ... We're not rolling back," the governor said at a news briefing last week. "You have to have society function."

On Tuesday, Fauci said Florida, as well as Arizona and Texas, has "a serious problem" and while the state probably doesn't need to "absolutely shut down" again, officials might need to consider more aggressive interventions to curb the spread of the virus.

Over the weekend, the Florida Department of Health issued new guidance, advising people not to gather in groups of more than 50, and to wear masks "in any setting." However, DeSantis has declined to make mask wearing in public mandatory across the state, as some other states, including California, have.

Nearly half of all cases in Florida have been reported in the southern and heavily populated Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, according to the state. DeSantis has previously attributed some of the increase in spread to migrant agricultural workers who live and travel in settings that he said allow for "opportunities to have transmission."

However, without widespread contact tracing, whereby trained epidemiologists investigate each infection to track it to a source and alert other people who might have been exposed, it's difficult to understand the source of the infections.
More than 800 Australians returning home from overseas will fly into Adelaide this weekend as part of repatriation efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

The flights will arrive by June 28 with one coming from South America, potentially two from India, and a defence force contingent flying in from Indonesia.

South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said authorities have prepared a strict quarantine plan.

More than 800 Australians returning home from overseas will fly into Adelaide this weekend as part of repatriation efforts during the coronavirus pandemic (pictured: travellers arriving at Adelaide Airport)

The flights will arrive by June 28 with one coming from South America, potentially two from India, and a defence force contingent flying in from Indonesia (pictured: traveller at Adelaide Airport)

'There will be a strict regime in place to ensure that they are properly processed at the airport, loaded onto buses, conveyed to a supervised quarantine location where they'll undergo health checks,' Mr Stevens said on Tuesday.

All returning travellers will be required to remain in isolation for 14 days.

In May, about 680 people flew into Adelaide on two separate flights from India and were isolated in two hotels in the city, with none testing positive for COVID-19.

The new international arrivals are due to land just days before South Australia accelerates its lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

From next week the state will relax density requirements for pubs, bars, restaurants and other venues, with one person allowed for every two square metres.

The change will allow businesses to potentially double their capacity, a move the hospitality sector says will improve their viability.

Premier Steven Marshall says larger venues, such as Adelaide Oval, will also be allowed to cater to up to 50 per cent of their normal capacity from June 29, provided health officials have approved their COVID-19 safety plans.

Cathy McGill with Laura Lane and her baby Genevieve enjoying a coffee on the Parade in Adelaide on May 11

The new international arrivals are due to land just days before South Australia accelerates its lifting of coronavirus restrictions (Pictured: people out for coffee in Adelaide)

But the government is holding firm on its current schedule for lifting its remaining border restrictions as it continues to monitor a worrying surge in virus infections in Victoria.

SA has already lifted quarantine requirements for people travelling from Tasmania, Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, and is due to do the same for other jurisdictions on July 20.

'But we are looking very carefully at the moment at Victoria,' Mr Marshall said on Tuesday.

'Every day that their statistics come out, we look at the number of new infections and the epidemiology of those infections.

The Bakery on O'Connell during an easing of restrictions on June 01 in Adelaide - restrictions are being eased once again next week

'We know that there are hotspots in Victoria ... and what we're doing in a very co-ordinated way is to make sure we, as a nation, get on top of that.

'But we will not be opening our borders to Victoria unless we are absolutely satisfied that we are not going to go backwards from a health, safety, and welfare perspective.'

Mr Marshall also confirmed that the state's nightclubs could reopen, as long as they meet COVID-19 standards.

'Nightclubs will be considered, but only after a comprehensive COVID management plan has been put in place and approved by the Transition Committee,' he said.
New Delhi, June 24 : Ride-hailing platform Ola on Wednesday announced new Covid-19 protection features for Ola Autos, including a protective partition glass screen between the driver and rider.

The company has also made fumigation of all Ola Autos mandatory under the RideSafeIndia initiative.

"With these added safety measures for Ola Auto, both driver-partners and citizens are assured of a comfortable and safe ride," claimed Anand Subramanian, an Ola Spokesperson.

Ola Autos will operate with no more than one driver and two passengers.

Ola said it has set up a network of over 100 fumigation centres across the country to enable mandatory fumigation for all vehicles every 48 hours.

"As part of its RideSafeIndia initiative, Ola has enhanced cleanliness protocols, implemented vehicle sanitisation practices and incorporated technological advancements, for Ola Autos at no extra charge," said the company.

The company said it is committed to ensure that the hygiene protocols and screens are used in more than 120 cities where Ola Autos operate in.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The scene at Ashes & Diamonds, a Napa Valley winery that reopened for wine tastings earlier this month, was almost disarmingly orderly.

Seemingly every box on the coronavirus safety checklist had been checked: bathrooms accessible from outdoors. Touch-free hand sanitizer stations. Reassuring distances between guests tables. Instead of using normal wine glasses, the winery simply provided a stemless, plastic cup for visitors who had opted for the picnic option  yours to take home.

A prodigious cast of masked employees kept the order. One greeted us, another escorted us to the tasting room bar, where several more stood waiting to explain wine purchasing options, then yet another led us to our table.

Welcome to wine tasting in the age of COVID-19: sterile, highly regimented and more than a little eerie.

Since Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on June 5 that tasting rooms could reopen when deemed appropriate by individual counties, wineries across California have rushed to welcome back visitors. In the Bay Area, Napa County lagged behind Sonoma County in reopening its tasting rooms, due to the counties different rules about how wineries can serve food. (Initially, the state required that any wineries open during Stage 2 serve full meals, but that restriction has lifted.)

Many vintners have criticized the way the reopening plan has been implemented. One Napa winery owner, Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards, even sued Newsom, claiming the governor was discriminating against wineries. Wagner has since dropped the suit, and Caymus is now open.

The issue has been contentious because tasting rooms account for a large share of income for many California wineries, especially small ones. In May, industry analyst Jon Moramarco estimated that U.S. tasting rooms would see a $3 billion drop in revenue this year.

That economic reality forces wineries to confront a delicate negotiation: how to keep business going and keep everyone safe?

And would-be wine tasters have to grapple with our own dilemma. Is it worth it?

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Ashes & Diamonds represents one approach that many of its peers have adopted, minimizing customer-staff interaction. Gone are the days of having an employee overexplain the notes of alfalfa and sassafras in each tiny taste  now, you do your own pouring at your table.

The winery still requires you to order food, which you select when you make your reservation on Tock. The standard option is the A&D Picnic ($45 per person), featuring potato chips, salami, bread, a hunk of cheese and a small plate of vegetables for dipping in hummus, tzatziki and muhammara. It came on a plastic tray, a twee, school-cafeteria throwback that feels very on-brand for Ashes & Diamonds, which identifies itself as a love letter to the Napa Valley of the 1960s and whose striking white buildings channel a distinctive mood of midcentury cool.

For those of us who look forward to the chance to taste a variety of bottlings when we visit a winery, the bottle-only requirement with the picnic at Ashes & Diamonds can feel disappointing. The winery specializes in structured Bordeaux-style reds; if youre not in the mood for red wine, your only option is a bottle of the Blanc ($45), a textural Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blend, since the rose ($39) is available only to wine club members. It ends up being an expensive picnic, about $150 for two if you buy a bottle of Blanc. (Other tasting options, at $75 and $125 per person, come with pre-sealed tastes of five wines and use regular wine glasses.)

Some other wineries have adopted a rather disconcerting greeting ritual: asking guests to sign a liability waiver, absolving the winery of any responsibility should you contract the coronavirus on its premises. At Gloria Ferrer, a sparkling wine producer in Sonoma, signing the waiver made for a strange start to my tasting. It was a perfect Sonoma afternoon, a breeze cutting through the heat, and my seat on the patio had a prime view of the estates lush vineyards. The gorgeous afternoon juxtaposed with the waiver, the masks and the one-way foot traffic signs on the floor produced an uneasy feeling, as if I and all the other visitors were ignoring the impending apocalypse for the sake of taking in a scenic vista.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Gloria Ferrers tastings follow a more familiar script, with an employee bringing tastes of several different wines to your table over the course of about two hours ($42-$150 per person). It felt more attentive than the minimal contact I received at Ashes & Diamonds, but it also presented its own conundrums. With staff coming and going from my immediate vicinity, I was constantly moving my mask up and down, frantically raising it every time I saw my attendant approaching the table.

Which way felt better, Gloria Ferrers or Ashes & Diamonds? Would some visitors feel uneasy having a staff member pour them wine from a bottle that had already been opened, and drinking from sparkling-wine flutes that had been touched by an employee? Or would they appreciate the hospitality, the education about each wine and the chance to taste several different cuvees? I dont know.

Life under shelter in place has made small pleasures feel enormous. Going to the park is an event. Getting out of your neighborhood, a thrill. And so the idea of escaping to Wine Country  as much for the change of scenery as for the wines  has never seemed more appealing.

But some of that buzz is diminished by the regimented nature of it all. During my recent wine tastings, I felt constant anxiety that I was going to get in trouble for inadvertently breaking a rule. Even more worrisome was the sense that other patrons were far more cavalier than I  large groups of people not wearing masks, huddling together for photos. Re-entering society while the pandemic lingers forces us to ask: How much do we really trust each other?

In a way, the dilemma of going wine tasting at this stage of the coronavirus is representative of so many dilemmas were all facing as we slowly begin to resume normal life. Weve been so focused on returning to the leisure activities that we miss, like eating in a restaurant, exercising at a gym or going to the movies, that weve often neglected to ask whether, in its strange adulterated state, it will be that much fun anymore. Maybe, for a winery to be safe during the time of coronavirus, it has to eliminate some of the elements that make us want to go wine tasting in the first place.

If you go Ashes & Diamonds Winery. Visitor experiences $45-$125 per person. (The $45 option covers food only, requiring a separate purchase of at least one bottle; the $75 and $125 options include wine and food.) 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Reservations required. 4130 Howard Lane, Napa. 707-666-4777 or www.ashesdiamonds.com Gloria Ferrer Winery. Tastings $42-$150 per person. Food is available but optional. Reservations required. 23555 Arnold Dr., Sonoma. 866-845-6742 or www.gloriaferrer.com See More Collapse

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob
ftwitty/iStockBY: CHRISTINA CARREGA, ABC NEWS

(ATLANTA)  A Georgia grand jury indicted the three men arrested and charged in connection with the alleged murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

Cobb District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes announced on Wednesday that a grand jury voted to indict Gregory and Travis McMichael along with William Bryan for the felony murder and aggravated assault that resulted in Arbery death.

The indictment comes almost four months to the day Arbery was shot while on on his daily jog.

Holmes said the grand jury decision did not take long.

"The presentation took an hour and a half and the true bill came back in 10 minutes," Holmes said during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

They each face nine charges, including malice murder and felony murder.

"The family of Ahmaud Arbery is determined to see these men prosecuted, convicted and appropriately sentenced for the brutal hate crime that took Ahmauds life over four months ago," said Lee Merritt, the lead attorney for the Arbery family.

On Feb. 23, Gregory McMichael spotted Arbery and assumed he was the person who committed "several break-ins" in their Satilla Shores neighborhood, according to a police report.

Gregory McMichael, a retired investigator with the Brunswick District Attorney's Office who previously served as a Glynn County police officer, alerted his son and both grabbed their guns -- a shotgun and .357 magnum, respectively -- and jumped into a white pick-up truck.

Bryan was called and he recorded the chase after Arbery.

The cellphone video showed Arbery getting ambushed by the McMichaels.

Travis McMichael, armed with a shotgun, tussled with Arbery and fired three gunshots. Arbery was hit in his chest and died on the pavement.

"This confirms what Ahmauds father has been saying for months -- that this was a lynching," said Ben Crump, an attorney for the Arbery family. "This is a significant step on the road to justice and while nothing will bring back Ahmauds life, it is important that a Grand jury recognized his life had value and was wrongly and ruthlessly ended."

The video leaked onto social media on May 5, igniting outrage and leading to the three arrests.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations led the investigation and within 36 hours arrested the McMichaels. Bryan was taken into custody on May 21.

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
[June 24, 2020] Swedish Telecommunications Operator Telia Introduces Broadband Push-to-Talk Service from Motorola Solutions

Telia, the leading telecommunications operator in Sweden, has signed a contract with Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI (News - Alert)) to provide its customers with a next-generation, 3GPP standard-compliant and future-ready, mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) solution enabling the operators' customers to improve operational efficiency, accelerate business productivity and enhance customer service. The carrier-integrated mission-critical broadband PTT service connects individuals and groups instantly over Telia's LTE (News - Alert) network with the possibility for priority mechanisms. The service also includes a large set of enhanced multimedia services, such as push-to-video, push-to-text, geo-location and geo-fencing, device sharing, and operational status messages. The contract marks the first carrier-integrated mission-critical broadband PTT service powered by Motorola (News - Alert) Solutions to be launched in the Nordics. Additionally, Motorola Solutions will provide its LEX L11 devices via its local channel partner Celab Communications. The rugged, streamlined LEX L11 is designed with dedicated PTT, channel switch, programmable buttons, and emergency button for intuitive mission-critical operations. In addition, the device offers high-quality audio performance with noise and echo cancellation as well as howling suppression. All these functionalities come together to create a highly reliable, end-to-end solution spanning from the platform through the etwork to end-user devices.



Frontline workers in public safety organizations and companies with business-critical processes depend on instant and reliable, mission-critical push-to-talk services to coordinate everyday operations and unexpected emergency responses. Therefore the service is suitable for use across multiple sectors, such as security, transportation, construction, utilities, healthcare, public services, and industrial environments. "Motorola Solutions' mission-critical broadband PTT service will allow our customers to take advantage of two-way radio communication and broadband technologies over our leading infrastructure'', said Staffan Akesson, CTO at Telia Sweden. "As one of Sweden's leading telecommunications operators, we are committed to providing reliability to our customers alongside the highest quality of service especially as this technology is crucial in mission-critical situations."

"We see growing demand from businesses that need to connect their teams via reliable easy-to-use PTT services in the field,'' said Michael Kaae, regional vice president of Europe at Motorola Solutions. "With Telia in Sweden, we already enable three major telecommunications operators in Europe to provide future leading mission-critical PTT service to their customers. Our proven network-integrated mission-critical broadband PTT platform delivers best-in-class performance in terms of cost-efficiency, reliability, scalability, voice quality and the wide range of advanced features it offers, and we look forward to supporting its customers in taking on this new service." LEADERSHIP IN BROADBAND PTT COMMUNICATIONS The latest contract signature with Telia Sweden follows the contracts Motorola Solutions has recently signed with the Dutch telecommunications provider KPN and the French telecommunications operator SFR. Both operators are already providing the network-integrated mission-critical service to their customers and have signed contracts with Dutch Rail in the Netherlands and the French National Railway company SNCF in France. The Motorola Solutions broadband PTT service is a 3GPP standards-compliant and future-ready solution that supports seamless interoperability between users on Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) systems as well as 5G, 4G and 3G cellular networks. The service instantly connects teams across different devices, networks, and locations - no matter which technology they are using, and the service can be easily scaled to new staff or third-party partners, enabling rapid response to developing situations or changing needs. It is backed by over 15 years of experience in delivering fast, secure, scalable and highly resilient PTT communications to customers - with currently over 500 deployments worldwide and more than one million end-users. The carrier-integrated broadband PTT solution has been adopted by leading mobile carriers like AT&T, Bell, Verizon, Sprint, Telstra (News - Alert) and Telefonica. About Motorola Solutions Motorola Solutions is a global leader in mission-critical communications and analytics. Our technology platforms in mission-critical communications, command center software and video security & analytics, bolstered by managed & support services, make cities safer and help communities and businesses thrive. At Motorola Solutions, we are ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at www.motorolasolutions.com. Follow @MotoSolutions on Twitter Follow @MotorolaSolutions on Instagram Follow @MotorolaSolutions on LinkedIn Like @MotorolaSolutions on Facebook MOTOROLA, MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC and are used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2020 Motorola Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005106/en/

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Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles councilman charged in 'staggering' bribery scheme

When federal agents searched Jose Huizar's home in November 2018, they recovered $129,000 in cash hidden in a closet, according to a criminal complaint.

Read the full story on MSNBC.

Los Angeles hospital seeks public's help identifying male patient hospitalized since May

Officials Tuesday requested the public's help identifying a male patient who was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital back in May.

Read the full story on Fox 11 Los Angeles.

LA County Board considers reallocating jail funding, new 911 system

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to consider shifting some money and responsibility away from the Sheriffs Department to other county services, potentially using jail funding for diversion and treatment programs.

Read the full story on The Antelope Valley Times.

LAPD arrests man accused of groping women in Palms, Venice; 2nd suspect at large

The Los Angeles Police Department announced Tuesday that officers had arrested a man suspected of groping multiple women in Palms and Venice.

Read the full story on CBS Los Angeles.

2 killed in Venice shooting outside CVS

Two people were killed in a shooting Monday night in the parking lot of a CVS Pharmacy in Venice.

Read the full story on NBC LA.

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.
WASHINGTONA divided federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered the dismissal of the criminal case against U.S. President Donald Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn, turning back efforts by a judge to scrutinize the Justice Departments extraordinary decision to drop the prosecution.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said in a 2-1 ruling that the Justice Departments move to abandon the case against Flynn settles the matter, even though Flynn pleaded guilty as part of special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation to lying to the FBI.

The ruling, a significant win for both Flynn and the Justice Department, appears to cut short what could have been a protracted legal fight over the basis for the governments dismissal of the case. It came as Democrats question whether the Justice Department has become too politicized and Attorney General William Barr too quick to side with the president, particularly as he vocally criticizes, and even undoes, some of the results of the Russia investigation.

The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing Wednesday centred on another unusual move by Barr to overrule his own prosecutors and ask for less prison time for another Trump associate, Roger Stone. Barr has accepted an invitation to testify before the panel on July 28, a spokesperson said Wednesday, and he will almost certainly be pressed about the Flynn case.

Trump tweeted just moments after the ruling became public: Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request to Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn.

Later, at the White House, Trump told reporters he was happy for Flynn.

He was treated horribly by a group of very bad people, Trump said. What happened to Gen. Flynn should never happen in our country.

Flynn called into conservative commentator Rush Limbaughs radio show and said the ruling was a good development for him and his family. But he also called it great boost of confidence for the American people in our justice system because thats what this really comes down to  is whether or not our justice system is going to have the confidence of the American people.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan had declined to immediately dismiss the case, seeking instead to evaluate on his own the departments request. He appointed a retired federal judge to argue against the Justice Departments position and to consider whether Flynn could be held in criminal contempt for perjury. He had set a July 16 hearing to formally hear the request to dismiss the case.

Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump nominee who was joined by Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, wrote that Sullivan had overstepped his bounds by second-guessing the Justice Departments decision. This case, she said, is not the unusual case where a more searching inquiry is justified.

To begin with, she added, Flynn agrees with the governments motion to dismiss, and there has been no allegation that the motion reflects prosecutorial harassment. Additionally, the governments motion includes an extensive discussion of newly discovered evidence casting Flynns guilt into doubt.

She called Sullivans scrutiny of the governments request an irregular and searching step that could force the government to have to publicly justify its decision in this case and others.

Our precedents emphatically leave prosecutorial charging decisions to the Executive Branch and hold that a court may scrutinize a motion to dismiss only on the extraordinary showing of harassment of the defendant or malfeasance such as bribery  neither of which is manifest in the record before the district court, she wrote.

Some critics of the Justice Departments dismissal urged the full appeals court to take up the case and reverse the decision of the three-judge panel, as it is empowered to do.

In a dissent, Judge Robert Wilkins said it appeared to be the first time his court had compelled a lower court judge to rule in a particular way without giving the judge a reasonable opportunity to issue its own ruling.

It is a great irony that, in finding the District Court to have exceeded its jurisdiction, this Court so grievously oversteps its own, wrote Wilkins, an appointee of former U.S. president Barack Obama.

Flynn was the only White House official charged in Muellers investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

He pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI days after the presidents January 2017 inauguration about conversations he had had during the presidential transition period with the Russian ambassador, in which the two men discussed sanctions that had been imposed on Russia by the Obama administration for election interefence.

The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case in May as part of a broader effort by Barr to revisit some of the decisions reached during the Russia investigation, which he has increasingly disparaged.

In its motion, the department argued that Flynns calls with the Russian ambassador were entirely appropriate and not material to the underlying counterintelligence investigation. The department also noted that weeks before the interview, the FBI had prepared to close its investigation into Flynn after not finding evidence that he had committed any crimes.

But the retired judge appointed by Sullivan, John Gleeson, called the Justice Departments request a gross abuse of prosecutorial power and accused the government of creating a pretext to benefit an ally of the president.

Henderson, the other judge in the majority, had asked skeptical questions of lawyers for Flynn and the Justice Department during arguments earlier this month, raising the prospect she would decide in favour of leaving the case in Sullivans hands.

But she ultimately ruled in favour of dismissing the case.
(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @RushReads) Mars Will Have Its Own 'Wright Brothers Moment': NASA Will Soon Launch Its Ingenuity Helicopter (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @spatium_espace) Mars Will Have Its Own 'Wright Brothers Moment': NASA Will Soon Launch Its Ingenuity Helicopter

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will have its own "Wright Brothers" moment on Mars once it launches its Ingenuity helicopter on the red planet's atmosphere. According to The New York Times' latest report, the experimental helicopter, which will fly through Mars' thin atmosphere, is a part of the agency's next Mars mission.

According to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's previous report, NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter will travel 314 million miles of interplanetary space to deliver the Perseverance rover on Mars.

"This is very analogous to the Wright brothers moment, but on another planet," said the project manager of the Mars helicopter at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory over the past six years, MiMi Aung.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter to make history on Mars

Since the red planet's atmosphere doesn't have much air for Ingenuity to push against to generate lift, flying on Mars is not a trivial endeavor. The atmosphere at the surface of Mars is just 1/100th as dense as Earth's atmosphere. A lesser gravity, about one-third of Earth's gravity, will help objects get airborne.

However, taking off from Mars' surface is the same as flying at Earth's surface, around an altitude of 100,000 feet. Since it is more than twice the altitude that jetliners typically fly at, there hasn't been any terrestrial helicopter that has ever flown that high.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter prepares for July Mars 2020 mission: The Ingenuity helicopter is going through the final preparations before it launches to Mars next month. NASA says this is its 'Wright brothers moment' - it will be the first to fly on https://t.co/i2hYT6BPUM pic.twitter.com/DrxfahgQrX  RushReads (@RushReads) June 23, 2020

Perseverance will be the main goal of the Ingenuity helicopter, delivering the fifth robotic rover of NASA to Mars. It will be one of the three missions headed to Mars this year, which is scheduled to launch on July 20.

"I'll tell you, the thing that has me the most excited as a NASA administrator is getting ready to watch a helicopter fly on another world," said the NASA administrator, Jim Bridenstine, making a point to highlight Ingenuity at a news conference last week previewing the Perseverance mission.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The coronavirus pandemic in the US is spiralling out of control, experts have warned, with at least 26 states recording an increase in cases compared to last week.

California recorded 5,019 new cases on Monday, a record rise of the state's daily case number for the fourth time in a week. In Florida, officials announced 3,289 confirmed new cases in a day as infections surpassed 100,000.

Meanwhile, the governor of Texas urged people to stay home and to wear masks if they leave the house as state's infections tally also rose.

Because the spread is so rampant right now, there's 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, governor Greg Abbott told KBTX.

The daily number of new coronavirus cases across the US has reached more than 26,000, up from about 21,000 two weeks ago, according to an analysis by the Associated Press.

Experts have said the steep rise in cases is likely to have been caused by states ending their lockdowns too quickly.

It is snowballing. We will most certainly see more people die as a result of this spike, said Dr Marc Boom, president of Houston Methodist Hospital.

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, he added.

According to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University, 26 states have seen their daily number of new coronavirus cases increase: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Cases of the disease are on the decline in 14 other states: Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont.

In the rest, new infections remain roughly steady.

Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Show all 13 1 /13 Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Cheryll Mack, 46, a registered nurse in the emergency department, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift outside the hospital where she works. "The Covid-19 spread has affected a lot of livelihood, a lot of people's lives. It has created a crisis, death in general. So I would like to ask not one single person, but all people worldwide, to converge and join the platform that this is something that nobody can fight individually," said Mack. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Dr Laura Bontempo, 50, an emergency medicine doctor wears her personal protective equipment she uses when she sees patients, while posing for a photograph after a nine-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moments have actually been separating families from patients, there is a no-visitor policy now and taking people away from their loved ones is very challenging," Bontempo said. "I'm used to treating sick patients. I treat sick patients all the time. It's very different knowing that the patient you are treating, is actually a risk to you as well. That's the main difference here. No one who works in hospitals is afraid of treating sick people. Just want to keep staff safe and the patients safe at the same time." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Ernest Capadngan, 29, a registered nurse who works at a biocontainment unit poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moment during the shift was just seeing Covid patients die helpless and without their family members beside them," Capadngan said. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Martine Bell, 41, a nurse practitioner in an emergency department, poses for a photograph after a six-hour shift outside the hospital where she works. "The hardest thing in all of this, has been taking care of fellow healthcare providers. It really hits home and it's really scary when you see someone that could be you coming in and now you're taking care of them. It's also hitting home that once healthcare providers start getting sick, who is going to be taking care of the public," Bell said. "It's very stressful, everyone is on edge. We don't know who's coming in next, or how sick they're going to be, or if we are going to get a whole bunch of people or if we're not going to get no one. It's a really stressful and just a completely unusual time for all of us." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Kaitlyn Martiniano, 25, a registered nurse who works at a biocontainment poses for a photograph after a 12.5-hour shift, outside the hospital. "We have a lot of patients and they are pretty sick right now but we have not yet been hit as hard as New York or Seattle, so I feel like we are very lucky with that so far. Every day you have to just be optimistic." Said Martiniano. "I think the reason that we are not being hit as hard right now is because so many things are closed, and because so many people are staying at home." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Tracey Wilson, 53, a nurse practitioner in an intensive care unit (ICU), poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works. "I had a patient fall out of bed today and I had to call his wife and tell her and she couldn't come see him, even though she pleaded and begged to come see him," Wilson said. "There is a lot of unknowns and with that unknown is a lot of anxiety and stress that we're not used to dealing with." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Meghan Sheehan, 27, a nurse practitioner in an emergency department, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works. "I think the hardest moment has been the fear that lives within all of us. There is a lot of unknown right now. We fear what's going to happen tomorrow, how the emergency department will look next week when we come in. We have fears about our own colleagues, whether they will fall ill. We also fear that we could be asymptomatic carriers and bring this virus home to our families and our loved ones. There has been a lot of fear over our supplies and whether we'll run out. And then obviously there is the fear that we will see patients and not be able to do everything we normally can to help save patients' lives," Sheehan said. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Kimberly Bowers, 44, a nurse practitioner in an ICU, poses for a photograph after a 13-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moment was a young woman who died and her family wasn't able to be here with her," Bowers said. "I think right now, it's just frustrating and scary just not knowing what comes next." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Tiffany Fare, 25, a registered nurse who works at a biocontainment unit poses for a photograph after a 13-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works. "One of the hardest moments was having to see a family member of a Covid patient, say goodbye over an iPad, rooms away. That was a tough one, I can't imagine how hard it would be to be saying goodbye, you can't see your loved one and then they're gone," Fare said. "My team has been really great to me. We've worked really well together and we've really come together in this crisis. We don't really know each other, we all come from different units within the same hospital, so for us to come together and work so well as a team, it's been a journey but I think that's what is giving me hope." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Dr Kyle Fischer, 35, an emergency medicine doctor, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital where he works. "Since it's a new virus, we don't have any experience with it. For most diseases I am used to seeing it and taking care of it and this, I don't have any starting place. I know what I'm hearing from New York, I've read all of the papers it seems like, but no one knows what the correct answers are, so there's a huge amount of uncertainty and people are really, really sick. So it's hard to second guess whether or not you are doing the right thing when you think you are but you never quite know," said Fischer. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Julia Trainor, 23, a registered nurse at a surgical ICU, poses for a photograph after a 14-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moment was having to put a breathing tube in my patient who could no longer breathe for herself and after the breathing tube went in, we called her family and the husband, of course, couldn't visit her because of visitor restrictions at the hospital. So I had to put him on the phone and hold the phone to her ear, as he told her that he loved her so much and then I had to wipe away her tears as she was crying," said Trainor. "I'm used to seeing very sick patients and I'm used to patients dying but nothing quite like this. In the flip of a switch, without the support, they're completely isolated. They're very sick. Some of them recover and some of them don't. But the hardest part, I would think, is them having to go through this feeling like they are alone." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Lisa Mehring, 45, a registered nurse who works in a biocontainment unit with Covid-19 patients, poses for a photograph after a 12.5-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works in Maryland. "Seeing these new moms have babies has been the hardest moment along with having do their pumping for the new moms and them not being able to be with their newborn children, it's hard to think of the family that they are missing," Mehring said. Photos Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Jacqueline Hamil, 30, a registered nurse in an emergency department, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift outside the hospital. "The hardest moment of my shift today, I was in charge, and we had a really sick patient that was in a really, really small room and usually, when we have sick crashing patients, we can have a ton of resources and a ton of staff go in and help with the nurse and the doctors that are taking care of that patient. But due to the patient being ruled out for the coronavirus, we could only have five or six people in the room at a time and putting on all the gowns and gloves and masks and face shields to protect us in case the patient does have coronavirus, it takes a while, so the nurse that was in there, ended up being in the room for you know 6, 7 hours with minimal breaks and it was hard being in charge and knowing that she was stuck in the room and really nothing I could do to help her," Hamil said. Reuters

Donald Trump claimed at this first campaign rally in three months last week that the number of cases of Covid-19 was only rising as a result of continued coronavirus testing throughout the country.

Heres the bad part: When you do testing to that extent, youre going to find more people, youre going to find more cases. So I said to my people, 'Slow the testing down please," the president said at the event in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday.

However, top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci undercut Mr Trumps claims on Tuesday, insisting that health policy advisers had not been told to slow down.

None of us have ever been told to slow down on testing. That just is a fact, Dr Fauci told a House committee, a direct contradiction of Mr Trump's comments at a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, over the weekend.

During testimony to the House of Representatives committee on Tuesday, Dr Fauci labelled the situation a mixed bag.

He said: In some respects, weve done very well. Right now the New York metropolitan area, which has been hit extraordinarily hard, has done very well in bringing the cases down and using the guidelines that we have very carefully put together in a stepwise fashion to try and carefully reopen their city and their state.

However, in other areas of the country, were now seeing a disturbing surge of infections that looks like its a combination, but one of the things is an increase in community spread  We were going down from 30,000 [new cases a day] to 25, to 20, now we sort of stayed about flat and now were going up."

Governor Ron DeSantis said the record daily figures of new cases in Florida were not caused by an increase in testing, as the rate of positive tests had also risen.

In Europe, many countries are seeing a continued fall in cases and deaths after prolonging lockdown and slowly re-opening their economies and relaxing restrictions.

Across the US, more than 2,300,000 people have been infected with the disease with over 120,000 deaths as of Wednesday.

Worldwide there have been almost 9,200,000 infections and almost 500,000 deaths.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press
Its the sort of trick youd pull if you were merely pretending to be a democracy: Hold a man in horrific conditions, then, if he sues, abruptly deport him.

But that seems to be exactly what happened to one man in New Jersey.

Hector Garcia Mendoza, jailed by the Newark field office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was one of the few detainees willing to put his name on a recent class action lawsuit over the filthy conditions he faced during this pandemic: People with serious health conditions forced to sleep just inches apart, with no soap, and the virus raging.

Then, just four days later, without informing the attorneys who represent him, ICE dumped him in Mexico -- despite a federal court order to stop his deportation.

Hes been missing now since May 19th. And ICE refuses to answer any questions about the decision to deport him, or where he might be in Mexico; not even from 18 members of Congress, including Rep. Frank Pallone, who calls it outrageous.

Why be so secretive, if theres nothing to see here?

Today I led a letter, along with @JoaquinCastrotx, @FrankPallone, & 15 of our Democratic colleagues, raising alarm over the deportation of Hector Garcia Mendoza in an apparent violation of his right to due process and a court order preventing his removal. pic.twitter.com/Vu7NTcCDIF  Albio Sires (@RepSires) May 22, 2020

What was the big rush to deport Mr. Mendoza? Why was it necessary for him to be removed in the cover of night, while this was going on? Pallone wants to know.

In the absence of any justification, hes been left to formulate his own theory. The only reason I can think of was retaliation, he says. They didnt want him to testify because of this COVID suit.

We got no answers from John Tsoukaris, either, the director of ICEs field office in Newark.

Advocates say ICE even refused to provide them with a photo of Mendoza, to help in the manhunt. They finally procured one from family members they tracked down.

Mexicos government has been trying to help U.S. lawmakers find him. But he hasnt been heard from in weeks -- not even by his own family. His lawyer says thats a bad sign.

The likelihood of him being forced into gang work or kidnapped or dead is very high at this point, given that so much time has passed, said Joelle Lingat of American Friends Service Committee. This really is a missing persons case.

Lingat and attorneys from the Immigrant Defense Project and New York University School of Law Immigrant Rights Clinic filed this lawsuit in federal court in Newark, which called for the release of all 114 people detained at the private detention center in Elizabeth. Judge Esther Salas is likely to issue a decision soon.

Mendoza described the converted warehouse where they were all held as a germ factory, where he shared a dorm with dozens of other detained men, some of them visibly ill.

They had no cleaning supplies or protective equipment and were refused adequate medical care and due process rights, he said. He has asthma and suffered shortness of breath and chest pain while he was held there, although its unknown if he had COVID.

The handful of other named plaintiffs, including a Congolese man with high blood pressure who fled political persecution and a woman with a rare blood disorder, agreed conditions were abominable.

Detainees wore the same uniforms for weeks on end, slept close together in bug-infested dorms and were mocked and treated like animals, the lawsuit says.

The private company running the Elizabeth detention center, CoreCivic, has long been accused of human rights abuses inside its facilities, Matt Katz of WNYC reported; while noting it told him it doesnt comment on lawsuits, but is working hard to protect those entrusted to our care.

Attorneys, meanwhile, say theyve been unable to get the medical records of their clients, and a free hotline to connect detainees with advocates was suddenly shut down. But the warden recently came in and started taking photos, detainees told Lingat, after doing a cursory cleaning.

Was Mendozas deportation part of this clean-up effort, too -- meant to intimidate others from speaking up? It appears so. Why else would ICE refuse to answer legitimate questions from members of Congress?

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Virgin Australia's bondholders have offered to pour $925 million into the bankrupt airline as part of an eleventh-hour relaunch plan that would see them emerge as the carrier's new owners.

Sydney advisory Faraday Associates lodged the alternative proposal on behalf of unsecured bondholders owed $2 billion with Virgin's administrator Deloitte at 7am on Wednesday.

Virgin's unsecured bondholders say the airline should not be sold for "pandemic prices". Credit:James Alcock

There has been growing anxiety among bondholders they will get as little as 10 in the dollar of what they are owed or nothing at all under a sale of Virgin to shortlisted bidders Bain Capital or Cyrus Capital Partners.

Virgin would remain listed on the Australian Stock Exchange under the proposal, as flagged by this masthead on Monday, with shares issued to about 6000 bondholders made up of around 30 major institutional investors and thousands of "mum and dad" retail investors.
As school systems in Maryland debate whether police officers should be based inside public schools, newly released state data shows that arrest rates are higher for black students and students with disabilities than for their peers.

State education officials this week denounced the disparities but did not offer new proposals to address them. School systems with significant gaps have created action plans and will work with the state to reduce them, state Superintendent Karen Salmon said.

Still, "it's horrendous," Salmon said as the Maryland State Board of Education discussed the matter Tuesday afternoon. She said she had earlier raised the issue with school superintendents across the state.

"We can't keep this up," she said. "It is a huge, huge concern. And it's not gotten any better, except in a very small number of systems."

Board member Clarence Crawford said it was important that disparities not become normalized.

"The thing that troubles me is that none of this stuff is new and we keep coming back every year with the same thing," he said. "And personally I just find that absolutely unacceptable. . . . This has to be addressed and stopped."

Advocates who have pushed to remove police from public schools cite racial disproportionality as a major concern. When police are stationed in schools, they say, more student infractions tend to be criminalized - and students of color too often arrested.

But Salmon and at least two state board members expressed support for school-based police.

"Our school resource officers are often the first people that are on the scene to help our students that are in trauma," said Salmon, noting that the state had trained 1,000 school resource officers last summer on a variety of topics.

Board member Gail Bates said the state should do more to promote school resource officers to the public, calling them a vital resource. "They provide help to keeping people from getting into other problems," she said.

Questions about police presence on campus have flared in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, the state's two largest school systems. Prince George's postponed discussion of the issue until September. Montgomery's school board voted unanimously to study it and decide in January whether to modify or scrap its resource officer program.

White students represent a slightly larger share of the student population than black students in Maryland. But nearly 1,800 school-related arrests involved black students, compared with 900 that involved white students.

In all, Maryland had 3,141 school-related arrests in 2018-2019, the year examined in the report. The data shows most arrests took place on school grounds or inside school buildings, but some were related to school activities or conduct on school buses. More than 80 percent of the arrests were made by "school resource officers."

For the year of the report, Maryland's student body of nearly 900,000 was 37 percent white, 34 percent black, 18 percent Hispanic, 7 percent Asian and 5 percent multiracial. The makeup of school-related arrests was very different: 56 percent black, 28 percent white, 8 percent Hispanic, 6 percent multiracial and less than 1 percent Asian.

The data reflects a trend that goes back at least several years, when Maryland began compiling numbers, and is another sign of racial disparities in police contact, as the nation has been roiled by protests focused on racism and police violence after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The demonstrations have sparked debate about practices in schools, refocusing attention on school-related arrests and school-assigned police.

In Maryland, the report showed most arrests affected teenagers but that children were arrested, too: about 70 arrests involved those in elementary school and more than 1,000 arrests involved Maryland middle schools. In some cases, students were physically taken into custody, but more often "paper arrests" were done, with referrals to the juvenile justice system.

Arrests numbers had dropped in school systems in Montgomery and Prince George's. Montgomery had 163 arrests, down from 304 in 2015-2016, and Prince George's had 311, down from 588.

A spokeswoman said Prince George's schools would "continue to take a critical look at practices that needlessly steer students toward the criminal justice system" and emphasize student interventions, mental health support and restorative approaches.

A Montgomery schools spokesman said the system was "committed to ensuring safe schools and preventing the criminalization of students" by working with police and providing cultural proficiency training to staff.

With a focus on learning, the state board approved the formation of a task force on achieving academic equity and excellence for black male students.
Molly-Mae Hague revealed she had suffered a sunburn disaster on Wednesday.

Like many across the U.K, the Love Island star made the most of the scorching weather by spending it outside.

And Molly-Mae, 21, certainly looked very bronzed in her latest selfie as she showed off her PrettyLittleThing outfit, but admitted she was 'very sunburnt'.

Oops: Molly-Mae Hague revealed she had suffered a sunburn disaster after basking in the sunny climes on Wednesday

The television personality look gorgeous in a yellow and blue watercolour silk bustier and denim jeans.

She wore her blonde locks in soft curls and accentuated her bronzed, slightly red, tan with a polished make-up look.

The reality star captioned the shot: 'I got very burnt today. Wbu??'

Sunburnt: The reality star, 21, certainly looked sunburnt compared to this snap taken a few days prior

Molly-Mae has returned to social media after her Pomeranian puppy, Mr Chai, died just six days after she and boyfriend Tommy flew him in from Russia.

The dog's death was met with backlash from followers, forcing the pair to take a break from the public eye for a few days.

Boxer Tommy bought the dog through Cheshire-based business Tiffany Chihuahuas & Pomeranians, which is licensed by Cheshire Council but not a Kennel Club assured breeder.

Devastated: Molly-Mae has returned to social media after her Pomeranian puppy, Mr Chai, died just six days after she and boyfriend Tommy flew him in from Russia

Addressing his sudden death, Molly-Mae said: 'Whilst we completely understand everyone's opinions about being shipped over from Russia, what you need to understand is that is not what made him die.

'He was going to die regardless. The autopsy results showed his skull wasn't fully developed and part of his brain was exposed. He didn't have a single white blood cell in his body.

'If we had the time again we would have got a dog from the UK or got a rescue dog from the UK.'

A representative of the couple confirmed Mr Chai had died of 'a seizure and neurological issues.'
European funding to the Palestinian Authority may end up in the hands of Palestinian terrorists who commit attacks against Israel. This conclusion was presented in a report by the Palestinian Media Watch, at a meeting hosted by MEPs Bert-Jan Ruissen (NL) and Charlie Weimers (SE) on Tuesday, June 23. The webinar was organized in collaboration with the ECR Group, ECPM and the Israel Allies Foundation.

European funding to the Palestinian Authority may end up in the hands of Palestinian terrorists who commit attacks against Israel. This conclusion was presented in a report by the Palestinian Media Watch, at a meeting hosted by MEPs Bert-Jan Ruissen (NL) and Charlie Weimers (SE) on Tuesday. The webinar was organized in collaboration with the ECR Group, ECPM and the Israel Allies Foundation.

The European Union donates hundreds of millions euros annually to the Palestinian Authority (PA). The PA gives around 50 million euros per quarter to the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). The PLO in turn gives money to EU-listed terrorist organizations such as the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.

"It is very bizarre that this route is not prohibited," says Bert-Jan Ruissen. The EU does have rules against financing terrorist activities within the EU and for terrorists and NGOs outside the EU. Recently the EU has stopped funding the Palestinian NGO Badil, because it refused to exclude terrorist activities. But non-European governments and government agencies that receive EU money are slipping through the loopholes of the law. 

Bert-Jan Ruissen insists on a thorough investigation: "It should absolutely not happen that European taxpayers' money is used in attacks on Israel."

MEP Charlie Weimers states that it is very problematic that time and again concerns are raised about EU money ending up with terrorist groups. Terrorism and incitement run entirely counter to peaceful conflict resolution. If and where loopholes exist in EU counter-terrorism financing legislation, they must be closed immediately. It is also our moral obligation as MEPs to ensure that no tax-payers money is funnelled in support of terrorism.

Josh Reinstein, President of the Israel Allies Foundation welcomed this webinar and wondered why while more and more countries (even Islamic countries) are getting closer to Israel, the EU seems to move further away and that the funding of the Palestinian Authority should be reviewed critically.

Together with other MEPs, they called for full implementation of existing EU and international rules that forbid terrorist financing. Furthermore, they called on the European Commission to ensure that no EU funding would, either directly or indirectly, end up in support of terrorist activities, groups and their affiliates.

Itamar Marcus, director of Palestinian Media Watch, drafted the worrying report highlighting the loopholes in EU counter-terrorism legislation. He stated that "the EU criminalized a long list of terrorist support activities in 2017. But the EU is giving money to the PA, which carries out numerous criminalized terrorist support activities almost every day. If the PA were to conduct such activities in Brussels, they would end up in jail. How can the EU finance terrorists outside the EU who would be imprisoned in the EU? Do non-EU citizens not deserve the same protection against terror that EU citizens deserve?

Branislav Skripek, president of the ECPM, summarized the presentation and stated that although the European Union has been taking positive steps to avoid European funds going to NGOs supporting terrorism, this report shows that there are still loopholes in the framework of EU's support of the Palestinian Authority. It is important to make clear that we do not accept any EU funding for the finance of Palestinian terrorism. EU money can never be used to spread hate. If you are sowing bad seed, you will get a bad tree, which produces bad fruit. The safety of Israel (including its citizens) should be a priority of EU's policy on the matter.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 20:45:33|Editor: huaxia

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Children show locusts in bottles in a field in Sanaa, Yemen, June 24, 2020. Hundreds of billions of desert locusts were seen swarming through the Yemeni Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Wednesday, invading crops and leaving farmers of the war-torn Arab country in despair. (Photo by Mohamed al-Azaki/Xinhua)

SANAA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of billions of desert locusts were seen swarming through the Yemeni Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Wednesday, invading crops and leaving farmers of the war-torn Arab country in despair.

The destructive insects eat vegetation and destroy farms, exacerbating the food crisis as the ongoing war has already hampered relevant precautions.

Earlier this month, the desert locusts invaded several other Yemeni provinces, according to local residents and farmers.

The shortage of pesticides because of the war has left the swarms of migratory locusts out of control.

Yemen's five-year civil war between the government forces of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the Houthi rebels has pushed more than 20 million to the brink of starvation.
There's new evidence that a 2,000-year-old medicine might offer hope against a modern scourge: COVID-19.

The medication, called colchicine, is an anti-inflammatory taken as a pill. It's long been prescribed for gout, a form of arthritis, and its history goes back centuries. The drug was first sourced from the autumn crocus flower.

Doctors also sometimes use colchicine to treat pericarditis, where the sac around the heart becomes inflamed.

Now, a team of Greek researchers reporting Wednesday in JAMA Network Open said their small trial suggests colchicine may indeed help curb severe COVID-19.

The trial involved 105 Greek patients hospitalized in April with COVID-19. Besides receiving standard antibiotics and antivirals (but not remdesivir), half of the participants got daily doses of colchicine for up to three weeks, while the other half did not.

The results "suggest a significant clinical benefit from colchicine in patients hospitalized with COVID-19," according to the team led by Dr. Spyridon Deftereos, a cardiologist at Attikon Hospital in Attiki, Greece.

Specifically, while the condition of seven of 50 patients who didn't get colchicine "clinically deteriorated" to a severe stage (for example, requiring mechanical ventilation to survive), this was true for just one of the 55 patients who did receive colchicine, the researchers said.

Writing in a journal editorial, a group of U.S. physicians agreed that the study has limits, but applauded the Greek team for "showing us that an old drug may still have new life."

Dr. Amir Rabbani, a cardiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues stressed in the editorial that the study size was too small to offer a definitive statement on whether colchicine should be used routinely against COVID-19.

But they said that its effects on certain blood markers of heart functionas observed in the new studysuggest that colchicine has anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting effects that could help limit the cardiovascular damage wreaked by COVID-19.

Larger trial neededand it's on the way

Dr. Rajiv Bahl is an emergency medicine physician in Orlando, Fla., who's seen the ravages of severe COVID-19 in patients firsthand. Reading over the Greek findings, he noted that colchicine "has also been used to prevent heart conditions such as pericarditis and other inflammatory conditions affecting the body."

Still, the new study is too small, so although it "does show some early promise, future studies need to be conducted before we can incorporate colchicine as an extensively used medication to help combat COVID-19," Bahl said.

That trial is already underway.

As first reported in April, researchers in the United States and Canada are testing colchicine's ability to keep high-risk COVID-19 patients from getting sick enough to land in the hospital.

According to researcher Dr. Priscilla Hsue, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), "one of the unique aspects is that we're trying to hit this before people need to be hospitalized."

Colchicine is the medication of choice for a few reasons, Hsue explained: Unlike many drugs being tested in hospital patientswhich are given by infusion or injectioncolchicine tablets are easy to take and inexpensive, so it could easily be used at home. The medication also has a long history of safe use for gout, she added.

Beyond that, Hsue added, a recent trial found that low-dose colchicine benefits people who've recently suffered a heart attack. Patients who took one tablet a day curbed their risk of further heart complications or stroke over the next two years.

Heart injury is a common problem in people who become seriously ill with COVID-19at least partly, researchers suspect, because of a runaway immune system reaction called a "cytokine storm."

Unique design

Hsue believes it's worth investigating whether colchicine could help prevent such heart issues.

The North American trial aims to enroll 6,000 patients newly diagnosed with COVID-19 who are at increased risk of serious illnessbecause they are older than 69, or have conditions like heart or lung disease.

To keep those patients isolated at home, the study has an unusual "contactless" design: Patients will receive the medication by courier, and have follow-up visits via video or phone. The researchers will look at whether the tactic lowers hospitalization rates and deaths over one month.

Dr. Randy Cron is a professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and an expert on the "cytokine storm."

While Cron believes that targeting cytokine storms in COVID-19 is wise, he had some reservations about giving colchicine to people with no signs of the severe immune reaction. Could any dampening of their immune response against the virus backfire?

"My concern is, could it make the infection worse?" Cron said.

Hsue, however, pointed to the safety record of the medication, and noted that the dose given in the trial will be lower than what's routinely used for gout.

In the end, experts say the only way to definitively prove any medication works for COVID-19 is through clinical trials.

The colchicine study is currently recruiting patients, with UCSF and New York University School of Medicine being the first two U.S. sites involved.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: The World Health Organization has updates on Journal information: JAMA Network Open The World Health Organization has updates on COVID-19

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A teacher, wearing a protective face mask, teaches to schoolchildren in a classroom at a private school during its reopening in Saint-Sebastien-sur-Loire near Nantes as a small part of French children head back to their schools with new rules and social distancing during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in France, May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Teachers and other staff will have to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in certain circumstances, when schools re-open, amid the ongoing threat from Covid-19.

Overall, PPE will not be required to be worn within schools but a limited number of staff will need to use PPE occasionally, or constantly, due to the nature of certain activities or work areas, according to Department of Education guidelines

Examples of the circumstances in which use of PPE is envisaged include when a staff member, such as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA), is performing intimate care for a pupil or where a suspected case of Covid-19 is identified.

And while school cleaning regimes will be stepped up to minimise risk, staff will also be required to thoroughly clean and disinfect their work area before and after use each day.

The guidelines have been prepared with a focus on summer education programmes, but give an indication of what all staff, parents and pupils can expect when the new term starts at the end of August/September.

The Government is aiming to have all pupils back together when schools re-open, and the document, will be reviewed and updated summer taking account of ongoing public health advice.

Education Minister Joe McHugh has asked schools, teachers and SNAs to volunteer for summer programmes for students with special needs or those suffering severe socio-economic disadvantage, but uptake have been slow pending publication of the guidelines.

It remains to be seen whether there will be a significant increase in interest in running the programmes now that the guidelines have been published.

Mr McHugh is hoping that the number of students with special needs to benefit would double to 20,000 this year while every DEIS schools has been invited to run a programme for worst-affected pupils.

The guidelines published today cover a range of issues including procedures for returning to work, general advice to prevent the spread of the virus, control measures, dealing with suspected case of Covid-19 and staff duties.

But the initial document makes no reference to what social distancing measures may apply, which is the subject of active discussions between the Department of education and public health officials.

The Department is continuing to engage with the Department of Health and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and will update this template in the coming days reflecting the advice we are receiving, in particular on the issue of physical distancing, a letter to schools states.

Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) president Damian White welcomed the announcement of clear and concise guidelines for the roll out of the summer provision programme but said questions remain.

He said some of their questions were entirely dependent on the advice from National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), who in turn must judge the prevailing situation.

Mr White said they welcomed the opportunity for school communities to be able to return to school for the roll out of summer provision. Public health is paramount, and any restrictions remaining are for the welfare of all.

The guidelines stipulate that the return to the work must be done safely and in strict adherence to the advice and instructions of public health authorities and the Government.

As well as the use of (PPE) in certain circumstances, schools have also been advised that hand sanitisers will be needed and while the Department is working on a centralised order, they have been asked to buy their own in the short term.

Schools operating the summer programme will need to source these items locally. The cost of these items necessitated by the operation of the guidance will be reimbursed by the Department. the letter states.

Under the return to work protocol, staff will be required to complete a Return to Work (RTW) form at least three days prior to any return confirming that, to the best of their knowledge, they have no symptoms of Covid-19, are not self-isolating or cocooning or awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test.

All staff will undertake Covid-19 Induction Training prior to returning, covering areas such as the latest guidance on public health, Covid-19 symptoms, what to do if a staff member or pupil develops symptoms of Covid-19 at school.

A staff member in a very high risk group should self-declare on the Return to Work form and details of the leave arrangements that will apply will be updated by the Department of Education and Skills.

If the board of management of principal is unsure whether or not a staff member falls into the very high-risk category, advice will be sought from the Occupational Health Service. It is not envisaged that anyone considered very high risk would volunteer for Summer Provision 2020.

A major focus on infection prevention and control includes advice to schools to have handwashing facilities and/or hand sanitisers are available at multiple locations, including in each classroom.

Schools have been promised appropriate PPE for dealing with suspected Covid-19 cases, intimate care needs and for first aid and this will be updated in line with advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

While arrangements for more regular and thorough cleaning of areas and surfaces within the school are being made, staff will also be required to thoroughly clean and disinfect their work area before and after use each day.

Staff will also must use and clean their own equipment and utensils, such as cup, cutlery and plate.

For now, at least, shower facilities cannot be made available for use by staff, but this will be reviewed in line with government guidance.

Access to the schools will only be for essential purposes, such as by parents and contractors, and the principals will have to give prior approval.

The school must maintain a log of visitors as well as a log of staff and student contacts and will have to designate an isolation area, in the event that of someone displaying signs of Covid-19.
The Pound Sterling Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate remained flat on Wednesday morning, this left the pairing trading at around 1.1079.

The single currency remained under pressure despite data showing Germanys business morale improved more than expected this month.

Morale posted its largest increase in June since records began, suggesting the blocs largest economy should return to growth in the third quarter.

Ifos survey showed the business climate index rose to 86.2 from an upwardly revised 79.7 in May.

Commenting on the data, Ifo President Clemens Fuest noted:

Companies assessments of their current situation were somewhat better. Moreover, their expectations leaped higher. German business sees light at the end of the tunnel.

Added to this, Euro sentiment was offered some support after Ifo economist, Klaus Wohlrabe noted the economy should return to growth in the third quarter after a likely double-digit slump between April and June.

Wohlrabe noted:

We have passed the economic trough, the low point is behind us and things are looking up again. Export expectations have risen significantly.

However, Germany still faces its worst recession since World War Two and the government has predicted GDP would shrink by -6.3% in April. This left EUR flat against the Pound.

Meanwhile, data also showed business climate improved in France, although still remained weak.

INSEE said conditions improved in France as lockdown measures were eased, and the index has recovered from Mays slump. The index rose from Mays 59.9 to 77.8 in June.

Commenting on the data, INSEE said:

In June 2020, the business climate has recovered very clearly, in connection with the acceleration of the lockdown exit.

At 78, the business climate has exceeded the low point reached in March 2009 (70), but remains far below its long-term average (100).

This sharp rise in the overall synthetic indicator is explained in particular by the more optimistic view that companies have on their activity prospects, in all sectors, under the effect of the the lockdown exit.

The Pound remained under pressure today as uncertainties around a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and EU weighed on the currency.

GBP remained flat despite the earlier surge in risk appetite after Tuesdays upbeat data from Europe, the US and Britain sparked hopes growth was returning as countries began to ease lockdown restrictions.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled new easing measures that will take place across England from the 4 July. This includes a reduction of the two-metre rule and the reopening of pubs and restaurants.

However, this announcement was met with criticism. In an open letter in the British Medical Journal, top medics warned the government that the risk of local flare-ups of Covid-19 is likely, and a second wave is a risk.

In a note to clients, ING strategists wrote:

[Lifting the UK lockdown] does not alter the key GBP driving factor  the uncertainty about the UK-EU trade deal.

GBP to remain the European FX underperformer, despite the benign risk appetite.

Pounds to Euros Outlook: Will Further Upbeat German Data Buoy EUR?

Looking ahead, the Euro (EUR) could edge higher against the Pound (GBP) on Thursday if there is further upbeat data from the blocs largest economy.

If GfK reveals consumer confidence in Germany has improved more than expected in July as the country eases lockdown restrictions, it will boost the single currency.

However, the pairing could be left flat if upbeat data from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) buoys the Pound.

If the latest data from the CBI shows the pace of decline in trade has slowed, it will offer GBP support and leave the Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate flat.
Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, has filed a plea in a special CBI court seeking interim bail citing the risk of contracting coronavirus.

She is currently lodged in the Byculla women's prison in central Mumbai.

The court had earlier rejected her four regular bail applications filed on medical grounds, while another one moved on the merits of the case is still pending.

In her latest plea filed on Tuesday, Mukerjea sought temporary bail for 45 days citing the coronavirus outbreak and her medical history.

The application claimed that given the increasing numbers of COVID-19 positive cases in the state there is no certainty when the trial or hearingfor bail (merits) will begin.

It added that she has been in judicial custody ever since her arrest in August 2015 and she has been suffering from chronic ischemic changes in her brain arteries. The application also said that she has suffered from blackouts time and again and has been on medication.

Thus, considering her medical history and the guidelines issued by the high-powered committee, the court should grant interim bail to her, the application said.

During the hearing on the plea, the special court on Wednesday asked the investigating agency to file its reply on June 26.

Meanwhile, the special court also rejected the interim bail plea of Mukerjea's former husband Sanjeev Khanna, who is a co-accused in the case. Khanna had also sought temporary release in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

Sheena (24) was allegedly strangled in a car by her mother Indrani, her driver Shyamvar Rai and Khanna in April 2012. Her body was burnt in a forest in neighbouring Raigad district. Former media baron Peter Mukerjea was later arrested for allegedly being part of the conspiracy.
A leaked video showing the death of a Moroccan teenager at a Spanish juvenile detention centre has sparked demands for his case to be reopened and the method used to restrain him banned. Iliass Tahiri, 18, died on July 1, 2019 at Tierras de Oria detention centre in the southern Almeria province as security staff strapped him to a bed, using a procedure denounced by rights groups as dangerous. Police opened an inquiry at the time but the case was closed after a judge ruled it "accidental" death. However, CCTV footage of Tahiri's last moments in which he shows no signs of violence -- a requisite for authorities to resort to such a restraint -- was leaked to a Spanish newspaper. "If you see the video, you'll never believe it was accidental as the judge said," his brother Anass Tahiri, 22, told AFP. "The video shows how they killed him. It's murder," said Anass, whose family has lodged an official appeal against the case's dismissal. Published by El Pais, the footage emerged as global protests raged following the death of George Floyd in the US when a policeman knelt on his neck. The video's authenticity has been confirmed by a spokeswoman for Ginso, the private company managing Tierras de Oria. Within a week of its publication, the Spanish ombudsman's office called for the abolition of such procedures in juvenile detention centres. On June 18, the Almeria public prosecutor's office asked for the case to be reopened, denouncing as "illegal" the protocol for using such restraints. Tahiri's case centres on mechanical restraint -- strapping a person to a bed so they can't hurt themselves or anyone else -- but can only be used if they are agitated, aggressive or violent. - 'Unnecessary aggression and violence' - In the video, six men roughly wrestle Tahiri on to a bed face down, at one point kneeling on his buttocks to tighten a strap around his waist, eventually realising he's no longer breathing. Tahiri, who arrived in Spain in 2017, was placed in juvenile detention over "some problems in the street", his brother told AFP. He had been at Tierras de Oria for two months when he died. The day before, the teenager was visited by his mother and told her he'd been subjected to threats and abuse, Anass recalled. "He wanted her to get a lawyer to get him out because he'd reached the point that he'd rather be in prison than in that centre," he said, adding that his brother had been on suicide watch. In a statement to AFP, Ginso said "the need for the restraint procedure was demonstrated (during the investigation) as was its correct application by staff who complied scrupulously with the protocol," saying its use was "exceptional" and only undertaken with the "minimum necessary force". But Andalusia's Human Rights Association (APDHA) says mechanical restraint is "standard practice" in juvenile centres, where it is often used for discipline or punishment. "What the video shows is a grossly disproportionate use of force given Iliass' attitude, involving completely unnecessary aggression and violence when he was restrained," APDHA's Francisco Fernandez Caparros told AFP. "Clearly his death occurred while they were applying the restraints... it was this situation of stress and violence that killed him," he said. Two other youngsters have died after being restrained: one in Madrid in 2011, and another in Spain's Melilla enclave in 2018. - A swift reaction - Ombudsman Francisco Fernandez Marugan called on the government to change the law. "A swift and radical decision is needed that will end the use of mechanical restraints once and for all," he said. "Nobody else must die in these circumstances in Spain." The Almeria public prosecutor also ordered that all such restraints be "immediately" suspended. The restraint protocol puts youngsters "at serious unjustified risk", and where that results in injury, those responsible for approving such procedures will be held criminally liable, it said in a legal document. Contacted by AFP, the regional justice ministry declined to comment on the prosecutor's statement. But a spokeswoman said it would "respect and abide by" all judicial decisions. The closing of the Tahiri case "is currently being appealed," she said. - No regional investigation - According to Andalusian opposition lawmaker Maribel Mora, the regional government did not hold an inquiry after Tahiri's death or check how the procedure was being used in centres under its jurisdiction. In 2016, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture visited Tierras de Oria and denounced its restraint procedure as a "disproportionate use of force", urging regional governments to halt the practice, Mora told AFP. Despite the call, mechanical restraints were used 360 times in the region's 16 juvenile centres in the following two years, official figures show. "Whether or not they reopen the case, it is clear something is going very wrong and the (regional) government needs to respond and take responsibility for this," Mora said. Anass Tahiri, 22, holds a picture of him and his brother, Iliass, who died while being restrained in a juvenile detention centre in Spain Francisco Fernandez Caparros, of Andalusia's Human Rights Association, says the leaked video shows "a grossly disproportionate use of force" given the attitude of Tahiri The family of Iliass Tahiri have lodged an appeal against the dismissal of his case after it was ruled accidental death




Haiti - FLASH : Former FRAP chief deported by the USA, arrested upon his arrival in Port-au-Prince





Despite the efforts of the Prime Minister and the Chancellery, the expulsion of Emmanuel "Toto" Constant (already reported twice), the former paramilitary leader of the Revolutionary Front Armed for the Progress of Haiti, which later became the "Front for Haitian Advancement and Progress" FRAPH, condemned in absentia by the Haitian justice system 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 finally took place Tuesday June 23 in Haiti where he landed at Toussaint Louverture International Airport at 11:25 am on flight N-418 of the US Immigration and Customs Air. With 24 other compatriots confirmed Jean Negot Bonheur Delva, the Coordinator of the National Office for Migration.



Remember that Emmanuel Constant (63) has just served a 12-year sentence in a prison for various crimes. In addition, he had been convicted in absentia in Haiti with 14 other people for the massacre of Raboteau in 1994 and his involvement in the death squads, made responsible for more than 3,000 assassinations, countless rapes and tortures of the partisans of the ousted President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.



Upon his arrival he was arrested and taken care of by agents of the Central Direction of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) and should be taken to the national penitentiary pending a retrial under Haitian laws, as announced by Lucmane Delile, the Minister of Justice.



The 24 other compatriots repatriated for having been in an irregular migration situation on Dominican territory, were taken in charge by the Ministry of Public Health before undergoing tests of Covid-19 and being put in quarantine.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31100-haiti-justice-emmanuel-toto-constant-could-be-expelled-by-the-usa-this-tuesday.html

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


















The move will allow ministers to bypass opposition from teaching unions

He wants to increase class sizes from 15 to more than 30 pupils by September

The Education Secretary's plan to double class sizes will be published next week

Bubbles will replace social distancing which is to be scrapped inside schools

The 15-child limit on class sizes is to be more than doubled under plans to get all pupils back to school in September, with school buildings exempt from social distancing rules.

Proposals being finalised by the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will continue the 'bubble' system that has allowed some primary classes to start up again already.

Currently, the bubbles of up to 15 children are taught together but not allowed to mix with other classes in the school.

The bubble system is hoped to remove the need for teachers to enforce social distancing altogether, instead mitigating the spread of viruses by limiting bubbles' contact with each other, reports The Telegraph.

Mr Williamson is now planning a 'double bubble' that will allow class sizes of more than 30, allowing a full return for primary schools in September.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is planning a 'double bubble' for primary schools, allowing class sizes of more than 30. Pictured, Year 10 pupils Ortu Gable Hall School in Corringham, Essex, return to school

Children will not be asked to maintain any distance between each other while at school under the proposed plans, however they will be expected to adhere to social distancing on the journey to and from school, The Telegraph reports.

While social distancing is to be scrapped, basic hygiene such as regular hand washing will still be encouraged within schools, with children told to 'catch it, bin it, kill it' if they do happen to sneeze or cough with a tissue nearby.

Bubble schemes are also being planned for secondary schools, where the situation is more complex because of the need for pupils to move around the school for different subjects.

A Whitehall source said the plans, which will be published next week, would allow Boris Johnson to meet his pledge to get all children back full-time for the start of the school year in September.

Proposals being finalised by the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured) will continue the 'bubble' system that has allowed some primary classes to start up again already

The move will allow ministers to bypass opposition from teaching unions, who previously warned that a full return will be impossible due to a need for social distancing.

Alternative proposals to requisition public buildings and bring back an army of retired teachers have been abandoned as impractical.

Ministers are now considering whether to make schooling compulsory again for pupils from September.

At a private meeting with the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs last night, the Education Secretary rounded on the National Education Union, which ministers accuse of blocking an earlier return.

Mr Williamson described the militant union, which represents more than 450,000 teachers and support staff, as the 'No Education Union'.

A Whitehall source said the plans, to be published next week, would allow Boris Johnson to meet his pledge to get all children back full-time in September. Pictured, pupils are back in classes at Ortu Gable Hall School in Corringham, Essex

Social distancing measures as a child studies on a marked table at Kempsey Primary School in Worcester. May 18

Middle school pupils attend a lesson in their classroom, on June 22, 2020 in Boulogne-Billancourt, outside Paris, as primary and middle schools reopen in France

A source at the meeting said: 'It's clear that Gavin has had enough with the leadership of some of the teaching unions who he accuses of working to stop teachers and children going back. He's tried playing nicely with them and they have strung him along, so he's going to try a different approach.'

Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the Commons education committee, last night called for a 'can-do spirit'. Mr Halfon said: 'It is critical that we get all children back in September if we are to avoid an epidemic of educational poverty and a safeguarding crisis.

'We need a can-do spirit from everyone involved to avoid damaging the life chances of a generation of children.'

Ministers faced a backlash this month when they abandoned plans to get all primary school classes back for a month before the end of the summer term.

Head teachers said it was simply not possible to get everyone back while the 15-child limit remained in place.

But a Whitehall source said falls in virus cases meant Public Health England was ready to dramatically increase the guidance on the size of bubbles that can be operated safely.

'We can change the social distance rules and increase the size of the bubbles,' the source said. 'That is potentially a game-changer for schools.'

Reopening schools fully in September could spread Covid-19 from Devon to Cumbria and infect hundreds of families, Sage scientists fear

By Rory Tingle for MailOnline

Opening schools 'fully' in September could lead to hundreds of families being infected with coronavirus and force parts of the economy to close down again, the government's scientific advisers fear.

Although children are thought to be less likely to transmit Covid-19, schools link up large numbers of households, meaning the experts believe a 'surprisingly small' chain of infections could rapidly take the virus from Devon to Cumbria.

Due to this risk, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) are concerned it will not be possible to re-admit all pupils at the start of the next academic year without going back to a much harsher lockdown.

Members of Sage - the two most high profile members of which are Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England and Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser - have expressed concerns about the reopening of schools

Boris Johnson told the Commons yesterday that 'primary and secondary education will recommence in September with full attendance'.

However, sources close to Sage told The Times this may not be possible without closing down parts of the economy again.

They are concerned both about the potential for schools to spread the virus and the risk of people behaving in a less careful manner due to the impression that things had returned to normal.

It came as the two most senior scientists advising the government on coronavirus warned that Mr Johnson's decision to further loosen restrictions could lead to a resurgence in cases.

Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, said the changes were 'absolutely not without risk while Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, said they would have to be reversed if outbreaks began spreading.

Their warnings came amid concerns the hospitality industry had been prioritised over education - although others point to the millions of jobs that would have been lost if the sector had not been allowed to reopen.

Boris Johnson told the Commons yesterday that 'primary and secondary education will recommence in September with full attendance'. File pic

Yesterday, the Prime Minister said he wanted to 'make life easier' after an 'incredibly tough time' for people all over the country and revealed that bars, restaurants, cinemas and hairdressers in England will be able to get back up and running from July 4.

He announced that the social distancing rule is being halved to 'one metre plus' to free up thousands of business, with precautions such as face masks deployed to make sure the risks of transmission stay 'broadly' the same.

Two households will also be able to gather indoors - meaning families will be able to reunite for the first time in months - though social distancing rules are still in place.

Other relaxations of rules include the resumption of church and other religious services - including wedding ceremonies for up to 30 people - though there is a ban on singing as it poses a 'particular' threat of spread.

However, nail bars, gyms and swimming pools will remain off limits and even the relaxed restrictions will come with strings attached, with social distancing measures still very much in place and encouraged by both Mr Johnson and his advisers.

Teaching union warns Year 11 pupils have been 'neglected' after their GCSEs were cancelled due to coronavirus and need urgent help to stop them falling further behind

by SAM BLITZ for MailOnline

A leading figure in the education sector is worried that Year 11 pupils in the UK are being neglected when they should be receiving urgent help.

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said that he is most worried about this age group in terms of catching up from lost time caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Year 11s, who are set to start college or sixth form in September, were not included in the 1billion package provided for the Government to help pupils catch-up in their education.

Association of Colleges chief executive David Hughes is most worried about Year 11 pupils, who would normally be taking GCSE examinations this summer, when pupils return to school after the coronavirus lockdown

Mr Hughes told MPs: 'We're particularly worried about Year 11s because Year 11s are not the priority for lots of schools, and particularly the Year 11s who are going to go on to college, and particularly the numbers who don't get a good grade in English and maths, because they struggle in the best of times.

'And we're not in the best of times. They will have had six months without any support. So they absolutely need extra support in the autumn otherwise they're going to be a long way behind.

'They won't be able to achieve the qualifications they are [seeking] so it's indefensible that that that group hasn't been supported yet.'

Pupils in Year 11 normally stop receiving teaching in April, a few weeks before their GCSE assessments start, but the pandemic has led to the cancellation of all examinations meaning this age group will not have faced mandatory study in nearly six months come September.

Meanwhile, Year 11 pupils' GCSE grades will be determined by predictions provided by their school and teachers.

And when this age group enters college or sixth form at Year 12 stage, they will be looking ahead to A-Level preparation.

Because GCSE teaching normally finishes in April, the Year 11 pupils, who will become Year 12 pupils looking ahead to A-Level preparation, will not have faced mandatory study in nearly six months

However, all GCSE pupils who fail their English and maths 'exams' need to retake them until they pass, with these resits planned for the autumn.

Mr Hughes added that the Association of Colleges has asked for more funding to help children who have felt neglected by their school or need added assistance in continuing their education in these testing times.

He added: 'We've asked for 200 million, which will be a pupil premium-type upgrade for funding for those students who need it most, disadvantaged students, getting the extra support in the autumn to catch up after six months of probably some neglect.'
(Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc. and Walmart Inc.s Flipkart have agreed to compel merchants to start prominently displaying country of origin for all goods sold online in India, bowing to regulatory demands as tensions with China escalate.

The internet giants joined about a dozen other online retailers including Facebook Inc.-backed Jio Platforms in agreeing to the move, widely regarded as a move to single out goods from China after a deadly border clash stoked long-simmering tensions. Its unclear when the labeling will kick off, because the e-commerce companies have asked for more time to incorporate the new requirement into their technology, people familiar with the matter said.The commerce ministrys Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade summoned the online retailers to a videoconference meeting on Wednesday, giving them just a days notice, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private affair. A commerce ministry spokesman did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment. An e-mail sent to spokespersons at Reliance Industries Ltd., Amazon and Flipkart remained unanswered.

If carried out, the labeling is likely to hurt sales of Chinese goods. Anti-China sentiment has erupted since a tense diplomatic and military standoff over a clash in the Himalayas last week that claimed the lives of 20 soldiers. Boycott China slogans have begun trending on social media and furiously circulating among messaging groups. The bulk of the smartphone brands sold in India are Chinese or are made in China, and these account for a huge portion of online revenues for the biggest online retailers. Electronic accessories, home appliances and apparel made in the neighboring countrys giant factories also make up a substantial portion of sales on Indias online websites.The Confederation of All India Traders, a lobbying group, said its appealed to top industrialists like Reliance Industries Ltd. Chairman Mukesh Ambani -- Asias richest person -- Kumar Mangalam Birla of Aditya Birla Group and Ajay Piramal to support a campaign to shun Chinese goods.Narendra Modis administration has signaled its support in other ways. Earlier this week, the government mandated country of origin information on its massive Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for all government purchases. A Made in India filter has also been enabled on the platform, the Ministry of Commerce said in a note on Tuesday.

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PHOENIX, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DeShon L. Pullen, owner and founder of DeShon Laraye Pullen PLC, was interviewed by ABC15's Sonoran Living (KNXV, 1015 HD on Cox) Friday, June 19, 2020 to discuss the most important steps that individuals seeking a divorce can take to make the process as healthy as possible and to minimize the hardship for family members involved.

DeShon Laraye Pullen PLC

When seeking a divorce, many people feel that they are at their lowest point in life, and simplifying the process for all parties can reduce stress, expenses and the long term impact not only on divorcing spouses but particularly on children as well if involved. "Having an attorney that you can trust and that you feel is the right fit for you is of the utmost importance when going through the divorce process. You really want to be sure that the individual is the right fit for your specific needs and that you have a good rapport before retaining," says attorney Deshon L. Pullen.

During Friday's segment of ABC15's Sonoran Living, DeShon L. Pullen discussed some of the following topics:

Importance of the first step in the divorce process: researching the attorney that you are considering retaining

Distinction of a Certified Family Law Specialist and what this could mean to you

Differences in cost and length of the divorce process based upon the complexity of the case

Mediation versus trial during divorce

Significance of the first consultation and why it is one of the most important parts of the divorce process when it relates to hiring an attorney

In addition, DeShon Pullen elaborates on and how important it is that proper research is done on the divorce attorney. "You may want to call the state bar, make sure there has been no disciplinary action and check recent reviews before deciding to hire," says Pullen.

The cost and time involved in the divorce process can differ based upon whether there is business valuation involved, if comprehensive family assessments are necessary, and if any experts are needed.

Mediation is a quicker, less expensive, less formal way to get a divorce as compared to trial. Although mediation would allow you to resolve your case without having to go to trial, it is still important to have an attorney on your side.

DeShon Pullen has been recognized by the Arizona Super Lawyers list for the past eight consecutive years and was named to the Best Law Firms in Arizona list in 2019. DeShon L. Pullen also holds several other honors and awards including being named Sole Practitioner of the Year and Volunteer Lawyer of the Year by the Maricopa County Bar Association and the Volunteer Lawyers Program.

DeShon Laraye Pullen PLC can be reached by phone at 602-252-1968 or online if you have any additional questions or if you would like to schedule a no obligation consultation.

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(TNS)  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."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 company's 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 DoD 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 Floyd's neck to be more effective organizationally?" the open letter to management read.
Apple to shut seven retail stores in Houston again as COVID-19 cases jump

Apple Inc is set to shut seven of its retail locations in Houston, Texas again due to an increase in the number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States, the company said Wednesday.

Apple has said it is monitoring conditions in each community where it operates stores to determine when to open and close them. The Houston re-closures follow similar moves last week in Florida, Arizona, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

"We take this step with an abundance of caution as we closely monitor the situation and we look forward to having our teams and customers back as soon as possible," Apple said in a statement.
For all its seeming informality, Lockdown Puppet Theater is a polished production because Owens knows how to put on a show. He was long been a fixture on the citys visual art, theater, and performance art scene. As a performer and stage designer, he has collaborated with such people as Brigid Murphy for her Millys Orchid Show, directors Bob Falls and Stuart Gordon; worked with the Raven Theater and at Links Hall. He has made puppets for the Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and for director Tim Robbins film The Cradle Will Rock. He has painted large murals for many places, including the bygone old Childrens Memorial Hospital and was a very successful painter of animal portraits. He has played the bagpipes in a band.
MANHATTAN, Kan., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Baystone Government Finance announced today its completion of $3.35 million financing for the City of New York. Assistant Vice President Christina Ummel said the funds will be used to pay for 19 ambulances pressed into service at the height of the City's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The FDNY had an urgent need for additional vehicles that could be used to transport patients from their homes to medical facilities or between facilities throughout the city," said Ummel. "The 19 vehicles purchased with the financing include nine Ford E-350s, three Ford E-450s, five Ford F-450s and one Ford S-350," she added.

Working closely with Baystone, Angie Deming, president of Rochester, Indiana-based Republic First National Corporation submitted a bid for the financing in late March and received approval in early April. The transaction funded on June 4, when the FDNY took delivery of the ambulances. "We were able to finance FDNY, the largest municipal fire department in the United States, with Baystone as a valued funding partner. Great partnerships allow for great things to happen. Baystone's expertise helps us help our customers."

"State and local governments are facing widescale reductions in tax revenue from the economic and social effects of Covid19 while also bearing the brunt of pandemicrelated costs," said Bradley Buhrow, assistant vice president at Baystone. "These entities are also encountering increased funding challenges as some bank sources pull back from government financing. Given these new realities, tax-exempt government leasing is becoming critical to states and municipalities to acquire the essential equipment they need to keep our communities running."

Taxexempt municipal leases, also known as lease-purchase agreements, do not require upfront cash outlays. These leases also offer lower financing rates than traditional commercial leases and loansin some cases, a difference of multiple percentage points.

Baystone Government Finance specializes in taxexempt equipment finance, working directly with governments and equipment finance organizations to help communities acquire the equipment they need. A division of KS StateBank, a full-service community bank located in Manhattan, KS, Baystone has originated and successfully funded billions of dollars in municipal obligations throughout the United States since 1987.

SOURCE Baystone Government Finance

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By Sonya Dowsett

MADRID, June 23 (Reuters) - Out of 31 pupils in one of Madrid teacher Clara Mijares' online classes last month, eight were missing. Two had not been seen for some time, she said, adding that this is a fairly typical ratio these days for her lockdown sessions for 12 to 16-year-olds.

Some of those who had made it to that pastoral meeting of El Espinillo secondary school in Madrid kept their webcams disabled. They were in no rush to answer when she asked how they were doing.

"Don't just say 'good,'" she coaxed the screen of 13-year-olds. "Use another word." Eventually, more considered responses trickled through her speaker: Tired. Bored. Haven't left home for exercise. Prefer to stay indoors.

"The charm of being in a class has been lost," Mijares said.

In recent months it's a scene played out in homes worldwide, as United Nations data suggests over 1.5 billion children were affected by school closures to curb the spread of COVID-19. From Shanghai to California, students have been kept out of classrooms, and attendance at online sessions has thinned.

But as the school year comes to an end and countries count the cost of the lost learning, Spanish government data points to a particularly damaging consequence of the isolation caused by the pandemic: The disenfranchisement of ever more young people, particularly those on low incomes, such as the children of those who are caring for the vulnerable.

Spain has had more than 260,000 cases of COVID-19 according to a Reuters tally - the second-highest total in Europe after the United Kingdom. But unlike other countries including Britain, in Spain all schools closed during lockdown. There was no skeleton service for children of key personnel like health workers.

Since March, all educational centres including primary, secondary and universities have been closed, leaving 9.5 million students learning from home. Most schools will not open for all pupils until the new academic year starts in September.

Story continues

In Spain, school drop-out rates were already the highest in the European Union - 17.3% in 2019. Now, the government estimates up to 12% of school children have dropped out of distance-learning during the 14-week lockdown - nearly one million pupils.

Mijares' school serves a working-class district - pupils range from white-collar households to families on state aid, says headmistress Toni Garcia. As the lockdown dragged on, Mijares realised she would have to find different ways to reach students, including making landline calls to them.

"I spoke to families who said they were overwhelmed by all the assignments and all the emails," she said, sitting in her brother's old bedroom which she has converted into her office since moving back in with her parents during lockdown.

"One of my tasks has been to call and explain how to read and send an email from a mobile phone."

In lockdown, limited access to the internet creates a social barrier. According to a study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) from 2015, more than 90% of disadvantaged students in countries such as Canada, Korea and Australia had internet access. But disadvantaged students in Spain were nearly 14% less likely than rich ones to get online. That gap was even wider in the United States and Russia, where fewer than one in five disadvantaged students had internet access.

Spain's low-income learners are already faring worse than many in Europe. The financial crisis of 2008-2014 laid off over 2 million workers and even today, despite years of strong economic growth, the country has the EU's second-highest unemployment rate after Greece. There are 2.2 million children at risk of poverty and exclusion in Spain - over a quarter of the total child population, according to calculations by humanitarian group Save the Children.

The income difference between the richest fifth of Spain's population and the poorest - a measure of inequality - is among the highest in Europe and has grown over the last decade, according to the European Anti-Poverty Network. The widening gulf poses crucial questions for economic growth and social stability.

"It's the most worrying fact about Spain - the very high percentage of (early school) leavers," Olivier De Schutter, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, told Reuters.

"The role the school should normally play - as a force for social mobility and a way to equalise chances in life - is much more difficult to play if you close down the school," he said. Continued disruption may increase the gap, he said.

The government said physical presence in classrooms will be the general standard when schools reopen. It is keen for all children to be able to return to the classroom because of the role schools play in eliminating inequality, said education ministry spokeswoman Mar Hedo.

"EVERYTHING IS WEIGHING ON ME"

The school closures have left many struggling. Single mother Saida Juarez, 50, works as a care home assistant in Vallecas, a suburb of Madrid. When the pandemic struck, she isolated herself from her two sons within her flat to cut the risk of infecting them.

For 10 weeks, she had no physical contact with either of the boys, who are 16 and 10.

The children have work sent to them by email which they receive by mobile phone. When they've finished, they take photos which they send back for marking. Juarez has not been able to help them with their schoolwork.

"I couldn't go near them," she said, speaking in the living room of her flat.

Her eldest son Gabriel, who attends a different school than the one Mijares teaches at, enters his final year of compulsory education next year and hopes eventually to join the police. Since lockdown he has been looking after his younger brother, Matias, while his mother works from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At first when Juarez came home, she would shower, douse herself in liquid sanitiser and go to the kitchen to prepare meals for the boys, she said. She spent the rest of the evening in her room, communicating with them by phone.

"I was scared that I was bringing the virus home," she said. "It was so hard and painful not to have contact."

Later that month, she fell ill herself, was bed-ridden for 10 days and stayed off work for around a month, self-isolating in her bedroom. The health service asked her to stay at home and checked her regularly by phone. Weeks later, she was tested for COVID-19 and the result came back negative.

Gabriel did the shopping and cooking during that time and helped Matias with his schoolwork, as well as doing his own. He misses school, he said, because it's harder to ask teachers for help. He emailed his teachers, but their answers came more slowly than they would in class.

There are times, Gabriel said, when he gets up and has to make breakfast, put the house in order, take their pet dog out and only then get to his school work. "I get up tired and it's like everything is weighing on me," he said, sitting with his brother and friends in masks at the dining room table where he studies.

When Spaniards were first allowed out of their houses for exercise in early May, Gabriel said he met a friend who came to help him with his studies. But after so long without contact, he didn't know what to say or how to act.

"It's going to be hard to go back to interacting with people because I've been so long without speaking to anyone."

"HOW DOES THIS WORK?"

According to government statistics, public investment in education in Spain has fallen since 2009 to 4.23% of GDP in 2018 - a cut of around 3 billion euros. Since schools shut down, the fact that the most vulnerable families do not have computing resources has added to the difficulty.

In a child support centre in Madrid in mid-May, care assistant Turia was one of those who came to collect a tablet - one of 1,000 such devices donated in a Madrid council scheme.

Turia, who declined to give her second name, said she works from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as an assistant to an elderly person with Alzheimer's and helps her two children with their school work when she gets home. She photographs the completed work and sends it back to the teachers.

There are over 1 million children in school in Madrid, where the severe poverty rate had more than doubled in a decade to 7.8 percent in 2017, according to a U.N. report from February. The minimum salary in Spain is 950 euros per month, but social security benefits, administered regionally, are around half that.

Madrid's scheme provides just 400 euros a month for a single person, the lowest in the country, government figures show. At the same time Spain is one of the most expensive countries in Europe for fixed broadband, according to a 2020 study by the European Commission.

The education ministry said it is giving more equipment to schools and working to train teachers, students and their families how to use them. But that does not help with internet access charges, and many poorer households are far behind on technical know-how, teachers say and studies show.

About a half-dozen families came to Madrid's child support centre that day to pick up tablets. Most said they had only a cellphone and many were not confident about using the technology.

As Turia took the computer from the worker distributing the tablets, she asked: "How does this work?" (Reporting by Sonya Dowsett in Madrid; Edited by Sara Ledwith)
PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maartens Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers press briefing that St. Maarten has not yet received the capital investments for the year 2019 that were approved.

Prime Minister Jacobs said so far St. Maarten has not received any information on the entity the Dutch Government wants to establish on St. Maarten for the dissemination of funds. Jacobs said that St. Maarten has to go through the Netherlands for any financial assistance, she said this is based on the agreements made during the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles including financial supervision due to lack of proper financial management by the countries.

The countrys Prime Minister said that government has had several meetings with the unions regarding the conditions set down by the Dutch Government before any relief could be had post-COVID-19, she made clear that the unions understand governments position with the conditions imposed because the government of St. Maarten is in disagreement with the conditions. Jacobs said that the unions are not protesting against the government of St. Maarten but in fact, they are protesting against several things that were imposed on St. Maarten post-hurricane IRMA. Jacobs said her government has more meetings with the unions in recent weeks than they have had with governments over the past 10 years.

Jacobs said her government clearly had no choice when they decided to cut 50% of the vacation pay for civil servants for two consecutive years, all of which was clearly outlined to the unions.

Jacobs since taking office never hesitated to represent the country from the time they took office as an interim cabinet. She said that she and the Minister of Finance traveled to the Netherlands to lobby for liquidity support because St. Maartens economy was bouncing back in 2019 two years post-hurricane IRMA the Dutch Government was hesitant to release the funds.

Jacobs said St. Maarten is yet to receive its capital investments for 2019 even though it was approved in the budget 2019 and was supposed to release by September 2019. These funds she said were to be used to increase the countrys financial management and the repairs of the prison.

Jacobs said the unions are in their rights when their protest that is currently taking place throughout the island.
Nicola Sturgeon bowed to pressure to ease Scotland's lockdown today, allowing beer gardens and non-essential shops to re-open from next month - and three family groups to meet indoors.

The First Minister announced to the Scottish Parliament that she was following Boris Johnson's example in England and relaxing restrictions introduced in March.

But the changes will come into effect more slowly than south of the border, where they will be introduced on July 4.

In Scotland, beer gardens can reopen on July 6, non-essential shops within indoor shopping centres from July 13.

And in a step that goes further than measures revealed by the Prime Minister yesterday, households will be able to meet indoors with people from up to two other households from July 15.

It came as YouGov research found broad support in Scotland for the unwinding unveiled by the PM yesterday, which takes effect in England on July 4.

Ms Sturgeon told MSPs Scotland's easign of lockdown would be 'slower than England's - but it is, in my view, right for our circumstances and, I hope, more likely to be sustainable than if we went faster'.

She added that despite the positive trends in the virus in recent weeks, it is still expected to 'pose a real and significant threat for some time to come'.

She added: 'We must keep working to drive it down further, towards the point of elimination - because that then gives us the best chance of keeping it under control through testing, surveillance, contact tracing and the application of targeted suppression measures when necessary.

'The prize if we succeed is getting greater normality back in our lives, maybe more quickly than we would have envisaged a few weeks ago, and without reversals back into blanket lockdown.'

Ms Sturgeon told MSPs Scotland's easign of lockdown would be 'slower than England's - but it is, in my view, right for our circumstances and, I hope, more likely to be sustainable than if we went faster'.

YouGov research found broad support for the unwinding unveiled by the PM yesterday, which takes effect on July 4. There was also backing among the Scots surveyed

In England the two-metre rule is being halved, where other precautions are in place, to save the crippled economy. Meanwhile, households are being allowed to meet up indoors for the first time in months.

However, Ms Sturgeon has until now rejected calls for emulate the loosening.

She said the two-metre rule was being reviewed in the coming weeks, but her scientists still believed it needed to remain in place and the position in Scotland 'remains the same'.

The snap YouGov poll last night found across the UK 47 per cent of the public believed Mr Johnson's package of changes were 'about right'.

A further seven per cent thought they did not go far enough.

Some 37 per cent said they went too far.

Among Scots surveyed, a slightly lower 40 per cent indicated broad support for the relaxation, with another eight per cent saying they should have gone further.

Some 38 per cent were opposed to the loosening. The Scottish figures are a subset of the total sample 2,264 people polled, and will be subject to more margin for error, but still suggest voters are generally behind the changes.

Evidence of splits within the UK have been mounting, with Mr Johnson hitting out this afternoon at the 'unnecessary' five-mile limit on travelling away from home in Wales.

The PM also accused Labour first minister Mark Drakeford of 'blessed amnesia' for claiming that the Westminster government had not been keeping in touch over the coronavirus crisis.

As Mr Johnson was speaking in Westminster yesterday, Ms Sturgeon told her daily briefing in Edinburgh that her scientific group would report to her on the two-metre rule by July 2 - but stressed the advice was still in support of the limit.

She said: 'Until then, the position here in Scotland remains the same. We are asking people to keep two metres physical distancing.

'Any changes from other parts of the UK, while we will look at the evidence underpinning those very carefully, will not apply here at this stage.'

In the Commons, Mr Johnson insisted the differences in approach between the home nations were not great.

He said he expected Ms Sturgeon to bring forward easings similar to the English ones soon.

But he criticised the five-mile limit on travel from home imposed by the Labour administration in Wales.

The snap YouGov poll last night found across the UK 47 per cent of the public believed the package of lockdown changes announced by Mr Johnson (pictured in Downing Street today) were 'about right'

'I have my doubts about the five mile rule in Wales and wondered whether that might be reviewed,' he said.

He added later: 'I am not sure the five mile limit rule is entirely necessary and perhaps that needs to be withdrawn.'

Mr Johnson swiped that Mr Drakefored appeared to be suffering from 'blessed amnesia', after complaining that he had not had contact from Westminster.

He said the UK government was in 'daily contact' with the devolved administrations.
Rayshard Brooks' girlfriend remains in jail after having her bond set at $10,000 on Wednesday on suspicion of setting fire to the Wendy's where he was shot dead by cops on June 12.

Natalie White, 29, was taken into custody in Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday afternoon after handing herself into the authorities.

Police issued an arrest warrant for her on June 20 and shared surveillance footage of her inside a store.

They claim she is partly to blame for setting fire to the fast food restaurant on June 13 where Brooks was shot dead by Officer Garrett Rolfe after falling asleep at the wheel of his car in the drive-thru lane a day earlier.

Brooks was married but on the night of his death, while talking to police, he told them he was at Wendy's to pick up food for him and his 'girlfriend', 'Natalie White'.

White's attorney Drew Findling confirmed to DailyMail.com on Tuesday that they were 'very close' but declined to share more details of their relationship out of respect to Brooks' wife, Tomika Miller, who was grieving him at his funeral while White was taken into custody.

Findling did confirm that White was the woman Brooks referred to as his girlfriend but would not share any other details of her life, apart from that she has no criminal record. He said that while she was at the Wendy's on the night in question, the restaurant was already on fire by the time she was seen leaning into a window.

On Wednesday, a judge however refused to let her go, and set her bond at $10,000 claiming she posed a danger to the community.

Natalie White's bond hearing happened over Zoom on Wednesday. She wore a mask inside Fulton County Jail (left). She is seen (right) in her mugshot from Tuesday

'Lets look at the danger to the community. So if someone is alleged to have set fire to a building with other people around, whether or not the building was occupied or not occupied, that would represent a danger to firefighters if they were able to get to the scene.

'That Wendys is right next to a gas station. Thats a volatile combination,' Judge Todd Ashley said.

He added that she was accused of setting fire to the building 'with a torch made of a lighter and some type of can.'

Her attorney said her family did not have the money to bond her out.

Police only named her over the weekend as one of the women involved in setting fire to the fast food restaurant within hours of Brooks' death.

White's attorney insisted DailyMail.com on Tuesday that she did not set the fire.

Natalie White, 29, is pictured after she was taken into custody in Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday afternoon

White is seen at the Wendy's while it is being set on fire on June 13

Moments before he is shot, Brooks (left) is heard telling police officers that he was meeting his girlfriend who goes by the name Natalie White, on June 12

'She is absolutely not responsible,' Findling said, adding that by the time she was photographed at the scene, the restaurant was on fire.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit arrested her around 3.30pm.

Police have not revealed how they came to link the Natalie White they shared surveillance footage of over the weekend to Brooks or the arson.

No one in his family has spoken of him having a 'girlfriend' either.

In bodycam footage of his encounter with police, after telling police he had been drinking, Brooks told them he'd been with his 'girlfriend' and that he was going to pick up Wendy's for them.

Natalie White, seen in surveillance footage that was released by police

Brooks' wife Tomika Miller, holding one of their children, at his funeral on Tuesday with the rest of their children

The Wendy's where Rayshard was shot on June 12 was completely engulfed in flames

He told the officers he'd had one margarita when he fell asleep at the wheel in the drive-thru lane.

The officers tried to arrest him rather than let him go and he struggled, eventually reaching for one of the officer's Tasers.

He was able to grab it and run away from Officer Garrett Rolfe and was shot twice in the back when he turned around to fire the Taser in Rolfe's direction.

The Wendy's was set on fire and protests erupted over Atlanta in the days following.

Rolfe has now been charged with felony murder. Devin Brosnan, the other cop, is charged with aggravated assault for allegedly standing on Brooks' shoulder.

Police refused to take inquiries on Tuesday afternoon after announcing White's arrest.
Marco Deng (pictured), 22, is wanted by police over the alleged stabbing of Machar Kot, 21

A manhunt is underway for a suspect accused of stabbing a man to death outside a hotel.

Homicide Squad detectives are searching for Marco Deng following the death of Machar Kot, 21, on Monday.

The Kurunjang man was stabbed on Market Street in the CBD and treated at the scene before being taken to hospital, where he later died.

Police say after the stabbing, the alleged perpetrator ran away and police are yet to find him.

It is believed the parties involved were known to each other.

'We're seeking assistance from anyone who may know his whereabouts in particular his family, friends or associates,' Detective Inspector Tim Day said in a statement.

'An image of Marco has also been released in the hope someone recognises him and can provide information on his current whereabouts.

Machar Kot, from Kurunjang in the state's west, suffered multiple stab wounds to his upper body but later died in hospital

'I'd also like to make it clear that if he's being harboured by someone, that person risks committing a serious offence as well.'

Anyone who sees Deng is told to call triple zero immediately.

Deng is also being urged to contact police.

Witnesses told Nine News that there was a group of people hanging outside the hotel moments before the alleged horrific stabbing.

However, the hotel confirmed that Mr Kot was not a guest and did not enter the venue.

Deng is described as being 180cm tall with a medium build, brown eyes and short dark hair.

He is also known to frequent the Brimbank area and his last known address is in Burnside Heights.

Anyone who sees Deng is told to call triple zero immediately.

Deng is also being urged to contact police.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The African region is the hardest hit by trade restrictions limiting the flow of goods used in the fight against the coronavirus, according to a report published this week. On the contrary, African countries export many of the materials used for producing masks, gloves and disinfectants that could instead be used for their own manufacturing.

74 percent of African imports of Covid-19 related products are subject to bans or restrictions, the International Trade Centre (ITC) said in a report.

The fight against the coronavirus pandemic left many countries across the world scrambling to secure vital equipment used to help stop the spread of the virus and protect frontline healthcare workers.

Some countries restricted exports of certain medical goods, or had permission schemes or licensing that made it more difficult for importing countries to secure essential supplies.

ITC analysed the trade data on disinfectants, sterilizers, medical consumables, test kits, medical and surgical equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE) and oxygen therapy equipment.

The agency, which works on behalf of the UN and World Trade Organisation, judged that the share of Covid-19-related imports affected by restrictions were highest in Africa, according to the ITC report published on Monday.

Some regions have been hit harder than others by trade limits on Covid-19-related products, the report added. Few African countries restrict exports of goods related to Covid-19, largely attributable to the fact that they do not manufacture them.

Africa could produce its own

Countries on the African continent could become self-sufficient in its own virus-related products, notably masks, gloves and disinfectants, according to the ITC.

The regional exports of these products are not enough to meet the needs of African frontline healthcare workers, but the inputs or materials needed to manufacture these medical goods are present on the continent to develop supply chains.

Story continues

Medical or surgical gloves mostly use latex and many countries on the African continent have a considerable supply of rubber they sell abroad, but few finished gloves are exported.

Cote dIvoire and Cameroon already export surgical gloves, but African demand exceeds supply. By using 6 percent of their monthly latex exports, the two countries could produce the 13 million gloves that African health responders need each month to face Covid-19, the report outlined.

Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria also export latex, but do not export any surgical gloves, according to ITC data.

It is a similar story for filtered masks, the most sophisticated type of facemask healthcare workers need to protect themselves against the spread of Covid-19, stopping the droplets transmitting the virus.

The African continent exports 3.5 percent of the worlds supply of synthetic nonwoven fabrics used in filtered masks, yet production of these masks on the continent is limited.

By allocating 7 percent of its synthetic nonwoven fabrics for manufacture in Africa, countries could fulfil their own monthly requirement, eradicating the need for imports, the report estimated.

ITC outlined a similar example for disinfectants since the required ethanol and plastic bottles are already abundant in African countries, notably manufactured in Egypt and South Africa. Glycerine, the other ingredient needed for disinfectants, is not produced in enough quantity locally but could be sourced globally.

Free trade zone

Wamkele Mene, secretary general of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), said African businesses can in the future capitalise on the lack of manufacturing of medical goods that Covid-19 has highlighted.

The AfCFTA Secretariat encourages member states to turn this crisis into an opportunity by redeploying their production so there is an extraordinary increase in the fabrication of drugs, personal protective equipment, soap, hand sanitizers, intensive care unit beds, testing kits and even ventilators, Mene said in an op-ed published in the report.

Covid-19 forced a delay in implementing the continents free trade zone, potentially one of the worlds largest free trade blocs, that had been set for 1 July. Mene has said he hopes the agreement could come into force at the start of 2021.

Mene said the coronavirus pandemic and associated economic downturn should provide a powerful rationale for the immediate implementation of AfCFTA, as a vehicle to spur economic growth and build resilience across the continent.
John Kerry, a failed senator, a failed presidential candidate, and a failed secretary of state, is back again, campaigning in Florida for Joe Biden.

True to character, he's put his treason-face on. According to the Washington Examiner:

Former Secretary of State John Kerry raised the possibility that a victory by President Trump could provoke a revolution in the United States, claiming that Republicans have a history of denying voting rights to Democratic voters. "If people don't have adequate access to the ballot, I mean that's the stuff on which revolutions are built," Kerry said during a virtual appearance at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. "If you begin to deny people the capacity of your democracy to work, even the Founding Fathers wrote in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, we have an inherent right to challenge that. And I'm worried that increasingly, people are disaffected."

This is utterly untrue. It comes off as foreign propaganda, of the type Russia puts out, intended to sow falling confidence in the integrity of elections. If a Democrat loses, he's saying, it has to be because Republicans suppressed the vote.

It's also false on multiple fronts. Republicans are not the ones who opposed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as several major civil rights bills that came of that era  the opponents were Democrats, same party that did everything they could to thwart President Lincoln before and during the Civil War. Republicans voted in higher percentages than Democrats to support the big civil rights bills of the 1960s and that's an easy fact-check that Kerry is old enough to remember.

As for claims that voting is being suppressed now, more slander from a provable liar. His beef is over simple matters of voter ID, which goes miles to prevent Democrat operatives from stuffing the ballot boxes to steal elections.

That he implies his own election was somehow stolen, and that of Georgia failed candidate Stacey Abrams, is utterly false  and has been proven in recounts and other measures again and again, despite Abrams's and his own bitternesses at losing in close races.

This has the earmarks of sowing discord and discontent  a bid to demoralize Latino voters  which was at least one of the audiences he was targeting in Florida  so they imagine there's no alternative but revolt. It sounds as though he's actually trying to whip up a revolution rather than warn of one, given the bedrock of lies he builds it on.

That has more than whiff of treason.

And sure enough, treason is something he's been bedmates with all his life.

He threw his military medals over a fence to protest the Vietnam War  by showing contempt for the U.S. military uniform.

He got caught collaborating with the mullahs of Iran over how to undermine President Trump's bid to end the Iran deal, a bad treaty voters voted Trump in to get rid of. Kerry advised the mullahs to hold on, thwart Trump, and just wait till they got into power again.

Now he's plying Russian propaganda techniques to bring turmoil and uncertainty.

This clearly is a guy who hates the country of his citizenship. At what point is it going to catch up to him? It needs to catch up soon.

Image credit: Screen shot, shareable News10 video.
A tribute to the late Bennie Nipper will be livestreamed at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 12 to honor the beloved founder and artistic director of Bay Area Harbor Playhouse in Dickinson.

A former theater director at Friendswood High School, Nipper was 91 when she died peacefully June 15 at her home near Hobby Airport in Houston, said her friend, Linda Rodriguez, who is treasurer of BAHP.

She created a second home for so many, and became more than a director, mentor and friend. She was our family, said Judy Ahlhorn of Dickinson.

The past several years, she wasnt at the theater every single day like she used to be, added Ahlhorn. She saw that other people were stepping up to continue her vision for the playhouse; so she was at peace with staying home. Her home and the playhouse were her two favorite places.

Ahlhorn met Nipper in 1967 when both were high school theater teachers.

It was a pleasant shock when I discovered in 1991 that she was opening a community theater in Dickinson, where I taught for many years, said Ahlhorn.

Kathy Trombatore Powdrell, the current head theater teacher at Friendswood High, was one of Nippers students when Powdrell graduated from Ross S. Sterling High in Houston in 1968.

My sister and I were lucky to have her in our life, said Powdrell. In the summer, we went to her house to work on scripts, swim, rehearse and make tuna sandwiches.

Nipper also performed as an actress at the Alley Theatre and directed shows at Pasadena Little Theatre and College of the Mainland in Texas City.

Nipper was born in Terry and grew up in Brownfield, where she lived on a farm until her only brother left for college.

I was the last kid at home and I was no help, she said; so her family moved into town.

At Lon Morris College, Nipper met her husband, the late Oscar Nipper. They married in 1949 and were wed for 65 years until his death in 2014.

Bennie Nipper earned an associate of arts degree from Lon Morris, and bachelor of fine arts in theater and master of education degrees from the University of Texas.

Her husband became an attorney, and the couple settled in Houston.

In 1980, the Nippers chartered Number 1 Plays & Players as a nonprofit theater group.

The troupe performed annually at Galvestons Dickens on The Strand and occasionally for NASA employees at the Gilruth Center.

The Nippers found a home for their productions in an abandoned mechanics shop that had housed an old movie theater, the Hollywood. They restored the Dickinson building, renovating it in the art deco style of its past. It debuted in 1991 as Bay Area Harbour Playhouse.

BAHP board members said the playhouse will resume in Bennie Nippers memory once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Details on how to view A Virtual Tribute to Bennie Nipper can be found at www.harbourtheater.com.

Don Maines is a freelance writer who can be contacted at donmaines@att.net
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 21:24:52|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China has unveiled new, shortened negative lists for foreign investment, as part of efforts to further open up the economy and improve its business environment amid the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The number of sectors that are off-limits for foreign investors will be cut to 33 in the 2020 version of the negative list from 40 in the 2019 version, according to a statement jointly released on Tuesday by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce.

China also unveiled its 2020 negative list for foreign investment in pilot free trade zones, cutting the number of prohibited industries to 30 from 37.

The two new negative lists will take effect on July 23.

According to the new lists, foreign ownership caps on securities, fund management, futures, life insurance companies, as well as commercial vehicle enterprises will be removed. Ownership by foreign investors in wheat breeding and seed production can be raised to up to 66 percent.

Foreign investors will be allowed to invest in sectors including prepared slices of traditional Chinese medicine, the smelting and processing of radioactive minerals, and the production of nuclear fuel.

In the area of infrastructure industry, foreign investors will be allowed to take majority shares in joint ventures that engage in the building and operation of water supply and drainage networks in cities with a population of more than 500,000.

In education, wholly foreign-owned institutions for vocational education will be allowed. Enditem
Iran celebrates first ever overhaul of Bushehr nuclear plant by its experts

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 10:39 AM

Iranian experts have carried out overhaul and maintenance work on Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant for the first time and reconnected it to the national grid, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said on Tuesday.

The facility, the first nuclear power plant in Iran, came back online after it was shut down in early April for fuel change and repair by Iranian technicians without the help of Russians who have built it.

"For the first time, the annual fuel change and periodic repairs of the main equipment at Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant were carried out by the capable specialists of this advanced nuclear power plant, and the power plant was reconnected to the national electricity grid after successful tests," AEOI said.

"With the summertime peak consumption period just beginning, the plant successfully resumed electricity generation on Sunday and hooked up with the national electricity grid," it added.

Sunday marked the start of summer in the Iranian calendar, during which many consumers crank up their air conditioners amid sizzling temperatures which see the mercury hit 50 degrees Celsius in some southern cities.

According to Director of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant Reza Banazadeh, fuel change is "a very sensitive and complex process" which is carried out by skilled Iranian operators.

They use a robot to discharge one-third of fuel and load new uranium fuel rods to the core of the reactor after a series of specialized activities, he added.

For Iran, this is a big feat. AEOI spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi had said in May that Iran would probably cut its dependence on Russian engineers and become self-sufficient in maintenance work on the Bushehr plant by 2022.

The task was successfully carried out especially at a time when the coronavirus outbreak this year has left Iran with some constrains for using domestic and foreign contractors at the site, Banazadeh said.

"By turning this restriction into a valuable opportunity and relying on the knowledge and responsibility of the power plant's committed personnel as per a precise planning, the periodic repair of the plant's main equipment was carried out by the capable forces of this huge industrial complex with minimal utilization of contracting services."

It shows that Iran can continue to advance despite difficulties, Banazadeh said.

The plant, built with a capacity to produce 1,000 megawatts of power, started adding electricity to the national grid in September 2011.

Iran began building two more nuclear reactors in a joint project with Russia's Rosatom energy firm in Bushehr in November 2017.

The country's aim is to build nuclear power plants with 20,000 megawatts capacity to meet growing electricity demand, so it can save its hydrocarbons for export.

According to AEOI chief Ali Akbar Salehi, as a result of the Bushehr plant operation, some 11 million barrels of crude oil is saved annually. It also helps reduce up to seven million tonnes of gas emissions every year.

"Since the cost of constructing a 1000-megawatt nuclear power plant is $5 billion, we need to invest $100 billion to build nuclear power plants with a capacity to generate 20,000 megawatts of electricity," Salehi has said.

Russia has been involved in Iran's nuclear power generation efforts more than any country. It is currently supplying the nuclear fuel used at Bushehr, but the Islamic Republic has said it wants to make its own fuel so that it will have secure supplies in the future.

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This is promising.

Thats the quote from Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician at John Hopkins University Center for Health Security.

Adalja was being interviewed by Science Magazines Mitch Leslie for an article, This cows antibodies could be the newest weapon against COVID-19.

Cows make good antibody factories

The genetically modified cows that could help fight COVID-19 are currently housed in a South Dakota barn. The research is a project being led by SAb Biotherapeutics of Sioux Falls, S.D. The company genetically alters dairy cows so that certain immune cells carry the DNA that allows people to make antibodies, wrote Leslie. That upgrade enables the animals to manufacture large quantities of human antibodies against a pathogen protein injected into them, such as the spike surface protein of the new coronavirus.

Science Magazine reports that the biotech firm hopes to begin a clinical trial within the next couple of months.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2020

June 18, 2020
"Navigating a crisis like COVID-19 is urgent and important work. The pandemic coupled with our nation's reckoning with structural and systemic racism shines a harsh light on the inequities that exist in our education system every day," says Melissa Wu, CEO.

Education Pioneers (EP), a national nonprofit that builds the leadership and management capacity of the K-12 public education sector, announced today the selection of 33 talented professionals for the Education Pioneers Fellowships Summer 2020 Cohort. Beginning this month, Fellows are providing 10 weeks of critical capacity to school districts, charter schools, nonprofits, government agencies, and education support organizations who continue to respond to the immediate impacts of COVID-19 while also planning for the sectors long-term recovery.

For the first time in the history of the program, most Fellows are working from home offices and EPs signature leadership development programming will be hosted virtually given the ongoing pandemic.

"Navigating a crisis like COVID-19 is urgent and important work. The pandemic coupled with our nation's reckoning with structural and systemic racism shines a harsh light on the inequities that exist in our education system every day," says Melissa Wu, CEO. "Education Pioneers is proud to provide leadership capacity to education partners working to solve those challenges and prepare for the next school year. This is just the beginning of the deep and difficult work we need to do in the education system to build back better and more equitably."

Schools and other education organizations partnering with Education Pioneers this summer report that EP Fellows will lead projects impacting nearly a million constituents, inclusive of students, teachers, families, and community members. 15% of EP Summer Fellows will work on projects directly related to COVID-19 planning and recovery, while an additional 35% will work on critical infrastructure and planning projects to support organizational sustainability during and beyond the pandemic. For example, Fellows Sharlene Guiriba, Smrithi Sharma, and Devin Saiki will serve on Chicago Public Schools COVID Task Force. Theyll be a part of developing and implementing the plan to return 355,000 students and 35,000 employees to schools at the 3rd largest school district in the country. The Task Force will address key priorities including social-emotional wellness, health protocols, instruction, budgeting, supply chain, and more.

Education Pioneers Fellows will be essential to Chicago Public Schools COVID Task Force, helping us plan for student safety and learning during the 2020-2021 school year, says Christina Jordan (2012 Alumna), Deputy Chief Talent Officer at Chicago Public Schools. We are grateful for Education Pioneers ability to meet our capacity needs and match us with these talented professionals who will make a consequential impact.

Incoming Fellows will join EPs nationwide network of 4,500 Alumni, 75% of whom continue to work in education and are already enabling the sectors response and recovery to COVID-19. Alumni who typically find themselves behind the scenes working on operational, analytical, or strategic initiatives, have found their work increasingly visible during the ongoing pandemic. They expect COVID response and recovery to last into the 2020-2021 school year and beyond.

The EP Summer Fellowship is a 10-week summer experience that previews the impact a future leader can make in the education sector and lays the foundation they need to become a lifelong leader. Of the 2020 EP Fellows, 60% self-identify as people of color and 70% are recent graduates or currently in graduate school.

Fellows participate in learning and leadership development throughout the program. Fellows explore mindsets and orientations around adaptive, inclusive leadership, with a focus on identity, consciousness, and ultimately enabling racial equity within education. Pioneers will learn from national and regional education leaders experts and from one another to collectively enhance their impact in the projects theyre currently working on with EPs network of partner organizations, and to strengthen the pipeline of talented leaders ready and interested in taking on roles in data analytics, strategy, operations, project management, and more across the education sector.

Education organizations interested in hosting an EP Fellow in the future can learn more or apply to partner with Education Pioneers. Partnership with Education Pioneers helps to strengthen the pipeline of talented leaders ready and interested in taking on roles in data analytics, strategy, finance, project management, and more across the education sector.

For the full list of 2020 Summer Fellows and Partners, click here.

About Education Pioneers

Education Pioneers builds the pipeline of leaders outside the classroom who enable teachers and students to be successful inside the classroom. Since 2003, Education Pioneers has recruited and trained over 4,500 leaders in partnership with more than 900 education organizations nationwide.

Of the organizations Alumni in the workforce, more than 75% serve in education and lead or contribute to work that impacts public school students in major cities across the nation, most of whom are students of color and growing up in underserved areas. Learn more: http://www.educationpioneers.org/our-impact.
More than 10,000 coronavirus tests are being stockpiled at the scene of next weekend's return to Formula 1 action in Austria.

They are being supplied by Eurofins Genomics, a DNA sequencing company that has been charged with keeping the global pandemic out of the Red Bull Ring paddock.

"Everyone who works at the track - a total of 3000 people in the red zone - may only enter their work area with a negative COVID-19 notice that is no older than four days," said Eurofins Genomics' Siegfried Schnabl.

APA news agency said there will be no fewer than 20 testing stations at the circuit, which will be closed to spectators for the back-to-back race weekends.

"We are represented by a total of about 50 people who will routinely test the whole Formula 1 and FIA team," Schnabl said. "Every five days, everyone has to be tested."

Results of the tests will be known within 16-24 hours, and only those who work closely with whoever is positive will be affected.

"The people to be tested come in and are recorded with a barcode that is imported into the database," Schnabl continued. "We only have the barcode and do not know who it represents."

(GMM)
Press Release

24 June 2020

Reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central/South America hotel industry reported historic performance lows during May 2020, according to data from STR.



U.S. dollar constant currency, May 2020 vs. May 2019

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Occupancy: -73.0% to 15.3%

Average daily rate (ADR): -34.3% to US$54.17

Revenue per available room (RevPAR): -82.2% to US$8.31

The absolute occupancy, ADR and RevPAR levels were the lowest for any May in STR's Central/South America database.

Local currency, May 2020 vs. May 2019

Colombia

Occupancy: -88.4% to 6.7%

ADR: -30.8% to COP183,331.93

RevPAR: -92.0% to COP12,253.20

Occupancy was virtually flat in comparison with April. Both the occupancy and RevPAR levels were the lowest for any May in STR's Colombia database.

Peru

Occupancy: -38.9% to 39.9%

ADR: -48.6% to PEN214.74

RevPAR: -68.6% to PEN85.66

The absolute levels in the three key performance metrics were the lowest for any May in STR's Peru database. The absolute occupancy remains the highest in the region as a result of the Peruvian Government initiative "Apoyo Solidario" to host quarantine travelers in hotels, in addition to front line workers. Occupancy was slightly higher than April, while ADR was marginally lower.

Additional COVID-19 analysis

All of STR's COVID-19 analysis can be found here.
Taiwan says Chinese military planes have flown into its air defense space six times in a single week and eight times this month, so far.

Although Taiwans Ministry of National Defense escorts each aircraft away and alerts the public on an island that has long distrusted China, analysts believe leaders in Beijing are warning people as far away as Washington while helping to train their own troops in case of conflict in Asia.

The U.S. government has saddled China with a 2-year-old trade dispute, accused it of ignoring COVID-19 for too long earlier in the year and sailed its navy vessels in Asian waters to check Chinese expansion.

U.S. naval ships have sailed six times so far this year through the strait separating Taiwan from China, an irritant to Beijing. China claims sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan and resents other countries for supporting it. The U.S. navy has also carried out four freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea near Taiwan so far in 2020.

I dont think we can say it stops at Taiwan and then thats it, said Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst with the RAND Corp. research institution in the United States.

Theres definitely some signaling to the U.S., as well, he said. Anything they can do to try to signal to the U.S. that it should not be getting as cozy with Taiwan as it has been over past few years, thats an important thing.

China also lacks military experience since its 1970s land war with Vietnam, experts say, and it wants to train for anything new that comes up. On paper China has the worlds third strongest armed forces and has ruffled other Asian countries by placing military infrastructure on disputed islets in the South China Sea.

We should say it this way, that China has multiple goals, multi purposes, said Huang Kwei-bo, vice dean of the international affairs college at National Chengchi University in Taipei.

The Chinese planes spotted this month had crossed over the outer reaches of Taiwans air defense identification zone, according to Ministry of National Defense statements in Taipei. Taiwanese air force planes fly alongside each aircraft to make it leave.

On Monday the ministry said a Chinese H-6 bomber and a Chengdu J-10 fighter jet had flown through the southwestern part of Taiwans airspace.

Chinese officials want Taiwans president, Tsai Ing-wen, to endorse a One China policy as condition for further dialogue. Tsai rejects the condition and most Taiwanese have told government surveys they prefer at least todays degree of autonomy over Beijings goal of unification. China has claimed Taiwan as its own since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen waves after inspecting the military police headquarters in Taipei.

Before this month and since Tsai took office in 2016, Chinese aircraft had passed near Taiwan only periodically and seldom crossed into Taiwanese airspace. The two sides lie 160 kilometers apart at their nearest point.

China has accused Washington of trying to stop Chinese expansion at sea. Australia and Japan have sent their own vessels into the South China Sea to remind China the waterway is open internationally. Washington historically sees Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines as Asia Pacific allies against any conflict with China.

U.S. senators are working this year on the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, a special budget for $1.4 billion in the plans first year for U.S. military activity in Asia and $5.5 billion in its second year. The bill is expected to bolster especially U.S. naval forces in the Western Pacific.

Pressure at home over the COVID-19 outbreak and offshore military moves directed at China are pressuring Chinese President Xi Jinping to show strength, said Huang Chung-ting, assistant research fellow with the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei.

Xi Jinpings attitude now is that he cant fail, the research fellow said. Hes got to show hes still got a lot of means. Whenever the external pressure goes up one point, hes got to answer by ramping it up two points.

Taiwan has sent marines to the Pratas Islands, three features it controls in the South China Sea, in light of Chinas movements, domestic news media reported this week.

Chinas planes have not approached Taiwans main island and they probably leave the air defense zone shortly after crossing into it, Huang Kwei-bo said. We should feel worried, but not over-worried, he said.
Reporter Shubham Mani Tripathi was fatally shot in the Uttar Pradeshs Unnao district on June 19 in a suspected retaliatory attack for his journalism. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate in India, the National Union of Journalists - India (NUJ (I), call on the government of Uttar Pradesh urgently enact protections for journalists.

Tripathi, a 25-year old journalist with Kampu Mail, was covering controversial land mine disputes prior to his death. He actively posted online and petitioned local authorities to stop a member of land mafias, from claiming large sections of government land. Land mafias are a common problem in India, local influential people who collaborate with corrupt officials to illegally buy and sell land for profit. Tripathi received several threats online from locals following his investigation into the illegal actions of the land mafia and had expressed fears on his Facebook page that there would be harsh retaliation for his work.

On June 19, he was shot multiple times by assailants while riding home and died from his injuriesl. Three suspects have been arrested and a police statement alleges that the suspect involved is Divya Awasthi, who indirectly paid Ahmed and Bari to shoot Tripathi.

The protections for Indian journalists have long been lacking and impunity persists as justice has rarely been brought for any journalists who are killed for their work. Nine journalists were killed in India in 2019.

The NUJ (I) said it was suspected that the culprits are associated with influential people in Uttar Pradesh and similar incidents involving the sand-mining mafia have taken place over recent years.

NUJ (I) says: NUJ (I) expresses its deep concern over the brutal killing of an investigative journalist in Uttar Pradesh. We demand exemplary punishment against the culprits and strong legislative measures to provide protection to journalists doing investigative journalism.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger: IFJ is deeply saddened by this loss of life and offer condolences to Tripathis family and friends. This recent incident is evidence that much more needs to be done to protect journalists in India. IFJ calls for the government topublicly hold those involved accountable and to strengthen support for all journalists in the country.
Sam Brownback is a lawyer, former United States Senator and former governor of the state of Kansas who has served as the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom since February 2018.

He spoke with RFA Uyghur Service Director Alim Seytoff on June. 24 about U.S. President Donald Trumps enactment last week of the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 (UHRPA), which passed nearly unanimously through both houses of Congress at the end of May. The legislation highlights arbitrary incarceration, forced labor, and other abuses in the XUARhome to a three-year-old program of internment camps holding as many as 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslims.

Amid growing calls for Trump to sanction Chinese officials deemed responsible for policies of persecution in the region under the new law, Brownback said the administration will continue to review additional actions that could be used to hold Beijing accountable for the situation there. He also highlighted the need for other governmentsparticularly of Muslim majority nationsto follow Washingtons lead and pressure Beijing over the camps, but noted that simply closing the facilities will not be enough, as authorities have created a police state in the XUAR that will preclude faith-based communities from participating in the economy and society.

RFA: The Uyghur people are wondering, now that this act has become legislation, what is next?

Brownback: I think whats next, really, is for us and the world community to continue to have a heightened focus on Xinjiang pointing this out to China, and more countries, along with the United States, taking direct actions at China until they lift this human rights blight that theyve done on the Uyghur people. This is one of the most incredible things going on in our todaya million Muslims locked up in detention camps in a major country today, simply for being Muslim. It really is an unthinkable thing to have happened in any era, but particularly in 2020 and by a nation as large and influential as China.

China has been such a bully to a number of nations to push them not to address, but increasingly more countries have been willing to step up and speak about it and increasingly, I think, theyll start to take more and more actionsas the U.S. will continue to do by reviewing what other things we can do in our portfolio. Thats what this act requiresis the U.S. government to really look and see what other things that we can do to address this horrendous human rights situation.

One of the biggest things, honestly, that we need to do is to get this information out around the world, particularly in the countries where Islam is  practiced by the majority of the population. We need those nations to step up and condemn the abuse of people of the Muslim faith by the Chinese Communist Party. It is unthinkable that it is happening. It is also unfortunately, I think, a prelude to more persecution that would happen, and the persecution may be in the form of high-tech surveillance and limitations on peoples participation in the economy and the society.

RFA: Do you see any Muslim majority nations that are also willing to raise their concerns with China?

Brownback: Turkey has spoken about this. There have been several other countries that have as well. China has been on a very aggressive public relations campaign in Islamic countries to try to try to put a different face on these internment camps, calling them vocational training, but we have eyewitness testimony from people who have been in these places about their forced abduction, their forced retention, their inability to practice their faith, their requirements not to use common Muslim names like Mohammed on their children, the destruction of graveyards and places of worship. So, you cant put a good face on this. This is religious persecution intentionally practiced by the Chinese government, trying to really prevent an entire population of people from practicing their faith.

RFA: Do you think sanctions [under the new law] are coming any time soon?

Brownback: It would be my hope, number one, that China would stop the persecution. That it would act like a large global nation and treat human rights and religious freedom as core principles. But they do not, unfortunately. China remains a Country of Particular Concern on our Religious Freedom Watchlist and thats the category of the countries that are the worst violators of religious freedom. And then they also continue to be an enabler of human rights abuses by other countriesnot standing up for human rights and certainly not standing up for religious freedom. They persecute, unfortunately, Muslims, but also the Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, Falun Gongvirtually any faith participation in China, the participants are persecuted.

We do not preview sanctions. When the steps are taken, they are announced, but we dont project or preview when things like that would happen.

Bipartisan support

RFA: Does the Policy Act provide you tools to further press for the religious freedom of the Uyghur people as an ambassador for international religious freedom?

Brownback: The primary, I think, focus of the act is to focus the administration on these horrific abuses that are taking place. And thats what its doing. The tools are, by and large, available to the administration. There are certain reporting requirements that are new in the bill for the administration and the intelligence community to provide to the Congress, which those will be done.

But I think the real value here, too, is to express how clear and strong Congress feels on this. There was one dissenting vote in the House. It passed by unanimous consent in the Senate. This is a clear statement by the Congress that this is a bipartisan topic about which there is deep concern.

RFA: With the UHRPA signed into law, do you think this will help pressure China to shut down the camps and release Uyghur detainees?

Brownback: Well, my hope is that it will pressure the Chinese government to take positive actions to shut down the camps. But I would note that just shutting down the camps is insufficient. Theyve now created this police stateBig Brotherover the population centers in Xinjiang with cameras and artificial intelligence and facial recognition systems. To make a police state even in areas where people are no longer incarcerated, they are effectively limited in how they can live.

And Ive played this up to many people. I believe this is really the future of oppression. There will be these sorts of Big Brother systems where individuals, if they want to participate in their faith, they will not be able to participate in the economy or society of their land. And thats what the Chinese have created in Xinjiang, what the Communists have done to the Uyghur and [wider] Muslim population in that region. So even if the camps are shut down, the police state remains and the lack of ability for the people to even practice their religion is obvious and its the cutting edge technology how this is likely to be done in the future in China and other authoritarian countries unless the world pushes back and stops this from happening.

Reported by Alim Seytoff for RFAs Uyghur Service.
Recently, as I scrolled the more than 1 million tweets connected to the hashtag #Black_Lives_Matter, this is what flashed before my eyes: the black-and-white dashcam video of Philando Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, in handcuffs crying, her 4-year-old daughter trying to comfort her; protesters in Berlin standing in solidarity with the BLM movement; a Now This video of a young Black girl calling herself ugly; police attacking protesters and protesters fighting back; an image of George Floyd unable to breathe.

Suddenly neither could I. My chest tightened, my heart beat faster and hot tears began to bubble from my eyes.

For a person of color, engaging in this moment of collective trauma  whether by watching and sharing the video of George Floyd's death, discussing racial injustice on social media or speaking out in the 3D world  involves anxiously teetering across the fine lines between personal experience, obligations to the community, and  in my case  professional responsibilities. Since I manage a news organization's social media platforms, it's part of my job.

Many Americans describe watching the videos as a wake-up call to persistent racial injustice. For Black Americans, it touches a deeper nerve.

"I watched it. I tried not to cry. I was just in awe," said Jason Cordova, 31, a comedian in Weymouth, Massachusetts. "I have a son. He's 11. You gotta really prepare a Black kid to be treated less than human."

Ann Ebhojiaye, a psychotherapist in Baltimore, said the reaction is normal, reflecting "vicarious trauma" or "retraumatization from the Black experience in America." You're "seeing images and videos of violence against people that look like you and sometimes not being aware of what you're experiencing," she told me. Research suggests that repeated viewing of terrorism news coverage can lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, especially in people who have previous exposure to violence. Yet the onslaught of distressing images is hard to escape.

These videos carry echoes of historical images showing slaves being punished and Ku Klux Klan lynchings, often made to publicize and celebrate these heinous acts, said Deirdre Cooper Owens, a professor and the director of the Humanities in Medicine Program at the University of Nebraska. "There is a long memory and expectation extending from slavery that Black suffering be public," she said.

But Cooper Owens does not call for censorship of images. Instead, she points to the gratuitous nature of their sharing as a problem. Why, she asked, should Black people be subject to "the overrepresentation of our trauma?"

Yet there's little doubt that these kinds of videos helped to grow the Black Lives Matter movement into an urgent national protest. Their viral nature forced society and even the global community to witness the brutality so many wanted to deny.

Some people of color are careful to consume in small doses to protect their equilibrium: "Anytime I decide to watch any of these videos, I always think before I do it. Once you see it, you can't unsee it," said Michelle Stafford (@divayogi), 42, a yogi and healer in Baltimore. After watching the video of Floyd, she said, "I took a shower. I was feeling so anxious, my heart rate was up. If I'm feeling this way in my house, in a safe space, I can only imagine what people in other circumstances are feeling."

She is trying to help others in her community process their feelings by leading regular yoga sessions via Zoom, followed by group discussions, that are payment-optional. Kyaira Carter, 26 (@yokyni), offers similar sessions in Houston. "I want to use my platform to remind the Black community that healing is possible for us," she said.

But Shannon Johnson, 37, of Los Angeles said watching these videos and discussing Floyd's death on social media  however painful  helped her process what she saw and might force others to face buried truths. "I think if we can talk about everything else, we can talk about the uncomfortable stuff."

As a script consultant and fan of horror films, she said she is somewhat "desensitized" to violence, so going through the hashtags reminds her of the reality of being Black in America. "When people say George Floyd's name," she said, "I see the video."

She and many others credit the videos for helping to grow the Black Lives Matter movement into an urgent national conversation.

As a social media manager, I wonder if those of us in this field should be doing more to help users navigate this traumatic moment.

If you type the word "suicide" into your Twitter search bar, you are immediately presented with an embedded message that reads "Help is available," as well as a phone number and link to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

If sensitive content such as the video of Floyd's death and countless others like it is allowed on social media platforms, why shouldn't that content be flagged with additional support and resources?

"There is a general lack of understanding from the social media industry about the effects of repeatedly consuming disturbing content," said C. Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association.

For instance, images that depict gratuitous gore and certain sexual content are not allowed on Twitter, but sensitive content such as the video of Floyd's death does not break Twitter's rules. It is allowed to appear on the platform, but it should appear with an interstitial  a filter that warns of sensitive content and blurs the content until you click and agree to see it, said Lauren Alexander, a senior manager on the product communications team at the Twitter HQ in San Francisco.

Video hashing tools are used across the social media industry to prevent re-uploads of violent videos, but they can't stop re-uploads of versions that have been altered or edited. Likewise, the interstitial warnings may disappear when sensitive videos are edited and re-uploaded, as is the case with viral content, such as the killing of George Floyd.

One option is for users to adjust their safety settings on Twitter to block sensitive content and disable the autoplay function of videos on their timelines. "What we are trying to do and how we approach sensitive media is to not be the decision-maker, Alexander said. "We are not mental health providers." She pointed out that she has more choice in what to watch on social media than if she kept CNN on in the background, where the video of the killing played repeatedly.

Whats clear is that simply unplugging isn't adequate advice for communities of color trying to cope with the effects of vicarious trauma. Sometimes, as Ebhojiaye said, "it's important to really process, why are you so emotional?" When you have that awareness, you can work toward taking action in a way that you feel is empowering, she said.

For me, watching Floyd's agonizing death caused me to confront the pain of a lifetime of digesting racist and colorist messaging that seemed to scream, "Your skin is too dark, your hair is too kinky, your voice does not matter, your life does not matter!"

Viewing that video and other images that assault people who look like me is part of my profession. It can be very hard to steel yourself against the pain you see.

Part of my healing has involved reminding myself that I am both beautiful and worthy. That's something I do through the art of storytelling, songwriting, performance art  and writing like this.
As the Coronavirus crisis continues to grip Pakistan with hospitals overflowing and positive cases multiplying at a chaotic rate, a dangerous black market of blood plasma has emerged in the country.

At the time when Pakistans healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, the blood plasma of recovered coronavirus patients is being sold for more than 3000 euros to those who are desperately looking for a cure. Convalescent plasma is being trialled around the world as a possible treatment for the COVID-19. It contains antibodies generated by the immune systems of people who have recovered from the fatal disease.

READ | Pakistan One Of Countries Hardest Hit By Virus

Doctors in government hospitals in capital Islamabad said they had witnessed transactions between patients and mediators. Usually a patients family approaches someone who has recovered from Coronavirus, asking them to donate blood plasma. When a certain amount is agreed upon as payment, (usually between 200,000 and 800,000 Pakistani rupees), they go to a private lab and extract the plasma, which is then donated to the suffering patient.

One of the doctors told a UK paper that he knew a family of five who tested positive for Covid-19 and spent 3.5 million rupees on blood plasma in the black market, believing it to be a miracle cure. The Pak investigation agency is aware of the unregulated sales of blood plasma but said it is up to the police to investigate such cases.

READ | As Coronavirus Surges, Imran Khan's Pakistan Says There's No Choice But To Open

Pak reels under COVID-19 crisis

The hospitals in Islamabad have reportedly run out of essential drugs, including as dexamethasone, as well oxygen cylinders, as they were stolen and are being sold for 25 times the market price in the black market.

Pakistan now has one of the fastest infection rates in the world, with 185,000 confirmed cases and over 5,000 new cases reported each day. But authorities have warned that the number of cases could spiral to more than a million by the end of next month.

Pakistan's healthcare system is severely under-prepared for a major increase in the scale of the outbreak. In a country of 220 million people, Pakistan has fewer than 3,000 acute care beds.

READ | Pak Reports 4,471 New COVID-19 Cases, 89 Deaths

READ | Pakistan Govt Allows Repatriation Of 748 Stranded Indians From June 25 Via Wagah Border
Much has changed since March. Lockdowns have been replaced with ~wander bubbles~, offices are no longer so lonely, and the roaring of jets in the sky is on the up.

But The Virus is still out there.

Worse: it is more rampant in some countries than others, and some of those countries GDPs depend on tourism like a socially awkward Brit does gin.

Speaking of Brits: citizens of the UK are now once again allowed to make their annual pilgrimage to Spain, quarantine free.

So too are a select group of Germans.

As CNN Travel correspondent Atika Shubert recently noticed on a media trip to Mallorca, extreme hotel hygiene rules have not deterred the Prussians from enjoying a sneaky sunny vacation.

Mallorca is renowned for attracting repeat customers everywhere from Berlin to Bristol, thanks to its heady weather and cheap flights.

Shubert spent time observing a selection of the 11,000 German visitors who have recently been let into Spain as part of a pilot program to test Pandemic Precautions and reopen Spains tourism economy.

The group she was there to observe was in Mallorcas Riu Concordia hotel.

The extreme new rules she noticed include getting your temperature checked, putting on a face mask, cleaning your hands with disinfectant and donning plastic gloves  all before sipping your first morning coffee.

It doesnt end there though: In our lobby, a thermal camera scans guests when they walk in through the sliding doors: keep it cool and you get the green light to enter.

But if your temperature gets too high, reception gets a discreet red alert.

Shubert also relates how the buffet, previously only disastrous for tourists waistlines, now poses another challenge: navigating the breakfast buffet is tricky I need to follow the red arrows on the floor to avoid colliding into others.

Predictably, I go the wrong way in an attempt to get to the fresh fruit. A smiling attendant kindly guides me back towards the tempting croissants and pastries I had only narrowly escaped on the first round, but only after giving me another squirt of gel disinfectant.

All in all though, Shubert reports, it appears the first wave of tourists are enjoying their trips, with there being more space on the beach for your towel and  despite the vigorous displays of hand sanitizer rubbing  a relaxed poolside vibe.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by TUI ReiseCenter Bochum (@tuireisecenterbochum) on Jun 21, 2020 at 3:20am PDT

The irony is: the only thing likely to spoil the atmosphere, Shubert admits, is the media there to report on it.

Read Next
The four officers involved in the arrest were not questioned about the incident until last week and have not been charged with any crimes. We dont understand why they still havent been suspended, said Sofia Chouviat, Mr. Chouviats daughter.

Context: Earlier this month, Frances interior minister said chokeholds would be banned and that officers would no longer be allowed to press on a suspects neck. But the French police have pushed back, and officers will be allowed to use the technique in the field until September.

Case study: In the postwar era, Germany overhauled policing to confront in detail the shameful legacy of policing under the Nazis, and to prevent it from happening again. The countrys experience might offer insight into how to redesign institutions. But clashes between the police and young men in Stuttgart on Saturday point to long-simmering tensions and criticism, with immigrants saying they are racially profiled.

Also: Eton College, one of Britains most storied boys schools, has apologized to one of its former black students who said he was told never to return after publishing a book in 1972 detailing abuse at the school.

If you have 7 minutes, this is worth it

In West Africa, terror from both sides
50,000 select foreigners to start arriving next week

BANGKOK: The first group of foreigners to be allowed to enter Thailand will comprise business representatives, skilled workers, experts, people with Thai families, teachers, students and patients who agree to quarantine, according to the government.

COVID-19healthtransporttourism

By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 24 June 2020, 05:25PM

The passenger terminal of Don Mueang airport in Bangkok is virtually empty on Tuesday (June 23). The government plans to welcome several categories of visitors next month. Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill / Bangkok Post

Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), on Wednesday (June 24) elaborated on the governments plan to allow foreign nationals back into the country. The plan was drafted by a sub-committee of CCSA, reports the Bangkok Post.

Mr Taweesin said most will be required to accept 14-day quarantine after their arrival.

The spokesman said about 50,000 foreigners are likely to visit the country under the new rules.

They include about 30,000 people expected to arrive for medical and wellness tourism.

Others include about 15,400 skilled workers/experts; 2,000 teachers, educational personnel and students; 2,000 foreigners with Thai families or with residences in Thailand; and 700 businesspeople/investors. Members of this group have already registered for visits and agreed to undergo quarantine.

Another group to be admitted includes businesspeople and investors who will pay short visits, and guests of the government and governmental organisations.

They would be tested for COVID-19 both before and upon arrival, have health insurance and be monitored by medical personnel.

A further group to be welcomed consists of tourists and travellers who would arrive under the travel bubble scheme, Dr Taweesilp said. Details for this group had yet to be finalised.

Foreign businesspeople/investors who accepted quarantine could arrive immediately. Skilled workers/experts, people with Thai families and residences in Thailand, educational personnel, students, businesspeople/investors with short visits and guests of the government would be allowed in on July 1, he said.

Those who would arrive for medical and wellness tourism could also arrive on July 1.

Tourists who would arrive under the travel bubble scheme could be allowed in on Aug 1 on condition they undergo Villa Quarantine, meaning they stay in their accomodation and do not travel.

The draft measures would be submitted to the CCSA for consideration next Monday (June 29), Dr Taweesin said.

The arrivals were expected to boost investment and tourism income, he added.
Ministers will wait until Monday to reveal possible destinations that can form quarantine-free air bridges with the UK, a minister said this morning.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the Government believes travel from some countries should be allowed to avoid the 14-day self-isolation rules but no announcement will be made until June 29.

But his confirmation to the Commons Transport Select Committee came days after Health Secretary Matt Hancock used the daily Downing Street press briefing to insist that the countries would be revealed 'in good time' ahead of June 29'.

It came amid reports that ministers are in talks with a 'core' of European nations who could form the first tranche of destinations, including Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Turkey and Croatia. Austria and Germany are also being considered.

Asked what the 'key considerations' are in the negotiations, Mr Shapps said the ability of a country to alert people if they have been in contact with a person who has coronavirus is one of the factors.

Outlining the questions being asked by UK officials, he said: 'Do they have something equivalent to our NHS Test and Trace system? The Test and Trace system is enormous here now. We've got the capacity to test far more than is immediately required but that would allow for any uplift anywhere.

'Does the country we're talking to have that kind of capability?'

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the Government believes travel from some countries should be allowed to avoid the 14-day self-isolation rules but no announcement will be made until June 29

It came amid reports that ministers are in talks with a 'core' of European nations who could form the first tranche of destinations, including Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Turkey and Croatia (Dubrovnik pictured)

He said another issue being considered is the level and trajectory of the disease in a destination.

Mr Shapps added that introducing air bridges is a 'massive priority', stating: 'I understand entirely the pain that aviation is going through. I know both for airports, for airlines and actually for ground handlers as well, this coronavirus has been a complete disaster.

'The only thing which will be worse is if the country does not continue the work it's doing on getting on top of it.

'That's why quarantine has been introduced at a point where we were getting on top of it.

'I know there's a lot of arguments about what we should have been doing at the beginning.

'No, the chief medical officer told me at the beginning that (quarantine) would not be a solution from the outset.'

Since June 8, all passengers - bar a handful of exemptions - have been required to go into self-isolation for 14 days when they arrive in the UK.

People who fail to comply can be fined 1,000 in England, and police are allowed to use 'reasonable force' to make sure they follow the rules.

On Monday Mr Hancock used the press conference to say that details of the air bridges will be published shortly.

'A lot of work is being done on travel corridors, I've been working on it over the weekend,' he said.

'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.'
New research published today in Nature reports the discovery of a planet about the size of Neptune orbiting an especially young, nearby star. The planet, named AU Mic b, is orbiting AU Microscopii, which is relatively close to the Milky Way at 31.9 light years away. AU Microscopii is also "only" 20 or 30 million years old--at least 150 times younger than our Sun.

There are only two or three known stars that are both nearby and young, and scientists have been searching for planets orbiting them for at least a decade. This means the new finding creates a major opportunity for breakthrough research into solar system formation dynamics.

"One of the things we want to understand is, 'When do planets form, and what do they do in their early days?'" says Tom Barclay. He's an associate research scientist with UMBC's Center for Space Sciences and Technology, a partnership with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Because AU Mic b is so young, Barclay adds, "studying this planet, and hopefully others like it, can give us insight into how our own solar system formed."

Shining light on a new planet

Barclay primarily works on NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. TESS observes the same section of sky for weeks at a time, collecting data about the brightness of stars in its field of view every two minutes. Thanks to this constant watchfulness, TESS can help detect planets by recording when a star's brightness temporarily dims. That can sometimes signal a planet crossing in front of the star, or "transiting."

"My role is to take the brightness data for the star and use that to understand what the size and other properties of the planet are," says Barclay, who is second author on the new paper. Peter Plavchan of George Mason University leads the project. "Dips in brightness tell you about the size of the planet, and measuring how regularly spaced the transits are tells us how long it takes the planet to go around the star," Barclay explains.

TESS detected two transits of AU Mic b, but the research team needed a third to "be confident that what we'd seen wasn't something else in the data trying to fool us," Barclay says. So they called on additional data collected by NASA's Spitzer satellite and ground-based instruments in Hawaii and Chile.

Barclay analyzed the combined information and was able to confirm that AU Mic b has a mass of no more than 58 Earths and completes an orbit of AU Microscopii every 8.5 days. An orbit that short indicates that the planet is extremely close to the star.

Discovery dominoes

Next, Barclay and his colleagues want to learn more about the atmosphere of the new planet. Because it only recently formed, "it may well be losing its atmosphere at a rate that we can see," Barclay says. "It might even appear somewhat teardrop-shaped, as the planet is moving and leaving some of its atmosphere behind. So we're going to go and look for that."

In addition to the rate of atmosphere loss, careful observations can also help determine what the planet's atmosphere is made of. Determining the atmosphere's components could help the team figure out where the planet formed, because certain substances can only exist at a known distance from the star.

Knowing where the planet formed would provide clues about how it had moved since it first came into being. And knowing that would get scientists closer to understanding more generally how planets form and migrate in a new solar system.

Planet migration puzzle

AU Mic b is likely primarily comprised of gases. "This star probably hasn't had time to form small, rocky planets yet," Barclay says. "It gives us a chance to get a picture of what might have happened before our own terrestrial planets like Earth and Venus formed."

But the work is not easy. "Understanding the migration of planets is a really difficult problem. One of the fun things and one of the most frustrating things about studying stars is that we can never go to them," Barclay says. "So this discovery is just one more puzzle piece in trying to understand what's going on."

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A total of 12 Kildare 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 6,500 to charities across Kildare who provide vital services and make a huge difference within their community.

The Irish Cancer Society, The Main Street Food Bank Naas, Ash Animal Rescue, The Kildare Town Mens Shed, The Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation, CMRF Crumlin, Gheel Autism Services, Special Days of Flying, 5th Kildare Athy Scout Group, St Raphaels School, The Irish Wheelchair Association Clane each benefitted from a donation from one or more of Aldis eight Kildare stores and its Naas Regional Distribution Centre.

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 eight Kildare stores are deeply involved in their local community. Through its partnership with FoodCloud, its Kildare stores have donated over 55,300 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.
Professors in Texas Tech Universitys Department of Mechanical Engineering have developed a new epidemiological model for predicting COVID-19 spread and have made predictions for six representative U.S. states: California, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Washington.

Fazle Hussain, the Presidents Endowed Distinguished Chair in Engineering, Science & Medicine; Zeina Khan, a research assistant professor of mechanical engineering; and Frank Van Bussel, a postdoctoral researcher, recently submitted their paper, A Predictive Model for COVID-19 Spread Applied to Six US States, to Nature Medicine, according to a press release from TTU.

Our goal was to combine our expertise in bioengineering and computer modeling to develop a comprehensive model for predicting COVID-19, including the most important and relevant parameters, and to compute and interpret the results in terms of relevant parameters, Hussain said in a statement.

This model incorporates a number of parameters of significant relevance to pandemics, particularly COVID-19, and is capable of making predictions of such parameters and their interdependence, according to the release.

We decided to create a new model of this coronavirus in order to predict a larger range of parameters that prior models dont, Khan said. One major feature is the asymptomatic spreaders  people who dont know they are sick, wander into society and spread the virus. Another feature is the lockdown that we all have experienced. We decided to start from that perspective and build a new model. This kind of model is described as a compartment model, where society is divided into conceptual compartments.

The compartments used in the model are susceptible, undetected infected, detected infected, detected recovered, social distancing, undetected recovery/death and detected deaths.

The susceptible population is the majority of the population of a region or country at the onset of the disease, Khan explained. Theres a small number of what we call unknown infected, because theyre not sick enough to realize and go for testing, be hospitalized or stay home. Theres a small number of those who start the spread of the infection. Then, as peoples symptoms progress, or as a result of randomized testing, they become detected infected. These detected infected people either go on to recover, which puts them in a new compartment, or they die, and thats another compartment.

Hussain said other aspects also play a pivotal role in who may or may not be more susceptible to contract coronavirus.

Factors such as culture, food habits, political systems, skin color and latitude are variables, he said. For example, with Chinas political system, if they are ordered to stay 6 feet away from one another tomorrow, everyone would comply. Latitude is a major factor because of how much sunshine a person is exposed to.

The paper makes some predictions, including:

--In continued lockdown, COVID-19 infections will persist for at least two years.

--Infections, however, will rapidly rise (by an order of magnitude) if lockdown is lifted  peaking after two months  recurring yearly, similar to influenza.

--Repeated lockdowns and releases do not avoid an endemic infection, even following a White House release guideline of 14 days of declining cases, or even a stricter 28 days.

--Earlier lockdowns would have cut COVID-19 deaths in New York, but not in Texas.

--Infections could be curtailed by stringent measures such as strict lockdown compliance, face masks, social distancing, contact tracing and isolation, etc.

The reason why earlier lockdown would have saved tens of thousands of lives in the state of New York but wouldnt have made much of a difference in Texas is because of how well New York complied with lockdown measures, Khan said.

The most telling aspect of their paper is the numbers. By Oct. 1, there could potentially be 3 million COVID-19 cases, and 235,000 total deaths in the U.S., according to their predictions.
Mumbai: Businessman Anil Ambani on Tuesday claimed he had not given any personal guarantee for a borrowing made by Reliance Communications (RCom) from three Chinese banks against the backdrop of a UK court directing him to pay USD 717 million to the three lenders.

He, however, seemed to indicate that he did give a personal guarantee to India's largest lender SBI, which has moved the the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to recover Rs 1,200 crore.

In both the cases -- SBI and Chinese banks -- the borrowings have been done by a group company and are not personal, he said.

Speaking at the annual general meeting of group company Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra), Ambani said he had only signed "a power of attorney limited to executing a non-binding letter of comfort to the Chinese banks" when the now-bankrupt RCom borrowed money in 2012.

"The guarantee on the basis of which the claim was made was admittedly not signed by him," a RInfra statement said quoting Ambani, who is the company's chairman.

Ambani, who had to rely on help from elder brother Mukesh Ambani to pay Rs 462 crore to Ericsson last year in a different matter, would be availing legal remedies available in India to contest the claims by the Chinese banks.

An inability to personally deposit a sum of USD 100 million has shut out his defence in the UK courts, the statement added.

"As per the UK Court's order, the final amount owed under the alleged guarantee will be assessed based on the outcome of the RCom insolvency resolution process," the statement quoted Anil Ambani as saying.

The case relates to Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Development Bank and Exim Bank of China dragging Anil Ambani to a court in UK as part of their recovery efforts in the USD 925 million loan to RCom. On May 22 this year, a court had directed Ambani to pay up USD 717 million.

Justice Nigel Teare at the Commercial Division of the High Court of England and Wales in London had ruled that a personal guarantee disputed by Anil Ambani is binding on him.

On the case filed by SBI this month, Anil Ambani said the claim has arisen out of a guarantee given for a loan which was availed by RCom and Reliance Infratel Ltd (RITL) in 2016 to repay the Chinese banks and certain other Indian banks.

Anil Ambani said he was defending himself against the claims by both SBI and the Chinese banks 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," as per the statement.

It can be noted that the NCLT is presiding over RCom's debt resolution case and according to media reports, the 38 Indian lenders' haircut will stand at only 30 per cent of Rs 33,000 crore secured debt owed by the company, if a latest resolution plan goes through.

Anil Ambani also told the shareholders that "his sole desire was to assist the RCom Group and not to make any personal gains" and assured that these legal battles would not have any bearing on RInfra's future prospects.

According to the media reports, Reliance Jio has offered around Rs 4,700 crore for the tower and fiber assets of RCom's subsidiary RITL.
Those who have already gotten rent assistance elsewhere do not qualify. The money is paid directly to participating landlords, Holcomb said. In exchange, the landlord promises to hold tight on potential evictions unless the renter is over 45 days behind.
iSpring Page is designed to provide content creators with a tool for producing microlearning modules for LMSs quickly and hassle-free.

iSpring Releases Page, a Cloud Authoring Tool for Microcourses

iSpring Solutions Inc., a world-renowned vendor of eLearning software and services, announced the release of iSpring Page, a new cloud-based authoring tool for creating microlearning courses.

iSpring Page allows course creators to build eLearning content right in their browsers, thus simplifying and speeding up the development process and helping them embrace the rising trend for microlearning.

According to research conducted by Bersin by Deloitte, a typical employee can devote only 24 minutes during a workweek to training. Thats why businesses eagerly adopt microlearning: it fits into a tight daily schedule seamlessly and employees can take bite-size courses in an off moment, on any device, says Slava Uskov, VP of Product Development at iSpring. Many professional authoring tools might be overkill for preparing such courses because of their excessive features, a busy interface, and steep learning curve. iSpring Page is specifically designed to fill the gap and provide content creators with a tool for producing microlearning modules for LMSs quickly and hassle-free.

iSpring Page helps educators create microlearning courses with video, knowledge checks, and custom branding in record time.

The series of quick, bite-sized lessons can be used for new employee onboarding, product and sales training, and also as job aids and video explainers. They are especially effective for training deskless and field workers who typically dont have access to desktop computers during their workday. With mobile-friendly content that plays on smartphones, businesses can get these employees involved in training too.

iSpring Page introduces a set of options aimed at speeding up content creation:

Cloud-based authoring. Authors only need an Internet connection to create a course with iSpring Page. This means that content developers are not limited to their desks and computers with authoring tools installed and can build and edit content from anywhere.

Ease of use. The intuitive interface allows authors to create courses in minutes. Building a microcourse with iSpring Page is as easy as writing a post for social networks. You can simply copy and paste the texts from the existing document and Page will preserve images and paragraph and list styles intact.

Collaboration. iSpring Page supports teamwork, so multiple authors can cowork on the same piece of content online to finish the project faster.

One course for all devices. iSpring Page creates adaptive content that plays flawlessly on all devices, so authors don't need to test and customize content for different screens.

iSpring Page publishes content to SCORM and xAPI eLearning formats, allowing you to easily upload them to an LMS, assign them to learners, and track progress.

Pricing and Availability

iSpring Page is a cloud-based service available by subscription. The plan for one user is $97/year. It covers an unlimited number of courses and 10 GB of storage space. Multi-user plans are also available. To check subscription plans, please visit the iSpring official website.

A fully functional trial for iSpring Page is free for 14 days. You can sign up for a trial.

About iSpring Solutions

iSpring is a global leader in creating award-winning eLearning software. Since 2001, iSpring Solutions, Inc. has helped thousands of businesses worldwide advance their corporate training and spread best business practices. iSpring is recognized for its beautifully engineered products and exceptional service.

Over 54,000 customers from 155 countries choose iSpring products for their reliability and high performance. The customer list includes 148 of the Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and educational institutions worldwide, such as Google, Amazon, Boeing, Dell, United Airlines, Starbucks, Booking.com, and MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Berkeley Universities. For more information, visit the official website.
The tinned food giant Princes was forced to close its Cambridgeshire factory for 24 hours following an outbreak of coronavirus among staff.

Staff from the Wisbech plant began displaying coronavirus symptoms and were instructed to self-isolate and contact health authorities to get tested.

Fourteen of the factory's 407 employees tested positive, forcing the plant to close on Tuesday while deep cleaning was carried out.

A company spokesperson said the 14 infected employees would be 'logged as part of track and trace efforts'.

The Princes' tinned food factory in Wisbech (above) shut for 24 hours on Tuesday while deep cleaning was carried out after 14 staff tested positive for coronavirus

The factory, which has now reopened, is the latest food processing plant to be hit by outbreaks of the virus in recent days, raising fears that it could be spreading in enclosed and cold spaces.

The Lynn Road factory produces canned and pouch products including baked beans, soups, pulses, pasta, vegetables and sauces.

A Princes spokesperson said: 'A deep clean of the facilities these colleagues used was also conducted, alongside further stringent cleaning across the site.

'As an additional step, we took the responsible decision to temporarily close the whole site for 24 hours so a further deep clean could be completed.'

The company added that it has implemented social distancing measures, provided staff with PPE, and 'adapted our work environment' to minimise the chances of infection in the factory.

'We remain in close contact with Public Health England and Fenland Council so they are fully informed of our approach and developments at the site' the spokesperson said.

It comes after the whole island of Anglesey in Wales  home to 70,000 people  came under threat of lockdown when a chicken factory shut down because hundreds of staff tested positive for Covid-19.

Public Health Wales reported 200 confirmed Covid-19 cases at the 2 Sisters chicken processing plant, which employs 500 people in Llangefni on Anglesey.

Another 34 cases were reported at Kepak in Merthyr Tydfil and 70 at Rowan Foods in Wrexham.

Yesterday Sir Patrick Vallance was forced to reassure Britons that risk of catching coronavirus from eating meat is 'very low', following the spate in factory infections.

Number 10's chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance said food safety officials ruled the risk of catching coronavirus from eating meat was slim

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 yesterday'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.

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.'
The 2020 Collision from Home, dubbed as the Olympics of Tech by the USs Politico newswire, is live from June 23-25, attracting over 32,000 from more than 140 countries and territories.

At the event

The Bloomberg described the event as the worlds largest tech conference.

As many as 25 Vietnamese hi-tech and e-commerce companies and several universities are attending the event.

Over 600 speakers, including Prime Minister of Canada Justine Trudeau, General Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will mention a range of topics, from technology, digital communications to music, politics and culture.

Vietnam and Canada hold the potential of sharing human capital in the research and development of key technologies, building strategic alliances with private organisations, start-ups and universities to develop new technologies or upgrade existing ones, as well as facilitating technological transfer for common goals, co-Director of the Canada  Vietnam Trade Council Femi Oloruntoba told Vietnam News Agency in a recent interview in Ottawa.

The two countries established their diplomatic ties in 1973 and joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Two-way trade was approximately 8 billion CAD (around 6 billion USD) in 2019.

Nguyen Phuong, CEO of FPT Canada, said Canada still lacks engineers to join the government and firms digital transformation projects, such as automation and application of artificial intelligence to improve business efficiency. He added that it offers a great chance for Vietnamese enterprises.

Julie Nguyen, Director of the Canada  Vietnam Trade Council, said the non-profit organisation has been operating for a decade and coordinated with the host authorities to introduce the Vietnamese market and connect the two countries businesses together./.VNA
S. Korea, China hold video talks on fisheries cooperation

June 24,2020 | Source: Yonhap

Officials of South Korea and China held video talks Wednesday to discuss joint efforts to prevent illegal fishing by Chinese boats and to better protect the marine environment, the foreign ministry said.



The meeting was the 14th of its kind to be held between the two neighbors since they launched a working-level consultation group in 2012 as a channel to strengthen cooperation in areas including illegal fishing, maritime accidents and preservation of fisheries.



In Wednesday's talks, South Korea called on China to render greater cooperation for joint patrol efforts in the Yellow Sea so as to stamp out illegal fishing by Chinese boats.



China said that it has increased patrols to improve the environment for fishing operations, noting that cases of illegal fishing by Chinese fishermen have declined in recent years.



The two sides also agreed to work closely together to root out illegal fishing in waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border with North Korea, and to preserve marine resources and the ecosystem.

 Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved.

Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture.
It is extremely important to preserve our U.S. history  the good and not so good  without honoring the leaders of the not so good. I am not fond of honorably displaying statues, flags and other memorabilia of those who supported slavery in our country. However, I question the wisdom of tearing down and destroying them. We need these visual reminders of past failures to warn us of the evils of discrimination.

There probably are no statues of Adolf Hitler or Nazi flags nobly displayed in Germany. But, wisely, there are museums in Poland and in the United States showing the horrors of the Holocaust. Even with these necessary horrific reminders, there are still those today who sometimes claim the Holocaust never happened. We need to make sure future generations here are not allowed to forget the evils of slavery. There are several museums depicting the history of slavery in this country. One such is here in St. Louis, the Griot Museum of Black History. I would suggest that the statues being torn down or destroyed be instead properly identified and displayed in these museums along with other visual results of hatred and racism like chains, auction blocks and the Underground Railroad. George Santayana, a Spanish American philosopher said, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." We must not forget.
Russia visit amid Coronavirus pandemic is a sign of special friendship, said Rajnath Singh on his three-day visit to Moscow to observe the 75th Victory Day Parade for Soviet victory over Nazi forces in World War 2.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that India is looking forward to the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin later this year.

We look forward to the visit of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said addressing a press conference here.

Singh is on a three-day visit to Moscow to attend a military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

Also read: International relations must come to terms with contemporary realities: S Jaishankar at RIC meeting

Also read: US Intel claims Galwan attack was planned by China to teach India a lesson

The minister said his visit to Moscow is the first foreign visit from India of an official delegation after the COVID pandemic and it is a sign of special friendship between the two countries.

I pay my tribute to the Russian soldiers who were killed during World War II. Lakhs of Indian soldiers also participated in this war and we also suffered casualties, he said.

The minister met Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Yury Ivanovich Borisov.

Also read: Big jolt to Indian IT professionals, Trump suspends H1B visas till end of 2020

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Linkedin (Reuters) Lahore, Pakistan  Wed, June 24, 2020 21:07 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406615cd35 2 Entertainment Turkey,Pakistan,television,statue,Lahore,Ertugrul-Gazi Free

Residents of the Pakistani city of Lahore have erected statues to commemorate a medieval Turkish leader, a sign of the growing popularity, and cultural impact, of a television series imported from Turkey depicting the origins of the Ottoman Empire.

The series, Ertugrul Gazi, which ran in Turkey until 2019, is loosely based on the story of a 13th century nomadic Turkic tribal leader who confronted Mongols, Crusaders and Byzantine rulers in what are now Syria and Turkey.

Two statues of Ertugrul have been put up in a residential area of the city. Muhammad Shahzad Cheema, the head of a private housing society, commissioned a likeness of Ertugrul, sword in hand on a rearing horse.

"The statue is a reminder of our love for the Ottoman Sultanate, and the jihad which Ertugrul waged which brought us (Muslims) respect in the whole world," Cheema said.

Pakistani broadcaster PTV began airing Urdu-dubbed episodes of the show during Ramadan a few weeks ago, and it has since become the most watched program ever aired by the outlet.

Read also: Pakistan goes wild for blockbuster Turkish drama

No television show has been able to stir Pakistan the way Ertugrul Gazi has, PTV Managing Director Aamer Manzoor told Reuters. "People feel that it is the Turkish play of Game of Thrones."

More than 58 million people viewed the first episode on PTV's YouTube channel in two months, and the entire show has had more than 250 million views, Manzoor said.

Turkish state television waived royalties for the show.

Cheema told Reuters people were coming from far and wide to take selfies with his statue, installed in a square locals plan to rename after Ertugrul.

The show also got a ringing endorsement from Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said it would help combat "vulgarity" from Hollywood and Bollywood and promote family culture.
(Newser)  New York, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and Mississippi held primaries or runoff elections Tuesday, and in two of those states, voters rebuffed President Trumpor at least his preferred nominees. In North Carolina, Madison Cawthorn, 24, won the runoff for the seat vacated by GOP Rep. Mark Meadows when he left to become Trump's chief of staff, the AP reports. Both Trump and Meadows had backed Cawthorn's rival, Lynda Bennett. The AP notes Cawthorn is still a Trump supporter, but his upset nomination is a "setback" for Trump, who went so far as to record a phone message for Bennett's campaign. Other prominent Republicans, including Ted Cruz, also endorsed her. Elsewhere:

story continues below

Results in many races are sure to be delayed thanks to an increase in mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic, but some results came as no surpriseCBS News reports Joe Biden won the Democratic presidential primaries in Kentucky and New York.

Mitch McConnell easily won his primary in Kentucky. As for which Democrat will challenge McConnell come November, it's not yet clear: The race between former fighter pilot Amy McGrath and state Rep. Charles Booker was still too close to call and may not be for days because of expanded write-in ballots, per the Courier Journal.

In Kentucky, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie was re-nominated for a sixth term despite the fact that Trump in March called the libertarian-minded congressman a "disaster for America."

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez experienced what USA Today calls a "blowout win" in her New York district, prompting the freshman lawmaker to note on social media that her upset in 2018 was no "fluke."

(Read more Election 2020 stories.)
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.
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Linkedin Artorn Pookasook (Reuters) Bangkok, Thailand  Wed, June 24, 2020 09:17 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066128f0f 2 SE Asia Thailand,back-to-school,coronavirus,coronavirus-effect,pandemic,hand-sanitizer,face-shield,post-lockdown,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown-easing Free

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 meter 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 practice 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.
VICTORIAThe mother of a teen who fatally overdosed says legislation in British Columbia that would allow youth to be involuntarily hospitalized for up to a week must be backed up with more residential treatment beds.

Rachel Staples, whose 15-year-old son Elliot Eurchuk died in April 2018, said short-term emergency care meant to stabilize youth is just a start in addressing the overdose crisis among young people.

They dont have the facilities to accommodate whats going on in our province, she said Tuesday, adding wait times could be as long as four months.

A week in a hospital just makes a kid angry. Say they do decide Yeah, I want out of this nightmare. Then what? They need residential treatment where they can be monitored.

The proposed change in the Mental Health Act would allow youth under 19 to be kept in hospital for 48 hours to start in order to stabilize their condition.

Youth would be discharged when they are able to make decisions for themselves as part of a short-term emergency care plan at B.C. hospitals.

The proposed changes are aimed at allowing youth to be connected to supports and services in the community after they are discharged.

They need residential treatment where you can put a child up to a month, in my opinion, so they can actually come down from that high and address what theyre doing to themselves, said Staples, whose son was found dead in his bedroom.

Hed already overdosed on illicit substances in hospital where he was undergoing treatment for a blood infection that is common to intravenous drug users.

Youth, like adults, have been released from hospital after being given the overdose-reversing medication naloxone, without much information provided to their parents based on the youths wishes.

Dr. Tom Warshawski, medical director for child and youth for the Interior Health Authority, said the legislation recognizes the profound vulnerability of youth.

He said clinicians would have a legal tool to help a youth take a pause in their drug use in order to have their medical and mental health needs addressed.

But Warshawski, who testified at an inquest last year addressing issues related to Eurchuks death, also said residential treatment beds for youth are key to addressing addiction that may involve mental health issues.

Government-funded private beds are scattered around the province but there is no centralized intake service, meaning clinicians must call multiple facilities to learn about wait lists.

In this way the provider, the family, enters into a maze and also the government has no idea how many beds they have and what their need is, Warshawski said.

This situation is indefensible, he said, adding he has spoken with Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy, who agreed the province has to take action.

Other provinces, including Alberta, have provisions for involuntary treatment of addiction, he said, and B.C. must now lead the way on youth treatment considering its high number of overdose fatalities.

Darcy said in an interview the change would help ensure the immediate safety of young people in crisis.

The discharge plan would involve youth who may already have been introduced to health professionals that would be supporting them, she said.

The new legislation would also allow parents or guardians to have access to personal information about the youths condition while theyre in stabilization care, she said.

That, I think, provides a lot greater clarity for parents and for physicians, Darcy said.

The Mental Health and Addictions Ministry said B.C. has 104 beds for youth who use substances.

Darcy said 20 more beds are expected to open in Chilliwack.

The provinces chief coroner, Lisa Lapointe, said in a statement it is important that work being done to reduce the fear and stigma related to substance use is not undermined by the legislation.

Without an established evidence-based, accessible system of substance-use treatment services, I am concerned there is the potential for serious unintended consequences as a result of these legislative amendments, including the potential for an increase in fatalities, Lapointe said.

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Bloomberg Middle East

Saudi Arabia came under a missile and drone attack from Iran-backed Yemen rebels that targeted the capital and other cities, as international efforts to end their five-year war have floundered. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the attacks targeted the Defense Ministry, a military base and intelligence and other locations in the three cities.

The rebels also threatened to carry out more powerful strikes, according to their Al Masirah news channel. Bahrain, yesterday strongly condemned the Iranian-backed attempt to target the capital and other cities in the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the use of ballistic missiles and drones.

The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemens brave forces intercepted these missiles and drones before reaching their targets, thereby thwarting the planned attack. Bahrains Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) praised the bravery of the forces.

The Shura Council also strongly condemned the attempted attack yesterday, reiterating Bahrains unwavering support to Saudi Arabia against any attempt to subvert its security, backing all measures to defend its territories and interests.

The Shura Council affirmed solidarity with Saudi Arabia in confronting terrorism as well as attempts to target its interests and stability, urging the international community to deter the terrorist militias and maintain regional security and peace.
A video that shows a man with a knife stuck in his scalp is going viral after the stabbing victim is seen casually walking up to an ambulance to get help.

According to police the 36-year-old man was stabbed in the torso and head with ah kitchen knife at 11.56am on Tuesday near 120 West 125th Street in Harlem.

He was defending a 34-year-old woman who was slashed in the cheek after four unidentified males and one unidentified female snatched her purse.

A 36-year-old man was stabbed in the street in Harlem on Tuesday at 11.56am after a verbal dispute with an unidentified assailant. He's pictured in an ambulance

The bag contained her cell phone, medication and a benefit card.

The male victim got into a verbal dispute with an unidentified assailant. It's unclear what his relationship is to the woman.

The man is seen wearing a white tank top covered in blood that appears to be dripping down his neck and onto his dark blue jeans.

A piece of fabric is tied around his right arm and both of his hands are covered in bright red blood.

The victim grimaces as a crowd gathers around to film him. The incision did not penetrate his skull.

An amateur videographer who circulated one of the videos on social media is heard saying 'he got stabbed' and that 'it's crazy out here'.

The man, captures everyone's attention as is seen by a paramedic in opposite a 99 Fresh Pizza and Fries restaurant.

The altercation was caught on a cell phone video and shows the victims being attacked

Some people were seen running away (right) after the man (left) was stabbed in the head and torso

He was taken to a hospital in Harlem.

Both victims were in stable, non life-threatening condition.

Police had made no arrests on Tuesday evening. They are still investigating.

Ed Mullins of the Sergeants Benevolent Association reacted to the video in a tweet on Tuesday: 'NYC politicians have lost control of the city. One day a homeless man is set on fire in Manhattan another day a man is knifed in the head, all on the heels of 125 shootings in one month.'

He is seen walking over to FDNY paramedic with a knife sticking out of his head as shocked onlookers filmed

He was treated by EMS and transported to a Harlem hospital. Both he and the 24-year-old female victim were in stable, non life-threatening condition

He then blamed New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson, saying: 'Take a bow you created this, now own it.'

He made the comments after New York had gone to the polls ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

His Association is comprised of approximately 13,000 active and retired sergeants of the NYPD.

He shared the clip after there were 28 shootings with 38 victims, two of them killed, in 72 hours over Father's Day weekend. The city statistics brought the total to 125 shootings so far this year.

Figures show a 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.

The video was shared widely across social media and Ed Mullins of the Sergeants Benevolent Association blamed politicians for crime rates

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.

New York City was only one of several major US cities that saw a sharp spike in shootings last weekend.

104 were shot in Chicago this weekend, 14 died.

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.

'We're 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.'

However there has been a 2.5 percent decline in overall crimes for the first five months of 2020 (34,773 v. 35,651), driven by decreases in the numbers of robberies, assaults and grand larcenies since the COVID-19 outbreak in mid-March.
Almost time to boldly go: The International Space Station will soon be within reach of those with very deep pockets. Photo: 3D Illustration

A year after Nasa announced that it would allow companies to market products on orbit as well as open the International Space Station to private citizens, the space agency has said it is well on its way to transforming the orbiting lab into a commercial hub.

Nasa has five proposals from companies for commercial and marketing opportunities on the station. One of those is currently there, the agency said. But the flights won't be cheap. Nasa has said it would charge $35,000 (30,870) a day for passengers to stay aboard the station. And the rides there could cost some $50m (44.1m), officials have estimated, though that would be determined by the two companies hired to fly astronauts to the station, SpaceX and Boeing.

In an interview, George Whitesides, Virgin Galactic's CEO, said the company's astronaut training programme would build on its work developing a suborbital spacecraft it calls SpaceShipTwo.

Also, Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson's space tourism company, announced that it has signed an agreement with Nasa to identify people who might want to fly to the space station as well as preparing them for the mission, joining others that are trying to help promote private flights there.

In January, Nasa signed an agreement with KBR to train private astronauts. And Nasa has an agreement with another company, Axiom Space, which has booked a crew of four to the station in a flight that could happen as soon as the second half of next year. Separately, SpaceX has signed an agreement with a private citizen to fly to space.

The moves come as Nasa is moving to leverage the growing capability of the commercial space sector, which for years has flown cargo and supplies to the space station. Last month, SpaceX became the first private company to fly Nasa astronauts there.

Private companies are also trying to build commercial habitats in space. Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine recently announced on Twitter that the space agency would fly its astronauts on suborbital spacecraft, such as those being developed by Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin, as part of their training.

The space agency is also seeking to partner with the private sector in its return to the moon. Earlier this year, it awarded nearly $1bn in contracts to three companies to develop spacecraft capable of taking astronauts to and from the lunar surface.

In a statement, Nasa said that "providing expanded opportunities at the International Space Station to manufacture, market and promote commercial products and services will help catalyse and expand space exploration markets for many businesses."

Nasa would not say what companies have submitted marketing proposals or what the efforts entail. An agency spokesperson said Nasa recognises that it must be transparent with the public about the activities on board the station, in which US taxpayers have invested more than $100bn. But at the same time, if it unveils a companies' advertisement or marketing plan prematurely, it will reduce the incentive for those companies to use the space station.

Nasa has not said who the private astronauts are that Axiom Space would send to the station.

The company has flown the vehicle to the edge of space twice, and it has 600 people who have paid for trips, or put down significant deposits towards tickets. ( The Washington Post)
The police have received Sushant Singh Rajput's final post mortem report, and the cause of death has been ascertained to be asphyxia due to hanging. Foul play in his suicide case has been ruled out.

Sushant Singh Rajput   Final Postmortem Report;     | FilmiBeat

According to a report by India Today, the final report was signed off by five doctors whereas the earlier, provisional report was signed by three doctors. The report does not find any external injuries or struggle marks on Sushant's body, and it states that it is a clear case of suicide.

Theories of there being a link between Sushant's death and his manager Disha Salian's death, which was just a week before his, have been ruled out.

India Today further stated that Sushant's viscera has been sent for chemical analysis, and the police has written to the Directorate of Forensic Science Services to speed up the chemical analysis process.

The police has clarified that the CCTV cameras in his building were working on the day of his death. They added that his dog was in the other room, and is alive.

ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput's Uncle Claims The Actor Was Murdered, Demands CBI Probe

Sushant took his life on June 14, 2020. He was found hanging in his Mumbai apartment. His death came as a shock to his family, colleagues in the film industry and fans.

The police have so far recorded the statements of 23 people, including his father and three sisters; Siddharth Pithani, his creative content manager; his cook, Keshav; Uday Singh Gauri, his business manager; actress Rhea Chakraborty, casting director Mukesh Chhabra, with whom Sushant shot his last film, Dil Bechara; and others.

ALSO READ: PhD Scholar Thought Sushant Singh Rajput Was A Physicist When They Met At Paris Airport

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
New Delhi:

NIA has arrested a suspected ISIS operative, who had conspired to carry out terror activities in the country and was planning to collect chemical explosives from cracker manufacturers in Tamil Nadu.

The accused identified as Subahani Haja Moideen, a resident of Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, was arrested by the NIA on Wednesday in connection with a case related to activities of the banned ISIS in India.

The accused was radicalised and recruited in ISIS through social media platforms. He had left India for Istanbul from Chennai last year on the pretext of performing Umrah, the NIA said in a statement today.

After reaching Istanbul, he crossed over along with other people who hailed from Pakistan and Afghanistan to Iraqi territory under control of ISIS.

From there, he was taken to Mosul where he underwent detailed religious training followed by combat training which included a course in automated weapons before being deputed to fight war for almost two weeks.

During the war, he told interrogators that he was paid 100 US dollars per month as an allowance by ISIS besides accommodation and food.

However, he told interrogators that he could not withstand the violence and war misery in Mosul and decided to leave especially after he saw two of his friends getting charred.

He was jailed by ISIS and produced before a Islamic judge who sent him to Syria and claimed that he was allowed to cross over to Turkey from where he contacted his family with the help of the Indian consulate at Istanbul.

He arrived in Mumbai after a gap of six months in September last year on an emergency certificate and returned to his ancestral place where he was staying with his wife and managed to get a job at a jewellery shop at Kadayanallur.

However, once back and settled, he again got in touch with ISIS handlers over Internet and was planning to collect explosives and precursor chemicals from Sivakasi at their instance.

He had travelled to Chennai, Coimbatore and other places to meet other local contacts in the conspiracy, collect money and procure explosives for terrorist acts as guided and motivated by ISIS handlers, the NIA said.

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(TNS)  California on Tuesday saw some of its highest numbers of new coronavirus cases  surpassing 6,000 new cases in a 24-hour reporting period for the second day straight as the state barreled forward with reopening plans.Dramatic surges in new cases were seen in various parts of the state: Santa Clara County on Tuesday recorded its highest daily total in new coronavirus cases in more than two months, with 121 cases, a worrisome spike, health officials said.Sacramento County saw its highest count of new cases in a day, at 131. The jump in cases comes as the state reopens restaurants, bars, salons and gyms.Statewide, more than 190,000 people have tested positive for the virus, with nearly 28 percent of the total cases reported in the last 14 days. John Swartzberg, an infectious disease expert at UC Berkeley, said part of that climb is due to increased testing but that testing alone is insufficient to account for the increase in the number of cases.Multiple sources are driving the surges. Large outbreaks have been reported at several prisons, including San Quentin State Prison in Marin County. Clusters are still coming out of skilled nursing facilities. At least one county has tied local cases to recent civil rights protests.And as stay-home orders are lifted, more cases are coming from people returning to work and socializing.California reported a record 6,232 new cases Monday and had surpassed 6,000 cases again Tuesday evening with several counties yet to report, according to data compiled by. Southern California is driving most of the recent spikes, but the Bay Area has seen large increases over the past few days.The Bay Area had 20,804 cases as of Tuesday evening, and daily reports from the nine counties have regularly passed 300 new cases for the past week. The area set a record Saturday with 619 new cases as Alameda and Contra Costa counties both reported one-day totals above 100.Cases in Santa Clara County until about a week ago had been mostly stable. But even in a county that has moved slower than anywhere else in the state toward reopening, the outbreak is gaining traction as people return to work and their social lives.Health officer Dr. Sara Cody said the county anticipated an increase in cases after it began to reopen outdoor activities and parts of its economy. But recently were seeing a worrisome sign that this increase may be accelerating, Cody told Santa Clara Countys Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.This increase reflects both widespread testing - were finding more of the cases that do exist - but it also reflects an increase in cases, because the virus continues to spread, she said.Cases are climbing at alarming rates in several states, and on Tuesday the governor of Texas in a local television interview advised residents to stay indoors as cases and hospitalization numbers picked up there. Nationally more than 2.3 million people have tested positive and more than 121,000 have died.The Bay Area had seen mild upticks in cases after slowly easing shelter-in-place restrictions beginning in mid-May, but had mostly avoided some of the larger increases seen in other parts of the state. Over the past week, though, the region has seen notable jumps in cases.Solano County has reported 33 percent of its overall cases in the last seven days while Sonoma and Napa counties have recorded about 18 percent of their totals in that span.So far the California surges have not dramatically slowed down plans to reopen the state economy, though a few counties have paused that process when case and hospitalization counts ticked up. Most of the state has reopened vast sectors of the economy, with people now free to return to offices and movie theaters and get their hair and nails done  with some restrictions.On Monday Gov. Gavin Newsom said he had no immediate plans to reissue stay-home restrictions, but that wasnt off the table if cases spiked to alarming levels and the outbreak put pressure on hospitals.Art Reingold, an infections disease expert at UC Berkeley, said Tuesday that the frustrating fact is that it may be near-impossible to drive coronavirus cases down to levels where theres almost no local transmission.It may have been unrealistic to think that these measures were going to have a lasting impact, Reingold said of shelter-in-place restrictions. I think some of us, including me  certainly me  underestimated this virus.Stephen Shortell, former dean of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, said even in California, where early and aggressive social distancing measures prevented the outbreak from overwhelming hospitals, case counts may remain stubbornly high for some time.I think we can continue to see this trend for the next several months, where theres going to be ups and downs, Shortell said. Im not surprised to see these increases. Disappointed, but not surprised. This is going to be the new normal until we get a vaccine.On Tuesday, the California Department of Public Health changed its description of the states testing positivity rate to trending modestly upward from stable in previous daily updates. According to aanalysis of state data, Californias seven-day positive rate was 4.89 percent last week, June 15-21, compared to 4.61 percent the previous week and 4.37 percent two weeks earlier.Hospitalizations, which are not subject to availability of testing, have also been on the rise. California reported 3,868 confirmed COVID-19 hospital patients on Monday - its third consecutive day with a new record total and an 18.8 percent increase over two weeks before. The Bay Area reported 258 confirmed hospitalizations Monday, its highest total since May 30.People sick enough to need hospital care represent the tip of the iceberg for the virus impact in a community, Swartzberg said, but: If hospitals are going up, that cant be explained by testing alone.Were not having the disaster that states like Arizona and Alabama and Texas and Florida are having, Swartzberg said. We got better after that (initial) surge, we did a really great job at that. But we havent really been able to knock these cases down further. They came down and then sort of sat there and just sort of smoldered. But now it looks like maybe its going in the wrong direction.Santa Clara County, initially the Bay Areas hardest-hit, until recently had not seen much of an uptick in cases, unlike its neighbors. The county had not reported more than 51 cases on one day since April 11, but over the past six days its daily case counts have shot up.Cody, the county health officer, said the county has seen fewer cases associated with long-term care facilities since May - after focusing on preventing spread of the virus in that population - but has recorded a jump in cases associated with community and workplace outbreaks.Cody said 89 worksites in the county have reported at least one positive case in the last month, with construction worksites accounting for 38 percent of that total. Nearly half of the countys cases since May 1 are of unknown origin and presumed to be community transmission, Cody said.On Monday, Santa Clara County reported its highest number of confirmed hospital patients (48) and intensive care cases (25) since mid-May. Cody said its a bit early to tell whether the jump in recent cases will translate to more hospitalizations or deaths, but that the county is watching its uptick in hospital numbers very closely.As for Tuesdays case total, Cody said dates of specimen collection for the positive tests span many days - but its nevertheless worrisome to see so many cases reported to us in one day.Swartzberg said more cases were expected as many areas of the state eased shelter-in-place rules and social and economic restrictions but that the recent increase is notable.Now is the time to be more cautious, not less cautious, Swartzberg said. If anything, just freeze where we are. The best thing we can do perhaps is to take a couple steps back.
Sydney: Trust in China among Australians has more than halved amid diplomatic and trade disputes, with only 23% saying they trusted Beijing to act responsibly in the world compared to a 52% reading two years ago, a major poll has found.

The annual Lowy Institute Poll also found rising support for Australia's security alliance with the United States, up six points to 78% this year, even though U.S. President Donald Trump was unpopular with Australians.

"Trust in our largest trading partner - China - has declined precipitously. Confidence in China's leader Xi Jinping, has fallen even further," wrote Lowy Institute executive director Michael Fullilove.

In total, 94 percent of respondents thought the Australian government should work to reduce its economic reliance on China by diversifying its trade.

Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Australians were less trusting of most countries around the world, and only half of Australians said they felt safe.

Diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Canberra have worsened since Australia called for an international inquiry into the source and spread of the new coronavirus, which first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

China has banned some Australian beef imports and imposed tariffs on Australian barley. It has also urged Chinese students and tourists to avoid Australia.

While Australians believed the U.S. alliance was important for Australia's security, Fullilove said "trust in the United States has stagnated, and few Australians have confidence in President Trump".

Fifty-one percent of respondents trusted the United States to act responsibly in the world, steady with last year and down from 61% in 2017.

The survey found 55% rated Australia's relationship with the United States as more important than the relationship with China, compared to 40% who chose China.

The number of Australians who saw China as an economic partner fell to 55% in 2020, significantly down from a reading of 82% in 2018.
SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Amazon.com Inc. and Dallas Independent School District or Dallas ISD said the e-commerce giant will provide funding for computer science education and teacher professional development for all 154 elementary schools in the school district. The funding for Dallas ISD is part of Amazon's $50 million investment to increase access to computer science/science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or STEM education across the U.S. The funding, primarily through the company's childhood-to-career program, Amazon Future Engineer, is expected to benefit more than 78,000 students. The Amazon Future Engineer program intends to expand computer science education access to more students from low income, under-served communities. Amazon said it is partnering BootUp, a non-profit professional development provider specializing in elementary school education, to bring computer science to these schools. BootUp has modified its programs to work in a virtual setting, due to the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming school year. In addition to supporting Dallas ISD, Amazon Future Engineer is funding computer science education for almost 200,000 elementary school students at more than 400 schools across the U.S. More than 180 high schools in Texas are participating in the Amazon Future Engineer program. Three students have received a $40,000 Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship and guaranteed Amazon internship. In April, Amazon had said it would donate $3.9 million to provide virtual computer science curriculum and training to 500,000 students as well as 12,000 teachers in 700 under-served and underrepresented communities in Virginia amid the coronavirus outbreak. The donation was from the Amazon Future Engineer program. Amazon also announced a plan in April to donate 8200 laptops, worth more than $2 million, to elementary students in Seattle Public Schools in Washington State to help towards the continuous learning plan during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.
Small Cell Power Amplifier Market Future Trends, Growth Analysis & Forecast Research Report, 2028

The global small cell power amplifier market is expected to witness an exponential CAGR in the years to come. Small cells act as base stations for femtocells that are usually found in residential complexes for enhancing coverage. Novel generations like LTE, CDFMA, and HSPA+ carriers have been addressing downlink, backhaul, and uplink paths; which has, in turn, given rise to terms like microcells, pico, class 3, enterprise, public access, and metro.

Factors driving the small cell power amplifier market include increasing demand for flawless transmission and reception across airports, convention centers, office buildings, and other places where high signal strength is required. Functionalities include baseband digital signal processing, signal capture, microwave and RF transmit receive capabilities, and general-purpose processing. Other factors boosting the market are extensive usage of data networks in urban areas, along with less cost incurred with regards to operations as compared to macro stations.

The small cell power amplifier market is segmented by type, application, sales channel, and geography. By type, the market spans 39 dB, 36 dB, 32 dB, 5 dB, and others. By application, it comprises power amplifier driver, customer premises equipment, wideband instrumentation, small cell base stations, and datacards with terminals. By sales channel, the market is split into distribution channel and direct channel.

By geography, the segmentation spans North America (Mexico, Canada, and U.S.), Latin America (Chile, Columbia, Argentina, and Brazil), MEA (Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa), Asia Pacific (Australia, India, Korea, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia), and Europe (Spain, Russia, Italy, France, U.K., and Germany).

North America holds the largest market share due to its base shifting toward heterogeneous data solutions. Europe comes in second. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest pace due to rapid urbanization in developing economies like India and China.

The players contributing to the small cell power amplifier market include TekTelic Communication Inc.; Skyworks Solution; RFHIC Corp; Qorvo Inc.; Anadigics Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; Texas Instruments; and NXP Semiconductors. The present scenario is such that these players are focusing on organic growth. For instance, in November 2018, Qualcomm released FSM100xx at the Small Cells World Summit (London) with the objective of lending an active support to 5G.
HURON COUNTY  When Shaelynn Lavrack of Montrose heard the next contestants name called, she did not know what to think. Her eyes wandered around the room to family.

You won! they exclaimed.

Lavrack was shocked.

I heard Alaynas name called first, Lavrack said, upon earning the title of 2020 Michigan Sugar Queen. I was confused. I didnt even think I was going to make it to court.

The coronation took place June 19 in Bay City at the Michigan Sugar Company's headquarters.

Shaelynn, 19, is a 2019 graduate of Hill-McCloy High School and attends Cornerstone University, where she majors in broadcast communications. She is the daughter of William Lavrack and Angela Youmans.

Once again, Michigan Sugar Company is fortunate to have found a young woman who we know will be an excellent representative and ambassador for our company, said Rob Clark, director of communications and community relations for Michigan Sugar. Her knowledge of our company and agriculture in general, along with the quality of her character, shined through during the selection process. We are looking forward to a great year with Shaelynn as the Michigan Sugar Queen.

Seasoned and experienced, this is not Shaelynns first time on a court.

I was on the Montrose blueberry court two years ago, she said.

It was during that time when she met a prior Michigan Sugar queen. With a desire to learn more about agriculture and educate people on its importance, Shaelynn decided becoming sugar queen would be her next big endeavor.

I thought it would be a good opportunity and really cool to represent the Michigan Sugar Company, she said.

Shaelynn applied and, before she knew it, received an email inviting her to attend a Zoom interview. That was back in May and it would take another couple of weeks before learning she was selected to be on court, running against Haley Bell and Alayna Celestini.

Bell, 19, is a 2019 graduate of Bangor Township John Glenn High School and attends Delta College where she is studying social work. She is the daughter of the proud Rob Bell and Melissa Scherf.

Celestini, 18, is a 2020 graduate of Dakota High School and plans to attend Michigan State University in the fall to study engineering. She is the daughter of the proud Jamie and Angela Celestini.

Us three started talking, Shaelynn said. They are two of the nicest girls I have ever met. We were excited.

The newly crowned queen grew up in a small farming community, but was not raised in a farming family.

Growing up, I just always thought it was cool, she said. "I didnt get into agriculture until blueberry court.

Shaelynn immediately fell in love with hard work that goes into planting and growing produce. She took a job working at her cousins greenhouse during her senior year of high school.

It is crazy to think about how little people know about the food that is on their plate, she said. Most people know it grows from the ground and somehow ends up on your plate.

Shaelynn sought to explore farming life a little deeper, by getting more involved. Blueberry court allowed her the privilege of speaking with Michigan farmers and networking with some of the industrys big wigs.

She feels the duties of her new title align perfectly with her career goals as a journalist.

I have always thought reporters were interesting, she said. "As a reporter you are educating people and telling them information they dont know yet. I can tell people where their food came from and how it was made. I just want people to know about the growers and the hard work that goes into it and educate about what they do. I want to spread information about Michigan Sugar.

Shaelynn said she could not wait to learn more. Throughout the year, she plans to take advantage of all the opportunities placed in front of her. This means representing Michigan Sugar Company all over the state, being present on the infamous annual trip to Mackinac Island, and attending Michigan Agriculture Day at the Michigan State Capitol.

As of now, its still on, she said. I am looking forward to that.

Shaelynn and her attendants are eager to represent the Michigan Sugar Company this year. In midst of the coronavirus pandemic, it is unknown what the year will hold. As always, the 2020 Michigan Sugar queen hopes for the best and is more than willing to roll with the punches.

My philosophy is just do it, Shaelynn said. The worst thing that could happen is you wont win. Keep trying. If you are passionate and want to make it, let your voice be heard go for it. Just do it.
As one development exec for a major company puts it, During a crisis, its not really the time to go out and ask for those five-year campaign pledges. Its the time to say, how are you and how can we as an arts organization be of support during this time? Is there anything you need from us? What are your ideas and thoughts? And among the people were close to, that were asking those questions of, those who are able to do something are stepping up, in some ways unasked, to support us in meaningful ways.' Observes another, People who love opera really love it. You can raise a lot of money from people who love opera because its a secular religion.  San Francisco Classical Voice
Wednesday, June 24th, 2020 (9:37 am) - Score 852

A recent update on the planned 350m Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal has confirmed that internet slowspots in Northumberland and Cumbria (England) will shortly be able to take advantage of a new 4m Digital Borderlands Voucher Scheme, which will enable locals to access bigger vouchers to help install gigabit broadband.

The new 10 year growth deal, which was agreed over a year ago (here), is primarily focused upon improving various different types of infrastructure and business in cross-border areas between England and Scotland, including Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Borders, Carlisle City, Cumbria and Northumberland.

As part of that the new deal intends to invest 4m toward a Digital Borderlands Voucher Scheme (DBVS) that will be designed to top-up the UK Governments own 200m Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) programme, which currently offers up to 3,500 for small rural businesses and up to 1,500 for homes to get a gigabit-capable broadband connection installed.

The RGC scheme is only expected to run until March 2021 and so the additional funding via DBVS will have to match that delivery target. Sadly we dont yet know how big the top-up vouchers will be but the latest newsletter included the following update: We have submitted the business case to the UK Government and expect to launch the 4 million top-up voucher scheme in Cumbria and Northumberland shortly.

By boosting the vouchers the DBVS scheme will be helping to make it more viable for some increasingly remote communities to benefit from such connectivity. On the other hand the much weaker 10Mbps USO is already showing that some of the most rural communities will need more funding than even the combined DBVS and RGC in order to deliver on the Governments 2025 target for gigabit broadband coverage to every home.

A general summary of the growth deals wider digital priorities can be found below.

Strategic Priority 1: Extending gigabit capable connectivity to all premises The priority is deploy full fibre gigabit capable connectivity across the whole region. Going forward all broadband investment will be full fibre. Recognising the market failure in rural areas, we will work with UK and Scottish Governments to enable the following priorities to be progressed: * Complete the superfast contracts with BT to deliver circa 93% coverage across the Borderlands by March 2021. * Use RGC funding to connect hub sites in superfast not-spot locations in Cumbria and Northumberland and so stimulate further commercial deployment or voucher supported community schemes during 2020/21. * RGC funding will also be used to deliver full fibre connections to 35 schools in Dumfries and Galloway. * Use RGC top-up vouchers to support communities in not-spot locations in Cumbria and Northumberland to install full fibre infrastructure in the period up to March 2022. * Delivery of the R100 programme across the South of Scotland by 2023. * Secure UK Government investment (the F20 programme) in the non-commercial areas to achieve 100% gigabit capable connectivity by 2025. * Ensure Local Plan policies are up-dated to require developers to provide full fibre to the premise in all new developments. Strategic Priority 2: Boosting mobile infrastructure for 4G and 5G coverage Mobile infrastructure is a critical component of the digital infrastructure strategy particularly in more remote rural areas. Mobile infrastructure can provide the necessary connections for 4G in areas with few premises to support the land management sector, visitor economy and logistics. Mobile 4G infrastructure is also required to enable future deployment of 5G. The Borderlands region is keen to be an area for testing and trialling of 5G technology in a rural context. We will work with UK and Scottish Governments to enable the following priorities to be progressed: * Monitor the evolving Shared Rural Network (SRN) 4G programme to assess coverage in the Borderlands. * Secure funding and mobilise the Digital Borderlands 4G infill programme to complement the SRN and ensure that no place is left behind. * Work with partners on 5G research and development projects. Strategic Priority 3: Creating Digital Hubs Digital Hubs can fulfil a range of functions, with the most common features including internet access, providing meeting and networking space, and giving opportunities to test new technologies. They have potential to improve digital skills for individuals and businesses as well as foster business and community development. The digital infrastructure strategy, working with local partners, will underpin the following priorities: * Develop the new University of Cumbria campus in Carlisle as a Digital Hub4 through provision of the new Digital Skills Academy with business networking space and community learning. * Establish digital hubs in each town within the Borderlands Place programme to enhance the provision delivered through libraries and digital learning hubs across the region. * Work with South of Scotland Enterprise Agency and Skills Development Scotland and with Cumbria LEP and the North East LEP to increase the delivery of digital skills provision for businesses and communities.

UPDATE 3:23pm

The two councils have revealed that their 4 million investment will be made available will be used to match the level of funding available under the RGC, so that eligible businesses can now apply for up to a maximum of 7,000 and eligible residential properties up to 3,000.
A month after Kylie Jenner faced backlash for allegedly forging tax documents and lying about her billionaire status, she has once again come under fire. But this time, shes not the only one in her family taking the heat.

According to a recent report, both Kylie and Kendall Jenner have refused to pay factory workers in Bangladesh who create garments for their Kendall + Kylie fashion line amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Because of this, people have been calling out the Jenner sisters for leaving thousands of garment workers starving during this troubling time.

Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner | Kevin Tachman/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Kendall and Kylie Jenner have been accused of exploiting their garment workers

Former billionaire Kylie Jenner and her supermodel sister Kendall are being accused of exploiting others after reports surfaces that they have been refusing to pay factory workers who make garments for their fashion line.

According to a recent report published by fashion non-profit Remake, Global Brands Group  the company that owns Kendall + Kylie  has informed clothing makers that they will not be paid for garments made in February and March due to drops in sales amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

View this post on Instagram throwback A post shared by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Mar 22, 2020 at 10:28am PDT

RELATED: Kylie Jenner Limits Her Instagram Comments After Fans Demand She Pay Workers in Bangladesh

Global Brands Group CEO, Rick Darling, wrote in a letter, Given the unpredictability of the situation, our retail partners have cancelled orders, and existing inventory and product in production may have no sell-through. Consequently, we have no choice but to make the difficult decision to cancel all S/S 2020 orders from all suppliers (without liability).

As a result of the companys decision, more than 50,000 factory workers in Bangladesh and Los Angeles have been left in a vulnerable position. Some are even at risk of starving to death while others have lost out on receiving government assistance.

Fans are lobbying for the Jenner sisters to pay factory workers

After the report surfaced, many people took to social media to protest the companys mistreatment of its workers and call out the Jenner sisters for not taking action.

RELATED: Fans Are Dragging Kylie and Kendall Jenners New Kylie Cosmetics Makeup Collab

Kylie Jenner is the perfect example of performative activism. Posting about BLM on her social media just to appease her fans. But behind the scenes, her companies are unwilling to pay poor (mostly female) garment workers in Bangladesh. Make it make sense, someone tweeted.

Some are even criticizing the reality stars  Kylie, especially  for not dipping into her own funds to pay those factory workers who are struggling financially.

Kylie Jenner is (almost) a billionaire and cant afford to pay her workers in Bangladesh? The rich really be greedy, and the poor really be generous, another Twitter user penned.

That is insane she makes billions of dollars but wont pay her workers because her clothes wont sell during covid!!! Bs!!!! @KylieJenner@kyliecosmetics is this how you represent you brand? Is your family eating? They are not!! pay them now!!! someone else wrote.

Neither Kylie, Kendall, or Global Brands Group have yet to respond to Remakes report.
India insisted on 'complete disengagement' in all its talks with China on eastern Ladakh row: Govt

We will continue to deal with Chinese PLA in firm, resolute manner: Army chief

After agreeing to disengage, India-China joint secy level talks likely today

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, June 24: India and China are likely to hold joint secretary-level talks today amidst the tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

A virtual meet of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs is likely to be held later today. The talks are headed by the joint-secretary level officials from both sides.

The WMCC was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination. The intent behind the establishment of the WMCC was for maintaining peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas and also to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation.

Galwan clash: China dismisses reports on losing 40 soldiers in Ladakh

Covid in Delhi: Screening to be done at all households in capital by July 6 | Oneindia News

On Monday, India and China held military level talks and both sides reached a consensus to disengage.

The Indian Army said in its first official statement following the talks on Monday, "the Corps Commander level talks between India and China on 22 June 2020 were held at Moldo in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere. There was a mutual consensus to disengage. Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed and will be taken forward by both the sides."

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.

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-China dont need anybodys help to resolve issues says Russia

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.
Travel bubbles, also called travel bridges or green corridors, do away with the waiting period for travellers from certain countries.

They are reciprocal in nature, meaning flyers from both countries will enjoy similar benefits.

India and the United States (US) are working on a plan to create a travel corridor which will significantly ease travel restrictions between the two countries.

This will be the first green corridor India will establish with any country.

Besides the US, similar initiatives are being tried with select European countries as well.

Senior officials from New Delhi and Washington confirmed that the two countries were in final stages of forming a travel bubble, which will completely remove or substantially relax the quarantine measures for flyers.

As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are looking at the prospects of establishing bilateral bubbles with the US, France, Germany and UK.

"Final decisions after negotiations are expected soon, said a spokesperson of the aviation ministry.

Travel bubbles, also called travel bridges or green corridors, do away with the waiting period for travellers from certain countries.

They are reciprocal in nature, meaning flyers from both countries will enjoy similar benefits.

Since the largest chunk of non-stop traffic on international routes is between India and the US, the plan is being worked out on this route urgently, according to a person aware of the development.

However, officials said only limited number of flights would be allowed to operate under the corridor.

India is likely to allow US airlines to operate to Delhi and Mumbai.

Meanwhile, US may allow Air India to operate normal flights to New York, San Francisco and Chicago.

According to travel data firm OAG, the US-India non-stop traffic has grown by 8 per cent every year since 2016.

While such corridors are being created by countries that have successfully curbed the growth of cases, officials indicated that India and the US would not wait for cases to fall to zero before creating the corridor.

A travel bubble can also be between two countries which have similar number of cases and respond in the same way to the pandemic, one of the officials said.

In such a scenario, neither country needs to close the border to protect citizens.

Such a plan has been in the works after the US accused India of discriminatory practices and violating fair trade practices during the Vande Bharat mission- the repatriation exercise being carried out by Air India.

The US Department of Transport on Monday said that from July 23, Air India would have to seek prior approval before operating flights to the US.

Air India is operating a schedule which is more than 50 per cent of the pre-Covid level, the department said.

The charters go beyond true repatriations, and it appears that Air India may be using repatriation charters as a way of circumventing the flight restrictions imposed by India, it said.

It sought to restore a level-playing field for American airlines under the US-India Air Transport Agreement.

Due to restrictions imposed by the Indian government, foreign airlines were forced to operate empty one way.

US carriers like Delta and United had also sought permission to operate repatriation flights like Air India, but were not allowed by the Indian government resulting in competitive imbalance, the US Department of Transport said.

Experts said the green corridor would be a sign of gradual opening up of international travel.

Travel bubbles are a step forward and will help towards restarting international travel.

"The important thing is to ensure that the measures are aligned with international guidance so that the bubbles can be expanded to include other countries and restore global connectivity by air, said Amitabh Khosla, IATA country director (India).
Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved has submitted all crucial documents related to its coronavirus medicine 'Coronil' to the Ayush ministry after queries were raised on its claims that the medicine was "100% successful" in curing patients, India Today reported. The government on Tuesday asked the company to stop advertising such claims until the whole issue was duly examined.

Taking cognizance of the reports regarding the launch of the purported COVID-19 ayurvedic medicine, the Ministry of AYUSH said the facts of the claim and details of the stated scientific study were not known to it.

"...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," the ministry said.

Patanjali was been asked to provide 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 from data of the study, it added.

Earlier, Ramdev along with Patanjali's chief executive officer Acharya Balkrishna launched the ayurvedic COVID-19 medicines at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar. He said 'Coronil' is the first ayurvedic, clinically controlled trial-based evidence and research-based medicine.

The medicine has been developed in joint research by Patanjali Research Institute and National Institute 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 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 Tulsi, suggested by doctors, to make Coronil. The Coronil kit is priced at Rs 545. It will be a 30-day course. As per Ramdev, the Coronil kit will be available in 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
Election 2020 Myanmar Military Says It Wont Control How Personnel Vote in Upcoming Election

Tatmadaw spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun at a press conference on June 23. / Thiha Lwin / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAWMyanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said military personnel will be able to vote freely in the coming election this November.

What we can say is we dont instruct military personnel about which party to vote for and which party not to vote for. There is no such restriction. They have the right to vote freely according to their wishes, said the military spokesman at a press conference in Naypyitaw on Tuesday.

Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun added that the military, known as the Tatmadaw, is not affiliated with any political party and has no policy about its relations with any particular party.

It is important that the election is free and fair and that all the people can cast a vote. The Tatmadaw will help wherever it can to ensure that, he said.

In a departure from previous elections, military personnel and their family members will cast their votes outside military barracks in the November election, rather than at polling stations inside military cantonments.

Political parties will continue to be barred from campaigning inside military cantonments, said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun, as different ideological beliefs, including communism, once caused factions within the Tatmadaw in Myanmars post-independence period and resulted in mutiny.

Those communist factions went underground. So, political parties will not be allowed to campaign inside military cantonments, said the spokesman.

U Aung Kyaw Kyaw, a Lower House lawmaker with the National League for Democracy (NLD), recently said that the NLD was barred from campaigning inside military cantonments in the 2015 general election but the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) campaigned in some cantonments. The USDP is led by ex-generals from the Tatmadaw and is widely viewed as the proxy of the Myanmar military.

We received maximum five-to-six votes per polling station inside military barracks. All the other votes were won by the USDP. As they have to cast their votes outside military barracks in the coming election, we may win more votes. But I doubt they will be allowed to vote freely, he said. The USDP was born out of the Tatmadaw, so the party will still win the majority of votes from the Myanmar military.

USDP spokesman Dr. Nanda Hla Myint has disputed the NLD lawmakers claim. He pointed out that his party lost in 2015 in Pyin Oo Lwin, a Mandalay Region township with the largest number of military universities in Myanmar, because it did not win votes from military personnel.

Our target is to try to win the vote of every eligible voter. We wont ask them to vote for us because they are military personnel, he said.

He added, however, that there is a need to consider national security because putting the polling stations outside of barracks will allow international observers to know the size of Myanmars battalions.

It does not matter whether polling stations are inside or outside military barracks. This will not impact the voting of military personnel. When polling stations were inside barracks in previous elections, there were votes from military personnel in favor of the NLD. There were advanced votes in favor of both the NLD and the USDP, he said.

Regarding the USDPs policy on the Tatmadaw, he said the party believes it is necessary to cooperate with the Tatmadaw for the peace and stability of the country, and to build trust and work in harmony with the Myanmar military on state-building.

Senior Tatmadaw officers resigned from the military and ran on the USDP ticket in 2010 and 2015 general elections. When asked if senior military officers will do the same in the upcoming election, Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun replied that time will tell.

According to a list issued by the Union Election Commission (UEC) in March, there will be 37 million eligible voters in the 2020 election, excluding military personnel and their family members. Myanmars military has an estimated 500,000 personnel. With the addition of family members, over 1 million people out of an estimated 32 million eligible voters in the 2015 election were affiliated with the military.

For this years election, 97 parties have registered with the UEC, with 79 parties operating up to the Union level, 18 parties operating only at the local level and three parties suspended.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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New Delhi, June 24 : Tightening its noose around Emaar MGF Director Shravan Gupta, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at seven location in Delhi and Gurugram in connection with its probe into the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland case.

A senior ED official confirmed that the financial probe agency was conducting searches at seven location in Delhi and Haryana's Gurugram at locations linked to Gupta.

Gupta was summoned and questioned by the ED in 2016 after his named cropped up during investigation.

According to ED officials, it was found that alleged middleman Guido Haschke was an independent director of Gupta's firm between September and December 2009.

In its charge sheet in 2015, the ED claimed that it detected flow of alleged kickbacks sent from foreign countries to companies of the accused named in the case -- Advocate Gautam Khaitan and cousin brothers of the former IAF chief S.P. Tyagi.

The ED further alleged that a part of the kickbacks allegedly paid to influential people and politicians was parked in a company related to Gupta.

The ED claimed that the money was meant to swing the contract in favour of AgustaWestland.

The kickbacks were then allegedly routed through Rajiv Gupta-owned Mauritius-based company Interstellar Technologies. Rajiv Gupta later turned approver in the case.

The ED has arrested British national and one of the alleged middlemen Christian Michel James in December 2018.

The case pertains to buying of 12 AgustaWestland helicopters built by Italian defence manufacturing giant Finmeccanica (now known as the group) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,600 crore for ferrying VVIPs. In the deal, bribes were allegedly paid to middlemen and others. The purchase was cleared in 2010 by the then UPA government.
Britain's theatre and concert hall bosses today pleaded with the Government for extra help as they continue to stay closed with no reopening date yet in sight.

The chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall has warned Ministers they must provide solutions in 'weeks not months' to aid the reopening of the creative sector.

Boris Johnson said theatres and concert halls can reopen from July 4, but not for live performances, with social distancing cut from two metres to 'one metre-plus'.

But RAH chief executive Craig Hassall said venues including his own, The Old Vic and Shakespeare's Globe would be unable to reopen despite the reduced measures.

The RAH is not expected to begin hosting reduced audiences until October at the earliest, while pantomime season is also now in doubt for the UK's regional theatres.

The world-famous Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, West London, remains shut (file picture)

Mr Hassall said the RAH, in South Kensington, West London, which has been closed since mid-March, had lost around 12 million in potential income.

He added: '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.

Craig Hassall, the chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall, has warned that the Government must provide solutions in '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 per cent of total potential capacity.

'At one metre it goes up to about 35 or 40 per cent and for a show to break even, ie, cover its costs, it generally has to have about 75 or 80 per cent capacity and after that it's profit.

'And we have no subsidy from Government, so we have no cushion, so we rely on about a 75 to 80 per cent capacity just to cover the costs of the Royal Albert Hall and that's 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.'

He added: 'I don't 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 couldn't actually open.'

The closed Old Vic theatre in Central London is pictured last Friday as UK theatres remain shut

Mr Hassall said he expected the RAH to begin hosting reduced audiences in October or November, but stressed this was only 'an interim measure' to get people into the venue.

Scrap this year's pantomime season, urges actor Christopher Biggins who was due to appear in Jack and the Beanstalk this year Christopher Biggins appeared in Dick Whittington in Plymouth in 2012 This year's pantomime season should be scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to panto legend Christopher Biggins. The 71-year-old actor has long been synonymous with pantos, having graced theatres across the UK as a dame every winter for nearly 50 years. But Mr Biggins believes all shows this year should be 'forgotten' - because social distancing will ruin it. He also fears hard-hit families won't be able to afford tickets this Christmas and theatres may close - but hopes panto can 'come back with a huge bang in 2021'. Biggins, who won ITV's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2007, was due to perform in Jack and the Beanstalk this year in Dartford, Kent, but said: 'I know that we won't be doing it, I just can't see how it's going to work'. Biggins added: 'It's a bit like restaurants; I don't want to go to the theatre and have the audience with masks on and sitting two metres in between each other. 'So you're not going to play to a full house... I don't want to do anything less because [when] you go out there with half an audience, it's not the same. 'I don't know how we would cope either backstage, there's lots of things that could go wrong. I'm very sceptical about it, I wish I was more positive. 'I think it's much better to forget this year and come back with a huge bang in 2021.' Speaking on Debbie McGee's podcast, Biggins also said: 'The trouble is... all the theatres depend on a pantomime season to make money enough money to live for the rest of the year so it's going to be a disaster for a lot of theatres. 'That is the real sadness, I don't know how we're going to get around that.' And he added: 'We don't know if people are going to go to the theatres. A lot of family audiences - will they be able to afford it?' Advertisement

He said around 80 per cent 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 don't have their panto season at Christmas, that's their cash cow for the entire year.

'And the time to plan your panto season is today, it's not next month, it's 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.'

Kate Varah, chief executive of The Old Vic theatre, told Sky News today: 'Like others we'll have to make significant structural changes by the autumn if we don't hear more from the Government about the relief package on offer.

'I am optimistic that the Government get this message now. Oliver Dowden is speaking more frequently and more robustly about support for the sector, which is fantastic.

'I think there are smart people at the DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) trying to figure out a way through this, but it is urgent.

'We do need to know in the next month, two months, what's going to happen otherwise we will be forced to make structural changes to the organisations that mean that we can't meaningfully reopen.'

Last week, Andrew Lloyd Webber claimed singing could be banned from musicals when theatres reopen because of the risk of coronavirus spreading.

The theatre impresario, 72, made the comments after seeing draft Government guidance on suggested measures to lift the curtain on the West End.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme last Friday, he said: 'I've had a couple of phone calls with [Culture Secretary] Oliver Dowden about it. I would love to say I think [the Government] understood a little more.

'I sincerely hope that [a forthcoming report on the theatre] doesn't contain some of the things I've seen in some of their advice, one of which was a brilliant one for musicals  that you're not allowed to sing.'

It is thought that an infected actor may be more likely to spread coronavirus when singing on stage than if they are just speaking their lines.

Kate Varah, chief executive of The Old Vic theatre, told Sky News that they need 'urgent' help

A file photograph of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London which has been shut since March

Lord Lloyd-Webber has been working on plans to reopen his seven London theatres with virus-resistant performances  but no social distancing.

James Corden and Gary Lineker lament loss of 100 jobs at theatre A host of celebrities have described as 'heartbreaking' the loss of more than 100 jobs at a theatre. The Theatre Royal in Plymouth, Devon, said the jobs are going as a result of Covid-19 which has seen a 91 per cent drop in income. The Theatre Royal in Plymouth, Devon Actor James Corden said: 'This is utterly heartbreaking.' Corden was joined by actor Hugh Bonneville, Sue Perkins and presenter Gary Lineker, who branded it 'tragic'. Comedian Nish Kumar said: 'S***, this is such a great venue.' The theatre is one of the best attended outside London and the entire artistic team are being made redundant. Advertisement

He wants to use the London Palladium as a testing ground in the coming weeks, using some of the measures successfully introduced in South Korea for the reopening of the Phantom of the Opera.

Lord Lloyd-Webber has ordered thermal imaging cameras and hygienic door handles in a bid to prove that measures in place in the South Korean capital of Seoul could also allow UK theatres to reopen.

Also last week week Sir Cameron Mackintosh revealed that his West End musicals including Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and Hamilton will not reopen until 2021.

The producer said that he has been forced to take 'drastic steps' after the Government offered 'no tangible practical support beyond offers to go into debt'.

He claimed 'the continued uncertainty' over social distancing and the 'several months of preparation' needed once they are lifted means his shows cannot return this year.

Sir Cameron announced that he, his producing partners and Delfont Mackintosh Theatres were entering a process of consultation over potential redundancies for all employees on the productions.

Some of the country's most prominent performers, playwrights and producers including Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Trevor Nunn wrote an open letter to the Government asking for emergency financial aid last week.
BRUSSELS - Americans are unlikely to be allowed into more than 30 European countries for business or tourism when the continent begins next week to open its borders to the world, due to the spread of the coronavirus and President Donald Trumps ban on European visitors.

More than 15 million Americans are estimated to travel to Europe each year, and such a decision would underscore flaws in the Trump administrations handling of the pandemic, which has seen the United States record the highest number of infections and virus-related deaths in the world by far.

European nations appear on track to reopen their borders between each other by July 1. Their representatives in Brussels have been debating what virus-related criteria should apply when lifting border restrictions to the outside world, which were imposed in March to stop all non-essential travel to Europe.

In recommendations to EU nations on June 11, the European Commission said travel restrictions should not be lifted as regards third countries where the situation is worse than the average in the 27 EU member countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

That is likely to rule out people living in the United States, where new coronavirus infections have surged to the highest level in two months, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. After trending down for well over a month, new U.S. cases have risen for more than a week.

The U.S. on Tuesday reported 34,700 new cases of the virus, bringing its total to more than 2.3 million cases and over 121,000 dead. The virus outbreaks in Brazil, India and Russia are remarkably high too, and its also unlikely that the EU will let their citizens in.

In contrast, aside from a notable new outbreak tied to a slaughterhouse in western Germany, the viruss spread has slowed across the EU and particularly in the 26 nations that make up Europes visa-free travel zone known as the Schengen area.

For the EUs executive arm, the key criteria for opening up to the outside world should include the number of new infections per 100,000 population  the exact ceiling is up for debate  and the countrys overall response to the pandemic, in terms of testing, surveillance, treatment, contact tracing and reporting cases.

EU envoys are trying to agree on objective, scientific criteria so the decision to put a country on the admission list or not is based on facts and not political considerations. Southern European countries like Spain, Italy and Greece are desperate for tourists to return and breathe new life into their virus-ravaged economies.

The bloc aims to revise the list of countries allowed to enter every two weeks based on developments, with new countries joining or possibly even denied access to Europe depending on the spread of the disease. The commission hopes that exemptions can be given to foreign students, non-EU citizens who live in Europe and certain highly skilled workers.

But more than epidemiological criteria, any country being considered would first be expected to lift its own travel restrictions for people from all EU and Schengen nations, the commission said, adding it cannot be applied selectively.

Brussels fears that opening up to countries outside in ad hoc way could lead to the reintroduction of border controls between nations inside the Schengen area, threatening once again Europes cherished principle of free movement, which allows people and goods to cross borders without checks.

This principle of reciprocity on its own should rule out U.S. citizens, at least initially.

In a March 11 decree, Trump suspended the entry of all people from the Schengen area. More than 10 million Europeans usually visit the United States each year.

The potential for undetected transmission of the virus by infected individuals seeking to enter the United States from the Schengen area threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security, Trumps proclamation said.

A top French diplomat, speaking anonymously in line with the French presidencys customary practices, stressed that the EU decision will not be a political one.

It will be made on a basis as objective as possible which is the spreading of the virus, the diplomat said.

The official also stressed that Trump has taken very early measures consisting in preventing people coming from China, then EU countries, from entering the U.S.

The EU commission also wants the bloc to be open as soon as possible after July 1 to the Balkans region, including citizens from Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

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AP Writer Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to the story.

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Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Only 438 patients who tested positive for Covid-19 were able to reach Covid Care Centres (CCC) for a clinical assessment  as mandated by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Saturday  on Monday and Tuesday due to lack of transportation, according to Delhi government data.

There were 6,856 new cases added on Monday and Tuesday.

The Delhi government has strongly opposed a June 20 order by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), headed by lieutenant governor Anil Baijal -- all persons who test positive for Covid-19 are to be taken to CCCs for a clinical assessment, to determine if the patient should be recommended home isolation or be admitted to a facility -- on the grounds that it will be impractical to implement and put an unneccesary strain on infrastructure.

According to the state government data, which HT has reviewed, 294 Covid-positive patients were screened across 19 CCCs on Monday. The number dropped to 144 on Tuesday.

Data for Sunday  a day after the DDMA order was issued -- and Wednesday was not immediately available, but district officials said the turnout at the centres on Sunday was low.

On Wednesday, districts continued to face difficulties in transporting patients to these centres and sending them home, if cleared for home isolation.

The Capitals 163 dedicated Covid-19 ambulances have already been burdened with the city recording an average of more than 3,000 cases a day over the last week.

The East district administration on Wednesday even requisitioned DTC buses to ferry Covid-19 patients to care centres.

Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who holds temporary charge of the health ministry, wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday, urging him to revert to the previous system.

District officials said the rule is mandatory since it has now been ordered by the Directorate General of Health Services as well, and needs to be enforced, but added that they were asking the police to intervene only in some rare cases.

Its wrong to trouble a Covid-positive person by calling in the police. We are trying our best to convince people to go to centres for the clinical assessment. The use of force is a last resort and is seldom being used in this scenario, said a government official who asked not to be named.

The number of Covid patients who are being screened at the CCCs is turning out to be very low. This is because it is practically impossible to bring everyone to these centres. A few asymptomatic patients were also unwilling to go, saying they did not see the rationale behind a second round of screening after testing positive through an RT-PCR test, said a south district official on condition of anonymity.

Reports showed that over the past two days, most patients who were screened at CCCs were at the one in the DDA flats in Narela and DUSIB flats in Dwarka Sector 16. Both centres screened 79 people on Monday and Tuesday. In Shahdara districts CCC at the police quarters in Mandoli, 62 people were screened. At Teerapanth Bhawan in South district, just 61 underwent screening.

Of the 19 CCCs in the city, there are at least eight facilities where no newly tested positive patients were screened on Monday and Tuesday. These include the CCCs in the Police Training School (PTS) Dwarka, Birla Mandir Dharamshala and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. Only between 10 and 12 people were screened at Care Centres in Bakkarwala and PTS Wazirabad.

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A burglar who was accidentally shot in the face by a garda while he was being arrested has been spared jail.

Tomas Mikalajunas (40), a native of Lithuania but living at Cluain Arra, Gortboy, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, sustained "life-changing injuries" in the shooting in 2016. Mikalajunas and another man, Aurimas Petraska (32), who later both pleaded guilty to burglaries, were under surveillance by gardai investigating the activities of a Lithuanian burglary gang.

Members of the Garda Regional Support Unit followed the men's car after it was spotted on the night of June 28, 2016, driving from Newcastle West.

A high-speed chase ensued during which the suspects' car exceeded speeds of 120kmh on rural roads. Gardai managed to stop the car.

As one gardai got out of the patrol car his service firearm accidentally discharged, hitting Mikalajunas in the right side of the face.

At a sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday, Judge Tom O'Donnell said the accused spent several months in hospital and is now dealing with "life-changing" consequences.

He noted Mikalajunas was "not the main brains, but a willing foot soldier" in the gang. Fully suspending Mikalajunas's five-and-a-half year sentence, the judge took into account his "serious" injuries against a backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Petraska, of Church Street, Rathkeale, Co Limerick, was sentenced to seven years with 18 months suspended in 2017.
(CNN)  The southern white rhino has been to the brink of extinction and back, but even as it continues to be under threat from poachers, it's survival is largely thanks to the conservation work of one park.

Today, most of these rhinos can trace their ancestry back to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park (HiP) in KwaZulu-Nata, South Africa.

In the late 19th century, the southern white rhino was on the brink of extinction due to game hunting.

However, by 2011, numbers had increased from fewer than 50 to over 17,000, mainly due to the work at HiP.

"All southern rhino throughout the world, the gene pool comes from this park," explains Richard Penn Sawers, park manager at HiP, known as the home of the rhinoceros species.

"It is a species which has huge importance in the conservation world."

Unfortunately, a new threat emerged just under a decade ago, when poachers began targeting the rhinos for their horns.

Made entirely of keratin, a protein found in hair, fingernails and animal hooves, rhino horn has long been used as a traditional medicine ingredient in countries like China and Vietnam.

But it's since reportedly become popular as among wealthy party goers in Asia.

Coveted horns

"It's worth a great deal of money," adds Sawers. "It's worth more than gold.

"There's a very high demand for it, and we are experiencing severe threats on our rhino population at the moment."

As a result, the 96,000-hectare park, the oldest proclaimed wildlife reserve in Africa, has found itself battling to protect the rhinos once again.

While the rangers here have long been trained to deal with bush meat hunters brandishing assegais (spears) and bush knives, poachers armed with guns was relatively new territory for them.

"The dynamic changed because international syndicates were becoming involved," says Sawers.

"I think the scourge of rhino poaching migrated South from the Northern parts of Africa where the rhino had been wiped out."

International trade in rhino horn has been banned for years, but poachers can earn a huge amount of money from selling it on the black market.

"There was a time where everybody thought the rhino would not survive because of the poaching that was taking place," says Tumelo Matjekane, a project manager at Peace Parks Foundation, a non-profit organization that assists with setting up transfrontier conservation areas in southern Africa.

In order to tackle the organized criminal gangs, HiP was transformed into South Africa's first "Smart Park."

Integrated surveillance technology, including smart fencing, has been installed in the grounds of the reserve, along with camera traps to call attention to intruders.

Rapid response

"We consider this to be a war," explains Sawers. "So, in any war situation, rapid response and rapid detection is key."

The park even has an intelligence gathering base, the HiP Nerve Centre, which keeps track of information picked up by the cameras.

"They're [the camera traps] all linked to the internet and they send their photographs directly to the Nerve Centre," explains Sawers.

"So, we know exactly where the camera is and where the photograph comes from. And we can react very, very quickly."

The team use a helicopter so they can reach targeted areas swiftly.

It was recently deployed just eight minutes after being given the green light, reaching its intended location around seven minutes later.

"Without the technology, it would have probably taken in the region of two hours," adds Sawers. "And by then it would have been too late."

Of course, such advanced technology is costly, the Peace Parks Foundation apparently contributed more than 10.6 million South African rand (around $600,000) towards the rhino protection program.

Sawers says he's extremely encouraged by the results so far.

"Where we were losing between 10 and 15 rhino a month, that has stopped completely," he says.

For Sawers, whose great-grandfather was a park ranger here, protecting the rhinos is too important for any level of complacency.

"The preservation of the southern white rhino is critical," he adds. "We cannot allow it to disappear. It would be too awful to contemplate."

This story was first published on CNN.com Why white rhino numbers increased 34,000%
Helicopter pressed into service to locate missing fishermen in Indonesia

June 24,2020 | Source: Antara

Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has deployed a helicopter to search for three fishermen who went missing after their boat capsized near Gosong Gadang Island in Padang, West Sumatra on Sunday.



"Today, a BNPB helicopter was deployed to search for the (missing) victims, in addition to ships from Basarnas (the National Search and Rescue Agency), the police, and the military," head of the Padang search and rescue agency, Asnedi, said here on Wednesday.



Although the search and rescue operation began at 9 a.m., the helicopter was forced to return to the base by 12 p.m. due to bad weather.



"Due to bad weather, we had to call back the helicopter," Asnedi informed.



He said the agency will continue to work with the West Sumatra fishermen association to locate the missing men.



On Sunday (June 21, 2020), a fishing boat carrying 13 people capsized in the waters off Gosong Gadang Island. Ten of the fishermen were rescued by the authorities on Monday (June 22), while three remain missing.



The Padang SAR agency has asked people in the area to refrain from fishing activities due to bad weather.



Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Padang Navy Base II, Major Syahrul, said the navy will help in the search and rescue operation, in coordination with the Basarnas. He said the navy has deployed its ships, Kurao and Sinyaru, as well as a patrol ship for the operation.

 ANTARA 2020

Theme(s): Others.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting, in Wuhan, China on Friday. (PTI)

Chinese incursions along the border with India and an extreme step to unleash brutality at Ladakh reveal its fears.

As apparent in the past two years, China is under overwhelming pressure to out-sustain the myriad of internal accidents and external pressure. The dependency on the Chinese economy is no more indispensable. With the trade war, Hong Kong protests, depleting forex reserves, cut down in supply chains, the steep increase in unemployment, these are bleak times for the Chinese leadership. While China brags about a shared dream and prosperity, the spectre of rancour it puts on display threatens self-inflicting damage.

China played out its role smartly across global and regional platforms, as well as in setting up the bilateral standards portraying itself as the chief or only source of prosperity for most of its trade partners. China had been enjoying the trade surplus with India ever since two countries set up businesses. The dependency intensified at the backdrop of the hardening of the Chinese position on nearly everything  be it boundary talks, Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), United Nations Security Council (UNSC) expansion, trade negotiations, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and so on.

One needs to look at the spectrum of events with an inverted logic. What does China have at stake, and does the model of trade between India and China hold any long-term interests for China?

Since early 2000, Indias discernment in transacting with China was open, and did not mirror political anxieties. On the contrary, China looked at India as a potential market and strategic rival. Despite being an emerging economy, India had to suffer from Chinas currency manipulation, hidden subsidies, and trade barriers, government-procurement rules leading to asymmetric engagement.

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

At the multilateral level, China used the dependency factor to garner global support. The Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB) do glorify cross-fertilization of ideas, but the Chinese might is irrefutable. India does hold its reservations over the Belt and Road (BRI) plans, but primarily shares principles of connectivity projected through the AIIB- and the NDB-led programmes. China pushed its ambitious reform agenda through BRICS as well, where India does play an important role, proposing a 7 percent shift in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) voting power to achieve a 50/50 balance between the developed and developing world.

In 2016, Chinese held rounds of discussions to persuade India to support the RMB to be included in the IMFs special drawing rights (SDRs). India, being one of the major trading partners of China, did exert considerable influence on the RMBs weight in the currency basket between 2005 and 2018.

Moreover, climate change talks too witnessed how China would go solo to negotiate with the United States, and dump the collective agenda. China had been eager to leverage Indias global standing to join the league of platforms and navigate its benefits. China would not have even recognised the existence of India, had India not had the growth projections, economic promise, and value as a trading partner. More importantly, China realised that India had soft power in abundance.

In the past two decades, the Chinese presence in India increased significantly. One cannot deny the fact that the flare-ups at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) will threaten the already moribund economic engagements owing to the COVID-19 threat. It needs to be noted that the Chinese have developed stakes in the Indian market, and the tensions are going to affect Chinese equally.

At the bilateral level, India offers growth prospects to the growing number of Chinese businesses. In 2019, bilateral trade reached $92.81 billion. The investment of Chinese companies in India has been increasing in recent years. According to the data published by China Global Investment Tracker (CGIT), the Chinese investment projects in India amounted to $14.5 billion between March 2007 and December 2019. The sectors in Chinas focus included energy, telecommunications technology, consumer goods, metal smelting, and real estate.

According to CGIT statistics, in the past three years, the total scale of Chinas investment projects in India reached $9.5 billion. According to the NSE economic database, Indias foreign direct investment from China stood at Rs 7.74 billion ($101 million) by the end of December 2019. India may pose a challenge by intimidating China to foresee a dilemma when decoupling unfolds and the Chinese businesses are forced to find alternatives. On the other hand, one needs to think beyond institutional self-idolisation when it comes to practice and performance of industry-related policies in India.

The continuing threats at the LAC is one of the aspects of undeniable fear the Chinese are experiencing vis-a-vis unfolding global realities. The Chinese stand over the LAC with India offers a glimpse of a newly forceful brand of Chinese diplomacy. With the rising inconsistencies in its BRI projects, the accusation of debt traps by the BRI subscriber countries illustrates this better.

Indias wish to decouple from the Chinese economic dependencies is undoubtedly welcome, but is away from the dynamism it requires. The trade dependencies on China invoke feelings of superiority, close to contempt, when the regime is impatient to take offence and retaliations. Whether China can be trusted and partnered with remains a question. The prognosis would help us look at the series of events as a clarion call for action.
DALLAS, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), the leader in immigration law, has earned the top spot as the #1 Law Firm for Women by the National Law Journal.

The No. 1 ranking on the annual Women in the Law Scorecard secures BAL's position at the forefront of the legal industry in hiring and promoting female attorneys. The honor is doubly significant as it comes on the heels of BAL earning the title of the most racially diverse law firm by The American Lawyer, making BAL the #1 law firm in the country for both racial and gender diversity.

"We are thrilled to lead the legal industry as the destination for female talent," said BAL Partner Carla Tarazi. "BAL is a special place where women can shape their career paths and receive the support to excel and follow their dreams."

Women not only constitute more than half of BAL's attorneys, they are heavily represented in leadership positions. Nearly two-thirds of BAL partners and more than a third of its owners are women, ensuring that women are at the table for all levels of decision-making. The firm has expanded policies to encourage a healthy work-life balance such as remote working and flexible schedules, which help in overall retention of lawyers and may be particularly attractive to women who are juggling careers and family priorities.

Above all, BAL has successfully created a vibrant culture of inclusion that breeds a strong sense of a collective mission combined with a bold and innovative spirit, a unique environment that encourages teamwork while inspiring individual outside-the-box thinking.

"Inclusion isn't only about hitting numbers or reaching targets. Inclusivity, diversity and empowerment are ingrained in our culture and make us strongerand unstoppablein how we approach our work, collaborate with each other, and serve our clients," said Kortney Gibson, a BAL Partner who manages the firm's 600-employee Center of Excellence in Dallas.

"We are a trailblazing law firm in so many ways, and this distinction has special resonance," said Petra Tang, a Partner in the firm's San Francisco office. "As the firm has grown, I have seen countless women thrive and advance into leadership positions. BAL is the platinum standard and a model for the legal industry."

SOURCE Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, an honest look at President Biden's press conference.

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State corruption in Iran has spread its paws among various governmental organizations as well as those affiliated with the ruling elite in the aftermath of the 1979 revolution.

According to the International Transparency Organization's report of 2020, the Islamic Republic of Iran ranks 146 among 180 countries when it comes to financial corruption, falling eight ranks in comparison with last year's ranking.

But in a blatant act on June 2018, Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, denied institutionalized corruption in his regime while addressing some students: "I am fully informed that corruption is neither vast nor systematic in our 'Nezam' (system). Corruption is a global issue."

Abusing political power to preserve the regime and acquiring wealth led to unprecedented growth of corruption in Iran, which broke out under pressures such as vast sanctions, reduction in oil prices, and global economic recession.

Corruption in Iran is completely endemic in Khamenei and other high-ranking officials. In no other country, you can find corruption and plundering to crawl into fields such as forestry, lands, mines, seas, and even lagoons. Describing the corruption in his regime, Khamenei said on Feb. 8, 2018: "Corruption is like a seven-headed dragon. You cut one head it moves around with six others. It is not easily destroyed."

The concentration of power and wealth in the hands of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), governmental organs and Khamenei himself as well as the privilege of the IRGC to enjoy Iran's assets through political relations are what describes the corruption in Iran.

IRGC's Khatam al-Anbia construction base is the main center of this octopus for plundering natural resources in Iran. The base consists of 50 important economic centers; except seven, all are controlled by the IRGC.

Formation of systematic corruption in Iran:

When organs that are meant to fight corruption are corrupt themselves, then corruption becomes systematic.

In September 2019, Mohammad Yazdi, the secretary of the Qom Clerical School Teachers Community, addressed Sadeq Larijani, the former head of the Judiciary, the current head of Expediency Discernment Council and a member of the Guardian Council, in a letter: "You have built a palace under the name of Clerical School! ... Where did you get the money to build it?"

In retaliation, Sadeq Larijani wrote back: "I have been accused by a group of deputies, surrogates, children of our officials and personalities, and I have kept silent."

In another instance, in 2019, Gholamreza Mansouri, a judge, reportedly fled Iran after being accused of taking 500,000 euros in bribes. He ran to Germany and then Romania in August of 2019 and was arrested by the Interpol on June 14, 2020. Then the IRGC's intelligence intended to send a private plane to extradite him. Nonetheless, a Romanian court on June 12 postponed the extradition of Mansouri, demanding that Tehran present documents and evidence against the accused.



Image by Image by Iran Focus

However, on the afternoon of June 19, the official Romanian news the agency reported that Gholamreza Mansouri had thrown himself out of the window of the fifth floor of the hotel of his residence and committed suicide. The Security and Counter-Terrorism Commission of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said in a statement: "All the evidence suggests that Judge Mansouri was killed by the same method that the regime's intelligence services specialize in."

The statement added: "Under the pressure of sanctions and coronavirus epidemic, war within gangs of the regime for the succession of Khamenei has escalated, and new pawns are spent and sacrificed, which In the culture of IRGC and intelligence service of Khamenei, it is called "complex multifaceted operations".

Hessameddin Ashena, an adviser to Rouhani and the regime's former deputy intelligence minister, on Gholamreza Mansouri killing openly, recalled Saeed Emami's "forced suicide" scenario on his Twitter account.

It should be noted that Saeed Emami is a former official of the Ministry of Intelligence of the Iranian regime and mastermind of the 1990s' serial killings committed by the mullahs' regime and its Ministry of Intelligence.

The regime's corruption is not constrained inside Iran; on the international level, it manifests itself in money-laundering, evading sanctions, and violating international laws.

On June 13, Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman with close ties to the Venezuelan government was arrested in Cape Verde on his way to Iran when his plane stopped for fuel. He is accused of money-laundering and working with Caracas to deliver nine tons of gold worth $500 million to the Iranian regime for oil. In Latin America, this scandal is roiling the region.

The above-mentioned facts of corruption are just the tip of the iceberg of this corrupt regime.

The people of Iran demonstrated their abhorrence of it during November 2019 uprising when they took into the street in 198 cities.

Though Tehran has found its tools of survival in corruption, suppression, and the export of crises over its borders, all this will form a ladder that will end in its downfall.

Hassan Mahmoudi, social analyst, researcher, is an independent observer and commentator of Middle Eastern and Iran. tweets @hassan_mahmou1
As the Covid-19 pandemic began to spread globally at the start of this year, the worldwide consensus was that a period of lockdown would break the chain of infections. India acted remarkably quickly in comparison to others. The nationwide lockdown here fell into place on March 25, when the country had a paltry 519 cases and only 10 deaths. In contrast, the UK, when it introduced its lockdown on March 24, had already registered 8,077 cases and 422 deaths. Italy ordered a nationwide lockdown on March 11 when it had already registered 631 deaths and 10,149 cases.

Follow live updates on the coronavirus here







But now, nearly 13 weeks later, as India prepares to withdraw the last of its lockdown restrictions, the countrys rate of infection is higher than ever, even as the numbers in the UK and Italy have largely flatlined. So where did India's attempt to flatten the curve go so wrong?

What did Europe do differently that its lockdown flattened the curve?

Simply put, it was stringent social distancing, plus the scrupulous wearing of masks and social welfare measures, that saw Europe through. In Italy and Spain, the data shows, the lockdown had a rapid impact. In both countries, the new cases peaked between 13 and 20 days and thereafter began to decline.

What was the problem with India's lockdown?

The problem is not that India introduced a lockdown early, but that the government failed to implement a series of concurrent measures to ensure that the infections did not resurface.

The fundamental usefulness of the lockdown is to reduce the number of infections for a short period. The government's failure to exploit the lockdown for its true worth is why we are seeing so many cases now, epidemiologists say.

Dr Giridhar Babu, a pandemic expert, says a lockdown alone cannot stop a pandemic. In the absence of large-scale testing to rapidly identify infected individuals and social welfare programmes, a lockdown cannot succeed on its own, he explains.

From March 25 to April 23, during the most stringent phases of the lockdown, India's testing reached a peak of only 0.36 tests per 1,000 people  not enough to gauge the spread of the disease within the population.

The central government now says nearly one lakh tests are being done daily. While these might seem an impressive number, it still translates to roughly only 5.3 tests per 1,000 people, as per data from the Karnataka state Covid war room. In comparison, the UK is currently out 60.4 tests per 1,000 of the population. In Karnataka, the rate is 7.9 tests per 1,000.

So did India bungle social distancing?

A lockdown, intended to freeze people in place, is a good thing while tackling a pandemic, but its value is contingent on how well social distancing is carried out. In the Indian context, dense population clusters and large numbers of people living in the same household made social distancing a tricky proposition, says Dr Vivekanada Jha, Director of the George Institute for Global Health (India).

In the end, the lockdown had the exact opposite effect that it was intended for. "While the lockdown bought us enough time to expand our medical infrastructure, it arguably also expanded the spread of the disease," Dr Jha said. "What the lockdown did was relegate people in densely congested areas where if one person has the disease, then others contract it as well. The result is a larger spread."

A glimpse of this spread dynamic was captured in Bengalurus densely populated Shivajinagar where a single hotel worker with the disease infected 46 others in his residential building through the use of a single common toilet.

The governments failure to enact a financial safety net for ordinary citizens is also said to have inherently doomed the lockdown to failure.

The end result could be less social distancing, post-lockdown, cautioned Suvrat Raju, a theoretical physicist at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences. "The economic compulsions of people and the fact that marketplaces, malls and businesses will be anxious to rebound from the financial crunch could eventually dilute social distancing norms," he said.

He added that without these concurrent measures, simple mathematical models suggest that "there is a risk that when the pandemic has run its course, it will have extracted almost the same final toll in lives as it would have without the lockdown."

Was the introduction of the lockdown too hasty?

Potentially so, experts say, pointing to the fact that zero notice of the lockdown meant, for example, that millions of migrant workers employed in daily-wage jobs in cities were not able to return to their home states in time.

Although subsequent plans were made to feed stranded daily-wage workers, they were largely a failure, prompting NGOs and private donors to step in. The governments neglect of migrant workers rebounded when interstate and inter-district travel restrictions were withdrawn in May. Scores of hitherto undetected but infected people crossing state borders have triggered a spike in cases.

This is perhaps the ultimate legacy of India's lockdown: Starting early, but without the heft to ensure that the people's needs were taken care of and then running out of steam before it could have any long-term impact against the pandemic.
(Alpharetta, Georgia) - Minority businesses could be missing out on SBAs PPP loans because of compliance standards. MinorityBZHub.com launches to guide businesses on funding resources. Offering business funding solutions to help small businesses survive during the pandemic and economic downturn. According to Tina Davis of MinorityBZHub.com, many minority-owned businesses, and particularly Black-owned companies are not following compliance standards to obtain funding. Davis reveals minority-owned businesses could apply for PPP loans equal to 
Ex-K24 news anchor Mwanaisha Chidzuga penned an open letter to Mediamax employees who were rendered redundant on Monday congratulating them for the job loss.

The former Swahili news anchor disclosed that it is the same letter she wrote to herself when she first lost her job five years ago.

Dear Friends ..I wrote this letter to myself when I first lost my job back in 2015I thought I should share coz it changed my life I hope it does to you too..  wrote Mwanaisha.

According to the businesswoman who now runs Arryannas Swahili Cuisine Restaurants, a job loss should be taken as a blessing in disguise as it allows one to pursue their dreams.

She advised that one should not get too attached to their employers and should instead use their employment as a platform to build a personal brand.

Too attached to a Company never again???? As long as your name is not listed as a shareholder or amongst the owners of the company dont be too comfortableUse that platform(Employment) to build yourself the same way you are so busy and committed in building another persons company, she penned.

She encouraged her former colleagues at MediaMax to take lessons from the sack so that they can be ready the next time it happens.

To those who have lost jobs POLENI but take the lessons with you so that next time it happens you should be more than ready. It will be like transitioning to better bigger you. I have been there twice and since then am more than content with the person I have become, said Chidzuga.

Read her full open letter below.

Dear Friends ..I wrote this letter to myself when I first lost my job back in 2015I thought I should share coz it changed my life I hope it does to you too.. Too attached to a Company never again???? As long as your name is not listed as a shareholder or amongst the owners of the company dont be too comfortableUse that platform(Employment) to build yourself the same way you are so busy and committed in building another persons company. Employment should be a #SIDEHUSLE and your side hustle should be your FULL-TIME JOB.

Start over, Invest in it, build it, take risks for it, lose sleep for it, get angry and furious for it, celebrate its success and failures because it has your DNA in it. To those who have lost jobs POLENI but take the lessons with you so that next time it happens you should be more than ready. It will be like transitioning to better bigger you. I have been there twice and since then am more than content with the person I have become. #IndependentThinker #Grateful #Blessed #Success #Husler..

My friends dont be too attached to employment or companies and institutions that never asked your input when they were setting up or laying the foundation in the first place. That was the owners and founders vision and dream. You were just one to making that dream a reality and to sustain it and make profits or whatever and when the time came to replace you they never even thought twice or remembered your input but just saving whats theirs. The time has come for you to rise, live your dream and make it a reality so that one day you will stand tall and be counted amongst the ones who made the best decision for themselves and their companies

I know its tough, it hurts, hearts are broken, but mine is to CONGRATULATE you all for accepting to live your best lives now while you still have the energy and time to invest in yourself n rebuild what is rightfully yours. Go out there plant that seed, let God show you that He is the Almighty, He is in Control. Safari ndefu huanza na hatua moja..Congratulations for your Job Loss. #NeverAFailureAlwaysALesson#StillStanding

Mwanaisha Chidzuga

Managing Founder

Aryanna Swahili Cuisines

Side husle TV Manenos
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. In this picture, an aerial view of Apple Park, the headquarters of Apple in Cupertino, which is part of the 'Silicon Valley' in California, United States.

Washington: The US tech sector is likely to be hit hard by President Donald Trumps 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 employersin the tech sector and beyondto 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.

Trumps 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.

This is a full-frontal attack on American innovation and our nations ability to benefit from attracting talent from around the world, the groups 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 administrations arguments.

India-born Google CEO Sundar Pichai said Immigration has contributed immensely to Americas 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.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
When students return to Portland Public Schools this fall, theyll likely be separated into small groups that can only meet with each other and rotate their days in and out of the classroom.

Some children, particularly those in grade school and students from historically underserved groups, may see more in-person instruction than their peers and receive additional supports in math and reading.

Decision-makers in the states largest school district on Tuesday presented their early-stage plans to reintroduce students into Portland classrooms, saying they hope to have an idea of what their blueprints will look like by July 1.

But those plans will likely remain under wraps until at least mid-summer, Chief of Student Support Services Brenda Martinek said, as officials track down as many potential potholes as possible.

Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero billed the presentation as an overview of the moving parts district leaders are considering as they prepare for the coming school year.

Schools Chief Shawn Bird, who was hired from the school district of Philadelphia in January, said district officials will focus as the school year launches on assessing students social-emotional health and quickly move on to gauging their academic readiness.

We want to make sure every student is level-set at the beginning of the year, he said. As you might imagine, a student in math builds upon a foundation. You need to make sure kids have those skills so they can go on to the next level.

Educators will need time, Bird said, to adapt to the new configuration, a mix of the traditional brick-and-mortar schooling experience and state-mandated distance learning methods like those district officials adopted in late March.

Bird said teachers had the benefit of having established relationships with their students in the spring before diving into a digital classroom. When classes start this fall, those relationships will take time to build.

For a kindergartener to start school without having some face time with their teacher is challenging, Bird said.

The Oregon Department of Education earlier this month laid out guidelines for how the states public schools may begin to reintroduce students to in-person instruction in this fall.

Students will need to remain at least six feet apart inside school buildings and educators will need to limit the number of children allowed inside a classroom to provide 35 square feet per person.

Children wont be required to wear masks , but school employees will.

Children who physically attend school must be screened for symptoms before they enter the building or board a bus. If any student or school employee shows symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, dry cough or shortness of breath, theyre to be immediately isolated and sent home.

Each school must designate a point person to enforce social distancing rules and report to the state any suspected coronavirus infections.

Before they can return to the school building, those sent home will need to either be tested or wait three days after their fever breaks without the use of any medication to bring it down.

If a student or school employee tests positive for COVID-19, theyll need to wait at least 10 days or test negative twice before they return to school.

State officials will require districts to draft blueprints for each school that detail the buildings dimensions and student capacity, as well as steps employees will take to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus.

Teachers may utilize outdoor and common areas in an effort to adhere to those guidelines, state officials said. They also must livestream their lessons for students who arent in the building that day.

State guidance also requires districts to consistently clean playground equipment, common areas, classrooms and door handles. Students also wont be allowed to share materials like pens and scissors.

Portland Public Schools leaders dont yet know how those requirements will impact the budget  as of now, districts are largely on their own when it comes to purchasing cleaning supplies and equipment.

State officials have left open the possibility they may purchase a stockpile for districts to pull from, using their ability to buy in bulk as leverage to reduce the price per unit.

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano

Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email Eder at ecampuzano@oregonian.com or message either of the social accounts above.

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Al Mohler: Trump is 'huge embarrassment' but 'alternative is increasingly unthinkable'

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Southern Baptist leader Albert Mohler Jr. said that while he considers President Donald Trump a huge embarrassment, he finds voting for any alternative unthinkable.

In an interview with the New Yorker that was published Monday, the head of the Louisville, Kentucky-based Southern Baptist Theological Seminary spoke about his views on Trump.

When asked if Trump being supported by a majority of evangelicals is an embarrassment, Mohler admitted, "Yes. President Trump is a huge embarrassment. And its an embarrassment to evangelical Christianity that there appear to be so many who will celebrate precisely the aspects that I see Biblically as most lamentable and embarrassing."

He said that he was reluctantly voting for him in 2020, taking issue with many of the moral qualities of the president.

I have to make a distinction between voting for a candidate and rationalizing for a candidate, much less being enthusiastic about what I would see as the character faults of a candidate, said Mohler.

I will not become an apologist for the misbehavior of the president and for what I see as glaring deficiencies in his private and public character.

Mohler, who did not vote for Trump in 2016, went on to note that when it came to the upcoming election, the alternative is increasingly unthinkable.

He also critiqued how the national discourse often defines the term evangelical when discussing political support for the president.

"As a theologian and as a churchman, when I define evangelical, Im really talking about a self-consciously orthodox classic Protestantism that is deeply connected to the church and deeply committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ," he explained. "And then you have the media definition of evangelicals, which means anybody who isnt Catholic or Jewish or something else and, especially as demographers look at the white population, identifies as some kind of conservative Protestant. They just are called evangelicals. Thats the problem.

If you look at evangelical leadership in the United States, you see a tremendous reticence to enter into the Make America Great Again euphoria. But, with the populist base of the Republican Party, and the populist base of American evangelicalism defined the way that especially the media defines evangelical, you do. Theyre not co-extensive, but they overlap considerably.

In April, Mohler indicated in an "Ask Me Anything" episode that he was going to support Trumps reelection, despite maintaining moral concerns about the president.

I dont have a different moral estimation of Donald Trump. Even in office he continually leaves me very frustrated in how he presents himself, how he speaks, but he has been more consistent in pro-life decisions, executive orders  than any president of the United States in any party, he stated.

The move by Mohler to support Trump was met with criticism, including an open letter posted to Facebook by Louisville Baptist Pastor Joel Bowman.

"It grieves me to say you have, in my estimation, lost all moral credibility. You no longer have a prophetic voice. Now, you simply blend in with popular, politicized evangelical thought," wrote Bowman.

"Rather than being an apologist for the Gospel, you have become an apologist for political conservatism."

Mohlers stated intention to vote for Trump comes as some are reporting that white evangelicals, long a crucial Republican voting bloc for the president, are waning in their support.

David Brody, chief political analyst at the Christian Broadcasting Network, told Politico that recent issues may lead enough evangelicals to vote for Joe Biden, which could sway the election.

Heres the problem for Trump: He needs to be at 81 percent or north to win reelection. Any slippage and he doesnt get a second term, and thats where Joe Biden comes into play, explained Brody.

In this environment, with everything from the coronavirus to George Floyd and Trump calling himself the law-and-order president, Biden could potentially pick off a percent or 2 from that 81 percent number.
The Shia rebels still control access to over a third of the Yemeni population so foreign aid groups as well as Yemeni suppliers have to pay higher and higher taxes to transport anything (food, fuel, medical supplies) to these populations. The money demanded to get past roadblocks is outright bribery, or extortion if you take into account the guns often pointed at travelers to speed up payment. These fees are now a major source of income for the rebels, who have lost regular cash infusions from Iran (which is also broke) and fees and stolen aid supplies from the Red Sea port of Hodeida, the largest Yemen port on the Red Sea and where most of the foreign aid comes in. The government and Arab Coalition finally broke rebel control of the port this year. The rebels can only raise the checkpoint fees so high before the traders realize that it would be cheaper to hire smugglers to get the shipments past the rebel toll keepers.

The rebel budget problems mean the fighting is more desultory and preformationary than ever. Less money means less cash to buy ammo and fuel from local sources, usually the black market. Yemen has long supported a thriving black-market economy for just about anything. Sort of a tradition. But six years of civil war have damaged the underlying economy while rampant theft of foreign aid has dried up that source of sustenance as well. The rebels are still active but mostly to deliver verbal threats or the occasional missile or UAV attack. Iran cannot send as many missile and UAV components so the ballistic missiles and UAVs can be assembled and armed locally.

Casualties are lower but so is any enthusiasm for negotiating an end to the war. Iran still wants an autonomous, Iran-backed Shia region on the southwest border of Saudi Arabia. The Saudis refuse to allow that. Southern Yemen wants autonomy as well and few Yemenis seem willing to die for a united Yemen. In other words, Yemen is pretty much as it has always been. Welcome to the past, in Yemen it is always with us.

In early April the Saudi and UAE (United Arab Emirates) forces agreed to the UN-backed two-week truce but the Shia rebels demanded more concessions at the last minute and never observed this ceasefire. The Shia rebels are determined to get the air and sea blockade lifted but the Saudis will not allow that because it will make it easier for Iran to smuggle in ballistic missile components, UAVs and other weapons. The UN urged everyone to accept the truce so that the covid19 pandemic could be tended to. The rebels are apparently not alarmed at the covid19 threat, which is understandable given the number of diseases still active in rural, and urban, Yemen. There were no verified covid19 cases in Yemen until mid-April and most were subsequently either in Aden or rebel-held Sanaa. There is still a belief among many Moslems that Allah will protect the faithful. Iran used to believe that but the massive covid19 casualties in Iran changed minds. The rebels still deny that there are any covid19 infections in Sanaa but foreign aid and diplomatic officials know better. For most Yemenis, covid19 is not considered a major threat. Cholera, malnutrition and much else are more immediate and more lethal threats throughout Yemen. So far Yemen has reported 261 confirmed covid19 deaths. That comes out of nine per million population. Saudi Arabia has 39 per million so far, the UAE 31, Iran 117, Egypt 23, Israel 33 and Somalia 27.

June 23, 2020: In the northwest Shia rebels fired two ballistic missiles towards the Saudi capital (Riyadh, a thousand kilometers away in central Saudi Arabia). The rebels claimed this attack included slower explosive-laden UAVs and that many of these weapons landed in the Saudi capital. There are a large number of foreigners in Riyadh so you cannot conceal missiles or explosives carrying UAVs hitting targets. All that was reported overnight were two explosions in the night sky, indicating a Pac-3 missile intercepting a ballistic missile. Not a common sight over the capital but not unknown either since Iran started supplying the Yemeni rebels with longer range ballistic missiles.

Since 2015 the Yemeni rebels have, with components and tech support from Iran, launched over a hundred ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia. The Saudis point to these Iranian ballistic missiles and Iranian UAVs as pretty clear evidence that Iran was still smuggling weapons in. Iran denies everything and when confronted with physical evidence insists that the Yemeni Shia make the stuff locally, obtaining technical help via the Internet.

June 22, 2020: In the north (Jawf province) government forces continued pushing back rebel forces and eliminated rebel forces that had been blocking easy access to central Yemen (Marib province). The rebels had taken advantage of the Arab coalition manpower shortage after the UAE withdrew most of its troops earlier in 2020 and a new government in Sudan withdrew the 15,000 mercenaries they had been providing. The coalition still had the airpower advantage and once their ground forces had been redistributed it was possible to stop and reverse Shia gains. This does not discourage the rebels who believe time is now on their side as long as the Iranian support continues. Iran understands this as well and is willing to finance the expensive smuggling effort at a reduced level because of the distress it causes the Saudis.

In the northwest, rebels fired short-range ballistic missiles at the Saudi border cities of Najran and Jizan. None of the missiles hit their target, either failing along the way or intercepted by Saudi anti-missile systems based in the area.

In Aden the STC (South Transitional Council) and the Yemen government agreed to another UN supervised ceasefire. The UAE and Saudi Arabia will participate although no one is optimistic about how long this ceasefire will last. Previous ones often fell apart before their start date.

June 20, 2020: STC members overthrew the local government in the Yemeni Socotra Islands. The main island is in the Gulf of Aden, 380 kilometers south of Yemen and 240 kilometers from the northeast tip of Somalia. The population is 60,000 and the island (and a few much smaller ones) lies within busy shipping lanes from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea. In early 2019 the Yemeni government accused the UAE of supporting southern separatists and continuing to expand its military presence and influence in Socotra Island. Yemen accused the UAE of seeking to support Socotra separatists, which were then few in number, to demand more economic links with and investment from the UAE. Saudi Arabia sides with Yemen on this issue. In early 2018 the UAE withdrew its troops from Socotra after having been there for two weeks. This brief occupation angered many Yemenis who felt the UAE was trying to annex Socotra. Saudi Arabia stepped in and agreed to take over the economic development program for Socotra which the Yemeni government saw the UAE turning into an effort to make Socotra economically and politically dependent on the UAE. The UAE has always been more aggressive in this regard. It is unclear if the Saudis will deal with the current STC coup effort in Socotra. The ceasefire with the STC in nearby Abyan province (northwest from the island, along the Yemen coast east of Aden)

June 18, 2020: In central Yemen (Baida province), Shia rebels attacked a local tribal militia that was resisting rebel efforts to control key roads in Awadh tribal territory. The tribesmen are receiving military and other aid from the Saudis as well as some air support. The current round of fighting caused over a hundred casualties, most of them rebel.

June 16, 2020: Saudi warplanes carried out more than 70 airstrikes at targets in the rebel-held capital Sanaa and surrounding areas as well as in the provinces of Saada, Amran, Beidha, Hajjah, Marib and Jawf. Many of the targets were related to Shia assembly and the use of long-range Iranian missiles and UAVs. Iran smuggles in key components while many other components can be obtained on the open, or black market. Iran supplies the tech support and has trained a growing number or Yemeni Shia to assemble and launch the missiles and armed UAVs. Quality control is often lacking in items built by the newly trained Yemenis. This explains the larger number of recent missile and UAV attacks that failed because of malfunctioning missiles and UAVs. The UN recently declared Iran was definitely behind the September 2019 UAV attack on Saudi oil facilities and was smuggling weapons to Shia rebels in Yemen. Those weapons are used to attack Saudi Arabia and shipping in the Red Sea. All this was documented in the UN final investigation report, which also noted that Iran has set up similar UAV assembly operations in Iraq and Lebanon. Both of these countries have Iran-backed militias called Hezbollah. UN investigators have found and identified the Iranian made components found in the wreckage of these missiles and UAVs

June 13, 2020: In the south (Aden), STC militia stole a shipment of new banknotes, printed in Russia, as the truck left the port and headed for the bank. The Yemeni riyal banknotes represented 64 billion riyals, or about $250 million dollars. The UAE has been in charge of security (and aid delivery) in the south since 2015 and supported the formation of the STC. This group is composed of southern tribes that want autonomy but claim they are willing to fight and defeat the Islamic terrorists as well as the Shia rebels first. Aidarous al Zubaidi, the STC leader is seen as more popular in the south than Abdrabu Mansur Hadi the last and current elected president of united Yemen. Hadi has only briefly visited Yemen a few times since 2015 and spends most of his time in the Saudi capital. This is for Hadis safety, given the number of assassinations going on in Aden, where the Hadi government was moved to in 2015. The Saudis and the UAE do not agree on dividing Yemen once more but for the moment it is more convenient to support the STC and efforts to defeat the Iran backed Shia rebels. The STC group that stole the banknotes took them to an STC base as part of an anti-corruption effort. The Saudi-backed Yemen government backed and the UAE signed a peace deal in 2019 but it has not yet been implemented because some of the many STC factions do not agree on the terms of the deal.

May 27, 2020: In central Yemen (Marib province), a Shia ballistic missile hit an army base, killing eight soldiers. When UAE forces left Marib earlier in the year they took their missile defense systems with them.
Hackers from China are increasingly targeting various sectors in India, with over 40,300 cyber-attack attempts made in the last five days, Maharashtras cybersecurity cell stated. The cell noted an increase in activity of Chinese state-backed hackers targeting the country. The surge in attempts comes weeks after Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a violent clash at the Galwan Valley.

"In the past five days, we have witnessed a sudden surge of cybercriminal activity in the Indian cyberspace. Various sectors, including infrastructure, information and banking, have been mainly targeted by Chinese attackers. At least 40,300 cyber-attacks have been made in this time period, Yashasvi Yadav, Special Inspector General of Police of Maharashtra Police's cyber wing, said, adding that and a large number of these attacks originated from Chengdu, the capital of Chinas Sichuan province.

Yadav said these attacks can be divided into three categories: denial of service, IP hijacking and phishing.

Himanshu Dubey, Director of Quick Heal Security Labs, told News18, Over the past few days, we have seen some well-calibrated attacks using malware that are designed to communicate with command and control servers based in China. 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."

Dubey noted that Pakistani hacker collective APT36 (aka Transparent Tribe) has also been targeting Indian Defence organisations persistently since March.
(Newser)  Brazil's president is not immune from laws requiring the wearing of face masks, a judge ruled Monday, calling Jair Bolsonaro's behavior "at best disrespectful." Judge Renato Coelho Borell said that if the president does not abide by the laws of Brazil's federal district, which made mask-wearing in public mandatory in late April, he will face fines of 2,000 realsaround $388a day, reports the Guardian. The president, who has regularly downplayed the risks of the pandemic and battled state governors over moves to stop the spread of the virus, has been seen at protests and other events in the capital, Brasilia, without a mask on.

story continues below

"A simple Google search is enough to find countless images of the defendant Jair Messias Bolsonaro moving around Brasilia and the surrounding federal district without using a mask and exposing others," the judge said, per the Wall Street Journal. The judge said it was "at best disrespectful" to go out in public without a mask, potentially endangering the health of others. "The president of the republic must take all necessary measures to avoid the transmission of COVID-19be that in order to protect his own health or that of those around him," the judge said. Brazil has more confirmed coronavirus cases than any country except the US, with 1.1 million infections and more than 51,000 deaths. (Read more Brazil stories.)
Russia says Libyan conflict has no military solution, calls for urgent truce

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 4:00 PM

Russia says the conflict in Libya has no military solution and an immediate ceasefire is required as foreign intervention continues to flame the fighting in the North African country.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that he had discussed the Libyan conflict with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts and that they had agreed with Moscow on the need for an urgent truce in the country.

"For the past few days, I had telephone conversations with the Turkish foreign minister and the Egyptian foreign minister. Both of my colleagues supported this approach. Everyone should recognize that there is not any military solution. We must sit down at the negotiating table and look for universally acceptable agreements," Lavrov said during an online press conference in the Russian capital.

"I do not see any options other than an immediate ceasefire. An immediate ceasefire, and resolving all other issues based on the negotiation process within the framework of the Berlin conference declaration," he added, referring to a conference aimed at finding a political solution to the Libyan crisis last January that was attended by world powers and regional actors.

Lavrov also urged all external players to create conditions for an inclusive dialog between the warring factions in Libya.

Libya has been in chaos since 2011, when a popular uprising and a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Since 2014, two rival seats of power have emerged, namely the internationally-recognized Libyan government, headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, in Tripoli, and another group based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by rebels under the command of strongman Khalifa Haftar.

Haftar's rebel forces  who are backed by the UAE, France, Russia, and Egypt  launched an offensive to seize the capital and unseat Sarraj's government in April 2019, triggering some of the most intense fighting in the country.

'France, not Turkey, playing dangerous game in Libya'

Meanwhile, Turkey fired back at France on Tuesday, saying Paris itself was "playing a dangerous game in Libya" by supporting Haftar against the internationally-recognized 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 Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron had a day earlier accused Ankara of playing a "dangerous game" in the North African country that could no longer be tolerated.

Recently, Libyan government forces have managed to gain the upper hand. Turkey has significantly helped the Tripoli government by sending sophisticated drones and air defense systems, as well as dispatching allied militants from Syria.

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Theres a lot of uncertainty about how schools will eventually return to in-person instruction. But in many places, teachers will likely be encouragedor requiredto wear masks.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all school employees wear cloth face coverings, and many school and district leaders are incorporating that guidance into their reopening plans. Some states, including California and Texas, are providing millions of masks for teachers in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 when school buildings reopen. Experts say that wearing face masks can help prevent transmission of the coronavirus when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

While teachers say they understand the safety rationale, the prospect of wearing a mask while teaching still feels daunting for many. Will it be comfortable to teach and talk for up to eight hours in a mask? How will wearing a mask affect instruction, especially for young children and English-language learners? Will a face covering make it difficult to form relationships with a new group of students?

I just cannot imagine trying to build rapport with kids who cant see two-thirds of my face, said Janet Hall, a 7th grade teacher in Oklahoma City. When youre trying to get to know kids, and theyre trying to get to know you, body language is a big part of it, and that includes facial expressions.

See Also Special Report: How We Go Back to School

Halls school district, Bethany public schools, is providing all employees with filtered cloth masks that are in the school colors and feature the school emblem. Teachers arent required to wear them, Hall said, but she will: Shes 61 and her husband is 67, and she wants to minimize their risk for serious illness.

But Hall has purchased two clear plastic masks from Etsy to wear for the first few weeks of school that will allow her students to see her mouth. Shes worried about those masks fogging up or being too hot, and shes not sure if they will protect her as well as the filtered masksbut she thinks its the best option for the early days of school.

I dont think [an opaque face covering] is appropriate when kids dont even know me yet, Hall said. Teaching middle school, sometimes Im rather sillyits more important for them to see my face and get those visual cues.

More than half of educators who responded to an EdWeek Research Center survey on June 17 and 18 said their districts plan to require employees to wear face masks. Thirty-six percent said their district would require students to wear masks.

Sixty-two percent of the teachers, principals, and district leaders who responded to the survey said they were somewhat or very concerned about the health implications of resuming in-person instruction . And 29 percent of educators said they have a physical condition that puts them at high risk for serious illness due to COVID-19. (The CDC says that those older than 65 are more susceptible to serious illness, as are those with asthma, diabetes, lung or heart conditions, and those who are immunocompromised.)

For those teachers, face coverings are a key part of feeling safe enough to go back to school.

I still believe that safety should come first, and the risks outweigh [the negatives of] wearing a mask, said Nancy Barile, a high school teacher in Revere, Mass., who is 61 and plans to wear a mask to protect herself and others. As uncomfortable and unpleasant as its going to be, it just needs to be done.

Learning Language

Certain groups of students will be more heavily affected by not being able to see their teachers faces. Experts say students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who have autism benefit from seeing facial expressions.

For students who use American Sign Language, they will miss out [on] a lot of communication and language cues, Francisca Rangel, a K-2 teacher at Kendall Demonstration Elementary, a Washington, D.C., private school serving students who are deaf and hard of hearing, said in an email. ASL relies heavily on facial expressions and mouth movements for many grammatical cues.

Also, English-language learners tend to watch their teachers mouths closely to distinguish between words or sounds that are similar, said Heidi Faust, the director of learning and engagement for TESOL International Association.

Your English-learners are going to pay a lot more attention to you than students who already understand English and can conceptualize whats happening, she said. Its definitely going to be the most impactful on your newcomer students and students with entry English, who rely so much more heavily on non-verbal cues. The more they can comprehend, the less of a barrier the mask will be.

Masks will be particularly challenging during pronunciation lessons, when students need to see the position of the tongue and lips, she said.

Elizabeth Emmons, an English-as-a-second-language teacher in Pembroke, Mass., taught English in South Korea during the H1N1 pandemic. She was required to wear a mask then, and it made teaching difficult, she said.

When youre teaching language, especially to a student whos learning it as a second language, you rely so heavily on their oral language input, and when you put a little barrier in between that, its almost impossible, she said.

Now, shes considering creative workarounds for the fall. She might record a video of herself pronouncing words or making sounds at home, and then play that for her students in class. She also thinks having access to a microphone in class would help her students better understand her voice through a mask.

Shes considering making her own masks with clear plastic windows to wear. Those masks would be great to use with older students, she thinks, but shes worried that younger students will find them jarring or upsetting: It is kind of surprising to just see a mouth, she said.

Eyes on My Mouth

Still, early-childhood educators are concerned about how wearing cloth face coverings will affect all their students learning.

As a kindergarten teacher, I do a lot of modeling, said Belinda Williams, who teaches in Franklin, Ind., and is planning to wear a mask in the fall. I rely on the children to look at my mouth. I say, Eyes on me, all day long; I say, Eyes on my mouth, and say something and have my children repeat it. What thats going to look like [with a mask on], I do not know.

Williams is particularly concerned about phonics and phonemic awareness instruction. She recently went through two weeks of professional development with the Orton-Gillingham approach , which is a multisensory way to teach early reading. A major focus in the training centered around having children watch her mouth.

Teachers model the correct tongue placement and mouth formation when sounding out letters and words, Williams said. The Orton-Gillingham approach has teachers use hand motions near their mouths when teaching vowels. For example, when sounding out the letter o, she will take her finger and circle her mouth.

Theyre going to have to see me do that to learn those sounds, she said.

Williams school district told her that she must wear a mask when shes close to students, which will be most of her day. But for phonics lessons, Williams plans to stand at the front of the room and take off her mask so students can see her mouth moving. She might also hold a camera to her mouth, and project it onto a screen so kids can get a closer look.

Im not going to allow whats going on in this world stop me from being the best teacher I can be, she said.

Other Options

Not all schools will require their teachers to wear masks while teaching. In Hawaii, the states health department has recommended that students and teachers wear face coverings outside of the classroom, like in hallways or common areas. But Dr. Bruce Anderson, the director of the department, told news station KITV4 that he isnt recommending that teachers wear masks in the classroom because that could negatively affect young childrens development.

Facial recognition is very important as you develop, and expressions are important. [Theyre] social cues that everyone needs to know, but kids in particular, he said.

In other places, teachers will be wearing clear face shields, which cover the entire face. The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia recommended that teachers wear face shields in its guide for school reopenings, and the Illinois State Board of Education noted in its guidance that shields would better allow teachers to convey facial cues to their students. The Texas Education Agency is providing 1 million face shields to school staff, and the California Department of Public Health is providing 2.4 million face shields for teachers and childcare providers. (Both departments are also providing millions more disposable and cloth masks.)

Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the California governors Office of Emergency Services, said local county officials will determine how to distribute the face shields, but priority will probably be given to elementary schools, Head Start programs, speech language specialists, and special education teachers.

Lisa Tiernan, a high school history teacher in Perris, Calif., said shes not yet sure if shell receive a face shield from her schoolbut if she doesnt, then she plans to purchase one herself. She thinks it would help her students who are hard of hearing monitor her facial expressions, and it would keep her voice from getting muffled under fabric.

I want them to be able to hear me clearly without having to yell through my mask, she said. Yelling also puts out more respiratory droplets.

Also, she added, I talk all day when Im in a classroom. [A face shield] would just make it more comfortable for me.

Experts say the benefits of face shields are that they protect the entire face, including the eyes, and they are easy to clean and disinfect. A 2014 study found that face shields could reduce a users viral exposure by 92 percent when worn six feet away from someone coughing.

However, there have been no large-scale studies that measure the effectiveness of masks versus face shields in preventing transmission of the coronavirus. And unlike with face masks, which are proven to help protect others when an infected person wears one, theres no research on how well face shields can contain an infected persons viral transmission.

Some public health professionals have recommended that face shields should be worn in conjunction with masks. Meanwhile, the CDCs guidance for schools did not mention face shields, which are also more expensive for districts to buy in bulk than cloth or disposable masks.
PEOPLEaS UNION FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES

23rd June, 2020

Stop criminalizing free speech, protect journalism

The Peoplesa Union for Civil Liberties condemns the attempt at criminalizing the writings of journalist Supriya Sharma, Executive Editor of the Scroll, the most recent victim of state attack on the media. The article, aIn Varanasi village adopted by Prime Minister Modi, people went hungry during the lockdown" was published on June 5th, 2020. Among the people it reported on were Mala Devi and her family, who are Scheduled Castes from Domari Village. The Uttar Pradesh police filed a first information report on Scrollas executive editor Supriya and the Editor-in-chief, on the 13th of June. Supriya Sharma wrote an 8 part series on the suffering imposed by the lockdown in Varanasi, exposing the loss of livelihoods and hunger faced by the marginalized: the Dalits, single women and informal workers.

The criminal provisions slapped on the Scroll journalists are bizarre and do not even apply to the complaint made by the aggrieved individual. These are: carrying out negligent acts likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life (Sec 269 IPC), defamation through print (Sec 501 IPC), intentionally insults or intimidates with intent to humiliate a SC or ST within public view (Sec 3 (1)(r)) and abuses any member of SC/ST by caste name in public (section 3 (1)(s) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act). In her police complaint Mala Devi denies saying she went hungry during the lockdown. Mala Devi has also alleged that Supriya has not accurately reported her employment status. The story says Mala is a domestic worker, while in the FIR Mala says she is a sanitation worker with the Varanasi Municipality. It is very conceivable that Mala Devi, being connected to the Municipal body, can be pressurised to state anything on threat of losing her job.

The FIR against Supriya is an attempt to harass her via the police machinery as she showed the failure of the state to protect livelihoods and provide for rations in the Prime Ministers constituency. It is well known by now, that nobody is allowed to be critical of the PM or show his constituency in bad light.

The FIR on Supriya is not the first. According to a report by the Rights & Risks Analysis Group titled India: Mediaas Crackdown During COVID-19 Lockdown, aAt least 55 journalists faced arrest, registration of FIRs, summons or show causes notices, physical assaults, alleged destruction of properties and threats for reportage on COVID-19 or exercising freedom of opinion and expression during the national lockdown from 25 March to 31 May 2020.a The highest number of attacks on journalists was reported from Uttar Pradesh (11 journalists), followed by Jammu & Kashmir (6 journalists), Himachal Pradesh (5), four each in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, two each in Punjab, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh & Kerala and one each in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Nagaland and Telangana.

The PUCL would like to highlight some of the cases, which exposes the motivated nature and political intention behind the prosecutions. In the case of Vinod Dua, when the Delhi High court gave a stay order, a second FIR was lodged in Himachal Pradesh forcing him to approach the Supreme Court. The police however was literally on his doorstep on the same day, despite the Supreme Court giving an order stating that no coercive action should be taken. It is obvious that a very senior journalist who has been critical of not just this, but all, governments, needed to be silenced through police action so as to send a chilling lesson to other younger journalists, not to dare attempt to write against the regime.

Similarly, on 10th April, 2020, in the middle of the Lockdown period, a police team from Ayodhya reached the home of Siddharth Varadarajan, the editor of The Wire, to deliver a summons to appear before the UP police on 14th April, for making an aobjectionable commenta about the CM; this, despite the ban on travel during the lockdown period. Nearly 2 months later in the 2nd week of June, 2020, a FIR was filed against Aakar Patel, a columnist and human rights worker, who when highlighting the ongoing civil unrest in America in the wake of George Floydas death due to police brutality, tweeted that dalits, minorities and adivasis should rise up against atrocities. His twitter account was shut down as a result based on legal demand by the Karnataka state officials.

In Gujarat, Dhaval Patel, the editor of a Gujrati news portal, Face of Nation, was booked and arrested on 11th May, 2020, for sedition for allegedly publishing a aspeculativea report on the possible change in leadership in the state due to criticism over the rising Corona count. Patel was booked under section 54 (Punishment for false warning) of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and section 124A (Sedition) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

On 6th April, 2020, Pawan Choudhary, a web journalist, was arrested in Munger in Bihar on the charges of spreading misinformation about the death of COVID-19 patient. The Station House Officer of Jamalpur, Ranjan Kumar stated that the journalist was found to be spreading rumours through his social media account. He was sent to judicial custody in Munger jail.

Mahender Singh Manral, an Indian Express reporter was asked to appear before the police on the same day after he reported that Delhi police had found that an audio clip of Tablighi Jamaat leader, Maulana Saad, may have been doctored.

On 27 April 2020, Zubair Ahmed, a freelance journalist, was arrested by the police in Andaman & Nicobar for posting a tweet questioning why families were placed under home quarantine for merely speaking over the phone with Coronavirus patients. His tweet reportedly referred to a news article which reported that a family was quarantined as one of the members spoke to a COVID-19 positive person on phone. Dependra Pathak, DGP, A &N Administration stated that the journalist aposted an inciting, false and instigating tweet to disrupt public harmony, violating government order and to create panic among the public.a On 28 April, he was released on bail by a local court.

Even television anchors, who spew hatred against minorities, intellectuals and dissenters on their primetime slots have had FIRs lodged against them. Arnab Goswami of Republic TV, Sudhir Chaudhary of Zee TV and Amish Devgan of News 18, to mention a few.

Although the PUCL does not agree with their views, it stands by their right to freedom of expression, except when it incites hatred and violence. PUCL believes that the right platform of censure is the Press Council of India and the peer body called the News Broadcasters Association. We would insist that the FIRs lodged should be expeditiously investigated by the police which should file a charge sheet if there is sufficient evidence and proceed to ensure that the trial is speedily concluded and justice delivered. This will generate confidence in the impartiality, independence and fairness of the police.

The worst scenario for the press is in Jammu & Kashmir, where in April this year, the J&K Cyber Police filed a case against a Kashmiri author and journalist Gowhar Geelani for aglorifying terrorism in Kashmira through social media posts, days after a photo-journalist Masrat Zahra was booked under the UAPA for publishing aanti-nationala posts on social media. The Hindu reporter and senior journalist Peerzada Ashiq was also questioned in connection with an FIR filed against his report headlined aKin allowed to exhume bodies of militants in Baramulla". With a new media policy in place, the authorities will go to the extent of deciding on the content that can be reported and published, in the name of tracking fake and anti-national news.

PUCL expresses concern at the concerted and continuous attack on journalism and its practitioners, in different parts of India. PUCL also condemns the attempts to intimidate media persons, thereby stifling the media from playing its role as an independent and critical watchdog of liberty, democracy and governance. The cosy relationship between the political executive and the police is highlighted by the brazen impunity with which the police routinely break the law to crush dissent and silence criticism of ruling governments; the casual indifference of political leaders of the ruling party to even acknowledge, let alone respond to, complaints of abuse of law is symptomatic of the deep rot in the body politic of India.

There is a difference between implementing penal laws in an independent, accountable and legal manner and the deliberate and motivated abuse of criminal laws by the police, including in the use of special legislations like the SC & ST (POA) Act, 1987. Ironically, actual victims of caste atrocities and hate crimes find their complaints rejected, whereas the same laws are used against dissenting activists and media persons. When the State and the police abuse the law through fabricated prosecutions, their aim is not eventual convictions, but to lock up people for long periods of time without bail. Unfortunately, in many instances, the judiciary has failed to play a watchdog role.

The media is a vital part of democracy and plays an important role in holding power to account. India has had a proud tradition of free and fearless journalism, which played a very important role in the freedom struggle and this should be nurtured. A pandemic and the subsequent lockdown should not be excuses to clamp down on the media.

Mr. Ravi Kiran Jain, President, PUCL Dr. V. Suresh, Gen, Secy, PUCL
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Suspended, rotating devices known as "flappers" may be the key to fewer birds flying into power lines, a study by Oregon State University suggests.

The findings by researchers in OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences are important because around the globe both the number of power lines and concern over bird fatalities are on the rise.

Research has documented more than 300 species of birds dying from hitting power lines, with one study estimating that more than 170 million perish annually in the United States and another estimating the global death toll to be 1 billion per year. There's also the problem of power outages that bird strikes can cause.

Conservation managers and utilities many years ago developed flight diverters, basically regularly spaced devices that make the lines more visible, as a step toward reducing the number of birds flying into the lines.

The most common type are the PVC spirals, which are durable and easy to install, but how well they actually work isn't well understood. Though they've been in use for nearly four decades, strike rates remain high for a number of species.

OSU researchers Virginia Morandini and Ryan Baumbusch were part of an international collaboration that compared the effectiveness of three types of flight diverters: yellow PVC spiral; orange PVC spiral; and a flapper model with three orange and red polypropylene blades with reflective stickers.

The flapper hangs from a power line and its blades, 21 centimeters by 6.2 centimeters, rotate around a vertical axis.

The three-year study took place in southern Spain, and almost 54 kilometers of power lines were used in the research. Ten kilometers were marked with yellow spirals, 13 kilometers were marked with orange spirals, another 13 had flappers, and 16 kilometers had no markers, thus serving as a control. All three flight diverter types were spaced every 10 meters.

Field workers combed the area under the lines every 40 days for evidence of birds killed by power lines and found a total of 131 such birds representing 32 species.

The research suggested the flappers were responsible for a 70% lower average death rate compared to the control. The findings also showed the spirals were better than no diverters, but significantly less effective than the flappers.

"Colored PVC spiral is the most commonly used flight diverter by far, but the flapper diverter was the one showing the largest reduction in mortality with the lowest variation across different power lines, habitats and bird communities," Morandini said. "We suggest to consider the flapper as the first choice when installing bird flight diverters, recommending to increase future research in testing its material durability and resistance against vibrations and color loss."

The flappers and PVC spirals have comparable materials and production costs, researchers say, with flappers being easier and faster to install.

That's important because power companies must keep a line discharged during the diverter installation process - losing money because electricity is not flowing through the line - so the time required to install diverters is the most important factor when considering costs.

###

Working with Morandini and Baumbusch were corresponding author Miguel Ferrer and other scientists from Estacion Biologica de Donana in Seville, Spain. The Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Laboratory in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, also took part in the research.

Findings were published in Global Ecology and Conservation.
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Emergency Nurses Association named longtime member and past ENA Foundation Chairperson Christine M. Gisness, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, ENP-C, CEN, TCRN, FAEN, as the recipient of the 2020 Judith C. Kelleher Award.

The award, named for one of ENA's co-founders, is the association's most prestigious honor. Gisness, a Georgia native, has made many contributions to the association and emergency nursing since joining ENA in 1983. She served as a volunteer on several committees over those years, led the ENA Foundation as its chairperson in 2017 and is a current member of the Foundation's board of trustees. Her commitment to excellence earned her the 2019 Nursing Practice and Professionalism Award.

"For me, this award is about all the collaboration and hard work I have been a part of. I'm very proud to have been chosen," Gisness said, adding that she is happy to have met Kelleher. "I owe this award to the many individuals who make up ENA and have made the ED safer for our patients while also improving the image of emergency nursing. I am inspired by them, and they have become colleagues and friends.

"I really feel like I've been in the background just doing what I think is the right thing for our profession," Gisness offered.

ENA President Mike Hastings, MSN, RN, CEN, praised Gisness' passion and dedication to helping emergency nurses improve themselves over the last three decades, including through the establishment of the Gisness Advance Practice Scholarship which offers financial assistance to an emergency nurse seeking their master's degree in nursing.

"Chris represents the best of who emergency nurses are in the clinical realm and as a supporter of emergency nurses looking to advance their careers. Her giving nature and professional approach have made her a valuable member of ENA for many years," Hastings said.

On Wednesday, ENA also announced recipients of 13 other individual awards that highlight emergency nurses who exemplify exceptional performance in professional practice, innovation and leadership.

"ENA members across our country, and internationally, have shown the world the critical role emergency nurses play in our communities. ENA's 50,000 members are committed to care every day and I am honored to lead an association with so many nursing professionals who go above and beyond to improve the lives of patients and their fellow nurses," Hastings offered.

In addition to the individual honors, 12 states  Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas  received 2020 State Council Achievement Awards for their outstanding local efforts. The Colorado ENA State Council also earned recognition with the State Council/Chapter Government Affairs Award for, among other things, launching a blog on important legislation, encouraging students nurses to get involved in advocacy and testifying at state hearings on nursing-related issues, including workplace violence.

Here are the 2020 ENA Annual Achievement Award recipients:

Barbara A. Foley Quality, Safety and Injury Prevention Award: Courtney R. Edwards, DNP, MPH, RN, CCRN, CEN, TCRN, NEA-BC, of Texas

Behind the Scenes Award: Robert E. Sapien, MD, MMM, FAAP, of New Mexico

Frank L. Cole Nurse Practitioner Award: Wesley D. Davis, DNP, ENP-C, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC, CEN, of Wyoming

Gail P. Lenehan Advocacy Award: Barbara Baldwin, RN, of Texas

Lifetime Achievement Award: Jean A. Proehl, MN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, FAEN, FAAN, of New Hampshire

Nurse Manager Award: Vanessa Gorman, MSN, BSN, RN, Grad Dip Emerg Nurs, Grad Dip HSM, FCENA, FAEN, of Australia

Nurse Researcher Award: Joseph Kennon, BSN, RN, NREMT-P, CEN, CPEN, of Arkansas

Nursing Competency in Aging Award: Denise Cadle Rhew, PhD, RN, CNS, CEN, of North Carolina

Nursing Education Award: Cathlyn Robinson, MN, RN, CEN, of New Jersey

Nursing Practice and Professionalism Award: Tina Williams, MSN, RN, MBA, of Florida

Pediatric Readiness Improvement Award: Cynthia Wright-Johnson, MSN, RN, of Maryland

Rising Star Award: Lauren Plaine, BSN, RN, CEN, of Virginia

Team Award: Central Texas Stop the Bleed Team  Kayla Cehand, MSN, RN, CPN, CPST, and Crissie Richardson, MS, BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, of Texas

About the Emergency Nurses Association

The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With nearly 50,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines, and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.

ENA Media Contact:

Dan Campana

Senior Manager, Communications

847-460-4017

[email protected]

SOURCE Emergency Nurses Association

Related Links

http://www.ena.org


Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 01:09:52|Editor: huaxia

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DAR ES SALAAM, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The government of Tanzania reiterated its appeal on Wednesday to lenders for cancellation of debts of developing countries to enable them to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Palamagamba Kabudi, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, said cancellation of the debts will enable developing countries, including Tanzania, to use the money earmarked for repaying debts for mitigating the impacts caused by COVID-19.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation said Kabudi made the appeal in a video conference meeting with officials of the Commonwealth.

The statement said the meeting discussed how international organizations could support developing countries in building capacity for production of medical supplies to enable them to cope with outbreaks of epidemics like the COVID-19.

The statement said the meeting also addressed the importance of technology in the fight against the deadly viral disease, adding that Commonwealth countries underlined the importance of exchanging technology pertaining to healthcare delivery.

In April 2020, President Magufuli appealed to the World Bank and other international financial institutions to cancel debts of developing countries to enable them to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem
Andhra Pradesh government is soon going to take a decision on holding of final semester examinations for Undergraduate/Post Graduate students in the state. The announcement was made by State Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh during a video conference with the Vice Chancellors of Andhra Pradesh-based universities.

During the video conference, Suresh said that all suggestions shared by VCs have been noted down by the Education Department and they will be presented before Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. Suresh added that a final decision regarding Undergraduate/Post Graduate examinations will be taken by CM Reddy.

Minister Suresh also announced cancellation of AP SSC Exam 2020 which was scheduled to begin from July 10, 2020. According to the minister, the state government has taken the decision keeping in mind the larger public safety and to minimize the risk of students getting infected with the coronavirus COVID-19 while appearing for the examination. The students of Class 10 will now be graded based on the general merit and the guidelines in this regard will soon be issued by the BSEAP. Around 6 lakh students were due to appear for the examination starting in July 2020.

In addition to SSC Exam, the state govenrment has also decided to cancel AP Inter Supply Exam 2020. Education Minister Suresh said that all students who have failed in 1st and 2nd year Intermediate Exams will instead be promoted to next grade.
The Hilliard Eta-led All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) has insisted that there is no faction in the party.

It also insisted that Victor Giadom who claims to be the acting chairman of the party is an impostor.

Mr Eta said this on Tuesday night at the partys secretariat while receiving the report of the APC committee on the just concluded Edo governorship primary.

The seven-member committee led by the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, announced Osagie Ize-Iyamu the winner of the partys governorship primaries conducted in 18 local government areas of the state on Monday.

Mr Ize-Iyamu, the favourite candidate of suspended chairman Adams Oshiomhole, defeated two other aspirants  Pius Odubu and Osaro Obazee  to clinch the ticket.

The primary committees report was presented to the NWC members by Ajibola Bashiru, a senator who served as the secretary of the committee.

Mr Eta, who is standing in for the hospitalised Abiola Ajimobi, the partys interim chairman, described the deputy national secretary, Victor Giadom, as an impostor who has finally been suspended by a court.

As we speak, the membership of Victor Giadom has been suspended by a competent court of jurisdiction in Port Harcourt this afternoon. Not only is he no longer a member of the NWC, for today his membership has been suspended, he said as a copy of the court judgement was made visible.

Mr Etas response was precipitated by a question thrown at the NWC by journalists on a speculated virtual National Executive Council (NEC) scheduled for Thursday by Mr Giadom.

This birthed an uproar that lasted for minutes at the partys NEC hall when he strongly interjected the journalist who referred to both camps, Messrs Giadom and Eta-led NWC, as factions within the boy.

Mr Eta, mentioned the number of NWC members present and whose support his faction enjoys, quoted the partys constitution and dismissed Mr Giadoms claim to be the partys interim chairman.

It is not right, if you look up the meaning of faction. It is not right for you to see 15 distinguished members of the NWC and two met with us virtually, and still call us a faction.

This is the National Working Committee of the APC in Nigeria, I sit here on behalf of distinguished Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the acting chairman of this party, Mr Eta, who is the APC national vice-chairman (south-south), said urging the media to investigate Mr Gaidoms membership.

It is important that those who interrogate us should also internalise the content of our constitution, so when we have imposter, it is recognisable, he added.

He also disclosed to journalists the resolution of the NWC members present at the meeting to acknowledge and accept the letter indicating the lifting of Mr Oshiomholes suspension by its primary constituency in Ward 10 Etsako West LGA of Edo State.

Mr Oshiomholes suspension by the Edo APC was recently validated by the appeal court. However, a faction of the party in his ward has announced the lifting of the suspension while the main faction has insisted the suspension is ongoing.
On Tuesday, Chandigarh was filled with horrified expressions after a bank employee discovered a severed limb in the bushes in the area of Sector 17. After police officers conduct an initial probe, they find another severed body part along with a fetus.

Dismembered victim

According to India Today, the witness discovered the body part wrapped in a newspaper when he was travelling along a cycle track found in Sector 17 of Chandigarh. The man first saw a foot wrapped inside a newspaper on Tuesday afternoon.

The severed body part that allegedly belongs to an unidentified woman was thrown into the bushes on the cycle track behind the office of the State Bank of India near Bank Square.

After the employee reported the finding to the authorities, officers responded to the scene and conducted an investigation. Probe into the vicinity revealed another body part and a fetus in a separate bush.

Police officers discovered the fetus stored inside a bag made of polythene just a few meters away from the severed feet.

Local authorities found evidence that suggests the body parts and premature baby were dumped in the past day or two.

One investigator said the limbs were severed with high accuracy and precision with what seemed to be a cutting machine and they believe they were frozen to preserve their condition before disposal.

Authorities also revealed the fetus seemed to have been recently aborted and an investigation in the case is being conducted with a team gathering evidence from the crime scene. Police officers from Chandigarh have filed a case on charges of discreetly disposing of the body of a dead child.

Also Read: Grisly Remains of a Missing Oregon Woman Found Hidden in Brush as Big as a House

A similar incident

Another incident where a newborn baby was found dumped within the long grass happened in 2017 in Rio de Janeiro with the baby's umbilical cord still attached.

An engineer, Alexandre da Silva Dias de Freitas, discovered the infant while on his way to work one morning and he immediately reported the incident to the police, as reported by Mirror UK.

Rio de Janeiro officers quickly transported the baby boy to a hospital where he was placed in intensive care neonatal unit to recover. The child was found to have weighed five pounds and six ounces.

Local authorities have investigated to look into the perpetrator of the horrific crime.

Experts believe the boy was born a few days before the regular 40 weeks of woman's pregnancy.

Medical experts said they believe the baby was abandoned shortly after birth as he seemed to have been in good health.

The area where the boy was found was considered to be one of the poorest parts of Rio known as Barros Filho.

In an interview with a local TV station, Alexandre said that as he looked down to see the infant lying in the grass with its arms folded into its chest, he initially thought it was a doll, as he shed tears from his recollection.

He shared that he would be proud to have been able to save a life with Christmas around the corner, and it would always stay with him.

Related Article: Police Arrest 16-Year-Old For Allegedly Killing 4 People Including Pregnant Woman Used As Human Shield

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
London City Airport's most popular route will reopen on July 13 when KLM resumes flights to and from Amsterdam.

The Dutch airline said it would initially operate a single daily service between the airports, with frequency expected to increase as demand for travel returns.

More than 660,000 passengers flew on the route in 2019.

London City Airport's most popular route will reopen on July 13 when KLM resumes flights to and from Amsterdam

London City Airport reopened on Sunday after being closed for nearly three months as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

KLM's general manager for the UK and Ireland, Benedicte Duval, said: 'With borders starting to reopen and travel restrictions beginning to ease, safety is a prerequisite for KLM as we gradually resume travel.

'After this challenging period, we are delighted to be able to resume operations from central London.

'Our partnership with London City Airport has been a huge success since we first launched the route in February 2016.

'Pre-Covid, we were operating up to nine flights a day, so we look forward to increasing capacity in line with demand over the coming months.

'As we all adapt to this new environment, I can assure you that all KLM staff, both on the ground and on board, are committed to guaranteeing our passengers the highest levels of health and safety.'

London City Airport's chief commercial officer, Richard Hill, said: 'KLM's return to London City Airport is another positive sign of recovery as we resume passenger flights.

'We have been working hard with our airline partners to re-establish routes and this is an important milestone, restoring a very popular connection between two of Europe's most important cities.

KLM said it would initially operate a single daily service between London and Amsterdam

'With the UK Government looking likely to announce air bridges soon, and given the significance and popularity of this connection, it's crucial that the Netherlands is covered.

'In order that passengers can book in confidence, we have put in place a range of measures at the airport to help keep them safe while not sacrificing the speed through the airport which passengers have always valued and is now more important than ever.'

British Airways subsidiary BA CityFlyer will resume flights at the airport next month.
ALBANY  New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are issuing a "travel advisory" requiring out-of-state visitors to isolate themselves for 14 days if they are traveling from states with high rates of coronavirus infections.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the guidelines at a New York City press conference Wednesday, where he was joined via videoconference by Govs. Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Ned Lamont of Connecticut.

The quarantine order also will affect potentially tens of thousands of business travelers and vacationing families who may visit states flagged as high risk. Those New Yorkers would also be required to self-quarantine for two weeks upon returning home.

In the Outer Banks of North Carolina, for instance, which draws a high number of northeast visitors each summer, real estate companies have reported record numbers of vacation rentals in recent weeks. The order also will impact vacationers from states with high rates of coronavirus cases who visit New York, New Jersey or Connecticut and would be required to quarantine during their stay.

Cuomo had first suggested a quarantine period for visitors last week and doubled down on the assertions a few days ago  saying residents of states where cases are on the rise, including Florida and Texas, may visit New York and trigger another spike in infections.

"We have a calibration for the infection rate, and any state that goes over the infection rate  that state will be subject to the quarantine," Cuomo said. "It's only for the simple reason that we worked very hard to get the viral transmission rate down, and we don't want to see it go back up."

States will be included in the advisory if 10 per 100,000 residents or 10 percent of the total population tests positive on a seven-day rolling average, Cuomo said. States affected as of Wednesday include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas.

The guidance goes into effect at midnight on Thursday, Cuomo said, joking that people should jump on a flight quickly Wednesday if they want to avoid the new rules. Each state will advertise the regulations on highways, airports, websites and social media, and officials will also ask hotels to relay the information to guests.

"[We're] doing everything we can to say, 'If you come to Connecticut, you come to New York, you come to New Jersey  you come safely, and you follow the protocols, starting with a quarantine,'" Lamont said.

Each state will enforce the order differently, but in New York, a person who violates the advisory could be subject to mandatory quarantine through a "judicial order" or fines of up to $10,000, Cuomo said. The states will each update their respective websites "regularly" with a list of states included in the advisory.

The order also applies to New Yorkers who go on vacation or head to a business conference in a state with a high infection rate  which newly minted state Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-Niagara County, called "draconian" in a Wednesday afternoon statement.

"New Yorkers and businesses have suffered enough, and the governors vindictive, hypocritical move against other states and on New Yorkers liberties does not help us move forward," Ortt said.

It's unclear how New York authorities will identify violators, but Cuomo suggested that hotel clerks could flag travelers breaking quarantine rules and police could pull over cars with out-of-state license plates. In a radio interview Wednesday afternoon, Cuomo said he doesn't expect a "massive non-compliance issue," and many people would report rule-breakers to authorities.

"It's not impossible to enforce. States all across the country have been doing this for months, New Yorkers who would go to their state," Cuomo said. "It is hard to get 100 percent enforcement. You can't track down everyone who comes from these states, but that's not what enforcement is either. You never enforce every law 100 percent."

Months ago, several states had issued similar guidance for New Yorkers in late March and early April when the state's numbers were the worst in the nation. In March, Florida and Texas began requiring New Yorkers to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving; the Florida order is technically still in effect.

The same month, Rhode Island also issued a 14-day quarantine order for New York travelers, enforced as authorities stopped cars to question drivers with New York license plates and knocked on doors in search of visitors. That order had caused a massive clash with Cuomo's office, as the governor threatened to sue Rhode Island for singling out New York, and it was later walked back.

But even as other states have issued similar directives in recent months, the legality of the order is unclear. A spokeswoman for the New York Civil Liberties Union said the group is "looking at the policy and watching closely, but we don't have comment at the moment."

These things are essentially unenforceable," said Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick. "Its the United States of America  you dont need a passport to go from Kansas to Nebraska."

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.

He said violating a quarantine order is a misdemeanor under Public Health Law but also said police cannot legally pull someone over simply based on the license plate on their car.

Fitzpatrick also noted that there would be no way to track down or extradite someone who was issued a summons, adding: "Ive got other stuff to worry about, like 12 shootings in the past 72 hours."

Any effort to stop vehicles based on their license plates could also greatly impact truckers involved in interstate transports.

We encourage state and local officials to consider all the impacts rules and guidelines imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 might have on our industry and their citizens, said Sean McNally, a spokesman for the American Trucking Associations. Truck drivers socially distance by the nature of the job, and to impose restrictions will prevent them from doing the important work of delivering critical supplies like groceries, PPE and other essential items.

Kevin A. Luibrand, a Latham attorney whose areas of focus include constitutional law, said it would violate the Constitutions Fourth and Fourteenth amendments for police to stop a motorist based solely on their plate.

You dont have reasonable suspicion that a person is committing a criminal offense simply because they have an out-of-state license plate, Luibrand said. Its an unlawful seizure of a vehicle."

Hermes Fernandez, who previously chaired the Health Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, said previous orders both within the United States and abroad at the start of the pandemic set a public health precedent and could help the tri-state advisory withstand legal challenges. But overall, most orders haven't been enforced by local officials, and the onus was instead put on everyday residents.

Most of the measures have relied on public acceptance and they havent relied on the states enforcement authority, he said. I think thats what were going to see here, for the most part.

A Cuomo spokesman did not respond to a request to clarify how the state will determine whether a violation is worthy of a judicial order or a fine; how the state would obtain such an order; what guidance the state is providing to local officials about enforcing the advisory; and where a person should submit a complaint. The advisory was not available online as of Wednesday evening, and the spokesman did not respond to a request for a copy.

New York  mirroring its northeast neighbors  has been successful in keeping coronavirus numbers low in recent weeks, with daily deaths consistently below 50 and hospitalizations on the decline.

But as numbers continue on a downward trend in New York, Cuomo said he is relaxing restrictions on social gatherings, allowing up to 50 people instead of 25. Houses of worship can also increase attendance and open at 33 percent capacity instead of 25 percent.

Chris Bragg, Amanda Fries and Brendan J. Lyons contributed reporting.
IRVINGTON, Va., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tambellini Group, the world's leading independent technology research and advisory firm dedicated exclusively to higher education, releases its 12th annual 2020 Student Systems US Higher Education Market Share, Trends, and Leaders Report. The report found that there was a nine percent decrease in student selections in 2019, and four percent of institutions have selected modern SaaS student systems.

The Tambellini 2020 Student Systems US Higher Education Market Share, Trends, and Leaders Report provides a detailed overview of the US higher education student systems market. The report's unique perspective focuses on the number of selections made in 2019. It describes purchasing trends and identifies the types and sizes of institutions making student systems decisions, and the solutions they are selecting.

The report is based on Tambellini's unbiased research and extensive interviews and draws from its proprietary database, which includes data from more than 4,300 US higher education institutions.

Key components of the publication include:

Student system market trends in higher education

Total vendor market share by institution type

Vendor selection considerations

A comprehensive overview of leading higher education vendors: Campus Management, Ellucian, Jenzabar, Oracle, Unit4, and Workday

Members use Tambellini's Market Trends and Leaders Reports to broaden their understanding of significant trends as higher education institutions move student solutions to the cloud. Institutions benefit from the report's deep insight and competitive analysis that they cannot attain on their own. "Tambellini is distinctly positioned to work with all vendors in the Student, Finance, and HCM market. Our relationships allow us to brief with each solution provider multiple times during the year," remarked Vicki Tambellini, CEO, and President. "We also speak with our institution members every day, conducting assessments and providing guidance during technology selections and contract negotiations. So, we know what vendors institutions are selecting, which have migrated to new platforms, the benefits, the challenges, and more. This extensive reach gives us unique expertise that we are happy to share with our members."

About The Tambellini Group

The Tambellini Group is the world's leading independent technology research and advisory firm dedicated exclusively to higher education. Tambellini offers direct interaction with the top industry analysts and provides custom, data-driven advisory services. The company's proprietary database of more than 20,250 global institutions' technology selections and nearly 67,000 listings is unparalleled in the industry. Members leverage Tambellini's unbiased research on the changing education technology landscape to make fact-based decisions and achieve key strategic goals. Founded in 2001, Tambellini is a woman-owned business headquartered in Irvington, Virginia. thetambellinigroup.com

Media Contact

Chris McNamee, Vice President of Marketing and Product Strategy

The Tambellini Group

1-800-414-3405

[email protected]

SOURCE The Tambellini Group

Related Links

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T he brother of ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will fight lockdown breach charges at trial by claiming his right to protest should not be hampered by government rules, a court heard today.

Piers Corbyn, 73, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court to deny two charges relating to protests he led at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park against the coronavirus lockdown laws.

It emerged today that Corbyn was fined by police for an anti-lockdown protest outside St Thomas Hospital in south London on May 9, prior to his two high-profile arrests in Hyde Park on May 16 and May 30.

As his not guilty pleas were entered, Corbyns lawyer Richard Parry said they will rely on the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly under the European Convention on Human Rights when fighting the charges at trial.

There was a large police presence as Piers Corbyn was led away in handcuffs / AFP via Getty Images

The issue is a human rights one,"he told the court. Exercising those rights amounted to a reasonable excuse.

Mr Parry also took a swipe at Downing Street aide Dominic Cummings over his now-notorious trip to Durham shortly after the lockdown was imposed, saying the appropriateness of government rules are the subject of two High Court challenges and intense public debate.

The government appears divided and people have many reasonable excuses to advance  some being advanced are accepted by police and some peoples are not," he said.

Mr Corbyn, in contrast to Dominic Cummings, has a very important point to make  that he should be allowed to exercise his right to protest about this legislation.

Boris Johnson's top aide Dominic Cummings / PA

Corbyn, a veteran activist and older brother to Jeremy, was detained by police on May 16 after a crowd of people gathered in central London to oppose government efforts to combat the Covid-19 virus.

He used a megaphone at Speakers Corner to denounce the lockdown as a pack of lies to brainwash you and keep you in order, and was arrested again at a second demonstration in the park two weeks later.

It is said he did not have a reasonable excuse for not following the lockdown rules while participating in the protests.

Prosecutor Misba Majid revealed today: An incident took place at St Thomas Hospital on May 9.

The defendant was issued with a fixed penalty notice on that occasion. The modus operandi was exactly the same, the defendant was protesting outside the hospital in relation to the lockdown restrictions.

Corbyn was charged by post over the May 16 protest, and when charged over the May 30 demonstration police imposed conditions banning him from Clapham Common and the City of Westminster.

Mr Parry urged the court today to lift the bail conditions, saying: This is a peaceful protest by a 73-year-old man, he is protesting about the nature of these very regulations and their wider effect.

It appears to be the position of the Metropolitan Police Service that protests should be stopped.

He noted that other forces had taken a different approach, and said no attempt had been made by Scotland Yard to enforce lockdown rules at the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in central London - with police only acting to stop disorder and violence.

Piers Corbyn rallied against the lockdown at Speaker's Corner / Getty Images

This is a man with a megaphone and perhaps a few leaflets to give out , he added.

District Judge Samuel Goozee agreed to free Corbyn on unconditional bail as he set the case down for a day-long trial on October 23.

Twelve other people were arrested and charged under the Health Protection Act for alleged lockdown breaches on May 16.

Jeffery Wyatt, 56, of Milton Keynes, Dimitri Pensin, 34, of Pinner, north-west London, Alexander Heaton, 37, of Bow, east London, Princess Rose Morgan, 56, of Lambeth, south London, Philip Hartley, 37, of Doncaster, Yorkshire, Fiona Hine, 35, of Wandsworth, south-west London, Jackub Andrzej, 27, of Ealing, west London, Jaime Stewart, of Wood Green, north London, Ian Jackson, 66, of Wandsworth, south-west London, Donnalee Andrews, 55, of Northampton; and Aleksandrs Rimicans, of Islington, north London, are all due to appear in court on dates in July and August.

Corbyns case was heard today after he made an application to lift his bail conditions. He denies two counts of breaching Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Among the thousands of activists who have marched in the nations capital recently to protest racial injustice are survivors of a Florida high school massacre who stood in the very same place two years ago to fight gun violence.

It was 2018 and the world was transfixed as the survivors of the Valentines Day mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland created the anti-gun violence movement March for Our Lives. The movement raised millions of dollars, earned the students the Childrens Peace Prize and the cover of Time magazine, and spawned sister marches from California to Japan.

Now, Aalayah Eastmond, Christle Vidor and many other Parkland students are using their fame and organizing skills to join a massive call for racial justice and equality that has exploded across the nation after the death of George Floyd last month in Minneapolis.

There are Black people dying and it makes no sense for us to be losing our lives to violence like this, so either we can sit back and be complacent or we can do something about it, said Vidor, 19, now a student at Howard University.

Early in their activism, the Parkland students gave voice to racial justice issues, calling attention to gun violence in low-income communities and in return, receiving support from Black Lives Matter youth chapters. BLM members joined the Florida students onstage during a nationally televised rally in Washington, D.C., and the two groups bonded over a poolside pizza party. Later, the students partnered with Colors of Change and other Black activist groups to rally young voters to participate in the 2018 midterm elections.

Still, the anti-gun violence group recently acknowledged that it wasnt enough, saying the recent protests helped reveal that their organization lacked diversity.

We have worked so tirelessly in the last couple of years to restructure and re-create the narrative that was initially pushed out and to understand our own personal biases, said organization member and former Parkland student Lauren Hogg, 17. Hogg, who is white, lost friends in the 2018 shooting.

Last year, March for Our Lives established a Youth Congress to include students from other communities affected by gun violence and expanded its youth board seats to include more minorities. Theyre also launching a training program on race, equity, inclusion and implicit bias. In addition, chapters of the group around the country have reached out to support the Black Lives Matter movement in its newly revived fight for racial justice after Floyds death.

Eastmond, who is Black, was in her Holocaust history class on Valentines Day 2018 when the gunman opened fire, killing several of her classmates. She survived by hiding under one of their bodies.

One of the students who testified before Congress after the shooting, Eastmond said it was extremely frustrating to watch Blacks and other people of color being generally excluded from the post-Parkland conversation about gun violence.

As a young Black girl that survived a mass shooting at an affluent high school that was predominantly white, it played a huge role in my activism, said the 19-year-old, who just finished her freshman year at Trinity Washington University.

I unapologetically speak out for Black people and I no longer bite my tongue.  I found myself doing that a lot at (Stoneman Douglas), being the only Black girl in my classes.

Vidor, who is also African American, said she had never experienced gun violence before the Parkland shooting, which she calls her wake-up moment. She said she was shocked when many classmates at Howard told her gun violence was a normal part of their lives.

Hogg, whose 20-year-old brother David Hogg was one of the premier voices of the March for Our Lives movement when it began, has also been in D.C., walking dozens of miles almost daily at protests organized by Black Lives Matter. She and many in the organization also are working tirelessly behind the scenes, but are reluctant to draw undue attention to their roles.

This is not about me, Hogg said. This is not about my white organizing friends. This is about radical inequality.

Delaney Tarr, a white Parkland survivor and co-founder of March For Our Lives, has attended several protests recently organized by Black Lives Matter in Fort Lauderdale, saying she is confronting overt and covert racism in my own life.

Like all my white peers, I have a lot of unlearning, confronting, and relearning to do, said the 19-year-old college student.

March For Our Lives is also rallying students from its chapters in other states.

Daud Mumin, 19, who is African American, has been marching through the streets of Salt Lake City in solidarity with Black lives all over the country.

Tatiana Washington, a Black member of a chapter in Milwaukee, has been holding weekly Zoom calls for Black youth from all over the country to come together, while Kelly Choi, a 19-year-old student who participates in the Texas chapter, attended a protest in Houston organized by Floyds family, signed petitions and donated money.

As a non-Black person of color, Choi said, I have been trying my best to be an ally.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  SM Development Corporation (SMDC) is all set for the new normal.

With most businesses either downscaling or scrapping projects as a result of the economic slowdown, SMDC is doing just the opposite. It is pursuing its expansion plans for the year and launching projects in the last two quarters.

This was the message of SMDC President Jose Mari Banzon in an interview with CNNs Rico Hizon that aired on June 22.

We just need to make sure that the features that buyers are looking for  will be there, that we price our products correctly and that we offer affordable payment terms, Banzon said.

Geared for the new normal

SMDCs investment in digital technology has proven beneficial during the lockdown. Contactless transactions  in selling, customer service and backroom operations  were immediately deployed, and which have now become part of SMDCs new normal.

We continue to sell during the lockdown. Our sellers did not even have face-to-face meetings with clients, Banzon said.

The make-up of SMDC developments has also proven beneficial during the lockdown. Industry experts are now saying that the future of development is toward integrated developments, which SMDC has been doing from the very beginning.

(Y)ou dont have to get out of your development to buy your basic necessities. You can get your food, your medicines, you can do your banking, you can get your haircut (right within the property). We are ready for the new normal, Banzon said.

Banzon also explained that SMDC units are designed to allow ample lighting and natural ventilation, which are conducive to a productive work-from-home (WFH) set-up. Wifi-equipped lobbies with open-air lounges and co-working spaces provide the perfect setting for a WFH environment that strictly adheres to social distancing.

With social distancing and restricted personal movement as part of the new normal, residents do not have to go out of their properties for fun and social activities, or to have a semblance of space. They can safely stay within the property and enjoy the well-appointed amenities and top-notch facilities that define every SMDC development, Banzon explained.

Banzon further noted that SMDC properties are situated in major CBDs and are near transport hubs, providing easy access to offices, schools, hospitals and major thoroughfares, enabling minimized travel.

Strong performance amid COVID-19

SMDC raked in P11.4 billion from January to March this year, 23 percent up from the P9.3 billion it recorded in the same period in 2019. Reservation sales, meanwhile, clocked in at P24.8 billion, a testament of consumer confidence in the brand even in trying times.

Banzon attributed SMDCs success to three factors: industry resilience, consumers basic need for shelter and SMDCs product.

We belong to an industry that is resilient. The asset is real, tangible and least affected by deflationary forces, he explained.

In the Philippines, theres a 6-million unit shortfall in housing, so there is a very big demand that has yet to be filled. Housing also fulfills the dream of every Filipino to own a home.

Visit www.smdc.com to learn more about their property developments.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 17:34:04|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Six people held hostage by armed bandits in Nigeria's northwestern state of Katsina have been rescued in a military operation, the army said.

The rescue followed a fierce gun battle between the military and the bandits in a forest, Wama Idris, a senior army commander based in northern Katsina, said on Tuesday at a brief ceremony where he handed over the victims to the state government.

He said 11 people were kidnapped but the forces managed to rescue only six.

The army would comb the forests to free the remaining five victims, Idris said. Enditem
Massachusetts is home to some of the best institutions of higher education in the nation. Amid a public health crisis that claimed the lives of more than 120,000 in the United States and left about a quarter of working Americans out of work, the top higher education officials in the state sought to get a sense of college and university finances.

The state Board of Higher Education turned to EY-Parthenon, a strategy consultancy, to assess the financial impact of COVID-19 on public colleges and universities in Massachusetts.

Consultants with EY-Parthenon shared their findings with the board on Tuesday. EY-Parthenon studied the 24 community colleges and state universities in Massachusetts - excluding the University of Massachusetts system, which presented its own finances before the board.

For community colleges across the state, net cash flow could range from negative $27 million to as low as negative $118 million in fiscal year 2021, according to the report.

For state universities, net cash flow could range from negative $74 million to negative $248 million, the worst-case scenario presented.

In the presented worst-case scenario, four community colleges and four state universities could face at least a one-month budget shortfall this upcoming fiscal year.

All 24 institutions are expected to be in a notably worse financial position by June 2021 compared with June 2020 under all scenarios, the report states, indicating a reduced resiliency to cope with a continued adverse outlook for enrollment and state appropriations going into FY22.

Five college leaders spoke before the board of the similar and different challenges two-year and four-year public institutions face.

I think were all going to balance our budget, Pam Eddinger, president of Bunker Hill Community College, told the board. Her mission, she said, is to preserve the core of the colleges mission, which will require some really hard parts, as their largest expense is personnel costs.

Those cost-saving measures will have lasting impacts for years to come, she told the board.

At four-year colleges, significant uncertainty remains about the student body returning this fall.

Typically, Bridgewater State University expects about 90% student retention. Due to the need for a significant shift to the college experience - as well as economic concerns for families - fewer students may come back this fall.

Its not going to be easy, Bridgewater State President Frederick W. Clark told the board, calling the upcoming school year the most challenging in the universitys history. Far more challenging than the 08 financial crisis.

The UMass system - which includes its flagship campus in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and the medical school in Worcester - is by far the largest university system in the state.

With an annual budget of 3.5 billion, UMass serves more than 75,000 students each year - including 18,000 new graduates annually.

UMass received $558 million in state appropriation and $684 million in research and development, in addition to tuition.

The university system received about $46 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities (CARES) Act, Marty Meehan, president of the UMass system, told the board. Of that, about $23 million went directly to students to offset tuition costs.

The amount received from the federal stimulus plan was a fraction of the funds lost in reimbursements to student, for refunded room & board and other expenses.

Like all universities, the highest cost at UMass is personnel. The university system is the third largest employer in Massachusetts, with 24,000 employees. About $148 million is spent monthly on payroll.

Five possible scenarios that would impact the universitys revenue impact was presented to the board, including:

Tuition freeze, which is estimated would decrease the university revenue up to 3%

Cut in state funding up to 20%. The current assumption university officials are working under assume no increase in funding

Fewer students returning to campus: A decreased number of students would result in not only lower tuition, but also impact housing and dining budgets.

No international students allowed due to travel barriers

Revenue learning for half the student body, cutting dining, room and board by 50%

Remote learning for all students, slashing dining, room and board by 100%

So far, questions remain about how the mix of remote and in-person instruction and that plans for on-campus housing at UMass this fall.

UMass Boston announced Monday that the campus will continue remote learning for the fall semester.

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, Interim Chancellor Katherine Newman said.

Certain lab courses required in the sciences and nursing program will be taught in person on campus.

UMass 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).
A view of a land reserved for top officials from Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy government when they retire, in Ottarathiri township, Naypyidaw capital region, June 2020.

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top officials have come under fire for being allotted real estate plots in the capital at prices under a state program, contradicting their reformist pledges to shun perks of power in a country impoverished by decades of misrule.

As former opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi said her National League for Democracy (NLD) would not accept preferential treatment as government officials, while most ordinary citizens struggled with poverty  part of a platform that won the party general elections in 2015 by a landslide.

During an interview with RFAs Myanmar Service in 2014, Aung San Suu Kyi said NLD leaders would not accept state-sponsored perks, including land plots upon retirement.

My party will not accept such provisions, she said at the time.

Besides, we dont want such rewards at a time when most of our people are struggling to secure their farmlands, she added. Our party members are so used to uphill struggles.

With politics heating up in the run-up to the next election in November, social media accounts told of the 75-year-old leader and top officials being granted plots as large as eight acres (3.2 hectares) in the capital Naypyidaw.

The chatter prompted Presidents Office spokesman Zaw Htay to clarify on June 20 that State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and other officials were allowed to buy small parcels of land at a "designated price" in the capital region, following a retirement practice in Naypyidaw.

"It is true that the land plots are being granted for the government members," he told reporters.

"Naypyidaw Municipal Council has created the new land plots in Ottarathiri Township to allot to Union Ministers and high profile persons at a designated price. The municipal council is creating more new land plots to provide for other ministers and deputy ministers. This is a tradition that the State has provided the land plots to government officers when they retired," added the spokesman.

Social media exaggerations of the size of the plots must be a disinformation campaign as the 2020 election approaches, Zaw Htay added.

Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint were each permitted to buy plots of 400 square feet, while government ministers could purchase 300 square feet, and deputy ministers could acquire 250 square feet, Zaw Htay said.

Zaw Htay did not specify the designated prices and it was not clear if all eligible officials were taking part in the program.

RFA was unable to reach the Naypyidaw Development Committee, which creates and prices the retiree plots, to confirm the sizes and cost of the land parcels set aside for government officials.

'Unfair practices'

There have been no accusations of wrongdoing by the NLD leaders, but critics said the election year optics were poor, given their reformist pledges and the fact that Myanmar ranks last in nominal per capita GDP of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Older Myanmar voters remember how General Than Shwe, head of the military junta that ruled Myanmar from 1992-2011, built a sprawling estate in Naypyidaw and shocked his country with a lavish 2006 wedding party for his daughter in Yangon that featured her sipping champagne while dressed in layers of pearls and diamonds.

People voted for the NLD party hoping that it would eliminate such unfair practices, Nyo Nyo Thin, a former independent lawmaker from Yangon region, told RFA.

If they are legalizing the system of privileged provisions, then the NLD wont have a good political future, she said.

This system has been entrenched in successive governments, and we want the NLD to uproot it, not to carry it on, added Nyo Nyo Thin, founder of the regional government watchdog group Yangon Watch.

Ye Htut, information minister from 2014-2016 during former president Thein Seins Cabinet, said the inconsistency between words and deeds hurts the reputations of NLD leaders.

I think it is pretty awful that these [leaders] have broken the pledges they made in the past, he said. Receiving land plots from the state is not a problem, but Daw [honorific] Aung San Suu Kyi is breaking her own promise. Because she is a politician, it is damaging to her dignity.

A member of the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Ye Htut noted that the NLD came into office on a promise of solidarity with the people, yet officials have not hesitated to snap up the land at below-market prices.

Given the fact that the government still cannot resolve issues like the farmland shortage and widespread squatting in the cities, such rewards are very inappropriate, he added.

Tin Thit, an NLD lawmaker who represents a constituency in Naypyidaw, defended the actions of his party, saying that it is providing lifelong security for both high-level and low-level government officials in all major cities.

These rewards are not limited to top government officials, he said. There are also land allotment programs, affordable housing, low-income housing, and rental housing programs for low-level staffers.

The government is just implementing its policies, he added.

Reported by Kyaw Lwin Oo for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
A bit of old Portland vanished without fanfare earlier this month when Chris Theodore Tsefalas died two months shy of his 94th birthday.

Born and raised in Portland by first generation immigrants from Greece, Tsefalas traveled near and far, but always returned to the city he called home. Aside from his family and wife of 68 years, his true love was the Perfume House, an intimate store tucked away on a floor in an old house at 3328 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.

He opened the store in 1984 when Hawthorne wasnt hip, but gritty. An adult bookstore up the street did a thriving business. A drug deal in a nearby parking lot was settled with a gunshot that took a mans life. It was here, in a building that had no off-street parking, that Tsefalas convinced his wife they should roll the dice and open a store that sold nothing but perfume.

He was right. At the time of his June 2 death, the shop still attracted loyal customers from not only the metropolitan area but from across the United States. Tsefalas was old-school, a character in the best meaning of the word. His wife, Christina, said he always left his house in Eastmoreland for work with a sense of purpose, impeccably dressed in a jacket and tie.

A soft touch, hed reach into his pocket while walking on Hawthorne and pull out a few dollars for someone claiming to be down on their luck. When friends warned it was a scam, Tsefalas said hed rather lose the money than pass up the chance to help someone who might really need help.

The first thing he did each morning was read the New York Times, said his wife, Christina. He was interested in politics, economics and art. He was interested in everything.

She met Tsefalas when they were students at Franklin High School. After graduating, he joined the Navys Fleet Marine Force. During World War II, he worked with amputees at the Mare Island Naval Hospital in Vallejo, Calif. He later studied at the University of Wisconsin and then at Marquette University. He returned to Portland, married and began importing goods from Europe.

He had fine soaps and fragrances from Germany, his wife said. When the Worlds Fair was held in Seattle, he had a booth there, presenting and selling his wares every day of the fair.

While traveling overseas to look for things to import, he became fascinated with oils used to create fragrances in Europe and the Middle East. He became a student, talking with experts to learn everything he could about perfume.

He felt these classic names needed attention in Portland, said Christina Tsefalas. But the lines were closed for him to import. He got his name on a mailing list out of New York City that provided him with information about reps and distributors. That opened a door for us to bring lines to our shop.

Opening the Perfume House, his wife said, was risky.

We did all the prep work ourselves, she said. Our two children and our friends helped with all the cleaning and doing whatever was needed. We didnt want to spend money. We grew up in an era where hardship was a way of life. No one complained.

She said her husband was the idea man, able to get perfumes and colognes from countries around the world, at one time having exclusive rights to sell fragrances from Russia.

News of the shop spread by word of mouth, with customers discovering perfumes they had never heard about. It was never about selling but advising, taking as long as necessary to help a customer.

Tsefalas had the charm and knowledge to make any customer feel they were special. While a businessman, he never was a pushy salesman, instead handing out samples and giving recommendations after learning what impact a customer wanted to create with a fragrance.

In time, the store gained attention in the insular perfume world. Stories about Tsefalas and the Perfume House occasionally appeared in national airline magazines, which brought customers to Portland from across the United States. Clients have included celebrities and regulars who fly in from out-of-state to shop.

Im not going to name names, said Christina Tsefalas.

She said the store features more than 1,000 perfumes.

Theres romance and magic in the classic fragrance, she said. Theyre made with rare oils. I dont want to insult any fragrance, but the modern ones arent the same.

She is now running the store with her daughter, Kathy, an employee and a granddaughter who works part time. In addition to his wife and daughter, Tsefalas is survived by his son, Chris Anthony; and granddaughters, Isabella, Olivia and Alexis; and sister, Jade.

Chris ran the store as if he was welcoming someone into his own home, his wife said. He was the master of that.

-- Tom Hallman Jr; thallman@oregonian.com; 503-221-8224; @thallmanjr

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
People in Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa are looking back at one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles of World War Two. Seventy-five years ago today, Japan's military operations against US forces on the islands came to an end.

An annual memorial service was held at the Peace Memorial Park in the city of Itoman on Tuesday. This is where the last major confrontation in the Battle of Okinawa took place.

The ceremony usually draws thousands, but was scaled back this year due to concerns over the coronavirus with about 200 people taking part.

As the clock struck noon, people observed a moment of silence to remember relatives and friends and pray for world peace.

The Battle of Okinawa erupted in the closing stages of World War Two. Fighting between the US-led allied forces and the now-defunct Japanese Imperial army killed more than 200,000 soldiers and civilians.

That includes a quarter of Okinawa's population.

Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny read a peace declaration.

He said, "In the hope of keeping the memories of the abominable war from fading away and never repeating the same mistakes again, we present and share with the world, 'Chimugukuru,' the 'Okinawan Heart,' that correctly conveys the lessons learned through the Battle of Okinawa and aspires for peace."

He took a veiled jab at the Japanese government's plans to relocate a US Marine base within the prefecture, and stressed the importance of leaving Okinawa's rich nature for the next generation.

The relocation plan has put the prefecture at odds with the central government, which is pushing ahead with land reclamation work at the new site.

Many local residents feel the prefecture has been carrying a disproportionate burden. Okinawa hosts about 70 percent of US military facilities in Japan.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo delivered a video message, since guests from outside the region were not invited this year. He talked about the sizeable American military presence in the prefecture without mentioning the base relocation plan directly.

Abe said, "For many years, the concentration of US military bases has heavily impacted the people of Okinawa. The current situation absolutely must be changed."

To commemorate the milestone anniversary, the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the UN undersecretary for disarmament also delivered video messages.
Dennis Quaid and Laura Savoie are married, after eloping in a secret ceremony at a seaside resort.

Quaid, 66, and Savoie, 27, exchanged vows on 2 June, according to People, which reported that the couples ceremony took place in Santa Barbara, California, with just their pastor as witness.

It was beautiful, The Parent Trap actor told the outlet. "Just looking into her eyes, she was the most stunning bride.

The couple, who got engaged last October, had originally planned to have their wedding in Hawaii in April, with a second reception for family and friends in Nashville - but had to postpone due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead of waiting, the couple decided to hold a simple ceremony consisting of traditional vows and Bulgari rings, according to People.

For the occasion, Quaid, who has been married three times before, wore a Hugo Boss suit, while Savoie chose a Chosen By One Day gown and a bouquet of roses and calla lilies.

According to the bride, she was especially moved by the officiants message "of what it really means to bring your lives together. To put another person before yourself."

The couple first met at a business event before they officially began dating in May 2019.

Of their first meeting, Quaid told the outlet: It was love at first sight and that he loves who Savoie is as a person.

Her character, her intelligence, of course her beauty. And her point of view of the world, he added.

Savoie, a doctoral student originally from St Louis, Missouri, also expressed her love for her new husband, telling People she has never met someone who is so in love with life.

Its like nothing can bring him down," she said. "Just getting to do life with someone who lives that way is inspiring for me. It changes my perspective and it brings so much joy to every day."

The couples nuptials come after Quaid defended his and Savoies 39-year age gap in November during an interview with The Guardian.

I didnt go out looking for an age gap or someone really younger than me, he said, adding: You have no control over who you fall in love with.

During the interview, the actor, who was married to PJ Soles from 1978 to 1983, Meg Ryan from 1991 to 2001 and Kimberly Quaid from 2004 to 2018, also said he does not fall in love easy and that he knows this will be his final marriage.

Ive been married three times and this is the final one, I know it is. I feel like I have a real partner in life," he said.
It was a proud moment for the Left-ruled state and its Health Minister KK Shailaja when she participated in a panel discussion on the United Nation's World Public Service Day and presented the "Kerala model" of fighting the pandemic COVID-19.

Shailaja was the lone member from India who participated in the panel discussion titled "On the Frontline: Public Servants and the COVID-19 pandemic" on Tuesday, which saw the participation of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and other top UN dignitaries.

"Social security has been strengthened by ensuring that marginalized and vulnerable sections of the society were not affected by regulatory measures.

The idea of One World One Health, of the United Nations was implemented," the Minister said during the webinar, an official release said.

She explained that the experience that the state health department gained while dealing with the Nipah outbreak of 2018 has helped in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While the COVID-19 pandemic was first reported in Wuhan province of China, Kerala had started preparing to deal with the pandemic following the directions of the World Health Organization.

The entire state machinery and the surveillance network was activated and the standard operating procedures for screening, diagnosis and public health interventions were implemented in accordance with international guidelines," Shailaja said.

She said from the experience of Nipah, the state has learned that there should not be any compromise or delay in public health interventions during such epidemics.

Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the General Assembly, H.E.Ms.Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of World Health Organization, Liu Zhenmin, United Nations Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Chin Young, Minister of Interior and Safety, Republic of Korea, were among those who participated in the webinar.
The White House assigned to Michael Pack, the new CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, an advisor who had little experience with the group that Pack was being asked to run.

That advisor, acting as what's often called a "sherpa" within the halls of the White House and Capitol Hill, was longtime public relations operative Diane Cullo, according to people familiar with the matter. These people declined to be named as her role had yet to be known in the buildup to his recent Senate confirmation.

Sherpas often give counsel to the nominee when they are being initially vetted by a congressional committee and going through the confirmation process. They usually have prior experience working in the department or agency that their nominee is assigned, have helped other nominees through committees, or have worked in a similar field.

Cullo has been an advisor at the Department of Agriculture and works in the Office of Tribal Relations, her LinkedIn page says. For the 12 years prior to joining the USDA, she ran her own communications shop, DLC Communications, while conducting community outreach for Wegmans Food Markets. Since guiding Pack, she's become his new deputy chief of staff.

Senate aides who vetted Pack's nomination say that her lack of experience with the agency was evident in the buildup to his eventual Foreign Relations committee confirmation earlier this month. She appeared to have no knowledge on how the agency operated, seemed unclear about it's overall mission and would often push back on requests for documents, the aides recalled. After being nominated by President Donald Trump almost two years ago, he was recently confirmed by the full Senate to take over at USAGM.

Shortly after Pack got the job, he fired or demoted heads and executive board members at media companies under USAGM, such as those at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. Trump has regularly taken aim at the Voice of America, another USAGM backed group.

The move to put Cullo on Pack's confirmation team left congressional aides stunned. They also came away with feeling that the Trump White House had so much distrust in the agency that they picked an administration aide who has been loyal since the president was elected four years ago.

The White House confirmed to CNBC that Cullo was Pack's sherpa. An official defended the choice as someone who has years of experience helping other nominees through their confirmation process and her career in communications.

"Diane was selected as a sherpa because of prior experience helping shepherd nominees through the confirmation process, her experience in communications, and because she was willing to do it on top her day job at USDA. She stepped up to the need when asked," a senior administration official explained.

The White House aide did not return follow questions on which other nominees Cullo has previously guided but Politico previously reported that she was chosen to help Sonny Perdue with being confirmed to become the Secretary of Agriculture before she ended up working for his department. On Cullo's resume, initially published by ProPublica, it says she was the chief media relations strategist for Perdue when he was being reviewed by the Senate. Perdue was initially confirmed by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry before he moved through the full Senate.

Cullo's resume also lists her as having worked for a non-profit, Take Back Our Republic, and was a consultant for House, Senate and presidential campaigns. Data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics shows she was paid just over $17,000 by party committees for consulting work during the 2014 election cycle and Federal Election Commission records show she once assisted Republican Suzanne Scholte's run for congress in Virginia's 11th congressional district. Scholte ended up losing in that bid for congress.

After publication, a spokesman for the USAGM released a statement to CNBC, defending Cullo's record.

"Diane has spent much of her career in our nation's capital, and boasts an impressive record of achievements in government, most recently at the USDA, as well as in the private sector," the agency spokesman said. "From these extensive experiences, and over the 22 months she spent assisting Mr. Pack with his successful confirmation, she acquired a profound knowledge of the mission and operations of the USAGM and its media organizations. Diane is honored to assist Mr. Pack's efforts to implement his vision for the USAGM, communicated throughout his hearing and since taking office as CEO."

Cullo and the USDA did not return requests for comment.

The tension prior to Pack's confirmation has been one of many controversies surrounding his nomination, leading to criticism on both sides of the aisle.

Sen. Bob Menendez, the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, has had repeated run-ins with Pack. In April, he wrote a letter to the White House accusing Pack of possible self dealing. Pack, a conservative filmmaker with ties to former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, has a non-profit that's been under investigation by the Washington, D.C., attorney general.

Rep. Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, called on Pack to appear for a committee hearing in July about his future plans for the agency and to explain why he moved against longtime USAGM officials.

Sen. Marco Rubio and other GOP lawmakers have also expressed concern with what they're seeing from Pack. Menendez has called for the State Department's inspector general to investigate the USAGM CEO.

The New York Times reported that a lawsuit filed on behalf of the Open Technology Fund, another USAGM entity, which argued Pack did not have the legal authority to remove staff or its governing board.
With the sea of information available online, it is necessary to impart digital literacy tips to people as it will only help them to differentiate fact from highly toxic and even dangerous fiction, suggests a new study.

Researchers studying Facebooks efforts to educate users on how to spot misinformation have found people in the United States and India were less likely to say a false headline was true after they were exposed to tips on how to spot misinformation

The Princeton University-led study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), shows peoples ability to spot erroneous information weakened over time, so digital literacy needs to be taught with regularity.

Most people struggle to reliably evaluate the quality of information they encounter online, even under the most ideal conditions, said Andy Guess, assistant professor of politics and public affairs at Princeton University.

This is because they lack the skills and knowledge required to distinguish between high and low-quality news content. We find that effort to promote digital literacy can improve peoples ability to evaluate the accuracy of online content, Guess added.

This study is among the first to systematically explore the role of digital media literacy shortfalls.

Digital literacy and media literacy are often proposed as solutions to online misinformation, but these approaches are not evaluated as often as they are proposed. If we want to develop tools that help people distinguish truth from falsity, it is essential to test the effectiveness of these tools, added Professor Jason Reifler from the University of Exeter.

The team originally set out to explore why people fall victim to misinformation, selecting the United States and India as both countries have struggled with misinformation campaigns, especially during national elections.

The team looked at the effects of Facebooks Tips to Spot False News, which appeared at the top of users news feeds in 14 countries in April 2017. The list was also printed as a full-page ad in many U.S. newspapers, and a version appeared in India as well.

These tips have likely been the most widely distributed digital-media literacy intervention. They also are not overly complex, allowing for quick decision-making. For example, one tip cautions readers to be skeptical of headlines, warning that if claims sound unbelievable, they probably are.

The researchers then employed a two-wave panel design, studying the same group of people immediately after exposure to the tips, and then again several weeks later, allowing them to see whether the digital media literacy efforts took root over time.

Participants were exposed to the tips and then presented with the same series of mock headlines, which they rated for accuracy. The headlines were balanced in terms of partisan slant, well-known and lesser-known media outlets, as well as low-quality and mainstream content. While the tips were offered to respondents, they couldnt be forced to read them, so the researchers took this into account in their modeling.

This two-wave design was conducted online in both the U.S. and India, though in-person interviews were also conducted in areas of rural India where there is greater religious polarization and a potentially higher risk of misinformation spread.

The team found that the intervention improved peoples ability to discern between mainstream and false news headlines by 26.5 per cent in the U.S. and 17.5 per cent in India. In the U.S., this lessened but remained measurable several weeks later. One-third of participants also were more likely to point out a less accurate headline. Their ratings of false headlines as very accurate or somewhat accurate went from 32 per cent to 24 per cent.

While the online results between the two countries were similar, Indias face-to-face interviews yielded different results. There was no evidence that exposure to the tips increased the perceived accuracy of mainstream news articles. However, this group had much less experience with evaluating news headlines online.

The researchers listed a few caveats with their work. First, the effects were modest, and the intervention did not completely eliminate belief in false news headlines. The effects also decayed over time, suggesting the need for regular reinforcement of these lessons. Lastly, its not clear whether everyone actually read the tips.

The study provides opportunities for future research. Rather than using an intervention done by a tech company, academics could take this into their own hands by sampling people in other countries and electoral contexts. Likewise, more intensive training models could be used to see if the effects are more durable.

We see no reason why this wouldnt work for any type of misinformation. Currently, there are sources spreading misleading or even dangerous information about Covid-19 regarding protective measures, vaccines, miracle cures. We think this intervention could work in the public health domain, as well, Guess said.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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Up to 1000 Australian Defence Force personnel will be sent to Melbourne including to quarantine hotels around the city in an attempt to stem a growing COVID-19 outbreak, after the Victorian government requested military support from Canberra.

Defence officials were finalising plans with the states health authorities late on Wednesday to determine how the ADF teams would be deployed in order to slow the rapidly spreading virus.

The request came after concerns were raised about infection control standards at more than a dozen quarantine hotels where returned travellers are detained for 14 days upon arrival.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton worries quarantine hotel security staff have not maintained social distancing at work. Credit: Joe Armao

New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia are making their health officials available to assist with contact tracing in Victoria, after the state recorded another 20 new cases following days of rising numbers.
Google Images (Source: Google Blog)

Google has announced that the company will now fact check images globally to help people make informed judgments about what they see on the web.

We are surfacing fact check information in Google Images globally to help people navigate these issues and make more informed judgments about what they see on the web. This builds on the fact check features in Search and News, which people come across billions of times per year, said Harris Cohen, Group Product Manager  Search, Google.

In a blog post titled Bringing fact check information to Google Images posted on June 22, Cohen said that Google Images would now sport a "Fact Check" label under the thumbnail image results, as part of the exercise.

Now, when you search on Google Images, you may see a 'Fact Check' label under the thumbnail image results. When you tap one of these results to view the image in a larger format, youll see a summary of the fact check that appears on the underlying web page. These labels may appear both for fact check articles about specific images and for fact check articles that include an image in the story, he stated.

Fact check labels appear on results that come from independent, authoritative sources on the web that meet Googles criteria. These sources rely on ClaimReview, an open method used by publishers to indicate fact check content to search engines.

The company has highlighted fact checks on Search and in Google News to make this content easy to discover. YouTube also leverages ClaimReview to surface fact check information panels in Brazil, India and the United States.

The full fact check library can be accessed through a dedicated search tool and an open API.

Just as is the case in Search, adding this label in Google Images results does not affect ranking; our systems are designed to surface the most relevant, reliable information available, including from sources that provide fact checks, Cohen clarified.
PALO ALTO, CA and HAMBURG, Germany (June 24, 2020) -- Samsara BioCapital, a leading life sciences investment firm, Evotec SE, a global drug discovery alliance and development partnership company (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809), and KCK Ltd., a family investment fund, today announced the launch of Autobahn Labs, a novel virtual incubator partnering with top academic and research institutions to catalyze early-stage drug discovery and development. Autobahn Labs also announced a first-in-kind strategic collaboration with UCLA Technology Development Group to identify and advance the most promising areas of scientific research with the greatest potential for patient therapies.

"Autobahn Labs was created to be a catalyst for translational research, working with academic scientists and institutions to design and execute an accelerated path to deliver transformational new therapies," said Thomas Novak, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Autobahn Labs. "We are very excited to partner with UCLA, a university with a premier reputation for innovation in the life sciences, to realize the potential of that innovation for patients."

"UCLA TDG's mission is centered on innovation, research, teaching and entrepreneurship to benefit society," said Amir Naiberg, Associate Vice Chancellor, CEO & President of UCLA Technology Development Group. "TDG is exploring new models for Tech Transfer, this novel strategic collaboration with Autobahn Labs allows us to partner with industry experts earlier than ever before. We believe this will enable us to accelerate the transformation of our early scientific research into new drugs."

Built on a model of long-term partnership and collaboration, Autobahn Labs invests earlier than traditional venture financing models, providing intellectual, financial and physical capital to efficiently and effectively advance new scientific discoveries from novel concept to preclinical drug candidate. Working in partnership with leading scientists and university tech transfer offices, the incubator identifies and de-risks early-stage research projects with significant therapeutic potential. Autobahn Labs creates jointly-owned new companies and invests up to $5M per project. This model provides Principal Investigators with scientific and operational strategy as well as direct and immediate access to Evotec's state-of-the-art drug discovery and development technologies and capabilities, including more than 3,000 scientists with proven drug discovery expertise.

"Many of the most important advances in medicine were born in university labs," said Srinivas Akkaraju, MD, PhD, Managing General Partner, Samsara BioCapital. "While government funding and grants support basic research, there are limited resources available for translational research, particularly in the early stages. Autobahn Labs is investing early with a long-term perspective and a strong commitment to each program's success."

"Autobahn Labs is a one-of-a-kind incubator that builds on the well-established foundation of our model of academic partnership programs, to support multiple academic institutions," said Dr. Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec. "Providing both funding and access to a powerful drug development platform, Autobahn Labs will be able to efficiently translate the ground-breaking research of leading academic institutions into medical progress to benefit patients with unmet medical need. We are very glad about our first partnership with the internationally renowned UCLA."

Autobahn Labs has assembled a Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board composed of highly experienced biotechnology industry experts and successful drug discoverers.

Board members include:

Perry Karsen, Executive Chair of Autobahn Labs, Venture Partner at Samsara BioCapital

Thomas Novak, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Autobahn Labs

Srinivas Akkaraju, MD, PhD, Founder and Managing General Partner at Samsara BioCapital

Thomas Hanke, PhD, Executive Vice President, Head of Academic Partnerships, Evotec

Nety Krishna, PhD, Senior Managing Director, KCK

Abraham Bassan, Vice President, Samsara BioCapital (observer)

Scientific Advisors include:

John Curnutte, MD, PhD, former Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Portola Pharmaceuticals, President of Schering-Plough Biopharma

Steve Kelsey, MD, President of Research and Development at Revolution Medicines

James Larrick, MD, PhD, CEO at Panorama Research

Robert Stein, MD, PhD, Operating Partner at Samsara BioCapital

###

About Autobahn Labs

Autobahn Labs is a new model for early-stage drug discovery and development, partnering with leading research institutions to accelerate the advancement of novel science to deliver transformational new therapies for patients. We invest intellectual, financial and physical capital, applying our proven drug discovery framework to efficiently and effectively move projects from feasibility to novel drug candidates. Autobahn Labs was created by Samsara BioCapital, a leading life sciences venture capital firm, Evotec, a global leader in drug discovery research and KCK Ltd, a family investment fund. For more information, visit http://www.autobahn-labs.com.

About Samsara BioCapital

Samsara BioCapital is a new breed of biotech investment fund focused on translating cutting-edge biology into new therapies to treat patients with unmet medical needs. Founded in 2016 by Srinivas Akkaraju, MD, PhD, our team of scientists, investors, and entrepreneurs takes a long-term view to value creation across all stages of public and private life science companies. We believe in a collaborative, hands-on approach, working closely with entrepreneurs to harness exciting scientific advances and build leading companies. Samsara actively manages approximately US$410 million in assets on behalf of endowments, foundations, and family offices. For more information, visit http://www.samsaracap.com.

About Evotec SE

Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academics, patient advocacy groups and venture capitalists. We operate worldwide and our more than 3,000 employees provide the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery and development solutions from target to clinic. For additional information, please go to http://www.evotec.com and follow us on Twitter @Evotec.

About KCK Ltd.

KCK, Ltd. is a single-family, evergreen fund with offices in the SF Bay Area and New York City. We invest across a broad range of sectors and in companies of all stages in the US, Europe and Emerging Markets, including in biotech, industrials, deep tech, med tech and financial services. Our investments are flexible and long-term, with a unique focus on technically and scientifically challenging projects.
A special prosecutor's office dealing with Kosovo's 1998-99 uprising against Serbian rule said on Wednesday it had indicted Kosovo President Hashim Thaci for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity including nearly 100 murders.

The Specialist Chamber was set up in The Hague in 2015 to handle cases of alleged crimes by Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) guerrillas during the war that led to Kosovos independence from Serbia a decade later.

The indictment is "the result of a lengthy investigation and reflects the SPO's (Special Prosecutor's Office) determination that it can prove all of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt," the SPO said in a statement.

It said "others" had also been indicted including Kadri Veseli, a former speaker of Kosovo's parliament. Thaci and Veseli, both ex-top commanders in the KLA, have previously denied involvement in any war crimes during the late 1990s conflict. The SPO gave no details of the alleged war crimes.

It also said Thaci and Veseli were believed "to have carried out a secret campaign to overturn the law that created the Court and otherwise obstruct the work of the Court in an attempt to ensure that they do not face justice."

There was no immediate reaction from Thaci. But his office said later on Wednesday he had cancelled a trip to the White House in Washington for a planned first round of US-mediated talks with Serbia on normalising relations - among conditions the European Union has set for either country to join the bloc.

The Specialist Chamber is governed by Kosovo law but is staffed by international judges and prosecutors.

War crimes allegations against the KLA first surfaced in a 2011 report by the Council of Europe rights agency that accused guerrillas of killing civilian Serbs and ethnic Albanian political opponents during the 1998-99 conflict.

Local efforts to investigate alleged KLA war crimes have so far been foiled by widespread intimidation in the tiny state where clan loyalties run deep and former rebels are lionised.

The special prosecutor's office is based in the Netherlands partly to help ensure protection of witnesses.

Thaci Withdraws from White House Talks

Thaci pulled out of a White House meeting with Serbian officials set for Saturday following his indictment. US presidential envoy Richard Grenell, who invited Kosovar and Serbian officials to meet in Washington to jump start their stalled peace talks, tweeted that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci decided to postpone his trip to Washington.

Grenell wrote: "I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settle. The discussions will proceed and be led by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti," the US envoy said. Grenell said.

Thaci and nine other former separatist fighters were indicted on a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes charges by a court investigating crimes against ethnic Serbs, Albanians and Roma during and after Kosovo's 1998-99 independence war with Serbia.

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers said the indictment accuses them of being "criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders" of political opponents and Kosovar Albanian, Serb and Roma victims.
A man who contacted an ex-girlfriend about returning money told Isabella County Sheriffs Office deputies that what he got instead was physically assaulted.

Deputies were called to a local emergency department  there are two in Isabella County  at approximately 8:38 a.m. Friday by a 26-year-old man who said his exs new boyfriend, a 40-year-old man, came to the hotel where he was staying and hit him in the knee with a hammer, said Isabella County Sheriff Michael Main in an email.

The 40 year old had come to the hotel room after the man who accused him of assault had contacted the woman hed been living with to return rent and security deposit since theyd broken up.

He was also struck in the head, although its not clear whether the hammer was involved.

The man who reported the assault sought medical care for non-life threatening injuries. The suspect could not be located for an interview, Main said.

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More than 4,000 workers have walked off the job at General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) massive Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine after rejecting a new three-year contract. The development is a fresh complication for what has been a troubled operation at GD and creates fresh headaches for the Pentagon.

Workers represented by the Machinists Union Local S6 went on strike Monday, seeking changes in work rules, seniority, and subcontracting. The shipyard is already months behind on production, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the work stoppage figures to further delay deliveries.

Long-simmering tensions come to a boil

The Bath operation is one of three major shipyards in the General Dynamics portfolio. Although the jewels of the GD portfolio, the company's nuclear submarines, are built down the coast in Groton, Conn., Bath is responsible for production of the Navy's destroyers and other mid-sized ships.

Labor issues at Bath have been building for years, dating back to concessions the union accepted in the last round of negotiations to try to help the shipyard lure new business. But despite the concessions, the yard lost out in both a Coast Guard competition in 2016 and a frigate deal last year.

The pandemic added to tensions, with the union unsuccessfully calling for a two-week closure to avoid the spread of COVID-19. The Pentagon had classified Bath as an essential business, and it remained open.

Management's offer this time around came with a 3% pay raise, but workers objected to other provisions including the use of subcontractors and proposals to alter shifts that the union said was a challenge to seniority.

"Despite our repeated warnings to the management of Bath Iron Works, this employer has continued to take taxpayer dollars and outsource good Maine jobs to out-of-state contractors," Robert Martinez Jr., president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said in a statement. "The company is engaged in flat-out union-busting, and is exploiting the current pandemic to attempt to outsource work from its dedicated employees, who are risking their health to build ships that protect our national security."

There's no easy answer here

On the surface this is a minor blip for General Dynamics, with Bath accounting for less than 5% of total company sales. The yard has a total backlog of only 11 warships, and Bath as noted pales in importance to the defense contractor's Electric Boat sub facility in Connecticut.

Still, the strike complicates GD's outlook for surface ships. Bath competes with yards in lower-cost regions including Huntington Ingalls' Pascagoula, Miss., operation and Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla., which won the Coast Guard contract back in 2016. Management needs to be careful not to price itself out of the market for future business, which is part of the reason GD is pushing for more subcontractor work in the new deal.

The Pentagon, too, will be watching closely. The Navy has been vocal about its concerns with the health of its dwindling industrial base. Ove the last 60 years 17 defense-related yards have either closed or walked away from defense, while only one new shipyard has opened.

The Navy has aggressive expansion plans but also faces a growing budget pinch. So, the service both needs General Dynamics to bring down Bath costs, while also smoothing out labor issues and getting the yard up to full production.

This is an unneeded distraction

General Dynamics holders are familiar with rough waters, with the stock vastly underperforming other large defense contractors over the past five years. The trouble during that time has largely been the company's aerospace unit, as the Gulfstream business jets was mired in a slump for nearly a decade.

Before the pandemic, Gulfstream was beginning to show signs of life, and getting that division airborne is the single most important thing management can do to close the gap with other defense primes. But shipbuilding is an important piece of the puzzle for GD, and while Electric Boat gets most of the attention, management desperately needs to figure out a way to make Bath work.

Bath is a small but important part of General Dynamics. The sooner management can get the strike resolved, the better.
Mention Bride to any auto enthusiast and most will likely think of their various array of aftermarket seats. From fixed bucket seats like the Zeta and Zieg series to the reclining Stradia and Euroster seat models, Bride has plenty on offer.

But with the COVID-19 still posing a threat against the global population, Bride decided to use their expertise in making seats into something that will protect people from catching/spreading the disease. Instead of just making seats for automobiles, Bride is now also making face masks called 'BR3D Mask'.

Set to be released to the Japanese market on June 26, 2020, Bride claims these face masks are made using the same technology for cutting and sewing cloth materials for seats. But instead of using a new cloth to make the masks, the new product makes use of scraps during the sheet manufacturing process so nothing goes to waste.
Timi Frank, former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on the Nigerian Army to immedi...

Timi Frank, former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on the Nigerian Army to immediately release Lance Corporal Martins.





Martins was arrested after making a video that criticized the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and other security chiefs.





The soldier was reportedly picked up by senior military officers, who said they were acting on orders from above.





In a viral video, the soldier condemned Buratai, Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin and other military heads over the incessant killings in Nigeria.





He lambasted them for ordering the detention of soldiers, who demanded better weapons and ammunition to combat Boko Haram and other sects.





On Twitter, Frank said after watching Martins video, he concluded that Nigeria is indeed in big trouble.





Im very disappointed with our Service Chiefs. With this video, it is obvious we dont have Service Chiefs but Service Thieves. And that is why the country will continue to remain in a helpless state like this.





He said the footage has clearly shown the reason why these Service Chiefs have refused to retire, even when theyre due for retirement.





Nigeria is supposed to be the Giant of Africa, rather we are the Giant of Thieves. With all the military war chest we have, Nigeria still cannot defeat Boko Haram, rather a country like Chad was able to extinct Boko Haram around their region.





Frank noted that Nigeria has a very strong military force, but there has been no support for them to carry out their duties, because of the corruption amongst the Service Chiefs.





He added that from all indications, Boko Haram is more prepared than our military. Because the Service Thieves keep embezzling all the money that is meant for equipment..





Nigerians should stop seeing these criminals as Service Chiefs, but as Service Thieves. I hereby call on the release of Lance Corporal. He should be celebrated, not arrested. He has Nigerias interests at heart, Frank said
The Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS), a regional leader in banking and finance education and training, has launched Insight, the first-ever specialised online learning platform to facilitate best-in-class financial education outside the physical classroom.

This is a step towards enhancing its value proposition to its customers and offer a holistic e-learning experience.

The Insight platform has been completely curated in-house by EIBFS to upskill the UAE and GCC nationals in the banking and finance field through a blended format of interactive learning programmes. Banking and finance professionals currently have free access to the platform, which offers nearly 100 courses as on date.

Amidst the ongoing pandemic and the challenges it has posed to the education sector  particularly those planning to upskill themselves in professional banking and finance courses, EIBFS first pioneered the online education in the banking industry through the relevant distance learning programs and now has taken a step further to create the Insight platform.

With its roster of over 100 value-added courses which includes full-fledged programmes to focused learning series short-term programs and designed to impart basic to advanced sills to banking and finance professionals, EIBFS seeks to ensure uninterrupted learning through Insight. The courses come in various modules with bite-sized videos to make educational consumption easy and light.

Speaking about Insight, Jamal Al Jassmi, General Manager of EIBFS, said: In the current exceptional times, change is inevitable, and we need to be prepared. As the regions premium banking and finance institute, EIBFS is keen to cater to the needs of its trainees and ensure they enjoy a seamless experience to the extent possible.

In early March, we started offering online courses. However, we soon transitioned to building a fully independent, best-in-class platform that would offer over 100 interactive courses to bankers. Our initial readiness allowed our teams to go further in achieving an interactive classroom format even online. With Insight, our focus remains to provide best-in-class education to the regions banking and finance professionals under all circumstances.

The courses on the Insight platform span functional skills and soft skills development across the broader categories of fintech, data analytics, corporate banking and management, trade finance, compliance and anti-money laundering, risk management, Islamic banking and business communication, as well as treasury and investments and personal development.

The focus on self-management, leadership training and personal development indicate the growing criticality of these skills in the regions maturing banking industry. Furthermore, with Covid-19 dramatically altering the industry and the job skills needed, these programs will prove vital to banking professionals seeking to reskill to stay relevant.

The course content is designed to offer students convenience and flexibility and is customised to address their requirements. The region has seen a paradigm shift in its approach to education, emerging from the need for greater flexibility during Covid-19 to accommodate the changing work structures and schedules of individuals that work and study at the same time.

The EIBFS team has designed the platform to maximise self-paced learning thereby providing trainees time to complete each course. Learners will also receive e-certificates upon completion of each course.

EIBFS has worked relentlessly to put together an integrated plan to ensure a smooth transition from classroom learning to the virtual format. Among key readiness measures now in place, all the Institutes devices and databases can be accessed from any place the trainees choose.

Jamal Al Jassmi added: Among our unique offerings on the platform is a set of soft skill programs that are geared to help the trainees build their interpersonal skills, relationship skills, and management and leadership skills. With the changing requirements of our industry today, we aim to ensure a holistic learning experience that will empower our students to face the new reality as digitally agile and future focused professionals.

EIBFS aims to have over 150 courses on the Insight platform by the end of 2021. The Institute has also begun testing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to initiate advanced, adaptive learning which will customise each users experience and offer progress insights. -- Tradearabia News Service
SYDNEY, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Now's the time to start planning the next trip to New South Wales, Australia, and a must visit is the beautiful country town of Orange. With a well-deserved reputation for producing excellent food and wine, stunning landscapes and a fascinating history, Orange is the perfect destination for a country getaway. Located 3.5 hours' drive or a short flight from Sydney, visit for a foodie weekend or a longer stay.

With a high altitude and rich volcanic soil from nearby Mount Canobolas, Orange has the ideal conditions to produce cool-climate wines, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Visitors will also find incredible regional produce, from apples, pears and exotic fruits to cheese, meat and craft beer.

Begin the foodie weekend with coffee and some baked goods at local gem, Bills Beans in East Orange.

Once visitors get their caffeine fix, it's time to explore one of Orange's many wine trails , leading to more than 60 vineyards and 40 cellar doors, including Heifer Station Wines , Swinging Bridge , Philip Shaw Wines and Ross Hill Wines . If there is trouble choosing, take a bespoke tour with Orange Wine Tours or Vine Venture Tours .

After a day of wine tasting, enjoy a leisurely dinner at one of Orange's many fine-dining restaurants. Options include Charred , who use the best quality local produce, partnered with their newly commissioned "Lucifer" wood and charcoal oven to impart a unique flavour. A tasting at Rowlee Wines can be followed up with a three-course meal at onsite restaurant Racine , or enjoy a meal at the hatted Lolli Redini , headed by one of Australia's most acclaimed female chefs, Simonn Hawke.

Orange offers many boutique accommodation options to retire for the evening; choose from charming cottages at Mayfield Vineyard , glamping at Nashdale Lane Wines , or spend the night in a converted shearing shed at Black Sheep Inn . Hotel accommodation is also available at Quest , Oriana or newly opened Byng Street Boutique Hotel .

Start day two of the country escape with a delicious breakfast at Byng Street Local Store or Good Eddy , and then enjoy some boutique shopping in Orange's charming stores. The Sonic offers an exciting selection of clothing, accessories and homewares from some of Australia's top designers in a stunning space, and a short stroll down the street, The White Place is a great destination for stylish furniture, cushions and rugs.

Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Orange's surrounding historic towns and villages  stroll the quaint, heritage-listed streets of Millthorpe or Carcoar , full of beautifully preserved 19th Century buildings, followed by a delicious, seasonally focused lunch at Tonic . For something a little more casual, visit the Agrestic Grocer back in Orange  a unique shopping and dining experience, which also offers live music on the weekends.

Before returning to Sydney, make sure to stop in the beautiful Nangar National Park for bushwalking or spotting the local wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies, peregrine falcons and wedge-tailed eagles.

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Figures just published reveal the number of children in the UK who were in paediatric intensive care units with COVID-19.

Compiled by the Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network (PICANet), the statistical report provides the first picture of how many children were severely ill with coronavirus, their ethnic and patient characteristics, and the number who died.

PICANet is run jointly by the University and the University of Leicester to collate data on children's intensive care with the aim of identifying best clinical practice and facilitating healthcare planning. It carried out daily monitoring of all children testing positive for COVID-19 on paediatric intensive care units (PICUs), in the NHS and independent hospitals.

The report collates figures for the period from March 15th, one week before lockdown, to June 13th:

71 children were admitted to a PICU. They tested positive for the virus either prior to being admitted or during their stay

Five children died

Three children remained in intensive care (when the data collection period ended on June 13th).

63 children were discharged to an alternative intensive care facility, another hospital ward or went home.

The median age of the children was nine years old, with the inter-quartile range stretching from one year to 13 years.

Almost two-thirds of the children were male (61%)

Dr Peter Davis, Chair of the PICANet Clinical Advisory Group and a specialist in paediatric intensive care, said: "Fortunately, severe COVID-19 infection in children is relatively rare, with only a small number of those children having tested positive for the virus needing intensive care support.

"Outside of London, the numbers of children affected were extremely low, with some Paediatric Intensive Care Units not caring for any COVID-19 positive children so far during this pandemic.

"Less than two-thirds of children testing positive and admitted to PICU needed invasive ventilation and lengths of stay were generally of only a few days. Overall, only 5 deaths in Paediatric Intensive Care Units occurred in children with a positive test for the virus, although it is impossible to confirm at this stage if the death was directly attributable to COVID-19 infection or not."

Patient characteristics

Around one third of the children were white (30%), almost a quarter were of Asian heritage (23%) and 14% were black. Data on the ethnicity of 21% of the children was unavailable as it was not submitted to PICANet."

Just under 60% of the children were admitted for infections or respiratory conditions.

While in intensive care, 60% of the children required the highest level of support with their breathing, invasive ventilation for a median of six days  the inter-quartile range was from three to 12 days. Over 90% of the children were admitted as medical emergencies.

Dr Richard Feltbower, co-principal investigator at PICANet and Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology in the School of Medicine at Leeds, said: "The data shows the number of children who tested positive for COVID-19 prior to being admitted into paediatric intensive care or while they were in a PICU. It is worth stressing that some might not have been in a PICU primarily because of COVID-19: they may have had other health conditions.

"Further analysis will investigate whether any of the children were experiencing a rare inflammatory disease linked to COVID-19 called paediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome.

"We will also investigate whether childhood obesity influences the risk of suffering a severe form of COVID-19."

Professor Liz Draper, co-principal investigator at PICANet and Professor of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology at the University of Leicester, said: "Given the geographical distribution of admissions, with the majority being cared for in London PICUs, and other units within major conurbations with large BAME populations, and the relatively small numbers of children affected, it is impossible to confirm whether or not certain ethnic groups of children are at greater risk of severe COVID-19 illness in the way that has been described in adults.

"However, previously published PICANet studies covering a number of years before this pandemic, and including much larger numbers, have already shown South Asian children to be almost twice as likely to be admitted to a PICU as compared to children of non-South Asian ethnicity, and once admitted to a PICU to be at greater risk of mortality."

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: The PICANet report is available online: The PICANet report is available online: www.picanet.org.uk/wp-content/  _2020-06-23_v1.3.pdf
With the rising number of coronavirus cases in Delhi, the state government is ramping up its strategy to combat the risk of the fatal disease. As per Delhi government's revised strategy, every house will now be screened by July 6. Every house in the containment zones will be screened by June 30. All symptomatic and asymptomatic cases will be tested in containment zones between 5th and 10th day. There are a total of 261 containment zones in Delhi, so far.

The city will be conducting a serological survey from June 27 till July 10. At least 20,000 samples will be collected as a part of a sero survey.

A strict monitoring plan will also be implemented at the district level. The state government has mandated everyone to download the Aarogya Setu app, especially in the worst-affected neighborhoods.

Furthermore, in the containment zones, the movement will be restricted by police by using CCTV cameras. Rapid antigen testing will also be done in such areas.

Two hotels - Ginger Hotel and Tulip Hotel - have been dedicated as COVID care centres for healthcare workers. Besides, the government has directed private hospitals in the city to reserve nearly 60 per cent beds for the COVID-19 patients, adding that those beds will be provided in subsidised rates.

According to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi has almost tripled its testing per day. The national capital is now conducting 18,000 tests daily from 5,000 tests, Kejriwal said in a press conference on Monday.

Kejriwal added that his Aam Aadmi Party government would provide pulse oximeters to all Covid-19 patients who are in-home quarantine as part of the revised strategy to contain the spread of the virus.

Delhi overtook Tamil Nadu on Sunday as the second worst-hit state by the pandemic after Maharashtra. More than 2,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 have been reported so far by the national capital. The city, on Wednesday, reported 66,602 cases of coronavirus, out of which 24,988 are active cases and 2,301 deaths. So far, the capital city has been able to discharge or cure 39,313 corona-infected patients.

Also read: Coronavirus testing in India: Check out testing cost, COVID-19 testing centre near you, other details

Also read: Patanjali drug to be given go-ahead only after thorough review, says AYUSH ministry
By PTI

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government on Wednesday issued an order notifying establishment of fever clinics and swab collection centres in 66 private hospitals or medical colleges in the city, aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.

It said, with the spike in number of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases, there is a need to increase the number of fever clinics and swab collection centres. "The private medical colleges and private hospitals are instructed to work as fever clinics cum swab collection centres," the order dated Tuesday with a list of 66 private medical colleges and hospitals said.

ALSO READ| Karnataka government mulls another lockdown across Bengaluru as COVID-19 cases spike

It said that they should do the triaging of ILI and SARI cases to find COVID-19 suspects, draw the swabs as per testing policy of the state government, use the software application meant for fever clinics and swab collection centres and make it available for transportation to labs identified by the government.

"The institution will collect their regular OPD charges for triaging and a maximum of Rs 350 for each swab from the patient. The test will be conducted at government's cost," it added. Karnataka was the first state in the country to come out with the concept of fever or flu clinics.

These have been established as the first point of contact for persons suffering from coronavirus like symptoms- fever, cold, cough, sore throat, breathlessness etc. The state has improved its daily testing capacity from a few hundred tests in April to more than 10,000 now.

oting that the state has more than 600 fever clinics and over 1,172 Swab collection centres to screen patients and collect the swab in case the patient was suspected of COVID-19, the notification said, in Bengaluru city the various urban public health centres have been converted into fever clinics. Already 52 government managed fever clinics cum swab collection centres are functional.

ALSO READ| Karnataka announces COVID-19 treatment cap for private hospitals

Pointing to the rise in number of ILIs and SARI cases and the need to increase the number of fever clinics and swab collection centres, it said many private hospitals or all medical colleges in Bengaluru have the capacity to run such clinic cum collection centres. "Therefore, the order is passed under Sec. 2 of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, read with Karnataka Epidemic Disease Ordinance, 2020 to control the spread of COVID-l9 & in the public interest," it added.

Bengaluru till last evening has reported a total of 1,505 positive cases of COVID -19, which includes 73 deaths and 435 discharges. The city on Tuesday reported 107 new positive cases.
LOS ANGELESAdult performer Ginger Banks alleges she was sexually assaulted by John Stagliano during her girl/girl scene with Jenny Blighe that he directed for the 2018 production, Cam Girls: The Movie, confirming she filed a police report in late May against the Hall of Fame director/owner for what she said was unwanted, non-consensual touching at the beginning of the performance.



Its 100 percent considered sexual battery, Banks told AVN. I signed up for a girl/girl scene. The second he starts touching my tits and my assI dont care how many times hes done this beforeits wrong.  I went to the police and filed a report in West Hollywood; Im meeting with the detectives. As soon as one of my friends outside the industry told me, This is not OK, it made me realize that it isnt. It made me feel empowered that you should get justice and things are going to change.



Stagliano, also known as Buttman, the on-camera persona he became known for in the late '80s, told AVN, I was assured by [Evil Chris], the director of the [documentary] part of the movie, that both girls were told they could stop a scene at any time if there was a problem. Also I checked to make sure the girls had watched the scene they were told to watch of me directing Kissa Sins and Katrina Jade in a girl/girl scene.

The scene is available for anyone who cares to judge for themselves.

Evil Chris had no comment at post time.

Following her police report filing, Banks said she spoke with detectives on June 17. After they complete their interview with Stagliano, Banks said, they will be submitting their report to the L.A. County District Attorney and it will be her decision whether charges are filed.



In a video posted on her Twitter page on June 7, Banks said she was proud of the adult industry for standing up for itself earlier this month and pointed to taking accountability for enabling these abusers.

Banks admitted to AVN she was really confused about what happened on the set of Cam Girls, adding that a lot of people had really normalized what had happened.

I was told, Dont make such a big deal about it. You should be really grateful that you got this feature for Evil Angel. But I started to see a lack of accountability for John Stagliano and lack of desire to want to changeeven if this was a huge miscommunication, Banks said.

"None of that was discussed beforehand. We were professionals making it look like we were enjoying what we were doing. But after it happened my goal was to make sure it wasnt going to happen again.

Banks said the reason she didnt speak out in 2018 was because I didnt want any more public backlash to come towards me.

I didnt want to open myself up to be attacked anymore, even though deep down I knew the truth," Banks said. I was in denial. I was being gaslit into believing this stuff was normal.
People crossing the border between France and Spain at Behobie, southwestern France on Sunday. Spain reopened its borders to European tourists Sunday in a bid to kickstart its economy. Read more

BRUSSELS  Americans are unlikely to be allowed into Europe when the continent reopens its borders next week, because of how the coronavirus pandemic is flaring in the U.S. and President Donald Trumps ban on Europeans entering the United States.

European nations appear on track to reopen their borders between each other by July 1, and their representatives in Brussels are now debating what virus-related criteria should apply when lifting border restrictions to the outside world that were imposed in March.

In recommendations to EU nations on June 11, the European Commission said travel restrictions should not be lifted as regards third countries where the situation is worse" than the average in the 27 EU member countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

That is likely to rule out the United States, where new coronavirus infections have surged to the highest level in two months, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. After trending down for well over a month, new U.S. cases have risen for more than a week.

The U.S. on Tuesday reported 34,700 new cases of the virus, bringing its total to more than 2.3 million and over 121,000 dead  the most anywhere in the world. The virus outbreaks in Brazil, India and Russia are remarkably high too, and its also unlikely that the EU will let their citizens in.

In contrast, aside from a notable new outbreak tied to a slaughterhouse in western Germany, the virus's spread has slowed notably across the EU and particularly in the 26 nations that make up Europes visa-free travel zone known as the Schengen area, which more than 15 million Americans visit each year.

For the EUs executive arm, the key criteria for opening up to the outside world should include the number of new infections per 100,000 population  the exact ceiling is up for debate  and the countrys overall response to the pandemic, in terms of testing, surveillance, treatment, contact tracing and reporting cases.

But more than this, the country should lift its own travel restrictions for Europeans from all EU and Schengen nations, the commission said, adding "it cannot be applied selectively.

Brussels fears that opening up to countries outside in ad hoc way could lead to the reintroduction of border controls between nations inside the Schengen area, threatening once again Europes cherished principle of free movement, which allows people and goods to cross borders without checks.

This principle of reciprocity on its own should rule out U.S. citizens, at least initially. The aim is to revise the list of acceptable countries every two weeks based on developments.

In a decree on March 11, Trump suspended the entry of all people in the Schengen area. More than 10 million Europeans visit the United States each year.

The potential for undetected transmission of the virus by infected individuals seeking to enter the United States from the Schengen Area threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security, Trumps proclamation said.
Michael Minasi /Contributor

In the Republican runoff for the District 5 seat on the State Board of Education, we give an extremely tepid recommendation to Lani Popp, a speech pathologist in the Northside Independent School District.

We have major disagreements with Popp on a number of issues, but there really is no choice in this race. Her opponent, Robert Morrow, the former chair of the 2016 Travis County Republican Party, is unqualified for any elected office. A crude provocateur, Morrow has said, if elected to the SBOE, he would advocate that a false conspiracy theory about President John F. Kennedys assassination be placed in Texas textbooks.
Argonne scientists Michael Bishof, Maria Chan, Marco Govoni, Alessandro Lovato, Bogdan Nicolae and Stefan Wild are among 76 scientists across the nation awarded funding for their work through DOEs Early Career Research Program.

The program, now in its eleventh year, awards each recipient with at least $500,000 per year for five years to advance their research. Offered by DOEs Office of Science, the award is designed to bolster the nations scientific workforce by providing support to exceptional researchers during crucial early career years, when many scientists perform their most formative work. The awardees were selected from a large and competitive pool of university- and national laboratory-based applicants.

"By bolstering our commitment to the scientific community, we invest in our nation's next generation of innovators.  Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar

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 DOE Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar. "By bolstering our commitment to the scientific community, we invest in our nation's next generation of innovators.

Michael Bishof

Quantum devices, such as quantum computers, provide a novel approach to solve significant problems in nuclear physics that cannot be solved using classical computers.

Such problems lie at the heart of nuclear physics: to fundamentally understand how properties of nuclei and their components, protons and neutrons, emerge from the underlying theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD)  a framework to describe interactions between quarks and gluons, the building blocks of protons and neutrons. While general purpose quantum computers have demonstrated rapid progress in recent years, they are still many years away from addressing these questions.

Michael Bishof, a physicist in Argonnes Physics division, aims to accelerate the impact of quantum information science on nuclear physics. Bishofs goal is to develop a quantum simulator that is tailored to address specific challenges in this field. In contrast to a quantum computer, which maps each problem to a set of standard operations on quantum bits, or qubits, a quantum simulator manipulates an experimental apparatus to behave like the system under investigation.

The specific system Bishof will use for this project is an array of laser-trapped ytterbium atoms.

This experimental platform offers resource-efficient simulations of a simplified  but rich  model for interacting quarks, which will enable rapid progress toward simulations of poorly understood phenomena in nuclear physics and inform future simulations of more complex theories as quantum devices improve.

QCD presents a rather annoying puzzle to nuclear physics. It is impossible to directly observe the behavior of quarks and gluons, and not even the most powerful supercomputers can calculate how they work together to give protons, neutrons and nuclei the properties we observe in experiments, said Bishof. Quantum devices could one day help solve this puzzle, and this research will accelerate progress toward that goal.

Bishofs research was selected for funding by DOEs Office of Nuclear Physics.

Maria Chan

To design new and improved materials for energy storage and conversion, scientists must understand and control existing materials. Such understanding depends on precise knowledge of the atomic and electronic structures of materials during synthesis and operation. Materials characterization using X-ray, electron, laser and scanning probes can, in principle, contribute to this knowledge, but interpreting the data is a substantial challenge.

Maria Chan, a scientist at Argonnes Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM), a DOE Office of Science User Facility, is developing a theory-informed artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) toolkit for accelerating the characterization of materials.

The AI and ML computational framework will allow researchers to determine atomic positions in real time from experimental characterization data. The user friendly toolkit is titled FANTASTX (Fully Automated Nanoscale To Atomistic Structure from Theory and eXperiment).

Implementing the FANTASTX framework involves developing and connecting approaches for the simulation of X-ray, electron, laser and scanning probe data; adopting and applying pattern recognition and computer vision algorithms; and constructing and training ML models to find the relationship between experimental data and the local atomic environment in a material sample.

Real-time determination of atomic-scale structural information will accelerate the understanding and design of nanoscale materials for energy applications and more.

Chans research was selected for funding by DOEs Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

Marco Govoni

The development of quantum technologies that can store and manipulate information has the potential to provide groundbreaking discoveries that can transform computing technologies and generate a new class of nanoscale sensors.

Marco Govoni, a materials scientist in Argonnes Materials Science division (MSD) and Center for Molecular Engineering (CME), aims to provide broad and predictive theoretical models to help accelerate the experimental examination of candidate materials for quantum applications.

The electronic states of defects in semiconductors are promising units of quantum information because they combine the quantum properties of isolated atoms with the convenience and scalability of a solid-state host system.

Govoni will develop new computational capabilities to model light-activated mechanisms within quantum materials where contradictory needs for isolation and accessibility must be reconciled in order to obtain robust quantum functionality.

I am grateful to the Department of Energy for the award. This is an incredible opportunity to solve a materials science challenge and explore new and exciting paths for computing, communication and sensing, said Govoni.

The project will leverage advanced computational techniques to provide a quantitative description of a wide range of materials to better guide and understand experimental activities. In particular, Govoni will harness pre-exascale computing, quantum computing and AI, while taking advantage of Argonnes expertise and world-class user facilities.

Govonis research was selected for funding by DOEs Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

Alessandro Lovato

Alessandro Lovato, a physicist in Argonnes Physics division, aims to aid domestic nuclear experimental programs by providing a unified theoretical picture of atomic nuclei in terms of the individual interactions among their constituents: protons and neutrons.

Lovato is developing novel computational methods, such as artificial neural networks and deep learning algorithms, in order to probe these interactions.

The research project will produce breakthrough developments of existing computational analysis methods, enabling the study of nuclei with a higher number of protons and neutrons than is currently possible with limited, existing quantum Monte Carlo computational approaches.

"I will leverage forthcoming exascale computing resources, including Argonnes Aurora  set to be deployed in 2021  as well as machine learning techniques, to foster our understanding of short- and long-range dynamics of atomic nuclei, said Lovato.

Testing the structure of atomic nuclei and their reactions at low energies is the primary focus of several domestic experimental facilities, including the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS), a DOE Office of Science User Facility; the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory; and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University. Experiments at Thomas Jefferson Laboratory and the forthcoming Electron-Ion Collider at DOEs Brookhaven National Laboratory also probe the internal structure and behavior of the nucleus.

Besides covering many areas in nuclear physics, this research has critical applications in high-energy physics, specifically on the study of neutrino oscillation. It will also impact astrophysics, as nuclear dynamics is imprinted in the gravitational waves and neutrino emission signals of merging neutron stars.

Lovatos research was selected for funding by DOEs Office of Nuclear Physics.

Bogdan Nicolae

Bogdan Nicolae is a computer scientist in Argonnes Mathematics and Computer Science (MCS) division. His project, called DataStates, is aimed at ef?ciently storing and processing the massive datasets generated at warp speeds by modern supercomputers and scientific instruments. In this context, the need to capture, search and reuse datasets on the fly as they are calculated is amplified by the increasing convergence between simulations and the application of machine learning to discovery science.

Current data management approaches do not have the required data manipulation capabilities or the scalability, performance and space efficiency to perform well on leadership-class computing systems. Nicolaes research will involve development of a new data model in which users do not interact with a data service to read and write datasets directly, but instead, tag their datasets with certain attributes or properties. Implementing the model will automatically add snapshots of the datasets  called data states  into the lineage, providing a data history that can be used to search, reuse and understand the evolution of the datasets.

"Supercomputers and scientific instruments are generating more data at an accelerated rate, making it increasingly difficult to efficiently store and manipulate data at a large scale, said Nicolae. To address this problem, DataStates explores transformative data models and techniques at the intersection of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and big data analytics. I am grateful to DOE for this opportunity and excited to leverage the facilities we have here at Argonne, where Aurora, one of the first exascale supercomputers, will arrive in 2021."

The project will improve research in multiple areas, allowing scientists to extract meaningful insight from the data deluge, improving data reproducibility, encouraging collaboration and development of new algorithms and ideas, and facilitating advances in AI.

Nicolaes research was selected for funding by DOEs Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research.

Stefan Wild

The growing interest in applying ML and AI methods in the discovery sciences has expanded optimization problems. Stefan Wild is a computational mathematician in Argonnes MCS division, whose research addresses complex design, decision and control problems.

Whereas traditional mathematical optimization methods are limited by requirements for derivative information, Wilds research centers on methods that can help scientists train and calibrate models, reduce empirical risk and design better experiments, even when such requirements cannot be met.

Application of these methods raises numerous challenges. Scienti?c phenomena are complex, accurate simulations are expensive and research often requires characterization at multiple size and time scales in a variety of high-performance computing environments.

Wild is undertaking an ambitious project to address these challenges by developing a set of novel algorithms  the set of rules or recipe that a computer uses to solve problems  and numerical methods that can be used to improve the efficiency of scientific machine learning. His project will establish a robust mathematical foundation for scientific machine learning and optimization in increasingly complex high-performance computing environments and inspire use of the novel mathematic methods in diverse science domains.

Im excited to have this opportunity to tackle these challenging mathematical problems and am grateful for being in an environment with so many exceptional colleagues, Wild said.

Wilds research was selected for funding by DOEs Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research.

About Argonnes Center for Nanoscale Materials

The Center for Nanoscale Materials is one of the five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers, premier national user facilities for interdisciplinary research at the nanoscale supported by the DOE Office of Science. Together the NSRCs comprise a suite of complementary facilities that provide researchers with state-of-the-art capabilities to fabricate, process, characterize and model nanoscale materials, and constitute the largest infrastructure investment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The NSRCs are located at DOEs Argonne, Brookhaven, Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge, Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. For more information about the DOE NSRCs, please visit https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities/User-Facilities-at-a-Glance.

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nations first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance Americas scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Science.

The U.S. Department of Energys Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  State prosecutors have recommended hazing and murder charges against the Philippine Military Academy cadets and doctors involved in the fatal hazing of Darwin Dormitorio in 2019.

In a June 5 resolution obtained by CNN Philippines on Wednesday, the Baguio City Prosecutors Office ruled on the complaint filed by the Dormitorio family in the controversial case that forced the resignation of the head of the PMA.

Prosecutors recommended hazing charges against third class cadets Shalimar Imperial, Felix Lumbag, and Julius Tadena for the maltreatment suffered by Dormitorio, who was then a 20-year-old fourth class cadet.

Police investigation showed that Dormitorio endured a month of maltreatment at the hands of several upperclassmen, which lead to his death in September 2019.

Prosecutors said Imperial and Lumbag should be charged with murder, along with Cesar Candelaria, commanding officer of the PMA Station Hospital, and attending physicians Captain Flor Apple Apostol and Major Ofelia Beloy.

Dormitorio was brought to the PMA Hospital on September 17, 2019 where he was diagnosed with urinary tract infection and discharged after a four-hour observation. Hours later, he was back to the barracks where he started vomiting.

He was found unconscious early morning the next day, and was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

"LUMBAG JR. and IMPERIAL JR. intentionally and consistently beat DORMITORIO and internal injuries that resulted were the proximate cause of the death; and Doctors APOSTOL, CANDELARIA, and BELOY also grossly failed to provide adequate medical care to DORMITORIO, which also caused the latters death," the resolution of the Prosecutor's Office's read.

Manwhile, Tadena should be prosecuted and charged with less serious physical injuries, the prosecutors ruled.

Former PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista and former PMA Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, were cleared for lack of probable cause.

The prosecutors noted that as leaders of the Baguio-based military education institution, they addressed the issue by ordering an investigation.

Charges against the following individuals were also dismissed for lack of probable cause: first class cadet Axl Rey Sanopao, third class cadets Rey David John Volante, and John Vincent Manalo, senior tactical officer Major Rex Bolo, and Echo company tactical officer Captain Jeffrey Batistiana.

Bolo, Batistiana, as well as the PMA physicians involved were all sacked following the fatal hazing of Dormitorio. All suspects denied any hand in Dormitorio's death, with the doctors saying they were only performing their duties.
Icy blasts sweeping across Australia have seen temperatures plunge to below freezing across the east coast.

Queenslanders woke to one of the coldest mornings of the year on Thursday, with temperatures plunging well below zero in some parts of the Sunshine State.

Meteorologists have warned that temperatures could drop further still as cool, dry air moves sweeps through Queensland and New South Wales.

Warwick, 130 kilometres south-west of Brisbane, was the coldest town on Thursday with temperatures dropping to -2C.

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Queenslanders woke to one of the coldest mornings on Thursday, with frost blanketing some areas (pictured is a frosty field in Stanthorpe, Queensland)

Walkers rugged up at they made their way along Bondi Beach on Tuesday

Kimba Wong, from the Bureau of Meteorology, told Daily Mail Australia it was the coldest of the year for a number of areas across the state.

Sunshine Coast Airport was just 3.3C - the coolest it has been since July last year, she said.

Wellcamp Airport dropped to -1.3C.

'It was a frosty start for some but it's warming quickly,' she said.

'A blanket of dry air is mostly keeping clouds and rain away. These cooler mornings will gradually start to increase from tomorrow and into the weekend.'

She warned of frosty conditions should be expected for the remainder of the week.

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.

Melburnians will shiver through lows of 7C lows on Friday after showers on Thursday.

A mother takes a photo of her son at Mount Buller, Australia. Ski season has officially kicked off after weeks of delay due to the coronavirus pandemic

The cold temperatures are being driven across southern Queensland from south-western Australia, Queensland Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Peter Markworth said

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.

However, the the wet weather will ease heading into the weekend, minimum temperatures will drop to 4C on Saturday and Sunday.

The cold blast came as the New South Wales and Victoria ski season officially kicked off after weeks of delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A woman is seen in a coast and scarf as she walks near Bondi Beach. Temperatures dropped to a cool 9C in the city this week

A trio walk along Bondi Beach while wearing their winter woolies, temperatures plunged this week

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.

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.

Canberra will be the coldest capital city this week, with a low of zero degrees.

A woman covers up with a hooded coat while walking along the sand at Bondi Beach on Tuesday

Minimum temperatures hovered around 1C for the entire week, but by Thursday conditions should start to improve.

A front barreling across the southwest over the next few days will generate rain and strong winds along the southern west coast.

Perth, Hobart and Adelaide have seen scattered showers throughout the week but that looks to clear by the end of the week. Temperatures will sit around a cool 15C.

Darwin is in for some sunny weather this week with temperatures ranging from the 20s into the 30s.
Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates is urging Premier Doug Ford to intervene after major grocery store operators scrapped the $2 wage increase for workers before the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

Gates called on Ford to use his powers to get these companies to immediately reinstate pandemic pay for their workers.

When this pandemic began, billion-dollar companies like Loblaws (sic) and Walmart couldnt wait to call their workers heroes. Yet, just three months later, now that its not in the news  the billionaire families that own these companies have clawed back the $2 pandemic pay they gave their workers, said Gates in the Ontario legislature.

These greedy families are raking in record profits during this pandemic, while their workers are still working at their own risk on the front lines to keep our communities safe and put food on our shelves.

Gates said many local grocers, including one in Niagara Falls, are still doing the right thing by paying their workers extra as the pandemic continues.

In Niagara Falls, its actually the small, independent, locally owned grocery stores that are paying for the pandemic pay out of their own pockets.
Efforts of medical teams affiliated with the Libyan UN-backed Government of National Accord continue to recover bodies found in mass graves in the city of Tarhuna, in the west of the country.

Teams from the Libyan Red Crescent, field medicine and forensics, affiliated with the Searching and Identification Authority for Missing Persons were able to locate the mass graves after receiving reports about them last week.

The teams were able to recover 10 bodies after the approval of the Libyan Attorney General and are now in the process of resuming digging operations to retrieve the remaining bodies.

The GNA announced on Saturday that they had found 190 bodies in hospitals and mass graves in Tarhuna and areas south of the capital, Tripoli, since June 5.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) said it has received credible information about the existence of 11 mass graves in the city of Tarhuna in southeast Libya and its surrounding areas, which may constitute evidence of war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Tarhuna city, located 100 km (60 miles) southeast of the capital Tripoli, was under the control of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Hiftar, until recently when they withdrew to the east of the country after a series of attacks by forces of the GNA backed by the Turkish military.
Huawei's opened its second global flagship store in Shanghai

Chinese telecom giant Huawei opened its second global flagship store in Shanghai on Wednesday, part of plans to strengthen its brand in its core Chinese consumer market as it faces headwinds overseas.

Hundreds of face mask-wearing customers queued up to enter the 5,000-square-metre (54,000-square-foot) storeHuawei's largestlocated on the city's busiest shopping street and directly across from a retail outlet of rival Apple.

Company representatives said Huawei intends to open several more such stores in China in the coming year to showcase its smartphones and other consumer tech, plans that they said were conceived before the US government launched a worldwide campaign against the firm about 18 months ago.

Huawei is the world's largest supplier of telecom network equipment and planet's number two smartphone maker.

The Trump administration accuses Huawei of stealing American trade secrets and says its telecommunications equipment could be used by Beijing for espionage.

Washington has essentially banned Huawei from the US market, urged other countries to shun its network gear, and is seeking to cut it off from global semiconductor suppliers.

The international rancour was on 80-year-old retiree Chen Yannian's mind as he shopped for a new handphone.

Huawei is looking to strengthen its consumer base in China as it faces headwinds overseas

"To be honest, with the United States suppressing Huawei, we must support Huawei," Chen said.

He also cited the ongoing detention in Canada of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhoudaughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei. She is fighting a US extradition request related to charges that Huawei violated Iran sanctions.

"America is not only suppressing Huawei, but all of China," he said. "If we can, we should try our best to support patriotism, right?"

Huawei had a commanding 42.6 percent share of China's total smartphone market in the first quarter of 2020, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).

But it said Huawei could face stiffening competition in the growing 5G phone segment from cheaper rivals.

The US also has barred Huawei from using Google's Android operating system, meaning the company now faces the challenge of building a following for its home-grown alternative system HarmonyOS in a world dominated by Android and Apple's iOS.

Huawei is the world's biggest supplier of telecom network equipment, and the planet's number two smartphone maker

Like its rivals, Huawei revenue also has been hit by the pandemic, growing just 1.4 percent in the first quarter, down from 39 percent growth in Q1 2019.

Huawei denies the US security-threat allegations, saying Washington has never provided evidence and that American pressure is motivated by fear of falling behind rising Chinese tech companies.

Last month, Huawei said that US efforts to cut off access to semiconductor supplies could threaten the company's "survival".

 2020 AFP
One morning in mid-March, Lennard Roubos woke up to find his neighborhood transformed. For the best part of a decade, Roubos street, just outside the red light district in Amsterdams city center, has been filled with tourists. Drawn to the area by coffee shops where you can freely smoke marijuana and sex workers who solicit clients from the citys world-famous window brothels, the tourists yell, drink, urinate, and sometimes buy drugs from dealers stationed near his first-floor apartment, Roubos says.

All of that stopped on March 15, when the Netherlands introduced lockdown measures to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, barring tourists from entering, closing bars and coffee shops, and shuttering the citys roughly 330 brothel windows. The deserted streets were striking, Roubos says. It was really an eye opener to see how the situation had gotten out of hand. 

For the areas sex industry, and other local businesses that thrive on tourism, the short term impact of the lockdown has been tough. National government rules prevent sex workers from returning to work until September 1 at the earliest, even as other workplaces, including bars, hairdressers and massage parlours, reopen, leaving sex workers and the operators of brothel windows in deep financial trouble. And while a trickle of European visitors are now allowed to return, many of the coffee shops, souvenir stores, and restaurants that rely on the 1 million tourists that visit in a normal month, risk being unable to survive.

That upheaval may change the red light district for good. Residents groups fed up with tourism have been emboldened by seeing their streets calm for the first time, Roubos says. Theyre also angry with how little the areas amenities have to offer local people and are now putting pressure on the city to prevent a return to business as usual. A petition demanding the city limits the number of visitors and take swift action to change the area has quickly collected some 30,000 signaturesover the threshold needed to hold a referendum on the proposals. In a letter to the city council at the end of May, Mayor Femke Halsema wrote that the lockdown had underscored the urgency to think about the city center of the future. While previous efforts to overhaul the area have failed, the pandemics lull in tourism gives officials a unique opportunity, she wrote, to consider measures like buying up empty properties and restricting business permits to make sure failed tourist businesses are replaced with a more diverse mix that caters to locals. Even before the pandemic, Halsema was considering options to limit sex work, and possibly move it out of the area entirely, in order to reduce tourism and overcrowding. Now, she wrote, preparations for a prostitution hotel elsewhere in Amsterdam, which may replace sex work in the red light district, are in full swing.

Story continues

Sex workers, who have long accused city authorities of hostility to their presence in the city center, now say they are taking advantage of the pandemic in order to stifle the last breaths of their industry. Theyre celebrating this situation and theyre just waiting for the entrepreneurs who rent out the [brothel] windows to go bankrupt, says Jane, a sex worker and member of the red light districts Prostitution Information Center, who like other sex workers interviewed in this story, uses a pseudonym to protect her identity. Theyre smoking us out.

Tourists bathing in a red glow emanating from peep show windows are packed shoulder to shoulder as they shuffle through the alleys in Amsterdam's red light district, Netherlands on March 29, 2019. | Peter DejongAP

The red light district, namedDe Wallen (The Walls, in Dutch), because of its position near the old city walls, has hosted sex work for centuries, and the window brothels have been highly visible since at least the 1960s. But the areas current problems only began around 2013. The combination of an aggressive city marketing campaign and the flourishing of budget airlines across Europe led to an explosion of visitors in Amsterdam. Curious about sex work, which has been legal in the Netherlands since 2000, and cannabis, which was decriminalized in the 1970s and is available to smoke in coffee shops, most tourists flock to the red light district. The areas narrow cobbled streets have struggled to cope with the influx, while touristy shops and restaurants serving burgers and sweet treats have sprung up in startling numbers across its medieval buildings.

The current local government has been grappling with how to deal with the areas problems for a long time, says Mascha ten Bruggencate, chairwoman of the city center district. The pandemic has become a catalyst for change. We had already been working on trying to start this discussion for two years, she says. But then suddenly one Sunday night, the prime minister said that all bars and restaurants had to close and within 20 minutes, it was quiet.

For residents who have railed against the noise pollution of recent years, the current quiet was too much, Roubos says, and people initially felt unsafe without people in the streets. But most people have gradually developed the feeling that we have regained our own area. Residents used to cleaning up vomit in their alley ways, or pushing through crowds whenever they want to leave the house, now feel they can walk or cycle around the clean streets, and meet neighbours outside for a socially-distanced drink, Roubos adds. Amsterdammers from other parts of the city, who normally avoid the city center, have been visiting.

Now, as the lockdown begins to easewith restaurants and bars having opened on June 1 as long as customers can maintain a distance of 1.5 metersresidents are looking at how to keep their neighbourhood liveable in the future. For many, that means the sex workers that draw many to the area need to go. Personally, I dont object to some of the window [brothels] remaining in the area, Roubos says. But I think the majority of the residents of the red light district, especially those who live in the heart of it, are so fed up with it that they say we have to close it totally.

Its not yet clear if the sex work hotel or erotic center outside the city center that the mayor is planning will be an addition to the red light district, if some windows will be closed, or if all sex work in the area will end. The city council is due to decide later this year. Were really proud that were a liberal city where people can work in the sex industry, Bruggencate says. On the other hand, we dont want the sex industry to be a tourist attraction. So were trying to push more towards a mixed city.

Whatever the city decides, the financial impact of the COVID-19 lockdown will be hard for the sex industry to recover from. Window workers, unlike workers in some kinds of closed brothels in The Netherlands, can access government financial aid. But its not enough to cover life in the expensive Dutch capital, says Felicia Anna, a Romanian sex worker who founded pressure group Red Light United in 2019 to represent window workers. With no income and no possibility of working legally for three more months, sex worker advocates say many migrant workers, who dominate the red light area, have been forced to return to home countries in Eastern Europe or elsewhere, or to move into illegal unregulated forms of sex work. Sex theaters, where visitors watch erotic shows, say they will struggle to accommodate customers at 1.5 meters of distance, even once they are allowed to reopen again. Window brothel operators that rent their buildings from landlords are at risk of bankruptcy without the income from renting out their windows. Jane, from PIC, estimates half of the window brothels would need to close if they cant generate income for the entire summer.

The dozen or so coffee shops that sit in and around the red light district were allowed to remain open during the lockdown after a plan to close weed dispensaries prompted warnings that illegal drug dealers would move in. But owners report steep drops in revenue thanks to the absence of foreign tourists. That may become a permanent obstacle for their business, as Halsema is seeking backing among the city council to bar foreign visitors from buying weed in the coffee shops, after a survey she commissioned found more than a third of tourists would visit the city less often if such a rule was in place.

The collapse of businessesincluding bars, restaurant, souvenirs stores, coffee shops and brothelswould be an opportunity, Bruggencate says, for authorities to encourage landlords to rent to businesses that cater to locals, like grocery stores and less touristy restaurants. City zoning already prohibits the opening of new tourist shops and Bruggencate says the local government is looking at whether theres more possibilities like that to really push, by law, towards normal shops and normal bars.

Not everyone agrees that the area needs to change. Companies operating in the city center and the owners of buildings there have previously filed lawsuits against the local government over its policies to limit tourism-serving businesses, accusing it of discrimination, violating E.U. laws on services, and causing property values to fall. In April, a Dutch court rejected an appealfiled by companies including a chain of cheese storesagainst the ban on new tourist shops.

Sex workers are not giving up hope that they can return to work sooner than September. Pressure group Red Light United sent a proposal in May to the national government laying out a strict hygiene protocol that would allow sex work to restart now. It includes measures like mandatory wearing of face masks, and the suspension of oral sex. Kissing, Felicia points out, was not a part of the job, even before the pandemic.

Felicia says authorities belief that sex work is impossible to do safely during the pandemic betrays a lack of understanding about the nature of the job. Theyre constantly saying oh but youll sweat, and its very close contact. No, its actually not, she says, adding that an average customer stays inside a sex workers room for only six or seven minutes. And you dont really sweat . Its all done very professionally. We dont offer the girlfriend experience there. She has not had a response about her proposal from the government, she says

Jane says its unfair that massage parlors have been able to open before them. Brothels were initially set to open at the same time as gyms and casinos, but the national government then decided to allow those spaces to reopen from July 1, leaving sex work for September. Theyre acting like were not capable of screening our clients or following a hygiene protocol when thats always [part of the job], she says. Coronavirus is not a sexually transmitted disease. How are we any more dangerous than going to the hairdresser? (Infectious disease experts say its too early to tell if the virus can be spread during sex.)

Bruggencate says the city government cant change national government rules prohibiting sex work before September. And she points out that brothel owners are entitled to apply for city financial aid like other businesses.

While the red light districts streets remain quiet, the debate about the future of the area is getting louder. Bruggencate predicts a big period of change over the next month, as the city center creaks back to life and residents, sex workers and tourists fight for their place there. Now is the time to see what steps we must take to keep the balance in the city.


Regan here is a 2019 graduate of Northwestern State in Louisiana.

Says miss Regan here, at Trump's event on Tuesday:

"Aunt Jemima was canceled She was the picture of the American dream. She was a freed slave who went on to be the face of the pancake syrup."

"Aunt Jemima was canceled She was the picture of the American dream. She was a freed slave who went on to be the face of the pancake syrup."  A student at Trump's event on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/jgONhiXiza  Peter Wade  (@brooklynmutt) June 24, 2020

From Rolling Stone's Peter Wade.

You never know what sort of racist gobbledygook is gonna splurt out of the mouth of Donald Trump and his human props.

This whole speech has been quite the shitshow.

More from Twitter, below.

Regan here was fired because she posted on FB that her white skin is a gift from God and she didn't understand why preachers wanted her to apologize for it. I already KNOW that no one asked her to apologize for being white, but that aside, here's her take on #AuntJemima. #MAGA pic.twitter.com/tZiStY0NWU  yvette nicole brown (@YNB) June 23, 2020

Sadly, Regan doesn't realize that HER biggest problem being pancake syrup shows HER privilege. It's not MY biggest problem by a mile. NO ONE I know is marching and protesting during a pandemic over #AuntJemima or pancakes. But go off, Regan. Go off. *sigh*  yvette nicole brown (@YNB) June 24, 2020

So basically , this guest speaker just said Aunt Jemima is a symbol of freed slave. Our proud history, and these mobs are trying to cancel that history. Followed by cheers. #trumparizona #unreal    (@DrunkenTigerJK) June 24, 2020

The TPUSA crowd is now chanting USA! USA! USA! because someone said Aunt Jemima is the American Dream.  Max Steele (@maxasteele) June 23, 2020

2019 grad of Northwestern State in Louisiana said she was fired after she made an insta video "amidst all this chaos we are seeing with the black lives matter movement."

She continued: "Aunt Jemima was also canceledthe leftist mob is trying to erase her legacy."  Elizabeth Crisp (@elizabethcrisp) June 24, 2020

Wow, now we're hearing from a young lady who lost her job because of a video about "how disappointed [she was] in the church's reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement." She's now complaining about Quaker Foods changing the name of Aunt Jemima syrup.  Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) June 23, 2020

A student brought up on stage by Trump in Arizona says "the original first Aunt Jemima was the picture of the American dream." "She was a freed slave who went on to be the face of the pancake syrup."  Will Steakin (@wsteaks) June 23, 2020
A production line employee works at the AMES Companies shovel manufacturing factory in Camp Hill, Pa., on June 29, 2017. (Reuters/Tim Aeppel)

Unemployment Drops in 38 States in May Amid Lifting Lockdowns

Unemployment fell in most states in May as lockdowns lifted and reopened businesses started to bring back millions of workers faster than some economists predicted.

The most recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that unemployment rates were lower in May in 38 states and the District of Columbia, higher in three states, and remained unchanged in nine states.

The national unemployment rate declined by 1.4 percentage points over the month to 13.3 percent as the U.S. economy added a remarkable 2.5 million jobs in May, rebounding from Aprils record 20.7 million drop.

Analysts polled by Reuters expected the national unemployment rate to soar to a historic 19.8 percent.

The numbers are a huge surprise to the upside, said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Global Advisors in Boston. It would suggest a further confirmation the economy is coming back online.

This is a strong signal that the effects are temporary and that the economy is improving.

At a state level, Nevada had the highest unemployment rate in May, at 25.3 percent, followed by Hawaii, 22.6 percent, and Michigan, 21.2 percent. May jobless rates in Delaware (15.8 percent), Florida (14.5 percent), Massachusetts (16.3 percent), and Minnesota (9.9 percent) set new record highs for the statistic, which the Labor Department has been tracking since 1976.

The biggest unemployment rate increases between May 2019 and May 2020 occurred in Nevada (+21.3 percentage points), Hawaii (+19.9 points), and Michigan (+17.0 points).

Another 12 states experienced increases of 10 percentage points or more in the jobless rate in May 2020 compared to a year ago.

The largest month-over-month unemployment rate decreases in May occurred in Mississippi (-5.7 percentage points), Kentucky (-5.6 points), and Indiana (-5.2 points).

It looks like weve stabilized at about 15 percent of unemployment, said Paul M. Romer, 2018 Nobel economics laureate, referring to the national jobless rate. The good news is the unemployment rate hasnt continued to increase. But the bad news is that 15 percent is a very high level of unemployment. We have not seen unemployment this high since the great depression of the 1930s.

At least 29 million people in the United States are collecting unemployment checks, according to the Labor Department, whose most recent weekly jobless claims report (pdf) showed that 1.508 million American workers filed initial jobless claims for the week ending June 13. While the number of new claims fell for an 11th straight week from a record 6.867 million in late March, initial weekly claims remain roughly double their peak during the 20072009 Great Recession.

Continued layoffs amid weak demand and fractured supply chains are likely keeping new applications for unemployment benefits elevated, feeding into the view that the economy faces a long and difficult recovery from the pandemic-fueled recession.

Something like close to 25 million people have been displaced in the workforce, either partially or through unemployment, and so we have a long road ahead of us to get those people back to work, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told the Senate Banking Committee in June 16 testimony.

While every state in the country implemented restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19, by June, all 50 states have started to lift lockdowns and resume business activity.

The National Governors Association, which has developed a summary of state actions addressing business reopenings, said a robust public health framework that includes testing and contact tracing is needed for states to resume business operations safely.

As states gradually reopen economic and social activities, they must build a robust public health infrastructure with the capacity to rapidly detect outbreaks, test and isolate individuals who may be exposed to COVID-19, and quickly trace and quarantine all contacts of positive cases, the association said in a June 24 memo.

Fed officials on June 19 warned that a second wave of the deadly bug could derail hopes for an economic rebound.

Lack of containment could ultimately lead to a need for more prolonged shutdowns, which result in reduced consumption and investment, and higher unemployment, Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren said in a virtual event organized by the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari warned the recent positive trend on job gains could be reversed if the outbreak isnt tamed.

If there is a second wave, I would expect the unemployment rate to climb again, Kashkari said during a Twitter chat moderated by CBS News.


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European markets ended sharply lower on Wednesday as rising coronavirus cases across the globe, and mounting worries about growth after the International Monetary Fund lowered its forecast for the global economy hurt sentiment and triggered heavy selling across the board.



Markets were also weighed down by trade concerns after reports said the U.S. is considering tariffs on over $3 billion of exports from the U.K., France, Spain and Germany. Investors were also reacting to reports that the European Union is mulling a ban on American travellers when it reopens its borders on July 1.



The pan European Stoxx 600 tumbled 2.78%. Among the major indices, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 plunged 3.11%, Germany's DAX shed 3.43% and France's CAC 40 declined 2.92% and Switzerland's SMI ended lower by 2.19%.



Among other markets in Europe, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden lost 1 to 4%, while Turkey closed lower by about 0.7%.



In the U.K. market, TUI, IAG, Carnival, Whitbread, Meggitt, Kingfisher, Easyjet, Kingfisher and Smith & Nephew lost 6 to 8.5%. Rolls-Royce Holdings, BAE Systems, Royal Dutch Shell, BP, Barclays, British American Tobacco, Diageo, Vodafone and Royal Bank shed 3 to 5.8%.



In the German market, Wirecard plunged more than 28%, falling again after rebounding in the previous session after three successive days of losses.



Thyssenkrupp declined nearly 8%. Daimler, Deutsche Bank, Volkswagen, Fresenius, Lufthansa, SAP, HeidelbergCement, BMW, Bayer and Adidas lost 3 to 6%.'



In France, ArcelorMittal, Renault, Sodexo, Peugeot, Airbus, Safran, Technip, BNP Paribas, Essilor, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole, Publicis Groupe, Micheli and Carrefour lost 3 to 7%.



White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Tuesday that parts of the U.S. are beginning to see a 'disturbing surge' of Covid-19 cases. Fauci told Congress that the next two weeks would be critical in trying to keep the virus under control.



The International Monetary Fund today forecast a deeper recession for this year and a slower and uncertain recovery for next year after the coronavirus, or Covid-19, pandemic plunged the global economy into a crisis like no other.



The IMF predicts that the global economy will shrink 4.9% this year, significantly worse than the 3% drop it had estimated in its previous report in April. It would be the worst annual contraction since immediately after the Second World War.



For the United States, the IMF predicts that gross domestic product will fall as much as 8% this year, even more than its April estimate of a 5.9% drop. That would be the most severe recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.



The growth forecast for next year was lowered to 5.4 percent from 5.8 percent. Consumption is expected to strengthen gradually next year and investment to firm up, but both are projected to remain subdued.



The IMF has forecast that Germany, France and the U.K. will see their outputs fall by 7.8%, 12.5% and 10.2%, respectively, this year.



'The downgrade from April reflects worse than anticipated outcomes in the first half of this year, an expectation of more persistent social distancing into the second half of this year, and damage to supply potential,' IMF Chief Economist Gita Gopinath said in a blog on the IMF website.



'A high degree of uncertainty surrounds this forecast, with both upside and downside risks to the outlook,' she added.



Apart from pandemic-related downside risks, escalating tensions between the United States and China on multiple fronts, frayed relationships among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)+ coalition of oil producers, and widespread social unrest pose additional challenges to the global economy, the report warned.



On the positive side, the Ifo business climate index for Germany rose to a reading of 86.2 in June from 79.5 in May, beating forecasts.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 19:33:22|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Labor chief Silvestre Bello on Wednesday said that around 345,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bello, the Department of Labor and Employment Secretary, told in a virtual Senate hearing that due to the current and future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the remittances from OFWs may decrease by up to 40 percent or around 13 billion U.S. dollars this year.

Of the over 345,000 current displaced OFWs, Bello said 191,000 have opted to stay abroad while around 59,000 have already been repatriated as of June 23.

He added that 42,000 more OFWs are expected to be repatriated in the coming weeks.

The Philippine central bank said earlier that the displacement of OFWs may drag the Philippines' gross domestic product (GDP) growth down by 0.4 percent this year.

The government estimates the number of overseas Filipino workers at 10 million, accounting for one-tenth of the country's population.

Remittances, or the money sent home by overseas workers to help support their families, have become the single most important source of foreign exchange for the Philippine economy and a significant source of income for recipient families.

The Philippine central bank data showed that personal remittances sent home by overseas Filipinos in 2019 reached a record high of 33.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. Enditem
The Hungarian government plans to sign three five-year deals.

Hungary has agreed to buy 6.2 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Gazprom and will begin talks on a flexible, long-term gas supply agreement with the Russian energy firm, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told state news agency MTI late on Tuesday.

"Our goal is to sign three five-year deals, which allows cancelling the agreement at the end of each five-year period," Szijjarto said, Reuters reported.

Read alsoCrude oil transit via Ukraine shrinks by 40% over lower demand

"This ensures our long-term supply and also our ability to renegotiate the agreement or quit if in the meantime better options arise or the international energy market changes."

Hungary has worked to diversify its gas supply both in terms of source and routes away from the traditional Russian shipments via Ukraine, but progress has been slow as alternative pipeline networks have not been completed.

Hungary will buy up to 6 billion cubic metres of gas per year via an extension to the TurkStream pipeline once it is completed in October next year, Szijjarto said.

In the meantime, Hungary has agreed to buy 2 billion cubic metres of gas from Gazprom, with shipments already under way, and another 4.2 billion cubic metres to be delivered between October 2020 and October 2021, the minister said.
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Linkedin Angelo Amante (Reuters) Rome, Italy  Wed, June 24, 2020 08:35 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406612543f 2 World Italy,bike-commuting,bicycles,coronavirus,coronavirus-effect,COVID-19,post-lockdown,COVID-19-lockdown-easing,pandemic Free

Italy has seen a surge in bicycle sales since the government ended its coronavirus lockdown as people steer clear of public transport and respond to government incentives to help the environment.

Some 540,000 bikes have been sold nationwide since shops across the country reopened in early May, according to sector lobby Ancma, a 60% increase in the first month compared to the same period in 2019.

To keep people off metros and buses and avoid road congestion, the government has offered to contribute up to 500 euros ($562.70) for city-dwellers who buy traditional or "pedal-assisted" electrical bicycles.

The subsidy, which kicked in on May 4 and runs to the end of the year, has accelerated a trend in place even in small centers where it is not available.

"May has been an extraordinary month for the e-bike market," Gian Franco Nanni, chief executive of Italian electric vehicle producer Askoll EVA told Reuters. "We have seen triple-digit growth in orders compared with a year ago."

With more than 34,600 deaths, Italy has the world's fourth highest COVID-19 toll and authorities have warned the risk of infection is still high in crowded places.

The government has set aside 120 million euros for its incentive plan, and has said it will make more funds available if needed.

Bicycle use has been traditionally popular in the flat northern cities of the Po Valley such as Bologna and Parma, but is now also becoming more frequent in cities further south.

"We have sold more than 50 bikes since we reopened," said Simone Lazzaretti, who runs the "Lazzaretti" bike shop in the hilly capital Rome, where bicycles had never really caught on as a means to get around town.

"We've sold out of all the less expensive pedal-assisted models and only have top-of-the-range ones left, which cost around 2,500 euros," he said.
Credit: iCube Programme

The next generation of photovoltaic panels based on perovskite are set to be transparent, flexible, colourful and suited to building sidewalls, which will better enable urban areas to harness sunlight

The sun emits a huge amount of energy. In fact, just 30 minutes' worth of solar radiation falling on the earth's crust contains as much energy as the whole world uses in a whole year. With the increasingly urgent need to address climate change, the obvious challenge is how to harness all this energy potential rapidly, effectively, and efficiently.

Photovoltaic (PV) panels have been at the forefront of converting sunlight into electrical energy. It is estimated that in optimum conditions, PV panels would only need to occupy 0.02% of the earth's surfaceroughly an area the size of Portugal (90 000 km2) - to provide for current global energy needs. Today, photovoltaic energy covers just 200 km2 globally, meaning there is still some way to go before clean and efficient energy from the sun can be fully taken advantage of.

An additional challenge is that most of global energy consumption is driven by densely populated cities, where the capacity to install the commonly known opaque silicon-based solar panels is limited mostly to building rooftops as nobody wants to have dark panels as windows or walls. But what if one day we could have transparent and even coloured solar panels moulded into different shapes and adapted to the windows and sidewalls of today's tall buildings?

This is where the GOTSolar project comes in. Funded by the EU's Horizon 2020 EIC Fast Track to Innovation (FTI) programme, the three-year project started in January 2016 and brought together seven partners, led by the University of Porto, from six countries to work on the next generation of photovoltaic panels based on perovskite technology.

Perovskite is comprised of a family of compounds, crystalline in structure, that were first discovered over 170 years ago in the Ural Mountains of Russia. Named after Russian mineralogist Lev Perovski, it is found in abundance mainly in the earth's mantle and occasionally in near-surface deposits.

Lab research on perovskite as a solar cell material first began in the late 2000s and in just ten years of development it has surpassed expectations reaching efficiency levels of 25%; a stunning progression when considering that the more common silicon based PV products took almost forty years to reach similar lab-scale efficiencies.

Perovskite's high solar absorption coefficient enables the production of ultra-thin film cells of around 400 nmthat is 100 times thinner than an average human hair. This consequently reduces the quantity of raw material needed and facilitates the constriction of lightweight and flexible solar modules. The added bonus is that the cost of synthesising perovskite solar cells (PSCs) for production is also very low. However, precisely due to the ultra-thin cells, one of the main challenges facing PSCs is that of stability and durability.

The aim of the GOTSolar project was precisely to propose disruptive approaches for the development of highly efficient, long-lasting, and environmentally safe PSCs with high scaleability potential. By using mechanochemistry, a technique involving the coupling of mechanical and chemical processes on a molecular scale, the project built a 10  10 cm2 perovskite solar cell module made up of several active layers deposited on top of glass substrate. This was used for demonstrating the scaleability of the developments for producing the first perovskite solar module with a potential 20-year lifetime.

PSCs could have a major impact in the photovoltaic and clean energy industry, helping to improve efficiency, flexibility, and cost cutting. The potential to make transparent and/or coloured cells with high solar abortion ratio offer PSCs an opportunity to conquer markets that are not attainable by traditional silicon solar cells.

Can you imagine to one day be able to build the walls of your house or your office with coloured, transparent panels shaped the way you want, and with the capacity to power all your home or office appliances in a clean way? In addressing the durability issues of perovskite, the GOTSolar project results could bring us a step closer to that scenario.

Background information

FET-Open and FET Proactive are now part of the Enhanced European Innovation Council (EIC) Pilot (specifically the Pathfinder), the new home for deep-tech research and innovation in Horizon 2020, the EU funding programme for research and innovation.

Provided by iCube Programme
(CNN) Cyberbullying is linked to a variety of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, not only in victims but cyberbullies as well, according to a new study of over 2,000 UK teens.

Over a quarter of cyberbullies suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, the study, published Tuesday in the Archives of Disease in Childhood Journal, found.

Clinical psychologist Ana Pascual-Sanchez, one of the authors of the study at Imperial College London, said her team was surprised by those results.

"Perpetrating aggression exposes bullies to potential violent situations in which they can lose control and even feel vulnerable at some point or regret from it, having intrusive memories," Pascual-Sanchez said.

More than 2,200 teens ages 11 through 19 from four London schools were questioned for the study. The researchers used the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire to first narrow down the types of bullying. They found that cyberbullying was less likely, with one of four teens being involved, versus one in three teens being involved in traditional bullying.

Nearly 75% of the teens filled out the Children's Revised Impact of Events Scale to screen for PTSD symptoms. Thirty-five percent of cyberbully victims scored above the threshold for PTSD symptoms, while 29% of the teens who did the cyberbullying showed signs of PTSD.

Cyberbullies were less likely to also be traditional bullies, the researchers also found, although they did observe teens who fell under both categories.

"It seems as if the anonymity provided by online means could increase the risk of cyberbullying perpetration, providing a platform that is easy to access and that can reach others quickly and easily," Pascual-Sanchez said.

Because this was an informational study, there are no official findings on why some cyberbullies displayed PTSD symptoms. Further research needs to be completed to understand causation and to dive deeper into the symptoms, Pascual-Sanchez said.

Mental health challenges

Sameer Hinduja, co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center and professor of criminology at Florida Atlantic University, said he had not heard of cyberbullies experiencing PTSD symptoms in his research, but that it makes sense with other mental health struggles he has observed regarding cyberbullying.

Hinduja said he focuses on childhood trauma, also known as adverse childhood events, that kids can experience growing up. While some are resilient and can overcome their adversities, others develop problematic behavioral symptoms, according to Hinduja.

"We absolutely need professionals to continue to study some of these underlying psychological and physiological components, which can lead to these problems," Hinduja said.

Through his research, Hinduja found that those issues can manifest into cyberbullying for a number of reasons, such as someone feeling jealous or insecure. Other common reasons someone engages in cyberbullying include peer pressure or a stressful home life.

While he noticed in his own research that a large percentage of teens who cyberbully also engage in in-person bullying, he agreed with Pascual-Sanchez that some prefer to exclusively cyberbully to remain anonymous.

"They're more likely to feel free from social norms and morals and ethics and rules and possible punishments and sanctions when they're behind a screen and physically distant or geographically separate from the target," Hinduja said.

Telltale signs

There are multiple warning signs that a teen could be engaging in cyberbullying, according to Hinduja. Some signs include the teen using their device at all hours of the night or quickly switching or hiding their screen when someone walks by. They may also be demonstrating increased sensitivity or appear more irritable.

Cyberbully victims may exhibit similar behavior, but also have their own set of warning signs, Hinduja said. Teens may isolate themselves or stop using their device for a time. Some common emotional symptoms include anger or frustration.

If you are a cyberbully victim, Hinduja recommended a three-step approach to seek help. The first step is to take advantage of the controls that are within apps and sites, such as block, mute and report. The second step is to file formal reports with the social media companies so that they can begin an investigation. Lastly, he recommended that cyberbully victims reach out to someone they trust in their circle, such as a parent or counselor, to talk about what happened online.

"Those adults, they want to help," Hinduja said. "They don't want you to continue to struggle and suffer. And usually there is some sort of solution if you will just let them know what's going on."

When it comes to treating teens who engage in cyberbullying or are victims of cyberbullying, Hinduja said that mental health assessments need to be standard. He believed that it needs to be a community effort with schools and doctors working together to treat the effects of cyberbullying, but also to help prevent it.

"All of (these efforts) will help illuminate PTSD and trauma and somebody's adverse childhood event that we can then treat, which will hopefully lead to less problematic, emotional and psychological consequences down the road." Hinduja said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Some cyberbullies show signs of PTSD, according to a UK study."
Whether distributing personal protective equipment, letting people restock from a 55-gallon drum of hand sanitizer or rebuilding homes after a hurricane, Katy Responds has been busy in its first two years.

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit started in July 2018. Approaching its two-year anniversary, Katy Responds distributed 232,000 PPE masks to Houston Methodist West Hospital and Texas Childrens Hospital West Campus; nonprofits like Katy Christian Ministries, Attack Poverty and Eyes on Me; and smaller churches and communities.

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It kind of becomes a bridge to help others get what they need, said Brianne Hill, Katy Responds communications coordinator.

Rachel Peckenpaugh at Methodist West said the 20,000 masks the hospital received on Friday, July 19, were a great help, particularly because the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer in its beginning stages.

So since its in the middle right now, people arent thinking about whats going on at the hospitals because everythings opening back up  trying to get a new norm in their life, but this has been a huge blessing, Peckenpaugh said.

Eighteen churches joined together nearly a year after Hurricane Harvey and formed Katy Responds because they realized that helping people rebuild and repair their homes from mold and havoc caused by flood waters was going to be a bigger task than they thought it would be. Now, there are 85 partners  about

80 are churches  from primarily the Katy area that are still working to meet needs in their communities. So far, Katy Responds has finished 72 homes and has gotten funding approved for 11 more. Yet there is still more need.

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Ron Peters, Katy Responds incoming executive director, estimated there are still 750 to 1,000 homes, if not more, in the Katy Independent School District area that need work following Harvey because of mold and other issues. He said most of the families and individuals are still living in their once flooded, unrepaired homes.

It just drives me bananas that I would leave people in their homes in a mold environment. It is so dangerous, Peters said. Were seeing illnesses in these families that go unexplained. And then we get into the house, and we do an inspection. And theres mold everywhere.

Katy Responds is also working with Houston Responds in what they call congregational disaster readiness, training around 200 churches to assist in emergencies like Hurricane Harvey.

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Supply Bridge Ministries used its truck to deliver many of the masks and typically works in supply drives following catastrophic events like hurricanes, floods and fires. They prepare what they call Bridge Boxes to give out, which include toiletries and hygiene products. Founder Nicholas Doherty said the volunteer organization is trying to gear up for a different kind of year, a hurricane season amid a global pandemic, and is looking for partners and donations to fund their work.

Although Katy Responds works with churches and organizations, unaffiliated volunteers are very welcome to join in the effort. Peters says he partners with a lot of groups so that more needs can be met across the Katy region and that he doesnt care which one gets the credit.

We just want people to get what they need, Peters said.

For more information about Katy Responds, visit https://katyresponds.org/. To learn more about Supply Bridge Ministries, visit www.facebook.com/SupplyBridge.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
Chhattisgarh police on Wednesday booked two people including a minor for allegedly setting a 14-year-old girl on fire after a failed rape attempt in states Bemetara district on Monday.

The minor girl sustained 95 per cent burnt injuries and died in a government hospital in the state capital on Tuesday night.

We have registered a case under sections of murder and rape and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on the basis of the last statement of the girl. The two accused have been identified as Sharad Jaiswal (22) and a minor. One of the accused was arrested by Bemetara police on Wednesday, said Raipur, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Arif Sheikh.

The SSP further said that the girl was rearing goats in Bemetara when the two accused first tried to rape her and then set her ablaze when they failed.

The victim in her last statement told the police that both the accused were known to her.

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In another incident in Korba district, a 21-year-old woman was allegedly abducted and raped by a 32-year-old man. The main accused Bhaiyalal and two of his accomplices, who helped him abduct the woman, have been arrested by Korba police.

The victim was abducted on the night of June 19 after she stepped out of her house to attend natures call in a village under Pasaan police station limits, police said.

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Mammoet, a global leader in engineered heavy lifting and transport, has been awarded two contracts for Duqm oil refinery, a strategic investment for Oman that forms the cornerstone of the Duqm Special Economic Zone.



The development occupies more than 2,000 acres and, when completed, will have the capacity to process approximately 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day. It will produce high-quality products, such as diesel, jet fuel, naphtha and LPG, in compliance with global operational and safety standards.



The first contract came from a local manufacturer, involving the inland and sea transport of nine LPG storage tanks (bullets) for EPC-2 Offsite and Utilities scope of the project.



The second contract was awarded by Agility Global Logistics (Agility) and comprises receiving and transport of various reactors.



Each 780-tonne bullet fabricated at a local fabrication facility in Sohar, measured 72 m long, 11 m high and 8 m wide, and was loaded-out by 44 axle lines of self-propelled modular trailers (SPMT) onto a barge provided by Mammoet in Sohar, bound for the Port of Duqm. Precision positioning of the RoRo ramps, an accurate ballasting plan, expert mooring and sea fastening ensured successful load-outs.



On arrival at the Port of Duqm, the bullets were safely loaded-in, staged in the ports laydown area and transported 25 km to the project site. Once at the refinery, the bullets were successfully positioned onto their foundations by 1,600-tonne and 1,250-tonne capacity crawler cranes working in tandem. By managing the complete logistics chain from the fabrication yard to the Duqm refinery, Mammoet was able to ensure timely and safe delivery of the bullets.



The Agility contract was an essential component of the Tecnicas Reunidas Process Unit scope of the project. This included handling a 1,130-tonne reactor measuring 33 m long, 8.7 m wide and 7.3 m high, which was the heaviest cargo ever loaded-in at the Port of Duqm. All the reactors Agility handled have been received successfully and safely delivered to the project site using 54 axle lines of SPMT.



Additionally, 10 hydraulic cranes and three crawler cranes have been engaged at Duqm refinery to support other subcontractors on site.



This is one of the first projects performed since the acquisition of ALE by Mammoet, and has seen colleagues from both former companies combining their expertise to deliver the best possible service.



We are delighted to have successfully completed our scope for the Duqm refinery. The close collaboration of the entire project team, including our clients, the Port of Duqm and the local authorities, enabled us to successfully deliver all key equipment safely and within the deadlines set, said Vishal Buddhadev, General Manager of Mammoets Oman branch.  TradeArabia News Service
In a time of crisis, China hails new opportunities.

China's online English education business is booming, as per two recent reports released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Huang Pingfang, a resident in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province, guides her son to learn English on the Internet at home. (Photo/People's Daily)

Online English education in China has become increasingly popular, especially during the period of prevention and control of COVID-19.

"The growing penetration of the internet and rapid development of technologies have reshaped the English education landscape in China. China's English learners have been moving online in recent years," said Zou Yimin, a former staff member at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and founding editor of China's English newspaper China Daily, who has engaged in English language education after retirement.

A favorable option

Comparing with the traditional offline education model, the online model has many advantages.

It is more flexible and convenient for both teachers and learners, with the ability to select their own schedule without restrictions on time and space, while enjoying the process from the comfort of home.

The online environment is richer in resources thanks to modern technologies, turning the world into a global classroom.

It also reduces the learning cost and could better cater to the learners' personalized needs, with one-on-one teaching being the mainstream.

With the fast development of mobile internet and digital learning technologies, the online education model has become a favorable option for many English teachers and learners in China.

"Education in the internet age can make everyone equal. I believe it will bring a revolution to education," said Zhu Qingshi, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and former principal of the University of Science and Technology of China.

New hope amid crisis

Fletcher was an online English tutor from America, who taught Chinese pupils ranging mostly from 5 to 11 years old. She taught daily conversation expressions, basic grammar and English songs, utilizing her speedy internet connection, web camera, headphones and state-of-the-art laptop.

She was among tens of thousands of native-speaking English teachers who work remotely from home, connecting to a huge Chinese student base facilitated by modern technologies.

Online English tutoring has been among the most typical jobs in the United States that people can perform remotely, and the China-based online English education companies are always hiring native-speaking English teachers, according to FlexJobs, an American job search site.

This trend has created a growing number of job opportunities for people in the English-speaking community. While many people in the Western world lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China's vast online English education market may bring new hopes for these people.

A booming market

The online education industry in China has developed quickly in recent years, and is becoming a new bright spot for the Chinese economy.

By and large, China has become a worldwide leader in online education and has the biggest market in the world, according to a People's Daily Overseas Edition article on December 2, 2019.

The number of online course users is expected to reach approximately 260 million by 2022, an increase of nearly 95% from 2018, according to statistics from the iResearch Consulting Group, a China-based market research and consulting company, in December 2019.

The market size of China's online education is expected to surpass $104 billion by 2025, as per a research report by the UBS Securities in 2019.

As a sub-sector of the online education industry, the online English education industry in China has also seen an explosive growth over the few past years.

According to Quincy Smith, founder of the online teaching job board ESL Authority, nations such as Russia, Japan and South Korea also have a big market for online English tutoring, but China remains the biggest market.

Children are one of the biggest sub-markets for English language education, with many of the chain brands designed to specifically cater to Chinese children.

"When it comes to learning a foreign language, the younger you are the easier it is to learn to speak the language like a native," said Shi Minghui, a former staff member at the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto and a researcher on language learning. "That's why children are a major marketing objective for the English-language education corporations."

The quality of teachers and cost of the program are two major determinants that influence Chinese parents' decisions in picking the right learning platform for their children.

The Chinese parents, who were interviewed by a study group of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, spend an average of 6,947 yuan (roughly $960 USD) on their children's online English courses on a yearly basis, and approximately 36% of the parents spend 5,001 to 10,000 yuan (between $700-$1,400) a year on their children's online English education, said the recently released report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The report predicted that more and more offline English education institutions in China will move online, and the online English learning effect will continue to be improved as modern technology progresses.

"A large number of quality native-speaking English teachers are needed in China, which means new opportunities for the world," said Zou.
Protesters raise anti-China slogans, call China "the biggest land mafia", amid tensions at India-China border and the clashes at Galwan Valley that lost India 20 soldiers.

Amid talks between India-China to ease border tensions, the Indian community in Canada on Wednesday held an anti-China protest outside the Bejings Consulate office in Vancouver.

While protesting against Beijing, people were seen holding banners of Back off China and Stop killing people in India.

We are protesting against China. Beijing keeps on intimidating its neighbour and tries to enter the border of other countries. Right now China is the worlds largest land mafia, said one of the protestors.

Despite having such a large landmass, it has captured the Aksai China area. They killed the Indian soldiers by deception, but India too retaliated befittingly that China is not reporting it, the protestors added.

Also read: Rajnath Singh attends 75th Victory Parade in Russia

Also read: Manish Sisodia urges Amit Shah to revoke LGs order on Covid-19 quarantine centres

Another protestor said that they condemn the behaviour of China and appeal to people around the world to boycott Chinese goods.

I am standing against the Communist Party of China (CPC) and their expansionist policies. We are here for the people of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Tibet. And now their aggression against India, a demonstrator said.

India and China are currently in talks to ease the ongoing border tensions after 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in a violent 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.

Indian intercepts reveal that Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured in the violent face-off in Ladakhs Galwan valley on June 15.

Also read: Commemoration cards awarded by Army Chief to the heroes who fought China in East Ladakh

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Company announcement no. 8/2020

Sborg/Copenhagen, June 24, 2020

NNIT is awarded agreement regarding IT infrastructure and SAP Basis operations of the Danish Defence

NNIT A/S ("NNIT"), a leading provider of IT services and consultancy, announces that it has been awarded a seven-year agreement, with an option of up to three-year extension, with the Danish Defence. The agreement covers operations of the Danish Defence's IT-infrastructure and SAP basis. The contract represents a value of a low triple-digit DKK million amount.

A standstill period commences today and ends July 3, 2020.

The agreement increases NNIT's backlog for 2020 and forward, but does not change NNIT's guidance for 2020.

Contact for further information

Investor relations:

Jens Bluitgen Binger

Head of Investor Relations

Tel: +45 3079 9222

jblb@nnit.com

Press:

Helga Heyn

NNIT Communications

Tel: +45 3077 8141

hhey@nnit.com

About NNIT

NNIT A/S is one of Denmark's leading IT service providers and consultancies. NNIT A/S offers a wide range of IT services and solutions to its clients, primarily in the life sciences sector in Denmark and internationally and to clients in the public, enterprise and finance sectors in Denmark. NNIT A/S has more than 3,200 employees. For more information please visit www.nnit.com .

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A man wanted by police has been discovered allegedly trying to flee Australia by hiding in a tiny air-conditioning duct aboard a cargo ship that rescued his yacht.

Franco Fernando Alomia Santander, 31, from Peakhurst in Sydney was found by police and Border Force officers 'well secreted' inside the compartment on the 230 metre ship.

Santander, wanted for an alleged sexual assault, began his elaborate escape plan on a yacht which had sent out a series of distress calls off the coast of Yamba on Saturday.

A man wanted by police has been discovered allegedly trying to flee Australia by hiding in a tiny air-conditioning duct (pictured) aboard a cargo ship that rescued his yacht

Santander, wanted for an alleged sexual assault, began his elaborate escape plan on a yacht (pictured) which had sent out a series of distress calls off the coast of Yamba on Saturday

A 43,000 tonne bulk carrier ship responded to the distress calls and pulled the man aboard before attaching a tow line to the yacht.

NSW Police Chief Inspector Joe McNulty said the man was taken to a cabin on the cargo ship before it docked in Newcastle about 9pm Saturday night.

The tow line had snapped on the way to port and the yacht was left adrift.

When the crew disembarked on Sunday morning Santander had vanished.

A search by the crew and a subsequent extensive examination of the ship and surrounding waters by Marine Area Command turned up no sign of the man.

The door to the air conditioning duct room where the man was found by police officers

It wasn't until Monday when NSW Police and Australian Border Force officers with the help of the dog squad found the man in the dingy air conditioning hold.

Officers claim Santander was carrying a knife and $4435 in cash.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with breach of bail.

Police will allege in court that he had deliberately cut the tow line to his yacht so as not to draw attention to the ship and intended to hide on-board until the carrier left for Malaysia.

Santander fronted Newcastle Local Court on Monday where he was formally refused bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.
India has given many IPS officers, These IPS officers have maintained Indias citizens and the law & order situation. They have contributed to society by giving us fair elections, safety of the people and helping the citizens in crisis or disaster times.

Reuters

Here's The Curated List Of 7 Best IPS Officers But There Are Many Who Have Made Us Proud.

1. Ajit Kumar Doval

Ajit Kumar Doval joined the Indian Police Service in the year 1968 in the Kerala Cadre. He was also involved in the anti-insurgency operations in Mizoram and Punjab. While he has done a lot of work for the Indian national security.

On 30 May 2014 he joined India's fifth Nationals Security Advisor. In June 2014, Doval played a crucial role in ensuring the secure return of 46 Indian Nurses who got trapped in a hospital in Tikrit Iraq.

There are other decisions also which he has taken for the country and made us all proud.

2. K. Vijay Kumar

K Vijay Kumar IPS became a household name in the year 2004 when the special task force led by him killed the brigand Veerapan in a planned operation. Vijay Kumar has now retired from the IPS since then and is currently an Advisor to the Governor of Jammu & Kashmir.

3. Sanjukta Parashar

Sanjukta Parashar is an IPS officer. She completed her graduation in Political Science from the Indraprastha College for Women in New Delhi and later went to the Jawaharlal Nehru College for Master and PhD in International Relations.

She scored all India rank 85 in her UPSC examination. After she got posted as the Assistant Commandant in 2008.



4. Kiran Bedi

Kiran Bedi is a retired IPS officer and social activist. She was the first woman to join IPS in 1972. She served for 35 years before taking voluntary retirement in 2007 as the Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development.

She has actively worked as a social worker and helped a lot of people.

5. Shivdeep Lande

Shivdeep Waman Lande is an IPS Officer from 2006. He arrested a lot of criminals, ranging from fake cosmetic sellers to medicine. He has done a lot of work towards eve- teasers. He donates 60 % of his salary to the social organizations which arranged marriage for poor girls.

6. A.S Dulat

AS Dulat is the former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing - RAW. He has served the Indian Country by heading the Research and Analysis Wing from 1999 to 2000. He was appointed as an advisor on Kashmir in the PM office.

7. Julio Ribeiro

Julio Ribeiro is a retired Indian police officer and civil servant. He was seen handling good positions during his career. He led the Punjab Police during part of the Punjab insurgency periods.

He has done a lot of social work during his tenure and after that too.
Greece's foreign minister accused Turkey on Wednesday of undermining stability and security in the eastern Mediterranean and causing problems with all its neighbours, while also violating Greek airspace and territorial waters daily.

Speaking during a visit to Greece's northeastern border with Turkey, accompanied by the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Nikos Dendias slammed Turkey's actions in recent months in the Aegean Sea that separates the two countries, saying Ankara must "abstain from its illegal gunboat diplomacy."

NATO allies and neighbours Greece and Turkey have long had difficult relations, and the two countries have come to the brink of war three times since the 1970s.

Divided over a series of issues, including territorial disputes in the Aegean, relations have become increasingly strained in recent months.

Earlier this year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared the borders with Europe were open to migrants living in Turkey who wanted to head into the European Union.

Although Turkey also shares a border with EU member Bulgaria, it was only on the Greek land border crossing that tens of thousands of migrants gathered, demanding to be allowed to cross.

Dendias and Borrell toured the border crossing area in the Evros region where the migrants had gathered in late February.

"It's very clear that we are determined to protect the external borders of the European Union and to strongly support Greece's sovereignty," Borrell said.

Greece and Turkey are also in dispute over oil and gas exploratory drilling rights in the Mediterranean, with Greece, Cyprus and Egypt outraged at a Turkish agreement with the UN-recognised government in Libya laying claim to rights of a swathe of the Mediterranean that they say infringes of their sovereign rights.
GRAYLING, MI  An inmate who briefly escaped from jail on Tuesday is back behind bars after a tip from the public about a shirtless man running out of the woods.

The Crawford County Jail inmate trustee escaped while working outside around 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, 9&10 News reports.

Shortly after the 58-year-old went missing, a tipster called central dispatch from a nearby home to report a shirtless man wearing green pants running out of the woods near M-72 and the AuSable River, the report said.

Grayling Public Safety officers then found the inmate hiding under a car at a family members nearby home, the report said.

The Crawford County Sheriffs Office is seeking felony charges in the incident, the report said.

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India, Pakistan Expel Embassy Staff In Latest Spying Row

By RFE/RL June 23, 2020

India says it has decided to expel half the staff in Pakistan's Embassy in New Delhi, saying they have been engaged in "acts of espionage" and maintained contacts with "terrorist organizations."

India will cut staff in its own embassy in Islamabad by the same amount, the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on June 23.

It said the decisions, which are to be implemented in seven days, were conveyed to the Pakistani charge d'affaires in New Delhi.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry later dismissed India's "baseless allegations" and said Pakistani diplomatic staff in New Delhi "always function within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms."

It said the ministry summoned India's charge d'affaires in Islamabad to inform him of Pakistan's decision to reduce staff at the Indian Embassy by half as a "reciprocal measure."

Relations between the nuclear-armed rivals are strained and tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats are common.

Neither country has a permanent ambassador in place.

India expelled two Pakistani diplomats on May 31 after they were held for alleged spying, claims Islamabad said were "baseless."

In the last month, each country has accused the other of the illegal detention and ill-treatment of diplomats.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/india-expel-half-pakistani -embassy-staff-spying/30686590.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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After nearly nine years behind bars, former Luzerne County judge Michael Conahan has been released to his home in Florida, according to a source.

Conahan, 68, received the transfer through a federal Bureau of Prisons initiative focused on removing eligible inmates with coronavirus risk factors from its facilities, the source said.

A Hazleton native, Conahan has been incarcerated since September 2011 for his guilty plea to one count of racketeering conspiracy related to his acceptance of money in exchange for decisions that benefited two privately owned juvenile detention centers in a case that became known as Kids for Cash.

He was lodged at the Federal Correctional Complex at Coleman in Florida for a little more than five years and then transferred in March 2017 to a minimum security satellite camp in Miami, Fla.

His scheduled release date was Aug. 19, 2026, bureau records say.

Attorney General William Barr issued memos in March and April prioritizing home confinement as a response to the pandemic, where appropriate, for at-risk, non-violent inmates to protect the health and safety of prison personnel and the incarcerated.

Barrs March memo spelled out some of the discretionary factors, which included priority to inmates residing in low and minimum security facilities with a record of good behavior who are more vulnerable to coronavirus under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Inmates also must have a sound re-entry plan, and prisons must look at the crime that prompted incarceration and assess the danger inmates would pose to the community, the memo said.

Since the release of Barrs March memo, the bureau has placed 4,413 inmates on home confinement, a 155% increase, the bureau website says.

As of Monday, the bureaus online inmate locator still listed Conahan at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Miami.

The bureau cannot discuss an individual inmates specific conditions of confinement, spokesman Emery Nelson said by email Monday.

However, we can share that the Bureau of Prisons has authority to transfer inmates to their home on furlough for periods of time while they may continue to be considered for home confinement designation, or transfer inmates to community confinement overseen by a Residential Reentry Management Office, Nelson wrote.

Community confinement means the inmate is in either home confinement or a Residential Reentry Center, commonly known as a halfway house, Nelson said.

Conahan could not be reached for comment Monday. He and his wife have a residence in Palm Beach County.

Under Conahans original plea agreement, he already would have been out of prison around the end of 2018 because federal prosecutors had agreed he would serve 87 months or a little more than seven years, according to prior published reports.

But in July 2009, then-U.S. District Judge Edwin Kosik rejected the original plea agreement that called for Conahan and former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella to plead guilty to honest services fraud and tax charges in exchange for 87-month prison sentences. Kosik had said he did not believe the former judges had adequately demonstrated they accepted responsibility for their conduct.

Conahan reached a second plea agreement with prosecutors in April 2010, which allowed a sentence of up to 20 years. Kosik, who died at 94 in 2019, sentenced Conahan to 17.5 years and payment of $974,167 in restitution and fines.

Ciavarella, 70, is serving a 28-year sentence and currently housed at the Federal Correctional Institution in Ashland, Ky., with a scheduled release date of June 18, 2035, bureau records show.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes, The Times-Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) (TNS)

More:

Why Gov. Tom Wolfs big effort to grant coronavirus reprieves to Pa. inmates came up small

Non-violent inmates released from central Pa. county prisons amid coronavirus concerns

Felon released from prison early due to coronavirus accused of attacking, choking female hiker: report
In the days since the violent face-off took place between the soldiers of the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, the Chinese media has time and again brought the US and its Indo-Pacific Strategy into the conversation

A few days before Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, three American aircraft carriers, accompanied by Navy cruisers, destroyers, fighter jets and other aircraft, began patrolling the Indo-Pacific waters.

According to AP, for the first the first time in three years, American carriers were spread across the Pacific. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group was operating in the Philippine Sea near Guam. The USS Nimitz strike group was in the Pacific off the US West Coast. The USS Ronald Reagan had left port in Japan and was operating in the Philippine Sea south of there.

As predicted, China portrayed the massive show of naval force by the US as an example of American provocation, and evidence that the US is a source of instability in the Indo-Pacific region.

On the surface, there may appear to be no connection between the presence of US warships in the Indo-Pacific and what transpired in the Galwan Valley. But when one considers India's recent foreign policy decisions, the growing ties between the US, India and Australia  three of the four members of the Quad formed to defend the openness of the Indo-Pacific  in the context of China's ambitions for the resource-rich Pacific waters and its growing assertion amid COVID-19, and the reciprocity becomes clear.

What's the Indo-Pacific?

According to The Diplomat, the Indo-Pacific is a mental map that stretches from the eastern shores of Africa to the western coast of the US. However, countries differ on the expanse of this 'imagined' region, depending on their geographic position there.

The Indo-Pacific region has gained importance in the last few years largely because of China's rise as a superpower, India's growing economic and strategic clout and the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean in global trade.

According to Reuters, China has been more active in the resource-rich Pacific in recent years, seeking to extend influence with aid and encouraging countries away from diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which China regards as renegade province with no right of state-to-state ties.

According to AFP, "Between 2011 and 2018, China committed loans to the region worth $6 billion  around 21 percent of regional GDP".

"A majority of that money, $4.1 billion, was earmarked for Papua New Guinea. Only a fraction, less than $1 billion, has so far been disbursed but China is still the single largest creditor in Tonga, Samoa, and Vanuatu," the article said.

Two other island-nations in the Pacific  Solomon Islands and Kiribati  have already switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing.

Chinas increasing assertiveness in the energy-rich South China Sea, an important constituent of the Indo-Pacific, has raised US and regional concerns.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which some $3.4 trillion in shipping passes each year. Several countries including Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei have overlapping claims to parts of the sea.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which had hit the US hard, has further heightened the need for Washington to keep the Indo-Pacific "free and open", especially among reports of China capitalising on the pandemic-led lockdowns.

According to reports, while the US and China's rival Southeast Asian claimants of the disputed waters, Philippines and Malaysia, conducted military drills, China extracted natural resources and even deployed large-scale military assets in South China Sea.

In April, there were reports of a confrontation on the sea between a Chinese government survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 and an oil exploration vessel of Malaysia's state oil company Petronas.

The vessel, Reuters said, was earlier also spotted off Vietnam, where it had last year conducted suspected oil exploration surveys in large expanses of Vietnams exclusive economic zone. Beijing, however, denied the reports.

The US has been conducting its own routine 'freedom of navigation' exercises to enforce 'free and open Indo-Pacific'. In April, amid heightened tensions between China and Taiwan, USS Barry, a US warship sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait for the second time in a month.

The ships transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The US Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows, Lieutenant Anthony Junco told Reuters.

According to the US naval officers, China is slowly and methodically building up military outposts in the South China Sea, putting missile and electronic warfare systems on them. China already operates in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, and has plans to increase its Marine Corps to 1,00,000, from existing 20,000, a large chunk of which are likely to be stationed there.

It also owns the world's largest coast guard, which has often been at the centre of most stand-offs in the disputed waters, according to Asian Military Review.

It's perhaps because of these reasons that in less than a month after 5,700 of its servicemen tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the US was in the Pacific with three warships. And that too on the same day the US Senate cleared a $7 billion fund focused on competition in the Indo-Pacific (Pacific Deterrence Initiative or PDI) in the 2021 National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA).

The PDI aims to make funds available to "improve military and defence infrastructure, basing, logistics, and assured access in the Indo-Pacific region" in order to "respond to adversarial threats in a timely manner".

The idea of a 'free and open Indo-Pacific', however, is not one that is espoused by the US alone. It's something India has often expressed its commitment to protect, both at home and internationally for years.

New Delhi not only shares the US view of the "free and open Indo-Pacific", but has in the past, openly supported it to the extent that it even backed out of the China-backed economic agreement RCEP.

India is also part of the Quad grouping, which also includes Japan and Australia as well as the US. The grouping was most recently upgraded to Quad Plus with Vietnam, an ASEAN country, and New Zealand and South Korea, also extending their support.

Australia, which long enjoyed unrivalled influence in the Pacific, too in recent years become more assertive in maintaining its standing in the region. In 2018, it launched an A$3 billion fund to offer Pacific countries grants and cheap loans for infrastructure.

From South China Sea beef to actual beef, China-Australia ties had soured long before onset of COVID-19

Australia has also been slowly upgrading its armoury in the Pacific. In February this year, Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that his government will spend A$1.1 billion ($725.9 million) to upgrade an airbase in the countrys tropical north.

Most recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison, signed a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA), which will allow militaries of the two countries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies besides facilitating scaling up of overall defence cooperation. This agreement will give Indian warships and aircraft enhanced reach towards the Pacific.

India has already signed similar agreements with the US, France and Singapore.

The Galwan Valley connection

In the days since the violent face-off took place between the soldiers of the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army, the Chinese media has time and again brought the US and Indo-Pacific Strategy into the conversation. The propaganda has been three-pronged: first, downplay the US' presence in the Pacific, second, portray that a huge gap exists between the military capabilities of the India and China, and third, present the US and the deepening India-US ties as the problem.

This approach is clear in a Global Times editorial published on 17 June.

The editor says that India has "misjudged" the situation in thinking Beijing lacks the will to "hit back provocations from the Indian side" because of increasing strategic pressure from the US.

It also warns New Delhi against relying on US, stating that Washington will extend help only to worsen ties between the two neighbours and make India "dedicate itself to serving Washington's interests".

In an article that appears simultaneously in the PLA Daily, the official daily of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and Global Times, Dr Qian Feng of the National Strategy Institute, Tsinghua University, makes Beijing's disgruntlement with the US' Indo-Pacific Strategy and India clear as it proclaims: the US plans to use use India to contain Beijing.

Feng goes on to say that "some countries in the Indo-Pacific region have mounting suspicions about Chinas rise, and more or less want to leverage the US to balance Chinas growing influence in the region".

While these "countries" have not been named specifically, the attempt to dissuade India from taking sides in the Indo-Pacific amid a border clash, is evident.

The article says that the best option for New Delhi to safeguard its interests is to "maintain current balance among major countries" such as the ASEAN countries, Japan and China.

Japan is part of the Indo-Pacific grouping Quad that includes India, Australia and the US.

It then adds that India's "'strategic independence' principle goes counter to 'America first'" and hence the US Indo-Pacific Strategy is not a suited for New Delhi.

Needless to say, the biggest gain for China would be to keep India out of the US-led military grouping in the Indo-Pacific. Some Chinese projects in the Indian subcontinent and the Indian Ocean Region as part of the Belt and Road Initiative  Gwadar Port in Pakistan, a port in Myanmar's Kyaukpyu town, Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka, infrastructure projects in Nepal, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and its investment in modernising the Chittagong port  are believed to have been designed to encircle India in the south Asian region.

China appears to perceive the growing size of the Quad Plus and India's increasing presence in the Indo-Pacific as a threat to its ambitions. Its objective, therefore, would be to keep India out of the US' Indo-Pacific strategy.
Will.i.am said the US police were a terror squad (Matt Crossick/PA)

Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am has said the US police force is a terror squad which has inflicted fear on the nations black and brown youth.

The 45-year-old rapper, who grew up on a housing project in Los Angeles, said deprived areas needed investment rather than more policing.

He said that as an African-American, he had friends who had been killed by police officers.

Will.i.ams comments came after Black Lives Matter protests in the US and UK, sparked in May by the death of unarmed man George Floyd in Minnesota.

He said: As an African American, you know, youve been brought up in a community, in communities where the police have been the terror squad  trying to find the right word.

Theyve killed your friends. Theyve inflicted fear in the youth of black and brown men, more so than women.

In your community, there is no investment for kids education. There isnt the best food to eat, so people are not healthy.

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So the environment that black and brown Americans are living in, its not healthy. You dont feel safe because of the crime and the crime is there because theres no opportunity.

So why dont we invest and allow black and brown to build up their communities themselves? Educate them, encourage them, mentor, and prepare them for tomorrow.

Black Eyed Peas recently released their eighth studio album, titled Translation, which features a Latin pop influence.

Last year will.i.am accused a flight attendant from Australias national carrier Qantas of being racist and rude to him on a flight.

He said he had been met by police at Sydney Airport after an incident with an overly aggressive flight attendant.
When will my kids be back in class? It's the question on many Bay Area parents' lips right now.

After a tough slog through months of home learning, virtual tutoring and Zoom play dates, kids are really missing their friends, and parents are missing their time alone.

School districts have been doing what they can to keep students educated and healthy through the crisis that shuttered schools in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Free meals programs have fed students, technology such as Chromebooks have been handed out to kids without the means to learn virtually, and teachers have come up with all sorts of creative ways to keep children engaged.

But when can parents expect their children to be back in class?

While concrete information is still scarce for many school districts in the region, some have revealed their plans, and others have hinted at what schooling in the coming academic year may look like.

California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond said in a press briefing earlier this month that new guidance is available for schools reopening as the coronavirus continues to be a threat. Recommendations in the long set of suggestions included that students be spaced 6 feet apart, have their temperatures taken before entering the campus and that everyone should be wearing facial coverings.

The state's guidance suggests the implementation of a hybrid, or blended, instructional model in all K-12 districts. The model included what is called A/B Week Blended Learning, in which half of the students would be in school for four days a week while the other half is distance learning, with the students swapping the following week. On the fifth day, all students would learn remotely.

For the full 62-page set of guidelines from the California Department of Education, read here.

But the guidelines largely left it up to individual districts to form their own plans.

"There are no mandates within this document. Theres no one-size-fits-all approach." Thurmond said.

For Bay Area parents keen to know what their specific public school's plans are, we gathered together what the various districts in the region have revealed so far.

San Francisco

The San Francisco Unified School District has not yet let parents and students know when a detailed plan for reopening will be announced. A statement from Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews released on June 10 read: "Throughout June and early July, we will be gathering input and working diligently to create plans that incorporate health guidance, our districts priorities and values and the input of our diverse community of staff, students and families."

While fall semester learning is due to begin on Aug. 17, further details on what that will look like are scarce. An FAQ for parents on reopening plans is available here.

Marin

Unlike many school districts, Marin County has announced that it plans on reopening classrooms in-person in the fall.

Guidelines for students from transitional kindergarten to 12th grade is for children to be in class five days a week, a marked difference from the state's suggested "hybrid" model.

Mary Jane Burke, the Marin County superintendent of schools, said in a statement last week, Even with the amazing work of schools and parents, we know that remote learning was not working for all and that many students were being left behind. We also know that the social emotional needs of our children are best met through the special relationships that are developed with their peers, their teachers, and school staff. The best place for students is in their schools.

The announcement received significant pushback from teachers and residents, and Marin County officials have clarified that the guidelines for reopening schools are not a plan per se  each district will decide how to reopen individually, and some are likely not going to follow the aforementioned guidelines.

Oakland

The Oakland Unified School District has said that following proposals and recommendations from over 100 leaders, teachers, staff, parents, and principals, the district will communicate some preliminary decisions on July 10 regarding how the school year will start.

The statement added that "all plans, of course, are subject to collective bargaining with our labor partners, affordability (or other constraints on feasibility), and may change as we learn more about the virus, and as new state or county public health guidance is provided."

The coming school year is due to start on Aug. 10.

For updates on OUSD's reopening plans, see here.

San Mateo

The San Mateo Union High School District has released a proposed learning schedule, largely using the hybrid model suggested in the state's guidance. The plan outlines a five-phase schedule, moving from all remote learning to 100% in-class instruction.

In the face of guidelines but no definitive orders from the state, the San Mateo Union High School District Board of Trustees President Marc Friedman had complained about a lack of clear directives.

Its very difficult, because no one is telling us exactly what we should or shouldnt be doing from a health viewpoint or an educational viewpoint. They are just giving us a bunch of broad viewpoints, so we are on our own, Friedman told the San Mateo Daily Journal.

The San Mateo-Foster City School District has yet to release a reopening plan, but you can find updates here.

Santa Clara

The Santa Clara County School District has revealed that it plans on announcing detailed reopening plans on July 1.

A statement on the district website reads, "We have convened a committee of teachers, school administrators, support staff, and District Office personnel to serve on the Reopening Planning Committee and subcommittees to develop a set of recommendations around multiple scenarios of what school may look like next fall."

For updates on SCUSD reopening plans, see here.

Fremont

The Fremont Unified School District is still in the research and parental-survey phase of creating concrete reopening plans.

A statement from acting Superintendent Raul M. Zamora this week read, "Your opinions and comments will be used by the FUSD Task Force to shape policies and strategies going into the new school year - in whatever form it may take. I hope to present the framework of our plan to the community soon. This remains a team effort and I look forward to hearing your thoughts as we move through the process.

For updates on FUSD reopening plans, see here.

San Ramon

After a series of focus groups and parental surveys on reopening, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District is set to presents its Planning and Guidance Document this week as part of its "Reopening Together" plan. The district states that this is just the first part of the plan. A statement on the district's website reads, "Remember, our Reopening Plan consists of several steps. The presentation of the initial draft of the plan is part of step 2 in the process. There will be no action or decisions made at the June 23 meeting."

For updates on SRVUSD reopening plans, see here.

Alameda

The Alameda Unified School District presented proposed schedules at the Board of Education meeting on June 9. All models of education, from remote to traditional learning, are being considered, and the Board expects to provide detailed proposals this week.

An FAQ on all matters related to the reopening of the district's schools can be found here.

---

Other Bay Area school districts not mentioned in this story, including the Berkeley Unified School District, Mount Diablo Unified School District and Vallejo City Unified School District, have yet to provide details on when reopening plans may be released.

Andrew Chamings is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings
Anti-American, radical leftists -- including many of their elected leaders in the Democrat party -- are now out of the closet and busy trying to destroy the security of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that are the cornerstones of our way of life. Those three objectives are also the foundations on which sits the American rule of law. Indeed, government is instituted to provide security for them, if we are to properly understand the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, our paramount civil law over government adopted to legally preserve those objectives.

The leftist anarchists we are witnessing in riots, destroying property, harming peoples ability to earn a living, and even killing citizens and police, have it in for the American way of life. As Antifa and other radical, Marxist groups become exposed, it is easy to conclude that they are fomenting insurrection broader than anything to do with race relations.

With the violence and anarchy we are witnessing in Democrat-ruled cities, we now hear insanely destructive calls to defund the police. Out of this chaos, however, have come louder calls for police reform by some responsible pro-Americans. I say louder because until now the voices of conservatives and libertarians who have expressed concerns about police abusing power, especially Fourth Amendment rights, have been mostly ignored or downplayed.

Unlike the leftist anarchists seeking to destroy the foundations of the American rule of law, conservatives concerned about abuse of power by some police or other government officials come from a perspective of preserving the principles and God-given rights on which America was founded. Indeed, the conservative perspective for police reform comes from an enormous respect and appreciation for law enforcement officers (LEOs), who on a daily basis leave their families and homes to risk their lives for the safety and security of all of us in their communities.

One major issue about which constitutional conservatives have complained is the abuse of qualified immunity, which is judge-made doctrine whereby government officials are immune from consequences of their lawlessness. Courts have come to construe that doctrine very favorably for government officials, and that has contributed mightily to lawbreaking by government officials, not just police.

In that regard, it is useful to look back to the English common law on which key principles of the American rule of law were built. As to LEOs, the brilliant 17th Century jurist Sir Matthew Hale, in his Historia Placitorum Coronae (The History of the Pleas of the Crown), provides important guidance about the role of law enforcement officials in maintaining security and peace in our communities. The various forms of LEOs of his day included sheriffs, constables, coroners, and justices of the peace. Individual civilians had certain restricted authority to make arrests, and even the entire citizen community could be called upon to chase felons in hot pursuit under what was known as the hue and cry.

Hale addresses the roles of LEOs in making arrests whether by warrant, indictment, or on the spot with not mere causeless suspicion, but probable reason to suspect a felony had been committed. Reading this 17th Century jurist, one more clearly understands and appreciates the reasonableness of the common law governing LEOs, who often risk their lives to protect the security of the community. He clearly articulates the law as it applied to use of force during an arrest, entering buildings pursuant to warrants or in hot pursuit, and more law enforcement scenarios. His reasoning is still quite relevant today.

Hale even tracks the common law power of LEOs from the time predating Magna Carta, and notes that great charter of liberty -- which made the power of government subservient to higher civil law -- created a separation of powers for sheriffs, who previously could make indictments, not just make arrests pursuant to them.

In Chapter XI, Hale addresses the reasons why LEOs had unique protections under the law. By virtue of their offices, LEOs were empowered to make arrests of felons and suspected felons, even before conviction or indictment, and in some cases use deadly force during the arrest. LEOs were under a greater protection of the law in execution of this part of their office for two reasons. First, they are persons more eminently trusted by the law in acts incident to their duties of protecting the community. Secondly, they are by law punishable, if they neglect their duty in it. This latter prong meant their failure to act to protect the community resulted in their being punished, which in todays parlance means a duty to act.

That second prong was an essential basis for sovereign immunity, which is a concept lost on many of todays legal thinkers. Indeed, a 1989 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services said government officials have no constitutional duty to act to protect others, and lower courts have extended this ruling to police. Not only did cowardly deputies at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting become the beneficiaries when a court ruled the duty to act did not apply to them, but this removal of the duty to act eliminates the second prong of the common law justification of qualified immunity for police (and, as an aside, shows there never was a basis for qualified immunity extending to non-LEO government officials sitting in offices).

LEOs faced monetary and even criminal penalties for failure to do their jobs protecting the community from the many felons who would escape, says Hale. As to any fleeing suspect who believed himself innocent? He makes himself suspect by his very flight from the known officer, writes Hale. Use of force was authorized against those who assaulted officers during an arrest or felons who flee. But when the LEO used deadly force for lesser violations of the law such as mere trespass, this is murder, Hale tells us.

Hale notes that this common law of the land developed in order to preserve the peace of the kingdom, and to suppress felons. Almost no one denies that there have been abuses of police powers, and bad cops should be punished especially hard for abusing their unique positions of trust. But good cops, pro-police constitutional conservatives, and others seeking good faith police reforms would do well to read the common law bases of LEO law described by Sir Matthew Hale.

Image credit: SMU Con Law
As we reflect the senseless killing of George Floyd and engage in a national conversation about race, civil rights, and the very idea of what it means to be an American, we find ourselves on the precipice of another important moment in our country's history.

On June 19, 1865, Union Troops entered Galveston, Texas to announce the end of the American Civil War and, in doing so, the end of the institution of slavery in the United States.

Known as Juneteenth, this day has come to signify one of many celebrations in the African-American community and the beginning of a new chapter in the story of the United States.

As we reflect the senseless killing of George Floyd and engage in a national conversation about race, civil rights, and the very idea of what it means to be an American, we find ourselves on the precipice of another important moment in our country's history.

Since the inception of our company in 1988, TTR Sotheby's International Realty has taken a leadership role in the communities in which we live and serve, and today we stand in solidarity with those who seek to create a more just world for everyone.

My partners, Jonathan Taylor, Michael Rankin, Derrick Swaak and David DeSantis, are unified in our commitment to take stock of what more we can do and to enact real, tangible change.

First, to help facilitate greater awareness, education, and solidarity with our African-American colleagues, TTR Sotheby's International Realty is proud to make June 19th a permanent paid holiday.

In acknowledging Juneteenth in this manner, we empower over 500 real estate associates across the Washington area with the time, energy, and resources to celebrate the African-American community and to establish ourselves firmly as advocates of inclusion and equality.

But as we drill deeper into the day to day operations of our firm, we, like so many, see a number of ways to improve.

First, TTR Sotheby's International Realty will continue to hire talented professionals who are representative of the communities in which we live and serve. This means being intentional about making sure our staff and associates reflect the rich diversity which makes the Washington area so exceptional. Our roster will continue to grow with individuals of a wide range of backgrounds who share our vision for meaningful change.

Next, we will be doubling down on further training for our roster of real estate associates to ensure we remain passionate evangelists for the ideals of Fair Housing, the moral pillars of our industry and a critical topic where we can contribute to the larger conversation around racial inequity in the United States.

These ongoing training initiatives will be in partnership with our local and regional real estate associations, as well as with our partners at the National Association of Realtors, an organization that represents the interests of real estate professionals on a national scale.

In addition, TTR Sotheby's International Realty has commenced a series of regular Town Halls with our associates to discuss topics related to race and social consciousness.

In creating an environment for open and honest conversation about these important topics, we strive to empower our associates with a safe space to explore ideas and collaborate with their colleagues in a productive and impactful manner. These forums will include national experts on diversity and inclusion who will help us all understand the issues and opportunities around these challenging topics.

Further, TTR Sotheby's International Realty will use the long arms of its media platform to create more awareness around diversity and social justice. Our print and digital media touches hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people across the Washington region, the United States and worldwide. As we develop content for these channels, we will be very deliberate to highlight opportunities for learning and meaningful progress towards equality.

Finally, in cooperation with our network of philanthropic partners throughout the Washington area, TTR Sotheby's International Realty will take steps to ensure our resources and energies are working towards the greater goal of reenforcing social justice in our community. Our partners at Teach for America and N Street Village, as just two examples, are already doing so much for our communities, and we are committed to working side by side with them as we reenforce our commitments to help extend and enhance their efforts.

As we outline the specific actions we are taking during this time, we know there will be much more we can do  actions we have yet to consider or emerging areas for which we may not have a clear answer at this moment. In this, we hope you will join us in engaging in a healthy and productive dialogue to share your ideas about how those in the real estate community and in business can use our platform to effect positive change.

In the interim, we take inspiration in the following quote from the great Nelson Mandela, who so aptly summarizes our unique, shared ability to enact change in the face of adversity.

"It always seems impossible until it is done."

About TTR Sotheby's International Realty

TTR Sothebys International Realty is regarded as one of the highest-performing real estate firms in the United States. With nine offices and over 500 real estate associates, our commitment to professional service, flawless integrity, and community leadership allowed us to capture more than $3.14 Billion in closed sales in 2019 while also serving as one of the Washington Metropolitan Areas foremost leaders in corporate philanthropy. To learn more, visit us at ttrsir.com.
The 2-hour event will bring together LGBTQ+ influencers and users around the world to dance, perform and showcase their talents in celebration of the community, also starring Todrick Hall , the American singer, actor, LGBTQ+ advocate and "Quarantine Queen", who will not only give an exclusive performance but also share how the LGBTQ+ community can stay strong and proud during these challenging times.

All profits from the show will go towards the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Pride Pantry, an initiative launched by the organization to serve the most vulnerable members of the community who are experiencing food insecurities during the current COVID-19 crisis.

"Right now, it's so important that we unite - even if it's virtually - to uplift and celebrate our LGBTQ+ community," said Todrick Hall. "This Sunday, we'll be creating a positive space for expression and connectivity in these lonely, difficult times, as well as reflecting on how we can bring about positive change for tomorrow's world. I'm honored to be part of Blued's StayProud virtual pride and can't wait to see you all there."

The event will be based on four "pillars" - Stay True, Stay Bold, Stay Strong, and Stay Fabulous, highlighted by a diverse lineup of exciting performances and thought-provoking discussions. These will underline the inspiring ways that the app's global users choose to celebrate their love for the community - hailing from Mexico, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Brazil and the US, to name just a few countries in the app's growing international user base.

To watch the event, simply download the Blued app from either the Google Play or Apple App Store, then tune in to the #StayProud Grand Stage livestream on Sunday, June 28 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET to join us! Please note that after its "live" debut, #StayProud will continue to be broadcast on rotation through the app for another 24 hours.

About BlueCity

BlueCity is a world's leading online LGBTQ platform, providing a full suite of services aimed at empowering the LGBTQ community in every aspect of their daily lives. As a central hub of BlueCity's services and platforms, the Blued mobile app allows our users to connect with each other, express themselves, and access professional health related services and family planning consulting services at their fingertips. Blued has connected 49 million registered users worldwide and has a leading foothold in many markets.

SOURCE Blued
Recently, there were reports about Thala Ajith's Valimai team rescheduling the release of the film from Summer 2021. Apparently, the actor has decided to halt the shooting of the big project until everything comes under control amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Of lately, there were also media reports suggesting that the makers of Valimai are gearing up for a direct OTT release, which saddened the fans, who were eagerly awaiting for the film on the big screen. Well, worry not as we have a new update which has to do with the release of the movie.

During a recent interview with a leading news portal, the producer of the film, Boney Kapoor confirmed that the film will not have a direct release on OTT platforms. During the session, he said that some films are meant for larger than life theatrical experience and he is excited to bring his upcoming films (including Ajith's Valimai, Ajay Devgn's Maidaan and Pawan Kalyan's Vakeel Saab) on big screens. The renowned producer was quoted as saying, "I strongly believe there are certain films which are meant for larger than life theatrical experience, and so, they should go to cinema halls first. I am extremely excited to bring my films to the big screen."

Coming back to Valimai, recent grapevine suggests that director H Vinoth and the team is planning to shoot the high-octane action sequences in India, which were supposed to be shot in Spain and Morocco, owing to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 lockdown. As per rumours, Ajith will appear in the role of a police officer, which will be the major highlight of the movie. Bollywood divas Yami Gautham and Huma Qureshi will appear as the female leads opposite Thala. Ileana D'Cruz will also have a special appearance in Valimai.

Thala Ajith's Valimai Is Not A Summer 2021 Release: Read Details Inside!

Valimai: Here Is An Official Update On The Thala Ajith Starrer From Producer Boney Kapoor
(Photo : Amazon) Print photos and documents easily with this Canon portable printer. (Photo : Amazon) You can use this HP printer even without a network connection. (Photo : Amazon) As an all-in-one printer, you can also use this to scan and copy documents. (Photo : Amazon) Get your photos printed straight from your device or social media.

Having flexibility as a worker is one of the best things you can offer your company. But it's not only you that should be flexible--here are some of the best portable printers that you can get on Amazon. Hence, it's easier to bring them anywhere and print documents and even pictures wherever you go and whenever you need them.

First on the list is a wireless all-in-one printer from HP. You can print and scan photos as well as documents. You can connect to it on your phone or tablet via Bluetooth, so you can print images and documents you have on your device. It's also possible to print from your social media, Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive, or any cloud storage you have.

It also comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, and you could even connect it with Alexa so you can print images and documents with voice commands. Plus, you can print borderless images.

If you enroll in the HP Instant Ink during the printer setup, you will get ink delivered to your home and get the first two months for free.

This wireless mobile printer from Canon is the perfect choice if you're always on the move and need a powerful but compact and lightweight printer. It's designed specifically for portability, so you can bring it anywhere and print high-quality photos and documents fast.



You can print images and documents directly from your smartphone or tablet. This Canon printer supports a variety of wireless options, including Canon PRINT App, Google Cloud Print, Apple AirPrint, and Mopria(R) Print Service.

Read Also: Amazon's Top 5 Earbuds and In-Ear Headphones, Providing Quality Sound and Unique Features

If you need to print photos as soon as possible for your business, work, or even just personal use, this Polaroid mini printer works well with any smartphone or tablet. It connects via Wi-Fi, and it will print your image in less than 60 seconds.

You will also get a free Polaroid app that is compatible with any Android or iOS devices.

This is extremely portable that you can easily put it in your pocket or your purse. There's no need to haul big bags, so it's perfect on-the-go.

This HP OfficeJet 200 is perfect for more heavy-duty printing, but it's still portable and could easily fit on backpacks or even in your car. As with all the printers in this list, you can print documents and images from your smartphone or your tablet with wireless connectivity, making it easy to use anytime you need the printed files.



It has a long-lasting battery with just 90 minutes of charging. You can already use it for your multiple printing needs. It has a user-friendly touchscreen panel, so you don't exactly have to be tech-savvy to use it.



To connect to devices, it comes with a free HP ePrint App. But, you can also use the printer and print documents and photos even without network connection via Wireless Direct printing.

Read Also: Best Barbecue Grills - Top Picks for Charcoal, Kamado, and Gas Models

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Visitors ride horses on a beach near Fort Bragg, Calif. (Paul Boorstin)

To the editor: At what point do we stop with the calls to change place names that come from our racist past? The history of mankind is racist. ("Fort Bragg's name is nothing to brag about," editorial, June 22)

Places in many other counties were conquered by outsiders who came in and subjugated the people living there. These conquerors did horrible things in the name of their king, country or empire.

Do we change practically every name in the country? How about changing Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco or Washington? None of these names comes from a completely peaceful history.

Instead, let's leave the current names in place and learn from our past. We can go forward and become better people instead of making largely empty gestures while continuing to treat people badly and feeling noble because we changed a few names.

Mary Ellen Barnes, San Pedro

..

To the editor: Changing the city of Fort Bragg's name can be done simply and at a low financial impact.

Rename the city after another Civil War veteran who fought heroically for the Union cause: Brig. Gen. Edward Stuyvesant Bragg, who after serving in the in the U.S. Army went on to be a four-term member of Congress and the U.S. minister to Mexico under President Cleveland.

Fort Bragg can easily be reformed into the City of Bragg, in honor of patriot Edward Stuyvesant Bragg. It would not only be an appropriate adjustment to our changing times; it could provide a history lesson that all our country can be proud to know.

Ben Miles, Huntington Beach

..

To the editor: Keep the name of Braxton Bragg, the Confederate general, on the town if the residents want it, but put it into historical context.

Bragg contributed more to the Union victory than most other Union generals. His pre-war service was checkered; he was famous for reportedly once arguing with himself.

Lots of Confederate generals won many battles, but not Bragg. He lost almost every battle he fought. His devastating loss in Chattanooga, Tenn., elevated Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's stature, leading to his command of Army of the Potomac. It also opened the way for Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's march to the sea and ultimately the Union victory.

Without Bragg, the war might have dragged on until the Union quit. Put that on a plaque in Fort Bragg.

Luther Berg, Winnetka
Click here to read the full article.

The coronavirus pandemic is a growing p.r. problem for notably American brands selling in Europe.

With newly increasing rates of infection in the U.S. (causing a handful of states like Texas, Idaho and Kansas to start rolling back some efforts to reopen after an economic shutdown to slow the virus spread), a president that initially ignored the problem and images of people angrily flouting mask-wearing and physical-distancing mandates, a lot of European consumers are spending less money with American brands, according to a new survey from Morning Consult.

The decline of the American brand in Europe is translating to a sharp drop-off in purchasing of American brands and international brands since the pandemic, Morning Consult wrote in its report. European consumers report that instead, they are consuming more domestic brands.

Many, of course, were already buying from domestic brands and plan to continue to so, but American companies are being viewed less favorably. Among French adults surveyed, 47 percent said the pandemic has made them less favorable toward American companies, along with 48 percent of German adults, 40 percent of Italian adults, 30 percent of Spanish adults and 39 percent of adults in the U.K.

On average, over 40 percent of consumers in the five European countries said the coronavirus had made them less favorable towards American brands, raising an important red flag for companies that identify as uniquely American, but play on a global stage, Morning Consult wrote.

American companies in the apparel space that have a big European business include the likes of Levis, Calvin Klein, Nike and Ralph Lauren.

European consumers are already saying that they are buying less from American brands now than they did before the pandemic, something they expect to continue, according to the survey.

French and Italian shoppers are the most apt to say theyre buying fewer American brands, with 44 percent and 46 percent of adults saying theyre already buying less. Among German adults, 34 percent said theyre buying less from American brands, while 32 percent of Spanish adults and 28 percent of adults in the U.K. said the same. All also said theyre buying less from international brands overall, with an average of 31 percent of European adults saying so.

Story continues

Chinese brands are also viewed much less favorably now than they were before the pandemic among European consumers, the survey found. Fifty-four percent of French adults see Chinese brands less favorably now, along with 47 percent of Germans, 45 percent of Italians, 42 percent of Spaniards and 52 percent of people in the U.K.

And the expectation seems to be that going forward, even post-pandemic, still likely a year or more away, these same European shoppers will continue to buy local more often than they did before. An average of 63 percent of shoppers from France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the U.K. said they will buy more in person from local businesses after the pandemic is over. Only 13 percent said they plan to increase shopping with international brands post-pandemic.

For More, See:

L.A. Shopping Returns, for a Second Time

AllSaints Gets U.S. Bankruptcy Court OK of U.K. Restructuring

Stephen Gan on Way Out at Elle Magazine

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The Republican police reform bill stalled in the Senate on Wednesday after Senate Democrats voted against starting debate on the measure and demanded bipartisan talks.

Senators voted 55-to-45 in a procedural vote on whether to initiate debate on the police reform bill, leaving. Republicans short of the 60 votes needed to advance the bill.

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the Senates only black Republican, led his party in introducing the bill and urged Democrats to vote in favor of starting debate even if they disagreed with elements of the measure.

If you dont think were right, make it better. Dont walk way, Scott said in advance of the vote. Vote for the motion to proceed so that we have an opportunity to deal with this very real threat to the America that is civil, that is balanced.

Democrats, however, argued that Scotts proposed police reforms do not go far enough in the wake of calls to reform police departments across the nation after the police custody death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes while Floyd pleaded for air.

The GOP bill would restrict the use of choke holds by withholding federal funds from departments that continue to allow the practice. It would also increase funding for police body cameras and create a national database to record police use of force incidents, as well as leverage grants to incentivize police departments to inform the FBI when the use of force leads to serious injury or death. The bill would also include a separate bill to make lynching a federal hate crime.

Democrats in both legislative chambers have proposed their own sweeping reforms, including a push to end qualified immunity, which protects police officers from lawsuits. That proposal was met with opposition from Republicans.

More from National Review
NDC Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and former Minister for Roads and Highways, Inusah Fuseini says his party is likely to suffer the same fate as the ruling New Patriotic Party in their parliamentary primaries next four years.



According to him, the monetization of parliamentary primaries has swept through every political party which is in government and that he foresees the NDC battling from the same disease once they win power in 2020.



Speaking on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia programme, he explained that such acts depletes parliament of highly intellectually resources and hard-working MPs who hold parliament and their government down with their hard work and experience.



For me, I feel the leadership of the New Patriotic Party failed to protect their own and they are going to pay for that.



The likes of Hon. Mark Assibey, Hon. Ben Abdallah and Hon. Collins Owusu Amankwah cannot be replaced. These gentlemen have been working not only for their party but the country at large, he said.



He added that his party will have a hefty price to pay if they fail to protect their hard-working MPs in the next four (4) years when the NDC comes to power next year.



He said it will require a miracle for the NPP to win the 2020 elections because the elections are first won in parliament.



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Election 2020 House New York This undated photo, provided by his campaign, shows Jamaal Bowman, a first-time candidate who helped found the Cornerstone Academy of Social Action in 2009, who has picked up endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in his race against U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, a 16-term incumbent representing parts of the Bronx and suburban Westchester County. (Photo by Corey Torpie via AP)

NEW YORK (AP)  One is the co-founder of a Bronx middle school making his first run for public office. The other is a son of Ugandan refugees with an MBA from Harvard.

Both have a shot at toppling veteran Democrats in Congress as New Yorkers cast their votes in a pandemic-disrupted primary election.

Jamaal Bowman, a first-time candidate who helped found the Cornerstone Academy of Social Action in 2009, has picked up endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in his race against U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, a 16-term incumbent representing parts of the Bronx and suburban Westchester County who has been endorsed by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Adem Bunkeddeko, who stepped down in November 2019 from his job with a nonprofit community development organization, is running in a rematch against seven-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke in Brooklyn after narrowly losing to her in the 2018 Democratic primary.

They are seeking to copy the success of Ocasio-Cortez, whose 2018 primary victory over veteran lawmaker Joe Crowley shocked the political establishment. She has become one of the most prominent members of the freshman congressional class, beloved by progressives and a target of conservative vitriol.

A host of liberal Democrats inspired by that victory are taking on incumbents in and around New York City this year. Their prospects are especially hard to judge amid the coronavirus outbreak that has killed thousands and forced New Yorkers to shelter in place. It has also altered how politicians campaign, pushing debates to Zoom and making it so candidates couldn't meet voters at subway stops or hold house parties at supporters' homes.

Were in the middle of a crisis, said Fordham University political scientist Christina Greer. People want stability. They want someone who knows the system already.

Early voting for New York's primary started Saturday.

Engel, 73, could be the most vulnerable of the state's incumbents, especially after a microphone caught him pressing to speak at a Bronx news conference on June 2 by saying, If I didn't have a primary, I wouldn't care.

Story continues

Bowman's campaign said he raised more than $100,000 the day Engel's gaffe went viral.

First elected to Congress in 1988, Engel chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee and played a key role in the impeachment of President Donald Trump. He has co-sponsored legislation guaranteeing health care for all and is a supporter of the Green New Deal.

Bowman, 44, has sought to portray Engel as out of touch and absent from the district, a charge that gained heft after The Atlantic reported that the congressman had spent most of the coronavirus crisis at his home in Maryland even while saying he would be in the district, which includes early virus hot spot New Rochelle as well as Bronx neighborhoods that were later hit hard by the pandemic.

Its one thing to socially distance and not remain in the district, Bowman said in a recent phone interview. Its another thing to say you are going to be in the district handing out groceries and youre actually in your home in Maryland. Its disingenuous. Its not true. And it takes voters for granted.

Engel responded that his whereabouts after the coronavirus struck was irrelevant.

During that period of time, I was on the legislative front lines, he said. When we were trying to put money together for New York and for other places I was in there punching and getting a lot of stuff. He cited money for New York hospitals struggling to treat COVID-19 patients as well as antibody testing.

Engel has been endorsed by fellow lawmakers including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis. In her endorsement announced Monday, Clinton said Engel is deeply committed to working with our allies to maintain American leadership on the global stage.

Bowman said his differences with Engel include Engel's 2015 vote against the Iran nuclear deal and his vote in favor of the 1994 crime bill, which Bowman said has led to the militarization of the police force and mass incarceration.

Bowman, who is black, has vowed to fight structural racism in housing, education and criminal justice. He posted a YouTube video of himself recently at a Black Lives Matter protest in Yonkers.

Tax lawyer Chris Fink and retired police lieutenant Sammy Ravelo are also running against Engel. A fifth candidate, Andom Ghebreghiorgis, withdrew and endorsed Bowman.

John Mollenkopf, a political scientist at the City University of New York Graduate Center, said the race is hard to predict.

My tendency would be to say that incumbents have a ton of advantages. Theyve done favors for people. Theyre known. Theyve attended billions of meetings in the district over the years, Mollenkopf said. On the other hand, the criticism of Engel is that he hasnt spent time as he needed to taking care of the district, and that hes taken his incumbency somewhat for granted.

The insurgent New York Democrat who came closest to joining Ocasio-Cortez on the winner's stage in 2018 was Bunkeddeko, who got 47% of the vote to Clarke's 53%. That 2018 primary was a two-person race, but Bunkeddekko, 32, is one of four candidates challenging Clarke this year.

Theres a growing appetite to really change the status quo, Bunkeddeko said, naming police brutality, the coronavirus and housing as top issues for the district. There have been a lot of folks who have been severely impacted as a result of COVID, and they had challenges long before COVID comes around. I think its important that we have the kind of leadership, bold, transformational leadership that meets the moment.

Clarke, 55, has represented the district that spans several Brooklyn neighborhoods since 2007. She started her political career on New York's City Council, where she succeeded her mother, Una Clarke, who was the first Caribbean-born woman elected to that body.

Bunkeddeko grew up in a one-bedroom apartment in Queens after his parents fled war-torn Uganda in the 1980s. He attended a private prep school on a scholarship and then graduated from Haverford College and Harvard Business School.

Clarke's district has been in the spotlight as the scene of massive demonstrations against the May 25 killing of George Floyd, including a demonstration where a protester was shoved by a police officer who now faces a criminal assault charge.

Clarke had called for the officer to be charged.

I thought that that was an apropos moment to make a demand on our police department and our mayor to lets begin removing officers who have diminished the humanity of others and have abused their authority, she said.

Bunkeddeko said charging one officer isn't enough. Ms. Clarke believes the police brutality issue our nation faces is just a case of bad apples that need to be rooted out, he said. I dont think its just bad apples. We need to change the culture of policing in this country.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the spelling of Adems last name is Bunkeddeko, not Bunkaddeko.
In a bid to fight the coronavirus challenge in the national capital, the Delhi government has come up with an eight-point Revised Covid Response Plan in line with the recommendations from Dr VK Paul committee.

The plan includes conducting sero-survey of 20,000 people across districts in the national capital and house-to-house screening by July 6, among other measures.

Earlier in the day, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said he has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to roll-back the order, issued by Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal.

Also read: Sisodia writes to Amit Shah, seeks scrapping of new Covid-19 SOPs

Delhi govt prepares eight-point 'Revised COVID Response Plan' in line with recommendations of Dr VK Paul committee. The plan includes conducting sero-survey of 20,000 people across districts and house-to-house screening by July 6, among other measures.  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2020

The order requires Covid-19 patient - who had tested positive through the real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test - to be taken to a Covid-19 Care Centre (CCC) for a clinical diagnosis of the viral infection symptoms.

Its not a matter of Amit Shah model versus Arvind Kejriwal model of fighting Covid-19. Its about ensuring minimum inconvenience to the public and also the administrative machinery fighting against the pandemic is not overburdened, Sisodia said during a virtual briefing today.

ALSO WATCH |Manish Sisodia asks Amit Shah to intervene, asks to scrap new covid SOPs

On Monday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that all those under home-isolation will be provided with pulse oximeters to measure oxygen levels every few hours.

Once you are well, you can return it to the government, the Delhi CM said adding that the Covid-19 situation, as of now, seems to be stabilizing.

Patients under home-isolation can monitor their oxygen level and in case of drop, they can call on a number that we will provide and our team will immediately visit and administer oxygen to the patient. The patient will be rushed to the hospital if there is a requirement, he stated.

The situation in the national capital paints a grim picture as the Covid-19 cases here have now crossed the 66,000-mark. On Wednesday, national capitals Covid-19 tally stood at 66,602. So far, Delhi has reported 2,301 coronavirus fatalities while 39,313 patients have beaten the deadly contagion.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission suspended the alcohol licenses of a dozen bars in Texas for not following coronavirus protocols.

The TABC started conducting undercover inspections of bars Friday to learn whether they were following guidelines.

The guidelines include an indoor customer capacity of 50% for bars and 75% for restaurants along with social distancing of at least 6 feet between groups of customers, according to a TABC press release. Masks were not mentioned.

Of more than 3,000 establishments inspected over the weekend, 12 bars in Houston, Seabrook, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Lubbock, El Paso and McAllen saw their alcohol licenses suspended for 30 days under Operation Safe Open.

A second infraction could result in a 60-day suspension.

BARge 295 in Seabrook said on its Facebook page that their alcohol license was suspended for allowing customers to stand and gather at the bar with a total of 30 people inside and 70 outside. Its total occupancy is 600.

"We intend to follow the order however we are appealing it with the help of our attorneys," the post also read.

TABC officials have not released information on which regulations were allegedly violated, but the agency posted videos and photos on Twitter showing crowds of people packed together at The New PR's in Fort Worth, UnBARlievable in Austin and Handlebar in Houston.

UPDATE: Permits suspended for seven more bars as part of Operation Safe Open. Learn more: https://t.co/w5X2KTSkFI

Video at The New PRs in Fort Worth and UnBARlievable (West 6th) in Austin  1/3 pic.twitter.com/YGLFx0x6gB  Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (@TexasABC) June 21, 2020

We warned businesses TABC will have no tolerance for breaking the rules, and now, some bars are paying the price, said TABC executive director Bentley Nettle. I hope other establishments will learn from these suspensions.

Story continues

Texas is one of the dozens of states experiencing a spike in coronavirus cases as it proceeds with phased reopening plans.

The state broke its record for COVID-19 hospitalizations for the 11th day in a row Monday, with state health officials reporting 3,711 patients in Texas hospitals. New COVID-19 cases also set a record Saturday, with 4,430 cases reported that day.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday called the rising rate of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations unacceptable, but said he has no plans to shut down the state again

Responding to state spikes: House panel set to grill Anthony Fauci, CDC director on Trump's coronavirus response

Unsafe hand sanitizers?: FDA warns 9 hand sanitizers may contain a potentially fatal ingredient

We must find ways to return to our daily routines as well as finding ways to coexist with COVID-19, Abbott said in a news conference. Closing down Texas again will always be the last option.

Texas faces a quickly approaching July 4 holiday weekend, and early voting for the states primary runoff election starts June 29. Both could bring together crowds of people.

Contributing: Nicole Cobbler and Nancy Flores, Austin American-Statesman; Associated Press. Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas bars temporarily lose alcohol permits for defying COVID-19 rules
Ahead of elections, Pakistan pumping in huge number of IEDs into India

The drone threat from Pakistan that India faces is immense

What bonds the Khalistanis and the Pakistanis

Pakistan to remain in 'grey list' of FATF after failure to check funding to terror groups

International

oi-PTI

Islamabad, June 24: The global terror financing watchdog FATF on Wednesday decided to keep Pakistan in the "Grey List" as it has failed to check flow of money to terror groups like the LeT and the JeM, officials said.

The decision was taken at the Financial Action Task Force's third and final plenary held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The plenary was held under the Chinese Presidency of Xiangmin Liu.

Reduce embassy staff by 50% in 7 days: India downgrades its diplomatic ties with Pakistan

Coronavirus: Delhi crosses 70,000 Covid-19 cases with 3,788 new patients in 24 hours | Oneindia news

"The FATF plenary decided continuation of Pakistan in 'Grey List' till its next meeting to be held in October," an official privy to the development said.

The decision has been taken as Pakistan has failed to check flow of money to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the official said.
[June 24, 2020] HERE Technologies promotes Stephen Patak to Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Americas region

June 24, 2020 Chicago, IL  HERE Technologies, a location data and platform company, today announced that Stephen Patak has been named Senior Vice President (SVP) and General Manager (GM) of the Americas region, effective July 1st, 2020. Stephen joined HERE in August 2019 as Vice President, Head of Global Platform Sales, where he and his team worked closely with customers and partners around the world to solve their most complex location related business problems utilizing the capabilities of the HERE platform. Patak will replace Kirk Mitchell who, after 10 years as an expat, will transfer internally to lead Corporate Development for the Asia-Pacific region based out of his native Melbourne, Australia. In his new role, Patak will be responsible for driving regional, customer-focused growth throughout North and Latin America while bringing more attention to customers, developers and partners leveraging the full capabilities of the HERE platform. Patak is already proven leader within HERE and Im confident that his customer-centric mentality will help drive revenue growth across our key industries in the region, said Edzard Overbeek, CEO of HERE Technologies. WithPatak at the helm, we will continue to drive customer conversations around the benefits of the HERE platform and the power of location technologies in todays complex world.



Its an honor to lead the Americas region during such an unprecedented time, said Patak. The pandemic has impacted our customers, partners, and developers across all industries, and our teams top priority will be to leverage our platform and location data to help them re-align their business for the future. I look forward to continuing to position HERE as a key contributor to helping the world move forward and doing so on a foundation built around inclusion, diversity, and belonging. Prior to joining HERE, Patak was the Senior Vice President of Sales for the Americas for Extreme Networks, where he was responsible for defining all aspects of Extremes GTM Strategy in the U.S, Canada and Latin America. Before joining Extreme Networks, Patak spent 14 years at Cisco Systems in a variety of leadership positions in both the Unites States and Singapore.

About HERE Technologies

HERE, a location data and technology platform, moves people, businesses and cities forward by harnessing the power of location. By leveraging our open platform, we empower our customers to achieve better outcomes  from helping a city manage its infrastructure or a business optimize its assets to guiding drivers to their destination safely. To learn more about HERE, please visit www.here.com and http://360.here.com

Media Contact

Kate Elisco

+1 312 480 6780

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ODESSA -- Two sisters have started their journey to create an American-made brand based out of Odessa. Kim Schnaubert and Lisa Brazile are getting ready to launch their Permian brand, which is currently taking names for a waitlist. Leather handbags will be the first product they offer.

The women started working on the brand in 2018. They recently wrote their business plan for the Odessa Business Challenge and won a prize of $100,000. The funding will allow them to launch the brand in a bigger way. The sisters will be building a website to sell directly to consumers, and samples are being finalized to develop inventory.

To be a part of the community of entrepreneurs in Odessa was inspiring to us, Schnaubert said. It was a great group of people and its nice to see that people are developing ideas for businesses in Odessa.

The sisters grew up in Odessa and attended Permian High School. Schnaubert went to the University of Texas at Austin and now lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she has worked at contemporary art museums. Brazile went to Texas Tech University and earned a degree in painting. She returned to Odessa when she got married. She and her husband, Colby, own Brazile Design and Construction.

Odessa has been a home base to come to all the time, Schnaubert said. So, I spend a lot of time here.

She attended Parsons School of Design in New York City to study fashion design. During that time, the sisters started having conversations

We both have an interest in art and design and consider ourselves artists and designers, Schnaubert said. I got to a place in my career in New York where I felt like I wanted to start my own company.

Want to be put on the waiting list?

For more information on the Permian brand, visit, https://www.permianbrand.com/ Kim Schnaubert, left, and Lisa Brazile pose by their Permian-brand handbags Thursday at Brazile's home in Odessa. See More Collapse

When Schnaubert was looking at starting a business, she knew she wanted to do it where she grew up.

I started really thinking about whats inspiring to me and what makes me who I am, Schnaubert said. A lot of that has to do with West Texas and how I feel about being from this place. Having some perspective outside of West Texas has been interesting for me.

After Schnaubert graduated from Parsons, the women started looking at designing products. She said they share a lot of the same aesthetics and foundations to build a brand on.

Its been a really generative relationship for both of us as a source of inspiration, she said. Its come out in a leather handbag. We started thinking about leather as a material. We wanted to be eco-conscious.

Schnaubert said they were looking at the life cycle of the objects they were creating and didnt want to work with plastic or materials that arent biodegradable.

Im interested in design where designers are thinking through the entire lifespan of the product they are creating, and as a consumer you feel responsible in your purchase choices and feel more connected in your life forever, Schnaubert said.

Brazile said they arent trying to be fast fashion; instead they are sustainably focused. The sisters started talking to area ranchers in 2018 about how they can track the cattle that would be used in the leather bags -- from the animals birth to the finished leather.

It was more of a research phase there to see if we could follow a specific group of cattle from start to finish and we could know that is where the bags came from, Brazile said. It turns out its not feasible; its like a needle in a haystack.

The women also researched different tanning processes. They learned about chrome tanning -- a process that can heavily pollute an area -- which makes up about 90 percent of leather products consumers purchase, Schnaubert said.

They also decided to commit to making sure everything they do is American-made and American- processed artisanal products.

Brazile said they settled on vegetable tanning.

The market for vegetable-tanned products includes the Western market -- so saddles and chaps, she said.

Vegetable-tanned leather is made by soaking rawhides in a brew of tree bark and water for a month, instead of a quick dip in a chrome bath such as in chrome tanning, she said. It is also stronger, lasts longer and is biodegradable. The sisters started working with Hermann Oak Leather in St. Louis; the company has been in business since 1881.

They have been very open to working with us and pushing on the products that they offer, Schnaubert said. At the same time, we are also collaborating with regional artisans that have more of a Western experience to do the production on the bags. We are interested in the idea of American artisanship and would like to collaborate with artisans for a modern design.

They plan to develop other products for the brands launch in 2021.

Permian is a design studio, Schnaubert said. We are launching with this line of handbags in 2021, and we will also have ideas of other products we will offer in terms of our brand.

They have designed six handbags so far. Some are adjustable so the handbags can be transitioned through a persons life, Brazile said.

The bags are made to last for your lifetime and the next lifetime; they are meant to be heirloom-quality pieces, which can be passed down, Brazile said. It is the idea of a shoe that you love which can be re-soled. This leather isnt going to wear out, and if the seams pop, we will resew it.

She said they are looking at keeping handbags below $1,000. Permian brand is in the high-end handbag middle ground, which is an industry that is expected to reach $90 billion by 2026, Brazile said.

We are excited about our bags because of the quality of our leather. And the fact that they are made in the United States really sets them apart from other -- especially luxury -- handbags that are being sold today that are made overseas, Schnaubert said.

The duo would like to open a storefront in Odessa where they can distribute their bags. Schnaubert said they would like to have their handbag in boutiques, as well as do pop ups. She said that during the launch they will be focusing on Odessa and Brooklyn.

We are from Odessa, we are proud to be from Odessa and we want to represent Odessa, Schnaubert said. We are trying to put a new twist on what Permian means.
Two young girls were forced to watch the horrific moment their mother was stabbed to death allegedly by her estranged partner.

Mother-of-three, Karen Gilliland, 42, was stabbed multiple times at her home in Rockhampton in central Queensland on Tuesday night.

Chilling screams filled the street as Ms Gilliland's two daughters ran from the house, prompting neighbours to phone police around 7pm.

A 45-year-old man, believed to be her husband Nigel Gilliland, remains under police guard in hospital after suffering self-inflicted wounds to his arms.

Karen Gilliland, 42, was stabbed multiple times at her home in Rockhampton in central Queensland on Tuesday night

Police arrived at the home around 7pm after neighbours saw two young girls running and screaming

Mr Gilliland had allegedly fled the scene but was found a short time later.

The mother was found with multiple stab wounds to her torso and was unable to be revived by police who performed CPR.

Her children are currently staying with their grandfather.

A friend to Ms Gilliland, Tricia Whitlock, said she was the 'most caring' soul she had ever met.

'Her high morals and careful perception of life and the world was something she took absolute pride in instilling in her children,' Ms Whitlock told The Courier Mail.

'Her contagious smile will be forever missed but always remembered.

'Karen encouraged her son to include mine and all of his uniqueness and they have been best friends ever since that is the type of person Karen is and what she's all about.'

Police described the harrowing scene as one of the worst they had ever witnessed.

A 45-year-old man, believed to be her husband Nigel Gilliland, remains under police guard in hospital after suffering self-inflicted injuries to his arms

The mother was found with multiple stab wounds to her torso and was unable to be revived by police who performed CPR

'It's a horrific scene for all included, especially those children to see that happen to their mum,' Acting Inspector Luke Peachey told reporters on Wednesday.

'We've been police officers for a number of years, and this is one of the worst things we've seen.

'(The three children) are very shaken up. And I might add, as are the police who attended, and the QAS officers.

'It's an absolutely tragic event that three children have lost their mother, that a father and mother have lost their daughter.'

Mr Gilliland underwent surgery on Wednesday morning and is yet to be interviewed by police.

No charges have been laid.

It's understood the couple had been living in separate homes.
The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) is expected to declare the results of Class 10 and Class 12 of the UP Board 2020 on June 27.

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) will announce the Class 10 and Class 12 board results on Saturday (June 27). UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, who also holds the secondary education portfolio, said that the results will be announced at around 12:30 pm on June 27.

After the official announcement of Class 10 and Class 12 results 2020, students can check their scores on the official websites - upmsp.edu.in, upresults.nic.in and upmspresults.up.nic.in.

Heres how you can check UP Board Class 10 and Class 12 result 2020 online:

- Candiates can visit the websites - upmsp.edu.in, upresults.nic.in or upmspresults.up.nic.in

- Click on the link that reads UP Board Result 2020 Class 10 or UP Board Result 2020 Class 12

- Key in your roll number and other login in credentials

- Press enter and your result with subject wise score will be displayed on your screen.

- Download it and take a print-out of the results for future reference

Students can also get their results on their mobile phones via SMS. To do so, students who appeared for the class 10 exams will have to go to the message option and type UP10ROLLNUMBER - and send it to 56263.

The students of UP Board Class 12 will have to send the message by typing UP12ROLLNUMBER to on the same number  56263.

A total of 59.6 lakh students have appeared for their UP Board inter and matric exam 2020. As per the rules issued by the board, students will have to secure a minimum of 35 per cent marks to pass a subject examination.

The UP Board Class 10 and Class 12 examinations 2020 were held on March 6, but the evaluation of the answer sheet and the results were delayed due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent country wide lockdown imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to curb the spread of the virus.

It is to be noted that the Uttar Pradesh government has already promoted students of classes 1 to 8 of all government schools without examination due to COVID-19 outbreak.
Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The cast, writers, producers, and directors of SOUL FOOD (the series) join host and series showrunner Felicia D. Henderson for the official 20th anniversary of the shows premiere with Zoom Event Open to Fans. Organizers will use the platform as a fundr The cast of SOUL FOOD (the series) join host and series showrunner Felicia D. Henderson for the official 20th anniversary of the shows premiere with Zoom Event Open to Fans. Organizers will use the platform as a fundraiser for the mother of Trayvon Mar SOUL FOOD creator and showrunner, Felicia D. Henderson to host official 20th Anniversary Reunion Event with cast, directors, writers and fans on Zoom. Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 4:00pm PT, 7:00pm ET.

Organizers will use the platform as a fundraiser for the mother of Trayvon Martin, Sybrina Fulton, and her campaign for Miami-Dade County Commissioner.

First and foremost, I am a writer, and artists must be activists now more than ever.  Felicia D. Henderson

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, June 24, 2020 / EINPresswire.com / -- Felicia D. Henderson and the cast, writers, producers, and directors of SOUL FOOD (the series) Announced the Official 20th Anniversary of Soul Foods Television Premiere Zoom Event Open to Fans. Organizers plan to use this platform as a fundraiser for Sybrina Fulton, and other local candidates around the country. The zoom event will be hosted Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 4:00pm PST/7:00pm EST.

Felicia D. Henderson, Soul Food showrunner and event organizer said, "First and foremost, I am a writer, and artists must be activists now more than ever. This year we're celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the premiere of SOUL FOOD (the TV series). Myself, along with executive producers: Tracey Edmonds, Bob Teitel, and George Tillman; writer-producers: Salim Akil (who also directed the show), Kenya Barris, Eric Haywood, and Charles Holland; directors: Jeff Byrd and Oz Scott; and the cast: Rockmond Dunbar, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Boris Kodjoe, Nicole Ari Parker, Malinda Williams, and Vanessa Williams, are looking forward to celebrating this anniversary with a Zoom fundraising reception for Sybrina."

Before COVID-19, before more murders of Black people, we planned a large party, retrospectives, etc., etc. But now, we have the opportunity to use this anniversary to be "Artivists" and I believe in nobody like I believe in Sybrina's ability to be an agent of change," says Felicia. Fans can join the Official 20th Anniversary Soul Food Zoom Event and hear Sybrina share the many reasons she is running for Miami-Dade's County Commissioner. This will be immediately followed by a Q& A reception with the cast. The purpose of the event is to unite fans of this groundbreaking show, while uplifting awareness around political candidates who understand racial violence and have a commitment to its eradication.

Henderson said, "Sybrina Fulton being the mother of Trayvon Martin, who was murdered at the hands of George Zimmerman, has a profound understanding of this issue a deep level of personal loss. We have to make sure she has a seat at the table. Our goal is to stop the American terrorism accepted by the American court system. Citizen's arrest and untouchable police forces who are not held accountable for excessive force, police brutality, and murder of black and brown American citizens must stop."

To make a donation to Sybrina Fultons campaign and RSVP for the event, click the link below:

Contribution Link:

https://act.myngp.com/Forms/4477342466062617600

To participate in the Official Soul Food Reunion Zoom Event on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 4:00pm PST/7:00pm EST, click the link below (and please share).

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYlcemvrDstGtPHksFSkzgMsws6LI5r7tuA

(###)

Hastags:

#SoulFood20 #VoteForSybrina

#Vote2020
Technavio has been monitoring the offshore drilling rigs market and it is poised to grow by 3.92 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 4% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005643/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Offshore Drilling Rigs Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Archer Ltd., China Oilfield Services Ltd., Helmerich Payne Inc., KCA Deutag Alpha Ltd., Nabors Industries Ltd., Noble Corp. Plc, Patterson-UTI Energy Inc., Transocean Ltd., Valaris Plc, and Weatherford International Plc are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Increase in deepwater and ultra-deepwater drilling activities has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, decline in investments in upstream sector might hamper market growth.

Offshore Drilling Rigs Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Offshore Drilling Rigs Market is segmented as below:

Type Bottom-supported Rigs Floating Rigs

Geography APAC MEA North America Europe South America



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=IRTNTR43969

Offshore Drilling Rigs Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our offshore drilling rigs market report covers the following areas:

Offshore Drilling Rigs Market size

Offshore Drilling Rigs Market trends

Offshore Drilling Rigs Market industry analysis

This study identifies the high potential of offshore marginal fields as one of the prime reasons driving the offshore drilling rigs market growth during the next few years.

Offshore Drilling Rigs Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the offshore drilling rigs market, including some of the vendors such as Archer Ltd., China Oilfield Services Ltd., Helmerich Payne Inc., KCA Deutag Alpha Ltd., Nabors Industries Ltd., Noble Corp. Plc, Patterson-UTI Energy Inc., Transocean Ltd., Valaris Plc, and Weatherford International Plc. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Offshore Drilling Rigs Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Offshore Drilling Rigs Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist offshore drilling rigs market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the offshore drilling rigs market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the offshore drilling rigs market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of offshore drilling rigs market vendors

Table Of Contents :

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Type

Market segments

Comparison by Type

Bottom-supported rigs Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Floating rigs Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Type

Customer Landscape

Overview

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Competitive scenario

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Industry risks

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Archer Ltd.

China Oilfield Services Ltd.

Helmerich Payne Inc.

KCA Deutag Alpha Ltd.

Nabors Industries Ltd.

Noble Corp. Plc

Patterson-UTI Energy Inc.

Transocean Ltd.

Valaris Plc

Weatherford International Plc

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005643/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: media@technavio.com

Website: www.technavio.com/
Gov. Tom Wolf addressed the political pushback regarding the COVID-19 response by his administration during a speech at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

In addition to this, Pa. Health Secretary also talked about what was being done to help move Lebanon County, the only county in Pennsylvania to fully be in the yellow phase of reopening as of this Friday, into the green phase.

You can watch Wolfs remarks through this link or through the video embedded below.

June 24 COVID-19 Update Please join us as we thank health care workers and talk about preparations for a possible COVID-19 resurgence in the fall. Posted by Governor Tom Wolf on Wednesday, June 24, 2020

We have spent the weekend doing a deep dive in all the details [regarding] the cases in Lebanon County, Levine said.

She said there is a plan to increase testing and contact tracing in the county and has shared it with county officials.

When the numbers have shown that the number of new cases have decreased, theyll be able to go green she said, pointing out that many of the issues lay in asymptomatic or undiagnosed staff who have entered the countys nursing homes.

Wolf and Levine talked about the political pushback both received because of pandemic response. Part of that included an attempt by Lebanon County in May to leapfrog over state guidelines regarding reopening.

Wolf did not touch on that situation specifically but addressed how the COVID-19 response had turned political as a while.

I dont know how this became political, but it is, Wolf said.

Wolf emphasized that the virus was the enemy, not him, not Levine and not President Donald Trump. He also admitted that he took a risk by participating in a Black Lives Matter protest in Harrisburg.

Wolf reflected on the states policies on addressing the pandemic but gave most of the credit to the health care workers. Wolf and Levine were visiting the medical center to thank health care workers for their role in battling the coronavirus pandemic.

You have come through a real, onerous, tough period of time, he told staff that attended the news conference. The thank you that I am saying today is even more heartfelt.

In introducing Levine, Wolf called her, the real hero of the commonwealth of Pennsylvanias response to the COVID-19 epidemic.

As of noon Wednesday, 83,191 coronavirus cases and 6,515 deaths were reported in Pennsylvania. There are 16,000 tests being conducted per day in the state, as well as contact tracing. Levine emphasized that there are hundreds of testing facilities throughout the state that could be utilized.

Wolf referred to the CDCs recent statement on how Pennsylvania was one of just three states seeing a decline in cases. He said since then, two of those states have fallen off and only the Keystone State remained.

Wolf warned that the pandemic could rear its head again the fall. Preparation for that includes continuing the program put in place earlier this year.

When ask if the state would have to be locked down once more, Wolf said that everything was being done to avoid this.

Levine added that guidelines for those wanting to visit loved ones in nursing and personal care homes will be issued either later this week or early next week.

MORE:
People living in Perth's 'mortgage belt' have been hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic and rely on the federal government's JobKeeper wage subsidy more anyone else in the state, according to new analysis.

A new Jobkeeper reliance index shows the northern suburbs of Yanchep, Beechboro and Carramar have the highest proportion of residents on the payment, followed by Banjup, Mundijong and Byford south of the river.

According to the index, developed by Sydney-based analytics and actuarial consulting firm Taylor Fry, the highest number of residents receiving the subsidy are middle-income earners living in a ring of outer suburban neighbourhoods and working in hospitality, retail and accommodation.

Workers in industries such as construction, administration, education, manufacturing and wholesale trading are also over-represented.
Plans to run new overhead power lines from western Victoria to Melbourne have sparked alarm among regional councils, which are demanding the 190 kilometre project go underground instead.

Electricity transmission company AusNet Services has been offering landholders $500 vouchers for permission to conduct survey work for the project, which would transmit wind and solar power into the energy grid.

Electricity transmission company AusNet Services is planning to build overhead powerlines to transmit renewable energy but councils along the proposed route want them to run underground. Credit:Joe Armao

The Western Victoria Transmission Network Project will start in Bulgana, near Stawell in Victorias west, and run through to the north-western Melbourne suburb of Sydenham. A terminal station is planned for a site north of Ballarat.

AusNet plans to complete the project by 2025, with construction to start in mid 2022.
~ Company Plans to Gain Access to the #7 Level (Sangria) Adit ~

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / VanGold Mining Corp. (the "Company" or "VanGold") (TSXV:VGLD) announces plans to begin clearing the El Pinguico shaft at its El Pinguico silver and gold project, located 7km south of the city of Guanajuato, Mexico.

Clearing the El Pinguico Shaft:

Preparations are underway to begin clearing approximately 30m of debris from the bottom of the El Pinguico shaft, one of three shafts that gave access to the historic El Pinguico mine.

The company will be attaching a one tonne capacity hoist to its previously installed steel head-frame in order to hoist material that has fallen to the bottom of the El Pinguico shaft since mining ceased in 1913. The company has begun hiring a team of experienced underground miners to perform the delicate work of removing this material safely while maintaining the structural integrity of the shaft. All activities will be performed according to Mexican regulations regarding the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

The Company plans to begin this operation in mid-July, and has started the process of hiring key personnel for this task. It anticipates that once crews begin this work that it will require approximately three weeks to clear the shaft down to the #7, or 'Sangria' adit level.

Permitting:

All necessary permits to operate the one tonne capacity hoist, and remove the material from the bottom of the shaft have been attained. The Company's only further regulatory requirement is to alert the local municipal government of its intention to commence this activity, which the Company intends to do in the first week of July.

VanGold Plans Three Initiatives After Clearing Shaft:

Sampling the bottom of the underground stockpile: The underground (UG) stockpile consists of material that in 2012 the Mexican Geological Survey (SGM) agency determined to be 148,966 tonnes in size.[1] In 2017, VanGold conducted a trenching program at the top of the UG stockpile. This program resulted in a weighted average of all of the trench samples of 1.75 gpt Au and 183 gpt Ag, which is similar to the grades quoted in 2012 by SGM of 1.66 gpt Au and 143 gpt Ag.[2] Once crews remove the material at the bottom of the El Pinguico shaft VanGold will be in a position to properly sample the bottom of the UG stockpile and determine whether the silver and gold grades, established by VanGold's trenching in 2017 on the top of the stockpile, extend to the bottom of the stockpile.

2. Inspecting the #7 Sangria Adit: Clearing the El Pinguico shaft will allow crews to enter and inspect the mine's #7 Adit - also known as the "Sangria" adit. This adit may provide a potential safe and inexpensive haulage way to bring the UG stockpile material to surface for onward delivery to a nearby mill for processing. The Company will study this approach for bringing the UG stockpile material out of the mine; however fully refurbishing the El Pinguico shaft is also a potential alternative. The decision on which of these possibilities the Company will pursue will be made once the Sangria adit is entered and fully inspected.

3. Sampling of the Colmillo Stope: Once the El Pinguico shaft has been suitably cleared, it is anticipated that crews will be able to access and sample the Colmillo Stope. This stope was a high grade area within the El Pinguico mine prior to its closure in 1913. Examples of historic sampling from this area, conducted in 1909, can be seen on page 5 of the Company's corporate presentation, available on its Website: www.vangoldmining.com.[3]

Geologist and Vangold Director, Bill Gehlen said "Historical assays from the Colmillo stope area are remarkably high-grade. We want to establish whether that material still exists, whether the grade from our sampling is comparable to historic grades, and whether other areas of high-grade are readily accessible within that part of the old workings. In the months ahead, we plan to test for extensions to these areas with an underground drilling campaign."

The El Pinguico Project:

El Pinguico is a high-grade gold and silver deposit that was mined from the early 1890s until 1913. The mining was done exclusively from the El Pinguico and El Carmen veins, which are thought to be splays off the Mother Vein, or 'Veta Madre.'

The Veta Madre is associated with a mega fault that outcrops for 25 kilometres and is the most important source of precious metal mineralization in the region. The Veta Madre may cross Vangold's property at depth, underneath the high grade El Pinguico and El Carmen veins. Very limited drilling has been done on the property and no drilling has attempted to encounter the Veta Madre at depth.

Historic stockpiles of mineralized material exist on surface and underground at El Pinguico which may potentially provide feed to one of several operational mills in the Guanajuato area.

Hernan Dorado, a director of Vangold and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Vangold Mining Corp.

Vangold Mining is an exploration company engaged in the exploration of mineral projects in the Guanajuato region of central Mexico. The Company's flagship El Pinguico project is a significant past producer of high-grade gold and silver and is located just 7km south of the city of Guanajuato, Mexico. The Company remains focused on the near-term potential for development and monetization of both its surface and underground stockpiles of mineralized material from El Pinguico.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"James Anderson"

Chairman and CEO

For further information regarding Vangold Mining Corp, please contact:

James Anderson, Director, +1 (778) 989-5346

Email: james@vangoldmining.com

Continue to watch our progress at: www.vangoldmining.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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance (including, but not limited to, the potential for near term development and monetization of existing stockpiles of mineralized material at the Company's El Pinguico project in Mexico) 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, market conditions, availability of financing, currency rate fluctuations, actual results of exploration and development activities, environmental risks, future prices of gold, silver and other metals, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental or regulatory approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. In addition, there is uncertainty about the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the impact it will have on the Company's operations, global supply chains and economic activity in general. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. 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 by applicable law.

VANGOLD MINING CORP.

PH: +1(778) 989-5346 E: info@vangoldmining.com W: vangoldmining.com

CA: #1000 - 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 1T2, Canada

MX: Carr, Guanajuato - Silao km 5.5 Colonia Marfil Guanajuato, Mexico Office No.2 CP 36250

[1] This figure is historic in nature, has not been verified and should not be relied upon. [2] VanGold completed 57 samples from 20 trenches (mostly historic with a few new trenches) at the top of the UG stockpile resulting in the average grades set out above. All samples were collected, recorded, bagged and sent by VanGold's consulting geologist to ALS Laboratory in Guadalajara, Mexico for sample preparation. Gold, silver and multi-element ICP analysis was completed at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver, Canada. Rock samples were fine crushed (70% passing a 2mm screen), pulverized (85% passing a 75 micron screen) and a pulp split separated for assaying by a riffle splitter. 30 gram portion of each sample was assayed for gold by standard fire assay and a 10 gram split was analyzed for 35 elements by ICP method. Standard reference material and blank samples were inserted into the sample stream at a 5% insertion rate with pulped samples from the UG stockpile for quality control purposes. The results of the standards and blank samples were satisfactory. All data was collected with industry standard practices and assay results were verified by VanGold's consulting geologist. Further work by VanGold is required to verify the tonnage estimation by the Mexican Geological Survey agency and assess the distribution of grades within the UG stockpile. [3] Historical assays have not been verified and should not be relied upon. They are presented as an indication of possible gold and silver mineralization within the Colmillo stope of the UG stockpile and as a guide for future work. SOURCE: Vangold Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595040/VanGold-Mining-to-Clear-the-El-Pinguico-Shaft
The man behind Swedens controversial Covid-19 strategy has characterized lockdowns imposed across much of the globe as a form of madness that flies in the face of what is known about handling viral outbreaks.

Anders Tegnell, Swedens state epidemiologist, said he advised against such restrictions on movement because of the detrimental side effects they often entail.

It was as if the world had gone mad, and everything we had discussed was forgotten, Tegnell said in a podcast with Swedish Radio on Wednesday. The cases became too many and the political pressure got too strong. And then Sweden stood there rather alone.

SWEDEN INSIGHT: Less of an Outlier -- High Frequency Dashboard

Tegnell admits he misjudged the deadly potential of the coronavirus in its early stages, but has refused to consider abandoning his strategy. He says restricting movement to the radical extent seen across much of the globe can create other problems, including increased domestic abuse, loneliness and mass unemployment.

In the same way that all drugs have side effects, measures against a pandemic also have negative effects, he said. At an authority like ours, which works with a broad spectrum of public health issues, it is natural to take these aspects into account.

But Sweden now has one of the worlds highest Covid-19 mortality rates, with more deaths per 100,000 than the US, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Polls suggest Swedes have started to lose faith in their countrys response to the pandemic.

Instead of shuttering schools, shops and restaurants, Sweden left pretty much everything open. Citizens were encouraged to observe social distancing guidelines, but the strategy assumed Swedes would voluntarily alter their behaviour without the need for laws.

Tegnell also advised against using face masks, arguing theres little scientific evidence they work. And he says its clear that closing down schools was an unnecessary response to the pandemic, a notion thats actually supported in a recent French study.

Tegnells underlying argument is that Covid-19 isnt going away any time soon, meaning sudden, severe lockdowns will ultimately prove ineffective in addressing the longer-term threat. Meanwhile, the virus has recently resurfaced in a number of places where authorities thought theyd brought it under control, including Beijing.

Im looking forward to a more serious evaluation of our work than has been made so far, Tegnell said. There is no way of knowing how this ends.
The Assyrian Village That Came Back to Life

Yakup Gabriel. ( Dilan Karaman) One of the first things you see when you enter the village of Kafro in southeastern Turkey -- as you make your way past its traditional brown stone buildings -- is Nail Demir's restaurant. Its wood-lined interior feels warm and cozy, which recalls a saying among the region's Assyrian population: these people have poured all their pain into their coffee.

Kafro, which sits 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) outside the town of Midyat in Mardin Province, was historically an Assyrian village, inhabited by followers of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Many Assyrian Christians regard the surrounding Tur Abdin region, a hilly area that forms parts of Turkey's Mardin and Sirnak provinces, as the epicenter of their cultural heritage.

Unlike other similar villages, however, Kafro has a turbulent recent history. In 1995 it was forcibly evacuated by the Turkish military as a security measure during the conflict with the Kurdish separatist PKK, which has a strong presence in the region. Caught in a war zone, suspected by the Turkish army of aiding the PKK, and facing financial difficulties as a result of the conflict, many Assyrians left their traditional homeland. In Tur Abdin, where the Assyrian population was most dense, their numbers have declined to around 3,000.

The flow of departures was also true for Kafro, as many inhabitants left for destinations in Europe. They have since set up the Kafro Village Rehabilitation Association Fund, based in Switzerland, to collect money to renovate their hometown. Around 15 families contributed to this joint pool, and they have used the funds to rebuild their houses once they have decided to return to Kafro (with not all of them returning at the same time). Nail Demir's father, Yahko, was the first to came back and he built several houses at the entrance of the village for families who put money in the pool and wanted to return. As a result of this joint effort, a dozen families have made the journey back so far, starting in the mid-2000s.

Keeping a Low Profile

Demir, now 54, returned to Kafro from Germany in 2008, opening his pizza restaurant two years later. "We came here with my wife and two kids," he said. "After our children finished high school, they went back to Europe and we're back here making pizza."

Now, returning Assyrians are trying to reclaim their heritage, promising to "Europeanize" -- to economically develop -- the property they reclaim. Demir said he came back "to apply what I learned in Europe, to elevate my hometown."

Kafro pizzeria. ( Dilan Karaman)

Demir was wary of speaking to a journalist, and other residents of Kafro refused to speak at all, including the village mayor. Kafro's revival has attracted media attention, and there's a sign across the road from the pizzeria saying "don't photograph people without their permission." Residents remain afraid to say anything that might be construed as anti-government or manipulated to sound that way, and that they then might be punished in some way as "traitors."

In nearby Midyat, Yakup Gabriel owns a factory that produces some of the region's famous Assyrian wine. The 58-year-old Gabriel left Midyat in 1975 for Switzerland, returning with his family in 2002. One of the wines he sells is called Monastery.

"House wine used to be sold under the table, which gave Assyrian wine a bad name," he said. "We built this place to make pure and delicious wine, to better represent our culture."

Assyrians began returning to the region during attempts at political negotiations between the Turkish government and the PKK. The most recent of these collapsed in 2015, as the civil war in neighboring Syria contributed to the breakdown of a ceasefire agreement.

"I came back when my children were still young so that they wouldn't grow up as strangers to their homeland," said Gabriel, who was one of the first to return to Midyat.

A History of Violence

Conflict goes back much further than the 1990s, however. Under the Ottoman Empire, the region was populated by a variety of ethnic and religious groups, including Assyrians, Armenians, Yazidis, and Kurds.

During the violence of 1915, which led to the deportation and death of hundreds of thousands of Armenians, much of the non-Muslim population was killed or expelled. Those who remained were subject to the newly formed Turkish Republic's demographic policies, which attempted to permanently alter the make-up of the region by resettling Kurds -- and then, when they later fell out with the government, Arabs and Turkmen -- around the Assyrian villages.

Some Assyrian land and property were seized back then and held in trust by the government, which means returning Assyrians still today often have to apply via the courts to reclaim or buy it back.

Not everybody left, though. A 53-year-old woman who didn't want to give her name, said that her parents resisted the pressure to leave when she was a child.

"I didn't understand then but I think I see it now. The idea of relocating a tree is scary when it's already deeply rooted in its own soil," she said, speaking by phone due to restrictions on movement imposed during the coronavirus pandemic. She has three grown-up children, who she says live more comfortably with their own cultural traditions than she used to.

A 44-year-old businessman in Midyat, who also didn't want to give his name, likewise feels that Turkey's government now allows Assyrians to live more freely. He is glad to see others returning from abroad.

"Compared to what it used to be like, the political climate these days is better suited for Assyrians to do constructive things in their own lands," he said.

A Declining Assyrian Population

Not everybody agrees. Numan Ogur, 54, is co-chair of the Mesopotamia People's Assembly. His organization, which draws on some of the ideas of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, would like to see a "democratic confederacy" established in Mesopotamia, the historic region between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates that covers parts of modern Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. This would be a society based on socialist principles that does not tie ethnic and religious groups to a particular nation-state.

"There's no opportunities for access to culture," said Ogur, who lives in Germany. He pointed out that only around 40,000 Assyrians remain in Turkey, a fraction of the global diaspora. Assyrians have faced discriminatory religious policies since the foundation of modern Turkey, Ogur said, adding that they are also frequently accused of being American spies, or of secretly aiding the PKK.

According to a study by the academic Nese Ozgen, the decline in the region's Assyrian population had several causes. The first came in the 1940s, as a result of demographic policies to encourage the Islamification of the region. The second was after 1955, when many rural Turks migrated to the cities, and the third came in the 1970s as people sought better education and economic prospects elsewhere. Finally, from the 1980s onward, came the government's conflict with the PKK.

Ogur was given a traditional, monastery-based education as a child during the 1980s. This starts at the age of five, and covers everything from Assyrian language and culture to mathematics and music. This curriculum is officially banned under Turkey's education policies, but state authorities reportedly turn a blind eye in many instances.

"When I was raised in the monastery, we were under extreme pressure. That pressure is still on," said Ogur. Neither the Mardin governor's office, nor the district offices, would answer a request for comment on returning Assyrians and integration policies.

Assyrians living in Mardin Province have a range of political inclinations. While Gabriel, the winery owner, was once a member of the pro-Kurdish, multiculturalist People's Democratic Party (HDP), the Assyrian archpriest of Mardin is aligned with Turkey's governing Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Yet even Ogur thinks that many Assyrians would return to their historic homeland if peace could be guaranteed, adding, "The Assyrians are the oldest proprietors of the land they live on."
TOKYO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Analysis of risk information spread on Twitter Keio University'sKai Hiraishi and colleagues suggests that the role of Twitter users in spreading risk information may differ depending on the size of their Twitter network and the fraction of shared connections within it.

The Keio Research Highlights website offers details about recent research being conducted by researchers at Keio University including risk information sharing and scaring splits Twitter users by Kai Hiraishi and colleagues.

Keio Research Highlights website https://research-highlights.keio.ac.jp/2020/06/a.html

When disasters strike, misinformation can proliferate rapidly, exacerbating the challenges posed by the events themselves. The COVID-19 pandemic is an extreme example, where a widespread hunger for information has led to facts that may be unreliable, false, or even dangerously misleading, propagating as fast as the disease itself.

"Knowledge about how users make judgments about the sharing of risk information at the individual level will not only help clarify mechanisms of risk information propagation, but also contribute to the development of risk information sharing strategies," explains Keio University'sKai Hiraishi, who worked alongside researchers at the Osaka Electro-Communication University and Osaka University for a study, the outcomes of which were published in the Japanese Psychological Research.

Their analysis of risk information spread on Twitter suggests that the role of Twitter users in spreading risk information may differ depending on the size of their Twitter network and the fraction of shared connections within it.

Twitter users can retweet other user's tweets so that it appears in the feeds of all those who follow them, rapidly amplifying the message and its reach, and in some cases, it 'goes viral.' Despite some similarities, however, analogies between rumors and infectious disease may have limitations. For instance, the researchers state that, "it is reasonable to consider the possibility that Twitter users are not passively 'infected' by highly influential information that they then spread automatically through their connections."

Hiraishi and co-authors Masashi Komori, Asako Miura, Naohiro Matsumura, and Kazutoshi Maeda identified ten tweets about risk information that had been retweeted over 50 times. The tweets concerned threats of natural or nuclear disasters and disease that were widely covered in the media in 2014, the time they began the investigation. They then identified the users who retweeted the tweets and those who would have seen the tweet in their Twitter feed but had not retweeted it. They then compared these users based on their number of followers and the number of people they followed, as well as mutual connections shared within their network.

Since they could not identify the risk perceived by Twitter users at the time, the researchers surveyed 500 male and female regular Twitter users on how they perceived each of the ten tweets. They based the survey questions on a model devised by Paul Slovic in 1987, which dichotomizes risk according to two factors: dread and the unknown.

The researchers found that Twitter users with fewer followers, users they follow, and mutual connections were generally more likely to retweet risk information. Assuming that users with smaller networks are less familiar with Twitter, Hiraishi and colleagues attributed this behaviour to 'lack of experience or to their low online media literacy.' Those who follow more users, have more followers, and have more mutual connections were less likely to retweet risk information in general, but did seem to make exceptions for some messages with high ratings of dread. "The purpose of sharing risk information for high mutuality users is probably not simply to exchange information, but rather to inform followers of the user's personal reaction to the news," they explain in the report.

The results corroborate the idea that Twitter users fall into two camps - those interested in it for information exchange, and those with social motivations and consequently an interest in sharing more personal opinions.

About the researcher

Kai Hiraishi? Professor

Department of Human Sciences, Faculty of Letters

Kai Hiraishi is a professor in the Department of Human Sciences at Keio University. Before joining Keio, he worked as a research associate at the University of Tokyo between 2001 and 2004 in the Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies and later the Institute of Socio-Information and Communication Studies. He stayed on at the University of Tokyo as an assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences before moving to Kyoto University as a Program-Specific Assistant Professor at the Kokoro Research Center in 2008. In 2012 he joined the Department of Psychology at Yasuda Women's University, and in 2015, he came to Keio University.

Links

https://sites.google.com/site/kaihiraishi/home

Reference

Masashi Komori, Asako Miura, Naohiro Matsumura, Kai Hiraishi, and Kazutoshi Maeda. Spread of Risk Information Through Microblogs: Twitter Users with More Mutual Connections Relay News That is More Dreadful, Japanese Psychological Research, doi: 10.1111/jpr.12272

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jpr.12272

Websites

Keio University

https://www.keio.ac.jp/en/

Keio Research Highlights

https://research-highlights.keio.ac.jp/

About Keio University

Keio University is a private, comprehensive university with six major campuses in the Greater Tokyo area along with a number of affiliated academic institutions. Keio prides itself on educational and research excellence in a wide range of fields and its state-of-the-art university hospital.

Keio was founded in 1858, and it is Japan's first modern institution of higher learning. Over the last century and a half, it has evolved into and continues to maintain its status as a leading university in Japan through its ongoing commitment to producing leaders of the future. Founder Yukichi Fukuzawa, a highly respected educator and one of the most important intellectuals of modern Japan, aspired for Keio to be a pioneer of new discoveries and contribute to society through learning.

Further information:

Keio University

Office of Research Development and Sponsored Projects

2-15-45 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8345, Japan

E-mail: keio-rpr@adst.keio.ac.jp
A Black woman in Mississauga says Peel police used excessive force against her when one officer Tasered her in the back and then another officer shot her in the abdomen on Mother's Day.

Chantelle Krupka, 34, a mother of a 10-year-old boy, told reporters on Mississauga on Tuesday that police were responding to a domestic call made by her ex-partner.

Krupka was injured by the officers on the front porch of her home. A single bullet fractured her right hip.

"I asked the officer who shot me why she shot me. It actually in a way calmed me down because the Tasing hurt much more. The shock from the shot really kind of pushed me back and calmed me. It took a minute to register what had happened," an emotional Krupka said at a news conference.

"And I looked her in the eye and I maintained contact. And I asked her repeatedly why she shot me. I said, 'I just wanted to see my son. I didn't deserve this. Why did you do this to me?' She didn't answer."

Krupka's account comes in the wake of a number of recent cases in the U.S. and Canada where racialized people have been killed or injured in interactions with police  the most notable being the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, a death that touched off street protests around the world.

Evan Mitsui/CBC

Krupka said she was no threat to police when the shooting happened on May 10 at about 10:30 p.m.

Ontario's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), has been called in. Krupka took cellphone video of the confrontation, and it is now in the possession of the SIU, which also seized the firearm used by the officer.

Krupka said police also used excessive force against her current partner, Michael Headley, who was Tasered three times as well in front of the home.

In a release on Tuesday, the SIU said it is "nearing completion" of its investigation into the case.

The SIU said the firearm was submitted to the Centre of Forensic Sciences for analysis and information from the conducted energy weapon used on Krupka has been downloaded. It is still waiting for "some recently requested materials" from Peel police.

Story continues

CBC

Krupka and Headley have also filed a complaint with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director.

They allege that Peel police used excessive force against both of them, unlawfully arrested Headley, and committed "discreditable conduct" because "this is a case of racism."

They allege the officers escalated the situation and that there is systemic racism within Peel police.

"My ex knows that he can weaponize police against me because I am Black. He knows when he calls police they believe him because he is not Black and that they will mistreat me because I am Black. I would not have been shot and Tasered if I was a white woman," Krupka says in the complaint.

"Michael would not have been Tasered if he was a white man. Any fear police felt was exaggerated in their minds because of negative and improper stereotypes and poor training. How could I possibly have been seen as a threat when on the ground after being tasered in the back?"

Jeremy Cohn/CBC

According to Krupka, police were called to the home after she and her ex-partner, with whom she shares custody, exchanged text messages earlier in the day. She expressed a desire to talk to her son on Mother's Day and there was nothing threatening in the text messages.

She said when police arrived, a male officer called her, and she became afraid.

She said police shone a spotlight on her house, and she called emergency dispatch and was told to go outside. When she and Headley went outside, she said the male officer accused her of making a fist, and Tasered Headley.

Krupka said she tried to run away. The officer then Tasered her, she fell to the ground, rolled over onto her back and a female officer shot her.

Krupka was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries and underwent surgery. Police searched the home and told her two weeks later that she was being charged.

"The night of the incident, police seized property from my home, including cash, a cell phone, and cannabis  each of which are legal," the complaint reads.

"I believe that the charges against Michael and myself were laid in an attempt to paint us as criminals and create an after-the-fact justification for the excessive use of force against us," it continues.

Use of force 'outrageously abusive,' complaint says

"Even if there were any merit to the charges, which we absolutely deny, the use of force was excessive and outrageously abusive. We did not deserve to be tasered. I did not deserve to be shot."

Davin Charney, her lawyer, said police came to the home to give relationship advice and there is no need for armed officers to do so.

Const. Akhil Mooken, spokesperson for Peel Regional Police, said on Tuesday the force is unable to comment on the incident because the SIU is investigating.

Mooken, however, confirmed that a female was struck and injured on May 10 by a "police-discharged firearm."

He said Krupka has been charged with laundering proceeds of crime committed within Canada, a charge under the Criminal Code, and possession for the purpose of distributing over 50 grams of marijuana, a charge under the Cannabis Act.

Jeremy Cohn/CBC

The SIU has not yet responded to an email requesting further comment.

In the release, the SIU said four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case. Investigators have canvassed the area in an attempt to obtain evidence and locate witnesses. Krupka, four witnesses, six officers and the officer who is the subject of the investigation have all been interviewed.

The SIU is an arm's length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.
China completes BDS navigation system, reduces reliance on GPS

Global Times

By Deng Xiaoci Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/23 9:43:50

Navigation, positioning network reduces China's reliance on GPS

"Ten, nine, eightthree, two, one. Launch." The calm voice of 01 Commander Yin Xiangyuan in the Liangshan mountain valley in Southwest China's Sichuan Province was soon overwhelmed by the thunderous boom of the rocket launch on Tuesday.

Carrying the last satellite of China's domestically developed BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, or BDS, the Long March-3B launch vehicle blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center Tuesday morning.

After being in flight for around half an hour, the spacecraft, the third geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellite and 30th of the third-generation series of the BeiDou system, or BDS-3, successfully entered its planned orbit, marking the completion of the global geolocation network, which is also China's largest space-based system and one of the four global navigation networks. The three others are the US' GPS, Russia's GLONASS and the European Galileo.

The launch of the final satellite of China's indigenous BeiDou system was previously scheduled for June 16, but was delayed after technical problems were found with the Long March-3B rocket in pre-launch tests.

Space launches have always been full of challenges, and sometimes faced high risks of failure. The postponement of the final BeiDou launch and resumption after resolving the problems once again shows that Chinese space scientists uphold the scientific spirit, allowing zero errors at any stage of the mission, insiders said.

World-class performance

The latest GEO satellite is the 55th BDS system, and will work with other members of the network, allowing global users to access high-accuracy navigation, positioning and timing, as well as communication services.

Compared to previous generation series, the constellation of BDS-3 with an array of 30 satellites on three different orbit planes - three at the GEO, three at the inclined geosynchronous orbits, and 24 at the medium Earth orbit--have a higher bandwidth, enabling enhanced communication capability and carrying more accurate and stable atomic clocks to improve the precision of timing and navigation services, according to the project contractor, China Academy of Space Technology, under the state owned space giant China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

The BDS-3 also possesses better messaging capabilities, increasing its unique short message service capacity from 120 Chinese characters to 1,200 per message, and the higher communication bandwidth also expands the number of users from 500,000 to 5 million.

BDS-3 is also capable of providing precise point positioning services (PPP) with a decimeter-level dynamic accuracy and centimeter-level static accuracy--meaning, it can support applications such as auto-pilot for vehicles and precision docking of ships.

Yang Changfeng, the chief architect of the BDS, told the Global Times on Monday that China's BDS is compatible with the US' GPS, Russia's GLONASS and Europe's Galileo, and users worldwide can freely choose from the four systems with the best signal from the global navigation satellite systems with over 100 satellites.

The chief architect said the BDS has satellites on three orbit planes in the Asia-Pacific region, which makes it more capable of resisting disturbances from occlusion, even in such environments with multi-layer surfaces in urban areas and in forests.

Users in low latitude areas in the Asia-Pacific region can enjoy non-stop navigation services from the BDS under these circumstances, and the accuracy of the BDS service is just as good as that of the US' GPS, and of world-class quality globally, Yang noted.

Yang also told media on Tuesday that the completion of the BDS-3 constellation marks a step forward in China's advance to space power.

The mission will complete the BDS-3 system, which, according to Wu Di, a scholar at the satellite positioning technology center of Wuhan University in Central China's Hubei Province, will further enhance the quality of services of the system for global users, with more satellites above every corner around the world, which will bring stronger signals.

The China Satellite Navigation Office on Tuesday said much of the world have started using the BDS.

The office told the Global Times in a Tuesday statement that the United Nation Office for Outer Space Affairs sent a special video to extend congratulations for the successful launch, and also spoke highly of the BeiDou system's contribution to the world's social and economic development.

Key strategic assets

People's Daily on Tuesday released a special video to illustrate why China has chosen to develop such an indigenous system when the US GPS is already in place and corners most of the civilian market.

The answer it offered was that while Chinese users have been benefiting from the GPS, the US system is not ours, and the video pointed out that GPS signals were developed by the US Air Force in the 1970s. And owning our own indigenous navigation satellite system is the best way to resist being controlled by others.

"The manipulation of the US signals would paralyze any weapons solely relying on the GPS, which would lead to unbearable outcomes," the video stressed.

The US GPS and Russia's GLONASS were primarily designed for military use with civilian use as a by-product, Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

In military conflicts, having such key strategic assets would make a huge difference, Song noted.

For example, the high accuracy BDS navigation could guide the launch of missiles, and combatants could use the precision timing service BDS offers to effectively coordinate, the military expert said.

Hard work of generations

China began researching and developing the country's indigenous satellite system in 1994 to reduce its reliance on foreign networks, especially under the complicated external environment.

The first BeiDou satellite entered orbit in 2000, and started providing positioning, navigation, timing and messaging services to users in China and in the Asia-Pacific region in December 2012.

The BDS system started providing global services at the end of 2018, when construction of the BDS-3 primary system was completed.

BeiDou has been supporting dozens of businesses and public sectors in China, ranging from transportation and agriculture to electric power transmission and fisheries, and hundreds of millions of BeiDou-enabled terminal devices have been sold and are in use.

In the field of transportation, BDS has been widely used in monitoring and managing priority transportation, highway infrastructure safety, port scheduling, and real-time high-precision positioning.

By the end of 2019, in Chinese mainland, more than 6.5 million road operating vehicles, 40,000 postal and express delivery vehicles, 80,000 buses in 36 central cities, 3,200 inland navigation facilities, and 2,900 marine navigation facilities have adopted BDS, forming the world's largest dynamic monitoring system for road operating vehicles.

More than 70,000 fisheries and law-enforcement vessels have installed BeiDou terminals and more than 10,000 people have been rescued, thanks to the BeiDou application.

Time reference for public security networks has been synchronized based on the BDS timing services. BDS has played an important role in ensuring security at major events, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting and the G20 Summit.

In the field of smart phones, mainstream chip manufacturers both at home and abroad have introduced integrated chips compatible with BDS. By the third quarter of 2019, more than 400 smartphone models sold in China supported positioning functions, of which about 300 models supported BDS.

The scale of navigation satellite positioning and the navigation industry in China reached 345 billion yuan ($48.6 billion) by 2019, up 14.4 percent from the previous year, according to an annual industry report.

Cao Chong, a Beijing-based senior expert on the satellite navigation industry, told the Global Times the industry scale is expected to exceed 400 billion by the end of 2020.

Cao said the next step to further promote the BDS system in the market at home and abroad lies in the research and development of terminal capabilities, which should keep up with the enhanced power of BDS-3. "There are huge market potentials."

The Tuesday mission marked the 44th BeiDou satellite-launching flight for the Long March-3A rocket series since October 31, 2000, of which the Long March-3B rocket belongs to. The rockets have sent 59 BeiDou satellites, including four experimental ones, into orbit, with a 100 percent success rate.

As the BDS system continues to develop, the Long March-3A rocket series has also started to use three-mode receptors compatible with the BDS, GPS and GLONASS networks, Jiang Jie, the chief engineer of the rocket series, with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle, also under the CASC, told the Global Times.

As the three modes all complement each other, they work together to improve the orbiting accuracy of rockets and reduce the consumption of propellants, Jiang noted.

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The disinfecting of basic schools in the Savannah Region would help assuage fears in both the pupils and the teachers in the region as a result of the coronavirus disease.



The Deputy Director, Supervision of Education, West-Gonja District in the Savannah Region, Katribi Dramani, made the observation during the disinfection of Yipala Junior High School (JHS) in the West-Gonja District.



With the disinfection exercise in the Savannah Region underway, both the final-year JHS pupils and teachers would be motivated and have confidence to report to school on June 29, to prepare for this years Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE), he said.



In this regard, he commended Zoomlion Ghana Limited for partnering the central government to have all basic schools in the country disinfected.



According to Mr Dramani, many of the teachers and pupils became even more excited when they got wind of the news that Zoomlion was coming to disinfect basic schools in the region.



Zoomlion, he indicated, started the exercise on June 18, adding that they have been able to disinfect about 74 basic schools out of 112 in the district.



He also said that the ministry of education was putting in place measures to help protect the final-year JHS pupils against the COVID-19 disease.



Consequently, he cautioned the final-year pupils to adhere strictly to the Presidents directives on the COVID-19 pandemic.



In the view of Mr Dramani, the e-learning approach adopted by many of the schools in the region did not have much impact.



He attributed this to the fact that many of the pupils and their parents did not have the necessary tools to support e-learning.



He, thus, advised the pupils to fully cooperate with their teachers throughout the period they will be studying to write their final year examinations.



Meanwhile, heads of basic schools in the region were happy with the disinfection exercise in their schools.



According to them, the exercise was critical because it would not only keep their schools spaces and facilities safe, but equally protect their final-year JHS pupils to prepare and write their exit examinations, safe from the virus.



The headmaster of Larabanga JHS B, Mr Saaka Dauda Laward, could not hide his joy, and thus praised the government and Zoomlion for the exercise.



I am very excited to see the government engage Zoomlion to disinfect my school, he expressed.



He used the opportunity to appeal to philanthropists and corporate institutions in the region to support his school with Veronica buckets, nose masks and alcohol-based hand sanitisers.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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On the other hand, fundamental structural studies of the virus are progressing at an unprecedented pace. It is already well-known that SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S-protein) promotes cell entry and is the main target of serologic response, especially its receptor-binding domain (RBD); also, the virus uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a cell receptor.

Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (green) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (purple), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID

The promise of molecular probes

Molecular probes with the affinity for key targets of certain viruses can be of broad utility. They can serve as molecular tags to facilitate the identification of effective antibodies for passive therapy; additionally, they can be utilized to assess sera reactivity and to obtain sensitive markers of infection, but also to define and monitor elicited responses needed for vaccine development.

As a result, biotin-labeled molecular probes that comprise specific regions of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein (i.e., a main viral target for neutralization antibody) may indeed be very helpful in the isolation and characterization of antibodies that target this newly emerged pathogen.

A research group from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Columbia University, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, and the University of Kansas described the structure-based design of molecular probes, encompassing SARS-CoV-2 spike and its domains.

Strategy for Tag-Based Purification with On-Column Biotinylation (A) Schematic design of the expression construct of SARS-CoV-2 molecular probes. A single chain human Ig constant domain (scFc) was added at N terminus to facilitate expression and purification. The AVI tag was placed at the C terminus after a 10-amino acid linker for biotinylation. The red arrows in the second and fourth Fc domains showed the knob-in-hole mutations to prevent dimerization of the scFc. (B) Biotinylation and HRV3C digestion. Cell culture supernatant from cells transiently transfected with plasmid was loaded onto protein A affinity column. Biotinylation and HRV3C cleavage reactions can be carried out in series or simultaneously, as buffers for both reactions are compatible.

Stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer with biotinylation

For probe construction, the researchers used a process that incorporated 'cut-and-paste' assembly of obligatory components, employing an N-terminal purification tag and sequence stretches targeted by sequence-specific enzymes.

More specifically, the researchers first designed a construct that allowed for tag-based purification and on-column biotinylation (the latter being a process of covalently attaching biotin to a protein). Next, they incorporated the SARS-CoV-2 spike ectodomain with prefusion stabilizing mutations and a C-terminal trimerization motif.

All probes were characterized for antigenicity and ACE2 receptor recognition, and the structure of the spike ectodomain probe was additionally determined by cryo-electron microscopy. Antibody-binding specificities and cell-sorting capabilities of the biotinylated probes were also characterized in detail.

"We also used the structure of recombinant receptor binding domain with ACE2 to define mutations that could inhibit ACE2 interaction, which we incorporated into mutant RBD probes with ACE2-recognition ablated", study authors further explain their approach.

Finally, they have characterized additional properties of the devised probes  including the degree of biotinylation and potential use in sorting yeast cells expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike-binding antibodies or B-cells from COVID-19 convalescent donors.

Structure-Based Definition of SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Probes Comprising the NTD, RBD and RBDSD1 Domains (A) Cryo-EM structure of the NTD domain in the S2P probe determined in this study (Figure 3E), with reconstruction density shown in orange for NTD domain, and gray otherwise. First ordered residue with density (A27) is highlighted with a blue sphere; last residue of NTD domain (S305) is highlighted with a red sphere. (B) Close-up view of the NTD termini. (C) Sequence of NTD domain probe. The sequence is highlighted in orange except for residues 14-26, which are disordered in the cryo-EM structures. (D) Cryo-EM structure of the RBD domain in spike (Figure 3E), with reconstruction density shown in cyan for RBD domain, and gray otherwise. First residue with density (L329) is highlighted with a blue sphere; last ordered residue of RBD domain (G526) is highlighted with a red sphere. (E) Close-up view of the spike RBD termini. (F) Sequence of RBD domain probe highlighted in cyan. (G) Cryo-EM structure of the RBD-SD1 domains in spike (Figure 3E), with reconstruction density shown in green for RBD-SD1 domain, and gray otherwise. First residue with density (R319) is highlighted with a blue sphere; last ordered residue of RBD-SD1 domain (S591) is highlighted with a red sphere. (H) Close-up view of the spike RBD-SD1 termini. (I) Sequence of the RBD-SD1 domain probe highlighted in green.

Towards the streamlined development of molecular probes

Altogether, this type of structure-based design (coupled to efficient purification and biotinylation processes) can enable streamlined development of SARS-CoV-2 spike-ectodomain probes. As demonstrated in this study, their properties hinted that such probes are actually a good biological mimic of the prefusion SARS-CoV-2 spike ectodomain.

"The structure-based methods we describe here for probe construction may allow for the assessment of immune responses of other type 1 fusion machines", say study authors. They also add that the truncated domain probes folded properly and preserved the native conformation. "Overall, the cut-and-paste structure-based design described here should be easily adapted to the streamlined development of molecular probes against not only these pathogens, but also emerging pathogens, as shown here for SARS-CoV-2", conclude study authors.

Probe design can be considered an emerging field that has demonstrated its significance in informing further steps toward personalized medicine. As COVID-19 shows substantial individual variation in clinical presentation, individualized approach is increasingly important.

*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.
Et tu, Brutus? said Julius Caesar in Shakespeares play, but it wasnt just Brutus responsible for the events that followed.

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 Alaskas Okmok volcano in 43 BCE.

The massive explosion created a 10-kilometer-wide crater that is still visible today reports CNN.

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.

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 doesnt get any better," said volcanologist Gill Plunkett from Queens 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.

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.

(With inputs from AFP)

Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here
Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday announced the appointment of 45 people to a task force that will review Houston Police Department policies in what will be a closely-watched effort to consider reforms.

Laurence Larry Payne, a former staffer of Mayor Kathy Whitmire and U.S. Rep. Mickey Leland, will chair the committee, which includes activists, academics, business leaders, law enforcement officials and clergy.

Among them: Bishop James Dixon II of the NAACP; Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO Laura Murillo; former criminal district court judge Marc Carter; George Rhyne of the Texas Anti-Gang Center; and rapper Trae tha Truth. The full list can be found here.

The mayor has identified a few issues he would like the task force to consider. They include the departments use-of-force policy; when to release body camera footage; and whether the citys Independent Police Oversight Board  widely seen as toothless  should be enhanced with subpoena power.

The group is expected to bring recommendations in the next 60 days and to complete a report by Sept. 1, Turner said.

The launch of the working group was met with skepticism by some activists, who argued the city has studied the issue thoroughly in the past and that it is time for action.

We believe it when we see it. Because weve never seen it, said Tarsha Jackson, an advocate who formerly was the criminal justice director for the Texas Organizing Project.

Jackson served on the criminal justice committee of the mayors transition team, which in 2016 identified a slew of potential reforms. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas last week released a progress report that found Turner has not acted on most of those recommendations.

They included the implementation of a cite-and-release policy for minor crimes; reducing wasteful spending by converting more of the departments positions to civilians instead of sworn officers; adopting a body camera policy that would release footage to maximize public access, and decreasing the citys reliance on court fines and jail as a revenue source.

Sandra Guerra Thompson, a professor at the University of Houston Law Center, chaired that transition committee, and said the ACLU is correct that it has been left mostly on the shelf.

However, Thompson said, the committee did not address everything being discussed today. For example, the committee did not have detailed conversations about officers use of force, she said, and the Black Lives Matter movement was not at the forefront of the debate as it is now.

I think we would write a very different report today than what my committee did, she said. A lot has changed.

That was Turners argument, as well. He said the national reckoning that followed the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville has marked a turning point in the debate.

Anything that was done prior to (that), really doesnt take into account what has taken place over the last several weeks across this country. So, it is important for us to address these issues now, Turner said. I dont think anyone would say what was discussed four-and-a-half years ago is enough to meet these particular times.

Turner also named five special advisers for the task force, four of whom are religious leaders. Six of the task force members also come from religious groups.

The task force features 33 men (39 including the chair and advisers) and 12 women.

There is a wide range of advocates on the panel, including Mamie Garcia of LULAC and organizer Shekira Dennis. There also are four academics, including Texas Southern Universitys Carla Brailey.

Four members have some involvement in the criminal justice system, and four listed some affiliation with law enforcement, such as Rania Mankarious of Crime Stoppers and Terry Bratton, chair of the Houston Police Officers Pension System Board of Trustees.

Three of the members were listed simply as millennials. And one, Robert Satcher, is a NASA astronaut.

Ashton Woods, the founder of Black Lives Matter Houston, said the mayor excluded a lot of grass-roots activists.

As I thought, THIS task force is full of people WHO ALREADY HAD POWER to change things, Woods said on Twitter. Besides a couple of people who do real work, I have ZERO faith that things will change. Another empty gesture.

For many, the value of the task force will lie in its final work  and whether it results in change. Johnny Mata, a longtime Houston activist who is serving as a special adviser for the task force, said previous committees and task forces have failed to produce meaningful reforms. Turners policing task force needs to pursue serious changes that the activist community is calling for, he said.

Elected officials need to quit kicking the can down the road, Mata said. I dont want to say any negative things about whos been named. Im just saying, weve been down this road before. And right now, I look for substance.

Ginny Goldman, a co-chair of Turners executive transition committee, said there are a host of issues that are unique to Houston, such as flood control, that warrant task forces. Police reform, Goldman argued, is not one of those issues.

Theres a way to design a task force to get real work done on an urgent timeline, she said. And theres a way to design a task force that stalls action and creates political theater. We need to find out which one this is.

One member of the panel, Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation president Lacy Wolf, said he agrees with those criticizing the task force as insufficient, but views it as the only real option to push for police reform at the city.

Besides continuing with these protests, how else can you move anything forward? Wolf said. We really dont have any other type of avenue.

Still, Wolf said, the task force is too large and does not adequately represent those impacted by police violence. He said that puts added pressure on members such as himself who represent people seeking major reform.

Im a single voice, but Im the lead voice of many, many people, and theyre going to be pushing me if I start slacking off or anything, said Wolf, whose coalition includes more than 90 unions and 60,000 members. Theyll be right behind me rallying with bullhorns and signs.

Turner has jumped ahead of the task force in adopting some immediate measures. The mayor signed an executive order earlier this month that adopted the use-of-force policies outlined in the #8CantWait campaign, many of which already were practiced by HPD.

Otherwise, Turner has stuck to his position that Houston needs more police officers, not fewer. His $5.1 billion budget, approved unanimously June 10 by city council amid protests outside City Hall, included an increase of roughly $19 million for police, bringing the departments resources to $965 million.

Much of that increase was required by a 2018 labor contract giving officers 3-percent raises. The budget also included five police cadet classes.

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Oak Park resident opens new Play It Again Sports location in Forest Park, working with area nonprofits
Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Rep. Jerry Nadler on July 24, 2019.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday held an oversight hearing on Attorney General William Barr's decisions as head of the Justice Department.

The hearing quickly devolved into chaos as Democrats and Republicans engaged in a screaming match before questioning even began and continued sniping at each other throughout the proceedings.

The committee heard testimony from two DOJ officials: Aaron Zelinsky, a federal prosecutor at the US attorney's office in Baltimore, and John Elias, a senior official in the department's antitrust division.

Zelinsky testified that DOJ leaders improperly intervened in the case against the former Republican strategist Roger Stone at Barr's direction because they were "afraid of the president."

The committee also heard testimony from two former DOJ officials: former Attorney General Michael Mukasey and former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer.

Scroll down to watch the hearing and read Business Insider's coverage of key moments.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday held an oversight hearing focusing on Attorney General William Barr's decisions as head of the Department of Justice.

As part of the proceedings, the committee heard testimony from two DOJ officials: Aaron Zelinsky, a federal prosecutor at the US attorney's office in Baltimore, and John Elias, a senior official in the department's antitrust division.

Zelinsky worked on the special counsel Robert Mueller's team during the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the US election, and he testified Wednesday that senior DOJ officials improperly interfered in the sentencing recommendation for the former longtime Republican strategist Roger Stone.

Specifically, he told lawmakers that DOJ leaders sought a weaker sentence for Stone at Barr's direction because they were "afraid of the president."

Story continues

Elias testified that Barr weaponized the antitrust division to harass marijuana companies because he doesn't like the cannabis industry.

The committee also heard testimony from two former DOJ officials: former Attorney General Michael Mukasey and former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer. Mukasey was invited to testify by Republicans on the panel.

Watch the hearing below:

John Elias and Aaron Zelinsky explain why they chose to testify about abuse of power at the DOJ while serving under Barr

Attorney General William Barr on February 26, 2019.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

The witnesses who appeared on Wednesday were asked at one point why they chose to testify. Here's how Elias and Zelinsky, both of whom are still serving at the Justice Department under Barr, responded:

Elias: "I looked at what was happening, which was unlike anything I had ever seen before, and it didn't feel like a good faith calling of balls and strikes that I had been used to seeing. And I care very much about the antitrust laws, their evenhanded enforcement, protecting consumers, and also the institution of the antitrust division where I have spent my entire legal career. And when I saw these abuses, I thought that the public should get to know about them. So that's why I stepped forward."

Zelinsky: "Because I took an oath to do so."

Democratic lawmaker rips Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan for not wearing a mask. Jordan responds that the real controversy is the 'unmasking that took place at the end of the Obama administration.'

Jim Jordan google congress hearing

Fox News/YouTube

At one point, Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell excoriated Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan for not wearing a mask during the hearing.

"Let me just remind every member of this committee, and people that are walking into this room, that the guidelines have been set forth by the office of the attendee physician and the house speaker that members need to be wearing masks," Mucarsel-Powell said. "And the chairman stated earlier, very clearly, that members will not be recognized if they are not wearing masks."

She then addressed Jordan, saying it was "incredibly disrespectful that you have been sitting here next to the chairman without wearing a mask. You are putting other peoples' lives and their families in danger."

Jordan replied by saying that "the unmasking this committee should be concerned about is the unmasking that took place at the end of the Obama administration."

Mucarsel-Powell was referring to congressional guidelines that say House members should be wearing masks at all times to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March.

Jordan was referring to "unmasking," which is a routine and legal process that the US intelligence community engages in on a regular basis. Republican lawmakers allege that the Obama administration improperly and illegally "unmasked" former national security adviser Michael Flynn's name in intelligence reports monitoring the communications of then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

But a Washington Post report earlier this year blew up that allegation when it reported that Flynn's name was never "masked" in the first place.

Former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer skewers Trump and Barr's conspiracy theories about voting by mail

President Donald Trump with Barr.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Rep. Jamie Raskin, one of the most outspoken Democrats on the committee, asked former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer about Barr's unfounded claim that foreign countries would meddle in the 2020 election by mass-producing counterfeit ballots.

Barr has "provided an echo for the president, who has voted himself by mail in New York and in Florida and whose party encourages its members to go out and vote by mail  but he's echoed the president in saying there's something wrong with voting by mail, and he's alleged that voting by mail makes us vulnerable to foreign influence by counterfeit ballots," Raskin said to Ayer. "Is that an appropriate role for the attorney general of the United States?"

Ayer said: "I think it's not, and especially it's not because it appears to be something that there's absolutely no truth in at all. There are five states that do nothing but vote by mail, and every other state, I think virtually every other state, uses vote by mail somewhat substantially.

"So the idea that we're going to throw cold water on the notion that we're going to vote by mail is just disreputable. And it's entirely inappropriate. It really isn't his job anyway. If there were some law-enforcement function, there it might be. But basically he's just echoing the president."

Indeed, Business Insider's Grace Panetta reported there were three main reasons that Barr and Trump's theory that foreign countries would produce fake ballots on a massive scale is implausible:

Election administration in the US is highly decentralized, meaning there's no single ballot a foreign country could mass-produce and send to US voters.

Every state and municipality has its own unique ballot design and series of codes used to track the ballot. That means election officials would likely be easily able to spot a counterfeit ballot.

Even if a hostile foreign power were able to create a fake ballot, it would also have to find a large enough database of registered voters and their addresses and forge individual signatures for every ballot.

Elias, a senior antitrust official, testifies that 'dozens' of department employees and attorneys were called in to work on 'sham' investigations that Barr wanted

Department of Justice antitrust official John Elias.

Screenshot via C-SPAN

Elias told the committee in his opening remarks that the DOJ, under Barr's stewardship, abused its antitrust power to investigate 10 proposed mergers and acquisitions in the marijuana industry because Barr "did not like the nature of their underlying business."

He testified that after antitrust staff expressed concerns about being used as a tool to harass firms, the head of the division convened a staff meeting and "acknowledged that the investigations were motivated by the fact that the cannabis industry is unpopular 'on the fifth floor,' a reference to Attorney General Barr's offices in the DOJ headquarters building."

Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal asked Elias to elaborate on his allegations and asked why he considered the 10 investigations to be "sham" probes that were "predicated on the personal interests of the attorney general and the president, rather than the facts or a desire to protect American consumers."

Elias told Jayapal that "dozens" of staff attorneys, paralegals, economists, and others worked on the cases. He said the first of the 10 companies produced millions of documents from the files of 40 employees at the DOJ's request.

"That was just from the first of the 10 mergers," Elias said.

"And when the DOJ received these documents, is there any evidence that the entirety of these documents were even reviewed?" Jayapal asked.

"I think a very small number of the documents were reviewed," he said.

In one of the reviews, Elias added, the documents were uploaded near the end of the investigation, "as if they were irrelevant to the investigation and its process."

"So to be clear, at Attorney General Barr's direction, the department expends countless taxpayer resources to force companies to ultimately produce millions of pages of evidence, and then doesn't even look at or upload some of that evidence before admitting there's no violation," Jayapal said.

She added: "Now, Mr. Elias, given your experience in public service, have you ever seen anything this extreme? Using taxpayer dollars to conduct an investigation over the course of months, on an entire industry, and not even uploading evidence before admitting that there's no violation?"

Elias replied: "In my experience, which includes 14 years at the Justice Department at many different levels of the antitrust division, no, I've never seen anything like that."

Zelinsky says he withdrew from Roger Stone's case because 'what had happened was wrong, and I did not want to be a part of what had happened'

Roger Stone

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

California Rep. Eric Swalwell began his questioning by commending Zelinsky for testifying about allegations of misconduct at the highest levels of the DOJ while still serving at the law-enforcement agency under Barr.

Swalwell asked Zelinsky what prompted him to withdraw as counsel for the government in Stone's case after senior leadership publicly overruled him and other prosecutors to seek a lesser sentence for Stone.

Zelinsky responded that he withdrew because "what had happened was wrong, and I did not want to be a part of what had happened."

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz laments that Confederate monuments are being 'desecrated,' and US history is being 'erased' by people who are 'ashamed' of the country

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 17: Republican Representative from Florida Matt Gaetz speaks during a House Judiciary Committee markup on H.R. 7120 the "Justice in Policing Act of 2020," at the US Capitol in on June 17, 2020 in Washington, DC. The death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis has sparked global protests and a call for policing reform.

Getty Images

When Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz had the floor, he used his time to attack Democrats for running a "failed impeachment" against Trump.

"Roger Stone should be pardoned, I believe Roger Stone will be pardoned, and then this proceeding will look even more ridiculous than it does today," the Florida congressman said before going on an extended rant against former President Barack Obama and what he called the former commander in chief's "allies in the deep state."

They believed "smears and coup attempts" would bring Trump down, Gaetz said, parroting the president's unfounded allegations against his predecessor.

"And as we sit here today, America's cities are burning, our monuments are being desecrated, our history is being presumably erased by people who are ashamed of the United States of America," Gaetz said.

(Fact check: The vast majority of monuments Gaetz was referring to are those honoring Confederate soldiers and generals. The Confederacy actively fought against the US during the Civil War because Southern states wanted to preserve slavery.)

Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan accuses Democratic witness of testifying without having firsthand knowledge of certain events, even though Republicans' witness also has no firsthand information

Rep. Jim Jordan

Leah Millis/Reuters

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee and one of Trump's biggest attack dogs on Capitol Hill, used his time to ask Zelinsky whether he met with senior DOJ officials or the acting US attorney in Washington, DC, about the Stone sentencing controversy before withdrawing from the case and agreeing to testify.

Zelinsky said he had sought multiple meetings but none had been granted.

Jordan asked Zelinsky which officials, specifically, told him that the acting US attorney in Washington was under "pressure" from "the highest levels" of the DOJ to weaken Stone's sentence, and Zelinsky named several officials, including a first assistant, a criminal chief, and a case supervisor.

"It sounds like you don't know much," Jordan said. "It sounds like you just heard stuff that you're now bringing to this committee as fact."

The Ohio congressman added, "This is as bad as the whole impeachment, the anonymous whistleblower who had no firsthand knowledge, biased against the president, and who worked for Joe Biden.

"Now we have a so-called whistleblower with no firsthand knowledge, who didn't talk to any of the people who make the decision, and who's obviously biased against the attorney general. It seems just as bad, just as lame as what we went through just a few months back."

(Fact check: The whistleblower who catalyzed Trump's impeachment did not work for Biden but is a CIA official detailed to the Trump White House. The person's allegations were later corroborated by over a dozen witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the events underlying Trump's impeachment. Meanwhile, Mukasey, who Republicans called as a witness to defend Barr, also has no firsthand knowledge of the events being discussed, made that clear during his opening statement, and received no pushback from Jordan.)

Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert uses his speaking time to hurl conspiracy theories and wax nostalgic about his marriage, then says it's a 'shame we don't have a serious hearing'

Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas.

Screenshot via C-SPAN

When Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas was up for questioning, he used his time to go on a lengthy rant against the witnesses (particularly Ayer), hurl personal accusations at them, and wax nostalgic about his marriage.

Here's a full rundown of Gohmert's remarks:

Gohmert: "This is incredible. Mr. Ayer, you called Jeff Jensen, a 20-year career prosecutor, a political crony. By the way, you care to say into the microphone what you mouthed at me earlier when you'd gone over two minutes past your time?"

Ayer: "I didn't mouth anything at you, congressman."

Gohmert: "Well, you just showed your lack of credibility both with Thornburgh and people that have followed has real basis in fact. And in fact, rarely have we had anybody with the chip you have on your shoulder come before us. Thornburgh said he believed that you were really never around. He said that Bill Barr, and I'm quoting, 'was the first deputy I had and that came when I was two years into the job.'"

The Texas congressman went on to imply that Ayer was "resentful" over his strife with former Attorney General Dick Thornburgh in the early 1990s, when Ayer served directly under him as deputy attorney general. Ayer abruptly resigned in May 1990 amid heightened tensions over Thornburgh's leadership of the DOJ. Barr succeeded Ayer as deputy attorney general after Ayer left his position.

Gohmert then quoted Thornburgh's book on the matter, which said, "Ayer's resignation was announced on May 11, Bill Barr succeeded him and proved to be the deputy I had needed from the beginning."

Gohmert said, "So I can understand why you'd be resentful 30 years later, but at some point, hopefully, Mr. Ayer will get over his chip."

He added that he had planned to question Zelinsky and then went on a tangent about his marriage.

"I understand family matters, and by the way I'm grateful to my wife for sticking with me for 42 years today, and there are family matters, yes," Gohmert said. "She's a lot more fair than we're getting around here. So 42 years. Thank you, Kathy."

Later, Gohmert attacked the three witnesses called by Democratic lawmakers and said they did not express concerns when the Justice Department under Obama cracked down on local law enforcement after it determined that authorities had violated peoples' civil rights.

"And AG Barr had that same concern, that peoples' civil rights were being violated by governors or local authorities, and if he had no right to say anything, then the Justice Department under Obama had no right to pursue local law enforcement either," Gohmert said. "But I guess it just, again, testifies to the credibility, or the lack thereof, of the people that have been brought before us."

The Texas Republican then used some time to hurl conspiracy theories about the Russia probe, saying, inaccurately, that the Obama Justice Department, FBI, intelligence officials, and Pentagon masterminded an elaborate plot to "prevent a Republican from becoming president."

"It's a shame we don't have a serious hearing," Gohmert said after using nearly all of his speaking time to air his grievances instead of questioning witnesses. "It's just a sideshow, and it ought to be called for what it is."

Zelinsky: Stone 'received breaks that are, in my experience, unheard of'

Assistant US Attorney Aaron Zelinsky.

Screenshot via C-SPAN

Zelinsky began his opening remarks by highlighting his nonpartisan nature as an assistant US attorney.

"The first thing that every AUSA learns is that we treat every defendant equally and fairly. In the United States of America, we do not prosecute people based on politics, and we don't cut them a break based on politics either," Zelinsky said.

He added: "But that wasn't what happened here. Roger Stone was treated differently because of politics.

"He received breaks that are, in my experience, unheard of, and all the more so for a defendant in his circumstances. A defendant who lied to Congress, who remained unrepentant, and who made threats against a judge in his case. And what I heard repeatedly was that this leniency was happening because of Stone's relationship to the president."

Zelinsky told lawmakers that a supervisor on the case told him that there were "political reasons" to seek a more lenient sentence for Stone, even though the supervisor acknowledged that doing so "was unethical and wrong."

Zelinsky testified that senior Justice Department leaders ignored concerns that he and other prosecutors on the case raised both in writing and in conversations. Their "objections were not heeded," Zelinsky said.

The career prosecutor told Congress that the acting US attorney in Washington, Timothy Shea, who is a close ally of Barr, was under "heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to cut Stone a break."

Shea complied with Barr's command because he was "afraid of the president," Zelinsky said. He added that officials told him and other prosecutors on the case this was "not the hill worth dying on" and that they may be fired if they didn't comply with Barr's directive.

Mukasey defends Barr but says he has no firsthand knowledge of Barr's actions

Michael Mukasey.

Screenshot via C-SPAN

Mukasey, the former attorney general who was invited by Republicans to testify, defended Barr's leadership of the DOJ, though he said he had no firsthand knowledge of Barr's actions.

"I have no doubt that the welfare of this country upheld through the evenhanded application of law so as to achieve justice is what motivates him and motivates his decisions, and that's all that motivates his decisions," Mukasey testified.

He referenced a Wednesday morning decision by the US Circuit Court of Appeals to order a federal judge to dismiss the DOJ's case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Mukasey joined Trump and other Republicans in supporting the decision and criticized the FBI, saying it did not follow proper protocol when agents first interviewed Flynn in January 2017.

The former national security adviser pleaded guilty to lying to the bureau in that interview, but Flynn's legal team later reversed course and sought to retract his guilty plea, alleging prosecutorial misconduct and entrapment by the FBI.

Republican lawmaker disrupts Ayer's opening remarks and defends his actions by saying there are 'no rules about when you can make noise'

Louie Gohmert google congress hearing

Fox News/YouTube

While Ayer was speaking, Gohmert began tapping on his desk to disrupt Ayer's opening remarks because he had gone over his time limit. When Democratic lawmakers asked Gohmert to stop, he responded, "There's no rules about when you can make noise."

Nadler replied that he would enforce the five-minute rule for opening statements, but Gohmert pushed back, "Mr. Chairman, this is outrageous. Do you have no respect for the rules whatsoever?

"He's two minutes beyond concluding, and you don't let us have that kind of time. You gavel down immediately. You're being grossly unfair. This man has a written statement, and he knew to cut it to five minutes; he couldn't do it. Either we have rules or we don't."

"The gentleman will suspend. The witness will continue," Nadler said.

"Then we can keep making noise," Gohmert responded and began rapping his desk again.

The hearing briefly devolved into chaos as Gohmert and Republicans continued interrupting Ayer's testimony, and Democrats said that it was fairly routine for opening statements to go over their allotted time limit.

Ayer: 'Barr is using a criminal investigation to produce fodder for the president's campaign propaganda mill'

Former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer at a June 24 House Judiciary Committee hearing.

Screenshot via C-SPAN

Ayer is an outspoken critic of Barr and didn't mince words when he made his opening remarks, alleging the attorney general flouted the rule of law and inappropriately meddled in criminal investigations to help Trump.

"I am here because I believe that William Barr poses the greatest threat in my lifetime to our rule of law and to public trust in it," Ayer testified.

He added that the attorney general "is using a criminal investigation to produce fodder for the president's campaign propaganda mill" by accusing the FBI of "spying" on Trump's 2016 campaign and repeatedly intervening in cases related to the Russia probe to have them overturned or to seek lesser sentences for defendants who are allies of the president.

Read the original article on Business Insider




Haiti - UN : Intervention of the American Ambassador on Haiti





As part of a briefing by the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Haiti, Ambassador Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative of the United States Mission to the United Nations intervened following Helen's intervention La Lime https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31080-haiti-politic-the-un-security-council-concerned-about-the-situation-in-haiti.html of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations.



Intervention de lAmbassadrice americaine :

"As we all know, COVID-19 has placed significant stress on Haitis already fragile healthcare system. Reports of attacks on COVID-19 patients, and on medical facilities treating them, are deeply concerning, as fear and distrust will only worsen the situation. In this challenging time, the United States stands with Haiti: to date, we have committed over $16 million in assistance to support Haitian efforts to fight COVID-19.



Because the peak for COVID-19 infections in Haiti may be yet to come, it is essential that all Haitians work together to limit the spread of the virus.



We note with concern the spread of COVID-19 within Haitis overcrowded prisons, and call on the Government of Haiti to fully follow through on its March 27 decision to release pretrial detainees accused of minor crimes, as well as medically vulnerable prisoners nearing completion of their sentences. This is a time for action, not for talk.



It is equally important that the government continue its work on needed political, economic, and social reforms. President Moises May 18 speech stressing his commitment to hold elections is a positive step, and we encourage the Haitian government and all political actors to reach a political accord to find a way forward, most importantly for the best interest of the Haitian people.



We note the gains made by the Haitian National Police, as it continues its efforts across community and gang violence, and to reduce kidnappings. The HNPs General Inspectorate has taken positive actions to improve human rights accountability, a welcome step toward increased transparency. However, as we have previously noted, the continuing failure to provide the HNP with required adequate resources places its hard-won gains at risk. Once again, this is a time for action, not just talk.



We must also express our concerns regarding the lack of accountability for perpetrators of human rights abuses, including in La Saline and Bel Air. Steps must be taken to avoid reinforcing an environment of impunity.



Finally, as Haiti responds to the pandemic and to the underlying drivers of instability, it is essential to strengthen the rule of law and to end the scourge of corruption. Jacques, we are listening to you and we are reinforcing your concerns and supporting the citizens of Haiti. And I must say to President Moise and to all of Haitis political leaders: it is time to set aside your differences, and to come together to build the strong institutions that will deliver a more prosperous and secure future for all Haitians.



Thank you. "



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31080-haiti-politic-the-un-security-council-concerned-about-the-situation-in-haiti.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Two capital murder suspects became upset with fellow members of a club and went to a Valhermoso Springs house to wipe the slate clean on the night seven people were found shot to death there, a Morgan County investigators affidavit says.

John Michael Legg, 19, of Danville, and Frederic Rick Allen Rogers, 22, of Hartselle, were angry about perceived disobedience toward the club and the theft of personal firearms, a witness told authorities, according to an affidavit filed by investigator Jordan Byrd of the sheriffs criminal investigative division.

Legg and Rogers remain jailed in Oregon and face capital murder charges in Morgan County in the June 4 shooting deaths at 522 Talucah Road. Authorities have said they were members of a previously unknown local club called Seven Deadly Sins.

According to an affidavit filed before Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott, an unnamed female witness said several previous incidents led up to the homicides. The Morgan County Sheriffs Office said the female was a witness in the case, but not a witness to the crime.

About two hours after the shootings were reported, the witness "received a message via cellphone from Rogers that read 'everything has been dealt with' and 'if anyone asks you we're going on vacation,' " the affidavit said.

After a two-week nationwide search involving 25 law enforcement agencies, Legg and Rogers were arrested Sunday afternoon in Marion County, Oregon, where Rogers had relatives, according to authorities.

Morgan County Coroner Jeff Chunn identified the seven slain as James Wayne Benford, 22, of Decatur; William Zane Hodgin, 18, of Somerville; Roger Lee Jones Jr., 20, of Decatur; Tammy England Muzzey, 45, of Valhermoso Springs; Emily Brooke Payne, 21, of Valhermoso Springs; Jeramy Wade Roberts, 31, of Athens; and a female, 17, whose name has not been released because she was a juvenile.

Investigators contacted

The affidavit said the witness reached out to investigators of the FBI violent crimes task force about 5 p.m. Thursday to provide information in the case.

The witness said she lived at the club house of the 7 Deadly Sins, " and the club consisted of Legg, Rogers, victims Jones, Roberts and Benford, and a sixth male, according to the affidavit.

The witness stated that several previous incidents had led up to the (killings), according to the affidavit. ... The witness stated that on the night of (June 4) John Legg and Ricky Rogers became upset, particularly Legg over the perceived disobedience toward the club and the theft of several of his personal firearms a few hours before the homicides. The witness stated that Rogers and Legg stated something to the effect of Were going in there by force and wipe the slate clean. The witness stated that Rogers and Legg continued to state that the club would be dismantled by the end of the night.

The cellphone message to the witness at 1:35 a.m. June 5 also asked her to take care of ducky, their 3-legged cat which was owned by Ricky Rogers, according to the affidavit.

Morgan County 911 notified the Sheriffs Office at 11:32 p.m. on June 4 of a report of shots fired at the Valhermoso Springs residence. A small fire, the seven victims and dead dog were found in the house.

Upon deputies arrival, they discovered smoke emitting from the residence, the affidavit said. Furthermore, deputies discovered several victims deceased throughout the residence. During the subsequent investigation, it was discovered that the victims had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators also discovered that it appeared that the victims cellular phones had been taken.

The sheriffs incident report said the perpetrators did not use force to enter the house through a door moments before committing the crime.

It was noted in the affidavit that Leggs cellphone was turned off at about 10 p.m. June 4 and was briefly active June 5 in Kansas.

Suspects' extradition

Sheriff's Office spokesman Mike Swafford said his department is weighing its options of driving or flying to Salem, Oregon, where the capital murder suspects are housed in the Marion County Jail. Swafford said four deputies would be needed to travel in two vehicles the 2,518 miles to Oregon to pick up the suspects.

Were looking at an option of flying, too, Swafford said. Whatever makes more economical sense. He said the department also is responsible for transporting back to Alabama the silver/gray Dodge Charger the suspects were driving when they were captured. He said a date to transfer the suspects has not been set. It remains unclear whether the suspects will challenge extradition to Alabama.

The suspects were stopped in Stayton, Oregon, about 12:30 p.m. Sunday driving the vehicle, according Marion County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Anna Jefferson. She said local FBI, SWAT members and the Aumsville Police Department assisted in the arrest. She said Legg and Rogers did not resist arrest. They were booked in the Marion County Jail later that night after questioning, she said.

Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long said he was surprised the 25 law enforcement agencies made quick arrests in the case, and that the suspects had fled to Oregon.

Its always sad when we have citizens in Morgan County who commit cold-blooded murder on other people in this county. People dont value human life like they did 20 to 30 years ago, he said. Its just sad for all of the families involved.

A capital murder conviction carries either the death penalty or life without parole in prison.

2020 The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.)

Visit The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.) at www.decaturdaily.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Samsung Pay Card will officially launch in the UK later this year. Photo: Getty

Samsung (BC94.L) has announced it has signed a new payments deal between Samsung Pay, London fintech Curve, and Mastercard (MA) to launch the Samsung Pay Card.

The new digital payment method, powered by digital banking platform Curve, will enable Samsung users to pay through a new digital wallet on their mobile devices.

Samsung said the partnership will create a payment solution offering customers greater flexibility and control when managing their finances by offering a single view of what they are spending, syncing multiple loyalty and bank cards in one place and also enabling a simple and secure way to pay.

The Samsung Pay Card will officially launch in the UK later this year.

The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the use of digital payment methods as consumers turned to contactless payments to observe social distancing measures and avoided using cash due to warnings from authorities that cash could transmit COVID-19.

READ MORE: Fintech Zopa set to launch first banking products

Shachar Bialick, founder and CEO of Curve said: Both Samsung and Curve are doing remarkable things in their industries, this new partnership sees two of the most innovative companies in the world collaborate on an exciting product that undoubtedly will raise the bar for Fintech globally.

We are delighted to be able to offer Curves unique benefits to customers of one of the worlds biggest brands and enable customers to access a significantly greater range of banking services leading to a healthier financial life with Samsung Pay.

Conor Pierce, corporate vice-president of Samsung UK & Ireland said: We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Curve, coming together to provide a new payment solution for Samsung customers which will be available via Samsung Pay later this year.

At Samsung, our customers are at the heart of everything we do, which is why we strive to create the best technology, services and solutions.

READ MORE: UK cash usage declining fastest in Europe

The Samsung Pay Card powered by Curve will allow us to expand our Samsung Pay offering, giving our loyal customers even greater benefits and rewards than ever before.
U.S. Pushes For Broadening Of New START Treaty, Pushes For China To Join Accord

By RFE/RL June 23, 2020

The United States has pushed for a broadening of the main agreement to control nuclear arms with Russia as it pushes for China to join the talks.

Speaking after talks in Vienna on June 23, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea told a news conference that he and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had made enough progress that they agreed to set up "multiple" technical working groups, with a second meeting depending on their progress as they look to replace the 2010 New Strategic Arms Treaty (New START) before it expires in February.

"We, the United States, intend and believe...that the next arms control agreement must cover all nuclear weapons, not just so-called strategic nuclear weapons," Billingslea said.

The last remaining nuclear arms control agreement, the New START treaty caps the number of deployed long-range nuclear warheads each can have.

'Significant Step'

Ryabkov called the agreement to continue negotiations "a significant step forward."

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. Moreover, it wants China to be included in any future agreements on nuclear weapons even though Beijing 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.

Ryabkov told Interfax that while Russia considers that arms control talks should be multilateral, "we cannot 'force' or 'persuade' anyone to join such talks," adding that the U.S. insistence on including China was "unrealistic."

U.S. President Donald 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 and 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/u-s-pushes-for- broadening-of-new-start-treaty-pushes-for- china-to-join-accord/30686509.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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J oe Biden has opened up a double-digit lead over Donald Trump ahead of November's US presidential election, according to a new poll.

The Democratic nominee is 14 points ahead of the President among registered voters, according to the poll released on Wednesday by the New York Times and Siena College.

Half of those surveyed said they would vote for Mr Biden if the election were held today, while 36 per cent said they would vote for Mr Trump.

Independents also favoured Mr Biden, with 47 per cent telling pollsters they would back the former vice-president - while 29 per cent would support Mr Trump.

Joe Biden / AFP via Getty Images

The results follow a similar poll by CNN carried out earlier in June, which also showed Mr Trump 14 points behind his Democratic challenger.

Mr Biden has a clear lead among black and Latino voters, the poll found. Nearly two-thirds of Latinos said they would vote for him, with about 80 per cent of black voters also in favour.

And he is almost neck and neck with Mr Trump among white voters, the president's key voter base. Forty-four per cent of white respondents told pollsters they would vote for Mr Trump, while 43 per cent backed Mr Biden.

The two candidates were also close among men as a group. Forty-three per cent said they supported Mr Biden, compared to 40 per cent for Mr Trump.

Donald Trump / AP

The coronavirus outbreak, which has contributed to the deaths of more than 120,000 people in the US according to Johns Hopkins University, and the recent protests triggered by the death of George Floyd, appear to have dented Mr Trump's popularity.

Nearly 60 per cent of respondents said they disapproved of the president's handling of the pandemic, while around 40 per cent thought he had done well.

Joshua Broussard kneels in front of a memorial and mural that honors George Floyd at the Scott Food Mart corner store in Houston's Third Ward / Getty Images

Similarly, around 60 per cent said they thought Mr Trump was managing race relations badly, and also disapproved of his response to the anti-racist protests that followed Mr Floyd's killing.

Overall, 47 per cent said they strongly disapproved of Mr Trump's presidency, while 26 per cent said they strongly approved.

The election is due to take place on November 3.




War veterans leader Chris Mutsvangwa Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa has disowned Twitter accounts in his name saying they are creations of self-exiled G40 kingpin Jonathan Moyo.





This comes after a purported exchange between him and fellow war veterans leader Cde Victor Matemadanda on Twitter is being circulated on social media platforms.





However, Ambassador Mutsvangwa, who has been a subject of a choreographed campaigns by elements that are traceable to the decapitated G40 clique, said he is being attacked for the role he played in thwarting power grab antics by the Moyo clique.





I do not have a Twitter account now and never had one. The Twitter account bearing my name and my picture is a creation of G40 Jonathan Moyo. He feels entitled to the ZANLA wing of the historical national liberation movement by hereditary writ.





He views his Christopher Mutsvangwa as his nemesis as in the November 2017 Operation Restore Legacy. This stems from my role as Chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association-(ZNLWA). We spearheaded the drive to thwart his treacherous G40 antics at power grab by this traitor of long practice since he absconded from Mgagau Camp ZANLA ranks in 1975-6. This was after Ndabaningi Sithole was rejected and jettisoned as leader of ZANU by the guerrilla army. Jonathan Moyo returned to racist Rhodesia to report back to his racist white handlers, he said.





At one point the phantom accounts in his name called for dialogue between the Revolutionary Party Zanu PF and the MDC Alliance, something that Ambassador Mutsvangwa never said.





Last years messages were sent on a fake Twitter account purported to be Ambassador Mutsvangwas, which he denied saying he suspected Moyo to be behind it.





Ambassador Mutsvangwas name has been registered on no less than five accounts while Cde Matemadanda and other leaders of the ruling party have also had fake accounts created in their names.








Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 02:21:59|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Wednesday announced sanctions against five Iranian tanker captains who helped transport Iranian gasoline to Venezuela.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the five captains delivered approximately 1.5 million barrels of Iranian gasoline and related components to Venezuela.

"As a result of today's sanctions, these captains' assets will be blocked," said the statement, warning individuals and entities against dealing with Iran and Venezuela.

An Iranian-flagged cargo ship Golsan docked in the Venezuelan port of La Guaira on Monday, according to media reports.

Five Iranian fuel tankers arrived at Venezuela shores last month. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said early this month that Iran is ready to send more fuel shipments to Venezuela if there is a request. Enditem
New Delhi:

A day after a boat was seized from the river Ravi, another Pakistani boat was seized on Wednesday from the creek area of Kutch.

According to sources, nine crew members, belonging to Pakistan were also there in the boat, trying to enter through Dwarika sea route. Police have searched these people, however, no suspicious article or any explosives were found during the search.

The seizure comes at a time when there is heightened tension between the two countries amid strong vigil on both the sides.

Also Read: (Indian Coast Guard apprehends Pakistani boat off Gujarat coast, 9 crew members taken in for investigation)

Following the looming threat a high alert has been declared in Saurashtra. According to Intelligence reports, coastal security has been tightened.

Security has been beefed up at Somnath temple, Dwarika, bus stations, railway stations and airport. All highways are under high patrolling.

Also Read: (Pakistani boat seized by BSF troops from Ravi river in Pathankot sector)

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Linkedin Rob Lever (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Wed, June 24, 2020 12:30 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40661363c7 2 Business Donald-Trump,united-states,US-visa,Silicon-Valley,technology-companies,Google,Microsoft,Elon-Musk,tesla,SpaceX Free

The United States 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.

Read also: Trump to extend US work visa freeze to year-end: White House

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.

"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.

Read also: Twitter again slaps warning on Trump tweet threatening force against protesters

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."
Tyderabad, June 24 : The Andhra Pradesh government has partnered with the Indian School of Business (ISB) as a nodal agency to revive economic growth in the state post Covid-19 and to formulate a roadmap for sustainable development.

Minister for Industries, Information Technology and Skills, M. Goutham Reddy on Wednesday visited the ISB Hyderabad and interacted with key professors to discuss strategies to revive economic growth in the state and come up with a long term roadmap for sustainable development in the state through data-driven policy making.

He expressed his keenness to see a seamless functioning of various departments towards development and urged ISB to come up with a governance model to create a synchronous functioning of departments of development.

The minister also expressed the desire to work together on creating jobs where the labour is, creating quality management structure in government, skill gaps among others.

He also mentioned that an advisory council on development of Andhra Pradesh will be formed with ISB as a nodal agency. Various key areas of engagement were identified to be taken up as project mode including Andhra Pradesh Pulse, an advanced data analytics application using near real-time digital data on citizen interactions with government schemes and systems.

The advisory council will also work to attract investments. It will undertake a comparative analysis of incentives and investment patterns across states. "This will allow Andhra Pradesh to learn from experience across India and structure incentives to make the state more attractive for targeted investment," said an official release.

It will also try to use the skills of returning migrants. The returning migrants are often skilled workers who can be deployed productively in local jobs requiring similar or adjacent skills, which will also contribute to local economic recovery. ISB would like to contribute towards building a system to record the skill sets of returning migrants in order to assess the gap between skills and available jobs in post-pandemic times.

"ISB faculty and students are delighted to collaborate with the Government of Andhra Pradesh on the agenda of inclusive and sustainable development through the JumpStartIndia@ISB initiative. We applaud the spirit of openness and collaboration, and pledge to support the Government of Andhra Pradesh to the fullest extent possible," said Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor of Public Policy, ISB.
Travelers arriving in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut from Florida, Texas and other states with spiking Covid-19 infections rates will be subject to a 14-day quarantine and fines if they don't self-isolate, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.

Cuomo had previously said he was considering imposing a quarantine on travelers arriving in the state from places like Florida where coronavirus cases have spiked.

"We worked very hard to get the viral transmission rate down. We don't want to see it go up because a lot of people come into this region and they can literally bring the infection with them," Cuomo said at a news conference with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. "Because what happens in New York happens in New Jersey and happens in Connecticut."

Cuomo said travelers coming from states with a high infection rate will be subject to the quarantine. The infection rate is based on the number of infections per 100,000 residents on a seven-day rolling average. People who don't voluntarily quarantine for 14 days will be subject to fines and a mandatory quarantine. He said the fines will be $2,000 for the first violation, $5,000 for the second and up to $10,000 if they cause harm.

"As of today, the states that are above that level are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah, Texas," he said. "That's as of today. The states themselves can change as the infection rate changes and we will update daily what states are above that infection rate."

In fact, later Wednesday, Washington state was removed from the list. Caitlin Girouard, Cuomo's press secretary, told CNBC that Washington state was included in the advisory due to a data reporting error.

"There was a temporary discrepancy with Washington State's reporting, however, they have since corrected it and we have removed them from the list of states under travel advisory," she said.

Individuals will largely be trusted to self-isolate on their own, he said, noting that the penalties for noncompliance are steep if someone violates the new rule and gets caught. The Port Authority will make travel records available if needed, he said.

New York City began its phase two reopening on Monday, which allowed for in-store retail, outdoor dining, and hair salons and barbershops to reopen with modifications. On Tuesday, Cuomo said the city reported 1.2% of all tests conducted were positive. New York state reported a positivity rate of 1.1%.

Cuomo noted that coronavirus cases are rising across 27 states in the U.S. "Nationally, we should admit the reality. Denial is not a life strategy. It never is. Those 27 states are going up. More people are being infected and more lives will be lost," he said.
US President Donald Trump has fallen foul of Twitter again after responding to the prospect of an autonomous zone being set up in Washington. The social media giant flagged a tweet Trump posted after protesters clashed with police around Lafayette Square on Monday as attempts were made to tear down a statue of Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, amid ongoing unrest across the USA following the death in police custody of George Floyd on 25 May. Twitter said Trumps tweet violated the platforms rules on abusive behaviour after the president threatened serious force would be used to prevent the establishment of an autonomous zone in the capital similar to the CHAZ in Seattle, which has also been the focus of Trumps ire since protesters occupied an area in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle on 8 June.

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! Trump tweeted on Tuesday, prompting Twitter to remove it from open view and prevent is being shared. The company did though say it will remain on the service given its relevance to ongoing public conversation."

The US president has previously threatened to send in the National Guard to break up the CHAZ, a move that the citys mayor, Jenny Durkan, said would be unconstitutional and illegal."

Twitter takes Trump to task

Twitters decision marks the third time Trump has been reprimanded by the social media platform recently. In May, the president was censored for the first time by the site for a pair of tweets claiming the mail-in ballots for Novembers presidential elections would be substantially fraudulent. Twitter responded by adding a blue exclamation mark after scrutiny by fact-checkers.

Later in May Twitter again took action against Trump after he threatened to send the National Guard into Minneapolis to quell protests over the death of Floyd. When the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you! the president wrote, prompting Twitter to add a tag to the missive stating that "This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence. It too remained accessible after the platform decided it was also in the public interest.

Trump: 10 years in prison for statue attacks

With regard to the ongoing protests in Washington, Trump promised firm action against any further attempts to pull down the statue of Jackson, who remains a controversial figure in US history due to his role in the forced removal of Native Americans and his censure of the Anti-slavery Tracts sent to the south by northern abolitionists. Several confederate war memorials have been the target of attacks by protesters in recent weeks.

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 wrote. This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused. There will be no exceptions!
More than a dozen senators  including several appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau  are calling on the federal government to impose sanctions on Chinese officials for "gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms."

In a June 23 letter addressed to Trudeau jointly written by Conservative Sens. Thanh Hai Ngo and Leo Housakos and co-signed by 11 others, the parliamentarians say Canada should take a stand against China.

Citing China's detention of Uighur Muslims, its crackdown on democratic rights in Hong Kong, its decades-long repression of Tibet and its imprisonment of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, the senators describe the regime in Beijing as the "biggest threat to mankind and a danger to international security."

The senators say the best way for Canada to respond to China's "tyrannical behaviour" is to levy sanctions on top Communist Party officials using the Sergei Magnitsky Law. The law allows the government to impose financial and other restrictions on foreign nationals responsible for, or complicit in, violating internationally recognized human rights.

The law also allows the government to freeze assets owned by foreign nationals and prohibit financial transactions by known human rights abusers. The law is named after Russian tax adviser Sergei Magnitsky, who was tortured and died in a Moscow prison after documenting fraud in Russia.

Canada has used the legislation to sanction human rights abusers from Russia and Venezuela, preventing them from using the Canadian banking system.

In November 2018, Canada sanctioned 17 Saudi nationals who were responsible for, or complicit in, the torture and death of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

"Unfortunately, the PRC's tyrannical behaviour towards Hong Kongers, Uighurs and other Muslim Minorities is just the latest in a continued pattern that has become an extremely dangerous habit as it is constantly and mercilessly perpetrating horrendous and utterly inhuman acts towards other groups," the senators say in their letter.

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"Now, more for than ever, the time has come for the government to firmly stand up for these values and take concrete action by imposing Magnitsky sanctions."

Last fall, a leak of internal Chinese government documents to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) painted a stark picture of Uighur concentration camps, which have been built across the Xinjiang region over the past three years.

The Muslim minority is routinely subjected to intrusive government surveillance, intimidating phone calls and even death threats, according to Amnesty International.

A recent report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute found that thousands of Muslims have been used as forced labour in factories that supply companies like BMW, Nike and Huawei, among others.

China's ambassador to Canada has called these camps  where as many as one million ethnic Muslims are subjected to compulsory ideological lessons under the watchful eye of party officials  "vocational training centres."

Justin Tang/The Canadian Press

The National People's Congress, China's rubber-stamp Communist-controlled parliament, also has said it will introduce a national security and anti-sedition law in Hong Kong. The law would do away with the city's independent legal system and allow Beijing to override local laws.

The senators say China's Hong Kong policy is a clear violation of its international obligations under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which guaranteed a "one country, two systems" framework following the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China.

"Canada, as a member state of the UN, along with the international community, has an interest and a responsibility to defend the international rules-based order," the senators write.

The letter adds that Canadian citizens also have been targeted by the regime's "overreach and despotism," both abroad  with the "illegal detainment of our brave Canadians"  and at home, where Chinese Canadians opposed to the Communist dictatorship face "harassment and intimidation" from organizations like the United Front.

Independent Sen. Marilou McPhedran is one of four Trudeau appointees who signed the letter.

In a speech Tuesday, she said China proved itself to be a bad actor through the establishment of the Uighur concentration camps, its violent crackdown on protests in Hong Kong, its arrests of human rights observers and allegations of forced organ transplantation.

"Can we just pause for a moment and hear what I'm about to say? We are talking about organs inside people's bodies forcibly and surgically removed from live prisoners of conscience," she said, citing research from the China Tribunal, an independent judicial investigation based in the United Kingdom.

Trudeau has been reluctant to publicly criticize China with Kovrig and Spavor still imprisoned there and facing espionage charges.

Trudeau said last week he was "disappointed" by China's move to formally charge the two men with spying. He said Canada would continue to work "behind the scenes in very direct and firm ways" to secure their release.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said she was "heartbroken and really angry" over the development.

Asked Tuesday at a Commons committee if Canada would impose sanctions, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne dodged the question, saying, "Canada is on the forefront of human rights around the world."

Progressive Sen. Jim Munson, a former journalist who covered the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, said he has respect for Trudeau and the challenges he faces during this diplomatic fracas, "but I think somewhere along the line there has to be more than just saying we're disappointed."

"We have to stand up to the bully," Munson said in a speech to the Senate Tuesday. "If we don't stand up, who will stand up for what takes place in China?

"I know the government has raised the human rights issue at every opportunity, but it doesn't seem to be working. China has shown that it will not listen to reason or to allies. It is playing games with people's freedoms and precious lives. Beijing needs to be held accountable for the abuses."
The two presidents believe it will give impetus to the gradual recovery of the tourism industry.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan consider July 1 as the date for relaunching flights between the countries.

During the latest phone conversation, the two leaders agreed on the need to restore air traffic as soon as possible simultaneously with easing the quarantine-related measures, Zelensky's press service reported.

Read alsoRyanair, SWISS resume regular flights to Kyiv on June 21

"I know that some airlines want to resume their flights  this will give impetus to the gradual resumption of the tourism industry," the press service quoted the Ukrainian president as saying.

The Turkish president, in turn, noted that Turkey would do everything to make Ukrainian tourists feel comfortable and safe.

They also discussed the global situation around the coronavirus pandemic, as well as measures to overcome this crisis and minimize its consequences for society and the economies of the two states.

"Erdogan also asked about the health of the First Lady of Ukraine, conveyed greetings to her and wished her a speedy recovery," the press service said.

Zelensky, in turn, thanked the Turkish people and personally the President of the Republic of Turkey for the humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine to combat COVID-19.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Turkish side is ready to receive Ukrainian tourists starting from July 1, 2020, without self-isolation requirements and testing, but they should travel in compliance with safety standards set by air carriers.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Last Mile Holdings Ltd. ("MILE" or the "Company") (TSXV: MILE) (OTC: AZNVF), a leading micro-mobility company with the broadest product suite in the industry, has appointed Gateway Investor Relations, a leading strategic financial communications and capital markets advisory firm, to manage its expanded IR program initiatives. Gateway will provide corporate messaging and other consulting services to the Company, with a particular emphasis on increasing awareness in the Unites States and attracting attention from U.S. investors. In connection with this, the Company has applied to have its shares quoted and traded on the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB") in order to better facilitate trading by U.S. investors. Further, MILE intends to pursue an eventual listing on a U.S. stock exchange.

Gateway will work closely with MILE management over the coming months to develop and deploy a comprehensive outreach and communications program. Activities will include but are not limited to: refining overall company and investment-oriented messaging and corporate positioning, strategic advisory services, and introductions to institutional investors, sell-side analysts and other key influencers in the broader financial community. Gateway will also assist in organizing roadshows and securing invitations to select financial conferences, including its annual Gateway Conference.

"With our company experiencing record growth in ridership and usage throughout 2020, we believe the timing is right to engage an experienced and proven investor relations firm to expand our outreach and communicate our story to a wider audience," said MILE CEO Max Smith. "Alternative fuel sources and modes of transport are entering into a period of rapid growth and expansion, and we're positioned to meet these massive shifts in mobility and consumer behavior. The deliberate approach we've taken to bring our solutions to targeted and exclusive end markets will also allow us to thrive far beyond these early years of adoption.

"Going forward, as part of our long-term operating roadmap, we intend on pursuing an eventual listing on a U.S. exchange, but are starting with our application to the OTCQB. We believe our growth story will be well-received within the larger investment community, and we look forward to leverage the many downstream benefits that come with a U.S. listing, including improved liquidity and greater access to capital."

Under the terms of the investor relations agreement (the "IR Agreement"), Gateway will be compensated $10,000 USD per month for an initial term of six months and thereafter on a month-to-month basis and is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Following the initial term, either party may terminate the IR agreement by providing 30 days' written notice. Gateway and its principals have no direct or indirect interest in the Company. Gateway is located at 4685 MacArthur Court, Suite 400, Newport Beach, CA 92660. Its principal is J. Scott Liolios, and Matt Glover and Tom Colton will be responsible for managing MILE's investor relations program.

About Gateway Investor Relations

Gateway is a leading strategic financial communications and capital markets advisory firm. For more than 20 years, the firm has delivered superior performance in strategic consulting, corporate messaging and positioning, investor awareness, and analyst and financial press coverage. Gateway executives have extensive experience in capital markets and financial communications, and represent clients in a wide range of industries, including technology, consumer, industrials, financial services, and business services. To learn more, please visit gatewayir.com. Make sure to follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Last Mile Holdings

Last Mile Holdings (TSXV: MILE), formerly OjO Electric, is one of the largest micro-mobility companies in the U.S., offering the broadest product suite in the industry. Last Mile has 30 university and 50 municipal contracted shared mobility systems under the OjO and Gotcha brands. The acquisition of Gotcha in the first quarter of 2020 provides an expansive growth pipeline and a portfolio of products including electric bikes, trikes, scooters, and cruisers. For more information, visit lastmile-holdings.com.

Follow us on social:

LinkedIn: Last Mile Holdings

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: Last Mile Holdings and Gotcha's business and prospects and the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, including the planned deployment of its mobility units; and the business, operations, and management of the Company. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the ability of Company to meet its deployment targets, access to sufficient mobility units, meeting the requirement of the permits granted to Company, general business, economic and social uncertainties including the impact of COVID-19; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; those additional risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; and other discussed in this news release. Accordingly, the forward-looking statements discussed in this release, may not occur and could differ materially as a result of these known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the companies. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Reader Advisory

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility of the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Last Mile Holdings Ltd.
MoneyGram International, Inc. MGI recently collaborated with Global Money Express Co., Ltd (GME), which has emerged as a leading money transfer company in South Korea.

The partnership enables GME to have access to MoneyGrams API-driven platform, which has a strong distribution network spanning across more than 200 countries and territories. Apart from offering enhanced services to its clients in South Korea, teaming up with MoneyGram is also likely to boost GMEs global payout coverage. Further, South Korean customers who send money to China and South Asia are likely to gain significantly from the new collaboration. Apart from benefiting GME, the tie up is likely to drive MoneyGrams digital business as well.

In fact, this is not the first time that MoneyGram is partnering with leading Korean fintech companies. Last month, it tied up with another money transfer and payment fintech company in Korea  E9Pay. Notably, MoneyGram already has a strong presence in Korea given its alliances with Woori Bank, Shinhan Bank, Korea Post, Kyongnam Bank and Sentbe.

We believe these constant initiatives underline MoneyGrams efforts to tap the South Korean remittance market, which is worth around $13.4 billion in annual remittance outflows per the World Bank.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company have gained 45.7% in a year against the industrys decline of 16.2%.

MoneyGrams Efforts Bode Well

The company, which facilitated digital transactions in over 70 countries, has always been striving to enhance its digital business on the back of partnerships and constant technological upgradations. Apart from South Korean remittance market, MoneyGram is also eyeing the remittance market in Saudi Arabia. The companys tie-up with Al Rajhi Bank this month is testament to the same. Last month, it partnered with Uber Technologies, Inc. UBER to enable hassle-free digital transactions for individuals working at Uber. These initiatives by MoneyGram are also time opportune as customers are increasingly opting for digitals channels for payment purposes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Story continues

A robust digital business has enabled MoneyGram to witness record-breaking transaction growth in May amid the pandemic. Notably, it reported year-over-year digital transaction growth of100% in the month, compared with first-quarter 2020 where digital transactions improved 57% year over year. Strength of the companys direct to consumer channel  MoneyGram Online, digital partnerships and increased account deposit and mobile wallet transactions primarily drove digital growth in May.

Notably per recent media reports, Western Union Co. WU is offering to buy MoneyGram. If the deal materializes, it will secure MoneyGrams position in the remittance market, which is anticipated to shrink due to the pandemic-induced financial turmoil. At the end of April, the World Bank projected a decline of 20% for global remittances in 2020. Therefore, to cope with the prevalent difficulty in the operating environment, the partnership with a stable company will be best suited for MoneyGram. This, in turn, will also provide it a competitive edge over peers like PayPal Holdings, Inc. PYPL.

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A larger than life two-story townhouse-style condo in Beverly Hills has hit the market for a staggering $1.6million, offering potential buyers a home with plenty of personality.

The 'newly-renovated' home boasts 'over-the-top decor and elegant Old Hollywood vibes', providing amble visuals and the perfect luxurious retreat for homeowners.

It's the perfect locale for partiers, social media influencers and YouTubers looking to boost their lives. The listing is being presented by Jessica Barouch of Keller Williams Studio City Realty, according to the listing on Realtor.com.

While the home has an asking price of $1.6million, the listing is asking for a down payment of $320,000.

Situated on 2,100 square foot of ample space, the condo offers two bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms.

High class! The 'newly-renovated' home boasts 'over-the-top decor and elegant Old Hollywood vibes'

Witchy: The guest bedroom offers a much more gothic and spooky vibe but still has a luxurious feel

Fit for a QUEEN! One bathroom connects to an even fancier bedroom and features lavish champagne pink walls and drapes

Iconic: Chanel is everywhere inside of the lavish abode, with the famous interlocking C logo adorning accessories throughout the home.

Both the bathrooms and the kitchen have been recently remodeled and made to match the glamorous furnishing from around the rest of the house.

Chanel is everywhere inside of the lavish abode, with the famous interlocking C logo adorning accessories throughout the home.

One bathroom is blinged out with a Chanel bath mat and perfume pictures, with white flowers accenting the black wallpaper.

Another bathroom in the home offers a more whimsical, under the sea feel, with silver shells and mermaids placed in front of a large mirror.

Situated on 2,100 square foot of ample space, the condo offers two bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms

Bon appetit! The kitchen has been recently remodeled and provides plenty of counter space for tasty spreads

No worries for those who love clothes as the abode features enormous walk-in closets

The larger than life two-story townhouse-style condo in Beverly Hills has hit the market for a staggering $1.6million

Old Hollywood is the big star in the home, with 50s heartthrob James Dean looking over the exquisite living room.

It truly looks like a palace in various parts of the home, with one bedroom's champagne pink walls perfectly matched with even more rich bedding.

The guest bedroom offers a much more gothic and spooky vibe but still has a luxurious feel.

Those looking to enjoy the bright California sun can sit out on the big patio that is connected to the home's living room.

The home will be restored to white walls and dark hardwood floors if it doesn't sell in two weeks

The interlocking Cs of the Chanel logo lead down this exquisite hallway

Talk about living! The living room makes one want to take a nice relaxing nap surrounding by the feeling of money

A built-in BBQ and lounge fire pit are perfect for inviting guests over to party and enjoy an array of social activities.

Inside, a bar sits ready for drinks and even more partying.

The home is being offered as is for two weeks, realtor Barouch explained to SFGate.com.

'The design is so beautifully done,' she said. 'I thought there might be a market for it.'

The home will be restored to white walls and dark hardwood floors if it doesn't sell by then.

Most of the floors have comfortable carpet that give an even more expensive feel to the condo
They may have to raise wages, they may have to recruit in ways and in places that they dont currently, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank in Washington that supports immigration limits.

But Jennifer Minear, the president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said that companies often used H-1B visas because they could not find qualified American workers for specific roles.

We already have a shortage of STEM workers in the United States, theyre not just going to suddenly become qualified to do these jobs, just because they lost their job doing something else, Ms. Minear said.

American companies have become more comfortable with remote work over the past few months, and they may choose to respond to the visa suspension by hiring the same worker but having them work remotely in another country, said Joseph Vavra, associate professor of economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

From the perspective of the domestic worker who is displaced, that looks exactly the same, except now youre not bringing in tax revenue and youre not bringing in local demand or any of the other positive benefits you get from having that worker physically in the United States, Mr. Vavra said.

The suspension of L-1 visas, which allow for transfers within companies and also allow companies to send an employee to the United States to establish a company office, could also have significant implications for the U.S. economy.

This may discourage companies from opening U.S. offices if they arent able to get the visas to bring their employees from abroad to the United States, Ms. Gelatt said.
"Spot.IM has evolved over the years, building vibrant, distributed communities outside of traditional walled gardens, and inspiring quality conversations on the largest publisher sites in the world," said OpenWeb's CEO and Co-Founder, Nadav Shoval. OpenWeb engages more than 100 million monthly active users, and continues to grow as more people engage with content online. "Our new name is a reflection of our evolution, of our commitment to democracy, to the diversity of conversations on the web, to quality over noise, and to supporting the media industry at large," said Shoval.

Coinciding with its name change, OpenWeb has launched the next generation of its platform, focused on increasing the quality of conversations. "OpenWeb incentivizes quality by rewarding thoughtful interactions, providing real-time feedback, and enabling publishers to set their own community guidelines," the company's SVP of Product, Ido Goldberg said. The new features include:

Quality scoring - Publishers can monitor and measure the health of their communities, and adjust moderation parameters to optimize quality engagement.

- Publishers can monitor and measure the health of their communities, and adjust moderation parameters to optimize quality engagement. Gamifying and incentivizing quality - Commenters earn reputation points based on how the community values their contributions. Points give users influence, exposure, and access to different features - including the ability to post instantly and create their own threads.

- Commenters earn reputation points based on how the community values their contributions. Points give users influence, exposure, and access to different features - including the ability to post instantly and create their own threads. Real-time feedback - In addition to its just-launched "Clarity" features, OpenWeb partnered with Google to deploy nudges that encourage users to take another look at posts that may be considered toxic or in violation of the specific publisher's guidelines.

Rolling out to the company's partners over the coming weeks, the new features add to OpenWeb's extensive community building and engagement solutions. Additional details can be found on the company's new website.

About OpenWeb

OpenWeb (formerly Spot.IM) is on a mission to democratize and improve conversations online. The platform utilizes AI and machine learning to incentivize healthy dialogue, decrease toxicity, and create thriving, engaged communities. OpenWeb works with more than 700 top-tier publishers and hosts 100 million active users each month.

Founded in 2012, OpenWeb has over 100 employees in New York City and Tel Aviv and is backed by world-class investors including Insight Partners, AltaIR Capital, ScaleUp, and Norma Investments, and Index Ventures. To learn more about OpenWeb's quality conversation platform visit OpenWeb.com, or follow @OpenWebHQ on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

SOURCE Spot.IM; OpenWeb

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Albany, N.Y.  Police reform advocates celebrated the repeal this month of a 44-year-old law that shielded police disciplinary records from the public.

As brutality protests rocked the country, New York lawmakers moved swiftly to dispense with Civil Rights Law 50-A. Lawmakers said the repeal would allow the transparency needed to hold law enforcement accountable.

But some familiar with the new law are concerned that it doesnt go as far as advertised. They worry that the public will only see records on complaints that are sustained by police higher-ups. Essentially, only convictions and not all charges.

Open records experts say New Yorkers can expect years of wrangling in courts over what the change means and what the public will get to see.

New York was in the minority among states to have such a police shield law.

In Minnesota, for example, where George Floyd died after Officer Derek Chauvin placed a knee on his neck for more than eight minutes, a quick internet search brings up the outcomes of Chauvins previous discipline.

Such secrecy in New York doesnt apply to doctors, teachers, lawyers or other licensed professionals in the public trust  disciplinary records for those professions can often be found online.

The new law aims to compel departments to reveal detailed documentation on how they police themselves in any case of alleged wrongdoing, whether substantiated internally or not.

One interpretation, though, says the new law would do nearly the opposite, severely limiting what could be made public. The only public investigations would be ones in which the department sustained wrongdoing against one of its officers. There would be no right to know when a police department cleared one of its own.

If that held true, police authorities could ensure a complaint would remain undisclosed by not issuing any discipline.

The ambiguity comes under the definition of what exactly constitutes a law enforcement disciplinary record that must be released.

Legal experts are split on whether the law requires public disclosure of investigations if no discipline is leveled against the officer.

The new law is intended to promote public accountability by police departments by opening up records that are compiled in the course of internal investigations, said Michael Grygiel, a First Amendment lawyer in Albany, who called the law a significant reversal of the old law.

He argued that significant investigations  such as those referred to a district attorney  should always be public, whether or not the investigation leads to charges or discipline.

Although there is some ambiguity in the new provision, it seems that public access does not turn on the outcome of a disciplinary proceeding, Grygiel said, arguing that the law does not limit access to only sustained complaints.

A legal aide for state Senator Jamaal Bailey (D-New York City), who sponsored the 50-A repeal, agreed that the law does not confine public access to cases of confirmed wrongdoing.

I think its pretty clear to me that the law does not limit which police disciplinary investigations are subject to public scrutiny, said Noel Mendez, who works in Baileys state office. Its the actual disposition, yay or nay.

But lawmakers have also clearly tied the 50-A repeal to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), which has come to severely limit what information is typically made public.

Despite its name, FOIL has been interpreted to place strict boundaries on what records can be released. For example, FOIL is used to routinely shield personnel records of government employees that do not result in discipline.

The controversy with FOIL surrounds the protection against unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. And unsubstantiated claims of wrongdoing have been found to fall under that category in other professions, most notably among schoolteachers and administrators.

While the law itself does not mention FOIL, a legislative memo accompanying it argues that the goal is to hold police officers to the same standard as others under FOIL.

The Freedom of Information Law helps achieve the goal of an open and transparent government by providing individuals with greater access to their government, the memo states. There is a strong presumption under FOIL that government records are accessible to the public. That ability to FOIL this type of record will lead to a greater trust between the public and law enforcement.

The states own public access watchdog, which championed the repeal of 50-A, also tied the new law to FOIL.

This historic reform is consistent with the underlying purpose of the New York State Freedom of Information Law, which contains a strong presumption of public access to the records of government, said the Committee on Open Government, a state agency.

So what would the public see under FOIL?

Generally, all confirmed cases of misconduct would be public, as well as the investigation records into that complaint. But the names of officers who were not found to have committed wrongdoing would not be public. Instead, only anonymous data  such as the number of total complaints against police in a year, for example  would be public.

An advocate for police reform said she believes that the new law simply places police officers under the same FOIL rules as other state employees. And that means charges of misconduct that cannot be substantiated will still be shielded.

Kate Schaffer, director of advocacy and organizing for the Center for Community Alternatives, called the repeal a critical step towards transparency and accountability, but not a cure-all.

In Minneapolis, police disciplinary records are not only publicly available, but publicly searchable, she said. This, however, did not prevent the murder of George Floyd.

Her colleague, longtime Syracuse lawyer Alan Rosenthal, agreed. The public needs to know what goes on when police investigate themselves, he said.

The truth of the matter is that the root of problem is so deep-rooted that theres no one silver bullet, Rosenthal said.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.
New Jersey residents will face mass evictions when Gov. Phil Murphy lifts the coronavirus state of emergency and a moratorium on residential evictions without more support for low- and moderate-income families, advocates warned Tuesday.

As the state more fully reopens and begins its recovery from the near-shutdown ordered to slow the spread of the disease, the advocates called for legislation to prioritize the financial recovery of families at risk of homelessness and financial devastation, who they say are being left behind.

In the past couple months, the business interests and needs have taken center stage in all of the conversations that have taken place around how were going to recover economically from the COVID-19 epidemic, Dena Mottola Jaborksa, associate director of New Jersey Citizen Action, said during a news conference Tuesday.

Meanwhile, she said, Legislation providing vital relief and protections for communities of color and New Jerseys most vulnerable has been stalled, gutted, ignored or put aside entirely by the New Jersey Legislature, as corporate lobbyists work to block or weaken the bills, or as the Legislature continues to dig their heels in against the adoption of new revenue sources needed to fund these vitally needed programs.

James Williams, the director of racial justice policy at Fair Share Housing, said urban areas, especially, will see a wave of evictions unless the state steps in to provide significantly more rental assistance and other rental protections.

Murphy in mid-March placed a moratorium on evictions of homeowners amid foreclosure proceedings or evictions of rental tenants during and for up to two months after the pandemic crisis. The suspension came as businesses were being ordered closed and New Jersey workers were becoming unemployed en masse.

But rent and mortgage payments will come due, and residents need uniform and compassionate repayments options, to ensure that individuals arent blindsided with end-of-mortgage fees or balloon payments, Williams said.

Its unlikely these families have money saved to pay two or three months of back rent, added Chris Estevez, president of the Latino Action Network. Thats why, he said, the state needs much more than the $100 million in emergency rental assistance Murphys administration announced late last month.

A portion of the funding for the short-term rental assistance program will pay up to 12 months of rent for residents who are very low-income, homeless, or at risk of homelessness, while others can enter a lottery for up to six months in rental assistance, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver has said.

That $100 million is not nearly enough, Estevez said.

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If we dont deal with this now up front, taxpayers are going to be on the hook anyway because were going to be providing a ton of social services to all the people who are homeless and needing all kinds of assistance, and the ripple effects of this will be felt for years, if not decades, to come.

Estevez also called on the Legislature to pass a bill (S2480) providing $35 million in one-time payments to nearly half a million undocumented immigrants who pay income taxes and make payroll contributions to New Jerseys Unemployment Trust Fund but are not eligible for unemployment benefits.

The legislation has not moved in the state Senate or Assembly.

This bill would allow for at least a one-time payment for these workers who really should be getting what everybody is getting because theyve paid in, he said. Other New Jersey workers who are collecting unemployment are using the money that these folks put into the system, and yet we cant even get a bill across that would give people a one-time payment just to help them get by.

Advocates also pushed for a bill expanding the states paid sick leave law, which entitled workers to at least five sick days a year. The proposal (S2453) would increase the annual minimum to seven days of earned sick leave per year and require employers provide essential workers 15 paid sick days during and after a state of emergency.

The pandemic has made it clear that five days is not enough. It really barely scratches the surface of what workers need and also what public health demands, said Yarrow Willman-Cole, workplace justice director for New Jersey Citizen Action.

Workers without enough paid sick days will have to choose between going to work and exposing coworkers and customers to infection or going without pay for weeks, she said.

And who is going to be more negatively impacted by this conundrum? Lower-income workers, women workers, immigrant and black workers, who disproportionately make up our front-line and essential workers, working in warehouses, grocery stores, big-box stores and as health care and elder care workers.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com.
Not too long ago, director Aashiq Abu announced his upcoming venture with Prithviraj Sukumaran. The movie titled Vaariyamkunnan will have the Superstar essaying the role of a rebellion fighter of Malabar, Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji who fought against the British rule in 1921.

Well, looks like the political outfits of Kerala are not happy with the announcement, as the team has been receiving threats over the storyline of the movie. It is said that the team members including Prithviraj and Aashiq Abu were asked to drop the project by the outfits, especially on social media. Well, we will have to wait and watch to see if the actor and director, in the coming days, responds to the threats or not.

It is to be noted, that this is not the first time a movie is receiving heat from a section of people. Recently, Tovino Thomas' Minnal Murali movie set resembling a church was vandalised by a group apparently with political backing.

Coming back to Vaariyamkunnan, the movie will mark the maiden collaboration of Prithviraj and Aashiq Abu. Announcing that the filming of the movie will happen in 2021 during the 100th anniversary of the Malabar revolution, the actor on his social media handle wrote, "He stood 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. #Vaariyamkunnan. Filming begins in 2021. On the 100th anniversary."

Bankrolled by Zikandar and Moideen under the banner Compassion Movies, the film is scripted by Harshad and Rameez. Cinematographer Shyju Khalid will crank the camera for the movie. The remaining cast of the movie is yet to be announced by the makers.

Prithviraj Sukumaran-Aashiq Abu Duo's Vaariyamkunnan: Here's Everything You Need To Know!

Prithviraj Sukumaran Receives A Special Present From Daughter Alankrita On Father's Day!
The pilots of a plane that crashed last month in Pakistan, killing 98 people, were pre-occupied by the coronavirus crisis and tried to land with the aircraft's wheels still up, according to initial official reports released Wednesday. The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crashed into a crowded residential area on May 22 after both engines failed as it approached Karachi airport for a second landing attempt, killing all but two people on board, and a child on the ground. The preliminary report outlines the flight's chaotic final minutes and a bizarre series of errors compounded by communication failures with air traffic control. Investigators found the plane was at more than twice the correct altitude when it first approached the runway, and the tower advised the pilots to circle for a more gradual descent, the report states. But, instead of going around, the pilots attempted to land anyway -- even though they had raised the landing gear. Air traffic control saw the Airbus A320's engines scrape the runway with a shower of sparks, but did not tell the cockpit. The badly damaged engines failed as the plane turned to attempt a second landing. Pakistan's aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan told parliament the pilots had been discussing the coronavirus as they attempted to land and had disengaged the craft's autopilot. "The pilot and co-pilot were not focused and throughout they were having a conversation about corona. The [virus] was on their minds. Their families were affected and they were having a discussion about it," Khan said. "Unfortunately the pilot was overconfident," the minister added. Khan also pointed to a troubling review of pilot credentials that is bound to reverberate through the country's airline industry. He said a probe last year found that 262 of Pakistan's 860 active pilots had fake licenses or had cheated on exams -- including an unspecified number of PIA pilots. - 'No technical fault' - The crash investigation team, which included officials from the French government and the aviation industry, analysed cockpit data and voice recorders. Pakistan's deadliest aviation accident in eight years came days after domestic commercial flights resumed following a two-month coronavirus lockdown. According to the report, the plane had been on the ground for 46 days during that time. But it was "100 percent fit for flying, there was no technical fault", Khan said. Qasim Qadim -- a spokesman for the Pakistan Airline Pilots Association -- called the investigation's findings "mind-boggling". "How could it happen? It just baffles me," he said. "The greatest pilots with the best records have made mistakes. Humans make mistakes." The report did not name the pilots, but a senior PIA official told AFP the captain was Sajjad Gul. Gul joined the airline 25 years ago and had racked up 17,000 hours of flying experience, including 4,500 hours on A320s, the official said. Many passengers were travelling to spend the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr with loved ones. Buildings were torn apart after the plane's wings sliced through rooftops, sending flames and plumes of smoke into the air. Khan said three people on the ground were injured, saying for the first time that a young girl later died. A full report is expected to be released at the end of the year, with advanced analysis of the aircraft wreckage still ongoing. Pakistan has a chequered military and civilian aviation safety record, with frequent plane and helicopter crashes over the years. In 2016, a PIA plane burst into flames after one of its two turboprop engines failed while flying from the remote north to Islamabad, killing more than 40 people. The deadliest air disaster in Pakistan was in 2010 when an Airbus A321 operated by private airline Airblue crashed into the hills of Islamabad as it came in to land, killing all 152 people on board. An official report blamed the accident on a confused captain and a hostile cockpit atmosphere. PIA, one of the region's leading airlines until the 1970s, now suffers from a sinking reputation due to frequent cancellations, delays and financial troubles. It has been involved in numerous controversies over the years, including the jailing of a drunk pilot in Britain in 2013.
Kolkata, June 24 : An elephant calf was electrocuted to death in West Bengal's Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar district on Wednesday.

According to state forest department officials, an elephant herd came from the northern range of Jaldapara forest and entered a betel nuts grove near the East Madarihar area.

During the same time, a tree fell down on electric wires which got snapped. The elephant calf came in contact with the live wire and got electrocuted to death, officials said.

Later, the villagers chased away the elephant herd back into the forest to avert any further casualty before informing the local forest officials.

This was the third incident of elephant death in the doors region, the foothills of the eastern Himalayas, since June 16. Earlier, another elephant was killed in Nurpur village in Buxa forest area.
Odessa Police Department

Odessa Police Department is asking for the publics assistance in locating a missing person.

Jodie Leigh Tucker, 35, was last seen on May 22 in the 4700 block of Devonian Avenue.
SEDALIA, Mo. - The fatal shooting of Hannah Fizer by a Pettis County sheriff's deputy was caught on camera, according to a search warrant filed in the case. Fizer was shot and killed during a June 13 traffic stop in Sedalia. Her death has led to several protests in the town, which sits about 90 [...]
There is a clear role for testing to track and limit the spread of COVID-19 on Haldimand-Norfolk farms, says Dr. Shanker Nesathurai.

The problem is the test doesnt always work.

The test isnt particularly good, the chief medical officer of health told the board of health on Friday. It misses 20 per cent of the people.

Nesathurai explained that the current COVID-19 test has been found to register the wrong result one out of every five times. The test could indicate a persistent positive in a patient who hasnt had symptoms for weeks and is at low risk of infecting others. Or a person might show multiple COVID-19 symptoms but test negative.

Thats why the health unit orders anyone who gets tested to complete a 14-day quarantine as a precaution, regardless of the result.

As proof of the tests limited value as a diagnostic tool, the health unit says 12 migrant farm workers at Scotlynn Group in Vittoria  the site of a major outbreak that has infected over 200 people and killed one migrant worker  initially tested negative but subsequently were found to have COVID-19.

When you test somebody, you only know in that moment in time where there are. So if you test someone today and they get sick three days from now, the test is not going to help, Nesathurai said.

Generally speaking, he added, you want to test as many people as you can, as long as you dont exhaust your resources, and you dont misidentify people who are healthy as sick.

The health unit is currently considering sentinel testing at Haldimand-Norfolk farms, which would involve testing a random sample of migrant workers at a given farm. If any of them test positive, widespread testing would be ordered.

Testing is not necessarily the most efficient way to clear people of the virus, Nesathurai said.

When it comes to determining whether someone is at risk of infecting others, he added, time is a good enough indicator.

Nesathurai said having no more than three migrant workers serve their mandatory two-week quarantine period together is the safest way to detect COVID-19 before it has the chance to spread through a more densely populated bunkhouse.

The most effective strategy is to self-isolate for 14 days, he said.

According to Nesathurai, the fact that Haldimand-Norfolk has only dealt with one large-scale COVID-19 outbreak on a farm, while another outbreak was prevented when a migrant worker tested positive in quarantine, suggests that the stricter rules are working even as farmers chafe at them.

We recognized this was a problem three months before it became a problem in the media, Nesathurai said of the potential for outbreaks in bunkhouses.

Haldimand-Norfolk is the only jurisdiction in Ontario to have imposed the three-person limit on bunkhouse occupancy during quarantine. That limit was challenged by local farmer Brett Schuyler and struck down by the provincial Health Services Appeal and Review Board, but remains in force while the health unit appeals the boards decision.

Nesathurai stands by the restriction, arguing that the health unit has managed to contain the Scotlynn outbreak but another crisis could push the local health-care system to the brink.

I dont know that if we get an outbreak of 500 people, well be able to manage that, Nesathurai said. If we cant manage outbreaks  that would impede our ability to move to the next stage (of reopening).

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canadas chief public health officer, said working and living conditions on farms had to be reviewed to lessen migrant workers risk of contracting the disease.

Certainly, if there is even a single case, a very rapid outbreak response together with widespread testing needs to be done very, very quickly, because of some of these close conditions where disease can spread very quickly, Tam said.

Federal and provincial inspectors will be paying surprise visits to bunkhouses across Ontario, while Premier Doug Ford said the province would be enhancing and expanding COVID-19 testing on farms and at food processing plants, and providing more money for modified housing and personal protective equipment for workers.

If you are working on a farm and you are worried about COVID-19, please go get tested, Ford said on Tuesday.

Im asking all the farmers to cooperate and ensure that testing is available to their workers. If you work on a farm and you test positive for COVID-19 and you need to self isolate for two weeks, you are eligible for WSIB. Youll be protected for your time off, so there is no excuse. Please go get tested.
A revolutionary drug that offers a lifeline to patients with untreatable cancers has become available on the NHS.

Entrectinib is a so-called tumour-agnostic medicine  meaning it can treat many types of the disease regardless of their location in the body.

Made by Roche, it differs from conventional treatments which are based on where the tumour originated  such as in the breast or prostate. It is the second such medicine to be given the green light after larotrectinib was approved earlier this year.

Revolutionary drug named Entrectinib is to be made available on the NHS (stock photo above)

Entrectinib is set to be used initially on up to 700 patients  aged 12 and over  who suffer from rare types of cancer called NTRK fusions. If successful, this could pave the way for an era of personalised cancer care offering hope to those left with no treatment options.

The drug was approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Meindert Boysen of NICE said: 'Treatments like entrectinib have the potential to revolutionise how we treat cancers by targeting a genetic mutation that activates tumour growth irrespective of the solid tumour's location.

'While the evidence suggests that solid tumours with NTRK gene fusions shrink in response to entrectinib, further trial data is needed.

'We are therefore pleased that, because of the joint working between NICE, NHS England and NHS Improvement and the company, adults and children 12 years and older will be able to access entrectinib on the CDF while more data is collected to address any clinical uncertainties.'

NHS clinical director for cancer Professor Peter Johnson hailed the availability of the drug

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS clinical director for cancer said: 'As well as helping cancer patients to continue to get essential care during the coronavirus pandemic, the NHS has been working to bring new treatments onto the front line of patient care.

'This is the latest deal that the NHS has struck, working together with Roche, to help hundreds of cancer patients every year who will now be able to have this important molecular targeted treatment.'

Last year, NHS chief executive Simon Stevens described the treatments as 'gamechanging' and said the ability to treat many types of cancer with a single drug was 'potentially huge'.

It could eventually help a large proportion of the 367,000 people who are diagnosed with the disease in Britain each year.

Karen Lightning-Jones, head of personalised healthcare and strategic partnerships at Roche, said: 'People across England will be among the first in Europe to benefit from a new generation of medicine that targets tumours based on their genetic make-up, rather than where they are in the body.

'We are proud to have worked in partnership with NHSE, NICE and the Accelerated Access Collaborative, to fast-track access. We look forward to the English Genomic Medicine Service being able to operate at full capacity and help identify those patients who may benefit from entrectinib.

'Our commitment is to ensure that people in the UK live longer and healthier lives, and today's news shows how we are advancing science to achieve this.'
A dedicated levy - similar to Medicare - or a 1-2 per cent increase in personal taxes have been floated as two ways to pay for much-needed reforms to aged care.

To overhaul a system described last year as in a "shocking state of neglect" would require $10 billion to $20 billion more a year, the Royal Commission on Aged Care Quality and Safety reported on Wednesday.

Reforms to aged care are desperately needed but they will be expensive, warned the Royal Commission on Aged Care Quality and Safety on Wednesday. Credit:Nine

It is the first time it has provided an estimate of the cost of the overhaul required to improve quality and safety.

A paper released by the commission on Wednesday estimated these "fundamental reforms" would very likely cost double the $27 billion spent by government and consumers.
Emirates NBD, Dubai's largest bank, is laying off around 800 employees as part of its plan to "right size" the bank to meet anticipated future business needs, said a report.

The Khaleej Times report quoted an Emirates NBD spokesperson as saying the recent developments have had a significant impact on the economy, the financial services sector and the lender itself, resulting in changes to its operations and staffing requirements.

"Unfortunately, this has meant letting go of some of our colleagues as we right size to meet our anticipated future business needs, especially in the light of the economic forecasts that point towards challenging times ahead," he said.
After the success of the Developer Circles Vietnam Innovation Challenge in Ho Chi Minh City in 2019, Facebook has launched another exciting training program.

The social media firm, in partnership with the Office of the Initiative for Startup Ecosystems in Vietnam (The Office of Project 844) and CoderSchool, on Tuesday launched Developer Circles Vietnam Innovation Challenge in Hanoi.

As part of the #fb4Innovation pillar of the Facebook for Vietnam' campaign, the training and competition initiative for technology students will equip young engineers with skills in high demand in the digital age.

The six-month training program is for tech students in year three and four, as well as those who graduated within the last two years in the Vietnamese capital.

Upon the programs completion, 300 young engineers will have new skills in product management, data science, and React Native.

The training program was inspired by Project 844 about Supporting the National Innovation Initiative to 2025 (ISEV) aiming to support startups.

Developing highly-skilled talents is a top priority to serve Vietnam's vision of building a national innovation startup ecosystem.

It is vitally important to provide students with a strong educational foundation and to hone the practical skills of students, especially for tech students.

It is vitally important to provide a strong educational foundation for students and to hone their practical skills, particularly essential among tech majors.

The Developer Circles Vietnam Innovation Challenge, within the scope of the Facebook for Vietnam campaign, will play a great part in nurturing domestic technical talents, attracting local businesses, promoting the development of the national innovation startup ecosystem, and supporting the government in accomplishing the Industry 4.0 agenda.

Charles Lee, CEO and co-founder of CoderSchool, speaks at the launch of 'Developer Circles Vietnam Innovation Challenge in Hanoi, Vietnam, June 23, 2020.

Along with training, participants in Hanoi will be able to address real business challenges set by top firms like FPT Software, Viettel Digital Services, Teko Vietnam, Tripi, FSIxEPU, and TnTech, while receiving mentorship to create products that solve real-life problems.

Virginia Yang, Director of Developer Partnerships and Programs in APAC shared:

Developer Circles Vietnam Innovation Challenge in Ho Chi Minh City was a great success as 357 young developers were trained and upskilled and 80 graduates landed internships or junior roles at companies including Chotot, FE Credit, Sendo, Haravan, and Momo, said Virginia Yang, director of developer partnerships and programs in APAC.

This positive result is the motivation for us to continue bringing more opportunities to the students in Hanoi.

With nearly 7,000 Developers Circles members across the country, our local community is growing stronger and actively contributing to enable Vietnams vision of becoming a digital nation.

One notable difference of this year's program is the unique track for women, #TechbyHer.

Aiming to foster equal opportunities for women in tech, #TechbyHer is open to 50 women in their 3rd or 4th year of college or new graduates with up to two years of experience, no IT background required.

The women will form teams to build no-code or low-code Messenger bots as their final products.

CoderSchool is delighted to continue collaborating with Facebook, a partner with deep understanding about the influence of young, ambitious, and skilled talents, said Charles Lee, CEO and co-founder of CoderSchool.

We aspire to amplify the success of the Developer Circles Vietnam Innovation Challenge from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, thereby empowering more young people to build great technical products.

Developer Circles Vietnam Innovation Challenge in Hanoi is part of the #fb4Innovation pillar of the Facebook for Vietnam' campaign, one of 2020s key programs of the social media giant in Vietnam.

By introducing #fb4Innovation, Facebook hopes to boost the digital transformation in Vietnamese companies through training on key Facebook technologies.

Facebook also wishes to nurture the next generation of Vietnamese tech talents by giving tech students training on innovative technology and job-readiness skills.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
India's oil imports in May hit the lowest since October 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

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.

OPEC's share of India's crude oil imports drops to record low.

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.
After a few remarkable weeks of free food, far-right agitation, and most recently, multiple shootings, Seattles Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) looks like it might be on the rocks.

The CHOP (formerly known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ) is an approximately six-block zone in Seattle where, after a violent crackdown by police against racial justice protesters, the city agreed to withdraw police and clear the streets for demonstrations. Activists quickly set up tents and issued a list of demands including police abolition and de-gentrification measures like rent control.

But Seattle never agreed to keep police out forever. And after a trio of shootings in and around the zone, the city is calling to dismantle the CHOP, leaving activists wondering how to keep the protest going.

In a Monday press conference, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said the city would work with activists to dismantle the CHOP.

Its time for people to go home. It is time for us to restore Cal Anderson [Park] and Capitol Hill so it can be a vibrant part of the community, Durkan said at the press conference. We can still accommodate people who want to protest peacefully, come there and gather. But the impacts on the businesses and residents and community are now too much.

She added that police would re-enter the neighborhood precinct, which was boarded up when cops left the area on June 8, although she did not elaborate on a timeline for the reintroduction of police. Seattle Police did not return a request for comment.

A spokesperson for the CHOP-affiliated group, Seattle Organized Protest Support said the disbandment talk had led to divergent views within the neighborhood.

"There is a lot of uncertainty going around in the CHOP right now, different people have different opinions," the spokesperson told The Daily Beast. "As far as the groups that Im in, it seems that the general consensus is to follow Black leaders for the next step, which is tricky in and of itself because we never know who is working with the city and who isnt."

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Other encampment-based movements have faced similar predicaments in the past. The Occupy Wall Street protests lasted approximately three months camped in a downtown Manhattan park before police raided the scene and sent the movement spiraling. Todd Gitlin, a Columbia University professor and author of the book Occupy Nation, said the uprooted camp sites face an ideological reckoning.

The problem for manifestations that come together around an occasion, like a park to occupy, is well then what? Gitlin told The Daily Beast. How do you sustain yourself when the occupation is over? In the case of Occupy, there were these hundreds of encampments, but they were all land-dependent. They had no other identity. They had no other connections.

Some Occupy organizers turned to more electoral politics, like joining the 2016 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, or became active in issues like housing rights, Gitlin noted. Others appeared to leave the political scene.

The CHOP zones cop-free cred is one of its main attractions. But several shootings in or near the CHOP in recent days have left some Seattle officials, Durkan included, calling for resumed police details. Early Tuesday morning, a man was injured in a non-life-threatening shooting nearbut apparently not inthe CHOP. The incident followed a Saturday morning shooting that left a 19-year-old dead and a 33-year-old critically wounded in the CHOP. A 17-year-old was also shot in the arm Sunday night.

Some activists and at least one Seattle City Council member have sparred with officials over the characterization of the incidents.

We completely reject the characterizations  by right-wing & corporate media, Trump administration, and Seattle Police Officers Guild president  of the CHOP as a violent place & the claims that the presence of police would have prevented either shooting, Seattle City Council Member Kshama Sawant tweeted on Monday. She noted that neither of the weekend shootings appear to have been committed by protesters. (Police have not made arrests in either case.)

Other activists have taken issue with the police chiefs claim that a hostile crowd of protesters prevented officers from responding to the Saturday shooting. "No one within the CHOP denied entry to PD within any organizational capacity, organizers told KOMO News after the shooting. Officers deciding on their own not to enter an area is not the same as being denied entry." (Police body camera footage from the incident appears to show some people yelling at police, but officers moving without obstruction.)

Nevertheless, the shootings have placed new challenges on a protest movement that was already a favorite villain of conservative voices and far-right groups, some of which have entered the CHOP armed and been involved in a fistfight near the zone.

After the Saturday shooting, the group Voices of CHOP issued a letter acknowledg[ing] that no organizations, protests, or revolutions are perfect. We must be willing to collectively learn and react quickly to mistakes within our movement. We do not want to see what was started with the intention of lifting the BLM message destroyed.

The group suggested two changes to curb unruliness in the CHOP, including safe [drug] use areas near the outskirts of C.H.O.P., along with signage asking people to keep safe distance away from C.H.O.P. while intoxicated. The letter also acknowledged that the late hours of C.H.O.P. tend to give way to some problematic behavior. The group suggested reducing the CHOPs operating hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., clearing the zone out overnight but leaving enough people for peace keeping and occupy purposes.

Sawant tweeted that her City Council office supports the proposal to cut operating hours in half.

But momentum behind the protest zone shifting to part time also comes as attendance has apparently begun to fizzle out. A live-streamer who has closely covered the protests told the Washington Post attendance has dwindled since its beginning in early June.

Amid the mayors calls to dissolve the CHOP, and the reportedly organic dissolution by protesters whove stopped showing up, some CHOP backers are emphasizing the protests more abstract qualities as a way to keep the movement alive.

As socialists, Sawant tweeted, we recognize capitalism is a deeply violent system, and that an occupation in a few city blocks cannot by itself form a society separate from the violence, trauma, and ills that absolutely pervade capitalist society as a whole.

For some protesters, that means returning to the protests extensive demands. As of Monday, a handmade sign on the zones abandoned precinct announced some activists stance not to leave until the city defunds its police force by 50 percent, introduces new funding for Black communities, and releases people arrested in the protests that erupted after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.

The CHOP has been in place fewer than three weeks. Occupy Wall Street stayed in its encampment nearly three monthsand even still, Gitlin characterized the protest as more of a moment than a movement.That said, Occupy made enduring political waves because it was a moment that dovetailed with other moments, and we can see retrospectively that they contributed to a kind of revitalization or awakening outsider energy looking for ways to get traction in the American scene.

The CHOP might be short-lived, some organizers have indicated, but it stems from sweeping, nationwide protests, into which activists might continue their energy.

The Seattle Organized Protest Support released its own statement on Monday reiterating those three demands, noting that, as an occupied area, CHOP may not be a sustainable fight.

The six blocks weren't the point of the original protest, the SOPS spokesperson said.

"CHOP wasnt the goal, and the people who are fighting the fight recognize that," the representative said. "The people came up with three demands that were the original goal, everything born out of that is temporary and was never meant to distract from the purpose of the fight."

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Jason Ward fell in love with birds at age 14 when he spotted a peregrine falcon outside the homeless shelter where he was staying with his family.

The now 33-year-old Atlanta bird lover parlayed that passion into a YouTube series last year. One of the guests on his first episode of Birds of North America was Christian Cooper, a Black bird watcher who was targeted in New York Citys Central Park by a white woman after he told her to leash her dog.

A video capturing the encounter showed the woman, Amy Cooper (no relation), retaliate by calling the police and clearly referencing his race to raise the threat level.

Ward, who is Black, said the video, even now, is jarring to watch. Butting heads with dog owners is common among birders but hed never seen it take such a turn.

Especially knowing Christian and how confident he is, hearing his nervousness and trembling, it shed light on how dangerous that situation could have been, Ward said.

It didnt culminate in any arrests, and Amy Cooper later issued an apology. But it has brought attention to how the great outdoors can be far from great for Black people. Worries about discrimination, racial profiling and even subtle aggression keep some away. Furthermore, those fears can perpetuate the stereotype that hiking, camping and bird watching are white activities.

Christian Coopers encounter, which happened on May 25, the same day as George Floyds death at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer, has been cited in nationwide protests against systemic racism and white privilege.

For Black people, the incident was not surprising, said Carolyn Finney, author of Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors.

Systemic racism doesnt stop at the park gates, Finney said. Ive backpacked all over the world. ... There are places in this country I would never go on my own. It is my loss. I just dont trust the public.

Birding can take participants to parks, woods and suburban streets. Depending on the setting, Ward said he adjusts his demeanor so he doesnt seem threatening. He makes sure his face isnt covered even if its cold. He always has his binoculars in plain sight rather than pulling them out of his bag.

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Just simple stuff like that I have to pay attention to that other people might say, What? Come on dude! Theyre just binoculars, Ward said. If someone easily recognizes them as binoculars, its still a case in which I have to prove that Im actually looking for birds occasionally.

Mike Parr, president of the American Bird Conservancy, is white but his three sons are half-Black. His youngest, who is 12, has gotten into birding. Coopers experience is now in the back of his mind.

We personally havent come across anything like that, but as a parent, I am concerned about things that could happen to him. Birding isnt all that well understood by people, Parr said.

Keith Russell, 63, an urban conservation program manager for the National Audubon Societys Philadelphia-based chapter, said as a Black person, he has his guard up if hes searching for birds with binoculars near homes. But hes never felt unsafe among fellow birders and hopes Coopers close call doesnt scare off others.

Image: Keith Russell (Jacqueline Larma / AP)

I think its very very important to be clear for anyone who might not understand this and take a superficial view of this. ... Its not dangerous to be a birder if youre a person of color, Russell said. But, he added: There have been historical problems with access.

He thinks for some Black families, past discrimination and segregation at parks and other recreation sites may have set them on a path away from nature. That lack of connection to the outdoors then continues with the next generation.

It can take a while to make that internal culture go away. I think its definitely starting to, Russell said.

The misconception that most Black people arent outdoorsy may get bolstered by history books. Finney, the author, said too often the history of U.S. conservation centers on white figures like naturalist John Muir. Meanwhile, less attention is paid to the hundreds of Black soldiers who protected national parks after the Civil War.

The same goes for Hispanic communities. Many are unaware that Hispanics have connections with public lands going back generations, said Liz Archuleta, a county board supervisor in Flagstaff, Arizona, and co-founder of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors.

My mother tells stories about how at least twice a month on a Saturday, the entire Hispanic pioneer community of Flagstaff used to get together and go through the forest and have picnics, Archuleta said. Its foreign to me when people say we have to get Hispanics to enjoy the outdoors more.

The shift in support toward Black Lives Matter after Floyds death has every corporation and nonprofit re-evaluating how they can elevate Black and brown voices.

In the bird-watching world, theres already been an effort in recent years to do that. The National Audubon Society, which was established in 1905 to preserve birds and their habitat, has 1.8 million members. Approximately 198,000 identify as people of color.; only 45,000 identify as Black or African American.

Obviously, thats not reflective of where the U.S. population is, said Rebeccah Sanders, senior vice president of the organizations state programs.

The group is trying to recruit more minorities. Staff training now includes ways to intervene if someone is mistreated because of race or another trait. In the last year, they have set up chapters at dozens of colleges, including historically Black ones. They also filled almost half of nearly 100 internships and fellowships with people of diverse backgrounds.

As our staff and our membership base become more representative, it changes who you are, Sanders said. Those perspectives make us ask different questions and change some of our decisions.

Environmental organizations are making universal statements that the outdoors belong to everyone but, Finney said, they have to address that its simply not the same for Black communities.

The National Park Service and others want to engage diverse communities and often are bringing kids in, Finney said. How is some Black teenager going to feel about their ability to feel safe and welcome?

Since Christian Coopers video, several Black professionals have reached out to Ward via social media to inquire about birding.

Were definitely getting feedback from a lot of people who are saying You know what? I definitely want to get a pair of binoculars now, Ward said. I thought this was boring and for people who didnt look like me.
Pyongyang had threatened to send troops to the demilitarized zone between the two countries in response to the launch of defamatory pamphlets. 10 speakers used to relay propaganda against Seoul removed from the border. Analysts: Kim wants concessions from South Koreans.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - North Korea has suspended military operations against Seoul, reports the official North Korean KCNA news agency. The decision was made yesterday by leader Kim Jong-un. In a further gesture of detente, the North also removed 10 speakers used for propaganda against the South from the border.

Last week, Pyongyang had threatened to send its troops to the demilitarized zone between the two countries, in an act of retaliation for the launch of defamatory leaflets into their territory by dissidents sheltered in the South.

On June 16, Kim blew up the building that housed the Seoul Liaison Office in the North Korean city of Kaesong. A few days later, the Northern government had announced plans to launch millions of anti-Seoul flyers across the border.

Analysts claim that Kim ratcheted up tension to obtain concessions from South Koreans. Pyongyangs leader accuses South Korea of bowing to the US sanctions policy used against his country.

The two Koreas are technically at war; North and South never signed a peace treaty at the end of the conflict which raged on the peninsula from 1950 to 1953.
Three of Perth's hospitality heavyweights have urged West Australians to get back to the city as the state enters phase 4 COVID-19 restrictions from Saturday.

Life will return to some semblance of normal in the west this weekend when locals are once again allowed to enjoy a drink at a bar, a dance in a club, and other simple pleasures once taken for granted before lockdowns began mid-March.

WA has skipped ahead of the east coast with reopenings thanks to Premier Mark McGowan's hard border stance but, as suburban cafes and restaurants begin to rebound, many small businesses in the CBD were still operating at about 50 per cent of normal revenue, said hospitality owner Paul Aron.

Mr Aron, who co-owns four CBD venues including Offshoot Coffee, Tiny's Resturant and Mary St Bakery, said almost 40 small businesses had shown "great humanity and collaboration" to claw people back to the city through a campaign where they will be profiled and amplified across social media and on big screens at popular city and Northbridge precincts.
Teachers from the Confucius Institute at Ricardo Palma University in Lima, Peru, have been offering Chinese lessons online since the country announced nationwide home confinement and curfew measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Xinhua file photo)

The Chinese teachers at the institute have overcome difficulties such as network instability, which affects the operation of the teaching platform, and done their best to guarantee student attendance and make the classes interactive.

The institute holds meetings on a regular basis to let teachers share their experience of teaching online.

Chen Min, who teaches translation, puts students through a dictation exercise in the first 10 to 15 minutes of a class, and asks them to submit the results to her through a chat app immediately after the quiz is over.

Ming Wei, who teaches sophomores, encourages students to ask him one question about China in each class to get them more involved.

Li Siying, a teacher with the institute, recommends one Chinese movie to her students each week and then asks them questions about it. The students are required to answer the questions in Chinese after watching the film.

Thanks to teachers actively exploring the best ways to engage students, online teaching has been going smoothly at the school, with students becoming more used to the teaching model and growing their interest in learning Chinese.
Exorbitant rents, salary deductions, job insecurity  times are tough! So how does one survive in such difficult circumstances? Well, young professionals have found a way by relocating their stuff to storage facility for a month or two, till they return from their home towns.

Social media timelines are filled with posts by professionals offering to keep belongings of others at their rented space for 50% or a lesser amount. Anish Bakshi, who had posted about one such storage facility on a Gurugram group on Facebook, says, The idea is just to help out people who are being made to pay full rent for their rooms in Gurugram, even though that they are not living here anymore because most organisations have given work from home (as an option or mandate). We are offering storage in our flats. Ive mostly received enquiries from bachelors who are moving or have already moved to their home towns.

A 22-year-old marketing manager in Gurugram, Anamika Manhas, sharing her experience, says, I couldnt move to the new house and there was a lot of family pressure to return to my home town, Jammu. I flew two days before lockdown. Its been three months that Im here now, and all my stuff was at my rented place and the notice period was over too. I couldnt physically come and move my stuff (clothes, kitchenware, etc). So, when I found out about this service, I felt it was very helpful. I paid around 4,000 for a month and my stuff is all safe.

Those from outside Delhi wait for their turn to get thermally screened before travelling back to their homes at Ambedkar Stadium. (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo (For representational purpose only))

For Varun Kataria, who owns flats and PGs in Delhi-NCR, storage space has become a means to sustain him during these times. This landlord says, Jo log Maharashtra, UP se hain woh iss time Gurugram aana safe nahin samajh rahe... People who were living on rent in Delhi-NCR have reached out to me from across the country including Mumbai, UP, and even south India. We sent a vendor to get their luggage picked up, and then confirmed with the owner each item on the check list. After all this checking, we sent a video to the owner on WhatsApp to confirm.

Aditya Kaushal, a 32-year-old fraud investigator with an MNC in Gurugram, tells us, I was travelling prior and have been with my family in Jammu since March, and couldnt go back to Gurugram because of lockdown. There is a huge rent burden wherein Im not using the premises but still have to pay the rent. My stuff was lying in the house (refrigerator, washing machine, etc.). Initially we had a discussion with the owner about the salary cuts that I had to bear, but the owners didnt agree to reduce the rent. The only option thus left was to find a storage facility and move our stuff over there. I took help of movers and packers, and a friend helped me too. And now when the landlord saw us vacating it, he thought hed loose a steady income so offered to reduce the rent by 40% till the time we come back!

Its an equal opportunity for all. There are people like us who dont want to spend anything like  30,000 as monthly rent, when they arent even living in these places.

 Kovid Ummat, an advertising professional

Those who are renting out their place for storage are ensuring to share all crucial information in advance, before allocating the space. Kovid Ummat, an advertising professional who is renting his two rooms as storage space, says security is a concern, too. We ensure that I and the other party share all details prior. Somewhere this came out of our own need, as one of my flatmate had left for Agra before the lockdown. And when we came home, we realised that it was uncertain as to when will WFH stop. The rent was a completely avoidable expenditure at this point. So we guys thought to take out our stuff and put it in a warehouse, and in the process realised that they arent many warehouses. This made us open two rooms for people who required this facility. Its an equal opportunity for all. There are people like us who dont want to spend anything like 30,000 as monthly rent when they arent even living in these places.

Author tweets @Nainaarora8

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The NBC sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine has had to toss out scripts written for Season 8 as the series grapples with how to address protests over the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter Movement, star Terry Crews revealed.

'Our show-runner Dan Goor, they had four episodes all ready to go and they just threw them in the trash. We have to start over,' Crews told Access Daily on Tuesday.

'Right now we don't know which direction it's going to go in,' he added.

The cop comedy, which mostly focuses on the lighthearted side of policing, will have to walk a careful line in an environment of outrage that has seen the abrupt cancellation of long-running reality series Cops and smash-hit Live PD.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Terry Crews (center) said the show had to toss out scripts written for Season 8 as the series grapples with how to address protests over police brutality and racism

'We've had a lot of somber talks about it and deep conversations and we hope through this we're going to make something that will be truly groundbreaking this year,' Crews said.

'We have an opportunity and we plan to use it in the best way possible,' he continued.

Crews said he sees the Black Lives Matter movement as a chance for the world to come together for permanent change.

'This is an opportunity right now for us all to unite and get together and understand what this is and that we have to battle this together.'

Though the series is a comedy, it has tackled serious topics in the past, including a Season 4 episode that saw Crews' character get racially profiled by a white cop while off-duty in his own neighborhood.

In a scene from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, seen are Terry Crews as Terry Jeffords, Melissa Fumero as Amy Santiago, Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta

Protesters march across the Brooklyn Bridge during a Juneteenth Black Lives Matter protest in New York City

In the interview, Crews also shared his personal experiences of negative interactions with the police.

'You've seen me, in movies or whatever but before all this, I was always a threat. I would be going to the mall or going different places. I've had guns pointed at me by police officers in L.A. This was before I was famous. The thing is, they had the wrong guy,' Crews said.

'It's something that every black man has been through and it's hard to really try to get other people to understand. I have to say, right here, what is going on right now is Black America's Me Too movement. We always knew this was happening, but now white people are understanding,' he continued.

'With that George Floyd video that came out it literally opened up the world because now you've experienced it and you have to go through the same trauma that Black America has been going through,' he said.

Earlier this month, the cast and Goor made a $100,000 donation to the National Bail Fund Network and stated that they 'condemn the murder of George Floyd and support the many people who are protesting police brutality nationwide.'

Crews also drew controversy earlier this month after tweeting that 'black supremacy' could result from the Black Lives Matter movement.

'Defeating White supremacy without White people creates Black supremacy. Equality is the truth. Like it or not, we are all in this together,' Crews tweeted.

The tweet was immediately met with criticism, leaving Crews to try to clarify himself in a number of additional tweets that night.

'Please know that everything I've said comes from a spirit of love and reconciliation, for the Black community first, then the world as a whole, in hopes to see a better future for Black people,' he wrote.

'I believe it is important we not suffer from groupthink, and we keep minds of our own, and be allowed to ask difficult questions to each other. I believe this dialogue is important as we get through this trauma together. I love you.'
Public transit will keep rolling in the states 14 rural counties with an additional $13.3 million in federal CARES act funding secured by the states congressional delegation.

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, D-NJ announced the award Wednesday, with Senator Cory Booker, D-NJ and members of congress to ensure residents in rural communities continue to be served by public transportation to travel to urban areas and job markets there.

The funding was secured from the CARES Act that passed in March and provided assistance to agencies, individuals and business affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

As our state begins to reopen responsibly and people get back to work, we must ensure our transit agencies, which are critical to our states economy and our hard working families, are up and running, Menendez said in a statement.

NJ Transit bus service resumed running on a full schedule in early June in conjunction with Gov. Phil Murphys phased reopening of the state from shutdowns intended to limit the spread of COVID-19. Rail service remains running on a modified schedule with trains added on an as-needed basis.

Similar to other agencies, NJ Transit saw ridership plummet by 95% due to non-essential travel bans and employees working from home, that resulted in temporary service cuts. Those losses promoted NJ Transit to ask for and receive $1.43 billion in CARES act aid to offset revenue losses and spending to sanitize equipment and facilities against COVID-19.

As New York City moves into a limited reopening, ridership is slowly increasing.

NJ Transit is a major economic driver for our region and serves a vital role for many commuters across New Jersey, Booker said. But the current public health crisis has jeopardized its ability to serve our residents both now and into the future.

The $13.3 million will be used to support transit services, equipment purchases, and project administration in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties. Some rural bus service is operated under contract for NJ Transit by private bus companies.

Residents in rural areas who most depend on these essential services can be confident that the transportation they desperately need will be sustained thanks to this funding,' said Kevin Corbett, NJ Transit President and CEO. This support for our local providers will help fill transportation gaps for New Jerseys transit-dependent residents.'

Examples of service funded by the aid include Cumberland County offering transit for residents to go to and from Vineland. Warren County residents can use funded transit to travel to and from Phillipsburg.

This funding from the CARES Act will help meet the transportation needs of my constituents in rural communities, said Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-7, whose district includes parts of Hunterdon and Morris Counties.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
Our technical and maintenance professionals support the Air Force across the globe, and we are committed to supporting the rotary wing mission success requirements.

Akima today announced that its subsidiary, Akima Logistics Services has been awarded a task order by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to provide rotary wing aircraft maintenance and support services at Fairchild Air Force Base (AFB), Washington. The task order award is for $9.7M over five years.

Akima is immensely proud to continue our support for the U.S. Air Force at Fairchild AFB said Scott Rauer, President of Akimas Facilities Solutions Group. Our technical and maintenance professionals support the Air Force across the globe, and we are committed to supporting the rotary wing mission success requirements.

The contract was awarded under the U.S. Air Force Helicopter Maintenance Consolidation indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. Akima will provide the entire scope of organizational-level aircraft maintenance in support of rotary wing aircraft, engines, aerospace ground equipment, and support equipment.

About Akima Logistics Services

Akima Logistics Services (ALS) is a premier small business provider of aviation services to the Department of Defense and federal civilian government. From the warehouse to the airfield, our team of experts deliver comprehensive support designed to optimize and maintain all the links in your supply chain. Our services meet the rigid AS9100 and AS9110 certification standards, representing the highest quality in the aviation services industry. Whether your mission is routine or critical, ALS stands ready as a trusted partner. To learn more, visit http://www.akimalogistics.com.

About Akima

Akima is a global enterprise with more than 7,500 employees, delivering agile solutions to the federal government in the core areas of facilities, maintenance, and repair; information technology; logistics; protective services; systems engineering; mission support; furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E); and construction. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 14,300 Inupiat shareholders, Akimas core mission is to enable superior outcomes for our customers missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for NANA consistent with our Inupiat values. In 2019, Washington Technology ranked Akima #38 amongst the top 100 government contractors. To learn more about Akima, visit http://www.akima.com.


When Kirk R. Smith began his research career in the 1970s, he was studying the health risks posed by nuclear power. But after a trip to rural parts of Asia, he detected an even bigger threat, affecting more people: toxic fumes being spewed from the solid fuels that heat the humble chulha, a small indoor cooking stove made of mud and clay and used by more than 40 percent of the worlds population.

He then began to focus on what he called household air pollution. When asked why he was turning away from nuclear power, he would reply, The risks are too small.

This led to his mantra and became the advice he gave to his students: Follow the risk.

In doing just that, Dr. Smith was among the first scientists to identify the health hazards caused by cookstoves in developing nations. With scores of studies and meticulous measurements, he defined the field of household air pollution and established such pollution as one of the leading causes of disease and death in the developing world.

He also raised an early voice of warning about the impact of climate change on public health.

Dr. Smith died on June 15 at his home in Berkeley, Calif. He was 73.
The World Bank Group and the Australian government have committed a further AUD5 million (US$3.4 million) to supporting Vietnams economic recovery and protecting the most vulnerable from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank said in a press release on Wednesday.

The fund, provided by the Australian government and administered by the World Bank Group, is additional financing to the ongoing Australia-World Bank Group Strategic Partnership - Phase 2 (ABP2) that focuses on aiding Vietnams development agenda through sharing knowledge and advising policymaking.

The additional funding will help address Vietnams emerging challenges and critical needs after COVID-19, said Ousmane Dione, World Bank country director for Vietnam.

By providing support in key areas such as private sector development, trade integration, and innovation, the program aims to help the countrys economy gain back its full potential in the fastest and most sustainable way, Dione elaborated.

Vietnam should be very proud of how it has tackled COVID-19, said Robyn Mudie, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam.

The next challenge for Vietnam, as for Australia, will be to replicate the successes of the health response in the economic response.

I am proud of the role the Australia-World Bank Group Strategic Partnership is playing in Vietnams economic recovery.

It will continue providing world-class economic advice and analysis for Vietnams leaders and policymakers to accelerate economic recovery, with an increasingly strong focus on gender equality and social protection.

Vietnam has well contained the COVID-19 pandemic, with 352 confirmed cases, 329 recoveries, and no documented deaths, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

The health crisis has shaken the Southeast Asian countrys traditional resilience to external shocks, as its economic growth reached only 3.8 percent in the first quarter, compared to a projected rate of 6.5 percent prior to the pandemic, the World Bank said.

In order to mitigate the economic and social impacts of COVID-19, it is critical for the Vietnamese government to target sectors and activities that create jobs and improve long-term productivity and growth, such as infrastructure, innovation, social protection, health, and education.

To address the potential loss of human capital from the pandemic, the activities to be funded will protect and support vulnerable groups, including by strengthening social safety nets with more efficient and effective delivery of social security payments; narrowing human capital gaps, particularly for ethnic minorities, with a well-designed ethnic minority national targeted program; and improving gender equality in legal frameworks.

The funds will also be directed toward economic recovery activities, including accelerating the execution of the investment program while deepening trade integration, supporting the private sector in strengthening resilience against future shocks through structural reforms, and taking advantage of the digital agenda by reducing transactions costs for the government, people, and businesses.

This program of work takes forward part of the AUD10.5 million ($7.2 million) commitment from Australia toward Vietnams COVID-19 recovery efforts, discussed in a meeting between Ambassador Mudie and Vietnams Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung on June 5.

The ongoing ABP2 program, signed in April 2017, aims to support Vietnams key national reforms, which are intended to gradually benefit millions of Vietnamese people and help the Southeast Asian country reach its ambition of becoming a high-income economy by 2045.

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Donald Trump addresses a crowd in Charlotte, NC, at his last in-person rally before the coronavirus lockdown: Reuters

Donald Trump has long boasted of his perfect endorsement record, so far backing the winning candidate in every race hes decided to weigh in on.

That winning streak came to a crashing halt on Tuesday, however, when a candidate he had thrown his full support behind was trounced by a 24-year-old political novice.

The runoff Republican primary for North Carolinas 11th congressional district was triggered in March when Mr Trump selected its representative, Mark Meadows, to be his chief of staff.

Mr Meadows and Mr Trump heavily backed Lynda Bennett, a local real estate agent, in her campaign for the solidly Republican seat, with the president twice tweeting his support and even recording a robocall for her.

However, her candidacy was poorly received among local Republicans. As Politico reports, it later came to light that Ms Bennet is a friend of Mr Meadowss wife and that her campaign website had been registered by Mr Meadowss brother. She also appeared to have advance warning that Mr Meadows was resigning, allowing her to file her papers when most other would-be candidates had too little time.

In the end, she lost Tuesdays Republican primary runoff to Madison Cawthorn, who is both well-known and popular in the area. Partially paralysed in a catastrophic car accident at the age of 18, he has a compelling personal story of recovery and determination  and in another embarrassing slight to both Mr Trump and Mr Meadows, his primary campaign made a point of explicitly rejecting outside efforts to influence the race.

I wont be beholden to the DC insiders, to their Super PACs, or to any caucus chair, Mr Cawthorn said to camera in one of his ads. I wont be under anyones thumb.

But Mr Crawthorn did not mention Mr Trump by name. And while he may have thwarted the presidents own choice for the seat, he is running as a solid conservative, not an ideological apostate.

His campaign ads bear the slogan Faith, Family, Freedom, and in an interview with the right-leaning Washington Examiner in May, he listed his top priorities as safeguarding the second amendment, introducing more competition into the health insurance market, and fighting the rising enthusiasm for socialism among young people, whom he says are being deceived by all these lies that sound good.

While Mr Cawthorn is currently below the minimum age of 25 required of members of the House of Representatives, his birthday falls in August, meaning he will be old enough to take his seat should he be sworn in in January.
Head of Libyas eastern-based Parliament calls on Cairo to respond militarily if GNA-allied forces attack Sirte.

The speaker of Libyas eastern-based Parliament has urged Egypt to intervene militarily if forces allied with the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) attack the strategic city of Sirte, Egypts state news agency has reported.

An Egyptian intervention in Libya would be legitimate  if the terrorist and armed militias crossed the red line, Aguila Saleh was quoted as saying by the official MENA news agency on Wednesday.

The Libyan people are officially asking for Egypt to interfere with military forces if the necessities of maintaining Libyan national security and Egyptian national security require this.

Libya, a major oil producer, has been mired in chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi.





Since 2014, it has been split between rival factions based in the capital, Tripoli, and in the east, in a sometimes chaotic war that has drawn in outside powers and a flood of foreign arms and mercenaries.

Eastern-based forces under renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive in April last year to try to capture Tripoli from the GNA.

Haftars forces, which are backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Russia, were forced to retreat from much of western Libya in recent weeks after Turkey stepped up its support for the UN-brokered government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.

Buoyed by their recent battlefield victories, GNA-aligned forces said they would stop their advance after retaking Sirte, a city of some 125,000 people on the Mediterranean coast and the inland Jufra airbase.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, however, warned over the weekend that any attack on Sirte or Jufra would amount to crossing a red line.

He said Egypt could intervene militarily to protect its western border with the oil-rich country.

In response, the GNA said it considered el-Sisis comments a declaration of war.

El-Sisis threat prompted Italy, Germany and the United States to push for a ceasefire, fearing an even wider war. Arab League foreign ministers also warned against a continuation of military action that alters existing front lines in Libya.





Earlier on Wednesday, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio visited Tripoli, where he met al-Sarraj.

A statement from the GNA heads office said both men rejected the negative foreign interference in Libya.

They also discussed the European Unions naval operation in the Mediterranean aimed at enforcing a UN arms embargo on Libya, the statement said, without providing details.

Di Maio told reporters after his return to Rome that he conveyed to al-Sarraj Italys concerns about a possible attack on Sirte, which he said could lead to renewed fighting and more civilian casualties.

I stated how essential it is to avoid a freezing of the conflict, and that this possibility would lead to a de facto division of the country, he said.

The country splitting in two would be unacceptable and would lead to further conflict, he added.
Tensions between India and China over their Himalayan border have simmered since late April when China sent thousands of soldiers into the Galwan valley in Ladakh, a disputed territory along the Line of Actual Control.

The proximate cause for the dispute was Indias decision to upgrade its military installations in the disputed region. China responded by expanding a military airbase and building infrastructures in the region. Their refusal to leave the area triggered the disputes between the worlds most populous countries.

Last week, at least 20 Indian soldiers have died in a brutal hand-to-hand battle. China has refused to disclose any deaths on its side.

Such border skirmishes between China and India are not new. The two countries, which lack a demarcated border, fought in 1962 over the boundary between Aksai Chin and Ladakh and since then they are engaged in several small disputes. No bullets have been fired since 1975 across their border, but tensions have occasionally boiled over between the two nations. The two neighbours last engaged in a major dispute in 2017, when Indian soldiers moved into Bhutan, a small nation lying between the elephant and the dragon, to halt China's plans to extend a vast road through a plateau known as Donglang in China and Doklam in India.

This time, however, there are growing concerns that recent border disputes may trigger a military conflict. It puts Nepal, which is sandwiched between the two neighbours, in a difficult diplomatic position.

Recommended The Middle East is using coronavirus to expel South Asian migrants

A local saying describes Nepal as like the grass lying between two elephants; whether they fight or make love, it is the grass that will be trampled. These two global giants each have interests in Nepal; it is strategically important to both nations, and their brawl over domination in the Himalayan nation could worsen the existing dispute.

There are also new reasons for anxiety about the nation's future in the light of this skirmish. Nepal recently issued a new political map, displaying the regions of Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura as part of its sovereign territory, toughening its stance over a long-standing territorial dispute with India. Nepals parliament has also endorsed an amendment bill tabled by the government of Nepal to revise its map. India sees this move as making Nepal a proxy of China.

The Nepalese governments bold move came after India built a road connecting India to China via Lipulek, as part of the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage route. Nepal claims that this thoroughfare enters its territory. India rejected that claim; the Indian chief of army staff, General MM Naravane, said Nepals protest against an Indian road was at the behest of someone else, hinting that Nepal was acting on China's behalf. The government of Nepal, led by KP Sharma Oli, is considered close to China.

Chinas growing influence in Nepal has stirred widespread inside India. In recent years, China has pumped into millions of dollars into hydropower projects and infrastructure. During the visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping to Nepal in October last year, China pledged almost $500m in financial assistance to the Himalayan nation.

Meanwhile, Indian-Nepalese relations have soured in recent years. In 2015, India imposed an unofficial blockade along the border when signalling its unhappiness with the newly released democratic constitution of Nepal. This blockade has opened the door for China, its northern neighbour in the Himalayan nation. And the communist government of Nepal has attempted to move away from dependence on India, its southern neighbour, by warming up its rival: China.

This may be the reason that India sees the dispute of Nepal and India over Kalapani as a sub-plot to broaden the China-India border skirmishes. India even sees Nepal as a proxy of China in a recent move to publish its new map.

Neutrality is the best option for a landlocked country like Nepal, but great nations can easily drag smaller territories into their bigger disputes.

If India and Nepal do not rapidly resolve their own border issues through constructive dialogue, the risk for Nepal is great: it will find itself being played as a pawn in the far bigger fight between China and India.
The governments new guidelines that every new Covid-19 patient be taken to a Covid Care Centre (CCC), to assess if they need home isolation or hospitalisation, triggered chaos at Vasant Kunjs B-1 block containment zone on Tuesday night as at least 15 patients refused to visit a CCC at YMCA near Connaught Place, locals and police said.

The patients were reluctant to travel together in the ambulance arranged by the district administration, saying they were afraid of contracting a heavier viral load from other infected persons. Many demanded that they should be allowed to remain in home isolation or permitted to hire a private ambulance if their visit to the CCC was mandatory, senior police officers privy to the development said.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

Doctors, however, refuted the residents claim that they might contract a more virulent strain by travelling with other infected persons.

If two Covid positive patients were in close proximity with each other, it will not influence the disease pattern. If the virus is inside a body, then the severity of symptoms will depend on the affected individuals response to the disease. Mild symptomatic cases will not turn severe merely by coming in contact with a severely symptomatic patient, Dr Srikant Sharma, senior consultant, medicine, Moolchand Hospital, said.

The order directing the mandatory screening of all Covid patients at CCCs was issued by lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal on Monday and has been opposed by the Delhi government.

On Wednesday, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said they would request the L-G to withdraw the order, because sending each and every patient to a CCC would result in chaos.

Also read: Indias largest coronavirus facility shapes up in Delhi

Patients and their families started objecting to the mandatory visits around 9pm, when the ambulance reached the containment zone and all patients were asked to get in. When the resistance continued for more than an hour, district officials asked local police to intervene.

Officers from the Vasant Kunj North police station reached the containment zone and requested patients to comply, and warned them of legal action if they failed to do so. Even then, only five patients got into the ambulance and visited the CCC by around 10.30pm, Ingit Pratap Singh, additional deputy commissioner of police (southwest) said.

On the other hand, patients and their family members said some of the positive patients were elderly and required attendants.They also pointed out that none of the 15 patients was symptomatic.

Also read: Herd immunity can be achieved at 43%, new study on Covid-19 finds

My husband is 78-years-old, weak and has had a knee replacement. He needs help walking. I was not comfortable with sending him in the ambulance, along with other infected persons as it might expose him to a higher viral load. The doctor who called us insisted that he should be sent to the YMCA CCC despite us requesting him to either allow us home isolation or to arrange a private ambulance on our own, the wife of an elderly patient, who was shifted to a private hospital by his family members in the night itself, said.

The father of another patient, a 31-year-old chemist who was among the five to visit the CCC, said, No medical team had come along with the ambulance. As the ambulance looked shabby and unhygienic, we were reluctant to send our son in it. But when the police officers warned us of legal action, we had no choice but to comply.

Also read: Door-to-door survey in Delhi to map coronavirus spread

Some patients also claimed they were waiting for the ambulance since afternoon and it only arrived by 9pm.

The positive patients included young women. Their families refused to send them off in the night, a police officer, who had intervened in the matter said.

The district magistrate (DM) of New Delhi was not available for comment as calls and text messages sent to her remained unanswered.

The local residents welfare association (RWA) distanced itself from the incident and its officials refused comment.

On Wednesday, 14 patients were taken to the CCC in two ambulances arranged by the district administration. The doctors examined us and asked us to remain in home isolation. Seven patients were sent in each ambulance. All of us returned home and have isolated ourselves, a 46-year-old patient, who along with her husband and 21-year-old daughter had tested positive for Covid-19, said.
A staff member displays samples of the COVID-19 inactivated vaccine at Sinovac Biotech Ltd., in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

On June 17, the National Center for Protein Science Shanghai made expression plasmids of all 29 proteins encoded by SARS-CoV-2 available to scientists around the world through a Protein Bank Program (PBP), according to the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Rao Zihe, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other researchers led the research on the expression plasmids of all 29 proteins encoded by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The study of the 29 proteins is crucial to the analysis of pathogenic mechanism, vaccine development, reagent detection, and antibody and drug development.

Experts said the first phase of the PBP is mainly focused on a protein expression plasmid bank, which provides the storage and delivery service of protein expression plasmids. The COVID-19 virus genome consists of less than 30,000 bases and can encodes 29 proteins, including 16 non-structural proteins, four structural proteins and nine auxiliary proteins. Among them, NSP7, NSP8, and NSP12 (all three are non-structural proteins) form RNA-dependent RNA polymerase complexes, which play an important role in virus replication and transcription cycle. NSP5, a 3C proteolytic enzyme, can liberate most other NSP proteins from the protein chain, and is considered to be an important target for the research of antivirus drugs. Four structural proteins, S, E, M, and N, form the outer layer of the coronavirus and protect the internal RNA, in which the spike (S) protein can help the virus invade cells.

To increase China's capabilities of responding to public health crisis, the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences established the Protein Bank Program.

Content created in partnership with Science and Technology Daily.
BERLIN - Bayer said Wednesday that it will pay up to $10.9 billion to settle litigation over the weedkiller Roundup, which has faced thousands of lawsuits over claims it causes cancer.

Bayer said it was also paying up $1.22 billion to settle two additional areas of intense litigation, one involving toxic chemical PCB in water, and one involving dicamba, another weedkiller.

The company said the settlement over Roundup, which is made by its Monsanto subsidiary, involves about 125,000 filed and unfiled claims. Under the agreement, Bayer will make a payment of $8.8 billion to $9.6 billion to resolve current litigation, and $1.25 billion to address potential future litigation, even as the company continues to maintain that Roundup is safe.

In short, this is the right action at the right time for Bayer, CEO Werner Baumann said during a conference call with reporters. In a statement, he called the settlement financially reasonable when viewed against the significant financial risks of continued, multi-year litigation and the related impacts to our reputation and to our business.

Monsanto developed glyphosate  a key ingredient in Roundup  in the 1970s. The weedkiller has been sold in more than 160 countries and widely used in the U.S. Bayer, which bought St. Louis-based Monsanto in 2018, said last year that all government regulators that have looked at the issue have rejected a link between cancer and glyphosate.

The herbicide came under increasing scrutiny after the France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, classified it as a probable human carcinogen in 2015.

Lawsuits against Monsanto followed. Monsanto has attacked the international research agencys opinion as an outlier. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says glyphosate is safe for people when used in accordance with label directions.

Attorney Robin Greenwald of the New York law firm Weitz & Luxenberg, which represented several people who filed suit against Monsanto, welcomed the settlement.

It has been a long journey, but we are very pleased that weve achieved justice for the tens of thousands of people who, through no fault of their own, are suffering from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma after using a product Monsanto assured them was safe, Greenwald said in a statement.

In August, a California jury ordered Monsanto to pay $86.7 million to a couple claiming that Roundup Ready caused their cancers. It was the third such courtroom loss for Monsanto in California since August 2018.

Bayer said Wednesday that the appeals process will continue for those three cases, which are not covered by the settlement.

The new agreement establishes creation of an independent panel for any future lawsuits. Bayer said the panel will determine whether Roundup can cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and if so, at what minimum exposure levels.

Werner said Bayer is confident that a scientific review would support its contention that the product does not cause cancer.

Bayer said it would also pay up to $400 million to settle cases claiming that dicamba drifted onto plants that werent bred to resist it, killing them. Claimants will be required to provide proof their crop yields were damaged by dicamba, Bayer said.

The company said it expects contributions from co-defendant BASF toward the dicamba settlement.

Bayer separately agreed to pay about $170 million to resolve PCB claims filed by attorneys general in New Mexico, Washington state and the District of Columbia. The company also said it would pay $650 million to a group of local governments with claims of PCB pollution  a settlement that requires federal court approval.

That settlement provides money to help officials clean up major waterways polluted with PCBs that were carried there by stormwater runoff, said Scott Summy, whose law firm represented government entities.

Bayer said it would start making payments this year and these would be financed from existing liquidity, future income, proceeds from the sale of its animal health business and the issuance of additional bonds.

___

This story has been updated to correct the amount in the California verdict and to remove incorrect references to the settlement covering only 75% of cases and to future settlements being subject to a judges approval.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 16:26:41|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Wednesday said the responsibility for the China-India border conflicts rests entirely with the Indian side.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, expressed the hope that peace and stability are maintained in the border areas.

Wu made the remarks at a regular press conference in Beijing. Enditem
Tyson Fury and his wife Paris were pictured arriving at Sheesh restaurant in Essex on Tuesday.

The couple, who married in 2009, wore matching florals for the outing as they headed to meet the owner, Dylan Hunt.

Paris, 30, looked incredible wearing a dress which had red roses emblazoned throughout and a waterfall hemline.

Well-coordinated: Tyson Fury and his wife Paris wore matching florals as they headed to Sheesh in Essex to meet the owner Dylan Hunt

Everything's rosy: Paris, 30, looked incredible wearing a dress which had red roses emblazoned throughout and a waterfall hemline

She teamed it with metallic wedges and carried a red medium Lady D-Lite bag by Dior which retails for 3,300.

Two-time heavyweight world champion Tyson, 31, mirrored her style in his red rose shirt and matching red shorts and Louis Vuitton sliders.

The Furys are parents to Venezuela, 10, Prince John James, eight, Prince Tyson Fury II, three, Valencia Amber, two, and Prince Adonis Amaziah, one. but they were not with them on the day.

Nice to see you: Tyson shook hands with Dylan as they met up in the car park

Stand apart! Dylan shared this picture on social media but some people called them out for not social distancing

Splashing out: Two-time heavyweight world champion Tyson, 31, mirrored his wife's style in his red rose shirt and matching red shorts and Louis Vuitton sliders

Arriving in their Range Rover, Tyson could be seen shaking hands with Dylan before posing for a picture with him for social media.

Both clenching their fists for a playful snap, some people called the men out for not social distancing.

They wrote: 'What happened to social distancing?' and 'Very irresponsible.'

Gentlemanly behaviour: Arriving in their Range Rover, Tyson could be seen shaking hands with Dylan before posing for a picture

Family: The Furys are parents to Venezuela, 10, Prince John James, eight, Prince Tyson Fury II, three, Valencia Amber, two, and Prince Adonis Amaziah, one. but they were not with them on the day

Arm candy: Paris carried a red medium Lady D-Lite bag by Dior which retails for 3,300

See you later: They soon headed off in their Range Rover after catching up

Big smile: Tyson flashed a grin out of the window before heading off

Another wrote: 'Nice social distancing' and a fourth penned: 'I see social distancing has gone to pot.'

Also pictured arriving at Sheesh was James Argent, 32, who of course turned up on his beloved moped.

Still sporting his 'L plates', James appeared happy and healthy after recently overcoming his personal woes.

Also pictured arriving at Sheesh was James Argent, 32, who of course turned up on his beloved moped complete with 'L' plates
Coffee Machine Market Emerging Trends, Application Scope & Forecast Research Report, 2028

The global coffee machine market is expected to witness strong growth in the upcoming years. A coffee machine is a one-stop solution for several brewing processes and is preferred in commercial complexes and workplaces as it saves time.

Factors driving the market include consistency in terms of brewing results and easy usage. The working class forms one of the most prominent end-user segments, giving the market a significant boost. In recent years, it has been observed that consumption of coffee is directly proportional to the number of working hours. Moreover, it has been noted that the youth prefer coffee over any other hot beverage. However, growing awareness about the side effects of caffeine has driven a significant number of consumers to opt for healthier beverages such as green or herbal tea. This is likely to act as a restraint to coffee consumption, thereby impacting the installation of coffee machines.

The coffee machine market is segmented based on type, application, sales channel, and geography. Commonly available types of coffee machines include capsule, steam, drip, and others. By application, the market is bifurcated into commercial and household. Distribution sales and direct sales are the two main sales channel in the market.

By geography, the coffee machine market is divided into North America (Mexico, Canada, and U.S.), Asia Pacific (Australia, India, Korea, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia), Latin America (Chile, Columbia, Argentina, and Brazil), MEA (Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa), and Europe (Spain, Russia, Italy, France, U.K., and Germany).

Brazil is the largest producer of coffee across the globe. North America follows suit, led by Mexico. Asia Pacific comes in third, with Vietnam and Indonesia being prominent producers and India being a major exporter. North America is the torchbearer with respect to coffee machines, thanks to significant demand stemming from Silicon Valley. Europe comes second, followed by Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest pace due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, especially in developing economies like India and China.

The latest trend catching up is that of smart coffee makers. They are connected through Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth and can be monitored through smartphones. Features such as scheduling options and temperature control, beverage varieties such as strong brew to iced, and integration with voice assistants like Alexa and Google are some of the key benefits of these smart devices.

Players contributing to the coffee machine market include Jarden, Morphy Richards, Electrolux, Hamilton Beach, Bosch, Delonghi, Nestle Nespresso, Panasonic, Fashion, Schaerer, and Tsann Kuen. Organic growth strategies have worked in favor of these companies, with innovation being the driving force. For instance, Electrolux?s PrecisionBrew Air Heated Model uses Encapsulair and Java-tate technology, the first of its kind, which helps retain the beverage?s flavor.
Slamming the timing of a CBI summon to former Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Congress in Manipur on Wednesday charged that CBI was being misused by the BJP to delay the formation of a new government by the Opposition front.

"This is clearly a political vendetta. Instead of sending the CBI, the Centre should have recommended the Governor to convene a special session of the Assembly for a floor test. The BJP-led government has become a minority and so let them prove the strength on the floor of the House. In a democracy, floor test is a must in case of a political crisis like this," Congress spokesperson in Manipur, Ningombam Bupenda Meitei told DH on Wednesday morning.

Also read  CBI summons former Manipur CM O Ibobi Singh in Rs 332 crore misappropriation case

The charge came when a CBI team reached Imphal for questioning Ibobi Singh in connection with a case registered in November 2019 alleging his involvement in a scam worth Rs 322 crore.

Ibobi Singh leads the Secular Progressive Front (SPF), a forum of Congress and six other MLAs including four from NPP, an ally of BJP, who had staked a claim on June 18 to form their government. Singh served as Manipur chief minister thrice before BJP-led coalition wrested power in 2017.

But N Biren Singh government slipped into a crisis after nine MLAs including three from BJP resigned on June 17 and subsequently joined Congress-led front.

The CBI had registered a case against Ibobi Singh and others on November 20, 2019, and conducted searches in nine locations in Aizwal, Imphal and Gurugram.

Also read  Manipur political crisis: NPP MLAs 'leave' opposition camp; flown to Delhi

"CBI summoning Singh is not allowed, as per SoPs under National Disaster Management Act on Covid-19 because Singh is above 72 years now. The former chief minister has not taken a single penny from the alleged amount mentioned by CBI. It is an attempt of political silencing," Meitei said.

CBI is being misused by BJP rule to delay a new SPF Govt. in Manipur. It is a political vendetta. CBI summoning former CM of Manipur Shri Okram Ibobi Singh is not possible, as per SoPs under NDM Act on nCovid-19 because Ibobi Singh is above 72 years old.  Ningombam Bupenda Meitei (@BupendaMeitei) June 24, 2020

But, the three times chief minister of Manipur will become much stronger and we are confident of forming a new SPF government under his leadership. The SPF members are still united, and ultimately there will be Congress-led coalition government in Manipur soon, Meitei tweeted.

Manipur High Court has already granted an absolute bail to Ibobi Singh in this matter in February this year. Hence, there is no question of legally detaining or keeping him in any legalised custody, he further tweeted.

Four NPP MLAs were flown out to Delhi on Tuesday after BJP's crisis manager and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and NPP chief and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma met them in Imphal to break the impasse.


Mercury in Hanoi reached their highest since the beginning of June on Tuesday, posing immense challenges to daily activities for local residents.

A heatwave that has been scorching northern and central Vietnam over the past days intensified on Tuesday, causing temperatures in the capital to top 40 degrees Celsius.

The weather pattern is expected to linger until early July, with average highs remaining at 37-40 degrees Celsius in the regions, and over 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological forecasting.

The UV index will be at harmful levels during this period.

A porter works with a sweaty shirt due to high temperatures in Hanoi, June 23, 2020. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

The heat has been challenging local residents, especially those who have to earn a living outdoors.

It gets sunnier every day, which is a misery for me and other fellow porters, said Khai, who works for a shop selling metal materials on De La Thanh Street in Dong Da District.

Its very easy for us to become dehydrated, dizzy, and fatigued in this weather, he added before resuming work, his shirt already drenched in sweat.

A deliveryman covers ice packs with a blanket to keep them from melting in Hanoi, June 23, 2020. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

The heatwave has also greatly affected their productivity as well as income, said Tien, Khais co-worker.

To deal with the baking weather, Thu, who sells fruits along local streets, has to prepare two to three bottles of iced water on a daily basis.

I put the water bottles into the freezer and carry them with me to work, Thu stated.

A cyclo driver works in sunny weather in Hanoi, June 23, 2020. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, many people, especially the elderly and young children, have been hospitalized due to heatstroke and related health conditions over the past days.

The Vietnam National Childrens Hospital said it had received over 3,100 patients with symptoms related to the heat on Monday alone.

A street vendor earns a living in the scorching weather in Hanoi, June 23, 2020. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

High temperature also poses high risks of respiratory and digestive diseases among children, said doctors at the infirmary.

Huong Ha, a 76-year-old resident in Hai Ba Trung District, was admitted to the National Geriatric Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

I felt a burning sensation on my face and body as well as dizziness and a headache, while my blood pressure also increased. My family decided to bring me to the hospital as I had suffered a stroke a few years ago [due to similar conditions], Ha elaborated.

A woman carries goods on a cyclo in the scorching weather in Hanoi, June 23, 2020. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

A woman sprays water onto the street to ease the heat in Hanoi, June 23, 2020. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

Elderly patients are treated at the National Geriatric Hospital in Hanoi, June 23, 2020. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

A young boy is examined at the Vietnam National Childrens Hospital in Hanoi, June 23, 2020. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State,Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa have described late Senator Bayo Osinowo as a forthright,goal getting politician, who lived an exemplary life.

Sanwo-Olu and Obasa spoke during Special Parliamentary Session held in honour of Osinowo at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday, 23rd June, 2020.

Senator Bayo Osinowo reportedly died of COVID-19 on Monday June 15, 2020 in Lagos and he was buried same day in his country home in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

Sanwo-Olu, while stating that a lot of people have expressed how and what they knew about Senator Bayo Osinowo, stated that the deceased meant different things to different people.

The Governor said that members of the state Executive Council had a special session for the late Senator on Monday because of his level of contributions to the development of the state and that they prayed for God to grant him eternal rest.

He was a very witty and jovial person. We enjoyed a high-level of comradeship.

He was a different person to different people. He has lived a fulfilled man, a respected Nigerian, a respected husband and father.

How do we want to be remembered, when we are gone. If we missed him, we must learn something from him. Let us know that our time will come and what will people say about us.

On behalf of the people and government of Lagos State, I thank the House of Assembly for the session. I thank you and I want us to know that our time on earth is limited, he said.

While eulogising the late lawmaker, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said that no one wanted to die, including those who wanted to go to heaven.

Obasa stressed that the late Osinowo was a major general in the corridor of Nigerian politics.

We are gathered here to honour Senator Bayo Osinowo, a power broker who assisted many politicians to realise their dreams. I met him before we got to the state house of Assembly, when we were strategising about who would be the Speaker of the 5th Lagos Assembly.

Osinowo was an astute and grassroots politician and a super benefactor to many.

My emergence as Speaker of the 8th Assembly was through him and he contributed to the success of our elections in the South West.

He fought to liberate Nigeria from military dictators. He was a parliamentarian par excellence and he was a great democrat, he said.

The Speaker added that Osinowo was a friend, a colleague, and a teacher.

According to him, Osinowo was ebullient, lively and full of humour.

He was a political leader with charisma. He was in tune with everybody. His death has created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill and he would be greatly missed by everybody.

I am sure that Senator Sikiru Osinowo never knew he would be departing so soon, when he gave a speech about death on the floor of the Senate. While I pray that Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest, I urge all of us to learn from his death, he said.

Speaking via zoom, the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila commiserated with the lawmakers over the great loss.

Gbajabiamila added that many people have heard about the late Senator and that there was no way one could talk about Lagos State and the state house of assembly as well as the Senate without mentioning Senator Bayo Osinowo.

He would be remembered with fond memories. Let us remember those good times we had with him, his jovial ways, and anecdotes. He was a welder who welded different forces together. He was close to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, I know you would miss him. May his soul rest in peace, he said.

Also speaking, the APC Chairman in Lagos State, Alhaji Tunde Balogun said that Senator Bayo Osinowo lived a very good, caring and generous life.

A former speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, in his contributions, said that he never knew that after five years and three weeks of leaving the House, the next time he would speak in the chamber again would be a valedictory service for Senator Bayo Osinowo.

Most of the old members and senior members of the APC know that Senator Sikiru Osinowo was a close associate of mine. I spent 12 years in the house 10 of which I led the House, but we were close all through.

When someone passes on in our clime, we dont say bad things about him or her. Pepper, as I knew him, was a human being. He was an extra ordinary human being, he said.

Other lawmakers in the Assembly also paid glowing tributes to the late Senator Sikiru Osinowo, and described him as a mentor and a political leader, who they said mentored many and helped to stabilize the Assembly.

Earlier in his sermon and prayers, Muslim cleric, Sheik Habeeb Al-Ilori, said that it was only God that does not die.

We will come into the world and go at the appropriate time. God created death and death is the ultimate price for every human being to pay. Aljana is for those who do well, while hell fire is for those who have not done well for humanity.

As we mourn Senator Sikiru Osinowo, then it is certain he will be in Aljana as he did good things while on earth.

We should all do good and see the late Osinowo as a good example for us, he said.

Hon. Abdulateef AbdulHakeem, who is the Chief Imam of the Assembly Mosque, spoke on Preparation for Death.

While quoting Quran 67: 1-2, he urged the people to bring themselves down before they are brought down.

Lower yourself because you will eventually be lowered. By this, you will remember your level of worthlessness.

They are worthlessness of the past tense, present tense and future tense. The world lived without you before you were born, some are living without you now and they will still live without you after your death.

Everybody will taste death and death that you are avoiding will eventually overtake you. Learn from the death of those who precede you and those coming after you will learn from your death.

We must come to terms of the suddenness of death and the only referee is Allah and He has the right to take the life whenever He likes, he said.
Washington (AFP) - The US Senate intelligence committee is aiming to regulate a Pentagon UFO program so that the public is better informed of its activities and the country's intelligence branches can more easily share information.

The panel said that it "supports the efforts of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force," officially confirming the program's continued existence, in a provision to the annual intelligence authorization bill.

In December 2017, the Pentagon acknowledged funding a secret multi-million dollar program to investigate sightings of UFOs, although it said it had ended in 2012.

The New York Times reported at the time, however, that it was still up and running.

The Senate's focus on the program stems less out of a concern over extraterrestrials, and more from the threat posed by real-world US adversaries, such as China.

The program, managed by the Office of Naval Intelligence, is responsible for "collection and reporting on unidentified aerial phenomenon, any links they have to adversarial foreign governments, and the threat they pose to US military assets and installations."

The United States is particularly worried about China's espionage capabilities, including use of drones and other aerial technology.

While recognizing that the topic is sensitive, the senators said that previous "information sharing and coordination across the intelligence community has been inconsistent," and called for a detailed and public report on the program's progress as well as any phenomena it observes.

The provision is part of the 2021 intelligence authorization bill, which has yet to make its way to the full Senate. If it passes, the Pentagon will have 180 days to submit a report to Congress.

In April the Pentagon released three videos taken by US Navy pilots showing mid-air encounters with what appear to be UFOs.

One of videos was shot in November 2004 and the other two in January 2015.

In one, the weapons sensor operator appears to lose lock on a rapidly moving oblong object which seconds later suddenly accelerates away to the left and out of view.

In another video tracking an object above the clouds, one pilot wonders if it is a drone.
Principal Maggie Bailey Tang only got to know her first graduating class at the Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School for 6 1/2 months before the coronavirus pandemic hit in mid-March, but that didnt stop the administrator from letting them know that the New Springville schools faculty has high hopes for them in the future.

Bailey Tang and the McCown community, in fact, saluted 84 seniors during a virtual graduation ceremony Tuesday evening.

Kara Olah, McCowns Coordinator of Student Activities, served as Master of Ceremonies and the commencement including a number of guest speakers, including Jonathan Miller, a New York City Outward Bound Board Member and the husband of the late Rosemary Gaynor McCown.

Other guest speakers included City Councilman Joseph Borelli, Assemblyman Michael Cusick and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, as well as award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson.

Bailey Tang cited a quote from former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt when she emphasized that, despite the vast disappointments associated with the pandemic in the latter part of their senior year, her graduates will have a rendezvous with destiny,' in the future.

The first-year principal also quoted Gaynor McCown in referencing each graduates 100 hours of community service; when she encouraged them to register to vote and to remain kind when dealing with others: Make a mark. Make a difference,' she told them four difference times during her speech.

Bailey Tang also went on to say: We wish you the best of luck as you are going to have to work harder than other generations at achieving your goals. We are in the midst of a catastrophic event with repercussions that we have not yet fully understood. People have died and will continue to die because of this pandemic. Lives are changed as a result of the economic downfall. Every single one of us has been affected negatively by this event. Much was expected of the past generations who suffered through wars, smallpox, measles, typhoid, polio, the Spanish flu, and the Great Depression and those generations came through. As much or more will be expected of you. We will come through and your generation will make this world better.

Valedictorian Ashleigh Hauprich and Salutatorian Jenna Alijla, meanwhile, also showered their classmates with an abundance of optimism and reassurance.

I know that graduating may be scary, especially at a time like this. A lot of you might not feel ready, but if you wait until youre 100% ready to do everything, youll do nothing,' said Hauprich. Every choice we have ever made and every choice we will make in the future comes with risk. But every choice youve made so far has brought you here, to your high school graduation. So were all doing pretty well, no matter how many mistakes we think we have made.

Hauprich added: Some of us have wild dreams. Dreams that we may even be too embarrassed to tell anyone else because they feel so unreachable. But I think weve all learned in the past few months that you cant plan out your life on a piece of paper. Theres no such thing as a safe job or a safe lifestyle. The world is unpredictable and there are no guarantees. You can fail doing things that you hate, so dont spend your life being miserable to please somebody else. Being satisfied with who you are and what you have done in your life means more than a title or a dollar amount.'

I know times have been especially tough for all of us due to COVID19, but we can still make the best of this opportunity that we have to celebrate this milestone, our high school graduation. All of the work that we have put in over these past four years shows our sense of perseverance and integrity,' added Alijla. Although we may be honoring this occasion with less of the pomp and circumstance than is our due, we are done! Were about to enter the real world, and the current global health crisis serves as a reminder that life is precious, that we only get one chance, and that we must have the courage to take the reins and follow our hearts.

I wish you the best of luck in the world beyond McCown.

Class of 2020

Candidates for graduation:

Hassan Adam, Jenna Alijla, Diamante Aquinchay, Dylan Baronick, Julia Buccellato, Salvatore Callari, Sienna Capasso Ragusa, Daniela Cavuoti, John Cocchiola, Ian Colon, Sara Darhan, Mikayla Degaetano, Josephine Delgado, Anthony Del Vecchio, Paige Dobbyn, Amanda Domenech, Joseph Donohue, Nicole Dotro, Ariel Duenyas, Natalie Dunn, Mikayla Fachner, Jameel Farraj, Alyxandra Ferdinando, Anderson Garcia, Shane Gardner, Stephen Ghiraldi, Nicholas Giordano, Naeem Hartley, Ashleigh Hauprich, Chloe Haylock, Lukas Hoffman, Cassidy Irizarry, Justin Joiner, Jonathan Kaj, Alison Katz, Alicia Kazberuk, Adam Lardou, James Laurain, Olivia Legowski, Kayla Lopez, Zachary Maddon, Daniel Maiz, Anthony Maiz, Jocelyn Marsh, Alexa Martino, Christopher Mc Grade, Griffin Meador, Sophia Messina, Christopher Monachino, Narciso Morales, Michael Mule, Shauna Ohara, Nneka Onaga, Ishan Pablani, Sandra Palafox, Julia Palka, Salvatore Pollina, Charlotte Popovec, Edina Rama, Megi Rama, Andrew Reich, Christopher Robinson, Daniel Rose, Michaela Rosenrauch, Maleena Sabbat, Maria Santos, Krista Savin, Julianna Savino, Nicholas Scala, Layla Schwartz, Marcella Scozzari, Lara Sicca, Cassandra Sutherland, Kimberly Tatarka, James Thomas, Madison Timmins, Isabella Vega, Carlos Vidals, Michael Wagner, Julia Weintraub, Breanna Witherspoon, Ho Wong, Chloe Zaffuto and Heather Zamot,
A study is underway to assess the numbers of children who may have had Covid-19, and if those children have antibodies that may be able to fight off the infection.

Vital data

The UK-wide trial calledwill measure antibodies to the virus in healthy children. Over 1,000 children (known as Covid Warriors) from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales will have their antibodies measured at baseline, two months and six months.The findings will be important for estimating the proportion of children that have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and have antibodies that may be consistent with immunity. This data can then be considered as part of planning measures, such as opening schools and opening routine paediatric services, such as health visiting and paediatric clinics.The study is led by Dr Tom Waterfield, researcher from the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queens University Belfast, in partnership with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Northern Ireland and Public Health England.It is unclear what proportion of UK children have been exposed to Covid-19 and how many, if any, have the necessary antibodies to prevent future re-infection. This important research may help with planning for the reopening of schools and other vital childrens services," he said.Health and Social Care Research & Development Division (HSC R&D Division) of the Public Health Agency plays an ongoing role in supporting the conduct of high-quality health and social care research and has provided funding to support the delivery of this important study.Professor Ian Young, chief scientific advisor and director of HSC Research and Development, said: Research studies are vital at this time so that patients can access the best possible treatments which can help tackle the spread of Covid-19. HSC R&D Division has been working with researchers across the HSC and academia to address the global problem of Covid-19. The results of this study will provide insights into the exposure of children in the UK to the SARS-CoV-2 virus over an important period of time.Dr Shamez Ladhani, consultant epidemiologist at Public Health England, said: This study will play an important part in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community as we move out of lockdown and more children return to school, adding to vital data on antibody and virus prevalence already being collected through PHEs national surveillance programme.Health Minister Robin Swann, said: I very much welcome the fact that Queens University is leading this hugely important UK-wide trial. Expert research has a central role in the worlds battle against Covid-19. Our understanding of this virus has already been greatly enhanced at pace but there is still much more to learn.
A yacht having broken it's mooring is seen against the rock wall at Blackwall Reach in Bicton on May 25, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Bail Revoked After Mans NSW Ship Stowaway

A NSW man who skipped bail over an alleged sexual assault has been found hiding in the air-conditioning vent of a bulk carrier that was destined for Malaysia.

Franco Fernando Alomia Santanders alleged escape plan began on Saturday when the carrier, which was heading south for Newcastle, rescued him from a stricken yacht which was foundering in the waters off Yamba on the northern NSW coast.

Police on Wednesday said the 31-year-old was taken into a cabin of the 220-metre bulk carrier ship and a tow line was attached to the yacht.

As the ship entered Newcastle waters about 9 p.m., it was discovered the tow line had snappedwith the yacht lost in the processand Santander was missing.

By the time Sunday came around wed started a major maritime search and rescue involving surveillance jets, police vessels out of Coffs Harbour in search for this missing person, NSW Police Acting Superintendent Joe McNulty told reporters.

When the ship anchored at Newcastle on Monday, NSW Police and Australian Border Force officers, with help from the dog squad, searched the bulk carrier. They allegedly found Santander hiding inside an air-conditioning vent.

Checks revealed the man was in breach of his bail over an alleged sexual assault and was arrested, while officers also allegedly seized $4435 and a knife.

The Peakhurst man allegedly deliberately cut the tow line for the yacht and stowed away on the ship until it was due to depart Newcastle for Malaysia.

He had originally bought the yacht in Yamba to escape eastward across the Pacific Ocean, police allege, but did not have the sailing skills to pull off the feat.

He was an  interesting individual, Acting Supt McNulty said.

Santander, a dual citizen, appeared before Newcastle Local Court on Monday and had his bail revoked to appear before Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday.

He did not reapply for bail on Wednesday and it was formally refused by magistrate Scott Nash, and he will return to the same court on August 19.

ABF Superintendent Graeme Campbell admitted the incident was unusual.

They do occur occasionally  most of the stowaways we get are people trying to enter Australia, rather than depart, Supt Campbell told reporters on Wednesday.

The initial call had been that hed gone overboard.

Sydney
Australia Hires Former US Secretary of Homeland Security to Advise on Cyber Strategy

The Australian government has hired former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to join the cyber industry advisory panel to provide strategic advice for the development of Australias 2020 cyber strategy.

News Corps The Australian reported on June 24 that Home Affairs Ministers Peter Duttons spokeswoman said Nielsen would provide relevant insights on how Australia can work with its international allies to address global cybersecurity threats from state actors and criminal groups.

Nielsen brings a wealth of cybersecurity knowledge to the panel from her experience in defending US government and critical infrastructure networks from cybersecurity attacks, the spokesperson was reported to have said.

A leading proponent on cybersecurity, Nielsen is known for overseeing the realignment of the Department of Homeland Security from domestic terrorism into the realm of cybersecurity.

Speaking at the National Cybersecurity Summit in 2018, Nielsen noted that due to the digital age: Everyone and everything is a target: individuals  industries  infrastructure  institutions  and our international interests.

Today, our innovations can be stolen and used to diminish our prosperity  our infrastructure can be hijacked and used to hold us hostage  and our institutions can be compromised and used to undermine our democratic process, Nielsen said.

Nielsen also has prior experience in dealing with and exposing large scale cyber-attacks on America. In 2018 she oversaw the response to the Chinese cyber-attacks on the United States.

Nielson, along with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, issued a warning to China on Dec. 20, 2018, about the threat posed by state-based cyber actors linked to the Chinese Ministry of State Security.

The joint statement said: These actions by Chinese actors to target intellectual property and sensitive business information present a very real threat to the economic competitiveness of companies in the United States and around the globe.

We strongly urge China to abide by its commitment to act responsibly in cyberspace and reiterate that the United States will take appropriate measures to defend our interests.

Australia is currently experiencing an ongoing cyber attack from an unnamed sophisticated state-based cyber actor.

On June 19, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia would not name the state-based cyber actor.

He said: There are not a large number of state-based actors that can engage in this type of activity and it is clear, based on the advice that we have received, that this has been done by a state-based actor with very, very significant capabilities.

Defence security expert Michael Shoebridge from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute told The Epoch Times that same day that China is the likely source of the cyber attacks.

Shoebridge said: When you look at the culmination of capability and intent, the list narrows to the most likely suspect being the Chinese state.

That day Morrison said that Australian organisations, including all levels of government, industry, political organisations, education, health, essential service providers, and operators of other critical infrastructure, were currently being targeted in the attack.

Morrison recommended that any Australian organisation that is concerned about their cyber vulnerability should take the following steps:

Patch internet-facing devicesensuring any web or email servers are fully updated with the latest software. Ensure you use multifactor authentication to secure your internet access infrastructure and cloud-based platforms. Become an ACSC partner to ensure you get the latest cyber threat advice.

Explaining that the government has some of the best agencies in the world working on the issue, Morrison reassured Australians that many attacks had been thwarted.

We understand whats going on here and were addressing it to the best of our capabilities and were in a position to do that better than most countries in the world. We know its going on. Were on it. But it is a day to day task that were applied to and we will continue to do that to keep Australians safe, said the prime minister.
Wednesday, June 24th, 2020 (8:25 am) - Score 1,169

A new report by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which is based on research from Transition Economics, has called on the UK Government to fast track spending on projects such as gigabit broadband, green technology, transport and housing in order to deliver a 1.24 million jobs boost by 2022 (40,000 in telecoms alone).

The Government has already invested hundreds of millions into boosting full fibre broadband and mobile connectivity through its various voucher schemes, the wider Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) programme and the 1bn Shared Rural Network for mobile. Not to mention the business rates holiday on new fibre and various other regulatory or policy changes to help foster related deployments (see Budget 2020 summary).

But more recently the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has also committed to invest a further 5bn (here) to ensure that every home can access a gigabit-capable broadband service by the end of 2025, which is focused on helping those in the final 20% of hardest to reach premises. The proposed time-scale for this is regarded by many as being highly optimistic (i.e. the roll-out will most likely still be on-going for a few years past 2025).

Naturally the TUC have taken out their magic wand and called for a fast tracking of such investment, although were not convinced that what they propose would achieve such an outcome given that the current target for completion is already somewhat optimistic. On the other hand support to help train up more fibre engineers would certainly help to tackle the current shortage, which is a start.

Otherwise the suggestion that improving broadband could result in the creation of 40,000 additional telecoms jobs is not unreasonable (e.g. Cityfibres commercial build alone may create c.10,000 jobs  here), although the report doesnt seem to show precisely how they arrived at that specific figure.

TUC Report Statement In addition to bringing forward investment, government needs to ensure that government spending is supporting jobs across the board. This means:  Establishing a new Just Transition Commission to oversee the transition to net-zero in a way that supports jobs and workers across the UK. This should bring together workers through their unions, business, and government, including regional and local government, to set out a clear plan for meeting the net-zero target.  Using procurement to support UK jobs by working strategically with commissioners and both current and potential providers (i) to map goods and service requirements and identify procurement opportunities in advance (ii) build capacity to bid and deliver through the supply chain and (iii) use intelligent, social value procurement to secure employment, labour standards, skills and environmental outcomes.  Setting out an Olympics-style plan to promote good quality jobs and training on every new infrastructure project, and specifying how these projects will help deliver on a Jobs Guarantee: When the Olympics were planned, government and the Olympics Delivery Authority worked with trade unions, local authorities and others on an agreement that ensured that the project would deliver good quality local jobs and skills programmes. A similar agreement was reached to deliver HS2. We now need similar framework agreements, which set out how contractors will work with trade unions to deliver local jobs and apprenticeships, for every infrastructure project backed by government investment. These agreements also need to set out a commitment to tackling labour market inequalities and ensuring equal access to work for those with protected characteristics. As we set out below, the TUC is calling for a Jobs Guarantee to help those who have lost their jobs in the crisis get into work. Government should require investment in infrastructure projects to come with a commitment from contractors to help deliver these guaranteed jobs. One early candidate for this approach could be the roll out of highspeed broadband. The government has already pledged 5bn to fund the rollout of gigabit capable broadband in the hardest to reach 20 per cent of the country and has an aim of connecting every premise by 2025 At least part of this investment looks set to build upon the Rural Gigabit Connectivity Scheme with a mixture of national and local procurement. The standards on this should go further than the current basic Corporate and Social Responsibility requirements published by DCMS, for example including promotion of trade union recognition, accredited training, permanent employment contracts and career progression, so that the investment leaves a legacy of good jobs. And government should ensure that the supply chain for the delivery of the materials necessary for broadband roll-out is being developed in the UK.

More broadly the TUC also proposes to foster all of this via a series of other changes, such as the establishment of a new national recovery council (crewed with unions and employers) and new sectoral working groups (crewed with unions and business groups) to help draw up road maps for specific industries.

On top of that they want to see a new fully funded jobs guarantee programme (i.e. offering paid jobs with training and a focus on young people) and a boost in social security support for those who lose their jobs, although the latter (excluding the emergency COVID-19 schemes) seems unlikely to materialise given the massive economic crisis that is slowly unfolding.

Finally the TUC want to ensure that the crisis does not exacerbate labour market inequalities and as part of that they want to see a new drive from the Government to promote equality across all measures to rebuild the economy. Obviously this is all coming from the perspective of a union and plays to those particular points of view.

At the end of the day the biggest problem here is that building new fixed broadband networks is an inherently slow process, particularly when the underlying focus is correctly on trying to improve the reach of more expensive full fibre networks as far as reasonably possible. The fact that the UK is a market with much more individual housing than most (i.e. much of Europe prefers to live in apartment blocks) only exasperates the challenge.
World's Largest Online Art Auction for Covid to Track Artwork via Blockchain Technology

LONDON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Art&Co., the world's largest online auction for supporting charities addressing the five D's of the Covid-19 virus: Disease, Death, Depression, Domestic Violence and Disproportionality for ethnic minorities, will host a live online event at 17:00 UK on June 25 keynoted by top Silicon Valley investor Tim Draper to discuss the application of blockchain to the art world. Fineqia International Inc. ("the Company" or "Fineqia") (CSE: FNQ) (OTC: FNQQF) (Frankfurt: FNQA) is among Art&Co.'s founding partners.

More than 260 pieces of art are being auctioned to bidders from across the globe by Art&Co. Funds raised are being shared by seven registered charities and 42 artists who have come together in the fight against Covid-19. Blockchain technology provided by LuxTag will prove ownership, record distribution of funds, deter counterfeit and track and trace artwork.

"It's a partnership made in heaven, said Tim Draper, Silicon Valley's most notable blockchain and cryptocurrency investor and founder of Draper Associates, Draper University and DFJ. "Artwork needs a trail of its provenance and blockchain is inherently an immutable record-keeping system."

Draper will give a live keynote online at ArtandCo.net on Thursday June 25, at 5 PM UK to discuss the interaction of art, philanthropy and digital technologies. He is noted for investments in Skype, Twitter, Tesla, Coinbase, DocuSign, Hotmail, Baidu, Ancestry.com and SpaceX, among others.

The provenance of an art piece is a fundamental part that creates value. When art collectors trade works, it is necessary to know its origin as well as the techniques and materials used. When art pieces change ownership, it becomes harder to track its provenance and proof of authenticity. LuxTag's blockchain technology solves these problems by storing records on a ledger.

"Choosing LuxTag was easier done than said," said Bundeep Singh Rangar, Art&Co.'s founder and Fineqia's CEO. "Recording ownership and purchases on the blockchain is a simple set of clicks on its App."

LuxTag's provenance tracking solution called Papyrus ensures authenticity and ownership of artworks. Each item is tagged with a unique identifier, intrinsically linked to a distinct blockchain account on the NEM public blockchain. Every account contains data and specifics about each artwork to prevent forgery. Smart contracts on the blockchain record ownership and transfers.

LuxTag will record the purchases and distribution of funds on the NEM blockchain, as raised from InsurAid's Art&Co. project to artists and seven registered charities: ICU Steps, The Care Workers Charity, Khalsa Aid International, Race on the Agenda (ROTA), Painting Our World in Silver, Solace Women's Aid and Za Teb. Charities have welcomed the Art&Co. initiative by PremFina's InsurAid unit since they have lost billions of dollars in contributions, due to the lockdown.

"LuxTag is unconditionally delighted to be a part of such a soulful movement," said Jeff McDonald, co-founder of LuxTag. "We are happy to cooperate with PremFina's Art&Co. project to deliver the best quality security system to the project."

Recording all information using the properties that blockchain technology represents, i.e. decentralization, encryption, immutability, and transparency, is a significant step forward toward a more secure and accurate description of Art&Co.'s highly valuable artwork, McDonald said.

London-based fintech firm PremFina's shareholders include global investors Rakuten Capital, the investment arm of Japan's Rakuten, the UK's Draper Esprit Plc, backed by Silicon Valley billionaire Tim Draper, Thomvest Ventures, the venture capital firm of Canada'sPeter Thomson, whose family is known for its namesake Thomson Reuters Corp., Emery Capital, Talis Capital and the company's founder and CEO.

About Art&Co. (www.artandco.net)

Art&Co. is the world's largest online art auction to help with the immediate as well as long-term effects of COVID-19, including disease, mental health, and domestic violence.

About Fineqia International Inc. (www.fineqia.com)

Fineqia International Inc. is a listed entity in Canada (CSE: FNQ), the US (OTC: FNQQF) and Europe (Frankfurt: FNQA). Fineqia International outlines the Company's corporate governance, culture, processes and relations by which the Company and its subsidiaries are controlled, directed and governed. It oversees and ensures the overall success, planning and growth of the Company and all of its subsidiaries and investments, including those propagating blockchain technologies. For more information visit: https://investors.fineqia.com/news.

About InsurAid (insuraid.co.uk)

InsurAid is a PremFina company set up to encourage corporate and personal donations to support those affected by humanitarian disasters, public health, and safety crises. InsurAid focuses on events for which insurance is scarce or unavailable.

About LuxTag (www.luxtag.io)

LuxTag is an anti-counterfeit, track and trace, and anti-theft solution provider, utilizing the blockchain platform NEM and its sequel SYMBOL (previous codename NEM Catapult). Luxtag uses NEM's native tokens (XEM) to run its blockchain operations. The blockchain-powered service evolves around digitized certificates of authenticity for tangible products, linking these to brands and owners through multi-signature smart contracts and the IoT (Internet of Things) elements. Additionally, LuxTag technology provides business intelligence through innovative means of enhanced customer engagement.

About PremFina Ltd (www.premfina.com)

PremFina Ltd is a UK-based premium finance company that promotes financial inclusion by enabling the payment of insurance premiums via installments. It supplies insurance brokers with funding lines and also enables broker-funded and branded credit agreements via its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) affiliate IXL PremFina Ltd. With PremFina, brokers receive higher profit, greater autonomy, and the opportunity to increase the lifetime value of their customers as well as cross-sell and up-sell additional products. PremFina's shareholders include global investors Rakuten Capital, Draper Esprit Plc, Thomvest Ventures, Emery Capital, Rubicon Venture Capital, Talis Capital, and the company's founder & CEO.

For All Press Enquiries: JPR Media Group, Jessica Patterson, Jessica@jprmediagroup.com, +44 (0) 7950 977 765
Alhaji Habib Iddrisu

24.06.2020 LISTEN

The Deputy Executive Secretary of Ghana Free Zones Authority in charge of Tema enclave, Alhaji Habib Iddrisu who emerged as the Parliamentary Candidate of the New Patriotic Party in the Tolon Constituency in just ended primaries at a meeting held on Monday 22 June, assured party executives of prioritizing the development of the constituency.

Alhaji Habib pulled 338 votes out of 542 (62.36%), against the incumbent Hon. Wahab Wumbei Suhuyini, a two time member of parliament pulled 164 votes. Alhaji Jagbo Baako pulled 10 votes, Mohammed Zakaria 20 votes and Hajia Amama Sayibu the only female in the contest managed to pull 2 votes.

Addressing the constituency executives and some party stalwarts in the constituency office at Tolon, he assured them of his resolve to ensure that the party significantly improves on its fortunes in the constituency and also ensure the infrastructure and human capacity of the constituency are developed for the benefit of all.

Alhaji Habib who was the former candidate of the party in the 2016 election at the Sagnerigu Constituency assured the Tolon executives of fostering unity to ensure a significant increase in the votes of the President in the constituency.

He added, we can only succeed by uniting the party front, reason, why I went further to meet and interact with all aspirants including the sitting MP a day after the primaries and me, have assured them of giving them roles to play for the seek of the party.

He also admonished the executive to put behind all the favoritisms and focus on the new voter register registration and the main election since the primaries are over. As it stands, there is nothing like Alhaji Habibs camp or Hon. Wahabs camp, we are all one and we must see each other as one people to ensure the bigger goal which is securing the seat and working hard to ensure the Presidents 2nd term agenda is achieved.

He then presented 2 new motorbikes to the Fulani communities and the constituency office.

The Tolon constituency houses the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) both in Nyankpala, one of the campuses of the University for Development Studies.

The constituency used to be a safer ground for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) since 1992 until it was snatched during the 2012 election by the NPP and consecutively retained again in 2016. Alhaji Habib will be facing off with a fresh candidate from the NDC, Yussif Adamu.

Alhaji Habibs Boss, Micheal Okyere Baafi also secured the nod to lead the New Patriotic Party in the New Juaben South constituency into the 2020 election after beating the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah in the primaries.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 11:32:26|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Lufthansa German Airlines will resume regular scheduled flights between Frankfurt and Shanghai from Wednesday, according to Lufthansa China.

These are the first scheduled Lufthansa flights to the Chinese mainland since the end of January. Lufthansa is among the first foreign airlines to resume regular scheduled passenger flights to the Chinese mainland, said Lufthansa China.

From Wednesday, the airline will start providing round-trip passenger flights between the cities once a week.

Lufthansa Cargo Airlines under the Lufthansa Group maintained cargo services between Europe and China, ferrying medical and other supplies.

Resumed passenger flights will facilitate China-Europe economic activities, said Lufthansa China. Enditem
LAPD officer Stacy Pierce-Rogers works in the department's mental evaluation unit. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

The young woman was walking along the ledge of a parking structure downtown when Los Angeles police officer Stacy Pierce-Rogers arrived.

For more than an hour that night, Pierce-Rogers and the woman, who appeared to be in her 20s, talked about Taylor Swift, church, tarot cards and horoscopes. At one point, the woman wanted to pray, so the officer held her hand.

I started praying with her, not really knowing what I was saying but just trying to make her feel better, said Pierce-Rogers of the 2017 incident.

The episode ended with officers pulling the woman to safety. It was among thousands of mental health calls the LAPD responds to annually. Officers in 2018 were dispatched to more than 6,000 calls of actual and possible suicide attempts.

That may soon change. Protests over police brutality following the killing of George Floyd have spurred a movement to redirect law enforcement funding to community services and reduce police contact with the public in areas such as mental health calls and involvement with the homeless.

Los Angeles City Council members have introduced a motion to develop a new emergency response that uses trained specialists, rather than LAPD officers, to render aid to homeless people and those suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues.

The LAPD, in fact, had already been moving in this direction, with a plan to divert some 911 suicide calls to a phone line run by Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, a county-contracted provider.

In light of calls to defund the police and re-imagine public safety, LAPD Chief Michel Moore has spoken of the burden of officers filling gaps in social services.

We have taken on task after task after task," he said during a virtual community forum. "I believe when you take those other tasks away from us and give them to people who can handle that work more effectively and efficiently, it will allow us as a police department to provide for public safety with our core functions.

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While officers sometimes manage high-risk situations, like coaxing a jumper off a ledge, often they simply talk and provide resources to someone going through a mental health crisis. Those types of calls may be better served without police intervention, said Lt. Brian Bixler, who runs the departments crisis response support section.

We get, by default, dispatched to things we have to care for because no one else is coming, said Bixler. Sometimes the mere presence of a police officer can increase [a persons] agitation or increase their resolve.  A person on a suicide hotline can talk to an individual for hours and link them to resources, and thats preferable.

The intrusion of the COVID-19 pandemic has stymied efforts to move forward with the change quickly.

Miriam Brown, deputy director of the emergency outreach and triage division at the county's Department of Mental Health, said a proposal for her agency to fund an initiative "was put on hold because of COVID-19."

Bixler, though, said he's searching for other financial support.

The calls to remove police from social welfare tasks come as police departments across the country report a growing number of mental health calls and search for better ways to respond. In 2019, the LAPD's mental health triage desk received 20,758 calls.

People are calling because the police are a 24-hour service, said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington think tank. You get all these calls coming to the dispatch center, and the question is, who is the most appropriate agency to deal with it?

Protesters against police violence stop at the site where Charly "Africa" Keunang was killed on skid row in 2015. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Under current protocols, an LAPD patrol unit dispatched to a suicide call will stabilize the scene, handcuff the individual and, in some cases, determine if they meet the criteria for a 5150 hold, a detention of up to 72 hours for those deemed a threat to themselves or others, or for those gravely disabled due to a mental illness.

The LAPD's 24-hour triage desk for mental evaluation pairs officers and county mental health specialists and will assess whether to dispatch a Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Team, or SMART.

Pierce-Rogers, a SMART officer and former emergency medical technician, tries to calm people by reiterating that they are not in trouble.

But it can be difficult to spare a person from the discomfort of being seen by neighbors in handcuffs or having police cars show up at their home. Officers may try to cover someone with a jacket or lead them out through a back route.

I understand how they feel; I can see it in them, said Pierce-Rogers. Theyre telling us were making it worse, but we have to follow our protocol and our policies. ... Sometimes they just want to talk, and they're like, 'I feel better now.'"

Under a new scheme, the dispatcher could hand off a call from a suicidal person or third party to Didi Hirsch counselors. A call wouldn't be diverted if a person was threatening to jump off a structure or run into traffic, needed emergency medical attention, had a weapon in a public place or with people present or posed another public safety risk. Didi Hirsch could also transfer the call back to 911.

Such a system aims to minimize instances where people might avoid seeking help in the future because they were put in handcuffs or involuntarily hospitalized, said Sandri Kramer, the project and grants manager for Didi Hirsch's Suicide Prevention Center.

Therell be sirens involved and flashing lights  its definitely not a quiet way to get somebody some help, said Kramer. You can imagine a person in high emotional distress  thats the last thing they would need.

In 2018, less than 3% of mental health calls, or about 550 incidents, involved use of force by LAPD officers. But several high-profile officer-involved shootings of people appearing to be in a mental health crisis have sparked outcries. In 2018, for example, a jury found two officers liable in the 2015 fatal shooting of Charly Africa Keunang, a 43-year-old homeless man. The incident set off days of protest and prompted fierce criticism of how police deal with mentally unstable people in downtown's skid row.

Bixler hopes fewer encounters will decrease "suicide by cop" attempts, instances in which a person tries to provoke officers to use deadly force. LAPD officers reported responding to 105 such episodes in 2019  down from 163 in 2015. They identified the incidents by the person's actions or by verbal statements, such as an individual asking an officer to kill them.

"By us not even going," said Bixler, "we are reducing the potential lethality of that event."

Its a grave concern for police departments. In a 2009 study of more than 700 officer-involved shootings nationwide, 36% of incidents were people attempting to provoke police force. But a 2019 study of Los Angeles police, co-authored by the LAPD and Cal State Fullerton, reported a low rate of fatalities stemming from these encounters. In 419 cases examined between 2010 and 2015, officers used lethal force in a small number of incidents, killing four people. About 80 percent of the cases didnt involve force.

The Houston Police Department is among a number of cities that divert some 911 calls to mental health professionals. It might take two hours for patrol officers to respond to a mental health call, while the average phone conversation for diverted calls is about 12 minutes, said Lt. Patrick Plourde of the departments mental health division.

Amid the protests over Floyd's death, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that police officers will be replaced with trained, unarmed professionals to respond to calls for help on noncriminal matters, including mental health, the homeless and school discipline. That change and others are part of a plan by the mayor to try to reduce police confrontations with the community.

Brown, who oversees L.A. County's mental health hotline, said a lack of resources has hindered efforts to connect the 911 system more directly to the hotline and embed clinicians with 911 dispatchers.

"It's not an easy fix," she said.

Randy Estrada, a SMART officer who worked as an emergency room technician before joining the LAPD, has responded to calls he believes would have been better suited for a hotline.

In February, he responded to a 911 call from someone in a relationship with a woman who was playing with a knife in her home. The caller knew that the woman had attempted suicide before and struggled with depression.

The woman was taken to a station by officers, where she sat handcuffed in an interview room and spoke with Estrada.

She was bawling; she wasnt really listening to us, he said. She wasnt being forthright  she was minimizing the whole incident.

After several hours, he determined there was no threat of suicide. But the encounter might have been avoided if the caller had been connected with a mental health professional, who may have helped to defuse the situation, Estrada said.

It definitely would have calmed her nerves, he said of the caller. I think the person reporting didnt know what to do with that situation.
HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - June 24, 2020 - Amid a recent increase in immigration enquiries in Hong Kong, the U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program has seen growing popularity. The EB-5 visa, administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), offers a path to obtaining lawful permanent resident status in the US (Green Card) through direct investment.

According to Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, U.S. Department of State, with significant number of unused family-based visas in FY2020, more than 14,200 EB-5 visas will be available for distribution in 2021. The Department of State treats Hong Kong (and Macau and Taiwan) as a separate foreign territory from mainland China for the purposes of immigration visa quotas. Thus, foreign nationals who are born in Hong Kong are not charged under the mainland China visa categories.

"We are pleased to offer U.S. immigration opportunities to Hong Kong investors via renowned local partners," said Tom Rosenfeld, President and CEO of CanAm Enterprises, a leading EB-5 regional center operator. "CanAm Enterprises' EB-5 investment track record is unmatched. More than 5,000 investor-families have come to CanAm to obtain permanent green cards through the U.S. Immigrant Investor Program. By the end of this year, we will have repaid $1.7 billion in EB-5 capital from our investors, more than the rest of the industry combined," added Rosenfeld.

The U.S. remains a popular destination for immigration due to matching salary packages, living standards, and quality of education. Compared to other paths to citizenship, the EB-5 is attractive for investors due to its more relaxed education or language requirements, not requiring employment or family sponsorship, reasonable residency requirements, only requiring a passive investment, and more. The minimum investment required under the EB-5 Program is US$900,000 in high unemployment or rural areas and US$1,800,000 outside those areas. The process will take approximately 24 months for a conditional Green Card, and another 21 to 45 months for a permanent Green Card.

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Belinda Chan, Managing Partner of CCGi: "As local partner of Global Migration Solutions, a premier migration advisory with 15 years of expertise in migration industry, we are happy to bring valuable, trust-worthy and direct migration options to our clients in Hong Kong. Backed by our experience with both middle-class and high-net-worth profile of clients locally, we have confident that EB-5 investment options offered by CanAm fit perfectly into requirements of local clients."

"The U.S remains one of the top migration destinations for Hongkongers who have an American dream to enjoy their family life with top quality education for their children, given that the U.S. has the best universities in the world. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Centers program is one of the best pathways by which the main applicant and their family members get permanent residence through an investment of minimum US$900,000 into a Regional Center. There is no age limit, English language and qualification requirement for the main applicant." said John Hu, Founder and Principal Consultant of the award-winning immigration firm in Hong Kong.

CanAm helps Hongkongers achieve their path to citizenship by offering a "full service" support and management role in going through EB-5's six step process, with the track record, financial infrastructure and legal expertise to offer full regulatory compliance and investment security. CanAm is uniquely positioned as a bridge between qualifying projects and accredited investors, with a responsibility to both -- as such, investors trust that CanAm is also invested in the success of every investment.

Finding a Registered Regional Centre licensed by USCIS is important, CanAm is one of the top choices in Asia

CanAm has 30 years of experience exclusively promoting and administering private and government immigration-linked investment funds, with a known track record in assisting with immigration. CanAm leads the EB-5 industry in capital repaid to investors, having raised nearly US $3 billion of EB-5 capital for 60 projects. By the end of 2020, US $1.7 billion in EB-5 capital from 3,400 investor-families will have repaid by CanAm's 45 EB-5 projects. Over 2,300 investor families achieved their permanent resident status in the U.S. through CanAm's EB-5 projects (7,200+ permanent green card issued to CanAm's Investors and their families).

CanAm is the only EB-5 Regional Center with a fully audited track record. It is the first EB-5 Regional Center to have its own regulated FINRA-registered Broker-Dealer to ensure full regulatory compliance. A third-party escrow bank is also set up for each investment project to safeguard the investment funds. Headquartered in Manhattan, New York, CanAm has local representatives in Beijing, Shanghai, New Delhi, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai.

About CanAm Enterprises

With three decades of experience promoting immigration-linked investments in the United States and Canada, CanAm has a long and established track record. Basing its business on a reputation of credibility and trust, CanAm has financed 60 projects and raised nearly $3 billion in EB-5 investments. More than $1.4 billion in EB-5 capital from over 2,800 families has been repaid by CanAm's 42 projects to date. CanAm exclusively operates seven USCIS-designated regional centers that are in the city of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the metropolitan regions of New York & New Jersey, the states of California, Hawaii, Florida, and Texas. For more information, please visit www.CanAmenterprises.com.
The June 15 clashes between India and China have finally broken the four-decade record of relative peace on the Himalayan frontier. Reactions have been sharp, ranging from calls to evict the Chinese from their entrenched positions to others calling for a Cold War.

The debate over Chinas rise has been raging for the past two decades, if not since 1950, when the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) swept into Tibet. India-China relations have seen it all  from engagement to a dramatic collapse in 1959, a brief-but-traumatic war in 1962, a hiatus of no- war, no-peace in the decades that followed. And, finally a diplomatic breakthrough with the 1988 modus vivendi that paved the way for India and China to build a relationship without settling the border dispute. The core premise was that the stable development of relations is predicated on a peaceful periphery. It reflected pragmatism and broader shifts in Chinese and Indian priorities in favour of economic transformation at home and a peaceful neighbourhood. The June 15 clashes have dented that agreed-upon edifice.

It is clear that the next phase of the relationship depends on a peaceful frontier. But this should not mean merely a restoration of the status quo ante. If, by the status quo, we mean two large nuclear-armed countries resuming their aggressive jostling and humiliating each other, that is unsustainable. To anyone who has viewed leaked videos of the border face-offs in recent years, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) grey zones have been transformed into a nasty tit-for-tat game, waiting to explode.

For the past decade, both sides have adopted forward policies matched by new connectivity links to the frontier. A belief that an array of confidence-building measures (CBMs) would cushion this changing balance of power in the forward areas has been misplaced. It is time now for stock-taking and re-envisioning a new conflict-management framework. There were two main reasons to engage in proactive probing in the grey zones  as a symbolic ritual of showing the flag to demonstrate consistency over claim lines, and, keeping an eye on each other so that nobody changes the status quo on the ground. But there was a complementary political element too. High-level talks between the special representatives were intended to lay out a framework within which each side would bring forward their claims for serious bargaining to commence. But with that political process stalling in recent years, tactical forward probing along LAC has assumed a life of its own, disproportionate to the envisaged goals.

Why cant Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping settle the dispute? Chinese scholar Yun Sun summarises the key problem obstructing a settlement  Key concessions India demands from China on the border settlement are hard commitments that cannot be reversed. By contrast, what China seeks from India, such as its neutrality in the US-Chinese strategic competition, is ephemeral and easily adjustable. This problem of uncertainty and fluidity in strategic intentions has no apparent solution for the foreseeable future. However, stabilising the frontier through new norms is possible and in the interests of both states. Creative approaches such as agreed buffer zones in the most contentious pockets and coordinated or restricted patrolling regimes to avoid violent scuffles must be integral to the new status quo.

In their excitement or jingoism, many have declared a breaking point in the India-China relations. This is precisely the time to avoid such hyperbole.

The relationship has not suddenly gone south. The warning signs have been apparent for some time. It has been falsely claimed that Delhi has been oblivious to Chinas rise. In fact, Modis China policy has been uncompromising across the board. From the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) to maritime security to emerging high technologies such as 5G, Delhi has been bold in its rhetoric and actions. Even in the geopolitical arena, India has been unabashed and dogged in engaging the United States (US), despite an unenthused president in the White House. Across Asia too, Delhi has been proactively tapping Chinas neighbours as a future countervailing hedge. With traditional ally Russia too, Modis renewed outreach in recent years is reminiscent of the old geostrategy  promoting a balance of power in Eurasia.

If anything, Indias policymakers could be critiqued for getting ahead of themselves and precipitating counter-balancing moves from China without having a credible strategy in place. But Delhis real failure has been to not match its realpolitik words and deeds with a broader foreign policy framework where sustained engagement with China was also part of a grand strategy to emerge as a leading power in a multipolar world. Instead, Delhi has found itself leaning against China with an empty treasury and unpredictable partners.

History shows that when India possessed strong and positive ties with the great powers, it was taken seriously by China. Yet, history also shows the clear limits of what leveraging that balance of power can do for India. The India-US and India-Soviet (Russia) ties worked to stabilise the India-China relationship when India remained firmly grounded in recognising and pursuing its own interests rather than becoming an object in a great game. So only when two conditions simultaneously held was India able to shape a mutually beneficial relationship with China  shrewdly leveraging the international environment and maintaining a sophisticated China policy.

Zorawar Daulet Singh is an adjunct fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi, and author of Power and Diplomacy: Indias Foreign Policies During the Cold War

The views expressed are personal
The U.S. Supreme Court last week gave Congress the opportunity to finally get things right, to rise above political animus and party ramifications on behalf of nearly 800,000 people.

We're optimistic they'll get it right this time.

We're hopeful they'll at last find a way to grant citizenship to America's Dreamers, those children -- many of whom are now adults -- who were brought to America by undocumented parents and have found themselves mired in the slow-moving, ham-handed and too-often vengeful U.S. political machine.

Real and comprehensive immigration reform is desperately needed. But the Dreamers issue is very different and should (and could) be resolved quickly to the benefit of everyone.

The Supreme Court ruled last week the Trump administration was arbitrary and failed to give the justification needed to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals that President Barack Obama signed with an executive order in 2012

Obama knew it was a short fix at best. He bet on Congress someday putting its differences aside and doing what was best for the Dreamers and what was best for the nation.
Geordie Shore's Sophie Kasaei has developed an 'unhealthy obsession' with the racy new Netflix show 365 Days.

The reality star has even sent private messages to Michele Morrone, the hunky lead of the Polish erotic drama.

Michele, 29, who has become a sex symbol to its many viewers, plays Sicilian mobster Massimo Torricelli who kidnaps a woman in the secy thriller.

'Unhealthy obsession': Geordie Shore's Sophie Kasaei has revealed she has sent private messages to Michele Morrone, the hunky lead of Polish erotic thriller 365 Days

Sophie shared on Twitter that she had become obsessed with the show and has become rather attracted to the Italian actor and model.

She wrote: 'Somethings happened I've watched 365 Days and got this really unhealthy obsession. With the cast, the film, the story.

'I've literally sat for the past few days researching the cast, if they are dating, the background and especially the actor who plays Massimo. Even gone as far to dm him.'

Breakout star: Michele, who plays Sicilian mobster Massimo Torricelli in the racy film, has become a sex symbol to viewers

Opening up: The reality star said she has been spending much of her time in lockdown looking into the background of the film

The Geordie reality star went on to reveal how she had watched the show three times during lockdown.

But she admitted the erotic film has been 'torture' for her being single during lockdown.

It comes after the stunner recently shared an honest YouTube video with her followers discussing how comparing herself to others affected her mental health.

In her first ever upload, the brave star told fans that 'since isolating' she has had time to reflect on true happiness.

The Off The Rails Boutique owner described how starting out on the reality show made her try to be someone she was not and said 'deep down' she was 'fighting a losing battle.'

Addressing her fans, she said: 'I think growing up and being in the industry young I had a lot of pressure to be like other people, I really compared myself to others so much.

Reflection: The stunner recently shared an honest YouTube video with her followers discussing how comparing herself to others affected her mental health

'I always thought everyone was better than me I always made excuses I thought I'd just settle and be less.

'That's the mindset I had for a while and as I have got older I've realised that it is not the mindset to be having.'As I've got older, I've realised you don't need to be competitive with people, there is no reason to be competitive with people around you.'

Sophie shot to fame on Geordie Shore in 2011 when she was 21 and appeared on seven seasons on the show.
Yep, Trump visited the wall today, because in time of crisis, its important to be with your loved ones.  JIMMY FALLON

Trump said he loves barriers that block dangerous things  then went back to not wearing a mask.  JIMMY FALLON

It was quite a scene when Trump arrived, especially when his entire staff hopped the wall into Mexico. [Imitating Trump staff] Adios! See you at my book signing!  JIMMY FALLON

Yep, Trump celebrated the 200th mile of his wall, even though the border is 2,000 miles long. Instead of finishing the wall, Trumps going to keep people out with a giant banner that says, Home of the coronavirus.  JIMMY FALLON

As he said, Trump is going to Arizona to celebrate building 200 miles of wall, but theres a problem with that number  its not the number, cause the grand total of new wall where there was no wall before is three miles. So, three miles in a little more than three years, its 2,000 miles of border to cover, so he just needs to be president for 2,000 more years.  STEPHEN COLBERT

And if the wall and banner dont work, Trump has an even better idea to keep people out  hes going to build a ramp with a very slight decline at the end. [Imitating Trump] Theyll never, ever be able to get off that ramp, not with leather bottoms. Very slippery with leather bottoms. By the way, I know Leather Bottoms and I have not had any relationship with her. Leather and I are purely professional.  JIMMY FALLON
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 22:50:40|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday revised down its forecast for the global economy amid the mounting COVID-19 fallout, projecting a 4.9-percent contraction in 2020.

The latest projection is 1.9 percentage points below the World Economic Outlook (WEO) forecast released in April, indicating a grimmer economic outlook as the pandemic continues to ripple across the globe.

"Compared to our April World Economic Outlook forecast, we are now projecting a deeper recession in 2020 and a slower recovery in 2021," IMF Chief Economist Gita Gopinath said in a virtual news conference, noting that these projections imply a cumulative loss to the global economy over two years of over 12 trillion U.S. dollars from the crisis.

"The downgrade from April reflects worse than anticipated outcomes in the first half of this year, an expectation of more persistent social distancing into the second half of this year, and damage to supply potential," Gopinath told reporters.

Advanced economies are projected to contract 8 percent this year, 1.9 percentage points lower than the forecast in the April WEO.

The U.S. economy is expected to shrink 8 percent, the Euro Area is on track to contract 10.2 percent, and the Japanese economy could decline 5.8 percent.

Emerging markets and developing economies, meanwhile, are projected to shrink by 3 percent this year, 2 percentage points below the April WEO forecast, according to the updated report.

Brazil and Mexico are projected to contract by 9.1 and 10.5 percent respectively, while India's economy could see a contraction of 4.5 percent. China is expected to grow by 1 percent, the only major economy that could see growth this year.

The latest report also showed that global growth is projected at 5.4 percent in 2021, which would leave 2021 gross domestic product (GDP) some 6.5 percentage points lower than in the pre-COVID-19 projections made in January 2020.

Warning that the crisis will also generate medium-term challenges, Gopinath said that public debt this year is projected to reach the highest level in recorded history in relation to GDP, in both advanced and emerging markets and developing economies.

"Countries will need sound fiscal frameworks for medium-term consolidation, through cutting back on wasteful spending, widening the tax base, minimizing tax avoidance, and greater progressivity in taxation in some countries," she said.

The IMF chief economist noted that a high degree of uncertainty surrounds this forecast, with both upside and downside risks to the outlook. On the upside, better news on vaccines and treatments, as well as additional policy support, could lead to a quicker resumption of economic activity, she said.

On the downside, further waves of infections could reverse increased mobility and spending, and rapidly tighten financial conditions, triggering debt distress, she said, adding that geopolitical and trade tensions could damage fragile global relationships at a time when trade is projected to collapse by around 12 percent.

Noting that global cooperation is more than ever "so important" when dealing with a truly global crisis, Gopinath said that every effort should be made to resolve trade and technology tensions while improving the multilateral rules-based trading system. Enditem
A delivery man of Beijings popular food platform is feared to be the super spreader of Covid-19 after he tested positive amid a new wave of coronavirus clusters in the Chinese capital.

Chinas health authority on Tuesday reported 29 newly confirmed Covid-19 cases, including 13 in the capital Beijing where 249 virus-affected people are undergoing treatment.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

According to the Chinas National Health Commission, 29 new cases, including seven asymptomatic cases, were reported in the country on Monday.

As of Monday, 99 asymptomatic cases were still under medical observation, it said.

Beijings mass testing of millions of its residents is on after a new cluster of cases emerged in late May.

The Chinese capital reported 13 newly confirmed domestically-transmitted Covid-19 cases, two suspected infections and one asymptomatic on Monday, the municipal health commission said on Tuesday.

From June 11 to 22, Beijing has reported 249 confirmed domestically-transmitted cases, all of whom were receiving treatment in hospitals, it said.

Twenty-two asymptomatic cases are still under medical observation, it said.

Just as the health officials of Beijing began to announce that the new coronavirus attack is getting under control, a delivery man from Chinas leading food delivery platform ele.me in the city was confirmed to be infected with Covid-19.

According to health authorities in Beijing, the 47-year-old delivery man had been offering services across a wide area in the capital between June 1 and June 17, involving the streets of Daxing, Fangshan, Dongcheng and Fengtai districts.

It is the first case in the food delivery industry to have been confirmed in the capital, sparking widespread public concerns as residents rely heavily on delivery services for necessities amid the epidemic, sate-run Global Times reported on Tuesday.

The patient delivered 50 orders a day on average in the past few weeks, according to the health authorities.

The platform said that the company had conducted nucleic acid tests on its entire delivery staff.

Delivery men who have had close contact with the infected persons have been barred from receiving orders and are now in quarantine at designated isolation centres, the platform said.

Xu Hejian, spokesman for the municipal government, told the media on Monday that Beijing had effectively kept the coronavirus outbreak from spreading and the new local cases were decreasing as the capital uses multiple measures to reduce infections.

Beijing has contained the spread of Covid-19 cases, Xu said, adding that the epidemic may be showing signs of abating.

However, strict measures will remain in place because ending the outbreak remains a complicated task, he said.

In the next step, Beijing will continue to implement the strict control and prevention network created in key areas such as restaurants, hospitals and schools. The city also will strengthen food safety controls and increase its nucleic acid testing ability, he said.

So far, Beijing has designated four communities as high-risk and 39 as medium-risk for epidemic control. This represents targeted measures to contain the spread of the virus, including locking down communities in high-risk zones.

Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, re-emphasised the importance of hand-washing and social distancing at Mondays news conference.

As of Saturday, about 2.3 million people in the capital had been tested for the novel coronavirus, the Beijing Health Commission said.

By Monday, the overall confirmed cases in China had reached 83,418, including 359 patients who were still being treated, with 13 in severe condition.

Altogether 78,425 people had been discharged after recovery and 4,634 people had died of the disease, the NHC said.

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California Governor, Lawmakers Reach Agreement on State Budget

SANTA CLARA, Calif.California lawmakers announced on June 22 their agreement for the states budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) said in a statement that they had agreed on a revised budget that would balance education, health care, the social safety net, emergency preparedness, and assistance for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state will look to make up an estimated $54 billion shortfall brought on by the pandemic in part by delaying payments to public schools and imposing pay cuts on state employees.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has caused a sudden and dramatic change in our nations and states economic outlookand has had a cascading effect on our state budget, according to the June 22 statement.

This agreement reflects our shared commitment to supporting schools, and is built on a foundation of equityallocating billions of dollars for students most affected by learning loss and continuing our states leadership toward reforming the criminal justice system.

To make up the deficit, nearly $12 billion due to reimburse districts for public schools would be delayed until future years, and nearly $3 billion would be cut from the salaries of state workers, according to the Associated Press. Temporary tax increases to businesses, additional spending cuts, and borrowing from some restricted funds would save about $4.4 billion more, the AP reported.

The numbers could change, depending on the amount of assistance the state receives from the federal government. Specific details regarding the budget were not released at the time of the announcement.

The agreement to fund the schools avoids significant cuts for the budget year, but will require the difference to be made up in the future.

Paying this years bills next year is going to make balancing next years budget even more problematic, said Assemblyman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia), vice chair of the Assembly Budget Committee.

In this budget, the Legislature closes a $54 billion deficit using a combination of budget deferrals, billions in borrowing, a $4.4 billion tax increase on businesses, and depletion of most of our reserves, Obernolte said in a June 22 press release.

While we were able to protect vital services this year, unfortunately these budget gimmicks merely defer difficult decisions about reducing state spending and will only create larger budget deficits in the future.

Newsom released a revised budget in May that included cuts to state employee wages and education spending. The Senate and Assembly announced June 3 that the two legislatures had reached their own agreement regarding budget cuts.

The key budget goal is preserving programs serving those who are most vulnerable. Nevertheless, all the budget plans being discussed acknowledge the possibility that more difficult cuts will be necessary, due to COVID spending needs and weak revenues, said Rendon at the time.

California was better positioned for this sudden change than at almost any time in its history, building out record reserves following years of responsible budgeting, the June 22 press release stated.

The state was headed toward a multi-billion dollar budget surplus for the fiscal year before the COVID-19 pandemic struck and Newsom mandated a stay-at-home order on March 19.
As the next phase of the Restore Illinois plan looks to bring more people back to work, day care centers expect to welcome back more students.

The Illinois Department of Child and Family Services began encouraging child care providers that were not already emergency childcare centers to reopen in Phase 3. During phases 3 and 4 childcare centers can begin to expand their class sizes in most age groups.

Centers that did not provide emergency child care had to reduce their class sizes to 10 children in a group  and 8 infants in a group  for the first four weeks of their reopening. After four weeks: toddler groups will be allowed a maximum of 12 children, 2-year-old groups will have a maximum of 12 children, 3- to 5-year-old groups will have a maximum of 15 children and groups of school-age children will have a maximum of 15. Centers that provided emergency child care for four weeks during the first two phases already met the requirement to expand their classes.

Several Jacksonville day cares provided emergency childcare centers for essential workers and they report that guidelines for DCFS guidelines for Phase 4 will not differ drastically for them from the Phase 3 guidelines.

Kathy Fellhauer, executive director of Presbyterian Day Care Center at 870 W. College Ave., said that her day care remained open during the first phases of the pandemic. She said that Presbyterian Day Care is not expecting to make significant changes to procedures in Phase 4. They will continue to enforce mask wearing for students and teachers and temperatures will be taken for students, staff and parents who drop off their children.

Our Redeemer Day Care at 405 Massey Lane also provided emergency child care. Lauren Hays, Our Redeemer board president, said that Our Redeemer was also not expecting any significant changes in the next phase.

Educational Daycare at 330 W. Michigan Ave. is expecting to welcome more children back. Director Jessica Niederer said that Educational Daycare provided emergency childcare early in the pandemic. She expects parents who were previously out of work to start working again soon and for them to send their children back to day care.

Niederer said that uncertainty remains over whether any additional changes to DCFS policy could alter current plans, A lot of this can be confusing and we dont totally know where things will go, Niederer said.

One in-home childcare service provider plans to remain closed well into July or August. Karen Ingles of Comforts of Home Child Care at 108 Birchfield Lane said that while her business is closed, she has spent the time looking into moving into a larger home that could accommodate more children.
Russian soldiers march across Red Square during the Victory Day parade in Moscow - Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

Vladimir Putin on Wednesday held a lavish military parade celebrating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, a day before a vote on constitutional amendments that would let the Russian president stay in power at least until 2036.

The grand parade on Moscows Red Square is held annually on May 9, but the Kremlin had to postpone it this year because of the growing coronavirus epidemic.

Some 14,000 troops marched across the cobbles of Red Square and past the stands saluting Mr Putin, military veterans and several foreign dignitaries. Military hardware was paraded and intercontinental ballistic missiles rumbled up afterwards.

Mr Putin took to a stage at the start of the parade and declared a moment of silence to commemorate 27 million people that the Soviet Union is estimated to have lost in the war.

Our duty is to remember about it, remember that the Soviet people took on the main burden of fighting Nazism, he said, describing the Soviet victory in the war as a historic event that determined the future of the planet for decades ahead and forever.

Russian President Vladimir Putin watches the Victory Day parade on Red Square - Sergey Pyatakov/Kremlin pool via Reuters

The parade this year was held exactly 75 years after Soviet troops coming back from the war marched across Red Square, throwing flags and banners of the defeated Nazi Germany to the ground.

Victory Day is undoubtedly Russias most revered holiday, and brings together families to commemorate the dead and the enormous suffering endured by millions of people in the Soviet Union during the war.

Yet, as the celebrations grow more extravagant, Mr Putin is increasingly being criticised for co-opting Victory Day in order to reassert his power domestically as well as project the image of Russia as a resurgent global military power.

The Red Square parade is now also an elaborate television show, with nearly 70 cameras capturing it from every possible angle such as underneath the feet of the marching troops, looking out at the onion domes of St. Basils Cathedral that tower over the square, and inside a tank cockpit.

Story continues

Mr Putin, who has used the parade in the past to make keynote foreign policy statements, was markedly reserved this year, reiterating his idea of setting up a new global security framework that would not view Russia as an adversary.

Russian Sukhoi Su-25 assault aircrafts release smoke in the colours of the Russian flag while flying over Red Square during a military parade - Alexander Nemenov/AFP

We realise the importance of boosting friendship between people," he said in his speech. "And we are open for dialogue and cooperation on the most acute issues of the international agenda, including the creation of a safe, common security system that the rapidly changing world requires.

Glory to the heroes! Hurrah! Mr Putin concluded, before cannons at the Kremlin wall rang out, signalling the start of the main part of the parade.

The Red Square parade is Mr Putins final salvo ahead of nationwide voting on Thursday on constitutional amendments that propose scrapping the limits of terms in office for the sitting president.

Mr Putin, who likes to portray himself as the father of the nation, has been accused of taking a back seat during the epidemic, leaving it up to regional governors to mount the response to the health care emergency.

His approval ratings have been dented by the outbreak, but the rapid curtailing of lockdown restrictions in Moscow as well as the parade are designed to boost his popularity ahead of the vote that will end on July 1.

A nationwide coronavirus lockdown was lifted last month but the outbreak, largely on the wane in the Russian capital, is still nowhere near from being over across the country of 144 million. Concerns about safety forced several dozens of Russian cities to scrap their own Second World War parades.

With over 600,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases, Russia has the worlds third-largest number of confirmed infections.
Polaris Bank has disbursed billions to support the growth of the Nigerian health sector through tailor-made banking products for businesses in this space.

The bank launched a one stop-solution, in September 2019, in its undisputable support for SMEs in the health sector (Private hospitals, Pharmacies, Retailers, Diagnostic centres, etc).

This drive was further re-enforced by the CBN N100billion Health sector support fund set aside by the Apex Bank to help cushion the effect of COVID-19 on the nations economy and the health sector in particular.

This was made known by the Banks Group Head, Products and Market Development, Adebimpe Ihekuna, while commenting on the recently concluded webinar tagged Managing Health Care Business During and Post-COVID-19.

Eligible participants under the scheme comprise healthcare product manufacturers  pharmaceutical drugs and medical equipment; and healthcare service providers/medical facilities  hospitals/clinics, diagnostic centres/laboratories, fitness and wellness centres, rehabilitation centres, dialysis centres and blood banks. Others include pharmaceutical/medical products distribution and logistics services; and other human healthcare service providers as may be determined by the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) from time to time.

Adebimpe explained that the chunk of the disbursements are under the CBN intervention funds at 5% and up to 10 years loan tenor; as well as direct disbursement from Polaris Bank with highly competitive terms and conditions.

She confirmed that healthcare firms/businesses in the value chain who wish to take advantage of the scheme to expand and grow their business, should submit their application at any branch of Polaris Bank or send a mail to: smebusiness@Polarisbanklimited.com to engage a Product Manager for guidance.

Applicants can also visit the Polaris Bank website: www.polarisbanklimited.com for additional details on the CBN N100 billion Health sector support fund and other lines of products.

Polaris Bank is a future-determining bank committed to the delivery of industry-defining products, and services, across all the sectors of the Nigerian economy.
New Delhi, June 24 : The Delhi High Court while hearing the bail plea filed by Delhi riots accused Shahrukh Pathan on Wednesday remarked, "If you take law in your hands and become a hero, then you have to face the law." "If you take law in your hands and become a hero, then you have to face the law. And your intention was to become a hero," said a single judge bench of the High Court presided by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait.

The observation came during the course of the hearing of the application filed by Pathan, the man who had flashed a gun at the policemen during Delhi riots in February this year. The picture had gone viral on the social media.

The prosecution informed that Pathan was leading the mob which could be clearly seen in the video which is on record. "This video was provided to us by a senior journalist from a leading newspaper. He has also been examined under section 161 of the CrPC', the prosecution said.

It added that the weapon in question belongs to the accused and the same has been recovered from the car that he used for absconding. "He had purchased this from a man in Uttar Pradesh, along with 20 live cartridges," the counsel told the court.

After hearing the submissions and examining the documents and evidence, the court remarked that Pathan was trying to lead the mob in order to become a hero.

"You were trying to become a hero and lead the mob. You also purchased more than 20 live cartridges. You became a hero and your intention was to be one, but, if you take law in your hands and become a hero, then you have to face the law," the court said.

The Petitioner's counsel Asghar Khan argued before the court that his client is a victim of circumstances, adding that the accused has no criminal antecedents, the challan has already been filed, and there's no evidence of anyone getting injured by the alleged acts of the accused.

He also argued that the FIR was not registered on the information by Complainant. Khan also pointed out that there are discrepancies in the statements given by the concerned police officer Deepak Dahiya.

"My client was provoked to participate in the agitation and he has not participated in any other incident concerning the riots," Khan said.

However, post the arguments, the court said that it was not inclined to grant bail to Pathan following which Khan sought permission to withdraw the petition.

The court granted him the permission to do so and the matter was dismissed as withdrawn.

The Delhi Police in its chargesheet filed before a Delhi court has stated that Pathan along with four others has been found to be a part of a deep-rooted conspiracy which triggered the communal riot at Maujpur Chowk in north east Delhi.

In the Maujpur Chowk riot case, the police found that on February 24 at about 11 a.m., two groups (one anti-CAA and one pro-CAA) clashed at the chowk. This led to injuries to several policemen as well as other people and created an atmosphere of fear among the public. On that day, one person Vinod Singh lost his life in a related incident and a separate case of murder was registered against his killers.

Five accused, including Shahrukh Pathan, were arrested in this case. "During probe it was found that Pathan is the main accused in another case in which he had brandished his gun at Head Constable Deepak Dahiya in full public view," the police said.

His illegal firearm, a 7.65 mm pistol along with two live rounds, was recovered from him. Several shots had been fired by him and three empty shells were recovered from the spot, the police said.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
The number of inmates eligible for early release under Gov. Kate Browns plan to address the threat of coronavirus in the state prison system has shrunk to 61 from an initial group of 75, according to the Oregon Department of Corrections.

State corrections officials provided the revised list to Browns office late Monday night after removing 14 prisoners for consideration based on their behavioral history behind bars, said Jennifer Black, a department spokeswoman.

Liz Merah, a spokeswoman for Brown, said the list is under review by the governors office but did not say when the office expected to decide which inmates would receive commuted sentences.

The Oregonian/OregonLive last week obtained the preliminary list of prisoners identified by corrections officials as medically vulnerable to coronavirus. They are mostly white men convicted of drug and property crimes. All but a handful are scheduled for release this year or next.

[Heres a detailed look at who is under consideration for commutation]

Twenty-eight states have already released inmates early in response to the pandemic, and most took that step early in the crisis, Carl Filler, a state policy analyst for the Justice Action Network, a national bipartisan organization based in Washington, D.C., that works on criminal justice reform, told The Oregonian/OregonLive last week.

Filler said those early releases typically involved hundreds of prisoners.

A group of state lawmakers had pushed Brown to significantly expand those she would consider releasing early, but she rejected their proposal. They sought the immediate release of nearly 2,000 inmates, roughly 14 percent of the inmate population of 14,085.

The Oregon Justice Resource Center, a civil rights group that has pushed for the early release of prisoners during the pandemic, said the current number of eligible inmates would not adequately address the health threat posed by COVID-19.

The release of so few people will do almost nothing to increase the ability of incarcerated people to stay physically distant from one another, the group said in a statement Wednesday.

At least 175 inmates and 45 staff have tested positive for coronavirus in Oregon state prisons, according to corrections officials, most of them at the state penitentiary in Salem.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 17:33:34|Editor: huaxia

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A staff member in protective suit sanitizes hands for a customer at a salon during the COVID-19 pandemic in Dhaka, Bangladesh, June 23, 2020. (Str/Xinhua)

DHAKA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh reported over 3,400 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total in the country to more than 122,000.

Senior health ministry official Nasima Sultana told a briefing on Wednesday afternoon, "3,462 new COVID-19 positive cases and 37 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh."

She said, "The total number of positive cases is now 122,660 and death toll stands currently at 1,582."

According to the official, 16,433 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh.

She said 2,031 more COVID-19 patients were announced as recovered during the last 24 hours, bringing the total recoveries so far to 49,666.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to investigate individuals allegedly involved in the Wirecard scandal.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he has consulted with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) chief Benjamin Diokno, and directed the two agencies to look into individuals reportedly involved in the case in Germany, allegedly resulting in the disappearance of 1.9 billion or $2.1 billion cash.

"The NBI and the AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) will work together insofar as there are indications of money laundering," Guevarra told reporters on Wednesday.

"I have no info on whether Wirecard is operating in the Philippines," he also said. "As to Marsalek, we found something curious in the BI database."

Guevarra revealed that the Immigration bureau's records show that Jan Marsalek, COO of Wirecard, came to the Philippines on March 3, 2020 and departed on March 5, 2020.

There are some indications, however, that he may have returned recently and may still be in the country, he added.

Guevarra ordered the BI to conduct an immediate probe on this.

Wirecard, which had been involved in allegations of suspected fraud last year, is facing scrutiny again for postponing the publication of its 2019 financial statements after trust accounts supposedly holding 1.9 billion in overseas accounts were not acknowledged by local lenders.

The amount is approximately a quarter of the consolidated balance sheet total, Wirecard said in a statement on June 18.

Around 2 billion of loans made to the German company can be terminated if the concerned funds aren't successfully located, it added.

Amid the controversy, the firm's board suspended member Jan Marsalek until the end of the month, while long-time CEO Markus Braun resigned last Friday.

James Freis Jr. has since been appointed as member of the management board and interim CEO.

Wirecard said on Monday that 1.9 billion in cash included in financial statements 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.

On Tuesday, Markus Braun, the Austrian tech entrepreneur who built Wirecard into one of Germany's biggest companies, was arrested.

CNN Philippines' Senior Correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.


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Read more: IBC deploys virtual insurance assistance in Calgary

What we need right now is financial assistance, thats what we need and were not getting it, said Khalil Karbani, who authored the petition letter.

Karbani told CBC News that his roof sustained $15,000 worth of damage due to hailstones, and two glass windowpanes were also smashed. However, his insurer notified him that his policy would only cover 20% of the damage after its deductible.

CBC News reported that the provincial government has yet to say whether it will declare the storm a disaster.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney toured the affected areas over the weekend. Opposition Leader Rachel Notley also visited the disaster area prior to the premier.
French doctor and virologist Didier Raoult, whose use of malaria medication hydroxychloroquine at a treatment for Covid-19 has attracted worldwide attention and controversy, was to respond to questions of a parliamentary committee investigating France's response to the epidemic.

The inquiry of 32 lawmakers from different political parties was launched last month to learn lessons about France's handling of the Covid-19 epidemic.

After looking into face masks, the panel was to turn to hydroxychloroquine, a malaria medication championed as a treatment for Covid-19 by Raoult, who was to respond in late afternoon.

What we want to understand from Mr. Raoult is how he managed to follow a policy of mass testing in Marseille, a city which had mortality rates well beneath those elsewhere in the country, said right-wing lawmaker Damien Abad on Tuesday.

Raoult, who heads the infectious diseases department of the university hospital in Marseille, became widely known to the public inside and outside France by promoting hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for Covid-19 in late February, just before the epidemics were taking off in Europe.

He has proved a divisive figure in media, cultivating a shaggy-haired, anti-establishment persona with a penchant for controversial remarks, claiming in early February the coronavirus was not so mean and subsequently assuring there would be no second wave of infection.

Hydroxychloroquine

Raoult's claims about hydroxychloroquine are derived from two small studies combining the derivative of the chloroquine molecule, used to treat lupus and malaria, with antibiotic azithromycine.

The doctor said in late February the drug was probably the least expensive and simplest way to treat the coronavirus.

The claims have met with mixed reviews among scientists and health officials, with some heaping praise on Raoult and others objecting that the molecule's efficiency has not been proven and that it could engender dangerous side effects.

United States President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have defended the medication and Trump once declared he was taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was convinced [Raoult] is a great scientist after meeting the doctor in early April and called on rigorous trials of the treatment.

But France banned use of the drug as a treatment for Covid and the World Health Organization (WHO) suspended trials in May, following the publication of a study in medical journal The Lancet that suggested hydroxychloroquine posed risks of heart problems.

But the WHO reversed its decision after experts poured doubt on the findings and the journal withdrew the study when its authors declined to provide its data sets.

Remarks

Raoult has continued defending the treatment in the days leading up to his appearance before the inquiry.

I treated more than 3,700 patients with this medication, with 0.5 percent mortality and no cardiac toxicity, he told Le Parisien newspaper in an interview published Tuesday. What more do you want?

Raoult also said he believed a large part of French citizens are already immune to the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

My hypothesis is that part of the population was naturally immunised against Covid before the start of the epidemic, he told newspaper Le Parisien, but said he had no idea why there seemed to be an estimated 40 to 70 percent rate of natural immunity.

What is sure, is that by speaking about natural immunity, I'll be set on fire by the laboratories working on vaccines, he told the paper.

In regards to efforts to develop a vaccine, Raoult expressed doubt: It is statistically improbably that a vaccine will be available at this point, he said.

On authors of two recent studies published in British review Recovery and French revue Discovery claiming the treatment is ineffective: They are ignoramuses who either gave patients too much or too little of the drug. Had they asked my opinion, they might have been more effective, Raoult said.

Asked about critics saying he published too often to be credible: Do you ask Mozart did what he did? I'll add that in addition to 150 publications per year, I published 10 books at the same time. We are not all equal. In this country, we love to decapitate people.
Egypt is currently preparing an expansionary investment plan to focus on promising sectors, maintain economic achievements and provide job opportunities, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said said in a statement on Wednesday.

El-Said added that Egyptian achievements are due to the fruitful cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities, as well as the cooperation of the Egyptian people.

She noted that the world will witness many variables because of the COVID-19 crunch, explaining that if the global financial crisis and the great depression led to a reduction in growth rates by five percent, the current expectations would tend to reduce global growth rates by seven percent.

Moreover, El-Said declared that there are expectations of decreases in the movement of trade and investment by at least 30 percent, with an increase in poverty and unemployment rates.

As of March 2020, unemployment rates in Egypt did not exceed 7.5 percent, which is a significant decrease compared to previous rates, she said, noting that it was expected before the pandemic that this year would end with growth rates of approximately six percent.

El-Said explained that the expectations of the country's current development plans are in the context of ongoing coexistence with the pandemic in the future.

Egypt is following two scenarios for growth rates, the first scenario expected that the pandemic is going to disappear at the end of June, and the other depends on its end in December 2020, El Said stated.

She highlighted Egypt's rise in the global knowledge index from 99 to 82, and its ranking 11th and first in Africa in the emerging technologies index.

El-Said indicated as well that in the context of these conditions and the uncertainties that Egypt faces, the country also confronts terrorism and is securing its regional and strategic borders.

As of Saturday, Egypt will relax the strict measures it had imposed to fight the COVID-19 crisis and its implications under the plan to coexist with the pandemic.

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The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement has reached an arrangement with former FAI CEO John Delaney over how the inspection of certain documents and emails seized from the association is to be conducted.

The corporate watchdog, as part of its ongoing investigation into certain matters concerning the FAI, seized a number of documents and material from the FAI's offices at Abbottstown on foot of a search warrant last February.

In proceedings before the High Court the ODCE seeks to inspect these documents to see if they are relevant to the investigation.

If the court finds that information contained in the documents are legally privileged then it cannot be used by the ODCE as part of it's investigation.

Former FAI CEO John Delaney, who the court was told now lives and works in the UK, was joined as a notice part to proceedings, because some of the material taken may be private to him.

The matter was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on Wednesday afternoon.

Kerida Naidoo SC, appearing with Elva Duffy Bl for the ODCE, said that the contents of some 13 documents and a digital device with an unknown number of emails may contain information private to Mr Delaney had been identified.

Counsel said steps had been agreed between the parties to allow Mr Delaney, who left the FAI last September, to inspect and identify any material on the device or in the documents which he says is private.

Mr Delaney would be allowed to inspect a forensic copy of the digital device, counsel said.

Counsel said in order to protect the rights that any matter Mr Delaney deems private, which the ODCE considers relevant to its investigation will be considered by just one member of the watchdog's investigation team.

Counsel said it had also been agreed that the ODCE's application for the High Court determine if any of seized documents and material are legally privileged can be heard in July.

Jack Tchrakian BL for Mr Delaney said his client, who is currently living and working in the UK, was consenting to the making of orders allowing the proposed method of examining the documents and the emails to take place.

Brian Gageby Bl for the FAI said his client was also consenting to the orders.

After making the orders Ms Justice Leonie expressed her wish to see matters move forward with some expedition, and without any further delays.

The judge made her comments after being informed by Mr Delaney's counsel that he is prepared to travel to Ireland for the inspection, there were concerns that those plans might be impacted on by possible covid19 travel restrictions.

In adjourning the proceedings the judge said it was important the inspection is carried out in the presence of Mr Delaney in the next two weeks.

This would allow the ODCE's application to proceed on schedule in July, the judge added.
DPRK reinstalling loudspeakers near border with S. Korea: media

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:09, June 23, 2020

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.

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DOLE supports Sen. Revilla's S. No. 801 to ease plight of OFWs affected by COVID-19 pandemic

Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello on Wednesday expressed the full support of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for S. No. 801 filed by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. which seeks to provide a credit assistance program for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the senate committee hearing on labor, employment and human resources development, Bello told Revilla that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has stable funds amounting to more than P 18 billion which can be allocated for financial and other forms of assistance to as many affected OFWs as possible, provided that the senate will create the parameters for loan application.

Revilla also asked Sec. Bello for an update on DOLE's on-going programs for displaced OFWs, including the re-integration program and livelihood assistance.

The veteran senator further commended the labor department for extending cash assistance of $ 200 to each of the 302,000 affected OFWs, and for shouldering the hospital expenses of 1, 953 infected OFWs.

Bello also took the opportunity to clarify to Revilla that the reported 7.3 million unemployed Filipinos is only the result of a survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and does not represent the actual unemployment rate in the country.

From January to June this year, DOLE records state that there are 90,000 displaced workers due to the temporary closure of 2,122 business establishments and permanent closure of 169 establishments.

Bong Revilla was elated to know that DOLE has submitted a proposal for a wage subsidy program which intends to extend financial assistance for affected business establishments by providing 25-50 percent of their workers' salary so they no longer need to terminate employees to sustain operations.

"Yan po ang maganda nating mapag-aralan mapaghandaan dahil sa dami ng mawawalan ng trabaho lalo na't mag-uuwian yung ibang OFW. I know, Secretary, that you are doing a great job. Keep up the good work, nasa likuran mo lang kami," Revilla said.
The COVID-19 crisis has impacted all of us in different ways. But for technology organizations around the world, it has represented both their greatest challenge and their shining hour.

We went from a very small percentage of the world working virtually to practically everyone, says Sam Ransbotham, a professor of information technology at Boston Colleges Carroll School of Management. I dont mean to imply thats its been perfect  Im sure there have been lots of heroic efforts to keep things from collapsing were not hearing about. But so much of it is working well and it has scaled at an unprecedented pace. Kudos to our IT infrastructure.

For some IT pros, however, dealing with the pandemic has involved a lot more than making sure everyone has laptops at home and can log in to their Zoom meetings.

Many have gone above and beyond the call of duty, donating their time and expertise to fight the virus and its ancillary effects. Theyre making sure that people are able to see their doctors, even if they cant visit them in person. Theyre protecting hospital networks from a surge of COVID-related attacks. Theyre repurposing existing platforms and building new tools to help those in need.

There are many IT heroes during this crisis. Here are just a few.

Going virtual, virtually overnight

Every large enterprise has had to scramble to accommodate a remote workforce in response to COVID-19, but few did so as dramatically and efficiently as Intel.

When the lockdown order came on Thursday, March 19, the chipmaker already had a continuity plan in place that could handle roughly half of the companys 100,000 employees operating remotely. Now it had exactly three days to get the other 50,000 ready before business resumed on Monday.

That meant doubling the companys VPN capacity, accelerating laptop deliveries by repurposing older devices, modifying its HR processes to accommodate virtual employees, and upping its remote support capabilities, all in the space of one weekend, says Intel CIO Archana Archie Deskus.

It was all hands on deck for Intels global IT organization, says Deskus, who had taken on the CIO role a month before the crisis hit. Because our response had to match the pandemics pace, our teams across audio and video engineering, data collaboration, security and privacy, network, server, storage, operations and virtualization pulled together to accelerate our response.

It helped that Intel has had a pandemic leadership team in place for nearly 20 years, and that much of its operations were already in the cloud, she adds. But it also took a willingness on the part of its executives to push the envelope and explore creative solutions to unprecedented challenges.

People came together very quickly to solve problems, make fast decisions, and accept some unavoidable compromises, without drama or egos getting in the way, she says. Our top priorities have been to keep our employees safe and to deliver to our customers with minimal disruption. By transitioning so quickly to remote operations, weve been able to sustain an on-time delivery rate of better than 90 percent.

Telemedicine heroes

Not surprisingly, many of the extraordinary efforts put forth by IT professionals this spring involved making healthcare services more widely available to people who needed them.

Take Modernizing Medicine, which provides electronic health record (EHR) and practice management software to 15,000 healthcare specialists. In a single week this past March the volume of office visits to its physicians network dropped by 75 percent, says Patric Edmondson, senior vice president of product development.

When COVID hit, we understood instantly that there was lot of healthcare that wasnt going to be deployed and a lot of patients who wouldnt be able to see their doctors, he says.

The company quickly pulled a huge chunk of IT resources away from existing projects and pivoted them toward extending the audio and video capabilities of its telehealth platform.

Normally it would take three to four months to fully develop, debug, pilot, and implement a HIPAA-compliant telemedicine system, says VP of Engineering Mihai Fonoage. Modernizing Medicine did it all in four weeks, assembling a team of 40 software engineers, UX specialists, mobile and back-end architects, and cloud service engineers who worked around the clock.

A lot of that time was spent working with healthcare providers to establish the right workflows for virtual visits  how to set up video calls, how patients would interact across different platforms, and so on.

At the same time, the company was transitioning all 800 of its employees to operate remotely. The organizations IT team had to replace its internal phone system and implement a new webinar solution to allow the company to hold virtual meetings. They pulled that off in less than a week with no additional personnel, Edmondson adds.

With virtual visits fully enabled and practices reopening, Modernizing Medicines healthcare providers are approaching 80 percent of their original patient volume, says Edmondson.

Our biggest challenge was building this in the time frame we had, says Fonoage. We literally worked days, nights, and weekends to get something out, but nobody complained about it. When youre driven by such a meaningful goal, everything else becomes a blur.

Attack of the virus scammers

In addition to its other damage, COVID-19 resulted in a spike in hack attacks. By the end of March, pandemic-related phishing attacks had already grown 600 percent, according to KnowBe4s quarterly phishing report. By mid-April, Google was blocking 18 million malicious emails a day related to COVID.

The problem is that COVID-19 has created fear and uncertainty among everybody, says Satnam Narang, staff research engineer for security firm Tenable. Scammers are seizing on fear and taking advantage of folks who are worried sick. Weve seen this kind of thing before with natural disasters, but this crisis is global. Its a phenomenal opportunity for scammers, and not in a good way.

In addition to dealing with a surge of COVID patients, hospitals have forced to fend off massive new waves of attacks. Major breaches of healthcare networks were up 50 percent between February and May, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Enter the COVID-19 Cyber Threat Coalition.

Launched in mid-March by Joshua Saxe, chief scientist at security firm Sophos, CTCC has now grown to more than 4,000 volunteers who offer security awareness training, issue weekly advisories, and help thousands of healthcare organizations mitigate attacks.

Each day, the coalition aggregates data on tens of millions of potential attacks from multiple threat intelligence feeds, then shares that information via a free URL blocklist. These feeds are vetted by hundreds of volunteers for COVID-related threats.

One of the biggest challenges we had was taking all these different feeds and turning them into one cohesive feed we could use to create our blocklist, says Nick Espinosa, volunteer spokesperson for the CCTC and principal of his own firm, Security Fanatics. Tens of thousands of organizations are now hitting us up for our information.

Another ad-hoc coalition of white-hat security experts, the Cyberthreat Intelligence League, has shut down nearly 3,000 malicious sites and identified more than 2,000 vulnerabilities in the networks of major healthcare organizations.

Saxe says he didnt intend to build a massive volunteer organization, but it quickly evolved into one.

I was only looking to create an informal Slack space for threat researchers to collaborate and share information, he says. Then I realized we had the volunteer firepower to build actual threat intelligence services for the global IT security community. As a team, we built an organizational structure, a technical infrastructure, a social media and web presence, and a set of practices around publishing blocklists and threat advisories that allowed the effort to become truly useful to network defenders.

Coders vs. COVID

DigitalOcean, an infrastructure as a service platform for developers, has been making its resources available to devs who want to put their coding skills to work fighting the virus and mitigating its effects.

On its Hub for Good, DigitalOcean lists more than 600 projects, organized across several categories, including fighting the virus, supporting quarantine life, helping small businesses, and enabling remote learning.

Some of the more notable projects include:

Aviation Sans Frontiers: A service in France that matches healthcare providers with pilots who could fly them to hospitals where they were needed most.

Deaf COVID-19: A portal that aggregates videos employing sign languages, which enables the hearing impaired to receive information about the virus.

Snug Safety: A simple app that enables people who are sheltering in place alone to check in and let others know theyre OK.

BlockxBlockWest: A charity punk concert that raised funds for the CDC COVID-19 Relief Fund, which took place entirely inside the game of Minecraft.

Many of the projects in the Hub have potential to continue after the current crisis has passed, says Hollie Haggans, global community hub lead.

A lot of the developers have built really amazing tools that can be applied to other areas of technology and different verticals, she says. We anticipate many of them to be repurposed to help serve the broader community.

In June Digital Ocean announced it was expanding its Hub for Good to include projects aiming to fight inequality and promote sustainable economic growth, donating up to $500,000 in infrastructure credits to these projects.

From cars to community

When the crisis took hold, the automobile industry hit an immediate roadblock. Car makers shut down their assembly lines. Dealerships closed their doors. Fleets of cars scheduled for import or export were stranded at the docks.

Car Delivery Network, a logistics company that helps ensure new vehicles make it safely from manufacturers to dealers, felt the impact almost immediately, says Derric Hicks, director of North American operations for CDN.

We went from shipping 35,000 vehicles in one week to 2,500 the next, says Hicks. We quickly realized that in another week wed find ourselves twiddling our thumbs. Thats when we got the idea to transition our services to use during the pandemic.

Within four days, CDN had created a new version of its mobile app, called Reach. Instead of using the app to match dealers with drivers who could deliver truckloads of cars, CDN was using it to match people in need with volunteers ready to help.

Car Delivery Network had morphed into Community Delivery Network, helping to provide food, medicine, and other services in more than 30 communities across the US, UK, New Zealand, and Australia.

To make sure its back-end services could scale to meet potential demand, CDN turned to its hosting provider, Rackspace Technology. In March, Rackspace announced it was donating $10 million in OpenStack Public Cloud hosting resources to organizations helping out with COVID-19 relief efforts.

CDN came to us and said, We have this great idea, but we need compute power,' says Josh Prewitt, general manager for Rackspace and vice president of its OpenStack Public Cloud. We said, We have that; we can help.'

Rackspace set up a mirror environment to what CDN already had in its private cloud, but with the ability to burst and scale as needed, says Prewitt.

Instead of CDN having to rack and stack new gear, we could simply say, If you need more resources, well just dial them up.'

Hicks says CDN is likely to continue to support Reach after the pandemic has subsided. Hes been talking to churches and universities about how to use the app to organize volunteers, track community service hours, and provide help for local businesses.

The more conversations we have about this, the more we realize we can do, he says. Theres so much more that can be done with matching somebody who has a need with someone who can provide help.
The government is considering making it mandatory for all retailers and e-commerce platforms to display the country of origin on every product they sell so that consumers have a choice between local and imported goods, people aware of the development said.

This would also help consumers avoid the purchase of products originating from countries such as China if they wish to boycott them, the people said, requesting anonymity. After the recent violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh, which left 20 Indians dead, there have been calls for a boycott of Chinese goods.

Bloomberg reported that Amazon.com Inc. and Walmart Inc.s Flipkart agreed to compel merchants to start prominently displaying country of origin for all goods sold online in India, bowing to regulatory demands as tensions with China escalate. The report said that the internet giants joined about a dozen other online retailers including Facebook Inc.-backed Jio Platforms in agreeing to the move.

The ministry of commerce and industry on Wednesday held a stakeholders meeting on ways to enforce explicit labelling of goods with their respective countries of origin after it was made mandatory for products sold on the state-run trading platform Government e-Marketplace (GeM) from Tuesday, the people cited above said.

Government representatives told online retailers to work out a system that would provide visibility to customers about the place whee products sold on their platforms are manufactured, said two people present in the meeting through video conference.

No final decision could be taken on Wednesday;another meeting will be held in a week or two after wider consultations with stakeholders because of complexities in supply chains and globalisation of manufacturing activities, they said.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the retail industry, including Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance Retail, Reliance Jio and GeM. The companies and the ministry of commerce and industry declined to comment.

A government official said, It was an official-level meeting and it was part of the consultation process. A final decision would be taken by the competent authority after reflecting on all issues raised by the stakeholders.

Another official said there were demands from both retailers and consumers to make the country of origin explicit on products so that consumers who would like to boycott Chinese products could do so.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), a body of about 70 million traders, is spearheading a nationwide movement for boycott of Chinese products. Its secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said traders have asked commerce minister Piyush Goyal to make it mandatory for all e-commerce platforms to mention country of origin as mandated for GeM.

In the current manufacturing scenario, when supply chain or various components for one product is spread across several countries, it is not always easy to identify the place of manufacturing. For example, many mobiles, assembled in India, have close to 90% components coming from places like China, Korea or Taiwan. How to identify its country of origin?, one person who attended the meeting asked.

Manasvi Srivastava, partner-trade & customs at consulting firm KPMG India, said: From the point of view of providing a customer informed choice, prescribing country of origin labelling on products sold in India would be a good move. Similar requirements exist in other countries like US and South Korea. There would be need for regulatory and administrative clarity on the matter before implementing such a change.

According to Srivastava, the move will also help in framing trade policies. There would be a shift in the pattern of trade flows between India and countries exporting to India, as customers begin to exercise informed preferences. This would make it possible for the government of India to exercise and enforce policy options on external and internal trade better, he said.

However, if new requirements are implemented without creating definition clarity and harmonizing different regulations, there could be avoidable disruption of trade and supply chains.
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Apple on Sunday said it has reopened nearly 100 of its retail outlets around the world.

The company will be opening an additional 25 stores in the United States and 12 more in Canada this week, according to a Bloomberg report.

Apple previously had closed all its retail stores due to the spread of COVID-19.

Our commitment is to only move forward with a reopening once were confident we can safely return to serving customers from our stores, Apple Senior Vice President of Retail Deirdre OBrien wrote in an open letter to companys customers.

We look at every available piece of data  including local cases, near and long-term trends, and guidance from national and local health officials, she continued. These are not decisions we rush into  and a store opening in no way means that we wont take the preventative step of closing it again should local conditions warrant.

Apple Stores set to reopen in the United States are in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Oklahoma and Washington state, Bloomberg noted.

Taking Precautions

Apple has instituted measures to make their stores safe for employees and customers, OBrien noted, including the following:

Limiting occupancy to enable social distancing;

Requiring employees and customers to wear masks. Apple will provide a mask to any customer who doesnt have one;

Taking the temperature of customers before they enter a store and asking them whether they have symptoms of COVID-19 or recently were exposed to someone infected with the virus; and

Performing enhanced deep cleanings that place special emphasis on all surfaces, display products, and highly trafficked areas.

The response to COVID-19 is still ongoing, and we recognize that the road back will have its twists and turns. But whatever challenges lie ahead, COVID-19 has only reinforced our faith in people  in our teams, in our customers, in our communities, OBrien wrote.

Down the road, when we reflect on COVID-19, she continued, we should always remember how so many people around the world put the well-being of others at the center of their daily lives.

Kudos for Plan

Apples approach to reopening its stores received praise from some quarters.

Apples reopening plan appears to follow local rules and restrictions that are designed to lower or minimize risk, said Charles King, principal analyst atPund-IT, a technology advisory firm in Hayward, California.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Its hard to find any fault with the plan, he told TechNewsWorld.

However, the pace of Apples reopening is surprising, observed Sucharita Kodali, analyst at Forrester Research, a market research company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Frankly, Im surprised they didnt open when all their malls reopened, she told TechNewsWorld.

They were one of the first to close, if you recall, even though malls have continuous operating clauses for their tenants. This was even before local ordinances forced stay-at-home orders, Kodali pointed out.

Other brands, like Louis Vuitton and Saks, have reopened very safely, and I expect Apple will do the same, she added.

Risky Doing Business

Apples pace of store reopenings is right if its precautions prevent people from transmitting infections, said Greg Sterling, vice president of market insights at Uberall, maker of location marketing solutions based in Berlin, Germany.

Since testing remains inadequate and theres no vaccine until at least 2021  if then  theyre taking a very careful, thoughtful approach, he told TechNewsWorld.

While Apple is being careful, its in the same boat as any retailer opening up for business during the COVID-19 crisis, noted Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, an advisory services firm in Bend, Oregon.

With a pandemic, where you dont know who is infected and who isnt, any resumption of business comes with risk, he told TechNewsWorld.

Playing It Safe

Those risks should be reduced by the safety measures the company has adopted, noted Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, a technology advisory firm inCampbell, California.

The guidelines are very proactive and should do the job of keeping Apples staff and customers safe, he told TechNewsWorld.

By proactively checking shoppers temperatures before they enter and requiring both workers and customers to be masked at all times, Apple should be able to minimize risk to both consumers and employees, King added.

Given the uncertainty about how COVID-19 is transmitted, Apple is being diligent, Sterling said.

Theyre doing all the things that one would expect  limiting capacity, requiring face masks  and giving consumers multiple options, including curbside pickup, he observed.

Those measures should make consumers comfortable returning to Apples stores, Kodali added.

They seem to be doing the same things as grocers and other essential retailers, and people seem perfectly fine going to those locations, she said.

Influential Brand

Because of its powerful brand, Apples approach to reopening its stores could influence other retailers.

Apple has always been one of the companies that others look to for best practices and, as in the past, will set an example for other companies to follow, Bajarin said.

Apple is a retail leader and will be a model for others to varying degrees, Sterling noted. Best Buy is doing similar things.

Apple is a bellwether thats watched by other retailers, Enderle remarked. Its also averse to litigation, which may be another reason some retailers will be watching the company closely.

A lot of retailers dont understand the litigation risk should someone come into their store and catch the virus, he pointed out. Apple will make every effort to make sure it isnt one of those retailers. That implies that Apple will be safer than most other retailers.

Rebel Without a Mask

While Apple may feel its safety measures are needed to keep its customers and employees safe, not everyone may agree.

This is like bringing up politics at the familys Thanksgiving dinner, observed Michael Arrigo, a HIPAA expert witness with No World Borders.

There are very polarized opinions about this, he told TechNewsWorld. Sometimes theres violence when people are told to wear masks.

Forcing people to wear masks could irritate some folks, Kovali acknowledged, but added, people who would not comply probably dont index as strongly with being Apple customers, anyway.

The situation is made worse for retailers by the signals people are getting from the nations capital, Enderle suggested.

With the mixed guidance from the administration, it makes things unusually dangerous for retailers, he said, because as they try to enforce the rules, it sounds like theyre speaking out against the president.
KANDAI, Afghanistan  Atiqullah Khan, a farmer, remembers his village Kandai as a barren plain in Nurgal, a lowland district in the mountainous rural eastern province of Kunar a decade ago.

Irrigation, he says, was an unthinkable proposition despite the village being close to the gushing waters of the Kunar River  one of the largest rivers in Afghanistan.

Our land was completely arid because we had no means to divert the river water for irrigation, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. Some people used generators and pumps for irrigation, but that was very expensive.

But a few years ago, Tetsu Nakamura, a Japanese aid worker who was killed in Afghanistan last year, showed up in Kandai and helped its residents build a giant water wheel to feed an irrigation canal to their lands.

Now we always have water for irrigation, Khan said. We even did not had a tree here, but today we can grow everything and our lives have changed.

The metal water wheel feeds a canal 6 meters higher than the river surface. This canal irrigates nearly 40 hectares of irrigated land in Kandai and then feeds several other villages in Nurgal. The project provides steady livelihoods for hundreds of families in the impoverished region. They now grow wheat, maze, vegetables, and fruits year-round.

Kandai is one of the communities in eastern Afghanistan where Nakamura helped locals in building canals that irrigate nearly 30,000 hectares of previously arid land. In Kunar and the neighboring province of Nangarhar, his tireless work spanning more than two decades has benefited more than 1 million residents.

Six months after Nakamura was shot dead in Jalalabad, an eastern city serving as the capital of Nangarhar, local residents continue to be grateful for his dedication and hard work.

We have gained a lot because of Nakamura, Mohammad Hanif Khiarkhwa, the district governor of Nurgal, told Radio Free Afghanistan We had a lot of arid plains in Nurgal, but today many are lush green because of this canal.

Najibullah Adil, provincial head of the Afghan ministry of agriculture and irrigation, says Nakamuras reliance on simple technology showed them a way to replicate his techniques elsewhere.

He built irrigation projects from local materials and employed simple technology such as water wheels, Adil noted. We can substantially increase arable land in Kunar by deploying water wheels in many water channels.

Nakamura, 73, was fondly called Uncle Murad by Afghans. He was awarded honorary Afghan citizenship a few months before his death.

During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, he established medical clinics in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistans northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, to treat locals and Afghan refugees. He later switched to irrigation to help Afghans as many returning communities were plagued by a drought in the early 2000s.

In one of his last interviews, he told the Japanese broadcaster NHK that medicines wont treat starvation and drought. We realized that we need to go beyond the narrow field of medicine and work to ensure that people had enough food and water, he said.

Abubakar Siddique wrote this story based on Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent Rohullah Anwaris reporting from Kandai, Afghanistan.
A top French historian slammed President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday for trying to shut down debate on the country's colonial past as a prominent statue linked to slavery was attacked in Paris.

Macron all but ignored the wave of Black Lives Matter protests in a major television address last week except to warn that France would not take down statues of controversial historical figures.

"The Republic will not wipe away any trace or any name from its history... but lucidly look at our history and our memory together," the president said.

But historian Nicolas Offenstadt pulled him up sharply, telling French radio that Macron had a made a "hugely damaging confusion between history and memory that will not help public debate in France."

His intervention came as politicians condemned an attack on a statue of the 17th-century statesman Jean-Baptiste Colbert in front of the French parliament, which was daubed with red paint and a slogan on Tuesday night condemning the "negrophobie d'Etat" (the state's fear of black people).

Colbert was responsible for drawing up the Code Noir (Black Code), a notorious 1685 decree governing the conditions of slavery in the French empire under Louis XIV, and for banning Jews from its colonies.

"Let's stop this permanent attempt to make us feel guilty," said centre-right MP Eric Ciotti.

France "does not have the same history as the US. We are being judged on values that are not ours," he added.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said there should be no yielding to "the violent, excessive and brutal minorities" who want controversial statues removed.

Napoleon 'first to go'

"If we do that, we will have to take down everyone including Charles de Gaulle, and Napoleon would be the first to go," she said.

The emperor reintroduced slavery in French colonies in 1802, eight years after it had been banned under the French Revolution.

Napoleon reintroduced slavery after the French Revolution banned it in 1794.

But former prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said a hall in parliament that carries Colbert's name should also be renamed.

Government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye, who is black, condemned the attack on the statue and said she was also against the "denial of what has been the history of our country".

With some in Macron's party supporting explanatory plaques on statues, she said "historians need to help us put the facts in their context".

Last week Oscar-nominated black filmmaker Raoul Peck accused France of being in denial of its racism, its colonial past and its wealth "built on the misery of others".

He said protesters who have taken to the streets in the US and France "are right to rise up. They are right to protest, they may even be right to smash everything," he added.

Offenstadt, who is best known for groundbreaking book on French soldiers shot by firing squad during World War I, said Macron had confused memory and history, two very different things.

Opposing monuments

He said memory, often symbolised in statues, is "something a lot more lived, more personal, subjective, chosen and more intense.

"We can unbolt a statue... that is not rewriting history. No one can rewrite history," Offenstadt said.

"But memory is something we choose and which we promote collectively," the historian added.

Offenstadt said Macron should have encouraged a wide debate between historians and the public and let people explain their problems with monuments linked to slavery and colonialism rather than try to close the argument down.

Between toppling a statue and keeping it in place there was a huge range of compromises, he argued.

Plaques, he suggested, could put them in context and offer other narratives; some statues could be moved to museums; others could be made to face off with counter monuments to show how history was disputed.

Macron admitted that colonial rule had left anger in its wake.

And he acknowledged that France had to fight against the fact that your "name, address, and colour of your skin" can affect a person's life chances.

But he insisted that France was a "nation where everyone -- whatever their origin and religion -- can find their place."

Many activists disagree however, with Human Rights Watch urging France to halt "abusive and discriminatory" police identity checks of black and Arab males.
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Brothers fighting over property is a story that has played out repeatedly in the annals of India Inc. Yet, many were surprised when news emerged that the Hinduja brothers have taken their dispute over family assets to the High Court in England.

Names of the four brothers - 'patriach' Srichand Parmanand Hinduja, and his three younger siblings GP Hinduja, PP Hinduja and AP Hinduja - were often taken in sync, and their public appearances added to the legend.

Nearly every time, each brother would be accompanied by at least one or two of his siblings. Perhaps, their joint appearances in courts over the Bofors case, where they were alleged to have taken commission, added to the persona, and the perception that the four siblings were in it together, through thick and thin.

Their closeness reflected in the shareholding pattern of their listed companies. A cursory look showed that three of the four listed entities of the Hinduja Group do not have any direct shareholding of the promoter individuals, much unlike some of the family-promoted companies of its peers.

Ashok Leyland, IndusInd Bank and Gulf Oil, all forming part of the Hinduja Group, do not have any individual shareholding as per data provided by the companies on the BSE. These companies have promoter group entities holding stakes in the listed companies.

Hinduja Global Solutions, the BPO service provider, is the only group company that has members of the Hinduja family directly holding shares.

"When there are multiple vehicles without assigning ownership to an individual, then the basic assumption is that we are in it, together. The individual doesn't matter," says Kavil Ramachandran, Clinical Professor and Executive Director of the Thomas Schmidheiny Centre for Family Enterprise at the Indian School of Business.

"This is like a joint family concept. Your name is my name, my name is yours, everything is everyone's, equally," adds Ramachandran.

The flagship and its peers

Ashok Leyland is the flagship company of the Hinduja Group. The promoter stake of this truck and bus maker is split into four entities - Hinduja Bank (Switzerland), Hinduja Automotive, Hinduja Foundries Holding and CitiBank NA  making up nearly 52 percent stake.

No Hinduja family member holds any direct stake in Ashok Leyland as per the BSE data.

In comparison Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Bajaj Auto have family members holding shares in the respective companies. For instance, Bajaj family members  Rahul Bajaj, Rajiv Bajaj and Sanjiv Bajaj, Madhur Bajaj, Niraj Bajaj and Shekhar Bajaj  hold stakes in Bajaj Auto.

In the case of M&M, Chairman Anand Mahindra and wife Anuradha Mahindra are individual shareholders in the company listed under the promoter category.

Similarly, Indias largest auto component company Motherson Sumi, yet another family-promoted entity, also has family members holding shares.

In other words, in the case of the Hinduja brothers, it was never known how much each brother held in these companies. In fact, all the Rich List surveys rank them jointly. The 2019 Forbes India Rich List ranks them third, with a wealth of $15.6 billion.

The next gen

There were signs that the next generation was taking active interest in businesses that spread across the globe. It wasn't surprising. Patriarch Srichand Parmanand Hinduja is 84, and the youngest brother, AP Hinduja, is 69.

Dheeraj Hinduja, son of Gopichand Hinduja, is the chairman of Ashok Leyland. Dheeraj's brother Sanjay Hinduja chairs Gulf Oil. Their cousins, Vinoo, Shom, Ambika and Shanoo are listed under the promoter group of Hinduja Solutions.

It is Vinoo Hinduja, along with her father Srichand Hinduja, who has gone to the court, saying that a 2014 document has been used by her uncles to take control of Switzerland-based Hinduja Bank. Vinoo and Srichand Hinduja now want the court to agree that the document has no legal standing and can be revoked.

In other words, says Ramachandran of ISB, the family difference has come to its fourth stage - dispute. The professor in his book, 10 Commandments for Family Business, narrates that there are five stages to a family difference - dilemma, deviation, differences, dispute and the last, destruction.

"Any family difference starts with a dilemma. It could be a dilemma about role, responsibility or shareholding. Once this dilemma reaches the dispute stage, it's difficult to go back. It means that family discussions haven't worked out," says Ramachandran.

The document

It is difficult to ascertain if the 2014 document, which is at the centre of the dispute, is an informal agreement, a will or a basis of a family constitution.

"If you have a constitution, then it means you have thought through succession. Some of the business families have done so, including the Godrej and Murugappa families. So these families expose the next generation to the constitution as they grow up," says Ramachandran.

But if there is no constitution, he adds, and there is just an understanding between a set of brothers, it doesn't mean that the next generation buys into it.

In the case of the Hinduja family, it surely seems like the document has led to a difference in opinion. The document states that assets owned by one brother belong to all.

As the dispute plays out in the court, the document will play a critical role in deciding the winner. "The approach of any court will be to look at the sanctity of the document. If it can avoid a dispute and lead to equal distribution of property, then the court will give sanctity to the document, rather than trying to find loopholes in it," says Narendra Dingankar, Partner, Pioneer Legal.

Also, he adds, "what will be significant is what has happened since 2014, when the document was signed. The court will check if the family members have enjoyed the provisions of the document. If it's so, then the sanctity of the document will be upheld."

The court's decision on the document will now decide what happens next in one of India's richest business families.

With inputs from Prince Mathews Thomas.
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. Our findings confirm what we suspected: Clinicians working in this environment experienced significant levels of acute stress and other psychological effects." 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

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.
tech2 News Staff

Twitter Inc on Tuesday placed a warning notice on a tweet by President Donald Trump threatening serious force against protesters in the US capital, the second time it has used the label since it began challenging Trumps tweets in May.

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 president said in his tweet, which Twitter said violated its policy against abusive behavior.

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

Trump posted the message after anti-racism protesters on Monday declared a Black House Autonomous Zone - referencing a Seattle area taken over by activists known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) or Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone - in front of St. Johns Episcopal Church near the White House.

Police cleared the White House area on Tuesday and blocked access to the site, where law enforcement had used violence to disperse protesters earlier this month.

Twitter said it hid Trumps tweet behind its public interest notice because it included a threat of harm against an identifiable group. The label restricts distribution of tweets by public officials which violate Twitters rules, while leaving them online to allow for scrutiny.

A Twitter spokeswoman said teams within the companys safety division informed Chief Executive Jack Dorsey of the decision before applying the notice.

Facebook, which has taken a more hands-off approach to speech by political leaders, left the same post untouched.

At least 150,000 people had liked Trumps tweet and 33,000 retweeted it before Twitter restricted engagement, according to the most recent image captured by the Internet Archives Wayback Machine. His post on Facebook received 12,000 comments.

The warning escalated Twitters challenge to Trump, who has used the platform unimpeded for years to rally supporters and deride opponents.

After the company last month started applying labels to his messages, Trump announced plans to scrap or weaken a law that has protected internet companies in order to regulate social media platforms more aggressively.

Twitters first public interest notice against Trump also involved a threat of force against protesters, who have been demonstrating against racial injustice since the May 25 death of George Floyd, a Black man, in police custody.

Trump had used the phrase when the looting starts, the shooting starts to threaten deadly force against protesters in Minneapolis, where Floyd died.

Twitter said that message violated its rules against glorifying violence. It has also appended fact-checking and manipulated media labels to Trumps tweets in the last month.

In addition to this, Twitter has permanently suspended the account of a rightwing online personality for violating its copyright policy, a week after he posted a doctored video of toddlers that was tweeted by President Donald Trump.

The doctored video was first posted by Carpe Donktum, an account known to support Trump. Twitter said early on Wednesday it had suspended the account indefinitely for repeated violations of its policy on posting copyrighted material.

With inputs from Reuters
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis claimed victory in the Islands highest-profile race of Tuesdays primary election against former Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Joseph Caldarera.

Malliotakis will now go on to challenge Democrat Rep. Max Rose in November, who welcomed her to general election minutes before she officially declared victory.

The time has come my friends to send Max Rose packing and make him a One Term Wonder, like other Democrats who have held this seat,' Malliotakis said in a statement.

For the past 10 years I have represented Staten Island and South Brooklyn in the New York State Assembly and have fought against the liberals who now rule this city and state.....I have fought against high taxes and bad schools.....against bail reform and Sanctuary City polices that protect criminals here illegally....I sued the Port Authority to achieve transparency, and took on the MTA, too. I stood up to Bill de Blasio and against his plans for heroin injection centers in our neighborhoods, she said.

Malliotakis and Caldarera both had tried to closely align themselves with President Donald Trump. However, Malliotakis won the endorsement of Trump and the rest of the GOP establishment, with Donald Trump Jr. even urging NY-11 voters to vote for the assemblywoman earlier this week.

She led Caldarera by more than 7,200 in-person votes by the end of the night, according to unofficial election results.

SAVINO DECLARES VICTORY

State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) also declared victory against Rajiv Gowda in the Islands only Democratic primary race this cycle. An hour after the polls closed, Savino led Gowda by more than 4,200 votes, according to unofficial election results.

Were grateful and humble for the consistent support. we believe any outstanding paper ballots will hold up to the overwhelming results currently coming in, a spokesperson for Savino said.

RACE FOR 64TH ASSEMBLY SEAT TOO CLOSE TO CALL

But the race was too close to call for one of the Islands closest primary races between Republicans Attorney Michael Tannousis former Brooklyn political operative Marko Kepi, both vying for Malliotakis soon to be vacant assembly seat.

By the end of the night, Tannousis led Kepi by more than 1,000 votes, according to unofficial election results, but Kepi claimed 2,600 absentee ballots would still need to be counted.

Republican Party Chairman Brendan Lantry dubbed Tannousis the apparent victor but said he would wait for paper ballots to be counted.

We all see the same numbers, there are not 2,600 absentee ballots outstanding, Lantry said. Just last year, Staten Island saw a razor-thin election for Civil Court judge which went down to the paper ballots. Tonight, it is clear that Michael Tannousis has won in the live votes that were cast today and during early voting. Were going to let the process of counting the absentee ballots begin, but it is apparent that Michael Tannousis has won the Republican nomination.

Kepi said he was confident he would prevail.

With over 2,600 votes yet to be counted, we believe the race is too close to call and that every vote must be counted, Kepi said. In the end, we believe we will be victorious because of the hard work our volunteers put in reaching out to the voters affected by the covid-19 epidemic. This is an unprecedented situation and we look forward to victory in this race and a united party in November.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS WONT BE COUNTED FOR A WEEK

In New York City, absentee ballots will not be counted for a week and will have to be counted manually.

By the end of last week, the state issued 28,926 absentee ballots to Richmond County voters.

Board of Elections Chief Michael Ryan said during a commissioners meeting last week that the normal validation process will still be in place for absentee ballots and that the speed of the results will rely on how many challenges are made to the ballots.

New York State Board of Elections spokesman John Conklin said it will be difficult to determine the clear victors of all the races by Tuesday night.

I dont expect to know any winners tonight, Conklin said Tuesday. " A large unknown percentage of the turnout is in absentee ballots so predicting winners would be foolhardy. We will post results on our website tonight but it will only be for machine totals for today and early voting.

On Tuesday, polling site staff and voters had to follow new safety procedures amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Social distancing markers were placed on the ground at polling sites and staffers and voters were required to wear face-coverings.

Turnout was strong at polling sites the Advance visited Tuesday morning and the paper was alerted to a couple of issues at the polls.

Port Richmond resident Jasi Robinson, said she and her mother had difficulty getting into the Port Richmond Library to vote at 6 a.m. because cops did not show up to open voting machines and scanners.

Robinson, who ran against Savino in the 2018 primary race for state senate, said she also received complaints from voters who tried to vote in-person at P.S. 44 about the same issue.

In her more than a decade of experience as a poll coordinator and elections coordinator, Robinson said she had never seen such a widespread problem.

In all my times that Ive been a coordinator Ive never experienced anything quite like this, she said. I know its a pandemic, I know people are returning to work and what not but we had 9/11 we had Superstorm Sandy so if we could manage to maintain an election during those situations and catastrophes then we should have been able to manage this. I think this was a complete failure.

The New York City Board of Elections said they did not have any specific information about what happened at those two sites.

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The mayor of Pico Rivera and a consultant are charged in a conspiracy to conceal the source of campaign contributions to a board member of the Montebello Unified School District. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times )

The mayor of Pico Rivera and a consultant have been charged with illegally reimbursing donors who funded the campaign of a candidate for a Montebello school board seat, according to court documents made public Tuesday.

Gustavo Vidal Camacho, mayor of Pico Rivera and a city councilman since 2009, and Luis Diaz Rojas, chief executive of a consulting company for school construction projects, surrendered to authorities and made their initial appearances in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, said Greg Risling, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County district attorney.

Both men are charged in a conspiracy to conceal the source of campaign contributions to Joanna Flores, a board member of the Montebello Unified School District.

Between December 2015 and April 2016, Camacho and Rojas directed family members, employees of Rojas company and an unidentified political ally to contribute to Flores campaign, whom Rojas then reimbursed, Deputy Dist. Atty. Alan Yochelson alleged in a complaint. Flores was not charged.

Camacho and Rojas will be arraigned in October, at which time they will enter a plea, Risling said.

Camacho said he was completely surprised by the charges. He and his lawyer, he said in a statement, were still trying to get our arms around the facts and the allegations in order to respond. He vowed to not let the charges distract from his duties as mayor.

Rojas too said he was surprised at the case, but declined to address it until he and his lawyer dissect and better understand the allegations. Three days after this article was published, Rojas said in a letter to The Times: "As a well-respected business owner with a stellar reputation for overseeing and executing quality bond program and construction management work, I vehemently dispute the assertions."

Rojas said the district attorney's case "appears to mimic" an earlier investigation by the Fair Political Practices Commission with which he and Camacho, the Pico Rivera mayor, "thoroughly, fully and openly cooperated."

Story continues

Flores didnt respond to messages seeking comment.

Rojas company, Del Terra Construction, figured prominently in a whistleblower suit filed by two former executives of the Montebello Unified School District, Susanna Contreras Smith and Cleve Pell. A Los Angeles County jury awarded the two $3.7 million in August 2018.

Smith, the districts former superintendent, and Pell, its erstwhile chief financial officer, alleged that Rojas company was awarded multimillion dollar contracts by his former employee, Ruben Rojas, who left Del Terra and became the school district's chief business officer. Three days after this article was published, Luis Rojas disputed the account in the whistleblower suit and said Ruben Rojas never worked for his company.

In February 2015, the Montebello school district signed a $2-million contract with Evergreen Energy Solutions, of which Luis Rojas is president, and a Georgia company to install LED lighting in Bell Gardens High School, Montebello Intermediate School and Montebello Gardens Elementary School. A copy of the contract was filed in court, appended to a lawsuit the school district filed against Rojas company.

Six months later, according to the lawsuit, the district learned that workers had disturbed asbestos fibers in several buildings, then spread the contaminants to other schools. The district was forced to spend more than $3.5 million in a massive cleanup, the lawsuit said. In his post-publication letter to The Times, Rojas said district employees, not his company, were responsible for the asbestos contamination.

On Aug. 18, 2016, the same day that attorneys representing the district filed suit against Rojas company, the school board  including Flores, the board member to whom, in county prosecutors telling, Rojas laundered campaign contributions flowed  voted unanimously to award his company, Del Terra, a lucrative management contract, school board meeting minutes show.

Del Terras contract, according to the meeting minutes, was not to exceed 4.5% of all funds raised by a series of bond measures, including one that brought in $300 million. Lawyers for the fired whistleblowers valued Del Terras contract at $13.5 million, at least.

After this article was published, Rojas said the school district's attorneys sued his company "without the knowledge or approval" of the school board. "Once the school board realized their own employees were culpable for exposing innocent workers to asbestos, the district dropped their lawsuit," he said.

State Auditor Elaine Howle, whose office examined the districts finances and published its findings in November 2017, said the district failed to ensure that its employees did not have conflicts of interest when they approved expenditures and contracts related to the bond funds.
WASHINGTON - Flicking a dismissive jab at President Donald Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a plan Wednesday to expand Obamacare, even as Trumps administration is about to file arguments in a Supreme Court case to strike it down.

Pelosi announced an upcoming floor vote on her measure, setting up a debate that will juxtapose the Democrats top policy issue, Trumps unrelenting efforts to dismantle Obamas legacy, and the untamed coronavirus pandemic.

On Thursday, the Trump administration is expected to file papers with the Supreme Court arguing that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. Pelosi wants her bill on the House floor Monday.

Trying to overturn a health insurance expansion providing coverage to about 20 million people was wrong any time, Pelosi said.

Now, it is beyond stupid, she added. Beyond stupid.

COVID-19 cases are rising in major states like Texas, Florida and California, and millions of workers who have lost coverage in the economic shutdown to contain the virus can rely on the health law as a backup.

The White House said Pelosi is just playing politics. Instead of diving back into partisan games, Democrats should continue to work with the president on these important issues and ensuring our country emerges from this pandemic stronger than ever, spokesman Judd Deere said Wednesday in a statement.

Pelosis legislation has no chance in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Her bill would expand subsidies, allowing more people to qualify for coverage under the ACA. It would financially squeeze some states that have refused to expand Medicaid under the health law. And it would empower Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices  a position Trump once favoured but later abandoned.

It would also undo the Trump administrations expansion of short-term insurance plans that dont have to cover preexisting medical conditions, something Democrats say will undermine a central achievement of the ACA.

Democrats won control of the House in 2018 on their defence of the health care law. Since then, that chamber has voted on most of the measures in Pelosis plan in one form or another.

But, as underscored in a memo last month led by Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., the broader goal is to make Republicans squirm.

Republicans at all levels own this lawsuits attack on Americans health care, said the memo. They will be held responsible for their party-wide obsession with throwing our health care system into chaos and stripping health care from 20 million Americans during a global pandemic.

Obamas law has grown more popular since Trumps unsuccessful effort to repeal it in 2017, when Republicans controlled both the House and Senate. In May, a poll from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation found that 51% of Americans view Obamacare favourably while 41% have unfavourable views.

An earlier Kaiser poll found also found that nearly 6 in 10 are worried they or someone in their family will lose coverage if the Supreme Court overturns either the entire law or its protections for people with preexisting medical conditions.

In the case before the court, Texas and other conservative-led states argue that the ACA was essentially rendered unconstitutional after Congress passed tax legislation in 2017 that eliminated the laws unpopular fines for not having health insurance, but left in place its requirement that virtually all Americans have coverage.

The conservative states argued that elimination of the fines made the laws so-called individual mandate unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor in Texas agreed, adding that the mandate was so central to the law that without it the rest must also fall.

The Trump administrations views on the law have shifted over time, but it has always supported getting rid of provisions that prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against people on account of their medical history. Nonetheless, Trump has repeatedly assured Americans that people with preexisting conditions would still be protected. Neither the White House nor congressional Republicans have specified how.

A federal appeals court in New Orleans found the health laws insurance requirement to be unconstitutional, but made no decision on such popular provisions as protections for people with preexisting conditions, Medicaid expansion and coverage for young adults up to age 26 on their parents policies. It sent the case back to OConnor to determine whether other parts of the law can be separated from the insurance requirement, and remain in place.

Democratic-led states supporting the ACA appealed to the Supreme Court. Its unclear if the court will hear oral arguments before the November election. A decision is unlikely until next year.

The court has twice upheld the law, with Chief Justice John Roberts memorably siding with the courts liberals in 2012, amid Obamas reelection campaign. The majority that upheld the law twice remains on the court.

___

Associated Press writer Mark Sherman contributed.
City officials are conducting a survey of Houston residents aimed at providing help for the citys most vulnerable residents during the pandemic, according to Mayor Sylvester Turners office.

The 21-question survey, which is open to all Houston residents until Saturday, includes basic questions about how people have been impacted by COVID-19, such as the number of essential workers in their household.

It also queries people on whether they have been able to access personal protective equipment and how satisfied they are with resources and support networks for people affected by COVID-19 within their community.

The survey can be accessed here.

The survey is anonymous but asks for the respondents location, which will be used to create a map of community need, according to a message at the end of the survey.

The study is being conducted by the Health Equity Response (H.E.R.) Initiative and Task Force, which was launched by Turner in April. The task force is made up of medical specialists, public health professionals, communications creatives, data scientists, technology experts and faith leaders, according to Turners office.

The mayor said the task force is working with the health department and his own office to push more resources into the Houston neighborhoods that are most at-risk for community spread of the COVID-19 disease.

Houston has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases within the last several days, prompting Turner to warn that the city is moving very fast in the wrong direction. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has ordered businesses to require their customers to wear masks in an attempt to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

jasper.scherer@chron.com
CHERRY HILL, NJ  A Cherry Hill woman in her 90s has died after testing positive for the coronavirus, Camden County officials announced on Wednesday. She was one of seven new deaths that were announced countywide.

There were no new cases reported in Cherry Hill on Wednesday. In Cherry Hill, there are 978 confirmed cases of the coronavirus with 134 deaths. Countywide, there are 7,591 cases of the coronavirus with 437 confirmed deaths.

This is an extremely dangerous disease, and it is still very much with us in our community even as our cases decline, Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of all those we have lost to this insidious virus. Across the state, we are in a much better position than we were just a few short months ago, but that does not mean that this war is over. If we do not vigilantly practice social distancing, mask wearing, and other proactive measures to prevent the spread, we will see an increase in cases. Just like other states that are now seeing spikes of COVID-19 transmission, we could find ourselves moving in the wrong direction if we let our guards down.



New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.



As of Wednesday, 1,300 coronavirus cases have been confirmed among residents at the county's 56 long-term care facilities. Another 475 cases were confirmed among staff members at these nursing homes. At this time, 295 residents and three staff members have died.



Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

This article originally appeared on the Cherry Hill Patch
Ireland is being eyed up as a potential country to house tens of thousands of people from Hong Kong.

A real estate tycoon is considering building a new city that would promote values and principles that would suit people from the territory.
T his is the first picture of a 48-year-old man who was stabbed to death in a home in north London.

Police were called just before midnight on Saturday to reports of a man with stab injuries at an address in Waldegrave Road, Haringey.

Officers and paramedics scrambled to the scene and found a man suffering from stab wounds.

Police have now named the victim as Mihai Gae. He was rushed to hospital but died at around 1am on Sunday.

His next of kin were informed and continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

A special post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as a stab wound to the neck.

A 42-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder is believed to be known to the victim.

He was later charged with murder on Monday and remains in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on September 2.
Montgomery County commissioners approved funding for the countys new state district court Tuesday that will begin operations July 15.

In a unanimous vote, the court allocated $131,560 for personnel, benefits and operational services for the upcoming budget year. The court will strictly handle civil cases.

However, Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack questioned why the court needed to be pre-funded.

There is plenty of time and we dont know if (Gov. Greg Abbott) will appoint or not, he said referring to the upcoming Republican runoff election July 14 between The Woodlands-based attorney Eric Yollick and former Montgomery County prosecutor Vince Santini.

In the March Republican primary, Yollick was out front with 21,662 (37.53 percent) votes over Santini with 14,468 (25.07 percent). Because neither candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff is required.

Abbott could appoint the candidate that gets the Republican bid to face Democrat Marc Meyer in November as the interim judge.

Presented by 418th state District Judge Tracy Tuesday, he said the funding is important adding the 457th state District Court will mirror the 284th state District Court.

The day that person gets sworn in, whoever it is, all of the 410th civil cases will be transferred immediately to the new court, Gilbert said noting the 410th state District Court, which is a hybrid of civil and family, will become a full-time family court.

That, Gilbert said, will complete the countys switch to all specialized courts.

The budget needs to be in place so the court can actually operate and run, Gilbert said.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador and Precinct 4 Commissioner James Metts agree the funding needed to be in place.

We have got to fund the court so they can get to work when they get there, Meador said.

According to Gilbert the creation of the new court began more than two years ago after the Montgomery County Board of Judges reviewed data that indicated an additional was needed to handle the caseload in the county.

With the approval of commissioners, several of the judges spoke with local legislators and ultimately state Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, introduced a bill that created the 457th state District Court in September 2019.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
Diesel price was increased on Wednesday for the 18th day in a row since June 7, taking the total hike during the period to Rs 10.49 a litre.

While diesel will cost Rs 79.88 per litre after an increase by 48 paise, the price of petrol remained unchanged at Rs 79.76 or every litre in Delhi today.

People aware of the development said domestic rates of auto fuels may soon cross the Rs 80 per litre mark soon as international oil prices continue to surge.

Also read: Heres how you can check the latest petrol, diesel prices in your city

Executives of state-run oil marketing companies said requesting anonymity international oil prices jumped by almost 2% on Tuesday, which would mean about 60-70 paise per litre hike in petrol and diesel rates unless these firms absorb some price shock.

International benchmark Brent crude surged 1.74% at $43.83 on Tuesday.

Executives cited above said the main reason for a spike in petrol and diesel rates is high central and state levies that were imposed when global oil prices were very low.

The daily increase in fuel rates started on June 7 as oil companies resumed daily revision in prices in line with costs after ending an 82-day gap. It has taken diesel prices to fresh highs and petrol price too is at a two-year high.

The 82-day freeze in rates this year was imposed in mid-March soon after the government raised excise duty on petrol and diesel to shore up additional finances.

The Congress party on Tuesday called the increase in the price of petrol and diesel unjust and thoughtless and demanded a rollback with immediate effect.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) said in a statement after its meeting that no government should levy and impose such unacceptable strain on its people.

If the government does not alter the course on this ill-advised trajectory then it will have the ruinous consequence of pushing many middle-income households to the margins of poverty and pushing the poor to total economic ruin, it said.

Left partiesCommunist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Blochave also criticised the government over the fuel price hike.

The Modi government has embarked upon merciless destruction of peoples livelihood which has already been severely assaulted both by the pandemic and the unplanned, unilaterally announced and totally mismanaged nationwide lockdown, they said in a statement.
Mary Trump's forthcoming book. Credit:Simon & Schuster

Washington: US President Donald Trump's brother has petitioned a New York court to block the publication of a book by Mary Trump that describes her uncle, the President, as the "world's most dangerous man".

Presales of the book, scheduled for publication on July 28, have soared to the top of best-seller lists on the basis of a description from publisher Simon & Schuster that it will reveal decades of family secrets, including a "nightmare of traumas" that explain the psychology of the man who is now president.

The President told the Axios news service earlier this week that his niece was "not allowed" to write the book because she signed a non-disclosure agreement in 2001 that settled her suit against him and his siblings regarding her inheritance from her grandfather, Fred Trump snr, the President's father. He said the agreement was a "very powerful one" that "covers everything".

In the petition to stop publication, the President's brother Robert Trump said Mary Trump had agreed as part of a settlement related to the inheritance fight that she "would not publish any account" of her relationship with the President or his siblings.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 01:32:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The China Islamic Association on Wednesday said Chinese Muslims will not go to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year due to COVID-19.

According to a circular released by the association, despite the achievements China has made in battling the epidemic, it is still spreading across the globe and yet to be effectively controlled, with the situation of epidemic control still grave, which led to the decision.

Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that only a limited number of pilgrims will be allowed to perform Hajj in the country this year over COVID-19 concerns. Enditem
Emily Ratajkowski proved even bottle blondes have more fun, as she flaunted her newly lightened locks in a series of new snaps on Wednesday.

As she struck a number of sultry poses for her 26.6 million Instagram followers, the 29-year-old supermodel put her striking quarantine makeover on full display.

In addition to showcasing her brightened blonde hue, the I Feel Pretty actress donned a tied up white button up to emphasize her sculpted figure.

Blonde: Emily Ratajkowski proved even bottle blondes have more fun, as she flaunted her newly lightened locks in a series of new snaps on Wednesday

She paired her crisp top with a pair of light-wash jeans and could be seen looking off in the distance for the majority of her photo shoot with photographer Tom Newton.

The Inamorata founder, who is married to Sebastian Bear-McClard, looked gorgeous, as she honed a retro-inspired aesthetic.

While she only shared the black-and-white photos, Newton took to his personal account to highlight her new hair color.

New look: As she struck a number of sultry poses for her 26.6 million Instagram followers, the 29-year-old supermodel put her striking quarantine makeover on full display

Unrecognizable: Emily Ratajkowski debuted her newly bleached hairdo on Instagram, showcasing her signature brunette tresses in a much lighter shade

Ratajkowski, who is an ambassador for haircare brand Kerastase, appeared to be loving her unrecognizable appearance, as she embraced the change in front of the camera.

Earlier this week, Emily unveiled her lightened locks with a video captioned: 'BLONDE.'

Emily is serving 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.

Crisp: In addition to showcasing her bright blonde hue, the I Feel Pretty actress donned a tied up white blouse to emphasize her sculpted figure

Embracing change: The Inamorata founder, who is married to Sebastian Bear-McClard, looked gorgeous in a number of black and white pictures in her crisp ensemble

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.

Model blonde: Emily is serving 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

'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 said in a statement

'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.

For her camera moment, she wore a black strapless tube top, gold hoop earrings and a gold chain necklace.

Natural beauty: 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

Feeling herself: She looked fabulous with minimal makeup and her flawless complexion on full display

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

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.

The model also posed for more professionally shoot for Kerastase, proudly showing off her newly-bleached locks in a series of sultry sunlit images.

Mom and me: Emily was sure to pose with he dog Colombo as she flaunted her new look

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 and their pup 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.'
The Indian economy faces an uphill task in its battle to recover from the COVID-19 setback and it has been once again reiterated by the IMF's latest projection - a sharp contraction of 4.5 percent in this fiscal.

IMF, however, said the country is expected to bounce back in 2021 with a robust 6 percent growth rate.

It projected the global growth at 4.9 percent in 2020, 1.9 percentage points below the April 2020 World Economic Outlook (WEO) forecast.

"We are projecting a sharp contraction in 2020 of -4.5 percent. Given the unprecedented nature of this crisis, as is the case for almost all countries, this projected contraction is a historic low, Indian-American Gita Gopinath, IMF's Chief Economist, told PTI as she released the World Economic Outlook Update here.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a more negative impact on activity in the first half of 2020 than anticipated, and the recovery is projected to be more gradual than previously forecast. In 2021, global growth is projected at 5.4 percent, the report 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

For the first time, all regions are projected to experience negative growth in 2020. In China, where the recovery from the sharp contraction in the first quarter is underway, growth is projected at 1.0 percent in 2020, supported in part by policy stimulus.

"India's economy is projected to contract by 4.5 percent following a longer period of lockdown and slower recovery than anticipated in April, the IMF said.

The IMF's record reveals that this is the lowest ever for India since 1961. The IMF does not have the data beyond that year. However, India's economy is expected to bounce back in 2021 with a robust 6 percent growth, it said.

In 2019, India's growth rate was 4.2 percent.

The latest 2020 projection for India is a massive -6.4 percent less than it's the April forecast of the IMF. The projected growth rate of 6 percent in 2021 is -1.4 percent less than its April forecast.

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed economies into a Great Lockdown, which helped contain the virus and save lives, but also triggered the worst recession since the Great Depression, Gopinath said.

Over 75 percent of countries are now reopening at the same time as the pandemic is intensifying in many emerging markets and developing economies. Several countries have started to recover. However, in the absence of a medical solution, the strength of the recovery is highly uncertain and the impact on sectors and countries uneven, she added.

In a blog post, Gopinath said that this global crisis like no other will have a recovery like no other.

First, the unprecedented global sweep of this crisis hampers recovery prospects for export-dependent economies and jeopardises the prospects for income convergence between developing and advanced economies, she said.

We are projecting a synchronised deep downturn in 2020 for both advanced economies (-8 percent) and emerging market and developing economies (-3 percent; -5 percent if excluding China), and over 95 percent of countries are projected to have negative per capita income growth in 2020, she added.

The cumulative hit to GDP growth over 202021 for emerging market and developing economies, excluding China, is expected to exceed that in advanced economies, Gopinath said.

In her blog, she noted that a high degree of uncertainty surrounds this forecast, with both upside and downside risks to the outlook.

On the upside, better news on vaccines and treatments, and additional policy support can lead to a quicker resumption of economic activity. On the downside, further waves of infections can reverse increased mobility and spending, and rapidly tighten financial conditions, triggering debt distress, she said.

Geopolitical and trade tensions could damage fragile global relationships at a time when trade is projected to collapse by around 12 percent, Gopinath said.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
24.06.2020 LISTEN

The Operations Team of Railways Police Command in Accra has arrested 40 persons for non-compliance with the mandatory wearing of face mask directive.

A 25-member team conducted the Operation Wear Your Mask within the Central Business District, Kantamanto and its environs on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

Speaking to Citi News, the Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Effia Tenge said, the persons have been granted bail.

The railway operational team yesterday [Tuesday] embarked on operation wear your mask in the Central Business District of Accra. This was part of measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 where people are mandated to put on their face masks any time they go into the public space. 40 persons in all were arrested at the end of the operation. They were brought to the police station and various caution statements were taken from them, after which they were granted bail to report on 24th June for further action to be taken on them.

President Akufo-Addo made the wearing of face masks mandatory , in the wake of a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana and has through an Executive Instrument asked the police and law enforcement agencies to lead its enforcement.

People who fail to wear face masks in public risk a prison sentence of four to 10 years or a fine ranging from GHS12,000 to GHS60,000, or both. Concerns over the law

The new sanctions for not wearing face masks are contained in a new Executive Instrument (E.I. 164) .

But many have, however, questioned the terms and conditions under which the law and its corresponding sanctions will be applied without infringing on individual rights and liberties.

Aside from the perceived harshness of the law, concerns have been raised about the definition of a public place and if, for example, a person should wear a mask whilst in his or her car alone.

But the government has defended the move, insisting that the current sanctions for not wearing face masks are in order to protect the ordinary Ghananaian from contracting the virus.

There is an imposition of the Restriction Act, which has now moved to the gazetting of an Executive Instrument to make mandatory the wearing of face mask and attach the necessary sanctions to it. The imposition of the restriction Act gives room for sanctions. What we need to do is to encourage people to comply with it so we all protect ourselves, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has maintained.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah has assured the Ghana Police Service will in the coming issue directives to its officers on the compulsory wearing of face masks as the country battles the Coronavirus pandemic.

---citinewsroom
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands:--- CCRIF SPC made a payout of US$203,136 to the Government of Belize on its Excess Rainfall parametric insurance policy following three days of heavy rains during Tropical Storms Amanda and Cristobal. Amanda was a tropical cyclone that originated in the Pacific Ocean and brought rains that affected Belize on 30 May and then weakened. However, the remnants of Amanda then reorganized to form Tropical Storm Cristobal in the Gulf of Mexico  thus becoming a cross-over cyclone from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

This payout was made on Belizes 2019/20 excess rainfall policy, which the country has renewed for policy year 2020/21. This is the second payout that Belize has received from CCRIF. In 2016, the Government received a payout of US$261,073 following Tropical Cyclone Earl. The Government used the payout from Earl for immediate clean-up and recovery.

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 totalling US$155.8 million. CCRIFs payouts are made within 14 days of an event, allowing governments to begin to address immediate needs after a hazard event. In the 2019/20 policy year which ended May 31, 2020, CCRIF made five payouts as follows: two to The Bahamas totalling US$12.8 million following Hurricane Dorian, which battered the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama in September 2019; one to Trinidad &Tobago totalling US$362,982 for its excess rainfall policy, which was triggered due to rainfall associated with Tropical Cyclone Karen in October 2019; one payout of US$3.6 million to Guatemala also due to rains from Amanda and Cristobal; and this payout to Belize.

In addition to insurance payouts from CCRIF, Belize also benefits from the CCRIF Technical Assistance Programme. In 2017 for example, CCRIF provided a US$100,000 grant to the Government of Belize to purchase 30 automatic weather stations to provide the Meteorological Service with access to real-time rainfall data. These stations have been installed throughout the country and meteorology technicians have been trained on how to properly set up the stations, configure the sensors and data-loggers to measure and transmit data to the Meteorological Service. The instruments and related capacity building are improving the Governments ability to monitor, record and forecast rainfall within Belize and better prepare the country for hydro-meteorological events.

CCRIF also has provided four scholarships to Belizean students  for two meteorological officers Ms. Michele Natalie Smith and Ms. Shanea Young to pursue studies for a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology at the University of West Indies, Cave Hill campus in Barbados and an additional scholarship for Ms. Young to pursue an M.Sc. in Applied Meteorology at the University of Reading in the UK. Her dissertation was on The effect of drought on the water balance and yield of crops in Belize. The fourth scholarship was for Ms. Vanesa Zulema Ayala toward her completion of a B.Sc. in Civil with Environmental Engineering at the UWI St. Augustine campus in Trinidad.

Also, through its Small Grants Programme, CCRIF has provided a grant to an NGO in southern Belize, Humana People to People Belize (HPPB) to increase farmers capacity to reduce the effects of climate change on crops in the Toledo District. The project is supporting farmers to be more climate resilient and includes training, awareness-raising and demonstrations of best practices for crop and livestock farming incorporating climate-resilient agricultural management methods, practices and techniques. The project has enabled farmers to provide food for their communities during the lockdowns resulting from the COVID-19 crisis response, when many businesses were closed.

Additionally, Belize is one of five pilot countries in the Caribbean that are participating in the Climate Risk Adaptation and Insurance in the Caribbean (CRAIC) project. The CRAIC project is being implemented by a partnership led by CCRIF, including the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative, ILO Impact Insurance, Munich Re and DHI. The project, with funding from the International Climate Initiative (ICI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU), is seeking to make an innovative microinsurance product, the Livelihood Protection Policy (LPP), available to individuals. The LPP is designed to protect the livelihoods of vulnerable low-income individuals such as small farmers, tourism workers, fishers, market vendors, small entrepreneurs, including those involved in MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and day labourers, by providing quick cash payouts following extreme weather events (specifically, high winds and heavy rainfall). This microinsurance product complements CCRIF members sovereign parametric insurance policies.

Earlier this month, CCRIF received a grant of US$11 million from the European Union (EU) for premium support for its Caribbean members under the EU Global COVID-19 Response. Belize and the other CCRIF Caribbean members have benefited from a 26 per cent discount on their gross premium which they are able to make use of in the 2020/21 and/or 2021/22 policy years.

CCRIF extends sympathies to the Government and people of Belize for impacts caused by the floods due to Tropical Storms Amanda and Cristobal on its people, communities and their livelihoods.
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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 03:58:43|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Aid-laden trucks in great numbers are crossing from Turkey into Syria -- 8,000 so far this year -- with life-saving assistance for 2.8 million people in the area, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

As of Sunday, 1,292 trucks had crossed over into northwest Syria this month, compared to a record 1,781 last month, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The secretary-general has called for a combination of more cross-border and cross-line access to sustain recent levels of, and preferably increase, humanitarian assistance in the northeast of the county, Dujarric said.

"Without these necessary cross-border authorizations by the Security Council, civilians will suffer and increase to levels unseen in nine years of conflict, including loss of life on a massive scale," he said. "The full and complementary use of all methods for the delivery of aid remains necessary to access all people across Syria."

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is concerned over the impact of COVID-19 on people across the country. To date, the Syrian Ministry of Health has confirmed 231 cases of the virus, including 94 recoveries and seven deaths.

The spokesman said earlier the COVID-19 numbers might appear low because of the toll of years of conflict.

Six additional cases have been recorded in the northeast, including one fatality. No cases have been confirmed in the heavily populated northwest.

"Our particular worry is for the 1.4 million displaced people living in camps or informal settlements which makes taking necessary precautions that much more difficult," Dujarric said. "With limited access to healthcare and water and sanitation services, these people are particularly vulnerable." Enditem
UPDATE (6/25): Pa. coronavirus cases at 83,770. Lehigh Valley enters green phase at midnight.

As the Lehigh Valley nears the green phase of reopening on Friday, Pennsylvania coronavirus cases reached 83,000 and the statewide COVID-19 death toll topped 6,500.

As of Wednesday, the total case count was 83,191 with 6,518 deaths, according to the daily report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. With 495 new cases reported in the last day, the states seven-day average case rate is about back to the same level as two weeks ago.

Pennsylvania also reported 54 more coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday, the most in one day since June 9.

(Cant see the map? Click here.)

Meanwhile, neighboring states are placing a quarantine on travelers from nine states where COVID-19 cases are spiking. And a doctor from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has said that more attention should be paid to declining hospitalizations and severity of cases, rather than counts.

Here are your Pennsylvania coronavirus updates for June 23, 2020.

Coronavirus in Pa.

A week after Gov. Tom Wolf highlighted a 42-day decline in Pennsylvanias case rate, the state has seen an upturn. How long it lasts and what effects it may have remain to be seen.

Johns Hopkins University now reports an increase in the three-day moving average over the last two weeks. The seven-day moving average calculated by lehighvalleylive.com shows only a slight decline in case rate from 14 days ago  482 currently versus 492 on June 10.

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

There are potentially many factors at work in the rise, including with the expansion of testing statewide and implementation of universal testing at long-term care facilities like nursing homes, health department press secretary Maggi Mumma told lehighvalleylive.com.

In Pennsylvania, the majority of hospitalizations and deaths have been in residents 65 and older, according to the health department. Residents of long-term care facilities account for 17,394 cases of COVID-19, about 21% of the states total, and 4,467 deaths, 68% of Pennsylvanias death toll.

The health department estimates that 77% of Pennsylvania coronavirus patients have recovered. To date, 596,407 tests have come back negative.

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

So far, there is no indication of any change to the plan to move several counties, including the Lehigh Valley, into the green phase on Friday.

We continue to take a careful, measured approach to ensuring that Pennsylvanians can resume work and normal routines safely, she wrote in an email. When the governor outlined the counties that were slated to reopen, he shared that this will continue to be monitored to ensure the safety for residents. We will continue to assess each county, and if needed, revert to the previous phase if it is truly unsafe to proceed with reopening.

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 Thursdays data from the state, the two-county Valley totaled 7,469 coronavirus cases and at least 543 COVID-19 deaths, 33 more cases and seven more deaths from the prior day. That breaks down to:

4,130 cases and 284 deaths in Lehigh County

3,339 cases and 259 deaths in Northampton County

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

The state reported more deaths in counties adjacent to the Lehigh Valley:

(Cant see the table? Click here.)

UPMC doctor: Less emphasis on cases, more on severity

Fewer coronavirus patients are being admitted to hospitals  at least in Pittsburgh-based UPMC  and those that are show less severe symptoms than earlier in the pandemic, a UPMC doctor told media on Wednesday, suggesting less emphasis should be placed on case counts, PennLive.com reports.

We need to change our mindset and focus not exclusively on the number of cases, but on the severity of illness. We shouldnt just be counting those who have a diagnosed infection, Dr. Donald Yealy said, according to PennLive. For the vast majority of people testing positive, their illness is mild, or they dont even know they have any symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

(Pennsylvanias hospitalization rates over the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic have been more difficult to obtain from the health departments data.)

That could be due to warmer weather and people spending less time in close quarters. But he and others warned that masks and other precautions are still necessary to prevent the spread of disease.

(MORE: UPMC doctor sees too much focus on rising COVID-19 cases, too little on declining severity and hospitalizations)

N.J., N.Y. impose quarantine on some travelers

Two of Pennsylvanias neighboring states will require travelers to quarantine for 14 days if they come from at least nine states where coronavirus cases are spiking.

The measures in New Jersey and New York, along with Connecticut, will take effect starting at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday night. The list of states currently affected includes Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington.

The announcement comes as new coronavirus cases in the U.S. have surged to their highest level in two months and are now back to where they were at the peak of the outbreak.

(MORE: N.J. to require 14-day quarantine for travelers coming from states where coronavirus cases are spiking)

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
They dont ever go out into the neighborhood because its so dangerous, he said. They asked their mom, can we just go down to the store  it couldnt have been more than a half a block away  can we just go down to the store to buy some candy? And thats what they did.
Ghaziabad, June 24 : An MCD worker has allegedly committed suicide a day after testing positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. The police found his body hanging from a ceiling fan by a plastic rope in the bedroom of his residence. No suicide note was recovered from the spot, the police said.

The deceased is a 45-year-old man and a resident of the Panchvati Colony situated at Loni Border. He had tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. The man was employed with the sanitation department of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation.

The family members informed that he was asymptomatic and was receiving treatment at home. The alleged suicide happened in the room where he was kept under isolation. The youngest son of the deceased was the first person to witness the incident at around 6 a.m.

"I was calling papa to check on him. The morning tea was being prepared, and I wanted to ask whether he wanted to have it. The door of the room was locked from inside, but it has one more entry from the backyard of our house. When he did not open the door, I got into the room from the second entry and saw his body hanging from the fan," the 24-year-old son of the deceased said.

The son also said that he immediately informed the police, but they reached the spot six hours later.

"The police and a doctor reached our house after 12 p.m. Initially, the police demanded the Covid test report of my father. They said that they would have to arrange a doctor since my father had tested positive for Covid-19. I had to arrange the test report from the hospital where he was tested. I sent the report to the police on WhatsApp," he said.

The police and the doctor did not touch the body, the son alleged. "My two elder brothers and I put down the body after cutting the plastic rope tied around his neck. The doctor gave us PPE suits that we donned and carried his body to an ambulance which arrived at our house," the son said.

Gyanendra Bodh, SHO, Loni Border Police Station, said that it was done as per protocol. "We are not allowed to deal with Covid positive patients directly." When asked why the doctor who was present on the spot did not help the family members, he said that he was not aware of it. "I was not at the spot. I will ask my team which went there," he added.

Meanwhile, the police have requested the Ghaziabad health department to take the family members to a quarantine facility. The deceased is survived by his wife, mother, three sons, and two daughters.
The BBC have decided to cancel this year's series of The Apprentice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to The Sun, bosses made the decision to call off the show after deciding it would be too difficult to shoot challenges overseas or maintain social distancing.

A source told the publication: 'The Apprentice is one of the BBC's biggest and most popular shows so they were desperate not to have to axe it. But they could wait no longer and they've run of time.

Postponed: The BBC have decided to cancel this year's series of The Apprentice due to the coronavirus pandemic

'It does also beg the question what the knock-on effect to other shows could be. If the Apprentice can't film, can Strictly and others?

'It's a stark warning to the industry that even the biggest shows are not immune from this crisis.'

This will be the first time fans of the show, which is fronted by Lord Alan Sugar, will have not been given a new series since The Apprentice debuted in 2005.

The broadcaster will instead air a highlights show showing the best bits from the reality series from over the years.

Not feasible: According to The Sun, bosses made the decision to call off the show after deciding it would be too difficult to shoot challenges overseas or maintain social distancing

In a statement, a BBC spokesperson confirmed: 'Sadly we have decided to postpone The Apprentice for 2020.

'Production safety and the wellbeing of everyone involved in the show is our number one priority.

'While this is understandably disappointing news, viewers will still be able to get their weekly fix of memorable tasks, favourite candidates and boardroom bust ups alongside brand new insights from Karren, Claude, Lord Sugar and many more from the past 15 years in a special highlights series airing on BBC1.'

It was revealed in April the BBC had temporarily halted production on the new series, despite having a group of hopefuls ready to go.

It comes after ITV were said to be in pre-production on a new business-themed reality series to rival The Apprentice.

A source said: 'The Apprentice is one of the BBC's biggest and most popular shows so they were desperate not to have to axe it. But they could wait no longer and they've run of time'

According to The Sun, the show has a working title of Easy Millions and has already started the casting process.

A source said: 'ITV has spotted a big gap in the telly market and is full steam ahead.

'They want people to apply if they fancy themselves to be the sort of person who might have applied for The Apprentice and now havent got an outlet to show themselves off.

'All being well, theyll have a decent line-up, get it filmed and be ready for the autumn or later in the year.'

A call out from ITV read: 'In these extraordinary times, Britain needs its entrepreneurial spirit more than ever, so if you think youve got what it takes to run the next million-pound business, we want to hear from you.'

MailOnline has approached ITV for comment.
[ Read our profile of Trebek. | Read our review. ]

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Dont let the title mislead you; this unusual book is less a memoir than the origin story of a popular Twitter persona, Duchess Goldblatt, a fictional 80-something with thousands of followers drawn to her brisk literary wit. (Her Twitter bio identifies her as the beloved inspirational author of Feasting on the Carcasses of My Enemies: A Love Story.) Here the duchess describes how she found solace in building a new identity online as her real life was coming undone.

[ Read our profile of the Duchess. | Read our review. ]

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Blacktop Wasteland , by S.A. Cosby (Flatiron, July 14)

Bug Montage, a mechanic, has built a good and honest life for his family. But when his life starts to go off the rails  his mother is facing eviction from her nursing home, his business is in the red  he agrees to do one last heist. This novel is a fast-paced, fresh take on noir that tears through the underbelly of Virginia.

[ Read our review. ]

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Zelizer, a political historian at Princeton, makes the case that Gingrichs pugnacity altered the character of the Republican Party, ushering in a new level of political vitriol. Gingrichs actions helped legitimize political ruthlessness and cunning, Zelizer argues, and his influence can be seen leading to the election of President Trump.
A day after Pakistan was asked to reduce its staff at its High Commission in New Delhi by half, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday accused India of plotting an attack on his country to divert its Opposition's attention from its border dispute with China.

Speaking to Geo Pakistan, Qureshi said, "India's mood is clear (for all to see) as it wants to divert attention from its border dispute with China to Pakistan."

He claimed that India was finding excuses to launch a 'false flag operation' against Pakistan. But he did not elaborate or give any evidence.

"The Opposition in India is raising questions that their government can't answer," he said, referring to the criticism being faced by the Modi government regarding its response to the border dispute with China in the Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

Qureshi warned India to refrain from launching any attacks on his country, saying Pakistan would respond with full force if New Delhi embarks on any misadventure."

Stating that India had levelled baseless allegations against Pakistani diplomats of spying in New Delhi, Qureshi alleged that the Pakistani staff was harassed in India and their cars were followed by authorities.

He said that Pakistan had not only condemned the allegations but also rejected them.

He said that the Indian Charge d' Affaires in Islamabad was summoned on Tuesday and told that the same treatment would be meted out to the Indian staff.

"We told him (Indian Charge d' Affaires]) that because of this unilateral policy, you also wrap up and slash your [diplomatic staff] presence by 50 per cent," Qureshi said.

On Tuesday, India had told Pakistan to slash its embassy staff in New Delhi by half saying it would do the same in Islamabad.

"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 External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

"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%," the MEA said.

The already fractious relationship between the two nations strained further after India expelled two Pakistan embassy officials for spying in late May. India also accused Islamabad of torturing two Indian diplomats arrested in an alleged hit-and-run incident in Islamabad.

Islamabad police later said both Indian High Commission officials were released due to their diplomatic immunity and had been handed over in the presence of Pakistani ministry's officials.

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 the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir by India.

Top Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, have been raising the issue of India planning to attack the country again after the Indian Air Force jets bombed a terror training camp in Balakot in February.

The ties between India and Pakistan further nose-dived following the abrogation of article 370 in August that revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The move angered Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties with India and expelled the Indian High Commissioner.
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," says Diego A. Martinez, Ph.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and one of the study report's authors. "Our study is believed to be among the first in measuring such differences in a diverse region."

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.

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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.

Other researchers who worked on this study include Jeremiah S. Hinson, M.D., Ph.D., Eili Y. Klein, Ph.D., Nathan A. Irvin, M.D., Mustapha Saheed, M.D., and Scott R. Levin, Ph.D.

Martinez reported support from the Johns Hopkins Health System. Martinez, Hinson, Klein and Levin reported receiving grant support from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Is religion the blind spot of populism?

Is religion the blind spot of populism, European Academy of Religion, online conference, June 22 2020

In Europe and the United States, religion has become a significant component of the growing nationalist and supremacist political groups which contest fundamental rights of religious, sexual or racial minorities in the name of their religious identity. Outside western secular democracies, the rise of religious claims not only impinges on civil rights but also on the rule of law and democratic life in general.

This panel discussed the religious dimension of populism and nationalism across countries, religious traditions and historical periods. The panel brought together scholars of religion and politics to explore comparatively the rise of extreme right movements in Europe, the white supremacists groups in the USA, but also rise of authoritarian figures in Turkey, Russia or India :

Jocelyne Cesari, University of Birmingham and Georgetown University, We the People: Interplay between Religious Community, Nation and Populism

Wolfgang Palaver, University of Innsbruck: Fraternity versus Parochialism: On Religion and Populism

Leon Van den Broeke, Campen University:  Legislation on Religion and Populist Parties Manifestos

Tobias Cremer, Oxford University, The religious Dimension of European and American Populism Compared

Discussant: Jeffrey Haynes, London Metropolitan University
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has held an express stress test in order to assess the impact of the current crisis on banks. It assessed the impact on capital of 26 large banks with the share of assets of the entire banking system of 91%.

The stress test results proved to be in general better than the ones from the last year. They showed that majority of banks were prepared for the crisis. However, the stress test revealed that nine banks, including two state-owned ones, may breach core capital adequacy requirement.

"They account for 30% of the sector's assets. Among them are two state-owned banks with a 25% share in terms of assets. The total need in capital during one year could be UAH 10.3 billion," the NBU said in its Financial Stability Report published on Wednesday.

At the same time, the NBU said that this is significantly less than the estimates of the stress test in 2019, which provided for the continuation of the economic growth cycle and showed a need for capital of UAH 14.1 billion, and under the unfavorable scenario involving a collapse of the economy and deep devaluation  UAH 37.4 billion.

The National Bank said that financial institutions with a significant concentration of corporate loans were traditionally in the most risky category. Another risk group is banks that operate exclusively in the lending segment with individuals.
The Ministry of Railways Development has sealed a deal 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.

---Daily Guide
Chinwe Bode-Akinwande (CBA) Foundation, a non-governmental organization in Nigeria, has called on the government to implement and enforce the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), which gives protection to widows in the country. She stressed that the government needs to create more awareness about the act for widows to know their rights and also for people to tread with caution.

Speaking with newsmen through virtual conference in Lagos on Tuesday in commemoration of the 2020 United Nations International Widows Day, the founder of the foundation, Mrs. Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, said the call became necessary following the rise in cases of rape, sexual harassment, confiscation of properties, violence, dehumanization, discrimination, poverty and all manners of molestations suffered mostly by women, especially the widows and their children.

According to her, Nobody wishes to lose a loved one; losing someone is never easy and having to live life without your partner is even harder.

For women all over the world, the loss of a spouse is even bigger as they have to struggle for their basic needs, rights and dignity. As we mark International Widows Day 2020 today, June 23, I implore us all to take a closer look at our immediate environ, culture/tradition, families, history and significance of the day.

According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 258 million widows around the world, and nearly one in ten lives in extreme poverty. Apart from that, 2.7 billion women are denied access to the same choice of jobs as men due to certain unconfronted restrictions, and lots face gender-based violence even today.

The issue of rape, sexual harassment and all manners of molestations are suffered mostly by women not to think of the most vulnerable amongst them  the widows.

She added that sufficient evidence suggests that widowed women are severely affected financially, psychologically, sexually and socially and these are rooted in cultural and traditional practices as well as the socialization processes that condition women to dependence. These conditions have erected enormous difficulties for women to creatively initiate new robust relationships with both men and women in social and economic spheres upon widowhood.

Its even sadder that widows are not looked after by families, private sectors , governments etc. and to worsen the matter, societies curse them.

Their children also face several problems like being withdrawn from the school and becoming more vulnerable to abuse. The CBA Foundation has joined to lend its voice for the past five years.

CBA added that there was a need to develop policies and programmes to address the problems that widows face in the world, which is the reason she founded the CBA Foundation.

The day is important as it brings about awareness among the public the problems that widows face all over the world. It is a time to reflect on the progress that has been made, and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women. It is also a day to draw the attention of the people to take action and provide full rights and recognition for widows. The purpose for marking this day is clear - to care for widows and their children, and to change the culture that discriminates against them.

We are therefore calling on well-meaning Nigerians to join us today to give them hope, stop dehumanization and injustice towards them, Bode-Akinwande said.

International Widows Day is a United Nations-ratified day of action to address the "poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependants in many countries". Established by The Loomba Foundation, the day takes place annually on 23 June. This year, the theme is I am Generation Equality: Realizing Womens Rights, which is aligned with UN Womens new multi-generational campaign, Generation Equality.

Established in 2015, the CBA Foundation, under its 5-point agenda, has reached out to thousands of underprivileged widows and children through skills acquisition training, health intervention, business start-ups and provision of clothing, nutrition and tuition fees for the children.

In breakdown, 5,600 widows have been empowered through its women empowerment and capacity building initiative; over 3,500 underprivileged widows have received health intervention; over 3,500 have also received food items. The foundation has also reinstated 45 children in school, empowered 120 widows financially to start a business of their own and also, provided palliative to 250 widows during the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down.

More about CBA Foundation on www.cbafoundation.org
[June 24, 2020] VMware Expands Its VMware Ready for Telco Cloud Program to Accelerate the Deployment of 5G Services on Its Telco Cloud Platform

VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW) today announced it has expanded its award-winning VMware Ready for Telco Cloud program, formerly known as the VMware Ready for NFV program. The enhanced certification program will enable telco network functions partners to test the interoperability and readiness of their Virtual Network Functions (VNF) and Cloud-Native Network Functions (CNF) with the VMware Telco Cloud platform. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005211/en/ The enhanced VMware Ready for Telco Cloud certification program will enable telco network functions partners to test the interoperability and readiness of their Virtual Network Functions (VNF) and Cloud-Native Network Functions (CNF) with the VMware Telco Cloud platform. (Graphic: Business Wire) To date, more than 35 partners have received more than 170 certifications as part of the program. The expanded program will offer two new certifications: VMware Ready for Telco Cloud certifies network functions for deployment and lifecycle operations through VMware Telco Cloud Automation, a multi-cloud orchestration and automation platform. As part of this certification program, VMware collaborates with partners to create an ETSI (News - Alert)-Compliant descriptor, as well as workflow, resource, and artifacts for a validated and tested Cloud Service Archive (CSAR). This level requires the partner to complete the VMware Ready for Telco Cloud Infrastructure certification as a pre-requisite.

certifies network functions for deployment and lifecycle operations through VMware Telco Cloud Automation, a multi-cloud orchestration and automation platform. As part of this certification program, VMware collaborates with partners to create an ETSI (News - Alert)-Compliant descriptor, as well as workflow, resource, and artifacts for a validated and tested Cloud Service Archive (CSAR). This level requires the partner to complete the VMware Ready for Telco Cloud Infrastructure certification as a pre-requisite. VMware Ready for Telco Cloud Infrastructure, formerly known as VMware Ready for NFV, identifies telco network functions that interoperate with the core infrastructure layers of the VMware Telco Cloud, as referenced by the VMware ETSI-compliant vCloud NFV Reference Architecture. The focus of this certification level is on the virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM) based on VMware Cloud Director and VMware Integrated OpenStack and, shortly, CaaS (Container as a Service): VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid compatibility, as well as the compatibility with the platform's core components: VMware vSphere for virtualized compute, VMware NSX for virtualized networking and VMware vSAN for virtualized storage. The program is available at no cost to VMware partners. Testing can be completed either in the VMware on-premise certification lab or in the cloud as a self-service model. p> The expanded program enables VMware partners to accelerate the onboarding and deployment of their 5G-ready services on the VMware Telco Cloud platform, thereby reducing communications service providers (CSPs) time to revenue. CSPs benefit from having access to advanced network functions and services, such as 5G Core components, that are ready to be deployed on the VMware Telco Cloud platform.



"As the telecommunications industry starts its migration to 5G and cloud native telco cloud design principles, there are two trends that will shape the industry for years to come - a need for improved orchestration and a shift of network functions to a cloud native architecture," explained Gabriele Di Piazza, vice president of solutions, Telco & Edge Cloud, VMware. "The expanded scope of the VMware Ready for Telco Cloud program reflects VMware's understanding of these shifts, and our focus on helping customers more seamlessly architect, deploy, and manage software-defined telco clouds." Partner Commentary

Today VMware announced the following ecosystem partners and network functions have successfully completed the end-to-end VMware Ready for Telco Cloud certification: Broadpeak CDN

ENEA MSP

NetNumber Titan

Nokia (News - Alert) Cloud Mobile Gateway (CMG) Broadpeak: "With network operators having to deal with rapidly growing volumes of video content, there is a need for video traffic to be delivered at the lowest possible cost. One direction taken by the industry is the NFV approach where network functions are deployed on private clouds. Broadpeak is leading the charge in the cloudification of the video components with our virtualized CDN platform fully supported by VMware Telco Cloud Automation," said Jacques Le Mancq, CEO, Broadpeak. "With flexible deployment models and scale-in/out solutions, Broadpeak is deploying virtual CDN capacity using its Bks400. Video traffic is served from virtual instances and deployed in key locations, always as close as possible to the consumers, leading to reduced network transport costs and superior quality of experience." ENEA: "We have been collaborating with VMware under the VMware Ready for NFV program since the earliest version of the VMware Telco platform. The framework that VMware put together for technical collaboration under the "Ready for" program means that we can better support our mutual customers and quickly resolve issues," said Indranil Chatterjee, senior vice president of products, sales & marketing, Enea Openwave (News - Alert). "Our customers' move to virtualization and cloud native introduces many operational challenges that VMware efficiently addresses in a collaborative and open fashion. We are happy to show our support for the advanced capabilities that VMware Telco Cloud Automation brings." NetNumber (News - Alert): "NetNumber platforms are deployed in numerous telco cloud networks and support the transition from NFV to cloud native. As much as the industry is talking about 5G, there is a crucial need to support signaling control, routing policy enforcement, and subscriber database services in the network-while also protecting the telco's investment in 3G and 4G generations. VMware makes it easy and sustainable for us, as a network function supplier, to prepare for customer deployments," shared Matt Rosenberg, NetNumber Chief Revenue Officer. "VMware provides a published reference architecture; has established an open and welcoming certification program that is focused on how customers are using its Telco Cloud platform and intend to use our software in production; and provides us a technology collaboration framework. We are proud to be part of the VMware Telco Cloud partner ecosystem." Nokia: "We are pleased to announce the immediate certification of our Cloud Packet Core as VMware Ready for Telco Cloud, which includes interoperability with VMware Telco Cloud Automation," said Vach Kompella, Vice President, Mobile Packet Core, Nokia. "As our customers embark on their 5G journey in an increasingly complex technology landscape, they are looking to strategic partners like Nokia and VMware to help guide them on that journey. This program is a perfect example of how partners can come together to help our mutual customers in the design, rollout, and lifecycle management of their software-defined telco cloud infrastructure." Additional Resources Learn more about how VMware is helping service providers modernize their networks at telco.vmware.com.

Visit the VMware Solution Exchange for a full list of VMware Telco Cloud partners

Bookmark the VMware Telco Cloud blog

Get all VMware Telco updates on Twitter and LinkedIn About VMware VMware software powers the world's complex digital infrastructure. The company's cloud, networking and security, and digital workspace offerings provide a dynamic and efficient digital foundation to customers globally, aided by an extensive ecosystem of partners. Headquartered in Palo Alto (News - Alert), California, VMware is committed to being a force for good, from its breakthrough innovations to its global impact. For more information, please visit https://www.vmware.com/company.html. VMware, VMware Ready, vCloud, Tanzu, NSX, VMware vSAN are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005211/en/

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PHILADELPHIA, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is investigating potential breaches of fiduciary duty claims involving certain officers and/or directors of Morgan Stanley ("Morgan Stanley" or the "Company") (NYSE: MS).

The investigation concerns whether certain officers and/or directors of Morgan Stanley breached their fiduciary duties by making and/or causing the Company to issue materially false and misleading statements regarding Morgan Stanley's business, operations, and compliance.

If you have continuously held Morgan Stanley stock since at least January 2015 and wish to discuss Kehoe Law Firm's investigation or have questions about your potential legal rights, please contact Michael Yarnoff, Esq., (215) 792-6676, Ext. 804, [email protected], [email protected], to learn more about the investigation or potential legal claims.

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C., with offices in New York and Philadelphia, is a multidisciplinary, plaintiffside law firm dedicated to protecting investors from securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties, and corporate misconduct. Combined, the partners at Kehoe Law Firm have served as Lead Counsel or Co-Lead Counsel in cases that have recovered more than $10 billion dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors.

This notice may constitute attorney advertising.

SOURCE Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.

Related Links

kehoelawfirm.com


ATLANTA, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. (NYSE: CTT) announced today that its Triple T joint venture has amended its wood supply agreement with Georgia-Pacific WFS LLC (Georgia-Pacific) intended to achieve market-based pricing on timber sales. CatchMark invests in 1.1 million acres of prime East Texas timberlands through Triple T and acts as the general partner of the venture on behalf of a consortium of institutional investors.

Under the amended supply agreement, Triple T also will be able to increase reimbursement for extended haul distances, sell timber to other third parties, and expand its ability to sell large timberland parcels to third party buyers. The supply agreement between Triple T and Georgia-Pacific has also been extended by two years from 2029 to 2031, with optimized harvest volume obligations to enhance and preserve long-term asset value. For these amendments to the agreement, Triple T paid Georgia-Pacific $145 million.

CatchMark Chief Executive Officer Brian Davis said: "We expect this agreement with Georgia-Pacific to result in increased returns for all Triple T investors, including CatchMark, over the life of the joint venture. We expect these amendments to increase cash flows from timber sales at market-based prices based on customary pricing mechanisms, improve the value and marketability of the property for the long-term, and significantly enhance Triple T's ability to make opportunistic timberland sales as well as recapitalize our investment."

"Georgia-Pacific Building Products appreciates the partnership we have with Triple T," said Tim Chatlos, a spokesperson for Georgia-Pacific. "This agreement creates value for both our companies and allows us to continue our partnership into the future."

John Rasor, President of Triple T, said: "Georgia-Pacific has been and continues to be integral to the success of Triple T and we appreciate how they worked with us to achieve this mutually beneficial agreement."

Rasor added: "Our operations can now realize the full potential of Triple T's premier timberland holdings to optimize future cash flow and value. In particular, a rapidly improving inventory profile will result in enhanced harvest opportunities now with greater revenue growth."

In connection with the Georgia-Pacific agreement, CatchMark also reported making an amendment to the Triple T joint venture agreement with its institutional partners to increase its asset management fee for the next two years, reflecting the impact of the Georgia-Pacific payment on the timberland investment. This amendment is immediately CAD accretive to CatchMark.

In July 2018, CatchMark invested $200 million in forming Triple T, which acquired the East Texas timberlands, subject to the Georgia-Pacific supply agreement, for approximately $1.39 billion. Its Triple T partners include BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group, Highland Capital Management, Medley Management Inc., and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation.

The Triple T joint venture made the acquisition, intending to amend the Georgia-Pacific supply agreement and maximize asset value. The timberlands feature a rapidly improving inventory profile and above-average site index. The original transaction has met all operating benchmarks to date.

Perella Weinberg Partners LP advised Triple T in the transaction.

About CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.

CatchMark (NYSE: CTT) seeks to deliver consistent and growing per share cash flow from disciplined acquisitions and superior management of prime timberlands located in high demand U.S. mill markets. Concentrating on maximizing cash flows throughout business cycles, the company strategically harvests its high-quality timberlands to produce durable revenue growth and takes advantage of proximate mill markets, which provide a reliable outlet for merchantable inventory. Headquartered in Atlanta and focused exclusively on timberland ownership and management, CatchMark began operations in 2007 and owns interests in 1.5 million acres* of timberlands located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. For more information, visit www.catchmark.com.

* As of March 31, 2020

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, as amended. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "continue," or other similar words. However, the absence of these or similar words or expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are based on certain assumptions, discuss future expectations, describe plans and strategies, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition or state other forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about the ability to achieve market-based pricing and the intended effect of other contract amendments, the potential to achieve increased returns for all Triple T investors, improved value, marketability and cash flows from the property, the ability to make opportunistic timberland sales to recapitalize the investment, CAD accretion and improvements in inventory profile. Risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, that (i) Triple T may not generate the harvest volumes from its timberlands that we currently anticipate; (ii) the demand for Triple T's timber may not increase at the rate we currently anticipate or at all due to changes in general economic and business conditions in the geographic regions where the timberlands are located, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken as a response thereto; (iii) a downturn in the real estate market, including decreases in demand and valuations, may adversely impact Triple T's ability to generate income and cash flow from sales of higher-and-better use properties; (iv) timber prices could decline, which would negatively impact Triple T's revenues; (v) Triple T may not be able to make large dispositions of timberland at prices that are attractive to us or at all; (vi) Triple T may not be able to access external sources of capital at attractive rates or at all; (ix) potential increases in interest rates could have a negative impact on Triple T's business; (vii) we may not be successful in effectively managing the Triple T joint venture and the anticipated benefits of the joint venture may not be realized, including that our asset management fee could be deferred or decreased, we may not earn an incentive-based promote and our investment in the joint venture may lose value; and (ix) the factors described in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

SOURCE CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.catchmark.com


A 29-year-old forensic psychiatric patient, who escaped from St. Josephs Healthcares West 5th Campus of earlier this month, has been arrested.

Raymond Mitchell was arrested by Toronto police on Tuesday, June 23. He is charged with being unlawfully at large, said Hamilton police.

Mitchell escaped on the afternoon of June 1 as staff from the hospitals forensic unit were escorting him to a Mountain medical facility for treatment of an urgent issue.

Police issued a warning to the public several hours later because he is potentially dangerous.

Mitchells Ontario Review Board (ORB) records show a long history of violence, psychiatric illness and substance abuse.

He was found not criminally responsible (NCR) of crimes because of a mental disorder.

His offences include damaging property at his girlfriends apartment and stabbing her roommate. In another incident he bloodied the face of a security guard at a mall in Peterborough.

In 2013 he was detained at a Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health in Whitby. The next year he escaped and another time attacked a nurse.

He spent some time living in the community, but relapsed into drug use.

He was later kept Ontarios maximum security forensic hospital  Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishene  before being transferred to St. Joes in October.

Mitchell remains in custody in Hamilton.
NHS Direct Wales celebrates its 20th birthday

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jun 24th, 2020

The one-stop shop for health information and advice in Wales is celebrating its 20th birthday.

NHS Direct Wales, which is hosted by the Welsh Ambulance Service, is available to call 24 hours a day, every day for people who are feeling ill and are unsure what to do.

It manages an average 46,000 calls per month, while its website allows the public to check their symptoms online and search for their nearest dentist, minor injuries unit, pharmacy, GP, sexual health clinic and other services.

NHS Direct Wales is the backbone of the new NHS 111 Wales service, which is live in four of the seven Welsh health board areas and will, over time, be replaced by 111 entirely.

Iwan Griffiths, clinical operations manager for NHS Direct Wales/NHS 111 Wales, said: What began as a small team of 50 staff in a Swansea call centre has grown to a 300-strong team of call handlers and clinicians working right across Wales.

Not only is it a source of health advice and information for the public, but it also helps to triage low acuity patients which come in via 999.

Of these, around 65% are signposted to a more appropriate health service by our nurse advisors, preserving our ambulances for those who need them most.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, calls from the public to NHS Direct Wales/NHS 111 Wales quadrupled to roughly 160,000 calls per month.

NHS Direct Wales launched in June 2000 in Swansea and was designed to be a single point of access for health information and advice for the people of Wales.

A second call centre opened in Bangor later that year, which still exists at Ysbyty Gwynedd, supported by a third call centre in Cwmbran.

A further two sites have since opened to support the operation; one in St Asaph and one at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest.

In 2001, NHS Direct Wales joined forces with Englands NHS Direct service to run a helpline set up in response to the Alder Hey organ scandal.

In 2016, a new 111 service launched in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board area and has since been extended into Hywel Dda, Powys and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board areas.

Rollout in the other three health board areas  Betsi Cadwaladr, Cwm Taf and Cardiff and Vale  will follow, and signal the replacement of NHS Direct Wales entirely.

Iwan said: NHS Direct Wales has been a trusted source of health information for many years and recently, weve seen it start to evolve from the brand we know and love into NHS 111 Wales, the number for which will be free from all telephones, whether landline or mobile.

Twenty years has absolutely flown by, but were thrilled to have been part of ambulance service history and to have blazed the trail for NHS 111 Wales.

Jason Killens, Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, added: NHS Direct Wales is a critical cog in the ambulance service wheel and we simply couldnt operate without it.

NHS Direct Wales/NHS 111 Wales has arguably been the best tool in our locker when it comes to Covid-19, in particular the Covid-19 symptom checker, which had more than a million visits in its first month.

Thank you and congratulations to our amazing call handlers and clinicians on 20 years of making a difference to people in Wales.
San Francisco, June 24 : Facing scrutiny in the European Union over spread of disinformation and hate speech on its platforms, Facebook has published an independent report, saying the social network is reviewing reports of hate speech quicker than other tech giants.

According to the report, Facebook assessed 95.7 per cent and Instagram assessed 91.8 per cent of hate speech notifications in less than 24 hours, compared to 81.5 per cent for Google-owned YouTube and 76.6 per cent for Twitter.

The report also stated that "only Facebook informs users systematically; all the other platforms have to make improvements." "While we recognize we have more to do, these results suggest we are moving in the right direction and have systems in place which continue to lead our industry," Guy Rosen, VP Integrity, said in a statement late Tuesday.

Rosen said that European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova and Commissioner Didier Reynders recognized the Facebook's progress in fighting hate speech on its platform.

In February, the EU vehemently rejected Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's white paper on online content regulation, saying the social networking platform must take responsibility for harmful, fake and illegal content.

EU industry commissioner Thierry Breton said that Facebook "was being slow in coming forward with ideas on how to remove illegal content and warning that the EU was preparing to act".

According to Rosen, the company has signed the European Commission's code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online.

As part of this code of conduct, the European Commission runs regular independent tests on each company that signed on to make sure they are removing this content quickly and effectively.

Facebook said it has tripled the size of its teams working in safety and security since 2016 to over 35,000 people - including teams that review reports of hate speech 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The recent transparency report by Facebook claimed that it AI proactively finds and takes down almost 90 per cent of the hate speech from Facebook before anyone reports it to us - up from 38 per cent over the same period two years ago.

The European Commission has also asked Facebook, Twitter, Google and other social media companies to report monthly on COVID-19 related disinformation on their platforms.

The European Union's executive body asked these companies to provide monthly reports that include more detailed data on their actions to promote authoritative content, improve users' awareness, and limit coronavirus disinformation and advertising related to it.
Gemma Collins treated her mother Joan to a shopping spree and slap up meal after the matriarch was hospitalised on Tuesday.

In a series of Instagram posts, the TOWIE star, 39, revealed that she was on a mission to cheer up her poorly mum, 65.

The GC began her posts with a video of Joan on a drip as she kept her company in hospital

Tuesday Treat: Gemma Collins treated her mother Joan to a shopping spree and slap up meal after the matriarch was hospitalised on Tuesday

Joan asked: 'Poor mother, where do you want to go after?' to which Joan quickly replied: 'Harrods'.

After giving her mum some chocolate to keep her going, Gemma then shared clips of the pair walking through Harrods alongside her pals, Charlie King and Lucas Armitage.

Narrating her shopping spree, Gemma mused: 'It's so strange shopping like this, my favourite coffee bar dead. Still love it nevertheless. There's no other place like it.'

Poorly: The GC began her posts with a video of Joan on a drip as she kept her company in hospital

Joan asked: 'Poor mother, where do you want to go after?' to which Joan quickly replied: 'Harrods'

Joan added: 'It's very sad I think, very sad in Harrods, it's just not the same.

'People are just not going to queue up for hours, people just haven't got the time. They're not going to do it.

'It's alright if you get there first thing and you're the first in but people will not queue in mile long queues to get into a shop they buy online... It's just a sad day today for me.'

Heading out: Gemma treated her mother to a day out in London after her hospital admission

The group then headed off for a slap up meal as they swung by a swanky local fish and chip bars to pick up a takeaway treat.

Back in March, Gemma revealed that her mum had been rushed to hospital with pneumonia.

Gemma also revealed that Joan has been at higher risk of contracting an infection as she suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, especially in the current climate as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread.

Three's company: After giving her mum some chocolate to keep her going, Gemma then shared clips of the pair alongside her pals, Charlie King and Lucas Armitage

She first revealed that Joan had been hospitalised when she shared a picture of her hand attached to the drip, along with a caption: 'Love u Mum.'

The star then shared another snap of the drip, with the caption: 'Thank you to all the nurses who helped my mum she's had pneumonia and on the mend.

'NHS thank you thank you so over stretched right now my mum has rheumatoid arthritis and is high risk to infection.' [sic]

Narrating her shopping spree, Gemma mused: 'It's so strange shopping like this, my favourite coffee bar dead. Still love it nevertheless. There's no other place like it'

Gemma has previously spoken about her mum's health struggles, and just last year she was hospitalised for pneumonia.

She previously described her mum's health battle as 'two years of hell,' telling The Sun: 'I always tried to be really strong, so when I was with her I was happy, upbeat, like ''Come on mum, you're gonna be alright!''

'Then I'd leave the house, get in my car and cry for hours.

'I used to ring my friends and say 'I just don't know what I can do to help my mum,' it was the worst thing.'
- Rawaharja from Australia shined a light on his 70-year-old hard working dad who goes through grueling hours to ensure he provides for his family

- The daughter followed his father to work capturing the difficulties the old man had to endure every day to get to work at as a transit worker at a Train station

- The lady recorded the two of them on the train as she disclosed his dad was a Lebanese immigrant who had relocated to give his family a better life

A young lady has warmed hearts online after detailing the toil his 70-year-old dad endures to provide for his family.

Rawaharja, a teacher in Australia, shared sweet videos on Instagram that captured her dad's daily activities that were truly remarkable.

READ ALSO: Bahati shares video of female fan salaciously dancing to his new Wanani song, claims he's still a Gospel artiste

Rawaharja's dad is an inspiration to many as even in old age he continues to work hard Photo: Rawaharja/Instagram

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kenyan tweep who dumped fiancee for old man now pregnant, shares cute photos of baby bump

In one video recorded on Tik Tok, she revealed to have wanted to see what a day's work in her dad's life would be like, who always wakes up at 4.15am to pray then leave for work.

Rawaharja accompanied his dad to his workplace, which is at the Train station - where he works as a transit staff.

She recorded the two of them on the train and revealed he was a Lebanese immigrant who moved to Australia to provide a better life for his family.

"My dad never had options when he came to Australia, and because of his sacrifice, I have options," she wrote.

READ ALSO: Huruma slum kids perfectly mimic Maria series montage: "Binti kichaa"

READ ALSO: Churchill Show comedian Othuol Othuol hospitalised after fainting at home

Rawaharja's dad has been in the job for 50 years as he continues to ensure his children are taken care of for now and the future.

She also shared a video on her father's birthday which melted many hearts.

A few months back, TUKO.co.ke also told the story of a 54-year-old garbage collector who inspired many after his daughter graduated from a top university.

Tatay Cristito Quimado sat for an interview with GMA News to discuss his daily routine as a garbage collector, detailing the challenges he encountered collecting other peoples trash and often getting injuries from broken glasses.

READ ALSO: Kitui woman faints after catching husband in bed 'eating' her sister

Quimado revealed he had to endure all kinds of challenges in order to put all four of his children through school.

According to him, his work was not easy but he did it for his family because he believed education was the only thing that he could leave them.

As a garbage collector, he barely made anything substantial to provide for the family, but he did his best.

READ ALSO: Mkenya anayeishi Marekani aaga dunia baada ya gari lake kuanguka ndani ya mtaro

Quimado's daughter, Jenny, graduated with a degree in Nutrition and Food Technology and expressed how grateful she was to her dad and how proud she was of him.

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
Officials say they are bracing for a potential rise in new infections, but are hoping to avoid the spikes that are happening in states that have reopened more quickly and with fewer social distancing requirements still in place.
New Delhi, June 24 : The Delhi Police have arrested a 20-year-old boy from Patiala for allegedly kidnapping and raping a minor. The girl too has been rescued from the spot, officials said.

The accused has been identified as Brijesh who works as a labourer and does not have any criminal background.

According to the police, a missing complaint was filed by a woman regarding her daughter, following which a complaint under Section 363 (kidnapping) of the Indian Penal Code was registered and investigation was taken up.

During the course of investigation, it came to the notice of the police that Brijesh, who was staying with his brother in a flat in Narela, was also missing since the day the girl went missing.

The call details of the suspect showed his movement in Patiala in Punjab. Further probe revealed that one of the relatives of the suspect was staying in Patiala.

"A team was rushed to Patiala immediately. On the basis of technical surveillance and thorough search, the missing girl was finally traced in the house of the relative of the suspect in Patiala," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Outer North, Gaurav Sharma.

"The victim alleged sexual assault by the accused, following which we invoked Section 376 (rape) of the IPC and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act," the DCP added.
LANSING, MI  The state of Michigan is asking residents to be on the lookout for an invasive species that could damage or kill more than 70 different crops and plants in the state.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the spotted lanternfly could be the next invasive species to threaten Michigans agriculture and natural resources. The lanternfly could negatively affect a wide variety of plants including grapes, apples, hops and hardwood trees.

So far, the species has not been detected in Michigan, the DNR said in a June 23 news release. However, it is spreading rapidly across the country. It was first detected in the United States in 2014 in Pennsylvania. To date, infestations have been found in Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

Prevention and early detection are vital to limiting the spread of spotted lanternfly, said Robert Miller, invasive species prevention and response specialist for Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The spotted lanternfly damages trees, crops and plants by sucking sap and secreting large amounts of a sugar-rich, sticky liquid called honeydew. This honeydew and the resulting black, sooty mold can kill plants and foul surfaces. Additionally, the honeydew often attracts other pests, especially hornets, wasps and ants, affecting outdoor recreation and complicating crop harvests.

While the spotted lanternfly cannot fly long distances, it will lay eggs on nearly any surface, Miller said. That includes cars, trailers, firewood and outdoor furniture.

Spotted lanternflies may lay egg masses on vehicles, outdoor furniture or other items that can be transported to new areas, leading to new infestations.Photo courtesy of Emilie Swackhammer, Penn State University, Bugwood.org.

Before leaving an area where a quarantine is present, check vehicles, firewood and outdoor equipment for unwanted hitchhikers, he said.

Spotted lanternfly egg masses resemble old chewing gum, with a gray, waxy, putty-like coating. Hatched eggs appear as brownish, seed-like deposits. Spotted lanternfly nymphs are wingless, beetle-like and black with white spots, developing red patches as they mature. Adults are roughly one inch long. Their folded wings are gray to brown with black spots. Open wings reveal a yellow and black abdomen and bright red hind wings with black spots transitioning to black and white bands at the edge.

Spotted lanternflies go through several phases, first resembling spotted beetles before morphing into their adult form.Photo courtesy of Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences

If you find a spotted lanternfly egg mass, nymph or adult, take one or more photos, make note of the date, time and location of the sighting, and report it to MDARD via email at MDA-Info@Michigan.gov or phone at 800-292-3939. If possible, collect a specimen in a container for verification.

For additional information on identifying or reporting spotted lanternfly, visit Michigan.gov/SpottedLanternfly.
The craziness of our moment shows no sign of abating. In fact it appears to be settling down for another long march/stomping of our institutions. Here are some to todays crazy highlights:

 Someoneperhaps not students since campus is closedtoppled the statue of George Washington at George Washington University. Meanwhile, down in Nashville, the prestigious Harpeth Hall prep school has announced that it will do away with its annual George Washington Celebration, because, the schools headmaster informs us, It is not consistent with or relevant to the way that we teach history today; it does not demonstrate the significant role that women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups play in our nations history; and a growing number of students, faculty, staff, and alumnae are expressing their discomfort with this tradition.

But the Washington Post told us that Trump was being silly to warn us that the mob would come for Jefferson and Washington before long!

 Speaking of the Bezos Bulletin, they are apparently jealous of the total ideological purge the New York Times accomplished, and have moved to match the gray lady. Heres the complete Twitter thread from the Posts Michelle Boorstein celebrating the new regime being installed at the Post:

AMAZING NEWS: As part of its efforts to holistically deepen the diversity and inclusion of our journalism and newsroom, the @washingtonpost today just announced a DOZEN new positions, including (per newsroom memo) 1) a managing editor for diversity and inclusion (!): 1/x A senior leadership position who will act as a convener of regular coverage discussions that will bring together an expanded group of editors, reporters and visual journalists focused on race and identity. 2/x

This managing editor will participate in story meetings, review coverage involving sensitive issues of race and diversity and listen to and share staff concerns. They will also identify and recruit candidates and participate in final decisions on hiring and promotion. 3/x 2) America Desk Editor: This person will help direct and edit expanded coverage of race and identity. This team will be enhanced by the addition of the following three reporters. 4/x 3) Race in America writer: A reporter who can write with immediacy, sweep and authority on race and identity in America. 5/x 4) Writer on America and multiculturalism: A reporter who will focus on this countrys emergence as a predominately multicultural society  a momentous demographic shift that requires sustained attention and enterprising reporting. 6/x 5) Writer for the existing About Us newsletter, which covers identity in America. 7/x (keep reading! theres MORE!) 6) National Security writer with investigative skills who will dig into domestic terrorism, including extremist groups with supporters in the military and police; the internationalization of far-right groups; and the sources of financial support for white nationalism. 8/x 7) Criminal Justice writer who will focus on the administration of justice in the United States, from policing to probation. The beat will encompass the police reforms now being debated, incarceration at state and federal levels, and the experiences of those leaving prison. 9/x 8) A Style writer to write features chronicling the cultural manifestations of an America that is changing demographically. Coverage might include profiles of individuals who are reshaping the national conversation and the mainstreaming of the Black Lives Matter movement. 10/x 9) Climate & Environment writer to focus on environmental inequities, how climate change disproportionately harms people least responsible for it, the higher risk of exposure to pollution for communities of color and how communities of color are finding ways to adapt. 11/x 10) Health and Science writer: A reporter to focus on health disparities, the impact of structural and interpersonal racism on health and the sociology and psychology of racism and its effects. 12/x

11) A photojournalist with experience in coverage of race and identity. 13/13 Amazing news indeed. Its not often that you announce the death of objective journalism so straightforwardly. Almost makes you long for the good old days under Ben Bradlee when the Post merely suffered from severe liberal bias.

 Separately some time soon Ill offer a more complete analysis of how the climate campaign is the biggest loser from the COVID-19 crisis and our George Floyd moment, which is why the climatistas are falling all over themselves to say of course climate change is relatedsomehowto systemic racism, and fixing racism is vital to preventing climate change! The New York Times is doing its part to help, by giving us this headline that comes straight from the old joke:
The algorithm draws on state drivers license photo databases and has been used by police forces around the country for over two decades. - VCG

An innocent black man may have become the first American wrongfully arrested after being misidentified by a facial-recognition algorithm.

Robert Julian-Borchak Williams, of Michigan, was arrested on charges of theft as police officers claimed his face was matched with CCTV images from a robbery.

When he was first arrested and read his rights, he thought it was a prank. Mr Williams, 42, was taken to the station and showed a blurry still from a surveillance video of a man shoplifting from a boutique store in downtown Detroit.

Is this you? the detective asked him, according to NPR. No, this is not me, Mr Williams replied. You think all black men look alike? The suspect in the security camera image was also wearing a red St Louis Cardinals hat. Mr Williams, a Detroit native, said he would under no circumstances be wearing that hat.

The detective reportedly then held the image up to Mr Williams face and agreed: I guess the computer got it wrong, he said.

A photo of the suspect in a theft case in Detroit, left, next to the driver's license photo of Robert Williams.

Mr Williams, who works in an automotive supply company, was released on bail after 30 hours until a court appearance.

Civil-rights and privacy advocates say it is the first known case of an American wrongfully arrested because of a mistaken hit detected by the controversial facial-ID systems.

Recent studies by the National Institute of Standards and Technology have found that while the technology works relatively well on white men, the results are less accurate for other demographics. This is in part because of a lack of diversity in the images used to develop the databases.

The algorithm draws on state drivers license photo databases and has been used by police forces around the country for over two decades.

In recent years, Amazon, Microsoft and IBM have announced a halt to sales of face recognition technology to law enforcement.

Mr Williams said he remains scarred by the incident, saying: My mother doesnt know about it. Its not something Im proud of... Its humiliating.

In a statement to NPR, the Detroit Police Department said after the Williams case, the department enacted new rules. Now, only still photos, not security footage, can be used for facial recognition and it is now used only in the case of violent crimes.

"Facial recognition software is an investigative tool that is used to generate leads only. Additional investigative work, corroborating evidence and probable cause are required before an arrest can be made," the police department said.
Our favorite Korean stars always look flawless and their skin looks as they act and perform in any K-drama. Their "glass skin," or the porcelain-like and poreless skin, is their homegrown trend that has become renowned internationally.

Seoul is known as the beauty capital of the world for being the home to all K-beauty brands that promise enviable, youthful skin. Most of the typical beauty regimens Koreans use are serums, creams, sheet masks, and scrubs.

But did you know that current Korean celebrities also turn to high-tech gadgets and devices to help them maintain their stellar looks?

K-drama superstar Lee Min Ho made a new trend when he showed how he gets the royal skin in his latest drama, The King: Eternal Monarch. He used a new high-tech gadget called CELLRETURN PLATINUM helmet, which he showed to Eun Seob as he shared that no one else can use all his stuff. He also challenged Eun Seob to unlock and get access to Jo Yeong's laptop, and he will reward him the high-tech device to get young and fresh skin.

The device became popular for its red lights and sophisticated look. Its techie helmet-look is a LED home care beauty gadget that helps to address the entire face's concerns: the nose for sebum (oil) control. It's also used to prevent wrinkles on the ear, cheeks, and neck.

This all-in-one gadget allows you to save time at the comforts of your own home. Different from other LED devices, this one addresses multiple skin concerns.

The gadget has 1,026 LED lights that are meant to return a youthful balance onto one's skin. The benefits are wide to list, but most of these give firmness and brightness. Overall a youthful look is what is guaranteed with consistent use.

You may not know it, but more of our Hallyu stars are using this device, like Park Seo Joon and Jung Eun Chae!

Jung Eun Chae starred as Prime Minister Koo in The King: Eternal Monarch. She was seen using the CELLRETURN PLATINUM helmet in many of her scenes. As the Prime Minister, she gets to relax and pamper herself by using this beautifying device.

Many innovations have been restoring the youthful skin. Korean drama stars give the world new insights into the latest trend through what the characters use that are out in the market.
The prospect of an historic Fianna Fail/Fine Gael/Green coalition has been described as the first forensic examination in helping provincial towns like Longford recover from a post Covid-19 economic downturn.

That was the succinct and unambiguous message delivered by Longford/Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty this week as talk turned towards the likely formation of Ireland's next government.

There are a lot of positives in it for rural Ireland, for Longford and for small farmers, he told the Leader.

I think it's the first forensic examination of the way forward for rural provincial towns like Longford, Ballymahon and Granard.

The Lanesboro native said the draft government deal was focused on balanced and regional development with the onus now on elected representatives to ensure Longford maximises its intake from the national fiscal pie.

His party running mate and a rumoured frontrunner for a junior minsiterial portfolio Robert Troy said 'the Programme for Government is an ambitious document.

It is important that a government is formed so that necessary & vital supports for businesses are Rolled our. Because of the necessary actions taken to combat coronavirus - the economy, our SMEs has taken a serious battering and need urgent assistance to ensure protection of jobs and our revenue base to enable government to provide necessary services.

In contrast Fine Gael TD Peter Burke said the mooted new governmental model was workable if passed by all three parties and their respective memberships.

For any government to work, it needs to meet two key metrics-one being the need to have at least 80 seats and a majority in the Dail and that it reflects over 50 per cent of first preference votes, he said.

That's what this has and while there will be challenges, we need to try and make it work and to get the country moving forward.

They were soundings which were roundly dismissed by fellow constituency colleague and Sinn Fein Deputy Sorca Clarke.

The mother of four said the prospect of a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael/Green Party triumvirate was nothing more than a blatant attempt to deny change as voted for in last February's general election.

The reality is that a government led by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael - no matter who they are propped up by - does not represent the change that people voted for and will not deliver for workers and families, she contended.

Their record in government together over the past four years shows us exactly what they will do if this Programme for Government is endorsed by the parties involved.

What we need is a break from the past, not a repeat of it.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 06:48:58|Editor: huaxia

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HOUSTON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. state of Texas has surpassed 5,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time on Tuesday, Governor Greg Abbott said, asking people to stay at home as much as they can.

"There remain a lot of people in the state of Texas who think that the spread of COVID-19 is really not a challenge," said the governor during a TV broadcast Tuesday.

Noting that the coronavirus is "serious" and is spreading across the entire state, Abbott urged people to stay at home unless they have a good reason to venture out.

"There's never a reason for you to have to leave your home unless you do need to go out," he said. "The safest place for you is your home."

Texas has seen rapid growth of COVID-19 cases since early June. On Monday, Abbott said the pandemic is spreading "at an unacceptable rate" in Texas, announcing that the infection rates have increased from 4.5 percent in May to 9 percent.

According to the Texas Health and Human Services, as of Tuesday, there have been 120,370 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in the state, with 2,220 fatalities. Enditem
County Commissioner Katherlyn Geter said Wednesday that a video of the arrest of a black male by white county deputies "made me deeply troubled and quite frankly mad as hell."

Deputies said they had to use a baton on Reginald Arrington Jr. after he would not comply with commands and tried to take control of an officer's gun.

District Attorney Neal Pinkston quickly dismissed charges against the Ohio man and said he was going to have the TBI look into the matter. Sheriff Jim Hammond said the DA acted too hastily and should have let the case go to court.

Commissioner Geter said the incident "reopened so many old wounds."

She added, "This video has yet again broken my heart. We simply cannot continue to do this."

Commissioner Warren Mackey said, "Black commissioners should not be the only ones speaking out against the racism that is going on."

He said he had stood beside Sheriff Hammond at the time of an earlier controversial videoed arrest. He said a report was promised but not given. And he said he was told an officer involved in still on the force.

Commissioner Mackey said, "There are a lot of people in the streets who are going to take advantage of this."

Commissioner David Sharpe said the incident on Tuesday was "beyond my understanding. He was being beaten 25 times with a four-pound baton while being told to relax. This is unacceptable."

He said, "I didn't see any effort to de-accelerate this situation. If someone is walking on the wrong side of the road, tell them to walk on the right side of the road.

"We've got to do better. But do we want to do better?"
A boy with autism living in Kildare town got a big surprise from Tesco Extra in Naas this week.

Noah Summers (5) and his family were self isolating during the Covid-19 restrictions and really depended on the weekly grocery delivery from Tesco.

Noah wanted to show his gratitude to the supermarket and he sent a Thank You card to the manager.

The next day the store hand-delivered a toy Tesco delivery truck and a big box of chocolates for Noah.

Noah's grandmother Samantha said: "We sent Tesco Extra a Thank You card from my grandson who has autism and a chromosome disorder.

"We have been on total lockdown since the end of February and have relied heavily on our Tesco home deliveries.

"I was so grateful to all the wonderful staff that myself and my grandson sent a Thank You letter.

"Then to our surprise today they hand delivered a delivery truck toy and a large box of chocolates which brought so much joy to our grandson!"

Well done Tesco!
Dell Technologies, a leader in hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI), has announced two new VxRail systems including the first ruggedized VxRail model and introduction of AMD EPYC processors bringing the power and simplicity of HCI to the most challenging and space-constrained edge environments.



More data is being created at the edge, and more companies are moving their data management infrastructure closer to where data is created. But sometimes the edge is a 100-degree rooftop, not a temperature-controlled traditional data center, said Tom Burns, senior vice president and general manager, Dell Technologies Integrated Products & Solutions. With the new ruggedized VxRail systems, location and conditions dont matter.



Smallest, toughest VxRail takes HCI to harsh edge environments



The new ruggedized VxRail D Series brings VxRails simplicity and lifecycle management capabilities to a compact and durable form factor, designed to withstand remote and harsh environments. The system, featuring 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, is 20 inches deepthe smallest VxRail yet2and can withstand extreme temperatures, sustain up to 40G of operational shock and operate at up to 15,000 feet.



It brings IT support to edge locations where resilient infrastructure is critical, such as the implementation of a data center at remote sites, onboard ships at sea or equipped in aircrafts. The VxRail D Series is an ideal solution for manufacturing, industrial, and oil and gas environments where conditions create a technical challenge or space is at a premium.



VxRail brings AMD EPYC processors to edge ready, single-socket system



For the first time on VxRail, 2nd Gen AMD EPYC processors are now available in a new, efficient E Series platform. The VxRail E Series with AMD EPY Cprocessors offers customers a new option, with up to 64 high performance cores and support for PCIe 4, that can be deployed at the edge or in data centers. Coupled with high-efficiency power supply, these compact 1U systems are an ideal option for customers that need high-performance computing power, in a single socket platform for edge environments.



The new VxRail E665 systemavailable in NVMe, all-flash, or hybrid storage configurationsoffers high performance in a single-socket model and is an ideal option for database, unstructured data, virtual desktop infrastructure and HPC workloads.



As the only jointly engineered HCI system with VMware, VxRail delivers a hybrid cloud approach that is simple to deploy and manage, no matter where data and applications reside.



As recently announced, Dell Technologies Cloud Platformoffering VMware Cloud Foundation on VxRailnow supports configurations with as few as four compute nodes, enabling customers to start small and grow. Customers, such as Atlantis, The Palm, now can explore their hybrid cloud journey at up to 47% lower cost3, with a smaller footprint, and scale their infrastructure over time.



With VxRail at the core of our operations, were able to run critical applications in every corner of our properties, from check-in services to our many amenities, with the reliability our customers and team expect, said Anthony Lynsdale, vice president of information technology, Atlantis, The Palm. Its also given us the ability to scale our infrastructure to meet the growing demands of our business and expand our IT strategy to the public cloud, all on VxRail.



The latest version of VxRail HCI System Software helps streamline updates with the ability to run pre-upgrade health checks on demand and cloud-based management and orchestration, enabling every VxRail cluster to be maintained throughout its lifecycle, regardless of location.



With the introduction of new platform enhancements, VxRail can support even more power-demanding applications, such as in-memory databases like SAP HANA and artificial intelligence/machine learning applications. VxRail will now support:



 Intel Optane Persistent Memory, which maintains improved data integrity with 90% lower latency. With this addition, VxRail is the first fully integrated VMware-based HCI system to support the full range of Intel Optane technologies for the data center including 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, Intel Optane persistent memory and Intel Optane SSDs.



 NVIDIA Quadro RTX GPUs, which combine with NVIDIA virtual GPU (vGPU) software to bring the power of accelerated rendering, AI, advanced graphics and compute to the data center for a wide range of workflows. With Quadro RTX and NVIDIA vGPU software, customers can deploy VxRail solutions that help end users be more productive and data centers run efficiently.



Availability

 VxRailD Series with 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors are available globally on June 23, 2020.

 VxRail E Series with 2nd Gen AMD EPYC processors are available globally on June 23, 2020.

 VxRail HCI System Software latest update is now globally available.

 NVIDIA Quadro RTX GPUs and Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory options are now globally available.  TradeArabia News Service
YPSILANTI, MI  With a little more than a week before it must adopt a budget for the 2020-21 school year, Lincoln Consolidated Schools officials have offered little information about how they plan to address a significant loss in state revenue.

The districts Board of Education and board finance committee discussed some of the challenges they are facing in creating a balanced budget during meetings Monday, June 22.

Lincoln Business Office Director Adam Snapp said the district anticipates a loss of $685 per pupil in state funding for 2020-21. Local school districts like Ann Arbor Public Schools and Chelsea School District have outlined some of their plans ahead of approving a budget, but Lincoln has yet to do so.

Snapp and Superintendent Robert Jansen said they are hearing districts will likely be spared by cuts to close out the 2019-20 budget, placing the burden of the states anticipated revenue shortfall on the 2020-21 budget.

Things are not looking great for next year, Jansen said. ... Its looking more likely that it might be next years budget where we might take the most cuts.

The district appears to be willing to wait until it has more information from the state before announcing any plans for making cuts, likely amending its budget in August or September to reflect those plans.

Lincoln Human Resources Director Adam Blaylock said 14 employees accepted voluntary severance packages the Board of Education approved earlier this month.

Blaylock said the district is optimistic it will be able to fill a number of those vacancies, however, estimating around 50 people had applied for open positions at the elementary level, while another 20 have applied for secondary level positions.

The severance plan requires that employees be at Step 16 or above on the pay scale, paying out $15,000 to eligible employees with a bachelors degree or $20,000 to those who have a masters degree.

Blaylock indicated it is possible more voluntary severance packages could be offered by the district in the months ahead.

The district, in the interest of being proactive about the budget crunch, is looking at absolutely every option in terms of staffing to ensure that were flexible and ready to put into action whatever plan we as an organization put together, Blaylock said.

Lincoln Consolidated Schools will likely need to borrow more money than it has over the past few years to make up for the budget uncertainty, Snapp said, estimating the district will have to borrow between $8 million and $9 million for cash flow purposes.

That will increase the amount of interest the district needs to pay, Snapp said, noting it would cost about $150,000 to borrow that amount of money.

It is possible that if the foundation allowance cuts come in more than what we planned for in the budget, that they will reopen that window so we potentially can borrow more if we need to, Snapp said.

Lincoln Consolidated Schools Board of Education is scheduled to vote on its 2020-21 budget June 29.

READ MORE:

$2.7M shortfall for Chelsea School District to be made up through reserves, attrition

$15.6-million budget deficit for Ann Arbor schools to be made up through attrition, fund balance

Whitmer administration calls for federal funding to help fill Michigans multibillion-dollar budget hole

Saline Area Schools hopeful for in-person graduation, fall classes

Michigan districts are meeting students where they are as schools adapt to remote learning
Motorists have captured the terrifying moment a tornado hovered through the Chinese countryside, appearing to approach their cars.

The giant column of wind struck the suburbs of Xilinhot city in north-eastern China's Inner Mongolia on Wednesday afternoon, according to China's weather authority.

One video released by the Chinese National Meteorological Center (NMC) on Twitter-like Weibo shows one motorist filming the giant column of wind from a fair distance.

A driver records the giant spinning column of wind from afar in Xilinhot, north-eastern China

The cyclone formed at around 2:30pm near the New Vehicle Administration Station of Xilinhot

In the 28-second clip, the man behind the camera yelled 'look at that tornado' at another driver who was also recording the dramatic phenomenon.

The second man then told the videographer to park his car properly, but the latter insisted 'it will be fine'.

The cyclone formed at around 2:30pm near the New Vehicle Administration Station of Xilinhot, said the NMC.

Another clip uploaded by Chinese Weibo user 'Ximeng Impression' shows the twister up-close

A second video shared by the weather authority shows a motorist filming the twister at a much closer distance.

The 15-second footage, uploaded by an account known as 'Ximeng Impression', shows the twister heading towards several parked cars when one person took a video of it calmly.

No casualties or damage have been reported as a result of the adverse weather condition.
Duane Todman was a painter of still lifes, an artist influenced by masters old and new, and an endlessly striving work in progress when he died on May 23, the victim of a shooting in Schenectadys Hamilton Hill.

Among the creations he left behind were dozens now on display at Albany Center Gallery  including his most recent works reflecting classical aesthetics meshed with street art.

He was starting to find his groove or his stride with those pieces  trying to bring those worlds together, said Tony Iadicicco, executive director of the gallery. Todmans art is filled with emotion, he said, and marked with the sense that he was always pushing forward. Theres definitely like a rawness to the work itself, which I find very intriguing.

Shining Light: Duane Ivan Todman will run through Saturday, July 18, at ACG, which will be open by appointment from 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. each day. In addition, ACG will host a celebration of life honoring Todman at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 11, outside the gallery at 488 Broadway. Masks and social distancing will be required; attendees will be allowed to view the exhibit inside in groups of 10, maximum. Tickets are $10 and available via eventbrite.

Included in the show are 51 pieces spanning the last five years of Todmans life, maybe a little longer. Theyre still lives, portrait works that are here, Iadicicco said. Notebooks. Sketches. And then paintings and different mediums  some are on recycled wood, some are on scrap paper, some are on the backs of other paintings.

Todman, 27, was shot in the neck on the steps of a church after intervening in a dispute between a man and a woman. (Marlone Oinda, 21, of Middletown, has been charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession and use of a firearm.) The killing cut short the life and creative aspirations of an artist whod worked on his craft at the Electric City Barn and its sister hub, the Albany Barn, where he previously lived.

Many of the works he left behind have the unfinished quality of an artist on a constant quest to improve, Iadicicco said. There are a few that come across as finished because theyre either framed or matted, but a lot of them just seem like theres more to the story  and theres more work to be done to the pieces, he said. But I think thats kind of a common thread through all the pieces: that theres kind of an incomplete, and process of journey, throughout all the works.

Todmans mother, Michelle Hightower, and sister, Essence Todman, are among the organizers of the July 11 event, which will benefit the newly established Duane X Foundation. Members of the Academy of Realist Art Boston will offer a presentation honoring Todman, who had just received a scholarship to attend.

Please wish me luck, he told his mentor, the artist Len Tantillo, who quoted Todmans email in a column paying tribute to the gifted and driven young painter. I believe this would work wonders for my career, especially if I am able to figure out a way to go to school for the entire 3 years.

In his column, Tantillo called Todman a fine young man. The world has missed out on the wonderful art within his soul. All he wanted out of life was to paint and be accepted as the artist he was.

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.

Iadicicco agreed. Thats 100 percent on the mark, he said.

Mounting the exhibit, he feels the energy that Todman would have brought, he said. And working with his family and close friends to bring the show to the space  it really is a group effort to make it happen. . . . I just wish it was while he was here to appreciate it.

Iadicicco first met Todman five or six years ago, when he visited the gallery at its old location on Columbia Street and asked questions about getting involved. He became a member. And while his work had been displayed in Art on Lark and ACGs Black Arts & Cultural Festival, he had long hoped for, and worked toward, a more focused exhibit of his art.

In a text conversation with the gallery director shortly before he died, Todman said his goal was to have a show at the gallery within the next year or two, Iadicicco said, and that was very, very powerful to me.

He told the determined young artist to keep at it. He was getting there, he assured him.

That makes it very sad for me, Iadicicco said. I wish this show was here while he was still around, because I think itd be something that hed be proud of.
One of three officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed in a hail of gunfire when drug investigators burst into her home in Louisville, Kentucky, three months ago was dismissed from the police department on Tuesday.

Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician, was killed on March 13 after the officers entered her apartment bearing a "no-knock" arrest warrant.

In a termination notice issued after an administrative hearing, Louisville police chief Robert Schroeder wrote that detective Brett Hankison "displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life" when he "wantonly and blindly fired" 10 rounds into Taylor's home.

Schroeder said the gunshots were fired through a patio door and window covered with material obscuring Hankison's line of sight, preventing him from knowing whether anyone was inside the apartment, let alone whether they posed a threat. Some of the rounds he fired flew into the unit next door, the chief wrote.

Two other officers involved in the raid remain on administrative reassignment. No criminal charges have been filed against any of the three.

The notice also said Hankison, who joined the department in 2003, was disciplined in 2019 for reckless conduct that injured an innocent person.

Taylor's slaying, which returned to prominence following the May 25 death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, has become a rallying cry in nationwide protests against police brutality and racial bias in the US criminal justice system.

In the immediate aftermath of the Taylor killing, police said the officers had knocked on the door before forcing entry and were shot at by Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. One officer was struck in the leg, and all three returned fire, hitting Taylor at least eight times, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Walker was charged with attempted murder and assault, but prosecutors later dropped the charges, the Courier-Journal reported.
New research has linked a 12th century European famine to the eruption of a volcano in Japan, fumes from which may have drifted across the Arctic and caused a shift in weather patterns that triggered widespread crop failure.

The team studied ice core samples from Greenland dating back to the early 1100s and found volcanic sulfate deposits that match those from Mount Asama in central Japan, which erupted in 1108.

According to the team, the effect of the eruption on the atmosphere likely contributed to 'a very disastrous year' in France and other parts of western Europe, contributing to unusually cold summer temperatures, heavy rainfall and one of the darkest lunar eclipses ever recorded.

Researchers discovered new evidence linking an eruption on Mount Asama in Japan to an 12th century famine in Europe, driven by atmospheric sulfates in the atmosphere that caused summer temperatures to fall and increased rainfall

Mount Asama's eruption also devastated large parts of the Japanese countryside, covering rice paddies and fields in thick ash, while aerosols and gases from the eruption slowly drifted toward Europe over a period from at least 1108 to 1113, according to a report in the Asahi Shimbun.

To trace the effects of these volcanic sulfates and other substances, the team relied on several other forms of evidence gathered from western Europe, including journal descriptions from the period and tree ring analysis.

Correlating the size of tree rings to relative temperature and precipitation levels, the researchers determined that 1109 had seen unusually cold summer temperatures, alongside heavy rains that could have caused widespread crop damage.

Historical documents from the time support that conclusion, showing that weather patterns had 'killed off many people and reduced countless numbers of rich people to poverty.'

In a manuscript called the Peterborough Chronicle dating to 1110 AD, an anonymous Anglo-Saxon writer described a sudden and prolonged lunar eclipse likely caused by heavy bands of volcanic aerosols passing through the upper atmosphere.

'On the fifth night in the month of May appeared the moon shining bright in the evening, and afterward by little and little its light diminished," the unnamed person wrote.

'As soon as night came, it was so completely extinguished withal, that neither light, nor orb, nor anything at all of it was seen. And so it continued nearly until day, and then appeared shining full and bright.'

The team analyzed several ice core samples from Greenland, which preserved a portrait of the atmosphere in the early 1100s. They found a noticeable increase in volcanic sulfates between 1108 and 1113, which they linked to the Mount Asama eruption

The team also analyzed historical documents from western Europe at the time, and found evidence that the summer of 1109 had been 'a very disastrous year'

The team also believe the volcanic emissions contributed to a lunar eclipse that 'completely extinguished' the moon, in what was one of the darkest eclipses in recorded history

Past research connected the famine and lunar eclipse to a different volcanic eruption, Mount Helka in Greenland, but the new discovery of ice core samples pointing to Mount Asama complicate the older theory.

According to the researchers, it's likely the events were ultimately set in motion by a 'cluster' of volcanic eruptions at the time, of which Helka and Asama were just a few.

'Many more eruptions are evident from ice core records and several of them have never been studied in detail,' University of Geneva's Sebastien Guillet told Vice.

'Therefore, there's still plenty of work to do to better understand the influence of large eruptions on the climate system and to which degree these eruptions impacted (or not) past societies.'
There will never be an Autonomous Zone in Washington, DC, as long as Im your President. If they try they will be met with serious force! Trump tweeted. Trumps tweet referred to the police-free district created by protesters in Seattle, in Washington state, two weeks ago, which has sparked outrage among conservatives. (Photo | AP)

Washington: Twitter on Tuesday hid a tweet from President Donald Trump in which he threatened to use serious force against protestors in the US capital, saying it broke rules over abusive content.

The move appeared to be the first by Twitter against the president for an abusive tweet. In a growing dispute, the platform has recently labeled other Trump tweets as misleading and violating its standards on promoting violence.

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! Trump tweeted.

The action by Twitter requires users to click through to read the Trump tweet, with a tag on the message that it violated the Twitter rules about abusive behavior but that it would remain accessible in the publics interest.

Trumps tweet referred to the police-free district created by protesters in Seattle, in Washington state, two weeks ago, which has sparked outrage among conservatives.

Twitters move escalated the battle between the White House and social media firms which Trump has accused of bias against conservatives, despite his own large following.

The president has already signed an executive order which could lead to more government oversight of social media firms, despite doubts about its legal authority.

The Trump administration has also signaled it wants to overhaul a law that gives online services immunity from content posted by others, a move which could open the floodgates to litigation.

Twitter said in a statement to AFP it took the action Tuesday because the tweet violated its policy against abusive behavior with a threat of harm against an identifiable group.

Twitters policy in dealing with world leaders in most cases calls for violating messages to be labeledwhich limits its reach and prevents others from liking or retweeting itbut leaves the tweets available because if they relate to ongoing matters of public importance.

The new, aggressive stand by Twitter on rule-breaking by the president stands in contrast with Facebook, which has maintained a largely hands-off policy despite pressure from activists to curb inflammatory content.

Facebook did remove a Trump ad last week that contained a symbol used in Nazi Germany for political prisoners, saying it violated the platforms policy against organized hate.

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Piers Morgan and his wife Celia both shared pictures from their wedding on Instagram on Wednesday as they celebrated their 10-year anniversary.

The couple showed off their sense of humour with Celia, 44, poking fun at the union alongside a snap of them in their wedding car.

She wrote: 'Once every century the perfect couple comes along and redefines the way other couples view love. We are totally not that couple. Happy 10th anniversary, Piers.'

Scroll down for video

'We are totally not a perfect couple': Celia Walden poked fun at husband Piers Morgan on their 10-year anniversary as they shared pictures from their big day on Instagram on Wednesday

What a woman: Celia shared this hilarious post alongside the picture

A special day: Piers shared this stunning snap as he joked that Celia was 'counting her lucky stars to be him'

'Her lawyers hoped it would never last!' Piers wrote this cheeky caption

The TV star, 55, had shared a beautiful picture of himself and Celia from their big day earlier on, before joking that his wife was 'punching above her weight.'

He wrote: '10yrs ago today... I made an honest woman of Celia. And her lawyers hoped it would never last! Happy Anniversary to my considerably better half.'

He said on Good Morning Britain: 'Happy tenth anniversary to my wife, Celia. Ten years today, she got lucky, wow!'

'Is it your wedding anniversary?' co-host Susanna Reid, 49, exclaimed?

'Yes, ten years ago today, so congratulations Celia.'

Shocked: Susanna Reid was shocked Piers was still married to Celia on GMB that morning and told him he is 'punching above his weight'

Get your wallet out, Piers: The TV host laughed as Susanna told him he should buy Celia diamond jewellery as that is the traditional ten year gift

'I bet she counts her lucky stars every morning,' Susanna joked, making Piers laugh.

'We are going to have a wild celebration,' Piers continued. 'We will probably go to the kitchen, have a curry.'

Susanna said: 'Well you could do a bit more. Maybe you could delay your celebrations 'til July 4.'

Piers said: 'I've just had a message actually from my favourite Spanish restauranteur, Abel at Cambio De Tercio and I sent him a message saying, "please tell me you're open".'

'I'm in. I'm booked in. Cambio, the 4th, I'll be there. I don't care if you all come in wearing spacesuits, it doesn't bother me. Just get the food and wine on my table.

'I couldn't get into my local Italian...'

Clutching her earpiece, Susanna said: 'What's the gift for tenth? Diamond jewellery. Celia, you are going to strike lucky today. She is punching, wow, well done.'

The producers flashed up a picture of Piers and his wife, and Susanna said: 'Has someone Photoshopped a beautiful woman onto a picture of you? You are punching above your weight.'

Piers replied: 'No, she got lucky. She knows it. She counts her lucky stars every day.'
Technavio has been monitoring the acai berry products market and it is poised to grow by 326.98 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 6% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005562/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Acai Berry Products Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. AcaiExotic, Acai Roots Inc., Amazonic Ventures LLC, Energy Foods International LLC, Frooty Comercio e Industria de Alimentos SA, Nossa Fruits, Organique International Corp., Sambazon Inc., Sunfood, and Tropical Acai LLC are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Increasing popularity of acai berry as a superfood has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, stringent food safety regulations might hamper market growth.

Acai Berry Products Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Acai Berry Products Market is segmented as below:

Application Food And Beverages Nutraceuticals Others

Geography South America North America Europe APAC MEA



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=IRTNTR43847

Acai Berry Products Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our acai berry products market report covers the following areas:

Acai Berry Products Market size

Acai Berry Products Market trends

Acai Berry Products Market industry analysis

This study identifies health benefits of acai berry as one of the prime reasons driving the acai berry products market growth during the next few years.

Acai Berry Products Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the acai berry products market, including some of the vendors such as AcaiExotic, Acai Roots Inc., Amazonic Ventures LLC, Energy Foods International LLC, Frooty Comercio e Industria de Alimentos SA, Nossa Fruits, Organique International Corp., Sambazon Inc., Sunfood, and Tropical Acai LLC. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Acai Berry Products Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Acai Berry Products Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist acai berry products market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the acai berry products market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the acai berry products market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of acai berry products market vendors

Table Of Contents :

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Application

Market segments

Comparison by Application

Food and beverages Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Nutraceuticals Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Others Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by application

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

AcaiExotic

Acai Roots Inc.

Amazonic Ventures LLC

Energy Foods International LLC

Frooty Comercio e Industria de Alimentos SA

Nossa Fruits

Organique International Corp.

Sambazon Inc.

Sunfood

Tropical Acai LLC

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. 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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Slowing new infections has led to a shortage of patients to enroll in trials, which are underway for more than a dozen potential vaccines

Tokyo: As nations race to develop treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, Japan has become a victim of its own success as slowing new infections has led to a shortage of patients to enroll in clinical trials. Clinical trials are underway for more than a dozen potential vaccines, including at least six in China, but Japans first human trials are expected to start next month.

In development of treatments, Russia and India approved Fujifilm Holdings Corps (4901.T) Avigan as a COVID-19 therapy, but Japan, whose Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has touted the drugs potential and hoped to approve it in May, wont see a decision until at least July.

Due to the decreasing number of coronavirus infections, we believe it will take some time before clinical research is completed, said Tetsuya Nakamura, who is running a trial of Avigan at Gunma University Hospital in central Japan.

Its a pity that Avigan has been approved overseas but not in Japan.

Japan has fared better than most developed nations in tackling the disease that has killed more than 470,000 worldwide. While the epidemic drove Japans medical system to the brink of collapse in recent months, serious cases now number about 60 nationwide.

Some 54 COVID-19 related clinical trials have been launched in Japan, but most are still in the patient recruitment phase, according to trials tracking data.

Interest in Avigan, known generically as favipiravir, soared in March after a Chinese official said it appeared to help patients recover from COVID-19. It is now the subject of at least 25 clinical trials around the world.

The regulatory delay on Avigan is partly due to the fact that the studies should have been carried out in multiple countries at once, said Dr. Nakamura. But such studies are enormously expensive.

Fujifilm said it is working to complete the clinical trials as soon as possible.

Japanese biotech firm Healios KK (4593.T) said in April it intended to add COVID-19 patients to its experimental lung therapy trial but has not enlisted any as yet.

We were careful to size the cohort in light of the low number of patients in Japan, and so are only seeking to enroll around five patients, CFO Richard Kincaid said.

With a dearth of domestic patients, Japan may have to rely more on overseas data and results to aid in regulatory approvals. That practice is common if the quality of data is considered to be good enough, according to health ministry official Yasuyuki Sahara.

Sahara did not comment on the Russia or Indian approvals of Avigan and whether data from those nations could be used in Japan. The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Japans primary drug regulator, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A South Dakota couple have pleaded not guilty to charges that they gave four children drugs and zapped them with a cattle prod.

Lance Long, 36, and Crystallynn Long, 40, of Sioux Falls, made their initial court appearances Monday. The Longs pleaded not guilty to several counts, including aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, distribution of marijuana to a minor, distributing a controlled substance to a minor and abuse or cruelty to a minor, the Argus Leader reported.

Authorities with the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office said the alleged abuse had been going on for several years and involved boys ages 17, 13 and 11, as well as a 15-year-old girl. The children are related and some are half-siblings.

Lance Long, 36 (left), and Crystallynn Long, 40 (right), made their initial court appearances Monday. The Longs pleaded not guilty to several counts, including aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, distribution of marijuana to a minor, distributing a controlled substance to a minor and abuse or cruelty to a minor

Authorities received a child abuse complaint May 13 from someone connected to the couple, Minnehaha County sheriff's Capt. Josh Phillips said. The children were interviewed and the Longs were arrested.

The children are in the custody of the Department of Social Services.

The couple were arrested after fleeing to Oklahoma and brought back to South Dakota to face 14 counts, including aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon; distribution of marijuana to a minor; distributing a controlled substance to a minor and abuse or cruelty to a minor.

Capt. Josh Phillips, with the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office, told the Argus Leader that the years-long abuse was directed at four children ages 11, 13, 15 and 17.

According to the captain, the parents drugged their children and shocked them with a 'hot shot cattle prod' to get them to obey orders, reported the station KELO.

According to the captain, the parents drugged their children and shocked them with a 'hot shot cattle prod' to get them to obey orders, reported the station KELO (stock)

When interviewed by investigators, most of the children in the Long household reportedly said that the prod had been used on them 'numerous' times over the last three years.

Law enforcement officials first learned of the allegations against the couple in mid-May after their eldest son, who had recently left home to join the Marine Corps, confided in his recruiter about his and his siblings' troubled home life.

The recruiter then contacted a relative, who reported the alleged about to the sheriff's office, sparking an investigation.

The 17-year-old boy told the authorities that Lance had given him and his siblings marijuana and methamphetamine for the last two and a half years, purportedly because it would 'help them learn about drugs, so that drugs wouldn't ruin their lives later on,' arrest affidavits stated.

The young Marine claimed that Cyrstallynn never encouraged the children to use the drugs, but was present whenever they did.

He also mentioned he has an older sister who had previously accused Lance of abusing her.

The boy said those allegations were investigated but came to naught, so he and his siblings decided to keep quiet so as not to make things worse at home.

According to the documents, deputies arrived at the Longs' house in the 6400 block of North 10th Avenue to perform a welfare check on the children.

The children were asked about the abuse and initially denied it, as did Crystallynn.

Capt. Josh Phillips, with the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office, said the years-long abuse was directed at four children ages 11, 13, 15 and 17. The children have since been placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services

But when the deputies privately interviewed the couple's 15-year-old daughter, with Crystallynn's consent, the teen allegedly corroborated everything her older brother had told his sergeant in the Marines.

'She said she is very worried about her two younger brothers, but she's happy that someone finally said something about Lance,' the document stated.

When pressed about the allegations, Crystallynn allegedly admitted that her husband would 'sometimes chase their children with a hot-shot taser to intimidate them,' but she claimed he never shocked them.

Additional interviews with the children revealed instances of beatings, abuse and molestation allegations related to the father.

At least one of the children was reported to have been punched in the kidneys, while another was allegedly run over with a three-wheeler by Lance.

The couple's older daughter, whom the Marine recruit brought up to the police, said of the father that he is a 'cruel and evil person.'

When police reached Lance Long by phone and questioned him about the allegations, he denied giving the children drugs or physically abusing them.
A pastor has been arrested in Akwa Ibom State for keeping eight teenage girls in a so-called deliverance centre and allegedly raping one of them said to be 15 years old, the police have said.

The police said the girls are between the ages of 13 and 16.

The pastor, identified as Inimfon Eyo Inyang, 33, was said to have also made an attempt to rape a 21 year old girl.

The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Imohimi Edgal, who briefed reporters on Wednesday in Uyo about the development said the pastor was arrested on June 18 at Nung Atim Road, Off Idoro Road, Uyo, following a complaint.

Mr Edgal said 11 more persons have been arrested recently in the state for rape, including one Akpan Kingsley Effiong, 29, of No. 35 Abak Road, Uyo, who was said to have repeatedly raped his 14-year-old daughter and one Sampson Ndiana-Abasi accused of taking part in gang-raping an 11-year-old girl.

Another person, one Ime Sunday of Ekpene Obo, Esit Eket Local Government Area, was arrested on June 21 for serially raping his 16-year-old daughter since 2019.

Mr Edgal said the victim escaped from her home to a friends place in another local government area just so she could be out of her fathers reach. But she later returned home after she was persuaded by her father, only for him to rape her again multiple times, the commissioner said.

One Etebong Monday Harrison, 21, of Ikot Akpan Udo, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, was arrested on June 6 for raping a five-year-old girl, the police said.

The other rape cases, as presented by the police chief, are as follows:

Consequent upon a distress call on 22/06/2020, Operatives of Oron Division apprehended one Emmanuel Okon Otu m, aged 30yrs old of Uko Nteghe, Mbo L.G.A.

The suspect invaded a residence at No. 4 Secretariat Road, Oron at about 1:30am of the said date, where he had an unlawful carnal knowledge of a 28-yr-old lady at gunpoint, and thereafter robbed the victim of her Techno Spark 4 phone valued N42,000.00, one itel phone valued N9,000.00, one big towel valued N5,000.00 and the sum of N32,000.00.

Responding to a distress call on 20/06/2020 at about 6:37am, Operatives of Ibeno Division apprehended one Okon Okon Asuquo m, aged 23 years old of Uton Street, Ibeno L.G.A who dragged a 14-year-old minor from Uton Waterside to his house and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

Relying of a credible information on 13/6/2020 at about 5:20pm, Operatives of C Division arrested one Solomon Emmanuel Okon m of No. 16 Johnson Street, Uyo who raped and assaulted a 28-yr-old lady on 12/6/2020 at the same address.

Information received on 9/6/2020 by Operatives of Ibesikpo Asutan Division led to the apprehension of one Gospel Timothy m of Atai Essien, Oruk Anam L.G.A.

The suspect allegedly raped a 21-yr-old girl. Investigation revealed that the mother of the victim sent her on an errand; but she was waylaid by the suspect and forcefully taken to his house where he forcefully had unlawfully carnal knowledge of the victim.

Following a tip-off on 21/06/2020 at about 1:00pm, Operatives of A Division apprehended one Sunday Otema m of Nelson Mandela Street, Uyo. Investigation revealed that the suspect lured a 10-yr-old girl to a bush and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

Relying on a credible intelligence, on 18/06/2020 at about 3:00pm, Operatives of Essien Udim Division arrested one Ndiana Samuel John m who forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of a 15-year-old girl after inflicting a machete cut on her left hand in order to forestall her resistance.

Following a reliable intelligence on 9/06/2020 at about 5:00pm, Operatives of Nsit Atai Division apprehended one Udo Ekong Esau m, aged 55 years old of Odot 1, Nsit Atai L.G.A. Investigation revealed that a 16-year-old girl who took refuge in the suspects house since November, 2019 due to mistreatment by her mother was defiled and impregnated by the suspect.

The police commissioner threatened to arrest and prosecute parents or guardians who send out their children to hawk in the streets.

There have been an increase in rape and other sex offences in Nigeria lately. Nigerian authorities have been under pressure to take firmer actions on the issue.
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.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo has called George Floyds death at the hands of Officer Derek Chauvin on Memorial Day murder, insisting the killing didnt result because of a lack of training.

In his most damning declaration about Floyds killing yet, Arradondo issued a statement Monday night, insisting Chauvin knew what he was doing when he fatally knelt down on the 46-year-olds neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.

Mr. George Floyds tragic death was not due to a lack of training  the training was there, Arradondo wrote. Chauvin had his knee on Mr Floyds neck for over seven minutes, and for those last minutes he knew that Floyd was non-responsive.

This was murder  it wasnt a lack of training. This is why I took swift action regarding the involved officers employment with MPD, he continued.

Chauvin and Tou Thao  another officer involved in the fatal arrest - both had previously taken department training to prevent suffocation in people being restrained face down years earlier, the police chief said.

In his most damning declaration about Floyds killing yet, Arradondo issued a statement Monday night, insisting Chauvin knew what he was doing when he fatally knelt down on the 46-year-olds neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds

Mr. George Floyds tragic death was not due to a lack of training  the training was there, Arradondo wrote. Chauvin had his knee on Mr Floyds neck for over seven minutes, and for those last minutes he knew that Floyd was non-responsive'

While State Governor Tim Waltz and a number of other public officials in Minneapolis have previously proclaimed Floyds death to be a murder, this is the first time Arradondo has staked such a claim.

Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington called Floyds death murder on May 29, just hours before Chauvin was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter, the Star Tribune reported.

The police chiefs statement was released in response to a public records request for department training records after questions were asked as to whether the Minneapolis PD upheld a promise to require all officers to undergo training on the dangers of positional asphyxia, following a 2013 settlement.

Arradondo claimed that the MPD went beyond the requirements of the settlement  not only providing training but overhauling its policies altogether the following year.

The policy changes explicitly require moving an arrestee from a prone position to a recovery position when the maximal restraint technique is used and require continuous monitoring of an arrestees condition, Arradondo wrote.

It is important to note that getting an arrestee into a position where he or she can breathe is something that is hammered into all of our officers, Arradondo added. And this began even before the Smith settlements required 2014 training.'

He continued by saying there is simply no way that any competent officer in MPD would be unaware of the need to get an arrestee into a recovery position so that he or she can breathe freely.

Arradondo then broke down Chauvins systematic failures to uphold the rudimentary policy.

Mr Floyd shouted out that he couldnt breathe; bystanders shouted out that Mr. Floyd had stopped talking; then they pointed out he had become non-responsive; and finally they shouted out that Mr. Floyd was dying, the police chief wrote.

Further, one of the officers on the scene told Chauvin that Mr. Floyd should be put into a recovery position and he eventually told Chauvin he could not find Mr. Floyds pulse, he continued. The officers knew what was happening  one intentionally caused it and the others failed to prevent it.

This was murder  it wasnt a lack of training.

Derek Chauvins lawyer, Eric Nelson, has not yet returned a DailyMail.com request for comment on Arradondos remarks.

Chauvin (left) and Tou Thao (right)  another officer involved in the fatal arrest - both had previously taken department training to prevent suffocation in people being restrained face down years earlier, the police chief said.

While State Governor Tim Waltz and a number of other public officials in Minneapolis have previously proclaimed Floyds death to be a murder, this is the first time Arradondo has staked such a claim

Floyd was arrested on May 25 after he was accused of attempting to pay for groceries with a counterfeit $20 bill

Rookie officers J. Alexander Keung (left) and Thomas Lane (right) were also involved in the arrest. Lane had asked Chauvin if he should roll Floyd onto his side to help him breathe better. Chauvin replied 'No. Staying put where we got him'

The 2013 settlement mentioned by Arradondo pertains to a lawsuit filed by the family of David Cornelius Smith, a black man who died after police pinned him face down while handcuffed outside of a downtown YMCA in 2010.

Video of the arrest showed officers Tasering the 28-year-old, who was mentally ill, several times before subduing him. After nearly four minutes of holding Smith down, under his moans and protests, officer realized he wasnt breathing. He died a week later.

The case bears a striking resemblance to that of Floyd, who was arrested on May 25 after he was accused of attempting to pay for groceries with a counterfeit $20 bill.

Over the next eight minutes and 46 seconds, Floyd cried out several times that he 'couldn't breathe', pleading with the officers to get off of him and even calling out for his late 'Mama' to help him.

After telling officers he was 'about to die', Floyd eventually lost consciousness and would never regain it.

Minneapolis PD rookie, Thomas Lane, had asked Chauvin if he should roll Floyd onto his side to help him breathe better. Chauvin replied 'No. Staying put where we got him'.

Earlier this month, Angela Smith, the sister of David Cornelius Smith, made a tearful and impassioned plea to the citys civilian Minneapolis Police Conduct Oversight Commission (PCOC) to find out whether the training the family won as part of its settlement was ever conducted, in response to the death of Floyd.

The 2013 settlement mentioned by Arradondo pertains to a lawsuit filed by the family of David Cornelius Smith (above with sister Angela), a black man who died after police pinned him face down while handcuffed outside of a downtown YMCA in 2010.

The police chiefs statement was released in response to a public records request for department training records after questions were asked as to whether the Minneapolis PD upheld a promise to require all officer to undergo training on the dangers of positional asphyxia, following the Smith settlement

Jeff Storms, a lawyer who represented the Smith family in its lawsuit, told the Tribune hes not satisfied by the chiefs statement and said his team will continue to do our due diligence to ensure that the settlement agreement was complied with.

Lt. Bob Kroll, the head of the Minneapolis Police union, said he did not disagree with Arradondos statement in an interview with WCCO Tuesday.

From what weve seen there, its very tough to refute that, Kroll said, adding: But thats for the criminal justice system to decide.

PCOC member Abigail Cerra told the Tribune she was stunned by Arradondos statement.

As a prosecutor I would jump on that, calling Rondo as a witness and having Rondo testify about the training that was provided, how often it was provided, testifying as to which officers attended the training.

Defense attorney, Marshall Tanick, meanwhile warned the comments may significantly prejudice Chauvins right to a fair trial.

Im fairly sure that the defense team will raise this comment in conjunction with other comments made by public officials to seek dismissal of the charges or at least a change of venue, he said.
Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick has finally done what many other political leaders should do: require masks to be worm at all businesses to reduce the growing spread of the coronavirus. His counterparts in the two other most populous counties in the region  Hardin and Orange  should do the same. The mayors in these three counties should put their influence behind this common-sense order too.

This is not about politics, or any nefarious desire to infringe on anyones rights. The coronavirus is real, and its dangers have not been exaggerated. Its not going away either, even though many people believe that the original threat has lessened. Its still here, and in fact, it is growing at a disturbing pace.

The numbers prove that, and the science on mask safety is not all over the place, as Branick himself unfortunately said at Tuesdays commissioners meeting. In Jefferson County, the number of people with the virus in intensive care units is higher than any time since the pandemic began. The number of people with the virus in isolation or general beds at hospitals has also been increasing since the start of June.

This is a time for elected officials to step up and show leadership. In fact, if they cannot or will not do that now they are failing their constituents in a major way.

Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledges that the virus is spreading at an unacceptable rate in Texas and must be corralled, but he wont issue a statewide order on mask-wearing as 16 other governors have. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the next couple weeks are going to be critical in Texas and other states that are trying to curtail the spike in new cases. Texas saw 5,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time this week, and numbers like that are only going to increase without some real changes  like wearing masks. The nonpartisan Texas Medical Association has recommended this step as have countless other doctors and scientists.

We are all tired of coronavirus precautions. We wish we didnt have to follow them and could go to church or a restaurant like we did before. But we cant do that safely now, and the only way to get to that point is to wear masks in public, wash your hands often and remain several feet from strangers. These practices will reduce the spread of the virus. In fact, nothing else will. A vaccine wont be available until later this year, and probably not until next year.

We should wear masks even if our county judge or mayor hasnt made that mandatory, but some of us need that extra nudge. Consider yourself notified. If you take these steps, you will decrease the chances that you or someone you love ends up sick, or in a hospital bed with the virus. That should be all the motivation that any of us need. Please do that, and encourage others to do the same.
British postage stamps which often portray the monarch will honor a different Queen in a new Royal Mail series - the veteran rock band that is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The set of 13 stamps on sale next month will feature artwork from their most popular album covers, images from the bands extravagant live performances and their first studio photoshoot in 1974.

What an honor. We must be really part of the furniture now! said drummer Roger Taylor.

Guitarist Brian May added: Since we four precocious boys started out on our quest 50 years ago, our lives have been devoted to making our impossible dream come true.

Sometimes its strange to wake up and realise the position in which we are now held  we have become a national institution!

Queen, who have sold more than 300 million records, are the third music group to have a dedicated British stamp issue after the Beatles in 2007 and Pink Floyd in 2016.
A Philadelphia woman who spent the entire June 2 primary as a poll watcher tested positive for COVID-19 10 days later. Its unclear whether she contracted the virus at the polls. But thanks to a contact tracing program the city says isnt fully staffed, the vast majority of voters and election workers who were at that polling place havent been notified that they may have been exposed.

The situation also calls into question whether election and health officials across Pennsylvania are prepared to respond to potential coronavirus exposure at the polls.

Andrea Johnson, a Democratic committeewoman, says shes been vigilant during the pandemic, working from home as a paralegal and wearing a mask on the occasions shes gone outside. But on June 2, she spent the day at the polls at Andrew Hamilton School in West Philadelphia.

Johnson says she disclosed that information to contact tracers working for the city health department. She says she also provided a list of eight people  all voters and poll workers whose names she knew  who shed come in close contact with in the days leading up to her positive diagnosis.

She confirmed that city health officials contacted those eight people, but said she thinks contact tracing efforts ended there.

My whole objective is to make sure that the communities that I serve are safe,  and that were made aware, said Johnson, who hasnt had symptoms despite her positive result. People arent getting tested, and you dont know how many people like myself are walking around with a virus, and we dont know  unless and until we get tested.

It generally takes between two and 14 days after coronavirus exposure for symptoms to appear, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But its not yet known for how long someone with COVID-19 could be contagious, nor whether or when someone who tests positive without developing symptoms (like Johnson) can transmit the virus, according to CDC guidance.

State health officials say their guidance to contact tracers is to ask about close contacts that occur two days before a test that yields a positive result in someone who hasnt developed symptoms.

If someone is asymptomatic but believes they need to be tested, it is likely because they were in a setting where they believe they would have been exposed, and would get tested shortly after that potential exposure, said Department of Health spokesman Nate Wardle of the two-day window.

If someone whos tested positive without symptoms discloses they attended a mass gathering outside that window, notification protocols are determined on a case-by-case basis. Factors taken under consideration include whether the event was outdoors, social distancing was maintained and attendees shared or touched the same objects.

But generally, its appropriate to issue a press release or some other public notification, if there is no way to contact every attendee directly, according to Wardle.

The state instructs contact tracers to collect names of people who were in close proximity to an infected person  defined as less than six feet of distance  for more than fifteen minutes. During the afternoon and evening of June 2, some voters waited in line and in closer proximity, indoors in a crowded area, for much longer  hours, in some cases  at the Hamilton School, Johnson says.

In the event of possible infection at a polling place, the Pennsylvania Department of State would follow guidelines of the Department of Health, according to DoS spokeswoman Wanda Murren.

But county officials have access to the voter registration database, too, providing at least one  if not multiple  ways to contact anyone who might have been in contact with an infected person.

But no public notification occurred after Johnson tested positive.

James Garrow, a spokesman for Philadelphias health department, said he cant give details on specific contact tracing efforts. But he confirmed that in cases like Johnsons, the city does not issue blanket notifications about possible infection risk to large groups of people.

The city, he said, is still seeing community transmission of the virus, which means that all gatherings  election-related or not  are potentially dangerous.

There is no public health benefit to highlighting one particular potential exposure event, he said. Once cases get low enough to begin contact tracing, we anticipate that widespread public notification of situations where adequate contact tracing cannot take place may happen.

Philadelphia is still discouraging all gatherings of people, even as the rest of the state has begun allowing up to 25 people to congregate.

Johnson, 49, says she got tested as a precaution because she has a medical condition and was concerned about her own exposure at a voting location where  after consolidations ahead of the primary in response to the pandemic  more than 1,100 voters cast ballots in person.

As the day wore on June 2, she says lines got longer, personal protective equipment supplies (such as hand sanitizer) ran low and social distancing was inconsistent. She spent part of the day outside the polling place, and part standing in a busy hallway outside the voting area.

The actual room where they had the voting machines and the hallway leading up to that room, there was no chance of being able to social distance, Johnson says. Things were not moving as efficiently as they could have been. It was just too many people.

Garrow, the city health department spokesman, didnt say how many people are conducting contact tracing in Philadelphia  a report from Spotlight PA recently pegged the number as being around 12  but noted that 50 new contact tracing staffers are being trained, and more are being hired as we speak.

Once the number of new cases per day gets down to a number the current number of tracers can handle, we would reach out to the positive case and interview them about who they may have exposed, he said. Our contact tracing staff would then outreach to those contacts and recommend that they quarantine and check their symptoms daily for 14 days.

When Johnson first got her positive test, she reached out to city election officials: Commissioner Lisa Deeley and 60th Ward Leader Greg Spearman.

Spearman says he texted other committee people whose divisions voted at Hamilton to let them know someone had tested positive for COVID-19.

You dont even know if she got it there, but you still have to take the precautions and notify people, Spearman said.

Nick Custodio, Deeleys deputy, says they immediately relayed the information to the city health department, though at that point contact tracers had already reached Johnson.

As the November election approaches and people consider whether to vote in person, Philadelphias handling of this situation raises questions about how other public officials across the state plan to respond to potential coronavirus exposure at the polls.

Counties contact tracing strategies and capabilities vary widely across Pennsylvania, but in general theyre still limited. Counties tend not to notify people of possible exposure unless they are confirmed to have had close, sustained contact with a person who tested positive.

Larry King, a spokesman for Bucks County, said the response there probably wouldnt look too different from Philadelphias  though he couched his answer, saying its difficult to guess exactly what Bucks would do without firsthand knowledge of the situation.

King said close contacts, like the eight Johnson specifically named, would likely be interviewed and screened. But he said the county would be unlikely to, for instance, pull the voter rolls and try to contact everyone who voted in the polling place.

He said Bucks County Health Director David Damsker put it this way: Just because youre a poll worker doesnt mean you infected everyone who voted.

Chester County health officials  who also oversee contact tracing in Delaware County  had a similar response. In a statement, the office said its procedure includes working with the individual who tested positive, to determine the list of people who came into close contact with him/her and therefore would have had real opportunities to interact in a way that could transmit the virus.

The officials added that people at polling places who merely passed by someone who ended up testing positive, with no direct touch or close interaction, likely would not be included on a contact tracing list. They did not say theyd consider making a public announcement about the infection.

In other jurisdictions in the U.S., health and election workers have handled comparable scenarios differently.

Chicagos election board sent letters to hundreds of voters and election workers to alert them of confirmed coronavirus cases linked to four polling locations in the city.

Wisconsin health officials focused contact tracing on assessing potential links between confirmed cases and in-person voting following the primary there in April.

In Pennsylvania, those decisions tend to fall to counties.

And almost none of the counties that responded to PA Post and WHYYs queries reported taking those steps, nor having other plans in place to address potential COVID-19 outbreaks at polling places in November.

But two counties did say they are thinking about that possibility.

One, Snyder, followed up with poll workers after the primary to make sure they hadnt developed symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19, according to Elections Director Debbie Bilger.

And Centre County Commissioner Michael Pipe says officials there would notify voters about possible exposure at their polling place using contact information in the registration database.

We can export a list for everybody who voted and send them a letter, Pipe said. It would literally be a click of a mouse, it would be a very low threshold.

But Pipe says state officials need to give clear guidance before Nov. 3. Election security extends beyond the sanctity of the ballot and includes peoples health and welfare, too, he says.

We all appreciate they were moving at a very fast clip and trying to take care of a lot of things [before the primary], Pipe said. But were going to have this pandemic in November. So, they should really have a very robust program for how they notify people, if they get sick at the polls.

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Today marks a decade since a cabal of Labor Party and trade union powerbrokers, acting on behalf of the US embassy, carried out what amounted to a backroom, inner-party coup to remove Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and install his deputy, Julia Gillard, as his replacement.

In all the media coverage of the 10th anniversary, there is not so much as a hint of the fact that the chief instigator was Washington, relying on its protected sources inside the Labor and union apparatus.

Gillard suddenly announced a leadership challenge on the night of June 23, 2010, and Rudd was gone by the next day. Knowing that the numbersand other forceswere stacked against him, Rudd did not even contest the ballot inside Labors parliamentary caucus, so Gillard was declared elected unopposed.

Millions of working people were profoundly shocked by the anti-democratic operation. Literally overnight, a handful of factional warlords engineered Rudds ouster, entirely behind the backs of the population. The intervention came less than three years after Rudd had taken office through the landslide defeat of the hated Howard Liberal-National Coalition government.

Just days later, in a statement issued on June 28, 2010, the Socialist Equality Party drew attention to the far-reaching political implications of what had happened. The SEP explained: [T]he coup has demonstrated that so-called parliamentary democracy does not represent the interests of the people, but is a screen for the operations of corporate and financial interests that are the real wielders of political power. Furthermore, it has underscored that the Labor Party has no connection whatsoever with the broad mass of working people, but is the political instrument of these same interests.

The SEP was alone in warning that the coup revealed the kind of dictatorial methods to which the ruling elite was turning as a result of the mounting US confrontation with China, aggravated by the global financial crisis of 2008-09then the deepest economic breakdown since the 1930s.

The SEP explained that since establishing its global dominance in World War II, US imperialism had intervened repeatedly in Australia during periods of political and economic turmoil. This had been demonstrated most significantly in the Canberra Coup that ousted the Labor government of Gough Whitlam in November 1975. The statement warned that, as in 1975, the highest levels of the state apparatus and the American CIA were either directly involved in, or at least had knowledge of, the ousting of Rudd.

Less than six months later, this analysis was confirmed in the most graphic fashion. Secret US diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks in December 2010 revealed that protected sources of the US embassy were pivotal figures in Gillards elevation. For months, key coup plotters, including senators Mark Arbib and David Feeney, and Australian Workers Union (AWU) chief Paul Howes, secretly provided the US embassy with regular updates on internal government discussions and divisions within the leadership.

As early as June 2008, the American ambassador identified Gillard as the front-runner to replace Rudd. In October 2009eight months before the coupArbib informed American officials of emerging leadership tensions. Arbib, a key apparatchik in Labors then powerful New South Wales right-wing faction, reportedly made several requests to US officials that his identity as an informant be protected.

While media reports at the time highlighted Arbibs role as a secret US source, the WikiLeaks cables showed that the relationship between Washington and the Labor and trade unions apparatuses went much deeper. This political machine serves as a conduit for Washingtons agenda. In fact, the documents revealed the extent to which US governments determine who will hold senior government posts, including the office of prime minister.

Rudd was fully committed to the US military alliance, as Labor has been since World War II. But the cables showed that the Obama administration had become increasingly hostile to Rudds unwanted diplomatic initiatives, launched without reference to Washington, to ease rising tensions between the US and China, on whose markets Australian big business depended heavily.

Rudd had proposed an Asia-Pacific Community, attempting to mediate the escalating strategic rivalry between the US and China, and opposed the formation of a Quadrilateral military alliance between the US, India, Japan and Australia, aimed against China.

Gillard, who had cultivated her pro-US credentials through Australia-US and Australia-Israel leadership forums, was literally selected by the US embassy as a reliable replacement to Rudd. In her first public appearance after knifing Rudd, she demonstrated her devotion to Washington by posing for a photo op with the US ambassador, flanked by US and Australian flags. She soon had a phone call with Obama, who had previously twice postponed a planned visit to Australia under Rudd.

The centrality of Australia to the US preparations for war against China became apparent in November 2011, when Obama announced his pivot to Asia in the Australian parliament, rather than the White House. During the visit, Gillard and Obama signed an agreement to station American Marines in Darwin and allow greater US access to other military bases, placing the Australian population on the front line of any conflict with China.

Gillards government also sanctioned the expansion of the major US spying and weapons-targeting base at Pine Gap, agreed to the US militarys increased use of Australian ports and airbases, and stepped up Australias role in the US-led top-level Five Eyes global surveillance network, which monitors the communications and online activities of millions of people worldwide.

Rudds removal marked a turning point. US imperialism, via the Obama administration, sent a blunt message: there was no longer any room for equivocation by the Australian ruling elite. Regardless of which party was in office, it had to line up unconditionally behind the US conflict with China, no matter what the consequences for the loss of its massive export markets in China.

This has been a bipartisan policy ever since, with each government, both Labor and Liberal-National, placing the Australian population ever more on the front line of a potentially catastrophic war fought with nuclear weapons.

Gillard and the turn to austerity

Domestically, Gillard proved that she was a ruthless servant of the major corporations and banks. She swiftly abandoned a proposed resources tax, at the behest of the mining giants. In her first speech as prime minister, she promised to eliminate the multi-billion budget deficits incurred by Rudds government to prop up business during the 2008-09 global financial crisis and deliver a budget surplus by 2013necessitating huge spending cuts.

Gillard pointedly credited Labor giants Bob Hawke and Paul Keating as the architects of the prosperity of modern Australia, and John Howard and Peter Costello for continuing these reforms. In other words, she pledged to deepen the offensive launched by the Hawke-Keating Labor governments that had partnered with the trade unions from 1983 to 1996 to smash up workers conditions and restructure the economy in the interests of the financial elite.

Gillards government presided in Australia over the shift that was taking place internationally from stimulus to austerity, as the financial elite insisted that the working class pay the price for the huge bailouts of the banks and corporations following the 2008-09 meltdown. During 2012-13, her final year in office, federal government spending fell by a record 3.2 percent in real terms, with education and health the hardest hit.

This offensive continued despite the public hostility to Gillards coup and her policies, which led to Labors near-defeat at the October 2010 election. Gillard clung to office by forming a minority governmentthe first since 1940propped up by the Greens. Among Labors cruellest cuts that included to tertiary education, health and other social spending was an attack on single parents.

Gillards government-imposed welfare reforms that moved thousands of single mothers off parenting payments and onto the dole, cutting their payments by $60 to $100 week. This severely affecting working-class women, plunging them further into poverty, in an attempt to coerce them into low-paid work.

As a progeny of Labors Left faction, Gillards specialty was putting a progressive gloss on regressive measures. Under the banner of an education revolution, she inflicted rote-learning NAPLAN testing on school teachers and students, and slashed university funding. In the name of rectifying the often shocking treatment of disabled people, she introduced a disability insurance scheme that privatised services, mostly resulting in even worse outcomes. Her Fair Work Australia laws prohibited nearly all strikes and cemented the role of the trade unions as industrial police forces.

To attempt to divert the rising discontent, Gillard resorted to trying to whip up nationalism and anti-immigrant and anti-refugee sentiment. Her Greens-backed government cut immigration and reinstituted the reviled Pacific Solution, initiated by the Howard Coalition government, which condemned thousands of asylum seekers to indefinite detention in squalid camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

Gillards promotion of anti-immigrant poison was aimed at serving as Labors main ideological mechanism for implementing deeply unpopular budget cuts and pro-business economic reforms. Immigrants and refugees were blamed for the lack of jobs, affordable housing, decent transport, health and education infrastructure, to divert from the real cause of these problemsthe private profit system itself.

On every level, Gillard paved the way for the return of the Liberal-National Coalition, whose succession of leadersTony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrisonhave each sought to deepen her social spending cuts. Yet none have yet succeeded in matching her record as the cutter-in-chief.

Gillard and the persecution of Julian Assange

One of the most vicious and defining features of the Gillard government was its front line involvement in the US persecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, an Australian citizen. From late 2010, through WikiLeaks, Assange courageously made available a vast amount of information that exposed the scale of US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the sordid diplomatic intrigues conducted by American embassies and consulates around the globe.

In response, the Obama administration and US intelligence agencies launched a vendetta to destroy WikiLeaks, blacken Assanges name and seek his extradition to be locked away for life on US Espionage Act charges. Gillards government lined up completely with Washington and placed itself at the forefront of the attack on Assange and freedom of speech.

On December 2, 2010, Gillard declared: I absolutely condemn the placement of this information on the WikiLeaks website. Its a grossly irresponsible thing to do, and an illegal thing to do. Her government even launched a police investigation into whether it could charge and jail Assange under Australian law, only to reluctantly conclude that he had committed no crime.

Several days later, it became clear why Gillard was so vehement in her denunciation of Assange. Not only was she determined to stand unwaveringly with the US efforts to suppress and punish WikiLeaks for making available to the public incriminating truths about the wars, invasions, coups, plots, assassinations and anti-democratic conspiracies conducted by the US and its allies. She had her own vested interests at stake! Among the massive trove of US diplomatic cables, partly published by prominent newspapers in December 2010, were several hundred revealing the US hand in her own installation.

By 2013, as a result of Labors brutal agenda, Gillard had become the most despised Labor leader in historyabove all among Labors former constituency, the working class. In a last-ditch bid to avoid an electoral wipeout, Labors factional bosses reinstated Rudd as prime minister in June 2013, seeking to cynically exploit the widespread resentment to his removal. Rudd dutifully maintained all of Gillards policies, including the unqualified commitment to Washington, but Labor was swept out of office at the September 2013 election, allowing the Coalition to return to power.

Contained in the continuing collapse of Labors working class base, is four decades of mounting hostility among working people and youth to its anti-working class policies and pro-US militarism, beginning with the assault on social conditions waged by the Hawke-Keating governments and the trade unions from 1983 to 1996.

On the 10th anniversary of the coup, the Labor Party has been joined by feminist groups in celebrating it as an historic advance for women. During an online Labor Party fundraising event last weekend, billed as a 10 Year Celebration  Julia Gillard Prime Minister, shadow minister Tanya Plibersek described Gillards installation as a significant achievement and applauded the fact that Gillard now hangs out with people like Hillary Clinton.

Gillard with then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2012

Great store has been placed, once again, on Gillards October 2012 misogyny speech, in which she accused Abbott, then the opposition leader, of sexism. What was not mentioned, however, was that on the very same day her government launched its assault on single mothers. This speaks volumes about the affluent layers on which both Labor and the feminist organisations rest. Gillards speech, in fact, was a desperate effort to distract attention from her increasingly hated anti-working class record.

Today, more than ever, the real reasons for the 2010 coup are being suppressed by the ruling elite and its political servants, because they reveal too nakedly the agenda of war and austerity to which the entire political establishment is committed. Moreover, both the ruling partiesLabor and the Coalitionare empty shells dominated by factional warlords and branch-stacking. The public health emergency and economic breakdown triggered by the global COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the Trump administrations frenzied escalation of Washingtons economic and military confrontation with China, are creating a political crisis of capitalist rule that dwarfs the events of 2010.

Moreover, the anti-democratic ouster of an elected prime minister in 2010 must be a warning of the authoritarian measures to which the capitalist class will turn as social and political unrest rises and erupts. Globally, from Trump to Morrison, governments are resorting to police-state and militarist methods. To answer this threat, the immense disquiet and disaffection of workers and youth must become a conscious movement against the entire capitalist order. A clear-sighted revolutionary leadership must be built in the working class to fight for the socialist transformation of the world in the interests of all, not the wealthy corporate elite. That is the perspective of the SEP.

The author also recommends:

The Australian Labor Party coup: a warning to the working class

[28 June 2010]

Australia: WikiLeaks cables reveal secret ties between Rudd coup plotters and US embassy

[9 December 2010]

Australian feminists campaign to promote ex-PM Julia Gillard

[18 March 2014]
Groups call on Joe Biden, Donald Trump to end explicit US support for Israel at the expense of Palestinians.

Progressive supporters of Palestinian rights in the United States are urging both presidential candidates  and especially the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden  to rethink the countrys policies toward Israel and the Palestinians in light of increasing evidence that political sands are shifting under one of the thorniest foreign policy issues of the day.

More than 100 US-based organisations this week signed letters to Biden and President Donald Trump urging them both to adopt a just and principled policy in the Middle East.

Organised and initiated by CODEPINK, a women-led grassroots organisation focused on human rights, the letter urged the candidates to adopt a policy that respects international law and explicitly opposes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem and its blockade of the Gaza strip.

Citing increased US support for Palestinians rights  especially among young American Jews  the almost identical letters urged Trump and Biden to end what they called a one-sided American Middle East policy that enables Israel to violate Palestinians human rights and allows for the continued occupation of their territories.

We are proud to be part of a coalition of over 100 US orgs that value freedom, equality, and dignity for Palestinians and want our countrys foreign policy to reflect that   https://t.co/JApFDI9xIl  CODEPINK (@codepink) June 23, 2020

Progressive clout

The letter calls for the US to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocate the US embassy back to Tel Aviv, and supports conditioning US military funding to Israel on an end to its violations of Palestinian human rights.

The United States should affirm the right of every human being to live with dignity, equality, freedom, and respect for human rights  and that should include Palestinians and Israelis, the letter said.

The letters were signed by a diverse group of religious, political and community organisations, including the Jewish Voice for Peace, Methodist Federation for Social Action, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Presbyterian Church, USA, Israel Palestine Mission Network (IPMN).

The groups are seeking to take advantage of the renewed clout of the Democratic Partys progressive wing following the strong showing of independent Bernie Sanders during the primaries. Sanders, whose campaign captivated many younger voters in the US, was and is an outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights.

A demonstrator holds an anti-Trump placard during a rally to protest against Israels plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank [Mohamad Torokman/Reuters]

Doug Bandow, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute and former special assistant to President Ronald Reagan, told Al Jazeera that younger and more left-wing activists within the Democratic Party are more willing to challenge the establishment on the Palestinian issue.

I do think we are seeing an important shift generationally and ideologically within the Democratic Party, he said.

An old guard

Former Democratic Congressman Jim Moran, from Virginia, told Al Jazeera that the party is indeed slowly and gradually changing toward supporting Palestinian rights, but the struggle is still an uphill one.

Part of the current problem within the Democratic Party as far as change toward more pro-Palestinian policy approach is that many of the senior leadership  especially chairpersons of committees  are the senior members and older and more dependent on groups like AIPAC for organisation and funding, Moran said.

AIPAC refers to the powerful pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Progressives in the Democratic Party are seeking to push back on the pro-Israel policies championed by Joe Biden and other moderate Democrats File: Joshua Roberts/Reuters]

Biden, Moran said, is one of those Democrats standing in the way.

Ariel Gold, the National co-director of CODEPINK, also told Al Jazeera that Biden is out of touch with public opinion among younger Democrats on the Palestinian issue.

Biden does not know where the Democratic Party is now, she said. He still thinks the Democratic Party is the party of AIPAC.

Joshua Cooper, a professor of mathematics at the University of South Carolina and a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, one of the letters signatories, told Al Jazeera that, It is particularly disturbing that Biden should claim his espoused agenda reflects the values of the Jewish Community.





New direction

Marie Newman, a Democrat who ran for Congress in Chicagos 3rd District  home of the largest Palestinian-American community in the US  represents the direction Gold and other signatories of the letter would like to steer the Democratic Party.

After losing to Democratic incumbent Dan Lipinsky in 2018, Newman defeated pro-Israel Lipinsky in the March primary and is expected to win the general election. During the campaign, she put Palestinian rights at the forefront of the debate in the district and called Trumps policies in the region alarming.

Illinois Democratic congressional candidate Marie Newman [Al Jazeera]

Newman told Al Jazeera that violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people during the Trump administration and the presidents support for Israels annexation of land in the occupied West Bank and the water-rich Jordan Valley will hinder peace-building efforts in the region.

It is critically important that our leaders work in a peace and justice seeking coalition to build a path forward for a viable two-state solution that gives self-determination and equality for the Palestinian and Israeli people side by side, Newman said.

Follow Ali Younes on Twitter: @Ali_reports
Rajasthan is facing an attack from fresh swarms of locusts, the state agriculture department has said.

Locust attack has been going on since one-and-half-months. Rajasthan is one of the most affected states as some districts - Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Ganganagar - share border with Pakistan from where locusts are entering other districts, BR Kadwa, deputy director of Rajasthan agriculture department, was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.

Operations are on to control them. Issue is, we had killed older swarms but new swarms are coming now. Government of India has said that Navy helicopter will also be used to control it, he added.

Locusts have made border areas near Pakistan their breeding centres from where theyre coming here, said Kadwa.

The onset of monsoon in Rajasthan is likely to occur on June 24 or 25 and authorities at Jodhpur-based Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) 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.

Aerial spraying of insecticides is being done by drones in Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Nagore and Jodhpur districts for locust control, Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had said on Tuesday.

Under Make in India initiative in locust control, trials of prototype vehicle mounted ULV sprayer has been successfully conducted in Ajmer and Bikaner; approvals required for commercial launch are underway, the ministry said.

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has appreciated that India is the first country in the world which is controlling Desert Locust through Drones, it added.

Emphasising the need of exploring aerial spray for locust control, the ministry said that the ground control vehicles with sprayers used for locust control can spray up to a height of 25-30 feet only. The tractor mounted sprayers also have a limitation in reaching inaccessible areas and tall trees.

Locust is a crop-threatening migratory pest that has entered the country through the India-Pakistan border.
WASHINGTON  A federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered the dismissal of the criminal case against President Donald Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said in a 2-1 ruling that the Justice Department's decision to abandon the case against Flynn settles the matter, even though Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to prosecutors in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

It was a big win for the Justice Department as Democrats question whether it has become too politicized and Attorney General William Barr too quick to side with the president. The House is holding a hearing Wednesday on the topic. The decision also avoids a protracted court fight that would have delved deeper into the reasoning for the department's extraordinary dismissal request.

Trump tweeted just moments after the ruling became public.

Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request to Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan had declined to immediately dismiss the case, seeking instead to evaluate on his own the departments request. He appointed a retired federal judge to argue against the Justice Departments position and to consider whether Flynn could be held in criminal contempt for perjury.

Flynn was the only White House official charged in Muellers investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. He pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI days after the presidents January 2017 inauguration about conversations he had had during the presidential transition period with the Russian ambassador.

The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case in May as part of a broader effort by Barr to scrutinize, and even undo, some of the decisions reached during the Russia investigation, which he has increasingly disparaged.

In its motion, the department argued that Flynns calls with the Russian ambassador  in which they discussed sanctions the Obama administration imposed on Russia for election interference  were appropriate and not material to the underlying counterintelligence investigation. The department also noted that weeks before the interview, the FBI had prepared to close its investigation into Flynn after not finding evidence of a crime.

But the retired judge appointed by Sullivan, John Gleeson, called the Justice Departments request a gross abuse of prosecutorial power and accused the government of creating a pretext to benefit an ally of the president.

Wednesday's 2-1 opinion was authored by Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, and joined by Karen LeCraft Henderson, who had asked skeptical questions of lawyers for Flynn and the Justice Department during arguments earlier this month.

In a dissent, Judge Robert Wilkins wrote, It is a great irony that, in finding the District Court to have exceeded its jurisdiction, this Court so grievously oversteps its own.

_______

Associated Press writers Mark Sherman and Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.
Main contenders in Malawi's historical presidential elections on Tuesday took to polling centres located in their home districts to cast their vote.

Incumbent and torch bearer for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance President Peter Mutharika travelled from the presidential palace in Blantyre to Thyolo to vote in the constitutional court sanctioned polls.

Mutharika, 80, faces opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera, 65, in the much awaited election preceded by a series of violent protests since June 2019.

Accompanied by his wife, Mutharika after voting bemoaned violence that characterised some parts of the country including the southern and the central regions.

He said DPP Secretary-General Grezelder Jeffry found herself hiding in Nkhotakota on the eve of polling day, fleeing unknown attackers.

Meanwhile his main challenger Chakwera, candidate for the Tonse alliance that comprises of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the UTM party and seven other political parties, was in the Malawi capital, Lilongwe, casting his vote.

Chakwera also lamented the violence that characterised polling day in some parts of the country.

The new Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, Justice Chifundo Kachale, has urged security agencies to act on the reported cases of violence.

(Representative Image)
SEATTLE  Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan will propose $20 million in cuts to the police budget in the remainder of 2020, the most of any department as the city attempts to fill a hole of about $400 million caused by the coronavirus.

Durkan proposes slashing about 5% of the Seattle Police budget this year with an officer hiring freeze until a new plan is developed reflecting community priorities for public safety, The Seattle Times reported. Many of the protests that have dominated Seattle for weeks have demanded a 50% cut to the police departments budget as a key goal. Durkan has asked the department to prepare models of what 20%, 30% and 50% budget cuts would look like.

Also on Tuesday police were investigating the third shooting incident near a neighborhood protest zone in Seattle that has been occupied since a police station was largely abandoned after clashes with demonstrators over a week ago.

Durkan said Monday the city would move to wind down the protest zone following the shootings that have distracted from changes sought by thousands of peaceful protesters opposing racial inequity and police brutality.

Early Tuesday, the latest shooting left a man in his 30s wounded in the Capitol Hill neighborhood east of downtown. His injuries were not life-threatening.

Lorenzo Anderson, 19, was killed Saturday and the condition of a 33-year-old man shot around the same time was upgraded Monday to satisfactory. A 17-year-old boy was shot in the arm Sunday night near the area. He was treated at a hospital and released.

Police said the latest victim refused to provide any information about the shooting or a suspect description.

Less activity was seen Tuesday on the streets of the protest zone, but a nearby park where people have been camping for weeks remained bustling.

Durkan has said police will soon return to the station where police clashed with protesters following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Protesters cordoned off the several-block area near the East Precinct after riot squads used tear gas, pepper spray and flash-bangs on large crowds of mostly peaceful protesters. The tactics have drawn condemnation from city leaders and a federal court order temporarily halting the use of the weapons on demonstrators.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

Police Chief Carmen Best said in a letter Tuesday to the community that the situation requires a complete re-envisioning of safety and the police department's role in it.

"We have listened for generations, and we will continue to listen," Best said. "But the time for talk and committees is over. We must act. Together."

She provided a draft of discussion items such as redesigning the mission of city police to reflect humanization not criminalization; allowing a resident to join the command staff; and working with neighbors to determine which non-violent 911 calls can acceptably be passed to other agencies or turned over to the community.

 The Associated Press
Gopinath Rajendran By

Express News Service

While Keerthy Sureshs Penguin has met with a fair share of criticism, among those to come out unscathed are Keerthy Suresh, and the cinematographer of the film, Kharthik Palani, for whom this is his debut project.

I had assisted Tirru sir for Petta and Mercury earlier, so since Penguin is by Stone Bench Productions (owned by Karthik Subbaraj), I was well-known to the unit already, and we were all in sync, says Kharthik, who has been an assistant in projects like Aakrosh, Tezz, Krrish 3, Bharat Ane Nenu, and 24, and has done commercials in Mumbai.

Working with Tirru sir was a great learning curve. Kharthik shares that he has been receiving appreciation for his work in Penguin.

What makes me even happier is that whatever we tried to communicate visually, has been understood by the masses, says the cinematographer, who goes on to talk about the laborious process the team undertook before shooting went underway.

Prep work alone took more than three months. A film like Penguin requires that the whole team be in sync. Its a film that demands that everyone from the art director to the costume designer discuss intricacies in detail. The fairly limited time allotted to the shooting meant that the team couldnt afford to go wrong with the planning.

We went to locations a month in advance to plan shots. We also realised that since the film was taking place on a hillstation, logistics wouldnt be easy. The climate too was unpredictable. We shot in the monsoon months and while the indoor shots were easy, the outdoors where most of the film was shot were anything but. The moment we would place a camera outside, it would begin raining. But thankfully, even the wet ground and the chill weather added to the mood.

Khartik talks about how the story lent itself to his style of cinematography in this film. Motherhood, he identifies, is the underlying emotion of the film.

We kept this in mind when deciding the colour palette. The flashback which showed a happy family is warmly lit. The present events bring you a feeling of coldness, like the relationship between the mother and the estranged son, says Kharthik, who went with blue as the definitive colour for this film. The costumes too were from the same colour family.

The antagonist, however, is associated with shades of yellow  like the yellow umbrella. Considering how the kid is always frightened, we got his clothes done in burgundy. Kharthik also experimented with camera angles.

I dont think any recent Tamil film has had as many wide shots. Not only was this done to complement the location but also to communicate psychologically the lost mood of the character. Though she is present among people, she feels a sense of distance; so even the close-ups are framed to show a lot of background.

Kharthik shares that he would have altered his work, had this film been confirmed for a theatre release. The mood and psychology would not change, but the levels and values of lighting and colour would be different.

The density and throw of a theatre is different when compared to phones, laptop and TV which are backlit. It was a last-minute move to have this film get released on Prime Video.

The colour palette and working grammar are different for both mediums. We graded this film in a studio in Bombay, and the brightness, contrast and amount of saturation were originally done keeping a theatrical release in mind."

It was when the team had almost finalised the work that they got the news about Prime Videos acquisition.

Thankfully though, since films get an OTT version anyway, we had done two different outputs  one for theatre, and the other for television. I was in Tamil Nadu when we heard the news, and the studio was locked in a quarantined zone.

The team had to acquire special permission to shift the work to Chennai. Once we moved here, we had to readjust the values and a lot of work went in again. I have to thank the colourists and technicians for pulling it off. I would have loved to see the film in the theatres, but given the situation, I am quite delighted with the reach the film has got.
Its only been a week since the announcement that Brazil will be the first market where people can send and receive money via WhatsApp using Facebook Pay. Now, it seems, everything is on hold after an intervention by Brazils central bank.

According to Reuters and local news reports, the bank has ordered the schemes partners, Visa and Mastercard, to halt payments and transfers via the system, which was launched last week. The system allowed users to transfer funds to individuals or local businesses within a chat  attaching payments, essentially.

The central bank has been quoted as saying that rolling out the service without previous analysis by the monetary authority could damage the Brazilian payments system. It cited concerns about competition, efficiency and data privacy. Its worth mentioning too that some private banks have cited security and accountability issues.

WhatsApp launched its Brazilian services without requesting central bank authorization, but that appears to have been within the rules, given that it was operating as an intermediary between consumers and financial institutions.

To begin with, the service was intended to support debit or credit cards from Banco do Brasil, Nubank, and Sicredi on the Visa and Mastercard networks, but WhatsApp claimed it had built an open model to welcome more partners in the future.

On the back-office side, WhatsApp is working with payments processor Cielo. However, Brazils antitrust watchdog, Cade, has blocked this partnership, citing concerns over market concentration, given that the deal would bring together Brazils largest payment processor and a globally successful messaging service.

Interestingly the central banks own instant payments system, called PIX, is on the way in November. News reports suggest that some 980 institutions will offer PIX from November onwards, with 120 participating directly and 860 indirectly.

Why this intervention has happened now rather than before the system began its rollout, is unclear. There is also a certain irony to this chain of events as many observers assumed that WhatsApp decided not to launch the payment service in its biggest market  India  due to regulatory issues.

WhatsApp has over 120 million users in Brazil, which is its second-largest market behind India.
Ghanas Supreme Court has asked the state, through the Attorney General, to mobilise funds to buy the properties of businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome, which are being auctioned to offset the major remainder of a GHS51 million debt he owes the government.



A five-member panel of justices presided over by Chief Justice Anin Yeboah gave the order in court on Wednesday, 24 June 2020 during the hearing of a motion for leave of the court.



A few weeks ago, the Minister for National Security, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, suggested that the assets of Mr Woyome be surrendered to the state to obviate the need for an auction.



This followed the inability of the auctioneer to sell Mr Woyomes assets due to fears by potential buyers that the properties will be restored to the businessman by future governments.



The Supreme Court, in 2019, ordered the sale of properties discovered by the state to belong to the embattled businessman to defray the judgement debt paid him which the countrys apex court has ruled must be refunded.



According to the court, a claim by the now-defunct UT Bank that Mr Woyome used two of his houses at Trassaco as collateral for a loan, could not be proven.



The court also ruled that Mr Woyomes quarry was not used as collateral as he and the bank had claimed.



Apart from the two houses at Trassacco, Mr Woyomes property at Kpehe, as well as a stone quarry he owns, were to be sold.



They all have a total worth of GHS20 million, according to Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame.



However, in a letter signed by Mr Kan Dapaah which was addressed to the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice with reference to the order by the Supreme Court, the Minister stated that: The auctioneer tasked with auctioning the properties has indicated his inability to successfully execute the task because potential buyers are afraid, amongst other reasons, that the properties may be restored to Mr Woyome by the state in the future.



It continued that due to this, it has been decided that the properties be surrendered to the state to obviate the need for an auction and called on the AG to take the necessary steps to have the above decision effected.



During was one of the hearings, the Chief Justice urged Mr Woyome to refund the money so he could repossess his properties.



You can tell your lawyer what you want to tell us; if you have money, go and pay, pay and get your properties back, Justice Anin Yeboah said.



Mr Woyome, who has refunded part of the money, is left with GHS47.2 million to clear.

Source: ghanaweb









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WASHINGTON - A federal judge has granted a leading Democratic super PACs request to join a court fight between President Donald Trump and a Wisconsin TV station, which his campaign sued after it aired a political ad criticizing his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

That sets up a notable legal battle between Trumps financially flush Republican reelection campaign and Priorities USA, one of the biggest spending groups in Democratic politics, which paid to air the ad.

The Trump campaigns flare for theatrics were on display Wednesday. Although Priorities USA actively sought to intervene in the case, the Trump campaign instead claimed credit for being the one who sued Priorities.

Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. today filed a complaint against Priorities USA (PUSA) for defamation in their sponsoring of an ad that includes false and libelous statements against the President, the campaign said in a news release that contained several misrepresentations.

Trump initially sued WJFW-TV, an NBC affiliate in northern Wisconsin, in state court. The case was transferred to federal court at the stations request in April, and a request by Priorities USA to join as a co-defendant was granted on Tuesday, court records show.

The lawsuit that Trumps campaign said it filed on Wednesday against Priorities was actually filed last week. And it was recognized instead by the court as a supplement to their prior lawsuit against the TV station  not a new complaint, records show.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial.

The ad in question pieces together audio clips of the president downplaying the threat posed by the COVID-19 virus, while a chart that is splashed across the screen gradually begins to shoot upward as cases of the virus skyrocketed across the nation.

The coronavirus ... this is their new hoax, Trump is heard in the ads opening, with two clips that are different recordings.

Trumps campaign alleges that the ad is defamatory because it splices together the clips in a way that makes it appear as though the president said the virus itself was a hoax. Trumps campaign argues that the president did not call the virus a hoax but was instead referring to Democrats politicizing his handling of it.

Trump spent the first months of 2020 downplaying the pandemic, accusing Democrats and the media of hysteria as he pointed to low numbers of confirmed cases and deaths from the virus. Trumps full hoax quote at a Feb. 28 rally in South Carolina, however, came in the context of Democrats criticism of his response.

Priorities USA has spent much of Trumps term researching voters views in key battleground states, including Wisconsin, that delivered Trump his Electoral College victory in 2016, and the super political action committee has committed to an extended television and digital advertising campaign to potential swing voters in those states.

Priorities USA Action successfully intervened as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign against a small Wisconsin TV station in a desperate attempt to prevent Americans from hearing the truth about Trumps failed response to the coronavirus pandemic, Priorities USA chair Guy Cecil said in a statement Tuesday. We stand by the facts in our ad that uses Trumps own words.
Some major foreign carriers have announced plans to resume flights to China following the temporary suspension of services in February due to the outbreak of COVID-19, which is expected to provide more options for travelers and help foreign carriers increase revenues.

Delta Air Lines, a major Atlanta-based carrier, will become the first carrier from the United States to restart US-China passenger flights.

It announced that this week, it will have two flights from Seattle to Shanghai via Seoulone on Thursday and one on Friday. Return flights will leave from Shanghai on Saturday and Sunday.

Starting next week, it will continue operating two flights weekly via Seoul to Shanghai, but one will leave from Seattle and one from Detroit. Plans call for that schedule to continue until Oct 24, Delta said.

"We are excited to resume our services between the United States and China as economic and social activities start to recover. We are implementing unprecedented health and safety measures and practices," said Wong Hong, president for Greater China and Singapore for Delta Air Lines.

Delta said all customers are required to wear face coverings during travel and are encouraged to bring their own food. The carrier will also block the middle seats, reducing the number of passengers on each flight.

After discussions between regulators, the US and China have agreed to each allow four weekly flights connecting the two countries, easing a standoff on travel restrictions in the midst of the pandemic.

Helping economic recovery

In early June, China adjusted policies for international passenger flights, allowing more foreign carriers to resume flights to China once a week, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

In the past few months, foreign airlines that had suspended services early were unable to operate flights to China, according to the CAAC, which cited epidemic control and prevention reasons.

"Currently, there is a serious shortage of international flights that connect Chinese and overseas cities. The relaxed policy has positive significance," said Lin Zhijie, an aviation industry analyst, who is also a columnist at Carnoc.com, one of China's biggest civil aviation websites.

"It will be beneficial for passengers and carriers, and it will also help with economic recovery and personnel exchanges between China and other countries," Lin said.

With relaxed travel restrictions in China and growing demand, Air France has resumed its once weekly passenger service between Paris and Shanghai. Its first resumed flight arrived in Shanghai on Friday.

"After this difficult period, we feel very much delighted to welcome our customers to fly with us again with our resumed flights to their destinations in China," said Toon Balm, general manager of Air France-KLM in China.

Meanwhile, Air New Zealand resumed its once-weekly passenger flights between Auckland and Shanghai on Monday for the first time since the route was suspended in early February.

"While we have been operating some dedicated cargo flights between Auckland and Shanghai, it's great to be able to open these services up for passengers to book. We expect Chinese nationals in New Zealand wanting to return to China, or New Zealanders in China seeking to return home, will look to use these services," said Scott Carr, general manager of networks with the carrier.

Separately, major domestic carriers have announced plans for international flights in July.

Most schedules are similar to June's, and some added flights to destinations in Asian countries.

China Eastern Airlines, for example, will operate flights between Shanghai and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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laboratories just to keep the virus at bay. Borne by Aedes genus of mosquitoes, this disease can be easily transmitted to another person even via sexual intercourse and pregnant women, if affected, can forward that to her newborn child as well. These initiatives have resulted in the growth of zika virus testing market, and the market is all set to witness a considerable hike during the forecast period (2017-2023), asserts Market Research Future (MRFR) in an extensively analyzed report. FDA and the U.S.

government have taken considerable steps to outclass this disease by having it properly tested and developing drugs that can contain the virus. The outcome is quite overwhelming. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also quite aware of the impacts of the virus and has taken steps accordingly. For instance, in 2016, it had declared a health emergency in the Americas, where the disease was spreading its wings. Subsequently, testing kits for the disease found a significant market and started growing in leaps and bounds. These precautionary decisions can act like a global market booster for the zika virus testing.

Industry Trend:

Researchers from Brigham and Womens hospital have recently come out with their discovery where they have used nanotechnology and digital health systems to detect zika virus. In the process. They have involved smartphones as necessary equipment for the testing. The method is known as nanomotor-based bead-motion cellphone (NBC) system, which can have considerable impacts in afflicted regions.

Technology firm Inovatech, in collaboration with the Sao Paulo Research Foundation, developed a test at the Butantan Institute that can detect antibodies against zika virus in samples with great precision to declare infection, if any, caused by the virus previously.

Zika Virus Testing Market Segmentation:

The global zika virus testing market can be segmented by tests and end-users.

By tests, the market can be further sub-segmented into serological/Zika virus antibody and molecular/nucleic acid amplification. The latter is the most commonly used test for zika virus detection.

Based on end-users the market includes diagnostic units, hospitals, pathology labs, and others.

Zika Virus Testing Market Regional Analysis:

Region-specific analysis of the global market has regions Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Americas, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) under its coverage.

The Americas are in-charge of the market and Latin American countries, where the outbreak of the disease hit massively, are contributing more than the regions far in the distance. Projects initiated by Health and Human Services (HHS), and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to deter the disease from further growth and cure the affected populace can be seen as a market influencer. Brazils National Development Bank (BNDES) has also infused USD 136.6 million for further researches that can help the market grow considerably.

Zika Virus Testing Market Competitive Analysis:

The market is witnessing constant evolution owing to companies launching innovative technologies to detect the virus and cure the effects. However, collaborations are also abounding such as technology firm Inovatechs collaboration with Sao Paolos Research Foundation.

Prominent companies playing a significant role in the zika virus testing market are Luminex Corporation, ARUP Laboratories, Roche Molecular Systems, Hologic, and Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics.

Access Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/upcoming-reports/zika-virus-testing-market-5662

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 13:16 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406613b101 1 Business AIIB,economic-growth,Indonesia,economic-recovery,GDP-growth,COVID-19,loan Free

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a China-backed multilateral development bank, projects a gradual economic recovery for Indonesia as the coronavirus crisis will only be a temporary dip for the countrys economy.

AIIB director general for investment operations Rajat Misra said Tuesday the coronavirus crisis was one of those events that come very rarely in history.

Read also: Explainer: Indonesia to finance coronavirus battle mostly through debt

Many countries are going to see negative growth this year, but if Indonesia manages to remain in positive territory, it is going to be a commendable job, Misra told The Jakarta Post in an exclusive interview. As the pandemic slows and the base effect kicks in, almost everybody is projecting significant GDP growth [for Indonesia] next year.

The government has projected that the gross domestic product (GDP) will grow at 1 percent this year under its baseline scenario, which would be the weakest rate since the Asian financial crisis of 1998-1999, or even contract by 0.4 percent under the worst-case scenario. It expects growth to between 4.5 percent and 5.5 percent next year.

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), respectively, have previously projected that Indonesias economy would grow by 4.8 percent or 5.3 percent in 2021.

The AIIB approved on Tuesday a US$1 billion loan to strengthen Indonesias health and economic response to the COVID-19 crisis.

AIIBs first loan for Indonesia, totaling $750 million and co-financed with the ADB, will be used for a project to support Indonesias economic recovery, including aid for small and medium businesses and vulnerable households.

Read also: AIIB approves $1 billion loan for Indonesia's COVID-19 response

Furthermore, it has also approved a $250 million loan, in partnership with the World Bank, for a separate program to strengthen public healthcare, including testing, prevention and treatment of the virus as well as to boost hospital readiness, among other things.

The government has allocated Rp 695.2 trillion ($49.3 billion) in state budget funds to fight the health and economic impacts of the pandemic, expecting the budget deficit to widen to 6.34 percent of GDP this year.

The government was looking to borrow a total of $7 billion from multilateral organizations, including the ADB, AIIB, World Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to help cover the deficit, government officials said last month.

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.

The loans are part of the AIIB's $10 billion funding facility to help the public and private sectors mitigate the COVID-19 impacts.

Read also: Indonesia raises another $4b from bonds, in talks with development banks

Misra said the bank, together with other multinational banks, would participate in monitoring the programs to ensure effective use of funds and to prevent moral hazard.

AIIB will also go ahead with regular investment projects in infrastructure, such as building roads and power plants, as a way to kick-start the economy, he went on to say. We will help in whatever way we can despite the constraints.

Two AIIB infrastructure projects are in the pipeline for Indonesia, namely a multifunctional satellite public-private partnership (PPP) project worth $150 million as well as the East Java and Bali power distribution project with state-owned electricity firm PLN worth $310 million. The bank has yet to approve the stand-alone financing of the projects.
After President Donald Trump played Panic! At The Disco's 2018 hit song High Hopes during his Phoenix rally on Tuesday, founding frontman Brendon Urie demanded he stop.

The 33-year-old pansexual pop star tweeted: 'Dear Trump Campaign, F*** you. You're not invited. Stop playing my song...Donald Trump represents nothing we stand for.'

Urie then urged his 6.6M social media following to register to vote to help get 'this monster out [of office] in November.'

Denied: After President Donald Trump (R) played Panic! At The Disco's 2018 hit song High Hopes during his Phoenix rally on Tuesday, frontman Brendon Urie (L) demanded he stop

The 33-year-old pansexual pop star tweeted: 'Dear Trump Campaign, F*** you. You're not invited. Stop playing my song...Donald Trump represents nothing we stand for'

'Donald Trump says really dumb s*** all the time but he's doing way worse s***,' Brendon lamented to Paper back in 2018.

'I like my music to be an escape from it all, but then I like to use my celebrity as a means to fight for causes I believe in.'

The two-time Grammy nominee last used his four-octave tenor pipes to a belt cover of Into the Unknown for the Frozen 2 soundtrack in November after dueting with Taylor Swift on Me!

Urie's tweet came two days after Tom Petty's estate issued Trump a formal cease and desist order for using his 1989 song I Won't Back Down during his sparsely-attended Tulsa rally.

'Please do your part': Urie then urged his 6.6M social media following to register to vote to help get 'this monster out [of office] in November'

Brendon lamented to Paper back in 2018: 'Donald Trump (pictured Tuesday) says really dumb s*** all the time but he's doing way worse s***. I like my music to be an escape from it all, but then I like to use my celebrity as a means to fight for causes I believe in'

On the rise: The two-time Grammy nominee (L, pictured November 9) last used his four-octave tenor pipes to a belt cover of Into the Unknown for the Frozen 2 soundtrack in November after dueting with Taylor Swift on Me!

'Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination of any kind,' the statement read.

'Tom Petty would never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate. He liked to bring people together. We believe in America and we believe in democracy.

'But Donald Trump is not representing the noble ideals of either. We would hate for fans that are marginalized by this administration to think we were complicit in this usage.'

A year ago, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne demanded the 74-year-old reality star-turned-politician to stop using anymore of his music, including 1980 banger Crazy Train, for political ads or campaigns.

'Tom Petty would never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate': Urie's tweet came two days after Tom Petty's estate issued Trump a formal cease and desist order for using his 1989 song I Won't Back Down during his sparsely-attended Tulsa rally on Saturday

The statement read: 'We would hate for fans that are marginalized by this administration to think we were complicit in this usage'

RIP: The three-time Grammy winner died, age 66, in 2017 from cardiac arrest after an accidental overdose of various drugs (pictured in 2012)

'In the meantime, I have a suggestion for Mr. Trump,' the 67-year-old Talk co-host wrote in a statement.

'Perhaps he should reach out to some of his musician friends. Maybe #KayneWest (Gold Digger), @KidRock (I Am the Bullgod) or @TedNugentofficial (Stranglehold) will allow use of their music.'

Back in 2009-2010, Sharon - who voted for the UK to withdraw from the European Union - was 'fired' by Trump in week 10 of the third season of NBC's Celebrity Apprentice.

In 2018, Rihanna tweeted that neither she nor her people 'would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies' after Trump played her 2008 hit Please Don't Stop the Music.

Crazy Train: A year ago, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne demanded the 74-year-old reality star-turned-politician to stop using anymore of his music for political ads or campaigns

Ex-boss: Back in 2009-2010, the 67-year-old Talk co-host (5-L) was 'fired' by Trump in week 10 of the third season of NBC's Celebrity Apprentice

That same day, Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose tweeted that the twice-divorced father-of-five was a 's***bag' for ignoring his 'formal request' to stop using Sweet Child 'o Mine from 1987.

And Aerosmith has repeatedly sent cease and desist warnings to the former Democrat for using Dream On and Livin' on the Edge at his rallies in 2015 and 2018.

'Even though I have the legal right to use Steven Tyler's song, he asked me not to,' Trump - who struggled to book bands at his 2017 inauguration - tweeted in 2015.

'Have better one to take its place!'

Other legends demanding the Donald cease from playing their music includes The Rolling Stones, Prince, Queen, Pharrell, George Harrison, Neil Young, Adele, Elton John, R.E.M., Twisted Sister, and more.

'Not for much longer!' In 2018, Rihanna tweeted that neither she nor her people 'would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies' after Trump played Please Don't Stop the Music

'Can you say "s***bags?' That same day, Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose tweeted that the twice-divorced father-of-five was ignoring the band's 'formal request' to stop using Sweet Child 'o Mine
Cavan Monaghan Township wants to extend its contract with Peterborough Police to for one more year, until the end of September 2021  a proposition that the police services board has accepted.

The board agreed to an extension at a meeting on Tuesday, and police Chief Scott Gilbert said the city is amenable too.

City police have been patrolling Cavan Monaghan Township  in addition to the village of Lakefield in Selwyn Township  since 2015.

The current contract with Cavan Monaghan will expire at the end of September. Police, city staff and township staff had been negotiating a contract renewal when the pandemic struck.

Because its unclear when the state of emergency may end, city council agreed in May to offer a two-year extension of the current contract to Cavan Monaghan Township to end Sept. 30, 2022.

But township council didnt accept the offer immediately: It had requested a quote from the Ontario Provincial Police, and in late May voted to wait for that.

Then township council heard from its staff at a meeting on June 15 that an OPP quote will be delayed until after the city contract expires. So council asked for the one-year extension from the city to allow time for the OPP to offer a quote.

In the meantime township council also asked for a report from city police on how often police are unavailable to patrol the township because they are busy elsewhere.

Cavan Monaghan Mayor Scott McFadden said at the council meeting June 15 the township needs to quantify the issue of police availability.

Im not pleased that right off the bat were identifying that levels of service are decreasing, McFadden said.

On Tuesday, board member Les Kariunas asked others around the table whether they thought the request reeks with mistrust for city police.

Have we ever left Cavan Monaghan high and dry, in terms of police coverage? Kariunas asked Gilbert.

Gilbert said no, that while the dedicated officer is sometimes called away theres always police available.

The actual fact of the matter is theres never a time when Cavan Monaghan is without coverage, he said.

Cavan Monaghan township also council asked that there be no discussion of building a new radio tower during the one-year contract extension period.

City police say there are radio dead zones in certain areas of the township, and the cost for a new tower has been estimated at $500,000  a cost the township didnt want to entertain.
Google said Monday it was adding fact-check labels to images as part of its efforts to stem visually misleading information. The new labels will be attached to the underlying web pages of photos and videos which appear in a Google search, the tech giant said. Google showed how the fact-check system works with an illustration of a widely circulated set of images which showed -- falsely -- sharks were swimming in the streets of Houston after a 2017 hurricane. "Photos and videos are an incredible way to help people understand what's going on in the world. But the power of visual media has its pitfalls -- especially when there are questions surrounding the origin, authenticity or context of an image," said Google product manager Harris Cohen. "Starting today, we are surfacing fact check information in Google Images globally to help people navigate these issues and make more informed judgments about what they see on the web." The new labels will be based on the ClaimReview database established by independent fact-checkers. "Now, when you search on Google Images, you may see a 'Fact Check' label under the thumbnail image results," Cohen said. "When you tap one of these results to view the image in a larger format, youll see a summary of the fact check that appears on the underlying web page. These labels may appear both for fact check articles about specific images and for fact check articles that include an image in the story." Google said the new labels won't affect search rankings: "Our systems are designed to surface the most relevant, reliable information available, including from sources that provide fact checks," Cohen said.
Round 3 of the Youth Enduro Series was held at the beautiful Brian Head Mountain bike park in southern Utah on Fathers Day weekend.

Photos by: Logan Gallager, Rob Reed and John Calin

The lifts may have been closed on this weekend but that didn't scare these riders away!

Style check: who did it better?

2020 Round 1 winner TJ Mortensen takes on Stage 1 in his leaders jersey

Top finishers in each class

Advanced Boys 15-20 - Preston Johnson



Boys 17-18 - Brandon Avery



Boys 15-16 - Logan Bonn



Boys 13-14 - Bradley Hannig



Boys 10-12 - Diggy Russell

Rider Nick Calin shows us the fast way over the huge rocks on stage 2

Riders were treated to various challenges from wide open flow trails to tight switchbacks.

Looking way out ahead as the speeds were high on Little Glitter trail!

Boys 15-16 rider Marcus Reed looks fast as he tackles the rocks of stage 2

An extra special shout out to all of the Fathers that came out to the race and participated with their kids.

Thanks to our amazing sponsors who make this all possible!

Intense Cycles

Visit Cedar City / Brian Head

G-Form

ESI Grips

Enduro MTB Training

FASST flexx handlebars

Family Bicycle Outfitters

Bomber Strap

Nick Calin takes the final drop at the Timberline trailThe next round will again be held back at Brian Head Mountain bike park on July 18th. Check out our website for more details on the Series Finale
Paul Whelan, a former marine convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison last week, will not appeal the ruling, his lawyer told local media outlets.

Minutes after his sentence was announced last Monday, Whelan, who holds an Irish passport, among others, told journalists in the courtroom that he would appeal the Moscow court's decision.

His about-face comes amid speculation that he may become part of a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia.

"We met at the detention facility today, discussed the issue, and decided against appealing the sentence, since he does not believe in Russian justice," Whelan's lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, told the Interfax news agency yesterday. "He hopes for being exchanged for the Russians convicted in the United States in the near future."

The deadline to appeal is 10 days after the sentencing, or tomorrow.

Speaking on the courthouse steps last week after 50-year-old Whelan was convicted, Mr Zherebenkov said that swapping Whelan for one or two Russians serving prison sentences in the United States was already being discussed. Whelan was told by Russian security service agents he would be part of an exchange shortly after his arrest, Mr Zherebenkov said.

"I heard talk that, why should we waste time on the appeal if we can just go ahead with the exchange?" the lawyer added.

Mr Zherebenkov then identified two Russians the Kremlin might want in a trade: Konstantin Yaroshenko and Viktor Bout.

Yaroshenko, a 51-year-old pilot, is serving a 20-year prison sentence at the Danbury, Connecticut, federal prison for conspiracy to bring drugs into the United States.

The 53-year-old Bout, a gunrunner, was the inspiration behind Nicholas Cage's character in the 2005 film 'Lord of War' and was on the radar of Western intelligence agencies for years before a 2008 Drug Enforcement Administration operation led to his capture.

Bout's exploits earned him the nickname "Merchant of Death" for the conflicts he helped fuel.

In Afghanistan, he equipped opposite sides: the Taliban and Ahmad Shah Massoud's Northern Alliance.

Bout is serving a 25-year sentence at the federal prison in Marion, Illinois. ( The Washington Post)
Joint secretary level talks between India-China likely to take place today, earlier Indian Army 14 corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh and his Chinese counterpart had held a meeting on Monday that lasted for about 11 hours.

The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) is likely to hold virtual meet on Wednesday to discuss border tensions between the two countries. The WMCC talks are headed by joint secretary-level officials from both sides.

WMCC was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas, as well as to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation, including between their border security personnel.

India and China held Corps Commander-level talks on Monday in which both sides reached a mutual consensus to disengage in the Eastern Ladakh sector. Indian Army 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh and his Chinese counterpart on Monday held a meeting that lasted about 11 hours at the Border Personnel Meeting Point at Moldo to reduce the tensions between the two countries.

Also Read: US Intel claims Galwan attack was planned by China to teach India a lesson

Also Read: Wrong policies by Centre have caused crisis at LAC: Sonia Gandhi

The commander-level talks were held after a violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in Ladakh on June 15. The incident happened after Chinese troops as a result of an attempt by China to unilaterally change the status quo during de-escalation in eastern Ladakh.



India has said that the situation could have been avoided if the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side. India lost 20 of its soldiers in the violent face-off in the Galwan Valley and 10 Indian soldiers also were held captive and later released. Indian intercepts have revealed that the Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured.

India and China have held talks at multiple levels to resolve the matter following the matter.

Following the face-off, Chinas Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui and Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri met in Beijing on June 16.

Also Read: US restricts Indias Vande Bharat Mission flights, alleges discriminatory practices

Also Read: HC grants bail to Jamia activist Safoora Zagar

Jaishankar held telephonic talks with Wang on June 17 and conveyed that what happened in Galway was a pre-mediated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties.

ANI had reported on Monday that along with military-level talks, both sides are planning to engage at diplomatic level soon.

For all the latest National News, download NewsX App
Katherine Schwarzenegger's due date is getting closer every day.

And the pregnant wife of Chris Pratt looked healthy and happy as she stepped out for some Starbucks on Tuesday.

The author daughter of action star-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger donned a black $119 Smash + Tess 'The Friday' romper, which clung to her baby bump during her visit to the Brentwood coffee shop.

Coffee break: Katherine Schwarzenegger's baby bump was visible when she picked up coffee in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday

Katherine, 30, dressed up her simple singlet with chic accessories, donning snakeskin Birkenstocks with cat-eyed sunglasses and a patterned face mask.

After fetching her java the star zipped off in her black Range Rover.

On Sunday Katherine wished hubby Chris a happy Father's Day on Instagram.

Making the day even more special, it was also the Guardians Of The Galaxy actor's 41st birthday.

Glowing: The star's stylish black $119 Smash + Tess 'The Friday' romper hugged her beautiful figure

Mama to be: Katherine praised husband Chris Pratt on Father's Day. The couple are currently expecting their first child together, Chris is dad to son Jack, 7, from his marriage to Anna Faris

She shared a collage of couples photos with the caption: 'Happy birthday and Father's Day to my wonderful, loving, exceptional husband.'

'I thank God every day for you. Blessed to live life with you, watch you grow, and one of the greatest gifts has been watching you be the most loving and fun father.'

Chris shares a seven-year-old son called Jack Pratt with is first wife Anna Faris, whom he separated from in 2017 before their divorce was finalized in 2018.

Lovebirds: Katherine and Chris tied the knot last summer at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito. They're seen in April 2019 above

Katherine and Chris tied the knot last summer at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, the same venue where Vivien Leigh married Laurence Olivier and Neil Armstrong tied the knot with his second wife Carol Knight.

Schwarzenegger comes from famous a very famous family.

While her dad was a movie star, her mother Maria Shriver's family has more political roots.

Katherine is the grand-niece of John F. Kennedy, who honeymooned at San Ysidro Ranch with Jacqueline Kennedy.
LAPD officers wearing shirts in support of the Los Angeles Police Protective League stand in front of City Hall during a news conference in 2014. (Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: The paradox of police unions is that they don't behave like unions at all. They comport themselves more like secret societies. Note the name of the largest example, the Fraternal Order of Police. ("Police Union Contracts Shield Bad Cops From Punishment. Here's How to Rein Them In," Opinion, June 16)

As you would expect in a fraternity, there is a sense of cocky otherness in police unions, with wink-and-a-nod commitments to protect a "brother" regardless of his wrongdoing.

Police unions have exhibited their sense of entitlement by separating from other public employee unions. In Wisconsin several years ago, as public employment budgets were decimated, police were exempted from the financial pain.

Most dangerously, the unions' sense of exclusivity is manifested by their representatives' truculent, accusatory harangues meant to rationalize and divert attention from violent misconduct.

Until police unions take action to root out the criminals in their midst, they don't deserve the respect accorded to legitimate unions.

Thomas Bailey, Long Beach

..

To the editor: In 2012, an Upland law firm allegedly hired a former detective to set up a Costa Mesa city councilman for drunk driving. At the time the law firm represented 120 police unions throughout California. The firm was so proud of its intimidation tactics that it posted its "playbook" online.

Given the Stasi-like implications of this, one would have expected absolute outrage and a complete review of the collective bargaining process. Yet here we are today, impotent to discipline problem officers or to make any meaningful reform. Police unions exist solely to "protect and serve" their members and are willing to do anything to protect their power.

Until our elected officials have the courage to push back, bad cops, to the detriment of all the good cops, will never go away.

Tim Mayeda, Yorba Linda

..

To the editor: It takes two parties to sign a contract. Elected officials, who pander to the police and other unions, are gone after a few terms, while the unions are here for the long haul.

Story continues

A similar problem exists for high-ranking city employees who are not held accountable for their actions on behalf of the taxpayers.

Over the last 50 years, private-sector union membership has dropped drastically while public-employee union membership has grown. In many government agencies, it is next to impossible to discipline an employee adequately.

The problem is bigger than the police unions. Perhaps the answer is to ban unions for government employees.

Paul Salerno, Riverside
To the Times:

As the controversy over Columbus continues, I propose a way out.

First, I do oppose the dismantling of statues of Columbus. I believe that the current campaign against Columbus is misguided and brings no good to anyone, as it ignores the realities of past events, realities that are critical in understanding where we are today. While Columbus is certainly not a man for our times, he was very much a man of his times. His deeds and the deeds of those who followed are done. Ugly though it may be, it existed, and we move on from there. Today, Columbus is still important to a huge segment of society but to another large segment, he represents oppression. In deciding how to look at this man, it is critical to acknowledge both vantage points. The most unwise and ultimately futile way to bring change is to ignite violent anger in one side or another. So how to resolve?

I have devised a King Solomon solution. Leave statues of Columbus in place. Where his likeness now stands, why not put up in close proximity what Ill call, for want of a better name, a responding statue or display, giving a different interpretation of his life and times. For example, there could be a display about Columbus discovery and the devastating effect it ultimately had on the indigenous people who had lived here for ages, the origins of the slave trade, and a look at what Europe was like at that time (a place ruled by often tyrannical kings and queens hellbent on expanding their power, where warfare was common, and where people were publicly executed by burning at the stake), and why and how the conquest of the Americas happened, and what it meant to the people of that time, etc. That way, history is not destroyed, but studied and made clearer.

Most importantly, in the process it makes the events of the present so much clearer. Everyone would be included in the study, no one would be removed, because they are all a part of the ongoing history. This could lead to better understanding and a constructive dialogue that steers us towards the harmony end of the scale, instead of fueling the fires of rage and intensifying the already superheated racial antagonisms that now exist. Imagine that.

Its worthwhile noting that the Europeans, though undeniably inflicting great suffering on many, could not have lacked all good traits. We descended from what they were into what we are now, and here we are trying to undo what are now perceived as wrongs that were committed by them.

By the present logic, almost every person who ever lived would have to be erased for one reason or another. We would be best served by dropping the inflammatory rhetoric that blinds our collective minds and leads nowhere. We should know the past but not live in the past. The past was what it was, we in the present cannot change it, but it is in our power to shape the future!

Carl Balis, Glenolden
The $500 payment is made directly to the landlord and can be applied to future or backdated payments as early as April 1.

Landlords who participate must agree to not evict tenants for nonpayment until a renter is more than 45 days delinquent on rent.

Jacob Sipe, executive director of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Agency, said he estimated about 12,000 Hoosier households will be helped through this program.

However, about 250,000 Hoosiers are at risk of being evicted or becoming homeless due to COVID-19, according to Prosperity Indiana, which is among several advocacy groups that have called on state leaders in recent weeks to expand the eviction moratorium.

Sipe recognized the gap during Wednesdays news conference but noted some counties, including Marion County, have a separate rental assistance program in place. He also suggested renters stay in contact with their landlords and set up repayment plans for missed payments.

Dr. Woody Myers, the Democratic nominee for Indiana governor, slammed Holcomb for the plan in a press release Wednesday afternoon.
The Supreme Court has held that its historic decision stubbing out the 158-year old archaic law on adultery from the criminal statute book does not require any reconsideration.

The decision passed by the Court nearly 20 months ago was challenged in two review petitions. A five-judge Constitution bench heard the matter in chambers and dismissed the same last month. The order passed on May 28 was recently uploaded on the Supreme Court website.

An organization called All Religious Affinity Movement and an individual Ravi Kumar filed separate review pleas seeking recall of the Courts verdict as it was against the concept of family.

A bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Justices RF Nariman, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra said, We have carefully gone through the Review Petitions and the connected papers filed therewith. We do not find any ground, whatsoever, to entertain the same. The Review Petitions are, accordingly, dismissed.

It was on September 27, 2018 the apex court took a bold decision to scrap Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code that punished adultery. This provision was treated as a relic of the Victorian era as it allowed a husband to prosecute any man who engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with his wife.

The law was challenged by Joseph Shine, an Indian settled abroad, who found it to be archaic, discriminatory and arbitrary. He wondered that if the purpose of the law is to protect the sanctity of family and marriage, the choice should be given to both husband and wife to prosecute their cheating spouse. On the contrary, the provision allowed only the husband to lodge a case of adultery against the other man in his wifes life. Further, Shine pointed out that provision worked on the concept of husbands consent. If a husband consents to his wife having sex with a stranger, regardless of the womans consent, no case under this section will be made out.

Speaking to HT after the rejection of the review petitions, advocate Kaleeswaram Raj who had argued for Joseph Shine in the Supreme Court, said, The dismissal of the review petitions is a big boost for the libertarian movement of individual rights across the world. This judgment fenced the State from interfering in individual behaviour that was not criminal in nature.

The then CJI Dipak Misra had said that adultery at best could be a civil or moral wrong that could be a ground to seek divorce. Treating it as an offence would tantamount to the State entering into a private realm, he had said.

Except for former CJI Dipak Misra who has since retired, the remaining four judges who delivered the landmark ruling were part of the bench that heard the review petitions.

Adultery has ceased to be a crime in China, Japan, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Germany, Austria, the Republic of Ireland, Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Seychelles. It continues to be a crime in countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, some states of the United States of America, Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Morocco, and some parts of Nigeria.

The five-judge bench was unanimous in its view that the 158-year old law does not square with the Constitutional law of the present times. It was also seen to deprive a woman of her dignity, sexual autonomy as the law treated her to be a property of her husband.
New Delhi: Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan was hospitalised after she complained of breathing issues. She was rushed to Guru Nanak Hospital in Mumbai's Bandra on Saturday. She is fine now and recovering. As per sources, she likely to be discharged in a day or two.

Following the hospitalisation, a coronavirus test was done, the result of which was negative.

Saroj Khan, 71, shot to fame in the 80s after 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 others.

In a career spanning over four decades, the three-time National Award winner has also choreographed songs such as 'Dola Re Dola' ('Devdas'), 'Ye Ishq Haaye' ('Jab We Met') and tracks from 'Manikarnika' and 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns'.

Her last project was also with Madhuri for 'Tabaah Hogaye' from 'Kalank'.
A new report by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) suggests that over one million jobs could be created in the next two years if the Government invests now in key infrastructure.

The union is urging the Chancellor to announce spending plans to avoid wide scale unemployment as the furlough scheme comes to an end, but social distancing and the new normal continue.

Research by Transition Economics for the TUC said an investment in key infrastructure of 85bn would pay for itself by creating 1.24 million jobs by 2022 and boosting growth and tax receipts.

40,000 jobs alone could be created in telecoms with upgrades to high-speed broadband and 38,000 jobs could materialise in decarbonising tech.

Rail network upgrades could create 120,000 new positions and half a million jobs for the electrification of buses, ferries and charging points for electric cars.

Rishi Sunak is expected to make an economic announcement in early July on future spending commitments and how he intends to restart the economy after a recession expected to be the deepest in living memory.

The TUC added that support must be made on a sector-by-sector basis, especially as the Governments furlough scheme comes to an end in October.

The report said young people under 25 are three times more likely to work in sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis, including hospitality and retail, and should have targeted spending on new training.

Ministers should follow the examples of other countries and where necessary take equity stakes of up to 30 per cent in struggling companies, it added.

Partial buyouts could also be contingent on fair pay plans, and excessive executive pay and improve corporate governance structures.

Frances OGrady, general secretary of the TUC, said: We need to work our way out of recession. Investing in infrastructure now will help to create jobs across the economy and limit the fallout from coronavirus. And it will stop the devastation of mass unemployment.

Recommended Rishi Sunak plans emergency VAT cut in bid to rescue economy

We should lose no time getting shovels in the ground. Next months budget must be used to green-light spending on homes, faster broadband, better transport links and greener technology.

Alongside investment in infrastructure to create great new jobs, we need a job guarantee scheme for young workers and rescue packages for badly hit sectors. And we need a new drive to ensure that the recession does not worsen existing labour market inequalities.

The more people we can keep in work, the faster well bounce back from this crisis.

Reporting by PA
Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has filed a restraining order against his sons mother, according to the Boston Globe, less than a week after she filed a restraining order against him in the Dominican Republic.

Per the Globe, Fary Almanzar Fernandez gave birth to a son with Ortiz -- David Andres Ortiz -- in 2008. While Ortiz has not kept his son a secret, he wasnt as widely known as Ortizs other children. But per Listin Diario, the leading news source in the Dominican Republic, Fernandez filed a complaint on May 21 saying Ortiz violated Law 24-97 on Domestic Violence. On Thursday, Listin Diario reported her request was granted, and Ortiz was ordered to refrain from annoying, intimidating or threatening his former partner in person or by phone.

In filing his own restraining order, Ortiz said he and Fernandez have had limited contact leading up to this conflict.

For the last 12 years, I have always provided significant financial support to the mother of my 12-year-old son, David, who is a loving member of my family, Ortiz said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Joe Baerlein, per the Globe. That support has included housing as well as financial support for Davids education and well-being. I regret that Davids mother has chosen to use the courts to assert a baseless claim against me in the form of a restraining order. I have not seen her in person for over a year, and since then communication between us has overwhelmingly been limited to texts.

On Tuesday, in a television interview in the Dominican Republic, Ortiz said it breaks my soul to see his son become an enemy. Ortizs son posted a video to Instagram claiming Ortiz, during a visit on Monday, told he and his grandmother to leave.

Per Baerlein, speaking for Ortiz, the relationship between Ortiz and his son was loving until this conflict. According to Baerlein, Ortizs son will take possession of the beach house where he and his mother often stay when he becomes an adult. Ortiz also purchased a condominium for Fernandez.

Ortiz has three other children: Two with his wife Tiffany, teenagers Alexandra and DAngelo, and Jessica from a separate previous relationship in the Dominican Republic. Jessica graduated from Regis College in Weston in 2019.

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Rose Paterson, the chair of Aintree Racecourse and wife of a former Conservative cabinet minister, has been found dead by her family home.

In a statement, Owen Paterson, the MP for North Shropshire who was a cabinet minister in David Camerons coalition government, said the loss of his wife, 63, had come as a terrible shock to the family.

It is with great sadness that I must inform you that my wife, Rose, has been found dead at our family home in Shropshire, he said. Rose and I were married for 40 happy years. She was a wonderful, caring wife, mother and grandmother.

Mr Paterson added: Her death has come as a terrible shock to us all. I would ask the media to respect the privacy of myself and my family at this extremely difficult time.

In response, the prime ministers official spokesperson said Boris Johnson heard the news this morning and had written to Mr Paterson.

Hi thoughts and every sympathy are with Owen, his children and grandchildren at this difficult time, they added.

Rose Paterson with husband, Owen (Rex)

In a statement, West Mercia Police said: We can confirm the body of a woman has been found in woodland near Plant Lane in Sodylt in Ellesmere. The death is currently being treated as unexplained however at this stage there is believed to be no third party involvement.

Mrs Paterson, the daughter of the fourth Viscount Ridley, was the chairman of Aintree Racecourse. She married the Conservative MP in 1980 and had two sons and a daughter. Having been a racecourse committee director at the Randox Health Grand National since 2005, she was appointed steward of The Jockey Club in 2019.

It was claimed earlier this week that Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, used his ministerial planning powers to recover an appeal by the organisation for a development of homes at a racecourse in Surrey. His department said each planning appeal is taken on its own merits.

Paying tribute, Sandy Dudgeon, the senior steward of club, said: This is tragic news and our thoughts go out to Roses husband Owen and all members of her family.

Rose was a wonderful person and involved in so many aspects of our sport. She was a skilled chairman at Aintree, a valued member of our board of stewards and headed up our horse welfare group. She also enjoyed participating at grassroots level over many years.

We appreciated her contribution very much and my fellow stewards and I looked forward to hearing her sound views on a subject, where she was always sensitive to the best course of action for racing. She will be missed greatly for the person she was, Ms Dudgeon added.
Bengaluru, June 24 : Senior IAS officer B.M. Vijayshankar, who was reportedly involved in the multi-crore IMA Ponzi scam, allegedly committed suicide in his house, an official said on Tuesday. He was 59.

"Vijayshakar was found hanging in a room on the first floor of his residence at Jayanagar in the city's southern suburb by his wife late evening," the official told IANS on anonymity.

The incident came to light when Vijayshankar's wife who was in the ground floor, went up to meet him.

The family informed the police and his body was sent to a state-run hospital for autopsy.

Vijayshankar was arrested and jailed after he was allegedly found involved in the multi-crore IMA scam in the city during 2018-19.

"The Karnataka cadre officer was suspended from service when he was Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban district after he admitted to have taken Rs 1.5 crore bribe from the IMA scam kingpin Mohammed Mansoor Khan though he alleged to have sought Rs 5 crore from the latter.

The state government revoked Vijayshankar's suspension recently and posted him as Commissioner of the Sakala scheme to provide citizen-related services in a stipulated time.

"The officer was under pressure after he learnt that the state government has permitted the CBI, probing the scam, to interrogate and prosecute him," added the official.

The amended Prevention of Corruption Act mandates the state government's sanction for a criminal inquiry into a government servant.

As the Ponzi scam in the guise of Islamic banking involved investors in other states, with international ramifications, the BJP government transferred the case to the CBI in August from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police.

Khan and 5 directors of I-Monetary Advisory (IMA) were arrested and jailed last year after their alleged involvement in the Rs 4,000-crore scam came to light in June 2019.

The CBI also booked on February 4 two senior IPS-rank officers Ajay Hillori and Hemant Nimbalkar of the Karnataka cadre for their alleged role in the Ponzi scam that rocked the southern state last year.

"Though the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) alerted the state government and the city police about the illegal activities of the IMA group, including raising illegal deposits from investors through cash or gold jewellery, assuring them hefty interest and returns on maturity, no action was taken against the company for allegedly indulging in the criminal act," a CBI official told IANS earlier, citing the FIR against the accused.

The premier investigation agency has accused Nimbalkar of allowing IMA to carry out its illegal business by giving it a clean chit to carry on its business during his tenure as IGP in CID.

Similarly, Hillori was accused of ignoring the central bank's warnings and furthering the interests of Khan at the expense of innocent investors and depositors.
Met Office cautions of poor conditions in West Berkshire

The Met Office has issued nationwide thunderstorm warnings, with West Berkshire falling under the yellow alert warning for Thursday and Friday.

The initial storm, affecting South West England, Wales and western Scotland, is expected to hit around 4pm tomorrow and last until 9am on Friday.

The Met Office has warned that there is a small chance of homes and businesses flooding quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds. And where this occurs, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.

Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures, with a small chance that some communities could be cut off by flooded roads.

A slight chance of power cuts has also be forecast and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.

The storms are set to hit as a level two heatwave has also been issued for the district between today (Wednesday) and Friday.

Temperatures are set to hit 30 degrees centigrade in Newbury tomorrow and 25 degrees centigrade on Friday.

West Berkshire Council has said that Covid-19 amplifies the risks of hot weather to vulnerable groups of people and

heatwaves can be especially dangerous for the very young, the very old, or those with chronic disease.



The council's Public Health team has issued the following advice to help keep people safe.

People are encouraged to

Stay tuned to the weather forecast

Check ambient room temperatures  especially those rooms where disabled or high risk individuals spend most of their time

Keep an eye on people who you know to be at risk  ensure they have access to plenty of cool liquids

Look out for vulnerable neighbours

Advice on how to reduce the risk can be found on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather, by calling NHS 111 or from your local chemist.

Specific resources for heat risk and Covid-19 have been developed and are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heatwave-plan-for-england
The first crewed orbital launch from the United States in nearly nine years took place on May 30, 2020. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft with two NASA astronauts on board, Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, successfully docked on the International Space Station 19 hours after lift-off.

Speaking after the historic launch, President Donald Trump hailed the groundbreaking partnership between NASA and SpaceX. This public-private partnership he said, has given our nation a gift of an unmatched power: a state-of-the-art spaceship to put our astronauts into orbit at a fraction of the cost of the Space Shuttle.

This launch marks an exciting turning point for American space exploration. NASA, said President Trump, will now . . . embark on the most difficult, most daring most audacious missions of humankind:

Through NASAs Artemis program, the United States is preparing for a crewed mission to Mars . . . .The Orion capsules being worked on in this building as part of the Artemis Moon-to-Mars program, those capsules will soon return Americans to lunar orbit for the first time in over 50 years.By 2024, our astronauts will return to the lunar surface to establish a permanent presence and the launching pad to Mars.

Space travel is not a feat of engineering alone, stressed President Trump. Its also a moral endeavor -- a measure of a nations vision, its willpower, its place in the world:

Exploration is a test of our values and of our faith. America is a nation defined by its commitment to discovery -- to solve mysteries, to chart the unknown, to press the limits, to achieve the fullest expression of lifes potential, and to ensure that America is the nation that always leads the way, especially in space.

The United States is venturing out to explore the new, magnificent frontier called space, declared President Trump. As our brave American astronauts shake the Earth and blaze a trail of fire and steel into the heavens, we proclaim for all to hear that we have not yet tested the full strength of the American character, and the world has not yet seen the full glory of the American spirit. For our country, for our children, and for humanitys march into the stars, the best is yet to come.

Anncr: That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government.
PRISTINA -- A prosecutor in The Hague has indicted Kosovar President Hashim Thaci, former parliamentary chairman Kadri Veseli, and others for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during or after the 1998-1999 Kosovo conflict.

The Specialist Prosecutors Office (SPO) said in a statement on June 24 that the suspects are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders, as well as the enforced disappearance of persons, persecution, and torture.



The alleged crimes involved hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian, Serb, Roma, and other ethnicities and include political opponents, according to the SPO.



Thaci and Veseli were commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), an ethnic Albanian guerrilla group that fought against Belgrade's security forces in the 1998-99 war.



Veseli, who currently leads the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and continues to serve as a lawmaker, denied "any involvement in any crime" and said he is "proud to have taken part in the liberation war of the Kosovo people."



Thaci has previously denied involvement in any war crimes.



After the SPO's announcement, his office said he had cut short a trip to the United States and would be back to Kosovo on June 25.



The Kosovar president was scheduled to meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the White House on June 27 for talks aimed at leading to a normalization of relations.



A 10-count indictment was filed with the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague on April 24, but the prosecutor decided to unveil them publicly two months later.



Prosecutors said the charges resulted from a "lengthy investigation" and they were confident they can prove "all charges beyond a reasonable doubt."



A KSC pretrial judge is currently reviewing the indictment to decide on whether to confirm the charges.



The prosecutor also accused Thaci and Veseli of repeated efforts to obstruct and undermine the work" of the tribunal.

Armed Uprising

The two men are believed to have carried out a secret campaign to overturn the law creating the Court and otherwise obstruct the work of the Court in an attempt to ensure that they do not face justice, the statement said.



By taking these actions, Mr. Thaci and Mr. Veseli have put their personal interests ahead of the victims of their crimes, the rule of law, and all people of Kosovo, it added.

In his statement, Veseli rejected the prosecutor's claims as "completely untrue."



Considering the time and circumstances, a few days before the meeting at the White House, it really raises doubts [that the SPO's announcement] is a coincidence. No prosecutor should ever allow his decisions to be guided by political motives," he also said.



Kosovo was part of Serbia until an armed uprising by the ethnic Albanian majority population in 1998-99 triggered a Serbian crackdown.



The conflict ended following a 78-day NATO bombing campaign to force Serbian troops out of Kosovo.



The war left more than 10,000 dead and over 1,600 are still unaccounted for.



The former Serbian province declared independence in 2008 -- a move Serbia, Russia, and a handful of European Union member states refuse to recognize.



The KSC was established in 2015 to investigate crimes committed during and after the war in Kosovo.



A European Union spokesman said the bloc does not comment on proceedings of the SPO and the KSC, but said it is a strong supporter of their work.



They are an important demonstration of Kosovos commitment to the rule of law, which in turn is a core element for Kosovos progress on the EU integration path and for the EU engagement with the Western Balkans as a whole, Peter Stano said.



He added that the SPO and the KSC should be able to continue to do their work independently, without any outside interference.

In a statement, Kosovo's government called on Kosovars to show calm and insisted that no one is guilty until a final court verdict.



"The government believes that the struggle of the people of Kosovo and the Kosovo Liberation Army has been just...and will remain one of the most important periods in the country's history," it said.



Former Kosovar Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj expressed his belief in the two men's innocence, saying on his Facebook page that the UCK had fought a "clean war" that resulted in an independent Kosovo.

Isa Mustafa, the leader of the ruling Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said he believed the war waged by the UCK was, and will be confirmed by international justice, as just and clean.

The leader of the Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party, Albin Kurti, called the indictments a consequence of old mistakes.



"Kosovo should have had its own independent and impartial judiciary to investigate, try, and punish all war crimesespecially those caused by Serbia in Kosovo."
PALO ALTO, Calif. and HAMBURG, Germany, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsara BioCapital, a leading life sciences investment firm, Evotec SE, a global drug discovery alliance and development partnership company (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809), and KCK Ltd., a family investment fund, today announced the launch of Autobahn Labs, a novel virtual incubator partnering with top academic and research institutions to catalyze early-stage drug discovery and development. Autobahn Labs also announced a first-in-kind strategic collaboration with UCLA Technology Development Group to identify and advance the most promising areas of scientific research with the greatest potential for patient therapies.

"Autobahn Labs was created to be a catalyst for translational research, working with academic scientists and institutions to design and execute an accelerated path to deliver transformational new therapies," said Thomas Novak, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Autobahn Labs. "We are very excited to partner with UCLA, a university with a premier reputation for innovation in the life sciences, to realize the potential of that innovation for patients."

"UCLA TDG's mission is centered on innovation, research, teaching and entrepreneurship to benefit society," said Amir Naiberg, Associate Vice Chancellor, CEO & President of UCLA Technology Development Group. "TDG is exploring new models for Tech Transfer, this novel strategic collaboration with Autobahn Labs allows us to partner with industry experts earlier than ever before. We believe this will enable us to accelerate the transformation of our early scientific research into new drugs."

Built on a model of long-term partnership and collaboration, Autobahn Labs invests earlier than traditional venture financing models, providing intellectual, financial and physical capital to efficiently and effectively advance new scientific discoveries from novel concept to preclinical drug candidate. Working in partnership with leading scientists and university tech transfer offices, the incubator identifies and de-risks early-stage research projects with significant therapeutic potential. Autobahn Labs creates jointly-owned new companies and invests up to $5M per project. This model provides Principal Investigators with scientific and operational strategy as well as direct and immediate access to Evotec's state-of-the-art drug discovery and development technologies and capabilities, including more than 3,000 scientists with proven drug discovery expertise.

"Many of the most important advances in medicine were born in university labs," said Srinivas Akkaraju, MD, PhD, Managing General Partner, Samsara BioCapital. "While government funding and grants support basic research, there are limited resources available for translational research, particularly in the early stages. Autobahn Labs is investing early with a long-term perspective and a strong commitment to each program's success."

"Autobahn Labs is a one-of-a-kind incubator that builds on the well-established foundation of our model of academic partnership programs, to support multiple academic institutions," said Dr. Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec. "Providing both funding and access to a powerful drug development platform, Autobahn Labs will be able to efficiently translate the ground-breaking research of leading academic institutions into medical progress to benefit patients with unmet medical need. We are very glad about our first partnership with the internationally renowned UCLA."

Autobahn Labs has assembled a Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board composed of highly experienced biotechnology industry experts and successful drug discoverers.

Board members include:

Perry Karsen , Executive Chair of Autobahn Labs, Venture Partner at Samsara BioCapital

, Executive Chair of Autobahn Labs, Venture Partner at Samsara BioCapital Thomas Novak , PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Autobahn Labs

, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Autobahn Labs Srinivas Akkaraju , MD, PhD, Founder and Managing General Partner at Samsara BioCapital

, MD, PhD, Founder and Managing General Partner at Samsara BioCapital Thomas Hanke , PhD, Executive Vice President, Head of Academic Partnerships, Evotec

, PhD, Executive Vice President, Head of Academic Partnerships, Evotec Nety Krishna , PhD, Senior Managing Director, KCK

, PhD, Senior Managing Director, KCK Abraham Bassan , Vice President, Samsara BioCapital (observer)

Scientific Advisors include:

John Curnutte , MD, PhD, former Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Portola Pharmaceuticals, President of Schering-Plough Biopharma

, MD, PhD, former Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Portola Pharmaceuticals, President of Schering-Plough Biopharma Steve Kelsey , MD, President of Research and Development at Revolution Medicines

, MD, President of Research and Development at Revolution Medicines James Larrick , MD, PhD, CEO at Panorama Research

, MD, PhD, CEO at Panorama Research Robert Stein , MD, PhD, Operating Partner at Samsara BioCapital

About Autobahn Labs

Autobahn Labs is a new model for early-stage drug discovery and development, partnering with leading research institutions to accelerate the advancement of novel science to deliver transformational new therapies for patients. We invest intellectual, financial and physical capital, applying our proven drug discovery framework to efficiently and effectively move projects from feasibility to novel drug candidates. Autobahn Labs was created by Samsara BioCapital, a leading life sciences venture capital firm, Evotec, a global leader in drug discovery research and KCK Ltd, a family investment fund. For more information, visit www.autobahn-labs.com.

About Samsara BioCapital

Samsara BioCapital is a new breed of biotech investment fund focused on translating cutting-edge biology into new therapies to treat patients with unmet medical needs. Founded in 2016 by Srinivas Akkaraju, MD, PhD, our team of scientists, investors, and entrepreneurs takes a long-term view to value creation across all stages of public and private life science companies. We believe in a collaborative, hands-on approach, working closely with entrepreneurs to harness exciting scientific advances and build leading companies. Samsara actively manages approximately US$410 million in assets on behalf of endowments, foundations, and family offices. For more information, visit www.samsaracap.com.

About Evotec SE

Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academics, patient advocacy groups and venture capitalists. We operate worldwide and our more than 3,000 employees provide the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery and development solutions from target to clinic. For additional information, please go to www.evotec.com and follow us on Twitter @Evotec.

About KCK Ltd.

KCK, Ltd. is a single-family, evergreen fund with offices in the SF Bay Area and New York City. We invest across a broad range of sectors and in companies of all stages in the US, Europe and Emerging Markets, including in biotech, industrials, deep tech, med tech and financial services. Our investments are flexible and long-term, with a unique focus on technically and scientifically challenging projects.

SOURCE Autobahn Labs

Related Links

http://www.autobahn-labs.com


ZURICH and LONDON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 21Shares AG, the leading Swiss crypto ETPs issuer is officially listing its 21Shares Bitcoin ETP (ISIN: CH0454664001 - BBG: ABTC SW), 21Shares Ethereum(ISIN CH0454664027 BBG: AETH SW) and signature crypto basket index HODL(ISIN CH0445689208 BBG HODL SW) in GBP on the Swiss SIX Exchange on June 30th 2020.

The Bitcoin ETP (ABTC) has now been listed and trading for over 18 months which has helped lead the market in gaining institutional acceptance for investing easily and securely into digital assets using conventional brokers. It was the first to list on a regulated stock exchange, the SIX Swiss Exchange and benefits from a cost effective annual management fees of 1.49% which makes it one of the cheapest crypto ETPs on the market. According to client feedback, expanding market participation further, specifically amongst UK-based investors, required a listing in local currency.

Laurent Kssis, Managing Director, 21Shares AG said: "Expanding market participation is one of our core focuses. As we already list our crypto ETPs in USD, CHF and EUR, it was only natural to add GBP. This opens up our institutional-grade crypto ETPs to all UK investors with access and connectivity to the SIX Swiss Exchange."

Charlie Morris, Chairman of UK based Bytetree said: "We are excited by the news of a GBP listing for 21Shares successful crypto ETPs. This will give UK clients more choice by which they can access this emerging asset class with the reassurance of trading on a regulated European exchange, a key factor raised by many institutional investors like us!"

Investors have indicated that engineered crypto products in a structure that are familiar to them(ETP) is a key factor when allocation 1-2% of their portfolios in alternative assets classes.

21Shares was honoured in May 2020 as the winner of the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2020 for '"Most Innovative Crypto Product" which recognised and celebrated the best breed of crypto issuers from across the global financial industry.

About 21Shares

21Shares makes investing in crypto assets as easy as buying shares using your conventional broker or bank. Investors can invest in cryptocurrencies using a conventional ETP structure (or tracker) easily, with total confidence and security, cost effectively thanks to its suite of ETPs launched by 21Shares and now composed of 11 crypto ETPs.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1098216/21Shares_Logo.jpg

Press Contact

21Shares

Laurent Kssis

+41 44-260-8660

press@21Shares.com
By Caitlin Johnstone

June 23, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Joe Biden keeps trying to out-warmonger Donald Trump, and by Joe Biden I of course mean the team of handlers who are animating the dementia-ravaged corpse of the Biden campaign like a ventriloquist operating a wooden dummy.

In response to Trump suggesting an openness to scaling back his administrations murderous Venezuela policy and meeting with President Nicolas Maduro, whoever runs Bidens Twitter account for him seized upon the moment to assert that the former vice president will be doing no such thing if elected commander-in-chief.

Trump talks tough on Venezuela, but admires thugs and dictators like Nicolas Maduro, tweeted Biden Incorporated. As President, I will stand with the Venezuelan people and for democracy.

Translation: if Trump retreats from his current policy of trying to sanction and suffocate Venezuelan into submission, Biden will make sure to revive it, journalist Aaron Mate said in response.

To be clear, Joe Biden is now attacking Donald Trump from the right on Venezuela, said journalist Walker Bragman.

Trump talks tough on Venezuela, but admires thugs and dictators like Nicolas Maduro.



As President, I will stand with the Venezuelan people and for democracy. https://t.co/eUt28UxyXS  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 22, 2020

As FAIR.orgs Alan MacLeod accurately observed last year, this phrase the Venezuelan people is only ever invoked by the political/media class of the US-centralized empire for sloganeering purposes in support of US-led regime change interventionism in that nation, despite an overwhelming majority of Venezuelans opposing all US interventionism including sanctions.

This tactic of attacking Donald Trump for being insufficiently warlike is nothing new for Biden Inc, nor is it limited to Venezuela.

Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter

During the primary debates Biden attacked Trump for being insufficiently hawkish toward North Korea, claiming the president was wrong to meet with Kim Jong Un because it gives the leader legitimacy, whatever that means.

An April Biden campaign ad accused the president of being too soft on China by failing to force Beijing to allow US government officials into Wuhan to monitor the governing of a sovereign nation during a pandemic outbreak.

Trump praised the Chinese 15 times in January and February as the coronavirus spread across the world, says the ads narrator in an ominous voice. Trump never got a CDC team on the ground in China. And the travel ban he brags about? Trump let in 40,000 travelers from China into America after he signed it. Not exactly airtight.

I wouldnt meet with Kim Jong Un without pre-conditions. By meeting with him, Donald Trump gave Kim Jong Un what he was looking for: legitimacy. I will work closely with our allies and hold China accountable for its lack of pressure on the Kim regimes bad behavior. #DemDebate  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 15, 2020

Biden has attacked Trumps partial troop withdrawal from Syria, using talking points from the so-called war on terror to absurdly claim during a primary debate that the president is putting America at risk of a terrorist strike from ISIS.

We have ISIS thats going to come here, Biden said. They are going to damage the United States of America. Thats why we got involved in the first place.

And of course Biden & Co have been attacking Trump for being too soft on Russia, despite this administrations many, many dangerously hawkish new cold war escalations against Moscow.

We need a President who will stand up to the Kremlin, push back against Putin, and take immediate steps to ensure the security of our elections, Bidens Twitter account said last year.

This line of attack is so ubiquitous in the Biden campaign that it sometimes just takes the form of a vague, general swipe at Trumps unwillingness to be more warlike, with an April tweet reading simply Donald Trump says hes a wartime president  its time for him to act like one.

Donald Trump says hes a wartime president  its time for him to act like one.  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 18, 2020

Again, this is Donald Trump these people are talking about. The same president who imprisoned Julian Assange for exposing US war crimes, killed tens of thousands of Venezuelans with starvation sanctions, vetoed attempts to save Yemen from US-backed genocide, is working to foment civil war in Iran using starvation sanctions and CIA ops with the stated goal of effecting regime change, nearly started a full-scale war with Iran by assassinating its top general, occupied Syrian oil fields and implemented devastating sanctions with the goal of preventing Syrias reconstruction, greatly increased the number of troops in the Middle East and elsewhere, greatly increased the number of bombs dropped per day from the previous administration, killing record numbers of civilians, and reduced military accountability for those airstrikes.

The second-to-last thing the world needs is political pressure placed on Donald fucking Trump to be more warlike. The very last thing the world needs is a US president who ends up being even more warlike than Trump.

America is a war machine on top of a police state on top of a mass media psyop. Only people who are willing to keep these psychopathic mechanisms in place are permitted to ascend to presidential candidacy. While all the news cameras focus on the relatively minor differences between presidents and presidential candidates, you can learn a lot more about America and what drives it by looking at their similarities.

"

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Googles approach toA evaluatingA trademark infringing websitesA has long been out of sync with its approach toA evaluatingA copyright infringement and other claims. This meant that when Google was told that it was indexing and returning search results for a webpage or website that is selling counterfeit products, it did not take action.A Specifically, Google would not de-index URLs that offered counterfeit products. It would not  and still will not  de-index websites dedicated to selling counterfeit products.A This refusal to act has put consumers at risk and harmed the companies targeted.A This new development comes as legislative and regulatory pressure on Internet platforms intensifies (in particularA throughA theA Digital Services Act)A .A It also follows sustained lobbying from stakeholders in the industry, including fromA Incopro, who for a long timeA have campaigned for Google toA move to a position which givesA equivalent,A far greater protection toA trade marks,A brands and their consumers, said Michael Sweeney, Senior Legal Counsel, Incopro.

An Incopro report from the fall found that 6 in 10 search queries resulted in listings for fake merchandise  imitation handbags from top designers, imitation shoes, and the list goes on. They also found that nearly half (47%) of traffic to those fake sites came from shoppers who had used a brands name or keywords for a brand and instead found their counterfeit counterparts. This is troubling not only for the people who are scammed but for the legitimate brands who are having their goods counterfeited and who are losing customers because they are blamed for the fake goods.

Until now, brands whoseA trade marksA are infringed online had to obtain a Court Order before Google would agree to evaluateA trade markA infringement andA requests aroundA de-indexing infringing results from organic search. This development represents a significant change to that position,A alleviatingA rights holdersA from the cost and inconvenience of having to secure Court Orders beforeA approaching Google, said Sweeney. Whilst this is a positive step forward for brands and consumers, there is still much more to be done.A In particular,A Google will only remove individual URLs from organic search that it has been notified as infringing.A They will not remove entire websites from organic search  even for websites dedicated to selling counterfeit goods which serve no legitimate purpose.A This is likely to leave brands in the unsatisfactory position of potentially having to file separate notices in respect of each individual URL, of which there can be a great many. Any solution which Google deploys to address this issue must be scalable and this recent development does not go far enough.

Sweeney doesnt believe legitimate brands or listings will be caught up in Googles foray into de-listing fake goods, but notes that this could happen. In which case, he believes an appeal to Google should return the legitimate sites listings to being indexed for the search engine.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 24 : K.K. Mahesan, former close aide of SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellapally Natesan, committed suicide by hanging himself at the SNDP Kaniechikulengara office near Alappuzha on Wednesday, a day after the crime branch of the police questioned him.

Mahesan, according to sources, had send a detailed note to his close friends on the way he was being hounded and made a scapegoat.

SNDP is the social movement of the Hindu Ezhava community. The deceased was also secretary of the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), the second biggest ally of the BJP-led NDA in the state.

The police are probing the alleged swindling in the micro finance operations, run by Natesan's SNDP Yogam. Mahesan had been questioned in the past too.

Reacting to Mahesan's suicide, Natesan said he was shocked to hear his untimely demise and demanded a thorough probe into it.

Of late, Mahesan and Natesan were not having the best of relations. Mahesan had also written a detailed letter to the crime branch, stating his innocence.
Prolonged hot weather with average temperatures of about 40 degree Celsius across the country in recent days have led to health problems.

A doctor treats a boy at the Vietnam-Cuba Hospital's Paediatrics Department.

Tran Quang Thang, head of the Emergency Aid and Stroke Ward under the National Geriatric Hospital, said the rate of elderly people having health examinations at the hospital in June increased by 150 percent compared with May.

On average, 30-40 people have been hospitalised per day due to reasons related to hot weather, with many of them in critical condition, he said.

Thang said the elderly could easily have problems in hot weather because their ability to adapt to the weather was weak.

Many have underlying diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, so hot weather put them at risk.

At the Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital, Dao Viet Phuong, a doctor from the Emergency Ward, said each day the ward received dozens of patients suffering from temperature shock or strokes. Most of them had worked outside or were elderly people with underlying conditions.

A similar situation happened at Saint Paul Hospital in Hanoi.

The number of children going in for health examinations this month had increased by 30 percent compared with last month.

Doctors at the hospital said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students must go to school instead of having a summer holiday like in previous years. Many of them have lessons in the afternoon, which means they must go to school in the heat of the day.

Dermatology

Dang Bich Diep, head of the Social Work Ward under the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, warned that hot weather with ultraviolet (UV) rays at high levels could cause great harm to peoples skin, however, not everyone knows how to protect it properly.

UV rays can cause sunburn, harm the skins cells and gradually lead to skin cancer.

The time that UV rays cause the most harm is between 10am to 2pm, so people should avoid going out at that time, she said.

The hospital has treated many people suffering from sunburns, most of them people who had to work in the sun.

The patients would need several weeks to recover and serious skin pains could lead to other side effects, said Diep.

Diep warned that patients should be vigilant, not treat themselves and must go to the hospital for instruction from doctors.

To protect the skin, people should apply sun cream three times per day, and apply it about 20 minutes before going out.

If the sunlight is severe, the people should choose sun cream with a high sun protection factor (SPF). For instance, when going to the beach, sun cream with SPF 50 should be chosen, said Diep.

Measures

K Hospital, which specialises in treating cancer, has conducted different measures to ease patients difficulties while having health examinations during hot weather days.

Nguyen Ba Tinh, head of the hospital's Welfare Work Ward, said the hospital received more than 2,000 patients for health examinations and treatment per day and many of them queued up since the early hours.

To reduce the time spent waiting in hot weather, the hospital opened three branches in Tan Trieu and Tam Hiep communes of Thanh Tri district and in Hoan Kiem district.

The hospital also operates a drinking water system to serve patients and their families.

Air conditioners were turned on all day in all treatment rooms so the patients would feel more comfortable, he said.

More trees had been planted around the hospital and more high-powered fans had been installed in waiting and examination rooms.

Warnings

Doctors advise that the elderly should have regular health checks and meals with enough nutrition and vitamin, while everyone should drink about two litres of water per day.

If people have to go outside, they should have enough protective clothes and keep time in the sun to a minimum.

Tran Minh Dien, deputy director of the National Paediatrics Hospital, said if children have high temperatures, parents should bring them to hospital as soon as possible to prevent brain side effects. Children should not go out during hot days, especially between 10am and 4pm./.VNS

Hanoi endures second heat wave, temperatures drop in HCM City Regions throughout northern and central Vietnam, including Hanoi, continued to endure a hot spell for the second time this year with temperatures in some places reaching 42 degrees Celsius,
Washington DC: English businesswoman Elizabeth Hurley said on Tuesday that she is "saddened beyond belief" over the alleged suicide of her ex Steve Bing, suggesting he had finally been building a relationship with their son.

According to Page Six, the 55-year-old actor said early Tuesday, "I am saddened beyond belief that my ex Steve is no longer with us. It is a terrible end, hours after news broke that the producer jumped from the 27th floor of a high-rise in Century City, Los Angeles.

She wrote on Instagram alongside a series of snaps. "Our time together was very happy and I`m posting these pictures because although we went through some tough times, it`s the good, wonderful memories of a sweet, kind man that matter."

"In the past year we had become close again. We last spoke on our son`s 18th birthday," she said of the April milestone for their son, Damian, whom Bing initially denied was his child, until it was proven by a DNA test.

The `Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery` actor wrote, "This is devastating news and I thank everyone for their lovely messages."

Damian, meanwhile, posted a photo of a red sky early Tuesday. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has reached out following the devastating news," he wrote.

"This is a very strange and confusing time and I`m immensely grateful to be surrounded by my phenomenal family and friends "Former President Bill Clinton was among the many high-profile names who also paid glowing tributes.

Clinton wrote on Twitter late Monday, "I loved Steve Bing very much. He had a big heart, and he was willing to do anything he could for the people and causes he believed in. I will miss him and his enthusiasm more than I can say, and I hope he`s finally found peace."
Six Republican members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday asked Donald Trump to reconsider his order to dramatically reduce the American troop presence in Germany, warning that following through will place US 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 US commitment to our collective security, they wrote.

The letter, obtained by The Washington Post, was led by Michael McCaul, a Texas representative and the top Republican on the committee, and Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois representative and the top Republican on the European affairs subcommittee and a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard. Republican representatives 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 Mr Trump to retreat from what many privately see as a repudiation of the hallmark of Republican foreign policy since the Second World War, a betrayal of the transatlantic alliance and another strategic gift for Mr Putin. It comes on the publication day of Mr Trumps former national security adviser John Boltons book, which depicts a president friendly towards the Kremlin but wobbly towards western European allies.

Congressional Republicans may be distancing themselves from Mr Trump as the November election nears, particularly if his standing does not markedly improve. Recent polls, nationally and in battleground states, have shown Mr Trump losing support. GOP strategists privately fear that the presidents current standing imperils their Senate majority and makes winning back the House next to impossible.

Recommended Trump says the US will withdraw thousands of troops from Germany

Mr Trump approved a plan this month to permanently withdraw up to one-third of about 34,500 US troops based in Germany, bringing the total down to no more than 25,000. Defence Department officials are working on a plan to implement the directive, which was signed by national security adviser Robert OBrien. The Germans have still not been officially notified.

Leading congressional Democrats are as upset, and vocal, as their GOP counterparts. House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Eliot Engel, who was trying to fend off a strong primary challenge on Tuesday, said in a statement that he is working with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to see what they can do legislatively to reverse the decision. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has called Mr Trumps order petty and preposterous, as well as another favour to Putin.

Congressional aides in both major political parties speculate that there will be an effort to insert language into the defence reauthorisation 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 Mr Trump made the announcement this month partly out of pique after chancellor Angela Merkel declined to attend an in-person G7 summit Mr Trump wanted to hold in Washington this month.

Ms Merkel raised public health concerns about all the world leaders gathering amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the number of US infections so high, forcing the cancellation of the meeting and undercutting Mr Trumps narrative that the country is ready to reopen.

Mr Trumps public rationale for pulling out troops is that Germany has been delinquent in defence spending. The Republican signatories on the Foreign Affairs letter commend Mr Trump for pushing Nato members to spend more on their defence, and they say Germany ought to increase defence spending to 2 per cent of its gross domestic product, up from 1.3 per cent last year.

However, we fear this partial US withdrawal from Germany will fail to convince Berlin to spend more, while putting US strategic interests at risk, they wrote. Our adversaries understand that the American alliance network is at the heart of the US 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 US force re-posturing.

To ensure that free and open societies triumph over the likes of Vladimir Putins regime and the Chinese Communist Party, the United States must continue to build and maintain a united coalition of like-minded allies. The withdrawal of thousands of troops from Germany will only complicate this crucial effort and in turn place US national security at risk.

Conservatives explain that the point of the American presence has never been primarily about protecting Germany. It has always been about advancing American interests and projecting US power. For 75 years, there has been a bipartisan Washington consensus that a large troop presence there was beneficial.

The US Armys Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre in Germany cares for American soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Stuttgart, Germany, is home to US 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 Mr 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 US 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 US commitment to Nato will encourage further Russian aggression and opportunism.

Republican senator James Inhofe, the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said pulling US troops out of Germany is such a terrible idea that he cannot believe Mr Trump would go through with it. He has blamed Mr OBrien 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, Mr Inhofe told Politico.

The highest-ranking House GOP member to publicly chastise Mr Trumps move as a serious error is Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the number-three 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, Ms Cheney said in a statement after signing onto the Thornberry letter.

The Washington Post
(Newser)  Looks like Michael Flynn is even closer to legal daylight. An appeals court ruled Wednesday that Flynn's long and controversial court case should be dismissedwhich likely means it's over, USA Today reports. The 2-1 opinion criticized the judge who refused to approve a Justice Department plan to let Flynn, President Trump's former national security adviser, go free. The case is "about whether ... the district judge may prolong the prosecution by appointing an amicus, encouraging public participation, and probing the government's motives," wrote DC Circuit Court Judge Neomi Rao, who authored the opinion, per the New York Times. "On that, both the Constitution and cases are clear: He may not."

story continues below

The case revolves around Flynn's two guilty pleas to lying to the FBI. He admitted in 2017 to lying about his contacts with a Russian ambassador, but a later review ordered by Attorney General William Barr found the FBI had no valid reason to question him in the first place. Flynn's judge, US District Judge Emmet Sullivan, didn't accept that and ordered a high-profile lawyer to contest the government's position before the appeals court. Looks like that didn't go over well. "This is not the unusual case where a more searching inquiry is justified," wrote Rao, per the Washington Post. The Times notes that the two assenting judges were appointed by Republican presidentsTrump and George Bushwhile the dissenting judge was appointed by Barack Obama. (Read more Michael Flynn stories.)
Appointment

24 June 2020

In a move to further expand its organizational support structure, My Place Hotels of America named former Executive Vice President Matthew Campbell as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Legal Officer.

Matthew Campbell joined My Place Hotels of America as Executive Vice President/General Counsel in 2015. Campbell graduated from the University of South Dakota with an MBA and University of South Dakota School of Law with a J.D. He has since practiced law in South Dakota while playing an instrumental role in the ongoing growth of the My Place Hotels of America parent company, its respective hotel brands, and franchise family. As second in command, Matt combines his business and legal acumen to oversee the company's daily operations.
Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday he expects COVID-19 to surge again in Pennsylvania this fall. But he said preparations and lessons learned during months when the state was shut down may enable us to weather it without a repeat of the shut down.

The advantages if faced with a second wave include increased hospital preparedness and capacity, expanded testing and expanding contact tracing to find and isolate people who have been exposed. Wolf said Pennsylvania now has capacity for 16,000 tests per day -- more than the total tested in March -- and has nearly 600 contact tracers, with plans to add more.

I think we are in a much better place, he said. Still, he noted he cant predict the future.

Wolf also said people and businesses now fully understand how to social distance and the need for it, as well as the need for things including staying home and getting tested if sick, frequent hand-washing and wearing a mask in public.

Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine spoke during a visit to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Both repeatedly stressed the need to wear face masks in public, and said it makes no sense that it has become a political issue of Democrats largely complying with the recommendation and many supporters of President Donald Trump dismissing the need.

Levine said study after study prove that wearing a mask can block some of the droplets from people who are carrying COVID-19 but feeling no symptoms, or who are in the early stage and not yet feeling sick. Scientists believe both groups can spread the disease through droplets released during coughing, sneezing, talking and breathing.

She said wearing masks is essential to getting through a second wave with minimal harm.

Wolf likened wearing a mask in public to obeying stop signs.

Imagine if only liberals or only conservatives stopped at stop signs, he said.

Wolf and Levine visited the medical center to stress the COVID-19 preparations that are in place against a resurgence and to thank the medical center staff for their work in caring for the sick and preventing spread.

Wolf said that based on a seven day rolling average Pennsylvania has the longest streak of declining cases in the country.

All of you are on the front lines and all of you are responsible for that statistic I talked about, he said, referring to the streak.
Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

On the heels of Montgomery County commissioners approving the purchase of a portable hospital shelter to help with overflow capacity due to COVID-19 cases, health officials confirmed two more deaths and another 94 cases Wednesday.

According to the Montgomery County Public Health District, the death includes two Conroe men, one in his 40 and the other in his 70s. Total deaths for the county is now 36.
Survivors from boat crammed with 300 refugees say bodies were thrown in the sea during the tortuous four-month voyage.

Survivors from a boat crammed with more than 300 Rohingya refugees have recounted to Malaysian authorities how dozens had perished during a tortuous four-month voyage and their bodies thrown in the sea.

The head of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) described the ordeal suffered by Rohingya whose damaged boat had made land on the Malaysian island of Langkawi on June 8, with 269 people on board.

He also recounted how the Rohingya had been transferred from a larger motherboat to a smaller vessel half-way through a voyage that began close to the Myanmar-Bangladesh border back in February.

I was told that around 300-plus were transferred to the boat that reached Malaysia, MMEA Director-General Mohd Zubil Bin Mat Som told a news conference on Wednesday.

But some died at sea. They were thrown overboard, he said, later telling Reuters that those that perished had fallen sick, without elaborating further.

Dozens of people, believed to be Rohingya, who were dropped off from a boat are pictured on a beach near Sungai Belati, Perlis, Malaysia in this April 8, 2019 photo [Reuters]

The Rohingya had risked the perilous sea journey south across the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, having lost hope of making a better life in the refugee camps in Bangladesh, where many of them had found sanctuary after fleeing their homes in Myanmar following a military crackdown in August 2017.

The United Nations has said the military crackdown was carried out with genocidal intent, but Myanmar denies it, saying it was responding to attacks on security posts by Rohingya fighters.

Mainly Muslim Malaysia is home to the second-largest number of Rohingya refugees after Bangladesh, though there is growing opposition to them settling there as an ailing economy and the coronavirus scare have made people less tolerant of the newcomers.

The survivors of the boat that came ashore in Langkawi have been detained, and their future remains unclear.

Mohd Zubil declined to comment on whether a decision had been made to push the detainees back out to sea once their boat is repaired, a reported proposal that has been criticised by human rights groups.

He said the fate of close to 500 Rohingya who had remained on Motherboat 1 after the transfer at sea was unknown.

We cannot locate Motherboat 1 Weve been trying for two weeks, but we cant locate it.
Press Release

June 24, 2020 Drilon to OWWA: Facilitate speedy repatriation of 150K OFWs Repatriate all 150,000 overseas Filipinos affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic first and let's talk about funding later. Thus said Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) after OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac admitted that the ongoing repatriation of OFWs, if it continues next year, will lead them to bankruptcy. "We are not quite sure if we will hold on to the money given that 2021 may be worse or go out and provide the fullest assistance to the OFWs," Cacdac told Drilon during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment chaired by Sen. Joel Villanueva on Wednesday. But Drilon, who formerly chaired OWWA, insisted that the agency should use its existing P18.8 billion funds to bring home all 150,000 stranded OFWs and give them financial and livelihood assistance. "I strongly suggest that OWWA provide fullest assistance to the OFWs. That's their money. Nobody expected this. Ang kailangan ay matulungan muna natin ang ating mga kababayan sa ibayong dagat," said Drilon. The OWWA Fund is principally sourced from OFW membership contributions, which could and should be utilized to help OFWs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing them adequate financial, livelihood and other assistance, Drilon noted. Cacdac said that the OWWA fund may decrease to P1 billion by the end of 2021 if the situation continues to worsen. To repatriate, quarantine and bring home all 150,000 OFWs, Cacdac said OWWA would need around P4.5 billion, which Drilon said its current funds could still absorb. The OWWA still has P18.8 billion in trust funds. "The way I look at it you would still have sufficient funds in your coffers to be able to respond to this," he added. "I am sure the Congress will be willing to assist OWWA in making it financially viable if it is able to show that in these times of crisis, OWWA can respond properly. We are more than willing to help if you are able to execute your mandate well," said Drilon. The former labor secretary authored Senate Resolution No.417 which calls for an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the adequateness and sufficiency of the OWWA assistance to OFWs affected by the pandemic. The minority leader also urged the OWWA to "think out of the box" in coming up with ways to reach and assist the country's modern day heroes as he lamented reports of poor accommodation and slow processing of quarantine certificates. Drilon also vowed to review the laws that restrict OWWA's investment after it was found out that the OWWA only earned less than 3% from its more than P18 billion investment in 2019 "in order to help the agency to become financially viable." He said he is looking at whether the investment system for the Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System should be adopted for OWWA.
Army Chief Naravane also reviewed the situation at the frontline in Eastern Ladakh, interacted with troops, Ladakh MP Namgyal.

Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Wednesday awarded commendation cards to the soldiers, who fought with the Chinese troops in face-offs in the Eastern Ladakh sector, Army sources said.

Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in violent face-offs in Pangong Tso lake, Finger area and Galwan river valley Army, they added.

Earlier in the day, Army Chief visited the forward locations in the Eastern Ladakh area as he is on a two-day visit to Ladakh to review the on-ground situation and the progress in talks with the Chinese military following the Galwan valley clash, which claimed lives of 20 Indian Army personnel.

He also interacted with troops on the ground.

Also read: Rajnath Singh attends 75th Victory Parade in Russia

Also read: Manish Sisodia urges Amit Shah to revoke LGs order on Covid-19 quarantine centres

The Army Chief on Tuesday departed for Leh to review the on-ground situation and the progress in talks with the Chinese military. He had interacted with Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, during his two-day visit to Eastern Ladakh.

The Northern Army Commander and Leh Corps Commander were also present during the interaction.

General Naravane visited an Army hospital and interacted with gallant Indian Army soldiers who were injured in the clash in Galwan valley on June 15 and are undergoing treatment.

The Army chief had on Monday discussed the security situation with the top Army commanders in Delhi, officials said.

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: Amid LAC tensions, India-China likely to hold Joint Secretary level talks

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San Antonio tax preparer Richard Medina Sr. pleaded guilty Tuesday to preparing a fraudulent tax return for a client and filing a false income statement in his own bankruptcy case.

Medina faces up to three years in prison and a year of supervised release on the tax preparation count, and up to five years in prison and three years of supervised release on the false income statement count when he is sentenced Sept. 16. Federal prosecutors, however, have agreed to recommend that the sentences run concurrently as part of his guilty plea.

Prosecutors originally charged Medina in April with two counts of assisting in the preparation of false tax returns and one count of filing a false or fraudulent joint tax return for himself and his wife for 2013.

The United States would not consider a guilty plea to the initial charging document a total resolution of this case, Assistant U.S. Attorney William Harris said. Through negotiation with the defense, we came to what we believe to be the appropriate counts for a resolution.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio tax preparer faces criminal charges

The updated charging document includes a count with the potential for up to five years of prison time for Medina, while the original three counts carried a maximum of three years of prison for each. The latest charges more fully reflect the defendants conduct, Harris said.

Jason Gamez, a special agent and spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service in San Antonio, last month said that had the case against Medina been fully investigated, there was the potential for $1 million in tax losses on returns that Medina prepared for clients.

Medina clearly has fully accepted responsibility for his conduct in helping people prepare their tax returns, albeit in an inaccurate and false manner, said San Antonio attorney Bobby Barrera, who represents Medina.

Medinas age, 68, and his underlying health issues make him susceptible to contracting COVID-19 in prison, Barrera said. He will ask the court to consider a punishment other than incarceration.

Both felony counts carry a penalty of up to $250,000.

Medina has been free on a $5,000 unsecured bond.

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The charging document says Medina prepared a false and fraudulent 2015 tax return for a client by reporting $60,451 in itemized deductions and a $6,245 residential energy credit even though he knew the taxpayer wasnt entitled to claim them.

On the second count, the document says Medinas 2013 Chapter 7 bankruptcy case omitted income he derived from the preparation of tax returns.

Grand juries have not convened at the federal courthouse for the last few months because of the coronavirus pandemic, forcing prosecutors to follow different procedures in the way they bring charges.

Medina waived his right to have the charges presented to a grand jury. He entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad via a video conference.

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
Bengaluru, June 24 : Alarmed at some ministers, legislators and officials testing Covid positive in the line of duty, the Karnataka government has created an exclusive Covid Care Centre (CCC) for them and the police personnel, an official said on Wednesday.

"Elected representatives and ministers, who are holding constitutional positions, and senior ranking officers at the government level are getting infected during the course of discharge of duties. This calls for identifying a dedicated CCC," said a health official.

One wing of the government-owned Kumara Krupa guesthouse with 100 rooms of individual occupancy has been designated as a CCC, which will cater to the politicians and officials.

Among the officials, only those above the rank of secretary will be accommodated in the guesthouse.

The guesthouse management has been instructed to limit the number of bookings to only a maximum of 33 per cent in its other wings.

"All unnecessary visitors to the Kumar Krupa guesthouse shall be summarily avoided," said the official.

Meanwhile, the government has identified two facilities to house police personnel infected in the line of duty.

One floor of Sri Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji Ashrama in Kanakapura road has been reserved as a CCC for police personnel, both asymptomatic and mild symptomatic cases.

Similarly, the ESI Hospital at Indiranagar has been notified as a dedicated Covid hospital to treat moderate and severely symptomatic policemen.

"All mandatory directions given by the state from time to time shall be implemented in the hospital while clinically treating the police personnel infected with Covid-19," the official added.
Police board member Bob Hall defended the polices acquisition of a light-armoured vehicle (LAV) at a meeting on Tuesday, calling it a necessary piece of safety equipment that will save lives  even as the board received letters from citizens asking for police to be defunded and for the vehicle to be returned.

It (the LAV) a piece of safety equipment that will be used prudently  that we will be careful with, Hall said. Its going to provide officer safety and civilian safety.

But some local residents arent convinced. Several wrote to the police board that they think acquisition of the vehicle pushes the police toward militarization.

This type of force is completely unnecessary, unacceptable and unwarranted in a small city like ours, one person wrote.

The service announced earlier this month that it has accepted a donation of a LAV from an anonymous source.

Police are getting a second-hand SandCat. The current base model weighs more than 8,800 kilograms and has enough armour to stop mortar fire. It costs roughly $250,000.

At the meeting on Tuesday the board discussed five letters objecting to the gift, with some writing that theyre appalled the police would want an LAV.

Although the names of the letter-writers were removed, the police board did make the letters available to The Examiner.

One person writes that an LAV is meant to negotiate minefields  not the streets of Peterborough.

Another writes that it is outlandish to accept an LAV, and another wrote that police must have a tin ear to acquire such a vehicle at a time of uprising against police brutality in North America.

One letter was in support of accepting the vehicle, however, noting that it might just save a cops life.

Hall said it might also save the publics lives; he said that when a gunman opened fire in a nightclub in homophobic attack in Orlando Florida in 2016, for example, police saved lives because they had an LAV.

Without this piece of equipment, they assume the casualties would have been doubled, Hall said.

Police Chief Scott Gilbert was also at the meeting and said the vehicle will be used in a defensive manner for officer and community safety  although he didnt offer any hypothetical situations when the vehicle might be necessary.

Its going to be called upon in critical situations to save lives, he said.

The police board also received 11 letters asking that city council defund city police, and one asking that the police budget be maintained for 2021.

In 2020, council gave about $26.3 million to city police out of a municipal budget that included $286.3 million for services and $57.4 million for construction and capital spending.

Many of the eleven letters asking for police to be defunded requested that council consider spending more money to alleviate social problems such as homelessness and addiction instead of spending on police.

The letters also mention racism. One person wrote that to increase the police budget in 2021 would be a slap in the face to Black Canadians whove endured racism at the hands of police and of society in general.

Remember that most instances of what has been labelled as crime results from people who arent able to meet their basic needs, one letter states.

Hall said neither he nor police would ever object to the city investing more to alleviate social ills.

City police and the police services board will consider these points of view, he added: Our history in Peterborough is that were a community police service  and that we listen and have respect.

Coun. Gary Baldwin, the board chair, added that the board would accommodate anyone who wants to make a delegation on the matter  perhaps via video conference, he said, since the board has been meeting virtually in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Snakes are a part of life in Australia. The country is home to an amazing 140 species of land snakes and an additional 32 recorded types of sea snakes. A large portion of these slithering reptiles are venomous, totaling 100 poisonous snakes in the country. Thankfully, only about twelve of these species actually have venom strong enough to kill you, but that being said, twelve poisonous snakes presents a lot of different types to recall in any given moment of emergency. Perhaps this is why a handful of Australians who have encountered venomous snakes in recent years have not handled them properly, with fatal consequences. According to the University of Melbourne, 35 people were recorded by the National Coronial Information Service (NCIS) to have died from snake bites in Australia between 2000 and 2016, and seven of these did so because they tried to pick up the poisonous snake they encountered. These victims were then bitten on the extremities, and died as a result from various complications. By learning the trends and patterns related to snake bites in this country, you may help yourself avoid becoming a victim.

Snakes That Are Killing

Eastern brown snake in a striking pose. Image credit: Kristian Bell/Shutterstock.com

The majority of people who have died from snake bites in Australia in the past twenty or so years have done so in the jaws of the venomous brown snake. If you are not a snake connoisseur, it can be relatively easy to see how people do not consider this snake to be such a dangerous foe, upon meeting one. The brown snake of Australia is just that- a plain brown, and sometimes grayish color. It can easily blend into its natural environment, and has no bright color on it to warn potential prey of its fatal nature. According to the University of Melbourne, the brown snake has caused 23 of the 35 snake bite deaths in the country between 2000 and 2016.

Park keeper displaying venomous tiger snake in Reptile Park, Gosford, NSW, Australia. Image credit: Nigel Jarvis/Shutterstock.com

In addition to the brown snake, tiger snakes have also killed Australians. In 2018, 20-year old Callum Edwards died from being bitten by a tiger snake while attending the Beyond the Valley music festival on December 29. Edwards was airlifted to a hospital but died on January 1, 2019. Shane Tattie, a 27-year old male also died from a tiger snake bite, this time in Victoria. Tatti pulled up some weeds along a riverbank, and was bitten directly on the wrist. A tiger snake deposited large amounts of venom in his victim, and Tatti later died in hospital even after receiving antivenom treatment.

Coastal taipan snakes also have a fatally venomous bite that has killed Australians in recent years. Wayne Cameron and David Pitt both died in Queensland from being bitten by this type of snake.

Where Bites Occur

Many Australians have been taught that venomous snake bites tend to occur in the Australian bush, but many bites are now also happening in urban areas. According to The Guardian.com, since 2000, more than half of Australian snake bite deaths have happened because someone was bitten at home. Brown snakes are attacking mostly in eastern Australia, where they are found naturally.

Seventeen of the 35 fatal snake bites that happened between 2000 and 2016 occurred in a major city or an inner regional area, and most incidents took place during Australias warmer months of October to May when snakes are at their height of activity.

Who Is Being Bitten?

Hand with the wound from snake bite (snakebite). Image credit: Marketlan/Shutterstock.com

Nearly three-quarters of fatal snake bite victims in Australia in recent years have been males, ranging in age from just 18 months to 70 years old. Nearly three quarters of the people fatally bitten did reach a hospital for treatment, and some went within 24 hours, while others waited for up to 19 days before seeking medical assistance. Of all the people who died in the country from a snake bite between 2000 and 2016, 16 died as a direct result of their bite, and others died from complications brought on by the bite including intra-cerebral haemorrhage, multiple organ failure, cerebral hypoxia or anoxia, and cardiac arrest. Over a third of victims were bitten by the offending snake on their ankle or foot, and were bitten while trying to shake the snake off.

What is Being Done About It?

Some steps are being taken to try to reduce the number of people who are killed by snake bites in Australia. Ronelle Welton, a public health expert at the University of Melbournes Australian venom research unit is contributing to the effort by working with the antivenom producer Seqirus to update an app that provides cellphone users with information on Australian bites and stings. This app is now seeking to provide users with location-specific information instead of providing Australian users with an entire list of venomous animals in the country, which can be long and difficult to use in an emergency. It is hoped that this research can help make the Land Down Under a safe place to live.
In the streets, in city halls, in homes, and offices and throughout the book business, theres a sense that now is a pivotal moment in the movement for racial justice and for an inclusive society. In the aftermath of George Floyds death  and others - at the hands of police, religion publishers have been stepping up, pledging action in diversifying their workplaces and their frontlists. Theyve highlighted existing books and promoted those coming out soon that address the nexus of faith and social change.

Kelly Hughes, president of DeChant Hughes and Associates Public Relations, observed that 13 of 15 books on the New York Times paperback bestseller list this week address race issues, including three titles from religion publishers: The Color of Compromise (2019 hardback, January paperback) by Jemar Tisby from Zondervan Reflective, White Fragility (2018) by Robin DiAngelo from Beacon Press, and Raising White Kids (2018) by Jennifer Harvey from Abingdon. Even as he celebrated Tisbys success, at this pivotal moment in American history, Stan Gundry, senior v-p and publisher of Zondervan Academic and Reflective, looked ahead. Tisbys next book, How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice, is set to be released on January 21, 2021.

PW asked a sampling of other agents and editors to get a sense of how they are balancing covering important breaking news with the reality that many months will pass before any newly signed books reach readers.

Urgency is in the air, says Jenni Burke, president of the Illuminate Agency in Portland, Ore. This moment is showing us in the publishing world that we have deep work to do. Theres been growing awareness that we need better representation. Our agency and others are actively working to include more diverse voices in our lists. I really want to see our agency and others and Christian publishers acquiring authors of color who can speak to the race discussions. I want to see us sharing the microphone better.

Agents and publishers still face the twin tensions of time and the audience's attention span. Steve Laube president of the Steve Laube Agency and president of the Christian Writers Institute, observed, Books about social issues have always been hard to sell to the public. Despite that, Christian publishers have been proactive for quite some time by pursuing and publishing these thoughtful books because the issues should not be ignored. For example, ECPA just recently posted a list of about 150 currently published titles related to racial issues. Although the length of a publishing timeline could be a future marketing issue, Laube said, The issues of racial injustice and diverse voices are ongoing. It is finding the best and most effective voices to communicate eternal truths that is at the forefront of all our minds.

Eerdmans executive editor David Bratt observes, You never know how long a moment is going to last but this one seems to have staying power. People have awakened to their need to be educated. People are searching for resources in the sectors in which we workprogressive evangelical, traditionalist mainline, the middle of the theological spectrum in Christianity. Theres an awakening to structural racism. There is a real sense from people that they want to do what is right and didnt realize until now their compliancy in this system."

As a result, Bratt said interest in adding more diverse authors is high. We are seeing bidding wars for books about race and the willingness to pay is going up," he said, a reference to the recent attention given to the disparity in advances paid to Black or white authors. "People are more attuned to opportunities and quicker to move. We have strong pre-orders for Yale Divinity professor Willie Jennings book After Whiteness coming this fall, looking at the effect of structural racism on theological education," Bratt said. This is Jennings first book with Eerdmans but he is well known among theologians. Eerdmans also has bumped from fall to July the release of the second edition of a book from six years ago, Jennifer Harveys Dear White Christians. Harvey is updating this with a chapter keyed to the aftermath of George Floyds death (in police custody) and added a forward by Traci Blackmon, an African-American minister, Bratt said.

Robert Ratcliff, editor-in-chief at Westminster John Knox Press, said that after the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery (killed while jogging), and Breonna Taylor (killed by police delivering a warrant to the wrong address), the company's editorial staff met to consider ways that it could respond quickly to the heightened awareness of racial injustice raised by these tragic events.

Were considering a book on the death of Breonna Taylor, partly because it happened in Louisville, our home base. We are looking to journalists who have covered the story for a book that would move outward from Taylors death to the broader history of policing and racial injustice in our city and beyond," Ratcliff told RBL. "This gets to the question of publishing something timely. Its a big gamble. It has to be an issue with long legs and that generally has a precipitating event that has launched a larger conversation. What is crucial here is not only telling her story but telling it in the context of racial injustice, as a way to tell a larger story.

Attention to these issues is not a sudden move for WJK, which has three books on the topic out or due to be released in 2020: Good White Racist? (out now) by Kerry Donnelly; Anchored in the Current: Discovering Howard Thurman as Educator, Activist, Guide, and Prophet, (fall 2020) edited by Gregory C. Ellison II and including contributions from Marian Wright Edelman, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Parker Palmer and the childrens book, For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World (Flyaway, fall 2020) by Michael Waters.

Looking ahead, WJK is pushing up the release of revised and expanded editions of titles that deal with racial justice and the divisions in U.S. society. Ratcliff offered two examples: The 2016 book by David Maxwell, Race in a Post-Obama America will be revised and updated and reissued this fall under a new title. Laura Cheifetz, an assistant dean at Vanderbilt Divinity is leading the revisions, with contributions by four writers who are activists and or clergy. They will add approximately 50 per cent new material on immigration, police brutality, the role of social media in both deepening racial divides and facilitating protest and activism, and on the ongoing vitality of the Black Lives Matter movement, said Ratcliff. Walter Brueggemanns Journey to the Common Good, originally published in 2010, will also be revised and reissued this fall with new material on the racial disparities in the impact of the lethal coronavirus and address the racial justice protest movement.
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 favor of removing statues and other symbols of that flawed history, saying mistakes will be repeated if not learned from and understood.

Trump's campaign also sees the divide over this latest cultural flash point as a way to boost the president's standing, which has suffered during his handling of the coronavirus outbreak and the protests over racial injustice that followed George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.

After weeks spent demanding law and order in response to the protests sparked by Floyd's 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.

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 America's racist history.

He spoke out after an attempt Monday night to bring down a Lafayette Park statue of Andrew Jackson, one of Trump's favorite 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."

Trump's 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 defense 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, Trump's 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 Trump's 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 Iraq's former authoritarian leader. Iraqis celebrated the end of Hussein's 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 chamber's 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. That's 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.
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper blasted President Donald Trump on Tuesday night for his hypocritical approach on the coronavirus pandemic, noting that while the president publicly downplays the threat he is personally protected in a biological bunker.

Cooper kicked off his Tuesday night broadcast by noting daily coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are suddenly surging nationwide, all while the president decided to visit Arizona, one of the hardest-hit states, for another indoor campaign event.

He first visits the border wall and then goes to get a dose of self-gratification, his own favorite medicine other than hydroxychloroquine, at a megachurch where the pastors promise a miracle device will keep folks safe, Cooper snarked. And in this house of God, he uses a racist slur to describe the virus.

After playing a clip of Trump once again saying Kung Flu, the CNN star brought up Tuesdays congressional hearing featuring health experts from the White House coronavirus task force, pointing out they continue to call for mask-wearing, social distancing, and rampant testing.

The president is doing everything he can to subvert those people you just saw, the nations top scientists, Cooper said. He shut it down so people wont hear as much about the virus. Because the president believes if you dont hear about it as much, youll forget about it and about the federal governments incompetent response.

Claiming Trump is actively working to get the public to reject the task forces recommendations, Cooper said the president himself isnt even practicing what he's preaching.

Of course, behind the scenes, the president has gotten more tests for the virus than probably anyone else in this country, if not in the world, he proclaimed. And everyone in the White House who makes contact with the president is tested and has their temperature checked. Publicly, hes pretending the virus has passed. Privately, hes living in a biological bunker.

Story continues

Cooper was apparently referencing reports of the president heading to his bunker weeks ago as protests flared up near the White House.

Hes as sanitized and protected from the virus as anyone can be and in the midst of that epicenter of sanitation, he is encouraging everyone else, dont follow the guidelines, Cooper added. Publicly, hes flouting all of those guidelines, except the one about hand washing. Hes washing his hands of all of it.

The veteran anchor went on to discuss Team Trumps claim that the president was just kidding and being tongue in cheek when he said he asked his administration to slow down testing, noting that Trump threw his team under the bus by saying he doesnt kid. At the same time, the task force said they have remained committed to increased testing.

So who really cares? Cooper sighed. Who jokes about slowing testing for a deadly virus? The president is not some standup trying to do bits at the Laugh Shack on a Tuesday night at 1:00 a.m., testing new material.

There is nothing funny about it when the guy joking about slowing down testing is the guy who has the power to slow down testing, he continued. And the same guy that does not like a lot of testing because then you know how far the virus actually spread and he believes it makes him look bad!

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A 52-year-old woman in south Bengals Howrah was killed Tuesday night after she was pushed off the stairs when she tried to stop two men from molesting her college-going daughter, police said.

Police have arrested the prime accused Kush Bera. He is the husband of a local Trinamool Congress panchayat leader and was known to the girl and her family. The girl used to call him uncle.

Following the incident, two Bharatiya Janata Party MPs, Locket Chatterjee and Soumitra Khan rushed to the spot. Villagers also blocked the road.

According to the complaint lodged by the girls father, she had gone to the terrace of their one-storey house around midnight on Tuesday to play games on her mobile phone.

When she heard her mother climbing up the stairs she tried to hurriedly go down.

According to the girl, the duo was hiding there. They might have climbed a tree to access the terrace. One of then caught her leg and another tried to gag her from behind. She, however, managed to raise an alarm. When her mother rushed to the terrace hearing her scream one of the two pushed her and she fell down the stairs, said a police officer.

The woman was rushed to the hospital where doctors declared her dead. The accuseds wife Rama Bera, said her husband has been falsely implicated.

The TMC has nothing to do with this. The law will take its own course. Police have already taken action, Arup Roy, minister and a MLA from Howrah district.
The light hasnt gone out on Light of Day Canada just yet.

After taking a two-year hiatus, the Niagara Falls-based musical fundraiser for Parkinsons disease research makes its return Thursday in an online format.

The Songwriters Circle series kicks off at 8 p.m. on the Light of Day Canada Facebook page with the trio of Evan Rotella, Jarod Clemons (son of late E Street Band sax player Clarence Clemons) and headliner Bobby Mahoney.

It marks the first Light of Day Canada show for organizer Dave Rotella since Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes at Seneca Queen Theatre in March 2018.

Rotella, owner of Niagara Falls-based business Danima Creative Group, said the death of his father and other hardships prevented him from undertaking another concert last year. But a recent trip to New Jersey, where the Light of Day fundraiser originated with help from Bruce Springsteen, got him back on track.

All it takes is a trip to New Jersey and you get the motivation back, he said.

The comeback show was originally supposed to be in September with Niagara Falls country star Tim Hicks at St. Catharines Meridian Centre, until COVID-19 ruined everyones plans.

But seeing so many livestream shows in recent weeks prompted Rotella to bring Light of Day Canada back in a modified form. The format will see all three artists performing from their homes, while interacting with each other and viewers.

The format is a throwback to the first Light of Day Canada show (then called Light of Day Niagara) in 2007, with artists including Ron Sexsmith and Willie Nile sharing songs and stories. The concert grew bigger over the years, nabbing artists such as Blue Rodeo, John Cafferty and Steve Earle.

To date, the shows have raised more than $500,000 for various Parkinsons causes and resources.

We wanted to keep the Light of Day Canada name out there, Rotella said. Its a tough time to donate and give money because not everybodys working. Were not expecting to raise a tonne of money but we want to keep the awareness out there.

The series will continue with online events July 9, July 23 and Aug. 6.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 16:21:04|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Voter turnout in Mongolia's regular parliamentary elections reached 25.13 percent on Wednesday, according to government tally.

The number was calculated at 12:00 p.m. local time (2000 GMT), which is 1.73 percentage points higher than the 23.4 percent of the 2016 general elections, Barsuren Baasandorj, head of the country's General Authority for State Registration, said at a press conference at the headquarter of the General Election Commission (GEC).

The vote began from 7 a.m. local time (1500 GMT), and will last for 15 hours at 2,070 polling stations across the country, according to the GEC.

A total of 13 political parties, four coalitions and 137 independent candidates are running for the regular parliamentary elections, and more than 2.1 million Mongolians are eligible to vote, said the GEC.

The State Great Khural, Mongolia's unicameral parliament, consists of 76 lawmakers serving a four-year term. Enditem
US officials on Wednesday imposed tough measures including quarantines and stay-at-home advice as daily coronavirus cases approached record levels after surging across the nation's South and West. Nearly four months after reporting its first death from COVID-19, the United States faces a deepening health crisis as a wave of infections hits young Americans and experts issue new acute warnings. More than 35,900 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, with heavily populated states including Florida, Texas and California all reporting daily record cases. The world's largest economy is already the country hardest hit by the pandemic, with a mounting death toll of almost 122,000. Some officials -- including the Texas governor -- who loosened restrictions on business, dining, public gatherings and tourism, are now urging residents to again stay home. Three northeastern states that made progress beating back the pandemic -- New York, New Jersey and Connecticut -- urged visitors arriving from US hotspots to quarantine themselves. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the advisory applied to visitors from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Utah and Texas. Washington state was originally included, but Governor Jay Inslee said this was by error and it would be removed. Several states in the South and West including Florida and Texas are suffering what White House advisor and top scientist Anthony Fauci described as "disturbing" new surges in infections. Fauci warned the next two weeks would be "critical" to addressing the surges. Texas, among the most aggressive states in reopening in early June, saw new cases hit a daily high of 5,489 on Tuesday. A concerned Governor Greg Abbott warned Texans of the virus's "rampant" spread and said the "safest" place to be was in their homes, adding that those who needed to go out should wear masks. "If we are unable to slow the spread over the next few weeks, then we will have to reevaluate the extent to which businesses are open," he told a local NBC affiliate. "Because if it's not contained in the next couple of weeks, it will be completely out of control, and Texas will have to ratchet back." Pointing to recent mass gatherings for Memorial Day and graduations, Abbott added: "Now it's clear that Texas is not immune to COVID-19." Abbott is an ally of Donald Trump, but his warnings are at stark odds with the president, who proclaimed Tuesday that "we did a great job on CoronaVirus." - 'Real explosion' - Florida marked 5,508 new infections on Tuesday, bringing its total to more than 109,000 confirmed cases and 3,281 deaths. Governor Ron DeSantis said the state was experiencing "a real explosion in new cases among our younger demographics," and a spike in hospitalizations. The average age of new cases in Florida Wednesday was just 33 years, his spokeswoman said. DeSantis warned that bars and restaurants could lose their alcohol licenses if they do not follow social distancing guidelines. He declined to order the state-wide mandatory masking policies active in California, Washington state and North Carolina, where Governor Roy Cooper "hit the pause button" on easing further restrictions. Miami has implemented its own mandatory mask rules, however. - 'Amnesia' - California, the nation's most populous state, also saw a daily record of 7,149 new cases Tuesday, to pass 190,000 total. Disneyland, near Los Angeles, delayed its planned July 17 reopening without announcing a new reopening date for the world's second-most visited theme park. Governor Gavin Newsom warned that a widespread return to "old habits" is "increasing the spread of this virus," but also pointed to record testing levels. He declined to reimpose restrictions. "Many of us, understandably, developed a little cabin fever. Some, I would argue, have developed a little amnesia," added Newsom. Governor Steve Sisolak of the neighboring state of Nevada tweeted Wednesday that residents would have to wear masks or face coverings out in public beginning Friday. "I?m offering us all another opportunity to limit our risk for exposure and infection, and to keep our businesses open and our economy moving," he said. And nearby Arizona is seeing dangerous spikes. Its confirmed COVID-19 cases have more than quadrupled since the stay-at-home order expired on May 15, and the average age of people getting infected is getting younger and younger. Arizona's reported seven-day rolling average of 39 new cases per 100,000 residents is a nationwide high. But the dire figures did not stop Trump from hosting a rally Tuesday in Arizona's largest city Phoenix, where most attendees did not wear masks or practice social distancing. Epidemiologist Rebecca Fisher said states like Texas should have maintained their mitigating efforts longer. "It doesn't look like we are coming close to the top of the peak," Fisher told AFP. "And we're definitely not coming down the other side of this yet." A medical personnel member takes samples on a man at a "walk-in" and "drive-through" coronavirus testing site in Miami Beach, Florida on June 24, 2020 Several US states including tourism hub Florida are experiencing surges in coronavirus infections, raising concerns about the pace of ending lockdowns National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci (right) warned Congress that "disturbing" spikes in new coronavirus infections were hitting several US states New cases and deaths per day from coronavirus in the United States, with rolling 7-day average, as of June 23.
OAK BROOK, Ill., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS) will host an audio webcast of its second quarter earnings results conference call on Thursday, August 6, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Steve Oakland, Chief Executive Officer and President, and Bill Kelley, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will discuss the results for the second quarter and the outlook for the balance of 2020. An earnings release will be issued before the market opens on the same date, and the accompanying slides will be posted to the "Investors" section of the website at approximately 8:15 a.m. ET. The webcast will be accessible by visiting http://www.treehousefoods.com and by clicking on "Investors", "Events & Presentations".

In order to listen to the webcast, users will need to have installed either Real Player or Windows Media Player software, which can be detected and downloaded by visiting the site. A webcast replay will be available for 180 days following the event within the "Investors", "Events & Presentations", "Archived Events & Presentations" section of the Company's website.

ABOUT TREEHOUSE FOODS

TreeHouse Foods, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of private label packaged foods and beverages in North America. We have 36 production facilities across North America and two in Italy, and our vision is to be the undisputed solutions leader for custom brands for our customers. Our extensive product portfolio includes snacking, beverages and meal preparation products, available in shelf stable, refrigerated, frozen and fresh formats. We have a comprehensive offering of packaging formats and flavor profiles, and we also offer clean label, organic and preservative-free ingredients across almost our entire portfolio. Our purpose is to make high quality food and beverages affordable to all.

Additional information, including TreeHouse's most recent statements on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, may be found at TreeHouse's website, http://www.treehousefoods.com.

SOURCE TreeHouse Foods, Inc.

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Dominic Cummings has vowed to take an axe to the civil service after coronavirus exposed flaws in the government machine, it was claimed today.

The PM's most senior aide is said to have told colleagues the Cabinet Office will be stripped of powers after being found wanting during the crisis, swiping: 'A hard rain is coming.'

Mr Cummings has been a longstanding critic of the way the civil service works, calling for more modern organisation and data-driven policies.

And his latest salvo comes with tensions running high between ministers, aides and mandarins over who is to blame for bungles, and rumours of old Brexit feuds being brutally played out behind the scenes.

There were even claims of a bruising exchange between the PM and Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill at a meeting on the lockdown 'exit strategy' recently.

In blogs before he was drafted in by Mr Johnson, he urged the introduction of 'red teams' explicitly tasked with finding reasons why the government should not be following policies.

He has been an advocate of 'Super-Forecasters', individuals who have no specific expertise but are able to predict events because of their mental process.

Mr Cummings has been particularly scathing about the way the Ministry of Defence runs its procurement.

But he has also been accused of overstepping the mark, including by having one adviser to former chancellor Sajid Javid frog-marched out of Downing Street last year.

The latest power grab is a remarkably bold stroke from a man who a month ago appeared to be on the verge of quitting Downing Street.

But Mr Cummings seems to have ridden out the furore over a 260-mile trip from London to Durham he took with his son and sick wife at the height of the lockdown, refusing to quit or acknowledge any wrongdoing.

Dominic Cummings (pictured in Downing Street today) is said to have told colleagues the Cabinet Office must be stripped of powers, swiping: 'A hard rain is coming.'

Dominic Cummings' long-running war with the civil service Dominic Cummings has written prolific blogs on government over years that give a glimpse into his thinking. In June last year, shortly before joining Mr Johnson at No10, he penned a 10,000-word post calling for an end to the 'Kafka-esque' influence of civil servants on politicians. He proposed creating independent 'Red Teams' to challenge official advice to ministers - who would be rewarded for overturning the orthodoxy. Mr Cummings has previously slammed support for ministers as 'extremely bureaucratic and slow' and said the civil service had presided over 'expensive debacle after expensive debacle'. He dismissed Westminster as 'the blind leading the blind', saying that for top mandarins 'management, like science, is regarded contemptuously as something for the lower orders to think about, not the ''strategists'' at the top'. Mr Cummings has been upsetting the Westminster establishment for years. He memorably nicknamed the educational establishment 'the blob' when he was adviser to Mr Gove at the Department for Education. In 2014, David Cameron reportedly branded him a 'career psychopath', and Mr Cummings resigned from government and accused him of 'bumbling from one shambles to another without the slightest sense of purpose'. Mr Cummings described Lib Dem former deputy PM Nick Clegg as 'a revolting character', which triggered Mr Clegg to dismiss him as a 'loopy ideologue'. Advertisement

There have been complaints from some Tory MPs that No10 is too inward looking and has been blundering over coronavirus because there is an 'iron curtain' around the PM.

But according to the grass roots ConservativeHome website, in a Zoom call with other special advisers recently Mr Cummings flatly dismissed the idea that he wanted to take all power into No10 as a 'media invention'.

He reportedly told Spads that 'anybody who has read what I've said about management over the years will know it's ludicrous to suggest the solution to Whitehall's problems is a bigger centre and more centralisation'.

'it's already far too big, incoherent and adds to the problems with departments.' he added.

Mr Cummings apparently called for a 'smaller and more elite' central operation, and made clear that big changes were coming for No10 and the Cabinet Office.

He insisted the coronavirus response had underlined problems in the structures and many officials now accepted the need for radical change, before concluding with the message: 'A hard rain is coming.'

Tensions have been running high between civil servants, ministers and aides during the crisis that has engulfed the country.

During a discussion about the government's coronavirus exit plan Mr Johnson is said to have asked: 'Who is in charge of implementing this delivery plan?'

One of the sources said that silence followed before the PM looked at Sir Mark and said: 'Is it you?'

Sir Mark then reportedly replied: 'No, I think it's you, prime minister.'

Some in Westminster thought Sir Mark was being sidelined when the Duke of Cambridges private secretary, Simon Case, was drafted in to the previously-dormant role as No10s own Permanent Secretary.

There was also speculation old scores were being settled when Sir Simon McDonald announced he was stepping down as the top mandarin at the Foreign Office last week.

And Home Secretary Priti Patel is facing an employment tribunal action from Sir Philip Rutnam after he quit as permanent secretary following a long-running spat.

It was in late May when Mr Cummings emerged from the shadows to front an extraordinary press conference of his own in the Downing Street rose garden (below).

He insisted he acted 'lawfully' in March when he travelled to Durham with wife Mary Wakefield, who was displaying coronavirus symptoms, and their four-year-old son to seek childcare help from family.

The trio later made a day trip to Barnard Castle, which Mr Cummings - who by then had also been through coronavirus - claims was to test out his eye-sight to see if he was fit to drive. The trip was taken on his wife's birthday.

Durham Police later said that Mr Cummings' trip to Barnard Castle 'might have' been in 'minor breach' of the regulations.

The force added that if an officer had stopped Mr Cummings on his journey they would have provided 'advice on the dangers of travelling during the pandemic crisis'.

Amid widespread fury that included demonstrations outside his affluent north London home and uproar within Tory ranks, Boris Johnson and senior ministers lined up behind him to insist he had done no wrong.

Mr Cummings has written prolific blogs on government over years that give a glimpse into his thinking.

In June last year, shortly before joining Mr Johnson at No10, he penned a 10,000-word post calling for an end to the 'Kafka-esque' influence of civil servants on politicians.

He proposed creating independent 'Red Teams' to challenge official advice to ministers - who would be rewarded for overturning the orthodoxy.

Mr Cummings has previously slammed support for ministers as 'extremely bureaucratic and slow' and said the civil service had presided over 'expensive debacle after expensive debacle'.

He dismissed Westminster as 'the blind leading the blind', saying that for top mandarins 'management, like science, is regarded contemptuously as something for the lower orders to think about, not the ''strategists'' at the top'.

Mr Cummings has been upsetting the Westminster establishment for years.

He memorably nicknamed the educational establishment 'the blob' when he was adviser to Mr Gove at the Department for Education.

In blogs before he was drafted in by Boris Johnson (pictured today), Mr Cummings urged the introduction of 'red teams' explicitly tasked with finding reasons why the government should not be following policies

In 2014, David Cameron reportedly branded him a 'career psychopath', and Mr Cummings resigned from government and accused him of 'bumbling from one shambles to another without the slightest sense of purpose'.

Mr Cummings described Lib Dem former deputy PM Nick Clegg as 'a revolting character', which triggered Mr Clegg to dismiss him as a 'loopy ideologue'.

He described David Davis, then the Brexit secretary, as 'thick as mince, lazy as a toad and vain as Narcissus' in July 2017.

He has also turned his ire on hardline Brexiteers in the Tory European Research Group in one of his trademark lengthy blogposts.

In March 2018 he likened some members of the group to a 'metastasising tumour' accusing them of 'scrambling' for top radio spots while 'spouting gibberish' since 2016.

Brexit mastermind who splits Tory opinion Before rising to become the Prime Minister's top aide, Dominic Cummings worked as director of strategy for the Conservative Party in the early 2000s. He was appointed special adviser to Conservative politician Michael Gove in the Department of Education from 2007, before being dismissed by David Cameron, who once referred to Cummings as a 'career psychopath', in 2014. He quickly became known for his blunt style and his criticism of other senior politicians, once referring to Nick Clegg's proposal on free school meals as 'Dreamed up on the back of a cigarette packet'. In 2012, during his time as special adviser to Gove, a senior female civil servant received a payout of 25,000 in a bullying case she took against Cummings and a senior member of Gove's team. From 2015, Cummings was the power behind the Vote Leave campaign that propelled Britain towards backing Brexit in 2016. While Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were in the limelight the 47-year-old remained in the shadows pulling the strings. He over saw a campaign that totally outflanked Remain and which is widely credited with leading to the 52-48 result in favour of quitting. Such was his central role he was played by Benedict Cumberbatch in Channel 4's Brexit: The Uncivil War last year. Advertisement

Ministers reportedly previously warned Mr Johnson in February that he must 'rein in' top aide Cummings because 'half the Cabinet' feel unable to work with him.

In the run-up to the reshuffle that month, Mr Cummings suggested that the characters from the children's television show PJ Masks would do a better job than the current Cabinet.

Ex-Chancellor Sajid Javid quit the same month after he refused a demand from Mr Cummings to sack all of his staff.

Mr Javid was given an ultimatum that he must accept his political advisers being ousted to stay in No11 - but he chose to walk away.

Angry Tory MPs urged Mr Johnson last week to tear down the 'iron curtain' around Downing Street and listen to them instead of Mr Cummings.

Many had come out publicly to demand the resignation of the top aide after it emerged he travelled 260 miles of Durham during lockdown while self-isolating for coronavirus, in order to secure childcare for his young son. Mr Cummings insisted he did nothing wrong and Mr Johnson stood by him.

But backbenchers have voiced frustration at the lack of consultation with the wider party, as Mr Johnson relies on a small circle of trusted advisers including Mr Cummings.

'Boris needs to get the message his liaison with parliamentary colleagues needs to get better and better quickly,' one MP told the Telegraph. 'There seems to be an iron curtain around Downing Street.'

The PM was urged to improve communications with Tory MPs in order to avoid U-turns, such as those over free school meals and the migrant surcharge on foreign NHS staff.

They told him to listen to feedback from experienced MPs rather than relying on a small circle of advisers such as Dominic Cummings.

And they said they felt angry that in some cases they had been out defending the original position, only for it to be changed within hours.

'There was a very clear message that people want no more U-turns,' an MP said.

'It feels like we're lurching from one mini-crisis to the next.

'The big issue is the lack of communication between No 10 and the backbenches.

'We are seeing these problems like free school meals starting to build up momentum in our inboxes and No 10 appears to be blissfully unaware of them until it's too late.

'In the meantime, we're being asked to go out and defend things we can see they are going to cave in on.'

Durham Dom survived calls to quit after lockdown roadtrip Dominic Cummings' political survival to a point where he can consider taking on the Civil Service is a sign of how poorly prepared Boris Johnson is to be Prime Minister without him. It was in late May when he emerged from the shadows to front an extraordinary press conference of his own in the Downing Street rose garden (below). He insisted he acted 'lawfully' in March when he travelled to Durham with wife Mary Wakefield, who was displaying coronavirus symptoms, and their four-year-old son to seek childcare help from family. The trio later made a day trip to Barnard Castle, which Mr Cummings - who by then had also been through coronavirus - claims was to test out his eye-sight to see if he was fit to drive. The trip was taken on his wife's birthday. Durham Police later said that Mr Cummings' trip to Barnard Castle 'might have' been in 'minor breach' of the regulations. The force added that if an officer had stopped Mr Cummings on his journey they would have provided 'advice on the dangers of travelling during the pandemic crisis'. Had this advice been accepted by Mr Cummings, 'no enforcement action would have been taken'. But Durham Police said they did not consider Mr Cummings self-isolating at his family's farm a breach of the guidelines, and no further action would be taken. Amid widespread fury that included demonstrations outside his affluent north London home and uproar within Tory ranks, Boris Johnson and senior ministers lined up behind him to insist he had done no wrong. Advertisement

Boris Johnson faces fury at PMQs as he claims NO country has a working coronavirus tracing app - but Keir Starmer tells him 12MILLION people have already downloaded Germany's version

Boris Johnson faced a furious backlash today as he claimed no country has a working coronavirus tracing app - only to be told that 12million people have already downloaded Germany's version.

The PM dismissed criticism over the failed NHS software, which was initially billed a crucial for controlling the disease before being humiliatingly abandoned last week.

Ministers were forced to admit that it failed to work on almost all iPhones, and are now focusing on a 'hybrid' based on a model built by Apple and Google.

Mr Johnson insisted at PMQs this afternoon that no other country had a 'functional' app, after Sir Keir Starmer warned that one was critical for the test and trace system - especially with lockdown easing.

But Sir Keir shot back: 'Germany - 12million downloads... I checked that overnight.'

Boris Johnson (left) insisted at PMQs this afternoon that no other country had a 'functional' app, after Sir Keir Starmer (right) warned that one was critical for the test and trace system

During brutal clashes in the Commons, Mr Johnson said the NHS Test and Trace team had so far contacted 87,000 people.

The Labour leader said: 'Yesterday the Government announced the next stage of easing lockdown restrictions. If that plan is to work, and we want it to work, we need an effective track, trace and isolate system...

'The latest track, trace and isolate figures show that just over 10,000 people with Covid-19 were reached and asked to provide contact details.

'I do recognise the hard work that has gone into this, but if two-thirds of those with Covid-19 are not being reached and asked to provide contact details, there's a big problem, isn't there?'

But Mr Johnson shot back that Sir Keir's 'prognostication of gloom' on test and trace had been proved wrong.

He said the UK had a very effective 'cluster-busting' operation to crack down on any local outbreaks.

'Contrary to his prognostications of gloom, it has got up and running, I think, much faster than the doubters expected,' he said,

'What NHS Test and Trace is doing is contacting the vast majority of those who test positive and their own contacts and getting them to self-isolate, and it is a formidable achievement.'

Sir Keir Starmer pressed Mr Johnson on whether the contact tracing app was critical or not in combating the virus.

The app developed by the NHS didn't work for people using Apple iPhones and effectively went into sleep mode, failing to pick up nearby devices using Bluetooth (stock image)

He said: 'Up until last week, the Government maintained that the app was critical, another of their slides (at the daily briefing).

'But at the weekend (Matt Hancock) downplayed the app, saying it was only ever additional support. So which is it - critical or not?'

Mr Johnson responded: 'I wonder whether (Sir Keir) can name a single country in the world that has a functional contact tracing app? Because there isn't one.'

Sir Keir Starmer, when asked to name a country which has a functional contact tracing app, replied: 'Germany - 12 million downloads. I checked that overnight.'

The Labour leader said other countries are ahead of the UK, asking: 'When are we going to have a working app?'

Mr Johnson pushed on, saying Sir Keir was 'completely wrong'.

'No country in the world has a working contact tracing app and I've always been clear, we've always been clear, that the app would be the icing on the cake,' he said.

'If we can get it to work it'll be a fine thing but there isn't one anywhere in the world so far.'
Hindustan Liquids Pvt. Ltd, the sole exclusive importer of Perrier in India, has appointed Kaizzen, a leading independent Public Relations & Digital Agency, with the Public Relations and Digital mandate for iconic French natural carbonated water brand  Perrier. The mandate encompasses devising a creative and engaging communications strategy to strengthen brand awareness in India, by building and reinforcing the brands presence in digital and media communication verticals.

On Kaizzens appointment, Ms. Chandni Kohli Dhall who recently joined Hindustan Liquids Pvt. Ltd. as the Chief Marketing Officer, will be responsible for all communications, branding & marketing for Perrier in India, said Perrier is an iconic product in the ever-evolving food and beverage sector and our partnership with Kaizzen will help us to amplify our efforts to create awareness about the company and our offerings in India. As we are targeting the F&B sector in India for the next few years, we were looking at a partner who would understand the technicalities of this sector and accordingly customize a communications strategy for us. We look forward to a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship.

Commenting on Kaizzen being awarded this mandate, Mr. Vineet Handa, CEO - Kaizzen said, We are very pleased to get this opportunity to manage the media and digital communications mandate for an iconic global brand like Perrier. As Perriers communication agency in India, we look forward to applying our strategic expertise to execute innovative, disruptive and high-impact PR campaigns that will positively impact the Perrier business in India. Over the past twelve years, Kaizzen has established itself as a leading multi-practice and full-service PR and Digital Media Agency. B2C is one of our strong practice areas, and the current mandate will help consolidate this practice even further. The account will be lead out of Kaizzens Mumbai office.

With the current mandate win from Perrier India, Kaizzen's diverse portfolio of clients has expanded and includes brands like adidas, Hilton, Sommet, The All India Gaming Federation, Enterprise Ireland, Wadhwani Foundation, FICCI, amongst others. Kaizzen offers cross-sector expertise including Consumer Goods, Hospitality, Technology & Telecom, Infrastructure & Real Estate, IT, Auto, Education, Pharma & Healthcare, Startups, Sports, Government & Embassy led campaigns, amongst others.

Kaizzen has recently been ranked as the 7th Fastest-Growing PR Agency globally in the Provoke Global PR Agency Rankings and also awarded Specialist Consultancy of the Year at IPRCCA 2019
Eleven Yellowstone National Park bison were transferred to the Fort Peck Reservation on Wednesday, the fourth such shipment of the quarantined wildlife meant to boost herds across the nation.

The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes partnered with Defenders of Wildlife to truck the bison. The work was also done with the cooperation of the state of Montana. The bison came from corrals at Corwin Springs, just outside the park's North Entrance, that were used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, which had been conducting bison quarantine studies.

One of the bison trucks was driven by Arnt Thomas "Rusty" Stafne, former Fort Peck tribal chairman and one of the early leaders of the restoration program, according to Chamois Andersen of Defenders of Wildlife.

"In 2012, Rusty made the original motion to move bison from Yellowstone to Fort Peck. This program was only made possible by him," Andersen wrote in an email.

Since April 2019, Fort Peck has received 104 bison that were moved to quarantine facilities by Yellowstone bison managers. The tribes built a large corral specifically for quarantining Yellowstone bison, which are known to carry brucellosis, a disease that can cause pregnant cattle to abort and infect humans with undulant fever.

Fort Pecks cultural herd is at capacity  about 350 to 375 animals spread across 15,000 acres  so all new animals moved to the Fort Peck facility will be going to other cultural herds.

Forty of the 55 Yellowstone bison bulls transferred to Fort Peck last August will be ready to go to other tribes this fall, having completed their quarantine protocol to meet state standards for being disease free, Andersen said.

Last spring 33 cow/calf pairs were moved to Fort Peck. Those animals are halfway through their final tests at Fort Peck and will be ready to transfer to other tribes by early next year, he said.

The Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council will facilitate the transfers from Fort Peck to other tribal herds. Tribes must be members of ITBC, submit a written request for the Yellowstone bison, and agree to have the animals managed for their genetics. Tribal herds of Yellowstone bison will also contribute to the Department of Interior goal of developing a metapopulation of wild bison from Canada to Mexico.

Yellowstone bison are prized for their genetics because they have never interbred with cattle. They are also descendants of one of the last remaining wild herds in the United States. In the 1800s, Euro-American market hunters slaughtered the animals for their hides pushing them to the brink of extinction.

Yellowstone is now holding 104 bison in quarantine, animals that were captured in March. The quarantine is one way the park is hoping to reduce its participation in sending bison to slaughter each spring. The capture and slaughter program has been a controversial way to lower the bison population as part of an agreement with the state of Montana. Bison hunting by tribal and nontribal hunters is another part of the bison reduction plan.

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Social stigma associated with COVID-19 has led to people denying that they, or their family members, have it -- and this will make the task of containing the pandemic much harder, notes Geetanjali Krishna.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

As we enter the third month of the Covid-19 pandemic, I find that the disease is inching frighteningly close.

For the time has come when people one knows, or at least knows if, are contracting the infection.

Conversations with the families of people who have tested positive have made me realise that the virus may infect one person but its impact is borne by every single member of his/her household.

This was brought home to me when Seema called me.

She used to be a cook until she found a more lucrative job as a medical attendant. "I lost my job as soon as the lockdown began," she said.

"So I thought I'd ask you if you knew of anyone who needs a medical attendant right now." Her entire family had fallen on hard times, she said to me.

"My son-in-law is out of work as well at the moment," she said, "so if you know of someone who needs a male nursing attendant, he's your man."

The household had been surviving on the free rations provided by the government. "Sometimes I think I would be better off if I returned to my village in West Bengal," she said.

"But train tickets are hard to get and from all that I have heard, the journey itself is even harder."

Even if she braved the journey home, Seema said that the idea of two weeks of quarantine outside the village boundaries was a deterrent.

I was sorry to hear her tale of woe, especially because a couple of weeks ago, I'd learnt from the local grapevine that her daughter, a nurse in a private hospital who lives in Khizrabad, had contracted COVID-19.

Being adjacent to our neighbourhood, the rising cases of coronavirus there have been a source of alarm.

As most of my neighbours are hesitant to even call their regular part-time staff back to work, the chances of their hiring someone new, that too to attend to an immunity-compromised family member, were dim.

When I told her as much, she asked if there were any openings I knew of cooks or housekeepers. "I will do any sort of work," she said. "I really need the money."

I could hear the desperation in her voice and offered to tide her over her present circumstances. "And how is your daughter?" I asked. "Has she completely recovered from COVID-19?"

My query was met with a long silence, followed by a rant. "Who told you my daughter had COVID-19?" Seema demanded to know.

"She's absolutely hale and hearty." She insisted that her daughter had simply had viral fever with a bit of cough.

"I didn't think someone like you would believe such vicious rumours," she said before hanging up hastily.

It seemed an unlikely coincidence that the news that her daughter had fallen prey to COVID-19 had spread during the same time as her son-in-law and she lost their jobs.

It was also no coincidence that they hadn't been able to find new jobs either.

But there is so much social stigma associated with COVID-19 now that more and more people are denying they, or their family members, have had it in the first place -- and this will make the task of containing the pandemic that much harder.

Production: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
"Squeezing" is used in physics, among other things, to improve the resolution of measuring instruments. It allows disturbing noise to be suppressed in a way that smaller signals can be detected more sensitively.

The research team led by physicist Professor Eva Weig at the University of Konstanz has now been able to show how such a squeezed state can be measured in a much simpler way than with the existing methods. Moreover, the new method allows examining squeezed states in systems where such measurements were not possible before.

The results are published in the current issue of the journal Physical Review X.

###

Read the full article at campus.kn, the online magazine of the University of Konstanz: https://www.campus.uni-konstanz.de/en/science/measure-squeezing-in-a-novel-way

Key facts:

- Original publication: J. S. Huber, G. Rastelli, M. J. Seitner, J. Kolbl, W. Belzig, M. I. Dykman, and E. M. Weig. Spectral evidence of squeezing of a weakly damped driven nanomechanical mode. Physical Review X, 10, 021066, published on 23 June 2020

Link: https://journals.aps.org/prx/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevX.10.021066

- Development of a new method for measuring "squeezing".

- Experiment by Jana Huber from the Nanomechanics Group of Professor Eva Weig at the University of Konstanz.

- Theoretical model by Professor Wolfgang Belzig and Dr Gianluca Rastelli from the University of Konstanz and Professor Mark Dykman from Michigan State University (USA).

- With financial support from the European FET Proactive Project HOT (732894), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the QuantERA Project QuaSeRT (13N14777), and the Collaborative Research Centre SFB 767 "Controlled Nanosystems" at the University of Konstanz. Mark Dykman's research is funded by the National Science Foundation (Grant ? DMR-1806473). He is a Senior Fellow of the Zukunftskolleg at the University of Konstanz.

- campus.kn is the University of Konstanz's online magazine. We use multimedia approaches to provide insights into our research and science, study and teaching as well as life on campus.

Note to editors: Images can be downloaded here:

https://cms.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2020/Bilder/gequetschte_zustaende_grafik.png

Caption: "Satellites" in the spectrum of a vibrating nanostring (lower image insert) for increasing drive power. The different brightnesses of the upper (green) and lower (blue) satellite encode the strength of the squeezing (upper image insert).

Image: Weig Group, University of Konstanz

https://cms.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2020/Bilder/gequetschte_zustaende.jpg

Caption: Professor Eva Weig, Universitat Konstanz

Image: University of Konstanz

Image: https://cms.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2020/Bilder/gequetschte_zustaende_huber.jpg

Caption: Jana Huber, University of Konstanz

Image: Rainer M. Hohnhaus
Four people, including three from the same family, died after inhaling poisonous gas inside a septic tank in Mungeli district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday evening, police said.

Police said the deaths took place at around 6pm in Marrakona village under Sargaon Nagar Panchayat area of the district.

The bodies were taken out from the tank late on Tuesday evening and an investigation is going on. A case has also been registered, Sanjeev Thakur, Sargaon police station in-charge, said while speaking to reporters.

Police said Akhileshwar Kaushik, 40, Gaurishankar Kaushik, 28, and Ramkhilawan Kaushik, 45, residents of Marrakona village, died inside the tank. Subhas Dagure, 45, a Nagar Panchayat Sagaon employee also died in the accident.

A member of the Kaushik family went inside the tank and went unconsciousness. Subsequently, two more members of his family entered the tank and did not come up, a senior official said adding all died inside the tank.

Later, a Nagar Panchayat employee went inside and he also went unconscious. When all these did not come out the villagers informed the police, the official added.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and leader of opposition in legislative assembly Dharmlal Kaushik expressed grief over the deaths.

Baghel instructed the administration to provide all possible assistance to the families of the victims.

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Saudi Arabia has enforced a 1,000-person limit on Hajj pilgrims this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hajj is the largest gathering of Muslims in the world where a pilgrimage is made over five or six days to the 'House of Allah', known as the Kabba, in Mecca.

Last year, 2.5million Muslims from around the world gathered to perform the pilgrimage but this year's celebration, set to take place between July 28 and August 2, has been restricted to just 1,000 people currently living in Saudi Arabia due to the global pandemic.

This year's Hajj pilgrimage, the largest gathering of Muslims in the world, has been restricted to just 1,00 people due to the coronavirus pandemic

The Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of making the journey to Mecca to do at least once in their lives.

Saudi Arabia officials have said the pilgrimage will be limited to under-65s only with no chronic illnesses.

Pilgrims will be tested before arriving in Mecca, with the country's government ordering them to quarantine at home after the event.

Saudi Arabia has seen the number of COVID-19 cases rise to over 164,000, with 1,346 confirmed deaths as of Wednesday morning (June 24).

The pilgrimage see Muslims travel to the 'House of Allah', known as the 'Kabba' (pictured) in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca

Last year, 2.5million pilgrims attended the gathering, which is mandatory religious duty for all Muslim adults who are capable of making the trip either physically or financially

India's minister for minority affairs revealed that 200,000 applied to go the pilgrimages and will now receive refunds for any deposited money towards the travel.

Shahid Rafique, chairman of a Pakistani hajj tour operators' group, revealed that many Muslims had been making plans to attend this year's pilgrimage for many years, and that the restrictions came as a great disappointment to those individuals.

He added: 'Professionally, it is a big loss for us, for all the private hajj organisers, and we may not be able to recover from this loss for many years.'

However, some have understood the reasoning behind the restrictions, due to the severity of the coronavirus crisis across the world.

Former Iranian public transport worker Abdollah Pouyan said: 'Overall, this is for the benefit of everyone.

'When it gets really busy, when there are so many people there, can they really control the situation or maintain social distancing?'
A man allegedly stuffed a wad of tissues so far down a baby's throat his lips and extremities turned purple because he was fed-up with listening to the baby cry.

Luke Paul Szabo, a chef and former pizza delivery driver, was babysitting his partner's children, including her 11-month-old son, when he allegedly assaulted him.

Szabo appeared in ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty to grievous bodily harm and choking the baby, the Canberra Star reported.

Prosecutor Anthony Williamson told the court paramedics who arrived on the scene minutes after the alleged incident found bruises and injuries on the little boy's body which suggested he had been assaulted.

Luke Paul Szabo (pictured), a chef and former pizza delivery driver, was babysitting his partner's children, including her 11-month-old son, when he allegedly assaulted him

'The accused committed this act in anger and frustration at the infant crying while he was in an irritable mood,' Mr Williamson said.

The court heard Szabo 'panicked' and slammed the door on another of the children who came to help before asking her to find tweezers so that he could remove the packed wad of tissues from the baby's mouth.

Prosecutors suggested Szabo's defence would argue there were innocent explanations for the tissue in his throat and his other injuries.

But Mr Williamson said any explanations other than his were 'fanciful' and 'far-fetched'.

The court heard Szabo 'panicked' and slammed the door on another of the children who came to help before asking her to find tweezers so that he could remove the packed wad of tissues from the baby's mouth

Instead, he said there was 'overwhelming and inescapable inference' that Szabo was to blame.

Greg Thompson, who lives nearby, told the court he visited the house and noticed Lincoln's eyes were 'bulging out of his head'.

Upon seeing the baby, he immediately assumed the worst and told the court he told police at the time at Szabo was 'panicking... he was sh**ting himself'.

The duo called emergency services and paramedics arrived within five minutes to take him to hospital.

He was purple around the lips and his extremities due to a lack of oxygen when they arrived, the court heard.

The trial continues.
A coronavirus outbreak in Spains northeastern region of Aragon has forced regional authorities to take a new step back in the deescalation process. A day after moving three comarcas  administrative divisions smaller than a province  back to Phase 2 of the national deescalation plan, the regional government announced on Tuesday that the comarca of Bajo Aragon-Caspe would also return to an earlier stage. The move, aimed at curbing coronavirus contagions, comes in response to an outbreak detected among fruit pickers in Huesca province.

The four comarcas that are now under Phase 2  Bajo Aragon-Caspe, Cinca Medio, Bajo Cinca and La Litera  have recorded 125 coronavirus cases in the past few days.

Health authorities warn the outbreak in Huesca could spread to the neighboring province of Lleida in Catalonia

Although no restrictions have been placed on movement, the regional government has recommended limiting travel to and from the affected areas. Mobility between these comarcas is very easy, its daily and common. It also coincides with the fact that for the last few weeks we have seen a trickle of cases [in Bajo Aragon-Caspe] that is not perhaps as quantitatively similar to the other three comarcas, but which has remained steady these last few days, said Francisco Javier Falo, the general director for public healthcare in Aragon.

Phase 2 means, among other things, that regional authorities can limit the capacity of stores to 40% and of bars and restaurants to 50%. Nightclubs and childrens playgrounds must remain closed, and swimming pools can only open at a third of capacity.

Authorities cannot reintroduce widespread restriction of movement, as this could only be done while Spain was under a state of alarm. These emergency powers expired on Sunday as Spain entered the new normality following a prolonged deescalation process and lockdown. The regional government of Aragon has instead urged citizens to limit their trips to and from these areas, and warned that if the situation gets worse, it could ask the central government for help introducing more restrictive measures. A public health law can be used to confine a small area such as a municipality, for example, without the need for the state of alarm, but this needs the approval of the central government. If the situation worsens and we have to take more extreme measures, we will have to approach the central government, said Sira Repolles, the chief of the regional health department.

The neighboring province of Lleida in Catalonia is also on high alert due to its proximity to the affected areas in Aragon and the fact that it also has an important farming sector. Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts, warned on Monday that there was a risk of the outbreak in Huesca spreading to Lleida, because there is a lot of exchange and contact.

Fruit pickers from the Bajo Cinca area of Huesca getting tested for coronavirus on Sunday Europa Press

In a bid to stop the spread of the outbreak, health authorities in Lleida have tightened control of the movement of some fruit pickers. We are in contact with the authorities in Aragon to identify the movement of the people who work there and live here [in Lleida] and to try to reduce this as much as possible. It is of benefit to both sides, said Divina Farreny, the head of the healthcare area of Lleida.

Although there is no evidence of any coronavirus case from the Huesca outbreak crossing into Lleida, Farreny admitted this was difficult to identify. In Lleida, 30 people, mostly fruit pickers, have been placed in isolation in the Rambla Hotel, which is being used to accommodate people who cannot quarantine safely in their homes. Of those in isolation, seven have tested positive for Covid-19. In the farm school La Manreana de Juneda, which is also being used as a quarantine center, another 24 fruit pickers have tested positive.

The outbreak has been blamed on the working and housing conditions of the fruit pickers, most of whom are migrant workers with few resources. Social distancing rules are not always respected and many of the workers live in overcrowded homes where it is also difficult to maintain safety measures.

Pere Godoy, the head of epidemiological monitoring in the Lleida healthcare area, warns that in outbreaks like these, complying with social distancing measures is key. According to Godoy, agricultural businesses must understand that adhering to these rules is profitable for the company. In certain communities, both local authorities and the business sector have to do more to enable mechanisms to reduce the risks [of contagion], he said.

Lleida authorities also reported on Tuesday that 18 coronavirus cases had been detected in a senior home, with 13 residents and five workers infected. Four of the residents have been admitted to hospital.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
Jennifer Hauge joins in a protest rally at a Minneapolis police station on May 30. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Democrats on Wednesday denied Republicans the votes needed to advance the Senate GOP's policing reform bill, casting doubt on the future of the effort as thousands of people continue to protest over the death of George Floyd and police misconduct and excessive use of force.

Sixty votes were needed to bring the GOP-backed Justice Act, sponsored by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), up for consideration. The chamber's 53 Republicans needed support from at least seven Democrats to proceed.

Democratic Sens. Doug Jones of Alabama and Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and independent Sen. Angus King of Maine voted with Republicans, but it wasn't enough. The bill stalled with a vote of 55-45.

Democrats have derided the GOP bill, which focuses heavily on data collection and urging departments to change standards on when force is acceptable, as a watered-down version of their own proposal, with Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) saying Wednesday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell "wants to show he's doing something, and get nothing done."

"So much of the anger in the country right now is directed at the lack of accountability for police officers who violate Americans' rights," Schumer said. "As far as I can tell, the Republican bill does not even attempt one significant reform  not one  to bring more accountability to police officers who are guilty of misconduct."

A Minneapolis police officer has been charged with murder in the killing of Floyd, an unarmed, handcuffed Black man, by kneeling on his neck for more than eight minutes. Video of Floyd pleading with the officer to move has spurred a national demand for police reform and accountability.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) praised her Democratic colleagues for blocking a bill she said didn't include "substantive solutions."

"I want to thank all of our colleagues for their work today, which is to not fall into a political trap, to not take crumbs on the table when there is a hunger that America has for real solutions to a very real problem," Harris said.

Story continues

Republicans have said their bill and the Democrats' proposal are very similar, and argue that Democrats are foregoing progress by not approving the GOP bill. Democrats contend that the bills aren't as similar as Republicans say.

"Why wouldn't you take the 80% now, see if you can win the election, and add on the other 20%? You've got to be kidding me," Scott said after the vote.

McConnell (R-Ky.) had offered to allow senators to offer whatever amendments they wanted, and questioned why Democrats didn't try to modify the bill rather than halt it.

"Nobody thought the first offer from the Republican side was going to be the final product that traveled out of the Senate," McConnell said. "What's supposed to happen in this body is that we vote or agree to get onto a bill. And then we discuss, debate and amend it until at least 60 senators are satisfied, or it goes nowhere."

Schumer and the Senate sponsors of a Democratic bill, Harris and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), said too many changes were needed. They said bipartisan negotiations are needed before a bill comes to the Senate floor.

"There should be bipartisan discussions with the object of coming together around a constructive starting point for police reform," Schumer said before the vote.

The Senate's next steps aren't clear.

The House is scheduled to vote on the Democrats' version of a policing reform bill Thursday, a sweeping measure that would make it easier to prosecute officers criminally and file civil lawsuits for misconduct.

Schumer said the Senate bill's failure Wednesday may open the door to new negotiations.

"I believe that the Republican Party sees the handwriting on the wall. They see what the American people feel, and they know now that while the House is going to succeed in passing a bill, the Senate won't, and that falls on McConnell's shoulders. He's the Senate leader. He knows how to pass the bill. He set up something here so it wouldn't pass," Schumer said.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) questioned if Congress is missing its moment to get something done on police reform.

"I don't know, I mean if we can't do it now, I don't know when we'll ever do it," he said.

He said the same disagreements with the bill would exist if it were brought before the Judiciary Committee before McConnell had brought it to the Senate, as Democrats have requested.

"It's not a process as much as it is a political calculation that they don't want to engage on this issue until after the election," Graham said.

The Senate vote came shortly after the Senate approved the 200th judge nominated by President Trump: Cory T. Wilson, of Mississippi, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit.

"Following number 200, when we depart this chamber today, there will not be a single circuit court vacancy anywhere in the nation for the first time in at least 40 years," McConnell said.
Subscribers of the Tennessean opened their Sunday papers last weekend to discover a full-page ad that warned a nuclear device would detonate in Nashville on July 18,. The ad said it would be set off by Islamnot by Muslims, not by a terrorist group, just by Islam. The ad, created by a fringe post-apocalyptic Christian organization called the ministry of Future for America, set off an immediate furor as it traveled online. The Tennessean itself called it utterly indefensible and rushed to find out how it had made it into print. By Monday, a sales manager had been fired.

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This morning, the Nashville @Tennessean  the largest newspaper in the state  published a full-page ad from a far-right client warning Islam is going to detonate a nuclear device in Nashville, Tennessee. Its accompanied by photos of Donald Trump and Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/9vvUbteSIh  Alex Martin Smith (@asmiff) June 21, 2020

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On Sunday, David Plazas, the opinion and engagement director at the Tennessean and the USA Today newsrooms in Tennessee, had started a furlough, like many of his colleagues, because of the coronavirus economic slowdown. He was immediately called back to address the crisis. We spoke on Tuesday about how the ad came to be, the papers firm response, and the impossible work of local journalism right now. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Aymann Ismail: When did you first see the ad?

David Plazas: Im a print reader. I get the print newspaper to my home every day, and I was just as shocked an anybody, because I saw the ad at the same time that the majority of our leadership did. It was extremely upsetting. I was angry. Ill be honest with you: I was feeling in myself, Can I even come back to this place when I finish my furlough? That was the initial raw emotion I had. But then I also said, I have the responsibility and the duty to do what I can to try to make this right. Because I have the capacity to do so.

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Our regional editor [Michael Anastasi] was on furlough last week, and our executive editor [Maria De Varenne] and I, who report to Mike, started our furlough on Sunday. Essentially the furloughs have been going on for the last three months, and on average, any given week we are at 75 percent capacity. So we were supposed to be off for that week when all this broke loose. Mike recalled us both. Its partly because of the work that weve done over many years to cultivate very deep relationships with members of the Muslim community.

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Why were you in particular brought back on to manage the fallout?

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Ive cultivated relationships with the Muslim community for the almost six years that Ive been here. On the onset, this started off because of a bad decision I made in early 2015a decision that I thought was good at the time that I see now for exactly what it was. You may be aware of Carol Swain, who is a conservative African American commentator and former professor at Vanderbilt. Shortly after the Charlie Hebdo massacre in France, where 17 people, including several cartoonists, were slaughtered by extremists, Swain wrote an op-ed calling for the surveillance of the Muslim community. I had been on the job for less than a month when I received it. And in the spirit of providing a voice, I agreed to run it. But I also agreed to run it with the caveat that I was going to seek an alternative view. And I worked with the American Muslim Advisory Council to have a view that countered it. I was accused of bothsidesism and being tone-deaf. And in fact I wasbecause I was so new, I wasnt fully aware of how the Muslim community lived in fear on a regular basis. A year before, a mosque in Murfreesboro, which is just south of Nashville, had been vandalized. There was a candidate not too long before that who was running for sheriff or a political office who had this ad with a gun pointing at people saying, This is how you wink at a Muslim. The more I learned about the history and what people had to endure, the more I realized I needed to make amends and make sure that started a conversation with Muslim leaders who came into the Tennessean. And ever since then, weve had at least an annual meeting, a friendship in which Ive gone to the Islamic Center to pray and to eat. This relationship matters a lot to me because I feel that I have a platform and I have a power that can help bring dignity and voices of people who have been discriminated against.

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Im a Muslim person born and raised in America. Ive gotten quite numb toward Islamophobia in media. When I saw the ad, I first thought to myself, Well, this isnt any worse than what Ive heard from the president or Newt Gingrich. What surprised me was how quickly the Tennessean responded, and how forcefully. Did you anticipate the national attention it got?

Im not sure if I anticipated it. Ive been doxed before on Twitter and in some cases I also get desensitized too. Im a gay Latino man. And I say that because I live in this intrasectionality in the South, in a place where Confederate monuments abound. And Ive been in a place where youre constantly trying to chart your path in a very supremacist environment, even if not everybodys like that. I think I was super sensitive to the ad because [the Tennessean] had just gone on weeks and weeks of what I thought was really meaningful and substantive coverage of Black Lives Matter protests. We had this package of all Black voices at the beginning of June that I was very proud of. And I had just written a column a few days before I went on furlough where I talked about the insult that state lawmakers made to a young Black woman denying her a memorial because of an allegation of a drug sale. Even internally weve done some great work with our employee resource groups to talk about these issues of racism and white supremacy and inclusion. And so this was a real shocker because, like you, Ive seen all sorts of racism and you sometimes get numb to it. But at a certain point, especially in the last several weeks, I felt empowered to think were on the right path, and then this is a big one-two punch.

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A newspapers ad staff is different than the editorial staff. But can you walk me through what you discovered about how this happened, and how it affected the paper?

Yes, we never see the ads. We are a separate department, news and sales. Theres a very strict separation. So what normally happens is that itll go through a process where an ad company will connect the buyer with a publication like the Tennessean. And then itll go through a series of steps where ad representatives will take a look at it, theyll work with a creative person who designs the ad, and itll be approved by the manager. Unfortunately, failures happen. The manager should have read that ad because just the first paragraph alone would have been a red flag to say this is unacceptable. [The Tennessean reported Monday that the manager failed to read the ad and was fired.]

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It doesnt represent our values. I take it personally because we have fought so hard. Thats why I was so upset Sunday morning. Just one ad could destroy all the progress that weve made over all this time. Even though it is the ad department, this reflects on all of us.

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In my department, as the opinion editor, we publish an average of a hundred op-eds a month, and there have been some that have been controversial, like the one I mentioned to you a little bit ago. We try to create a space for free speech, but we also have been sensitive about really respecting the dignity of people. So when I started in journalism 20 years ago, we talked about objectivity, and we talked about the dispassionate, and we talked about being flies on the wall. I dont think we can afford to do that anymore. Were members of the community. And if were going to grow our readership, we need to be respectful of the groups that we have ignored historically. Its partially a matter of morality, but its a matter of survival and a matter of living our values.

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The executive director of the American Muslim Advisory Council said that because of the ad, a huge target was placed on our community. There are about 40,000 Muslims who live in the Nashville area. I know that you were planning, once its safe, going to visit the mosque. Is there anything that you are thinking about doing to help them that you havent mentioned so far?

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We dont want to assume that we know what the best steps are. So we dont have it in mind quite yet, but in terms of just the bullet points of whats happened, there was the termination of the manager, the change in processes in advertising, the returning of the money for the ad to the [Christian] group, donating the equivalent money to the American Muslim Advisory Council, granting house ads worth $50,000 to the American Muslim Advisory Council to help with the campaign for anti-racism. And general outreach. In a few days, Ill also be interviewing on a podcast Sabina Mohyuddin, whos the executive director of American Muslim Advisory Council. We actually had that interview scheduled several weeks before this happened, but obviously, we now have new things to talk about.

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In the newsroom, I imagine everyones probably still working from home, or the people who can are still working from home. Whats the mood? What are you hearing from writers and reporters about how they feel about what they saw printed?

Ive been working from home for the most part for the last three months. But I came in this week specifically because I wanted to be near our top editors so we can have discussions about the ad. Most of our staff is still working from home or on the field. Theyre very angry and hurt and they feel ashamed. And many of them had posted those things on Facebook or on Twitter. We had one very helpful thread from one of our digital producers who used to be a copy editorbecause we dont have a copy desk anymore. We talked about this could have been prevented in the years that we still had a press on site and copy editors would go down to the press to take a look at the early proofs. But we publish in Knoxville, which is about three hours away from Nashville.

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My boss, our executive editor, and I had a series of meetings that went from about 1:30 in the afternoon and all the way to 5 yesterday. They were many staff meetings where we invited people, anyone who wanted to come on, no more than a dozen people, and just listen and explain what we knew at the time, we knew more by the end of the day, and hear them out. And theyre mad. Theyre asking a lot of questions about how could this happen. Why did this happen? And what are you going to do about it? And we received letters from the guilds and our sister papers denouncing the ad. The good thing today is that groups continued to denounce the ad, but theyre also expressing appreciation for how we have handled this and the fact that weve taken some significant steps and its not just the lip service but also demanding more, as they should. And also to build trust with our own staff. Because I heard a few people express what I expressed to you at the beginning of this callthey were feeling ashamed to work here.

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Have you seen anything like this before?

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No, this is different. Ive never seen it like this. There have been times of low morale, obviously during the Great Recession. That was really tough during times of layoffs of employees. That was really tough. This is different because this sent out a message. We were used by this group and our processes broke down, and it sent a message that was antithetical to what our values are. I think people are enraged about that.

Its been a tough moment for newsrooms, between the pandemic and now the protests over police violence, and that has to be very true for local news. How are things at the Tennessean?

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Its been hard. We had a staff meeting two Fridays ago and we just spent the first part of it asking everybody to share with us how theyre doing. And some did. Theyre happy to be working because they care about what they do. And theyre really passionate about it. They miss the social connections that we havewere normally, pre-pandemic, extremely social. This isolation is not great. Compounding with that the ad situation, it hurts even more because youre already in a vulnerable state. We miss handshakes. We miss hugs. I can remember, especially myself as a young journalist when I was in my early 20s, making those connections and having a beer, a glass of wine with other journalists and talking about the news of the day, talking about the stories that were chasingthat was really cathartic.

Im not sure if youre aware of this, but last week when the [Tennessee] legislature adjourned, it passed a resolution condemning the media and fake news for its sensationalizing COVID coverage. It goes to show what were fighting too. Last year, in 2019, we had a reporter, Natalie Allison, who was picked on by the speaker of the [state] house. She had been relatively new in her beat, but she was relentless, and he is no longer in that position because she exposed his misdeeds. And so for me, were living our values of holding people accountable and fighting for people who feel unheard. Were doing that.
Iffath Fathima And Ranjani Madhavan By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Those infected with the novel coronavirus and looking to get treated at a private hospital will have to shell out Rs 1.50 lakh for 15 days in a general ward. The cost goes up to Rs 1.80 lakh in a high-dependency unit (HDU), Rs 2.25 lakh for an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Rs 3.75 lakh for an ICU with ventilator. However, the actual number of days a Covid-19 patient is admitted can be longer or shorter, depending on whether they are asymptomatic or symptomatic.

On Tuesday, the Karnataka Government capped prices of treatment cost at private hospitals based on two categories  those referred by public health authorities and the other who approach private hospitals directly. The package rates for Covid-19 patients referred by public health authorities, that is those covered under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka scheme, will be as Rs 5,200 per day for general ward, Rs 7,000 for HDU, Rs 8,500 for isolation ICU without ventilator and Rs 10,000 for isolation ICU with ventilator. The package ceiling rates at private hospitals for those who pay by cash will be Rs 10,000 per day for general ward, Rs 12,000 for HDU, Rs 15,000 for isolation ICU without ventilator and Rs 25,000 for isolation ICU with ventilator. These rates will not be applicable to patients subscribing to insurance packages.

Pvt hospitals to seek revision of treatment rates

The government has stated that 50 per cent of beds in private hospitals shall be reserved for treatment of Covid-19 patients referred by public health authorities. The remaining can be used to admit Covid-19 patients privately. An additional 10 per cent extra will be charged for twin sharing, 25 per cent for single room while there will be no ceiling for suites.

In case of unforseen 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, inter-state 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 government ordered. However, private hospitals, both big and small, are unhappy with the rates and planning to appeal to the government to revise the rates.

Dr Nagendra Swamy, principal co-ordinator of the Federation of Healthcare Associations, Karnataka (FHAK) said, We had given subsidised rates for Ayushman Bharat patients and they have accepted it. We do not mind that, as it is our contribution to society. However, there needs to be a better rate for cash patients. Unfortunately, the price has been reduced drastically, especially for ICU, and this will impact us. We will appeal for change in both categories for ICU charges. Dr Govindaiah Yatheesh, secretary of Private Hospital and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA), said, We are really not happy with the prices.

We are going to ask the government to revise the rates. We are not looking at profits, but we need to have proper rates. There are high-end antibiotics and medications and these rates will not be enough. But we wont stop treatment. Public health experts too are unhappy with the capped rates, but for different reasons. Dr Sylvia Karpagam, public health doctor and researcher, said, It is well known that these packages are not comprehensive and will require out-of-pocket payment for co-morbidities and complications.

For example, if a diabetic patient develops an injection abscess, it will not be covered by the package. This is deliberately left vague. The package incentivises private hospitals to put people into ICUs and on ventilators only because the reimbursement is higher. It is not uncommon for patients to be over-treated in such situations. States like Maharashtra and Gujarat have already negotiated rates for various slabs of treatment with private hospitals.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 11:03:06|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The United States has "overstepped" the China-U.S. phase-one economic and trade agreement by imposing export controls on Huawei, said a renowned U.S. economist Tuesday, urging the U.S. administration to suspend any new punitive measures.

"The Trump Administration wants China to continue to purchase U.S. goods according to the trade deal, but at the same time the U.S. imposes new punitive restrictions on China, such as the ban on international exports of semiconductors to Huawei," Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor at Columbia University, told Xinhua via email.

Noting that the trade deal should be based on both sides refraining from any further punitive actions, Sachs said he believes that "these new punitive restrictions break the agreement by unilaterally imposing new economic burdens on China."

"In this case, the U.S. has overstepped the agreement, and should agree to put on hold any new punitive measures," Sachs said.

The United States has used state power to persistently suppress and contain the Chinese tech giant Huawei for over a year in the name of national security and abused export controls.

Sachs has recently noted that the Trump administration's aim is to hinder China's technological advancement. "It's a stupid and harmful policy not only for China but also for the U.S., in my view, but it could even get worse on the path to the November elections," he told Xinhua in an earlier interview via email.

Amid rising tensions between the two countries, Sachs urged the U.S. administration to cooperate with China to "help stop the global crisis but also to speed the global recovery."

Sachs, who is also a senior United Nations (UN) advisor, said the last thing the world wants and needs right now is new geopolitical tensions.

"I believe that it is especially important for China to emphasize friendly relations and global cooperation with all parts of the world despite the Trump Administration's anti-China provocations," Sachs said.

Even as the Trump administration emphasizes the unilateral "America First" policy that is "alienating many countries," Sachs said China "will rightly win many friends around the world by maintaining a high level of global cooperation and an emphasis on win-win policies." Enditem
A prestigious British public school, Eton College, has apologised to an ex-student, Dillibe Onyeama, a Nigerian who is now an accomplished writer, for being subjected to racial discrimination while its student.

This comes as the global outpouring against the killing in police custody of George Floyd in the US continues to flare up conversations about past experiences of racial injustice.

Mr Onyeama, who was the first Nigerian and first black student to graduate from Eton College, obtained his school-leaving certificate in 1969.

Baring his mind on Black Lives Matter in an interview with the BBC, the Nigerian writer shared how racial subjugation and subsequent banning from Eton College spurred him to write a book about his experience at the school.

When contacted for comment by the BBC, the headmaster, Eton College, Simon Henderson, said he was appalled by the racism experienced by Mr Onyeama.

Eton College is reputable for educating some of the highest-ranking members of the British society, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is the 20th British prime minister to have attended the school, as well as Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby and both Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, former Duke of Sussex.

Mr Henderson said the school had made great strides in handling racial matters without mentioning but acknowledged that there is more to do.

We have made significant strides since 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, the headmaster said.

He promised to invite Mr Onyeama to apologise in person and to make it clear that he will always be welcome at Eton.

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, the headmaster added.

But Mr Onyeama told BBC that the apology was unnecessary and did not change his view of Eton, which on the whole was positive.

The writer, who said he was taunted on a daily basis at Eton by fellow students, added that the apology compels the recognition that prejudice on the grounds of colour or race dehumanises its victims in a way that ordinary forms of prejudice do not.
[June 24, 2020] Omdia Index ranks HERE as top global location platform for enterprises

HERE is once again in pole position, widening the gap with Google - Omdia

Mitsubishi Corporation and NTTs investment in HERE highlight companys industry strength and global appeal June 24, 2020 Amsterdam  Business and industry analysts at Omdia have placed HERE Technologies on top of their most recent Location Platform Index. The company overtook Google in the 2018 and 2019 Indexes, and this year Omdia extended the lead for HERE based on the core geospatial capabilities of its location platform and market reach for users. The Omdia Location Platform Index, June 2020, assesses the 12 leading global providers of location data and services including Google, Mapbox, TomTom and Telenav. Omdia describes the strengths of HERE that include its developer reach and partner network, particularly in Asia with Mitsubushi Corp. and Japans largest telecom provider, NTT, now as equity investors in HERE. According to Omdia, the index evaluates vendors on two main criteria: the completeness of their platform and its market reach. Both components play an equal role in determining the final rank. The index considers not only the core capabilities of a location platform but also the data and capabilities that the platform opens up to developers and the wider location community. The index provides an overview of the market and assesses the relative strengths and weaknesses of the major players. In this years Index, Omdia points to various partnerships and usage of HERE data and services in verticals outside the companys traditional automotive business. The analysts underline the significance of Mitsubishi Corp. and NTTs 30% ownership stake in HERE, with announced strategic collaborations in freight, logistics and retail. HERE is known for its strong position in the automotive industry and its prowess in HD mapping and ADAS. But what is perhaps less conspicuous is the progressHERE is making in other verticals including logistics, telecommunications, retail and media, said Eden Zoller, Omdia Chief Analyst.



More than ever, the use of location data and technology is accelerating across industries and markets, said Edzard Overbeek, CEO at HERE Technologies. We are motivated by Omdias independent voice describing the need for a truly open environment and global location platform. Alongside our new customers, partners and investors, its an exciting time to deploy location intelligence to solve multiple challenges, from tackling urban congestion to strengthening supply chain visibility, logistics and critical middle and last mile delivery services. The HERE Marketplaces growing customer base was also highlighted in this years index, along with its novel data exchange and enrichment capabilities. The Omdia analysts go on to highlight the top ranking by: Verizon and HERE teaming up to improve road safety by marrying 5G network capabilities with 3D maps and HERE Live Sense SDKs front-facing camera technology; the introduction of HERE Geodata Models to lower the costs associated with building 5G networks; and the launch of the HERE Last Mile solution for the transportation and logistics industry.

During these challenging economic times, the analysts make special note of the various ways location technology, and the companies ranked in the Index, are supporting COVID-19 relief efforts. This includes Enel X and HERE partnering to provide Italian governmental agencies with mobility indicators to analyze the impact of COVID-19 containment measures, and the the employee-built HERE WeGo Deliver , a free planning and delivery tool for small-to-medium sized enterprises.



For more information and to download a copy of the Omdia Location Platform Index, June 2020, please go to: http://here.com/omdia-2020-platform-report

Media Contacts

HERE Technologies

https://www.here.com/en/company/newsroom/media-and-industry-analyst-contacts About HERE Technologies

HERE, a location data and technology platform, moves people, businesses and cities forward by harnessing the power of location. By leveraging our open platform, we empower our customers to achieve better outcomes - from helping a city manage its infrastructure or a business optimize its assets to guiding drivers to their destination safely. To learn more about HERE, please visit www.here.com and http://360.here.com.

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A North Korean loudspeaker on a mountain in North Hwanghae Province's Kaepoong County on June 23 is, as seen from a South Korean observatory in Ganghwa Island, Incheon, no longer there the following day. Yonhap



North Korea was seen removing about 10 propaganda loudspeakers reinstalled recently along the border with South Korea, military sources said Wednesday, after leader Kim Jong-un ordered the suspension of military action plans against the South.



The North recently set up around 20 loudspeakers in border areas after threatening to take military action against what it called "the enemy" in anger over Seoul's failure to stop defectors from sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border.



"Around 10 newly installed loudspeakers near Cheorwon were being taken down from earlier today," a military source said.



The move came after the communist country decided to suspend military action against South Korea during a Central Military Commission meeting presided over by leader Kim, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency.




Until May 29 afternoon, when the government designated East Delhis 1,500-bedded Guru Teg Bahadur(GTB) hospital as a fully Covid facility, Aakash Sharma worked at its emergency department as a nursing orderly. His colleague Sarita Yadav was posted at the gynaecology ward.

Now that the hospital is treating only Covid-19 cases, Sharma and Yadav are now doubling as human couriers to help relatives of patients deliver their messages and personal items.

Due to poor mobile phone connectivity in some parts of the building and a ban on the entry of non-medical employees inside wards, these couriers are very much in demand among relatives of Covid patients.

GTB hospital is Delhis second-largest Covid hospital. The biggest exclusive coronavirus treatment facility is Lok Nayak hospital in Central Delhi with 2,000 beds.

As the hospital is admitting only Covid patients, at least 10 nursing orderlies earlier with outpatient departments, surgery and other units are now working as messengers.

Working in 8-9 hour shifts, Sharma and Yadav sit behind the police barricades along with security guards, waiting to receive messages or items from the relatives of patients.

Wrapped in sanitised polythene bags with names of patients and ward number neatly written in bold and upper case, the packets they deliver could be a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, a handwritten note, an extra set of clothes, a prayer book, a religious thread or a bottle of hair oil.

While most patients have mobile phones, there are some -- elderly or critically ill -- who do not or cannot use one because of their medical condition. They rely on people such as Sharma and Yadav to pass on their messages. 

According to the health department, there were 265 Covid patients at the hospital on Wednesday.

Explaining how they work, Sharma said, We wait at least 30 minutes to collect a bunch of items to be taken inside. We ask the relatives to write the name of the patient on the packet. Our job is to take it inside. We are proud of our jobs during this pandemic. The relatives thank us when they get a confirmation from the patient that the items have been delivered.

Sharma has delivered everything from medical papers to spectacles to prayer books and mobile phones.

Outside the Blood Transfusion Centre building, which leads to the hospitals isolation wards, the hospitals security has placed four barricades of Delhi Police. There are around 250 patients inside. Rajinder Singh, a security supervisor at the gate, and his men stop every relative from crossing the barricades.

We explain that even they will be at a risk if they go inside. They all want to go in. Some are rude and argue. We ask them to hand over the items to designated employees. These people are standing here with us in this hot sun only to help the relatives. The package will definitely reach the patient, Singh said.

On Wednesday morning, Dheeraj Kumar, 21, had gone to the hospital with a bottle of hair oil for his mother. My mother uses this specific hair oil every morning. It is part of her routine. She could not get it in the hospital. I told her over the phone I have got it. She was happy, Kumar said while handing over the packet to Yadav over a layer of police barricades, which ensures social distancing.

Another relative, Harjit Singh, stood behind Kumar with a cell phone charger. Singh was worried when his mothers phone was switched off. She was admitted to the facility on Monday. I called the hospitals helpline number and they confirmed that she was fine. But they could not connect me to her. I came to the hospital on Tuesday and was told by an employee (Sharmas colleague also working as a courier), that my mother had forgotten her phone charger. I will hand this (cell phone charger) over to them. It will reach her in half an hour, and I can still stay connected with her, Harjit said.

Medical director Dr Sunil Kumar said they want to ensure patients and relatives do not face any harassment. We cannot allow anyone from outside inside the wards. Our nursing orderlies across all wards are there to help. People should understand and cooperate, he said.

Though the hospital has allowed all patients to use phones, at least three relatives HT spoke to said connectivity in the upper floors was a problem, making it almost impossible to speak to the patients or doctors.

Anuj Singh, a guest teacher at the government school in Chandni Chowk, said it was difficult to get an update from the doctors about her husbands health. She said, My husband told me over the phone that his oxygen level dropped rapidly. I have come here but they are not allowing me inside. I want to speak to the doctors but I am not able to get in touch with them.

Dr Sunil Kumar said they have started a facility for patients to get regular updates from the hospital. Our doctors work in shifts. It may not be possible for doctors to take every call and respond to the patients. It is also not practical to let all relatives inside the wards. There is a dedicated command centre that has information about every patient. The command centres phone number is pasted across the hospital. Our doctors send information to the centre. Relatives can just call up the centre to find out what the doctor has advised. Apart from this, there is another number to know real-time health updates about patients.

The 24*7 helpline for information related to patients at GTB hospital is 9625900550.

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Post-lockdown power bills have come as a shock to consumers in Madhya Pradesh prompting the state government to announce setting up of camps in every assembly constituency to redress the grievances of consumers. The government has also announced relief to those enjoying subsidised power under its scheme, as per energy department officials and complaints from people.

According to officials, the power bills have affected every section of society. A state BJP office-bearer in Bhopal who usually used to receive a bill of about Rs 15,000 per month against his domestic connection got a bill of more than Rs 50,000 in June.

Surendra Singh, a retired government official in Gwalior, used to receive bills of about Rs 2,000-2,500 during winters and Rs 3,500-4,500 during summers. He was jolted with a bill that amounted to Rs 19,000 this month. In Sagar, a shopkeeper - whose shop was closed for nearly two months amid the Covid-19 lockdown - got a bill of more than Rs 4,800.

Also read: Shivraj Singh Chouhans jab at Rahul Gandhi includes reminder of BJPs role in opposition

Anshul Bhargava, the shopkeeper in Sagar said, I have got a bill of Rs 4,818. I regularly checked for bills online too but didnt get any. Otherwise, my shop was closed for two months. Then how is this bill justified?

The BJP office-bearer who didnt want to be named said, I understand that Junes bill covered two months but this amount is mind-boggling. How come this comes to Rs 50,000? Since its BJP which is in power, I cant lodge any protest in public on the issue.

In districts like Jabalpur, Seoni, Ashok Nagar, Rajgarh, Ratlam, Gwalior, among others, people have protested on the matter in the past week or so.

As per government officials, during the lockdown period, the consumers received electricity bills, amounting to the usual figure, in April and May. The bills were based on the power consumption in March. The officials added that as more people were indoors during the lockdown in April and May, people ended up consuming more electricity and the power units were charged as per the higher slab of the tariff in June.

This calculation of the power distribution companies also affected those who enjoyed subsidised power under various government schemes. This was due to the change in the government in March and changes in the scheme too.

A government official said, The previous BJP government headed by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced Sambal scheme for subsidised power to unorganised sector labourers, vendors and farmers with a smallholding of land at Rs 200 per month subject to the consumption of power up to 1 kW, ahead of 2018 assembly elections. More than 80 lakh consumers got themselves registered.

He said, When the Congress formed its government in December 2018, it replaced Sambal with Indira Jyoti Yojna under which a power consumer was supposed to pay Rs 100 for 100 units of electricity if he didnt consume more than 100 units of power in a month. If a consumers meter reading didnt show more than 150 units of power in a month, he was supposed to pay Rs 100 for the first 100 units and normal rates for the next 50 units. It was around Rs 400 per month. But if a consumer consumed more than 150 units of power in a month, all units were charged as per the higher slab of the tariff. It was about Rs 6.30 per unit from 151 to 300 units and Rs 6.50 per unit for units above 300.

The official said that since the present government had dumped Indira Jyoti Yojna and replaced it with the Sambal scheme, the software was to be updated for the Sambal scheme beneficiaries by mid-June but it couldnt be done. Hence, the power units of these beneficiaries too were charged as per normal rates. Hence, those who used to get the bill of about Rs 400 per month have now got the bill amounting to Rs 1,000-2,000.

On Monday, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a relief to Sambal scheme beneficiaries provided they had bills of up to Rs 400 in April.

The decision about the remaining bills will be subject to scrutiny, said the CM while interacting with consumers from different regions.

Given the complaints regarding the power bills from across the state, the cabinet decided on Tuesday to hold camps in every assembly constituency to rectify the bills against complaints as told by home minister Narottam Mishra.

State Congress presidents media coordinator Narendra Saluja said, Hefty electricity bills have given a shock to all sections of society. By dumping Indira Jyoti Yojna, the government has fleeced people belonging to the weaker section. The CM announced relief only because of the ensuing bypolls to 24 assembly constituencies. But it is misleading as it is full of ifs and buts and in effect, no one is going to get benefit from the same.

Principal secretary, state energy department Sanjay Dubey said, We are looking into complaints of power bills. Fact remains that during the lockdown the power consumption grew in homes. However, if anyone comes with a complaint that he has been charged extra, I will take immediate action on this.

(With inputs from Anupam Pateriya in Sagar)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has imposed an anti-dumping duty on flat rolled steel products that are plated or coated with alloy of aluminium and zinc originating in, or from China, Vietnam and South Korea, according to a government order https://www.cbic.gov.in/resources//htdocs-cbec/customs/cs-act/notifications/notfns-2020/cs-add2020/csadd16-2020.pdf issued on Tuesday. The duty will be in the range of $13.07-$173.10 per tonne for 5 years, according to the statement

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has imposed an anti-dumping duty on flat rolled steel products that are plated or coated with alloy of aluminium and zinc originating in, or from China, Vietnam and South Korea, according to a government order https://www.cbic.gov.in/resources//htdocs-cbec/customs/cs-act/notifications/notfns-2020/cs-add2020/csadd16-2020.pdf issued on Tuesday.

The duty will be in the range of $13.07-$173.10 per tonne for 5 years, according to the statement.

In the last few days, India has taken steps to protect its domestic industry and push local manufacturing as Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to make the nation self-reliant to bolster its sagging economy and create jobs.

The move to levy charges on imports from China is also seen as retaliation by New Delhi after 20 soldiers died in a face-off with Beijing at the Himalayan border. Indian and Chinese military officials on Tuesday agreed to disengage on the disputed border.

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Dan Grebler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
WhiteHat Jr, an online education startup, is eyeing valuation of $350 million as it looks to ride on the boom in online learning, said three people aware of the development.

It currently provides live online coding classes to children in the age group of 6 to 14 and helps them build commercial-ready games, animations and apps.

The startup is currently in talks to raise $50 million at a valuation of $350 million  unprecedented for such a young firm  led by Singapores sovereign fund GIC and foreign hedge funds, people said.

The Economic Times earlier reported that private equity firm Multiples, GIC and Sequoia Capital were evaluating a stake in the startup.

WhiteHat was founded by Karan Bajaj, the former CEO of Discovery India, in late 2018. It is currently recording bookings of Rs 30-35 crore a month, the people cited above said.

Bajaj and GIC did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Their subscription packages are priced from Rs 6,000 to Rs 1 lakh, depending on the number of classes. It currently offers three packages of 8, 48 and 144 classes, respectively.

While the company targeted Indian school-going students to begin with, it has also found traction in the US, bagging over 20,000 paid subscribers.

"Investors are finding WhiteHat attractive because it is profitable and growing fast. Going abroad is also a great opportunity because parents' willingness to spend is far higher," said a person aware of the development on condition of anonymity.

Its India business could have limited scale in the long run because not all parents, especially in smaller towns, would see the value of relatively expensive coding classes at an early age.

Perhaps with this in mind, US revenues will account for 60 percent of WhiteHat's total revenues in June, Bajaj told Press Trust of India in an interview last week.

While online education has been an investor favourite in the last few years, COVID-19 outbreak has turbo-charged this trend because physical classes have become a casualty.

Startups such as WhiteHat Jr., Unacademy, Vedantu and Byjus Classes have all benefitted from this. For instance, Vedantu, which provides online classes for K-12 as well as competitive exams for engineering and medicine, witnessed an 80 percent month-on-month rise in its revenue in April and students consumed one billion minutes of videos on its platform.

However, not everyone is gung-ho about WhiteHat's potential because its market size is still unknown. For instance, coding classes may not be attractive to all students or their parents and its relatively high price in India remains a challenge.

The startup also records its bookings as revenue, although a lot of the bookings are for long-term courses.

Lack of clarity on completion of courses by all students and refunds status are sticking points, said an analyst on condition of anonymity.
MONTREAL - The head of a project to build a container terminal in Quebec City says the port expansion will help Canada claw back business from U.S. harbours.

Don Krusel, executive director of the Quebec Port Authoritys $775-million undertaking, says the countrys share of container shipping traffic in North America has lost ground to beefed-up U.S. ports, falling 18 per cent since 2008.

The shrinking market share is all the more striking as U.S. East Coast volumes surge due to shifting global supply chains.

The growth of production in Southeast Asia has redirected some container shipping way from the West Coast and toward Atlantic ports.

Imports from places like Vietnam and Malaysia and Cambodia and even India are increasing quite rapidly, Krusel said.

Meanwhile, the advent of mega-ships has boosted the value of deep-water ports that can handle their larger hulls, with the Port of New York and New Jersey dredging the harbour at a cost of US$2.1 billion in 2016 to reach a depth on par with the Port of Quebec.

As you move away from China and toward places in Southeast Asia, it then becomes more economical to transport a container ship through the Suez Canal, then the Mediterranean, and then to the East Coast. So the West Coast of North America is losing market share to East Coast.

Its the same reason why Air Canada would rather fly a 737 than a Dash 8. Its economies of scale are improved. The more containers you can fit one vessel, the lower your greenhouse gas emissions are per container, but also your costs, Krusel said.

In 2017, only one per cent of containers that came through New York-New Jersey docks arrived on a vessel of 13,000 TEUs or larger, according to the local port authority. In 2018, nearly 16 per cent of containers came via 13,000-TEU boats. Last year the proportion reached 23 per cent.

The Port of Montreal can handle ships carrying up to 5,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs)  a metric based on container size  while the Quebec City terminal will welcome ships of up to 13,000 TEUs.

Quebec can handle all of the large ships which are the trend, whereas Montreal cannot, Krusel said.

The Quebec Port Authority  which currently does not have a container terminal  is slated to begin construction next year and launch the facility in early 2024.

The port authority announced a deal last year with Hong Kong port giant Hutchison Ports and Montreal-based Canadian National Railway Co. to build and run the terminal, which would be Eastern Canadas third alongside Montreal and Halifax.

CN Rail CEO JJ Ruest has highlighted the underutilized network between Toronto and Halifax as manufacturing levels off in the eastern half of the country, leaving transport of consumer goods as a more promising opportunity for the railway.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2020

Companies in this story: (TSX:CNR)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 22:05:21|Editor: huaxia

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GUIYANG, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Authorities have begun procedures to establish sister-city relations between Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, and the city of Vicenza in Italy.

The two cities will forge ahead with cooperation in various fields during the process.

In March, a batch of medical donations from Guiyang arrived in the city of Vicenza to aid the fight against COVID-19. The supplies included 40,000 surgical masks, 5,000 pairs of medical gloves and 1,000 pairs of goggles.

The mayor of Vicenza expressed gratitude via a letter in April, and suggested beginning procedures to help Guiyang and Vicenza become sister cities.

Guiyang and Vicenza began friendly visits in 2018 and signed a memorandum of cooperation. A joint work team was established in May 2019 in regard to the friendly exchanges between the two cities.

The two sides plan to further cooperation in fields such as education, culture, tourism and manufacturing. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 15:10:33|Editor: huaxia

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SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Six civilians were killed as a roadside bomb struck a car in Mardian district of the northern Jawzjan province on Tuesday, provincial government spokesman Abdul Maroof Azar said Wednesday.

Three children and two women are among the victims, the official added.

Meantime, Interior Ministry spokesman Tareq Arian blamed the Taliban insurgents for organizing the deadly bombing.

The Taliban outfit which is active in parts of Jawszjan province with Shiberghan as its capital has yet to make comment. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 20:11:20|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 12 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Wednesday in a raid on IS hideouts in rugged areas in northern Iraq, the Iraqi military said.

Acting on intelligence reports, the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) forces, backed by Iraqi and international coalition aircraft, conducted the raid in Qara-Chokh Mountain near the town of Makhmour, some 60 km southeast of Nineveh's provincial capital Mosul, said Yehia Rasool, spokesman of the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, in a statement.

During the raid, 59 airstrikes were conducted on caves and positions used by IS militants in the area, according to the statement.

The raid came as the extremist IS militants intensified their attacks on the security forces, including Hashd Shaabi forces, and civilians in the formerly IS-controlled Sunni provinces, resulting in killing and wounding of dozens.

The security situation in Iraq has been improving since Iraqi security forces fully defeated the IS militants across the country late in 2017.

However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Enditem
The country's most affordable country towns have been revealed and house hunters could pick a property up for as little as $69,000.

The town with the lowest median price is in South Australia, while the rest of the top ten cheapest spots are all in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Peterborough, 249km north of Adelaide, is officially the country's most affordable town to buy a house with a median price of just $69,000.

Peterborough, 249km north of Adelaide, is officially the country's most affordable town to buy a house with a median price of just $69,000.

The three bedroom home pictured at 118 Moscow Street in Peterborough is going for $138,000

Wardle Co Real Estate agent Angus Barnden said the demand for rental properties and investment properties was growing in Peterborough.

'We've got lots of investors who want to buy there because return on investment is good, and there's not enough houses on the market to rent,' he told realestate.com.au.

Meanwhile Western Australia secured two spots on the top 10 list including Rangeway coming in second with $70,000 and Merredin at number five with $80,000.

For those looking to settle on the east coast, there were no properties in New South Wales, Victoria or the Australian Capital Territory with a median house price under the $100,000 mark.

In the Western Australian town Rangeway the median house price is $70,000; the home pictured at 73 Scott Road is selling for $79,000 according to realestate.com.au

Househunters can snap up a bargain in the town of Tara, a 2,000 person community in Queensland's Darling Downs region, where you can buy a home for a median price of $72,000. The property pictured at 19 Adams Street is going for $80,000 on realestate.com.au

But house hunters are able to snap up a bargain in five Queensland communities and two Tasmanian towns.

These include the town of Tara, a 2,000 person locale in Queensland's Darling Downs region, where you can buy a home for only $72,000.

Further afield homes in Charlesville in outback Queensland average $77,500.

The Apple Isle features properties with a median price of $85,000 in Rosebery, a former mining town nestled in the foothills of Mount Black on Tasmania's West Coast.

Comg in at number four on the list was Charleville in outback Queensland with the median price for a house $77,500. The property pictured at 11 Hilda Street is selling for $65,000 on realestate.com.au

But those considering a tree change may need to think twice before pulling the trigger.

Chief economist at realestate.com.au Nerida Conisbee said country towns usually don't offer the same job-opportunities as their city counterparts.

But she said with the shift towards the working from home model driven by COVID-19 could make it easier for people to relocate.

'While they are incredibly affordable, it might be difficult to get a job if you were to move there. As remote working accelerates, this may no longer be an issue for some people,' she said.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has dissolved parliament for snap elections on July 10, months before they are due and even as the city-state battles the coronavirus pandemic.

The dissolution of parliament late on Tuesday 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.

On Wednesday morning, the prime ministers estranged brother, Lee Hsien Yang, announced that he would join an opposition party to contest the elections, but had not yet decided if he would stand as a candidate.

Prime Minister Lee said the country must prepare for ups and downs, noting there had been a resurgence in cases in some countries that had reopened.





He also said Singapore had not felt the full brunt of the economic fallout yet, so there were likely to be more business closures and higher unemployment.

A long struggle lies ahead, he said in a televised speech.

An election now when things are relatively stable will clear the decks and give the new government a fresh full five-year mandate. It can then focus on this national agenda and the difficult decisions it will have to make and to carry.

Lees Peoples Action Party (PAP), which has held power uninterrupted since 1959, is widely expected to keep its overwhelming majority in parliament, where it currently holds 83 of the 89 seats.

Solid ruling bloc

Singapore was initially hailed as a model for containing the virus, but cases in the country of only 5.8 million people then soared to more than 42,000, one of the highest infection rates in Asia, with most linked to dormitories used to house foreign migrant workers.

Lee said infections in the dorms have declined, while cases outside have stabilised.

He said he decided to hold elections now because there was no assurance the pandemic would end by next April.





In a report issued on 16 June, Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights said smaller parties were likely to be put at a further disadvantage by measures imposed to reduce the coronavirus risk.

The group, which includes MPs from across Southeast Asia, noted that Singapores electoral bodies reported to the prime ministers office, campaigning usually lasted for only 11 days, and candidate registration fees were high, an issue compounded in the city-states multi-member constituencies.

As a result of the pandemic, the government has said political rallies will not be allowed and voters will be allocated time slots to cast their ballots on election day.

There is a reason the PAP has won every election since 1959, Teddy Baguilat Jr, the executive director of APHR and a former MP from the Philippines said at the launch of the report. The entire process is heavily stacked in its favour.

Opposite sides

Lee has said political parties can still campaign effectively, while voters will be able to cast ballots safely, citing examples in recent elections held in South Korea, Taiwan and several European countries. More polling stations would be set up, senior citizens would have priority, and safe distancing rules would be observed, he added.

The test for 68-year-old Lee, who wants to transfer power to his partys next generation of politicians, will be whether it can retain the 69.9 percent share of the vote it secured in 2015.

The Singapore Democratic Party, one of several small opposition parties, accused the PAP of putting its own political future above the safety and well-being of Singaporeans.

We are used to the uneven playing field, but this time, the PAP has outdone itself by banning rallies, limiting ground campaigns and totally monopolising the state media for broadcasts of their agenda, it said in a statement.

#PAPSingapore unveils first slate of candidates for July 10 #Singapore #GE2020: Desmond Tan Kok Ming, Edward Chia, Ivan Lim, Nadia Samdin #singaporevotes https://t.co/Q94b62zRhS  The Straits Times (@STcom) June 24, 2020

Meanwhile, the prime ministers brother, told Reuters he had joined the newly founded Progress Singapore Party.

Lee Hsien Yang has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with his brother over the house of their late father, Lee Kuan Yew.

We will see, Lee replied, when asked if he would stand as a candidate.
The Associated Press expects a delay in vote tabulation and race calls because a large number of voters cast absentee ballots. In New York City, election officials said they will begin counting absentee ballots the week of July 6. Precincts reporting figures are not shown.
Last weeks review

By Malkhaz Matsaberidze

The main topics of Georgian politics recently have been whether constitutional changes will be adopted, whether the opposition will be able to unite, and so on. Last week, new scandalous topics appeared- it became known that the murder of Georgian journalist Giorgi Gabunia was being prepared, the idea of postponing the elections was voiced by the government, and a group of American congressmen announced Bidzina Ivanishvili to be pursuing Russian policy. In addition to that, the upcoming anniversary of the night of June 20th was widely discussed.The public discussion of the draft constitutional amendments is nearing the end. Last week, the releasing of Giorgi Rurua was expected to stop the oppositions boycott and allow constitutional changes to be implemented with the support of the government and the parliamentary opposition. It is up to the government to make constitutional changes. It has two options - either to mobilize the votes of his supporters to ensure that the constitutional amendments are passed, or to make the changes fail and his non-acceptance will be blamed on the irresponsibility of the opposition.The idea of postponing the parliamentary elections was first voiced by the government last week - if the situation with the Corona epidemic in the country becomes complicated, the elections will be postponed to December. Such is the essence of this plan. The idea of postponing the elections was followed by outrage from the opposition.Statements have been made that the government is afraid of holding elections due to low ratings, that the anti-crisis plan launched by the government is intended for 6 months and will end in December. The issue of how the elections can be postponed will also be discussed - the constitutional amendments will take into account if a state of emergency is declared again, which will automatically mean the postponement of the elections. However, postponing the elections will be a politically dangerous step and will call into question the legitimacy of the government. In 2007, Saakashvili tried to postpone the elections, which was followed by protests.Last week, Mikheil Saakashvili again sharply criticized Bidzina Ivanishvili and called on the opposition to unite, adding that only in this way will the oligarch be defeated. Opposition parties, including European Georgia, the Labor Party and the newly formed Lelo didnt agree with the former president.Bidzina Ivanishvili is likely to have more concerns than worrying about Saakashvili, who has been criticized in Ukraine. The Republican National Committee's work on the National Security Strategy, which says a lot about supporting Georgia and protecting it from Russian aggression, also states that "Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia's richest man, is a close ally of Putin and is involved in destabilizing Georgia on behalf of Russia."The phrase received unanimous approval from the United Opposition and confused the Georgian Dream, whose statements seemed rather weak, saying it has been artificially added to the text.Meanwhile, another congressman, Mike Conway, has joined the sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili and Georgian Dream leaders. This is the 11th signature on the document initiated in 2019.The messages sent by Congressmen against Ivanishvili would probably have received more attention, but this topic was also covered by sensational information about the preparations for the murder of journalist Giorgi Gabunia. The Russian citizen, who was supposed to have committed a terrorist act, was allegedly sent by Ramzan Kadyrov and he is arrested on charges of forging documents. The information about the expected terrorist act has been revealed by the Ukrainian special services.Journalist Giorgi Gabunia, on July 7th, cursed Vladimir Putin live on TV. Recall that this happened after the June 20th news, when journalists denounced Gabunia's form of protest, and the government condemned Gabunia's behavior. There has been talk of imposing new sanctions on Georgia in the Russian Duma, but Putin said he forgave Gabunia, while Ramzan Kadyrov has threatened to retaliate against Gabunia.
In this photo provided by Cawthorn campaign staffer Patrick Sebastian, Madison Cawthorn speaks to supporters, Tuesday in Hendersonville, N.C. Read more

A 24-year-old real estate investor and motivational speaker in western North Carolina has defeated the candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump in a Republican runoff to vie for White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows seat in Congress, marking another race this election cycle that has bucked the presidents influence.

Madison Cawthorn, who will turn 25 in August, was the surprise victor in North Carolinas 11th Congressional District runoff against real estate agent Lynda Bennett with nearly two-thirds of the vote, according to The Associated Press. Bennett, 62, had endorsements not only from Trump but also from Meadows, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. Meadows vacated the seat in March to join the White House.

Voters have now snubbed the president's recommendation in at least three recent congressional races, blemishing his previously undefeated record. On Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., handily won the Republican primary after Trump called him a "disaster for America" and a "third-rate grandstander" when Massie opposed the coronavirus stimulus package in March.

Earlier this month, self-described biblical conservative Bob Good ousted incumbent Rep. Denver Riggleman, R-Va., in a primary convention in Virginia's 5th District, despite Riggleman's endorsement from Trump. That was the first time this election cycle, out of 73 races, that a Trump favorite did not win.

On Tuesday night, Cawthorn said he did not believe his victory indicated the president's influence on voters was waning.

"I want to make something clear," he said in a statement. "I support our great president. I do not believe this election has been a referendum on the president's influence. The people of western North Carolina are wise and discerning. You observed both candidates and simply made the choice you believed is best for our district."

Cawthorn will face off against Democrat Moe Davis, a former military prosecutor, in November in the GOP-leaning district, which encompasses western North Carolina's mountainous region. If elected, Cawthorn would become the youngest member in the House; the Constitution requires members of the House be at least 25 to hold office. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who is 30, is the youngest member right now.

Bennett had yet to concede as of early Wednesday morning, but the state GOP accepted the results.

Cawthorn's unexpected victory capped a dramatic late-game race for Meadows's seat after he announced he would not seek reelection just 30 hours before the December filing deadline. Meadows personally knew several of the dozen Republicans vying to replace him, including both Cawthorn and Bennett.

In late 2013, the congressman nominated then-homeschooled Cawthorn to the U.S. Naval Academy. But that plan was derailed months later in the spring of 2014, when Cawthorn nearly died in a serious car accident in Florida. He was left partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair.

In an interview with the North State Journal last month, Cawthorn said things started looking up for him later in 2014 when he attended a reelection victory party for Meadows, whom Cawthorn described as a mentor. He said Meadows knelt down to his eye-level to ask him to come work in his office, which provided Cawthorn the boost he needed during a dark time. He said he realized, "I can still do this."

He would later run his own real estate business and give motivational speeches. He told the Washington Examiner in a profile last month that the accident "has given me the resolve" to represent the 11th District.

But Cawthorn's mentor quickly endorsed his opponent after she entered the race. Meadows said in an ad paid for by House Freedom Action that Bennett was his "good friend," "a conservative outsider, not a professional politician," who would "work with President Trump to drain the swamp."

Bennett "is notoriously the best friend of Debbie Meadows. So I believe Congressman Mark Meadows is doing a favor to his wife, and that's why she received these endorsements," Cawthorn told the North State Journal.

Cawthorn still talked up his ties to Meadows and support for Trump on his campaign website, saying he hoped to "continue his great work." Beneath a photo of Cawthorn holding a rifle across his shoulders with a handgun strapped to his chest, he describes himself as a constitutional conservative who opposes sanctuary cities, "the Democrats' plan to create socialized medicine," tax hikes and abortion. In an Asheville Citizen Times candidate survey earlier this year he said the most pressing problem facing America was "the rise of socialism, especially among my generation, and I plan to combat that head on."

He told the Examiner he viewed his age as a strength.

"I have had the misfortune of not being on this earth as long as my opponent has been," he said. "But I don't think that's a weakness. I think it gives me a vigor, it gives me a fire, and it gives me a fight that you're not going to see in someone who is going to rest on their laurels and say, 'Oh, I'm successful.' "

Bennett, also in the real estate business, outgunned Cawthorn in almost every respect. She outraised him, $366,500 to Cawthorn's $201,700, according to campaign finance filings. She collected the endorsements of major conservative groups, such as the House Freedom Fund, the American Conservative Union and Susan B. Anthony List, a PAC opposed to abortion rights.

Then Trump threw his support behind Bennett on Twitter twice, on June 4 and again on June 16.

"@LyndaBennettNC has my Complete & Total Endorsement," Trump wrote on June 16. "She is a great fighter & ally in North Carolina. Lynda is Strong on Crime, Borders, Military, our Great Vets & 2A. She will be a great help to me in DC. We need Lynda to help DRAIN THE SWAMP! VOTE EARLY!"

Cawthorn, taking a page out of the Trump playbook, campaigned against Bennett by associating her flashy endorsements as a sign that she was the swampier, establishment favorite and that he was the independent candidate beholden to no one. He bashed Bennett for declining to debate him, saying in one ad that she had failed to "show up for the job interview."

"I won't cower behind big-name endorsements, and I certainly won't be beholden to any PAC bosses," he said.

On Tuesday night, the North Carolina Republican Party congratulated Cawthorn and said it had full confidence he would defeat his Democratic opponent in November. Cawthorn said Tuesday night that he was ready to bring a "new generation of leadership" to Washington.

While the far left is lighting our cities on fire, we are lifting the light of liberty. Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden may not be able to control where the Democrats are going but, together, we can, Cawthorn said.
Resigned from Haringey and Enfield superintendent role in January this year

She and colleagues also reported a drawing of a swastika at a police station

Claims she was met with a wall of 'hostility' every time she sought promotion

A former high ranking police officer has claimed she was forced to resign from the Met because of 'institutional racism' and a hostile work environment.

The unnamed female Pakistani Muslim officer has made two claims with an employment tribunal against the London force, after leaving her position as a superintendent in January this year.

She is believed to have been the most senior female BAME and Muslim officer in the Met at the time.

The claims allege that white colleagues were 'routinely' favoured for promotion, and that she and other BAME colleagues were discriminated against, undermined and bullied, according to the Guardian.

She was among the officers who reported a drawing of a swastika found in a police station in 2019 to senior staff - but no action was ever taken.

An unnamed female Pakistani Muslim officer has made two claims with an employment tribunal against the London force, after leaving her position as a superintendent in January this year

The former employee had been working for Scotland Yard since the 1980s, and only began her senior management role at Haringey and Enfield in May 2018.

She first put forward a legal claim in August 2019, saying that while her hard work ethic and performance had been recognised by senior colleagues, she was met with a wall of 'hostility' when seeking promotion.

'If it were not for the institutional racism at the force, I would have achieved more senior rank,' she writes in the legal claim.

But after facing resistance, it is alleged a senior white officer told her to go through mediation on the matter rather than putting in a formal complaint.

When she attempted to go through process however, she found that mediation reduced claims of racism to 'poor management judgment'. She added that she was then harassed while filing a complaint.

She then tried to resign in late 2019, but stayed on with the promise of career development. When this did not materialise, she resigned in January 2020.

A Met Police spokesperson said: 'We actively encourage our officers and staff to challenge such behaviour if it is displayed and report it through the appropriate channels.'

But after further months of feeling she had little chance of her career being supported, she claims she was eventually forced to resign  constructively dismissed  due to the hostile working environment in January 2020.

Metropolitan Police have confirmed the officer has brought a claim, but that it would be 'inappropriate to comment further ahead of the employment tribunal hearing'.

The force highlighted that it has made a number of 'major' changes to the way complaints about discrimination and victimisation in the workplace are investigated, and that it 'champions fairness and equality'.

A spokesperson said: 'We actively encourage our officers and staff to challenge such behaviour if it is displayed and report it through the appropriate channels.'

The unnamed officer was also involved in reporting a drawing of a swastika at a police station to senior staff in 2019.

But in her complaint, she said that senior staff at the Met tried to silence her and colleagues and failed to investigate the drawing. No action was taken over the Nazi symbol.

Lawrence Davies, the lawyer representing the former officer, said: 'Her case is emblematic of racist work environments.

'In the context of the George Floyd tragedy, it is essential we move away from the Metropolitan polices present institutional denial of racism and towards the acceptance of inequality and then to tackle the issue head-on. Racist officers must be dismissed, not promoted.'
In previous years, graduating seniors from Santa Fe Indian School would wait patiently for their name to be called.

Dressed in their respective regalia, each would received a high school diploma.

With the pandemic in full force, students returned home in mid-March and SFIS made an attempt for remote learning.

New Mexico tribes responded to the health concerns by closing borders and restricting off-reservation travel of tribal members to stop the spread of the virus.

To protect families and communities, the 19 Pueblo Governors, whos pueblos own and operate SFIS, counseled school leaders to provide a virtual online graduation.

A caveat remained  tribal lands are on the wrong side of the digital divide with 41% of people living on tribal lands lacking access to broadband. The deficit jumping to 68% for those living in rural areas.

At the last governors leadership meeting, we asked their feedback and guidance with SFIS, says Kimball Sekaquaptewa, PIO and chief technology director at SFIS. We shared our experience of what it was like and shared some possibilities of what school could look like.

Students connected to classes in any way they could, often relying on the parking lot Wi-Fi of the tribal libraries, cellular data plans where there was coverage, or bought pre-paid cellular data plans as they could afford it. Others didnt connect at all and alternative means of communication were used.

Some seniors typed up their capstone research papers on their cell phones.

One student hand wrote the paper and took pictures of the pages.

Despite the challenges, the 107 seniors of the graduating class persevered, determined to take lifes next step.

The SFIS graduation is one of the most beautiful events that just does not compare to other graduations, said Faith Rosetta, SFIS principal. In any other year, the seniors enter the Everett F. Chavez Pueblo Pavilion adorned in their finest traditional garments to a traditional drumbeat and a packed audience of 3,000 family, friends, school staff and tribal leaders.

SFIS is an off-reservation boarding school. Two-thirds of students live in the dorms for five days a week.

Not to mention that the school brings students from all 19 Pueblos, Navajo Nation, and Apache Tribes, which is a lot of ground to cover.

That has become the focus of the conversation, Sekaquaptewa said. Parents wanted to wait for a graduation. But bringing people together in these times. In our small native communities, every person is such a treasure that we didnt want to put anyone at risk.

Then came the fact that most of native communities dont have access to high-speed internet.

Enter New Mexico PBS and First Nations Experience (FNX).

The station will broadcast the virtual celebration for seniors and eight graders at 6 p.m. Friday, June 26, and again at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, both broadcasts will be on channel 5.3. Those interested can also view it online at portal.knme.org.

We were trying to get around the fact that rural Indian lands dont have high-speed internet, she said. The suggestion came up to partner with New Mexico PBS. They were supportive of the idea and found a way to help. The idea of broadcasting it is the best way to get across to the 19 pueblos, as well as the Apache Nation and Navajo Nation.
(Support Free Thought) -

Atlanta, GA  The arrest and murder of George Floyd last month set off one of the largest protests in American history. Unfortunately, they were not all peaceful and many places saw rioting and destruction as many communities found themselves unable to contain their rage. Atlanta, Georgia was one of these places. After the protests began to subside, however, something quite telling began to happen in the city. Crime dropped dramatically.

Prior to Atlanta officers killing Rayshard Brooks in a botched DUI stop, crime began plummeting. Even after the brief unrest from protests due to Brooks, crime was still on the decline.

Though many officers from the APD called in sick after the cop who killed Brooks was charged, records show they were refusing to do their jobs well before this.

According to a scathing report from WSB-TV, prior to police killing Brooks and throwing a collective temper tantrum, traffic stops were already down a whopping 80 percent. When cops arent extorting people for victimless crimes like window tint, license plate lights, seat belts and other arbitrary offenses, there is no need to defund police because this will do that for them.

The union representative who spoke to WSB-TV said the officers are refusing to do their jobs because they are scared to be put in jail if they hurt someone. Seriously.

Its a reflection of the officers nervousness or, you know, hesitation to be the next officer thats put in jail, said Vince Champion, with the International Brotherhood of Police Officers. When you approach a car, you have absolutely no idea whats going on.

Hes right that you do not know what is going on but the overwhelming majority of police interactions are for traffic stops in which there is no victim and both begin and end peacefully. However, many of these stops are used as a pretext for fishing for other alleged criminal acts, which is why the protests began in the first place as statistics show they are targeted more toward minorities.

This is a fact Champion has no problem admitting but implies citizens should be worried because it is not happening.

Those officers who wouldve been pulling over the suspicious vehicles, patrolling the neighborhoods, getting out with people at two or three oclock in the morning wandering in yards and things like that, so we might be able to do proactive and stop that. I dont know that thats being done as much as it used to, Champion said.

According to WSB-TV,

Records show that in the week starting six days before the Brooks shooting, Atlanta police made just 709 traffic stops citywide. Thats a drop of 79% from the same week a year ago. And it was more than traffic stops. Arrests for serious offenses such as rape, armed robbery and murder dropped 64% that week compared to a year earlier. Total arrests citywide dropped 71%.

And guess what  Atlanta did not descend into chaos once police stopped making arrests. It is highly irresponsible for police to stop arresting murderers and rapists; and if they are refusing to do so, they need to be immediately fired. However, it is likely a mixture of both. A city spokesperson actually confirmed that crime was in a decline before cops refused to arrest people and before the protests began.

APD attributes the reduction in crime predominately to a week over week reduction that had occurred since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic  in addition to the curfew, the statement read.

However, the curfew ended 7 days before the period mentioned in the drops above, implying that people appear to be policing themselves quite well.

As TFTP has reported before, even when cops simply refused to do make arrests and write tickets when citizens were on the streets, cities do not simply descend into chaos.

In September, the NYPD threw a temper tantrum after Police Commissioner James ONeill fired the killer cop who choked the life out of Eric Garner on video in 2014. The temper tantrum resulted in a plunge in arrests, but it did not lead to a spike in crime or violence  illustrating how most of the policing done in the US, is little more than revenue generation.

We saw a similar reaction in December 2014 when the NYPD threw their first temper tantrum over the reaction to Eric Garners death and simply stopped doing their jobs.

During the work stoppage, the city set a record for the lowest numbers of murders in the history of the NYPD.

As we reported at the time, the numbers were drastic in nature.

Citations for traffic violations fell by 94 percent, from 10,069 to 587, during that time frame. Summonses for low-level offenses like public drinking and urination also plunged 94 percent  from 4,831 to 300. Even parking violations are way down, dropping by 92 percent, from 14,699 to 1,241. Drug arrests by cops assigned to the NYPDs Organized Crime Control Bureau  which are part of the overall number  dropped by 84 percent, from 382 to 63.

The decline in crime coinciding with the decline in police activity essentially made the case that most policing carried out in the United States is done so for the purpose of revenue collection and not to fight crime.

Drug offenses, parking violations, and traffic citations are not so much crimes, as they are streams of revenue for the city. They are also the reason for the majority of police harassment within particular communities; harassment that is being proven entirely unnecessary.

Imagine a police force that acted more like firefighters or EMTs. Firefighters dont have to go door to door looking for fires, in order to be effective. EMTs, just like firefighters wait for a call before reacting and their services are oft proven invaluable contrary to that of police work. Perhaps this recent chaos can be used to channel this notion to the forefront and completely revamp the idea of policing in the land of the free. One can certainly dream.

Source: The Free Thought Project

Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Minds.
STAMFORD  Alcohol might have been a factor in a major crash on Saturday, which left one person with life-threatening injuries, police said Tuesday.

The initial investigation indicated that speed was a factor in the collision, police said Tuesday. Further investigation has led to the belief that alcohol may also be a factor.
Protesters attempt to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House on June 22, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The Left Pushes to Finally Take Down America

Commentary

Decades in preparation, the future United States of America that the international left intends to fashion is near at hand.

Since the arrival of the Frankfurt School of Marxist philosophers, cranks, crackpots, and creeps on our shores in the 1930s, the Enlightenment foundations of our nation have been under constant attack.

Wielding their pseudo-intellectual doctrine of Critical Theory as a battering ram, men like Herbert Marcuse, Theodor Adorno, Erich Fromm, and Wilhelm Reich saw it as their duty to undermine every legal and social American institution, from the family, to traditional sexuality, to academe, pop culture, government, and even the military. Nothing was safe from their iniquitous inquisition.

At first, they seemed vaguely ridiculous, a bunch of nutty professors with Dr. Strangelove accents. But dont be fooled.

Reich, a Freudian psychiatrist who often treated his patients in the nude, invented the sexual revolution, later popularized by Hugh Hefner in the pages of Playboy. His quack theories about sexuality were called a fraud of the first magnitude by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and he died, intermittently psychotic, in federal prison in 1957.

Adorno, who had been a modern music composer and critic back in Germany, moved to Los Angeles and hated everything about it, including the weather.

Worst of all was Marcusewhose pomposity was gleefully skewered by Joel and Ethan Coen in their 2016 comedy, Hail, Caesar!a social destabilizer who first penetrated the Office of Strategic Services (the OSS, forerunner of the CIA), then corrupted generations of American college students at Columbia University (where the expat Frankfurters first found refuge), Harvard, Brandeis, and finally the University of California at San Diego.

It was Marcuse who invented the theory of repressive tolerance, which might best be described as tolerance for me, but not for thee: The realization of the objective of tolerance would call for intolerance toward prevailing policies, attitudes, opinions, and the extension of tolerance to policies, attitudes, and opinions which are outlawed or suppressed.

What he didnt mention was that tolerance toward such inimical aberrations as Marxism would only last until it triumphed, after which tolerance would be abolished.

(For more on Critical Theory, and the Frankfurt School and their wholly deleterious effects on American and Western civilization, please see my 2015 book, The Devils Pleasure Palace, and its 2018 sequel, The Fiery Angel.)

And so were experiencing now the full fruition of the Frankfurt Schools cultural revolution and what the German communist Rudi Dutschke, referencing Mao, famously called the long march through the institutions.

What the Soviet Union failed to do economically and militarily during its losing 20th-century confrontation with the West, cultural Marxism has come close to realizing: the collapse of Western Civilization via the destruction of what the Russian communists used to refer to as the principal enemythe United States.

Setting Kindling Ablaze

Having drilled several generations of students in Marxist cantwhenever you hear words like systemic, struggle, structural, change, fundamental transformation, et al., you know youre dealing with Marxiststhe tinder was laid, and all the new left needed was a match.

The election of Donald Trump four years ago at first shocked and then galvanized them, birthing the resistance and unleashing the Russian collusion hoax, the Ukrainian impeachment charade (Lt. Col. Vindman, anybody?) and, with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody in late May, an unchained Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, along with its largely white auxiliaries (and Marcuses bastard children), Antifa.

Presto; the national media now marches in Stalinist lockstep with the shibboleths of BLM, beginning with the demonstrably false accusation that cops are targeting young black males for extinction.

In a trice, riots have broken out, monuments to American heroes, including some of the Founding Fathers, have been pulled down a la Saddam Hussein after the first Gulf War, and whole areas of American cities are suddenly occupied by violent anarchists. How quickly the illegal COVID-19 lockdowns were forgotten in the name of social justiceand yet how long their unconstitutional effects have lingered.

It is as if somebody had given the signal, and suddenly, in blue cities across the land, not only BLM and the Antifa punks have risen to show their true colors, but the politicians who run those cities as well.

The white mayor of Seattle, Jenny Durkan, has been content to watch her city burn, its downtown illegally designated as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone or, latterly, the Capitol Hill Organized Protestalthough she now says it will be taken back by the authorities.

Meanwhile, the black mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, seems indifferent to the weekly death toll of young black Americans, murdered by other young black Americans. On June 22 alone, 41 Chicagoans were shot, six of them fatally. Apparently their lives dont matter, as they serve no political purpose.

White Supremacy

Make no mistake: This assault has been planned and coordinated for years to strike America where she is weakest: in her innate sense of rightness and fair play. Martin Luther King Jr.s civil rights movement was heavily penetrated by the Soviets, who cynically felt they could manipulate American emotions while appealing to the better angels of our nature. But how quickly we have moved from Kings plea that we judge a man by the content of his character and back to the color of his skin.

Marxists see the world in categorical terms: You are not an individual (individuals are too difficult to control), but a member of a group (mobs are easy), subgroup, or even many subgroups (hence the proliferation of sexual categories from the genuine 2 to 46, by one recent count). Meanwhile, the enemy remains the same: the white, probably Christian, male.

Accordinglyand with astonishing rapidityWestern civilization from Aquinas to Mozart to Ronald Reagan now effectively equals white supremacy, and therefore must be destroyed.

Monuments to Washington, Jefferson, Francis Scott Key, and even Teddy Roosevelt have fallen or been marked for removal. Never mind that Roosevelt was the first president to host a black man, the great Booker T. Washington, at a dinner party in the White House (an event memorialized in Scott Joplins now-lost ragtime opera, A Guest of Honor. Joplin, who was black, also saluted Roosevelt in his rag, The Strenuous Life, after Roosevelts 1899 speech of the same name). He must go.

Which is also why statues of both Robert E. Lee, who led the principal Confederate force, the army of Northern Virginia, and the man Abraham Lincoln selected to crush him, the Ohio-born heartlander Ulysses S. Grant, are both being pulled down. It doesnt matter that they were antitheses in life. What matters is that they are both significant figures from the past of a country that in the lefts eyes has no future, because it doesnt deserve one.

Critical Theory

Dont look for logic in the Marxists selection of targets. Critical Theory seeks to undermine our self-knowledge and cultural self-confidence by insisting that everything is a construct, a plot by the privileged against the oppressed.

It holds that there is no received tenet of civilization that shouldnt be questioned (the slogan question authority originated with the Frankfurt School), attacked, and destroyed. Our cultural totems, values, and taboos are declared either arbitrary, or the result of a long-ago conspiracy, steadfastly maintained down through the ages.

But where is the pushback? Republicans, the heirs to Lincoln and Grant, have fled the field. Led by the feckless former House speaker and failed vice presidential candidate, Paul Ryan, the Republicans ceded the lower chamber to the Democrats in 2018.

Partly as a result, President Donald Trump is in the fight of his life. Should he lose to the semi-animated hologram of a gibbering Joe Biden, and the Democrats recapture the Senate (very possible), who will be left to defend the nation?

Something to think about as we head into campaign season.

Michael Walsh is the editor of The-Pipeline.org and the author of The Devils Pleasure Palace and The Fiery Angel, both published by Encounter Books. His latest book,Last Stands, a cultural study of military history from the Greeks to the Korean War, will be published in December by St. Martins Press. Follow him on Twitter @dkahanerules.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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Two separate teams of academic researchers on Wednesday published papers describing flaws in Intels Software Guard Extensions (SGX).

SGX, a set of instructions, enhances application security by letting developers partition sensitive information into enclaves  areas of execution in memory with hardware-assisted enhanced security protection. The aim is to protect application code and data from disclosure or modification.

Attestation services let users verify the identity of an application enclave before launching the application.

The recently uncovered flaws can prevent SGX from achieving its goal, the research teams showed. SGAxe: How SGX Fails in Practice describes compromises to long-term storage. CrossTalk: Speculative Data Leaks Across Cores Are Real describes cross-core attacks that could allow attackers to control data leakage.

Broken Trust, Broken Code

SGAxe effectively breaks the most appealing feature of SGX, which is the ability on an enclave to prove its trustworthiness over the network, wrote researchers Stephan van Schaik, Andrew Kwong and Daniel Genkin, all of the University of Michigan, and researcher Yuval Yarom of the University of Adelaide.

The researchers attacked SGX architectural enclaves that were provided and signed by Intel, and retrieved the secret attestation key used for cryptographically proving the enclaves are genuine over a network, which let them pass off fake enclaves as genuine.

The CrossTalk researchers found that some instructions read data from a staging buffer shared among all CPU cores involved. They presented the first cross-core attack using transient execution and showed it could be used to attack SGX enclaves running on a completely different core, letting an attacker control leakage using practical performance degradation attacks and discovering enclave private keys.

We have demonstrated that this is a realistic attack, wrote Hany Ragab, Alyssa Milburn, Herbert Bos and Cristiano Giuffrida of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in The Netherlands and Kaveh Razavi of ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

We have also seen that, yet again, it is almost trivial to apply these attacks to break code running in Intels secure SGX enclaves, they added.

The researchers built a profiler, dubbed CrossTalk, using performance counters, to examine the number and nature of complex microcoded instructions that perform offcore requests. When combined with transient execution vulnerabilities such as Microarchitectural Data Sampling (MDS), these operations can reveal the internal state of a CPU.

Even recent Intel CPUs  including those used by public cloud providers to support SGX enclaves  are vulnerable to these attacks, the researchers wrote.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Intel CPUs vulnerable to the latest attacks are listed here.

Flawed Design

In both cases, the research teams employedside-channel attacks to exploit the vulnerabilities.

SGX doesnt protect against microarchitectural side-channel attacks because doing so is a matter for the enclave developer, according to Intel.

Four CPU flaws, including Zombieload and Fallout, affected Intel core CPUs last year.

Its beginning to look like SGX was a flawed design, said Kevin Krewell, principal analyst at Tirias Research.

Intel really needs to rethink its security methods, he told TechNewsWorld. The company has been putting more resources into security, but the work is not over.

Perhaps security should be offloaded onto a more secure coprocessor on die thats not in the critical application performance path, Krewell remarked.

On the other hand, an application that uses Intel SGX for added protection is always more secure than if it doesnt, noted Ambuj Kumar, CEO of Fortanix, the first company to bring an Intel SGX-based workload to production, in 2016.

Hardware-based security is new, and just as software codes can be buggy, hardware can be buggy too, Kumar told TechNewsWorld There is such a thing as a hardware zero-day exploit. Our goal should be to accelerate the cycle of finding these vulnerabilities and fixing them.

Further, side-channel is a general problem that affects both hardware and software systems, he noted. Some can only be mitigated at the application level and others at the CPU level, so there is not one solution.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Keeping a Tight Lid on Vulnerabilities

SGX is one of a number of Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs). ARM, AMD and Intel have proposed TEEs, but Intel SGX is currently the leader.

Intel SGX has gotten its fair share of researchers attention, which leads to several vulnerabilities having been discovered, Kumar said.

We should welcome these. Its only when a bug is found that it can be fixed, he noted.

Intel has been pretty collaborative in rolling out updates to fix vulnerabilities, and it works tightly with partners such as Fortanix to minimize the probability of attacks, Kumar noted. We have no reason to believe any of the Intel SGX vulnerabilities ever reported have ever been exploited.

Microsoft Azure, IBM and Alibaba are among the large organizations using Fortanixs Intel SGX-based solutions. IBM has at least 10 corporate customers on its Fortanix-powered IBM Cloud Data Shield depending on SGX for security.

No Harm, No Foul

The SGAxe team notified Intel of its findings in October and Intel indicated it would publish a fix June 9, which it did.

The delay likely was due to testing, Tirias Krewell suggested. Every fix could have its own problems and could introduce new vulnerabilities or software incompabiities.

Updated systems from Fortanix and others are not susceptible to these vulnerabilities, Kumar said.

Microsoft deployed the security update from Intel to our affected services prior to public disclosure, a spokesperson said in a statement provided to TechNewsWorld by company rep Emily Chounlamany.

Our cloud customers were not impacted by these vulnerabilities, the spokesperson added.

While CPU manufacturers focus on finding and fixing vulnerabilities, companies like Fortanix exist to mitigate them, said Kumar. Standard techniques such as defense in depth can go a long way to provide a more usable and secure system, even in the presence of zero-day vulnerabilities.

On the whole, hardware-based security is preferable to a software-based solution, Kumar observed. The unfortunate reality of software-only security is that even if your code is bug-free, your data may be stolen because of a vulnerability in someone elses code.
The President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has described as disappointing, the dismissal of its amicus curiae brief, by the Supreme Court today.

IMANI Africa and some other civil society groups were seeking to be considered as friends of the court in the case involving the Electoral Commission's planned voter registration exercise.

But the Supreme Court threw out the application today, Wednesday, June 24, 2020, saying the processes as filed were not supported by law.

But Franklin Cudjoe in an interview said, although they are disappointed at the Supreme Courts decision, they accept it.

Well, on the onset of this application, we did say that we were at the benevolence more or less of the law and so what they decide to do we will live with it. It is just that we are disappointed that the court didnt even consider the brief itself.

We think they would have benefitted greatly from it, but look, the laws have spoken and we cant quarrel with that. We just have to live with it. But I hope that the decision they eventually arrive at will be a decision everyone can live with in this country. Im just disappointed and I think my colleagues are equally disappointed, he said.

IMAN, Conservative Policy Research Center, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability and Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation, had applied to the Court seeking to provide additional information on the pending suits at the Supreme Court in the voters register case.

---citinewsroom
In Missouri, two hairstylists tested positive for Covid-19 after working in close contact with 140 clients and six coworkers. Local health officials feared it would be the start of a major outbreak.

But it wasnt.

The reason? Employees and patrons at the Great Clips salon were required to wear masks, health officials said.

The result appears to be one of the clearest real-world examples of the ability of masks to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Washington Post wrote this month. Local health officials are studying the details of the Springfield, Missouri, incident, including what types of face coverings were used and what other precautions were taken.

The fact that none of the exposed people became ill is something we need to think about, said Dr. Claudia Hoyen, director of pediatric infection control at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital.

There are definite lessons we can learn from this, Hoyen said. This is a good example of why we all should be wearing masks.

The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 spreads when infected persons expel the virus in airborne droplets while talking or coughing. When people wear a mask, fewer droplet are released, and the ones that are released dont travel as far, Hoyen said.

I believe masks play a role in protecting people from the coronavirus, she said.

The salons policies of spreading out patrons chairs, staggering appointments and other measures, also helped prevent the spread of the disease, local health officials said.

When MetroHealth Systems Dr. Nick Dreher heard about what happened at the Great Clips hair salon, he wondered  were they lucky, or were they smart?

There was some luck involved, but also smart choices in the form of social distancing, sanitizing tools and surfaces, and requiring masks, said Dreher, medical director of the Population Health Innovation Institute at MetroHealth.

They did a lot of things right, he said.

Social distancing and other measures dont afford 100% protection from Covid-19, but they do help, Dreher said.

All those who had close contact with the sick hair stylists in Missouri were offered free testing but only 46 agreed to be tested. Dreher called the incident a good outcome, not a perfect outcome, because not everyone in the pool of 140 people were tested.

While mask-wearing may have averted an outbreak in Missouri, the opposite happened recently in Florida.

A group of 16 friends tested positive for the illness after celebrating a birthday in a crowded bar. At least seven bar employees have also reportedly tested positive for the disease, according to news reports. Members of the birthday group said no one was wearing masks.

New research is also examining the effectiveness of wearing a face covering in slowing the spread of Covid-19.

Scientists at University of California, San Diego, Caltech and Texas A&M looked at the worlds three Covid-19 epicenters: Wuhan, China; Italy, and New York City. They saw that in Wuhan, where mask-wearing is part of the culture, the spread was relatively slow. But case numbers continued to climb in Italy and New York City, despite lockdown and stay-at-home orders.

A separate study funded by the World Health Organization and recently published in the journal Lancet reviewed more than 170 studies and found evidence that wearing face coverings reduces the risk of Covid-19 infection.

Hoyen hopes the examples in Florida and Missouri, combined with new research, make wearing a mask more acceptable.

If everybody wears masks, were all much more protected, she said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 15-year-old male arrived by private means at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze after being shot in Clifton, according to police.

The victim was involved in a dispute with an unknown perpetrator who fired a gun in the rear of a building on the 100 block of Park Hill Avenue around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to an NYPD spokesman.

The teen suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the torso, including in the lower back and chest, but is expected to recover from his injuries, the police spokesman said.

No arrests have been made and a description for the suspect is unavailable, police said.

The incident is the third shooting in three days on Staten Island.

A 28-year-old man was shot and injured late on Monday night in New Brighton.

The man was shot multiple times in various part of his body in the incident reported at 11:39 p.m. on the 200 block of Jersey Street, according to an NYPD spokesman.

He is considered likely to recover from wounds to the abdomen, leg and buttocks.

Early Sunday morning, a verbal dispute between two drivers erupted in gunfire when an unidentified motorist pulled alongside another vehicle at 2:36 a.m. near the intersection of Dekalb and Targee streets in Concord and, after an exchange of words, opened fire.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 05:12:06|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The UN-backed Libyan prime minister Fayez Serraj on Wednesday met with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio in Libyan capital Tripoli, according to a statement issued by the Libyan prime minister's information office.

"The two sides stressed the importance of returning to the political track and rejecting negative external interventions in the Libyan affairs," the statement said.

The two sides also discussed the European Operation IRINI against arms smuggling to Libya, where the prime minister reiterated the need for the operation to be "comprehensive and integrated by land, air and sea."

The Operation IRINI was launched recently in order to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya, where Serraj's UN-backed government and the rival eastern-based army were engaged in deadly armed conflict over control of Tripoli for more than a year.

The officials also discussed closure of the oil ports and fields in Libya and the need to resume exporting oil, the statement said.

According to the state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC), Libya has lost about 6 billion U.S. dollars since the closure of the country's oil ports and fields in January. Enditem
Imphal, June 25 : BJP general secretary Ram Madhav here on Wednesday expressed confidence that the N. Biren Singh-led government in Manipur would complete its five-year term till 2022.

Madhav, who is the BJP in-charge for northeast states, said that though the stability issues of the state government are being raised for the past one year. It has been found that the coalition ministry in Manipur has always been stable and winning elections.

"Take it from me, BJP-led government is stable and will continue till the next assembly elections in 2022," Madhav told the media immediately after his arrival in Manipur capital Imphal.

He said: "We are celebrating and felicitating our newly elected Rajya Sabha member. It was a grand victory for the people of Manipur and the BJP leadership." Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said: "Since ours is an coalition government and there are issues of disputes, the central leadership is simply enquiring about the matter and it is simply a family issue." He further said: "We won the Rajya Sabha poll on June 19 in Manipur. Everything was transparent and was openly accessible to the people. We are not at all worried about the party and government's stability." On June 17, four-member NPP (National People's Party), Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has one MLA, and an Independent MLA withdrew their support to N. Biren Singh-led coalition government causing a political crisis in the state.

To deal with the situation, Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP national President Conrad K. Sangma, Assam Minister and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma, state BJP, NPP and other leaders held a series of meetings in Imphal before the four NPP lawmakers sent to Delhi to hold meetings with Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP's National President J.P. Nadda and other central leaders.

While the key opposition Congress claimed that the BJP-led government in Manipur had lost its majority, the BJP said the issue had been settled with the victory of its candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls.

A delegation of the Congress on June 17 met Governor Najma Heptulla and demanded to convene a special session of the assembly for a floor test. The delegation also told the Governor that a Congress-led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government would be formed in Manipur under three-time Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
BELGRADE, Serbia - An international prosecutor has indicted Kosovos president and nine other former rebel fighters with war crimes and crimes against humanity during and after a 1998-99 armed conflict between the ethnic Albanian separatists and Serbia.

The charges were made public on Wednesday as both the European Union and the United States intensify efforts to facilitate a durable settlement to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo after decades of tensions and thousands of lost lives.

While Kosovo declared independence in 2008, Serbia has refused to formally let go of its former province. The issue remains the last source of instability stemming from the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

Here is a look at Kosovo and the history of the conflict:

WHERE IS KOSOVO?

Kosovo is a small landlocked country in the Western Balkans, surrounded by Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The nation of 1.8 million is predominantly ethnic Albanian and includes ethnic Serb, Roma and smaller minority groups.

Kosovo used to be an autonomous province in Serbia, and as such, part of the former, Communist-run Yugoslavia. The ethnic tensions that later fueled the bloody breakup of the multi-ethnic Yugoslav federation started during the late 1980s in Kosovo but did not explode into open conflict there until 1998.

WHEN DID IT ALL START?

Disputes over the right to claim the 10,887-square-kilometres that make up Kosovo go back decades, if not centuries.

Serbs view Kosovo as their national heartland and trace their presence to hundreds of medieval Serbian Orthodox Church monasteries dotting the province. A 1389 battle that Serbs lost against Ottoman Turks is a key moment in the nations collective history.

The majority Albanian Kosovars insist they are Kosovos oldest inhabitants. First granted and then stripped of self-governance within Serbia and the former Yugoslavia, ethnic Albanians claimed they were oppressed by the Serbian state before their fighters launched a rebellion in 1998.

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE WAR?

After years of peaceful resistance, ethnic Albanians in Kosovo formed rebel Kosovo Liberation Army units and launched sporadic attacks on Serb police and army divisions in 1998. Serbia, led at the time by nationalist strongman Slobodan Milosevic, responded with a brutal crackdown that triggered NATO intervention in 1999.

More than 10,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died during the war in Kosovo and a million were driven from their homes before the NATO bombing campaign forced Serbia to pull its troops out of Kosovo and cede control to the United Nations and NATO. Thousands of Serb civilians also fled with the Serbian army and police. Those who stayed behind later faced revenge attacks.

HAVE THERE BEEN WAR CRIMES TRIALS BEFORE?

A United Nations tribunal for the former Yugoslavia tried a number of top Serbian officials and army and police commanders for war crimes committed against ethnic Albanian civilians during the Kosovo conflict. Milosevic also was indicted over Kosovo atrocities by the court in The Hague, Netherlands, but he died in 2006 while still on trial.

While most of the atrocities in Kosovo have been blamed on the Serbs, top rebel Kosovo Liberation Army commanders, including President Thaci, were accused of responsibility for kidnappings, torture, unlawful imprisonment and other. crimes against Serb civilians and pro-Serb Albanians.

The Kosovo Specialist Prosecutors Office that indicted Thaci and others is part of a separate court in The Hague that was formed in 2015 to investigate alleged KLA crimes. Judges are yet to confirm the indictment, which had long been expected.

WILL IT COMPLICATE NORMALIZATION TALKS?

Its hard to tell.

Thaci has cancelled a trip to Washington to attend a White House meeting on Saturday aimed at bringing Pristina and Belgrade closer, but the prime minister will still go. The meeting was called by U.S. President Donald Trumps special envoy for Kosovo, Richard Grenell, who in the past has mediated deals to restore air and railway links between the two countries.

EU-mediated negotiations, which in the past have resulted in several agreements facilitating day-to-day issues between the two sides, also are set to resume. The negotiations stalled in late 2018, but an EU envoy has said a new round might take place next month.
PHOENIX  Hundreds of firefighters made some progress Monday against major wildfires across Arizona.

Crews were fighting fires in the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Coronado National Forest overlooking Tucson, in the Tonto National Forest northeast of metro Phoenix, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in northeast Arizona and in the Kaibab National Forest north of the Grand Canyon.

Authorities said the human-caused Bush Fire outside of metro Phoenix was 42% contained as of Monday after charring 291 square miles (754 kilometers) since it started June 13 in the Tonto National Forest.

The lightning-caused Bighorn Fire is 91 square miles (236 square kilometers), burning in canyons and on ridges in the Santa Catalina Mountains and hovering around 16% containment. But fire officials said the blaze diminished as it reached vegetation at the base of Ventana Canyon.

Meanwhile, authorities said the lightning-caused Bringham Fire was 20% contained after burning 33 square miles (85 square kilometers) in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest north of Morenci. That blaze continues to burn in steep, inaccessible areas.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey traveled to the Tucson area Monday to get a briefing from fire officials overseeing the fight and from law enforcement agencies charged with evacuating resort communities in the mountains near Tucson.

Ducey praised firefighters and promised to make sure whatever resources needed to protect people and property in and around Tucson will be brought to bear.

But this fire is going to be put out _ and the one resource were going to need in addition to the brave women and men that are fighting this fire is mother nature, Ducey said. The monsoon is going to be here, were going to have some precipitation. Were going to contain this and protect the assets that are on the ground and well get through this.

Communities near Mt. Lemmon, including Summerhaven, remain under evacuation orders and Pima County Sheriff Mark Napier urged residents to heed those Go orders.

Because if you are in a Go area, and we ask you to evacuate and you refuse to evacuate, we may not be able to come back in there and save you, Napier said.

Napier also praised firefighters, saying they had successfully protected people and property from the blaze.

This fire is nearly 60,000 acres, its been burning for more than two weeks, its less than 20% contained, and as of right now we havent lost a single structure, Napier said. That is amazing.

In northern Arizona, improved weather conditions allowed firefighters to protect critical areas from the Mangum Fire burning in the Kaibab National Forest.

The blaze was 28% contained Monday at 108 square miles (280 square kilometers) with its June 8 cause still under investigation. It has forced the closure of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park until further notice.

About the photo: A stiff wind out of the southwest pushes the Bighorn Fire into the central Santa Catalina Mountains as seen from Oro Valley, Ariz., Saturday, June 13, 2020. The fire has grown and is now threatening Mt. Lemmon and the town of Summerhaven, Ariz. (Kelly Presnell/Arizona Daily Star via AP)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Researchers in Brazil began administering an experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University to volunteers, the Federal University of Sao Paulo said Wednesday.

The vaccine, developed together with pharmaceuticals group AstraZeneca, is one of the most promising of the dozens that researchers worldwide are racing to test and bring to market.

Known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, it is already being tested in volunteers in Britain, and is due to start being administered this week in South Africa, as well.

The Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), which is coordinating the study in Brazil, said in a statement its researchers had begun issuing the first doses Tuesday to health workers with a high likelihood of coming into contact with the new coronavirus, including doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers.

Researchers "began triaging volunteers Saturday ... following the protocols established for the study. Participants must test negative for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19," the university said in a statement.

"Starting Tuesday, volunteers with a negative blood test were administered the vaccine."

Volunteers must be between 18 and 55 years old and work "on the front line" of the pandemic at the Sao Paulo-UNIFESP Hospital, it said.

Brazil's acting health minister, Eduardo Pazuello, said Tuesday the country was close to signing a contract to be able to produce the vaccine domestically.

The vaccine will be administered to 2,000 volunteers in all in Brazil.

More than 4,000 participants are enrolled in the clinical trial in Britain, with another 10,000 due to be recruited, according to Oxford.

Brazil was selected because it is one of the countries where the virus is spreading fastest. It has the second-highest caseload and death toll worldwide after the United States, with more than 1.1 million people infected and 52,000 killed so far.

Experts say under-testing in the country of 212 million people means the real numbers are probably much higher.

Explore further Brazil to help test Oxford coronavirus vaccine

 2020 AFP
[June 24, 2020] Lieff Cabraser and Tousley Brain File Class Action Covid-19 Injury Lawsuit in Federal Court in Washington State on Behalf of Passengers on the MS Zaandam Cruise Ship Against Holland America Line and Carnival Corporation

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP, Tousley Brain Stephens PLLC and Barrett Johnston Martin & Garrison, LLC announce the filing of a federal class action injury lawsuit against Holland America and Carnival Corporation on behalf of cruise ship passengers who traveled on the MS Zaandam in March 2020 and were negligently exposed to Covid-19. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. "This cruise was a life-threatening nightmare," notes Lieff Cabraser partner Kenny Byrd, who represents the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. "Despite knowing of the risk and dangers of Covid-19 exposure on its ships, Holland America and Carnival put no meaningful screening or preventative measures in place on the cruises prior to departure and negligently continued to encourage guests to gather and mingle even as the virus spread through the passengers and crew." On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global health emergency. As noted in the complaint, in or before early February 2020, Holland America and Carnival became aware of an outbreak of Covid-19 aboard the cruise ship the Diamond Princess, which is operated by Carnival and its subsidiary Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. Ten cases were originally diagnosed, and that number rapidly escalated to over 700 cases - over one-fifth of the passengers onboard. Cruises run by Carnival have been identified as responsible for more than 1,500 positive Covid-19 infections, and almost 40 deaths. Carnival, which wholly owns Holland America Line, also had outbreaks aboard its ships the Ruby Princess and the Grand Princess, which was prevented from docking in San Francisco in early March. The complaint details that plaintiffs and the class boarded the MS Zaandam in Buenos Aires on March 7, 2020, after Carnival and Holland knew about the spread of Covid-19 onboard other ships. Passengers on the MS Zaandam had traveled from all over the world to meet the ship in Buenos Aires, and some of these passengers traveled from regions of the world - like Europe - that were experiencing high rates of coronavirus infection. Holland America assured Plaintiffs that they were instituting additional screening and on-board health protocols. But as the complaint outlines, when plantiffs boarded the ship they were not subject to any additional preventative measures, or implement any other reasonable precautions at this stage of the cruise. As plaintiffs understand the facts, Holland America and Carnival did not take any measures different from their typical preparations for a voyage, and made no Covid-19-specific efforts to prevent or contain contagion at the time of initial embarkation.



"After ports in Chile and Argentina refused to allow the ship to dock, plaintiffs were forced to remain onboard the ship, with crew members and other passengers reporting Covid-19 symptoms," notes Tousley Brain partner Jason Dennett, who co-represents the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. "Holland and Carnival had no plan, and provided passengers with no information, about when or where the ship would dock and Plaintiffs would be allowed to disembark." The lawsuit states claims for negligence, gross negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and seeks compensatory damages as well as medical monitoring and injunctive relief.

In the days following Holland America's notice to passengers about the itinerary cancellation, the MS Zaandam continued its voyage, but with no set destination. During this time, Holland America and Carnival became aware that multiple crew members and passengers were exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19. But rather than instituting protective measures at that time, Holland America and Carnival scheduled additional group activities, like trivia nights and dance parties, to entertain passengers while they were stuck at sea. Holland America and Carnival only began to take any action to address potential Covid-19 exposure among passengers and crew approximately one week after the ship was denied entry to South American ports. Beginning on or around March 22, 2020, guests were asked to isolate themselves in their staterooms, with meals and laundry handled and delivered by crew members. Prior to that date, Holland America and Carnival provided passengers on the ship with no fore-warning that passengers and crew members were experiencing flu-like symptoms, although Holland America and Carnival were aware of the growing population of ill passengers for many days. On or about March 27, 2020, while still onboard the MS Zaandam, Plaintiff Carl Zehner of Davidson County, Tennessee, began experiencing symptoms resembling Covid-19. A subsequent Covid-19 test showed that he was positive for the virus, and Zehner was re-located to a different area of the ship. After finally arriving on April 1st in Port Everglades, Florida, some passengers disembarked, where they were taken, when possible, to hospitals or provided with means of traveling to their homes, where they then remained in self-quarantine. Plaintiff Zehner and plaintiff Leonard Lindsay, who are married, both remained on the MS Zaandam, because no local hospital would accept Zehner, whose condition had worsened. On April 5, 2020, an Orlando hospital agreed to accept Zehner as a patient and he was transported by helicopter to Advent Health Orlando Hospital where he was placed on a ventilator shortly after arriving. He remained on the ventilator for approximately three weeks, then was transported to Select Specialty Longterm Acute Care Hospital in South Orlando, and on June 2, 2020, he was transported to Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. As of this filing, Plaintiff Zehner has been released to his home, but has not yet made a full recovery. Plaintiff Lindsay was forced to remain onboard the ship until April 9, 2020. He was not tested for the virus at any time while onboard. After disembarking, he returned to Nashville after Zehner was taken to the hospital, and, at that point, began a new period of quarantine. The complaint notes that at the time of this filing, Carnival has suspended its cruise services for the time being, but that Carnival's website indicates that it intends to begin operating certain cruise ships as early as September 1, 2020, potentially posing grave threats to their passengers, crew members, and the public health. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005847/en/

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LEVERKUSEN (dpa-AFX) - Bayer (BAYZF.PK, BAYRY.PK, BYR.L) on Wednesday agreed to pay up to $10.9 billion to settle thousands of U.S. lawsuits alleging that the company's Roundup herbicide causes cancer. The company also resolves dicamba drift litigation for payment of up to $400 million and most PCB water litigation exposure for payment of about $820 million. The settlements contain no admission of liability or wrongdoing.



The company expects to start cash payments related to the settlements this year. It now assumes that the potential cash outflow will not exceed $5 billion in 2020 and $5 billion in 2021. The remaining balance would be paid in 2022 or thereafter.



In order to finance the settlements, Bayer said it could make use of existing surplus liquidity, future free cash flows, the proceeds from the Animal Health divestment, and additional bond issuances, which will provide flexibility in managing the settlement payments as well as upcoming debt maturities.



Bayer inherited thousands of lawsuits against Roundup inventor Monsanto Co. when it acquired the U.S. agriculture giant for $63 billion in 2018.



The company said it will make a payment of $8.8 billion to $9.6 billion to resolve the current Roundup litigation, including an allowance expected to cover unresolved claims, and $1.25 billion to support a separate class agreement to address potential future litigation.



Bayer also agreed to settle the dicamba drift litigation involving alleged damage to crops. The company will pay up to a total of $400 million to resolve the multi-district litigation pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and claims for the 2015-2020 crop years.



The only dicamba drift case to go to trial - Bader Farms - is not included in this resolution.



Dicamba is a broad-spectrum herbicide first registered in 1967. Brand names for formulations of this herbicide include Dianat, Banvel, Diablo, Oracle and Vanquish.



Around 2016, dicamba's use came under significant scrutiny due to its tendency to spread from treated fields into neighboring fields, causing damage.



Meanwhile, Bayer today announced agreements that resolve cases representing most of the company's exposure to PCB water litigation. One agreement establishes a class that includes all local governments with EPA permits involving water discharges impaired by PCBs. Bayer will pay a total of approximately $650 million to the class, which will be subject to court approval.



The company also has entered into separate agreements with the Attorneys-General of New Mexico, Washington, and the District of Columbia to resolve similar PCB claims. For the agreements, which are separate from the class, Bayer will make payments that together total approximately $170 million.



In 2016, Washington was the first state to file a lawsuit against Monsanto over its PCBs, asserting that the company produced PCBs for decades while hiding what they knew about the toxic chemicals' harm to human health and the environment. Monsanto was the only U.S. company to produce polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs from 1935 until it was banned in 1977.



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RENO -- The Desert Research Institute (DRI) proudly announced today that Dr. Sean A. McKenna has been selected to lead the Institutes Division of Hydrologic Sciences.

Dr. McKenna comes to DRI from IBM Research in Dublin, Ireland, where he has spent the past seven years focused on leading developments in Internet-of-things and machine learning technologies for IBMs Smarter Cities, water management and energy portfolios. Prior to that, he served as a Senior Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he worked on water security, modeling, and monitoring of water resource infrastructure around the world.

I am honored to join DRI and lead the incredible group of diverse scientists and engineers that make up the division of hydrologic sciences, said Dr. McKenna. The Institute has a world-renowned reputation in water research and is well-positioned for advances in digitalization of water resource management and predictive modeling to help Nevada, and all of our research partners, make smarter data-driven decisions.

Dr. McKenna has worked and published extensively on research and applications of mathematical and statistical techniques to solve problems in groundwater modeling, natural resource assessment, and environmental stewardship. His accomplishments also include leading the development of the open-source water quality detection software called CANARY, which won a 2010 R&D 100 Award (one of the most prestigious innovation awards in the U.S.) and a 2011 Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Award for Technology Transfer in partnership with the US EPA National Homeland Security Research Laboratory. Dr. McKenna most recently served as an internal expert for IBMs global Energy, Environment and Utilities business area within the IBM Industry Academy.

We are excited to welcome Dr. McKenna back to Nevada, said Dr. Kumud Acharya, Interim President of DRI. As a hydrologist and an engineer, he has extensive experience and success in the application of water research and technology to address some of our toughest challenges. His innovations and industry insights also serve as an excellent foundation to support the growth of our early- and mid-career scientists who are working to help Nevada address a variety of water resource issues.

Dr. McKenna has held adjunct or visiting professorships at the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Tech, University of Texas, Austin and the National University of Singapore. He has a Ph.D. in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, an MS in Hydrology/Hydrogeology from the University of Nevada, Reno and a BA in Geology from Carleton College.

For more information about DRI please visit: https://www.dri.edu.

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By Akbar Mammadov

Armenia resorts to the principle of self-determination of peoples to cover up its policy of occupation and annexation, Nagorno-Karabakh's Azerbaijani Community's head Tural Ganjaliyev has said.

Ganjaliyev made the remakrs in an interview with Azerbaijani National Televisions "Hdf" program.

Armenians use various excuses to cover up Armenia's aggressive policy. For example, at the beginning of the conflict, they openly wanted to pursue a policy of annexation by occupying the territories of Azerbaijan. After realizing that this was causing negative reaction in the world, they changed their minds, putting forward the principle of self-determination of peoples, Ganjaliyev said.

Saying that the principle of self-determination is also available in international law, Ganjaliyev stressed that the ways to implement this principle are different from the way Armenia pursues it.

In general, this principle cannot be considered in the context of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict: there is a factor of occupation, the aggression, and there are parties to the conflict, Ganjaliyev said.

Ganjaliyev said that the legal basis of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is based on the international law as expessed in the statments of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs mediating the conflict as well as UNSC resolutions and the recent statement of the EU parliamentaries who condemend Armenia's occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh.

If we review documents referred to in the negotiation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as other documents since the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, the principle of self-determination of peoples cannot be opposed to the violation of territorial integrity. It was a principle that emerged as a result of the collapse of the colonial system in the 1960-70s. Regarding that, the UN had many documents and declarations in those years, Ganjaliyev said.

Ganjaliyev stressed that Armenia resorts to various pretexts and provocations in a bid to strengthen the results of its occupation of Azerbaijani lands.

Armenia's aggressive policy is being exposed more and more. We see this in the personification of Armenian PM Pashinyan, his team, and the Armenian elite, said he.

Ganjaliyev also criticized Pashinyans rhetorical speeches and provocative statements.

Tural Ganjaliyev is also an elected MP from Khankendi district of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region, which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Two men have been charged after firearms, ammunition and drug-making equipment that could have been producing tens of thousands of pills a day have been found on the Gold Coast.

Raids on three addresses were carried out on Tuesday as part of a joint agency investigation into the interstate supply of drugs and firearms.

As a result, a 27-year-old Highland Park man and 36-year-old Mudgeeraba man were arrested after 13 firearms were found at a Mudgeeraba house, while two pill presses were discovered at a storage shed at Ashmore.

These have been used in the production of MDMA, police allege.
Metro-Line No. 1 nearly complete

At a meeting between JICA sponsor and HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) on the progress of Metro-Line No. 1, Mr. Bui Xuan Cuong, Director of MAUR, said that this unit is continuing to coordinate with related units to accelerate construction of the next items on the project, such as installing rail systems, electro-mechanical systems, and signal systems along the entire route and completing equipment installation at stations, ensuring 85% completion of the project in 2020, and striving to put the project into full operation by the end of 2021.

MAUR thanked JICA for their support and suggested that JICA continue to coordinate, support disbursement and repayment in advance; reminded Japanese contractors to speed up project; proposed that the Japanese government take measures to assist Vietnam in allowing foreign experts to enter Vietnam; and import of the Metro Train. Mr. Cuong said that MAUR hopes that JICA will accompany, support and promote the achieved results, speed up construction progress, and bring the project to a finish line soon.

The project of constructing the Metro-Line No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City from Ben Thanh Market to Suoi Tien Theme park over a length of 19.7km, which includes 2.6km underground and 17.1km on elevated area, with 14 stations, three underground and 11 elevated stations, began in August 2012, with four main bidding packages. In recent days, a team of experts and engineers of the Hitachi contractor have conducted final technical inspections in Japan, before transporting the train parts of Metro-Line No. 1 to Vietnam.

Currently, this project is more than 70% complete in which the underground section from Ben Thanh to the Opera House Station has less than 30% work left to do. The underground section from Ho Chi Minh City Station to Ba Son Station is around 80% complete and the CP2 package with high section and depots has completed nearly 85%. Package CP3, which is procurement of electro-mechanical equipment, locomotives, rails and maintenance is 52% complete.

Specifically, at the Opera House station, in one of the two underground stations of package CP1b, the workers and engineers on site are conducting sanding, paving of stones for the road structure, and preparing to remove the barrier in front of the Opera House. Construction items on the B1 floor of the station are being urgently implemented by contractors such as floor tiles, wall tiles, columns, ceiling construction, escalators, and electro-mechanical systems, to soon complete the B1 floor for people to visit.

Flood-Control project to finish by October

The project consists of six large tidal control sluices with apertures of 40-160m in Ben Nghe, Tan Thuan, Phu Xuan, Muong Chuoi, Cay Kho and Phu Dinh. In addition, the project also has five crucial embankments of 7.801km length. The project was built with the goal of controlling tidal flooding, actively responding to climate change for an area of 750 sq. km with about 6.5 million people on the right bank of the Saigon River and the City Center.

According to a report of the Trung Nam Group, the total cost of the Flood-Control project is nearly VND 10,000 bn. This project is part of the plan named "Solving tidal flooding in Ho Chi Minh City Area-Phase 1". It has presently completed around 77% of the tasks and the construction site will be handed over in June, with the project expected to complete by October this year.

Mr. Nguyen Tam Tien, General Director of the Trung Nam Group, said that the total construction of the project is around 77% complete. The most difficult item was the underwater construction which is now complete, and the workload left is mainly equipment installing. The loan disbursement too has been cleared. Currently, the construction site maintains 1,200 workers and engineers focused on accelerating the progress of work.

However, the current obstacle is still land clearance. The area of Muong Chuoi sluice gate in Nha Be district, poles, valve towers and valve girders have been completed, but embankments with sluice gates and auxiliary works are under construction. In this area, there are still 18 out of 62 households who have not handed over the construction ground as yet, though investors have transferred compensation money to households and organizations affected by the project.

Mr. Hoang Tung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nha Be District said that the locality is conducting payment of compensation to households, which is expected to be complete in early June. Meanwhile, Binh Chanh district is also making efforts to speed up land clearance work which is currently only 66% complete.

Mr. Tung said that it was worrisome that Nha Be district is currently constructing a large-scale jetty. This project is overlapping with the Flood-Control project. The project was approved by the governing body but the construction was not allowed and now there are many items encroaching the Saigon River. Local authorities are coordinating with the Department of Construction to inspect and handle these violations.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City, assessed the Flood-Control project costing VND 10,000 bn. He believes it is a project of utmost importance to the people of Ho Chi Minh City. Mr. Phong welcomed investors who had advanced capital to ensure the progress of this project, and at the same time requested districts to urgently complete clearance of land and hand over the site for early completion of this vital and essential project.

Binh Minh
I once knew a man who wanted to divorce his wife, which made her very angry. She tried a number of ways to make him change his mind, to no avail. And then one day, she started sending him texts that said, I will hurt myself, give myself bruises, and then I will call the police and blame you. He was justifiably terrified of her threats, because this was at the height of the #MeToo movement several years ago when it seemed that every woman who ever had a bad date was pointing the finger at every man who wasnt celibate. Yes, I know that its not that simple, and there were legitimate claims of abuse and harassment, but this was not one of them.

Still, in that heated climate, my friend thought hed never be believed, so he ended up staying in that relationship a year longer than he should have. Ironically, he was the one who ended up being abused, both physically and emotionally.

Fear is a powerful thing, especially when its compounded by societys sense of indignation. It was fear that paralyzed my friend, because he understood that a sea change had taken place since the days when a husband could not be charged with raping his wife. Now, women had the power. And some were not afraid to use it unwisely, and unfairly.

Fairness is at the heart of our legal system. Fairness gives the weak power over the strong, gives a voice to those muted by circumstance and history, gives rights to those who had none. Fairness is the sword of St. Michael, the trumpets at Jericho, the great leveler. We lawyers call it due process.

When you eviscerate due process, you make a mockery of the finest legal system in the world, our own. And that is exactly what happened to Bill Cosby two years ago in a courtroom in Norristown.

Cosby, as we all remember, was being retried on charges of sexual assault stemming from an incident in 2004 when a woman named Andrea Constand said he drugged and raped her. Constand was only one among many women who accused Cosby of following the same pattern, drugging them with quaaludes and then raping them in his hotel room. But Constand was the only accuser whose story fell within the statute of limitations. Virtually none of the other women who alleged hed assaulted them filed reports or charges.

In 2006, in connection with a civil action Constand had filed against Cosby, the actor/comedian/educator/philanthropist was deposed. He admitted to procuring drugs for women. He did not admit to having non-consensual sex. In exchange for that admission, which Cosby did not have to make and which was against his best interests and 5th Amendment protections against self-incrimination, Constand agreed to what the TV lawyers call a large cash settlement. And that deposition, according to the District Attorney who oversaw it, Bruce Castor, was sealed with the understanding that it could never be used against Cosby.

Fast forward a decade. A stand up comic named Hannibal Burris starts calling Cosby a rapist because the comic doesnt like the actors criticism of Black youth who wear their pants around their ankles, use the n word liberally and have baby mamas. The comic thinks Cosby is a hypocrite. And people start noticing. One of those people was Kevin Steele, then-candidate for Montgomery County D.A. He makes Cosby a central part of his campaign, and promises to prosecute if he wins.

He wins. And Cosby goes on trial. The first trial ends in a mistrial. The second one ends in a guilty verdict.

That second trial was bereft of fairness. It was a master class in how to deprive a defendant of due process. Cosby and his team are arguing, in part, that he was a victim of a racially unjust legal system which treats Black men differently from white men. I dont believe that. Harvey Weinstein is proof positive that being white doesnt protect accused rapists from a reckoning.

But Cosbys defenders are right when they argue that the trial judge, Steven ONeill, made serious constitutional errors. He allowed a parade of other alleged victims whose accusations date back decades (and who never made their accusations before the Constand trial) to testify about Cosbys pattern of drugging women. This testimony was both prejudicial, and almost impossible to challenge. And then, ONeill allowed the deposition where Cosby admitted to drugging women into evidence, a clear violation of the agreement with the former D.A. Castor, an agreement without which Cosby would never have waived his right to be free from self incrimination.

When Cosby was convicted, I was outspoken and outraged. I wrote a number of columns defending him. The readers were apoplectic, those good men and women who were so busy tweeting out #BelieveAllWomen and #TimesUp. These were the same readers who, a few years later, would give a big warm attagirl hug to another Christine, the one who accused Brett Kavanaugh of assaulting her. It got so bad my former editor at the Inquirer Sandra Shea had to write an editorial explaining why she ran my columns in her paper (something Phil Heron never did, God bless him). A female journalist at the Daily News wrote on her FB page that she despised everything I stood for but, gosh, wasnt it great that they ran my pieces (Rah Rah First Amendment, woo hoo!).

And it was worth it. Because this week, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the decisions of Judge ONeill and prosecutor Steele might, in fact, have deprived Bill Cosby of due process. They are willing to review the case, and listen to defense arguments that he was railroaded (my term, not the Supremes).

This is a very good thing. Regardless of where you stand on the #MeToo movement which, like other movements has in some ways and in some hands been perverted into a campaign of vengeance, you should be happy that the highest court in this great commonwealth is ignoring trendy social justice campaigns, and is seeking, simply, justice.

I know I am.

Christine Flowers is an attorney and a resident of Delaware County. Her column usually appears Sundays. Email her at cflowers1961@gmail.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 00:04:27|Editor: huaxia

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Muhammet Demirel, a 24-year-old director of Demirel Group, works in a studio in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 23, 2020. A young Turkish entrepreneur and his team based in Turkey's largest city Istanbul have been introducing Chinese culture and lifestyle to Turks through Chinese TV series from a YouTube channel. (Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A young Turkish entrepreneur and his team based in Turkey's largest city Istanbul have been introducing Chinese culture and lifestyle to Turks through Chinese TV series from a YouTube channel.

"We believe that we will better explain the social structure of China and the Chinese way of life, including what they eat and drink, to Turkish people, through visual sources," Muhammet Demirel, a 24-year-old director of Demirel Group, told Xinhua on Tuesday.

In Demirel's view, Chinese and Turkish people have many things in common and resembling elements in their lives, but none of them has so far precisely introduced themselves to each other.

"But, once Turks, especially young generations, would discover China and Chinese culture through novels, movies, and dramas, they would also discover how the two societies are close to each other," Demirel continued.

He believes that after getting familiar with each other's way of thinking and their lifestyles, the political and economic relations between the two countries will further improve significantly.

After receiving the copyrights of almost 100 Chinese TV series, the company launched its YouTube channel, Clickia TV, a week ago, and received more than 3,000 hits in the first four days.

Demirel first started to promote China in his country by translating Chinese novels into Turkish with a team of 15 people almost four years ago and published them over a website.

"But, later, we realized that Turkish people mostly prefer watching something rather than reading about it. Therefore, we have diverted our focus towards visual sources, like movies, and series to better present China," Demirel said.

Now, a total of 35 team members, including translators and writers, have been continuously working to keep the online channel updated, posting new episodes regularly.

They have been also working to launch a mobile application and a new website in July, which would comprehend all the visuals related to China, in return for a small amount of price.

The company is planning to translate the products into English, Arabic, and French next year.

Meanwhile, for Deniz Iscan, a high school senior student, who started to be interested in Asian culture nearly two years ago, the new online portal would be a big opportunity to watch her favorite Chinese dramas.

"I was first fascinated by Chinese food culture and began to search some sources related to China," Iscan told Xinhua on Wednesday. "But, sadly, the sources in Turkey were very limited."

She then decided to learn Chinese at the Confucius Institute at Istanbul-based Bogazici University to be able to read Chinese authors' books and watch Chinese movies and dramas.

Speaking of Demirel's devotion, she said watching Chinese TV series or movies from a mobile application with Turkish subtitles would be a big opportunity for the young generation in Turkey.

"I believe that it will fill a big gap for people of my age who are eager to learn more about China," she added. Enditem
[June 24, 2020] AliExpress' Mid-Year Shopping Festival Indicates a Recovery Across the Globe

HANGZHOU, China, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AliExpress, a global retail online marketplace under Alibaba Group, hosted its first large-scale sales event after the pandemic - global mid-year 'Summer Sale' Shopping Festival. Sales generated in the first 10 hours of the festival was equal to the sales yielded for the entire first day in last year's sales event  an indication showing a recovery with consumers across the globe, as they recuperate from the pandemic. With nearly 100,000 sellers and 70 million items involved in the shopping festival, total sales on the first day of the mid-year sales festival achieved a year-on-year growth of 50%. Countries from Europe and Asia have shown an outstanding year-on-year sales growth, indicating that shoppers are eager to spend. South Korea recorded the highest sales growth of 113% on the first day, followed by Spain, Russia, Poland, Brazil and France. With people across the world inclined towards remote working/work-from-home, the shopping festival also registered more than 100% year-on-year growth for the sale of home appliances, furniture, computers and telecommunication devices. Driven by social commerce and the ability to engage the audience with great content, livestreaming took the festival by storm during the summer sale. Customers from 213 countries and regions watched 1,844 livestreaming sessions to purchase products from the sale. Over 1,300 brands and 109 influencers participated in the sessions, covering 32 languages. RussiaSpain, France, Brazil and Poland were the top 5 countries that led the livestreaming viewership and Xiaomi, Huawei, Umidigi, Calk Official Store and Soocas were the top five brands that recorded the maximum sales from the sessions.



"We are thrilled to see consumers, brands and influencers from all over the world riding the Mid-Year Shopping Festival's buzz and creating exciting content. Livestreaming-driven sales has become one of the hottest trends in ecommerce, reshaping the retail industry by developing a 'see-now, buy-now' trend that offers consumers instant gratification," said Wang Mingqiang, the General Manager of AliExpress. He added that "Looking at the huge success of the festival across the globe, we see livestreaming as a global phenomenon that can help stimulate the economy. We are focused on building a community of influencers, sharing experiences and best practices to take the trend worldwide, eyeing Europe as the next hub."

AliExpress taking the social commerce trend worldwide To take the trend worldwide, AliExpress has launched a unique platform called the AliExpress Connect to nurtures the growth of content creators and helps businesses engage and sell better. As a one-stop-shop for brand assignments and educational content, and a digitalized settlement platform that helps influencers and agencies easily scale their businesses, AliExpress Connect is designed to create opportunity for both brands and influencers and set to become an important tool for content creators worldwide. AliExpress riding new trends given rise by changed consumer behavior together with its seller network Mid-year shopping festival is AliExpress' first large-scale sales event after the pandemic outbreak and it has come at a perfect time to reignite growth for sellers worldwide. Businesses are poised to see encouraging sales results as consumers become more accustomed to online retail worldwide post-lockdown. Despite the pandemic, AliExpress has seen a surge in sales in fitness products in France, Spain and Italy during lockdown. A noticeable trend that came into the spotlight was the resurgence of personal transport equipment as well. As lockdown measures relax and people start going out, consumers are taking an interest in buying their own bikes and electric scooters instead of banking on public transport. About AliExpress Launched in 2010, AliExpress (www.aliexpress.com) is a global retail marketplace that enables consumers from around the world to buy directly from manufacturers and distributors primarily in China. Top consumer markets where AliExpress is popular are Russia, the United States, Brazil, Spain, France and Poland. AliExpress is a business of Alibaba Group. SOURCE AliExpress

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Paddy Cosgrave, CEO and founder of Web Summit, speaking on stage during the opening night of Web Summit 2019 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal.

The annual tech conference Web Summit is set to go ahead in Lisbon, Portugal, from December 2-4, its organizers have said.

The event is one of Europe's largest technology gatherings  surpassed in size only by Mobile World Congress, which was canceled earlier this year  and there have been doubts about whether to run it due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Web Summit, which is also the name of the company behind the conference, said in a statement Wednesday that it was forging ahead with plans to hold it in December. But the format will be different this time.

Web Summit will host up to 100,000 participants on an online platform the company developed to host its Collision tech conference, which is usually held physically in Toronto, Canada. The rebranded "Collision from Home" event attracted more than 30,000 attendees this week, Web Summit said.

"We have been building software that enables connections at events for over half a decade so we could pivot quite naturally online," Paddy Cosgrave, Web Summit's co-founder and CEO, said in a statement Wednesday.
Dublin, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) - Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2030" drug pipelines has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



This report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology as well as the market trends of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) in the United States, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and Japan.



Epidemiology



The disease epidemiology covered in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology (Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Retinitis Pigmentosa in the 7MM, Gender-Specific Diagnosed Prevalence of Retinitis Pigmentosa in the 7MM, Type-Specific Diagnosed Prevalence of Retinitis Pigmentosa in the 7MM, Subtype-Specific Diagnosed Prevalence of Syndromic and Systemic RP in the 7MM, and Subtype-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Non-Syndromic RP in the 7MM) scenario of Retinitis Pigmentosa in the 7MM covering United States, EU5 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom) and Japan from 2017-2030.



Key Findings



This section provides glimpses of the Retinitis Pigmentosa epidemiology in the 7MM market. According to the report, the total diagnosed prevalent population of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) in the 7MM was 253,420 in 2017. These cases are expected to increase with a significant CAGR during the study period (2017-2030).



Country Wise-Epidemiology



The epidemiology segment also provides the Retinitis Pigmentosa epidemiology data and findings across the United States, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and Japan.



Drug Chapters



The drug chapter segment of the Retinitis Pigmentosa report encloses the detailed analysis of Retinitis Pigmentosa marketed drugs and late stage (phase III) pipeline drugs. It also helps to understand the RP clinical trial details, expressive pharmacological action, agreements and collaborations, approval and patent details, advantages and disadvantages of each included drug and the latest news and press releases.



Marketed Drugs



Luxturna: Spark Therapeutics/Novartis



Luxturna (AAV2-hRPE65v2; voretigene neparvovec), known as voretigene neparvovec-rzyl, is a one-time gene therapy for the treatment of patients with vision loss due to a genetic mutation in both copies of the RPE65 gene. It provides a copy of the RPE65 gene to act in place of the mutated RPE65 gene. This working gene can restore vision and improve sight. The drug is administered as a subretinal single injection below the retina in patients who have confirmed RPE65 mutations and viable retinal cells.



The drug was developed and commercialized in the US by Spark Therapeutics. In Europe, Novartis is currently marketing Luxturna as per a licensing agreement covering the development, registration and commercialization rights of Luxturna in markets outside the US. It is indicated for the treatment of patients with vision loss due to Leber's congenital amaurosis or retinitis pigmentosa inherited retinal dystrophy caused by confirmed biallelic RPE65 mutations.



Emerging Drugs



HORA-RPE65: Horama



Horama is developing a HORA-RPE65 gene replacement product for the treatment of RPE65 Retinitis Pigmentosa. It is an AAV 2/4 encapsidating the human RPE65 gene under the control of the human native RPE65 promoter. The company investigational candidate HORA-RPE65 provides the cell with a non-mutated copy of the human RPE65 gene, which can express functional RPE65 protein to halt or at least significantly delay retinal degeneration in patients with inherited retinal dystrophies caused by RPE65 gene mutations.



The drug is being delivered in the form of a sterile vector suspension injected directly into the subretinal space, where it induces transgene expression in retinal pigment epithelium cells. Horama had already completed a single-center, open, non-randomized phase I/II clinical trial which accessed the safety and effectiveness of HORA-RPE65 in patients with retinal dystrophy caused by RPE65 gene abnormalities.



Market Outlook



The Retinitis Pigmentosa market outlook of the report helps to build a detailed comprehension of the historic, current and forecasted Retinitis Pigmentosa market trends by analyzing the impact of current therapies on the market, unmet needs, drivers and barriers, and demand of better technology.



This segment gives a thorough detail of Retinitis Pigmentosa market trend of each marketed drug and late-stage pipeline therapy by evaluating their impact based on annual cost of therapy, inclusion and exclusion criteria's, mechanism of action, compliance rate, growing need of the market, increasing patient pool, covered patient segment, expected launch year, competition with other therapies, brand value, their impact on the market and view of the key opinion leaders. The calculated market data are presented with relevant tables and graphs to give a clear view of the market at first sight.



According to the report, Retinitis Pigmentosa 7MM market is expected to change in the study period 2017-2030.



Key Findings



This section includes a glimpse of the Retinitis Pigmentosa 7MM market. The market size of Retinitis Pigmentosa in the 7MM market was USD 237.27 million in 2017.



The United States Market Outlook



This section provides the total Retinitis Pigmentosa market size and market size by therapies in the United States.



Among the 7MM countries, the United States had the highest market size of RP in 2017, which accounts for 56.40% of the total market. At present, the growth of market size for RP is attributed to support treatment regimens, the only approved therapy (Luxturna), as well as, emerging therapies. The market size for RP was found to be USD 133.82 million in 2017.



EU-5 Market Outlook



The total Retinitis Pigmentosa market size and market size by therapies in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom are provided in this section.



Germany accounts for 26.28% of the total EU-5 market of RP. The publisher's estimates suggest that the overall market size of RP was observed to remain nearly constant from USD 20.90 million in 2017 to USD 21.33 million in 2018. This is attributed to the dependency of the market size of RP on supportive treatment regimens, at present. However, with the recent approval of Luxturna, the market size of RP is expected to experience a significant increase. The dearth of marketed treatment regimens for RP is the foremost unmet need of this therapeutic area, which is primarily responsible for nearly constant market size.



Japan Market Outlook



The total Retinitis Pigmentosa market size and market size by therapies in Japan are provided.



Drugs Uptake



This section focusses on the rate of uptake of the potential drugs recently launched in the Retinitis Pigmentosa market or expected to get launched in the market during the study period 2017-2030. The analysis covers Retinitis Pigmentosa market uptake by drugs; patient uptake by therapies; and sales of each drug.



Development Activities



The report provides insights into different therapeutic candidates in phase II, and phase III stage. It also analyzes key players involved in developing targeted therapeutics.



Pipeline Development Activities



The report covers the detailed information of collaborations, acquisition, and merger, licensing and patent details for Retinitis Pigmentosa emerging therapies.



Reimbursement Scenario



Approaching reimbursement proactively can have a positive impact both during the late stages of product development and well after product launch. In the report, we consider reimbursement to identify economically attractive indications and market opportunities. When working with finite resources, the ability to select the markets with the fewest reimbursement barriers can be a critical business and price strategy.



KOL - Views



To keep up with current market trends, we take KOLs and SME's opinion working in Retinitis Pigmentosa domain through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research. Their opinion helps to understand and validate current and emerging therapies treatment patterns or Retinitis Pigmentosa market trends. This will support the clients in potential upcoming novel treatment by identifying the overall scenario of the market and the unmet needs.



Competitive Intelligence Analysis



The publisher performs competitive and market Intelligence analysis of the Retinitis Pigmentosa market by using various competitive intelligence tools that include-SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, Porter's five forces, BCG Matrix, Market entry strategies, etc. The inclusion of the analysis entirely depends upon the data availability.



Companies Mentioned



Story continues

Horama

Nightstar Therapeutics/Biogen

jCyte

Neurotech

Domp Farmaceutici

ReNeuron

Sanofi (Terminated)

Allergan

MeiraGTx

For more information about this drug pipelines report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tk04o8

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900




Madison Cawthorn speaks to supporters in Hendersonville, N.C., on June 23, 2020. (Patrick Sebastian/Cawthorn Campaign via AP)

Madison Cawthorn, 24, Beats Trump-Endorsed Candidate in Primary for US House Seat

A 24-year-old real estate developer who says he supports President Donald Trump emerged victorious from the Republican primary for a North Carolina U.S. House seat against another candidate who won an endorsement from the GOP president.

Madison Cawthorn, who describes himself as a constitutional conservative, says on his campaign website that he wants to secure Americas borders, protect religious freedom, and oppose socialized medicine. He also says hes pro-Trump, pro-life, and pro-Second Amendment.

Cawthorn won the Republican primary over real estate agent Lynda Bennett, who was endorsed by Trump, for a seat vacated by Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) this year when Meadows became Trumps chief of staff.

Meadows also endorsed Bennett.

In a statement released after the race was called, Cawthorn said, I want to make something clear: I support our great president.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) at the CPAC convention in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 28, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

I do not believe this election has been a referendum on the presidents influence. The people of western North Carolina are wise and discerning. You observed both candidates and simply made the choice you believed is best for our district, he added.

The young candidate sought to portray himself as part of a new generation of Republicans who, he said, are promoting a message of hope, opportunity, and freedom.

While the far left is lighting our cities on fire, we are lifting the light of liberty, he said, adding later: We can build new pillars all across this nation and prove Lincoln right when he said, That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedomand that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Cawthorns biography describes him as a home-schooled student who was nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy by Meadows in 2014. That plan was derailed when he got into a car accident that left him partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair.

Cawthorn enjoys hunting, cooking, travel, and fitness and is engaged to be married.

A primary in March with no candidate earning a majority of the votes set the stage for Tuesdays runoff.

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One prior to departure from Joint Base Andrews in Md., on June 23, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Morris Davis, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, won the Democratic primary in March.

Davis is running on a platform that includes single-payer healthcare, an increased investment in public schools, the legalization of marijuana, and support for DACA, President Barack Obamas program that temporarily shielded illegal immigrants who came to the United States when they were young from deportation.

The Trump administration is trying to end DACA.

In a statement late Tuesday, Davis congratulated Cawthorn while taking aim at his opponents lack of experience.

I spent 25 years in the Air Force and retired as a colonel. One thing I learned in the military: You have to earn your rank. No one in the service starts at the top and I dont think the people of western North Carolina believe a congressional seat should be handed to someone like a graduation present, he said.

Experience matters. Leadership matters. Knowledge matters. There couldnt be a clearer choice in November.

In another race called Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) won the Republican primary despite being opposed by Trump.

Massie has a fierce independent streak and drew ire from both parties for voting in March against a huge stimulus package aimed at relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
US Marines from the 150mm gun crew return fire from the enemy in the Chindong sector during the Korean War, 1950. Credit:Alan Lambert

Seoul, June 25 - Troops from Communist North Korea, supported by tanks and artillery swarmed across the border in South Korea today and ran into furious resistance after penetrations of up to three miles.

First published in The Age on June 26, 1950

A South Korean Government spokesman said North Korea declared war at 1 a.m. (G.M.T.) today.

United States observers said the attacks were virtually stopped. There was no indication of troops being massed on a scale which would be expected in a major invasion.

They emphasised, however, that the situation was fluid. It still was possible that it was a full-scale invasion.

The radio at Pyongyang, North Korean capital, added to the confusion by a series of conflicting broadcasts.

One said the invaders intended to drive south of the border for one kilometre, establish positions and hold them. Another said that South Korea had invaded North Korea for a distance of one kilometre.
A federal grand jury has indicted two men in connection with an east Alabama bank robbery earlier this year.

Christopher Jermain Spann, 35, and Shaun Jamar Harris, 31, are indicted in the Jan. 19 holdup at Regions Bank on Greenbriar Road in Anniston, according to a joint statement Wednesday by U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and FBI Special Agent Johnnie Sharp, Jr. Authorities said Spann is homeless, and Harris is from Florida.

The FBI investigated the case, along with the Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples is prosecuting. The maximum penalty for bank robbery is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The defendants did not care about the terror they caused when robbing the bank, Town said. Citizens doing their jobs and those conducting business in a bank should feel safe. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who commit violent crime in the district.
As congressional lawmakers work towards one of the most ambitious policing overhauls in decades, there is increasing division between Republicans and Democrats about how to accomplish a common goal.

Top Democratic leaders in the Senate said Tuesday that a Republican policing proposal is not salvageable and demanded new negotiations on a bipartisan legislative package after protests over racial inequality and the death of George Floyd and others at the hands of police.

They want something similar to a far-reaching proposal from House Democrats  the Justice in Policing Act  that would create a national database of excessive-force encounters, limit legal protections for police and ban police chokeholds. The bill is expected to pass the House later this week.

The Republican proposal in the Senate calls for an enhanced use-of-force database, restrictions on chokeholds and new commissions to study law enforcement and race. Senate Republicans say it would limit the federal governments role while still making significant changes in policing.

Heres a look at the two competing proposals:

Police misconduct and use-of-force databases

Many officers who wind up involved in fatal incidents have a history of misconduct, including Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis officer charged with murder in Floyds death. He had at least a dozen complaints made against him, according to records. But those records are often not made public.

Democrats bill: Calls for a national registry including complaints, disciplinary records and termination records. It also would require states to report to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) any incident in which force is used against a civilian. The proposal would require the agencies to report the reason force was used and the national origin, sex, race, ethnicity, age, disability and status of each civilian.

Republicans bill: Would require state and local governments to report all use-of-force incidents that result in serious injuries or death to the FBI on an annual basis. Municipalities that fail to comply could see a reduction in federal funding.

Senator Tim Scott, left, is spearheading the Republican police reform bill that pours large amounts of federal funding into training and grants for local police departments [Reuters/Kevin Lamarque]

Chokeholds

The Democrats bill would specifically ban the use of chokeholds and carotid holds at the federal level, while the Republican bill incentivises police departments to limit chokeholds through grant funding. President Donald Trumps executive order also encourages limits through financial incentives.

Democrats bill: Would ban chokeholds and carotid holds and would condition law enforcement funding for state and local law enforcement agencies on establishing a law to prohibit the use of chokeholds and carotid holds.

Republicans bill: Would condition certain DOJ funds on a police department having specific policies restricting the use of chokeholds, except in situations in which deadly force is authorised.

No-knock warrants

There has been a growing call to ban no-knock warrants since 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was killed in her Louisville, Kentucky home by officers in March. A no-knock warrant, as its name implies, is an order from a judge that allows police to enter a home without ringing a doorbell or banging on the door.

Democrats bill: Would specifically ban no-knock warrants for all federal drug cases and would require local and state law enforcement agencies to prohibit their use to qualify for some federal funding. Oregon and Florida are the only states that have outlawed such warrants.

Republicans bill: GOP senators argue there is no conclusive data on how, why and how often no-knock search warrants are used, and they have proposed requiring state and local law enforcement agencies to report specific data to the DOJ each year. The department would then be required to make a public report.

Qualified immunity

Police officers are generally not held personally liable for anything that happens on the job, including when someone dies. The concept of qualified immunity has long been a way to protect police and other civil servants from unnecessary lawsuits and to give them the freedom to police without fear of retribution.

Democrats bill: Would amend federal misconduct statutes to make it easier for courts to find officers personally liable for the violation of civil rights. Officers might think twice before abusing their power, but critics fear it could make it more difficult to recruit police nationwide. It could also potentially lead to officers being held financially liable.

Republicans bill: They say this is a step too far. As an alternative, the lead senator on the bill, Tim Scott of South Carolina, has suggested a decertification process for officers involved in misconduct. The presidents executive order instructs the DOJ to push local police departments to be certified. Under the order, the DOJ would ensure a department could only be credentialed if its use-of-force policies adhered to federal, state and local laws.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany has said the qualified immunity provision in the House Democrats bill is a total and complete nonstarter.
The Ministry of Ayush on Wednesday stated that it will verify the study documents of Patanjali Ayurved's 'Coronil' tablet which claims to cure coronavirus COVID-19. In an official letter, the ministry said, "Ministry will have the study documents verified for validation of the data of the research outcome."

"It is to acknowledge the receipt of subject-related documents of the clinical trial including site of a clinical study and medical research, Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) clearance, registration details in Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI), study protocol, sample size and study results data," it added.

This comes a day after the ministry took 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," the AYUSH had stated on June 23.

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 from data of the study (ies) and stop advertising/publicizing such claims till the issue is duly examined".

Notably, Yoga guru Ramdev's herbal medicine company Patanjali Ayurved had claimed to have discovered a 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 media persons 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.
Here are some of todays biggest news headlines from select sources around the world.

Pompeo urges China to release two detained Canadians after groundless charges The United States has spoken out forcefully against Chinas prosecution of two Canadian men for spying.

Pompeo urges China to release two detained Canadians after groundless charges The United States has spoken out forcefully against Chinas prosecution of two Canadian men for spying.

White House admits Trump was involved in firing of top US attorney after Trump claimed he wasnt The White House on Monday 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.

Trump falsely accuses Obama of treason in latest unfounded attack on his predecessor President Donald Trump has falsely accused former President Barack Obama of committing treason in his latest unfounded accusation aimed at his predecessor.

Coronavirus pandemic: Updates from around the world By Ben Westcott and Adam Renton, CNN Updated 12:08 a.m. ET, June 23, 2020 Dr. Leana Wen says every time she gives advice about Covid-19 on CNN, she gets hate-filled and racist messages.

Microsoft is shutting down streaming platform Mixer to partner with Facebook Gaming Microsoft is shutting down its video game streaming platform, Mixer, after its growth failed to meet the companys expectations.

Heres everything you need to know about iOS 14 Apple just offered a glimpse at how the experience of using an iPhone is about to change.

Wirecard says missing $2 billion never existed. Its stock is down 85% in 3 days Scandal-plagued Wirecard has acknowledged that $2.1 billion its auditors were unable to locate probably never existed, deepening a crisis at the German digital payments company.

Brexit Leader Allowed To Attend Trump Rally With A National Interest Travel Ban Waiver WASHINGTON  Donald Trumps presidential reelection campaign chartered jets to fly in VIPs to attend his much-hyped but ultimately flopped Oklahoma rally on Saturday, including his pro-Brexit ally Nigel Farage, who was given a national interest waiver to enter the country despite the coronavirus travel ban.

Surging U.S. Virus Cases Raise Fear That Progress Is Slipping ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)  Coronavirus cases in Florida surpassed 100,000 on Monday, part of an alarming surge across the South and West as states reopen for business and many Americans resist wearing masks or keeping their distance from others.

Trump Expands Immigration Ban To Suspend Foreign Worker Visas WASHINGTON (Reuters)  U.S. President Donald Trump will suspend the entry of certain foreign workers, a senior administration official said on Monday, a move the official said would help the economy, but which business groups strongly oppose.

Mike Pence Reportedly Voted Via Rigged Mail System, Joining Other Officials (And Trump) 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.

Republican Group Relentlessly Dunks On Disheveled Post-Rally Trump In New Ad The Lincoln Project is not letting President Donald Trump s very underwhelming campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, slide. In a new attack ad dropped Monday, the anti-Trump Republican group hit the president for the second time in two days over the mediocre turnout at the event, which was supposed to kickstart his bid for reelection but ended up falling significantly short of the campaign teams jacked-up expectations.

The 4 most exciting announcements from WWDC 2020 The 2020 edition of Apples Worldwide Developers Conference wasnt exactly full of bombshells, but we did get some choice announcements out of the all-virtual event. We learned about the next big version of macOS and some fun enhancements to the iPad experience, but the most exciting reveals pertained to iPhones and Apple Watches.

Microsoft will shut down its Twitch competitor Mixer, free Ninja, and partner with Facebook Gaming Microsoft is throwing in the towel for Mixer. On Monday, the computer conglomerate announced that it would close down its video game livestreaming platform on July 22. Microsoft also it would be partnering with Facebook to transfer Mixers partners and streamers over to the social networks gaming platform.

Google workers demand company stop selling tech to police Over 1,600 Google workers have signed an open letter demanding the company stop selling its technology to police. Addressed to CEO Sundar Pichai, the petition references ongoing protests against racism and police brutality sparked by George Floyds death, and calls Google out as profiting offracist systems. We want Google to take real steps to help dismantle racism, says the letter, which has been circulating at Google since Wednesday.

Apples coronavirus keynote was slick but extremely dystopian This is the world of the 2020 apocalypse, where pre-recorded propaganda segments are brought to you from gleaming white saucer-shaped bunkers. As wide-eyed, perfectly-coiffed executives find the bright side of a global pandemic that goes unnamed in uplifting updates (customers just so happen to be using iMessage 40 percent morethan they did this time last year), masked camera crew members try their best to stay away from airborne droplets propelled by their enthusiastic mouths.

Apple will let you change the default email and web browser app in iOS 14 There was a lot to take in at Apples annual Worldwide Developers Conference this year, so you may have missed this important nugget of information: Apple will finally allow iOS users to change their default email and web browser apps with the arrival of the new iOS 14.
Activists from the Ramree Township Youth Network protest against an internet service ban in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, in the state's Ramree town, June 21, 2020.

Myanmar police have charged six activists who participated in protests against a year-long government-ordered internet service shutdown in Myanmars conflict-ridden Rakhine state, accusing them of violating the countrys peaceful assembly law.

Five of the activists are from Yangon-based Athan, a freedom of expression advocacy group. They were taken into custody for denouncing the internet ban by hanging posters on an overpass in downtown Yangon on June 21, questioning whether the ban was intended to cover up possible atrocities committed by the Myanmar military in the conflict zone.

Myo Min Tun, an activist from the Ramree Township Youth Network in Rakhine state, also was charged for participating in a protest in Ramree town on the same day. A group of young people wearing T-shirts saying Oppose Internet Oppression demanded the restoration of internet access, according to photos the group posted on Facebook.

All six activists have been charged under Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, which entails criminal liability for organizing or participating in an assembly for which notice has not been given to local officials.

Rights groups have criticized the statute as incompatible with democracy, saying its provisions are vaguely written and could be used arbitrarily to restrict freedom of expression. They also point to the law's inclusion of prison sentences for peaceful protests.

Ye Wai Phyo Aung, an Athan cofounder, said police informed the group that five of its members, including executive director Maung Saungkha, had been charged, but provided no details or the identities of the others arrested.

They have filed the charges for the protests at the Sule overpass downtown, he told RFA. They displayed posters and banners to protest against the internet shutdown.

Pe Than, a lawmaker from Rakhines Myebon township, said the internet service blackout has hurt residents. He has appealed to the government to lift the ban.

There have been several losses for the local people in terms of education, health, and social and government administration, he said.

It has also intensified the spread of fake news, rights violations, and war crimes, he added, referring to the growing state of lawlessness in the conflict zones. The local people are paying the price.

The internet shutdown originally was imposed in June 2019 in eight townships in Rakhine sate and in Chin states Paletwa township amid intensifying clashes between government forces and the rebel Arakan Army (AA). Authorities later lifted the restriction in Rakhines Maungdaw township.

The 18-month-long conflict that has killed 260 civilians and displaced more than 160,000 others.

The government has extended the ban until Aug. 1, saying it will lift it when the region is secure.

Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said Tuesday that the internet shutdown in the remaining townships must remain in place to prevent the leakage of army information and the spread of hate speech on social media.

Rights groups and foreign diplomats in Myanmar have called on officials to reinstate the service, arguing that the cutoff has prevented civilians from accessing information about COVID-19 and from contacting humanitarian aid groups.

Reported by Waiyan Moe Myint for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
CANTON, Ohio, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Real estate brokerages of all sizes are seeing significant gains in their online traffic as well as a lower cost-per-lead despite the COVID-19 outbreak, according to research from Delta Media Group, one of America's most established and largest broker technology solutions providers.

Real estate brokerages of all sizes are seeing significant gains in their online traffic as well as a lower cost-per-lead despite the COVID-19 outbreak, according to research from Delta Media Group.

Delta Media tracked the performance of brokerage websites that it provides to large (250+ agents), mid-size (70 to 250 agents), and smaller (<70 agents) brokerages. The research shows the vast majority of brokerages are outperforming last year based on average organic online traffic and lead generation performance through May 2020, which includes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The biggest surprise: for organic leads. Brokerages cost per organic lead is well below market standards, with the averaging between $4.56 and $6.69. WAV Group, a leading real estate consulting and research firm, notes many brokerages pay between $35 to $100 or more per online lead.

"Despite COVID-19, the pause button was not pressed by consumers," said Michael Minard, CEO, and owner of Delta Media. "While traffic growth slowed, particularly in luxury markets, the market never paused. What this means for small, medium and large brokerage websites is they are poised to come out of this strong. Each is deploying fully baked SEO strategies that will help them dominate in organic traffic and lead gen, giving them an advantage over advertising portals as real estate rebounds," he added.

Highlights of the Delta Media broker website research includes:

Averages for all brokerages year-to-date through May 31, 2020:

Overall, brokerage web traffic is up an average of 28% year-over-year.

Organic brokerage web traffic is up an average of 36% year-over-year.

Lead generation is up by almost 10% -- 9.32% higher than 2019.

The average cost per organic lead for all brokerage websites was only $5.41.

Large Brokerages turned in the some of the most robust averages:

Overall, brokerage web traffic is up an average of 23% year-over-year.

Organic brokerage web traffic is up an average of 56% year-over-year.

Lead generation is up by 13% year-over-year.

The average cost per organic lead from large brokerage websites was only $4.56.

Mid-size Brokerages enjoyed website traffic as nearly as strong:

Overall, brokerage web traffic is up an average of 24% year-over-year.

Organic brokerage web traffic is up an average of 30% year-over-year.

Lead generation is up by 13% year-over-year.

The average cost per organic lead from mid-size brokerage websites was only $4.98.

Even Small Brokerages, those with 70 or fewer agents, enjoyed similar gains in their brokerage website's organic traffic and lead gen:

Overall, brokerage web traffic is up an average of 32% year-over-year.

Organic brokerage web traffic is up an average of 22% year-over-year.

Lead generation is up by 6% year-over-year.

The average cost per organic lead from small brokerage websites was only $6.69. While this is slightly higher than the average cost-per-lead that Large and Mid-size Brokerage clients captured from their Delta-provided websites, it is still substantially below the average cost to purchase online leads.

Minard notes that the key for brokerages achieving a lower cost-per-lead is the advanced SEO strategies that back these websites. "At Delta, we committed to the user experience as part of our SEO strategy abut 15 years ago because we believed that combined with great content, it was the right thing to do. These numbers bear out the success of those strategies as these traffic reports demonstrate."

About Delta Media Group

Delta Media Group, located in Canton, Ohio, is a leading and trusted technology partner for many real estate top brands. Creator of the DeltaNET 6, real estate's most advanced all-in-one digital marketing, back office, and website platform, Delta Media Group is the largest family-owned and operated technology innovator with no outside investors or VC funding. Delta Media Group is renowned for saving clients money while reducing the frustration of managing multiple online technologies. Established in 1994, Delta Media Group remains a top real estate technology innovator. Discover more at deltamediagroup.com.

Media contacts:

Victor Lund (805) 709-6696

[email protected]

Kevin Hawkins (206) 866-1220

[email protected]

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Real estate brokerage see gains

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NORTH KOREA - Crossing into the North from the South, hundreds of thousands of balloons carrying anti-Kim leaflets spoiled the relations between North and South Korea as the hermit state set the alarm ringing. Global tension rose as North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un threatened to use weapons of mass destruction to the South, which may cause the start of the third world war.

Kim Jong-Un's sister, Kim Yo-jong is the one who retaliated to the propaganda calling the South "human scum " and "the enemy", she also claimed it is just the first move towards a planned strategic attack.

Just a few days after the retaliation, the North blasted the inter-Korean liaison office in the border city, Kaesong, destroying a de facto diplomatic outpost that connects Pyongyang and Seoul in terms of communication, Express Mail reported.

The direct connection between the two countries had been cut by the North, terminating the daily talks that started since 2018.

Moments after the attack in Kaesong, propagandists in Pyongyang cautioned that its military currently plans to re-enter the border areas that were disarmed previously because of the 2018 inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement.

Been looming for a certain time, it is a military threat that many experts suggest that North Korea has no qualms about its usage.

American journalist, Sochi Dreazen who covered the Iraq war and a follower of the Korean tensions, shared that in 2018 there is a possibility that Kim will use every weapon of mass destruction that he possesses.

However, Dreazen also mentioned that there is also a chance that Kim will not utilize any of those weapons because of the unpredictability of war itself.

Read also: Kim Jong-Un's Sister Kim Yo Jong May Become the World's First Female Dictator

Experts about North Korea shared that the most recent moves in Pyongyang show the provocation of the military.

They also added and explained that it is an act coming from Kim along with his advisers to reset negotiations with Washington to ease the crippling economic sanctions.

Talks have stalled between the two nations, despite the three meetings which happened in just a span of two years.

In a report by Financial Press, former CIA analyst, Sue Mi Terry, shared that she is expecting more actions from North Korea this year wherein the United States is not exempted.

She also added that the attack on the liaison office on the border city was just the 'opening salvo.'

Since North Korea conducted weapons testing, as observed by experts the North Korean military has a huge number of rocket launchers and artilleries that are capable to reach Seoul anytime.

According to the Congressional Research Service, Kim could pound the capital of South Korea with an average of 10,000 rockets per minute, Vox reported.

Based on the projection, it could kill not less than 300,000 South Koreans in just the initial days of the conflict.

Based on the projection, it could kill not less than 300,000 South Koreans in just the initial days of the conflict.

This projection does not include the usage of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.

As of the moment, the United States has not yet received any threats coming from the North.

Moreover, a lot of people expects Kim to address similar message he issued to Trump in 2018 wherein he somehow showed a glimpse of warning and warned the world that his nuclear artillery is not just a threat but a reality.



Related article: North Korea Prepares to Drown South Korea with 'Leaflets of Punishment'

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Black megachurch pastor denies he agreed to participate in Republican National Convention

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Bishop Vaughn McLaughin, founder and senior pastor of the Potter's House International Ministries who was the only religious leader announced as part Jacksonville, Floridas 32-member host committee for the Republican National Convention, said he did not agree to be a part of the team.

Listen, this is funny. I was driving down the street and I get this beep on my phone and I joined into this conversation with folk talking about how disappointed they are with me being on a Republican National Convention welcome committee. Everybody that knows me knew that I said I would not be on that committee. I did not consent to being on that welcoming committee, McLaughlin said in a Facebook Live video on Friday.

Just over a week ago, Republicans moved their national convention, set to take place Aug. 2427, from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Jacksonville after President Donald Trump reportedly told North Carolina officials he did not want to use social distancing measures aimed at stemming the spread of the new coronavirus. Trump is expected to accept the Republican nomination for president during the convention.

On Thursday, the Jacksonville host committee highlighted McLaughin as a part of their 32-member team.

"Community and business leaders from here in Jacksonville and across the Sunshine State are sharing their time, talent and experience to ensure Jacksonville is able to host a successful convention for our visitors on this expedited timeframe," Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, who is also one of two co-chairs of the committee, said. "We are thrilled to host the Republican National Convention this August and look forward to sharing with the rest of the country the things that make Jacksonville, and our people, so special."

The host committee told First Coast News that McLaughlin had committed to be on the committee but said they would remove him from the list if he is not interested in the role.

McLaughin insisted that he never at any time committed to being a part of the committee because he is not a Trump supporter nor is he a supporter of the RNC. He suggested, however, that there may have been some confusion due to his commitment to work with the JAX Chamber of Commerce to ensure appropriate representation for the black community.

The mayor asked me and I said no. Wanna get me lynched in my own city? And some kind of way through our conversation of working with the Chamber of Commerce to try to make sure that black folk get some money and that black folk be represented properly. Thats the only thing I said I would do and Id work with Daniel Davis but not to be on the welcoming committee, he said.

I was shocked as many of you also that saw my name. Im not a Trump supporter. Im not a RNC supporter. And everybody that knows me knows that. So I dont feel like I need to go into details any further but well deal with my name being on there. I just need yall to pray for me thats all. Dont jump to conclusions. Dont do that. Always make the call. Dont let the enemy divide us.

McLaughin, whose church has more than 5,000 members, said some people had begun sharing negative comments about him when the announcement was made but he has forgiven them.

Those of you that had some negative things to say and just couldnt believe, I forgive you. Absolutely no problem. But please dont operate in hate and fear. And if Im not concerned about it dont you be concerned about it. People that know me, they know me, McLaughlin said.
China on Wednesday launched a twin diplomatic tirade against India with its foreign and defence ministries blaming New Delhi for the Galwan Valley clash on June 15 and alleging that the external affairs ministry (MEA) and Indian media were spreading false information about the incident.

A day after referring to the military commander-level talks of June 22 as an effort to lower the temperature and properly handle differences, the two ministries separately castigated New Delhi for violating bilateral agreements, international rules and provoking the clash.

The mention of international rules by the Chinese foreign ministry could have been in the context of external affairs minister, S Jaishankar mentioning the importance of following international rules during the Russia, India, China foreign ministers meet.

Also read: How the Galwan Valley tragedy can transform Himalayan geopolitics

The deadly brawl left 20 Indian army soldiers dead and caused unspecified number of casualties to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

When asked why the Chinese foreign ministry was repeating the points of contention  New Delhi has summarily dismissed Beijings one-sided version of the incident  despite renewed talks of peace and tranquility at border, spokesperson, Zhao Lijian had this to say at todays ministry briefing: What I have just said, my statement just now is meant to clarify the whole situation, tell the truth to everyone. We made the statement because the MEA in India and also Indian media have made some false reports.

ALSO WATCH | Need to respect international law..: Jaishankar in a meet with China, Russia

On Tuesday, Zhao had dismissed as fake news a statement by Indian minister VK Singh that the PLA could have suffered double the number of casualties compared to the Indian army.

In the statement he read out after the ministry briefing was over, Zhao said that early morning on May 6, Indias border troops under the guise of darkness, trespassed into Chinas territory and provoked the incident. Chinas troops had to take necessary measures to strengthen their response and their management of the border areas.

Also read: The Galwan Valley face-off explained through 17 news reports

Secondly, it is the Indian side that went against bilateral agreement and provoked first. Because of our diplomatic and military representations, the Indian side at first agreed to withdraw personnel from Galwan Valley and so it did, and it dismantled its facilities as requested by the Chinese side, Zhao added.

Zhao then continued to give the so-called step-by-step account of the incident.

During the first Commanders meeting on June 6, the Indian side committed no trespassing of the Galwan Valley for patrol and for building. The two sides agreed to set up observatory posts at the two sides of the Galwan river estuary, but the Indian side went against these agreements and asked China to dismantle Chinas posts and also it crossed the Line to provoke which led to the clash, he said.

There was no immediate reaction from the Indian side to the claims levelled by Zhao.

Zhao continued: In the evening of June 15, Indias frontline troops went against the agreement reached at the Commander-level meeting, crossed the LAC and sabotaged the tents Chinese side set up.

When Chinas border troops went to negotiate as per protocol, the Indian side suddenly attacked Chinese personnel violently, which led to fierce physical clashes and casualties. This risky behaviour by the Indian side greatly violated the agreement between the two countries and the basic norms guiding international relation. Its very serious, with very severe consequences.

On the June 22 talks, he said: We hope this time the Indian side will strictly follow the agreement and work with China to take concrete actions and resume peace and stability in the border areas.

Separately, the Chinese defence ministry too took aim at India on Wednesday, repeating nearly word-for-word earlier Chinese statements.

Speaking at online interaction with selected media, defence ministry spokesperson, Wu Qian said: But what is shocking is that on the evening of June 15th, the Indian front-line frontier troops openly violated the consensus reached by the two sides, turned their backs, and once again crossed the actual control line to deliberately provoke China.

While negotiating on the spot, Chinese officers and soldiers were suddenly violently attacked by the Indian side. This triggered intense physical clashes between officers and soldiers on both sides, resulting in casualties.

India has already rejected twice Chinas claims on the skirmish.

India on June 20, for the second time, rejected Chinas claim on Galwan Valley in Ladakh and reiterated that the violent clash of June 15 was triggered by Chinese efforts to build structures on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The external affairs ministry dismissed claims made by Chinas foreign ministry in a statement issued regarding both sovereignty over Galwan Valley and the genesis of the clash on Monday night that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said the position with regard to Galwan Valley was historically clear. He added, Attempts by the Chinese side to now advance exaggerated and untenable claims with regard to Line of Actual Control (LAC) there are not acceptable. They are not in accordance with Chinas own position in the past.

Srivastava further said the brawl of June 15 was the result of violent actions by Chinese troops after they were prevented by Indian soldiers from building structures on the Indian side of the LAC. He noted senior military commanders of the two sides had agreed during a meeting on June 6 on a process for de-escalation and disengagement along the LAC that involved reciprocal actions.
YEREVAN.  Within hours, the National Assembly (NA) adopted the constitutional amendments and, violating the Constitution, did not send it to the Constitutional Court for an opinion. Edmon Marukyan, leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party (BAP) and head of its parliamentary faction, stated this in a conversation with journalists Wednesday.

"Besides, it made an amendment to the NA Rules of Procedure, whereby deprived the RA [Republic of Armenia] President of the right to sign the draft constitutional amendments," he added.

Marukyan stated that there is a claim that all this has to do with the examination of ex-President Robert Kocharyan's case in the Constitutional Court, which is scheduled for July 7. "Now we will work on the petition [of our ours], strengthen it, and as soon as the session on the case of the second president takes place and ends, our petition in connection with declaring unconstitutional will be submitted to the Constitutional Court. It's a matter of days."

And when asked whether this means that Bright Armenia will not join the parliamentary opposition Prosperous Armenia Party and will not add the two missing signatures, Marukyan answered: " Yes, you got it right. We will petition to the CC [Constitutional Court] after the examination of the [case of the] second president. Legally, it makes no difference when we petition.

Prosperous Armenia party to collect signatures of MPs for appeal to  regarding constitutional amendments bill
New coronavirus cases in the US have surged to their highest level in two months and are now back to where they were at the peak of the outbreak.

The US on Tuesday reported 34,700 new cases of the virus, according to a tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University that was published Wednesday. There have been only two previous days that the US has reported more cases: April 9 and April 24, when a record 36,400 cases were logged.

New cases in the US have been surging for more than a week after trending down for more than six weeks. While early hot spots like New York and New Jersey have seen cases steadily decrease, the virus has been hitting the south and west. Several states on Tuesday set single-day records, including Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada and Texas.

Also read| Global Covid-19 death toll surges past 475,000: Report

Cases were also surging in other parts of the world. India reported a record daily increase of nearly 16,000 new cases. Mexico, where testing rates have been low, also set a record with more than 6,200 new cases.

But China appears to have tamed a new outbreak of the virus in Beijing, once again demonstrating its ability to quickly mobilize vast resources by testing nearly 2.5 million people in 11 days.

ALSO WATCH | Kung Flu: Donald Trump mocks China over Covid; White House denies racism

In the US state of Arizona, which on Tuesday reported a record 3,600 new infections, hundreds of young conservatives packed a megachurch to hear President Donald Trumps call for them to back his reelection bid.

As he did at a rally in Oklahoma over the weekend, Trump referred to the virus with a pejorative term directed at its emergence in China.

Ahead of the event, the Democratic mayor of Phoenix, Kate Gallego, made clear that she did not believe the speech could be safely held in her city  and urged the president to wear a face mask. He did not. Trump has refused to wear a mask in public, instead turning it into a red-vs.-blue cultural issue.

Also read: Swedish confidence levels jump as Covid-19 concern recedes

Earlier Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress that the next few weeks are critical to tamping down the surge.

Plan A, dont go in a crowd. Plan B, if you do, make sure you wear a mask, said Fauci, the infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health.

In China, an outbreak that has infected more than 200 people in the capital this month appeared to be firmly waning. China on Wednesday reported 12 cases, down from 22 the day before. Beijing reported seven new cases, down from 13.

Officials in Beijing said they tested more than 2.4 million people between June 12 and June 22. Thats more than 10% of the capitals population of about 20 million.

Authorities began testing people at food markets and in the areas around them. They expanded that to include restaurant staff and the citys 100,000 delivery workers. China also said it used big data to find people who had been near markets for testing, without specifying how.

The vast majority have tested negative, though one courier delivering groceries from supermarkets tested positive.

A single inflatable mobile lab in one district was capable of conducting 30,000 tests a day, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

South Korea, which successfully tamed its first wave of infections, is seeing another rise. While the first outbreak was centered in its fourth-largest city, the current outbreak is in the Seoul region, where most South Koreans live. Authorities reported 51 cases Wednesday. Its increase of 40 to 50 cases every day over the past two weeks comes amid increased public activity and eased attitudes on social distancing.

In India, with a population of more than 1.3 billion, the densely populated cities of Mumbai and New Delhi have been hardest hit. The country has reported more than 450,000 cases of the virus, including more than 14,000 deaths.

The situation in New Delhi is a rising concern, with the federal government criticizing its poor contact tracing and a lack of hospital beds.

Mexico reported nearly 800 new deaths on Wednesday. The country has recorded more than 190,000 cases and more than 23,000 deaths, although officials acknowledge both are undercounts due to extremely low testing rates. Mexico has performed only about half a million tests, or about one for every 250 inhabitants.

Worldwide, more than 9.2 million people have contracted the virus, including more than 477,000 who have died, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
A criminal complaint has been filed in a Bihar court against yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved MD Acharya Balkrishna, alleging that they have misled and put at risk the lives of lakhs of people by claiming to have developed a medicine to treat COVID-19.

The complaint seeking registration of an FIR on cheating, criminal conspiracy and other charges was filed in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Mukesh Kumar on Tuesday by Tamanna Hashmi, who identifies himself as a social worker and is often in news for his numerous court complaints against politicians over various issues.

The court posted the matter for hearing on June 30.

The complainant has named Ramdev, the convenor of the Patanjali Research Institute, and his aide Balkrishna, the organisation's chairman, as accused.

Hashmi submitted that Ramdev and Balkrishna claimed to have prepared "Coronil tablet" to cure COVID-19, which is nothing but misleading.

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 complainant submitted that the Ayush Ministry has asked Patanjali Ayurved to stop advertising and publicising its claims about the medicine.

The Ayush Ministry has said that they have not been provided any information with regard to the details of the composition of the ayurvedic medicine, Hashmi said.

The complainant has sought registration of a case under IPC sections 420 (cheating and dishonesty inducing delivery of property), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), among others.

Ramdev's herbal medicine company Patanjali Ayurved has launched 'Coronil tablet and Swasari vati' medicines claiming they can cure the highly contagious disease within seven days.

It has also claimed that the two Ayurveda-based medicines have shown 100 per cent favourable results during clinical trials on COVID-19 infected patients except those on a life support system. However, the AYUSH ministry said that the facts of the claim and details of the stated scientific study are not known to it.

It has sought from the company a 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.

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 group has an estimated turnover of around Rs 10,500 crore.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
The Arab League on Tuesday called for the withdrawal of foreign forces in Libya and urged for talks on ending the conflict in the north African country. The virtual meeting, held at Egypt's request, comes amid a flaring conflict in neighbouring Libya between a UN-recognised government in the country's west and eastern-based forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar. It was attended by representatives from 21 Arab countries including Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA), which had opposed the meeting earlier this week. The 14-clause resolution submitted by the Arab League provided for "rejecting all illegitimate foreign interventions" in Libya and called for "the withdrawal of all foreign forces on Libyan territories and its regional waters." Libya's representative, Saleh al-Shamakhi, expressed reservations on the Arab League's call, saying that foreign forces backing the GNA helped roll back the "aggression" by Haftar's forces. The Turkish-backed GNA has recently made major military gains against Haftar's forces, who have sought to regain control over the west in an abortive attempt to seize Tripoli. Egypt, which backs Haftar, has warned that advances by Turkey-backed forces on the strategic Libyan city of Sirte could prompt an Egyptian military intervention. The GNA denounced Sisi's statements as a "declaration of war". Earlier this month, Cairo proposed a peace initiative calling for a ceasefire, withdrawal of mercenaries and disbanding militias in the neighbouring country. The proposal was dismissed by the GNA and Ankara. On Tuesday, the Arab League welcomed Egypt's proposal and urged Libyan factions to "positively engage" with such initiatives. Shamakhi also voiced reservations on the call, saying the GNA was not invited to be part of Cairo's initiative. He added that "whoever wants to mediate... should not be siding with one party over the other". Tunisia, Qatar and Somalia expressed reservations on the clauses criticised by Libya. Libya has been mired in chaos since the 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Besides Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia back Haftar's forces. The resolution submitted by the Arab League provided for 'rejecting all illegitimate foreign interventions' in Libya
The Victorian Government has called in the army to help manage the state's outbreak of coronavirus cases.

Victorian health authorities were expected to meet with defence officials on Wednesday afternoon to finalise details of the military's deployment.

As many as 1000 military personnel are set to manage quarantine hotels and assist with emergency response in Melbourne, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The Victorian Government has requested military support to help manage the state's explosive outbreak of coronavirus. Pictured: Coronavirus testing in Melbourne on Tuesday

Health and defence officials will meet on Wednesday afternoon to finalise the military's deployment (army personnel pictured at Sydney International Airport)

The drastic action comes after Victoria recorded 20 new coronavirus cases and its 18th consecutive day of double-digit infections on Wednesday.

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said the Australian Defence force 'stands ready to assist Victoria with the current outbreak of COVID-19'.

'I have tasked the Department of Defence to liaise with coordinating agencies to assess what additional assistance may be required,' she tweeted on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Emergency Management Australia and the federal health and defence departments were working 'to expedite a request for assistance from Victoria'.

'The Prime Minister has been in regular discussions with Premier Andrews and the Minister for Defence about the possible further deployment of Commonwealth resources, including the ADF and their expertise, to assist Victoria to manage the spread of COVID-19,' the spokesman said.

It is understood the army personnel will also assist with emergency management, planning and logistics support across the state's capital.

It is understood up to 1000 military personnel (pictured) will assist with quarantine hotels, emergency management, planning and logistics support across Melbourne

There are currently 12 Australian Defence Force personnel involved in coronavirus planning support in Victoria.

A total of 28 military personnel were assisting with Victoria's pandemic response as of Wednesday morning.

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia Victoria had requested logistical support from the Australian Defence Force.

The state government has also accepted contact tracing and testing assistance from health officials in NSW, Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia.

'This support will mean we can get even more tests done and results back quickly.

'We thank our neighbouring states for agreeing to provide this support  which will ensure we keep Victorians safe,' the spokesperson said.

Hundreds of Melbourne quarantine hotel workers have had to isolate after at least 33 staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

State health officials are currently investigating links between hotel workers and security guards and multiple family outbreaks.

Hotel detainees and workers are believed to make up almost half of Victoria's 141 active coronavirus cases.
Amazon Prime Video today unveiled the trailer of the much-anticipated Malayalam film, Sufiyum Sujatayum, which makes its global premiere exclusively on the streaming service platform, and is the fourth of the seven Indian films in five languages to do so. Directed by Naranipuzha Shanavas, Sufiyum Sujatayum is produced by Vijay Babu under his banner, Friday Film House. Come this July 3, Prime members in India and more than 200 countries and territories worldwide can watch the much-awaited movie in Malayalam.

"Our endeavor is to create something which leaves behind a lasting impact and Sufiyum Sujatayum is a film made exactly on those lines. The theme of the movie is one that hasn't been explored very often. The story is nuanced and complex, yet underlines one simple, universal truth - that love knows no rationality or bounds. There would not have been a more perfect choice than Aditi Rao Hydari and Jayasurya for the respective roles as both are known to do justice to every character that they portray.

The music makes the movie a fitting tribute to the all-important emotion of love. With the movie releasing on Amazon Prime Video we are glad that the film will reach a global audience allowing them to revel in Malayalam cinema," commented Producer Vijay Babu.

"Sufiyum Sujatayum is a special film for me. I been lucky to work with some incredible people across India, and this film marks my debut as the leading lady of a Malayalam film," said Aditi Rao Hydari. "The film is an innocent love story, where love is unburdened by prejudices and discrimination. The movie is a drama and narrated with a lot of sensitivity and honesty. I had a great time working on the movie, it was challenging to work with some very brilliant colleagues and crew members. I'm really looking forward to the audience's response. I hope they get immersed in the world of Sufi and Sujata like I did and I hope everyone makes their own special connection to the characters and the story," added the actress.

"The Malayalam film industry is known for rolling out good stories," said Jayasurya, one of the biggest superstars in the Malayalam film industry. "Sufiyum Sujatayum too keeps up with the tradition and depicts a story of a beautiful girl with an incomplete love-story. I play the role of the husband to Aditi's character. An interesting and nuanced role of a husband that knows of his wife's love for another man, and tries to find ways to keep his family together. There's a lot that we're trying to convey through the film and one will have to watch the movie and be part of it to know how beautifully these sequences take place," he further said.

The film is shot by cinematographer Anu Moothedath and edited by Deepu Joseph. The soulful music in the film is composed by the talented M Jayachandran with lyrics penned by Hari Narayan and songs sung by Sudeep Palanad. The film is brought together by executive producer Vijay Babu.

Sufiyum Sujatayum will globally premiere in Malayalam on July 3, directly on Amazon Prime Video.

Sufiyum Sujatayum Trailer Is All Set To Release Tomorrow On Amazon Prime Video

Sufiyum Sujatayum To Exclusively Premiere On July 3 On Amazon Prime Video
Seasoned journalist, Kweku Baako has rebuffed arguments by opposition parties which seek to suggest that vote buying is an idiosyncratic practice prominent in only the New Patriotic Party (NPP).



The NPP ended its primaries on Saturday, June 20, 2020 to elect Parliamentary candidates for the party in about 168 constituencies across the nation.



However, prior to the primaries, there were reports of some aspirants inducing the party delegates with money and various items in order to win their votes.



The largest opposition party, the NDC, waded in describing the level of vote-buying and opulence that were on display at the NPP's primaries as alarming and unprecedented.



At its Weekly Press Briefing on Monday, 22 June 2020, the biggest opposition partys National Communication Officer, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, said: 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, he noted.



Contributing to Wednesday's ''Kokrokoo'' on Peace FM, Kweku Baako called out the hypocrisy of opposition parties creating an impression that this culture of moneycracy in Ghana's politics is peculiar to the NPP and argued that all political parties tend to induce their delegates and electorates at large with money and items to win votes.



Pulling out a list of documents to support his claims, Mr. Baako stated emphatically that money in politics has characterized all administrations since the regime of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah till date and believed it can only be solved when comprehensive discussions are held to address it.



''There is no Republic administration in this country which has been free of this subculture. None! From first, under the great Osagyefo himself to today...and it is not good at all. Let's be honest...We have to get the courage to admit that this thing is a negative phenomenon. It's been with us for a long time and if we don't check it, it could create problems for everybody'', he stated.



He therefore asked political parties to stop playing politics with the issue.



''You're just perpetrating hyprocrisy. You're seeking to make hypocrisy a virtue rather than a vice...If you want to play politics with it, go ahead and do politics with it. But the truth is that this problem will come back each time," he stated.



Kweku Baako sees this moneycracy as a deep-seated problem.



''We cannot tackle what happens only at party primaries and solve this challenge. That's my argument. If we want to deal with this challenge, let's be very comprehensive and sincere, and honest about the phenomenon. Its roots and its dynamics and I'm saying if that is so, all the political parties, we all have questions to answer.



''There hasn't been that determined focused commitment to dealing with this thing because, in actual fact, we're all guilty and the truth is that we're all beneficiaries of this corruption of the political process; the seeds of which were sown way back...Let's be honest with ourselves. Let's do self-retrospection. That's why I said we're all guilty of such subculture. And I do not want to hear some people standing out there and shouting unprecedented expenditure.''









Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Chennai ISIS module members were in process of setting up wilayah in South Indian forests

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, June 24: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against 12 people in connection with the Chennai Islamic State case.

The NIA charged, Pachaiyappan, Rajesh, Anbarasan T, Abdul Rahiman, Liyakath Ali, Mohammed Haneef Khan, Imran Khan, Mohammed Zaid, Ejaz Pasha, Hussain Shariff, Khaja Mohideen and Mahboob Pasha.

The probe revealed that following the release of Khan Moideen on bail in connection with the murder of a Hindu leader, he had conspired with one Liyakath Ali. The intent was to further the activities of the ISIS in India.

NIA registers first case outside India and Kerala ISIS operative is prime suspect

They had procured a large number of SIM cards fraudulently activated by Pachaiyappan and Rajesh in Chennai. Moideen had radicalised his associates on the violent ideology of the ISIS.

Covid in Delhi: Screening to be done at all households in capital by July 6 | Oneindia News

Further, the NIA learnt that the accused had also procured country made fire arms, prohibited ammunition and jungle camping equipment. They were in the process of setting up a wilayah or province of the ISIS in the forests of South India with an intent of waging violent jihad on behalf of the ISIS.

The case was originally registered by the Q Branch of the Chennai police on December 28, 2019. The complaint was filed by the territorial sales manager of Airtel, Kancheepuram.

The complainant said that some SIM cards were fraudulently activated using identity documents of various persons without their knowledge.

Investigation revealed that the SIM cards were activated in Chennai and during subsequent investigation, it was found that similar fraudulent activation of Vodafone SIM cards were also done at Salem. The fraudulently activated SIM cards procured from Chennai and Salem were provided to Khaja Mohideen, who used them for communicating with his co-conspirators and terror associates and for procurement of illegal arms and ammunition for preparing and perpetrating ISIS/Daish related terrorist activities in India.
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Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia  Wed, June 24, 2020 16:21 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406614bb01 4 Inforial Free

To grow, digital technology start-ups require venture capital and that is what several foreign investors have provided for various local start-ups.

The investors injected the venture capital into selected qualified start-ups, categorized as unicorns, or a privately held start-up valued at over US$1 billion, several years ago.

However, a change is taking place regarding digital technology start-ups to ensure sustainable growth.

In todays digital tech business ecosystem, the landscape has shifted from growth at all cost, to sustainable growth. The name unicorn has been adapted from Silicon Valley, which might no longer sit well with todays ecosystem. Indonesia needs Sembrani, a symbol for Indonesian start-ups, said Nicko Widjaja, CEO of PT BRI Ventura Investama (BRI Ventures), a subsidiary of BRI.

Nicko released the written remark in conjunction with the launch of Dana Ventura Sembrani Nusatara (Nusantara Venture Capital) in Jakarta on June 24.

With the launch of Dana Ventura Sembrani Nusantara, BRI Ventures aims to realize its commitment to provide easy access to venture capital for digital tech micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKMs) start-ups.

The breakthrough is also in line with the strategy that Bank BRI, as the holding company, has set to empower UMKMs.

Dana Ventura Sembrani Nusantara is expected to accelerate the expansion of local start-ups by delivering digital technology-based products and services, both online and offline.

The funding will be focused on seed-growth, comprising seed funding and venture capital Series A.

The philosophy behind BRI Ventures investment is value over valuation in which our focus is seeking businesses with strong fundamentals. The funding will be channeled to start-ups that already produce products, have income from their operations and have a clear business strategy toward profit, Nicko explained.

Sembrani Nusantaras funding will be focused on five sectors, known by the acronym EARTH (Education, Agro-Maritime, Retail, Transportation and Health) across Indonesia.

Through Sembrani Nusantara, BRI Ventures is set to raise Rp 300 billion from investors that will be distributed in the form of participating shares for start-ups in Indonesia. The investors may come from investment fund managers, private companies or state-owned enterprises.

Sembrani Nusantara has gained approval from the Financial Services Authority (OJK).

Dana Ventura targets digital technology-based UMKM as pioneers in Indonesia. We are pleased to be part of the development of venture capital. We hope the industry becomes increasingly open in the next several years so that more people understand the digital landscape, which can eventually spur the growth of digital economy, Nicko said.

The name Sembrani Nusantara was chosen as a philosophical symbol of local start-ups in the future, in which Sembrani, a horse that Batara Wisnu (Batara of Vishnu) rides, as in the wayang story, represents a unicorn with local wisdom that corresponds to the demography focus of start-ups that derive from across Nusantara (the Archipelago).

With the motto, Unlocking Nusantara Potential, Dana Ventura Sembrani Nusantara has demonstrated BRI Ventures commitment in supporting digital ecosystem growth.

Previously, BRI Ventures injected Rp 1.5 trillion into start-ups, with the disbursement conducted in stages.

BRI Ventures will prepare US$250 million or Rp 3.5 trillion (Rp 14,000 per 1US$) and will play the role of investor to build financial technology (fintech), especially when it comes to the ecosystem.

Investing in start-ups will give strategic benefits and value, especially in developing the digital ecosystem. For further information on BRI Ventures, please visit: www.briventures.id
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 495 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, raising the statewide total to 83,191.

Across Pennsylvania, 6,515 deaths have been tied to COVID-19, including 54 new fatalities reported Wednesday. More than two-thirds of the states coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.

The health department reported new data Wednesday. The numbers reflect coronavirus cases and deaths reported as of midnight. There are 608,217 people who have tested negative.

The number of new cases has dropped significantly in recent weeks. In April, the state regularly reported more than 1,000 new cases each day. Its been more than a month since the state has had 1,000 new COVID-19 cases in a single day.

Fewer coronavirus patients are being treated in hospitals. The health departments website showed about 720 COVID-19 patients in hospitals Wednesday morning, which is about a quarter of the peak number.

In recent weeks, Gov. Tom Wolf has been pulling back the most aggressive restrictions his administration had put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Going green

Wolf announced that 12 more counties, including the Philadelphia region, 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 officials said they will maintain some restrictions in the city until July 3.

By Friday, 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 denounced the Wolf administration for not moving the county to the green phase.

Even as Wolf has eased restrictions, he has urged people to continue to wear masks to slow the spread of the disease.

The state has worked to do more testing and bolster its capacity to do contact tracing, the process of reaching out to everyone who has been in contact with someone who is infected. As of June 18, the Wolf administration said it had 518 contact tracers.

On Tuesday, the Wolf administration said it had received 89,350 test results in the past week, an average of 12,764 a day.

Republican lawmakers argue the governor has moved too slowly to reopen the state. 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 is expected to rule on the case before the end of the week.

Nursing homes

Across Pennsylvania, 4,467 coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, according to the health department.

The department said 17,394 residents of long-term care facilities have contracted COVID-19, along with 3,103 employees. Thats a total of 20,497 people who have been infected in long-term care facilities.

Cases have been found at 671 facilities in 49 counties.

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World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a daily press briefing on COVID-19, at the WHO headquarters in Geneva on March 2, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

WHO Issues Global Warning as Virus Cases Spike to New and Grim Record

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark warning for the world after the number of CCP virus cases jumped globally to a new and grim record with 183,000 new cases reported on June 21.

The news came just three days after a press briefing on June 19 where the WHOs Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed more than 150 thousand new cases of COVID-19 were reported to WHOthe most in a single day so far.

The world is in a new and dangerous phase. Many people are understandably fed up with being at home. Countries are understandably eager to open up their societies and economies. But the virus is still spreading fast, its still deadly, and most people are still susceptible, said Tedros on June 19.

More than 8.8 million cases have now been reported to WHO, and more than 465,000 people have lost their lives, Tedros said.

He noted that all countries had been hit on both health and economic fronts by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Arguing that measures taken to protect against the pandemic should not be a choice between human lives and livelihoods, Tedros said countries can do both, but warned that many countries that had suppressed the virus were seeing an upswing in cases as the countries reopened.

We urge countries to be careful and creative in finding solutions that enable people to stay safe while getting on with their lives. We continue to urge all countries to double down on the fundamental public health measures that we know work, he said.

The WHO has faced intense scrutiny over its handling of the outbreak. In January, the WHO denied human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 occurring in China when, in fact, the first evidence of human-to-human transmission among close contacts appeared in mid-Dec. 2019, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine on Jan. 29.

Currently, figures from the WHO on June 23 state that nearly 8.9 million people have become infected globally, and approximately 470,000 people have died from the COVID-19 disease, caused by the virus. However, these are estimations as asymptomatic cases, and testing regimes are not accessible or recorded correctly in all countries.

WHO Supports New Drug For Treating the COVID-19 Pathogen

Tedros also declared that the WHO was now recommending the use of the steroid dexamethasone for the treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Oxford University announced on June 16 that after a randomized trial of 2104 patients, Dexamethasone reduced deaths by one-third in ventilated patients and by one fifth in other patients receiving oxygen.

Tedros said on June 16, This is the first treatment to be shown to reduce mortality in patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen or ventilator support.

This is great news, and I congratulate the government of the UK, the University of Oxford, and the many hospitals and patients in the UK who have contributed to this lifesaving scientific breakthrough.

Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory drug that has been in use since the 1960s. It decreases the bodys natural defensive response to swelling and allergic-type reactions and is often used to treat conditions like arthritis, immune system disorders, asthma, and certain cancers.
Hailey Allen was thrilled to experience her last memories as a Cyclone this semester. Due to COVID-19, the semester was cut short and her closing moments as a senior vanished. Greek week, graduation commencement and many more events were canceled.
Members of the Green Party say they have been increasingly concerned about how the party handles complaints.

Spurred by an exclusive story in Tuesday's Irish Examiner, in which Cork councillor Lorna Bogue detailed what she felt was harassment from some fellow members and being temporarily suspended from the party, Ms Bogue told RTE's Today Programme yesterday that a number of members have suffered abuse online, and have been told to leave the party after voicing concerns about a coalition government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Ms Bogue said she felt that others had been put off speaking out after seeing how she had been treated.

One senior member of the party who ran in the February general election said they had similar experiences as Ms Bogue, and that they had been called by numerous members of the party HQ after a media interview they had given during the campaign gained traction.

It's understood a number of party members made a formal complaint about leader Eamon Ryan after he used a racial slur in the Dail earlier this month.

Rob O Sullivan, one of those who made a complaint said:

"I sent a complaint about Eamon's use of the word to the party, and was told to expect a phone call.

"With the vitriol in the response that elected party representatives received, I just decided to let it go. If they'd do that to councillors, what could I expect as an ordinary member?

"I got an email from the General Secretary asking me to take a phone call, I didn't answer the phone, and I've had no follow up since.

"The Party will have to do a lot to make me feel more welcome at being involved. Not to speak for anyone but myself, but I wanted to quit politics entirely. It was deflating."

The email, sent from General Secretary Maura McMahon, and seen by the Irish Examiner requests to: "Talk with you informally to better understand your complaint." No further contact was made after the attempted phone call.

The rules of the party state that: "The General Secretary may continue to make informal efforts to resolve the dispute even after a formal complaint has been received. However, the complaint must be brought to the attention of the NEC or the Management Committee within five working days of receipt, unless the aggrieved party agrees to an extension of time to allow informal efforts to continue."

"There's a general feeling that there are no real repercussions for members when a complaint is brought," Mr O Sullivan added.

"So what's the point in bothering? Especially if it's a TD or MEP or something you're complaining about."

The ongoing rift in the party has reached a tipping point this week due to the vote on the programme for government on Friday.

Members and elected representatives have been openly critical of each other's stances online, while many have been encouraged to leave the Green Party and join other political groups such as Sinn Fein, the Social Democrats or People Before Profit.

Cork Green Party Councillor Oliver Moran says the party have already begun a process into examining how Whatsapp and other social media groups are used by members."It is a very difficult time for the party and some of the incidents have been quite serious and disappointing to see. The party is aware of the problem and I know it will begin a specific process to allow people to air their grievances and reunite."

A Green Party spokesman said: "The Green Party is committed to dealing with and acting promptly to any complaints. The party encourages members to air complaints through the existing channels. If a member feels those channels are not available to them they can use their local branch or contact senior officials directly.

"All complaints are dealt with by the Executive Committee of the party and it may take time for due process to be adhered to."
Amazon (AMZN) launched a $2 billion venture capital fund Tuesday to invest in technologies and services aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking to Yahoo Finance, Amazons Head of Worldwide Sustainability Kara Hurst said the move was yet another step to use the e-commerce giants scale for good as it sets aggressive targets to become carbon neutral by 2040.

This is where the future is going, this is where our products and services are needed, and the fund is another signal on the investment that were willing to make, said Hurst, on Yahoo Finances Ticker.

The Climate Pledge Fund will invest in companies across multiple sectors, though its initial focus will be on transportation and logistics; energy generation, storage, and utilization; manufacturing and materials; circular economy; and food and agriculture, Amazon said.

The fund is the latest step by the Seattle-based company to reduce its carbon footprint amid explosive growth in its e-commerce and cloud computing business. Last September, the company established the Climate Pledge, aiming to reach its goal of carbon net zero by 2040, a decade ahead of the carbon reduction goals set forth by the Paris Climate Agreement.

In a statement Tuesday, Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said the money would from the fund would go to visionary entrepreneurs and innovators helping companies reduce their carbon footprints.

Companies from around the world of all sizes and stages will be considered, from pre-product startups to well-established enterprises, Bezos said. Each prospective investment will be judged on its potential to accelerate the path to zero carbon and help protect the planet for future generations.

Just last week, Amazon announced Verizon Communications (VZ), the parent company of Yahoo Finance, Infosys (INFY), and Reckitt Benckiser Group (RBGLY) will also be joining the Climate Pledge.

Amazons latest sustainability report highlights the challenges the company faces, juggling sustainability with global growth. While the companys carbon intensity, the amount of carbon emitted per unit of energy consumed, dropped 5% in the last year, Amazon still increased its carbon footprint by 15% in 2019. That came on the back of net sales that increased 22%.

Story continues

Thats a good early indication. As were growing as a business, were still decarbonizing while we grow, Hurst said.

Amazon has already announced 91 renewable energy projects around the world, putting the company on path to run on 100% renewable energy by 2025, five years ahead of its 2030 target. It has also set out to slash the carbon footprint for its shipments by 50% in that timeframe. Hurst said the companys sustainability efforts have eliminated 33% of waste out of Amazon packaging since 2015, through its program Frustration Free Packaging, eliminating the use of 1.5 billion boxes.

Rows of Amazon Prime delivery vans are stored in the lots at the Cox Automotive Inc. Manheim Pittsburgh vehicle auctioning location in Cranberry Township, Pa., Wednesday, May 13, 2020. The corporation announced earlier this week it will furlough hundreds of workers here and more at it's other locations around the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

That is a package solution for our customers that minimizes waste, so no twist ties or clam shells, 100% recyclable, no printing on the box. Weve expanded that and really driven in what we call ship in own container, when we dont put an Amazon overbox over a product so it might come to you with just a label on it, Hurst said.

Concerns about environmental waste have only grown amid the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home measures that led to a surge in online sales and deliveries. In March alone, the heigh of the pandemic in the U.S., Amazons website saw 2.5 billion visitors, a 65% jump from the same period last year, according to online research company Comscore. Revenue in the first-quarter jumped 26%.

Amazon has faced increasing pressure from employees to set more aggressive targets on climate. Earlier this year, more than 350 employees, part of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, violated their communications policy to raise concerns about the companys business with oil and gas companies.

Hurst said the company aims to reach carbon neutral by 2040, in part through carbon offsets.

We dont see this as an either or situation, but a both and, Hurst said. We dont have a number on exactly what we think well need over the next 20 years, but well focus primarily right now and for the short term on decarbonizing our own company.

Akiko Fujita is an anchor and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @AkikoFujita
New Delhi:

The AIADMK workers held special prayers for the good health of Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa on Thursday and distributed food to the poor at Anand Sai Temple. CM J Jayalalithaa was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai after suffering from fever and dehydration.

The 68-year-old AIADMK chief was taken to Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, where her condition is stated to be stable. Several AIADMK supporters also offered prayers outside the Apollo Hospital.

The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a PIL seeking a detailed report from the government on the health of Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Tamil Nadu CM is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Chennai since September 22. Apollo Hospitals said she was cured of fever and needed to be in the hospital for observation.

"The same line of treatment is being continued. The Chief Minister is under close observation by doctors," said a brief statement from the Apollo Hospitals on Tuesday. Jayalalithaa has been advised further stay in the hospital, it said. (ANI)

The supporters of Jayalalithaa have been gathering outside Apollo Hospital for the last 13 days.

Temples and mosques have been crowded with people, praying for their favourite leader. Public pujas have been held since day one for the ailing CM.

Supporters have took to self immolation as a measure to pray for TN CM. Former police constable and AIADMK supporter in Salem also attempted to set himself on alight.

Hundreds of workers assembled with pails of milk, while one even hung from a crane by means of hooks pierced into his back  an act usually done in devotion to Lord Murugan.

People from all age groups have been active in offering prayers for the betterment of ailing leader. Multiple images of young girls and boys with their cheeks pierced with arrows.

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The High Court has set aside six days in October for the hearing of former Independent News & Media (INM) chairman Leslie Buckleys application for the recusal of inspectors investigating a major suspected data breach at the company in 2014.

Mr Buckley wants the appointment of barrister Sean Gillane SC and solicitor Richard Fleck revoked on grounds of objective bias, claiming they omitted key evidence from an interim report.

The claims have been rejected by the inspectors.

Mr Justice Garrett Simons today set a October 13 start date for the hearing of the application. The court heard Mr Buckley may also file a further application seeking to stay part of the inspection.

Any such application is expected to be firmly opposed by the inspectors. Their counsel, Cian Ferriter SC, said it would have potential to do huge prejudice to their work.

Sean Guerin SC, for Mr Buckley, said it wasnt his clients position that the work should be stayed entirely. He said the appropriate line to draw would be when the inspectors are ready to begin cross examining witnesses.

Following an application from former INM shareholder Denis OBrien, the judge ordered that he be given a copy of the second interim report of the inspectors.

Applications from several people for permission to use certain documentation in possible future litigation against INM and Mr Buckley over the alleged data breach were adjourned to a later date.

The inspectors are investigating several issues, including the interrogation of INM data in 2014 at the direction of Mr Buckley and paid for by one of Mr OBriens companies.

Mr Buckley claimed this was done as part of a cost-cutting exercise where he was seeking information about a contract.

The discovery of a spreadsheet which suggested 19 names, including those of journalists, were searched for in the data raised doubts over this explanation.

Among other issues being probed are claims Mr Buckley put pressure on former INM chief executive Robert Pitt to pay an inflated price for Newstalk, a radio station owned by Mr OBrien. The deal was ultimately abandoned.

In an affidavit, Mr Buckley rejected allegations he improperly favoured Mr OBrien over other shareholders. Mr OBrien is no longer involved in INM, after selling his shares to Belgian-Dutch group Mediahuis last year.

In the affidavit, Mr Buckley said he felt his life has been ruined by the allegations and that former trusted friends and colleagues had shunned him in social settings.
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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  Two of the Philippines biggest banks and a Filipino lawyer have been dragged into an accounting scandal that emanates from Germany.

German newspapers, obviously having a field day, have named Philippines former Transport official Mark Tolentino as the trustee responsible for the billions of cash missing from fintech giant Wirecard.

The trust accounts are supposedly held by Bank of the Philippine Islands and BDO Unibank, Inc.

While both banks had already said Wirecard is not a customer, the scandal is damaging their reputation with social media comments across Europe noting that the Philippines again figured in a controversy of this scale just four years after the 2016 Bangladesh bank heist.

In what was dubbed as one of the worlds biggest cyber-heists, unknown individuals in February 2016 used fraudulent orders on the SWIFT payments system to squirrel away $81 million from the Bangladesh central account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The paper trail led to the stolen cash in accounts at Manila-based Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. before the money vanished into Philippine casinos.

Filipino bankers are not taking this latest reputational crisis lightly.

In an exclusive interview with CNN Philippines, BPI Chief Operating Officer Ramon Jocson argued that the Philippine Cybercrime law be revisited.

A global IT expert at IBM for nearly four decades before returning to Manila to join BPI, Jocson is also the vice chairman of the influential Bankers Association of the Philippines cybersecurity committee.

Asked if the cybercrime law does not have enough teeth to give Philippine banks the legal remedy when their names are embroiled in scandals like the Wirecard, Jocson said: Yes, thats why were trying to work out, via the BAP, to amend the law.

The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is eight years old. Its penalties are mild vis-a-vis the magnitude of the cybercrime. From ATM fraud back then, cybercrimes have taken a shape more menacing.

They can easily bail, dapat non-bailable kasi economic sabotage because of what it does to the system, Jocson said.

If you take a look at the arrests that are happening, they go into cyber porn or online gambling. But yung financial crimes halos wala eh. And it requires a certain expertise kasi, he added.

Draft amendments submitted

Jocson said the BAP -- which groups the countrys 42 largest universal and commercial banks -- has already submitted its draft amendments to the office of Representative Junie E. Cua (Quirino 1st District). Cua is chairman of the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries.

Apart from stiffer penalties, among the proposed revisions: A cybercrime unit dedicated to financial crimes with agency structures and skill sets akin to what Singapore and the US have.

In our case, we have different units with different focuses, Jocson pointed out.

So what were trying to do is weve been helping via the Bankers Association of the Philippines to reach out to these [Philippine] units and give them more information. But also, were trying to amend the law to be in lockstep with the developments in cybercrime, the BAP official said.

Senator Sonny Angara said a stronger law might be needed to govern digital payments in the wake of the Wirecard issue.

I agree with Mon Jocsons point about trust being essential to people using digital finance so we may need to update the law as he mentioned, Angara said in a message reply.

While thats up in the air, the onus of clearing Philippine banks reputation now lies on the central bank and agencies chasing the money trail.

Mark Tolentino, the Filipino man whom German newspapers had linked to the billions of missing cash, admitted Tuesday that he has foreign currency accounts with BPI and BDO.

But he did not explicitly say that he parked them in behalf of Wirecard. He has denied reports that he is involved in the so-called scandal.

Back in Germany, Wirecard founder Markus Braun was arrested but was let out on bail Tuesday.

The arrest was made on suspicion that he inflated his companys books and sales through fake transactions to make it more attractive to investors.

Munich prosecutors say Braun may have acted with the help of other perpetrators.

The hope is for Braun to come clean and tell the truth,so that Philippine banks will come out of this reputational crisis without damage.
Offering Affordable, High-Tech CX Solutions to European Clients.

??????????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 customer 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 CP360 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 at 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 nicolas.georgilas@contactpoint360.com Phone: +30 6974340181

About ContactPoint 360:

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WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is facing a critical decision on Israel that could alter Americas position in the Middle East and may affect his election-year support with a central part of his political base.

In the coming days, Trump must decide whether to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plans to annex significant parts of land that the Palestinians claim for a future state in the West Bank. Trumps national security aides were meeting on Wednesday at the White House to discuss the matter, which is approaching a boil after simmering for months.

Trump could side entirely with Netanyahu, who has cited July 1 as a hope-for date for a decision, or endorse a less comprehensive takeover or oppose it outright, which is the most unlikely scenario. Even if that date isnt set in stone, Netanyahu is expected to act before the fall, given uncertainty over Trumps prospects for a second term and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Bidens opposition to annexation.

At stake for the United States is its credibility with Arab partners cultivated by Trump and with European nations that he has antagonized on numerous fronts, from climate change to trade to the Iran nuclear deal.

Potentially more persuasive politically for Trump and his team is that his decision will affect his standing with evangelical Christians whose support he needs to win reelection. Virtually the entire international community opposes annexation, but Trumps domestic supporters enthusiastically back it.

The White House meeting comes as Trump faces plunging polls and persistent questions about his handling of foreign policy.

Among those favouring Netanyahus plan are Trump advisers such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as well as David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, and a number of Republicans in Congress. They say annexation, in addition to pleasing Trumps base, would make a peace deal easier because that step would blunt what they believe are unrealistic Palestinian expectations for a future state, according to officials familiar with the matter. They were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

In a letter sent late Tuesday to Trump, seven GOP senators pointed to the presidents own peace plan, rolled out in January, which calls for recognizing Israels extension of sovereignty into Palestinian-claimed areas as simple reality.

Mr. President, there is no other alternative to this fact-based approach, and as long as opponents of Israel and the U.S,-Israel relationship believe otherwise, peace will not be achievable, wrote the senators, led by pro-Israel stalwarts Ted Cruz of Texas and Tom Cotton of Arkansas.

Others in the administration want to see no, or limited, White House recognition of potential annexation. They include Pentagon officials and Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and the architect of the Mideast peace plan, which has been roundly rejected by the Palestinians. People on this side of the debate worry that a robust public endorsement would alienate U.S. allies in the Middle East and beyond at a particularly sensitive time in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and threats posed by Iran.

Jordan, one of only two Arab nations with a peace deal with Israel, and the United Arab Emirates, a key U.S. partner in the Mideast, have come out against annexation and warned of severe consequences for the region if Netanyahu goes ahead. The European Union has voiced strong opposition and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he hopes Israel will not proceed.

Apart from the foreign policy considerations, though, Trump must contend with domestic election concerns.

Although his campaign believes evangelical Christians will overwhelmingly side with the incumbent over Biden, the campaign is concerned about a drop-off in enthusiasm and potential participation among a group of voters essential to Trumps 2016 victory.

The campaign has seen a weakening of intensity across many important voting groups, including evangelicals, during the pandemic, the economic recession and protests against racial injustice.

Trump has tried in recent weeks to find ways to restore that intensity, in large part because his campaign hinges more on maximizing the turnout of his base than winning over a dwindling pool of undecided voters in the centre.

Yet it remains unclear how many votes might be swayed by a decision on annexation.

Ultimately, the American position will be determined by the president himself, and he will certainly view this issue, like all others, through the lens of his reelection campaign. But it is hard to see how Trump can gain much electoral advantage at this stage, said Jake Walles, a former U.S. diplomat who once served as consul general in Jerusalem.

While annexation should be popular with Christian evangelicals and the right wing in the American Jewish community, most of those voters are already in his pocket. It seems unlikely that the presidents position would change any votes in the United States, he said. In such a situation, with many other problems on his desk, he may prefer a more limited annexation ... or perhaps even a deferral of the entire issue.

Joel Rosenberg, a U.S.-Israeli evangelical author, said the issue would have great resonance with most evangelicals in the U.S. under different circumstances, but given other issues dominating the national dialogue, he sees little if any interest or attention being paid to annexation by American evangelicals at the grassroots level.

Annexation could actually backfire among the evangelicals that are sort of struggling with Trump right now if it sparks new tensions in the region, Rosenberg said.

Texas megachurch pastor and longtime Trump ally Robert Jeffress said that annexation on its own is too in the weeds for most evangelicals to be following closely. But he said the presidents strong pro-Israel credentials overall gives his administration wide latitude with evangelicals in terms of its ultimate decision on the matter.

___

Associated Press writers Elana Schor in New York and Zeke Miller and Deb Riechmann contributed to this report.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- It was a remarkable statistic that I first saw in a tweet by conservative YouTuber Steven Crowder, tracked to a recent article in Ben Shapiros Daily Wire and then found the original version of in a 2016 essay by the Manhattan Institutes Heather Mac Donald:

In 2015, a police officer was 18.5 times more likely to be killed by a black male than an unarmed black male was to be killed by a police officer.

Like a lot of people I have become more familiar with police-violence statistics in recent weeks than I ever really wanted to be, so I knew it was extremely unlikely that 18.5 times more police officers were killed by Black men than unarmed Black men were killed by police. In recent years about 50 U.S. law enforcement officers have been feloniously killed annually, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, while police and sheriffs deputies have killed about 1,000 people a year, according to various sources.

There are, however, far fewer police officers in the U.S. than there are Black men. If what Mac Donald meant was that a police officers odds of being shot by a Black man were higher than a random unarmed Black mans odds of being shot by police (she really could have been clearer about that), maybe the numbers would back her up.

So I ran them for 2015: According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 18 law enforcement officers were killed by Black men that year. According to the Washington Posts database of police killings, which a BJS survey found to be pretty accurate, 36 unarmed Black men were killed by the police. There were 635,781 police officers and sheriffs deputies in the U.S. in 2015, according to the FBI, and 20.4 million Black men, according to the Census Bureau. Im not quite sure how Mac Donald ascertained how many of the nations Black men were unarmed, but I just assumed they all were.

In both cases the odds of being killed were quite small: 2.8 deaths per 100,000 in the case of police and 0.18 for unarmed Black men. Divide the former by the latter and you get a ratio of 16, close enough to Mac Donalds 18.5 that her calculation seems legit.

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Is it also informative? According to the same data sources, the odds of a police officer being shot by a white man in 2015 were 112 times higher than the odds of an unarmed white man being shot by police, for whatever its worth. And it seems more relevant to current debates that twice as many unarmed Black men were killed by police in 2015 as police were killed by Black men. It also seems relevant that, as of 2018, the ratio had fallen to almost 1:1 amid what appears to have been broad decline in police shootings of unarmed people of all races  a sign that the Black Lives Matter protest movement that began after the (non-police) killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin in 2013 and took off after the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014 may in fact have been achieving some of its aims even before this springs events.

What Mac Donalds calculation does hint at, though, is that on the whole its much more dangerous to be a police officer than not to be a police officer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational fatality statistics back this up: police and sheriffs patrol officers suffered 13.7 job-related fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2018, compared with 3.5 for the U.S. workforce as a whole and 0.7 for those of us in professional and related occupations. Still, the BLS data also show police work to be far from the most dangerous work out there.

Police work also seems to have been getting less dangerous over time, although the numbers do jump around a lot from year to year.(1)

A big part of the self-image of many police officers  and of their partisans such as Mac Donald, author of a 2016 book called The War on Cops  seems to be that they are embattled warriors doing terribly dangerous work on behalf of an unappreciative public. That last bit may be true in some parts of some cities, especially lately, but over the years the police have been among the most appreciated of American institutions, coming behind only the military in Gallups polling and enjoying far more public approval than journalists, politicians, bankers or businesspeople.

As for the danger, yes, police work is a lot more dangerous than what I do. But its a lot less dangerous than working as a roofer or a truck driver or a farmer or a garbage collector. And while truckers would really appreciate it if the rest of us gave them a wider berth on the highway, they and roofers and garbage collectors and others in dangerous occupations seldom if ever give off the air of aggrieved menace that many police officers, and especially their union leaders, currently do. Thats partly because nobodys marching around carrying signs saying Abolish the Sanitation Department, of course, but I do think a major issue with todays police is that so many officers perceive the risks they face as akin to, say, parachuting into hostile territory in Afghanistan or Iraq when in reality they are much closer to those involved in pruning shrubbery or building houses.

Finally, it does seem worth noting that all of us are at far more risk of being killed by other civilians than by police officers, and that this is especially true for Black men. Police shot and killed 991 people in the U.S. in 2018, according to the Post database, of whom 219, or 22%, were Black men. There were 14,123 total homicides that year, according to the FBI, and 6,237 of the victims, or 44%, were Black men. Reducing homicide rates is a great way to save Black lives and other lives, and the preponderance of evidence seems to indicate that having more police around reduces the incidence of homicides and other crimes. But the preponderance of evidence also indicates that less-confrontational police approaches are more effective than arresting and shooting people.

(1) Fun fact: in most occupations, the BLS's 2006 switch from calculating fatalities per 100,000 workers to fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers resulted in higher occupational fatality rates. But police work lots of overtime, so in their case it lowered the fatality rate.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Justin Fox is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. He was the editorial director of Harvard Business Review and wrote for Time, Fortune and American Banker. He is the author of The Myth of the Rational Market.

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JEDI Alliance: Building a coalition to advance equity, diversity in the geosciences

JEDI Alliance: Jason Chen, Gerdelman Family Term Distinguished Associate Professor at the William & Mary School of Education, has secured a new grant from the National Science Foundation that aims to combat inequities in representation of racial and ethnic minorities in the geosciences in the U.S. by building a national alliance of researchers working together to effect large-scale change. Photo by Skip Rowland '83 Photo - of - Hide Caption

Representation of racial and ethnic minorities in the geosciences is abysmally low in the U.S., with only 6% of all geoscience doctorate degrees in 2016 going to underrepresented minorities  the lowest proportion in all of the STEM fields and a statistic that has remained virtually unchanged for more than four decades.

Jason Chen, Gerdelman Family Term Distinguished Associate Professor at the William & Mary School of Education, has secured a new grant from the National Science Foundation that aims to combat that inequity by building a national alliance of researchers working together to effect large-scale change.

The project, entitled A JEDI Alliance to Develop Leaders for Sustainable Culture Change in the Geo- and Environmental Sciences, is a $100,000 planning grant with the goal of developing a project and proposal that could secure substantial funding in the future.

This planning grant gives us one year to develop a project that has the potential to substantially move the needle in terms of diversity and equity in the field, says Chen. Thats a huge undertaking, but weve got some great building blocks to work with.

In 2016, the NSF convened a group of 30 scholars and practitioners for an Ideas Lab designed to generate innovative solutions to create a more just, equitable, diverse and inclusive (JEDI) culture in the geosciences. The group included academics and professionals from the geosciences, as well as experts in educational psychology, policy studies and educational leadership.

From that Ideas Lab, five separate projects emerged and were subsequently funded by the NSF through a program called GEO Opportunities for Leadership in Diversity (GOLD). Each took aim at the issue of leadership development, asking the fundamental question: How do we shift the culture of the geosciences by developing leaders who can champion and sustain systemic change in justice, equity, diversity and inclusion?

Although all the projects had the same goal, each approached the topic in different ways, collected different types of data and had different visions for possible solutions.

Chen was lead investigator for one of these five GOLD projects. His project, GEOsciences Diversity Experiential Simulations, or GEODES, used mixed-reality immersive simulations to train university-level educators to recognize and eliminate prejudice in the field.

Its like a flight simulator, says Chen. Using virtual reality, we simulate situations that university leaders might have experienced or would likely be involved in, such as a hiring search committee. These hyper-realistic scenarios allow them to practice, in a low-risk environment, how to intervene when prejudice appears and advocate for change.

The other GOLD projects explored different facets of the issue and different solutions. One project examined the nature of exclusion and prejudice during field experiences, a major element of work in the geosciences. Another explored the effectiveness of a triad mentoring program, which matched early career, underrepresented faculty members with both a senior faculty member in the same department and an outside expert in diversity and inclusion.

All five GOLD projects have now completed their work. As the projects came to a close, the NSF announced a new challenge for the researchers: Is there a way to coalesce these projects into one large project that could result in major, national-level change?

Chen likens it to Voltron, one of his favorite cartoons growing up. Voltron was this mega-superhero that formed when five robot lions merged together, he says. Our task is to take these five distinct projects and merge them into one super-project, and our hope is that the collective whole will be greater than the sum of its parts.

Over the course of the coming year, Chen will work with the project leads to combine forces and identify one unified vision. Kardia Group, a consulting firm that has been involved with GOLD since the projects were birthed in the Ideas Lab, will provide additional support.

Theyll compile data from the existing projects, identify new data needed, create communications and decision-making mechanisms, and identify a backbone organization that will provide leadership and logistical support for the alliance.

The backbone organization will be like the brain or central nervous system for the project, says Chen. It will drive the project, coordinating action and communication among the stakeholders.

The proposal called for a three-day kickoff in Colorado this fall, though the team is already shifting plans so they dont lose momentum due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of meeting in person, theyre planning for 10 virtual, monthly mini-conferences, each focused on a single aspect of the project.

That big grant on the horizon motivates me to get up in the morning, says Chen. My heart is in this research, because I know personally the effects of exclusion, homogeneity and inequity. As a researcher, Im certainly driven by the competitive aspect, but even more by the desire to serve  to really have an impact on communities.

He is quick to credit the mentors and supports that have helped him along the way, including colleagues from W&M such as Heather Macdonald, Chancellor Professor of Geology, who co-mentored students with him and first introduced him to the GOLD project. He also points to the camaraderie and support of fellow researchers within the GOLD community, which he says is characterized by a strong level of trust and generosity.

I never thought Id be doing this kind of work, he says. Its been a wonderful confluence of interesting people and interesting questions guiding me in this direction. Im really excited about where it will take me next.
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President Trump called on Congress to act Tuesday night after protesters in Washington D.C. were seen burning an American flag.

The president branded the demonstrators 'lowlifes', adding that it 'should be stopped'.

His criticism came after protesters pledged to tear down Lincoln's Emancipation Memorial in the Capitol, vowing to return to Lincoln Park Thursday night to topple the controversial statue.

Organizers of the protest said they would not be working with the police and would achieve change 'by any means necessary' as they crowded near the 150-year-old statue paid for by former enslaved people.

Although paid for by former slaves, the Emancipation Memorial is criticized as it was designed by white people and depicts a former slave in a subservient position to Lincoln.

As the protesters gathered earlier that evening, concrete barriers were installed in front of the White House after attempts to topple a nearby statue of Andrew Jackson on Monday night.

Protesters set fire to an American flag at Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House, amid racial inequality protests in Washington D.C. on Tuesday night. Smaller protests continue, centered around statues protesters believe should be removed

Protesters gathered at the Lincoln Emancipation Memorial on Tuesday night said that they would be returning with more support for another protest at 7pm on Thursday to bring it down. D.C. police watched on as they made the vow

Workers install security fencing and barriers at Lafayette Park near the White House on Tuesday evening as protests continue and demonstrators vow to tear down statues such as the Emancipation Memorial in Lincoln Park

President Trump was angered by protesters who set fire to American flags in Washington D.C. on Tuesday night

While law enforcement lined up near Lincoln Park and the White House preparing for potential run-ins with protesters, there was no police intervention and demonstrators said they would not be touching the statue Tuesday night.

As the night progressed, groups broke off into various parts of the city where they were pictured climbing street posts to vandalize signs and setting fire to American flags, which angered President Trump.

'It is [ashame] that Congress doesnt do something about the lowlifes that burn the American Flag,' he wrote on Twitter.

'It should be stopped, and now!'

LINCOLN'S EMANCIPATION MEMORIAL Abraham Lincoln The Emancipation Memorial statue was first erected in Lincoln Park in Washington D.C. on April 11, 1876. It marked exactly eleven years to the day of Lincoln's assassination. The memorial was paid for by formerly enslaved people, many of them Black veterans. They wished to honor Lincoln for the Emancipation Proclamation. The fundraising was started after Virginian Charlotte Scott donated the first $5 she earned as a free person to create a memorial to Lincoln. Yet criticism has constantly surrounded the memorial because of the way in which it depicts Lincoln towering over a freed person. Critics say the design does not recognize the work of slaves to establish their own freedom. Abolitionist Fredrick Douglas even said as he unveiled the statue that it 'perpetuated negative stereotypes about African Americans'. Advertisement

Dozens gathered near the Emancipation Monument for the demonstration organized by The Freedom Neighborhood earlier Tuesday evening with videos showing a woman speaking about the educational events held around the statue being shouted down by protesters.

Protesters calling for it to be taken down say that the former slaves who paid for the statue had no say in how it would be built and that even in its unveiling, abolitionist Fredrick Douglas said it 'perpetuated negative stereotypes about African Americans'.

The crowd chanted 'No Justice, No Peace' as the woman was told to stop speaking.

'He freed the slaves for political advancement,' one speaker said, according to WUSA9 journalist Tom Dempsey.

'Not because he cared, not because he wanted to.

'And the thing is that when we freed ourselves, we had seven years of progress, the best seven years for black people in the entire American history'.

Police in riot gear were pictured standing in a group on the outskirts of the protest but no run-ins were reported.

'We're kicking off the revolution with a series of shutting down the Capitol events and bringing attention to the injustices in the black community starting with Lincoln Park, a statue that embodies the racial undertones of black people being inferior to white people,' The Freedom Neighborhood said in a social media post.

'WE WANT THIS STATUE GONE!'

The group added that they would not be working with police to enact the change 'nor will we seek any relationship with them'.

'In order to create change, we will do so by any means necessary. If you want a revolution, it won't happen by being peaceful,' the group wrote.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton has also said she wants the statue removed and will introduce legislation to do so.

'Because Lincoln Park is National Park Service (NPS) land, I will work with the NPS to see whether NPS has the authority to remove the statue without an act of Congress, and if so, we will seek its removal without a bill,' said Norton in a statement .

'This statue has been controversial from the start. It is time it was placed in a museum.'

The Emancipation statue was first erected on April 11, 1876, exactly eleven years to the day of Lincoln's assassination.

It was paid for by formerly enslaved people, many of them Black veterans, to honor Lincoln for the Emancipation Proclamation.

The fundraising was started after Virginian Charlotte Scott donated the first $5 she earned as a free person to create a memorial to Lincoln, according to DCist.

The statue is located at the center of Lincoln Park, which is itself located midway between the U.S. Capitol and RFK Stadium.

The Emancipation Memorial statue originally faced the Capitol but was moved 180 degrees to face a statue celebrating African American educator Mary McLeod Bethune when that was erected in Lincoln Park in 1974.

A protester defaces a street sign on Black Lives Matter Plaza as others tie up an American flag in Washington D.C.

A protester looks on as a street sign is set on fire Tuesday on Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington D.C.

Protesters set fire to an American flag at Black Lives Matter Plaza as protests continued Tuesday night

Protesters watch as fireworks are set off into the sky at Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House on Tuesday night

Police in riot gear were seen gathered near the Lincoln statue protest Tuesday but there were no run-ins with protesters

This protester raised her hands above her head as she walked in front of a line of cops in Washington

The protesters were out in force to demonstrate following the killing of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis

Some cops were on bikes to police the protests on Tuesday evening

Courtesy of Julio Rosas

Yet criticism has constantly surrounded the memorial because of the way in which it depicts Lincoln towering over a freed person.

The freed enslaved person is shown on one knee looking up to Lincoln with broken shackles on his wrists. Below them the word 'Emancipation' is written.

Critics say the design does not recognize the work of slaves to establish their own freedom.

'The designers of the Emancipation Statue in Lincoln Park in DC didnt take into account the views of African Americans. It shows,' Norton said.

'Blacks too fought to end enslavement. Thats why Im introducing a bill to move this statue to a museum.'

This protester, who wore a black face covering and goggles, spray-painted the sign for Black Lives Matter Plaza

He then leaned up to the sign with what appeared to be a pair of bolt cutters

Protesters on Black Lives Matter plaza also set fire to an American flag and cheered as the flames took hold

The protesters acted in defiance of President Trump's insistence that people authorities should take action against 'lowlifes' who burn the U.S. flag

After the flag was set on fire, it quickly disintegrated as protesters gleefully watched on

Fireworks were also launched at the demonstrations, as protesters continued their chants below

The man who had spray-painted the street sign then looked distressed

Cops observed the protests behind a newly-erected fence on Black Lives Matter plaza

'Understandably, they were only recently liberated from slavery and were grateful for any recognition of their freedom,' she added in a statement to WUSA9.

'However, in his keynote address at the unveiling of this statue, Frederick Douglass also expressed his displeasure with the statue.'

As of Tuesday evening, more than 4,700 people have signed a petition for its removal.

'Its time to take down monuments that memorialize the intended subservience of black people in this country.,' say the petition, started by Marcus Goodwin, a candidate for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council.

Organizers The Freedom Neighborhood said they would not be working with police in their protests

Congresswoman Elenor Holmes Norton said Tuesday she would introduce a bill to have the Emancipation memorial removed

Criticism has constantly surrounded the memorial, pictured above, because of the way in which it depicts Lincoln towering over a freed person kneeling on the ground with him looking up. Below the work 'emancipation's is written

Rep. Norton has said that the freed slaves who paid for the memorial were not taken into account when it was built

Protesters pledged that they will tear it down this week as protests continue in Washington D.C. this week

Workers install further security fencing and barriers at Lafayette Park near the White House Tuesday evening as protests continue. It came after protesters and police clashed at the Andrew Jackson statue nearby Monday night

Protesters still gathered as close to the White House as they could Tuesday while the barricades were installed

'Confederate statues are the obvious example, but this statue in Washington, DC perpetuates the idea that we are beneath white people and should simply be grateful for the scraps that have been thrown our way.

'While Abraham Lincoln was a monumental US President, worthy of memorializing, he already has a national monument that doesnt have degrading racial undertones.'

Goodwin has said that the removal is not to undermine the legacy of Lincoln but to 'examine this statue more specifically for how its represented'.

He believes that the statue of Mary McLeod Bethune already in the park should be made the centerpiece instead.

Tuesday's Lincoln protest came on the heels of an incident in Lafayette Park Monday night over an Andrew Jackson statue.

Concrete barriers were seen being mounted outside the White House Tuesday evening as they prepared for more protests at the nearby statue, where police and protesters clashed on Monday night.

Protesters had attempted to tear down the statue but police intervened.

The speaker pictured said Lincoln only wanted to free slaves for 'political advancement'

Protests continued across Washington D.C. on Tuesday nights despite threats from Trump

Jackson, the nation's 7th president, is considered a controversial figure in American history

US Park Police survey the damage after protesters attempted to tear down the statue of former President Andrew Jackson on Monday. Further barricades were mounted Tuesday

On Monday night, President Donald Trump demanded ten year prison sentences for protesters who tried to pull down a statue of former president Jackson while trying to build a 'Black House Autonomous Zone' outside the White House.

Trump announced that 'numerous people' have been arrested for the 'disgraceful vandalism' of the 'magnificent' statue of Jackson Lafayette Park and also wrote that protesters had defaced the exterior of St. John's Church.

In a tweet following violent clashes between demonstrators and cops in riot gear, he wrote: '10 years in prison under the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!'

Last Friday, the statue to Confederate General Andrew Pike was also torn down and burned by protesters in the Capitol. It was the only outdoor statue to a Confederate in D.C.

Pike is considered by some as being was instrumental to the establishment of the Ku Klux Klan but the Freemasons, in which he was involved, insist evidence does not support that.
A state review of a violent confrontation in uptown Charlotte this month found that police properly followed policies in dispersing hundreds of protesters. But that hasnt stopped the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police from changing some of those policies.

As a result of the incident, officers will no longer fire chemical munitions at demonstrators from multiple directions, Deputy Police Chief Johnny Jennings told City Council members Tuesday at the councils Safe Communities committee.

The incident occurred June 2 when hundreds of marchers protesting the Minnesota police killing of George Floyd were caught between two police lines on 4th Street and subjected to a barrage of chemical munitions.

Jennings announcement came during a discussion of what could be a wide-ranging council, CMPD and community review of police policies.

We want to make sure the policies we have are the policies we want, City Council member Larken Egleston said.

Protesters scramble on 4th Street as police fire chemical agents June 2. The incident could spark a wide-ranging review of police procedures by the city council and public.

SBI review

The SBI review follows weeks of protests in Charlotte over Floyds death in Minneapolis, as well as local outrage over what happened on June 2.

Marchers interviewed by The Observer say they were targeted that night with tear gas, stun grenades and pepper balls fired by riot-control officers deployed at Tryon and College streets. Meanwhile, officers posted in a building fired down on them from above.

Everything felt like it was on fire. Floyd marchers say they walked into police ambush

Protesters sue CMPD over 4th Street violence; judge restricts force at Juneteenth march

Protesters say they were trapped between police lines with no place to escape. Several marchers and groups have sued CMPD, describing the tactics as an illegal use of excessive force.

The incident also led to a rare court action Friday where a judge issued a temporary restraining order banning CMPD from using similar tactics against a Juneteenth protest march that night.

A review of the 4th Street incident by the State Bureau of Investigation, however, found that CMPD followed department policies in its handling of the crowds. First, officers on the scene gave multiple dispersal orders, which included a warning about the possible use of riot control agents.

Story continues

The SBI report, issued June 12 and released by CMPD a week later, also said that based on videos of the incident, marchers had two escape routes: east on 4th Street and south on College Street.

However, the report noted that the escape routes were shrouded in smoke.

Changes underway

Council member Matt Newton told Jennings Tuesday that it was counter intuitive to expect marchers to use an escape route when only moments before they had been fired upon by police to drive them away from the same intersection.

Jennings noted the tactical dissonance as he announced the change that officers will no longer fire chemical munitions from multiple directions. Even though it was an appropriate method of dispersal, we understand that it forced (the protesters) to go into the (chemical) agents to disperse, he said.

Last week, police also announced a change in their dispersal-order policies.

Under the old guidelines, if a group drew a dispersal order at one location in the city, it followed them if they moved elsewhere. Under the new procedure, the order expires if the crowd disperses. Police can issue a new dispersal order if criminal activity breaks out in the same group in a new part of town.

Disagreements on council

The 4th Street incident appears to have opened a division between police and some city leaders.

The day after the 4th Street confrontation, Mayor Vi Lyles joined in the widespread criticism of the police tactics. I hope everyone is aware that thats not the kind of department we want to have for policing. Its not the kind of reputation that we want to have nationally or locally, she said.

But Republican council member Tariq Bokhari said the SBI report exonerated police, and that Lyles and some of his council colleagues had done irreparable harm to police morale with their premature criticism.

Asked if the city owed CMPD an apology, Bokhari said, 100 percent.

And it should be as impactful and passionate as the critique that threw the entire department under the bus the day after the event, he said.

Lyles did not respond Tuesday to requests for an interview.

Council member Malcolm Graham, however, told The Observer before the meeting that the reports conclusion that police followed policies on June 2 gave an incomplete account.

Obviously mistakes were made on the ground that impacted peaceful protesters who were out their exercising their constitutional rights, he said.

Reviews continue

The incident remains under internal review by police and City Manager Marcus Jones. Meanwhile, CMPD awaits an analysis of its emergency procedures by the Center for Domestic Preparedness, a federal agency that trains emergency responders.

Outgoing Police Chief Kerr Putney called for the SBI review to determine whether police tactics on 4th Street had been legal.

But the report, which was based largely on interviews with police, did not make that judgment. If SBI investigators talked to protesters, they did not quote them.

The report also accepts CMPDs assertion that the protests had become violent during the night, describing those targeted by the chemical agents on 4th Street as rioters in the second paragraph. In videos preceding the incident, the marchers appear peaceful leading up to their confrontation with police.

SBI spokeswoman Anjanette Grube told The Observer that the agency followed its policies in conducting the review.

We investigate allegations of possible criminal activity and that is what we were investigating in this case, she said. We dont make a determination as to whether a crime has been committed. We gathered evidence and facts at the request of the Chief, but we do not make charging decisions or any ultimate decision as to whether any crime has occurred.

Other aspects of the report appeared to catch members of the council off guard. Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt, among others, told Jennings that she was surprised to learn that CMPDs riot squad members were not equipped with body cameras.

Jennings, who replaces the retiring Putney next month, said 300 special mounts needed to secure the cameras to the emergency equipment that squad members wear should be installed within the month.

Egleston, chair of the Safe Communities committee, asked the incoming chief why CMPD had the SBI report for a week before releasing it. Jennings said police had planned to make the report part of a comprehensive report that had been pre-empted Friday by the lawsuit and the temporary restraining order.

The discussions took place against what could be a three-month examination of police policies.

Jennings said CMPD will be a willing partner, if given the chance.

We want to make sure that we are constantly getting better, he said. What I see is a collaboration with this committee, the community and the public.

But it cant be something done to us. It has to be something done with us.
The Armenian parliament approved on Wednesday a government proposal to sharply increase the presently modest taxes collected from homeowners.

A bill passed by the National Assembly in the first reading calls for particularly drastic increases in property taxes paid by rich or affluent Armenians.

The government wants to boost its property tax revenues, mainly channeled into local community budgets, by changing the methodology of calculating the value of apartments and houses. It is currently based on their cadastral valuation by a government agency. Under the government bill, the Cadaster Committee will determine it on the basis of their market price.

Presenting the bill to lawmakers, Deputy Finance Minister Arman Poghosian said the existing mechanism for taxation makes real state in Armenia extremely undervalued. He argued that proceeds from the property tax are currently equivalent to just 0.2 percent of Armenias Gross Domestic Product, compared with 1.1 percent in neighboring Georgia and 1.2 percent in Russia.

Deputies representing the opposition Bright Armenia Party (BHK) remained unconvinced, saying that the tax hikes would hit socially vulnerable families. One of them, Mande Tandilian, also deplored the fact that the bill is debated under a special regime allowing the government to push the bill through the parliament in the first and second readings within 24 hours.

Do you find it normal that the owner of, for example, a 132-square-meter apartment in the town of Kapan pays no property tax while [an apartment owner] in Gavar pays only 440 drams (90 U.S. cents) or that only 9,000 drams ($19) is paid for a 120-square-meter apartment on Heratsi Street [in central Yerevan?] countered Poghosian.

Some lawmakers from the ruling My Step bloc also voiced concerns about the measure. One of them, Suren Grigorian, said that many owners of Soviet-era apartments in downtown Yerevan inherited from their parents should not be made to pay as much as more affluent families.

Nevertheless, the parliament approved the bill by 74 votes to 14, with 2 abstentions.

The bill will gradually introduce a complex progressive scale of property taxation over the next four years. For example, the owners of small apartments worth an estimated 23 million drams ($48,000) will pay 18,000 drams, while ownership of larger properties that cost 58 million drams will translate into 108,000 drams in annual taxes.

Tax authorities will levy at least 326,000 drams from luxury apartments worth 100 million drams or more. The owners of large and expensive houses will have to pay even more.
Read an update to this story:

A rope found in the garage stall of Black driver Bubba Wallace at the NASCAR race Sunday was a garage door pull, and had been there since 2019, federal authorities and NASCAR said Tuesday.

However, NASCAR said out of 1,684 garage stalls at 29 tracks, only 11 had a garage door pull-down rope tied in a knot. The only one fashioned into a noose was the one discovered Sunday by a crew member in Wallaces No. 43 garage stall.

Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Jay Town on Monday announced his office had launched an investigation along with the FBI and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. Town said they were looking to see whether there are violations of federal law. No federal crime was committed, his office said.

Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. on Tuesday released this statement about the probe: On Monday, fifteen FBI special agents conducted numerous interviews regarding the situation at Talladega Superspeedway. After a thorough review of the facts and evidence surrounding this event, we have concluded that no federal crime was committed.

The FBI learned that garage number 4, where the noose was found, was assigned to Bubba Wallace last week. The investigation also revealed evidence, including authentic video confirmed by NASCAR, that the noose found in garage number 4 was in that garage as early as October 2019. Although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week.

The decision not to pursue federal charges is proper after reviewing all available facts and all applicable federal laws. We offer our thanks to NASCAR, Mr. Wallace, and everyone who cooperated with this investigation.

NASCAR released this statement: The FBI has completed its investigation at Talladega Superspeedway and determined that Bubba Wallace was not the victim of a hate crime. The FBI report concludes, and photographic evidence confirms, that the garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose had been positioned there since as early as last fall. This was obviously well before the 43 teams arrival and garage assignment. We appreciate the FBIs quick and thorough investigation and are thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who love racing.

Full coverage of Bubba Wallace and the Talladega noose case

The discovery of the rope, announced by NASCAR Sunday night, came less than two weeks after Wallace successfully pushed the stock car racing series to ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and facilities. We are angry and outraged and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act, the series 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.

FBI agents went to the track Monday to interview anybody who was in the infield Sunday. We are angry and outraged and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act, the series 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.

Wallace is the only full-time Black driver in NASCARs elite Cup Series. On Twitter, he 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 ow 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.

Earlier Monday, Gov. Kay Ivey called the incident at Talladega Superspeedway was a vile act and disgusting display of hatred.

I am shocked and appalled to hear of yesterdays vile act against Bubba Wallace in Talladega -- there is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state, Ivey said. 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 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. 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.

Talladega Mayor Timothy Ragland on Monday also condemned the display. I am disgusted by the cowardly act of hatred towards Bubba Wallace, NASCARs only full-time Black driver, Ragland said in a statement. I urge NASCAR to use every resource at its disposal to find the culprit of this vicious and racist act. I offer every resource available under my authority to assist in finding the persons(s) responsible for this blight on the City of Talladega.

Because of rain, the Sunday race was postponed until Monday. Prior to the start of the race, the drivers came together and pushed Bubba Wallace and his car forward. Wallace finished 14th, a career best at Talladega.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- Bells Brewery will release a new beer in collaboration with the Black is Beautiful initiative.

Bells is joining more than 700 other breweries across the globe that are a part of the initiative, which is an effort to bring awareness to the injustices many people of color face daily, the brewery said in a news release.

Bells version of the Weathered Souls Imperial Stout recipe will be released in August in six-pack bottles exclusively at Bells General Store in Kalamazoo and Upper Hand Brewery Taproom in Escanaba.

We all have some work to do, Bells included, and we are committed to that, said Larry Bell, president and founder of Bells. It starts on an individual level. We all have a responsibility to do what we can to continue this conversation and help drive real change.

Bells will also make donations to two local Black-led organizations: the Kalamazoo NAACP and Face Off Theatre. Bells did not disclose the donation amounts.

The Black is Beautiful initiative originated with Marcus Baskerville, founder and head brewer at Weathered Souls Brewing based in San Antonio.

Our mission is to bridge the gap thats been around for ages and provide a platform to show that the brewing community is an inclusive place for everyone of any color, a statement on the Black is Beautiful website reads. We are asking for all breweries and brewers far and wide to raise a glass with us in unison and participate in this collaboration.

The new beer is not part of Bells Celebration Series, which empowers different groups within the company.

That series will continue this fall with a new beer release that will come from and celebrate Black and African American employees, the brewery said. Previous brews from the series have celebrated women, the LGBTQ+ community and veterans, Bells said.

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Ypsilanti mayor resigns after week of backlash over racist comment

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Two textbooks brought out by the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education have different versions on the battle of Haldighati, with one mentioning that the battle was inconclusive while the other states that Maharana Pratap lost in the clash.

The books have invited the wrath of the Rajput community and leaders from the ruling Congress and the BJP for insulting Rana Pratap and misrepresenting facts.

A new textbook titled Rajasthan ka Itihas aur Sanskriti mentions that the battle of Haldighati, fought on June 18 was inconclusive, the class 10 social science textbook which has been revised states that Rana Pratap lost the battle.

The books first chapter titled History of Rajasthan: an introduction, mentions, Iss yudh ka parinam nahi nikal saka. Akbar ka udeshya pura nahi ho saka. (this battle was inconclusive. Akbar failed to achieve his objective).

It says that Akbar wanted to bring Mewar under his control at any cost and he also tried to arrive at a compromise with Maharana Pratap who refused to strike a deal and chose to fight against the Mughals.

The chapter mentions that the name Haldighati came about as several newly-wedded young brides fought and sacrificed their lives on the battlefield. This chapter cites the book Ajooba Bharat by Dr. Mahendra Bhanawat as the source.

Dr. Bhanawat says that the name Haldighati was not given due to the yellow soil. He says the soil is black, red, and yellow in colour but the christening was due to the fact that many newly-wedded women wearing mens clothes with turmeric on their hands fought and died in battle.

However, historian Dr. Chandrashekhar Sharma says this claim is false. He said the battle was not the reason to christen the spot but it was known as Haldighati even before the battle. The place is covered in Haldu trees whose fruit makes the soil yellow, said Dr. Sharma who is a professor of history at Meera Girls College, Udaipur.

While this book praises Rana Pratap for his valour and generalship, the RBSE social science textbook for class 10 calls him impatient and lacking in control. Interestingly, only the e-textbook states this while the print edition does not have this reference. The e-book has now been removed by the RBSE from its website.

The chapter titled Sangharshkalin Bharat in the social science book, says that some historians are of the view that the battle ended inconclusively but several historians are of the view that Pratap lost the battle.

Listing the reasons for the loss, it says Pratap lacked the patience, control, and strategy.

Dr. Sharma, who wrote the portion on Maharana Pratap in the textbook published last year, says a lot of the portion on Maharana Pratap has been whittled down and changes made to the text without consulting him even though he is still mentioned as the author.

He said several positive aspects which he had highlighted have been chopped off. I had written about that Rana Prataps one-on-one duel with Man Singh, the commander of Akbars army but that has been deleted.

The book has edited out all references to Prataps horse Chetak who saved him from the battlefield by jumping across the 30-foot ravine and also the kings patch-up with his brother Shakti Singh, said Sharma.

It also does not mention an episode where Rana Pratap scolded his son Amar Singh for capturing women in the zenana of Abdul Rahim Khankhana, a commander of Akbar. He asked his son to return the women with all respect.

He said he had put down points with evidence pointing to the fact that Maharana Pratap had won the Haldighati battle but that entire portion has been scrapped.

Meanwhile, the book has united Rajput leaders of the Congress and BJP as well as royal families and Rajput associations who have condemned the distortion of facts.

Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, a Rajput minister in the cabinet of chief minister Ashok Gehlot took to twitter to oppose the misrepresentation of facts.

In a series of tweets, he said, Any tampering with history will not be tolerated. The history of our heroes is important for us and it is our duty to protect it.

He said Rana Pratap is and always will remain Indias pride. To recognize him only as a Rajput leader is to insult him, said Khachariyawas.

He said Rana Pratap fought against foreign invaders and took each caste and community with him in the fight against the invaders. His greatness does not need any certification from anyone.

Diya Kumari, BJP MP, and scion of the former Jaipur royal family said in a statement The Congress governments historians have insulted Maharana Udai Singh, Maharana Pratap, and Haldighati... The act of tampering with history only takes place under the Congress rule. They are neither worried about the pride of the state nor the feelings of the people.

BJP MP and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also expressed similar sentiments. He said the misrepresentation of facts regarding Maharana Pratap, Maharana Udai Singh, and Haldighati is an insult to the history of Marudhara.

He said it is unfortunate that those in power have from time to time hidden our history from us. Their only motive is to appease one particular section. They dont have respect for history.

Lakshya Raj Mewar of the erstwhile Udaipur royal family and a descendent of Rana Pratap said it was unfortunate that frequent changes are made to textbooks which would confuse students.

The valor and courage of Maharana Pratap have been documented by historians. I would like to know if those writing on him have the expertise, If not, then it is an injustice to the society and to students, he said.

His cousin Vishvaraj Singh tweeted, History distorted to an absurd extent and included in textbooks... Abundant display of ignorance and crass, boorish mentality of decision making authority in peddling distortions to suit its own agenda.

BM Sharma, convenor of the textbook revision committee set-up by the government, said a clarification has been sought from the author who wrote the content of the e-book.

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A new parent group has organized to put pressure on school districts to embrace anti-racist curriculum and instruction. Its first action, which begins today, aims to inundate 10 school districts, from California to Connecticut, with emails demanding change.

Racial Equity Education is small: About 10 friends, all Black, white, Jewish or Asian parents of K-12 students, and connected through Facebook, put the group together earlier this month.

But it has big dreams. It wants students, parents, and community members to pile so many emails in the inboxes of key district leaders in 10 cities that theyll have to sit up and take notice.

If youre hearing tens of thousands of folks singing the same song, in chorus, saying the time for change is now, its harder to ignore than one petition that lands on a leaders desk, said Gigi, who works in adult education in Seattle and is one of the groups founders.

Gigi and the groups other members insist that their last names be withheld for their safety. Where they live, in Milwaukee, Boston, Buffalo, N.Y., Seattle and other cities, theyve already seen violence and verbal abuse toward demonstrators protesting police shootings. And theyve had a couple of hateful comments posted in their Facebook group , Gigi said. (The group moderators have since deleted them.)



Getting the Message Out

In its first wave of activism, Racial Equity Education is targeting the Seattle, Highline, and Puyallup districts in Washington state; East Baton Rouge, La.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Frederick County, Md.; Newtown, Conn.; and three districts in California: Oakland Unified, Glendale, and Placentia-Yorba Linda.

Racial Equity Education chose those 10 districts because it knew there were already students or community members lobbying for anti-racist curriculum there, so they could build on those efforts, Gigi said. The group included East Baton Rouge, La., because of a video that went viral, showing activist Gary Chambers Jr., accusing a local school board member of shopping online while he made an impassioned plea for the board to rename a high school thats named after Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

The new groups playbook is twofold: It will send demand letters to school board members, PTA presidents, and local teachers unions in 10 districts. But its also posted links to a letter template and sample emails that people can use to lobby theseor any otherschool districts.

Their two-page letter demands that schools include Black experience, voices and history in their curricula. It argues for a well-rounded K-12 ethnic studies curriculum, citing a 2011 paper by the National Education Association that argues that students of all races and ethnic backgrounds benefit from such study. And it asks board members and other leaders to engage in discussions about anti-bias training for teachers, ways to hire more Black and brown teachers, and other changes related to racial equity.

In many of the 10 districts that are the focus of Racial Equitys new campaign, students are already circulating petitions demanding that their districts do a better job of building a curriculum that includes examination of systemic racism.

Students Demanding Change

Laura Durante is one of those students. A brand-new graduate of Middletown High School South, in Middletown, N.J., the 18-year-old and a friend started an online petition to ask their district to commit to expand the lens through which it teaches history to include more study of Black, indigenous and LGBTQ people.

To continue to teach in a manner that blatantly ignores the histories and cultures of both Black and Indigenous people and their oppression is doing the next generation of leaders a grand disservice, the letter says.

Its gathered more than 800 signatures since it was posted on June 13, Durante said. Five days later, District Superintendent William O. George III responded with a public letter of his own, offering further conversation. We must ask ourselves if we can do better, he wrote.

Durante said she started the petition drive because she feels she missed important learning in her predominantly white school system.

We get this starry, white-washed, colonialist version of history, she said. Both world and European history are taught through the eyes of white settlers, and thats a very narrow view of how things are.

Seeing the pileup of signatures, and the districts response, makes Durante feel hopeful. I havent usually felt Ive had a voice [in school decisions], but this letter showed me that maybe this is something we can change.

Signs of Momentum Nationwide

Activists who work with school districts on instruction about civics and race report that theyre seeing an uptick of interest in anti-bias training and anti-racist teaching.

Jill Bass, the chief education officer at the Mikva Challenge, a national organization that helps teachers learn to plan action civics projects that engage students in the community, said shes getting a lot of calls from teachers and district administrators about how those projects dovetail with anti-racist curriculum.

Shes also seeing administrators feeling readier than they were last year to take the risk to jump into controversial subject matter, Bass said. If the desire was there before, now theres a huge fan on that fire, giving it oxygen, she said.

See Also:

Action Civics Enlists Students in Hands-On Democracy

Seattle Schools Lead Controversial Push to Rehumanize Math

Trudy Delhey sees that change from her post as the K-12 social studies supervisor for the Cobb County school district in Georgia. Teachers are increasingly asking for help with culturally responsive teaching, she said. And her district is moving full-force into training on an updated Mikva Challenge curriculum that dives deeply into how power and privilege shape social identity, she said.

Were maxing out with it, and we werent ready for that before, Delhey said. COVID and [concerns about] policing have exposed the inequities people experience. Theres this instant understanding thats translated into teachers being more reflective about what they have to do to better serve students.

Gigi homeschools her two children because, as an Afro-Latina, she found the Eurocentric curriculum in the local schools unacceptable, and harmful to the self-esteem of Black and brown children, she said. (Seattle, where she lives, is working on a K-12 ethnic studies curriculum .)



She hand-picked a short list of resources for teachers that highlight the historic and cultural contributions of Black people. Her group recommends that districts work with consultants to build out a full curriculum.

Photo: Kayla Shannon, a recent graduate of Grand Blanc High School in Michigan, speaks at a peaceful protest against police violence and racial injustice on June 5. Protests across the United States were sparked by the death of George Floyd, who was restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25. Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP
A TEENAGER who spat in the face of a Garda after drinking almost 20 bottles of beer and then claimed "as a big joke" that he had coronavirus has avoided a prison sentence.

Adam Olden (19) of Leamlara Close, Togher, Cork was ordered to perform 240 hours of community service in lieu of five months in prison.

Judge Olann Kelleher warned Cork District Court that it was "a very serious matter."

He stressed that Olden should not underestimate the seriousness of the issue. This is a most serious offence to come before the courts," he said.

"This was a harrowing and upsetting time for the garda (involved). It caused havoc for both him and for his family.

Judge Kelleher was told that the garda involved had to go into precautionary isolation for 14 days after the incident on March 29 last in Togher at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I hope he (Olden) does not underestimate how serious a matter this is," Judge Kelleher warned. He said that if Olden fails to comply with the full terms of the 240 hour community service order, he will serve a five month prison term.

The court was told by defence solicitor, Eddie Burke, that Olden was deeply remorseful over what happened. It had caused deep embarrassment and shame to both him and his family.

Judge Kelleher noted Olden's early plea, his remorse, his personal apology to the officer involved and the fact he had no previous convictions.

The incident occurred after Olden had consumed up to 20 bottles of Budweiser. It was confirmed that Olden did not have Covid-19 when he spat at the garda.

Sergeant Kevin Joyce said the officer had to go into precautionary isolation for 14 days after the incident. The officer's wife, who is also a serving garda, likewise had to isolate in adherence to strict Health Service Executive (HSE) advice.

However, the garda involved had described the incident as "a one off" and said that it was not in keeping with the teen's normal behaviour.

Judge Kelleher noted the garda's positive comments towards the teen. Sgt Joyce said that while the garda involved was "annoyed and upset", he believed it was a moment of madness fuelled by alcohol.

Gardai also believed that Olden now realises the seriousness of what happened. Mr Burke pointed out that the teen had been subjected to a substantial backlash on social media because of the incident.

Gardai were called to the scene that March 29 night and had asked Olden to leave a specific area. Without warning, he spat towards a garda's face and then shouted that he had coronavirus.

The teen pleaded guilty to assault. He was also fined 300 for the possession of cannabis for personal use

on March 29.

A two month suspended prison sentence was imposed for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour.
Graphs of the coronavirus curves in Britain, Canada, Germany and Italy look like mountains, with steep climbs up and then back down. The one for America shows a fast climb up to a plateau. For a while, the number of new cases in the U.S. was at least slowly declining. Now, according to the New York Times, its up a terrifying 22 percent over the last two weeks.

As Politico reported Monday, Italys coronavirus catastrophe once looked to Americans like a worst-case scenario. Today, it said, Americas new per capita cases remain on par with Italys worst day  and show signs of rising further.

This is what American exceptionalism looks like under President Donald Trump. Its not just that the United States has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths of any country in the world. Republican political dysfunction has made a coherent campaign to fight the pandemic impossible.

At the federal level as well as in many states, were seeing a combination of the blustering contempt for science that marks the conservative approach to climate change and the high tolerance for carnage that makes American gun culture unique.

The rot starts at the top. At the beginning of the crisis Trump acted as if he could wish the coronavirus away, and after an interval when he at least pretended to take it seriously, his administration has resumed a posture of blithe denial.

The task force led by Mike Pence has been sidelined, its members meeting only twice a week. Last week, the vice president wrote an op-ed essay in the Wall Street Journal about how well things are going: We are winning the fight against the invisible enemy, he claimed.

In an interview with Fox News Sean Hannity, Trump said the virus is fading away. Speaking to the Journal, he said that some people might be wearing masks only to show their disapproval of him and suggested, contrary to all credible public health guidance, that mask-wearing might increase peoples risk of infection. Its not surprising, then, that many people at his sad Saturday rally in Tulsa, Okla., where coronavirus cases are spiking  went maskless.

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 Times count, we just hit that number. The war goes on, but Trump has already lost it.

twitter.com/@michelleinbklyn
Rice University Students Demand Black-Only Space on Campus

A group of black students at Rice University in Houston, Texas is demanding administrators establish a racially segregated Black House on campus, as part of an ongoing process to address the systemic oppression and inequity in the universitys history.

We demand that Rice invest in creating a non-residential Black House that has all the features of a residential college but is specifically made for Black students and Black organizations to congregate and hold events, the group wrote in a list of demands (pdf), shared by Rice University Students Association on its official Facebook page.

We believe it would be best to have a central, safe space that Black students can meet and hangout in anytime of the day, the group said.

In addition to a designated space which only black students have access to, the group also called for the removal of a statue William Marsh Rice, who left his fortune to found a tuition-free but white-only institution that would become todays Rice University.

Sitting at the center of our university is William Marsh Rice, the owner of 15 slaves during the mid-19th century, the group wrote. We believe that there could be numerous better options to represent the heart of our university and acknowledge Rices racist past.

The students also seek the university to hire more black counselors and therapists who are trained on how to handle racial trauma, increase enrollment of black students, and allow black students to select their roommates based on race.

The list of demands received criticism on social media, including from former New York Jets player Burgess Owens and conservative commentator Jesse Kelly.

I remember as a kid protesting a segregated movie theater, we werent allowed to watch a movie on the big screen because it was whites only, wrote Owens on Twitter. Now were offended by garage door pulls? If my parents could see us now.

William M. Rice said Rice should be for whites only. Theres still a statue of him on campus, Kelly wrote on Twitter sarcastically. That statue MUST come down and @RiceUniversity should be for black people only from now on. Its the only way to make this right.

The Rice students demands echo an ongoing trend in universities and colleges, where administrators are asked to give black students favorable treatment amid an outcry of racial injustice, sparked by George Floyds death. Earlier this month, an accounting professor at the University of California-Los Angeles was placed on leave after he refused to accommodate black students in his class in their final exams. In an online petition calling for his removal, his unwillingness to treat black students differently is deemed extremely insensitive, dismissive, and woefully racist.
Were seeing significant spread of COVID-19 across our state, DHHS secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said at a Monday news conference. The percentage of emergency room visits is trending upward for the second week. Our cases continue to climb.

Our hospitalizations are at some of their highest levels since the start of this pandemic. We still do have capacities in our systems, and we monitor that very, very closely.

Positive test rate is 10%

There were 848 new cases of COVID-19 reported Tuesday by DHHS. The positive rate of tests for the virus was 10%, DHHS reported. The death total from coronavirus in the state was 1,251, according to DHHS, with 28 new deaths.

Hospitalizations is one of the key metrics being used by Cooper and health officials in judging whether to further loosen restrictions to help the states economy.

On May 23, there were 589 people in the states hospitals with the coronavirus. The state topped 800 hospitalizations for the first time on June 11  there were 812 reported that day  and the total has dipped below 800 just three times since that report.
The provincial government will begin paying people who get off federal assistance and return to work full-time, Premier Brian Pallister announced on Tuesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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The provincial government will begin paying people who get off federal assistance and return to work full-time, Premier Brian Pallister announced on Tuesday.

The $2,000 Manitoba Job Restart payment is meant to get people who are on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit back to work full-time instead of relying on federal cash, Pallister said. The $2,000 will help cover the gap between the pandemic-related government assistance and full-time wages.

The CERB disincentives people from working full-time as they can lose it if they work too much, Pallister said. Recipients cant earn more than $1,000 for more than 14 days in the four-week benefit period of their claim.

The provincial payment will come over the course of six weeks for people who apply. Pallister said the hope is that full-time wages will be high enough later in the summer for people to stay off government assistance.

"What this program will do provincially is allow Manitobans to get back to work without suffering the financial penalty that the CERB program threatens them with if they work too much," Pallister said.

"Wed like you to get back to work."

He noted that there were approximately eight million Canadians receiving the COVID-19-related benefit as of early June, and for some it makes more financial sense to continue on it than to work and earn less.

That has meant some businesses are struggling to find staff as the provincial economy reopens and pandemic-related restrictions are slowly lifted, Pallister said.

"We need people to work and we dont need to punish them when they go back to work.  Its about incentivizing the right behaviour, its about rewarding people for going back to work, not punishing them when they do," Pallister said.

Applicants must work at least 30 hours per week to be eligible, complete declarations each of the following two weeks certifying they are still working 30 hours per week, stay off federal assistance and continue to live in Manitoba. The deadline to apply is July 31.

Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Spencer Day said he has heard some local businesses, especially in the hospitality industry, have had trouble getting people to come back to work.

"I know that a lot of our members and businesses in the area here have had a hard time getting staff to come back to work because theres been some gaps in some of these federal programs," he said, adding that some people have chosen to stay on the CERB if their regular job can only offer them 15 to 20 hours of work per week.

"I think (the provincial program is) going to be a great bridge for some of those people to be able to come back to work and get off the federal assistance."

On Tuesday, Pallister also announced that employers can now receive the provincial 50 per cent wage benefit for workers rehired since June 1. He said the program has already had a lot of interest but making it retroactive is another help for small businesses.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
Dechert LLP wants to move its Philadelphia office from the Cira Centre to the nearby Schuylkill Yards development next to 30th Street Station and get a second round of Keystone Opportunity Zone tax breaks. Commonwealth Court said it can do that. Read more

Pennsylvanias Commonwealth Court ruled that Dechert LLP, one of Philadelphias richest law firms, can collect a second round of Keystone Opportunity Zone tax breaks if it moves from the Cira Centre into a new building that Brandywine Realty Trust wants to build in the Schuylkill Yards development near 30th Street Station.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, which administers the KOZ program, argued before a full panel of seven judges in February that Dechert should not be rewarded for leaving the Cira Centre, where the tax breaks expired in 2018.

That would defeat the purpose of the 1998 law, which was to bring development to distressed areas, an agency lawyer told the judges.

But the court ruled Tuesday that the economic development agency, known as DCED, overstepped its authority when it told Dechert last summer that the law firm could not get a pass on virtually all state and local business taxes if it moved from the expired building to Brandywines planned JFK Towers in a different zone nearby.

DCEDs prohibition on zone-hopping is simply not contained in the statute, Judge J. Andrew Crompton wrote in the decision. The KOZ Act does not impose a one and done rule whereby a qualified business may only receive KOZ tax benefits once.

A DCED spokesperson said the agency is reviewing the opinion and had no further comment. The agency could appeal the decision to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Dechert is generally pleased with the decision, said Joseph C. Bright, a Cozen OConnor lawyer, who represented Dechert in Commonwealth Court. Bright has additional clients seeking the same relief.

It is not clear how much Dechert, which moved from what was then called the Bell Atlantic Tower at 1717 Arch St. to the Cira Centre at 2929 Arch St., benefited from the tax breaks. Under the KOZ program, the city alone provided an estimated $400 million in tax breaks to firms in the Cira Centre from the time it opened in 2005 until they expired at the end of 2018.

Officials who helped develop and administer the KOZ program more than 20 years ago told The Inquirer last winter that they never imagined companies would go from one zone to another.

Thats not what it was created for, said Rich Hudic, a former state official who was the first manager of the KOZ program.

However, the law did not say companies could get the benefits only once because they are tied to a location, not a particular business.

DCED may not engraft restrictions upon a statute it administers to advance its policy goals, Crompton said in his decision.
Ask any writer. Often the most poignant of insights come right after an interview ends, when the notebook is closed, the recording device is off, and often when the conversation goes completely off topic. Thats exactly what happened to me last year. Id just had a fascinating interview in London with a well-respected art collector from a renowned family of art collectors. As I was packing up, my interviewee asked me where I was going next.

Id booked to see the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, a magnificent Baroque banquet hall painted by British artist Sir James Thornhill, which took him 19 years to complete. The hall was designed by architect Sir Christopher Wren. If you havent heard of the hall you may have seen it onscreen, as its often featured in movies and in TV costume dramas. I hadnt seen the hall since it had undergone extensive conservation efforts. As I was telling her that thats where I was heading, the thought of seeing the hall filled me with so much joy that my eyes brimmed with tears.

The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London, where hundreds of figures feature in Sir James Thornhills paintings celebrating Britains monarchs and naval and merchant might. (James Brittain)

It was one of those wonderfully unexpected moments that catches you utterly off guard. Slightly embarrassed, I explained how I felt: Many of the traditional art galleries and museums have become so dominated by modern art that these once-bastions of our art heritage have largely pushed out fine art in favor of art with politically correct agendas. The thought of seeing some traditional art and architecture without wading through the rest was like a breath of fresh air.

My interviewee understood. Its like The Emperors New Clothes, she said.

In 1849, Vilhelm Pedersen illustrated the emperor parading through the streets in his magical new clothes for Hans Christian Andersens The Emperors New Clothes. (Public Domain)

Stating the Truth or Saving Face

Youll remember how the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale goes: There once was an emperor who loved new clothes so much that he had clothes for every occasion. The emperor was so obsessed with buying new clothes that he cared little for his official duties, unless he could use the opportunity to pose in his new attire.

Two swindlers heard of the emperors obsession, and posing as weavers they boasted that they could weave the most magnificent set of clothes the emperor had ever seen. Not only would the clothes be stunning, but the cloth had a special ability: It became invisible to whoever was stupid or who was unfit for his job.

The emperor was impressed; he could gain new clothes and an insight into which of his officials were unfit for office. The swindlers set to work. They hid the fine silk and gold threads that they were given to make the material and pretended to weave. The clickity-clack of the empty looms could be heard day and night.

Keen to know what the material was looking like, the emperor sent his most honest official to see the weavers. The official observed the weavers working on the looms, but he couldnt see any material. He knew the material became invisible to anyone unfit for office or who was stupid. He surmised that, as he was not stupid, it must mean he was unfit for his job.

Rather puzzled, he returned to the emperor and reported what he found. He said that hed seen the finest of fabrics, with the most exquisite patterns. He couldnt admit that he had been unable to see the fabric because that would mean he was unfit for his job.

Other officials couldnt see the fabric either, but they all pretended they could out of vanity, fear of looking stupid, or losing their jobs. Although the emperor couldnt see the fabric, because all his trusted officials said they could, he too agreed the fabric was splendid. Soon, the emperors magnificent new clothes with their magical abilities were the talk of the town and everyone wanted to see them.

The emperor proudly parades the streets in his new clothes, with his noblemen carrying the cloaks train, in an 1853 illustration by Hans Tegner. All the townsfolk happily carry on the charade to save face. (Public Domain)

A procession was arranged for the emperor to show his people his fine new clothes. The emperor stripped down, and the weavers pretended to dress him in all his new finery. They even told his officials that the cloak had a train, which the officials happily pretended to carry.

As the emperor and his entourage paraded through the streets, all his people cheered in celebration of his fine clothes. No one had ever seen anything like it. And no one wanted to admit they couldnt see the clothes because that would mean they were idiots or unsuited for their jobs. Throughout the town, everyone was full of the same praise.

Then suddenly, a little voice could be heard, the voice of a child: But the emperor is not wearing any clothes. Whispers of what the child said echoed throughout the town, awakening the people from their delusions. The child was right: The emperor was wearing no clothes.

The emperor, even on hearing the truth of the matter from his people, decided to hold his head high and continue the procession with his officials continuing the facade, holding high the invisible cloaks train.

What I understand from my interviewees analogy is that just because a large consensus of the population believes that something is right and good, it doesnt necessarily mean that it is. The child in The Emperors New Clothes spoke up from a place of innocence because what that child saw conflicted with everyone else. The child wanted to learn the truth.

The idea of modern art being like the emperors new clothes really resonated with me.

Exposing the Emperors New Clothes

I used to believe that everything is art. Now I know better.

My notion was born from a sincere reverence toward all living things, so this seemingly innocent concept of everything is art made sense to me. I didnt realize, however, that everything is art aligns with the work of French conceptual artist Marcel Duchamp, who is often associated with the Dada movement that helped catalyze the desecration of traditional Western art.

How Duchamp helped desecrate art is beyond the scope of this article, but to learn more, do read Chapter 11: Desecrating the Arts in The Epoch Times publication How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling Our World.

Duchamp created an anti-art movement by making art that went against the conventions of traditional art practices. For example, he started exhibiting everyday objects that he called readymades, such as an upturned urinal he titled Fountain, a replica of which is on display at the Tate Modern, in London.

Duchamp declared, An ordinary object [can be] elevated to the dignity of a work of art by the mere choice of an artist. Essentially, Duchamp was saying: Anything is artif an artist says its so. This viewpoint shifts the emphasis from the artist as a virtuoso who captures Gods creations to making the artist a false idol who believes that his or her viewpoint is more important than the work itself.

Duchamps ideology deviates from the 16th-century definition of an artist, which, according to the Etymonline website, is someone who cultivates one of the fine arts. The traditional fine arts, as defined in the Renaissance, are painting, sculpture, and architecture.

Interestingly, fine in fine arts doesnt reflect the appearance and level of polish of the art, but it means that the artist has created the art using a purely traditional Western art discipline, according to philosopher David Clowney in a 2011 edition of The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism.

The back wall of the Painted Hall in Greenwich, London. (James Brittain)

The late philosopher Roger Scruton expands on these definitions, stating in his book Beauty that the essence of such art as True art is an appeal to our higher nature, an attempt to affirm that other kingdom in which moral and spiritual order prevails.

When painting moral and spiritual scenes, an artist needs to understand how to depict not only the superficial appearance of the subject but also each subjects entire character. And as artists paint such upright subjects, they imbue their paintings with those qualities. It therefore makes sense that art painted with the utmost sincerity, that embodies the best moral and spiritual subjects, could move a person to tears. Its why true art appeals to our soul, and when the soul is touched, thats something that words cannot easily convey.

Conversely, when art re-creates degenerate subjects (like a urinal) or fleeting subjects such as human emotions and desires outside of the realms of any spiritual or moral context, then this art cannot help but have an adverse effect on the viewer. A painting imbued with these qualities is not a painting that cultivates the fine arts. It heightens negative human emotions that are there as markers for discontent, and should not be immortalized on canvas. Paintings that capture emotions, desires, or selfish actions act as snapshots of a moment in time without showing any consequence from which to learn or improve our character. In true art, as in real life, every action has a consequence.

Good art embodies reason. There is purpose and there is order to it: It promotes goodness, guiding our morality and inspiring us to be better. Good art makes sense. But modern art, that which deviates from the values of traditional Western art, is senseless. It embodies the irrational, the sensational, and the emotional; its without reasonreason in the truest sense of the word: rational.

Therefore, art as defined by Duchamp fits into the emperors new clothes category. I believe that most nontraditional art created from the time of the impressionists onward (from around 1860) fits into that category too.

True art always guides the viewer to goodness, and art with any other goal is the emperors new clothes.
T he search for a man who went missing in the River Thames in Cookham is ongoing as another remains in a serious condition in hospital, police have said.

Officers were called to reports that two men who had been swimming got into difficulty in a stretch of water called Lulle Brook, between Odney Lane and Mill Lane in Maidenhead, at around 7pm on Tuesday.

One man in his thirties was brought to safety by a member of the public and was taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition on Wednesday.

The other man, also in his thirties, is still missing, police said.

Emergency services at the incident in Cookham / Levi Genes

Searches began yesterday evening and are continuing today.

A third man entered the water to assist but was unharmed.

Witnesses said the missing man was a Syrian who was with a group of five other family members who travelled from Uxbridge to enjoy the sunshine on one of the hottest days of the year.

A bystander who had been at the riverbank said that they had earlier seen the three men jumping off the weir and doing backflips into the water.

They told Mail Online: That was about 4.30pm. Later, after we had left the riverside, we heard loads of police sirens and came rushing back.

Emergency services at the scene in Cookham / Levi Genes

Thames Valley Police officers, fire crews from the Royal Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Services, paramedics from South Central Ambulance Service, and members of Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue, all attended the scene.

LPA Commander for Windsor and Maidenhead, Superintendent Colin Hudson, said: We are carrying out searches today to locate the missing man which includes searches on the banks of the river and in the water using specialist resources.

One man remains in hospital in a serious condition.

Our thoughts are with both the mens families and our officers are supporting them at this very difficult time.
CHINA HERE WE COME

The radical left and Joe Biden are no different than the Communist Party in China under Mao. They both tore down statues and re-educated all the people. The way forward is the Republican Party who wants to build up this country, not tear it down. God bless America.

LEAVE HISTORY ALONE

Is this COVID-19 virus going to some peoples brains? They have nothing better to do than to take down statues? Grant in California, Teddy Roosevelt in New York, etc.? Oh and lets change the name of Columbus, Ohio, to Flavortown. All these people were great in what they did in their time. Why are we letting a vocal minority of the people be the tail that is wagging the dog? History is just that; history and it cant be re written.

RIDDLEWOOD KEN

BUT TRUMP

Trump haters: You have all lost sight of what is happening in this country. Your hatred for Trump has skewed your common sense. The Democratic governors and mayors have allowed mayhem and destruction to ensue. The peaceful demonstrating mobs have included looters who have burned and destroyed peoples livelihoods and most likely will spread the virus more than smaller groups in Oklahoma, have injured and murdered police who were doing their jobs. The Democratic Congress tried to impeach Trump with banana republic methods, has endorsed dictators such as Maduras in Venezeuela, Castro in Cuba, and China taking away Hong Kongs liberty, blame Trump for the COVID-19 virus which originated in China, are letting new Congress members such as AOC dictate socialist and communist policies. To top it off they put in corrupt Joe Biden showing signs of dementia. Trump is the true patriot. He may not have a likeable personality but he is putting America first.

LIBERTY AND FREEDOM

PACK OF LOSERS

All those Confederate flag waivers saying if you dont like America, leave it are the true traitors of the United States. Their behinds were kicked by the Union army and the only flag they should be waiving next to a USA flag is a white flag.

RNB

GIVE HIM THE JOB ALREADY

To our mayor in Upper Darby: In December 2019, you appointed Timothy Barnhardt as interim police puperintendent. Since then, six months later, he is still classified interim ? Why? Since he took over he has gone through unbelievable times, first a smooth transition from Chitwood, then a major pandemic that has turned the world upside down, powerful storms, and then to top it off, Black Lives Matters riots and looting. Through all of that he has done an outstanding job, and complimented on TV by your own council members! What more does he have to do to prove himself worthy of the job? As a person who has experienced interim positions, it is not a comfortable place to be considering

that every day, you may hear that you are done. Mayor, its time to make him permanent superintendent!

LONGTIME UD RESIDENT

THE WAR MAN

Im hearing so much about John Boltons book. Hes upset because he was dismissed from the White House. Bolton is only happy when theres a war. He thrives on wars and was very upset that Trump didnt go to war with Iran and North Korea. I always admired both until now. If you worked at the White House and disliked Trump so much, why did he join up with him? He was just trying to encourage Trump to go to war with someone or anyone, Maybe he should run for president. Then he could declare war on everybody. He must hate everyone or why would he want war?

SCRATCHING MY HEAD ON MIDDRED AVENUE IN PRIMOS

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

I was listening the other day to Janis Joplins version of the classic song Summertime and then the lyrics it says summertime and the livin is easy. Wouldnt it be grand if we could go back to those times when the living was easy?

BIG BOPPER ON BROADWAY
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City police arrested a man from Fraserville Monday after an investigation into allegations of historic sexual assaults.

Police were told in June about incidents involving a child under 16. A suspect went to the police station Tuesday ad was arrested.

Christopher OHara, 32, of Cedar Valley Road, Fraserville, was charged with sexual assault on a person under 16 years of age, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching.

He was released and will appear in court Aug. 12.
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.

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.

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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Police are investigating two hateful, racist incidents that occurred in a Cape Cod town earlier this month, authorities said Tuesday.

A noose as well as flyers promoting white nationalism were found in Yarmouth last week, according to a statement from the towns police chief, Frank Frederickson.

Both cases are being taken seriously in order to determine the person(s) responsible, the statement said. These overtly inflammatory actions are denounced by the Yarmouth Police department. I strongly believe that this not representative of Yarmouth and was likely performed by a few troubled individuals who are hateful.

Yarmouth police responded on June 17 to a report of a noose hanging from a tree at a private beach off Pump House Lane, according to Frederickson.

Two teenagers were seen in the area handling rope before the noose was discovered. However, nobody witnessed anyone put the noose on the tree, the chief said.

Three days later, 20 flyers seeking white men to join local white nationalists were found taped to street signs, utility poles and fences on Buck Island Road, Higgins Crowell Road and on Route 28, according to police.

The flyers, which were printed on 8-by-11-inch pieces paper, were removed by police, authorities said.

The Yarmouth Police Departments detective division is working with other agencies to find who posted the flyers. The Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center was notified of this incident.

The reports of the two incidents come as people continue to protest throughout the world against systemic racism in the United States.

Massachusetts and other states have seen incidents of racist and anti-Semitic vandalism in recent days.

In Revere, swastikas were discovered spray painted on a Muslim womans car on June 11. Police also found the words white power spray painted on the street.

Authorities in Groton also discovered racist and/or vulgar graffiti in the town last week. Law enforcement in the community are investigating the vandalism as a hate crime, police said.

It is clearly understood that these incidents create fear, division and distrust in our community, Frederickson said in his statement about the incidents in Yarmouth. Please know that Yarmouth Police Department is committed to addressing issues of hate in our community.

Anyone with information connected to the two incidents have been urged to email the Yarmouth Police Department at info@yarmouthpolice.com or call (508) 775-0445 ext. 0.
DIXON, CA  Five Dixon and Vacaville students seeking agricultural careers are sharing $10,000 in college scholarships from the Friends of the Dixon May Fair.

The organization, the service-oriented and fundraising arm of the fair, annually awards scholarships to Solano County residents majoring in an agricultural-related field at either a four-year university or a two-year community college in California. Since 2003, the Friends of the Fair, headed by president Donnie Huffman of Vacaville, has bestowed $210,750 in college scholarships.

Carrie Hamel, scholarship chair, announced that Kyle Esquer of Dixon, a student at California Polytechnic State University, is the 2020 winner of the top scholarship, the $3,000 Ester Armstrong Scholarship Award.

Linzie Goodsell of Dixon, a student at California State University, Chico, won the $2,500 JoAn Giannoni Scholarship Award.

At the community college level, Vacaville resident Jared Tanaka, scheduled to attend Modesto Junior College this fall, won the $1,500 Jack Hopkins Scholarship.

Other recipients of Friends of the Fair scholarships this year were Maya Prunty of Vacaville, a student at the University of California, Davis, $2,000; and Haylee Hoffmann of Dixon, a student at Modesto Junior College, $1,000.

Kyle Esquer

Esquer, a 2017 graduate of Dixon High School and a third-year bioresource and agriculture engineer major at Cal Poly, plans to seek a masters degree in either civil engineering or water engineering. His career goal: a water engineer with an emphasis on irrigation.

Kyle Esquer (Photo courtesy Kyle Esquer via Friends Of Dixon May Fair)

Esquer earned his FFA State degree at Dixon High School and exhibited sheep and mechanics projects at the Dixon May Fair. "Agriculture," he wrote in his essay, "is in my blood. My great-grandparents began farming citrus in Southern California after World War II. They then moved to Dixon, where I was born and raised and started farming row crops. They paved the path to my familys ties with agriculture and I was exposed to farming at a very young age."

Story continues

When I was first exposed to agriculture, I was enthralled with tractors and dirt, but when I was much older, I began to appreciate the value of the crop and I now appreciate the importance of water, Esquer wrote. Water is essential in the development of the soil and the crop; without water, there is no agriculture.

Linzie Goodsell

Goodsell, a 2019 graduate of Dixon High School and an animal science major at California State University, Chico, plans to become an artificial inseminator for livestock.

Linzie Goodsell (Photo courtesy Linzie Goodsell via Friends Of Dixon May Fair)

I discovered my passion to study animal science through my involvement in FFA for all four years in high school, she wrote in her essay. Not only did I gain leadership skills, but I also had the opportunity of hands-on experience when I raised and showed three sheep at the local Dixon May Fair.

Goodsell is the first in her family to attend college.

Jared Tanaka

Vacaville resident Tanaka, a 2020 graduate of Dixon High School, will attend Modesto Junior College this fall and major in animal science.

Jared Tanaka (Photo courtesy Jared Tanaka via Friends Of Dixon May Fair)

All my life I have been surrounded by agriculture and involved in a multitude of activities, all of which have influenced me in my endeavors for a career, he wrote. He credited his involvement in a high school agriculture mechanics courses in high school with opening my knowledge to welding, gas cutting, plumbing, electrical and metal fabrication.

He regularly exhibited livestock at the Dixon May Fair, Solano County Fair and the California State Fair and now maintains a herd of cattle.

I am always devising new ways to improve and develop my cattle herd, he wrote.

Maya Prunty

Prunty, a Vacaville resident who graduated from Visions in Education in 2019, is an animal science major at UC Davis. She plans a career as a canine rehabilitationist.

Active in 4-H, she served as president of the Pleasants Valley 4-H Club; Solano County 4-H Ambassador; and is currently a California State 4-H Ambassador. Prunty was a regulator exhibitor at the Dixon May Fair, Solano County Fair and California State Fair.

Maya Prunty (Photo courtesy Maya Prunty via Friends Of Dixon May Fair)

As a canine rehabilitation therapist, one provides a variety of healing modalities including physical and neurological therapy, Prunty wrote in her essay. In this major, I will receive an animal science degree with a concentration in canine therapy to provide a variety of healing modalities to ensure their well-being. My goal after college is to open my own canine rehabilitation facility to provide innovative healing services for pups in my community.

Prunty credits the 4-H organization and the 4-H motto, "to make the best better," with shaping the person she is today.

My mentors supported and encouraged me, giving me the chance to reciprocate this guidance, she wrote. Whether I am judging a presentation, teaching in a project, leading a workshop, providing community service, or volunteering my time, interning for the UC Davis animal research department or learning new skills as an Aggie Ambassador, I feel I make a positive impact in my community.

Haylee Hoffmann

Hoffmann, a 2020 graduate of Dixon High School, is heading to Modesto Junior college this fall to major in agriculture business. Active in the Dixon FFA, she began a new FFA project called Hoffmann Feed and Supply, selling feed in Turlock. This project gave me the experience of what it is like to be an entrepreneur in the agriculture industry, she wrote. It taught me how to manage finances, understand fluctuation of prices, have customer relations, and how to manage a business overall.

Haylee Hoffman (Photo courtesy Haylee Hoffman via Friends Of Dixon May Fair)

Hoffmanns career plans: To start my own livestock feed business where I make my own feed and sell it to feed stores across the country."

Friends Of The Fair Scholarships

The Friends of the Fair raises funds from the sale of beverages at the four-day fair and donates the proceeds for exhibitor awards, building and grounds improvements, and college scholarships. This year, however, the coronavirus pandemic mandates canceled the Dixon May Fair.

Applicants are scored on personal, civic and academic experience; academic standing; personal commitment and established goals; leadership potential; civic accomplishments; chosen field in the areas of agriculture, Hamel said. Most applicants have experience in 4-H, FFA or Grange, criteria desired not mandated. All applicants must be Solano County residents and must attend college in California, she emphasized.

The annual deadline to apply for the scholarships is March 1. More information on the scholarship application rules is available on the Friends of the Fair site.

The scholarship committee, chaired by Hamel, also includes Tootie Huffman, Kathy Keatley Garvey and Linda Molina of Vacaville, and Marty Scrivens of Dixon. Huffman serves as treasurer of the all-volunteer Friends of the Fair, and Scrivens as secretary.

This article originally appeared on the Dixon Patch
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has suspended plans for military action against the South, state media reported Wednesday, in an apparent sudden dialling down of tensions after Pyongyang blew up a liaison office. In recent weeks, Pyongyang has issued a series of vitriolic condemnations of Seoul over anti-North leaflets, which defectors based in South Korea send across the border -- usually attached to balloons or floated in bottles. Last week, it blew up a liaison office on its side of the border that symbolised inter-Korean rapprochement, while its military said it would take multiple measures against the South. The moves included re-entering areas of the North that it had withdrawn from as part of inter-Korean projects, restoring guard posts in the Demilitarized Zone that forms the border, and stepping up exercises. But the North's official Korean Central News Agency said Kim on Tuesday presided over a Central Military Commission (CMC) preliminary meeting that "suspended the military action plans against the south". The North also began removing loudspeakers on Wednesday from border areas, which they had started setting up just two days ago to broadcast anti-South propaganda, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing unnamed sources. In addition, Pyongyang's propaganda outlets deleted online articles critical of South Korea, according to Seoul's unification ministry, with handles relations with the North. The apparently conciliatory moves by Pyongyang are unusual, and come after analysts said it was seeking to manufacture a crisis on the peninsula in an effort to extract concessions. The South's unification ministry said it was "closely" and "carefully" reviewing the KCNA report, which said the meeting took place through video conferencing -- something the ministry said it believed was a first. Seoul had retorted with uncharacteristically stern criticism to Pyongyang's demolition of the liaison office and harsh condemnation of President Moon Jae-in by Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong, saying it will "no longer tolerate" the North's "unreasonable acts and words". - 'Completely collapsed' - Inter-Korean relations have been in a deep freeze following the collapse of a summit in Hanoi between Kim and US President Donald Trump early last year over what the nuclear-armed North would be willing to give up in exchange for a loosening of sanctions. The impoverished country is subject to multiple UN Security Council sanctions over its banned weapons programmes. But the CMC meeting discussed "bolstering the war deterrent", KCNA said, and Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, told AFP it was "by no means done threatening South Korea". Since early June, Kim Yo Jong -- a key adviser to her brother, and mooted as potential successor -- has been the face of Pyongyang's highly aggressive stance toward the South over anti-North leaflets. North Korea blew up the liaison office days after she warned it would soon be seen "completely collapsed", and later she called the South's Moon -- who has long favoured engagement with Pyongyang -- "disgusting" and apparently "insane". Pyongyang has also said it has millions of anti-Seoul propaganda leaflets ready to send to South Korea as retaliation. Having someone else speak for the regime "gives Kim Jong Un the option of adjusting course", said Easley. Former US government North Korea analyst Rachel Lee added that Kim's sister had been "a constant presence in all high-level exchanges between the two Koreas throughout 2018". "Bringing out Kim Yo Jong this way certainly was effective in maximising tensions," she said.
U.S. Army officials are are asking for the publics assistance in locating Vanessa Guillen, a 20-year-old soldier stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. (Fort Hood Press Center)

Foul Play Suspected in Disappearance of Fort Hood Soldier Vanessa Guillen

Investigators suspect foul play in the disappearance of a soldier who was last seen at a Texas Army base more than two months ago, a congresswoman confirmed on June 23.

Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) confirmed Tuesday that the disappearance of Vanessa Guillen, 20, is being treated as a criminal investigation.

Guillen, who was stationed at Fort Hood, disappeared on April 22 at 1 p.m. in the parking lot on the base. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and purple workout pants.

We dont want just attention. We want action. We want answers, Garcia said Tuesday at a news conference with the soldiers family. Weve got to remember that this is a family that is hurting.

The briefing was held by Garcia, members of Guillens family, and their attorney, Natalie Khawam, to discuss the investigation into the 20-year-olds disappearance.

Family members told Army leaders during the news conference that Guillen had told them that her superiors had sexually harassed her. One walked into the shower while she was naked, they said.

Khawam said the 20-year-old feared retaliation, so did not report the harassment.

She did report that to her family and to her friends, Khawam told reporters during the briefing that was live streamed on social media. We suspect its the same person who was her supervisor that same day after she went missing.

The attorney said Fort Hood officials have not yet disclosed the identity of the supervisor who was working that day.

They have now used the words foul play, Garcia said. They are convinced now that there is foul play involved and theyre following all the leads that they can.

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

The familys attorney called on Congress to probe the handling of Guillens case, because Army investigators have failed to disclose any other detail apart from the time of the soldiers last known contact11:30 a.m., based on phone records.

Theres something extremely troubling about this case, Khawam told KHOU-TV on Monday.

A military base is probably one of the most secure places you can be. You have ID check-ins. There are security cameras everywhere.

Theres so many gaps and holes in what we learned today that I am going to demand a congressional investigation, Khawam told reporters Tuesday. For this family, we want to know what happened and who is covering up to who and why are they covering up.

Guillen, a member of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, is described as a female of Hispanic descent, 5 feet, 2 inches tall, 126 pounds, and she has black hair and brown eyes. On the day of her disappearance, investigators said her car keys, barracks room key, ID card, and wallet were found in the armory room where shed been working earlier.

Search teams on Monday scoured the Leon River after investigators received a tip, but they didnt discover anything.

One of Vanessas dreams has always been to join the U.S. Army, Garcia told reporters. Now were dealing with a tragedy. A tragedy that involves Vanessa being missing two months now.

I demand justice and I demand their respect and that they respect my daughter as a soldier, Guillens mother, Gloria Guillen, said in Spanish Tuesday. She enlisted for her country and to protect us. And now that she needs us, we need to support her and find her.

Last week, Army investigators increased the reward for information that leads to the whereabouts about the 20-year-old. The reward is now $25,000, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command said on June 15. The League of United Latin American Citizens is also contributing $25,000 to fund the reward, making the combined reward $50,000.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts should contact Army CID Special Agents at 254-495-7767 or the Military Police Desk at (254) 287-4001. Anonymous tips can be submitted using the commands website.

Jack Phillips and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
GEORGETOWN, Cayman Islands, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CoinPayments , the world's leading cryptocurrency payments processor, today announced Hugo Janse van Rensburg as Chief Financial Officer. A deeply experienced accountant and payments expert, Mr. van Rensburg will initially focus on standardizing accounting procedures, growing the finance team, and boosting overall transparency as CoinPayments targets aggressive growth.

"Hugo is the right CFO to lead our finance team as we roll out our new strategic plan," said CoinPayments CEO Jason Butcher. "His deep experience in financial reporting and complex international transactions is exactly what we need as CoinPayments looks to increase transparency and bring cryptocurrencies to a new set of merchants."

Prior to his work with CoinPayments, Mr. van Rensburg worked as a Senior Accountant at BDO and held positions at PwC and Ernst & Young. He is a native of Cape Town, South Africa and completed his Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting at the University of Cape Town.

"For merchants around the world, the door to cryptocurrencies is open and now is the time to make a major push to ensure digital payments are attractive for large financial institutions," said Mr. van Rensburg. "I'm excited to join CoinPayments at this moment and look forward to building a finance team that will support our overall strategic focus on growth in 2020."

Mr. van Rensburg's appointment is effective immediately.

About CoinPayments

CoinPayments is the easiest, fastest and most secure way for merchants worldwide to transact in cryptocurrencies. It is the first and largest cryptocurrency payments processor with more than US $5 billion in total transactions to date, while supporting more than 1,900 coins, and is the preferred cryptocurrency payment solution for merchants and eCommerce platform providers worldwide. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in the Cayman Islands, CoinPayments is dedicated to providing clients with fast, secure and user-friendly crypto payment APIs, shopping cart plugins, digital wallets, and a host of other solutions supporting cryptocurrency payment applications. Learn more at: https://www.coinpayments.net/

Media Contact: John Cook, Rally Point Media Strategies, john@rallypointms.com | +1.585.737.7546

SOURCE CoinPayments
ADELAIDE, Australia, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayne Pharma Group Limited (ASX: MYX) is pleased to announce the New Drug Application (NDA) for E4/DRSP to prevent pregnancy has been accepted for review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA is expected to complete its review in the first half of calendar 2021.

Developed by Mithra Pharmaceuticals SA (Mithra), E4/DRSP is a novel combined oral contraceptive pill containing 15 mg estetrol (E4) and 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP). E4 is a naturally occurring estrogen that is produced by the human foetal liver during pregnancy. Following more than 20 years of research and development, Mayne Pharma's development and manufacturing partner, Mithra, can synthesise E4 at scale through a complex plant-based production process.

The NDA submission includes results from two phase 3 clinical studies conducted in more than 3,725 women aged 16 to 50 years.

If approved, E4/DRSP would be the first contraceptive product containing E4 and the first new estrogen introduced in the US for contraceptive use in approximately 50 years. US sales of combined hormonal contraceptives are more than US$4 billion per annum, with 10 million US women using combination (estrogen + progestin) oral pills, patches or vaginal rings[1].

Mayne Pharma's CEO Scott Richards said, "This is another important milestone for E4/DRSP and brings us one step closer to providing women in the US with a new contraceptive that we believe will be effective, safe and well-tolerated. We look forward to working with the FDA and Mithra during the ongoing review of our application. In parallel, we continue to advance our US commercial strategy and infrastructure to ensure we are well positioned to support the potential launch of E4/DRSP in the first half of calendar 2021."

Mayne Pharma recently extended its strategic relationship with Mithra to also bring E4/DRSP to the Australian market and plans to file the product with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) this calendar year.

[1] IQVIA, MAT Sales and NSP Units Feb 2020

About Mayne Pharma

Mayne Pharma is an ASX-listed specialty pharmaceutical company focused on applying its drug delivery expertise to commercialise branded and generic pharmaceuticals, offering patients better and more accessible medicines. Mayne Pharma also provides contract development and manufacturing services to more than 100 clients worldwide.

Mayne Pharma has a 40-year track record of innovation and success in developing new oral drug delivery systems and these technologies have been successfully commercialised in numerous products that continue to be marketed around the world.

Mayne Pharma has two facilities based in Salisbury, Australia and Greenville, USA with expertise in the formulation of complex oral and topical dose forms including potent compounds, modified-release products and poorly soluble compounds.

About Mithra

Mithra (Euronext: MITRA) is a Belgian biotech company dedicated to transforming Women's Health by offering new choices through innovation, with a particular focus on contraception and menopause. Mithra's goal is to develop products offering better efficacy, safety and convenience, meeting women's needs throughout their life span. Its three lead development candidates are built on Mithra's unique native estrogen platform, Estetrol (E4): E4/DRSP, a new era in oral contraception, PERINESTA, the first complete oral treatment targeting perimenopause and DONESTA, the next-generation hormone therapy.

Mithra also develops and manufactures complex therapeutics in the areas of contraception, menopause and hormone-dependent cancers. It offers partners a complete spectrum of research, development and specialist manufacturing at its technological platform Mithra CDMO. Active in more than 100 countries around the world, Mithra has an approximate headcount of 250 staff members and is headquartered in Liege, Belgium. Further information can be found at www.mithra.com.

SOURCE Mayne Pharma

Related Links

www.maynepharma.com


Supplier News

24 June 2020

A psychological point demonstrated in most horror films, is that fear exacerbates distrust in others. Although the hotel industry is striving to implement stringent hygiene initiatives to protect guests, it is the diminished trust caused by fear of an invisible virus that is the final challenge hotels face in cementing guest confidence. Guests want certainty that their room is being precisely cleaned and sanitized every single time. To aid hotels in this challenge of the post-pandemic era, a Miami-based tech innovator, Creating Revolutions, has launched its groundbreaking CLEANtracker technology.

CLEANtracker is specifically designed to give hotel guests proof of the hotel's cleanliness promises. It is this unique 'PROOF over Promise' capability, which delivers a competitive edge for hoteliers struggling to navigate the uncertain times ahead - because proof has always been the ultimate human method of gaining confidence.

In development for over four years, the disruptive technology runs on the multi-patented Touch & Discover Platform, and has been proven reliable in thousands of hotel rooms. It combines a custom-built AI code named ELROY, and the wireless data transfer technology known as NFC (Near Field Communication) used in tap-and-go services like Apple Pay and Android Pay. Together they grant operators reduced liability and guarantee of next level cleanliness. Most importantly, it delivers the peace of mind that guests want, with a first of its kind dynamic 5D visual proof on any guest's smartphone.

"This pandemic is a real eye-opener for the hospitality industry," explains Einar Rosenberg, Founder, and CIO of Creating Revolutions. "All of a sudden, guest behaviors, priorities, and expectations have changed dramatically. Regardless of the enhanced new clean protocols in place, guests will remain apprehensive unless hotels can reassure them they are safe. They don't want promises; they want certainty, and hotels have to respond quickly."

Unlike current hotel cleaning processes, which focus almost entirely on the vigilance of housekeeping following protocols, CLEANtracker technology monitors employees in real-time, to make certain to guests that all management defined protocols and processes are followed precisely every single time. CLEANtracker accomplishes this with their AI ELROY, which uses advanced mathematics, NFC and human kinematics to identify if a job is being done correctly every single time, and uses that data to continually learn and optimize employee efficiency as well.

Key value points of the system include:

NO change in current employee processes, so no added workload.

1-Step usage, which creates a near ZERO learning curve for employees.

Installation averages 1 minute per room and does not require power or infrastructure.

Incredibly affordable, on average just $0.25 per room per day.

Guest-facing dynamic 5D mobile piece designed to run on what the hotel offers today.

Rosenberg adds, "With the uneasiness around travel and fear of current and future viruses, hotels will HAVE to go beyond saying they are doing everything they can to keep their properties safe - they WILL have to prove it. CLEANtracker offers the single greatest competitive advantage and opportunity for hotels to build trust and save their business."

To learn more and see how CLEANtracker works, visit creatingrevolutions.com
Thank you for following our live coverage of the coronavirus crisis today. Please join us again tomorrow as we bring you the latest case numbers from Melbourne's hotspots, as well as other news on the pandemic from around the country.

Below is a great timeline, compiled by our video team, of the coronavirus pandemic from its origins in Wuhan to the latest outbreaks in Melbourne. It's definitely worth watching.

Looking ahead, the next three months will be risky for Australians as the cold winter makes it harder to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Australian National University's Professor Peter Collignon told a Senate inquiry today the virus will remain a problem for at least two years.

"We're going to have to keep up the things that we know work, which is predominantly keeping a physical distance, washing your hands and people who are sick staying away from others," he said.

"Probably winter will be more risky, so I worry about the next three months in Australia in particular."

But he said it was easier to prevent the virus from spreading as it mainly spreads via droplets.

Professor Raina MacIntyre, from the UNSW Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, says Australians should embrace face masks as strict restrictions ease.

with AAP
Memories of Mosul Must Spark Action

An Assyrian woman and her children attend an Easter ceremony in Saint John's Church (Mar Yohanna) in the nearly deserted predominantly Christian Iraqi town of Qaraqosh on April 16, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq. ( Carl Court/Getty Images) 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, Iraq's 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 Mosul's 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 SAdertAlje, 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 colours" 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 HAtu, 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 travelled 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 world's 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 government's lacklustre 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 HAtu. 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 HAtu said.

"They could be stranded for years before they can find a home in Canada, Europe or other parts. They won't 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.
24.06.2020 LISTEN

"The world is a dangerous place not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing  Pamela Samuels Young, Anybody's Daughter.

This is a pathetic and unpleasant story. We often write about stories like this to sensitize parents and to send a warning signal to the rapist that the consequences of rape offence is damning. Humiliation, life sentence and execution are some penalties for rape. And a worst punishment awaits a rapist on the inevitable Day of Judgment, the day which every soul will justly be recompensed for the deeds it committed on earth.

My heart bleeds for baby Khadijah, daughter of Congolese Saccoh. This is the story of a sad ending of a little innocent soul. Khadijah, a beautiful, unsuspecting child, the treasure and the coolness of the eyes of her parents, was a 5-year-old victim of rape, who died on June, 17, 2020, after she was repeatedly but brutally raped multiple times by a shameless and wicked sexual predator.

This is the problem with stories of rape. All the reports I read about this heartbreaking crime have quoted name of the victim several times. No paper revealed the name or identity of the offender. This is the greatest injustice to the victim and her parents. I cannot see the rationale in hiding the identity of a criminal, wicked and shameless rapist of a 5-year-old innocent child.

Rhema Thomas, cousin to late Khadijah who lives in the US posted her photo and story on his Facebook wall: I am demanding justice for my 5-year-old cousin Kadijah Saccoh. Kadijah was a U.S. citizen who was brutally raped, tortured, and strangled to death in Sierra Leone, a country on the coast of West Africa.

Following a post-mortem report that showed the baby girl died because of injuries she sustained after she was raped, thousands of protesters took to the streets on Monday, June 22, 2020, to demand for justice for the victim. Late Khadijah, the helpless, innocuous, violated victim of the latest internationally celebrated case of rape of a minor, was a daughter of responsible parents, who nurtured their angel hoping she would grow up to become a woman they would be proud of. The rapist suddenly cut her life short.

I am shocked beyond belief by the manner in which she passed away. This is a rude and shocking story that can break the heart of a man with a heart of steel. It is a solemn moment of grief and a bitter experience which no parents could ever recover from.

Her death has raised a lot of questions to the usual protests convened by campaigners in Africa calling for justice for victims of rape. The daily nation, an online publication reported that campaigners in Sierra Leone, like in many other African countries, were worried that the matter could end up like many others in the past because of incapacity of the police, among other socio-cultural factors, that hinder proper investigation and prosecution of rapists.

Thanks to the social media-that double-edge sword that spreads good and evil from both sides of its end. The outrage expressed by the campaigners which went viral attracted the attention of the Sierra Leonean first lady, Fatima Bio, who posted on her Facebook wall that, she and her husband, President Julius Mada Bio, were in shock over the issue and she promised to act to ensure justice. The timing for Mrs. Bios intervention was apt as it gave hope to the parents of baby Khadijah that her killer will not go scot-free.

In almost every part of the world today, children are sadly becoming engendered species. Rapists are everywhere. Their common victims are children, both boys and girls. But the girl child is most vulnerable. Now is the time which parents should pay more attention to sexual predators in their midst. The specter of rape permeates the world in which we live. No child is safe. We should therefore rise, speak with one voice and stand against rape culture. There are many children around us who are victims of sexual assault who seek for justice and support. It was Khadija who fell victim yesterday. It could be your daughter tomorrow. We must end the silence and speak up with one voice against rape.
A national discussion about how police do their jobs and are held accountable has quicklyperhaps inevitablyraised parallel questions about whether teachers should be put under the same kind of microscope, and how their unions should approach law enforcement policy.

The death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd while in police custody has sparked protests and emotional debates about law enforcement and whether to reform, defund, or abolish police forces, including in schools . Such proposals, many of which are a long way from becoming national policy but could gain traction locally, would blunt the collective bargaining power of law enforcement.

So could the same type of political energy soon affect teachers unions? And to what extent has the unions stance shifted on the related issue of police in schools?

The kind of teacher misconduct that can lead to criminal or civil penalties, while rare, has created headlines and heated disputes in the past. And theres no shortage of people willing to connect disappointing student outcomes with what they say are unhelpful or outdated labor protections for adults.

Any time we have a consolidation of power, and it disempowers and marginalizes the people and the communities that its supposed to serve, then its problematic, said Sharif El-Mekki, the CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development and a former principal. It bewilders me that people think that unions of various types, including teachers, are immune from systemic racism. Its beyond naive. Its disingenuous to believe that because you signed up to teach, you magically evolve from racial tendencies and racial biases.

Yet police brutality is a fundamentally different issue from educator accountability and, more specifically, how teachers are evaluated for their students performance. Uneasiness about the role of police unions has been growing on the left for some timeincluding, most recently, among the two national teachers unions themselvesat the same time that teachers unions have strengthened their standing in the Democratic Party.

Robert Bruno, a professor of labor and employment relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said recent debates over policy areas like educator accountability and other issues prove that when it comes to systemic problems for schools that need to be fixed  you have teachers unions saying: We want to be a part of that process.

To try to draw some parallels between the two sectors and the way the unions are operating between the two sectors is just a mistake of fact, Bruno said.

The extent to which police and teachers unions protect bad employees is worth investigating, but should be tempered by how these two types of public employees and their work deal differently with issues of race, class, and gender, said Jose Vilson, a middle school math teacher in New York City and executive director of EduColor, which focuses on race and social justice issues in education. Further complicating the issue, he said, is the fact that educators have used leverage given to them by their unions to advocate for positions that can make the same unions, and some of their members, uncomfortable.

A lot of people talk about the blue wall of silence when it comes to cops. They want to assign a similar wall to teachers unions, Vilson said. But the folks [in teachers unions] who have been anti-racist all the time are saying, no, and that the analogy is too simplistic.

Unions Dont Protect Bad Teachers

A House education committee hearing in June featured a discussion about the link between the two types of unions.

During an exchange with National Education Association Vice President Becky Pringle, Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., expressed concern that unions in his home state shielded bad teachers. He then asked Pringle: I know ... some of the [police] unions are recognizing maybe they protected some bad policemen. Do you regret your past stances on maybe protecting too many bad teachers?

Pringle replied, Unions dont protect bad teachers. Unions are there to ensure that employees rights are followed. And she stressed the teachers unions focus on racial justice and appropriate resources for students.

In a series of tweets from early June, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten addressed the proper role of collective bargaining agreements and in the process distinguished her union from its counterparts in law enforcement.

Contracts should protect against false allegations but they should never shield misconduct. Not for police or anyone, Weingarten said, adding later that, Cop unions have the same choices now. I would encourage them to follow this path.

Yet legal cases have hinged on complaints about the difficulty of dismissing ineffective teachers, or those who behave inappropriately, that are directly connected to unions influence over bureaucracies and policymaking. The Vergara v. California case is a prominent recent example of efforts to overturn labor laws that critics say protect, as the plaintiffs put it, grossly ineffective teachers who mainly hurt poor children and students of color. (Ultimately, Californias teacher-tenure rules at issue in Vergara were upheld by state courts.)

According to a 2016 investigation by USA Today, fewer than 1 percent of the nations roughly three million teachers had been disciplined for some form of misconduct. Yet problems with tracking teachers who have committed misconduct have been an issue. The USA Today probe found that a privately run group that compiles such information across states was missing the names of 9,000 teachers whod been disciplined for misconduct, including 1,400 whod permanently lost their licenses.

The distinction between holding teachers accountable for inappropriate or criminal behavior, versus holding them accountable for the quality of their teaching, is an important one, said Steven Greenhut, the western region director for the R Street Institute, a think tank that favors free markets.

Nevertheless, he stressed, unions generally impede both.

Its not an assault on teachers to point out that the union system makes it harder to improve teaching and harder to get rid of bad teachers, Greenhut said. The same dynamic, from what Ive seen  is at work with police unions.

Police in Schools

Unions are also reevaluating their stance about whether police should work in schools.

In early June, the AFT and NEA backed a public call for the creation of a nationwide database of police officers who committed misconduct, a federal ban on chokeholds, new use-of-force standards, and more reforms for the police. That marked a break for the unions with their police counterparts.

The Justice in Policing Act, introduced by House Democrats shortly afterward, incorporated several of the demands from the unions and dozens of other groups. However, the bill would not prohibit police from working in schools. In fact, it would set national standards for police, including for law enforcement posted at schools, and help fund related pilot programs. A subsequent Senate Republican bill to reform police does not address school resource officers.

In response to questions from Education Week, the NEA said in a statement that it supported local affiliates and school boards that decided to bar contracts with police that turned officers into student disciplinariansa role they were never intended to serve.

In its statement, the NEA also called on schools to review discipline practices and ensure educators receive training on implicit bias

Too often the presence of law enforcement personnel in schools results in an over-reliance on these staff to intervene in the discipline process resulting in unwarranted school-based arrests, said the NEA, which several years ago published articles with headlines such as Positive Relationships with Law Enforcement and Promoting School Safety with a Badge and a Smile.

On June 17, the AFT adopted a resolution that says the necessary function of school safety should be separated from policing and police forces, although it did not explicitly call for police not to be in schools. Echoing Weingartens previous comments on social media, the resolution also calls for transparent legal procedures for holding police officers accountable for misconduct and violations of law.

According to recent federal data, 58 percent of schools reported having a sworn law enforcement officer at least once a week for the 2017-18 school year.

The AFT, like the International Union of Police Associations, is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. (Other police unions, like affiliates of the Police Benevolent Association, are not.) Theres been some public pressure for the AFL-CIO to sever its connection to the police group.

The International Union of Police Associations did not respond to requests for comment about Weingartens remarks, or whether its relationship with teachers unions was shifting.

Local Union Support

The AFTs resolution came on the heels of school boards in cities like Denver , Milwaukee , and Minneapolis voting to sever their official relationships with local police departments. And teachers unions in Chicago , Los Angeles , and Seattle have forcefully backed such efforts recently.

The fact that roughly 4 out of 5 teachers are white influences schools approaches to police, said Vilson, the New York City middle school teacher. But he stressed that such movements to sever schools relationships with police departments show that unions can also help shift school safety policies. While he said he didnt support law enforcement being in schools, Vilson said he could envision some type of police unit that would report to the district, could belong to the local teachers union not unlike other public employees who arent educators, and would focus on dealing only with emergency situations.

Yet on the whole, the unions have been a mixed bag on the issue, said Judith Brown Dianis, the executive director of the Advancement Project, which advocates for police-free schools.

There are places around the country where the teachers unions have joined forces with communities led by students of color who are pushing for police-free schools, she said. Unfortunately, at the national level of the AFT and the NEA, they have not stood with police-free schools.

In places where unions have resisted efforts to remove police from schools, Dianis said, they have focused on how suspending or expelling students is often the most expedient option in schools that lack the resources to otherwise intervene or support students. The single most helpful thing the unions could do nationally, she added, would be to simply call for police-free schools; Dianis said the AFTs June resolution misses the mark and represents the political challenges her group has sometimes experienced when working with labor groups.

Weve been massaging the relationship with the teachers union for about 20 years, she added.

El-Mekki said problems in both police and teachers unions with respect to race come from the same rotten tree. And when unions dont prioritize Black students needs, he said, that constitutes misconduct of a very serious kind even if it does not constitute physical harm.

Show me Black Lives Matter in the policies that you advocate for. Black Lives Matter is more than about the hashtag. Its about how our students are performing based on your memberships work, he said.

Yet Dianis didnt agree with the idea that teachers unions were essentially simpatico with their police counterparts in how they interact with certain students. They come at it from a caring lens, Dianis said of teachers in general. Thats not where law enforcement comes from.

Political Implications

The evolution of teacher evaluations in recent years might also indicate that teachers unions are well-positioned to defend themselves against broad political attacks on their influence in the current moment.

The number of states incorporating student-growth data from assessments into teacher evaluations grew from 15 in 2009 to 43 in 2015, alongside a growing emphasis on educator accountability policies from the Obama administration and officials from both parties.

But pushback from the AFT and NEAneither of which endorsed Obama in the 2008 Democratic primaryin response to accountability policies linked to test scores grew as well, and likely had an effect on the retreat of those policies. From 2015 to 2019, 30 states rescinded one or more of their policies about teacher evaluation; 10 states and the District of Columbia dropped requirements for student-growth data to factor into teacher evaluations.

In the realm of pure politics, the AFT and NEA took a relatively cautious approach to the 2020 presidential primary; neither endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden until he had all but wrapped up the Democratic nomination. Yet in May, both Weingarten and NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia were picked to join a task force on policy issues that will provide input to Biden.

And after prominent clashes during the Obama administration, Democratic candidates in this election cycle have also avoided talking about teacher accountability, instead calling on more funding for schools and support for teachers.

Bruno of the University of Illinois said conservative groups could use greater scrutiny of police unions as a springboard for a bigger attack on labor, including teachers unions. How successful theyll be, he said, is another issue.

I do think those groups will look at this question of taking protections away from bad cops as an opportunity to translate that into other public sector workplaces, to make an argument that collective bargaining rights for public sector unions [are] illegitimate, Bruno said. I dont see teachers unions as vulnerable on the actual substance.

In Vilsons view, the recent focus on police unions can help inform how people think about teachers unions, but that the comparison shouldnt define the conversation.

When it comes to the day-to-day operations of what teachers do, it becomes more complicated, he said.
(Natural News) When Project Veritas published a story about the antifa paramilitary training being carried out in New York City, they shared video footage that was taken by an investigative journalist who went undercover to expose the groups tactics. The video showed how fighters are taught to avoid arrests while engaging in physical combat.

They were being trained by an antifa fight instructor named Chris at The Base, an anarchist political center in New York. In the video, Chris can be heard explaining the best ways to injure opponents, recommending a good liver or kidney shot among other moves and explaining how to chokehold a person.

National Justice is now reporting that one of the men who appeared in the video was Andrew Gittlitz, a journalist and author who also publishes under the name A. M. Gittlitz. According to his personal profile, Gittlitzs writing is focused on radical politicians, counterculture and the paranormal.

His work has appeared in the New York Times, Salon and Vice, and he is considered a top figure in the Posada communist death cult known as the Posadists.

He belongs to a South Brooklyn communist group whose beliefs, which involve extra-terrestrials, can be traced to J. Posadas. The Argentinian Trotskyist saw nuclear bombs as a way of causing an apocalypse that would usher in communism across the planet. In fact, Posadas claimed that UFOs were actually evidence that communist societies existed in other galaxies.

Last year, Gittlitz went to Cuba to speak on Posadism at an international communist conference and try to recruit new members. He also wrote a book on the topic entitled, I Want To Believe: Posadism and Leftwing UFOlogy.

The leader of the Brooklyn group that Gittlitz is a part of goes by the name Comrade Communicator and believes he can speak to aliens. His real name is Yevgeny Lerner, and he is an antifa organizer who is behind the NYC Antifa Twitter account.

Sources told National Justice that in addition to being part of New York Citys antifa scene, Gittlitz produces the Antifada podcast under the name AP Andy.

Antifa training and fighting tactics exposed in series of undercover reports by Project Veritas

The video in which he appeared was part of a series of exposes on antifa training posted by Project Veritas. In a different installment, an undercover reporter who managed to infiltrate Rose City Antifa as a prospect details how new members have to attend secret lectures during off-hours in a bookstore, leaving their cell phones in a bathroom with a fan running to muffle the sound. The undercover reporter secretly recorded videos in which the group teaches people tactics like gouging peoples eyes and focusing on destroying your enemy.

The undercover reports also revealed that the groups structure is almost like a company, appearing to be highly organized and under some sort of very experienced, professional guidance.

Although it may be easy to dismiss Gittlitzs beliefs given how bizarre they are, the cults focus on nuclear weapons combined with the usual antifa political violence is extremely concerning  as is the fact that outlets like the New York Times and Vice are giving these people a platform to promote such dangerous beliefs. Unfortunately, National Justice reported that nearly all of the big names in antifa that they have looked into have worked for mainstream media outlets.

Sources for this article include:

BlacklistedNews.com

FoxNews.com
New structure better aligns resources to achieve Colorados environmental policies and initiatives

RAPID CITY, S.D., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Hills Corp. (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.

Story continues

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. (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
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
Express News Service

Sushant Singh Rajputs death by suicide at 34 made his grieving, enraged fans reopen the nepotistic debate in Bollywood. So, when star kids in their social media obits called Rajput a brilliant star, apologised that they could have done more, and highlighted normalising mental health, they got lambasted. They were accused of cashing on his death and being the actual perpetrators of perpetuating the outsider, and in Sushants case outcasting him, not taking his calls, stalling his films, basically isolating him. It got ugly.

Then someone called Karan Johar a hijra. This didnt sit well with actor Rajat Barmecha of Udaan (2010), web series Girl in the City (GITC) and Hey Prabhu. Barmecha, not a product of nepotism, had already posted one video questioning film personalities (not with the same angst as Kangana Ranaut), Where are they when the person is alive and actually needs to hear something good? But after the hijra comment, he made a second video to explain how abusing Johar makes us become exactly like those who made Sushant feel alone and cornered. And making hijra sound derogatory in 2020 is a setback for all the progress weve made with LGBTQ rights. People DMed me with abusive language, said that now KJO will take you in his film I didnt reply as these things dont affect me.

Barmecha with the cast of 'Girl in the City' web series.

Perhaps growing a thick skin tided Barmecha through his own disappointments in the industry. Born in Ladlun and bred in Delhi (his alma mater is Bal Bharti Public School, Brij Vihar), he decided to try acting when he came to Mumbai to join his cousins diamond business at 17-18. Surviving on Rs 6,000 a month, sharing one flat with seven boys, giving 10 auditions a day, dealing with slimy film coordinators, and even escaping the infamous casting couch was tough as f**k. All of it was worth it after he bagged the lead in Vikramaditya Motwanes directorial Udaan that completes a decade in July.

Barmecha and Motwanes debut film became Indias first film to be selected into Cannes, after a seven-year hiatus. For Barmecha, going to Cannes, representing the film at the Doha Film Festival and meeting Robert DeNiro, getting complimented by Big B and bagging the Debut of the Year awardall this at 21, the assumption was the life after this would be on the lines of and they say, the rest in history.

That wasnt the case. Big directors showered him with praise, but their words didnt materialise into projects. If you say I am a good actor and I could carry the entire film on my shoulders, then why are you not giving me work? I would wonder. I got a lot of father-son, arthouse aspirational roles, but after the respect I got from Udaan, I didnt want to do a s**t film for the money or because a big star was in it.

His filmography shows 2011 populated with his work  Shaitan, two short films Gulmohar and Finish Line, then the unreleased Disco Valley (2012)  and the next project is directly 2016 GITC web series. In the four-year-gap, his star value dimmed. He found his name in articles like Brilliant Actors Who Disappeared after their first film. He recalls an award function where the organisers forgot to allot him a seat, and he left the show feeling humiliated. At a fashion show, the paparazzi didnt bat an eyelid to click him till the organiser intervened.

Such instances can affect you if you are not emotionally strong. Luckily, I have a strong headspace and had people I could talk to, so I would get affected for 2-3 days, and then move on without baggage.

Barmecha got his groove back with GITC. From a cameo in this YouTube series by Disney, he became one of the leads in the third installment on popular demand. We crossed 200 million views. Every day, I get messages from people who connected with my character Karthik. His MX Players series, Hey Prabhu, on erectile dysfunction, is another hit.

These positive updates happened after Barmecha watched Into the Wild (2007) five years ago. The film changed his perspective on life. Hes now an avid traveler and has read many spiritual books. Earlier, I wanted to earn lots of money and fame. I would compare myself to different people. Now, I feel there may have been f**k ups from my side as well. I think we look for success in the wrong places and are very quick to write off people. Together as a society we are creating lots of pressure. If we dont learn to be kinder, there will be another Sushant.
Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Houston employers ought to send workers back home from the office if possible due to spiking coronavirus cases in the region, the region's leading business group said Wednesday.

Bob Harvey, the president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, said in a statement that Houston COVID-19 cases are reaching a "critical point" and that employers need to do their part in helping to curb what he called an "alarming trajectory."
Apple, Cisco and Dell products are among the goods from U.S. companies being caught up in India's border tensions with China, as Indian ports hold up imports from China, two sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

Though no government notice has been issued, customs officers at major Indian port have held back containers coming from China, seeking additional clearances, government and industry sources have said.

The move comes amid heightened tensions between India and China after border clashes last week that saw at least 20 Indian soldiers killed.

The U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), a lobby group representing U.S. firms, told India's commerce ministry in a letter dated June 23 that lack of clarity and delays could disrupt business and manufacturing operations.

"Authorities have abruptly halted the clearance of industry consignments coming in from China (and perhaps other destinations) at most major ports and airports," USISPF said in the letter, seen by Reuters.

"This will send a chilling signal to foreign investors who look for predictability and transparency," it said.

The commerce ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Two industry sources said Apple, Cisco, Dell and Ford Motor Co products were among those held up. Electronics components of Taiwan's Foxconn, a contract manufacturer for Apple in India, were also affected, a third source said.

It was not immediately clear which ports were holding back the goods.

Apple, Cisco and Foxconn did not respond to requests for comment. A Dell spokeswoman declined to comment, while Ford said a consignment of auto parts was held up at a port in the southern city of Chennai and the company was providing information sought by the authorities.

The delays come as India is restarting factory operations after a nationwide lockdown to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indian electronics and mobile industry group ICEA said its members had been told Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi Airports would have a new examination procedure for all consignments coming from China.

Normally, goods for regular importers are cleared automatically, ICEA said in a letter to the finance ministry, urging it to intervene.

India's finance ministry, which oversees the customs department, did not respond to a request for comment.

Also Read: Cyrus Poonawalla, Mukesh Ambani's wealth grew fastest amid COVID-19: Hurun report

Also Read: Patanjali's Coronil not tested on severe COVID-19 patients; clinical trial only for mild cases
Lavrov Says There Is No Military Solution to Libya Conflict

Sputnik News

10:40 GMT 23.06.2020(updated 11:07 GMT 23.06.2020)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that the crisis in Libya 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.

Over the past few years, the supremacy of any of Libya's sides could only be temporary, the situation on the ground was changing all the time, and the attacking side was never ready for negotiations, Lavrov recalled.

"So I see no other option, apart from ceasing fire immediately and resolving all the other problems through negotiations, based on the understanding reached in the declaration adopted at the Berlin conference," Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister called on foreign players in Libya to promote an inclusive intra-Libyan dialogue.

Conflict in Libya in Tense Stage, Country Flooded With Arms

The conflict in Libya is in a very tense stage, the country is being flooded with weapons, the head of the Department of International Organizations at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Pyotr Ilyichev, said.

"At the moment, the Libyan conflict is in a very tense stage and additionally flooding the country with arms, of course, makes it difficult to move to peaceful settlement as agreed in the UN. The arms are delivered to Libya by the sea, in particular," the diplomat said.

The monitoring of the United Nations Security Council's arms embargo on Libya cannot focus on one warring party exclusively, Mr Ilyichev added, noting that the European Union's sea monitoring has not been highly effective so far.

Back in 2016, the UN Security Council introduced, under its Resolution 2292, a special inspection regime off Libya's coast, which was expected to make control over illegal arms flow more efficient, Ilyichev recalled.

"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," the diplomat said.

Reports About Russian Drone in Libya Not True

The information about an alleged Russian drone in Libya, mentioned in a report by UN experts, is not true, the characteristics of the drone are typical of such vehicles produced in a country next to Russia, Pyotr Ilyichev said.

"In particular, it is unclear why experts believe a drone found in Libya to be from Russia if its characteristics match those of a country next to Russia. Meanwhile, the equipment that has been in Libya for a while is made to look like recent deliveries," he said.

Libya has been in a state of a civil war since the overthrow of its leader Muammar Gaddafi with the support of NATO airstrikes in 2011. Since then, numerous competing militia and terrorist groups have been fighting for power. The major warring parties to the conflict are the UN-recognised Tripoli government led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, known as the Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by General Khalifa Haftar. The LNA is backed by the parliament and is based in the eastern city of Tobruk.

The LNA is also supported by Russia, with Moscow welcoming Haftar's efforts to oust terrorist militias operating in Libya. However, Russia does not provide the LNA with weapons, citing the UN arms embargo on Libya. Moscow has repeatedly stressed the need to begin a dialogue between the LNA and the GNA to resolve the long-time conflict.

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A teenage driver claimed he had been watching the film Fast & Furious on the night he allegedly dragged Pc Andrew Harper to his death behind a car, a court has heard.

The Old Bailey was told that Henry Long, 19, drove at speeds of 42.5mph for more than a mile after Pc Harper became entangled in a strap attached to his Seat Toledo on the evening of August 15 last year.

The 28-year-old officer had been trying to apprehend Long and two other youths after they made off with a quad bike from a home in Berkshire, it is said.

But in a prepared statement after his arrest, Long said he had been at a caravan site that evening watching the movies Fast & Furious and the Goonies.

Henry Long sits in the Old Baily (file photo) / Elizabeth Cook/PA

The teenager and his fellow passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers - both 18 - have denied murder but admitted conspiring to steal the 10,000 bike.

Long has also pleaded guilty to Pc Harpers manslaughter, jurors have been told.

On the second day of the retrial, prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC told how the defendants were arrested soon after the Seat was located by a police helicopter at Four Houses Corner travellers site.

After being told a police officer had died, Long allegedly said words along the lines of: Look at me. Do I look like a murderer?

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

Later, in a prepared statement, he said he had been at the caravan site that evening.

He said: We watched DVDs. One was Goonies, Fast & Furious. I went bed I think around 10.30pm. Police woke me up. I had been outside just for a cigarette but otherwise had not left.

On being charged, Long allegedly said: I dont give a f*** about any of this.

Mr Laidlaw told jurors that Long now accepts he was the driver of the car but was still refusing to face up to the whole truth.

He said Long maintains he did not know he was dragging anybody for the mile or so he drove down to the A4.

But the prosecutor suggested the evidence would show he knew perfectly well he was dragging a person behind the car  furthermore it could only have been a police officer from the unmarked car that had confronted them in Admoor Lane.

The retrial of Long and Bowers, from Mortimer, near Reading, and Cole, of Aldermaston, continues.
In a relief to aspiring students, colleges in and around the city will not be increasing their fees for the upcoming academic year in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Existing and aspiring students will also be allowed to pay their tuition fees in instalments if the pandemic has affected their familys income.

The University of Mumbai on Monday issued a notice to all its affiliated colleges asking the administration to not hike fees for the academic session of 2020-21. The notice is in line with the directions of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The apex body had written to universities and colleges last month asking them to not compel students into paying fees immediately.

A nationwide lockdown was put in place on March 24 to arrest the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Even as the lockdown continues in most parts of the country, the virus has affected over 4.5 lakh people in India. Meanwhile, the lockdown has affected the source of income of many.

Keeping this mind, the university has decided not to increase the fees for the new academic session at any of its affiliate colleges. Owing to the lockdown announced on March 23, all industries, commercial work as well as jobs in the private sector have been affected financially. This has also affected the financial situation of the general public. Keeping this in mind, we, hereby, direct all affiliated colleges to not hike their fees for the next year, read the notice. The university further allows existing and new students to pay their tuition fees in instalments.

In line with the letter from the UGC and keeping in mind the lockdown, we are instructing colleges to not increase the fees for the next year and allowing students to pay tuition fees in instalments, said officiating registrar of the university Vinod Patil.
Thai police and anti-government activists tussled briefly in Bangkok, on Wednesday, as authorities tried to stop a pre-dawn commemoration of a politically sensitive anniversary.

Police moved in as the demonstrators began to erect a white sheet as a projector screen and tried to pull it down. After a short struggle they relented and let the event go ahead.

Organisers say about a hundred people gathered at Bangkok's iconic Democracy Monument to mark the anniversary of the day in 1932 when a group of progressive army officers and civil servants proclaimed the end of absolute monarchy and the transition to parliamentary democracy.

In steady rain they watched a video re-enactment of the proclamation, played on the makeshift screen.

Two activists stood to the sides dressed in period army uniforms.

They also displayed a replica of a commemorative plaque that was installed in 1936 at the spot where the proclamation took place.

It was removed in secret in 2017, not long after King Maha Vajiralongkorn took the throne, and has never been found or replaced.

No culprit was ever identified.

The gathering was illegal under current emergency regulations, imposed as a measure to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.

There was a large police presence at the venue, in the old part of the city.

But it was a sensitive event in its own right: a direct challenge to the continuing ascendancy of the military in government, and of hyper-royalist sentiment.

It was also a sign that growing political discontent, evident before the emergence of the coronavirus, may be poised to resume.

"Authorities try to delete everything about the anniversary, on 88 years ago, and try to delete how important democracy is in Thailand," prominent anti-government activist Chonthicha Jangrew told the AP, on Wednesday, as the gathering dispersed.

The current government is led by Prayuth Chan-ocha, who, as army commander, seized power in a 2014 coup d'etat.

He returned as prime minister after an election last year that critics deemed free but not fair.

Most of the key positions in the administration are held by former generals, leading to accusations that all the election did was launder military rule and erode democracy.

In recent years, there has been a steady rolling back of symbols that extoll the 1932 revolution.

As well as the disappearing plaque, statues have been removed and buildings renamed to remove their association with the leaders of the revolt.

(Image Credit Pixabay)
Opinion Article

24 June 2020

Few anticipated this crisis. Everyone is speculating - although "fantasizing" might be a better word - about what the post-COVID-19 world will look like. Experts say that the situation could be under control in the countries that became infected first, but the COVID-19 situation changes too fast, so it is difficult to predict the future.



Despite the tragedy unfolding around the globe, with entire countries closed to the outside world, ultimately, travel will resume, albeit in stages. Business travel will probably resume before pleasure and tourism because even though people are now used to "Zooming," face-to-face meetings will still be preferred.



Once everything has "normalized," after the long coronavirus lockdown, we'll all need a holiday -- although we'll need to be more careful than usual. While the travel experience might look and feel different once the world begins to reopen, people will again count on the transformative and positive impact of travel to change their lives.



Wanderlust is a hard thing to stifle, even if it takes a bit longer for the more remote destinations to be popular again - who hasn't read the articles about the families trapped in paradise (Seychelles, Bali, etc.)?



The New Travel Realities

It's a safe bet that health will play a central role in people's concerns as they exit quarantine, especially as they get back on those planes.

We're all very used to airplane bookings coming with tens of add-ons. Many of us skip past speedy boarding, extra baggage, and car rental. One box that we won't be skipping is the one asking us if we want to insure the flight or buy travel health insurance. Companies and travelers will demand this when business travel returns, and consumers won't be too far behind.



Either airline providers or insurance companies are going to have to change to accommodate our new reality and cover pandemic outbreaks or the lines at immigration will be longer than we ever thought possible.



Falling ill while on a trip can be a frightening experience. Even before COVID-19, going to an emergency room (ER) in a foreign country is a daunting prospect. Anxiety levels are seriously elevated. The traveler may realize that he/she isn't critically ill, but, when away, the ER is usually the only safe, recognizable choice - even though secondary infections caught at hospitals can be more dangerous than the initial issues to begin with.



Now user-friendly, intuitive apps are available that help sick or injured travelers facing non-emergency issues find qualified, vetted medical professionals who speak their native languages --without having to set foot in an ER. Furthermore, the telemedicine options these technologies offer can make doctor's visits even more traveler-friendly.



Offering these types of apps can add significant value to the insurance, credit card, mobile, and travel industries. Not only can implementing these solutions differentiate them from the competition, they are a significant relationship-building - and profitable - opportunity as the "return to 'normal' life" begins.



By offering access to private healthcare networks and keeping travelers out of the emergency rooms, insurance companies can shift from high-cost hospitals to low-cost, excellent private care. In addition, app-based technologies allow them to streamline claims costs, further reducing their expenses and hassles for their clients - customers no longer need to cope with pre-approvals, payments, claims, deductibles, etc.



Mobile operators can enhance their roaming package offerings with a travel health-insurance app - they know exactly where their clients are going, so they can co-brand this type of service-based specifically on where the travelers are.



Credit card companies can supplement their own travel insurance and provide a seamless, digital customer journey, differentiating card benefits from competitors to grow customer loyalty and smooth the customer experience.



Players across industries will all enjoy enhanced revenues and increased customer loyalty. After all, who doesn't want something to facilitate peace of mind when it comes to health and travel in this day and age?



While no one can say how things will play out over the next few months, things will start again. How ready will you and your offerings be when the world starts again?
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 sympathiser 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." Yang Tae-sung (centre) with his son Yang Kyung-mo (left) and grandson Yang Hee-kon (right) at his home in Seoul Yang Tae-sung supplied ammunition to frontline troops during the war Like all able-bodied South Korean men, Yang Hee-kon was obliged to serve in the military for nearly two years
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 14:06:12|Editor: huaxia

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TASHSKENT, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan's police and national security service forces have detained 25 men suspected to be members of the Islamist militant group Katiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad after a joint raid, the Uzbek Interior Ministry said Wednesday.

The men were arrested on Tuesday after the law enforcement bodies raided 25 sites in Tashkent City and Region. Material evidence of their illegal activities was also found, according to a police statement.

The detainees were ideologically influenced by an Uzbek man, "who is currently in the ranks of the militant group in Syria" and planned to travel to the Middle East, the interior ministry said.

Three of the men were previously convicted over religious extremist activity, police said, adding that criminal investigation was underway.

Uzbek Supreme Court listed Katiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad as a terrorist organization in 2016. Enditem
Putin Announces Tax Hike For High Earners Ahead Of Constitutional Vote

By RFE/RL June 23, 2020

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed raising income tax on high earners as of next year, as he laid out measures to tackle the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

Putin made the announcement in an address to the nation on June 23, a week before the country is set to hold a national vote on controversial amendments to the constitution that would open the door for the Russian leader staying in power until 2036.

The president proposed that the tax be raised by 2 percentage points to 15 percent for annual personal income that exceeds 5 million rubles ($72,700) starting January 1, 2021.

The hike would give the state treasury an extra 60 billion rubles ($864.6 million), Putin said, adding that the money raised from the new tax rate could be used to treat children with "severe, rare diseases."

The current 13 percent income tax was introduced during Putin's first presidential term in 2001.

In his televised speech, Putin promised that subsidies to families with children and other categories of the population introduced during the coronavirus pandemic will be extended.

He said 10,000 ruble ($144) allowances paid in June to families with children under 16 will be extended to next month.

He said the government will also continue in July and August to provide financial support to citizens who were left without work during the outbreak, and that a program of subsidized mortgage rates to make new housing more affordable will also be extended.

The president also proposed cutting taxes on profits for IT companies from 20 percent to 3 percent.

Russia has reported nearly 600,000 cases of the coronavirus, the world's third-largest caseload.

The country has largely ended its lockdown, but the crisis is expected to cause a 6 percent economic contraction this year.

Putin ended his address by calling on Russian voters to take part in the national vote on proposed constitutional changes scheduled for July 1.

If approved, the reform would mean the 67-year-old former KGB officer could run for two further six-year terms, if he chooses, after his current term ends in 2024.

Putin has served as Russian president or prime minister since 1999.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-to-raise- income-tax-for-high-earners-ahead-of-vote- on-constitutional-changes/30686832.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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Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry during a 2018 visit to a U.K. youth center. (Chris Jackson / Associated Press)

Look who's talking!

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are settling into life in Los Angeles, have signed on with the New York-based Harry Walker Agency for speaking engagements, according to a person familiar with their plans.

The couple, whose professional interests and every move have been scrutinized, will be engaging in moderated discussions and keynote speeches with trade associations, corporations and community forums, said the person, who declined to be identified.

They will focus on social issues such as racial justice (which the former Meghan Markle recently addressed with students from her L.A. alma mater), gender equity and environmental concerns. They will also speak on mental health; Prince Harry has shared his own struggles with grief and has championed emotional health initiatives and organizations in recent years.

The appointment of Harry Walker, tasked with fielding and sourcing speaking opportunities, heralds the couple's return to public platforms as they seek to promote their philanthropic foundation Archewell. Fans and critics alike have been waiting to see how the couple will deploy their significant cultural capital and which causes they will support since stepping back from front-line royal duties in the U.K.

Since leaving the U.K, the couple's appearances have largely been in private. Prince Harry spoke at a private JP Morgan event in Miami  where he reportedly discussed mental health  and both he and his wife have participated in video calls with charities they support. As the coronavirus health crisis moves into a new phase, with the reopening of many aspects of public life, the couple could now return to speaking on stages.

But don't expect them to be spilling the beans on the inner workings of Harry's family; there are no plans to accept any speaking engagements about the royal life they have left behind.

By choosing the Harry Walker Agency to represent them, they join an A list of Hollywood entertainers as well as some of the world's most sought-after Democratic politicos: Michelle and Barack Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton and rising party star Stacey Abrams.

Story continues

It's a high-profile signing for Harry Walker, which was acquired by last year by Endeavor, the parent company of WME.

The speaking agency also represents other close connections of the couple, including Oprah Winfrey and Jane Goodall.

Speaking can be extremely lucrative and the proceeds from Harry and Meghan's bookings will be part of their move to become financially independent from the British royal family. President Obama reportedly earned $400,000 for one 2017 speech, while the Clintons averaged $250,000 per appearance in 2014. It is unclear what speaking fees will be for the Duke and Duchess, who will speak both together or individually.

Harry and Meghan took their first steps into Los Angeles life in April, when they were spied volunteering  delivering meals to vulnerable West Hollywood residents confined to home by the coronavirus shutdown. Their roles as senior royals in the U.K. ended in March, and they've made their California home in a 22-acre Beverly Hills property owned by filmmaker Tyler Perry, according to reports.

On Tuesday they visited the nonprofit Homeboy Industries, helping out in its bakery's kitchen. Aimed at helping gang members ease out of that life for the last 32 years, Homeboy has been largely shut down during the pandemic and faces a $1-million shortfall. The organizations tattoo removal service and cafe temporarily closed, but its bakery and electronics recycling service are running.

The organization shared photos of the hair-netted and masked royal couple as they prepared food for its #FeedHOPE program, which employs Homeboy participants to provide meals to food-insecure seniors and youth across Los Angeles amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

THANK YOU to Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for their visit yesterday! Our Bakery & Cafe teams were thrilled to have them work alongside us to #FeedHOPE to Los Angeles | Credit: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex



Help provide hope today: https://t.co/IlNLw33nL9 pic.twitter.com/HDFusnhmkk  Homeboy Industries (@HomeboyInd) June 24, 2020

The couple gave up use of the title royal highness and will no longer receive public funds for their work, Buckingham Palace announced in January, as part of their withdrawal from royal life and duties.

The two had originally planned to launch a new venture under the name Sussex Royal but, after negotiating their exit, they had to abandon that name and the associated  and hugely popular  Instagram account. More recently they have named their foundation Archewell.

Earlier this month, the former actress shared her sadness over racial divisions in the U.S., telling graduates at Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles that she felt moved to speak out after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. Markle, who has an African American mother and a white father, said she had been reminded of the 1992 L.A. protests that arose in the wake of the acquittal of police officers after their beating of Rodney G. King.
Braskem's new facility has a designed production capacity of over 450 kilotons (kt) or 1 billion pounds per year and has the capability to produce the entire polypropylene portfolio including a broad range of polypropylene products including homopolymer, impact copolymer and random copolymers. The construction of the facility positively affected the economy in the Texas Gulf Coast region, which employed approximately 1,300 development and construction workers to build the facility. An additional 50 Braskem permanent full-time jobs were created to support long-term commercial production.

Mark Nikolich, Braskem America CEO, states, "We are proud to announce the milestone of construction completion for our new polypropylene production facility, the newest in the United States. This world scale facility is a confirmation to our clients around the world that Braskem is committed to investing in their future. As commercial production begins later this year, Braskem will position the new facility's domestic production capabilities to replace imported polypropylene volumes, which are currently addressing the shortfall in the United States' domestic market. Commercial production activity at the facility, in conjunction with our new Global Export Hub in Charleston, South Carolina, will also directly support Braskem's global export capability to its clients throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia."

The commissioning process is currently ongoing, with Braskem now focused on completing all necessary steps to ensure a safe and successful startup, including the implementation of COVID-19 enhanced facility health and safety guidelines to help protect Braskem team members and contractors alike. During this phase, the company is concluding functional tests and process tests to verify performance of controls and integrated safety systems. Initial production test runs are anticipated to begin in the next month with the first full scale commercial production activity currently expected in the third quarter of 2020.

"The COVID impact on the North American polypropylene industry during April and May affected durable segments such as automotive. However, this impact was partially mitigated with strong sales in nonwovens and packaging applications. In June, demand improved and Braskem's North American polypropylene outlook for the third quarter is positive as clients are ramping up operations and demand has rebounded. Braskem is well-positioned to start up our new world-class polypropylene production line in the current market. The company's global supply chain has made preparations to leverage North America's competitive propylene and polypropylene position for exports supporting our clients in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. The combination of improved demand, planned outages in the third quarter, and export opportunities will support a smooth ramp up of the new facility," commented Alexandre Elias, Vice President, Polypropylene North America.

For additional information on Braskem's new production line, please visit online at www.braskem.com/usa/delta.

ABOUT BRASKEM

With a global vision of the future oriented towards people and sustainability, Braskem is committed to contributing to the value chain for strengthening the Circular Economy. The petrochemical company's almost 8,000 team members dedicate themselves every day to improve people's lives through sustainable chemicals and plastics solutions. Braskem has an innovative DNA and a comprehensive portfolio of plastic resins and chemical products for diverse segments, such as food packaging, construction, manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, healthcare and hygiene, among others. With 40 industrial units in Brazil, the United States, Mexico and Germany, and net revenue of R$52.3 billion (US$13.2 billion), Braskem exports its products to clients in more than 100 countries.

Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Braskem S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading producer of polypropylene in the United States, with six production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, an Innovation and Technology Center in Pittsburgh, and operations in Boston focused on leveraging groundbreaking developments in biotechnology and advanced materials. For more information, visit www.braskem.com/usa.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains projections and other 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) regarding future events. These statements reflect Braskem's current beliefs and expectations with respect to Braskem's business, the economy and other future conditions and are based on assumptions, are subject to risk and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation: (i) the continuation of restrictions related to the COVID -19 Pandemic or the continuing effects of the Pandemic; (ii) the contraction or lack of growth in the market segments in which Braskem competes and in which its products are sold (ii) unexpected delays in commissioning, (iii) increased competition from imports or in the export markets, (iv) inability to anticipate future market trends and the future needs of Braskem's customers, (v) the impact of natural disasters on Braskem's La Porte facility and its suppliers and (vi) other factors detailed in documents Braskem files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Braskem on social media:

www.facebook.com/BraskemGlobal

www.linkedin.com/company/braskem

www.twitter.com/BraskemSA

SOURCE Braskem

Related Links

http://www.braskem.com


A day after rating agencies downgraded upper tier II bonds of YES Bank to default, the private sector lender said it has adequate liquidity to meet all its obligations. "For Basel II, upper tier II bonds, the specific features of the instrument require debt servicing to be linked to the bank meeting regulatory norms on capital adequacy," Yes Bank said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday.

"The Bank in its FY 2019-20 financial results, announced on May 6, 2020, had declared that it did not meet the regulatory capital ratio requirement as on March 31, 2020 and therefore its inability to service the coupon due on June 29, 2020, is solely a function of the Bank being below the regulatory capital threshold as on March 31, 2020," it added.

The bank would like to stress that the coupon on these bonds is cumulative in nature and any unpaid sum will become payable once the bank meets minimum regulatory capital ratio subject to the required regulatory approvals, the lender also said.

Rating agency ICRA on Tuesday downgraded the Basel II-compliant upper tier II bonds of YES Bank to default rating. The Rs 1,344 crore worth upper tier II bonds have been downgraded to ICRA D rating from BB rating earlier after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) barred the private sector lender from paying interest (coupon) on the tier II bonds as it failed to meet regulatory requirements on capital adequacy ratio.

Similarly, CARE Ratings said that it downgraded the upper tier II bonds after taking into consideration their increased sensitivity to YES Bank's capital adequacy ratio, capital raising ability and profitability during the long tenure of the instruments.

Shares of YES Bank ended the intraday trade at 27.05, down 0.55 points or 1.99 per cent on NSE.

Also read: RIL deal: Mukesh Ambani closes in on $15 billion-agreement with Saudi Aramco

Also read: Coronavirus crisis in India: Highest spike of nearly 16,000 new cases in 24 hours; total tally surges to 4.56 lakh
Coconino Countys weekly coronavirus case count doubled last week after weeks of a mostly slow yet steady decline.

Coconino County went from 80 positive cases reported the second week of June to 169 positives reported last week. Last weeks jump was the highest record of positive coronavirus cases the county has seen reported within a week since the pandemic began, just barely passing the previous weekly record set at 168 the week of May 9.

Its the second-most severe jump in cases since the outbreak began in March, according to county data. One major difference, however, between the two highest weekly peaks of the coronavirus in the county is when they're occurring and what county and private health officials know about the virus now as compared to May. Currently the hospital is conducting elective surgeries, which Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) officials say they could stop in order to provide more capacity for COVID-19 patients if cases increase.

NAH continues to monitor how many COVID-19 cases theyre handling and what their total capacity looks like. According to their online counter, the Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) currently has 15 COVID-19 patients, with 12 pending cases as of Tuesday evening. Their intensive care unit capacity is close to being full with 48 out of 55 beds filled. Verde Valley Medical Center has eight positive cases with one uncertain.

Coconino County health officials were unable to comment by press time.

Flo Spyro, CEO of Northern Arizona Healthcare, said they were ready to follow their plans in place to create more capacity at northern Arizona hospitals when its needed.

Our incident command remains intact and functioning, Spyro said. We are not yet at capacity even though we have opened up elective surgical cases, and we manage that capacity every day and remain committed to the surge plan to increase capacity at any moment if we need to do that.

However, cases in Arizona are rising faster than ever, and COVID-19 has proven itself unpredictable.

Tuesday, Arizona broke a new record of daily positives with 3,591 positive cases.

Over the past two weeks, Flagstaff was the largest contributor to Coconino County's increase, as tribal communities continue to decline, as the two made a switch for having the most higher number of cases of the last weeks. Flagstaff saw 100 positive tests over the past two weeks, tribal communities had 80 and the City of Page 46, according to county data.

Out of the 1,509 positive COVID-19 cases and 87 deaths in Coconino County, 12,373 cases have been returned negative.

As of last week, Joshua Tinkle, chief administration officer for NAH, said the largest impact on the hospitals capacity is that it has returned to semi-normal operations with elective surgeries. Months ago the hospital ceased elective operations that opened up more beds for COVID-19 cases.

Obviously, one of the things we can do to prevent reaching capacity is we can limit or throttle those elective surgeries or procedures, and thats what we do on a daily basis, Tinkle said. As we get closer to our 80% capacity, we look and make sure our discharges are happening appropriately and at a good pace and that were managing that elective surgical volume.

COVID-19 patients tend to stay in their beds for a longer period of time than patients with different illnesses, chief nursing officer at NAH Tiffany Laurano said. Tinkle added that 15 to 30 patients can be discharged per day as more patients come in.

Derek Feuquay, chief medical officer for FMC, explained that the hospital is currently hovering around 15 active COVID-19 cases.

At our peak, we had 40 active cases with another 30 suspected or more. So the same things weve done previously are the same things we do in the future. We have appropriate PPE, we have appropriate procedures for donning and doffing PPE, Feuquay said. If we have to put units back up that are COVID-only units, we know how to do all that stuff now, we know how to do it efficiently and if we have to do it again, we certainly can.

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The spread of Covid-19 pandemic continues unabated in Jharkhand, which after two spells of spike, one related to Tablighi Jamaat and the other to migrants inflow, is now witnessing a steep rise in positive cases among the non-migrant population.

While 70 cases were detected in non-migrants in May, as many as 205 cases have been reported from the section in the first 22 days of June. In comparison to the last month, cases in this section have registered a growth of 192% till June 22.

Experts, however, say the rise of cases in the non-migrant section is quite worrisome as it is indicative of community transmission of the disease.

Director of the states premier medical college and hospital, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Dr DK Singh said, In Unlock-1, interstate movement of people has been allowed. There is also no restriction in movement within the city, town and other areas. Not only migrants are returning to the state but also the people from other sections.

In the case of migrants, a majority of them were put in institutional quarantine and therefore, they were segregated. But, in other cases, there were no such segregation, so cases from this section are bound to rise, he added.

Singh said, We are noticing that a majority of ill patients coming to the hospital are testing Covid-19 positive. We need to increase the testing, especially through random sampling, to find out if there is any community spread.

However, a recent survey of states three districts by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) didnt indicate any possibility of community transmission.

However, the government has urged the council to conduct the survey across the state.

According to the state health department, the state had 110 positive cases by the end of April, when the return of migrants had not started.

These cases were primarily linked to the Tablighi Jammat event in New Delhi.

From May 1 onwards, migrant workers, stranded in different states, started returning home through special flights, trains, buses and other modes of transportation.

Till June 12, over 5.12 lakh migrant workers had arrived from different states in the state.

Those, who had returned from red zone cities like Mumbai, Surat, Delhi and others, were put in institutional quarantine.

The state health machinery then shifted its focus to these quarantine centres from where positive cases started coming in hoards.

In the month of May alone, as many as 500 confirmed cases were unearthed, including 430 cases found in migrants.

Of the total cases found in May, only 14% cases (70) were reported from the non-migrant section.

A steep surge in the number of Covid-19 cases has been noticed in the current month as total positive cases climbed to 2,140 on June 22 from 610 on May 31.

Of the 1,530 cases found in the first 22 days of June, 1,325 were detected among migrants and remaining 205 in non-migrant section, which accounts for over 13% of the total cases found in this month so far.

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Romania apprehended a man law enforcement called the world's best forger of high-security plastic banknotes.

The operation was part of a crackdown on a criminal gang counterfeiting cash previously thought to be almost impossible to accurately reproduce. Replicas of Romania's one-hundred-lei bill were so good they earned the nickname Super Leu.

"The evolution of this type of fake since 2014 has been spectacular," the organized-crime unit said Wednesday in a statement. The gang's leader "managed to produce the best forgeries in Romania's history and become the best counterfeiter of plastic banknotes in the world."

The polymer bills, introduced in 1999, are a source of pride for Romania's central bank because of the difficulty in faking them and because their durability means they last longer. A plunge in forgeries has also been welcomed by the Bank of England since it began switching to polymer notes in 2016.

The bills have also proved more useful amid the covid-19 pandemic, being more hygienic and helping to stem the spread of the virus.

"Plastic money has two features: it's very hard to forge and can easily be washed with soap and water, without deterioration," Adrian Vasilescu, a central bank adviser, said recently.

Levels of counterfeit cash have remained low in Romania, with fakes more commonplace in the euro area, whose high-denomination bills are favored by many criminal groups.

Romanian law enforcement chasing the high-quality forgery gang raided five properties in Bucharest and a mountain resort, detaining three people it didn't name. They stand accused of offenses dating back as far as 2014 and are responsible for about 1.7 million lei ($398,000) in damages.

The operation revealed why the crooks have been so tricky to catch.

"Witnesses weren't able to give any information about the notes because no one realized they were fake," the organized-crime unit said.
John Miller of Philadelphia, looks on outside the SCI Mahanoy State Correctional Institution in Frackville, Pa. Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Miller was imprisoned for 22 years for murder before his conviction was vacated. Read more

John Miller spent 22 years in prison almost entirely due to the fleeting word of one man: an accused robber who initially told detectives that Miller had confessed a murder to him. But the robber quickly recanted and said he had lied to police to receive beneficial treatment in his own cases.

Despite the change of heart  and without much evidence at trial, beyond police affirming the informants statement  a jury convicted Miller anyway, earning him an automatic life sentence.

Now, nearly a year after Millers case was overturned and he was freed from prison, the 45-year-old has filed a lawsuit featuring explosive claims against the five detectives who helped put him behind bars.

Among other assertions, Miller and his lawyers claim that evidence discovered during his appeal shows that the officers were aware of demonstrably false aspects of their star witness version of events  but that they did not disclose evidence of the flaws, as required by law, and continued to push for Millers arrest and conviction.

The detectives decision to trust David Williams  a known liar, the suit claims  not only led to Millers wrongful incarceration, it also may have allowed the cases true killer to become its key informant. Four years after Millers 1998 conviction, the suit says, Williams wrote to Millers mother and said that he needed to clear his conscience because he had been living a lie.

Williams wrote that he had actually committed the murder, firing a gun in self-defense.

Your son had no knowledge of this crime, he wrote. He wasnt even there.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court, is unique due to the circumstances of Millers extended incarceration: Despite Williams 2002 confession, Miller remained in prison for an additional 18 years and Williams was never charged with murder. Courts rejected Millers appeals for procedural reasons  and because they held that Williams initial statement to police was the only credible version of his frequently changing story.

Andrew Richman, chief of staff in the citys Law Department, declined to comment on Millers lawsuit, which names the city as a defendant, as well as the detectives involved in his case: Jeffrey Piree, William Coogan, Richard Bova, John Bell, and Michael Sharkey.

Millers lawsuit is the latest in a string of events challenging the norms and practices of the citys criminal justice system in the late 1980s and 1990s, an era when the city routinely topped 400 murders per year and detectives secured arrests at a rate far higher than the national average.

Earlier this month, District Attorney Larry Krasner openly wondered if that high arrest rate was the result of police cutting corners or locking up innocent people, mostly young men of color. Since Krasner took office in January 2018, his Conviction Integrity Unit has helped secure the exonerations of 14 men previously convicted of murder. Every man but one of them has been Black.

The city in recent years also has been paying out an increasing amount to settle wrongful-conviction lawsuits brought by men who spent decades behind bars only to have misconduct by police and prosecutors exposed during their appeals.

Between August 2018 and October 2019, according to figures provided by the Law Department, taxpayers spent nearly $18 million to settle four wrongful-conviction lawsuits, three of which stemmed from arrests made in the 1990s. Between 2010 and 2018, the figures show, the city paid $1.5 million to settle two such lawsuits.

The spending level is almost certain to grow; at least two other exonerees have pending suits against the city, and three other men cleared of murder within the last year have been released from prison but have not filed suit. Krasners office has also said it is continuing to investigate possible misconduct from the era.

Civil lawsuits are one of the only avenues of recourse for people freed from prison in Pennsylvania. The state is one of 15 nationally to provide no money or service assistance to people who have had their convictions overturned.

Nilam Sanghvi, legal director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project and a previous lawyer for Miller, said some of the projects exonerees have been released from prison onto street corners or at bus stops with only trash bags of their belongings.

While people released onto parole are given some form of job training and mentoring with a parole agent, she said, Our clients who are fully exonerated are released with nothing.

Miller, through his attorney, Jonathan Feinberg, declined to comment. But Feinberg said the case was an example of long-standing and insidious efforts [by police] to blame innocent people, who are often young Black men, for committing violent crimes.

Miller was arrested on June 24, 1997, and charged with fatally shooting Anthony Mullen, 49, near 30th Street Station nearly two years earlier.

The arrest was based in large part on information supplied by Williams, who had been arrested for a string of robberies and, in a bid for leniency, told police he had information about several murders.

Millers suit claims that Williams told police demonstrably false information about the Mullen murder, and that detectives knew it. Among other errors, according to the suit: Williams separately told two detectives, Sharkey and Piree, that a man named Mark Manigault was present at the scene of the Mullen murder.

But Manigault had been in jail that day, the suit said, and Piree, in the investigative file, documented an interview with Manigault and Manigaults prison history. Those records were never provided to anyone outside of the Police Department, the suit claims, violating the law requiring exculpatory evidence be provided to defendants. Attempts to reach Piree for comment Wednesday were not successful.

Years after Millers conviction  and after Williams confessed to Millers mother  Williams was called to testify at an appeal hearing to reiterate his alleged admission. But the suit says a prosecutor asked Williams if he was willing to face the death penalty, causing him to change his story again on the witness stand.

Miller remained in prison, and Williams was charged with perjury and pleaded guilty.

In 2011, the suit claims, Williams again wrote to Millers mother  confessing to the killing, and apologizing for what he said at the appeal hearing.

Millers winding road toward freedom finally ended last year, when a judge agreed to toss Millers case with support from his lawyers and Krasners office.

Feinberg and Sanghvi said Miller has since been trying to reconnect with family and friends, find work, and cope with the two decades he spent behind bars.

He spent what shouldve been the best and most productive years of his early adulthood locked away in a state prison, Feinberg said. Mr. Miller is doing his best to start anew.
Janice Simmons (second from left) welcomes the new designation for her parish of Saint Benedict the Moor as the personal parish for Pittsburgh's Black Catholic community. She is pictured here with her husband, Moses, and her family at Saint Benedict the Moor.
MEXICO CITY  A strong earthquake shook southern Mexico Tuesday morning, killing at least four people, causing buildings hundreds of miles away to sway and prompting residents to flee homes and workplaces to seek safety on the streets.

The earthquakes magnitude was 7.5, according to Mexicos national seismological service, and was centered in the Pacific Ocean, about 14 miles off the coast, south of Crucecita, a beach town in the southern state of Oaxaca that is popular with tourists.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the magnitude at 7.4, though is not unusual for preliminary measurements to vary.

By early afternoon on Tuesday, officials said, there had been 147 aftershocks to the larger quake, and officials warned that more were expected.
CAMBRIDGE  Brenda Potter Phelan believes an extended daytime change to council meetings circumvents democracy.

With meetings already running at 4 p.m., earlier than the pre-COVID pandemic start time of 7 p.m., Cambridge city council is now being urged to cement a standard time for regular and special emergency meetings.

The request originally came from Ward 4 Coun. Jan Liggett, who asked city staff to revisit scheduling meetings to the evening, 6 p.m. at the earliest, as the current time conflicted with work.

City clerk Danielle Manton petitioned councillors to choose a preferred time, offering them noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Should an afternoon time be adopted, Ward 4 Coun. Jan Liggett has asked for a leave of absence from council meetings for a period of three months.

As part of the Municipal Act, a council seat becomes vacant if a councillor is absent from meetings for three consecutive months without authorization by council.

Liggett said despite being absent from meetings, she would still fulfil her other duties as a councillor.

The city is already lacking one council member, Potter Phelan said, citing vacant Ward 7.

However, the time of the meetings was done for preference not necessity and the time change doesnt work for the Ward 4 council member who is not retired. Ultimately, this will mean two wards without representation.

The time change will also be an inconvenience or impossibility for many Cambridge citizens who wish to attend council meetings or delegate on matters of importance to them if they dont have flexibility in their working hours.

This is not the time to change meeting times because it sends the wrong message to residents and will lead ultimately to less transparency and less democracy when we need more of both.

Liggett had brought up the issue with meeting times at the June 2 council session when the summer schedule for virtual meetings were to be finalized.

She noted unlike retired members of council, her schedule isnt as flexible as she owns a business with her husband, and being at work was a need for survival, as all hands-on-deck were necessary in the company particularly during this time of COVID-19, according to a letter she sent to council.

After Liggett asked for a reconsideration of meeting times to 6 p.m., city staff offered the four different meeting start times, with the exception of three dates  a 6 p.m. joint meeting with North Dumfries council that occurred on June 18, and two all-day meetings on July 28 and Aug. 25, with choices of 10 a.m. or noon.

Liggett reminded fellow council members again on June 10 she would only be available for 6 p.m. meetings, she said.

The majority of council members responded to the petition with preferred times of 2 p.m. or 4 p.m., with only Coun. Nicholas Ermeta joining Liggett for a preferred 6 p.m. meeting.

Liggett said she was surprised the voting on meeting times was done by email instead of open session, and the motion set up for the time change isnt split from her leave of absence.

Our core values of the city are not being adhered to here, she said.

What I find very, very upsetting is that with Ward 4 being the most intensive, work-wise, of all the wards, being the most problematic with social issues, as well as the standard issues that every ward has, for me not to be there to speak on behalf of the residents creates problems. That voice in the democratic process is missing.

Manton said the petitioning of council via email for meeting times was based on procedural bylaws, and many municipalities across the province have adopted earlier start times for their special council meetings as well.

Participants, including staff, are experiencing bandwidth challenges. Electronic meetings require more time to facilitate, the meetings have been longer in length, and virtual public participation requires additional staff and technology support, Manton said, adding delegations can participate by submitting written submission or by calling into the meeting.

Liggett said she has made herself available in the past for daytime meetings with staff and other meetings that may come up but isnt in a position to do that with the pandemic. A 4 p.m. Zoom council means she has to leave work at 3 p.m. to get home for the 3:30 sign in.

Manton said she is willing to work with members of council if they need to be excused on certain dates or need alternate solutions and accommodations.

On top of having to miss meetings due to the time change, Liggett added it would be hard for residents to act as delegations during council meetings as not everyone gets home by 4 p.m. if they have to commute. Should the meetings be scheduled at 2 p.m., that makes it impossible for day workers.

She worries the daytime meetings will continue past the three months, saying council has yet to vote on a procedural bylaw for this term and has been acting on the old one. Council could vote to have meetings during the day.

Its the personal preference of wanting to be home in time for dinner, Liggett said.

Cambridge resident Carol Thorman stated in a letter to council the shift in time, should it become permanent, effectively changes the status of a part-time council position to a full-time job.

She added there are ramifications to that decision.

The gainfully employed need not apply, she stated.

Convenience of staff and council should not supersede public access and convenience if we are to have any degree of transparency.

By making duly elected members of this council choose between providing a livelihood and serving constituents you do a disservice to the electorate.

Manton said once emergency orders are lifted, council and committee meetings would return to their regularly scheduled times.
The risk of a military conflict between China and the US is higher than ever as communication channels between the countries' armed forces have fallen largely silent, Chinese experts say.

Wu Shicun, the president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said that with Beijing and Washington locked in a rivalry on multiple fronts, the political distrust that had built up between them had led to hundreds of "track one" intergovernmental communication channels shutting down.

According to a report about US military presence in the Asia-Pacific region released by the institute on Tuesday, communication between the US and Chinese armies has been in sharp decline since 2018.

Relations deteriorated after the US withdrew its invitation for China to take part in a large-scale, multinational naval exercises, known as Rim of the Pacific, two years ago.

The US said it was in retaliation for the People's Liberation Army deploying missile systems and landing a bomber aircraft in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, the report said.

"I think the risks of conflict are rising, especially after the near-collision between the USS Decatur guided-missile destroyer and China's destroyer the Lanzhou in September in the South China Sea," Wu said.

In a tense face-off in September 2018, the USS Decatur, which was performing a "freedom of navigation" operation, came within 41 metres (130 feet) of the Lanzhou close to Gaven Reef, which China claims as its territory, according to the US Navy, though Beijing accused the US of taking "provocative actions".

"If situations get out of control and a crisis happens, the impact on bilateral relations could be devastating. And that's why dialogue is needed," Wu said.

While military conflicts have flared up from time to time, the two sides have prevented them from escalating, and communication channels have played a significant role in that.

Story continues

Conflicts include the Taiwan Strait Crisis in the 1990s, when Beijing launched a series of missile tests in the waters surrounding the self-ruled island, and the 2001 mid-air collision of a US EP-3 Aries and a Chinese fighter jet near China's Hainan island that resulted in a death of a Chinese pilot.

Among the communication channels are a hotline between the two defence ministries and a dialogue mechanism for the two armies.

Military officials from the two countries also meet unofficially at events like the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, although this year's meeting had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But as the tension between Beijing and Washington has grown, so have been the fears of a new Cold War. For the first time since the actual Cold War, three 100,000-tonne US Navy aircraft carriers are now patrolling in the Pacific Ocean, while the US Pacific Fleet said last month that all of its forward-deployed submarines were conducting operations in the western Pacific.

Earlier this month, Taiwan's defence ministry said it scrambled its warplanes to warn off a group of Chinese fighter jets that had crossed the Taiwan Strait and briefly approached the island, only hours after a US transport plane had flown over the same area.

Zhu Feng, a professor of international relations at Nanjing University, said the existing mechanisms might not be sufficient to keep every encounter under control, and the two sides should come up with a more effective way to manage possible crises.

"I am quite concerned as the encounters of the two armies in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait appear not to be incidental but intentional, both at sea and in the air," he said.

"Dealing with such intentional encounters requires not only safe manoeuvres but also political and strategic trust so that the intentional encounters do not escalate into hostile operations."

Chinese military officials have not met their US counterparts in the Indo-Pacific Command since 2017.

"I think the Indo-Pacific command should engage in communication with the Chinese counterparts," Zhu said.

"This is acquaintance-building between the two armies. We can't just rely on speculation to know each other."

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.
TORONTO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nelson Mandela's grandson today said South Africa's failures after the abolition of apartheid prove that only radicalism can confront white supremacy worldwide. Siyabulela Mandela, a peace activist with Journalists for Human Rights, made the remarks at the 30,000-attendee online conference Collision from Home, produced by the team behind Web Summit  the world's largest tech conference.

"In South Africa we are still fighting the same racism that Nelson Mandela was sent to prison with for almost 27 years, together with his generation. So the gradual move and the gradual shift that everyone has been talking about, that everyone has been hoping for  South Africa has proven that it does not work," said Mandela.

Asked if racism can be defeated incrementally or whether a full revolution is required, Mandela said that South Africa's experience post-apartheid proves the latter.

"South Africa is one of the most divided countries: the racial parties and how the economy is skewed according to racial lines in the country indicate to the world that the gradual shift, as anticipated by those who waged a struggle in South Africa against the apartheid regime, as anticipated by the generation of Nelson Mandela  it doesn't really work.

"So therefore we need a radical shift, and a change in attitudes to those whom we consider as in positions in power. Here we have to be critical to put things into perspective: power means whiteness; power means white supremacy; power means racism," he said.

Watch a clip from the interview here .

About Siyabulela Mandela:

Siyabulela Mandela is a peace and human rights activist, currently completing a PhD in international relations and conflict resolution at Nelson Mandela University. He is dedicated to continuing his grandfather's legacy on peace, human rights and social justice.

About Collision:

Collision is known by CBC as the "TIFF for tech", while Inc. Magazine calls it the "fastest-growing tech conference in North America". Collision is set to move online for 2020 with Collision from Home. Collision will return to Toronto as a physical event for the second year from June 21-24, 2021 at the Enercare Centre.

About Web Summit:

Forbes says Web Summit is "the best tech conference on the planet"; Bloomberg calls it "Davos for geeks"; Politico, "the Olympics of tech"; The Guardian, "Glastonbury for geeks"; and, in the words of Inc. Magazine, "Web Summit is the largest technology conference in the world".



Whatever Web Summit is, it wouldn't be possible without an incredible team of over 200 employees based in Dublin, Lisbon, Toronto and Hong Kong, including world-class engineers, data scientists, designers, producers, marketers, salespeople, and more. They've disrupted an old industry by building incredible software and designing mind-blowing events, revolutionising how people and ideas come together to change the world.





Useful links:

Collision images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/collisionconf/

Collision speaker lineup: https://collisionconf.com/speakers

Collision schedule: https://collisionconf.com/schedule

SOURCE Web Summit

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Pattern Design replace Meis on stadium project

Wednesday, 24 June, 2020





Dan Meis has expressed his disappointment at no longer being engaged on Evertons Bradley-Moore Dock project Dan Meis has expressed his disappointment at no longer being engaged on Evertons Bradley-Moore Dock project

Updated Everton have reportedly handed architectural duties for the proposed Bramley-Moore Dock stadium over to a UK-based firm as Dan Meis announces that he is no longer part of the project.

According to the Liverpool Echo, Pattern Design have been selected by construction firm Laing O'Rourke to continue design planning, assuming it is given the green light by the City.

Phil Kirkbride of the Echo reports that it was always part of Everton's plan to put the contract for the next phase up for bidding and it appears as though Meis was edged out by Pattern.

Dan Meis, the head of the US-based architectural design firm of the same name that has headed up design of the new ground to date, contested that notion, asserting via Twitter that, "if this was always the plan' no one shared it with me. In my 30 years of designing stadiums I have never had our work taken over by another architect without remaining in a custodian/oversight role.

Earlier, the New York and Los Angeles-based designer had tweeted: "Let me be clear. I am fully confident that Bramley Moore will be built. It is both right for the Club and the city. Unfortunately I am not currently engaged in the project.

"How that was handled is one the greatest disappointments of my career, and at the appropriate time I will comment."

Meis's post to the social media channel followed a cryptic tweet a few days ago where he said: "If I learned anything from this year it is that when someone says 'it isn't personal, it is just business' I probably shouldn't have been in business with them to begin with..."

Meis's second tweet today went on to say, "please understand that this is my personal twitter account and believe it or not, not everything I write is a reference to Everton," but that post from four days ago is being taken as a reference to the club.

Meis, whose firm was behind recent stadium designs for the likes of AS Roma in Italy and US sport venues like Safeco Field in Seattle and Los Angeles's Staples Center, has been on board the Bramley-Moore Dock project from the outset and the visuals he released a year ago for Everton's proposed ground were met a hugely positive reaction.

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Punjab health and family welfare minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Wednesday handed over cheques worth Rs 3 lakh to the panchayat of kandala village for development-oriented works.

In his address, the minister said Rs. 80,000 was donated for purchasing a water tanker as it was a long pending demand of the panchayat. He added that another cheque worth Rs 2.46 lakh was given for installing street lights in the village and the work will be finished speedily.

He also divulged that development works in Mohali are moving at a fast pace and there is no dearth of funds for projects.

Sarpanch of the village, Bimla Devi, thanked the minister on the occasion and said that constituency is seeing rapid development under his leadership.
Iran pressing exporters to bring back hard currency to forex market

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 2:25 PM

Central Bank of Iran (CBI) authorities have ramped up pressure on the country's exporters to return the hard currency they have earned over the past two and a half years to the forex market where prices have soared to highs not seen in decades.

CBI's public relations office issued a statement on Tuesday saying that exporters would have until July 21 to bring back the money they have earned from exports to a government-sponsored system for currency exchange known as NIMA.

The statement warned that the CBI will publish the names and identities of exporters who refuse to do so.

The announcement comes as the Iranian government scrambles to calm an unofficial exchange market where the value of the national currency rial has fallen as low as 198,500 against the US dollar.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday described the forex shock as temporary and said there was no fundamental economic reason for the falling prices in the exchange market.

Samad Karimi, who leads the CBI Department on Exports, told the official IRNA news agency that exporters owe a total of 27.5 billion euros for shipments they have sold to customers in other countries since 2018 but have refused to bring the money back to NIMA.

NIMA is set up to help Iranian importers to obtain hard currency at a price lower than those existing in the unofficial market. The system is currently selling the US dollar at prices between 160,000 to 170,000 rials.

Karimi said exporters who keep refusing to supply their hard currency to the system would face legal action.

He also said that the CBI had launched a joint scheme with Iran's ministry of trade (MIMT) to suspend trade certificates issued to individuals who refuse to supply their hard currency to the market.

The CBI maintains an official price of 42,000 for the Iranian rial against the US dollar which is only applicable to transactions involving the imports of basic goods into Iran.

The multi-price system in the Iranian forex market was introduced after the United States imposed its unilateral sanctions on the country's exports of oil in 2018, causing a decline in the government's foreign currency revenues.

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Steve Babaeko

24.06.2020 LISTEN

Popular Nigerian advertising and music executive, Steve Babaeko is allegedly running for President in Nigeria.

Steve Babaeko is the Group Chief Executive Officer of X3M Group, made up of X3M Ideas, X3M Music, Zero Degrees and Babaeko Farms Ltd. among others.

Following a leak of what looks like a campaign site for an eventual announcement, Nigerians have taken to social media to express their pleasure and excitement in having a different type of leader.

In one of the tweets, a young Lagos based entrepreneur said, "This is how to announce your presidential ambition. Early. Pray this is true."

Babaeko who has remained silent on the issue since the news broke shared a tweet via his twitter account saying, It is time.

The advertising executive's website comes at a time when the country is battling gender based violence, to rising numbers of COVID-19 confirmed cases and related deaths and of course a fragile economy. Eager young Nigerians have hope again, with this news.

In the words of a political commentator on twitter, Maybe we need an announcement like this to spice things up. It wont be an easy race if Steve is indeed running but I believe he will bring his marketing communications experience to fight a good fight.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov discussed cooperation in the international organizations and counteraction to the spread of coronavirus.

This was discussed during a telephone conversation between the ministers, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs.

The parties discussed Ukraine-Azerbaijan cooperation in international organizations. In particular, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister congratulated his Ukrainian counterpart on the successful results of the video conference of the EU Eastern Partnership summit. In turn, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine underscored the effective leadership of Azerbaijan in the Non-Aligned Movement," the statement reads.

The ministers also exchanged experience in countering the spread of COVID-19 in their countries.

At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reminded that Ukraine- Azerbaijan political consultations had been held at the level of Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar and Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov in a videoconference format on June 17.

During the consultations, the parties discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, in particular, political issues, trade and economic cooperation, including cooperation in the energy sector, as well as Ukraine-Azerbaijan cooperation in international organizations.

The parties also discussed issues of cultural and humanitarian sphere, tourism and military-technical cooperation.

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ATLANTA, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ARCOP, the Arby's national supply chain cooperative representing $1.4 billion in annual spending power for company-owned and franchise stores, today announced the launch of the ARCOP Benefits Center, a healthcare solutions resource to help keep both franchise owners and their employees healthy.

"Navigating the healthcare system is a tremendous challenge, even in normal circumstances," said David Cox, President of ARCOP. "By offering Decisely Telemedicine, administered by provider partner FlexCare Telehealth, we are hoping to eliminate some of that stress and provide employees with immediate, affordable access to medical providers in a safe environment."

Owners and their employees will have 24/7 access to U.S. board-certified physicians via telephone, mobile app and/or live video consults. The employer-paid program opens the door to a network that includes family and general practitioners, internal medicine and pediatricians, providing treatment for non-emergency medical care and medically necessary prescriptions. No visiting emergency rooms or waiting in practitioner waiting rooms.

"FlexCare is excited to partner with ARCOP and Decisely in providing telemedicine services to its franchisees. We view this as a terrific opportunity to provide a valuable benefit to employers and their employees," said Principal Lee Shoemake.

"ARCOP sponsorship of Decisely Telemedicine for its franchisees is an example of great member advocacy. By providing access to free telehealth, they are helping their owners maintain a healthy workplace for staff and improving employee retention," said Chris Duncan, Decisely EVP of Sales. "Ultimately the plan is to offer a full suite of benefits solutions, from Telemedicine to major medical insurance. This Telemedicine solution fills an immediate and urgent need during a difficult time, when a doctor visit for standard medical care could be viewed as risky."

About ARCOP

ARCOP, Inc. ( www.arcop.net ) is Arby's ( www.arbys.com ) independent, membership-based supply chain cooperative. ARCOP is responsible for securing, supplying and distributing a wide range of goods and services for Arby's restaurants. ARCOP has governance oversight from an elected Board of Trustees representing Arby's franchisees and Arby's corporate. ARCOP utilizes the combined purchasing power of nearly 3,400 Arby's restaurants in the U.S. (annual spend is $1.4 billion) for goods and services that include perishable (food, beverage) and disposable items. In addition, ARCOP focuses on securing competitive contracts for indirect products and services, such as kitchen equipment, smallwares, parts, distributor/freight programs, building assets, menuboards, signs and energy.

About FlexCare

FlexCare, LLC is a leading telehealth provider of online and on-demand healthcare delivery services to private and public employers, associations, brokers, school systems and more. By using telehealth services instead of more expensive urgent care and ER visits, FlexCare, LLC TeleHealth cuts unnecessary costs and keeps members smiling (instead of waiting).

Using their proprietary online administrative system, FlexCare seamlessly provides multiple employee benefits either bundled or unbundled which makes for ease of administration for employers. Learn more at flexcare.com .

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About Decisely

Decisely improves the health of businesses and their employees. Decisely is a benefits brokerage and HR services firm specializing in integrated technology solutions for small businesses. With the right mix of recruiting, benefits, HR, compliance, payroll & licensed support, Decisely technology brings your most essential HR activities onto one platform. Proud to be a B-Corp. Learn more at decisely.com.

SOURCE Decisely

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Hickory High Principal Rebecca Tuttle pleaded guilty to driving while impaired Tuesday during a sentencing hearing in Catawba County District Court.

Judge Richard Holloway sentenced her to complete 24 hours of community service within 60 days and to a year of unsupervised probation. Tuttle was also ordered to surrender her drivers license for one year.

On Jan. 4, Tuttle, 36, was arrested and charged with driving while impaired.

She had hit a parked vehicle, according to a police report.

The report listed her blood alcohol level as 0.16. Thats twice the legal limit.

In North Carolina, it is illegal to drive a vehicle while noticeably impaired or with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher, according to the state Department of Public Safety website.

Tuttle was suspended from her role as principal at Hickory High School following her arrest and charges.

Tuttles attorney David Moose declined to comment Tuesday.

Following her arrest, many in the community took to social media to express their thoughts on the incident.
In the wake of rising coronavirus COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu, the state government on Wednesday intensified lockdown measures and imposed restrictions on inter-district travel across the state till June 30. Only those with e-passes will be allowed to travel from one district to another, announced the government.

The inter-district bus services that were operating in certain routes will be suspended till June 30. So far, six districts are under lockdown until June 30--Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Theni, and Madurai.

The southern state recorded an increase of 2865 new cases in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases in the state to 67,468 till 7 pm on Wednesday. Currently, there are 28,836 active cases, 37,763 discharged cases, and 866 deaths. In the last 24 hours, 2,424 people were discharged and 33 people died due to the infection.

So far, 9.76 lakh samples have been tested in the state and 32,000 in the last 24 hours. The capital of the state, Chennai, recorded

1,654 new cases in the last 24 hours. Currently, 18673 cases are active and total cases in the city is 45,814.
Cashew export prices suffer drop to low levels

Cashew export prices experienced a downward trajectory during the first 20 days of June, hovering between US$2.4 and US$3.35 per 0.45 kilo, according to figures released by the Import and Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.







Cashew export prices have suffered drop to low levels over recent months



The Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) has advised factories to consider implementing a minimum price of US$3 per 0.45 kilo for grade W320 cashew nuts when signing export contracts for processed cashew in the future.



The association recommended that Vietnamese processors limit sales to take advantage of the possibility of escalating prices in case cashew is in short supply in the Asian market.



In fact, cashew processing in small factories nationwide has decreased significantly in recent times. In addition, the supply of raw cashew nuts remains limited after the Ivory Coast increased purchases for its reserves.



The Vinacas therefore suggested that cashew processing plants remain cautious about negotiating export contracts with partners in an effort to minimise risks. Additionally, local businesses should not sell cashew nuts at cheap prices, but wait to offer higher prices.



According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, cashew exports throughout the five-month period increased by 16.9% to US$1.23 billion in comparison to the same period last year.



With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic causing a decline in overall cashew nut consumption in major export markets such as the United States and the EU, there has been positive trends occurring in the nations' supermarkets.



Amid complicated developments of the COVID-19 epidemic, the demand for cashew nuts and export prices are anticipated to increase sharply in the near future, according to experts.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam spoke highly of the innovative efforts made by the Council in recent years, suggesting that the Council should further promote its existing advantages and continue to accompany the Government in building a sustainable business community.

According to the Deputy PM, all policies of the Government are aimed towards the sustainable development of businesses.

From the successes in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, it has been shown that the solidarity and consensus in the whole society helped the country to overcome many challenges, he said, adding that the business community should promote and spread this value for economic development in association with environmental protection as well as solving social issues related to the people.

The Deputy PM also asked the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to develop a set of sustainable development criteria for all 150,000 member enterprises.

He also emphasised the significance of connecting support and spreading the values of sustainable development as much as possible, rather than simply expanding the network.

The values and sustainable development activities should be easily understood so that all businesses can implement and participate in them, he noted.

Also on the same day, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam chaired a meeting with the Ministry of Health, the Vietnam Social Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Government Office, and the VCCI on policies and payments from health insurance for original brand name drugs, with the dual goal of ensuring good quality medicine for examination and treatment while saving the health insurance fund and reducing costs for the people.
The Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Ernest Addison has told Parliaments Public Accounts Committee that activities of illegal forex trading have reduced in the country.

According to the Governor, the shortage of foreign exchange which gives rise to the activities of illegal forex trading, also known as the Black Market, is not prevalent.

He attributed this to the governments better management of the economy.

Speaking before the Public Accounts Committee, Dr. Addison said, the Central bank is collaborating with the security agencies to totally deal with the problem of illegal forex trading.

The black market is an illegal activity and the Bank of Ghana has collaborated with the security agencies to ensure that they dont thrive and we have had a few exercises in different parts of the country literally going out there to arrest black market traders and foreign exchange.

It is an illegal activity and the security agencies are on top of that issue. I think the pressure in terms of the prevalence of black market activities has gone down and the reason is that the economy is relatively doing well and there is no big shortage and therefore the incentive too isnt there. This is an illegal market and you are not going to completely wipe it away and from time to time we are cooperating with the security agencies to enforce the law, he said.

---citinewsroom
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a federal court to end the case against former national-security adviser Michael Flynn on Wednesday.

After the Justice Department dropped its case against Flynn, the presiding judge appointed a third party to to present arguments in opposition to the DOJs decision. The Wednesday ruling by the Circuit Court vacates the Flynn judges order.

The District Court is directed to grant the governmentsmotion to dismiss; and the District Courts order appointing an amicus is hereby vacated as moot, reads the opinion by the Circuit Court.

Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, filed the opinion by the court, joined by George H.W. Bush appointee Karen LeCraft Henderson. Judge Robert L. Wilkins, an Obama appointee, dissented in part.

The ruling could end the case against Flynn entirely, which has been ongoing for over two years. Flynn initially pleaded guilty to one count of lying to FBI investigators, but later reversed his plea.

Investigators homed in on Flynn in 2016 for purported connections to Russian officials including Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. However, while Flynn had conversed with Kislyak before joining the Trump administration in 2017, the former adviser was never found guilty of a crime involving collusion with Russian officials.

In May, the Justice Department announced that a January 24, 2017, interview with FBI agents that led to Flynn pleading guilty to lying to investigators was conducted without any legitimate investigative basis.

The Government is not persuaded that theinterview was conducted with a legitimate investigative basis and therefore does not believe that Mr. Flynns statements were material even if untrue, the DOJs decision states. Moreover, we do not believe that the Government can prove either the relevant false statements or their materiality beyond a reasonable doubt.

More from National Review
Under Emanuels deal, sergeants would have received pay increases of 9% over four years. They would have paid more into their retirement accounts but have been eligible to retire with 80% of their final salaries, up from 75%. Retirement ages for tier one employees would have risen to 53 years from 50 years; cost-of-living adjustments would have decreased by a half-percentage point; and the city would have agreed to shovel more money into their fund annually to stabilize it.
Seventy-five Armenian soldiers marched through Moscows Red Square on Wednesday in a Russian military parade that marked the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

More than 14,000 troops from Russia as well as countries allied to it participated in the traditional parade which also featured scores of tanks, artillery systems, intercontinental ballistic missiles and warplanes. Russian President Vladimir Putin reviewed and watched them from a Red Square podium. He was joined by the leaders of seven other mostly ex-Soviet states.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian was also invited to the annual display of Russias military might. But he cancelled his trip to Moscow last week, citing the continuing coronavirus crisis in Armenia.

The Armenian government was represented at the parade by Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan. Like other visiting foreign dignitaries, Tonoyan underwent a coronavirus test on his arrival in the Russian capital.

The Armenian soldiers also tested negative for the virus before taking part in the parade.According to the Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman, Shushan Stepanian, Tonoyan praised the way they marched through the historic square. She released a photograph of the minister warmly greeting an Armenian army colonel who led the small contingent during the parade.

The 75 soldiers carried not only an Armenian national flag but also the banner of a Red Army division that mostly consisted of Armenians and reached Berlin in May 1945. Stepanian said they reminded the world of the Armenian peoples role in the Great Victory.

Some 320,000 residents of Soviet Armenia, then a republic of just 1.3 million people, were drafted to the Soviet army during the bloodiest war in the history of humankind. The total number of its ethnic Armenian participants from various Soviet republics is estimated at more than 500,000. About half of them were killed in action.

The Red Square parade, originally scheduled for May 9, was postponed by the Kremlin in April due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, who is now spearheading the COVID-19 fight in Cebu City, is considering placing under lockdown after June 30 certain barangays with high incidence of infection.

The city has been placed under an enhanced community quarantine until the end of the month due to a continued rise in confirmed cases.

It has registered 4,539 infections as of June 24, making it the city in the country worst-hit by the coronavirus.

In a press conference Wednesday, Cimatu said he will recommend the shift to the barangay lockdown approach, which he also labeled as a granular lockdown, if the situation in the area becomes more manageable.

Alongside the upsurge in cases, the national government earlier pointed out that the critical care capacity in the city is reaching dangerous levels, with some hospitals running out of beds for COVID-19 patients. After his visit to quarantine facilities and hospitals, Cimatu also noted the need to address the lack of medical frontliners.

On Thursday, Cimatu is scheduled to meet again with local officials to draft the policy on securing new quarantine passes. This came after Mayor Edgardo Labella ordered on Tuesday night the cancellation of all 250,000 quarantine passes issued by the city government.

Labella said they are looking at implementing a "one quarantine pass per household" policy, and added that the city residents could expect the new guidelines after Thursdays meeting.

Meanwhile, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced that there will be strict border controls for leaving Cebu City to the rest of Cebu Province starting 12:01 midnight of June 27. Travel to and from Cebu City will likewise be restricted, she said.

Cebu-based stringer Dale Israel contributed to this report.
Day 2 of Lions Live had some eagerly-awaited sessions and conversations around how creativity shines through crisis, on innovating with brand purpose and how COVID-19 is forcing brands across categories to shift faster into e-commerce, among others. There couldnt be a better start to the day than with a thought-provoking discussion on better living through advertising. And when the likes of industry mavericks such as Adeshola Makinde, Emmanuel Adjei, Jian DeLeon, Leila Fataar came together, they set the virtual screen on fire with a creatively-enriching conversation. The conversation went on to conclude that advertisers should not reflect the world we live in; it should challenge it to be better.

This was followed by AlmapBBDOs showcase of their short film shot entirely at home. It shows a creative waking up and finding out that hes living the life of a cat. Hes not human anymore. With time to think about the situation, he realises how exciting it is to work in this industry and how we can face the changes a new world will present to our businesses. 'Catrentine' is an emotional, fun, magic-like shortfilm with personal observations and an optimistic vision about our future.

Another interesting session that followed had Merlee Jayme, Global Co-president, Dentsumcgarrybowen, speaking of being a creative, who has focused on creativity for 30 years and on now taking on a global management role. Jayme shared that 'growing up' into this new role makes her look at business through a different lens and how solutions from a right-brained creative are totally different. She went on to speak about how in the midst of uncertainty, the need for creative leadership is stronger than ever as everyone yearns for diversion and inspiration and shed light on how creativity will play the most important role in building brands as they try to bounce back in this new normal world.

Keeping the conversation on inclusivity going, Stephan Loerke, CEO of WFA, interviewed Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Executive Director of UN Women and Chair of the Unstereotype Alliance. In this captivating interview, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka shared a personal account of living through the overthrow of apartheid in South Africa. She recounted similarities to the Black Lives Matter movement happening today and calls for white people and men to not waste their privilege in society and use it for the collective good. Loerke asked what measures can be taken by the advertising industry to catalyse change. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka delivered a clear message in response: Brands standing on the side-lines are perpetuating stereotypes, diversity and accountability is paramount and there isnt any more time or patience for incremental change.

Every year at Cannes Lions each Jury President is asked to put together a Presidents briefing for their jury - a set of guiding principles used to assess every piece of work. Looking ahead to 2021, Simon Cook, MD of Cannes Lions invited the President of the Titanium Lions, FCB's Susan Credle to share how the category is set to evolve in response to changes in the wider world at present. Credle spoke on the new trends she's keeping an eye on, and looked back at some of the award-winners that moved the industry forward, helping set the standards of exceptional creativity that the Titanium Lions demand today.

An immersive keynote was delivered by David Tiltman, VP, Content, WARC. Tiltman spilled the beans on how COVID-19 is forcing brands across categories to shift faster into e-commerce. He deliberated on how this long-term change in distribution is of essence for the effective investment of the marketing budget.

The CMOs in the Spotlight had Asim Naseer of Beiersdorf in conversation with Dana Anderson, Chief Transformation Officer of MediaLink, discussing managing remote leadership in lockdown and how the world of marketing will really change forever. Next up was Trevor Robinson OBE, Creative Director and Founder | Quiet Storm who explored how to unlock your strengths, how to become more aware of who you are, and how to use this knowledge to fuel your creativity.

One of the highlights of the day was thought leaders like Rebecca Altman, Dr. Gregory Altman, Mike Rigby, deliberating on how to innovate with purpose. Micro-plastics are said to be in everything, everywhere: from the products we use to our precious oceans, air, and ecosphere. Their pervasiveness has a long historybut one company had sought to undo it. Evolved by Nature, a new green chemistry company with a vision for a more human future, free from the hidden, harmful chemicals that invade our lives, working with R/GA, designed a new scalable business model and master brand to help them do just that. The Evolved by Nature co-founder Greg Altman, environmental sociologist Rebecca Altman, and R/GA Global Head of Brand Mike Rigby in this session unpacked the role of active purpose and branding in guiding and scaling corporate innovation efforts to build a health and sustainability movement.

Furthermore, John Patroulis, Worldwide CCO of Grey, talked to to Diego Medvedocky, President and CCO of Grey Latam, about Pandemos, a series of 14 short films created and crafted worldwide in collaboration with director Luis Aguer during the last two months of lockdown. It told a story about a tiny apartment, isolation, a bathtub, and the power of creativity to free you from all of it and the story of one mans journey through the human condition, scheduled each night from 12am  3am. And the global film series that erupted as a result.

This was followed by creative minds from Facebook offices around the world: Ashley McGowan, Global Business Equality Lead; Julia Rayeb, Creative Lead, LATAM; Miriam Faber, Content and Campaigns Lead for Northern Europe; Monse Moreno, Global Diversity Brand Strategy Manager; Thomas Shim, Creative Strategist; Michelle Mitchell, Strategic Communities Program Manager, Media Partnerships who came together to share how they have been able to transform their passion projects into actual change for their communities and what you can do to get started. On the awards front, Almap BBDO Brasil and Colenso BBDO took home the Regional Agency of the Decade award.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
The scarcity of information around the present Sino-Indian border standoff and its associated skirmishes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), has made it exceedingly difficult to understand and predict the development of the existing situation. Notwithstanding this lack of information, a comparison between the circumstances around the de-escalation of the Sino-Indian military standoff at Doklam, a border trijunction between India Bhutan and China, in 2017 and the current standoff along the LAC could perhaps provide some much needed clarity on the present dilemma.

It is well known that the military standoffs of 2017 and 2020 are of comparable strategic importance, in different sectors along the Sino-Indian border. Their close strategic significance and nearness in time allow their comparison to expose the nuanced differences of circumstances around the development of both events.

For this comparison, Brent Sasleys levels of analysis are ideal as they focus on the agent (the leadership), the structure (the state in the international system) and the reciprocated interaction between the two (the national discourse). Chinas leadership has remained largely unchanged during both the military standoffs. If anything, President Xi Jinping has only become more authoritarian with the removal of his presidential term limit during the 19th National conference held in 2018.

The national discourse in China has also seen little change, with China using its official press releases as well as its state controlled media to aggressively publicise its rhetoric, indisputably laying claim to the territory in question and compelling India to immediately pull back. In a press release during the 2017 standoff, referring to the Doklam Plateau, China declared itself to be a victim of Indian aggression, stating that Doklam belongs to China. Indian troops have crossed into Chinese territory, We urge the Indian side to immediately pullback. Even after the alleged mutual disengagement at the plateau, China in another official press release stated that the Indian border personnel and equipment that trespassed into Chinas territory have all been withdrawn to the Indian side of the border. The Chinese border troops continue with their patrols and stationing in [Doklam].

In the ongoing military deadlock which began on 5 May, the national discourse in China has stayed much the same as in 2017 with China again posing itself as a victim of Indian aggression over several press conferences since May. The narrative being reinforced since 21 May is that the Chinese border troops are committed to upholding Chinas territorial and sovereignty security, responding resolutely to India trespassing and infringing activities. More recently, after the Sino-Indian clash in the Galwan Valley, in a press release on 17 June, China claimed unambiguous sovereignty over the disputed valley and stated that China always owns sovereignty over the Galwan Valley area, and the Indian border troops have acted in ways inconsistent with their words and seriously violated agreements both countries reached. It is clear that the Chinese national discourse in both scenarios in 2017 and 2020 has maintained a theme of being a victim of Indian aggression.

Arguably what has changed significantly since the Doklam standoff in 2017 is Chinas position in the international system. At the time, China had essentially reached the logical conclusion of its efforts since the early 1970s, with it becoming greatly integrated into the prevailing global order. Part of its position was based on its portrayed adherence to the norms, practices and conventions of the international institutions it subscribed to. China, being one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, establishing vast new economic interdependencies (or merely foreign dependencies) and becoming a key stakeholder in the international system, was necessarily expected to play the role it sought for itself. Essentially aiming to still hide [its] capabilities and abide time under the infamous Tau Guang Yang Hui doctrine presented itself as an inhibiting factor to conflict escalation in 2017.

However, in stark contrast to this is the ongoing border military standoff which comes in the backdrop of a complete dismantling of Chinas efforts over the last few decades to integrate itself as a responsible stakeholder in the international system. This is primarily based on the global community questioning its negligence in controlling the Covid-19 pandemic. The ongoing and recently heightened Sino-US trade war and the prospect of a decoupling of the global economy has only further ostracised Beijing from the international system.

More pertinently, with this negative publicity, the international community has become increasingly aware and wary of Beijings debt-trap diplomacy through its various programs like the Belt and Road Initiative and its auxiliaries like the Health Silk Road which threaten to transform not only existing economic relations but also offer alternatives to existing multilateral institutions. Beijings new wolf warrior diplomacy which actively attempts to move away from the Tau Guang Yang Hui principle and instead aims to hijack the international narrative is a marked change from its previous approach to the global community. Consequently, China in 2020, with its precarious position in the international system, is visibly less obliged to comply with the erstwhile conventions of the international order.

While the Indian leadership during both events in 2017 and 2020 has remained unchanged under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has indeed seen a certain change in its role and position on the international stage. Although India in 2017 was considerably well integrated into the international system, its recent global outreach in the form of aid (expected at around INR 110-120 crore) and championing international dialogue to orchestrate a globally coordinated onslaught on the Covid-19 pandemic has only further strengthened its position as a responsible global stakeholder. If anything, since 2017, Indias position in the international system has only steadily increased.

However, what has indeed changed greatly from the standoff in 2017 to the present one is the national discourse in India. During the 2017 standoff, New Delhi published merely two press statements marking the beginning and the end of the incident. These statements essentially called upon China to not change the status quo unilaterally and pointed out that their construction inside Bhutanese territory is in direct violation of [existing Sino-Bhutanese] agreements. What is crucial here is that India portrayed itself as a credible ally to Bhutan, leaving significant room to manoeuvre its policy with China.

Unlike in 2017, Indias rhetoric in the ongoing situation has portrayed itself as the victim of Chinese aggression, describing Beijings activity in the Galwan Valley as a premeditated and planned action that was directly responsible resulting in violence and casualties [in an attempt to change the status quo]. New Delhi has further issued an ultimatum stating that India would respond firmly to any attempts to transgress the LAC. Furthermore, New Delhi has described Chinese claims over the Galwan Valley area as exaggerated and untenable. Such rhetoric may perhaps leave New Delhi dangerously little room for manoeuvre in the near future. More pertinently, since the skirmish at Galwan there has been a noteworthy rise in the Indian media of the use of words such as betrayal and a rising demand for a push back to the Chinese atrocities along the LAC.

This comparison of circumstances between the two border standoffs of 2017 and 2020 primarily exposes two major changes in the state of affairs today. Firstly, Chinas level of integration into the international community has been significantly damaged and reduced. Secondly, Indias national discourse has changed from being only Bhutans credible ally to also becoming the victim of Chinese aggression. These two changes of circumstances from the standoff in 2017 to the present one are significant, as they represent a visibly deteriorating prospect of rapprochement between the two Asian giants. New Delhis decreased policy manoeuvrability coupled with Chinas decreasing need to comply with international norms and conventions is a dangerous mixture which makes a Sino-Indian de-escalation along the LAC increasingly unlikely in the immediate future. Unfortunately, the prospect of a Wuhan spirit salvaging the Sino-Indian relations seems equally remote under the present circumstances.

The author is a research intern at ORF.
All too often, we come across complaints on social media or online fora regarding neglected former military aircraft mouldering away somewhere in a sad state of affairs. People are all-too-fast to point out an aircrafts state of abandon and poor condition, but oddly enough, very few are actually willing to do anything to remedy the situation. This is a regular refrain across the aviation community, whether it be in the USA, Europe or further afield. Its an all too human trait to complain without offering a viable solution, of course. But the story here has a more positive conclusion; it features a gallant group of individuals in Ohio who chose action over belly-aching. They banded together to rejuvenate a forlorn, combat-veteran McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom II in much need of attention. We hope the example this dedicated team has set with their initiative and hard work serves as inspiration to other aviation-minded people around the world: Dont just complain and move on DO SOMETHING POSITIVE!

Moreno MO Aguiari

Founder of WarbirdsNews.com

Warbird Digest Sales & Marketing Director

Rejuvenating a Combat Veteran Phantom II

by Kevin Korterud

In the mid-to-late 1960s, the skies over Southeast Asia were filled with danger. During that time, the United States had started to build up its forces in that region. As part of this massive undertaking, a flotilla of F-4C Phantom IIs moved from their peacetime home at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Florida to Ubon in Thailand as part of the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW). Of course, this threat-escalation prompted a response from their counterparts in the North Vietnamese Air Force, who increased their air defenses to mitigate the increased USAF presence.

F-4C 64-0683 was one of the aircraft arriving from MacDill. It was soon to lose its domestic overall grey livery in favor of a hastily-painted, three-tone camouflage scheme of dark green, medium green and sand so it could better blend in with the jungle.

683s combat history is not fully known, presently, but one thing is clear: from publicly available records available, 64-0683 was part of the 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) within the 15th TFW. On July 10th, 1965, the 45th TFS scored the first USAF victory over an enemy MiG in the conflict using an AIM-9 Sparrow heat-seeking missile. While unconfirmed, it is possible that 64-0683 was involved in the mission which resulted in this victory. One can imagine, in the humid skies over Southeast Asia, 64-0683 would pull zoom climbs, dives and high-G turns that left contrails from her wings while supporting this and other air combat against MiG-17s, 19s and 21s.

Fast-forward nearly 50 years from those combat missions to 2011; 64-0683s engines have long been silent. She now sits, mute, at Newark Heath Airport in central Ohio; her only movement coming occasionally when fierce winter winds sometimes nudge her stabilator. Her camo combat finish is no more; replaced with a more contemporary overall grey color scheme that closely matches the leaden Oho winter skies.

From 1965 to 1969, 64-0683 underwent a number of different transfers between U.S. Air Force bases in Arizona and Japan, where she served initially as part of the 4453rd Combat Training Wing, preparing green pilots for doing battle in Southeast Asia. On December 1st, 1970, the fighter was involved in a refueling mishap at Davis-Monthan AFB near Tucson, Arizona. The ensuing fire damaging a large portion of the aircraft, rendering her beyond economic repair. The Air Force struck her off as a result, but being adjacent to the U.S. militarys main bone yard probably saved the airframe from simply being scrapped on site. Several years later, the Air Force Orientation Group (AFOG) was looking for a ground demo aircraft to display at air shows and other events. Taking the 64-0683s carcass and components from other USAF F-4Cs, as well as the cockpit layout and nose section from a U.S. Navy F-4B, the patch-work Phantom II became a complete aircraft once more and went on tour. When the AFOG wanted a more modern F-16 for its operations, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (NMUSAF) took her on, and displayed the fighter for several years.

When the NMUSAF came across a more desireable F-4 for display, they transferred 64-0683 to what was then Newark AFB in Heath, Ohio. This facility, not an active airport, worked on the LN-12 aircraft guidance systems which the F4-Cs used. 64-0683 by road at Newark AFB in 1987 to become its gate guardian, but her maintenance was not a high priority. In 1996, a group of aviation enthusiasts decided to become the aircrafts guardian. With great effort, they moved 64-0683 to a new home at the nearby Newark Heath airport as a static display with night lighting and a flagpole. Terry Treneff was on the airports board and played a role in the Phantoms subsequent restoration.

This is where I pick up the story of 64-0683

In late 2010, our family moved back to Ohio from Atlanta to keep an eye on my wifes parents. As part of this move, I received a checkout in the late fall for rental aircraft at Newark Heath airport. After my checkout, I asked about 64-0683 which Id seen during my visit. As I was talking about the aircraft with the CFI, one of the hangar pilots sitting on the couch nearby overheard our discussion and blurted out, You know, someone ought to spruce up that bird!

Thats all it took

On a cold December day in 2010, I started posting to the Warbird Information Exchange (WIX) message board asking for support to repaint 64-0683 in her original Southeast Asia combat finish. The response was overwhelming; people from all over the US and abroad offered to dig into research on 64-0683s history and the proper markings from her days in combat. It is a common trope that an aircraft restoration wont be ready to fly until the amount of paperwork covering the work equals the aircrafts actual weight; the same can be said of a static restoration! In addition, Rick Harris who works on the Collings Foundations active F-4 let me take numerous pictures of their airworthy aircraft to help get the markings and detailed stenciling recorded accurately. Unfortunately, we couldnt find the appropriate Federal Standard (FS) paint colors, nor did we have the finances to afford aircraft-grade paint, so we were forced to make best efforts to match the colors available at a local hardware store.

From there a team formed which included Terry Treneff (who helped move the aircraft to the airport, helped with research and created 64-0683 t-shirts), Michael Bates (research, paint and markings), Michael Keaser (has the tallest ladders in town!), Norman Green (no fear of heights when clambering up and painting the vertical stabilizer) and myself conducted a months-long effort to power-wash, sand, repaint and apply markings to 64-0683. Our efforts culminated with a formal unveiling on November 11th, 2011 with a Veterans Day ceremony with the Newark Heath Mayor and local newspaper staff in attendance. It was a proud day for our team as well as for 64-0683! Steve Beebe lent his support highlighting the aircrafts restoration in magazine articles. 64-0683 was now known across the world, no doubt putting a smile on the faces of many former F-4 aircrew and others who served in Southeast Asia due to their being remembered at a small airport in central Ohio.

As an aside, someone commented about the paint drips on the tail section. As it happens we actually applied these on purpose to replicate the conditions during her hurried wartime repaint in Thailand following her arrival at Udorn in the early 1960s. Back then, in the rush to paint aircraft to ready them for combat, it was not uncommon to have paint dripsso these irregularities are actually historically accurate! 64-0683 has subsequently received many positive comments, including one from a former F-4C crewman who left a note taped to the nose gear door thanking everyone for their efforts!

In the spring of 2020, the same old restoration team, as well as newcomers Ed Roo and Jeremiah Young, began to refurbish the F-4s paint and markings. After a deep power-wash, we applied an even more accurate color scheme using precise Federal Standard which Shannon procured from a local suburban Sherwin-Williams store (thanks Shannon!). Michael Bates, working with a local signage company, produced high resolution markings that will be even more durable than the original painted markings.

For this phase, we are also in the process of procuring solar-powered lighting for the navigation, formation and landing light positions. These will add much to the already impressive night lighting. It would not come as a surprise if Terry and the airport staff get phone calls about someone having left 64-0683 running!

64-0683 will have pride of place with the upcoming 2021 Southeast Asia Remembrance event at Newark Heath airport. Although she can no longer carve vapor trails with high-G turns in the humid Ohio summer skies, thanks to the efforts of our restoration team, maybe the old bird thinks she can!

If anyone would like to help keep this Phantom looking pristine or contribute to our historical knowledge, please do e-mail Kevin Korterud at kkorterud@yahoo.com.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will not meet his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of grand Victory Day parade in Moscow on Wednesday (June 24), ANI reported on Tuesday (June 23). It is to be noted that Global Times, the Chinese mouthpiece, had reported about the possibility of such a meeting between the two leaders in Russian capital.

"Chinese Defense 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: sources," tweeted Global Times.

Rajanth Singh is currently on a three-day visit to Moscow to attend the Victory Parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War. It is expected that Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe would also attend the parade on Wednesday.

The development comes at a time when both India and China are trying to de-escalate tensions at the Line of Actual Control following deadly clashes on June 15 which claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers, including a commanding officer, in Galwan Valley of Eastern Ladakh.

On Tuesday, Rajnath Singh called his visit to Moscow a sign of 'special friendship' between India and Russia. "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," he said.

A 75-member Indian military contingent is scheduled to participate in Victory Parade alongside armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries, including China.

"It is a great honor that an Indian Military contingent will be marching in the Red Square tomorrow. 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," said Rajnath Singh.
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands have identified mutations in a gene called CNOT1 that affect brain development and impair memory and learning. The study is the first to link neurodevelopmental delays with CNOT1, suggesting that drugs that help restore the gene's function may have therapeutic benefit. The research, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, also revealed that CNOT1 interacts with several known autism spectrum disorder (ASD) genes, opening new research avenues for the condition.

"Prior to this work, the CNOT1 gene was not on the radar of autism researchers," says Rolf Bodmer, Ph.D., director and professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys and the study's co-corresponding and co-senior author. "This discovery could help us better understand the genetic mechanisms underlying ASD. Our work is also a first step toward exploring drugs that could augment the function of CNOT1 and might be able to help children with neurodevelopmental delays who have these specific mutations."

The cause of developmental disabilities, including ASD, is poorly understood. Research indicates that there may be a genetic component to these conditions, but the precise impact of the genetic variations that have been uncovered to date is unclear. Identifying the underlying cause of developmental disabilities would allow scientists to create diagnostic tests that would provide early diagnoses and potential treatments.

A common genetic thread

In the current study, scientists at Radboud University Medical Center identified a commonality between 39 people with a neurological disorder: variations in the CNOT1 gene. These individuals, whose ages ranged from newborn to 22 years old, had symptoms that spanned from severe intellectual disability to nearly normal IQ and everyday functioning. The researchers hoped to determine if the variations in the CNOT1 gene were benign or the cause of the neurological symptoms--the first step to finding potential treatments.

To answer this question, the researchers at Radboud University turned to Bodmer, a world-renowned genetics expert who studies how genes contribute to disease using a fruit fly model. Sreehari Kalvakuri, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in the Bodmer lab, created fruit flies that contained the same CNOT1 variations seen in the patients, including DNA sequences that were "misspelled" (missense), cut short (truncated) or otherwise altered.

This work identified nine CNOT1 variants that impaired learning and memory, which was measured by several independent approaches--including a courtship assay that tested the ability of male fruit flies to remember if their female partners had paired with other males. All of these variants appeared spontaneously (de novo) in the patients, meaning they were not inherited. The scientists also discovered that these CNOT1 mutations interact with known ASD genes--revealing a genetic link to ASD that can be further explored.

"Fruit flies are a great biological model because we can complete genetic studies very quickly. This work only took a few months instead of the potential decade using a mouse model," says Kalvakuri, the study's co-first author. "Additionally, the CNOT1 gene is highly conserved between fruit flies and humans, meaning it does not change much, so we are optimistic these findings can be extrapolated to people."

Next, the scientists plan to identify which molecular components interact with CNOT1, which functions as a scaffold that builds up a larger protein complex. This work might uncover additional potential drug targets for intellectual, learning or memory disorders, including ASD.

"The first step toward helping children with neurodevelopmental delays is to determine the cause of the condition," says Bodmer. "Our ultimate hope is to find a treatment that could be given as early as possible to help these children stay on track developmentally."

Surprisingly, the findings also have implications for heart disease, the primary focus of Bodmer's lab.

"A significant fraction of these patients also have cardiac defects," says Bodmer. "Conversely, children who are born with heart defects are at a higher risk of developing ASD, too. This study on CNOT1 also provides a previously unknown genetic link between heart function and ASD."

Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions characterized by impairments in physical, learning, language or behavioral areas. About one in six children in the U.S. have one or more developmental disabilities or other developmental delays, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

###

The study's DOI is 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.05.017.

Research reported in this press release was supported by the Dutch Research Council (015.014.066), Cambridge Biomedical Centre and European Union (779257).

The co-senior authors of the study are Bodmer of Sanford Burnham Prebys and Arjan P.M. de Brouwer of Radboud University Medical Center. The co-first authors of the study are Kalvakuri of Sanford Burnham Prebys and Lisenka Vissers of Radboud University Medical Center.

Additional study authors include Elke de Boer, Sinje Geuer, Machteld Oud, Inge van Outersterp, Michael Kwint, Melde Witmond, Simone Kersten, Dilys Weijers, Hans van Bokhoven and Tjitske Kleefstra of Radboud University Medical Center; Daniel L. Polla of Radboud University Medical Center and CAPES Foundation in Brazil; Amber Begtrup, Kirsty McWalter and Megan T. Cho of GeneDx; Anna Ruiz and Elisabeth Gabau of Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona; Jenny E.V. Morton of Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust; Christopher Griffith of the University of South Florida; Karin Weiss and Maximilian Muenke of Technion - Israel Institute of Technology; Candace Gamble of Cook Children's; James Bartley of Loma Linda University; Hilary J. Vernon of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Kendra Brunet of Porcupine Health Unit; Claudia Ruivenkamp and Sarina G. Kant of Leiden University Medical Centre; Paul Kruszka of the National Institutes of Health; Austin Larson of the University of Colorado School of Medicine; Alexandra Afenjar of Sorbonne Universite; Thierry Billette de Villemeur and Kimberly Nugent of Children's Hospital of San Antonio; the DDD Study of Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; F. Lucy Raymond of the University of Cambridge; Hanka Venselaar of Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences; Florence Demurger of Centre Hospitalier Bretagne Atlantique; Claudia Soler-Alfonso of Baylor College of Medicine; Dong Li and Elizabeth Bhoj of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Ian Hayes of Genetic Health Service New Zealand; Nina Powell Hamilton, Ayesha Ahmad and Rachel Fisher of the University of Michigan; Myrthe van den Born of Erasmus MC; Marjolaine Willems of Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier; Arthur Sorlin and Julian Delanne of Burgundy University and Dijon University Hospital; Sebastien Moutton of Burgundy University and Maison de Sante Protestante Bordeaux Bagatelle; Philippe Christophe, Frederic Tran Mau-Them and Antonio Vitobello of Burgundy University and Plateau Technique de Biologie; Himanshu Goel of the University of Newcastle; Lauren Massingham, Chanika Phornphutkul and Jennifer Schwab of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; Boris Keren and Perrine Charles of Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital; Maaike Vreeburg of Maastricht UMC+; Lenika De Simone and George Hoganson of UIC Pediatric Genetics; Maria Iascone of ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII; Donatella Milani of Fondazione IRCCS; Lucie Evenepoel and Nicole Revencu of Universite Catholique de Louvain; D. Isum Ward and Kaitlyn Burns of Sanford Health; and Ian Krantz, Sarah E. Raible, Jill R. Murrell and Kathleen Wood of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

About Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Research Institute

Sanford Burnham Prebys is a preeminent, independent biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding human biology and disease and advancing scientific discoveries to profoundly impact human health. For more than 40 years, our research has produced breakthroughs in cancer, neuroscience, immunology and children's diseases, and is anchored by our NCI-designated Cancer Center and advanced drug discovery capabilities. For more information, visit us at SBPdiscovery.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/SBPdiscovery and on Twitter @SBPdiscovery.
A mother accused of murdering her three young children at their home in Dublin was unable to come to court again today as her case was adjourned for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to be obtained.

The bodies of Deirdre Morley's sons Conor (9) and Darragh (7), and her daughter Carla (3) McGinley were discovered in their home at Parsons Court in Newcastle, just before 8pm on January 24 last.

Ms Morley, 43, was remanded in custody by Dublin District Court five days later, with an order that she would receive a psychiatric assessment while in prison custody. Ms Morley, a nurse at Our Ladys Childrens Hospital, Crumlin, in Dublin, was charged with three counts of murder.

She has been in the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) since her first hearing.

She has been unable to attend seven subsequent remand hearings, and again today. A sick note was furnished to Judge Bryan Smyth by the Prison Service.

He remanded her in continuing custody in her absence to appear again on July 8 next.

Earlier, her solicitor told the court there was a doctors report stating, my client has been deemed fit to plead and the matter will go through the normal procedure.

The district court cannot grant bail in a murder case.

Ms Morley was found by a taxi driver near her house shortly before the childrens bodies were discovered. She was treated for days at Tallaght University Hospital before she was charged.

The childrens father Andrew McGinley arrived home at the same time gardai and paramedics reached the house and when they went inside they found the three children dead.

A note had been left to urge whoever came through the door of the family home not to proceed any further but to call gardai instead.

She made no reply in response to each of the charges and was handed a copy of charge, Detective Sergeant Dara Kenny had said at Ms Morleys first hearing on January 29 last.
A police officer adjusts his helmet at a barricade outside the Seattle Police Departments East Precinct in Seattle, Wash., on June 2, 2020. (Jason Redmond/AFP/Getty Images)

Seattle Mayor Proposes $20 Million Cut to Police Budget

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan on Wednesday submitted a Budget Rebalancing document that seeks to cut $20 million from the citys police department budget in a bid to address a series of challenges that include a movement to demand anti-racist action, to divest and rethink policing, and end institutional racism.

Durkans budget rebalancing package (pdf) is to be discussed by members of the Seattle City Councils Select Budget Committee in an afternoon session on Wednesday, according to a meeting agenda (pdf) and statements made during a live stream. The earliest scheduled vote on the rebalancing legislation and amendments is on July 1, according to an official committee meeting schedule.

As part of the 2020 and 2021 budget, we will be looking at @SeattlePDs culture and budget, Durkan said in a tweet. Police should not always be first people on the scene to deal with every call for help. Not every 9-1-1 call requires someone with a firearm to show up.

Police will face the biggest budget cuts among all department reductions for the rest of the year, while the rebalancing document shows even more options for cuts to policing are being developed for the 2021 budget.

Challenges facing the city, according to Durkans rebalancing proposal, include a public health pandemic that is killing friends, families, and neighbors, coupled with economic devastation and job losses that have led to record unemployment, an unprecedented loss of $300 million in revenue, and community needs including food access and housing assistance.

Seattle anticipates spending $233 million on its response to the COVID-19 impact, focusing on the needs of the most vulnerable and BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, and People of Color] communities.

Now more than ever it is critical to preserving critical budget priorities that serve communities of color and historically underserved communities, the proposal says, noting that near-term budgetary reallocations will include $5 million in mentorship programs for BIPOC youth and for 2021, the mayor has vowed to invest $100 million in BIPOC communities.

Of the $20 million in cuts to police, $16 million will be funds directly shifted to other priorities, while a planned $4 million investment for a new North Precinct facility will be put on hold, according to the proposal.

Durkan will also ask the Seattle Police Department to prepare models of 20, 30, and 50 percent budget reductions for community engagement and implement an immediate hiring freeze for all sworn officers in 2021 until a new staffing model and plan is developed reflecting community priorities for public safety.

The proposed reductions to policing come as demonstrators occupying the Capitol Hill Organized Protest, or the CHOP, have called for the police budget by 50 percent. The mayors proposal for a $20 million cut amounts to a 5 percent cut, according to the Seattle Times.

Seattle Police Department Chief Carmen Best, in an open letter to the community, called the last several weeks in Seattle, in which saw protests culminate in the CHOP occupation the most transformative and challenging moments, in my lifetime, for our City, and for the Seattle Police Department.

Regarding reinvesting police resources in the community, she noted that the Seattle Police Department has voiced, for years, concerns that police officers are asked to play too many roles. Officers have become the safety net for a series of failures by other social systemsmany of which are the result of sustained under-investment, as well as systemic racism.

She said the Seattle Police Department is reviewing how it operates to see which responsibilities can be passed on to other agencies. This includes considering alternate ways of responding to non-criminal 911 calls and reconsidering the role of specialty units and proactive enforcement.
One of the more intriguing new iOS 14 features that was announced this week is App Clips. On the surface, it just seems like an iOS version of Androids own Instant Apps. Its a way for you to use an app without having to download it first, which is good if you need to use it on short notice. But App Clips could be more than just a convenient shortcut; it could also be a gateway to Apples homegrown sign-in service. And, by extension, a way to turn users away from Google and Facebook log-ins.

One of the key features of App Clips is that it can be used when speed and convenience are paramount, like renting a scooter in a new city. Theres no need to go to the app store and download the scooter app; simply scan the code or trigger the NFC tag and an App Clip will appear on your phone. From there, you can pay for your ride with Apple Pay and, more notably, hit Sign in With Apple to skip creating a whole new account.

Apple first came up with its Sign in with Apple service last year as a privacy-focused alternative to Google and Facebook. These are often used as a convenient alternative to signing up for a new account every time you want to test a new app or read a news story. For a lot of people, its just easier to rely on a single login and password. Unfortunately, whenever you use a login from Google and Facebook, that allows the website in question to request data about you, such as your name, birthday, your internet activity, and more. Google and Facebook in turn get a lot of information about you, which they often use to serve you ads.

According to the company, Apples sign-in service cares more about your data than the other two because itll let you limit the amount of private information that apps typically get. So, for example, while sites and apps will still be able to request your email address, Apples Sign In offers the option to hide it. Plus, Apple also will let you generate a unique, random email address that can forward messages from those services to your inbox. This, Apple says, will prevent companies from knowing your real email. Apple also claims that it wont let these third-party companies use the login to track your internet activity like Google or Facebook might.

As a way to spread the Sign in with Apple service to its customer base, the company made it mandatory for apps to include it as an option if they already had third-party logins. But as widespread as it is, most people will likely already have existing Google or Facebook logins that they use with their favorite apps. And even though Apples login option might have better privacy features than its rivals, A) thats not the kind of information thats easily conveyed in most apps and B) most people probably dont care very much.

App Clips, however, could change the rate of adoption for Sign In with Apple significantly. Since these are apps that users dont already have, its very likely that they will just pick the Sign In With Apple option rather than having to go through a whole new account sign up.

Whats more, Apple is opening the possibility for App Clips to work even for businesses that dont have a specific app of their own. It announced that its allowing apps with listings for multiple businesses, such as Yelp, to create App Clip experiences for each of them. So, for example, you could launch an App Clip for a plumber that you found on Yelp, and pay for its services that way.

As for why Apple would want users to use its sign-in service versus Google or Facebook, there are a few reasons. One is that this makes the iPhone a more holistic all-Apple experience, which is a clear priority for the company. Consider how Apple is attempting to win users away from Google Maps and over to Apple Maps. This reduces Apples dependence of third-parties and, importantly, gives it a lot more control over the user experience.

Additionally, Apples sign-in service is a way for it to separate itself from the competition. As iOS and Android get more and more alike in terms of services and features, privacy is where Apple hopes to differentiate itself. This is clearly a priority for the company, as evidenced by its giant CES ad that claimed What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone. If people continue to sign in with Google or Facebook, then Apples claim falls apart pretty quickly. But by making it much easier for users to use Sign In with Apple, it can make the case that privacy remains a priority. And, the more people that use the service, the easier it is for the company to argue users do indeed care about privacy.

Of course, the success of this ploy rests on the popularity of App Clips. As mentioned, Apple is pushing App Clips to be mostly used in very specific contexts, such as scooter apps or parking apps, and its appeal is mostly to first-time users (Regular users will likely just go ahead and download the full app). Much like with Android Instant Apps, most developers will probably prefer you download the full version instead. And its worth noting that Instant Apps never quite got enough traction on Android, likely due to low developer adoption. But considering Google and Facebooks dominance in this arena, Apple could use any help it can get.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case after the video surfaced. The state attorney general appointed Holmes, who's the district attorney in Cobb County near Atlanta, to prosecute after the local district attorney recused herself because Greg McMichael had worked for her  and two other outside prosecutors also stepped aside.
2020 Internet Telephony Product of the Year Unfortunately, many UCaaS networks are attractive cyber-attack targets resulting in extensive damages to both service providers and end users or subscribers. RedShift Networks' solution secures clients' profitability, safety and business continuity," said Tropico CEO Paulo Cabestre.

Tropico today announced a new partnership with RedShift Networks to provide advanced cybersecurity for protecting and securing unified communications (UC) and cloud UC services (UCaaS). The tremendous influx of remote workers before, during and eventually after the Covid-19 pandemic requires most businesses to secure their employees business communication applications. Leading enterprises and their communication service providers (CSPs) benefit from this new partnership by proactively detecting and blocking costly Robocalls, Malware resulting in ransomware and disruptive telecom denial of service (TDoS) attacks.

The tremendous uptick in UCaaS consumption by enterprise workers and delivery through CSPs delivers ease of use and convenience for users whether on site or remotely located. The underlying protocol for UCaaS services, industry standard session initiation protocol (SIP), suffers the many of the same types of threats facing traditional Internet (IP) networks. Together, Tropico and RedShift stand together to prevent costly, time consuming attacks.

Our customers' networks support mission-critical services essential to their businesses and the communities where they operate, said Paulo Cabestre, Tropicos CEO. Unfortunately, many UCaaS networks are attractive cyber-attack targets resulting in extensive damages to both service providers and end users or subscribers. RedShift Networks' solution delivers intelligent real-time security to help guarantee our clients' profitability, safety and business continuity.

"We believe our new partnership with Tropico adds valuable insight to supporting mission critical applications including Customer Service Center operations running in a 24x7x365 basis" said Amitava Mukherjee, CEO and Co-Founder at RedShift Networks. RedShifts approach is to deliver real-time SIP access security, protection against threats, fraud protection, anomaly detection, policy controls coupled with a powerful analytics dashboard.

Tropico delivers fixed and wireless communications solutions and advanced technologies to TELCOs, agribusiness, mining and logistics for private businesses, among others. The firms integrated offerings include a portfolio of virtualized software applications and a differentiated 4G/LTE Private Network that serves as the main engine for customers digital transformation. RedShifts offers valuable security threat intelligence, analytics and proactive fraud prevention technologies.

About RedShift Networks

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, RedShift Networks is the global leader in providing Cyber Security solutions for Global Carrier and Cloud Communications Operators to secure and protect their VoIP/SIP based networks. Our Unified Communications Threat Management (UCTM) software and appliance-based systems offer proactive robocall fraud prevention by delivering VoIP/SIP Security, Threat Intelligence Analytics, and Fraud detection technology. Our highly scalable, reliable and patented UCTM software allows for unprecedented real-time visibility into operators VoIP networks allowing our customers to immediately detect and automatically mitigate security attacks and fraudulent events. For more information, please visit http://www.redshiftnetworks.com.

About Tropico

Tropico offers clients vast experience in critical operations and in building solutions, products and services with high added value. Solutions range from fixed and mobile phone networks, where you can find control, access, management and monitoring litters, and all mobile long-line products with your own products (hardware, software and services) used in the core (ICT) networks of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) critical to real time systems. For more information, please visit http://www.tropiconet.com.br/a-empresa/?lang=en.
The market is getting flooded with truly wireless earbuds and Sony is the latest one to join the party. The company has announced two new additions to its TWS category at different price points, both falling in the premium segment. The first one is WF-XB700 that costs Rs 9,990 whereas the second one is the WF-SP800N that costs Rs 18,990. The former brings Sony's Extra Bass to the masses whereas the latter is aimed at sportspersons.

The WF-XB700 is aimed at the masses and it brings Sony's signature Extra Bass, which in turn enhances the low-end of the audio spectrum. These earbuds are IPX4 rated and Sony promises a total of 18 hours of battery life with the case included. The WF-SP800N features active noise cancellation and 9 hours of battery life on the earbuds alone. This one also gains support for IP55 water and dust resistance. Both the earbuds have support for SBC and AAC audio codecs.

With these earbuds, Sony is venturing into the true wireless category for the first time. Hence, India Today Tech reached out to Mani Balan, Product Manager, Personal Audio, Sony India, to learn about Sony's plans and future products.

Question: In a market floating with so many TWS earbuds, how is Sony willing to make a place for itself?

Sony has a strong foothold in personal audio market and thanks to products like WH-1000XM3, WH-XB900N and WI-1000XM2, customers especially resonate with Sony in the premium headphone segment. With the launch of Truly wireless headphones, we are focusing on the mid and premium segment, which is a sizeable market in India. We strongly believe that our products WF-XB700 and WF-SP800N with latest technology such as noise cancellation, quick attention mode, touch sensors, long battery life and sense engine will be the preferred choice of our customers.

Question: Recently, there have been a lot of new low-priced TWS earbuds. How do the new Sony models compare?

Our products are a complete package for the customers delivering powerful sound, long battery life, secure & comfortable fit, Noise cancellation, waterproof, stable Bluetooth connection, Voice assistants, latest Bluetooth version and low latency. Considering all such features inside one product, we believe we are very competitive and offer great value-for-money.

Question: Battery is one major area of concern with TWS earphones. Is Sony going for big batteries or clever technologies?

We have a combination of both. Our products deliver one of the longest battery life in the similar price segment. The WF-SP800N offers 26 hours of battery life, while WF-XB700 offers 18 hours. Another useful feature is that the earbuds itself hold much longer battery life, WF-SP800N earbuds have 13 hours and WF-XB700 earbuds have 9 hours, so the customer don't have to put it back frequently into the carrying case to charge it.

Question: Wear comfort is something that only a few OEMs have managed to get it. How important is comfort for Sony? Are there any specific developments on this?

Yes, our product planning team carried out extensive research to understand people's ear sizes and dimensions to perfectly design the latest Truly Wireless headphones. The ergonomic tri-hold structure helps to fit the headphones as per the ear shape and fix the earbuds' position with three points namely, Tragus, Antitragus and Antihelix. It also supports to make space between earbuds and crus of helix. In addition, we provide different sizes of ear tips to fit every person's ear.

Question: With in-ear designs (non-AirPods clones), voice reception in calls is usually poor. Do the new Sony TWS earbuds aim to tackle this issue, given the loud Indian ambience?

Yes, all our Truly wireless models have good quality built-in microphone which delivers clear audio during calls. The headphones deliver extremely clear voice quality for hands-free calling and one can take calls using either or both of the earbuds.

Question: Does Sony have plans to compete in the TWS earbuds segment under Rs 5,000, given that there's a demand for affordable earphones?

The Truly wireless market in India is evolving and we are continuously studying and analyzing the market in every price segment and will take further decisions of entering a new price band based on the market size and feasibility of making a product without compromising on the customer expectation from Sony and the brand's premium quality standards.
We often hear blacks complain about the struggles they deal with as a minority group in the USA. We hear that blacks are being oppressed by a system that holds them back because of their race. Some of their so-called "leaders" are telling them they can't make it in America due to the lack of opportunities for "people of color." When someone, black or white, disagrees with that antediluvian contention, he's likely to be branded as a racist. Yes, even if you're black and disagree with a white that racism is universal, you'll be deemed a racist. It reminds me of a comment made recently by Candace Owens, a conservative pundit and political activist, who also happens to be black. "The most ridiculous criticism of me is when I'm referred to as 'a black white supremacist,'" Owens said.

That raises the question of what's it like to be a minority within a minority. That's a struggle conservative blacks deal with constantly. With a plethora of race-baiters on left-wing news programs, blogs, and mainstream media in general, it takes a lot of courage to cross the color line and stand up for what you believe in. Whether you're a prominent black entrepreneur, athlete, movie star, or politician, your future could very well depend on what side you take in the pigmentation war. Whites who disagree with race-hustlers are simply labeled as a modern version of Bull Connor. Blacks who disagree have been referred to as "Uncle Toms," a reference to Harriet Beecher Stowe's famous 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.

In order to put the race issue in perspective, some conservative black leaders collaborated on a documentary film that speaks to the issue of independent thinking in the black community. When Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden was interviewed by a black liberal radio host named Charlamagne, Biden said, "You got more questions, but I tell ya, if you have a problem figuring out whether to vote for me or Trump, then you ain't black." It's those types of comments that make it clear that Democrats think they own the black vote. Larry Elder, conservative talk radio host, attorney, bestselling author, and political commentator, rejects that idea. To disseminate the message that blacks have the right and duty to think for themselves, Mr. Elder executive produced and co-wrote a documentary entitled Uncle Tom.

My wife and I were invited to the world premiere of the film on June 19, at a private reception at The Marq in Southlake, Texas. The date of the first showing is significant because June 19, which is known as Juneteenth, is celebrated as the date that blacks were emancipated from slavery in 1865. The invitation-only guest list included Mr. Elder and several prominent Republicans from Texas and across the country. After a VIP cocktail reception in Legends Hall at The Marq, where many of the film's participants met with guests, we were ushered into the large ballroom for the viewing. About 200 people were comfortably seated at tables of ten as Mr. Elder and director Justin Malone took to the stage for the introduction of the 106-minute film. The evenly mixed gathering of blacks and whites gave the impression that we were all part of a historical moment in time. It also made me wonder, as I so often have, why there is so much hostility between the races.

The movie delivers a message that, according to Elder, illustrates "the grief that people who are black and conservative get for just saying that they're not Democrats." Directed by Texas native Justin Malone (Undocumented, Hurry Up and Wait, The Bus Stop), Uncle Tom features Elder; Colonel Allen West, former congressman and current candidate for chairman of the Republican Party of Texas; Herman Cain, successful entrepreneur and 2012 Republican presidential candidate; Candace Owens; Dr. Carol Swain, conservative television analyst and former professor of law and political science at Vanderbilt University; Thomas Sowell, economist, author, and senior fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University; and Jesse Lee Peterson, host of The Jesse Lee Peterson Radio Show, among several other prominent blacks.

"The film really is attacking the way the Uncle Tom term is commonly used to demean people that have rethought their assumptions to the Democratic Party," says Elder. "You've got people like Maxine Waters and the whole Congressional Black Caucus, all essentially saying, 'Anybody [black] who votes for a Republican is a sell-out.'" The movie also includes newsreel footage of such prominent A-list figures as John Legend, President Barack Obama, Jay-Z, and many others. Some of the black conservatives in the film emphatically make their point by wearing the "Uncle Tom" moniker as a badge of honor. "The message could not be more important or more timely," says Elder. "Why does merely questioning the black allegiance to the Democratic party make you a 'sell-out,' a 'self-loather' or an 'Uncle Tom'?"

Available at pay for view, Uncle Tom: An oral history of the American black conservative can be purchased at www.uncletom.com.
The Canadian government can intervene to end Meng's extradition trial. Should it?

While seasoned jurists say the Canadian government has every legal right to intervene to free Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou from her extradition trial to the U.S., some experts warn such an action could have significant political ramifications.

"The question isn't whether the [Canadian government] can, the question is whether they should," said Toronto-based lawyer Brian Greenspan.

In 1999, the Extradition Act was amended to include a specific provision that provides the federal minister of justice the power to intervene in an extradition at any point during the judicial phase.

"The minister has the right to withdraw the authority to proceed and to end the extradition proceeding, and it's totally at the discretion of the minister of justice," Greenspan said.

WATCH | Chinese Foreign Ministry comments on CBC interview with Michael Kovrig's wife

Extradition proceedings continue in the case against Meng, who was arrested in 2018 in Vancouver on behalf of American justice officials. The United States wants to prosecute Meng for fraud, alleging she lied to banks about her company's connections with Iran, which could possibly violate U.S. sanctions.

The issue of the Canadian government intervening in the case of Meng, the daughter of the Chinese technology giant's founder, was raised recently by the wife of Michael Kovrig, one of two Canadians being held in China on charges of spying.

The Associated Press/International Crisis Group/The Canadian Press

The Trudeau government has accused China of detaining Kovrig and Michael Spavor in retaliation for the arrest of Meng. Some have suggested Canada could secure their freedom if it put an end to the extradition proceedings against Meng and allowed her to return to China.

Trudeau has said his government continues to work behind the scenes to secure the release of the two Canadians but has ruled out a prisoner exchange.

Still in custody

The Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, David Lametti, said in a statement Tuesday they are "well aware of the laws and processes governing" the extradition proceedings.

Story continues

"As Ms. Meng's case remains before the courts, and the Minister of Justice has a direct role in the extradition process, it would not be appropriate to comment further on this matter," the statement said.

WATCH | Canada can stop Meng Wanzhou's extradition, legal experts say. Should it?

Former Supreme Court of Canada justice John Major said while Lametti can intervene at any time in the extradition process, it would be unusual  especially if after a prolonged court hearing, it concluded in favour of extradition.

But Major noted there may be reasons to do it, especially as Kovrig and Spavor languish in Chinese detention.

"I would hope before the attorney general intervenes, [he] would have reasons that convince Canadians he should," Major told CBC News.

"The attorney general has to be very cautious in overruling a trial judge who has conducted a full hearing  You just want [Lametti] to act judiciously, not politically."

'Be very cautious'

Major said Canada is stuck in a difficult position, because if the attorney general quashes the judge's decision in Meng's case, the U.S. could react. Likewise, if the judge approves extradition, China could retaliate.

Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press

"It's a delicate situation where you have the U.S. at odds with China and Canada being caught in the middle," Major said.

Donald Abelson, director of St. Francis Xavier University's Brian Mulroney Institute of Government, said he believes it would be "a very dangerous game for Canada to play in terms of succumbing to pressure" to intervene politically in the case.

"I don't think that's a game that we want to play," said Abelson, who was also a founding director of the Canada-U.S. Institute. "It puts us in a very, very precarious position because we don't want to be seen by the Americans as succumbing to Chinese political pressure."

Abelson said Canada would be "tempting fate" with the U.S, particularly in the current political climate, where the Chinese government has become the focus of Donald Trump's ire in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic and the countries' trade war.

Abelson said Canada doesn't want to become a "punching bag" for Washington.

WATCH | Wife of Michael Kovrig says Canada can choose to end the extradition process:

Diplomatic gloves come off

David Carment, a a professor at Carleton University's Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, said he believes Canada's intervention would prompt the Trump administration to use it as a rallying cry to undermine Trudeau's leadership and his pursuit for a majority government when he calls an election.

"I think all sort of diplomatic gloves would come off in this case. The United States would come out fighting and work to undermine this current government's mandate," he said.

Christopher Sands, director of the Centre for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said that the state department officials who brought the case forward against Meng would be unhappy with Canada's decision to intervene.

Trump would likely be angry, send off a dismissive tweet or give Trudeau the cold shoulder at the next G7 meeting. But Sands doesn't believe it would result in major policy ramifications against Canada.

"Would it be 'Canadians are no longer allowed to cross the border?' No. The relationship between us and Canada is too big and complex for that," he said. "I can't see any lasting damage."
In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, US President Donald Trump has suspended H-1B, L and other temporary work permits allowing immigrants to work in the United States till the end of this year.

Reuters

As per Trump, the move was aimed at protecting local workers facing unemployment due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. The US technology industry, however, has not taken well to the decision.

Apple Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Cook is one of those who have expressed their disappointment at the US government's move. In a recent tweet, Cook mentioned how there would be no prosperity without diversity in the US and that he is deeply disappointed with the proclamation.

Apple CEO Tim Cook's tweet

"Like Apple, this nation of immigrants has always found strength in our diversity, and hope in the enduring promise of the American Dream," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a tweet on Tuesday.



Tech CEOs raise their voice

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump as he tours Apple's Mac Pro manufacturing plant. (Representative Image: Reuters/ Nov, 2019)

Tim Cook is not the only one against the H1B visa ban. Google CEO Sundar Pichai as well as Tesla CEO Elon Musk also disagreed with the visa ban.



Pichais tweet on Tuesday took a similar tone as that of Cooks. Pichai mentioned how immigrants have been huge contributors to America's economic success over the years.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai's tweet

"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 his tweet.



Even Elon Musk, an outright Twitter star known to not mince words on the microblogging platform, responded with a bit more critique. On Tuesday, Elon Musk tweeted that he disagreed with the visa ban. He wrote that while Visa reform makes sense, an outright ban was too broad for the country.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk's tweet

A major portion of the workforce hired by such technology and automobile giants in the US comes from outside the US.

As per a report by MoneyControl, there are about 4 lakh H-1B and 1 lakh L-1 Indian visa holders in the US.


President Donald Trump again referred to the novel coronavirus as "Kung flu," eliciting laughter and wild cheers from a young crowd in Arizona on Tuesday.

Trump was listing the different names he has heard for the virus, which, to date, has killed at least 123,000 Americans, during a speech for the student Republican group, Turning Point Action.

"Wuhan. Wuhan was catching on, coronavirus, Kung flu," he said, repeating it as the crowd roared. "I could give you many, many names. Some people call it the Chinese flu, the China flu, they call it the China."

Trump drew criticism after he used the racially insensitive moniker to describe the coronavirus at a campaign rally in Tulsa on Saturday night - his first since the outbreak largely shut down the country.

At his rally Tuesday, Trump downplayed the virus that has afflicted millions across the globe, saying "I can name Kung flu, I can name 19 different versions of names. Many call it a virus, which it is. Many call it a flu, what difference?"

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tried to defend the president's use of the name when asked by a reporter on Monday why he uses such racist language.

"The president doesn't," McEnany said. "What the president does do is point to the fact that the origin of the virus was China. It's a fair thing to point out."

Trump has repeatedly blamed China for the global outbreak in an effort to deflect blame for his handling of the virus in its early days. He was criticized in March for continuing to call it the "Chinese virus" long after it had spread to other countries and Asian Americans voiced concern that the affiliation would stoke fears and result in prejudice against them.
FILE PHOTO: Colombia's Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas speaks during an interview with Reuters in New York

By Aaron Saldanha and Lisa Pauline Mattackal

(Reuters) - Foreign investment in Latin America risks "drying out" due to economic turmoil and fiscal instability sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially if Chinese-led commodity demand remains weak, a former Colombian finance minister said on Tuesday.

"There is a risk that markets for the region dry out somewhat, [due to] large recessions, high unemployment, deteriorated fiscal accounts and low terms of trade," Mauricio Cardenas told the Reuters Global Markets Forum.

"My sense is China will not grow more than 5% in the next few years and the model will favor renewables," said Cardenas, adding that a stronger Chinese recovery could aid Latin America by buoying demand for commodity exports.

Shutdowns to battle the coronavirus have hit global oil prices <LCOc1> this year, broadly knocking the shares of producers and compounding the economic fallout for Latin American countries, especially those heavily dependent on oil revenue.

Cardenas expects Colombia's oil production to fall from around 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) to around 800,000 bpd this year, adding that majority state-owned oil firm Ecopetrol <ECO.CN> <ECO.N> is unlikely to receive much government support.

"The government will try to take as much cash from Ecopetrol as possible in 2021," he said.

Colombia has projected oil production for this year between 820,000 and 850,000 bpd.

(GRAPHIC: Performance of U.S.-listed stocks of Petrobras, Ecopetrol - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/xlbpgonqmpq/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(5).png)

Cardenas said Brazil's Petrobras <PETR4.SA> <PETR3.SA> is unlikely to add more than 1 million bpd to its production between now and 2025, while Mexico's Pemex is unlikely to boost production or meet its stated oil production goals due to lower capital spending.

(GRAPHIC: Select Latam oil & gas firms' quarterly production (Pemex data only Liquid Hydrocarbons Production) -

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Cardenas, finance minister from 2012 to 2018, said Colombia's budget deficit was likely to reach around 7% of gross domestic product. The government has suspended fiscal deficit limits until 2022.

((This interview was conducted in the Reuters Global Markets Forum, a chat room hosted on the Refinitiv Messenger platform. Sign up here to join GMF: https://refini.tv/2LbSKPl ))

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Performance of U.S.-listed stocks of Petrobras, Ecopetrol https://tmsnrt.rs/3du9jSB

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(Reporting by Lisa Pauline Mattackal and Aaron Saldanha in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Brown)
NASA is renaming its Washington DC headquarters in honor of the first black female engineer to work at the American space agency - the 'Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building.'

Jackson, a mathematician and aerospace engineer, started her career in the segregated West Area Computing Unit of the agency's Langley Research Center in Virginia.

While working at NASA, Jackson was one of three women who prepared astronaut John Glenn's 1962 orbital mission as the US beat the Soviet Union (USSR) in the space race.

She was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and four years later, Jackson and her colleagues received Congressional Gold Medals.

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NASA is renaming its Washington DC headquarters in honor of the first black female engineer to work at the American space agency - the 'Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building'

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said: 'Mary W. Jackson was part of a group of very important women who helped NASA succeed in getting American astronauts into space.'

'Mary never accepted the status quo, she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology.'

'Today, we proudly announce the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building.

'It appropriately sits on 'Hidden Figures Way,' a reminder that Mary is one of many incredible and talented professionals in NASA's history who contributed to this agency's success.'

The African American women who helped America dominate aeronautics, space research and computer technology during World War II received Congressional Gold Medals. Katherine Johnson is pictured left in 1955. Dorothy Vaughan is pictured right

While working at NASA, Jackson was one of three women who prepared astronaut John Glenn's 1962 orbital mission as the US beat the Soviet Union (USSR) in the space race

'Hidden no more, we will continue to recognize the contributions of women, African Americans, and people of all backgrounds who have helped construct NASA's successful history to explore.'

Jackson, along with three other women, was largely forgotten until the book 'Hidden Figures' was released decades later by author Margot Lee Shetterly.

The book was made into a popular movie that same year and Jackson's character was played by award-winning actress Janelle Monae, which highlights her work with follow NASA employees Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan.

Jackson, born in 1921, graduated from Hampton Institute in 1942 with a dual major in math and physical science.

After college, she took on a position as a math teacher, followed by a bookkeeper.

She finally landed a career in her field at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1951  the agency was succeeded by NASA seven years later.

Jackson started as a research mathematician where she met Johnson and Vaughn.

NASA remained its Washington DC headquarters (pictured) the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building,' which is located on 'Hidden Figures Way'

The three were known as 'computers in skirts' around the agency and were only provided with limited technology to carry out their work.

However, the three were key players in preparing astronaut John Glenn's orbital mission.

According to NASA, Glenn did not put too much faith into electronic computers, and would ask engineers to 'get the girl,' referring to Johnson, to run the same numbers through the same equations that had been programmed into the computer by hand.

After helping the US win the space race, Jackson was offered to work in the 4-foot by 4-foot Supersonic Pressure Tunnel, a 60,000 horsepower wind tunnel capable of blasting models with winds approaching twice the speed of sound.

Jackson was given the opportunity to conduct her own experiments that impressed her supervisor, who suggested a training program for Jackson to earn a promotion from mathematician to engineer.

Jackson, born in 1921, graduated from Hampton Institute in 1942 with a dual major in math and physical science. After college, she took on a position as a math teacher, followed by a bookkeeper. She finally landed a career in her field at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1951

Jackson's story was recreated in the 2016 Margot Lee Shettlerly book ''Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race.' The book was made into a popular movie that same year and Jackson's character was played by award-winning actress Janelle Monae (right)

However, the classes were conducted in a segregated part of the school, so Jackson had to seek prior permission to join her white classmates.

Jackson persevered, she completed the courses, earned the promotion and became NASA's first black female engineer in 1958.

She worked as an engineer for nearly 20 years, and published a number of reports that mainly focused on the behavior of the boundary layer of air around airplanes.

In 1979, she joined Langley's Federal Women's Program, where she worked hard to address the hiring and promotion of the next generation of female mathematicians, engineers and scientists. Mary retired from Langley in 1985.

In 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act that posthumously awarded the honor to Jackson, who passed away in 2005, and her 'Hidden Figures' colleagues Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Christine Darden.

'NASA facilities across the country are named after people who dedicated their lives to push the frontiers of the aerospace industry,' said Bridenstine

'The nation is beginning to awaken to the greater need to honor the full diversity of people who helped pioneer our great nation.

'Over the years NASA has worked to honor the work of these Hidden Figures in various ways, including naming facilities, renaming streets and celebrating their legacy.'

'We know there are many other people of color and diverse backgrounds who have contributed to our success, which is why we're continuing the conversations started about a year ago with the agency's Unity Campaign.'

'NASA is dedicated to advancing diversity, and we will continue to take steps to do so.'
VANCOUVER - When the COVID-19 outbreak forced many restaurants to shutter dining rooms across Canada, Vancouver-based Joey Restaurants responded by opening two "ghost kitchens"  a new model being adopted for delivery- and pick-up-only spaces.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brooke Blake and Arthur Montgomery work in the Joey Restaurant's ghost kitchen located in Surrey, B.C., June 19, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

VANCOUVER - When the COVID-19 outbreak forced many restaurants to shutter dining rooms across Canada, Vancouver-based Joey Restaurants responded by opening two "ghost kitchens"  a new model being adopted for delivery- and pick-up-only spaces.

Large restaurant chains are accelerating their adoption of the design, in which centralized kitchens pump out orders without the need for a dining room, amid a surge in demand during the pandemic, and the trend may be here to stay.

"All the big players are actually having this conversation," said Robert Carter, industry analyst with The StratonHunter Group.

Ghost kitchens started cropping up several years ago, typically with individual restaurants operating a delivery-only business that differed from what they sold in their dining rooms.

By the start of the year, Carter said, the idea started gaining popularity among bigger players in the full-service restaurant chain space, he said, especially in the United States where third-party companies sprang up to create virtual kitchen concepts for existing restaurants.

One such company, Kitchen Hub, announced in February it was opening a virtual food hall in Etobicoke, Ont. The delivery-only restaurant would feature food from six different brands, allowing customers to mix-and-match on single orders, it said, and would be the first of several planned halls for Canada.

Now, corporations are starting to open their own ghost kitchens instead of outsourcing them to these third parties, said Carter.

Part of that comes down to increasing demand for delivery amid the coronavirus outbreak, with many restaurants still closed or operating at reduced capacity, and consumers wary of lingering near other people.

"Consumers are embracing the off-premises much more than they were pre-COVID," said Carter. "It's accelerated by, I would say, a couple years."

That's made the ghost kitchen model "much more attractive" to big players in the full-service restaurant space, he said.

Restaurant conglomerate Recipe Unlimited Corp. started planning its virtual concept  named Ultimate Kitchen  last summer, said CEO Frank Hennessey.

The first one opened in Toronto at the end of March. The company first targeted the middle of April, but when the pandemic hit, it sped the process up by a couple of weeks.

The single kitchen cooks food from six of its brands: Swiss Chalet, East Side Mario's, Montana's, Fresh, New York Fries and Harveys. The company uses third-party app services, for delivery, but is "absolutely considering" moving the service in-house in the future.

Recipe turned to a ghost kitchen for several reasons, including the desire to offer a better guest experience for delivery, said Hennessey. Running different brands out of a single restaurant, and overseeing delivery, is a complicated affair, he added.

It's also a cheaper way to enter certain markets than by building a brick-and-mortar, dine-in location.

And, "the cherry on the top" is that customers can purchase items from the different brands in a single order, he said, which is a benefit for groups with competing tastes.

"It's more than exceeded our expectations," said Hennessey, noting the concept benefits from the pandemic lockdown, but he expects it will continue to perform well once the health crisis is over as well.

Recipe plans to open more kitchens in Toronto, Calgary and Montreal by the end of the year.

"Many of these markets could, you know, handle a lot of these kitchens," he said, adding the company doesn't want to open in places that will compete with its existing physical restaurant locations.

Joey Restaurants opened a ghost kitchen at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey, B.C., May 14 and another in a stationary food truck in Brampton, Ont., May 21.

It did so partly to provide jobs to staff who could no longer work as servers in its dining rooms, as well as create new jobs, said Rupert Martin, vice-president of culinary.

The need to make sales played a role as well.

"There was obviously a steep decline in sales," he said.

Ghost kitchens offer a quick, cost-effective method, Martin said, noting brick-and-mortar restaurants are very expensive to open and can take months, whereas ghost kitchens can be opened in weeks.

Before the coronavirus, the off-premises channel accounted for less than 10 per cent of the commercial restaurant industry's revenue, said Carter. He predicts it to make up close to 20 per cent of a full-service restaurant operator's business once the pandemic ends.

"I would expect we'll see a lot more operators looking to understand this model and start to roll out a very similar model," he said.

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For Joey, it's too soon to know if they'll keep the ghost kitchens beyond the pandemic, said Martin.

But for Recipe Unlimited, the concept will be a permanent fixture.

"We could see it being relatively decent sized," said Hennessey.

"The model itself is something that can go beyond our borders. It could be something that you see us do south of the border or even potentially overseas."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2020.

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The federal government has been trying to coerce and threaten the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe ever since Gov. Kristi Noem asked for help stopping its COVID-19 checkpoints on state and federal highways, according to a lawsuit filed by the tribe.

Since Governor Noems White House plea, all named defendants have worked in concert, abusing the power of the federal government, to coerce the tribe to dismantle its checkpoints, the lawsuit says. When that did not work, defendants pivoted to punishment: threatening to take over tribal law enforcement, imperiling tribal public safety as well as public health.

Such threatened governmental actions represent unlawful infringement on tribal self-government and self-determination and put the tribes members at risk of imminent harm, the lawsuit says.

The complaint against President Donald Trump, White House officials, and leadership in the Department of Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs was filed Tuesday at the federal court in Washington, D.C. It's asking a judge to prevent the federal government from taking over tribal law enforcement and shutting down the checkpoints because checkpoints aren't covered in the tribe's law enforcement contact and aren't one of the reasons that allow the BIA to rescind the agreement.

The lawsuit comes after Noem used multiple methods  reaching out to the tribes, threatening her own lawsuit, having the South Dakota attorney general investigate the checkpoints and finally asking the federal government for help  to make the Cheyenne River and Oglala Sioux tribes remove the checkpoints.

The government is fishing for excuses and trying to pressure us any way they can, Chairman Harold Frazier told the Journal on Tuesday.

The tribes have checkpoints that limit some drivers from passing through or stopping on the reservations in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The checkpoints are also used to inform travelers about COVID-19 policies on the reservations and collect information in case contact tracing is needed.

But Noem, a business group and a state senator told the Journal that the tribe doesn't always follow its own rules and has unfairly turned some drivers away.

Frazier and Julian Bear Runner, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, say tribal sovereignty and treaty rights allow them to set checkpoints up on reservation land and control who enters. The lawsuit, Frazier, Bear Runner and health experts all say tribal members are especially susceptible to contracting and dying of the virus due to lack of medical resources and socioeconomic health barriers.

The lawsuit says the checkpoints are working because the six cases on the Cheyenne River Reservation are all traced to entries identified through the checkpoints, not community spread. There have been zero deaths.

The BIA wrote in an April 8 memo that tribes have the right to close or restrict access on tribal roads. But it said tribes can do the same on state and federally owned roads only on behalf of the affected road owner after the tribe has consulted and reached an agreement.

Noem says the checkpoints on state and U.S. highways are illegal because the tribes have failed to consult and reach an agreement with the state, and theyre interfering with interstate commerce. Shes also said the only agreement she wants regarding those checkpoints is for them to be dismantled.

But the lawsuit says the checkpoints are legal because the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that tribes can exercise civil jurisdiction over nonmembers regarding conduct that threatens health and welfare.

It is difficult to think of an instance in which the conduct of nonmembers entering the reservation could pose more of a threat to the tribes health and welfare than it does during the present outbreak of COVID-19, the lawsuit says. Moreover, in any test of balancing interests, the tribes checkpoints pose only a minor inconvenience to non-Indian motorists when compared to the seriousness of the threat of COVID-19 to the reservation.

Federal actions

What follows is what the lawsuit says happened behind the scenes between the tribe and the federal government since Noem asked the latter to intervene on May 20:

The BIA investigated the checkpoints between May 20 and June 7 in what the agency called a fact-finding operation.

DOI and BIA officials then called the tribe on June 7 to say it was considering cancelling the tribes 638 law enforcement contract  which allows the tribe to operate its own law enforcement with BIA money rather than rely on BIA agents  after alleging that the checkpoint workers were not properly trained and deputized.

BIA staff visited the reservation on June 9 to investigate the qualifications of the checkpoint monitors. Tribal workers told the BIA staff that the monitors weren't employed under the 638 contract so the BIA only reviewed documentation of the 638 law enforcement officers.

Frazier also received a phone call that day from Mark Meadows, White House chief of staff. Meadows said he has a longstanding love" for Native American tribes and that federal intervention won't do Trump or the tribe "any good." But he ended by saying he cant have checkpoints on federal roads before threatening the tribes coronavirus relief money if it uses the funds for checkpoints.

Tara Sweeney  the top Indian Affairs official at the DOI  sent a June 10 letter saying the tribe was breaking the 638 contract law by having checkpoint monitors present themselves as police officers as they prohibited access to federal and state highways. Sweeney said the checkpoints had to be dismantled by June 12 if the tribe wants to keep its contract.

Frazier responded to Sweeney that the monitors are not deputized as police officers or paid using the 638 funding. He said he would make sure they arent wearing any patches or badges that makes it seem like they are law enforcement, but he would not take down the checkpoints.

The special agent in charge of the BIAs Office of Justice Serves in South Dakota then sent a June 12 letter threatening monetary penalties, the forcible dismantling of the checkpoints, and the end to the 638 contract if the tribe doesnt take down its checkpoints. But Sweeney's deadline passed with no action taken by the tribe or federal government.

Frazier and other staff had a June 15 call with Meadows, Dr. Deborah Brix  the coronavirus response coordinator  and other White House officials. The head of the Indian Health Service and a representative form the Centers for Disease Control were also on the phone.

Brix said the checkpoints should be removed because South Dakotas infection rate had already peaked and the tribe should instead focus on testing people who live on and visit the reservation. She did not acknowledge tribal barriers to health care nor the success of the tribes comprehensive COVID-19 prevention plan.

Frazier had another group call on June 17 when Sweeney said the government would provide additional coronavirus support if the tribe took down its checkpoints.

Finally, the head of the BIAs Office of Justice Services said in a June 22 letter that the BIA would end the the 638 contract if the tribe doesnt pull officers  not just checkpoint monitors  without proper background checks. The lawsuit said the DOI, not the tribe, is responsible for the background checks and the tribe has asked for help on the issue for several years.

The DOI is trying to exploit technical flaws in the background checks to rescind the 638 contract in order to make the checkpoints come down, the lawsuit says.

 Contact Arielle Zionts at arielle.zionts@rapidcityjournal.com.

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Uttarakhand forest department has issued an order directing the officials to involve the members of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) in a plantation drive across the hill state, especially for the upcoming Van Mohatsav and Harela, the green festivals of the Himalayan state, when people plant saplings.

Van Mahotsav and Harela will be celebrated in the first week of July and on July 16, respectively.

Jai Raj, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Uttarakhand, said he issued the order regarding involving RSS members in plantation drives, especially Harela, because peoples and organisations participation can only make such campaigns a success.

He explained the reasons behind roping in RSS members.

RSS is a big organisation. Their leaders approached us that they want to work with the state forest department in plantation activities. We readily agreed as plantation drives are meant for mass involvement. People from all walks of life are welcome to join us. Later, I issued an order to this effect, he said.

For more public participation in environmental protection this year, the members of RSS should be provided with an opportunity to participate in plantation activities like Van Mahotsav and Harela in a big way, the order, issued on Monday, stated.

Harela, which literally means Green Day, is an environment-friendly festival celebrated in Uttarakhand and some regions of neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

While the Shravan Harela is celebrated on the first day of Shravan, which usually falls in late July.

People in the Himalayan state consider it auspicious to start the sowing season on that day.

RBS Rawat, an RSS leader from Uttarakhand, who is in charge of environment and conservation-related activities of the Sangh in his home state, said that the organisation has been involved in similar work and remains committed to the ecological cause.

This time we joined hands with the state forest department in a bid to scale up the campaign. We wrote to the department authorities that we have 2,500 environment guards across the state, who can contribute to these plantation drives. I am happy that the state forest department has readily agreed to our offer. This is a good initiative aimed at increasing the green cover in the state, said Rawat, who joined the RSS after he retired as PCCF, Uttarakhand.

Main opposition Congress, however, alleged that the state-wide ecological drive is the saffronisation of the government machinery in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state.

Congress state vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana said, Why has the forest department issued an order for the involvement of only RSS members? This shows how the RSS and its ideology have penetrated the state government machinery. Plantation drives and participation in Harela and Van Mahotsav is open to one and all. It shouldnt be politicised.

State forest minister Harak Singh Rawat, however, reasoned that the RSS has started these activities for the protection of the environment and water resources in Uttarakhand from March a few days before the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.

The RSS members want to reach out to people across the state. I appeal to everyone to cooperate with RSS workers in their selfless service for the protection of the environment in our state, the minister said.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Neeraj Santoshi He is principal correspondent based at Bhopal. He covers environment and wildlife, state administration, BJP and other saffron organisations. He has special interest in social issues based stories. ...view detail
A new study reveals a possible biological reason that Alzheimer's Disease (AD) progresses at different rates in different patients.

The study, which was led by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers, focused on tau, a protein found in the neurofibrillary tangles in the brain that are a well-known sign of AD.

Tau can undergo a variety of modifications during the course of the disease including phosphorylations. Researchers found that the presence of different forms of phosphorylated tau could explain why the disease has variable effects.

The study's lead author is Simon Dujardin, PhD, post-doctoral research fellow at Mass General.

Physicians have long known that, from patient to patient, there can be substantial variation in the clinical presentation of Alzheimer's Disease, including age of onset, rate of memory decline and other clinical measures.

Also, higher levels of pathological tau in the brain are associated with more severe disease. However, there are few clues as to what causes this variation between patients.

This team studied samples from 32 patients who were diagnosed with what is considered "typical AD" while living, and that diagnosis was confirmed after death.

The age at diagnosis and the rate of disease progression varied markedly among these patients.

More Details About the Study

The researchers also conducted an in-depth characterization of the molecular features of tau proteins within the brains of these patients.

This included levels of different species of tau, capacity of tau to induce aggregation (also called seeding), as well as the presence of specific post-translational modifications using biochemical, biophysical and bioactivity assays, as well as advanced mass spectrometry techniques, working with teams at Children's Hospital, Boston and Merck.

The researchers found "striking" variation in the presence of phosphorylated tau oligomers that associates with greater tau spread, and, importantly, worse disease.

Different specific modifications were associated with different degrees of severity and progression rate.

Notably, these specific molecular characteristics led to variable recognition by antibodies which are currently being considered for the therapeutic targeting of tau proteins in AD and associated diseases.

"We speculate that there are different molecular 'drivers' of Alzheimer's progression, with each patient having their own set of these," says Bradley Hyman, MD, PhD, senior author of the report and director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Massachusetts General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND). Hyman adds that,

"This is similar to what we see in cancer, where there are several types of lung or breast cancer, for example, and the treatment depends on the particular molecular drivers in the patient's tumor."

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This was a multi-institution, cross-disciplinary collaboration between clinicians, neuroscientists and neuropathologists. The team included Judith Steen, PhD, associate professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Neuroproteomics Laboratory in the F. M. Kirby Neuroscience Center at Boston Children's Hospital, as well as Matthew Kennedy, PhD, of the Department of Neuroscience, Merck & Co.

About Massachusetts General Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The Mass General Research Institute conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation, with annual research operations of over $1 billion and comprises more than 9,500 researchers working across more than 30 institutes, centers and departments. In August 2019, Mass General was named #2 in the U.S. News & World Report list of "America's Best Hospitals."
Waterborne Coatings Market by Application (Industrial and Architectural), Resin Type (Polyester, Acrylic, Alkyd, Polyurethane, Epoxy, PTFE, PVDC, PVDF), Region, Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2020 to 2027

NEWARK, N.J., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the new report published by Fior Markets., the global waterborne coatings market is anticipated to grow from USD 74.21 billion in 2019 to USD 106.34 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period 2020-2027.

The primary driver for market growth is the rising adoption by the end-user industry of green and eco-friendly coatings and growing strictness in environmental regulations. The increase in people's incomes and the high economic growth contribute to the growth of the automotive and construction industries. Factors such as non-flammable, odorless, long shelf life, non-toxic, are anticipated to fuel the growth of the market. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing spending on construction and restoration activities in emerging economies of Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Waterborne coating is a term used to describe any surface coating or finishing that utilizes water as a solvent to disperse the resin that is added to it to form the coating. Composition varies with small amounts of other solvents such as glycol ethers and can include as much as 80 per cent water. High water content makes waterborne coatings both friendly to the environment and easy to apply. Waterborne coatings use water instead of other solvents, to dissolve a resin. It has low levels of volatile organic compound (VOC) which makes it environmentally friendly and helpful in emission reduction. The different solvents which are used as binders in waterborne coatings include polyvinyl ethers, glycol ethers, polyacrylate, or polyurethane. The coatings exhibit outstanding heat and abrasion resistance.

Over the last decade, the building & construction coatings industry enjoyed a period of healthy innovation. Some of the key drivers were the conversion from oil-based to water-borne paints, reduction of VOCs, the emergence of paint-and-primer-in-one products, removal of chemicals of concern, the desire to provide improved film properties such as dirt pick-up resistance and early rain resistance, and the desire to provide easy-to-apply new looks. As urbanization is growing, demand for residential, commercial and industrial infrastructure is rising. This, in turn, propels demand from building & construction end-users for waterborne coatings. Moreover, the growth of the global waterborne coatings market is boosted by various factors such as the growth prospects in highly regulated regions, as well as government support. However, factors such as uneven enforcement may restrain market growth.

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DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE REPORT AT https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/418014/request-sample

Key players operating in the global waterborne coatings market include Akzo Nobel N.V., Axalta Coating Systems, BASF SE, PPG Industries, Berger Paints, Sherwin Williams, and The Valspar Corporation among others. The major players are now focusing on introducing strategies such as embracing innovative technologies, product developments, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations, and partnerships to enhance their market position in the global waterborne coatings industry.

For instance, in December, 2018, Tikkurila launched a new waterborne fire-retardant laquer for wooden surfaces, Fontefire WF Clear. The product improves the beauty of treated surfaces and enables to use the coated wood in places such as hospitals and schools where the fire safety standards are the most stringent.

For instance, in June 2019, Jotun signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hyundai Heavy Industries of Korea (HHI) stating that Jotun's new marine paint will be used to reduce solvent emissions by 90%. The partnership will help HHI better equip and help comply with the environmental regulations that aim to reduce solvent emissions.



The architecture segment is expected to account for the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

Based on application, the market can be divided into industrial and architectural uses. The industrial segment is further divided into automotive, packaging, general, protective, marine, wood, coil, and others. The architectural segment is further divided into residential and non-residential uses. The architectural waterborne coatings are used for both decorative and protective purposes. For decorative purposes, the coatings are used indoors, window frames, wood flooring, sculptures etc. For preventive purposes, it is used for exterior paints. Therefore, the architecture segment is expected to account for the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

Browse full report with TOC at https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/waterborne-coatings-market-by-application-industrial-and-architectural-418014.html

The acrylic segment is expected to dominate the market share during the forecast period.

On the basis of the type of resin, the market can be divided into polyester, acrylic, alkyd, polyurethane, epoxy, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC), and Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF). The exceptional chemical and aesthetic properties have led to the widespread application of the acrylic coating driving the market growth. Therefore, the acrylic segment is expected to dominate the market share during the forecast period. The features of durability, flexibility, UV resistance, and colour retention has led to the high demand for the coating in construction, medical, automotive, and metal refinishing industries.

Regional Segment Analysis of the Waterborne Coatings Market

Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Rest of the Europe)

North America (U.S. , Mexico, Canada)

Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA)

South America (Brazil and Rest of South America)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan India, Rest of APAC)

Due to the strict regulatory requirements by the environmental agencies, and stringent safety and protection laws for employees prevalent in the Europe region, Europe is expected to dominate the market share during the forecast period. The growth of the automobile sector in the region and the use of green coatings in refinishing of automobile is also expected to contribute to market growth. Moreover, due to the rise in industrialization in the developing economies of China, India, Indonesia, and others, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to portray the highest growth rate in the forecast period.

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The global waterborne coatings market is analysed on the basis of value (USD billion). All the segments have been analyzed on global, regional and country basis. The study includes an analysis of more than 30 countries for each segment. The report offers in-depth analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining the key insight of the market. The study includes porters five forces model, attractiveness analysis, raw material analysis, supply, demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution and marketing channels analysis.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 04:33:12|Editor: huaxia

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AMMAN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Jordan is keen to continue its solid cooperation with China in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Jordan's Health Minister Saad Jaber said Tuesday.

"Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Jordan, we started cooperating with China in this regard, and our cooperation is solid," the minister said in response to Xinhua's question during a press conference in Amman.

"We have been granted and imported lots of medical equipment from China, and we got reports from China about the situation there... Our cooperation with the Chinese embassy is firm, and we exchange information," Jaber said.

"We are closely following up on the development of a vaccine in China, and once it's proven successful, we will seek to acquire the vaccine from China, for the benefit of Jordanian citizens, " he added.

He revealed that Jordan has a specialized team that follows up on the global epidemiological situation regarding the vaccines and other medical development.

"Jordan is keen to continue its cooperation with China," the minister said.

Jordan reported five new cases of COVID-19 infection on Tuesday, increasing the total number of cases to 1,047, Jaber said.

All cases registered on Tuesday were persons coming from abroad, he added.

China has supported Jordan's fight against the pandemic. On May 31, China donated a batch of medical supplies to Jordan to help combat the coronavirus. Enditem
Gov. Phil Murphy will discuss the states ongoing recovery from the coronavirus pandemic at another press conference in Trenton on Wednesday.

It will start at 1 p.m. and be streamed live on the governors YouTube channel.

Murphy is likely to again implore New Jersey residents to wear face coverings and be mindful of social distancing as data released by the state on Wednesday morning showed hospitalizations climbed for a second consecutive day after a long run of declines.

The governor has repeatedly said hospitalizations, the rate of infection and the positivity rate are the most important factors in the state continuing to reopen. On Tuesday, Murphy said a spike in cases could force him to stop the reopening plans.

Already this week, Murphy has announced that indoor dining, casinos, amusement parks and water parks can reopen July 2. Barber shops and tattoo parlors were allowed to resume operations on Monday.

Indoor shopping malls are days away from reopening.

New Jersey reported 57 new deaths and 382 new cases Tuesday to push its cumulative totals to 12,949 and 169,734. State officials have said 80% to 85% of cases are mild or moderate.

Murphy will be joined at the press conference by state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, communicable disease service medical director Dr. Edward Lifshitz, acting State Police Superintendent Colonel Pat Callahan and Rutgers University School of Public Health Dean Perry N. Halkitis.

Murphy has no other scheduled media appearances on Wednesday.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
If convicted, Melzer could face up to life in prison. Stock photo

As Ethan Melzer's US army unit prepared for a deployment in April, the young private recognised that he could be killed while overseas and expressed an apparent willingness to die.

"I would've died successfully," Melzer allegedly wrote in a message.

But federal authorities now say that Melzer's life was actually at risk because of a murderous plot he had hatched against his own unit.

The 22-year-old from Louisville is accused of leaking sensitive information about his unit to a Satanic neo-Nazi cult as part of a plot to launch a "mass casualty" attack intended to cause "the deaths of as many of his fellow service members as possible," according to an indictment.

In a series of electronic messages, Melzer allegedly shared details about his unit's location, movements and security with members of the Order of Nine Angles, or O9A, a UK-based organisation described by prosecutors as "an occult-based neo-Nazi and racially motivated violent extremist group".

"Melzer allegedly provided this potentially deadly information intending that it be conveyed to jihadist terrorists," Acting US Attorney Audrey Strauss for the Southern District of New York said in a news release.

Describing the planned attack as a "murderous ambush," Ms Strauss called Melzer "the enemy within".

Melzer, whose alleged plans were thwarted by the FBI and the army late last month, was arrested on June 10 and 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, according to the release.

Authorities said Melzer admitted to plotting the assault against an unidentified military base. While in custody, he declared himself to be "a traitor against the United States" and said his conduct was "tantamount to treason," the indictment said. If convicted, Melzer could face up to life in prison.

Federal prosecutors said on Monday that members and associates of O9A have been known to participate in acts of violence, including murders.

O9A promotes "violent, neo-Nazi, anti-Semitic, and Satanic beliefs," and its adherents have expressed admiration of Adolf Hitler and Islamic terrorists like Osama bin Laden, prosecutors said.

The group is believed to have originated in the early 1970s, according to Hope not Hate, an anti-hate advocacy organisation in the UK. As Hope not Hate writes, O9A "encourages acolytes to engage in forbidden and illegal acts, including extreme violence, sexual assault, assassinations and human sacrifices".

Federal authorities did not specify how Melzer, who joined the army in 2018, became involved with O9A, only saying that he was affiliated with the group by 2019. That same year, Melzer and his unit were deployed abroad, the indictment said.

The plot to kill his fellow soldiers allegedly began taking shape in April, after Melzer learned that his unit was being moved to a different foreign base.

Once he was notified of the assignment, prosecutors allege that Melzer used an encrypted application to message members of O9A and a related group known as the RapeWaffen Division.

The messages allegedly contained conversations about Melzer's commitment to O9A and the specifics of his unit's upcoming deployment.

Melzer acknowledged in later messages that he knew the planned attack could result in his death, but wrote: "who gives a f***," adding, "I would've died successfully... cause another 10-year war in the Middle East would definitely leave a mark." ( The Washington Post)
Saharanpur:

Continuing with his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said taking selfies with US President Barack Obama will not help solve India's problems.

Speaking at a rally here during his ongoing 'Kisan Yatra' in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, he alleged Modi "wants to instigate fight among his own countryman", while the Congress party works for uniting people.

The Congress vice-president claimed instead of giving money to poor, the Prime Minister "wrote off debt of more than Rs 1 Lakh crore of 15 businessmen". He assured the audience if voted to power, Congress will reduce farmers' electricity bills to half and write off their debts.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Enteral Feeding Formulas Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis By Product (Standard Formula, Disease-specific Formula), By Flow Type, By Stage, By Indication, By End User, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027

Read the full report:

https://www.reportlinker.com/p05916336/?utm_source=PRN

Enteral Feeding Formulas Market Growth & Trends

The global enteral feeding formulas market size is expected to reach USD 8.72 billion by 2027., expanding at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2020 to 2027. Increasing prevalence of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, dementia, multiple sclerosis, chronic liver disease and COPD is expected to boost the demand for enteral products that aid patients having trouble in oral intake. As per a study published by Cancer Research U.K., approximately 17.0 million new cancer cases were reported in 2018 across the globe. Incidence of cancer is projected to increase by 62% between 2018 and 2040.

In addition, growing deficiency of macro and micro nutrients among the patients in hospitals during pre and post-surgery drives the demand for enteral feeding formulas.Furthermore, increasing product offerings aimed at specific indications are delivering targeted nutritional needs, which is a key driver of this market.

These enteral tube feeds usually contain polysaccharides and proteins for patients capable of digesting and absorbing nutrients without any difficulty.Availability of wide varieties of enteral formulas, along with increased demand for low-cost nutrient formulations among consumers, is boosting the market growth.

Moreover, favorable reimbursement scenario supports high adoption of tube feeds among hospital patients as the enteral nutrition is usually covered under Medicare claims.

Moreover, the market is consolidated with presence of few leading players, including Nestle Health Science, Abbott, and Danone.These players are constantly investing in the R&D activities for development of enhanced products that cater to the niche therapeutic areas having high growth potential in the industry in order to gain a competitive edge.

Market entry has proved to be challenging for new entrants as the industry is dominated by few major MNCs with high brand recognitions.

Enteral Feeding Formulas Market Report Highlights

 Standard formula emerged as the leading product segment in 2019 with a revenue share of 54.3% in the global market

 By flow type, intermittent feeding flow accounted for the largest revenue share in 2019. Continuous feeding flow is projected to expand at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period

 The adults stage segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2019 owing to growing demand for such nutrition formulations in the adult population

 Others emerged as the leading indication segment in 2019 with a revenue share of 41.9% in the global market

 Home care emerged as the leading end user segment in 2019 and is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period

 North America accounted for the largest share in 2019 due to growing preference for home-based enteral therapy in the region.

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Chair of the Vietnam Retail Association (VRA) Vu Thi Hau, at a recently held event, complained about the suffering borne by Vietnamese retailers.

They have had to commit to the government to sell goods at stable prices, but are not included in the governments support packages even though they have to pay very high rent for retail premises.



Retailers have been making every effort to bring essential goods to consumers during the epidemic, including consumers in quarantine areas. However, we are not included in the list of business fields to receive support from the government to relieve the adverse impacts of the epidemic, Hau said.



According to Hau, the retail premises in Vietnam are the most expensive in the region and are even more expensive than in Dubai.



Most of the retail premises are leased from landlords. The real estate bubble has turned Vietnam into the country with the most expensive retail premises in the region.

In order to save retailers, VRA asked the government to reduce taxes on retail premise owners, thus creating conditions for owners to reduce rents. The association has also proposed reducing premises rent in IZs and EPZs to support manufacturing enterprises.

But the government has no policy to stabilize retail premises prices. As a result, prices have been escalating uncontrollably.



In Hanoi, the retail premises supply in Q1 was stable with 1.6 million square meters, according to Savills. The average rent of the market was $41 per square meter per month. In CBD, the average rent was at higher $100 per square meter.



In HCM City, the average rent was $49 per square meter. In CBD, the rate was $120.



Main Streets Across the World, an publication of Cushman & Wakefield released late last year, which compared the retail premises rent in Vietnam and other regional cities, found that the rents in HCM City are even higher than in Bangkok (Thailand) and Dubai (UAE).



In its list, the retail premises in HCM City are the 30th more expensive in the region with the rent of $184/ft2/year. Bangkok was in the 35th position ($142/ft2/year) and Dubai 39th ($95/ft2/year).



In order to save retailers, VRA asked the government to reduce taxes on retail premise owners, thus creating conditions for owners to reduce rents. The association has also proposed reducing premises rent in IZs and EPZs to support manufacturing enterprises.



Central Retail, the Thai group that is running Big C supermarket chain, recently announced in a press release that the chain will shut down Big C Mien Dong Supermarket because the retailer and the landlord could not reach an agreement on the rent.



Big C Mien Dong, at No 268 To Hien Thanh, district 10, HCM City, is a familiar shopping address for HCM City residents.

Kim Chi

HCM City: Retail premises rent declines as beer shops shut down Businesses now have bigger choices for retail premises as the rent has decreased significantly.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has suspended a planned military retaliation against South Korea.

The announcement by officials marked an apparent slowing of the pressure campaign Pyongyang has waged against its rival amid stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration.

Last week, the North had declared relations with the South as fully ruptured, and destroyed an inter-Korean liaison office in its territory.

Pyongyang also threatened unspecified military action to censure Seoul for a lack of progress in bilateral cooperation, as well as for activists floating anti-North Korean leaflets across the border.

Analysts say the North, after weeks deliberately raising tensions, may be pulling away just enough to make room for South Korean concessions.

If Mr Kim does eventually opt for military action, he may resume artillery drills and other exercises in front line areas or have vessels deliberately cross the disputed western maritime border between the Koreas, which has been the scene of bloody skirmishes in past years.

However, any action is likely to be measured to prevent full-scale retaliation from South Korean and US forces.

Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said Mr Kim presided by video conference over a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission, which decided to postpone plans for military action against the South brought up by the North's military leaders.

KCNA did not specify why the decision was made. It said other discussions included bolstering the country's "war deterrent".

Yoh Sang-key, a spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, said Seoul was "closely reviewing" the North's report but did not further elaborate.

Mr Yoh also said it was the first report in state media of Mr Kim holding a video conferencing meeting, but he did not provide a specific answer when asked whether that would have something to do with the coronavirus.

The North said there has not been a single Covid-19 case on its territory, but that claim has been questioned by outside experts.

Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seoul's Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said it is likely that the North is waiting for further action from the South to salvage ties from what it sees as a position of strength, rather than softening its stance on its rival.

"What's clear is that the North said (the military action) was postponed, not cancelled," said the former South Korean military official, who participated in inter-Korean military negotiations.

Other experts say the North would be seeking something major from the South, possibly a commitment to resume operations at a shuttered joint factory park in Kaesong, where the liaison office was located, or restart South Korean tours to the North's Diamond Mountain resort.

Those steps are prohibited by the international sanctions against the North over its nuclear weapons programme.

"Now isn't the time for anyone in Seoul or Washington to be self-congratulatory about deterring North Korea," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"There may be a pause in provocations or Pyongyang might temporarily deescalate in search of external concessions.

"But North Korea will almost certainly continue to bolster its so-called 'deterrent'. As long as the Kim regime refuses to denuclearise, it is likely to use Seoul as a scapegoat for its military modernisation and domestic politics of economic struggle after failing to win sanctions relief."

The public face of the North's recent heavy criticism of the South has been Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, who has been confirmed as his top official on inter-Korean affairs.

Issuing harsh statements through state media, she said the North's demolition of the liaison office would be just the first in a series of retaliatory action against the "enemy" South, and that she would leave it to the North's military to come up with the next steps.
Law enforcers seized anti-Ukrainian materials, scripts and reports on anti-state information campaigns, money provided by Russian sponsors, data storage devices, etc.

The SBU Security Service of Ukraine says its officers have revealed and stopped the activities of a group of pro-Russian propagandists who called for the violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

The perpetrators, one of whom is a holder of a Russian passport, were producing separatism-inspiring, inciting ethnic hatred materials and distributing them on the Internet, the SBU's press service said on its website on June 23, referring to a pretrial investigation.

Read alsoUkraine declassifies Soviet KGB archives on Chornobyl disaster

In particular, the propagandists campaigned for violating the state borders and creating pseudo-state formations on the territory of certain Ukrainian regions. Moreover, they often took part in manipulative TV programs on Russian TV channels disseminating propaganda.

The examination showed that the videos shot by the attackers contain public calls for an encroachment on Ukraine's territorial integrity and inviolability.

During warranted searches conducted at places of residence and temporary stay of members of the group, law enforcers seized anti-Ukrainian materials, scripts and reports on anti-state information campaigns, money provided by Russian sponsors, data storage devices, and literature prohibited by Ukrainian law, as well as commemorative awards from the Moscow Higher Military Command School.

The organizer of the group and his accomplice were notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Law enforcers are checking information on the possible involvement of certain Russian political forces and public organizations in financing anti-Ukrainian propaganda actions.
Now that there is still a threat of COVID-19 in the Philippines, work from home seems to be the new normal for all those working in their offices. However, working from the comfort of your home might cost you more because of the requirements you need like a computer, stable Internet connection, and a lot more. Do you need a new keyboard and mouse? Weve got you covered!

Photo from Business Insider

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WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday said it firmly opposed reported plans by the Trump administration to re-impose 10% tariffs on aluminum imports from Canada, warning that Canada would likely retaliate against U.S. exports.

The United States is planning to re-impose tariffs on aluminum imports from Canada, Bloomberg reported late on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Neil Herrington, senior vice president for the Americas at the Chamber, said re-imposing the tariffs would hurt U.S. manufacturers who use aluminum as an input, and was the "wrong way" to mark the entry-into-force of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement on July 1. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal)
FBI director Christopher Wray said in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday that the bureau has more than 2,000 active investigations that link back to the Chinese government.

Context: Wray said that amounts to a roughly 1,300% increase in terms of economic espionage probes focused on China over the past decade.

Why it matters: He told the Senate Judiciary Committee last July that China is the top counterintelligence threat to the United States, with Russia coming in as the second greatest concern.

The FBI director noted on Wednesday that "there's no country that presents a broader, more comprehensive threat to America's innovation, to our economic security and to our Democratic ideas than China does."

Between the lines: Wray said that China is interested in influencing American political thought and policies "to try and shift them in a more friendly pro-China, pro-Chinese Communist Party direction."
Mouthpieces of the Chinese government have sought to link the clashes along the LAC with India's efforts to 'divert attention from the government's incompetence in handling the COVID-19.'

While talks are on between military commanders of India and China to defuse tensions along the Line of Actual Control, Bejing's propaganda machine continues to operate in full swing. Mouthpieces of the Chinese government have linked the clashes in the Galwan Valley with India's efforts to 'divert attention from the government's incompetence in handling the COVID-19,' and alleged that they are part of the country's 'territorial revisionist policy.'

For instance, take this article in Global Times. It alleged that India had earlier promised to not cross the estuary of the Galwan River to patrol and build facilities.

The article quoted Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow at the Institute of International Relations of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, as saying, "...India, which tried to divert domestic attention from the government's incompetence in handling the COVID-19 and its economic slide, broke its promises and unilaterally stirred up trouble less than 10 days after the first meeting."

The report further noted, "Although stirring up a war is unlikely, Chinese border troops must prepare for the worst-case scenario."

In another article, Global Times has also referred to the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir to support the claim that India is following a 'territorial revisionist policy.' It referred to recent allegations by Pakistan of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, and its claim that the violation led to the death of a teenage civilian. The newspaper has sought to place the blame on India for the clashes along the LoC. It quoted Lan Jianxue, associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, as saying that the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status last year "is the main cause of the subsequent turmoil of frequent exchanges of fire between the two countries."

In a similar vein, other Chinese outlets also accused India of 'deliberate provocation' along the LAC. Xinhua, the official state-run news agency of the Chinese government, alleged that Indian troops trespassed into Indian territory way back on 6 May. An article by the agency alleged that Indian soldiers "built fortification and barricades and impeded the patrol of Chinese border troops, in an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo of border control and management. The Chinese border troops have been forced to take necessary responding measures and strengthen management and control in these areas."

Earlier, Chinese propaganda outlets sought to debunk the 'boycott China' campaigns in India and warned New Delhi of a 'humiliating defeat' in the event of a full-fledged war.

China's allegations about the Indian government trying to divert attention from the COVID-19 crisis come on a day when India's tally of infections has risen to 4,56,183 and the toll to 14,476. In the past 24 hours, India has registered 15,968 coronavirus cases and 465 deaths due to the disease.

On the other hand, India's Ministry of External Affairs has affirmed that all of its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC.

India Today quoted MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava as saying that the face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there (Galwan)" on the late evening and night of 15 June.

Srivastava added, "Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side."
Los Angeles, June 24 : Hollywood stars Kristen Stewart and Maggie Gyllenhaal have captured their quarantine life through short films.

Stewart and Gyllenhaal are among the 17 artistes and filmmakers participating in "Homemade", a project of compilation of five to seven minute films about life in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic, reports variety.com.

The project is helmed by "Jackie" filmmaker Pablo Larrain.

With the short film, Stewart will be marking her directorial follow-up to her 2017 short project "Come Swim". Gyllenhaal will contribute a film out of Vermont, which will mark her directorial debut ahead of her "The Lost Daughter".

Other directors include: Paolo Sorrentino out of Rome, Italy; Ladj Ly from Clichy Montfermeil, France; Rachel Morrison from Los Angeles, US; Naomi Kawase from Nara, Japan; Nadine Labaki and Khaled Mouzanar from Beirut, Lebanon; Gurdiner Chadha from London, UK; and Ana Lily Amirpour.

Pablo shared that the underlying message around "Homemade" is about "adversity, and how we are all from different countries, cultures and circumstances, but for a very unique moment of humanity, we're all sharing very similar circumstances in different contexts".

The director noted that the experience of coronavirus continues to vary wildly across the globe.

"We're going through different situations, but there are many things we have in common. That was the heart of this and the challenge we faced," he said.

For the project, directors were instructed to use only equipment found at home, with the focus ranging from a glimpse into their working lives to more narrative focused on the unprecedented moment. The plot details for all films remain under wraps.

For Pablo, the experience of "Homemade" was a "very strange, beautiful, unique film festival" where different voices have got together to tell a story in a "planetary exercise".

"Homemade" will release on Netflix on June 30.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As tensions between police and social activists reach peak intensity across the U.S., a sandwich shop on Staten Island has become the latest business to be swept into the political melee.

Allegations of an NYPD officers unfair treatment last week by staff at the Jersey Mikes in New Springville has sparked a visceral response on social media, while restaurant management contends the sub-par service was not in any way a show of protest or disrespect toward the NYPD.
HALIFAX  For the past 17 years, Anna-Marie Weir has guided visitors from around the world through the sights and attractions of New Brunswick, from high tide in the Bay of Fundy, to the provinces iconic covered bridges, to the lighthouses along its coast.

She knows her client base.

One-third of her business at Moncton-based Road to Sea Guided Tours comes from provinces outside of Atlantic Canada, another third from the United States, and a final third from the United Kingdom and overseas.

So news Wednesday that the four Atlantic provinces have banded together to form an Atlantic travel bubble  a move its hoped will boost the economy and help tourism operators in a region battered by COVID-19 travel bans  left her cool.

Since 2003, I can count on one hand how many people from Atlantic Canada have taken my tour, she said.

Buoyed by low COVID-19 case counts, the premiers have announced an agreement to form a travel bubble starting on July 3. Residents will be able to travel freely between Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island without the need to self-isolate on arrival.

Governments for all four provinces have been marketing staycations to prod Atlantic Canadians to spend their tourism dollars close to home.

With most of her public tours for Road to Sea cancelled this year, Weir has taken a job as a tourism relations and communications liaison with the Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick to help build its tourism operation.

And, with many local tour operators suffering from the lack of business from away, she says she thinks this might be a great opportunity for Indigenous tourism to flourish.

Theres certain product developments that are underfoot right now that could shine in this specific time, especially Indigenous tourism, because theres a history, she told the Star. Theres a story thats not been told yet thats part of the real story that connects the past to the present here in Atlantic Canada.

She said although she believes that Atlantic Canadians are inclined to want to spend their tourism money close to home, theyre generally reluctant to take tours to attractions that they are familiar with.

Indigenous tourism, on the other hand, allows local tourists to learn about a history and culture that is much less familiar.

There is a want and a need for Indigenous stories to be told, by and through Indigenous people, in their own words, in their own way.

I know as a tour operator that people are very interested when I talk about the history of this region. As soon as I start talking about the First Nation people who were here in Atlantic Canada, people want to delve into it further and they want more  they want to know where they can go and get more information, she said.

As far as the Atlantic travel bubble is concerned, Canadians travelling to Atlantic Canada from other provinces will still have to adhere to the local entry requirements for the specific province they enter, although those visitors who complete 14 days of self-isolation would then be able to travel throughout the region.

Each of the provinces will use its own process for tracking and monitoring travellers.

The decision to ease travel restrictions within Atlantic Canada was guided by all of the provincial chief medical officers of health, said Newfoundland Premier Dwight Ball during a news conference Wednesday. Ball is also the chair of the Council of Atlantic Premiers.

Decisions like this one are not taken lightly. As this Atlantic bubble opens, it will be closely monitored as we remain committed to working together to support economic and social recovery, while ensuring public health and safety measures.

Ball also proffered July 17 as the earliest possible date to allow unrestricted travel from other Canadian provinces, contingent on coronavirus case numbers remaining low during the previous two weeks of the Atlantic bubble.

The specifics of that move will depend on the results of the first weeks of the Atlantic bubble.

This can only be possible if we get favourable results in the days and weeks leading into July 17. So in order for this to work, we must have to maintain good public health measures, said Ball.

We will never hesitate to go back (to tightening restrictions) if we have to. Your actions today will determine our results of tomorrow.

Nova Scotia  the most populous province in the region  announced Tuesday it had not recorded a new case of the viral infection in the past two weeks and had no active cases. The province had 1,061 total confirmed cases, including 63 deaths  53 of them at a single long-term care facility in Halifax.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, where there were 261 confirmed cases and three deaths, the most recent case of COVID-19 was recorded on May 28. Like Nova Scotia, the province has no active cases.

New Brunswick reported one new case in the Moncton region Tuesday, but that person was in self-isolation before the diagnosis and has had no close contacts. The province has 20 active cases. Of the 165 people with confirmed infections, two have died and 143 have recovered.

Prince Edward Island had just 27 cases of COVID-19 and all have recovered. The island last reported a case on April 28.

With files from The Canadian Press.

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The Association of Radio Operators for India this week reminded the government about its long-pending request for a package to survive the huge loss of revenue over the last several months. In a fresh SOS message to the information and broadcasting ministry, the industry body of private FM channels that are fighting for their survival suggested that the radio industry elsewhere was also in crisis. And they were getting help.

In Canada, the AROI said in a letter to the I&B ministry, the Canadian government had agreed to waive the licence fee for broadcasters for the financial year 2020-21 that would save 100 radio and television stations over $ 30 million. The Canadian government has already committed a $30 million spending on federal ad spending for newspapers, magazines, radio and television on a Covid-19 awareness campaign.

Back home in India, private FM radio operators have been struggling to stay afloat. In its multiple representations to the government, the AROI has underscored that the radio industry was on a ventilator and may have trouble surviving if it does not receive help from the government.

AROI has been asking the government for a one-year waiver on all licence fees and charges by the government and Prasar Bharti, restoration of government advertising on radio, besides clearing payments from the governments publicity department.

In response, the government had given the industry a three-month extension of license fee payments without interest. The ministry has been prodding the government to do more.

We trust that the government is reviewing our request in interest of survival of this critical media , which is also in interest of the nation, as radio contributes annually almost 800 crore a year (other than one time entry fee) to the government for every year of its license period and extensions thereof, the AROI said in a communication to the government.

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What would it take to reopen the border? You know, the big one with the United States of America. Yeah, those guys.

Its an unknowable, like so much else. But it is hard to imagine it happens this year, honestly. The other day the president of the United States said he tried to discourage COVID-19 testing, and he wasnt joking, because to joke you need a sense of humour, even a dark and vicious one. This president of the United States can no more joke than he can do a backflip, or name all 50 states.

I dont kid, said Donald Trump, of saying he wanted less testing for a virus that has killed over 123,000 Americans since Feb. 29.

The virus is sloshing around that giant infected bathtub of a country, and is now washing over Florida, Texas, Arizona, mostly red states, so many. On Tuesday it was reported Florida would no longer count intensive care beds in its thresholds for reopening, a month after the state fired a data scientist for refusing to falsify public data on deaths and illnesses, and hospitalizations were reported to be rising fast after a week of staggering growth that topped 4,000 cases in a day. (Canada, with 35 million to Floridas 21 million, only ever topped out at 2,500.)

In Texas, hospitalizations jumped 10 per cent, and Talking Points Memo reported the Trump administration planned to pull testing funding from 13 sites across five states, including two in Dallas. Twenty-six states have seen net growth in the last 14 days, and another nine are holding steady.

In some circles, conservatives are threatening to meet contact tracers at the door with guns. In others, masks are a signal not of public health consideration but of political fealty. And the president said, not for the first time, that he wanted less testing so he would have fewer cases. Its not because he lacks object permanence. Its because he can only deal in the superficial, and he thinks he would look better if nobody knew how many cases there were, and people were left to die in obscurity.

Dr. Ashleigh Tuite of the University of Toronto is one of our elite epidemiological modellers. Tuesday, she said something that stopped me in my tracks.

If they continue, they may achieve herd immunity before they have a vaccine, says Tuite. Even if theres a vaccine by the end of the year, by the time it gets manufactured and delivered  it could happen.

We havent even reached the fall yet. Most epidemiologists are worried about the fall.

Herd immunity is a march through fields of death. Back in March, Britain lurched down a road based on that strategy, and backtracked when it turned out their numbers were wrong, and up to 250,000 Britons could die. People have no natural immunity to a new virus, and we still are far from sure how antibody-based immunity would work. Herd immunity is a horror.

In most countries if you started to see your hospitals were overflowing, you would react in some way, says Tuite.

And there doesnt seem to be a reaction. From the perspective of the country, you would expect leadership to move in some way, to say, something is going wrong here, we need to think about how were responding to this. And you just dont see that.

She has a back-of-the-napkin calculator where you can plug in the case numbers, plug in the basic reproductive number, or R0, and it will tell you how long it would take to go down to zero. The U.S. already has almost 1.3 million active cases and 123,000 deaths, more than double any other nation. We plug in 1.5 million cases and set the reproductive number at 0.7  good, but not exceptional. It is impossible to imagine the United States being exceptional at epidemic response, right now.

But with 1.5 million cases and a magical shift to a steady 0.7 R0, it would take about 200 days for the United States to reach single digits. Thats January of next year. And of course, thats not going to happen.

Its going to take a while, says Tuite. If you look at an epidemic curve, the point where it turns is when each case makes less than one new case. And then you still go down the entire other side of the epidemic curve. Even if you were able to magically stop transmission today, you would still have all the cases that are incubating. This is going to keep growing for a while.

So what does America look like in three months? Or six? Assuming the best-case scenario, Trump loses the election in November, Joe Biden takes over in January, and the pandemic has been allowed to run wild for months, the first wave never really abating, into the second wave of the fall.

I cant even imagine what the U.S. will look like in six months, says Tuite. I cant even imagine.

America is the sick man of the world. The New York Times reported the European Union has a draft list of criteria for allowing international travel once borders reopen July 1, and that the U.S. isnt even close to reaching it. When Canada closed the border by mutual agreement on March 21, the Americans counted 4,777 cases.

Tuesday, Texass governor warned the state would have over 5,000 new cases for the day. Tuesday night the president spoke to a megachurch in Arizona, full to the brim and without evident masks, run by holy men who claimed they had technology that kills 99.9 per cent of the virus in 10 minutes. Public health authorities said he shouldnt speak there, but he did. Arizona is also seeing spikes in cases and hospitalizations.

We dont know what America will do about the border. They wanted to put troops there, way back in the pandemic; if they decide unilaterally to open, we still have the Quarantine Act.

But from a Canadian standpoint, its simple: we love our special friends, our main trading partner, our continental neighbour, flaws and all. But the border wont be open for a long, long time.

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Some common strains of influenza have the potential to mutate to evade broad-acting antibodies that could be elicited by a universal flu vaccine, according to a study led by scientists at Scripps Research.

The findings highlight the challenges involved in designing such a vaccine, and should be useful in guiding its development.

In the study, published in Science, the researchers found evidence that one of the most common flu subtypes, H3N2, can mutate relatively easily to escape two antibodies that were thought to block nearly all flu strains. Yet they found that it is much more difficult for another common subtype, H1N1, to escape from the same broadly neutralizing antibodies.

One of the main goals of current influenza research is to develop a universal vaccine that induces broadly neutralizing antibodies, also known as "bnAbs," to give people long-term protection from the flu.

These results show that in designing a universal flu vaccine or a universal flu treatment using bnAbs, we need to figure out how to make it more difficult for the virus to escape via resistance mutations." Ian Wilson, DPhil, Study's Senior Author, Hansen Professor of Structural Biology and Chair of the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research

The promise of a universal vaccine

Influenza causes millions of cases of illness around the world every year and at least several hundred thousand fatalities. Flu viruses have long posed a challenge for vaccine designers because they can mutate rapidly and vary considerably from strain to strain.

The mix of strains circulating in the population tends to change every flu season, and existing flu vaccines can induce immunity against only a narrow range of recently circulating strains. Thus, current vaccines provide only partial and temporary, season-by-season protection.

Nevertheless, scientists have been working toward developing a universal flu vaccine that could provide long-term protection by inducing an immune response that includes bnAbs. Over the past decade, several research groups, including Wilson's, have discovered these multi-strain neutralizing antibodies in recovering flu patients, and have analyzed their properties. But to what extent circulating flu viruses can simply mutate to escape these bnAbs has not been fully explored.

In the study, first-authored by postdoctoral research associate Nicholas Wu, PhD, and staff scientist Andrew Thompson, PhD, the team examined whether an H3N2 flu virus could escape neutralization by two of the more promising flu bnAbs that have been discovered so far.

Known as CR9114 and FI6v3, these antibodies bind to a critical region on the virus structure called the hemagglutinin stem, which doesn't vary much from strain to strain. Because of their broad activity against different flu strains, they've been envisioned as antibodies that a universal flu vaccine should be designed to elicit, and also as ingredients in a future therapy to treat serious flu infections.

Using genetic mutations to methodically alter one amino acid building-block of the protein after another at the stem site where the bnAbs bind, Wu and colleagues found many single and double mutations that can allow H3N2 flu to escape the antibodies' infection-blocking effect.

The team also found a few instances of these "resistance mutations" in a database of gene sequences from circulating flu strains, suggesting that the mutations already happen occasionally in a small subset of ordinary flu viruses.

Escape skills vary by flu strain

Although experiments and analyses suggested that H3N2 viruses are broadly capable of developing resistance mutations, the same was not true for H1N1 viruses. The researchers tested several H1N1 viruses and found that none seemed able to mutate and escape, except for rare mutations with weak escape effects. The H3N2 and H1N1 subtypes account for most of the flu strains circulating in humans.

The researchers used structural biology techniques to show how differences in the hemagglutinin stem structure allow H3N2 flu viruses to develop resistance mutations to the two stem-binding antibodies more easily than H1N1 viruses.

"If it's relatively easy for H3N2 to escape those bnAbs, which are the prototype antibodies that a universal flu vaccine should induce, then we probably need to think more carefully and rigorously about the design of that universal flu vaccine against certain influenza subtypes," Wu says. "The good news is that a universal flu vaccine should at least work well against the H1N1 subtype."

The researchers now plan to conduct similar studies with other flu subtypes and bnAbs. They say that in principle, a vaccine eliciting multiple bnAbs that attack different sites on flu viruses or are more accommodating to changes in the virus could help mitigate the problem of resistance mutations.
San Francisco joined school districts across the country in cutting ties with local law enforcement amid national protests against police brutality.

The citys Board of Education voted unanimously late Tuesday to withdraw from an agreement with the San Francisco Police Department outlining how and when officers provide services at schools. The arrangement also included a district payment of $46,000 to help cover the cost of a police liaison, who oversaw a program that provided 40 hours of specialized training to 12 school resource officers who responded to calls at schools.

Typically, school resources officers are sworn and armed law enforcement who are embedded in schools. In San Francisco, however, they are regular police officers and not assigned to schools, but do respond to calls for service on campuses.

School board President Mark Sanchez said he received thousands of emails from community members urging him to sever the relationship with police.

Ive always been leery of having police in our schools, just because of the history of interactions with police in general with communities of colors, he said prior to the vote. I dont want to have an official relationship with them.

The Oakland school board was expected to vote Wednesday evening on eliminating the districts police department  one of 19 districts across the state with such an arrangement.

Denver, Portland, Minneapolis and other communities were also backing away from official relationships with police in response to protests following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

In San Francisco, the vote also requires staff to do everything legally possible to protect children from witnessing or being subject to engagement with federal, state or local law enforcement on school grounds. In the event law enforcement is needed on school grounds, interactions will be limited as much as possible to only adult staff. If students are involved, law enforcement will only be involved after parents/caregivers and the Public Defender's office are notified.

Leadership from the districts African American Parent Advisory Committee, however, urged the board to slow down and work with them on the issue, saying the agreement helped restrict police intervention.

Board members did not heed the request.

With this resolution, we are declaring schools a sanctuary space from law enforcement so that we can continue to create safe, healthy, and equitable schools for all SFUSD students, said board member Alison Collins in a statement after the vote.

In San Francisco, the current agreement, in place since 2014, offered guidelines to prevent police overreach in schools and restrict calls for law enforcement assistance and prevents the use of police for school discipline.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

The memorandum of understanding, which was up for renewal this year, indicated school officials could call police only if a gun or weapon was found or was otherwise legally required; to address criminal behavior of someone other than a student; or to protect the physical safety of students, including terrorist threats, sexual assaults or incidents of serious bodily injury.

The agreement also required police to provide detailed monthly reports on the number of arrests and calls to schools.

It was not immediately clear if the police department would continue the school resource officer program without the agreement in place.

The Department has not made any decisions regarding the SRO program, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak. We look forward to having conversations with Superintendent Matthews regarding how we implement a thoughtful transition.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com
Arbery was killed on Feb. 23 after the men followed him through a neighborhood after he jogged by. Arbery was fatally shot after the men confronted him, but no charges were filed in the immediate aftermath. It was not until video surfaced of the killing that pressure grew on prosecutors, and charges against Gregory and Travis McMichael  father and son  were announced in May. Bryan, who filmed the killing, was charged later.
Xiaomi Corporation, a well-known Chinese phone brand founded in 2010, patents a new looking phone that may end up in stores in the future. The phone, though looks physically normal, has a weird camera that can be rotated for 360 degrees. The new camera module also seemed to be spinning. Here's what it looks like.

Chinese phone patents new cam set up so you can twist your camera

A lot of people think that Chinese phones are cheaper because they are less quality compared to American brands like Apple or Google. Or even South Korean counterparts, Samsung or LG. Here's a fun fact. Sometimes this claim doesn't have a basis, especially when Xiaomi patents a new looking camera for their future models. Xiaomi is one of the most well-received phone brands in the world. Due to its cheapest rate compared to other phone brands, this Chinese phone brand has made its name in the consumers, especially for gamers. On the other hand, this enthusiasm may be boosted more after the company patented a new design for its weird-looking camera setup. Here's what it looks like... GizmoChina released the images of Xiaomi's patented new camera. The camera setup design offers a fresh idea for a 360 degrees front and back cameras. From the images, it looks like the camera setup can be spun and automatically rotates once the camera is turned on. The aim of the design is pretty clear. Xiaomi wants to remove all the unnecessary space taken by the front and back cameras of a phone. This means that the phone will offer a wider screen for its users since the camera space will be removed.

If you don't get it, imagine a phone that has a pop-up camera. Once you want to take a picture, the camera will be then, showing up. Once you close it, the camera will also be removed instantly. That's what Xiaomi intended their cameras to be.

Let's be clear: it is different from Samsung's Galaxy A80

If you're thinking, how in the world is Xiaomi's rotating camera different from Samsung's Galaxy A80? Here's the answer: They are different from each other.

You see, Samsung's Galaxy A80 released last year, offers a triple rotating camera-- with no notches. This is different from Xiaomi's rotating, yet pop-up camera.

Although it also wants to achieve a notch-less camera setup and removes the display hole of the cameras. Maybe that's what they're similar to.

Nothing's for sure

Sorry to burst your bubble, though. This camera setup is only a patent design.

Xiaomi has not yet announced its plans to create a mass-production of this design, so don't let your hopes high. Remember, not all patents come true.

ALSO READ: Xiaomi CEO Caught Using Apple's iPhone on Social Media





 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Twelve months ago, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi seemed to be enjoying the best year of his reign. The general-turned-politician was presiding over an economic rebound that had made Egypt the Middle East's fastest-growing economy and a honeypot for emerging-markets investors. A referendum had just allowed him to remain in office until 2030, making his political position well-nigh impregnable.

And he was enjoying the enthusiastic backing of Egypt's two most important foreign allies, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia; President Trump thought he was doing "a great job."

Like much of the region, Egypt is now reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and the fall in oil prices. Despite new assistance from the International Monetary Fund, the economy will continue to struggle. Business activity, already slow before the pandemic struck, has ebbed further. The government's desperation is clear from its efforts to restart tourism even though cases of the virus are expected to keep rising.

Now, el-Sissi faces a pair of foreign-policy challenges on Egypt's borders that could turn 2020 into his nadir. In Libya, he finds himself backing the losing side of a civil war. In Ethopia, negotiations over a giant hydroelectric dam in the Nile have failed, ending hopes for the resolution of an old, acrimonious dispute.

Worse, Egypt's ruler can't expect much help from his admirer in the White House. The collapse of negotiations over the Nile dam represents a failure of American mediation - the U.S. Treasury had tried to broker a deal - and Trump, beset with domestic problems amid a reelection campaign, is unlikely to give the matter much more attention. In Libya, the U.S. president seems to have come to an understanding with Turkey, which backs the other side in the civil war.

Nor can el-Sissi hope for much succor from Saudi Arabia. Although the Saudis mediated the 2018 Ethiopia-Eritrea peace accord, they have had little influence on the Nile negotiations. And Saudi relations with Turkey are openly hostile, ruling out any role for Riyadh in easing the Cairo-Ankara confrontation over Libya.

Egypt isn't entirely friendless in Libya, but it is not clear that rebel commander Khalifa Haftar's other backers - notably the United Arab Emirates and Russia - will boost their support if Libya's government forces, with more help from the Turks, storm the strategic port of Sirte. El-Sissi had declared Sirte as his line in the sand, suggesting Egypt may intervene directly if Turkey crosses it. The Emiratis, no less hostile to Turkey than the Saudis, may hold the line; Russia, which is allied with the Turks in Syria, may not.

El-Sissi may soon be forced to decide. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to have embarked on an ambitious nation-building project in Libya, and the government in Tripoli is keen to press home its advantage over Haftar. El-Sissi's proposal for a cease-fire was met with scorn from Turkey as well as from Libya's Government of National Accord.

Matters are not quite as kinetic in the south, despite the chest-thumping of prominent Egyptians and long-standing predictions of a war over the Nile waters. But if Ethiopia does follow through on its threat to fill the dam, el-Sissi would be under pressure to retaliate. (Egypt fears that the dam would restrict its water supply and harm its farmers.)

As if these two foreign-policy challenges were not onerous enough, a third looms to the north: Israel's proposed annexation of large parts of the West Bank. Sisi has strengthened relations with Israel - a $15 billion natural-gas deal between the two countries is key to Egypt's hopes of becoming a major energy supplier to Europe. But Cairo is opposed to annexation. If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu goes ahead with a plan that is bound to be unpopular with ordinary Egyptians, el-Sissi may be required to respond with something more substantial than a strongly-worded statement of disapproval.

Under such circumstances, the prospect of holding office until 2030 may come to feel more like a curse than a blessing.

- - -

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist.
As violent attacks continue nationwide amid protests over the death of George Floyd, a viral video has emerged showing a man throwing a firecracker at a 66-year-old homeless man in Harlem, which explodes as the attacker trots off smiling.

SHOCK VIDEO: Thugs are seen throwing fireworks at what appears to be a sleeping homeless man on Malcolm X Blvd in #Harlem. #DeBlasiosNYC @NYCMayor @NYPDNews



pic.twitter.com/UiPfE8aTSR  NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) June 22, 2020

The incident happened on MalcomX Blvd. at approximately 4 a.m. No arrests have been made as of Tuesday, while an investigation is reportedly underway. The victim was hospitalized with minor burns, according to the NY Post.

The incident is the latest in a spate of firecracker attacks, which New York Times' Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, Nikole Hannah-Jones promoted a theory that "government forces" are setting off fireworks to disrupt the Black Lives Matter movement.

This is incredibly irresponsible on every level. pic.twitter.com/hFSmxe8HtA  Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) June 21, 2020

Jones deleted her Twitter account after she was called out.

More 'government forces'

#BrooklynFireworks #NYCprotest No war zone here. Id rather they express themselves with fireworks than guns. Real NYers know how it could really be pic.twitter.com/qj2Au6ANX6  Beechums  (@beechums17) June 21, 2020

And what's with the left attacking homeless people?
Longford councillors have given a mixedreaction to the programme for government in a move which is likely to case further doubt on the workability of a three pronged coalition involving Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party.

Meetings took place involving elected members from both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael over the 139 page draft document which, if passed, will bring about the formation of Irelands next government almost five months since voters went to the polls.

All six Fianna Fail councillors have indicated their intentions to vote in accordance with the document, a decision group leader Cllr Seamus Butler said was unanimous, despite being the lesser of three evils.

He said: There was that consensus that we would reluctantly support the programme for government, otherwise the other alternatives could have been another election or going into government with a motley crew of left wing independents and Sinn Fein.

His party colleagues Cllrs Mick Cahill and PJ Reilly admitted their support for the document was based on a need for governmental stability in light of the ongoing health and economic challenges brought about by Covid-19.

Ballymahons Pat OToole and Longford town based Uruemu Adejinmi followed suit with the latter admitting the three party framework, while not perfect represented a working document which could be built upon over the course of the incoming governments lifetime.

If unanimity was the overriding sentiment expressed among the Fianna Fail side of the count council chamber, for those sitting in the Fine Gael benches it was anything but.

Group leader Cllr Colm Murray said he was hesitant in backing the deal as he argued for greater emphasis to be placed on the States Just Transition Fund and ensuring any moves towards green orientated energy production did not come at the expense of the taxpaying public.

People just wont accept airy fairy ideas that will come to fruition in a number of years, he said.

In order to convince people to change to new green types of energy they need to be cheap and whats more, they need to be available.

Cllr Murrays cautious optimism for the new framework was met by even greater sceptism by Cllrs Paul Ross and John Browne.

The former said he was concerned about the likely stability going into government with Fianna Fail and the Greens would bring while Cllr Browne said there were simply too many ambiguities in the proposed document.

Theres an awful lot of things that just arent specific enough, he argued.

One of them is the whole area of rates and the talk of streamlining them. Sure, if I went down the town and said to a ratepayer thats whats being talked about I could be asked are rates going to be got rid of. Its not specific enough.

Cllr Peggy Nolan, meanwhile, said she would be supporting the programme while both Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Ger Farrell and Cllr Garry Murtagh admitted they were still undecided at the time of writing.
On 18 June 2020, the Gauteng High Court gave judgment declaring that eligible special permit holders, and asylum seekers with visas valid on 15 March 2020 can access the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant. Clause 6(viii)(cc)(i) of the Directions issued by the Minister of Social Development on 30 March and amended on 9 May 2020, in terms of the Disaster Management Act of 2002 were declared unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid to the extent that they exclude such access.

The Covid-19 SRD grant was established by the government to assist the most vulnerable members of our society who have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and do not have access to any other form of assistance or income. Only South African citizens, refugee status holders and permanent residents were eligible to apply for the grant, which is available for six months from May 2020.The Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, represented pro bono by Norton Rose Fulbright and advocates Emma Webber and Cingashe Tabata, launched an urgent application regarding the exclusion of asylum seekers and individuals on special permits from Lesotho, Angola and Zimbabwe from receiving the Covid-19 SRD grant.The Scalabrini Centre argued that the amended directions were unconstitutional because they infringed on the right to equality, human dignity and the right to social assistance of special permit holders and asylum seekers.This judgment is significant as, along with the rest of the nation, special permit holders and asylum seekers have faced extreme adversity during the lockdown period. Many have lost their jobs, or have been forced to close down their businesses. They have had their bank accounts frozen. They have been unable to access the majority of governmental financial relief packets. They have been unable to provide for their basic needs such as food, rent and electricity.According to the judgment, with effect from 18 June 2020, eligible special permit holders and asylum seekers whose asylum seeker permits are or were valid on 15 March will be able to apply for the Covid-19 SRD grant. Eligible special permit holders and asylum seekers who are successful in applying for the Covid-19 SRD grant will be entitled to payment of the grant as if their grants had been approved on 18 June 2020.The Minister of Social Development with the assistance of the relevant departments have been given five days by the court to assess the quantification of the costs that will be incurred in extending the Covid-19 SRD grant and a further five days thereafter to amend the directions to reflect the extension.
HOLYOKE, Mass., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Nurses Association has released the following statement in response to the publication of "The COVID-19 Outbreak at the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke; An Independent Investigation Conducted for the Governor of Massachusetts."

"The report issued June 23 by Attorney Mark W. Pearlstein about the COVID-19 outbreak at Holyoke Soldiers' Home supports the concerns frontline MNA nurses have repeatedly expressed about staffing and safety conditions at the home. MNA nurses opposed in real time the confounding decisions made by the facility's leadership that placed veterans and staff in peril.

"For years, nurses have advocated for improved staffing at Holyoke Soldiers' Home. As the outbreak began, nurses called for safe isolation protocols and better availability of personal protective equipment. The failure by the facility leadership to provide these protections led to higher exposure risks for veterans and staff. This report shows the tragedy that can occur when the leaders of healthcare facilities disregard the recommendations made by those on the frontlines.

"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is 100% in control of the safety standards at state institutions. State officials also oversee healthcare safety in the private sector. Yet the state failed abysmally at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home on basic infection protocol. The state utilized mandatory overtime, which is prohibited in the private sector by law, and employed arcane staffing levels that do not reflect the acuity of the patients. If the state is going oversee private healthcare facilities, they should be even more sensitive to ensuring safe clinical decisions are being made in their own facilities. It is clear decisions made by state leaders did not properly consider the safety of the veterans or staff at HSH. The state failed to operate HSH safely and effectively.

"MNA nurses are proud of the care they have provided to the veterans despite the harrowing conditions described in the report. Our nurses have always put patient safety and care first. This report exposes what happens when leaders detached from the reality of patient care ignore the concerns of frontline nurses and healthcare workers. State officials charged with overseeing the safety of patients and healthcare workers during this pandemic must take responsibility for their decisions and implement the recommendations made by those at the bedside."

MassNurses.org  Facebook.com/MassNurses  Twitter.com/MassNurses  Instagram.com/MassNurses

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association

Related Links

http://www.massnurses.org


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Once again, more decisions by council to provide for tourists, namely the hotel in Pandosy and the e-scooter rentals. This follows on the heels of Gyro beach getting upgrades as The Shores opens its doors, meant to be short term summer rental, perhaps not now only because of Covid. Next year, short term rentals in summer. Council has given Gyro to the tourists.

More and more, it feels like council is designing this city for tourists. How many hotels do we need? Pandosy area is a lovely residential area, not anymore. Further congestion guaranteed.

E-scooters as an alternate means of transport? You cant be serious. Last summer several Canadian communities banned them after too many accidents. These are nothing more than a toy, to be tried out mostly by tourists. Do you really think people are using them to get from A to B? Do I want to walk the waterfront with inexperienced riders of all ages buzzing around on these scooters?

Downtown is rapidly, if not already, becoming an area to be avoided by locals, until the tourists go home. While I support the tourism industry to an extent, it only benefits a limited number of businesses, and I, as a Kelowna resident feel squeezed out.

Please council, start making decisions for residents, not just tourists. Resident taxes have increased every year since this council took office, even during a pandemic year, tourists support only certain businesses. There is a difference.

Caroline Loesgen, Kelowna
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 20:40:06|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Health Ministry received a new batch of Chinese medical equipment on Wednesday, the latest in a string of the Chinese aid shipments for Syria to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Testing kits, protective suits, face masks, goggles and infrared thermometers were among this batch of aid presented by the Chinese Embassy in Syria.

The United States has recently imposed new sanctions on Syria under the so-called Caesar Act, which was strongly condemned by Syria as targeting the livelihood of the Syrian people and their wellbeing.

At a handover ceremony held at a branch of the Syrian Health Ministry in the capital Damascus, Ahmad Khleifawi, the assistant health minister, extended the Syrian government's gratitude for China, saying Syria expects ongoing Chinese support for the Syrian people.

Feng Biao, Chinese ambassador to Syria, told reporters that China will show solidarity with the Syrian people and continue to develop friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

"We will continue to provide aid to the Syrian people to the best of our ability and this indicates the depth and strength of the friendship between the two countries, which will work together to build a strong China-Syria community with a shared future," Feng said.

On June 4, Syria received a similar batch of aid presented by the Chinese embassy to the Syrian Health Ministry.

Earlier, China donated a batch of COVID-19 testing kits to Syria to help its fight against the coronavirus on April 15, and a video-conference was held between Chinese and Syrian medical experts on April 23 for sharing the experience in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Syria has so far recorded 231 COVID-19 cases, including 94 recoveries and seven deaths. Enditem
Eiza Gonzalez says she is 'deeply sorry and ashamed' after images of her wearing blackface recently resurfaced on the internet.

The Mexican actress, 30, apologized for her tasteless role on the telenovela Lola, Erase Una Vez in a statement to Page Six.

Eiza defended herself by explaining how she was 'pressured' into the racist costume choice while a '15-year-old child actor' with no professional leverage.

Apologies: Eiza Gonzalez is 'deeply sorry and ashamed' after images of her wearing blackface recently resurfaced. She's seen March 10 2020 above

No excuse: The actress, now 30, darkened herself while a 15-year-old actress working on her very first acting job for the telenovela Lola, Erase Una Vez

'I am deeply sorry and ashamed about having worn blackface makeup shown in the images circulating,' she told Page Six about images from the 2007 episode.

'As a 15-year-old child actor on my first job in a Mexican telenovela, I was pressured against my will, and with no negotiating power, I could not advocate for myself in the situation.'

'I wish I had the voice and knowledge then that I have now,' she went on.

Eiza also acknowledged photos of her dressed as a geisha, addressing claims she was guilty of cultural appropriation.

'Pressured': Eiza defended herself, explaining how she was 'pressured' into the racist costumer choice while a '15-year-old child actor' with no professional leverage

Powerless: 'I could not advocate for myself in the situation. I wish I had the voice and knowledge then that I have now,' she went on

'The other image in question is from a trip I took to Japan. According to my host, it is considered an intercultural exchange to dress up in their traditional clothing and makeup,' Eiza said.

'It is seen as an appreciation of their culture, however, I understand that out of context, this calls for a dialogue about contemporary cultural appropriation.'

Gonzalez, a native of Mexico, went on to tell Page Six how she's experienced racism 'throughout my life and career' and would never want to 'intentionally participate in anything that I knew would cause harm or distress to another person.'

'More than gestures of apology, it is my responsibility to educate myself and use my voice to stand up for others. And again I deeply apologize for hurting anyone.'

Questionable: Eiza also acknowledged photos of her dressed as a geisha, addressing claims she was guilty of cultural appropriation

New flame? Images of Eiza in blackface quickly emerged after the Baby Driver actress was photographed locking lips with Timothee Chalamet this week. He's seen in October 2019 above

Images of Eiza in blackface quickly emerged after the Baby Driver actress was photographed locking lips with Timothee Chalamet this week.

Fans of the Lady Bird actor took to social media to share photos of Gonzalez's racist role.

'@RealChalamet remember when @eizamusica did black face!?' one Timmy fan tweeted. 'Yeah disgusting #eizagonzalez.'

Another expressed their disapproval saying: 'So Timothee Chalamet is apparently hanging out and kissing Eiza Gonzalez in Cabo [right now].

'She has worn blackface and culturally appropriates without apologizing. Im sorry but that aint it.'

Before igniting relationship rumors with Eiza, Chalamet was linked to model Lily-Rose Depp.

News of their break-up emerged in late April, but the pair were last spotted together in fall of 2019.

Eiza has been linked to Josh Duhamel, Liam Hemsworth, Maluma, Calvin Harris, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Exes and ohs: Before igniting relationship rumors with Eiza, Chalamet was linked to model Lily-Rose Depp, seen together during their September 2019 red carpet debut above

Making amends: Jimmy Kimmel apologized for darkening his skin in sketches impersonating Snoop Dogg, NBA star Karl Malone and Oprah

Eiza is only the most recent celeb to get called out over their use of blackface.

Just yesterday ABC's Jimmy Kimmel apologized for darkening his skin in sketches impersonating Snoop Dogg, NBA star Karl Malone and Oprah.

Fellow late night host Jimmy Fallon apologized for his use of blackface while an SNL castmember earlier this month during a conversation with NAACP president Derrick Johnson.

NBC recently removed four 30 Rock episodes featuring blackface from streaming services. The network also pulled three episodes of Scrubs for the same reason.
P rince Harry and Meghan Markle have rolled up their sleeves to help a youth organisation cook meals in Los Angeles.

Meghan and Harry joined members of Homeboy Industries on Tuesday in a cooking session for the organisations Feed Hope programme, which provides food to those in need in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pictures from the event showed the couple wearing aprons, face masks and hair nets as they made pastries and prepared food parcels with around two dozen members of the Homeboy team.

It comes as it was revealed they have signed with a speaking agency which represents the Obamas and Clintons. LA Times reported that the couple has signed with New York-based Harry Walker Agency for speaking engagements.

Meghan and Harry joined members of Homeboy Industries on Tuesday in a cooking session for the organisation's Feed Hope programme / PA

As they carve out their new careers since stepping back from royal duties, it is understood that they will be engaging in keynote speeches and moderated panel discussions with a focus on social issues such as racial justice.

Homeboy is run by Father Greg Boyle, who previously worked with Meghan and her mother in a cooking workshop nearly 20 years ago, and a representative for the couple said Meghan remembers the tamale recipe she learned there to this day.

Father Boyle, who has worked closely with Meghans alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, said: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were just Harry and Meghan to the homies.

They rolled up their sleeves and deeply engaged with our workers in the bakery and cafe. It was immediate kinship and heartening in its mutuality.

Harry and Meghans spokesman said the duchess mentioned that the spirit and style reminded her of the times she visited the Luminary Bakery in London, a social enterprise that offers disadvantaged women in the UK new opportunities.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed with a speaking agency which represents the Obamas and Clintons / PA

The former actress, the first mixed race person in modern history to marry a senior British royal, has been outspoken on racism in society.

She delivered an impassioned Black Lives Matter speech to her old high school, in which she shared her absolute devastation at racial divisions and the death of George Floyd in the US.

Mariana Enriquez, manager at Homegirl Cafe, said: It was remarkable to share our Feed Hope programme with Harry and Meghan.

They are both down to earth and kind. The staff was honoured they took the time to see us, hear us and walk on our journey today. We will never forget it.
Karnataka government on Monday, June 22 announced that fever clinics would be established at district levels and taluk levels where fever cases will be treated separately. The circular issued by the state Health Department also specified that private institutions in the corporation areas should also be designated as fever clinics.

READ: Coronavirus Live Updates: India Reports 440,215 COVID-19 Cases, 248,190 Recovered

Separate clinic in every district

The circular read, "Fever clinics to be established at all district hospitals/district-level hospitals and taluk-level hospitals, wherein all fever cases should be screened 24x7 in a separate area and for Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases to be subjected for swab testing,"

"100 per cent of Community Health Centres (CHC), 50 per cent of Primary Health Centres and Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHC) to be converted as exclusive fever clinics to screen ILI/SARI during working hours. The remaining PHC/UPHC to cater to non-COVID-19 cases. All health institutions need to have a separate entry for COVID and non-COVID services," the circular further read.

READ: Karnataka To Seal Clusters Completely, Only Severe COVID Cases To Be Hospitalised

Price cap

The state government has announced a cap on treatment rates in private hospitals; for those referred by public health facilities, it will range between Rs 5,200 to Rs 10,000 whereas costs for patients who approach private hospitals directly will be in the range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000.

As per the order, 50 percent of the beds in private hospitals having facilities to treat COVID-19 cases shall be reserved for the treatment of patients referred by the public health authorities and this will include High Dependency Units and Intensive Care Units, which could be with or without ventilators.

READ: Fauci Hopeful For A Vaccine By Late 2020, Early 2021

Karnataka has reported 322 new cases of coronavirus and eight fatalities, increasing the state's total count to 9,721 and death toll to 150. The government expects the total count to increase to 25,000 by August 15 at the current growth rate of 4%.

Munish Moudgil, chief of Karnataka COVID-19 war room, has recommended three action points for the administration which include tracing all contacts of every patient within 24 hours and effectively quarantining them. His second suggestion is that every inter-state passenger should be effectively quarantined for 14 days and third entails increased qualitative tests which means selecting and testing vulnerable and infectious groups.

READ: 20,000 Beds For COVID-19 Patients In Delhi By Next Week: Amit Shah
WATERTOWN, Conn., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemon, a leading global network infrastructure specialist, today announced a new white paper that covers key design and media selection strategies for designers, consultants, end users and installers to ensure that network cabling infrastructures are prepared to support high-speed Wi-Fi access point (WAP) connections.

Authored by Valerie Maguire, BSEE, a Distinguished Engineer at Siemon, the new white paper entitled, "Preparing for Wi-Fi 6E: Cabling Considerations for High Efficiency Wireless Access Point Connections," explains the technology behind the latest IEEE 802.11ax High-Efficiency Wireless (HEW) standard and what users can expect in terms of wireless speeds with this new technology. The new white paper outlines the key cabling design strategies that will ensure structured cabling uplinks will be ready to support Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, including support for current and future transmission speed and remote powering requirements.

"With Wi-Fi 7 and its targeted "real-world" capacity of greater than 20 Gb/s already on the horizon, it's extremely important that clients follow Siemon's recommendation to deploy two class E A /category 6A shielded or higher performing drops to each WAP or router and a minimum 25 Gb/s capable backbone to support uplink capacity," says Maguire. "In addition, emerging wireless technology will require at least 30-watt Type 2 PoE, if not 60-watt Type 3 PoE, which calls for more thermally stable cabling systems. Here at Siemon, we continue to focus on developing innovative solutions that ensure maximum performance and reliability while minimizing heat rise to optimally support WAPs and other PoE-powered devices."

In the new white paper, Maguire also addresses the use of a grid-based zone cabling architecture to support the logical distribution of WAPs through the ceiling space, how to simplify WAP deployments using category 6A component-compliant field terminated plugs and other key cabling design strategies to ensure support for Wi-Fi 6E and beyond. To download the new white paper, "Preparing for Wi-Fi 6E: Cabling Considerations for High Efficiency Wireless Access Point Connections" visit https://bit.ly/31bCLdI.

About Siemon

Established in 1903, Siemon is an industry leader specializing in the design and manufacture of high quality, high performance low voltage infrastructure solutions and services for Data Centers, LANs and Intelligent Buildings. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, with global sales, technical and logistics expertise spanning 100 countries, Siemon offers the most comprehensive suites of copper and optical fiber cabling systems, cabinets, racks, cable management, data center power and cooling systems and Intelligent Infrastructure Management solutions. With more than 400 patents specific to structured cabling, Siemon Labs invests heavily in R&D and the development of Industry Standards, underlining the company's long-standing commitment to its customers and the industry. Through an ongoing commitment to waste and energy reduction, Siemon's environmental sustainability benchmarks are unparalleled in the industry, including 179% global carbon negativity and zero-landfill status.

SOURCE Siemon

Related Links

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After trending downward for six weeks, the U.S. caseload has been growing again for over a week, particularly in the South and West. Some 34,700 new cases were reported nationwide Tuesday, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University. The number was higher than any other day except April 9 and the record-setting date of April 24, when 36,400 cases were logged.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday attended the Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow, Russia on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

Attending the Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow today to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory of the Soviet People in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, Singh tweeted, adding that he feels proud on the participation of Indian Armys Tri-Service contingent in the parade.

Attending the Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow today to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory of the Soviet People in the great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.



I am proud that a Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces is also participating in this parade. pic.twitter.com/0zBiaKH5r1  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 24, 2020

The Victory Day parade, which was originally supposed to take place on May 9, was postponed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Impressive turnout of the Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow is indeed an extremely proud and happy moment for me, Singh tweeted. The Indian contingent is participating in the parade along with the armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries, including China.

Also read: Diplomatic border talks today to spell out steps to India-China disengagement

#WATCH Russia: A Tri-Service contingent of Indian Armed Forces participates in the Victory Parade at Red Square in Moscow, that marks the 75th anniversary of Russia's victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War. pic.twitter.com/jamcyb6C9m  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2020

The defence minister is in Russia on a three-day visit and arrived in Moscow on Tuesday on the invitation of the Russian Ministry of Defence to attend the Parade.

I can say with confidence that the traditional friendship between India & Russia remain strong.



Our mutual interests are solid and we look to future cooperation in the spirit of our special friendship.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 23, 2020

On Tuesday, Singh tweeted about his visit to Moscow and described it as 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, Singh had tweeted.

The defence minister said that India looks forward to welcoming the Russian President at the invitation of PM Modi later this year.

On Tuesday, Singh held talks with Russias Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov and said the 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, he stated.
New Delhi, June 24 : Amid tension at the LAC in eastern Ladakh with China, the Congress has raised the issue of Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh, taking a cue from BJP MP in the state Tapir Gao.

Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Manish Tewari quoted Tapir Gao as saying said that "People's Liberation Army, on both sides of the Subansiri river in the upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, have occupied territory on the Indian side of the McMahon Line." "According to him (Tapir Gao) the Chinese army has set up another base called new Majha, deeper in Indian territory. According to him, these aggressions are many kms in the Indian territory. This is not the first time that Mr Tapir Gao has made these revelations," said Tewari.

The Congress played a clip of the Arunachal East MP while he was speaking in Lok Sabha that Chinese have come upto Majha which has been an Indian military base in the past.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi cautioned the government to be more vigilant in the northeast and borders. "We demand that the Government of India does not look at what's happening in Arunachal Pradesh or Ladakh as isolated incidents. These are grand designs and this needs to be responded strongly ,"said Gogoi who is MP from Assam.

Tewari alleged that ever since reports about Chinese aggression into Indian territory emerged, the NDA-BJP government has been walking the extra mile to downplay those reports and try and "obfuscate the facts" on the ground.

Congress leaders said that they know something is not right with regard to Galwan valley, Pangong Tso lake, hot springs area in western sector and with regard to Chinese intrusion in Naku La in central sector.

"Facts continue to remain opaque on the eastern sector which is perhaps most disputed," said Tewari.

The Congress said that the party is highlighting the pattern of the Chinese army and how they are gradually encroaching upon Indian territory across the LAC and the responsibility of protecting Indian territory solely lies with the government of India.
NJ Transit trains and light rail service will return to a regular weekday schedule on July 6 for the first time in three months since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Phil Murphy made the announcement at his Wednesday press briefing.

NJ Transit is taking this step now  before ridership increases to higher levels with businesses and offices coming back online to provide the runway it needs to properly communicate its social distancing protocols among commuters, so they can have trust in NJ Transit to safeguard their rides to and from work, Murphy said.

Bus service has been running on a full weekday schedule since June 8, but rail and light rail remained on a modified, weekend schedule. NJ Transit reduced service after ridership plummeted by 95% after travel bans for non-essential workers and work from home orders were put in place to limit exposure to the coronavirus.

Were doing it proactively while ridership is still only at approximately twenty percent of pre-COVID-19 levels, said Kevin Corbett, NJ Transit President and CEO, in a statement. Its critical that we stay ahead of the demand to maximize the opportunity for social distancing while we ensure that we continue providing the cleanest and safest travel environment for our customers and employees.

The steps come as Murphy announced another round of business openings Wednesday, based on new COVID-19 cases.

Without a doubt, more trains running means that were getting closer to taking our next steps along the road back, Murphy said.

Executive Order 125, mandating wearing facial coverings on NJ Transit and reducing capacity by 50% on trains and buses to allow for social distancing remains in effect. Rail and bus capacity will be monitored and the order will be adjusted as needed, administration officials said.

Last week, Murphy and NJ Transit officials announced coronavirus prevention strategies as part of its Road to Recovery plans. They included a new to the U.S. step of asking riders to limit conversations on trains and buses to prevent spreading coronavirus through particles sprayed while talking.

Transit systems in Japan and parts of Europe have employed similar rules, along with requiring facial coverings and social distancing, which remain requirements on NJ Transit.

Officials of Viennas transit system, where reopening after coronavirus shutdowns is further along, said 65% of weekday riders and 75% of weekend riders have returned to using trains and buses there, which experts said reflects confidence in sanitizing equipment and facilities and other precautions.

Murphy said riders can read about NJ Transits full plans for resuming service and safeguarding riders online at njtransit.com/recovery.

With Rutgers, NJ Transit is testing the effectiveness of using Ultra Violet-C light to sanitize buses.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
PHOENIX - President Donald Trumps national security adviser warned China on Wednesday that the United States is waking up to the threat that it believes the Chinese Communist Party poses to our great way of life and will act to check the spread of Beijings ideology.

Robert OBrien said his speech challenging China was the first of many in the coming weeks by senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray.

The days of American passivity and naivety regarding the Peoples Republic of China are over, OBrien told a group business leaders in Phoenix.

America, under President Trumps leadership, has finally awoken to the threat of the Chinese Communist Partys actions and the threat they pose to our great way of life.

This latest verbal offensive is an extension of Trumps harsh words for Beijings handling of the coronavirus, which has killed more than 120,000 Americans. It follows on the heels of former national security John Boltons book that alleges Trump was soft on Chinese President Xi Jinping and other authoritarian leaders to advance his own political agenda.

According to Bolton, Trump asked Xi for China to buy more agricultural products to help the president win farm states and told the Chinese leader that he was right to build detention camps to house thousands of Chinese ethnic minorities.

That statement could make the presidents tough-on-China mantra a hard sell. The Trump campaign released an online video last month that included clips of former Vice-President Joe Biden previously describing the Chinese as not bad folks and saying economic growth in China was in the U.S. interest.

OBrien harsh words come as China has rebuffed U.S. efforts to negotiate a three-way nuclear weapons treaty with Russia and as the administration seeks Beijings help in getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The White House also is trying negotiate a new U.S.-China trade agreement.

The Trump adviser said the consensus for decades among American policymakers was as the U.S. invested more in China and trained more Chinese engineers, scientists, bureaucrats and others, the faster China would liberalize  first economically and then politically.

He said the U.S. welcomed China into the World Trade Organization in 2001 with concessions and trade privileges while playing down Chinas human rights abuses and the theft of U.S. technology, which hurt American businesses.

As China grew richer and stronger, we believed that the Chinese Communist Party would liberalize to meet the rising democratic aspirations of its people, OBrien said. This was a bold, quintessentially American idea. It was born of our innate optimism and by the experience of our triumph over Soviet communism. Unfortunately, it also turned out to be very naive.

OBrien offered a list of Chinese activities that he said were aimed not only at repressing its own citizens, but influencing Americans. He said he was not attacking the Chinese people, but the Chinese Communist Party.

He said China has worked to eliminate unfriendly Chinese language media outlets worldwide and has turned to Twitter to spread anti-American disinformation. In more than a dozen American cities, people listen to FM radio stations with subtle pro-Beijing propaganda, OBrien said. Earlier this week, the administration designated the U.S. operations of four major Chinese media outlets as foreign missions  an action that could force some of their staff to leave the country.

He cited Chinas cybersecurity activities that he said collect personal data on millions of Americans. He said the administration is working to prevent certain companies such as the tech giant Huawei that are closely tied to the Chinese Communist Partys intelligence and security apparatus from accessing U.S. data.

Under Trump, the U.S. has imposed restrictions on U.S. semiconductor technology from going to Huawei and has limited the Peoples Liberation Armys ability to use student visa programs to place its officers in U.S. colleges and universities.

___

Riechmann reported from Washington.
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.
Call it a club of not-so-miserable ghosts. Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron and local counterpart Malcolm Turnbull joined forces on Tuesday night in an online discussion for the Coalition for Conservation, a Liberal-interest group intent on promoting clean energy policies in coalition parties.

David Cameron and Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:Illustration: Joe Benke

The former British leader shared his experience spearheading the UK Tories' "Vote Blue, Go Green" campaign that paved the way for Boris Johnsons net-zero emissions by 2050 policy. Turnbull, for his part, reverted to his favourite pastime - blasting his former conservative colleagues for their failure to take climate change seriously.

The improbably-named Coalition for Conservation includes Liberal heavyweights such as former NSW premier Nick Greiner, ex-federal ministers Robert Hill and Philip Ruddock and former NSW minister Robyn Parker as ambassadors. In Victoria, former Premier Ted Baillieu is backing the group ahead of an official state launch next week.

As for the webinar, supposedly hosted under Chatham House rules, Turnbull dished on the reactionary elements of his former party, labelling them "terrorists" who "dynamited, sabotaged and subsequently abandoned" his National Energy Guarantee.
Jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso have killed more than 1,650 civilians and soldiers over the past five years, a local monitoring group said on Wednesday.

The armed forces were responsible for 588 civilian deaths, it said.

Jihadists carried out "at least" 580 attacks between April 2015 and May 2020, targeting schools, town halls, police stations, the army and militias cooperating with the state, according to the Observatory for Democracy and Human Rights (ODDH).

Of those attacks, more than 350 targeted civilians, killing over 1,200.

'Numerous other incidents were reported in the media and on social media networks, which suggests that the total number of attacks committed during this period is likely to be much higher," the ODDH said.

Of civilian deaths at the hands of the armed forces, "the overwhelming majority... were members of the Fulani community," the ODDH report said, referring to an ethnic herder group accused by other communities of complicity with the jihadists.

Burkina Faso, one of the world's poorest countries, has battled a jihadist insurgency since 2015 that spread from neighbouring Mali.

The north and east of the country are the regions most affected by jihadist killings, which have forced more than a million people to flee their homes.

The authorities have been unable to stem the spiral of violence despite the help of foreign forces, notably from France, which has 5,100 troops deployed in its anti-jihadist Barkhane force in the region.

Attacks in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso killed at least 4,000 people in 2019, according to the United Nations.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's advisers would recommend that he veto the District of Columbia statehood bill if it reached his desk, according to a White House policy statement issued Wednesday afternoon as House lawmakers debated the legislation.

Although Trump recently told the New York Post that Republicans would be "very, very stupid" to allow the deep-blue city to become a state and elect two senators, the statement marks the first time his administration has taken an official position on the legislation.

Advocates of statehood are eagerly awaiting the first House floor vote on the issue since 1993 on Friday and expect the chamber's Democratic majority to pass such a bill for the first time in history.

Democrats - led by Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.'s nonvoting representative - said the city's 705,000 residents deserve voting rights and all the benefits of statehood because they pay more federal taxes than residents of 22 states and because D.C. residents have fought in every American war.

The bill has 226 House co-sponsors, more than enough to pass, and 40 co-sponsors in the Senate.

However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., objects to statehood and said he would not bring it up for a floor vote, effectively killing the legislation this session. Even if Democrats took control of the Senate, they would need 60 votes for the bill to overcome a likely filibuster.

During the debate Wednesday before the House Rules Committee, Norton, the chief statehood advocate in Congress since she took office in 1991, said the bill was deeply personal for her.

"My great-grandfather Richard Holmes, who escaped as a slave from a Virginia plantation, made it as far as D.C., a walk to freedom but not to equal citizenship," she said. "For three generations my family has been denied the rights other Americans take for granted."

Republicans, on the other hand, said that the creation of the new state would require a constitutional amendment and that the state would have undue influence over the federal government. They also accused D.C. of being unprepared to handle the responsibilities of a state.

"The District is not prepared to shoulder the burden of statehood," said Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga. "This would apply economically, fiscally as well as a host of other ways."

He pointed to the recent demonstrations against police brutality in the city - and the federal response - to justify his position.

He credited Attorney General William Barr with "quelling the unrest" by deploying federal riot teams June 1 to clear the area around Lafayette Square, near the White House.

"This is just one example of federal intervention compared to [the D.C. police], where they could not quell the violence taking place in the District, proving once again how fundamental the federal government is in Washington, D.C., in maintaining order and civility," Hice said.

Democrats were aghast at the comment and pointed out that Barr's actions against peaceful protesters allowed Trump to walk unimpeded to St. John's Church, where he held a Bible aloft and had his picture taken.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said: "That was a peaceful protest. What the president did was trample on the constitutional rights of those protesters for a photo op."

He questioned the notion that authorities' use of gas and projectiles against citizens qualified as quelling unrest. "Give me a break," said McGovern, who is chairman of the House Rules Committee. "That is going to go down in history as one of the low points of this presidency."

In fact, statehood advocates say the incident illustrated the need for the city to control its own affairs, which are subject to the scrutiny of Congress, and for the mayor to lead the D.C. National Guard.

Because the city is not a state, bills passed by the D.C. Council and signed by the mayor must pass congressional muster before becoming law, a step that has blocked the city from using local tax dollars to subsidize abortion for low-income women and from spending money to regulate the sale of marijuana.

The statehood bill, H.R. 51, introduced by Norton, would shrink the seat of the federal government to a two-square-mile enclave, including the White House, Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court and other federal buildings. The rest of D.C. would become known as the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth.

Republicans will offer several amendments to the bill, including one that would require D.C. to pay the costs of becoming a state.

They note that the federal government pays more than $1 billion annually to fund Medicaid and much of the city's criminal justice system - including the courts, prison services and supervision of offenders released into the community. It is unclear who would pay those costs if the statehood bill were enacted.

The Congressional Budget Office has said it would cost about $3 million over 10 years to pay for two additional senators' salaries and offices. Norton - or her successor - would become a full voting member of Congress, and the cost of that office would not change.

Statehood should not significantly increase funding for federal assistance programs for D.C. residents because the city in general is already treated like a state for those allocations, the CBO said. A notable exception arose this year when D.C. was treated like a territory for the purposes of coronavirus relief funding, meaning it received about $750 million less than the minimum payments that states received.

Other changes - such as updating websites, printed materials and flags - associated with a new state would cost less than $500,000 over the next few years, the CBO found.

The last time the House held a vote on statehood, in 1993, it failed 277 to 153, with support from 60% of Democrats and one Republican.

At the time, D.C. was grappling with a high homicide rate and was on the verge of bankruptcy; the statehood movement had far less support in Congress than it has today.
Indias worst affected state, Maharashtra, is inching towards registering 1.5 lakh Covid-19 cases with 3,890 fresh coronavirus infections recorded on Wednesday, taking the disease tally to 1,42,900. The state also recorded 208 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative death toll to 6,739.

Mumbai on Wednesday recorded 1,118 new Covid cases after reporting less than a thousand cases on Tuesday, which had raised hopes that the growth of the contagion in the metropolitan city could be slowing down. The total number of coronavirus cases in Mumbai69529-- is now less than five hundred cases away from the 70,000-mark. The city also recorded 82 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Also Read: Mumbai sees a dip in new Covid cases; experts say too early to predict worst is over

Out of Maharashtras 208 deaths recorded on Wednesday, 72 occurred in the last 48 hours and the remaining 136 are reconciliations from the past. The states case fatality rate stands at 4,72%, as per the data released by the state health department.

The recovery rate in the state has reached 51.64% with the discharge of around 4,161 cured patients. It should be noted that the number of recoveries in the state was more than the number of fresh cases. A total of 73,792 patients have been cured and discharged from different Coved-19 treatment and isolation facilities in the state.

For Coronavirus Live Updates

The state has also conducted around 8,23,775 Covid tests so far that have resulted in 1,42,900 positive results translating into a 17.34% infection rate.

As of Wednesday, the state has 62,354 active cases. Mumbai (69,528), Thane (27,880) and Pune (17,445) are the top three worst affected cities in Maharashtra, followed by Palghar (4,028), Aurangabad (3,867), Nashik (3,104) and Raigad (2,889).
Australia is proving it is the economy that could.

The latest International Monetary Fund world economic outlook finds only one other rich nation, South Korea, is expected to suffer a smaller downturn this year.

The IMF expects the Australian economy to do much better than its peers, but unemployment is unlikely to fall quickly. Credit:Jason South

At a 4.5 per cent contraction, the expected downturn facing Australia would still be the worst since the 1930s. But compare that to 8.4 per cent in Canada, 12.5 per cent in France or 10.2 per cent in the UK and you can see how well Australia is doing.

Australia's performance is a reflection of the success being had on the health side of the coronavirus pandemic.
ISLAMABAD, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday appreciated support from the Chinese government and military to his country to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Chinese embassy.

The Pakistani army chief made the remarks during his meeting with a Chinese military medical expert team in Rawalpindi, hailing the Chinese team's tireless work in Pakistan by sharing their knowhow on controlling and preventing the coronavirus and helping the Pakistani side improve its preventing system.

Bajwa said Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic partners and have the tradition to firmly stand shoulder by shoulder in testing times. Calling China a backbone force in the international community in curbing COVID-19, he said China is extending a helping hand to other countries to fight against the disease.

Zhou Feihu, head of the Chinese military medical team, introduced the team's two-month work in Pakistan and said the Pakistani army is playing an important role in stopping the spread of the infectious disease in the country.

Zhou also hoped that local communities could strictly follow all standard operation procedures made by the government so as to overcome the pandemic and restore local economy in an early date.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing said during the meeting that the Chinese leadership, government and military attach great importance to the China-Pakistan relations and will continuously provide support to Pakistan in terms of pandemic prevention and economic restoration.

The 10-member military expert team arrived in Pakistan on April 24 to join Pakistan's efforts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
New York, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cardiology Information System Market Research Report by Component, by System, by End-User, by Deployment - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913747/?utm_source=GNW



On the basis of Component, the Cardiology Information System Market is studied across Hardware, Services, and Software.



On the basis of System, the Cardiology Information System Market is studied across Cardiology Information System, Cardiology PACs, Integrated System, and Standalone.



On the basis of End-User, the Cardiology Information System Market is studied across Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Cardiac Cath Labs, Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, and Hospitals.



On the basis of Deployment, the Cardiology Information System Market is studied across On-Cloud and On-Premise.



On the basis of Geography, the Cardiology Information System Market is studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region is studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region is studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region is studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Cardiology Information System Market including Cerner Corporation, Data Networks Inc., Digisonics Inc., Esaote SpA, FUJIFILM medical systems USA Inc., INFINITT Healthcare Co. Ltd., McKesson Corporation, Merge Healthcare Inc., Philips Healthcare Informatics, Inc., and Siemens Healthineers AG.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Cardiology Information System Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Cardiology Information System Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Cardiology Information System Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Cardiology Information System Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Cardiology Information System Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Cardiology Information System Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Cardiology Information System Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913747/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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While the Madison County Commission convened at the county courthouse in Huntsville today for its bi-weekly meeting, other local leaders gathered seven floors below, on the courthouse steps to pressure the commission to defy state law and remove the nearby confederate monument.

We are concerned about the commissions commitment to move forward, said State Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville. The commission previously voted at its June 10 meeting to seek permission from the state to move the monument, which would otherwise be prohibited under a 2017 state law.

Some laws are unjust, and the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017 is one of those unjust laws, said Hall.

One day after the Madison County Commission voted June 10, the Alabama attorney generals office said there is no legal pathway to remove the Confederate monument, which was erected at the courthouse in 1905.

Commissioner JesHenry Malone urged the crowd to have patience as the commission works through legal channels to get the statue moved to another location.

We are absolutely committed to do exactly what we said, and that is moving this statue, Malone said. Give us time to do the work. We all want this statue gone.

His pleas for patience were met with irritation by some in the crowd, who began chanting Justice delayed is justice denied.

Influential Huntsville organizations and business leaders, including the Committee of 100, Downtown Huntsville Inc. and the Historic Huntsville Foundation, along with several faith leaders have called for the statues removal.

This week the Huntsville City Council will consider a resolution regarding the relocation of the monument.

Hall said she would like to see Madison County enter into an agreement with the state attorney generals office to remove the statue and pay the $25,000 fine. The City of Mobile entered a similar agreement June 15, in which the city agreed to pay the fine after removing its statue of Confederate Navy Adm. Raphael Semmes.

Catherine Hereford, with the local organization Tennessee Valley Progressive Alliance, said her group and others had already raised the $25,000 to pay the state fine for the statues removal.

Im offering the check today, she said. This statue is a good representation of all the other inequalities we have in our institutions.

She said she was concerned about a lot of feet-dragging from the commission over getting the statue removed. But, she said, she hoped the summer of 2020 will be the time, not that we change or erase the history of the past, because thats impossible. But we make history by changing the future in the name of unity, equality and human decency.

David Person of Huntsville is helping organize a Move the Monument social media campaign and said local groups will continue to hold weekly protests at the courthouse until the monument is removed.

State Rep. Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, told the crowd that what Alabamians have learned about the Civil War are the Cliffs Notes version of history, highlighting states rights over the reality of slavery.

States rights, when you hear that, you dont think about the pain that caused, he said.

Lets continue to pressure our elected officials to make the right decisions, but lets go to them with the peoples agenda thats going to dismantle systematic and institutional racism, he said. Until those things happen, were going to be marching next year.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 17:43:57|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China currently can offer 3.78 million nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 every day, a 200-percent increase from March, a health official said Wednesday.

As of Monday, Chinese medical institutions had conducted 90.41 million nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 in total, said Guo Yanhong, an official with the National Health Commission (NHC).

The total number of designated centers offering nucleic acid tests has increased from 2,081 in early March to the current 4,804, marking a 131-percent increase, Guo noted, adding that 28,500 technicians are engaged in nucleic acid testing.

In order to improve nucleic acid testing capacity in various regions, the NHC initiated an online training program to cultivate relevant professionals on June 15, said He Qinghua, an official with the NHC.

A total of 360,000 people across the country have received such training by Wednesday noon, He noted, adding that the health authorities of provincial-level regions should offer hands-on training for those who have finished online courses. Enditem
They also told US lawmakers that they had never been asked to slow testing for coronavirus.

America's top infectious disease expert has told lawmakers that the US is seeing a "disturbing surge" in coronavirus infections in some states.

A panel of health officials, including Dr Anthony Fauci, said the next few days will be crucial to stem the new outbreaks.

Cases are climbing rapidly across a number of US states.

The four top experts also testified they were never told by President Donald Trump to "slow down" testing.

Their comments come after Mr Trump told a weekend rally in Oklahoma that he had asked his team to do less testing to help keep official case counts down.

"To my knowledge, none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing," Dr Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testified to a congressional committee investigating the US response to the pandemic.

"In fact, we will be doing more testing," he added.

The other three officials - representing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services - also disputed Mr Trump's comment, saying they had never been directed to slow testing.

Brett Giroir, the health department assistant secretary who oversees US diagnostic capacity, told lawmakers he expects the US will be able to conduct 40 to 50 million tests per month by autumn.

What did Trump say?

The White House has said the president's comment about slowing testing was "in jest". But on Tuesday the president appeared to contradict that, telling reporters: "I don't kid."

About 2.3 million Americans have been infected with coronavirus and at least 120,000 have died - more than any other nation.

But Mr Trump told a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona, later in the day that the coronavirus "plague" was "going away".

The president once again referred to the virus as the "kung flu", which the White House denies is a racist term.

Arizona, where the president addressed a megachurch on Tuesday, surpassed its daily record for new infections only hours before he arrived.

Officials there warn that over 80% of hospital beds are currently being used, and that the healthcare system may be overrun in the coming days or weeks.

What else did experts say?

Dr Fauci warned of "a disturbing surge of infection" and "increased community spread" in many southern and western states.

"A couple of days ago there were 30,000 new infections" in a single day, he said. "That's very troubling to me."

"The next couple of weeks are going to be critical to address those surges that we're seeing in Texas, Florida, Arizona, and other states."

CDC Director Dr Robert Redfield called testing "a critical underpinning of our response", but said social distancing measures are more effective at keeping the virus from spreading.

Dr Redfield also called on all Americans to get a flu jab this year, saying the public must "embrace flu vaccinations with confidence".

"This single act will save lives," he added.

Dr Fauci added that he is "cautiously optimistic" a vaccine may be ready by the end of 2020.

He said it is a matter of "when and not if" the vaccine is ready, but added that it "might take some time".

Drug company Moderna has plans "to launch a Phase 3 clinical trial as early as July 2020, pending positive results from this Phase 2 trial", he said.

Dr Fauci also defended his decision not to warn Americans to start wearing masks earlier, saying it was due to a scarcity at the time of personal protective equipment, or PPE, which was needed for healthcare providers.

Several cities and counties have issued new mask requirements in the past week.

"Plan A: Don't go in a crowd. Plan B: If you do, make sure you wear a mask," Dr Fauci told the committee.

Where else is the virus surging?

The number of new daily infections is increasing in more than half of all US states.

Along with Arizona, Nevada and Texas have also just notched up single-day records for new coronavirus cases.

Other states, including California, South Carolina, Utah, Mississippi and Louisiana, have seen a surge in caseload.

Some governors have said they may be forced to announce new lockdown measures.

On Monday, Florida surpassed 100,000 cases. In the absence of a state-wide mask requirement, several cities and towns have issued their own orders mandating masks in public.

Texas has temporarily revoked alcohol licences from several businesses that were breaking social distancing rules.

The governor of Washington on Tuesday ordered residents to wear face masks in public after the north-western US state saw its positive tests rise by 35% last week. BBC
For him to say that the Black Lives Movement, like that if he didnt have  a primary right now, he wouldnt care, its, like, surprising to me. Its, like, all right, just for you to say that out loud is crazy, Sue said. So I was like, yeah, Im just going to vote against you.Voters in New York are also picking a replacement for former Rep. Chris Collins (R), who was found guilty of 26 counts of insider trading.
Crime has plummeted in areas of the Joburg CBD, thanks in large part to the deployment of an organisation named the Forum of Integrated Risk Mitigation (FIRM).

The FIRM is an organisation which partners with multiple businesses that have offices in central Johannesburg to improve the security and safety of everyone living and working in the area.

Partners include the major banks with offices in the CBD  FNB, Standard Bank, and Absa  as well as mining companies, taxi operators, property owners, and small business owners.

All of these partners pool their resources and security measures to create a unified security force which can police the Joburg CBD more effectively than these companies could while acting separately.

The FIRM was born out of a crisis. On 28 February 2019, the M2 Bridge into the Joburg CBD was closed, forcing motorists to take routes through the city with more traffic and a higher risk of crimes such as snatch-and-grabs and hijacking.

Banks quickly reacted by imposing curfews on employees and placing private security at strategic points to form safety corridors into and out of the city.

Many of these operations were overseen by the FIRM, which was initially created to deal with the security emergency caused by the bridge closure.

Birth of the FIRM

MyBroadband spoke to FIRM board chairman Wayne Dawson about the organisations creation and how it has grown beyond its original vision.

What I have learnt from the crisis of the M2 Bridge is there are always opportunities, and those are new avenues, new ways of collaboration, and getting more people involved, Dawson said.

Before the bridge closed, you were going to be in trouble [when driving through CBD] during the peak times, especially when traffic is grinding to almost a standstill  thats when youre at your most vulnerable.

After the bridge was closed, Dawson said that drivers were vulnerable for the two days immediately afterwards.

After that, we had our guardians lined up on specific routes and we made sure that they were equipped with a radio to dispatch assistance and help, he said.

It was a simple model, a simple strategy, and then we started realising that we can do more. Day one for us was literally just put the bodies down there and move on that space.

Security guards deployed by the FIRM to deal with the bridge closure were employed by the banks, private security companies, and other businesses in the area.

The organisations response saw a significant decline in contact crime, thanks to its use of analytics to determine crime hotspots and the resources it has at its disposal  including armed response teams, widespread CCTV footage, and regular patrols through the city.

Since February last year when we started, Johannesburg was the number one contact crime capital of South Africa, Dawson said. At the end of September we were number eight, so something we did worked.

Below is a map of security placements by FIRM partners in the Joburg CBD following the M2 bridge closure, as well as the reduction in crime following the FIRMs intervention.

The guardians of Joburg

Today, months after the M2 bridge was reopened, drivers and pedestrians in Joburg CBD will still notice private security guards  officially termed Public Safety Guardians patrolling the area.

You cannot miss them, they are these yellow neon-clothed individuals. You will see that they are from different security companies, but the jacket unifies us all, Dawson said.

The FIRM guards who patrol the streets are not armed, but they do have instant communication with response units and the South African Police Service (SAPS).

We are against the use of firearms  however, we have got tactical operational teams, Dawson said. I work for a bank, many of the other guys work for banks, so we definitely need those type of teams in our arsenal.

However, our approach is very different  it is not come in and cause a firefight. Our approach is to contain, arrest, and bring the guys to book.

You want to show society that these are the criminals and this is how we deal with these people. You also want to tell the criminals out there that there is a team that is not like any other team, this is how we operate, he said.

The FIRM aims to train its security officers to be capable of handling almost any type of emergency situation, from contact crime to fires and medical emergencies.

We want those guards to be seen as guardians as well as first-responder life-saving experts, Dawson said. They will be trained in firefighting, how to control and stop traffic, how to secure a crime scene.

All this type of training will be done with the SAPS, with JMPD coming on board, and when they are called up to assist, they are equipped to support during fires, disaster management, and other emergencies.

Below is an image of the FIRM jacket, which identifies security officers as part of the organisation.

Securing the whole city

The firms short-term goal was to deal with the risks posed by the closure of the M2 Bridge.

Its long-term goals, however, include making the city of Joburg a safer place for all who visit it and possibly expanding the project to other cities.

At the end of last year, we were approached by the Tshwane Metro, Menlyn, Sandton, and the CID, Dawson said. They were very interested in our approach and how we collaborate and get things done.

They see the value in it and we are thinking of opening different chapters  the Johannesburg chapter, which is running right now, Tshwane chapter, Menlyn chapter, Sandton chapter, etc.

The FIRM aims to work with the municipal government to combine their resources in an effort to curb crime across the entirety of central Johannesburg.

JMPD has a city-wide camera network system monitored out of Martindale in a centre called the IIOC. They also have a response team, Dawson said.

What we are saying is it is time that we collaborate and partner with law enforcement to get that system up and running with better technology and communications integration.

From the security services point of view, we are looking at companies that will be able to rent Segway, bicycles, etc., so that we can increase patrols within the city.

The FIRM also proposed the implementation of a city-wide camera system that would intelligently identify and flag incidents of crime, improving response time and allowing the authorities to make projections based on machine learning and analytics.

Other measures to secure the CBD would involve the building of drone ports on the roofs of businesses in the area, enabling a higher level of information and security over a wider area.

Re-inventing the City of Joburg

In addition to improving the safety of people on the streets, the FIRM is also looking at ways of bringing investment and shoppers to the CBD area.

We are actually in collaboration with the City to start looking at repurposing some of our roads in the CBD, Dawson said. There are just too many vehicular traffic roads and too little walkable pedestrian safe routes.

This is where we are going to revitalise the city by establishing food bodegas and restaurants in full-on street levels. We are going to give it a South Africa feel and make our cities look like nobody elses.

Every client that walks in the city spends money in the city.

Dawson said the FIRM recognised the help it has received from CBD residents and businesses, and he called on businesses to join the initiative to improve the Joburg CBD.

We used a lot of influence and intelligence from the ground and we must say thank you to every Joburg citizen that works, lives, breathes, and operates in the CoJ for helping us and assisting us with a lot of intelligence, Dawsons said.

The streets belong to us, and it is time that we took those streets back. Crime cannot prevail.

Before he stepped down as mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba thanked businesses for coming on board to help clean up the city.

Im happy that even though Im leaving, initiatives like the inner city rejuvenation programme will continue beyond my presence and improve the lives of residents across the City of Johannesburg, he said at a briefing hosted by the FIRM.

MyBroadband spoke to banks who operate in the Joburg CBD about the security of their employees and how things had improved after the M2 bridge re-opened.

Absa

At the outset of the M2 bridge closure, Absa published a blog post applauding the formation of the FIRM and its potential to uplift the city.

This problem was not only met with a solution, but the potential to take back part of the CBD and unite one of South Africas biggest banks with the City of Joburg, Absa said at the time.

Absa told MyBroadband that it takes the safety of its employees seriously, and has subsequently implemented a number of measures to ensure the protection of its employees, including:

Implementation of safe corridors leading to its campus providing coverage to its employees and partners from 06:00 to 22:00

Daily engagement with relevant authorities (JMPD and SAPS), peers in the industry as well as related industries

Providing Anti-Hijacking awareness training to its employees

Joint operations led by the JMPD and SAPS with other security companies in the immediate vicinity of the FNB campus

Monitoring and management of unprotected protest marches by its Operational Risk Management Centre

Public Partnerships i.e. Inner Jozi, City Improvement Districts (CIDs), Main Marshall Improvement District (MMID)

FNB

FNB has also praised the efforts of the FIRM and all partners involved, stating that it has seen a significant increase in business activity in the area.

FNB Point of Presence CEO Lee-Ann Van Zyl said that FNB continues to make significant investments into the BankCity precincts security and environment.

In 2019, we officially opened the latest phase of the revamped BankCity precinct, which runs through Fraser Street, she said.

Since then, we have seen increased retail activity for small businesses in BankCity comprising coffee shops, restaurants and confectionary outlets to mention a few.

Van Zyl said that consistent improvement in security is one of the banks leading priorities in creating a safer and more welcoming environment in the CBD.

Consequently, we have partnerships with JMPD, SAPS and all partners affiliated to the FIRM to combine resources, reduce crime, improve traffic flow management and technical expertise.

Over the years, FNB has created safer routes for employees who walk, use public transport or drive into the city, and we offer a free shuttle service to employees, she said.

Weve upgraded security cameras and employees have free access to an App that is linked to security companies that will respond to a distressed activation. We also provide after-hours security assistance to staff entering, leaving BankCity late at night or early in the morning.

FNB also sponsors the branded reflector jackets worn by security guards affiliated to the FIRM.

As one of the countrys leading employers, FNB is committed to creating a safer and welcoming environment for employees. In addition, we are committed to partnerships that will consistently improve vibrancy and business in the inner city, van Zyl said.

Now read: Increase in domestic violence as lockdown continues
The Oyo State government has spent N2.7 billion in the fight against the spread and containment of the Coronavirus pandemic in the state, the Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State, Akinola Ojo, has said.

The official noted that the amount was spent on setting up of treatment and isolation centres, procurement of palliatives and seedlings for a section of the residents and farmers as well as on procurement of ambulances and the security of the states borders, among others.

Mr Ojo, who is a member of the states COVID-19 Task Force, gave the account on behalf of the task force via a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday night.

He maintained that the state considered it imperative to inform the public on the expenses on the pandemic in line with the principle of transparency and accountability, which he claimed the governor, Seyi Makinde, is known for.

Breakdown of expenses

The breakdown of the expenses includes N370 million for the setting up of the Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo, Ibadan; N453 million on the security of the state borders; N118 million to provide support for the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan for partnership on testing; N900 million on the provision of palliatives and seedling to residents and farmers.

He added that N321 million was expended on procurement of ambulances for the Ministry of Health while the state has also expended N614 million so far, on the procurement of reagents, body kits, drugs and other items for testing and treatment of patients.

In terms of the cost of treatment, if you remember when I gave the breakdown, I said we spent N614 million on other items, which were consumables, such as reagents and body kits and others for patients.

The commissioner, who said that the state has approved a total of N15,000 per health worker as hazard allowance, added that the allowance would be paid from March 2020.

The endowment fund so far has realised the sum of N378 million in cash donations, while the total value of cash and kind donations stand at N1.1 billion, according to him.

Other donations included the N250 million in cash and medical equipment received from CACOVID and donations of medical equipment from corporate organisations, groups and individuals.

Mr Ojo alleged that though the state was promised the sum of N100 million by the Federal Government, it was yet to receive the money from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

In line with the principle of transparency and accountability, which the administration of Engineer Seyi Makinde is known for, it is imperative, especially at this time, that we inform the good people of Oyo State on the amount we have realised so far by your contributions and the expenses incurred in the fight against the global enemy, COVID-19.

Oyo State recorded its first index case on March 20, 2020. The COVID-19 Task Force, headed by Governor Makinde, was constituted for partnership. As of today, we have received a cash donation totalling N378 million from the citizens of Oyo State, well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations. I must appreciate all of you who have donated.

These donations are publicly available on Oyo State government website and they are regularly updated.

In terms of expenses and the breakdown, as a state and, as of today, we have spent N2,779,000,000. A breakdown of these expenses shows that we have spent N900 million to provide for palliatives to the indigent amongst us and also provide palliatives to the farmers in the form of seedlings.

The plan of the governor is to set up four world-class isolation centres across the regions of the state. And this, without doubt, has come with a cost. We have set up the Olodo Isolation Centre, which is a word class facility. We are in the process of setting up isolation centres in Saki, Ogbomoso and Igbo Ora. All we need to actualise these has been set aside and included in the cost of roughly N2.8billion that has been spent this far.

We have also been able to provide security by securing the state borders, which has cost us N450 million. We provided security trucks and the cost of personnel.

I must say that health workers have not been neglected because they are the frontline staff who are fighting against this virus. So, we have been able to pay their volunteer and hazard allowances in June and backdated to March. We are going to pay the hazard allowance of all the health workers from March up until June. So, this just gives you a brief analysis of how much we have spent so far on COVID-19 pandemic in Oyo State.

On Olodo, we spent a total of N370 million, which forms part of the cost we spent in upgrading the centre and also the personnel cost incurred so far. We have also spent N453 million on security of the state borders. We have spent another N118 million in supporting UCH, a partner that is supporting us in testing coronavirus patients. We spent an additional N900 million on palliatives and for provision of seedling to farmers that were affected.

We have spent N321 million in buying ambulances for the Ministry of Health to support the fight. On other items like supply of reagents, body kits, we have spent a total of N614 million. If you have all that up, it will give you a total of N2,779,000,000.
President Donald Trump and his allies have seized on an argument they think will resonate with Americans: They may take our Confederate statues, but they will never take our other dead white men.

On Monday night, after a weekend full of statues being pulled off their pedestals nationwide, protesters only feet from the White House threw ropes around a bronze statue of Andrew Jackson, the populist 19th century president whose portrait hangs in Trumps Oval Office. They yanked at the statue, hoping to bring it down, before police intervened. On TV, cable news carried the images of the clash between protesters and police nationwide.

On Twitter, Trump bellowed that he would throw the perpetrators in prison for up to 10 years and tied the anti-statue push to the dangers of the radical left. Watching it all unfold, Trumps allies thought they finally had a visual that would appall a broad swath of Americans. Seeing the reaction, Trumps critics started fretting that the presidents backers were right. Americans were mostly supportive of racial justice protesters going after Confederate statues, but some of the presidents opponents worried that such support would not extend to attempts to target any slave-owning ex-president.

"The protesters are playing right down to the stereotype of ignorant iconoclasts that their conservative opponents hope to stick on them, said Tom Nichols, a senior adviser to the anti-Trump group Project Lincoln and a professor of national security at the U.S. Naval War College.

Right after the events unfolded Monday night, a person close to the campaign predicted Trump would pounce. Bad move on protesters part to target that specific statue thats so close to the [White House], the person said via text. Now Trumps gonna weaponize this like only he can.

Tuesday night, he did.

If you give power to people who demolish monuments and attack churches, set fire to buildings, then nothing is sacred and nothing is safe, Trump said Tuesday night during a speech before students in Arizona, lumping the attempts to remove statues with vandalism of buildings that mostly occurred in the early days of the largely peaceful protests.

Story continues

The push to deface, remove or outright topple monuments to historic figures is an outgrowth of the recent demonstrations that erupted following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. The protests have resurfaced a separate long-running debate over American history  namely, whether the country should continue to honor Confederate generals and historically significant figures who were slave owners.

It began with government officials deciding to remove statues of Confederate generals throughout the South, arguing that it was inappropriate to honor people who literally rebelled against the United States. A Quinnipiac University poll released last week found that 52 percent of Americans supported the removal of Confederate statues, and 44 percent were against it.

President Andrew Jackson, shown in an undated portrait, was a slave owner and a military leader who fought numerous battles against Native Americans.

I don't like the idea of honoring the losing team with a statue, said Stephen Miller, a conservative media critic and contributor to The Spectator.

But protesters have gone further in recent days, defacing monuments of prominent figures who owned slaves or oppressed minority groups, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Andrew Jackson also owned slaves and oversaw an era of forced expulsion of Native Americans from their territories. Even Civil War heroes have not escaped the fury. On Friday, protesters attacked a statue of Ulysses S. Grant, the Union general and future president who literally waged war against the Confederacy, citing a slave Grant was gifted and later freed before the war.

Even seemingly unaffiliated statues, like one of blues guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan in Austin, have been lightly vandalized. And on Monday, high-profile progressive activist Shaun King urged protesters to go next to churches with statues and images of white Jesus, saying the depiction of Jesus as a white man was a form of white supremacy.

Toppling Washington, Jefferson and Grant obscures the more important point about Jim Crow monuments and makes it about the protests, rather than the issues  which is exactly what the right-wing culture warriors want, Nichols said.

During last weeks rally in Tulsa, Okla., Trump and Pence came down firmly on the side of keeping Confederate statues up as a way to remember our history, a stance that could alienate moderate voters ahead of the 2020 election. But Trump and his allies have now shifted focus to the vandalism targeting non-Confederate monuments, potentially seeking to pander to a broader audience while trying to paint progressive protesters  and the Democrats supporting them  as detached from mainstream American norms.

They hate our history, they hate our values, and they hate everything we prize as Americans, Trump said Tuesday night. The left is not trying to promote justice or equality or lift up the downtrodden.

Trump and his backers have spent weeks trying to find a way to discredit the protesters  claiming without evidence that violent antifa provocateurs were embedded in Black Lives Matter protests, attacking the largely peaceful activists in Seattles autonomous zone as domestic terrorists. But those appeals largely played to Trumps base. Conservatives are hoping that Americans more broadly will be concerned with protesters going after non-Confederate statues.

Miller argued the widespread statue attacks play into a stereotype conservatives are pushing that Democrats are yoked to white bourgeois podcast Marxists who are blaming dead white men for all of todays problems.

This is all meant to be a shiny object to distract [from] addressing the policies of the people who have been in charge of these cities and communities for decades, he said.

Seth Mandel, executive editor of the right-leaning Washington Examiner magazine, said Trump is making the subject into a dichotomy  statues or no statues  that serves as a proxy battle for the ideological culture war. He compared it to the way Trump treated mask-wearing during the current pandemic  the subject started as a public health debate but has at times turned into a sign of whether someone supported Trump or not.

Statues deserve nuance, too, he said. There are many statues that are legitimately controversial  meaning wanting to take them down shouldn't be considered nihilistic. But it strikes me as a fringe position to say Jefferson and Washington should come down, too.

He added: It would be a shame if the national debate came down to statues vs. no statues, instead of a serious debate over what the statues represent.
In a study at SLAC and Stanford, theorists predicted that catalyst nanoparticles made of palladium and platinum (left) would become rounder during certain chemical reactions (middle), creating step-like features with pairs of atoms that are especially active catalytic sites. Experiments and electron microscope images like the one at right confirmed that this is the case, offering a new understanding of how catalysts work.

A study at SLAC and Stanford identified which pairs of atoms in a catalyst nanoparticle are most active in a reaction that breaks down a harmful exhaust gas in catalytic converters. 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.

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.

"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.

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.

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 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."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 06:06:24|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on June 23, 2020 shows debris on a street after an earthquake in Oaxaca, Mexico. An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 jolted 12 km SSW of Santa Maria Zapotitlan of Mexico at 15:29:05 GMT on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. (Str/Xinhua)

Mexico is located above various fault lines. In the past 35 years there were several powerful quakes in the southern and central parts of the country, which caused wide-scale destruction and deaths.

MEXICO CITY, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake rocked Mexico City and many southern and central parts of the country around mid-morning on Tuesday.

The quake hit at 10:29 a.m. and the epicenter was located at 23 kilometers south of La Crucecita, a Pacific Coast village in southern Oaxaca state, the National Seismological Service (SSN) said via Twitter.

One person was killed, Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat told a news station.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that key infrastructure, such as oil and electricity production centers, were not affected.

According to the National Civil Protection Coordination, the quake was felt across seven states.

Mexico City also reported minor damage in two downtown buildings, but no injuries.

Mexico is located above various fault lines. In the past 35 years there were several powerful quakes in the southern and central parts of the country, which caused wide-scale destruction and deaths. 
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QUEENS  State police activated the New York State Amber Alert Wednesday morning and are investigating a child abduction of a 15-year-old that occurred near 46th Ave. in Queens at about 4:36 a.m.

Police are looking for 15-year-old Ahsan Ali, who was allegedly taken by Mohsin Ali, who is driving a white 2009 Toyota Sienna.
India sent more soldiers to the disputed border region with China on Wednesday following the deadly hand-to-hand brawl that saw 20 Indian solders killed.

The increase in military personnel comes despite both sides declaring publicly that they would pull back forces from the region.

Indian fighter jets were also seen flying over the Himalayan region as part of a show of strength following what military sources say has been a Chinese takeover of contested territory.

Chinese forces have held onto a chunk of land covering several square miles at the mouth of the Galwan valley following the deadly brawl on June 15 that involved rocks and nail-studded batons, the Indian military sources told news outlet AFP.

But both have maintained troops around the valley, with India deploying more forces and trying to project military might.

Indian jets regularly took off Wednesday from a military base in Leh, the main Indian town in the contested region, and headed towards the mountainous border 150 miles away.

Indian soldiers walk along the foothills of a mountain range near Leh, the joint capital of the union territory of Ladakh, on June 24, 2020, as India sent more troops to the disputed border region with China after 20 died in fighting on June 15, raising tensions between the countries

There were also checkpoints on main roads out of Leh and a frenzy of military activity around the main town, which lies at 3,500 metres, and residents reported long lines of military trucks and artillery on roads near Leh.

'We now have a good strength present in the area,' an official of the Indian army's Northern Command told AFP on condition of anonymity, referring to the reinforcements.

Tashi Chhepal, a retired Indian army captain who has served in the area and is based in Leh, said the mobilisation was unprecedented in a sensitive region touching Pakistan as well as China.

'I haven't seen this kind of military movement before,' he told the news outlet.

After the latest round of talks between military commanders on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the two sides had 'agreed to take necessary measures to promote a cooling of the situation'.

But they made similar comments after a fist-fight in May that proved to be a warm-up for the medieval-style battle at Galwan.

In the fighting on June 15, that involved rocks and nail-studded batons, 20 Indian soldiers were killed. Many died after being knocked unconscious and plunging into the Galwan River. A group of around 70 soldiers were seen walking in the foothills of the mountain pass on June 24

Pictured: An Indian fighter jet flies over Leh, the joint capital of the union territory of Ladakh, on June 24, 2020 in an apparent show of strength from India

Images taken on Sunday by the US satellite firm Maxar showed trucks and huts at camps on the river at 4,500 metres near the scene of the fighting. It was not clear whose army they were.

The two countries fought a border war in 1962 but this month's fighting was their deadliest encounter in 53 years.

According to Indian military sources, Chinese troops ambushed Indian soldiers and forced them down a ridge where they had gone to remove a Chinese 'encroachment'.

A bilateral accord prevents the use of guns, but the fighting was still fierce, reportedly with rocks and batons wrapped with barbed wire.

China has in turn accused Indian soldiers of twice crossing the Line of Actual Control, the unofficial boundary, provoking its troops.

But the Chinese appear to be sticking to their gains at Galwan and the nearby Pangong Tso lake, police intelligence as well as military sources told AFP.

An Indian Air Force's Chinook helicopter flies over a Himalayan mountain range near Leh, the joint capital of the union territory of Ladakh, on June 24, 2020, near where fighting broke out between Indian and Chinese forces on June 15

This is the Galwan valley where the brawl between Indian and Chinese soldiers took place. The unofficial border between the two countries runs through the middle of the photo on the dotted red line. Chinese bulldozers appear to have been diverting the river on the right of the photo, on their side of the border

India claimed that after their men were savaged with nail-studded clubs (pictured), the Chinese People's Liberation Army mutilated their corpses. No bullets were fired as per a peace treaty which bars firearms within 2km of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the line drawn down the 17,000ft valley after India's defeat in the 1962 Sino-Indian War

China is now claiming the valley as its own, in statements that India has rejected.

Indian analysts are dubious of the chances of a major easing of the tensions or that India will reclaim the territory.

Harsh Pant from the Observer Research Foundation think-tank in New Delhi said: 'Anything that the Chinese now say can't be taken on face value. India, hopefully, has learnt its lessons now.'

Amid calls for a boycott of Chinese goods, media reports say Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government could make it more difficult for Chinese companies to do business.

But analysts say there is recognition on both sides that their economies need each other.

'There may be some short term public backlash against China in India, but publicly, Pakistan swamps China as a perceived threat,' said Vipin Narang, a security specialist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

'The effects of this crisis, even if it slow burns, may be short lived amongst India's public. And cheap TVs are still cheap TVs.'

Pictured: A satellite image taken on June 22, 2020, released by Maxar Technologies, shows China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) base in Kongka Pass, bordering India and China

Another satellite image, pictured, shows China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) tank company and artillery north of Gogra, bordering India and China. Some of the vehicles are covered up, perhaps in an attempt to hide them

China is India's second-biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth $87 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2019, and a trade deficit of $53.57 billion in China's favour, the widest India has with any country.

The summit held on Monday between the two nations was reportedly tense, with Indian commanders pushing for the Chinese to withdraw from the region.

An Indian government source said the meeting lasted several hours, with the Indian side pushing China to withdraw its troops back to where they were in April.

China, in previous rounds of talks, had asked India to stop all construction work in what it says is Chinese territory.

In the brutal battle, soldiers fought with rocks, metal rods and wooden clubs during last week's vicious skirmish, the culmination of a month long standoff.

China has not disclosed how many casualties it suffered, though an Indian minister has said around 40 Chinese soldiers may have been killed.

Many died after being knocked unconscious and plunging into the frigid glacial waters of the Galwan River.

Pictured: People carry the coffin of Satnam Singh, an Indian soldier who was killed in a border clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh region, during his funeral ceremony in Bhojraj village in Gurdaspur, Punjab India, June 18, 2020

Pictured: A Karni Sena supporter tears a banner featuring Chinese President Xi Jinping and shout slogans during a protest against China in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Anti-China protesters in India demonstrate against China following the fighting on June 15 which saw 20 Indian soldiers die. Some are calling for the boycott of Chinese goods, however the two nations are both reliant on one-another for trade

Following the fighting, demonstrations against China have been across India.

In one example, members of an Indian traders' body made a bonfire of Chinese goods at a market in New Delhi, pushing for a nationwide boycott of products made in China.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which represents some 70 million traders, has asked federal and state governments to support a boycott of Chinese goods and cancel government contracts awarded to Chinese companies.

'The entire nation is filled with extreme anger and intensity to give a strong befitting response to China not only militarily but also economically,' CAIT National General Secretary Praveen Khandelwal wrote in a letter to chief ministers of some Indian states.

In prosperous Maharashtra, the government said it was putting three investment plans, including from Great Wall Motor Co, on hold.

'In the current environment we will wait for the federal government to announce a clear policy regarding these projects,' industries minister Subhash Desai said.
An opposition party in Tanzania has condemned the arrest of its leader describing it as a clear act of oppression and intimidation ahead of October's elections.



The Alliance for Change and Transparency says Zitto Kabwe and seven colleagues have been accused by the police of unlawful assembly.



A party statement says police interrupted a legal political meeting in south-east Tanzania's Linde Region and arrested them on trumped-up charges.



The East African nation will hold general elections in October. President John Magufuli, who is expected to run for a second term, dissolved parliament last week.



Rights groups say oppression of the opposition has increased significantly since President Magufuli came to power in 2015 during which time there has also been a clampdown on the media.

Source: bbc









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STAMFORD, Conn., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TapestryHealth has announced its purchase of Telemedicine Web Services Inc., a Florida based developer of telemedicine software technology. "It was critical that we own our intellectual property," said Mordy Eisenberg, COO of TapestryHealth, in announcing the purchase this week. "We're expanding, we're serving more and more facilities, we've begun to offer home care and post-discharge care to our short-term SNF patients, and we're about to make our platform available to non-Tapestry doctors across the country," he said. In order to accomplish that, Eisenberg stressed the importance of reducing the company's dependence on a third-party provider. "We are the leading provider of remote primary, specialty and 24/7 urgent care in the country. Our clients depend on our 100% system reliability. We can't have down time. And now that we are in control of the IT function from end to end, we can not only eliminate delays in service but we can be more responsive to our clients on the developmental side and bring newer, more advanced products to market in less time."

Dr. David Chess, CEO and Founder of TapestryHealth, noted that his company had reached a significant crossroads. "We are now at the junction of software and medical care and have found the way to make remote delivery of health care as personal as being in the same room." He added that the TapestryHealth clinical platform, which is already the most cutting edge in the country, will now be on even stronger footing. "We're adding lots of tools and looking at expanded software solutions that will deliver even more hospital-quality capabilities right to the patient's bedside. And we are making the entire product hardware-agnostic so that it will support clinical visits on anything  a laptop, a tablet, a smart phone  and allow for simple plug-ins of additional diagnostic tools."

TapestryHealth's remote examination and treatment equipment is inexpensive and user friendly, with one touch operation that can be learned quickly by local facility nurses. It features a fully integrated stethoscope and otoscope as well as three hi-def cameras that allow for precise examination of even the smallest wounds.

About TapestryCare

TapestryCare is a multi-specialty healthcare practice that utilizes advanced technology to bring the integrity of a medical center  including direct access to a team of physicians, specialists and behavioral health services  to the patient's bedside in skilled nursing facilities and other non-hospital environments. Tapestry's skilled specialists, physicians, nurse practitioners and registered nurses see patients on a daily schedule, building relationships with patients and families based on familiarity and trust to ensure appropriate, effective and efficient delivery of care regardless of the patient's location, or day and time of need. Learn more at: http://www.TapestryHealth.com

Contact: Mordy Eisenberg

(845) 694-7288

[email protected]

SOURCE TapestryHealth

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If youre a gig worker  whether or not youre currently receiving unemployment benefits because of the coronavirus  the IRS wants to remind you about your responsibility when it comes to paying taxes.

The federal government taxes unemployment benefits, and thats a problem for those receiving benefits in New Jersey. While workers have been able to tell the Department of Labor to take taxes out of their regular benefits, no taxes have been withheld from the $600 benefit that runs through July.

Its something workers should remember so theyre not socked with an unexpected tax bill when they file their 2020 returns.
Reese Witherspoon has reinvented her acting career by turning bestselling novels including Big Little Lies into smart, gripping television shows. The latest is Little Fires Everywhere, based on Celeste Ng's 2017 novel.

The show launched in Australia in late May, on Amazon Prime Video, and has, for the most part, won over critics and audiences alike.

Reese Witherspoon plays a wealthy suburban mum with secrets in Little Fires Everywhere. Credit:Erin Simkin/Hulu

On this week's Televisionaries podcast, Spectrum deputy editor Kylie Northover and The Guide and Green Guide critic Debi Enker join host Louise Rugendyke to debate the show, which centres on the intersecting lives of Elena, a wealthy, suburban mum of three played by Witherspoon, and Mia, a frugal, single mum of one played by Kerry Washington.

Enker says: "From the first episode, there is a real sense of unease about the relationship between these women ... I found those tensions really engaging."
New York  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.

Privilege is wearing $200 sneakers when youve never had a job. Privilege is wearing $300 Beats headphones while living on public assistance, Morse-Cunningham allegedly wrote in a Facebook post which has since been deleted. 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.

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.

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Take a look at the pictures of People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers training in extreme conditions. The People's Liberation Army is the world's biggest army, with an estimated 2 million troops.People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers throw snow onto their bodies in temperatures below minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 33 degrees Fahrenheit) during a winter training session at a military base in Heihe, China. (Image: Reuters)
Roundup weed killing products are offered for sale at a home improvement store on May 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois.

Bayer will pay more than $10 billion to resolve thousands of lawsuits regarding claims that its herbicide Roundup causes cancer, the company announced Wednesday.

Monsanto, which Bayer bought in 2018, lost a lawsuit that same year brought by a school groundskeeper who claimed its weedkiller had caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Since then, thousands of U.S. lawsuits have been filed against the company.

Bayer CEO Werner Baumann called the decision to settle the lawsuits the right one in order to end a long period of uncertainty.

"The decision to resolve the Roundup litigation enables us to focus fully on the critical supply of health care and food," he said in statement. "It will also return the conversation about the safety and utility of glyphosate-based herbicides to the scientific and regulatory arena and to the full body of science."

The settlement, however, does not contain any admission of wrongdoing or liability.

Bayer will pay $8.8 billion to $9.6 billion to settle existing lawsuits and then another $1.25 billion that will cover any potential litigation in the future, the company said in a press release Wednesday.

Kenneth Feinberg, a court-appointed mediator for the settlement, called the deal a "constructive and reasonable" resolution.

"The significant progress made to date  which exceeds the initial participation rates of other claims resolution proceedings  provides a robust framework that will enable the parties to bring closure to the current Roundup litigation in due course," he said in the statement from Bayer.

More from NBC News:

Lawsuits allege that Monsanto ignored warnings that its herbicide contained potentially cancer-causing chemicals, then concealed the threat to consumers.

A jury awarded the California groundskeeper, Dewayne Johnson, nearly $290 million in damages in August 2018 after it found Monsanto failed to warn Johnson and other consumers about the risks posed by its weed-killing products. A judge upheld the decision upon appeal, but lowered the damages to $78 million due to what she considered an overreach in punitive damages decided by the jury.

And last year, a California jury awarded a husband and wife more than $2 billion in damages in a suit that claimed Roundup caused their illness.

German pharmaceuticals and chemical giant Bayer bought Monsanto in 2018 just months before Johnson won his suit against the company. Bayer eliminated the Monsanto name, but maintained the brands and folded them into its portfolio.


You may have felt glued to your computer or tablet during online learning. With school finished, its time to go outside. Its not a typical summer  youre probably missing camps  but theres still fun to be had. We know you will pull out favorite toys and games from years past, but we found a few new ideas for added fun in the backyard or nearby park.

Pop and Pass

Hog Wild, ages 6 and older, $24.99.

This catching game features two launchers that propel a small foam ball with the pull of the handle. Compressed air makes a popping sound as the ball shoots toward your partner. The launchers have a basket-like shape at the end that makes it easy to scoop up the ball from the ground. Its not simple to catch, however, as the little ball can easily pop right out of your basket.

Nerf Bulls-Eye Digital Target

Hasbro, ages 8 and older, $19.99.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday it is up to Israel to make its own decisions on whether to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to do despite international opposition.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Netanyahu's July 1 target date, Pompeo said extending Israeli sovereignty was a decision "for Israelis to make."

Senior aides to US President Donald Trump began discussions on Tuesday on whether to give Netanyahu the green light for annexation, which has drawn condemnation from the Palestinians, US Arab allies and a number of other foreign governments.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday urged Israel to abandon plans to annex parts of the West Bank, warning this threatened prospects for peace with the Palestinians.

Under Trumps Middle East peace proposal, unveiled in January, it is envisaged that the United States would recognize the Jewish settlements - built on land that the Palestinians seek for a state - as part of Israel.

The proposal would create a Palestinian state as part of a broader peace plan but impose strict conditions on it. Palestinian leaders have dismissed the initiative entirely.

Encouraged by Trump's push, Netanyahu intends to launch his project of extending sovereignty over the settlements and the Jordan Valley, hoping for US approval. Most countries view Israel's settlements as illegal, and Palestinian leaders have voiced outrage at the prospect of annexation.

While sharply criticizing the Palestinian leadership for rejecting Trump's "vision for peace," Pompeo did not provide any signs of where the administration stands on the specifics of Netanyahu's plan. Pompeo is expected to join further White House discussions on the issue this week, and Trump could also take part.

Among the main options under US consideration is a gradual, step-by-step process in which Israel would initially declare sovereignty over several settlements close to Jerusalem instead of the 30% of the West Bank envisaged in Netanyahus original plan, according to a person close to matter.

The Trump administration has not closed the door to a larger annexation but fears that allowing Israel to move too fast could kill any hopes of eventually drawing the Palestinians into talks on Trump's plan, the source said.

There are also concerns about opposition from Jordan, one of only two countries that have a peace treaty with Israel, and from Gulf states that have quietly expanded engagement with Israel.

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Researchers in Brazil began administering an experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University to volunteers, the Federal University of Sao Paulo said Wednesday. The vaccine, developed together with pharmaceuticals group AstraZeneca, is one of the most promising of the dozens that researchers worldwide are racing to test and bring to market. Known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, it is already being tested in volunteers in Britain, and is due to start being administered this week in South Africa, as well. The Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), which is coordinating the study in Brazil, said in a statement its researchers had begun issuing the first doses Tuesday to health workers with a high likelihood of coming into contact with the new coronavirus, including doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers. Researchers "began triaging volunteers Saturday ... following the protocols established for the study. Participants must test negative for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19," the university said in a statement. "Starting Tuesday, volunteers with a negative blood test were administered the vaccine." Volunteers must be between 18 and 55 years old and work "on the front line" of the pandemic at the Sao Paulo-UNIFESP Hospital, it said. Brazil's acting health minister, Eduardo Pazuello, said Tuesday the country was close to signing a contract to be able to produce the vaccine domestically. The vaccine will be administered to 2,000 volunteers in all in Brazil. More than 4,000 participants are enrolled in the clinical trial in Britain, with another 10,000 due to be recruited, according to Oxford. Brazil was selected because it is one of the countries where the virus is spreading fastest. It has the second-highest caseload and death toll worldwide after the United States, with more than 1.1 million people infected and 52,000 killed so far. Experts say under-testing in the country of 212 million people means the real numbers are probably much higher.
Property adjoins the Pure Gold Red Lake Mine project - Canada's next gold mine with first production scheduled for late 2020

VICTORIA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / GoldON Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GLD) ("GoldON" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the initial diamond drilling program recently completed at the West Madsen gold property (the "Property").

GoldON has the right to earn a 100% interest in the Property through an option agreement with Great Bear Resources (see news release of May 28, 2019 and regional claim map Figure 1). The Property is comprised of two contiguous claim blocks (Block "A" and "B"), each roughly six kilometres (km) by three km in size for a total area of 3,860 hectares (see Figure 2).

The objective of the drilling program was to test four of six main drill target areas trending east-west that run sub-parallel to magnetic lineaments on Block A of the Property (see Figure 3). These lineaments are interpreted to represent the contact between the Balmer and Confederation assemblages which is a geological/structural contact similar to the adjacent Pure Gold Red Lake Mine property (Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization hosted on the West Madsen property).

Three of the four planned target areas were tested during this initial drilling program. A total of seven diamond drill holes were completed for a totalling 2,237.25 metres. The company is now awaiting assay results and further updates will be provided as they are received.

A summary of the drill hole targets follows:

Hole # Length Target WM-20-01 264.00 WM-20-01, 02 & 03 were drilled to test for a large soil gas hydrocarbon (SGH)

gold pathfinder anomaly. The anomalies are on the margin of a SGH redox cell

and correspond to anomalous gold-bearing samples collected during a

prospecting program. WM-20-02 282.00 WM-20-03 267.00 WM-20-04 263.25 WM-20-04 was designed to test a large linear magnetic anomaly at the centre of

a large Redox cell with a corresponding SGH "gold" anomaly. WM-20-05 402.00 WM-20-05, 06 & 07 were drilled to test for potential ultramafic stratigraphy

under Tack Lake. Drilling targeted a series of magnetic highs and magnetic

breaks along strike from a large magnetic high that underlies ultramafic float

collected during the 2019 summer prospecting program. This corridor is along

strike from the projected western extension of an east-west magnetic trend from

Pure Gold's Red Lake Mine property. WM-20-06 318.00 WM-20-07 441.00



Ian Russell, P.Geo, an independent qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company.

About GoldON Resources Ltd.

GoldON is an exploration company focused on discovery-stage properties located in the prolific gold mining belts of northwestern Ontario, Canada. Active projects include the West Madsen property in the Red Lake Gold Camp, an option/JV with Great Bear Resources; the Bruce Lake property that adjoins BTU Metals' Dixie Halo property and their TNT Target; and the Slate Falls project in the Patricia Mining Division, where numerous Au-Ag mineralized zones have been identified over the 13-km breadth of the property. GoldON has 17,208,432 shares issued, all our properties are in good standing and we are fully funded for our 2020 exploration programs.

For additional information: please visit our website at https://goldonresources.com, you can download our latest presentation by clicking here and you can follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GoldONResources.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Signed "Michael Romanik"

Michael Romanik, President

Direct line: (204) 724-0613

Email: romanikm@mymts.net

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: GoldON Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594967/GoldON-Provides-Drilling-Update-at-West-Madsen-Gold-Property-in-Ontarios-Red-Lake-Camp
Donald J. Trump Jr., the presidents son, tweeted on Tuesday that the current push to dismantle and remove statues of confederate leaders could be stopped by an initiative to replace them with effigies of his father.

Want to save our monuments? he wrote. Lets get a movement going to replace any statue torn down during these riots with a new and more sturdy statue of @realDonaldTrump. The nonsense would stop instantly.

The tweet seems to imply that left-wing and social justice-minded Americans so loathe Donald Trump that they would in fact rather protect statues of slaveholders than erect new ones of the 45th president.

He is not the only member of the Trump family to defend the statues now being taken down. Since at least 2017, the president himself has defended monuments to various confederate figures as well as a Washington, DC statue of president Andrew Jackson, whose Indian Removal Act saw hundreds of thousands of indigenous Americans forcibly removed from the South via what is now known as the Trail of Tears.

Mr Trump Jr. has carved something of a side career out of railing against what he sees as the activist left, calling its members disingenuous, hypocritical and thin-skinned.

His Twitter feed is dominated by criticisms of everyone from Democratic Party leaders to young anti-racist activists, and in 2019, he wrote a book on the subject, Triggered: how the left thrives on hate and wants to silence us.

Recommended Police stop protesters from toppling Andrew Jackson statue

The presidents son now hosts a streaming newscast of sorts for the Trump campaign, broadcast on YouTube under the Triggered banner, on which he recently hosted his own father for a widely-ridiculed Fathers Day interview.

He has also challenged Joe Bidens son, Hunter, to an election campaign debate to discuss which of the two of them has benefited the more from their fathers help.
INNSBRUCK, Austria, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dick Costolo, Entrepreneur, CEO of Twitter 2010-2015: Role & Impact of Social Media. Livetalk - Trevor D. Traina Lecture Series at MCI.

MCI Livetalk Friday, 26th June, 2020, 5:00  5:45 p.m., www.mci.edu/livetalk

Dick Costolo is an entrepreneur, founder, and venture partner best known as CEO of Twitter from 2010 to 2015. Dick has founded multiple startups, including FeedBurner, which was sold to Google in 2007. During his tenure with Twitter, Dick was named "one of Silicon Valley's most impressive CEOs" by Business Insider and "One of the 10 Most Influential U.S. Tech CEOs" by TIME. He is also a former improv comedian and currently serves as a consultant on HBO's Silicon Valley.

Trevor D. Traina Lecture Series

The digital Livetalk with the former CEO of Twitter, DICK COSTOLO, is the initial event to MCI's Trevor D. Traina Lecture Series, which MCI jointly organizes together with U.S. Ambassador Trevor D. Traina.

Questions welcome: [email protected]

www.mci.edu/livetalk

Embed code: on request

Contact:

MCI MANAGEMENT CENTER INNSBRUCK

Mag. Bettina Stichauner, [email protected], Tel. +43 (0) 2070-1710

SOURCE MCI Management Center Innsbruck
The Kentucky Senate Democratic primary race to determine who takes on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November is too close to call, NBC News projects.

Amy McGrath, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel, had a slight edge in a tougher-than-expected challenge from state Rep. Charles Booker.

With 10 percent of the vote in by Wednesday morning, McGrath led Booker, 44 percent to 39.6 percent, a margin of slightly over 2,000 votes. But that tally includes only votes cast in person at the polls on Tuesday; none of the substantial number of mail-in ballots that could determine the outcome have been counted and will not be for days.

In New York, longtime Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel was in a tough fight for reelection as he tried to fend off an aggressive primary challenge from Jamaal Bowman, a progressive candidate running in his first political campaign. The race was too early to call, according to the Associated Press.

With 99 percent of the in-person voting counted, Bowman was leading Engel roughly 63 percent to 34 percent, according to unofficial results from the city Board of Elections. Bowman declared victory, tweeting that "I can't wait to get to DC and cause problems for those maintaining the status quo."

Engel's campaign said, "any declarative statement on the outcome of this race right now is premature" given the huge surge in absentee voting in the state.

"Congressman Engel strongly believes that every absentee ballot should be counted, especially during this pandemic," the campaign statement said. Under state law, those votes won't be counted until next week.

The possibly week-long lags in determining Tuesday's primary results could be a preview of what the nation faces in the presidential contest on Nov. 3 when the outcome may not be known on election night.

The Kentucky Secretary of State said that 161,238 people voted in-person on Tuesday. And by Tuesday morning, 530,196 of the 867,842 ballots sent out before Election Day had already been returned. Any mail-in ballot postmarked by Election Day will be counted.

Story continues

New York's mail ballots could account for more than half the vote. Counties have until July 1 to start releasing the results of the mail ballots.

In a neighboring congressional district to Engel's, freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won her primary, virtually guaranteeing her victory in November, while Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y.. held a slight edge of less than 1,000 votes over challenger Suraj Patel in a rematch of their race two years ago.

And Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, won his primaries Tuesday in New York and Kentucky. Biden has now collected 2,380 delegates compared with Sanders 1,063, according to the NBC News delegate tracker.

In Kentucky, Democratic enthusiasm for McGrath was high when she entered the race last year, and she raised $2.5 million in her first 24 hours. The fervor cooled when she said in an interview with The Courier-Journal of Louisville that "I probably would have voted" to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who's widely loathed by Democrats. She later tweeted that "upon further reflection and further understanding of his record, I would have voted no."

McGrath continued her fundraising prowess, and as of June 3 she had raised over $41 million, according to the most recent filings. She had to dip into that money for ads to fight off a late surge from Booker, who supports "Medicare for All," the Green New Deal and universal basic income and campaigned against inequality and racial injustice.

Booker, who entered the race only in January, joined protests over the police killing of Breonna Taylor, a Louisville woman who was shot dead in her apartment on March 13 by police executing a "no-knock" warrant, and netted endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Ocasio-Cortez, among others.

He also made an issue of McGrath's failure to protest  leading her to air an ad decrying the death of George Floyd. Booker noted that she didn't mention Taylor in the ad.

Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics

McGrath was backed by several establishment Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. "I believe that she'll give McConnell a run for his money," Schumer said last week.

Image: Jamaal Bowman (John Minchillo / AP)

In New York, Bowman's battle with Engel in the 16th District is being compared to Ocasio-Cortez's stunning upset over longtime Rep. Joe Crowley in the 14th District in 2018.

Bowman's bid was helped by Engel, who found himself on the defensive after he was caught on a hot mic this month pleading to speak at a news event involving unrest and vandalism in his district after George Floyd's death.

"If I didn't have a primary, I wouldn't care," Engel, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, was heard telling Bronx borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Bowman over her congressional colleague this month.

Engel, who has been in Congress since 1989, was backed by former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

In Virginia, Republicans have picked Daniel Gade to be their nominee and face off against incumbent Mark Warner for a Senate seat later this year. Gade won a low-key primary Tuesday against two other opponents. Gade raised by far the most money and has the highest profile of the three.
Imphal, June 24 : The opposition Congress on Wednesday termed the CBI's quizzing of former Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in connection with the Rs 332 crore misappropriation case as a case of the probe agency being misused by the ruling BJP to delay the formation of a new SPF government in Manipur, calling it a political vendetta.

Claiming that the Opposition has enough strength to form the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government in Manipur, Congress spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei said that instead of the BJP-led NDA government sending the CBI to take Ibobi's statement, the Centre should have asked the state Governor to convene a special Assembly session for a floor test.

"After the withdrawal of support by nine legislators, including three BJP and four NPP MLAs, the BJP government in Manipur becomes minority. The Chief Minister N. Biren Singh-led coalition government must prove its majority. In democracy, the floor test is a must," Meitei said.

"Former CM of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh has not taken a single penny from the alleged amount mentioned by the CBI. It is an attempt of political silencing. The Manipur High Court has already granted an absolute bail to Ibobi Singh in this matter in February. Hence, there is no question of legally detaining or keeping him in any legalised custody," he added.

Amid political crisis in Manipur, a team of the Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday questioned Ibobi Singh in Imphal and also summoned O. Naba Kishore Singh, then an important functionary of the Manipur Development Society (MDS).

During the questioning, the CBI team asked the former Chief Minister about amassing huge wealth between 2009 and 2017, when he was the MDS Chairman.

Along with the four-member NPP (National People's Party), Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has one MLA, and an Independent candidate withdrew their support from the N. Biren Singh-led coalition government, while three BJP MLAs joined the Congress on June 17.

To deal with the situation, Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP national President Conrad K. Sangma, Assam Minister and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma, state BJP, NPP and other leaders held a series of meetings in Imphal before the four NPP lawmakers were sent to Delhi to hold meetings with Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP's National President J.P. Nadda and other central leaders.

While the key opposition Congress claimed that the BJP-led government in Manipur had lost its majority, the BJP claimed that the issue had been settled with the victory of its candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls.
SPRINGFIELD  A retired superior court judges review of sexual abuse allegations against former Bishop Christopher J. Weldon, who led the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield for more than 25 years, found the accusations to be unequivocally credible.

Meanwhile, mandatory reporters in the diocese who first heard the alleged victims account failed to report the matter to law enforcement officials, according to the executive summary for a 350-plus page report released Wednesday by the diocese. The report is the product of an investigation by retired Superior Court Judge Peter A. Velis, who was hired a year ago to investigate the matter.

Velis report concluded the allegations of the Complainant of sexual molestation committed upon him by Bishop Christopher J Weldon, both as a principal, and as a coventurer that included anal rape, indecent assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress are unequivocally credible. The allegations that were investigated and examined are not dubious, vague or ambiguous in any essentials nor are they the product of any chimerical conception, fabrication or schematic design. The unsavory and heinous nature of the offensive behavior attributed to the late bishop is clearly shocking.

In an executive summary, Velis criticized the diocesan review board that heard the alleged victims account in June 2018.

It was clear in my examination that the process included an inexplicable modification and manipulation of the reports received by and acted on by the Diocesan Review Board, Velis wrote. Additionally the complaint process was compromised in that mandatory reporters failed in their duties to report the allegations to prosecutorial authorities.

Velis said that in evaluating the actions of those involved in the Weldon assessment, he found a reluctance to fervently pursue an evaluation of allegations against [Weldon] due to his prominence and revered legacy in the religious community.

Weldon died in 1982.

Read the full report >>

Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski announced last July that Velis, who retired as a Hampden Superior Court judge in 2012, had been hired to investigate the allegations. Rozanski described Velis as a truly objective person who will investigate the Bishop Weldon matter thoroughly, review how this situation has been handled by the diocese, and help identify opportunities for improvement in how the diocese handles these matters.

The diocese described his hiring as both warranted and the most prudent course of action after what it called a public disagreement between the alleged victim and the diocesan review board.

Three months after the victim met with the board, he received a letter thanking him for sharing details of your abuse as detailed in narrative relating to Bishop Christopher Weldon, Rev. Edward Authier and Rev. Clarence Forand. The letter said the bishop would be advised that the board finds your 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, as the alleged victim had expected  the review boards chairman, John M. Hale, 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 a meeting with Rozanski, where he reiterated the allegations.

After that meeting in June 2019, Rozanski filed a report on the allegations against Weldon with the Hampden County district attorneys office.

Retired judge Peter A. Velis speaks at a press conference Wednesday, June 24, 2020 about his investigation into allegations against former Springfield Bishop Christopher J. Weldon.Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican

People who make claims of clerical sexual abuse have those claims looked into by a diocesan investigator, who reports to the bishop and the diocesan review board. They may also give testimony before the board, as may the clergy member being accused. If the bishop accepts the boards finding that an allegation is credible, the alleged victim may seek financial compensation from the diocese  though any such settlement is not an admission of guilt by the party involved.

The alleged victim who claimed abuse by Weldon did not have his claims of alleged abuse by the other two deceased priests disputed by the board. After his meeting with Rozanski, he stated his impression was that the bishop got it.

It is not clear whether he knew his allegation against Weldon would be investigated further. The appointment of Velis as investigator removed the diocese from having to issue any finding on the allegation against Weldon, though Velis had no powers to subpoena.

Earlier this year, Rozanski formed a task force headed by retired Berkshire Superior Court Judge Daniel Ford to review recommendations from Velis report.

Weldons 27 years as Springfields fourth bishop, starting in 1950, were influential in the growth of the diocese. However, they also have emerged as years when many allegations of sexual abuse by clergy occurred  as well as the murder of an altar boy in which a former priest, Richard R. Lavigne, remains the only publicly identified suspect.

Weldon has been accused of interfering with investigations into that murder. There have been reports that those in the diocesan hierarchy with ties to Weldon  who also had sexual abuse allegations made against them  destroyed files related to pedophile priests over the years.

Diocesan lawyers have denied any such documents were destroyed.

Weldon, who served as bishop from 1950 through 1977 and died in 1982, is the second Springfield bishop to be accused of sexual misconduct.

The late Thomas Dupre resigned as Springfield bishop in February 2004, a day after The Republican confronted him with allegations that he had abused two young men.

A grand jury investigation indicted Dupre on child sexual assault charges in September 2004, but not on obstruction of justice and conspiracy charges. He was removed from public ministry by the Vatican in 2004. He was never charged with two counts of child rape because then-Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett said they fell outside the statute of limitations. Dupre died in 2016.

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A black man was wrongfully arrested after facial recognition software mistook him for a shoplifter, and now the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is filing a formal complaint against the Detroit police.

Robert Williams of Farmington Hills, Michigan, was arrested on 9 January after facial recognition falsely linked him to an image of another person of colour at the crime scene, the ACLU said.

Officers were looking for a watch thief, and the software, owned by the Michigan State Police, connected Mr WIlliams' driver licence picture with security footage of the thief.

Mr Williams was arrested at his home, nearly 25 miles from Detroit, in front of his wife and his daughters, who are two and five.

"I never thought I'd have to explain to my daughters why Daddy got arrested," Williams wrote in an opinion piece for The Washington Post. "How does one explain to two little girls that a computer got it wrong, but the police listened to it anyway?"

During the arrest, his wife, Melissa Williams, asked where her husband was being taken.

"Google it," the officer reportedly said to her.

Mr Williams was detained for 30 hours. During questioning, officers showed him security footage from the robbery.

"When I look at the picture of the guy, I just see a big black guy. I don't see a resemblance. I don't think he looks like me at all," Mr Williams told NPR.

"(The detective) flips the third page over and says, 'So I guess the computer got it wrong, too.' And I said, 'Well, that's me,' pointing at a picture of my previous driver's licence," Mr Williams added. " 'But that guy's not me,'" he said, referring to the surveillance pictures.

Mr Williams added he hoped police officers didn't think "all black people look alike".

Mr Williams was eventually released on bail. At his court hearing, he was told by prosecutors that they were dropping the case against him.

His case is the first known example of someone being wrongly accused of a crime due to facial recognition software, the ACLU claimed.

Police admitted that he was arrested because of the facial recognition results, according to documents obtained by NPR, leading ACLU to file a complaint against the department.

The ACLU is demanding an apology from the Detroit Police Department for the wrongful arrest.

The group is also asking for the police department to stop using the technology to prevent future wrongful arrests against innocent people.

"Robert Williams' is the first known case of someone being wrongfully arrested because of a bogus face recognition match," the ACLU said. "If lawmakers don't act now to stop law enforcement use of this technology, he won't be the last."
File Photo: PLA Honor Guard marches through Red Square in Moscow WWII victory parade in 2015.

BEIJING, June 24 -- Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe leads a delegation to attend the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory against the Nazis in World War II in Russia from June 23 to 25, according to Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), at a regular press conference on Wednesday.

The visit fully demonstrates the high level of mil-to-mil relationship between China and Russia, as well as their firm resolve and sincere wish to jointly protect the victorious results of WWII and maintain world peace and stability, said Wu. The Chinese military also dispatched the guards of honor to participate in the Russian Victory Day parade.

Wu particularly highlighted the current situation of the global anti-COVID-19 fight, saying that General Weis visit on this occasion will further deepen the mutual trust and cooperation between the Chinese and Russian militaries.

Wu also mentioned the fruitful and pragmatic cooperation reached by the two militaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders of the two militaries have exchanged views on commonly concerned issues over phone, while medical departments of the two militaries have held several video conferences to share experience. Whats more, we also provided anti-epidemic supplies including masks, protective gears, ventilators, and testing kits to the Russian military, said Wu, adding details of the cooperation.

Under the strategic leadership of both Chinese and Russian presidents, the two militaries have been maintaining a sound relationship with close cooperation in terms of high-level exchanges, strategic cooperation, and joint exercises and competitions. Its fair to say that the China-Russia mil-to-mil relationship is at its best time ever in history, commented Wu.
Ilyas al-Taheri died after security staff strapped him to a bed using practice denounced by rights groups as dangerous.

A leaked video showing the death of a Moroccan teenager at a Spanish juvenile detention centre has sparked demands for his case to be reopened and the method used to restrain him banned.

Ilyas al-Taheri, 18, died by asphyxiation on July 1, 2019, at the Tierras de Oria detention facility in Spains southern Almeria province after security staff strapped him to a bed, using a procedure denounced by rights groups as dangerous.

Police opened an inquiry at the time, but the case was closed after a judge ruled it an accidental death.

However, CCTV footage of al-Tahiris last moments in which he shows no signs of violence  a requisite for authorities to resort to such restraint  was leaked to a Spanish newspaper.

If you see the video, youll never believe it was accidental as the judge said, his brother Anass al-Taheri, 22, told AFP news agency.

The video shows how they killed him. Its murder, said Anass, whose family has lodged an official appeal against the cases dismissal.

Illegal protocol

Published by El Pais, the footage emerged as global protests raged following the death of George Floyd in the US when a policeman knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.

The videos authenticity has been confirmed by a spokeswoman for Ginso, the private company managing the Tierras de Oria detention centre.





Within a week of its publication, the Spanish ombudsmans office called for the abolition of such procedures in juvenile detention facilities.

On June 18, the Almeria public prosecutors office asked for the case to be reopened, denouncing as illegal the protocol for using such restraint.

Al-Taheris case centres on mechanical restraint  strapping a person to a bed so they cannot hurt themselves or anyone else  but can only be used if they are agitated, aggressive or violent.

Unnecessary aggression

In the video, six men roughly wrestle al-Taheri on to a bed face-down, at one point kneeling on his buttocks to tighten a strap around his waist  eventually realising he was no longer breathing.

Al-Taheri, who arrived in Spain in 2017, was placed in juvenile detention over some problems in the street, his brother said.

He had been held at Tierras de Oria for two months when he died. The day before, the teenager was visited by his mother and told her he had been subjected to threats and abuse, Anass recalled.

He wanted her to get a lawyer to get him out because hed reached the point that hed rather be in prison than in that centre, he said, adding his brother had been on suicide watch.

Andalusias Human Rights Association says mechanical restraint is standard practice in juvenile centres [File: Susana Vera/Reuters]

Ginso said: The need for the restraint procedure was demonstrated [during the investigation] as was its correct application by staff who complied scrupulously with the protocol, adding its use was exceptional and only undertaken with the minimum necessary force.

But Andalusias Human Rights Association (APDHA) said mechanical restraint is standard practice in juvenile centres, where it is often used for discipline or punishment.

What the video shows is a grossly disproportionate use of force given Ilyass attitude, involving completely unnecessary aggression and violence when he was restrained, said APDHAs Francisco Fernandez Caparros.

Clearly, his death occurred while they were applying the restraints It was this situation of stress and violence that killed him, he said.

Two other youngsters have died after being restrained: one in Madrid in 2011 and another in Spains Melilla enclave in 2018.





Swift reaction

Ombudsman Francisco Fernandez Marugan called on the government to change the law.

A swift and radical decision is needed that will end the use of mechanical restraints once and for all, he said. Nobody else must die in these circumstances in Spain.

The Almeria public prosecutor also ordered that all such restraints be immediately suspended.

The restraint protocol puts youngsters at serious unjustified risk, and where that results in injury, those responsible for approving such procedures will be held criminally liable, it said in a legal document.

The regional justice ministry declined to comment on the prosecutors statement. But a spokeswoman said it would respect and abide by all judicial decisions.

The closing of the al-Taheri case is currently being appealed, she said.

Last week, the Arab Culture Foundation in Spain announced it was willing to be a civil party in the case pending its reopening.

Al-Taheri was subjected to inhuman treatment before his death by asphyxiation, the foundation said in a statement.

The issue is related to a premeditated murder that was fueled by hatred and racism and not by an accidental violent death, as the Borchima Town Court ruled last January.

The foundation also called on the Almeria Court to change its standards and issue a model ruling on this incident.

No investigation

According to Andalusian opposition legislator Maribel Mora, the regional government did not hold an inquiry after al-Taheris death or check how the procedure was being used in centres under its jurisdiction.

In 2016, the Council of Europes Committee for the Prevention of Torture visited Tierras de Oria and denounced its restraint procedure as a disproportionate use of force, urging regional governments to halt the practice, Mora said.

Despite the call, mechanical restraints were used 360 times in the regions 16 juvenile centres in the following two years, official figures show.

Whether or not they reopen the case, it is clear something is going very wrong, and the [regional] government needs to respond and take responsibility for this, said Mora.
michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Today: This falls presidential race is likely to be decided by a handful of battleground states won by President Trump in 2016. Nate Cohn on what a major new poll from The New York Times found about how voters in those states view the president and his Democratic rival. Its Thursday, June 25. Nate, the last time we talked about polling in the presidential race, it was still the Democratic primary. It was back in November. And the polling that you all did showed that no matter which Democrat Donald Trump would face, he was doing OK.

nate cohn

Yeah. The polls showed that Donald Trump was pretty competitive. He was in a close race against all of his major Democratic rivals. He wasnt always ahead. He was losing to Joe Biden, for instance. But he was in a pretty good and highly competitive spot, even at a moment where he was facing imminent prospect of impeachment in the House of Representatives. And so after all of that, for him still to be so close, it sure seemed like he was in a pretty decent position, all considered.

michael barbaro

So what was your thinking going into this next big poll that you all just finished?

nate cohn

Well, I did not think that Donald Trump would be doing quite as well as he had done in October. And there have been a lot of polls over the last couple of months indicating that Joe Biden has had a gradually building lead, both nationwide and in the battleground states. But given that we had such good results for the president in the past, I thought there was a pretty distinct possibility that we would show a race that was, you know, even if not extremely close, still competitive.

michael barbaro

And what happened once this polling got underway?

nate cohn

Well, we get the results back every morning from the last night of interviews. And from the start, it was pretty clear that this was a very different set of polling data. The first mornings numbers were really bad for Trump. And you know, its something you try not to pay any attention to. Its just one day of interviews, and the numbers change a lot. But you know, the next morning, and the next morning after that, it was bad again. And in the end, we polled for 14 days. And for all 14, the numbers were bad for the president. And they never got better.

michael barbaro

And just how bad?

nate cohn

Really bad. We did seven different polls. We have a national survey that showed Joe Biden leading by 14 points, 50 to 36 percent.

michael barbaro

Wow.

nate cohn

We have six battleground state polls. These are the six states that Donald Trump won in 2016, but that were most closely fought last time  Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona and North Carolina. And here again, Joe Biden had a considerable lead. He was up 9 percentage points across those six states, including a lead of at least six points in every one of them.

michael barbaro

Wow. So that is legitimately, seriously bad polling data for the incumbent President, Donald Trump?

nate cohn

Yeah. I mean, if you look back historically, it is really hard to find an example of an incumbent president sitting in such a bad position heading into re-election. Its worse than Jimmy Carter in 1980 at this stage, or even in the final polls, for instance.

michael barbaro

Huh.

nate cohn

Theres just not much for the president to hang his hat on here.

michael barbaro

So lets talk about what the battleground state polls show, specifically about why voters seem to be souring on President Trump. Whats the story that the data from these battleground state polls tell you about why that is?

nate cohn

The polls tell a really simple story. They say that voters across the battleground states have concluded that the president has failed to meet the most important crises of our political moment. They think hes failed on the coronavirus. They think hes failed on race relations. And they think hes failed in the protests, and so on. And as a result, there has been a rebellion among white voters in the battleground states, the very voters that four years ago were responsible for the presidents persistent strength in these states.

michael barbaro

So before we get to the revolt of these white voters, which seems very important, lets talk about these issues that voters do not think the president has properly managed and maybe go through a few of them, one by one.

nate cohn

I think its worth just breaking them down into two groups. One is the coronavirus. Voters disapprove of the way hes handled it by a wide margin. 56 percent of voters in the battleground states say they disapprove, includes a significant number of people who voted for him in 2016. And its not just that they take issue with the presidents effectiveness. Theres an underlying disagreement between the president and the electorate about priorities.

michael barbaro

What do you mean?

nate cohn

So we asked voters whether they thought the federal governments priority should be to limit the spread of the coronavirus, even if it hurts the economy. Or if they think the federal governments priority should be to restart the economy, even if it increases the risk to public health. And voters in the battleground states said, by a 20-plus point margin, that they thought the priority ought to be to limit the spread of the coronavirus. And incredibly, that even includes the people who have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus over the last few months.

michael barbaro

I want to pause on this. Because this seems really fascinating. By 20 percent, voters favor conquering the virus over reopening the American economy. Because that is the complete opposite of the message from the president.

nate cohn

Its the complete opposite. And it really goes against so much of what we usually assume about American politics, right? Its the economy, stupid. But here we have a rare issue where voters very explicitly are prioritizing something else. I cant think of another comparison for it except war.

michael barbaro

Hm.

nate cohn

You know? In World War II, its not like if you had asked voters, what should be the priority, you know, helping the economy or beating the Japanese, that they would be like, oh, its the economy, stupid.

michael barbaro

Right. Youre saying with lives on the line, voters are telling us in this poll that the economy takes something of a backseat.

nate cohn

Thats right.

michael barbaro

What seems interesting is that the president is banking on an economic recovery, or goodwill over his management of the economy prior to the pandemic, to win re-election. But it sounds like from what youre saying, that wouldnt necessarily give him a boost, because voters are not prioritizing the economy the way they usually do.

nate cohn

Yeah. I mean, hes right to think thats his advantage. I mean, astonishingly, given the overall economic numbers, voters in the battleground states say they approve of the presidents handling of the economy, by a 15-point margin. Thats a 

michael barbaro

Wow.

nate cohn

 what, 30 points different than his overall approval rating? And the reason for that disconnect is just fundamental and simple. The coronavirus is more important. And they may appreciate what hes done on the economy. But in this case, emphasizing the economy isnt what theyre looking for.

michael barbaro

So what about the second big issue that you said voters disapprove of the presidents management of, which is race and the protests over race and policing?

nate cohn

Right. Just a whole spectrum of different issues relating to race and criminal justice and the protests, the presidents ratings are even worse on those issues than they are on the coronavirus. And here again, the president has this fundamental disconnect with the electorate, where his priorities arent the same as theirs. I mean, we asked whether they would rather have a candidate who says that we need to be tough on protests that go too far, or whether they would rather have a candidate who says we need to focus on the cause of protests, even when they go too far. And voters said, by a 40-point margin, that they would rather have the candidate who focuses on the cause of the protests, even when theyre going too far. And its also including a significant number of people who backed the president.

michael barbaro

So the gulf between how the president is talking about these protests and how voters across the battleground states are thinking about these protests is enormous.

nate cohn

Yeah. And I wouldnt have guessed that, personally.

michael barbaro

So Nate, how does this disapproval of how the presidents handling these major crises, how does that explain this concept you touched on earlier of white voters revolting against the President?

nate cohn

Well, a pretty significant number of white voters in the battleground states do not side with the president, either his handling of the coronavirus or on these racial issues. And these are now the issues that are most important in the minds of voters in the battleground states. And so while maybe in 2016, a lot of these voters were focused on who would do the best on trade or immigration, now whats on their mind is who is the best job handling protests and coronavirus. Theyre not so sure they want to vote for the President anymore. In our poll, nearly 15 percent of the people who say they voted for President Trump in 2016 arent willing to say they support him against Joe Biden. And 7 percent of those voters say theres almost no chance theyll vote for him again.

michael barbaro

So 7 percent of his base plans on flipping, and 15 percent is very open to flipping, because of the way he has handled all of these complex questions over the past few months or year?

nate cohn

Yeah. And I should note they may not necessarily flip. They could vote third party. They could stay home. They have other options here. But a meaningful number of them at the moment say they would back Joe Biden for president.

michael barbaro

Wow.

nate cohn

So at the moment, the presidents coalition, this core base of support among white voters that got him to victory in 2016, just is not there for him anymore. It has suffered serious defections, mainly at its periphery, you know, not the people wearing MAGA hats. But the sort of people who voted for Obama in 2012, backed Donald Trump in 2016 because they liked what he had to say about illegal immigration and trade, are not putting up with him right now.

michael barbaro

And who is this voter, this white voter who is now turning on the president four years later?

nate cohn

Its a pretty broad group of white voters. It includes college-educated white voters. It includes white voters without a college degree. It includes young voters. Young white voters now back Joe Biden by 20 points.

michael barbaro

Wow.

nate cohn

It includes older white voters. At the moment, the president is losing among seniors, who were the bedrock of his support in 2016.

michael barbaro

Wow. You know, Nate, Im curious if theres a prototypical swing state region that you think of as being illustrative of everything that youre describing here, this alienation, this disapproval of the way the president is handling everything since we last polled these battleground states.

nate cohn

Well, I could indulge you on that question. I could tell you about how in the Green Bay region of Wisconsin or in Northeast Pennsylvania or something that Joe Biden is now ahead, and Donald Trump won there big in 2016. But you know, frankly, its true everywhere. There are no exceptions here. Theres no place where the presidents holding up fairly well and I can be like, thats the place where its particularly bad. Theres no region that epitomizes this more than any other. I could choose anywhere and tell you that the president appears to be losing ground among white voters. Its true in the battleground states. Its true nationally. Its true everywhere.

michael barbaro

Well be right back. OK. Nate, lets talk about what these polls, both the national poll, but especially the six battleground state polls, have told us about Joe Biden and why he seems to be leading so handsomely over Donald Trump.

nate cohn

You know, my honest answer is that I think our answers on Joe Biden are kind of boring.

michael barbaro

Boring how?

nate cohn

You know, the voters, they like Joe Biden. Hes got a 50 percent favorability rating. Its fine. They dont seem to have a very strong opinion of him either way. They do think he would do a better job than Trump on almost every issue, except the economy and China. But theres not a groundswelling of support for him. And theres not particularly deep opposition to him either. Instead, 55 percent of voters say there is at least some chance they would vote for him. So that to me indicates that a pretty broad swath of the electorate is at least considering the guy at this stage.

michael barbaro

Hm. And what youre describing is an alternative, rather than a charismatic figure that voters are looking to with great ardor.

nate cohn

I think thats right. A lot of the divides that you might think about in American politics today, like between young and old, and so on. They dont really even exist on Joe Biden. Everyone just kind of has a modestly favorable view of him. And there are many circumstances in which maybe thats not the exact candidate youd want to run for president. But it may be exactly the right candidate at a time when a clear majority of the electorate has resolved that it does not want to reelect the current president.

michael barbaro

Nate, youre painting a scenario in which Joe Biden seems to be thriving as a reflection of President Trumps weakness. And thats a familiar concept in presidential campaigns. But I went through the battleground state poll that you sent me about 24 hours ago. And I was really struck by the number of issues on which respondents to the poll said they thought that Joe Biden would do a better job than President Trump. It was immigration. It was protests. It was the pandemic. And so how do we know whether that is a reflection of President Trump, or a true sense that people believe Joe Biden is inherently the best person to do those things?

nate cohn

You know, its a great question. Unfortunately, the way that weve asked this question to voters, I dont think we can disentangle whether they think Joe Biden would be good versus believing that Donald Trump is bad. Were just asking voters whether they think Joe Biden would do a better job than Donald Trump. And so I dont think we can pull out the varying effects of Joe Biden and Donald Trump on that. I do think, though, that one thing that stands out to me is how much the results of those questions matches up with Trumps approval rating on those issues, which at least to me implies that its more about the president than it is about Joe Biden.

michael barbaro

Hm. In other words, disapproval of the president is kind of mirrored in the data of approval or the belief that Joe Biden would do something better?

nate cohn

Thats right.

michael barbaro

This data clearly suggests theres not a tremendous amount of passion around Joe Biden. And yet, hes developed this very significant lead over President Trump. And so I wonder whether that means that the electability case for Joe Biden, which was debated endlessly throughout the primary, has kind of proven to be exactly what Joe Biden and the people around him said it would be now that theres a two person race, Biden versus Trump.

nate cohn

Well, I dont think we can run the counterfactual and see whether Elizabeth Warren would be leading today if she had been the Democratic nominee or Bernie Sanders. What I think we can say is that the case for Joe Bidens electability is playing out here. The case for Joe Bidens electability was always that a sufficient number of voters do not want to re-elect the president, so choose someone who maximizes the appeal of the Democratic candidate with the broadest number of voters. I dont know whether that means that a different candidate would be doing better or worse than Joe Biden. But what we do know is that Joe Biden is up nine points across battleground states that voted for Trump last time. Hes up 14 points nationwide. And he would have a distinct chance of winning by the widest margin of any candidate in my lifetime.

michael barbaro

Well, Nate, that leads me to a very important and delicate question that involves you and me. Because four years ago, we were having a conversation about polling. And Donald Trump was down in those polls. I was the host of a different show called The Run Up. You were the first guest on the first episode. And the title of that episode was, Could Hillary Clinton Win in a Landslide? So I think you know where this question is now headed.

nate cohn

How could I not?

michael barbaro

So what is different about this lead, if anything, that makes you and should make us trust it?

nate cohn

Well, I think we should all approach this with a lot of humility. I mean, polling is tough the day before the election. Its really tough five months before the election. The national environment has changed a lot in the last five months. It can change a lot in the next five months. That said, I think that this lead is different from Hillary Clintons lead. It doesnt mean that Donald Trump cant win. But it is different. Its different in two ways. One, its a wider lead. Joe Biden is up by more. If the polls were just as wrong as they were in 2016, and the election were held tomorrow, Joe Biden would still win. I mean, the polls could be more wrong. Theres no law of polling that says that 2016 is the worst case scenario or something. But this is a bigger advantage than Hillary Clinton had down the final stretch. Its a more persistent advantage. And its wider than even her peaks. The second difference is a methodological one, which is that we are much more focused on the battleground states this time than we were in 2016. In 2016, we had really good national polling. And we did not have very much good polling in the battleground states. We have resolved to flip that around, to try and deal with the things that went wrong four years ago. None of that ensures that our results will be perfect if the election were held tomorrow. But it is a reason why it is less likely that these polls would be fundamentally wrong in the same way that so many state polls were fundamentally wrong four years ago.

michael barbaro

A key caveat, however, seems to be that the lead that Joe Biden has developed over these past few months has occurred when he has been largely invisible. Right? I mean, this has been a very unusual campaign in the sense that the President is as visible as hes ever been, every day  at the White House, on Twitter and now campaign rallies. Whereas Joe Biden has been largely quarantined and kind of offstage. Inevitably, that will change. And I wonder how much that could begin to alter some of the dynamics of these polls.

nate cohn

I think that it absolutely could begin to help narrow the race. And this was the pattern in 2016, by the way. There were these moments of the race when the talk was always about Donald Trump. And he would get in these fights. The news would be all about how Donald Trump said this ridiculous stuff. All these Republicans would be criticizing him. And then Hillary Clinton would have this lead. And then two weeks later, something would happen, when it was her emails, or the deplorables line, or random health scares, and so on. And Hillary Clintons lead would fall right back down to a more competitive race. And I think it is certainly possible that if voters focus as much on Joe Biden at any point in this election cycle as they focused on Hillary Clinton, that would probably lead to a tighter race than the one we have now.

[music]

michael barbaro

Perhaps put more simply, what youre saying is that campaigning in absentia, essentially, is working for Joe Biden. And its working pretty well.

nate cohn

Absolutely. I mean, the fundamentals of the race right now are that Donald Trump is really unpopular. Donald Trump is the defining feature of the race. That adds up to a big win for Joe Biden right now. If that formulation changes, and Joe Biden is just as important in the minds of voters as Donald Trump, maybe Joe Bidens lead would shrink a lot. Maybe it would shrink a little. I dont know. But what I can say is that this particular dynamic is working out really well for Joe Biden.

michael barbaro

Nate, thank you very much. And I want to warn you that we are going to be doing this a lot for the next five months, but not too much.

nate cohn

Thank you for having me. And I am looking forward to it.

michael barbaro

Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today.

archived recording (joyette holmes) Good afternoon. Today the Sun County grand jury did return an indictment against Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael and William Bryant.

michael barbaro

On Wednesday, four months after a 25-year-old black man, Ahmaud Arbery, was chased down and killed while jogging in South Georgia, three white men were indicted on charges ranging from malice murder to false imprisonment.

archived recording (joyette holmes) This is another positive step, another great step for finding justice for Ahmaud, for finding justice for this family and the community beyond.

michael barbaro

Local police were slow to arrest and charge the three men, prompting the first in a series of public protests in the past few months over the extrajudicial killing of black Americans. And the U.S. recorded nearly 37,000 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, the highest single-day total since the pandemic began. With infections rising so quickly, the City of Houston said it was running out of intensive care beds. The governor of Texas urged residents to stay inside. And Washington and North Carolina said they would require that masks be worn in public.

archived recording (ned lamont) Were going to have a quarantine on visitors from those states that have a positivity rate north of 10 percent over a seven day moving average. So it could change a little bit over time. Hopefully, those states that are so grave  Florida, Texas, Arizona  will come back with a lower infection rate.

michael barbaro

In the Northeast, where infection rates have declined, the governors of three neighboring states  New York, New Jersey and Connecticut  said they would require a two-week quarantine for travelers coming from states where cases are surging.

archived recording (ned lamont) What that means in terms of quarantine will be enforced differently in different states. What we want to do here in the state of Connecticut is one, if you come up from those states and you havent tested, and you havent had a negative test, youre coming up here, youve got to quarantine for 14 days.

michael barbaro
At the center of a controversy stands a prominently placed statue of Robert E. Lee on horseback in Richmond, Virginia. In the weeks following the killing of George Floyd and the resulting protests that have swept the nation, protesters have scrawled messages in support of the Black Lives Matter movement onto the statues base and called for its removal. And though Judge Bradley B. Cavedo issued an injunction to stop its removal, Virginia governor Ralph Northam has promised it will come down.

According to a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the statue in question is one of a whopping 230 monuments and place names throughout the United States honoring Lee, the leader of the Confederate States Army during the Civil War, despite the fact that Lee himself opposed the creation of Confederate monuments. The SPLCs report identified more than 1,700 symbols of the Confederacy in public places throughout the U.S., including monuments and statues, flags, holidays, and the names of schools, highways, parks, bridges, cities, counties, military bases, lakes, and other public works. Most of them were not erected immediately following the Civil War but decades later.

VAMONUMENTS Photo: Photo by Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Although some Confederate monuments were erected soon after the Civil War for reasons of memorialization, many were erected in subsequent years to serve to promote a Lost Cause mythology and to advance the ideals of white supremacy, Paul Edmondson, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, told AD. Many of those monuments still stand but as symbols of those ideologies, and some of them have served as rallying points for bigotry and hate today.

From around 1900 through well into the 1920swhen states began enacting Jim Crow laws meant to deny Black Americans equal rights and the Ku Klux Klan saw a major resurgenceand again from the 1950s through the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement, there were two spikes in the dedication of Confederate monuments and other symbols. The United Daughters of the Confederacy (founded in 1894, nearly 30 years after the Civil War ended) were responsible for erecting more than 700 monuments and memorials glorifying the Confederacy. The group now denounces the propagation of white supremacy and calls on anyone promoting it to cease using Confederate symbols. Yet, as we have seen in the deadly rally in Charlottesville in 2017, these monuments continue to elicit support from white supremacists and exacerbate racial tensions.

Story continues

The nearly 1,800 symbols across the country that simultaneously honor the Confederacy and foster systemic anti-Black racism must come down from public land, and any public or military assets currently named after traitors to our country must be renamed, Lecia Brooks, spokeswoman for the Southern Poverty Law Center, told AD. We must always remember that Confederate symbols were put in place to assert white supremacy and continue to give life to the false narrative that the Civil War was fought for anything other than to preserve the enslavement of Black people. These symbols have been used by white supremacists to dehumanize and subjugate Black people since the Confederacy was founded, and their intentional harms continue to this day.

Coronavirus - Berlin Photo: Christophe Gateau/Picture Alliance via Getty Images

The need to remove symbols of the Confederacy seems like a no-brainer. Why descendants of the losers of a war that nearly tore the United States apart were allowed to erect and display such symbols in public places to begin with is mind-boggling. In Germany, Nazi symbols were removed from all public places immediately following the Second World War and a ban on swastikas and other Nazi symbology is codified in the German constitution. That doesnt mean Germans deny their historyin fact, Holocaust denial is a crime. Rather, allusions to the war are dedicated to remembering its victims. Go to Berlin and youll be hard-pressed to miss the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europethe 19,000-square-meter memorial made up of 2,711 gray concrete slabs occupies a prominent place in the heart of the city center just steps from the Brandenburg Gate. In the chic neighborhood of Mitte, youll see plaques on buildings explaining the atrocities that occurred there during the war.

Though some people say that removing symbols of the Confederacy erases our history, we need to confront our history and the false narratives that euphemize it so we can begin to heal. Clearly, many Americansincluding state and local politiciansagree. In addition to the statue of Robert E. Lee in Richmond, a handful of other Confederate monuments have been felled by protesters or removed by politicians in Montgomery, Alabama; Alexandria, Virginia; Louisville, Kentucky; Indianapolis, Indiana; Jacksonville, Florida; and other cities across the U.S.

National Civil Rights Museum Tour Photo: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

According to Brent Leggs, executive director of the National Trust for Historic Preservations African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, which aims to preserve Black historic sites across the U.S., its time to replace Confederate memorials with symbols that represent who we are as a culture now. Until recently, the National Trust for Historic Preservation did not advocate for the removal of Confederate monuments, but the organization shifted its stance in response to the horrific killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others. The National Trust now supports removing such monuments from public spaces and relocating them to museums or other places where they can be contextualized and reinterpreted.

Through meaningful dialogue, history, and the arts, our nation should explore how best to communicate the often-overlooked contributions and examples of Black excellence and activism to demonstrate our collective and contemporary values in public spaces, Leggs said, adding, We should use this moment to create a more inclusive American landscape and public space that fills gaps in this nations civic identity.

What if, instead of statues of Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, and other Confederate leaders, there were statues of Harriet Tubman, W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and other Black heroes? What if there were plaques dedicated to remembering the selling of enslaved people, the lynching of African Americans, and other atrocities committed against Black Americans?

Montgomery Cityscapes and City Views Photo: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Unveiled in 2018, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, offers a powerful alternative. Inspired by the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin and the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, South Africa, it confronts visitors with more than 800 hanging columns made of Corten steel that represent the lynching victims killed in 800 U.S. counties. Each column is inscribed with the names of known victims, and on the grounds surrounding the memorial stand sculptures and other artworks by artists including Hank Willis Thomas and Dana King.

According to Leggs, Communities have the opportunity to bring people together to ask: What history deserves the prominence of this public space?

The time has come for communities to come together and begin searching for answers.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
A Department of Environmental Protection worker is missing on Lake Hopatcong after his boat capsized, police said.

The man went missing around 10:30 a.m. when the aquatic weed harvester he was riding capsized in the Crescent Cove section of the lake, Trooper Alejandro Goez said.

The New Jersey State Police dive team is currently conducting a dive operation to find him, Goez said.

Chairman of the Lake Hopatcong Commission Ron Smith told NJ Advance Media the man was employed by the DEP and was harvesting weeds in the lake through the commissions harvesting program. His identity is not being released at this time.

Smith could not recall a similar incident happening with a weed harvester on the lake, saying, Nothing like this has ever happened before.

Its just a tragedy, and we have to see how it unfolds, Smith said.

Weed harvesting typically begins on the lake in mid-May, but was delayed this year after coronavirus caused budget shortfalls. A mild winter also allowed increased weed growth on the lake.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
The National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku says the fact that sitting MPs lost their seats in the partys Primaries does not guarantee the victory of opposition parties in the December 7th 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.



The NDC at a press briefing on Monday was glad over the defeat of the incumbent MPs stressing it could mean a change in the fortunes of the NPP in the December election.



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.



But Sammi Awuku has called on the NDC not to rejoice yet saying the contest that we had wasnt a contest between the NPP and other political partiesThe delegates had an opportunity to choose between two or three or four or five NPP candidates. It is the same stockIf you are telling me 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 because their assessment lacks value and understanding, Mr. Awuku told Citi News.







Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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On June 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the auction of 41 coal mines for commercial mining. The list of 41 mines included several blocks located in forest-rich areas of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra. Three Opposition-ruled states  Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand  have expressed reservations against the decision. Maharashtras environment minister, Aaditya Thackeray, spoke about the loss of biodiversity and wildlife; Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, whose government has moved the Supreme Court against the order, raised the issue of displacement ; and Chhattisgarh forest minister Mohammad Akbar spoke about increasing human-elephant conflicts.

Mineral resources are key to Indias development, and auctions generate huge funds. The government has also done well in making the auction process more transparent. At the same time, mining causes displacement; disturbs forests and wildlife; dries up or contaminates water sources; affects health; increases human-animal conflict, and deepens the climate crisis. This is why a calibrated approach is essential when it comes to the use of natural resources in general, and mining in particular. It is important to listen to stakeholders  states, affected gram sabhas (which have a say, as per Supreme Courts 2013 order in the Vedanta case) and civil society groups. This can help plan a sustainable way forward that balances development and the protection of Indias under-stress biodiversity and wildlife. The Centre must listen more, and Opposition states must not politicise the matter.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians today held a videoconference with leaders of the dioceses, patriarchal delegates and vicars of prelacies of the Armenian Church in Europe, as reported the news department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

His Holiness brought his blessings and kind wishes to the clergymen representing Armenian ecclesiastical organizations in Europe and attached importance to the holding of such meetings on a regular basis.

During the meeting, the clergymen discussed several issues related to the Armenian communities of Europe, church life and the pontifical mission of clergymen in the current situation. The diocesan leaders provided information about the current situation, as well as the actions that the dioceses and pontifical delegations are taking to prevent the spread of the pandemic and overcome the consequences.

His Holiness provided information about the social, educational and healthcare programs that the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is carrying out during the pandemic and expressed appreciation to the dioceses for supporting the Mother Sees social support programs with their donations.
First Selectman Vicki Tesoro and Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Dmitri Paris have announced that beginning this year, Trumbull residents will receive their annual park stickers in the mail. In the past, residents had to visit the Parks and Recreation Department or send their documentation to the Department in order to receive their stickers. The stickers will be mailed with the motor vehicle tax bills.

We believe this will improve the process and make it easier for Trumbull residents to visit our beautiful parks, stated Tesoro. It will be a great value to our residents, especially our seniors and working families who may not be able to make it to the Parks and Recreation Department during the day.
A man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese migrants found dead inside a shipping container last year.

Ronan Hughes, 40, appeared at Southend Magistrates' Court in Essex on Wednesday via video link from a police station.

Hughes is charged with 39 counts of manslaughter between October 22 and October 24, 2019, as well as one count of facilitating the illegal entry of people into the UK between May 1, 2018 and October 24, 2019.

The defendant, from County Armagh, Northern Ireland, ran a haulage business whose drivers and trailers were used to smuggle migrants into the UK, prosecutors told the court.

39 Bodies found in a container at Waterglade Industrial Park, Grays 1 /46 39 Bodies found in a container at Waterglade Industrial Park, Grays Police activity at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estate. PA Thirty-nine bodies, including one of a teenager, have been found in a lorry container in Essex. The bodies were found in a lorry on the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays Sky News A forensic officer inside the cab of a lorry at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA Police and forensic officers investigate a lorry in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer Getty Images A Police forensic investigation team at the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry Jeremy Selwyn Flowers are pictured by a road sign on Eastern Avenue at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays AFP via Getty Images Police forensics officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry on the industrial estate PA Police activity at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estat PA Police and forensic officers investigate a lorry in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer Getty Images A Police forensic investigation team are parked near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry Getty Images The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA People gather to watch as a lorry, in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer, is driven from the site to a secure location where further forensic investigation can take place Getty Images Police officers drive away a lorry in which 39 dead bodies were discovered sparking a murder investigation at Waterglade Industrial Park in Gray AFP via Getty Images Police officers drive away a lorry, with black plastic visible at the rear, in which 39 dead bodies were discovered sparking a murder investigation at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, AFP via Getty Images The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA A lorry in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer is driven from the site to a secure location where further forensic investigation can take place Getty Images The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, PA Police forensics officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA Police and forensic officers inspect the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry Getty Images PA Police stand near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry in Thurrock, England Getty Images An aerial view as police forensic officers attend the scene after a truck, seen at centre, was found to contain a large number of dead bodies, in Thurrock AP Jeremy Selwyn An aerial view as police forensic officers attend the scene after a truck was found to contain a large number of dead bodies, in Thurock AP Police stand near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry in Thurrock, England Getty Images Sky News Police stand near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry in Thurrock, England. The lorry was discovered early Wednesday morning in Waterglade Industrial Park on Eastern Avenue in the town of Grays. Authorities said they believed the lorry originated in Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead on October 19. The suspected driver was arrested in connection with the investigation Getty Images Sky News Sky News Sky News Sky News Sky News Sky News Sky News

Hughes played a leading role in the operation, they added.

In court, he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address and give his nationality as Irish. He was not asked to enter a plea, and no application for bail was made.

Hughes was wearing a blue T-shirt, blue jeans and white trainers. He was flanked by police officers wearing face masks.

Judge Timothy King ordered Hughes to be remanded in custody, with his plea hearing set for July 22 at the Old Bailey in London.

The lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex / PA

The judge also read out the names of the 39 people who died during the smuggling operation.

Their bodies were found in a shipping container in Grays, Essex, that had arrived on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium on October 23 2019.

Among them were ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys.

Maurice Robinson, 25, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey in April after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Floral tributes left on Eastern Avenue, where 39 bodies were discovered in a lorry / PA

Robinson, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, also admitted acquiring criminal property, but denied a further charge of transferring criminal property.

The Dublin high court ruled last month that Hughes could be extradited to the UK to face charges.
A property tycoon has been charged with a 3.5 million fraud over claims that he sold houseboats on a stretch of the Thames riviera that could not be lived in.

Myck Djurberg, 60, allegedly made a string of deals to sell the luxury homes despite knowing that they did not come with residential mooring licences.

The entrepreneur is accused of fraudulently raking in between 850,000 and 1.25 million on four sales at the Hampton Riviera Boatyard, near Hampton Court Palace, despite the boats being rendered worthless, it is said.

Djurberg, who has been locked in civil wrangles with the buyers for years, has now been charged with four counts of fraud by false representation.

He appeared at Wimbledon magistrates court yesterday, insisting he intends to fight the allegations at trial. One of his employees, Myka Stark, 25, is co-accused on one of the alleged frauds.

The defendant is responsible for fraudulent activity by purporting to sell properties which had residential licences, but this later transpired not to be the case, said prosecutor Althea Moore. The total value is in excess of 3.5 million.

Djurberg, who owns several properties around the UK, lives in an Alpine chalet at the boatyard, which comes with its own indoor beach, that was shipped piece-by-piece from Switzerland in 1882.

The houseboat sales at the centre of the fraud case happened between 2012 and 2016, with buyers claiming they were duped into the deals believing the homes came with residential mooring rights.

One couple with children say they paid 1.25 million, only to discover they had no right to moor at the Hampton Riviera Boatyard. Djurberg indicated not guilty pleas to the four fraud charges at court yesterday, and was sent with Stark to face a crown court trial.

They will next appear for a preliminary hearing at Kingston crown court on July 20.

Djurberg, who has ties to Portugal, was freed on bail on the conditions that he does not contact witnesses or apply for any international travel documents and surrenders his passport.
Television actor Ankita Bhargava shared the story of her most painful phase of losing an unborn child in 2018. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she said that she and her husband, television actor Karan Patel, struggled to cope with her miscarriage initially but realised they need to feel the pain together. She revealed that they cried every night at the smallest of things, from a baby shower invitation to diaper commercials.

Ankita said that she wrote the note a few days ago, but it took her some time to muster up the courage and share the most personal post that (she is) ever going to write. She opened up about the emptiness she and Karan felt, and how they overcame the tragedy.

In her post, Ankita said that she was supposed to fly to Thailand for a shoot and got a go-ahead from her gynecologist. Though she was happy and healthy, she miscarried. And just like that I miscarried! With no explanations and medical reasons found,lt was termed as an unfortunate incident! There was nothing wrong that i had done or there was nothing wrong with my body and most importantly there was nothing wrong with my unborn child too! Just that, My first child,Came into this world way too early to meet me! But I didnt even get to see my babys face! We had prayed for that child! Prayed very hard!, she wrote.

Ankita said that she would wake up to an empty feeling every day and hated God for months. At first Karan and I didnt know how to cope with this pain.Cos there is no method to it! Our approach went against eachother.I wanted Him to be with me and face the pain together,He believed that my pain will intensify seeing his pain! So everytime we were together he would show me his normal side to make me feel lighter.... but that just made the both of us bottle up so much sadness individually! Until one day,l had to tell him in words, That i want us to hold eachother and feel the pain TOGETHER! And we did!, she wrote.

When Karan and Ankita decided to grieve together, their process of healing began. We cried every night before sleeping... at the smallest of things... it could be someones baby shower invitation,A baby crying on tv,An expecting couple on some Netflix series,Baby commercials,A doggie having babies... Anything!, she wrote.

Though Karan and Ankita seemed outwardly happy, she said that they were tormented within. For the world we were getting back to our normal quickly but only Him and I knew that a big piece of our heart has been ripped apart brutally! Our Family and friends were a big support in helping us through our dark times! But for me,my husband was my biggest strength specially at that time! He held me together!, she said.

Also read: Chris Hemsworth almost lost Thor role, Kevin Feige warned him Marvel fans are going to eat us alive

Ankita said that her world had turned upside down and life felt meaningless. She drew strength from the fact that she was not alone, as five women in her family and friends circle had similar experiences. This lil fact didnt lessen my pain but helped me feel that im not alone and most importantly made me believe that like everyone else... I TOO WILL SURVIVE THIS MOST PAINFUL PHASE OF LOSING AN UNBORN CHILD, she wrote.

What made things worse for Ankita was that she was brutally trolled for her miscarriage and told that they deserved it. She was also told to leave Karan and called infertile. It hurt me bad,getting in and out of whatever u wanna call it... i had my bad and very bad days. Most days i kept it all inside... and somedays i let it all out, she wrote.

Ankita said that she could not find any answers to why she lost her unborn child, but when they were blessed with a baby, she could only express gratitude. We have named her Mehr : Gods Blessing. And when i took her in my arms all I could say was... Thank God For your Kindness, she wrote.

Ankita went on to say that a woman was not defined by her miscarriage. Having another baby just keeps you away from the past by keeping you busy but doesnt lessen the pain of your prior loss. You have to learn to compartmentalise in life and just wait out the hard times, she said. The most important lesson she learnt from that phase was to let out emotions.

Cry.... Cry out Loud,Cry out Silently,Cry with your partner,Cry alone in the washroom,Cry while driving,Cry while cooking.... Just cry as much as you want to and for as long as you want to... IT IS THERAPEUTIC AND HEALING!, she concluded.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
By EdSource

Changing the names of schools named for slave-owning presidents and other leaders with racist views can be divisive.

This week, in the EdSource Podcast, school PTA president Maisha Cole tells us how she led a community process to rechristen Wilson School in Richmond, CA, named for President Woodrow Wilson, as Michelle Obama Elementary.

EdSource will also interview Lauren Kroiz, associate professor of art history at UC Berkeley, who says she welcomes renaming schools because it allows communities and schools "to reengage with the past and our concept of history in complex ways, and also teach our kids to do that."

And Maria Blanco, executive director of the University of California Immigrant Legal Services Center, based at the UC Davis School of Law, discusses the impact of the long-awaited U.S. Supreme Court ruling that rescinded the efforts by President Trump to eliminate the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program. As a result, undocumented immigrants who arrived in America as children can continue to work or attend college without fear of deportation - at least for now.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Members of the research team working together in the Chesapeake Bay for oyster imaging and dredging test. Photo: Yang Tao/University of Maryland Its a great opportunity for us to help the coastal communities of the U.S. and Maryland, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and Chesapeake.  Clark School Professor Yang Tao

A multidisciplinary team led by engineers at the University of Maryland (UMD) has received a $10 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to accelerate sustainable shellfish aquaculture in the United States.

The team, led by Professor Miao Yu of UMDs A. James Clark School of Engineering, will develop novel technologies and a sustainable management framework to help farmers tap the economic potential and environmental benefits of shellfish aquaculture, which until now has been bottlenecked by outdated tools and methods.

Aquaculture of shellfish such as oysters, mussels, and scallops provides a sustainable, environmentally beneficial source of high-protein food, as well a way to grow the economy in rural coastal areas, said Yu, who will lead the multi-institutional team of engineers, biologists, computer scientists, economists, and educators. Up to this point, we havent really explored this industrys potential because it still relies on antiquated technologiesin some cases, tools that go back hundreds of years.

By developing and incorporating advanced technologies into shellfish farming, including the use of underwater drone monitoring and smart harvesting, we can bring about a major boost in production, Yu said.

The teamrepresenting extensive expertise in sensing and imaging, robotics and artificial intelligence, automation for agriculture and seafood, aquaculture extension economics, shellfish biology, and software developmentincludes UMD collaborators from the A. James Clark School of Engineering; College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; and College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences as well as researchers from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), Louisiana State University (LSU), Pacific Shellfish Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT), and Fraunhofer USA Center for Experimental Software Engineering.

Aquaculture of shellfish is perhaps the most ecologically sustainable form of aquaculture, as well as an important driver of coastal economy. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has ranked the U.S. high for potential industry growth of this high-quality and nutritious protein source, but the industry lacks the basic technological advancement found in todays digital, automated world.

We need to modernize the technology used in shellfish aquaculture, which is decades if not centuries behind the technology used in land agriculture, said Clark School Professor Yang Tao, a collaborator on the grant. Drone-based technologies for crop surveying and early disease detection. Vision-guided crop cultivation. GPS-guided harvesting. These technologies exist for land agriculture; why shouldnt they for shellfish aquaculture, too?

Its a great opportunity for us to help the coastal communities of the U.S. and Maryland, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and Chesapeake, Tao said.

Current practices and technologies used in shellfish farming have many shortcomings. For example, harvesting of bottom-culture shellfish relies on dredging, in which machinery drags a net across the bottom of an ocean, bay, or other body of water to scrape up and collect buried shellfish. The process is highly imprecise and can be ecologically catastrophic by damaging reefs, which are important habitats for oysters and other aquatic species.

By synthesizing recent advances in the fields of robotics, agricultural automation, computer vision, sensing and imaging, and artificial intelligence, the team will develop new, smart technologies and a management framework to help enhance productivity and profitability for both farmers and coastal economies while better protecting fragile aquatic ecosystems.

We have extensive experience in drone navigation and object recognition, but this project will give us the opportunity to develop new techniques and theories for underwater computer vision and robotics. The underwater environment is very noisy with poor lighting, which presents many challenges well have to overcome to be successful, said Yiannis Aloimonos, a collaborator on the grant and UMD professor of computer science with a joint appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies.

One such example the team hopes to implement is smart precision oyster harvesting. This process would combine advanced technologies to overcome some of the challenges unique to seafloor farming.

In land agriculture, tractor operators use visual cues such as rows of crops to achieve precise harvesting; however, there are no geo-visual cues available for shellfish farmers. This, coupled with the inaccuracy of naval GPS, leads to disorganized and wasteful dredging paths, said Tao. A smart dredging process that incorporates available, modern technologies such as real-time, high-precision GPS, underwater imaging and sonar positioning, and advanced environmental sensing would helpand these are solutions within reach.

The research team notes the significance of a Maryland-led effort. Oysters have a long and treasured history in the Chesapeake Bay region, and the aquaculture industry is growing rapidly in Maryland. According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Chesapeake Bays oyster aquaculture industry is growing at about 15 percent a year and represents hundreds of farmers.

Oystersincluding those being grown in farmsimprove the environment, so the expansion of the industry will also benefit the Chesapeake Bays health, said Matthew Gray, an UMCES assistant professor and collaborator on the grant. Were excited to see how technology can improve production while at the same time making that production more ecologically sustainable or even beneficial to the environment.

Through their long-term involvement and discussions with the oyster aquaculture industry, the UMD Extension team has assessed the stakeholder needs from the nationwide bottom-culture shellfish sector. They will work to formalize this network through the development of an advisory board, which will also serve as a way to schedule field trials for the equipment in hydrographically diverse locations to ensure test results that can be applied across broad areas.

Shellfish growers need advanced technology, like that now used by land-based farmers, to increase production and expand output to provide quality food for the nation. Bringing robotics, along with other high technology, to shellfish farming will allow them to be more competitive and profitable while working in an environment that is underwater, said Don Webster of UMD Extension, a collaborator on the grant.

The teams education partner, UMES, is a historically black and 1890 land-grant institution. Through this partnership, the team plans to prepare undergraduate students, particularly socially and economically disadvantaged and first-generation college students in rural coastal areas, to become a skilled workforce in the American aquaculture industry. Maryland 4-H will serve as an additional education partner by developing and delivering a summer camp and robotics competition.

Professor Miao Yu is a faculty member of the Clark Schools Department of Mechanical Engineering and Institute for Systems Research; this effort is inspired by her earlier initiative on Do Good Robotics, which she put together and pursued as former director of the Maryland Robotics Center. Professor Yang Tao is a faculty member of the Clark Schools Fischell Department of Bioengineering and director of the Bio-Imaging and Machine Vision Lab.

Additional team members are Yiannis Aloimonos (UMD), Nikhil Chopra (UMD), Don Webster (UMD), Matt Parker (UMD), Cathy Liu (UMD), Matthew Gray (UMCES), Yuanwei Jin (UMES), Brian Callam (LSU), Bobbi Hudson (Pacific Shellfish), and Jonathan van Senten (VT).

The A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland serves as the catalyst for high-quality research, innovation, and learning, delivering on a promise that all graduates will leave ready to impact the Grand Challenges (energy, environment, security, and human health) of the 21st century. The Clark School is dedicated to leading and transforming the engineering discipline and profession, to accelerating entrepreneurship, and to transforming research and learning activities into new innovations that benefit millions. Visit us online at eng.umd.edu and follow us on Twitter @ClarkSchool.
Tajikistans mobile sector has been on a strong growth path for over a decade. It continues to be the standout feature of the countrys telecom industry.

Sydney, June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Tajikistan outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets.

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Tajikistan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses

Of all the former Soviet republics, Tajikistans telecommunications infrastructure was arguably the least developed. With a telecom network that was near total collapse, the government had the daunting task of bringing it up to modern standards. Despite the launch of 4G/LTE services, the overall the telecom sector has continued to struggle. Tajikistan still has one of the lowest fixed-line penetrations in the Asian region and one of the lowest broadband levels of broadband penetration.

Tajikistans mobile sector has been on a strong growth path for over a decade. It continues to be the standout feature of the countrys telecom industry. However, as the market has moved closer to a saturation phase there has been an inevitable reduction in the growth rate and. only moderate growth is predicted over the next five years.

There are five major operators in the market: Tcell, Babilon Mobile, MegaFon, ZET Mobile (registered as Tacom) and TK Mobile. Tcell has the largest overall market share, followed by Babilon Mobile, Megafon, ZET Mobile and TK Mobile.

Fixed broadband penetration in Tajikistan remains extremely low, mainly due to a limited number of fixed lines as well as the dominance of the mobile platform. Market penetration has only grown marginally over the last five years from a very small base. Over the next five years growth is expected to continue but overall market penetration will remain extremely low.

Tajikistan has seen a strong increase in mobile broadband penetration over the past four years, though the market is still at an early stage of development and penetration remains relatively low compared to other Asian nations. Steady growth is predicted over the next five years, supported by the rising number of mobile subscribers, and increasingly faster speeds offered by the mobile operators as they roll out their 4G networks. Tariffs should improve due to strong competition, though the regulator has imposed SMP conditions on all operators, which makes it difficult for them to adjust tariffs to suit market conditions.

Story continues

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

Government orders mandatory registration of all mobile devices;

MegaFon Tajikistan launches 5G network in Dushanbe;

ZET Mobile sets up LTE-based smart city concept in Dushanbe;

Telecom sector continues to struggle, with one of the lowest internet data rates globally;

Report update includes an assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector.

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Tajikistan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses

Nicolas Bombourg

nbombourg@budde.com.au



Oceania Office

+61 280 767 665



Europe Office

+44 207 097 1241
New Delhi, June 24 : In a significant statement, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav reiterated India's claim to Aksai Chin as its own, amid rising India-China tensions. He said on Wednesday that India must show the same assertiveness on the Line of Actual Control with China as it has shown on the Line of Control with Pakistan, simply to protect its "self respect" and defend its land "till the last inch".

Madhav said the solution to the present standoff is actively engaging with China both diplomatically and militarily. The BJP leader was speaking at an event on the India-China border issue organised by RSS mouthpiece 'Organiser'.

"Our claim is not just the LAC. Our claim goes beyond that. When it comes to J&K, it includes PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) and when it comes to the UT of Ladakh, it includes Gilgit-Baltistan and Aksai Chin," asserted Ram Madhav, who is often seen as the BJP's face when it comes to foreign relations.

However, Madhav stressed India does not want to wage a war with China. But India's assertiveness on its side of the LAC is required to "protect its self respect". Madhav added that India will have to defend its land till the last inch.

He also accepted that China as we see today is more aggressive. But he claimed that an aggressive China today is the result of an "assertive India".

The BJP General Secretary claimed that China by nature never wanted to settle a border dispute. That was the reason it refused to insert the word "existing" in a mutual agreement when P.V. Narasimha Rao was Prime Minister.

Madhav also blamed the rising Chinese aggression on past political responses. "We wanted peace every time," said the BJP leader. He listed that be it Rajiv Gandhi in 1988, Narasimha Rao in 1993 or Deve Gowda or UPA government, "all tried to make peace with China only to be betrayed by the dragon." The senior BJP leader said the solution is to engage with China diplomatically while being militarily assertive to defend India's land. "India will take a firm position on ground. We will fight for our self respect," he remarked. Madhav also took potshots at the Congress party to suggest it has been undoing efforts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi vis-a-vis China.

RSS's Ram Lal, who made an introductory speech, made an even more serious political charge. "There are elements in this country who seem to be playing into the hands of China. They are destroying the morale of our forces," he alleged, without naming the Congress.

This strong assertion comes in the wake of 20 Indian Army men, including an officer, being 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 the Indian Army in a clash with the Chinese PLA since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.

Following this, Prime Minister 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."
Founder and Leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Kofi Akpaloo says swaying electorates with money in exchange for votes must be condemned by all.



He lashed out at parliamentary aspirants who purportedly influenced delegates with money in the recent New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries.



According to him, the act is evil and claims Ghanas slow pace in development must be blamed on corrupt politicians.



The future kids will suffer because of our corruptible mindsets, he said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie.



Kofi Akpaloo also described the practice as terrifying and invariably posing danger and has the tendency of jeopardizing Ghanas democracy.



He, however, suggested that any candidate vying for position and pays money in buying votes in future must be investigated by the state and if found culpable be disqualified and made to face the full rigors of the law.



Mr. Akpaloo told host Mac Jerry Osei Agyemang that his party members have been advised to desist from such practices in the upcoming election.



He appealed to the Ghanaian electorates to massively vote for his party to win the December 7 polls to help eliminate this scourge in Ghana politics.























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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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

Trend:

As part of their visits to Ganja, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the inauguration of a new educational block of Azerbaijan State Agrarian University in Ganja.

The president and the first lady viewed conditions created at the new educational block.
The Central Selection Board of Constable (CSBC) in Patna, Bihar, has called for online applications from eligible and interested candidates (Bihar ST Women only) for filling 454 vacancies to the post of Lady Constables for Bihar Police Swabhiman Battalion through direct recruitment. The registration-cum-application process towards the same starts from June 24, 2020 and closes on July 24, 2020.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Lady Constable Organisation Central Selection Board of Constable (CSBC) Educational Qualification 10+2/Class 12/Intermediate or equivalent Experience Freshers can apply Skills Required Physical and Medical Fitness Job Location Bihar, Patna Salary Scale Rs. 21,700 to Rs. 69,100 per month Industry Police Application Start Date June 24, 2020 Application End Date July 24, 2020

Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for Lady Constables post through CSBC Bihar Police Recruitment 2020 must have completed 18 years of age as on January 1, 2020 and not be more than 30 years (ST - Women) as specified in the notification.

Candidates must pay a specified amount of Rs. 112 (ST Women) as application processing fee through online (net-banking/credit/debit) mode or any other mode as applicable.

HPSSC Recruitment 2020 For 896 Teacher, Shastri, Pharmacist And Other Posts. Apply From Tomorrow

Educational Criteria And Eligibility

Candidates applying for Lady Constables post through CSBC Bihar Police Recruitment 2020 must have passed 10+2/Class 12/Intermediate or equivalent from a recognised Board/Institute as specified in the notification.

Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates as Lady Constables post through CSBC Bihar Police Recruitment 2020 will be done through a Written Test (OMR - objective type), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Typing Test, Computer Test and Interview.

Candidates selected as Lady Constables through CSBC Bihar Police Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument in the scale of Rs. 21,700 to Rs. 69,100 per month.

SBI SCO Recruitment 2020 For 64 Managerial, IO And Other Posts. Apply Online Before July 13

How To Apply

Candidates applying for Lady Constable post through CSBC Bihar Police Recruitment 2020 must register online on official CSBC website at http://www.csbc.bih.nic.in/ from June 24, 2020 onwards and submit their applications on or before July 24, 2020 at https://apply-csbc.com/V3/applicationIndex

Read the detailed advertisement about CSBC Bihar Police Recruitment 2020 for Lady Constables post here http://csbc.bih.nic.in/Advt/Advt-01-2020-LC.pdf
US President Donald Trump revealed that the FBI is investigating 'hundreds of people' over the vandalism and destruction of statues and other federal property, as National Guard troops were called into the Washington D.C. to protect historic monuments from further vandalism.

Trump warned during a White House press briefing Wednesday that the consequences could mean 10 years in prison for the vandalism, which resulted after George Floyd protests erupted across the country over the cop-related slaying on Memorial Day.

'The FBI is investigating hundreds of people throughout the country for what they've done to monuments, statues and even buildings,' Trump said at the briefing alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda.

US President Donald Trump revealed that the FBI is investigating 'hundreds of people' over the vandalism and destruction of statues and other federal property, as National Guard troops were called into the Washington D.C. to protect historic monuments from further vandalism

Trump warned during a White House press briefing Wednesday that the consequences could mean 10 years in prison for the vandalism, which resulted after George Floyd protests erupted across the country. Pictured are protesters in Washington late Wednesday

Protesters are pictured being held back by barricades in Washington on Wednesday night

A protester speaks with police in Washington late Wednesday after Trump said 'The FBI is investigating hundreds of people throughout the country for what they've done to monuments, statues and even buildings'

'We have a law that's 10 years - it's 10 years, that's a long time to have fun one night,' Trump said.

Even Duda weighed in about the vandalism, noting a monument to American Revolution volunteer Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who was Polish, also was targeted.

'For completely incomprehensible reasons for us, that monument was devastated,' Duda said, speaking through a translator.

Trump late Wednesday continued expressing his disapproval over the treatment of statues and monuments.

'Very sad to see States allowing roving gangs of wise guys, anarchists & looters, many of them having no idea what they are doing, indiscriminately ripping down our statues and monuments to the past,' he wrote in a tweet.

'Some are great works of art, but all represent our History & Heritage,' Trump explains, adding in a follow up tweet that the monuments represent both the 'good and the bad' of America's history.

Trump late Wednesday continued expressing his disapproval over the treatment of statues and monuments

Trump adds in a follow up tweet that the monuments represent both the 'good and the bad' of America's history, and that it was important for Americans to 'understand and remember, even in turbulent and difficult times, and learn from them'

His remarks come as hundreds of unarmed National Guard troops have been called into Washington, D.C. to help protect historical monuments after protesters tried to topple a statue of Andrew Jackson during a night of demonstrations in the nation's capital.

A statue of Confederate Army Officer Albert Pike already had been toppled on Friday.

US Defense officials on Wednesday confirmed the Interior Department requested assistance earlier this week after demonstrators targeted statues and established a so-called 'Black House Autonomous Zone' near the White House.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the government sources said the number of National Guard troops mobilized is in the low hundreds and none have been deployed to the streets yet.

Fences popped up around a statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park in front of the White House after protesters tried to topple the monument on Monday

Protesters were unsuccessful in toppling the statue, but they did manage to damage the wooden wheels of four replica cannons at the base of the monument

Photos on Wednesday showed the bronze statue of Andrew Jackson at Lafayette Park behind a high fence reinforcing a security perimeter after protesters tried to tear it down

Pictured are protesters Monday night in Lafayette Park in front of the White House trying to topple a bronze statue of former president Andrew Jackson as they also put up planks of wood declaring the area a 'Black House Autonomous Zone'

The decision to bring in the troops came after Trump pledged to take a hard line on anyone destroying or vandalizing US historical monuments and threatened to use force on some protesters on Tuesday.

Photos taken at Lafayette Park on Wednesday showed the bronze statue of Jackson behind a high fence reinforcing a security perimeter.

Jackson served two terms in the White House, from 1829 to 1837, espousing a populist political style that has sometimes been compared with that of Trump.

A statue of Confederate Army Officer Albert Pike in Washington also had been toppled on Friday before demonstrators moved on to Jackson in front of the White House

Protesters were unsuccessful in toppling the statue, but they did manage to damage the wooden wheels of four replica cannons at the base of the monument.

Workers were seen removing parts of the cannons that were smashed during the protests this afternoon.

Trump had tweeted earlier that he was giving authorization 'effective immediately' to arrest anyone caught hurting a commemoration to an armed services member on federal land, even though the government already had that power under the 2003 Veterans Memorial Act.

Police in riot gear are pictured near the Jackson statue a day after it almost came down during a George Floyd protest

Protesters on Tuesday attempted to establish the area outside the North Lawn of the White House as the 'Black House Autonomous Zone'

President Donald Trump voiced his fury over Monday night's protests, declaring there will 'never' be an autonomous zone on Capitol Hill as long as he's president and claiming those who try to establish such an area 'will be met with serious force'

Twitter flagged another one of Trump's tweets on Tuesday, claiming it breached it's rules on 'abusive behavior' and warning users before they view the text of the post

He later added: '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 tweet was later flagged by Twitter for violating 'the Twitter Rules about abusive behavior.'

He also condemned the 'disgraceful vandalism' of the 'magnificent' statue of the controversial general Jackson, who Trump has touted as a personal hero, and also slammed people who defaced the exterior of St. John's Church.

On Monday clean up crews were seen hosing down the statue, washing away graffiti that emblazoned the phrase 'Killer' on the base of the monument.

The bronze statue was cleaned by city workers Tuesday morning after it was defaced by hundreds of protesters

Police in Washington had used pepper spray to arrest protesters who were trying to tear down the statue while building the BHAZ - echoing Seattle's Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) that was formed on June 8.

Creating such spaces is an occupation protest meant to establish a neighborhood without police.

Trump has been vocal about his contempt for the zone, slamming its occupants as 'ugly Anarchists' while urging the governor and mayor to 'take back' the area.

Many statues and monuments that pay homage to the rebel Confederacy from the nation's Civil War era and are seen as tributes to those who perpetuated slavery have been targeted by demonstrating crowds in recent weeks.

Calls for the removal of these monuments, which came on the back of massive Black Lives Matter protests earlier this month and subsequent efforts by some local governments to reform their police forces, were sparked by George Floyd protests.

Lafayette Park has since become noteworthy due to clashes involving protesters and police.

On June 1, law enforcement officers on foot and horseback aggressively drove protesters away from Lafayette Park, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to do a photo op at nearby St. John's Church.

Earlier this month, about 1,200 D.C. National Guard troops and 3,900 from other states were sent to the capital to back law enforcement during demonstrations.

The National Guard in Washington is the only one in the country that reports to Trump, with the authority delegated to the Army secretary.

The barricade for the 'Black House Autonomous Zone' pictured in Lafayette Park pictured, echoing Seattle's Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. Creating such spaces is an occupation protest meant to establish a neighborhood without police
The current hot and dry weather risks leading to water scarcity in Luxembourg. The Ministry of the Environment has urged the public to be economical in the use of water.

It has been a comparatively dry year thus far with only very little rainfall during winter. Summer has now arrived in Luxembourg and the weather continues to be extremely dry.

The Ministry of the Environment and Luxembourg's water authority have therefore appealed to the public to be economical in the use of potable water as water consumption is likely to increase in the coming weeks.

The ministry has listed a number of recommendations, urging the public to refrain from...

filling up private pools

washing their car at home

cleaning pavements, facades, garages

using high pressure cleaners

operating water fountains (except self-contained, closed-loop systems)

unnecessary watering

cooling drinks and foods with running water

Officials hope that the respect of these recommendations will avoid water shortages and formal restrictions.

The ministry also appealed to the public to avoid using surface water pumps. Pumping surface water out of the ground can impact the water quality of rivers and streams, which, in return, can harm aquatic animals.

Individuals who wish to pump surface water require a formal authorisation from the Ministry of the Environment.

If a river or stream reaches its minimal water level, the use of water pumps is forbidden - even if the ministry previously issued an authorisation.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then some snow showers after midnight. Low 24F with temps rising to near freezing. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then some snow showers after midnight. Low 24F with temps rising to near freezing. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
The revamp of Brisbane City Council's corporate marketing arm will cost the organisation jobs and has already seen the volunteer tourism "Greeters" program looking for a new home.

At a council budget information session on Monday, councillors heard that the decision to change Brisbane Marketing's name to Brisbane Economic Development Agency and its focus from international tourism to domestic business recovery was because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Brisbane Greeters program, in which volunteers provide tours of the city, is set to be scrapped.

But it also meant the organisation's board and chief executive, who were given their new operating budget last Wednesday when lord mayor Adrian Schrinner handed down the budget, are now working through the organisation's future.

In the 2020-21 council budget, the organisation was allocated $20 million each year for the next four years.
Investors include Bristol Myers Squibb, European Investment Fund, Industriens Pension, KfW Capital, Schroder Adveq

Investment focus on entrepreneurial innovation in therapeutics in Europe

Total assets under management >220 million ($250m)

BioGeneration Ventures (BGV), a leading early-stage VC in European biopharma, announces the closing of its fourth fund, BGV IV, at 105 million ($119 million). Strong market interest expediated the fund raise, with the commitments to date exceeding the fund's original target.

The BGV IV fund has attracted notable institutions as investors such as, Bristol Myers Squibb, Schroder Adveq and the European Investment Fund. New investors to BGV IV include Industriens Pension and KfW Capital.

BGV is one of the largest VC funds in Europe focused on early investments in new bio-technology companies, with over 220 million assets under management. Its team has broad experience in investment, life sciences, business development, and commercial operations. It also draws on experienced biotech entrepreneurs as venture partners and advisors, to the benefit of its portfolio companies.

The Company's approach is to partner with scientists from major European institutions and entrepreneurs. The aim is to build new companies, around either single assets or technology platforms with the goal of creating transformational new medicines. This strategy is supported by the strong collaboration between BGV and Forbion, providing a platform across early- to late-stage companies.

The investment strategy for the BGV IV fund will follow the same successful path as BGV's other funds, which have resulted in innovative new medicines reaching patients and yielded significant returns for investors.

Portfolio successes of earlier BGV funds include Acerta Pharma, which was acquired by AstraZeneca for up to $7bn and whose lead product Calquence is now approved and marketed in the US, and Staten Biotechnology, which signed a 430 million exclusive option deal with Novo Nordisk. Other companies in the current BGV portfolio include NorthSea Therapeutics, Azafaros, Varmx, and Confo Therapeutics.

Edward van Wezel, BGV's Managing Partner said:

"Over the last few years, BGV has demonstrated that investing in early-stage companies in Europe can bring innovative science to meet patients' needs worldwide as well as financial value to investors. With this new fund, we are pleased to have the backing of some of our long-standing investors; we also welcome our new investors, Industriens Pension and KfW Capital. The early-stage science coming out of European Institutions is second to none and we are working with those at the forefront of their fields. We believe we can make a significant difference to companies in helping them translate promising science into transformational new medicines."

Frederik Fischer Hjerl, Investment Manager at Industriens Pension, added:

"As a new investor to the BGV fund, we have had a lot of focus at the BGV team's strong track record and their approach towards early innovation. There is an urgent demand for new medicines which might accelerate the level of innovation coming out of research institutions across Europe. Having an experienced team like BGV, which in multiple occasions has proven capable of identifying and nurturing the potential future stars, is crucial to bringing new ideas forward. We look forward to working with BGV to help bring new medicines through."

-Ends-

About BioGeneration Ventures (BGV)

BioGeneration Ventures (BGV) is a venture capital company, with a focus on early stage European biotech companies. The Company has a strong track record of significant financial returns through investing in innovations in healthcare and providing the expertise to build world-class teams. The Company manages over 220 million of funds investing in areas where true scientific innovations, the unmet medical need, and the potential to demonstrate a significant proof of concept all come together.

BGV strives to work with founding teams to mature science and build companies. The Company uses its experience to guide progress into clinical trials, ultimately leading to successful drug development and value realisation for its investors. BGV applies its expertise in a rigorous process to select the most compelling opportunities with the best prospects for exit.

BGV is based in Naarden, The Netherlands. For more information, please see the website: www.biogenerationventures.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005058/en/

Contacts:

BioGeneration Ventures

Edward van Wezel

E-mail: info@biogeneration.vc

Tel: +31 35 69 930 00

Instinctif Partners (For other European media)

Melanie Toyne-Sewell Phil Marriage Kiki Zaccagnini

E-mail: BGV@instinctif.com

Tel: +44 20 7457 2020
The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore has announced that it will be coordinating IIM for Common Admission Test 2020, or CAT 2020.

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore has announced that it will be coordinating IIM for Common Admission Test 2020, or CAT 2020. IIM Indore, on its website, has released the application form and memorandum of understanding (MoU) for non-IIM institutions that want to become members to use CAT 2020 scores.

The non-IIM schools will have to visit the website iimidr.ac.in and download the application form and MoU. As per IIM Indore, the last date to fill the application form and the MoU is 15 July.

A report by NDTV mentions that the institute informed that non-IIMs will be required to submit copies of their programme brochures and newspaper advertisement pertaining to their admission notification to the CAT Centre 2020.

The report also mentions that IIM Indore has asked the non-IIM institutions to submit a copy of their accreditation certificate issued by the Ministry of Human Resource Department (MHRD) or All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) or other equivalent statutory accreditation body.

It further stated that institutions that are in process of acquiring accreditation may also seek membership for availing of the CAT 2020 scores.

For obtaining the membership, annual fees and online membership of Rs. 3.4 lakh will have to be paid. Institutes will also have to pay a processing fee of Rs. 200.

According to Careers 360, the non-IIMs will have to send the scanned copies of the forms and MoU after they have been filled, stamped and signed along with all the necessary documents by emailing them to cat2020@iimidr.ac.in.

They will also have to send two copies of the MoU, one copy of the application form and other original documents to the Admissions Office of IIM Indore latest by 15 July.

CAT, a national level entrance examination, is conducted every year in computer-based mode for candidates who seek MBA degree from the IIMs across the country.
Donald Trump Jr. warms up a crowd for his father in Phoenix, Arizona: AP

Donald J. Trump Jr., the presidents son, tweeted on Tuesday that the current push to dismantle and remove statues of confederate leaders could be stopped by an initiative to replace them with effigies of his father.

Want to save our monuments? he wrote. Lets get a movement going to replace any statue torn down during these riots with a new and more sturdy statue of @realDonaldTrump. The nonsense would stop instantly.

The tweet seems to imply that left-wing and social justice-minded Americans so loathe Donald Trump that they would in fact rather protect statues of slaveholders than erect new ones of the 45th president.

He is not the only member of the Trump family to defend the statues now being taken down. Since at least 2017, the president himself has defended monuments to various confederate figures as well as a Washington, DC statue of president Andrew Jackson, whose Indian Removal Act saw hundreds of thousands of indigenous Americans forcibly removed from the South via what is now known as the Trail of Tears.

Mr Trump Jr. has carved something of a side career out of railing against what he sees as the activist left, calling its members disingenuous, hypocritical and thin-skinned.

The D.C. Police are not doing their job as they watch a statue be ripped down & burn. These people should be immediately arrested. A disgrace to our Country! @MayorBowser  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 20, 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

Trump on people who tried to take down monument of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park: Were looking at long-term jail sentences for these vandals & these hoodlums & these anarchists & agitators & call them whatever you want ... theyre bad people. pic.twitter.com/Zak8XEOb9L  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 23, 2020

His Twitter feed is dominated by criticisms of everyone from Democratic Party leaders to young anti-racist activists, and in 2019, he wrote a book on the subject, Triggered: how the left thrives on hate and wants to silence us.

The presidents son now hosts a streaming newscast of sorts for the Trump campaign, broadcast on YouTube under the Triggered banner, on which he recently hosted his own father for a widely-ridiculed Fathers Day interview.

He has also challenged Joe Bidens son, Hunter, to an election campaign debate to discuss which of the two of them has benefited the more from their fathers help.
Garry and Rhonda Thurman have stepped up to chair the 2021 Go Red for Women Movement in Chattanooga.Officials said, "Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association's global initiative to end heart disease and stroke in women. Launched in 2004 to close the gap in awareness, Go Red quickly expanded into a worldwide movement dedicated to removing the barriers women face to achieving good health and wellbeing."We know too many women who have faced heart disease in our lives, said Ms.Thurman, 2021 Go Red for Women co-chair. Were proud to use our voices to raise awareness about womens number one killer and giving back to the community.Rhonda and Garry have been passionate volunteers for the American Heart Association for several years and were proud to have them lead this years Go Red for Women movement, said Emily Fuller, executive director of the American Heart Association. Without our volunteers and sponsors, we wouldnt be able to continue our life-saving work.The Go Red for Women Luncheon will be hosted in Chattanooga next Spring and is sponsored locally by Guardian Investment Advisors as Signature Sponsor, Vascular Institute of Chattanooga as Life is Why Sponsor and Encompass Health and Together to End Stroke Sponsor.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

Trend:

Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) and Turkish Airlines (THY) will operate Baku-Istanbul-Baku and Istanbul-Baku-Istanbul charter flights twice a week to simplify the process of bringing back Azerbaijani citizens who are in Turkey, including students, the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers told Trend on June 24.

Citizens who are in other countries and want to return to Azerbaijan, including students, will be able to return to the country by using the transit capabilities of Istanbul Airport.

AZAL will operate flights on Thursdays and Saturdays while THY on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The tickets will be available through the official website of AZAL and THY.
Former national security adviser Michael Flynn exits a vehicle as he arrives for his sentencing hearing at U.S. District Court in Washington on Dec. 18, 2018. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Appeals Court Orders Judge to Approve Dismissal of Case Against Flynn

A federal appeals court on June 24 ordered the presiding judge in the case against Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn to grant the governments request to dismiss the charges against the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump.

The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is a stunning development in the years-long legal saga that started with a prosecution brought by special counsel Robert Mueller.

Flynn had pleaded guilty in late 2017 to lying to the FBI, but in January moved to withdraw his plea. The Department of Justice (DOJ) in May moved to drop the charges against Flynn after conducting an internal review of the investigation.

Instead of approving the governments motion, District Judge Emmet Sullivan took the extraordinary step of appointing an amicus curiae (friend of the court) to argue against the prosecution and to determine whether Flynn should be held in contempt for reversing his plea. Flynns attorneys filed an emergency petition for a writ of mandamus with the appeals court to order Sullivan to approve the motion to dismiss the case. The appeals court heard oral arguments from attorneys for Flynn, Sullivan, and the DOJ last week.

It is ordered that Flynns petition for a writ of mandamus be granted in part, the appeals court order stated. The district court is directed to grant the governments motion to dismiss.

One of the three judges on the appeals court panel dissented from the decision. U.S. Circuit Court Judge Robert Wilkins had already indicated his opposition to Flynns request during the oral arguments. Wilkins argued, in part, that the appeals court overstepped its authority by ordering the district court to rule on a motion before giving the court time to conduct its own hearing (scheduled by Sullivan on July 16) and issue its own ruling.

Appeals court Judges Neomi Rao and Karen Henderson sided with Flynn.

Rao, who authored the courts opinion, noted that the decision to bring or drop prosecutions is solely in the discretion of the Executive Branch, which, in these situations, is entitled to a presumption of regularity. That means that unless theres clear evidence to the contrary, the judge shouldnt second-guess the governments decision with further scrutiny.

This is plainly not the rare case where further judicial inquiry is warranted, Rao said.

She pointed out that the governments motion includes an extensive discussion of newly discovered evidence casting Flynns guilt into doubt.

New evidence has been revealed in the case bit by bit, most recently as the result of a review ordered in January by Attorney General William Barr.

The evidence indicates that the FBI interviewed Flynn to catch him in a lie, which isnt a proper investigative purpose.

Wilkins argued that the DOJ didnt provide solid enough legal reasoning for why Flynns alleged lies shouldnt count in this case.

But Rao said it isnt up to the appeals court to question whether the Executives legal theory [for dismissing the case] is ultimately correct, but whether the Executive has the constitutional discretion to end this prosecutionwhich for the reasons already discussed, it plainly does.

She acknowledged that it may sometimes be appropriate for a judge to conduct a hearing before giving his leave to the governments motion.

However, a hearing cannot be used as an occasion to superintend the prosecutions charging decisions, Rao said.

Wilkins argued that Sullivan hasnt yet conducted the hearing, so theres still a chance that he may not intrude on the executive branchs authority.

To the extent that any of the majoritys fears of intrusive inquiries are well-founded, they could easily be resolved by providing instruction to the District Court as to the metes and bounds of a permissible  hearing, he said.

Rao disagreed. Already during the oral argument, she opposed the idea to try to spell out what precisely is on and off the table in Sullivans situation, which seemed to her like a lot of law to be making in a mandamus.

In her opinion, she said that Sullivans appointment as amicus curiae of retired federal Judge John Gleeson, who had publicly advocated for a full adversarial process, already indicated the courts mistaken understanding of its role.

She emphasized that Sullivan appointed Gleeson specifically to oppose the DOJ motion to dismiss.

In other words, the court has appointed one private citizen to argue that another citizen should be deprived of his liberty regardless of whether the Executive Branch is willing to pursue the charges, she said.

Sullivan also opened the door to other amici to join the case, Rao added.

We need not guess if this irregular and searching scrutiny will continue; it already has, she said.

The contemplated proceedings would likely require the Executive to reveal the internal deliberative process behind its exercise of prosecutorial discretion, interfering with the [Constitutions] Article II charging authority, she said. Thus, the district courts appointment of the amicus and demonstrated intent to scrutinize the reasoning and motives of the Department of Justice constitute irreparable harms that cannot be remedied on appeal.

The appeals court didnt grant Flynns request to reassign the district court judge in the case. Rao explained in the opinion that the district judges conduct did not indicate a clear inability to decide this case fairly.

We decline to reassign the case to a new judge simply to grant the governments Rule motion to dismiss, Rao wrote.

President Donald Trump, who had long rooted for Flynn, celebrated the courts decision on Twitter.

Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request To Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn! he wrote.

Update: The article has been updated with further details about the Michael Flynn case.

Correction: a previous version of this article incorrectly dated Flynns motion to withdraw his plea. The motion was filed in January 2020.

Ivan Pentchoukov Follow Ivan has reported for The Epoch Times on a variety of topics since 2011.
The US decision to freeze work visas, including the H-1B visa for highly skilled workers, till the year end will add to the troubles of Indian software services companies that are already struggling to cope with travel curbs amid the pandemic.

The decision, fiercely criticised by US tech leaders such as Elon Musk and Sundar Pichai, is the latest in a series of measures by President Donald Trump to crack down on legal immigration to combat staggeringly high unemployment levels in the country before the presidential elections in November.

The flare-up of the work visa issue during the US election year should be seen as a temporary but recurring theme, analysts said.

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, said Rebecca Bernhard, partner at international law firm Dorsey & Whitney.

The Trump administration believes the move will open up employment opportunities for Americans in an economy that has reported record job losses. Analysts dismissed the claim. This is just election-year rhetoric, said Siddharth Pai, a venture capitalist.

The US will continue to have programmes to bring in skilled workers from India and other countries. Even if the ban is imposed, it is likely to be for the short term, he said.

Industry body Nasscom said that thousands of US firms, universities, medical facilities, research institutions, directly and through their associations have asked Trump not to take such action because of the harm it would do as the country reopens and recovers.

Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd have been increasing hiring American citizens to cut dependence on the H-1B visa amid changing regulations. Infosys, Wipro and TCS declined to comment on the visa restrictions. C.P. Gurnani, managing director and CEO, Tech Mahindra, said the Indian IT industry has prepared itself for immigration challenges in the past as well and the impact will be minimal in the short term.

Nandita Mathur and Abhijit Ahaskar contributed to this story.
Collingwood and Geelong are expected to be the first clubs to head to a Perth hub for three weeks, playing one another during a quarantine period and then both WA clubs in front of packed Optus Stadium.

The Pies and Cats will play their round six matches on July 9 and 10 and are then expected to join the Eagles and Dockers back in Perth for round seven, remaining there for three matches.

The AFL released the round six fixture on Wednesday night, with West Coast and Fremantle to remain in Queensland. The WA clubs will then return to Perth for round seven with the intention of playing a derby as the first game at the stadium this year with a full crowd. The round seven fixture will be released on Thursday.

ROUND SIX FIXTURE Thursday July 9 St Kilda v Geelong, Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm AEST Friday July 10 Collingwood v Brisbane, MCG, 7.50pm AEST Saturday July 11 Fremantle v Melbourne, Metricon Stadium, 12.35pm AEST West Coast v Adelaide, Gabba, 3.05pm AEST Hawthorn v Gold Coast, MCG, 6.05pm AEST Essendon v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm AEST Sunday July 12 Port Adelaide v GWS, Metricon Stadium, 1.05pm AEST Carlton v Sydney, MCG, 3.35pm AEST North Melbourne v Richmond, Marvel Stadium, 6.10pm AEST

The AFL was expected to announce two rounds of the fixture on Wednesday night, including the Cats and Magpies heading west, but eventually only released round six.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire in Libya, adding that Turkey and Egypt agreed with Moscow's approach to the settlement of that conflict.

Lavrov said all external players should create conditions for inclusive dialogue between the warring factions in Libya, something that Turkey and Egypt also agreed with, after Lavrov held talks by phone with the foreign ministers of those countries.

(Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Two persons have been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service in relation to the demolition of a building on the premises of the Nigeria High Commissioner in Accra.



The two, according to a press release issued by the CID were arrested on Monday, June 22, 2020.



The Criminal Investigations Department in the course of investigation on Monday, 22nd June 2020, arrested two persons involved in the demolition of a building on the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra.



They have been charged with conspiracy to Commit Crime to wit; Unlawful Entry and Causing Unlawful Damage.



Background



A building under construction which is said to belong to the Nigeria High Commission in Accra was reported to have been demolished by some armed men on Saturday, June 20, 2020.

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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DENVER, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wurk, the first and leading Human Capital Management company for the cannabis industry, today announced the completion of a System and Organization Controls (SOC) 1 Type 2 Audit of systematic controls by a third party CPA firm. This voluntary audit examines internal controls for accuracy, security, completeness and timeliness in onboarding, payroll, tax, ACH processing, physical and logical security as well as change and vendor management. Wurk is the first payroll provider, and only the third company in the cannabis technology industry, to complete a SOC Audit.

The audit confirms Wurk uses strong controls around client data and financial information to ensure confidentiality, reliability and scalability for purposes of financial reporting. The examination was conducted in accordance with attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. This also enables Wurk to serve publicly traded cannabis companies whose vendor diligence requires audits from third-party CPAs.

"In a complex, highly-regulated industry like cannabis, it is crucial that you can trust partners that go above and beyond to protect sensitive data and information," said Keegan Peterson, Founder and CEO of Wurk. "We are proud to be able to provide our clients with the peace of mind that we at Wurk have policies and processes built in to protect their businesses."

Cannabis organizations rely on Wurk's systems to process and store sensitive workforce, payroll and tax data. As a part of their ongoing commitment to provide the highest quality Human Capital Management platform, as well as compliant payroll solutions, Wurk leverages third parties to help strengthen their security.

About Wurk

Wurk allows cannabis companies to manage payroll, human resources, timekeeping, scheduling and tax compliance, and minimizes compliance risks in the ever-changing cannabis regulatory environment. The company uses its expertise and trusted partnerships to provide guidance on 280E tax law, accounting and compliant banking. Its platform is designed to scale nationally with the growth of the industry, while incorporating the local laws and regulations unique to individual states. For more information visit enjoywurk.com.

Media Contact

MATTIO Communications

[email protected]mattio.com

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The global death toll from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic has reached 477,807 according to the John Hopkins University coronavirus database. The coronavirus has infected 9,273,773 people worldwide as of June 24. The United States has reported the highest number of cases in the world with 2,347,102 positive cases and 121,225 virus-related deaths.

As per reports, Brazil is the second-worst affected country with 1,145,906 after the US and only the second country in the world to reports more than a million coronavirus cases. The death toll in Brazil currently stands at 52,645. Europe has been one of the worst-hit regions, the region has reported 2,557,761 cases and 193,800 deaths.

While the pandemic is slowing down in Europe and many European countries are easing coronavirus restrictions, the pandemic continues to devastate and sweep through Latin America. Peru which is one of the worst affected countries in Latin America has reported 260,810 coronavirus cases and over 8,000 virus-related deaths. Chile has also been hit hard by the virus and has reported 250,767 coronavirus cases.

Read: Australia Calls In Military After Coronavirus Cases Surge In Melbourne

Read: World's Fastest Supercomputer Fugaku To Help Identify Potential Treatments For Coronavirus

Latin America warned about lifting restrictions

The World Health Organisation warns the Latin American governments about the risk of lifting lockdowns before slowing the spread of the deadly coronavirus throughout the region. After the warning from the UN agency, Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro threatened to pull the country out of the WHO.

Brazils President, Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the pandemic. His dismissal of the coronavirus risks to public health and efforts to lift state quarantines have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum in Brazil. Some opposition leaders have reportedly also accused the Brazilian President of using the crisis to undermine the democratic institutions.

Read: China To Run Large-scale 'Phase 3' Clinical Trial Of Its Coronavirus Vaccine In UAE

Read: WHO Warns Latin American Governments About Risk Of Lifting COVID-19 Lockdown
Love them or hate them, the peculiar appearance of Sphynx cats is always a subject of fascination among pet owners.

From California to Switzerland and Russia, people have shared snaps of their beloved not-so-furry friends which were gathered in a gallery on Bored Panda.

Sphynx cats set themselves apart from other felines thanks to their pointy ears, prominent cheekbones and hairless bodies.

First bred through scientific experiments in the 1960s, these pets are particularly warm to the touch and prone to sunburn, due to the absence of a fur coat to protect them.

Due to their friendly and loyal demeanour, Sphynx cats are often compared to dogs.

It's bat cat! People from around the world have been sharing snaps of their hairless felines to prove you don't need fur to be cute

This Sphynx cat from Moscow let his 'hair' down to have a lounge on his owner's sofa, with a paw on his belly

In Florida, this Sphynx specimen showed off their playful side by hanging upside down from their cat tree

The owner of this Sphynx cat from California poked fun at their pet's weird behaviour with this funny sign

In New York City, Mr Dobbs can be seen munching on his tail while wearing a fluffy fur coat in black and mint

With his black hoodie, US-based Loki looks like he is ready to share his world domination scheme

Look at those wrinkles! In Switzerland, Xherdan the naked Cat can be seen basking in the sunshine while biting his paws

This Sphynx cat from Canada showed off their flexibility by raising their back leg to their heads

This US-based feline seemed fascinated by his little paws and claws while wearing a furry nude-coloured boa

We definitely would not want to get on the wrong side of Xherdan the naked Cat in Switzerland

The owner of this Sphynx cats, believed to be from the US, said the pet sat this way when he was cold

Raw! This US-based cat looks positively terrifying when it yawns. Thankfully, Sphynx cats are among the friendliest cat breeds
A Wendys burns following a rally in the wake of the police shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, in Atlanta, Ga., June 13, 2020. (Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters)

Armed Group Says Its Created Police-Free Zone Where Rayshard Brooks Died

A group of armed men are controlling the Atlanta Wendys where Rayshard Brooks was shot by a police officer, they said late Tuesday.

At least three men brandishing guns were seen patrolling the area, with one of them telling Fox News that police officers arent allowed in the area.

Standing near a roadblock, one man said he was carrying a 12-gauge shotgun to protect himself and his people.

Because, as you guys know, there is no police presence here, theres no one else to protect us, the unidentified black man said. So me and my fellow brothers are here to protect each other.

Men were at a BP gas station near the Wendys and standing across the street.

Asked what would happen if the police tried entering the area, the armed man said: The police arent allowed here, because theyre not here to protect us.

A man holds a gun as a group blocks the road next to a burned Wendys restaurant in Atlanta, Ga., on June 16, 2020. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)

Felicia Moore, the Atlanta City Council president, said over the weekend that a group of armed young men with long guns and pistols were blocking off the Wendys.

All businesses surrounding are boarded. The tension is in the air and emotions are raw. Police are not in sight. Is this Atlanta? No! We must rise up! she said in a social media statement.

People who live nearby told WXIA the armed group is sometimes preventing local residents from passing through the roadblock.

Kimberlee Jones, president of the South Atlanta Civic League, a neighborhood association, said that her mother was stopped by the group.

They wouldnt let her through and she felt intimidated, she said. Jones said police officers told her to stay away from the area.

Another local resident told WXIA that her car was vandalized when she tried driving through the area.

They all had guns. They were all brandishing the guns to me from their waistbands, Jennifer Edwards said. And that they were going to shoot me in the back of the head if I did get away.

In this aerial photo, the Wendys restaurant that was set on fire by rioters after Rayshard Brooks was killed is seen in Atlanta, Ga., on June 17, 2020. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

In a statement to The Epoch Times, Atlanta police spokesman Steve Avery said the department is aware of whats happening.

APD is monitoring the situation and plans to coordinate with community leaders and the Wendys property owner to address security issues and help preserve peace for this community as soon as possible, he said.

Requests for comment sent to the league and Moore werent immediately returned.

Interim Police Chief Rodney Bryant said at a press conference on Saturday: We are the largest police department in the state and have the resources to ensure safety to our citizens. If you call 911, a police officer will respond.

Several shootings have taken place in the area in recent days and WSB-TV reported that reporters witnessed one of the group assault a police officer who responded after a couple reported a mob stopped their car and attacked them.

Its scary to have someone come after you like that. We take their side. We werent being disrespectful. We were just trying to get on the interstate. I was hit in the arms and the face and legs with the boulder, one of the alleged victims said.
Mayor Eric Garcetti Hosted Reform Round Table with Representative Karen Bass

Discussing Remnants of George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

Change is in the air, as people from all over the globe marched for weeks in the name of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many more lives that were taken inhumanely. The streets cried for justice and protection reform, Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti spoke with Representative and Chair of Congressional Black Caucus Karen Bass and together they explored what needs to actively change within the community to meet the needs of the people.

June 23 also commemorates another life being laid to rest too early, Rayshard Brooks life ended by the hands of a policemen. His funeral was live from Atlanta on Tuesday, the mayor described this meeting as no better way to honor Brooks homecoming.

Its our job to take this debate over justice and policing out of a partisan lens and bring it to the ground level, to ask where do we go from hereand start answering with action.

Garcetti acknowledge the tough history between the black community and police force, he shared that there has been progress but there is still milestones ahead. There progression was shown within daily protocol for law enforcement, banning of chokeholds, de-escalation training, and oversight surveillance for the police department. The mayor stated, Its not enough, but its a start.

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Tuesday, local and national leaders examined ways to build trust between the community and policing efforts. Looking at law enforcement in its entirety, the mayor is planning steps to divide social emergencies from the police force, when the situation calls for more mental health assistance. Garcetti has a goal for law enforcement to be the guardians of the city, not emergency social workers.

Mayor Garcetti reiterated current alterations within the city budget, he announced the adjustment on June 10. Garcetti has vowed to review and funnel 250-million dollars from the city budget to be adjusted towards prioritizing underserved communities. Were changing our budget to make investments where we need them, 250-million dollars to start, in communities of color, for youth, for folks who are underbanked, and those who dont have the same healthcare, to deal with mental health.

There is a vision to co-create public safety, the mayor described community leadership bringing in diverse perspectives together to the table, in hopes of designing a shared language that influences future decisions about the neighborhoods infrastructure.

Karen Bass stated, L.A. is leading the way along with many other cities in already banning things that should be banned, such as the chokehold, the No-Knock Warranty. Bass explained there should be a national registry for problematic police officers, recent death of Tamir Rice could have been prevented. .We think of several of the incidences that have happened over the last few years, if we had clear accountability, if we were able to upgrade policing and if you think about it, police should be accredited, there should be national standards.

Representative Bass presented the significance of the current bill in process, the George Floyd Policing in Justice Bill looks to provide grants for communities. Those funds will be put towards the reconstruction of public safety.

The bill also looks at qualified immunity, Bass stated, You saw the slow torturous murder of George Floyd that Provided the catalyst for this new movement. That officer looked straight at the camera with his hand in his pocket with complete impunity, that should never happen. Representative Bass stated the Justice in Policing Act will challenge immunity standards for prosecuting, taking willful intent to reckless. Looking at willful intent critically, there is no accuracy in measuring what may be in someones mind. Wednesday the senate will vote on whether to discuss the bill. The Justice for George Floyd and all lives that follow him continues through the house on Thursday, to push for the bill to reach the Presidents Desk.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Sofia, Bulgaria  Wed, June 24, 2020 10:13 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406612cbea 2 World Bulgaria,Prime-Minister,Boyko-Borissov,face-masks,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,coronavirus-prevention,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov will be fined 300 levs ($174) for violating an order to wear a protective face mask during a visit to a church on Tuesday, the health ministry said.

Health Minister Kiril Ananiev on Monday ordered Bulgarians to resume wearing masks again at all indoor public venues after the Balkan country last week recorded its highest weekly rise in novel coronavirus cases.

"All persons who were without protective face masks in the church at the Rila Monastery during the prime minister's visit will be fined," the health ministry told Reuters in an email.

As well as Borissov, journalists, photographers and camera people who accompanied him into the church without masks will also be fined, the ministry said.

It did not say whether clergy who failed to wear masks inside the church would also be penalized.

The Eastern Orthodox Rila Monastery, which nestles in the Rila mountains south of Sofia and is more than 1,000 years old, is famed for its colorful frescos and is one of Bulgaria's top tourist attractions.

Bulgaria has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic relatively well due to rigorous lockdown restrictions including the compulsory wearing of face masks in public places.

It had begun to relax the measures this month, but last week it reported 606 new COVID-19, bringing the total to 3,984, with 207 deaths, prompting Ananiev's decision to reimpose the mask requirement at indoor public venues, including trains and buses.

On Monday Chief State Health Inspector Angel Kunchev said Borissov's ruling center-right GERB party and the opposition Socialist Party would each be fined 3,000 levs for failing to enforce social distancing at recent large-scale events they organized.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Wednesday that some of the 10,000 American troops hes pulling out of Germany will be moved to Poland on NATOs eastern flank against Russian aggression.

Were going to be reducing our forces in Germany, Trump said in the Rose Garden while standing alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda. Some will be coming home and some will be going to other places, but Poland would be one of those other places in Europe.

Trump has said he is determined to cut the number of troops in Germany from about 35,000 to 25,000. Shifting forces out of the country has long been rumoured and is in line with Pentagon efforts to put more troops in the Indo-Pacific. But Trumps suggested last week  and again Wednesday  that the move is also tied to his anger over Germanys failure to meet NATO defence spending goals.

Trump said unlike Germany, Poland is one of only eight members of the alliance that are fulfilling NATOs target pledge of spending 2 per cent of their gross national products on their own defence. He criticized Germany several times and said transferring the troops to Poland also sends a strong signal to thwart Russian aggression.

But I think a stronger signal sent to Russia is the fact that Germany is paying Russia billions of dollars to purchase energy from Russia ... and Im saying Whats that all about? ... Theyre spending billions to buy Russia and then were supposed to defend them from Russia. So that doesnt work too well.

Neither Trump nor Duda said how many more troops would be sent to Poland. Under an agreement announced last year, the U.S. already announced it was sending about 1,000 more troops to Poland, and progress is being made, officials said, to lay the groundwork for those moves. Based on the agreement with Poland, the U.S. will add a division headquarters, a combat training centre, a unmanned aircraft squadron and structure to support an Army brigade that could rotate in and out of the country.

This was Dudas third visit to Washington since Trump took office and the first visit by a head of state to the White House since the coronavirus pandemic shut things down. The U.S. and Polish delegations and members of the media were tested before the two leaders met in the Oval Office, although none of the officials wore masks.

The visit came just days before Duda seeks reelection in a ballot Sunday. Opinion polls show Duda with about 40% support as he seeks a second five-year term, ahead of Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who has nearly 30%. Much of Trzaskowskis support comes from Poles angry at a government they blame for corruption, inciting homophobia and xenophobia, and undermining the countrys democratic foundations.

If Duda falls short of the majority of the vote needed to win outright, it would trigger a tight runoff election July 12.

Duda could get a boost from his White House visit  one so close to Sundays vote that some view it as election interference by the U.S. leader. Duda said he and Trump were just fulfilling their presidential duties. Trump said he thinks Duda will do very well with or without us.

Trump and Duda said they discussed energy security, including a natural gas pipeline Russia wants to transport more gas into Europe. U.S. sanctions have obstructed construction of the pipeline, causing rifts between the U.S. and its European allies that want the gas. Other topics included cybersecurity, telecommunications, 5G networks, civil nuclear energy and economic co-operation.

As an example of the developing economic co-operation, Duda mentioned plans announced Wednesday by Google to invest over $1 billion into an information technology centre in Poland.

Joining forces against the pandemic, the leaders said U.S. and Polish scientists will be working closely together on developing medication and vaccine against the coronavirus.

Duda also thanked Trump for the quick restoration of the monument to Polands and Americas independence fighter, 18th century Polish Gen. Tadeusz Kosciuszko, whose statue before the White House was vandalized during recent protests.

___

Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw contributed to this report.
The Business Development Bank of Canada has announced that it will be providing loans for medium-scale companies that were significantly impaired by the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the federal governments credit assistance programs.

Through their preferred banks, mid-sized businesses whose incomes were cut short by the global outbreak can apply for BDB loans from $12.5 million up to $60 million. BDB will be covering 90% of the loan, with the remainder to be handled by the applicants bank.

BDB defined mid-scale businesses as companies with revenues ranging from $100 million to $500 million, which were financially viable before the coronavirus took hold in Canada.
Gaddiel Ledinek was sick of being locked up.

So he urged several associates to pressure a co-accused to take the blame in his gun possession case. But the cops had bugged the phones. And so, in February, Ledinek pleaded guilty to attempt to obstruct justice.

He was supposed to be sentenced last week, but his lawyer asked for a postponement. Thats because the 24-year-old is recovering from a gunshot wound received late on June 9 when mass gunfire erupted at an outdoor vigil for Dimarjio Jenkins, a popular underground Toronto rapper known as Houdini.

On Thursday, police plan to announce Ledinek was one of several men who allegedly shot indiscriminately toward Highway 401 after unknown gunmen pulled onto the shoulder and opened fire on the outdoor memorial for Jenkins, who was gunned down in the middle of the afternoon last month in downtown Toronto.

Police believe Ledinek, himself a well-known underground rapper, was most likely hit by friendly fire, because the gunmen on the highway had already fled.

Ledinek walked into a hospital with a bullet wound in his abdomen and was arrested and charged with firearms offences soon after. Toronto police did not release his name at the time, citing the ongoing investigation. The Star has independently confirmed his arrest.

A second man, also injured in the gunfire, was also arrested.

At the time, Ledinek had a week left in his parole in the initial gun case and was on bail waiting on his sentence for the attempt to obstruct justice. He remains behind bars.

Ledinek, who performed as G.D., is just the latest Toronto rapper to be swept up in a wave of violence that has sparked fear and pleas for calm inside the citys hip hop community. At least 20 underground Toronto rappers have been fatally shot in the last decade, nine in the last year.

Most of these murders remained unsolved, so there have been few opportunities for the public to know why so many young men are being killed. But police and prosecutors  and some within the community  blame much of the violence on the gang activity and street feuds that are often referenced in the rappers music.

So who is Ledinek?

His lawyer, Adele Monaco, told the Star on Wednesday she has no knowledge of him being involved in any gangs. She added she has not received disclosure on Ledineks most recent charges, so was unable to comment on any allegations related to the vigil shooting.

(On Thursday, Toronto police Supt. Steve Watts, of the organized crime unit, is expected to release surveillance video from that evening that shows several armed vigil goers blasting their weapons toward the highway. Video of the incident was previously published by other media; it is not possible to recognize Ledinek in that footage.)

As a rapper, Ledinek notably featured on one of Torontos most popular independent rap songs of recent years. The 2015 song Wass Gang, which has nearly six million views on YouTube, also helped launch the careers of fellow musicians Quinton Gardner, known as Pressa, and Liban Randall, who performs as Robin Banks.

Ledinek, like Jenkins, Gardner and Randall, performed with a music collective based in Torontos impoverished Driftwood neighbourhood, on the north side of Jane and Finch.

Including Jenkins, four rappers who made music with the collective have been shot dead since December.

In April 2017, Randall was shot nine times in an ambush outside a Vaughan hookah lounge and left paralyzed from the neck down. Two men were convicted of attempted murder in that shooting last fall in Newmarket and are currently serving lengthy prison sentences.

Months earlier, in February of that year, Ledinek was in jail and chatting on bugged phone lines to associates, including Randall, about music and other neighbourhood gossip.

During the intercepted call, which is detailed in an agreed statement of facts filed with Superior Court at his guilty plea in February, Ledinek asked Randall to get the word out to his co-accused that he had better plead guilty to possessing a gun, so that Ledinek could get out of jail and touch road.

He has to f---ing call his lawyer before his court date, Ledinek fumed. If you just go to court and say you wanna plead, it doesnt f---ing work like that. You have to call ... ahead of time and make them give you a deal, understand? he said.

Thats all I want from you guys, Ledinek continued. These guys dont have to deal with me ever again in their whole life. Just do the f---ing ... go do this fam, Ive been in jail for ten months.

There is no evidence anyone was successfully pressured into pleading to the case as a result of Ledineks calls and in early 2018, he admitted to possessing the gun at the centre of his original charges.

He ended up serving three years and seven months in custody before being released on parole last September.

Ledineks parole was set to expire June 16  a few days after the vigil shooting.

According to pre-sentence report submitted in advance of his sentencing on the attempt to obstruct charge, Ledinek was supposed to be living with his girlfriend outside of Toronto, and was prohibited from entering the city except for court dates.

In that report, Ledinek is quoted saying that he did not wish to return to his old Toronto haunts, recognized that returning will likely result in going back to the lifestyle that brought him into conflict with the legal system, said the report prepared in March by a probation and parole officer.

The report also noted Ledinek had previously been shot  no details were included  and that he has been incarcerated and/or under adult probation supervision since he was 18.

Ledinek was raised in an area of Toronto that has seen frequent turmoil and difficult circumstances ... he became engaged with a negative peer circle that would frequently become engaged with police and the Courts, the report states.

It described him as articulate and thoughtful, and said he expressed a desire to make better choices that would assist him in staying out of further legal problems.
By Trend

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani praised the efforts taken by the government to develop railway infrastructure in the country, during his meeting with the members of the cabinet on June 23, Trend reports citing IRNA.

"Due to the work is done, residents of Hamedan and Kermanshah provinces, as well as the city of Urmia, will be connected to the railway network," he said adding that Tabriz, Miyaneh and Bostanabad will be connected through the railways soon.

In addition, the major part of the Chabahar-Zahedan railway will be opened by the end of my current term as president [end on May 2021], the head of state added.

Zahedan-Chabahar railroad which is to connect Zahedan, the capital city of Irans southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, to Chabahar port in the province, was scheduled to be completed by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2021).

Chabahar Port in southeast Iran is the most prioritized one for railway connection as the ports exemption from the US sanctions has become an opportunity for cargo transhipment, export and transit.

Lying on the coast of the Gulf of Oman in Sistan-Baluchestan Province, Chabahar is the countrys only oceanic port; given its strategic location on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the development of the port is of high significance for Iran, said the report.

The project for building the 610-kilometre railroad was launched nine years ago but was stopped due to lack of financial resources. The construction work resumed after the project contractor was changed.
An exoplanet the size of Neptune has been discovered around the young star AU Microscopii, thanks in part to the work of Jonathan Gagne, a former iREx Banting postdoctoral researcher who is now a scientific advisor at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium.

Astrophysicists have been searching for exoplanets in this system, a unique laboratory for studying planetary formation, for more than a decade. The breakthrough, announced today in Nature, was made possible in part by NASA's TESS and Spitzer space telescopes.

Located about 32 lightyears from Earth, AU Microscopii, or AU Mic, is a young star between 20 and 30 million years old, which is about 180 times younger than our own Sun. In the 2000s, it was found to still be surrounded by a large disc of debris, a remnant of its formation. Since then, astrophysicists have been actively searching for planets around AU Mic, since it is within such discs of dust and gas that they form.

"AU Mic is a small star, with only about 50 per cent of the Sun's mass," said Gagne, who participated in the observations and data processing. These stars generally have very strong magnetic fields, which make them very active. That explains in part why it took nearly 15 years to detect the exoplanet, called AU Mic b. The numerous spots and eruptions on the surface of AU Mic hampered its detection, which was already complicated by the presence of the disc."

A big challenge

Jonathan Gagne at the summit of Mauna Kea, where astrophysicists have been searching for a planet around AU Mic since 2010. Credit : Jonathan Gagne. In 2010, a team led by Peter Plavchan, now an assistant professor at George Mason University, began observing AU Mic from the ground using NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF).

The telescope operates in the infrared, where the team hoped to see the signal of the planet better, since the star's activity is less intense in this type of light.

For his part, Gagne made numerous observational trips to the IRFT during his doctoral studies. That is when he became involved in the project. "A few years after I joined the team, we noticed a possible periodic variation in the radial velocity of AU Mic," he recalled.

"We were thus made aware of the plausible presence of a planet around it." As a planet orbits, its gravity tugs on its host star, which moves slightly in response. Sensitive spectrographs such as the one on the IRTF can detect the star's radial velocity, its motion to-and-fro along our line of sight.

Space telescopes to the rescue

The accuracy of the data obtained on the ground was unfortunately not sufficient to confirm without a doubt that the signal was due to an exoplanet. It's thanks to the transit m ethod, a different detection technique, that the team was finally able to confirm the presence of AU Mic b.

A transit occurs when a planet passes directly between its host star and the viewer, periodically hiding a small fraction of its light. Astronomers observed two transits of AU Mic b during NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) first mission, in the summer of 2018. They then observed two more with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope in 2019.

Since the amount of light blocked depends on the size of the exoplanet and its distance from its star, these observations allowed scientists to determine that AU Mic b is about the size of Neptune, and that it passes in front of its star every 8.5 days.

Thanks to previous ground-based observations, the team also has a partial constraint on the mass of AU Mic b. Combining IRTF's observations with data obtained at the European Southern Observatory in Chile and the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawai'i, they concluded that its mass is less than about 3.4 times the mass of Neptune (or 58 times that of Earth).

A unique laboratory

AU Mic provides a unique laboratory to determine how exoplanets and their atmospheres form, and how they interact with the disc of debris and gas from which they are born.

Scientists are excited about their latest discovery, as very few systems like AU Mic are known. Not only is the detection of exoplanets difficult in these systems, but they are also very rare because a system's period of planetary formation is relatively short compared to the life of a star.

The AU Mic system is close to Earth and therefore appears brighter, allowing astrophysicists to observe it with a range of instruments. such as the SPIRou spectrograph.

"This instrument, with its polarimetric capabilities, will allow us to better distinguish the effects of stellar activity, which are often confused with the signal from the planets," said E tienne Artigau, a project scientist at Universite de Montreal. "This will allow us to determine the mass of AU Mic b accurately and to know if this exoplanet is more like a large Earth or a Neptune twin."

Other iREx astronomers are enthusiastic about trying to detect the planet's atmosphere, and see the effect of the active star on it. These observations can also be accomplished with SPIRou.

AU Mic is part of an association of young stars that formed at about the same time in the same place. Beta Pictoris, the star that gives its name to this association, also has a disc and two known planets.

Both the star and the planets are however considerably more massive (1.75 times the mass of the Sun, and 11 and nine times the mass of Jupiter, respectively). They do not appear to have evolved in the same way as AU Mic and its planet. Studying these two systems, which have many characteristics in common, scientists can compare two very different scenarios of planetary formation.

Many surprises undoubtedly still hide within AU Mic's system, the iREX researchers believe. Will further observations of the system with TESS confirm the existence of other planets? Is the atmosphere of the planet outgassing because of the strong stellar activity? How does this system compare to others of the same age? Those are all questions for future study.

###

About the study

"A planet within the debris disk around the pre-main-sequence star AU Microscopii" was published on June 25, 2020 in Nature. In addition to Jonathan Gagne (iREx, Universite de Montreal, Space for Life), the research team includes first author Peter Plavchan from George Mason University; second author Thomas Barclay, an associate research scientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and an associate project scientist for TESS at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; and 82 other co-authors, including former iREx member David Berardo, now a PhD student at MIT
Shocking images show two bodies of coronavirus victims stuffed in bin bags lying next to a patient in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro as the killer virus continues to wreak havoc in Brazil.

A screen separates the patient from one of the corpses, while the other body lies just an arm's length away, in a photo taken by the Rio Nurses Union.

Elsewhere, three containers - each of which can hold 75 bodies - are seen outside possibly the same hospital, in the grim footage broadcast by CNN.

Brazil has 52,000 confirmed deaths from Covid-19 and more than 1.1million people are infected - higher than anywhere outside the United States.

Two bodies of coronavirus victims are seen stuffed in bin bags lying next to a patient in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro as the killer virus continues to cause havoc in Brazil

Another grim scene shows three containers - each of which can hold 75 corpses - outside possibly the same hospital in Rio. Brazil has 52,000 confirmed deaths from Covid-19 and more than 1.1million people are infected - higher than anywhere outside the US

Footage shot by the Rio Nurses Union also showed hospital workers sleeping on mattresses on the floor after yet another gruelling shift

A lack of testing in the largest country in South Ameria, with a population of 209million, has led experts to suggest the real figure could be much higher.

Recent figures suggest 181 nurses have died in Brazil - the highest total in the world - while over 15,000 have contracted the bug, the Sun reported.

It comes as a federal judge today ordered Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has compared the coronavirus to a 'little flu', to wear a face mask in public, after the far-right leader repeatedly flouted containment measures in place in Brasilia.

On other fronts, Bolsonaro has openly defied the consensus among public health experts for slowing the outbreak.

The president has criticized lockdown and social-distancing orders issued by governors and mayors, saying their economic damage is worse than the disease.

Echoing US President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro has also pushed unproven anti-malarial drugs to treat the novel coronavirus.

But his most visible defiance has been going mask-less at a string of demonstrations in Brasilia, holding babies for photos and shaking hands with supporters.

The pandemic has hit especially hard among indigenous groups, who have a history of vulnerability to outside diseases. Above, Brazilian indigenous people of the Marubo ethnic group wait to see a medical team of the Brazilian Armed Forces at a health post in Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, on the border with Peru, on June 20

A federal judge today ordered Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro - who has compared the coronavirus to a 'little flu' - to wear a face mask in public, after the far-right leader repeatedly flouted containment measures in place in Brasilia. (Bolsonaro is pictured left on June 17, and right, on June 23)

Last weekend, Oxford University started human clinical trials for a potential coronavirus vaccine in Brazil, sponsor Lemann Foundation said in a statement late on Monday. (Above, a woman walks past an empty store in Sao Paulo)

Other officials have run afoul of the local mask rule. The country's former education minister, who resigned last week, was fined 2,000 reais for not wearing a mask on the capital's central boulevard earlier this month.

The pandemic has hit especially hard among indigenous groups, who have a history of vulnerability to outside diseases.

More than 7,700 indigenous people have been infected in Brazil, and nearly 350 have died, according to the Brazilian Indigenous Peoples' Association (APIB).

That has left many of Brazil's 900,000 indigenous people fearful of catching the virus.

Members of the Brazilian Armed Forces disinfect luggage that arrived on a military flight at the airport, in Tabatinga, Amazonas state, northern Brazil, on June 17

Another iconic indigenous leader in Brazil, chief Paulinho Paiakan, died last week after contracting the virus.

Last weekend, Oxford University started human clinical trials for a potential coronavirus vaccine in Brazil, sponsor Lemann Foundation said in a statement late on Monday.

Trials will count on 2,000 health workers volunteers in Sao Paulo and 1,000 people in Rio de Janeiro.

Anvisa, Brazil's health regulator, approved human clinical trials for the potential vaccine, developed by Oxford and supported by AstraZeneca Plc, earlier in June.

Brazil, where the disease is still rife, is the first country outside the UK to start testing the Oxford vaccine.

Researchers expect to launch the vaccine by year-end.

Covid-19 corpses lie beside live patients in footage from Brazilian hospital after President Bolsonaro FIRED health minister who urged him to do more to fight pandemic

Another shocking video emerged in April showing bodies of dead coronavirus victims lying next to live patients fighting the disease inside a Brazilian hospital.

The horrifying footage surfaced as Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro sparked anger for firing his health minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta for urging the government to do more to fight the pandemic.

In total, the bodies of 14 COVID-19 victims were being kept next to patients.

The disturbing scenes were recorded at the Joao Lucio Emergency Hospital in the city of Manaus in the northern Brazilian state of Amazonas.

The video, reportedly recorded by a nurse, shows bodies of victims scattered throughout hospital hallways lying on gurneys, with some covered in blankets and next to intubated patients.

Mandetta, a respected orthopedist, promoted isolation and drew comparisons to Dr. Anthony Fauci over his handling of the pandemic, before he was axed.

In a statement to the press regarding the hospital video, The State Secretary of Health said that the victims had died between the night of April 15 and the morning of the April 16, adding that five of the bodies had since been removed.

Nine of the victims' bodies remained in the hospital awaiting family members with death certificates, according to reports.
Todays guest bloggers are Jamie M. Carroll, the associate project director for the National Mindset Innovation Network , and David Yeager, a psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin. This is the first piece in a series on growth mindset.

How can I support a growth mindset for underrepresented minority students when the system doesnt treat them like they can all learn?

If you ask most educators, Do you think every student can learn?, the answer is a resounding YES. But Black and Latinx students dont always know this. The American education system has often told students of color, directly or indirectly, that they shouldnt be in the same school as white students, in the same classroom with white students, and in the same college with white students. This de facto segregation has promoted racial and ethnic stereotypes that students of color have lower potential. Students might wonder how much their teachers believe these stereotypes, even in part.

An authentic growth-mindset culture can help. Most teachers know that a growth mindset is the belief that intelligence is not fixed. But this complex idea has sometimes been reduced to a slogan (just try harder!) or a single lecture. That is not what we are talking about. Instead, we are talking about growth-mindset cultures, which include consistent words, deeds, and values that directly and unequivocally convey the message that all students can grow their knowledge and skills.

The psychologist Claude Steele argued that if teachers think that intelligence can be developed and grown, then students do not need to be as concerned about confirming the stereotype that members of their group have lower levels of intelligence. The growth-mindset culture robs stereotypes of their power, at least in that classroom. Students can then feel safer to take intellectual risks (asking for help, seeking harder content), and learn more.

In a recent SXSW EDU keynote , psychologist Mary Murphy showed that Black and Latinx students in courses taught by professors with a fixed mindset (the belief that intelligence cannot change) were less engaged, performed worse, and were less interested in pursuing STEM careers than white or Asian students. But when faculty had a growth mindset, these inequities were narrowed by half or more.

This is important in part because it means that white teachers can create equitable, anti-racist classrooms when they commit to authentic growth-mindset cultures. One vivid example comes from Uri Treisman, a mathematician at the University of Texas at Austin who is a MacArthur Fellow and was recently featured in the book The Years That Matter Most by Paul Tough. Triesman teaches a legendary calculus class that leads many students of color to pursue STEM majors.

From day one, Treisman contradicts the stereotype that only some students will have a hard time in calculus. He says things like, Everybody in this class will struggle, and No matter who you are, questions are going to be flying at you that you cant answer. If you dont understand that [struggle is a pathway to learning], youll think it means, Oh [no], I dont belong here. He challenges all of his students through intensely rigorous material but does not ignore differences in their background, confidence, and skills. He gets to know each students struggles and fears, then works with them, at all hours, to help them overcome these obstacles. Students who get answers wrong on tests have the chance to earn back points and still end up at the top of the class. And his teaching assistants are often former students who can serve as role models to show that, yes, you can do this.

As a teacher, you cant just tell your students of color to have a growth mindset and ignore the messages they are getting from an unequal world. But you can build your own classroom cultures so that equity is a fact, not an aspiration. You can convey that all students are capable of excellenceand then do anything and everything to help get them there.
Elon Musk Mocks Nikola Motors as Dumb. Is He Right?

Justin Spittler : Staggeringly dumb.

Thats the latest insult Elon Musk threw at Nikola Motors (NKLA), which has rocketed a crazy 500%+ since April. Love him or hate him, no one denies Musk is a genius. He built Tesla (TSLA)easily the worlds most innovative car companyfrom scratch. When hes not running Tesla, he works a side job as a rocket scientist for his private space company, SpaceX.

So, youd think only fools would bet against Musk. But thats what weve been doing lately. No, we havent been shorting Tesla. Instead, we invested big in hydrogen energyincluding Nikola Motors.

Musk HATES the idea of using hydrogen energy to power vehicles. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. Its been used as an energy source for decades. In fact, NASA has been using it since the 50s as rocket fuel for its space missions.

But Musk hates hydrogen fuel cells. Hes called them fool cells. And says using them to power vehicles is mind-bogglingly stupid. His basic objection is that using hydrogen to store energy can never be as efficient as storing electricity in a battery.

Musk Is Not Alone in His Hatred for Hydrogen

Years ago, hydrogen-powered vehicles were supposed to be the next big thing. For a time, hydrogen was running neck and neck with electric cars as the top bet to replace gasoline-powered cars. As recently as 2017, a poll of car company executives said hydrogen-powered vehicles would win out over electric vehicles.

But thanks largely to the success of Tesla, electric vehicles took off. And hydrogen never amounted to much. Hydrogen lost the popularity contest, and once-hot hydrogen stocks turned ice cold.

Heres Plug Power (PLUG), a leading hydrogen fuel cell company . Plug plummeted 98% from March 2009 to February 2013, while the S&P 500 rallied more than 120% over the same stretch.

Investors hated Ballard Power (BLDP), too. In fact, it hasnt set a new high since 1999.

Then, theres Bloom Energy (BE). Its plunged 39% since it IPOd in 2018.

No one wanted anything to do with hydrogen stocks. They were arguably the most hated stocks on the planet.

And Then, Seemingly Out of Nowhere, Hydrogen Stocks Took Off

Plug Power has rocketed more than 4,300% since early 2013. Ballard Power has spiked over 3,000% over the same period. Bloom Energy has rallied 239% since bottoming out. In other words, hydrogen stocks went from being the ugly ducklings of green energy to some of its hottest stocks .

But Nikola Motors (NKLA) has left every other hydrogen stock in the dust this year. If the name sounds familiar, its because Nikola is named after the same guy Tesla is: scientist Nikola Tesla.

Nikolas vision is to disrupt the $1.2 trillion semi-truck market. Although it has secured 14,000 pre-orders, you could argue it was the most hated hydrogen stock out there. The company hasnt sold a single real truck yet.

Some folks even accused Nikola of peddling vaporware. In tech circles, this is a mocking term for a product thats announced, marketed, and hyped-up, but never actually created.

After researching Nikola and talking to folks in the industry, We knew the doubters were wrong.

We publicly recommended buying Nikola just hours after it went public on March 3. If you didnt hear a thing about Nikolas IPO, youre not alone. Nikola went public via a quiet, obscure transaction called a reverse-merger that 99.99% of investors were unaware of.

Fast Forward to Today...

Nikola has been one of the top-performing stocks in the world. From $11.50 in April, it briefly surged above $90 last week. Full disclosurewe fully exited two weeks ago when it surged an almost unbelievable 103% in a day, and closed at $73.27.

Why did hydrogen stocks, and Nikola in particular, flip from hated to loved? You could point to a lot of reasons. One is that expectations fell into line with reality. Folks realized that America will never run on hydrogen cars. But as a specialized solution, hydrogen vehicles could still be big.

For example, big companies with huge fleets of trucks like UPS and FedEx are already starting to use them.

Many environmentalists have gotten on board with hydrogen, too. Hydrogen fuel cells are very clean. They dont produce exhaust or any other form of pollution. Their only byproduct is water and heat.

Nikolas charismatic founder Trevor Milton played a part too. Hes energetic and masterful at getting investors to buy into his vision.

Frankly though, none of this mattered all that much in our analysis. Hydrogen came up on our radar for one reason: It was irrationally hated by investors. After many hydrogen stocks plunged 90%+, investors left them for dead. Expectations plunged to zero, which cleared the way for big, quick profits.

And keep in mind, by the time Nikola went public in March, it was crystal clear that sentiment toward hydrogen had flipped for the better. All three of the hydrogen stocks I mentioned earlier had doubled or better heading into March.

Put that evidence together, and its not hard to see why Nikola blasted off. Although no one could have predicted 500% gains in three months.

So is Musk right? Are hydrogen powered vehicles dumb? Ill leave that to the scientists. But as an investment, hydrogen stocks have been very good to us. And with the exception of Nikolawhich has already soared more than most folks wildest dreamsI expect theyll continue higher from here.

The Great Disruptors: 3 Breakthrough Stocks Set to Double Your Money"

Get my latest report where I reveal my three favorite stocks that will hand you 100% gains as they disrupt whole industries. Get your free copy here.

By Justin Spittler

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

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 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Up to 240 jobs at risk at Magellan Aerospace site in Wrexham, says union

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jun 24th, 2020

Up to 240 jobs at the Magellan Aerospace site in Wrexham are at risk of redundancy, a union has claimed today.

The plant, which is based on the Llay Industrial Estate, provides supplies to Airbus.

Unite has said the decision to make 240 workers redundant is a devastating news for North East Wales.

Peter Hughes, Unite Wales Regional Secretary said: The proposed scale of these redundancies would affect almost half of the current employees. The potential economic consequences for the economy of North West Wales are huge.

Whilst Unite recognises that there is intense pressure on the aerospace sector at present, it is crucial that Magellan are in a position to pick up production levels quickly once the pandemic and its effect on the sector eases. If Magellan loses almost half of its highly skilled workforce, then bouncing back in a post Brexit economy becomes extremely difficult.

Now is not the time for rash decisions. Magellan need to hold their nerve and work with us to preserve jobs and find a way through the current slowdown in the sector.

Magellan and in particular its owner Murray Edwards have a moral obligation to its loyal workforce and the communities that they and their families live. Mr Edwards should be digging into his very deep pockets and ensure that Aerospace manufacturing not only survives in North East Wales but indeed thrives into the future.

There must be an urgent overhaul of the companys business strategy so that in future they are shielded from the all eggs in one basket business model that they currently have.

Unite will be doing everything possible to support our members during this difficult and worrying time.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: Todays news is extremely worrying for the Magellan workforce, their families and the community.

This important business has been a cornerstone of the Airbus supply chain for many years and has world beating design and build technology that must not be lost.

The announcement underpins the fragility of the aerospace sector globally with a dramatic reduction in demand for commercial aircraft.

The Welsh Government will continue to do all it can to support the company and the workforce, but time is running out for the UK Government to intervene as other national governments have around the world.

Welsh Government Ministers have constantly impressed upon UK Government counterparts the need to support the long term future of the industry, by developing a package of interventions to match what the French Government and others have already announced.

We have approached Magellan Aerospace for further comment.
Victoria has recorded a further 20 coronavirus cases as its spike in community transmission continues, while a 20th person in the state has died from COVID-19.

The death of a man in his 80s is the first coronavius-related death in Australia since May 23. The last death, a man in his 60s, also occurred in Victoria.

Nineteen of the cases are locally-acquired, with seven cases linked to previous outbreaks. Nine were detected through routine testing and three other cases are under investigation.

There has now been 97 cases in Victoria across the past five days, with 11 of those detected in hotel quarantine.

There are now 141 active cases in the state.

Professor Brett Sutton addressed the media on Wednesday morning. Source: ABC

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton also told reporters on Wednesday a recent family cluster of cases in Hallam was likely triggered by a contractor working in the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Melbournes CBD, a hotel being used for quarantine.

Professor Sutton said more than 30 cases in the last 10 days were linked to hotel quarantine staff members.

He said there was some concern over the social distancing of staff after coming into either direct or indirect contact with returning travellers.

Obviously it's been re-enforced that distancing needs to be maintained at all times for everyone, he said.

Prof Sutton said there was no shortage of personal protective equipment for staff at hotels, which is provided free of charge by the state.

Of the new cases, three people have been linked to a Keilor Downs family cluster, three are staff members at Hampstead Dental in Maidstone, and another case has been linked to St Monica's college at Epping.

One case has been linked to Northland H&M, bringing the total number of cases in that cluster to five.

Surge in testing as new sites confirmed

Prof Sutton said it was now vital Victorians come forward and get tested as part of the states test and trace mechanism.

Really broadening the testing availability and the messaging to reach everyone about the need to test if they're symptomatic is our key driver to get numbers down, he said.

Story continues

Prof Sutton said Victoria can test over 20,000 people per day.

The steady increase in new cases prompted the state government to pause easing of restrictions and to name six local government areas as coronavirus hotspots: Brimbank, Casey, Cardinia, Darebin, Hume and Moreland.

A testing site at Melbourne Showgrounds will open at 1pm on Wednesday for Keilor Downs Secondary College students, teachers and parents before opening to the general public on Thursday.

Victoria has seen a surge in testing amid the outbreak. Source: AAP

Two sites have also opened at Footscray Bunnings and Cragieburn Central.

The health department has warned testing may be temporarily suspended at drive-throughs if there is "unprecedented demand", due to safety and traffic management reasons.

It comes after Victoria Police were called in to manage the traffic at the Chadstone Shopping Centre site, just 20 minutes after it opened on Wednesday.

"We do apologise and we ask for people to be patient," Prof Sutton said, urging people to go to their GPs instead.

He said the health department was working to get COVID-19 information to multicultural communities but admits it has been a "complex process".

"It is not a simple case of pamphlets and campaign materials," Prof Sutton said.

"You do need that community leadership, community champions and all of the modes and methods available to you to try and get messages out."

The national death toll from coronavirus now stands at 103.

On Wednesday, NSW announced a further 10 cases, all of which are in hotel quarantine.

with AAP

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
The appointment of Ruud Peerbooms as President of Algae Ingredients, and a member of the Corbion Executive team, demonstrates Corbion's commitment to driving greater adoption of algae ingredients around the world. In this role, Ruud will drive strategic initiatives to expand Corbion's algae business, including overseeing the company's partnerships for the development of the next generation of algae ingredients.

Ruud has spent most of his career in commercial roles in the specialty food ingredients industry, and joined Corbion in 2014 as Senior Vice President of Food. In addition to his role at Corbion, Ruud applies his passion for science and technology as Chairman of Ingredients for Food Innovators (IFFI), a Dutch business network of food ingredient producers that focuses on the development of healthy, sustainable and affordable foods.

As adoption of AlgaPrime DHA in the aquaculture sector continues to accelerate, two new team members will help to expand commercialization of the omega-3 rich feed ingredient both globally and in key markets including Norway and Chile.

The new team members include:

Geir Ivar Lanes as Senior Business Development Manager leading the application of Corbion's AlgaPrime DHA ingredient in salmonid feed. With an early background as a managing director in oilrig IRM Services, Geir Ivar has spent the past 21 years as Managing Director of Havbrukskontroll AS, a consulting company working with both aquaculture farmers and aquaculture suppliers within areas of Broodstock, Smolts, Enclosed Systems and Sea Cage Production. His work encompassed nearly all technical aspects of the aquaculture industry supporting customers both in Norway and internationally. Geir Ivar has a degree in Chemistry.

Paula Arriagada Strodthoff, Senior Business Development Manager leading Corbion's AlgaPrime DHA work with salmon farmers and feed companies in Chile. Paula was formerly Head of Nutrition and Technology for EWOS Chile, where she was responsible for developing field trials and nutritional solutions for salmonids. Paula comes to Corbion with 19 years of experience in technical support for human and animal nutrition. She holds an MSc in Food Science from McGill University and a Bachelors in Food Engineering from Universidad Austral de Chile.

"We're thrilled to have Ruud, Geir Ivar and Paula on our team as they are committed to driving change within the sustainable aquaculture industry and beyond," said Olivier Rigaud, CEO at Corbion. "Their expertise and commitment to innovation will undoubtedly expand AlgaPrime DHA's footprint within key aquaculture markets and beyond into additional markets."

Since 2016, Corbion has been producing AlgaPrime DHA at large industrial scale relevant to the needs of the aquaculture industry. Unlike other resources such as fish oil, which can fluctuate on supply and price, AlgaPrime DHA is a reliable and consistent source of omega-3s. The expansion of the team is the latest in a series of milestones that acknowledges the demand for algae-fed salmon among farmers, brands, retailers and consumers. In addition to expanding its industry footprint and market penetration, AlgaPrime DHA was recently recognized as part of Fast Company's 2020 World Changing Ideas Award.

About Corbion

Corbion is the global market leader in lactic acid and its derivatives, and a leading supplier of emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals, vitamins, and algae ingredients. We use our unique expertise in fermentation and other processes to deliver sustainable solutions for the preservation of food and food production, health, and our planet. For over 100 years, we have been uncompromising in our commitment to safety, quality, innovation and performance. Drawing on our deep application and product knowledge, we work side-by-side with customers to make our cutting-edge technologies work for them. Our solutions help differentiate products in markets such as food, home & personal care, animal nutrition, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and bioplastics. In 2019, Corbion generated annual sales of  976.4 million and had a workforce of 2.138 FTE. Corbion is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. For more information: www.corbion.com

For more information, please contact:



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Minneapolis: Minneapolis' police chief says the death of George Floyd was "murder" and that the officer who pressed his knee into Floyd's neck knew what he was doing because he had taken specific training on the dangers of positional asphyxiation.

It appears to be the first time Chief Medaria Arradondo has used the word "murder" to describe the death. Floyd, a black handcuffed man, died on May 25 after Derek Chauvin, a white officer, pressed his knee into his neck for nearly eight minutes and held it there even after Floyd said he couldn't breathe and stopped moving.

Minneapolis Police Department Chief Medaria Arradondo. Credit:AP

Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Three other officers - J. Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane - are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.

All four officers were fired.
Whether you believe in science or in the grace of the Lord above, you cannot escape 'Evil.' Something eerie and supernatural comes knocking this June as Zee Cafe brings to you the frightful drama thriller series, 'Evil' airing weeknights at 10. Go beyond logic and devour the deadly chills that keep you on the edge of your seats with the horror-drama airing for the first time on television as part of Zee Cafe's weeknights thriller block  Mystery Cafe.

What does one do when the perpetrator of ghastly and violent crimes is not of this world? You decide to seek the holy help of a priest, the scientific expertise of a forensic psychologist and the expert skills of a technical handler AKA 'The Contractor'. In due course of their investigation, they come across several unholy demonic beings of nature that are bent of raising hell on earth.

Filled with numerous analogies of myth, occultism and folklore, the ensemble cast consists of Katja Herbers who portrayed Emily Grace in Westworld, Mike Colter best known for his role in Luke Cage and Michael Emerson previously seen in Person of Interest. Popular actor-comedian Aasif Mandvi and Kurt Fuller will also be a part of this show that brings to you a thriller like no other as part of Zee Cafe's weeknights block 'Mystery Cafe'.

If you are a fan of all things paranormal and unnatural, then this series is specially meant for you.

Keep your eyes peeled for your greatest fears on-screen with Evil airing weeknights at 10 PM only on Zee Cafe and Zee Cafe HD
Most pubgoers fear that other customers won't take virus safety restrictions seriously and will pose greater risks as they get drunk, a survey commissioned by Ireland's top publicans, brewers and distillers has found.

Three-quarters of regular pubgoers say they plan to resume socialising in pubs as they reopen  but almost as many say they fear that other customers will behave irresponsibly and increase the risk of virus transmission.

More than two-thirds expressed worries that other customers will not take safety measures seriously, and more than half said others could become a risk when they get drunk.

More than two in five identified the management of queues outside pubs and in the toilets as safety concerns.

The survey of more than 1,000 adults nationwide was conducted by market research firm MCCP for the two publican bodies  the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) representing Dublin pubs, and the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) covering the rest of the country - and for key suppliers Heineken, Diageo, Irish Distillers and C&C Group.

It showed a high level of caution prevailing as pubs serving food prepare to reopen on Monday on a table service-only basis and other pubs under less onerous conditions from July 20.

Fewer than three in five respondents said they planned to visit a pub even once next month. That figure rose to 74pc for those who identified themselves as regular pubgoers.

The deep cleaning of glasses and cutlery was identified as pubgoers biggest safety concern (61pc). Nearly half (48pc) said they want bar staff to enforce strict policies on those who break safety rules.

The LVA and VFI urged publicans nationwide to observe and enforce guidelines closely  or risk reputational damage and loss of liquor licences.

The public will be closely watching to see how each individual pub goes about reopening. Those that flout the regulations will see the public vote with their feet, said VFI chief executive Padraig Cribben.

LVA chief executive Donall OKeeffe said pubs reopening next week have a serious responsibility to do so safely.

More than 1,700 people have died in this country as a result of this pandemic and over 25,000 people have contracted the virus, Mr OKeeffe said. The seriousness of this crisis is what led to pubs closing all over Ireland - the first sector to do so.

Pubs that dont follow the guidelines will deservedly suffer serious damage to their reputations which will impact on their level of business as well as customer and staff attitudes to their establishments. They also risk losing their licence when it comes up for renewal in September, he said.

The LVA said it would back police enforcement actions against any rogue operators who show a blatant disregard for public health.

Any pub that endangers the safe reopening of the sector will reap what they sow, he warned.
Authorities began gearing up on Wednesday to launch a mammoth screening campaign covering all households in the national capital to check people for signs of Covid-19, drafting in staff from the civic bodies and setting up new control rooms to coordinate measures.

The action plan was detailed in the minutes of a meeting  seen by HT  held by one of the district task forces on Tuesday, and will now likely be the template for the other districts, according to officials who asked not to be named. There are district-level meetings tomorrow to decide on a strategy, this person added.

A government official separately said that the chief secretary had written to all district magistrates to begin forming teams. Survey of entire Delhi will begin on June 26 and the aim is to complete it by July 6, this official said, quoting from the communication.

Also Read: Only small fraction of patients reaching Covid centres in Delhi for screening

Among the key decisions taken at the Tuesday meeting were to deploy staff from the municipal corporations for the household screening, an exercise that could require at least 3,000 workers for each of the citys 11 districts.

Since ASHA workers and ANMs [auxiliary nurse midwife] are overburdened with the work of contact tracing, shifting of positive patients to Covid Care Centre, monitoring of home isolation, it will be difficult for them to continue with the house-to-house screening... After detailed discussions, it was decided to use the existing manpower setup for the screening on a daily basis, the minutes said.

Similar screening, which involves checking people for signs of a fever and asking them about how they have felt in recent days, has been underway in containment zones. The first such exercise took place in late March when 450 houses were surveyed in Janakpuri that recorded Delhis first cluster of cases. The index patient was a 38-year-old woman who had returned from Saudi Arabia and passed on the infection to several of her family members and two mohalla clinic doctors.

The civic bodies  which includes the New Delhi municipal council, the North Delhi municipal corporation, the South Delhi municipal corporation, and the East Delhi municipal corporation  employ an army of workers that includes health department staff (such as mosquito breeding checkers), sanitation workers and school teachers.

Dengue breeding checker (DBC) and anti-malaria unit staff are likely to be roped in for the wider screening process by being equipped with thermometers, etc, a civic agency official told HT, asking not to be named.

Also Read: Three get bail in a Delhi riots case, court says police cant tell how accused were identified

Cumulatively, the three civic agencies  North, South and East  have around 5,000-6,000 DBC and malaria unit workers. Estimates for NDMC were not immediately available.

According to Tuesdays discussions, the civic bodies will have to appoint a nodal officer at ward level to monitor the door-to-door screening. The nodal officer has to divide the jurisdiction into sectors and appoint a survey officer in each sector, who will be screening the people for Covid-19 like symptoms.

All wards will be attached to a nearby dispensary for necessary guidance and information collected at the end of the exercise will be compiled by the chief district medical officer, the minutes indicated.

The household canvassing is one of the main interventions planned by authorities in the national capital to improve surveillance of the outbreak, which has grown rapidly in the last week. Delhi added 3,788 new cases on Wednesday, taking its tally of cumulative infections to over 70,000. Of these, 26,588 cases are currently active.

The other steps include a fresh round of screening of all households in containment zones and a serological survey for antibodies of 20,000 people from across the Capital. The measures are part of a Revised Delhi Covid Response Plan that was drawn up by the Delhi government following a meeting last week with the Union home ministry.

The fresh round of screenings in containment will need to be completed by June 30. According to officials, the government has provided civil defence volunteers to help the over-stretched district teams to conduct these surveys.

The volunteers and health teams will visit all the houses that have been screened earlier and use an app called the SS Corona app where the volunteers have to fill in multiple-choice questions in each household.

This has automated the task. The app is very simple to use and the volunteers just have to ask the questions and click on the applicable answers. An excel sheet is prepared automatically each evening and the report is sent to the state integrated disease surveillance programme, said a second district official, asking not to be named.

The data can then be used to map out areas that are reporting more fever cases and help in further surveillance activities, the official said.

When teams visit the houses, they also encourage people to come to testing centres and get the rapid antigen test, which can give results within 30 minutes, the official quoted above added.

Delhi had rolled out the rapid testing kits last Thursday and this Tuesday the Indian Council of Medical Research approved the use of the kits in containment zones, hospitals, and private labs across India.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The United Nations gave recognition to the achievement of the state in fighting Covid-19 on its Public Service Day, celebrated on June 23. Health Minister KK Shailaja was the lone speaker from the country to speak about the strategies adopted by the state.

At the webinar streamed on UN Web TV, she shared her views along with the Secretary- General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres; President of the General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande; Minister of Interior and Safety, Republic of Korea Chin Young; Director General, World Health Organization Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; President of Ethiopia Sahle-Work Zewde and senior officers of the UN. The event was organised to honour leaders who have done commendable work in the fight against Covid-19.

The moderator, Odette Ramsingh, who is executive director of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, hailed Shailaja for low mortality rates in the state due to early intervention. She mentioned the title Corona slayer as used by some of the international media to invite the health minister for the talk. The health minister spoke about how the experience in containing Nipah outbreak in 2018 and floods helped the state prepare and fight Covid-19 at the beginning itself.

By drawing strengths on the decentralised public health delivery systems in the state, we activated our entire surveillance network the very next day of WHOs statement of caution on a respiratory virus of pandemic potential, said Shailaja.

According to her the focus was set on minimising the spread and mortality. She said the state managed to contain local spread. She explained the three strategies adopted - Trace, Quarantine, Test, Isolate and Treat, Break the Chain and Reverse Quarantine.
Some unknown persons suspected to be assailants have on Wednesday killed another woman in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, an official has said.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Olusayo Fagbemi, 42, was killed around 5 a.m. Wednesday, in front of her residence opposite Ajibade House in Sasa Ojoo in Akinyele Local government Area of Ibadan.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Olugbega Fadeyi, confirmed the incident.

Mr Fadeyi, in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES, noted that efforts to get the killers of the deceased have been intensified.

He said, At about 0540 hrs of today 24//06/2020, one Olusayo Fagbemi f aged 42 yrs was attacked (right) at the frontage of her house when washing plates and she sustained injury on her head.

At her shout, the husband rushed out and met her in the pool of her blood while the assailant(s) ran away.

She was rushed to a hospital where she was confirmed dead. Efforts intensified while the Police is on the trail of the assailants, he said.

Incident scene The cloth she was said to be washing when the incident occurred on Wednesday

Our correspondent gathered that Akinyele local government area, one of the 11 local government areas in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has been in the news for a series of incessant killings.

On Monday, a five-year-old boy identified as Mujeeb was killed by some suspected assailants. Mujeeb was macheted to death by yet-to-be-identified persons Monday morning.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the killing of Mujeeb, whose killers have neither been found nor arrested, is coming after three women, Barakat Bello, Azeezat Shomuyowa and Grace Oshiagwu were killed by yet to be identified persons in the same local government area.

Before the killing of the three women, some unknown gunmen had stormed three villages in the local government area where three people were killed.
The European Union is determined to protect its borders, the bloc's chief diplomat said on Wednesday, as Greece accused Turkey of encouraging a fresh surge of migrants into Europe.

Josep Borrell made the comments as he visited the Evros border area, the scene of clashes in March after Turkey said it would no longer prevent migrants from reaching the EU.

After accompanying Borrell to the border, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said Turkey had "once again declared that its land borders to Europe are open" following a brief respite during the pandemic.

"At the same time, its coastguard escorts boats laden with migrants to the Greek islands," Dendias said.

"But it also persists in undermining security and stability, as well as peace, in the Eastern Mediterranean."

Turkey did not immediately respond to the allegations.

Borrell said the European Union was "determined to protect the EU's external borders and strongly support Greece's sovereignty", according to state news agency ANA.

"We share your concern, we discussed how we could stop the dynamics of escalation," Borrell added.

At a later meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Borrell said he wanted "trust and a dialogue" with Turkey to help stabilise the region.

"In order to build a relationship of trust, it is important that Turkey stop its provocative actions which clearly infringe on the sovereign rights of Greece," Mitsotakis said.

In late February, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would let migrants wishing to get to the EU to travel through the country.

Thousands of migrants flocked to Greece, many gathering in the Evros border area or taking makeshift rafts to Greek islands.

For days, there were skirmishes on the border as migrants tried to break through, throwing stones at Greek riot police who responded with tear gas.

The leaders of the EU's three institutions -- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Charles Michel and Parliament President David Sassoli -- visited the area at the height of the crisis.

Greece is among several regional states at odds with Turkey over energy drilling in the eastern Mediterranean, and over the conflict in Libya.

Mitsotakis has said the EU must not look "weak" in enforcing a UN arms embargo on Libya, after Turkey thwarted separate French and Greek attempts to inspect a Tanzanian-flagged cargo vessel suspected of carrying arms to Libya.

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Three staff members from Hampstead Dental in Maidstone in Melbourne's west have also tested positive to coronavirus. Professor Sutton said these cases were linked to the Keilor Downs family outbreak. Another of the new cases involves a close social contact connected with a case at St Monica's College Epping in Melbourne's north, bringing that outbreak to two. Professor Sutton said authorities wanted to keep the reproduction number below one. "When it's at two it means the active cases we have are doubling with each generation," he said.

"We have seen the community transmission figures go from single figures [of cases] to above 10. But with the stabilisation in numbers in the last two days I expect that that will go back down. I absolutely hope that we can get it below one and drive those numbers back down to zero." Professor Sutton said mobile testing sites were struggling to keep pace with demand amid reports a testing clinic at Chadstone shopping centre closed due to a traffic flow problem on Wednesday morning. "Theres a real surge on testing," he said. "It's put a lot of pressure on the testing sites, but since the weekend we have worked with planning to get as many new testing sites up in those areas as possible." A new testing site opened on Wednesday at the Melbourne Showgrounds for families affected by the Keilor Downs Secondary College cluster. It will open to the general public from Thursday.

"They had a number of students related to the Keilor Downs outbreak," Professor Sutton said. Crowds of Victorians have been turned away from overwhelmed testing stations this week as new cases of the virus continue to soar. When asked about about claims Victorian authorities had failed to engage with migrant community leaders, Professor Sutton said the health department was doing everything it could to get public health messaging out to linguistically diverse communities, particularly those in hotspots of Hume, Casey, Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin. "Its a complex process," he said. "We have always had information in multiple languages. I have been very actively engaged in multicultural engagement.

"Were meeting with a whole number of ethnic community representatives and we have always advocated to engage with our intelligence team around where are our cases, what communities do they represent and to use all mechanisms to reach into them." "It is not a simple case of pamphlets and campaign materials and banners to reach into communities. You do need that community leadership, community champions and all of the modes and methods available to you to try and get messages out." He added that many people use social media from their country of origin or friends as their primary source of information. A lot of it tells them that its all rubbish messaging from government," Professor Sutton said. "It's not an easy task."

Criticism continues to mount on the state government's handling of the pandemic, as the threat of a second-wave hitting the state looms. "This has happened very suddenly," Ms Mikakos told ABC radio. "It's happened on June 1 when we eased up restrictions." Health Miniser Jenny Mikakos Credit:Getty An expert panel of doctors and politicians warned the federal government of a "missed opportunity" to prevent coronavirus outbreaks in high-risk groups such as migrant communities, several weeks before a spike of cases in Victoria, the ABC reported on Wednesday morning. The report was produced by the National COVID-19 Health and Research Advisory Committee which was set up to provide advice on Australia's health response to the crisis and is chaired by Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd.

Loading It was reportedly published more than a month before health authorities advised against travel in and out of six Melbourne local government areas due to an outbreak of coronavirus cases. Ms Mikakos said was "seeking advice" on whether the government had received the report. She added authorities were "redoubling" their efforts to reach at-risk multicultural communities in Melbournes coronavirus hotspots who may not watch mainstream media. "Clearly there are parts of the community that have not received the message," she said on ABC Radio National this morning. "We have to work harder to reach these people."
LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nurses Pub (www.thenursespub.org), the leading non-profit support group for nurses, announced a new initiative designed to recruit 100,000 students into the nursing profession.

According to the American Nurses Association, nurses are in high demand, with more jobs available than any other profession in the U.S.

The World Health Organization reported that more than one million additional RNs are needed by next year.

The nursing profession faces shortages for several reasons, including increased demand for care as the population ages and requires more healthcare services, high turnover among nurses and an aging workforce, and inequitable distribution of workers.

To help mediate this problem, The Nurses Pub is launching a campaign to attract 100,000 new nursing students. The non-profit organization is developing an "advertising, informational and inspirational campaign" designed to educate people about a career in nursing, and inspire them to enter this noble profession.

"There are few careers that allow people to give back to society and make a real difference," said the Nurses Pub Founder and CEO, Mona Clayton, MSN, RN. "Our goal is to encourage young and mid-career people of all backgrounds to consider a career in nursing. It offers not only stable and meaningful employment, but also provides a rare sense of satisfaction that enriches the soul, each and every day."

Mounting this campaign is not cheap. The Nurses Pub depends on support from individuals and businesses, and the pandemic has stretched resources to the limit.

Sponsorships are available at a variety of levels, to allow any size businesses to get involved and support this worthy cause.

"The need for nurses is now greater than ever," Clayton said. "Please help us support nurses through our many programs and launch our recruitment campaign... Because who knows? Someday the nurse that saves you or your family member's life may be there thanks to your valuable contribution."

To help, email the Nurses Pub at: [email protected], or visit: www.thenursespub.org, or call: (562) 537-1646.

ABOUT:

The Nurses Pub is a non-profit 501(c) organization initially formed to help single mothers from underserved communities discover a career in nursing. The organization now provides a wide variety of resources to students and nursing professionals worldwide.

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Egyptian activist Sanaa Seif was detained on Tuesday after the public prosecution issued a warrant for her arrest based on investigations by the national security apparatus, which revealed that she was spreading false news and rumours on social media, the prosecutor-generals office said.

Seif was apprehended on Tuesday afternoon and ordered detained for 15 days pending investigation into charges including broadcasting false news, statements and rumors aiming to disturb public security and peace as well as promoting ideas that call for committing terrorist acts, the prosecutors office said in a statement late on Tuesday.

The statement said that Seif, the sister of prominent jailed activist and blogger Alaa Abdel-Fattah, aimed to spread false news about the deteriorating health conditions in the country and the spread of the coronavirus in prisons, and called for demonstrations that would incite public opinion against the state to force it to free prisoners.

Seif was acting as part of a plot hatched by a number of fugitives living aboard who seek to incite chaos in the country and undermine security and peace, the prosecution said.

Seif has denied the charges leveled at her, the statement added.

Seif, along with her sister Mona and their mother Laila Souief, was staging a sit-in on Monday night in front of Cairos Tora prison complex to demand the family be allowed to receive a letter from Abdel-Fattah, with whom they had not communicated in three months due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Mona said in a video released on Tuesday that during this sit-in, they were attacked by a group of women who beat them with sticks and stole their personal belongings while prison security forces failed to intervene.

Mona also said in the video that her sister was abducted by plain-clothes police from outside the prosecutor-generals office in New Cairo, where she had gone to file a report about the assault.

The prosecution said that Seif was apprehended in accordance with an arrest warrant issued against her.

The prosecution also ordered that Seif be checked by a prison doctor to determine the condition of her health as well as be examined by the forensic medical department to determine how and when her injuries were sustained.

A number of local human rights organisations have released a joint statement condemning the arbitrary detention of Seif, demanding her immediate release and calling on prosecutors to investigate the assaults against her and the inaction of the prison security personnel during the assault.

The signatory NGOs include the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, El-Nadim Centre, the Egyptian Front for Human Rights, and the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms.

London-based Amnesty International has also condemned Seif's arrest.

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Daniel Craig as Ian Fleming's James Bond in No Time To Die. (EON/Universal)

Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer says his and Steve Mazzaros No Time To Die score has been heavily influenced by John Barrys classic James Bond scores.

The German musician, whose credits include The Lion King, The Dark Knight and Blade Runner 2049, replaced original composer Dan Romer in January this year, just months ahead of the films original release date of April.

In a new interview with Variety, the ever-busy composer, who is concurrently working on Top Gun: Maverick, Wonder Woman 1984 and Dune, said he was surprised to get the call from Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.

He told her he could only turn the score round if he could do it with frequent collaborator Steve Mazzaro, and she agreed, and he promises the score will hark back to the classic John Barry Bond scores of the 1960s, with Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr providing Bonds iconic theme riff.

Read more: Fukunaga reveals bizarre pitch for Bond 25

I didnt know if I wanted to do it, Zimmer tells Variety. So I phoned Johnny Marr, and I said, I have two questions to ask you. First question is, whats the only guitar part worth playing in a movie? And he said, the Bond part [the James Bond Theme]. And I said, yeah right. Second question: Do you think I should do the movie and would you play the guitar part? So that sort of settled that.

Hans Zimmer and Johnny Marr perform during the "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" New York Premiere at Skylight, 2014. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)

Johnny was right. He wanted to bring guitar back into the score. We were just embracing our inner John Barry.

Monty Norman wrote the original James Bond Theme with its distinctive rhythm guitar riff in 1962 for the release of Dr. No, Bonds maiden film outing, and it was arranged for the film by composer John Barry. The theme song has been the subject of a number of court cases over the year, with both musicians claiming ownership of the song, with courts twice ruling that Norman is the songs true composer.

Lashana Lynch and Daniel Craig in a still from No Time To Die. (EON/Universal)

John Barry set the template for Bond scores however, and composed scores for eleven 007 films in total. His last score in the series was for 1987s The Living Daylights starring Timothy Dalton as James Bond.

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Marr and Zimmer have collaborated on a number of film scores in the past including Inception and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The pair appeared on stage with Billie Eilish at the 2020 Brit Awards to perform her chart-topping theme for No Time To Die.

No Time To Die, starring Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch and Ana De Armas, will be released on 12 November.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 14:09:16|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 254 Mongolian nationals onboard a chartered flight arrived Wednesday at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport from the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the country's State Emergency Commission (SEC).

The passengers consisted of pregnant women, the elderly, children, students, and those with financial, health and other problems, the SEC said, adding that they will be isolated at designated facilities for 21 days.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Mongolia has chartered flights and evacuated more than 11,000 nationals from different parts of the world. This month, more than 2,300 Mongolian nationals have returned home on nine chartered flights, according to the SEC.

The Asian country is expected to send five chartered flights to South Korea, Turkey and Japan next month to evacuate Mongolian nationals.

As of Tuesday, Mongolia has reported a total of 215 COVID-19 cases, all of which were imported.

No local transmissions or deaths have been reported in Mongolia so far. Enditem
Gojek drivers wearing protective masks wait for a customer along a road in Jakarta, Indonesia on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

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.
Dublin, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Acrylic Fiber Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The market for acrylic fiber is expected to register a CAGR of around 1% during the forecast period. The major factor driving the growth of the market studied include the high demand from the use of apparel.



On the flipside, availability of substitutes like polyester, stringent regulations worldwide on the production of acrylic fiber, and the negative impact of Covid-19 on the overall market are expected to hinder the growth of the market studied.



By form, the filament segment accounted for the largest market share, and is expected to grow during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific dominated the global acrylic fiber market, due to high demand from the ASEAN countries and India.



Key Market Trends



Wool Segment to Dominate the Market

The use of wool for clothing ages back to the ancient times. Wool has outstanding properties, such as resistance to wrinkles, moisture absorption, and warmth. A significant feature of wool is its ability to recover from deformation, over time. Hence, clothing made from these fibers are attractive.

Additionally, the rate at which the fiber takes up and diffuses moisture, gives woolen clothes a comfortable feel. Fabrics that are woven or knitted with 100% wool fiber have become a standard in making apparel, like casual slacks and trousers, and sweaters and other knitted outerwear.

Although great improvements have been made in terms of washability, resistance to shrinkage, and mothproofing of wool, this natural fiber still has to be handled with care while cleaning.

Blends of 55% wool and 45% acrylic fiber are used to make circular knit goods. This blend is particularly used in making sportswear, which has characteristics, like ease of care, durability, appearance retention, color styling, and pleatability.

Depending on the requirements, there are different blends that are widely used across the world. The 50/50 and 70/30 acrylic wool blends are popular among those that are inexpensive, look good, and are easy to handle. The 50/50 acrylic wool blend is used to make lightweight apparel that have excellent durability and shape retention. The 70/30 acrylic wool blend is used to make slacks.

China to Dominate the Asia-Pacific Region

In the Asia-Pacific region, China is the largest economy in terms of GDP. The country witnessed about 6.1% growth in its GDP during 2019, even after the trade disturbance caused due to its trade war with the United States. The economic growth rate of China in 2020 was initially expected to be moderate as compared to the previous year.

Nearly all of China's major industrial companies have reportedly resumed production. According to the Chinese officials, over 95% of large enterprises, including in the hard-hit province of Hubei, after much of the country's economy shut down to contain the COVID-19 virus, have resumed production. Also, the major enterprises in the country's main industrial belt, like the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong, are fully open, but a quarter of small- and medium-sized businesses in China are still shut down.

China is the largest producer of acrylic fibers across the world, accounting for a share of more than 30% of the global acrylic fiber production. Owing to the demand from domestic and international markets, primarily from ASEAN countries, Europe, the United States, and Japan, the textile industry in China has expanded over the years.

Iran, India, Vietnam, Pakistan and UAE are some of the largest markets where China exports acrylic fibers. The country also imports acrylic fiber from countries like Japan, Germany, Thailand, South Korea and Turkey.

However, the industry is now operating at reduced utilization rate due to decrease in demand for these fibers as the industry is rapidly moving towards other alternatives like polyester fibers. Moreover, the rising prices of the raw material is also negatively affecting the acrylic fiber market in the country and across the globe.

China is the largest textile producing and exporting country in the world. With its rapid growth over the last two decades, the Chinese textile industry has become one of the main pillars of the country's economy and contributes ~7% to China's GDP.

China is the largest exporter of textiles and apparels across the globe. However, the US-China trade war has affected this trade negatively. The United States has reduced the punitive tariff from earlier 15% to 7.5% in January 2020; however, after the COVID-19 outbreak, it is expected that the country will take more serious steps to reduce the imports from China.

It is further, likely to negatively affect the market for acrylic fiber which is already struggling to perform at its optimum level.

Competitive Landscape



The global acrylic fiber market is partially consolidated in nature, with the top five players occupying around 50% of the market, as of 2019. Global production capacity in the year 2019 was estimated at 1,737 kilo tons. Some of the major players of the market studied include Aditya Birla Management Corporation Pvt Ltd., Dralon, Montefibre SpA, Jilin Chemical Fiber Group Co., Ltd., Formosa Plastics Corporation, and Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A., among others.



Key Topics Covered:



1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Assumptions

1.2 Scope of the Study



2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY



3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



4 MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 High Demand for Use in Apparels

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 Availability of Substitutes, like Polyester

4.2.2 Stringent Regulations Worldwide on the Production of Acrylic Fiber

4.2.3 Negative Impact of Covid-19 and Other Restraints

4.3 Industry Value Chain Analysis

4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers

4.4.3 Threat of New Entrants

4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products and Services

4.4.5 Degree of Competition

4.5 Technological Snapshot



5 MARKET SEGMENTATION

5.1 Form

5.1.1 Staple

5.1.2 Filament

5.2 Blending

5.2.1 Wool

5.2.2 Cotton

5.2.3 Other Blendings

5.3 Application

5.3.1 Apparel

5.3.2 Household Furnishing

5.3.3 Industrial

5.3.4 Other Applications (Outdoor)

5.4 Geography

5.4.1 Asia-Pacific

5.4.1.1 China

5.4.1.2 India

5.4.1.3 Japan

5.4.1.4 South Korea

5.4.1.5 ASEAN Countries

5.4.1.6 Rest of Asia-Pacific

5.4.2 North America

5.4.2.1 United States

5.4.2.2 Canada

5.4.2.3 Mexico

5.4.2.4 Rest of North America

5.4.3 Europe

5.4.3.1 Germany

5.4.3.2 United Kingdom

5.4.3.3 Italy

5.4.3.4 France

5.4.3.5 Russia

5.4.3.6 Spain

5.4.3.7 Turkey

5.4.3.8 Rest of Europe

5.4.4 South America

5.4.4.1 Brazil

5.4.4.2 Argentina

5.4.4.3 Rest of South America

5.4.5 Middle-East and Africa

5.4.5.1 Saudi Arabia

5.4.5.2 South Africa

5.4.5.3 Iran

5.4.5.4 Rest of Middle-East and Africa



6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements

6.2 Market Share Analysis

6.3 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players

6.4 Company Profiles

6.4.1 Aditya Birla Management Corporation Pvt. Ltd.

6.4.2 Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A..

6.4.3 China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation

6.4.4 Dralon

6.4.5 FORMOSA PLASTIICS CORPORATIION

6.4.6 Indian Acrylics Limited

6.4.7 Japan Exlan Co., Ltd.

6.4.8 Jilin Chemical Fiber Group Co., Ltd

6.4.9 Kaltex

6.4.10 KANEKA CORPORATION

6.4.11 Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

6.4.12 Pasupati Acrylon Ltd

6.4.13 PetroChina Company Limited

6.4.14 TAEKWANG INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD

6.4.15 TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.

6.4.16 Vardhman Acrylics Ltd.



7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ielfev

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
The Beidou-3 satellite is launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center - China Daily/Reuters

China has sent the final satellite of the countrys domestic developed navigation system into orbit on Tuesday, completing its global navigation network that challenges GPS.

The Beidou-3 satellite is the 55th and the last satellite of the Chinese navigation system. Beidou puts China in a competitive position against the worlds three other satellite navigation networks: the US-led GPS, Europe-led Galileo and Russias GLONASS.

The mission was delayed for a week due to technical problems detected during pre-launch tests of the Long March-3B carrier rocket.

The network is estimated a $10 billion project. Beijing has another leverage to expand its international engagement and offer an alternative to other countries who rely on US technology.

The chief architect of the Beidou navigation system Yang Changfeng told Chinese state media the Global Times that Beidou has satellites on three orbit plans in Asia Pacific. The system can resist disturbances from occlusion in urban environments as well as in forests.

A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the Beidou-3 satellite, the last satellite of China's Beidou Navigation Satellite System - China Daily/Reuters

The accuracy of the Beidou navigation system is just as good as that of the US GPS, and of world-class quality globally, Yang said.

The Beidou-3 provides precise point positioning service with dynamic accuracy to support auto-driving and ships docking. Chinas transportation, agriculture, electric power transmission and fisheries industry have adopted the Beidou system since the service went global in 2018.

Beidou serves as monitoring and managing transportation infrastructures such as highways and ports scheduling.

Beidou, the Plough constellation in Chinese, is also known as the Big Dipper. China began to develop its indigenous satellite system in 1994. It aims to reduce its reliance on foreign networks. The first Beidou satellite entered orbit in 2000 and launched positioning, navigation, timing and messaging services to users in China and Asia Pacific in December 2012.
Michael Flynn.

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

A US appeals court in Washington, DC, on Wednesday ordered the federal judge overseeing the Justice Department's case against the former national security adviser Michael Flynn to dismiss the prosecution.

The 2-1 ruling is a major victory for Flynn, whose legal team has argued for months that the government unfairly targeted him for political reasons and that the FBI tried to entrap him into pleading guilty.

The Justice Department last month abruptly moved to drop its prosecution against Flynn, arguing that it did not have sufficient evidence to prove he was guilty, even though the former Trump aide had already twice pleaded guilty in his case.

Wednesday's decision can still be reviewed by the full US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A three-judge panel on the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, on Wednesday ordered the federal judge overseeing the case against Michael Flynn to dismiss the prosecution, marking another big twist for the highest-profile former Trump administration official to face criminal charges from the special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court also overturned US District Judge Emmet Sullivan's decision to bring in a retired federal judge and veteran prosecutor to argue against the Justice Department's motion to dismiss Flynn's case. Sullivan had scheduled a July 16 hearing to weigh whether to toss out the case against President Donald Trump's former national security adviser.

The appeals court ruled that Sullivan did not have the authority to prolong Flynn's prosecution or examine the Justice Department's motivation for wanting to drop the case.

"This is not the unusual case where a more searching inquiry is justified," Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump-appointed judge, wrote in the majority opinion. Rao was joined by Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, an appointee of President George H.W. Bush.

Story continues

In a 19-page dissent, Judge Robert Wilkins, an appointee of President Barack Obama, questioned his colleagues' decision to preempt Sullivan's authority to take a closer look at the merits of DOJ's decision to drop the Flynn case. "It is a great irony that, in finding the District Court to have exceeded its own jurisdiction, this Court so grievously oversteps its own," Wilkins wrote.

The appeals court's decision is nonetheless a major victory for the former national security adviser, whose legal team has argued for months that the government unfairly targeted him for political reasons.

Trump, who has long alleged that the Russia investigation was a "deep state" plot masterminded by the Obama administration to undermine his presidency, rejoiced over the decision on Wednesday.

"Great!" he tweeted. "Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request To Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn!"

A Justice Department spokeswoman, Kerri Kupec, also celebrated the decision. "WIN in General Flynn's case," she wrote on Twitter.

The full DC Circuit Court of Appeals could still hear arguments in Flynn's case in what's known as an en banc hearing. The full panel has more judges appointed by Democratic presidents than those appointed by Republicans.

Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the US at the time, Sergey Kislyak, regarding US sanctions against Russia.

Flynn initially cooperated with Mueller's prosecutors but later shifted course and hired the attorney Sidney Powell, who took a more combative stance, urging the court to dismiss the Justice Department's case against Flynn and accusing the department of prosecutorial misconduct.

Last month, the DOJ abruptly moved to drop its case against Flynn after Attorney General William Barr tapped an outside prosecutor to reexamine the case.

Trump and his allies celebrated the decision, saying it confirmed their claims that the FBI acted out of political bias when it investigated whether the Trump campaign conspired with the Russian government in 2016.

Department veterans and national security officials, meanwhile, excoriated the decision as part of Barr's effort to use the department as a shield for Trump and a sword against his perceived enemies.

They pointed to the fact that Flynn had already pleaded guilty and acknowledged his wrongdoing several times, weakening the department's claim that it could not legally bring a case against the former national security adviser.

Brandon Van Grack, a prosecutor from Mueller's team who worked on the Flynn case, also withdrew as counsel for the government shortly before the DOJ filed its motion to drop the case.

Van Grack's sudden withdrawal was the biggest red flag to DOJ veterans, who told Business Insider it was reminiscent of when the prosecutors working on the US's case against Roger Stone, another Trump ally, withdrew en masse after senior department leadership publicly reversed their sentencing recommendation in the case.

The controversy kicked up another notch when Mary McCord, the former acting assistant attorney general for national security who was directly involved in the early stages of the Flynn case, wrote in a New York Times op-ed article in May that the DOJ twisted her testimony to justify dropping the case.

Jonathan Kravis, one of the prosecutors from the Stone case who left the department after withdrawing, also wrote in a Washington Post op-ed article that the DOJ's move to dismiss Flynn's case was a "disastrous mistake."

Kravis accused the DOJ of putting "political patronage ahead of its commitment to the rule of law" and moving to dismiss the case even though Flynn pleaded guilty and the court ruled that the plea was valid.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(@FahadShabbir)

TASHKENT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2020) Uzbek law enforcement officers detained 25 people in Tashkent and the Tashkent region on suspicion of being members of the terrorist organization Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (banned in Russia), the country's Interior Ministry said in a statement.

"Officers of of the Interior Ministry, State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Main Internal Affairs Directorate, and Tashkent's Security Service jointly carried out operational activities, during which the illegal activities of adherents of.

.. the international terrorist organization Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, which secretly acted on the territory of Tashkent and the Tashkent region, were exposed," the ministry said in its Telegram channel.

It said 25 people were detained, adding that the detainees had come under the ideological influence of natives of Uzbekistan, currently operating in the ranks of the group in Syria, and planned to leave for Syria to conduct military operations on the side of terrorist groups.
Ive heard it said that to have a voice is to have power, because without it is to be unheard, discounted. Imagine yearning, no, needing to be heard from the void, only to be ignored, when there are so many who can collectively speak up on your behalf. Giving a voice to the voiceless means helping people  what us credit unions do best  but we can be doing more.

In seeking a better sense of what the industry can do now, I reached out to Dr. Derreck Kayongo for insight. I first saw Derreck speak at CUNAs General Affairs Conference in 2017 and I was blown away. His perception of good and its application across innumerable boundaries provided exactly the insight I was looking for.

Dr. Kayongo, you are a proponent of giving a voice to the voiceless. In looking at the state of affairs in the world today  namely the COVID-19 pandemic, racism, and diversity, equity, and inclusion  when a voice is given to the voiceless, what does that look like?

Whenever a crisis in humanity happens, its important to understand the root causes to solve it effectively. Churchill is famously known for having said, Never waste a good crisis, because he understood that any constructive leader knows that great crises also provide for great opportunity to uphold good against evil through innovation and social entrepreneurship. Indeed, that is probably the one-time heroes and sheroes are born to give voice to the voiceless. Hence when a voice is given to the voiceless it sounds like Nelson Mandela, who while in moral silence for over twenty years in jail, spoke louder than anyone outside and spoke not just for the African but also for the whites that sought freedom from the crashing dogmatic political system of apartheid. This voice is the same one we hear from Dr. Martin Luther King who said, Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. That same voice is again found in Mother Teresa who posited, If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

Today we seek a prophet who can articulate the injustice we all face in the death of George Floyd in a way that can bring us together as Americans  not as black and white but as Americans. This moment in time is your moment as an American and as a human being to show your morality. In this moment and time, we seek a leader in every institution who can reasonably talk to us about the COVID-19 pandemic and for we all fret. This moment in time is truly for a voice of the voiceless to be heard. We need a prophet of hope.

To that end, this cardinal moment and crisis require a strong empowered voice of a hero to speak up against the corrupting policies that turn good public institutions into instruments of oppression, especially among minorities. This hero will help provide a pathway to a solution that will end the pain and suffering among the masses. This is the prophet of hope we all long for today.

I agree. As weve seen throughout human history, a prophet of hope can lift humanity emotionally; heal our collective psychological ills; and encourage healthy transformation.

Can you then share some ideas on how a financial cooperative can better go about identifying and providing a voice in response to such ills?

Credit unions should first and foremost use their presidents/CEOs as the first credible voice when speaking out against any sort of injustice. The CEO is the face of the organization. They should act fast so as not to give the impression of delayed bias. They should seek out local, credible leaders, especially in the minority community, to join their credit union when speaking out and to inform the process. This helps with using the politically correct language not to further aggravate the tender moments we find ourselves in. Words are not enough. The industry should financially support the empowerment of the community when speaking out on the ills in society. This means using social media, websites, and so on to lay out a coherent argument in support of the local community when things go wrong.

Finally, it would be cardinal for the leadership within credit unions to congregate a listening tour among its minority members to better understand what their needs are in the community. For example, simple things like a scholarship that helps minority kids to get into banking is one way. Having a diversity, equity, and inclusion department is another, and taking that department as seriously as other departments is even more critical. Such a department will help the credit union fend off illicit behavior and even save your organizations from other avoidable issues.

Credit unions absolutely must embrace this direction and, alongside our members and our communities, work to change the status quo and evoke systemic change to help individuals overcome socio-economic barriers so that we may better serve humanity.

To take it one step further, what are a few things credit unions can do to better serve the underserved of today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, with all of the aforementioned taken to heart?

Credit unions have a long history of standing in support of the financially oppressed and unrecognized. Partnering with the community has been and is their mission and raison detre. As such the following are a few things that credit unions can do to further that partnership:

Have more board members from communities of color, which will help the credit union better understand the needs of those marginalized communities.

Have on their board youth members who can become the conduit for the credit union to better communicate and educate the upcoming generation about money and how to gain access  this will keep your credit union vogue.

Help start local business incubators that guide great ideas in the community towards success. These incubators should have weekend programs or after school programs that educate youth and young adults about business and financial instruments.

Create a community fund for crisis response when hard times come. I can see the credit union asking each of its current members to donate a dollar to the community crisis fund just like supermarkets ask for donations for the cancer society and so forth. Once that fund is created, have a local governing board to help disperse those funds according to the needs of the community. The Kiswahili term of a community that pulls together and works to solve problems together is Harambee.

Excellent action items. Circling back to empowering voice for those who so often go unheard, another topic Id like your thoughts on is how and when do credit unions respond to hatred or violence or inequality or all of the above while best-representing membership? Moreover, when does the business take a backseat to doing the right thing as humans?

Credit unions like all other businesses are based and rooted in the community. As such they represent the community and should reflect the values of the good side away from wrong. When a business takes the side of the right, it is always vindicated through patronage. However, when business is silent, this is also a form of capitulation to wrongdoing and is then viewed as an enabler. Credit unions have a moral responsibility to speak up against violence, especially in this unequal world.

Like the Church, credit unions are made up of people, so we are the credit union and the words credit and union seem to me as the perfect words we need in todays atmosphere. We need to be creditable and united in an American union that our forefathers dreamt of. Not unworthy of credibility and not in a union that is anti-American.

A lot to ponder. A lot to do. I am inspired by the strength and determination across the globe, despite a litter of obstacles haphazardly strewn throughout the path of good. I remember that all people come from the same human energy and how that energy can showcase our ability to grow and change beyond what was previously decided as an impasse of capability. I think humans know and learn that even this limit extends much, much farther, as exhibited by those who continue to speak out, provide assistance, and generate revolution for the better.

And, the voiceless do so often find voice through deepened support, empathy, aggressive listening, stories, and action, and do so with a new sense of courage and opportunity. Not to infer that the voiceless are a socially constructed class, more so that it is our duty as cooperatives to move from piecemeal symbolic gesture to tangible systemic change.

Where does your voice live?

A genuine thank you from the bottom of my heart to Dr. Derreck Kayongo for sharing his thoughts and wisdom in development of this article.

Derreck Kayongo is a wonderful speaker on these issues and especially on the current issue of inclusion, equity, and diversity. He does Zoom conference speeches as well as in-person team building speeches. To contact him please send him an email at derreckkayongo@gmail.com for consultation.
Newsfrom Japan

Tokyo, June 24 (Jiji Press)--Incumbent mayors in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan, are among a total of 94 local politicians and others who were allegedly given cash by former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai over the July 2019 House of Councillors election, informed sources said Wednesday.

They are Yoshinori Tenma, mayor of the city of Mihara, and Hiroshi Kodama, mayor of the city of Akitakata, according to the sources.

The 94 individuals also include a former mayor of the Hiroshima town of Akiota, who resigned in April after admitting receiving an envelope containing 200,000 yen from Kawai in late April 2019 and donating the money to his political organization in late March this year, the sources said.

A Hiroshima prefectural assembly member who has served as chair of the assembly is suspected of having been given a total of 2 million yen. The assembly member said that a political fund report of his political party branch has been corrected.

Kawai did not talk about the issuance of a receipt for the cash, said the assembly member, who was questioned by public prosecutors on Sunday.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Pristina: Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and nine other former separatist fighters have been indicted on a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, by an international court investigating their actions against ethnic Serbs and others during and after Kosovo's 1998-99 independence war with Serbia.

Because of the indictment, Thaci has postponed his trip to the White House in Washington, where he was to meet for talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday.

Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci has been indicted on war crimes. Credit:AP

"The President of Kosovo has just informed us that he has cancelled his trip to Washington, DC, following the announcement made by the Special Prosecutors Office. I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settled," tweeted Richard Grenell, the US envoy for the Kosovo talks.

The talks will still go ahead, with Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, he added.
In this context, a voluntary separation plan supplements the cost-containment measures we have taken already, allows us to manage staffing levels to match our outlook and reduces the possibility of potential actions such as further furloughs or involuntary layoffs, said Jon Yates, a university spokesman, in an email.
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The historic South Carolina city of Charleston removed a symbol of its legacy on Wednesday, after crews laboured night and day to take away a statue honouring John C. Calhoun, an early U.S. vice-president whose zealous defence of slavery led the nation toward civil war.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CORRECTS PUBLICATION TO THE GREENVILLE NEWS In this Wednesday, June 17, 2020, photo protesters gather around the statue of John C. Calhoun at Marion Square in Charleston during a demonstration in Charleston, S.C. Mayor John Tecklenburg called for the relocation of the monument honoring Calhoun, a slavery advocate. He said he introduced a resolution to move it to a museum or other academic institution. (Josh Morgan/The Greenville News via AP)

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The historic South Carolina city of Charleston removed a symbol of its legacy on Wednesday, after crews laboured night and day to take away a statue honouring John C. Calhoun, an early U.S. vice-president whose zealous defence of slavery led the nation toward civil war.

But the larger-than-life figure of Calhoun  known as "The Cast-Iron Man in the early 1800s for his unbending support of Southern states' rights  proved difficult to dislodge. After a nightlong struggle, contractors resorted to a diamond cutter to cut through a metal base securing his statue to a pedestal that towers more than 100 feet (30 metres) over a downtown square along Calhoun Street.

A 100-foot monument to former U.S. vice president and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun towers over a downtown square Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Charleston, S.C. Officials in Charleston voted unanimously Tuesday to remove the statue from a downtown square, the latest in a wave of actions arising from protests against racism and police brutality against African Americans. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)

What had been expected to be a relatively quick task dragged on more than 16 hours before the statue was lowered down late Wednesday afternoon as dozens cheered.

Charleston Parks Director Jason Kronsberg told The Associated Press that unforeseen conditions were partly to blame for the delays, particularly a large bronze piece, deep inside the granite cylinder on which Calhoun stand. He said officials didnt know it existed.

Crews, which began the dismantling process at midnight Tuesday, discovered the bronze when a concrete saw failed to cut through. Kronsberg said that a company - that had planned once the statue was down to use a diamond-tipped chainsaw to chop up the towering monument - instead spent hours hacking away at the cylinder.

Charleston's council and mayor voted unanimously Tuesday to move it to an appropriate site where it will be protected and preserved, the latest in a wave of actions arising from protests against racial injustice in America.

I believe that we are setting a new chapter, a more equitable chapter, in our citys history, said Mayor John Tecklenburg.

A woman protests against the removal of a statue of former U.S. Vice President and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun from a square in downtown Charleston, S.C., on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)

Dozens of residents spoke for and against the statue at Tuesday's council meeting.

Grace Clark, a Charlestonian who said her family has lived in the city since the late 18th century, asked them "to please not remove our history. Not all history is good but it is our history.

Clark offered an idea that city leaders had considered in the past: adding contextual information about Calhoun's history with slavery, rather than taking down the monument.

Councilman Karl L. Brady Jr. said he would vote his conscience despite any political consequences, showing that in Charleston, we place white supremacy and white supremacist thought back where it belongs  on the ash heap of history.

Crews work to remove the John C. Calhoun statue from its column in Marion Square in Charleston, S.C., Wednesday, June 24, 2020. (Matthew Fortner/The Post And Courier via AP)

The move comes days after the fifth anniversary of the slaying of nine Black parishioners in a racist attack at a downtown Charleston church. It also comes as cities nationwide debate the removal of monuments to Confederate leaders and others, and as thousands of Americans join street protests in the wake of George Floyd's death under a Minneapolis police officer's knee.

When Tecklenburg announced his plans a week earlier, dozens of protesters linked arms around the monument, shouting, Take it down! Some spray-painted the monument's base, and police reported making several arrests for vandalism.

The Calhoun Monument stood since 1898 in downtown Charleston, towering over a sprawling square where locals and tourists alike enjoyed festivals. But several event organizers said recently that they would not use the space while the statue remained.

About 40% of enslaved Africans brought to North America came through the port of Charleston, which formally apologized in 2018 for its role in the slave trade. The city's resolution says many see the statue "as something other than a memorial to the accomplishments of a South Carolina native, but rather a symbol glorifying slavery and as such, a painful reminder of the history of slavery in Charleston.

Calhouns support of slavery, which he called a positive good, never wavered. He said in speeches on the U.S. Senate floor in the 1830s that slaves in the South were better off than free Blacks in the North. With his pro-slavery Calhoun Doctrine, he led the South toward secession before he died in 1850.

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South Carolinas Heritage Act protects historical monuments and building names, but the mayor said the monument is not on public property, nor does it commemorate one of the historical events listed in the act.

Thus far, Tecklenburgs interpretation has not been legally disputed.

The Calhoun statues ultimate resting place will be decided by a special panel. The mayor has anticipated it would go to a local museum or educational institution.

As for the rest of the monument, Kronsberg said crews would rest Wednesday before returning at midnight to remove bronze plaques and decoration. They planned to begin to dismantle the tower itself on Thursday.

___

Meg Kinnard can be reached at https://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.
book cover True stories well written are hard to find.

After George refuses at the last minute to go with her on their planned tour of Europe, Ellie decides to go by herself, since it is too late to get anyone to travel with her. She takes a two week cruise of the Mediterranean to visit Italy, Greece and Turkey and has a passionate onboard affair. Due to an outbreak of cholera at a nearby port, she worries about getting quarantined onboard.

"Then there is the problem of the husband who wants me to meet him in Barcelona. That was the last I heard from him. If there's no letter at the dock, I'll have to call him and I have very mixed feelings about him coming to Europe. It has been good to know I can travel the whole summer and each new place has meant conquering the fear of travelling alone. So much for tomorrow, for tonight I am going to sleep with Armando."

Part II - "The Paris Journals"

The author moved to Paris in the mid 1970's and lived there for two years as an expatriate. She met David Hockney at the time of his first retrospective at Louvre which launched his international career. She went to the opening and all the parties given for the whole week. She also became friends with Jacques de Bascher, Karl Lagerfeld's assistant. She worked as a photographer and met Francois Truffaut at his office, doing the photographs for a Japanese journalist for his interview articles. The journals depict the many ups and downs of her out of control life style before she finally returned to the United States.

"As we skirted around the enormous gaping wound in the ground, the head of a crane stood silhouetted like a vulture against the rooftops of Rene Claire's Paris." This was to become the Pompidou Center in the middle of Les Halles.

Eleanor Sinclair lived these adventures and "The Barnard Journals Trilogy Part I and Part II are the first of many journals she kept. Part III is "Barnard College." She has lectured in psychology, worked as a photographer and as an art dealer. She is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.

http://www.snazzycatpublishing.com
YEREVAN, 24 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 24 June, USD exchange rate up by 0.65 drams to 480.08 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.60 drams to 542.73 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 6.95 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 4.13 drams to 600.68 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 145.64 drams to 27302.85 drams. Silver price down by 0.39 drams to 274.9 drams. Platinum price up by 48.00 drams to 12687.51 drams.
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24.06.2020 LISTEN

The Police CID has arrested two persons over the demolition of a building on the premises of the Nigeria High Commissioner in Accra.

The two were arrested on Monday, June 22, according to a press release from the CID.

The Criminal Investigations Department in the course of investigation on Monday 22nd June 2020, arrested two persons involved in the demolition of a building on the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra.

The two are facing charges of conspiracy to Commit Crime to wit; Unlawful Entry and Causing Unlawful Damage.

They are set to be arraigned but the statement did not specify a date.

The CID further urged the general public to remain calm and continue to assist the Police with timely and factual information.

The demolition threatened to mar diplomatic relations between Ghana and Nigeria.

It sparked outrage and protests from Nigerians in Ghana and in their homeland.

The government has been quick to assuage the concerns of the Nigerian government.

---citinewsroom
Rajasthans recovery rate of the patients of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at 78.15% is better than the national average, according to data released by the Union health ministry.

The health ministry said on Wednesday that the desert state has seen 15,627 infections so far and out of which 12,213 people have been cured.

India Covid-19 recovery rate has improved to 56.70% after 258,684 patients were cured till date, the Union health ministry data showed.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

There were 10,495 people who were discharged from hospitals across the country in the last 24 hours, according to the health ministrys Covid-19 dashboard.

Here is a list of the top 10 states in terms of recovery rate:

Rajasthan: The desert state, with a recovery rate of 78.15% has emerged as an example for the rest of the country. Of the 15,627 recorded cases, 12,213 have recovered.

Madhya Pradesh: The central state has seen 9,335 or 76.13% of Covid-19 patients recover so far. Madhya Pradesh has reported 12,261 infections till date.

Bihar: There have been 8,153 cases of the coronavirus disease and 6,104 patients have been cured in Bihar. The recovery rate is 74.86% in this state.

Odisha: The recovery rate of Odisha is 72% as out of 5,470 patients in the state 3,988 people have been discharged from hospitals.

Gujarat: With 20,513 patients sent home from hospitals, Gujarat has seen a recovery rate of 72.30%. The western state has seen 28,371 infectious so far.

Jharkhand: The eastern state has seen 2,185 infections and 1,520 patients or 69.56% have recovered.

Punjab: In Punjab, 3,047 patients have beat the respiratory disease out of the 4,397 who contracted it. The states recovery stands at 69.29%.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

Chhattisgarh: The number of people who have been cured of Covid-19 is 1,553 or 65.74%. There are 2,362 infections until Wednesday morning.

Assam: The northeastern state has reported 3,762 Covid-19 patients or 64.51% out of the 5,831 have recovered.

Uttar Pradesh: Indias most populous state has recorded 18,893 infections and said 12,116 people have been cured of the highly-contagious disease. Uttar Pradeshs recovery rate is 64.12%.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 12:25:10|Editor: huaxia

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CHENGDU, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A female panda cub weighing 188.3 grams was born Tuesday in a protection base in southwest China's Sichuan Province, according to local authorities.

Giant panda Xin Xin gave birth to this cub at the Shenshuping base of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. It is the first giant panda born at the center this year.

In March this year, Xin Xin mated naturally, and lately, she showed signs of labor, said Chen Anfa, a panda keeper at the center.

Xin Xin was born in 2013, and this is her second cub.

The center currently has more than 300 giant pandas, making it the biggest and most comprehensive center of its kind in the world. Enditem
In a historic vote, the Boston City Council Wednesday moved to ban municipal use of facial recognition technology, a piece of software that has remained largely unregulated despite controversies surrounding its inaccuracies and potential to violate individuals privacies.

The legislative body voted unanimously during its meeting Wednesday to pass an ordinance banning facial recognition in Boston, setting the city up to be the largest community east of San Francisco to ban the technology.

The California city was the first municipality to restrict the use of the software in the U.S., and just a few weeks later, Somerville became the first community in Massachusetts to do the same.

Mayor Marty Walsh is now expected to either sign Bostons ban into law or let the ordinance sit on his desk for 15 days, at which point, it would become law, according to Kade Crockford, director of the Technology for Liberty program at the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts.

The city of Boston obviously is a tech capital for the Northeast and one of the tech centers for the United States and the world, Crockford told MassLive prior to the city councils vote, adding that the community has a history of fighting for freedom. Its not a surprise that Boston would be among the first cities in the country and actually in the world to take this important step.

Were thrilled, though. Its been a long time coming.

Boston is not the first community in the state to restrict the software. The state capital joins five other towns or cities in Massachusetts to either temporarily or outright ban the software. These communities include Brookline, Cambridge, Northampton, Somerville and, most recently, Springfield.

The city of Easthampton is also poised to vote on a face surveillance ban July 1, according to the ACLU of Massachusetts.

The organization has spearheaded efforts to get towns and cities across the community to ban facial recognition software locally, as legislation restricting technology at both the state and federal levels is absent.

The ACLU of Massachusetts launched a campaign last summer called Press Pause on Face Surveillance to raise awareness about the civil liberty concerns posed by face surveillance and the need to control the governments use of the technology.

A statewide moratorium on facial recognition technology and other forms of biometric surveillance is being considered in the Massachusetts State Houses Joint Committee on the Judiciary, though it is unclear when or even if such a bill will be passed. The bill received an extension until the end of the committees session

The ACLU-backed bill would ban governmental use of face surveillance and other remote biometric screening technologies until the legislature imposes checks and balances, with the aim of protecting the publics interest, according to the organization.

Now that Bostons ordinance restricting the software has passed, the ACLU of Massachusetts will turn its attention to getting the statewide moratorium pushed through Beacon Hill, Crockford noted.

We want this bill to move before the end of the session, she said. Were going to be pouring all of our energy into ensuring that happens.

Bostons ordinance was sponsored by City Councilors Michelle Wu and Ricardo Arroya, who introduced the bill in May. In a press conference in early June, they discussed the dangers the software poses to members of the public, particularly people of color.

While face surveillance is a danger to all people, no matter the color of their skin, the technology is a particularly serious threat to Black and brown people, Arroya said in a statement this week. Especially now, as communities are demanding real change from their elected officials, we need to proactively ensure that we do not invest in technology that studies show is ineffective and furthers systemic racism.

Advocates, politicians and even some members of law enforcement have pointed out the technology is racist, as it frequently misidentifies Black individuals and has a far higher success rate in identifying white people.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Joy Buolamwini, the creator of MITs Algorithmic Justice League, discovered shocking and persistent racial bias problems in facial recognition algorithms, Crockford said.

Arroyo also noted that Buolamwini, in her research, discovered Black women were 35% more likely than white men to be misclassified by face surveillance.

The city councilor reemphasized his concerns about the softwares biases at Wednesdays meeting. He also thanked Boston police for opting not to use the technology.

This is a technology that puts Bostonians frankly at risk for misidentifications, for systemic racism, he said during the session.

The softwares inaccuracies were also discussed during a city council hearing earlier this month in which officials heard testimony from Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, members of the ACLU, the Boston Teachers Union and many other organizations, according to City Councilor Lydia Edwards.

The committee learned and discussed that the Boston Police Department does not - does not - use facial recognition technology, because it is not reliable and does not meet the standards of the Boston Police Department, Edwards said at Wednesdays meeting.

The communitys ban restricts Boston and any city officials from using facial recognition technology. It also prohibits officials from entering into third-party agreements to obtain the biometric surveillance software.

Exemptions to the prohibition can be made when seeking evidence related to the investigation of a specific crime and when officials need to gain access to an electronic device for evidentiary purposes.

Boston should not use racially discriminatory technology that threatens the privacy and basic rights of our residents, Wu said in a statement. This ordinance codifies our values that community trust is the foundation for public safety and public health.

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In a series of media interviews today, Ford Philippines President, PK Umashankar personally walked us through some of the important details of the returning model. And let's start with the variants and prices:

After a 2-decade hiatus, Ford Philippines has finally relaunched one of their proudest models yet: the Ford F-150, a pick-up that frankly requires little introduction.

2020 Ford F-150 4x4 Platinum Super Crew 3.5L EcoBoost: PhP 2,998,000

As you can see, the F-150 will be priced at PhP 2,698,000 for the Lariat variant with a sport package already fitted as standard. The unit that Umashankar showed us is finished in red. All Lariats will be the 4-door Super Crew model.

The other variant is the top-of-the-line F-150 Platinum, which will retail for PhP 2,998,000. Like the Lariat, this will be a Super Crew model, albeit with significantly more chrome.

All F-150 will have the 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost twin-turbo engine with 387 PS, as well as a 10-speed automatic. The only difference in terms of the powertrain is the drive wheels: the Lariat will be rear-wheel drive, while the Platinum will be a 4x4.

There is one pertinent question though: Why no F-150 Raptor?

The F-150 became particularly popular worldwide thanks to the F-150 Raptor, a high-performance model that showed the capabilities of the pick-up on challenging desert terrain. The model proved to be such a hit that Ford developed a Raptor model based on the global Ranger pick-up truck, given that the F-150 was mostly a U.S. market truck.

But Umashankar said that the Raptor may come at a later time, but right now they won't offer it. He did, however, mention that the Ranger Raptor's success in the Philippines finally convinced Ford to bring back the F-150.

The confidence of the Philippine market to buy into a lifestyle reinforced the idea that F-150 could really work for us here, said PK Umashankar, Ford Philippines President. Of course besides all this, there is a great fan following of F-150 here in the Philippines. I do get mails from customers directly asking me: Can you import an F-150 for me? Can you help me with that? When is the F-150 coming?

That enthusiasm of the brand is continuously there, reinforced by the Raptor acceptance here, gave us the confidence to bring the product again.

There are rumors circulating amongst Ford's dealers that the F-150 will have problems with supplies and that it will be offered in limited numbers. Umashankar said that unless reception is surprisingly strong, they shouldn't have a problem with supplies; it will just be a matter of ordering and waiting for these U.S. made trucks to arrive.

The only problem Ford Philippines currently faces with the F-150 (apart from the economic effects of the pandemic) is the timing. The launch of the 2020 model in the Philippine market is far too close for comfort to the world (well, U.S.) premiere of the new generation/redesigned 2021 F-150 in a few days' time.

We were originally planning our launch in the month of March, as you would know. Because of the setting that we are in right now, we had to push down the launch 3 months, and we got very close to the North American 2021 model reveal.
One of the things I always tell kids is how important it is to speak up, even if it feels like a small thing, because you dont know what ripple effects that will have, she said. Even if the person youre speaking to doesnt change their mind, someone might overhear you and that can cause a ripple effect.
MUSKEGON, MI - MUSKEGON, MI - Later this fall, murals will adorn a rusty railway bridge spanning Seaway Drive, and more are planned later for another similar bridge.

The murals are part of an ongoing arts initiative that is planning several pieces of sculpture in the coming months.

Cleaning and coating work will take place on the railroad overpass in August, and a mural is expected to be added to it in September or October, Muskegon Public Works Director Leo Evans told MLive.

The bridges have been considered an unwelcome sight along the main entry point into Muskegon.

The Muskegon City Public Art Initiative will receive and assess mural proposals from artists. It is the same group that is pursuing a fundraising campaign which was announced last week for an abstract sculpture to be placed at the center of a new roundabout at Pere Marquette beach.

The same group is soliciting proposals for sculptures to go outside the new Muskegon County Convention Center.

And a monumental sculpture commemorating Muskegons history as a lumber producer will be installed at Heritage Landing next week, according to Judith Hayner, project manager for the Muskegon City Public Art Initiative.

Before getting the murals, the railway bridge on Seaway Drive, between Laketon and Hackley avenues, will undergo a $68,385 cleaning and restoration process, according to Leo Evans, the citys director of public works.

In February, the Muskegon City Commission approved that price tag, which will go to Seaway Painting, a Livonia-based industrial painting company, to clean and paint the bridge, which is owned by CSX Transportation. At a commission meeting on June 9, the city approved a notice to proceed with that work.

The funds for that work will come from the citys public improvement budget in conjunction with a private fundraising campaign, Evans told MLive.

Following that fundraising campaign, the city is expected to contribute $10,000 to $15,000 towards the project, according to minutes from the June 9 commission meeting.

The city may also provide in-kind support during the cleaning and coating process, such as traffic control, and it may donate those resources during mural installation as well, Evans said.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will also reimburse some portion of traffic control costs, using state trunkline funds, according to city documents.

Another bridge, farther south on Seaway and spanning the cities of Muskegon Heights and Norton Shores between Sherman Boulevard and Broadway Avenue, is also due for renewal, according to Jerry Wiersma, a member of the Muskegon Rotary, which has advocated for this project and is taking a lead on fundraising.

Wiersma told Muskegon city commissioners in February that getting all those government entities together, as well as MDOT and CSX, took a lot of luck and almost an act of God.

But that project is not yet moving forward, Hayner told MLive. Still, her request for proposals from artists includes both railway bridges.

The goal is to commission four artists total, two per bridge, she said. Although the southern bridge may not be ready until at least next spring, Hayner said that having committed artists may generate some readiness on the part of the cities of Norton Shores and Muskegon Heights to push their bridge renewal projects forward.

The call for artists went out in April, and the deadline for submissions is this Friday, Hayner added. Artists were solicited locally, regionally, and statewide.

So far, Hayner has received no applications, but we are all in adjusted time delivery mode, she joked, adding that she expects to receive submissions closer to the deadline.

The organization led by Hayner, the former director of the Muskegon Museum of Art, aims to install 10 new monumental works of art throughout the city of Muskegon. The first such project was Moxie and the Mastodons on the Loose series downtown, anchored at the Lakeshore Museum Center, 430 W Clay Ave.

At the end of the month, the initiatives second project, the lumber-themed sculpture, titled A City Built on Timber, will be installed at Heritage Landing. It is being designed and created by Detroit-based artists Israel and Erik Nordin, after a public request-for-proposals process, similar to the one that landed the upcoming Pere Marquette Park sculpture.

The initiative is also looking to install art at the upcoming convention center, on Fourth Street between West Western Avenue and Shoreline Drive, in partnership with the Womens Division of the Chamber of Commerce.

The arts initiative is part of the broader Downtown Arts Committee, which has installed several hundred thousand dollars worth of public art throughout downtown Muskegon since its formation in 2005, Hayner told MLive.

Several hundred thousand dollars, largely from private donors and philanthropists, have gone towards installing public art, Hayner said. Such works include an abstract depiction of a schooner at the traffic circle between the Shoreline Inn/Lake House and the Terrace Point subdivision on Muskegon Lake, installed in 2016; the snurfer, or Turning Point, commemorating the snowboards local ancestor, at 477 W. Western Ave., across the street from the L.C. Walker Arena, installed in 2012; and, perhaps most famously, the Muskegon, Together Rising sculpture at the traffic circle on Western Avenue and Third Street, installed in 2008.

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Local Eats: Community buoys Kuntry Cookin in downtown Muskegon

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Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central constituency in the Central Region, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, has picked the Education Minister, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, as the favorite and best performing minister in President Akufo-Addos government.

He said for the minister to survive at the controversial ministry for almost four years without demonstrations from teacher unions, TUC among others, speaks volumes of his competency and hard work to deserve the honor as the best Minister.

The controversial legislator made the revelation during an interview on Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV, on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, hosted by Paul Adom Otchere.

President Akufo Addo, the vice president, Finance Minister and the Governor of Bank of Ghana have all done well for the country. But am saying that the Finance Ministry is not as controversial as the Education Ministry, so for the guy (NAPO) to have survived without demonstrations and everything from teachers, TUCs.oh the guy is good, he praises NAPO.

In buttressing his choice of the Manhyia South constituency MP, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong also revealed that most supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) picked NAPO as their favorite and best performing minister during his interactions with them.

Wherever I go, the party people name NAPO as the best performing and favorite minister. They say he takes good care of them and respect them, he emphasized.

He was full of admiration for the legislator for the smooth implementation of the Free Senior High School policy, the number one flagship programme for the Nana Akufo Addo led government.

In June 2019, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh was ranked the best performing Minister in the Government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a survey conducted by the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana.

He topped the list of best performing ministers on the basis of policy and delivery, competency and hard work.

His feats include the successful implementation of the popular Free SHS policy and Teacher First Policy.

The Manhyia South constituency MP was declared unopposed by the constituency delegates at the just ended NPP parliamentary primaries for his selfless commitment to the development of the constituents.
Political newcomer Madison Cawthorn breezed past President Donald Trumps pick for Mark Meadows' seat in Congress in a two-person GOP runoff election on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Henderson County Republican roundly defeated Haywood Countys Lynda Bennett in the primary runoff for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District.

I do not believe this election has been a referendum on the presidents influence, Cawthorn wrote in a statement on election night. The people of western North Carolina are wise and discerning. You observed both candidates and simply made the choice you believed is best for our district.

Cawthorn won roughly two-thirds of the vote over Bennett, who received the backing of the president in a June tweet.

Please let this serve as my Complete and Total Endorsement of a great fighter and ally in North Carolina, Trump's June 4 message said, using Bennett's Twitter handle. She is strong on Crime, Borders, Military, our Great Vets & 2A. She will be a great help to me in DC.

Related: With second primary underway, Cawthorn addresses voting in-person, by mail options

The real estate investor and motivational speaker will now face off against Democratic candidate and retired U.S Air Force colonel Moe Davis in a district spanning 18 Western North Carolina counties.

Madison Cawthorn

An 'inspiring' candidate story

Cawthorn's victory is the latest triumph in a personal biography that captured the attention of voters.

Meg Climo of the Walnut community in Madison County said she found Cawthorn's message and story "inspiring."

I believe he will do what hes wanting to do, she said after casting her ballot on Election Day in Marshall.

Cawthorn won all but one of the counties that were fully reported as of 10 p.m. Bennett won in Rutherford County, taking nearly 65% of the vote. Cawthorn won the other counties by comfortable margins, except in Clay and Swain, where he won by three and five votes, respectively. Vote totals are not official until the canvass next week.

Story continues

In Transylvania County, Cawthorn received 1,611 votes to Bennetts 809; 12.8% of the countys eligible voters, or 2,424 of 18,862 people, cast ballots in the runoff.

In Polk County, he took 786 votes to Bennetts 457. About 10.9% of the countys eligible voters, or 1,248 of 11,455 people, cast ballots.

Cawthorn, who would reach the constitutionally-mandated age of 25 to serve in the House in August, was paralyzed from the abdomen down after a 2014 car accident.

Homeschooled in Hendersonville, he planned to head to the U.S. Naval Academy before the accident left him partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair. To Cawthorn, the experience allows him to connect naturally with voters, he told the Asheville Citizen Times, which is part of the USA TODAY Network, back in January.

Ive been through adversity, he said. I have empathy. I know what suffering people go though, I care about others and will work in Washington to get government out of the way so they can take care of themselves.

Defeating Trump, Meadows' pick

Priscilla and Roger Cawthorn sit with their son, Madison, 23, on the front porch of their home in Flat Rock. The family enjoys spending time together outside on the covered porch.

Although Haywood Countys Lynda Bennett secured the most votes in the March Republican primary, she was more than 7 percentage points shy of the 30 percent threshold to clear a primary victory.

Meadows announced late during Decembers candidate filing period he wouldnt seek reelection and endorsed Bennett, a real estate company owner and friend of Meadows wife.

Bennett had received the presidents backing on Twitter and the earlier endorsement of Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, among other GOP heavyweights.

Cawthorn called for the runoff after he finished second to Bennett in a 12-candidate primary in early March. The scheduled May runoff was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cawthorn, who also described himself as a strong Trump supporter, attempted to reframe Bennetts endorsements, saying he wouldnt be beholden to anyone in Washington if he reached Congress. But his campaign also got help from a super PAC that backs candidates allied with Sen. Rand Paul.

With voters worried about the pandemics spread, mail-in absentee ballots were popular in the 17 mountain counties within the 11th District leading up to the runoff.

Early in-person voting sites were open and election day precincts in several of the districts 17 counties were consolidated mostly to address social distancing challenges. Poll workers wore face masks and provided voters single-use pens and cotton swabs to mark ballots.

Contributed: The Associated Press and Henderson Times-News

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Political newcomer upsets Trump pick in North Carolina GOP primary
A second group of French medics has arrived in Armenia to help local healthcare workers cope with the continuing coronavirus epidemic.

The Armenian Ministry of Health said the 9-strong group led by Laurent Papazian, a senior doctor from a hospital in Marseille, includes anesthesiologists, intensive-care specialists and nurses that have treated COVID-19 patients in France for the last few months. It said they will replace the first French medical team that arrived in the country on June 14.

The medics were deployed to Yerevans Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center, Armenias largest hospital treating COVID-19 patients, on Wednesday morning at the start of their two-week mission financed by the French Foreign Ministry.

One of them, Hayk Vartanian, told reporters that he looks forward to sharing his coronavirus-related experience with Armenian colleagues.

We had the same situation [in France] in the second half of March, said Vartanian, who was born in Armenia and has lived in France for the last 26 years.

The Armenian government imposed a nationwide lockdown at around the same time. It began easing restrictions on peoples movements and business activity already in mid-April.

Vartanian suggested that this is one of the reasons why the virus is continuing to spread across Armenia. He said infection rates in the country remain high also because many Armenians still do not take the potentially deadly disease seriously.

It is very important that people wear masks, regularly wash hands and follow other rules, added the Paris-based doctor. This is the only way to stop the spread of the virus.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and other senior officials make such appeals to the population on a virtually daily basis.

Two other medical teams came to Armenia from Russia and Lithuania late last week. They brought medical equipment and supplies donated to the Armenian health authorities fighting the epidemic.

Armenia is one of the worst hit countries in the region, having reported 21,717 coronavirus cases as of Wednesday morning. The Ministry of Health registered 711 of those cases on Tuesday.

The ministry also reported the deaths of 18 more people infected with COVID-19. It said four of them died primarily because of other, pre-existing conditions. The total number of such fatalities thus rose to 130.

This figure is not included in the official death toll from COVID-19 which stands at 386.
More than half the member states sign statement defending role of international body after unprecedented move by US.

Sixty-seven member states of the International Criminal Court have thrown their support behind the body, after an unprecedented US move to impose sanctions on its staff.

In a joint statement drafted by Costa Rica and Switzerland, more than half of the 123 of the ICCs members showed their unwavering support for the tribunal and the Rome Statute that created it, according to Judge O-Gon Kwon, who is president of the Assembly of States Parties and represents South Korea.

We reconfirm our unwavering support for the court as an independent and impartial judicial institution, the statement said. Kwon is a noted jurist best known for being one of the judges in the war crimes trial of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic

The Hague-based ICC is an integral part of the international judicial order and a central institution in the fight against impunity, the statement added.

The signatories include Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Tunisia.





US President Donald Trumps administration has said it opposes the ICC because it fears what it calls politically-motivated prosecutions of the US and its ally, Israel. The US does not recognise the court.

Two weeks ago, Trump signed an executive order authorising the blocking of assets and travel restrictions against ICC employees involved in an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan by US forces.

67 States Parties joined the statement today to show unwavering support for the Court and the Rome Statute system. Thank Costa Rica and Switzerland for their initiative! pic.twitter.com/G07Kk850nZ  O-Gon Kwon (@ICC_PASP) June 23, 2020

US move unacceptable

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda wants to investigate possible crimes committed between 2003 and 2014, including alleged mass killings of civilians by Taliban fighters, as well as the alleged torture of prisoners by Afghan authorities and, to a lesser extent, by US forces and the CIA.

The ICC investigation was given the go-ahead in March.

The ICC has been faced with unprecedented attacks by several member countries in recent years. Bensouda was also targeted by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for her role in investigating extrajudicial killings allegedly linked to the almost four-year war on drugs.

Duterte later announced the withdrawal of the Philippines from the international body.





In announcing Trumps executive order, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: We cannot, we will not stand by as our people are threatened by a kangaroo court.

Richard Dicker, international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said the joint statement sends the crucial message that ICC member states have the courts back and will not be cowed in their commitment to seeing justice.

This statement is highly significant because ICC member states globally, including key US allies, are speaking up.

Earlier, Josep Borrell, the European Unions top diplomat, condemned the US decision as unacceptable and unprecedented in scope and content.

At a time when the rules-based international order is facing increased pressure, the strengthening of the international criminal justice system is more important than ever.

The ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity when perpetrators might not otherwise face justice. It is a court of last resort, stepping in only when a state is unable or unwilling to prosecute grave crimes.

Currently, 123 states across the world recognise its jurisdiction.
War Crimes Prosecutor Indicts Kosovo President Thaci

PRISTINAA special prosecutors office dealing with Kosovos 1998-99 uprising against Serbian rule said on June 24 that it had indicted Kosovo President Hashim Thaci for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity including nearly 100 murders.

The Specialist Chamber was set up in The Hague in 2015 to handle cases of alleged crimes by Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) guerrillas during the war that led to Kosovos independence from Serbia a decade later.

The indictment is the result of a lengthy investigation and reflects the SPOs (Special Prosecutors Office) determination that it can prove all of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, the SPO said in a statement.

It said others had also been indicted including Kadri Veseli, a former speaker of Kosovos parliament. Thaci and Veseli, both ex-top commanders in the KLA, have previously denied involvement in any war crimes during the late 1990s conflict. The SPO gave no details of the alleged war crimes.

It also said Thaci and Veseli were believed to have carried out a secret campaign to overturn the law that created the Court and otherwise obstruct the work of the Court in an attempt to ensure that they do not face justice.

There was no immediate reaction from Thaci. But his office said later on Wednesday he had cancelled a trip to the White House in Washington for a planned first round of U.S.-mediated talks with Serbia on normalizing relationsamong conditions the European Union has set for either country to join the bloc.

The Specialist Chamber is governed by Kosovo law, but is staffed by international judges and prosecutors.

War crimes allegations against the KLA first surfaced in a 2011 report by the Council of Europe rights agency that accused guerrillas of killing civilian Serbs and ethnic Albanian political opponents during the 1998-99 conflict.

Local efforts to investigate alleged KLA war crimes have so far been foiled by widespread intimidation in the tiny state where clan loyalties run deep and former rebels are lionized.

The special prosecutors office is based in the Netherlands partly to help ensure protection of witnesses.

By Fatos Bytyci
A former film actor was today jailed for carrying two knives on the street after his life spiralled out of control due to drink, drugs and mental health problems.

Jason Hoganson, who appeared in 1987 movie Empire State with US star Martin Landau, racked up more than 95 convictions, and had only been out of prison for three months when he was caught waving a knife at someone in Newcastle.

The 49-year-old, who already had four past offences for weapons possession on his record, was searched and found with two blades in his backpack, with officers rejecting his excuse that he was taking them to his mother to use in the kitchen.

Jason Hoganson, who appeared in 1987 movie Empire State, has racked up more than 95 convictions. He is seen on the left around the time he starred in the film and right in a recent mugshot

Hoganson, of Benwell, was due to appear at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court today but was kept in his cell because of self-harm issues.

His solicitor, Mark Harrison, entered guilty pleas to two counts of possession of a bladed article on his behalf.

Prosecuting, Glenda Beck, told magistrates that the police were called to West Road in Newcastle on Monday, June 22, after reports of a male 'brandishing a knife'.

She said: 'A description had been passed to the officers and the defendant was seen and matched the description.

'When arrested, he was searched and one large kitchen knife and one small kitchen knife were located.'

During interview, Hoganson claimed he had a lawful reason to be carrying the kitchen knives as he was taking them to his mother for her to use with her cooking.

Mr Harrison said Hoganson maintained that excuse but accepted he needed to be much more 'wary' about carrying blades.

After auditioning more than 100 teenage hopefuls, producers offered Hoganson the part of Geordie drifter Pete, and he starred alongside Irish actor Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and US star Martin Landau. Pictured is a scene from the film

The solicitor added: 'There's no suggestion the knives were being used or brandished in dangerous circumstances.

'While there's evidence to suggest someone was brandishing a knife, there's no evidence to suggest that it was him.'

Hoganson was jailed for 40 weeks and must pay 85 costs and a 156 victim surcharge.

Hoganson was jailed for 40 weeks and must pay 85 costs and a 156 victim surcharge. He's seen in an undated image

In an interview in 2012, Hoganson revealed he had lost contact with his family and was living on the streets due to his drink and drug problems.

'I'm like the black sheep,' he said. 'My mum has done everything for me, she's a really lovely woman, but my family have had enough and I don't blame them.

'I can't keep putting them through this.'

Trouble began from an early age and at 13-years-old he was taken into care when his mother Maureen was no longer to cope with his erratic behaviour.

'I was put into care when I was 13 because of my behaviour,' he said.

'I was just part of the gang in Elswick and used to follow the crowd, and that's how I got into trouble.'

His chance to turn his life around came in 1987 when the producers of the low-budget film contacted his drama teacher looking for Geordie actors for a part in Empire State, a gritty drama set in 1980s London.

After auditioning more than 100 teenage hopefuls, producers offered Hoganson the part of Geordie drifter Pete, and he starred alongside Irish actor Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and US star Martin Landau.

But as his acting career started to take off, his personal life was in tatters and he succumbed to a life of crime.
(Newser)  Arizona on Tuesday saw a record high of 3,591 new coronavirus cases and a surge in the number of hospitalizations for patients thought to have the virus, in the wake of having lifted its stay-at-home order in May. Data from the state's Department of Health Services shows 83% of beds in Arizona hospitals are filled, with 84% of the beds in ICUs occupied. "Each day I've been going into work over the last month is worse, and what I mean by worse is ... just overwhelmed with COVID patients," a doctor who works in several health systems in the state tells NBC News. "Everything that's happening for us is in the wrong direction." It's not alone: Arizona is one of seven states to see new highs for COVID-19 hospitalizations, with the Washington Post reporting that Arkansas, California, both Carolinas, Tennessee, and Texas are also suffering in this regard.

story continues below

Meanwhile, CNN reports that, per data from Johns Hopkins University, at least 26 states are seeing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases compared to the previous week (see list here). On Tuesday, California and Texas each saw more than 5,000 new cases of COVID-19 over 24 hours, with the latter state hearing a new warning from its governor, who says residents aren't taking the threat of the illness seriously enough. "COVID-19 is now spreading at an unacceptable rate in Texas, and it must be corralled," Greg Abbott said Monday, per NBC. Via KBTX, he issued a reminder Tuesday for residents to continue social distancing, wearing face masks, and washing their hands, and that "unless you do need to go out, the safest place for you is at your home." Many Texas Democrats are blaming the state's current status on Abbott's "failure to lead." More here on that. (Read more coronavirus stories.)
Leaders at the Glen Mills Schools failed to comply with child-abuse laws while lacking policies and training related to reporting abuse, according to a new report from the state auditor general.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale will say Wednesday that a review of background checks, training logs, and policies at the now-shuttered reformatory revealed lapses and inconsistencies that put children in danger.

There is no excuse for abuse under any circumstances, and thats especially true in a facility that is supposed to help troubled youth get back on track, DePasquale said in a statement. My audit shows the Glen Mills Schools administrators and staff failed to protect the students in their charge.

The auditor generals office is one of several agencies that pledged to investigate Glen Mills last year, following an Inquirer report documenting decades of violent abuse and cover-ups at the Delaware County school for court-ordered boys.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), which oversees and licenses juvenile-justice programs, concluded its own investigation in April 2019, revoking Glen Mills 14 licenses and effectively closing the nations oldest reform school.

But with Glen Mills appealing the decision  a hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3  the auditor general and other agencies investigating the campus said their work would continue. Officials with the Office of the State Inspector General and the Delaware County District Attorneys Office said Monday that their examinations of Glen Mills are ongoing.

The auditor generals 95-page report found that Glen Mills did not ensure that its employees had the required background clearances and abuse-prevention training they needed to work with children in Pennsylvania. For example, leaders allowed four new hires to work with students even though they did not obtain their federal background clearances within the required window.

In other cases, the auditor generals staff said, they had little faith in the records kept by Glen Mills. State law requires residential care programs like Glen Mills to provide 40 hours of training every year for employees. While school records indicated this was occurring, an automated computer program was adding an hour each week to staffers logs, on the unchecked assumption that they had received some kind of training from their supervisors. Meanwhile, new staff were told to sign that they had completed a three-week orientation on their first day at work.

When it came to physical abuse, the auditor general found that Glen Mills leaders failed to explain to students that every staff member was a mandatory reporter, a person required by Pennsylvania law to report even a suspicion of child abuse to state officials. Additionally, the schools handbook and other documents did not clarify that abuse reports must be handled separately from the schools grievance procedure, which requires multiple layers before complaints reach top officials and people outside the school.

Moving forward, if GMSs licenses are reinstated to allow students to be placed at GMS, GMS needs to be fully transparent with staff, students and parents as to the process for reporting abuse and promoting a culture that will not only prevent abuse from happening but also ensure that incidents of abuse will be investigated, the audit notes.

 READ MORE: Gov. Tom Wolf orders state overhaul after abuses at Glen Mills Schools

In its official response, Glen Mills leaders told DePasquales staff they agreed with the broader findings. They said they would create policies and amend others, such as making it clear that staffers who report physical abuse would not be retaliated against by school officials.

We have fully embraced the need to improve our practices related to clearances, background checks, and training compliance as we look to restore public confidence in our organization, said Carolyn Seagraves, president of the Glen Mills Board of Trustees, in a letter to the auditor general. As you can see in our response, we are making systemic changes to address the findings and to move our organization forward.

Glen Mills leaders highlighted promises made in recent months to deploy a trauma-informed approach, and to forbid the use of physical restraints. But school leaders were also defensive, citing statistics that favored the school and ignoring clerical errors the auditor general raised with those numbers. Glen Mills also pushed back against the auditor generals assertion that spotty background checks put children in harms way.

Although it is our understanding that this language is standard for performance audits related to schools, GMS does not believe there is any evidence to suggest that any students were potentially put at risk of harm as the result of missing background checks, Glen Mills leaders told the auditor general.

They also repeatedly referenced new administration; a spokesman for Glen Mills said this referred to both Seagraves and Christopher Spriggs, the schools acting executive director.

Neither leader is especially new to Glen Mills. Prior to being named president last year, Seagraves had served on the trustee board for 15 years, the last six of which she had been the vice president. Her predecessor resigned last year, citing business and personal reasons, one week after The Inquirer investigation was published.

Spriggs, the acting director, has worked at Glen Mills for 26 years. Previously, as the director of regulatory compliance, he was charged with ensuring the school adhered to licensing rules it has since been found to have been afoul of, including those concerning the training and background checks of staff, and the protection of students from abuse.

In a statement, Spriggs said the school shares the same goal of 100% compliance as the auditor general. He echoed Seagraves comments about restoring public trust.

 READ MORE: Nobody listened: How Pa. failed to detect, stop abuse at Glen Mills and other schools

In addition to the investigations by the state inspector general and the district attorney, Glen Mills continues to face lawsuits brought by former students alleging abuse on campus. Attorneys say that more than 700 of these men have retained counsel and are expecting to file soon; a Philadelphia judge agreed last week to consolidate the litigation into a mass tort.

Two class-action lawsuits on behalf of recent students also recently got the go-ahead to move forward, despite attempts to dismiss them.
Walmart has come under fire for selling All Lives Matter T-shirts and Blue Lives Matter T-shirts amid protests calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality against the black community.

The All Lives Matter items sold on the store's US website are advertised by a company called Old Glory. A company called New Way sells merchandise for the police solidarity Blue Lives Matter movement. Walmart also sells an array of Black Lives Matter clothing as well.

Critics blasted the company saying selling such controversial items detracts from the Black Lives Matter movement.

One customer in Canada called out Walmart on Twitter writing: Are you kidding me  @Walmartcanada ??? Disgusting. Do better.'

Walmart has come under fire for selling All Lives Matter T-shirts and Blue Lives Matter T-shirts amid protests calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality against black people

Walmart's US website features an array of All Lives Matter T-shirts for sale averaging at the price of $15 each

A company called New Way also sells Blue Lives Matter items on the Walmart website

One outraged customer complained in a product review on the Walmart website writing: 'Will you also be selling white robes & hoods? I dont even like giving this a single star rating. Grotesque. Despicable. Stop enabling racism.'

'This is so disappointing. And yet... Im not surprised,' one Twitter user complained.

'Even if they remove it I'm done with Walmart. They should absolutely know better and clearly support racism and probably sell dog whistles with confederate flags on em too,' another added.

Walmart USA is yet to comment on the merchandise.

Walmart Canada replied saying: 'This item is sold and shipped by a third party seller. We've forwarded your comments to the appropriate department to look into further. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.'

'We stand against any form of racism or discrimination. We promote listening, seeking to understand and embracing individual differences,' Walmart said in a statement

One customer in Canada called out Walmart on Twitter writing: Are you kidding me  @Walmartcanada ??? Disgusting. Do better.'

Walmart replied saying the criticism has been forwarded for further evaluation

'We stand against any form of racism or discrimination. We promote listening, seeking to understand and embracing individual differences,' the company added.

On the US website a third party company named Trendy USA sells counterpoint 'All Lives Matter?' T-shifts with the tagline 'If All Lives Really Mattered to You, We Wouldnt Be Protesting. BlackLivesMatter'.

Walmart's website also says an array of merchandise supporting the Black Lives Matter movement including T-shirts with the phrase, tops saying 'I Can't Breathe', and face masks.

As of Wednesday afternoon the White Lives and Blue Lives matter merchandise were still available.

Backlash: This customer declared they're done shopping at Walmart for selling that merch

Walmart's website also says an array of merchandise supporting the Black Lives Matter movement including T-shirts with the phrase, tops saying 'I Can't Breathe', and face masks

Walmart had previously released statements amid protests sweeping across the country saying it is 'taking steps to address racism head-on and accelerate change.'

The protests were prompted by the brutal police killing of African American man George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25 where a white cop was filmed pressing his knee into Floyd's neck for nearly nine excruciating minutes.

Walmart has committed $100million towards a center for racial equity and promised to 'address systemic racism in society'.

'The doors of Walmart are open to everyone. Our stores should be a place where every individual can feel welcome and know that they will be treated with respect as they work or shop,' the store said in a statement on June 5.

Also this week the retailer announced it will stop displaying the Mississippi state flag in its 85 stores there because the banner includes the Confederate battle flag, following complaints.

'We know the design of the Mississippi state flag is being discussed by various stakeholders. While the issue continues to be discussed, we've made the decision to remove the Mississippi state flag from display in its current form from our stores,' the store said to CNN.
The Supreme Court will on Thursday June 25, deliver judgement on the consolidated writs issued by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and one Mark Tekyi-Benson challenging the Electoral Commission's refusal to accept existing voters ID Cards as requirements for the upcoming voters Registration exercise.



The Supreme Court (SC) fixed the date for judgment after it had heard various submissions of respective counsels in the matter.



Meanwhile the seven member panel has dismissed an Amicus brief filed by IMANI Ghana and other Civil Society Organizations saying their application to be joined to the suit was not supported by law.



The court had quizzed Mr Joe Aboagye Debrah, counsel for IMANI and other CSOs, for waiting over three months before joining in the suit.



According to the SC, the CSO's were not being neutral in the matter and they have also introduced new issues in the suit.



The SC noted that reliefs being sought by the CSOs were virtually the same and wondered why counsel for the CSOs did not read them before filing an application for Amicus brief in court.



Mr Debrah argued that the CSOs were not introducing new issues in the matter and they were providing some assistance to the court.



According to him, they were offering assistance to court to ensure that majority of citizens were not disenfranchised.



Mr Debrah admitted that he had not read the suits and the reliefs being sought, but only gone through the affidavit.



Mr Godwin Edudzi Tamaklo, counsel for the NDC, recounted that the issues raised by Takyi-Benson seem to undermine the Party's case.



Mr Cosmas Apengnuo, counsel for Benson, argued that birth certificate should be part of the requirements for the Voters Registration, because the birth certificate identified citizens with the dates of birth and parentage.



Mr Justine Amenuvor, counsel for the EC, opposed to the filing of application for Amicus brief, saying he has therefore filed an affidavit in opposition.



Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, Deputy Attorney General, recalled that out of 15 million people, 12 million could not provide any form of identification before they were registered.



The National Democratic Congress (NDC) had gone to the court challenging the EC over its refusal to accept the old Voters ID cards as part of the requirements in the upcoming Voter Registration Exercise.



Later one Mark Takyi -Benson also filed a similar suit at the Supreme Court, indicating that birth certificates should be accepted as requirements for the new Voters Registration Exercise.



It is the case of the NDC that a new voters register will deprive many Ghanaians the right to vote in the polls, if the existing Voters ID card is rejected. The EC has however registered its disagreement on the contention of the NDC.



In its suit, the NDC argued that that the EC lacked the power to go ahead with its plans because it can only compile a register of voters only once, and thereafter revise it periodically, as may be determined by law.



The EC among others had argued that the old Voters ID card were obtained under three different Constitutional Instrument: CI 12, CI 72 and CI 91.



In its supplementary statement of case, the EC said it had placed before Parliament a Constitutional Instrument that did not include the use of the existing Voters ID Cards.





Source: GNA









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The tension between India and China after the deadliest border clash in more than half a century, which left 20 Indian Army soldiers dead in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh last week, is still simmering.

Both the countries have held several meetings to resolve the confrontation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Another meeting will take place on Wednesday.

Here are the latest updates on the border row:

* Members of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC) will meet and attempt to resolve the stand-off at four points in east Ladakh.

* During the joint secretary-level WMCC meeting, the Indian side will have maps and charts ready and revoke to old treaties to make their point about how the claim by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) on the border is wrong and why the status quo ante must be restored for a strong bilateral relationship.

* Indian Army chief General MM Naravane, who is on a two-day visit to Ladakh, will go to forward locations in the eastern Ladakh area on Wednesday, according to news agency ANI. Gen Naravane will also interact with troops on the ground there, ANI reported.

* ANI has also reported, citing US intelligence assessment, that a senior Chinese general authorised his forces to attack Indian troops in the Galwan River valley last week, resulting in a brutal skirmish that killed dozens and dramatically escalated tensions between the two neighbours.

* Before Wednesdays talks, an 11-hour meeting between top commanders at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC was held on Monday to cool tensions and thin the military build-up on both sides of the border. Indian and Chinese military commanders reached a mutual consensus to disengage from all friction areas along the contested LAC.

* Experts have said that the restoration of status quo in the Finger Area on the north bank of Ladakhs Pangong Tso will determine the success of efforts to cool tensions along the contested border.

* 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.

* India has increased technical drone surveillance of the area and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has inducted more battalions into the sector to support army along the LAC.

* India has also deployed its specialised high-altitude forces along LAC to repel any transgression in the western, middle or eastern sectors, officials have said.

* The violent face-off in the Galwan Valley 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 spokesperson on Tuesday dismissed such reports as fake news.

* 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.
(Natural News) Officials confirmed last week that Brazil has passed one million coronavirus cases, making it the second country  after the U.S.  to reach the grim milestone. To note, the U.S. still leads in global caseload, reaching two million infections early this month.

The Ministry of Health also reported a record of 54,771 new cases on Friday, which the ministry attributed to system corrections in some states. Brazils total caseload is now at 1,106,470 as of June 22, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

According to public health experts, the upswing in new cases is linked to reopenings and social distancing measures being lifted. In Rio de Janeiro, people flocked the citys famous beaches over the weekend, with many neither wearing masks nor practicing social distancing. The city, as well as its eponymous state, has 97,572 cases and 8,933 deaths  among the highest in the country.

Pandemic shows no signs of stopping

With 654 new deaths reported Monday, Brazils death toll has risen to more than 50,000. Based on the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Brazil is on track to overtake the U.S. as the country with the worlds deadliest outbreak by the end of summer.

The latest estimates from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) indicate that Brazil will top 1.3 million cases by the end of the month. In addition, the PUC-Rio model predicts that total deaths will reach 57,000 during the same period.

Public health experts also believe that Brazils actual caseload could be up to seven times higher than the official numbers. To note, the country has a testing rate of 11,814 per million people  the lowest, next to India, among the 10 worst-hit nations in the world. In comparison, the U.S. has a testing rate of 87,706 per million, and Russia  which ranks third  has a rate of 120,074 per million.

Political infighting has further complicated Brazils response to the pandemic. Despite the ballooning figures, President Jair Bolsonaro remains obstinate in his refusal to implement new measures to mitigate the infection. This has led to states  especially those allied to the president  to lift lockdowns, even as cases soar. Epidemiologists have warned that lifting the measures makes it harder to pinpoint when the disease will peak in the country. (Related: Latin America the new epicenter of coronavirus pandemic.)

The presidents jobs-over-pandemic approach has led to clashes with state institutions. While the coronavirus ravaged the country, the Health Ministry has gone through two ministers, all of whom have resigned after conflicts with Bolsonaro over disagreements on handling the pandemic.

Coronavirus will hit the economy hard

Economists also warn that a second wave of infections can sink the countrys economy even further.

The latest report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates that Brazils economy will contract by 10 percent, should another wave of cases emerge. The World Bank has a similar forecast, saying that the economy will shrink by 8 percent this year should broad shutdown measures continue.

Having the economy slump at this level can further plunge the country into turmoil, with experts warning of corporate bankruptcies, soaring government debt and surging unemployment.

The economy was already fragile before the pandemic. Many state and municipal governments were unable to even pay the payroll, explained Marcos de Barros Lisboa, an economist based in Sao Paolo. Now, the fiscal deficit and public debt will not stop increasing this year.

In response, the Ministry of Economy implemented a $120 monthly stipend for low-income and informal workers affected by the shutdowns. The government is in talks to develop this into a broader basic income scheme; however, its implementation is hampered by the countrys fragile finances. In another blow to Bolsonaros government, his chief architect for his fiscal policy, Treasury Secretary Mansueto Almeida, has said that he will step down this week.

Pandemic.news has more on the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.

Sources include:

Bloomberg.com

Coronavirus.JHU.edu

Reuters.com

ITV.com

Worldometers.info

FT.com
P roperty owners were braced for a disastrous collapse in their quarterly rental income with some suggesting as few as 10% of their shop tenants would pay up in full.

Today is quarter day when retailers rents come due for the next three months, but with most having been closed under forced lockdowns, many simply cannot afford to pay.

About 2.5 billion is due, just a day after shopping centres giant Intu warned that it may have to close malls if it cant persuade its lenders to agree a standstill.

Only yesterday, JDSports put its Go Outdoors chain into administration to escape inflexible rent terms from its landlords.

Agent Colliers International forecasts only one in 10 of London retailer rents will be paid today.

Most landlords are expecting it to be just as grim as the last quarter day, where Covid shutdowns led to hugely reduced payments.

British Land chief executive Chris Grigg today predicted his retail income would be at least as bad, adding that he was thankful he had retained the groups office portfolio, which was more stable.

Retail rents were coming under huge pressure long before Covid hit as shoppers have been moving online and killing sales of big bricks and mortar groups such as Arcadia and Debenhams. Coronavirus has accelerated that decline.

Retail property sector trade body Revo is predicting only between 15% and 40% of rents will be paid.

Revo's chief executive Vivienne King said: Without doubt, quarter rent day will intensify pressure on both retailers and property owners, and loss of income will travel quickly through the payment chain to all corners of the economy.

She added: Those businesses that can pay, should pay, and those property owners that can support businesses genuinely in distress should do so.

Colliers International was slightly less pessimistic, despite the apparently cataclysmic prediction of only 10% payments. Mark Jarrett, head of property management, said the figure looked worse than it actually was because many big landlords have moved to monthly rent payments.

He added that retailers fortunes would improve from here onwards as lockdowns ease. Jarrett pointed to customers returning to the capital as businesses, restaurants and pubs reopen.

The British Property Federation has urged any business in financial distress on the second rent quarter day of 2020 to speak to their landlord as soon as possible.

The impact of the retail property crisis will hit most peoples pensions and other savings, which are often invested in the sector.

Around 13 billion of peoples individual savings is currently trapped in UK specialist property funds which have been closed to prevent people withdrawing their cash during the crisis. Eleven UK funds have been gated since March due to material uncertainty in the UK property market.

Analysts say there is little prospect of them reopening any time soon.
Joseph Yam Chi-kwong, former chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, said Hong Kong's status as an international financial center is solid, when addressing concerns about foreign companies withdrawing capital.

If Hong Kong's social environment returns to being normal and safe, Hong Kong's status as an international financial center is solid will be actually strengthened, he said. Foreign capital or foreign fundraisers will not ignore such a great platform in Hong Kong.
Parents and guardians should also recognize how academic learning is happening all the time in childrens lives. Reading, writing, mathematics, science, history and so on are a part of their and our everyday experiences. Its a matter of being aware of these learning moments and using the unique family environment to provide our children with healthy and well-balanced learning experiences, which includes playing and socially interacting. In fact, play is how young children learn the best.

As we move into the next school year, we know that teachers, principals and school leaders are going to be ready for students wherever they are as learners. The goal and responsibility of every teacher is to take each student from where she is and help her move forward in her learning. Everyone who works in or with schools is currently taking the time to listen to families. Educators at all levels are doing whatever it takes to ensure that childrens needs are met as schools start back up in the fall.
3,788 new cases take Delhis Covid-19 tally to over 70,000

A medic shows colleagues how to use a booth to collect samples from suspected coronavirus disease patients.

The coronavirus cases continued to spike in India on Wednesday as the death toll jumped to 14,476, while the number of total infections stood at 456,183.

Delhi recorded 3,788 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the final tally to over 70,000 mark. As the national capital continued to remain among the worst-hit states, the Delhi government announced an eight-point Revised Covid Response Plan under which it would conduct sero-survey of 20,000 people across districts and house-to-house screening by July 6, among other measures.

Meanwhile, in West Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee extended the lockdown till July 31 to contain the Covid-19 spread.

Tamil Nadu which is among the worst-affected state from Covid-19, reported a biggest single-day spike of 2,865 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 67,468 while toll touches 866 with 33 deaths.

In the United States, new coronavirus cases surged to their highest level in two months and are now back to where they were at the peak of the outbreak.

The US on Tuesday reported 34,700 new cases of the virus, according to a tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University that was published Wednesday.

Follow live updates on Coronavirus here:
The United Nations and the Arab League joined in calling Wednesday for Israel to abandon its plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

The calls were made during a UN Security Council video conference in which several government ministers participated.

It was the last international meeting before Israel goes ahead with the plans as early as July 1.

"I call on the Israeli government to abandon its annexation plans," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

He reiterated the longstanding goal of a two-state solution with an independent, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

Arab League secretary general Ahmed Aboul Gheit said annexation "will destroy any prospect for peace in the future."

"The possible move by the Israeli government to annex parts of the occupied Palestinian territory would constitute, if implementated, a serious threat to regional stability," he added.

The UN coordinator for the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov said annexation "could irrevocably alter the nature of Israeli-Palestinian relations."

He added: "It risks up-ending more than a quarter of a century of international efforts in support of a future viable Palestinian state living in peace, security and mutual recognition with the State of Israel."

Plans are to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank as well as the strategic Jordan Valley, as part of a broader US blueprint for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The plan -- endorsed by Washington -- would see the creation of a Palestinian state, but on reduced territory, and without Palestinians' core demand of a capital in east Jerusalem.

The plan has been rejected in its entirety by the Palestinians.
WASHINGTON -- Researchers have developed a new plug-and-play device that can add adaptive optics correction to commercial optical microscopes. Adaptive optics can greatly improve the quality of images acquired deep into biological samples, but has, until now, been extremely complex to implement.

"Improving the technology available to life scientists can further our understanding of biology, which will, in turn, lead to better drugs and therapies available to doctors," said research team leader, Paolo Pozzi from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy.

In The Optical Society (OSA) journal Optics Letters, Pozzi and a multidisciplinary team of researchers from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), CNR-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnology (CNR-IFL) and University Medical Center Rotterdam describe their new adaptive lens device. They also show how it can be easily installed onto the objective lens of a commercial multiphoton microscope to improve image quality.

"This approach will allow advanced optical techniques such as multiphoton microscopy to image deeper under the surface of the brain in live organisms," said Stefano Bonora, group leader at the CNR-IFL. "We look forward to seeing how it might also be implemented in other systems, such as light-sheet microscopes, super-resolution systems, or even simple epifluorescence microscopes."

Imaging deeper

Optical microscopy can be used to image biological samples in natural conditions, making it possible to observe various biological processes over time. However, as light travels through tissue it gets distorted. This distortion gets worse as light travels deeper into tissue, causing images to look blurry and obscuring important details.

Adaptive optics, a technology initially developed to compensate for atmospheric turbulence when using telescopes to view celestial objects, can be used to correct the optical aberrations that occur when imaging through thick tissue. However, doing so typically requires building a custom microscope that incorporates a deformable mirror. This mirror is used to compensate for the distortions, creating an image that looks sharp and clear.

"Including a deformable mirror in an existing microscope is nearly impossible, and no commercial adaptive microscope is available on the market yet," said Pozzi. "This means that the only option for a life scientist to use adaptive optics is to build the entire microscope from scratch, an operation which is too difficult and time consuming for most life sciences laboratories."

A simpler approach

To simplify this setup, the researchers created a smart lens made with glass so thin it can bend without breaking. The lens consists of a glass disk-shaped container filled with a transparent liquid. A set of 18 mechanical actuators on the glass edges can be controlled with a computer to bend the glass to a desired shape.

The lens functions like the deformable mirror used in most adaptive optics setups, but instead of reflecting light, it transmits light. As light travels through the liquid inside the lens, it gets distorted differently depending on the shape of the lens. "This is similar to the distorted images you see when looking through a bottle of water while squishing it with your hands," said Bonora.

Using the lens for adaptive optics correction requires a complex algorithm to control the actuators. "Efficient optical correction was made possible by the DONE algorithm (database online nonlinear extremum-seeker), a very elegant solution based on machine learning-like principles, which we previously developed at TU Delft," said Pozzi. Quick results

The researchers tested the new software, which is also made available to others via github, and adaptive lens by applying it to the objective lens of a commercial multiphoton microscope. They used the microscope to perform calcium imaging on the brains of living mice, one of the most complex life science experiments performed with microscopes.

"We surpassed our expectations by achieving very nice results within a few hours," said Pozzi. "This technology can be retrofitted on any existing microscope that has interchangeable objectives and displays images on a computer screen."

The researchers are now testing the system on other types of microscopes and samples while also exploring whether multiple adaptive lenses could be used to achieve a better correction than is possible with more complex techniques using deformable mirrors. The team has also founded a spin-off company, Dynamic Optics srl, to commercialize the multiactuator adaptive lenses.

The new lens could also be useful for applications beyond microscopy. "Our new device could also be applied in other fields such as free space optics communications, where it could increase data connection rates and bring data connections to remote and isolated areas," said Pozzi.

###

Paper: P. Pozzi, M. Quintavalla, A. B. Wong, J. G. G. Borst, S. Bonora, M. Verhaegen, "Plug-and-play adaptive optics for commercial laser scanning fluorescence microscopes based on an adaptive lens," Opt. Lett., 45, 13, 3585-3588 (2020).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.396998

About Optics Letters

Optics Letters offers rapid dissemination of new results in all areas of optical science with short, original, peer-reviewed communications. Optics Letters accepts papers that are noteworthy to a substantial part of the optics community. Published by The Optical Society and led by Editor-in-Chief Miguel Alonso, Institut Fresnel, Ecole Centrale de Marseille and Aix-Marseille Universite, France, University of Rochester, USA. Optics Letters is available online at OSA Publishing.

About The Optical Society

Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit osa.org.

Media Contact: mediarelations@osa.org
Boris Johnson has been confronted over his claim that no country has a working contact-tracing app, after 12m downloads were made in Germany.

Keir Starmer ridiculed the prime minister for denying the UK had been left in the slow lane  after his plans for an app were abandoned  telling him Berlins was in operation on 15 June.

Other countries are ahead of us. When are we going to have a working app? the Labour leader demanded to know.

Mr Johnson provoked astonishment on Tuesday when he claimed no other country had stolen a march with the technology.

In fact, France, Australia, Singapore and Latvia are among other countries that have launched an app, although uptake has been fairly low in some of those countries.

The prime minister is under pressure after the embarrassment of ditching plans for a custom-made NHS app  after 12m was spent on it  because of technical problems.

The UK is now seeking to adopt an existing model in cooperation with Apple and Google, despite previously ruling that out  and delaying introduction until the winter.

Put on the spot, Mr Johnson claimed the app had only ever been imagined as the icing on the cake, although health secretary Matt Hancock repeatedly argued it was essential to preventing infection spikes.

And, despite apps being used in numerous countries, he insisted: If we can get it to work it'll be a fine thing, but there isn't one anywhere in the world so far.

Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Show all 18 1 /18 Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jackie Wilson, a healthcare assistant, wearing PPE before going into rooms Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jack Dodsley, 79, speaks to a carer at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Carers working at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A care worker wearing PPE opens a drink carton Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jack Dodsley, 79, sits with a carer Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A care staff member wearing PPE Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A staff member at Newfield Nursing Home looks after a resident SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A carer wearing PPE uses a speaker Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A carer helps Jack Dodsley, 79, from his chair Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A carer wearing PPE helps Jack Dodsley, 79 Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A staff member at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A carer brings food to a resident at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A staff member puts on PPE at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jackie Wilson, a healthcare assistant, puts on PPE before she enters a room SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A bench at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS

Speaking afterwards, a Labour spokesman said: If you want other examples, Singapore has launched an app, South Korea has also got an app. So there are a number of countries that are far, far ahead of us.

And Martin Hibberd, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, also criticized Mr Johnson, saying: There are a number of countries with a working contact-tracing app, for example Singapores Trace Together which has been working since March and has been downloaded by nearly half the population.

To be most effective, most people need to use them and that seems difficult for many places. However, even at lower rates of adoption they can still play an important part in helping to control the virus.

The two leaders also clashed over the physical test-and-trace system, Sir Keir claiming two-thirds of Covid-19 cases were not being successfully contacted.

The prime minister risks making the mistakes he made at the beginning of the pandemic, brushing aside challenge, dashing forward, not estimating properly the risks, he warned.

If two-thirds of those with Covid-19 are not being contacted that is a big problem, because if we don't get track, trace and isolate properly running we can't open the economy, we can't prevent infection spreading.

He added: What is the government's strategy for closing the gap between the number of people with Covid-19 and those going into the system, not what happens to those that go into the system?

But Mr Johnson replied: The 33,000 cases in the country is, of course, an estimate.

What NHS test and-trace is doing is contacting the vast majority of those who test positive and their own contacts and getting them to self-isolate, and it is a formidable achievement.
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On June 8, 2020, the French company ARQUUS launched its virtual Defense expo E-XPO to showcase its latest innovations of tactical, combat and armored vehicles, as well as support services despite the cancellation of Eurosatory 2020. Today, the Army Recognition editorial team is focusing on armored vehicles presented by ARQUUS at the virtual E-XPO, which means Fortress APC Mk 2, Sherpa Light Scout, and VAB Mk 3.

Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link



ARQUUS Fortress Mk II 4x4 APC Armored Personnel Carrier vehicle (Picture source ARQUUS)

Over the years, the French company ARQUUS (previously Renault Trucks Defense) gained considerable experience in the development and manufacturing of armored, tactical and logistical wheeled vehicles. Nowadays, ARQUUS offers a complete range of armored personnel carriers and tactical military trucks in 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 configurations, up to 32 metric tones.

Rich of one hundred years of combat-proven experience, Renault Trucks Defense was the heir of Berliet and Renault, two manufacturers that played a crucial role for the French army during World Wars 1 and 2. The company is still a major supplier to the French army with internationally-recognized know-how implemented throughout more than 30,000 military vehicles in operation worldwide.

The new vehicle unveiled by ARQUUS on its virtual exhibition Defense E-XPO is the Fortress Mk 2. The Fortress is a new generation of 4x4 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier), an evolution of the Fortress Mk 1, previously called Bastion HM (High Mobility). The Bastion APC was developed using the chassis of the combat-proven light tactical truck VLRA manufactured by the French company ACMAT, now part of ARQUUS.

The Fortress Mk 1 is an up-armored Bastion, with a more powerful engine developing 340 hp and fitted with an independent suspension to improve its mobility. The vehicle is available in two variants: APC and cargo. The Fortress has a Level 2 STANAG 4569 ballistic and mine protection.

The Fortress Mk 2 is an improved version of the Mk 1 offering more ballistic and mine protection to STANAG 4569 Level 3 while maintaining the weight of 14,500 kg of the previous Fortress Mk.1. It features a monocoque armored structure with a V-shaped hull. The purpose of V-hulls is to increase vehicle and crew survivability by deflecting an upward-oriented blast from a landmine or IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) away from the vehicle, while also presenting a sloped armor face. By presenting its armor at an angle, it increases the amount of material a ballistic projectile must pass through in order to penetrate the vehicle, and increases the chance of deflection.

The design of the Fortress Mk 2 is divided into three main sections: engine at the front, crew in the middle (including driver and commander), and the troop compartment at the rear, designed to accommodate 9 infantrymen.

The Fortress Mk 2 is powered by an MD7 6-cylinder Diesel engine developing 340 hp coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It can reach a top speed of 120 km/h, with a maximum cruising range of 1,200 km.



ARQUUS Sherpa Light Scout 4x4 APC Armored Personnel Carrier vehicle (Picture source ARQUUS)

Defense E-XPO is also an opportunity for ARQUUS to present other armored vehicles like the Sherpa Light Scout and the VAB Mk 3. So far, ARQUUS has already produced 1,000 Sherpa armored vehicles. The Sherpa family includes four base models: the Sherpa Scout, an armored vehicle for liaison and reconnaissance seating 4 or 5 soldiers, also available in a Station Wagon version; the Carrier, fitted for troop or communication systems transport; the APC, for protected troop transport; and the Sherpa Special Forces, designed for missions behind enemy lines.

The Sherpa is in service with the armed forces of Chile, Lebanon and Kuwait. An Assault Ladder version was developed by ARQUUS in 2014 to provide security forces with unprecedented capabilities in the fight against organized crime and terrorism. India, the Brazilian Federal Police, as well as the French GIGN (Groupe dIntervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale) selected that version.

The Sherpa Light is a family of 4x4 tactical and light armored vehicles designed, developed and manufactured by ARQUUS. The vehicle was unveiled in June 2006 during the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris.

The layout of the Sherpa Light Scout is conventional: engine at the front, crew and troop compartment in the middle, and the cargo area at the rear. There are two seats at the front for the driver and the commander, and two or three seats at the rear. There are two doors on each side of the vehicle with small bulletproof windows and a firing port. It can carry a total of 4 to 5 soldiers.

The Sherpa Light Scout can be fitted with an open-top turret or a remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) armed with weapons of up to 12,7 mm caliber. The hull of the vehicle can be fitted with armor plates to provide protection against firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters. The roof of the vehicle can be fitted with a manually-operated turret or a remotely operated weapon station armed with a machine gun of up to 12.7mm caliber.

The Sherpa Light Scout can be motorized with a Deutz 1013 or Renault MD5 4-cylinder Diesel engine coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It can reach 110 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 800 km.



ARQUUS VAB Mk III 6x6 APC Armored Personnel Carrier vehicle (Picture source ARQUUS)

The VAB Mk 3 is the latest member of the VAB family of armored vehicles in service with the French Army since 1976. More than 5,000 VABs have been produced in 30 different versions so far. ARQQUS has delivered VAB Mk 3s to an undisclosed country in the Middle East. These 6x6 armored vehicles offer more mobility, protection and payload than the previous VABs. The vehicle can be configured to be used as an armored personnel carrier (APC), an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), a command post (CP), an ambulance, a 120mm mortar carrier, or a reconnaissance vehicle.

The layout of the VAB mark 3 is similar to the standard and original version: engine at the front, crew compartment in the middle and troop compartment at the rear. The vehicle includes many new features and improvements. The vehicle benefits from a new armor which provides an enhanced protection Level 4 STANAG 4569 to the crew and the soldiers. The VAB Mark 3 provides also a mine/IED protection now usually found on MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles. The vehicle can carry 3 crew members (driver, commander and gunner) and 7 infantrymen.

The VAB Mark 3 can be equipped with a wide range of turrets or remotely-controlled weapon systems up to a 30 mm automatic cannon. The rear of the troop compartment is now equipped with a hydraulic ramp enabling soldiers to quickly enter and leave the vehicle.

The VAB Mk 3 is motorized with a Renault six-cylinder MD7 Diesel engine developing 340 hp coupled to an automatic transmission with 6 forward gears and 1 reverse gear. It can reach 100 km/h, with a maximum cruising range of 800 km.
Footage posted by a bystander to social media has exposed yet another brutal police assault, this time targeting an Aboriginal man in inner-city Sydney. The video, taken on Monday afternoon, shows Kris Bradshaw being repeatedly tasered in the face, chest and neck by officers as he was in a prone position.

The attack has provoked widespread anger amid a groundswell of opposition to police violence. It occurred just weeks after more than 100,000 people defied government threats to join demonstrations across the country in solidarity with global protests triggered by the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The Australian rallies also centrally raised indigenous deaths in police custody, of which there have been more than 400 since 1991.

The video begins with Bradshaw being confronted by police behind an apartment block in the Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst. Bradshaw complied with the police direction for him to sit down. The male officer then demanded that he place his head on the ground.

Within seconds, the officers violently lifted Bradshaw as one of them tasered him directly in the face. He was thrown to the ground. Bradshaw can be heard screaming in pain and shock. He asked repeatedly: Why are you doing this to me? and added, I wasnt even fighting you. What are you doing?

Bradshaw being tasered in the face

Police issued a statement claiming that they had begun following Bradshaw on Oxford Street. No crimes had been reported in the area. The only suspicious circumstances were that Bradshaw had allegedly begun walking in the opposite direction when he saw the police and was carrying a bag.

Indigenous people, along with other minority workers and youth, are frequently targeted by police and are stopped, searched and questioned without having committed any wrongdoing.

Despite the footage clearly showing that the police were the aggressors and that Bradshaw was passive throughout the encounter, he has been charged with a number of offences including resisting arrest, intimidating the police and trespass.

Yesterday, after the video was widely shared on social media and picked up by several television networks, New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that she had requested a police review of the incident.

Such reviews, involving the police investigating themselves, are routinely used to diffuse anger and to whitewash the conduct of the officers involved. Neither of the two officers who attacked Bradshaw have been stood down, let alone sacked and charged.

The official response is similar to that which followed a police assault on a 16-year-old Aboriginal boy on June 1. The boy and his friends had been stopped while they were spending time in a park in the suburb of Surry Hills, less than a kilometre from where Bradshaw was attacked.

After a sharp verbal exchange, one of the officers had aggressively approached the 16-year-old, forced his hands behind his back and threw him to the ground with a leg sweep. The boys head struck the concrete without him having means of bracing his fall. While he suffered chipped teeth, extensive bruising and lacerations, his injuries could have been far worse or even fatal.

Only after footage of the latest attack went viral online did Berejiklian and other senior political figures issue weasel words of concern. The main officer involved was merely placed on administrative duties while an internal investigation was launched. Police officials publicly defended him, suggesting that he had merely been having a bad day (see: Australian police officers assault Aboriginal boy in Sydney).

The responses to both incidents underscore the fact that police violence is systemic and is overseen by the top levels of governments and police command.

This was further demonstrated by a report in the Guardian this week, revealing previously suppressed details of a police attack on an Aboriginal youth in Perth in July, 2018.

Footage contained in the article shows up to five cops dragging the handcuffed boy along the ground, causing his head to strike concrete. The youth had been sitting on the ground in handcuffs prior to the assault. It appears to have been prompted by something he said to the officers. A bystander who attempted to help the boy was immediately surrounded by police and arrested.

An internal investigation into the attack has only recently concluded. Despite clear evidence to the contrary, it found that the police had used a necessary and not excessive level of force.

The brutal attacks, and the official support for them, stem from the function of the police as a repressive arm of the state, whose role is to suppress the working class, defend unprecedented social inequality and ensure the wealth of a tiny corporate oligarchy.

To bolster this role, state and federal governments, Labor and Liberal alike, have vastly expanded police numbers, equipment and powers over the past thirty years. This has included the provision of tasers to officers in most states.

The roll-out of the weapon was accompanied by assertions that it would make police shootings less likely and would function as a non-lethal alternative to firearms. It was claimed that the use of tasers would end a spate of 69 police shootings between 1984 to 1995.

Fatal police shootings, however, the majority of them targeting people with mental health issues, have continued unabated (see: Police shoot dead mentally ill man in Melbourne, Australia).

Tasers, moreover, can be a deadly weapon in their own right. The American Heart Association warned in 2012 that their use could cause ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac arrest and even death. At least 49 police killings in the United States in 2018 were a result of tasers, following 500 fatalities in the decade to 2012.

Similar deaths have occurred in Australia. Among the most notorious cases is the 2012 killing of Roberto Laudisio Curti, a 21-year-old Brazilian student who was visiting Sydney.

On the morning of March 18, Curti was chased down the street in central Sydney by eleven police officers. He had been behaving erratically after ingesting LSD, but his only alleged offence had been taking two packets of biscuits from a convenience store. Curti was tackled by the officers before being repeatedly tasered, capsicum sprayed and struck with batons. He died in hospital several days later.

While evidence at a coronial inquest made clear that Curti did not pose a threat to anyone, none of the officers has ever been held accountable.

Curtis tragic death demonstrates the horrific consequences that could have resulted from the repeated use of a taser against Kris Bradshaw on Monday.

The author also recommends:

Australia: Inquest exposes police brutality in death of Brazilian student

[22 October 2012]

Taser death in Australia: A warning to youth

[29 March 2012]

Australia: Police use Tasers as weapon of choice

[9 October 2010]
Press Release

24 June 2020

NEW YORK - During the weeks from May 11-25, 2020, over 900 travel executives (tour operators and agency owners) from the top tourism source markets participated in a global survey by Travel Consul, the leading international travel marketing alliance. The goal of this survey was to get a better understanding of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the industry, current needs and a view to what the future might entail. Here are a few highlights of the results:

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When asked how destination organizations (DMOs) can best help travel advisors and tour operators in recovery, the number one answer was clearly "introducing health and safety certificates for advisors to feel sure the destinations are safe to send their customers." Two out of 3 participants requested help from the destinations. The next top three answers included marketing campaigns, presenting useful and timely data, and industry and media updates.

Clients are still waiting to decide where to travel next

Over 40% of clients who are rebooking or showing some interest in traveling said that they were planning to go to the destination where they had originally booked. Although the largest percentage (46%) are at a halt, waiting to see how the situation evolves before making their decision. Amongst U.S. respondents, 51% said their clients were looking to the destination they originally booked, while 38% said their clients were waiting to decide.

Marketing efforts for recovery are focused on social media

In regards to marketing activities during recovery, social media was clearly the winner with 2 out of every 3 respondents claiming that social marketing was their main concept. That number is even higher amongst U.S. respondents, with 75% saying they would focus on social media. Digital and co-op campaigns respectively came in second and third.

Business implications of COVID-19

Overall, distribution partners expect a 73% decrease in business volume in Q3 2020 and a 60% decrease in Q4 2020. Two-thirds of respondents anticipate being able to sustain their businesses for six months without government financial support. U.S. respondents feel less financially secure than the global average. One in 3 (33%) said they could only sustain their business without government assistance for one to three months, and 28% said four to six months.

Actions implemented during the crisis

Approximately 41% of global respondents reported designing new products and adjusting the business model as the main measures adopted during the pandemic. Customer service improvement and training programs ranked second.

Top communication methods used with clients

Email leads as the preferred form of communication for tour operators and agency owners that are interacting with clients during the COVID-19 emergency. Interestingly, the traditional use of the telephone was the second most utilized channel. Although gaining popularity, video conferences and live chat make up less than 17% of communications methods.

Tourism associations serve as primary data sources

Concerning the top three data sources that are used for information during the COVID-19 crisis, tour operators and travel agency associations clearly lead the pack (global average of 69%). This was followed by destination tourist offices, trade media, their own national government and industry friends.

How COVID-19 is changing the rules in 2020 and beyond

When asked how the role of travel distribution partners will change going forward in order to adapt to these new circumstances, 70% of the respondents believe that modifying cancellation policies or terms and conditions will be among their main undertakings. Additional strong responses were "expand customer communication channels," "diversify/change your product and destination offerings," and "creating new partnerships with new buyers and suppliers."

Almost 50% of respondents said that they were extremely likely to consider hotels and resorts they had never sold before. Additionally, another 37% said that it was somewhat likely they would consider other options. U.S. respondents answered similarly to their global counterparts.

For the full report, available on MMGY Myriad's website, please click here. To inquire about a regional analysis, contact Travel Consul's North America partner, MMGY Myriad EVP Managing Director, Julie Cuesta at [email protected].

About Travel Consul

Travel Consul is an international travel marketing alliance consisting of (18) advertising, media, public relations and marketing firms spread across six different continents - all specializing in travel. With over 600 clients in the travel and tourism sector, our global team of more than 850 experts works seamlessly to implement global strategies with unique hands-on local market knowledge and industry relationships. From B2B to B2C, Travel Consul helps governments and commercial organizations.

www.TravelConsul.com
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the decision to designate Kushinagar airport in Uttar Pradesh as an international one was great news and will provide better opportunities for the local people.

Great news for Uttar Pradesh, tourism and those inspired by the noble thoughts of Lord Buddha! Kushinagar Airport will now be an international airport. Connectivity will improve significantly. More tourists and pilgrims will also mean better opportunities for local population, Modi tweeted after the Union Cabinet in its meeting gave its approval to declare Kushinagar airport as an international airport.

Kushinagar airport is located in the vicinity of several Buddhist cultural Sites like Sravasti, Kapilvastu and Lumbini.

Kushinagar itself is a Buddhist cultural site and declaration as an international airport will offer improved connectivity, wider choice of competitive costs to the air-travellers. It will result in boosting of domestic/international tourism and economic development of the regions. It will be an important strategic location with the international border close by, the government said in a statement.

Kushinagar is located in the north-eastern part of Uttar Pradesh about 50 km east of Gorakhpur and is one of the important Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

The government said Kushinagar draws around 200-300 devotees from Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Myanmar, etc who come to offer prayers on any given day.

The Buddhist Circuit is a key pilgrimage destination for 530 million practising Buddhists across the globe, the statement noted.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath thanked the Prime Minister for the decision to upgrade the Kushinagar airport.

I thank PM Narendra Modi and the Union Cabinet for declaring Kushinagar Airport as an international airport. The move will help boost tourism in Uttar Pradesh due to the airports proximity to Shravasti, Lumbini, Kapilvastu, Sarnath and Gaya tourist places, ANI quoted Adityanath as saying.
A young bride-to-be who was planning to start a family has been given just months to live after what doctors believed to be a benign cyst turned out to be terminal cancer.

Hollie Mcintyre, 30, visited a specialist near her home in Whangarei, New Zealand, in February 2019 after she noticed an unusual lump on her chest.

She was sent on her way without a biopsy when a surgeon checked her ultrasound and promised her it was a benign cyst and nothing to be concerned about.

'He told me my body would absorb the lump and it would eventually disappear. He then gave me a leaflet about benign cysts which stated that they could not be cancerous, and that was that,' Ms Mcintyre told the NZHerald.

By October, the lump had grown and she was bleeding from her chest.

She was rushed to Whangarei Hospital's emergency department, determined to get a second opinion.

A biopsy confirmed Ms Mcintyre had triple-negative breast cancer, and that it had already started to spread.

She was told she had six months to live.

The very next day, Ms Mcintyre and her fiance visited an IVF clinic hoping to start a family, but doctors would not follow through with the procedure because she wasn't expected to live long enough to see it through to the birth of a child.

'That was probably harder to hear than the cancer diagnosis because I was so desperate to have a family,' she said.

Hollie Mcintyre, 30, believes the outcome could have been different had the cancer been picked up when she initially went to the doctor months earlier

Since the diagnosis eight months ago, Ms Mcintyre has had three different rounds of chemotherapy, but it hasn't slowed the spread of the disease.

The cancer is now also attached to her spine, chest and ovaries.

Ms Mcintyre believes the outcome could have been different had the cancer been picked up when she initially went to the doctor months earlier.

She is now fighting for a treatment injury claim which was initially denied because there is not enough clinical evidence to prove her situation would have been different had the cancer been identified earlier.

According to the region's chief medical officer, the surgeon involved in Ms Mcintyre's initial care followed the correct procedure in her diagnosis.

Three separate radiologists agreed the ultrasound appeared to show a benign cyst and did not deem it necessary to perform a biopsy.

Staff were 'shocked and disappointed' to learn of Ms Mcintyre's later diagnosis, but said it was 'extremely unusual' for a cyst which appears benign to actually be malignant.

'The guidelines support the surgeon's decision not to carry out a biopsy, given the appearance of the cyst on ultrasound,' a statement from the organisation read.
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: This is our regular report on hedge funds and alternative asset managers who are successfully protecting assets and outperforming the markets during the first months of 2020.

A convergence in gold Interest in the gold market is hitting new highs as investors look for haven asset classes. Typhon Capital Management's Vulcan Metals Fund had its best month in the history of the strategy following a physical/futures convergence trade in gold that led to outperformance. The strategy was up 5.95% in May and is up 4.56% year to date after making up negative performance in April, according to performance information for investors reviewed by Opalesque. The strategy was launched in 2017 and has an annualized return of 9.45%. Vulcan Metals is a discretionary metals fund that trades on the Typhon Capital Management platform. The fund uses a mix of arbitrage and flow trading in both base and precious metals to capture dislocations in the structure of the metals market. The strategy is managed by James Gallo, building on his years as a commodities trader. Gallo became the youngest COMEX trader ever at age 21. Vulcan Metals was featured in Opalesque New Managers in 2018. Typhon Capital Management is a multi-strategy platform that includes funds and separately managed accounts. In July, Typhon is expected to launch the Argos Tactical Trading Swap on the Morgan Stanley ALPHAS platform. Argos is an algorithmically weighted blend Typhon's SMA strategies that provide commodities exposure. A fund of funds finds its way Florida-based Shaked Capital Advisors flagship vehicle Shaked Opportunity Fund was up 3.9% in May net of fees. The fund of funds focuses on investing in emerging hedge fund managers that have shown consistent outperformance and are under $1 billion of assets under management. Strategies represented in the fund include long/short fundamental, event driven, relative value, arbitrage, and statistical. Managers invest in both emerging and developed markets. For managers to be included in the fund of funds, they have to fit within two frameworks. The first is a basic quantitative evaluation of performance and the second is a proprietary qualitative overlay that looks at whether a strategy is sustainable. The fund of funds has an annualized return of 10.5% since its inception in 2011. Shaked Capital Advisors is led by Amir Shaked. Shaked was previously a portfolio manager at DB Advisors and held roles at Cobalt Capital Management and Balfour Investment Management. *** Last issue of The Corona Fighters Report: Report 51. Opalesque's Corona Fighters reports are open articles. To see all past reports, please type Corona Fighters in the Opalesque search engine: www.opalesque.com/index.php

*** Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. Opalesque has not verified this information and gives no warranty of accuracy or completeness. Past performance is not indicative of future results. See our Terms & Conditions for more information. ***

WEBINARS: Meet 15 fund managers and learn how and why their strategies delivered positive returns and/or protected capital during the Corona led market meltdown! Each webinar lasts an hour and features five managers. "A well-chosen topic of discussion and a great set of speakers to hear and learn from."

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VIDEO REPLAY of CORONA FIGHTERS - Episode 1 webinar: www.opalesque.com/webinar/#pw4 VIDEO REPLAY of CORONA FIGHTERS - Episode 2 webinar: www.opalesque.com/webinar/#pw5

Video replays of Opalesque's past webinars can be found here: www.opalesque.com/webinar/#pastwebinar

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MORRISTOWN, N.J., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary, has completed inspections and conducted equipment maintenance projects across its 13-county service area to enhance customer service reliability as part of its annual summer preparedness plan. The company is also ready to respond to power outages caused during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through November 30, 2020, and is predicted to be particularly active this year.

In preparation for the summer season and associated high temperatures and humidity, JCP&L has completed helicopter patrols and other maintenance related inspections on more than 780 miles of transmission lines located in the JCP&L territory. The inspections are designed to look for potential tree-related issues, damaged wires, broken cross arms, failed insulators and switches and other hardware problems not easily detected from the ground. Any potential reliability issues identified during the inspections are safely and quickly addressed.

On the ground, the inspections include using "thermovision" cameras to capture infrared images that can detect potential problems with equipment such as transformers and capacitors. By identifying these hot spots, maintenance and repair efforts can be conducted prior to a power outage occurring.

"Since 2016, we have made numerous investments in our infrastructure that benefit customers by enhancing the resiliency and reliability of our system," said Jim Fakult, president, JCP&L. "Coupled with those investments, these proactive inspections and equipment maintenance measures will help ensure system reliability to meet an increased demand for electricity during the summer months and enhance our readiness to respond to power outages during the hurricane season."

As part of its hurricane preparation planning, FirstEnergy's certified meteorologists use National Hurricane Center data to help predict any hurricane or tropical storm's impact on JCP&L's central and northern New Jersey service areas. This information is used to help pre-position outside personnel and resources in New Jersey prior to the weather event occurring.

In addition, JCP&L is closely monitoring the area surrounding the Barrier Island Peninsula because of its attraction to tourism during the summer months and vulnerability to severe weather. When tropical storms and hurricanes make landfall, the first areas they hit are barrier islands  thin ribbons of sand that line the Atlantic Coast and absorb much of a storm's force, reducing wave energy and protecting inland areas.

If a major storm strikes, JCP&L can call on thousands of line workers, hazard responders, forestry workers and support personnel from FirstEnergy's other utilities that can be deployed to New Jersey to help restore service to customers as quickly as possible. In addition, JCP&L has access to several utility industry mutual assistance organizations that could provide additional resources to help restore service to customers, if necessary. The company has worked with the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) as well as vendors and contractors to revise operational and logistical planning during storms in light of the coronavirus health emergency. Measures have been implemented to ensure all established health and safety protocols can be properly followed, allowing responding personnel to focus on their mission of efficiently restoring service.

In addition, JCP&L employees will continue to participate in readiness exercises involving company operations and support personnel, which include representatives from the Office of Emergency Management, and staff from the New Jersey Bureau of Public Utilities. The drills are designed to test the company's restoration process used to repair storm related outages and enhance and refine the communication process. Storm drills are becoming more common in the utility industry in the wake of severe weather over the last several years.

For updated company information, including hot weather tips, customers are urged to visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages .

JCP&L serves 1.1 million New Jersey customers in the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren. Follow JCP&L on Twitter @JCP_L, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL, or online at www.jcp-l.com.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com.

Editor's Note: JCP&L summer preparedness work photos are available for download on Flickr. A video of utility personnel conducting a thermovision inspection and explaining the work can be found on the company's YouTube channel.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Related Links

http://www.firstenergycorp.com


Amid the two suffocating pandemics Americans confront today  of contagious disease and systemic racism  what can cancer patients do?

Like other people with compromised immune systems, many of us feel too vulnerable to participate in public demonstrations and yet we want to be part of the solution, not simply bystanders in the disaster. Two events clarified this dilemma as I sheltered within my apartment in my small town, Bloomington, in Indiana. The first was a visit to the local hospital; the second was a protest march in support of Black Lives Matter.

In the midst of the pandemic, I knew that I would be very nervous about being exposed to the virus at the Bloomington Hospital. Yet my clinical trial required a blood test. Without the test, I could not receive the next supply of an experimental drug that continues to prolong my life. It never entered my mind that I would become first flabbergasted and later enraged.

At the entrance closest to the infusion center, I stood in a glassed-in foyer where a young woman in a flimsy paper mask sat. Take off your mask and open your mouth so I can get your temperature, she said. I expressed surprise and dismay, but then complied. Only after the nurses had de-accessed my port and released me did I have the presence of mind to stop and tell the young woman by the door that she was putting herself at risk. How many people would be breathing directly at her while she took their temperature? What if one of them was asymptomatic and coughed or sneezed? Yes, she replied with a grimace. Other people have said that too.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Lopburi,, Thailand  Wed, June 24, 2020 07:20 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406611e591 2 SE Asia Thailand,sterilization,coronavirus,coronavirus-effect,monkeys,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,tourism Free

Thailand has started sterilizing 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.

But since Thailand closed its borders on April 4 to control coronavirus infections, the monkeys are not adapting well to their new normal.

"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."

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 have this week placed big cages around the city with tantalizing fruits in them, hoping to lure around 300 monkeys for sterilization.

From the cages, the monkeys are transferred to an operating table, where they are sedated, shaved and tattooed with a unique reference number under their arms.

They lay on their backs under a green cloth as vets perform a vasectomy or a tubal ligation operation.

The sleeping monkeys get one night to recover before being taken back to their respective tribes.

The government aims to sterilize 500 of the macaques over the next two months.

Supakarn said the sterilization 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.
Royal Bank of Scotland has begun a major restructuring in its overseas investment banking operations, cutting almost a quarter of full-time staff in the United States, two sources with knowledge of the plan told Reuters.

The taxpayer-backed lender is looking to cut between 80-90 jobs at its US head office in Stamford, Connecticut, following consultation with various employee unions and representatives, one of the sources said.

The second source said the layoffs in the United States, where it employs 400 people, were the first in a broader plan to cut between 20-30 percent of NatWest Markets' non-UK workforce, with an undisclosed number of redundancies also being considered across Asia.

At least eight bankers based in Singapore were laid off on Wednesday, the second source said, with redundancies in Hong Kong also seen likely.

"In line with the multi-year process announced in February, we continue to progress our plan to refocus NatWest Markets on activities which directly support the bank's core customers and on areas where we will have a more stable and consistent revenue stream," a spokeswoman for NatWest Markets said.

"These are always difficult decisions, but we intend to make NWM a more sustainable business and will be supporting our colleagues through this process," she added.

The roles affected include economists, rates traders and credit traders, one of the sources said.

Earlier this month, RBS named Robert Begbie as chief executive of NatWest Markets, confirming a role he had held on an interim basis since December.

Begbie faces a tough task to revive RBS's investment banking operations, where returns and market share have underwhelmed investors, prompting some to call for a cull of the business.
The family of a construction worker who plunged to his death while working on a Chicago church has filed a lawsuit against his employer, claiming bosses failed to provide proper protections.

Francisco Aguilar, 57, fell two stories from scaffolding on November 22nd of last year at 4901 W. Ferdinand St. in the city's Austin neighborhood. He died from his injuries in hospital on December 6.

Aguilar left behind a wife and six children, who are now seeking more than $50,000 in damages from Destiny Builders.

A suit filed on behalf of the family by Romanucci and Blandin Law claims fall protections were not in place for Aguilar and other employees on the job.

Francisco Aguilar, 57, (left) fell two stories from scaffolding on November 22nd of last year at 4901 W. Ferdinand St. in the city's Austin neighborhood. He died from his injuries in hospital on December 6.

It further alleges that Destiny Builders 'knowingly exposed employees to falling hazards by not providing proper scaffolding, railing, harnesses or supervision,' according to The Chicago Sun-Times.

Attorney Michael R. Grieco accused the company of being 'shamefully negligent'.

Meanwhile, Aguilar's son, Ariel, told The Sun-Times that it is 'very difficult' for his family to 'explain the loss of their father'.

He added that the clan were 'angered' when they learned that Destiny Builders allegedly 'did not follow the necessary safety rules and requirements'.

'There is no excuse for operating a construction company that way and our family will pay the price forever,' he stated.

According to Fox 32, the construction site has since been shut down since the tragedy occurred back more than seven months ago. The Aguilar family's lawyers say it is because Destiny Builders 'lacks permits'.

Aguilar was working at on a new church build at 4901 W. Ferdinand St. in the city's Austin neighborhood. The block is pictured in a photograph taken before 2014, housing the Unity Church of God in Christ. That structure was destroyed in a 2014 fire

The company was working to construct a new church at the same location where another place of worship was destroyed in a blaze back in 2014.

Unity Church of God in Christ burned down on September 20 of that year, despite 100 firefighters working to douse the flames.

It is unclear whether the same religious organization is rebuilding the structure, or whether a new congregation is moving in,.
In 2016, three years after the founding of Black Lives Matter, a Pew Research Center poll found only 43% of U.S. adults supported the movement, with some even going so far as to falsely call BLM a terrorist organization.

Those numbers have changed drastically following national unrest in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes.

Multiple public opinion polls - including one conducted by Civiqs, an online survey research firm - have found that public support for either the movement itself or its basic tenants is more than 50% among American voters.

In Massachusetts, the number of people backing Black Lives Matter is even greater, according to a new Suffolk University poll from WGBH News, MassLive, The Boston Globe and the State House News Service.

Of the 500 residents surveyed for the poll, 85% said they either support or strongly support the movement, mirroring the national trend of growing support for Black Lives Matter.

Only around 10% of those polled said they either oppose or strongly oppose the movement.

The goals are to make Black lives matter the same as anyone else, to not live in fear of walking to the store if youre Black, New Bedford resident and poll respondent Idalina Castelo Olideira said of the movement. I feel for them.

WGBH News/MassLive/Boston Globe/State House News Service poll.

The survey - which was conducted from June 18 to 21 by the Suffolk University Political Research Center, with Director David Paleologos - has a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percentage points. Of the hundreds of people surveyed, 75.2% identified as white, 9.6% as Hispanic, 8.8% as Black and 5% as Asian.

Not only did a majority of Massachusetts residents say they support BLM, but more than 75% noted they also believe racial discrimination to be a major issue for their state.

When asked how they would characterize racism in Massachusetts, a plurality of respondents, 46.80%, answered the issue is a problem. Another 29.80% indicated they feel racism is one of the most serious problems facing the state, while 9% said the issue is the most serious problem facing the commonwealth.

Olideira was in the 51.20% of respondents who said they strongly support the Black Lives Matter movement. The 59-year-old woman noted she came to the United States from Portugal at age 3 but did not understood what discrimination was until she grew up.

As she progressed through school, Olideira began to notice signs of racism and saw how people did not look at Black and white individuals the same way.

Youre not born with racism. Youre taught racism within the home, she said.

The Massachusetts woman added she has lived through decades of racist violence against Black people. Enough is enough, she told MassLive.

Im 59 years old, and its been going on for too long, through Rodney King and Martin Luther King, Olideira said. The video of Floyd is terrible, when you have a white police officer attacking him so brutally.

The 46-year-old mans death on May 25 sparked hundreds of demonstrations throughout the world calling for an end to systemic racism, with the protests continuing through late June.

The past month has also seen a dramatic leftward shift in public support for Black Lives Matter and Americans views about the criminal justice system as a whole.

The New York Times published an article earlier this month outlining how in the two weeks following Floyds killing, U.S. voters support for the movement increased almost as much as it had in the preceding two years.

The newspaper reported that while American public opinion can be unchanging, Black Lives Matter has proved to be an exception.

A Monmouth University poll found that 76% of Americans believe racial and ethnic discrimination is a big problem in the United States. That number marked a sharp increase from 51% in January 2015 and 68% in July 2016, according to the school

Judith Sprague, a respondent to the MassLive/WGBH News/Suffolk poll, noted racism and white supremacy are deeply intertwined with American culture.

The 62-year-old Revere resident has participated in protests against everything from misogyny and racism to the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant in New Hampshire.

This year, Sprague told MassLive, she was uncomfortable not being able to participate in marches against the killing of Floyd and police brutality. However, her age and heart condition puts her too much at risk of developing potentially severe symptoms from the coronavirus.

She is instead contributing to the movement monetarily, but the Suffolk County resident would like to be demonstrating with Black Lives Matter supporters. Although she does not consider herself a full-time activist, she thinks its important to show up and fight against inequality.

I just think of it as being a decent citizen, showing up when you can, she said. Its how we ended the Vietnam War. You have to show up and be counted. Thats why it feels uncomfortable not being there now.

Sprague added, Racism and white supremacy are at the foundation of the systems that govern and run our country. Everythings entrenched and woven in, and we have to eliminate it.

The survey conducted by Monmouth University also found that 57 percent of voters think the anger that led to recent demonstrations is fully justified, while another 21% believe it is partially justified.

The poll showed a majority of the public agrees police are more likely to use excessive force with a Black person than a white person as well.

In 2013, though, when Black Lives Matter started up, majorities of voters disagreed with all of these statements, the Times noted.

Olideira thinks the sharpe increase in support for the movement can be attributed to social media, television and the fact that people are more aware of the egregious cases of violence happening against Black people in the U.S.

Such incidents are being captured on cell phones and spreading like wild fire, she said.

People have gotten more educated between 2013 and 2020 by watching TV and seeing whats happening, the New Bedford resident said, pointed to the case of Amy Cooper, a white woman who called the police on a Black birdwatcher. People are actually seeing the truth of whats going on through social media.

The Bristol County womans sentiment was echoed by other respondents as well.

There are too many soundbites of Black people dying at the hands of police to argue that a problem does not exist, according to Miranda Jordan Grace, a Worcester resident who said in the survey she strongly supports Black Lives Matter.

Too many people have died that its created too thick a case study for people to argue with, she said. They cant give themselves a simple explanation any more.

The Black Lives Matter movement has, since its inception, fought against racial injustice and police brutality by mobilizing and organizing demonstrations across the country after police killings of countless Black Americans, including Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner and many others.

Black Lives Matter first formed after the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, though, in Florida. The movement launched a digital campaign that led to widespread protests and calls for accountability for George Zimmerman, the man who killed the teenager.

On the fifth anniversary of Martins death, BLM stated the #TrayvonTaughtMe digital campaign highlights the beginnings of the movement.

Trayvons extrajudicial murder and his familys commitment to ending gun violence and strengthening communities catalyzed a generation of organizers and activists to take action for Black lives, the organization said in a statement. The perceptions of Black people and Blackness in America, and globally, have resulted in the refusal to acknowledge the unique cultural contributions of Black people.

Moreover, they perpetuate prejudice, deadly policing, racist legislation, and interpersonal violence.

One criticism of the movement, though, was that not everyone was aware of the movements objectives initially. A 2016 Pew Research poll found that about a third of Americans familiar with Black Lives Matter did not understand the goals of the organization.

Grace noted that while she strongly supports the movement, she thought when BLM first began it did not fully encompass other individuals who have been unfairly targeted by police, including those who are disable, deaf or economically disadvantaged.

The issue encompasses everybody, even though the term Black Lives Matter makes it clear the issue disproportionately affects Black people, she said.

The Worcester woman is now absolutely for what Black Lives Matter fights for and against, Grace said. She added that police have become far too militarized and continue to not be held accountable for excessive uses of force.

I really think that the issue stems from the deep militarization of police, making this job less about public safety and more about the fantasy of warrior status, she told MassLive. This job is about public safety.

Related Content:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

By Asif Mehman - Trend:

Azerbaijans Chamber of Accounts has restored over 130 million manat ($76.4 million) in the state budget, Chairman of the Chamber of Accounts Vusal Gulmammadov said, Trend reports.

Gulmammadov said that measures to restore excessive costs continue.

As a result of control measures carried out in recent years, the Chamber of Accounts restored over 130 million manat of funds in the budget by financial and other means, he noted.

The chairman added that 35 materials were sent to law enforcement agencies during these years, and the agencies gave them a legal assessment and took appropriate measures.

The functions of the Chamber of Accounts are related to the control over the use of public funds, and we act within the powers of national legislation in this area, stressed Gulmammadov.

We build control work on the basis of a methodology that meets the international standards, and carry out control according to documents drawn up on the basis of the requirements of existing legislation on the use of public funds, he emphasized.

(1 USD = 1.7 manat on June 24)
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday tried to play down the setback received due to the defection of five RJD MLCs to Nitish Kumars Janata Dal United, JD(U) days before the elections to nine seats of State legislative council on July 6 and a few months ahead of the crucial general assembly elections in October.

During election people come and go. Name one election where people had not come and gone. This is election season and the government is trying to keep their governance safe...A few days back JD(U) MLC had come to us, so these things go on, Tejashwi Yadav was quoted as saying by ANI.

Tejashwi, however, didnt forget to take a dig at chief minister Nitish Kumar suggesting his party had a hand in the defections.

Best wishes to those who left. Nitish ji has done constructive work but that constructive work can benefit only him. Yesterdays incident can bring him personal benefit but nothing to the people of Bihar, he added.

Also Read: Sushil Modi requests Amit Shah for extension of free food grain scheme for poor

Tejashwis mixed comments come a day after his party colleague and RJD state president Jagdanand Singh declared a virtual war against JD(U) and warned Nitish Kumar of a befitting reply to defections .

Nitish Kumar has lured legislators through money. The war has started. He will get a befitting reply, Singh had said.

Radha Charan Shah, Sanjay Prasad, Dilip Rai, Md Kamar Alam and Ranvijay Kumar Singh defected to JD(U) yesterday without inviting the anti-defection law by virtue of their numbersmore than two-third of the total number of RJD MLC party.

The RJD is now reduced to only three MLCs in the council, while the JD(U)s strength has increased to 21 MLCs in the 75-member council. The councils present strength is 46 since 29 seats are vacant. The BJP has 16 MLCs in the council and also has the support of an independent MLC.

RJD on Wednesday announced the names of three candidates for the legislative council polls. BISCOMAUN Chairman Sunil Singh, BN College Professor Ram Bali Chandravanshi and Mumbai businessman Farukh Shaikh have been named party candidates, said PTI.

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By Express News Service

KOCHI: The special team of District Crime Branch probing the case related to the embezzlement of the flood relief fund, involving a clerk at the Ernakulam Collectorate and two local CPM leaders, conducted evidence collection on Tuesday with Anwar M M, 43, Manayakulathuveedu, Kakkanadu, a former member of CPM Thrikkakara East local committee, who surrendered before the investigation officers on Monday.According to the officers, the interrogation of the arrested is underway. Earlier, the Muvattupuzha Vigilance Court sent him to police custody for three days.

Anwar, the third accused, surrendered before the investigation team on Monday. According to the inquiry findings, the names of 325 beneficiaries were duplicated while allotting them flood relief in March 2019. As a result, the additional fund that was in the treasury account was transferred to Anwars account and he withdrew a sum of `10.5 lakh. The bank employees grew suspicious when a huge amount was transferred from the state treasury to Anwars account. Collector was immediately alerted and he soon issued an order to seize the amount. According to the investigation team, Anwar and his wife Koulath Anwar, fourth accused in the case, are the prime accused in the first case in which a sum of `23.09 lakh was diverted from the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund.

Vishnu Prasad, 30, the Collectorate employee, is the first accused while Mahesh B, 43, is the second accused, his wife, Neethu M M, fifth accused, former local CPM leader Nithin N N, 32, and his wife Shintu Martin, 20, are the other accused in the first case.Of the seven accused, the police have arrested six persons, while Koulath Anwar is yet not nabbed and Neethu M M is still on the run.

Meanwhile, the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) had found embezzlement of a sum of `79 lakh. Following ADMs complaint, another case was registered. The ongoing inquiry is on the embezzlement of funds accounting for more than `1 crore.Earlier, the CPM district committee had expelled M M Anwar, his wife Koulath Anwar, and another local leader N N Nithin from the party for misappropriating funds meant for flood relief.

Inquiry Findings

The names of 325 beneficiaries were duplicated while allotting them flood relief in March 2019.

As a result, the additional fund that was in the treasury account was transferred to Anwars account and he withdrew a sum of E10.5 lakh.

The bank employees grew suspicious and alerted the district collector, who soon issued an order to seize the amount.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of a modular hospital in the city of Ganja.

After viewing the conditions created in the hospital, the head of state and first lady met with a group of health workers.

President Ilham Aliyev addressed the meeting.

Speech by President Ilham Aliyev

- A modular-type hospital opens in Ganja today. I congratulate on this remarkable occasion.

A hospital with 200 beds built on the basis of modern technologies is being commissioned in a short period of time. Considering the fact that the fight against coronavirus continues, this hospital is very important.

A fifth hospital of a modular type is opening today. Two have already started to operate in Baku, one in Sumgayit and one in the Absheron district. In the coming weeks, hospitals of this type will be commissioned in other cities as well. Thus, the number of these hospitals will reach 10. This will allow us the opportunity to obtain an additional 2,000 beds. Given the fact that the number of infections is increasing, this should play a role in the fight against COVID-19.

The decision to build these hospitals was made in April this year. There werent many patients at the time. At the same time, you probably remember that the difference between those infected and recovering was positive in April. People recovered faster than they got infected. Despite this, we felt that extra beds would be useful. Life has shown how correct that decision was because the number of patients is growing now, so we need new beds.

In general, I can say that if modern hospitals had not been built throughout our country on my instructions in recent years, including Baku, we could face major problems in the fight against coronavirus today. In recent years, one of the most important issues in strengthening the healthcare system in our country has been the construction of new hospitals and the overhaul and restoration of the old ones. Thus, hospitals have been built in the vast majority of our cities and construction continues in several cities. The last hospital will be commissioned in the city of Samukh. Funds have been allocated for this purpose and additional funds will also be allocated. Today, coronavirus patients in the city of Baku mainly receive treatment in hospitals built in recent years. It is worth noting the Yeni Klinik hospital. It is the best, most modern clinic and one of the largest medical institutions in our country. Today, patients are receiving treatment in the clinic with approximately 600 beds. At the same time, we treat patients at the educational-therapeutic and surgical buildings of the Azerbaijan Medical University built on my initiative several years ago.

The preventive measures taken in relation to the coronavirus at the initial stage saved us from great troubles because the number of people infected in Azerbaijan is very small in relation to the total population. Only 13,000 people have been infected. The vast majority of them have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Therefore, preventive and restrictive measures have been of great help.

As you know, the whole world is suffering from this disease and the sharp increase in the number of patients has dealt a significant blow to the healthcare system of many countries. In fact, not one countrys health system was prepared to treat such a rapidly growing number of patients. And this is actually impossible. Another problem is related to the number of doctors serving patients. In just two to three months, the number of doctors cant get any bigger. Therefore, this has become a major problem for many countries, including ourselves. So the adoption of restrictive measures has been of great help. As you know, easing trends began in early May. As I said earlier, this was due to the fact that there were more people recovering than those getting infected.

However, the dynamics of the past few days indicates that, despite all our demands, some people show a lack of responsibility and do not follow fundamental rules. These rules have probably been discussed a thousand times already. They have been spoken about by myself, doctors, medical specialists and different people. These rules are very straightforward not only in Azerbaijan but also throughout the world, and compliance with them does not require too much work  wearing a mask, observing a distance and disinfection. These three key factors can protect people. If we comply with them, the number of infected people will sharply decrease. But what do we see instead? We see that after the restrictions were eased, these rules have been violated in Azerbaijan en masse. This is exactly why we re-introduced restrictive measures because we saw that the number of patients and the dynamics of the incidence have been increasing, and if this goes on, our healthcare system will not be able to cope with it. Therefore, at the beginning of this week, a more stringent quarantine regime was introduced in Baku and several other cities. The main and only reason for this is that some people, unfortunately, do not follow the basic rules of protection. Time and the spread of the coronavirus will tell how long this tightened regime lasts.

Doctors are well aware and the public has also repeatedly been informed that the main goal of tightening the restrictions is to reduce the rate of infection. Everyone understands that coronavirus has not disappeared and will not disappear. We have to live with this disease, and it is necessary to introduce new rules of public conduct. Therefore, the main efforts of all countries are focused on reducing the rate of infection so that as few people as possible get infected and the healthcare system of each country allows all patients the opportunity to receive proper treatment. Therefore, we took this step, and I believe that we have acted correctly even though some countries have gone even further by taking more mitigating steps. Of course, the main reason for that are problems in the economic sphere.

We also have such problems, the results of five months indicate that our economy is also in a recession. It is not particularly large  only 1.7 percent. But at the beginning of the year, we demonstrated excellent economic performance. We had major plans and great prospects. All leading international financial institutions also saw 2020 as a year of rapid development in Azerbaijan and were declaring that. We deliberately took restrictive measures. I can say that we were among trailblazers in the world in taking the necessary restrictive measures, shut down schools, universities, catering facilities and large retail outlets to prevent mass infection.

This is why I believe we have taken the right step because I want to say again  I have already said this  that people's health is the top priority for me. Of course, the economy is in recession and it remains to be seen what problems await us for the rest of the year. Everyone should know this. At the same time, the oil price in world markets has not yet stabilized. Of course, the sharp collapse was averted and the oil price was gradually restored. However, Azerbaijans budget is designed for an oil price of $55, and for five months of this year the average oil price is $41. Therefore, our revenues are shrinking. Several important sectors of the economy are almost inactive. One of them is the tourism sector. Over the past four to five years, we have developed the tourism sector as a powerful and driving sector, and the number of visitors to Azerbaijan has increased every year. Last year, it reached a record high; 3 million foreigners came to our country. According to various estimates, they spent about $1.5 to 2 billion in Azerbaijan. This means an increase in the currency coming into our country. So we have lost this.

Several other sectors have been inactive for a long time. The state has taken on the problems of these sectors and the people working there. Now we are providing the necessary funds for more than 600,000 people. The term for payments of 190 manat has been extended, although this is also a big burden and is fraught with major expenses. But we are doing this because people who have lost their jobs or belong to low-income categories, even those working informally, have actually found themselves in a difficult situation. Who will help them?! The Azerbaijani state is always next to its citizens.

Therefore, both at the first stage, when tight restrictive measures were introduced, and today, when we are forced to take this step once again, there was no choice for me personally. The life and health of people come first. Economic problems should be put on the backburner.

Moreover, as a result of the work done in recent years and the reforms that have been implemented, we have significantly increased our economic power. Our economy is stable and sustainable. I believe that even if the problems in the economic sphere aggravate further by the end of the year, this will not have a major impact on people's lifestyle. Not a single social project has been reduced. This is evidenced by the number of sites that have opened and will open as part of my visit to Ganja. Not a single social project has been reduced. On the contrary, we provide the construction of 10 modular hospitals. We are building new settlements for internally displaced persons. One of them is located in Samukh District. New schools are being built. Today I got acquainted with the construction of a new residential complex being built by the State Agency for Housing Construction in Ganja. A school and a kindergarten are also being built there. All this is provided at the expense of the state budget.

I said that there would be no cuts in the social sphere. I believe that regardless of the scale of the coronavirus pandemic, the standard of living of our people should remain unchanged until the end of the year. Last year  this is well known to everyone  a very large social package was implemented. The minimum wage doubled on average and the minimum pension was increased by 70 percent. Benefits increased by 50 and 100 percent. Problem loans were given to people as a material gift in the form of compensation. In other words, billions of manats were spent on that. Over 3 billion manats is envisaged for combating the pandemic. Some of these funds have been used up, as we are acquiring new equipment. Today we have 23 laboratories. At the same time, the problem is that sometimes we cannot purchase equipment or a device ordered in February or March because the countries that produce them do not sell them any more and keep them for themselves. This is the problem.

So our country is faced with this problem, and we must try to overcome this situation with dignity. But if the steps being taken by the state are not supported by the public en masse, then this will be useless. And what is this support about? Just follow three basic rules, stick to them and show responsibility and discipline. We have demonstrated unity and accord. We are solving the problems of people in a difficult situation, including public organizations, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Of course, the main burden falls on the state. Assistance is provided to low-income categories. More than 100 million manats has been donated by entrepreneurs and ordinary people into the Coronavirus Fund set up by my initiative. This is a lot of money and a manifestation of solidarity. We must show responsibility, just as we have been showing accord and unity. According to leaders of several developed countries, this is a war against an invisible enemy. At the same time, it is not known when it will end. No-one can say that. Of course, everyone is waiting for the vaccine today, including ourselves. However, according to some doctors, perhaps the vaccine will not be able to completely destroy this coronavirus. Who knows? The vaccine has not yet been developed. Work is still under way on this. The number of infected people is growing, and so is the threat. Therefore, peoples responsibility should be exclusively in the foreground.

The state is doing everything necessary. It is impossible to do something more than this, as we have done and will do everything necessary. We are ready to spend any resources on this, we have them and we are not dependent on anyone. Unlike some countries, we do not ask anyone for help. I must also note that, according to international financial institutions, 150 countries have applied for loans. This is the bulk of the international community. Azerbaijan did not do this because it is not necessary need. We do everything we need ourselves, we have the resources and we are spending them. But irresponsible people should understand this. In addition, public condemnation of such people is necessary. Those who dont wear masks in closed places, of course, must be fined. At the same time, citizens seeing this must condemn and explain. You should not wait for the police to come and fine such a person. The police are also on the streets around the clock to protect people; they work continuously, day and night. Therefore, everyone should wear masks indoors.

I wear a mask. I showed this before and I am showing it again. In all closed places I put on a mask. After all, if the President does it, why can't others do it? What is so complicated? It does not cause any inconvenience, does not create any problems. It is a simple lack of responsibility, I would even describe it as selfishness and indifference. For representatives of the younger generation, this disease is not so dangerous, they believe that they would get sick and recover. You will recover, but at the same time you will infect an elderly person. You will endanger their lives. Do we really have to tolerate such irresponsibility? After all, this is a crime. Therefore, public censure and very strict state control are necessary. In this regard, I gave the Operational Headquarters an instruction: strict state control must be exercised. In this case, we will be able to quickly take all necessary measures and get out of this situation with small losses. I have said this before and doctors are well aware of this. So many doctors are working to treat one patient, so many doctors are in this difficult situation around the clock, they suffer in overalls, glasses and masks. We highly appreciate the activities of doctors. But everyone should know this  doctors are also infected, they also die. I want to repeat: we are attracting all our doctors to these matters. We do not have twice as many doctors. If the pandemic spreads further and, for example, if 300-400 people get infected today and even more tomorrow, then where will we place them? Lets assume that we will place them  hospitals are being built now and we have free beds  but how can we increase the number of doctors?! Everyone should think about that.

If managers see that their employees do not wear masks, they must, of course, take measures, immediately respond and inform appropriate agencies. If this continues, then I will instruct to increase the size of fines because why people who have great capabilities today should pay fines of 50 or 100 manats? They get out, get into a car and drive wherever they want. Whether they will be stopped or not is also unknown because it is impossible to stop everyone. They pay a fine, leave and do everything they want. Therefore, I said: state bodies, local executive bodies and law enforcement agencies should exercise more strict control over this because it is a matter of national security.

Take a look at what is happening in developed countries. The situation is on the verge of a crisis. Even countries with centuries old traditions of statehood, countries the healthcare system of which has always been portrayed as a model for the whole world are unable to cope with this situation because it is impossible. Therefore, I believe that my words should become the basis for everyone: for citizens because they should also show responsibility and for government officials. State control, public control, discipline and responsibility of citizens should increase. If we see that discipline continues to be violated, we will think about what other effective steps to take in order to apply stricter measures to those who violate these rules.

Along with all this, I must say that life goes on. We must fulfill all the programs planned for this year. Several important facilities are to be opened in Ganja today. I have already taken part in the opening of a new plant today. I am told that more than 300 people will be provided with jobs there. The products of the plant will replace imports and provide for the local market.

I have issued relevant instructions on the restoration of historical monuments in Ganja. You know quite well that the reconstruction and expansion of the historical and religious complex Imamzade, which is very dear and sacred for all our people, the construction of mosques and the creation of other buildings have been carried out ensured. We will open the Shah Abbas and Ugurlu Khan caravansaries today. According to my instructions, the second ASAN xidmt center will operate in Ganja, because the population of the city increases and so does the number of services in ASAN xidmt centers. Therefore, people are queuing up. I have given the instruction and the second ASAN xidmt will be commissioned in the near future. The construction of the Ganja State Drama Theater is under way. I remember drama theater actors appealing to me during one of my visits to Ganja. I accepted this appeal and gave instructions to build a beautiful drama theater. The second Olympic sports center is under construction. When the first center was built, I was not the president. I did this job as president of the National Olympic Committee. But we need a second sports center.

As you know, the Ganja State Philharmonic Hall was built on my instructions. It is a beautiful architectural monument. Necessary infrastructure projects are also being implemented. I must note that, according to my instructions, the first Green City project in our country will be implemented in Ganja. For this reason, we are taking a loan of about 70 million euros from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. I must also say that, on my instructions, loans can be sought only as an exceptional case because we have enough of our own funds. I want our external public debt to become even smaller even though it is now below 20 percent now. We take loans only for strategic and technologically intensive projects, and I gave permission to take this loan. The Green City project in Ganja will cover public transport. Then comes street lighting  I know that there is a problem with that  as well as the disposal of solid domestic waste. At the initial stage, these three issues of concern to people will be resolved. Of course, we will continue to take all necessary steps at the expense of the state budget.

I come to Ganja regularly. This is my 16th trip as president. So I visit Ganja at least once a year on average. Today Ganja is becoming an industrial center of our country. At the same time, it is a cultural center with a long history. Of course, it is the responsibility of all of us to preserve history.

At the same time, I am very glad that as a result of the rapid development of agriculture and the improvement of the financial situation of the people involved in agriculture, there is great interest in this area. The number of applications to Ganja State Agrarian University is growing. The construction of a new building is already being completed. I will be familiarized with it today. Specialists necessary for our country will be trained in Ganja.

I want to say again: life goes on. Everything necessary is being done. Of course, the fight against coronavirus is on top of our agenda. Along with all the state measures, the main responsibility lies with the doctors. I want to repeat: I appreciate the work doctors are doing. Doctors have recently celebrated a professional holiday. I congratulate you on this occasion and wish you continued success. You are at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus, risking your health, life and the health of your loved ones. But it is your realization of the civic duty that prompts you to do this.

I wish you success and good health. Take care of yourself and treat the patients, so that we can come out of this difficult situation with small losses together. Thank you!
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Purdue University announced Wednesday (June 24) that Becks, a family-owned and -operated seed company, intends to open a satellite location in Purdues Discovery Park District.

Officials from Becks worked with Carr Workplaces  a pioneer and leader in the co-working industry  to establish a location in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration. Convergence is located in Discovery Park District, adjacent to the Purdue campus.

This location will provide opportunities to increase our collaborations with the university, the Purdue Foundry and innovators in agricultural research, said Scott Beck, president of Becks. A location in Purdues Discovery Park District gives Becks access and exposure to high-quality talent.

With the new space, Becks intends to partner with Purdue faculty and researchers from across campus, representing different colleges and multiple disciplines.

Having an ag company, like Becks, commit to a presence down the street from our college opens the door to unique opportunities for our students and faculty, said Karen Plaut, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. In addition to the potential research collaborations, I am looking forward to seeing how our students can network with individuals from Becks to gain valuable industry insight.

The $1 billion-plus Discovery Park District is a Purdue Research Foundation entity adjacent to the Purdue University campus and is a transformational center of innovation.

The districts Convergence Center houses Carr Workplaces, the Purdue Foundry and the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization. It will serve as the new home of innovation and collaboration for entrepreneurs and industry pioneers alike.

About Becks Hybrids

Becks is the largest family-owned, retail seed company in the United States that serves farmers in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. According to a recent seed industry survey, Becks ranks as the third largest corn and soybean seed brand in the United States and the number one seed brand in Indiana. To learn more about Becks, visit www.beckshybrids.com. Follow Becks Hybrids on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BecksHybrids, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/beckshybrids, like Becks Hybrids on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BecksHybrids, subscribe to their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/BecksSuperiorHybrids, or visit the Becks Blog at www.beckshybrids.com/blog.

About Discovery Park District

The Discovery Park District is a 400-acre, $1 billion-plus purpose-driven community that will include laboratories, advanced manufacturing facilities, offices, retail shops, restaurants, housing, green space, trails and an airport with a 7,000-foot runway. The district, which is a designated opportunity zone, houses the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration, a facility designed to serve as a front door to companies that seek to collaborate with Purdue. Companies interested in locating in the Discovery Park District or Convergence Center should contact David Broecker, the foundations chief innovation and collaboration officer, at dabroecker@prf.org.

Purdue Research Foundation contact: Chris Adam, cladam@prf.org
A federal prosecutor will testify to Congress on Wednesday that the Justice Department exerted heavy pressure on prosecutors in Roger Stones criminal trial to request a more lenient sentence for Stone.

Aaron Zelinsky, an assistant U.S. attorney in Maryland who was formerly assigned to Special Counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation, will testify to the House Judiciary Committee that prosecutors in Stones criminal trial were under heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to cut Stone a break.

Stones sentencing was handled in an unusual and unprecedented way that Zelinsky found deeply unsettling, he will testify, according to his prepared remarks.

Stone was convicted of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the Houses investigation into the Trump campaigns connections to Russia.

Trump complained in February that the prosecutors seven-to-nine-year sentencing recommendation constituted a horrible and very unfair situation. Shortly afterwards, his Justice Department submitted a revised filing stating that the prosecutors recommended lengthy sentence could be considered excessive and unwarranted. Zelinsky was one of four prosecutors to recommend Stones seven-to-nine year sentence who either resigned or quit the case after the DOJ weighed in.

The White House has denied Trump pressured the DOJ to show lenience to Stone.

Zelinskys supervisors in the U.S. Attorneys Office informed him that Stone, a longtime associate of President Trumps, was being treated differently because of his relationship to the president. The federal prosecutor said he was told that the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Timothy Shea, was under 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.

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 will testify.

Story continues

Meanwhile, Zelinsky says he saw the DOJ exerting significant pressure on prosecutors to obscure the correct Sentencing Guidelines calculation for Stone as well as 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.

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, Zelinskys remarks to Congress read.

Zelinsky said he and other Assistant United States Attorneys immediately and repeatedly raised concerns, in writing and orally but their objections were not heeded.

Another Justice Department official, antitrust prosecutor John Elias, will also testify on Wednesday about a separate alleged instance of political bias within the DOJ. Elias will tell lawmakers that Attorney General William Barr ordered the departments Antitrust Division to probe ten marijuana company mergers because he did not like the nature of their underlying business.

Both officials are testifying under subpoena.

More from National Review
Tomball Independent School District announced Tuesday, June 22, that its final curbside meal service originally scheduled for June 24 was canceled, bringing an end to the service thats been providing students free meals at Tomball High School.

Tomball ISD had been providing curbside meals since March for all students during remote learning as a result of schools closing in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pool safety: Tomball women preach toddler safety at home swimming pools

The last pick up for kids was scheduled to take place June 24 but was canceled two days before it was supposed to take place. According to the district, the cancellation of the curbside meal service was in response to several issues, including an increase in area COVID-19 cases and a confirmed case in the Tomball ISD community.

The curbside service began Tuesday, March 17 from 8 to 11 a.m. at Tomball High Schools front entrance and ended up handing out 5,000 meals that day.

Each recipient received a set of five breakfast and five lunch meals for the week. Tomball ISD continued providing meals weekly, mostly on Wednesday, throughout the months of March, April, May and June.

Superintendent of Schools Martha Salazar-Zamora said during a June 9 school board meeting that the district had so far served over 29,723 students for a total 286,124 meals.

Salazar-Zamora said it opened their eyes as educators that even though they are a destination excellence there are a lot in the surrounding community that have needs the district wasnt entirely aware of.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Abbott orders new COVID-19 rules for Texas child care centers after prior restrictions dropped

The districts June 22 announcement stated that they have appreciated the chance to help the community and families.

Tomball ISD has worked hard to make sure proper protocols are put in place to ensure the health and safety of our staff and families during curbside meal distribution over the last several months, states the announcement. While the curbside meal service has come to an end, we have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to serve our community and our families in a time of need. Thank you for your patience and understanding and we hope your summer is off to a safe and relaxing start.

For people struggling with food insecurity visit your nearest Houston Food Bank distribution site: Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries at 300 West Main Street on Tuesday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Lydias Pantry at 14847 Brown Road on Monday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Tuesday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; and Wednesday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

alvaro.montano@chron.com
The California Attorney Generals Office has declined to conduct an independent review of the fatal shooting of Sean Monterrosa by a Vallejo police officer earlier this month, officials said.

Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams requested the independent investigation on June 4, according to a statement, two days after Monterrosa was fatally shot outside a Walgreens in Vallejo by an officer who police say mistook a hammer in Monterrosas pocket for a gun.

In an emailed statement Tuesday, the state Attorney Generals Office wrote, Absent a conflict of interest, an abuse of discretion or other exceptional circumstances, the Department of Justice does not assume responsibility for local investigations or prosecutions typically handled by local authorities.

Insofar as the Vallejo shootings, DA Abrams did not provide DOJ with information indicating that her office was not capable of conducting a fair and thorough review of these incidents.

Abrams, however, questioned the decision in a statement noting that Attorney General Xavier Becerra recently announced his office would conduct an expansive review of the Vallejo Police Department in a collaborative effort with the city and its police department to increase public trust.

Given the totality of the circumstances, it is difficult to discern why the Attorney Generals Office is reluctant to assume the responsibility in this case when both of our offices agree that community trust in the process is of critical importance, Abrams statement said.

Abrams wrote a number of city, county and state elected officials (and) community members have called for an investigation into the death of Monterrosa, a 22-year-old San Francisco man, on June 2 during a night of protests and rioting in Vallejo.

Officers responding to a reported break-in at Walgreens saw Monterrosa running then kneeling outside the building, police said. One officer fired five shots through his windshield at Monterrosa, striking him once, after mistaking a hammer in his sweatshirt pocket for the butt of a handgun, police said. Monterrosa did not have a gun and family members later said they believe he was kneeling to surrender.

Vallejo police have not identified the officer who shot Monterrosa or released body cam video footage of the incident; the departments website says that footage will be shared as soon as possible.

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 department also said it has asked the OIR Group, an independent police oversight organization, to conduct an independent investigation of the shooting in lieu of a Vallejo police internal affairs investigation and in addition to the Solano County District Attorneys Office review.

Abrams wrote in her statement Tuesday the investigation involves exceptional circumstances that would allow the Attorney Generals Office to step in and that: While I am confident that my office can conduct a fair and thorough review of all officer involved shootings, an independent review is needed at this time to restore public trust and provide credibility, transparency and oversight.

Becerras office wrote its personnel could be available to help with aspects of the investigation and that: We have confidence in District Attorney Abrams capabilities to fully and fairly complete the investigations before her.

Matt Kawahara is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara
TSX: GPR | NYSE American: GPL

VANCOUVER, BC, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Great Panther Mining Limited (TSX: GPR) (NYSE-A: GPL) ("Great Panther" or "the Company") reports the results of its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") held on June 24, 2020. A total of 141,771,862 votes were cast, representing 45.38% of the issued and outstanding common shares as of the record date for the Meeting.

Shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of all items of business before the Meeting. All of the director nominees were duly elected by shareholders present or represented by proxy. The following provides the voting results for each director nominee:

Director Votes for Percent for Votes withheld Percent withheld David Garofalo 68,170,590 96.37% 2,564,523 3.63% Joseph Gallucci 68,168,809 96.37% 2,566,304 3.63% R.W. (Bob) Garnett 68,219,720 96.44% 2,515,393 3.56% Alan Hair 68,169,374 96.37% 2,565,739 3.63% Robert Henderson 68,234,810 96.47% 2,500,303 3.53% John Jennings 68,073,217 96.24% 2,661,896 3.76% W.J. (James) Mullin 68,094,181 96.27% 2,640,932 3.73% Elise Rees 68,209,834 96.43% 2,525,279 3.57% Kevin J. Ross 68,182,787 96.39% 2,552,326 3.61%

Shareholders voted 95.28% in favour of setting the number of directors at nine, 95.89% in favour of appointing KPMG LLP as auditors, and 91.95% in favour of the amended and restated Omnibus Incentive Plan for a three-year period.

ABOUT GREAT PANTHER

Great Panther is a growing gold and silver producer focused on the Americas. The Company owns a diversified portfolio of assets in Brazil, Mexico and Peru that includes three operating gold and silver mines, four exploration projects, and an advanced development project. Great Panther is actively exploring large land packages in highly prospective districts and is pursuing acquisition opportunities to complement its existing portfolio. Great Panther trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange trading under the symbol GPR, and on the NYSE American under the symbol GPL.

SOURCE Great Panther Mining Limited

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 10:06 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406612c424 1 National KPK,Supreme-Court,secretary,nurhadi-abdurrahman,tin-zuraida,Bambang-Widjojanto,mahkamah-agung Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is tracking the wealth and assets of former Supreme Court secretary Nurhadi Abdurrahman, who is a suspect in a bribery case.

Nurhadi and his son-in-law, Rezky Herbiyono, were named as suspects for allegedly accepting nine checks and Rp 46 billion (US$3.2 million) in cash as bribes in connection with three Supreme Court cases between 2011 and 2016.

KPK commissioner Nawawi Pomolanggo told the Koran Tempo daily that the antigraft agency would continue to investigate Nurhadi's wealth and assets, as well as possible laundering efforts.

"We will continue to [track his wealth] during the investigation," Nawawi said on Monday.

According to the wealth report Nurhadi filed in 2012, he possessed Rp 33.4 billion in assets that ranged from land to luxury cars. Antigraft activists expressed their suspicions over his unusually large wealth, suggesting that some of it came from illicit sources.

Nawawi declined to comment further, "considering that this investigation is in the realm of pro justitia, which is strict and confidential", he said, referring to a mechanism that guarantees legal certainty according to existing laws.

Since arresting the two suspects earlier this month, the KPK has summoned several witnesses in the case, including Nurhadi's wife Tin Zuraida. The KPK summoned Tin, who has also been detained but is not a suspect in the case, for questioning on Monday.

Ali Fikri, the KPK's acting spokesperson for law enforcement, said that the commission sought to confirm several receipts of money that Tin transferred to Nurhadi and several assets the couple owned.

The investigation was also looking into Tin's relation with Kardi, a Supreme Court employee who allegedly managed some of Tin's wealth.

"Among other things, our investigator is looking to [clarify] the ties between [Tin] and Kardi," Ali said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

Earlier on June 10, the KPK summoned Kardi and his driver for questioning. On June 15, it questioned businessman Sofyan Rosada and obtained a statement from him that substantiated the connection between Tin and Kardi.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Anticorruption Community coordinator Boyamin Saiman stated that Tin and Kardi had eloped in 2001, alleging that the wedding was held at an Islamic boarding school belonging to Sofyan.

Also on Monday, the KPK questioned Edward Danny Suhendra, an employee of San Diego Hills Memorial Park, regarding the alleged purchase of cemetery plots for Nurhadi and Tin. investigators also summoned Andy Kurniawan, the general manager of the luxury funeral home and cemetery.

The memorial park and cemetery provides exclusive funeral services, and sells burial plots for Rp 57.1 million to Rp 101.7 million each at the private cemetery it manages in Karawang regency, West Java.

Hiendra Soenjoto, the director of PT Multicon Indrajaya Terminal who is also a suspect in the case, allegedly purchased the plots for the couple as a bribe when Nurhadi was still on the run.

Antigraft activists have urged the KPK to identify those parties that may have helped hide Nurhadi, who was arrested in South Jakarta six months after he was named as a bribery suspect. It was suspected that Nurhadi had been hiding in the luxury neighborhood the entire time.

During Nurhadi's arrest, the KPK seized three vehicles, cash and documents as evidence. The commission questioned Nurhadi's daughter Rizki Aulia Rahmi on June 18 over the seized items.

The KPK has said that it planned to charge Nurhadi with money laundering.

Bambang Widjojanto, who served as the KPK commissioner from 2011 to 2015, previously said that proving Tin's involvement in the case could lead to money laundering charges, claiming that she managed and couriered Nurhadi's illicitly gained wealth.

Bambang also suggested that Nurhadi and Rezky could have been involved in more than three Supreme Court cases, as Nurhadi's position allowed him to control the judicial flow at the country's highest court.

He urged the KPK to use Nurhadi's bribery investigation as an opportunity to uncover other corruption cases in the judiciary. (mfp)
PHILADELPHIA  More than two dozen demonstrators were detained during a protest over police funding Tuesday at a building near Philadelphias City Hall.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that more than two dozen people sought to occupy the lobby of the city's Municipal Services Building on Tuesday and a number were detained, including an Inquirer reporter. Police said 27 people were arrested and later issued summary citations for failure to disperse.

The protesters said they were demanding cuts to the police budget and calling for more money for programs supporting schools, housing, and jobs.

The building was one of the sites of protests stemming from the death in Minnesota of George Floyd last month, with demonstrators focusing on the presence of a statue of former city mayor Frank Rizzo. The statue was removed earlier this month.

Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck even as he pleaded for air and stopped moving.

Rizzo, who died in 1991, was the police commissioner from 1968 to 1971 and mayor from 1972 to 1980. He was praised by supporters as tough on crime but accused by critics of discriminating against minorities.
The UK economy is set to shrink by 10.2 per cent this year as coronavirus hits like a wrecking ball, the IMF said today.

The grim forecast for Britain is significantly worse than the Fund suggested as recently as April - although not as bad as for some other European countries.

The IMF said it now sees more pain around the world, with global output tumbling by 4.9 per cent instead of the 3 per cent expected in April. For the first time, every region of the world will be in recession at once.

The recovery will also be weaker next year, at 5.4 per cent rather than 5.8 per cent.

In a stark warning, it said a resurgence in the pandemic cold send even that figure tumbling to just 0.5 per cent.

The grim 10.2 per cent recession forecast by the IMF for the UK this year is significantly worse than the Fund suggested as recently as April

The latest UK estimates are for a deeper recession this year than in Japan, Germany, the US and Canada - which are in line for 5.8 per cent, 7.2 per cent, eight per cent and 8.4 per cent falls in GDP respectively.

The 10.2 per cent plunge is 3.7 percentage points bigger than anticipated before.

But other countries are predicted to fare worse, with France facing a 12.5 per cent recession and Italy and Spain 12.8 per cent.

The UK bounceback next year is also greater than some other major economies, at 6.3 per cent - although that would still leave the country significantly less wealthy.

The Fund said despite lockdowns being eased in many places the curbs and social distancing had hit both investment and consumption.

'Thus, there is a broad-based aggregate demand shock, compounding near-term supply disruptions due to lockdowns,' the IMF said in an update of its World Economic Outlook forecast.

The eight per cent drop for the US and 10.2 per cent for the Eurozone this year are both more than two percentage points worse than the figures from April.

Latin American economies, where infections are still rising, saw some of the largest downgrades, with the Brazil economy now expected to shrink 9.1 per cent, Mexico's 10.5 per cent and Argentina's 9.9 per cent in 2020.

China, where businesses started reopening in April and new infections have been minimal, is the only major economy now expected to show positive growth in 2020, trimmed slightly to 1 per cent compared to 1.2 per cent envisaged two months ago.

The IMF said that more policy actions from governments and central banks would be needed to support jobs and businesses to limit further damage and set the stage for recovery.
OSLO, Norway, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Photocure ASA ("Photocure" or the "Company") has retained ABG Sundal Collier ASA and DNB Markets, a part of DNB Bank ASA as Joint Bookrunners (collectively referred to as the "Managers") to advise on and effect a contemplated private placement directed towards Norwegian and international investors, subject to and in compliance with applicable exemptions from relevant prospectus or registration requirements (the "Private Placement"). The Company is contemplating to issue up to 2,500,000 new shares in the Company (the "Offer Shares") corresponding to approximately 10% of the current outstanding shares in the Company, of which 98,300 Offer Shares will be issued and sold following exercise of fully vested employee options.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement (i.e. net of transaction costs and employer's contributions triggered by the option exercise) to i) create and scale up a world-class marketing, sales, and distribution infrastructure after transfer of the business previously owned and managed by Ipsen; ii) finance growth and working capital, including expansion in underserved countries and new geographies currently not served by Photocure or Ipsen; iii) explore new product opportunities / development, and new geographies for Hexvix/Cysview to expand and secure its market position; and iv) general corporate purposes.

In addition to the contemplated Private Placement, the Company has agreed a three-year term loan with Nordea, secured under the State Guarantee Scheme to further strengthen the financing of the abovementioned use of proceeds.

As communicated in connection with the first quarter 2020 reporting, Photocure experienced near term temporary pressure on revenue due to COVID-19 impact. The Company has seen a rebound over recent weeks building comfort on the expectation of steady return to growth in second half 2020. Photocure has implemented strict cost control in line with the activity level in second quarter 2020. The 2023 group guidance remains firm on group revenue ambitions in the range of NOK 1 billion with EBITDA margins of approximately 40%.

The subscription price and the number of Offer Shares to be issued in the Private Placement will be determined by the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") following an accelerated bookbuilding process. The application period for the Private Placement will commence on 24 June 2020 at 16:30 hours CEST and is expected to close on 25 June 2020 at 08:00 hours CEST. The Company, after consultation with the Managers, reserves the right to at any time and in its sole discretion resolve to close or to extend the application period or to cancel the Private Placement in its entirety without further notice. If the Application Period is shortened or extended, any other dates referred to herein may be amended accordingly.

The minimum subscription and allocation amount in the Private Placement will be the NOK equivalent of EUR 100,000, provided that the Company may, at its sole discretion, allocate an amount below EUR 100,000 to the extent applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirement pursuant to applicable regulations, including the Norwegian Securities Trading Act and ancillary regulations, are available.

The allocation will be made at the sole discretion of the Board after input from the Managers. Allocation will be based on criteria such as (but not limited to), existing ownership in the Company, timeliness of the application, price leadership, relative order size, sector knowledge, investment history, perceived investor quality and investment horizon. Primary insiders will be allocated a number of Offer Shares needed to meet the required acquisition of shares pursuant to the option program as set out below. The Board may, at its sole discretion, reject and/or reduce any applications. There is no guarantee that any applicant will be allocated Offer Shares.

The Offer Shares will be issued based on a Board authorization granted by the Company's annual general meeting held on 10 June 2020. The Managers are expected to pre-fund the subscription price for the Offer Shares to facilitate a swift registration of the share capital in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises ("NRBE"). The Offer Shares will be tradeable from the registration of the share capital increase in the NRBE. Delivery of the Offer Shares will be on a delivery versus payment basis to the investors.

The Company will announce the results of the Private Placement in a stock exchange announcement expected to be published before opening of markets tomorrow, 25 June 2020. Completion of the Private Placement is subject to final approval by the Board.

The Board of Directors has considered the Private Placement in light of the equal treatment obligations under the Norwegian Securities Trading Act and Oslo Brs' Circular no. 2/2014, and is of the opinion that the proposed Private Placement is in compliance with these requirements. The Board has considered alternative structures for the raising of new equity. Following careful considerations, the Board is of the view that it will be in the common interest of the Company and its shareholders to raise equity through a private placement setting aside the pre-emptive rights of the shareholders. By structuring the transaction as a private placement, the Company expects to be in a position to complete the share issue in today's market conditions in an efficient manner. It also gives the Company the possibility of raising equity with a lower discount to the current trading price and with significantly lower execution risks compared to a rights issue. In addition, the Private Placement has been subject to a pre-sounding and is subject to a publicly announced bookbuilding process. By this, a market based subscription price will be achieved.

The Company, members of the board of directors and senior management team will be subject to a customary lock-up for a period of six months following issuance and listing of the Offer Shares.

The option exercise in relation to the Private Placement refers to the Company's stock exchange release on 31 December 2019, with the final number of shares issued following the exercise being 98,300. The remaining of these exercised options have been settled by the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the employee option program, members of the Executive Management are required to acquire a number of shares equivalent to 1/10 of the options exercised. The following primary insiders are the option holders who participate in the of sale of Offer Shares:

Erik Dahl , CFO, selling 24,000 Offer Shares and subscribing for 2,400 Offer Shares;

, CFO, selling 24,000 Offer Shares and subscribing for 2,400 Offer Shares; Grete Hogstad , VP Strategic Marketing, selling 24,000 Offer Shares and subscribing for 2,400 Offer Shares;

, VP Strategic Marketing, selling 24,000 Offer Shares and subscribing for 2,400 Offer Shares; Gry Stensrud, VP Technical Development and Operation, selling 27,000 Offer Shares and subscribing for 2,700 Offer Shares;

Espen Njastein, Head Nordic Cancer Commercial Operations, selling 23,300 Offer Shares and subscribing for 2,330 Offer Shares;

Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS is acting as legal adviser to Photocure ASA.

About Photocure ASA



Photocure, The Bladder Cancer Company, delivers transformative solutions to improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, which makes cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). The US headquarters for Photocure Inc., are in Princeton, New Jersey. For more information, please visit us at www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com or www.cysview.com

Important information



This announcement does not constitute or form a part of any offer of securities for sale or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities of the Company in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The distribution of this announcement and other information may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Copies of this announcement are not being made and may not be distributed or sent into any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful or would require registration or other measures. Persons into whose possession this announcement or such other information should come are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

The securities of the Company may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"). The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act. Any sale in the United States of the securities mentioned in this communication will be made solely to "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act. No public offering of the securities will be made in the United States.

In any EEA Member State, this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the EU Prospectus Regulation, i.e., only to investors who can receive the offer without an approved prospectus in such EEA Member State. The expression "EU Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State).

In the United Kingdom, this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at Qualified Investors who (i) are investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) (the "Order") or (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). These materials are directed only at Relevant Persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Persons distributing this communication must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so.

Any Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Offering.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Company's shares.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own Target Market Assessment in respect of the Company's shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

Matters discussed in this announcement may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "intends", "may", "should", "will" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking statements.

Actual events may differ significantly from any anticipated development due to a number of factors, including without limitation, changes in investment levels and need for the Company's services, changes in the general economic, political and market conditions in the markets in which the Company operate, the Company's ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel, changes in the Company's ability to engage in commercially acceptable acquisitions and strategic investments, and changes in laws and regulation and the potential impact of legal proceedings and actions. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not provide any guarantees that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements in this announcement are free from errors nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this announcement or any obligation to update or revise the statements in this announcement to reflect subsequent events. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this document. Current market conditions are affected by the COVID-19 virus outbreak. The development in both Photocure's operations as well as relevant financial markets in general may affected by government measures to mitigate the effect of the virus, reduction in activity, unavailable financial markets and other. See OSE notification of 7 April 2020 for an in-depth analysis of risk and effects of the COVID-19 situation.

The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as at its date, and are subject to change without notice. Each of the Company, the Managers and their respective affiliates expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any statement contained in this announcement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

This announcement is made by and, and is the responsibility of, the Company. The Managers are acting exclusively for the Company and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, or for advice in relation to the contents of this announcement or any of the matters referred to herein.

Neither the Managers nor any of their respective affiliates makes any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of this announcement and none of them accepts any responsibility for the contents of this announcement or any matters referred to herein.

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not to be relied upon in substitution for the exercise of independent judgment. It is not intended as investment advice and under no circumstances is it to be used or considered as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities of the Company. Neither the Managers nor any of their respective affiliates accepts any liability arising from the use of this announcement.

For further information, please contact:

Dan Schneider

President and CEO

Photocure ASA

Tel: + 1-609-759-6515

Email: ds@photocure.com

Erik Dahl

Chief Financial Officer

Tel: +47-450-55-000

Email: ed@photocure.no

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) (THE "UNITED STATES"), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA OR JAPAN, OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/photocure/r/photocure-asa---contemplated-private-placement,c3141199

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This letter was provided by the Committee to Reimagine Policing in Grinnell. The Committee read this letter to the Grinnell City Council at their June 15 meeting. The City Council and Police Department released a joint statement on June 13 about their plan to develop a task force to re-examine police practices in Grinnell, which you can read here.

Grinnell City Council and Friends,

We are a group of local citizens who value the services and endeavors of our elected officials, our city administration, and our Grinnell Police Department. We acknowledge we are in the midst of dynamic changes ignited by the murder of Mr. George Floyd in Minneapolis and countless other Black individuals, evoking nationwide protests, rallies and intensive focus on systemic racism. Called to accountability by recent events, predominantly white communities like ours are coming together to discuss concerns, questions, and ideas regarding local law enforcement. We as neighbors first and Americans second seek to seize this moment to examine, learn together from, and rectify the historical oppression and violence against Black citizens and other people of color in our own town of Grinnell.

As a framework for change, the Black Lives Matter movement brings practical actions to the forefront that are not outside of what our community can and should do. Indeed, what happens nationally and globally affects small communities like ours. We are assured our local police department is listening and thinking about these current issues. We believe they understand many of the problems that face our community. Therefore it is our hope that we can discuss issues of infrastructural injustice in a form that will open a dialogue between the community, our local police department, and the City Council. We want to contribute to ongoing solutions for our community, and our intention is to support the City Council in developing their next set of public safety goals with consideration for the current needs of our diverse community.

The next step we envision is your partnership in sponsoring a sharing of personal testimonies and a roundtable discussion between residents of Grinnell, the City Council, and our local police department. Our approach is based on the belief that if all are invited to the table and voluntarily take part in making solutions without being put on the defensive, the results will be long term, transparent, and supportive for the whole community. We have identified the following key areas as potential starting points for our discussion:

Comprehensive Review of City Budget

How the city spends its money dictates the type of city in which we live. We believe Grinnell can be a city where all residents have a comfortable and affordable place to live, access to quality mental healthcare, vibrant cultural and social spaces, and support from their community in difficult financial times. However, the adopted city budget for fiscal year 2021 does not reflect these aspirations. It allocates approximately $1.3 million to the police department and crime prevention while allotting a mere $2,000 to health and social services and $0 to housing and urban renewal. We believe Grinnell has enough funds to ensure our communitys health, vitality, and safety, and that a comprehensive review of how we direct and use our financial resources is in order to ensure our neighbors needs are met through the most appropriate services.

Mental Health

Iowa has a well-documented mental health crisis. Reallocating resources to better social and community mental health services can reduce the burden that otherwise falls to police officers. These community support systems can prevent the need for crisis intervention in the first place or provide more appropriate response mechanisms. We believe police officers are too often called as first responders to situations where a social worker trained in crisis intervention would be better equipped to deescalate the situation and help connect those in need to mental health resources. New ideas and resources need to be considered to align mental health professionals with local crisis response and law enforcement.

Continuous Education

The culture of our public safety and law enforcement agencies should embrace continuous education, training, and progressive thinking. Unlearning biases and becoming anti-racist is our individual and collective responsibility; we can only combat systemic racism when we learn to recognize its insidious nature. We believe the Grinnell Police Department should consider establishing professional development structures that foster open-mindedness, sensitivity to current cultural and social issues, and a commitment to continuously striving to improve awareness and empathy towards ALL community members.

Civilian Oversight

As a community, we should consider forming an independent civilian group with meaningful oversight of our police department. The National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (nacole.org) provides compelling information about the value and integrity such a structure can bring to a community. We have an opportunity to learn from national events and ensure progressive policies and practices are put in place now, before another crisis situation emerges.

City Council Accountability

The Grinnell Police Department is overseen by the Public Safety Committee of the City Council. We believe an independent external review of this committees purpose and performance will reveal areas for improvement toward more meaningful City Council oversight. The review may answer questions regarding the committees policies, procedures and actions ensuring police accountability and proactively seeking ways to improve. They may also reveal measures that the Council should take to regularly train and assess committee members. Moreover, the results of this study would help inform civilian oversight efforts.

It is our hope that a constructive discussion between community members, representatives from the Grinnell Police Department, and the City Council inspired by the preceding issues will serve as an inclusive starting point in our efforts toward becoming a safer, healthier, and more peaceful community. Our group, the Committee to Reimagine Policing in Grinnell, presents this statement in response to both global and local calls to action against systemic racism that we believe must not go unanswered. We will continue to join together as neighbors seeking ongoing solutions for safety in our community and invite individuals interested in contributing to our efforts to email reimaginepolicinggrinnell@gmail.com to learn how they can get involved.

Sincerely,

The Committee to Reimagine Policing in Grinnell

Erin Bustin

Tina Elfenbein

Lily Hamilton

Jennie Jackson

Kirsten Klepfer

Maggie Levandoski

Todd Reding

Kesho Scott

Vicky Springer

Laurel Strand-Crawford
Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Terry Crews said the sitcom has been forced to abandon four new episodes in the wake of protests over George Floyds death.

The hit NBC comedy, which follows the exploits of a well-meaning but dysfunctional New York police unit, finished filming its seventh season in April.

Crews, who plays Lieutenant Terry Jeffords on the show, told Access Daily: Weve had a lot of sombre talks about it and deep conversations and we hope through this were going to make something that will be truly groundbreaking this year. We have an opportunity and we plan to use it in the best way possible.

They had four episodes all ready to go and they just threw them in the trash. We have to start over. Right now we dont know which direction its going to go in.

Floyd died while being apprehended by Minneapolis police officers in May. One officer, Derek Chauvin, was filmed kneeling on his neck for more than eight minutes, and has since been charged with second-degree murder.

The incident sparked a wave of global protests over systemic racism and police brutality.

In the same interview, Crews described the reaction to Floyds death as Black Americas #MeToo movement.

We always knew this was happening, the actor continued, but now, white people are understanding.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that the cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine had donated $100,000 (80,000) to the National Bail Fund to help aid protesters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that Kushinagar airport in UP will not only boost tourism but also serve as a strategic location in close proximity with our international border.

Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, has given its approval for the declaration of Kushinagar airport in Uttar Pradesh as an International airport. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to twitter to apprise about the decision.

Great news for Uttar Pradesh, tourism and those inspired by the noble thoughts of Lord Buddha! Kushinagar Airport will now be an international airport. Connectivity will improve significantly. More tourists and pilgrims will also mean better opportunities for local population, Modi tweeted.

Kushinagar Airport is located in the vicinity of several Buddhist cultural Sites like Sravasti, Kapilvastu, Lumbini (Kushinagar itself is a Buddhist cultural site) and its declaration as an International Airport will offer improved connectivity and a wider choice of competitive costs to the air-travelers.

Read Also: PM to inaugurate employment scheme for 1.25 CR UP residents

Great news for Uttar Pradesh, tourism and those inspired by the noble thoughts of Lord Buddha! Kushinagar Airport will now be an international airport. Connectivity will improve significantly. More tourists and pilgrims will also mean better opportunities for local population.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 24, 2020

Read Also:Congress accuses UP CM Yogi Adityanath of tampering Covid-19 statistics

The decision will result in the boosting of domestic/international tourism and the economic development of the regions.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, it will be an important strategic location with the international border close by. Kushinagar is located in the north-eastern part of Uttar Pradesh about 50 km east of Gorakhpur and is one of the important Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

Read Also: Rajnath Singh attends 75th Victory Parade in Russia

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The failure of the Edenville and Sanford dams and the subsequent flooding that destroyed much of downtown Sanford and flooded many homes and businesses in Midland and Saginaw counties is a symptom of a larger climate change crisis facing the United States, according to speakers on a 90-minute webinar Wednesday morning.

The webinar was sponsored by the Michigan Center for Progressive Public Policy, the Traverse City-based Groundwork Center, and the Michigan Climate Action Network.

Those who spoke included prominent environmental activist Peter Sinclair of Midland, Sierra Club Healthy Communities and Environmental Justice organizer Justin Onwenu, University of Michigan interdisciplinary climate scientist Dr. Jonathan Overpeck, and Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Deputy Director James Clift.

The overriding message conveyed by the speakers was that Michigan, with its abundant water resources, can take the lead in forging a future that conserves and protects natural resources and mitigates climate change.

"There is a climate opportunity for Michigan," Overpeck said. "Michigan has 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh water, and water is going to become more and more valuable to our livelihoods. We could fuel an economic revitalization in our region.

"If we embrace renewable energy, our state and region could win big," Overpeck added, asserting that the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is the main cause of climate change and air pollution.

"As the saying goes, 'Never let a crisis go to waste,'" Sinclair said in advocating for public policy that encourages renewable energy among other things. "Climate change isn't just going to happen in Bangladesh and Africa. It's going to hit everyday Americans pretty hard as well."

Onwenu noted one Texas community's response to a hurricane that caused $125 billion in damage was to approve a bond to spend $2.5 billion on dam infrastructure. He questioned that community's priorities.

"Are we thinking about things on the scale we need to? I don't think we are," Onwenu said.

Overpeck drew a parallel between the coronavirus pandemic and climate change.

"If there's one thing the pandemic is really making clear to us, it's that if we don't listen to science, we die," Overpeck said. "It's the same kind of thing with climate change."

Clift, who is also the former policy director of the Michigan Environmental Council, discussed the effect of the rising water levels of the Great Lakes on Michigan.

"We went from record lows to record highs in record time," Clift said. "The loss of coastal wetlands in Michigan (due to higher water levels) is coming back to bite us (when flooding occurs). Those wetlands aren't there anymore."

He said the state is promoting the production and sale of electric vehicles.

"If I look at the big automakers and the number of electric vehicles sold, that gives me hope," Clift said. "Unfortunately, they are still geared toward middle- or upper-income households."

But Overpeck is optimistic about the eventual lower costs of renewable energy, including wind turbines and solar energy.

"The costs of green tech(nology) are going down quickly," he said. "They're making it so fossil fuel is not just a planet destroyer  it's also too expensive.

"As we move toward green energy and a low-climate-change world, the majority of Americans are going to support that," Overpeck added.

Sinclair is also hopeful about renewable energy, although he acknowledges there's an organized opposition to it.

"What we're seeing in mid-Michigan is that communities choose to bring more and more wind (energy) and recently more solar energy into these areas. We're becoming a hotbed for renewable energy," Sinclair said.

"But there is an organized and funded pushback against this (renewable energy). If you care about rural areas, you need to get out there and help these folks, because the vast majority of people want (renewable energy).

"It's happening if we want it to happen," Sinclair added.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Metro Fitness owner Randy Sabourin scheduled 80 personal training sessions next week in anticipation of being able to reopen his gym when Central New York was eligible to begin phase four of its reopening.

Now hes rescheduling them all for the second time.

For weeks, gyms had been anticipating the start of phase four. For weeks, the target date appeared to be Friday.

That all changed on Tuesday when the state determined that gyms wouldnt be able to open at the start of phase four.

Gym and fitness facility owners generally found out through news reports. The information was delivered with no explanation of why they had been deemed more problematic than other spaces.

It followed a pattern that gym owners say has existed throughout the coronavirus pandemic in which they have felt disrespected and left in the dark about their livelihoods.

The word is frustrating, said Sabourin, who had to send an e-mail to his customers correcting his previous guidance. This is the second time weve had to backpedal. Every time you backpedal it creates instability and it creates questions from customers. Why cant you open? Are you doing something wrong? Is it unsafe?' Its embarrassing. I think our industry hasnt been given the respect we deserve by the state.

Sabourin is one of many local gym and fitness facility owners who invested in additional safety measures and felt prepared to open safely a month ago on a reduced basis. He and others believed personal training counted as a personal service until finding out just before they planned to open that the state disagreed with that interpretation.

Now hes left dealing with disappointment, and disappointed customers, for the second time in a month.

While the coronavirus has frustrated business owners in all industries, it has spawned a special level of frustration at gym and fitness facilities.

Many owners believe they help public health by limiting conditions like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. They have objected when other businesses, like liquor stores and bars, have received priority in opening.

Early in the pandemic, fitness facilities werent placed in any of the phases, creating a guessing game of when they might reopen and a feeling that they were an afterthought.

They believe that through cleaning, spacing and limited capacity, they could operate without substantial risk. This approach, they believed, matched the states frequently-stated goal to bend the curve of coronavirus cases.

But even as New York has accomplished that goal they remain unable to return to work.

Cuomos instructions on Tuesday lumped in gyms with indoor facilities that draw substantial crowds like malls, movie theaters and casinos. On Wednesday he offered some explanation why, citing improving information about how the virus spreads.

We are continuing to study malls, movie theaters and gyms, Cuomo said on Wednesday. Were looking at what happened in other states. There are some reports that malls, bars, certain social clubs with air conditioning  that air conditioning may not be cleansing the air of the virus and just recirculating the virus.

Kyle Stewart, the Executive Director of the Alliance of New York State YMCAs, said the sudden reversal is costly to fitness facilities and could limit the services available at one of the states most well-known non-profit organizations. The YMCA had planned to open a number of branches on Monday, including those in Central New York.

The Alliance of New York State YMCAs was dismayed by the sudden news announcement that we would not be allowed to open at the beginning of phase four, Stewart said in a news release. For most of our 37 YMCAs statewide who operate 140 locations, this meant a putting a disruptive, and frankly, expensive halt to their reopening plans. The consequences of the Governors action have not only damaged the Ys fitness operations but has put the viability of the non-profit services we deliver to over 1.5 million New Yorkers in jeopardy.

Beth Dice, who runs Mission: midlife Wellness in Fulton, said the lack of consideration for the fitness and wellness industry isnt solely a state issue.

She said the North American Industry Classification Services code for her business, which includes small group and individual training sessions, is the same one that covers escort services.

Neither the state nor the federal government has provided guidelines to fitness facilities for how to prepare to open safely, leaving them operating largely on their own. Instead of local guidelines, Dice found a comprehensive 19-page set of recommendations put together by the government of New Zealand.

Dice said she noticed that the fitness industry was not the only one hampered by the states ever-shifting approach to fighting the coronavirus. Because of that, she built some wiggle room into her reopening plans. She anticipated reopening July 6, something she hopes remains a possibility.

It is what it is, Dice said. Its more disappointing than anything. It seems like things have changed throughout. It was never just phase two, three and four. There was phase 2.5, 3, 3.5. Weve wondered all along if, maybe, well be phase 3.75. Now maybe it will be 4.25 or 4.75. I see (reopening) as very nebulous. Its not like were never going to open.

Dice has invested in her facility to try to make it safe for customers, which she said does make it frustrating not to be able to welcome them in. She added touchless UV-C lights in her bathrooms. She built individual pods for each of her customers to work out in that are appropriately spaced out and help limit the spread of viral particles. She plans to limit in-person access to three people to reduce density and schedule each ones arrival time so theres no congregating.

I can operate more safely than a lot of businesses that are already able to open, Dice said.

All of it, she said, has led her to consider inviting local officials down to her facility, hoping to find an ally who can better plead her case to the state or someone that could provide her some sort of approval to reopen on a local level.

The mayor, the state rep, anyone that would come, Dice said.

Even before Tuesday, frustration with the states ability to communicate had played a role in gym owners choosing not to follow state orders. A number of fitness facilities and gyms had started to offer services either without permission or by using questionable logic to justify their ability to open.

While the state orders and exemptions dictate which industries can open, the enforcement of those rules is done by local governments, who have sometimes expressed disagreement with the state on what can be done safely.

On Tuesday night, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said on social media that hed keep fighting for gym owners and other industries that remain closed. Madison County Legislative Chair John Becker told reporters he was briefly pausing his participation in the states regional reopening committee in protest, calling the nightly calls a waste of our time.

Phase 4 was scheduled to start on friday. A lot can happen between now and then. We will continue to make the case that Malls, Gyms, Movie theaters, Bowling Alleys can safely open. https://t.co/3bhekZhO8z  Ryan McMahon (@CHM_McMahon) June 23, 2020

Breaking News from @NewsChannel9: After the adjustments to what's part of Phase 4, Madison County Chairman John Becker says he is withdrawing from the 'control room' calls between Central New York leaders and @NYGovCuomo's team. He says, "They have become a waste of our time." pic.twitter.com/FhsjaScDHG  Andrew Donovan (@AndrewDonovan) June 24, 2020

The county has said it enforces orders when it has the ability and resources.

Sabourin said word has trickled out in the industry that many are willing to look the other way.

Were going to follow the state mandate, Sabourin said. Not because we think its right or that we cant operate safely right now. But God forbid something did happen here and we werent supposed to be open. ... The biggest frustration I have is that the communication comes so late. In order to run our businesses, we need to communicate with our patrons. Its not fair and its not equal but I dont blame my competitors that have decided to open. I blame the communications were getting. Were trying to provide our clients information, and the information were getting is slow, vague and confusing.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Restarting NY, Phase 4: Museums, zoos can open; movie theaters, casinos remain closed

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

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Contact Chris Carlson anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1639
In regard to the removal of statues by mobs in Golden Gate Park and elsewhere, it appears that we live in an iconoclastic age as surely as that which rose at the start of the Protestant Reformation.

And like Christopher Columbus, many of these figures deserve to be removed both figuratively and literally from their lofty pedestals. But we might also want to take time to remember that both slavery and genocide existed in the Americas long before the arrival of Europeans.

And for all the wrongs that have followed, we have also inherited a legacy of a multicultural democracy, a government for the people, by the people and of the people, one that at its most troubled times has repeatedly found a path to rebirth and reform.

Hopefully now is one of those times. However, if we do not take the time to discern the good from the bad of our ancestors when this time is past, we might have little but more broken shards of humanity.

Bernie Corace, San Francisco

Enough of the idol worship

Regarding Thoughtless toppling (Editorial, June 23): Those in power in the United States are clearly more committed to protecting the existence of dead statues than to defending the lives of real, living human beings.

The tremendous anger being expressed by toppling the statues of men long dead is understandable. For centuries, those in power have respected and valued statues, monuments and pictures of powerful politicians while neglecting the lives of actual living human beings. While treasures have been spent erecting monuments to those of the past, millions of innocent human beings have been forced to live in poverty or sacrificed in ugly and meaningless wars. It is time that things be put right.

Those in power have turned the world upside down. The international protests that are rocking the world are the demand to finally replace the worship of idols with love and respect of real people.

Rama Kumar, Fairfax

Wipe off phone screens

Regarding Apple dropping Intel chips (Daily Briefing, Business, June 23): Rather than announcing that its next iPhone operating system will, in recognition of the coronavirus, include an option to put a face mask on a personalized emoji, why isnt Apple reminding its iPhone users to repeatedly wipe them with disinfectant?

As more businesses reopen and more people socialize near each other with their phones, theres a greater chance of germs being transmitted. So heres some good advice for all smart phone users: Clean your screens!

Dylan Seager, San Francisco

Trumps favorable fixers

Concerning Navy carries Trumps water (Editorial, June 23): How to explain the imbroglio that ensued from a naval commanders earnest effort to spare his crew a pandemics brunt?

Focus on the unregimented chaos spawned by our narcissistic commander in chief. While a congressional investigation may never get to the full truth of Trumps role in removing Capt. Brett Crozier from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelts command, this much is plain to most of us military vets: Trump may not have directly ordered Capt. Croziers firing, but he didnt need to do so.

Thats because he favors sycophantic fixers who will do his bidding without explicitly being told to take dodgy actions he prefers. While his cynical base-rousing tweets dont constitute direct orders, they must be heeded as such. Thats how Trump sets himself up to have it both ways.

For any military success, Trump takes credit. But for an embarrassing failure, Trump claims to have played no role.

As we learned long ago, the buck never stops with him. All who want to see Crozier vindicated  and, indeed, our militarys integrity restored  should vote in a new commander in chief.

Edward Alston, Santa Maria

No more controversial statues

Regarding Commemorate DiMaggio (Letters, June 23): Why must we continue to honor human beings in outdoor statuary? Lets jettison controversial statues and now-empty pedestals nationwide and replace them with inspirational outdoor art; solicit proposals from African American artists.
Proposition 47, the 2014 ballot measure that lowered penalties for many property and drug crimes in California, has reduced but not eliminated the gap between African Americans and whites in arrests and jailings, according to a new report.

While white Californians are arrested and booked into jail less often than Blacks, the disparity dropped by 5.9% in overall arrests, and 8.2% in bookings, in the first two years after passage of Prop. 47, said the report issued Tuesday by the Public Policy Institute of California, a nonprofit policy research organization. For the crimes covered by the ballot measure, the declines in racial disparity were 24.4% in arrests and 36.2% in jail bookings  and for the drug crimes alone, the declines were about 55%.

The report, based on state records through December 2016, found little change in the much-smaller gaps between arrest and booking rates of white and Latino Californians.

But African Americans are still arrested more than three times as often as whites in California, and make up 16% of all those arrested while comprising less than 6% of the states population, the report said. As of 2017, according to another report from the same organization, 28.5% of the states male prison inmates, and 25.9% of the female inmates, were African American.

The effects of Prop. 47 on racial disparities represent a notable but modest step toward addressing inequities in criminal justice outcomes, said Magnus Lofstrom, policy director at the Public Policy Institute and an author of the report. Our state still has much work to do.

Prop. 47, approved by nearly 60% of California voters in November 2014, reduced penalties for most cases of drug possession, and for nonviolent thefts of property worth $950 or less, from felonies to misdemeanors, punishable by months in county jail instead of years in state prison. Previous law allowed felony charges for thefts of $400 or more.

Along with other changes in sentencing laws and a voter-approved reduction of Californias three-strikes law for repeat felons, Prop. 47 has helped to lower the population of the states overcrowded prisons by about 30,000. Passage of the measure led to an increase in some property crimes, including auto thefts, but no overall rise in the states crime rate, according to another Public Policy Institute report.

A measure sponsored by some law enforcement groups to restore felony sentences for some thefts of property worth less than $950, including guns, autos and credit cards, will be on the November state ballot.

As an indication of the substantial number of criminal cases involving drug possession and property theft, Tuesdays report said bookings into jail statewide declined by more than 10% for all crimes, and by 30% for felonies, in the first two years after Prop. 47 passed.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

During that period, the report said, the overall arrest rate dropped by 5.1% for African Americans, 5.5% for Latinos and 3.7% for whites. But the likelihood of being booked into jail for a felony actually declined more for white Californians than for Blacks because whites were accused more than others of the drug-possession crimes covered by Prop. 47, the report said.

One reason for the decline in the arrest rate is that the voters sent a signal to law enforcement that we deem these types of crimes to be less serious, said Lofstrom, the reports co-author.

The report did not cover incarceration during the first two months of the coronavirus pandemic, when state judicial leaders ordered local courts to release defendants without bail after arrests for nonviolent crimes. The Judicial Council ended the mandatory zero-bail policy as of this week, although local courts can continue it on their own, as San Francisco has done. State voters will decide in November whether to abolish the cash-bail system and require judges to decide whether individual defendants can be released safely or should be held without bail.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Many of us are not hearing impaired, but most of us know someone who is.

We read daily of ways that people are trying to deal with this virus both physically and mentally.

I have read nothing about our hearing-impaired friends, and how communication has become more difficult.

Hearing impairment is a silent disability. We see a deaf person signing, and we are alerted to his hearing loss. With a hearing-impaired person, we might easily miss the hearing aids, therefore no clues are available to us.

A good lipreader gets 32% of what is said, leaving 68% that is not understood. But at least there was the 32%.

Now we are wearing masks (hopefully). In no way am I an advocate of removing our masks. So how do we try to communicate? If we could all practice increased patience, kindness and some simple techniques, we could make a difference.

Many hearing-impaired adults have mentioned to me that they say, I am hearing impaired. Will you please look at me when you speak? Often times, this was met with exasperation, and a refusal to do what was asked.

Even with the masks, we need to look at the person we are speaking with. If aware that your customer, patient or client is hearing impaired, please slightly slow your speaking rate, and slightly increase your volume.

Do not yell and do not over exaggerate your mouth movements.

Give the person time and perhaps even ask if they understand. It will take just seconds and help a human being.

For years, I taught sign language classes at various organizations, including the Charleston Police Department and local fire departments. Our first responders care and want to be prepared.

In a sense, we are all responders now, working together to defeat this virus.

Awareness and kindness will go a long way to improve communication during these different days.

VICKIE GUERRY, MS CCC-SLP

Charleston Speech Services, LLC

Antigua Drive

Mount Pleasant

COVID business lessons

There have been multiple lessons learned in this COVID-19 pandemic, and there are more to learn as we make our way out.

From a business standpoint, the three most important lessons are:

Take care of your employees and your customers.

Reexamine your supply chain: availability, delivery, quantity.

Examine liquidity, i.e., cash needs and reserves. Determine what assets can be readily converted to cash.

Hopefully this event has been a once-in-a-lifetime challenge.

HUGH C. LANE JR.

Chairman of the Board

The Bank of South Carolina

Meeting Street

Charleston

Stop, listen and act

I believe black lives matter with all my heart. But I pray that all of us outraged, privileged whites can find a way to tamp down the heated rhetoric, be quiet, listen and take a closer look with our black neighbors to save our communities.

We need to discern who is behind organized attacks, co-opting and corrupting the causes to achieve disruption and destruction. These people have no interest in causes so many are legitimately protesting on the streets and on the written page.

Some white faces shown in video of the riots are cynically and opportunistically pursuing ends that have nothing to do with black peoples lives.

Left, right or from both extremes, I believe agent provocateurs are involved.

Stop, breathe, I beg you, hush. We are privileged to be white and breathe freely. Lets use that breath to be calm and quiet and think.

Count the black places of business and employment destroyed.

Ask a black neighbor how to donate, then be quiet and listen. Stop shouting. Theyve heard enough white rage.

PAULINE STONEY

Prioleau Street

Charleston

Honor fathers

In 2001, my brothers and sisters gathered in a hospital room near our fathers bed to await the doctor. Daddy, who had been strong, active, outgoing, take-charge and confident was just lying there. He had been sick and in pain for weeks. In all the challenges of my childhood, I had never imagined watching my daddy suffer.

As I scanned the faces in the room, I quietly counted the number of sisters and brothers who were there. We all had different childhood experiences and challenges.

The doctor gave us a grim prognosis. In spite of that painful news, we went into action to take care of Daddy. We worked together, prayed together, met together, created schedules, assigned duties, prepared meals and even celebrated together. Daddy was treated like a king until the day he died. He was never alone.

Two truths got us through that difficult time. One was knowing that we were all Daddys kids even though some of us have different mothers.

And, more importantly, we are all children of the greatest father ever: God. He is why we love each other. For God so loved the world (us) ... we believe and say, Happy Fathers Day every day!

LINDA MOSLEY LUCAS

Eileen Street

North Charleston
Cannabidiol, a type of medicinal cannabis, may reduce severe behavioural problems in children and adolescents with an intellectual disability a new study has found.

The pilot study, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, recorded a clinically significant change in participants' irritability, aggression, self-injury, and yelling. The intervention was also found to be safe and well-tolerated by most study participants.

The randomised controlled trial involved eight participants, aged 8-16, years who took either cannabidiol or a placebo over eight weeks. Participants were recruited from paediatric clinics from both hospital and private paediatric practices.

Although the pilot study was not large enough to make definitive statements, the early findings strongly support a larger follow-up trial. Only a large scale randomised controlled trial can produce the definitive results necessary to drive changes in prescribing and clinical care guidelines. The researchers are planning a large study to definitively test the findings.

The researchers are also seeking funding for further research into the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis in children with developmental disorders such as autism and Tourette syndrome.

Associate Professor Daryl Efron, a clinician-scientist at MCRI who led the study, said this was the first investigation of cannabidiol to manage severe behavioural problems in children and adolescents with an intellectual disability. Most of the participants also had autism.

The study found the medication was generally well-tolerated and there were no serious side effects reported. All parents reported they would recommend the study to families with children with similar problems.

Associate Professor Efron said severe behavioural problems such as irritability, aggression and self-injury in children and adolescents with an intellectual disability were a major contributor to functional impairments, missed learning opportunities and reduced quality of life.

He said conventional psychotropic medications, including anti-psychotics and anti-depressants, were prescribed by Australian paediatricians for almost half of young people with an intellectual disability, despite limited evidence of their effectiveness. Given how extremely difficult behavioural problems were to treat in these patients, new, safer interventions were needed to treat this highly vulnerable patient group, he said.

"Current medications carry a high risk of side-effects, with vulnerable people with intellectual disability being less able to report side-effects," he said. "Common side-effects of antipsychotics, such as weight gain and metabolic syndrome, have huge health effects for a patient group already at increased risk of chronic illness."

Cannabidiol is already being used increasingly to manage a range of medical and psychiatric conditions in adults and epilepsy in children.

Associate Professor Efron said there was intense interest from parents and physicians in medicinal cannabis as a treatment for severe behavioural problems in youth with an intellectual disability.

"Parents of children with an intellectual disability and severe behavioural problems are increasingly asking paediatricians whether they can access medicinal cannabis for their child and some parents have reported giving unregulated cannabis products to their children," he said.

"We are also finding many physicians feel unprepared to have these conversations with their patients." Researchers from The Royal Children's Hospital, the University of Melbourne and Monash University also contributed to the study.

###

Publication: Efron D, Freeman J L, Cranswick N, Payne J M, Mulraney M, Prakash C, Lee K J, Taylor K, Williams K. 'A pilot randomised placebo-controlled trial of cannabidiol to reduce severe behavioural problems in children and adolescents with intellectual disability,' British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14399

Available for interview: Associate Professor Daryl Efron
To the Times:

Victoria Browns Letter to the Editor, published June 22, contains a significant factual error.

The letter mistakenly characterizes U.S. District Judge Daniel H. Huyett 3rds June 1973 opinion in Farber v. Rizzo as finding that Rizzo had willfully ignored a legal restraining order and ignored the Constitutional right to free speech and free assembly of antiwar protesters. The opinion, searchable as Farber v. Rizzo and reported at 363 F. Supp 386 (E.D. Pa.), does no such thing. Judge Huyetts June 1973 opinion did not find Mayor Frank Rizzo in contempt of court for violating his Temporary Restraining Order and in fact does not even discuss the mayors compliance or lack of compliance with the order.

Judge Huyetts June 1973 opinion does find Police Commissioner ONeill, Inspector Fencl and other subordinate members of the Philadelphia Police Department in contempt of his order, in effect for having willfully ignored the order and the Constitutional right to free speech and free assembly but the opinion makes no such finding concerning the mayor.

To be clear, the Temporary Restraining Order that Judge Huyett signed was directed to Mayor Rizzo, in addition to Commissioner ONeill, Inspector Fencl and others, but the Contempt of Court findings did not include the mayor.

I was Judge Huyetts law clerk not long after these events, and he explained to me that although a contempt citation was sought against Mayor Rizzo, he declined to do so because there was no evidence of the mayors direct involvement in the Philadelphia Police Departments brazen violation of his order requiring them to allow antiwar protesters reasonable access to Independence Mall to speak their minds on a public issue of great importance.

For me, this error does not detract from Ms. Browns defense of the City of Philadelphias decision to remove celebrations of the tenure of Mayor Rizzo. He was indeed a divisive public figure, and as the citys mayor, and former police commissioner, he was the captain of the ship that brazenly disregarded a federal court order barring the removal of antiwar protesters from a politically charged, public appearance by the president of the United States two weeks before the 1972 presidential election.

David E. Sandel Jr., Havertown
The husband of Jean Eagers, who was murdered in her own home on Sunday morning, could be in hospital for days to receive treatment for what are understood to be self-inflicted injuries.

It is believed it could be later this week before William Eagers is fit to face questioning by investigators.

He was arrested at the family home on the Willow Wood Grove estate in Clonsilla, Dublin, shortly after 11.30am on Sunday.

He was brought to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown later that day for treatment, with sources saying some of his injuries were self-inflicted.

"It could be a few days before he is deemed fit for interview. He is still being treated by doctors," a source said. It is understood gardai are also at the hospital while he is being treated.

The couple's son, who is in his 20s, had raised the alarm after he heard screaming coming from the sitting room.

He ran from the house to seek the assistance of neighbours who then called emergency services to the scene.

Ms Eagers, a mother of two, died from her injuries which are believed to have included multiple stab wounds to the chest.

Sources say the weapons removed from the scene for forensic examination include a samurai sword and a meat cleaver.

Neighbours reported hearing shouting "put down your weapons" and "nobody is coming in here" before gardai had to break a window and use flash grenades to storm the house.

Neighbours told earlier this week of their shock at what had happened.

"Jean was very well known and liked and she was a quiet lady," one said.

Colleagues who worked with Ms Eagers at Marks & Spencer in Blanchardstown shopping centre paid tribute and wept openly as they left flowers.

"I will miss your bright smile, Jean. You are forever in my heart. Shine bright," said one tribute card.
Martin Connor, an election lawyer and former state senator, said the pandemic would present daunting logistical issues for the New York City Board of Elections. The board would need to ensure social distancing during the counting process, while allowing campaigns to have representatives  or watchers  present to oversee the vote counts.

Its an extraordinary number of absentee ballots, he said. And weve never had this in the history of this state.

Though more than 700,000 voters in New York City were sent absentee ballots, not all of them are expected to be returned. Many voters might not have received them in time, might have failed to mail them in, or might have voted in person instead.

So far, the citys Board of Elections had received about 12 percent of the absentee ballots that were mailed out, according to preliminary data.

Matt Rey, a partner at Red Horse Strategies, a political consulting firm that has been analyzing the demographics of voters who applied for absentee ballots, said there was nothing in the data to suggest Mr. Bowman, Mr. Jones and Mr. Torres were at risk of losing their leads.

The breadth of their victories is the real highlight for me here, said Mr. Rey, whose firm worked with a candidate, Assemblyman David Buchwald, who ran against Mr. Jones in the 17th District. Theyre rightly confident to declare victory.

Mr. Rey noted an overwhelming number of voters who requested absentee ballots in competitive districts were under age 40, a demographic that could give challengers an edge.
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will direct travelers from states with high rates of COVID-19 to quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival.

The Democratic governors of the three states held a joint news conference to announce the new travel advisory, six days after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo first threatened to put it in place.

The move comes three months after Florida, Texas, South Carolina and other states instituted a similar quarantine policy that included travel from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, which came at a time when Floridas coronavirus rates were low and the Northeast states were being hit hard.

Since then, the rates have flipped: Florida is identifying thousands of new cases of COVID-19 each day, while New York is regularly seeing below 700.

"I think it's right and I think it's smart and I'm glad we're doing it together," Cuomo said during a news conference Wednesday in Manhattan.

Cuomo said the order will apply to travelers from states that have identified 10 residents that have tested positive for COVID-19 for every 100,000 residents on a seven-day rolling average.

As of Wednesday, that applied to eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington and Utah, according to Cuomo.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said further guidance would come from the states' health departments.

Murphy called the measure a "common sense" move.

"This is a smart thing to do," Murphy said. "We have taken our people, the three of us in these three states, through hell and back, and the last thing we need to do is subject our people to another round."

Cuomo has acknowledged the situation is a "complete 180" from March, when Cuomo threatened to sue the state of Rhode Island as it began stopping drivers with New York plates and ordering them to quarantine.

On Monday, Cuomo said he took issue with Rhode Island only targeting New York travelers. His order is broader: It applies to any state with an elevated rate of COVID-19 transmission.

When President Donald Trump floated the idea of a mandatory quarantine order for the New York tri-state area in late March, Cuomo likened it to a "federal declaration of war."

Trump later backed off the idea, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instead issuing guidance advising New York travelers against domestic travel for two weeks in March and April.

"I don't believe that any federal administration could be serious about physical lockdowns on parts of states across this country," Cuomo said on CNN in late March. "I don't believe it's legal. It would be economic chaos."

"I can't thank you enough for your partnership, guys. We need to do things right inside the four walls of our states. We have needed the federal government. But boy, do we need our neighbors."

At the news conference Wednesday, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont  who, like Murphy, appeared by video feed  said Northeast states have taken coronavirus seriously but now must worry about travelers from other states reintroducing the virus.

"We're not an island," Lamont said. "As we look around the rest of the country, we have seen not just spikes but real community spread."



2020 Observer-Dispatch, Utica, N.Y.

Visit Observer-Dispatch, Utica, N.Y. at www.uticaod.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Russia staged a postponed Victory Day military parade in Moscow on June 24 with President Vladimir Putin seeking to solidify support ahead of a referendum that could pave the way for his extended rule.

The parade commemorating the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II is traditionally held on May 9.

Putin reluctantly postponed the event until June 24 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The date coincides with the 75th anniversary of the first Soviet Victory Day parade in 1945.

For Putin, the event is particularly significant this year as it falls ahead of a July 1 national vote on controversial amendments to the constitution that would open the door for the Russian leader staying in power until 2036. That vote had been scheduled for April 22 but was also postponed because of the pandemic.

Since coming to power two decades ago, Putin has sought either as president or prime minister to restore symbols of the Soviet and Russian past to boost patriotism.

On June 14, a new Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces was consecrated outside Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of what the Kremlin calls the Great Patriotic War, a conflict in which more than 20 million Soviet soldiers and citizens perished.

But the spectacle of military might in Moscows Red Square  involving some 14,000 troops from 13 countries, more than 200 historic and modern military vehicles, and 75 aircraft  was overshadowed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Most of the troops in the parade were from Russia. Also taking part were forces from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Russia has reported 600,000 coronavirus infections, giving it the third-highest number in the world. Deaths stand at more than 8,000, but real numbers are believed to be much higher.

Russia began lifting mass coronavirus restrictions in recent weeks, but new cases remain stubbornly high at above 7,000 a day.

Putin has spent much of the pandemic conducting affairs of state remotely from his residence outside Moscow.

On June 24, the Kremlin limited access in Red Square to the area where Putin sat along with foreign leaders and World War II veterans of Soviet forces.

Those veterans had been placed under quarantine ahead of the parade.

Soldiers taking part in the parade also had been tested and placed in quarantine ahead of the parade.

Speaking from a podium on Red Square, Putin told the gathering: "Its impossible to imagine what would have happened to the world if the Red Army hadn't defended it."

Putin said Soviet soldiers "did not need war, nor other countries, nor glory, nor honor. They sought to finish off the enemy, win, and return home. And they paid an irreplaceable price for the freedom of Europe."



Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin had urged spectators to stay at home and watch the parade on television. Meanwhile, several cities that would normally hold smaller parades canceled them or went forward without crowds.

Many foreign leaders also stayed away. The presidents of France, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and China had planned to attend the parade on May 9. But they all canceled their plans to travel to Moscow after the event was rescheduled for June 24.

Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov traveled to Moscow for the event but missed the parade after two people aboard his flight to the Russian capital tested positive for COVID-19 upon their arrival.

Jeenbeekov's office told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that the head of the presidential office's foreign policy unit, Daniyar Sydykov, and a bodyguard had tested positive for the coronavirus.

The presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan all attended the gathering -- sitting together in a section with Putin and the World War II veterans.

The de facto leaders of Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which Russia recognizes as independent states, also attended, along with the Bosnian Serb member of Bosnias multiethnic presidency, Milorad Dodik.

After the parade, Putin laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin Wall to honor the memory of those killed in World War II.

Later, at a ceremony in the Kremlin, Putin handed the 2019 State Prizes to laureates for achievements in science and technology, literature and the arts, and for humanitarian activities, charity, and human rights.

The ceremony for awarding the State Prizes is usually held on Russia Day -- marked each year on June 12.

But this year, Putin presented Gold Star of Labor Hero medals to several laureates instead.

The State Prize is Russia's highest award for scientific and cultural contributions to society and the state. In 1992, the award replaced the Soviet-era State Prize of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian and Kyrgyz Services, AFP, and dpa
U.S. President Donald Trump keeps using the term Kung Flu and the internet is fuming. Most recently, at his Students for Trump convention in a church in Phoenix, Arizona, Trump took a moment to run through a list of names for a virus that has killed over 120,000 Americans and in the words of Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, brought this nation to its knees.

Declaring that there has never been anything with so many names, Trump said, Wuhan  Wuhan was catching on. Coronavirus, right? He then said, Kung Flu, yeah? at which point the crowd of roughly 3,000 young supporters who filled the megachurch burst out in cheers and applause. Trump then repeated the term to egg on the disturbing moment.

His use of the offensive term comes on the heels of his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Trump also used it to describe coronavirus, resulting in a firestorm of criticism online. Chris Lu, former deputy secretary of labor in the Obama administration, responded by saying it is painful to think of all the Asian-American kids who will be taunted. If you have kids, please watch this video and tell them this isnt okay, he pleaded.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang also took to social media to express his disgust, calling Trumps use of the offensive term to describe coronavirus as stupid and racist. A fan page of Yang responded to his comment by saying that Trump knows his words hurt and he uses this language to amplify hatred and division.

Many people agree that the term Kung Flu is highly offensive and they have called on Trump to stop with the racist language. Even White House aide Kellyanne Conway has publicly condemned the term, mentioning that her family has Asian heritage.

However, what made the scene in Phoenix even more disturbing is that a church full of supporters cheered the racist rhetoric. Some Twitter users compared it to a televised Klan rally and one user wrote, [Trump] took off his hood today. To make matters worse, this happened on a day when Asian-Americans remembered Chinese-American Vincent Chin, who was beaten to death by two white autoworkers who mistook him for being Japanese and accused him of stealing their jobs in Detroit, Michigan, in 1982.

Hate has been on the rise in America in recent years and studies have shown a clear correlation between Trump-related rhetoric and reports of hate. It is evidence that Trumps harmful rhetoric can have harmful consequences in the real world, especially in the middle of a global pandemic that has taken a heavy toll on America.

It is reckless for someone at the highest level of government to fuel fear and hate by using terms that tie certain groups to diseases. Some might see Trumps use of the term Kung Flu or other related terms as a harmless or amusing way to take a jab at China or connect with his core, but the scapegoating and scaremongering is fueling fear and hate, leading to increased incidents of racist threats and attacks against Asian people in America and around the world.

We should beware of the pandemic of hate that is making the coronavirus pandemic even more dangerous and deadly. Trumps use of racialized language for the pandemicand at a time of racial turmoil in the Americais not harmless fun or something to joke about.
A top German court on Tuesday ordered Facebook to stop merging data collected through its Whatsapp and Instagram subsidiaries or other websites unless users explicitly agree, in a legal victory for competition authorities. Germany's Federal Cartel Office (FCO) had told Facebook to rein in the data collecting in a landmark decision in 2019, but the social media giant appealed the order. In a fast-track proceeding on Tuesday, Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH) sided with the FCO watchdog in finding that Facebook was abusing its dominant position to force users to consent to all their data being collected. "Facebook does not allow for any choice," presiding judge Peter Meier-Beck said in the Karlsruhe courtroom. The Silicon Valley company will have to comply with the order while its appeal is ongoing in a lower court. It is a major setback for the social media giant, which has long been under scrutiny in privacy-conscious Germany. The FCO criticised Facebook in February 2019 for making the "practically unrestricted" data harvesting part of the website's terms of use. That meant people had to tick the box or opt out of being on Facebook altogether. The personal data picked up through Facebook's own platform, Whatsapp, Instagram and third-party websites serve to build up a user's profile for the purposes of targeted advertising, a key income source for the group. The Federal Cartel Office ordered the tech giant to stop combining information from Facebook and non-Facebook sources unless users gave "voluntary consent". It also said Facebook was not allowed to exclude people from its services if they chose to refuse permission. Facebook said at the time it disagreed with the decision, arguing the German anti-trust body was setting rules that applied "to only one company" and that it underestimated the competition it faced from rivals. - 'Abuse of power' - The FCO however found that Facebook was by far the biggest social network in Germany, with over 23 million daily active users representing 95 percent of the market -- meaning there was no viable alternative service for most people. Rival services like Snapchat, YouTube or Twitter "only offer parts of the services of a social network" and are not directly comparable, the authority said. Facebook lodged an appeal against the FCO ruling with the higher regional court in Duesseldorf, which is still pending. But Tuesday's fast-tracked decision at the BGH settles the row, for now, about whether Facebook can keep combining data in the meantime. FCO chief Andreas Mundt welcomed Tuesday's ruling. "When data is collected and used illegally, an anti-trust intervention must be possible to prevent an abuse of market power," he said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from Facebook. The US firm led by Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly come under fire in recent years over data protection and privacy. In one major scandal in 2018, it emerged that data belonging to tens of millions of Facebook users had been harvested by consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, and used in part to support Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign.
Penn Badgley spoke out about the recent string of sexual misconduct allegations leveled against actor Chris D'Elia, 40, who co-starred in season two of Badgley's Netflix show You.

The 33-year-old said he didn't really 'know Chris' but that he was 'very troubled' by the accusations, during an appearance on the Los Angeles Times' podcast.

In a macabre twist of life imitating art, in season two of You, D'Elia played a comedian named Henderson who raped and molested underage girls in the show.

Disturbing: Penn Badgley said he was 'very troubled' learning of the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct recently made against actor Chris D'Elia, who played a rapist in Badgley's Netflix thriller You, during an interview with the Los Angeles Times' podcast

'It did affect me deeply,' Penn said of the allegations. 'I was very troubled by it. I am very troubled by it.'

'I don't know Chris,' he continued. 'I know that, if there's anything we need to do in this age, it's to believe women.'

Last week several women took to social media to accuse D'Elia of inappropriate communications with minors and 'grooming' them.

It began when a woman by the name of Simone Rossi, using the handle @girlpowertbh, tweeted about D'Elia's 'ironic' casting as the lecherous Henderson in You.

'It did affect me deeply,' Penn said of the allegations. 'I was very troubled by it. I am very troubled by it. I don't know Chris. I know that, if there's anything we need to do in this age, it's to believe women.'

Troubling: Last week several women took to social media to accuse D'Elia of inappropriate communications with minors and 'grooming' them

'I still can't believe Netflix cast Chris D'elia as the pedophile in season two of "You" like the literal IRONY,' she wrote.

Rossi then posted images that depicted a text chat between the pair six years ago and she said she felt she was 'being groomed by a stand-up comedian' for sex.

Rossi wrote: 'Imagine being 16 and being groomed by a stand up comedian twice ur age and the only reason you never met up and never got physically m*lested was because u had just gotten a boyfriend ur own age.'

Another user under the handle @michaelacoletta accused the comedian of '[soliciting] nudes off of [her] when [she] was 17 years old.'

Accusations: It began when a woman by the name of Simone Rossi, using the handle @girlpowertbh, tweeted about D'Elia's 'ironic' casting as the lecherous Henderson in You.

Backing her claim: She said via Twitter that she felt she was 'being groomed by a stand-up comedian' for sex and included screen shots of messages purported to be between them

He 'constantly messaged me whenever he was touring [Vancouver] and asked me to come backstage to his shows,' she wrote

She subsequently added: 'I am so unsurprised that multiple girls are coming out with almost the exact story as mine. It's a known fact he's a f***ing perv and he plays those roles perfectly when acting lmao.'

The allegations surfacing online were disturbingly similar to Henderson's storyline in the Netflix thriller.

'The first thing our producers did was reach out to Jenna [Ortega], who played Ellie, the girl opposite Chris in those scenes, just to make sure she felt safe,' Penn said. 'We can feel safe and sound there.'

Irony: The allegations surfacing online were disturbingly similar to Henderson's storyline in the Netflix thriller

'The first thing our producers did was reach out to Jenna [Ortega], who played Ellie, the girl opposite Chris in those scenes, just to make sure she felt safe,' Penn said. 'We can feel safe and sound there.' (Ortega and Delia pictured in You)

In the show, 15-year-old Ellie (Jenny Ortega) begins an internship with Henderson in hopes of furthering her career in the film industry, though her old sister Delilah (Carmela Zumbado) warns her to steer clear.

Later, Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) comes upon a hidden room in Henderson's basement where he documented his sexual assaults of young women, including Ellie's sister Delilah.

'The idea that a show like ours would indirectly, unwittingly be a haven for people who are abusive is disturbing. It's very disturbing,' Penn said.

He continued: 'Does a show like ours help to create that culture? Well, I know that at least our show  thinks about things in a dismantling, deconstructive manner. I would hope that at least our show is not serving to uphold these kind of, like, bunk ways of being and these systems, right?'

On screen: Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) comes upon a hidden room in Henderson's basement where he documented his sexual assaults of young women

'The idea that a show like ours would indirectly, unwittingly be a haven for people who are abusive is disturbing. It's very disturbing,' Penn said. 'Does a show like ours help to create that culture? Well, I know that at least our show  thinks about things in a dismantling, deconstructive manner. I would hope that at least our show is not serving to uphold these kind of, like, bunk ways of being and these systems, right?'

The day after the accusations against him first surfaced, D'Elia denied them in a lengthy statement maintaining that his sexual relationships had all been consensual.

'I know I have said and done things that might have offended people during my career, but I have never knowingly pursued any underage women at any point,' he said.

'All of my relationships have been both legal and consensual and I have never met or exchanged any inappropriate photos with the people who have tweeted about me.'

He added: 'That being said, I really am truly sorry. I was a dumb guy who ABSOLUTELY let myself get caught up in my lifestyle. That's MY fault. I own it. I've been reflecting on this for some time now and I promise I will continue to do better.'

Maintaining his innocence: The day after the accusations against him first surfaced, D'Elia denied them in a lengthy statement maintaining that his sexual relationships had all been consensual

The fallout from the scandal, however, has been swift. As of Tuesday, Chris was dropped by his representation at CAA, according to Variety.

Whitney Cummings, who gave him his big break in 2011 in her NBC sitcom Whitney, spoke out against him saying she was 'devastated and enraged' and unfollowed Chris on Twitter and Instagram.

The actress/producer, 37, spoke out in a strongly worded Twitter statement over the weekend, telling followers: 'Now that I'm aware, I won't be silent.'

'It's taken me a couple days to process the information I have learned about Chris. I'm devastated and enraged by what I've read and learned,' began Whitney in her statement.'

Backlash: Whitney Cummings, who gave him his big break in 2011 in her NBC sitcom Whitney, spoke out against him saying she was 'devastated and enraged' and unfollowed Chris on Twitter and Instagram

'This is a pattern of predatory behavior. This abuse of power is enabled by silence. Now that I'm aware, I won't be silent.'

'Girls should be able to be a fan of a comedian they admire without becoming a sexual target. It's the adult's responsibility to be an adult,' concluded the stand-up star.

The same year that D'Elia was cast on Cummings show, he also made a guest star appearance on Comedy Central show Workaholics in which he played a local child molester named Topher.

Several streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Hulu and Comedy Central have now removed the episode he appeared in.
Many businesses are using "the pandemic as a cloak" to cut jobs that they had wanted to cut even before the coronavirus outbreak, "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary told CNBC on Wednesday.

"Their jobs will never come back," O'Leary said on "Squawk Box." "This is great for earnings in the S&P. It's not great for employment."

O'Leary said that mandatory closures in particular  put in place by state and local governments to help slow the spread of Covid-19  can be used by businesses as cover to scale back their employee count going forward. "They wanted to do this anyways, and they're doing it under the cloak of, 'Gee, I can't open so I'm just going to do it.'"

Tens of millions of Americans have filed for unemployment insurance since the coronavirus pandemic began to intensify, but a large share of those filing for claims have said they believe their layoffs will be temporary. There were 15.3 million unemployed people on temporary layoff in the May jobs report, a decrease of 2.7 million from the month prior, according to the Labor Department.

However, permanent job losses rose by 295,000 in May to 2.3 million. Overall, the U.S. unemployment rate in May dropped to 13.3% from 14.7%, following a surprising gain of 2.5 million jobs that served as a positive indication of the economy's recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.
The Red Sox have agreed to a $1.75 million bonus with third-round pick Blaze Jordan, a source told MassLive on Wednesday. That bonus comes in significantly higher than the slot value for the No. 89 overall pick, which is $667,900.

Jordan will fly to Boston next week to take a physical and make his deal official. He was originally scheduled to have his physical in Fort Myers but had to change his plans once spring training facilities were shut down due to coronavirus outbreaks in various camps across Florida.

Jordan, a 17-year-old third baseman from DeSoto Central High School in Mississippi, was one of the most well-known amateur players in this years draft class. Known for his power, Jordan burst onto the social media scene at 12 years old and became a well-known YouTube and Instagram sensation due to his power displays at events over the last few years.

He has got some innate attributes that are very hard to teach and how he generates bat speed, how hes able to process information out of the pitchers hand and transfer that to mechanical action, its super unique, said Red Sox amateur scouting director Paul Toboni. You dont see it very often, but when you do see it, it sticks out to you. When its coming from a 16 or 17 year old kid, it really sticks out to you.

With Jordan signed, the Red Sox have roughly $3.38 million in bonus pool money to sign their other three draft picks (infielder Nick Yorke and pitchers Jeremy Wu-Yelland and Shane Drohan). Yorke is expected to sign for significantly less than his slot value of $3,609,700, allowing the Sox to stay under their recommended pool and avoid penalties.

Wu-Yelland, a left-handed pitcher from the University of Hawaii, is a candidate to sign for an underslot bonus. Drohan, a lefty from Florida State, could be in line for a deal close to or above his recommended slot value of $364,400.

Related links:

Boston Red Sox draft Blaze Jordan, powerful HS third baseman, in 3rd round (No. 89 overall)

Blaze Jordan, Boston Red Sox draft pick, is power-hitting YouTube star dubbed the next Bryce Harper: Hes just a really exciting talent

Blaze Jordan, Boston Red Sox pick, discusses draft process, being a YouTube sensation on Fenway Rundown podcast

Why Boston Red Sox prospect Blaze Jordan isnt afraid of the spotlight that comes with being a top prospect in a big market
GREENBELT, Md., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded the follow-on contract for the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Systems to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Haystack Observatory (MIT/HO), Cambridge, Massachusetts.

This is a sole source, cost-no-fee completion-type contract, with a base value and four 1-year options totaling $14,824,588 and a period of performance from June 22 through June 21, 2025.

Under this contract the MIT/HO will provide the personnel, materials, facilities and equipment to support the continued enhancement and maintenance of NASA's VLBI stations, the processing of the data, and support for the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry and related services for the NASA Space Geodesy Project located at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

SOURCE NASA

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Visualizing what a Hollywood set will look like during a pandemic is much easier than turning that vision into a reality. In the week since health and labor officials outlined COVID-19 safety guidelines for resuming TV and film productions, Hollywood guilds like SAG-AFTRA have launched a new process to greenlight projects. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the COO and general counsel for SAG-AFTRA who has been overseeing the guilds approval process, has been working with producers and directors to help them adapt their soundstage and on-location sets to the new COVID-19 normal. For any project looking to start filming, the producer has to send to the guild an outline of the COVID-19 safety protocols it will adopt during filming and how many cast and crew members will be involved in the production. So far, the producers have been very flexible and understanding. Everyone is on the same page about wanting to keep everybody safe, Crabtree-Ireland told TheWrap. At this point, I would say that the most difficult part of the restarting process is around testing. Because the technology surrounding testing and our knowledge of the virus is changing so quickly, its taking more time for producers to understand how the science of it all...

Read original story Inside SAG-AFTRAs Efforts to Restart Production  and the Challenge of COVID Testing At TheWrap
The World Health Organisation should be stripped of its responsibilities to warn about future pandemics after its failures over coronavirus, David Cameron warned today.

The former prime minister called for the WHO's current role to be given to a new body, saying it had been too concerned about upsetting China early on in the crisis, and too slow to warn the rest of the world.

He suggested the creation of a new Global Virus Surveillance Organisation and urged the G20 to discuss it when it meets in Saudi Arabia in November.

'The current system fails in two ways. The WHO relies on countries telling it about emerging viruses. Then the world relies on the WHO telling everyone else,' he wrote in an article in the Times.

'But countries are often reluctant to share for reasons of politics, pride and capacity. And the WHO seems slow to react, mostly for the same reasons.

'Hence, while it undertakes much good work and did make important interventions on Covid, overall it was still too slow and too worried about upsetting important countries, particularly China.

The former prime minister called for the WHO's current role to be given to a new body, saying it had been too concerned about upsetting China early on in the crisis, and too slow to warn the rest of the world.

He called for the creation of a new Global Virus Surveillance Organisation and urged the G20 to discuss it when it meets in Saudi Arabia in November.

'I believe we can either try to fix the whole system  including the WHO  from start to finish (which, given the size of such a task and the politics involved, would almost certainly fail). Or we can try to fix the first and most vital part: scanning the world for viruses and making sure that information is shared rapidly.'

China is believed to have been the ground zero for the coronavirus outbreak. But it has been dogged by allegations that it emerged much earlier than Beijing has claimed, and authorities did not raise the alarm.

China appears to have tamed a new outbreak of the coronavirus in its capital, once again demonstrating health officials' ability to quickly mobilise vast resources by testing nearly 2.5 million people in 11 days.

However, elsewhere in the world, cases are surging.

India reported a record daily increase of nearly 16,000 new cases, and Mexico, where testing rates have been low, also set a record with more than 6,200 new cases.

In the US, increases over the past few days have jumped close to the level of the outbreak's previous peak in April. Several states have set single-day records, including Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada and Texas.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks captured and euthanized a sub-adult male grizzly bear about five miles west of Shelby on June 19.

The bear had been involved in multiple conflicts between Ethridge and Ledger this spring, and attempts to prevent incidents were unsuccessful. The towns are east of Glacier National Park.

In consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the decision was made not to relocate the bear because its undesirable behavior appeared ingrained and posed a human safety risk.

The young male bear was conditioned to non-natural foods and habituated to the presence of people, meaning it had lost its fear of humans. The bear had obtained food rewards, such as spilled grain, livestock carrion, and barbecue grills near homes, which led the bear to seek out residences for more food. Further, the bear had grown accustomed to people and had looked into two home windows and approached a person on a porch.

FWP made attempts to aversively condition the bear to people and homes by hazing it. Additionally, FWP had installed scare devices and electric fence around attractants in an effort to prevent conflicts. Landowners had also cleaned up grain spills and attempted to scare the bear off. FWP had proactively met with producers in the area to make them aware of the situation, provided bear spray, and discussed securing attractants.

Securing attractants is the best way to prevent bears from coming near homes. Common attractants in the area include grain spills, livestock carcasses, apple trees, and pet food. Spilled grain should be cleaned up and disposed of at a landfill, burned, or dumped away from human infrastructure and livestock. FWP provides free livestock carcass pickup during the spring for Teton and Pondera counties. Additionally, FWP works with producers to build electric fence and install other conflict-prevention equipment.

If you observe a bear near your home, it should be carefully scared away from the safety of a hard-sided vehicle. Care must be taken to not push the bear toward other people, and the bear cannot be injured because they are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Air horns and other loud noises can also be used to scare bears away from homes to help teach them to fear people.

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Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero suffered a knee injury against Burnley AFP/Martin Rickett

The Argentine aggravated a problem that had bothered him for more than a month during the first half of City's 5-0 win over Burnley on Monday.

He was seen clutching his left knee before and after a foul by Ben Mee that earned City a penalty at the Etihad Stadium.

After the Premier League clash, City manager Pep Guardiola admitted Aguero's campaign may be over.

In an indication that the problem is serious, City revealed on Tuesday that they are sending the 32-year-old to see Ramon Cugat, a doctor in Barcelona.

"Sergio Aguero suffered damage to his left knee in our recent 5-0 win over Burnley," City said on their Twitter account.

"The striker will now travel to Barcelona to see Dr Ramon Cugat for further examination.

"Everyone at City wishes Sergio the best with his recovery."

Cugat, who has known Guardiola since the manager's days at Barcelona, has previously treated City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and the club's former defender Vincent Kompany.

"The scans I did this morning have confirmed that I have damaged my left knee," Aguero tweeted.

"It's a pity but I'm in good spirits and so focused to come back as soon as possible. Thank you very much for all your messages!"

Aguero is City's all-time record goalscorer and had netted 23 times in all competitions this season.

Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus is likely to replace Aguero in the starting line-up.

Second-placed City have won both their matches since returning from the Premier League's coronavirus hiatus.

They will play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday before travelling to face Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.
Philadelphia Police Staff Inspector Joseph Bologna Jr. struck a protester on the back of the head during a June 1 protest, and four days later his 31-year career was all but over when District Attorney Larry Krasner charged him with aggravated assault and related crimes.

This moment demands a swift and evenhanded response to violent and criminal acts based on the facts and evidence, Krasner said when he charged the high-ranking official.

The transition from law officer to accused lawbreaker also came swiftly for the four Minneapolis police officers charged with killing George Floyd, and the two Atlanta officers charged in the death of Rayshard Brooks. In the weeks since, two officers in Buffalo, N.Y., and six others in Atlanta have also quickly been charged with assaulting protesters.

But long before this string of arrests, the December 2017 fatal shooting of Dennis Plowden Jr., 25, by Philadelphia cop Eric Ruch Jr. had been languishing.

Ruchs case shares a key similarity to the more recent cases: an unarmed black man was killed by a white officer.

Unlike those cases, 2 years have passed since Ruch, 33, fatally shot Plowden one night in Germantown, and 20 months have passed since he was fired.

But Krasner has not filed criminal charges or ruled that the slaying was justifiable homicide.

We do not comment on active investigations before charging decisions can be announced, said Jane Roh, spokesperson for Krasner.

While Krasner  who was sworn into office five days after the slaying  is taking his time ruling on Ruchs fate, the Police Department was swifter in its assessment. In October 2018, then-Commissioner Richard Ross, after a 10-month investigation, fired Ruch for violating the use-of-force policy.

The shooting took place on Dec. 27, 2017, when officers in two unmarked police cars were pursuing the borrowed car Plowden was driving because it was linked to a homicide, though one in which he was not a suspect, police have said.

Plowden fled, then crashed into two parked cars and a police car. Unarmed, Plowden stumbled out, apparently dazed, and sat on a curb on Opal Street near Nedro Avenue before Ruch fired a bullet that passed through the young fathers raised left hand and lodged in his head.

The three other officers, including his partner, had taken cover and given themselves an opportunity to assess the situation, Ross said while announcing the termination. He did not do that, for whatever reason, thus putting himself in harms way and in turn being the only one to fire one fatal shot.

On-duty officers being criminally charged for deadly shootings is rare in the United States, with just 113 such cases since 2005, while officers fatally shoot over 1,000 people a year, said Bowling Green State University criminal justice professor Philip M. Stinson, who maintains a database on police misconduct.

While investigations of police-involved shootings generally take longer than other shooting cases, the 2-year probe of Plowdens slaying is on the long side, said Stinson, a lawyer and former police officer. Its unusual but not unprecedented, he said.

Hans Menos, as executive director of Philadelphias Police Advisory Commission, sits on the Police Departments five-member Use of Force Review Board, which recommended that Ruch should be fired. He is not allowed to disclose how he voted, Menos said, but said he strongly endorses Ross decision.

Still, Krasners decision on whether to charge Ruch is a difficult one that he wouldnt want to have to make, Menos said.

Ruch absolutely made a catastrophic mistake, he absolutely ended a mans life against police policy, but I dont know enough to say how you can call it criminal, he said. Thats been the challenge for police shootings for a while. If Ruch can say that he was scared for his life because he couldnt see the guys hands, it will be up to a jury to determine if thats reasonable.

A federal lawsuit filed by Plowdens widow, Tania Bond, alleges that Ruch and the city violated the couples constitutional rights and that the city turned a blind eye toward the ex-officers previous behavior, including engaging in numerous unlawful traffic stops and the excessive use of force. Paul J. Hetznecker, a lawyer who represents Bond, said he intends to seek justice for my client and her family  however long it takes.
Conservatives, in the United States and elsewhere, are sometimes faulted for blaming the 1960s for many of todays most persistent social ills. Surveying the situation in contemporary Europe, French social theorist Olivier Roy suggests that they are mostly rightat least with respect to recognizing that the 1960s mark a moral and religious watershed in modern history.

The fallout from that decade sets the backdrop for the question posed in Roys pointedly titled book Is Europe Christian? Not mincing words, Roy argues that [e]verything changed in the 1960s, when a revolution in morality took place and a new anthropology centred on human freedom was born.

Roy is a professor at the prestigious European University Institute in Fiesole, Italy, and a longtime student of contemporary European religiosity (and secularity). He has emerged as one of the most astute scholars in his fieldcomparable to the late sociologist Peter Berger in his wide-ranging interests, theological and historical literacy, humor, and gifted writing. Much of his work remains in French, so the Anglophone world owes a debt to Londons Hurst Publishers for sponsoring this translation.

A Complete Anthropological Revolution

A compact book can only accomplish so much, but Is Europe Christian? nicely introduces the contours of Roys thought on the contemporary religious scene in Europealthough much of what he writes might apply to other Western countries as well. Careful with terms, Roy makes a crucial distinction between secularization and dechristianization. The former process, understood politically as the rise of tolerance and religious freedom, has been taking place for centuries. The latter, however, is a more recent phenomenon, taking off in Europe most aggressively in the last 50 or 60 yearsalthough it has earlier harbingers, including the radical phases of the French Revolution and Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution.

Roy warns that we will misinterpret the 1960s if we see it as a mere hedonistic craze. Hedonism, he adds, might have been part of the decade, but the [student] revolts of 1968 marked a complete anthropological revolution, whose values are today enshrined in law and deployed in rigorous codes of human relations.  The Sixties revolution brought about new moral norms precisely because it broke with the previously dominant cultureone that had been largely shaped by the Judeo-Christian heritage, broadly understood. Not for nothing, the French have a phrase for a 68er: soixante-huitard.

What were the new moral norms ushered in by the demonstrations? For Roy, they are twofold: First, the valorization of freedom, not simply as a political ideal but as a reality that should encompass the entirety of human desire (except for explicit violence and pedophilia); and second, the valorization of nature: the view that the environment, ones body, and ones instincts are simply terrestrial realities, manifesting nothing transcendent and certainly not serving as the locus for natural laws, as the classical and Christian tradition had long posited. One should take care of nature, to be sure, but purely to secure a good earthly life, not because it signifies the splendor of God.

One might wonder if Roy has gone too far in treating Europe after 1968 as a dechristianized place. After all, recent nationalist and populist movements in Europe often make emotion-laden appeals to recover Europes Christian heritage. Roys response is that appearances can deceive. These movements are primarily interested in defending Christianity as a cultural heritage (and as a bulwark against Muslim immigration and influence), not as a matter of living faith. In Roys pithy words: Many populists defend churches against mosques, as long as [the churches] remain empty or at least quiet. Roy believes the conflict between populist defenders of this heritage (operating largely within national communities and commitments) and Europes elite knowledge classes (more inclined to multicultural and cosmopolitan ideologies) is and will remain a pivotal matter of European politics for years to come.

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Roy spends considerable time analyzing the Second Vatican Council (196265), the Catholic churchs move away from the severe anti-modernism it had adopted since the French Revolution and arguably the most important religious event of the 20th century. Pope John XXIIIs catchword aggiornamento (which means bringing up to date) symbolized the churchs desire to enter into dialogue with modernity in a more robust sense. It was a noble effort, in Roys estimation, but since it coincided with the moral revolution of the 1960s, it produced ironic consequences and unforeseen hazards for the church. The church thought it was adapting to the modern world as it had existed in the 1940s and 1950s, when considerable residual Christian influence existed in Europe, but this was not the case. When the Church decided to adapt to the modern world, he writes, the modern world was experiencing considerable upheaval, as a new value system emerged out of what has been called the spirit of the 1960s. Many subsequent internecine church strugglesamong Catholics and, for that matter, other Christians tooinvolve clashes over how much one should adapt to or resist these new values.

Drivers of Revival

Could there by a Christian revival in Europe, Roy wonders? If so, he doubts that it would originate with European Christians. They are too numerically weak and, for the most part, lacking in knowledge of their faith. They have also engaged in what Roy calls self-secularization, voluntarily accommodating themselves to so much of the post-1960s ethos that they no longer constitute a separate cultural force in their own right. Still, Roy wonders if Catholics and evangelical Christians drawn from the Anglophone world and the Global Southwhere Christianization, not dechristianization, is the relevant realitycould be drivers of a revival. While acknowledging the growing presence of these types of Christians in Europe today, as they attempt to re-Christianize a secularized Christendom, he concludes that the jury is still out.

Revival or not, the office of the pope is and will remain important and influential in Roys judgment, even if it is no longer the powerful office it was in the Middle Ages. While he sees John Paul II and Benedict XVI as cut from a different cloth than Pope Francis, Roy is nonetheless keen to point out how similar the three men are with respect to traditional morality. In his judgment, the liberal press overemphasizes Franciss progressive-sounding utterances and ignores remarks that strike more morally traditionalist notes. Roy makes clear, however, that any influence that the pope exerts has been severely compromised by the recent waves of sex scandals that have plagued the Catholic church.

The book is not without weaknesses. Roy says practically nothing about Eastern Orthodoxy, which should merit at least some attention. Further, while he invokes the influence of Global-South Christianity at several points, he does not provide much data to support his generalizations. Finally, his interpretation of Vatican II tends to emphasize its novelty, which overlooks how it also affirmed many of the Catholic churchs traditional teachings, retaining the substance of the past while grounding it in updated phrases and explanations.

But these are minor blemishes in an otherwise stimulating and rewarding book. Accessibly written, it offers both scholars and regular readers much food for thought. If one is unfamiliar with Roy, this slim volume can serve as an insightful introduction to his work and to the considerably-but-not-completely-dechristianized continent from which he hails.

Thomas Albert Howard is professor of humanities and holder of the Duesenberg Chair in Christian Ethics at Valparaiso University. He is editor of The Idea of Tradition in the Late Modern World (Cascade).
Mumbai, June 24 : Actress Sayani Gupta says for the first time in her career she was extremely nervous about what people from the Northeast would say, when she signed her latest release, "Axone".

A bittersweet comedy, the film is a satire that follows a bunch of northeastern youngsters in Delhi who, while attempting to organise a wedding party, find everything going wrong.

Sayani's portrayal of a 23-year-old Nepali girl from Manipur in the film has been appreciated by the critics and the audience.

"The response has been seriously overwhelming. I am very happy that everyone has showered so much love and appreciation to the film also because it's a small indie film. Not sounding pompous, but I am generally pretty detached to my projects after I am done shooting for them because you know what you have done. But for the first time, I was extremely nervous and anxious about what people from the northeast would say about 'Axone' and whether I was authentic or not," the actress said.

"The choices I took were very risky and I didn't want to play it safe. Hence, the chances of it not working was also high. But the unbelievable response that one has received from literally thousands of messages coming in, appreciating the work and the film have been very validating. I am very grateful for each one of them for reaching out and telling me, what the film has done. Also, I am glad that a new set of audience has seen my work and tons of people have been messaging saying now they will watch my other work as well. There was a celebration around the film which is so heartening to witness! And I am also glad that critics have also given the film a lot of love," she added.

The film helmed by Nicholas Kharkongor is currently streaming on Netflix.
She celebrated her 29th birthday last week.

And Emily Ratajkowski opted for a bold new look for the year as the model went blonde for the first time.

She channeled her inner surfer girl Tuesday as she took to Instagram with a sexy photo shoot of herself in a black Inamorata string bikini.

Blonde bombsjell: She celebrated her 29th birthday last week. And Emily Ratajkowski opted for a bold new look for the year as the model went blonde for the first time

The 29-year-old actress flaunted her iconic sculpted figure in the barely-there black two-piece swimsuit.

She also modeled a sleeveless black Livin Cool top for another summer look that perfectly complemented her new color.

Ratajkowski previously debuted the new look as part of a sponsorship with Kerastase's Blond Absolu collection.

Bikini babe: She channeled her inner surfer girl Tuesday as she took to Instagram with a sexy photo shoot of herself in a black Inamorata string bikini

Stunning: The 29-year-old actress flaunted her iconic sculpted figure in the barely-there black two-piece swimsuit

Before and after: Emily is famed her brunette tresses but mixed things up by dyeing them a glorious honey blonde shade

She said in a statement: 'Ive never colored my hair or changed the length significantly in my entire life!

'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.'

The Gone Girl actress continued: 'Beauty is meant to be fun and expressive, and this is definitely, hands down, the most fun Ive ever had with my look before.'

Puppy love: Emily also posed for a sweet snap with her pet pooch

Blonde ambition: Ratajkowski recently debuted her new blonde look as part of a paid sponsorship with Kerastase's Blond Absolu collection

New look: She said in a statement: 'I just celebrated my birthday and am so happy to be coming out of quarantine with a fresh new look'

Work in progress: She teased the new look on Monday, posting a selfie from her treatment, complete with foil in her hair

She teased the new look on Monday, posting a selfie from her treatment, complete with foil in her hair.

It's the perfect look for her Southern California summer, as she and husband Sebastian Bear-McClard, 39, flew to Los Angeles from New York City back in April.

Their trip came shortly after the CDC issued an advisory, asking 'residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.'
The COVID-19 Trust Fund, set up as an emergency fund to mobilise resources to support the management of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Ghana, raised GH51.54 million between March 30 and May 31, this year.



The amount constitutes donations from individuals, corporate institutions and professional associations in response to calls for support for the fund, set up as one of the governments interventions to fight the pandemic.



Details of the contributors for the month of April were published in yesterdays edition of the Daily Graphic.



The publication outlined the items received by the fund, both in cash and kind, as well as its benefactors from March 30 to May 31, this year.



Contributors



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who announced the setting up of the fund, was the first person to donate his salary for April, May and June towards it.



The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, also donated his salary between April and June with presidential staffers, ministers and deputy ministers also donating 50 per cent of their salaries for three months from April to June.



The contributions from these personalities for April amounted to GH637,998.



The donation is in fulfilment of a pledge to donate 50% of their April, May and June Salaries to the COVID-19 National Trust Fund.



Other donors included Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, the Senior Minister, Mr Yaw Osafo-Marfo, the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante (Esq) and the two Deputy Chief of Staff, Francis Asenso-Boakye and Samuel Abdullai Jinapour.



Also on the list are 23 Ministers (Non-MPs), 19 Deputy Ministers (Non-MPs) and 31 Presidential staffers.



The trust fund also received various forms of donations in kind, which all summed up to GH3.22 million.



The summary of donations in kind included vehicles and fuel worth GH1.53 million, personal protective equipment (PPE), amounting to GH400,940, medical supplies worth GH287,690 and food and beverages, costing GH1 million.



Some of the big-ticket donors include the Bank of Ghana, which donated GH10 million; Aksa Energy Company Ghana, which presented GH2.5 million and Absa Bank, which presented GH1 million.



Others were the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development which donated GH1.30 million; Ghana Gas, GH1 million; Interplast Limited, GH1.2 million, and the Lebanese Community GH2 million.



The National Petroleum Authority and Volta River Authority donated GH2 million each, the Petroleum Commission, Vitol Ghana Service and Zenith Bank also donated GH1 million each, with UBA Ghana contributing GH1.48 million.



Transparency



The publication is to honour a promise made by the COVID-19 National Trust Fund to be transparent in the management of the fund and put the resources to their intended use.



At the inauguration on March 29, the Chairperson of the Fund, Justice Sophia Akuffo, assured donors and the public that the money donated towards the fund would be used judiciously in a transparent manner.



She said the items received would also be allocated speedily to institutions engaged in the combat of the disease.



From time to time, the money that we have received will be used to purchase relevant items and things brought to our attention by the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health, Justice Akuffo, who is the immediate past Chief Justice, assured.









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 Delhi Police has been put on high alert following intelligence inputs about a probable terror threat to the national capital, sources said on Sunday.

Intelligence agencies have alerted police on the possibility of four to five men entering the national capital with an intention to carry out a terror attack, they said.

The sources said all the 15 police districts have been put on high alert along with elite units of the Crime Branch and the Special Cell.

Special vigil is being maintained on Delhi's borders and a close watch is being kept in market areas and hospitals, which are seeing a large influx of patients these days, they said.

Security agencies are on heightened vigil in view of the India-China stand off in eastern Ladakh.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:14:17|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a video conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Beijing, capital of China, June 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held a video conference with Russian and Indian foreign ministers, calling on the three countries to send positive signals to the rest of the world by jointly combating COVID-19, promoting economic development and safeguarding international justice.

Wang said COVID-19 has brought unprecedented threats to the lives and health of people of all countries, the world economy is mired in an unprecedented recession, and international stability is experiencing unprecedented challenges.

China, Russia and India should be committed to maintaining the international system with the United Nations (UN) at the core and the international order based on international laws, and to upholding multilateralism to strengthen and improve global governance, said Wang.

The three countries should carry forward the spirit of openness, unity, trust and cooperation. They should further build consensus, plan their cooperation and send positive signals to the world, he said.

Wang said that China, Russia and India are all major countries that adhere to strategic independence. They should fully grasp the overall situation of cooperation that they are partners and offer opportunities to one another, and take actions from the perspective of helping the three countries achieve development and revitalization and safeguarding world peace and development.

They should also correctly treat and properly handle sensitive factors in bilateral relations, and safeguard the overall situation of their relations.

Wang also urged the three sides to hold high the banner of multilateralism, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and ensure the authority and effectiveness of the UN.

They should strengthen communication and coordination within the framework of the UN, carry out pragmatic and effective cooperation, and promote the UN to play its due role in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, especially in resolving global challenges, he said.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the World War II victory and the founding of the UN, Wang called on the three countries to firmly defend the fruits of the World War II victory. They should resolutely oppose any act of reversing the wheel of history, firmly resist hegemonism and power politics, and resolutely promote the democratization and legalization of international relations, he said. Enditem
Representative Jim Banks (R., Ind.) is proposing a bill to revise the Veterans Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act to protect statues of former U.S. presidents and the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

The Defending Americas Culture and Heritage Act (DAHCA) would amend the 2003 Veterans Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act, which criminalized the deliberate destruction of memorials honoring veterans, to extend the laws protections to monuments honoring presidents and Founding Fathers. Currently, violators of the law can be punished by up to ten years in prison.

Attacks on our national heroes denigrate what makes us American and aim to destroy what binds us as Americans. Theyre serious crimes that deserve

serious punishment, Banks said in a statement.

President Trump himself slammed protesters for attempting to topple a statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park on Monday. Recent weeks have seen a surge in the desecration of public monuments, including the destruction of statues honoring Ulysses S. Grant, George Washington, and others. D.C. protesters said Tuesday that they planned to topple the Emancipation Memorial, erected in 1876 to commemorate Abraham Lincolns emancipation of slaves during the Civil War, on Thursday evening.

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India had earlier decided to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50 percent and reciprocally the same proportion of its strength in Islamabad. The reason behind the decision is the involvement of Pakistan High Commission in the 'acts of espionage.'

India will withdraw 55 of its officials working at its High Commission in Islamabad following a decision earlier in the day to reduce the staff by 50 per cent, said a source familiar with the development. It has been mutually agreed between India and Pakistan that they will withdraw 55 officials each within the next seven days.

Pakistan will also be withdrawing 55 officials from New Delhi. India on Tuesday announced its decision to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50 per cent and reciprocally reduce its own presence in Islamabad to the same proportion, downgrading its diplomatic relations with the neighbouring country.

Charge d Affaires of Pakistan Syed Haider Shah was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday and informed that India had repeatedly expressed concern about the activities of officials of the High Commission.

Also Read: Galwan clash: Army Chief interacts with injured jawans at Lehs Military Hospital

India to withdraw 55 officials from its mission in Islamabad in next seven days Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/MP0HvmSM7g pic.twitter.com/GuUx8OYQOI  ANI Digital (@ani_digital) June 23, 2020

Also Read: India to downsize staff strength at Pak High Commission, urges Islamabad to follow suit

He was told by MEA that Pakistani diplomats 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, 2020, was one example in this regard.

India also told Pakistan that its officials indulged in actions that are not in conformity with their privileged status in the High Commission and Islamabad has in parallel engaged in a sustained campaign to intimidate the officials of the Indian High Commission from carrying on their legitimate diplomatic functions.

India also conveyed that 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, MEA said in a release

Also Read: International relations must come to terms with contemporary realities: S Jaishankar at RIC meeting

Also Read: US Intel claims Galwan attack was planned by China to teach India a lesson

Sources familiar with the sequence of events vis-a-vis two Indian officials, who were abducted in Islamabad, confirmed to ANI that they were physically tortured by Pakistani authorities.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 20:02:30|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Wednesday expressed strong opposition to a U.S. plan to deploy intermediate-range missiles in the Asia Pacific region, saying that China will never sit idle if such a plan proceeds.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press conference in Beijing in response to a question on a U.S. discussion with the Japanese side to deploy intermediate-range missiles at U.S. military bases in Japan.

If the U.S. side pushes forward the deployment, it is a clear provocation at China's "doorstep," Wu said, adding that China will take all necessary measures to resolutely counteract the deployment.

Wu also expressed the hope that Japan and relevant countries can take maintaining regional peace and stability into consideration, act with caution and give no permission to a U.S. deployment of intermediate-range missiles within their territories to avoid falling prey to the U.S. geopolitical plot. Enditem
Central bank tweaks B500bn soft loan scheme for SMEs

BANGKOK: The Bank of Thailand is fine-tuning the process of offering B500 billion in soft loans with an aim to provide virus-hit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with better access.

COVID-19economics

By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 24 June 2020, 09:04AM

Ronadol Numnonda, the central banks deputy governor for financial institution stability. Photo: NNT

The central bank has talked with banks about tweaking the scrutiny process to give SMEs easier access to the funding source after some barriers arose, said Ronadol Numnonda, the central banks deputy governor for financial institution stability, reports the Bangkok Post.

The imminent rejig will prioritise the soft loan approval process but will keep the same borrower categories and loan conditions because the royal decree does not allow any changes in conditions.

Mr Ronadol said the loan adjustment is expected to be completed by this month and will be ready in the next few weeks.

The Bank of Thailand requires banks to report demand for the soft loan scheme every Monday, he said, and the central bank is monitoring loan demand and withdrawals.

The BoT has talked to banks about soft loan demand and its barriers in order to improve the loan extension process, Mr Ronadol said. This will help support the liquidity of SME business operators battered by the outbreak and help overcome the crisis.

According to central bank data, 51,991 SMEs have applied for the central banks soft loans with a credit line request of B80.7bn after the schemes applications were made available on April 1.

The central bank is offering the B500bn in soft loans at 0.01% interest to financial institutions for two years to re-lend to SMEs with a maximum credit line of B500 million at 2% interest. The government will absorb interest charges for six months for SMEs that receive soft loans.

To be eligible, SMEs must operate domestically, be non-listed companies, have a credit line of up to B500mn from financial institutions, and continue to service debt or make late payments of less than 90 days at the end of last year.

The maximum drawdown for the soft loans is set at 20% of each banks loans outstanding at the end of December. The government will partly compensate financial institutions for losses that are incurred.
Lessons from the Palestinian struggle can be crucial for the success of the anti-racism uprising in the United States.

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a Black man, was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a white policeman in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyds murder was the latest in a normalised history of police abuse of Black, brown, Native American, immigrant and other marginalised communities, carried out with impunity and encouraged by the racist incitement of United States President Donald Trump and his white supremacist administration.

In response to the murder, people took to the streets against endemic police brutality, which enforces the systemic white supremacist subjugation of Black Americans. Solidarity protests were held across the world, including in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Palestine, Greece, Germany and elsewhere.

As these spontaneous, grassroots protests were met with savage, occupation-style crackdowns by police  and as military forces and the mainstream media and political elites tried to smear protesters as looters and thugs, it was difficult not to draw parallels between this fight against anti-Black racism and the Palestinian struggle.

In fact, some important lessons can be drawn from the decades-old anti-colonial Palestinian struggle that could help ensure the success of the American uprising.

Zionism and white supremacy

The white supremacist, settler colonial projects in the US and Israel share core tenets, oppressive tactics, aggressive strategies, propaganda techniques and apparatuses. As part of this cooperation, police officers in the US regularly train with their Israeli counterparts. In fact, the dangerous chokeholds used to murder George Floyd and before him, Eric Garner, are frequently inflicted on Palestinians by Israeli forces.

Joint training is complemented by an ideological cooperation between Israel and the US. Israeli media outlets, as well as liberal Zionists and major Zionist lobbies, have also participated in the smear campaign against the protests following George Floyds death, accusing them of anti-Semitism.

Zionist propagandists have claimed that the Black Lives Matter movement is being used in a political campaign against Israel, conflating principled anti-colonialist views expressed by anti-racism activists with anti-Semitism.

All this is happening within the context of the Trump administrations efforts to further the relentless campaign against peaceful acts of resistance by the Palestinian people and their allies. It has officially declared a false equivalence between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism and encouraged state-level campaigns to criminalise anti-Zionist, pro-Palestinian activism, including the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

By equating Zionism and Judaism, President Donald Trump has not only served Israeli interests, but has also fuelled white supremacism and hurt civil liberties at home.

Trump has done so by scapegoating advocacy for Palestinian human rights on university campuses and attacking constitutionally protected freedoms such as the right to protest and boycott Israeli government speakers, investments and goods. Further, his policies have bolstered pro-Zionist efforts to force employees of US companies seeking cooperation with Israeli counterparts to sign pro-Israel, anti-BDS oaths as conditions of employment.

The equation of so-called religious with civil rights fits well with a goal of enacting a white supremacist patriarchal ethnostate supported by settler-colonial manifest destiny doctrine, and it may serve as a precedent for the repression of other anti-colonial movements such as Black Lives Matter.

Counter-revolutionary liberals

In addition to the collaboration between explicitly reactionary forces in the US and Israel, the continued oppression of marginalised communities hinges on the liberal bourgeois class, a group of people Martin Luther King Jr referred to as white moderates in his letter from Birmingham Jail. Preaching the necessity of reforms, yet serving to undermine leftist revolutionary agendas under the guise of practicality, these complicit moderates afford valuable time and support for further entrenchment of oppression.

The ongoing racism, inequality and injustice in the US leading to the current uprisings demonstrate the inadequacy of liberal reformist approaches in improving the material conditions of marginalised people. Further, present strife highlights the dire need for a revolutionary socialist agenda to replace intrinsically white supremacist capitalist tyranny, to achieve permanent equality and justice.

In Palestine, the failure of the Oslo accords is a clear example of the price Palestinians have paid for reformist attempts. The Oslo accords were the culmination of dealmaking between liberal Zionists and a Palestinian leadership willing to settle for a nebulous version of autonomy with lofty, unmet promises, such as the two-state solution. The disastrous results of this compromise can be seen today: entrenchment of apartheid and expansion of Palestinian dispossession and oppression, with illegal, US-backed annexation on the horizon.

Further, liberals in the US and their liberal Zionist analogues in Israel serve as propagandists for white supremacy in the US and Israel, providing a modern, tolerant and diverse facade for a fundamentally racist system.

Liberals persistently shift the discussion away from a systemic analysis of the states daily displays of violence to a focus on isolated events and perceived civility of revolutionary tactics, conditioning their allyship on commitments to non-violence and respect for state representations and commodities.

Protests falling for this trap are quickly co-opted by liberals and their associated politicians with pie-in-the-sky promises of reform, resulting in net losses for the left. When acts of resistance are limited to non-violent displays, while the far more substantial and pervasive systemic violence is ignored and excused, retaliatory and often defensive acts at the hands of protesters are vilified, resulting in dangerous reactionary precedents.

The Zionist left and BDS

On June 6, thousands of people took to the streets of Tel Aviv to protest against the Netanyahu governments plans for annexation of parts of the West Bank. Speakers included the head of the Joint List, Ayman Odeh, the Chairman of the liberal Zionist Meretz party, Nitzan Horowitz, and a special video appearance by US Senator Bernie Sanders.

Although the protest consisted of a broad coalition, including anti-Zionist groups, the inclusion of liberal reformists inevitably doomed any sort of efforts to stall or thwart counter-revolutionary efforts. On the contrary, such displays serve to deflate any revolutionary momentum into a collective vent for frustrations.

The Zionist left is an integral part of the oppressive Zionist propaganda apparatus, whether those involved in the endeavour are aware of it or not. The supposed left, liberal wing of Zionism, comprising Israeli political parties, non-profit organisations and media organs in Israel and outside it, serves to promote Zionist propaganda, which renders occupation, apartheid and the genocide of the Indigenous Palestinian people palatable to audiences in Israel and worldwide. The Palestinian liberal bourgeoisie, especially those within the Green Line, tend to fall for this mirage time and again.

By contrast, the BDS movement has wisely adopted a strict anti-Zionist, anti-racist platform. A resistance to oppression through the formation of intersectional alliances built on a clear understanding of systems of oppression incorporates lessons of past anti-colonial movements and breaks apart the fictitious, divisive political narratives of white supremacy, imperialism, racism and patriarchy.

The recognition that various oppressed peoples have common enemies serves to reinforce solidarity and cooperation between them and assists in principled grassroots movements, such as BDS and Black Lives Matter.

The anti-Zionist, anti-racist framework intrinsic to the BDS movement has yielded far more impressive gains for Palestinians than any collaboration with white saviours and/or liberal Zionist entities.

Leaders of the current uprisings in the US can engage in a fruitful exchange of knowledge with the Palestinian resistance, in line with past efforts of groups such as the Black Panther Party. Adhering to revolutionary principles while refraining from alliances with counter-revolutionaries can deliver a chance to abolish capitalist racist oppression.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
The federal government says it will evaluate and review the price of domestic gas across the country so as to make it more affordable fo...

The federal government says it will evaluate and review the price of domestic gas across the country so as to make it more affordable for ordinary Nigerians.





Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum resources, made this known while inaugurating a committee on the gas sector-wide review of the domestic gas pricing framework.





Sylva emphasised on the need for an appropriate domestic price system, saying it will help improve the use of cooking gas and compressed natural gas to the advantage of the manufacturing industry and Nigerians at large.





Without appropriate pricing, we cant have it right. We have to ensure that gas becomes affordable. This is the only way our country can strive, he said on Tuesday.





It is sad to note that we sell gas cheaply to investors while the price is high in the domestic sector to the extent that some Nigerians sell diesel cheaper than gas.





Once we solve the issue of gas in the country we would have solved a lot of problems in Nigeria. Luckily for us gas is something that we have in abundance.





Sylva said the members of the committee are to review domestic gas price and benchmark, make recommendations for an appropriate gas price for the respective gas sectors, make evaluations and technical suggestions with a turnaround time of 30 days.





He added that the decision to review the domestic gas pricing framework is also to enable the penetration of both cooking gas and compressed natural gas (CNG) which is expected to serve as an alternative to petrol.
A 23-year-old man who repeatedly raped and assaulted a student in a toilet block at the University of Western Australia has been jailed for 12 years.

Wayne Christ Adeline attacked the 21-year-old in a half-hour ordeal on a Saturday morning in September 2018.

The incident took place at the University of Western Australia in September 2018. Credit:Bohdan Warchomij

The District Court of WA heard on Wednesday he had been sleeping in the public toilet after a night out drinking when the victim entered on her way to the library to study.

He immediately punched her, knocking her glasses off her face, and stuffed toilet paper in her mouth to prevent her screaming.
Operations from India to US to be curtailed/revised from Jan 19 due to 5G roll-out: Air India

Why is the US DOT accusing Air India for unfair practices?

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Washington, June 24: Accusing India for "unfair and engaging in discriminatory practices" the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has restricted repatriation flights being operated by Air India. With this, Air India, from now on, would have to take specific authorisation from the DOT to conduct such flights.

The DOT, in an order dated June 22, said, "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 authorisation to conduct such charters."

How to breathe correctly to kill coronavirus

What are the allegations the US made against India?

The DOT has noted that the Indian government 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 also said that the government has prevented US carriers from conducting India-US passenger charter operations involving direct sales to individual passengers or through other distribution systems.

Explained: What is Victory Day? Why is it celebrated on different date in Russia?

Also, Air India's repatriation flights have gone beyond the purpose "at least on the India to the US segments", and have involved sales to any member of the general public able to enter the US, the order stated.

Diesel costs more than petrol after 18th consecutive day of price rise | Oneindia News

Did the US government convey this to Indian government?

On May 19, an official from the DOT advised Air India of the concerns that some, if not all, of "Air India's so-called evacuation charters have gone beyond true evacuations and involved sales to any member of the general public able to enter the United States".

From just 4k COVID-19 tests a day in April, India now has hit the 2 lakh mark

Later, via a letter, on May 26, Delta Air Lines requested permission from the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation to perform repatriation charter services similar to those provided by Air India.

The US government has called for restrictions on the third and fourth freedoms for India. These freedoms essentially allow basic international service between two countries. The third freedom accords the right to an airline to carry passengers or cargo from its home state to another, while the fourth freedom allows it to bring passengers or cargo from another country to its home state.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 13:19 [IST]
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  June 24, 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 AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. AU, Barrick Gold Corp. GOLD, Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd. HMY and Galiano Gold Inc. GAU.

Here are highlights from Tuesdays Analyst Blog:

Gold at 8-Year High: Grab These 4 Gold Mining Stocks

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%.

Story continues

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 Ltd.: 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 Corp.: 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 Ltd.: 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.: 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.

Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for stay at home technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.

See the 5 high-tech stocks now>>

Join us on Facbook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



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She's famed for playing the ultimate glamour puss, Patsy Stone.

Yet Joanna Lumley revealed that she was worlds away from her Absolutely Fabulous character as she discussed how she's coping with life in lockdown.

Appearing on Wednesday's Loose Women, the 74-year-old actress quipped you can get away with having greasy hair and dirty clothes, as they can't be picked up on a webcam.

Keeping it casual: Joanna Lumley revealed that she was worlds away from her Absolutely Fabulous character as she discussed how she's coping with life in lockdown

Discussing the impending return of hairdressers, Joanna confessed she won't be rushing to the salon anytime soon, and why she has been embracing greasy locks.

She explained: 'I've always done my own hair. It's partly because I kind of can do it.

'I was a model in the 60s; we had to do our own hair then, we had to sort it, do it, put on wigs, cut it, change it, dye it so I got used to doing my own hair.'

She continued: 'My hair is like something you take out of a hoover bag. I practically never wash it. It's been dyed for so long and so much, it's been in such extremes of temperature, I don't think it's hair at all

'The camera is strangely very forgiving, it doesn't see dirty clothes, it doesn't see dirty hair  you can get away with quite a lot on camera.'

'In ordinary life, I don't wash it for a week. Sometimes I find I don't wash it for a fortnight.

'If it did need washing, I'd wash it... Leave it if you can, go greasy and oily and then wash it.'

Looking good: Appearing on Wednesday's Loose Women, the 74-year-old actress quipped you can get away with having greasy hair and dirty clothes, as they can't be picked up on a webcam

Whilst Joanna showed her appreciation for certain aspects of lockdown, she admitted she is missing her grandchildren terribly.

Revealing that they live in Scotland, where lockdown restrictions are stricter than England, she mused: 'It's been ghastly, but thank goodness for things like this [video calls] where we can sort of "meet" each other.'

She added: 'When I was a child I didn't see my father for a year and a half when he was a soldier and I was back at school in England. You just pinch ourselves, this has only been three months. We have to be brave and strong.'

Joanna added of life in lockdown: 'I'm so lucky, in my lockdown I've been working, I've been doing voiceovers and recordings and studios with masks and sitting alone in a private booth.

'Even though I'm 74, I feel 39, sweetie'

Despite being kept busy with work, Joanna revealed that she had heard nothing about a return to her most iconic role.

Fabulous: Despite being kept busy with work, Joanna revealed that she had heard nothing about a return to her most iconic role as Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous

Asked about rumours of an Ab Fab reunion, she said: 'I wish they'd tell me! I don't think it will be. I don't think Jennifer [Saunders] ever wants to write anymore Ab Fab.

'But it never really goes away, the feeling these characters still exist somewhere. It would be so nice maybe to do something. Jennifer and I are in constant contact.

'We're half thinking of something, but it won't be "Ab Fab: The Reunion". And I don't think we should do it without June Whitfield but maybe something, never say never.'

Of how her Ab Fab character Patsy would deal with lockdown, Joanna laughed: 'I don't think she'd notice it sweetie as long as someone brought her a drink.'
UK pubs can reopen from 4 July. Photo: Artur Widak/PA

Guinness maker Diageo (DGE.L) has announced a new $100m (79.9m) programme to help pubs and bars across the world to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The two-year programme, named Raising the Bar will begin in July 2020 and will be rolled out in major hospitality centres across the globe, including New York, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Delhi, Nairobi, and Sydney.

In the UK and Ireland, the programme will be available to pubs and bars in London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast.

A global survey of bar owners by Diageo found that the top priorities for venues reopening after lockdown were hygiene measures, digital support and practical equipment to transform how their outlets will work post-COVID-19.

In the UK, Diageo will provide funding for hygiene kits with permanent sanitiser dispensers, medical grade hand sanitiser and a range of personal protection equipment such as masks and gloves.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson confirms pubs and restaurants to reopen from 4 July

The programme will also help pubs and bars to establish partnerships with online reservation and cashless payment systems to help maintain social distancing measures and funding for mobile bars and outdoor equipment.

The hospitality sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with lockdowns across the world forcing venues to close their doors.

Diageo is urging governments around the world to provide long-term recovery packages to help the hospitality sector and highlighted the hundreds of millions of jobs at risk.

UK prime minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday (23 June) confirmed that pubs and other leisure businesses can reopen from 4 July.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said over the weekend that the government was looking at requiring publicans to take the details of all pub-goers as part of contact tracing measures. The chief executive of pub group Marstons (MARS.L) said the proposals were bonkers.

Johnson made no mention of check-in systems for pubs but said the government was publishing new advice to businesses on safely reopening. It includes avoiding face-to-face seating, improving ventilation, erecting protective screens, providing hand sanitiser, and changing shift patterns to limit the number of staff that overlap.

Story continues

READ MORE: JD Wetherspoon pubs to reopen on 4 July

Ivan Menezes, chief executive of Diageo said: 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.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United Nations and the Arab League joined in calling Wednesday for Israel to abandon its plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

The calls were made during a UN Security Council video conference in which several government ministers participated.

It was the last international meeting before Israel goes ahead with the plans as early as July 1.

"I call on the Israeli government to abandon its annexation plans," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

He reiterated the longstanding goal of a two-state solution with an independent, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

Arab League secretary general Ahmed Aboul Gheit said annexation "will destroy any prospect for peace in the future."

"The possible move by the Israeli government to annex parts of the occupied Palestinian territory would constitute, if implementated, a serious threat to regional stability," he added.

The UN coordinator for the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov said annexation "could irrevocably alter the nature of Israeli-Palestinian relations."

He added: "It risks up-ending more than a quarter of a century of international efforts in support of a future viable Palestinian state living in peace, security and mutual recognition with the State of Israel."

Plans are to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank as well as the strategic Jordan Valley, as part of a broader US blueprint for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The plan -- endorsed by Washington -- would see the creation of a Palestinian state, but on reduced territory, and without Palestinians' core demand of a capital in east Jerusalem.

The plan has been rejected in its entirety by the Palestinians.
New Delhi: Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha has been at the received end of trolls after his tweet on India-China Line of border dispute didn't go down well with the netizens. In a tweet posted on Tuesday, Shatrughan Sinha questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on "why are there so many contradictions among our people on the situation on Indo-China" and added that India seems to be "confused & doesn't know what to believe".

He also named actor-politician Kamal Haasan in his tweet and said that "people seek answers from PM Modi" on the death of 20 Indian Army soldiers in the violent face-off with the Chinese army along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh's Galwan Valley last week.

Read his tweets here:

Hon'ble PM @narendramodi Sir, why are there so many contradictions among our people on the situation on #IndoChina. It seems that the nation is confused & doesn't know what to believe. The renowned, actor, par excellence, political activist #MNM leader @ikamalhaasan has rightly  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) June 23, 2020

our bravehearts & the country, giving back a befitting reply. Hope, wish & pray you will tackle this manner swiftly, without any further delay. The nation stands united with you in these difficult times.Jai Hind!@PMOIndia@MoHFW_India@INCIndia@YashwantSinha@PawarSpeaks  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) June 23, 2020

Following the posts, the 74-year-old is now being brutally trolled for being 'confused' himself and he was also told that Indians have full faith in PM Modi and the Indian Army and he should avoid sharing such tweets.

"Don't worry, the people of Patna, who rejected you, have lots of faith in PM. You do your writing practice on Twitter and entertain public," a Twitter user posted. Another tweet read, "Relax, there are no contradictions among us! We are fully convinced of our Armed Forces & Modi-Govt!"

Take a look at the reactions here:

Don't worry , the people of Patna who rejected you have lots of faith in PM. You do your writting practice on twitter and entertain public.....  @mt v (@kvamit) June 23, 2020

Relax!

There are no contradictions among us! We are fully convinced of our Armed Forces & Modi-Govt!

Only #ChineseAgentsInIndia are confused!

Only Neta-abhineta & Darbaris are scared of breaking of MoU between @RahulGandhi & #CPC !  Meera Singh (@meeraremi11) June 23, 2020

!! This is not India of 1947, 1962 but India of 2020 India led by honest, dynamic, decisive Modi!!  daya shukl garge (@DayaShukl) June 23, 2020

Following the violent clashes in Galwan Valley, Corps commanders of Indian and Chinese armies held 11-hour long talks on Monday to resolve the tensions between the two countries.
The LIGO observatory made history in 2016 when it detected gravitational waves from a pair of colliding black holes, proving the existence both of gravitational waves, a century after Einstein predicted them, and of black holes. The instrument consists of twin L-shaped antennas in Hanford, Wash., and Livingston, La.

Since then, LIGO has been joined in its exploration of the darkness by another antenna known as Virgo, in Cascina, Italy. The combined LIGO-Virgo Collaboration consists of about 2,000 scientists around the world. The alphabetical listing of their names and institutions takes up the first five and a half pages of the new paper.

The puzzling collision recorded last August was one of 56 possible gravitational wave events  most of which appear to be black hole collisions  detected during the observatorys third run, which went from April 2019 until March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic shut down most scientific activities around the world. The collaboration is still reviewing the data in an effort to analyze and confirm them.

Dr. Kalogera said that the event was exciting for several reasons. The ratio of the two colliding masses was the most extreme  nine to one  of the gravitational wave collisions that have been observed so far. Astronomers have difficulty imagining how such unmatched stars could get together in a binary double-star system to begin with.

This is very hard for formation theories to explain, she said.

The signal  a characteristic chirp caused by the colliding objects circling faster and faster as they approach their moment of ultimate doom  lasted about 10 seconds. Due to the favorable circumstance of having observed such a loud signal with quite different component masses and for about 10 seconds, we achieved the most precise gravitational-wave measurement of a black hole spin to date, Alessandra Buonanno, of the Albert Einstein Institute in Potsdam, Germany, said in a statement issued by the institute.

A black holes spin carries important information about the birth and evolution of the black hole, Dr. Buonanno noted. In this case, it revealed that the black hole was spinning rather slowly, less than one-tenth the rate allowed by the strictures of Einsteins theory.

Nobody had any immediate explanation or candidate for what kind of entity could fill this mass gap  a dearth, Dr. Kalogera called it  except to affirm that the calculations were robust.
Update: The missing 15-year-old has been found safe.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Authorities are searching for a 15-year-old Queens boy who police say was abducted in Queens early Wednesday morning and could be in imminent danger.

The boy, Ahsan Ali, was abducted on 46th Avenue in Queens at 4:36 a.m. by his 28-year-old brother, Mohsin Ali, according to the Amber Alert, which was issued approximately four hours after the alleged abduction.

Ahsan Ali is described by the alert system as 5 feet, 6 inches tall, 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes and an unknown race. He was last seen wearing jeans and a T-shirt.

His brother, Mohsin Ali, is described as being 5 feet, 9 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes and an unknown race. He also has tattoos on his arms and chest and has multiple cuts on his arms. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a dark colored T-shirt.

Authorities said the 28-year-old fled the scene with Ahsan Ali in a white Toyota Sienna with a New York license plate: JJX 5315.

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan said Mohsin Ali threatened to harm the 15-year-old.

Anyone with any information on this abduction is asked to call the New York Police Department at 866-NYS-AMBER or dial 911 to provide information on a report or sighting.
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."

- - -

The Washington Post's Lena H. Sun, Yasmeen Abutaleb and Hannah Knowles contributed to this report.
(Natural News) Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott reported Tuesday that the state recorded over 5,000 new Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, setting a record for the largest single-day increase in cases.

Abbot did not initially offer an exact number of new cases or tests in total. However, the Texas Department of State Health Services later confirmed that the state had 5,489 new cases and 28 deaths.

The announcement comes just days after the state surpassed 4,000 new cases for the first time, over the past weekend.

Hospitals running out of space

Abbot revealed the daunting new record during an interview with television station KBTX where he also urged Texans to take the deadly pandemic seriously. In addition, Abbot also touched on the rising number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations in the state. (Related: Texas has had 1,000 new coronavirus cases every day since last week  but Gov. Abbott insists the state is ready to reopen.)

The hospitalization rate is at an all-time high, he said. The coronavirus is serious. Its spreading in Brazos County, across the entire state of Texas.

Despite this, Abbot stressed that the state still had enough hospital beds to deal with the surge. However, anecdotes from the states largest medical centers seem to state otherwise.

In Houston, there have been so many cases that the Texas Childrens Hospital is now admitting adult patients. This is despite the fact that Houston is also home to what has been deemed the largest medical center in the world: the Texas Medical Center.

Texas Childrens is committed to providing additional capacity through ICU and acute care beds across our hospital campuses to take on both pediatric and adult patients, said the hospital in a statement to NPR.

Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, stated in a tweet that Texas is facing a steep terrifying rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations and intensive-care admissions at Texas Medical Center.

We now face a public health crisis, Hotez added.

In Harris County, where Houston is located, officials warn that their intensive-care capacity will be exhausted in 11 days, based on their two-week average expansion rate. In addition, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgos office has also stated that surge beds will be full in 38 days. Harris County is Americas third-most-populated county.

Next few weeks are critical

Following the surge in cases, Abbot urged Texans to observe physical and social distancing restrictions and follow safety rules on washing their hands and wearing facemasks.

There remain a lot of people in the state of Texas who think that the spread of COVID-19 is not a challenge, Abbott said during his interview. The coronavirus is serious. Its spreading.

He also called the idea of shutting down the states economy once again as the last option to fight the pandemic; however, he said on Tuesday that agencies would clamp down on bars that have allowed overcrowding after restrictions were lifted.

Texans have shown that we dont have to choose between jobs and health  we can have both. We can protect lives while also restoring livelihoods, he added.

Abbot has yet to take any new actions that some have called for, including making face masks mandatory. However, he has hinted at that new measures could be inbound. He referred to additional announcements that could come later today or sometime within the week.

Whether or not these measures will be enough to slow the spread of the virus could have long term ramifications for the state. On Tuesday, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci, Americas top infectious disease expert, told lawmakers in Washington that the next couple of weeks are going to be critical for Texas and other states that are experiencing a surge of new coronavirus cases.

Follow Pandemic.news for more on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

CNBC.com

DFW.CBSLocal.com

Chron.com

Bloomberg.com
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.

Read more about:
A Middlesex County man died Tuesday when the car he was driving in Monmouth County went off a road and crashed into trees, authorities said.

Raymond Sasson, 86, was headed east on Carrs Tavern Road in Millstone Township when he went off the road about 3:18 p.m., according to New Jersey State Police Sgt. Lawrence Peele.

Sasson, of East Brunswick, died at the scene. The cause of the crash is under investigation, Peele said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has delayed an accelerated hearing on a suit to stop Godwin Obaseki, Edo State Governor, from contesting the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The court stood down the matter for three hours following appeal by the lawyer to the plaintiff, Ferdinand Orbih that they should be given a brief period to explore an out of court settlement.

The presiding judge, Justice E.O. Obile in his ruling on a motion exparte on Tuesday granted an order restraining Obaseki from participating in a primary election of the PDP following the determination of a suit filed by one of the aspirants, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama.

The court also ordered accelerated hearing on the matter and reconvened on Wednesday.

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Read Also: Court Stops Obaseki From Contesting In PDP Governorship Primary

However, Ogbeida-Ihamas lawyer informed the court that there were moves by the party to settle the matter out of court and urged the judge to stand down the proceedings for four hours.

But the judge asked the parties to take three hours to document their terms of settlement and inform the court, which he said would resume by 12.30pm.

More details to follow
China has significantly ramped up its military presence in Pangong Tso, Galwan valley and several other friction points in eastern Ladakh even as it is engaged in military and diplomatic talks with India to ease tension in the region, people familiar with the development said.

They said Chinese military has also deployed a sizeable number of its troops in Galwan Valley, the site of the violent clashes on June 15 that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

The erection of a surveillance post by China in the area had triggered the clashes. However, Chinese troops have again put up some structure around patrolling point 14 in the area, notwithstanding India's stiff opposition, they said.

Over the last few days, China has been laying claim over Galwan Valley though India called it 'untenable'.

Besides Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley, the two armies are also locked in a standoff in Demchok, Gogra Hot Spring and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel transgressed into the Indian side of the LAC.

China has also increased the number of troops and weaponry in several other key sectors along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand, the people cited above said.

The increase in military build-up by China along the LAC, the de-facto border between the two countries, came amid bilateral diplomatic and military talks.

Senior military commanders of the two armies on Monday held a nearly 11-hour meeting during which they arrived at a 'mutual consensus' to 'disengage' from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh in a gradual manner.

The two sides on Wednesday held diplomatic talks under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs.

In the meeting, both sides agreed to ensure expeditious implementation of the understanding on disengagement of troops from eastern Ladakh as decided in a meeting of senior military commanders on June 6, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

In the midst of fast-paced developments, Army Chief General M M Naravane on Wednesday visited various forward areas in eastern Ladakh and reviewed the Army's operational preparedness.

On the second day of his visit to Ladakh, Gen Naravane took stock of the Army's combat preparedness in four forward areas and interacted with soldiers deployed there besides holding detailed deliberations with ground commanders.

The Army Chief reviewed the overall security situation in the region with Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi, commander of the 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh and other senior Army officials on both Tuesday and Wednesday, sources said.

The Chief of Army Staff is expected to return to the national capital on Thursday.

'General M M Naravane #COAS visited forward areas in Eastern #Ladakh and reviewed the operational situation on the ground. #COAS commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm,' the Army said in a tweet.

The sources said India is also bolstering its military presence along the 3,500 km LAC with China.

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 significant 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.
Apollo Tyres Ltd is quoting at Rs 113, up 0.85% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is down 43.61% in last one year as compared to a 10.75% slide in NIFTY and a 13.07% slide in the Nifty Auto.

Apollo Tyres Ltd is up for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 113, up 0.85% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.55% on the day, quoting at 10528.25. The Sensex is at 35673.02, up 0.68%. Apollo Tyres Ltd has gained around 22.36% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Auto index of which Apollo Tyres Ltd is a constituent, has gained around 16.99% in last one month and is currently quoting at 6789.2, up 0.88% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 58.22 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 111.4 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark June futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 112.95, up 0.58% on the day. Apollo Tyres Ltd is down 43.61% in last one year as compared to a 10.75% slide in NIFTY and a 13.07% slide in the Nifty Auto index.

The PE of the stock is 12.6 based on TTM earnings ending March 20.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In times of unprecedented uncertainty, it is more important than ever to assure families and their sponsoring organizations of our SOC 2 safeguards, especially with an intelligent digital platform at the core of our offering.

Torchlight, a leading provider of employee-caregiver support solutions, announced today it has successfully completed American Institute of CPAs (AICPAs) Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type 1 certification. Developed by the AICPAs, SOC 2 certification is widely recognized as a gold standard for data security and requires companies to establish and follow strict information security policies and procedures. In addition, the company also announced today the addition of Dan Johnson, an industry security veteran as Torchlights new Information Security and Compliance Leader.

Having developed the only technology-based, data-informed, human-supported solution capable of delivering caregiver support at enterprise scale, we knew how critical it would be to invest in data controls, said Adam Goldberg, Torchlights CEO. In times of unprecedented uncertainty, it is more important than ever to assure families and their sponsoring organizations of our SOC 2 safeguards, especially with an intelligent digital platform at the core of our offering.

The audit was conducted by AARC-360, a firm of certified public accountants and advisors registered with the PCAOB that combines deep insights gained across industries to provide assurance, advisory, risk, and compliance services to companies located both locally and internationally. In accordance with AICPA guidance, AARC-360's SOC 2 examination services are designed to provide independent assurance against defined criteria around the principles of security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, or privacy.

Torchlight recognizes that security is a constant focus in todays digital world and is dedicated to protecting its users and partners every step of the way. Obtaining SOC 2 provides assurance to our customers and end users that we have the policies and procedures in place to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system, said Johnson. It is refreshing to see such an organization-wide emphasis on security and I am excited to join a team that is dedicated to putting the security of the customer first.

SOC2 Certification

Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), SOC 2 certification is widely recognized as a gold standard for data security and requires companies to establish and follow strict information security policies and procedures. By achieving certification, an independent third party has validated the design of Torchlights controls relevant to data security, availability, and confidentiality. Torchlights SOC certification demonstrates their commitment to data security through the practices and procedures it follows for protecting against unauthorized access, maintaining the availability of its service, and protecting the confidential information of its customers.

About Torchlight

At Torchlight, we believe that caring is everyones business and caring is good business. We are the only complete caregiver support solution for employers and member organizations. We offer solutions informed by data and, thus, are built for better results. Our approach includes a user-friendly digital platform and a team of expert advisors. No matter the age, stage or concern, Torchlights decision-support tools, caregiving knowledge base, and human expertise combine to reduce stress and enhance outcomes for both families and their sponsoring organizations more cost-effectively than call center or concierge-only solutions. Because getting caregivers the right resources, in the right ways, right from the beginning should be business as usual. Learn more at http://www.torchlight.care, or email press@torchlight.care.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 00:07:00|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

State Councilor Wang Yong, also head of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, attends a video conference on the work of flood control, emergency rescue and disaster relief in the Yangtze River basin, in Beijing, capital of China, June 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- State Councilor Wang Yong on Tuesday called for solid flood control and emergency rescue efforts in the Yangtze River basin to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.

With the arrival of the main flood season in the river basin, the work of flood control, emergency rescue and disaster relief is at a crucial stage, said Wang, who is also head of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, at a video conference.

Wang called on relevant government departments to fully implement their responsibilities, step up coordination efforts and work together to respond to disasters.

Authorities should strengthen monitoring, early warning and risk assessment, while making scientific use of flood control projects, Wang said. Enditem
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced hope Wednesday for a resolution in the coming weeks with Sudan, which said it expects soon to be delisted as a state sponsor of terrorism. Pompeo said he spoke Wednesday by telephone with Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, a civilian whose near year-old government has been pushing to remove the designation by Washington that severely impedes foreign investment. "We're working very closely with him to try and come to a solution so that we get the right outcome for their new leadership and for the Sudanese people," Pompeo told reporters. "I'm hopeful that that will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead," said the secretary, when asked about the terrorism designation. In a later statement, Pompeo also promised Hamdok to step up US assistance during talks of Sudan's major economic supporters Thursday in Berlin. Sudan's Foreign Minister Asma Abdalla told AFP on Tuesday that the government was finishing a deal to compensate victims of the simultaneous 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Once the deal is complete, she said she expected the United States to move ahead with the delisting of Sudan "as soon as possible." Washington first blacklisted Sudan in 1993 as strongman Omar al-Bashir turned toward Islamism. He welcomed Osama bin Laden and Sudan was accused of aiding the jihadists who carried out the bombings, which killed 224 people and injured around 5,000, almost all of them African. Bashir was ousted by the military in April last year following months of protests and the new transitional government has sought to repair Sudan's international standing. Pompeo was speaking at the launch of an annual US report on terrorism, which credited the new government's work with the United States and distancing itself from extremist groups. The report, however, said that militants from the Islamic State group appeared to have an active "facilitation networks" in Sudan. Khartoum recently finalized a deal compensating families of victims of the 2000 USS Cole bombing in Yemen's Aden harbor, for which Al-Qaeda also claimed responsibility. Sudan always denied any involvement but agreed to the settlement to fulfill US conditions. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tells a news conference that he hopes for a resolution soon with Sudan
In the past few weeks, police have marched through the streets of American cities, in paramilitary fashion, equipped with military gear, firing tear gas, rubber bullets, smoke bombs and pepper balls at peaceful protesters and journalists. The protests demanding an end to police violence, sparked by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have been confronted by police in combat gear and accompanied by military equipment including armored vehicles.

According to a CNN analysis of federal data, the Department of Defense (DoD) has sent at least $760 million worth of military equipment to local law enforcement agencies since August 2017. This includes $5.3 million of gear used to quell protests, such as riot shields, gas masks, tasers, and other materials local law enforcement requested for crowd control.

Across the country, more than 8,000 police departments have been supplied with such equipment, at no cost, through the 1033 program, which allows the DoD to donate surplus combat material to law enforcement agencies.

The program was originally created during the administration of Republican President George H.W. Bush as a part of the War on Drugs and limited officers to using the equipment in drug raids. The program was subsequently expanded by Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1996, under the National Defense Authorization Act, which allowed all law enforcement agencies to acquire property for ... purposes that assist in their arrest and apprehension mission.

Local police departments welcomed the Democratic Partys expansion of the program and have amassed immense stockpiles of military equipment for use against the population in the subsequent decades.

Under the program, police are required to use the equipment in their communities within a year, which is a major incentive for excessive force and surveillance. Since its inception, more than $5 billion worth of military gear has been doled out to the police.

Between 2006 and 2014, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) found that police agencies stockpiled more than $1.5 billion of military equipment, including: 79,288 assault rifles, 205 grenade launchers, 11,959 bayonets, 3,972 combat knives, 422 helicopters, 479 bomb-detonator robots, more than 15,054 battle uniforms, and $39 million worth of electric wire.

In this Nov. 13, 2013 photo, Warren County, NY Undersheriff Shawn Lamouree poses in front the department's mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, or MRAP. The vehicles, built for about $500,000 each, are among the surplus equipment that the Defense Department has given to law enforcement agencies under a national military surplus program. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Additionally, 500 departments acquired Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, built to withstand blasts from roadside bombs and mines during the US occupation of Iraq between 2003 to 2011. MRAPs cost between half a million and one million dollars each.

The ACLU report found that law enforcement departments in Arizona alone used the 1033 program to amass 712 rifles, 64 armored vehicles, 42 forced-entry tools, 32 bomb resistant suits, 704 night-vision accessories, 830 units of surveillance equipment, and a .50 caliber machine gun that shoots bullets powerful enough to blast through the buildings on multiple city blocks.

The CNN report found that in the last two and half decades more than 250 departments, including the Baltimore Sheriff's Office, Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office, and Hartford Police Department, received 12-gauge riot guns used to fire tear gas canisters or other projectiles into crowds of protesters.

CNN also noted that the Houston Police Department had received 38 riot training suits worth more than $64,000 and 91 riot control shields worth $12,000. The Milwaukee Police Department in southeastern Wisconsin as well as university police departments at Clemson University and Alabama State University received riot shields and face shields. Moundsville, a small town in West Virginia, recently received a MRAP vehicle and San Diego Unified School District briefly obtained one in 2014.

Multiple police agencies in California, Oregon and Colorado have been the recipients of long-range acoustic devices, or LRADs, sound weapons which emit high pitch frequencies which cause significant pain. LRADs have been deployed against protesters across the country in recent weeks.

According to experts, applying for equipment is quite easy and the program suffers from a lack of accountability. In 2017, the US Government Accountability office created a fictitious website and was able to receive $1.2 million worth of equipment through the 1033 program, including night vision goggles, simulated M-16A2 rifles and a simulated pipe bomb. While ostensibly for training, the rifles and pipe bomb could have been made operational with commonly available parts. There have also been reports of police fraudulently acquiring, transferring, or embezzling gear or even losing track of the military grade equipment.

After the police murder of Michael Brown, police in Ferguson, Missouri readily utilized military equipment. Images of what seemed like a warzone, including officers aiming rifles at protesters from gun nests on the top of armored vehicles, spread through social media and sparked national outrage. Aiming to assuage popular anger without any fundamental changes, President Barack Obama issued an executive order which placed some limitations on the 1033 program. The order took back a small amount of the gear which had been doled out, including 126 armored vehicles, 1,623 bayonets, and 138 grenade launchers, according to the New York Times.

However, in 2017, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions spearheaded the Trump administration effort which reversed the Obama order. It sends the message that we care more about public safety than about how a piece of equipment looks, especially when that equipment has been shown to reduce crime, reduce complaints against and assaults on police, and makes officers more effective, the Justice Department wrote in an announcement of the decision.

Police officials in Democratic and Republican controlled cities have defended the program. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo told CNN that in one of the most violent nations in the civilized free world it was necessary for police departments to use military-grade combat equipment.

The diffusion of military equipment throughout local law enforcement agencies, freely given by the federal government, is a serious threat to the working class and reveals the shortsightedness of appeals to defund the police. As Lenin and Engels explained, police are special bodies of armed men utilized by the state. The fight against police brutality cannot be separated from the fight against capitalism.
New York, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Care Management Solution Market Research Report by Component, by Deployment, by End User, by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913751/?utm_source=GNW



On the basis of Component, the Care Management Solution Market is studied across Services and Software.



On the basis of Deployment, the Care Management Solution Market is studied across Cloud-Based and On-Premise.



On the basis of End User , the Care Management Solution Market is studied across Healthcare Payers and Healthcare Providers.



On the basis of Application, the Care Management Solution Market is studied across Case Management, Disease Management, and Utilization Management.



On the basis of Geography, the Care Management Solution Market is studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region is studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region is studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region is studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Care Management Solution Market including Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Casenet, LLC, Cerner Corporation, Cognizant Technology Solutions, EXL service Holdings, Inc., Harmony Information Systems, Inc. (A Part of Mediware Information Systems, Inc.), Health Catalyst, LLC, i2i Population Health, IBM Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Medecision, Inc., Salesforce.Com, Inc., TCS Healthcare Technologies, and ZeOmega Inc..



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Care Management Solution Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Care Management Solution Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Care Management Solution Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Care Management Solution Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Care Management Solution Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Care Management Solution Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Care Management Solution Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913751/?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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New Delhi: An earthquake of 4.1 magnitude on Richter scale rocked Mizoram at 08:02 am on Wednesday. As per the National Center for Seismology (NCS) the epicentre was 31 km South South-West (SSW) of Champhai.

The northeastern state of Mizoram has witnessed four earthquakes since Sunday.

Yesterday at 7.17 pm, a quake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale hit southern Mizoram`s Lunglei district. The tremor was at 25 km depth of the earth and lasted for a few seconds.

On Monday, a moderate earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Mizoram`s Champhai area and other adjoining northeastern states bordering Myanmar, damaging damage to buildings and important installations.

Mizoram had also experienced an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale on Sunday afternoon (at 4.16 pm).

Meanwhile, 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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) Minister Jitendra Singh spoke with Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and offered all possible help from the Centre.
Army Chief General MM Naravane on Wednesday visited forward areas in eastern Ladakh and reviewed the operational situation on the ground in the wake of the border standoff with China. General Naravane arrived in Leh on a two-day visit to the region.

He also awarded commendation cards to soldiers who fought valiantly with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) during the recent face-off with China in the region.

The Army chief also commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm.

General MM Naravane #COAS visited forward areas in Eastern #Ladakh and reviewed operational situation on the ground. #COAS commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm.#NationFirst pic.twitter.com/gc0rmw69Fs  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) June 24, 2020

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, the Army said, "General MM Naravane COAS visited forward areas in Eastern Ladakh and reviewed the operational situation on the ground. COAS commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm."

Army Chief General MM Naravane on June 23 interacted with soldiers at the Military Hospital in Leh. 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.

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."

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 June 22.

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, the 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.
Illustration of AU Mic b orbiting its parent star, AU Mic. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA)

For more than a decade, astronomers have searched for planets orbiting AU Microscopii, a nearby star still surrounded by a disk of debris left over from its formation. Now scientists using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and retired Spitzer Space Telescope report the discovery of a planet about as large as Neptune that circles the young star in just over a week.

The system, known as AU Mic for short, provides a one-of-kind laboratory for studying how planets and their atmospheres form, evolve and interact with their stars.

"AU Mic is a young, nearby M dwarf star. It's surrounded by a vast debris disk in which moving clumps of dust have been tracked, and now, thanks to TESS and Spitzer, it has a planet with a direct size measurement," said Bryson Cale, a doctoral student at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. "There is no other known system that checks all of these important boxes."

The new planet, AU Mic b, is described in a paper co-authored by Cale and led by his advisor Peter Plavchan, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at George Mason. Their report was published on Wednesday, June 24, in the journal Nature.

AU Mic b is featured in a new NASA poster available in English and Spanish, part of a Galaxy of Horrors series. The fun but informative series resulted from a collaboration of scientists and artists and was produced by NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program Office.

AU Mic is a cool red dwarf star with an age estimated at 20 million to 30 million years, making it a stellar infant compared to our Sun, which is at least 150 times older. The star is so young that it primarily shines from the heat generated as its own gravity pulls it inward and compresses it. Less than 10% of the star's energy comes from the fusion of hydrogen into helium in its core, the process that powers stars like our Sun.

The system is located 31.9 light-years away in the southern constellation Microscopium. It's part of a nearby collection of stars called the Beta Pictoris Moving Group, which takes its name from a bigger, hotter A-type star that harbors two planets and is likewise surrounded by a debris disk.

Artist's rendering of Au Mic b. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Although the systems have the same age, their planets are markedly different. The planet AU Mic b almost hugs its star, completing an orbit every 8.5 days. It weighs less than 58 times Earth's mass, placing it in the category of Neptune-like worlds. Beta Pictoris b and c, however, are both at least 50 times more massive than AU Mic b and take 21 and 3.3 years, respectively, to orbit their star.

"We think AU Mic b formed far from the star and migrated inward to its current orbit, something that can happen as planets interact gravitationally with a gas disk or with other planets," said co-author Thomas Barclay, an associate research scientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and an associate project scientist for TESS at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "By contrast, Beta Pictoris b's orbit doesn't appear to have migrated much at all. The differences between these similarly aged systems can tell us a lot about how planets form and migrate."

Planet AU Mic b is about the size of Neptune. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA)

Detecting planets around stars like AU Mic poses a particular challenge. These stormy stars possess strong magnetic fields and can be covered with starspotscooler, darker and highly magnetic regions akin to sunspotsthat frequently erupt powerful stellar flares. Both the spots and their flares contribute to the star's brightness changes.

In July and August 2018, when TESS was observing AU Mic, the star produced numerous flares, some of which were more powerful than the strongest flares ever recorded on the Sun. The team performed a detailed analysis to remove these effects from the TESS data.

When a planet crosses in front of its star from our perspective, an event called a transit, its passage causes a distinct dip in the star's brightness. TESS monitors large swaths of the sky, called sectors, for 27 days at a time. During this long stare, the mission's cameras regularly capture snapshots that allow scientists to track changes in stellar brightness.

Regular dips in a star's brightness signal the possibility of a transiting planet. Usually, it takes at least two observed transits to recognize a planet's presence.

Au Mic is a "red dwarf," the most numerous type of star in the galaxy. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA)

"As luck would have it, the second of three TESS transits occurred when the spacecraft was near its closest point to Earth. At such times, TESS is not observing because it is busy downlinking all of the stored data," said co-author Diana Dragomir, a research assistant professor at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. "To fill the gap, our team was granted observing time on Spitzer, which caught two additional transits in 2019 and enabled us to confirm the orbital period of AU Mic b."

Spitzer was a multipurpose infrared observatory operating from 2003 until its decommissioning on Jan. 30, 2020. The mission proved especially adept at detecting and studying exoplanets around cool stars. Spitzer returned the AU Mic observations during its final year.

Because the amount of light blocked by a transit depends on the planet's size and orbital distance, the TESS and Spitzer transits provide a direct measure of AU Mic b's size. Analysis of these measurements show that the planet is about 8% larger than Neptune.

Observations from instruments on ground-based telescopes provide upper limits for the planet's mass. As a planet orbits, its gravity tugs on its host star, which moves slightly in response. Sensitive instruments on large telescopes can detect the star's radial velocity, its motion to-and-fro along our line of sight. Combining observations from the W. M. Keck Observatory and NASA's InfraRed Telescope Facility in Hawaii and the European Southern Observatory in Chile, the team concluded that AU Mic b has a mass smaller than 58 Earths.

This discovery shows the power of TESS to provide new insights into well-studied stars like AU Mic, where more planets may be waiting to be found.

"There is an additional candidate transit event seen in the TESS data, and TESS will hopefully revisit AU Mic later this year in its extended mission," Plavchan said. "We are continuing to monitor the star with precise radial velocity measurements, so stay tuned."

For decades, AU Mic has intrigued astronomers as a possible home for planets thanks to its proximity, youth and bright debris disk. Now that TESS and Spitzer have found one there, the story comes full circle. AU Mic is a touchstone system, a nearby laboratory for understanding the formation and evolution of stars and planets that will be studied for decades to come.

Explore further Young giant planet offers clues to formation of exotic worlds

More information: A planet within the debris disk around the pre-main-sequence star AU Microscopii, Nature (2020). www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2400-z Journal information: Nature A planet within the debris disk around the pre-main-sequence star AU Microscopii,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2400-z
A moderate 5.5-magnitude earthquake rattled New Zealand's South Island Thursday but police said there were no reports of damage and the offshore tremor did not prompt a tsunami warning. The shallow quake struck at 10:20am (2220 GMT) just off the coast of the remote Milford Sound region at a depth of 14 kilometres (nine miles), the US Geological Survey said. New Zealand's official GeoNet seismic monitoring service put the strength at 5.9 and an even shallower depth of five kilometres. While the quake was widely felt across the lower South Island, police said there were no reports of damage. "We certainly felt it. We've got cars out the front here and they were just rolling around in the car park there," Helen Archer, a resident of Te Anau township, told the New Zealand Herald. "It was just rolling. The two of us here feel a bit car-sick or sea-sick still." New Zealand lies on the Pacific Basin "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide generating more than 15,000 earthquakes a year, although only 100150 are strong enough to be felt. A shallow 6.3 quake in the South Island city of Christchurch killed 185 people in 2011, while a 7.8 shake slightly further north in 2016 was the second strongest ever recorded in the country.
Navy helicopter to be used to tackle new locust attack in Rajasthan

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, June 24: It seems the country nowhere to get the relief from the troubles as fresh swarms of locust have entered Rajasthan from Pakistan recently.

Locust attack has been going on since 1.5 months and Rajasthan is one of the most affected states as some districts like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Ganganagar share border with Pakistan from where locusts are entering other districts.

Ops are on to control them. Issue is, we had killed older swarms but new swarms are coming now. Govt of India says that Navy helicopter will also be used to control it.

Centre asks states to streamline inter-state movement of personnel engaged in locust control

Diesel costs more than petrol after 18th consecutive day of price rise | Oneindia News

Locusts have made border areas near Pakistan their breeding centres from where they're coming here, said BR Kadwa, Dy director of state agriculture dept.

"Since locust are now as pink immature adults, which is the most active stage, they could fly swiftly, escaping the pesticide spray. The next 15 days would be crucial before they become fully grown adult, which eat less and are more static", said K L Gurjar, deputy director of Locust Warning Organisation.

"We are able to kill only 50 per cent of the swarms despite deploying all the resources", added Gurjar.

Gurjar said, Rajasthan has been put on high alert and there was a risk of swarms entering Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat.

"We have asked Pakistan to kill locusts on their side of the border. But nothing much is happening on the ground," he also said.

Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant tweeted, "Drone operations have given brilliant results. It's a Make in India initiative benefiting our farmers. FAO has appreciated India for first time usage of drones for locust control."

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Story first published: Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 15:45 [IST]
FLINT, MI  David Hoppe, 57, of St. Clair County  convicted earlier this year for running an illegal gambling operation  faces six new felony charges in Genesee Countys 67th District Court.

The charges stem from Hoppe allegedly supplying illegal gambling games between May 2017 and February 2019 to Spin City, an internet cafe located in Flint Township. These new charges resulted from a joint investigation by the Michigan Department of Attorney General and the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

The warrant was signed by 67th District Court Judge Jessica Hammon June 11, and Hoppe was arraigned June 23.

The charges include four 10-year felony counts of aiding and abetting an unlicensed gambling operation, one 10-to-20 year felony count of using a computer to commit a crime and one 20-year felony count of racketeering by conducting a criminal enterprise at both Spin City in Flint Township and 777 Cafe in Roseville, according to a press release.

Earlier this year, a Macomb County jury found Hoppe guilty of one count of running an illegal gambling operation at the former 777 Cafe he operated in Roseville. The gambling games he allegedly supplied to the Flint cafe were the same found at this one, according to the press release.

He was also convicted by the Macomb County Circuit Court on two counts of using computers to commit a crime and a misdemeanor charge of running a gambling house for gain. Hoppe was sentenced to a year of probation and 40 hours of community service January 30 for those crimes.

Hoppe is scheduled for a probable cause conference July 2 for the Flint Township charges and was given a $70,000 personal bond.

Illegal gambling operations are not a victimless crime, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. State gaming regulations direct much-needed financial resources to where theyre needed, like schools and other agencies providing valuable services to residents. When illegal gambling operations siphon money away from establishments that follow the rules, residents across the state suffer.

Read more on MLive:

Father, son to be sentenced for running illegal gambling operation

Attorney general charges 3 people in Flint gambling operation
An Indian restaurant owned by a Sikh in the Sante Fe city in the US state of New Mexico was broken into and vandalised with hate messages scrawled on its walls, according to a media report.

The damage caused to India Palace restaurant is estimated to be worth $ 100,000, local Santa Fe Reporter newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The vandalisation is being investigated by local police and the FBI, it said.

The Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), a non-profit civil rights organisation, has condemned the incident.

"This kind of hate and violence is unacceptable and swift action must be taken to ensure the safety and security of all Americans," said SALDEF executive director Kiran Kaur Gill.

According to the local daily, tables were overturned, glassware was smashed into piles on the floor, wine racks were emptied, a statue of a goddess was beheaded and computers were stolen.

The vandals also turned over and destroyed food warmers, while the front desk area was gutted, plates smashed and the kitchen rendered completely unusable, it said.

"I walked into the kitchen, I saw everything and I was like, hold on, what? What is going on here?," owner Baljit Singh told Santa Fe Reporter. "'White power,'Trump 2020','go home', and far worse were spray-painted on walls, doors, counters and any other available surface.

Some phrases contained threats of violence and derogatory racial slurs, the daily said. Santa Fe is a peaceful town, and the Sikh community has lived here, beautifully integrated, since the 60s, said SALDEF board member Simran Singh, who lives minutes away from the restaurant.

Tensions have flared recently with the reinvigoration of the Black Lives Matter movement and the removal of statues associated with Spanish colonisers of this area, who committed a number of atrocities, he said.

Nevertheless, we are seeing an outpouring of love and support around the city and in my experience, our neighbours love and appreciate us, as we love and appreciate them, he added.

SALDEF said that it has seen an unprecedented rise in hate crimes including the April 29 incident wherein a Sikh American Lakhwant Singh was brutally attacked by a man identified as Eric Breeman in Lakewood, Colorado.

Lakhwant Singh was told to "go back to your country", while being attacked. No formal hate crime charges have been brought against the attacker.
Russia Agrees to Expedite Delivery of Ongoing Defence Contracts to India Including S-400, DM Says

Sputnik News

17:41 GMT 23.06.2020

New Delhi (Sputnik): The Indian government has reportedly requested Russia to fast-track the delivery of defence equipment, including a S-400 air defence missile system. India and Russia have signed defence contracts worth over $12 billion since 2018.

Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday that ongoing contracts signed with Russia in the past few years will be maintained and in some cases expedited.

The minister's comments came after he discussed a range of issues with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov and several high ranking officials on the first day of a three day official visit to Moscow.

"My discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov 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," Rajnath Singh, India's leading senior defence official, said after the meeting.

The minister who is "fully satisfied with the discussions" emphasised that all the proposals forwarded by the Indian side have "received a positive response from the Russian side".

Earlier, Indian Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar had discussions with his Russian counterpart Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.

India has urged Russia to ramp up the delivery of its S-400 air defence missile systems, a defence ministry source said on condition of anonymity ahead of the minister's visit to Moscow. Earlier it was reported that Moscow had planned to delay delivery until December 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In February, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov announced the start of production of the S-400 air defence missile systems for India.

In 2018, India and Russia signed a $5.43 billion contract for the purchase of five S-400 missile defence systems, despite US threats to slap sanctions on any country that buys from Russia's defence sector under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

India and Russia have signed defence contracts worth over $12 billion including for a Talwar class frigate, a submarine, naval helicopters and very short range air defence systems.

Kumar added that he is looking forward to participating in the 75th Victory Parade on Wednesday where a large Indian contingent will also be taking part.

A Sputnik

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 19:29:16|Editor: huaxia

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SOFIA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Bulgarian government on Wednesday approved the extension of the nationwide epidemic emergency until July 15 in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, the cabinet said in a statement.

The epidemic emergency was initially declared on May 14 with a duration of one month, replacing the state of emergency implemented on March 13. On June 10, the government extended the epidemic emergency until the end of June.

The prolongation of the epidemic emergency would help slow down and limit the spread of the COVID-19 by applying temporary anti-epidemic measures, the statement said.

Meanwhile, it would improve the preparedness of health care and social systems to respond to a subsequent wave, the statement said.

Recently, Bulgaria saw a significant increase in the number of newly infected people, the Health Minister Kiril Ananiev said at the beginning of the government meeting, which was open to reporters.

From May 27 to June 9, the average daily number of newly infected people was 26, while in the June 10-June 23 period it was 84, Ananiev said.

A total of 4,114 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the Balkan country so far, and 208 people have died. Enditem
ALBANY  Consumer groups and at least one state senator are blasting a plan by the gas and electric utility NYSEG to raise its rates amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The state Public Service Commission recently began a review of how utilities across the state should approach their rate setting in light of the unemployment and business closures caused by the pandemic.

However, staff at the PSC revealed earlier this week that it had reached a potential settlement with NYSEG that could potentially allow it to increase electric delivery rates by 25 percent over three years - an additional $145 over that period.

The deal would still need to be approved by the PSC's five commissioners.

Although National Grid is the dominant gas and electric utility in the Capital Region, NYSEG provides gas and electric service to parts of Saratoga, Rensselaer, Columbia and Greene counties.

After the PSC announced that a settlement had been reached on Monday, PULP and AARP both decried the decision to allow NYSEG to raise its rates at this time.

AARP's state director Beth Finkel said now is not the time to raise customer rates.

One of the worst economic crises in the last century is not the time to increase NYSEG customers electric delivery rates by nearly 25 percent," Finkel said. "This proposal from the Public Service Commission staff and the (utility) is inconsistent with Gov. Cuomos and the PSCs own goals in launching a special COVID-19 proceeding aimed at curtailing unnecessary spending by utility companies and ensuring consumers are protected."

Richard Berkley, executive director of PULP, which stands for the Public Utility Law Project of New York, said the group was "appalled" at the settlement decision.

"Utilities are supposed to act in the public interest, but the companies actions today are anything but in the public interest, which is why PULP also applauds the Public Service Commission and Gov. Cuomo for launching a special COVID-19 proceeding to rein in unnecessary spending by utilities and push the utilities to lower harmful economic impacts upon consumers," Berkley said.

NYSEG officials, however, defended the rate settlement, noting that it provided numerous benefits to its customers, including a $16.5 COVID-19 relief fund that would provide $100 credits to "vulnerable" residential and business customers.

The settlement filed today puts customers first and, upon approval, will provide immediate COVID-19 relief to residential and commercial customers, while also limiting the rate impact to ensure that (NYSEG) customers will continue to have among the lowest electric and gas rates in the state, said NYSEG CEO Carl Taylor. The proposed plan will enable much needed investment in our infrastructure and harnesses the power of technology to make our electric system more resilient, providing for a better customer experience. It also re-affirms our commitment to build more economic, social and environmentally sustainable communities throughout the areas we serve.

NYSEG said that the first electric delivery rate increase in October would add $2.49 to the average electric bill. In 2021, monthly electric bills would rise $4.13. Another $5.54 in added delivery costs would hit monthly bills in 2022.

Delivery costs are just half of a typical electric bill. The other half is the actual electric supply that is set by the market. The rate settlement also includes new rates for NSYEG's sister company, RG&E, although that utility mainly serves the Rochester area.

State Sen. Jen Metzger, who represents Sullivan County and parts of Delaware, Orange, and Ulster counties, also decried the NYSEG rate settlement.

"It is outrageous that the parties to this rate case have agreed to impose a nearly 25 percent increase in electric rates over three years, in total and utter disregard for the pandemic and the economic toll it has taken on residents and small businesses in our region," Metzger said.

NYSEG and RG&E do not take raising rates lightly," said Michael Jamison, the utilities' senior corporate communications manager. "This proposal comes after months of thoughtful discussions with stakeholders about how the companies can continue to best serve our customers in light of the COVID-19 situation.

"In addition to making needed investments in our electric system, this proposal provides direct bill credits and economic development programs for customers who may be impacted by the pandemic," Jamison said. "Simultaneously, this proposal keeps our rates the lowest in the state compared to other utilities.

Ultimately, our system is aging and requires investments. Compounded by harsher and more frequent storms, this agreement makes needed investments directly in our infrastructure, in our effort to trim trees  which are responsible for more than half of all NYSEG outages  and in our efforts to create a more resilient electric system," Jamison said.

The PSC is asking the public to submit comments on the settlement through July 23 through its website or through mail.
Kildare parents of children with special needs who have been full-time carers since the lockdown are deeply concerned that the Governments two weeks notice to schools about beginning July Provision is just adequate.

July Provision, which takes place every year, provides about 40 hours of care, over two weeks, in the home or at school, and will this year include many more children with complex or moderate needs.

Up until now, the Department funded the scheme only for children with autism and spectrum disorders. This year, the scheme will also include others with severe or moderate disabilities, including those with Down Syndrome.

However, with just two weeks notice, a significant increase in children to provide for, and no specific details, on how it will be implemented, concerns are mounting that every child will not get a place this summer.

Chris Hannon, is mother of Mary (14), who has Kabuki Syndrome, requiring round the clock care. Her daughter is a student at St Raphaels, Celbridge. She is peg fed and requires nappy changing. Her mother has been her primary carer since the lockdown.

Ms Hannon had to ask her sister for assistance during the lockdown, as she was getting burned out. Since last week, the HSE has given her a her one-day-a-week visit. She said: I would absolutely love if Mary got the July Provision, but it is all up in the air.

Going from having Mary attend St Raphaels from 9am to 3pm, on a full-time basis, to being left with no help when the lockdown hit, left Ms Hannon burned out.

She said: For the first eight to nine weeks, I had no help. I was getting burned out, so I had to ring my sister for help.

From last week, she has also received one day a week assistance in the home from the HSE.

Ms Hannon said: We are in limbo, I was getting down about it. We did not go outside the door, except bringing her somewhere in the car, and just sitting there. It is not natural. I would love to know that there is help on the way.

Aisling McNiffe has been the primary carer for her son Jack at their home in Ardclough, Straffan. For three months, it was her, Jack and her teenage daughter Molly, at home.

Jack has Down Syndrome, is in a wheelchair and has a rare auto-inflammatory disease. Because Jack gets acute pneumonia every year, and last winter had rhino virus and para virus, along with being in Intensive Care in February to treat pneumonia, she is nervous about him catching the coronavirus. She wants to keep him cocooning for longer, so wont be seeking July provision.

However, she feels that parents throughout Kildare and Ireland, left without any assistance, during the lockdown especially, should be given an increase in Carers Allowance.

She said: The hardest part is the lack of support, loneliness is a huge factor

Ms McNiffe says she knows of a couple in their eighties who are caring for their 51-year-old son who has special needs.

She said: There are no plans being announced for adults over 18 with special needs, it seems like they have no rights. I wish that the Government would recognise carers and stop putting us last. I dont think that the Carers Allowance should be means tested.

Many parents of children with special needs are now dreading the winter already as their childrens medical appointments have been put on hold due to the coronavirus. There are fears that they will not get their necessary treatments on time. Some children with special needs are now waiting six to eight months for vital life saving surgery, that is, essentially, a non-Covid 19 medical need.

Mark OConnor, of Inclusion Ireland, says that occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech therapists being redeployed to do Covid 19 testing is leaving many waiting for services.

He says that, long-term, the system of online learning for children with special needs is not viable and during the lockdown, in a survey, 70% reportd that online learning is not suitable for people with special needs.

Regarding the July Provision announcement, he anticipates that it will be a logistical nightmare for schools.

He said: It is all down to the wire. People want certainty, we urge all families to apply online.

Last year the July Provision scheme catered for 10,500 students. Now opening it up to children with needs other than autism or Aspergers spectrum, there will be places for 20,000 children nationwide.

July Provision is always a controversial issue with long waiting lists and difficulty accessing teachers, but this year with double the number of students, disability campaigners are not too confident that it will be delivered on time and for parents who badly need the break, say Inclusion Ireland.

Anyone who is interested is urged to go to gov.ie and apply online as quickly as possible. There has been no specific mention of social distancing in the guidelines, says Inclusion Ireland.
Man in Dong Nai detained for dog theft

A man in the southern province of Dong Nai has been arrested for stealing many dogs.



Pham Chi Hung, 43, from Tan Phu District was caught by the police in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dongs Cat Tien District in the early morning of Thursday.





Up to 21 dogs was stolen by Hung and several others



The seven-seat car driven by him contained many tools such as electric guns and wires, two cans of petrol and six bags of chilli powder used to attack dogs.



The police expanded the investigation and found two more plastic cages and 21 dogs kept in Nam Ninh Commune in Cat Tien District.



Hung confessed that he and some others who drove motorbikes for dog theft.



In April, the police in the southern province of Binh Duong arrested two local men for using electric guns to steal 14 dogs.



According to the Asia Canine Protection Alliance, roughly five million dogs are killed in Vietnam annually, making the nation the second-biggest dog meat consumer in the world behind China.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 05:24:17|Editor: huaxia

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Video: "This year is gonna be different," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio tells his daily briefing on June 23, 2020. (Xinhua)

"We do not want a lot of people out watching," says the mayor.



NEW YORK, June 23 (Xinhua) -- New York City will celebrate this year's Independence Day with various fireworks shows on different nights to avoid huge crowds amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the mayor's office, from June 29 to July 1 and on July 4, fireworks displays will be held at various land and water-based locations across the city.

The first three shows this year will be limited in five minutes, while the finale on July 4 will feature major cultural figures to pay tribute to health care workers, first responders and other frontline workers, Mayor Bill de Blasio said at Tuesday's briefing.

Fireworks explode over the sky to celebrate U.S. Independence Day in New York, the United States, July 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

"This year is going to be different. It will not be like the past, where there's one big giant show. We do not want a lot of people out watching," he said.

The time and location of the displays have not been announced. The mayor's office said in a statement that the first three ones will be over before people can gather at the source of the fireworks, while the grand finale on the Independence Day will be broadcast live on TV.

"With heights reaching up to 1,000 feet from some firing locations, staying close to home and following social distancing guidelines is the best way to enjoy the show," the statement said.

Fireworks explode over the sky to celebrate U.S. Independence Day in New York, the United States, July 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

The annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show has been a tradition in New York City for over 40 years. Tens of thousands of people would normally gather along the riverside on the night to watch the show.

When the city was at the peak of COVID-19 infections, the mayor had promised New Yorkers that the annual fireworks show will be held, but in a different way.

The city entered phase two of reopening on Monday, during which large gatherings are still banned, according to New York state's phased reopening strategy.

Fireworks are displayed during the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks 2019 to celebrate U.S. Independence Day in New York, the United States, July 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

The mayor said on Tuesday that the city will launch a crackdown on illegal fireworks because they are noisy and dangerous.

"We're going to start a huge sting operation to go and get these illegal fireworks at the base -- meaning everywhere they're being sold around New York City, and even where they're being sold in surrounding states that we know are flowing into New York City," he said. 
By Express News Service

KOCHI: The health department on Tuesday declared six wards of Sreemoolanagaram panchayat near

Aluva as containment zones after a health worker and her husband tested positive for Covid-19.

The health worker had taken part in the immunisation programme on June 16 and 17 at Chowara and the source of infection is not known yet. The health worker had attended some field visits as part of the Covid containment measures. Her husband too tested positive for the virus. Under the circumstances, wards 1, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 of Sreemoolanagaram panchayat have been declared a containment zone, said Sreedevi S, additional DMO, Ernakulam.

The two cases have baffled the health and the district administration officials. We are trying our level best to trace the primary contacts of the two. They had attended funerals and also travelled extensively. The virus might have been infected during these times. Within a few days, we will be able to bring out all details, Sreedevi said. The husband-wife duo is under treatment at the Kalamassery Medical College. Thirteen cases on TuesdayIncluding the health worker and her husband, 13 persons tested positive for Covid-19 in the district on Tuesday. Besides, a Kottayam resident also tested positive and is now undergoing treatment at the medical college.

Others who were infected with Covid in the district are: a 41-year-old Palluruthy resident who came from Kuwait on June 11, a 37-year-old North Paravur native who landed in Kochi from Kuwait on June 14, a 32-year-old resident of Varapuzha who arrived at Karipur from Kuwait on June 12, a North Paravur native who arrived on Kuwait- Thiruvananthapuram flight on June 12, a 39-year-old Asamaannur native who arrived from Kuwait on June 12, a Chengamanad resident who landed here on June 13, a Tripunithura resident who arrived from Nigeria, and a 35-year-old Edathala resident who arrived from Kuwait Two others who arrived from other states were also infected with Covid. They are 39-year-old Puthenvelikkara resident who arrived from Delhi on June 16 and a 31-year-old private shipping company employee who arrived from Mumbai on June 20. Meanwhile, six persons tested negative on Tuesday.

106 contacts of Nayarambalam patient identified

The development at Sreemoolanagaram comes a day after the district administration declared Nayarambalam a hotspot after a 43-year-old mimicry artist tested positive for Coronavirus. The health department has identified 106 primary contacts who were in touch with the mimicry artist who tested positive on Sunday.

23 evacuation flights to land today

Kochi: A record 23 evacuation flights carrying 4,420 passengers, including a repatriation flight from Sydney with 180 passengers, will arrive at Kochi airport on Wednesday. On Tuesday, nine repatriation flights landed with 1,620 passengers. While three operations scheduled by Indigo from Doha, Muscat and Dammam were cancelled, the domestic terminal witnessed 21 arrival and departure operations. As many as 1,293 domestic passengers reached Kochi on Monday.
The Amsterdam based think-tank released a research paper accusing Pakistan of fuelling religious fanaticism and Pan-Islamism in the Kashmir-valley, pitting local communities against each other.

Pakistans promotion to radicalization and terrorism for the past several decades has badly ruined the co-existence and religious harmony in the Kashmir valley, said Amsterdam based think-tank, the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS).

In its research paper, the EFSAS said, Kashmirs ethnic and religious diversity, once the hallmark of its local pluralism, has evolved into the stage for a wider set of adversarial contests between India and Pakistan. Many locals, irrespective of their religious affiliations, have been caught in the middle  victims of national militaries, terrorists, or both.

It added, In the course of time, nevertheless, wider trends toward religious nationalism, religious fanaticism and Pan-Islamism, cross-border terrorism under the patronage of the Pakistani military establishment, and some actions and inactions by the Indian government in response, may have driven many members of religious communities to align themselves with one side or the other, eroding confidence and communication across religious lines.

Also read: India to downsize staff strength at Pak High Commission, urges Islamabad to follow suit

Also read: China encroaching Nepali land through road construction: Govt report

Indeed, the Kashmir dispute has become inherently imbued with notions of religious identity, but it is crucial to comprehend that the core of the post-partition conflict was not rooted in questions for or against any faith.

What was traditionally a strong confluence between Islam and Hinduism in Kashmir, where the shared language and culture worked as the greatest bond between the two communities, has evolved into mounting pressure that has targeted communities of Kashmiris for their non-conformist ways in accepting religious practices.

EFSAS said, Whereas Muslim Sufi saints preached pluralism and tolerance of other faiths, the novel type of political Islam grappling Kashmir has instilled sentiments of intolerance and prejudice. At a societal level, the outbursts of violence, radicalisation, and terrorism that have taken place in the course of the past decades, have undoubtedly led to the transformation of relationships among Muslims and Pandits (Hindus). The mere thought of interreligious communities in Jammu and Kashmir is but a utopian dream.

It added, Perhaps the main casualty in the conflict has been none other than religious plurality itself, which today remains a distant memory in the history of Kashmir.

The traditions of religious pluralism have deep roots in the history of the Kashmir Valley.

Customarily, while the presence of numerous religious communities could be considered the perfect recipe for bitterness and animosity, the early history of Kashmir  when Buddhism, Hinduism, Kashmir Shaivism, and later Sufism simultaneously flourished  contradicts this equation.

Unsurprisingly, this is not to say that communal peace and equality have incessantly thrived in the region, rather, coexistence between communities in Kashmir has generally remained synchronized in harmony despite of the various cultures and religions implanted by different dynasties over centuries.

Also read: US Intel claims Galwan attack was planned by China to teach India a lesson

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Thiruvananthapuram, June 24 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said the state recorded 152 coronavirus positive cases in the last 24 hours, which is highest ever on a single day so far.

"Of this, 98 people came from abroad, 46 were those who came from within the country and there were eight local infections. At present there are 1,691 positive patients, while in all 3,603 got this disease", said Vijayan.

Vijayan said starting Thursday all those arriving from the Middle East have to follow new guidelines and if anyone has a Covid negative certificate it should not be beyond 72 hours of departure.

"Those arriving from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have to wear PPE kit besides N95 mask, face shield and gloves. Those coming from UAE have to carry the certificate (facility is available for testing there) while those from Qatar should have green status on the App which is valid in their country. Those from Bahrain and Oman should have N95 masks, face shield and gloves," said Vijayan.

He said once they land at the airports in Kerala, all will have to abide by the health protocols that's in place.

"Those who do not come with a valid Covid negative certificate will have to undergo a rapid antibody test at the airport and those who are positive should then undergo either a RT-PCR or TrueNat test and whatever be the result, they will have to undergo 14 days quarantine. Those with any symptoms will be sent to hospitals. Any violation of quarantine would be dealt with strongly by enforcing the provisions in the Disaster Management Act," added Vijayan.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
CHICAGO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions, today announced the launch of its new Pooled Employer Plan (PEP).

Voya Financial, one of the leading retirement plan providers in the U.S., will serve as the recordkeeper for the new plan, which will be available Jan. 1. The new PEP stems from the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act provision allowing employers to join forces to create higher performing, more efficient 401(k) plans.

Aon's PEP will relieve employers of many fiduciary duties they have today. Due to the economies of scale, it also has the potential to lower fees for plan participants and provide access to state-of-the-art features that may be difficult for individual employers and fiduciary committees to both assess and access independently. The defined contribution plan provides the efficiency and scale of a pooled plan, while maintaining individual employer autonomy to define matching and other contribution levels, and various key plan design features. It also has the potential to provide cost savings to employers of all sizes.

The SECURE Act, which was federal legislation passed into law December 2019, was designed to encourage broader 401(k) plan participation and greater retirement savings. With the law's passing, employers will no longer need to sponsor their own individual 401(k) plan and absorb the risks and workload associated with that role. Instead, employers from all industries and sizes may pool resources together to increase efficiency and create better outcomes for participants.

The PEP will help enable better outcomes for participants at lower fee levels, reflecting the leveraged nature of investing across the whole pool of assets in the plan. Aon has also selected Voya Financial as the recordkeeper for the plan after a competitive bid process.

For more than 40 years, Voya has helped Americans plan, invest and protect their savings to get ready to retire better by serving the financial needs of approximately 13.8 million individual and institutional customers in the U.S.

"We are pleased to have Voya as a partner in this initiative to provide the very best in retirement services to PEP members starting in 2021," said Rick Jones, a senior partner at Aon. "We were greatly impressed by their commitment to plan participants and realized that there was no better institution to partner with given Voya's expertise and retirement insight."

"We believe PEPs will transform the retirement landscape, similar to how 401(k) plans transformed the pension landscape 40 years ago," said Paul Rangecroft, North America Retirement Practice Leader for Aon. "We are thrilled to enter this important market and are pleased to provide this plan as a service to employers as they look to increase efficiency, reduce risks and most importantly - create better retirement outcomes for participants."

"The signing of the SECURE Act brought numerous benefits that will help to support the financial well-being of individuals today," said Bill Harmon, president, Retirement Corporate Markets for Voya Financial. "At Voya, we are committed to bringing holistic financial wellness solutions forward so that a secure financial future is reachable for all Americans. We are excited that Aon has selected us to share this opportunity and look forward to working together as we support their 401(k) retirement plan services."

For more information about the Aon Pooled Employer Plan (PEP), click here or email [email protected].

About Aon

Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions. Our 50,000 colleagues in 120 countries empower results for clients by using proprietary data and analytics to deliver insights that reduce volatility and improve performance.

Follow Aon on Twitter and LinkedIn . Stay up to date by visiting the Aon Newsroom and hear from our expert advisors in The One Brief . Sign up for news alerts here .

About Voya Financial

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings  to get ready to retire better. Serving the financial needs of approximately 13.8 million individual and institutional customers in the United States, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $7.5 billion in revenue in 2019. The company had $538 billion in total assets under management and administration as of March 31, 2020. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible  one person, one family, one institution at a time  Voya's vision is to be America's Retirement Company. Certified as a "Great Place to Work" by the Great Place to Work Institute, Voya is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has been recognized as a 2020 World's Most Admired Company by Fortune magazine; one of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute; as a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index; and as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" on the Disability Equality Index by Disability:IN. For more information, visit voya.com*. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @Voya*.

*These sites contain information that has been created, published, maintained or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of Aon. Aon does not endorse, approve, certify or control these websites and does not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information located there.

Media Contacts:

Matt Taylor, 312-783-5837, [email protected]

Sadie Schwarm, [email protected], 217-502-4521

Laura Maulucci, Voya Financial, [email protected], O: (860) 580-1278, C: (508) 353-6913

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Black Democrats who demanded action in the wake of Floyds death called the reform a first step. Read more

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HARRISBURG  Pennsylvania may take a major step toward overseeing the greatest authority afforded police officers  the legal right to harm another person  by requiring that all instances of use of force be tracked and reported.

The bill, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D., Allegheny), would require departments to report all such incidents to the state police. The state police, in turn, would deliver an annual report to lawmakers and the attorney general about how often officers used force and when it resulted in serious injury or death.

The Senate unanimously passed the bill Wednesday. The House is not expected to take it up before breaking for summer recess, but could return early to consider it, according to a GOP spokesperson.

Costas effort would align Pennsylvania more closely with other states that track use of force in order to identify overly aggressive officers and intervene before a pattern of excessive force results in harm and costly lawsuits.

But the measure falls short of broader efforts elsewhere, such as in New Jersey, to provide the public with more transparency. For one, the bill as written would not make the annual state police report available to the public.

That would leave us still in the dark, Elizabeth Randol, legislative director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said.

The bill also does not require departments to track the race or gender of people whom officers use force against.

Randol said that would obscure if force is being meted out disproportionately to certain groups of people. Because of that, the legislation falls short of the pointed reason that is being articulated by all of these protests.

Costa said Tuesday he did pursue the inclusion of language on race and ethnicity, but had to reach a consensus.

Our goal was to get things done, he said. And this is one of the things that is important to a lot of folks, capturing this information so we have a better handle on the scope.

The Senate on Wednesday also passed a bill that would require every local police department to develop and post online a use-of-force policy. Paul McCauley, a professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania who trains officers, said the vast majority of departments already have these policies in place.

For that reason, McCauley said, he doesnt believe the legislation if signed into law would influence use of force on the street in any substantial way.

The measure would also limit choke holds to situations where deadly force is warranted. Sen. Sharif Street (D., Phila.), the legislations sponsor, said George Floyds graphic death in Minneapolis highlighted the need for a statewide policy.

The majority of local police officers do not use choke holds  it is not part of the routine policy and procedures of those police departments, he said Tuesday. But what I want to do is create a circumstance where it was clearly unacceptable. It needs to be clear that it is not an acceptable form of restraint, and its effectively gone.

Similar reform measures were first introduced after the police killing of Antwon Rose II outside Pittsburgh in 2018, and had languished without consideration in legislative committees.

But in less than a month  as protests raged across Pennsylvania and the nation, and Black representatives blocked the start of a voting session to demand change  the legislature has fast-tracked four reform measures.

The House on Wednesday gave final approval to two of those bills, including one that would create a confidential police misconduct database. The other, sponsored by Rep. Dan Williams (D., Chester), would require local police to undergo implicit bias training and learn how to recognize child abuse.

Black Democrats who demanded action in the wake of Floyds death called the legislation a first step.

This bill alone will not merely appease the thousands of individuals who have been marching and demanding systemic change in our systems throughout this commonwealth and throughout this country, Rep. Austin Davis (D., Allegheny) said on the floor. Until we go further and address issues like use of force [and] arbitration ... we will truly not begin to see the systemic change that we want to as a society.

Both Randol of the ACLU and McCauley, the former police officer, said the state should reform the law governing when officers can use deadly force.

A measure introduced by Rep. Summer Lee (D., Allegheny) would allow police to use deadly force only when an officer needs to protect himself or another from imminent death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping or sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat. The bill has been sitting in committee for more than a year and faces an uphill battle.

Maybe somethings better than nothing, Randol said. But if youre nibbling around the edges of something thats sort of already broken at the core, its only reinforcing some of those elements without ever attending to them.

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The criteria for the 200k per year job as secretary-general of the Department of Defence did not require any military, security, or international qualifications.

The specifications for the role, for which the applications process has since closed, were advertised online. They included supports the Minister for Defence, developing a vision, and implementing the strategy for the defence sector, operating in the complex constitutional, and legal structure underpinning defence and strategic perspective.

The advertisement required the successful candidate to have a well-developed capacity to lead, a record of achievement in his/her career demonstrating excellent senior management, strong interpersonal skills, resilience and flexibility needed to manage the challenges of the joint civil-military environment, an appreciation of security and military affairs, and a capacity to provide calm assurance in response to the contingencies and crises.

The description of the role on the Governments website states duties such as implementing Government policies appropriate to the department; monitoring Government policies that affect the department; providing policy advice to the minister on all matters within the remit of the department, and preparing statements of strategy for submission to the minister.

The running of competitions for secretaries-general is a function of the top-level appointments committee.

Secretary-general salaries begin at around 196,665pa and can go up to 207,590.

Since 2013, Dubliner Maurice Quinn has held the seven-year termed position. He served as the assistant secretary in the Department of Defence before taking on the role, and has a comprehensive knowledge of defence matters, according to a Government press release from the time.

On June 9, Paul Kehoe, minister of state at the Department of Defence, said in reply to a parliamentary question that it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the requirements as set out in the information booklet for the post as the competition was ongoing.

The booklet contains a range of factual information in relation to the organisation, which would have been provided by my department, as is the norm for such competitions, he said.

Cathal Berry, an Independent TD for Kildare South who spent 23 years in the Defence Forces, says the job advertisement is indicative of the indifference towards the defence sector.

We have more people in third-level institutions with more experience of defence and security than in the department itself, he said.

Dr Cathal Berry TD. Photo: Michael Donnelly

The Department of Defence is currently where the Department of Finance was in 2008, completely clueless, and it requires significant political intervention to get the right people into the jobs.

We need people with external real-life experience, we dont need any more bureaucrats. At a minimum, some defence, security, or at least international relations is required. This would not happen in any other walk of life, with such a salary and no required defence experience.

There has been an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis in the Defence Force sector, with representative groups declaring the Governments recent suite of reforms, a whitewash.

Raco (Representative Association for Commissioned Officers) said eight out of 15 reports promised under the Government high level implementation plan are behind schedule.

From January to April 2020, 215 personnel left the forces, 77 through discharge by purchase, at a combined cost of 37,620.50, an average of 488.58, and 138 have left through other discharges.

The objective was to solve the retention crisis, and it has exacerbated, Mr Berry said.

Three civil service members in the department last year earned 10,000 a year in overtime. Frugality of salaries only extends to those in uniforms.
Tens of thousands of exhausted seafarers are trapped at sea in a humanitarian crisis that could spill over to hurt international trade and supply chains. Many are marooned because of border closures and immigration restrictions aimed at containing the coronavirus pandemic, which has also impacted the regular changeover of crew members required to keep ships running smoothly. There are about 1.2 million seafarers globally who are involved in the international trade routes. Before the coronavirus pandemic, there were some 100,000 crew changes each month, with a seafarer at sea being swapped by another coming on board, said Esben Poulsson, chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping. Today, the number of crew changes stands at around 20,000 to 30,000 each month, Poulsson said. "At this very moment, there are 200,000 seafarers needing to go home and there are 200,000 seafarers sitting at home needing to go on board to replace those going home," Poulsson told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Tuesday. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), seafarers generally work between four to six months on ships before a period of leave. At sea, they work 10- to 12-hour shifts seven days a week.

But many have been working beyond their contractual terms in recent months as they cannot disembark. Those who need to get on board the ships to work also face the issue of travel restrictions as many would need to travel to another country for the crew change. The International Labour Organization convention on maritime labor states that the maximum continuous period a seafarer should serve on-board a vessel without leave is 11 months. But some seafarers have been working for 15 straight months on ships during the pandemic as they haven't been able to disembark and go home.

'Enough is enough'

While various stakeholders have lobbied hard for governments to allow for crew changes, many are still stuck at sea. The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and its affiliated unions said earlier this month that it will help seafarers "exercise their right to stop working, leave ships, and return home" when their contracts are up. "If getting seafarers off these ships causes chaos in supply chains, if ports back up from Singapore to San Francisco, and if this causes ship insurance providers to pull their coverage and global trade to grind to a halt; then that is on the heads of politicians, not the world's seafarers," ITF General Secretary Steve Cotton said in a strongly worded statement. "Seafarers have done our part in this pandemic, and plenty more. Enough is enough," he added.

Seafarers are on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, playing an essential role in maintaining the flow of vital goods, such as food, medicines and medical supplies. International Maritime Organization

Some 80% of global trade volume is done via commercial vessels carrying dry bulk commodities, merchandise in containers and energy products in tankers. With limited crew changeovers, the welfare, safety, health and mental well-being of seafarers are being compromised. "Seafarers are on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, playing an essential role in maintaining the flow of vital goods, such as food, medicines and medical supplies," said the IMO. "However, the crisis has led to difficult working conditions for seafarers, including uncertainties and difficulties about port access, re-supply, crew changeovers and repatriation." One German-owned tanker refused to sail unless replacement crew could be brought in, according to a recent Financial Times report citing industry executives and union representatives.

Governments must step in
Since the arrival of the coronavirus, the use of and familiarity with vaccines has dramatically increased prompting a more aware and questioning public. With little more than a 48-hour public notice, many Coloradans were enjoying a brilliant Sunday afternoon as the State Senate Health and Insurance Committee was squirreled away in the confines of the State Capitol to approve the School Entry Immunization Act, also known as SB 20-163.

While a Sunday afternoon may not seem an appropriate time for a legislative body to accept witness testimony or to conduct its legislative business unless there is a clear intent to limit public participation. That kind of strategy has a way of boomeranging with a loss of public trust and confidence; yet the Democrats had an intense legislative urge to codify SB 163 with as little public input as possible. The Dems control both Houses of the General Assembly as well as the Governors mansion; thereby controlling the States entire legislative agenda.

What the Democrats were not counting on was Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., on his way to becoming a national icon, who arrived to testify against SB 136. He was allotted two minutes to address the committee. What else the Dems were not counting on was a last-minute rally attended by 3,000 outside the Capitol that Sunday afternoon. Kennedy quoted one of the Democratic members of the Committee who told the media:

If we cant get a vaccination bill passed during a pandemic, then well never get it passed.

Speaking to the throng, Kennedy went on to call out the Democrats:

I am a lifelong Democrat what they are doing here today is antithetical to every value that the Democratic party has expressed in its 200 year history.

Adoption of SB 163 was accomplished on a party-line vote; beginning with Committee approval and through the Senate and House votes to adoption. During House consideration, a bipartisan amendment was added to allow for a voter referendum in the 2022 election but the majority on the Conference Committee removed that language.

In addition, much of the states MSM provided minimal reporting on the Dems slipping SB 163 through on a Sunday afternoon, Kennedys appearance before the Committee or the size of the last-minute rally.

As its name implies, SB 163 mandates immunizations for all children entering Colorado public schools; thereby taking the decision out of the parents hands and requiring a doctor to certify approval. The fact that the bill contains elements akin to Orwells 1984 Big Brother regime is disturbing.

SB 163 requires the States educational system to aid and abet in the monitoring of its students as it requires each public school to collect each proof of immunization and each exemption request that is filed.

Each school must also establish a tracking system and provide an annual report on that schools rate of immunizations and the number of exemptions issued.

Such bureaucratese indicates, rather than a parental responsibility, each childs vaccination will be tracked by the school district throughout that childs history as a student.

Of special interest, SB 163 indicates there is an onerous submission process for those wishing to claim a non-medical exemption such as a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunizations or a personal belief opposed to immunizations.

Those individuals must submit a certificate that their chosen religion has adopted a policy regarding vaccinations and a certificate that they have completed an online educational module, which you can expect to be little more than a one-sided harangue on the virtues of vaccinations.

As adopted, SB 163 is compatible with another totalitarian oriented legislation introduced by Congressional Democrats as HR 6666, the Trace Act (Testing, Reaching and Contacting Everyone). The TRACE Act will establish a nationwide vaccine monitoring system with a force of vaccine tracking agents.

Much of the American public remains unaware that frequently used synthetic materials such as mercury, aluminum, msg, formaldehyde, polysorbate 80. and glyphosate are routinely inserted (among other ingredients), which RFK Jr identifies as neurotoxins, carcinogens or related to autoimmune disease.

The US was the first country in the world to be founded on the concept that each person has an inherent individual right to live their own life without government intrusion. Those rights were enshrined in the Bill of Rights, the Fourteenth Amendment and remain a bedrock of the American system. Just as the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade decision was based on an individual right to choose, the same inherent right exists for those who deserve the choice to vaccinate.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has promised to sign SB 163 into law.

Renee Parsons is a former member of the ACLUs Florida State Board of Directors and President of the ACLU Treasure Coast Chapter. She has been an elected public official in Colorado, an environmental lobbyist with Friends of the Earth and staff member in the US House of Representatives in Washington DC. She may be reached at reneedove3@yahoo.com.
The four Hinduja brothers are in the midst of a legal battle over their multi-billion-fortune and at the crux of that dispute is a letter. The letter dated July 2, 2014, states that the assets held by one brother belong to all the brothers and that each of them would appoint the others as their executors. However, Srichand Hinduja, the 84-year old patriarch along with his daughter Vinoo want the letter to be declared null and void.

According to a report in Bloomberg, the dispute came to the fore during a hearing on Tuesday at the Royal Courts of Justice.

In November 2019, Srichand approached the Business and Property Court in London and sought to declare the letter revocable. This was opposed by the three brothers, Gopichand, Prakash and Ashok, who raised objection to the fact that Vinoo Hinduja is representing her father (litigation friend) in the proceedings. Srichand's wife Madhu and the other daughter Shanu appeared as witnesses to vouch that Vinoo has been appointed as Srichand's litigation friend.

Justice Falk who was presiding over the judgment on Tuesday confirmed that Vinoo is Srichand's litigation friend. She was told that Srichand has "age-related disease" and cannot conduct these proceedings.

It also emerged that in July 2018, the three brothers tried to take control of the Hinduja Bank that was in the sole name of Srichand. The basis of the tussle was that the three brothers believed that Srichand lacked capacity. Justice Falk referred to the Hinduja Bank tussle in a redacted form to safeguard sensitive information.

The three brothers said that Vinoo has her own separate financial interest in pursuing the case and that an independent solicitor should represent Srichand.

Gopichand, Prakash and Ashok in a statement said that the litigation would have no impact on their business and that the proceedings go against their founder's and family values. They said that the principles that "everything belongs to everyone and nothing belongs to anyone" have stood for decades. "We intend to defend the claim to uphold these dearly held family values," they said.

The Hinduja family is among the world's richest. The Hinduja Group has investments in finance, healthcare, media across 40 countries. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the Hinduja family fortune is valued at $11.2 billion.

Also read: Hurun Global Rich List 2020: Amazon's Bezos retains top spot, Mukesh Ambani richest in Asia

Also read: Working to complete contours of $15 billion Saudi Aramco deal, says Mukesh Ambani
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday attended the Victory Day Parade in Russia and expressed pride and happiness for the tri-service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces participating in the parade. He arrived in Moscow on a three-day visit on June 23 at the invitation of the Russian Ministry of Defence to attend the 75th Anniversary of the parade at Red Square in Moscow.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Singh said, "Attending the Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow today to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory of the Soviet People in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. I am proud that a Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces is also participating in this parade."

He also tweeted, "Impressive turnout of the Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow is indeed an extremely proud and happy moment for me.

The Tri-service 75-member Indian military contingent is participating in the parade. The Indian team is participating alongside armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries, including China.

On June 23, he called on Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov and the two leaders held discussions on the bilateral relationship, regional issues, and reviewed the India-Russia defence cooperation. Singh also conveyed his greetings for the solemn ceremonies of the 75th Victory Day and congratulated the "friendly" people of Russia, especially the veterans, who have contributed to the common security of India and Russia, an official statement said on Tuesday.

Impressive turnout of the Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow is indeed an extremely proud and happy moment for me. pic.twitter.com/csEKNGKFLU  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 24, 2020

Attending the Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow today to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory of the Soviet People in the great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. I am proud that a Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces is also participating in this parade. pic.twitter.com/0zBiaKH5r1  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 24, 2020

Russia postponed its military parade traditionally held on Moscow's Red Square on May 9 for a later date due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On May 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Victory Parade would be held on Moscow's Red Square on June 24, TASS news agency reported. He explained that this was chosen because, on June 24, 1945, the legendary historic parade of victors took place, when soldiers, who fought for Moscow and defended Leningrad, who stood their ground for Stalingrad, liberated Europe and stormed Berlin, marched on Red Square, the report added.

Singh is the first senior union minister to undertake a foreign visit in four months as international travels were restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic. He travelled by an Indian Air Force aircraft, while strictly following all laid precautions against the coronavirus infection.
Two New York City groups have cut ties with World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit founded by chef and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Jose Andres, after learning that the humanitarian organization has benefited occasionally from law enforcement agencies that have been accused of brutality against African Americans or inhumane treatment of undocumented immigrants. The groups also accused the organization of aligning itself with gentrifiers in the fast-emerging South Bronx neighborhood where WCK is feeding vulnerable residents, the very ones who could be displaced by gentrification.

La Morada, an Oaxacan restaurant in the South Bronx, left WCK's Restaurants for the People relief program on May 8, posting its reasons for the split days later on its website and social media accounts. Last week, the North Bronx Collective - which describes itself as a mutual-aid group led by queer, black and indigenous people, people of color and women - aired its grievances with WCK in a public post on Medium. The groups say that by allowing officers with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to distribute food in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017, using members of the New York Police Department to deliver meals during the pandemic and working with developers and gentrifiers who they say are aligned with President Donald Trump and his agenda, WCK is supporting a system of discrimination and injustice against immigrants and people of color.

"It wasn't until a lot of activist friends from various parts of the world, and also from Queens, reached out to us and told us that World Central Kitchen worked very closely with ICE in Puerto Rico that it really raised the red flag," Yajaira Saavedra, a second-generation owner of La Morada, told The Washington Post. "It was actually the final straw for us to end our relationship with them." Saavedra is also an activist and organizer who fights for the rights of undocumented people in the United States, including some members of her family who run the restaurant in South Bronx.

Saavedra was referring to WCK's work in Puerto Rico after the devastating hurricane, which wiped out the power grid and numerous roads, making parts of the island almost impossible to reach for small relief organizations. Some HSI agents who learned about WCK's work feeding people in Puerto Rico said they could help distribute sandwiches in their vehicles. "They said we could bring food, so we began giving them food," Andres told The Post in 2017. "They began taking thousands of sandwiches."

Nate Mook, chief executive of WCK, calls the ICE allegation a "purposeful mischaracterization of the situation" in Puerto Rico, one designed to "create conflict." HSI is an investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security and falls under the organizational umbrella of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, which conducts deportation raids and has been accused of mistreating immigrants in detention centers. But after the hurricane, HSI was working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct wellness checks in hard-hit areas, Mook said, and not in any other capacity.

"We in no way support or condone or have any relationship [with ICE], but when taken out of context, I think the situation in Puerto Rico was purposely misconstrued to claim that World Central Kitchen had some sort of relationship with ICE," Mook said.

Mook added that WCK has never collaborated with police agencies. Some of the groups that WCK supports may have existing relationships with law enforcement, and officers may sometimes assist in meal deliveries. This was apparently the case in New York, where the city's public housing authority works with the police department. "If the NYPD was involved in distributing the food, it was through local community partners," Mook said. In the weeks since George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis police, hundreds of protesters have filed complaints against NYPD officers alleging excessive force. An NYPD officer was recently suspended for placing a black man in a chokehold just days after the city and state passed laws banning the practice.

WCK has posted a statement on its website in response to La Morada's allegations, disputing them point by point, including charges that the organization withheld personal protection equipment from front-line restaurant workers and that it paid barely enough money per meal to cover the cost of ingredients.

WCK's public statements have not satisfied the owners of La Morada or the North Bronx Collective, at a time when Americans are calling for abolishing ICE and defunding the police. A spokeswoman for North Bronx Collective texted to say that "not working with ICE is not enough." The group remains upset with WCK's efforts to feed furloughed federal workers last year during the partial government shutdown. "Again, would Jose Andres have fed Franco's soldiers and police?" the spokeswoman texted, echoing a question in the collective's Medium essay.

"I feel really upset at how World Central Kitchen has aligned themselves and not held themselves accountable for playing a part in all the gentrification and in all the mistreatment of the black and brown community," Saavedra told The Post. She said that WCK works with a number of restaurants in the gentrified part of South Bronx.

The North Bronx Collective wrote in its Medium post: "We see WCK's position as an NGO as part of the problem as they capitalize on tragedy without critical analysis of what they are doing. As such, they inevitably become instruments of capital domination where even caring becomes a profitable business."

La Morada and the North Bronx Collective say they believe in mutual aid, the principle of volunteering to share your resources and services for the mutual benefit of all. They say WCK's work does not fall under the definition.

"It's not mutual aid when you have a lot more to give and you hold back, especially with some people who need it the most," Saavedra said. Mutual aid is giving "without receiving any glory from it," she added. "Once you start asking for glory and recognition, that's charity work. That's vanity."

Saavedra said she has not seen Andres taking part in any acts of civil disobedience on behalf of undocumented people, nor has she seen him denounce politicians other than Trump. (Trump and Andres sued each other after the chef reneged on his plan to operate a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel in Washington. Andres pulled out of the hotel after Trump made racist comments on the campaign trial about Mexicans. The parties settled out of court in 2017.)

Andres has championed issues and aligned his company, ThinkFoodGroup, with developments that have come under criticism. He campaigned against Initiative 77 in the District, which would have phased out the tipped minimum wage and helped ease poverty among the city's lowest-paid workers, advocates said at the time. (The initiative passed but was later repealed by the D.C. Council.) The chef also has a sprawling Spanish market inside Hudson Yards, a $25 billion project on the West Side of Manhattan that was partially financed through a program originally designed to combat urban poverty.

Andres is in his native Spain, where WCK has set up relief kitchens, and could not be reached for comment. But Andres, a naturalized U.S. citizen, has used his sizable platform to raise awareness about the temporary protected status of Salvadoran immigrants, to teach Americans about the important roles immigrants are playing in the coronavirus response and to show what the world of business would look like without immigrants.

"To think that Jose Andres would somehow be anti-immigrant and anti-undocumented is unfathomable because it's in the core of his being," Mook said. "He fights for rights for immigrants and pushes for rights for undocumented individuals and families in this country. He got into a very public fight with the president and got sued over it because of the comments that the president made."

The whole point of the Restaurants for the People campaign, Mook said, is to keep money in local restaurants, not in the hands of developers and large chains. The program pays restaurants a fee for each meal they produce, and then WCK coordinates with local authorities and companies to distribute those meals to the most vulnerable populations. Mook said that WCK works with 150 restaurants in New York and has served 7 million meals in the metro area.

Mook said he has no hard feelings that either group bowed out of the program. Nor does he think it's his job to get everyone to like Andres, the face of World Central Kitchen.

"The real question is, how much of this is sort of being leveraged for attention?" Mook said. "We live in a world where it's about attention. Our president knows attention the best, and that's why the media buys into all of this and they give it to him."

"At the end of the day, we don't want to get into the personal, and I know Jose doesn't, either," Mook added. "It's about the work. It's not about us."
Members of the Ho Central Market Traders Association have given a five day ultimatum to the Ho Municipal Assembly to reallocate market stalls in Ho or face their wrath.



The over 100 members of the Association, at a press conference in Ho on Wednesday at the Volta Press Center, were clad in mourning clothes with placards and chanting war songs registered their displeasure at how the stalls were allegedly allocated to "friends and families".



A statement, signed by the Market Queen decried the, unfair distribution of the stalls, and accused the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of denying market women many stalls at the front view of the market as well as those at the down floor and the larger and spacious stalls, in alleged defiance of a recent Ho High Court order.



In fact, the distribution was made in arbitrary manner to the disadvantage of majority of sellers in the market. For example, several stalls were allocated to the so-called sellers on protocol, and rich shop owners. All of these betrayed the common agreement by the High Court Judge in Ho, few months ago.



The Association said the construction of the new market was initiated by the Association in 2012, and had agreed on the allocation before existing structures were pulled down to make way for new ones.



The Association alleged that the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which was then in opposition and had accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of strategically positioning the project for votes and had tried to discourage its execution, was now sharing the market stalls to their own party members, families and friends.



The Association said engagements with both past and present Municipal Chief Executives on the matter proved futile, and appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to intervene.



Madam Christie Fansey, Assistant Market Queen, said the Assembly would be denied its tolls, and would be prevented from operationalizing the stores if it did not address their concerns.



The Assembly has cheated us. The watchmen they employed are stealing from us. They have given the stores to protocol and we give them five days or we wont pay tickets and the place would become a white elephant, she said.



Mr Prosper Pi-Bansah, Ho Municipal Chief Executive, however, denied the accusations and said, "we followed the Court's direction and we have the right to determine the mix of the stalls".



The new market complex, with police, and a fire station, was completed with a French grant as part of the pilot of the Ghana Urban Management Project (GUMP) in 2017.

Source: GNA









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Hundreds of thousands of dollars in coronavirus relief payments have been sent to people behind bars across the United States, and now the IRS is asking state officials to help claw back the cash that the federal tax agency says was mistakenly sent.

The legislation authorizing the payments during the pandemic does not specifically exclude jail or prison inmates, and the IRS has refused to say exactly what legal authority it has to retrieve the money.

On its website, it points to the unrelated Social Security Act, which bars incarcerated people from receiving some types of old-age and survivor insurance benefit payments.

'I can't give you the legal basis. All I can tell you is this is the language the Treasury and ourselves have been using,' said Eric Smith, IRS spokesman.

'It's just the same list as in the Social Security Act.'

The IRS is attempting to claw back coronavirus relief payments which were sent to prisoners

Tax attorney Kelly Erb, who has written about the issue on her website, says there is no legal basis for asking for the checks back.

'I think it's really disingenuous of the IRS,' she said.

'It's not a rule just because the IRS puts it on the website. In fact, the IRS actually says that stuff on its website isn't legal authority.

'So there's no actual rule - it's just guidance - and that guidance can change at any time.'

After Congress passed the $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package in March, checks of up to $1,200 were automatically sent in most cases to people who filed income tax returns for 2018 or 2019, including some who are incarcerated.

A couple of weeks later, the IRS directed state correction departments to intercept payments to prisoners and return them.

The IRS does not yet have numbers on how many payments went to prisoners, Smith said.

But initial data from some states suggest the numbers are huge.

Prison authorities in Idaho and Montana have seized over $90,000 between the two of them

The Kansas Department of Correction alone intercepted more than $200,000 in checks by early June.

Idaho and Montana combined had seized over $90,000.

Washington state, meanwhile, had only intercepted about $23,000 by early June.

Some states, like Nevada, have refused to release the numbers, citing an IRS request for confidentiality.

While the IRS says checks sent to jail inmates also should be returned, the sheer number of jails and detention centers across the U.S. makes it difficult to tell if many are following those instructions.

The IRS seems to have decided by itself to pull back the payments approved by Congress, said Wanda Bertram, a spokeswoman for the Prison Policy Initiative, a think tank focusing on the harm of mass incarceration.

She says prison officials are accustomed to intercepting tax documents to screen for potential scams, priming them to follow this request.

'It appears that the IRS is just making this up,' Bertram said.

There have been more than 2.3 million cases of coronavirus in the U.S, as of Wednesday

The number of cases since January 21 escalated sharply, and is continuing to rise

Inmates and their families need the money, she said, especially as prisons try to reduce the spread of the virus by instituting lockdown conditions or releasing thousands of inmates who are then trying to get back on their feet.

Lockdowns can increase expenses for inmates because they are often given lower-quality food or fewer meals and need to supplement by buying food from prison commissaries.

Family and friends on the outside often cover those costs, and many have lost jobs during the economic downturn, Bertram said.

U.S. is the hardest-hit country in the world

'Loved ones right now are also under a squeeze because of the pandemic and being out of a job, so when you send a stimulus check for someone, the person in prison is not the only one who benefits from that,' Bertram said.

Intercepting relief checks may also have a disproportionate impact on black and Hispanic inmates, who are incarcerated at a higher rate than white Americans.

Black people are imprisoned at roughly twice the rate of Hispanic residents, and more than five times the rate of whites as of last year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Prison officials nationwide have been trying to intercept the checks, with varying results.

Officials in Vermont, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Arizona and California estimated that they each had intercepted fewer than a dozen checks as of early June.

Oregon prison officials had seized 25 payments, with 21 returned to the IRS and four others given to relatives or other joint tax filers.

Kaitlin Felsted, a spokeswoman for the Utah prison system, said the state had intercepted 28 checks so far but noted that any relief money sent to an inmate's home address would not be touched by prison officials.

Some states, like Alaska and Wyoming, are not tracking the number of payments they intercept.

It's not clear if inmates have any recourse, said Erb, the tax attorney.

Those who are released before year's end can claim the missing money as a credit on their 2021 tax returns, but other inmates may be out of luck, Erb said.

'I think somebody has to sue, and you have to have the resources to be able to do that,' she said.

'I don't know that there's anything most people can do besides complain and see if they can attract some attention.

'You have to have somebody who will step up and be an advocate for that segment of the population.'
A reward is being offered for information in a cross burning on an Alabama interstate overpass earlier this month.

The FBI is investigating the hate crime after the wooden cross was ablaze on top of a bridge over Interstate 85 in Macon County on June 4. Motorists spotted the cross about 8:45 p.m. that Thursday on the county Road 54 overpass.

A witness, John Bolton, told WRBL-TV he saw what looked like a shadow flee from the scene as he ran toward the blaze with two other men who were with him. He then called 911 while one of the guys climbed up to the bridge to knock the cross down, Bolton said.

A $1,000 reward is being offered after a June 4, 2020 cross burning in Macon County, Alabama. (Central Alabama Crime Stoppers)

Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson said the cross was positioned between two tires on the overpass. Authorities said in addition to the cross, someone had spray-painted racial graffiti.

Cross burnings have historically been used by racist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan to rally supporters and terrorize black people in the South and elsewhere. So far, there are no suspects in the case, Brunson said.

Perpetrators commit hate crimes to send a message of anger or hatred,' Tony Garrett, executive director of Central Alabama Crime Stoppers. Their goal is to create fear.

Authorities on Wednesday announced a $1,000 reward in the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 334-466-5041. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867) or through the P3-tips app.
Modified ferry service to the Toronto Islands will resume on Saturday, Mayor John Tory announced Wednesday morning at a press conference at Jack Layton Ferry Terminal.

We all know how eager people are to be able to get to the islands, said Tory.

These are a beloved part of our city that people like to enjoy, especially in the summer months and the ferry ride is very much a part of that  its a time-honoured tradition for Torontonians.

Ferries will operate at 50 per cent capacity and passengers will be required to bring their own face masks and wear them on the boats, as they are expected to do on the TTC.

Visitors are being urged to buy ferry tickets online in advance, as only 5,000 a day will be sold in order to allow for proper physical distancing on the boats and to prevent crowding at the terminal.

Only one ferry has been operating during the COVID-19 lockdown, principally for the 700 residents of the islands.

While washrooms on the islands will be open, Centreville Amusement Park and play structures on the islands will remain closed.

The islands, part of an archipelago, typically get 1.4 million visitors a year. Widespread flooding forced the closure of the islands for weeks in 2017 and they were again flooded in 2019.

Water levels in Lake Ontario were high in January and February, suggesting more flooding was in the cards in 2020. To avoid that, water was drained from Lake Ontario at the Moses-Saunders Power Dam into the St. Lawrence River at record rates over the winter.

The levels are set by an international treaty between the U.S. and Canada and are monitored by the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board.

Lake Ontario levels peaked early this year, at 75.40 metres, on May 5, 10 centimetres below the general flood stage and over half a metre lower than the peak in 2019, according to the board. Lake Ontario typically peaks in June.

Letting off more water, combined with drier spring conditions around Lake Ontario and in the Ottawa and lower St. Lawrence River basins, helped keep the lake below flood levels.

Visitors to the islands are also being asked to try to plan their visits at non-peak hours if possible  peak hours are 9:30 to lunch and 3:30-6:30.

The announcement was made on the first day of Toronto officially entering into Stage 2 of reopening, after being locked down since March to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Malls have reopened, along with hair salons and patios and splash pads.

Francine Kopun is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @KopunF
The homeless are some of the most marginalized and vulnerable people in society, and this is no different in Japan.

At best, they are considered a nuisance, an eyesore, and at worst they are harassed or attacked for being in public spaces like in Gifu Prefecture where five teens were arrested for assaulting and murdering a homeless man this April. When Typhoon Hagibis hit Tokyo last year on October 12, three homeless men were refused entry to an emergency evacuation center in Taito Ward because they did not have a fixed address in the area. Now, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the homeless are again bearing the brunt of the crisis, as they cannot astay homea or asocial distancea to protect themselves from the virus. The lingering question is: What is being done about it?

Controversial numbers: How many homeless in Japan?

According to a national survey conducted in January 2017 by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, there are approximately 5,534 homeless in Japan, with 5,168 being men, and 196 being women. Tokyo had the highest homeless population of 1,397. The accuracy of these numbers, however, is questionable. An independent survey conducted in 2019 by a citizenas group operating in Tokyo found 2.8 times more homeless people than the figures presented by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The group, known as the Advocacy and Research Centre for the Homeless (ARCH), have conducted their own surveys since 2016, with each one finding the number of homeless to be higher than those suggested officially.

The discrepancy stems from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government surveying during the day, while ARCH conducted their surveys at night. This time difference is significant, as the homeless are more likely to be out of sight during the day, either working or walking in search of facilities. Nighttime is much more crucial in determining the number of homeless as they are likely to be in one place, resting. Such controversial numbers contribute to the idea that the Japanese government is downplaying the severity of homelessness in Japan, and indeed, there was little discussion of specific measures taken to address the issue of how COVID-19 is affecting the homeless.

The effect of COVID-19 on the homeless

Takayuki Koda, a 67 year old homeless man, told the Japan Times that the aCoronavirus is an illness for pampered peoplea. He believes this because there have been no reports of the homeless dying from the virus, so people like him have anything to worry about. The reality however, is that the homeless are at a much higher risk of contracting the COVID-19, and many of them have prior health issues like diabetes and heart disease. This prompted Professor David H. Slater of Sophia University to call on the government to open the currently unused Olympic stadiums as a shelter for the homeless as an easy and necessary next step. Unfortunately, there have been no reports of this taking place. Instead, the government decided to provide a 100,000 yen virus relief fund to everyone currently residing in Japan, including the homeless. But the homeless, with no fixed address, also have trouble obtaining the cash payout, as proof of residency is a prerequisite for receiving the money.

Long-term residents of Internet cafes also fall under the umbrella of the ahomelessa, as they do not have a fixed address. Concerns over COVID-19 forced many to move out of these facilities when they were asked to close. Temporary housing was provided for some in business hotels, but there werenat enough rooms to accommodate everyone. The aim of this hotel support scheme is to encourage a visit to the welfare office for consultation a something many homeless individuals find difficult to do. Japanese society traditionally places emphasis on self-reliance, and welfare is only given to those whose families cannot support them. Thus, seeking welfare would amount to a shameful confession of personal failure.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has vowed not to trade workers' conditions in one area for benefits in another during landmark industrial reform negotiations that begin in earnest on Thursday.

Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter has established five working groups with unions, led by the ACTU, and employer bodies that he hopes will lead to agreement on industrial law reforms and prompt businesses to offer more jobs.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus has rejected any trade offs that would leave workers worse off. Credit:AAP

Among topics under discussion are punishments for people who dont pay staff properly, how to simplify pay and conditions arrangements and whether workers on big construction projects should have a chance to renegotiate pay and conditions deals every four years.

Sally McManus, the peak union body's secretary, said the ACTU did not see the process as a traditional negotiation. "We won't be engaging in trade offs," she said. "It's not... 'I will take this for that'."
The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014, a private members bill piloted by Tiruchi Siva, member of the Rajya Sabha, witnessed a historic unanimous passage in the Rajya Sabha on 24 April 2015. The bills passage ought to be of interest to the thinking Indian for two major reasons. First, it happens to be the only private members bill to be passed by either house of Parliament in the last 46 years. The reasons behind its passage, and more importantly the reasons behind the non-passage of other private members bills, require serious study. However, at the time when the bill awaits its fate in the Lok Sabha in the forthcoming session of Parliament, it becomes pertinent to focus our attention on the bills contentthe rights of transgender persons. The bills birth and lifethe ideation and drafting of Sivas bill, its Rajya Sabha passage and the uncertain future that the bill faces now has so far closely mirrored the governments apathy while dealing with the crucial issue of transgender rights.

The Rajya Sabha passage of the bill was hoped for, but it must be admitted that it was never foreseen with certainty. This is not surprising when you are on the wrong side of history with 46 years of failed attempts to pass a private members bill. The bills passage necessitated the galvanisation of various factors which remain right in our system. The house witnessed members across parties joining hands for the bill was not supported by the governments might, but by the hopes and prayers of Indias long-neglected community of transgender people visible on the streets but invisible to the state.

Who Is a Transgender?

A transgender is a person whose sense of gender, that is, the gender identity does not match with the gender assigned to that person at birth. Gender identity refers to each persons deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth. When the process of genital development and of brain sexual development does not match the same sex, females with a male brain and vice versa can arise (Worrell 2010). However, the fear of non-conforming behaviour and the resultant hostility displayed by the state and society has resulted in the transgender community becoming the most deprived and disempowered group in Indian society; considered less than human and left to live on the margins.

This regretful state of affairs was acknowledged by the Supreme Court in its path-breaking National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v Union of India and Others judgment of 15 April 2015, in which it upheld the right of the transgender persons to decide their self-identified gender and directed the centre and state governments to grant legal recognition of their gender identity as male, female or the third gender. The Court also made a number of other legal declarations, all of which were aimed at the upliftment of the hitherto neglected community. Furthermore, it directed the centre and state governments to examine the legal declarations made, on the basis of the recommendations of the Expert Committee on the Issues Relating to Transgender Persons constituted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and implement those within a time frame of six months.

Apathetic Government

However, there was effectively nothing done by the central government even as the stipulated six months came to a close. The lack of enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling became evident as the prosecution of transgender people by the state and discrimination by society continued unabated. Even after the judgment, there have been instances of transgender persons dying following an accident, as doctors could not decide if the patient should be admitted to a male or female ward (Soumya 2015). A Human Rights Watch release from 2015 details several instances of mistreatment of transgender people by the police. In February 2015, the Telangana Hijra Transgender Samiti reported 40 attacks on transgender people in the preceding six months. The urgency of the situation on the ground necessitated parliamentary action and became the driving force for Sivas bill.

Private Members Bill

Sivas bill which started out as the National Commission for Transgender Persons Bill during its ideation phase was soon rechristened and extended in scope to provide for the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive national policy dealing with various aspects of a transgender persons life. The bill has detailed provisions, including but not limited to rights and entitlements, education, skill development and employment, social security and healthcare, provision of reasonable accommodation, legal aid, financial aid, prevention of abuse, violence or exploitation, rehabilitation, social inclusion and acceptance.

The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 10 December 2014. The discussions on 27 February 2015 and 8 March 2015 witnessed enthusiasm unprecedented on a private members business day as Members of Parliament (MPs) across party lines discussed the bill in detail and rallied for its passage. The unwavering support to the bill by Rajya Sabha members proved to be a game changer and in a dramatic turn of events a private members bill was passed by the Upper House. The Rajya Sabha speaker remarked, It is a unanimous decision of the House. It is a good thing. It is a rare thing (Rajya Sabha Uncorrected Debates 2015).

An Act of Deception?

After its unanimous passage in the Rajya Sabha, the bill was transferred to the Lok Sabha. However, it did not get discussed in the monsoon or winter session of 2015 although it was listed second in the order of discussion of private members bills for these sessions. This delay was brought about by discussing another private members bill, the only one listed above Sivas bill, for more than nine hours, about five times the usual amount of time spent on a private members bill discussion. The intention behind this manufactured delay became clear on 26 December 2015 when the website of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment displayed a draft bill titled Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2015a similar sounding title and textbut with a major weakening of provisions. The draft bill subsequently went through an even greater number of dilutions to become 11 pages of almost unrecognisable text demeaning the transgender community. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 is an exercise in ignorance by the government, which if passed will result in the reversal of all gains made from the communitys struggle for dignity for the past many decades.

To begin with, the governments bill gives a degrading and scientifically incorrect definition of transgender, as part male and part female or an incompletion with the binary gender as the reference point. This is in contravention to the definition of transgender provided by the Supreme Courts NALSA judgment, the Rajya Sabha sanctioned private members bill and the central governments own expert committee on transgender persons. The government bills definition of transgender reinforces harmful stereotypes about them that are borne out of societys intolerance towards diverse gender expression. Furthermore, it wrongly groups intersex people under the definition of transgender, thereby confusing gender with biological sex (Orinam 2016).

The government bills insistence on a district screening committee to certify transgender persons goes against constitutionally guaranteed rights of equality before the law. It also violates the Supreme Courts NALSA judgment which had upheld the transgender persons right to decide their self-identified gender and directed the centre and state governments to grant legal recognition of their gender identity as male, female or as third gender. By not allowing for self-identification, the governments bill aims to institutionalise the gatekeeping of transgender identities. Denying self-identification of gender attacks at the very root of human dignity. Furthermore, it turns a blind eye towards international best practices on transgender law. Countries like Ireland, Argentina, Malta, Colombia, and Denmark allow the transgender community to self-determine gender without requiring any kind of medical treatment or certification. Therefore, transgender persons must be enabled by law to change their gender to male, female or the third gender in all identification documents by filing a notarised affidavit. This has been the compelling demand of the community that we seek to empower.

Through the removal of the clauses which provided for the setting up of national and state transgender welfare commissions, the government succeeds in evading accountability as this deletion does away with the independent monitoring mechanism which would have ensured that the rights given to the community under the law are protected. The national council for transgender persons which the governments bill envisions would be a massive bureaucratic structure without any enforcement abilities, rendering it powerless to be a protector of rights. Consequently, the governments bill suffers from a lack of clarity on whom to approach in cases of discrimination or harassment.

The governments bill also discards reservation in education and employment provided to transgender persons under the Rajya Sabha-sanctioned bill. These deletions also go against the Supreme Courts NALSA judgment in which it had directed the government to provide reservation in education and jobs to transgender persons. Most transgender adolescents drop out of school due to the constant harassment by peers and school authorities mostly see their dropping out as good riddance. It is clear that the transgender community desperately needs special provisions to obtain education in the hostile society they live in. It must also be noted that 2% reservation in jobs for transgenders is not only crucial but practical too. It would not bring the total reservation above the 50% cap prescribed by the Supreme Court, as reservation given to transgenders in the private members bill is in the nature of horizontal reservation which would benefit people across castes, the type of reservation that is currently provided in the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995.

Section 13(1) of the governments bill necessitates that no transgender person shall be separated from their parents or immediate family. This violates the right of transgender persons to live independently or with their adoptive family. It also fails to acknowledge the fact that violence is experienced by the transgenders within their biological family. Section 19(a) of the governments bill which criminalises enticing a transgender person to indulge in the act of begging is another provision that is prone to misuse by the law enforcers (Orinam 2016). Furthermore, the bill does not guard against police violence although cases of physical and sexual violence by the police against transgenders have been well-documented (PUCL 2004). Thus the governments bill attempts to target the wrong people while threatening to destroy existing community support systems available to transgender persons. The governments bill also avoids discussing the pertinent issues of the right to marriage, inheritance and adoption, among others.

The drafting of the governments bill was done in an undemocratic and uninterested manner. The time allotted for consultation and feedback was painfully inadequatethe extremely short deadline of 10 days for stakeholder consultation was extended by a meagre 10 days in response to the communitys request for its extension by some months. The detailed comments that the transgender collectives managed to send nevertheless have been completely ignored by the government. During the inter-ministerial consultation process which happened afterwards, none of the ministries except the Social Justice Ministry, which is in charge of the bill drafting, cared to send in their comments (News Minute 2016). This is the extent of negligence displayed by the government even though the implementation of an effective law on transgender rights necessitates the active involvement of more than half a dozen ministries. All this clearly depicts the governments hypocrisy and a trivialisation of the issues of the marginalisedwhich is neither new nor surprising.

The government has in a way censored the most empowering and hence essential provisions from the Rajya Sabha-sanctioned private members bill to frame their bill. This reminds one of the instances where cuts of similar nature have been administered on comprehensive initial drafts of government bills which became a mere shadow of their former selves by the time they reached their later drafts: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 and the Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014 are some such recent examples.

The Road Ahead

The Lok Sabha discussion on Tiruchi Sivas bill has so far been loaded with factual inaccuracies and logical fallacies in the apathetic statements made by ruling party legislators. During the discussion on the bill, on 29 April 2016, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP made the following statement:

But the transgenders take poor children with them and later make them transgender through surgery. This is [sic] huge criminal racket. Even their family members do not accept them afterwards. Right now our learned colleague was pleading for reservation to them. If it is done, this crime will further escalate. This way, unknowingly, we would be doing great harm to the society. (Lok Sabha Synopsis of Debates 2016)

The MP went on to say that no law should be enacted in haste unless society accepts the transgender, paying no heed to the communitys deplorable situation and oblivious to the fact that laws criminalising discrimination must drive social change when it fails to happen on its own. The discussion also witnessed other instances of naming and shaming of the community with arguments being made referring to the transgender communitys criminal activities (Lok Sabha Synopsis of Debates 2016). Apart from being revoltingly naive, these belittle the crime and violence the transgender people face all their lives, often from the law enforcers themselves.

At present, the government is attempting to push aside a comprehensive bill which was unanimously passed by the upper house, to make way for their bill which is nothing more than an eyewash. No number of amendments can redeem the governments bill which seems to have been envisioned by its creators to be a worthless addition to the statute books; creatively protecting the status quo and in the process, violating the rights of the community it vows to protect.

However, the Rajya Sabha-sanctioned private members bill will be discussed in the upcoming parliamentary session and put to vote. This is the opportune moment for us all to acknowledge through our actions that development is measured, as much if not more, by improvements in human dignity as by improvements in the countrys gross domestic product (GDP); for legislators to pay heed to Gandhijis teaching and act so that the weakest may benefit from their actions; and for the transgender community and activists, to organise and agitate so that no stones are left unturned in enacting the most comprehensive law that would enable the lives and aspirations of millions of transgenders for generations to come. Various sections of the transgender community have already expressed their contempt for the governments bill preferring to call it the Transgender Persons (Decimation and Violation of Rights) Bill, 2016 instead of its present name (India Resists 2016).

It is terrible and unacceptable in a modern society that a section of its people is left with no option but to beg or engage in sex work for living; that they are by birth vulnerable to human trafficking. This shows us how miserably we have failed as a society and the state as the protector of individual rights and autonomy. It is our mindset that has imprisoned them and it will require a freeing up of our minds to free them.

References

Human Rights Watch (2015): India: Enforce Ruling Protecting Transgender People, 5 February, https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/02/05/india-enforce-ruling-protecting-tran....

India Resists (2016): The Coalition of Transgender Collectives of the Transgender Community of Telangana and Andhra on the New Transgender Persons Bill, 27 August, http://www.indiaresists.com/coalition-transgender-collectives-transgende....

Lok Sabha Synopsis of Debates (2016): Budget Session, 29 April, pp 2223, http://164.100.47.132/Synop/16/VIII/Sup+Synop-29-04-2016.pdf.

National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v Union of India and Others (2014): Supreme Court of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No 400 of 2012, http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/outtoday/wc40012.pdf.

News Minute (2016): At Inter-ministerial Consultation, Only Social Justice Ministry Gives Inputs on Transgender Rights Bill, 20 April, http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/inter-ministerial-consultation-only....

Orinam (2016): The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016, 5 August, http://orinam.net/resources-for/law-and-enforcement/trans-persons-protec....

Peoples Union of Civil Liberties (2004): Human Rights Violations against the Transgender Community: A PUCL Report, January, http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Gender/2004/transgender.htm.

Rajya Sabha Uncorrected Debates (2015): Budget Session, 24 April, p 88, http://164.100.47.5/newdebate/235/24042015/Fullday.pdf.

Soumya, Elizabeth (2015): Indian Transgender Healthcare Challenges, Al Jazeera, 18 June, http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/ 2014/06/healthcare-distant-india-transgenders-201461882414495902.html.

The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill (2014): Bill No XLIX of 2014, http://164.100.47.4/BillsTexts/RSBillTexts/asintroduced/trangder-E.pdf.

Worrell, L A (2010): Sexual Differentiation of the Brain Related to Gender Identity: Beyond Hormones, Faculty of Medicine Theses (Master thesis), Utrecht University Repository, http://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/182733.
A mother going through a hard time found $150 and a touching note left for her inside a car she bought from an older couple.

Jen Willis, 48, from Daylesford, Victoria, recently separated from her husband and urgently needed to purchase a new family vehicle.

After finding an ad online last week for a Suburu Outback, she called the owner but was told it had already been inspected by someone else.

Desperate to quickly secure the car, she offered to put down a deposit straight away and explained she was experiencing tough personal circumstances

Jen Willis (pictured) found $150 in cash and a touching note left for her inside a second-hand car she bought on Thursday

'We had been married for 22 years, my husband had just flown back to the US where he is from, and I was left alone with my two sons and one had been really sick,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I live with Multiple Sclerosis and work full-time and shared with the owner that the whole situation was overwhelming.'

The couple accepted her offer and she met with the man on Thursday to finalise the deal.

But as she drove off, the mother-of-three pulled down the sun visor and an envelope fell into her lap. Inside there were three $50 notes.

'I thought he had accidentally left it in there and was about to call him to come back, then I read what was written on it.

'This is a random act of kindness,' it read.

'Please use to spoil your family in a way that makes you happy.'

The owner added that he felt in his heart that he wanted to help her during a 'challenging time'.

The previous car owners said they felt in their heart that they wanted to help Ms Willis amid her hardships

'It brought me to tears instantly, I was incredibly touched. The situation symbolised more than just getting a new car, and I felt like he saw that,' she said.

'It was someone really looking out for us in a challenging situation that we were in and thinking about what they could do to help.'

'The gesture was very thoughtful. Spoiling yourself isn't really something people do in times like this.'

Ms Willis shared the story in a post on the Kindness Pandemic's Facebook page, where is has since racked up more than 9500 reactions and almost 300 comments.

'What a beautiful act of kindness. Enjoy your new car,' one person wrote.

Another added: 'Restores your faith in humanity. Lovely.'

Ms Willis said the family had already decided how to spend the gift.

'Me and the boys have picked one of the restaurants in town and will go and treat ourselves now that we are living on just mummy's income.'
Police in Tehran say three people have been arrested for attempting to sell newborn babies via the social-media site Instagram.

Tehran police chief Hossein Rahimi said on June 23 that a 20-day-old and a 2-month-old baby were found with the three individuals, who claimed that they had taken them from poor families for a small fee.

Police said the infants have been placed in the care of a state welfare organization and that their parents had been identified.

Rahimi said police in recent days had received several complaints from citizens calling for action against those involved in the online trade of babies.

Earlier this year, police said members of a gang that sold babies in the northeastern province of Gorgan had been arrested.

Four women and a man in that case are accused of identifying poor mothers and paying their hospital expenses, then taking away their babies after they gave birth.


Roger Stone, departs following a status hearing in the criminal case against him brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., March 14, 2019.

A prosecutor who helped win the conviction of President Donald Trump's friend Roger Stone told Congress on Wednesday that the "highest levels" of the Department of Justice pressured officials "to cut Stone a break."

Aaron Zelinsky, one of four prosecutors who withdrew from the case after the department stepped in to lower Stone's recommended prison sentence, testified before the Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee in a hearing on politicization of the DOJ under Attorney General William Barr.

The panel's 12 p.m. ET hearing came as Barr has faced heavy criticism for his handling of high-profile cases involving matters directly related to Trump. Critics have accused Barr of undermining the independence of the Justice Department by acting in ways that benefit Trump politically.

Barr was not attending Wednesday's hearing. But Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec tweeted later Wednesday that the attorney general has accepted an invitation to appear before the House panel for a "general oversight hearing" on July 28.

Shortly before the start of the hearing, a federal appeals court ordered a lower-court judge to dismiss the criminal case against Michael Flynn, who briefly served as Trump's first national security advisor. The Justice Department had filed a motion seeking to dismiss the case, and Flynn's lawyers argued that Judge Emmet Sullivan did not promptly grant the request.

In his prepared opening statement, Zelinsky said he personally saw the department "exerting significant pressure" on prosecutors "to water down and in some cases outright distort" the events of Stone's trial and his criminal conduct.

"What I heard  repeatedly  was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the president," Zelinsky said.

Stone, 67, was convicted last November of lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential election and for pressuring an associate, Randy Credico, to endorse his lies. During the campaign, WikiLeaks released emails stolen by Russian agents from the chief of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign and from the Democratic National Committee.

In February, the attorneys prosecuting Stone's case recommended a severe sentence of up to nine years in prison for Stone, a self-described political trickster and longtime confidant of Trump.

The president had weighed in on Twitter shortly after the recommendation, calling it "disgraceful!"

Prosecutors said at the time that their proposed sentence was in line with federal sentencing guidelines, which are calculated according to a formula that takes into account the severity of the crime, the type of conduct involved, and a defendant's prior criminal history.

A day after the original proposed sentence was filed, Timothy Shea  the acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia  requested a substantially lower prison term. Zelinsky said he was told that Shea "was receiving heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to cut Stone a break."

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Stone on Feb. 20 to 40 months in prison. In April, Jackson denied Stone's request for a new trial. Stone appealed his conviction and sentence, and has asked a federal court to delay his June 30 prison surrender date, citing concerns for his health due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Zelinsky said in his opening statement that he "was explicitly told" that the pressure to change Stone's sentencing was coming "because the U.S. attorney was 'afraid of the president.'"

"When I learned that the department was going to issue a new sentencing memo, I made the difficult decision to resign from the case and my temporary appointment in the U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C. rather than be associated with the Department of Justice's actions at sentencing," Zelinsky said. "I returned to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Maryland, where I work today."
As one of the largest technology councils in the nation, there is a tremendous opportunity for NVTC to continue to advance its mission, supporting our ever-growing community and embracing emerging and new technologies, said Brad Schwartz.

Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), the membership and trade association for the technology community in Northern Virginia, today announced the appointment of Brad Schwartz to the position of Acting President and CEO, effective July 1, 2020. The appointment follows Bobbie Kilbergs planned retirement after nearly 22 years of leading and growing the organization. Following her retirement, Kilberg will assist NVTC as President and CEO Emeritus and Strategic Advisor during the leadership transition period.

Brad Schwartz is the former President and CEO of Blue Canopy, a company specializing in providing Big Data Analytics and cybersecurity services for the federal and national security sectors. Earlier in his career, he served as Group Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for BearingPoint (formerly KPMG Consulting) and Regional Vice President at Oracle Corporation. A technology industry veteran, Schwartz has been honored three times as a GovCon Award winner, twice as a Washingtonian Tech Titan, and received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic Region (Technical Services). His deep technology background, proven ability to grow people and businesses in the local community, and experience in both the private and public sectors, position him well for this NVTC leadership role.

I have full confidence in Brad Schwartzs leadership, experience, and ability to serve as Acting President and CEO, said Bobbie Kilberg, NVTC President and CEO. As an active Board and Executive Committee Member, Brad is already well-versed in NVTCs strategic and operational goals and is very knowledgeable about the community that we serve.

The NVTC Board continues to support the Search and Advisory Committee, working with executive search firm Korn Ferry, to identify a permanent President and CEO to lead the organization.

In addition, a new NVTC Chairmans Council has been formed to ensure continuity of leadership during the transition. Members of the Chairmans Council (post June 30, 2020) include:



Richard Montoni, current Chairman of the Board, will become Chair Emeritus

Greg Baroni, current Vice Chairman of the Board, will become Chairman of the Board

Bobbie Kilberg, current President and CEO, will become President and CEO Emeritus and Strategic Advisor

Brad Schwartz, current Board and Executive Committee Member, will become Acting President and CEO

Christine Kallivokas, will remain as NVTC Chief Operating Officer

The focus of the Chairmans Council will be to oversee the successful leadership transitions of the President and CEO and Chairman of the Board roles, as well as to ensure that NVTC is well positioned for continued growth and transformation.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank Bobbie for her outstanding leadership and commitment to NVTC and to the broader business community, said Greg Baroni, Vice Chairman of the NVTC Board. A tireless and innovative leader, Bobbie has been one of the pioneers in growing the Northern Virginia technology community and has been instrumental in leading the region through many important milestones, including, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, he continued.

As one of the largest technology councils in the nation, there is a tremendous opportunity for NVTC to continue to advance its mission, supporting our ever-growing community and embracing emerging and new technologies, said Brad Schwartz. In this interim period, I plan to focus our resources on driving growth and stability, while building a strategy that will take NVTC into its next phase. Im excited about my new role and look forward to working closely with the Chairmans Council in the search for NVTCs permanent successor.

Richard Montoni, Chairman of the NVTC Board, said, The COVID-19 environment slowed down our search for NVTCs new President and CEO. However, we remain committed to finding the next innovative and forward-thinking leader who, like Bobbie, will continue to advance NVTCs strategy, build stakeholder relationships, advocate for public policy, and position the organization as the regional voice of the technology community well into the future.

For further information, as well as to provide recommendations to NVTCs Search and Advisory Committee, please contact Lorraine Lavet, Senior Client Partner, Korn Ferry (lorraine.lavet@kornferry.com).
An international research team led by Dr. Tali Ilovitsh of the Biomedical Engineering Department at Tel Aviv University developed a noninvasive technology platform for gene delivery into breast cancer cells. The technique combines ultrasound with tumor-targeted microbubbles. Once the ultrasound is activated, the microbubbles explode like smart and targeted warheads, creating holes in cancer cells' membranes, enabling gene delivery. Conducted over two years, the research was published on June 9 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Dr. Ilovitsh developed this breakthrough technology during her post-doctorate research at the lab of Prof. Katherine Ferrara at Stanford University. The technique utilizes low frequency ultrasound (250 kHz) to detonate microscopic tumor-targeted bubbles. In vivo, cell destruction reached 80% of tumor cells.

"Microbubbles are microscopic bubbles filled with gas, with a diameter as small as one tenth of a blood vessel," Dr. Ilovitsh explains. "At certain frequencies and pressures, sound waves cause the microbubbles to act like balloons: they expand and contract periodically. This process increases the transfer of substances from the blood vessels into the surrounding tissue. We discovered that using lower frequencies than those applied previously, microbubbles can significantly expand, until they explode violently. We realized that this discovery could be used as a platform for cancer treatment and started to inject microbubbles into tumors directly."

Dr. Ilovitsh and the rest of the team used tumor-targeted microbubbles that were attached to tumor cells' membranes at the moment of the explosion, and injected them directly into tumors in a mouse model. "About 80% of tumor cells were destroyed in the explosion, which was positive on its own," says Dr. Ilovitsh. "The targeted treatment, which is safe and cost-effective, was able to destroy most of the tumor. However, it is not enough. In order to prevent the remaining cancer cells to spread, we needed to destroy all of the tumor cells. That is why we injected an immunotherapy gene alongside the microbubbles, which acts as a Trojan horse, and signaled the immune system to attack the cancer cell."

On its own, the gene cannot enter into the cancer cells. However, this gene aimed to enhance the immune system was co-injected together with the microbubbles. Membrane pores were formed in the remaining 20% of the cancer cells that survived the initial explosion, allowing the entry of the gene into the cells. This triggered an immune response that destroyed the cancer cell.

"The majority of cancer cells were destroyed by the explosion, and the remaining cells consumed the immunotherapy gene through the holes that were created in their membranes," Dr. Ilovitsh explains. "The gene caused the cells to produce a substance that triggered the immune system to attack the cancer cell. In fact, our mice had tumors on both sides of their bodies. Despite the fact that we conducted the treatment only on one side, the immune system attacked the distant side as well."

Dr. Ilovitsh says that in the future she intends to attempt using this technology as a noninvasive treatment for brain-related diseases such as brain tumors and other neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. "The blood-brain barrier does not allow for medications to penetrate through, but microbubbles can temporary open the barrier, enabling the arrival of the treatment to the target area without the need for an invasive surgical intervention."

###

American Friends of Tel Aviv University supports Israel's most influential, comprehensive and sought-after center of higher learning, Tel Aviv University (TAU). TAU is recognized and celebrated internationally for creating an innovative, entrepreneurial culture on campus that generates inventions, startups and economic development in Israel. TAU is ranked ninth in the world, and first in Israel, for producing start-up founders of billion-dollar companies, an achievement that surpassed several Ivy League universities. To date, 2,500 US patents have been filed by Tel Aviv University researchers -- ranking TAU #1 in Israel, #10 outside of the US and #66 in the world.
FAIRMONT, W.Va., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With the hot, humid summer months expected to produce higher electric usage and the potential for severe weather, Mon Power, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary, has completed projects, inspections, and equipment maintenance across its 34-county service territory in north central West Virginia to enhance service reliability for customers.

Helicopter patrols have completed inspections on more than 2,100 miles of FirstEnergy transmission lines located in the Mon Power area. The inspections are designed to look for damaged wire, broken cross arms, failed insulators and other hardware problems not visible from the ground. Potential reliability issues identified during the inspection will be addressed.

On the ground, the inspections include using "thermovision" cameras to capture infrared images that can detect potential problems with Mon Power substation equipment such as transformers and capacitors. By identifying hot spots, maintenance and repairs can be handled prior to a power outage occurring.

Crews also conducted inspections of distribution circuits, focusing on more than 580 line capacitors that maintain proper electric voltage on the Mon Power electric system. These devices are especially useful in remote locations because they automatically adjust voltage levels to accommodate changing system conditions.

"We proactively inspect and maintain our equipment to ensure system reliability to meet the increased electrical demand from higher air conditioning usage when the temperatures climb," said Jim Myers, FirstEnergy's president of West Virginia operations. "Our crews have safely and efficiently completed the necessary readiness work because they know our customers are counting on us to keep them comfortable during the summer."

Tree trimming is another key to preparing our system to meet the rigors of summer operations by maintaining proper clearances around electrical systems and helping to protect against tree-related outages. Tree contractors have trimmed more than 2,900 circuit miles of transmission and distribution lines in the Mon Power footprint since January and expect to trim another 2,700 miles by year end.

Summer readiness also includes focusing on employee safety by educating field personnel on proper safety procedures and precautions for working in hot weather. Ensuring employees know the signs of heat exhaustion and the importance of proper hydration, taking adequate breaks and scheduling work appropriately are some of the key areas for employee safety.

Mon Power's power plants are prepared to meet the expected demand for electricity this summer. Plant personnel have done inspections and performed maintenance on key operational systems to ensure the power stations will be available during extreme heat conditions. If maintenance is needed throughout the summer, the work will be scheduled around periods of peak demand in order to ensure that generation is available when it is most needed.

In addition to the work being done by company employees, summer also is a time when roofers, home builders, lawn service workers and other contractors work long hours. To help stay safe around electrical equipment while on the job, FirstEnergy offers important tips at www.firstenergycorp.com/contractorsafety.

For updated company information, including hot weather tips, customers are urged to visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages .

Mon Power serves about 385,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties. Follow Mon Power at www.mon-power.com, on Twitter @MonPowerWV, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MonPowerWV.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com.

Editor's Note: Photos of workers conducting thermovision inspections to enhance service reliability for FirstEnergy customers are available for download on Flickr. A video of thermovision inspections and explanation the work can be found on the company's YouTube channel.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Related Links

http://www.firstenergycorp.com


[June 24, 2020] Two Harbors Investment Corp. Appoints William Greenberg President and CEO

Two Harbors Investment Corp. (NYSE: TWO) ("Two Harbors" or the "Company") today announced the appointments of William Greenberg to President and Chief Executive Officer and Matthew Koeppen to Chief Investment Officer. Thomas Siering will no longer serve as President and CEO; he will remain on the Board of Directors as a non-independent director until the next annual meeting of the Company's stockholders. These leadership changes are effective today. "We are pleased to announce the appointment of Bill Greenberg to President and Chief Executive Officer and Matt Koeppen to Chief Investment Officer," stated Stephen G. Kasnet, Chairman of Two Harbors' Board of Directors. Given Bill's more than twenty-five years of experience in the mortgage industry, including eight years with the Company, we are confident he is the right person to lead Two Harbors going forward. With the appointment of Matthew Koeppen to Chief Investment Officer, we have an outstanding leadership team that positions Two Harbors for continued long-term success. We are excited about our future and are planning to complete the process of becoming a self-managed company in September. We would also like to thank Tom for his service to Two Harbors over the years." William Greenberg has served as Vice President and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Two Harbors since January 2020, with primary responsibility for the investment and hedging strategy of the Company's portfolio of conventional MSR and securities. He previously served as Co-Deputy Chief Investment Officer from June 2018. Mr. Greenberg has over 25 years of experience managing portfolios of structured finance assets. Prior to joining Two Harbors in 2012, Mr. Greenberg was a Managing Director at UBS AG, holding a variety of senior positions with responsibilities including managing the mortgage repurchase liability risk related to over $100 billion of RMBS and whole loans issued and/or sold by UBS. Additionally, Mr. Greenberg was co-head of trading within the SNB StabFund, including managing $40 billion of legacy RMBS, ABS (News - Alert), and CMBS securities and loans. Prior to joinig UBS, Mr. Greenberg was a Managing Director at Natixis NA, where he co-managed portfolios of RMBS and Agency Mortgage Servicing Rights. Mr. Greenberg holds a B.S. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in theoretical nuclear physics from the University of Washington.



Matt Koeppen has served as Vice President and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Two Harbors since January 2020, with primary responsibility for the investment and hedging strategy of the Company's portfolio of conventional MSR and securities. Mr. Koeppen, who joined Two Harbors in 2010, has over 20 years of experience managing portfolios of structured finance assets. Prior to joining Two Harbors, he held several key positions with Black River Asset Management, which was a division of Cargill, Inc. At Black River Asset Management, he served as a Managing Director of Business Development, where he was responsible for a variety of initiatives to diversify and grow assets under management and as a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager where he managed the firm's securitized products portfolio. Previously, he was a Vice President in the Financial Markets Group at Cargill, where he traded Agency and non-Agency RMBS and municipal bonds. Mr. Koeppen received a B.A. degree in financial management from the University of St. Thomas. Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, readers should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "target," "assume," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believe," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Two Harbors does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Additionally, information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in Two Harbors' most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Two Harbors or matters attributable to Two Harbors or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Two Harbors Investment Corp. Two Harbors Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation, is a real estate investment trust that invests in residential mortgage-backed securities, mortgage servicing rights and other financial assets. Two Harbors is headquartered in New York, New York, and is externally managed and advised by PRCM Advisers LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pine River Capital Management L.P. Additional information is available at www.twoharborsinvestment.com. Additional Information Stockholders of Two Harbors and other interested persons may find additional information regarding the company at the Securities and Exchange Commission's Internet site at www.sec.gov or by directing requests to: Two Harbors Investment Corp., 575 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2930, New York, NY 10022, telephone 612-629-2500. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005812/en/

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Several Melbourne working class suburbs have been hit with a sharp increase in coronavirus infections over the last week. The reproduction number (R0), which estimates how many people someone with COVID-19 is infecting, has escalated in just seven days from just below 1 to 2.5.

Health authorities today reported 20 new infections, bringing the total number of new cases in the state of Victoria since June 17 to 149. The state also today reported a new confirmed coronavirus death, a man in his 80s.

A large majority of the new infections are not from quarantined travellers returning from overseas, but are community transmissions. Many are from unknown sources, indicating that the virus is again spreading in an unchecked manner. Victorias Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton declared that the state was at a tipping point.

Six local government areas are the worst affectedBrimbank, Hume, Darebin, and Moreland, in Melbournes north and west, and Cardinia and Casey, in the citys outer south-east. All are working class areas, with a total population of more than 1 million. Many feature large immigrant communities. In Brimbank, for example, (which includes the suburbs of Sunshine and St Albans), of the nearly 200,000 residents, 93,000 people were born overseas and 113,000 people speak a language other than English.

The situation contrasts with the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, when the first wave of infections in Australia disproportionately affected upper-middle class areas, due to people returning with the virus from their holidays from Europe.

There are multiple clusters. Two retail workers at Northland shopping centre are among the infected. A warehouse worker at the Coles distribution centre in Laverton is also a confirmed case. Several security guards and hotel workers caught the virus while working around quarantined people who have recently returned from overseas. Some of the affected workers told the Age yesterday about inadequate safety protections, understaffing, and lack of training in the hotels.

Teachers and school workers have also been seriously affected, with 19 schools and kindergartens shut down in the last fortnight due to confirmed cases of either staff or students. The outbreaks underscore how the premature reopening of schools last month increased the risk of mass contagion.

The situation in Victoria stands as an indictment of both the federal Liberal-National government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the state Labor government of Premier Daniel Andrews.

Like their counterparts around the world, Australias leaders have prioritised the needs of business over the health and safety of ordinary people. Despite the amply documented dangers posed by the pandemic, state and federal governments have failed to take the most basic of measures, above all with regard to testing.

In the early stages of the pandemic, World Health Organisation officials declared that one of the necessary responses was to test, test, test. China has demonstrated the possibility of rapidly testing millions of people, yet across Australia, testing infrastructure remains underfunded and inadequate.

In Melbourne yesterday, testing centres were overwhelmed with demand. In several drive-through centres located in the most affected areas, cars were banked up in line for several kilometres. People had to wait 3-4 hours before being tested, and before the end of the day the test centres were shut down.

There is a reported maximum capacity of just 20,000 tests a day in Victoria, a state with a population of 6.3 million. As that capacity was reached yesterday, authorities admitted that there will be delays in the communication of test results, with people having to wait several days.

Tests continue to be rationed, with the official advice remaining that only people with cold or flu symptoms need to be tested, together with those who have been in contact with a confirmed case. This is despite scientific evidence that coronavirus is contagious, possibly most contagious, when an infected person is pre-symptomatic.

There is no plan to carry out large-scale testing of the population, regardless of symptoms, meaning that the real number of active COVID-19 cases will remain unknown.

The Age on Monday reported that in April, 100 medical experts and scientists, at the request of the federal government, outlined alternative strategies in response to the coronavirus crisis. One was suppression of the virus, with rapid easing of restriction measures, and another eradication, which would have involved maintaining lockdown measures until late June. The national cabinet, comprising Labor and Liberal federal, state and territory governments, opted for suppression over eradication.

This was a conscious, bipartisan decision to prioritise the needs of big business and finance capital ahead of the health of the population. Morrison bluntly declared on April 16 that the eradication pathway involves an approach which would see even more economic restrictions, adding that there was a trade off in dealing with the health and economic crises.

The latest upsurge in coronavirus infections is a direct result of this government strategy. What has become clear as the pandemic has unfolded internationally is that there is no safe rate of infection. Any degree of infection carries with it the threat of rapid onset mass infection.

Professor Tony Blakely, an epidemiologist with Melbourne University who was one of the 100 experts that advised the government in April, told the Age that he estimated that there was only a 10 percent chance that coronavirus would be eliminated in Victoria given the current infection rate. The discussion that should be happening behind closed doorsand its a really unpleasant oneis whether there is a strong case for Victoria to go back into lockdown, he said.

In fact, what is being discussed within ruling circles behind closed doors is that lockdown measures affecting corporate Australia are never going to be reimposed, regardless of the infection rate.

This perspective was articulated in multiple editorials published in the financial and Murdoch press in recent days. The Australian, for example, on Monday issued an editorial, Victorian outbreaks must not risk nations recovery, which denounced head-in-the-sand isolationism and praised Scott Morrisons contemptuous declaration last month that we cant keep Australia under the doona.

Responding to the infection surge, the Victorian government has made only minimal changes to the reopening schedule. Gyms and cinemas were allowed to reopen this week, as planned, while an increase in the capacity of restaurants and bars from 20 to 50 was only postponed to July 12.

The central restriction announced last weekend was a restriction on household gatherings, with no more than five guests permitted. This is part of the state Labor governments attempt to attribute the new wave of coronavirus cases to individual decision making rather than government policy.
The Maharashtra government has decided to reduce the reservation quota for students of the Maratha community from 16% to 12% for junior college admissions this academic year.

The decision was taken following the order that was issued by the Bombay high court (HC), officials said.

We have decided to reduce reservation quota under the Social and Educational Backward Classes Act (SEBC) to 12% from 16% for junior college admissions (Class XI) for this academic year, stated the government resolution issued by the school education department on Tuesday.

The order is applicable for 15 municipal corporations  Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Vasai-Virar, Panvel, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Amravati.

School education secretary Vandana Krishna said, SEBC quota has been reduced as per the orders of the HC. Also, online admission process for Class 11 is carried out only in these 15 corporations as there is no demand or need for the online admission process in rest of the state.

The erstwhile BJP- led state government has granted 16% reservation to the Maratha community by enacting the SEBC act, in government jobs and education in November 2018. The act was upheld HC on June 2019, but it said that the quantum of 16% was not justifiable and should be reduced to 12%-13%, as recommended by the state backward classes commission in its report as one of the main basis to grant reservation to the community.

Later, it was challenged in the Supreme Court (SC). On February 5, SC, while hearing a bunch of petitions against Maratha reservation, refused to stay the HC order. The Apex court has now fixed the next hearing of the case on July 7.

The state education department in its GR has also increased the quota for student with disabilities to 4% from the existing 3% for admissions in junior colleges.
- Alias Robotics warns that robot manufacturers ignoring cybersecurity issues and most of them are currently vulnerable to cyberattacks



- The company, which cooperates with national cybersecurity institutes in Spain and Germany, has developed RIS, the first "vaccine" that protects robots

VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Alias Robotics, a Spanish startup specialized in robot cybersecurity, alerts that the robot that disinfects hospitals in the COVID-19 crisis, as well as most industrial robots that operate in Spain and the rest of the world, are highly insecure and vulnerable to cyber attacks, due to manufacturers ignoring security issues, putting people working nearby at risk.

The company that actively collaborates with national cybersecurity institutes in Spain and Germany, has recently published a new report that discloses numerous security vulnerabilities that security researchers have found over a well-known robot manufacturer, the danish Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), a company that has sold more than 10,000 units of their Autonomous Mobile Robots that is the basis for the famous ultraviolet ray disinfection robot against COVID-19.

The first vaccine for robots

"Taking care of robot health is taking care of human health. That's what we defend in Alias Robotics, and manufacturers all over the globe ignore," points out Endika Gil-Uriarte, CEO at Alias Robotics, a startup launched in 2018.

To protect these robots against cyberattacks, Alias Robotics has developed RIS, the first "vaccine" for robots. The Robot Immune System is software that gets installed into the robots, that has been co-developed by cell biology experts and security researchers, to protect them against cyber attacks.

RIS mimics our own human immune system and adapts to the robot behaviour, while using Artificial Intelligence to identify novel threats, before they hit. As if it were a "vaccine" RIS exposes the robot to an array of different dangers and prepares its immune system to avoid getting hit by malware. The robot develops its virtual antibodies to combat cyber threats, so RIS is what is commonly known as an intelligent anti-virus for robots.

RIS is offered free of charge for research and development purposes and exceptionally, RIS is offered at no cost for healthcare and other professional robots while COVID-19 lasts.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lNNYpSP8Dg

Contacto:

Endika Gil-Uriarte

E-mail: endika@aliasrobotics.com

Tlf: +34-695-720599
Reports of grisly remains belonging to a missing Oregon woman has been found after she went missing, on a hike with her boyfriend.

According to authorities, the human remains belong to an Oregon woman who was reported missing a year ago when she was hiking with her boyfriend, reported Oxygen.

Discovery of the gruesome remains was by accident when a resident in the unincorporated North Plains was clearing brush last Saturday.

In a statement by the medical examiner's office, it was positively identified that the remains belong to Allyson Watterson, aged-20. She was last seen in December 2019, as stated in a statement released by the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

When asked for comment, Deputy Shannon Wilde has this to say to local station KATU. He said when the remains and the intel got at the scene, investigators think it is her. He added that the coroner will verify their assumptions. But they stressed that Allyson's kin should be informed.

Her alleged killer

Allyson was missing earlier than Christmas. witnesses saw her on the 22nd of December 2019 with Benjamin Garland, related KPTV. With the couple sighted by several witnesses, how they got to the North Plains was not known, and is still a mystery.

According to Garland's father, he knew that Benjamin and Allyson were on the hike together. That's when he later claimed that his girlfriend was not to be found. He let 30 hours go by before reporting her missing, reported The Oregonian.

Also read: Couple Who Starved Foster Kids, Left Dead Body of a Girl in Basement, Also Hid Skeletal Remains of Their Own Son

Misty Watterson, Allyson's mom shared that her daughter went missing at North Plains when the car conked out. Another bit of info was, Allyson and Benjamin were at the location to visit a friend.

The sheriff's office did not confirm if Allyson's death is foul play or not.

One of the Deputies, Tony Morris reported to KATU that the remains were found in a thick brush, which is hard to get to.

The deputy added that it will not be easy to bring a dead body into the thick brush. Plus, where the couple went, the victim's corpse is almost well hidden. It will take effort on anyone's intent to hide a corpse in the North plains location.

Wilde told local press that some help from the county Department of Land Use and Transportation was needed to clear the area. With the area cleared, all investigators were able to work on the crime scene.

He added that the work crew needed to trim such thick brush. Describing the area had brush as big as, or as huge as a house.

Coincidentally before the discovery of the grisly remains, Misty Watterson made a post that expressed her anguish about Allyson's disappearance.

Her Facebook post said that when her daughter went missing is the worst a mother can take. Adding personal feelings about the killer, saying that she'll keep on searching.

Last Saturday, the remains were found and her family asked for privacy as they grieve.

One of Allyson's kin, Billy Macy told KPTV that they grieve her unexpected death. Also saying thank you for the support given to them, but expressed that they do not know what follows next.

On the other hand, the victim's boyfriend, Garland is in jail for another crime.

Related article: Woman Shot Dead, Man Injured Due to Altercation Over Dog Poop

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Chinese tourists take photographs in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, Dec. 24, 2012.

Australians' trust in China has dropped to a record low amid the coronavirus crisis, according to an annual nationwide poll conducted by think tank, Lowy Institute.

Only 23% of Australians surveyed said they "trust" China "somewhat or a lot to act responsibly in the world," compared to 52% in the same poll conducted in 2018.

The poll, which was conducted in March this year, surveyed over 2,400 Australians.

More than half the respondents said Australia's relationship with the U.S. is more important than China.

Tensions between China and Australia have intensified in recent months, since the latter called for a global investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, which first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The move has angered Beijing, which has targeted Australian products.
Former US President Barack Obama on Tuesday made his first campaign appearance alongside Joe Biden since endorsing him for president in April, helping raise more than $11 million for his former No. 2 as he exhorted supporters to meet the urgency of the moment.

I appreciate all of you being on this call, Obama said at a virtual fundraiser. But man, this is serious business. Whatever youve done so far is not enough.

The virtual fundraiser collected $7.6 million from 175,000 grassroots contributors. Obama and Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, also hosted a private online portion for high-dollar donors, which was not open to reporters and brought in more than $3.4 million.

The haul was the most for any Biden campaign event, coming on the heels of the Democratic Party and Bidens campaign outraising Republican President Donald Trump in May for the first time.

Tuesdays fundraiser showed the drawing power of Obama, who remains overwhelmingly popular among the Democratic base and who will be counted on as a key campaign figure this autumn.

It also highlighted the dramatic changes the coronavirus pandemic has wrought on traditional campaigning, with the two politicians sharing a split screen from their living rooms, while supporters tuned in via livestream.

Early in the 2020 campaign, Bidens weak fundraising numbers compared with some of his Democratic competitors were a source of concern. But his fundraising from donors has picked up in recent weeks as his lead in national opinion polls grew and the country reacted to incidents of police brutality.

Trump, who has been campaigning for a second term since 2017, still has far more cash on hand ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election.

His campaign noted in a statement that it raised more than $10 million last weekend, when the president appeared in Oklahoma for his first live campaign rally since the outbreak erupted.

There is no enthusiasm for Joe Biden, said Tim Murtaugh, a Trump campaign spokesman.

MEAN-SPIRITED

Obama, who has only occasionally criticized Trump since leaving office in 2017, faulted his successors behavior several times on Tuesday, saying he exploits divisions among Americans and calling his approach to governing mean-spirited.

There is no disconnect between the urgency of this election and the political moment and what has been happening on the streets, said Obama, referring to the civil rights protests that have swept across major cities since George Floyd, a Black man, died last month after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes.

Obama also criticized Trump for ignoring advice from public health experts on how to handle the coronavirus and for giving cover to authoritarian governments by attacking the free press and advocating military force against protesters.

Theres a big contest, not just in this country but around the world, about who we are, Obama said.

Biden, who has an extensive foreign policy record both as a US senator and as vice president, said he would pick up the phone on his first day in office with a simple message to allies around the world: America is back.

As the event ended, Obama said: Love you, Joe.

Love you too, pal, Biden responded.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 19:44:47|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Thailand will carry out a tourist project called the Medical and Wellness Resort of the World for visiting foreigners, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said.

The Medical and Wellness Resort of the World project will welcome foreigners under the so-called Travel Bubble campaign, which is yet to be launched between Thailand and several other countries including China, Japan and South Korea.

They may come to Thailand to undergo medical treatments for illnesses, which will be entirely irrelevant to COVID-19, or to restore their health and wellness, Yuthasak said.

Under the Travel Bubble campaign, foreign tourists will not undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arrival though they will have to carry a medical certificate to be issued in their home country within the last 72 hours to assure they not be infected with the coronavirus.

The TAT governor said the Medical and Wellness Resort of the World project will be initially located in the famous beach resort cities of Phuket, Krabi and Hua Hin where medical facilities and rehabilitation centers are readily prepared.

Apart from such medical visitors, Thailand plans to welcome foreign businesspersons or investors, who may spend business trips in the country only for a short period of time without the need for mandatory quarantine. Enditem
New Delhi, June 24 : While e-commerce has been big for over a decade now, the world is being forced into a new digital era, with offline business being forced to go online thanks to the pandemic.

Nowhere is this ore evident than with Indian fashion designers, who till now focused on the luxury market with retail experiences and unparalleled services in their flagship stores. As some of the biggest names in the business take their platforms online, Mumbai based designers Monica and Karishma join them in the new wave of Indian couture shopping with the launch of their e-commerce platform and services.

Their couture label JADE now offers a seamless and intimate shopping experience for brides-to-be, her entourage, as well as connoisseurs of couture. The platform also offers one on one virtual consultation and e-meetings with the designers themselves that tie in with shopping directly from the brand's very platform for bespoke made to order solutions for special occasions.

Monica Shah shares, "We're entering a new era of digital living. The beauty of e-commerce is that it breaks geographical barriers and brings you closer to your audience across the country and globe. We are very excited to bring JADE to couture lovers, wherever in the world they may be." Karishma adds, "The New Age women see couture for more than just the novelty. They want to invest in a bespoke creation that is timeless, versatile and experimental - so that there's sustained use over time. This applies even for bridal couture, where they want pieces they can make the most of, while still being able to pass it down. We're so happy to open up our world to brides like these all over the globe!" IANSlife caught up with designer duo to get all the details. Read Excerpts: The fashion industry is one of the worst hit in the world due to the pandemic, according to you what are the most pressing issues which have resulted from it?

Monica Shah: Ensuring everyone in our supply chain - right from our in-office teams to our kaarigars - is safe and healthy is our greatest concern and priority.

Despite Unlock Phase 1, numbers are rising exponentially and psychologically people fear stepping out, what do you predict for the year ahead Monica Shah: Every brides story must continue and as soon as the government norms are eased out brides will plan their wedding, albeit in a smaller way. We're prioritising custom ensembles and focusing on creating pieces that aren't confined to a particular season or time.

You recently launched your ecommerce site, do you think now online is the future of retail? Monica Shah: India is on the cusp of a new digital era. Given the current times, people are online now more than ever. An online presence is essential for brands to engage with a wider base of audience.

You've been in the business so long, ecommerce has been popular for decades, why didn't you have a site up and running till today? Monica Shah: Luxury and couture are more about a one on one experience, long conversations and a personal touch. We wanted to focus on offering our consumers a whole experience rather than just a transaction. Despite not having our native e-commerce platform, we have had an active presence online as well as strong relationships with our clientele across the globe.

Heavy rentals, overheads and running costs with no waivers for months of lockdown have added a burden on brands like yours? Monica Shah: It has been an unprecedented and challenging time for all of us. We have been lucky to be able to survive. But we know it's been difficult for the industry by and large.

JADE launched its bridal e-consultancy tell why its essential to have such a service in these times.

Monica Shah: We have been offering virtual consultations to our international clientele since the beginning. But are now focussing on amplifying it. India has entered a new digital era, and consumers are more attuned to online shopping than ever. We have the technology and means to tap into and reach a whole new set of customers. It's about time we launched an ecommerce platform of our own, and found better ways to stay in touch with our clientele and offer them a seamless and intimate luxury couture experience virtually.

Bridal trends in the COVID-19 era for the slim but luxurious indian wedding? Monica Shah: This time of pause has reinforced a whole new appreciation for local arts and crafts, and mindfully made pieces. So, I see brides taking a keener and deeper interest in their wedding ensembles. I think brides are going to incline more towards pieces that are versatile and functional - something they can wear even after the wedding, like breezy skirts with shirts rather than traditional blouses.

The JADE Bride has always been one who's mindful and discerning about her ensembles. Our brides know that when they choose a JADE outfit, they choose a legacy of artisanal excellence, they choose to support quintessential Indian crafts and techniques that still maintain a global appeal. And I only see this becoming more and more prominent in the coming times.

You have worked on many social initiatives, share one closest to your heart during the current times Monica Shah: We have founded the Chanakya School of Craft, to educate, empower and support girls and women from underprivileged backgrounds as well as preserve India's arts and crafts. Nurturing this talent and doing our bit in sustaining India's artisanal legacy is something very close to our hearts.

Many designers are being forced to shut down retail spaces or close brands entirely. Do you think it's a combination of the crisis or a result of bad management? Monica Shah: It's really an unexpected and unprecedented time. No one ever imagined a time like this would come. So, the struggle is inevitable. Every brand has its own set of challenges and its own journey. We only hope we can all come together to support the community through this challenging time.

The label's limited-edition bridal couture collection, along with its first ever luxury pret collection makes it debut on www.jadebymk.com.

(Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Persimmon has appointed National Express boss Dean Finch as its new chief executive.

Finch, who has been National Express' boss since 2010, is set to take up the role at the end of the year and will rake in a base annual salary of 725,000.

The incoming boss will replace David Jenkinson, who announced plans to step down as chief executive in February after just over a year in the role.

Persimmon has appointed former National Express boss Dean Finch as its new chief executive

On top of his annual base salary, Finch will also receive a pension allowance of 9 per cent of his salary 'in line with the contribution available for Persimmon's salaried employees.'

The company added: ' From 1 January 2021 he will be able to participate in the company's existing annual bonus plan up to a maximum of 200% of salary with 50% of any bonus earned being deferred into Persimmon shares for three years, and the Performance Share Plan up to 200% of salary, based on performance over three years and subject to a further two year holding period.

'As set out in the remuneration policy for the Executive Directors, a significant proportion of Dean's remuneration will be based on non-financial metrics including customer care and quality.'

Commenting on Finch's appointment, Roger Devlin, Persimmon's chairman, said toady: 'Dean is a seasoned, well-respected and proven chief executive with an exceptional record.

'In his current role he has delivered substantial strategic and operational progress over a sustained period, delivering value for all stakeholders in the business while developing a distinct and cohesive culture, focused on customer care and service.

'The board believes that Dean is a great fit for Persimmon and is well qualified to lead the business into the next phase as we continue to drive a programme of change to become the leading volume builder of good value, quality family homes throughout the UK.'

Earlier this month, Persimmon's current boss Dave Jenkinson cashed out 2.2million worth of shares as he prepares to leave.

The housebuilder will forever be remembered for the 80million bonus which led to the resignation of chief executive Jeff Fairburn.

Under the same scheme, Jenkinson received more than 40million. He has now sold 89,000 shares, at 24.76 each and his holding is now worth 19.7million.

Persimmon reopened its sales sites across England on 15 May, with social distancing measures in place and only those with pre-booked appointments able to attend.

The company restarted work at some of its construction sites in England on 27 April, and by 4 May had over 65 per cent of its sites reopen.

In the eight weeks ended 10 May, the company secured 1,351 gross private sales reservations, with a total of 1,300 legal completions being made in the same period. Cancellation levels remain in line with historic trends, according to the company.

Shares in Persimmon are down 1.27 per cent or 30p to 2,332p this morning, having dropped to around the 1,546p mark once lockdown kicked in.
The Republican Party-dominated Tennessee State Legislature passed legislation Friday that would limit the right to an abortion when a fetal heartbeat can be heard. The bill, which passed by an overwhelming majority of 235, is a continuation of the same criminal assault on the rights of women in five others statesGeorgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama and Ohiowhere fetal heartbeat laws have already been passed.

A doctor violating the law could face up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The legislation also bans abortions if the procedure is taking place because of the fetuss race, sex or diagnosis of Down Syndrome, a genetic disorder causing developmental and intellectual delays. A fetal heartbeat is detectable as early as 6 weeks after conception, when many women would not necessarily even know they were pregnant.

Abortions, already a heart-wrenching decision for many, are made all the more difficult under the new law, which mandates that a physician conduct an ultrasound, determine the gestational age of the fetus and tell the mother. There is an exception to save the life of the mother, but there are no exceptions for rape or incest.

Republican Governor Bill Lee praised the proposal as the strongest pro-life law in our states history. He is expected within the next 10 days to sign the legislation into law. One of the most important things we can do to be pro-family is to protect the rights of the most vulnerable in our state, and there is none more vulnerable than the unborn, Governor Lee wrote on Twitter.

It is a disgrace that in the face of a true public health crisis, Tennessee politicians wasted their time with this last-minute move to attack abortion access before closing up shop this session, said Acting Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson.

McGill Johnson continued, stating: We know that the goal of the politicians behind this bill is simple: a total ban on safe, legal abortion. Politicians know that this bill is blatantly unconstitutional.  It is abhorrent that Gov. Lee and politicians in Tennessee are exploiting the fear and uncertainty of a global pandemic to push their cruel anti-abortion agenda.

The American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Planned Parenthood and several Tennessee abortion providers filed a federal lawsuit challenging the bill. Democratic Party critics have said the legislation was passed while the Senates rules were suspended and claimed the law was unconstitutional. Similar bills in Mississippi and Ohio have been struck down and other bills are being challenged, as will the Tennessee law.

One of the more disgusting aspects of the Tennessee legislatures attack is the plan to keep bringing the bill back if it is successfully challenged in court. Legislators plan to ladder the law by continually adding two weeks of gestational age to the restrictions and re-submitting it for passage.

Lee and his legislatures concern for life does not extend beyond the yet-unborn. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the poverty rate for the state was 16.7 percent and Tennessee ranked 41st in the nation, according to welfareinfo.org, with more than 1 million people, including many children, living in poverty.

Many if not all of the same lawmakers who passed this bill have also refused to expand health insurance for 280,000 low-income Tennesseans. There are 660,000 state residents including more than 77,000 children who have no health insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Tennessee has an infant mortality rate of 6.9 per 1,000 births. There are 63 nations whose infant death rates are lower, including Russia, Serbia, Hungary, Denmark and Cuba, according to the CIAs World Factbook .

Lee has also failed to protect adults and children alike from COVID-19 by only reluctantly issuing a stay-at-home order and failing to provide health care workers with an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

There are roughly 80,000 births each year in Tennessee. At any given moment tens of thousands of expectant mothers are facing COVID-19 infection in a state opened too soon, with possible serious effects for mother and child, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Lee is also cutting funding for postpartum insurance coverage for Tenncare, the federally funded program for the poor that replaced Medicaid and is operated by the state. The postpartum program was started in 2017, when 57 new mothers died within a year of giving birth.

Michele Johnson, the executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center and a persistent critic of the Lee administrations health policies, said it was a tragedy the governor did not leave the funding intact. This tiny little budget item would have been an opportunity to put his money where his mouth is in terms of valuing black lives, Johnson said. We know that without these programs we are going to lose babies and we are going to lose mothers in the year 2021.
Vizsla Drills 1,544 G/T Silver Eq. over 8.2 metres in new discovery at Panuco Project, Mexico

Posted by Publisher Internet

Vizsla Resources Corp. (TSX-V: VZLA) (?Vizsla? or the ?Company?  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/vizsla-resources-corp/ ) is pleased to announce the first drilling results from the Napoleon Vein Corridor at the Panuco silver-gold district in Mexico. Five holes have been completed to date and results have been received for the mineralized intervals of two holes, NP-20-02 and NP-20-03, with high grade intercepts returned. ?The company has restarted exploration and currently has two drill rigs operating on the property.

Drilling Highlights

NP-20-02

 1,544 g/t silver equivalent (738.9 grams per tonne (?g/t?) silver and 11.06 g/t gold) over 8.2 metres (?m?) from 108.6m including;

3,348 g/t silver equivalent (1,527.5 g/t silver and 24.9 g/t gold) over 2.0m from 108.6m

NP-20-03

 1,133 g/t silver equivalent (453.8 g/t silver and 9.20 g/t gold) over 2.5m from 76.0m. And,

 905 g/t silver equivalent (309.3 g/t silver and 8.00 g/t gold), 2.22% lead and 4.75% zinc over 5.1m from 102.4m including;

1,375 g/t silver equivalent (186.3 g/t silver and 15.63 g/t gold), 1.12% lead and 7.73% zinc over 1.8m from 103.5m

Note: All numbers are rounded and widths represent downhole lengths.? True widths are estimated at between 46-66% of downhole lengths.? All calculations assume 94% recovery for silver and 96% recovery for gold.? Silver equivalent is calculated using the following formula:? Silver-equivalent = (0.94 * silver grade) +(80 * (0.96 * gold grade).

?This news can?t come at a better time as silver and gold have been breaking out and the Napoleon results mark our first major high-grade discovery at Panuco. The broad high-grade mineralization in drill hole NP-20-02 attest to the significant potential at the underexplored district. The Company is now fully financed with over C$6 million in the bank and has two drill rigs turning at the project with more results pending. stated President and CEO, Michael Konnert.

Vice President of Exploration Charles Funk commented ?These results are a very exciting discovery for Vizsla with multiple veins intersected in drilling containing very high-grade silver, gold and base metals.? These holes are the first ever drilled on the Napoleon vein which extends over more than 2 km of strike and hosts multiple small-scale mines and mineralized outcrops. Drilling is ongoing with two deeper holes and a hole in progress 60m to the north of NP-20-03, all which have each intersected veins.? Vizsla is continuing to step out to expand and define the footprint of mineralization at Napoleon?.

The Napoleon Vein Corridor is located almost entirely on concessions optioned from Rio Panuco which Vizsla has the right to purchase 100% of including the 500 tonne per day El Coco mill, tailings facility, roads, power and permits for a total of US$23,000,000.

Drilling detail

The Napoleon corridor is hosted in weakly magnetic fine-grained diorite and trends approximately north ? south.? The structure hosts two main quartz veins that are separated by some 10 to 20m metres and appears to dip very steeply to sub-vertical.? So far it has been mapped along strike for over 2,000 m.? Between the two main veins are a series of smaller splay veins with variable orientations, that are related to dilation along the structure under strike slip movement.?

The two main veins are multi-episodal quartz veins, with sections of massive white to greyish quartz as well as local brecciation with clasts of grey quartz, white vein quartz and / or wallrock pieces.? The greyish quartz is grey due to the presence of the very fine-grained silver rich sulphide mineral argentite.? A later breccia cuts these earlier phases comprising grey quartz supporting polymictic clasts of grey and white quartz along with strong chlorite and common to abundant, fine to medium grained pyrite, sphalerite and galena.?

The main high-grade hangingwall vein intersected in holes NP-20-02 and NP-20-03 has a true width of between 3.4-5.3 metres.? Other veins intersected require further drilling to confirm true widths as they may equally represent parallel veins or high angle structures to the hanging wall vein.

Hole NP-20-01 failed to reach the target depth when it intersected a void that is likely a decline built at the southern end of the historic Napoleon Mine.? The mine workings are inaccessible preventing present day sampling; however, the mine is believed to have been worked up to a depth of 50m below surface.

Hole NP-20-02 was drilled at a steeper angle and was the first intersection of the Napoleon veins.? Hole NP-20-03 was angled to the north and intersected the veins 30 metres to the north of hole NP-20-02.? Results from both veins are reported in this new release.

Hole NP-20-04 is a steeper vein beneath hole NP-20-03 and intersected the veins ~20-25m down dip.? Hole NP-20-04 is a steeper vein beneath hole NP-20-02 and intersected the veins at ~12-20m down dip as the vein steepened more than expected.? Samples from both holes have been submitted for analysis and assays are pending.

The drill rig has been moved north and is drilling beneath the old Napoleon mine in hole NP-20-06.? The hole is currently in progress and has intersected veins 60m to the north of hole NP-20-03.

About the Panuco project

Vizsla has an option to acquire 100% of the newly-consolidated 9,386.5 Ha Panuco district in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan.? The option allows for the acquisition of over 75 km of total vein extent, a 500 tpd mill, 35 kms of underground mines, tailings facilities, roads, power and permits.

The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Drill core and rock samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico and in North Vancouver, B.C. Canada for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. ?The ALS Zacatecas and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Silver and base metals were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish and gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption (?AA?) spectroscopy finish. Overlimits analyses for silver, lead and zinc were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA finish.

Control samples comprising certified reference samples, duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company?s quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Qualified Person

Panuco?s disclosure of technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Stewart Harris, P.Geo., an independent consultant for the Company. Mr. Harris is a Qualified Person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.

Contact Information: For more information and to sign-up to the mailing list, please contact:

Michael Konnert, President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (604) 838-4327

Email: michael@vizslaresources.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain ?Forward?Looking Statements? within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and ?forward?looking information? under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words ?anticipate?, ?believe?, ?estimate?, ?expect?, ?target?, ?plan?, ?forecast?, ?may?, ?would?, ?could?, ?schedule? and similar words or expressions, identify forward?looking statements or information. These forward?looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the development of Panuco, including potential drill targets; future mineral exploration, development and production including the identification of drill targets and commencement of drilling; and completion of a maiden drilling program

Forward?looking statements and forward?looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla, future growth potential for Vizsla and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management?s reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management?s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold and other metals; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizsla?s ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect Vizsla?s respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward?looking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: satisfaction or waiver of all applicable conditions to closing of the Acquisition including, without limitation, receipt of all necessary approvals or consents and lack of material changes with respect to Vizsla and Canam and their respective businesses, all as more particularly set forth in the Acquisition agreement; the synergies expected from the Acquisition not being realized; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macro?economic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets and the market price of Vizsla?s common shares; and the factors identified under the caption ?Risk Factors? in Vizsla?s management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward?looking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward?looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
Lemonis might have been well aware that a profit hadnt been in the cards with his properties. He listed the mansion May 28 for $4 million and never cut his asking price. Additionally, he listed the adjoining 1-acre lot for $1 million.
Representative image

The Galwan Valley faceoff between India and China that led to 20 Indian soldiers getting killed has reignited calls for a boycott of Chinese goods in India. Social media was abuzz with people destroying Chinese-made electronics goods like televisions and mobile phones.

However, a complete boycott of China-manufactured goods on an immediate basis is not viable. Making India an alternative manufacturing hub of electronic goods would take at least five to seven years, say industry players.

Here is a look at what makes China the most-preferred destination for electronic manufacturers.

Tax benefits

Like India, China also offers a 25 per cent corporate tax rate. But this is where the similarity ends, and the China attraction begins.

For companies and sectors dealing with technology products and electronic appliances like smartphones, TVs, refrigerators, washing machines and air-conditioners, China offers further tax breaks and incentives. This effectively brings down the tax rate to 15 per cent for select entities.

Further, companies making clean-energy appliances, integrated circuit makers and high-tech enterprises can enjoy a minimum tax holiday of two years and a maximum of up to five years in China.

Quicker approvals

The ease-of-doing-business index is often used as a metric to judge which country is more business-friendly. China ranks 31 in the World Banks rating while Indias position is 63.

India lags far behind China in the time taken for setting up businesses, property registration and contract enforcements. China was among the top 30 countries on these fronts. Getting credit is an area where China lags behind.

Industry officials admit that it would take twice as much time in India for a final business permit. Hence, those with stretched wallets and paucity of time choose China for manufacturing.

Infrastructure

China has created hubs for manufacturing companies. They include cities like Guangzhou, Tianjin, Qingdao, Ningbo, Shenzhen and Shanghai. Cheaper access to water, electricity and quick/efficient transport facilities are the highlights of these hubs.

Indias transport infrastructure suffers from many bottlenecks with respect to accessibility. Though Special Economic Zones were set up to attract manufacturing companies into the country, they have been successful only in a few states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

Diluted labour laws

Lax enforcement of labour laws, child labour and non-payment of overtime wages are common at manufacturing facilities in China. While these are not laudable, the fact is they too have contributed to Chinas manufacturing growth. Indias labour law prohibits child labour.

Fixed working hours, specific work conditions and unionisation are among the factors that dissuade electronics makers from shifting base to India.

Minimum wages in India are too low and ranges from Rs 150-300, depending on the location.

Every product has a 'Made in China' element

While there are electronics makers in India, key components are manufactured in China for the above reasons. For example, the open-cell panel in an LED TV is imported from China. Similarly, chipsets of mobile phones, and cooling components in refrigerators and air-conditioners that are made in India are imported from China.

Hence, white goods players are of the view that an immediate boycott would mean halting manufacturing of appliances in India.

According to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade, India imported electronic equipment, including finished goods and components, worth $19.97 billion in 2019.

World Bank data shows that, in 2018, Indias total goods export was worth $322.29 billion. In comparison, Chinas was $2.49 trillion. In finished goods, China is considered the worlds leading exporter of smartphones.
Bindi Irwin and her new husband Chandler Powell have started an online fundraiser to assist with anti-poaching efforts in South Africa.

On Wednesday, the 22-year-old wildlife warrior urged her 3.5million followers to donate to South Africa's first female anti-poaching unit.

The Black Mamba's base of operations was recently trampled by an elephant, restricting their anti-poaching efforts until it can be reassembled.

Giving back: On Wednesday, wildlife warrior Bindi Irwin has created an urgent fundraiser for the Black Mamba anti-poaching unit after an elephant trampled their base of operations. Pictured in 2019

'In 2019, Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors partnered with the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit, covering the cost of the Mamba's wages each year so they can continue to protect the park's wildlife,' Bindi said.

She added: 'The Black Mamba base is the heart of the operation. The Mambas work away from their families for weeks on end, sharing the facilities while protecting wildlife from poachers.'

Bindi went on to explain an elephant 'broke into the base and damaged infrastructure'.

Charitable: Bindi Irwin and her new husband Chandler Powell have started an online fundraiser to assist with anti-poaching efforts in South Africa

'While Wildlife Warriors continues to fund the wages of the Anti-Poaching Unit, they are in desperate need of funds to get the base back online, so they can defend wildlife to the best of their ability,' Bindi explained.

'Help us repair and improve the Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit Base, so they can continue their inspiring work, saving Africa's iconic wildlife.'

They couple are aiming to raise $20,000 with the online fundraiser.

United: 'In 2019, Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors partnered with the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit, covering the cost of the Mamba's wages each year so they can continue to protect the park's wildlife,' Bindi said.

Bindi also explained the Black Mambas also significantly contribute to wildlife and environmental education in their communities, as well as their security and protection efforts.

'They bring about real, long-term change through education. By establishing community programs, they're educating the future leaders of society on the importance of conservation and the ongoing effects of poaching,' Bindi said.

'It's these programs that help bring the community closer together to celebrate the power of knowledge and install a proud, empathetic and positive attitude towards wildlife and the environment.'
On Tuesday, the Matias De Llano Charitable trust donated $300,000 to TAMIU to elevate awareness, leadership and community engagement for students and the citizens of South Texas.

To honor the trust and the gift, TAMIU will rename the Academic Innovation Center auditorium after Matias De Llano and will add a plaque at the AIC honoring him. The new name will be The Matias de Llano Trust Auditorium which will serve as a public space for community presentations, lecture series and other events, TAMIU stated.

We are honored to be ongoing beneficiaries of this visionary Trust. Through their legacy support of our outreach, programs and students, they have helped to strengthen the excellence that characterizes our campus experience and mission, TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said.

Over the years, the trust has donated a total of approximatly $2 million to TAMIU, and Arenaz said it was wonderful to have partners that are commited to higher education and its students. Those funds are used to bring additional resources to students and provide them new opportunities that will make them competitive in a global marketplace.

The $300,000 may be used in a number of TAMIU leadership programs and speaker series that will also focus on leadership. Current leadership programs help students become better leaders, which in turn helps students engage with the community and learn how to be involved in civic engagements. They are also expected to help students be competitive in the job market, graduate schools and professional schools, Arenaz said.

(It will ensure) that the people we graduate are competitive and have the kind of skills they need to be effective once they leave the university, Arenaz said.

Matias De Llano, Jr. was a veteran of World War II and established the trust in April 1, 2003 under his Last Will and Testament. Since then, it has donated over $7.5 million to local organizations and schools as a directive by De Llano, Jr. to aid children, the less fortunate and the community.

According to Dennis Nixon, CEO of International Bank of Commerce, the trust is dedicated to follow Matias De Llano, Jr.s dream of helping and distributing the annual income to charitable donations for years to come.

Mr. De Llano directed that the trust continue his legacy by helping the community he lived in and loved. This special gift expands that legacy of caring by providing new opportunities for our community to engage with and be empowered by our hometown university, Nixon said.

From student scholarships, the Heritage Edition of the St. Johns Bible, the Radcliffe Killam Librarys Great Room and more, the trust has shown support for TAMIU for years. His father, Matias De Llano, Sr., was the founder of the Texas Hat Company, formerly one of the largest manufacturers of straw hats in the country, where De Llano, Jr. was employed for many years.

TAMIU states that De Llano, Jr. had a zest for life and helping the disadvantaged. He contributed to many causes, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo, the Sacred Heart Childrens Home and other charitable organizations. Laredos Matias De Llano Elementary School was built and named in his honor.

Christian Ocampo may be reached at cocampo@lmtonline.com
~ St. Maarten tourism industry depends on American tourists. De Weever.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of TEATT Ludmilla de Weever announced on Wednesday at the Council of Minister's press briefing that St. Maarten is preparing to receive its from an international flight from Atlanta on July 2nd. This comes amidst pending decisions of the European Union to ban flights from North America due to the amount of COVID-19 cases that are still active in the United States.

De Weever said the first flight is expected to have 75 passengers which could be both visitors or residents. She said that St. Maarten has laid down several conditions such as the PCR testing that passengers must have in their positions at least 72 hours before boarding the flights.

Asked about St. Maartens decision to accept flights from North America knowing the risks involved with the spread of COVID-19. The Minister said St. Maarten has no other choice because the countrys tourism industry depends largely on American visitors.  Based on data St. Maarten gets 70% of its visitors from the United States and while there are concerns the country is doing everything when it comes to precautions and guidelines, however, the economy of St. Maarten also falls under my Ministry and I have to do everything to revive the economy for survival.

St. Maarten has already opened its borders to several Caribbean Islands, including the BES. As of June 22nd visitors and nationals from St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda were added to the list. However, those passengers had to be at least 14 days on the island they departed from.

In the meantime Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said that passengers will have to wear masks when disembarking from the aircraft while there will be limited movement at the Airport, CPS will continue to monitor and be available to visitors in the event anyone develops COVID-19 related symptoms.

The Prime Minister also said that St. Maarten had one positive case of COVID-19 in the past 54 days while there has been no positive case in the past 44days.
Amaala, the ultra-luxury destination located along Saudi Arabias northwestern coast, has selected a design inspired by the optical illusion of a desert mirage by UK-based architectural and design firm Foster + Partners for its new international airport.

The terminal and control tower design was conceptualised by Foster + Partners, while the airport masterplan was designed by Egis, an international consultancy and engineering group. It will incorporate unique design practices, drawing inspiration from its location.

The airport is due for completion in 2023 and is estimated to accommodate one million travellers per year once it officially opens.

On the new airport, CEO Nicholas Naples said: "A gateway to Amaala, visitors will be greeted by personalised experiences from the moment they step off the plane. From design to personalisation, this will be no ordinary airport. Immersed in the spirit of Amaala, the airport will create an environment that embodies the philosophy of the destination beyond."

"This will be a unique space that personifies luxury and marks the start of memorable experiences for the worlds most discerning guests. We are delighted to work with Foster + Partners and Egis on this project," remarked Naples.

"On approaching the airport, travellers will see stunning land art from the air. Entering the terminal, visitors will be greeted with a sleek mirrored edifice rising from the desert," he explained.

"The structure takes its inspiration from the surrounding environment, resulting in a mesmerising mirage effect. A spacious courtyard will anchor the terminal and will be complemented by contemporary interiors complete with unique artwork and tailored experiences," he added.

According to Naples, the airport will reflect Amaalas ultra-luxury hospitality spirit, providing an exclusive private-club experience perfectly encapsulating its pillars of art and culture; wellness and sport; and sea, sun, and lifestyle.

Among the list of amenities provided by the airport are climate-controlled hangars that will be available for private jets as well as a ground transfer service that is accessible from inside the arrival hangar.

On the 'mirage' design, Senior Executive Partner Gerard Evenden said: "Focusing on the themes of art, wellbeing and sport, the Foster + Partners design seeks to establish a new model for private terminals that provides a seamless experience from resort to aeroplane."

"Responding to the surrounding landscape, the terminal building will form an exclusive gateway to the Amaala resort. The passenger experience through the entire building will be akin to a private members club  luxurious and relaxing," he added.

Egis Aviation Director (Middle East & South Asia) Jacques Khoriaty, said: "Along with embodying the luxurious spirit of the resort, the Amaala airport meets the highest environmental design and sustainability standards, is operationally versatile and incorporates the latest airport technology and best practice standards on offer."

"It has been a privilege to have worked closely with Amaala to define the requirements of this unique project and we look forward continuing our support all the way through to the opening of the airport in 2023," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Mohamed Hadid has blasted California's legal system over the decision to demolish his controversial Bel Air mega-mansion, claiming the ruling is a 'total abortion of justice'.

And the furious property tycoon has vowed to write a book about the eight year saga to expose the 'racism' and 'prejudice', which he believes has fueled it.

Earlier this month, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed California's Supreme Court had torpedoed Hadid's last ditch bid to save his mansion from the wrecking ball.

The state's highest court denied Hadid's motion to review his case and overturn the decision of a lower court - later backed up by the Court of Appeal - that his hilltop property in upscale Bel Air should be torn down because it's a 'clear and present danger' to the homes of neighbors suing him.

But Hadid has branded the decision a 'political lynching' because of his high-profile and believes the color of his skin and religious beliefs played a major part.

'I've never seen anything like this in my life and I've been doing this for 40 years,' he told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.

Mohamed Hadid has blasted California's legal system over the decision to demolish his controversial Bel Air mega-mansion, claiming the ruling is a 'total abortion of justice'. He told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview: 'I've been all over the world and I've never seen such prejudice against my kind, my religion, it's crazy'

Earlier this month, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed California's Supreme Court had torpedoed Hadid's last ditch bid to save his mansion from the wrecking ball

The state's highest court denied Hadid's motion to review his case and overturn the decision of a lower court - later backed up by the Court of Appeal - that his hilltop property in upscale Bel Air should be torn down because it's a 'clear and present danger' to the homes of neighbors suing him

Lawyers for 71-year-old Hadid - father of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid - had argued that the giant structure is worth $50 million and that the wealthy developer was denied the 'process of law'

'I don't just build here in LA, I've been all over the world and I've never seen such prejudice against my kind, my religion, it's crazy, it's a total abortion of justice.

'There was supposed to be a jury trial, what happened to a jury trial?

'This is a total political lynching, from the top to the bottom. They blame me. Do they blame the inspectors? No. Deputy inspectors? No. Engineers? No, they blame me.'

And Hadid says he's so angry over the disastrous construction project, which he says has ruined his reputation, that he plans to chronicle the whole thing in a book.

'I'm going to write a book. I swear to God, I know it sounds like fantasy, but it's reality. It's a real thing happening here in this town.

'Have you ever heard of any house in Bel Air or in Los Angeles which has been demolished. Never, never. Nobody's ever seen it.

I've never seen such prejudice against my kind, my religion, it's crazy, it's a total abortion of justice. This is a total political lynching, from the top to the bottom.

'I'll call the book Travesty... Extortion and Injustice. It's a saga.'

Hadid, a Muslim Palestinian-American, added: 'In my opinion, and I hate to say it, this whole thing is prejudice against me, who I am and my religion. They're racist. Absolute racist.

'There is something beyond the normal that has happened here. I know that, I'm 100 percent and I want to write about it.'

The Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case was a major victory for the neighbors who are hoping that demolition of the half-built 'monstrosity' will begin next month.

Lawyers for 71-year-old Hadid - father of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid - had argued that the giant structure is worth $50 million and that the wealthy developer was denied the 'process of law.'

LA Superior Court Judge Craig Karlan's injunction ordering the demolition of the huge building 'was done without trial without proof of an emergency, and without proof of the existence of a nuisance,' his lawyers blasted in documents obtained by DailyMail.com.

But Hadid says the fight isn't over yet and believes he still has a slim chance through the court system to stop the wrecking ball.

'It's not over. No, not yet,' he said.

Hadid puts most of the blame for his troubles on 'nightmare neighbor' Joe Horacek (pictured in front of his home with Hadid's home in the background), who he says became 'obsessed' with the case

The Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case is a major victory for the neighbors who are hoping that demolition of the half-built 'monstrosity' will begin by next month

Hadid puts most of the blame for his troubles on 'nightmare neighbor' Joe Horacek, who he says became 'obsessed' with the case.

'I was being tried in the court of public opinion because of him, there was 160 press articles,' Hadid explained.

'This guy had nothing to do except me. I am his life, he is obsessed,' Hadid said.

Hadid accuses Horacek of poisoning other neighbors against him in a bid to get them to join a civil action he launched.

He also accuses the neighbor of running a smear campaign to paint him as a criminal.

In a previous interview with DailyMail.com, Hadid claimed that Horacek, 78, demanded $3.5 million to 'go away' but when he refused to hand over any money he claims his neighbor became his sworn enemy.

In a transcript of the conversation seen by DailyMail.com, Horacek says: 'I don't get in your way, you don't get in my way,' while discussing a compensation agreement based on Horacek's claim his house had been devalued by Hadid's mansion.

A deal was never struck.

'Every single day when he was in town he would take his camera and start taking pictures of us, he was like a stalker, he stalked my kids, he would find where I am, where I eat,' Hadid claims.

'You would see him in a tree near the building site with binoculars, it was a joke. He was there every day, he called the City every day and they came every day, so there was no way either I or anyone else on the job would have gone around anything.'

Hadid says Horacek went out of his way to find planning issues with the property that he could report to the City of Los Angeles planning department.

Hadid insists the building was inspected more than 700 times. 'There were plans, there were inspectors, deputy inspectors, you have the mechanical engineer, geology engineers,' Hadid explains. 'Everything was approved by an inspector, 100 percent. Every time you dig a hole several people are there watching.'

Hadid says Judge Craig Karlan came to tour the property, pointed his finger and said: 'This house must come down.' 'How can he do that as a judge?' Hadid added. Pictured: Judge Karlan inspecting Hadid's half built mega mansion in Bel Air

Hadid said in total - through loans and money he and other creditors have invested - he's put $50 million into the huge home which he had hoped to sell for more than $100 million

But he insists the building was inspected more than 700 times.

'There were plans, there were inspectors, deputy inspectors, you have the mechanical engineer, geology engineers,' Hadid explains.

'Everything was approved by an inspector, 100 percent. Every time you dig a hole several people are there watching.'

Hadid claims the foundations were laid and they had a survey done and were ready to complete the main structure of the house before Horacek approached him.

He cites a transcript of a recorded conversation between the two men which was submitted into court.

You can go to any house in LA and find problems if you look hard enough.

'He said, ''I'm gonna make your life miserable''. Up until that point everything was fine with the City,' Hadid recalls.

Hadid said he planted 200 mature trees around the house so neighbors couldn't complain the structure was an eye-sore - but Horacek even complained about that.

'I had to take them down, that alone cost me $1 million,' Hadid says.

The businessman claims that Horacek's constant complaining led to the City putting his project under the microscope.

'You can go to any house in LA and find problems if you look hard enough,' he adds.

In response to Hadid's claims, Joe Horacek's wife Bibi told DailyMail.com: 'Hadid is a convicted criminal. It is not about ethnicity or religion. It is about his criminal conduct. He needs to stop blaming my husband for Hadid's own illegal acts.'

Hadid said in total - through loans and money he and other creditors have invested - he's put $50 million into the huge home which he had hoped to sell for more than $100 million.

And each year the real estate developer must pay a whopping $325,000 in property taxes even though the home is unlivable.

Neighbors have been fighting for years for the demolition of the property because of all the alleged unapproved construction. The development of the home has also been an eyesore to nearby residents and now a danger due to heavy Los Angeles rain

After demolishing the original house, Hadid began work on his monster project which, as the pictures show, soon came to dominate the site and surrounding area

Hadid has tried several court strategies to stop or delay the demolition. First he filed chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming that he 'couldn't afford' the $5 million cost of the demo. That was dismissed. Then he filed an appeal against Judge Karlan's order to tear down the mansion. That too was denied

However, as DailyMail.com exclusively revealed in April, Hadid has failed to pay $1.2 million in back taxes.

The unpaid property taxes were revealed in court documents filed by Douglas Wilson, the receiver appointed by LA Superior Court to oversee the demolition of the half-built house.

But while Hadid admits to not paying, he insists he shouldn't have to pay taxes on a building that is about to be demolished and has no value.

'You have be in the business to know why I've not paid my taxes for three years on the house,' he said.

'Why have I not paid my taxes, because the house has no value.'.

Hadid also claims the lawyers representing the neighbors over-inflated the value of the property in its current state, which inflated the amount of tax owed.

'Nobody's ever come to the house to see what it looks like,' he said.

'And the only time you can start paying taxes is when you get your occupancy permit. How could they declare it to be a finished house? It's ridiculous.'

Hadid says he has built $1.5 billion worth of properties in LA during his long career in real estate.

He estimates the City receives $10-12 million in tax revenue every year from the properties he's built, not to mention the employment he has created.

And he added that just a few years ago he was heralded as a 'pioneer' in the LA real estate market, but now he says his reputation has been ruined.

'They're saying I destroyed the city, I destroyed Bel Air,' he said. 'Take a look at some of the houses up there, they are atrocious, some of them seven floors high. Yet my property is the only one that would have fallen on Mr Horacek's head.'

Hadid has tried several court strategies to stop or delay the demolition of his mansion.

Hadid says he has built $1.5 billion worth of properties in LA during his long career in real estate. He estimates the City receives $10-12 million in tax revenue every year from the properties he's built, not to mention the employment he has created. And he added that just a few years ago he was heralded as a 'pioneer' in the LA real estate market, but now he says his reputation has been ruined

Hadid's problems don't end there. He is also facing a jury trial next month which could cost him millions if he loses. The neighbors - John Bedrosian and his wife Judith and Joe Horacek and his wife Bibi - are suing Hadid for cash damages for the eight-year 'nightmare' they claim he's put them through

First he filed chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming he 'couldn't afford' the $5 million cost of the demo. That was dismissed.

Then he filed an appeal against Judge Karlan's order to tear down the mansion. That too was denied.

Now, with his 11th-hour plea to the Supreme Court falling flat, he has no more legal moves left to stop his beloved mansion from being reduced to rubble and dust.

Razing the gargantuan house to the ground is on track to happen by early to mid July, after the receiver submits his final demo plan, and Judge Karlan approves it.

Hadid's problems don't end there.

He is also facing a jury trial next month which could cost him millions if he loses.

He (the judge) became the jury, an advocate for them (the neighbors) and the judge all at the same time.

The neighbors - John Bedrosian and his wife Judith and Joe Horacek and his wife Bibi - are suing Hadid for cash damages for the eight-year 'nightmare' they claim he's put them through.

The neighbors have good reason to be optimistic about the outcome of the trial, since Judge Karlan has declared they are likely to win their case against him.

This infuriated Hadid.

'How can he say that before a jury trial,' he asked. 'If I win, how can I get my house back? How can the judge give a judgment before we have the court case? That's why we have a jury. He (the judge) became the jury, an advocate for them (the neighbors) and the judge all at the same time.'

Hadid says the judge came to tour the property, pointed his finger and said: 'This house must come down.'

'How can he do that as a judge?' Hadid added.

Asked whether at any point during the eight year ordeal he ever considered just walking away, Hadid responded: 'I can't, there's a bank involved. You can't just leave a project sitting like this. You can't call it a day. I had a responsibility to keep this house going, even when it was stopped, because I have a lender and I had partners at the time.'

Hadid's notorious mansion was originally permitted for 15,000 square feet but the house grew to around 30,000 square feet with much of that additional construction illegal.

Hadid says he's so angry over the disastrous construction project, which he says has ruined his reputation, that he plans to chronicle the whole thing in a book. 'I'm going to write a book. I swear to God, I know it sounds like fantasy, but it's reality. It's a real thing happening here in this town. Have you ever heard of any house in Bel Air or in Los Angeles which has been demolished. Never, never. Nobody's ever seen it'

He ignored orders from Los Angeles City to stop building and in December 2015, in an almost-unprecedented move, the city decided to prosecute him criminally.

He pleaded no contest to three criminal charges involving illegal construction and in July 2017 he was told he would serve a 180-day jail sentence if he doesn't reduce the size of the house and bring it into compliance with city building codes - or demolish it - within the three years of probation the judge also imposed.

In addition, he was fined $3,000, ordered to pay $14,191 in fees to LA city, and serve 200 hours of community service.

The neighbors' lawyer, Gary Lincenberg, told DailyMail.com: 'This case is not about how Mr Hadid continues to attack his victim neighbors for being brave enough to stand up to him.

'The case is about uncontroverted evidence: Hadid's own contractors, his own architects, his own structural and geological experts, and city officials have admitted that his illegal mansion was built through lies and bribes.

'Only Hadid, who earlier did not deny his crimes, now denies them. Meanwhile, the massive, illegal monstrosity hangs unstably above the neighbors heads.

'That's why a judge found it to be a clear and present danger. That's why Hadid was convicted for his criminal construction. That's why the criminal judge ordered him to demolish the illegal construction.

'That's why the City Attorney should press for the criminal judge to hold Hadid accountable for violating the judge's order.

'That's why a criminal judge, a bankruptcy judge, a civil judge, a court of appeals, and the State Supreme Court have all rejected his false arguments.

'And that's why he should not be able to rant or buy his way out of paying the price for his crimes.

'Finally, Hadid's latest claim that he wants a jury trial is belied by his continuous attempts to delay it.'
- Judge Renato Borelli said President Bolsonaro was showing a bad example by breaking public health laws that required everyone to wear a face mask while in public

- Bolsonaro has heavily been criticised for throwing caution to the wind by attending rallies, shaking hands in public and casual handling of the pandemic

- The ruling came as the number of COVID-19 cases in Brazil topped 1,151,000 on Wednesday, June 24, which included 52,771 deaths and 613,345 recoveries

- Brazil became the second country in the world after US to cross the 50,000 mark of COVID-19 related deaths

A court in Brazil has ordered the country's President Jair Bolsonaro to start wearing a face mask whenever he is in public.

In his ruling on Tuesday, June 23, Federal judge Renato Borelli said Bolsonaro had consistently abused coronavirus containment measures in the South American country which required everyone to have a face covering while in public.

READ ALSO: Kenyan newspapers review for June 24: IEBC warns 2022 result transmission may fail

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro. Photo: Jair Messias Bolsonaro.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Nairobi man in court for forcefully driving into State House at extremely high speed

Borelli ruled failure by the head of state to comply with the order would attract a fine of up to KSh 39,000.

"The conduct of President Jair Messias Bolsonaro, who has refused to wear a face mask in public events and places in the Federal District, shows a clear intention to break the rules imposed by the government, the judge wrote in the decision.

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Before the court decision, President Bolsonaro had joined a list of world leaders including US President Donald Trump who have refused to wear facemasks despite the pandemic spreading widely and claiming thousands in their countries.

The ruling came as the number of COVID-19 cases in Brazil topped 1,151,000 which included 52,771 deaths and 613,345 recoveries.

President Bolsonaro had earlier termed COVID-19 as a little cold. Photo: Jair Messias Bolsonaro.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Vivo V19: First of its kind phone with dual punch hole camera launched for sale in Kenya for KSh 40,999

Brazil became the second country in the world after US to cross the 50,000 mark of COVID-19 related deaths. As of Wednesday, June 23, the US had 2,424,418 cases out of which 123,475 were deaths and 1,020,403 recoveries.

Apart from not wearing a face covering, Bolsonaro had also met scathing criticism for attending rallies, shaking hands in gatherings and dismissing the coronavirus as "a little cold".

During one of his public appearance, Bolsonaro was captured on video coughing into his hands and then turned around and shook hands with an elderly woman.

The Brazillian head of state has also been pushing for reopening of the economy suggesting the measures imposed to contain the pandemic could do more harm to the people than the scourge itself.

In a separate story, TUKO.co.ke reported that Bolsonaro had earlier joined protestors in pushing for an immediate easing of lockdown.

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
San Antonio is moving up on a national list for the wrong reasons.

Last week, the Alamo City was No. 4 on a CNBC list of cities where COVID-19 is spreading the fastest. On Tuesday, the city moved up to No. 3, swapping positions with Orlando. Austin continues to join San Antonio at the top of the list in the No. 5 spot, according to the update.

Phoenix and Tampa are in No. 1 and 2, respectively.

RELATED: Doctors in South Texas town issue warning against traveling to San Antonio due to coronavirus spike

San Antonio's doubling rate has also shortened since last week, from 16 days to 11. CNBC sourced Evercore ISI for its research.

Another 311 cases were reported Tuesday, bringing the total to 7,467. Of those, 4,540 are active. As of Tuesday, 100 residents have died of the virus.

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye
At least 748 Indians, who have been stranded in Pakistan, will start coming back to India from Thursday. The return will be via the Attari-Wagah border. All of them will be quarantined for 14 days by their state governments.

Pakistan has agreed to the return of the 748 Indian nationals who will come back over June 25-27 -- 250 Indians will be allowed to return on a particular day and the Mission in Islamabad has prepared three lists for each day.

Among the 250 nationals entering India on Thursday, all are domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir. Those returning on June 26 include 152 from J&K, 70 from Gujarat and 28 from Maharashtra.

The third list of 250 Indians comprises 33 from Maharastra, 46 from UP, 38 from Rajasthan, 36 from Punjab, 26 from Delhi, 15 from MP, 14 from Haryana, 11 from Telangana, six each from Karnataka and Chandigarh, five from Chhattisgarh, four from Tamil Nadu, three from West Bengal, two each from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and one from Bihar.

Passengers from J&K, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP will be collected directly by their state representatives and quarantined in their home states. If the representatives of other states do not report, those citizens will be quarantined in Amritsar.
In a major decision, all government banks, including 1,482 urban cooperative banks and 58 multi-state cooperative banks, have been brought under supervisory powers of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Union Cabinet, while promulgated an ordinance, decided on Wednesday.

After the decision, the RBI's powers, as they apply to scheduled banks, will apply for cooperative banks as well.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the decision to bring 1,540 cooperative banks under RBI's supervision would give an assurance to more than 8.6 crore depositors in these banks that their money amounting to Rs 4.84 lakh crore will stay safe.

The Union Cabinet also approved the extension of tenure of the committee constituted to examine the issue of sub-categorisation within Other Backward Classes by 6 months up to January 31, Javadekar said.

The Union Cabinet also approved a scheme for interest subvention of 2 per cent to Shishu loan category borrowers under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, outstanding as on March 31 for 12 months to eligible borrowers.

Among other announcements, Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh has been declared as an international airport. Besides, this the Cabinet approved the establishment of animal husbandry infrastructure development fund, for which the Centre will provide 3 per cent interest subvention to eligible beneficiaries.

The Cabinet also decided to form a new institution, which will be known as Indian National Space, Promotion & Authorisation Centre. "It'll guide the private industries in space activities through encouraging policies in a friendly regulatory environment," MoS for Atomic Energy & Space, Jitendra Singh said.
This grant funds a critical component of a new barge shuttle service that will allow Nucor to better utilize our Jeffersonville ports cargo handling facilities to serve customers and to grow future business, said Ports of Indiana Senior Vice President Jody Peacock.

The U.S. Department of Transportations Maritime Administration (MARAD) has awarded a Marine Highway Grant to the Ports of Indiana for developing a steel barge shuttle with Nucor Steel at its Jeffersonville port. This project will create supply chain efficiencies for Nucor and the private sector partners as well as generate public benefits by taking over 2,000 trucks off the highways and eliminating more than 130,000 miles in one-way truck hauls.

The grant award of $545,136 will support a project cost of $778,766 that includes the construction of a 1.2-acre outdoor storage area and the purchase of a forklift to be used for handling steel coils. The planned barge shuttle storage facility was developed with Nucor Steel to allow the barge shipment of coils from Ghent, Ky., to Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville. Project partners also include Watco Co., Campbell Transportation Co., Voss Clark, Mill Steel and OKI Regional Council of Governments, who served as the original Marine Highway Project sponsor.

This grant funds a critical component of a new barge shuttle service that will allow Nucor to better utilize our Jeffersonville ports cargo handling facilities to serve customers and to grow future business, said Ports of Indiana Senior Vice President Jody Peacock. Were grateful for MARADs support of this project and believe there are more opportunities to expand this barge shuttle to additional ports in the future.

The two components needed to establish a new storage facility are: 1) the construction of an outdoor laydown area and, 2) the purchase of a forklift to unload truckloads of coils from the dock, and load trucks for just-in-time delivery to customers. The grant will be used to cover the funding gap needed to build the storage facility and buy a forklift. Ports of Indiana is providing the local funding match and will manage the grant administration.

Were excited to partner with Nucor and our family of port companies to develop this project, said Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville Port Director Jeff Miles. This port provides critical multimodal connections for steel shipments and steel processors in the Midwest. We have 13 steel-related companies on-site that make our Steel Campus a key transportation hub for U.S. steel producers, automakers and manufacturing facilities.

MARAD awarded $9.5 million in grants to eight marine highways projects across the Nation under the Americas Marine Highway Program. The funding supports the enhancement of navigable waterways and expands existing waterborne freight services in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington and American Samoa.

About the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville: Opened in 1985, the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville handles Ohio River shipments of steel, agriculture and industrial cargoes, and provides over 1,000 acres of industrial sites for multimodal businesses. The port is operated by Ports of Indiana, a statewide port authority managing three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. Information: http://www.portsofindiana.com. Follow us on Twitter: @PortsofIndiana.
Among the candidates who have progressed to the point of more comprehensive vetting or have the potential to do so are Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), former national security adviser Susan E. Rice and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, all of whom are black. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who is white, and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is Latino, are also in that group.
China will work with its partners to develop the Belt and Road into a model of cooperation for meeting challenges through unity, Chinese President Xi Jinping recently said in a written message to the High-level Video Conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation.

The Belt and Road will also be a model of health for protecting people's safety and well-being, a model of recovery for restoring economic and social activity, and a model of growth for unlocking development potential, Xi added.

The Chinese President's message demonstrated the firm confidence of China and its Belt and Road partners in promoting high-quality cooperation, and bolstered various countries' confidence in defeating the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic urged countries to take effective countermeasures to tackle global crises and realize long-term development.

All nations' destinies are closely connected, and humanity is a community with a shared future.

"Be it in taming the virus or in achieving economic recovery, humanity 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," Xi said.

Since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was proposed nearly seven years ago, China and its BRI partners have signed 200 government-to-government cooperation documents, launched more than 2,000 projects, and created tens of thousands of jobs created in the partner countries.

The family of BRI partners has continued to expand, with more solid progress in trade and economic exchanges, greater connectivity, and more solid foundation of public opinion, which can inject positive energy into the global COVID-19 response confidence into world economic recovery.

Rather than holding back Belt and Road cooperation, COVID-19 has only highlighted its strong resilience and vitality. In the face of the virus, BRI partners have extended a helping hand to each other, and many of them lent valuable support to China.

China, on its part, provided assistance to 122 BRI partners to support their response to the virus. It also sent medical teams to 25 countries and shared its experience in containment, diagnostics and therapeutics with all countries without reservation.

In the first five months, the China-Europe Railway Express made 28 percent more trips and transported 32 percent more freights from a year ago. To date, it has transported 12,524 tons of medical supplies, serving as a key cargo lifeline and bond of solidarity on the Eurasian continent. It has made great contributions to the global fight against COVID-19 and greatly mitigated the pandemic's impact on global industrial and supply chains.

As former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said, the world is facing unprecedented challenges and must work together through the global cooperation mechanism, adding that this is where the BRI can make a difference.

When the pandemic weighs down the global growth, countries must promote common development through greater cooperation, so as to improve people's welfare. To turn the BRI, the largest platform for international cooperation, into a model of recovery for restoring economic and social activity conforms to the practical interests of people in all countries.

From January to May, China's actual use of foreign direct investment from countries and regions participating in the BRI rose 6 percent year on year, and the country's non-financial outbound direct investment in these countries and regions also saw a 16 percent growth from a year ago.

Projects including the China-Laos railway and the Budapest-Belgrade railway are well underway, and a number of projects suspended due to COVID-19 have also resumed work. Besides, China established a "green channel" for transportation, customs clearance, as well as Belt and Road economic and trade and people-to-people exchanges.

Belt and Road cooperation, pressing ahead against all odds, is demonstrating participating countries' firm determination to pursue common development.

The future of the BRI lies in expanding the cooperation to new areas. President Xi called for joint efforts to build a "Silk Road of health" in June 2016. After the outbreak of COVID-19, countries have a surging demand for public health cooperation.

Pushing forward the Belt and Road health cooperation and the development of a "Silk Road of health" will add new substance to high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Besides, promoting the building of the digital Silk Road and a "green Silk Road" will create new engines of growth for the partner countries and new impetus for global recovery.

The Belt and Road Initiative has the potential to act as an accelerator for the achievement of universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals, said Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that Chinas recent emphasis on the Health Silk Road and the Digital Silk Road points to the importance of innovative forms of cooperation to deal with the challenges that human beings collectively face.

The pandemic neither changes the general trend of economic globalization nor hinders open and cooperative development.

The broad consensus reached at the High-level Video Conference Belt and Road International Cooperation fully demonstrates the BRI partners vision to make the Belt and Road a model of cooperation, health, recovery and growth.

As long as the BRI partners uphold the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and continue to enhance synergy between strategies for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, they can surely help all countries tackle global crises and realize long-term development, and make new important contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The official stats reported by the Health Ministry has already exceeded the criteria noted in the European Commission's draft decision.

With the latest increase in the number of new coronavirus cases, Ukraine does not fit COVID-19 incidence requirements that the European Commission may set for states whose citizens to be allowed into the Schengen zone.

The official statistics of the Health Ministry has already exceeded the criteria noted in the draft decision of the European Commission, as reported by the Ukrainian media outlet Europeiska Pravda.

According to The New York Times, countries on the EU draft lists have been selected as safe based on a combination of epidemiological criteria. The benchmark is the E.U. average number of new infections  over the past 14 days  per 100,000 people, which is currently 16 for the bloc.

Once diplomats agree on a final list, it will be presented as a recommendation early next week before July 1.

Read alsoWHO chief predicts coronavirus effects to be felt for decades

Meanwhile, according to the Ukrainian Health Ministry, as of June 24, Ukraine has 10,723 new patients over the past 14 days. According to the State Statistics Service (these official data will probably be used by the EU), Ukraine's population is 41.8 million people. This means the incidence rate for 14 days is 25.65 cases per 100,000 people, which exceeds the criteria established by the EU. Moreover, this indicator continues to grow every day.

If the draft recommendations of the European Commission are approved by member states, Ukrainians will still not be allowed to enter the EU, including for tourism.

Although the decision to extend the restrictions has not yet been approved, the chances of its adoption are high.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the global tourism will decline by 80% in 2020.
"Plans are far advanced for the Gomoa Central District Assembly to distribute 100,000 Free Oil Palm Seedlings to Farmers in the District to boost cash crops production," DCE, Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo has hinted

" The first phase of 45,000 of the Seedlings have been distributed to the farmers under Planting for Export and Rural Development Programme.

The Assembly within the past two years has supplied over150,000 of the Seedlings"

Distributing the Seedlings at Gomoa Afransi recently, Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo commended the Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Hon. Naana Eyiah for her lobbying skills.

" It is through the efforts of our Member of Parliament that we have gathered here today to give these Oil Palm Seedlings Free of charge to our gallant farmers

Under Planting for Export and Rural Development Programme, the Gomoa Central District Assembly has distributed thousands of Coconut Seedlings, Cocoa and Oil Palm Seedlings at no cost"

According to the DCE, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo led NPP Government introduced Planting for Export and Rural Development Programme to fight poverty and it's related crisis.

" We will continue to be grateful to Nana Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and our MP, Hon. Naana Eyiah for this innovative initiatives

Over 65% of the population in Gomoa Central District are farmers so this flagship programme is a great relief, actually a God-sent

Every Farmer in the District is entitled to get some of the Seedlings for Planting, thank God we are in the raining season"

Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo urged the beneficiaries to ensure that they plant the Seedlings according to directives from Agriculture Extension Officers adding they should not be planted 'anyhow'

He noted that the Seedlings were transportated from Dunkwa-On Offin in the Upper Denkyira East at a higher cost so beneficiaries shouldn't disappoint the Assembly and the Central Government

" Within the next three years, these Seedlings would boost the local economy. Free Fertilizers are on the way to supplement efforts of our farmers

I encourage you to go and register in your numbers when the New Voter Registration opens so that you would be able to vote massively for Nana Addo and Naana Eyiah

Its an opened secret that His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo led NPP Government has performed creditably and need to go for second term of office.

Am happy those of us in the Gomoa Central District have benefited enough from the NPP Government. Development projects sited across the District and has improved the lives of the people tremendously"

Presiding Member for Gomoa Central District Assembly, Hon. Kweku Nyarko Koomson told Newsmen the Assembly was committed to modernization of the farming industry to boost food and cash crops production

" Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Rural Development, supply of Free fertilizers, agricultural inputs and chemicals has attracted more of the Youth in Gomoa Central into the farming industry

Let me thank Officers at the Agriculture Department of the Assembly for making farming lucrative to the people"

The Gomoa Central District Director of Agriculture, Mr. Richard Marcus Odame assisted by his Deputy, Mr. Alfred Nii Aryeteey was confident that more people would engage themselves in farming

Madam Janet Odoom from Gomoa Gyaman and Madam Adjoa Rawlings from Gomoa Dahom who received 180 and 120 Free Oil Palm Seedlings respectively thanked President Akufo Addo, Hon. Naana Eyiah and DCE, Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo for supporting farmers in the District adding it has given them financial relief

" We are solidly behind them in every endeavour. Our appreciation will be turned into massive votes come December 2020 General Elections

We are going to register for the New Voter ID cards in our numbers and vote for NPP accordingly. Four More for Nana, Four More for Naana To Do More"

In a related development, the Gomoa Central District Chief Executive, Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo has cut the sod for the construction of Open Market Sheds for Gomoa Afransi Central Market to ease congestion

According to the DCE, it had become necessary for the Assembly to construct the sheds in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic

" This project is being funded by the District Development Fund ( DDF) and it is expected to be completed within a Month

I must thank our traders for comportment to all the Covid-19 protocols. They have shown maturity in these hard times. We are grateful for being part of the Covid-19 campaign Team"
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his intervention in scrapping the system requiring every COVID-19 patient to visit a government-run centre for clinical assessment.

Arguing that the new system puts pressure on the government's facilities with the rising number of cases, Sisodia said there would be chaos in the city in the next few days if it was not scrapped. He said there are two models in Delhi --- Shah's model which requires every COVID-19 patient to visit a COVID care centre and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's model under which medical teams of district administrations go to the homes of infected persons to check on them.

This is not a fight between Shah's model and Kejriwal's model, he said, adding there should be a system in which people don't face problems. He said Shah himself is overseeing measures being taken to deal with the COVID-19 situation.

"I request the Union home minister with folded hands to scrap the new system as people have been facing a lot of problems," Sisodia said at the online media briefing, adding he had written to Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday on the same issue but said the AAP government is yet to get a response.

Sisodia said COVID-19 patients are being taken in buses to the care centres for their clinical assessment.

"On the one hand, they (district administration) are conducting mass level testing. On the other, they are taking all people who test positive to a COVID care centre for a clinical assessment," he said.

Baijal last week issued an order making it mandatory for every new COVID-19 patient to visit a care centre for clinical assessment to ascertain whether he or she requires hospitalisation or home isolation.

It is the responsibility of the country''s home minister to intervene in the matter and ask the lieutenant governor to scrap the new system and get back to the previous system of administration officials visiting patients at their homes, Sisodia said.

Around 4,000 people tested positive on Tuesday. It is not feasible for all of them to visit COVID care centre for clinical assessment, he added.

On Tuesday, Delhi's COVID-19 count crossed the 66,000-mark with the biggest single-day jump of 3,947 fresh infections, while the death toll rose to 2,301.
Federal authorities say that the rescue of a 13-year-old girl who was being sex trafficked in North Texas in late 2019 led to the eventual indictment of a website owner who boasted that his site would be 'taking over from where Backpage left off.'

The unidentified minor - who was saved last November - was just one of many identified minor victims who were advertised on CityXGuide.com - owned by 46-year-old Wilhan Martono.

Martono was indicted on June 2 on one count of promotion of prostitution and reckless disregard of sex trafficking, one count of interstate racketeering conspiracy, nine counts of interstate transportation in aid of racketeering and 17 counts of money laundering.

He reportedly earned $21million from the sex trafficking websites in just two years.

He was arrested on June 17 by Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Secret Service, the United State Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox announced in a statement.

The unidentified minor - who was saved from a hotel in North Texas last November - was just one of many identified minor victims who were advertised on CityXGuide.com - owned by 46-year-old Wilhan Martono

'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.'

According to an indictment, Martono netted more than $21million off illicit websites that advertised prostitution and sex trafficking.

He is said to have allegedly registered the domain names for several sites just a day after Backpage.com was shut down by the FBI.

'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'

At the time of it's shut down, Backpage was the leading source of prostitution and sex trafficking advertisements, according to the statement.

While Terms of Use forbid the promotion of illegal sexual services, CityXGuide and other website - including Backpage.co, CAPleasures.com and BodyRubShop.com - allowed brothels, pimps and prostitutes to offer services, according to the statement.

Users could filter the geography and preferences that they had.

The website has since been seized by the U.S Department of Homeland Security.

Advertisers could select from pre-populated list of 'intimate activities,' then add nude photos, work hours and methods of pay. They would also offer description of their services and selected contact info for the women and girls who were advertised.

Paid 'upgrades' were offered to those who wanted premium placement, which required Bitcoin or gift cards to purchase.

Martono also allegedly used CardCash, a third party gift card reseller, to exchange money and gift cards.

He is said to have taken steps to conceal his online activity by routing traffic through an IP address in Europe, while also using a VPN to hide his IP address while exchanging funds.

Authorities seized millions when they arrested Martono.

The website has since been seized by the U.S Department of Homeland Security

While CityXGuide had clients across the globe, its top cities included Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and Boston.

'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,' said Ryan L. Spradlin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations' Dallas Field Office.

'HSI maintains its unwavering commitment to investigate these heinous crimes, rescue victims, and prosecute the offenders to the fullest extent of the law.'

If convicted, Martono faces up to 25 years in prison. He was charged as part of FOSTA, which allows the federal government to prosecute websites that facilitate sex trafficking.

'The Secret Service remains committed to investigating and pursuing those responsible for cyber-enabled financial crimes. Although the explosive expansion of the cyber domain has forced us to develop innovative ways of conducting these types of investigations, our proven model remains the same,' said Secret Service Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office William Smarr.

'This investigation is an excellent example of a partnership between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies working together to successfully prosecute numerous violations of federal statutes. There are real innocent victims due to these crimes. The Secret Service also thanks the Northern District of Texas United States Attorney's Office for their aggressive support.'
The MaryEllen Locher Scholarship Foundation has awarded 22 college scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year to Chattanooga area students representing 16 high schools in the region.

The foundation is a college scholarship program for children who have either lost a parent to breast cancer or have a parent who is a breast cancer survivor. The awards are designed to ease the financial and emotional burdens faced by families dealing with the disease.



The organization was founded in 2002 by MaryEllen Locher, a well-known WTVC news anchor and health reporter. She started the foundation because she was concerned about the future of her own son. Ms. Locher died of breast cancer in 2005 after her third bout with cancer. Her son, Alex Burd, now serves as executive director of his mothers foundation.

Over the past 18 years, the foundation has awarded 517 scholarships totaling $912,000.

The foundation added a new scholarship this year honoring Jan Moses, who served as executive director of the foundation for several years.

On behalf of my mother, our family, and the board of directors, the MaryEllen Locher Scholarship Foundation is honored to provide these exceptional students with assistance in pursuing their educational goals, Mr. Burd said. Its a blessing and privilege to contribute to their bright futures.

Winners for the 2020-21 academic year are:

Marion Andrews, Signal Mountain High School graduate, attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville



Connor Beach, Ooltewah High School graduate, attending the University of Mississippi



Saylor Brown, Notre Dame High School graduate, attending UTK



Lindsay Gilbert, Chattanooga Christian School graduate, attending East Tennessee State University



Weston Gilbert, Chattanooga Christian School graduate, attending ETSU, Lisa Shields Scholarship



Logan Griffith, Walker Valley High School graduate, attending Middle Tennessee State University, Volley for a Cure Scholarship



Karis Kelly, Gilmer High School graduate, attending the University of Georgia



Andrew Marshall, Silverdale Baptist Academy graduate, attending Chattanooga State Community College



Samuel McArthur, Gilmer High School graduate, attending the University of North Georgia, Jan Moses Scholarship



Samuel McDonald, Walker Valley High School graduate, attending Sewanee: The University of the South



Matthew Merritt, McCallie School graduate, attending Yale University, Guardian Angel Scholarship



Tori Mitchell, Rhea County High School graduate, attending Tusculum University



Emalee Nix, Girls Preparatory School graduate, attending UTK



Luke Qualey, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences graduate, attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Gorski Family Scholarship



Emily Rye, Baylor School graduate, attending UTC



Zoe Rye, Baylor School graduate, attending UTC



Allie Sanders, Soddy-Daisy High School graduate, attending UTC, Wanda Weller Scholarship



Lana Shea, Center for Creative Arts graduate, attending UTK



Madison Sims, Baylor School graduate, attending Alabama A&M University



Nikki VanDusen, Walker Valley High School graduate, attending ETSU, Tom and Kaky Bible Scholarship



Vincent Vaughan, Bradley Central High School graduate, attending Lee University



Jaheim Williams, Central High School graduate, attending UTC

Funds for the foundation are raised through special events, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and private grants. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are tax-deductible.

The foundation also sponsors Mels Club, a breast health awareness and education program for teen girls. Topics covered include myths and misconceptions about breast cancer, prevention and detection of the disease, and how to do a breast self-exam. Mels Club also includes remarks from a breast cancer survivor. Presentations are available for schools, churches, civic organizations and clubs.

For more information about the MaryEllen Locher Scholarship Foundation or to schedule a Mels Club presentation, contact Cindy Pare, administrator, at 490-4555 or cindy@melfoundation.org.

Visit the website at www.melfoundation.org or find more information on the foundations Facebook page.








Galwan clash was pre-meditated by Chinese says US intel

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, June 24: Further signalling that the Galwan Valley clash was not spontaneous but pre-planned, a new outlet in the US said that it was PLA officer, General Zhao Zongqi who was behind the incident.

In the violent clash at Galwan Valley on June 15, 20 Indian soldiers were martyred and around 35 Chinese soldiers were either killed or injured. The US News citing US intelligence said that the assessment does not see the incident as a spontaneous one.

Covid in Delhi: Screening to be done at all households in capital by July 6 | Oneindia News

Galwan standoff: India snubs China, 'Rajnath won't meet Chinese counterpart' in Russia

The report said that the assessment sees the Ladakh intrusions and Galwan being driven by a desire to signal that China is not vulnerable to opportunistic pressure tactics by India in the post COVID-19 situation.

It may be recalled that the same news agency had reported that the PLA had sustained significant casualties in the Galwan clash. If the idea by the Chinese was to remind India of its frailty then it may have backfired, the report said.
Mayor Nancy Vaughan would prefer to see less of us in the days to come.

In an emergency proclamation Monday, the mayor made it mandatory to wear a face covering in most public spaces in Greensboro.

It think people should have expected it, the mayor said of the order, which took effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

As a council, weve been discussing it, and weve watched the numbers climb in the past week. Theyre not going in the right direction.

State health officials announced Tuesday that COVID-19-related hospitalizations had set a one-day record in North Carolina, at 915. Also as of Tuesday, 106 coronavirus-related deaths had occurred in Guilford County. Even so, the proclamation is more of an urgent request than an order.

Strong encouragement, the city attorney said.

Thus, police may remind you if youre not complying, but they wont be fining violators or locking them up. The point of the order is to help tame a vexing, resilient and potentially fatal disease for which a vaccine seems a year away, at best.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The rapid politicization of the COVID-19 pandemic can be seen in messages members of the U.S. Congress sent about the issue on the social media site Twitter, a new analysis found.

Using artificial intelligence and resources from the Ohio Supercomputer Center, researchers conducted an analysis that covered all 30,887 tweets that members sent about COVID-19 from the first one on Jan. 17 through March 31.

The algorithm they created could correctly classify the political party of the member who sent each tweet 76 percent of the time, based only on the text of the tweet and the date it was sent.

"We found that once the parties started to figure out the political implications of the issue, polarization was evident in the tweets pretty quickly," said Jon Green, co-author of the study and doctoral student in political science at The Ohio State University.

The study was published today (June 24, 2020) in the journal Science Advances.

"It is remarkable that we could identify partisanship even when members have only 280 characters to send their messages in Twitter," said study co-author Skyler Cranmer, the Carter Phillips and Sue Henry Professor of Political Science at Ohio State.

Democrats sent out significantly more tweets (19,803) about COVID-19 than did Republicans (11,084), the study showed.

The gap in the number of tweets sent by Democratic versus Republican politicians widened after the first case of community spread was identified in California and grew further following the declaration of a national emergency.

"This suggests Democratic members were sending earlier and stronger signals to their constituents that they should be concerned about the crisis," Cranmer said.

What Democrats and Republicans tweeted about concerning the pandemic was different, too, results showed.

For example, the word "health" was used in 26 percent of Democratic tweets, but only 15 percent of Republican tweets.

Overall, Democrats were more likely to discuss public health and safety, as well as American workers, while Republicans emphasized a general need for national unity, discussed China and business, and framed the pandemic as a war.

As one component of the analysis, the researchers identified members who fell in the range of what they called "partisan overlap." Congressional members in this overlap area were those whose tweets were more likely to be confused by the algorithm with those of someone from the other party.

Only 31 percent of members fell in this area.

"That means for 69 percent of members, their tweets are more partisan than the most similar member of the other party," Green said.

Polarization was not constant over time.

In the first full week after the first mention of COVID-19, the algorithm developed by the researchers had relatively low accuracy when trying to determine whether a Democrat or a Republican wrote a particular tweet. That indicates there was little polarization.

However, polarization quickly rose, peaking during the week beginning Feb. 9. It then declined slightly in early-to-mid March before rising again in late March as the parties debated economic relief packages.

The findings suggest that Congress missed an opportunity early in the pandemic to develop a consensus that could have helped the United States respond to the crisis, Cranmer said.

"Something on the scale of COVID-19 requires a large-scale government response. The government can respond much better when it is united in its mission," he said.

###

Green and Cranmer, co-authored the study with their Ohio State political science colleagues Jared Edgerton and Daniel Naftel, along with Kelsey Shoub of the University of South Carolina.

Contact: Skyler Cranmer, Cranmer.12@osu.edu Jon Green, Green.1764@osu.edu

Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu
In response to nationwide calls for racial justice, students, alumni and community members have rallied to end racist and discriminatory behaviors at Northland Preparatory Academy.

Late last week, the NPA Antiracist Coalition, a new group formed to address these injustices, shared an open letter to the NPA Governing Board, administration, faculty and staff with a list of demands to challenge the systemic racism the institution upholds.

The horrific incidents of police brutality and racial injustice over the last few weeks have opened up a global conversation about the consequences of systemic racism, and it is time Northland Preparatory Academy takes action, too.  We believe that through our educational system we can begin to dismantle systemic racism and white supremacy, and finally make progress towards stopping senseless killings and the wrongful incarceration of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), stated the letter, which was released on Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States.

By Tuesday, the letter had 268 signatures and more than 30 anonymous testimonials dating back to 2010 about systemic racism within the public charter school, which was founded in 1996.

Its not an us blaming anybody personally game, said Rachel Kesler, a 2015 NPA graduate and member of the coalition. "Were trying to partner with people that we really care about and an institution that we really care about to make sure that everybody who is a part of the NPA community is going to live up to the stated values of that community."

Kesler, who is currently a teacher in Connecticut, said this is the right time for these conversations because teachers are already reworking their curriculum to adjust for COVID-19.

The coalition is demanding the school not only acknowledge its failure to build an anti-racist institution, but also implement required trainings and lessons on subjects of race while updating protocols for handling racist or discriminatory behavior. It also asked that the school strive to make the faculty and student body reflect the demographics of Flagstaff.

Im hoping that we as a larger Flagstaff community can start having this dialogue because NPA isnt the exception, unfortunately, said Maya Guthrie, a 2019 NPA graduate who recently joined the coalition. Its important for us to have this conversation about NPA specifically, but then we as a Flagstaff community need to be evaluating what were investing into our students.

Kesler, who is Navajo, said her racial identity seemed unique when she attended NPA.

There were just so many times throughout my time at NPA when it felt like the institution was a little flat-footed when it came to race, she said.

New conversations

In particular, Kesler recalled how the response to her acceptance to an Ivy League school took an unexpected turn when she went to tell one of her favorite high school teachers the news.

He asked me if he thought I was accepted to Dartmouth [College] because I was Native. That, of course, created this whole slew of imposter syndrome -- which was very interesting to carry with me when I actually attended Dartmouth, Kesler said. I cant sit here and blame him because I think he probably didnt realize how much that actually hurt me. That person just wasnt equipped to have a conversation like that or wasnt equipped in his understanding of Native identity and Native history to understand what that comment comes from.

But the scope of the problem extended beyond individuals to the entire institution.

Especially in a community like Flagstaff where theres a high Native population, there were just so few times I felt like I was being seen or heard when I walked through those halls. Or even felt like my identity was being reflected back at me through anything we were studying, Kesler said.

Similarly, during Guthries time at NPA, she said she often felt as if she had to fill in what the curriculum lacked about Black Americans like herself.

There was one other Black kid in my entire graduating class, so of course, when it comes time for Black History Month, who do they consult? said Guthrie, who is studying English at Northern Arizona University. Apparently [I was expected to be] the master of all knowledge about all Black Americans ever.

She pointed to her World Literature class, which lacked diverse, positive samples of literature from places such as Africa and the Middle East in comparison to those from Europe, and a joke another student made in class about lynching that had no ramifications when it was reported.

I had a wonderful experience  generally net positive  at NPA, but I also had to be the ambassador for all Black Americans and experienced my fair share of microaggressions at NPA.  I wouldnt want someone else to not have a positive experience at NPA because they had to put up with some of the same kind of shenanigans that I did, Guthrie said.

As well as improvements to curriculum, the letter encourages the school to increase outreach to underserved areas of Flagstaff and make the school more accessible to students from low-income families through the Free and Reduced Lunch Program and by providing devices and improved transportation for students.

Superintendent David Lykins said he had an empty feeling when he first read the letter.

My thoughts are to approach that, to bring people together to start having that communication and that dialogue, Lykins said.

The NPA Governing Board has scheduled a special session for next week to discuss the contents of the letter. Lykins said he will be working to find the most interactive online platform for the meeting in order to maintain social distancing standards.

The intention is always to be able to better serve our students in an environment that is inclusive and equitable. And so those will be the areas where Ill be contributing in. Im excited to listen and learn a lot, as well, he said.

Kaitlin Olson can be reached at the office at kolson@azdailysun.com or by phone at (928) 556-2253.

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ISTANBUL  Court proceedings began Wednesday for seven Turkish journalists accused of revealing state secrets in their coverage of a Turkish intelligence officer killed in Libya earlier this year.

The journalists face eight to 19 years in prison for allegedly violating laws on the disclosure of information relating to state security or intelligence operations in a high-profile case condemned by press freedom advocates, who have called on prosecutors to drop all charges.

Those standing trial include Huyla Kilinc, Baris Pehlivan and Baris Terkoglu of the ultranationalist news site Odatv, Ferhat Celik and Aydin Keser of the pro-Kurdish Yeni Yasam newspaper and Murat Agirel of the nationalist Yenicag newspaper. Agirel along with Erk Acarer of the socialist Birgun newspaper is accused of revealing the intelligence officers identity, though Acarer is in Germany and being tried in absentia.

After a lengthy trial, the court ruled to release Terkoglu, Keser and Celik from prison, while the remaining three defendants will stay in jail pending trial. All six journalist will continue court proceedings with the next hearing scheduled for Sept. 9.

"With these nonexistent charges, I have been held alone in a cell in prison for 120 days," Agirel said in his defense Wednesday. "The charges against me are neither based on tangible evidence nor conscientious.  The MIT officer was reported about on social media before I wrote [about] it, he added, using the acronym for Turkeys National Intelligence Agency.

The six defendants present in the courtroom Wednesday have been in pretrial detention since the defendants were indicted in March for working in a systematic and coordinated way to illegally disclose information about the intelligence officer and Turkeys operations in Libya. Since November, Ankara has ramped up military support to the UN-recognized Tripoli government in an ongoing conflict against the eastern Libyan National Army.

A civil servant of Turkeys Akhisar municipality, Eren Ekini, is also being tried for sharing images of the officers funeral with the journalists.

Ozgur Ogret, Turkey representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the diverse political leanings of the media professionals on trial is proof enough that they did not collaborate on a conspiracy to undermine state operations, adding the prosecution has failed to provide evidence of alleged cooperation.

The trial is a good example of how Turkish authorities desire a singular voice in the media with nothing but official statements in the news, Ogret told Al-Monitor. The only thing these journalists have in common is that they work at outlets that are independent from and critical of the government. That is what is on trial today.

Scott Griffen, deputy director at the International Press Institute, said the charges against the defendants were absurd, noting the intelligence officers identity was first revealed during public parliamentary discussions and the journalists had altered his name in their reports.

The charges indicate Turkeys attempts to suppress press freedom are not lessening and that journalists who report critically on sensitive subjects continue to be at risk of arbitrary arrest, prosecution and jailing, Griffen told Al-Monitor.

A hearing was also held Wednesday for Turkish-German Die Welt correspondent Deniz Yucel, who was previously detained on terrorism-related charges in Turkey but has since been released. Yucels lawyer, Veysel Ok, presented his defense in absentia and the trial was adjourned until July 16.

In addition, a journalist for Turkeys Evrensel newspaper, Ender Imrek, appeared in court today on charges of insulting Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan for a 2019 column in which he criticized her for appearing in public with a $50,000 designer handbag. Imrek defended his column, saying, Its a journalists duty to write about the situation of the presidents family. His next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8, 2020.

On June 19, an Istanbul court ruled to block access to forum pages in which users had discussed the handbag, as well as separate forum pages that included details of 2013 phone call between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his son Bilal regarding a graft investigation launched by prosecutors linked to the Fethullah Gulen movement, which the Turkish government claims orchestrated the failed coup in 2016.

Trials are scheduled for June 25 for 11 journalists including Ahmet Altan, who was briefly released from prison in November 2019 before being detained once more on terrorism-related charges.

Reporters Without Borders ranked Turkey 154th out of 180 countries in its 2020 Press Freedom Index, stating the nation remains the worlds top jailer of journalists as pressure continues on critical voices and independent media platforms.

Earlier this month, 19 press freedom organizations signed a letter condemning the withholding of state advertising funds from media outlets deemed oppositional to the government. On Tuesday, Turkeys Press Advertisement Institution cut public ads to the Evrensel newspaper for 45 days due to a May 5 article by Ragip Zarakolu, in which the author allegedly implied Erdogan would meet a fate similar to that of Turkeys former Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, who was executed following a 1960 military coup.

In September 2019, a state ad ban was imposed on Evrensel for six months.
Former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn is free to go, the US Appeals Court for the District of Columbia has ruled, allowing the Department of Justice to drop its case against him.

A three-judge panel from the powerful DC circuit court on Wednesday granted the former Trump aide's petition to intervene in his case after the district court judge presiding over it had moved to prevent the DOJ from abruptly dropping it.

Mr Flynn had been accused of  and previously pleaded guilty to  lying to the FBI about his communications with former Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak in late 2016 and early 2017.

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Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 16:06 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406614af8b 1 National #WestJava,West-Java,ridwan-kamil,#Ridwan-Kamil,COVID-19,#COVID19,COVID-19-West-Java,innovation,#innovation,test-kits,ventilator,BRIN,#BRIN,bambang-brodjonegoro,Research-and-Technology-Ministry,Jawa-Barat,#Jawa-Barat Free

West Java -- Indonesias most populous province -- has seen a declining trend of daily new cases of COVID-19 in the past few weeks, thanks to collaborative efforts of many stakeholders in introducing innovation to fight the pandemic, a top official has said.

West Java, once the most affected province in the country after Jakarta, is now the fourth-hardest-hit province nationwide, trailing Jakarta, East Java and South Sulawesi with a total 2,901 confirmed cases and 171 deaths as of Tuesday.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said collaboration of various stakeholders and innovation were among five key measures his administration had been focusing on in its COVID-19 response.

The pandemic had caused a dire shortage of health equipment like ventilators, testing kits, reagents and personal protective equipment (PPE) across Indonesia, which has long relied on imported raw materials and goods.

Local institutions, both private and state-owned, including those based in West Java, have since racked their brains to meet domestic demand in the face of disrupted global supply chains.

Read also: Indonesia looks to domestic innovations to tackle COVID-19

West Java was blessed as the home to about 60 percent of industries in Indonesia and more than 800 state-run and private higher education institutions, Ridwan told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The West Java COVID-19 task force initiated a virtual meeting with some of these companies and universities, asking them to contribute to fighting the disease with their scientific knowledge and manufacturing capability, according to Ridwan.

When the outbreak [was at its peak], the provinces COVID-19 task force decided to have a video conference with all the rectors of universities in West Java, asking them to help fight the disease using the science and knowledge they have in their research centers, Ridwan said.

We also engaged many strong technological state-owned companies in West Java. After a discussion, we found that, for instance, companies like [state-owned arms manufacturer] PT Pindad, which is used to producing military equipment, can also produce ventilators. So can PT DI [state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia].

Read also: Indonesian defense industry feels COVID-19 pinch

Pindad and PT DI, along with other entities based in West Java, such as state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Bio Farma, have been involved in a consortium formed on March 26 by the Research and Technology Ministry and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to use their innovative capacity to fight the outbreak. The program also includes government research agencies, universities and hospitals across the nation.

But the program does not necessarily reflect the amount of COVID-19 research currently done across the country, as many universities have conducted separate research.

Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, who is also the BRIN head, said any form of support from local governments would be very helpful.

We hope that the regional administrations support innovation done by research institutions and universities within their regions. Once there is an outcome, they can make use of the result. For instance, ventilators and test kits [can be used] in hospitals and the surrounding communities, Bambang said on Tuesday.

One of Indonesias domestically produced ventilators is the Vent-I, developed by West Java-based Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Padjajaran University (Unpad) and the Salman Mosque Foundation. The project is included in BRINs research consortium.

The device offers a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) function for patients with mild to medium respiratory symptoms, said Hari Tjahjono, a spokesperson for the Vent-I development team.

To manufacture the product, the team cooperates with several firms, including PT DI, which has produced 100 of the 139 Vent-I units made so far. All Vent-I units have been donated to nine provinces, with East Java and West Java having received the largest supplies.

Read also: ITB-led team rolls out free distribution of Vent-I ventilators to COVID-19 hospitals

Ridwan recently posted photos on his social media accounts showing the equipment deployed at hospitals in West Java, with a caption reading: "Lets continue to support the work of the children of our nation.

For COVID-19 testing, Bio Farma recently handed over a mobile biosafety level 2 laboratory to Unpad to improve West Javas daily testing capacity. The lab is able to test 400 samples per day.

Ridwan also said five factories in the province had been able to produce high-quality surgical masks, and some other factories had even exported hazmat suits to Africa and Europe.

The West Java-based universities are seeking more innovation, with Unpad and the ITB having worked together to develop Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensors.

Unpad, in collaboration with private companies PT Tekad Mandiri Citra and PT Pakar Biomedika Indonesia, has also been developing a rapid antigen detection test, CePAD, which Ridwan dubbed rapid test 2.0.

CePAD and the sensors could be an alternative to rapid antibody tests and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) machines, respectively, said Muhammad Yusuf from Unpads Biotechnology, Molecular and Bioinformatics Research Center, who was involved in both projects. The prototypes are currently undergoing a series of tests by the Health Ministry for authorization.

Ridwan said he was aware of warnings from epidemiologists about a possible new wave of COVID-19 but he was confident about the provinces pandemic response and the capability of its hospitals.

Since we are now more prepared, [], the COVID-19 peak will be lower and lower. At the end of the day, we can live with COVID-19 without worries, he said.

The province, home to 50 million people, said 26.22 percent of hospital beds were occupied on Monday, a decrease from 77.48 percent on April 7, when West Java saw the second-most cases, after Jakarta.
LEESBURG, Georgia -- The spark for David Widner ignited when he was only 11 years old.

Every family has a history, and Widner had been hearing about the legacy of his uncles  John and Clarence Anglin  since he was old enough to understand what the grown-ups were talking about. Even at that early age, he proclaimed that he was going to tell the real story about his uncles escape from Alcatraz Prison.

Plus, there were all those FBI agents who were always around.

I think thats what convinced me more than anything to tell my uncles story, Widner said as he marked the recent June 11 anniversary of John and Clarence Anglins and fellow inmate Frank Morris escape from the prison that had been proclaimed inescapable. Everywhere we went when we were young, there were FBI agents around. They came to our house, they followed us, they listened in on all of our phone calls.

Widner, his mother Marie and his brother Ken took on the chore of archiving the Anglin brothers history over the ensuing years, and it was those efforts that convinced Ken and David to participate in two very recent and landmark projects that tell the story of a daring escape that captured the imagination of the country, made the Anglin brothers and Morris folk heroes, and has confounded the upper echelon of law enforcement now for 58 years.

David and Ken, whod contributed to several documentaries on their uncles escape, were integral to the making of the startling  and extremely well-made  History Channel documentary Alcatraz: The Search for the Truth, and David Widner teamed with renowned author Michael Esslinger to pen Escaping Alcatraz: The Untold Story of the Greatest Prison Break in American History.

There had been so much written about the escape, but one of the things that really stuck out to me was how J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI tried to convince everyone that while my uncles and Frank Morris had been able to get out of prison at Alcatraz, they actually did not ever make it to the mainland, Widner said. The FBI was embarrassed that they hadnt been able to find (the escapees), so they tried to convince everyone that the three of them died in the waters surrounding Alcatraz.

We, of course, collected evidence that said otherwise, and I think over the years weve pretty much convinced everyone that what the FBI said was not true.

ALCATRAZ

As early as the 1860s, Alcatraz was utilized as a facility of incarceration, housing insolent soldiers who cheered the death of President Lincoln in post-Civil War America. By the end of the century, the island continued to serve what officials saw as its rightful purpose: a place to lock men away.

A disciplinary barracks was built on the 22-acre island located in the San Francisco Bay in 1912, and by the 1920s, the three-story structure was at full capacity. With its location 1.25 miles from San Francisco and the California mainland, Alcatraz  known as The Rock  seemingly earned its reputation as escape-proof. The structure was officially opened as a federal penitentiary in 1934, and it housed some of the nations most notorious criminals, men like Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, James Whitey Bulger, Mickey Cohen, Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson, and the famed Birdman of Alcatraz, Robert Stroud, who were confined to The Rock to pay for their crimes.

Each prisoner was told the same thing when he came to Alcatraz: Theres no escaping.

We got letters from some of the prisoners, men like Whitey Bulger, and they told us that when you got to Alcatraz, you were told that sharks patrolled the waters around the island, Widner said. There are some sharks in those waters  a few great whites have been seen there  but most were bottom-feeders. It was just another scare tactic to keep the prisoners from thinking about escape.

One man  Joseph Bowers  did try to make a break in 1935, but all evidence indicates he was a suicidal inmate (hed tried to kill himself once in the prison) who was shot before he even reached the water around the island. He became little more than a footnote in the prisons history. Two others, Ted Cole and Ralph Roe, made it into the water on a foggy night, and while there were stories of the pair later showing up in South America, most witnesses say the prisoners perished in the waters around the island.

What they did do, though, was place doubt about the invulnerability of The Rock.

THE ANGLINS

John and Clarence Anglin were part of a family of 14 children who grew up poor in the tiny Donalsonville and Colquitt communities in south Georgia before later moving to central Floridas Ruskin. They and their older brother Alfred, who would play a key role in the brothers escape story, tired of school and started what would become a life of petty crime. Interestingly, the Anglin boys over the years developed a keen ability to break out of whatever institution imprisoned them.

At around 10 a.m. on Jan. 17, 1958, the trio, using a toy gun, robbed the Bank of Columbia in Alabama, getting away with around $18,000. But five days later they were arrested in Ohio. The three pleaded guilty and were sentenced to a federal prison in Atlanta, but since the state of Alabama carried a possible death sentence for bank robbery, the Anglins were moved their and tried again for their crime.

John Anglin was imprisoned at the Federal Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pa., while Clarence was shipped to the United States Prison in Leavenworth, Kan. After discovery of a planned escape attempt, John Anglin was moved to Leavenworth, where he was reunited with Clarence. When the pair had an escape attempt foiled, the brothers were moved to Alcatraz. They arrived at The Rock on Jan. 18, 1960.

My uncles were not bad guys; they were just desperate, Widner said. Even when they robbed the bank, they used a toy gun, and when one of the bank officials fainted, they made sure he had water and was OK before leaving. But because no prison had ever been able to hold them, they were moved to Alcatraz.

ESCAPE FROM THE ROCK

When the Anglin brothers were moved to Alcatraz, the warden at Leavenworth offered some advice to his counterpart on the notorious island: Keep the Anglin brothers separate. But Alcatraz Warden Olin Blackwell ignored the suggestion and put the Anglins in adjoining cells. Over the course of their time on the island, they met fellow inmates Frank Morris, who had a genius-level IQ, Allen Clayton West, Cohen, Thomas Kent, Clarence Carnes, Woodrow Wilson Gainey, Johnson and Red Winhoven. Most who investigated the famed prison break say each of these men played a role in planning and helping the Anglins and Morris carry out their escape plan.

The Anglins and Morris, who used sewing skills theyd picked up at the prison to make personal flotation devices and a life raft out of stolen raincoats, managed to dig around vents in their cells using spoons, reminiscent of the Tim Robbins escape in the highly regarded Shawshank Redemption movie. They also procured paints that theyd used in impressive paintings of John Anglins girlfriend and her sister that helped them create lifelike dummy heads out of bar soap that they placed on their beds to fool guards. The dummies also had real hair that the Anglins had secretly removed from the prison barbershop.

Also utilized in the escape was a concertina, an accordion-like instrument whose bellows was used to inflate their flotation gear.

Once they crawled through the narrow holes theyd dug in their cells, the Anglins and Morris made their way to the roof of the prison and shinnied down a drain pipe to reach the prison grounds. They managed to secure their self-made flotation devices to one of the boats that brought guards to and from the island, in essence hitching a ride out into the open waters. From there, the story takes on an air of mystery, but a policeman on the mainland reported seeing a small boat suspiciously afloat in the harbor on the night of the escape. Some have suggested that Cohen had the boat left there for the escapees, and Johnson has claimed he was responsible.

In any case, after a massive manhunt that went on for months and involved prison officials, area law enforcement agencies and the FBI, the Anglins and Morris became folk heroes, inspiring everything from sightings all over the country to a song  A Mile and a Quarter ... the distance to the mainland  by country artist Sonny James. Guards at the prison were punished, security was increased and Alcatrazs inmate population was emboldened.

With closure of the prison then imminent, two more prisoners  John Paul Scott and Darl Dee Parker  using tactics similar to those of the Anglins and Morris, actually escaped from Alcatraz only six months after the trios daring getaway, and made it to the mainland alive. However, they were captured and returned to the prison.

THE DEATH OF ALFRED ANGLIN

One of the more chilling aspects of the History Channel documentary about the escape from Alcatraz was the side story of Alfred Anglin. Serving his time in an Alabama prison, and by all accounts a model prisoner, Alfred died days before he was eligible for parole when, Alabama prison officials said, he was electrocuted while trying to escape.

There had been a family meeting with Uncle Alfred only a few days before on a picnic table on the prison grounds, Widner said. We are now convinced that private conversation was bugged. Alfred talked about John and Clarence and said he knew where they were. We always believed Uncle Alfred was beaten to death by prison officials who were trying to find the brothers location.

In Alcatraz: Search for the Truth, U.S. Marshals officials agreed to exhume Alfred Anglins body to try and determine if he was indeed beaten to death. In exchange, David and Ken Widner agreed to supply DNA samples to prove (or disprove) bones that had washed up in San Francisco Bay were those of John and/or Clarence Anglin, as the FBI had suggested.

The grisly exhumation of Alfred Anglin, whose body was in pristine condition after years of burial, did not show evidence of the kind of physical abuse that the family had thought likely, but the DNA samples offered by the Widners proved definitively that the bones that were discovered were not those of either of the escaped Anglin brothers.

We still feel there was something done to Uncle Alfred, Widner said. The coroner in Tampa said his death was not caused by electrocution.

SOUTH AMERICAN FREEDOM

Much of the evidence of the Anglin brothers post-escape life revealed in the documentary came from a conversation with long-time family friend Fred Brizzi, a known drug smuggler. He indicated that the brothers were indeed alive and in Brazil. He gave the Anglin family photos, one of which was exhaustively pored over by a facial recognition expert who deemed the photo was indeed of the Anglin brothers.

We know the brothers escaped and lived in South America, Widner said. I know of times that they came to America to visit the family. Theres no doubt in my mind they escaped from prison and lived out their lives.

Widner, meanwhile, said he has other possible projects about the Great Escape in the works. One area he said hed like to pursue is investigating his uncles lives in South America to see if they had families and if there are surviving relatives.

There is a great deal of interest in my uncles escape, and we are going to explore it further, David Widner, who lives in Leesburg, said. Their story is amazing, and I hear from people all over the world who are still fascinated by it all these years later.

Its become part of my lifes work to document and tell the true story of what happened at Alcatraz. Its part of me, part of who I am. Ill never let it go until the entire story is told.



2020 The Albany Herald, Ga.

Visit The Albany Herald, Ga. at www.albanyherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Cayuga County officials were encouraged that the county will likely enter the last phase of New York state's reopening plan on Friday. But continued economic restrictions soured the mood.

The regional control group for Central New York, which includes Cayuga County, is slated to reopen arts, entertainment and educational institutions when phase four of economic reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic begins Friday.

However, movie theaters, gyms, shopping malls and bowling alleys are not on that list. As of Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn't released guidance on when those businesses might be able to open their doors again.

Cayuga County Legislature Chair Aileen McNabb-Coleman and other legislators expressed their frustration with the lack of clarity during the legislative body's Tuesday evening meeting.

"As a region we have demonstrated the need for such guidance and have voiced our frustration with the overall rollout these phases with the governor's office," McNabb-Coleman said in her remarks.

She said gym owners who've reached out to her are eager to reopen. "They're very nervous about their income and about their viability moving forward," she said.

Legislator Christopher Petrus, R-Brutus, said he was dismayed by the state's decision not to reopen malls, gyms and movie theaters along with other non-essential businesses. He noted losses from sales tax as a main concern about continued mall closures.

"I just wanted to say this is yet another example of the disconnect between Albany and the people," Petrus said.

Just prior to the 6 p.m. Legislature meeting, McNabb-Coleman discussed the phase four reopening on a call with representatives in the regional control group that also includes Onondaga, Oswego, Madison and Cortland counties.

They have been "pushing very hard" to increase the audience capacity of school graduations in phase four, which she said was not going to happen as of the 5 p.m. phone call with the control group.

"We have done everything they have told us to do. We have exceeded expectations in this region. We work very hard to get our transmission down. We have one of the lowest infection rates in the state, and the state is the lowest in the nation. And we feel at this point we're being penalized," she said.

New York is now one of three states "on track to contain" COVID-19 on the basis of low infection rates, according to the governor's office, but the state originally had among the highest infection rates at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

McNabb-Coleman said infection rates in the region were promisingly low, with upticks in community spread in Oswego and Onondaga counties being addressed and isolated.

"We are disappointed but we are not losing hope and we're going to keep pushing," she said.

Staff writer Mary Catalfamo can be reached at (315) 282-2244 or mary.catalfamo@lee.net. Find her on Twitter @mrycatalfamo.

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The U.S.-China trade deal has just suffered a new setback.

China wants international shippers of meat and soybeans to sign a document attesting their cargoes meet safety standards to ensure they aren't contaminated with the novel coronavirus. That's a step many American exporters have so far been reluctant to take for fear of liability, with Tyson Foods being the first to confirm it's signed the certificate.

The new demands from China could end up being an impediment to shipments, further delaying the $36.5 billion in farm purchases the Asian nation pledged under the phase one trade deal.

The move comes even as the world's major public health authorities say the virus isn't foodborne, raising questions over why China is taking the action. It could also act as a non-tariff trade barrier, a tactic the Asian country has applied in the past with everything from American corn cargoes to Canadian canola.

China's request isn't a move aimed at imposing trade restrictions, according to people familiar with the matter. The demand doesn't target specific countries as it's for all exporters, and aims to ease Chinese consumer concerns over the safety of imported food.

"I believe this is simply a buyer seeking leverage," said Chris Robinson, managing director of agriculture and commodities at TJM Institutional Services in Chicago. "They were notorious in the past for canceling shipments for various 'infractions,'" he said referring to China.

On Sunday, China suspended poultry imports from a Tyson Foods plant where hundreds of employees tested positive for covid-19, stoking concerns over the broader implications for U.S. and global meat exports. If shippers don't sign the new affidavits, they could be subject to more bans.

This comes just after China signaled last week it was getting ready to accelerate purchases of American farm goods to comply with the trade deal following recent talks with U.S. officials in Hawaii. President Donald Trump has touted the deal as being a big boost to farmers, a key part of his base as he seeks re-election in November.

China's latest actions could just be the country "stirring the pot" ahead of the U.S. presidential elections in November, Robinson said.

Traders are already on edge after a Trump official on Monday raised questions about the deal before the president himself said the agreement was "fully intact." Rhetoric between the two countries has intensified recently. Trump employed a racist slur in referring to the pandemic as the "Kung flu" at a rally over the weekend in Oklahoma and the administration has been criticizing Beijing for saying it would impose contentious new national security legislation on Hong Kong.

Chinese buyers are asking soybean and meat shippers to comply with safety regulations "to ensure that food imported into China is not contaminated with the Covid-19 virus," according to the declaration seen by Bloomberg. The request was directed at "a wide variety of meats, seafood and other foodstuffs," the U.S. Meat Export Federation said in a message to members.

For shippers, there are many unknowns, including whether and how cargoes will be subjected to covid-19 testing and what sanctions could be imposed if China says the shipments carried the virus. So far, U.S. exporters seem to be taking a conservative approach, signaling concerns over signing the document.

Late Tuesday, Tyson confirmed it signed the statement declaring it is complying with Chinese laws and international food-safety standards.

"We are very confident in the safety of our products and have put measures in place that are in full compliance with all applicable requirements, and have signed the certification on that basis," Tyson said.

Meanwhile, some competitors in rival Brazil including meat giants JBS and Marfrig Global Foods have agreed to sign.

China, which so far has only purchased a fraction of the farm goods it promised to buy under the trade deal, has a history of using non-tariff barriers to stifle shipments.

That was the case with its tariff-rate quotas for crops including corn, wheat and rice, which led the U.S. to complain to the World Trade Organization. Genetically-modified crops have also been a big issue. In 2013, China rejected several cargoes of corn and distillers dried grain from the U.S. due to the presence of a GMO variety.

China's latest moves come after a new coronavirus outbreak in the country had been blamed on imported salmon. Fears over whether food can transmit viruses had led salmon to be boycotted in the Asian nation, even as the country's National Health Commission said there was no evidence showing the fish was either the origin or intermediate host for the virus.

There were signs China was starting to back off from its previous stance linking food to virus cases. A customs official at a briefing on Friday said the country was taking the advice of international organizations that there's a low risk of imported food transmitting the virus, and no food restrictions would be imposed. But this week's moves have been a quick about face to that.

"China is concerned about its reputation for safe food imports, especially after conceding some key items in the phase one agreement," said Bevan Everett, a risk management consultant and grains market analyst at INTL FCStone Inc.

The USMEF said in a letter to members that it was seeking additional information from the federal government and industry sources in China, while the U.S. Soybean Export Council said it was seeking clarification from Chinese authorities on how the request applies to soybeans compared with foods that don't need to be processed before being consumed.

"Exports of soy are not directly handled by humans, limiting the risk of exposure," said Jim Sutter, USSEC's chief executive officer. "U.S. soy is transported in bulk via intermodal freight, primarily in sealed railroad cars and barges and then onto cargo ships. Once the soybeans arrive in China they are discharged and processed before being fed to animals, with the oil then being further refined before use."

It's still unclear why China is asking for the requirements and whether the move is aimed at restricting trade, since Brazilian shippers were also asked to sign the declaration. The USDA didn't respond to requests for comment. The National Grain and Feed Association declined to comment.

"This makes about as much sense as requiring China to certify that all the products it ships here are coronavirus free," said Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist at INTL FCStone in Kansas City, Missouri.
As new coronavirus cases soar to near crisis levels in Texas, the Trump administration is inexplicably planning to end federal support for local testing sites across the nation, including four in Houston and Harris County, among seven total in the state.

Key Democratic and Republican leaders in the state are right to push back against what is clearly a short-sighted and wrongheaded decision to curtail crucial testing that will help hospitals and doctors battle a virus that has already infected almost 2.5 million Americans and caused more than 120,000 deaths.

The administration must extend support for the testing sites at least until this latest spike is under control and enough testing is being done to project a downward path.

The move to withdraw support is especially troubling in light of recent statements by President Trump that he had urged health officials to slow the testing down to reduce the number of cases being reported to the public.

Some suggested that the president was only kidding when he made that statement in a rally over the weekend in Tulsa, Okla. But Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he was serious about the approach.

I dont kid, he told reporters who questioned him about the claim.

We have got the greatest testing program anywhere in the world, he said. 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.

Yes, thats the point of testing. But whats the point in trying to trick the public? The spread doesnt stop, the illness doesnt stop, the death doesnt stop just because the government decides to stop measuring it.

Instead, under-counting cases leads to a false sense of security among the public and makes it more difficult for public health officials to plan for the consequences of the disease.

Writing to Deputy Surgeon General Erica Schwartz in a letter dated June 20, Dr. Umair A. Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health, stressed the urgency of a full commitment and continued support for the testing sites through FEMA.

Harris County is the third most populous county in the United States with a population of 4.7 million and is also home to the largest uninsured population in Texas, Shah wrote. With respect to COVID-19, our region has seen a large increase in COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions, and ICU saturation over the last few weeks. If these trends occur, it is clear our current healthcare system could soon be overwhelmed by this pandemic.

Shah urged that the test sites remain open through the end of August.

In a separate letter to Schwartz, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Dr. David Persse, the health authority of the city of Houston, warned of catastrophic cascading consequences in the regions ability to adequately test if the centers lose FEMA support.

The state reported nearly 5,200 new cases on Tuesday, 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. Texas infection rate has doubled since late May.

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 organized the drafting of 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 the letter.

U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, both Republicans, backed extending FEMA support for the testing sites through June when it was due to end in April.

A spokesperson for Cruz said he has urged and will continue to urge HHS and FEMA to extend the community testing sites in Texas.

Cornyn said Wednesday that now is not a time to retreat from our vigilance in testing.

I believe that they need to extend that federal support in Texas, at least until we get this most recent uptick in cases addressed, he said in a call with reporters.

It is not the time to remove a crucial tool in controlling a deadly disease. The administration must reverse course again and make a commitment to supporting a widespread and thorough testing protocol.

It is not a joking matter. Its deadly serious.
British tourists are back in Benidorm - and have got the resort virtually to themselves.

Julie Broom, 61, was one of the first to arrive after boarding a flight to Alicante airport from Leeds Bradford at 9am on Sunday.

Sitting in a bar along the deserted seafront while enjoying a beer in the sun, she told MailOnline: 'The beach is empty and the whole English strip is closed, so we feel we have Benidorm to ourselves.'

Meanwhile bar owners in the Costa Blanca resort urged other visitors to join them, admitting: 'Without the Brits, we'd be dead.'

Julie Broom, 61 (centre), Sylvia Riley, 60 (left), and Andrea Harrison, 59 (right), boarded a Ryanair flight to Benidorm at 9am on Sunday - the same day the borders reopened - and say they've had the resort town 'to themselves'

Michael Golden, 69, from Birmingham (left), saw two flights to Benidorm cancelled before he was able to board one on Sunday - saying he wanted to come to Spain as soon as possible because all the pubs in the UK are closed

Julie and friends Sylvia Riley, 60, and Andrea Harrison, 59 - all NHS workers from Wakefield - said they booked their holiday five months ago, as coronavirus was starting to make headlines but before lockdown.

The trio were expecting their Ryanair flight to be cancelled, but when the airline said it would be going ahead they decided to go ahead with the trip.

'We're NHS workers so we've been tested for coronavirus every two weeks - we're not dicing with death. We just wanted to get away, and we've enjoyed it,' she said.

She revealed there were only 80 people on her flight and Alicante airport itself was deserted - meaning they strolled 'straight through'.

Temperature checks were carried out at the airport but the group were not asked to fill out any forms, she said.

'I feel it's really safe in Spain, because they went into a strict lockdown two weeks before the UK. I think Benidorm is ready for more tourists to come soon,' she added.

Benidorm is one of Spain's most popular resort towns, typically welcoming millions of tourists each year - with Briton being the top supplier of visitors.

In any other year it would be beginning its high summer season, with hotels filling up and bars doing a swift trade.

Benidorm - one of Spain's most popular resort towns - has been all-but deserted for months amid coronavirus lockdowns, but is now starting to reopen (pictured, the beach divided into socially distanced sunbathing zones)

Tracey Walker, an expat bar owner in Benidorm's old town, urged other Britons to make the trip soon - because 'without them we're dead'

But instead the resort is only just emerging from months of forced closures amid coronavirus lockdowns across Europe which also saw tourism effectively banned.

On Sunday, Spain lifted its coronavirus state of emergency including a requirement that all visitors quarantine for 14 days on arrival, and urged visitors to come back.

The British Foreign Office continues to advise against all-but essential travel and UK visitors must still quarantine for two weeks when they get home, but that hasn't stopped some from making the trip.

Michael Golden, 69, from Birmingham, was another British tourist who took early advantage of the new rules to head abroad.

He said he has been coming to Benidorm for 15 years and flew from Birmingham to Alicante with Ryanair on Sunday.

Birmingham airport was 'deserted' and he got through Alicante airport 'quicker than usual', he said, but ended up 'packed' on to the plane with people sat either side.

While passengers were kept two meters apart at Birmingham airport, they were squeezed close together on a transfer bus from the plane to the terminal on arrival.

He was also forced to take a 90 euro taxi from Alicante to Benidorm since there were no buses running to the town.

Despite that, he said he felt 'safe' and was not worried about catching the virus.

Benidorm typically welcomes millions of visitors each year with Briton making up its largest overseas market, but has been left deserted after tourism was effective banned

'The pubs weren't open in England, so when the state of alarm ended I thought I'd try get to Benidorm,' he said.

He booked his flight just five days before it was due to take off, saying it was the 'first one he found' that was scheduled.

He explained that two other flights he booked have already been cancelled, and that he used an airline voucher to pay for the new one.

'They didn't ask me to fill out any forms, don't think they had English versions of it as I was one of the first tourists in,' he added.

Meanwhile Tracey Walker is the owner of the Britannia Bar in Benidorm's old town.

She runs the bar with her husband and usually has two employees, with the bar 'full' all summer. But now, the business has been deserted for weeks.

They tried opening two weeks ago when domestic tourism restarted but there were so few customers they had to close up again and sell off their stock.

'We need British tourists back. Without the Brits we're dead,' she said.

'In Spain we have adhered to the state of alarm rules, we're stayed away from each other and sanitised constantly. We deserve the tourists and we need them back.'

Spain is among many European countries desperately trying to restart its tourism sector in time for the summer season to try and mitigate damage to its economy

She is now planning for a second reopening on July 3.

Spain is among the countries hardest-hit by coronavirus, with 246,752 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 28,325 deaths.

At one point it had some of the highest daily case and death tolls in the world, but has beaten back the virus after going into full lockdown on March 15.

Ministers began a phased reopening of the economy at the start of May and have now reached the final phase, including reopening the borders.

Leaders across Europe are desperately trying to restart the tourist sector in time for the lucrative summer season, in an attempt to mitigate damage to their economies.

Most major European countries - including Spain, Italy, Germany and France - now allow visitors in freely with no need to quarantine.

But the UK, which did not go into lockdown until March 23 and still has a high daily case toll compared to its neighbours, is continuing to insist that all arrivals - including its own citizens - must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.

That has made foreign tourism difficult or impossible for many, especially as workplaces reopen following months of working from home.
The mullet hairdo has been banned by a Catholic high school in Perth after it was classified as an 'extreme hairstyle' that should be 'rectified' before the start of term.

A note was posted in a Mater Dei College Facebook group earlier this week after some Year 8 boys at the school attended class with 'a hairstyle that resembles a mullet'.

A Reddit user posted a screenshot of the message, which read: 'Please note that this is seen as an extreme hairstyle and not in keeping with the personal presentation of a Mater Dei student.'

The note was posted in a Mater Dei College Facebook group earlier this week after some Year 8 boys at the Perth school attended class with 'a hairstyle that resembles a mullet'

There is no mention of the mullet (stock image) being banned in the school's student handbook, but there are a series of regulations surrounding appropriate hairstyles

'If your son currently has this style, please ensure this is rectified by the start of Term three.'

There is no mention of the mullet being banned in the school's student handbook, but there are a series of regulations surrounding appropriate hairstyles.

According to the handbook, students' hair should be 'conservative'.

'Shaving, layering, wedges, tails, spiking or extreme styling is not acceptable,' the handbook reads.

Reddit users were shocked by the school's statement.

'This is downright anti-Australian!' one person wrote.

'You're not allowed to have any kind of personality or self expression in private school,' claimed another.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mater Dei College for comment.

Mater Dei College (maps image pictured) is located in Perth, Western Australia

The ban comes soon after Western Australian premier Mark McGowan jumped to the defence of Cooper Allin, who was rejected from a bar on his 18th birthday because he was sporting the famous Australian do.

Mr McGowan said on Monday that 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 premier told reporters.

'I'd just encourage people with mullets to rise up and rebel.'

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 t-shirt and shorts, he joined the queue for 10 minutes but was stopped by a bouncer.

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

'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,' Allin 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.

'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

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 contacted El Grotto for comment.
Due to the travel restrictions of COVID-19, the 99th Annual Meeting of T&G Global Limited was held as a virtual meeting through a live webcast, commencing at 9:00am New Zealand time.

Prof. Klaus Josef Lutz chaired the meeting, with addresses made by the Chairman and by the Chief Executive, Gareth Edgecombe.

After summarising the performances of the Companys various divisions in the 2019 financial year, Prof. Klaus Lutz outlined key areas of focus and potential opportunities for the future:

 In May 2020, T&G acquired Freshmax New Zealands domestic business, further strengthening T&Gs New Zealand Produce business, which has been rebranded to T&G Fresh;

 Continued strong focus on international growth, developing new categories, simplifying the Companys operating model and using its vast resources more effectively;

 COVID-19 has raised the awareness of food and its importance in terms of accessibility, and the need to simplify supply chains to ensure the smooth and continuous flow of produce globally - T&G is well prepared to harness these opportunities;

 The pandemic has also accelerated the uptake of technology by creating opportunities to directly connect with customers and consumers and to bypass traditional distribution channels;

 Future workforce plans will need to factor in the opportunities for COVID-19 impacted unemployed New Zealanders, alongside skilled and trained RSE seasonal workers.

The Chairman noted the significant contribution of retiring Director Mr Mau Wah Liu over the last three years. Mr Liu had advised that he will not be standing for re-election at this meeting.

Acknowledgement was made to former Chairman, Tony Gibbs, who recently passed away. Mr Gibbs led the then Turners and Growers for 16 years, until 2011, and during his tenure the business grew to be a significant player in the international fresh produce industry.

In his presentation Chief Executive Gareth Edgecombe highlighted the following:

 Significant growth potential due to growing global population and consumers increasingly seeking out healthy, trusted food;

 Operating profit increased in 2019 by 6% to $16.5 million despite a number of one-off costs including restructure-related costs, reduction of the fair value in biological assets, Holidays Act remediation and various transactional initiatives;

 Key performance drivers included:

o Strong sales and margin growth in key markets;

o A premium position in the US for Envy with increased sales by 43%;

o Further divestment of non-core assets with more productive use of freed up capital (e.g. sale of the Mt Wellington site for $65 million, acquisition of Freshmax New Zealand Limited).

- These drivers were impacted by:

o Adverse New Zealand weather impacting apple volumes and sizes;

o Oversupply of commodity apple varieties in Europe impacting prices;

o Mild New Zealand winter resulting in price volatility and oversupply of tomatoes in New Zealand.

Mr Edgecombe further outlined T&Gs strategy with 2019 being the foundational year for growing great brands, winning in key markets, and leading Aotearoas fresh produce future.

COVID-19 has resulted in a very challenging first half of 2020, including soft demand in some markets, price pressure and supply chain challenges. In the outlook for 2020, Mr Edgecombe highlighted the following areas of focus:

- Engaging the team by building a performance culture with health and safety being a critical priority, and by harnessing digital tools and flexible ways of working;

- Executing key initiatives well, including maximising sales opportunities across key markets and integrating Freshmax New Zealand to unlock synergy benefits;

- Mitigating COVID-19 risks by managing ongoing supply and demand constraints while tightly controlling costs;

- Improving financial performance.

A number of shareholders took the opportunity to question the Board and management regarding the financial statements and other matters.

Source: T&G Global Limited

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When the Massachusetts Gaming Commission gave its support to a tentative date for live racing to begin at Plainridge Park, it was contingent on Phase-3 of the governors reopening plan beginning on schedule. That has not happened and the track's starting date has changed.

On Friday (June 19), Governor Baker announced that he was extending Phase-2 by one week so he could get a look at two weeks of indoor dining data before making a decision on starting Phase-3.

As a result, if Phase-3 does begin after that one week extension, qualifiers at Plainridge would be held on Monday, July 6 and Thursday, July 9, and then the opening day of live racing for the 2020 season would take place on Monday, July 13.

Any further delay of implementing Phase-3 will also result in another delay in the racing dates listed.

The condition sheets for qualifiers are now on the United States Trotting Associations website (ustrotting.com) with a double draw to be held for those qualifiers. You must declare by 9:00 a.m. Thursday morning (July 2) for the draw for Monday, July 6 and Thursday, July 9.

Horsemen and women are also reminded to renew their Massachusetts racing licenses in advance of the start of live racing. With limited access to the judges office due to social distancing, it is suggested you print an application from the MGC website (https://massgaming.com/licensing/horse-racing-licenses/), fill it out and return it with a cheque. MGC personnel will be working prior to the track's opening to process all applications received in order to avoid any kind of last minute rush.

(Plainridge Park)
Celebrated Afghan scholar Najib Mayel Heravi has lived in neighboring Iran for nearly 50 years, penning scores of acclaimed books and other treatises on ancient Persian manuscripts, literature, and Islamic mysticism.



The 68-year-old native of Herat in western Afghanistan has an Iranian wife, and both of his sons were born in Iran.



But with only temporary residency, Heravi has lived for decades in constant dread of deportation. Iran has routinely expelled members of its estimated 3.5 million-strong Afghan community, many of whom have no legal status and are deprived of basic rights.



Those fears materialized when Iranian authorities in April issued a 15-day deadline for Heravi to leave the country, a move that shocked and infuriated his family. They gave no reason for the threat against a man who had twice been honored by Iran's president -- in 2015 and 2017 -- for his lifetime of research into Persian and Islamic manuscripts.



In desperation, his eldest son, Shahab Heravi, staged a drastic protest. Drenching himself in gasoline, the younger Heravi set himself on fire on May 16 outside the Iranian Foreign Ministry office in the northeastern city of Mashhad.



Heravi, who suffered burns to 58 percent of his body, was in a coma for a week at the city's Imam Reza Hospital. But he survived, after receiving treatment for nearly a month. Now at home, he uses an oxygen tank to help him breathe.



In a phone interview with RFE/RL, Heravi said he was forced to take a stand because of the "the Iranian government's humiliating treatment of my father, the government's failure to fulfill its promises to my father, and the failure to grant my father Iranian citizenship after living in Iran for 49 years."



"Of course, this was not just to protest my father's treatment," he said. "It was also against the mistreatment of Afghans in Iran who do not even have access to basic rights."

The case has served to highlight the discrimination suffered by documented and undocumented Afghans in Iranian society, where many are subjected to abuse and injustice.



It comes weeks after the deaths of three Afghan migrants in a car blaze in central Iran provoked outrage in Afghanistan, after reports that the vehicle went up in flames after being shot at by Iranian police.



In May, Afghan officials accused Iranian border guards of killing 45 Afghan migrant workers by forcing them at gunpoint into a river along the two countries' 900-kilometer border.



The two events sent Afghans protesting in the streets and on social media to denounce Iranian authorities.



'Government Pressure'



Shahab Heravi's self-immolation was only reported after he was discharged from the hospital on June 15. In an Instagram post the following day, Heravi uploaded a graphic photo of himself in the hospital. He is pictured fixed to an oxygen mask, his face disfigured by extensive burns.



In the post, Heravi wrote that due to his father's "residency problems" and the "government's pressure on him," he decided to set himself on fire.



Since then, the photo has gone viral on social media, with Afghans and Iranians condemning the widespread discrimination against Afghans in Iran, which shares deep historical, cultural, and linguistic ties with Afghanistan.



After the protest that nearly took his life, Heravi alleged that the Iranian Intelligence Ministry "indirectly" warned him not to speak to the media and accused him of "trying to create tension between Afghanistan and Iran."



But Heravi said he could not remain silent, warning he would set himself on fire again, this time in front of the United Nations office in the capital, Tehran, if his father was not made a citizen.



Heravi said Iranian authorities last year granted his father a temporary residency permit. But he said that status bars his father from traveling outside the country, including to his native Afghanistan.



Heravi also said authorities had denied his father royalties and copyright on his works. An anthropologist, researcher, and author, the senior Heravi has written or edited 102 books in Iran. The Tehran Times, the Iranian government's own newspaper targeting English-language readers abroad, has described him as "a remarkable figure in Iranian studies, calligraphy and paleography."



His son also said the government had given inadequate housing to his father, who he said was in "extreme financial difficulty" and was suffering from depression.

On June 17, the Iranian government announced it had agreed to grant citizenship to Heravi, saying the process was at the "last administrative and legal steps."



Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance also said that it had awarded Heravi its highest medal for artistic achievement, praising him for his "many years of cultural service" to Iran, his contribution to the Persian language and literature, and promoting "cultural ties" between Afghanistan and Iran.



The statement said that, in coordination with the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, he would be presented with a residential unit in Mashhad.



Coming one month and a day after Shahab Heravi's self-immolation, neither the official statement nor reports in the official Iranian press made any mention of the protest.



Now, the younger Shahab has said, his father will not accept the offer of Iranian citizenship until the government fulfills all its promises and pays him full compensation for his work.



"We will then decide whether to accept," he said.



Heravi said he would continue to work to highlight the plight of Afghans living in Iran, adding that his father "is just one example of how the Iranian government discriminates against Afghans."



Afghanistan's acting foreign minister, Hanif Atmar, visited Tehran on June 21 as tensions persisted over the Afghan migrant deaths in Iran.



In a joint statement, the sides said they agreed to sign an agreement of strategic cooperation within the next three months that would legalize the presence of Afghan migrants in Iran and give them access to education, work, and health care.



History Of Discrimination



International human rights groups have documented years of violations against Afghan refugees and migrants in Iran, including physical abuse, detention in unsanitary and inhumane conditions, forced payment for transportation and accommodation in camps, slave labor, and the separation of families.



In 2015, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a decree allowing all Afghan children to go to school. But Afghans are still denied many other basic services, including access to medical care, jobs, and housing.

On June 5, Iranian police opened fire on a car carrying Afghan migrants, causing it to explode in flames. Three Afghans were killed and five wounded. Iranian authorities said police fired on the vehicle because they suspected that it was carrying drugs and undocumented migrants.



Angry Afghans staged dozens of rallies across Afghanistan to demand action by their government in Kabul.



In May, dozens of Afghans illegally crossed into Iran and were detained by Iranian border guards who allegedly beat, tortured, and then forced them to jump into the Harirud, a 1,100 kilometer-long river shared by Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. Many of them drowned.

Iranian officials denied the incident took place on Iranian soil. But Afghan and Iranian authorities launched a joint investigation, the results of which have not yet been released.



And in December 2018, a viral video appeared to show an Iranian police officer slapping, insulting, and humiliating a group of Afghan migrants.

For decades, Afghans weary of war and poverty have turned to Iran to earn a living. Tehran has expelled many Afghans -- who are often blamed for insecurity and unemployment -- and periodically threatens those who remain with mass expulsion.



Many other Afghans moved to Iran following the decade-long Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the long civil war that followed the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.



Others sought refuge in Iran after the fundamentalist Taliban took power in Afghanistan. After the U.S.-led invasion that followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, some Afghans left for Iran in search of jobs, although hundreds of thousands of them returned last year amid a crippling economic crisis in that country.



So far in 2020, more than 337,000 Afghans living in Iran have returned home, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Some have returned due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit Iran particularly hard, and the worsening economic situation there. A lot of Afghans take on menial work that many Iranians are not interested in.
Sales of personal computers are increasing in the nation thanks to demand from workers shifting to teleworking, in order to prevent infection with the novel coronavirus.

In a bid to win business opportunities related to changes in work styles amid the epidemic, PC-makers have launched products suited for online conferences and equipped with enhanced security features.

According to research firm BCN Inc., sales of notebook PCs grew 46 percent in April year on year and 51 percent in May.

The spikes reflected robust demand from teleworkers and students attending online classes introduced at universities across the country amid the virus crisis.

Before the outbreak, PC sales had been projected to shrink, due to a pullback in demand after a last-minute surge before the end in January of Microsoft Corp.as support service for its Windows 7 operating system.
New York, June 24 : The US on Wednesday slammed Pakistan for continuing to be a safe haven for terrorist groups and for failing to prosecute Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) boss Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) Mumbai attack mastermind Sajid Mir.

The State Department's Country Reports on Terrorism said: "Islamabad has yet to take decisive actions against Indian- and Afghanistan-focused militants." Pakistan has "made no effort to use domestic authorities to prosecute other terrorist leaders such as JeM founder Masood Azhar and Sajid Mir, the mastermind of LeT's 2008 Mumbai attacks, both of whom are widely believed to reside in Pakistan under the protection of the state, despite government denials," said the report released by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

"Pakistan continued to serve as a safe haven for certain regionally-focused terrorist groups," the report said.

The report said that India "suffered terrorist attacks in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the northeastern Indian states, and parts of central India".

As "India continued to apply sustained pressure to detect, disrupt, and degrade terrorist activities within its borders," the report said Washington and New Delhi increased counter-terrorism cooperation.

The report found Islamabad failing to keep its word on ending the hosting of all terrorist groups.

"Pakistan's progress on the most difficult aspects of its 2015 National Action Plan to counter terrorism remains unfulfilled - specifically its pledge to dismantle all terrorist organisations without delay and discrimination," the report said.

Islamabad did not meet all the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan to end financing of terrorists, the report said.

"In 2019, Pakistan made some progress toward meeting the action plan requirements for the FATF, allowing it to avoid being blacklisted, but did not complete all action plan items," it said.

The report, however, also acknowledged that "Pakistan took modest steps in 2019 to counter terror financing and to restrain some India-focused militant groups following the February attack on a security convoy in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir claimed by Pakistan-based JeM".

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
A man takes a picture of a swarm of locusts in Allahabad, India, on June 11, 2020.

SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images

Massive locust swarms have been destroying crops across huge stretches of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East this year.

Kenya had its worst infestation in 70 years, while India, Ethiopia, and Somalia haven't been devastated this badly in decades.

Experts say the locusts have been thriving due to climate change, poor monitoring, and a lack of resources caused by the pandemic.

Aid groups and local governments have managed to kill about 450 billion locusts this year. But with funding running out in August, that effort could be in vain.

In a worst-case scenario, an additional 5 million people will go hungry because of the swarms' devastation.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Massive swarms of locusts have devastated large swathes of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East since January, threatening food supplies for millions.

This year, Kenya had its worst infestation in 70 years, and India, Ethiopia, and Somalia had the worst infestations they've had in 25 years.

The reason for the outbreaks, according to The New York Times, is climate change, which has caused warmer weather and more rain ideal conditions for locusts to thrive.

Alongs with the weather, poor monitoring due to armed conflicts  especially in war-torn Yemen, where the current outbreak began  and a lack of resources caused by the coronavirus pandemic, has led to locusts swelling in numbers that haven't been reported in decades.

A man takes pictures of a swarm of locusts in Allahabad, India, on June 11, 2020.

SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images

Without more intervention, locusts could cause millions of people in 23 countries to go hungry by December, according to NBC News.

In a worst-case scenario, an additional 5 million people will go hungry because of the infestations. That's on top of the 20 million that already don't have good enough access to food, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Cyril Ferrand, head of FAO's East Africa resilience team, told NBC News that FAO and local governments had managed to kill about 450 billion locusts by spraying pesticides.

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But funding only goes until the end of August, Ferrand said, and non-stop aid was necessary to keep the insects in check.

"There is a real risk here that all our efforts since January are in vain," he said.

Desert locusts are the most damaging breed, found in about 30 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. They can eat their weight in food every day, Business Insider's Natalie Colarossi previously reported.

They only live for about three to five months, but breed quickly, and a plague can last over a decade.

By the end of June, locusts are expected to move west on changing winds.

Melissa Williams, a rural development specialist with the World Bank, told NBC News the concern is they'll go deeper into West Africa and hurt some of the least developed nations in the world.

FAO's locust forecasting expert Keith Cressman told The Guardian the weather will greatly impact how long the crisis continues, and which countries will be affected.

"It's not a problem that starts in one place and ends in one place, it's a rolling emergency," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
This is the terrifying moment a mother led her children to safety before the ground collapsed under their feet into a sinkhole.

The footage filmed in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine comes as the country has been hit with its worst flooding in decades, with three people dying.

Hundreds have fled their homes in the west of the country, while a hospital was evacuated in Galych, including patients with coronavirus.

In the footage, the young mother flees from an affected mountain area moments before the ground beneath her vanished.

A mother leads her children to safety as a road collapses into a sinkhole behind them the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine due to heavy flooding in the country

A massive sinkhole forms seconds after the family reach safety as the children scream in terrifying footage

The mother, carrying an orange umbrella, gingerly treads over the tarmac road towards the camera with her two children in tow behind her shouting.

As she turns to check on them, the ground where they had just walked collapses in on itself.

One of the children lets out a scream as a huge sinkhole forms connecting to a mud bank two or three yards from where they stand.

The family look back as rocks continue to fall from the mud bank and trees bend from their roots in the devastation.

Ukraine's Emergency Situation workers evacuate residents of the flooded village of Lanchyn in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, today

A collapsed bridge over the Chornyi Cheremosh river in Kryvorivnya village, Ivano-Frankivsk region, destroyed by floods yesterday

Prime Minister Denys Shmygal, who flew to the disaster zone with the interior minister and the head of the emergency services, said: 'The situation is critical.'

The scale of this flood already exceeded the one in 2008, when 39 people were killed in western Ukraine, he said.

Floods caused by heavy rains that began this week hit 200 villages, damaging 5,000 homes and forcing the evacuation of 800 people, the interior ministry said.

The worst-hit region is Ivano-Frankivsk on the Romanian border.

The Ukrainian Inter Ministry took this picture of flooded villages in Ivano-Frankivsk region this morning

The scale of this flood already exceeded the one in 2008, when 39 people were killed in western Ukraine, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmygal

Around 70 percent of monthly rainfall in some regions fell over several days, said Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

More than 100 kilometres (60 miles) of road and around 90 bridges have been destroyed, according to the interior ministry.

Authorities are to start deliveries of food by helicopter to villages cut off by the flood waters.

The flooding has affected other Eastern European countries including Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where a landslide cut off a main connecting road between Tuzla and the capital Sarajevo.
ROCKVILLE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced that Amgen has joined its new corporate membership program as a Champion-level member.

AKF and Amgen have a long history of partnership in the fight against kidney disease. For more than three decades, Amgen has supported AKF and its programs, including the AKF Clinical Scientist in Nephrology research program, the AKF Calendar Kids Program for children living with kidney disease, and most recently as the lead underwriter of AKF's FIRST30 educational campaign for patients new to dialysis. Over the years Amgen has provided significant support for AKF's Disaster Relief Program which provides emergency grants to dialysis patients affected by natural disasters.

Amgen also funded a major survey AKF undertook of dialysis patients and renal professionals which provided insights into the obstacles patients face in adhering to their treatment regimens. AKF published a report in 2018, "Barriers to Treatment Adherence for Dialysis Patients," based on the results of the survey.

Amgen's corporate membership in AKF will help to fund AKF's broad range of programs and services that fight kidney disease on all fronts and help people live healthier lives. AKF directly touches the lives of more kidney patients than any other kidney nonprofit, working to advance kidney disease awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment and research. A top-rated charity, AKF spends 97 cents of each donated dollar on patients and programs, not overhead.

"We are pleased that Amgen has joined AKF as a Champion-level member, underscoring their commitment to improving the health of those who are living with kidney disease," said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF president and CEO. "Amgen has been a part of many of our important initiatives over the years and we welcome this additional support to fund our vital programs."

"Amgen Nephrology is proud and privileged to join the American Kidney Fund as a corporate member in its mission to fight kidney disease. Amgen is proud of its longstanding support and partnership with the American Kidney Fund and the ongoing support for better patient care," said Ned Endler, executive director, Amgen Nephrology.

AKF's new corporate membership program is open to institutional partners that support AKF's core mission of fighting kidney disease and helping people live healthier lives. It provides essential direct support that helps fund AKF's work fighting kidney disease on all fronts-from prevention through post-transplant living.

To learn more about AKF's corporate membership program, please contact Fiona Lawless, senior director of corporate engagement, at flawless@kidneyfund.org or 301.984.6635.

About Us

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation's leading kidney nonprofit. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease-from prevention through transplant. With programs that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy, no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. AKF is one of the nation's top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Contacts

Alice Andors 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852 Senior Director of Communications Work: 240-292-7053 Mobile: 703-609-6085 aandors@kidneyfund.org KidneyFund.org



SOURCE: American Kidney Fund

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595090/Amgen-Joins-American-Kidney-Fund-Corporate-Membership-Program-at-Champion-Level
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Wisconsin Governor Prepared to Activate National Guard After Vandals Tear Down Statues, Assault Senator

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said officials may activate the National Guard after a night of chaos in Madison, including an assault of a state senator.

Evers, a Democrat, said Wednesday morning that what unfolded in Madison presented a stark contrast from the peaceful protests we have seen across our state in recent weeks, including significant damage to state property.

I want to be clear: violence against any person  is wrong. It should never be tolerated. Any single act of injustice against one person is less justice for all of us, and the people who committed these acts of violence will be held accountable, he said.

Vandals late Tuesday tore down statues of the state motto, Forward, and Col. Hans Christian Heg, an anti-slavery activist who fought for the Union in the Civil War, in Madison.

Officials are assessing damage inflicted on state property and both statues have been recovered, Evers said.

Hans Heg, an anti-slavery activist who was killed in the Civil War while fighting for the Union. (National Park Service)

We are prepared to activate the Wisconsin National Guard to protect state buildings and infrastructure and are continuing to work with local law enforcement to understand their response to last nights events and their plan to respond to similar events in the future, he added.

The mob also assaulted state Sen. Tim Carpenter, a Democrat, who was filming a standoff with police.

Carpenter said he was punched and kicked in the head, neck, and ribs by 8 to 10 people for trying to capture the scene on video.

Innocent people are going to get killed, he said in a social media statement.

Video footage showed Carpenter on the ground and a reporter on the scene said his crew called paramedics for the lawmaker.

Vandals took down and dragged statues of Wisconsins motto and Heg from the statehouse in Madison and broke windows in a number of buildings, including the City County Building, the Madison Police Department said. They also threw a Molotov cocktail into that building.

I took this pic- it got me assaulted & beat up. Punched/kicked in the head, neck, ribs. Maybe concussion, socked in left eye is little blurry, sore neck & ribs. 8-10 people attacked me. Innocent people are going to get killed. Capitol locked- stuck in office.Stop violence nowPlz! pic.twitter.com/Zw2hdfYG66  Tim Carpenter (@TimCarpenterMKE) June 24, 2020

The group, consisting of 200 to 300 people, initially moved through the downtown, blocking intersections and obstructing driveways.

As the groups behavior escalated, they entered a private condominium building and surrounded a towing vehicle (requiring the driver to abandon the vehicle), the department said in a statement.

After the statues were removed, the group tried to break into the State Capitol building but were stopped by police officers.

It wasnt clear if any arrests were made.

Reporters indicated the groups roving downtown were upset after a black activist was arrested after causing a disturbance outside a restaurant. A police report said the suspect entered the outdoor seating area holding a bat and using a bullhorn to make loud statements.

The suspect, identified as Devonere Johnson, resisted arrest and was charged with disorderly conduct while armed, resisting, and attempted escape.
NEW HAVEN  The Connecticut Food Bank will offer residents the chance to drive through Bowen Field and pick up food Thursday afternoon, according to a release.

The drive-thru mobile pantry will be set up at Bowen Field, located at Sherman Parkway and Munson Street, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., according to the organization.

The distribution is in partnership with the City of New Haven and with support from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and United Way of Greater New Haven, said Paul Shipman, the organizations senior director for marketing, communication, and government relations. The distribution will offer fresh and nonperishable food and will be accessible to walk up and drive-through visitors.

Officials said vehicles should enter the site on Munson Street and follow all parking and safety instructions, with pedestrians asked to seek direction at the site for how to safely pick up food.

A contactless system to distribute food will be used, officials said.

Dan Gomez, chief operating officer of the Connecticut Food Bank, thanked Mayor Justin Elicker for his assistance and providing Bowen Field as a distribution site. Elicker announced he would volunteer at the pop-up pantry in a separate release.

Gomez noted the organization is grateful for the support that allows it to distribute food, particularly as demand has increased during the coronavirus pandemic.

During this unprecedented time, Connecticut Food Bank is working with our partners across the state to provide critical meals to our neighbors struggling with increased need because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Gomez. The need for emergency and supplemental food has increased significantly in the past months. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from individuals, organizations and companies statewide that make this assistance possible.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
A new school year will begin in a little over a month in many parts of the country, and parents and teachers have more questions than answers.

What will school look like? Will it be safe? Will students and teachers be able to return to their school buildings? Should they?

Most reopening plans  like those just announced in Hillsborough County, Florida  include options for face-to-face, virtual or a hybrid of the two models of teaching, with the primary goal of returning to face-to-face teaching. Others like Fairfax County, Virginia, are offering parents a choice between in-person or virtual options for school this fall.

As COVID-19 numbers spike in states like Texas, Florida, and Arizona, some parents are eager to send their kids back to their friends and familiar surroundings while others are worried.

"I have literally no idea what to do," Atlanta-area mom Miranda Wicker told TODAY Parents. "Our school district is taking parent input on three separate options, and we have to decide by July 17th  two and a half weeks ahead of our usual first of August start date  whether we want to send them to school online."

Atlanta-area mom Miranda Wicker is debating whether to send her 8-year-old daughter back to school if Georgia schools reopen at the beginning of August or to continue school on a virtual platform for safety's sake. (Miranda Wicker / Miranda Wicker)

Wicker has risk factors that make her especially vulnerable to COVID-19. Her children are 11 and 8 years old.

"I'm not entirely convinced we have the full picture of how things are going in Georgia, and without adequate information, deciding whether to send them to school each day like normal or keep them home for more involved digital learning feels like an impossible choice," she said.

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Parents aren't the only ones with reservations. Marjorie Soffer, a 25-year veteran teacher in Boynton Beach, Florida, who also has two children of her own, said no matter how much she misses her students, the logistics of returning "terrifies" her.

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"I teach 115 sixth graders. They each are in contact with hundreds of others all day. How are we doing this safely?" she said.

"I dont have the physical space in my room to do it. I have tables, not desks. Can my kids touch the 5,000 books I have lovingly collected for them? Can we use chrome books? Who is getting me Clorox wipes, since I cant find any? So many questions."

Soffer is on a task force preparing for the reopening at her school, but she said there are still so many questions that her principal can't answer.

"The hybrid model cant work for teachers' kids," she said. "How do they work four days and their kids only go to school two days on campus? My kids are old enough to stay alone, but many are not."

If their students come back to school, Soffer said teachers are wondering how they will find subs to cover for them if someone gets sick. "When we cant find subs, we normally split classes, but if youre doing social distancing and reduced class sizes, you cant do that," she said.

"And lets say I do get sick. Do all 115 of my students have to quarantine? Do my own two children have to quarantine? Do all of their friends have to quarantine?" she added.

Marjorie Soffer is trying to weigh the options for both herself and her children, ages 12 and 9, for the school year starting in August in Florida. Over the summer, her kids have enjoyed Zoom cooking camp and other activities from a distance. (Marjorie Soffer / Marjorie Soffer)

Dr. Erika Petersen, a neurosurgeon in Little Rock, Arkansas, told TODAY Parents that sending her child back to school could risk her ability to do her job.

"One of my worries is that if my child is exposed to a positive child, then my son, my husband and I all have to quarantine for 14 days as part of the contact tracing and quarantine public health program," she said. "An immediate and unexpected absence from work for 14 days is not ideal, to say the least."

For other families, the need to get children back in school outweighs their concerns about COVID-19, especially for households with two parents working outside the home.

"Im scared to send her back, but shell be OK," said Atlanta, Georgia, mom Leslie Tyrone of her 10-year-old daughter. "The lost socialization and maturation that happens in the school setting is the bigger long-term risk in my opinion."

Tyrone said her daughter misses her school community.

"She thrives in team sports, which she cannot do now, she misses her friends despite all weve done to connect her with them virtually, and her sleep-away camp is closed," she said. "We're worried about her mental health as a result of hanging with two working parents all day."

"I want my son to go back," agreed Meredith Turnage of Longwood, Florida, who has a son in high school. "He needs in-class instruction and socialization. He did not enjoy doing the mounds of work each day at home. I feel his school will provide the healthiest option possible."

Turnage is an elementary school teacher. "I will be going back to work in person if allowed. The kids need us," she said. "Their growth as learners is important. I dont think the last two months of school my students learned very much, even though I tried my best. If we have to go back to distance learning, it is what it is, but I dont think its best for their education or mental health."

Andrew Potter, a first grade teacher at Excelsior Elementary School in Excelsior, Minnesota, feels similarly about his students, but has concerns. He worries about the risk for everyone at school, from teachers to older support staff, as well as the families at home.

"Were all part of a community," he said. "Im not willing to put their lives at risk just to get all the kids back in the building."
The state government on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that the state Disaster Management Committee headed by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in its meeting on June 22 had decided that the state could not permit conducting of pending ICSE exams to be held from July 2 in view of Covid-19 pandemic. Advocate General Kumbhakoni submitted that the state had consistently maintained that it was principally against conducting exams in view of the pandemic.

A division bench of justice Dipankar Datta and justice S S Shinde while hearing the public interest litigation filed by Arvind Tiwari, a parent and advocate seeking cancellation of the class 10 and 12 board exams of the CISCE that were rescheduled in July was informed by the state that it had arrived at a decision on whether it would permit the exams to be held.

Kumbhakoni submitted a note by Vandana Krishna, additional chief secretary, school education which stated that a meeting of the State Disaster Management Committee was held through video conferencing on June 22 under the chairmanship of the chief minister. The note says that the following decision was taken, It was decided that the state cannot permit the conduct of the ICSE exams from 2 nd July, 2020 given the current COVID-19 situation in the state. This decision may be conveyed to the Honble Bombay High Court.

When petitioners supporting conduction of exams in July informed the court that some states could allow conduction of the rescheduled exams, the court asked Kumbhakoni what would be the states stand in such a scenario. The AG submitted said that the council was free to take the students to adjoining states and get them to appear for the exams there. He said that thereafter the board after taking due precautions could get the students back to the state.

On the question of whether the above decision was applicable for the pending exams of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as well, Kumbhakoni who was assisted by government pleader Poornima Kantharia submitted that the state had not addressed the issue as the petition was pertaining to CISCE exams. He added that the issue would be addressed as and when the CBSE approached it.

As the issue of the CISCE having to submit the methodology of grading students who did not opt for physical exams is pending, the bench posted the hearing for June 29 after it was informed that the centre was yet to reply to the direction by Allahabad High Court regarding conduction of exams.
In a significant development amid Indo-China border tension, both sides have arrived at a mutual consensus to disengage from all the friction points in Ladakh on Tuesday. However, the disengagement process might take months before normalcy returns in Ladakh. This is because the disengagement process between India and China will be done in a phased manner that will involve de-induction of troops, artillery and armour.

According to India Today TV, de-escalation at Pangong and Galwan clash could be the most challenging. Pangong Lake is the original flashpoint that triggered long-standing skirmishes between the two armies since the faceoff on May 5. Galwan Valley is the region where violent clashes took place on June 15, leading to the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers.

Last month, in the northern bank of the Pangong lake, Chinese soldiers enhanced their fortifications, observation posts and troop deployment between Finger 4 and Finger 8. Finger 4 has been under India's control and Finger 8 has been considered a grey zone. It must be noted that Pangong lake is divided into eight fingers. In military parlance the mountainous spurs jutting out into the lake are referred to as fingers. This means China will have to retreat from Finger 4 and also remove their fortifications, bunkers and observations posts between Finger 4 and Finger 8.

Indian and Chinese militaries have engaged in a bitter standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Gogra Hot Spring and several other areas in eastern Ladakh for the last six weeks.

The first round of the Lt Gen talks was held on June 6 during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley.

The government had given the armed forces "full freedom" to give a "befitting" response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC. The Army had 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.

According to India Today, ground commanders will hold a series of meetings in the next couple of weeks to finalise the detailed framework of disengagement.

Since the Galwan Valley clash, India-China held at least three-rounds of Major-General-level talks to explore ways to bring down tension.

Also read: RIL deal: Mukesh Ambani closes in on $15 billion-agreement with Saudi Aramco

Also read: Coronavirus crisis in India: Highest spike of nearly 16,000 new cases in 24 hours; total tally surges to 4.56 lakh
Digital literacy work  which involves teaching folks to use computers so they arent left behind by societal digitization  often plays out through classroom instruction, library initiatives, or direct outreach at community events. COVID-19 and social distancing, however, have made all of that limited or impossible.As a result, public servants on the front lines of the efforts  a group that most often includes librarians but in recent years has grown in some places to encompass city hall staffers with connections to the central IT shop  have had to develop new approaches to helping more citizens learn to use technology.This has manifested in a few different efforts at the community level and will likely continue to do so nationwide. Chief among these new efforts is a program called Digital Navigators . Created by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), this program is described by officials in its simplest sense as an adaptation of traditional digital inclusion programming to this new reality, providing one-to-one dedicated support via phone service. This service will be accomplished by trained and dedicated staffers.In short, what this concept involves is creating channels for citizens to receive tech support over the phone from local government, librarians, nonprofits, community groups or whoever else was handling digital literacy work in a given area. To help stakeholders accomplish this, the NDIA has developed a baseline job description for staffers to do digital navigator work that can be tailored to meet provincial needs. The description was finalized earlier this month, borne out of a working group of NDIA affiliates formed in April.As the posting notes, the model can be adapted to the capacity you have available, be it newly dedicated full-time employees, cross-trained staff, or volunteers.Angela Siefer, executive director of the NDIA, said there has been a surge in community and cross-sector support for digital literacy work, owing to the COVID-19 crisis confining people to their homes in a way that necessitates the Internet to participate in much of society. At the same time, many traditional channels for accomplishing digital literacy work are hamstrung due to public space closures and distancing.Thats where the Digital Navigator program is designed to help.Some existing local government digital equity programs have also already embraced the concept, among them Philadelphia. Philadelphia has a pre-existing Digital Literacy Alliance Grant program, which has recently been used to fund work around the U.S. Census.In April, the city moved quickly to tailor their existing Digital Literacy Alliance (DLA) grants to support training for Digital Navigator staffers within trusted community organizations still engaged in digital literacy work.Juliet Fink-Yates has been involved with digital literacy work in Philadelphia for many years, and she currently serves as a digital inclusion fellow within city hall. She said when the COVID-19 crisis broke out, the city was aware of the increased need for digital skills training, and at the same time the national push toward the Digital Navigators program began.She said the central question was, How do we help support people when theyre home and they desperately need Internet connectivity but they dont have the skills?So, Philadelphia tailored its DLA grant program to support adding the positions in its own local ecosystem. Three organizations across the city have now received a total of $90,000 in grants in the service of creating the positions.Fink-Yates also sees potential for this program to help bridge the digital divide long term, with the programs set up to reach people remotely lasting on, even at the nebulous point in the future when the virus is no longer a threat.It opens up possibilities of serving people in ways we havent traditionally served them, she said, whether its by phone or text or a Zoom call if they do have a phone.
Eight armed drones, three ballistic missiles reportedly hit Saudi capital but there were no reports of casualties.

Saudi Arabias cabinet has condemned Yemens Houthis for targeting the Saudi capital, Riyadh, with eight armed drones and three ballistic missiles, state news agency SPA said in a statement.

The statement late on Tuesday called the attacks terroristic acts that target civilians and threatened the lives of hundreds of people.

At least two large explosions were heard in Riyadh near dawn on Tuesday and smoke billowed into the sky.

The Houthis said they had hit the Saudi defence ministry and a military base, while a Saudi-led military coalition said it had shot a missile down, making no reference to targets.

There was no sign of damage to the side of the defence ministry building that is visible from the main road or to any surrounding buildings. The area was quiet on Tuesday evening, with normal traffic flows and no additional security measures.





The Houthis have repeatedly fired on Saudi Arabia during the conflict, but had not targeted Riyadh since late March, when Saudi Arabia said it shot down a missile and two residents were injured by falling debris.

Violence between the two sides has surged after the expiry last month of the six-week ceasefire prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yemen has been divided between the Saudi-backed government in the south and the Houthi movement based in the north since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in late 2014 and the Saudi-led coalition intervened a few months later in March 2015.

Since then, tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions have been pushed to the brink of famine, in what the United Nations has called the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech that the group fired several missiles and drones, which pounded military headquarters and centres in Riyadh, including the defence ministry and King Salman Air Base.

Sarea said attacks were also launched against military sites in the southern Saudi cities of Najran and Jizan.

Saudi-led coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki also condemned the latest attack on Riyadh saying it was a deliberate hostile action designed to target civilians.

The coalition had also shot down three missiles headed towards Najran and Jizan and a number of drones, he said.

The conflict in Yemen is largely seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Leading AI-driven fulfillment provider Blue Yonder and DHL deploy new platform for the integration of warehouse robots, built on Microsoft Azure.

First implementation at DHL warehouse in Madrid has already reduced integration time by 60%.

The new platform gives customers greater flexibility in selecting and integrating different robotics vendors into a single solution.

DHL Supply Chain, the global leader in contract logistics and part of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has just launched a new "plug play" robotics platform in collaboration with Microsoft, and leading artificial intelligence (AI) driven digital fulfillment provider Blue Yonder.

The robotics platform significantly reduces integration time and programming efforts to on-board new automation devices into warehouse facilities, while giving DHL customers more flexibility in selecting suitable robotics systems according to their individual business needs. The solution leverages Microsoft Azure IoT and cloud platform services.

"The global deployment of robots and robotic systems is integral to our strategy to support our employees and improve customer operations," says Markus Voss, Global CIO and COO at DHL Supply Chain. "Automation and collaborative robotics help us make operational processes more flexible, ergonomic and more attractive to our employees by replacing monotonous, repetitive and particularly strenuous activities. The aim is not to replace employees over time, but to assign the more attractive and interesting tasks to our human workforce."

Voss adds: "We have more than 2,000 operational sites across DHL Supply Chain, so we know how complex, time-consuming and costly it can be to integrate new robots into existing platforms and connect to our clients' various warehouse management systems. This is exactly where the new platform is so effective. Our first implementation on the new platform with 6 River Systems at one of our Madrid sites is already showing a 60% reduction in integration times, but with subsequent deployments we foresee further improvements of up to 90%."

A first implementation at a DHL Supply Chain facility in Madrid has already demonstrated that the new platform can reduce complexity and accelerate the integration of robotic systems into an existing warehouse management system. At the same time, the platform gives customers greater flexibility in selecting and integrating different robotics vendors in one system. The robotics platform is powered by Blue Yonder's Luminate Platform with machine-learning (ML)-driven task management capabilities that enable the highest level of warehouse operational efficiency.

"Building a resilient and flexible supply chain is essential to respond to constantly changing customer needs. By digitizing their warehouse solutions, DHL is dramatically simplifying the integration of complex IoT systems and unlocking new business opportunities for the logistics industry. The result: greater advancements in speed, global scale, cost reduction, and security," says Sam George, Corporate Vice President Azure IoT at Microsoft.

"By using Blue Yonder's Luminate Platform, DHL was able to offer a solution that can be implemented across all of its distribution center sites seamlessly through a cloud SaaS application. In the age of labor market shortages during peak season, DHL sites can now bring on a robotics vendor quickly to augment its resource capacity and support its workforce," said Girish Rishi, CEO, Blue Yonder. "This project was a true collaboration across all stakeholders."

With this collaboration, DHL Supply Chain, Microsoft and Blue Yonder combine their strengths in customer-centric contract logistics, secure cloud computing at global scale, and seamless end-to-end supply chain integration to improve warehouse management and operational excellence for a wide range of industry customers.

While the new software platform is just one part of DHL Supply Chain's company-wide digitalization strategy that includes the use of DHL's focus technologies such as robots, smart operations through wearable devices and data analytics it plays an essential role in facilitating and accelerating the deployment of new technologies on a large scale.

DHL The logistics company for the world

Deutsche Post DHL Group is the world's leading logistics company. The Group connects people and markets and is an enabler of global trade. It aspires to be the first choice for customers, employees and investors worldwide. The Group contributes to the world through responsible business practice, corporate citizenship and environmental activities. By the year 2050, Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero emissions logistics.

Deutsche Post DHL Group is home to two strong brands: Deutsche Post is Europe's leading postal service provider. DHL offers a comprehensive range of international express, freight transport, and supply chain management services, as well as e-commerce logistics solutions. Deutsche Post DHL Group employs approximately 550,000 people in over 220 countries and territories worldwide. The Group generated revenues of more than 61 billion Euros in 2018.

The logistics company for the world.

Blue Yonder (formerly JDA Software) provides seamless, friction-free commerce, empowering every organization and person on the planet to fulfill their potential. Blue Yonder's machine learning-driven digital fulfillment platform enables clients to deliver to their customers when, how and where they want it. Applying over 35 years of domain expertise, contextual intelligence and data science, Blue Yonder is helping more than 3,000 of the world's leading manufacturers, retailers and logistics companies create more autonomous, sustainable and profitable operations. www.blueyonder.com

"Blue Yonder" is a trademark or registered trademark of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. Any trade, product or service name referenced in this document using the name "Blue Yonder" is a trademark and/or property of Blue Yonder Group, Inc.

Blue Yonder

15059 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 400

Scottsdale, AZ 85254

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005053/en/

Contacts:

Deutsche Post DHL Group

Media Relations

Daniel Pohl

Phone: +49 228 182-9944

E-mail: pressestelle@dpdhl.com

On the Internet: dpdhl.de/press

Follow us at: twitter.com/DeutschePostDHL

Blue Yonder Public Relations Contact:

Marina Renneke, APR, Corporate Communications Manager

Tel: +1 480.308.3037, marina.renneke@blueyonder.com
[June 24, 2020] Convoy Beats Industry Crash Rate by 16% with New Predictive Crash Capability

Convoy, the nation's most efficient digital freight network, today announced an industry-leading application of machine learning and automation to qualify safe drivers. The new approach processes millions of records daily to better correlate the relationship between carrier safety events, such as speeding violations or vehicle maintenance, and related crash data. Already a pioneer in carrier safety standards, Convoy's new technology identifies the safest carriers to allow into its network, yielding 16 percent fewer accidents than the industry average1. Access to a safer carrier network increases on-time deliveries and cost savings for shippers, with lower claim rates and fewer cargo incidents. Commercial crashes are one of the major contributors to cargo loss, which is estimated to exceed $50 billion2 globally. Today, Convoy experiences a cargo claim less than once per 2,000 loads, whereas the industry experiences a cargo claim about once per 100 loads. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005196/en/ Convoy's new predictive crash capability (Graphic: Business Wire) Historically, obtaining access to carrier safety data has been difficult due to a lack of accurate tools and resources. The most widely used information comes from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety dministration's (FMCSA) Carrier Safety and Accountability (CSA) program. The latter generates overall ratings of Unsatisfactory, Conditional, or Satisfactory for carriers; however, 95 percent of carriers have not completed a full compliance review and remain 'not rated', limiting visibility into the vast majority of safety records. This prevents an adequate assessment of carrier safety during hiring and breeds uncertainty and mistrust among shippers.



In contrast, Convoy applies machine learning to more accurately predict a carrier's likelihood of an accident by processing thousands of inputs-such as carrier crash history, vehicle maintenance, and speeding and traffic violations-across millions of records. The machine learning model produces scores for the tens of thousands of carriers in Convoy's network. Convoy's system automatically reviews those scores and qualifies or removes carriers from the network, in real-time, if the carrier falls below safe thresholds. Additionally, the model gets smarter over time, driving continuous improvements with additional data, providing shippers with increasingly high levels of safe and reliable carriers. "Accidents are an unfortunate reality of the transportation industry," said Lorin Seeks, Director of Carrier Quality and Compliance at Convoy. "This model predicts which carriers are likely to get into an accident, enabling us to select the best carriers and build a safer carrier group for our customers. We now believe we have the industry's highest carrier safety standards, which has been echoed to us by insurance providers, auditors, and our customers."

For more information, visit https://convoy.com/shipper/quality-safety-compliance. ABOUT CONVOY Convoy is the nation's most efficient digital freight network. We connect shippers to carriers to move millions of truckloads, saving money for shippers, reducing hassle for carriers, and eliminating carbon waste for our planet. We use technology and data to solve problems of waste and inefficiency in the $800B trucking industry, which generates over 76M metric tons of wasted CO2 emissions from empty trucks. Shippers like Anheuser-Busch, CHEP, P&G, and Unilever, trust Convoy to lower costs, increase logistics efficiency, and achieve environmental sustainability targets. For more information, visit www.convoy.com. _____________________ 1Industry average includes all for-hire motor carriers with active common or contract authority nationally; source, FMCSA 2Source (News - Alert), the National Cargo Security Council (NCSC) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005196/en/

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Detectable mosaic chromosomal alterations increase with age. Credit: RIKEN

A new study by researchers at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science in Japan reports differences in blood cell mutations between Japanese and European populations. The study found that these pre-clinical mutations were strongly associated with different types of cancers and can explain why Europeans have higher rates of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, while Japanese have higher rates of T-cell leukemia. This study was published in Nature on June 24.

Our blood cells are continuously renewed from a stock of blood stem cellscalled HSCslocated in bone marrow. These stem cells produce progenitor cells that give rise to the many different kinds of blood cells. Among these are important lymph cells that make up our immune system, such as T-cells and B-cells. Blood cells that come from the same stem cell or progenitor can be identified by looking at their DNA. For example, all T-cells derived from a particular HSC are clones of each other. If the HSC had a mutation, the same mutation will exist in all the T-cells in that lineage, but not in other T-cells that came from different HSCs.

Although these types of clonal mutations have been studied in European populations, Chikashi Terao and his team at RIKEN IMS suspected that they might find somewhat different results in their older Japanese population of almost 180,000 individuals. Their results showed that clonal mutations had occurred in over 35% of people in their 90s. Data from the UK BioBank yielded similar results, but the overall percentages were a bit lower. "Our findings strongly suggest that chromosomal alterations in hematopoietic clones is an inevitable event in the very old," says Terao. "The higher percentage of mutations in the Japanese population is likely related to the greater average age of the sample."

Nevertheless, more in-depth comparisons with the U.K. BioBank data revealed several differences. The team looked at all mutations in T-cell lineages and found that more than 80% of them occurred in the Japanese population. On the flip side, more than 90% of B-cell lineage mutations occurred in the European sample. These data are consistent with reported cases of leukemia. T-cell leukemia occurs 10 times more often in Japanese people than in Europeans, while chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a B-cell related leukemia, is 5 times more prevalent in Europeans. This does not mean that mutations selectively occurred in different genes depending on the population. Remember, the data only include clonal mutations that survived and replicated enough to be detectable. Terao explains, "We can infer that the advantage of a particular chromosomal mutation differs depending on the genetic and environmental context."

The researchers also found genetic components related to the risk of having clonal HSC mutations. They identified several locations on chromosomes for which genetic variations were associated with increased risk of clonal blood mutations in general, as well three locations related to specific mutations in B-cells. This means that the likelihood or risk of having one of the critical mutations now or in the future can be estimated by looking for these variations in a person's DNA.

Thus, although clonal HSC mutations might be inevitable, we can still do something about it. "Not everyone with these mutations gets cancer", emphasizes Terao. "However, a simple blood test that you can get at any regular health checkup will be able to identify people at risk of leukemia by checking for clonal HSC mutations. A DNA test based on the blood sample can also identify those at high risk of developing the critical HSC mutations in the future."

Explore further Researchers show that positive selection is major force shaping clonal hematopoiesis

More information: Chromosomal alterations among age-related haematopoietic clones in Japan, Nature (2020). www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2426-2 Journal information: Nature Chromosomal alterations among age-related haematopoietic clones in Japan,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2426-2
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ALISO VIEJO, California and LONDON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- UST Global, a leading digital transformation solutions company, announced a strategic investment in London headquartered Ksubaka, a provider of innovative in-store gamified sales, data collection, and marketing tools for retailers. The collaboration combines Ksubaka's platform to deliver fast-to-market solutions and UST Global's broad reach for deep system integrations and working with most of the top retailers in the world.

"At UST Global, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to help our clients find their crucial edge in the rapidly shifting and highly competitive retail market. Ksubaka will help us revolutionize the digital landscape for our retail clients globally," said Sunil Kanchi, Chief Investment Officer, UST Global. "Ksubaka's vast experience in enhancing customer experience and their unique business strategy has helped them carve a niche in the retail industry. Our clients will now have access to a framework that allows retailers to grow their solution, integrate, and scale," he added.

Ksubaka has developed a wide range of cutting-edge products that enable retailers to deliver a superior customer experience. The company's solution portfolio includes Smiles, a customer research app; Cloudshelf, a powerful offline-to-online aisle for retail stores; and Gamified Experience, a range of custom games to connect with customers, encourage exploration, and promote brands.

Ksubaka is on a mission to help retailers get more visitors, convert visitors into customers, and deliver outstanding customer experiences through their robust analytics solutions. Ksubaka enables brands to engage directly with consumers just before they make a purchasing decision through short and interactive games. Their solutions help engage customers, facilitate offline-to-online (O2O), ordering, and harvest rich insights into customer behaviour and attitudes. Using short interactive experiences, playful surveys, and the Cloudshelf product discovery platform, customers have new reasons to visit retail stores.

"Ksubaka is excited to be at the heart of the digitization of physical space that is underway. Our solutions deliver trackable results via touchscreens, without any of the pain points they

are accustomed to," said Julian Corbett, Co-Founder and Chairman, Ksubaka. "We aim to constantly improve the retail space by helping retailers better engage, communicate with, and understand their shoppers. We are very excited to partner with UST Global and deliver these innovative in-store experiences," Giles Corbett, Co-founder and CEO, Ksubaka added.

Ksubaka has helped several retailers drive growth through their shopper-centric approach. Ksubaka assisted an American multinational confectionery, food, and beverage company, with the launch of one of their products in China, where they delivered a campaign through 8,000+ interactive displays across 150 cities. A lifestyle clothing and accessories retailer is using Smiles to improve their net promoter scores (NPS) and learn the ways in real-time to improve customer experience store by store. In another instance, an ultraluxury retailer uses Cloudshelf to help shoppers select their products.

Adapting to the Covid-19 situation of their clients, Ksubaka has released a suite of products to support their return-to-market, most recently a remote temperature sensing kiosk to reassure and help keep safe staff and visitors as they return to stores. For more details about Ksubaka, visit https://ksubaka.com

Media Contacts, Ksubaka:

Andrew Durkin

+44-7887-998407

[email protected]

About UST Global

UST Global is a technology partner dedicated to transforming businesses, communities, and the people who live within them. Operating in 25 countries, we deliver future-ready digital transformation strategy services, products, and platforms that create new possibilities and help you imagine what's next in banking and finance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, semiconductor, technology and media. But what matters most is the deep partnership we forge with you to solve the unique challenges you face today, while preparing you for tomorrow. That's us together. That's UST Global. Visit us at www.UST-Global.com

Media Contacts, UST Global:

Tinu Cherian Abraham

+1-(949)-415-9857



Neha Misri

+91-9972631264

[email protected]

Media Contacts, US:

Suzanne Dawson

S&C PR

+1-646-941-9140

[email protected]

Cecile Fradkin

S&C PR

+1-646-941-9139

[email protected]

SOURCE UST Global
Facebooks FB newly-launched WhatsApp payment service in Brazil is under threat. The countrys central bank has ordered Visa V and Mastercard MA to shut down the project with the Facebook-owned chat app, citing concerns over its anti-competitive nature. The central bank has also raised privacy concerns regarding the service.



WhatsApp launched its mobile payments service last week in partnership with fintech Nubank, Visa, Mastercard and lender Sicredi. It was the first time that WhatsApp had been able to conduct a nation-wide rollout of its payments service in any market. (Read More: Facebook Launches WhatsApp Digital Payment in Brazil)



WhatsApp payment in Brazil depends on the Facebook Pay platform, which was unveiled in late 2019 and aims to let consumers use their saved payment account information -- either for credit/debit cards or a PayPal PYPL account.



WhatsApp had hoped that its payments system could be used to pay businesses as well as transfer money to individuals. The service would be free for individuals but would charge businesses a 3.99% processing fee.

Facebook, Inc. Price and Consensus

Facebook, Inc. Price and Consensus

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Banks to Assess Risk



Facebook started testing WhatsApp Pay in India two years back and is yet to receive the regulatory approval to expand the service nationwide. Banco Central do Brasil's pushback is a serious blow to Facebook's ambitions in the payment space, mirroring the firm's difficulties in gaining regulatory approval in Indias vast marketplace.



Other than its largest market India, WhatsApp has been testing Pay in Mexico.



Banks in the nation have asked WhatsApps payment partners Mastercard and Visa in Brazil to suspend money transfer on the app. Failure to comply with the order would subject the payments companies to fines and administrative penalties.



Private banks have also been wary about opening valuable client data to tech giants such as Facebook. Some executives have also pointed to security issues as well as lack of accountability if a transaction goes wrong.



According to Folha de Sao Paulo, the company will have to appeal against the decision to The General Superintendence of Cade (Administrative Council for Economic Defense). It noted that regardless of the appeals outcome, the countrys court will open a case to decide if WhatsApp and its partners should have notified authorities of the payments services launch in advance.



Brazils central bank suggested it hadnt had the opportunity to analyze the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) companys WhatsApp payment service prior to its rollout. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



In a separate setback, Cade blocked WhatsApp's partnership with credit and debit card operator Cielo to process payments. As Cielo is already Brazil's largest payment processor, a partnership with the biggest messaging service could pose market concentration risks.



WhatsApp Plans PIX Integration



The central bank is preparing to launch its own instant payments system called Pix for which it has secured partnerships with nearly 1,000 industry players. The central bank will enable peer-to-peer and business-to-business transactions in 10 seconds or less via mobile phone, Internet banking or select ATMs, beginning November 2020.



The central bank's move is the latest setback in payments for Facebook, which pared back its plans for a global payments system called Libra after meeting stiff resistance from regulators.



PIX will give more freedom to cryptocurrency exchanges that operate in Brazil and will offer more freedom to users. The entire Bitcoin ecosystem is a big winner from this initiative. Through PIX, for instance, it will be possible to transfer money from one exchange to another in real time with a QR code.



Per Bloomberg report, WhatsApp is committed to working with the central bank to integrate systems once Pix becomes available. More than 5 million merchants around the world use the business version of the app.



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Tesla's Australian chairwoman Robyn Denholm says the world was due for a recession even before the coronavirus pandemic began, but COVID-19 has triggered a downturn much faster than anyone could have anticipated.

You could argue that this time last year we were headed into a recession from a global perspective and different governments around the world, with the stimulus they put in place, actually prevented that from happening," she told Tasmanian business operators in a briefing organised by local tourism body West by North West last week.

"I think this has tipped us into that (recession) much faster than otherwise would have happened," she said.

However, the recession so far has not been a problem for a market disrupter like Tesla which overtook Toyota this month as the world's most valuable carmaker. Tesla shares are currently trading at about $US1000.
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Two visits in three days to Manipur's capital Imphal by North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) chairman Himanta Biswa Sarma and a subsequent meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday with Union Home Minister Amit Shah seem to have ironed out the problems for now for the N Biren Singh-BJP government in the state that had appeared to be in troubled waters.

Sources said the meeting with Shah and Sarma, attended by National People's Party (NPP) chief Conrad Sangma and four of his party MLAs -- Yumnam Joykumar Singh, L Jayentakumar, Letpao Haokip and N Kayisi -- lasted for more than 90 minutes.

Sarma, Sangma and the NPP MLAs later also called on BJP national president JP Nadda at the party headquarters.

Sangma and company conveyed to Shah the problems on ground with the BJP state leadership and how the issue had remained unaddressed despite having been brought up with the Centre earlier.

Shah gave them a patient hearing and an assurance that their concerns would be duly addressed. He also told Sangma that since the NPP is an ally in both Meghalaya and Manipur and also a part of NEDA, they did not do the right thing by going the Congress way instead of raising the matter with them.

After the meeting, Assam Finance Minister Sarma in a tweet said the NPP will continue to support the BJP government in the state for the development of Manipur.

A NPP delegation led by @SangmaConrad and Dy Chief Minister of Manipur Sri Y Joy Kumar Singh met Honble President of @BJP4India Sri @JPNadda ji today in New Delhi. NPP will continue to support BJP govt in Manipur for the development of Manipur Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 24, 2020

Sangma also tweeted to say they will continue to work together in the interests of the people of Manipur.

A positive meeting took place between @amitshah and @himantabiswa and the NPP delegation and we have decided to continue to work together in the interest of people of Manipur Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 24, 2020

It is now given to understand that the four NPP MLAs will soon meet Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla and extend their support to the Biren Singh government.

On the question of whether a change of chief minister face beckons in Manipur, with growing dissent against Biren Singh, the top BJP leadership backeed him and is mindful of bowing under pressure to replace him.

Trouble started before the recent Rajya Sabha polls when nine legislators, including three BJP MLAs, four from NPP, one independent and one from TMC, decided to withdraw support to Biren Singh's government. The three BJP MLAs jumped ship to the Congress.

The BJP, despite this crisis, managed to win the lone Rajya Sabha seat.

The BJP had to rush its troubleshooter Sarma to Manipur. While being there on two occasions in the last three days, Sarma held meetings with various leaders. Speaking at Imphal airport on Tuesday evening, he said, "There are problems and we want to sort it out for once and for all. We will be holding a meeting with our top leaders in Delhi. After this we hope all issues are sorted and we can focus on development and elections."

Earlier on Wednesday, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav said in Imphal, "There is no trouble and our government is stable till 2022."

The problems for Congress, which had rushed Gaurav Gogoi and Ajay Maken to Manipur, are far from over. Top sources indicate at least four MLAs from the party are in touch with the BJP and may soon jump ship.

The problems between BJP's Biren Singh and Bishwajeet Singh have been there from the start. Although Bishwajeet has always eyed the number two position in Manipur government, it has remained elusive. While Biren Singh has been very close to Ram Madhav, Bishwajeet has been known to be a close confidante of Sarma.

Bishwajeet and Biren Singh both made a number of visits to Delhi including one just before 2019 general elections when Nadda met them and had conveyed that the matter was resolved.
Ocean View, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/24/2020 -- The nonwoven protective clothing market report is a comprehensive analysis of this industry. This business landscape, a significant vertical of the global polymers space, has been garnering commendable returns since the last few decades.



Nonwovens are widely used as protective clothing since they offer a variety of benefits as compared to conventional fabric materials, flame retardancy being one of them. Other factors include superior barrier properties, tensile strength, puncture resistance, breathability, cost-effectiveness, and protection from airborne particles.



Growth in industrialization over the last couple of years across the globe has amplified developments in the manufacturing sector. There is a need to protect the workers from various hazards and serious injuries that may occur due to contact with chemicals, physical or other types of contaminations. To understand the lengths to which the manufacturing industry has expanded globally, the manufacturers in the U.S. account for nearly 11.39% of the total output of the economy. In the year 2018, the total output recorded from manufacturing stood at US$2,334.60 billion.



Request for a sample copy of this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4718



Growing need to safeguard worker's health



The United States Department of Labor established the OSHA standards which is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that describes the measures that the employers must adopt in order to protect their employees from hazards. OSHA standards have been established for maritime operations, construction work, and general industries, among others.



These guidelines restrict the number of hazardous chemicals that the workers may be exposed to, require the use of safe practices and protective equipment and also require the employers to monitor hazards and keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses. Nonwoven protective clothing offers superior insulating benefits that remove the risk of workplace accidents.



Strict regulations established in industries in various parts of the world to ensure the safety of the workers is positively influencing nonwoven protective clothing market forecast.



Use of personal protective equipment in healthcare



The healthcare sector has witnessed unprecedented growth over the years due to factors like economic improvement among people, pushing the ability to spend on advanced medical services, along with the rising cases of chronic disorders like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and liver and kidney diseases. An increase in the number of people being admitted to the hospital and undergoing surgical procedures has supported the use of nonwoven protective clothing.



In the medical field, nonwovens are widely used and render protection against biological, chemical, and liquid agents. They are also used to clean hospital rooms and laboratories to protect medical equipment from human contamination.



Nonwoven protective clothing protects medical professionals who may be exposed to harmful bacteria and viruses, bloodborne pathogens, and lethal chemicals. While the world is fighting a devastating COVID-19 pandemic, protective clothing and accessories like face masks and shoe covers made of nonwovens have become an essential component of the comprehensive personal protective equipment or PPE that has been highly recommended for healthcare workers dealing with the coronavirus.



Request for customization @ https://www.gminsights.com/roc/4718



Europe to emerge as a key nonwoven protective clothing market



Reportedly, Article 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU gave European Union the right to establish guidelines in the field of safety and health at work. Member states have the authority to adopt stringent regulations to ensure the protection of workers from chemical and physical hazards. Growing need to ensure personal safety along with the need to ensure hospital hygiene could amplify the regional demand for nonwoven protective clothing.



Europe nonwoven protective clothing market has witnessed considerable gains over the years due to the increasing awareness among both employers and employees regarding the need to maintain safety along with regulations established by the government towards the use of protective equipment at the workplace.



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Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.
[June 24, 2020] Notice Regarding the Disposal of Treasury Stock for Restricted Stock Compensation

TOKYO, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ, the Company, TSE1: 3774) announced that at the IIJs Board of Directors meeting held on June 24, 2020, it resolved to dispose of its treasury stocks (the Disposal of Treasury Stocks or the Disposal), as the restricted stock compensation shown below.

1. Overview of the Disposal (1) Disposal date July 10, 2020 (2) Class and number of shares to

be disposed of 19,221 shares of common stock of the Company (3) Disposal price 3,895 yen per share (4) Total disposal price 74,865,795 yen (5) Allottees and number thereof,

and number of stocks to be

disposed of 7 Directors (excluding Part-time and Outside Directors) 11,162 shares

11 Executive Officers 8,059 shares (6) Others With regard to the disposal of treasury stocks, the Company has submitted the Written Notice of Securities in accordance with the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. 2. Purpose and reason of disposal

The Company decided, at the Board of Directors meeting held on May 25, 2020, t provide a restricted stock compensation which is equivalent to performance-linked bonuses in FY2019 (the Scheme) for the Directors of the Company (excluding Part-time and Outside Directors, Eligible Directors) and Executive Officers of the Company (collectively, Eligible Directors, etc.), for the purpose of providing a mid- to long-term incentives to Eligible Directors, etc. and further promoting shared value with shareholders. In addition, at the 28th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 24, 2020, it was approved that monetary compensation claims shall be paid to the Eligible Directors, within the maximum aggregate amount of IIJs director compensation (500 million yen per year) which was approved at the 16th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 27, 2008, under the Scheme as monetary compensation to be contributed for the acquisition of restricted stocks and the total number of shares of common stock issued or disposed of by the Company to the Eligible Directors shall be 40,000 shares or less per year.





The Board of Directors decided to provide a total amount of 74,865,795 yen as monetary compensation claims (consequently 19,221 shares of the Companys common stocks to be disposed) for Eligible Directors, etc., taking into consideration various factors including the purpose of the Scheme, the business conditions of the Company, the scope of duties of each Eligible Director, etc. and other circumstances, along with the disposal of treasury stocks for Eligible Directors, etc. Overviews of the Scheme are shown below.

?Overviews of the Scheme?

Eligible Directors, etc. shall pay in the entire amount of monetary compensation claims paid to them as a cash investment asset, and will receive shares of common stock issued or disposed of by the Company (the Allotted Shares). The Board of Directors will determine the amount to be paid in per share. This amount will be based on the closing price of the Companys common stock on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the business day immediately preceding the date of the Board of Directors resolution (the closing price on the most recent day on which trading has taken place if there is no trading on that day), and will be an amount that does not provide the Eligible Directors, etc. who receive the common stock with a particularly advantageous price.

Moreover, issuance or disposal of the Allotted Shares shall be conditional upon a restricted stock allocation agreement (the Allotment Agreement) concluded between the Company and each Eligible Directors, etc. An overview of the Allotment Agreement is described in 3. below. 3. Overview of the Allotment Agreement (1) Transfer restriction period From the disposal date to the point in time when Eligible Directors, etc. resigns from the position of a director and/or an executive officer of the Company. (2) Conditions for removing transfer restrictions The Company shall remove the transfer restriction with respect to the Allotted Shares in whole upon the expiry of the transfer restriction period, provided that the Eligible Directors, etc. continuously served as a director or an executive officer during the transfer restriction period. If certain grounds prescribed in the Allotment Agreement, such as if an Eligible Directors, etc. retires from the position during the restriction period or upon the expiration of the restriction period for any reason other than those deemed justifiable by the Company, the Company will naturally acquire the Allotted Shares for no consideration. (3) Management of shares In order to prevent the Allotted Shares from being transferred, collateralized, or otherwise being disposed of during the transfer restriction period, the Allotted Shares shall be managed by a specified securities firm during the transfer restriction period in a dedicated account opened by each Eligible Directors, etc., at Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. during the transfer restriction period. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the transfer restrictions, etc. pertaining to the Allotted Shares, the Company has entered into an agreement with Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. concerning the management of the accounts for the Allotted Shares held by each Eligible Director, etc. In addition, the Eligible Directors, etc. shall give consent to the content of the management of the said account. (4) Treatment in the event of organizational restructuring, etc. If a matter concerning the organizational restructuring, etc. of the Company, such as a merger agreement whereby the Company will be the non-surviving party to the merger, or a share exchange agreement or share transfer plan whereby the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of another entity, is approved at the Companys General Meeting of Shareholders (or by the Companys Board of Directors if such organizational restructuring, etc. does not require approval at a Companys General Meeting of Shareholders) during the transfer restriction period, the Company will remove, based on a resolution of the Companys Board of Directors, the transfer restriction on the Allotted Shares on a date prior to the effective date of such organizational restructuring, etc. 4. Basis for calculating the amount to be paid and its specific details

To avoid arbitrary pricing, the disposal price for the disposal of treasury stocks shall be set at 3,895 yen, which is the closing price of a share of the Companys common stock in the Tokyo Stock Exchange on June 23, 2020, the business day immediately before the Board of Directors made the resolution. This is the market share price immediately prior to the date of the resolution, and the Company believes that it is reasonable and not particularly advantageous price. About IIJ Founded in 1992, IIJ is one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers. IIJ and its group companies provide total network solutions that mainly cater to high-end corporate customers. IIJ's services include high-quality Internet connectivity services, systems integration, cloud computing services, security services and mobile services. Moreover, IIJ has built one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan that is connected to the United States, the United Kingdom and Asia. IIJ listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2006. For inquiries, contact:

IIJ Investor Relations

Tel: +81-3-5205-6500 E-mail: [email protected] URL: https://www.iij.ad.jp/en/ir

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And immense cash. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez has raised more than $10.3 million over the past two years, millions of which she has deployed aggressively online, far outpacing her fellow House members.

Since the beginning of this election cycle in 2019, shes spent $3.6 million on Facebook ads, including nearly $2.4 million since January, according to her campaign. The next biggest digital advertiser among House members in 2020 is Representative Adam Schiff of California, who spent $620,000 online, according to the tracking firm Advertising Analytics.

Indeed, Ms. Ocasio-Cortezs online spending has outpaced those of most Senate campaigns this cycle, including well-funded candidates like Mark Kelly in Arizona, Sara Gideon in Maine and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

As New York holds its congressional primary elections today, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez is facing a well-financed challenger in Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, a former CNBC anchor, who lent her own campaign $1 million recently, though she has spent only about $177,000 online. Though Ms. Ocasio-Cortez remains popular, there has been scant public polling on the race, and her spending is a sign that she is taking the challenge from Ms. Caruso-Cabrera seriously.

(Follow all of tonights results here. Polls close in New York at 9 p.m. Eastern time.)

Her advertising on Facebook, where she has spent $406,000 in the past week, runs the gamut from more traditional, polished ads to raw, selfie testimonials from voters, similar to the videos that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez often posts herself on Instagram. (She also turned some of those videos into Facebook ads.)
A Wisconsin woman charged with killing a man who she says was trafficking her for sex has been released on bond after nearly two years.

Chrystul Kizer, 19, of Milwaukee, posted a $400,000 bond Monday afternoon.

The money was raised by the Chicago Community Bond Fund and other groups.

"The police and government systems set up to protect Chrystul failed her. She has been wrongfully incarcerated in the Kenosha County Jail for nearly two years now for choosing to survive," said Santera Matthews, an organizer with the Chrystul Kizer Defense Committee. "We are elated to know she will no longer be locked in a cage simply for wanting to live. We are proud to support Chrystul and will continue fighting by her side to ensure she can put this tragic incident behind her and begin to heal from trauma she has suffered at the hands of her abuser and the state that failed her."

A judge reduced her $1 million bond to $400,000 in February.

"The constitution upholds the belief that people are innocent until proven guilty, she gets to now fight alongside her defense team," Matthews said.

Kizer was in court earlier this month asking for it to be reduced to $15,000.

Prosecutors said Kizer was 17 years old in June 2018 when she fatally shot Randy Volar and then set his body on fire inside his home.

Kizer said she was acting in self-defense because Volar was trafficking her for sex and sexually abusing her.

"Now she's being punished for surviving," Matthews said. "To finally see her walk out of jail was just overwhelming, she was extremely happy, we were all just beside ourselves."

Her defense attorney told a judge Kizer contracted the coronavirus in jail and worried about getting sick again.

"We were only able to pay Chrystul's bond, a bond that large, because of the huge influx of donation that we've received over the last month after the police murders of Geroge Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many other black residents in the country," Chicago Community Bond Fund Director Sharlyn Grace said.

Kizer's trial is scheduled to begin in September.

"I'm so excited for her that she gets to continue to fight beyond bars, but our personal goal is the DA can make this stop. He can make it all end right now," Matthews said.

Prosecutors said they were preparing to charge Volar with child sex crimes at the time of his death.

Kizer's attorneys are also appealing a previous court ruling that denied her actions fall under state law that clears sex trafficking victims of certain crimes.

The Kenosha County District Attorney said it was not appropriate to comment on a suspect being released on bail.

Related video: Supporters call for release of woman accused of killing man she says trafficked her for sex




The Bombay high court (HC) on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to a branch manager of the State Bank of India (SBI), who is accused of misappropriating Rs 36 crore out of the fixed deposits of the Bombay Iron and Steel Labour Board, till July 10.

Nikhil Roy, the manager of the Mazgaon Circle branch of SBI, was booked by the Mumbai Police for criminal breach of trust and fraud on the basis of a complaint lodged by the Board authorities on June 8, 2019.

The Board authorities alleged that they had deposited Rs 45 crore in fixed deposits and though the bank had issued a letter certifying the deposits in April, 2019, Roy misappropriated

Rs 36 crore from the sum, which was purportedly shown as four tranches of premature withdrawals.

Roy moved the court as he feared for his arrest in the case.

He informed the court that he had prematurely released Rs 36 crore in four separate tranches on the request of the Board authorities.

Public prosecutor Deepak Thakare opposed Roys plea.

He submitted that none of the fixed deposit receipts were validly discharged.

He pointed out that all the original receipts were still lying with the Board authorities, and the investigation is on to ascertain the genuineness of the receipts.

However, Thakare sought time to ascertain the authenticity of the confirmation letter after Justice SK Shinde noticed that the letter, dated April 11, 2019, had certain discrepancies.

The court has also directed the Mumbai Police to release Roy on a cash bail of Rs 50,000, if he is arrested in the interim.

The next hearing of the case is on July 10.
Led by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, four Indian institutes have made it to the 2021 edition of QS 'Next 100 under 50' rankings. With the debut of IIT Hyderabad as the second best young Indian institute under the age of fifty years, India's representation increased by one in the latest edition from three institutes last year.

The other two Indian institutes under the age of fifty years include University of Hyderabad as the third best and OP Jindal Global University as the fourth best. In all, four Indian universities feature in the Next 100 under 50 ...
I read the news report last week that some ER staff were lightening their moods by playing a game of Guess the tox level. As usual, the woke and the social justice warriors leapt on the story as an example of institutionalised racism, and the politicians blustered and bloviated.

Far from being racism, laughter is a natural defense for heroes who are over-exposed to death, drug abuse and drunks, and who need a coping mechanism.

Soldiers, cops, first responders and ER staff deal with death on a daily basis and develop black humour to help them deal with the work. This is a normal human reaction that gets them through their shift.

An ER nurse can only save the life of an addict so many times. A cop can only arrest an habitual criminal so many times. A first responder can only scrape a drunk off the floor so many times. Eventually, they get jaundiced and lose their sympathy. But they go on anyway. Because they are dedicated professionals.

Enough is enough.

Our heroes are being shamed by people who have never done an heroic thing in their lives.

It is in the nature of young people to be passionate about injustice, but our young have been lied to for their whole lives by their parents, teachers, the media and their social media echo chambers. Their "woke" belief system has become an insidious and impossible idealism.

The media lies all the time. We must start to demand to see the opposing view so we can make an informed decision and stop being so easily led.

Social media is a lie. An echo chamber is not a place for debate and reasoned thinking. It is a place for ranting at the world or for faking your achievements to make other people feel bad about themselves.

Black Lives Matter is not a movement, it is a meme, and in today's angry and unfocused world, it is too easy for emotions to be manipulated by social media, politicians, and leftist news agencies. Without fail, they all use shame as a weapon to oppress and denigrate others.

Enough is enough.

It is not shameful for someone to have a different belief than you. It is shameful if you deny them the right to speak their belief, attack their livelihoods and ostracize them.

It is not shameful to be imperfect. It is shameful to apply impossible standards on people and then destroy them for not meeting those expectations.

It is not shameful to be straight, gay or anywhere in-between. It is shameful to glorify your gender identity above someone elses.

It is not shameful to be proud of your heritage, which may include the colour of your skin and the culture you were raised in. It is shameful to debase your heritage to win "virtue points."

Our law enforcement, health care and emergency workers are imperfect, human, decent and hard-working. They are the quiet heroes. They deserve your respect, not your scorn.

All lives matter. Especially the lives of the people who work to save ours.

James Parnis, Kelowna
Shocking video footage has emerged showing the chaos that unfolded at a police investigation site amid the search for two missing Milwaukee girls - showing the moment someone opens gunfire and a van and home are engulfed in flames.

On Tuesday a search for missing teens Tydrianna Perkins, 15, and Gilbreana Perkins, 13, was conducted in Milwaukee near North 40th and West Lloyd Streets, but it escalated into a chaotic scene when locals and protesters showed up.

Locals accused the police of not caring about the missing girls - who are both African-American - and said the neighborhood was known to be involved in sex trafficking, WISN reports.

Three people were shot, and a van and home set ablaze by vigilantes.

Both of those girls were later found and are now safely with their families, cops announced Wednesday.

The video footage, originally shared to social media, shows a male in a purple tie-dye shirt point a gun and release six shots echoing in the streets as police sirens wail in the background.

The person was allegedly shooting at a man he thought was involved in sex trafficking, according to World Star Hip Hop. The shots were fired across the intersection of Lloyd street, near the home which was under investigation.

Shocking video footage has emerged showing the chaos that unfolded at a police investigation site searching for two missing Milwaukee girls - showing the moment someone opens fire six times in the street

Another video from Tuesday's investigation shows a van set on fire as the people in the background are heard cheering 'Yeah!' and 'Black Lives Matter'

A large group of people gathered in the neighborhood where cops were investigating a home, looking for missing teens Tydrianna Perkins, 15, and Gilbreana Perkins, 13. Locals accused the police of not caring about the missing girls - who are both African-American - and said the neighborhood was known to be involved in sex trafficking

The investigation for two missing Milwaukee teenagers Tydrianna, 15, (left) and Gilbreana, 13, (right) escalated into a heated confrontation between police and locals where a house was set on fire and three people were shot by gun fire on Tuesday. Police announced Wednesday the girls were found and are now with their families, but there was no evidence they had ever been to the home that was searched

Another clip shows a group of people on the back lawn of the house . The group was filmed watching a van engulfed in flames as black smoke rose to the sky.

People are heard cheering and clapping and shouting 'Yeah!' and 'Black Lives Matter' over the fire.

The home itself was later set on fire by 5.20pm.

In Tuesday's search people threw bricks at police, a couch, van, and the home were set on fire, and three people - two 14-year-olds and a 24-year-old - were shot.

Both Tydrianna and Gilbreana were found safe Tuesday in an entirely different location and are now in the care of their families.

Police had said Tuesday they were investigating whether the girls may have been victims of sex trafficking, police spokeswoman Sgt. Sheronda Grant said.

However, preliminary investigation found no information to suggest the teenagers were ever at the house that was set on fire or that any foul play happened there, police said Wednesday.

Police said that in interviews the girls denied ever being at the house or knowing anyone that lived there. There was also no evidence of human trafficking occurring at the home.

By Tuesday evening the tension exploded as people threw bricks at officers, a couch and home were set on fire and gunfire rang out, hitting three people

Locals accused the police of not caring about the missing girls - who are both African-American - and said the neighborhood was known to be involved in sex trafficking

The aftermath: Workers pictured Wednesday cleaning up the hosue that was set on fire. Police said Wednesday there was no evidence showing the girls had even been there

The two girls had not been considered critically missing and did not meet criteria for an Amber Alert to be issued when they first disappeared. They were last seen near 21st and Locust on Sunday around 5pm.

The Milwaukee Police Department is yet to return DailyMail.com's request for comment on the nature of the missing persons case.

On Monday and Tuesday the police responded to the home on the 2100 block of North 40th Street multiple times to check for the girls, but did not find them.

By afternoon a large group of locals and protesters gathered and police returned to the scene following an 'exchange of gunfire' between someone inside and someone from a group of people trying to get inside. No injuries were reported in that incident.

Over the course of the day hundreds of people arrived to look on as investigators worked inside the home.

Police searched a home on the 2100 block of North 40th Street multiple times to check for the girls but did not find them on Tuesday. A crowd of locals and protesters gathered at the home, rumored to be involved in sex trafficking, and culminated in clashes with police and gunfire

A large group of people gathered in the area to watch police investigate a home where the girls were suspected to be. But as the hours wore on, bystanders became frustrated and threw bricks at police and some tried to enter the home on their own to find evidence of the teens

Dozens of cops responded as crowds gathered outside the property

Over the course of the day hundreds of people arrived to look on as investigators worked inside the home

Things getting very tense in an alley at 39th and Lloyd in a missing girls case. Two teenage girls are missing, the crowd here says this house is where they were last seen. People in the crowd tell me its a known sex trafficking house. Police have not confirmed. @WISN12News pic.twitter.com/GiGiDhVKUp  Caroline Reinwald (@WISN_Caroline) June 23, 2020

Some people in the crowd threw bricks at the officers, prompting more officers to respond.

Some of those rowdy crowd members believed that the house was linked to rumors of sex trafficking and broke into the house looking for evidence. Others smashed the windows of a car parked on the property.

By 5.45pm people had set a couch, a vehicle and a house on fire, Police Chief Morales said in a news conference on Tuesday.

Also around 5.45pm two 14-year-olds, a boy and a girl, were shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries. Morales said they were not shot by police.

Then a 24-year-old man was shot near the same scene around 7.30pm after someone fired shots at his car. He refused medical treatment and his injuries are not life threatening.

One of the girls was found safe Tuesday night, according to Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales, and police were working to find the other. The 13-year-old girl Gilbreana was found safe in 'another location' not near 40th and Lloyd streets

In an effort to quell the crowds, police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spra as protesters threw bricks and other projectiles at officers.

In the fires and confrontations with bystanders seven police officers and one firefighter were injured, according to Fox6.

After 7pm a small group began a protest march away from the scene.

Morales condemned the 'vigilantism' at the scene.

'This whole chain of events could have been avoided. And my heart goes out for the people that live in this community,' Morales added.

'We investigate the information that is given to us. We can't allow an unruly crowd to determine what that investigation is,' Morales said.
[June 24, 2020] Hey Utah, It's Time to Go Contactless

IRVING, Texas, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Can't touch this 7-Eleven, Inc. is offering customers in Utah a contactless way to shop in stores. Accessible through the 7-Eleven app, Mobile Checkout enables customers to skip the checkout line by shopping and paying for items using their mobile phones. 7-Eleven is using its innovative digital technology solutions to provide a safer shopping environment for Americans adapting to a new way of life. "Now more than ever, customers are looking for an even greater level of convenience  one that includes minimizing contact with others," said 7-Eleven Chief Digital Officer Tarang Sethia. "We want to meet that need during this uncertain time and Mobile Checkout is one of the innovative ways we can do that." Customers can shop, scan and pay with their smartphones, facilitating social distancing and minimizing time in stores. The frictionless shopping experience is integrated with the company's award winning national 7Rewards loyalty program where members (33 million of them, to be exact) can earn and redeem points on product purchases and receive coupons and promotions. When using Mobile Checkout, customers can also take advantage of 7-Eleven's new beverage deals. 7Eleven is offering seven FREE any size hot beverages and/or FREE any size fountain drinks per 7Rewards loyalty member through its 7Eleven mobile app*. After redeeming all seven FREE cups, loyalty members can continue to purchase any size hot coffee for $1 or Big Gulp drinks for just 49-cents for the rest of the summer. Using mobile checkout through the 7-Eleven app is simple: Update to the latest version of the app or download it from the App Store or Google Play.

to the latest version of the app or download it from the or Google Play. Register for or log into the 7Rewards loyalty program. Open the app in a participating store and tap "Start Scanning" on the home page.

the app in a participating store and tap "Start Scanning" on the home page. Scan the barcode on the desired products to add it to your basket. Discounts and promotions are applied automatically.

the barcode on the desired products to add it to your basket. Discounts and promotions are applied automatically. Pay for purchases using Apple Pay, Google Pay or a debit or credit card in the app, which customers can setup ahead of time.

for purchases using Apple Pay, Google Pay or a debit or credit card in the app, which customers can setup ahead of time. Confirm your purchase by scanning the QR code on confirmation screen once the payment is authorized.



7-Eleven was the first convenience store chain to develop proprietary technology for a full frictionless shopping experience from start to finish. Mobile checkout works on both Android and iOS devices and is available for most 7-Eleven merchandise that has a bar code. Some items still require store associate assistance, such as hot foods, financial services and age-verified products (alcohol, tobacco and lottery tickets).

And as the world continues to reconfigure everyday life in response to the coronavirus pandemic, 7-Eleven has enhanced its standards and procedures for hygiene, handwashing, sanitation, food handling and preparation in stores, including increased frequency of cleaning high-touch surfaces. We are encouraging our corporate store associates to wear masks and gloves when serving customers and asking our independent Franchise owners to do the same in their stores. Customers now have access to disposable gloves, tissues and sanitizer stations while shopping in stores. As an extra precaution to help reinforce physical distancing and safer transactions, 7-Eleven has installed sneeze guards and visual floor markers at the front sales counter. Mobile Checkout, already available in participating Dallas, Manhattan and Long Island stores, is just one of the digital technology enhancements 7-Eleven has made available to consumers. Customers who can't make it to the store can get their essentials delivered straight to their home via the 7NOW delivery app which can be downloaded via the App Store or Google Play. Within 7NOW, customers can opt in for contact-free deliveries. *Offer expires 8/9/2020. 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, 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. Mmmmm, 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/hey-utah-its-time-to-go-contactless-301082873.html SOURCE 7-Eleven, Inc.

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For years, animal rights activists in China have lobbied policymakers, organised 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

For years, animal rights activists in China have lobbied policymakers, organised 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 revellers 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 percent 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 criticised the government.

There is still room to get our message out there, she said. As long as you dont criticise the government.

Several years ago, Zhang said, they changed tactics to take a more positive approach, focusing their efforts on reaching out to national policymakers 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 lawmaking body. The proposal sparked a national conversation, and more lawmakers began to show interest.

But it wasnt until the unexpected emergence of the coronavirus  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 advisor 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 recent rise of nationalism in China has further fuelled defenders of the practice. Some say that banning dog meat is a rejection of a long-standing Chinese tradition.

Zhao Nanyuan, a retired Tsinghua professor and longtime proponent of eating dogs, accuses animal welfare activists of being manipulated by the West.

Those who make trouble at the dog meat festival are being supported by foreign black hands, Zhao said in an email. To elevate the status of animals is to degrade the status of people, thus violating the principles of humanism.

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.

Most of the dog meat stalls and vendors had moved to the outskirts of the city. A recent government crackdown had also made it difficult for traders to transport dogs from outside the province.

There have been longer-term changes in the city as well. In recent years, the city has seen an influx of younger, middle-class Chinese who are less defensive than the older generation about the local dog meat eating tradition. Grooming shops and pet clinics have begun to pop up alongside new wine bars and steak restaurants.

Peoples lives have improved, said Tang Laixi, who opened a two-story pet-themed restaurant and grooming business in Yulin in 2017. Since last year, Tang said he had noticed an increase in the number of pet dogs  particularly poodles, golden retrievers and Border collies  in the city.

Having a pet keeps you in a good mood, he said.

Amy Qin c.2020 The New York Times Company
A statue honouring controversial French historical figure Jean Colbert was covered in red paint on Tuesday, amid heated debate about whether to take down monuments to figures tied to slavery or colonialism.

Red paint was spattered on Colbert's chest and legs and the words "state negrophobia" were scrawled at the bottom of his statue, which towers the National Assembly overlooking the river Seine.

The vandalism act was carried out by a group called the Anti-Negrophobia Brigade, which has called out "institutionalised anti-Black racism" in France.

The group posted a video showing the vandalist being arrested by police and justifying his action as a political act.

"What is forbidden is racism. That man (Colbert) is glorifying negrophobia," the author said, before being taken away.

Monuments such as Colbert's have come under scrutiny ever since the death of George Floyd in the US, which has galvanized action in many countries against racial injustice and police violence.

At an anti-racism protest in Paris earlier this month, demonstrators called for controversial statues to be taken down, as part of a global movement called Statues Must Fall.

Why is Colbert controversial ?

Anti-colonialism campaigners reproach Colbert for penning the "Black Code," a legal framework governing slaves in France's overseas colonies during the 17th century.

A prominent minister under "Sun King" Louis XIV, he began writing the Black Code in 1682 with the help of intendants and governors of the colonies. He wrote laws for everything from trade, taxes to roads, essentially regulating all aspects of life led by slaves under their masters.

"Colbert wanted clear rules," historian Jacob Soll told daily Le Monde, explaining that this highly codified system existed as much in France as it did in the colonies. Soll points out that Colbert granted slaves a "human status" preventing them from being killed by their owners.

In the end, the Black Code would be promulgated after Colbert's death in 1685 by his son the Marquis of Seignelay, who Soll argues, modified much of it. For the historian, Colbert was one of the great law makers of France and not the only author of the Black Code.

What reactions have there been ?

Several politicians, notably from the right-wing, on Wednesday accused the anti-colonialism campaign of trying to "rewrite history" in insisting controversial statues be removed.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said "judging history based on principles of today makes no sense. If we do that, we will have to take down statues of everyone, general de Gaulle, Napoleon included."

French President Emmanuel Macron so far, has resisted calls to remove historical monuments deemed offensive, as they have been in the US and the UK.

However, several have been vandalised. On Monday, two statues adjacent to the nearby Invalides monument, where Napoleon is buried, were found drenched in red paint.

No black and white

"Censuring what is paradoxical is sometimes absurd," reckons for his part, Richard Ferrand, head of France's National Assembly.

He told BFM TV that Colbert cannot be seen in black and white alone.

Celebrated for an economic doctrine known as colbertism that boosted French industry, the prominent minister was also a dark figure, Ferrand admits.

"What we perhaps need to do is explain the dark and light areas of this historical figure. Maybe it is there that we have work to do to enlighten citizens," he said.
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has requested PM Narendra Modis intervention for the postponement of post graduation examination for medical students enrolled in MD (Doctor of Medicine) and MS (Master of Surgery) courses in the state till December 2020. Uddhav said the services of final year medical students were needed for clinical management of coronavirus cases in Indias worst-affected state.

The letter from Maharashtra CMs office requests PM Modi to direct the Medical Council of India (MCI) to postpone the tests organised by Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik.

The final year (senior resident-3) resident doctors who are required to take these examinations are presently working on the frontline in all Government of Maharashtra and Municipal Medical Colleges assisting the clinical management of Covid-19 patients. In the event these examinations are held as per schedule, there would be a serious shortage of trained doctors during this very crucial period, the letter says.

Maharashtra is close to registering 1.5 lakh Covid-19 cases with 3,890 fresh coronavirus infections recorded on Wednesday. The tally of Covid-19 infections in the state has reached 1,42,900 including 6,739 fatalities.

Also Read: Covid-19 update: Maharashtra a step closer to 1.5 lakh cases mark, Mumbai nears 70,000

Uddhavs letter gives a glimpse of the challenges the state may have to face if the final year medical students enrolled in the post graduate courses suddenly become unavailable to help in states containment efforts due to the examination, which has been proposed to be held from July 15.

The dates have been set pursuant to an advisory by the board of governors of the Medical Council of India.

Pursuant to the above advisory, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, has proposed to the government of Maharashtra that these exams should be conducted from July 15, 2020 onwards, the letter says explaining the dilemma.

For Coronavirus Live Updates

Uddhavs letter comes amid criticism of his governments handling of the coronavirus crisis. BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has been pointing out alleged shortcomings in the state governments response from time to time.

Uddhavs letter requests that not only the MD/MS examinations, but also the entrance examinations for super speciality coursesthe DM/MCh, are postponed too.

I would request your intervention to direct the Medical Council of India to postpone the MD/MS examination till December 2020. So also I would request for the postponement of the Entrance Examination of the Super-speciality (DM/MCh) to a date subsequent to December 2020 i.e, after the conclusion of the final year MD/MS exams, says the letter.

The letter comes on a day when the Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court that it cannot permit the conduct of standard X and XII exams of the Indian School Certificate Examination (ICSE) board, scheduled in July due to the current Covid-19 situation. The government said it has also decided not to conduct its own university exams for final year students in the state in the wake of the pandemic.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Authorities in some provinces ramped up often arbitrary law enforcement to help curtail the COVID-19 pandemic rather than rely on a purely public health approach, according to a report out Wednesday.

The main problem, the report finds, is that marginalized or other vulnerable groups tended to bear the brunt of police and bylaw action.

"This report proves that we've got an ugly ticketing pandemic, replete with COVID carding and racial profiling, in central and eastern Canada," Michael Bryant, executive director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said in a statement. "Somehow a public health crisis has been twisted into a public order crisis."

Provinces across the country issued emergency orders with hefty penalties for violations in March, including closures of public spaces and physical distancing measures. Ticketing soon followed.

In one example cited in the report, a man walking his dog in Ottawa was fined $880 for standing in the wrong place. A bylaw officer in the city also tackled a man walking through a park with his daughter. He ended up with a bruised lip and a fine of more than $2,000.

One woman with her baby in Aurora, Ont., stepped off a park path to let others pass and was ticketed $880, prompting Premier Doug Ford to say the officers "could have used a little bit different judgment."

According to the study by the association and the Policing the Pandemic Mapping Project co-founded at the universities of Toronto and Ottawa, police and bylaw officers issued at least 10,000 tickets or charges related to the pandemic between April 1 and June 15. The value of the fines was more than $13 million.

Quebec accounted for 77 per cent of the reported fines, while Ontario saw 18 per cent and Nova Scotia three per cent.

The findings, based in part on publicly available information such as news and police reports, were supplemented by reports from more than 100 people who reported COVID-related stops, searches and charges through the association's online tracker.

Some said there was no basis for their tickets. Others maintained any infraction was trifling.

"Many of the experiences Canadians shared demonstrate how over-zealous, technical enforcement of confusing, broad and vague laws frequently led to fines that were completely disconnected with the goal of protecting public health," states the report called "Stay off the Grass: COVID-19 and Law Enforcement in Canada."

While some provinces such as British Columbia successfully resorted to messaging and other public health strategies to encourage compliance with the various measures, others opted for punitive enforcement.

"Police will be handing out more fines and, I repeat, the fines can vary from $1,000 to $6,000 per person," Quebec Premier Francois Legault said in April. "That's what people who don't respect the rules deserve."
A medical personnel member takes samples on a man at a "walk-in" and "drive-through" coronavirus testing site in Miami Beach, Florida on June 24, 2020

US officials on Wednesday imposed tough measures including quarantines and stay-at-home advice as daily coronavirus cases approached record levels after surging across the nation's South and West.

Nearly four months after reporting its first death from COVID-19, the United States faces a deepening health crisis as a wave of infections hits young Americans and experts issue new acute warnings.

More than 35,900 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, with heavily populated states including Florida, Texas and California all reporting daily record cases.

The world's largest economy is already the country hardest hit by the pandemic, with a mounting death toll of almost 122,000.

Some officials -- including the Texas governor -- who loosened restrictions on business, dining, public gatherings and tourism, are now urging residents to again stay home.

Three northeastern states that made progress beating back the pandemic -- New York, New Jersey and Connecticut -- urged visitors arriving from US hotspots to quarantine themselves.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the advisory applied to visitors from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Utah and Texas.

Washington state was originally included, but Governor Jay Inslee said this was by error and it would be removed.

Several US states including tourism hub Florida are experiencing surges in coronavirus infections, raising concerns about the pace of ending lockdowns

Several states in the South and West including Florida and Texas are suffering what White House advisor and top scientist Anthony Fauci described as "disturbing" new surges in infections.

Fauci warned the next two weeks would be "critical" to addressing the surges.

Texas, among the most aggressive states in reopening in early June, saw new cases hit a daily high of 5,489 on Tuesday.

A concerned Governor Greg Abbott warned Texans of the virus's "rampant" spread and said the "safest" place to be was in their homes, adding that those who needed to go out should wear masks.

"If we are unable to slow the spread over the next few weeks, then we will have to reevaluate the extent to which businesses are open," he told a local NBC affiliate.

"Because if it's not contained in the next couple of weeks, it will be completely out of control, and Texas will have to ratchet back."

Pointing to recent mass gatherings for Memorial Day and graduations, Abbott added: "Now it's clear that Texas is not immune to COVID-19."

Abbott is an ally of Donald Trump, but his warnings are at stark odds with the president, who proclaimed Tuesday that "we did a great job on CoronaVirus."

- 'Real explosion' -

Florida marked 5,508 new infections on Tuesday, bringing its total to more than 109,000 confirmed cases and 3,281 deaths.

Governor Ron DeSantis said the state was experiencing "a real explosion in new cases among our younger demographics," and a spike in hospitalizations.

National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci (right) warned Congress that "disturbing" spikes in new coronavirus infections were hitting several US states

The average age of new cases in Florida Wednesday was just 33 years, his spokeswoman said.

DeSantis warned that bars and restaurants could lose their alcohol licenses if they do not follow social distancing guidelines.

He declined to order the state-wide mandatory masking policies active in California, Washington state and North Carolina, where Governor Roy Cooper "hit the pause button" on easing further restrictions.

Miami has implemented its own mandatory mask rules, however.

- 'Amnesia' -

California, the nation's most populous state, also saw a daily record of 7,149 new cases Tuesday, to pass 190,000 total.

Disneyland, near Los Angeles, delayed its planned July 17 reopening without announcing a new reopening date for the world's second-most visited theme park.

COVID-19 in the United States

Governor Gavin Newsom warned that a widespread return to "old habits" is "increasing the spread of this virus," but also pointed to record testing levels. He declined to reimpose restrictions.

"Many of us, understandably, developed a little cabin fever. Some, I would argue, have developed a little amnesia," added Newsom.

Governor Steve Sisolak of the neighboring state of Nevada tweeted Wednesday that residents would have to wear masks or face coverings out in public beginning Friday.

"Im offering us all another opportunity to limit our risk for exposure and infection, and to keep our businesses open and our economy moving," he said.

And nearby Arizona is seeing dangerous spikes.

Its confirmed COVID-19 cases have more than quadrupled since the stay-at-home order expired on May 15, and the average age of people getting infected is getting younger and younger.

Arizona's reported seven-day rolling average of 39 new cases per 100,000 residents is a nationwide high.

But the dire figures did not stop Trump from hosting a rally Tuesday in Arizona's largest city Phoenix, where most attendees did not wear masks or practice social distancing.

Epidemiologist Rebecca Fisher said states like Texas should have maintained their mitigating efforts longer.

"It doesn't look like we are coming close to the top of the peak," Fisher told AFP. "And we're definitely not coming down the other side of this yet."
Fiorella Marchitelli (above) has been accused of breaching the terms of her flat lease

A London solicitor faces losing her 1.2million apartment amid claims she failed to stop a brothel for transsexual prostitutes operating out of her property.

Solicitor Fiorella Marchitelli has been accused of disastrously breaching the terms of the 987-lease on her exclusive Chelsea flat after a tribunal ruled there was 'considerable circumstantial evidence' that the property had been 'used as a brothel'.

Rich neighbours complained about 'older men in suits with young girls' walking upstairs to the flat and, at least once, female occupants of another apartment had been propositioned for sex by late-night callers, it was claimed.

Investment banker Julius Hugelshofer complained about 'tranvestites or women dressed like prostitutes,' in the building in Westgate Terrace, West Brompton.

Mr Hugelshofer 'came to believe' Ms Marchitelli's flat was 'occupied by a person calling themselves Natalie Ferraz, who appeared to him to be a transvestite,' and that it was being used as a brothel, having learned of a sordid web page advertising her sexual services online.

The banker, who lived in the building during 2017 and 2018, claimed that trouble continued after Ms Ferraz moved out in January 2018 and made further complaints about 'the prostitutes, the brothel, the noise, the dirt, the parties, the rubbish.'

A tribunal heard there was 'considerable circumstantial evidence' Ms Marchitelli's exclusive Chelsea flat had been 'used by tenants as a brothel' and she hadn't done enough to stop them

This led to aristocratic heir Rupert Foley, who owns one of the flats and is sole director of the company which owns the freehold of the building, issuing proceedings through the company against Ms Marchitelli for forfeiture of her lease - essentially seeking to take possession of her flat.

Mr Foley, who is heir presumptive to the title 9th Baron Foley, claimed at the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) that by not doing enough to stop the 'immoral activities' taking place in her flat, Ms Marchitelli was in breach of the terms of her long lease.

The lease contains a clause compelling the leaseholder 'not to do or permit or suffer...any illegal or immoral act or any act or thing which may be or may become a nuisance or annoyance or cause damage to... the lessors or the tenants of the lessor or the occupiers of any part of the building.'

Mr Foley claimed Ms Marchitelli was advised regularly about the activities at the flat, but persistently refused to acknowledge them or take any action to prevent them continuing.

Denying she breached the lease, Ms Marchitelli said she was seriously ill with cancer at the time, but had visited the flat on several occasions and saw nothing to suggest tenants were using it for prostitution.

Natalie Ferraz (pictrured) left the property in Chelsea in January 2017. Tenants of a neighbouring flat claimed that they had found material on the internet advertising her services as a transsexual escort

After two hearings last year, the tribunal ruled that it was 'entitled to conclude that immoral activities in breach...of the lease were being carried on' in Ms Marchitelli's flat, paving the way for the lease to be forfeited.

But Ms Marchitelli has now won a rehearing of her case after successfully appealing to the Upper Tribunal and telling Judge Martin Rodger QC that she was seriously ill at the time the complaints were made.

The judge said that, although there was enough evidence to find that the flat had been used as a brothel, the tribunal had not made specific findings about what Ms Marchitelli did, or didn't, do about it and so could not say she had breached her lease.

Setting out the nature of the complaints made about activities in the flat, the judge said Mr Hugelshofer's evidence concerned complaints he had made to Ms Marchitelli - who let the flat through an agent - about the noise of people going up and down the staircase.

'Eventually he came to believe that (the flat) was occupied by a person calling themselves Natalie Ferraz,' he said.

'Mr Hugelshofer recorded that, in the early hours of 16 December 2017, he had confronted the occupier of the flat whom he took to be Natalie Ferraz, and who appeared to him to be a transvestite. He formed the view on that occasion that the flat was being used as a brothel.

'Mr Hugelshofer recorded in his witness statement that he had spoken to the tenants of [another flat] and that they had found material on the internet advertising Natalie Ferraz's services as a transsexual escort.

'Mr Hugelshofer inferred that those services were being offered at the appellant's flat.

'According to Mr Hugelshofer, Natalie Ferraz left the flat on January 27, 2018.

'A few months later, in April, the flat was said to have become occupied by what Mr Hugelshofer described as "a number of different individuals, usually transvestites or women dressed like prostitutes".'

'He informed the appellant on April 29, 2018 and in May and June he complained to her agent...about the misbehaviour of her tenants: "the prostitutes, the brothel, the noise, the dirt, the parties, the rubbish".'

'When his complaints appeared not to be taken seriously by (the agent), Mr Hugelshofer again contacted the appellant, who was in hospital, informing her of a regular traffic of "older men in suits with young girls walking upstairs to your flat every day." He asked the appellant to put pressure on her agent to change the tenants.'

The judge said the claim against Ms Marchitelli did not suggest that she herself was using the flat as a brothel, but that her tenant was doing so.

'The complaint against the appellant was that she had refused to acknowledge what was going on in her flat or to take steps to prevent it,' he said.

According to Mr Foley, who rents out his flat on the ground floor of the building, his two female tenants had on at least one occasion been propositioned for sex by late-night male callers, said the judge.

At the lower tribunal, Ms Marchitelli's lawyers argued that there was insufficient evidence that the flat was used as a brothel, suggesting that Mr Hugelshofer might not have been able to tell the difference between prostitutes and students on a night out.

She had also been undergoing intensive cancer treatment at the time of the events complained of, but had visited the flat and found nothing to suggest it was used as a brothel, they claimed.

Ms Marchitelli said she had been 'extremely vulnerable and stressed' due to her illness, but a letter to the panel from her oncologist had not reached the tribunal before the first hearing and her health condition had not been properly taken into account.

In its ruling last year, the FTT said there was 'circumstantial evidence that the property was being used as a brothel...or an immoral purpose,' although that had now stopped and the tenants changed.

Ruling on her appeal against the decision, Judge Rodger upheld the finding that the flat had been used as a brothel, but overturned the decision that she had breached her lease by not stopping it.

He said: 'Even if the FTT was entitled to conclude on the evidence that the appellant's flat was being used as a brothel, the FTT had not made any finding that the appellant herself had permitted that use, or suffered it to continue, and in those circumstances she could not be found to have committed a breach of covenant.'

The FTT had not found she did nothing in the face of the complaints, but did not say what 'few active steps' she had taken consisted of, he said.
Donald Trump said it again, using a derogatory phrase for the coronavirus that some call offensive to Asian people  and an audience of young supporters roared with laughter.

The president was addressing young Republicans in Phoenix on Tuesday when he pivoted from talking about his southern border barrier and California's Democratic leaders to slamming Tijuana, Mexico for its coronavirus infection rate. Then he started riffing about the disease's name  rather, its names.

And the youngsters loved it.

"I said the other night, there's never been anything where they have so many names. I could give you 19 or 20 names for that, right? It's got all different names. Wuhan," he said, referring to the province in China where the virus is believed to have gone public.

"Wuhan was catching on. Coronavirus, right?

A transcript of the event indicates an unknown speaker yelled out, "Kung Flu."

That's all Mr Trump needed.

"Kung flu," he said.

The crowd erupted with approval.

"Kung flu, yes," he said.

More laughter.

"Covid. Covid-19. Covid. I say what's the 19? COVID-19," the president continued. "COVID-19. I said that's an odd name. I could give you many, many names. Some people call it the Chinese flu, the China flu, right?"

The president's use of the phrase has exposed a rare disagreement between himself and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. In March, she told reporters it is "wrong" to say "kung flu" because it is "highly offensive."

But on Wednesday, she defended her boss.

"My reaction is that the president has made very clear he wants everybody to understand, and I think many Americans do understand, that the virus originated in China," Ms Conway said. "And had China been more transparent and honest with the United States and the world, we wouldn't have all the death and destruction that unfortunately we've suffered."

Asked about the differing opinion with Mr Trump, she said they meet frequently but do not always agree on every issue.
Burma Construction on China's BRI Deep Sea Port to Start Soon in Myanmar's Rakhine State: Govt

A crude oil tanker docks at Maday Island in Rakhine States Kyaukphyu Township in 2019. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

YANGONThe construction of the China-backed Kyaukphyu deep-sea port will begin soon, as preparations on both the Myanmar and China sides are on track, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The project is a crucial part of the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in western Myanmar. The SEZ is expected to boost development in Chinas landlocked Yunnan Province and provide China with direct access to the Indian Ocean, allowing its oil imports to bypass the Strait of Malacca.

The Kyaukphyu SEZ is a backbone project under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), which is itself a part of Chinas ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The project also includes plans to construct an industrial zone with facilities for textile and garment manufacturing, construction materials processing, food processing, pharmaceuticals, electronics, marine supplies and services and research. The entire project is planned to cover 4,300 acres.

Speaking at a press conference in Naypyitaw on Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Commerce U Aung Htoo said We are working to form a company to construct the deep-sea port. We recently reached consensus for the companys constitution.

We already proposed the list of directors, so I am confident that we will move forward on the construction of the deep-sea port project soon, U Aung Htoo said.

During Chinese President Xi Jinpings trip to Myanmar early this year, both sides signed concession and shareholders agreements for the deep-sea port. According to the agreements, the two sides will incorporate a joint venture to carry out the construction and operation of the project.

In November 2018, the Kyaukphyu SEZ Management Committee and the China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITIC) inked a framework agreement for the long-delayed development of Kyaukphyu SEZ.

CITIC struck a shareholder agreement with the previous Myanmar government, under President Thein Sein, just before the 2015 election. It gave the Chinese developer an 85 percent stake in the project and gave the rest to Myanmar. Critics of the project raised concerns that the deal could land Myanmar in a debt trap with China. After negotiations under the current National League for Democracy (NDL) government, China agreed that Myanmar would hold 30 percent of the shares.

The initial agreement called for a project worth US$9-10 billion, but the two sides have since agreed that the project will start out on a small or medium-sized scale.

U Aung Htoo said that the first phase of the deep-sea port will be implemented with a US$1.5 billion budget.

In July 2019, CITIC announced it hired Canadian company HATCH to supervise an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) of the project and a pre-geo survey. Last September, CITIC submitted a project proposal report (PPR) to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (MONREC).

In January, CITIC said that MONREC has determined the deep-sea port project requires an EIA under Myanmar law. The Chinese company says it will choose an independent consultant to conduct the EIA through a bidding process.

The Ministry of Commerce said in February that both sides agreed that the CITIC Consortium will own 51 percent of the industrial zone and the Myanmar government will own 49 percent. The ministry said that the industrial zone will be developed on 2,400 acres of land and that a high-end housing project is planned for an additional 1,235 acres.

According to U Aung Htoo, the construction of the industrial zone will be led by Chinas CITIC Consortium and a total of 42 private Myanmar companies under Myanmar Kyauk Phyu Special Economic Zone Holding Public Company Limited.

You may also like these stories:

Minister Rejects Fears of Debt Trap Over Chinese-Backed Port

Is Kyaukphyu in Danger of Slipping Out of Our Hands?
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Twelve months ago, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi seemed to be enjoying the best year of his reign. The general-turned-politician was presiding over an economic rebound that had made Egypt the Middle Easts fastest-growing economy and a honeypot for emerging-markets investors. A referendum had just allowed him to remain in office until 2030, making his political position well-nigh impregnable.

And he was enjoying the enthusiastic backing of Egypts two most important foreign allies, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia; President Trump thought he was doing a great job.

Like much of the region, Egypt is now reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and the fall in oil prices. Despite new assistance from the International Monetary Fund, the economy will continue to struggle. Business activity, already slow before the pandemic struck, has ebbed further. The governments desperation is clear from its efforts to restart tourism even though cases of the virus are expected to keep rising.

Now, Sisi faces a pair of foreign-policy challenges on Egypts borders that could turn 2020 into his nadir. In Libya, he finds himself backing the losing side of a civil war. In Ethopia, negotiations over a giant hydroelectric dam in the Nile have failed, ending hopes for the resolution of an old, acrimonious dispute.

Worse, Egypts ruler cant expect much help from his admirer in the White House. The collapse of negotiations over the Nile dam represents a failure of American mediation  the U.S. Treasury had tried to broker a deal  and Trump, beset with domestic problems amid a reelection campaign, is unlikely to give the matter much more attention. In Libya, the U.S. president seems to have come to an understanding with Turkey, which backs the other side in the civil war.

Nor can Sisi hope for much succor from Saudi Arabia. Although the Saudis mediated the 2018 Ethiopia-Eritrea peace accord, they have had little influence on the Nile negotiations. And Saudi relations with Turkey are openly hostile, ruling out any role for Riyadh in easing the Cairo-Ankara confrontation over Libya.

Story continues

Egypt isnt entirely friendless in Libya, but it is not clear that rebel commander Khalifa Haftars other backers  notably the United Arab Emirates and Russia  will boost their support if Libyas government forces, with more help from the Turks, storm the strategic port of Sirte. Sisi had declared Sirte as his line in the sand, suggesting Egypt may intervene directly if Turkey crosses it. The Emiratis, no less hostile to Turkey than the Saudis, may hold the line; Russia, which is allied with the Turks in Syria, may not.

Sisi may soon be forced to decide. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to have embarked on an ambitious nation-building project in Libya, and the government in Tripoli is keen to press home its advantage over Haftar. Sisis proposal for a cease-fire was met with scorn from Turkey as well as from Libyas Government of National Accord.

Matters are not quite as kinetic in the south, despite the chest-thumping of prominent Egyptians and long-standing predictions of a war over the Nile waters. But if Ethiopia does follow through on its threat to fill the dam, Sisi would be under pressure to retaliate. (Egypt fears that the dam would restrict its water supply and harm its farmers.)

As if these two foreign-policy challenges were not onerous enough, a third looms to the north: Israels proposed annexation of large parts of the West Bank. Sisi has strengthened relations with Israel  a $15 billion natural-gas deal between the two countries is key to Egypts hopes of becoming a major energy supplier to Europe. But Cairo is opposed to annexation. If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu goes ahead with a plan that is bound to be unpopular with ordinary Egyptians, Sisi may be required to respond with something more substantial than a strongly-worded statement of disapproval.

Under such circumstances, the prospect of holding office until 2030 may come to feel more like a curse than a blessing.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He writes on foreign affairs, with a special focus on the Middle East and the wider Islamic world.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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KALAMAZOO, MI -- Public health officials in Kalamazoo County have not seen a spikes in coronavirus cases tied to either local protest events or recent restaurant reopenings, as some had feared. But organizers of a COVID-19 testing program have noted an increase in tests being sought, which they do link to demonstrations and the return of dine-in service at Michigan restaurants.

Kalamazoo County health officials have not traced the virus back to protests or reopened restaurants thus far, county epidemiologist Mary Franks said.

In the weeks following hundreds of protesters gathering in downtown Kalamazoo, demanding an end to police brutality, local officials voiced concerns about how the demonstrations could allow the virus to spread.

The current daily new case average in Kalamazoo County is 3.3, according to the MI Start Map and dashboard created by the University of Michigan and state officials.

It is a great sign that we havent seen a huge spike in the number of new cases, Franks said. We havent seen whats called a super spreader event where one person infects multiple people at one exposure site.

Related: Coronavirus lag time makes it hard to identify superspreader events

In total, the county has reported 958 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 774 recoveries as of Wednesday, June 24. Recoveries are defined as a patient being alive 30 days after the onset of symptoms.

Despite the encouraging numbers, the lag time involved in reporting the virus makes this hard to say with certainty, though, whether the threat recent gatherings might remain, public health officials says.

For example, the time between when someone gets infected and when they get sick could be up to 14 days. Then, add in the time from when someone is sick enough to go to a doctor and get test results back, and there could be a three-week lag time between infection and confirmation of disease.

For that reason, the county is monitoring the latest data with cautious optimism, Franks said.

We still need to be really diligent, because were still at risk, she said. People dropping their guard will result in a spike in cases.

In East Lansing, at least 14 people who visited the same bar during a nine-day period have tested positive for coronavirus.

Related: 14 coronavirus cases tied to East Lansing bar

Kalamazoo Countys positivity rate has remained in the low-risk category, which is defined as 3% or less. The countys positivity rate was 2.4% during the week ending on June 21.

As a whole, the county is in the medium-risk range, in terms of its daily new cases. State data describes medium risk as seven to 20 new cases per million, per day. The past seven days have resulted in 12.6 new cases per million, per day.

As of Wednesday, the countys death toll since the pandemic began was 65. The average age of those killed by the virus remained at 79.

Since the pandemic began, 129 people have been hospitalized for the virus in Kalamazoo County. On Tuesday, Bronson Methodist reported having four patients. Ascension Borgess does not release its patient data, citing privacy reasons.

Though no clear connection has been identified between new cases and recent gatherings, the countys testing program did note both protests and restaurant reopenings were mentioned by recent test subjects.

After noting a previous dip in the numbers of people registering to be tested for the coronavirus, the Family Health Center saw a resurgence from the Kalamazoo areas restaurant community in recent days.

The Family Health Center continues to offer free testing but has stopped setting up events at other locations. Instead both daily walk-ins and larger drive-thru operations will be at the two health center locations, CEO and President Denise Crawford.

Two weeks ago, only 32 people scheduled tests, leading Crawford to believe the interest in testing was waning in Kalamazoo County. She was surprised when 123 showed up to the next testing site. Of those, five tested positive.

A similar surprisingly high number of tests were seen last week, when 136 arrived to be tested. Of those, seven tested positive.

Both groups were largely comprised of protest attendees and waitstaff at area restaurants, Crawford said.

Co-owner of Nonla Burger Natashia Monk said they sent all 38 employees from Nonlas family of four restaurants to get tested before heading back to work. They closed the restaurants for a week to allow time for staff members to get tested and get their results, she said.

Since our restaurants are small, we felt like it would be smart to make sure our team is tested before returning back to work since we work in close proximity to one another, Monk said.

Crawford praised restaurants for being proactive, although she stands by advice that the general public should wait until they have symptoms or can confirm they were exposed before seeking out a test.

Above all else, Crawford said, it is most important that people continue to wear masks, wash their hands and disinfect shared surfaces.

Theres a little bit of a myth that coronavirus has gone away, its no big deal, she said. We dont want to end up like some of these states like, Texas, Florida and Georgia, where theyre starting to see these skyrocketing levels again.

The next reopening concern are gyms, she said.

Gyms were allowed to open in some northern Michigan counties starting June 10. While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hasnt announced a reopening date for gyms downstate, a U.S. Circuit Court judge has ruled Michigan must allow gyms to reopen Thursday, June 25.

This has cut public health officials out of issuing safety guidelines about capacity limits like they did for restaurants, Franks said.

Were between a rock and a hard place there with recommendations and making sure that they know how to safely reopen and encouraging them to limit capacity, even though legally they dont have to, she said.

More on MLive:

Michigan hairstylists say theyre being targeted for not complying with Gov. Whitmers orders

Report offers plan for Michigan schools to recover

UM cancels plans for presidential debate
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:51:41|Editor: huaxia

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-- China launched the last BDS satellite on Tuesday, marking the completion of the deployment of its own global navigation system.

-- The three GEO satellites, including the newly launched one, feature two distinctive creations of the BDS system -- active positioning and short message communication.

-- Compared with the BDS-2 system, the signals of the BDS-3 system have been upgraded to provide better services.

-- BDS is used by more than half of the countries in the world.

by Xinhua writers Quan Xiaoshu, Yu Fei, Li Mi

XICHANG, June 23 (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.

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). (Xinhua/Hu Xujie)

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.

A lightship which uses the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) is seen in a water channel on the Pearl River estuary in south China's Guangdong Province, June 20, 2019. (Xinhua/Tian Jianchuan)

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.

A model of the Beidou Satellite Navigation System is displayed during the 9th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 14, 2012. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

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.

In this photo taken with a long-time exposure, China sends two new satellites of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) into space on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Nov. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua)

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.

Aerial photo taken on April 9, 2020 shows an unmanned tractor navigated by BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) working on a paddy field at an intelligent agriculture demonstration zone in Tawan Village of Litong District, Wuzhong City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

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).

One of 103 China's homegrown regional jetliner ARJ21-700 planes uses the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) for the first time in a test flight at Shengli Airport in Dongying City, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

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. Enditem

(Xinhua reporters Li Guoli, Wang Xiaojie, Ding Jing and Che Yunlong also contributed to the story. Video reporters: Xue Chen, Zhai Shujing, Chen Changqi, Wu Hongbo, Yang Zhigang, Yin Jiajie, Zhang Bin; Video editor: Peng Ying)
OSTERSUND, Sweden, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Skanska has signed a contract with the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation to renovate the North Central Bronx Hospital in Bronx, New York, USA. The contract is worth USD 64.8M, about SEK 606 M, which will be included in the US order bookings for the second quarter of 2020.

The 71,000-square-foot renovation includes the addition of 120 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and support space for the executive administration staff at the existing hospital.

Construction began in April 2020, with ICU beds expedited for completion in May 2020 and final project completion scheduled for September 2020.

Skanska is one of the leading construction and development companies in the US, specializing in building construction, civil infrastructure and developing commercial properties in select U.S. markets. Skanska USA had sales of SEK 74 billion and about 7,900 employees in its operations in 2019.

For further information please contact:

Brittany Felteau, Communications Manager, Northeast Skanska USA +1-617-574-1485

Jacob Birkeland, Head of Media Relations, Skanska AB, tel +46 (0)10-449-19-57

Direct line for media, tel +46 (0)10-448-88-99

This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/skanska/r/skanska-renovates-north-central-bronx-hospital-in-bronx--new-york--usa-for-usd-64-8-m--about-sek-606,c3140466

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/95/3140466/1268709.pdf 20200624 US North Central Bronx Hospital

SOURCE Skanska
Diana, Princess of Wales, has been played onscreen several times. (PA Images)

Kristen Stewart is to become the latest actor to step into the shoes of one of the worlds most famous royals, as she takes on the role of Diana, Princess of Wales.

According to Deadline, Pablo Larrain will direct Stewart in Spencer, which will focus on one weekend in the late princesss life when she decided her marriage to Prince Charles was not working.

It will be set over three days during one of her last Christmases at the Queens Norfolk estate of Sandringham.

The news that Stewart, 30, was to play Diana met with a mixed reaction on social media, with some calling it a terrible idea, and others pointing out she might have unique understanding of the late royal.

Both women lived in the public and paparazzis eyes, with Stewart propelled to fame through the Twilight franchise.

Read more: Why are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping back as senior royals?

As Spencer wont start filming until 2021, Yahoo UK looks back at some of the actors who have played Diana, and how their efforts went down.

Emma Corrin in The Crown (in production)

Emma Corrin will play Diana opposite Josh O'Connor's Charles in The Crown. (WireImage)

This is one we havent yet seen, but stills from shooting show that Emma Corrin has taken on Diana for Netflixs The Crown in series four.

Corrin, 24, is a bit of a newcomer, and is making her film debut in Misbehaviour this year.

Shes also been in Grantchester and Pennyworth.

She said: Princess Diana was an icon, and her effect on the world remains profound and inspiring, and said she would try to do her justice.

The Crown star Emma Corrin channels Princess Diana while filming in Manchester https://t.co/qMo9UJKb99 pic.twitter.com/2gTLkR1RL4  Page Six (@PageSix) February 12, 2020

There are no reviews yet of course, but Josh OConnor, who plays her onscreen husband Prince Charles, said: She looked the spitting image [of Diana], and its kind of extraordinary.

Story continues

Emmas doing a brilliant job, and its breathtakingly accurate.

We cant wait to see it.

Naomi Watts in Diana (2013)

Naomi Watts in Diana in 2013. (Ecosse Films/PA Images)

Diana focuses on the last two years of the princesss life and, in particular, her relationship with Dr Hasnat Khan, a Pakistani heart surgeon.

The ill-starred film did not go to plan from the beginning, after Jessica Chastain dropped out of playing Diana.

It got terrible reviews, with The Guardians Peter Bradshaw writing: I hesitate to use the term car crash cinema, but the awful truth is that, 16 years after that terrible day in 1997, [Diana] has died another awful death.

The film currently has a rating of 1 on Rotten Tomatoes, but some fans have credited Watts for her ability to capture Dianas accent and manner.

In 2014, Watts admitted to Vanity Fair: Ultimately there were problems and it ended up taking a direction which was not the one I was hoping for.

Lesley Harcourt in William & Catherine, A Royal Romance (2011)

Lesley Harcourt played Diana in William & Catherine: A Royal Romance. (Getty Images)

This made-for-TV movie focuses on Prince Williams love story with Kate Middleton, who became the Duchess of Cambridge, and so features very little of Diana.

But while Harcourts role is small it is pivotal, according to the synopsis, as William takes to heart advice from her as he watches an interview she did before her death, leaving a message to hold on to the love of your life and protect it with all of your heart.

A cheesy film, it was called superficial fun by critics.

Genevieve OReilly in Diana: Last Days Of A Princess (2007)

Diana, as played by Genevieve O'Reilly. (Channel 5/PA Images)

This offering is a mix of dramatic recreations of the last 12 weeks of Dianas life before the car crash that killed her in 1997, interviews with people close to her like Mohamed Al Fayed and bodyguard Kez Wingfield, and archival footage.

OReilly, 43, powered through the docudrama, according to the Irish Independent, despite not looking or sounding much like the princess.

Serena Scott Thomas in Diana: Her True Story (1993)

Serena Scott Thomas played Diana in 1993. (Getty Images)

Scott Thomas played Diana in the dramatisation of the book of the same name, which was written by Andrew Morton.

Variety called the film engaging and entertaining, but The Sun called it shallow as a toddler's play-pool.

The Daily Mail said: The royal household are portrayed as the Addams Family on acid with the Queen taking the leading role.

The Daily Telegraph noted that those reviews did not daunt Scott Thomas, now 58, who played Carol Middleton in a later film about William and Kate.

Amy Seccombe in Diana: A Tribute To The Peoples Princess (1998)

Amy Seccombe and George Jackos as Diana and Dodi Fayed. (PA Images)

Seccombe played Diana in a tribute film that covered her life from May 1996 until the crash that killed her in August 1997, ending with the princess preparing to accept Dodi Fayeds marriage proposal.

Discussing the film last year, The Telegraph said Seccombe delivered every line like the junior manager of a regional branch of NatWest.

Released just a year after Dianas death, it was judged to be ill-advised, with the actors unconvincing in their roles.

Seccombe had one role afterwards, as a medic in Operation Good Guys.

Julie Cox in Princess in Love (1996)

Julie Cox played Diana in Princess in Love. (PA Images)

Julie Cox played Diana in a 1996 film Princess in Love, based on the book by Anna Pasternak.

It told the story of Dianas affair with James Hewitt, which was confirmed by both parties before her death.

Pasternak revealed some details of writing the book last year, particularly hre regret at hurt caused to the Royal Family, including William and Harry.

Despite working with Pasternak on the book, Hewitt also came to regret it, claiming he felt used by Diana as she hoped to diffuse the impact of a second Morton book on her extra-marital relationship.

Caroline Bliss in Charles and Diana: A Royal Love Story (1982)

Charles met Caroline Bliss a few years after she played his wife in a TV film. (PA Images)

This film dramatised the 1981 wedding of Charles and Diana, and saw future Miss Moneypenny Bliss play the princess.

A few years later, Bliss met Prince Charles when he visited Pinewood Studios as they filmed Bond movie The Living Daylights in 1986.

According to the MailOnline, one review in The Washington Post said it was slack-jawed heraldic voyeurism incapable of, and apparently uninterested in, transforming remote news figures into believable mortals.

Jeanna de Waal in Diana: A True Musical Story (2019/20)

Not a film but a musical  Jeanna de Waal has been bringing Diana to life through song.

Its a bit of a departure from her previous work, as she was in Kinky Boots and American Idiot before.

In an LA Times review, the show was described as having generic quality that for all its efficient smoothness seems culturally misplaced, but a lively sense of humor about itself.

Briton de Waal told People before the play premiered that her accent was about all she had in common with the princess, but she studied old clips of Diana intently.
After strategic business talks, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar attended the Victory Day parade at the Red Square in Moscow on Wednesday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

"I am proud that a tri-service contingent of the Indian armed forces is also participating in this parade," said Rajnath Singh, who is on a three-day trip to Russia.

His visit to Moscow is very significant as India's relationship with China has deteriorated over border issues in eastern Ladakh, where 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash with the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Galwan Valley on June 15. The Chinese side too suffered casualties, though the actual figures are not know yet.

On Tuesday, 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 on 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 the "special and privileged strategic partnerships". "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. 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 they 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 was fully satisfied with the discussions.

"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, especially the veterans, who contributed to the world's security.

The minister recalled that the Indian soldiers also participated in the war and suffered immense casualties. "Many of them were part of the war efforts to provide assistance to the Soviet Army," he said.

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar had discussions with his counterpart and Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.
CHICAGO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwestern Medicine recently launched the Gender Pathways Program, a clinical program for transgender and gender non-binary individuals providing supportive medical services, from gender-affirming primary care to complex multidisciplinary surgeries.

Working with members of the transgender community to garner their input on their specific healthcare needs, the program offers coordinated care by more than a dozen Northwestern Medicine physicians in obstetrics and gynecology, urology, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, internal medicine and family medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The program is sponsored by the Northwestern Medicine Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division. Feminizing and masculinizing facial, top and bottom surgeries are offered as well as connections for hormone therapy, primary care, preventive health screenings and laser hair removal.

"We want to make Northwestern Medicine the medical home for as many people as possible, not just providing transition-related surgery but lifelong, supportive and safe care," said Sumanas Wanant Jordan, MD, a plastic surgeon specializing in gender affirming surgery and transgender healthcare. "Whether it's surgical transition, general gynecology, fertility counseling, internal medicine, social work or psychology, we have trusted colleagues in each of those medical subspecialties who can provide affirming, thoughtful care."

Jazz McGinnis, LCSW, is the program coordinator with Gender Pathways who works with the program's patients to provide social work assessments and coordinate their care between departments. McGinnis is also working to support inclusive, comfortable care for transgender and gender non-binary patients throughout the health system.

"We are being thoughtful that the entire system and the spaces in the hospital are as affirming as possible, in addition to providing high-quality surgery," McGinnis said. "We are really trying to be intentional about our multidisciplinary team. We show patients we are all on the same page and here to support them as a whole person."

The Gender Pathways program will also offer research, advocacy and education about transgender or gender non-binary individuals within the health care space.

"Things came together for our program at a great time," said Dr. Jordan, an assistant professor of surgery (plastic surgery) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "State and local governments are coming together to promote transgender rights, and we have a number of providers who want to make sure trans healthcare is a priority. That said, we have a lot of work ahead of us. We are doing everything at the highest level to meet the needs of our patients."

To make an appointment with the Gender Pathways Program, call 312.926.3866 or click here.

For more information about Northwestern Medicine, visit news.nm.org/about-northwestern-medicine.html .

SOURCE Northwestern Medicine

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Indias traditional systems of medicine, including ayurveda, have several proven preventive and curative drugs and therapies, but Patanjali Ayurved Ltds claim of a breakthrough cure for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) needs vetting, experts said, despite the company claiming to have conducted a randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial.

The principal investigator running the clinical trial at a Jaipur medical college confirmed the findings but said they were preliminary and the study, ongoing. He also clarified that the study was conducted on patients who were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, between the ages of 35 and 45, and that no people with co-morbidities (considered the most vulnerable to the disease) were part of the trial.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

Interestingly, a spokesperson for Patanjali, SK Tijarawala said that the company never claimed that it (the medicines) were a cure for coronavirus disease; all we said was that the medicines in our kit that Patanjali has been selling individually to boost immunity and provide relief to patients of respiratory illness has been effective in improving symptoms of Covid-19 patients.

Patanjali submitted (preliminary) results of the clinical trial to the ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) only after the latter demanded facts of the claim and details of the stated scientific study. That came after the company, promoted by yoga guru Baba Ramdev, went public with its discovery. He was later interviewed by several TV channels where he talked up the discovery. The scientific title of its clinical trial, according to documents submitted by the company is : Impact of Indian traditional Ayurvedic treatment regime for nCov-2 (Covid-19)

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

On Tuesday, the ministry also directed the company to stop advertising the product till the claim was verified.

The Ayush ministry is currently in the process of examining the documents.

Its a good thing that Baba Ramdev has given a new medicine to the country, but as per rules, it has to come to the Ayush ministry first. They even said that they have sent a report; we will look into it and permission will be given after seeing the report, Ayush minister Shripad Naik told news agency ANI on Wednesday.

It wasnt immediately clear how the company launched its product without a clearance from the ministry.

A senior official in the ministry of Ayush added on condition of anonymity that the claims made by Patanjali were being verified by experts in the ministry.

We werent aware of it (the drug) until yesterday (Tuesday), and now that they have submitted the documents, our experts will be examining it before anything is said conclusively. There is a protocol for conducting clinical trials for any medicine under the Ayush system that we have notified, so we will examine what kind of approvals they have, and what type of trial was conducted with the primary and secondary objective. All technical parameters will be examined, the official said.

According to the trial data submitted by the company, in a double blind single centre randomised study at a hospital in Jaipur, the National Institute of Medical Sciences, the drug was tested on 120 patients. The primary outcome was the virological clearance in a RT-PCR test at baseline, after three days, and after seven days.

The secondary outcome was reduction in Serum C reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 levels. High CRP and IL-6 levels are an indicator of inflammation.

According to the findings of the trail, there was a 69% recovery on Day 3 in the treatment group, and 100% recovery at Day 7, which was 35% better recovery than the placebo group. The documents said that Serum CRP levels are lesser in treatment group and that there was a remarkable decrease in IL-6 levels.

According to Dr Ganpat Devpura, a professor of medicine at NIMS and the principal investigator of the trial, by design, excluded people with co-morbidities and the age of patients studied was 35-45 years . He also added that the patients were either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic because those were the kind of patients available for the trial at the hospital.

Clinical trials usually have wider samples -- for instance, before being approved, allopathic medicines go through trials that sometimes involve tens of thousands of people.

Several voices have raised concerns about the trial design since Tuesday when Patanjali made the results public.

The #PatanjaliAyurved trial enrolled 120 COVID+mildly ill patients & looked at viral clearance and decrease in IL-6 levels as endpoints. IL-6the indicator of severe inflammation & cytokine stormis unlikely to be elevated early in these patients. How would the drug impact it? tweeted SP Kalantri, who identifies himself as a physician, teacher and researcher among other things.

Indeed, some of the findings may not be a measure of the efficacy of the drugs being tested, another expert said: Explaining the implications, Dr Yatin Mehta, chairman, critical care, Medanta Hospital, said: In early stages of the disease its highly unlikely that a patient will develop cytokine storm indicated by high levels of c-reactive protein and IL-6. Almost 80-90% cases are mild who would recover on their own anyway so if the resolution being talked about is reduction in IL-6 or CRP levels then for mild cases it doesnt seem to be suitable.

These are just initial findings and not yet peer reviewed. We will submit final results to Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences for review but it should take about a month or two. The trial is still on-going. As to why the company has already begun manufacturing the drug you must ask the manufacturer. I cannot comment on that, said Dr Devpura.

Pantanjali spokesperson Tijarawala reiterated that no rules were flouted. Everything is in order; nothing has been violated. medicines have been in use for years, and we only lent scientific validity to its results.

While the drug trial is registered with the central trials registry of India (CTRI) , which is run by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the data has not been yet uploaded on the site.

The results will be uploaded on CTRI website soon, said Patanjali in its documents submitted to the Ayush ministry.

Dr Anurag Agarwal, director, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, said everything depends on the data and the design: Interim results can be useful in some cases, but it all depends on the study design. If the results arent out in public domain that it becomes difficult to say.

ICMR, however, said registering with CTRI is just a small part of the clinical trials process, and that the crucial part is declaring and getting the results vetted. The findings of the study are also yet to be peer-reviewed.

The data has to be made public and reviewed by experts, which in this case is the ministry of Ayush. There are several approvals such as institutional ethics committees approval, and factors such as number of trial participants and the quality of data generated and where it is published that are to be considered. CTRI can only enrol but efficacy and non-efficacy is different process altogether that we cannot comment on but is for the Ayush ministry to verify, said Dr Rajnikant Srivastava, spokesperson ICMR.

Meanwhile Uttarakhands licensing department for Ayurveda told news agency ANI, As per Patanjalis application, we issued them a license. They didnt mention coronavirus, we only approved license for immunity booster, cough and fever. We will issue them notice asking how they got permission to make the kit.

Patanjalis Tijarawala added that the state Ayush department has been in the loop all throughout and adequate permissions were sought from it for the use of these medicines in combination.

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The Spokesperson of Imo State, Chimezie Iwuala, has revealed that 13 lawmakers of the House of Assembly have recently tested positive for Covid-19.

The legislators underwent testing for the coronavirus recently, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) carrying out the tests.

Iwuala added that the infected persons were immediately advised to go into home-isolation.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Judiciary, Hon. Nelson Ezerioha, who was also tested, also confirmed the news, although he said he does not have the exact number of his colleagues who tested positive for the virus.

Ezerioha said, "it's against the law to disclose the identities of the virus carriers. The truth is that 26 out of the 27 of us, including the speaker, were tested and we have been receiving calls from the NCDC officials about our statuses."

Follow all the latest coronavirus-related news in Africa on our dedicated live blog

Self-isolation for lawmakers

Ezerioha also noted that some of his colleagues were advised to go into self-isolation in their homes, before announcing that his own test results were negative.

The assembly speaker Hon. Collins Chiji, requested a complete lockdown of the Assembly complex last week after a lawmaker had tested positive for coronavirus.

Nigeria is facing an uphill struggle against Covid-19 with the total number of confirmed cases increasing to 21,371, while 7,338 have recovered. There have been 533 deaths
A man has been charged with murder after a man died in south-east London.

Gareth Standing, 38, was arrested on Tuesday and later charged with the murder of 41-year-old Wayne Hoskyns.

Met Police were called by the London Ambulance Service to reports of an injured man in The Parade, Crayford, in Bexley, on June 19.

Officers were sent to the scene and found the victim in an unresponsive state.

The victim has been officially identified as Wayne Hoskyns / Met Police

He was taken to hospital in a critical condition by the London Air Ambulance and died on Saturday.

Standing will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Experts warned that Chinese investors may flock to Vietnam to buy industrial zones (IZs) through merger and acquisitions (M&As) to prepare to receive an expected wave of foreign direct investment (FDI).

The US-China trade war and the Covid-19 pandemic have accelerated the investment shift and relocation of supply chains from China to Vietnam.

Long Hau IZ

Despite Covid-19, Vietnam still attracted $12.33 billion worth of FDI in the first four months of the year, equal to 84.5 percent of the same period last year. $5.15 billion worth of capital was disbursed during that time, equal to 90.4 percent.



According to Dinh Trong Thinh from the Finance Academy, relocating factories from China to Vietnam will bring great opportunities to the industrial property sector (industrial land, ready-built workshops, warehouses and logistics services)



Vietnam needs to prepare clean industrial land, infrastructure and storehouse networks to serve goods storage and delivery/receiving activities. If Vietnamese enterprises cannot do this quickly, Chinese businesses will do this and receive foreign investment here.

Once Chinese enterprises acquire IZs and become distributors and invite foreign investors to their IZs, they will have benefits in jobs, land leasing and others which could have belonged to Vietnamese enterprises.

Once Chinese enterprises acquire IZs and become distributors and invite foreign investors to their IZs, they will have benefits in jobs, land leasing and others which could have belonged to Vietnamese enterprises.



Foreign investors have to cooperate with Chinese investors to obtain industrial land to set up factories. Chinese enterprises may exploit this to counterfeit their goods origin, he said.



In principle, when foreign investors head for Vietnam, the land leasing fee will become more expensive, which benefits Vietnam. But if this occurs, Chinese businesses can get the benefits.



When Chinese investors acquire industrial properties, they will have to pay money, but Vietnam actually wants foreign investors that will cooperate with Vietnamese enterprises, which would help develop industries, especially supporting industries.



When foreign investors come to Vietnam, they will need screws, materials and components. Vietnamese enterprises will provide these products to them. And this will help develop supporting industries. This is what Vietnam strives for, he explained.



But if Chinese enterprises can lure foreign investors, they will provide materials and components to the investors, not Vietnamese enterprises.



As such, they will skim the fattest profit, he said.



Thinh mentioned the statement of the representative of the Ministry of National Defence as saying before the National Assembly that many Chinese own land plots in important positions in some localities and that strict control was needed over foreign ownership, while ensuring no discriminatory treatment.

Kim Chi

Industrial real estate to be a highlight in Vietnam: Analysts Industrial real estate is expected to be a highlight in Vietnam, especially after the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement comes into being, analysts have said.
First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar touched upon the case of National Guard member Vitaliy Markiv imprisoned in Italy during a meeting with Ambassador of Italy to Ukraine Davide La Cecilia.

"The First Deputy Foreign Minister underscored the sensitivity of this issue in Ukrainian society, as well as the attention paid to it by the leadership of the state. In this regard, Emine Dzheppar expressed the expectation that justice would be ensured during the ongoing appeal process and Vitaliy Markiv would return to his homeland, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs.

As reported, on May 25, a group of experts from the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise and the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute conducted a crime re-enactment in the town of Slovyansk within the National Polices criminal investigation into the murder of Italian photographer Andrea Rocchelli and his Russian interpreter Andrei Mironov on May 24, 2014.

In summer of 2017, Ukraines National Guard member Vitaliy Markiv was detained in Italy on charges of alleged involvement in the murder of Andrea Rocchelli and Andrei Mironov. They died as a result of a mortar shelling at the foot of the Karachun Mountain near Slovyansk town on May 24, 2014. At that time, the territory in Donetsk region was controlled by the militants.

On July 12, a court in the Italian town of Pavia sentenced Ukraines National Guard member Vitaliy Markiv to 24 years in prison. Markiv's lawyers called the sentence "political" and declared the intention to file the appeal. Later, the lawyers said the court of appeal could deliver its judgment in the spring of 2020.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine to make every effort for returning Markiv to the homeland.

During the meeting, Emine Dzheppar also said that Ukraine considered Italy as an important political and economic partner and viewed the country's compliance with the sanctions regime as a confirmation of non-recognition of the occupation of Ukrainian territories.

"Emine Dzheppar stressed that Ukraine considered Italy as an important political and economic partner and thanked for the support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and state sovereignty. She stressed that compliance with the sanctions regime against Russia was the main confirmation of the policy of non-recognition of the occupation of the Ukrainian territories," the statement reads.

As noted, the importance of further cooperation between the parties on the principles of international law was underscored during the meeting in order to effectively counter attempts to spread misinformation and terrorism, including the activities of fake NGOs in Italy which pretend to be so-called representations of republics with a view to legitimize the occupation of eastern Ukraine.

Davide La Cecilia emphasized Italy's interest in deepening economic and investment cooperation with Ukraine and noted the positive efforts of the Ukrainian authorities to implement reforms and achieve economic and financial stability.

The Italian ambassador declared his country's support for Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The interlocutors welcomed the dynamics of Ukraine-Italy political dialogue and reaffirmed their readiness to exchange high-level visits after the lifting of restrictive measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ambassador of Italy thanked the Ukrainian side for providing humanitarian assistance to Italy to counter COVID-19.

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You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under peoples feet. Matthew 5:13 ESV

God has good plans for us, but they require us to work hard in pursuit of His will for our lives. We must daily take up our crosses and decide to follow Jesus through every obstacle that presents itself. We must seek Christ as our greatest treasure and satisfaction.

What Did Jesus Mean When He Used the Phrase Salt of the Earth?

Jesus often chose common subjects to demonstrate His teachings. Salt was so important and valuable that Roman soldiers sometimes were paid in salt, wrote Greg Laurie for Harvest Daily Devotion, Hence the expression, Hes not worth his salt. Salt on its own is used for clearing roads and preserving food, but it also enhances the taste of everything its added to. Even in ancient times, salt was a symbol of lasting concord, the New Testament Greek Lexicon defines, because it protected food from putrefaction and preserved it unchanged.

Jesus taught His followers to be careful not to lose the flavor of their Creator. Most of the salt used in Israel came from the Dead Sea, which contained impurities. Impurities can cause flavor loss. Right before this verse, in the conclusion of the Beatitudes, Jesus proclaimed blessings over those who are persecuted, not only for living in sake of righteousness but for living for Him. He described His followers, and believers today, as salt and light, clearly called to influence, improve and make the world a better place (The Moody Bible Commentary).

Colossians 4:6 teaches, Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person (NAS). Paul used the same Greek word for salt as in Matthew 5:13. Preserved and flavored salty speech means our words are infused with the very love of Christ, and His Holy Spirit living in us as believers. His presence in our lives permeates all we do, even our speech. Salt is a preservative and is tasty. The Christians conversation is to be wholesome and helpful (NIV Study Bible Notes). Our reactions are to bring glory and honor to God.

The Message paraphrase of Matthew 5:13 reads, Let me tell you why you are here. Youre here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? Youve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Those who seek God see others as He sees them. When we love people for who they are, it can reveal the best in them and encourage them to grow, just as salt adds wonderful flavor to food. We can be vessels of Gods love to the people He purposefully places around us. The commentary that prefaces the VOICE paraphrase of Matthew 5:13 explains, Salt draws out the good flavors subtly hidden in the food and preserves what would otherwise spoil, as do those who claim to be children of God.

If we are chasing our own plans, goals, and ambitions, or that of the worlds, we lose our saltiness. Jesus also uses a graphic image - how can true salt stop being salt? the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible informs, Jesus compares a disciple who does not live out the values of the kingdom with unsalted salt -salt that cannot fulfill its purpose. This begs us to consider if we are being complacent in obeying Gods directives. The Amplified Bible translates, You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery.] Jesus uses the salt analogy to teach His followers, and believers today, to submit our agendas to Him so that we may not lose our saltiness, nor the privilege of becoming a vessel of Gods love to those around us.

Why Would Jesus Use This Analogy?

To better understand why Jesus would use this analogy, its important to look at todays verse in context with the verses that preface it. Jesus, in the famous Sermon on the Mount, preached the Beatitudes before discussing salt and light. The Beatitudes explain the sacrificial way Jesus calls us to live. Matthew 5:11-12 says, Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (ESV)

Following Jesus will cost us. It cost the prophets in the Old Testament and the disciples and apostles in the New Testament. Believers throughout the centuries have willingly suffered for what Jesus stands for. Christ uses the salt analogy, I believe, to assure us that following Him is worth every earthly cost. I believe He is encouraging us to continue on in pursuit of righteousness. Joyful suffering for the sake of Christ is startling, spectacular, salty, wrote John Piper in Salt, Suffering, and Satisfaction.

The verses following Jesus teaching on salt and light read:

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good words and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16, ESV)

Jesus used common analogies His audience understood, to encourage them to keep fighting the good fight, assuring us it would not only be worth it here on earth, but for eternity in heaven with Him. Were not garlic, or paprika, were salt, prayed Scotty Smith, Salt preserves and fends off decay. Salt heals and soothes; it has medicinal value. Salt brings flavor and enhances other flavors. And salt only works when its out of the saltshaker 

Jesus came for us to live life to the full, to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. It is He, in us, beaming through our flesh to brighten up this world with a peace and love that transcend human understanding. He is the salt. It is He in us that makes us visibly and audibly different. Hes imploring us not to lose Him. Keep seeking, knocking, and pursuing Him.

How Can Christians Be the Salt of the Earth?

Christians can be salt of the earth by growing in a relationship with Christ through the daily pursuit of Him through His word and through prayer. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, gifted to us on account of Jesus sacrificial death on the cross, we can be assured were never alone. As we follow and remain in Him, we are able to let go of the things of this world, and gradually take hold of all things eternal. We focus less on material possessions, awards, and accolades. We are here as salt of the earth, to be a blessing to the world, wrote Charles Spurgeon, We are here to glorify Christ in our daily life. We are here as workers for him, as workers together with him.

Mark 9:50 reads, Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. Another definition for the Greek root of salt is wisdom and grace exhibited in speech. Each day, we must recalibrate our flesh by submitting to the Lord in prayer and in search of Him in His Word. Daily obedience to God waters the roots of His alive and active word in our lives. Christ, in us, is the Salt. His Holy Spirit, living in every believer, reveals a layer of flavor we are unable to see, perceive and experience without Him. We must do a work of preservation  or we lose our influence and become as insignificant as a layer of dust on city streets, wrote Chuck Swindoll for Insight for Today from Chuck Swindoll. The work we do for Christ begins with a daily pursuit of Him.

Jesus clearly taught that His followers were meant to make a difference in this world. In order to do that, believers must take up the call to live differently. The world doesnt need more of itself, it needs more of Christ. Salt is common, often sitting on our pantry shelves until we pull it out to season something. We will live our lives shelved unless we choose to allow Christ to use us in this life. As believers, we have the opportunity to participate in His Kingdom work. The eternal reward is ours to behold and look forward to! But its not just heaven we have to reach for. Jesus died for us to live THIS life to the full. When we let Him shake us up and work through our lives, we experience His peace and love here and now. It is in the little, everyday decisions to choose and follow Love, that we operate as salt of the earth.

A Prayer to Be the Salt of the Earth

Father,

We dont want to be dull and bland. We dont want to lose any of the flavor You have created and purposed for us to behold! Please, Lord, use our lives to bring out the best in everyone You purposefully place around us. Give us self-control and make us slow to speak. Let our actions and words bring glory and honor to You. Forgive us for the times we have fallen short, and for the times we will undoubtably fail again. Dont let our sins stop us, Father. Help us to keep confessing, repenting, and turning from the sins that so easily entangle us. Jesus, thank You for being our Salt and Light. It is You in us, the true Salt and Light, that seasons and shines our lives and those around us. We love you more every day and will continue to pursue You, no matter the cost. For we know the pain this side of heaven is a reality we will face and walk through. Strengthen us to persevere, and rejoice, through it all, knowing everything we walk through here on earth brings us one step closer to You.

In Jesus powerful name we pray,

Amen.

Photo credit: Getty Images/Jirkaejc
A deadly type of algae that kills pets and makes humans seriously ill has been spotted in some of the Lake District's most popular areas.

Environment Agency (EA) staff have reported that Blue Green Algae, known as cyanobacteria, has infected the Windermere, Derwentwater, Ullswater and Coniston Water lakes in the popular national park in Cumbria.

The appearance of the algae has been caused by the warm weather over the spring and summer and can kill animals as well as make people vomit, suffer diarrhoea and contract painful skin rashes.

The Blue Green Algae, also known as cyanobacteria (pictured) and is believed to cause vomiting, diarrhoea and painful skin rashes amongst humans, has been spotted in Cumbria

The deadly algae has been found in some of the Lake District's most popular lakes, such as Windermere (pictured)

Steve Gaskell, park management leader for the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) said: 'The EA has received reports of possible blue-green algae in both Windermere and Coniston recently.

'Relevant lakeshore landowners have been advised by the agency to put up signs to warn of this possibility.

'We advise if you come into contact with the water, wash in clean water. And if you feel ill, contact your doctor or nearest hospital.

'It can be fatal for pets and we would advise pets are kept away from the water.'

Derwentwater lake (pictured) is another lake that has reportedly been infected by the toxic algae, which is caused by hot weather in the spring and summer periods

Ullswater, the second largest lake in Cumbria, is another affected lake. Other symptoms caused by the algae include eye irritation, a fever and muscle and joint pain

The LDNPA also revealed there is the possibility of being affected by the Blue Green Algae just by looking at it, so advised park visitors to avoid doing so.

Cyanobacteria is normally found in the sea, inland waters and estuaries and other human symptoms of being affected by the toxic algae include eye irritation, a fever and muscle and joint pain.

Windermere, one of the waters affected by the algae, is the largest lake in the Lake District and was voted as the most romantic Valentine's Day spot in the UK by Britons earlier this year.

Ullswater, Derwentwater and and Coniston Water are also well-visited areas amongst tourists and are popular for taking part in watersport and swimming activities.
A controversial list ranking popular Arnott's biscuits from best to worst has divided social media, with Milk Arrowroot taking out the top spot.

Father Bruno Bouchet, a managing director from Sydney, ranked 12 iconic biscuits - labelling Kingston as 'royalty' and Butternut Snap as 'cat vomit'.

Many were baffled by the ranking, with many taking particular issue with his placement of Scotch Fingers, Monte Carlo and Orange Slice.

The self-proclaimed 'List King' - who sparked outrage over his rankings of chocolate bars and ice creams - controversially crowned Milk Arrowroot in the 'God Tier'.

'The Milk Arrowroot reigns supreme,' Bruno told Daily Mail Australia.

A controversial list ranking popular Arnott's biscuits from best to worst has divided social media, with Milk Arrowroot taking out the top spot

Poll What's YOUR favourite Arnott's biscuit? Milk Arrowroot Kingston Nice Choc Ripple Scotch Finger Orange Slice Milk Coffee Delta Cream Teddy Bear Monte Carlo Shortbread Cream Butternut Snap What's YOUR favourite Arnott's biscuit? Milk Arrowroot 39 votes

Kingston 266 votes

Nice 37 votes

Choc Ripple 24 votes

Scotch Finger 216 votes

Orange Slice 53 votes

Milk Coffee 14 votes

Delta Cream 29 votes

Teddy Bear 31 votes

Monte Carlo 201 votes

Shortbread Cream 133 votes

Butternut Snap 70 votes Now share your opinion





'It's delicious simplicity shows us that the perfect biscuit doesn't rely on any bells and whistles of creamy centres and gimmicky shapes.

'Anyone that's ever smeared butter on a milk arrowroot biscuit knows very well that it's one of the greatest culinary treats they'll ever experience.'

In the 'Royalty Tier', the former Kyle & Jackie O radio show producer named Kingston, Nice and Choc Ripple.

'The Kingston puts every other cream-filled biscuit to shame. There's never been an Oreo cookie that's ever gotten near the deliciousness of the Kingston. Australia  1, United States  0,' Bruno said.

In the centre of his rankings, Bruno put Scotch Fingers, Orange Slice and Milk Coffee in the 'Adam Sandler tier', or what he describes as 'take it or leave it' category.

'There are a number of fun experiences that come with the Scotch Finger. The best feature being the satisfying snap when you break the biscuit in two,' he explained.

'Everyone loves using your index finger to pick up the post-snap crumbs off your lap. The biscuit itself is alright, but it's more fun than tasty.'

Delta Cream, Teddy Bear and Monte Carlo were shamed in the 'Pleb Tier'.

'Arnott's created the Delta Cream in the 50s to take on the Oreo. They failed. The Delta Cream will always be a reminder that a great company like Arnott's should stick to what it does best instead of trying to imitate a competitor,' Bruno said.

Father Bruno Bouchet (pictured), a managing director from Sydney, ranked 12 iconic biscuits - labelling Kingston as 'royalty' and Butternut Snap as 'cat vomit'

Bruno said he found the 'cream taste' from the Monte Carlo 'gets lost' and 'you're essentially left with an unsatisfying sweet coconut-tasting biscuit'.

'The Monte Carlo is the most overrated biscuit in the entire Arnott's range. Sure, the vanilla and jam cream layer is delicious, but they're two biscuits, its sandwiched between are too thick and crumbly,' he said.

'I could easily make the Monte Carlo the greatest biscuit on earth by recreating it as a circular biscuit with the outer layers the same thickness and taste as the Orange Slice.'

Shortbread Cream and Butternut Snap found its place on the bottom of the barrel of the 'Cat Vomit Tier'.

'The Shortbread Cream is always the last remaining biscuit in every single Australian office lunchroom,' Bruno said.

'It's crumbly, unsatisfying and tastes like you're eating clumped-up sand. Arnott's should abolish the Shortbread Cream immediately and send all remaining stock over to a country that we're in conflict with.'

The self-proclaimed 'List King' - who sparked outrage over his rankings of chocolate bars and ice creams - controversially crowned Milk Arrowroot in the 'God Tier'

Bruno shared his 'definitive' list on Instagram, saying: 'The 100 per cent accurate Arnott's assorted power rankings. Don't bother commenting, this isn't up for discussion.'

While some agreed with his ranking of biscuits, most people took issue with the low positioning of Scotch Finger, Butternut Snap and Monte Carlo.

'This list is un-Australian. Sif [sic] a Scotch Finger is Adam Sandler,' one said, while another added: 'This is clearly meant to be controversial. Bulls*** as.'

'Butternut snap deserves more than that,' one person said, while added: 'How dare you disrespect Monte Carlos like that.'

Many described the list as an 'absolute catastrophe' while some said Bruno 'nailed' his rankings.

But not everyone agreed with his decision to name Milk Arrowroot as the number one biscuit, with some saying: 'Get stuffed! As if! Arrowroot isn't even a biscuit.'

Another said: 'Surely your most controversial yet. Milk Arrowroots are only good for old people without teeth to dunk in tea. My head just exploded.'

Others didn't agree with his ranking of Orange Slice, with one saying: 'No one likes orange slice. NO ONE.'

Another person asked Bruno: 'Who hurt you?', while one said: 'You've lost the plot you animal.'
Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

There were another 14 deaths linked to COVID-19 in Connecticut and another 117 residents have tested positive for the virus, according to data released by the state Tuesday.

The additional 14 deaths puts statewide deaths associated with the virus since the pandemic started in March at 4,277. The data showed the 117 more cases puts the statewide total number of cases at 45,899.
The State has downplayed the significance of the country's carbon reduction plan in addressing climate change, telling the Supreme Court that Ireland's emissions were "tiny" in a global context.

The move came in defence to a challenge by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) to the 2017 National Mitigation Plan.

FIE claims the plan is too vague and lacking in ambition to be of use.

As such, the group says the plan fails to comply with the 2015 Climate Act and breaches the rights to life and a healthy environment by allowing risks of sea level rise and altered weather.

On the second day of the two-day hearing, Eileen Barrington SC, representing the State, said FIE misunderstood the plan which was only a "first step" in national policy on carbon reduction which had an ultimate goal for achievement in 2050.

She said the group had conflated the science of climate change and the plan to make out that any failures by Ireland would bring about the described risks.

"Climate change is a global challenge. Ireland's emissions are a tiny proportion of the world's emissions," she said.

A second counsel for the State, Rory Mulcahy SC, said there was no evidence to suggest that measures in the plan would cause sea level rise or altered weather.

Risk

His stance prompted lengthy discussion with the seven judges. Judge Iseult O'Malley said she understood there was an assumption that how Ireland acted on climate mattered.

Mr Mulcahy replied that he was not saying Ireland's international obligations did not matter but Chief Justice Frank Clarke said there was a risk of him coming across like that. Mr Mulcahy insisted he was making a more "nuanced" point.

Earlier in the day, there was intense discussion as the judges sought clarity on whether or not Ireland was in breach of EU obligations on emissions.

Ms Barrington said while we were far behind on emissions cuts, Ireland was in compliance through buying carbon credits to make up the shortfall.

"There is compliance. As far as there are failures to meet EU obligations, it's only by way of emissions," she said.

Judge Clarke said the case was "important and difficult". A ruling is likely to take months.
HOUSTON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CEMEX USA announced today two of its cement terminals in Texas achieved the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a national recognition for conserving energy use at operations.

CEMEX USA was informed by the EPA earlier this month that operations at its De Zavala Cement Terminal, located in Houston, Texas, and Tyler Cement Terminal in Tyler, Texas, both earned the designation for cutting energy use. To participate in the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, operations must first establish their baselines for energy consumption, then put processes in place to conserve and track usage. CEMEX USA slashed its energy intensity by 53 percent at its De Zavala Terminal and cut its energy intensity by 39% at its Tyler Terminal, both exceeding the program's requirement to reduce energy intensity by 10 percent within 5 years.

To decrease energy use, CEMEX has replaced equipment at the terminals with more energy-efficient versions, and employees have replaced all lighting with LED energy-efficient light bulbs.

"At CEMEX, we are committed to sustainability, so we are constantly looking for opportunities where we can save energy and reduce our energy footprint," said CEMEX USA Executive Vice PresidentLogistics Matt Wild. "We are proud of our operations for their dedication and applaud them for taking these important steps to conserve energy."

The two terminals are the latest CEMEX USA operations to be recognized by the EPA for environmental and conservation efforts. CEMEX USA has a longstanding commitment to sustainability and conservation, earning EPA ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year in 2019 and 2020. More than 50 CEMEX USA operations have been recognized for excellence in ENERGY STAR Programs.

About CEMEX USA

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities throughout the world. Its U.S. network includes 10 cement plants, more than 50 strategically located distribution terminals, 50 aggregate quarries and nearly 270 ready-mix concrete plants.

SOURCE CEMEX USA

Related Links

http://www.cemexusa.com


Nicole Kidman is reportedly reuniting with Alexander Skarsgard as the former co-stars are working together again. Thus, it is resulting in conflict between Keith Urban and Kidman.

This week, a tabloid published an article alleging that the pair are currently feuding over Kidman and Skarsgard's co-starring again in their film, "The Northman." According to the news outlet, they set aside commemorating their 14th wedding anniversary on June 25 and tensions are running high over Kidman's reunion project with the former co-actor.

Rumors are circulating that Urban and Kidman are on the path towards a divorce due to the amount of quarreling during the quarantine, reported Enstarz. They are pissed off at the presence of each other at a high level of frequency and are into arguments due to numerous petty reasons.

The steamy viking movie is not approved by Urban and friends revealed that this roadblock could be their final destination, according to New Idea.

Previously, Kidman's on-screen kiss with her former "Big Little Lies" husband was in full view of Urban at the Emmys in 2017 which also stunned the world.

"Nicole and Keith are not used to spending this much time together," a supposed insider was cited by Gossip Cop. "They both work a lot and are used to spending a lot of time apart; it works for them. Now, being side by side 24/7 has caused tension."

Also Read: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Divorce Rumors: Keith's confident their marriage is lasting

The actress is claimed to be assertive in continuing with the on-screen reunion with her Swedish former co-actor for the film's production upon the lifting of the quarantine.

"Keith can't believe nobody thinks there's a problem with this. He was disturbed by that kiss and rightly so given that so were half the people in the room at the Emmys," the insider stated.

The insider further added that Kidman clarified to him that there is no meaning behind the decision, but is only due to the deep emotional connection from sharing intense chemistry while acting. She understood where Urban stands and promised not to behave unfavorably again.

The publication divulged that Kidman and Skarsgard reuniting on-screen has resulted in months of tension. The outlet continued that supporters have observed that Urban has not shared photos with his wife on Instagram since Valentine's Day. Meanwhile, Kidman has for a month been unusually quiet.

The production of "The Northman" in April was postponed for an indefinite period because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were supposedly slated to begin filming in mid-April.

The tabloid mentioned that Skarsgard's flirty approach towards Kidman also got into Urban's nerves.

A report noted that if the couple will be on the path towards divorce, this would not be because of the quarantine but the lifting of it, meaning Kidman will be working again back to the co-actor who Urban is threatened by.

In a closed set shoot, the production of the aforementioned film would span 19 weeks.

Related Article: Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban on the brink of divorce? Actress talks husband's addiction to alcohol

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The Eastern Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jeff Konadu Addo has sent a strong warning to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to come between the Electoral Commissions efforts to register Ghanaians in the upcoming voter registration exercise.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has set Tuesday, June 30, to compile a new voters register for the presidential and parliamentary elections in December 2020

Jeff Konadu in a media briefing disclosed how prepared they are for the new voters register as he strongly believes the NPP through the president, Nana Akufo-Addo are putting in place proper social policies in making sure that Ghanaians enjoy a better life.

I am signing a word of caution from the Eastern Regional branch of the NPP to the NDC who have planned to disrupt the registration exercise that we will make sure that the laws are being used to help the EC organize a successful voters register in the region. If they bring any misunderstanding we will not just look on. As long as EC is going by the laws of the country we will also support them, he said.

Jeff Konadu added, We have heard the incompetent John Mahama saying that he will cancel free SHS when given the mandate again. So I am pleading with parents to engage themselves in the upcoming registration and register their names so they can protect their wards from bad intentions from Mahama.

Whiles we register, we should make sure that we vote massively for the NPP and Nana Akuffo Addo for him to continue the good work he is doing for the country. When we are able to give him the bod again, it means the free SHS program will continue to function.

He has, therefore, commended all and sundry who contributed massively towards the success of the parliamentary primaries elections in the region.

Mr. Konadu in addition clamored for peace and unity among winners and losers of the recently held NPP Parliamentary Primaries to ensure the partys quest for success in the December 7 polls comes to pass.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the US Representative for New York's fourteenth district, faced a well-funded "centrist" challenger in this year's Democratic primary. Though Michelle Caruso-Cabrera couldn't match Ocasio-Cortez's fundraising, she was backed by Wall Street players and some of New York's richest, who thought she had a genuine chance of overcoming the left-leaning congresswoman. On the day, though, AOC trounced Caruso-Cabrera at the polls, leading 73%-19% with all precincts reporting in. It was called within minutes.

Wall Street CEOs, from Goldman Sachs to Blackstone, poured in millions to defeat our grassroots campaign tonight. But their money couldn't buy a movement. Thank you #NY14, and every person who pitched in for tonight's victory. Here's to speaking truth to power. pic.twitter.com/g9aRV3Cu1B  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 24, 2020

Elsewhere, establishment Democrats are struggling to fend off challenges from the left: Rep. Elliot Engel has likely lost to Jamaal Bowman, with the count close enough to come down to mail-in ballots yet to be tallied.

So New York didn't only choose Jamaal Bowman over Eliot Engel tonight. It also elected Ritchie Torres, who will go on to be the first openly gay Afro-Latinx man in Congress. AND Mondaire Jones, the first openly gay Black man in Congress. History is being made.  Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) June 24, 2020

But Amy McGrath has likely fended off Charles Booker's insurgent run in Kentucky's race to challenge Mitch McConnell in November. A clear result will be days in coming.

Republican voters are bucking the party line, too, with two Trump-hated candidates prevailing in the GOP primaries in Kentucky and North Carolina.
ANN ARBOR, MI  The Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education will vote on a new five-year contract for Superintendent Jeanice Swift during its meeting Wednesday.

The contract would replace Swifts current contract, which expires on June 30, 2020, but includes an automatic extension clause that currently extends her contract through 2025.

Details on the new contract are not included on the Board of Educations online agenda for the virtual meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 24. Ann Arbor Public Schools spokesman Andrew Cluley said details of the contract would be made public at the time of the board discussion and vote, as is the case with all other employee agreements, including union tentative agreements.

The Ann Arbor News/MLive has obtained a copy of the proposed contract. Here are some of the terms of the new deal:

The new contract also includes an automatic extension for a period of one year every July 1, unless the Board of Education or Swift gives written notice of a desire not to extend the contract, 90 days or more prior to the extension date. In that event, the contract would continue until its existing expiration date, which would be June 30, 2025 under the new terms.

The new contract would pay Swift a base salary of $220,000 beginning July 1. Under the proposed contract, Swift would be eligible for a 1.5% annual increase in base salary, unless there are major reductions in local, state or federal revenues, or an unforeseen financial crisis adversely affecting school funding.

The proposed contract also stipulates the Board of Education make annual payments of $10,000 to Swift by June 30 of each contract year if she remains with the district for that contract year. Swift would not be entitled to payment if she voluntarily terminates her employment preceding the June 30 date or if she is terminated with cause.

The new contract also includes a $10,000 annual contribution to an annuity at the completion of each contract year.

Fringe benefits in the contract include health, dental, and vision benefits given to other cabinet-level administrators.

Swift also is provided disability, pension and the full premium for life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment at a maximum of $100,000.

Swift would be permitted to use up to 30 days of vacation per contract year. She is entitled to payment for any unused vacation days remaining in her accrued vacation account based on her salary at the time of her termination under the proposed contract. Vacation days earned and not used by Swift at the end of each year may be deducted from her vacation account and paid out to Swift based on her salary at time of payment.

The district also would pay for Swifts cellphone and computer expenses, as well as a $400 monthly car allowance to cover all expenses associated with travel within Washtenaw County under the new contract.

Swifts reasonable travel expenses, including mileage, commercial carrier travel expenses, meals and lodging also would be paid by the district when traveling outside Washtenaw County on school business.

Should the Board of Education opt to terminate Swift prior to the expiration of the contract without cause, Swift would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to 18 months salary at the rate being paid at the time of termination.

Swift is one of the longest-serving superintendents the Ann Arbor district has had since 1992, arriving in the district in 2013. She moved to Ann Arbor from Colorado Springs, where she had been an assistant superintendent.

In December 2016, the school board updated Swifts contract to offer $90,000 in incentives for her to stay with the district through 2020.

Swift was hired at AAPS in 2013 under a five-year contract with a base salary of $200,000. Because there had been frequent superintendent turnover prior to Swifts hire, the board wanted to include a longevity clause in her initial contract. The clause said Swift would receive a $50,000 bonus in 2018 after five years with the school district.

In December 2015, the board made it a rolling contract, which means theres no set cancellation date.

Swift began her time at Ann Arbor Public Schools with a series of more than 80 community meetings - called her "Listen and Learn" tour - to find out what parents, staff and other stakeholders wanted from their public schools.

Restructuring Northside Elementary School as a K-8 school that emphasizes Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math; launching K-12 International Baccalaureate programs, and passing a bond in 2015 to fund things like purchasing new buses, playground equipment and classroom furniture all resulted from the requests Swift heard during those community meetings.

Swifts performance has led to interest from other school districts in recent years. She was named a finalist for the Seattle Public Schools superintendent position in 2018. In April 2019, Swift was one of two finalists for Michigans state superintendent position, which went to Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Michael Rice.

Most recently, Swift led the district through a $1 billion bond campaign that was passed in November 2019 as the states largest capital bond proposal in 25 years.

Swifts performance as superintendent received high marks in her most recent evaluation for 2019-20, scoring a 3.65 on a 4-point scale, earning a score of 91%, or highly effective.

READ MORE:

Ann Arbor school district voters OK $1 billion bond, largest in Michigan since 1994

Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor superintendents among finalists in state superintendent search

Ann Arbor school board offers superintendent more incentive to stay
[June 24, 2020] Investing in Wildland Fire Research to Protect Canadians

EDMONTON, AB, June 24, 2020 /CNW/ - The health of Canada's forests keeps our economy strong, sustains good jobs, and preserves our environment. That is why the Government of Canada is making investments to reduce wildland fire risks and protect Canadians living in or near forests and grasslands communities. The Honourable Seamus O'Regan, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today announced an investment of $5 million towards the development of a Wildland Fire Research Network in Canada in collaboration with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). They will work closely with the Canadian Partnership for Wildland Fire Science, based at the University of Alberta. To increase Canada's expertise in wildland fire science, this network will invest in the development of 68 wildland fire professionals in master's, PhD and post-doctoral fellowship programs. Through the network, they will have the opportunity to innovate in fire management to reduce the risks of Canada's wildland fire and protect Canadians. This project is part of a $151.23 million federal investment in the Emergency Management Strategy (EMS) for Canada announced in Budget 2019, to strengthen Canadians' ability to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters and climate-related emergencies. This network was also one of the 15 recommendations outlined in the Blueprint for Wildland Fire Sience in Canada to increase capacity for research in wildland fire science. This investment responds to provincial and territorial calls for increased federal investment in wildfire science and innovation.



The Government of Canada is investing in our natural resource sectors to boost innovation and increase our expertise while protecting our communities and forests. Quotes

"With climate change, wildfires are increasing in frequency and magnitude so we must learn to live with them and better manage them. That is precisely what this network will do by harnessing diverse scientific expertise across Canada, enabling us to better understand wildfire and develop new fire management knowledge and tools to address this very complex issue. The University of Alberta is very proud and honoured to have been chosen to host this vital network, and I thank the federal government for investing in such a very important initiative." Walter Dixon

University of Alberta Interim Vice-President Research and Innovation "NSERC is proud to partner with the Canadian Forest Service and support this multidisciplinary network of researchers and partners working together to address the increasing challenges that Canada faces from wildland fires. The diverse and complementary expertise of this R&D collaboration is generating new knowledge and providing valuable training opportunities, which will help increase Canada's national research capacity in fire science." Marc Fortin

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Vice-President of Research Partnerships "Climate change is increasing wildland fires in Canada. Our fire seasons are now longer, more severe, and more dangerous than ever. We have to continue to reduce the risk that fires pose to people, communities, and infrastructure. That is exactly what this investment will do." The Honourable Seamus O'Regan

Canada's Minister of Natural Resources Associated Links Emergency Management Strategy for Canada Blueprint for Wildland Fire Science in Canada Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.news.gc.ca. SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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Laredo City Council on Tuesday voted that local bars, bingos, manquintas and any other such adult-oriented businesses will need to document anyone who enters their premises in order to better facilitate coronavirus contact tracing.

READ MORE: Laredo hospital at maximum capacity amid COVID spike

These businesses will need to log their patrons name, address and phone number, and submit this information to the Laredo Health Department every week. Every violation would result in a $1,000 fine.

Any violation of safety protocols at these establishments would also be cause for a $1,000 fine, council voted.

Contact tracing is typically conducted on each positive case that is recognized by the City of Laredo Health Department. As part of the process, health department officials typically contact positive patients to identify people that patients have been in close contact with.

Council members decided that gym-goers will also need to wear masks while they work out unless the gym has already set up partitions between each set of equipment.

Council voted for Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino to issue a travel advisory for people traveling to hot spot areas such as South Padre Island, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. This will be tied to the citys new color-coded alert system, and it will change as the situation does.

Council approved a resolution asking businesses to conduct temperature checks for patrons at the door. This is not mandated as it falls outside of the governors minimum requirements.

Some council members worried that anyone walking inside coming from Laredos summer heat will have an elevated temperature. Trevino noted that at the hospital they will have people wait inside for a few minutes before checking their temperature.

City Manager Robert Eads suggested extending the utilities relief fund program  which was originally scheduled to end on July 6  to July 31, which council approved. Likewise, they will not shut off anyones water until then, nor charge late fees or credit card processing fees.

READ MORE: Laredo bar among those forced to close by TABC after COVID-19 bust

Council members also approved additional funding for Laredo food banks, for random testing to be conducted for truck drivers and to petition the governor to mandate restaurants use only plastic utensils.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 16:15:38|Editor: huaxia

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LOS ANGELES, June 23 (Xinhua) -- California Tuesday reported a daily record of 5,019 new infections, the largest single-day count in the state since the pandemic hit the United States.

Tuesday's tally was a big jump from the previous record of 4,230 on Monday. Meanwhile, daily hospitalization numbers are also hitting records.

Data from the California State Health Department showed the confirmed ICU hospitalizations number was 1,197 on Tuesday and a total of 5,580 have died for the virus.

The infection figures were increasing most rapidly in Southern California, including Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside counties.

The Los Angeles County Health Department recorded over 2,000 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, the fourth strike day in the last seven days in the region. The department said this daily mark had not been seen even at the height of the outbreak.

The San Diego County reported 198 new cases Tuesday after more than 300 new cases were recorded on Sunday and Monday.

On Tuesday, the Riverside County reported 31 new COVID-19 cases and seven additional virus-related deaths. The county has more than 4,000 new cases in 14 days.

The county, which has the second-highest number of cases in the Golden State, probably can't reopen local businesses soon since it failed to meet certain COVID-19 statistical requirements mandated by the state.

Moreover, the percentage of people in Riverside County who tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday also failed to meet the standard. California requires counties to stay below a positivity rate of 8 percent but its most recent number is 10.6 percent.

Riverside County health officer Cameron Kaiser was quoted by local media Tuesday as saying he did not want to shut down reopened businesses, but it could happen if local businesses and residents refuse to wear facial coverings, practice good hygiene and maintain physical distancing.

Los Angeles County was also worried over the hikes in hospitalizations and spread rate. Figures showed the increased daily confirmed cases could not be pegged to increased testing alone. The county's weekly number of tests sat at 87,000, which was an eight-week low, down from a high of 117,000 five weeks ago.

The county's health department said in a statement Tuesday that there were 1,515 people who were still hospitalized, 27 percent of which were in the ICU and 18 percent on ventilators.

"Although this number is significantly lower than peaks of over 1,900 people hospitalized daily for COVID-19, this is higher than 1,350 to 1,450 daily hospitalizations seen in recent weeks. And while the cumulative positivity rate remains at 8 percent, the 7-day average of the daily positivity rate has increased to 8.8 percent," it read.

By comparison, the positivity rate in New York, which was the hardest-hit state in the country, has fallen below 1 percent.

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Monday that although it was impossible to track the origin of current spread, the overall increase was "highly likely" related to mass protests over the death of George Floyd and social gatherings at restaurants and private parties.
[June 24, 2020] Puppet Introduces Public Beta of Relay for Cloud Native, Event-Driven Automation

PORTLAND, Ore., June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Puppet , the industry standard for infrastructure automation, today introduced the public beta availability of Relay, an event-driven automation platform. Relay automates processes across any cloud infrastructure, tools and APIs that developers, DevOps engineers, and SREs are managing manually today.

The shift to the cloud has introduced immense complexity. DevOps engineers now oversee dozens of new tools and technologies, from containers and VMs to serverless applications and APIs, in addition to existing infrastructure. With the increasing number of tickets, monitoring alerts, and incident reports, engineers have reached a tipping point in productivity. Tool sprawl has created a DevOps dumping ground where engineers are either manually performing actions across disparate services or cobbling together homegrown solutions to help manage the influx of work. Relay relieves engineers of manual processes by listening to signals from disparate tools to automate workflows, freeing up time to focus on more valuable initiatives. Without a way to manage and automate the flood of events and hundreds of APIs developers use - time, money and mental capital are being thrown away, said Deepak Giridharagopal, CTO at Puppet. Many engineers try to create their own one-off automation tools or integration hubs, but this is inefficient and risky. Relay replaces this home-grown digital duct tape with reusable, proven, automated workflows. Its like IFTTT, but for DevOps. Relay connects dozens of cloud platforms, tools, and APIs DevOps engineers already use, including PagerDuty, GitHub, Datadog, Jira, Terraform, Slack, and more. By listening to triggers from these services, Relay can address a wide variety of cloud automation use cases, including: Security: Enforce security controls across your infrastructure, such as ensuring cloud storage buckets are secured, volumes are encrypted, or that unused SSH keys are removed from the account.

Enforce security controls across your infrastructure, such as ensuring cloud storage buckets are secured, volumes are encrypted, or that unused SSH keys are removed from the account. Cost Optimization: Proactively delete underutilized cloud resources across AWS, Azure, and GCP such as unattached volumes, unused load balancers, and untagged instances that contribute to expensive monthly bills.

Proactively delete underutilized cloud resources across AWS, Azure, and GCP such as unattached volumes, unused load balancers, and untagged instances that contribute to expensive monthly bills. Incident Response: When new incidents arise, Relay extends PagerDuty or VictorOps by automatically remediating known issues or running diagnostic actions with Bolt.

When new incidents arise, Relay extends PagerDuty or VictorOps by automatically remediating known issues or running diagnostic actions with Bolt. Continuous Delivery: Connect Relay to Docker Hub or GitHub to automatically provision cloud infrastructure with Terraform or Pulumi and deploy the latest versions of your microservices to Kubernetes, Google Cloud Run, AWS Lambda and other platforms.

Connect Relay to Docker Hub or GitHub to automatically provision cloud infrastructure with Terraform or Pulumi and deploy the latest versions of your microservices to Kubernetes, Google Cloud Run, AWS Lambda and other platforms. Operations: Delete old snapshots, alert on quota usage, report on resource utilization, and more.



"Having worked in large scale data center environments and managing the complexities of modern-day hybrid cloud deployments, I have seen first hand how important it is to optimize for cost and efficiency with the rapid pace of technology adoption today, said Stan Chan, Senior Software Engineer at Uber. Relay delivers solutions for Enterprises to solve these problems and more. It delivers the promise of an automated future by enabling organizations to build smarter in order to solve real-world business processes in a modern, elegant, and effective way."

With the addition of Relay, Puppet provides market-leading offerings for task-driven, model-driven, and now event-driven automation across any infrastructure (on-premises or cloud). With Puppet, you increase productivity, eliminate mistakes and accelerate delivery by integrating with some of the most important enterprise infrastructure vendors like Hashicorp, ServiceNow, Atlassian, Splunk and many more. With the rise of DevOps, the portfolio of tools aimed at addressing developer and operator needs has exploded over the last decade, said Stephen OGrady, Principal Analyst with RedMonk. This has led, in turn, to rampant fragmentation and highly complex, disjointed workflows. Organizations that prize velocity, therefore, are beginning to rethink their developer experience and looking for ways to automate and integrate the different touchpoints. This is the opportunity that Relay is built for. To learn more about Relay, please visit our website . Additional Resources Learn more about Puppet

Follow Puppet on Twitter and LinkedIn

and Read our blog About Puppet

Puppet makes infrastructure actionable, scalable and intelligent. From the data center to the cloud, Puppet helps enterprises modernize and manage their infrastructure to deliver innovation and efficiency through continuous automation. More than 40,000 organizations  including more than 80 percent of the Global 5000  have benefited from Puppets open source and commercial solutions to ensure business continuity, optimize costs, boost compliance and ensure security - all while accelerating the adoption of DevOps practices and delivery of self-service. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Puppet is a privately held company with offices in London, Belfast, Singapore and Sydney. Learn more at puppet.com. Media Contact

Devin Davis

VP of Corporate Marketing and Communications @ Puppet

[email protected]

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Technavio has been monitoring the duplex stainless steel pipe market and it is poised to grow by 38.21 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 2% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005649/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Duplex Stainless Steel Pipe Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Acerinox SA, ArcelorMittal SA, H. Butting GmbH Co. KG, JFE Holdings Inc., Outokumpu Oyj, POSCO Group, Sandvik AB, Tata Steel Ltd., thyssenkrupp AG, and TUBACEX SA are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Rising industrialization in APAC has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, volatility in raw material prices might hamper market growth.

Duplex Stainless Steel Pipe Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Duplex Stainless Steel Pipe Market is segmented as below:

Application Oil And Gas Chemical And Petrochemical Desalination And Water Treatment Paper And Pulp Others

Geography APAC Europe North America MEA South America



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=IRTNTR43985

Duplex Stainless Steel Pipe Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our duplex stainless steel pipe market report covers the following areas:

Duplex Stainless Steel Pipe Market size

Duplex Stainless Steel Pipe Market trends

Duplex Stainless Steel Pipe Market industry analysis

This study identifies the increasing application of duplex stainless steel products in oil and gas industry as one of the prime reasons driving the duplex stainless steel pipe market growth during the next few years.

Duplex Stainless Steel Pipe Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the duplex stainless steel pipe market, including some of the vendors such as Acerinox SA, ArcelorMittal SA, H. Butting GmbH Co. KG, JFE Holdings Inc., Outokumpu Oyj, POSCO Group, Sandvik AB, Tata Steel Ltd., thyssenkrupp AG, and TUBACEX SA. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Duplex Stainless Steel Pipe Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Duplex Stainless Steel Pipe Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist duplex stainless steel pipe market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the duplex stainless steel pipe market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the duplex stainless steel pipe market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of duplex stainless steel pipe market vendors

Table Of Contents :

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Application

Market segments

Comparison by application

Oil and gas Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Chemical and petrochemical Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Desalination and water treatment Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Paper and pulp Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Others Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by application

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Acerinox SA

ArcelorMittal SA

H. Butting GmbH Co. KG

JFE Holdings Inc.

Outokumpu Oyj

POSCO Group

Sandvik AB

Tata Steel Ltd.

thyssenkrupp AG

TUBACEX SA

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. 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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Keen to ensure that there is no united stand of the Opposition against the government on its handling of LAC situation, the BJP on Wednesday singled out Nehru-Gandhi family for its Opposition to the government on the issue, arguing that while several other parties fully backed the Centre in determining the way ahead, one royal dynasty threw tantrums.

For latest updates on India-China border tensions, click here

One royal dynasty and their loyal courtiers have grand delusions of the Opposition being about one dynasty. A dynasty throws tantrums and his courtiers peddle that fake narrative. Latest one relates to the Opposition asking questions to the Government, BJP chief J P Nadda said in a statement.

One royal dynasty and their loyal courtiers have grand delusions of the Opposition being about one dynasty. A dynast throws tantrums and his courtiers peddle that fake narrative. Latest one relates to the the Opposition asking questions to the Government.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 24, 2020

Maintaining that it is the Oppositions right to ask questions, Nadda said the all-party meeting called by the prime minister to discuss the situation in the India-China border areas on June 19 saw healthy deliberations, with several Opposition leaders giving their valuable inputs and many supporting the Centre in determining the way ahead.

"One family was an exception. Any guesses who? A rejected and ejected dynasty is NOT equal to the entire Opposition. One of dynastys interests are not Indias interests," Nadda said.

Asserting that today, the nation is united and supportive of our armed forces and this is the time for unity and solidarity, the BJP chief took a potshot at Congress saying relaunch of the scion for the nth time can wait.

The attack was at Rahul Gandhi, who on Sunday attacked the government with the coinage of Surender (Surrender) Modi for the Prime Minister and has kept up the attack with asking why PM is backing China and not our Army, arguing China took our land. India is negotiating to get it back. China says its not the Indian land. PM has publicly supported Chinas claim.

Also read  BJP feels sting of Congress' 'surrender' jibe towards PM Narendra Modi

At the virtual all party-meeting called by Modi, Congress and Left parties had raised a number of questions on how the government handled the standoff, with Sonia Gandhi taking the lead, posing questions ranging from whether it was an intelligence failure to questions regarding the date of intrusion of Chinese troops and when the government found out these transgressions. The CPM also questioned the government on lapses, intelligence failures and the government not briefing the Opposition earlier.

But the by and larger tone and tenor in the meeting was towards supporting the government with even some Opposition leaders preferring not to put the government in the dock. M K Stalin in his speech said his party has "no hesitation in supporting the Prime Minister while Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee hailed the meeting as "good message" to the nation that shows "we are united behind our jawans. Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray assured the Prime Minister of support and hit out at China saying its nature is betrayal. He said the Indian government has the ability to respond appropriately. NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that issues of whether soldiers carried arms or not are decided by international agreements and the parties need to respect sensitivities involved in such matters. Pawars remarks were in contrivance to Rahul Gandhis criticism on the issue.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from AAP on Monday spoke against "politicisation" of India-China border row after Modi came under attack for his controversial remarks. Earlier, Telangana CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy voiced concern over the "manufactured: controversy"; Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang said Modis remarks at all-party meetings were crystal clear and reassuring, while Conrad Sangma said the PM Modi's answers clearly reflected Indias strong stand.

Also read  India fighting 2 wars against China, will win them both, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Naddas target singling out the Nehru Gandhi family of Congress comes in this backdrop.

Citing a written question-answer in Parliament on November 22, 2011, when the UPA was in power, the BJP chief alleged that due to the misadventures of one dynasty: We lost thousands of square kilometres of our land. The Siachen glacier was almost gone. And much more. No wonder India has rejected them.

E Ahmed the then Minister for External Affairs had said Pakistan has been in illegal and forcible occupation of approximately 78,000 square kilometres of Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir. China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 square kilometres in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 square kilometres of Indian territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to China. The reply also said, Government is aware that Pakistan and China are executing projects in Indian territories under illegal occupation of those countries.

Latching on to this Parliamentary question and answer, the BJP has sought to turn the table on the Congress on the issue of surrender of land by alleging that 43,000 kilometres of Indian land was captured by China during the tenure of Congress.
Wednesday, 24 June 2020 15:31:11 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

Chinese state-owned steel giant China Baowu Group is seeking to develop Simandou iron ore mine located in Guinea, acquiring the shares of the project held by Aluminum Corp. of China known as Chalco, in cooperation with other steelmakers in order to secure iron ore supply, as reported by China-based Caixin Global. The details of the share purchase have not been disclosed yet, SteelOrbis understands.

Baowu is trying to raise $6 billion of funds for developing the mine, and is seeking to convince other Chinese steel companies to co-invest in the Simandau project. However, the steel giant predicts the mines infrastructure works, which include the construction of a cross-country railroad and deep-water port, could require an investment of more than $15 billion.

Baowu is reportedly negotiating with steel companies such as Shougang Group Co. Ltd and China Minmetals Corp, while also welcoming overseas investors.

Guineas National Institute of Statistics indicates that Simandou has more than 8.6 billion mt of iron ore reserves. It is considered to be the worlds largest and highest-quality untapped reserve. 150 million mt per year of iron ore is expected to be produced from the mine.

The Simandou project consists of four blocks, two belonging to a Chinese and Singaporean-backed consortium, while the other two are owned by Rio Tinto Plc and Chinalco, as previously reported by SteelOrbis.
Wellington, New Zealand--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2020) - New Zealand Energy Corp. (TSXV: NZ) ("NZEC" or the "Company") advises that effective from June 22nd, 2020, the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") suspended trading in the Company's securities as a result of a Cease Trade Order ("CTO") issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission.

The CTO was issued because the Company has not yet lodged its financial accounts for the period ending 31 December 2019. As announced on June 15 2020, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a delay in finalising these accounts. The Company is focussed on finalising the accounts as soon as possible.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"James Willis"

Chairman

New Zealand Energy Corp.

New Zealand Energy Contacts

Email: info@newzealandenergy.com

Website: www.newzealandenergy.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING RESERVE ESTIMATES

This document, the consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended 31 December 2017 and full financial year and the Management's Discussion and Analysis contain certain forward- looking information, forward-looking statements ("forward-looking statements"). The reader's attention is specifically drawn to the qualifications, disclosure and cautionary statements in these documents regarding forward-looking statements and reserve and resource estimates.

The Company notes that such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond NZEC's control, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, operational risks in exploration and development, competition from other industry participants, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, stock market volatility and the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. Although the Company believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward looking information.

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As such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward looking information, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document or the date of the documents referenced above, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58471
NAVSUP WSS Awards P-8A Contract to Small Business

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200623-06

Release Date: 6/23/2020 11:57:00 AM

By Brian Jones, NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support Public Affairs

PHILADELPHIA (NNS) -- NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support (WSS) awarded a five-year, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), long-term contract for the P-8A Poseidon Maritime aircraft estimated at $30 million to small business, S&K Aerospace, in May 2020.

"It is a first time "break-out" where a small business will be responsible to manage the repair/upgrade and overhaul of 362 commercial common weapon replaceable assemblies (WRAs) used in support of the P-8A Poseidon Maritime aircraft," said Debra Zaslow, Contracting Officer for PBL Center of Excellence.

These items have been deemed "commercial common," or items that can be used on both the P-8A, as well as, the Boeing 737 aircraft and were previously repaired primarily by large business Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

"Under this contract, small businesses, performing as prime and subcontractors, will play a vital role in supporting the Navy's P-8A aircraft. S&K Aerospace will manage parts repairs, upgrades and overhauls, and notify the Government contracting office of commercial configuration changes and obsolescence-related issues," said Annette Stevenson, Deputy Director, NAVSUP WSS Office of Small Business Programs.

Since these 362 items are identical to the ones used on the Boeing 737, it was decided by the NAVAIR Program Office that items could be repaired at various Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 145 Repair Stations.

"These are the large nation-wide and world-wide networks of repair facilities used by airlines and other private aircraft, all of which are governed by FAA regulations," said Zaslow. "S&K Aerospace has in-depth knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-governed repair processes, infrastructure and regulations."

This is the first time that NAVSUP WSS has procured repairs/upgrades/overhauls from approved Federal Aviation Administration 145 Repair Stations. As the prime contractor, S&K Aerospace will be responsible for maintaining all items under this contract and coordinating the necessary repair work to return items to ready for issue (RFI) condition via repair stations.

This contract will enhance overall mission readiness for the P-8A weapon system by leveraging the existing commercial common items repair competitive environment to achieve benefits in cost and repair turnaround time.

"This was an extremely complex requirement and source selection process involving multiple functional area experts across the Integrated Weapons Support Team, Contracting Department, Legal Counsel and Office of Small Business," said Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Tobin, Deputy Director for NAVSUP WSS PBL Center of Excellence. "This highly functional Source Selection Team analyzed all proposals and ultimately chose S&K Aerospace as providing best value to the government based on their successful performance approach, past performance, small business subcontracting plan and price. This award is a big win for NAVSUP WSS, small business and the P-8A community"

NAVSUP WSS is one of 11 commands under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.

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Scores of mourners Tuesday paid their final respects to Rayshard Brooks at the Atlanta church where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. used to preach, taking part in a funeral filled with historical echoes and a tragic sense that Black America has been through this all too many times before.

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 weve gotten too much practice at this.

Brooks widow, Tomika Miller, dressed in white, sat surrounded by family and friends. Former state lawmaker 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 wore masks to protect against the coronavirus.

Brooks' killing June 12 came amid weeks of turbulent and sometimes violent protests across the U.S. over Floyd's death under a white Minneapolis officer's knee on May 25. In the aftermath of Brooks' death, the Atlanta police chief resigned, and protesters burned the Wendy's restaurant.

As the funeral was underway, authorities announced the arrest of a suspect in the fire, 29-year-old Natalie White  according to her lawyer, the same woman Brooks described to police on the night he was shot as his girlfriend.

The lawyer, Drew Findling, said White was distraught over Brooks death but was absolutely not responsible for the fire," saying the blaze was already underway when she was seen on video approaching the restaurant.

White has been charged with first-degree arson, according to online jail records.

The deaths of Floyd and Brooks have led to a groundswell of protests against racial inequality, a movement to take down Confederate statues and other symbols, and demands for the dismantling of police departments or the shifting of their funding toward social services.

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, the civil rights leader's daughter, told the crowd at the funeral.

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.'"

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.

Police body-camera video showed Brooks, 27, and officers having a calm and cooperative conversation for more than 40 minutes. A struggle erupted when police tried to handcuff Brooks for being intoxicated behind the wheel of his car at a Wendy's drive-thru. Brooks grabbed one of the officers' Tasers and fired it in their direction as he ran away.

Officer Garrett 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.

Rolfe was fired, and Brosnan was placed on desk duty.

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.

Actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry offered financial help for the service, Warnock said.

Outside the church, a large screen broadcast the service. Tyrone Harvey was among the few dozen who listened.

First of all we have to vote. We have to vote. We cant just rest on our laurels and say, OK, we got Obama in there. And Obamas gone. Weve got to do better than that," he said. Weve got to make some drastic changes.

He added: Its vital. Its important now.

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 dont want you to miss it. Make sure you show up for this march. It is happening on Nov. 3, 2020, at a voting booth near you," he said to applause. "Its a contradiction to march in the streets and not march on the voting booth.

Meanwhile, a new poll that says 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% think the criminal justice system needs a complete overhaul, 40% say it needs major changes, and 25% say it needs minor changes. Just 5% believe no changes are necessary.
SAN DIEGO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Sky Network is pleased to announce it has been selected to take part in MetroConnect, the flagship international sales accelerator program run by the World Trade Center San Diego (WTC) that helps San Diego companies jumpstart and scale their global growth. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and WTC San Diego made the announcement on June 19th.

This program will allow Blue Sky Network greater flexibility to execute on its global marketing strategy aimed at bringing awareness to the solutions and capabilities of the San Diego-based organization.

The HawkEye 5500 is a real-time vehicle tracking and telematics solution from Blue Sky Network.

"We're very thankful to be recognized by MetroConnect and its partners as one of the companies with the potential to accelerate our growth trajectory," said Tucker Morrison, CEO of Blue Sky Network. "These funds directly enhance targeted awareness marketing efforts for our new dual-mode, real-time tracker - the HawkEye 5500 - in Africa, Brazil and Indonesia, in Q3 2020," Morrison added.

"We applaud Blue Sky Network for taking the next step in going global," said Nikia Clarke, executive director of World Trade Center San Diego. "Amidst a global shutdown caused by COVID-19, ongoing trade negotiations with key trading partners, and rapid changes to global supply chains, it is more important now than ever to give local SMEs an edge in the global marketplace by equipping them with valuable resources."

The MetroConnect program is highly competitive, with just 15 San Diego companies selected based on a variety of criteria, including interest in new markets, interest in targeted metro markets, assessed impact of funds, current international traction and more.

Blue Sky Network joins a cohort of 14 other companies representing a unique cross-section of San Diego's industries, from genomics to manufacturing to craft brewing  each with plans to take San Diego innovation global.

The companies in this cohort will also have the opportunity to participate in the program's final competition, the MetroConnect Grand Prize PitchFest, which will grant an additional $25,000 to help one company further advance its international efforts.

MetroConnect is co-underwritten by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Procopio, with additional support provided by American Airlines, British Airways, City of San Diego, Japan Airlines, Japan External Trade Organization, Mitsubishi Electric, Qualcomm, RSM, San Diego and Imperial SBDC Network, SYSTRAN, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Taylor Guitars, United Kingdom Government Office, YCP Solidance and more.

About Blue Sky Network

Blue Sky Network is an industry-leading provider of mission-critical fleet management, tracking, business continuity, and operational analytics solutions serving private, commercial, and government customers worldwide.

Blue Sky Network deploys innovative satellite-based and terrestrial communication solutions that help aviation, marine, and land-mobile customers track and manage their high-value assets in real-time anywhere in the world; resulting in improved safety, security, operational efficiency, and profitability.

Founded in 2001, Blue Sky Network is headquartered in San Diego, California, with customers and dealers in more than 50 countries. In 2018, Blue Sky Network acquired Applied Satellite Engineering and maintains additional offices in Scottsdale, AZ, Chantilly, VA, and Sao Paulo, Brazil. For more information about Blue Sky Network products and services, visit www.blueskynetwork.com or call +1 858-551-3894.

About World Trade Center San Diego

World Trade Center San Diego operates as an affiliate of San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. WTC San Diego works to further San Diego's global competitiveness by cultivating a pipeline of export-ready firms, attracting and retaining foreign investment and increasing San Diego's global profile abroad. Learn more at sandiegobusiness.org/wtcsd.

SOURCE Blue Sky Network

Related Links

https://blueskynetwork.com/


Twitter placed one of President Donald Trumps tweets behind a click-through wall Tuesday, saying it violated a policy against abusive behavior.

There will never be an Autonomous Zone in Washington, D.C., as long as Im your President, Trump tweeted Tuesday morning, referring to a self-declared police-free zone set up in Seattle by protesters in the wake of protests in that city over racism and police tactics. If they try they will be met with serious force!

The tweet itself now bears a badge that says, This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about abusive behavior. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the publics interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.

Also Read: Trump Contradicts White House Defense He Was Joking About Rolling Back Coronavirus Tests: 'I Don't Kid' (Video)

Twitters official account also responded to the tweet, placing it behind an opt-in viewing screen.

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, the statement said. Per our policies, this Tweet will remain on the service given its relevance to ongoing public conversation. Engagements with the Tweet will be limited. People will be able to Retweet with Comment, but not Like, Reply, or Retweet it.

This was not the first time Twitter has cracked down on one of the presidents tweets. Citing its rules about glorifying violence, at the end of May Twitter placed a content warning on an angry tweet by Trump that appeared to threaten the use of violence against rioters in Minneapolis.

Read original story Trump Tweet Flagged With Public Interest Notice for Threatening Serious Force in Washington DC At TheWrap
[June 24, 2020] Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc Adds Two Industry Leaders to Its Board of Directors

NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc (Cytovia), an emerging biopharmaceutical company developing Natural Killer (NK) immunotherapies for cancer, today announces the appointment of Dr. Leila Alland and Ms. Jane Wasman to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Dr. Leila Alland brings extensive experience in oncology drug development to her role at Cytovia Therapeutics. Dr. Alland is currently Chief Medical Officer at PMV Pharma, a leader in the discovery and development of small molecule therapies targeting p53 mutations, which are prevalent in many cancers. Dr. Alland was previously Chief Medical Officer at Affimed, where she advanced the companys portfolio of clinical-stage immuno-oncology programs. During her career, she has held leadership positions at Tarveda Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis and Schering-Plough, and has contributed to numerous successful oncology drug approvals over the course of her career, spanning both molecularly targeted and immuno-oncology therapeutic products. Dr. Alland is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of Columbia University's Center for Radiological Research. Dr. Alland obtained her medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, completed her residency in pediatrics at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and her fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at The New York Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and was Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. I am very excited to be joining the Board of Directors at Cytovia Therapeutics, said Dr. Alland. Cytovias portfolio of immune therapeutics is steeped in the science of NK cells and the development of powerful new technologies that leverage the ability of NK cells to fight cancer. These novel technologies have the potential to go far beyond current drug development paradigms and make a real difference to individuals living with cancer.



Ms. Jane Wasman is a strategic leader with almost 25 years in the biopharma industry, with extensive U.S. and international experience. Ms. Wasman is Chair of te Board of Directors of Sellas Life Sciences, a board member at Rigel Pharmaceuticals, and serves on the board of NY BIO. Ms. Wasman is Founder and President of JWasman Advisors, (a consulting firm focused on strategic, operational and corporate governance matters for biopharma and life sciences organizations). She previously served as President, International, General Counsel and Chief, Strategic Development at Acorda Therapeutics, where she led long-range planning and development in addition to international expansion and in leadership positions including Vice President at Schering Plough. Ms. Wasman graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University, and earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School. I am thrilled to be able to join Cytovia's team who is implementing an agile partnership strategy and capital-efficient execution approach, said Ms. Wasman. I believe Cytovia Therapeutics is positioned to become a leading NK company with a differentiated product portfolio, leveraging two strong technologies - CAR NK and NK engager antibodies.



Dr. Daniel Teper, co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc stated: "We are delighted to welcome two exceptional industry leaders to our board of directors. Cytovia Therapeutics is at a growth inflexion point where it can fully benefit from Dr. Alland's solid track record in oncology drug development and Ms. Wasman's expertise in corporate and financial transactions." Media Snippets accompanying this announcement are available by clicking on the images or links below:

ABOUT CYTOVIA THERAPEUTICS, INC

Cytovia Therapeutics Inc is an emerging biotechnology company that aims to accelerate patient access to transformational immunotherapies, addressing several of the most challenging unmet medical needs in cancer and severe acute infectious diseases. Cytovia focuses on Natural Killer (NK) cell biology and is leveraging multiple advanced patented technologies, including an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platform for CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptors) NK cell therapy, next-generation precision gene-editing to enhance targeting of NK cells, and NK engager multi-functional antibodies. Our initial product portfolio focuses on both hematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma and solid tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma and glioblastoma. The company partners with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Macromoltek. Learn more at www.cytoviatx.com Contact for media enquiries at Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc

Sophie Badre

Vice President, Corporate Affairs

[email protected]

1(929) 317 1565

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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.
Madam Antoinette Alornyo, a Public Health Nurse at the Adaklu District Health Directorate, has observed that children born out of family planning measures were more likely to receive adequate attention and security needed for total growth.











She said mothers who practiced family planning also regained good health after delivery faster, and encouraged couples to consider family planning.



Madam Alornyo said this at a forum organized by GOSANET Foundation, a health oriented non-governmental organisation in collaboration with the Adaklu District Health Directorate at Adaklu Wumenu in the Adaklu District.

It was to educate the people on the importance of family planning and the People For Health Project (P4H) dash board.



The P4H dash board is an electronic feedback system from the various health facilities in the Adaklu and Agortime/Ziope Districts.



The P4H, which is being implemented in 20 districts in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Oti, Volta and Northern Regions, enables clients and patients to send complaints and feedbacks on healthcare delivery in health facilities within the P4H implementing areas.



Madam Alornyo said family planning also allowed couples to attain their desired number of children with determined spacing of births by preventing unintended pregnancies.

She added that it also reduced the need for abortion, especially unsafe ones.



Madam Alornyo mentioned some of the family planning methods as condom use, pills, injectable, contraceptives implants, female sterilization and vasectomy, adding, "all these methods have been tested and proven to be safe."



She assured that all health facilities in the District were safe for normal services delivery in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, because adequate precautionary measures had been adopted to protect clients from being infected.



Mr. Samuel Atidzah, Executive Director of GOSANET Foundation, said P4H was a USAID funded Project and being implemented by SEND Ghana consortium comprising Send Ghana, Ghana News Agency and Penplusbytes.



He said P4H sought to strengthen organisational and institutional capacities of government and civil society groups for mutual accountability.



Mr Atidzah said his Organisation in collaborating with the Adaklu District Health Directorate was intensifying efforts to create awareness on family planning, HIV and AIDS, maternal and child mortality and Covid-19 in Adaklu and Agortime/Ziope Districts.

GNA

Source: GNA









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FM slams US envoy's tweet, urges US to stop playing 'boring tricks' on arms control talks

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/23 18:40:00

The US should stop playing boring tricks, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Tuesday when asked for comments on tweets by US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea that showed China's national flag on the desks for US-Russian military negotiations, which China is not scheduled to attend.

"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. We will proceed with #Russia, notwithstanding," Billingslea said in a tweet on Monday.

It is neither serious nor professional for the US to try to draw attention through this method, neither will this behavior leave a good impression on the international community, Zhao said at a routine press conference, noting that China has reiterated its opposition to trilateral negotiations on many occasions.

China urged the US to actively respond to Russia's call to prolong a treaty limiting strategic arsenals, which is also a common expectation from the international community, Zhao said.

He also pointed out that there is an apparent mistake in the Chinese national flag Billingslea posted. "I hope some individuals on the US side will do their homework, and improve their cultural cultivation to avoid exposing themselves to ridicule," Zhao said.

Zhao did not clarify what the mistake is, but the Global Times reporter found that the position of the stars on the flag Billingslea posted is wrong.

Media and observers believed the move was aimed at embarrassing Beijing by posting a photo of Chinese flags and empty chairs for delegates who weren't scheduled to attend talks aimed at rescuing a key nuclear treaty.

US and Russian negotiators held talks on nuclear arms controls on Monday in Vienna.

The talks centered on issues including a possible replacement for the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which caps US and Russian deployed strategic nuclear weapons warheads at 1,550 each. The treaty expired in February, according to Reuters.

US President Donald Trump has sought to include China in talks to replace New START and urged Moscow to help bring China into negotiations. But China has refused while Russia accuses the US of seeking to use the issue as a pretext to "bury" the New Start treaty, media reported.

Under the post, Chinese Foreign Ministry Director-General of the Department of Arms Control, Fu Cong, commented, "What an odd scene! Displaying Chinese national flags on a negotiating table without China's consent! Good luck on the extension of the New START! Wonder how LOW you can go?"

Retired US diplomat Laura Kennedy also commented that the move turns crucial US-Russia discussions into a cheap stunt aimed at humiliating China.

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MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2020 / Frederik Nvokolo moved to the United States only three years ago with no language and made one million dollars of profit in just 6 months at the age of 20 years old! Through his drive and perseverance to grow his business, now over 500 international companies use his brand. Frederik runs a social media advertising business and collaborates with the biggest social media stars like Floyd Mayweather, Connor McGregor, Drake and many more influencers. Frederik's motivation to get started with his business was his passion for helping people, business, and the upcoming influencers he was following. Frederik decided to start his own business 4 years ago when he realized that working for someone else will never allow you to have the power and freedom of reaching your goals the way you want. He was inspired to get into his niche because he always wanted to be an example that there are a lot of different ways for each individual to improve and better themselves by choosing the right path.

One of the biggest challenges Frederik Nvokolo faced when starting his business was unexpected competition that might discourage you but being patient, doing your best, and showing your hustle will be what brings success. Frederik learned a completely new language in less than 2 years because of his knowledge of 4 others: Russian, Ukranian, Polish, and German which shows that anything is possible if you want it enough. When being asked how important mindset is when starting your own business, Frederik replied with "Having an entrepreneurial mindset will encourage creativity. It is important to explore your ideas so that you can come to the proper solution and direction to go." His advice for those trying to start their own business and brand is to motivate and find the true purpose for what you are doing, and then create goals to get there!



An entrepreneur's perception of fear and success is what will determine how their career goes. Frederik Nvokolo says "No fear is accepted in business unless you are not ready to take a risk." Building your own brand is something that involves a lot of risk and with that comes fear, but it is using that fear as motivation to reach your goals is what produces success. Frederik views success as him reaching all of the goals he has set for himself and reaching "his final result." One of the biggest obstacles he has overcome so far was taking himself on the new level of working with big time celebrities and adjusting to that transition but it was one of the best outcomes of his career! Frederik differentiates himself from the competition by making his product affordable to everyone and allowing each individual the help to start from somewhere. As for what's next for Frederik Nvokolo, in 2020 him and his team are extending their Instagram growth business internationally to more than 20 countries. To follow along with Frederik's journey and learn more, click here.

CONTACT:

Kiley Almy

Next Wave Marketing

kiley@nextwavemktg.com

SOURCE: Frederik Nvokolo

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594623/How-Frederik-Nvokolo-Andew-Caprio-Moved-From-Ukraine-to-United-States-3-Years-Ago-With-No-Language-Taking-Over-American-Social-Media-Marketing-by-Collaborating-With-the-Biggest-Social-Media-Stars
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Local

Bihar

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The RJD Broke Down, The Ruling Party Said Now More MLAs Will Leave The Party

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Is there ever a right time to fall in love? For some, Cupid's bow arches a little too early and they're left regretting the things they didn't do before settling down.

Writing anonymously on confessions app Whisper, people from around the world revealed the things they wished they'd done before getting spliced.

One woman who lives in Pennsylvania, explained that she regrets not having children before she got married because her husband doesn't want any more than the four kids he already has.

Another said she feels 'stuck' with her husband because she doesn't have a university qualification to fall back on and says when they're not getting along, she can feel trapped.

A woman from Pennsylvania admits to anonymous site Whisper that she wishes she had had children of her own before marrying a father-of-four who doens't want any more offspring

Another woman confessed her wedding photos make her cry because she thinks she didn't lose enough weight in time for her big day

A Michigan lady confessed she feels stuck in her marriage because she doesn't have a university degree

A woman from Indiana said she didn't realise how bad her husband's mental health was until after they got married

A Georgia-based ladyexplained that people look at her differently because she wasn't open about her sexuality until after getting married

This confessor says that she may not have married her husband if she had got to know his family better before they married

A woman who waited until marriage to have sex revealed the decision made her resent her husband - although it was her choice to abstain

Another said her marriage has been a challenge because she didn't spend time getting to know her husband properly before walking down the aisle

One lady said she wishes she'd experienced a same sex relationship before getting married

A man from the UK confessed that he regrets not getting a prenuptial agreement because he fears that his wife will take his assets if they divorce

Too soon: A man who lives in America confessed he regrets marrying his high school sweetheart although many people think their relationship is 'cute'
On June 30, the U.S. federal government plans to stop funding and support for 13 coronavirus testing sites in five states, according to CNN.

The 13 affected sites are located in Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado and Pennsylvania, according to Business Insider.

The federal government set up these sites early on in the outbreak to amp up testing capabilities and take some of the burden off local and state governments, the report said.

Federal officials are said to have decided not to extend funding for these test sites, which is set to expire June 30, the report said.

According to Business Insider, the reports come after President Donald Trump falsely said over the weekend that the U.S.s high infection numbers were solely a result of widespread testing, adding that he had asked officials to start scaling back testing in response.

The report said that In a later tweet Trump added that cases are going up in the US because we are testing far more than any other country.

With smaller testing we would show fewer cases! Trump tweeted.

Our Coronavirus testing is so much greater (25 million tests) and so much more advanced, that it makes us look like we have more cases, especially proportionally, than other countries. My message on that is very clear!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2020

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 report said that the U.S. has conducted more coronavirus tests than any other country, but in terms of coronavirus tests per capita, it lags. The report pointed out that according to Worldometer, countries like Iceland and the UK have tested more people per capita than the U.S.

Who would be most affected by the federal governments decision?

According to Talking Points Memo, out of a starting number of 41 testing sites, 13 remain in operation across five states: Texas has seven, Illinois and New Jersey each have two, while Colorado and Pennsylvania each have one.

The state most affected by the federal governments decision would possibly be Texas, since it is home to seven of the 13 affected sites - and this week saw a record daily increase in new cases, Business Insider reported.

Business Insider reported that Rocky Vaz, the director of emergency management for the city of Dallas, told Talking Points Memo that he asked for an extension of the testing sites but was turned down.

They told us very clearly that they are not going to extend it, Vaz said.

According to the report, Vaz said in order to replace the federal testing sites, the city would probably need to hire private contractors.

The personnel, the site, the tents, the generators, the kits, the lab work, the patient notification, all of that, Vaz said. These things cost money.

Vaz told Talking Point Memo that the city of Dallas would end up paying between $130 and $150 per test once the federal help ends. Each site can perform 1,000 COVID tests per day.

How important is testing?

Gary Slutkin, a former WHO epidemiologist and the CEO of Cure Violence, told Talking Point Memo that testing is an area where the federal government has the greatest capacity to be helpful.

Testing is absolutely essential to everything from diagnosis and treatment to management of the epidemic itself, Slutkin added. Testing is important not just in places where cases have expanded, its important everywhere in the world regardless of prevalence, he said. It is the absolute essential for epidemic control.

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spacex lost another Starship tank prototype during testing, but this time the explosion was intentional.

The firm pushed the limits of the giant tank using super-chilled nitrogen to see how well it would hold up during an actual launch.

During the cryogenic test, the massive structure beings to rupture, pops and collapses, disappearing into a giant cloud of nitrogen.

The test is just one of many SpaceX has been conducting at its Texas site to ensure its Starship rocket will one-day take humans to Mars and the moon.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has had quite the journey with the massive Starship rocket  multiple prototypes have burst into flames during testing.

Scroll down for video

SpaceX pushed the limits of the giant tank using super-chilled nitrogen to see how well it would hold up during an actual launch. During the cryogenic test, the massive structure begins to rupture, pops and collapses, disappearing into a giant cloud of nitrogen

However, he announced earlier this month that the rocket is the firm's 'top priority' from now on.

In a company email, Musk urged SpaceX employees to accelerate progress on Starship 'dramatically and immediately', a week after its historic first crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The launch on May 30 successfully transported NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley on a 19-hour journey to the International Space Station (ISS).

SpaceX conducted the latest tank test Tuesday, which was aimed at pushing the limits of the SN7 prototype until it failed.

The test is just one of many SpaceX has been conducting at its Texas site to ensure its Starship rocket will one day take humans to Mars and the moon

Unlike the SN4 prototype that was unintentionally destroyed by a massive fireball, the recent test was to observe how the SN7 would hold super-cold propellant during launch

However, unlike the SN4 prototype that was unintentionally destroyed by a massive fireball, the recent test was to observe how the SN7 would hold super-cold propellant during launch, Space.com reported.

Musk was asked on Twitter earlier this month if this tank will be 'tested to destruction' and the billionaire simply responded, 'yes.'

The firm conducted the first test of the SN7 Starship tank last week, but this event did not end in a cloud of nitrogen  something Musk called a 'good result.'

'We're developing our own alloy to take this even further,' he added. 'Leak before burst is highly desirable.'

Musk was asked on Twitter earlier this month if this tank will be 'tested to destruction' and the billionaire simply responded, 'yes'

The firm conducted the first test of the SN7 Starship tank last week, but this event did not end in a cloud of nitrogen  something Musk called a 'good result'

But the firm's fourth Starship rocket prototype was not so lucky last month.

The prototype Serial Number 4 vanished into a fireball at SpaceX's Boca Chica site in Texas Friday shortly the engine was ignited for a pressurized test.

Starship, a rocket standing 394 feet tall, is designed to carry humans and 100 tons of cargo to the moon, Mars and beyond.

The SN4 had passed several important milestones during development, including a pressurization test that had foiled previous models.

But the firm's fourth Starship rocket prototype was not so lucky last month. The prototype Serial Number 4 vanished into a fireball at SpaceX's Boca Chica site in Texas Friday shortly the engine was ignited for a pressurized test (pictured)

Starship, a rocket standing 394 feet tall, is designed to carry humans and 100 tons of cargo to the moon, Mars and beyond

The massive rocket is SpaceX's planned next-generation fully reusable launch vehicle, the center Musk's ambitions to make human space travel affordable.

Musk envisions the Starship will operate much like a commercial airliner by transporting paying customers to the surface of the Moon and Mars.

Musk previously said the lifetime of each Starship will be around 20 to 30 years, 'like an aircraft'.

Around three Starship flights will launch from Earth per day, or around 1,000 flights a year, and each will have a capacity of more than 90,000 pounds.

By continuously ferrying people the 180 million miles to Mars, Musk is predicting 1,000 human inhabitants by 2030 and 'maybe around' one million by 2050.
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One prior to departure from Joint Base Andrews in Md., on June 23, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Says China Trade Deal Still on After Advisers Remarks

WASHINGTONPresident 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 the Chinese regimes efforts to contain the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, early on.

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 U.S. and China reached an interim trade deal to reduce tariff tensions. China agreed to buy massive amounts of U.S. products.

U.S. 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 CCP virus pandemic and the lockdowns and travel restrictions imposed to contain it.

By Kevin Freking

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
New Delhi: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday (June 24) released the annual TB Report 2020 that said around 24.04 lakh TB patients have been notified in 2019, which amounts to a 14% increase in TB notification as compared to the year 2018.

The report was released during a virtual event that was also attended by Minister of State (HFW) Ashwini Kumar Choubey.

The ministers also released a Joint Monitoring Mission (JMM) report, a manual on Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to TB patients under NIKSHAY system, a Training Module, and the quarterly newsletter NIKSHAY Patrika.

The key achievements listed in the report include:

- Achieving near-complete on-line notification of TB patients through the NIKSHAY system.

- Reduction in the number of missing cases to 2.9 lakh cases as against more than 10 lakhs in 2017.

- Private sector notifications increased by 35% with 6.78 lakh TB patients notified.

- Due to easy availability of molecular diagnostics, the proportion of children diagnosed with TB increased to 8% in 2019 compared to 6% in 2018.

- Provision of HIV testing for all notified TB patients increased from 67% in 2018 to 81% in 2019.

- Expansion of treatment services has resulted in a 12% improvement in the treatment success rate of notified patients. For 2019 it is 81% compared to 69% in 2018.

- More than 4.5 lakh DOT Centers provide treatment covering almost every village across the country.

- NIKSHAY also expanded the provision of four Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) schemes of the programme:

- Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) to TB patients

- The incentive to Treatment Supporters

- An incentive to Private Providers and

- Transport incentive to TB patients in the notified tribal areas



Dr Harsh Vardhan commended the collective efforts of all who were involved in this task.

He stated, "The Government of India under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji is committed to achieving the SDG goal of eliminating TB in the country by 2025, five years ahead of the Global Target. To align with the ambitious goal, the programme has been renamed from the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) to National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP)."

He added, "As captured in the Annual report, there has been commendable achievement on various parameters of TB Control in the country. The ranking will surely encourage all the States/UTs to improve their performance to attain their targets. The early accurate diagnosis followed by prompt appropriate treatment is vital for ending TB. The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) has expanded both the laboratory network as well as diagnostic facilities to cover the entire country. To End TB by 2025, expansion of TB services and addressing determinants of TB that are beyond health, through a multi-sectoral approach is necessary. All these efforts are yielding significant results."

Highlighting the crucial aspect of stigma against TB patients in the country, which is hampering the fight against this disease, Dr Harsh Vardhan said, We as a nation, need to come together, to fight against TB and the stigma surrounding it so that every TB patient can seek care with dignity and without discrimination. The community must act as a wellspring of support and comfort for the patient.

Underscoring the crucial contribution that the private sector can make to the national TB programme by mandatory TB notification and providing quality TB care, he added that with both collaborative and regulatory steps, the country has notified 6,64,584 TB patients in 2019 in the private sector which amounts to a 22% increase in TB notification as compared to the year 2018.

The salient feature of this year is that for the first time Central TB Division (CTD) introduced a quarterly ranking on TB elimination efforts by all the states and UTs. Treatment linkage of drug resistant TB patients, HIV testing of TB patients, Nutritional assistance to TB patients in the form of NIKSHAY Poshan Yojana (DBT), Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (UDST) coverage among notified TB patients, TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) coverage and Financial expenditure are included in the assessment criteria, the Health Minister highlighted.

Ashwini Kumar Choubey said, The Government has already incorporated a community-based response for TB as one of the key strategies to reach the unreached and to support TB patients in the course of their illness. Towards this end, over 700 TB Forums have been established at the State/UT and District level involving all stakeholders. These TB Forums will provide a multi-sectoral and community-led response to addressing the challenge of TB.

In the categories of larger states with more than 50 lakh population, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh were awarded as best performing States. In the category of smaller states with less than 50 lakh population, Tripura and Nagaland were awarded. In the category of Union Territory, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu were chosen as the best performers.

Preeti Sudan, Secretary (MHW), Rajesh Bushan, OSD (HFW), Arti Ahuja, Addl. Secretary (Health), Dr Dharmendra Singh Gangwar, AS&FA, Rajeev Garg, Director (DGHS) and other senior officers from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Central TB Division were also present.

The report release ceremony saw virtual participation of all the State/UT level officials, partner organizations, civil society groups and TB champions.
On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony from two Department of Justice attorneys who said that improper political influence had warped multiple cases, including the sentencing recommendation for President Donald Trumps associate Roger Stone.

These insider accounts of political abuse by Attorney General William Barr confirmed what thousands of former DOJ employees suspected when they recently signed onto letters calling for Barrs removal. The testimony detailed how federal prosecutors were pressured to change tactics and recommendations based on the presidents tweets and political pressure from the administration.

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As damning as this testimony is, however, it was quickly overshadowed by the fact that the Judiciary Committee is a clown show. Republicans on the committee immediately sought to derail proceedings by turning to familiar tactics. Democratic leadership on the committee, as exemplified by Chairman Jerrold Nadler, consistently allows committee Republicans to wreck proceedings any time the committee attempts to address Barrs efforts to put Trump and his allies above the law. The theatrics have become so predictable they may as well be scripted.

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As per usual, the interruptions of Nadlers opening statement with extraneous parliamentary motions began immediately. Within minutes, Republicans professed outrage that one whistleblower would be testifying remotely and complained that Nadler was breaking the rules.

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Republicans are wasting no time turning the House Judiciary Committee hearing into a clown show pic.twitter.com/fNj713HwYl  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 24, 2020

This was directly followed by a rant by ranking minority member Rep. Jim Jordan, claiming the Obama administration was guilty of identical behavior, citing several baseless conspiracy theories that may be unfamiliar to anyone who doesnt watch 12 hours of Fox News per day.

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#ICYMI: Watch @Jim_Jordan's opening statement from today's Judiciary Committee hearing.



Attorney General Barr is getting to the truth. Democrats are scared to see what he finds. pic.twitter.com/1s8HWFbUvT  House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) June 24, 2020

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While pushing Fox News talking points is standard practice for Republicans on the committee, what came next was a new and shocking stunt. As Donald Ayer, who served as deputy attorney general under the first Bush administration, was testifying, Rep. Louie Gohmert attempted to drown him out by banging on his desk. Gohmert justified his stunt with an argument that will inspire 3-year-olds everywhere: Theres no rules about when you can make noise.

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"There's no rules about when you can make noise" -- Louie Gohmert tried to cut off Ayer's opening statement, but Ayer was undeterred. pic.twitter.com/ILQrusx83g  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 24, 2020

As Gohmert continued his banging over Ayers efforts to read his opening statement, Democratic members asked that leadership call the sergeant-at-arms to expel him. In exasperation, Rep. Steve Cohen asked Nadler to have Gene Krupa removed.

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Democrats ask for the Sergeant at Arms to remove Gohmert from the hearing room because he refuses to stop banging on a table pic.twitter.com/PY3x4yWcYn  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 24, 2020

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As during impeachment and in other past hearings, Nadler appeared to have no control over this circus. Gohmert was allowed to stay and to continue his interruptions unabated.

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Theres good reason Republicans resorted to drowning out the testimony of the witnesses before them. When the department attorneys were eventually allowed to speak, they described exactly how Barr and Trump have compromised the Justice Department.

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John W. Elias, a trial attorney in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, was able to testify as a whistleblower that Barr personally ordered the division to proceed with investigations of cannabis industry mergers despite there being no basis in law for the investigations. Elias also testified that there was no basis in fact, or even groundwork done, for an antitrust investigation of auto manufacturers that was launched one day after Trump tweeted his anger at the manufacturers for agreeing with California to a deal lowering fuel emissions.

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Even more damning was the testimony of Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, an Assistant U.S. Attorney in U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Maryland, who told the committee that his superiors in the Department of Justice ordered Roger Stones sentence recommendation be reduced because former acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Timothy Shea was giving Stone a break because he was afraid of the president of the United States.

Zelinsky then laid out in clear fashion how career prosecutors were pressured to reduce the initial sentencing guideline calculation for Mr. Stone without any clear legal rationale for doing so.

He continued:

When we refused to go along, we were instructed instead to disregard the guidelines entirely and to recommend an unspecified lower sentence for Mr. Stone. I was told that to the best of anyones recollection, such a recommendation has never been made by the Fraud and Public Corruption section of the United States attorneys office. When we again refused, we were told that we could be fired if we didnt go along. I notified the office that I intended to withdraw from the case rather than file a memo that was the result of wrongful political pressure. And while all this was happening, I was repeatedly told the departments actions were not based on the law or the facts, but rather on political considerations, Mr. Stones political relationships, and that the acting U.S. attorney was afraid of the president. Shortly after I informed the office of my intent to withdraw, office leadership changed its position and allowed us to file a sentencing memorandum properly calculating the guidelines and seeking a guidelines sentence.

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After the correct sentence recommendation went out, though, the president tweeted that the sentence was unfair, the department crafted a new memo asking for a lower sentencing recommendation, and Zelinsky left his assignment in the unit and his role on the case.

I resigned because following orders would have violated the oath I swore when I took my job, he said.

Stone had been convicted for lying to Congress about his efforts to secure information from WikiLeaks that had been hacked as part of Russias effort in the 2016 election to boost Trumps campaign and of witness tampering in an effort to protect Trump from political embarrassment. During that trial, a jury heard testimony that Stone had personally informed the president about these efforts to secure that information from WikiLeaks. As Rep. Cedric Richmond noted during his questioning, Trumpunder penalty of perjurytold special counsel Robert Muellers investigation that he had no recollection of any such conversations with Stone.

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As Richmond put it succinctly, Roger Stone got special treatment because he was covering up the presidents misconduct and the attorney general made it possible.

In the recent past, Judiciary Committee efforts to reveal such abuses of power have been completely overshadowed by the GOPs stunts and gamesmanship. On Wednesday while this hearing was happening, the DOJ announced that Barr would finally testify before the committee next month after more than a year of evasion. If that testimony goes ahead, well know shortly whether this committee is ever going to be capable of bringing Barr to account for his alleged misconduct.

For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below.
TBILISI -- Georgian opposition figure Giorgi Rurua has accused officials of pressuring the judge in a case over an illegal weapon possession charge that threatens to disrupt a foreign-brokered deal with the ruling party on electoral reforms.



Rurua told the court on June 24 as his trial resumed in Tbilisi that the pistol in the case had been planted in his vehicle. The case has been met with harsh criticism by opposition politicians, who along with Rurua have called the charge fake and believe it is politically motivated.



Rurua, the founder and a shareholder of the opposition-aligned Mtavari Arkhi TV, was arrested on November 18, 2019, and charged with the illegal purchase, possession, and carrying of a firearm.



In mid-May, after President Salome Zurabishvili pardoned two opposition politicians -- Gigi Ugulava, the leader of the European Georgia-Movement for Freedom and a former mayor of Tbilisi; and former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, who leads the opposition Victorious Georgia party -- many thought that Rurua also would be released.



Such a move would have met the demands by the opposition, who had threatened to abandon the foreign-brokered deal between the opposition and the ruling party on election reforms if "political prisoners" were not freed.



The sides have failed to move forward since the deal on electoral reforms was inked on March 8, triggering what Zurabishvili called a political crisis that has threatened the democratic and European future of the South Caucasus nation.



Georgias opposition parties claim the release was a condition of the deal, which the governing Georgian Dream party denies.



Opposition parties insisted that Georgia's electoral system unfairly favored Georgian Dream, and demanded it be changed to a proportional system ahead of parliamentary elections set for October this year.



Under the March 8 memorandum of understanding facilitated by U.S. and European Union officials, parliament should consist of 120 members elected through a proportional voting system, while 30 members would be elected through a majority system.



The electoral threshold for proportional elections will be set at 1 percent and a capping mechanism will mean that no single party receiving less than 40 percent of the votes cast will be allowed to hold a majority of seats in parliament.



Under the current electoral system, 73 of 150 parliamentary seats are claimed by candidates who finish first in district races. The remaining seats are distributed proportionally to the national share of the vote that a party wins.



This led to Georgian Dream, led by billionaire founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, winning 76 percent of the legislature's seats even though it won just less than half of the popular vote.
Investigations by Sonoma Raceway officials and the Sonoma County (Calif.) Sheriff are underway after a "piece of twine tied in what appeared to be a noose" was found "hanging from a tree" on the property.

The noose was hanging from a tree behind what formerly was an office at the track and was found Saturday, the day before a noose was found in the garage being used by NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.

"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," the raceway said in a statement to SFGate. "Sonoma Raceway takes this incident very seriously and is dedicated to operating a facility that is welcoming to everyone."

The track is the largest auto racing venue in the Bay Area and hosts a NASCAR Cup Series race, NHRA races and amateur events. It presently is closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We take this very seriously," Steve Page, the track president, told staff and tenants in an email, according to SFGate. "We know you share our goal of operating a facility that is open and welcoming to everyone and we appreciate your support in preventing hostile and offensive activities that violate that spirit."

The track can accommodate 47,000 fans and also has business tenants on the premises.

"I can't imagine it's anyone that works here at the track," Tom Fallon, a track tenant, told NBC Bay Area. "I think it's someone who is p----- off at NASCAR. This is a NASCAR track."

On Monday, NASCAR drivers and crew members showed their support for Wallace by walking his car down the track before the resumption of Sunday's GEICO 500 at the Alabama track. NASCAR and the FBI promised to investigate how a noose was left in the garage of Wallace, who is the only African American driver in Cup Series events. An Alabama native, Wallace had been outspoken about calling for the removal of the Confederate flag from NASCAR stands and events in the wake of the death of George Floyd. The organization did so earlier this month.

"It's not a race thing," he told "Good Morning America." "It's about walking into an event and feeling uncomfortable."
VICTORY TWP. -- Like other educational institutions, West Shore Community College approved its budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year still uncertain of what assistance will be coming from the state of Michigan.

The state legislature is not expected to have a budget in place until the early fall, which means college officials had to make the best estimate in terms of funding that they will be receiving for the upcoming year. WSCC board administrative committee chair James Jensen filled the trustees in on the upcoming budget at Monday's virtual public hearing meeting.

"Without a doubt this has probably been some of the most challenging processes we have gone through with budgeting because we just don't know because of the COVID-19 what is going to happen and it makes it a real challenge to budget," said Jensen. "I do think (WSCC) president (Scott) Ward and his staff have done an outstanding job of putting things together recognizing that uncertainty because of COVID-19."

Jensen said despite those challenges he feels the college did accomplish the ultimate goal.

"We were able to do what we always want to do which is to serve our community," said Jensen. "Given all the uncertainty we may come back at some point with an amended budget, I think it is important to note the college is in good financial position from both a general operating and capital fund standpoint."

Ward said because of that funding uncertainty not much has changed in the past few weeks since the board first began the process with the budget.

"This is very similar to what we looked at in the budget workshop in early June, as property taxes were a slight increase because there was an adjustment in one of the counties of the district," said Ward. "Other than that the general fund is pretty much what was presented before. There is a lot uncertainties in here, and this budget does reflect a 5% decrease in enrollment and I think that is very conservative. We keep seeing that pick up on a day basis so we hope to actually remain flat or have a slight increase in enrollment."

Ward said the biggest unknown they are facing is the state appropriations; a 10% decrease was budgeted.

"That could increase and I have seen some news on this if there is some action out of Congress with some sort of stimulus," said Ward. "At least they are trying to hold the K-12 districts harmless at least in this fiscal year. But that is a big unknown on the revenue general fund."

Overall WSCC will have a general fund budget with $13,053,774 in revenue and $12,889,460 in expenditures. Ward said the expenditures on the general fund has a slight decrease as the college elected to eliminate several positions they had budgeted for last year, but haven't filled. He said they are hoping to have a balanced budget recognizing if there are big changes in the state they would come back and look at using some of the college reserve funds.

The auxiliary fund is one of the big unknowns, according to Ward. That includes the budgets for the bookstore/cafe, ice arena, catering and recreation center. That fund is targeted for $534,080 in revenue and $645,860 in expenditures for the upcoming year's budget. What comes out of the pandemic for those areas is really unknown.

"We do not know at this time when the rec center and ice arena will re-open, and how the public will respond to those services," said Ward. "It is the same with the catering and food service, not knowing when those will be back up and running."

Ward said until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the auxiliary budget was on target to be the best it had been in the more than 10 years that he has been at WSCC.

In the capital fund budget, Ward said the college is only levying two-thirds of the millage, which allows them to return $1 million to the taxpayers.

Board chairman Bruce Smith praised the WSCC staff for their hard work on the budget.

"I would like to thank president Ward and his staff for working on the very difficult situation, and thank you Mr. Jensen and your committee for working through all the details we are not used to working with because of the COVID," said Smith.

Later in their regular board meeting, the trustees gave unanimous approval to the general, auxiliary and capital fund budgets.
Fifty five inmates granted temporary release from prisons since March 2nd by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) have been re-arrested since and returned to prison after breaching their temporary release conditions.

Thirty seven of the 55 were re-arrested for allegedly committing a range of criminal offences including burglary; theft; public order and other social code offences and damage to property.

That is according to new figures provided by the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan TD.

In a series of written Dail replies to Thomas Pringle TD (Independent), Minister Flanagan stated that since March 2nd a total of 852 prisoners have been granted full or reviewable temporary release.

Minister Flanagan stated: It is important to note that not all of these releases have related to the Covid-19 pandemic. He stated that the initial process of identifying prisoners suitable for temporary release, for the purposes of reducing the prison population for effective infection control, resulted in around 500 prisoners being granted temporary release.

He added that since then, the number of prisoners on temporary release has reduced to pre-pandemic levels and now occur as part of the normal prison release planning.

Minister Flanagan stated that temporary related release of prisoners concerning focused on low-risk prisoners who were serving sentences of less than 12 months for non-violent offences.

He stated: Subsequently, prisoners assessed as low risk who had less than 6 months to serve were also granted temporary release from some prisons. Minister Flanagan stated that of the 55 prisoners returned to custody, 37 of those prisoners allegedly committed a criminal offence resulting in their arrest and return to custody.

He stated the remaining 18 prisoners were returned to custody as a result of other breaches of the conditions of their temporary release.

In a breakdown of the 55 prisoners where prisoners were returned, Cloverhill accounted for 11, Cork - 10, Wheatfield - 7, Midlands - 6, Castlerea - 4, Mountjoy (female) - 4, Mountjoy (male) - 4 Limerick (male) - 4, Limerick (female)- 3, Portlaoise - 2.

Minister Flanagan stated that since March 2, five prisoners serving life sentences have been granted temporary release but stressed that none of those released were Covid 19 related temporary releases Minister Flanagan stated that one prison serving more than ten years was granted temporary release; 45 serving between five and 10 years; 91 serving between three to five years; 68 between two to three years and 162 between one and two years.

A further 190 serving between six to 12 months were granted temporary release; 167 between serving three and six months and 123 under three months.
Sakchai Lalit / Associated Press

MIDDLETOWN  The Middletown Health Department is encouraging residents to get tested if they think they have COVID-19 symptoms, or have been in contact with someone who is positive or suspected to have the coronavirus.

Several testing sites are now available in Middletown. In most cases, the process is free, and no doctors note is needed, according to a press release. The sites will test people regardless if they have symptoms or not.
ERNAKULAM : Kerala on Wednesday rolled back its controversial direction that all expats should produce a medical certificate that shows they tested negative for covid-19 before flying into the state from Thursday onwards.

Instead of the medical certificates, it said that wearing personal protective equipment or PPE kits during air travel should suffice.

All returning expats should wear N95 masks, face shields and gloves, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. Returnees from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where the infection rates are higher than other Gulf countries, should wear PPEs. However, those returning from the United Arab Emirates, where flights have made available testing facilities before boarding, should still carry covid-19 negative certificates.

The demand for the medical certificates had caused a major political backlash and protests, with the states three million diaspora suspecting it to be a ploy to stall their return. The fate of the directive was sealed when it was deemed as impractical by the ministry of external affairs on Tuesday.

Announcing the decision, CM Vijayan said that he only wanted to avoid creating a super-spreader event in the flights" as those not exposed to the coronavirus could get infected on the plane, increasing the caseload in the state.

Almost 69% of the states active 1,691 cases are returnees from foreign countries. The active cases are increasing by around 500 every five days currently, coinciding with returning expats. On Wednesday alone, 72 flights carrying 14,058 passengers were given permission to land in Kerala. All, except one, were from Gulf countries, Vijayan said.

When we moved to make screening mandatory, a section of the people spread misinformation," he added.

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A major investigation has been launched after it emerged that respiratory masks destined for medical staff in Northern Ireland may not have been tested properly.

The Public Health Agency last night confirmed that an audit review of fit-testing for respiratory masks is ongoing within the Health and Social Care system.

"This is being done on a precautionary basis," the PHA said in a statement.

"It has emerged that one independent contractor, which conducted fit-testing of masks during the pandemic, had inadvertently applied on some occasions a fit-testing setting not normally used in Northern Ireland.

"This should have been readjusted to the UK fit-testing requirements.

"We are advised that any risk to staff is likely to be low.

"The HSC system is now carrying out a validation and audit exercise of all fit-tests conducted by this independent contractor."

The PHA has been asked by the Department of Health to undertake a serious adverse incident review.

This is defined as any event or circumstance that led or could have led to serious unintended or unexpected harm, loss or damage to patients.

They must be carried out after an incident resulting in serious harm, or an unexpected or unexplained death, for example.

Incidents may include infection outbreaks in a hospital or the failure of equipment.

"Additional measures across the HSC will be put in place to review and monitor fit-testing outcomes moving forward," the PHA said.

"Staff impacted will be informed and offered support. Fit-testing will be carried out under the correct NI setting.

"We fully recognise that the issues raised may cause some concern and we very much regret that. We would again stress that these checks are being taken as a precautionary step to reassure staff that the masks are being fitted to the highest safety standards.

"Rigorous tried and tested procedures have been in place during the pandemic for staff to highlight any concerns if they feel their PPE equipment does not properly fit. Further information will be made public following the conclusion of the audit."

Health union Unison had been advised last Thursday by health trusts of a regional alert in relation to PPE fit-testing carried out for trusts by an external company.

It said it was told that some staff may have received a positive fit-test when, in actual fact, under HSE standards this may not have been the case.

Unison regional secretary Patricia McKeown said last night her "main concern is the extent to which our members have been exposed and what liability lies with employers and the department".

"I think there are more issues here than the calibration of machines. We raised concerns about nature of the masks, and the instruction at least one company gave to tie knots in them to make fit," she said.

"There was a major issue about masks being generally made to fit a larger male face, rather than a smaller female face - and the majority of staff are women.

"We will certainly be giving evidence to any inquiry being carried out."
OTTAWAEco-socialists and converted Liberals. Champions of fiscal conservatism and climate action.

A man in a top hat.

This is what the end of the Elizabeth May era looks like for the Green Party of Canada  and what, depending on who succeeds her, its future might hold. On Tuesday, the diverse cast of 10 candidates appeared by video for the first official debate in the leadership race to replace May, the most successful figurehead in the partys history who led the Greens for more than 13 years.

Split into two groups for separate discussions on the same themes, the twin debates hosted by TVO were mostly cordial, with the potential for direct clashes diminished by time constraints and the realities of campaigning in the time of COVID-19. Instead of sharing a stage, the candidates shared screens and debated by video from all corners of the country.

They offered similar positions on many topics. None support the construction of new pipelines in Canada. There was widespread agreement on the need to change the federal electoral system, a perennial demand for a party that wins few seats despite the proportion of votes it receives. And many called for similar policies, including a guaranteed basic income for Canadians in a post-pandemic economy.

But the discussions still illuminated differences between the candidates and where each hopes to steer the party if they win the contest.

During the first debate, former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister Glen Murray clashed with Toronto lawyer Annamie Paul over which form of carbon pricing can best drive down greenhouse-gas emissions. Murray, who was Ontarios environment minister when the now-shelved cap-and-trade system was implemented, argued such a system is better because it comes with a hard limit on emissions. He called the federal carbon tax a joke for being too lax.

Paul countered that many economists see a tax on emissions as more efficient.

Glen, I think weve moved on a bit from cap-and-trade, she said.

Candidates also outlined different visions for how the party can grow from the three seats it won under Mays leadership in the 2019 federal election  its best result ever. Andrew West, a lawyer from Ottawa who describes himself as a political moderate, said the Greens should position themselves as centrists who can appeal to progressive voters with their social policies and environmental credentials, while also nabbing support from fiscal Conservatives who dont believe that party is serious about climate change.

If we shift the party towards the left, which a lot of ... candidates want to do, then were going to have more candidates fighting for a smaller piece of the pie, said West.

Other candidates said they want the Greens to embody progressive policies. Paul called for free tuition and universal pharmacare. Meryam Haddad and Dimitri Lascaris  Montrealers who say they are socialists  argued the Greens can become the natural home for left-leaning voters through clearer communication and an endorsement of huge spending programs to spur growth and shift to a cleaner economy.

The people who are the true moderates in this race are those who are calling upon this country and this party to take the steps necessary to deal with a fundamentally flawed economic system that is leading us down the path of climate crisis, said Lascaris.

The sharpest charge of the debates came during a discussion of racism and police. The candidates generally agreed Canada should shift spending from law enforcement to social and mental health services. Dylan Perceval-Maxwell, a six-time election candidate who sported a black top hat for Tuesdays debate, added he would require police officers to give $20 to every racialized person they stop on the street.

Haddad called the suggestion super racist and said that as a person of colour, I find it very, very offensive ... What would be the next step? If the person gets beaten up we give them $50?

Perceval-Maxwell responded that he wants to reduce systemic racism, but did not have time to explain further because the debate was over.

Each candidate has cleared the first entry hurdle by paying an initial $10,000 fee to get in the race. They must now raise enough money to pay another $20,000 by Sept. 1 to secure a spot on the final ballot.

More than 24,000 Green party members  including those as young as 14  are eligible to vote by preferential ballot by mail or online between Sept. 26 and Oct. 3. The new leader is set to be named Oct. 4.

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Five thousand businesses received approval for nearly $1 billion in funding through the Paycheck Protection Program through WSFS; businesses employ about 100,000 people.

WILMINGTON, Del., June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, WSFS Bank announced a $200,000 donation to four organizations, providing relief grants to help local small businesses within the Banks footprint impacted by the pandemic.



In addition, WSFS dedicated more than 200 Associates to work on Paycheck Protection Program applications and received approvals for more than 5,000 loans worth nearly $1 billion. These businesses employ about 100,000 people in the region.

As the pandemic continues to take an unprecedented toll on businesses in the region, many small businesses are struggling to maintain the funding needed to stay in operation. The relief grants will be administered in collaboration with the following local community development financial institutions (CDFIs):

Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry/Chester County Community & Economic Development Corporation (Chester County, Pa.)

Cooperative Business Assistance Corporation (Burlington and Camden Counties, NJ)

Entrepreneur Works Fund (Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, Pa.)

True Access Capital (Delaware).

We are committed to standing up for small businesses, said Patrick Ward, WSFS Bank Pennsylvania Market President. Small businesses are the backbone of America and often provide support to local communities. Now is our chance to lend a helping hand to them.

To qualify for the relief grants, businesses must have annual revenue under $500,000; 50 or fewer employees; be open two or more years; preferably be located in a low or moderate-income (LMI) census tract; independently owned and operated; have experienced negative impact from COVID-19; plan to reopen post-COVID-19 and able to continue operating for the foreseeable future. Grant funds must be used for working capital, purchasing machinery/equipment, improvements/alterations due to COVID-19 and inventory. Grants will be reviewed, recommended and administered by the CDFIs. Those seeking a grant should reach out to one of the four partnering CDFIs in their area.

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The Chester County Chamber is proud to partner with WSFS in awarding these grants, said Guy Ciarrocchi, Esq., President & CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry. WSFS has time and time again shown a commitment to our community by supporting our nonprofits, schools and those working to get ahead. These much-needed grants help businesses and strengthen our community.

We are really appreciative of WSFS financial support during these tumultuous times, said Vandell Hampton, Jr., President & CEO of True Access Capital. This funding will play an important role in the recovery as Delaware reopens.

The WSFS Community Foundation also previously provided $300,000 in grants to 21 local nonprofits engaged in the fight against COVID-19. In addition, WSFS Bank recently made a $3 million contribution to the WSFS Community Foundation to fund future donations throughout its footprint.

For more information about the steps WSFS has taken to keep our Associates and Customers informed and safe, please visit wsfsbank.com .

About WSFS Financial Corporation

WSFS Financial Corporation is a multi-billion-dollar financial services company. Its primary subsidiary, WSFS Bank, is the oldest and largest locally managed bank and trust company headquartered in Delaware and the Greater Philadelphia region. As of March 31, 2020, WSFS Financial Corporation had $12.3 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $21.1 billion in assets under management and administration. WSFS operates from 116 offices, 91 of which are banking offices, located in Pennsylvania (54), Delaware (44), New Jersey (16), Virginia (1) and Nevada (1) and provides comprehensive financial services including commercial banking, retail banking, cash management and trust and wealth management. Other subsidiaries or divisions include Arrow Land Transfer, Cash Connect, Cypress Capital Management, LLC, Christiana Trust of Delaware, NewLane Finance, Powdermill Financial Solutions, West Capital Management, WSFS Institutional Services, WSFS Mortgage, and WSFS Wealth Investments. Serving the greater Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS Bank is one of the ten oldest banks in the United States continuously operating under the same name. For more information, please visit www.wsfsbank.com .

Media Contact: Rebecca Acevedo (215) 253-5566 racevedo@wsfsbank.com




U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speaks to the press near a polling station during the New York primaries Election Day in New York City on June 23, 2020. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

Ocasio-Cortez Wins Democratic Primary Against Challenger Caruso-Cabrera

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), on Tuesday night won her Democratic primary in New Yorks 14th District, defeating challenger Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, a former anchor for CNBC.

Progressive freshman lawmaker Ocasio-Cortez, who became the youngest woman ever to serve in Congress in the United States in 2018, brought a huge campaign war chest and a national profile to her bid for a second term in her diverse district encompassing parts of the Bronx and Queens in New York City. She won some 70 percent of the vote.

Democratic challenger Caruso-Cabrera, a former CNBC television anchor, had the backing of the conservative U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which usually supports Republicans.

When I won in 2018, many dismissed our victory as a fluke. Our win was treated as an aberration, or because my opponent didnt try. So from the start, tonights race was important to me, Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter Tuesday night. Tonight we are proving that the peoples movement in NY isnt an accident. Its a mandate.

When I won in 2018, many dismissed our victory as a fluke. Our win was treated as an aberration, or bc my opponent didnt try. So from the start, tonights race was important to me. Tonight we are proving that the peoples movement in NY isnt an accident. Its a mandate.  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 24, 2020

No amount of money can buy a movement, she said in a video shared on the social media platform, adding that her victory came despite Wall Street opposition. Wall Street executives raised more than $2 million to support the 51-year-old former television anchor Caruso-Cabrera.

Ocasio-Cortez, 30, raised more than $10.5 million, exceeding the totals collected by her other challengers by far. She rose to political stardom in 2018 after ousting Rep. Joe Crowley in a stunning primary. Crowley overwhelmingly outspent her and appeared to be in line to become House speaker.

Ocasio-Cortezs victory came after a Republican candidate challenging the 30-year-old announced on May 25 that she had dropped out of the congressional GOP primary race.

Scherie Murray, a businesswoman and Jamaican immigrant, on May 25 announced the news citing executive orders issued by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in response to the CCP virus pandemic as hindering the electoral process.

Governor Cuomos undemocratic Executive Orders overthrew New Yorks electoral process, Murrays campaign said. The right to access the ballot, freedom of association as a member of a political party, the exchange of ideas and free speech are so sacred that the Founding Fathers made it the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Notwithstanding, during the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Cuomos Executive Orders have gone unchecked, affirming the ability to silence Murrays First Amendment rights, the statement continued.

As long as avowed socialists are legislators, you can rest assured I will use my platform to advocate for the kitchen table issues of the toughest, hardest working New Yorkers, Murray said. This is not the end for Scherie Murray because I will continue to work hard.

Meanwhile, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden won the Democratic presidential primary in New York.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The Singapore prime ministers brother, Lee Hsien Yang, said on Wednesday that he had joined an opposition party competing against his sibling in a July 10 general election but that he was undecided on whether he would run as a candidate.

Lee Hsien Yang, the son of Singapores modern-day founder, Lee Kuan Yew, has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with his brother over his late fathers house. He told Reuters he had joined the new Progress Singapore Party (PSP).

Lee has criticised his brother Lee Hsien Loongs Peoples Action Party (PAP), which their father founded and which has governed the city-state since its independence in 1965.

The PAP has lost its way, Lee Hsien Yang said in a video posted on PSPs Facebook page, adding that the current government is distinctly different from when his father was prime minister.

It is possible to be loyal Singaporeans... to love Singapore and yet not vote PAP, he said.

The PSP is led by Tan Cheng Bock, a former PAP lawmaker who shot to prominence by nearly defeating a candidate backed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in the 2011 presidential race.

We will see, Lee Hsien Yang told Reuters when asked whether he would stand as a candidate.

The PSP said on Twitter it welcomed Lee Hsien Yang as a member.

Its time for change, it added.
President Donald Trump blames the rising number of COVID-19 cases on increased testing and suggests case counts would drop with fewer tests. But infectious disease and public health experts dispute that claim, saying the surge in coronavirus cases in Sunbelt states reflects a potentially dangerous new phase of the pandemic.

Arizona, California, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and South Carolina reported record-high new daily coronavirus cases during this week, as case counts continue to rise in more than half of U.S. states.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the state is facing a massive outbreak with another 5,000 cases reported Wednesday. California Gov. Gavin Newsom reported Wednesday 7,149 tested positive, a record number for the nation's largest state. Both states this week surpassed the entire European Union on the average number of daily cases.

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will make travelers from nine states with high infection rates to quarantine for 14 days. It's a reversal from the early pandemic weeks when Florida, Texas, South Carolina imposed a similar quarantine on travelers from New York and the two neighboring states.

This week, both Connecticut and Arizona conducted 1.7 tests per 1,000 people, according to Johns Hopkins University's testing tracker. Yet, while Connecticut had 1.3% positive, Arizona had 22.1% positive for COVID-19.

Arizona hospitals on Tuesday reported the highest-ever number of beds and ventilators used for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients.

The World Health Organization recommends sufficient testing so that 5% or fewer individuals who take tests have the virus, but these states exceed that. When the positive test rate is higher, it could mean states are testing only the sickest individuals and missing those who show no symptoms but can still spread the virus.

With cases surging in states with such high positive test rates, "that is not because of an increase in testing," but an indicator cases are spreading, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.

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States that effectively test and trace contacts of infected individuals have a much better chance of controlling COVID-19, even with an increase in cases, Adalja said.

Many people are no longer staying home and avoiding large group gatherings. Some are congregating at bars, churches and political rallies without masks or social distancing. In those communities, COVID-19 has thrived.

Handlebar in Houston temporarily lost its liquor license for failing to comply with capacity limits in June 2020.

Stephen Kissler, postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said testing is critically important to slowing the virus that causes COVID-19.

"It's because of testing that we're able to see these increases in cases in various places and probably able to catch them sooner than we would otherwise," Kissler said.

He said testing allows public health workers to track the contacts of infected and detect where there are large outbreaks.

"That allows us to escape from some of the negative economic consequences," Kissler said. "I think that's one of most frustrating things about some of the suggestions that testing should be reduced that it is precisely testing that will free us from the most economically crippling solution ... by testing more we have a better sense of where the virus is, so our response can be a lot more targeted. That allows us to avoid having to do these mass societal shutdowns that are so detrimental to the economy."

Dr. Sonia Angell, Director of the California Department of Public Health and State Public Health Officer, said cases revealed from increased testing "only serves as evidence that COVID-19 is in our communities."

She said the increases in cases and hospitalizations are evidence people should stay home or wear masks and keep physical distance from others when outside "because thats what helps us protect one another. Our ability to move forward as a state depends upon it.

Fears in Phoenix

In Arizona, cases counts have increased by 1,000 or more every day for the past two weeks and 88% of hospital ICU beds were filled with patients on Tuesday.

"We might be the hottest hot spot in the world," said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association and former director of the state's Department of Health Services. "A very large chunk of why we are where we are is precisely because of policy choices that were made in mid-May."

Humble said the high positive test rate "means you are missing so many because tests kits are in such short supply," and access to testing is uneven.

Alberta Cook (right) receives a COVID-19 test at Native Health in Phoenix, Ariz. on May 16, 2020.

Hospitals that operate their own labs or those who have access to commercial testing labs are able to test. Some primary-care doctors and community health centers that provide care for lower-income or rural communities can't get enough test kits.

A testing blitz last Saturday in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood in Phoenix attracted such large numbers that people waited up to 13 hours to get tested.

Rural communities at risk

Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University School of Medicine professor of preventive medicine and an infectious disease doctor, said the recent surge in warm-weather states has rekindled fears the disease trajectory, flattened by aggressive social distancing in March and April, is beginning to rise again.

But unlike the initial deadly wave, concentrated in large cities such as New York and Chicago, recent cases are moving from metro regions to smaller cities and rural communities.

"There were many of us who were cautiously hopeful that COVID-19 would not be transmitted as readily during the warm, humid summer months, akin to influenza," Schaffner said. "It doesnt seem to be impeded at all. Its steaming ahead and we have literally grave concerns about a second wave, which could be very impactful."

He said the virus has reached smaller communities where social distancing and mask-wearing is less socially acceptable, "it could be substantially greater than anything we have seen so far."

More on COVID-19:

Contributing: Mike Stucka

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID-19 testing can't be blamed for coronavirus surge in Sunbelt
The three suspects in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery were officially indicted by a Georgia grand jury on murder charges, the district attorney in Cobb County announced Wednesday.

Gregory McMichael, 64, his son Travis McMichael, 34, and their neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan, 50, all face allegations of malice and felony murder in the Feb. 23 death of Arbery.

From left, Gregory McMichael and his son Travis McMichael and William

Arbery, 25, was fatally shot in the coastal city of Brunswick, Georgia, after he was pursued by the McMichaels. His family said he was out for a jog, while the McMichaels said they thought he was a burglary suspect.

Bryan is accused of using his pickup truck in an attempt to box Arbery in.

The indictment accuses the three men of collectively causing Arbery's death "by unlawfully chasing him through the public roadways of the Satilla Shores neighborhood in pickup trucks and shooting him with a shotgun."

The indictment includes four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

Lawyers for the suspects have said what they did was not criminal.

Bob Rubin, who represents Travis McMichael, said in a statement Wednesday that his client planned to plead not guilty. "We look forward to presenting all of the facts regarding this tragic death in a court of law," he said.

Gregory McMichael's lawyers have said he's a "good person" and that his arrest and prosecution represents a "rush to judgement."

Kevin Gough, a lawyer for Bryan, has said his client was just a witness. In court this month Gough described Bryan's actions as "what any patriotic American citizen would have done under the same circumstances."

In a hearing this month, Richard Dial, an agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, testified that Bryan said during an interview in May that he had heard Travis McMichael say, "f---ing N-word," after Arbery was shot.

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Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arbery's mother, told NBC News on Wednesday she was "very pleased" with the indictment.

'At this point, " she said, "I do believe the case is moving in the right direction."

Her lawyer, Lee Merritt, said, "We still obviously have to see this through to a conviction and appropriate sentencing, but as Miss Cooper said, I believe we're on the right track."

"This is another step forward in seeking justice for Ahmaud," said Cobb County District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes. "We will continue to be intentional in the pursuit of justice for this family and the community at large as the prosecution of this case continues."

The McMichaels were taken into custody on May 7. Bryan was arrested two weeks later.

Arbery's death inspired Georgia's legislature to pass a hate crime bill that would impose additional penalties for crimes motivated by race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender or disability.

Holmes indicated at a news conference on Wednesday that the bill was unlikely to affect the case as it would not be retroactive if Gov. Brian Kemp does sign it.

Cooper-Jones said, "Maybe if the McMichaels and Mr. Bryan would have known that this deal was in place, they would have probably thought more than twice before they took the law into their own hands and took Ahmaud's life."
Philadelphia City Council has fast-tracked a package of police reform measures, advancing two bills Tuesday and readying final votes on an additional three measures Thursday, as lawmakers respond to continued protests over police misconduct following George Floyds death in Minneapolis.

The Public Safety Committee approved legislation that would codify the Police Departments ban on officers using choke-holds to restrain detained subjects, and require public hearings on the citys priorities going into contract negotiations with the police union.

The Law and Government Committee had previously approved legislation that would place a referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot asking voters to decide whether to create a civilian oversight commission on police conduct; another proposed referendum calling on the Police Department to end unconstitutional stop-and-frisk; and a bill that would require newly recruited officers to have lived in the city for at least one year before they are hired.

Those three bills will come up for final passage Thursday, in Councils final meeting before its scheduled summer break. The two that advanced out of committee Tuesday in unanimous voice votes will likely have to wait until lawmakers return in the fall before receiving their required second reading before the full Council.

The push for reform is likely to continue unabated. More than three weeks after demonstrations against police violence began in Philadelphia following Floyds death, protesters continue to press local officials to act. During the committees virtual meeting Tuesday afternoon, demonstrators chanting Defund the police took over the Municipal Services Building lobby.

Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson wrote the bill advanced Tuesday that would require public testimony in Council hearings on mayoral administrations initial proposals when negotiating contracts with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5. Many of the policy areas in which protesters have sought reforms are governed by the police union contract, including the disciplinary arbitration process that has allowed scores of Philadelphia officers in recent years to have their sanctions for alleged inappropriate behavior reduced or reversed.

Transparency and accountability are crucial. Theyre crucial to creating trust between the public and government, Gilmore Richardson said. We cannot create change behind closed doors.

Rich Lazer, deputy mayor for labor, said Mayor Jim Kenneys administration supported the bill. He noted that the administration has previously pushed for some of the changes the protesters want, including changes to the disciplinary process. Although the administration already seeks input from stakeholders before finalizing its initial proposal in the FOP negotiations, a public hearing would likely result in additional changes before the city submits its offer, he said.

With Kenney in the first year of his second term, the administration had planned to spend much of the first half of 2020 negotiating contracts with the four major municipal unions. After the coronavirus struck Philadelphia, however, Kenney pushed through one-year deals that largely extended the terms of the previous contracts and included raises ranging from 2% to 2.5%. The move was designed to delay talks over longer-term deals until city leaders would have a better understanding of the pandemics impact on municipal finances, as well as the time to focus on the contracts after the crisis.

The extension deal for the FOP, however, has since come under intense criticism because it gave raises to cops without securing concessions such as changes to the disciplinary process, which is a typical strategy for mayors seeking reforms.

City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart on Tuesday testified in support of Gilmore Richardsons bill and encouraged Council members to require similar public hearings for contracts with the other three unions, which represent firefighters, and nonuniformed blue- and white-collar workers. Employee salaries and benefits are the biggest costs for the city, and the contracts, which are negotiated behind closed doors between union leaders and the mayors administration, dictate the compensation for a vast majority of the citys workforce.

Transparency is always important to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, said Rhynhart, the citys independently elected fiscal watchdog. The more transparent and the more input that people have, the less fraud and abuse there is.

Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson wrote the other bill approved in committee Tuesday  prohibiting police officers from restraining subjects in certain ways  after reviewing the departments regulations following Floyds death after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.

The impact of the bill would be limited because the department already bans many of the practices outlined in the text and because in Pennsylvania, much of the law on police officers use of force is decided at the state level.

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said that while her departments policy already prohibits officers from choke-holds and kneeling on detained peoples backs, for instance, it did not expressly prohibit kneeling on a subjects neck, as the bill does.

This is not necessarily a change in departmental policy, but rather a necessary clarification, said Outlaw, who supports the bill.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier raised concerns that the bill included an exception for circumstances in which officers fear for their lives or serious injury.

I support this bill, Gauthier said, but I do think that it would be stronger if it were able to define more around what serious injury looks like.
The long-awaited Atascocita Park opened to Lake Houston area residents on the rainy morning of June 24.

Composed of a large playground with high skywalks, a 1-acre dog park for both large and small breeds, a sizeable picnic pavilion, a 2-acre natural pond with a boardwalk and paved trails, the new 21-acre site offers the community a place to get outside and take in nature. The $11.5 million development is part of the greater Harris County Precinct 2 park system.

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Atascocita Park is located at 17302 West Lake Houston Parkway, Atascocita, and is open from dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday.

Inclement weather this morning canceled the grand opening event for the park as authorities warned of flash flooding risks in the area.

However, after the 7 a.m. opening, the sky cleared of rain toward the middle of the day and people arrived with their families to use the trails and take in the views from the boardwalk.

Im so excited for Atascocita Park to finally open, said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. The area is growing at a tremendous pace, and residents will now have a place to get away and enjoy the great outdoors. From the walking trails through the trees to the boardwalk over the natural pond and the massive playground, this park is sure to provide residents with a unique and fun experience.

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Atascocita resident Bev Hiller brought her young grandson to the park for opening day and said she has been anticipating the opening for a while. She normally exercises by walking with a friend and said they were excited to see what the park had to offer.

We just could not wait for this place to open and see what it was all about, Hiller said. Today Ive got my grandson so we havent been able to walk all that much, but we will be.

While the novel coronavirus has caused many to stay inside, this park opening provides a new spot to enjoy the outdoors in the local community for free. Garcia, like other Harris County officials, urged those who attend the park to wear face coverings and socially distance to help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.

MORNING REPORT: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox

Garcia announced at the Lake Houston Chamber of Commerce Atascocita BizCom on June 11 that the Atascocita trails project is in phase two of design. The $5 million project should be completed by the second quarter of next year, Garcia said.

For more information on Precinct 2, visit their website at https://www.hcp2.com/.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
National herd immunity to the coronavirus could build up with just four out of 10 people catching the disease, scientists claim.

Researchers say that immunity among the most socially active people in a country could protect those who come into contact with fewer others.

Previous estimates have suggested around two thirds (60 per cent) of a population would have to catch Covid-19 for herd immunity to develop, which would see hundreds of thousands of Britons die if it was achieved without a vaccine.

But this exposure level could be slashed to just 43 per cent, according to scientists from Nottingham and Stockholm.

Herd immunity is a situation in which so many people have become immune to an illness  either by having it or by getting a vaccine  that it can no longer spread.

Government scientists floated the idea at the start of the UK's outbreak, with the 'delay' stage of its original plan based on allowing the virus to spread slowly.

But experts warned that half a million people could die if the country didn't go into lockdown to stop the virus in its tracks, and officials have since denied that aiming for herd immunity  which could have seen 40million people allowed to be infected  was ever the plan.

Britain is currently nowhere near herd immunity to the coronavirus, with government testing surveys suggesting 5.4 per cent of people have had the illness. This is equal to around 3million people, whereas 43 per cent coverage would require 24million people to be infected.

The researchers suggested that 24million people in England having caught the virus and recovered from it could be enough to generate herd immunity, compared to a significantly higher 33.6million people who might need to be vaccinated to have the same effect

Scientists suggest that if immunity to the coronavirus develops among more socially active people, this could protect those who interact with fewer people (Pictured: Crowds on Bournemouth beach today)

Scientists at Stockholm University and the University of Nottingham say the key to understanding herd immunity with the coronavirus is looking at social activity.

The virus is considerably more likely to infect people who come into contact with more people  people with busy social lives, schoolchildren, people in large households or those with people-facing jobs, for example.

Meanwhile, many others come into contact with fewer people than average.

The study split people into three groups: Those with an average number of interactions, those with 'high activity'  50 per cent more than average, and those with 'low activity'  50 per cent fewer than average.

If the virus spreads more rampantly among the most socially active group, the level of immunity they build up could protect people in the less active groups.

This is because the more active people come into contact with others more regularly and are therefore more likely to spread the illness.

People with fewer interactions are less likely to catch the disease  because it spreads most often by close contact  and also less likely to pass it on because they're more likely to go through the illness and recover without seeing anyone.

WHAT IS HERD IMMUNITY? Herd immunity is a situation in which a population of people is protected from a disease because so many of them are unaffected by it - because they've already had it or have been vaccinated - that it cannot spread. To cause an outbreak a disease-causing bacteria or virus must have a continuous supply of potential victims who are not immune to it. Immunity is when your body knows exactly how to fight off a certain type of infection because it has encountered it before, either by having the illness in the past or through a vaccine. When a virus or bacteria enters the body the immune system creates substances called antibodies, which are designed to destroy one specific type of bug. When these have been created once, some of them remain in the body and the body also remembers how to make them again. This provides long-term protection, or immunity, against an illness. If nobody is immune to an illness  as was the case at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak  it can spread like wildfire. However, if, for example, half of people have developed immunity  from a past infection or a vaccine  there are only half as many people the illness can spread to. As more and more people become immune the bug finds it harder and harder to spread until its pool of victims becomes so small it can no longer spread at all. The threshold for herd immunity is different for various illnesses, depending on how contagious they are  for measles, around 95 per cent of people must be vaccinated to it spreading. For polio, which is less contagious, the threshold is about 80-85 per cent, according to the Oxford Vaccine Group. Advertisement

The study hinges on people only being able to catch the virus once, then becoming immune to it in future  but scientists still haven't worked out whether this is true.

If it turns out not to be, the same result may be achieved by vaccinating the most active section of the population when a vaccine is available, but the UK Government has prioritised jabs for health and care workers, over-50s and seriously ill people.

Professor Frank Ball, Professor Tom Britton and Professor Pieter Trapman  three authors of the new study  said herd immunity from the disease spreading could be 'substantially lower' than it would be from a vaccine.

They wrote in the journal Science: 'Our application to Covid-19 indicates a reduction of herd immunity from 60 per cent... immunization down to 43 per cent in a structured population, but this should be interpreted as an illustration, rather than an exact value or even a best estimate.'

The estimate was based on the reproduction number of the virus (R) being 2.5, meaning that every 10 people would infect another 25 if nobody had any immunity. At the start of the UK's outbreak it is thought to have been almost 4, according to Imperial College researchers.

A higher R value could mean a greater proportion of people would need exposure for herd immunity to develop, but the new study did not estimate for other figures.

They said that immunity would be stronger in cities, large households and big workplaces.

But this could also reflect where the virus would be most likely to spread in future outbreaks, meaning those in rural areas or smaller offices would have some level of protection simply from being around fewer people.

Blood testing on behalf of the government has found that around 5.4 per cent of people in England have had the virus already. The ballpark is somewhere between 4.3 and 6.5 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This means around 3million people have had the virus already  nowhere near enough for herd immunity.

But, as per the Stockholm and Nottingham study's theory, London is considerably closer to herd immunity than other regions.

Testing by Public Health England has found that around 17.5 per cent of people living in the capital have got antibodies to the disease, meaning their immune system has fought it off already.

This varies wildly across the country, PHE data shows, with around 12 per cent of people exposed in the North West and 10 per cent in the East of England, but fewer than 10 per cent in every other region.

Lowest are the South East and North East, where only around four per cent of people appear to have had the illness already.

Herd immunity has been controversial in the UK because the Government appeared to want to aim for it to stop the coronavirus coming back in the future.

But scientists believe that for this to work for Covid-19, around 60 per cent of people would have to have the virus - about 40million people in the UK.

Currently, the coronavirus appears to have a death rate of around one per cent, suggesting that 400,000 people could have died in the process.

Sir Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser to the UK Government, spoke about herd immunity in March as if officials were genuinely considering it as an option.

Public Health England blood testing results show the levels of exposure to Covid-19 vary wildly across the UK, from around 17.5 per cent in London to lower than five per cent of people in the South East and North East

When asked about lockdown on March 13  Italy was already in lockdown by that point - Sir Patrick said that it was 'impossible' for a country to attempt to self-isolate its entire population.

He said: 'We want to suppress it [the virus], not get rid of it completely, which you can't do anyway, and also allow enough of us who are going to get mild illness to become immune to this to help with the sort of whole population response which would protect everybody.'

Sir Patrick added: 'We think that this virus is likely to be one that comes back year on year, become like a seasonal virus, and communities will become immune to it, and that's going to be an important part of controlling this longer term.'

However, public backlash against the plan which would see millions infected and tens or even hundreds of thousands of people die, took herd immunity of the table.

It stopped being mentioned in discussions and 10 Downing Street has denied considering it as a plan ever since.

In a Channel 4 documentary aired earlier this month, Italy's deputy health minister claimed Boris Johnson had told Italy that he wanted to pursue it.

Pierpaolo Sileri, who is a qualified surgeon and deputy health minister in the Italian government, was diagnosed with the coronavirus himself in mid-March.

He recalled speaking to the country's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, who had had a phone call with Boris Johnson on March 13.

Mr Sileri told Dispatches: 'I spoke with Conte to tell President Conte that I'd tested positive.

'And he told me that he'd spoken with Boris Johnson and that they'd also talked about the situation in Italy.

'I remember he said: "He told me that he wants herd immunity". I remember that after hanging up, I said to myself that I hope Boris Johnson goes for a lockdown.'

The Cabinet Office denied the claims made in the documentary and said: 'The Government has been very clear that herd immunity has never been our policy or goal.'
FILE PHOTO: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks at a news conference on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran would be open to talks with the United States if Washington apologises for exiting a 2015 nuclear deal and compensates Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, cautioning that U.S. calls for discussions were insincere.

The confrontation between arch foes Tehran and Washington has worsened since 2018, when U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with major powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.

Iran has refused to hold any talks with the United States, which is trying to force Tehran to negotiate a new deal, unless Washington lifts sanctions on Tehran and returns to the original agreement.

In a tweet in early June, Trump repeated Washington's call for a new deal with Tehran aimed at putting stricter limits on Tehran's nuclear work, curbs its ballistic missile program and ends its decades of regional proxy wars.

"We have no problem with talks with the U.S., but only if Washington fulfils its obligations under the nuclear deal, apologies and compensates Tehran for its withdrawal from the 2015 deal," Rouhani said in a televised speech.

"But we know these calls for talks with Tehran are just words and lies," he added.

In retaliation for Washington's 'maximum pressure' policy, Iran has gradually scaled back its nuclear commitments, a process Tehran says is reversible if the European parties to the pact carry out their promises to shield Iran's economy from U.S. penalties.

"The Europeans have failed to fulfil their promises. They should carry out their obligations," Rouhani said.

Rouhani also blasted a resolution by the U.N. nuclear watchdog passed on Friday that called on Iran to stop denying the agency access to two suspected former sites and to cooperate fully with it.

"Iran is ready to cooperate with the (International Atomic Energy Agency) IAEA under law," he said.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Andrew Heavens, William Maclean)
COVID-19 spreads from person to person through droplet and contact transmission. That's why contact tracing and quarantining have been included as one approach to control the spread of the virus. The aim is to ensure that the number of new cases generated by each confirmed case is maintained below the effective reproduction number.

This process entails identification, assessment and quarantining of people who have been exposed to the virus. But COVID-19 can be transmitted before people are symptomatic. Therefore, in an effort to prevent further transmission, one-step-ahead tracing and preemptive quarantining are important measures in limiting the spread of the disease.

President Cyril Ramaphosa acted swiftly once the first cases were identified in South Africa by declaring a national state of disaster. Among the measures taken was the gazetting of amended regulations for contact tracing . These allowed for the creation of an electronic contact tracing database in which the personal information of people infected with COVID-19  or suspected to have come into contact with infected persons  could be aggregated. Personal information was to be collected from a variety of sources. This included mass testing as well as contact tracing using digital surveillance technologies.

But contact tracing poses a range of challenges  from technological through to the protection of personal privacy. South Africa needs to be cognisant of both if it's going apply this correctly.

Technology issues

China and Singapore reported success in the use of cellular phones in the fight against COVID-19. Their success has been dependent on smartphone applications that collect GPS and bluetooth location and proximity data. Smartphone applications are also being used in a number of developed countries as virtual health passports .

This isn't possible in the South African context as only 51% of people surveyed were reported to own smartphones.

South Africa relies on the triangulation of cell tower metadata supplied by electronic communication service providers. This is also problematic. In rural areas with few towers, triangulation is not possible. In urban areas, buildings scatter signals. Even under ideal conditions and with a high density of cell towers, it can only locate a phone to approximately 100 metres. This technology does not allow for identification of close contacts or retrospective traces.

Given these limitations, it is highly unlikely that cellular telephone tracing using cell tower metadata will contribute to identifying or locating COVID-19 cases or contacts in the country.

Read more: Mobile phone data is useful in coronavirus battle. But are people protected enough?

Privacy issues

In South Africa, marred by historical systematic discrimination, recent abuses of power and continued social marginalisation, particular consideration needs to be given to the measures being used to contain the spread of COVID-19.

There is provision in South Africa law for cellular phone data to be accessed . Data are primarily used in anti-crime activities, and access requires a court order from a judge. Allegations that the information has been used in covert and unauthorised ways have raised suspicion. The use of some information has been challenged in the courts and in late 2019, the Gauteng High Court struck down key parts of the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication Related Information Act as being an affront to the constitutional right to privacy.

What is to stop the state from using the information gathered for contact tracing as a security measure  or for other purposes that fall outside the realm of public health?

In the case of COVID-19, the regulations authorise the Director-General of Health to issue tracking orders. The regulations also instruct the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services to appoint a retired High Court judge as the COVID-19 Designated Judge. Justice Kate O'Regan, a retired Constitutional Court judge, was appointed to oversee the contact tracing database.

To protect public health via contact tracing, balancing privacy rights with other constitutional rights is essential. This is not an easy task. The rights of people in the midst of an epidemic must be considered in both the textual setting of the South African Constitution and their socioeconomic setting.

Health data qualify as special personal information in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 . Additional safeguards are required when health data are collected, processed and stored. The Act was due to come into effect on 1 April 2020, but this has been postponed due to the pandemic.

This has left South Africa with its constitutional and common law protection of privacy.

Balancing act

A person's right to access healthcare is determined by an intricately linked bundle of human rights. This includes the right to dignity, bodily and psychological integrity and privacy.

The government's power to limit any rights during a pandemic by collecting personal information for purposes of contact tracing must be considered against its constitutional obligations. This includes taking reasonable measures to achieve the realisation of these rights within available resources.

Balancing these rights is nuanced by South Africa's socioeconomic context, which influences how the rights may be exercised. For example, 13% of the population live in informal settlements, making it difficult to implement evidence based preventative methods such as social distancing and shelter in place directives.

In addition, South Africa relies on guidelines for ethical data management issued by international bodies for protection of people's privacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its electronic contact tracing database is aligned with the interim guidance of the World Health Organisation on contact tracing during COVID-19.

The World Health Organisation has also provided training material and a link to software developed to enable countries to properly manage case-contact relationships and follow-up contacts.

The most essential data privacy principles include transparency, accountability, information quality, security and data subject participation. Data processing, consisting of collection, storage and use, must be lawful and for a clearly defined purpose. This purpose will determine the limits of use.

Protection of privacy goes much deeper than merely protection of personal information. The protection of personal information is fundamental to non-discrimination, human dignity and the freedoms of speech, association, movement and trade. These rights are central to any open and democratic society. The wellbeing and safety of a society as a whole during pandemics rely heavily on the codependent relationships between society, its individuals and their government.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted weak points in the preparedness of countries to deal with large scale health care disasters. It has also pointed out constitutional weaknesses and shortcomings. Capitalising on the fear of another war and in realising his political ambition to establish the United Nations after WWII, Winston Churchill said Never let a good crisis go to waste.

Similarly, many modern-day politicians are exploiting the current crisis to strengthen their positions of power. The challenge for society is to seek to improve protection of rights and freedoms during the crisis, rather than to acquiesce in their abrogation.

Michael Sean Pepper receives funding from the South African Medical Research Council and the University of Pretoria

Anne Pope, Camille Castelyn, Ignatius Michael Viljoen, and Marietjie Botes do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Michael Sean Pepper, Director, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine & SAMRC Extramural Unit for Stem Cell Research & Therapy, University of Pretoria And

Marietjie Botes, Post Doctoral Researcher, University of Pretoria
National governments around the country began temporarily shutting down schools and universities as a measure to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading, in the first week of March2020. It's near one month, and when they reopen, there is no certainty. This is a crucial time for the education sector, such as board exams, nursery school entries, entry tests at various universities and contest exams, etc. Over the next days, with no immediate solution to end the Covid-19 outbreak, school and university closures will not only impact the continuity of learning for over 285 million young students in India in the short term, but also have far-reaching economic and social implications. These closures were the first to affect the structure of education and learning, including the methodologies for teaching and evaluation.

Online teaching methods could only be adopted by a handful of private schools. On the other hand they have completely shut down their low-income private and government schools because they lack access to E-Learning solutions. The students are under pressure from both social and economic stress, in addition to the missed learning opportunities. The higher education sector was also significantly affected by the pandemic, a critical factor that determines the economic future of a country.

A large number of Indian students  Chinese only, second only  enroll in universities outside the United States, Canada, Australia and China, especially in countries worst affected by the pandemic. Many of these graduates have already been stopped from joining school. In the long term, a decline in international higher education demand is expected. If the situation persists. However, it is the disease's impact on the job rate that is of great interest to all. Recent Indian graduates fear that companies will withdraw jobs due to the current situation.

Estimates from the Center for the Surveillance of the Indian Economy on unemployment rose from 8.4% in the middle of March to 23% in early April, and urban unemployment to 30.9%. The pandemic of course transformed the hundred-year - old model of tactical talk into a technologically-driven one. This disruption in training leads policy makers to understand how engagement is to be promoted on a large scale, while ensuring inclusive E-learning solutions and addressing the digital gap. To manage the crisis and build a resilient Indian education system in the long term, a multipronged strategy is necessary.

Immediate action is essential to ensure that government schools and universities continue to learn. Open-source tools for multimedia learning and learning management applications can be used to ensure teachers can teach digitally. This can change the education system, enable students and teachers to choose from various options and increase the efficiency of education and training. Many aspirating districts have initiated innovative mobile learning models that can be adopted by others for the effective delivery of education.

Strategies to prepare for the growing demand trends worldwide for higher education , particularly in relation to student movement and faculty mobility worldwide and improving the quality and demand of higher education in India are required. In order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on job offers, internships, research projects, immediate action is also needed. In order to create a cohesive learning network, it is also necessary to reconsider existing approaches for teaching and teaching in school and college, merging classroom education seamlessly with the e-learning modes. The biggest problem with EDTech reforms at national level is to implement the technology smoothly in Indian education, with over 15 lakh schools and 50 000 colleges, the most diversified and highest education network in the world at present.

In addition , it is important for HEIs in India, as well as E-Learning platforms (with a rapid growth) to establish quality assurance mechanisms and benchmarks in online study. Many e-Learning players are offering several courses with different certification levels, methodology and evaluation parameters on the same subjects. Therefore, classes can vary from one E-Learning platform to another. Traditional Indian knowledge is well known worldwide for its scientific innovation, values and advantages in developing sustainable technologies and medicines.

Indian traditional knowledge system courses should be integrated into today's mainstream university education, to serve the larger cause of humanity in the areas of yoga, Indian Medicine, Architecture, Hydraulics, Ethnobotany, Metallurgy and Agravity. With the task of closing up schools and colleges, the Indian union, government departments, and private players have published regularly details on various initiatives conducted by ministries such as the MHRD, the Technical Education Department, the NCERT and others to support young people and students.

A few actions include SWAYAM's on-line teachers' course, CEC-UGC YouTube Center, Vidwan, a database of information experts and prospectives, and a PPP-based initiative, based on Aicte, which offers information to peers and prospectives collaborateurs, including e-PG Pathshala and e-inhalte modules on social sciences, arts, fine arts, natural and mathematical sciences, and AICTE. Regardless of the technologies available, the online lessons are only as strong as the instructors and students' ability to understand the latest teaching process. One of the teachers thought that the students in online classrooms were generally more open and active compared to traditional classrooms. It may be because the theory is fresh and the teachers are looking forward to discussing it.

Often, their peers are not troubled, even in a normal classroom. Teachers see the lack of a blackboard as a drawback and network connectivity as a constant problem. In the absence of the transparency of a blackboard, they are quite associated with the virtual whiteboard on Zoom application. Most schools arrange the timetable according to the topic weighting, distributed over the entire week.

They also ensure that everything from attendance to student assignments is done in the same way as their regular classroom, so that students don't have to struggle to cope. Students who miss classes are contacted instantly through WhatsApp and proper reasons are taken. Schools are continuously sending out circulars and text messages, holding parent registration and testing processes where senior teachers are updating classrooms and collecting input to strengthen them in the future. Yet there is no doubt that this is e-learning journey for all of us. The consistency of online learning requires future studies.

At present, there was little room to get into the specifics of quality control of the electronic teaching system, because the key priority was to save the education process and to continue it in whatever way possible. When changing physical education into online education, the country requiress to estimate how successful was the process for the whole country or the world.
ATLANTA  A prosecutor on Wednesday announced that three men have been indicted on murder charges in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in coastal Georgia.

Prosecutor Joyette Holmes said a Glynn County grand jury has indicted Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael and William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. on charges including malice and felony murder in the death of the African American man.

This is another positive step, another great step for finding justice for Ahmaud, for finding justice for this family and the community beyond, Holmes said during the news conference, which was streamed online by news outlets.

Lawyers for the McMichaels have cautioned against a rush to judgment and have said the full story will come out in court. A lawyer for Bryan has maintained that his client was merely a witness.

Arbery was slain Feb. 23 when the Greg and Travis McMichael, a white father and son, armed themselves and pursued the 25-year-old Black man running in their neighborhood. Greg McMichael told police he suspected Arbery was a burglar and that Arbery attacked his son before being shot.

Bryan lives in the same subdivision, just outside the port city of Brunswick. Bryan said he saw the McMichaels driving by and joined the chase, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified earlier this month.

It wasn't until May 7  two days after Bryan's cellphone video leaked online and stirred a national outcry  that the McMichaels were arrested. Bryan was arrested on May 22, and an arrest warrant said he tried "to confine and detain" Arbery without legal authority by "utilizing his vehicle on multiple occasions" before Arbery was shot.

In addition to malice murder and felony murder charges, the McMichaels and Bryan each are charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

Court functions in Georgia have been severely limited in recent months because of a statewide judicial emergency declared by the chief justice of the state Supreme Court in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Holmes said they were able to call in a grand jury that had been impaneled prior to the judicial emergency. They followed public guidelines, providing hand sanitizer to the grand jurors and allowing them to sit far apart, she said.

Because of the uncertainty caused by the virus, the Arbery family didn't know when the next steps would be taken after a probable cause hearing held earlier this month, Holmes said. But they were notified as soon as the grand jury returned an indictment, she said.

The family was ecstatic to hear that it had happened this morning," she said.

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Visitors to the presidential office take photos, Sept. 9, 2018, at a special exhibition at Cheong Wa Dae to commemorate the inter-Korean summit a few months earlier on April 27./Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae



By Do Je-hae



The 1950-53 Korean War is still very much a factor in the lives of Koreans today, and peace remains an elusive goal as the two Koreas mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict.



Since then the two Koreas have taken diverging paths, experiencing intermittent closeness during certain periods such as the liberal administrations of former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, and the earlier phase of the Moon Jae-in presidency under an engagement-centric North Korea policy.



One of the questions that is on the minds of many proponents for Korean peace is why the two countries, even after so many decades have passed, are not closer, despite various agreements for peace and reconciliation.



As a "driver" in the Korean Peninsula's "peace process," President Moon has exerted all-out efforts, but inter-Korean relations have plummeted recently to the lowest level in years after the North's unilateral destruction of an inter-Korean liaison office and other moves likely to discard the Panmunjeom Declaration signed between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on April 27, 2018.



Factors perpetuating division



Experts contacted by The Korea Times on the occasion of the 70th anniversary highlighted a range of international and domestic factors that have perpetuated division.



"North Korea is now a nuclear-weapons state, something the U.S. simply won't admit to or craft policies to mitigate. Instead, Washington demands Pyongyang surrender its nuclear arsenal  its only security, the ultimate military insurance policy  something most likely it will never do," said Harry J. Kazianis, senior director of Korean studies at the Center for the National Interest.



Many experts have suggested Kim's ultimate goal in talking to the U.S. is to gain recognition as a nuclear power.





President Moon Jae in, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hug each other ahead of a summit at the North's side of Panmunjeom, May 26, 2018. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae



"Until Washington is able to summon the political courage to deal with North Korea as it is  instead of how it wants it to be or how it wants it to act  there will never be a diplomatic breakthrough that guarantees true so-called peace," Kazianis said.



Donald Kirk, a veteran columnist and correspondent covering Korean Peninsula issues for decades, highlighted the rivalry among the major powers as one of the big reasons preventing the two Koreas from achieving peace in the last 70 years.



"The Korean Peninsula is at the vortex of huge countries caught up in great power rivalries," he said. "Korean kings paid homage to Chinese rulers for centuries before the Japanese, having defeated the Chinese in 1895, took over the country. Russia, defeated by Japan in 1905, also has a strategic interest in the Korean Peninsula. The United States fought for the preservation of the anti-communist South in the drive to stop communism, as perceived in North Korea's invasion of South Korea with the support of both newly Communist China and the Soviet Union. These same major powers continue to have a stake in Korea," he said.



"Rivalries among them may not be the only reason for the failure to achieve peace, but they certainly rank at the top of the list of factors perpetuating the division of the peninsula."



There are also domestic factors, according to Lee Seong-hyon, the director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the Sejong Institute. "South Korea has been ineffective without a leader who could unite South Koreans before uniting the two Koreas," Lee said, adding that South Korea first needs a leader with a "sophisticated understanding of global politics and wisdom to heal South Korea's polarized politics" before talking about unification.



Way forward





Seven decades on, foreign veterans look back on Korean War Exhibition seeks peace, healing in memory of Korean War Korean War veteran recalls working at US airbase Analysts underlined that to overcome the current impasse and defuse political tension, the key parties concerned  the two Koreas, U.S. and China  should keep diplomatic channels open.



"The first rule of keeping tensions down is to keep channels of dialogue open. All four parties reduce risks of conflict by staying at the table, even when negotiations are not making progress. The U.S. and China can support the dialogue process by stepping up their efforts when the two Koreas are reducing or severing the lines of communication, as is occurring at present," said John Delury, a professor of Chinese Studies at Yonsei University Graduate School of International Studies.



Experts highlighted that efforts toward mutual trust, cooperation and various exchanges must continue despite the current difficulties. Such efforts can lead to actual outcomes, such as reunions of divided families.



"The best they can do is to go on trying to talk to one another. The problem is that no deal with North Korea seems to work. Despite all the words on paper, North Korea has gone on producing nuclear warheads and other weapons of mass destruction plus the missiles for firing them at distant targets," Kirk said. "One dividend of the summit between Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il was an agreement on regular reunions of families divided by the Korean War."



Mason Richey, an associate professor of international politics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said the involved parties need to "work together seriously, strategically, in a sustained fashioned, and in good faith to build trust through simultaneous, phased action-for-action on a range of issues including denuclearization of North Korea, economic cooperation, military confidence-building and people-to-people exchanges."



For a real breakthrough for peace, a declaration of the end of the war is seen as crucial, according to some experts.



"In order for there to be a real breakthrough in inter-Korean as well as U.S.-North Korea relations, an end of war declaration is essential. All sides need to have some sort of historical closure, but also embrace the end of the Korean War as the first step of a long process of reconciliation and compromise that will lead to an overall lowering of tensions," Kazianis said.



"By ending the Korean War, if Donald Trump, Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un were all to sign some sort of agreement, they would all do something that no other leaders that have tackled this issue have done  and gain politically from that act. This will all give them the ability later to make tough compromises that will be needed to continue any sort of peace drive  such as embracing arms control first instead of demanding North Korea completely hand over all of its nuclear weapons."



Moon's peace overture



With North Korea taking a path toward more conflict lately, concerns are rising about Moon's North Korea policy centered on engagement. Already, the outcomes of his previous efforts such as the three summits with Kim are being harshly contested.



President Moon Jae-in is greeted by North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo-jong at the North's side of Panmunjeom, May 26, 2018, ahead of the second Moon-Kim summit. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae

"History will record that Moon failed because he didn't get enough support from Seoul's main ally, Washington. In private conversations in Washington, Moon is seen as a pro-China figure. This is the blind spot in South Korea's public diplomacy in Washington," Lee said.



Moon has shown an intense focus on having a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping here, primarily for economic reasons, but soliciting Xi's help with the Korean Peninsula issue is also a major motivation for Moon's keen efforts to improve relations with Beijing this year.



Lee, an expert in Korea-China relations, says Korea needs a clearer understanding of China's stance in the peninsula issue. "China prefers a stable status quo on the Korean Peninsula, which is divided. That means, China is good at crisis management, but is ineffective in crisis resolution of the nuclear issue. South Korea fails to distinguish the two. Xi will not pressure Kim to give up nukes, but he can tell Kim to tone down provocations."



A change in the U.S. administration could also be good for Moon, according to professor Delury. "President Moon may have one more chance at progress toward peace if there is a change of administration in Washington. The transition to a new U.S. president would open up possibilities, although success would require extraordinary diplomatic skill, political courage and a dose of good luck."



Outlook on unification



Seventy years after the outbreak of the tragic war, some Koreans wonder if unification is still an attainable goal in the long run. But experts say it is better for them to remain apart until they can actually learn to get along and co-exist first.



"For the foreseeable future, the people of the two Koreas are probably better off learning how to get along  in other words, realize a peaceful coexistence. Neither side looks ready for unification. It would be momentous enough to achieve peace," Delury said.




Haryana Panipat murder case: Carpenter arrested in UP, admits killing second wife, her sons in 2016

Indian couple murdered by Pakistan man in Dubai

International

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Dubai, June 24: An Indian couple from Gujarat were found murdered and their teenage daughter brutally injured by a Pakistani national here.

The incident occurred last week during a break in and robbery bid. The couple, Hiren Adhiya and Vidhi Adhiya, both in their 40s were killed on June 18, according to a report in Daijiworld.

Covid in Delhi: Screening to be done at all households in capital by July 6 | Oneindia News

9 found dead in well in Telangana were murdered by a man to cover up another killing

They were residing at a villa in the Arabian ranches. Their two children, aged 13 and 18 were at home when the incident took place. The elder daughter was stabbed when came face to face with the accused. She escaped with minor injuries.

Hiren Wass a senior director at a Sharjah oil and gas constructor and he had moved to Dubai with his family three years back.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty ImagesBy ALI DUKAKIS, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- A week before President Donald Trump's longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone was scheduled to turn himself in to federal prison in Georgia to begin his more than three-year sentence, his lawyers filed a motion seeking to delay his surrender, citing the deadly risk posed by the coronavirus outbreak.



This motion is based on the exceptional circumstances arising from the serious and possibly deadly risk [Stone] would face in the close confines of a Bureau of Prisons facility, based on his age and medical conditions, the motion says. Those medical conditions make the consequences of his exposure to the COVID-19 virus in a prison facility life-threatening.



The 67-year-old was sentenced to 40 months in prison on Feb. 20 by Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, D.C. Stone's attorneys also asked to file a letter under seal from a physician concerning their client's medical conditions.



A jury found Stone guilty of lying to Congress and misleading investigators on several key elements of their probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Stone was a central figure in communications with the Trump campaign about the WikiLeaks plan to disseminate private email and other documents stolen from senior Democrats.



Jackson will need to sign off on the latest bid by Stone to delay his sentence, but his motion was unopposed by the Department of Justice. Late Tuesday, Jackson ordered the Justice Department to make their own filing to explain its position on Stones start date.



The request comes as the prosecutor who handled Stones case is preparing to tell Congress that he repeatedly felt pressured to go easy on Stone because of the defendants personal friendship with the president.



The Republican political strategist, who lives in Florida, was scheduled to report to a federal prison camp in Georgia to serve his sentence beginning June 30. Stone's attorneys asked that the start date be pushed back to Sept. 3. The prison assignment location is not expected to change if Stones motion to delay his surrender is granted.



While five inmates at the Georgia prison camp have been tested for coronavirus, there are no confirmed positive cases at the facility, according to current Bureau of Prisons data reviewed by ABC News and cited in Tuesday's filing.



A spokesperson for BOP referred ABC News' questions to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Washington, D.C. A request to the Justice Department for comment was not immediately answered. Stone's attorney Seth Ginsberg did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.



Stone had previously moved to have a new trial, alleging juror misconduct, but Judge Jackson denied the request, writing in her decision that "the conviction is final, and that Stone failed to "[supply] any reason to believe that there has been 'a serious miscarriage of justice.'"



In late April, Stone filed a notice of appeal with the D.C. circuit court. Attorneys representing Stone on appeal, Ginsberg along with David Schoen, wrote that Stone is appealing Jackson's judgement in his criminal case imposing his sentencing and the judge's order denying Stone's bid for a new trial.



At Stone's sentencing, Jackson recommended Stone serve his sentence as close as possible to his family in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
President Akufo-Addo yesterday bade farewell to the Chinese and Australian envoys, Shi Ting Wang and Andrew Barnes respectively, as they end their duty tour of the country.

At a short ceremony at the Jubilee House, the President was full of praise for the outgoing Chinese ambassador for his sterling performance during his short stay in the country.

The ambassador is credited for facilitating several high-profile visits to China, including that of Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and President Akufo-Addo himself.

It was during Shi Ting Wang's duty tour that the Chinese Vice-Premier, Ms. Sun Chunlan, visited Ghana and later the signing of the Sinohydro deal between Ghana and China, as well as the signing of a deal for the construction of the James Town fishing harbour and several landing sites in the country took place.

As a result, President Akufo-Addo said so much has happened in our relations with China largely because of you. You have proved to be a strong and dedicated friend of our country, so we all have to be sad that such a good friend of ours is leaving our shores.

That, he said, was the reason his recall back home came to him as a surprise since he was expecting him to stay a bit longer than the two years.

In view of that, the President said apart from the normal gifts that we give to departing diplomats, in your case, we have an additional exceptional gift to it for you to see exactly how much we have appreciated you and your stay in the country. He wished the ambassador good luck in his endeavours.

The outgoing ambassador could not help thanking the President for his kind words and the government and people of Ghana for the warm reception and support given him during his duty tour.

Our relations have been further strengthened facing the challenge of Covid-19; we have supported each other and have cooperated very well. At the beginning of this year, when China was in difficulties, you gave us a lot of support. You are one of the first Presidents to write a letter of solidarity to our President. Now, in return, we have also given you a lot of support, he said.

He, therefore, expressed hope that the world would soon overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.

On his part, the outgoing Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Andrew Barnes, said he equally enjoyed every bit of his four-year stay in Ghana and commended government for its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

President Akufo-Addo congratulated him and wished him Godspeed and best of luck in his next assignment.

---Daily Guide
Need something a little bit special for your next date night at home? We do, too. Thankfully, Biggby Coffee co-CEO Bob Fish invited us into his kitchen again via video and shared one of his signature cocktail recipes with MLive, a Blackberry Sage Latte cocktail.

This cocktail, reminiscent of a White Russian, would certainly make Jeffrey Lebowski happy. This is the Dude abides 2020, Fish said.

The drink features a blend of liquors, strong coffee, and a hint of fruit, for something thats creamy, sweet and complex. Fish and his wife, Michelle, host their own date night every Friday where they take inspiration from seasonal selections on Biggbys menu and turn them into adult favorites.

At Biggby, weve been trying a lot more things with herbs and spices and so on. Its a little progressive, Fish said. This one seemed really exciting to do.

The cocktail itself is fairly easy to make, but has a few additions that take it over the top. Rimming the glass in sugar adds a sweet note, while the garnish of sage and berries plays off the herbaceous notes of the gin. Add in the extra strong coffee, which we brewed using Biggbys Best Blend, and youve got a pretty special little drink.

Biggby got its start in East Lansing in 1995, and was at the forefront of the coffeehouse movement in Michigan. They now are a franchise business, with 247 stores, and 55 more in development. One of the things that has changed since they first opened is the customers interest in the provenance of their coffee. Customers now want to know where it was grown, how it was grown, and who grew it, and Biggby has been listening.

Biggby has made a commitment to purchase 50% of their coffee farmer direct by 2023. That means the company will be buying straight from the people who grow it, not something that is all that easy to do. Purchasing direct creates transparency about the farming process and practices, creates a more positive economic impact for the growers, and brings really great coffee to your glass.

One of the farms that they are working with, and one that the Fishs have personally visited, is El Recreo Coffee Estate in Jinotega, Nicaragua. El Recreo is Rainforest Alliance Certified, and practices both environmental and ethical responsibility. The estate also founded a small trade school in 2006, where locals can learn all aspects of coffee farming, from water management to proper ways to taste the finished product. Over 800 people have gone through the program so far, bringing a much greater knowledge of sustainable coffee growing to the region.

Another group that Biggby is working with is Living Hope Coffee, a farm located in Ndola, Zambia that uses the profits from the farm to run an orphanage for children. They import the green coffee, and then roast it to their specifications. With this product, they get the opportunity to do some good half way around the world.

Currently, Biggby goes through about 2 million pounds of coffee each year. A commitment to purchase half of that direct from farmers who are making a difference in their communities is something they believe can make a positive change, one cup at a time.

We brewed up an extra strong batch of Biggby Best blend for our cocktail. Its a smooth little roast, and one that compliments a variety of flavor additions. I made a double strong batch in my drip coffee machine, while Bob made his in a very cool device called the Aero Press, which forces water through coffee grounds at a high rate of pressure, creating a lovely shot of espresso without all the expensive, fancy machines.

You can watch our video below, and weve got the complete recipe for you to recreate at home as well. You can also grab a non-alcoholic Blackberry Sage Latte at Biggby, for a limited time.

Fresh sage and juicy blackberries make up the garnish on this cocktail recipe from Biggby.

Learn more about the story behind Biggby, and how they got started, as well as get the recipe for Bob Fishs Tiramisu Latte cocktail here.

What makes a really great coffee cocktail? According to Fish, its about hitting on some notes and naming the drink that you can identify before you even taste it. Then all I have to do is deliver on your expectations.

Identify your favorite cocktail, and reinvent it, Fish said. Maybe it needs to have coffee in it, maybe it doesnt. But Id like to have people reinvent whats familiar to them.

The line up of ingredients for the Blackberry Sage Latte cocktail, including the finished drink.

Bob Fishs Blackberry Sage Latte Cocktail

For two cocktails:

The garnish:

8 Blackberries

6 Sage Leaves (small)

1 oz Monin Blackberry Syrup

2 tbls Sugar (Bob uses Bakers Sugar because of its very fine grain, but regular sugar works, too)

2 toothpicks

Pour the Monin syrup into a small bowl, and do the same with the sugar. Dip each cocktail glass top into the syrup and let it drip off for a few seconds. Then dip the edge of the glass into the sugar to give it a sweet rim.

Dip each sage leaf in the syrup and then in the sugar to candy it. Make the garnish by threading a blackberry onto the toothpick, then a couple of sage leaves, then another blackberry. Set these aside until ready to use them.

The cocktail:

4 oz White Rum (Bob used Bayou Rum, we used KoHana Rum)

2 oz Gin (Bob used The Botanist, we used Iron Fish Woodland Gin)

2 oz Monin Blackberry Syrup

2 oz Espresso or very strong coffee (watch Bob make cheaters espresso here)

Half and Half to Taste

Crushed Ice

Mix together the rum, gin, blackberry syrup and coffee. Fill your glasses almost to the top with crushed ice. Pour the cocktail mix into the glass, filling it up to about 1/2 an inch from the top. Top off with a splash or two of the half and half. Garnish the cocktails with the prepared berry garnish. Cheers and enjoy.

White rum, Gin, coffee and blackberry combine to make a boozy little drink from Biggby.

To find a Biggby near you, check out their locations here.
Along with Singh, the CBI has also named three others, D S Poonia, PC Lawmuknga, O Nabakishore Singh -- all retired IAS officers.

New Delhi: The CBI questioned Congress leader and ex-Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh in Imphal for nearly three hours on Wednesday in connection with alleged misappropriation of Rs 332 crore development funds for the state, officials said.

The probe agency has summoned retired IAS officer O Nabakishore Singh, also a former chairman of Manipur Development Society, for questioning on Thursday, they said.

Both O Ibobi Singh and O Nabakishore Singh have been booked as they held the post of chairman, Manipur Development Society, where the alleged embezzlement of funds took place, they said.

The CBI action came at a time when BJP-led coalition government in the state government has plunged into crisis after nine MLAs withdrew support.

The BJP on Tuesday took four National People's Party (NPP) 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.

A CBI team from the agency headquarters here had reached Imphal on Tuesday for questioning the accused based there.

When asked about the timing of the questioning, the agency officials had said it was part of an ongoing investigation in which some persons have already been examined.

The CBI had taken over the case on November 20 last year on the request of the state's BJP government.

It is alleged that Ibobi Singh conspired with others during his tenure as the chairman of the Manipur Development Society (MDS) from June 2009 to July 2017, and misappropriated government funds worth approximately Rs 332 crore, out of Rs 518 crore that was entrusted to them for development works, according to the officials.

Along with Singh, the CBI has also named three former MDS chairmen -- D S Poonia, PC Lawmuknga, O Nabakishore Singh -- all retired IAS officers.

Y Ningthem Singh, the former project director of MDS and S Ranjit Singh, its administrative officer have also been named in the FIR.
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In a normal year, 2 million U.S. Christians would be preparing for and traveling on short-term mission trips right now. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent Barna Group survey reports that 43 percent of churches have canceled trips or are considering canceling this year. While many of us are disappointed that we will be staying home, we now have some time to reflect on the risks, challenges, and value of short-term missions.

In 2006, fresh out of college, feeling called to do more and utilize my time and (limited) talent to care for vulnerable children, I packed my bags for South Africa to attend a training school on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The school was connected to an orphanage, where I met Jacob.* He was separated from his family and placed in the orphanage. I tried to spend as much time with him as I could, hoping the love I had to give would help him know that he was valuable and worthy of love.

I cherished the three months I was at the training school, but dreaded the impending goodbye as I approached the orphanages cottage to break the news to Jacob and the other children I had come to love. I cried as I explained my departure, yet I was thankful for the impact these children had on my life, what I had learned from them, and the time I had playing with them. I treasured these last moments, hoping to remember them forever.

What I didnt consider was how Jacob felt as I said goodbye. Would he remember our time together, and what feelings might be associated with those memories? Was he confused and hurt, as yet another visitor from America who told him that she cared about him returned home?

Impact of Orphanage Volunteering

The effectiveness of mission trips to orphanages has been debated in recent years. More people recognize the risks these visits pose for vulnerable children and the impact they have on how communities choose to care for them.

A growing evidence base shows that short-term visitors coming into and going out of orphanages, however well-intentioned and organized, exacerbates the existing insecure attachment of children who live there. In my desire to do good, I likely caused harm to an already vulnerable child.

Additionally, decades of research tell us that 80 percent of children living in a residential care facility have a living parent, and poverty is the primary motivation for placing their children in orphanages. Other leading reasons include a familys inability to provide for the education of a child and inability to meet the needs of a child with disabilities. Consider the impossible choice a parent has to make between placing their child in an orphanage or keeping their child, knowing they cannot provide for him or her.

Evidence in neuroscience and social science, as well as research on outcomes for children, all suggests that children need to be cared for in families. Even Scripture agrees. Psalm 98:6 tells us that Gods design was always for children to grow and develop in families.

Mission trips to orphanages not only increase risks to children, but they also support a system that requires children to be separated from their parents for their physical needs to be met.

A Better Approach to Short-Term Missions

Fortunately, in my reflection and learning about short-term missions, I discovered a wealth of information and guidance on how the spiritual and practical impact of short-term mission trips can improve.

According to the Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission (SOE), the best mission trips are planned with great intention and consider all who are impacted by the trip including trip-goers, senders, and receivers. Here are five high-level best practices in short-term missions:

1. Engage in in-country partnerships. Whether church-to-church, organization-to-church, school-to-organization, or other arrangement, long-term missions partnerships with local in-country entities can best support community transformation. Locally based partners are best suited to determine the most appropriate and effective ways to serve and how to utilize short-term missions.

2. Empower local people. While you may be tempted to partner with those who have the greatest need, best practices suggest that its best to partner with those who approach their work with excellence. Ministry should always complement what local leaders are already doing, which makes a deeper and wider impact than if they were working alone. For example, construction projects may actually be best completed by locals with financial support from the missions team instead of the team members doing all the construction themselves. Let your time and support come alongside what God is already doing in community.

3. Support mutually beneficial activities. It is important to recognize that short-term missions over the last 20 years have placed great focus on the goer. For example, rocking babies in an orphanage is a wonderful experience for a visitor, but has a potentially negative impact for children. Together, organizers and hosts should design ministry efforts that meaningfully benefit both the goers and the receivers and do not unintentionally contribute harm to those they intend to serve.

4. Assess motivations for taking a trip. We must consider our motivations for going on a trip and our expectations for what we will gain from our experience. For those eager to help vulnerable children, common expectations include the hope of having an emotional connection to the children they visit or a desire to be the answer to the needs of a child. These motivations are rooted in an important instinct to protect children, but fail to address sustainable, long-term solutions for the children and their families. To ensure that trips support what is best for children, setting clear goals and expectations prior to the trip is vital.

5. Be a humble learner. God is already well at work in the community you plan to visit. Trip organizers must humbly trust their ministry partners on the ground and empower them to lead. It is important to take the time to learn about the context and culture of our visits and not assume that we have something to bring or to do for those we will meet. Ask your partner about the most appropriate and helpful ways to support their work. Let the local staff be the heroes.

I have slowly begun to rebuild my faith in short-term mission trips by investing in organizations who are strengthening communities to care well for their children and families.

What We Can Do Now

While we might not be able to travel this year to the mission field, we need to find alternative ways to serve. Organizations serving vulnerable populations need our support more than ever. COVID-19 is presenting extreme challenges to already vulnerable families. Now is the time to shift from considering our contribution as simply a one-week service trip to, instead, seeing it as a committed partnership. Find partners doing the hard work that brings sustainable outcomes and combats injustice.

Once you have found your partner (perhaps its the same organization you planned on visiting), ask them how you can help and volunteer from home. You dont have to travel a great distance to make a cross-cultural impact. Examples include writing for the organization, providing graphic or web design, assisting with fundraising, or starting a crowd funding campaign to encourage giving. Become a committed prayer partner, funding partner, advocate, and storyteller, highlighting the organization and mission you were not able to engage face to face.

As our mission trips this spring and summer get canceled, the disappointment we feel is real and the loss is worth mourning. However, this time can be used to help rethink how weve done mission trips in the past and imagine how our mission trips can be improved to make us a better reflection of Christ to those we seek to support.
President Trump has been criticized ahead of hosting Polish president Andrzej Duda today by LGBT and human rights groups because of Duda's anti-LGBT views and rhetoric.

Duda has claimed that the 'threat from LGBT ideology greater than Communism', and has vowed to 'protect' Polish families from what he calls 'LGBT ideology' during his on-going reelection campaign in the country.

Trump is being accused of sending a message of support to those looking to discriminate against LGBT people and other minorities by hosting Poland's president at the White House days before his visitor faces a tougher than expected fight for reelection.

Trump is scheduled to meet Duda today, four days before the first round of Poland's presidential election. The visit, announced last week after Trump said he planned to remove thousands of U.S. troops from Germany, is expected to include discussions on defense and economic issues.

It is believed that some of the American troops could be transferred to Poland, a NATO member on the alliance's eastern flank. Poland is one of Europe's most enthusiastically pro-American countries and the visit could give Duda a boost as he seeks a second 5-year term.

Pictured: US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Polish President Andrzej Duda during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 23, 2019. Polish President Andrzej Duda will be hoping for a pre-election windfall from a trip to Washington on June 24, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Poland's President Andrzej Duda, leave at the end of a joint press conference, in Warsaw, Poland. Trump and Duda will meet at the White House on June 24, four days ahead of a presidential election in Poland in which Duda, a conservative, is seeking reelection

Public television in Poland, which is controlled by the ruling Law and Justice ruling party that backs Duda, has pushed a similar message about the LGBT rights movement, which many conservatives in mostly Catholic Poland see as a foreign import and a threat to their culture.

The populist Law and Justice embraced the same messages critical of the LGBT rights movement before the parliamentary election it won last year. Several municipalities in Poland have declared themselves 'LGBT free.'

Public television has also been using anti-Semitic tropes in a series of reports meant to undermine Duda's main presidential rival, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

'We are concerned that the White House visit is sending a signal of political support for a candidate whose campaign has engaged in homophobic and antisemitic rhetoric,' said Zselyke Csaky, research director for Europe and Eurasia at Freedom House. a U.S.-based organization.

'The scapegoating of minority groups is a dangerous strategy and should be condemned, not supported by the president of the United States.'

The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT rights advocacy group in Washington, also criticized Duda visiting the White House so close to Sunday's election.

It said Duda's use of anti-LGBT rhetoric is 'vile, manipulative and dangerous,' and that Trump was showing he is 'no friend' to the gay rights community.

U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel, a Democrat who is the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called Trump's invitation to Duda an example of Trumps 'infatuation with leaders who have demonstrated autocratic tendencies.'

'President Duda and his party promote horrifying homophobic and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes and policies that run counter to the human rights and values that America should strive to uphold,' Eliot said in a statement last week.

On June 13, during a campaign rally, Duda said 'LGBT is not people, it's an ideology', accusing the LGBT movement of advancing ideas that are more dangerous than communism.

He told supporters that his parent's generation did not struggle tofight against communism to now accept 'an ideology' that he thinks 'is even more destructive to the human being', according to Euronews.

Duda went on to say that during Poland's communist era, which lasted over four decades, the regimes survived by indoctrinating young people, saying 'That was Bolshevism. It was the ideologizing of children.

'Today, there are also attempts to push an ideology on us and our children, but different. Its totally new, but it is also neo-Bolshevism.'

Earlier that week, Duda signed a declaration, drafted for the stated purpose of helping families in Poland, but that included language relating to 'protecting children from LGBT ideology' along with a ban on 'propagating LGBT ideology in public institutions.'

Pictured: LGBT activists protest outside the Warsaw's town hall in Warsaw, Poland on March 18, 2019, as parents of primary and secondary school pupils protested against the new 12-point LGBT rights declaration signed by the then-new Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski

In June, Donald Trump ordered the military to remove 9,500 troops from Germany, a move likely to raise concerns in Europe about the U.S. commitment to the continent.

The move would reduce U.S. troops numbers in Germany to 25,000, from the 34,500 currently there, with the 9,500 troops being sent elsewhere, some to Poland, some to other allied countries, while some would return home.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said after the announcement he hoped that some of the U.S. troops that are set to be removed from Germany will be reassigned to Poland.

'I deeply hope that as a result of the many talks that we had ... part of the troops based today in Germany which are being removed by the United States ... will indeed come to Poland,' Morawiecki told private radio RMF24. 'The decision is now on the U.S. side.'

It is expected that Trump and Duda will discuss the possibility of U.S. troops being sent to Poland during their White House meeting today.

Pictured: Polish President Andrzej Duda waves to supporters as he campaigns for a second term in Serock, Poland on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, Duda is the front runner ahead of the election on Sunday, June 28, but polls show him unlikely to achieve the majority needed to win outright

Duda is the front-runner in a field of 11 candidates, but his support has been falling lately as the coronavirus pandemic has hit Poland's economy.

Polls predict he will win about 40% of the votes, below a 50% threshold for outright victory. That would trigger a runoff on July 12, which is likely to pit him against Trzaskowski, who has been gaining in popularity. Polls show them tied for support in a second round.

One of Duda's challengers in the presidential race, non-aligned Szymon Holownia said Duda must see his visit to Washington as a potential 'game changer' in the race if he is suspending campaigning to go there during the crucial week before the election.

He said he saw it as nothing more than a 'propaganda event.'

Before taking off for Washington from Krakow on Tuesday, Duda said his fifth meeting with Trump would focus on 'fundamental' issues such as Polands military and energy security, telecommunications and cyber-security and economic cooperation.

Duda, who is seeking a second 5-year term as president, pointed to Microsofts announcement last month of a planned $1 billion investment for a data processing center in Poland as an example of growing cooperation in the IT sector.

Much of Trzaskowski's support comes from Poles angry at a government they blame for corruption, inciting homophobia and xenophobia, and undermining the countrys democratic foundations.

'I will vote for any candidate who is against Duda, and at this moment Trzaskowski has the best chance of beating him,' said Pawel Bednarczyk, a 40-year-old carpenter in Bialystok waiting to hear Trzaskowski speak in the town a day after Duda's visit.

Pictured: Mayor of Warsaw and the presidential candidate of the main Polish opposition party Civic Platform (PO) Rafal Trzaskowski attends election rally in Urszulin, Poland June 23, 2020

Supporters of presidential candidate Rafal Trzaskowski gather in front of Polish Television headquarters before the candidates debate held for the upcoming elections, in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, June 17, 2020

LGBT activists say they feel dehumanized by Duda's rhetoric and have held street demonstrations. One took place hours before Duda's speech in Bialystok, where people gathered with signs saying 'Love is Love' and 'I am a person.'

Ewa Miastkowska, the mother of a gay son, said the anti-LGBT language of Duda and other conservative politicians has provoked distress and fear for gay and lesbian Poles and their families.

'They refer to Christian values and family values,' she said. 'But in fact, everything they do is contrary to Christianity and the defense of the family.'

The conservative partys supporters praise Duda for standing against an increasingly visible gay rights movement. They say democracy is healthy and support the government's argument that it is reforming the courts and cleaning up ingrained corruption.

'He is a Catholic, a Christian, he follows the faith, he follows the church,' said Zenon Perkowski, a Duda supporter in Bialystok.
New York: European Union countries eager to revive their economies are prepared to bar entry to Americans 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 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, according to the Times, citing the proposal.

Tourists walk past Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. Travel restrictions are easing, but look set to be increased for visitors from the United States. Credit:Getty Images

There was no immediate comment from the White House.

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, but EU member countries would have to determine what the relevant measurements and thresholds should be.
Fighting has occurred between the regimes Military Security branch and the Palestinian Liwa al-Quds, highlighting the struggle between Russia and Iran reports Baladi News.

An armed struggle between the regimes Military Security branch and the Palestinian Liwa al-Quds militia broke out several days ago in rural Deir ez-Zor, and developed into an assassination attempt against Liwa al-Quds commander Muhamamad al-Saeed near the town of Kafr Naboudeh in rural Hama.

Facebook pages close to Liwa al-Quds wrote that Muhamamad al-Saeed last night faced an assassination attempt while inspecting personnel between Kafr Naboudeh and the village of al-Mugheir in rural northern Hama.

The pages added that Saeeds motorcade was targeted with anti-tank missiles, from deep within regime-held territory. One of his companions, Ibrahim al-Turk, from the Handarat camp, was killed, while the car leading the convoy was destroyed.

The latest events come amid a dispute between Military Security and Liwa al-Quds that happened in the Harabash area near Deir ez-Zor governorate. Liwa al-Quds fighters were assisting a number of people who had been wounded in a mine explosion near Shoula in rural Deir ez-Zor. They were intercepted at a Military Security checkpoint in Harabash, before clashes broke out between the two sides over the obstruction of the ambulance operation. A number of fighters on both sides were killed, and Liwa al-Quds members set the checkpoint on fire.

Social media pages close to the Iranian-backed Liwa al-Quds indicated that the operation targeting commander Saeed in rural Hama was deliberate and planned, rather than a landmine explosion, suggesting the involvement of the Russian-backed Military Security, which was acting in retaliation to the killing of its fighters at the Harabash checkpoint in Deir ez-Zor.

Regime-held areas are witnessing conflict between local Iran-backed militias on one side and Russian-backed militias on the other. Lately, Irans National Defense has accused leaders of the regimes 25th Division, which is led by Suheil al-Hassan, of looting and theft. Social media pages close to the 25th Division have responded similarly, with Daraa province witnessing near daily killing and arrests between the Iran-backed Fourth Division and the Russia-backed Eighth Brigade of the Fifth Corps.

The conflict is intensifying between Russia and Iran on social media. Pro-regime Facebook pages affiliated with Military Security have levelled accusations of corruption and looting at Gen. Ghassan Bilal, head of the security office of the Fourth Division and Khudhur Taher al-Khudur (nicknamed al-Jaja), director of the Qalaa security company as well as his assistant Yousef Ali Khanat (nicknamed al-Ghawar).

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.
CAIRO (AP)  The speaker of Libya's east-based parliament urged Egypt on Wednesday to make good on its threat to send troops to fight rival Turkey-backed western Libyan forces should they attack the strategic city of Sirte, Egypt's state news agency reported.

Libya has for years been split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments.

Eastern-based forces under commander Khalifa Hifter launched an offensive in April last year to try to capture the capital, Tripoli, from the U.N.-supported government there. Hifters forces are backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia, while the Tripoli-allied militias are aided by Qatar, Italy and Turkey.

After sweeping across much of the country, making their way deep into the west and fighting in the suburbs of the Libyan capital, Hifter's forces were forced to retreat from most areas they captured in their offensive. That reversal came after Tripoli-based fighters, with Turkish support, gained the upper hand in the war earlier this month.

The Tripoli forces retook the capitals airport, all main entrance and exit points to the city and a string of key towns nearby. They threatened also to retake Sirte, the birthplace of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi who was ousted and killed in 2011. Taking Sirte could allow them to gain control of oil fields and facilities in the south that Hifter had seized earlier this year as part of his offensive on Tripoli.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi warned over the weekend that any attack on Sirte, a city on the Mediterranean coast, or the inland Jufra air base by the Tripoli forces would amount to crossing a red line. He said Egypt could intervene militarily to protect its western border with the oil-rich country.

The Tripoli-based government said it considered el-Sissis comments a declaration of war, while authorities in the east welcomed his support.

Aguila Saleh, speaker of the east-based House of Representatives, was quoted by Egypt's MENA news agency as saying that an Egyptian intervention in Libya would be legitimate ... if the terrorist and armed militias crossed the red line" determined by el-Sissi.

Story continues

The Libyan people are officially asking for Egypt to interfere with military forces if the necessities of maintaining Libyan national security and Egyptian national security require this, Saleh was quoted as saying.

El-Sissis threat prompted Italy, Germany and the United States to push for a cease-fire, fearing an even wider war. Arab League foreign ministers also warned against a continuation of military action that alters existing front lines in Libya.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio arrived in the Libyan capital Wednesday, where he met with Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, according to a statement from Sarrajs office.

The statement said Di Maio and Sarraj both rejected the negative foreign interference in the oil-rich country.

They also discussed the European Unions naval operation in the Mediterranean aimed at enforcing a U.N. arms embargo on Libya, the statement said, without providing details.

Di Maio told reporters after his return to Rome that he conveyed to Sarraj Italys concerns about a possible attack on Sirte, which he said could lead to renewed fighting and more civilian casualties.

I stated how essential it is to avoid a freezing of the conflict, and that this possibility would lead to a de facto division of the country, he said.

Earlier this week, Di Maio said the need for a cease-fire is urgent given the Egyptian threat and called for the strong enforcement of the arms embargo..
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Canon Business Process Services (Canon) today announced that for the second time, "The Silicon Review" magazine has recognized Canon as one of the 50 Smartest Companies of the Year.

One reason the publication selected Canon is because during 2020 Canon has continued to help its clients weather the financial storm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as sustain their operations and better prepare for future growth. The publication also stated that, "Key to Canon's approach has been leveraging its people, processes, and technology resources to enable clients to maintain and improve their business operations in sustainable ways over the long term."

In its profile article on Canon, "The Silicon Review" noted that earlier this year Canon was named a Global 100 Outsourcing Leader by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) for the fourteenth straight year. The article also points out that the company earned additional IAOP Global Outsourcing 100 recognition by being acknowledged with top honors in four special recognition categories. One of these included, most notably, the "Programs for Innovation" category. It recognizes a company's ability to implement specific programs and resulting outcomes that produce new forms of value for customers.

One such advanced program is Canon Digital Intake Center Services. Canon's offering comprises a hybrid mailroom and scanning service that uses specialized mail scanning technology and workflow techniques to convert physical mail into digital information upon receipt immediately. That information is then delivered to employees or into the business workflow electronically, anywhere at any time, allowing workers to receive their information quicker and enabling the business to move faster and smarter.

To read Canon's full profile in "The Silicon Review:"

https://cbps.canon.com/insights/helping-clients-digitally-transform-business-processes-in-order-to-navigate-todays-challenging-economic-environment

To learn more about Canon's Digital Intake Center Services: https://cbps.canon.com/managed-services/digital-intake-center-outsourcing-services

About Canon Business Process Services (Canon)

Canon Business Process Services leverages advanced technologies and services to deliver agility, exceptional workplace experiences and improved business performance. We achieve these results by applying our workforce management capabilities, Six Sigma methodologies and implementation expertise. With professionals across the US and in the Philippines, we have been named a Global Outsourcing 100 leader by IAOP for 14 straight years. Canon Business Process Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc. Learn more at cbps.canon.com and follow us on Twitter @CanonBPO.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

Press Contact: Ken Neal, [email protected]

Canon Business Process Services  2020

SOURCE Canon Business Process Services

Related Links

https://cbps.canon.com


100 years ago

Appointments help Ford

With the appointment of Secretary of War Newton D. Baker, Secretary of the Interior John B. Payne and Secretary of Agriculture Edwin T. Meredith as members of the commission to carry out the provisions of the Water Power Act, officials at the Ford Motor Co. expected swift action on their application to use excess water from the Troy dam to power their new manufacturing plant in Green Island. Baker, for one, was instrumental in drawing up the water power bill and favored its passage. He also was quite familiar with the situation in Green Island and was aware of what the factory's positive impact would be on the local economy.

 Times Union, June 25, 1920

50 years ago

Larsson named new SCCC president

Robert D. Larsson, dean of instruction at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, had been appointed president of Schenectady County Community College. He would become the college's second president on July 1 at an annual salary of $26,000, succeeding acting president Anthony Terino. Controversy had swirled about the community college since it opened in September 1969 under its first president, Charles E. Scholes. On opening day, picketers had protested the administration, saying it was not meeting the needs of Schenectady's disadvantaged students. In March, students had charged the college was trying to attune its program to GE, at the expense of such programs as fine arts. The incoming president said the college ought to serve the disadvantaged students as well as the non-disadvantaged. Larsson taught mathematics at Clarkson College for 17 years and had a master's degree from Syracuse University where he was enrolled in a doctoral program.

 Times Union, June 25, 1970

Looking Back is compiled by C.J. Lais Jr. and Azra Haqqie. For questions, contact Tim Blydenburgh, 518-454-5421 or tblydenburgh@timesunion.com
New Delhi, June 24 : The Congress has hit back at BJP national president J.P. Nadda asking him to look at their "conduct" as opposition party during the UPA rule. Nadda had called Rahul Gandhi a "dynast" and said opposition is not only about one dynasty.

Hitting back at the BJP, the Congress said, "BJP should not hide on the back of the army." The Congress said the BJP should look back its conduct when it attacked the government on delicate foreign policy issues during the UPA rule.

"Will the Prime Minister offer public apology for BJP for its conduct during 2004-2014 when BJP brought no confidence motion on Indo-US civil nuclear deal and Bhagat Singh Koshyari leading a delegation to India-China border, "said Congress MP Manish Tewari.

While in opposition, the BJP had sent a party delegation to the India-China border to get first hand information on Chinese incursions. The delegation was led by Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who is now Maharashtra Governor.

BJP president Nadda while criticising Rahul Gandhi had said, "One 'royal' dynasty and their 'loyal' courtiers have grand delusions of the Opposition being about one dynasty. A dynast throws tantrums and his courtiers peddle that fake narrative. Latest one relates to the Opposition asking questions to the Government."

Another Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said, "Instead of attacking Rahul Gandhi, BJP should listen to what he says and if they heed his advice the situation would have been better."

The Congress party has been targeting the government over the India-China border issue. Randeep Surjewala, Chief spokesperson of the party, had also launched a scathing attack on the BJP President and had asked him to show the courage to ask the Modi government about 2,264 Chinese transgressions since 2015, martyrdom of 471 jawans & 253 civilians in J&K alone, the highest in 30 years.

The Congress said there were 3,289 ceasefire violations by Pakistan in 2019 alone, the highest in 16 years, up from 583 in 2014.

"Stop compromising on 'National Security' & India's 'Territorial Integrity'. This would be the biggest disservice to our Armed Forces & our 20 martyrs," added Surjewala.

-- Syndicated from IANS
A livestreaming activity to promote loquat fruits is held in Lishui, a city in East China's Zhejiang Province, on May 12, 2020. [Lishui Women's Federation]

The Women's Federation of Zhejiang Province held a series of online activities to drive the digital economy, which has become a new driving force for high-quality development in the province.

The federation took steps in selecting public ambassadors from online influencers, supporting female entrepreneurs, endorsing special products and publicizing promotion skills in rural areas.

China's first female online celebrity alliance was launched on March 11 in Hangzhou, capital city of the province, where 51 members were elected and appointed as charity ambassadors.

The alliance's first livestreaming show featuring agricultural products sold more than 40,000 kilograms of goods, generating over 400,000 yuan (US $56,418) in sales in just one hour.

Seventy percent of the high-performing influencers were women who play pivotal roles in driving sale and vow to take a part in public welfare activities organized by the federation.

The federation also opened a new mode of cultural tourism to stimulate its recovery. The first one-hour livestreaming show focusing on Xinchang County in Shaoxing City attracted more than 100,000 viewers.

Bookings for the local 1,000 BNBs (Bed and Breakfast) came in great number, and 4,000 coupons were sold out in five minutes. To date, the province has carried out more than 50 BNB "cloud tours" with the help of Internet.

Many other women started business on the cloud emerged at the same time. The federation will choose 100 of them, offering platforms for them to share resources and seek cooperation. The measure was well-received by female entrepreneurs and appeals to a lot of like-minded competitors.

In addition, presidents of the women's federations across the province have taken part in live broadcasting since March. They endorsed special agricultural products to increase the income of women workers in local manufacturing industries and needy women.

Notably, the online promotion activities are covering all rural areas to help eliminate poverty.

"I want to be a livestreaming show host to promote handmade noodles," said Chen Yuxian, general-manager of a local cooperative in her 60s in Jinhua City. She participated in the training classes on boosting sales held by the women's federation of the city.

At the same time, more than 100 female e-commerce representatives from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, who were 2,000 kilometers away, received the training via video link.

"Thanks to livestreaming, our zongzi (a type of traditional Chinese food for Dragon Boat Festival) is so popular!" said Song Jianfang who is in charge of a local food firm. In the past few days, she led rural left-behind women to pack more than 80,000 zongzi and helped farmers sell more than 1,500 kilograms of plums.

At present, livestream promotion is in full swing in Zhejiang and the local economy is poised for recovery and prosperity.

Online celebrities promote the loquat fruits through live broadcasting. [Lishui Women's Federation]

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has taken the lead as an advocate for one form of police reform  making sure bad cops dont go from city to city without anyone knowing of their records of misconduct.

Shapiro is guest at noon Wednesday on Live On with Joyce Davis, on PennLives Facebook page.

Shapiro announced he has formed a law enforcement coalition that includes the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association to end the practice of law enforcement agencies unknowingly hiring officers with documented patterns of excessive use of force or other misconduct.

Shapiro will discuss his reasons for pushing for the reform and his stance of other proposes, including citizen review boards, regular monitoring of police mental health, increased sensitivity training and elimination of chokeholds and other deadly police tactics.

The Attorney General also will talk about his support of the recent Supreme Court decision to protect children of undocumented immigrants, known as Dreamers.

Join us at noon today for PennLives Facebook Live discussion on police reform, Dreamers and the ongoing protests throughout the nation.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

And please subscribe to Battleground PA to stay abreast of the issues in the 2020 elections!
CHICOPEE  A City Councilor said he plans to begin the process of removing the Police Department from Civil Service after the police chief called it an outdated system that hampers supervisors from disciplining officers.

Joel D. McAuliffe said he will file an order to remove the department from the state system, which oversees hiring and discipline mostly in police and fire departments, in the Councils next regular meeting in July.

The move comes at a time when people worldwide are protesting the killings and mistreatment of Black and Latino residents by police and calling for racial justice. The protests were sparked by the Minneapolis killing of George Floyd, who died on May 25 after a police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. The officer, Derek Chauvin, and three others who were at the scene have been charged in Floyds death.

Exiting the Civil Service system is one of the demands city organizers for Black Lives Matters had made after a protest held in front of the police department in June that called for reform, McAuliffe said.

But McAuliffe said he decided to start the process after asking Police Chief William Jebb his opinion about the Civil Service system during a budget hearing Tuesday night.

He said Jebb responded by saying Civil Service has outlived its usefulness, saying it is a detriment to hiring and hampers disciplinary action taken against officers. Civil Service has struck down discipline meted out by the chief or mayor multiple times in recent years.

Jebb could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

In the meeting Jebb, specifically referred to a Civil Service ruling that overruled the firing of an officer who was involved with the photographing of the crime scene of murder victim Amanda Plasse in 2011 and passing it to other officers. One officer showed the pictures to civilians at a youth sporting event later, McAuliffe said.

Officer Jeffery Godere had been disciplined three times, demoted twice and fired once. In February the Civil Service Commission overturned his firing saying it was flawed, even though the examiner said he believed he lied during the internal affairs investigation.

There are also flaws with the Civil Service hiring system which ranks candidates based on a written test and other factors such as military service. Because examinations are only given at certain times it often takes months to fill vacant positions.

The comments by the Chief are significant and I hope it will pave the way to the City Council passing the legislation that I am planning to file, McAuliffe said. We can no longer allow a flawed agency to dictate the hiring and discipline for our officers. It is time to remove the Police Department from Civil Service.

McAuliffe is not the first person to propose removing the Chicopee Police Department from Civil Service.

Michael Bissonnette proposed removing the Police Department from Civil Service in 2012 when he was mayor. It came at a time when Police Chief John Ferraro had just retired and he was searching for a replacement.

"Change is always difficult but we have to understand when something has outlived its usefulness. We need to move forward," Bissonnette said at the time. "It duplicates a lot of protections that exist and adds one more bureaucratic layer."

His proposal did not have much support from the City Council at the time and Bissonnette eventually dropped it in favor of using an assessment center to evaluate candidates for police chief.

Removing the Police Department from Civil Service will be a lengthy process that requires a change in the citys charter. To do so will require a two-thirds vote from the Council, approval from Mayor John L. Vieau and a vote of the state legislature, McAuliffe said.

The City Council will likely move the proposal to a subcommittee for more research and discussion, he said.
Research into some of the UK's deadliest diseases is being 'devastated' by the Covid-19 pandemic, leading charities have warned.

The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)  which represents 150 organisations, including Cancer Research UK, Parkinson's UK and the British Heart Foundation  said medical studies are being hampered by the economic challenges posed by coronavirus.

Many charities have described huge losses in income as they warned that research efforts could be impacted for years to come.

The impact of the crisis could lead to a 'stall' in making the discoveries that patients 'urgently need', experts said.

Even with 'best efforts' to save costs  such as putting staff on furlough and charity employees taking pay cuts  there are still major shortfalls in cash among the sector.

The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) said medical research is being hampered by the economic challenges posed by coronavirus

WHICH CHARITIES DOES THE AMRC REPRESENT? Action for A-T

Action Medical Research

Action on Hearing Loss

Against Breast Cancer

Alcohol Change UK

Alopecia UK

Alzheimer's Research UK

Alzheimer's Society

Anthony Nolan

Antibiotic Research UK

Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Partnership

Ataxia UK

Ataxia-Telangiectasia Society

Autistica

Barts Charity

BLISS

Blood Cancer UK

Bone Cancer Research Trust

Borne

Bowel & Cancer Research

Bowel Cancer UK

Bowel Disease Research Foundation

BRACE

Brain Research UK

Brain Tumour Research

Breast Cancer Now

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

British Council for Prevention of Blindness

British Heart Foundation

British Journal of Anaesthesia

British Scoliosis Research Foundation

British Sjogren's Syndrome Association

British Skin Foundation

British Society for Research on Ageing

Brittle Bone Society

Cancer Research UK

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Charitable Trust

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

Children with Cancer UK

Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group

Children's Liver Disease Foundation

Chronic Disease Research Foundation

Chronic Granulomatous Disorder Society

Coeliac UK

Crohn's & Colitis UK

Crohn's in Childhood Research Association

Cystic Fibrosis Trust

DEBRA

Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation

Diabetes UK

Duchenne UK

Dunhill Medical Trust

Epilepsy Action

Epilepsy Research UK

Fight for Sight

Friends of EORTC

Friends of Rosie Children?s Cancer Research Fund

Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity

Guts UK

Guy's and St Thomas' Charity

Heart Research UK

INSPIRE Foundation

Institute of Alcohol Studies

JDRF

Kidney Research UK

Leukaemia UK

Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI

Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

Macmillan Cancer Support

Macular Society

Marie Curie

Medical Research Scotland

Meningitis Now

Meningitis Research Foundation

Migraine Trust

MND Association

MND Scotland

Moorfields Eye Charity

MQ: Transforming Mental Health

MS Society

Multiple System Atrophy Trust

Muscular Dystrophy UK

Myeloma UK

National Eye Research Centre

Neuroblastoma UK

Neurosciences Research Foundation

Niemann-Pick Research Foundation

North West Cancer Research

Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke

Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation

Oracle Cancer Trust

Orthopaedic Research UK

Ovarian Cancer Action

Pancreatic Cancer Action

Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund

Pancreatic Cancer UK

Parkinson's UK

Pelican Cancer Foundation

Pharmacy Research UK

Prostate Cancer Research Centre

Prostate Cancer UK

Psoriasis Association

RAFT

Restore

Retina UK

Reverse Rett

Rosetrees Trust

Royal College of Surgeons of England

Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

Royal Osteoporosis Society

Sands

Sarcoma UK

Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK

Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust

Society for Endocrinology

Solving Kids' Cancer

Sparks

Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK

Spinal Research

Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research

Stroke Association

Target Ovarian Cancer

Tenovus Cancer Care

The Abbeyfield Research Foundation

The Brain Tumour Charity

The British Pain Society

The Cure Parkinson's Trust

The Encephalitis Society

The Kidney Fund

The Lewy Body Society

The Lullaby Trust

The PBC Foundation

The PSP Association

The Royal College of Anaesthetists

The Scar Free Foundation

The Urology Foundation

Tommy's

Tourettes Action

Tuberous Sclerosis Association

Versus Arthritis

Wellbeing of Women

Wellcome Trust

Wessex Medical Research

William Harvey Research Foundation

World Cancer Research Fund

Worldwide Cancer Research

Yorkshire Cancer Research Advertisement

Fundraising events have been called off and charity shops have been shut for months, which has caused a 'big blow' to the income of charities.

As a result, some research into illnesses including heart disease, cancer and Parkinson's have been put on pause.

The AMRC is leading a call for the Government to commit to a matched funding agreement to put the sector on stable footing.

In the first year it is calling for a cash boost of 310 million.

Such a boost could put medical research 'back on track' and mitigate some of the risks faced by the charities, said Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK.

'We are facing a precipice here, we do not want to make the cuts we may be compelled to make,' she said.

AMRC chief executive Aisling Burnand said: 'The current pandemic has put the future of charity-funded research at significant risk.

'The impact of the pandemic will be felt by medical research charities and their communities and their supporters for many years to come.

'We can see the impact of the pandemic is immediate and will have significant long-term repercussions.'

The AMRC said, last year, medical research charities spent an estimated 1.9billion in the UK.

This year it has estimated a 41 per cent decrease spend in charity medical research.

'And we estimate it will take approximately four-and-a-half years for spending to return to last year's levels,' said Ms Burnand.

'Four-and-a-half years is a long time for anyone with a life-limiting or life-shortening condition.'

She added: 'I can't begin to express what this means for patients across the UK; waiting another four-and-a-half years could be the difference between severe and non-reversible deterioration, or death. It's absolutely devastating.'

At the end of April almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of clinical trials and studies funded by AMRC charities had been paused.

As lockdown has eased some have resumed, but the AMRC said that some will never restart.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: 'We now face an unprecedented research funding crisis, one that threatens to arrest the progress made in tackling heart and circulatory diseases that sadly still kill one in four people.

'And we anticipate that such a sharp fall could have a catastrophic impact on UK cardiovascular research.'

She added: 'So I think the shockwaves from such a drop in funding for heart and circulatory disease will be profound and stall progress in making the discoveries that patients urgently need.'

The BHF is losing 10million a month at present, she added, even with support from the furlough scheme.

Cancer Research UK said that the impact on cancer patients could be 'significant'.

The charity has said that it may be forced to cut 150million per year from its research funding.

It said this could set back the progress made in survival for people with cancer.

Ms Mitchell said: 'We have been massively hit by Covid-19, as our fundraising efforts have been hugely restricted. We have been doing everything possible to limit the impact. But without a way to bridge this funding gap, we will have to make radical decisions about cutting lifesaving research.

'Ultimately, it will be patients who will suffer the consequences, which is heartbreaking.

'It is imperative that the Government urgently works with medical research charities to come to a solution, so that decades of investment in UK research is not lost in a matter of months.'

She added: 'We don't want to make catastrophic cuts to research which could last a decade.'

Steve Ford, chief executive of Parkinson's UK, said: 'The pressures of this pandemic are being felt across the research world.

'While our agile approach has meant we have been able to continue with some of our projects, inevitably others have been put on hold and, without further investment, the future of Parkinson's research will be heavily impacted.'

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'The UK is home to globally-recognised medical research charities, which are an integral part of our world-leading life sciences sector.

'We are working closely with medical research charities to understand the impact of the pandemic on the sector and identify how we can work together, ensuring patients continue benefiting from charity-funded research.'

It comes after a thinktank boss warned last month that as many as one in 10 charities could go out of business in the next six months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sir Stephen Bubb, director of Charity Futures, suggested there are 'too many' non-profit and voluntary organisations and that more should look to merge together.

His comments come as Oxfam announced it will be laying off 1,450 staff - almost a third of those on the books - as it pulls out of 18 countries around the world.

Oxfam bosses revealed the drastic cuts as they came to terms with the financial fallout of the Covid-19 crisis.

The charity said continuing uncertainty over how quickly countries will come out of lockdown make the financial repercussions 'difficult to accurately quantify'.

Sir Stephen told BBC Radio 4's The World At One Programme: 'A group of economists estimate that something like one in 10 charities will go bust in the next six months.'

He added: 'I think the public believe there are too many charities, I think that is probably true, I think we should be looking at more mergers and consolidation in our sector.

'This has also shown that the infrastructure for charities is incredibly weak. Donors want money to go to the front line, not on things like IT systems, and yet we need to do that.

'Our governance structures in some cases are antiquated, we have an ineffective regulator and the Government... frankly the relationships with Government are dire at a time when actually you would think the Government would be looking to the strength in charity in terms of motivating, organisers volunteers and community action.
realme Philippines, the lifestyle partner of the youth, collaborates with the global hit app TikTok for an online campaign that gives squad members and users a chance to redeem special prizes by completing daily tasks on TikTok. Over 100 realme devices and 100 Php 500 Shopee vouchers will be given away from June 23 until July 13.

realme smartphones and AIoT devices await challenge winners

The realme squad and participants can join the online campaign of realme Philippines by using their smartphones and finishing the daily challenges on TikTok Treats. Each task has a corresponding point that will be added to the accumulated points of the users once the task is completed. The total points earned from the daily challenges may be used to redeem the realme devices that the participants wish to get.

To redeem either the realme 6i Blue Soda or the realme C3, participants must earn a total of 33,000 points from the daily tasks of the online campaign. Squad members who wish to win the realme TWS Buds Neo, realme Powerbank 2, realme Buds Wireless and realme Buds 2 must earn a total of 23,000 points for each device. As an added treat, participants who earn 800 points from the daily tasks can also redeem Php500 Shopee vouchers.

Participants will be completing daily tasks that are easy as watching selected videos on the app, inviting friends to join TikTok, sharing the TikTok app link with friends, and other more surprising tasks throughout the entire duration of the promo.

To join the realme Philippines online campaign, check TikTok Discover and click TikTok Treats for more details.
US Dollar Breaks Important Threshold, Rising Above 200,000 Rials In Iran

Radio Farda June 23, 2020

The rate of exchange for the U.S. dollar set yet another record on Tuesday June 23, leaving the 200,000 rials landmark behind and reaching an unprecedented 205,000 rials per dollar rate within half an hour Tuesday afternoon.

This is a 2,864-fold fall for Iran's currency since 1978, when during the monarchy just 70 rials was worth one dollar.

The rise coincides with the Iranian government's attempt to reassure that it is still in control. The semi-official ISNA news agency reported at mid-day on Tuesday that the government has poured $45 million into the market.

However, money changers in downtown Tehran probably knew it was a bluff as everything in the market indicates that although the government could do such a stunt last year, it is in such a difficult financial situation now that it seems unable to manipulate the market by boosting the supply of cash dollars.

Less than a week ago, Iran's vice president Es'haq Jahangiri reminded everyone of the extremely low oil income as a result of U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil exports and international banking as well as other economic factors.

Jahangiri said that during the past year, Iran's oil revenues dropped from $100 billion to $8 billion and its non-oil exports dropped by 35 percent in the winter of 2018 and another 48 percent during the winter of 2019.

Earlier Tuesday morning, the Rouhani administration tried to trick the market as its spokesman Ali Rabiei told the media some of Iran's frozen assets in various countries have been released, but he could not name even one country.

When asked to name those countries, Rabiei said that the Foreign Ministry will name those countries in the future.

He also contradicted Jahangiri by saying that the situation of Iran's oil exports is improving and that the volume of its non-oil export is going to return to where it was at its best.

Meanwhile, Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati characterized the crisis in the forex market as a passing situation and promised it will improve.

Hemmati once again blamed the rising rates of exchange on the COVID-19 pandemic and the psychological impact of the IAEA resolution against Iran last week.

Earlier, President Hassan Rouhani had also said that the rising rates of exchange were "bubbles" and the situation would calm down.

Although some observers still believe that the government is benefitting from the devaluation of its currency and that the Central bank is manipulating the market, but it is unlikely the resulting devaluation of any currency would be helpful for any government.

Observers and laymen have opined on Iranian social media that the resulting rise in all other prices is far beyond the government's control and that the situation is volatile in the society.

Some Twitter users linked the situation in the forex market to the Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli's remarks in the parliament about possible protests in the future.

Meanwhile, a hardliner lawmaker Yaser Jebraili tweeted that $27 billion resulting from exports during the past two years have not been repatriated.

According to a complicated system put in place two years ago, businesses who need foreign currency to buy raw materials for production are supposed to bring back export proceeds to the country. But even the government is complaining that many individuals and companies have not done so, basically cheating the state of foreign currency.

State television news anchor Elmira Sharifi asked in a tweet why the government-owned exchange shops do not convert dollars at a lower price when officials claim that high rates of exchange are bubbles and the rates are coming down?

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/us-dollar- breaks-important-threshold-rising-above- 200-000-rials-in-iran/30686553.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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A former Belfast Lord Mayor says he is "appalled and sickened" by a republican campaign renaming streets across the city.

Ulster Unionist councillor Jim Rodgers was speaking after signs honouring deceased republicans - including Maire Drumm, Bobby Sands and 1916 Rising leader James Connolly - were erected around Belfast on Monday.

Lasair Dhearg, which was formed in Belfast in July 2017, changed the name of Queen's University to Mairead Farrell University - with signage erected across its prominent front gates after the former student and IRA volunteer, killed in Gibraltar on active service in 1988.

The group say their campaign highlights British state colonialism, and historic figures associated with it, in Ireland.

The streets surrounding Belfast City Hall including May Street and Donegall Square were also renamed after three hunger strikers - Joe McDonnell, Bobby Sands and Kieran Doherty.

Group spokesperson Pol Torboid said that they had "compiled a list of place names from across the city" that they say featured "prominent individuals responsible for historic abuses in Ireland".

He added: "Belfast's streets, littered with the poverty of its people, its homeless and jobless, are also littered with the names of those whose attitude to Ireland was one of subjugation, and who, by force of arms, forced a political and economic system upon our people, which became the foundation for partition, and for the current economic struggles faced by the Irish people.

"It is our inheritance as republicans to end the oppression immortalised in these street names and statues.

"It is our duty to end colonialism, to end the normalisation of imperialism and, consequently, the political and economic system that maintains it."

But Councillor Jim Rodgers said the move is illegal and he is urging the PSNI to investigate.

"This is inflammatory and only serves to heighten tension.

"It creates the wrong impression of the city and some of these names are associated with some of the most horrendous crimes," he said.

"Despite the coronavirus we are still welcoming visitors to Belfast and this certainly doesn't send out the right message as the city reopens for business again.

"We already have a battle ahead of us in that regard and then you have people bringing the city down in this way," Mr Rodgers added.

DUP MLA Christopher Stalford said the newly erected signage was "simply an excuse to glorify Provisional IRA terrorism".

"The erection of signage covering the name of Queen's University and replacing it with the name of a convicted IRA terrorist says more about the people behind the signs than anything else," he said.

"The group responsible, however, wishes to spread their glorification of terror across Belfast."

"The only role 'colonialism' plays in this campaign is to provide an excuse to glorify members of a sectarian terrorist organisation," the South Belfast representative added.

"The fact this group is happy to celebrate the human rights abusers of the Provisional IRA speaks volumes about the true motivations behind their actions."
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / Ximen Mining Corp. (XIM.V)(1XMA.F)(XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") is pleased to announce that it has acquired 3% net smelter royalties covering the Golden Crown property and May Mac Property, and a royalty on material processed in the May Mac (Boundary Falls mill). All the properties are located in the Greenwood mining camp, southern British Columbia.

Photograph of locomotive and mine car at May Mac mine

Golden Crown Royalties

Ximen recently purchased two net smelter royalties (NSR's) from arm's length parties on the Golden Crown property owned by Golden Dawn Minerals Inc. The first is a 3% NSR that was split between two parties on a group of 11 mineral tenures that make up part of the property. The second is a separate 3% NSR on two other mineral claims in the property.

The Golden Crown property to which these royalties apply includes a mineral resource that was disclosed by Golden Dawn in 2017 as follows (see note 1):

Indicted: 163,000 Tonnes, 11.09 grams per tonne gold, 0.56 percent copper,

Inferred: 42,000 Tonnes, 9.04 grams per tonne gold, 0.43 percent copper.

Note 1: Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment on The Greenwood Precious Metals Project, Greenwood, British Columbia, Canada, Effective Date: May 5, 2017, Prepared for Golden Dawn Minerals Inc. By P&E Mining Consultants Inc., filed on SEDAR June 19, 2017.

Photograph of visible gold in Golden Crown drill core, hole 03-CDH-01.

The Golden Crown mineral resources were included in a Preliminary Economic Assessment for mine development and processing at the Greenwood mill, which is also located on the Golden Crown property.

Perspective view of the conceptual mine at the Golden Crown property (see note 1).

May Mac Royalties

Ximen recently purchased a net smelter royalty of 3% that was split between two parties on the May Mac mine property (one mineral claim and two mining leases), as well as an existing royalty consisting of $5 per ton on material processed in the May Mac mill (Boundary Falls mill) from a private entity. This mill was constructed in 1980 as a 100 ton per day (90.7 tonne) gravity-flotation mill to process material from the May Mac (Skomac) mine. Both the mine and the mill have existing permits that can be amended for future use.

Story continues

The May Mac (Skomac) mine has been worked intermittently since the original Crown Grant (Nonsuch) was staked in 1887. Initially, two tunnels separated by 23 m vertically (No. 1 lower and No. 2 upper) were driven and a small tonnage was produced from a sub-meter wide quartz vein carrying gold. In 1905 the No. 3 level was driven between the No. 1 and 2 adits for a short distance. Between 1962 and 1983, the 4, 5, 6 and 7 levels were developed at successively lower elevations above the first three levels on the Upper Skomac vein, and mining and milling took place. The figure below is a longitudinal section showing the mine levels and an interpretation of where the production was sourced.

Total production from the mine is estimated at 4,228 tonnes, grading 5.35 grams per tonne gold (0.16 ounce per ton Au), 908 g/t silver (26.5 ounce per ton). The initial production (37.3 tonnes) was from the first two mine levels and records indicate a relatively high grade in gold (9.37 ounce per ton). Production thereafter was from the Upper Skomac vein, which contains polymetallic silver, gold, lead zinc and copper mineralization. Data for lead and zinc are incomplete but 49,462 kg lead and 26,243 kg zinc were reportedly produced up to 1977, giving average calculated grades of 2.0% lead and 1.1% zinc. Production of 894 kg copper in 1983 is also recorded (see note 1).

The No. 7 level followed a weakly mineralized vein initially and then drifted off the vein. In 1987, Empire Gold drilled below the No. 6 Level to test the downward extension of the Upper Skomac vein. Fifteen underground holes totaling 450 m were drilled that showed that the Upper Skomac vein dipped more shallowly than previously interpreted. The resulting interpretation was that the No. 7 level had been driven some 45 m into the footwall of the Upper Skomac vein. In 1994, it was recommended that the No. 7 level be extended to test for the vein at this level.

Golden Dawn Minerals Inc. optioned the property and between 2010 and 2012 compiled data, conducted surface geochemical and geophysical surveys and drilled nine holes. In 2015, a second campaign of surface drilling was done that confirmed the known vein structures in the mine and discovered a lower zone of polymetallic silver-gold mineralization. In 2016 and 2017, a total of 3,833 metres was drilled from underground in 31 holes that confirmed the presence of polymetallic silver-gold mineralization in the upper Skomac and parallel veins above and below the end of the No. 7 Level. Additional surface drilling was done in 2016 (1,300 metres in 12 holes) and 2017 (1,886 m in 8 holes) which showed that the vein system extends at least 215 m beyond the termination of the No. 7 drift.

Based on all the information available, Golden Dawn proposed an exploration target for the May Mac consisting of between 150,000 and 250,000 tonnes with a grade range of 100-200 g/t Ag, 1-2 g/t Au, 1-2% Pb and 1-2% Zn.

The reader is cautioned that the potential quantity and grade of this exploration targets is conceptual in nature; there has been insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource and that it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the targets being delineated as a Mineral Resource (see note 1).

Photo of drill core from May Mac property showing polymetallic silver-gold-lead-zinc mineralization.

Readers are cautioned that historical records referred to in this News Release have been examined but not verified by a Qualified Person. Further work is required to verify that historical records referred to in this News Release are accurate.

Key points of the transaction include:

1,000,000 Ximen shares paid to two arm's-length vendors;

The transaction is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.

The vendors have entered into a voting trust agreement whereby the shares will be voted in favour of management.

Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Ximen Mining Corp. and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, approved the technical information contained in this News Release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Christopher R. Anderson"

Christopher R. Anderson,

President, CEO and Director

604 488-3900

Investor Relations:

Sophy Cesar,

604-488-3900,

ir@XimenMiningCorp.com

About Ximen Mining Corp.

Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen`s two Gold projects The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under a option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has recently acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment.

Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the exercise of the Option by Ximen. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they 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, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the possibility that the TSX Venture Exchange may not accept the proposed transaction in a timely manner, if at all. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

This press release 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 state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

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: Ximen Mining Corp.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/595016/Ximen-Acquires-Royalties-for-Key-Properties-in-Greenwood-Camp




David Stovall, a professor of African American studies and criminology, law and justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago said: I think the main thing to understand is that tensions are high. You have the COVID situation, which is making it harder to get work. The same communities have been disenfranchised for an elongated period of time. They havent had access to quality education or quality health care.  In these situations, these stressors are often enacted on the people who are in proximity to you.
DGAP-News: DATAGROUP SE / Key word(s): Takeover



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

DATAGROUP Acquires Stake in Multi-Cloud Expert Cloudeteer

Pliezhausen, June 23, 2020. IT service provider DATAGROUP acquires 24% of the shares of Cloudeteer, a cloud native start-up, and secures the option for the remaining 76% of the company's shares. Cloudeteer expands DATAGROUP's expertise in public clouds and brings internally developed modules for building and operating complex cloud structures into the company. The Hamburg-based company brings on board 26 experts for multi-cloud solutions as well as consulting on enterprise cloudification, IT governance, IT security and regulatory requirements. Furthermore, Cloudeteer develops process and software solutions for the cloud, including the so-called OPS.Stack, which makes it possible to use multi-cloud dashboards displaying the most important metrics on different cloud models in real time. The modules can also be used to analyze and optimize hybrid and private cloud solutions. Cloudeteer is DATAGROUP's 25th acquisition since the company's IPO. Contrary to the approach adopted so far, Cloudeteer will not be integrated into the company but will rather keep its start-up character. As such, Cloudeteer can be used as a flexible speedboat in the public cloud market to cover constantly growing customer requirements. Both companies have already cooperated successfully in cloud projects in the past and benefited from the expertise of one another. "The development and operation of complex cloud structures is one of DATAGROUP's core competencies which we are successively expanding. We see Cloudeteer as a strategic addition to our own expertise, which we aim to develop further. This year, for instance, we have trained some 50 Azure administrators", explains Max H.-H. Schaber, CEO of DATAGROUP. "The mobilization of workplaces and business applications through the use of cloud technologies is one of the topics that have gained even more momentum with the corona pandemic, and we are very well positioned to benefit from these business opportunities."

ABOUT DATAGROUP DATAGROUP is one of the leading German IT service companies. Over 2,700 employees at locations across Germany design, implement, and operate IT infrastructures and business applications such as SAP. With its CORBOX product, DATAGROUP is a full-service provider, supporting over 600k global IT workplaces for medium and large enterprises as well as public authorities. The company is growing organically and through acquisitions. The acquisitions strategy is particularly noted for its optimal integration of new companies. DATAGROUP is actively participating in the IT service market's consolidation process with its "buy and turn around" and its "buy and build" strategy.

CONTACT DATAGROUP SE

Claudia Erning

Investor Relations

Wilhelm-Schickard-Str. 7

D-72124 Pliezhausen

T +49-7127-970-015

F +49-7127-970-033

Claudia.Erning@datagroup.de

23.06.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

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Raines International, one of the countrys leading executive search and leadership consulting firms, announced today that Mr. Engy Lamour has joined as Senior Vice President of its Asset Management Practice. Based in New York City, Mr. Lamour has more than 10 years of experience in the Asset Management and Alternative Investments Industry and is recognized for his extensive subject matter expertise and vast executive network. As a member of Raines Financial Services Executive Search Team, he will focus primarily on clients in the hedge fund, private equity, real estate investment, and venture capital sectors. A champion of diversity and inclusion, Engy is a proven difference maker for clients seeking more diverse leadership teams that lead in their market areas.

Mr. Lamour joins Raines from Korn Ferry, where he was a principal in its Global Asset & Alternative Investments practice. Prior to Korn Ferry, he was an Engagement Manager in Heidrick & Struggles Asset Management practice. Earlier in his career, Engy served as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of the Global Marketing & Investor Relations practice of a boutique search firm for which he launched and managed a UK subsidiary office.

Engy is an established star in our industry, and were excited to bring his leadership to our financial services practice, said Dan Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Raines. He has been a key member of some of the top performing teams in executive search, and he is keenly focused on making substantive client impact while developing the next generation of talent. Clients and candidates benefit from his holistic approach and consultative nature, which match our firm perfectly.

Mr. Lamour earned a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology from Brandeis University, where he received a full-tuition scholarship on the basis of academic and leadership potential from The Posse Foundation.

Mr. Lamour said: "This team runsnot walksthe talk with its commitment to excellence, and our platform offers tremendous opportunity. Im excited to grow the firms Financial Services footprint by bringing diverse, innovative leaders to institutions looking to drive change."

He is a 2017 Council of Urban Professional CUP Fellow and an active member of the CUP community and previously served on the boards of The Posse Foundation National Alumni Advisory and The Haitian Roundtable and Council.

About Raines International:

Raines International is a talent consulting firm committed to making a difference with executive search, organizational management, and talent management solutions. Raines is headquartered in New York City with eight offices across the Americas. Raines specializes in senior-level leadership placements across industries and functions.
Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, who was removed by the Jagan reddy government under controversial circumstances, on Wednesday filed a contempt of court petition in the Andhra Pradesh high court against the state government for not reinstating him as the State Election Commissioner (SEC) despite the court orders.

In his contempt petition, Ramesh Kumar charged the state government with not allowing him to resume his duties as State Election Commissioner, even after the orders of the high court, which the Supreme Court had refused to stay. The high court admitted the petition for hearing.

The former SEC alleged that the state government had wilfully and deliberately violated the May 29 directions of the high court. He contended that since the Supreme Court had refused to stay the high court order, it would automatically be construed that he would continue as the SEC.

In total disobedience of the high court order, I am not being permitted to be restored to my earlier position as SEC and discharge the duties, as the election notification (for local bodies) continues to be in force, he said in his petition.

He further said Justice Kanagaraju, retired Madras high court judge, who was appointed in his place in April, was still being treated as the SEC.

Making the government chief secretary, panchayat raj department secretary and SEC secretary the respondents, Ramesh Kumar appealed to the court to punish them under Sections 10 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act.

It may be recalled that the Jagan government had removed Ramesh Kumar from the post of SEC on April 10 by promulgating an ordinance seeking 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 was struck 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.
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Linkedin Cecile Mantovani (Reuters) Geneva, Switzerland  Wed, June 24, 2020 09:07 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066128289 2 Lifestyle Sothebys,auction,online-auction,jewelry,switzerland,Geneva,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Rare colored diamonds and historic gems will be seeking new owners at Sotheby's semi-annual sale in Geneva this week, as live auctions resume after a suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

During the lockdown period, Sotheby's saw a "massive surge" in its online sales, David Bennett, Sotheby's worldwide jewelry chairman, told Reuters Television ahead of its Tuesday night sale.

"The live sales have their place, absolutely, you know the drama, the excitements. But the online sales are here to stay, there is no question, it is going to go well I think," he said.

Rival Christie's plans its jewelry sale in the Swiss city on July 22.

Lots on offer at Sotheby's include a Cartier diamond bracelet with geometric shapes and leaves from the 1930s. "A beautiful thing ... People collect Cartier now of course, but these are the star pieces of the best period of Cartier production," Bennett said.

Read also: Sotheby's partners with Old Master galleries in London and New York for new online sales

He added: "And, there is something that I really love, a very rare 100 carat sapphire, a cushion shape sapphire untreated, absolutely beautiful color. It is from Sri Lanka. And you know, in my more than 40 years career I have never seen more than a couple of this size. It is very rare, it is almost like a magical size 100 carats."

An emerald and diamond necklace which belonged to Consuelo Montagu (1853-1909), an American socialite who became Duchess of Manchester, is estimated to fetch 300,000-390,000 Swiss francs, Sotheby's said.

A step-cut blue diamond weighing 3.01 carats, graded fancy vivid, is estimated at 4.2 million - 6.3 million francs. A fancy intense pink diamond weighing 7 carats is estimated at 2.4 million - 3.4 million francs.

"Pink is maybe the most, I would say the most popular of all the colors, maybe not the most valuable, but it is the most popular I think, because everybody likes pink diamonds," Bennett said.
YEREVAN.  According to our petition to the Constitutional Court [(CC)], the Constitutional Court can completely reverse all this. Edmon Marukyan, leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party (BAP) and head of its parliamentary faction, stated this in a conversation with journalists Wednesday, referring to the remark that before they petition to the Constitutional Court, the powers of some judges of the Constitutional Court will be terminated.

Asked whether they believe that the ratio of the makeup of the Constitutional Court will change in favor of the authorities in a very short time and their petition to the Constitutional Court will be prematureand their petition may not even be accepted, Marukyan answered: "You will see that our petition will be accepted. Second, remember that it was said that 7 out of 9 members of the Constitutional Court should leave because they are former, and so on. Now, if we subtract two of those 7, or even if we subtract three, the balance doesn't change."

Marukyan added that no one had assured him that their petition would be processed. "But the draft made sloppily, and as a result of sloppiness, their goaldismissing the three judgeswill not be fulfilled because it will not apply to the third judge."

And as for the judges of the Constitutional Court, the leader of the BAP said. "All judges who will be dismissed will be reinstated through legal proceedings because what happened occurred in clear violation of the Constitution."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 04:41:08|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The memoir of John Bolton, U.S. President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, was released on Tuesday, days after a federal judge denied the Trump administration's request to block its publication.

"There is simply no precedent for a former top administration official publishing a book about a sitting president that is as damning as John Bolton's," a CNN report commented on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, many local analysts say the revelations of Bolton's book, titled The Room Where It Happened, are not likely to make much difference among most Republicans behind Trump.

Trump blasted Bolton's book on Twitter last week, calling it "a compilation of lies and made up stories, all intended to make me look bad."

Bolton reportedly received a 2-million-U.S.-dollar advance for his tell-all book and if it sells well, additional royalties could follow.

However, the Saturday ruling by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth has raised questions about whether Bolton will be allowed to keep the money for his book.

Lamberth rejected the Trump administration's attempt to block the formal publication of the book, citing that news organizations already had copies, hundreds of thousands were at warehouses about to be shipped, and Bolton was giving interviews. However, the judge also wrote that Bolton was publishing without receiving an official letter from the government saying the book does not contain classified information.

"This was Bolton's bet: If he is right and the book does not contain classified information, he keeps the upside mentioned above; but if he is wrong, he stands to lose his profits from the book deal, exposes himself to criminal liability, and imperils national security," the judge wrote.

Bolton, a foreign policy hawk who served as Trump's third national security adviser from April 2018 to September 2019, was ousted over disagreements with the president on a range of issues. Enditem
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24



By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:



Turkish Airlines will resume flights to the capital of Turkmenistan - Ashgabat - from July 22, 2020, Trend reports with reference to Arzuw NEWS.



Istanbul-Ashgabat-Istanbul flight will be carried out 3 times a week, the report says.



Turkish Airlines office in Ashgabat does not have an official permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan to resume flights to Ashgabat. Despite this, the sale of tickets has already opened.



Currently the company's offices do not provide a free refund of purchased tickets.



In addition to Turkmenistan, Turkish Airlines has also resumed flights to some other countries.



Earlier, Turkish Airlines extended the suspension of flights to Turkmenistan until July 20 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.



Turkmenistan has no registered cases of coronavirus infection.



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.



---

Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
Patanjali Ayurved had sought license for "immunity booster, cough and fever" without mentioning coronavirus in the application, an official at the Uttarakhand government's Ayurveda department said. "As per Patanjali's application, we issued them license. They didn't mention coronavirus, we only approved license for immunity booster, cough and fever," news agency ANI reported citing an unidentified state government official.

On Tuesday, Baba Ramdev's Patanjali launched an Ayurvedic tablet, 'Coronil' claiming that it will help to cure coronavirus infection. However, later in the day, the Ministry of AYUSH asked the company to provide details of the drug's composition and evidence for its findings and trials. "Facts of the claims and details of the stated scientific study are not known to the ministry," the ministry's statement said. The government also asked Patanjali not to advertise the product until the issue is examined.

While launching the drug yesterday, Patanjali had said: "100% Covid-19 patients recover within seven days."

Dismissing the ongoing controversy, Patanjali Ayurved said that the issue is unnecessarily being blown out of proportion. All the required documents are in order and the company has also sent a reply to the ministry. "Everything is in order as per the mandated protocol," Patanjali Ayurved spokesperson SK Tijarawala told BusinessToday.In.

AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik had earlier today said that Patanjali Ayurved's recently announced coronavirus treating drug will be given the go-ahead only after the government has thoroughly reviewed the reports sent by the company about the drug.

Meanwhile, India currently has more than 4,50,000 COVID-19 patients and the death figure has surged upwards of 14,000.

Also read: RIL deal: Mukesh Ambani closes in on $15 billion-agreement with Saudi Aramco

Also read: Coronavirus crisis in India: Highest spike of nearly 16,000 new cases in 24 hours; total tally surges to 4.56 lakh
Ichi Sushis temporary closure in March due to the coronavirus pandemic has become permanent.

News of the Bernal Heights sushi bars shut down was first reported by Tablehopper. Erin Archuleta, who co-owns the business with her husband, Tim, addressed the closure on Twitter.

Thank you to everyone, especially our amazing team members through the years who made ICHI such a special place. Weve loved working with and learning from all of you. Thank you to the guests who trusted us with all your special memories. Love to you all, she wrote Tuesday afternoon.

Archuleta told The Chronicle she and her husband plan to sell the Ichi Sushi restaurant at 3369 Mission St., and the decision to close was based around concerns around the time frame for a vaccine for COVID-19.

Its just didnt seem feasible for us to open back up with how our restaurant operates. We have to put health first, she said.

Ichi debuted in San Francisco in 2006 and built such a following that it expanded into a larger space nearby on Mission Street in 2014. About three years later, the owners scaled back and returned to the original space. At the time, Archuleta said the move was a way to help Tim, who was in and out of the hospital recovering from surgery.

It has really been a special journey and the response weve had to closing is just people sharing overwhelmingly positive memories. People got engaged here, I remember people from the neighborhood helping us put up tables before we first opened. This whole thing was just a community effort, she said.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Ichi Sushi joins a growing list of beloved San Francisco food businesses to close since shelter in place. In early June, Cambodian restaurant Angkor Borei, which is located near Ichi Sushi, and Toy Boat Dessert Cafe, a popular spot for ice cream and sweets in the Inner Richmond, both closed in San Francisco. Together, the businesses had been open for nearly 70 years.

When youre a business owner, you deal with a lot of things. But a pandemic was new for us, Archuleta said with a laugh. Im glad to see friends reopening and outdoor dining. We just didnt fit into that model.

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 23:07:03|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli government unanimously approved on Wednesday a bill to reallow the Shin Bet internal security service to track and detect coronavirus patients amid the recent increase in morbidity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the special government meeting that "we will use this tool responsibly and safely to curb the spread of the pandemic."

The purpose of the proposed law, which requires the parliament's approval, is to enable digital monitoring of coronavirus patients and the transfer of information to the Ministry of Health.

The implementation of the law will be subject to approval by Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

In this controversial program, which began back in mid-March, the Shin Bet has worked with the health ministry to track the movements of COVID-19 patients using data from their mobile phones, credit card transactions, and other digital sources.

In late April, however, Israel's Supreme Court ordered to freeze the tracking by the Shin Bet, stating that such a move requires legislation.

The court ruling came after two rights groups, the Association of Civil Rights in Israel and Adalah, the center for Arab minority rights, and the Union of Journalists in Israel, petitioned against the tracking. Enditem
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Recently surfing the far reaches of Netflix for a program on World War II that I hadnt yet seen, I found a low budget serial documentary dealing with air power in war and in peace. The producers profiled individuals who had contributed to the eventualities of the airplane as a weapon of war or, conversely, as a beacon of mans progressive evolution from terrestrial prisoner to celestial astronaut.

One of the men profiled, from the roster of the likes of Amelia Earhart, James Doolittle, Richard Bong, and Charles Lindbergh, was South Dakota Senator and World War II bomber pilot, George McGovern. The progressive senator was trounced by Tricky Dick Nixon in the 1972 presidential election, only garnering electoral college votes from the state of Massachusetts and the District of Columbia and losing the popular vote by 60 million ballots cast. Such was the fate of the prophet preaching immediate peace at a time when America was uncomfortable with losing a war it had not yet realized it could not win.

Having seen the horrors of war up close in the cockpit of his B-24 Liberator, flying thirty-five missions over war-torn Europe, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross by stalwartly piloting his Dakota Queen through thick flak and against Germanys finest fighter aircraft, he was loath to sacrifice any more of the youth of America in the far off jungles of Southeast Asia. He was branded as soft on communist aggression and too far left to be trusted with the reins of foreign policy in the midst of Americas insistence on beating back Communism.

But as a surgeon who, like the bomber pilot, sees death frequently enough, I was moved to tears at a story he told during this show. He was returning home after flying a mission into Austria when one of the large five-hundred-pound bombs got stuck on the bomb racks in the belly of the airplane. Unable to close the bay doors, McGovern was forced to fly low and slow as the crew frantically tried to loose the bomb from the rack so they could safely land the plane in Italy. At high noon, he recalled, flying over the Austrian countryside, some of the crew were finally able to scuttle the sticky pin keeping the bomb on board. Though rid of the Damoclean sword, his relief turned to horror as he saw his petard fall earthward and seek out the small cottage of an Austrian farmer whose inhabitants, likely tucking in for their noon meal, feeling safe from the bombs and rockets devastating the urban centers elsewhere, were almost certainly done in by his errant weapon of war. The thought of bombing the bucolic residence, so similar to the farmhouses in rural South Dakota, and killing or maiming an innocent child or loving grandmother, haunted the young man for decades. The incident was etched in his memory, image for image, like a nightmarish Movietone newsreel, playing out in the future senators shocked cerebral cortex.

Though nowhere near as heroic as Senator McGovern, until there are magic bullets discovered for operable disease, surgeons will be plagued with the possibility of heartbreaking operative morbidity. Every red line I etch on someones epidermal canvas brings the possibility of unintended consequence. After twenty-seven years of practice, I see my own mistakes, my common bile duct injury, my colon leak, my thirty-day death, play out on my own Movietone projector, all unintentional wayward bombs bringing destruction, even death to the innocents when disease was the real target of that days foray.

Many years later, McGovern, while still loath to retell the horrors of war publicly or privately, gave an interview on Austrian television recounting the impact America had on the war and the recovery in Europe. He told his story of the accidental destruction of the farmhouse and the family that must have perished and how heavily this weighed on his mind. The raid was callously juxtaposed to the happiest news he could imagine upon returning to base. A grinning captain notified the stunned aviator that news had arrived that he was now a dad, father to a healthy baby girl back home in South Dakota. His emotional state that day could hardly have been more ambivalent; joy from home, opposed by utter despondency from the cockpit keeping him so far from that home.

A few days later, an elderly gentleman phoned the TV station, asking them to tell that American senator not to worry any longer about that bomb. It was his house that the Dakota Queen had obliterated, but because they were flying so low and slow, his family had had time to seek shelter, and no one was injured in the errant high-noon explosion. Yes, his house had been destroyed, but given his hatred of Hitler, he gladly forgave the U.S. Army Air Force, if, in their attempts to rid the world of this tyrant, a few Austrian farmhouses were sacrificed.

Forty years of steady, gnawing unknowing in McGoverns psyche were relieved that day. Its a feeling I am vaguely familiar with; I feel some fraction of that angst when we close an incision and some semblance of that solace every time a challenging patient with a big operation goes home. In opening that belly, on that person, frail with the sharp vicissitudes and inflammations of hard living and lost youth, we install the bombs on the rack meant to attack the disease in the patient. But the delivery isnt always pickled perfectly. The unexpected complication, especially in an elective case, always feels like I have done something wrong, like I have bombed the farmhouse instead of the munitions plant. And there is no good news, not even a birth announcement, that takes the sting out of that feeling. Only time, hopeful recovery, and patient understanding can salve that chancred soul. Perhaps its a sign of age or experience, having uncovered a few of Donald Rumsfelds unknown unknowns, (the blissful ignorance of such, enables the bravado of a young surgeon), but I find myself seeing what can go wrong for a patient rather than what can go right.

I take some solace in knowing I am in good company. Dr. Thomas Starzl, father of liver transplantation and minor god in the pantheon of surgical persona grata, fell to the floor of his office one day, with chest and jaw pain and in the throws of an obvious cardiac ischemic event, noted to himself, Thank God. Now I have a good excuse not to operate anymore. The legend of liver surgery had unexploded ordnance in his bomb bay as well.

But when I saw the senator from South Dakota almost weep for joy at the learning of his exculpation from sin, I wept with him. Tears filled my eyes as the thrall of his guilt lifted from the broad shoulders of his soul was every bit as meaningful to me as it was to himself. The patient I was certain I had screwed up on, is going home, with only an inconsequential bit of collateral damage, his bile leak controlled, just a trickle from the cystic duct stump.

I wonder what the next mission will bring. I hope its a milk run.

Arthur Williams is a general surgeon.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Secondary schools across Victoria will reopen on December 30, less than two weeks into the summer holidays, to support students receiving their year 12 results.

The post-Christmas release of VCE and VCAL results this year, because of COVID-19, also means graduating students will have less than a week to meet the deadline to change their university preferences.

Delays to this year's exam timetable mean year 12 students will get their results on December 30. Credit:Karleen Minney

Year 12 students normally receive their results by the final day of school, with schools often holding a morning tea to mark the occasion and offer emotional support and career counselling.

The school year will end on December 18 this year.
KBS2 TV's "Fix You" is coming to an end, and as much as viewers would love to continue watching the fateful relationship of Lee Shi Joon (Shin Ha Kyun) and Han Woo Joo (Jung So Min), it brings viewers both joy and sadness to finally see the conclusion of their romantic story.

"Fix You" is a romance drama that tells the story of psychiatrist Lee Shi Joon and musical actress Han Woo Joo. Here are the three things to expect as it reaches its finale.

1. Lee Shi Joon's Future

In the previous episode, Lee Shi Joon hosted a surprise live podcast to save nurse Na, which got him suspended by Eun Kang Hospital's disciplinary board. Given that his patients, who mean a lot to him, are still in the hospital without his care, viewers are curious about what he will do and when he's going to return to the hospital.

Additionally, the director of the psychiatric department will be revealed at last. Will it be Lee Shi Joon, Oh Ki Tae (Park Soo Young), or Park Dae Ha (Jung Hae Kyun)?

2. Han Woo Joo's progress

Despite her musical abilities, Han Woo Joo suffers from the fear of abandonment, which comes with experiencing extreme mood swings. She is clinically diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder.

In past episodes, Han Woo Joo entered treatment for her disorder. Her mom thinks her daughter lost herself in the process. Also, Han Woo Joo stopped her obsession with her stepmom and displayed progress with her recovery from her disorder.

The previous episodes also showed Han Woo Joo's new beginnings, making viewers even more curious about how Han Wo Joo will progress as a patient who gave up drama therapy to help aspiring musical actors.

3. The conclusion of the drama

What's amazing about the drama "Fix You" is that it doesn't only bring something that will make viewers' hearts aflutter, but it also brings knowledge, awareness, and relatability about mental health and recovery. It tells viewers that such disorders are important to be addressed and should not be deemed as ugly.

At the end of the 28th episode, Lee Shi Joon finds out that Dong Hyuk (Tae In Ho) was caught up in a drug addiction incident, which is another problem left to solve. With the military commander Song Min Soo (Ryu Shi Won), the past of Dong Hyuk and the character development of Shin Ha Kyung and Jung So Min, viewers are airing with curiosity about the conclusion of each character's life in the drama.

Catch the final episodes of "Fix You" on June 24 at 10:00 p.m. KST.
Polands Ambassador to Ukraine Bartosz Cichocki has expressed hope that flights between Poland and Ukraine may be resumed in early July.

"The issue of railway link was raised, but safety is the priority. And now, unfortunately, the situation with COVID-19 in the border regions of Ukraine makes it difficult for me to imagine that the railway link will work. We hope to resume flights from the beginning of July. This can alleviate the situation on the border," the Ambassador said at a briefing upon the Parliamentary Assembly video conference meeting on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

There are problems at the Medyka-Shehyni border crossing point that need coordinated actions of Polish and Ukrainian border guards, he added.

Along with communication and dialogue between parliamentarians, there is an intensive dialogue between the governments on various aspects. We hope for [holding talks on] education next week. There is a dialogue between the interior ministries, Cichocki added.

Poland extended a ban on international passenger flights until June 16.

A meeting of the Ukraine-Poland Parliamentary Assembly was held via video conference on Tuesday, June 23. The event was chaired by Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratiuk and Deputy Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Ryszard Terlecki.

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(Photo : Neonbrand on Unsplash) FACEBOOK Vs. GERMANY: FB Accused of Abusing Social Media Dominance After Losing Antitrust Decision in Germany (Photo : Joshua Hoene on Unsplash) FACEBOOK Vs. GERMANY: FB Accused of Abusing Social Media Dominance After Losing Antitrust Decision in Germany

Facebook has lost the fight against Germany over illegal data collection accusations. According to The New York Times' latest report, the social media platform lost an appeal against charges that it violated competition laws by abusing its dominance in social media in a closely watched case of an antitrust decision.

Germany's top court ruling on Tuesday, June 23, ould further embolden European governments to take on large tech platforms, claiming that Facebook illegally harvests data about its users by abusing its dominance in social media.

The decision is the country's major victory for proponents of tougher regulation of the world's largest technology companies after Germany's antitrust watchdog upheld a decision ruled by the Federal Court of Justice.

According to The New York Times' previous report, the case had been closely observed after a novel interpretation of competition law to rule against the social media giant last year was used by German regulators. The authorities claimed that Facebook broke competition laws by combining data collected from users across different platforms,

Facebook accused of violating competition laws in Germany

User data were acquired from social media platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, as well as from third-party apps and even outside websites. The social media giant now needs to alter how it processes data about its users in Germany. The social media company must now allow people when they refuse to combine information about their daily activities on other apps and websites with Facebook.

The decision on the case may not be the last word since a ruling on the matter must still be issued by a lower court. The process is viewed by some antitrust attorneys as a formality given the high court's strongly worded ruling. However, it was theorized that another appeal might be set up with the federal high court making the lower court ruling in Facebook's favor.

However, Rupprecht Podszun, a professor of competition law at the University of Dusseldorf, said that German officials could send the matter to the European Court of Justice, the high court of the European Union that resolves many thorny legal questions from member states, to avoid a ruling in Facebook's favor.

Facebook argued that it still has months before it must comply, allowing the social media platform to continue the fight and avoid making sudden decisions to make any immediate changes.

"We will continue to defend our position that there is no antitrust abuse," said the social media company.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Rhode Island has started the process of changing its full, official name from The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, due to its connection to slavery.

The states governor, Gina Raimondo, signed an executive order on Monday to shorten the name to its colloquial title Rhode Island on government documents, CBS News reported.

The states legislature is also putting forward a bill to alter the name entirely for a referendum, after the states only black senator, Harold Metts, introduced the bill.

Whatever the history of the term is in Rhode Island, it is an unnecessary and painful reminder of our nations racist past, Mr Metts, who traces his lineage on his mothers side to the Speck Plantation near Charlottesville, Virginia, said in a statement.

It is a hurtful term to so many of us.

The executive order will shorten the name on official communications from the governors office such as executive orders and citations and on the states website.

Many of the States residents find it painful that a word so closely associated with slavery should appear in the official name of the State, Ms Raimondo said in the order.

The pain that this association causes to some of our residents should be of concern to all Rhode Islanders and we should do everything in our power to ensure that all communities can take pride in our state.

For the states official name to be permanently changed voters will need to vote to amend the Rhode Island Constitution in November.

The name change was previously put to a vote in 2010, with 78% of state voters opposing the removal of the Providence Plantations title, CBS News reported.

Recommended How racial justice protests impact fight to oust Mitch McConnell

Mr Metts said he has renewed hope that there has been a change in attitudes not only in the last decade but in the last few weeks.

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, he said.

The state has seen continued civil unrest in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis after a white police officer pinned him to the ground by his neck for a prolonged period of time.

The unnecessary death of Floyd and other black Americans including Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, has catalysed protests across all 50 states against police brutality against black Americans, systemic racism, and racial discrimination, forcing state leaders to re-examine police structures and cultural values.

Rhode Island was founded on the principles of acceptance and tolerance, and our states name  and actions  should reflect those values, Ms Raimondo tweeted on Monday.
Photo: Dan DeLuca/Flickr

Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Houston. Garcia: Investigators believe foul play may be involved in Vanessa Guillens disappearance Read the full story on KPRC2 / Click2Houston. Man, 20, charged with felony deadly conduct after shooting near Houston police station, Chief Acevedo says Read the full story on KPRC2 / Click2Houston. Largest children's hospital in the US admits adults as virus cases soar in Texas Read the full story on CBS13 CBS Sacramento. Houston grandmother seeking justice for 3-year-old granddaughter Read the full story on Damali Keith FOX 26. HPD: 1 dead, 2 injured during shooting in northeast Houston Read the full story on KHOU. 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.

U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston) said Tuesday that investigators believe foul play may be involved in the disappearance of a missing Fort Hood soldier who is from Houston.

Acevedo said the 20-year-old man was borrowing the AK-47 and the men were not targeting the station but hit some trees. According to Chief Acevedo, no one was injured during the shooting. Police said the men were detained without incident.

Texas Children's Hospital said it was admitting adult patients across its campuses to free up more hospital bed space in the Houston area.

A Houston woman's granddaughter died two years ago and she is still pushing for justice in her death.
Iranian flagged fuel tanker 'Fortune' is seen after it was docked at El Palito refinery in Puerto Cabello, state of Carabobo, Venezuela, on May 26, 2020.

WASHINGTON  The Treasury Department on Wednesday slapped fresh sanctions on five Iranian ship captains who delivered gasoline to Venezuela, whose once-thriving oil industry has suffered a breakdown.

The Iranian shipping sector is a frequent target of the Trump administration for its financial support of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's regime.

Earlier this week, five Iranian tankers brought approximately 1.5 million barrels to the gas-starved country, which was once a prominent fuel exporter. The move was likely to anger Washington as the two OPEC nations sidestep U.S. sanctions.

"The Treasury Department will target anyone who supports Iranian attempts to evade United States sanctions and who further enables their destabilizing behavior around the world," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin wrote in a statement. "The Iranian regime's support to the authoritarian and corrupt regime in Venezuela is unacceptable, and the administration will continue to use its authorities to disrupt it."

The five Iranian captains' designated work for Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and National Iranian Tanker Co. and, over the past month, have captained vessels identified as blocked property.

"Mariners who do business with Iran and Venezuela will face consequences from the United States of America," Mike Pompeo, the nation's top diplomat, said Wednesday at the State Department. "The Maduro regime has mismanaged Venezuela's abundant natural resources to the point that it must import gasoline from Iran, and Maduro's claims of equal and fair gasoline distribution are fooling no one," he added.

Gasoline is scarce in Venezuela due to a near-complete breakdown of the OPEC nation's 1.3 million barrel-per-day refining network. Oil, the country's biggest export, has plummeted more than 60% since Maduro succeeded dictator Hugo Chavez as Venezuela's president in 2013.
'North Korea reinstalling border loudspeakers amid renewed tensions with South'

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 9:50 AM

A South Korean military source says North Korea is reinstalling loudspeakers used to broadcast anti-South messages across the border, amid heightened tensions between the two Koreas.

The two neighbors have headed towards an escalation in recent weeks over Seoul's failure to stop North Korean defectors from sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets over the border.

A South Korean military official told Reuters on Tuesday that North Korea's military was seen setting up loudspeakers near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas.

The source added that Seoul was mulling reinstalling its own propaganda systems, even though he said the North hadn't begun broadcasting yet.

The loudspeakers were taken down after the two Koreas signed a pact in 2018 to cease "all hostile acts."

Speaking at a regular briefing, a spokeswoman for South Korea's Defense Ministry declined to confirm the report, but warned that the country would "have to pay for the consequences" if it continues to defy joint efforts to reinforce peace.

North Korean media said on Monday that Pyongyang was prepared to launch thousands of "retaliatory" balloons carrying 12 million leaflets to its southern neighbor "to make them pay dearly for their crime."

Pyongyang recently cut off all communication lines with the South and blew up a liaison office building near their joint border to signal its displeasure with the propaganda leaflets coming from the South.

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Without caps tossing, group photo shoot or even an in-person commencement, the graduation season of class of 2020 is anything but traditional. Currently, 8.74 million college graduates in China are celebrating their graduations online due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

According to a survey conducted by the China Youth Daily and Wenjuan.com, 88.6% of Chinese college graduates celebrated their graduation ceremonies online. The events they participated in included watching virtual graduation ceremonies, creating group photos, and recording graduation videos.

Though 85.7% of the surveyed expressed regret attending their college lives online, 83.1% still believed that this year's "online graduation" provided a sense of ceremony.

Virtual commencements

Universities across the country are moving graduation ceremonies online and trying their best to make alternative graduation plans.

"Due to the coronavirus concerns, today, we hold the first-ever online graduation ceremony in the history of Tsinghua University," Qiu Yong, president of Tsinghua University, said during the university's virtual graduation ceremony on June 22. "I believe that the graduation ceremony during this special period has a very special meaning for all graduates, and will definitely leave you an unforgettable memory."

Over twenty media and online platforms livestreamed the ceremony in Chinese and English. Although there is no degree awarding ceremony this time, Tsinghua University has promised that the graduates are welcome to return to campus for any future ceremony.

Screenshot of Tsinghua University's live streamed online graduation ceremony on June 22 on Facebook.

A special graduation ceremony combining traditional and virtual degree conferring events was also held at Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NUPT) in eastern China.

Telepresence robots wearing gowns and equipped with tablets showing the faces of students were used to receive diplomas in the absence of graduates. On the other side of the screen, the students waved and made heart hand gestures to their principals.

Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications used self-developed telepresence robots to help graduates who were unable to attend the graduation ceremony on May 22. [Screenshot courtesy of NUPT]

"To make up for the fact that you can't attend the in-person graduation ceremony, the university would like to entrust your parents to complete the tassel turning ceremony on behalf of the school," Yao Yu, president of Harbin Engineering University (HEU) said to the students via live streaming on June 3.

Yu Kun, a graduate majoring in Aerospace Science and Technology of HEU, expressed his excitement when his mother turned the tassel for him. "I was still able to wear the graduation gown and cap mailed by the university in advance and I had my tassels turned by my mother. At that moment I really felt pride."

Creative graduation photos

Apart from the online commencement, HEU also offered its students photoshopped graduation photos. Yu Kun showed understanding of the university's efforts, saying that though it's indeed a great pity to not have a real picture, this one-of-a-kind graduation photo is a unique memory.

Yu Kun, who studied seven years at Harbin Engineering University, attended the online graduation ceremony and took a photoshopped picture with the president. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

A group of students of NUPT developed a WeChat mini-program for graduates to upload their selfies to create graduation photos themselves.
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo apologized to his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in reference to the illegal building demolition on the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, according to a statement

The two West African leaders spoke by telephone, according to Nigerian presidential spokesman Garba Shehu. Akufo-Addo assured Buhari that a full investigation would be made in to the incident.

Shehu added that a number of suspects had been arrested.

According to local media, a number of people entered the residence of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana with a bulldozer and razed a structure that was nearly completed. It was to be housing for either staff and visitors.

Online Ghanaian news site GhanaWeb said it had interviewed Nii Odoi Kwao II, the head of the Nii Odei Kwao family and a member of the Osu Stool, a traditional council. He said that the land the Nigerian High Commission built on land that actually belonged to the Osu Stool.

Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb, Head of the Nii Odei Kwao family and a member of the Osu Stool, Nii Odoi Kwao II reiterated that the said land belongs to the Osu Stool and not the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana.

Nii Odei who declined to speak on the matter of the demolition carried out by unidentified persons extensively said, the incident is a sad one which the Osu Council is not happy about, according to GhanaWeb.

The leader said that the Osu Stool will be meeting to discuss this matter and the pending litigation over the land. He added that the traditional council did not intend to make a diplomatic row over the issue.

Nigeria had lodged a complaint after the incident.

On Tuesday, a number of videos were posted on social media of some 30 Nigerian nationals in Accra protesting in front of the building.

In Nigeria, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila spoke out on behalf of the House, calling for retaliatory measures for those who do not respect diplomatic rights and privileges of Nigeria and its citizens in foreign lands.
A soldier votes at a polling booth during the presidential elections at the Malembo polling station in Lilongwe on June 23, 2020. (Amos Gumulira/AFP via Getty Images)

Malawi Starts Counting Votes in Rerun of Presidential Election

BLANTYRE, MalawiPolls closed across Malawi on June 23 after millions voted for the countrys president in a rerun of the 2019 election that was nullified by the courts because of vote tampering.

Counting of ballots has begun at the 5,000 polling stations and the results will be announced from the National Tally Center in Blantyre. The Malawi Election Commission has eight days to announce the official results.

Incumbent President Peter Mutharika, 79, is running against Lazarus Chakwera, 65, leader of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party.

The Constitutional Court on Feb. 3 struck down Mutharikas victory in the May 2019 election, citing evidence of voting fraud, including thousands of ballots that appeared to have been altered using typing correction fluid. The ruling was upheld by the Malawi Supreme Court.

Some 6.8 million Malawians were eligible to cast ballots.

The Human Rights Defenders Coalition, a local organization, led demonstrations across the country to call for fairness in the electoral process. The groups national coordinator, Luke Tembo, told AP that the voting on June 23 is what the group had been campaigning for.

This has now given people a second chance to exercise their rights. Now, we have been calling on people to come out in their large numbers to vote to determine the future of this country, said Tembo. We believe this time around, we are going to get things right and get a free, fair, and credible election.

The day before the vote, there was a spate of clashes in the capital, Lilongwe, and the lakeshore town of Nkhotakota sparked by rumors of vote-rigging. The order was restored by soldiers of the Malawi Defence Force who have been deployed across the country.

Electoral Commission Chairperson Chifundo Kachale assured voters that the polling process would be fair.

Before the voting started, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all political actors and stakeholders to renew their commitment to credible and peaceful elections while observing all preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19, according to a statement issued by spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

A number of local and international organizations are observing the new elections, in an effort to ensure that they are free and fair. The European Union, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, several diplomatic missions, and the Commonwealth also observed the elections, the Malawi Electoral Commissions spokesman Sangwani Mwafulirwa said.

The U.S. and British embassies announced that they sent out small observer missions as a supplement to thousands of domestic election observers and political party monitors.

By Gregory Gondwe
Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) has introduced a range of incentives to support its customers and new companies to resume their activities with renewed confidence in the post-Covid-19 environment.

In line with the emerging market dynamics, Jafza now offers on-demand warehouses on short-term lease with multi-functional storage options, competitive rates, and no VAT or customs duties. Companies can now take on lease Jafza warehouses from 300sq m to 15,000sq m in size, with free water and electricity as a bonus, said a statement.

Importantly, the comprehensive range of focussed support includes easier rental terms like monthly rentals and deferred rental payments, cost-effective transport services that save costs, enhance ease of accessibility and enable speedier services.

In-house logistics solutions such as clearing and document processing services, 24/7 lease issuance, fast-track EHS approvals are tailored to assist companies manage their supply chain costs while facilitating trade and efficient movement of goods, it said.

Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO & Managing Director of DP World, UAE Region and CEO of Jafza, said: Challenging times call for competitive solutions. At DP World, UAE Region and Jafza were working on customised solutions for a post-pandemic trading world in which our customers pay less for more value-added service support across-the-board. New business and existing companies will find our investor-friendly, back-to-business ecosystem built around the emerging needs of the markets in a growth climate beyond the pandemic. Being a part of the vital service sectors of the UAE economy, we assure our customers that we will ensure the continuity of their business in the most uncertain of times by connecting them to new opportunities.

The incentives come on the back of the 70 per cent reduction in registration, licensing and administrative fees announced before the pandemic lockdown began in mid-March.

Jafzas world-class plug-and-play infrastructure connects traders globally through Jebel Ali Port and its Smart Trade solutions. A range of e-services are now free of cost to enable companies to focus on what's important to them: their business.

DP World, UAE Regions integrated logistics and business hub provides round-the-clock accessibility to Jebel Ali Port and the loading docks that are equipped with value-added services and facilities like cross stuffing and cross-docking capabilities for shippers, security, ramps and spacious parking areas.

Doing business from Jafza is getting easier than ever before in the aftermath of Covid-19, the statement added.  TradeArabia News Service
Former Home and Away star Tai Hara and his wife Fely Irvine have announced they are expecting their first child.

The actor, 30, and wife Fely, 31, who was a member of children's group Hi-5, shared the news on their respective Instagram accounts on Monday.

In the sweet announcement, the couple both posted a video which showed them relaxing on their bed at home while singing Michael Bubles Havent Met You Yet.

Big news! On Monday, former Home and Away star Tai Hara and his Hi-5 star wife Fely Irvine announce they are expecting their first child (both pictured) in a cute video

'Hint: watch till the end,' the video was captioned.

After the adorable duet, where talented Tai also played guitar, the screen faded to black as the big news was revealed.

'Cant wait to meet you baby Irvine Hara,' the announcement read.

The couple were inundated with good wishes from friends and fans, including some from Tai's former Home and Away co-stars.

So sweet! In the sweet announcement, the couple both posted a video which showed them relaxing on their bed at home while singing Michael Bubles Havent Met You Yet

'Best news to wake up to, Congrats to this baby on having the best genetics out there,' wrote Lincoln Younes.

'This is the best! Im 100000000% thankful for this! congrats. Love you both,' shared Bonnie Sveen.

The announcement comes two years after Tai and Fely tied the knot in a romantic ceremony at the Alila Villas in Uluwatu, Bali.

The big reveal: After the adorable duet, where talented Tai also played guitar, the screen faded to black as the big news was revealed

Speaking to New Idea magazine at the time, the couple said the nuptials were incredibly emotional, and they both cried while standing at the altar.

'I felt completely speechless when Fely first walked towards me in her stunning dress,' Tai gushed.

'Everything else just slips away, standing at the altar with your best friend and the love of your life. It's just the two of you, the most overwhelming experience. I tried to hold it together...' Fely said.

Overcome: The couple were inundated with good wishes from friends and fans including some of Tai's former Home and Away co-stars

The lavish ceremony came two years after Tai proposed to his songstress girlfriend while the pair were on holidays visiting a Scottish castle.

Tai got down on one knee at her family's ancestral home - Drum Castle, in Scotland just outside Aberdeen - on their second anniversary.

Fely, who is half Scottish and half Filipino, described the engagement to Daily Mail Australia as a complete shock: 'I didn't see it coming at all! It was perfect.'

Loved up: The exciting announcement comes two years after the pair tied the knot in Bali

'I'd been carrying the ring around Europe for two weeks wrapped in three different bags and a sock because it wasn't as if I could hide it in the hotel safe,' he said.

The pair met four years ago when they both auditioned for Hi 5.

Fely performed with the children's group from 2009 to 2011, before being replaced by Dayen Zheng.

While Tai was not successful, he later went on to score the role of Andy Barrett on Home and Away, who he portrayed for three years.

The pair are yet to announce an expected due date.
As district leaders draft their reopening plans for the 2020-21 school year, they cant lose sight of the students who will not return to school and those who wont be able to access traditional courses.

They may be students with underlying health conditions that put them at risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19, or they may live with family members who are at risk. They may be students who are homebound because of severe physical disabilities. Or they may be students whose parents are just not willing to send them to school until there is a vaccine or effective treatment for the virus.

Similarly, there are special-needs students who may require one-on-one services that are best delivered in a home setting.

Here are some alternative options:

Independent study

Districts can provide opportunities for students to work at their own pace, with assignments tailored to their academic needs.

Materials, which should be aligned to state standards, should be available in a variety of formats: printed packets, online assignments, and video lessons, according to the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

Students should also have access to teachers for ongoing support and feedback. And because those students will be away from school for the semester or longerespecially if their peers are back in classdistricts must create opportunities for them to engage with classmates.

District and school leaders are confronting difficult, high-stakes decisions as they plan for how to reopen schools amid a global pandemic. Through eight installments, Education Week journalists explore the big challenges education leaders must address, including running a socially distanced school, rethinking how to get students to and from school, and making up for learning losses. We present a broad spectrum of options endorsed by public health officials, explain strategies that some districts will adopt, and provide estimated costs. Part 1: The Socially Distanced School Day

Part 2: Scheduling the COVID-19 School Year

For students who are homebound, the districts will have to collaborate with families to figure out the best times for teachers to work with them.

Districts must also create and conduct assessments to track students progress and ensure that they have technical support to complete assignments.

Small group instruction

Some students thrived in the remote learning environment while others struggled academically.

Small group sessions, either on or off campus, are a good way for districts to tailor intensive academic supports for students who need help to get back on track.

Both staff and students in these small group sessions will follow public health guidelines and safety protocols.

Virtual academies

Virtual schools operated and staffed by local districts are an option for districts that experience high teacher and student opt-out rates when in-person instruction resumes.

Expecting that a significant number of parents may not want to send their children back to school, Guilford County Public Schools in Greensboro, N.C., has asked the states permission to open two virtual academies, with each school serving about 2,000 students.

The district does not yet know whether it will set up those academies, but its an option thats on the table that will allow it to retain students (whose families could decide to enroll in other online schools) and keep the funding tied to those students enrollment.

Though 96 percent of Guilford Countys staff indicated in a recent survey that they planned to return when schools reopen, Superintendent Sharon Contreras expects classes in the virtual schools to be taught by district teachers for whom face-to-face instruction might be too risky.
Winta, a 41-year-old from Eritrea, (second right) walks through her Swiss village with three of her children (from left) Ksanet, 16, Ermias, 13, and Melat, 9.  UNHCR/Mark Henley

Over 1.4 million refugees currently residing in 62 host countries will be in need of resettlement next year according to latest estimates released by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, at an annual resettlement forum today.

With one per cent of humanity now displaced and the overwhelming majority hosted in developing regions facing their own challenges, protection needs are rising but there is a huge deficit in terms of solutions. We need countries to do more and help us find safe homes for those whose lives depend on it, said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi who is attending the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR) this week.

This years resettlement conference is co-hosted with the government of Canada and the Canadian Council for Refugees and is being held virtually.

According to the Projected Global Resettlement Needs 2021 report, launched today at the ATCR, refugees most at risk and in need of resettlement include Syrian refugees. For the fifth year in a row Syrians represent the population with the highest resettlement needs (41 per cent), followed by South Sudanese (9 per cent) and Congolese refugees (9 per cent).

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict and persecution have not stopped and people around the world continue to flee their homes in search of safety, said Grandi.

Resettlement can never be a solution for all of the worlds refugees but for the few that are most at risk it can mean the difference between life and death.

Resettlement, which involves the relocation of refugees from a country of asylum to a country that has agreed to admit them and grant them permanent settlement, helps ensure the protection of those whose lives may be in danger or who have specific needs that cannot be addressed in the country where they have sought protection.

Developing countries host 85 per cent of the worlds refugees. By region of asylum, the East and Horn of Africa region continue to account for the highest resettlement needs. This is followed by Turkey, which is host to 3.6 million refugees, the Middle East and North Africa and the Central Africa and the Great Lakes region.

To share responsibility and show solidarity with states supporting large refugee populations, increasing opportunities for refugees to move to third countries through resettlement and complementary pathways for admission, including family, work and study routes, is one of the key objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees.

Last year, UNHCR and partners launched a Three-Year Strategy on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways which foresees the resettlement of one million refugees and the admission of two million refugees through complementary pathways by 2028. To realize this goal, more countries are needed to join the resettlement program and offer places for refugees.

In 2019, 26 countries admitted 107,800 refugees for resettlement of which nearly 64,000 were with UNHCRs assistance. This year only 57,600 resettlement places have been made available by states to UNHCR. Unfortunately, COVID-19 will impact the full realization of these resettlement spaces.

I call on all countries to step up and make additional contributions to support the most vulnerable refugees - including through resettlement, humanitarian corridors and other admissions schemes, as well as education, labour and family reunification arrangements. The need for solidarity is now more urgent than ever, said Grandi.

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President Donald Trump's brother on Tuesday petitioned a New York court to block the publication of a book by Mary Trump that describes her uncle President Donald Trump as the "world's most dangerous man."

Presales of the book, scheduled for publication on July 28, have soared to the top of best-seller lists on the basis of a description from publisher Simon & Schuster that it will reveal decades of family secrets, including a "nightmare of traumas" that explain the psychology of the man who is now president.

President Trump told the Axios news service earlier this week that Mary Trump is "not allowed" to write the book because she signed a non-disclosure agreement in 2001 that settled her suit against Donald Trump and his siblings regarding her inheritance from her grandfather Fred Trump Sr., Donald Trump's father. President Trump said the agreement was a "very powerful one" that "covers everything."

In the petition to stop publication, President Trump's brother Robert Trump said Mary Trump had agreed as part of a settlement related to the inheritance fight that she "would not publish any account" of her relationship with Donald Trump or his siblings.

The terms of the agreement, which were disclosed as part of the petition to stop the book, required that Mary Trump not "directly or indirectly publish" any account of her relationship with the Trump family unless she had permission from Donald Trump and his siblings. The terms of that agreement had not previously been made public.

The petition was filed in Queens County Surrogate's Court in New York.

Mary Trump's lawyer Theodore Boutrous said in a statement that the family's effort to restrain publication should be tossed out.

"President Trump and his siblings seek to suppress a book that will discuss matters of utmost public importance," he said. "They are pursuing this unlawful prior restraint because they do not want the public to know the truth. The courts will not tolerate this brazen violation of the First Amendment."

President Trump and his allies have made or threatened numerous efforts to block books by journalists and former staffers, and his administration most recently failed to stop publication of former national security adviser John Bolton's highly critical memoir, "The Room Where it Happened," which Simon & Schuster published Tuesday.

But an effort to stop the publication by a member of his family is unprecedented and is bound to bring even more attention to it. In the case of the Bolton book, the contents had already been leaked and volumes printed by the time President Trump tried to stop it. In the case of Mary Trump's book, its contents remain closely guarded by the publisher and it is not clear whether the printing run has begun.

Julia Prosser, a spokeswoman for Simon & Schuster, said in a statement that "the courts take a dim view of prior restraint, and this attempt to block publication will meet the same fate as those that have gone before. In 'Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man,' Mary Trump has written a compelling personal story of worldwide significance, and we look forward to helping her tell her story."

The New York Times first reported that the Trump family is seeking a restraining order against the book.

Robert Trump could not be reached for comment. His attorney Charles Harder provided a statement from Robert Trump that said: "I am deeply disappointed in my niece Mary's 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 Mary's actions are truly a disgrace."

Mary Trump has long been at odds with her family. Her father, Fred Trump Jr., died of alcoholism when she was 16 years old. Friends of her father told The Washington Post last year that they had questions about whether the family failed to help him and whether they might have prevented his death.

President Trump, in an interview with The Post last year, said that he made mistakes in dealing with his brother, and that he regretted trying to push Fred Trump Jr. to go into the family business instead of becoming an airline pilot.

"I do regret having put pressure on him," President Trump said, in a rare acknowledgment of making a mistake.

Mary Trump and her brother Fred Trump III sued Donald and Robert Trump and another sibling, alleging that they did not receive the inheritance that they believed they were promised. Donald Trump responded by cutting off medical assistance to Fred III's son, who has cerebral palsy.

At the time, Mary Trump was angry at the way the family treated her and her brother.

"Given this family, it would be utterly naive to say it has nothing to do with money," she told the New York Daily News in 2000.

Donald Trump said in the interview with The Post that after the suit was settled, "we all get along." Mary Trump's book, if it is published, apparently will tell a different story.

- - -

The Washington Post's Alice Crites contributed to this report.
Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo exchanged viewpoints on developments in the region, mainly in Libya, as well as the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

According to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry on Wednesday, Shoukry and Pompeo discussed developments in Libya, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.

Shoukry discussed Cairos efforts to reach political settlements to achieve stability as well as combat terrorism and foreign interference in the region, according to the statement.

The Egyptian foreign minister also discussed developments on the GERD, including the deadlock in recent talks, which he said was due to Ethiopias intransigence, as well as the impact of the GERD crisis on regional and international peace and security.

The two ministers agreed on continued consultation and coordination in the coming period over all matters of common interest, the statement said.

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The son of a retired garda has been jailed for eight years after he was caught storing over 1.3 million worth of cocaine in a rented storage unit.

Graeme Burke (34), described by his barrister as a sitting duck, had rented the storage unit in his own name using his personal documentation to secure the lease.

Detective Garda Redmond O'Leary told Judge Martin Nolan that while gardai accepted that Burke did not own the drugs and was holding them for some form of reward, he was not at the lowest level of the operation.

Two phones found on Burke were discovered on technical examination to be encrypted devices.

Gda O'Leary said such mobile phones operate on their own network and are very costly to run. He said gardai cannot access the information stored on them and they are used by organised crime gangs.

Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, accepted that his client could not be portrayed as some gullible person who was induced into this but asked Judge Nolan to accept that it was not a sophisticated crime in that the unit was rented in his own name.

He was a sitting duck, to be differentiated from others higher up the ladder who had insulated themselves, Mr O'Higgins said before he added that his client had faced his responsibilities head on by admitting his guilt.

Burke of Woodlands, Ratoath, Co Meath pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 19kg of the drug, worth an estimated 1.336 million at a storage facility on the N2 in Ashbourne, on January 30, 2020.

He has three previous convictions including one for robbery for which he received a four year suspended sentence in August 27, 2005.

Det Gda Burke told John Byrne BL, prosecuting, that both the unit and Burke's van were under surveillance following a tip off to the gardai. Burke was spotted leaving his home address, driving to the storage unit, staying there for ten minutes and driving off again.

He was followed and approached by gardai after parking up in an area in Tallaght, Dublin. Burke immediately confirmed there were drugs in the van and the keys to the storage unit were found on him.

Gda O'Leary said there was seven kilogrammes of cocaine in Burke's van and a further 12 kilogrammes were later found in the storage unit, along with other drug paraphernalia including a money counting machine.

Gda O'Leary agreed with Mr O'Higgins that the storage unit was rented in Burke's own name and his own personal documentation used to organised the lease of it.

He accepted that Burke's father is a retired member of An Garda Siochana and as such, his time in prison may be more difficult.

Mr O'Higgins said his client left school at a young age before training as a painter and decorator and later working as a taxi driver. He said the crime had had a devastating impact on Burke's family.

Judge Nolan accepted that Burke's involvement was to store, transport and distribute the drugs and noted that he had been equipped with the encrypted mobile phones.

It is difficult to know what led him into this. He is a mature man and should have known better, Judge Nolan commented before he jailed Burke for eight years.
The Chief Justices media release instead conveys this straightforward message: We believe you. Powerful stuff. The media release from the Chief Justice also confirms that the name of the subject of the allegations (which he denies) and the recently completed investigation is Dyson Heydon QC. That is his name. Lets call him by his name. On June 22, the NSW Bar Association published a media release that expressed the associations deep concern. The association would not, said the release, comment on the particulars of any individual case and reiterated that there was no place for sexual harassment in the legal profession. The failure to name Dyson Heydon in the NSW Bar Association media release is curious. Heydon was (and remains) a member of the NSW Bar. He practised at the Sydney Bar for many years between the 1970s and the late 1990s. He was made silk in 1987. After his retirement from the High Court, he returned to practise at the Bar.

He is not simply a former Justice of the High Court or an anonymous leader of the profession. He was (until Wednesday morning at least), listed as a member of Eight Selborne Chambers on Phillip Street. Over the past couple of days, I have received emails reminding me that all the professional associations of which I am a member have complaints policies and counsellors available to take my call should I suffer sexual harassment. Those emails also reiterated that sexual harassment is unacceptable in every workplace and in the legal profession. I was glad to receive those emails. But I am left wondering why, in addition to the soothing and supportive emails reminding victims and potential victims of sexual harassment of their capacity to seek help, bulletins were not sent with more direct messages for the perpetrators of sexual harassment. Direct, simple and active language might also help. It is obvious some people in our profession have experienced difficulty in understanding all previous reminders that sexual harassment in the workplace is unlawful. Heres a possible wording for such bulletins: Some of our members still think it is OK to touch more junior practitioners without their consent. Some of our members still think it is OK to use their power to humiliate more junior practitioners and subject them to uninvited sexual overtures.
FGM-148E missiles, which are one of the latest modifications of Javelin systems anti-tank missiles, have been delivered for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

On June 16, as part of a pilot project under the US Government's International Military Sales program, Ukraine received the first consignment of cargo under the contract signed in December 2019, namely missiles for Javelin anti-tank missile systems and auxiliary equipment totalling more than $ 27 million, reads the statement of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

The project envisages the supply of the armament for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, its maintenance and the provision of related services for training of personnel for the reliable and efficient operation of anti-tank systems throughout the life cycle.

Delivery of other military goods in accordance with the agreements will be provided in 2021 - 2022.

The implementation of the contract totalling more than $ 36.5 million is a significant step in the development of Ukrainian-American strategic cooperation to support Ukraine's defence capabilities and opens new prospects for the Ministry of Defence to implement direct foreign economic agreements in arms and military equipment with partner states, the statement says.

As reported, in March 2018, the United States approved lethal assistance to Ukraine, which included 210 Javelin anti-tank missiles and 37 launchers. In October 2019, the U.S. administration approved the $39.2 million sale of 150 missiles and 10 launchers to Ukraine.

In December 2019, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine signed contracts for the supply of the second batch of Javelins.

On June 17, 2020, the United States transferred over $60 million of equipment, including radios, ammunition, and Javelin anti-tank missiles, to Ukraine.

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A former paramilitary leader 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.

Emmanuel 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, according to Haitian Government officials.

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 (Fraph) after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's presidency was toppled in 1991.

They allege that between 1991 and 1994, the group that Constant led terrorized and slaughtered at least 3,000 shanty town-dwellers loyal to Aristide.

According to the San Francisco-based Center for Justice & Accountability, Constant had pictures of mutilated victims in his office.

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 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 CIA's payroll and that he is a scapegoat and would be killed upon his return to Haiti.

Haitian officials have criticized the continued deportations during the coronavirus pandemic, saying the U.S. should halt all repatriations until the health crisis eases.

(Image Credit Pixabay)
YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Special Advisor to the WHO Europe Regional Director Michel Thieren who is heading the Mission in Armenia, the PMs Office told Armenpress.

The WHO Mission is in Armenia to explore the coronavirus situation and present recommendations.

PM Pashinyan highlighted the close cooperation between the Armenian government and the World Health Organization, as well as the WHOs technical support to the process of fighting the coronavirus. Pashinyan highlighted the fact of close partnership with the international partners in this process and stated that the COVID-19 crisis will be possible to overcome with joint efforts.

Michel Thieren introduced the impressions from the visits to Armenias hospitals in the context of exploring the countrys strategy and presenting proposals. He said he is impressed with the anti-coronavirus fight in Armenias hospitals and the conditions provided for the treatment of patients. The WHO official said the information about the pandemic is not complete in the world, that is the reason that till now specialists and experts present not so similar views on the fight against the pandemic. In this context he highlighted the necessity and effectiveness of wearing face masks, keeping the social distance and washing hands, adding that its necessary to avoid mass gatherings and indoor events. The WHO mission head said there shouldnt be a selection between putting the economy into a lockdown and re-opening it: the experience shows that people should get used to living in such conditions by keeping the behavioral rules for tackling the COVID-19.

At the end of the meeting the Armenian PM highlighted the necessity to continue the exchange of experience between the ministry of healthcare and the WHO.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Pyongyang, June 24 : North Korea has suspended "military action plans" against South Korea during a Central Military Commission meeting presided over by leader Kim Jong-un, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Wednesday.

The decision came as a surprise because the North had widely been expected to convene a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party to endorse military action threatening to take on the South in retaliation over its anti-Pyongyang leaflets, Yonhap news agency reported citing the Norths' KCNA report.

Leader Kim Jong-un presided over a preliminary meeting of the Central Military Commission via videoconferencing on Tuesday and decided to hold off for now any military action plans against Seoul, KCNA said.

"At the preliminary meeting, the WPK Central Military Commission took stock of the prevailing situation and suspended the military action plans against the South brought for the fifth meeting of the Seventh Central Military Commission by the General Staff of the Korean People's Army," KCNA added.

"The meeting examined agenda items of major military policy to be laid before the fifth meeting of the Seventh WPK Central Military Commission and made a study of a report and decisions, which will be submitted to the fifth meeting, and some documents carrying the state measures for further bolstering the war deterrent of the country," the KCNA said.

The KCNA, however, did not mention when a Central Military Commission meeting will be held.

North Korea has ratcheted up tensions by taking retaliatory steps against South Korea over the leafleting issue. It has called South Korea an "enemy" and cut off all cross communication lines, threatening more "punishment" is coming.

Last week, it blew up an inter-Korean liaison office that was created in its border town of Kaesong as a result of a 2018 summit between the two Koreas.

Pyongyang has said it will redeploy troops to border areas of Kaesong and Mount Kumgang, which were disarmed under inter-Korean agreements for joint business projects, and threatened to resume "all kinds of regular military exercises" near the border.

North Korea recently reinstalled military propaganda loudspeakers along the inter-Korean border after they were removed under the 2018 summit agreement.

North Korea's state media outlets earlier said that Pyongyang is preparing to send around 12 million anti-South Korea propaganda leaflets via some 3,000 balloons and other means in a tit-for-tat move against leaflets dispatched from the South.

In response to Seoul's call against it, the North said it has no intention to cancel its leafleting-sending plan cross the border, calling an inter-Korean agreement that bans such activity "a dead document."

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 16:31:16|Editor: huaxia

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URUMQI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Tumenbay Yuradagxi runs the only automobile repair shop in the township of Ulugqat, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

In recent years, improved roads, an increase in the number of vehicles and a stable supply of electricity have contributed to Yuradagxi's soaring business.

Ulugqat, not far from the China-Kyrgyzstan border, is located along a long belt of impoverished areas in China and comes under the jurisdiction of the county of Wuqia.

Five years ago, the condition of this township was completely different, said Yuradagxi, 47.

"Power supply was not stable at all," Yuradagxi said. "We had to rely on a tiny hydropower station for electricity."

Poor supply of power severely affected his auto workshop. Besides, a limited number of vehicles in the area added to the misery.

"In best cases, my family's combined income was about 5,000 yuan (708 U.S. dollars) a year," he said.

In late 2015, a power grid expanded to the township, providing an impetus for local development and Yuradagxi's business. "I no longer have to worry about power shortages when fixing cars," he said.

In recent years, State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power Co., Ltd. expanded power networks to villages in border areas, helping local farmers and herdsmen alleviate voltage problems.

The road conditions in Xinjiang have also improved, allowing smooth movements of big trucks and tourist buses. This in turn further benefitted Yuradagxi's automobile workshop. Currently, the family's monthly income stands at around 6,000 yuan.

According to regional transport authorities, by 2019, the combined length of operational roads in Xinjiang's rural areas had exceeded 130,000 km (excluding the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps), benefiting more than 9 million farmers and herdsmen.

In 2015, Yuradagxi's family moved into a new house equipped with water supply, electricity and heating, from their mud shack. According to local authorities, 2.39 million new houses have been constructed in Xinjiang, enabling all impoverished residents to move out of their existing dangerous houses.

Health care facilities in Xinjiang have improved, and resident Baisahan Uxoiar is deeply touched by this progress.

Uxoiar lives in a remote village in the township of Xihxu. One has to climb three snow mountains to reach the village from the township.

"I had never seen a sphygmomanometer before," she said. "But these days, doctors from the township always come over to the village to conduct free physical examinations."

With financial subsidy fund allocated by the central government and investment made by enterprises, Xinjing had extended fiber optic broadband network services to cover all impoverished areas in the region by September, according to the regional communications administration.

Locals in Xinjiang have also bid farewell to bitter and salty water.

The water quality in Payzawat County of Kashgar Prefecture met safe drinking standards in early June, thanks to the safe drinking water project.

Financial support worth over 1.7 billion yuan was granted to build this drinking water project, and pipeline topping 1,800 km in length covers three counties in the region.

After the completion of this project, safe tap water is available in every household across Xinjiang.

"The tap water we drink now tastes as good as bottled water," said Yusup Keyum, a local resident. "Our life is getting sweeter too." Enditem
Google has introduced a fact check label that will tag images and authenticate their source. This will weed out misinformation. With the help of an open source method, publishers can also indicate to search engines that the content has been fact-checked.

Tech company Google announced that it will start identifying some misleading photos in its specific search tool for images with a fact-check label. This new feature is introduced to help people navigate issues around determining the authenticity of images, and make more informed decisions about the content they consume.

According to Mashable, the fact-check label will appear on any image that is included in an article that fact-checks a photo or another claim. This new feature is a step to limit the spread of misinformation. Google used these fact-checking labels for years in its main search results and on video-streaming site YouTube. In December, the search giant said fact checks appear more than 11 million times each day in search results.

Google product manager Harris Cohen wrote in a blog post announcing the new fact-check labels,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 pitfalls,especially when there are questions surrounding the origin, authenticity or context of an image.

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As per the blog post, when a user searches for an image, some of the images will reflect a Fact check label just underneath the thumbnail of the image. Once the user clicks on such an image to enlarge it, a larger preview of the photo will show up with a short summary of the fact-check and direct users to its source.

Google says that the fact check label would appear for both cases  if the fact check article is about the specific image or if the fact check article contains that image in the story.These labels appear for fact checking articles from independent sources that meet the criteria of Google, as per the statement.

The tech company added that these sources rely on Claim Review, which is an open source method allowing publishers to indicate to search engines that the content that has been fact checked.

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The three days strike by oil workers scheduled to commence on Wednesday has been suspended, the General Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Lumumba Okugbawa, has said.

Mr Okugbawa said the decision to suspend the strike action followed the intervention of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timpre Sylva, in the crisis.

An update on the crisis contained in a memo to all PENGASSAN and NUPENG affiliate chapters and branches across the country said the matter has been apprehended and discussions ongoing with the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

The strike action was earlier called by the joint National Executive Committee of PENGASSAN and NUPENG on Sunday.

The action was called to protest the alleged forceful enrolment of the oil workers into what they called defective payment platform (the lntegrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (lPPlS) by the federal government.

They said the strike action was pursuant to their demand concerning their members working in federal government agencies, whose salaries were withheld since May, over alleged non-compliance with the federal governments directive by all its agencies to enroll on the IPPIS payment platform.

The affected agencies include the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF), Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF), the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA) and Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).

On June 8, PENGASSAN wrote to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to protest the decision by the government not to pay the workers, allegedly at the instance of the finance ministry.

On June 19, another letter sent to the Minister State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, threatened disruption of the countrys oil and gas sector if the implementation of the IPPIS was carried out unilaterally, or the matter resolved without their input.

They accused the government of demanding the enrolment of their members on the IPPIS platform without taking into consideration the peculiarities of the oil and gas industry with regards to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and approved pay structure between the unions and the federal government through the Salaries, Wages and Income Commission.

They flawed the decision by the accountant generals office to insist on the enrollment of the affected agencies on IPPIS despite the fact that the federal government revived the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) where the affected agencies were currently enrolled.
About two weeks after Zach North earned his masters in public health from UTC, he was chasing COVID-19 across 10 counties in Southeast Tennessee.

Baptism by fire, he said with a laugh. Yes, it does wear you out, but its rewarding. I really feel like its important work, and Im not glad that this is happening, but Im glad to feel useful, to use my skills in public health for, hopefully, the betterment of society.

Working for the Tennessee Department of Health, Mr. North is talking to people whove been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, tracking the possible movement of the virus in the region. His official title is contact tracer.

A case interviewer goes and talks extensively with the positive case of coronavirus, Mr. North said. The goal is finding out where the person recently has been and who theyve contacted personally. The list of contacts is then divvied up among contact tracers and the phone calls begin, explained Mr. North, who earned a bachelors degree in environmental science and geology from UTC in 2015.

Whether theyre living with an infected person or are not and whether theyre showing symptoms or not, those being called are told that to avoid being infected or infecting someone else, they should quarantine themselves for two weeks. Those living in the same household as the infected patient also are recommended to isolate themselves from everyone else in the home.

Still, there are times when people seem a bit unconcerned or even cavalier about actually being infected or being in the same house as someone who is, Mr. North said. Its his job to make them care.

Sometimes its hard for me to express the importance of the quarantine and isolation that theyre under, he said. If Im communicating properly, Im telling them what they need to do, how long they need to stay home, who this could impact and, even if they arent experiencing symptoms, why they are still at risk or how they are putting others at risk.

Not having symptoms doesnt mean youre not infected, he explained.

Thats not necessarily how it works. The virus can carry. It can follow you even if you are not experiencing symptoms.

Dawn Ford, assistant provost for teaching and learning at UTC and executive director of the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, had Mr. North in several of her classes and said she enjoyed his openness to new ideas and willingness to discuss.

For example, he was the only male student in my Gender in Leadership class. In class, we discussed concepts like gender bias and the double bind; he was very involved in the discussion with a room full of women, she said.

Before being hired by the Tennessee Department of Health, Mr. North was working for the Hamilton County Health Department, reaching out to city residents to explain the effects of lead contamination to city residents. Because of its history of manufacturing, especially the iron industry, Chattanooga has many sites filled with lead residue. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems, according to the Mayo Clinic. Children younger than six are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.

I had heard about it in undergrad, but I didnt know how expansive it was and that people just didnt really know about it, Mr. North said. That was kind of the big issue we were seeing. A lot of people werent aware of lead poisoning, how rampant it was in the community and really what it could do to the human body.

Ms. Ford, whom Mr. North describes as a mentor, recalls a moment focused on lead poisoning that defines the type of person Mr. North is. At Howard School in the fall, we were working an event for childhood lead poisoning and a reporter wanted an interview. I asked Zach to do it and he was so excited. He took everything in stride as a learning opportunity, she said.

In the end, though, whether its lead or COVID-19, his main job is communication, he said.

Its all public health communication and keeping up with public health awareness and just sorting through kind of the myths and the truths of public health.

The feeling of responsibility is heavy right now with COVID-19, but thats both intimidating and energizing, Mr. North said.

I do feel this is an incredible time to be in public health. That might sound kind of morbid, but this is when this profession is needed. And I really hope Im gaining skills, otherwise, what am I doing?

I hope Im learning. I like to think I am. Every day, theres something new, some different situation to handle.
Huge Prehistoric Circle of Mysterious Pits Found Near Stonehenge

LONDONArchaeologists have discovered a wide circle of deep pits surrounding an ancient settlement near Stonehenge, opening up new lines of investigation into the origins and meaning of the mysterious, prehistoric monument.

Among Britains most recognisable landmarks, the standing stones at Stonehenge draw tourists from around the world as well as people searching for spiritual connections with the past. Their exact purpose remains unknown to scientists.

The new discovery, by a team of archaeologists from several universities, shows a 2-km (1.2-mile) wide circle of shafts surrounding a settlement at Durrington Walls, which also included a henge, or circular structure, made of timber posts.

Animation picture created in May 2020 shows the location of wide circle of pits surrounding an ancient settlement near Stonehenge, in Durrington, Wiltshire, Britain. (University Of Bradford/Handout via Reuters)

The site is located about 3.2 km northeast of Stonehenge and evidence suggests the pits date back to the same period, some 4,500 years ago.

As the place where the builders of Stonehenge lived and feasted, Durrington Walls is key to unlocking the story of the wider Stonehenge landscape, said archaeologist Nick Snashall of the National Trust, the body that runs the Stonehenge site.

This astonishing discovery offers us new insights into the lives and beliefs of our Neolithic ancestors, he said.

The ancient neolithic monument of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

The circle of pits is significantly larger than any comparable prehistoric monument in Britain. Researchers have found 20 shafts, but estimate there may have been more than 30 originally. Each one is about 5 metres deep and 10 metres across.

The discovery was made without the need for excavations, using remote sensing technology and sampling.

The archaeologists said the precise and sophisticated way in which the pits were positioned suggests that the early inhabitants of Britain used a tally or counting system to track pacing across long distances.

The size of the shafts and circuit surrounding Durrington Walls is without precedent in the UK, said Vince Gaffney, a professor of archaeology at the University of Bradford and one of the lead researchers on the project.

He said the discovery demonstrated the capacity and desire of Neolithic communities to record their cosmological belief systems in ways, and at a scale, that we had never previously anticipated.

By Estelle Shirbon
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency John Dumelo believes he will snatch the seat from the governing New Patriotic Party with a 54% vote margin.

Speaking on Citi TVs Face to Face program, Mr. Dumelo dismissed suggestions that the seat is a safe haven for the NPP.

Despite the fact that the NPP has won the seat since election 2000, Mr. Dumelo explained that his party over the years have significantly closed the vote gap, adding that unlike areas like Bantama, Ejisu and Mampong, his constituency is far from being described as a safe seat for the NPP.

I disagree with people saying that it [Ayawaso West Wuogon] is traditionally NPP. We won in 1992 and 1996 but we have come close to winning it, especially in 2012. In 2004 and 2008 we came close to winning it.

This is not like some Bantama seat, or a Mampong or an Ejisu seat that we know to be traditionally NPP. The Ayawaso West Wuogon is a seat we are going to win. I am not going to win it, it is the NDC that is going to win it, he said.

When asked about the percentage margin he expects to win the seat with, Mr. Dumelo replied and said a margin of 54.

He argued that the constituency has retrogressed in the past few years hence the need for a leader who genuinely has the needs of constituents at heart and not only during elections.

I have never shared money to my constituents

The actor cum politician also refuted allegations that he shares money to his constituents in a bid to get their votes in the 2020 parliamentary elections.

Mr. Dumelo explained that his campaign has been supported by friends and sympathizers who have shared in his vision.

He disclosed that he has never in any instance shared money to people in his constituency, but rather he has been focused on catering for the essential needs of people in his constituency through the benevolence of some friends.

I dont share money, I share essentials people need. I use the money to buy things for them. My source of money is from benevolent people who tell me, John, take 1 cedi, take cedi 2, and use it to support my campaign.

These are friends, its not about being rich, its about being content with what you have and sharing the little that you have.

If I am called [by a friend] to take 500 cedis to support my campaign, I will gladly take it, the actor said.

 citinewsroom
South Africas government is considering selling a green infrastructure bond worth tens of billions of rand as part of its biggest drive ever to kickstart private investment in projects ranging from energy to water reticulation.

The proposed instrument is one of several mechanisms the country could use to raise finance for projects worth as much as 1.5 trillion rand ($86 billion) over the next decade, said Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, head of the South African presidencys investment and infrastructure office.

A idea thats finding traction is a green infrastructure bond, he said in an interview on Monday. It will be substantial.

The infrastructure program will be officially unveiled at a symposium in Pretoria on Tuesday, where President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce investment commitments by private investors and international finance institutions. It is seen as a way of trying to counter the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak, which the central bank expects to cause a 7% economic contraction this year.

Rising Debt

With a debt-to-gross domestic product ratio thats expected to exceed 100% by 2025, according to a Treasury document, the state has little room to fund infrastructure despite South Africas need for everything from power plants and broadband to additional housing and water supply. State companies also have limited scope to fill the gap because they too are already saddled with billions of dollars of debt.

Ramaphosa has previously announced plans for a 100 billion rand infrastructure fund and is now pushing for more involvement from private investors, who have more funding capacity. Privately held mutual funds oversee about 2.5 trillion rand in assets, according to the Association for Savings and Investment South Africa, while the Public Investment Corp., which mainly manages the pensions of state workers, has 2.1 trillion rand.

Futuregrowth Asset Management, the countrys biggest specialist fixed-income money manager, has said the projects could attract investment if returns are attractive.

The green infrastructure bond could make it easier for private investors to participate as the security could be bought and sold easily when they need access to their funds.

The government could use the infrastructure fund to make the first investment in key projects to reduce risk for private investors, Ramokgopa said. It may also seek to have private investors fund projects and then repay them over several years while simultaneously providing them with a return.

Ramokgopas office began engaging private investors in February and pitched projects to them late last month at an event that had 230 attendees from 60 institutions, he said. Senior representatives from the New Development Bank, the World Bank and the African Development Bank will attend Tuesdays meeting.

As many as 88 of the 272 infrastructure projects in the pipeline may be bankable, while the rest need additional work and some may not prove viable, according to Ramokgopa.

We want to get the economy going, he said.
A black man living in Michigan was inside his office when he received a call from the police department, telling him to go to the station to surrender to the crime he just committed. At the time, he thought this call was a prank made by some of his friends or teens messing around. Unfortunately, it was not.

Facial recognition wrongfully accused a black man

New York Times reported Wednesday, June 24, a story of a man that was said to be the first black guy who got wrongfully accused, thanks to the police's failed facial recognition.

Robert Julian-Borchak Williams, a black man, living quietly with his wife in a private subdivision in Michigan, was arrested in January by the Detroit Police Department over a 'felony warrant' and 'larceny' cases filed against him.

When he first received the call from the police officer, he did not believe it. He thought it was a prank. Nevertheless, Williams knows to himself that he did not commit any violations of federal law.

However, when he was heading home, police cars stopped him on the driveway. Williams was ordered to step away from the vehicle and was handcuffed by the Detroit police. His wife, then went outside, to ask about the filed charges.

Police said to his wife to 'Google it' and heard the felony charges against her husband.

When they reached the interrogation room, the detectives asked, "When's the last time you went to a Shinola store?" This store offers watches, leather goods, and other worthy materials. Williams has no recollection of getting inside that place since 2014.

"You think all Black men look alike?"

After this, Williams was presented with a picture of a man shoplifting the store. He was asked if he recognizes his face on the image. Though the photo was blurry, he knew that he's not the man in the picture.

"No, this is not me," Mr. Williams said. "You think all Black men look alike?"

At this time, he insisted that he was not involved in any crimes. He was released until that evening. During his stay, Williams heard one of the investigators said that "I guess the computer got it wrong."

What's racial profiling?

The issue of racial profiling has been one of the most controversial issues in America. This problem occurs when authorities use race, religion, or ethnicity to locate suspects.

Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM companies already limit the usage of facial recognition for police departments. This was after advocates and the masses accused most police officers of wrongfully accusing 'people of color' when a certain crime happened in a city.





 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Spanish Health Ministry on Friday offered an updated coronavirus death toll after freezing the total for close to two weeks.

Just two days before Spain is due to lift the state of alarm and enter the new normality following a long deescalation process, health authorities placed the overall number of victims at 28,313, up from the figure of 27,136 that had been provided for the last 12 days.

Fernando Simon, the head of the Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies, on Friday admitted that this figure is still far from the 43,000 excess deaths reported by Momo, a mortality monitoring system run by the Carlos III public health institute.

Health Minister Salvador Illa (l) and Fernando Simon, head of the Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies.

Simon noted that the official tally only counts victims who were tested for the coronavirus and whose tests came back positive. He did not rule out that this number might rise once the National Statistics Institute (INE) is done compiling its own list of fatalities and the cause of death, a task that will likely be completed sometime next year. Some of these cases could be so-called collateral deaths, representing people who waited too long to seek medical help out of fear of contracting the coronavirus.

Entering Spain

Thermal imaging technology at the Madrid airport. AENA

Health Minister Salvador Illa said that after Sunday, visitors entering Spain will have to undergo three types of controls: a written health declaration, a temperature check, and a visual screening. If travelers fail any of these tests, a physician will examine them and send them to the healthcare services of the region where they are going to spend their stay in Spain. In order to make these procedures smoother, airports are incorporating thermal imaging and digital declarations.

New outbreaks

During the last month, Spanish health authorities have detected 982 coronavirus cases connected to 34 outbreaks, according to the latest Health Ministry data. Some were traced back to slaughterhouses, others to residences, to parties, to healthcare centers, and in one case, to a mink farm in Teruel.

A public senior residence in Madrid, Doctor Gonzalez Bueno  the largest facility of its kind in Spain and one of the biggest in Europe  has detected four new positives after testing all residents on Thursday, said regional officials. All four patients have been isolated and family visits at the center have been suspended temporarily.

All the outbreaks are under control, said Health Minister Salvador Illa on Friday, adding that if there is a new a significant rise in untraceable cases, the only available tool to limit mobility will be to declare a state of alarm once again. For small outbreaks, it will be possible to resort to a public health law to close off affected areas. This is what happened at the beginning of the pandemic, when a hotel in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, was placed in lockdown.

Situation in Madrid

Madrid region premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso (l) on Friday. Comunidad de Madrid (Europa Press)

The regional government of Madrid on Friday approved the new rules that will apply between Sunday and July 5. During that time, all businesses will have to operate at 60% capacity (80% for street cafes and restaurants). After that date, capacity will be raised to 75% (100% for outdoor drinking and dining). Face masks will remain mandatory when it is not possible to maintain a distance of 1.5 meters between people.

The situation of the virus in the [Madrid region] is under control, although we remain prudent and vigilant, said the regional health chief, Enrique Ruiz-Escudero. Now our main concern is Adolfo Suarez-Madrid Barajas airport, due to imported cases.

Although the country will exit the state of alarm on Sunday, Madrid  which was the epicenter of the pandemic in Spain  will keep some restrictions temporarily in place. It is not prudent to establish specific dates for returning to normality, because there are things we dont know, said deputy premier Ignacio Aguado. It all depends on the epidemic.

English version by Susana Urra.
Coal-fired power plants with the total capacity of 18,000 MW produce 16-17 million tons of ash and slag each year in Vietnam, according to GreenID.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MONRE), if the ash and slag cannot be treated, the amount of ash and slag will reach 422 million tons by 2030 and 32 million tons more would be generated each year.





If each ground pile of ash and slag is five meters high, Vietnam would need 65 square kilometers more land to contain ash and slag, and 5 square kilometers every year, which is as large as one commune in the Red River Delta.



Nguyen Van Liem, former deputy director of the Agrometeorology Research Center, said ash and slag needs to be controlled well, especially ash and slag in Nong Son, Quang Nam and Quang Ninh which contain radioactive substances and mercury, harmful to human health and the environment.



One kilogram of Quang Ninh coal contains 0.464 mg of mercury. The amount of mercury discharged to the air is 6.8 tons a year. There is no information about the mercury content in imported coal.

If all building material companies agree to turn ash and slag into useful products, there will not be concern about where to put or store ash and slag.

Sinh did not say whether coal-fired power plants ash and slag is hazardous, noting that the quality of ash and slag depends on the types of coal and the technologies used by plants.

It is necessary to analyze the content of ash and slag, and to set standards. The ash and slag that can meet standards can be put to use, he said, adding that each power plant can build grounds for containing ash and slag for two years. Power plants have to spend money to treat ash and slag to national standards.



Also according to Sinh, furnace technology cannot neutralize heavy metal, and can only eliminate dust, SO2 and NOX. Mercury can also be neutralized but at a very high cost, which will increase electricity production costs.



Meanwhile, Truong Duy Nghia, Chair of Vietnam Thermal Science and Technology Association, affirmed that the ash and slag of Vietnams coal and imported coal have heavy metal, but with content lower than the national standard QCVN 07:2009/BTNMT by tens to thousands of times.



Nghia reaffirmed that ash and slag are not hazardous substances, but useful resources. If ash and slag can be used to make roads, this will help reduce the amount of stone and sand to be exploited from rivers, which causes landslides. Flying ash can be used as an additive during the cement production.



If all building material companies agree to turn ash and slag into useful products, there will not be concern about where to put or store ash and slag.

Thanh Mai

Deeper look into ecological costs of coal-fired power in Mekong Delta needed: expert Ecological expert Nguyen Huu Thien speaks on the need for clearer environmental regulations for thermopower plants in the Mekong Delta to reduce risks to the regions aquatic resources.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Indian Haj pilgrims who were selected in 2020 but were unable to go because the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias decision to allow only locals to perform the holy pilgrimage, should be permitted to go next year, the Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, said in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The intending pilgrims were anxious to proceed to the Two Holy Lands of Makkah and Madinah to perform Hajj and Ziarath (visit to Holy Prophet Mosque), should not be deprived of their good fortune of their life time in having been selected this year 2020, he said in the letter.

He added that there need not be a fresh Hajj draw next year and that those selected this year may go instead.
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 1:00PM

Doc Corner is celebrating Pride Month with a focus on documentaries that tackle LGBTIQ themes. This week we are looking at the latest film from the Oscar-nominated director of How to Survive a Plague.

By Glenn Dunks

We may find ourselves every June celebrating pride, but it is important to remember that it started from a fireball of anger. A fist of societal and cultural agitation that in a single moment decided it was going to fight back against oppression and violence. It may be more than 50 years later, but its an unfortunate fact that even in the most modern of societies, people who identify as LGBTIQ or non-binary still face the world with varying degrees of awareness about our otherness. And while many may not choose to dwell on it, there is the ever-present knowledge that those like us around the world are being bullied, harassed, targeted, punished, hunted and killed on a daily basis --and thats before we get into when sexuality and gender identity intersect with race, religion and nationality.

Its hardly hidden but it can be easily neglected, which is where a film like David Frances Welcome to Chechnya comes in...

Like his last two features, the Oscar-nominated How to Survive a Plague (my no. 10 doc of the decade) and the Netflix-released The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, David Frances latest captures extraordinary acts of underground activism. But this time, he does so in the present day amid the deadly and frequently invisible war against homosexuals in the republic of Chechnya. Its a film that centres itself on the here and now, on the frontlines of contemporary queer politics with unflinching tenacity.

The compelling doc focuses primarily on three individuals: two of the extractors, David Isteev (crisis intervention coordinator for The Russia LGBT Network) and Olga Baranova (director of the Moscow Community Center for LGBTI+ Initiatives), plus torture survivor Maxim Lapunov. Their stories are intercut with their interactions with other survivors as well as disturbing and graphic footage of Chechen hate-crimes, the very reason for the actions of the films subjects.

I had naturally assumed that France had directed more in the capacity of building a narrative around assembled footage captured on camera phones, cheap digital cameras and low-fi GoPro cameras. But France himself was embedded in this crew, initially posing as a tourist to get up close and personal with these state-sanctioned hate crimes, the queer men and women they directly target and the brave activists who put their own lives on the line to get them out of Chechnya and eventually into undisclosed foreign locations where they will live, unallowed to return home. Filming in confidence that he would protect the identities of all involved, the vision he has collected is appropriately rough, which only seeks to make it more immediate.

This lack of polish may be why he and editor Tyler H. Walk occasionally play the film as some sort of clandestine thriller. But France is smart and his handling of the material nonetheless has vigour. Welcome to Chechnya pulses and often draws breath from the viewer as the team work to smuggle LGBTIQ Chechens and Russians out to safety, reuniting them with family and partners, and attempting to not being targets themselves.

Perhaps most remarkably, France has utilised visual effects artist Ryan Laney, the man behind The Matrix Revolutions swarming sentinals, to create deep fake on-screen visualizations to protect his subjects' identities. Far removed from the use of blur, pixilation or shadowy back-lit confessionals, the effect allows for France to keep the drama bound to the victims identities, even if their faces aren't their own.

It is at first quite discombobulating with an effect similar to that of an extreme use of the facetune app where peoples faces are ringed almost like a halo. It takes a remarkably short amount of time to cease being a distraction, and when coupled often with new voices, it proves to be a smart if unexpected directorial gamble. By the time Lapunovs digital mask melts away in front of us as he goes public with his claims and is replaced by the real man underneath, it proves oddly moving. Like a weight has been lifted, a new technologic coming out on screen.

Welcome to Chechnya is an exceptional work of documentary. Brave and confronting in ways that many filmmakers could only hope for. It finds moments of community and queer togetherness that put the purge-like violence into stark contrast, highlighting the barbaric nature of these crimes that the world should know about for longer than a 24-hour news cycle. And as its heroic subjects attest several times, it could ultimately happen anywhere.

Release: Airs on HBO on June 30st and on BBC Four on July 1st.

Oscar chances: Definitely. How to Survive a Plague was a nominee ten years ago (surprisingly, I felt, considering the subject matter) and this is Frances most prominent title since with enough social importance and filmmaking bravura to get it at least onto the shortlist. Considering how the rest of the year rolls out, I can see it making the final five if the branch responds to either its dramatic weight or its howd-they-do-that heft.
A leading medic has said he feels optimistic that Northern Ireland will be ready to cope with a potential second wave of coronavirus - if the rules are followed.

Dr Tom Black, chair of the British Medical Association's Council in Northern Ireland, made the comments after health leaders called for an urgent review to make sure the UK is prepared for another surge of the virus.

"Obviously as doctors, we are concerned that if we ease things too fast we will see a second spike or a development of hotspots," he said.

"But it is important to recognise that people have worked very hard and sacrificed a lot during lockdown so it is reasonable for social wellbeing and mental health that we have an easement on restrictions."

Dr Black said his main concern in the future would be reducing the rules on social distancing to one metre.

"I think if we're going to do that then we should be very careful about the use of masks, particularly indoors where people are not able to maintain social distance," he said.

On the new guidance allowing six people to meet up indoors, he said the use of face coverings should be seriously considered.

"I certainly won't be having friends or relatives around for dinner at this time. It's all about reducing the risk as much as possible," he said.

"With the easing of lockdown you increase your chance of exposure, but the advantage we have in Northern Ireland is that the rate of disease - what we call the prevalence - is low."

He was optimistic the contact tracing system would be effective in the event of a second spike, as Northern Ireland was the first UK region to establish a system and had a relatively low number of cases.

"That's certainly a crucial measure to make the easing of lockdown as safe as possible," he said.

"When we look at Germany and see that abattoir town which has had to go back into lockdown, we fully appreciate that if a part of Northern Ireland develops a lot of infections the area will have to go into lockdown again."

Dr Black added that a daily reporting system from GPs on patients who develop Covid-19 symptoms meant any localised outbreak should be spotted quickly.

Meanwhile, Green Party MLA Rachel Woods accused the Executive of having a "scattergun" approach to easing lockdown which risked undermining public confidence.

"There are glaring anomalies between the Executive's Coronavirus Recovery Plan and what has actually happened," she said.

"The five stages of the plan haven't been followed in a linear way and the recovery plan isn't joined up with. For example, non-essential retail reopened before restrictions on childcare provision have been relaxed."

She questioned why reopening had been fast tracked for certain sectors - such as restaurants, cafes and pubs, which were originally set out in step five of the recovery plan - but not for non-contact sport, which was set out in step two.

While recognising the Executive was following medical and scientific advice, she questioned why this was not available to the public.

"This, coupled with the Executive's approach to reopening, creates the impression that the plan is being rewritten on the hoof, according to which sector can shout the loudest," she added.

"The lack of supporting, detailed guidance even covering the basics makes it increasingly difficult for those sectors who can reopen to do so with confidence around safety."

In an open letter which was published in the British Medical Journal, health leaders from a range of organisations in the UK said an urgent review was needed to prevent more loss of life during the winter months.

This follows an announcement from the Prime Minister Boris Johnson that pubs, restaurants, cinemas and hairdressers may open from July 4. The two metre distancing rule is to be replaced by a one-metre plus rule, allowing people to stand one metre apart if necessary.

Sir David King, a former chief scientific adviser, told Sky News he believed the latest measures were "extraordinarily risky" and said he believed that the Prime Minister had acted too quickly.
As the Black Lives Matter movement sweeps the consumer market, Afghan biscuits, Eskimo Pie ice cream, and Chicos and Red Skins lollies are getting new identities on supermarket shelves.

The hasty renaming is prompting celebration from some shoppers but scepticism from some experts, as brands reassert their commitment to respect.

Nestle announced the name change for Chicos and Red Skins lollies on Tuesday, which are sold under the brand name Allen's in New Zealand, to ensure "friends, neighbours and colleagues" weren't marginalised.

It said the names had overtones which were "out of step with Nestle's values, which are rooted in respect".

Griffin's said on Wednesday it was in the process of finding a new name for its Afghan biscuits, which could be named in reference to the 19th century Afghan wars, although it acknowledged "there are other theories in circulation".

Tip Top has also pledged to rename its Eskimo Pie ice cream bars and remove the eskimo character printed on the packet within the next few months, because the name had "changed meaning" since the product was introduced in 1940.

Pascall's has also announced it will be changing the name of its eskimo lollies.

Melanie Sharma-Barrow, a consultant whose firm educates companies on diversity and culture, says brands should set a good example.

"When you're at the supermarket you want to feed your family, you want to feed yourself. It's really difficult to ask New Zealanders to make that choice of awareness. It's hard enough to make people think about the language they use."

The contention around Eskimo Pie and eskimo lollies dates back at least as far as 2009, when Christchurch-based l'Universite de Montreal academic Nicole Gombay drew attention to the effect the depictions had on some inuit communities.

At the time, Pascall said the overwhelming majority of consumers did not find Eskimos to be offensive.

"What is remarkable about New Zealand is the degree to which, relatively speaking, there is an awareness about, and sensitivity to, indigenous issues. At some level perhaps that has become stronger over the years," says Nicole.

Victoria University of Wellington's marketing and international business school head Val Hooper says people can rightly ask why brands are making changes, and asserting their brands are "rooted in respect" now, when black lives have always mattered.

"Companies are driven by the need to make profit and their shareholders want them to make profit. But I think this has become a very big thing and a very big international thing, so while their previous stand and previous naming was tolerated I think now the push is so overt that companies feel obliged to make these decisions and to change potentially offensive names."

Arguably one of New Zealand's foremost authorities on sweet treats is writer Madeleine Chapman, who ranked all 65 dairy lollies and all 142 biscuit flavours in New Zealand from worst to best for The Spinoff.

She thought eskimo lollies could probably be removed from the shelf entirely because they are "disgusting", but says it's not hard for companies to ensure their lolly names are inoffensive.

"A biscuit name or a lolly name or a confectionary name should have no effect on anyone. I mean you can literally call it anything.

"It's kind of amazing that people in the first place saw a bunch of sugar clumped together and thought of a race of people or a certain community. I mean, just call it 'lino' or something, that's just a thing I'm looking at now."

Val Hooper says we might never know why controversial names are able to creep into New Zealand lolly cupboards, but brands should double check that their values are reflected in every aspect of their business, including their product names.

The beauty industry is also reconsidering its branding in response to criticism over racism.

-Katie Todd/RNZ
Artist Zhao Xiaoli poses beside her art work at her studio in Beijing, after she completed the reproduction of American painter Charles Courtney Curran's By the Lily Pond on an old door. [For China Daily]

Discarded items take on a fresh life under the transformative skill of a woman who knows the value of waste, Wang Qian reports.

One man's trash is another man's treasure. This is a well-known phrase but for Zhao Xiaoli it is also a guide to her professional life. She makes art out of garbage.

A variety of recycled objects, including a wooden door, a chair with one leg missing, an old television, a discarded washboard, a broken guitar, plastic bottles and a vintage thermos flask, have provided a canvas of inspiration for Zhao.

"Art should serve the public, which needs us to think outside the box. Through the form of art, the used items can be redefined," says the 30-year-old.

Zhao's interest in rubbish is known by many people, even sanitary workers near her studio in Beijing. When anyone in her community throws furniture out, like a door or a chair, Zhao is always the first to know.

Call it trash, but for Zhao, it can be works of art and the discarded items can be transformed.

In a 30-second video posted in December on micro-blogging platform Sina Weibo, she recycles a wooden door. After smoothing the surface of the door, she sweeps a brush in an apparently wild style and allows the paint to splatter on the vertical board. Later, her reproduction of American painter Charles Courtney Curran's By the Lily Pond appears on the door, as if by magic.

The clip has been viewed over 1 million times on the platform. Her account has attracted more than 524,000 followers.

Her account on the video-sharing platform Douyin has garnered nearly 8.5 million followers.

For Zhao, it seems that anything can be her canvas. Last year, a coffee store she often visited was closed and the owner gave her a broken guitar. She created an oil painting which combined works by two Dutch masters, Girl With a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer and Wheat Field With Cypresses by Vincent van Gogh.

A collection of art pieces, including many she created herself out of used items, decorates a corner of her studio. [For China Daily]

When someone threw out a chair with one broken leg last year, Zhao took it. After cleaning, she emptied a bottle of blue paint onto the surface of the chair and transformed it into Van Gogh's The Starry Night. Zhao wrote "Loving Vincent. Sadness will last forever" on the chair.

With her "magic pen", a vintage wooden laundry washboard can be the perfect "canvas" for a landscape oil painting. With a full moon on the lake, the rungs have been painted as waves reflecting the moonlight.

Many viewers have been amazed by her imagination, saying that "the piece invites people to look at used items differently". Some joked that "it is the most valuable and beautiful washboard ever seen".

"Beauty is everywhere. Anything can be changed into the work of art," Zhao says, adding that old items can be transformed into something new with a little creativity.

From a family of artists in Xiamen, Fujian province, Zhao started painting at the age of 15 and knew from that time it would be her career. She graduated with an art major from a university in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, then became an illustrator and opened a studio in Beijing.

She learned painting with Ukrainian painter Mykhailo Guida, who is well-known for his portraits. Art critic and curator Lu Rongzhi also influenced her a lot.

"Painting is the focus of my life, which is my work and dream," Zhao says.

In her words, she is a "painter energized by an engine"; she has few needs nor time to go out to socialize. Besides painting on trash, Zhao also paints on canvas.

Zhao spruces up the wall in her studio with one of her own paintings. [For China Daily]

In May, she went to the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, to teach painting at the Siyuan Experimental School for a week as a volunteer teacher. The school has only one art teacher for its 49 classes.

Zhao's influence is not limited to China. Usually in her videos, she has few words and looks quite serious, but she has attracted more than 500,000 followers for her Instagram account which opened in January.

"With art, I understand the world; it heals my wounds and my grief is released and heard via painting; it enriches my love of nature and hope for the future and it rids me of superficial prejudices," Zhao states her ideas on her Sina Weibo account.

"Art empowers me to break bounds and go one better, and it opens my eyes to find more beauty around me. Meanwhile, my work also gets viewers inspired and offers comfort."

Zhao plans to go to Europe for a master's degree in fine arts and to keep reading, holding exhibitions and publishing new books. Last year she released a book that teaches beginners how to get started with oil painting.

"For an artist, the most satisfying work will always be the next," Zhao says with a smile.

(Source: China Daily)
Phoebe Burgess never puts a foot wrong when it comes to making the perfect Instagram post.

With a following of more than 79,000, it is no surprise the former NRL WAG, who divorced her footy star ex-husband Sam back in April, is cashing in for every sponsored post she makes.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal the staggering amount each post made by the mother-of-two is worth.

REVEALED: Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the incredible amount of money former NRL WAG Phoebe Burgess makes through sponsored Instagram posts per week. The 29-year-old promotes a range of designer labels, health, skin care and services on her social media

Over the past few weeks, Phoebe, 29, has made dozens of posts promoting designer labels, health, skin care and services on her social media.

According to Inzpire.me, the former journalist can make up to $910 per sponsored post for one post a day.

While she rarely skips a day without uploading a post, her earning potential could be as much as $6,370 per week - if she shares a sponsored post every day.

Big pay day! According to Inzpire.me, the former journalist can make up to $910 per sponsored post for one post a day. Among her recent posts was one for L'Occitane, promoting their almond bath range

Tagged! She has heavily promoted Australian supplement brand Ostelin, which she has dedicated four posts on her feed over several weeks

The website estimates Instagram users' worth by analysing their engagement rate with followers, the amount of followers they have and the number of likes they get.

Over the past few weeks, she has made sponsored posts with French beauty brands L'Oreal, spruiking their new serum, and L'Occitane, promoting their almond bath range.

She has also heavily promoted Australian supplement brand Ostelin, which she has dedicated four posts on her feed over several weeks.

Fashion fiend: Phoebe also never fails to put on a stylish ensemble for an outfit post that her fans lust after, in which she regularly tags local designers Camilla and Marc and Bassike in the caption (Phoebe pictured in a Camilla and Marc coat, and Bassike jeans)

Phoebe also never fails to put on a stylish ensemble for an outfit post that her fans lust after, in which she regularly tags local designers Camilla and Marc and Bassike in the caption.

The fashionista has always detailed the items that make up her ensemble, while she may not have received a paid promotion it is likely she would have received the clothes for free as payment.

She has even shared her influencer power to help promote small businesses in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Showing support: She has even shared her influencer power to help promote small businesses in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent weeks, Phoebe has posted two photos of herself at Bellevue-based homeware store Crave Wares (pictured)

Using her influence for good: She also posted a picture of herself after getting her hair done at Paddington salon Valonz Haircutters (left) and Kristin Fisher Eyebrows in Double Bay (right) to help promote their services following strict COVID-19 restrictions

In recent weeks, Phoebe has posted two photos of herself at Bellevue-based homeware store Crave Wares.

She also posted a picture of herself after getting her hair done at Paddington salon Valonz Haircutters and Kristin Fisher Eyebrows in Double Bay.

Back in April, Phoebe finalised her divorce with former South Sydney Rabbitohs star Sam Burgess after five years of marriage. They share two young children, Poppy, three, and Billy, one.
The battle for control of assets in the Hinduja family has come out in the open, with ailing group patriarch S P Hinduja launching legal action against his brothers Gopichand (80), Prakash (75), and Ashok (69). A British high court has appointed Vinoo Hinduja, daughter of S P Hinduja (84), to act on his behalf.

The three brothers are seeking control of Switzerland-based Hinduja Bank and have relied on a 2014 letter signed by all of them that said the assets of the group were owned by them and each would appoint the others as their executors. The banks ownership is currently ...
The head of Landmark Cinemas cant understand why Brandons movie theatre and others in the province cant reopen while restaurants can under Phase 3 of Manitobas reopening plan.

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This article was published 24/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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The head of Landmark Cinemas cant understand why Brandons movie theatre and others in the province cant reopen while restaurants can under Phase 3 of Manitobas reopening plan.

With restaurants in Manitoba now allowed to operate with no capacity restrictions outside of physical distancing, "I kind of struggle to understand how theatres are positioned as a higher-risk venue, in that you enter in a controlled manner, we set showtimes, we limit capacity, we enforce distancing with reserved seating in most of our locations in the province, and then you sit down and you quietly dont talk for two hours," chief executive officer Bill Walker said Tuesday.

This versus restaurants, he said, where there are a lot of unintended interactions between customers and staff.

"Youre sitting at a table talking for an hour or two. I kind of struggle to differentiate how theatres can be perceived as an unsafe place that should be, sort of, constrained to open while those restaurants are able to operate at unlimited capacity," he said.

"It just seems a bit odd to me."

Restrictions on a number of venues were further loosened as Phase 3 kicked in Sunday.

Restaurants  as well as bars, beverage rooms, brew pubs, microbreweries and distillers  may now fully operate if they implement measures to ensure patrons are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges. They can also fully reopen patios and indoor spaces, as long as tables and seating are arranged so there is a permanent or temporary physical barrier or a two-metre separation between people sitting at different tables.

Manitobas chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, said last week there is good reason why restaurants can be open while theatres and casinos cannot, even with proper safety protocols in place.

"Its really the nature of the contact there when were talking about theatres and such, where we have close, prolonged contact," Roussin said, adding that allows the virus to spread more easily.

Roussin said reopening theatres and casinos will happen, just not right away.

Representatives from the industry were to hold discussions Tuesday with Manitoba government officials to understand specifically which risks are perceived as challenging to reopening, Walker said.

"Were all in on the health and safety of our guests, but we just want to make sure that were making, sort of, informed decisions and we understand ... how we can operate the business in a safe way with those capacity restrictions in place."

In addition to Brandons Landmark Cinemas 9, also known as the Capitol Theatre, the Calgary-based company has four other theatres in the province: two in Winnipeg and one each in Winkler and Selkirk.

Six of their theatres in Alberta will reopen Friday, with the remainder opening July 3. All of their theatres in British Columbia will also reopen on July 3.

None of their venues in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario are reopening yet.

"Theres a big hole in the bottom line, for sure," Walker said, adding the theatres have been completely shut down since COVID-19 hit Canada.

Theyve done their best to contain costs, he said, "but ultimately were an experiential business that requires people to gather in a public space together, and so the revenues have really gone zero during the closure period. So its been a difficult time, for sure."

As for the future of Brandons theatre and others in the chain, Walker said theyve prepared for this "and were going to sustain. We dont have an economic crisis, specifically we dont have an industry crisis. Specifically, we have a health crisis thats having these follow-on effects."

The company has received wage subsidies to keep full-time staff on, but has had to lay off all of its part-time staff, Walker said, "because, frankly, theres no work for part-time staff."

They had hoped to recall Manitobas staff to work by July 10 at the latest, "but at this point the uncertainty of when we can reopen doesnt allow us to recall staff ..."

Industries are focused on getting through the health crisis to allow them to get back to an economic business model, Walker said.

"I think were patient enough and well-capitalized enough that were going to be able to do that as an industry and as an organization that is Landmark. Its just a matter of how long thats going to take."

Meanwhile, Manitobas six casinos were also not allowed to reopen during Phase 3, including Sand Hills Casino south of Carberry. That casino is operated by Swan Lake First Nation.

Chief Francine Meeches on Saturday referred comment on the casinos continued closure to the casinos operations director, Jeff Melcosky, who declined to discuss the situation.

 brobertson@brandonsun.com
A nurse at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, conducts a follow up medical check on a child who participated in a study testing hydroxyurea dosing in children with sickle cell anemia. Researchers say the study helps remove barriers to expanding the drug's use in low-resource settings like sub-Saharan Africa. Credit: IU School of Medicine

A team of international researchers has learned that dose escalation of hydroxyurea treatment for children in Uganda with sickle cell anemia is more effective and has similar side effects than a lower fixed dose of the same drug.

The study, known as NOHARM MTD (Novel use Of Hydroxyurea in an African Region with MalariaMaximum Tolerated Dose), focused on children in Uganda, but the results could impact use of hydroxyurea worldwide, including the United States and Europe. The findings are being published in the June 25 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

This clinical research milestone removes a major barrier to broadly expand the use of hydroxyurea in low-resource regions like sub-Saharan Africa, according to the physicians who led the study at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and the Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine.

For this study, 187 children with sickle cell anemia living in Uganda received hydroxyurea. About half received a fixed-dose of 20 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. The other half received an escalating dose, which started at 25 mg per kilogram of body weight per day and increased up to 35 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, if tolerated. Doctors evaluated the children every 2-3 months for laboratory and clinical benefits, as well as potential side effects.

While the study team was planning to keep the children on these separate treatment arms for two years, an independent data review panel changed the course about 18 months into the study, due to clear benefits of the higher dose.

"Our study's data safety and monitoring board noted a highly significant difference between the treatment groups, with the children on escalated dosing having superior clinical results, but the same number of side effects, so at their recommendation we halted the trial and moved all of the children to that escalated dosing strategy," said Robert Opoka, MMed, who oversaw the study at Makerere University and Mulago Hospital in Uganda.

Sickle cell anemia is a life-threatening blood disorder that distorts red blood cells into a sickle or crescent shape and leads to anemia, recurrent pain, organ damage, and early death. It is also a serious global health issue: in the United States, about 100,000 individuals are affected, but worldwide more than 300,000 children are born with the disease each year, with more than 80% born in sub-Saharan Africa.

Most therapeutic developments for sickle cell have not been available to children in Africa, including hydroxyurea, which is FDA-approved and effectively reduces the acute and chronic disease manifestations.

Earlier studies in sub-Saharan Africa showed hydroxyurea to be safe, feasible to use, and effective for treating sickle cell anemia, according to Russell Ware, MD, Ph.D., a hematologist at Cincinnati Children's who led those studies and is senior investigator on the current NEJM paper. Ware said the drug boosts fetal hemoglobin, which reduces sickling of the red blood cells and improves anemia, lowers pain and other sickle-related events, and reduces clinical interventions such as transfusions and hospitalizations.

According to lead study co-investigator Chandy John, MD, a physician scientist at the Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health at the IU School of Medicine, the optimal dosing and monitoring plan for hydroxyurea was unknown when the study started. Particularly for low-resource countries like Uganda, determining the hydroxyurea optimal dosing and monitoring plan was crucial.

John said the new study confirms that the dose escalation regimen is better than fixed dose, but expanding hydroxyurea treatment will require affordable drug costs, education of healthcare providers, and an increased drug supply. In addition, newborn screening for sickle cell anemia is needed to help identify those who will benefit from treatment as early as possible.

"There will be some additional costs associated with screening and increasing access to the drug, but they will be more than offset by benefits to patients," John explained. "Our data make it clear that children on a higher daily dose had substantially better clinical outcomes, with fewer adverse events."

"The study shows clearly that the optimized dosing strategy for hydroxyurea, though it requires more effort than a fixed-dose treatment regimen, results in far better outcomes for children with sickle cell anemia," Ware concluded. "We think this study can substantially benefit children with sickle cell anemia in Africa and throughout the world, by choosing the optimal hydroxyurea dose to decrease the disease complications."

"In Africa and other low-resource settings, children with sickle cell anemia have been a neglected population" said Opoka. "We are glad that our work together as African and US researchers has resulted in findings that will improve the health of all children with sickle cell anemia."

Explore further Sickle cell anemia treatment does not increase malaria risk in Africa
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.

___

Spagat reported from San Diego.
Michel Barner will hold talks with the UK team every week in July after Boris Johnson and the EU agreed to redouble efforts to strike a trade deal. - Reuters

Michel Barnier warned on Wednesday that the EUs demands for level playing field guarantees were not for sale but said that Brussels was willing to work on clever compromises to get a trade deal with Britain done.

A week before the two sides begin month-long intensified negotiations, the EUs chief negotiator said that the zero tariff, zero quota deal was still in our reach but added that the ball is the UKs court."

Brussels wants the UK to sign up to commitments to not undercut EU standards on tax, state aid, labour rights and the environment.

London argues such guarantees are more stringent than those in the EUs trade deal with Canada and Japan and that they could restrict the UKs ability to diverge from Brussels rules after the end of the transition period on January 1.

The level playing field is not for sale, Mr Barnier said at the European Policy Centre think tank in Brussels after speculation the deadlock could be broken if the UK accepted some tariffs in return for looser commitments.

Even if you were to maintain tariffs on some goods [...]the EU will still demand strong level playing field guarantees. It is a core part of our modern trade policy and we refuse to compromise our values to benefit the British economy.

Next week we are ready to work on operational and clever compromises but not at the price, never at the price, of any unravelling of the Single Market, Mr Barnier added.

He admitted the coronavirus pandemic had slowed negotiations but blamed Brexiteers for blocking progress in the talks.

We have the Brexiteers and a good part of the Tory party keeping a very hard line on full sovereignty for the UK [...] and no concessions even if it means no deal, he said.

Fishing is the other major obstacle to striking a deal before the no deal deadline of the end of the year. The EU wants a status quo agreement, while the UK wants annual negotiations on access to water based on a new system of calculating fish shares.

Story continues

Mr Barnier said that EU member states had made a fisheries agreement a condition for any trade deal. If both sides did not compromise, then there would be no fisheries or trade agreement.

That is the reality, he said. He said he and the European Commissions fisheries department were willing to work on the mix of parameters to find a compromise during next months talks.

He repeated his accusation that the UK was trying to cherry-pick the advantages of EU membership, despite having left the bloc.

Mr Barnier said the EU would not agree to allow Britain to make cars from parts around the world before exporting them, tariff-free, to the EU as British. About 80% of UK car parts are sourced from the EU.

Nothing would justify us encouraging UK manufacturers to start sourcing their parts outside of the EU, nothing would justify us signing away tens of thousands of European jobs for the UKs benefit, he said.

Mr Barnier said that the UK and EU were not far from an agreement on continued police and judicial cooperation such as intelligence sharing and extradition after the end of the Brexit transition period.
Sudan demands signing a deal before starting the filling of the GERD, saying the safety of the Sudanese Roseires dam directly relies on the operation of the Ethiopian dam

Sudan's Irrigation Minister Yasser abbas has said his country is considering sending a letter to the United Nations Security Council to clarify its stance on the disputed dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, after both Cairo and Addis Ababa submitted letters to the UN body.

Cairo asked the UNSC on Friday to intervene to restart talks between the three countries to reach a "fair and balanced" agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) after Addis Ababa declared it would begin filling the dam's reservoir in July, even without a deal.

Egypt told the Security Council in an official letter that Ethiopia's unilateral filling of the dam would "constitute a threat to international peace and security", and Ethiopia sent a letter to the council three days later to defend its stance.

Renewed negotiations brokered by Khartoum on the mega hydropower dam reached a deadlock last week after Addis Ababa refused a legally binding deal and instead suggested guiding rules that can be modified or cancelled, Egypt and Sudan said.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, the Sudanese minister revealed that his country has received an invitation from Ethiopia to resume negotiations over the dam, saying "the Sudanese government reiterated its stance that going back to the negotiating table requires political will to resolve outstanding contentious issues," according to Sudan's state news agency SUNA.

He expressed his country's fears over the operation and safety of the Ethiopian project which he said could endanger Sudans own dams.

"Sudan demands signing a deal between the three countries before starting the filling of the Renaissance Dam as the safety of the [Sudanese] Roseires dam directly relies on the operation of the Renaissance Dam," he stressed.

The Sudanese minister said last week that his country wants to ensure the water releases from the GERD are coordinated with water levels at its Roseries dam, located around 100 kilometers from the Ethiopian dam.

The latest round of talks between the three countries, held virtually between 9-17 June, came in response to a call by Sudan's Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, after a previous round of negotiations in Washington stalled in February after Ethiopia pulled out of a meeting that was due to result in a final accord.

The Sudanese minister told Wednesday's briefing that Hamdok's initiative was the "most appropriate framework for resolving disputes over the operation" of the Ethiopian dam.

Abbas said a draft agreement presented by Sudan,during the latest talks can work as "a basis for consensus between the three African countries".

He said that the current differences between the three nations are mainly related to the legal aspects, the singing of a legally binding agreement not linked to water sharing accords, a mechanism to settle disputes and a few technical issues.

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On June 18, 2020, the first-ever Global Alliance of Chinese Top Brands (GACTB) was co-founded by OPPLE, Dongpeng, Micoe, Robam and Holike. The fiveleading companies in the Home Furnishing Industry signed the cooperation agreement through a cloud signing ceremony due to the Covid-19 pandemic. GACTB is committed to providing global consumers with a one-stop solution for high-quality home furnishing services.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005619/en/

Founding of the Global Alliance of Chinese Top Brands (Graphic: Business Wire)

To expand sales channels through branding alliance

When life and work gradually get back to normal as the Covid-19 pandemic is being contained globally, overseas house owners will attach great importance to a healthy living style. In this regard, brand reputation and product quality will be the priority considerations in their decision-making process. GACTB will uphold the values of Branding, Society, Customers and Members, empower overseas sales channels by sharing client resources, and increase collaboration in developing new markets, bidding for projects, optimizing the distribution system and promoting brands on an all-win basis.

To boost brand awareness in global market through seamless synergy

Since each GACTB member boasts a leading market share, high reputation and brand premium in their respective sector, GACTB will further boost brand influence. Moreover, each member has a strong independent R&D capability to create green products for sustainable development.

China is a global leader in the lighting industry. We look to join hands with GACTB members and transform China's strong productivity into global brand influences, offering consumers all over the world better products at lower prices, said Jin Xin, General Manager of International Business Unit, OPPLE Lighting.

About OPPLE

Founded in 1996, OPPLE has been engaged in R&D, production, distribution and after-sales services of lighting sources, lighting fixtures and controls, operating in over 70 countries and regions in Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and South Africa. OPPLE constantly expands its product line to artistic switches, integrated home furnishing, kitchen and bathroom appliances and accessories, with a view to becoming an industry-leading provider of lighting system and integrated home total solutions. It now has over 100,000 outlets of sale of various types. OPPLE became a listed company in 2016.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005619/en/
Midland County was listed as having one less case in Wednesday's state report, now having 118 confirmed coronavirus cases and nine deaths since the pandemic's start.

Isabella County added two more cases and Saginaw County four cases and one death, bringing their pandemic totals to 97 cases and eight deaths and 1,184 cases and 120 deaths.

Gladwin County and Bay County remain at 26 cases and one death and 343 cases and 28 deaths since the pandemic started.

In interviews Tuesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addressed COVID-19 coming across the state lines and mentioned Midland. Her staff provided the Daily News with this quote from her interviews.

We know that COVID-19 doesn't stop at state line ... What we have seen is that in Traverse City, someone came from out of state and brought COVID-19 with them over Memorial Day weekend. We also saw after the flood in Midland that some people came from out of state to help ... My understanding is that they traveled, and they had symptoms when they traveled, so here's the thing: if you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and you should stay at home until the test result comes in.

Midland County Public Health Director/Health Officer Fred Yanoski said he was aware from media reports earlier this month of a Bay County outbreak of confirmed coronavirus cases that stemmed from out-of-state workers. Media reports cite that the Bay County Health Department director informed Bay County Board of Commissioners of 19 confirmed cases involving workers who came to Michigan from Texas and Florida, stayed in Bay County and did flood relief work in Midland. The workers were asked to quarantine in Bay County, but left for home.

There has not been an outbreak due to flood workers being in Midland County, Yanoski said.

He said Midland County earlier this month had a cluster of about 20 confirmed cases related to each other but it was not related to the flood.

"We've had one significant outbreak within a group of individuals," he said. "The vast majority of new cases (earlier in June) were in that outbreak. We are still seeing sporadic individual cases so infection is still in our community."

Yanoski said his office has received "very few complaints" of businesses and restaurants that have opened up.

"Everyone is well educated on reopening strategies and compliant on following the rules," he said.

He said the community as a whole has been compliant throughout the quarantine but warns as services open up, people might have the tendency to let down their guards.

"Distance when you can, wear masks," he said.

Fitness centers in Michigan can re-open Thursday after a U.S. District Judge struck down portions of Whitmers executive orders, including a blanket ban on the reopening of gyms and workout facilities statewide.

Yanoski said any business can open safely as long as they adhere to safety recommendations.

"Follow the rules and guidelines," he said.

The state on Wednesday added 323 new cases and four deaths. Overall, Michigan is at 61,953 cases and 5,868 deaths.

The state lists the total recovered at 49,290 cases, as of June 19, which represents COVID-19 confirmed individuals with an onset date on or prior to May 20, 2020.

The Midland County health department's website lists 101 recovered cases of individuals who had a lab-confirmed COVID-19 result and have completed their isolation and are symptom free.

Dr. Catherine Bodnar, Midland County Department of Public Health medical director, said it is critical for people to take the following steps:

 Socially distance at least 6 feet from non-household members.

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

 Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

 If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

 Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

 Wear face coverings in public.

 Stay home when sick.

 Covering coughs and sneezes.

 Throw used tissues in the trash right after use.

 Routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning wipe or spray.

If you think you've been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice. If he/she isn't available call MidMichigan Urgent Care in Midland at 989- 633-1350 or MidMichigan Medical Center's Emergency Department in Midland at 989-839-3100.

MidMichigan Health has a COVID-19 informational hotline with a reminder of CDC guidelines and recommendations. The hotline can be reached toll-free at 800-445-7356 or 989-794-7600. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also has a hotline number for Michigan residents for questions about COVID-19. The number is 1-888-535-6136 and is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also send an e-mail to: COVID19@michigan.gov. E-mails will be answered seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

If you are feeling anxious, stressed, depressed and feel you need to talk to someone, reach out to Community Mental Health for Central Michigan by calling 800-317-0708.
Jordan Peele's rebooted Twilight Zone series released photos on Wednesday from an upcoming season two episode that serves as a sequel to the classic 1962 episode To Serve Man.

In the now-iconic original, the people of Earth were visited by an alien race that turned out to have a taste for human flesh.

Gretchen Mol, 47, stars in the sequel episode, You Might Also Like, as a housewife who has her own run-in with the sinister species.

Coming soon: Jordan Peele's Twilight Zone reboot released new photos Wednesday of its upcoming episode You Might Also Like, a sequel to the classic 1962 episode To Serve Man

The new episode 'follows stay-at-home housewife Mrs. Warren (Gretchen Mol) as she looks forward to acquiring the widely marketed "Egg," an enigmatic device that promises to make everything better for everyone forever.'

'But further investigation soon reveals the unsavory truth about this mysterious product.'

The episode also features Greta Lee, best known for her multiple appearances on HBO's High Maintenance.

The advance photos include images of the Kanamits, with their bulbous heads and ashy gray skin done up to resemble the original show's black and white color palette.

New story: The new episode 'follows stay-at-home housewife Mrs. Warren (Gretchen Mol) as she looks forward to acquiring the widely marketed "Egg," an enigmatic device that promises to make everything better for everyone forever'

Chilling: The advance photos include images of the Kanamits, with their bulbous heads and ashy gray skin done up to resemble the original show's black and white color palette

The original episode featured the Kanamits landing on Earth and sharing their advanced technology, which quickly eliminated world hunger and ended the global arms race.

After the title of a book the aliens brought with them was translated as, 'To Serve Man,' humans let the guard down, assuming the creatures will only better their civilization.

But after humans are carried away to the Kanamits' home planet, the book is further translated, revealing that it's a cook book, and the alien's have eliminated poverty on Earth to fatten up humans for the slaughter.

The episode has gone on to be one of the most famous of the original Twilight Zone episodes thanks to its shocking twist.

Shocker: In the original, aliens that seemed to be helping humans were revealed to only be fattening them up to eat them

The boss: The new Twilight Zone, which premiered in 2019, was co-developed by Jordan Peele, who hosts and narrates; pictured in January in Santa Barbara

The sequel hints at a critique of shopping algorithms with its title You Might Also Like.

The new Twilight Zone, which premiered in 2019, was developed by Jordan Peele with Simon Kinberg and Marco Ramirez.

Peele hosts and narrates each episode, though so far, he hasn't directed any of the episodes.

Filming for the second season was scheduled to end in mid-March, though it's not clear yet if the coronavirus pandemic ended filming early.

The director and comedian's next major project will be the horror sequel Candyman, directed by Nia DaCosta, which he co-wrote and produced.

The film is currently scheduled to be released on September 25.

Next up: The director and comedian's next major project will be the horror sequel Candyman, directed by Nia DaCosta, which he co-wrote and produced
B y far the best moment in this weeks Prime Ministers Questions was when Boris Johnson challenged his opponent to name a single country with a working app to trace coronavirus carriers.

Sir Keir Starmer, without missing a beat, replied: Germany. Twelve million downloads .

This might have sunk the PM, one of those moments when the klaxons sound, the torpedo goes off in the engine room, and the hull inverts to the sound of braying and cheering Opposition MPs.

Instead, Johnson sailed on. In the socially-distanced chamber, the cracker of a reply went off with the explosive force of a paper bag being popped. Lucky Boris.

Or was it just luck? Theres a funny thing: Johnson spent most of PMQs with the air of a man who just hit the jackpot while on honeymoon at Caesars Palace. Sir Keir scowled across the Dispatch Box as hangdog as Tony Hancock giving blood.

If psychologists are right that most people watch politics with the TV volume turned off, then a majority of the country will have concluded that the confident PM was the outright winner. In reality, it was hard pounding on both sides.

Starmer started by asking where was the world beating test and trace system that the PM promised by June 1. He said 33,000 people were estimated to have Covid-19, yet contact tracers only reached 10,000 people who had tested positive. If two-thirds of those with Covid-19 are not being reached and asked to provide contact details thats a big problem, isnt it? he demanded.

On the contrary, I think he has been stunned by the success of the test and trace operation, breezed Johnson. And contrary to his prognostications of gloom it has got up and running, I think much faster than the doubters expected.

Sometimes it is like watching the worst mismatch ever. Starmer with his deadly stiletto, being battered by a man waving one of those giant inflatable hammer.

The Labour leader started by asking about the delayed test and trace app / Sky News

Starmer seemed surprised that the PM had ignored his question and repeated it. The problem, he explained slowly, was that 23,000 carriers had not been contacted at all out of the 33,000.

This is a big gap, asserted Starmer. The Prime Minister risks making mistakes he made in the beginning of the pandemic: brushing aside challenge, dashing forward, not estimating properly the risks.

But Johnson had spotted a flaw in the construction. The 33,000 was just an estimate, an extrapolation from a smaller survey sample. The 10,000 was an actual number contacted successfully. Apples and pears. I hesitate to accuse him of obscuring and misleading on the key point but.

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle interrupted to pretend that nobody misleads in the House of Commons. Johnson switched to inadvertently gave a false impression. Job done. He then launched his first barb of the day against lawyers, which never fails to irritate Sir Keir, the former Director of Public Prosecutions.

Adopting a pained tone, Johnson chided: I understand the constraints of the profession in which [you] used to work. I know how it works. This referred to Starmer allegedly backing test and trace yesterday and attacking it today, implying Labours leader changed his brief as regularly as his underwear. Starmer was yo-yoing instead of taking a side.

Starmer responded with his neat trick of waving Johnsons own press releases in the PMs face. The figures he says are inadvertently misleading are from the slide at his press conference yesterday ! Labour MPs loved that. The Prime Minister should welcome challenge that could save lives, rather than complaining about it.

Starmer then turned to the missing NHS app, noting that ministers hailed it as critical until it was found not to work, then downgraded it to mere additional support Is it critical or not?

At this point Johnson challenged him to name a single country in the world that has a functional contact tracing app, adding: There isnt one.

Johnson had the airy confidence of a gunfighter whose opponent had run out of bullets / Sky News

Starmer fired his torpedo in response and challenged: We have spent 12 million on this , when are we going to have a working app?

If the House had been full of MPs it would have been a sticky moment for the PM. But Johnson just shook his head, insisting that Starmer had it completely wrong.

No country in the world has a working tracing app, he repeated, musing: If we can get it to work it will be a fine thing. Not exactly a great justification for 12 million, but the moment of danger had passed.

Johnson then reheated his PMQs success from last week by asking if Starmer was yet ready to say kids should go back to school. Eyes swivelled to the Labour leader, wondering what esprit de l'escalier he had managed to come up with in the past seven days since his tongue-tied defenestration.

Yes, declared Starmer, jibing that the only U-turn was Gavin Williamson cancelling the return of all primary years.

Starmer then brought up Johnsons assertion last week that child poverty was down and 4,000 fewer children were in poverty, a claim the Childrens Commissioner had branded false.

Hes been found out, jeered the Opposition leader. He either dodges the question or he gives dodgy answers.

He picked up Johnsons lawyer jokes and fired them back at the PM. No more witnesses. I rest my case. Will the Prime Minister do the decent thing and correct the record?

But Johnson had the airy confidence of a gunfighter whose opponent had run out of bullets. Starmer had no questions left. The PM had a dig at mLearned Friend and claimed half a million kids fewer now fell under thresholds of low income and material deprivation.

He rounded off with a slug at schools again. It was absolutely infamous that Labours leader could not give a clear line.

For the record, our friends at FullFact say it is correct that the German app has been downloaded 12.2 million times, but say it is too soon to give a verdict on whether it works. The app uses the Apple/Google software which the UK government claims cannot estimate distances accurately.

Some useful nuggets were mined later in PMQs. The DUP's Sammy Wilson unearthed a letter suggesting a "border control post" was about to be created. Johnson insisted "categorically there will be no new customs infrastructure". This one will run.

Plaid Cymrus Liz Saville Roberts called for "local furlough-like schemes for self-isolating workers", which got the PM to agree: "Nobody should be penalised for doing the right thing." Sounds like a hint of action.

Tireless MP John Spellar warned of inequalities for BAME workers barred by the Disclosure and Barring Service  but the PM passed over a chance to kill a growing controversy.

Several Tories called for more help for their local hospitality sectors, clearly nervous at the economic disaster unfolding. Johnson may have lost his fear of Sir Keir, but he would be rash to lose his fear of a pandemic that could yet be his downfall.
As many as 3,000 Lao workers have returned home during the last two months, crossing the border from Thailand after losing their jobs amid business shut-downs due to coronavirus fears, sources in Laos say.



Hundreds of thousands of the 2.8 million foreign workers in Thailand returned to neighboring countries Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia after losing their jobs when their employers ran into economic hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to NGOs and governments.



Laos continues to see migrant workers return home, the flow slowed by restrictions imposed to fight the pandemic, in addition to the more than 200,000 whove already returned from Thailand.



In the last two months there have been from 2,000 to 3,000 returnees. We dont know the exact number, an official at the Labor and Social Welfare Department in the capital Vientiane told RFAs Lao Service this week.



After returning from Thailand, some of the Lao workers have come into the capital, and some have gone to other provinces, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



Theyre coming back because of the COVID-19 pandemic, factory closures, and unemployment, he added.



Thailand, which has reported fewer than 3,200 cases overall with 58 deaths, has started to open cautiously after going a month without a confirmed COVID-19 case. But job opportunities, particularly in the tourism and service sectors, are not expected to recover rapidly.



Many Lao workers have gone home because the shops and stores are still closed, one worker told RFA on June 23. Only a few are still open, and those that are open are accepting only two or three workers.



Waiting for orders



Around 20 Lao workers receive permission each day from the governor of Thailands Mukdahan province to cross the border to return home, a Thai official at the Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge border checkpoint said.



But for travelers coming in [to Thailand], this border gate is not open yet. Were waiting for an order from the government, he said.



A Lao labor official in Savannakhet province meanwhile said that up to 600 Lao workers have already returned from Thailand so far in June.



Some of the returnees would like to go back to their jobs in Thailand, but in order to go back to Thailand right now they will have to have proper permission and be certified by a doctor to be in good health.



They will also have to pay the costs of being quarantined in Thailand by themselves, he added.



Almost 200,000 Lao workers have now returned home since Thailand opened its border crossings with Laos to let them cross.



Laos Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare has meanwhile been registering information about Lao citizens who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first step in what workers hope will be a government response to help them get through tough times, sources in Laos said last month.



Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Richard Finney.
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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Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) votes at a school near his home in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx borough of New York City on June 23, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Bowman Declares Victory Over Rep. Eliot Engel in Democratic Primary

Educator Jamaal Bowman declared victory on Wednesday over Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), an apparent upset that left political observers shocked and drew parallels to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a bartender, emerging to win a House seat in 2018.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Bowman had 61.8 percent of the vote to Engels 34.9 percent.

Bowman, 44, secured more than 11,000 more votes than the incumbent.

Im a Black man raised by a single mother in a housing project. That story doesnt usually end in Congress. But today, that 11-year old boy beaten by police is about to be your Representative. I cant wait to get to DC and cause problems for those maintaining the status quo, Bowman said in a social media statement.

We won, he said in another, appealing for donations.

In most of New York state, winning a Democratic primary typically means the nominee will secure the seat.

Engel, 73, hasnt conceded. In a statement to The Epoch Times, his campaign said it will continue to closely monitor the collection and counting of absentee ballots and recount of the voting machines over the next week.

There are many thousands of absentee ballots that will need to be counted, and that count wont begin for another six days. Any declarative statement on the outcome of this race right now is premature and undermines the democratic process, the campaign said.

Congressman Engel strongly believes that every absentee ballot should be counted, especially during this pandemic. In the meantime, the Congressman will continue his work for the people of the Bronx and Westchester.

Dave Wasserman, editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, acknowledged the absentee ballots left to count but said hed still seen enough to indicate that Bowman defeated Engel.

Bowmans apparent win drew comparisons to Ocasio-Cortez, then-29, unseating Crowley, one of the most powerful Democrats in the House.

New York Democratic House candidate Jamaal Bowman greets supporters in Yonkers, N.Y., on June 23, 2020. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

Engel is the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and won handily in his previous reelection campaigns.

Engel, the son of Russian immigrants, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1988 and has represented three different districts since then.

Before that, he served for 12 years in the New York State Assembly.

Bowman, a former primary school teacher and middle school principal, ran to the left of Engel, championing Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, the repeal the 1994 crime bill, ending cash bail, and stopping the building of any more jails or prisons.

No other incumbents lost in the primaries but several congressional newcomers are set to gain office in November because of incumbents who are stepping down.

Reps. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.), Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), and Peter King (R-N.Y.) previously announced they werent seeking reelection.

Mondaire Jones, a 33-year-old lawyer who once served in the Department of Justice during the Obama administration, appeared to secure the Democratic nomination to replace Lowey, while Ritchie Torres, a 32-year-old New York City councilman, won the nomination to replace Serrano.

Both face a general election battle but the seats historically go to Democrats.

Jackie Gordon, a public school teacher, was ahead in the Democratic primary for Kings seat. State Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino was ahead in the Republican primary.

The seat representing New Yorks 27th congressional district was also up for grabs after Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) resigned late last year. Republican Chris Jacobs, former New York secretary of state, will face lawyer Nate McMurray.
Iranian woman released from prison says regime is detaining 15 other Christians

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Iranian Christian convert and human rights activist Mary Mohammadi, who spent 46 days in a detention center and a prison for protesting against the government, says the Islamic country has detained 15 other Christians in overcrowded and unsanitary prisons.

In her first interview since being granted a temporary release from prison on Feb. 26, Mohammadi spoke to VOA Persian recently, saying her domestic contacts had informed her that at least 15 Christians were in detention in Irans prisons as of June 11.

She said at least 20 other Iranian Christians had been released on bail while awaiting trial.

Mohammadi was arrested on Jan. 12 and later sentenced to three months in prison and torture for protesting the governments downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane earlier that month.

At the National Prayer Breakfast gathering in February in Washington, President Donald Trump had expressed concern about her detention. Mary was seized and imprisoned in Iran because she converted to Christianity and shared the Gospel with others, Trump said.

In April, the 21-year-old took to social media to provide a case update for her followers. After suffering many types of torture and 46 days in jail in the terrible conditions of Vozara detention and Qarchak [womens] Prison, I have been sentenced to 3 months and 1 day in prison and 10 lashes, Mohammadi wrote on Instagram.

Mohammadi also wrote that she had been sentenced because she had protested against the slaughter of human beings and because she had shown sympathy for the families of those who perished on the Ukraine airline crash.

She added that her sentence had been suspended for one year depending on her conduct. She also contended that there was never any evidence against her.

So I ought to have been acquitted, but instead I was sentenced not only to imprisonment but also flogging, she wrote. And of course, even before the verdict was handed down, I was forced to endure all kinds of torture, none of which is sanctioned by law, and which ought to be considered crimes in themselves.

Mohammadi was arrested also in 2017 during a raid on an underground house church meeting and later sentenced to six months in prison. She served her time in the womens ward of Evin prison.

She wrote an open letter to Irans Minister of Intelligence Mahmoud Alavi last May, accusing him of targeting Christians and violating the constitution, HRANA reported at the time.

In her letter, Mohammadi also questioned why Christian converts in Iran must refrain from talking about their faith while Muslims are free to discuss their faith in public settings.

Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List ranks Iran as the ninth worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution. Iran has for years also been labeled by the U.S. State Department as a country of particular concern for engaging in egregious religious freedom abuses.

Under Irans Islamic law, Christian converts face severe persecution from the government. Its illegal for Christians to share their faith with non-Christians. And Christian converts who attend underground house churches risk arrest and torture and many converts are forced to keep their faith a secret.

However, the underground church in Iran has continued to grow. Open Doors estimates that there are more than 800,000 Christians in the Shia-dominated country.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

As many as 2,531 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, 133 more people have died in Iran from the coronavirus over the past day.

Sadat Lari added that the condition of 2,869 people is critical.

So far, more than 1.5 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 212,500 people have been infected 9,996 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 172,000 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.
The border clash between India and China that killed 20 Indian soldiers is going to be a "turning point" in bilateral relations between the two Asian giants, a former Indian ambassador to China told CNBC. A "violent face-off" in the Himalayas occurred Monday last week along the border in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, where soldiers from India and China have been locked in a standoff since May. While India said both sides suffered casualties, China did not disclose how many of its soldiers died during the clash. The encounter sparked concern and soured public sentiment even as the two nuclear powers moved to deescalate tensions. "This is definitely a turning point in the bilateral relations, but I wouldn't call it a breaking point," said Nirupama Rao, who served as India's ambassador to China between 2006 to 2009. Speaking to CNBC's "Street Signs" on Wednesday, she said there were indications that both countries had a constructive discussion and attempted to disengage from the disputed areas. Still, she said, the escalated violence  not seen in decades  cast a "long shadow" on the relationship. On Wednesday, the Chinese defense ministry said, "The responsibility for the China-Indian border conflict lies entirely with India, China hopes to maintain peace in the border areas," according to a CNBC translation of the comments.

Trade and investment ties

In recent weeks, anti-China sentiment in India has grown, with people calling for a boycott of Chinese products in the country. But experts say that it will be difficult for India to suddenly sever or reduce trade and economic ties with its neighbor. "India's exposure to China is asymmetric in terms of trade and investments," said Radhika Rao, an economist at Singapore's DBS Group, who is not related to the ambassador. "China displaced the European Union to emerge as India's biggest importing partner six years back," she said in a Tuesday note.

India can only be expected to protect and safeguard its interests in what is emerging as a very sensitive situation in the bilateral relationship. Nirupama Rao former Indian ambassador to China

India imported more than $62 billion worth of goods from China between April 2019 to February this year, and exported only around $15.5 billion worth of products, Indian government data showed. Most of India's imports from China are manufactured items such as electronics and electrical equipment, alongside organic chemicals, according to Rao from DBS. She explained that China also has notable portfolio investments in India's technology sector, with top start-ups like Paytm, Ola, Swiggy and Zomato all backed by Chinese investors. New Delhi had already introduced restrictive measures on Chinese foreign direct investments before last week's border clash.

An Indian Army convoy passes through Gagangeer along a highway leading to Ladakh on June 22, 2020 in Ganderbal, India. Waseem Andrabi | Hindustan Times | Getty Images

"As far as trade and economic and investment relations go, there is a very complex web of intermeshing now between the two countries," Ambassador Rao said, explaining that decoupling, or disengagement from China, is not an easy task. It comes despite growing calls from the public for India to do something about balancing its economic ties better and preserving its national interest. She added that there will likely be steps taken to curb Chinese presence in areas that affect India's security, in fields such as telecommunications and critical infrastructure.

India's relationship with allies

Experts have said the latest dispute with China is likely to push India closer to the United States, Japan, Australia, and Southeast Asian countries. India's foreign policy has mostly remained strategically autonomous, which means Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has to balance bilateral relations with the United States, as well as China and Russia.
My staff is constantly worrying that the guests are going to be upset or going to pick an argument, he said. They are being put in situations where they have to police people. We should not be put in the position of being enforcers. Its not our job.
Siege d'Elections Cameroon Archives

The Facebook page of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM was hacked on the night of Tuesday, June 23, 2020 by unknown individuals.

The President of the Electoral Board of ELECAM, Enow Abrams Egbe in a dispatch Wednesday confirmed the cyber-attack on the election management bodys Facebook account.

He said a group of ill-intentioned individuals hacked the official Facebook account of ELECAM in the night of Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 11:22 p.m. The hackers are said to have gone ahead to publish false information which goes against the missions and ethics of ELECAM.

The hackers posted a picture of Professor Maurice Kamto with a raised fist over colors of the national flag. Beside Kamtos photo are the words: the truth shall always prevail. Its just a matter of time.

Kamto is leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, CRM opposition party. He and his supporters claim that they won the October 2018 presidential election, but the official figures show that Kamto got14% of the vote, in second place to the 87-year-old President Paul Biya.

A request for a recount of the ballots was rejected by the Constitutional Council. Since then, the CRM has organized several protests, calling for electoral reforms. Kamto refers to himself as president-elect, despite losing the polls according to official results.

Bibou Nissack Olivier, Spokesperson for Maurice Kamto quotes Kamto as warning activists and sympathizers of the CRM against malicious maneuver of manipulation and diversion, urging them not to fall into this trap.

Page Facebook d'Elecam (c) capture d'ecran

While strongly condemning this very serious criminal act, the President of the Electoral Board of ELECAM clears Elections Cameroon of any responsibility.

Enow Abrams Egbe says plans to regain control of the Facebook page have been launched while the competent authorities are also engaged in tracking the authors of the act in a bid to identify them so they can face the law.

The President of the Electoral Board of ELECAM reassures all registered voters that all protective measures are being taken for an efficient management of the Facebook page of Elections Cameroon, said Enow.

As we went to press, the information posted by the hackers had not been taken down.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  At least two government agencies in the forefront of assisting Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are running low on funds.

In the Senate Committee on Labor hearing on Wednesday, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Cacdac said that repatriation expenses are going up as their revenue collections from OFWs are going down.

Cacdac admitted that if the ongoing repatriation of overseas Filipino workers continues until next year, the agency will be bankrupt by the end of 2021.

OWWA currently has a budget of P18.8 billion.

We are spending for hotels. Were spending for food. Were spending for transport. Wala pa ho diyan iyong financial assistance, which we will also embark on. We will be down to around P10 billion by the end of the year, Cacdac explained. "The issue at the outset of sustainability is very huge. It's looming large. We can be down to P10B by the end of year and less than P1B by the end of 2021."

Cacdac adds revenue collections have already gone down to 46% from January to April this year.

Consequently, Cacdac said OFW remittances this year are expected to go down by 30% to 40% or a P10 billion peso decline from the P33.5 billion peso remittances last year.

We started the year very well. January was a very strong year in terms of investments and collections but it tapered off and we are on a downward trend, Cacdac explains.

Cacdac sought the advise of senators on how to proceed given their financial situation. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon told OWWA to continue the speedy repatriation of OFWs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

I strongly suggest that OWWA provide fullest assistance to the OFWs. Thats their money. Nobody expected this. Ang kailangan ay matulungan muna natin ang ating mga kababayan sa ibayong dagat, said Drilon, a former OWWA Chairman.

The OWWA fund is sourced from membership contributions of OFWs.

Drilon pointed out that OWWAs current budget is still sufficient for the repatriation and quarantine program this year.

OWWA said 150,000 OFWs have expressed the desire to be repatriated. The repatriation and quarantine of these OFWs will cost OWWA about P4.5 billion pesos.

I am sure the Congress will be willing to assist OWWA in making it financially viable if it is able to show that in these times of crisis, OWWA can respond properly. We are more than willing to help if you are able to execute your mandate well, Drilon said.

Similarly, the Department of Foreign Affairs said its budget is also running low.

The DFA has already spent 66 percent of its P1 billion Assistance to Nationals Fund. Undersecretary Sarah Arriola said they have to bring home 167,626 stranded OFWs in the next 2 to 3 months  with majority coming from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

We are afraid that if we continue to charter the planes, because there are more people stranded, our funds would run out in August, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Arriola tells senators.

The DFA reports that more than 88,000 OFWs were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia and 50,000 more in the UAE.
Two soldiers killed in attacks with targeted bases believed to have a strong presence of Iranian-backed militias.

The Syrian army says it has responded to Israeli attacks on southern, central and eastern Syria in which two soldiers were killed in what military defectors and intelligence sources said was a wave of raids that targeted Iranian bases.

The army said late on Tuesday that Israeli jets hit an army outpost in Salamiya and another in Sabura towns in Hama province only hours after missiles struck other military installations in Deir Az Zor province along the border with Iraq and in southern Syria near the border with Jordan.

Earlier, an army statement said several attacks occurred simultaneously, one at a military outpost in Kabajib, east of Deir Az Zor and in the vicinity of the town of Sukhna in the nearby eastern desert.

A third attack hit a military installation further south, in the town of Salkhad, near the southern city of Sweida. Two soldiers died, and four were wounded.





The bases are in zones in eastern and southern Syria that Israel had attacked in recent months and which are believed to have a strong presence of Iranian-backed militias.

A senior Syrian military defector and a regional intelligence source told Reuters news agency that an Iranian arms depot near the city of Salamiya was set on fire after it was repeatedly bombed, while a command centre in the town of Sabura run by Iranian militias was also severely damaged.

The Israeli army declined to comment.

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 aimed to undermine 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.

Israeli military officials have said in recent weeks Israel would step up its campaign against Iran in Syria where Tehran has expanded its presence with the help of proxy militias.
India has imposed an anti-dumping duty on steel imports from China, Vietnam and South Korea. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India has imposed an anti-dumping duty on flat rolled steel products that are plated or coated with alloy of aluminium and zinc originating in, or from China, Vietnam and South Korea, according to a government order issued on Tuesday.

The duty will be in the range of $13.07-$173.10 per tonne for 5 years, according to the statement.

In the last few days, India has taken steps to protect its domestic industry and push local manufacturing as Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to make the nation self-reliant to bolster its sagging economy and create jobs.

The move to levy charges on imports from China is also seen as retaliation by New Delhi after 20 soldiers died in a face-off with Beijing at the Himalayan border. Indian and Chinese military officials on Tuesday agreed to disengage on the disputed border.
The Baltimore County Police Department has released body camera footage showing the fatal police shooting of a black man in Maryland who was shot after his handgun had fallen out of his vehicle.

On May 16 Robert Johnson Jr, 29, was killed after police responded to an anonymous call about a group of young people drinking and being chaotic.

Johnson's family said after the incident that he had been attending his cousins 15th birthday when he dented a neighbors vehicle while trying to park. That person called police saying he was armed.

Prosecutors released the footage of the shooting on Wednesday saying it was justified and they do not plan to file criminal charges against the officer involved, identified solely by his last name as Police Officer First Class Knight, according to the Baltimore Sun.

On Wednesday the Baltimore County Police Department released bodycamera footage of the fatal shooting of black man Robert Johnson Jr, 29, on May 16 in Essex, Maryland

Video footage shows an officer identified solely by his surname and rank as First Class Knight arriving to the scene and finding Johnson exiting his car

When he exited the vehicle a black Remington handgun is seen falling from the car. Knight fires three shots at him after seeing the handgun

The harrowing clip shows Knight arriving on the scene and approaching the rear of Johnsons car.

Johnson is seen exiting his vehicle and when he does a black Remington handgun is seen falling from the car.

Johnson then turned his back on the officer to reach down and grab the gun.

Knight is heard saying: 'Woah, no.'

Knight then raises his gun and fires three shots at Johnson as screams erupt from the background. None of those shots hit him.

Backup is called and Johnson is seen running away from the officer.

Knight fires five more shots at Johnson when Johnson raised his handgun while running. Johnson then falls to the ground in front of a neighbors door.

In the gunfire Johnson had been shot twice in the back and twice in the buttocks.

Knight is heard telling Johnson to keep still.

Johnson grabbed the gun and tried to run from the cop, who fired five more shots, this time hitting him twice in the back and twice in the buttocks

In Johnson's hand his handgun can be seen as he runs away from the officer

Officer Knight pictured with his gun pointed at Johnson sprawled on the ground. Baltimore County Deputy States Attorney Robin Coffin said her office reviewed all statements from witnesses, residents and police before determining 'this is a justified shooting when Mr. Johnson reached for that handgun'

Johnson did not fire his weapon in the incident.

Baltimore County Deputy States Attorney Robin Coffin said her office reviewed all statements from witnesses, residents and police before determining 'this is a justified shooting when Mr. Johnson reached for that handgun.'

She said a finger injury on Johnson indicates his finger was on the trigger of his gun.

He had been recently released from federal prison for a weapons charge and he wouldnt have been allowed to carry a weapon.

Johnson's gun also turned up in a database as stolen from Virginia.

'Its a tragedy for everyone but no criminal charges with come,' she said.

She said its 'always terrible for the community when theres a loss of life in the community,' adding 'Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter and All Lives Matter.'

Baltimore County Deputy States Attorney Robin Coffin said her office reviewed all statements from witnesses, residents and police before determining 'this is a justified shooting when Mr. Johnson reached for that handgun'

Col. Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Departments Criminal Investigations Bureau said the incident is still under investigation

Col. Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Departments Criminal Investigations Bureau reiterated the incident is under investigation still and 'additional facts may come to light.'

Cops initially said they responded to a call about 'a nuisance related to a large crowd of people'.

McCullough said Wednesday the 911 caller reported Johnson driving around the area intoxicated.

Johnson's family have not commented on the released footage. They have hired a lawyer.

Johnson's cousin Alexis Jackson witnessed the shooting and said Johnson wasn't a threat.

Johnson's brother Freddie Jackson, 20, was inside their home trying to guide kids inside the home upstairs when one of Knight's bullets pierced the door and his leg, relatives say. He was hospitalized and later released.

Officer Knight is a 24-year veteran assigned to the Essex Precinct and had no prior officer-involved shootings.

He was initially placed on administrative leave but has already resumed patrol duties.

The department does not typically share the first names of officers, citing an agreement with the police union.

Johnson's death was one in a slew of devastating police shootings of African American people in the country that have sparked outrage on the heels of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis on May 25.
Emirates to resume A380 services to LHR and CDG. Image: Emirates Airlines

This marks the return of Emirates' flagship aircraft on scheduled services since the pandemic forced the temporary grounding of the airline's passenger fleet in March.



Adel Al Redha, Emirates' chief operating officer said: "The A380 remains a popular aircraft amongst our customers and it offers many unique on-board features. We are delighted to bring it back into the skies to serve our customers on flights to London and Paris from 15 July, and we are looking forward to gradually introduce our A380 into more destinations according to the travel demand on specific destinations. The Emirates A380 experience remains unique in the industry, and even though we've modified services onboard for the health and safety of our crew and customers, we are confident that our customers would welcome flying again in this quiet, comfortable aircraft."



The return of the A380 follows the resumption of Emirates B777 300ER flights to and from Manchester and London Heathrow, and the announcement that Dubai will re-open to business and leisure visitors from 7 July. The reopening of Dubai will see new air travel protocols that facilitate travel for UAE citizens, residents and tourists while safeguarding the health and safety of travellers and communities.



In addition, Emirates has announced that it will commence flights for travellers to Dhaka (from 24 June), and Munich (from 15 July), adding to its growing network.
The agreement follows AstraZeneca's recent announcement of a licensing agreement with the University of Oxford for the global development, manufacturing, and distribution of the AZD1222 vaccine candidate, formerly known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. The vaccine candidate is currently in clinical trials at multiple sites in the UK.

Colin MacKay, founder and CEO of Symbiosis commented: "Our team is immensely proud to be able to make a highly meaningful contribution to the global fight against COVID-19 and the urgent efforts to develop a successful vaccine. With many years of direct experience manufacturing medicines and vaccines of this nature for clinical trials and commercial markets, we are delighted to be able to leverage our expertise and competitive strengths to accelerate the development of this vaccine for AstraZeneca and to add value to the project."

Scottish Government Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation Ivan McKee said: "It is fantastic to see the continued success of Symbiosis in Scotland, and I applaud the vital work they are undertaking.

"Symbiosis' collaboration with AstraZeneca is a great example of how Scotland's world-leading life sciences sector is working with partners across the globe to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Our life science sector has long been at the forefront of innovation and pioneering medical treatments, and we will continue to support the industry as we work together to tackle coronavirus."

Symbiosis has several specialist manufacturing capabilities which together make the service offering of the Scotland-based company currently unique in the UK. Its service offering has enabled the company to build a global client base and employ 100 highly qualified staff from its headquarters in Stirling.

Chief Executive of Stirling Council, Carol Beattie, said: "This is a monumental moment in the global fight against Coronavirus, and I'm incredibly proud this vaccine will be produced here; it underlines the home grown, world class talent and research ability available in Stirling in the life sciences and manufacturing sectors, which span all stages from novel start-up to internationally acclaimed, high growth businesses such as Symbiosis."

Linda Hanna, Managing Director of Scottish Enterprise also added: "This agreement with AstraZeneca is a fantastic endorsement of Symbiosis' capabilities, and highlights Scotland's globally renowned reputation for life sciences and manufacturing. We've worked with Colin and his team for many years, and look forward to following their progress in helping develop a vaccine for the global pandemic."

About Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services

Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services Ltd (Symbiosis) is a specialist pharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) established in 2011 in Stirling, UK, to provide niche sterile manufacturing services to GMP standards and produce injectable products for its clients to use in their clinical trials or to supply specialist commercial markets.

In 2011, Symbiosis set out to be a UK-located service provider to an international biotechnology and pharmaceutical market and to create wealth and jobs in the life sciences sector in Scotland. The Scottish economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise, was instrumental in supporting the start-up of the company and provided investment capital through its investment arm, the Scottish Investment Bank (SIB).

The company has a manufacturing facility which can manufacture biologic, vaccine, or small-molecule sterile bio/pharmaceutical products for biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients globally who are developing medicines to treat cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, for example. The company also has an office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which services an increasing proportion of US clients.

Manufacturing is undertaken in an FDA-approved and MHRA-licensed facility which is regulated to facilitate the handling of biological products including the latest drug development technilogies in the field of Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products (ATMPs) such as viral vector-based therapeutic and vaccine products.

For more information on Symbiosis visit http://www.symbiosis-pharma.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @ AstraZeneca .

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A police vehicle is parked near a statue of Father Junipero Serra in front of the San Gabriel Mission in San Gabriel, Calif., on June 21, 2020. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

After Weeks of Violent Protests, Some Now Call for Toppling of Jesus Statues

As statues of historical American figures, including those of former presidents, are being forcibly torn down across the nation, Black Lives Matter activists are now beginning to target Christianity.

Historical churches are being defaced as some call for statues of Jesus to be torn down.

Yes, I think the statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down. They are a form of white supremacy, wrote political activist Shaun King, who is an open supporter of Black Lives Matter.

In the Bible, when the family of Jesus wanted to hide, and blend in, guess where they went? EGYPT! Not Denmark, King continued in a June 22 Twitter post. Tear them down.

In Washington, vandals defaced the historical St. Johns Episcopal Church located just one block away from the White House. The letters BHAZ (Black House Autonomous Zone) were scrawled on the pillars in front of the church. The zone has since been dismantled by police.

Meanwhile, some have publicly supported the comments made by King.

#ShaunKing is right about #WhiteJesus and #WhiteSupremacy, wrote economist and activist Boyce Watkins. If #Jesus had been presented in his truest form, yall would have hanged him from a tree.

Tory Russell, mission director for The International Black Freedom Alliance, wrote in a Twitter post, shaunking trying to do more decolonizing of the US than your movement favorites.

In a follow up Twitter post, King called for all other depictions of a white Jesus to be torn down, labeling them as racist propaganda.

All murals and stained glass windows of white Jesus, and his European mother, and their white friends should also come down, he said. They are a gross form white supremacy. Created as tools of oppression. Racist propaganda. They should all come down.

The targeting of Jesus has come on the heels of the targeting of statues of former U.S. presidents, which followed on from attacks on statues of Confederate generals sparked after protests across the country broke out in wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody. Attorney General William Barr recently said that the Department of Justice has evidence that anarcho-communist group Antifa and other similar groups have hijacked the initially peaceful protests.

The administration is increasing its efforts to crack down against vandals. On June 23, Trump announced that he has permitted the federal government to arrest anyone who defaces or tears down any monument effective immediately.

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, he said on Twitter.

This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused, Trump continued. There will be no exceptions!

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) likened the wave of statue toppling to a cultural revolution.

This far-left anger is sparing some heroes of their own, he said on June 23. I understand that in Seattle, a large statue of Vladimir Lenin stands quite untouched.

Historical Figures

Protesters in California toppled a statue of Junipero Serra, a Roman Catholic Spanish priest widely regarded as a founder of the religious California Missions. In response, the Spanish Embassy in Washington issued a series of Twitter posts stating they deeply regret the destruction of the statue  and would like to offer a reminder of his great efforts in support of indigenous communities.

Statues of various historical figures have been torn down across multiple states. In one incident in California, a group of vandals dressed in black cheered as they used a cord to pull down a statue of of Francis Scott Key, who penned the national anthem.

Amid the unrest, statues of Americas Founding Fathers also became a target as monuments of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were torn down. One of the latest targets is a statue of the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, located at an entrance to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

The statue of Theodore Roosevelt located in front of the American Museum of Natural History in New York on June 23, 2020. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times)

A cyclist takes photos of the Theodore Roosevelt Statue in front of the American Museum of Natural History in New York on June 23, 2020. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times)

While the Roosevelt statue hasnt been physically toppled by vandals, Ellen Futter, the museums president, has asked New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to remove the statue. The mayor accepted the request on June 21.

Futter said in a letter that the statue has been controversial due to its hierarchical composition that places one figure on horseback and the others walking alongside, and many of us find its depictions of the Native American and African figures and their placement in the monument racist.

The citys government didnt respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times on the timeline of the statues removal.

Communism expert and author Trevor Loudon called the statue defacing happening across the nation a Maoist tactic of erasing the form of culture.

Maoism is about building a new man, a new society, Loudon told The Epoch Times previously. You have to destroy all remnants of the old society. You have to destroy memorials and the former culture so you can build a new society.

According to Loudon, Marxist organizations such as Liberation Road and the Workers World Party have both been involved in the recent escalations.

They are following the line of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, said Loudon, who is also a contributor to The Epoch Times. The Cultural Revolution wiped out the previous Chinese culture; they toppled statues and desecrated monuments.

Yang Jianli, a Chinese dissident and son of a former Communist Party leader who now heads the Citizen Power Initiatives for China, a pro-democracy NGO in the United States, also said the statue toppling was reminiscent of Chinas cultural revolution.

The behavior on the part of the protestors did remind me a lot of the cultural revolution, Yang told The Epoch Times.

[Its] familiar in violence, anti rule-of-law and political madness, he said. The BLM protestors have crossed the line when they break or tear down the statues of Americas Founding Fathers such as Washington and Jefferson.
Israel might start annexing territory claimed by the Palestinians. Taiwan is pushing for a historic free trade agreement. North Korea is desperate for sanctions relief. And Poland is itching to seal the deal on a Fort Trump to bolster its defenses against Russia with thousands more U.S. troops.

As his poll numbers sink, governments that have allied themselves with Donald Trumps presidency are racing to clinch favorable deals they see as unlikely under a President Joe Biden.

Foreign leaders are accustomed to bracing for sudden swings in American politics. But Trump has been so unusual in his willingness to deviate from mainstream U.S. foreign policy nostrums that his potential departure is already inducing a geopolitical scramble rarely seen in modern memory.

This is a whole different level because the type of thing Trump would accept no president would have accepted ever before, said Thomas Wright, an analyst with the Brookings Institution. He said foreign leaders trying to make gains from the potential final months of the Trump era need to balance how to do that and not totally aggravate the next president, because its at least 50-50 now that Biden will be president.

Israel: The allure of annexation

One foreign leader following the U.S. election especially closely is Benjamin Netanyahu, who has benefited tremendously from having a kindred spirit in the White House. Under Trump, the Israeli prime minister has seen the U.S. move its embassy to Jerusalem, recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and generally embrace Israels narrative in its long-running conflict with the Palestinians.

Netanyahu is at present considering annexing parts of the West Bank in the coming months. Trump aides met Tuesday to weigh how much support they are willing to offer such a move, an administration official confirmed.

The West Bank is claimed by Palestinians for a future state, and many countries, including key Arab states friendly to the U.S., oppose Israeli annexation. In an extraordinary direct appeal, Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates' influential ambassador to Washington, recently urged Israel to reconsider the idea in an op-ed in a major Isaeli newspaper.

Story continues

Netanyahu, emboldened by a Trump peace proposal released earlier this year that was heavily weighted in Israels favor, has signaled he plans to start by annexing areas of the West Bank where Isaeli settlers already live. Israeli officials describe the idea as applying Israeli sovereignty to territory they refer to as Judea and Samaria, while critics decry it as an illegal land grab.

This is a historic opportunity that they have with Trump to push through annexation, which they see as irreversible, said Ilan Goldenberg, a former Middle East hand in the Obama administration. They know that if they get Joe Biden this is not an option thats available to them.

Biden, who as vice president under former President Barack Obama clashed repeatedly with Netanyahu, may reverse any U.S. recognition of annexation announced under Trump. But its a sensitive issue for Biden, who has long cast himself as a stalwart supporter of Israel. When asked whether Biden would rescind any recognition of annexation, an aide said merely: Vice President Biden opposes it now and will oppose it as president."

The Israeli embassy declined comment. Neither the White House nor the State Department offered comment for this article.

Poland: Eastern promises

In Polands ruling Law and Justice Party -- which has a populist, conservative bent that its opponents paint as authoritarian -- Trump has found something of a soulmate.

Poland was one of the first European countries Trump visited upon taking office. This week, hes welcoming its president, Andrzej Duda, to the White House. The visit comes just days before Duda is up for reelection, and it could give him a boost in the polls. Its also expected to coincide with an announcement on Trumps plans to strengthen U.S. military ties with Poland, which could include additional U.S. troops on Polish soil.

At least some of the 9,500 troops permanently based in Germany several hundred miles to the east could move to Poland as part of a drawdown Trump announced abruptly last week. National security adviser Robert OBrien wrote in a Monday op-ed that the troops may redeploy to other countries in Europe, but they also may head to the Indo-Pacific, where the U.S. is beefing up its military presence to deter China, or return to the U.S.

On a call with reporters ahead of Dudas visit on Tuesday, senior administration officials declined to give details about the move, or progress on plans for Fort Trump.

Poland has courted Trump for months, even floating the idea of naming a military base in his honor. The relationship is mutually beneficial: Trump enjoys broad public support in Poland, and appreciates Warsaws commitment to meeting NATO defense spending targets, buying American military equipment, and cooperation on energy partnerships. Warsaw, meanwhile, appreciates the Pentagons investment in key European military infrastructure and is keen for increased U.S. troop presence on Polish soil. It doesnt hurt that Poland, which declined to comment for this story, provides Trump an easy contrast with a Germany that has resisted ramping up its defense spending.

Its hard to name too many European countries that dont have a ruptured relationship with the Trump administration. Poland is an exception, said Julianne Smith, a former Obama appointee and top Pentagon official who described the decision to host Duda at the White House days before his election as shocking.

An agreement on Fort Trump or increased U.S. troop presence may be far from certain, as there are some complex issues to settle -- who will foot the bill, for example -- and the Poles are tough negotiators. But, Smith said, the Poles do want to take advantage of the fact that they have a U.S. president that is intent on rewarding them for spending a lot on defense, and they want to see what they can get out of that.

China: Its complicated

Beijing sees both pluses and minuses in a Trump loss this November.

The Trump administration has taken a hard line on an array of issues related to China, whose ruling Communist Party U.S. officials see as a long-term threat to the United States. Trump has spoken warmly of Xi Jingping, his Chinese counterpart. But hes also imposed steep tariffs on Chinese goods, while his aides have traveled the world urging governments to cut various ties to Beijing, especially when it comes to relying on Chinese technology.

Biden is expected to maintain a tough line on China as well, but analysts say hes more likely to try to at least improve the trade relationship and see where the two countries can cooperate. On issues such as climate change, as well as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which began in China, Biden is expected to try to coordinate with Beijing.

Some in Chinese officialdom, however, reportedly see long-term benefits in Trump winning a second term. They argue that four more years of Trump will further damage Americas global standing and fray its alliances with other countries. That could benefit China as it seeks to increase its global influence. The Biden camp, too, says that Chinese leaders see Trump as an easy mark they can outmaneuver on trade and one who cares little about human rights, where Beijing is vulnerable to international pressure.

One government that has reaped the benefits of Trumps generally hardline stance on China? Taiwan. The U.S. and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic relations, and officially the U.S. recognizes the regime in Beijing as the government of China. But the U.S. and Taiwan have strengthened their quasi-official ties over the last four years with increased weapons sales and high-level talks that have infuriated Beijing, which has threatened to smash any move by Taipei toward independence.

To shore up Taipeis defenses against the threat from Chinas stepped-up military drills in the region, the Trump administration has made significant strides in normalizing weapons sales to the island. Rather than putting together a large package every few years, U.S. officials are moving toward approving individual sales more frequently, for instance greenlighting a controversial F-16 fighter jet sale last year and more recently announcing a potential deal for torpedoes. U.S. officials are now pushing selling even more advanced equipment and conducting joint naval exercises.

In addition to locking in additional weapons sales, Taipei is looking to take advantage of a historically strong relationship with the United States to clinch a free trade agreement before November. Already, Taiwan is the United States 11th largest trading partner, a spokesperson for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, Taiwans de facto embassy in Washington, told POLITICO.

"Over the past four years, weve made immeasurable progress in the areas of security, trade, and international space. Both sides have characterized the relationship as at its strongest point ever, the spokesperson said. As we look forward, we continue to seek progress towards a free trade agreement.

Our economies are highly complementary to one another. And a trade deal would be strategically significant given our unique position in the region, the spokesperson continued.

The U.S. has historically worked with Taiwan on trade and treated Taipei as a separate customs territory, said Randy Schriver, formerly the Pentagons top Asia policy official. A free trade agreement, while unlikely by November due to the potential congressional backlash, would be an upgrade rather than something radically new and different, he said.

But Biden campaign staff have signaled their view that the U.S. would need to take proactive steps to rebuild the relationship with China, Schriver said. This would likely mean diminished support for military sales and cooperation, as well as less overt support for Taipei politically and diplomatically, in a Biden administration, he noted.

They see the need for more caution, more reassurance to Beijing and less visible support to Taiwan, Schriver said.

Saudi Arabia: Touching the Orb

The desert kingdom has found its standing in Washington both boosted and damaged during the Trump era. Riyadh was Trumps first foreign destination after taking office, marking the first time a U.S. president has chosen Saudi Arabia as the first stop on a maiden trip. During the historic visit, Trump met with top officials, announced billions of dollars in weapons sales, and engaged in a bizarre photo op while touching a mysterious glowing orb.

While Saudi Arabia remains a key partner in the fight against terrorism, a critical hedge against Iran and a lucrative customer for U.S. military equipment, it is unlikely that a Biden administration will be as willing as Trump to brush aside human rights abuses such as those linked to the war in Yemen, the jailing of dissidents and the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

FILE -- In this May 21, 2017 file photo, released by the Saudi Press Agency, from left to right, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, Saudi King Salman, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump, visit a new Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The alliance with Gulf countries to isolate Qatar has boosted Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who over the past three years has been trying to find backers in what he calls a comprehensive war on militancy. (Saudi Press Agency via AP, File)

If Biden wins, they will be on the political outs, one former Trump administration official said of the Saudi government, which did not return a request for comment.

Saudi Arabia is trying to clinch sensitive weapons sales, such as additional munitions and fighter jets, before November, the former official said.

North Korea: Love hurts

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Trump have met three times face-to-face -- historic gatherings that shattered diplomatic precedent and boosted Kims international profile. In 2018, Trump got Kim to agree to a vague declaration calling for denuclearization, and the two have exchanged occasional letters, with Trump at one point declaring theyd fallen in love.

But little of substance has happened since that first summit. In fact, analysts believe that North Korea has merely expanded its nuclear arsenal despite U.S. appeals to negotiate away those weapons, making it an even greater threat to the United States. North Korea also has resumed missile tests after a temporary moratorium.

Yet, Kim hasnt managed to convince Trump to lift bruising economic sanctions that have, by some accounts, led to food shortages. That failure appears to be a source of deep frustration for the young autocrat; North Koreas state media has recently released several statements bashing senior Trump administration officials.

Earlier this month, a senior North Korean official hinted that his government was done trying to engage the Americans, and that even the slim ray of optimism had faded away into a dark nightmare.

Never again will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns, Ri Son Gwon, the foreign minister, said, according to North Korean state media. Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise.

Still, given that Biden served in the previous U.S. administration, whose policy of strategic patience amounted to ignoring Pyongyang, its possible Kim could make a last-ditch appeal to Trump to make history and lift sanctions. Or -- far more likely, analysts say -- North Korea could stage missile and nuclear tests or other provocations to send a message to whoever wins that Pyongyang cannot be ignored.

If Trump fails in the election, they know that Biden would be a difficult counterpart, an Asian diplomat said of the North Koreans.

Its not clear, however, how Biden can rein in a North Korean regime that has bedeviled presidents of both parties for generations and may soon be able to hit U.S. cities with nuclear weapons.

Biden has said he wont meet Kim without preconditions. For its part, North Korea has called Biden a rabid dog that must be beaten to death.


COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The HBCU Foundation, a Columbus, Ohio-based nonprofit whose aim is to provide scholarship aid to deserving students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, announced on Monday, a $50,000 grant from the leading academic publishing company, Springer Nature.

More than three quarters of our nation's HBCUs offer graduate and professional programs at the masters and doctoral level. During the past decade, Springer Nature has published more than 3,000 articles in their journals from HBCU authors working in graduate programs, representing more than 12% of the published research output from such programs. The major gift from Springer Nature, lends critical support in the form of scholarships, to deserving HBCU students in the areas of humanities, social science, STEM and medical programs.

"As we navigate these unchartered waters, we are more resolved in our focus, as well as more reliant than ever on the support of our corporate partners and donors, who provide key resources to help us continue along in line with our mission of sending students to and through college," commented Daniel Moss, Chairman and Executive Director of The HBCU Foundation. "We are currently in expanding discussions with Springer Nature to ensure maximum impact and sustainability of this collaborative effort and look forward to providing updates along the way," Moss continued.

As a result of the global COVID-19 health crisis, students attending HBCUs, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds face a host of issues. Job loss, access to adequate technology and even essentials such as food and housing, have all served as tremendous disruptions to students' educations, lives and growingly, their mental health. During the month of June, The HBCU Foundation has raised nearly $250,000 in emergency relief and scholarship aid, with scholarships having already been awarded to scholars attending HBCUs such as Morehouse College, Central State, Kentucky State, Howard and Claflin Universities.

Charlotte Liu, Chief Commercial Officer of Springer Nature said: "As a responsible business, we know there is more we need to do to support diversity in the research community as well as in our own organization. By creating this scholarship program with the HBCU Foundation we are taking a constructive step to remove some of the educational barriers faced by students as they embark on study and research, as a positive response to the Black Lives Matter movement."

This initiative sits alongside other Springer Nature outreach which aims to improve access to equitable, quality education and science especially for students and researchers from underrepresented backgrounds, including programs in Germany, the UK, and India.

Earlier this month, Springer Nature launched a collection of freely-available research content from their books, journals and magazines that speak to issues of systemic racism and amplify the voices of Black authors. The Black Lives Matter collection can be accessed here.

For more information on The HBCU Foundation General Scholarship, The HBCU Foundation Emergency Relief Fund, or to find ways to get involved, please visit www.thehbcufoundation.org.

About Springer Nature Group:

Springer Nature opens the doors to discovery for researchers, educators, clinicians and other professionals. As a leading global research publisher, Springer Nature is home to trusted brands including Springer, Nature Research, BMC, Palgrave Macmillan and Scientic American. Springer Nature is also a leading educational and professional publisher, providing quality content through a range of innovative platforms, products and services. Every day, around the globe, Springer Nature imprints, books, journals and resources reach millions of people.

Visit: springernature.com/group and follow @SpringerNature

About The HBCU Foundation:

The HBCU Foundation is a nationally-focused, federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, whose aim is to provide scholarship aid to deserving students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The HBCU Foundation also works with organizations to create robust diversity recruiting programs targeting HBCU and African American professional and student talent.

Twitter: @hbcufoundation

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China did not suffer heavy casualties in the deadly brawl with Indian troops in eastern Ladakh on June 15 and has not revealed the number because a comparison could stir up hostility, a top Chinese official told foreign diplomats on Wednesday.

Speaking to a select group of diplomats at the Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday afternoon, He Xiangqi, deputy director general of boundary and ocean affairs, said the casualties on the Chinese side were not very heavy.

She added the reason for not revealing the casualty numbers is because Beijing does not want to stir up sentiments.

Also Watch | Army chief meets soldiers at Ladakh hospital amid China tension

Exact casualties were not publicised as China did not want the media to play it up. Now was the time for both sides to find ways to de-escalate the situation and restore stability. Comparisons may trigger antagonism on both sides, which is not helpful, He said at the briefing, diplomatic sources told Hindustan Times.

This is the first time that a Chinese government official has acknowledged that the PLA suffered casualties and explained the reasons for not revealing the number of the injured or dead.

While the Indian army lost 20 soldiers during the June 15 violent clash, Beijing has not revealed the casualty figures, though its state-controlled media has acknowledged that both sides sustained losses.

The PLAs casualty figures have been a focus of speculation.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Tuesday that reports claiming more than 40 PLA troops died was fake news.

Among the countries called for Wednesdays briefing at the ministry included most south Asian countries, excluding Pakistan, The Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries, Japan and South Korea.

The US, European countries and Australia were among the countries not invited to the briefing, which lasted for about 20 minutes.

Within that brief span of time, He repeatedly blamed New Delhi for the clash.

He told the foreign diplomats that India had violated bilateral agreements reached on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including Article 1 of the 1993 agreement and Article 2 of the 1996 agreement.

The 1993 agreement, the Chinese official referred to is the Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Areas

The crux of Article 1 in that agreement, the official said, is this: The two sides are of the view that the India-China boundary question shall be resolved through peaceful and friendly consultations. Neither side shall use or threaten to use force against the other by any means.
A young university student who contracted coronavirus after a night out with friends said he regrets socialising and should have stayed home.

Luke Marin from Melbourne's south-east noticed he had flu-like symptoms after he 'shared a soft drink with a friend' on Thursday night.

Mr Marin said he did not break any social distancing rule but now his whole family are required to self-isolate.

He has warned others to stay home and follow restrictions amid 37 new cases of coronavirus recorded in Victoria over the past two days, 11 of which were transmitted within the community.

University student, Luke Marin, (pictured) from Melbourne's south-east noticed he had flu-like symptoms after he 'shared a soft drink with a friend' on Thursday night

'When they started relaxing the restrictions I took that as [an indication] that I'm not going to have as much as a chance of getting it,' Mr Marin told 7.30.

'Now I have it, and it shows you can't let yourself relax and that you need to be cautious.'

Mr Marin said he has been told by his parents to stay in his room.

'My mum isn't letting me go out into the rest of the house, so I guess I'm stuck in my room for the next two weeks. But I've got plenty of food in the fridge and should be alright,' he said.

He also said Victorian's are better 'playing it safe' instead of going out with friends.

Mr Marin said he did not break any social distancing rule but now his whole family are required to self-isolate

Victoria is considering bringing back strict lockdown measures following a coronavirus outbreak in outer-suburban Melbourne and 20 fresh cases of infection overnight.

A man in his 80s became the 20th person to die from COVID-19 in Victoria, as the state continues to battle another spike in coronavirus cases.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said they 'won't rule out' reintroducing stay at home orders for coronavirus hotspots.

The six hotspots have been identified as the local government areas of Hume, Casey, Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin.

Health officials will begin doorknocking hotspots across Melbourne to ensure residents are sticking to government guidelines.
Occurred on May 4, 2019 / Savannah, Georgia, USA



Info from Licensor: "Last May, my bf at the time and I took a road trip from Chicago, Illinois to the Everglades in Florida. On the way there we stopped at a hotel in Savanah, Georgia for a few nights. The first day we arrived, the sun was still out so when it started getting dark, I started hearing some 'bepbep' noises. I thought they were singing insects of some sorts. As they became louder all the sudden it hits me. I run to the door towards the weird noises. Not too far from our room was a tiny swampy pond that had a cute white bridge going across it. I was surrounded by singing froggy boys! That night was one of many magical moments we shared during our trip, including me saying, 'I DO!'"
New Delhi: The Centre and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday (June 23, 2020) informed the Supreme Court that an expert panel is in the process of taking the final decision on the matter if the remaining exams of Class XII should be scrapped. The decision is likely to announced on Wednesday.

The remaining exams were scheduled from July 1-15 but in view of increasing number of COVID-19 cases the exams might be scrapped altogether.

The Solicitor General told the presiding judge that the government and the education board will take a decision on the issue very soon.

The matter has been posted for hearing on June 25 noting that the Centre is likely to take an "informed decision".

"Solicitor General has informed us that the expert body is in the process of taking final decision in the matter very shortly and hopefully by tomorrow i.e. June 24. In the circumstances, we defer the hearing of these matter(s) to June 25 at 2 PM," the bench noted.

The apex court was hearing a petition filed by parents of some students appearing for the exam, seeking a direction to the CBSE to declare the results on the basis of exam already conducted and to calculate it on an average basis with internal assessment marks of remaining subjects.
Italy's foreign minister made a lightening trip to Libya on Wednesday amid a flaring conflict between a UN-recognised government in the west and eastern-based forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar.

Luigi Di Maio was due to meet the head of Tripoli's Government of National Accord Fayez al-Sarraj, as well as the interior minister and his foreign affairs counterpart, Italian agencies Agi and Ansa said.

Rome considers Libya "a priority... our most important issue, which concerns our national security," according to an unnamed ministry source, cited by the Messaggero daily.

"We can't afford a partition of the country. That is why we went first to Ankara, a (diplomatic) channel we've always kept open," the source said, referring to Di Maio's trip to Turkey on June 19.

He last visited Libya in January.

During his Wednesday visit Di Maio is set to examine an amended "memorandum" of cooperation between the two countries over migration, the Repubblica said.

Libya has been mired in chaos since the 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed longt-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

The Arab League on Tuesday called for the withdrawal of foreign forces in Libya and urged talks on ending the conflict in the north African country.

The Turkish-backed GNA has recently made major military gains against Haftar's forces, who have sought to regain control over the west in an abortive attempt to seize Tripoli.

Egypt, which supports Haftar, has warned that advances by Turkey-backed forces on the strategic Libyan city of Sirte could prompt an Egyptian military intervention.

The GNA denounced Cairo's statements as a "declaration of war".

Besides Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia back Haftar's forces.

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A body was recovered from the Willamette River in North Portlands Cathedral Park Monday, police said.

Multnomah County Sheriffs Office assisted Portland Police Bureau in the recovery.

Portland police released no further information on Tuesday.

--Alex Hardgrave | ahardgrave@oregonian.com | @a_hardgrave

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
US Demands Investigation Into Killing of Afghan Prosecutors

By Ayaz Gul June 23, 2020

The United States has strongly condemned Monday's assassination of a team of five Afghan government employees, including two prosecutors, and demanded that authorities investigate the attack.

The slain men were said to be part of a team working to facilitate the release of Taliban prisoners from government custody as part of a landmark U.S. agreement with the Islamist insurgent group aimed at ending nearly two decades of Afghan war.

"This attack, carried out by enemies of peace, took the lives of five civilians. We offer our condolences," Zalmay Khalilzad, the American special envoy for Afghan reconciliation, said in a series of tweets. "We call for a full investigation to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice."

Afghan officials said the victims were traveling to the Bagram prison, north of the capital, Kabul, when gunmen sprayed their car with bullets during an ambush. The prison facility hosts a large number of insurgent prisoners.

While the Taliban has denied its involvement in Monday's attack, the government has pointed the finger at the insurgents.

High-Profile Killings

The attack is the latest in a series of high-profile assassinations in and round Kabul in recent weeks that remain unclaimed. They include killings earlier this month of two highly respected Afghan clerics and the May 12 raid on a maternity ward in the city, run by Doctors Without Borders.

The hospital attack killed 25 people, including 16 women, five of them just minutes or hours away from giving birth.

Khalilzad negotiated and signed the pact with the Taliban in February, which requires Kabul to free 5,000 insurgent prisoners in exchange for 1,000 Afghan security personnel being held by the Taliban before peace talks between Afghan parties to the war could begin.

The Kabul government says it has so far released 3,600 insurgent prisoners while the Taliban says it has freed around 600 detainees.

Khalilzad suggested that Monday's attack could be the work of domestic and foreign "spoilers" trying to disrupt and delay Afghan peace efforts. He encouraged Afghan rivals to remain committed to the peace process.

"Both sides should not be deterred and push forward to take the steps necessary to reach intra-Afghan negotiations, where a comprehensive ceasefire & a political settlement can be negotiated as quickly as possible," Khalilzad tweeted.

Plot To Kill Khalilzad

The Afghan-American envoy has repeatedly warned in his previous statements that Islamic State terrorists in Afghanistan could attempt to subvert the U.S.-Taliban deal.

Khalilzad's own security has lately come under scrutiny, however.

Last week, U.S. officials confirmed they were investigating Taliban claims that Islamic State was plotting to assassinate Khalilzad with the help of former and current officers within the Afghan spy agency, the National Directorate of Security (NDS).

The Taliban shared with media outlets a video of two blindfolded men in their custody earlier this month, saying they were recruited by Islamic State for the would-be suicide mission aimed at killing Khalilzad.

The two alleged IS militants claimed in their purported video confession that the plot to eliminate the American envoy was facilitated by Rahmatullah Nabil, a former NDS chief, with a mission to sabotage the Afghan peace process. They also owned other high-profile killings in Kabul, a prominent analyst who frequently and publicly spoke for peace with the Taliban.

Nabil, a presidential candidate in last year's election in Afghanistan, has vehemently denied the charges and denounced the video as fake.

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White children were left in tears and admitted they felt 'guilty' and terrified of saying something racist 'that could follow them for life' in a new TV experiment that split pupils along racial lines.

Pupils in Year 7 at Glenthorne High School in South London were separated into 'affinity groups' of white and non-white students to discuss race and ethnicity during a three-week experiment in Channel 4's new documentary The School That Tried to End Racism, airing tomorrow at 9pm.

The segregated affinity groups took place once a week, while 24 pupils aged 11 and 12 had further workshops and lessons together on white privilege and racial inequality throughout the programme.

Experiments included showing pictures of black children to see seeing how quickly students could associate negative words with them, versus positive words with white children; discussing 'what it means to be white', and doing a 'privilege walk', where they stepped forward or back in response to questions about their lives.

The programme was devised by Mariama Richards, an American diversity and inclusion practitioner who introduced mandatory affinity programmes in schools in New York and Washington DC, for children as young as eight.

When asked to discuss race, a student named Henry broke down because he was terrified of saying something which could offend someone, admitting: '[Before I talk about race] I think about how it's going to affect me in the future. If I say something bad, early in life, it could come back later in life.'

Pupils at Glenthorne High School are split into white and non-white groups during Channel 4's The School That Tried to End Racism to discuss topics like racial inequality and white privilege (pictured, Bright and Henry)

White students, who are all aged between 11 and 12-years-old, struggle to discuss race in the programme, while young people in the non-white group found the topics easier to talk about

A class of 11-year-olds in their first year at secondary school volunteered to take part in the three-week programme, aimed at reducing unconscious bias, at the school which has a nearly 50/50 make-up of white and non-white pupils.

The scheme separated children by race into affinity groups, to allow them to have conversations and discussions about race.

Teachers were trained to run the affinity groups, with Dr Nicola Rollock, an academic who works on race relations, and Professor Rhiannon Turner, joining the school throughout the experiment to observe how the children behaved.

Dr Nicola explained: 'The approach to race in this country has been one of colour blindness. We pretend we don't see race. That approach isn't working.

Who is Mariama Richards? Mariama Richards is an American diversity and inclusion practitioner who started affinity programmes at schools in New York and Washington DC. Although her initial schemes were voluntary, they were later made mandatory. She launched the schemes while working as the Director of Progressive and Multicultural Education at Ethical Culture Fieldston School, where she launched mandatory affinity groups in the lower schools in 2015. The mandatory programme was built into the school day, with 8-year-old children of all races separated into racial 'affinity groups' once a week for five weeks. During 45 minute sessions, they would talk about race - what it meant to be a member of that race, their commonalities and differences, and other people's perception of them. The goal was that children would feel free to raise questions and make observations that in mixed company might be considered impolite. Once the smaller race groups had broken up, the children would gather in a mixed-race setting to share, and discuss, the insights they had gained. The experiment aimed to to help children learn to break unexamined silences and use their voices to discuss race and ethnicity honestly. Advertisement

'You could say, 'I'm not racist.'' But actually the actions might contradict what was coming out of our mouths.'

Headmaster Steve Hume said that if successfull, the programme would be built into the curriculum and explained why he felt it was vital to educate the children on the topic.

He said: 'We're not just responsible for exam results.'

The first task was a game built by a group of professors at Harvard University, which is now widely accepted as a benchmark for measuring unconscious bias.

During the test, students were shown pictures of black faces and white faces with a list of positive and negative words.

They were told to associate the negative words with black faces and positive words with white faces, and were timed to see how quickly they did it.

How does the experiment work? Inspired by similar experiments by Mariama Richards in the US, for three weeks, 24 Year 7 students, aged 11 and 12 and from diverse ethnic backgrounds, were given a programme of classes to explore their racial heritage and issues around ethnicity. The groups were segregated into a white and non-white group for one session a week, for three weeks, and encouraged to discuss race and ethnicity. The hope is that by separating children by race, they are able to be more frank and honest about their experiences, without fear of offending or feeling uncomfortable. The groups then come back together to discuss all that they have learned. The goal of the experiment is to encourage a more honest discussion about race, with the aim that it will break down barriers and increase mutual understanding. The aim is that intervening at an early stage can help to change children's attitudes before they become crystalised with adulthood. Advertisement

Halfway through, the test changed to match negative words with white faces and positive words with black faces.

After the test, Mr Grant asked the children to tell him their thoughts, with one student called Henry explaining: 'Personally, I don't think that there was too much of a problem. People overthink it.

He added: 'I don't think much about race. It's just not normally something I discuss.'

Meanwhile Farrah said: 'I think when it said make sure to put negative words with people who are white, and positive words with people who are black, I found that a bit difficult. I don't know why.'

Professor Rhiannon explained: 'Research shows for 11-year-olds, making friends from different racial groups is easier.

'But as children get older, there is a process of self segregation where children split off into different racial groups on the basis of their ethnicity.

'Intervening at this age if crucial if we are to target and change children's attitudes before they become crystallised with adulthood.'

After a break, the teacher explained that the results showed there was an unconscious bias, with the majority of the class showing the bias towards white people by completing the task of associating positive words with them more quickly.

Eighteen out of the 24 pupils showed a significant preference towards white people, with two showing a black preference and four showing no bias at all.

Discussing the news with the group, Farrah said: 'We usually think of a white person with better connotations, we don't usually think that black people have bad connotations. It's just that we find it easier to have good connotations with white people. I don't know if that makes sense.'

Meanwhile Mahkai, who said he has encountered racism already as a young black man, explained: 'I just try not to let it play on my mind too much.

'For me, it's never going to go. It's always going to be there. People are always going to be treated differently because of their race.'

Dr Rhiannon explained: 'We are exposed at an early age to white people in positions of power, white heroes and heroines.

'All of these influences tell us that white people are better than black and ethnic minority people in society.'

The school adopts the affinity group in the TV experiment for three weeks in an attempt to tackle unconscious bias

Speaking at the water fountain with his friend Bright, Henry admitted: 'I know they say not to feel bad about it, but you still feel bad about it because you know you've done something wrong.'

Mariama joined the class, explaining to the camera: 'I love affinity groups. I think we get more push back when we start younger with students because people believe that they are colour-blind and don't see people in a bad way because of their race.

'Unfortunately, we just know that is not the case.'

She told the children: 'We're separating out for a little bit, with the purpose of coming back together. You got me?'

Students in the programme are split into groups based on their race for one session a week, before coming back together to discuss what they have learnt

Students, including girls Beth and Miyu and boys Bright and Henry, were asked to divide into white and non-white groups, with the idea that the children could discuss their experience of race without judgement.

Farrah admitted she was struggling to know where she belonged, saying: 'Where do I go? I'm half white and half Asian and I didn't know which room to go in.

The pupil, who has a white English mother and Sri Lankan father, said her parents usually describe her skin as 'olive' colour.

She explained: 'I don't really think about that to be honest.

'Even though I look different to white people and black people, I don't think about it really.

'I don't want to be described by my race. I want to be described as my personality and who I am.'

Meanwhile the other pupils in the non-white group told her: 'You stay here, with us.'

Henry is among the students who struggle the most with the experiment, crying as he says he feels 'awful' talking about race (pictured right, with Bright, left)

Farrah, whose father is Sri Lankan and mother is white, opens up about her feelings about identity on the programme, revealing she has felt the only way to be pretty is to be white

In the white group, discussion was stilted and the pupils struggled to know what to say, as Mr Grant asked them: 'Have you ever thought what it means to be white?'

One of the girls admitted: 'It doesn't really mean anything to be white.'

Meanwhile in the non-white group, the children danced and laugh and sang as they discuss their respective ethnicities and heritage.

Bright revealed: 'I love being described as black.'

Observing the difference between the two, Dr Nicola said: 'The contrast between the two rooms is phenomenal. This room is like a carnival, and this room is like a funeral.'

Henry told his group of white peers: 'Listening to their group, it sounds like they're enjoying it a lot. But I don't know if that's because we're not there...or...'

Teachers at the school are trained to lead the affinity groups, with Sotonye Odugbemi calling it a 'privilege' to hear the young people of colour talking about race in the non-white set

Meanwhile Professor Rhiannon said: 'Henry's experience, as an outsider, is a new experience and it's quite an uncomfortable one.'

And, after the lesson was over, Mr Grant explained that it easn't easy getting his white group to open up about race.

He said: 'It was hard work. You never really talk about what it means to be white with white people. Especially year 7 students.'

In contrast, Ms Odugbemi welled up as she recalled discussing race with her non-white group, saying: 'I felt so privileged to be in the room with them to discuss these things.'

Meanwhile David Grant admits that it is harder to talk to the young white children about race, saying it is 'hard work' encouraging them to

After being separated, the groups came back together and are asked to provide feedback.

Mahkai said: 'I feel like it's a lot easier. I feel like it's good for us to talk about it, and how we feel.'

Meanwhile Lauren, who was part of the white-group, explained: 'We want the non-white affinity group to know that we don't think any higher of ourselves because of how we look.'

And Henry burst into tears and said he actually felt 'jealous' of the other group.

Later, speaking to his parents Kevin and Sarah, he cried again, explaining: 'What we were talking about is what it means to be white. And it felt really weird. I didn't feel comfortable talking.

'If I had the choice, I would be with my friends, not just by race, because that feels awful.'

And Farrah also struggled to discuss the topics with her parents, saying: 'Even though I am half white and half Sri Lankan, I can't feel comfortable in a room full of white people because I know I'm different.'

Her parents explained: 'When she was quite little, she used to say she didn't want to be brown.

During the sessions, Henry became emotional as he says he is 'less comfortable' in the affinity group than he would feel normally

'She has been dealing with a lot recently, about her own identity and who she is. I think she has been finding that quite confusing.'

In the second affinity group session, the children were asked to bring in objects that reflect their own cultural background.

Members of the non-white group showed off a diverse range of objects, including a certificate for Japanese school, Nigerian dresses and a South-African bracelet.

But the children from the white group struggled to discuss their identity, with one of the pupils bringing in an English flag, and another bringing a policeman's hat.

During the experiment, the pupils are encouraged to discuss race and ethnicity with the help of a series of exercises and activities

Coming together to discuss the exercise, Farrah teared up as she explained she struggled with her race in the past.

She recalled looking at magazines when she was younger and seeing 'beautiful white women', saying: 'I just thought, I'm not pretty. I just thought that the only way to be pretty is to be white.'

She went on to say that she's realised almost all of her friends are white, and said the affinity group was giving her a chance to make friends with people of other races.

But while Farrah revealed she was feeling more comfortable because of the affinity group, not everyone agreed.

Some of the students struggle as they grapple with the complex discussions including Farrah, whose father is Sri Lankan and mother is white, who admits she doesn't know whether to join the white or non-white group of pupils (right)

Henry explained: 'I think we should not have affinity groups. Nearly every single person in our group said they feel less comfortable in affinity groups than in the whole group.'

And after Mr Grant asked why the white pupils found it so difficult to discuss race, the students admitted they were worried about upsetting others.

One of the pupils said: 'If we say something, that they think is or might be racist, it might be asking a simple question, they might be like 'Wow.''

Meanwhile, Henry said he was scared of saying something offensive, which could follow him around for life.

In another session of the experiment, the children took part in a privilege walk, with the people of colour left behind while the white pupils raced ahead

Meanwhile Ms Odugbemi asked pupils about their experiences of racism, with Mahkai crying as he explained he was once asked to leave a shop after being accused of shop-lifting.

In another experiment the children tried 'the privilege walk', with each child beginning at a start line and stepping backwards or forwards depending on their answers to different questions.

Questions included if anyone in your family has been stopped by the police, or if your parents speak English as a first language.

The white children typically stepped forward each time and 'won' the contest, with Dr Nicola explaining: 'It was clear many of the black and minority ethnic pupils have experienced racism.'

After several more days, Henry said he was learning to feel more comfortable about having the conversations, revealing: 'I've learnt that race is actually a bigger issue that I thought it was, and it's not talked about enough.'

Meanwhile Mahkai explained how he has already encountered racism and cried as he recalled being accused of shoplifting

Dr Nicola added: 'The children thought they were alone in their experiences. Talking about these things as a group, they could see they weren't.

'For the white pupils there was a discomfort and a guilt, but as we introduced more activities there was an understanding.'

Later in the experiment, the children took a school trip to visit an art gallery and were amazed by the lack of diversity on show.

One of the boys gasped: 'There's not much about black history', while Henry says: 'It's literally all white.'

Mahkai added: 'I thought it was outrageous.'

The School That Tried To End Racism airs Thursday at 9pm on Channel 4.
F ormer Wirecard boss Markus Braun, who was arrested yesterday on suspicion of falsifying the German payments firms accounts, has been released on bail.

Braun was released after paying his bail of 5 million.

Although a warrant against the 50-year-old Austrian has been lifted, he remains under investigation by Munich prosecutors who suspect him of misrepresenting Wirecards accounts and falsifying income.

Wirecard admitted yesterday that 1.9 billion (1.7 billion) had gone missing, a black hole that threatens to engulf the payments company.

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 the cash.

The one-time German tech darling is now holding emergency talks with its banks.
The best injury is one that never happens, and icares continued focus on prevention is at the core of helping businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, said Caroline Howe (pictured), head of research at icare.

The very first cohort of people we studied began with tracking people who had lost their jobs and workers on reduced hours, she explained. But now were tracking people who have moved into a new industry, people working from home and then returning back to work again, and what the physical and mental health impacts to those people are.

Howe claims that expanding the cohorts of employees tracked and studied in the research is the only way icare and Monash University will be able to grasp the full depth of industry changes.

Read more: How to build a pandemic-proof insurance company

The benefit of studying these cohorts and behaviours will allow us to identity really early on what possible preventative strategies or tools could be implemented to support employers, she said.

She suggests the study will provide clarity to changing perceptions on frontline workers.

This is the first time in 100-years that weve actually been able to study what the impact to an entire workforce is following a pandemic, Howe said.

It means that our perception on frontline workers has been challenged. They have absolutely changed from 50-years ago when they were mostly considered to be from the military. If we have a look at the research, a frontline worker has always been determined by maybe an act of war or it might be an epidemic where it was nurses at the frontline.

According to Howe, this is the first pandemic where frontline responders have come from a range of essential workers such as nurses, teachers and cleaners  and, as such, there are no studies to reflect this trend.

Theres currently no research in the world that says how does a pandemic impact a cleaner? Or a bus driver? Or even a barrister? This research is going to be able to completely flip on its head who we consider essential frontline workers, what the work-health impact of that is not only to the workers but to their families and to the community, she added.

Read next: What's next? Australian president on post-pandemic insurance industry

The study involves quantitative data collected online where people can opt in to participate, as well as conducting telephone interviews. Howe says they ideally wish to study several thousand people.

My biggest hope for this research is that it becomes very useable and accessible information for people, Howe explained.

I anticipate we will see bigger changes in innovation to industry than weve ever seen before. If you look historically, there was always a revolution or a big event that creates innovation and this will be one of those events that will create the biggest opportunity for innovation moving forward.

The report will be made publicly available across Australia to enable industries and communities to improve their prevention strategies.
More than 1,000 European parliamentarians denounced Israels plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley saying the move would be fatal to the prospects of Israeli-Palestinian peace.

The MPs representing 25 European countries urged leaders to prevent the annexation process and save the prospects of a two-state solution.

Acquisition of territory by force has no place in 2020 and must have commensurate consequences, the letter published on Tuesday said, urging European leaders to act decisively in response to this challenge.

The condemnation comes ahead of an important UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday focusing on the annexation move  the last international gathering to address the situation before it is expected to take place.





Beginning as soon as July 1, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said it will annex illegally built Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, moves detailed in a so-called Middle East plan proposed by US President Donald Trump in January.

We, parliamentarians across Europe committed to a rules-based global order, share serious concerns about President Trumps plan for Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the imminent prospect of Israeli annexation of West Bank territory, the letter said.

We are deeply worried about the precedent it would set for international relations at large.

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Permanent Israeli control

Trumps plan proposed the establishment of a demilitarised Palestinian state on a patchwork of disjointed parts of the Palestinian territories left over, not including occupied East Jerusalem.

The proposal has been rejected in its entirety by the Palestinians and widely condemned by the international community.

In their letter, the MPs also warned that Trumps plan promotes effectively permanent Israeli control over a fragmented Palestinian territory, leaving Palestinians with no sovereignty and giving a green light to Israel to unilaterally annex significant parts of the West Bank.

In total, 1,080 members of national assemblies and the European Parliament from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom signed the letter.

Al Jazeeras Harry Fawcett, reporting from West Jerusalem, said news reports suggest Israels annexation process will likely be carried out in phases.

Nothing is really expected in terms of an immediate change on July 1. Under the Trump plan, Netanyahu believes he has the right to annex 30 percent of the occupied West Bank  that includes all the settlements and a large portion of the Jordan Valley, said Fawcett.

What has been talked about in recent days is not going for that full 30 percent and instead starting with areas close to East Jerusalem. It wont make a big physical difference immediately, but many say it will be fatal to the two-state solution.

US green light

Encouraged by Trumps so-called plan, Netanyahu last month announced his government would formally annex the Jordan Valley and all settlement blocs in the West Bank.

The West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is seen as occupied territory under international law, making all Jewish settlements there  as well as the planned annexation  illegal.

Palestinian officials have threatened to abolish bilateral agreements with Israel if it goes ahead with the annexation, which will further undermine the two-state solution.





Meanwhile, senior aides to Trump began discussions on Tuesday on whether to give Netanyahu a green light for his plan to annex settlements, according to a US official and a person familiar with the deliberations.

With Netanyahus July 1 target date approaching, the White House meeting included Trump son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, National Security Adviser Robert OBrien, Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz, and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, the American official told Reuters news agency.

Trump, whose support Netanyahu is counting on, did not participate, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. But US sources have said he could join later as this weeks deliberations continue.

Declare sovereignty

Under Trumps proposal unveiled in January, it is envisaged the US would recognise the Jewish settlements  built on occupied land  as part of Israel.

200511154825347

Trumps proposal put forward an idea for a Palestinian state under a broader peace plan, with strict conditions on it.

Among the main options under US consideration is a step-by-step process in which Israel would initially declare sovereignty over several settlements close to Jerusalem, instead of the 30 percent of the West Bank envisaged in Netanyahus original plan, according to a person close to the matter.

Trump has not closed the door to a larger annexation, but fears allowing Israel to move too fast could kill any hopes of drawing the Palestinians into talks on his plan, the source said.

Like Turkey and much of the international community, the EU does not recognise Israels sovereignty over the territories it has occupied since 1967.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday unleashed a blistering attack on the Gandhi family amidst the war of words over the Ladakh face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers.

Without naming anyone, Nadda said on Twitter that one royal dynasty is asking questions to the government and accused its followers of peddling the fake narrative.

One royal dynasty and their loyal courtiers have grand delusions of the Opposition being about one dynasty. A dynast throws tantrums and his courtiers peddle that fake narrative. Latest one relates to the the Opposition asking questions to the Government, Nadda said in his first tweet.

It is the Oppositions right to ask questions. The All Party Meeting saw healthy deliberations, with several Opposition leaders giving their valuable inputs. They also fully supported the Centre in determining the way ahead. One family was an exception. Any guesses who? he further said.

Nadda said that a rejected and ejected dynasty is NOT equal to the entire Opposition. One dynastys interests are not Indias interests. Today, the nation is united and supportive of our armed forces. This is the time for unity and solidarity, the BJP chief said in his third time.

A rejected and ejected dynasty is NOT equal to the entire Opposition. One dynastys interests are not Indias interests. Today, the nation is united and supportive of our armed forces. This is the time for unity and solidarity. Relaunch of the scion for the nth time can wait.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 24, 2020

He also took an indirect jibe at Rahul Gandhi saying the relaunch of the scion for the nth time can wait.

Due to the misadventures of one dynasty: We lost thousands of square kilometers of our land. The Siachen glacier was almost gone. And much more. No wonder India has rejected them, Nadda said in his final tweet on the issue.

Due to the misadventures of one dynasty:



We lost thousands of square kilometers of our land.



The Siachen glacier was almost gone.



And much more.



No wonder India has rejected them. pic.twitter.com/QOGZH7WGNd  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 24, 2020

The war of words has been going on between the BJP and the Congress over the June 15 skirmish in the Ladakh region in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. The Congress has targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of giving away Indian territory to China. The attack has been led by Congress leader and partys former president Rahul Gandhi.

PM Modi had asserted at the all-party meeting that no one has entered our territory, no one is at present within our territory and no one has occupied our posts. This was in reference to the situation in the Galwan Valley after Indian Armys brave action to thwart Chinese attempts to erect a structure on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Why did the PM tell the All-Party Meeting that no one intruded into our territory? Why did PMO delete these words from the official statement? And if no one intruded into our territory, how did our 20 soldiers die? Congress leader Kapil Sibal asked on Tuesday.

Nadda had earlier targeted the Congress party and former PM Manmohan Singh for their remarks on the Ladakh incident. He had said that they should stop insulting the security forces repeatedly and questioning their valour.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, trailing in opinion polls at a time of anti-racism protests and a surge in coronavirus cases, lashed out at the administration of Barack Obama, the country's first Black president, with a baseless accusation of treason.

The accusation, offered without evidence in an interview on Monday, was the Republican president's latest effort to tarnish Obama, a popular Democrat whom Trump has targeted for years, including falsely suggesting he was not U.S.-born.

Trump trails the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, who was Obama's vice president, by 13 percentage points ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election.

Under Trump, the U.S. Justice Department is reviewing a probe that found foreign interference in the 2016 election he won. He previously accused Obama of spying on his campaign but not treason.

Asked what crime might have been committed by spying, Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network: "It's treason. Look, when I came out a long time ago, I said they've been spying on our campaign ... Let's see what happens to them now."

"(William) Barr is doing a great job as attorney general, let's see what they come up with," he said. Barr has said he does not expect Obama or Biden to be charged.

Representatives for Obama, who was scheduled to appear at a virtual fundraiser with Biden on Tuesday, said he had no comment on Trump's accusation.

Related Video: Obama Holds Virtual Fundraiser for Biden

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to boost Trump's candidacy. Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's 21-month investigation documented a Russian campaign of propaganda and hacking to harm Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Mueller also documented numerous contacts between Trump campaign figures and Russians.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Howard Goller)
People stand near tents setup outside of the Seattle Police Department's vacated East Precinct in the area known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) in Seattle, Wash. on June 23, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images)

Another Company Moving From Seattle Amid Unrest

A Seattle business owner says hes moving his company from Washington state, alleging a lack of leadership in the states largest city.

Since we have no leadership and we have a city council thats so socialist, there really is very, very little support for businesses. As far as the city reaching out to small businesses like ourselves, or any businesses, there has been zero, Joey Rodolfo, co-owner of the Buki clothing company, said during an appearance on Fox & Friends on Wednesday.

City officials have been primarily focused on the so-called autonomous zone, an area known as CHOP that was taken over by activists, including far-left members of Antifa and associated groups, earlier this month, Rodolfo asserted.

In fact, most of the attention has been focused on CHOP, on making sure that people in CHOP are well taken care of, but there has been absolutely no support or no encouragement for us to reopen our stores and have any significant sense that there will be a future here if we were to keep our businesses in Seattle or the state of Washington, he added.

The Buki clothing store in Seattle, Wash., in a file photograph. (Google Maps)

Final plans for relocation havent been set but Rodolfo mentioned Arizona.

Smead Capital Management, a billion-dollar investment firm, said earlier this week that its moving to Phoenix.

Cole Smead, the companys president, cited the unrest thats taken place in Seattle in recent weeks.

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, adding that hes heard rumors of 40-story buildings that will only be 20 percent occupied by October.

A message stating demands is posted an entrance to the area known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) in Seattle, Wash. on June 23, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images)

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, a Democrat, initially supported the autonomous zone, suggesting the occupation could lead to a summer of love.

She reversed course after at least two shootings occurred in the zone, with one person being killed and others rushed to the hospital. The city is moving to dismantle 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 told reporters Monday. The impacts have increased and the safety has decreased.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, on Tuesday launched an initiative YUKTI 2.0 to help systematically assimilate technologies having commercial potential and information related to incubated startups in our higher education institutions.

Minister of State for HRD, Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Additional Secretary (Higher Education), Rakesh Ranjan, Chairman, AICTE Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Member Secretary, AICTE, Dr. Rajiv Kumar and Chief Innovation Officer, MHRDs Innovation Cell Dr. Abhay Jere were also present during the occasion through online medium.

Earlier, the Minister had launched the YUKTI (Young India combating COVID with Knowledge, Technology and Innovation) web portal on 11 April, 2020. Ministry of HRD prepared the portal in view of coronavirus.

The portal intends to cover the different dimensions of COVID-19 challenges in a very holistic and comprehensive way. Through this portal, the Ministry of Human Resource Development will endeavor to ensure that students, teachers and researchers in higher educational institutions are getting appropriate support to meet the requirements needed to advance their technologies and innovations.

While addressing the participants Pokhriyal said that YUKTI 2.0 is logical extension of earlier version of YUKTI, an initiative of MHRD, to identify ideas relevant in COVID pandemic. He also informed that all the outcomes of earlier version of YUKTI will be released soon.

The minister appreciated the initiative and said that our Prime Minister has given us the mission of making Bharat Atmanirbhar and, YUKTI 2.0 initiative is a very important step in that direction.

Our youngsters are very capable of thinking innovatively and we should make every possible effort to help them convert their ideas into enterprises, said Pokhriyal.

More importantly, initiative like YUKTI 2.0 will also help in fostering the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in our academic institutions.

The Minister expressed his happiness while launching the YUKTI portal. He also invited students, faculty members, startups and other stakeholders of higher education institutions to register on the YUKTI portal and share their technologies and innovations.

This database will provide a clear picture of the state of the innovation ecosystem of our higher educational institutions. This will also help the government to identify bottlenecks and formulate appropriate policies to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the country. Ministry will provide the best possible help to support creative innovations and technologies to help the society at large, he added.

The Minister hoped that this portal will prove to be a milestone towards promoting innovations and entrepreneurship culture in our higher education system and involving youth in nation building.
Dr. Scott F. Ulberg is medical director for CHJC (Childrens Home of Jefferson County), in Watertown. Ulberg is also the Associate Director of Psychiatry Residency Training and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University, in Syracuse.

As the country rumbles back to life after a nearly two-and-a-half month Covid-19-induced slumber, I cant help but wonder if we have already begun facilitating a new, subtler crisis within the foster care system. A lot of attention  and rightfully so  has been given to this countrys intensive care unit capacity, ventilator counts, and other physical equipment needed to fight for the lives of those suffering from Covid-19. We track the daily death tolls, expound the virtues of contact tracing, and marvel at the ways the virtual world has managed to tether us together while seemingly overnight, the physical world around us has crumbled. More recently, a growing amount of attention has been given to the personal toll of Covid-19 on frontline workers, in terms of the psychological effects of this very significant trauma. These people are modern heroes, and deserve to be lauded for their dedication and sacrifices to humanity.

As these workers battled the invisible enemy on the frontlines, other battles were being waged in the trenches. In many cases, parents and guardians have been asked to balance the demands of a full-time job, while also becoming full-time teachers for their children. These competing demands, and the delicate balancing act they necessitate, are occurring within a setting of record job loss, economic contraction, and the looming fear of illness and death. At once, a parent is being asked to go from the role of a caregiver to that of nearly every important person in the child's everyday life. For children lucky-enough to have two parents, this abrupt transition has been described as both "frustrating" and "nerve-racking." But these children have a significant advantage because they have the opportunity of processing the dizzying amount of changes with their primary attachment figuresa parent or guardian whom they depend on and trust.

As a child psychiatrist working in the North Country, a significant number of the children I work with are in the foster care system. These children have all experienced trauma during their lives, in that they have been removed from the care of a guardian, and placed in the foster care system. They either live with foster parents or in residential facilities. Some are working towards adoption, while others are working towards reunification with their families. As compared to children living with their own parents, Covid-19 has disrupted the lives of these children in similar, but even more extreme ways. Some of them have been relegated to performing visits with their families and loved-ones by video-feeds or telephone. While being separated from their loved ones, they have been given the impossible task of trying to process a worldwide pandemic.

To address the mental health needs of children and adults over the last several months, there has been a rapid expansion of internet, video-based mental health services (herein referred to as telepsychiatry). Telepsychiatry has been a wonderful tool to meet the mental health needs of our nation during this crisis. The speed at which this was accomplished, especially in New York state, was both impressive and necessary. But as we slowly dip our toes back into a more social and physically interactive life, I fear telepsychiatrys brief success will cause it to be regarded as equivalent, or even superior to, in-person psychiatry and therapy.

For all the benefits and conveniences of telepsychiatry, at the end of the day, it is still one person, sitting on one side of a screen, while someone else sits on the other side of their own screen. It would be like saying eating dinner while FaceTiming with loved ones is equivalent to attending a large family gathering with them. We know that to be a falsehood. After all, isnt that why we are all longing for this pandemic to end? In terms of the family gathering, there are things like embraces and other subtleties that cannot be artificially recreated. For telepsychiatry, there are things like eye contact, body language, and the ability to create a shared experience, such as a board game  all so important to establishing and maintaining trust and rapport. That doctor-child/therapist-child relationship is the foundation for any type of effective mental health treatment. My fear is the allure of the financial aspects of telepsychiatry will result in its replacement of in-person mental health services for foster children  and other traditionally financially underrepresented populations  for whom the ability to form a trusting relationship is already so difficult.

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Newsfrom Japan

Tokyo, June 24 (Jiji Press)--The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and three other opposition parties decided Wednesday to launch a joint team this week to look into a campaign scandal involving former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai and his wife, Anri.

The opposition team will focus on the transfer of 150 million yen from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to the Kawai side ahead of the 2019 House of Councillors election, in which Anri Kawai won a seat of the Hiroshima constituency in western Japan.

The Kawais were arrested last week for allegedly distributing cash to local politicians and others to gain their support for the wifes election campaign. Both resigned from the LDP before their arrests, but remain as lawmakers.

The opposition team will investigate whether there was a link between the 150-million-yen transfer and the cash distribution, and whether Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, president of the LDP, was involved in the matter.

It seems unlikely that the 150 million yen was transferred without the prime ministers approval, CDPJ parliamentary affairs chief Jun Azumi told reporters on Wednesday.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
India is considering erecting tariff barriers and other obstacles, including subsidising finance for promoting local power equipment usage and prior-permission requirements for imports from countries with which it has a conflict, as part of a broad economic response to Chinese aggression in Ladakh.

Countries that are adversaries or potential adversaries will be identified as prior reference countries and government permission will be required before importing any equipment from them, energy minister Raj Kumar Singh told business leaders in New Delhi on Tuesday. The proposed overhaul of norms for the power sector will also include rigorous testing of foreign equipment.

The policies, primarily aimed at curbing usage of Chinese equipment in the power sector, is part of a wider decoupling exercise from China that has been initiated by the Indian government since the June 15 border clashes between the two sides that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

These policies will be applicable across power generation, distribution and transmission projectsboth in the conventional and the green energy space.

Data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics shows that power sector equipment like transmission line towers, conductors, industrial electronics, capacitors, transformers, cables and insulators and fittings which are made in India, are still being imported, the power ministry said in a statement, citing Singh.

Singh cited the strategic nature of the power sector to emphasise the need for companies to use locally manufactured equipment.

Indias power infrastructure is facing a spate of cyberattacks, with at least 30 events reported daily, Mint reported on Friday. A majority of the attacks originate from China, Singapore, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States countries.

This has stoked concerns among the government that it could be the target of enemy forces looking to cripple Indias economy. A grid collapse is the worst-case scenario for any transmission utility.

As a first step towards increasing self-reliance in the power sector, all imported solar cells, modules and inverters will attract a basic customs duty starting August 1. This will make imports from China expensive and will replace the safeguard duty on solar cells and modules imported from China and Malaysia, which expires on July 29. This may result in a 20 paise increase in solar tariffs for new contracts.

To ensure that the already bid out projects and the electricity tariffs quoted are not hit, the government plans to exempt older projects from the new rules.
Filling court vacancies has become even more crucial for Republicans less than five months ahead of an election with the presidency and the Senate majority at stake. Last month, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) urged federal judges who are in their mid- to late 60s to step aside so that Republicans, increasingly nervous about holding the majority in November, can fill their seats.
Mumbai, June 24 : Amid the coronavirus pandemic, actor Ajay Devgn is sure that the world will heal and rise once again.

The actor took to social media to share the positive message along with good vibes.

"We'll rise, heal & conquer! #GoodVibes #StaySafe," he wrote along with a picture of himself.

His post garnered a lot of attention from his fans as they dropped hearts and fire emoticons on the post.

On the work front, Ajay lent his voice to the trailer of the new web show "Lal Bazaar".

Meanwhile, Ajay's 2017 comedy caper "Golmaal Again" has also become the first Bollywood film to get a re-release in New Zealand, as the country opens up to normalcy after controlling the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus.

The film's director Rohit Shetty shared the news on his Instagram profile on Wednesday morning.

"New Zealand decides to re-release 'Golmaal Again' in theatres making it the First Hindi Film to get a relaunch post covid. New Zealand is now covid free and is opening its theatres on 25th June with Golmaal Again. As it is rightly said - 'THE SHOW MUST GO ON...'," Shetty wrote.
Produced by a group of farmers in Uttar Pradeshs Chandauli district - known as the rice bowl of eastern UP - black rice will now be exported to the foreign countries.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has already started planning for the same, divisional commissioner Deepak Agarwal said.

At a function chaired by Agarwal in Chandauli recently, an exporter purchased around 90 metric tonnes of the raw black rice (black paddy) at the rate of 85 per kilogram.

Agarwal has appealed to the farmers to grow black paddy because that way the farmers will get a very good price of their produce.

Also read: Black rice grown successfully for first time in Prayagraj

Assistant general manager of APEDA, CB Singh, said 900 quintals (90 metric tonnes) of black paddy, which has anti-diabetic qualities, had been produced by a group of around 300 farmers in Chandauli district. Per kilogram price of paddy is 85 and after processing, it comes for 160.

He said there is a plan to export this rice. In the beginning, it will be exported to Australia and New Zealand and later to other countries.

A formal meeting between the exporter and farmers was organized in the district so that the farmers sell the produce to the exporters.

Singh said the APEDA was motivating more farmers to grow black rice because of the soil of Chandauli district was very favourable for paddy farming.

With the support of APEDA, green chilly, vegetables and recently Banarasi Langda mangoes have been exported to Dubai and London.

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With UBMes new product, customers arriving at a business can check-in from their car to safely communicate with staff inside! BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania. June 24th, 2020: With help from Ben Franklin Technology Partners and Southside Bethlehem KIZ, the creators of the UBMe app have launched a new product called Curbside Communication , which the company says is the first-of-its-kind and could help local businesses manage customers as they arrive at their business 
The lifting of stay-at-home orders across Texas and other states has cut in half the huge losses in U.S. gasoline demand brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a new report by the Oil Price Information Service, a research firm, U.S. gasoline demand in the second week of June was down 22 percent from this same period a year ago, compared to almost 50 percent in early April.

Gasoline sales have been rising at an average of 6.4% per week since the low point in April when demand was sliced in half," said Fred Rozell, president of OPIS. "There is still more ground to cover, but the positive trends are a sign of recovery.

In Texas, where businesses and schools were allowed to reopen earlier than other states, gasoline demand is only down 18 percent from a year ago. By contrast, demand in northeastern states is off 27 percent.

U.S. gasoline demand remains at its lowest level since the late 1990s, and it's unclear when demand will fully recover.

With no vaccine for the coronavirus, people are expected to continue to work from home and avoid large gatherings for the time being.

"We can see a new preference for driving your car instead of public transportation or a short-range flight, and people do want to get out, said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at OPIS. But that will be offset by less commuting and more working from home, the cancellation of sporting events, still-high unemployment levels and possibly a second wave of the virus in the autumn.

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Many consumers might think the iPhone is too expensive but when it comes to trading in that iPhone a few years later that phone will actually put more money back in your pocket than other phone brands." ~ Sarah McConomy, COO of SellCell

The worlds largest cell phone trade-in price comparison site, SellCell.com, has released a new cost comparison survey that details which cell phones will be worth the most two years after purchase.

The SellCell analysis looked at the five most popular brands on the market - iPhone, Samsung, Google, Sony and LG - and compared their 2018 MSRP with their trade in value this month.

Industry statistics show 51 percent of iPhone users upgrade every 2 years while 47 percent say they wait until their phone stops working. Roughly 40 percent of Android users upgrade every 2 years while 58 percent wait until their phone stops working. Nearly all of these cell phones are resold on the market or traded-in with the mobile carrier.

The SellCell analysis found the iPhone XR (64 GB) maintained the most value when it was resold or traded in for a new phone, depreciating by 53 percent. Researchers with SellCell found the LG G7 ThinQ (64 GB) was worth the least amount of money, losing nearly 90 percent of its value over the same 2-year period.

The COO of SellCell, Sarah McConomy, said the analysis compared prices across 35 popular cell phone trade-in companies on the web - including Amazon, Gazelle, Decluttr and others. Pricing was calculated by the average trade-in price pulled from each buyback company.

Many consumers might think the iPhone is too expensive but when it comes to trading in that iPhone a few years later that phone will actually put more money back in your pocket than other phone brands, said McConomy. Compare that to other brands on the market and you will see the phone is worth far less 2 years later.

McConomy said the biggest drop in value comes as the manufacturer prepares to launch a new model. She recommends consumers try to sell their device prior to a new model coming out to prevent the biggest drops in price. For example, the 2018 MSRP for the iPhone XS Max (64 GB) was $1099 when it was unveiled. In October, 2019, that phone could be sold for $580, but today its only worth $475.

In contrast, the 2018 MSRP for the LG G7 ThinQ (64 GB) was $749 and worth $112 in October 2019. Today, it can be sold for $77 in the resellers market.

A Closer Look at the SellCell Cost Comparison Analysis

The following data from SellCell shows the phones 2018 MSRP, the depreciation rate as of June 2020, and the average resale value of the phone when using SellCell to trade it in right now.

iPhone XS Max (64 GB): 2018 MSRP $1099 depreciates by 56.8% to 2020 resale value of $475

iPhone XS (64 GB): 2018 MSRP $999 depreciates by 56% to 2020 resale value of $440

iPhone XR (64 GB): 2018 MSRP $749 depreciates by 53.2% to 2020 resale value of $350.75

Samsung Galaxy S9+ (64 GB): 2018 MSRP $840 depreciates by 75.6% to 2020 resale value of $205

Samsung Galaxy S9 (64 GB): 2018 MSRP $719 depreciates by 75.9% to 2020 resale value of $173

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (128 GB): 2018 MSRP $1000 depreciates by 72.4% to 2020 resale value of $276

Google Pixel 3 XL (64 GB): 2018 MSRP $899 depreciates by 79.1% to 2020 resale value of $188

Google Pixel 3 (64 GB): 2018 MSRP $799 depreciates by 79.2% to 2020 resale value of $166

Sony X22 Premium (64 GB): 2018 MSRP $999 depreciates by 87.2% to 2020 resale value of $127.6

Sony X22 (64 GB): 2018 MSRP $799 depreciates by 86.9% to 2020 resale value of $105

LG V40 ThinQ (64 GB): 2018 MSRP $900 depreciates by 83.6% to 2020 resale value of $147.40

LG G7 ThinQ (64 GB): 2018 MSRP $749 depreciates by 89.7% to 2020 resale value of $77

SellCell Provides Tips for Retaining a Phones Value

According to SellCells cost comparison survey, a cracked screen could reduce an iPhones resale value by as much as 46.4 percent, while a cracked screen on a Google Pixel can decrease the value by up to 63 percent. Even deep scratches and dings on an iPhone can see almost 20 percent off its value when traded-in. Ordinary light wear and tear will depreciate a device by only 1 - 7 percent.

McConomy says consumers can take several actions to increase the value of their phone for resale, like buying a case that will protect the phone overtime.

"If you decide to trade-in a phone that is locked, get it unlocked before you sell it. Carriers should unlock it for free once if the phone is paid off, said McConomy. The trade-in price for an unlocked phone will always be much higher than one that is locked to a particular carrier like Verizon or AT&T for instance. And spending $10 on a case will definitely pay off over time, preventing scratches and water or moisture damage.

A Look at How Trade In Values Are Reduced if the Phone is Damaged

iPhone 7 (32 GB): Like new condition trades in for $110, but faulty condition depreciates by 46.4% to $59

iPhone 7 Plus (32 GB): Like new condition trades in for $193, but faulty condition depreciates by 25.9% to $143

iPhone XS (64 GB): Like new condition trades in for $471, but faulty condition depreciates by 30.8% to $326

iPhone XS Max (64 GB): Like new condition trades in for $483, but faulty condition depreciates by 18% to $396

Galaxy S10 (128 GB): Like new condition trades in for $371, but faulty condition depreciates by 23.5% to $284

Galaxy S10+ (128 GB): Like new condition trades in for $396, but faulty condition depreciates by 23% to $305

Google Pixel 4 (64 GB): Like new condition trades in for $341, but faulty condition depreciates by 58.9% to $140

Google Pixel 4 XL (64 GB): Like new condition trades in for $407, but faulty condition depreciates by 63.1% to $150

About SellCell

SellCell is the number one cell phone trade-in price comparison site in the United States. It guarantees customers earn the highest price for their phone since SellCell compares prices between more phone trade-in sites than its competitors. Customers have used SellCell to trade in over 2 million devices since 2008.

Media Contact

Mark Macias

mmm@maciaspr.com

646-770-0541
The solidarity and mutual support between Vietnam and Cambodia are more prominent since the armies and people of the two countries stood side by side defeating the Pol Pot genocide, reviving and rebuilding Cambodia. Overcoming many difficulties and challenges, Vietnam - Cambodia relations have been increasingly strengthened and firmly developed under the motto "good neighbors, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability".

President Ho Chi Minh received Prince Norodom Phurissara, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Cambodia, to visit Vietnam (January 10th, 1968).

On May 3rd, 1983, more than 30,000 people of the capital of Phnom Penh saw off Vietnamese volunteers who had fulfilled their international obligations and set out to return home.

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni presided over the ceremony to welcome Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong who paid a visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia for two days, from February 25th to February 26th, 2019.

On October 4th, 2019, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presided over the ceremony to welcome the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and the high-ranking delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia who paid an official visit to Vietnam.

On December 8th, 2018, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met with the Royal Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen paying an official visit to Vietnam.

On January 9th, 2020, in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and the Minister of State of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Cambodia Sok Phal co-chaired a joint working group on the land border between the two countries.

General Ngo Xuan Lich, Politburo member, Minister of National Defense and Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of National Defense of the Kingdom of Cambodia Tea Banh signed the Protocol on defense cooperation the 2020-2024 period and the 2020 cooperation plan between the two ministries on December 20th, 2019, in Hanoi.

On May 20th, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh, authorized by the National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairman of AIPA 2020, and Mr. Le Peng Long, Secretary- General of the Cambodian National Assembly, co-chaired the handover ceremony of medical masks from Vietnam National Assembly to the National Assembly and the people of Cambodia.

During a working visit to Cambodia, on December 13th, 2019, in Siem Reap province, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam News Agency Le Quoc Minh worked with the Deputy Governor of Siem Reap Neak Neron.
Press Release

June 24, 2020 On DTI CARES program SENATE President Vicente Sotto III said government should augment the budget earmarked by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for its Covid-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) program aimed at helping micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Sotto said the P1 billion budget for the program is not enough to help MSMEs jumpstart their businesses following the economic downturn that they suffered when most provinces of the country were placed under strict quarantines in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). "Many small and medium companies are just starting to resume operations, with most if not all of them operating at 30 to 50 percent. They suffered huge income losses when their businesses were shut down for more than two months. It is the responsibility of the government to help them recover from their meltdowns," Sotto said. The DTI's CARES loan facility aims to help MSMEs by providing loans ranging from P10,000 to P200,000 for micro enterprises and up to P500,000 for small enterprises. The loan is channeled thru the agency's financing arm SB Corporation. The program was launched in mid-May. Barely a month after the program opened, the SBC announced it was suspending loan applications as it has already breached the loan facility's funding capacity of P1 billion. Sotto said the application period was too short. "Many MSMEs were still in the process of assessing their income losses and have yet to determine the amount of funding assistance they needed to restart their businesses. The one month application period was too short for them to have availed of the government loan. The DTI should reopen the application period to allow more small and medium businesses to apply," Sotto said. The Senate President likewise said the DTI should ask the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to infuse extra funds for the CARES program, which has a P1 billion loan allocation. "Kulang po ang P1 billion para matulungan ng pamahalaan ang mga MSMEs na nalugi noong panahong tayo ay nasa ilalim ng enhanced community quarantine. Mahalagang madagdagan ang pondo ng programa nang sa ganun ay mas marami pang maliliit na businesses ang makapag sumite ng kanilang loan applications," Sotto said. Data from the DTI show there are over 1 million business establishments in the country, of which, 99.52 percent or 998,342 are MSMEs. Most of these MSMEs are located in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) regions. Sotto said the DBM can tap the Executive's COVID emergency response budget for the needed extra funds. "Nananawagan po tayo sa DBM na dagdagan ng karampatang pondo ang CARES program nang sa gayun ay mabuksan muli ang application period. Sa ganitong panahon ng krisis, mahalagang maipakita ng pamahalaan ang kanilang tunay na pagkalinga sa ating maliliit na mga businesses," Sotto said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has suspended a planned military retaliation against South Korea.

The announcement by officials marked an apparent slowing of the pressure campaign Pyongyang has waged against its rival amid stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration.

Last week, the North had declared relations with the South as fully ruptured, and destroyed an inter-Korean liaison office in its territory.

Pyongyang also threatened unspecified military action to censure Seoul for a lack of progress in bilateral cooperation, as well as for activists floating anti-North Korean leaflets across the border.

An anti-war activist holds a card (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

Analysts say the North, after weeks deliberately raising tensions, may be pulling away just enough to make room for South Korean concessions.

If Mr Kim does eventually opt for military action, he may resume artillery drills and other exercises in front line areas or have vessels deliberately cross the disputed western maritime border between the Koreas, which has been the scene of bloody skirmishes in past years.

However, any action is likely to be measured to prevent full-scale retaliation from South Korean and US forces.

Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency said Mr Kim presided by video conference over a meeting of the ruling Workers Partys Central Military Commission, which decided to postpone plans for military action against the South brought up by the Norths military leaders.

KCNA did not specify why the decision was made. It said other discussions included bolstering the countrys war deterrent.

Yoh Sang-key, a spokesman for South Koreas Unification Ministry, said Seoul was closely reviewing the Norths report but did not further elaborate.

Mr Yoh also said it was the first report in state media of Mr Kim holding a video conferencing meeting, but he did not provide a specific answer when asked whether that would have something to do with the coronavirus.

The North said there has not been a single Covid-19 case on its territory, but that claim has been questioned by outside experts.

Story continues

Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seouls Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said it is likely that the North is waiting for further action from the South to salvage ties from what it sees as a position of strength, rather than softening its stance on its rival.

Whats clear is that the North said (the military action) was postponed, not cancelled, said the former South Korean military official, who participated in inter-Korean military negotiations.

Other experts say the North would be seeking something major from the South, possibly a commitment to resume operations at a shuttered joint factory park in Kaesong, where the liaison office was located, or restart South Korean tours to the Norths Diamond Mountain resort.

A directional sign showing the distance to North Koreas Kaesong city and South Koreas capital Seoul is seen 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 (Lee Jin-man/AP)

Those steps are prohibited by the international sanctions against the North over its nuclear weapons programme.

Now isnt the time for anyone in Seoul or Washington to be self-congratulatory about deterring North Korea, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

There may be a pause in provocations or Pyongyang might temporarily deescalate in search of external concessions.

But North Korea will almost certainly continue to bolster its so-called deterrent. As long as the Kim regime refuses to denuclearise, it is likely to use Seoul as a scapegoat for its military modernisation and domestic politics of economic struggle after failing to win sanctions relief.

The public face of the Norths recent heavy criticism of the South has been Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, who has been confirmed as his top official on inter-Korean affairs.

Issuing harsh statements through state media, she said the Norths demolition of the liaison office would be just the first in a series of retaliatory action against the enemy South, and that she would leave it to the Norths military to come up with the next steps.

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Qatar Airways continues to gradually resume flights. Image: Qatar Airways



Destinations have included:



Budapest (three weekly flights started 15 June)

Dar es Salaam (three weekly flights started 16 June)

Dhaka (three weekly flights started 15 June)

Istanbul (daily flights started 13 June)

New York (flights started 19 June, daily from 22 June and 10 weekly from 2 July)



As entry restrictions ease around the world, the carrier is also seeing a rise in bookings.

With demand steadily rising, Qatar Airways has increased frequencies to the following destinations in the past week:



Athens (increased from three weekly to daily flights)

Dallas-Fort Worth (increased from three weekly to daily flights)

Dublin (increased from five weekly to daily flights)

Islamabad (now operating double daily flights)

Jakarta (increased from four weekly to daily flights)

Karachi (now operating double daily flights)

Lahore (now operating double daily flights)

Milan (increased from five weekly to daily flights)

Rome (increased from six weekly to daily flights)

Singapore (increasing from three weekly to daily flights)



The airline also continues to operate daily flights to many key global destinations including Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Melbourne, Seoul, Sydney, Tokyo and Zurich offering a resilient network that is designed for strong connectivity.
Many countries of the world are looking for a vaccine for Corona. In which many countries now also see success. Production of Oxford's Coronavirus Vaccine has also started in India through the British company AstraZeneca. Now good news has come about this vaccine that its 2 dose develops a strong immunity.

Heavy rainfall in Delhi, rain expected in these cities too

In their research, scientists have discovered that like the MMR vaccine, two doses of AZD1222 of the Corona vaccine of Oxford may be required. During the trials conducted on the pigs, it has been found that the booster dose produces a strong immunity. However, this vaccine has already been given to humans during the trial and positive results have come out. Some scientists from Oxford have expressed hope that this vaccine may be ready by October. The AZD1222 vaccine of Corona is considered far ahead of other vaccine candidates. Its production has already started in many countries including India.

Heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand, river overflow

It is being speculated that the AZD1222 vaccine may be approved by scientific and government agencies. After which this vaccine may be available to the common people. Preparations are already underway to produce this vaccine on a large scale in many countries. While the UK government has said that the corona vaccine is ready, government health workers, social care workers, over 50 years old people and heart-kidney patients will get this vaccine on a priority basis.

Number of elephants increases in Uttar Pradesh, Know why
With thousands of different brands out in the market, finding the perfect facial care product for your skin type may be both easy and challenging.

Beauty and skincare products are not only designed for women but also for men since taking care of the physical appearance is a privilege for all genders. Usually, when we talk about skincare products for men, brands from the West have always taken much attention like Kiehl's, Lab Series Skincare for Men, Anthony, and many more.

But today, we are taking on a different route. We will explore the best Korean facial wash brands suitable not only for the Asian men but also to all the gentlemen out there!

Currently, Korea is famous for its men's grooming product from the hair to the face down to the body. So gents, fret not 'cause we listed the top 5 Korean facial wash brands for men below!

1. SU:M37 DEAR HOMME DETOXIFYING CLEANSING FOAM

This is a Foaming cleanser fits for All skin types. SU:M37 DEAR HOMME DETOXIFYING CLEANSING FOAM is a two in one product working as both cleanser and shaving foam. It will give you a much clearer and healthier skin since it contains a lot of rich minerals that will help you get rid of sebum and dirt effectively.

2. LANEIGE HOMME ACTIVE WATER FOAM CLEANSER

LANEIGE HOMME ACTIVE WATER FOAM CLEANSER is a foaming cleanser for all skin types but is more suited for oily skin. Once this product is applied, you will feel a relaxing sensation on your skin and lather the fine foam on the skin to clean your pores.

This facial foam cleanses the skin and moisturizes it at the same time with its main ingredient, the Active Water Plus your skin will be feeling fresh and hydrated all the time.

3. WHOO (THE HISTORY OF WHOO) GONGJINHYANG KUN BO YANG FOAM CLEANSER

This item is the perfect foaming cleanser for Oily skin. It's formulated using an ancient Korean royal court formula. This cleanser has the Sansam Dongchung Hacho (Mountain Ginseng Cordyceps), which is an ingredient very rich in antioxidants.

With rich antioxidant content, using this product will result in means visibly reduced wrinkles and fine lines, so you can say hi to your young-looking face all the time.

4. BANILA CO CLEAN IT ZERO CLEANSER

Banila Co's Clean in Zero Cleanser is a cleansing balm perfect for All skin types. This product is specifically created for men. It has amazed the K-Grooming fans worldwide with its gentle and effective formula.

And it is quite easy to use, just simply apply and massage a dollop onto your face then rinse off to remove the day's dirt that has stayed on your skin and for a fresher-looking face.

If your day to day job is an entertainer or a model that would require you to put on some makeup, then ), this is definitely an effective product.

5. SKINFOOD BLACK SUGAR PERFECT SCRUB FOAM

This scrub foam is considered best for all skin types. It's a foam cleansing scrub with black sugar content with rice wine and botanical oils, cleansing your skin deeply for a smooth, clear complexion. The key ingredient is its fine black sugar granule, which effectively removes the imperfection and impurities, while the creamy foam soothes any irritation giving you a perfect cleanse.
Acquisition Closing Date Set for July 6th, 2020

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / Kontrol Energy Corp. (CSE:KNR)(OTCQB:KNRLF)(FSE:1K8) ("Kontrol" or "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed the first tranche closing of its previously announced (see press release dated May 19th, 2020) Non-Brokered Private Placement for Proceeds of $1.25 Million and has set July 6th, 2020 as the closing date for the previously announced acquisition of a building solutions company (the "Acquisition Target") (see press release dated May 19th, 2020).

"We look forward to completing this strategic acquisition since it is expected to grow our recurring revenues, add a number of new large cap real-estate owners and asset managers to our existing blue-chip customer base, and add 100 new buildings to Kontrol's customer base," said Paul Ghezzi, CEO of Kontrol Energy. "We expect more buildings to equate to increased operating leverage to scale recurring revenues through SaaS, IoT, Cloud and building automation. We have good visibility into closing the balance of our financing, and look forward to building upon our successful history of purchasing growing, accretive, and profitable companies"

Based on its July 31, 2019 fiscal year unaudited financial statements, The Acquisition Target generated $3.7 Million of revenue and $843,000 of Net Income before tax.

Approximately 40% of the Acquisition Target's revenues are expected to be annually recurring and the Acquisition Target has developed a scalable platform. In addition to operating synergies, Kontrol anticipates a significant opportunity for cross-sales through the merger of customers.

With the completion of the first tranche closing and existing cash on hand the Company has sufficient funding to complete the purchase of the Acquisition Target. The Company anticipates a second tranche closing of the Non-Brokered Private Placement by June 30, 2020.

The closing of the acquisition is subject to several conditions, including the provision of certain confirmatory due diligence information to Kontrol. For commercial reasons, the identity of the Acquisition Target will remain confidential until the completion of the acquisition.

About Kontrol Energy

Kontrol Energy Corp. (CSE:KNR)(OTCQB:KNRLF)(FSE:1K8) is a leader in the energy efficiency sector through IoT, Cloud and SaaS technology. With a disciplined mergers and acquisition strategy, combined with organic growth, Kontrol Energy Corp. provides market-based energy solutions to our customers designed to reduce their overall cost of energy while providing a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Kontrol Energy is one of Canada's fastest growing companies in 2018 and 2019 as ranked by Canadian Business and Maclean's.



Additional information about Kontrol Energy Corp. can be found on its website at www.kontrolenergy.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at: www.sedar.com



For further information, contact:

Paul Ghezzi, Chief Executive Officer

paul@kontrolenergy.com or admin@kontrolenergy.com

Kontrol Energy Corp.,

180 Jardin Drive, Unit 9, Vaughan, ON L4K 1X8

Tel: 905.766.0400, Toll free: 1.844.566.8123

Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements:

Certain information included in this press release, including information relating to the completion of the purchase of the Acquisition Target, the closing of a second tranche of the private placement, future financial or operating performance and other statements that express the expectations of management or estimates of future performance constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding possible future acquisitions and/or investments in operating businesses and/or technologies, accelerated organic growth, expansion of smart energy technologies into US markets, strategic partnerships to expand into North American Markets, acceleration of recurring SaaS revenues, the provision of solutions to customers and Greenhouse Gas emissions reductions, proposed financial savings and sustainable energy benefits and energy monitoring. Subsequent to year-end, there was a global outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus), which has had a significant impact on businesses through the restrictions put in place by the Canadian, provincial and municipal governments regarding travel, business operations and isolation/quarantine orders. At this time, it is unknown the extent of the impact the COVID-19 outbreak may have on the Company as this will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and that cannot be predicted with confidence. These uncertainties arise from the inability to predict the ultimate geographic spread of the disease, and the duration of the outbreak, including the duration of travel restrictions, business closures or disruptions, and quarantine/isolation measures that are currently, or may be put, in place by Canada and other countries to fight the virus. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief are based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, that the conditions, including confirmatory due diligence, related to the purchase of the Acquisition Target, will be fulfilled, that the balance of the private placement funds will be raised, that suitable businesses and technologies for acquisition and/or investment will be available, that such acquisitions and or investment transactions will be concluded, that sufficient capital will be available to the Company, that technology will be as effective as anticipated, that organic growth will occur, and others. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected, or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, that the either the Acquisition Target or Kontrol will not fulfill conditions to the closing of the Acquisition; that the balance of the private placement funds will be raised, lack of acquisition and investment opportunities or that such opportunities may not be concluded on reasonable terms, or at all, that sufficient capital and financing cannot be obtained on reasonable terms, or at all, that technologies will not prove as effective as expected that customers and potential customers will not be as accepting of the Company's product and service offering as expected, and government and regulatory factors impacting the energy conservation industry. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities law.

SOURCE: Kontrol Energy Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595045/Kontrol-Energy-Closes-First-Tranche-of-Non-Brokered-Private-Placement-for-Proceeds-of-125-Million
- Health director general Patrick Amoth said mass testing was not viable in middle income countries like Kenya because of lack of expertise

-In April 2020, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe had stated the ministry was targeting 250,000 samples by June 2020

- With one week to the end of the month, however, the cumulative number of tests conducted so far was at 146,537 with the total case load in the country standing at 4,952

The Ministry of Health has ruled out mass COVID-19 testing across the country terming the process as a very expensive affair that leads to waste of reagents.

In a new strategy under discussion, the health department would now only test people exhibiting symptoms of the disease and those in quarantine centers.

READ ALSO: Waiguru impeachment: Photo of governor scrolling her phone during Senate hearing sparks hilarious reactions

The cumulative number of COVID-19 tests conducted so far is 146,537 with the total case load in the country standing at 4,952 as of June 23. Photo: CDC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria says Parliament is dead: "Justin Muturi is the mortician"

This came even as the number of cases continued to increase (over 80% of them asymptomatic), an indication community infections were on the increase.

We have been doing well when it comes to testing but testing everyone who turns up for the test is very expensive. Out of 100 people in a target mass testing for example, only 10 can be positive meaning the reagents used in testing the remaining 90 have been wasted.

If we concentrate on those with symptoms, at least the number of the positive cases are high, Health director general, Patrick Amoth, said in a draft document.

Health DG Patrick Amoth (r)accompanied by CS Mutahi Kagwe at a past COVID-19 briefing at Afya House, Nairobi. Photo: MoH.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Aliyedaiwa kuwa mpenzi wa Adan Duale, Nazlin Umar afurahia kung'olewa kwake

The DG said mass testing was not viable in middle income countries like Kenya because of lack of expertise.

The new plan of action is being developed by the national coronavirus task force chaired by Health PS Susan Mochache.

"What we will do is to spread and plan with the reagents that we have. Spread them so that we do not run out of the kits, Amoth added.

Coronavirus testing in Nairobi, Kenya. The Ministry of Health has ruled out mass testing across the country. Photo: Capital Fm.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: CS Mutahi Kagwe confirms rapper Kahush is his youngest son after netizens doubted artiste

In April, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe had stated the ministry targeted to test 250,000 samples by June.

With one week to the end of the month, however, the cumulative number of tests conducted so far was at 146,537 with the total case load in the country standing at 4,952.

There were rumours testing kits donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma in March were stolen at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the police have started investigations into the incident.

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
Dozens of migrants have today been detected in the Channel, meaning more than 500 will have crossed this month alone.

More than 2,000 have reached the UK in boats this year, while the current total for June is on the cusp of eclipsing a record number in a single month.

It is thought there could be as many as 57 refugees involved, with emergency services called out at 5.15am - although official Home Office figures for the latest incidents are not yet known.

Dozens of migrants have today been detected in the Channel, meaning more than 500 will have crossed this month alone

It is thought there could be as many as 57 refugees involved, with emergency services called out at 5.15am

It is understood 11 migrants were on board one boat and 15 were on another - with both vessels brought into Dover

Five boats have been picked up off the Kent coast - with another one reportedly sent back to France.

It is understood 11 migrants were on board one boat and 15 were on another - with both vessels brought into Dover.

A rescue operation is also underway to recover another boat off Dungeness in Kent, which could be carrying around 20 people.

Good visibility and warm weather made conditions perfect for crossing the Dover Strait shipping lane.

So far this month, 496 migrants have reached Britain in small boats, with the crossings today set to send the figure soaring past 500.

The record for the number of crossings from Northern France to the UK in a single month stands at 558 as of April, according to the Telegraph.

It comes a day after 15 refugees in one vessel were rescued off the Kent coast.

The Kuwaiti, Sudanese and Iranian males were picked up in a rigid-hulled inflatable boat at 8.10am.

Throughout this year, a staggering 2,226 refugees have reached the UK in Channel crossings.

Furthermore, it emerged last week that none of the 1,100 migrants who arrived in Britain illegally by boat over a recent seven-week spell have been deported - despite persistent pledges from Priti Patel.

The Home Secretary consistently vowed to eradicate crossings and return those who enter the country illegally, but just 155 of nearly 4,000 migrants have been sent back since January last year, figures showed.

That figure of 155 emerged at the beginning of May, and represented just five per cent of the 2,839 who arrived from the start of 2019, but the Home Office conceded last week that number remains the same - meaning none of the 1,138 who have landed in small boats in the last month-and-a-half have been returned.

It is understood 11 migrants were on board one boat and 15 were on another - with both vessels brought into Dover

So far this month, 496 migrants have reached Britain in small boats, with the crossings today set to send the figure soaring past 500

A migrant, wearing a face mask, is brought into Dover Harbour this morning by Border Force officers

Furthermore, it emerged last week that none of the 1,100 migrants who arrived in Britain illegally by boat over a recent seven-week spell have been deported - despite persistent pledges from Priti Patel

Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp said on Tuesday: 'Using all the skills of Border Force, the National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement and French Law enforcement, we are determined to dismantle these ruthless criminal gangs who facilitate these crossings and put people's lives in danger, and bring them to justice.

'Earlier this month two people smugglers were jailed, bringing the total jailed this year to 21.

'Over the last two months the French stopped over 1,000 migrants from making this perilous journey, and they stopped a significant number today.

'But we won't stop there and will continue to work tirelessly with our French counterparts to combat this.'
 Flash

Following a COVID-19 outbreak at Germany's largest meat processing company Toennies, public life in the district of Guetersloh and its neighboring district of Warendorf would again be severely restricted, Karl-Josef Laumann, health minister of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) announced on Tuesday.

For the coming week, local residents are only allowed to move around in public spaces with members of their own household or in pairs. In addition, museums, cinemas, fitness studios, indoor swimming pools and bars will be closed. From Thursday, the district of Warendorf will also close all schools and day-care centers, which now are already closed in Guetersloh.

More than 1,550 employees of Toennies were infected with COVID-19, according to city officials. Around 7,000 employees of the company had to undergo quarantine.

The reimposed lockdown would initially apply until June 30 and would "provide more clarity," said Armin Laschet, minister-president of NRW, on the same day.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), local COVID-19 outbreaks such as in the district of Guetersloh were causing Germany's nationwide figures to rise.

In recent weeks, new daily cases had averaged at around 350 but the RKI announced on Tuesday that new infections with COVID-19 in Germany increased by 503 within one day to 190,862.

The critical reproduction rate of R0, which indicates how many people one infected person is infecting, stood at 2.76, according to the RKI daily situation report for Monday. For the past weeks, however, the rate in Germany had already been below one.

"We must continue to be careful," said RKI President Lothar Wieler on Tuesday. "If we give the virus the chance to spread, it will take that chance."
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science, in collaboration with FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine, have received a one-year, $90,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) RAPID project grant to conduct research using social networks and machine learning, facilitated by molecular genetics and viral infection, for COVID-19 modeling and risk evaluation. The project will create a web-based COVID-19 knowledge base, as well as a risk evaluation tool for individuals to assess their infection risk in a dynamic environment.

"COVID-19 is an evolving epidemic and there is little knowledge about its outbreak and spread patterns, or the impact of viral evolution, demography, social behavior, cultural differences, and quarantine policies regarding these outbreaks," said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science. "As the battle against COVID-19 continues, a deluge of information is being produced. As a result, the dramatic outbreak differences with respect to diverse geographies, regional policies, and cultural groups is raising confusion, contradictions, and inconsistencies in disease outbreak modeling."

The FAU project, "RAPID: COVID-19 Coronavirus Testbed and Knowledge Base Construction and Personalized Risk Evaluation," will address these discrepancies by building a knowledge base of COVID-19 to understand the correlations and roles that different factors play in predicting the spread of the virus. The technology will result in the implementation of appropriate policies to mitigate the effects of the epidemic on public health and society-at-large.

"Academia, news agencies, and governments are continuously publishing advances in the understanding of the virus' clinical pathologies, its genome sequences, and relevant administrative policies and actions taken. In addition, the public also responds to the changing environments through social media sites or other online sources, resulting in real-time social sensing opportunities," said Xingquan (Hill) Zhu, Ph.D., principal investigator (PI) of the grant and a professor in FAU's Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. "This is why a knowledge base of COVID-19 using machine learning is so crucial for us to model and understand the spread of COVID-19, and eventually mitigate the negative effects of the virus on public health, society, and the economy."

The technical aims of the FAU project are two-fold. First, researchers will create a knowledge base that includes information for modeling outbreak and mutation of COVID-19, which will serve as a benchmark for better understanding the spread of the virus. The second aim of the project is to develop a multi-source deep neural network-based predictive tool to combine demographics, policies, regional infections, and individual information for risk evaluation.

"The COVID-19 knowledge base uses graph/network to represent entities and their relationships. The entities are fully compatible to the Unified Medical Language System or UMLS standard for convenient knowledge sharing. Supported by the knowledge base, the public will be able to employ information to estimate their infection risk level using social and behavioral information such as their family size, shopping patterns, and dining patterns, as well as local authority policies such as school, restaurant, and movie theater closures and night time curfews," said Zhu. "They also will have access to demographic information such as population age, density and income, as well as health conditions like heart disease incidence, cancer prevalence, and substance misuse. Public health officials and the public-at-large also will be able to access regional virus conditions such as the number of infection cases in the area studied and infection rate."

Co-investigators of the FAU NSF RAPID grant are Michael DeGiorgio, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; and Massimo Caputi, Ph.D., a professor of biomedical science in FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine. Caputi has developed novel techniques to study RNA - RNA binding protein interactions, and has made important contributions in the understanding of how cellular proteins modulate the replication of the HIV-1 genome. He has expanded his research through collaborative grants for the development of microfluidic diagnostic devices to detect multiple viral species from blood and other bodily fluids.

Since receiving the NSF grant in May, the research team has made significant progress. The team, which includes three Ph.D. students - Zhabiz Gharibshah, Magdalyn E. Elkin, and Anak Wannaphaschaiyong - has already implemented knowledge base dashboard and infection, and social sensing dashboard, and is currently working on the risk estimation dashboard.

###

About FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science: The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science is internationally recognized for cutting edge research and education in the areas of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI), computer engineering, electrical engineering, bioengineering, civil, environmental and geomatics engineering, mechanical engineering, and ocean engineering. Research conducted by the faculty and their teams expose students to technology innovations that push the current state-of-the art of the disciplines. The College research efforts are supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Education (DOEd), the State of Florida, and industry. The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science offers degrees with a modern twist that bear specializations in areas of national priority such as AI, cybersecurity, internet-of-things, transportation and supply chain management, and data science. New degree programs include Masters of Science in AI (first in Florida), Masters of Science in Data Science and Analytics, and the new Professional Masters of Science degree in computer science for working professionals. For more information about the College, please visit eng.fau.edu.

About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU's world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU's existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit fau.edu.
WASHINGTON  American Special Operations forces used a specially designed secret missile to kill the head of a Qaeda affiliate in Syria this month, dealing the terrorist group a serious blow with a weapon that combines medieval brutality with advanced technology.

American and Qaeda officials said on Wednesday that Khaled al-Aruri, the de facto leader of the Qaeda branch, called Hurras al-Din, perished in a drone strike in Idlib in northwest Syria on June 14. He was a Qaeda veteran whose jihadist career dates to the 1990s.

How he died was even more striking.

The modified Hellfire missile carried an inert warhead. Instead of exploding, it hurled about 100 pounds of metal through the top of Mr. al-Aruris car. If the high-velocity projectile did not kill him, the missiles other feature almost certainly did: six long blades tucked inside, which deployed seconds before impact to slice up anything in its path.

The Hellfire variant, known as the R9X, was initially developed nearly a decade ago under pressure from President Barack Obama to reduce civilian casualties and property damage in Americas long-running wars on terrorism in far-flung hot spots such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia and Yemen.
Seven journalists go on trial over reporting on deaths of Turkish intelligence personnel serving in Libya.

Seven Turkish journalists have gone on trial charged with revealing state secrets in their coverage of the deaths of Turkish intelligence personnel serving in Libya.

The defendants, six of whom have been in jail since early March pending trial, are accused of revealing the identities of two members of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT).

The list includes Muyesser Yildiz, the Ankara news editor for the OdaTV online news portal, who was arrested over political and military espionage. OdaTV has been critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government.

Dozens of people gathered outside the court in Istanbul to show solidarity with the journalists on Wednesday.

An eighth defendant, a municipal worker in the western Turkish town of Akhisar, is accused of supplying pictures to the journalists of the funeral of one of the deceased intelligence officers.

Turkey has provided military support and training in Libya to the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), helping it fend off a 14-month assault on the capital, Tripoli, by eastern Libyan forces led by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar.





Articles, social media posts



The charges against the journalists centre on articles and social media posts published shortly after Erdogan said in February that Turkey had several martyrs in Libya.

According to the indictment, Murat Agirel, a reporter for Yeni Cag newspaper, was the first to reveal the identities of the intelligence officers, sharing names and photos on Twitter and referencing Erdogans comments.

The indictment accuses the defendants of revealing information related to state security, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years, by revealing the missions as well as the identities of MIT members.

They are also accused of revealing documents and information related to intelligence activities, a charge which carries a sentence of up to 10 years. The defendants deny the accusations, saying they were doing their jobs as journalists.

The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ, has called on Turkey to drop the charges.

Turkey should stop attempting to control independent journalism with intimidation, immediately free the arrested journalists, and drop this case, the groups Europe and Central Asia programme coordinator, Gulnoza Said, said in a statement last month.

The CPJ ranks Turkey among the top jailers of journalists worldwide, alongside China and Saudi Arabia.

About 80 journalists and other media workers are currently in jail under Turkeys broad anti-terrorism laws, according to the Turkish Journalists Syndicate, including many who were arrested in a crackdown following a 2016 coup attempt.

Turkey maintains that the journalists are prosecuted for criminal acts and not for their journalistic work.
Nearly every job interview process has some element of virtual or remote connectivity at the beginning when conversations about an open position with prospective candidates start through a phone screening we have all gone through.

Of course, just about everything is different in a world with the novel coronavirus and that has pushed government contractors talent acquisition processes even further in the remote and virtual direction. The most notable companies told us that almost unanimously when we asked them how hiring was going during the pandemic.

Substantially none are slowing down and all seem agree that the socially distant but virtually connected methods of hiring and onboarding talent are the norm for the foreseeable future.

Here are snapshots from our conversations with two company leaders in talent acquisition.

Maximus

We are thinking about what the future looks like under this new environment, we recognize that a lot of our protocols and things that we had to put in place [were] in response to the current crisis, said Rebecca Kenawall, Maximus human resources lead for COVID-19.

But we're also being realistic and understanding that the future is probably going to look a little different than what it did in the past, Kenawell also told us.

Kenawell acknowledged that the start of remote job interviews can be slower given that both the candidate and company official are not used to the format, but said the conversation does begin to flow in the same manner as if it were in person.

Onboarding and training may be where Maximus had to make the biggest adjustments in a world with COVID-19 as it looks to fill its open positions.

Maximus is generally mailing equipment to employees homes so they do not have to physically visit an office, but the company has a process for when in-person may be required.

If you're coming into a facility, the equipment will be set up for you by the IT team, they'll put it on a cart, and leave it in a hallway or leave it in a mutually agreed upon place where you'll pick it up, Kenawell said. Then you can go in and get your equipment so that way you're not having that one-on-one contact with the individual from it for your equipment.

Now what of new hire orientation and training? Those are largely happening through Zoom sessions: which is how we connected with Kenawell for this conversation.

Maximus rolled out a Skillsoft-based platform as its training tool for all employees and is trying to replicate the learning process as if it were in-person and for when questions come up.

If someone has a problem, they hop on a zoom call or some type of WebEx call with the trainer in the same room, they screen share and work through it together, so that they can still get that one on one attention, Kenawell said.

Parsons

Parsons Corp. has footprints in 25 countries as a government, technology and critical infrastructure services company and thus that wide presence implies a great demand for connectivity to begin with.

When COVID-19 became a national emergency in the United States, Parsons put 90 percent of its 16,000 employees on remote work and shifted substantially all of its onboarding phases to a virtual setup.

The Centreville, Virginia-based company has nearly 2,000 open requisitions across its federal and critical infrastructure segments. But when we spoke with Parsons Chief People Officer Debra Fiori to see what they are up to, she also pointed to the companys college internship program as a key priority along with remote hiring and onboarding.

Fiori told us that she and the leadership team of that internship program have worked across Parsons business units on creating a new virtual experience for interns, many of whom their stints began in late May.

We did not know the length of the period the shelter-in-place would exist, and so we have planned around that and have already been onboarding our interns, Fiori said.

Parsons has also set up a remote mentor-mentee program across the company for both new hires and interns in a move to try and replicate that in-person experience.

Fiori said both new hires and interns also get an assigned buddy to run questions by whenever anything comes up when it comes to getting acclimated to Parsons.

Workday is Parsons platform of choice for the virtual onboarding and training of new hires. Given the market dynamics, Parsons sounds like a company that cannot turn back from adding staff.

In our industry and specific to Parsons, in some ways theres more work than there was before COVID, so we knew we had to do that, Fiori said. Not only because we made commitments to future hires that had accepted positions and hadnt started yet, but the continued pipeline of growth in the company and the positions that were available.
JOHANNESBURG, June 24 (Reuters) - South Africa's public enterprises ministry on Wednesday urged creditors to vote in support of a rescue plan for cash-strapped South African Airways (SAA).

Creditors are due to vote on the plan, which was published by the state-owned airline's administrators last week, on Thursday.

The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) said in a statement: "DPE believes the approval of the business rescue plan would help creditors and employees to be co-creators of a new airline." (Reporting by Alexander Winning; editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo)
China's domestically developed Beidou Navigation Satellite System has been widely used in many public sectors and business fields at home and abroad, according to the China Satellite Navigation Office.

By the end of 2019, more than 100 million Beidou-based navigation chips, modules and other products had been sold.

The system had by then been applied to nearly 6.6 million taxis, buses and trucks around China as well as more than 70,000 fishing vessels across the country. More than 10,000 fishermen had been rescued or received assistance after they used a Beidou device to ask for help.

Over 3,200 navigation facilities along rivers and more than 2,900 maritime navigation establishments now employ Beidou services.

Beidou-enabled functions are also used in at least 50,000 agricultural machines and have improved their operational efficiency.

More than 70 percent of mobile phones registered in China are compatible with Beidou signals.

In the public security field, more than 400,000 portable terminals used by the police across the country have Beidou-enabled positioning functions. Beidou has also played important roles in security work for high-level events such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing in 2014 and the Group of 20 Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in 2016, the office said.

According to the Global Navigation Satellite System and Location-Based Services Association of China, Beidou has been used in dozens of business and public sector fields in China, including transportation, electric power transmission, fisheries, mining and agriculture. Tens of millions of Beidou-based terminal devices have been sold and are in use.

Globally, by the end of 2019, Chinese products based on Beidou had been sold to more than 120 foreign countries and regions, playing a helpful role in a number of public sector fields.

Beidou had by then been used in land ownership investigations, smart agriculture and intelligent construction, as well as other businesses in Asia, Europe and Africa, the association said.

For instance, Beidou has helped Russia improve its electric grid inspections, made operations more convenient for unmanned aircraft users in Cambodia, boosted management efficiency of many warehouses in Thailand and facilitated construction work in Kuwait.

In China, the overall value of satellite-enabled navigation and positioning services in 2019 was 345 billion yuan ($48.8 billion), a 14.4 percent increase year-on-year.

More than 500,000 Chinese people work at about 14,000 domestic institutes and companies doing business related to Beidou and other satellite navigation and positioning services, according to the association.
China derides US move to place Chinese flags at empty seats in nuclear talks with Russia

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 6:00 AM

China says a move by the United States to place Chinese flags at a table of nuclear arms control negotiations with Russia was an act of "performance art."

China had said it would not be participating in the talks because the US, under President Donald Trump, had unilaterally withdrawn from international treaty after international treaty.

The negotiations in question were on the replacement of New START, a nuclear arms treaty between the US and Russia that would expire next February and that has nothing to do with China. Washington had invited Beijing nevertheless and had been planning to portray the Chinese government's refusal to participate as a sign of Beijing's reluctance to take part in any arms control treaty.

US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea published a Twitter post on Monday with a picture of the negotiating table in the talks in Vienna where Chinese flags were placed at empty seats.

An accompanying text read, "China is a no-show. Beijing still hiding behind #GreatWallofSecrecy on its crash nuclear build-up, and so many other things. We will proceed with #Russia, notwithstanding."

Billingslea did not explain why the national flags of China were placed at the table without the country's approval and when Beijing was never due to participate.

China's mission to the United Nations (UN) in Vienna then posted a screenshot of the US envoy's picture with the comment "US performance art?"

The director general of the arms control department at China's Foreign Ministry, Fu Cong, also said, "What an odd scene! Displaying Chinese National Flags on a negotiating table without China's consent! Good luck on the extension of the New START! Wonder how LOW you can go?"

And Chen Weihua, the European Union (EU) bureau chief for China Daily, posted a comment under Billingslea's tweet, saying, "1. US has kept quitting treaties, so it has left with no credibility. Go back to JCPOA and Paris accord before you make such argument. 2. China has 300 nukes in contrast to 6,000 by US and Russia. So unless you agree to come down to 300 or even 500, you're not making sense."

JCPOA, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is the official name of the Iran nuclear deal, a historic multilateral agreement from which the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew in 2018. And the Paris Accord is a landmark international agreement on climate change. Trump withdrew from that agreement, too.

Meanwhile, Russia posted pictures of the negotiations after they began, with seats filled and no Chinese flags.

The New START was signed by Washington and Moscow in April 2010. Under the treaty, the two sides agreed to halve the number of their strategic nuclear missiles and restrict the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550.

The New START can be extended for another five years, beyond its expiry date in February 2021, by mutual agreement.

The Trump administration had earlier withdrawn from another treaty with Russia, the so-called Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

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Ancient formation in Turkish town of Silifke is being likened to the silhouette of US President Donald Trump.

An ancient rock formation in southern Turkey that has been likened to the silhouette of US President Donald Trump has recently attracted visitors and sparked interest on social media.

After images of the partly bare rock in the Turkish town of Silifke, in Mersin province, were widely circulated on social media, many locals visited and took photographs with the formation, local media reported on Tuesday.

Photographed from the side, the rocky structure appears to resemble the features of the US president, including his jawline, nose, lips and hair.

Mustafa Kaya, headman of the Bukdegirmeni neighbourhood, said the rock became popular after Trump was elected in 2016.

This silhouette has been around for years. Our people have been seeing it constantly. However, after Trump became president, everyone likened this figure to Trump. We also liken it, Kaya was quoted as saying by the Turkish website Son Dakika.

One Twitter user joked: Mr. President, nature in Turkey has painted you on rocks.

Mr. President, nature in Turkey has painted you on rocks.@realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/etoVS394e9  H.Oguz Eken (@royalbahce) June 23, 2020

Another also drew a comparison with the Mount Rushmore sculpture in South Dakota, US, which depicts four former US presidents.
This story about Liz Tigelaar and Little Fires Everywhere first appeared in the Limited Series & Movies issue of TheWraps Emmy magazine.

The Hulu adaptation of Celeste Ngs Little Fires Everywhere came to a conclusion just over a month before George Floyd was killed at the hands of a white police officer. Viewers discovering the Kerry Washington- and Reese Witherspoon-led limited series treatment of race and class might label the show even more relevant now amid hundreds of #BlackLivesMatter protests, but showrunner Liz Tigelaar said Little Fires Everywhere may only seem timelier based on the color of your skin.

To anyone Black, this has always been relevant, she said. I think who it has become more relevant to is the white people who were blind to it or not thinking about it or had the privilege of not thinking about it.

Tigelaar said she and her writers all read Robin DiAngelos White Fragility before they came together to have a conversation about the story they wanted to tell.

Also Read: 'Little Fires Everywhere': Jade Pettyjohn on Her 'Beautiful' Screaming Match With Reese Witherspoon

And we talked about this idea that people in America  we all know that being racist is bad. And we see bad people and we see good people and we know that good people arent racist in our minds. Even people who are racist probably think being racist is bad and may not even see themselves that way.

But I think what this book raises, and I think what we really wanted to talk about with the show, is its not just binary. People at a rally in Virginia with KKK hoods on their heads, you know thats bad. What we wanted to explore was this concept of white fragility and white liberals who really dont see themselves as racist. And for a lot of us in the room, that was us. And for a lot of the people in the room who werent white, that wasnt them. So thats where the conversation started.

Little Fires Everywhere follows Mia Warren (Washington), a Black, working-class single mother who moves to the Ohio suburb of Shaker Heights with her teenage daughter. She rents a home from Elena Richardson (Witherspoon), who sees herself as a model citizen striving to raise four perfect teens with her husband. The secrets both women are keeping and their interactions with each other change both of them by the end of the series.

Story continues

Also Read: 'Little Fires Everywhere' Showrunner on Finale's Biggest Changes From How the Book Ends

In Ngs novel, Mias race is never specified, but the casting of Washington allowed the TV series to tackle her story in an entirely different way.

That made us look at every relationship Mia had, and really every moment Mia had in the book, and make sure were not just copying what was in the book, Tigelaar said. We had to make sure that we were scrutinizing this through the lens of, This is happening to a Black woman. This is a Black mother parenting a Black daughter. This is how a Black woman might feel in this environment of Shaker Heights. Its now a Black woman being asked to work in a white womans house. Its now a white girl showing up at the door of a Black womans apartment asking for care.'

That not only changed the dynamic of the relationship dramatically, it posed risks for the storytellers.

Also Read: Maven Fires Veteran Sports Illustrated Writer, Says He Produced 'Little Meaningful Revenue'

It was all these things about making sure that we really honored this version of Mia and that we made sure that we were never falling into TV tropes, especially of a Black woman coming into a white world and making all the white people better and then leaving, at her own expense. That was probably the biggest change and also the most challenging. But it gave the most opportunity and was the most exciting change, because we got to take this story that we all love and say, OK, but what if we see it through this lens? How does that change the story?

And what those changes yielded  to me, thats the conversation. The writers room started working a year and a half ago on this, but I think that what it yielded in the show is more relevant than ever at this moment in our country  for some people.

To read more of the Limited Series & Movies issue, click here.

EmmyWrap Limited Series & Movies 2020

Read original story Little Fires Everywhere Showrunner on How Making Mia Black Changed Everything for Hulu Adaptation At TheWrap
We are highly impressed with the robust capabilities the SmartTouch system offers and all it enables for our marketing teams, including automating our digital marketing and managing our lead generation, distribution, nurturing, and reporting.

SmartTouch Interactive, an award-winning interactive real estate marketing agency, real estate marketing automation and lead nurturing CRM solution company announced today that six new clients chose the award-winning SmartTouch NexGen CRM Sales and Marketing Automation platform to empower their sales and marketing teams with expert lead generation and management technology solutions and services designed specifically for home builders and real estate developers.

We are delighted to welcome these six new clients over the last 90 days, said Robert Cowes, President and CEO of SmartTouch Interactive. Their decision to implement our NexGen CRM and Marketing Automation platform further validates that home builders and real estate developers want a solution designed specifically for this marketplace with intuitive workflows and lead nurturing technology that effectively engages the home buyer through to conversion. And with an efficient and effective turnkey implementation process that accelerates time to market, we make it easy for our clients to leverage our extensive experience allowing them to yield ROI quickly.

The new SmartTouch Interactive clients are from Texas and Florida, all with slightly different projects that require a home builder and real estate developer focused CRM system that can easily meet their individual needs.

Two of the new clients, Pomona and Wolf Ranch, are new master plan communities from the leading Dallas-based developer, Hillwood Communities, a Perot Company. Each selected SmartTouch Interactive to provide managed CRM services for their marketing teams. Pomona is a beautiful new 1,000 acres and 2,000 single-family homes master-planned community in Manvel, TX, on the Mustang Bayou. Wolf Ranch is a unique master-planned community in Georgetown, TX tucked into the stunning Hill Country landscape alongside the San Gabriel River. Both are working with the experts at SmartTouch team to automate lead generation, aggregate, and distribute leads to builder sales teams and gain greater insight into sales and marketing performance.

We are highly impressed with the robust capabilities the SmartTouch system offers and all it enables for our marketing teams, including automating our digital marketing and managing our lead generation, distribution, nurturing, and reporting, commented Russell Bynum, General Manager, Hillwood Houston. Our teams really appreciated the ability to leverage the system as a managed service, allowing us to quickly benefit from the solution without having to spend a lot of time learning how to use it. We can simply login, view our dashboard, and easily report on our key metrics, freeing us to focus on our core responsibility, developing our community.

Vintage Estate Homes is a luxury custom home builder in Florida and Austin Texas communities known for its unique living spaces that blend contemporary lifestyle plans and technology with traditional quality craftsmanship that create an extraordinary lifestyle. Vintage Estates is using SmartTouch NexGen CRM to provide their sales team with a lead management solution that aggregates their leads in one place and streamline follow up and lead nurturing.

VeraLux Homes, a homebuilder in the DFW area known for its bold, stylish, and cosmopolitan homes, has been building exceptional new homes for more than 35 years. VeraLux is using SmartTouch NexGen CRM and marketing automation to enable their sales and marketing teams to better tag, score, and communicate with leads instantly and effectively.

Preservation Ranch, a new luxury ranch conservation community in Bee Cave, TX with ranches for sale near Austin, has chosen the SmartTouch NextGen CRM platform as a managed service to power sales and marketing workflows to capture, score, tag, and notify its sales team of home buyer interest and conversions. SmartTouch also developed the communitys new brand, design and launch their website, SEO, and for comprehensive digital marketing programs.

Blue Horse Building + Design has been providing residential remodeling Austin and new home construction services with a focus on architecturally unique, durable, and efficient homes with exceptional interior design the Austin, TX area for 18 years. Blue Horse will use the SmartTouch NexGen platform for sales and marketing automation.

About SmartTouch Interactive

SmartTouch Interactive is the only marketing agency focused on real estate to offer: proven marketing and lead generation programs; a superior lead nurturing CRM and Marketing Automation platform, SmartTouch NexGen; and a cutting-edge homebuyer geofencing solution, SmartTouch Geo, all driven by an award-winning team of innovative marketing professionals. Our innovation in lead generation and digital marketing programs and proven accountable ROI methodology has helped hundreds of real estate developers and home builders generate more than 1 million leads and $2 billion in new home sales. http://www.smarttouchinteractive.com
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry donned hair nets and facemasks as they volunteered alongside former gang members at a Los Angeles bakery.

The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, who are currently living in Tyler Perry's $18 million mansion in Los Angeles having stepped back from royal duties in March, visited the Homeboy Industries cafe and bakery yesterday.

It comes after it was revealed the couple could make more than 1million per speaking engagement with an elite agency used by Michelle and Barack Obama.

New York-based Harry Walker describes itself as 'the world's leading speaker's bureau' and counts Prince Harrys environmentalist friend Jane Goodall and Oprah Winfrey among the A-list talent on its roster.

Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, joined former gang members at a bakery in Los Angeles to volunteer and make food for the elderly in the area (pictured, at their final royal duty in March)

PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Sun the pair will 'clean up'. They plan to speak on social issues including racial justice, gender equality, the environment and mental health, according to the LA Times.

'I'm surprised they haven't done this sooner. It will be one of the great income generators for them. The speaker's circuit is a natural safe space for them to plunder,' he added.

It is their first career move since leaving the royal family and moving to Los Angeles.

On Tuesday the couple appeared low-key in photographs shared of the visit to the bakery, as they helped prepare food and learn more about the organisation's programme.

The Duchess of Sussex, who had previously taken part in workshops with the organisation as a teenager, could be seen packing food boxes

The bakery shared snaps of the pair's visit on Instagram, posting: 'Thank you to Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for visiting and standing in kinship with our Cafe and Bakery teams yesterday!

'Our staff were thrilled to work alongside them as they helped prepare food and learned more about our newly launched #FeedHOPE program, which employs our program participants to provide meals to food-insecure seniors and youth across Los Angeles in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.'

Meghan donned a smart white shirt and relaxed denim jeans for the volunteering effort, sweeping her hair into a low bun to tuck into her net.

Meanwhile Prince Harry opted to match his wife in a similar smart white shirt as he joined her on the production line.

The couple could be seen helping out to bake bread, as well as folding dough and sorting out food boxes for the vulnerable in their new hometown.

According to Harper Bazaar's royal editor Omid Scobie, it is run by Father Gregory Boyle, who the Duke and Duchess have been speaking with about the racial justice movement.

The Duke and Duchess donned facemasks and hairnets as they joined the production line at the bakery

Meghan first met Father Boyle 20 years ago at a Homeboy Industry cooking workshop where she and her mother Doria made tamales.

Meghan Markle's visits to baking workshop for disadvantaged women Following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's visit to Homeboy Industries cafe and bakery yesterday, Meghan suggested it was similar to the Luminary Bakery in London. The social enterprise trains UK-based women who have been victims of violence and sex trafficking. Meghan featured the project when she guest-edited an issue of British Vogue, and she posed for a series of photographs with women at the bakery in 2019. Luminary Bakery (pictured) is an all-female social enterprise bakery which helps women who have been victims of violence and sex trafficking, or who have been to prison, get back into work Advertisement

Father Boyle, who has worked closely with Meghan's alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, said: 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were just "Harry and Meghan" to the homies.

'They rolled up their sleeves and deeply engaged with our workers in the bakery and cafe. It was immediate kinship and heartening in its mutuality.'

Harry and Meghan's spokesman said 'the duchess mentioned that the spirit and style reminded her of the times she visited the Luminary Bakery in London', a social enterprise that offers disadvantaged women in the UK new opportunities.

Mariana Enriquez, manager at Homegirl Cafe, said: 'It was remarkable to share our Feed Hope programme with Harry and Meghan.

'They are both down to earth and kind. The staff was honoured they took the time to see us, hear us and walk on our journey today. We will never forget it.'

A representative of the couple said the Duke and Duchess 'connect deeply' with the organisation's mission (which includes resources such as counselling, education, legal assistance, addiction recovery and employment ops) and feel it's 'a perfect example of how empathy, kindness, and compassion can change the world.'

The organisation describes itself as 'a beacon of hope in Los Angeles to brave men and women seeking to transform their lives after gang-involvement and incarceration.'

It provides support to nearly 9,000 individuals through job training and free services such as tattoo removal, mental health services, GED classes, legal services, and more.

It also helps provide space for our clients to heal from intergenerational cycles of violence in a community of radical compassion.

It is the third time the couple have been seen volunteering during the course of the coronavirus pandemic. In April, Meghan and Prince Harry were spotted out on the streets of LA as they continued their volunteering work for charity amid the crisis.

The Duchess had previously taken part in cooking workshops with the organisation when she was a teenager alongside her mother Doria (pictured, with the Prince Harry at the launch of the Hubb cookbook in 2019)

The couple were seen linking arms and holding hands as they delivered packages to residents from the back of their $35,000 Cadillac XT5, having seemingly downgraded from the Porsche SUV they had used previously.

It emerged that the couple, who moved to Los Angeles with 11-month-old son Archie a month ago, have been distributing meals to the needy in LA for the Project Angel Food charity.

A source close to the couple told the Daily Mail that they had hoped to keep their volunteering private but were glad the charity was being recognised.

The Sussexes initially moved to Canada after stepping down as senior working royals on March 31 but are now forging out new lives for themselves as they set up home in California.

The news comes days after a friend of Meghan's told DailyMail.com that her instinct to leave the United Kingdom and move to California all makes sense to her now, because she believes she was 'destined' to help fight systemic racism in the United States.

The Duchess feels that her 'gnawing urgency to uproot from England' was fate so she could be at the 'forefront' of the movement, the insider explained.

it comes after sources revealed that the Duchess of Sussex feels 'destined' to help fight systemic racism in the United States (pictured, the royal recently spoke out about Black Lives Matter)

They added: 'Meghan said her work as a leader is more important than ever right now and that she's been speaking with Oprah and other community leaders on how she can be part of the solution.

'Meghan feels like her mission goes far beyond acting. She said she wants to use her voice for change and hasn't ruled out a career in politics.'

Meghan, who quit her royal duties with husband Prince Harry earlier this year and relocated to LA in March, recently distanced herself from best friend Jessica Mulroney after she threatened to sue a black influencer over a dispute.

It came as the United States has been rocked by protests across the country in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and other African-Americans who have died at the hands of police, sparking national conversations about racism.

Meghan spoke out about Floyd's death earlier this month, declaring 'black lives matter' and admitted she hadn't made a statement earlier because she had been 'nervous'.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sign to a high-profile speaking agency that represents the Obamas and Clintons who can earn up to 1million per speech

by Harriet Johnston for MailOnline

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could earn more than 1million each time they do a speech after signing up with an elite speaking agency.

The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, have joined the New York-based Harry Walker Agency which represents high-profile stars including the Obamas and the Clintons.

PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Sun the pair will 'clean up'. They plan to be available for talks on social issues including racial justice, gender equality, the environment and mental health, according to the LA Times.

'I'm surprised they haven't done this sooner. It will be one of the great income generators for them. The speaker's circuit is a natural safe space for them to plunder,' he added.

It is their first career move since leaving the royal family and moving to Los Angeles.

It has previously been reported that the Queens grandson and his wife want to model themselves on the Obamas, and would set up a similar working model to the former president.

Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, have signed up with the Harry Walker Agency, a high-profile speaking agency, according to the LA Times

The Harry Walker Agency has high profile clients, many of whom are friends of the Duke and Duchess, including Prince Harrys environmentalist friend Jane Goodall and Oprah Winfrey.

Others include Meghan's best friend Serena Williams and the actor Tyler Perry  whose $18million (15million) Beverly Hills mansion they are living in.

Speaking could prove an extremely lucrative booking for the Duke and Duchess, who vowed to become financially independent from the royal family when they stepped back in January.



According to their hometown newspaper, President Obama reportedly earned 1million for a speech in 2017, while the Clintons averaged $250,000 per appearance in 2014.

In January, it was reported that Barack and Michelle Obama had advised the Sussexes on their plans for a new life outside the Royal Family.

Other high flying clients signed to Harry Walker Agency include former President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama

Harry and Meghan have become close friends with the former US president and his lawyer wife and turned to them for help after making the decision to step back from royal duty.

At the time, sources confirmed Harry and Meghan had discussed their plans with the former US president and his wife and wanted to mimic the way they had managed to build a successful, but dignified, life for themselves after the White House.

A source said: They have found huge commercial success without actually looking like they are getting their hands dirty, to put it bluntly, and retaining their popularity.

In fact it is fair to say that their star has soared since leaving the White House, particularly Michelles, and this is something Meghan admires very, very much.

Meanwhile the agency also boasts other clients including former US president Bill and Hillary Clinton

Meanwhile royal expert Omid Scobie also claimed the couple have big plans for the next few years, and are basing their working model on the Obamas.

He said their plans were 'not too dissimilar' from what the former president created after leaving the White House and setting up Higher Ground production company.

He pointed to the Obama's multiyear production deal with Netflix to produce films and documentaries covering topics like race, class and civil rights.

Harry has been friends with the couple for years, bonding over humanitarian and military issues, as well as his inspirational Invictus Games for injured military personnel and veterans. They even took part in a video skit with the Queen to publicise it.

Grin: Mr Obama meets Meghan Markle at The White House in 2016. Harry and Meghan have become close friends with the former US president and his lawyer wife and turned to them for help

Meghan is also close friends with the former US first lady, and secretly attended a talk Mrs Obama gave in London in 2018.

Last summer the duchess interviewed the mother-of-two for her collaboration with British Vogue.

Meghan also wrote of how Mrs Obama had become such a globally respected public figure. She said: Whatever your background, its easy to feel connected to Mrs Obama.

'Theres something magical about the way in which she draws you in with her endearingly frank, down-to-Earth personality.

Since leaving office Mr Obama, 58, and his wife, 55, have set up a charitable foundation that champions good causes including girls education and tackling youth violence.

They signed a joint book deal with Penguin Random House worth a reported 50million in 2017 and spent some of their new-found wealth on a luxury home in Marthas Vineyard, off Cape Cod.

Meanwhile Prince Harry has also become good friends with Mr Obama over the last few years, and turned to them for help after making the decision to step back from royal duty

The news comes days after a friend told DailyMail.com Meghan's instinct to leave the United Kingdom and move to California all makes sense to her now, because she believes she was 'destined' to help fight systemic racism in the United States.

The Duchess feels that her 'gnawing urgency to uproot from England' was fate so she could be at the 'forefront' of the movement, the insider explained.

They added: 'Meghan said her work as a leader is more important than ever right now and that shes been speaking with Oprah and other community leaders on how she can be part of the solution.

It comes days after it was revealed Meghan plans to use her platform to help fight systemetic racism in the United States. Earlier this month she spoke out on the death of George Flloyd amid on-going protests around the world

'Meghan feels like her mission goes far beyond acting. She said she wants to use her voice for change and hasnt ruled out a career in politics.'

Meghan, who quit her royal duties with husband Prince Harry earlier this year and relocated to LA in March, recently distanced herself from best friend Jessica Mulroney after she threatened to sue a black influencer over a dispute.

It came as the United States has been rocked by protests across the country in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and other African-Americans who have died at the hands of police, sparking national conversations about racism.
Bengaluru, June 24 : Chinese technology brand OnePlus on Wednesday announced the availability of its new OnePlus TVs range for pre-book on Amazon.in.

OnePlus would expand its Smart TV portfolio in India with the launch of two new affordable sets via an online event on July 2.

To pre-book the new TV, for which prices would be announced on July 2, one needs to purchase two-year extended warranty worth up to Rs 3,000 for just Rs 1,000 on Amazon.in between June 23 to July 2.

"An email confirmation will be shared on purchase. Purchase any of the new OnePlus TVs (2020 models) on Amazon before August 5," the company said in a statement.

After buying the OnePlus TV, all those who opted for two-year extended warranty will receive Amazon Pay balance of Rs 1,000 by August 10.

"This offer only applies to the new ranges of OnePlus TVs and on purchase on extended warranty and the OnePlus TV in the given date range," said the company.

The new affordable OnePlus TVs will feature an immersive, bezel-less display with a vibrant Cinematic Display, a 93 per cent 'DCI-P3' colour gamut and Dolby Vision support.

To recall, the company entered the smart TV industry in 2019 with OnePlus TV Q1 series which is available at starting price of Rs 69,900.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The semi driver, Steven Allen, of El Paso, Texas, was treated at the scene.

After the crash, Darwin Philips and James Schwartztrauber, both of Lincoln, ran to the wreckage.

Via Facebook, Philips said the semi driver jumped out of the flaming cab and started screaming that he had explosives in the trailer, which turned out to be fireworks. Philips said fuel was everywhere under the SUV and he and Schwartztrauber pulled Trevor Janke  whom he described as unresponsive  from the vehicle.

Philips told the Fremont Tribune that he and Schwartztrauber declined to be interviewed. Theyve spoken with family members and an accident victim.

They all have expressed their gratitude and it was more than they needed to do, Philips said. We wish the couple a speedy and full recovery.

The Garretsons had been eastbound on County Road F when the crash happened.

Another semi, also eastbound, was in front of them, Bailey said.

Bailey said the Jankes had been pulled out of the SUV and were on the northwest corner of the intersection when she reached the scene.
The Eastern Pacific Ocean has sprung to life this week with the formation of Boris, and forecasters are tracking up to two other areas for potential development.



Of the areas under close scrutiny, it was the tropical feature farthest from land that developed first. Tropical Storm Boris organized Thursday afternoon by 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 25. The system had formed as Tropical Depression Three-E late in the morning the day before. The system is currently located more than 2,000 miles southwest of the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula.

The system is currently moving west-northwestward at 8 mph (13 km/h), as it navigates the warm waters of the East Pacific Ocean.

"Boris is moving over water temperatures that are near 81-82 degrees Fahrenheit and within an environment of low shear," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said. "Dry stable air that was suppressing thunderstorm development around the system decreased, allowing thunderstorm to form near the center of the storm."

Once struggling to survive and intensify, this change allowed for the surface pressure to fall and the storm to create a tighter circulation, leading to a more intense storm.

However, by early Friday morning, Boris weakened to a tropical depression as the system began to move into an area with stronger wind shear and drier air.

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The tropical system is expected to continue its general westward track and cross into the Central Pacific Ocean this weekend. As it follows this path, it will migrate out of the warmest waters and continue to weaken, likely degenerating into a non-tropical low pressure area more than 600 miles to the south-southeast of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Behind Boris, there are a couple other tropical disturbances that forecasters are following closely.

The two tropical disturbances that have emerged are moving in a general west-northwesterly direction.

One system was located southwest of the southern coast of Mexico and the other was just emerging from the coast of Central America. The former system has the greatest chance of becoming a tropical depression over the next few days. If the latter system were to develop, it would likely not be until late this weekend or early next week.

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Whether the eastern features organize or not, the anticipated track of the tropical low will keep most of the impacts away from land. While some rough waves may reach the shores of southern Mexico, shipping interests in the region should be wary of heavy downpours or turbulent seas.

The next system to strengthen into a tropical storm with winds of 39 mph (62 km/h) in the East Pacific Basin would be given the name Cristina.

AccuWeather forecasters have been warning for a more active end to June in the East Pacific for more than a week.

At the same time, forecasters have been monitoring Saharan dust pushing through the Caribbean Sea and into the Gulf of Mexico, which is helping to stifle widespread tropical development in the Atlantic Basin. Dolly formed outside of the large plume of dust this week, more than 300 miles southeast of Nova Scotia, and became the second earliest fourth-named storm in recorded history in the Atlantic.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said he hopes a government can be formed as he urged party members to approve the draft programme for government.

Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party have been balloting members on proposals to form a new administration which took five weeks to put together.

The outcome of the votes among the three parties will be announced on Friday.

So proud to vote YES to this ground-breaking PfG. A mighty stepping stone towards a brighter, Greener future! Rather than being the whingey back-seat driver, I know we're in much safer hands with some Greens in that driving seat! Pedal to the floor, let's go make change happen  pic.twitter.com/73lkNU0Taj  Cllr. Hazel Smyth (she/her) (@HazelSmyth2019) June 23, 2020

Mr Ryan said it is a leap to bring the members of all parties on board and said he believes Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will work with the Green Party to make changes on climate policy.

The Green Party has the highest threshold of the three parties, with a two-thirds majority needed to secure approval.

He said: Irish people are waiting to see if a government can be formed, I hope it can. If it doesnt then the political system will be in a difficult situation. We will work our way out of it one way or another.

The key thing is, people are still deciding and ballots are still being sent in. Im asking members of the Green Party to vote Yes. I respect people on the No side but I am advocating for a Yes.

Folks, too many msgs from people saying they're disappointed or asking why I'm voting no. Short thread. I'm not wedded to ideology or my seat. I've voted on things I did not like before to be pragmatic & I knew casting a no vote here would lose me huge support in my ward. But /1  Hazel Chu (@hazechu) June 23, 2020

Among proposals agreed by party leaders is a commitment to an average 7% reduction in carbon emissions annually over the next decade.

Mr Ryan said while a two-thirds majority is a high bar to pass the programme for government, it would lead to a more united party.

He said he has not looked beyond Friday and no-one has agreed what will happen if the programme for government is rejected by the Green Party.

Asked if he would step down as leader if the deal is voted down by party members, he told RTE Morning Ireland: I havent looked beyond Friday afternoon. If it is not agreed, the wider political system will have to come up with some alternative  my focus will be on that first and foremost and the national interest.

The leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have said there is no plan B if the deal does not pass and they warned of a political crisis.

Mr Ryan said no-one has discussed or agreed what the alternative approach would be if the deal is rejected and working out an alternative would have to be a very rapid turnaround over the next weekend.
Sumi Sukanya Dutta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: After a brief decline in the surge of fresh coronavirus cases, the new daily cases reached a record number on Wednesday morning yet again with 15,968 cases detected within a day.

The daily death count in the preceding 24 hours was 465 taking the infection-related death toll in the country to 14, 476. India now has 4,56, 183 confirmed Covid-19 cases of whom 1,83, 022 are active and 2,58,685 have recovered.

Amid rising cases and no sign of abetment in the pandemic, the government, meanwhile, intensified its Covid-19 testing strategy.

Countrys nodal agency for the pandemic in the document Additional Strategies for Covid-19 Testing issued on Tuesday evening asked healthcare settings to start using antigen-based testing kits, in addition to the gold standard RTPCR test, to diagnose the disease in suspects.

The latest advisory said that all government and private medical colleges, government hospitals, accredited private hospitals, and diagnostic laboratories approved to do the testing should also use the antigen-based testing methods.

ALSO READ | First antigen based COVID-19 testing kit approved in India, expected to ramp up testing capacity manifold

On June 15, the apex health research agency had validated the first antigen-based testing kit in India that allowed infected patients to be diagnosed much faster, at lower rates of about Rs 400 per test, and without laboratory examinations of the samples.

So far antigen testing kit  which can detect the presence of molecules of the pathogen that triggers an immune response in an infected person  of only one private firm SD Biosensorhas been validated and was initially recommended for containment areas in containment zones and high-risk patients in hospitals.

The ICMR has said that the approved kit has a very high specificity (ability to detect true negatives) but moderate sensitivity (ability to detect true positives) because of which it can be used in combination with the RTPCR test which has very high sensitivity as well.

All labs/hospitals initiating testing through the rapid antigen test need to ensure that all symptomatic negative patients should be essentially referred to a real-time R-PCR test for Covid-19, says the latest advisory. This is particularly essential as the rapid antigen test has a moderate sensitivity.

The agency underlined that since the test, track and treat is the only way to prevent the spread of infection and save lives, it is imperative that testing should be made widely available to all symptomatic individuals in every part of the country and contact tracing mechanisms for containment of infection are further strengthened.

ICMR advises all concerned state governments, public and private institutions to take required steps to scale-up testing for Covid-19 by deploying a combination of various tests as advised.
Speaking in a state where coronavirus cases are surging enough to repeatedly set new daily infection records, President Donald Trump told a crowd of young Arizona supporters that everything was under control.

Someday itll be recognized by history, he said of his pandemic response while speaking at a campaign-style event at Dream City Church, hosted by the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA.

This is hopefully the end of the pandemic, Trump told an audience of about 3,000 college students, most of whom did not wear masks.

Theres little to indicate that. Arizona is one of several states that, with Trumps urging, followed an aggressive reopening schedule. Now its averaging about 2,500 new cases daily, a 94% increase from last Monday. Infections are rising in more than half of the U.S. states, with other alarming surges in Texas and Florida.

Hours before Trump made that prediction, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious diseases expert leading the countrys response to COVID-19, warned that the next couple of weeks are going to be critical in addressing surges in the worst-hit states.

But Trump didnt acknowledge the surges during his Arizona rally and repeated his claims that ramped-up testing protocols are making the pandemic look worse than it is in the U.S. He then boasted of the low mortality rate, despite the U.S. currently having the fourth-highest coronavirus death rate in the world, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Trump also returned to the same racist jokes hes made since the beginning of the pandemic, which has since claimed more than 120,000 lives in the U.S. so far.

COVID-19, I said thats an odd name, Trump said after calling the virus Wuhan, the name of the province where the virus was first reported, and kung flu, sending the young supporters into cheers.

This was Trumps second rally in the last week. On Saturday, his campaign proceeded with one in...

Continue reading on HuffPost
Donald Trump speaks during his campaign rally at BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma: AP

Donald Trump has claimed his niece is not allowed to publish her upcoming new book about the president, citing a reported nondisclosure agreement she signed over 20 years ago after suing him and his siblings.

The president spoke out about Mary Trumps forthcoming book, titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man, in an interview with Axios published on Sunday.

Shes not allowed to write a book, Mr Trump said about his niece. You know, when we settled with her and her brother, who I do have a good relationship with  shes got a brother, Fred, who I do have a good relationship with, but when we settled, she has a total ... signed a nondisclosure.

The new book, which was scheduled for release in late July, was expected to detail how the president and his siblings allegedly used tax dodges and loopholes while securing $413m from their fathers business empire after his death. Ms Trump was also expected to our herself as a major source in the New York Times investigation about the presidents financial and tax controversies.

Ms Trump sued the president in 2000, arguing that he and his siblings cut off medical coverage to her nephew after he was born with a rare neurological disorder, despite their father having allocated funds in his estate to cover the familys health insurance.

She slammed the president in an interview at the time, saying he and his siblings should have been ashamed of themselves while adding: Im sure they are not.

Mr Trump claimed the nondisclosure agreement his niece signed was a very powerful one that covers everything and would effectively restrict her from publishing the upcoming work.

The president also alleged he and his family members were shocked to find out Ms Trump was set to release a book.

I have a brother, Robert, very good guy, and hes  hes very angry about it, he said. But she signed a nondisclosure agreement and shes obviously not honouring it if she writes a book. Its too bad.

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According to Axios, the book will also reveal how Mr Trump allegedly dismissed and derided his father after he began falling ill due to Alzheimers. The president rejected those claims, claiming he always had a great relationship with his father.

He added: Thats a disgraceful thing to say.

The book was set for release just before the Republican National Convention. It has already topped the charts on Amazon, where it was available for pre-sale orders.

Read more

Trumps niece to reveal how she leaked family tax returns in new book
T-Mobile is now railing against Sprint merger conditions set by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on jobs and 5G, reports indicate. The company filed a petition with the organization, claiming not only that the requirements are invalid. But that CPUC doesnt have the authority to carry them forward and hasnt asked similar concessions from other carriers.

The companys petition with CPUC specifically addresses a requirement that it add 1,000 new employees in California. But it also claims that it cant meet the target date of 2024 with regard to ensuring 93-percent of the state has access to 300Mbps connections. And it goes further to claim that it should not be required to test its 5G network buildout through CalSPEED. T-Mobile is already subject to independent testing programs from the FCC and California Emerging Technology Fund.

Among T-Mobiles leading arguments against the provisions is the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The company indicates, for instance, that it could reach its targeted data speeds by 2026. Thats two years after the 2024 date it says was mistakenly set in the decision to allow its merger with Sprint. Ongoing global health concerns, the company notes, are causing significant economic disruption.

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The long term impacts of the disruption, it contends, will likely extend for several years. That makes the mandates, T-Mobile argues, infeasible and unwarranted.

T-Mobiles rally against CPUC follows reported jobs already lost

Now, T-Mobile already appears to be dramatically cutting jobs even before its filing with CPUC. According to recent reports stemming from a conference call made by T-Mobile vice president James Kirby, the company is already dismissing thousands of workers.

Thats all despite then chief executive John Legere claiming that the merger would create 11,000 new jobs by 2024 during proceedings. The $26-billion merger was approved back in February. And CPUC was effectively one of the last hold-outs stopping the merger from happening.

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Several concessions were ultimately made in the agreement reached by CPUC and T-Mobile, quite separately from the concessions made elsewhere. Among those other concessions, it promised to create thousands of jobs, open new localized service centers, and implement a 3-year freeze on service plan rates.

In Colorado, an additional set of promises was made too. Made as part of the deal to allow Dish Network to take over Sprints Boost Mobile, the company agreed to create 2,000 full-time positions in the state. And thats atop a promise that Dish would launch 5G service in Colorado before other states. That would have to run at least 100Mbps for at least 68 percent of the population.

In C0lorado, Dish was given three years. But T-Mobile expressly promised California that it would carry through on the terms it is now contesting.

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So what does T-Mobile want instead?

T-Mobile is expressly looking for relief from the jobs and 5G conditions set by CPUC when it agreed to allow the merger. That could ultimately help it cope with the ongoing pandemic but summarily land it in hot water elsewhere. If the CPUC agrees to new terms. But it is simultaneously arguing that CPUC doesnt have the authority to enforce its merger either.

The largest communications and media labor union in the United States has, in the interim, also begun to take notice. Communication Worker of America, the CWA, has been speaking out against the merger since the very beginning, in fact.

In a 2018 filing with the FCC, the CWA estimated that the merger would cost as many as 30,000 jobs. And it noted back in April that T-Mobile reportedly planned to close as many as 2,000 Metro by T-Mobile stores. Moreover, its been keeping tabs on jobs at Sprint headquarters in Kansas. The union says as many as 241 positions have already been cut.

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Conversely, T-Mobile says that its commitment to CPUC on jobs has not changed. It says that in three years the total number of T-Mobile employees in California will grow. And, specifically, that it will grow to at least as many as the combined total of Sprint and T-Mobile employees in the state as of the mergers closing. But the carrier will need to tread carefully here or it could easily become embroiled in a legal contest with both the union and CPUC.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 22:52:03|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Thai National police chief Pol. Gen. Chakthip Chaijinda confirmed Wednesday that a large pile of military weapons had been seized from a house in Thailand's western province of Tak bordering Myanmar.

The military weapons included 33 M16 and AK47 assault rifles, M79 grenade launchers, PK general-purpose machine guns, and a large amount of ammunition of different calibers, among others.

Chakthip said that two suspects had been apprehended but declined to give further detail as an investigation is underway.

"Thai intelligence reports have suggested that the weapons were meant for use by ill-intentioned elements," said the national police chief. "But I am unable to elaborate further for security reasons." Enditem
Senator Lamar Alexander on Tuesday on the Senate floor said, We should not try to erase our history. We should not try to pretend it doesn't exist, in response to an effort last night by a crowd to tear down President Andrew Jacksons statue in Lafayette Square in front of the White House:

Presidential historians almost without exception put Andrew Jackson in the top ten of America's presidents. They see him as a sophisticated, often subtle political actor who without his devotion to the union, against his own local political interests, the union might well have fallen apart in 1832 or 1833. Jackson wasn't born rich. He wasn't born to privilege. He fought for everything he had, and he rose to our government's highest office through the sheer force of personality and political courage. That is the case for Andrew Jackson.

Now, let us also recognize that Andrew Jackson was not perfect. In fact, he was at the center of the two original sins of this country  slavery and the treatment of Native Americans. But if we're looking for perfection, we're not likely to find it in American history or the history of almost any country or in human nature. What do we do about Thomas Jefferson, who only freed those slaves that he fathered with his slave mistress? What we do about George Washington and Mount Vernon, and the slaves that he owned? What do we do about Abraham Lincoln, who some people say was slow to act on emancipation? What about Franklin D. Roosevelt and his internment of Japanese-Americans in camps during World War Two?

What are we going to do about Congress  the senators and the members of the House? They approved the Trail of Tears  Andrew Jackson's removal of the Cherokees to Oklahoma. And they approved the laws requiring segregation. And what about the people who elected them to Congress? What are we going to do about us, the people of the United States?

Do we pretend we didn't exist during that history when decisions were made that we would not make today or we would not approve of today  some of which would be abhorrent today? Do we try to burn down all the monuments  burn down Mount Vernon, burn down the Jefferson Memorial? Do we try to erase all that from our history? That's not what we should do.

We should not try to erase our history. We should not try to pretend it doesn't exist. We shouldn't ignore our history. Doing any of this would be a terrible misunderstanding of American history and of human nature.

Here's what I think we should do. Number one, as I said earlier, recognize that it's always appropriate to review the places that we have named or the monuments that we've put up in the context of today's times. Number two, with a history that includes mistakes we today abhor, we should try to learn from those mistakes and build a better future.

Each year I bring onto the floor of the Senate teachers of American history. I take them to Jefferson Daviss desk, who resigned from the Senate and became president of the Confederacy. On that desk there is what looks like a chop mark. The story is that it was created by a Union soldier, who came into this chamber when the Union soldiers occupied Washington D.C. and began to destroy the desk until he was stopped by his commanding officer, who told him to stop because they were here to save the Union, not to destroy it. What should we do with Jefferson Daviss desk these days? I say keep it there. I say to learn from it  to learn from the fact that there was a Civil War, that there was a Confederacy, that senators left this body to join it, and that Union soldiers were here. There are lessons in American history. There are lessons that we should learn. The lesson of Ben Hooks  that were a work in progress. That weve come a long way, but weve got a long way to go. Or of Samuel Huntington, that most of our politics is about setting high goals for ourselves  all men are created equal  and then struggling with the disappointment of not really reaching those goals.

In his first inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln appealed to the better angels of our nature. If there are better angels of our nature, I guess that means there must be worse angels in us as well  not just in Washington and Jefferson and Jackson and Roosevelt and great men or great women  but in all of us are the better angels, and the worse angels. And in this country, our goal is to bring out the best in us, which does not mean ignore the worst. We need to be honest about our weaknesses. We need to be proud of our strengths. We need to learn from both to create a better future for the United States of America.

Click HERE for video of Senator Alexanders remarks.

Click HERE for a full transcript of Senator Alexanders remarks.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 00:47:45|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China will allocate a total of 3.5 billion yuan (about 495 million U.S. dollars) from the central budget to promote the building of the Hainan free trade port, the country's top economic planner said on Tuesday.

The fund will be used for infrastructure construction and public services improvements of the free trade port, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Targeted support will be offered to long-term projects, including monitoring facilities in comprehensive bonded zones, tourism-related infrastructure, as well as projects concerning epidemic prevention and control, said the NDRC.

Earlier this month, Chinese authorities released a master plan for the Hainan free trade port, which aims to build the southern island province into a globally-influential, high-level free trade port by the middle of the century.

A free trade port system, focusing on trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, will be "basically established" in Hainan by 2025, and become "more mature" by 2035. This is according to the plan, jointly issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council. Enditem
J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Initial Quality Study Ranks Hyundai Tucson and Veloster Tops in their Segments + Complete Ratings Index







SEE ALSO: Complete Study Results

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., June 24, 2020  The J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) ranked Hyundai Tucson as the best compact SUV in initial quality today. The Hyundai Veloster also earned the top score in the compact sporty car vehicle segment.

Additional vehicles in Hyundais lineup performed well, with Accent and Elantra both finishing second in their respective segments, while Santa Fe was third.

Barry Ratzlaff (left), chief customer officer, Hyundai Motor America and Omar Rivera, director, quality and service engineering, Hyundai Motor America accept J.D. Power IQS trophies for the Hyundai Tucson and Veloster.

Outperforming the best vehicles in a segment is always a major milestone for Hyundai, said Barry Ratzlaff, chief customer officer, Hyundai Motor America. These accomplishments are a testament to the entire companys dedication, including design, engineering, manufacturing, service, field teams and our dealer partners, to deliver the highest quality vehicles to our customers.

The 2020 U.S. Initial Quality Study is based on responses from 87,282 purchasers and lessees of new 2020 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study, which provides manufacturers with information to facilitate the identification of problems and drive product improvement, was fielded from February through May 2020.

The 2020 redesign marks the fifth generation of the study, which is now based on a 223-question battery organized into nine vehicle categories: infotainment; features, controls and displays; exterior; driving assistance (new for 2020); interior; powertrain; seats; driving experience; and climate.

For more information about the U.S. Initial Quality Study, visit http://www.jdpower.com/resource/us-initial-quality-study-iqs.

See the online press release at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2020070.

J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) Ranks Hyundai Tucson (left) and Veloster Tops in their Segments

Barry Ratzlaff (left), chief customer officer, Hyundai Motor America and Omar Rivera (right), director, quality and service engineering, Hyundai Motor America accept J.D. Power IQS trophies for the Hyundai Tucson and Veloster from Robert Mansfield (middle), senior director, global automotive, J.D. Power.

J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) Ranks Hyundai Tucson (left) and Veloster Tops in their Segments

J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) Ranks Hyundai Tucson and Veloster Tops in their Segments

The J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) ranked Hyundai Tucson as the best compact SUV in initial quality today.

The J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) ranked Hyundai Veloster as the best the compact sporty car in initial quality today.

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. These capabilities enable J.D. Power to help its clients drive customer satisfaction, growth and profitability. Established in 1968, J.D. Power has offices serving North America, Asia Pacific and Europe.

Hyundai Motor America At Hyundai Motor America, we believe everyone deserves better. From the way we design and build our cars to the way we treat the people who drive them, making things better is at the heart of everything we do. Hyundais technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assuranceour promise to create a better experience for customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 820 dealerships nationwide and nearly half of those sold in the U.S. are built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.
A recent survey shows how the stay-at-home lifestyle and the increasing dependency on mobile phones could alter consumers' shopping patterns. The Facebook and Boston Consulting Group found that digital influence could increase up to 70 per cent for mobiles, up to 60 per cent for apparel and up to 25 per cent for non-food consumer packaged goods (CPG) categories.

The report states that some of the trends are likely to stay beyond the coronavirus pandemic. The Facebook-BCG study found that 90 per cent of consumers who have purchased apparel online during the lockdown are willing to continue. This figure is 80 per cent for food-related and 84 per cent for non-food sub categories within CPG.

Consumers also intend to explore online channels a lot more to purchase smartphones, CPG and apparel in the coming six months, the study said. As much as 55 per cent intend to increase online spends for mobile phones in the next six months.

Nimisha Jain, MD and Partner at BCG said that they expect online sales market for mobile to touch 45 per cent in the next two years. As eight out of 10 consumers are now unwilling to go out, casualisation of wardrobes are likely to take place. Jain said that nearly one in two consumers plans to increase spend on health and immunity-related food. "70 per cent urban consumers for mobile and 55-60 per cent for apparel will be digitally influenced. It's critical that brands amp up their digital engagement and customise their proposition to win in the new normal," she said.

Also read: Indians watch over 5 hours of online video content per day, most in the world: survey

The report also mentioned that there are three kinds of consumer trends that have emerged making the smartphone more central to the lives of consumers -- bringing the outside in-home through virtual experiences, acceleration of past trends leading to stronger adoption of digital and online, and formation of new habits such as DIY.

Sandeep Bhushan, Director and Head, Global Marketing Solutions, Facebook India said, "We know that digital influence has significantly increased across the path-to-purchase - up to 70 per cent for some categories. We are now seeing businesses convert this increased digital influence into tangible business outcomes. A significant digital acceleration has happened on the back of social media, and with 400M+ Indians connected on the Facebook family of apps in India, we play a consequential role in the consumer journey."

Brands are also cashing in on the trend. For instance Samsung is aiming to target local consumers digitally, making purchasing of Samsung products easier as well as financial solutions. Asim Warsi, Senior Vice President, Samsung India, said, "As India's largest consumer electronics company, we have taken the onus to create new shopper journeys to aid physical distancing by leveraging our digital technologies with our deep retail presence in India. Facebook is our partner in this journey of helping our retail channel discover and target local consumers digitally. In addition, we have enabled consumers to purchase our mobile and electronic products online, whilst getting the deliveries offline from their neighborhood Samsung retail stores. Also, we are now delivering our financing solution - Samsung Finance+ - to the consumers' doorsteps. These digitally forward initiatives have helped us make a sharp recovery post lockdown."

Mondelez India is also looking at home-snacking as a priority segment. Anil Viswanathan, Director - Marketing (Chocolates), Mondelez India said, "At Mondelez India, we understand the role our products play in our consumers' life. While essential items continue to remain a key priority amongst consumers, in-home snacking has come to take precedence as part of the ritual of spending more time with family or with oneself. Amplified social media influence has also triggered a trend wherein homebound consumers are now increasingly looking at ways to indulge in or create at home moments and in doing so they are predominantly relying on trusted brands like Cadbury, Oreo, Tang etc., which represent superior quality and the assurance of safety amid these uncertain times."

Also read: Coronavirus in Delhi: Price cap on 60% of private hospital beds not enough
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

Trend:

Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) and Turkish Airlines came to a mutual agreement to carry out charter flights on Baku-Istanbul-Baku and Istanbul-Baku-Istanbul routes twice a week beginning from June 29, Trend reports.

The charter flights are arranged to simplify the return of Azerbaijani citizens staying in Turkey including students back to the country as well as the trips of Azerbaijani citizens to Turkey for various reasons.

Those citizens including students who stay in other countries and want to return to Azerbaijan, will be able to do so using opportunities of transit via Istanbul Airport.

Additional information about the flight dates, ticket prices, benefits envisioned for the students, and other requirements and conditions will be provided later.
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.
[June 24, 2020] McLennan Community College Selects the YuJa Enterprise Video Platform for Campus-Wide Lecture Capture and Video Management Solutions

YuJa Inc. formally announces the site-wide deployment of the YuJa Enterprise Video Platform at McLennan Community College to provide the college campus with lecture capture and video management tools. As a public community college located in Waco, Texas, McLennan Community College serves almost 9,000 students and has more than 700 employees. Deployment of the YuJa Enterprise Video Platform provides enterprise lecture capture capabilities, flexible video recording, and course content management supporting McLennan Community College's nursing program. Amidst COVID-19, these solutions also support McLennan Community College's aim to provide a painless transition to a complete online learning environment in the summer semester and a hybrid class fall semester. In September of 2019, YuJa visited the McLennan Community College campus to attend the 2019 MCC Innovation Symposium. The team discussed how McLennan Communit College uses innovative technology to supports its diverse student population. Following this event and an extensive pilot process, the YuJa Enterprise Video platform was selected for a site-wide, multi-year implementation.



"At YuJa, we deliver high-quality video experience that enrich the learning experience for both instructors and students," said Dr. Ajit Singh, Chief Executive Officer at YuJa Inc. "We are proud to serve forward-thinking institutions like McLennan Community College in providing scalable lecture capture solutions amidst the ongoing campus-wide transition to distance learning." About YuJa

YuJa is a leader in enterprise video solutions. Our products harness the power of video to educate, engage, inspire, and collaborate. We serve organizations of all sizes, within all sectors, including higher-ed, K-12, government, healthcare, non-profit and corporate delivering engaging video experiences. Our portfolio includes products for lecture capture, live streaming, video management, video conferencing, video test proctoring, digital asset management and enterprise accessibility. We have legal headquarters in Delaware with primary U.S. offices in Silicon Valley, California, and Canadian offices in Toronto. About McLennan Community College McLennan Community College is a public community college in McLennan County, Texas. Located in Waco, Texas, it opened in 1965. MCC now serves about 9,000 students and has more than 700 employees. It is governed by a Board of Trustees elected from single-member districts in the county. McLennan Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Arts in Teaching, and Associate of Applied Science degrees. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005246/en/

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- FN Media Group Presents Microsmallcap.com Market Commentary

NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The psychedelic drugs market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.3% over the next eight years to reach $6.85 billion by 2027 , according to Data Bridge Market Research. The key factors that will fuel this growth include the increasing prevalence of depression and other mental health disorders in the U.S. and oa growing acceptance of psychedelic drugs for the treatment of depression. The first psychedelic drug to gain FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation was Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE:JNJ) SPRAVATO (esketamine) nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression in March 2019 , and a handful of companies have since followed suit. Numinus Wellness Inc. (TSXV:NUMI) (OTCPK:LKYSD) recently became the first publicly-traded company in Canada to be granted a licence by Health Canada to conduct research to standardize the extraction of psilocybin from mushrooms. Meanwhile, Mota Ventures Corp. (OTCPK:PEMTF) (CSE:MOTA) is entering the psychedelic drug market through the acquisition of European psychedelic medicine company Verrian Ontario Ltd. Even Big Pharma giant AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) recently gained a stake in the psychedelic drugs market through the acquisition of Allergan PLC . However, it appears that pure-play psychedelic medicine company Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. (NEO:MMED) (OTCQB:MMEDF) is a front-runner with multiple novel therapies moving through clinical trials.

Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. (NEO:MMED) (OTCQB:MMEDF), a neuro-pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and deploys psychedelic-inspired medicines, has continued to make serious headway with its psychedelic-inspired medicines. MindMed has a total of six clinical trials ongoing or being prepared that are based on psychedelic substances including LSD, MDMA, and Ayahuasca's active ingredient DMT. MindMed is planning to initiate a later stage Phase 2b clinical trial of LSD for anxiety.

On June 24, the company announced that it is creating technologies that seek to personalize and optimize the dosing of MDMA, LSD and other psychedelics for patients. In collaboration with its R&D partner University Hospital Basel, two separate patent applications were filed that cover MDMA dose optimization and LSD dose-response.

Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. (MMED.AQN) (MMEDF.QB) possesses the world's leading collection of human safety data and pharmacokinetics for both MDMA and LSD. The company previously acquired the worldwide exclusive license to the leading collection of human safety data and pharmacokinetics on both substances from the University Hospital Basel, which is based on over 10 years of scientific research.

Psychedelic Medicines Move Towards the Mainstream

It may have been Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) that kickstarted psychedelic medicines' move into the mainstream when its Ketamine-like drug treatment for severe depression was handed FDA approval , but Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. is gaining serious momentum in its drug developments.

Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. (MMED.AQN) (MMEDF.QB) became the only pure-play publicly-traded North American psychedelics company to conduct Phase 2 trials on a psychedelic compound in May after it signed a clinical trial agreement with Maastricht University to conduct a Phase 2a clinical trial for LSD in adult patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is expected to begin recruitment of patients by the end of the year.

Meanwhile in Canada, Vancouver-based healthcare company Numinus Wellness Inc. (TSXV:NUMI) (OTC:LKYSD) is gearing up to produce and extract naturally sourced, sustainable psilocybin for medical research purposes after receiving Health Canada approval earlier this month. The regulatory approval will allow Numinus to proceed with the production of naturally-sourced psilocybin from mushrooms for research purposes to support psychedelic-assisted therapy and research at lower costs than the currently-produced synthetic psilocybin. The company is not involved in the clinical trial space.

Mota Ventures Corp. (OTCPK:PEMTF) (CSE:MOTA) is the most recent addition to the psychedelic medicine space. The acquisition of Verrian Ontario will provide the company with renowned addiction medicine experts, R&D facilities and a 110,000 square foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Radebeul, Germany.

Increasing Prevalence of Depression and Mental Disorders Fuel Psychedelic Drug Market

An estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year and roughly 17.3 million adults in the US have had at least one major depressive episode. At the same time, an estimated 40 million adults in the US have anxiety disorders. Those numbers are only expected to increase due to the after-effects of the global pandemic, creating even more urgency for treatments that work.

In 2012, the FDA introduced its Breakthrough Therapy designation to expedite the development and review of drugs where preliminary clinical evidence demonstrates they could provide a substantial improvement over available therapies for serious or life-threatening diseases. Last year, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to two psilocybin-based drug s to treat the major depressive disorder (MDD).

AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) gained the rights to a novel psychedelic-based treatment for MDD when it acquired Allergan, but it's unclear if the company will relaunch R&D on the ketamine-derived drug rapastinel. Although the drug failed to meet its primary endpoint for the treatment of MDD in three acute pivotal studies, a separate study revealed that it could help combat opioid addiction, a common side effect of antidepressants. According to research conducted by an undergraduate at Villanova University, rapastinel substantially reversed acute signs of opioid withdrawal in rats in just three days.

Apart from its ADHD and opioid addiction therapies, Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. (MMED.AQN) (MMEDF.QB) is also hoping to provide an alternative treatment for the 40 million Americans suffering from anxiety with the recently launched Project Lucy . The commercial drug development program for the treatment of anxiety disorders is the first experiential, psychedelic-assisted therapy to be added to the company's drug development pipeline. MindMed plans to initiate a Phase 2b human trial that will focus on experiential doses of LSD administered by a therapist and has established a task force to prepare a briefing package for opening an Investigational New Drug (IND) with the US FDA.

To learn more about Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. (NEO:MMED) (OTCQB:MMEDF), click here .

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Tennessee passes heartbeat abortion ban; ACLU, Planned Parenthood filing lawsuit

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Tennessees legislature passed a law that would ban most abortions done when a heartbeat is detected in an unborn baby, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.

The Tennessee Senate passed Senate Bill 1236 last Friday, in a vote of 23-5. Earlier this year, the legislation had passed the state House of Representatives in a vote of 65-21, with 7 not voting.

The legislation also prohibits an abortion based on the sex, race, or disability status of an unborn child; both this and heartbeat ban include certain exceptions, namely if the mother has a major medical emergency.

Governor Bill Lee has expressed his intention to sign the bill, taking to his official Twitter account to profess his support for the strongest pro-life law in our states history.

One of the most important things we can do to be pro-family is to protect the rights of the most vulnerable in our state, and there is none more vulnerable than the unborn, tweeted Lee last Friday.

Republican State Senator Dolores Gresham of Somerville, one of the sponsors of the legislation, said in a statement the legislation showed that Tennessee is a state that values life.

This comprehensive, life-affirming legislation prohibits abortion once a heartbeat has been detected. I am very pleased it has been passed to protect those who are unable to speak for themselves, said Gresham, as reported by lifenews.com.

I also appreciate the work done by our Senate Judiciary Committee in helping get the bill in the best shape possible to move forward.

The American Civil Liberties Union, along with the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, have sued to block the legislation even before Lee signs it into law.

Anjali Dalal, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, said in a statement released Friday that she considered the bill blatantly unconstitutional and claimed that it disproportionately harms Black and Brown people.

 these politicians are more interested in furthering an anti-abortion agenda than in serving their constituents. The ability to get an abortion must not depend on where you live or how much money you make, stated Dalal.

Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president and CEO of Planned Parenthood claimed that Tennessee was exploiting the fear and uncertainty of a global pandemic to push their cruel anti-abortion agenda.

This opportunistic attack on our reproductive rights, passed in the middle of the night under the cover of darkness, will disproportionately impact Black Tennesseans due to systemic oppression, she argued.

We wont stand for this, and we are going to do everything possible to fight back against this extremely harmful law.

Last year, multiple states, including Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Ohio, passed laws that banned abortions when a fetal heartbeat was detected, with some medical exemptions.

These measures frequently have been legally challenged and have often lost in the courts, with judges blocking the measures from taking effect due to them being considered de facto abortion bans.
Michigans attorney general has 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-kilometer) 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 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.

EPA Fines

Federal regulators also have fined Enbridge $6.7 million for allegedly failing to quickly fix other pipeline safety issues.

Enbridge said that the Alberta, Canada-based company has settled with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and agreed to pay the fines, levied in May.

Regulators alleged that Enbridge violated a 2017 consent decree. Among other things, the EPA said Enbridge neglected to properly evaluate thousands of shallow dents on its Lakehead Pipeline System, which runs across northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

According to an EPA letter, just over $3 million of the fines involved Enbridges failure to repair or mitigate small dents that showed indications of metal loss and cracking.

Mike Koby, Enbridges vice president U.S. liquids operations, told the Star Tribune the company and the EPA disagreed over the nature of the small dents. However, Koby said Enbridge did further pipeline integrity assessments to address the agencys concerns.

There were never any safety or pipeline integrity concerns, Koby said.

Enbridge signed a consent decree in 2017 with the U.S. Justice Department to resolve claims from a massive oil spill in Michigan and another pipeline leak in Illinois, both in 2010. The company paid $177 million and pledged to improve pipeline safety under that agreement.

Enbridge said it reports compliance issues to EPA, and that most of the recent fines relate to self-reporting and were administrative in nature.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics USA Michigan Pollution
Washington

Senior law enforcement officials intervened to seek a more lenient prison sentence for President Donald Trump's friend and ally Roger Stone for political reasons, a former prosecutor on the case is expected to testify before Congress on Wednesday, citing his immediate supervisor's account of the matter.

"What I heard  repeatedly  was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the president," said the prosecutor, Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, in a written opening statement submitted Tuesday to the House Judiciary Committee ahead of Wednesday's hearing.

Zelinsky will say that a supervisor working on the case told him there were "political reasons" to shorten prosecutors' initial sentencing guidelines and that the supervisor agreed that doing so "was unethical and wrong." Zelinsky said he and other prosecutors raised concerns in writing and in conversation.

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.

Zelinsky did not say in his written statement whom he was referring to. Attorney General William Barr directed the intervention after he ousted the Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and installed in her place as acting U.S. attorney a close aide from his own office, Timothy Shea.

Zelinsky plans to say he was told Shea was under "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." Zelinsky is expected to testify that he and other prosecutors were told they could lose their jobs if they did not fall in line.
Tyler Borchardt (left) waves while maintaining social distance after dropping off some provisions for Justin Donahue (right) who is isolating at home. Visitors from certain southern states must self-quarantine for 14 days before visiting New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, the governors announced Wednesday. Read more

The governors of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut are requiring a 14-day quarantine for anyone traveling into their states from areas with a high level of community spread of the coronavirus.

As the United States continues to reopen its economy, the countrys daily new case totals remain stubbornly high.

The three states announcing the quarantine were particularly hard hit by the coronavirus early in the pandemic and are attempting to prevent future spikes as their infection rates decline.

But what exactly does this new order mean, and how will it be enforced?

When does the quarantine go into effect?

The first restrictions went into place June 25, and states affected have been added or removed as infection rates improve or worsen.

What qualifies as an area with a high level of community spread'?

The quarantine applies to people arriving to New Jersey, New York, or Connecticut from states where the rolling seven-day average of new cases is at 10 or more people per 100,000, or 10% of those tested are positive.

New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will continually update and publish on their websites a list of states to which the new advisory applies.

The quarantine applies to both visitors and residents of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.

What if I have to travel to one of the states for work?

People who live in New Jersey but work in Delaware, which has been designated as a high-risk, quarantine-required state at times, may be worried. However, the states have offered exemptions for essential workers in transient jobs, like truck drivers and airline workers, and residents traveling to impacted states for business. Still, officials are encouraging those who can to postpone the travel or work from home.

Individuals traveling for business should still consider postponing travel to the extent possible. Individuals are encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms upon return from any travel to an impacted state, and employers should consider screening employees for symptoms before permitting them to return to work, a spokesperson for Murphys office said.

How will this be enforced?

Enforcement appears mostly to be on the individual.

The tri-state measure will focus on personal responsibility using uniform parameters and messaging on highways, airports, websites and social media across the three states, the governors said in a news release. Hotels will also be asked to communicate the 14-day quarantine to guests who have traveled from one of the impacted states.

Gov. Phil Murphy said that New Jersey would not be setting up checkpoints along the states borders but that the Department of Health would pursue cases of noncompliance if it become aware of them.

Murphy did not directly answer whether violators would face fines.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said violators could face a judicial order that could include mandatory quarantine and fines of up to $10,000. People would not be barred from entering at state borders, Cuomo said, but would be asked to quarantine once they arrive.

What qualifies as self-quarantine and where must it take place?

Self-quarantine means staying home and not having visitors for 14 days, which provides enough time for people to know whether they will become ill and be contagious to others. The quarantine must begin as soon as the person arrives.

Murphy also urged residents to get tested for the virus before entering the state, though it is not a requirement.

How long will the quarantine rule be in effect?

The governors didnt say how long the requirement would be in place.

 READ MORE: What are we supposed to do about public bathrooms?

Why did the governors make this requirement?

Many states are seeing their coronavirus case numbers skyrocket. After their states were hit hard by the virus, the three governors say they are trying to prevent a resurgence of cases.

Our three states are among only four listed as being close to containing this virus, Murphy said during a press briefing. Weve gotten to where we are through shared sacrifice.

We welcome everyone to New Jersey, but we simply ask you to join us in our shared sacrifice to keep ourselves moving in the right direction, Murphy said.

Staff writer Allison Steele contributed to this article.
Minister calls for forest protection and management efforts

Central Highlands localities need to raise the responsibility among forest owners and management to improve protection and development of the areas.







Authorised forces of ak Lak Province found trees illegally cut down in a forest area in Krong Ana District last November





Thats according to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong who was addressing a conference on forestry management and production in the Central Highlands by the Steering Committee on the National Target Programme on Sustainable Forestry Development, held in Buon Ma Thuot City of ak Lak Province on Monday.



Agencies have been asked to draft a strategy on the development of the forestry sector for the next ten years.



The region is home to nearly 2.6 million ha of forest, or 17.5 per cent of Viet Nams total. The region's forestry coverage increased to 45.9 per cent last year.



The region boasts great potential for forestry-based economic development as it plays an important role in protecting the local ecosystem, biodiversity and water resources, and regulating the climate for not only regional localities but also the central coastal, southeastern and Mekong Delta regions.



However, reports from the regional localities revealed a strong decline of forest area and quality.



Areas of natural forests have been on the decline, reducing by 15,750 ha in 2019 alone. The three provinces seeing the heaviest fall in the year were ak Lak, ak Nong and Gia Lai.



The region has also recorded an increasing number of deforestation cases, and illegal exploitation, trading, and transportation of forest products, especially in border areas, special-use forests, nature reserve areas, and areas with abundant forest resources.



In 2019 and the first five months of 2020, the Central Highlands provinces discovered 1,309 cases of deforestation, 644 cases of illegal forest exploitation, and 2,120 illegally trading cases of forest products.



The contradiction between the rising need to develop food production, long-term industrial trees, and nature conservation, biodiversity, along with free migration are major issues that are putting pressure on the natural forest and forest land, according to General Director of the Vietnam Administration of Forestry Nguyen Quoc Tri.



Meanwhile, local authorities in some areas have yet fulfilled their responsibilities in forest protection and management and there was a lack of cooperation among relevant agencies and ministries in forest protection, he said.



The change of forest use purpose in a number of localities is also not strictly controlled.



Vice chairman of ak Lak Provinces Peoples Committee Y Giang Gry Nie Knong, said the decline of natural forest area in the province was mainly blamed for increasing deforestation.



The provincial authorities had asked relevant agencies to regularly inspect forests at high risk of deforestation and strictly punish violators, he said.



General director Tri said Central Highlands provinces aimed to protect all of the existing natural forest areas in a bid to raise combined areas to 2.72 million ha and increase forestry coverage to 49.2 per cent of the region's total area by 2030.



He asked localities to take measures to prevent and handle violations, particularly deforestation, forest land encroachment, illegal forest exploitation and illegal trade of forest products.



The sector would also review and build special forestry mechanisms and policies for the Central Highlands region towards encouraging the formation of the community-based forest management, creating conditions for local citizens to join forest protection and development.



It was also necessary to speed up the decentralisation of forest management responsibilities and increase cooperation among relevant ministries and agencies in forest protection and management, he said.



The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development asked authorities of Central Highlands provinces to take measures to create jobs and stabilise living conditions for local citizens to promptly deal with free migration issue as part of measures to better protect and manage forests.
Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon was excited to begin shooting for her ambitious project Mimi when the lockdown was announced in March in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. Three months later, the director of the film suggests that she may have to wait a little longer. Though the Maharashtra government has issued guidelines and, in effect, allowed shootings in a statement released on May 31 itself, director Lakshman Utekar he does not want to go to sets in hurry, due to safety concerns.

Lakshman told Mid Day in an interview, We have close to five days shoot left, including the filming of a song and some scenes. But we dont plan to resume shoot anytime soon. The number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra is increasing with every passing day. Unless that comes under control, I dont want to call my team on the set.

Portions of the film have already been shot and the director had recently told PTI, We have one introductory song left to be shot with Kriti. We have actors from the UK as part of the song and we wont be able to shoot the song till the time the international flights are inactive.

Also read: When Sushant Singh Rajput said he feared death: To not know who you are is slightly scary

Kriti put on 15 kilos to play a pregnant woman in Laxman Utekars Mimi, said that gaining weight was quite challenging for her. About gaining weight for her role, Kriti had recently told IANS, We had to shoot the pregnancy scenes and Laxman sir was very clear that it was necessary to gain weight for those scenes because he didnt want the character to have a chiseled face. Since I have a high-metabolism, I knew this was going to be a task for me. I knew I had to increase my appetite and calorie intake, so I completely stopped working out, even yoga! I used to have poori-halwa-chana as breakfast and sweets after every meal. Though I enjoyed initially, later I had to force myself to eat as I had lost interest in food. In fact, when I used to not feel hungry, I used to eat a cheese slice.

An adaptation of Marathi movie Mala Aai Vhhayachy (2011), Mimi also stars Pankaj Tripathi and Sai Tamhankar. The film narrates the story of a young aspiring actress who is a dancer in Mandawa and how she ends up being a surrogate for a couple.

Mimi was scheduled to hit the theatres in July, but the film will have to be postponed. We dont have a clear picture about when we will be able to shoot the song, when the post-production will begin. The release date will be pushed for sure, Lakshman had said.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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Education Minister Dan Tehan is convening a high-powered group of vice-chancellors to devise a new way of funding university research as the sector confronts a broken model that has relied on revenue from international and domestic students.

After announcing a major overhaul of government funding and student fees last week, Mr Tehan has acknowledged that the sustainability of university research activity needs to be addressed as revenue dries up, threatening a significant number of projects and jobs.

Education Minister Dan Tehan says the sustainability of research funding needs to be addressed. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"One of the things I'm looking to do is establish a small group of vice-chancellors to work with me on this next challenge," Mr Tehan told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

The panel, which would likely include about five university leaders, is set be finalised shortly. They would be drawn from across the sector and lead consultation on a new way to fund research.
A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere has remanded two cousins, Olamilekan Oke, 33, and Akande Adeyinka, 27, at the Ikoyi correctional centre, over alleged rape and murder of Bernadette, 44, the Hungarian wife of Gildas Tohouo-Tohouo, the managing director of Maersk Nig. Ltd.

The duo were arraigned before Justice Modupe Nico-Clay, who remanded them after they had taken their plea. The defendants are facing eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, unlawful assault, robbery, armed robbery, and rape, preferred against them by Lagos state government.

The Lagos state prosecuting counsel Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who led the Director of Public Prosecution DPP, Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi, told the court that the defendants conspired to commit the alleged offences on December 8, 2019.

READ ALSO  MAERSK MD Battles For Life After Robbery Attack

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He said that the incident took place at about 7:30 pm at flat 7A, No 1, Lugard Avenue Ikoyi Lagos. Onigbanjo said Olamileka, on December 8, 2019, at about 7: 30pm, unlawfully had sexual intercourse with Bernadetta,

The prosecutor further told the court that the defendants unlawfully killed her by suffocating her to death with a small pillow. Onigbanjo SAN, said that the duo also attempted to unlawfully kill the husband by stabbing him severally on the neck, head and back with a knife and dagger.

Onigbanjo told the court that the defendants robbed them of several properties. However, the defendants who are technician and printer respectively pleaded not guilty to the charge against them. Consequently, Justice Nico-Clay, adjourned the case till June 30, for trial.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, RUSSIA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A BREACH OF THE RELEVANT SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or offering memorandum or an offer in relation to any securities of First Sentinel Plc or of any other entity and should not be considered as a recommendation that any person should subscribe for or purchase any such securities.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU No. 596/2014) ("MAR"). Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain and shall therefore cease to be inside information.

24 June 2020

First Sentinel plc

("First Sentinel" or the "Company")

Notice of further guidelines on the 2020 Annual General Meeting

First Sentinel would like to confirm that the Company's Annual General Meeting ("AGM"), despite the easing of lockdown measures from 4 July as announced by HM Government on 23 June 2020, will still take place at 72 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 4QQ, United Kingdom, on Tuesday, 30 June 2020, commencing at 3.00pm as scheduled.

Due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health guidance, First Sentinel urges shareholders to submit their Forms of Proxy, to ensure they can vote and be represented at the AGM, without the need to attend in person. Given the current restrictions on attendance, shareholders are encouraged to appoint the chairman of the meeting as their proxy rather than a named person who might not be permitted to attend the meeting, given the continued restrictions on people from different households meeting. The formal instruction on how to appoint a proxy is described in Appendix 1 of this notice.

In light of delays caused by COVID-19, Companies House and AQUIS Stock Exchange have granted extensions to the Company in relation to filing its accounts. First Sentinel will convene a further General Meeting as soon as the respective report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2019 are available, which we expect to hold in July 2020. Accordingly, Resolution no. 1 and Resolution no. 2 of the Notice of the AGM of the Company will not be submitted to vote by the shareholders.

About First Sentinel

First Sentinel is an alternative investment company, registered with the FCA as a small authorised UK AIFM, which provides growth capital for public and private company investments. First Sentinel invests in a range of debt and equity instruments in target portfolio companies.

The Company's website is www.first-sentinel.com

-

For further corporate information, please contact:

Mr. Brian Stockbridge

CEO

First Sentinel Plc

Tel: + 44 (0) 7876 888 011

AQSE Corporate Advisor

Beaumont Cornish Limited

James Biddle / Roland Cornish

Tel: +44(0)20 7628 3396

Appendix 1

Instructions on Appointment of Proxies

Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of their rights to attend and to speak and vote on their behalf at the AGM. A shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the AGM provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different ordinary share or ordinary shares held by that shareholder. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. A form of proxy which may be used to make such appointment and give proxy instructions accompanies this Notice (Appendix 2).

The appointment of the proxy may specify the proportion or the number of votes that the proxy may exercise. Where the appointment does not specify the proportion or number of the shareholder's votes each proxy may exercise, then the proxy is deemed to be authorised for the whole of the shareholder's holding (or in the case of a shareholder with designated accounts, the whole of the holding in the designated account).

Your proxy must vote as you instruct and must attend the Meeting for your vote to be counted. If a proxy is not directed how to vote on an item of business the proxy may vote, or abstain from voting, as they think fit. A proxy shall have authority to demand or join in demanding a poll at the Meeting. Should any resolution, other than those specified in this Notice of Meeting, be proposed at the Meeting, a proxy may vote on that resolution as they think fit. If a proxy is instructed to abstain from voting on an item of business, they are directed not to vote on the shareholder's behalf on the poll and the shares that are the subject of the proxy appointment will not be counted in calculating the required majority.

Completed Proxy Forms should be sent to Neville Registrars Limited at Neville House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8HD. To be effective, proxy forms must be received by Neville Registrars Limited, Neville House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8HD by 3.00pm (UK time) on 28 June 2020. Proxy forms received after this time will be invalid.

The Proxy Form must be signed by the shareholder or the shareholder's attorney. A Proxy Form must be completed by, or on behalf of, the shareholder making the appointment. A corporation may execute a Proxy Form either under its common seal or under the hand of a duly authorised officer(s). Where the appointment of a proxy is signed by the appointer's attorney, a certified copy of the power of attorney, or the power itself, must be received by Neville Registrars Limited (as appropriate) by 3.00pm, 28 June 2020.

If you do not have a form of proxy and believe that you should have one, or if you require additional forms, please contact our Registrar, Neville Registrars Limited, by calling the helpline on 0121 585 1131. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00 (excluding UK public holidays).

In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint a proxy, only the appointment submitted by the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which the names of the joint holders appear in the Company's register of members in respect of the joint holding (the first named being the most senior).

Shareholders who return a Proxy Form will still be able to attend the AGM and vote in person if they so wish. If you attend the AGM in person and vote, then your proxy appointment will automatically be terminated.

Appointment of proxies through CREST

CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies by utilising the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so for the meeting and any adjournment(s) of it by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual (available via www.euroclear.com). CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a voting service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf.

For a proxy appointment or instructions made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a CREST Proxy Instruction) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited's (EUI) specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or is an amendment to the instruction given to a previously appointed proxy, must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by Neville Registrars Limited (ID: 7RA11) no later than 3.00pm on 28 June 2020, or, in the event of an adjournment of the meeting, 48 hours before the adjourned meeting. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Applications Host) from which the issuer's agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After this time, any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means.

CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that EUI does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular message. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or sponsored member, or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that his/her CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings. The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

Appointment of proxies electronically

As an alternative to completing the hard copy form of proxy, you can appoint a proxy electronically online at www.sharegateway.co.uk and completing the authentication requirements as set out on the form of proxy. For an electronic proxy appointment to be valid, your appointment must be received by Neville Registrars Limited, Neville House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8HD by 3.00pm (UK time) on 28 June 2020.

Changing proxy instructions

Shareholders may change proxy instructions by submitting a new proxy appointment using the methods set out above. Note that the cut-off time for receipt of proxy appointments also apply in relation to amended instructions; any amended proxy appointment received after the relevant cut-off time will be disregarded.

Where you have appointed a proxy using the hard-copy proxy form and would like to change the instructions using another hard-copy proxy form, please contact Neville Registrars Limited.

If you submit more than one valid proxy appointment, the appointment received last before the latest time for the receipt of proxies will take precedence.

Appendix 2

Proxy Form

Proxy Form

Annual General Meeting 2020 of First Sentinel plc

Before completing this form, please read the explanatory notes below

I/We appoint the Chairman of the meeting, or the following person:

as my/our proxy to attend, speak and vote for me/us and on my/our behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held at 3pm on 30 June 2020, and at any adjournment thereof.

I/We direct that my/our vote(s) be cast on the specified resolutions as indicated by an 'X'. If no indication is given, my/our proxy will vote or abstain from voting at his or her discretion and I/we authorise my/our proxy to vote (or abstain from voting) as he or she thinks fit in relation to any other matter which is put before the meeting.

Resolutions For Against Vote Withheld 1 To re-elect Brian Stockbridge as a Director. 2 To re-elect Aimee Ayn Freeding as a Director. 3 To appoint MAH Professional Services Limited as auditor of the Company to hold office until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company. 4 To authorise the Audit Committee to determine the Auditor's remuneration.

Signature Date

Please tick here if this proxy appointment is one of multiple appointments being made:

NOTES TO THE PROXY FORM

1. Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of their rights to attend and to speak and vote on their behalf at the AGM.

2. A shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the AGM provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different ordinary share or ordinary shares held by that shareholder. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company.

3. A form of proxy which may be used to make such appointment and give proxy instructions accompanies this Notice.

4. The appointment of the proxy may specify the proportion or the number of votes that the proxy may exercise. Where the appointment does not specify the proportion or number of the shareholder's votes each proxy may exercise, then the proxy is deemed to be authorised for the whole of the shareholder's holding (or in the case of a shareholder with designated accounts, the whole of the holding in the designated account).

5. Your proxy must vote as you instruct and must attend the Meeting for your vote to be counted.

6. If a proxy is not directed how to vote on an item of business the proxy may vote, or abstain from voting, as they think fit. A proxy shall have authority to demand or join in demanding a poll at the Meeting.

7. Should any resolution, other than those specified in this Notice of Meeting, be proposed at the Meeting, a proxy may vote on that resolution as they think fit.

8. If a proxy is instructed to abstain from voting on an item of business, they are directed not to vote on the shareholder's behalf on the poll and the shares that are the subject of the proxy appointment will not be counted in calculating the required majority.

9. Completed Proxy Forms should be sent to Neville Registrars Limited at Neville House, 18 Laurel Lane, Halesowen, B63 3DA.

10. To be effective, proxy forms must be received by Neville Registrars Limited at Neville House, 18 Laurel Lane, Halesowen, B63 3DA by 4.00pm (UK time) on 28 June 2019.

11. Proxy forms received after this time will be invalid.

12. The Proxy Form must be signed by the shareholder or the shareholder's attorney. A Proxy Form must be completed by, or on behalf of, the shareholder making the appointment. A corporation may execute a Proxy Form either under its common seal or under the hand of a duly authorised officer(s). Where the appointment of a proxy is signed by the appointer's attorney, a certified copy of the power of attorney, or the power itself, must be received by Neville Registrars Limited (as appropriate) by 4.00pm, 28 June 2019.

13. In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint a proxy, only the appointment submitted by the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which the names of the joint holders appear in the Company's register of members in respect of the joint holding (the first named being the most senior).

14. Shareholders who return a Proxy Form will still be able to attend the AGM and vote in person if they so wish. If you attend the AGM in person and vote, then your proxy appointment will automatically be terminated.
I think the burning and the looting, destroying the buildings was a bad thing, said Lamone Jacobs, 49, a janitor from Minneapolis, who said he has had trouble getting to and from work because of the protests and worries that people will vandalize his home. It diverted it from the message.  I know what the officers did was bad and all that, but [the protesters] didnt need to do anything like that. Sprinkling fear all over things isnt going to help.
Blue Wall is the term used to describe the US states that have been consistently voting for the Democratic Party in the US presidential elections. The wall currently consists of 16 states.

The Democratic Party is generally more liberal than the Republican Party, which would make these states seem more progressive. It leans more towards the left side of the political spectrum, and advocates for a large number of issues that fall under this spectrum. Some of these include social and economic equality, environmental protection, affordable education, universal health care, equal opportunities for everyone, and many more.

When looking at social issues, the party is a strong advocate of LGBT rights, stricter gun laws, the legalization of marijuana, and the reform of immigration and the criminal justice system. It comes as no surprise that the leading country in the Blue Wall is California, seeing as how liberal the state is. The opposing term to the Blue Wall is the Red Wall, which refers to the states where the Republican Party continues to win the majority of the votes in elections. Both of these terms refer to the colors we most commonly associate with each party.

The Walls

Both the term Blue Wall and Red Wall, have had exceptions in recent history. For example, during the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, managed to secure a win in three blue wall states. These states were Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. This was a huge upset, and one of the reasons he managed to win the election. People were certain that Hillary Clinton would manage to win in these states purely based on the fact that they always voted for the Democratic Party.

People were certain that Hillary Clinton would manage to win in these states purely based on the fact that they always voted for the Democratic Party. Image credit: stocklight / Shutterstock.com

On the other hand, Barack Obama managed to win in many Republican (Red Wall) states in the 2008 election, which was another year that made an exception to the rule. His win was more dominant than Trumps because the Red Wall states generally represent a smaller portion of the electoral votes than the Blue Wall states. While this shows how both of these terms can easily lose value, it also notes that the Blue Wall is generally much more impactful than its Republican counterpart, and plays a much more vital role in the election.

The States Of the Blue Wall

Currently, 16 states are considered to be a part of the Blue Wall. The majority of people in these states have been voting for the Democratic Party for quite a few years now.

Some of the more notable states on the list are California, New York, Illinois, and Washington, DC. These states continue to vote for the Democratic Party, and it is not hard to see why that is the case. All of these states have large metropolitan areas that are populated by diverse groups of people. It is to be expected that people living in these states would showcase more liberal views than the majority of other states.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who is campaigning for a 2020 presidential bid, speaks to supporters at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2019, Los Angeles, CA. Image credit: YASAMIN JAFARI TEHRANI / Shutterstock.com

In Vermont, the Democratic Party has an advantage of 22% over the Republicans, which is more than enough to secure a win. Vermont is also the state where Bernie Sanders hails from, which might explain his more progressive views. Hawaii is another state where the Democrats enjoy a nice advantage over the Republicans. Seeing as how diverse the population of the state is, it makes sense that they would vote this way.

Another extremely progressive state is Rhode Island. According to research, people in Rhode Island are not conservative at all, and the victory of the Democratic Party in this state is considered to be secured in every election. Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, and Delaware all follow as strongholds of everything that symbolizes the Democratic Party. Most of the voters in all of these states are registered as Democrats, and the number of Republican Party supporters is significantly lower.
Uttarakhand forest department authorities are planning not to cremate elephants killed by tigers in Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) and instead allow them to feed on pachyderm carcasses.

The department will send this proposal to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) soon, said forest officials.

There are over 250 tigers and 1,035 elephants in the Corbett landscape, the officials said.

Rahul (who goes by his first name), director, CTR, said many elephants get killed in tigers attacks in Corbett.

The existing norms stipulate that elephants killed by tigers have to be cremated after their autopsy is done. But the rules are akin to snatching the kill of tigers. Usually, if a tiger hunts a deer, chital, we dont do their post-mortem examination. We allow the carcasses to be left in forests for tigers to feed on them, he said.

We will send a proposal to NTCA soon to allow us not to cremate these elephants for tigers to feast on them. The reserve has 260 tigers, who could do with elephant meat. An abundance of the availability of food will also prevent the animals from infighting, he said.

AG Ansari, a Ramnagar-based wildlife activist, lauded the Corbett authorities move.

If a tiger has killed an elephant inside Corbett, its body should be left in the forest as it has been preyed upon. Tigers are deprived of food because of cremation of pachyderms, he said.

However, its important to protect a dead elephants tusks. Officials can monitor the kill site through cameras in a bid to ensure that poachers dont smuggle out the dead elephants tusks, he said.

A study conducted last year on wildlife deaths due to infighting in CTA had found that 21 elephants, including 13 calves, had died in the past five years.

Though elephant calves were killed by tigers, no tiger was killed by pachyderms.

Corbett officials said that tigers like elephant meat and have been found feasting on carcasses of elephants, who have died due to infighting.

Unlike lions, who hunt in packs, tigers are solo operators. A tiger may find it challenging to attack an elephant herd, segregate the calves, and then prey on one of the animals.

However, the study has found that in three cases, two tigers had killed elephant calves.
The US Coast Guard unloaded some 6,800 pounds of cocaine at Port Everglades, Florida on June 23, a week after the $100 million-plus haul was seized off the shores of Costa Rica.

This footage shows crew on the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant offloading the drugs, which an accompanying statement said were bundled into a total of 122 bales.

The Coast Guard said the cocaine was seized in two operations off the coast of Limon, Costa Rica, on June 15. According to press reports, an initial interdiction yielded 77 bales, while a second turned up 45.

Earlier in June, drugs worth an estimated $408 million were offloaded at Port Everglades, according to local media reports. Credit: US Coast Guard via Storyful
New Delhi: Russia on Tuesday said it would not mediate in the Sino-Indian border dispute and said that both Asian countries were capable of bilaterally handling the issue peacefully.

Interacting with reporters through video conference after a trilateral meeting of the Russia-India-China (RIC) video-conference meeting at the foreign ministerial level, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov however hoped both Asian neighbours would remain committed to the peaceful resolution of the issue. The comments come a week after the deadly border clash between Indian and Chinese troops at the Galwan valley in the Ladakh sector in which both sides suffered casualties.

Russia maintains close ties with both India and China and its views are therefore seen as extremely important. Moscow is also an important supplier of cutting-edge defence platforms to India and has time-tested ties with New Delhi that go back decades as the erstwhile Soviet Union.

In response to a media query, the Russian Foreign Minister said, You asked me whether Russia can contribute to better relations between India and China, ... We never sought to help India and China build better relations because they have everything they need to solve every kind of problem which may possibly arise between them. Its ok to have problems with your neighbours and with other countries ... I dont think India and China need any help from the outside ... especially when it comes to concrete issues. They can solve them on their own. ... I see no reason why Russia or anyone else would be imposing their services on India and China to help them solve their own problems.

Mr. Lavrov added, On the recent events, New Delhi and Beijing have already shown their commitment to peaceful resolution, after this incident, they already started meetings at the level of defence officers, foreign ministers and by the way neither of the two made any statements that would indicate that any of them would proceed with other non-diplomatic solutions. We hope the situation will continue to be peaceful, they will continue to be committed to peaceful resolution of disputes.

The Russian Foreign Minister further said, We maintain very close contact with India and China inside (multilateral fora) BRICS and SCO. ... the very fact that we have very close cooperation helps to foster the dialogue between India and China. They have very good ongoing dialogue and can work together to promote their economic and financial and other interests. ... I can tell you their relations have gone a very long way. In the last couple of years, they made huge progress.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2020) - Crystal Lake Mining Corporation (TSXV: CLM) (OTC PINK: SIOCF) (FSE: SOG) ("Crystal Lake" or the "Company") is pleased to welcome the appointment of Mrs. Susanne A. Hermans, CPA, CGMA, MBA, BSBA, to the Board of Directors for the Company.

"We are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Susanne A. Hermans to the Company's Board of Directors. Her pedigree in finance, capital markets, and business administration, is first-class. Mrs. Hermans is a strong addition to our Company, and I look forward to working with her," stated Cole Evans, the Company's CEO.

"I am excited to be joining the Company's Board of Directors. Newmont Lake is a exceptional project and I am looking forward to working with the team to unlock its potential during the early stages of development.," commented Susanne A. Hermans on her appointment.

Susanne A. Hermans Appointed a Director of the Board

Mrs. Hermans is an international business consultant with over 25 years of experience advising global public companies, including Newmont Goldcorp. She has business experience in France, Australia, Canada, the United States, and Switzerland. She is fluent in French, German, Spanish and English.

Mrs. Hermans began her career at Swiss Bank Corp. (now known as UBS). In the mid-90's Susanne joined TSX/NYSE-listed mid-tier Golden Star Resources as its Financial Analyst. She later took on the position of VP Finance & CFO with publicly traded, French gold royalty company Euro Ressources S.A. There she took on increasing roles and participated in investor relations, equity financing, corporate development, joint ventures, royalty options, and repurchase programs. Subsequent to her roles, she now serves as an Independent Board Member of Euro Ressources S.A.

Mrs. Hermans is a Chartered Global Management Accountant, Certified Public Accountant in the State of Colorado. Susanne was born in Switzerland where she completed an MBA in Organizational and Managerial Leadership as well as her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She received a Master of Science in Accounting at the University of Colorado. She is currently a Member of the CU Denver Accounting Advisory Council.

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Further to Mrs. Hermans appointment, Terence Ortslan has resigned from the Company's Board of Directors, but will remain active as corporate advisor to the CEO. The Company thanks Mr. Ortslan for his service as Director during a critical transition period.

Retirement of Maurizio Napoli

The Company is announcing the retirement of Maurizio Napoli from his day-to-day roles as interim President, and Vice President Exploration. Cole Evans will be assuming the title as President/CEO.

"I have chosen to retire from my role as VP Exploration to pursue personal interests. My experience working with the new management team in conjunction with the technical merits of the Newmont Lake Property give me confidence this company is poised for future success, and I will maintain my ownership position," commented Maurizio Napoli.

Mr. Napoli will remain on the Company's Board of Directors and as a technical advisor. The Company wishes Maurizio and his wife Lucie well in retirement, and the very best in their charity work through the Connor Napoli's Finding Hope Fund; a charity supporting Laurentian University students in Mr. Napoli's hometown of Sudbury, Ontario.

Name Change Intent

On June 11th, 2020, Crystal Lake Mining Corporation announced the intension for a corporate name change to "Enduro Metals Corporation" subject to regulatory approval. The Company has received approval from the BC Business Registry and now are awaiting approval from the TSX Venture. There will be no consolidation associated with the name change and shareholders will not be required to exchange existing share certificates for new certificates.

About Crystal Lake Mining

Crystal Lake is one of the leading exploration companies focused in the heart of British Columbia's prolific Golden Triangle. The company's highly qualified geological team has assembled a wealth of information, generated by numerous companies each working on small pieces, of the district-scale property that Crystal Lake has assembled through option and staking. Building on the prior results, the company's geological team made several significant discoveries during its initial exploration program in 2019. A gold-rich copper porphyry outlined on the Burgundy Trend has striking similarities to large-scale deposits in the region, including the Red Chris deposit for which Newcrest last year paid U$804 million for a 70% interest. Chachi, a newly discovered area, generated high-grade samples, with associated geophysical responses, with gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, and cobalt over a very large area. Diamond drilling in 2019 at the NW Zone demonstrated that the historic gold resource remains open laterally and to depth.

Work this year will seek to further extend the known gold deposit and to investigate the large-scale discovery potential of multiple targets and deposit types.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

CRYSTAL LAKE MINING CORP.

"Cole Evans"

President/CEO

Email: info@crystallakemining.com

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Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 18:02 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406615808f 1 Business Google,Google-Cloud,Indonesia,data,GoPay,XL-axiata Free

Google Cloud announced the opening of its new Jakarta region on Wednesday, bringing services closer to its Indonesian and Southeast Asian consumers.

The companys Indonesia country director, Megawaty Khie, said the Jakarta region would allow businesses to comply with national regulations and ease recovery options for consumers.

We chose Jakarta as the next region because Indonesia has one of the highest gross domestic product growth [rates] in the region and is home to many of Asias unicorns, she said in an online press conference, referring to large start-ups.

Indonesias digital economy is well on track to dominate Southeast Asia as its market value is projected to triple to US$130 billion by 2025 from $40 billion in 2019, according to the latest e-Conomy Southeast Asia study.

The newly launched cloud platform marks the first Google region in the country and the ninth in the Asia Pacific. In total, Google Cloud has 24 regions with 73 zones in 17 countries around the globe.

Google first announced the plan to open Google Cloud in Indonesia during its Cloud Summit in 2018. It plans to launch two cloud regions Asia Pacific, namely in Delhi and Melbourne in the coming years.

Google Cloud Platform offers cloud computing services, data analytics, machine learning and security and management tools for businesses.

Several companies in the country utilize Google Cloud services, including e-payment solution GoPay and telecommunication company XL Axiata.

Having Google Cloud available in the region means that we can comply with regional regulations and requirements. This also means that latency and traffic can be more manageable, said XL Axiata chief information and digital officer Yessie Yosetya.

Meanwhile, GoPay CEO Aldi Haryopratomo said the company utilized cloud computing to manage, analyze and capture data quickly for making data-driven decisions.

According to a 2019 study by Boston Consulting Group BCG commissioned by Google Cloud, companies that use public cloud services could add around $36 billion to Indonesias GDP between 2019 and 2023. They could also create around 350,000 jobs across different industries.

To help the country capture the potential, Google Cloud Indonesia plans to roll out 150,000 training labs in Indonesia this year to enable cloud computing training and certification for Indonesians.

Going into digital transformation era, Indonesia will see higher demand for digital talent, so we created this program along with other initiatives, Megawaty said, adding that Google was also partnering with the Information and Communications Ministry in the latters Digital Talent Scholarship program.

Indonesia is currently home to two data centers from Alibaba Cloud and Google. Meanwhile, Amazons cloud subsidiary Amazon Web Services revealed that it would build a data center in 2022.
Families visiting loved ones in nursing homes dont have to show proof they have tested negative for COVID-19, health officials say.

A clarification came Wednesday from Ontarios chief coroner, Dr. Dirk Huyer, who has taken on responsibilities for the provincial testing regime that requires anyone visiting a long-term-care resident to have been checked and cleared in the previous two weeks.

There has been a misunderstanding at some long-term-care facilities because the provincial policy requires an attestation of a negative test.

It does not require the documents, Huyer told reporters Wednesday as the number of nursing homes with outbreaks of the highly contagious virus fell by four to 62 according to figures released Wednesday by the Ministry of Health.

Visits are not allowed at homes with outbreaks, which can be cases in residents or a staff member recovering at home in self-isolation.

Nursing-home employees are continuing to catch COVID-19, with the number of active cases in staff rising by 22 to 368. It is not known whether they caught the virus in the community or on the job.

It is perhaps a reflection of the gradual reopening of the economy, which were watching very carefully, Health Minister Christine Elliott said.

It is a concern whenever we see the numbers going forward, and especially with respect to long-term-care homes, because the populations there are so vulnerable.

About 1,800 nursing-home residents have died in the pandemic, which has seen 5,400 infected with COVID-19. Of those cases, 205 remain active.

Premier Doug Ford said families whose loved ones died or had other troubles in long-term care are welcome to testify at his promised independent commission into how the novel coronavirus hit nursing homes so hard.

As the commission moves forward, people will be able to come out and tell their story, said Ford, who has pledged the effort will begin in July but has not yet named a commissioner, terms of reference or a location.

I want to hear the stories, Ive heard a lot of stories, mind you, but I want to hear the stories until it never happens again, added Ford.

While the premier has acknowledged the nursing home system is broken, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling for a full judicial public inquiry into how it was unprepared for COVID-19.

Overall, Ontario has declined to 2,049 active cases of the virus that has infected just over 36,000 people in the province since late January.

A Star compilation of data from health units Wednesday at 6 p.m. showed another 203 confirmed and probable cases in the previous 24 hours, with another 14 deaths raising the toll to 2,677 fatalities.

The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 fell by 10 to 278 with 73 in intensive care and 48 on ventilators to breathe, down from 75 and 54 the previous day, according to the Ministry of Health figures.
Exercise: Lauren Pineda engaged in an energetic workout at a gym 10 days after the accident. Photo: Cork Courts

A young woman who sued for personal injuries after a minor traffic collision with a pensioner went to the gym just 10 days later and posted social media videos of herself engaged in a vigorous workout.

The revelation came as Judge James O'Donoghue, at Cork Circuit Civil Court, ruled against Lauren Pineda (24) in her claim for lower back injuries and warned he had a significant problem with the credibility of some of her evidence.

Judge O'Donoghue noted Ms Pineda - who had received 21,000 for whiplash-type injuries after a separate and unrelated 2013 traffic accident in which she was a rear-seat passenger - had not told her GP for nine months about her allegedly suffering back pain as a result of the second accident on March 14, 2018.

This was despite the fact the young beautician had attended her Cork GP on numerous occasions for other medical issues. Further, Ms Pineda had not informed orthopaedic consultant Dr David Mulcahy, who was acting for the defendants, Christine Deasy and Aviva Insurance, that she had a history of back pain dating back to 2013.

She similarly had not told him about her whiplash injuries sustained in the accident seven years before.

Ms Pineda went to Dennehy's Gym in Cork just 10 days after the 2018 accident in Douglas and engaged in an energetic workout.

Expand Close Christine Deasy accepted she was liable for the collision. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Cork Courts / Facebook

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Whatsapp Christine Deasy accepted she was liable for the collision. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Cork Courts

She went to the gym several other times in March and April and posted videos of herself on her public Instagram page.

The brief social media exercise videos were shown in court - and Judge O'Donoghue said: "I even get tired looking at that."

Ms Pineda also posted several comments on her Instagram photos.

"Lil booties matter... I'll have my summer body in no time," she posted.

Dr Mulcahy, in evidence, said he was sceptical anyone who had sustained the injury alleged in the motor accident could have engaged in such a vigorous gym workout, as depicted in the images, without being in significant pain.

The workout involved squats with weights and leg curls.

Ms Pineda, in cross-examination by Deirdre Keane BL, instructed by Sarah Dick of BLM, insisted she had suffered back pain.

"I am not lying against the Bible or whatever. I am telling you exactly how I feel," she said.

She acknowledged she had not told her own doctor about the accident pain for nine months. Ms Pineda explained the gym visits as her trying to "build up my back and build up my core".

In respect of the evidence conflicts pointed out, she said: "I am so confused now."

Judge O'Donoghue said there were credibility issues arising. "There is a complete conflict between her evidence," he said.

"She has been the author of her own misfortune. She posted photos of herself engaged in vigorous exercise.

"There are great credibility issues (arising) from her evidence.

"She has left herself wide open on this."

Judge O'Donoghue paid tribute to Ms Pineda's legal team of Sinead Behan BL, instructed by Martin Harvey, and told the plaintiff: "She can only blame herself."

The judge said there were issues arising over the delay in informing her own doctor about the injury suffered, not telling Dr Mulcahy about her lengthy history of back pain or the 2013 accident as well as an issue over a loss of earnings claim which was subsequently withdrawn.

The accident itself was not in dispute. Ms Deasy (79) accepted she was liable for a minor, slow-speed collision.

Ms Deasy's car sustained 100 in damage and Ms Pineda's car required 1,500 in repairs. Aviva welcomed the judge dismissing the claim and vowed to defend cases in the interests of policyholders.
New Delhi, June 24 : The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Police to file its response on the petition filed by former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan challenging a trial court order that granted an extension of 60 days to the Crime Branch for filing a charge sheet in the case against her in connection with the riots that broke out in the national capital in February this year.

A single judge bench of Justice Suresh Kumar while issuing notice to the police, granted permission to the petitioner to file additional documents and has now posted the matter for further hearing on July 7.

Jahan through her counsel advocate Manu Sharma and advocate Arjun has knocked at the doors of the high court against the June 15 order of the trial court by which it had given an extension of two months to the Crime Branch to file a charge sheet in the case against her.

"The same is against the democratic and fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India. And the order deserves to be set aside on this ground alone. Speedy and fair investigation are fundamental tenets of the criminal justice system," the plea said.

The plea also said that the order is based on surmises and conjectures and dehorns the settled principle of law. Jahan told the court that the order is "erroneous, bad in law and wrong on facts." "It is pertinent to mention that none of the reasons for seeking extension of time for filing charge sheet or extension of detention for petitioner/accused Ishrat Jahan were meaningful or sufficient to satisfy the grant of extension of the same further failing onto the second limb of section 43(D)(2)(b) of UAPA which speaks about specific reasons that are to be stated for extension of the detention," the petition read.

"The report filed by the prosecution falls short of legislative necessity which has been satisfied in the said provision. It is a settled principal of law that general investigative procedures cannot be a ground for seeking extension of remand," it added.

Meanwhile, the trial court on June 19 refused to grant an extension of interim bail to the former Congress municipal councillor, who is booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the Delhi violence case.

Jahan had moved the court seeking an extension of the 10-day interim bail period. On May 30, she was granted interim bail to get married on June 12. Her interim bail ended on Friday.

After dismissing her bail plea, Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana directed her to surrender in the jail "today itself".

"The Jail Superintendent is directed to ensure adequate medical care to the accused and shall also follow all necessary protocols required in this regard," the court said.

In the bail application, Ishrat Jahan contended that her husband had come in contact with a Covid-19 positive relative and developed Covid-19 symptoms and has been advised by doctors to undergo a test.

The plea said that she also developed symptoms of Covid-19 and has been advised to remain in seven-days home isolation before testing could be done.
Dart Real Estate's Sue Nickason, left, and 100 Women in Finance's Amanda Pullinger As we are located in one of the leading financial services centres in the world, we very much appreciate the contribution the finance industry makes to our local and global economy.

Cayman Islands-based Dart Real Estate has become the first real estate company to join the ranks of global corporate sponsors supporting the 100 Women in Finance (100WF) organisation.

A leading developer of luxury resorts and residential properties and Class A commercial office space, Dart Real Estate has invested over US$1.5 billion in the Cayman Islands through its developments and public-private infrastructure projects. Signature projects include Camana Bay, a 685-acre New Urbanist community, The Residences at Seafire, a luxury condominium property on Seven Mile Beach , and the adjacent AAA Five Diamond Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, which is the first hotel developed by Dart Real Estate on Grand Cayman. In 2019, the company announced its plan to make a similar level of investment in the next decade, further contributing to the economic well-being and stability of the Cayman Islands.

As we are located in one of the leading financial services centres in the world, we very much appreciate the contribution the finance industry makes to our local and global economy. As an alternative investment, real estate occupies an important role in the financial services sector, particularly during times like this which are fraught with market volatility, said Sue Nickason, VP of Real Estate Marketing and Sales at Dart. More than ever, as we respond to these challenging market conditions, financial services professionals at all stages of their careers will look to organisations such as 100 Women in Finance for professional development support, networking and timely market insights. We are very proud to support this dynamic organisation internationally and look forward to being an active member on a local and international level.

100 Women in Finance CEO Amanda Pullinger commented, We are delighted to welcome Dart Real Estate to 100 Women in Finances growing roster of corporate sponsors, and look forward to close collaboration on programming and impact initiatives, both in the Cayman Islands and across our global membership.

In its role as a corporate sponsor, Dart Real Estate will support 100WFs mission globally, including hosting events for members in the Cayman Islands and in other global locations. In addition, Sue Nickason will represent Dart Real Estate on the 100WF 20th anniversary committee, specifically focused on the planning for a 100WF global volunteer appreciation event as part of their 20th anniversary global celebrations in 2021.

About Dart Real Estate

Dart Real Estate is a leading Cayman Islands development company specialising in luxury real estate and commercial office space development. Committed to the long-term sustainability of the Cayman Islands, Dart has invested approximately US$1.5 billion in the local economy. Tax neutrality, world-class infrastructure and close proximity to the United States has garnered the Cayman Islands increased attention from wealthy global families, corporations, family offices and investors considering property investment, residency by investment or relocation in the British Overseas Territory. The Dart Real Estate team assists individuals and organisations in finding residential and commercial property and shares comprehensive information about relocation to the jurisdiction. A complete introduction to the benefits of the Cayman Islands is made possible by Dart Real Estate.

About 100 Women in Finance

100 Women in Finances more than 15,000 members strengthen the global finance industry by empowering women to achieve their professional potential at each career stage. Its members inspire, equip and advocate for a new generation of industry leadership, in which women and men serve as investment professionals and executives, equal in achievement and impact. Through Education, Peer Engagement and Impact, the organization furthers the progress of women who have chosen finance as a career, and enables their positive influence over pre-career young women.
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.
Pictures never before seen of Vladimir Putin's two daughters from his ex-wife have emerged from the private collection of his one-time closest confidant.

The images show Maria and Katerina as teenagers soon after the Kremlin leader took power in the early 2000s.

They appear to have been released to enrage Putin by former billionaire Sergei Pugachev, 57, a former close crony who this week lost a 11.6 billion legal battle against the Russian state in a Paris arbitration court.

Putin, 67, in his long political career always hid his children away from the limelight, never permitting them to be seen and rarely even speaking about them.

Both are now in their 30s but they show the president's daughters both inside the Kremlin and at Pugachev's dacha - or country house - near Moscow.

Pictured from left to right: Alexander and Viktor Pugachev and Maria and Ektaterina Putin in the Kremlin library in the early 2000s

Ekaterina (right) watches as her sister Maria plays pool with Sergei Pugachev's son Alexander (second from left) and Viktor (left) in the Kremlin in the early 2000s

Ekaterina and Maria Putina (pictured in the centre) surrounded by members of Russian pop group Strelki in the early 2000s

Pictured left to right: Alexander Pugachev, Katerina and Maria Putina, and Viktor Pugachev at Russian billionaire Sergei Pugachev's country house in the early 2000s

They are pictured with exiled Pugachev's sons before he left his Russian wife to have three children with his British lover Countess Alexandra Tolstoy, a relationship that has now broken up in acrimony.

Photographs show the president's girls and their friends along with Putin's ex-wife waiting for him in the Kremlin.

In one, they are seen in Putin's library in the Kremlin.

In another shot they are playing billiards on a table once used by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

They are also seen at a private party with Russian pop group Strelki aka the Russian Spice Girls.

Today Maria, 35, who uses the surname Vorontsova, has a career in medical research and is an expert on dwarfism, according to reports.

She is believed to be married to a Dutch businessman with whom she has a family, making Putin a grandfather.

Sergei Pugachev (right) is pictured shaking hands with President Vladimir Putin shortly after he rose to power in the early 2000s

Maria Putina and Viktor Pugachev chat during a private party at former Putin crony Sergei Pugachev's country house

Katerina Putina looks at Pugachev's son Alexander during a party at his country house in the early 2000s

Little is known of her, but she is said to be a fan of Little Britain starring David Walliams and Matt Lucas, and she listed her favourite book as 'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Arthur Golden.

Katerina, 33, known by the family name of her maternal grandmother, Tikhonova, has gone from being a high-kicking 'rock'n'roll' dancer to spearhead a major new Russian artificial intelligence initiative.

She came to prominence earlier with her spectacular 'boogle woogle' Acrobatic Rock'n'roll performances in dance competitions.

She has a doctorate from prestigious Moscow State University after completing a study on helping cosmonauts and pilots to orientate themselves in difficult conditions.

Maria Putina, who now uses the surname Vorontsova, is pictured in an undated photograph. Maria has a career in medical research and is an expert on dwarfism

Little is known of Maria (pictured enjoying a takeaway meal and champagne, right), but she is said to be a fan of Little Britain starring David Walliams and Matt Lucas, and she listed her favourite book as 'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Arthur Golden

Maria, pictured centre, is believed to be married to a Dutch businessman with whom she has a family, making Putin a grandfather

She was formerly married to Russia's youngest billionaire Kirill Shamalov, 38.

The couple were reported to have divorced after which he wed glamorous socialite Zhanna Volkova, in her 30s.

Claims that Putin has a new family have never been confirmed.

Ex-KGB spy Putin once said of Maria and Katerina: 'They are taking the first steps in their careers, but are making good progress. They are not involved in business or politics.

Katerina, 33, known by the family name of her maternal grandmother, Tikhonova, was once a rock'n'roll dancer but has now moved to work on a new Russian artificial intelligence initiative

'They have never been 'star' children, they have never got pleasure from the spotlight being directed on them. They just live their own lives.

'They live in Russia ... They have never been educated anywhere except Russia.

'I am proud of them, they continue to study and are working. My daughters speak three European languages fluently.'

Pugachev, an ex-senator and formerly one of Russia's wealthiest oligarchs, was once known as Putin's 'cashier'.

He has claimed to have posted the Putin family pictures years ago but, if so, they were not widely seen.

Ekaterina Tikhonova, believed to be Putin's daughter, is now spearheading a Russian artificial intelligence initiative

Putin turned against him after he revealed his relationship with Tolstoy, 46, a British socialite and former BBC presenter, he claimed.

He sees himself as the victim of a 'politically motivated' asset grab by figures in the Russian elite of which he was a doyen before fleeing to London.

In exile in London - where he said he feared for his life and France, he turned against Putin, for whom he was once closest confidant.

He said: 'Today in Russia there is no private property. There are only serfs who belong to Putin

'Now there is Putin and there are his lieutenants who carry out his orders - and all cash generated is put on the balance of Putin.'

Tolstoy last month revealed she and her three sons with her estranged partner Pugachev had been evicted from their 9 million London property with. Only 12 days notice.

Pugachev lost ownership of the property after Moscow judges ruled that it belonged to his Russian creditors.

She posted: 'Life is complicated at the moment.

'I've lost my travel business and have been told in the last week that we are shortly to be evicted from our home by the Russian government.

'In fact, they gave me and my children twelve days notice, at the height of a global pandemic.

'It's difficult to sleep and focus but over many difficult years I have been tough on myself about staying in the moment, and taking pleasure out of the small things.

'Reading is certainly one of those and in particular I hugely enjoy reading out loud to my children, especially if it's Just William.'

She is the daughter of Count Nikolai Tolstoy, a distant relative of writer Leo Tolstoy.

She and her children stayed at her parents' Oxfordshire home for lockdown.
A Georgia grand jury indicted the three men arrested and charged in connection with the alleged murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

Cobb District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes announced on Wednesday that a grand jury voted to indict Gregory and Travis McMichael along with William Bryan for the felony murder and aggravated assault that resulted in Arbery death.

The indictment comes almost four months to the day Arbery was shot while on on his daily jog.

PHOTO: Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot and killed in Brunswick, Ga., on Feb. 23, 2020, is seen in an undated photo provided by Marcus Arbery. (Handout via Reuters)

Holmes said the grand jury decision did not take long.

"The presentation took an hour and a half and the true bill came back in 10 minutes," Holmes said during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

They each face nine charges, including malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal contempt to commit a felony.

"The family of Ahmaud Arbery is determined to see these men prosecuted, convicted and appropriately sentenced for the brutal hate crime that took Ahmauds life over four months ago," said Lee Merritt, the lead attorney for the Arbery family.

MORE: Timeline: Events leading up to the arrests of 3 men in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery

On Feb. 23, Gregory McMichael spotted Arbery and assumed he was the person who committed "several break-ins" in their Satilla Shores neighborhood, according to a police report.

Gregory McMichael, a retired investigator with the Brunswick District Attorney's Office who previously served as a Glynn County police officer, alerted his son and both grabbed their guns -- a shotgun and .357 magnum, respectively -- and jumped into a white pick-up truck.

Bryan was called and he recorded the chase after Arbery.

The cellphone video showed Arbery getting ambushed by the McMichaels.

Travis McMichael, armed with a shotgun, tussled with Arbery and fired three gunshots. Arbery was hit in his chest and died on the pavement.

PHOTO: William Bryan, 50, is pictured in a booking photo released by the Glynn County Sheriff's Office in Brunswick, Ga. (Glynn County Sheriff's Office)

PHOTO: Travis McMichael and his father, Gregory McMichael, right, are pictured in photos released on May 7, 2020. (Glynn County Sheriff's Office)

"This confirms what Ahmauds father has been saying for months -- that this was a lynching," said Ben Crump, an attorney for the Arbery family. "This is a significant step on the road to justice and while nothing will bring back Ahmauds life, it is important that a Grand jury recognized his life had value and was wrongly and ruthlessly ended."

Story continues

The video leaked onto social media on May 5, igniting outrage and leading to the three arrests.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations led the investigation and within 36 hours arrested the McMichaels. Bryan was taken into custody on May 21.

Grand jury indicts 3 men arrested for murder of Ahmaud Arbery originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Three days after a group of 16 international news outlets, including the Star, revealed that the Moroccan government had spied on journalist Omar Radi by hacking his phone, Radi is being investigated for espionage.

On Wednesday evening, Radi received a police summons to report for questioning Thursday morning.

The Royal Public Prosecutor at Casablanca's Court of appeal confirmed that Radi is under investigation for obtaining funds from foreign sources related to intelligence groups.

The Royal public prosecutor confirms that the investigation is being conducted under the supervision of the public prosecution and is completely abiding by the laws, the prosecutors office said in a statement.

Amnesty International analyzed Radis phone and concluded that it had been hacked and the journalist had been spied on by the Moroccan government for almost a year, using spyware developed by the Israeli company NSO Group. Amnesty shared its analysis with Forbidden Stories, an investigative journalism group that coordinated reports that appeared around the world on Sunday.

That the victim of spying has now been accused of spying is absolutely ridiculous, Radi said.

This is clearly linked to recent revelations by Amnesty International and Forbidden Stories that my phone was spied on by Morocco using Israeli technology, he said.

I'm not afraid of anything, I'm going in with my head held high. My goal is to reveal through my journalism the injustices and the true reality of Morocco and to campaign for a better Morocco as an activist.

Radi faces interrogation and potential arrest and detention when he reports to the police Thursday.

Shortly after Radi tweeted a photo of his summons, Amnesty responded with a statement on Twitter.

Amnesty stands in solidarity with Omar who has shown throughout the years his commitment to a journalism free of any allegiance. We call on the authorities to fulfil its duty to protect the right to freedom of expression and to immediately stop harassing journalists. #pressfreedom

Radi was the victim of a new and frighteningly insidious phone hacking technique called network injection. Unlike previously publicized phone hacking techniques that require the victim to click on a link or receive a call on WhatsApp, the attacker gained access to everything on Radis phone and all Radi had to do was visit a website.

Every phone call, text message, even encrypted messages on apps like Signal were compromised. Details of his converstations appeared in Moroccan media and Radi suspects the police of leaking them.

After the publication of Amnestys report, NSO Group said it was deeply troubled by the allegations and would investigate if warranted.

NSO only sells its cyber surveilance technology to police forces and governments in order to combat terrorism. Last September, it published a Human Rights policy that stipulated clients would be cut off if they were found to be spying on journalists or activists.
For years, Americans talked little about the killing of hundreds of people in Tulsa, Oklahoma, nearly a century ago. When they did talk about the violent incident they called it the Tulsa race riot.

The incident happened over a period of 16 hours, from May 31 to June 1, 1921. It took place in a part of Tulsa where Black Americans operated successful businesses. Mobs of white people attacked Black locals and businesses in an area known as Black Wall Street.

An estimated 300 people died. Hundreds more were injured, and thousands were left homeless. Black Wall Street was destroyed.

Under new rules developed by teachers, Oklahoma students are urged to consider the differences between calling the incident a riot and a massacre -- the violent killing of many people. Yet Oklahomas state laws use the word riot when describing the violence.

The states new education guidelines are taking effect as a national discussion on racial injustice brings attention to how Black history is taught in schools.

There is no national set of rules on how to teach Black history in the United States. A small number of states have laws requiring that the subject be taught in public schools. Each state sets its own education requirements. History classes often make note of slavery, the rise of Jim Crow laws and the civil rights movement.

Some experts and educators say Black history lessons spend too much time telling about violence and suffering, instead of the systemic parts of racism and white supremacy. But others say past unrest and injustices are not explained enough.

In Texas, the Board of Education recently approved a class on African American studies for high school students. A University of Texas professor involved in developing the course, Kevin Cokley, said his college students say they were taught a sanitized version of Black history in high school.

Most of my students indicate they did not learn the specifics of slavery that I provide them in my course, said Cokley. Oftentimes they are shocked and angered to find they were not taught the information I am sharing with them.



Oklahoma schools have been required to teach about the 1921 Tulsa massacre since 2002.

The massacre largely was not discussed in Oklahoma until a group was formed in 1997 to investigate the violence. The group is led by Kevin Matthews, a state senator from Tulsa and a member of the Democratic Party. Matthews said the new teaching rules have not faced opposition. But he noted that some people have said they would rather leave the massacre in the past.

Older people called me and said, Why do you want to bring this back up, this dirty secret? he said.

Matthews said his grandmother was a young girl in Tulsa during the massacre, but she never told him about the violence. He learned about it as an adult from his grandmothers brother.

It was like a movie," Matthews said. "I couldnt believe it happened here.

LaGarrett King is director of the Carter Center for K-12 Black History Education at the University of Missouri. He says he believes there is too much attention being placed on violence in Black history lessons.

King provided training last year for 300 educators who are interested in teaching Black history. He expects an online training program this summer to have more attendees than usual. That, he says, makes him hopeful.

But he notes that history still needs to be presented differently. For example, he said, the country as a whole does not recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. June 19 marks the day in 1865 that the last enslaved black Americans learned they had been freed.

White people dont acknowledge Juneteenth, but yet were supposed to be a country that believes in freedom," King said. "We have been taught July 4, 1776, is the real Independence Day, but its not. The vast majority of black people were still enslaved.

Lawrence Paska is executive director of the National Council for the Social Studies. He said schools should be preparing to help students work through questions about discrimination, protests and racial violence when they return three months from now.

Do we have a curriculum that is responsive to the needs and experiences of the students we have now? Paska said. That is an important question schools need to be asking.

Im Ashley Thompson.

The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Quiz - U.S. Educators Re-examine How Black History is Taught in Schools Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

Jim Crow - n. the former practice of segregating, or separating, black people in the U.S.

lesson - n. an activity that you do in order to learn something

white supremacy - n. the belief that the white race is better than all other races and should have control over all other races

sanitize - v. to make (something) more pleasant and acceptable by taking things that are unpleasant or offensive out of it

specific - adj. special or particular

indicate - v. to show (something)

acknowledge - v. to say that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something

vast - adj. very great in size, amount, or extent

curriculum - n. the classes that are taught by a school, college, etc.

responsive - adj. reacting in a desired or positive way
Friends of Sabrina DuBose in front of the Upper Darby Police Department on Wednesday. She had been missing since May 22, and her body was found Tuesday, the day police arrested a suspect in the slaying. Read more

An Ardmore woman who went missing May 22 was murdered by a man she met on SEPTAs Market-Frankford El that day and who later dumped her body in an overgrown lot in Philadelphias East Germantown section, authorities said Wednesday.

Kareem Malik Davis-Duppins, 26, confessed Tuesday to killing Sabrina DuBose, 25, and led authorities to her body, which was wrapped in a trash bag, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said. The Upper Darby man has been charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and related crimes, Stollsteimer said at a news conference attended by the victims family and friends.

Based on statements from witnesses, police believe DuBose and Davis-Duppins met that day as both were passengers on the SEPTA line, the district attorney said.

They had an interaction from there, a social interaction, that turned deadly, said Stollsteimer, who called the slaying a senseless murder.

Stollsteimer said police from Haverford Township, where the victim lived, and nearby Upper Darby, where they believe she was killed, worked closely to solve the crime.

Modern technology is a great tool. But its actually the hard work of old-fashioned detectives on this case, he said. These guys never gave up. When they thought they were looking for a missing person they just kept following every single lead.

Police were led to Davis-Duppins by cell phone records, video from surveillance cameras outside the train station, a handful of witnesses in whom he confided  including an aunt, an uncle, and a friend who served as a lookout, authorities said, as he moved the victims body in a leaking box from the building where he killed her.

The defendant was first confronted by police on May 29 but denied involvement in DuBoses disappearance, according to charging documents. He was not arrested at that time.

Police believe that DuBose and Davis-Duppins met on the train in Philadelphia, and after they got off at the 69th Street Station in Upper Darby walked to an apartment building at 2 Copley Road, where Davis-Duppins worked as a maintenance man.

In a statement to investigators Tuesday, Davis-Duppins said he and DuBose went into an apartment unit, where he paid her $140 for sexual relations. At some point, according to Davis-Duppins statement, DuBose struck her head on a radiator and became unconscious, and when she awoke started screaming that she had been raped.

He then squeezed her neck with his hands until she was dead, and placed her body in an elevator shaft in the building before moving it on May 29 to the lot in East Germantown, the statement said.

Davis-Duppins was being held without bail in Delaware County prison.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated when and where the victims body was found.
The cabinet gave a green light to the measures prepared by the Economy Ministry to improve the business environment in Slovakia.

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The business environment in Slovakia will undergo major changes. The cabinet has greenlighted, with comments, the changes proposed by Economy Minister Richard Sulik, who called Wednesday "the most beautiful day for Slovakia since the introduction of the tax reform".

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The long-awaited draft bill, which the parliament is to debate in a fast-tracked legislative procedure next week, amends several laws. It contains 114 measures, the TASR newswire reported.

Less bureaucracy promised
Federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivers his budget address at National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, on April 3, 2019. (Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

Australian Treasurer Toasts Retained AAA Credit Score

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has played up the federal governments economic efforts after a global ratings agency reaffirmed Australias top ranking.

Moodys Investors Service has followed Standard & Poors and Fitch Ratings in confirming the AAA credit rating.

They have appraised our effective and proactive policy-making as well as acknowledging the resilience of the Australian economy, he told Nines Today show on June 24.

We continue to provide the economic support required for the economy at this very difficult time.

Moodys said Australias economic strength will continue to underpin the sovereigns AAA rating, notwithstanding the deep economic shock caused by the coronavirus.

Canberra
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common kind of cancer in children. T-ALL, a subtype that resembles T-lymphocytes, can be treated successfully with the drug nelarabine. The drug has not been successful, however, with B-ALL, a subtype resembling B-lymphocytes.

Since the 1980s, oncologists have been puzzled as to the cause of this difference. Now, an international research team headed by Goethe University and the University of Kent has discovered the reason: B-ALL cells contain the enzyme SAMHD1, which deactivates the drug.

In the current issue of Communications Biology, Professor Jindrich Cinatl from the Institute for Medical Virology at Goethe University and Professor Martin Michaelis from the School of Biosciences at the University of Kent report on their investigations with nelarabine on different cell lines.

Nelarabine is the precursor of the drug, a prodrug, that does not become effective until it is combined with three phosphate groups in the leukaemia cell, explains Professor Cinatl. In studies of various ALL cell lines and leukaemia cells from ALL patients, we have been able to demonstrate that the enzyme SAMHD1 splits the phosphate groups off so that the medicine loses its effect. Because B-ALL cells contain more SAMHD1 than T-ALL cells, nelarabine is less effective with B-ALL.

These results could improve the treatment of ALL in the future. In rare cases, B-ALL cells contain very little SAMHD1 so that treatment with nelarabine would be possible. On the contrary, there are also rare cases of T-ALL exhibiting a lot of SAMHD1. In such cases, the otherwise effective nelarabine would not be the right medication. Professor Michaelis observes: SAMHD1 is thus a biomarker that allows us to better adapt treatment with nelarabine to the individual situation of ALL patients.

Tamara Rothenburger, whose doctoral dissertation was funded by the association Hilfe fur krebskranke Kinder Frankfurt e.V, is satisfied when she looks back at her research. I hope that many children with leukaemia will benefit from the results. The research was also supported by the Frankfurt Stiftung fur krebskranke Kinder. Additional members of the research group are Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munich, and University College London.

Current news about science, teaching, and society can be found on GOETHE-UNI online (www.aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de)

Goethe University is a research-oriented university in the European financial centre Frankfurt am Main. The university was founded in 1914 through private funding, primarily from Jewish sponsors, and has since produced pioneering achievements in the areas of social sciences, sociology and economics, medicine, quantum physics, brain research, and labour law. It gained a unique level of autonomy on 1 January 2008 by returning to its historic roots as a foundation university. Today, it is one of the three largest universities in Germany. Together with the Technical University of Darmstadt and the University of Mainz, it is a partner in the inter-state strategic Rhine-Main University Alliance.

Internet: www.goethe-universitaet.de

Publisher: The President of Goethe University Editor: Dr. Markus Bernards, Science Editor, PR & Communication Department, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Tel: -49 (0) 69 798-12498, Fax: +49 (0) 69 798-763 12531, bernards@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Jindrich Cinatl

Institute for Medical Virology

University Hospital Frankfurt

Tel.: +49 69 6301-6409

E-mail: cinatl@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Tamara Rothenburger, Katie-May McLaughlin, Tobias Herold, Constanze Schneider, Thomas Oellerich, Florian Rothweiler, Andrew Feber, Tim R. Fenton, Mark N. Wass, Oliver T. Keppler, Martin Michaelis, Jindrich Cinatl. SAMHD1 is a key regulator of the lineage-specific response of acute lymphoblastic leukaemias to nelarabine, in: Communications Biology, DOI 10.1038/s42003-020-1052-8, https://www.nature.com/commsbio/
The vote comes one day before the deadline to put constitutional amendments on the ballot for November. The repeal will face strong, organized opposition from some in the states Asian community, who have said they fear it will be used against them at some of the states elite public universities where Asian Americans make up a higher percentage of the enrollment than they do of the states population.
Welcome back to Tech Chronicle. Subscribing to this fine newsletter will make you smarter, like magic.

One of the many tech companies riding high during the pandemic is Square, whose shares hit an all-time high Tuesday, closing at $104.75. A report that it is withholding payments from some sellers that it deems risky doesnt seem to have dented investors enthusiasm.

The vogue for everything contactless has prompted many businesses that previously favored cash to set up the companys sleek gray registers or white card readers at makeshift storefront counters. Square equipment, along with Plexiglas barriers, is part of the new, coronavirus-altered retail landscape.

Besides selling the hardware, Square collects a fee for processing card payments. It also offers software for setting up e-commerce websites, which businesses that had eschewed e-commerce suddenly needed for taking pickup orders. The early concern that Square would suffer along with brick-and-mortar merchants has evaporated as these advantages have become visible.

Russell Yip / The Chronicle 2011

Yet I look at Square and I wonder if it couldnt be doing even better, if it hadnt impatiently killed off an innovation that CEO Jack Dorsey personally championed in its early years.

It had various names  first Card Case, then Pay With Square, then Wallet, the name by which it was best known in its short, benighted digital life. When it debuted in 2011, the iPhone app was a key to burnishing Squares reputation as a technology company. People downloaded it, ordered lattes and scones remotely, and paid by saying their name to a cashier.

Russell Yip / The Chronicle 2011

If that sounds a lot like the Starbucks app, well, yes. But it was a full four years earlier, and it was for all Square sellers. In fact, Wallet was a selling point that Square touted when it signed deals with larger and larger chains  first Blue Bottle, then Starbucks. Wallet helped convince those retailers that Square had more to offer than just credit card processing.

The problem is that customers didnt flock to Dorseys vision. Its a new behavior, and, you know, those who find it and download it and use it, they use it nonstop, he told Bloombergs Emily Chang in 2013. We definitely think its the future and its just a matter of time, and were working really hard to accelerate it.

In fact, Square would soon slam on the brakes. It discontinued Wallet in 2014, briefly replacing it with a simlar app called Square Order, which lasted just 10 months. The Starbucks partnership, meant largely to promote the use of Wallet, was an expensive failure. Square lost $71 million processing payments for Starbucks, and Starbucks dropped Square and developed its own Wallet-like app, integrated with its popular reloadable Starbucks Card and rewards program.

Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle 2012

Despite that drubbing, Dorsey kept talking up the Wallet idea, telling Recodes Jason Del Rey in late 2015 that it was definitely an experience youll see in the future, perhaps using Squares Cash money-transfer service.

Aside from the humiliating Starbucks debacle, Square didnt really suffer from Wallets failure to launch. Focusing on the needs of sellers proved far more lucrative than building consumer apps  Square is worth more than $46 billion as of Tuesday.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images 2013

And yet, its 2020, and if you want to order ahead from a store running a Square cash register, you might pull up a Square-hosted e-commerce website, not a smoothly designed app. You might pay with your Cash App balance, though youll do it contact-morely with a plastic debit card. Theres nothing remotely Wallet-like when you shop at a Square business.

The Wallet experience is proliferating elsewhere, meanwhile. Philz and Peets have cloned the Starbucks order-ahead feature, as has Blue Bottle. Even San Rafaels Equator Coffee has an order-ahead app now.

The ability to use an app to place a purchase and pick up without lingering, a flashy convenience in 2011, seems like an urgent requirement now. Even Dorsey, though quite the futurist, probably hadnt foreseen todays pandemic. But he was right that Wallet was something we needed.

Its just a shame that Square isnt the one offering it.

 Owen Thomas, othomas@sfchronicle.com

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Quote of the week

I will burn this house down myself, before I let gangsters like that spin it for spoils.  Basecamp co-founder David Heinemeier Hansson, on resisting Apples demands that it pay the standard App Store cut for its Hey email service

Coming up

If youll forgive some self-promotion, Im interviewing Abolish Silicon Valley author Wendy Liu online on July 1. Register now for the Zoom event co-hosted by the Mechanics Institute and Goethe-Institut San Francisco. Read more about Liu and her explosive challenge to techs status quo.

What Im reading

Mark Wilson on the final run of the famous Segway scooter. (Fast Company)

Carolyn Said on the suspension of H-1B visas and what that means for the tech industry. (San Francisco Chronicle)

David Gelles on Stacy Brown-Philpots departure from TaskRabbit. (New York Times)

Tech Chronicle is a weekly newsletter from Owen Thomas, The Chronicles business editor, and the rest of the tech team. Follow along on Twitter: @techchronicle and Instagram: @techchronicle
The coronavirus crisis could be a blessing in disguise for some Australian job seekers as major companies close their overseas call centres and hire local workers.

New data suggests thousands of new jobs will be created with international borders expected to remain closed for an extended period.

The Customer Conversation Report from LivePerson also revealed that waiting on hold may be a thing of the past as customers and brands transition to digital messaging apps.

The graph by LivePerson shows the uptick in Australians using messaging apps to contact businesses

Since the COVID-19 lockdown began in March, there has been a near six-fold increase in Australians using platforms like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and SMS to communicate with companies.

'Our data reveals that the COVID-19 lockdown has seen take up of messaging channels skyrocket as companies were first overwhelmed by surges in customer enquiries, and then disrupted by the closure of call centres and store fronts due health and safety concerns,' LivePerson's General Manager for the Asia Pacific region Andrew Cannington said.

'However, this shift from voice to messaging-based customer conversations has not happened overnight. It has been driven by consumer demand for things to be done differently.

'The reality is that most of us don't want to pick up the phone and wait on hold. We'd rather use SMS, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger when it suits us, like we do with family and friends.'

Major Australian telcos like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone Australia have already begun to make the shift, along with the country's big four banks.

The coronavirus crisis may lead to a surge in some local jobs as major Australian companies close their overseas call centres and hire workers onshore

Use of the messaging platform WhatsApp to contact brands has increased rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic

Telstra have hired an extra 1000 call centre workers to fill the void left by overseas shutdowns in places like India and the Philippines.

Multinational IT services company Datacom is also in the process of hiring 2,000 workers to fill positions in Australian call centres.

'This period has been really tough for brands and their customer contact staff but it's resulting in innovation,' Mr Cannington said.

'Smart brands are picking up on this, and those that haven't risk being left behind. In fact, we predict that most, if not all of the companies that have pivoted to messaging in response to the pandemic will embrace it permanently.

'Brands are realising that their staff can work from home when needed, that technology can help them better do their jobs and that customers prefer engaging with them using messaging instead of a telephone call.'

About 980,000 jobs have been lost since the coronavirus pandemic hit.
People's Action Party (PAP) first assistant secretary-general Heng Swee Keat (centre) with the party's new candidates for the GE (from left) Ivan Lim, 42, Nadia Samdin, 30, Edward Chia, 36, and Desmond Tan, 50. (Photo: PAP)

SINGAPORE  The ruling Peoples Action Party (PAP) introduced its first slate of four candidates at a virtual press conference on Wednesday (24 June), ahead of the General Election on 10 July.

The four are: former Peoples Association (PA) chief executive Desmond Tan, 50; Timbre Group co-founder and managing director Edward Chia, 36; Keppel Offshore & Marine general manager Ivan Lim, 42; and lawyer Nadia Samdin, 30.

In a press statement, the party said it will unveil 26 new candidates over three days. They have a median age of 43, with the youngest at 30 and oldest at 56.

Candidates are also from a diverse range of backgrounds, with Singaporeans from the private sector as well as public service. The party took significant effort to bring in more women candidates, with 10 in the line-up this year, the statement added.

Desmond Tan Kok Ming, 50

Tan attended Queenstown Secondary Technical school and Raffles Junior College. He was awarded the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Merit Scholarship and graduated with first class honours in aeronautical engineering from Victoria University of Manchester in 1994.

He served with the armed forces for 28 years, rising to the rank of brigadier-general, and held key appointments including Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment, Commander of 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade, Chief Guards Officer and Director of Joint Operations. He was also public affairs director with the defence ministry.

Tan organised several National Day Parades, was deployed to Afghanistan, and was also involved in coordinating SAFs contribution to disaster operations in the Philippines, Nepal and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia.

The father of three is interested in issues relating to social mobility  helping children from low-income families to have a chance to succeed in life.

Desmond Tan, 50 (Photo: PAP)

Edward Chia Bing Hui, 36

Chia went to National Junior College and the National University of Singapore, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in economics and political science.

Story continues

At age 21 and while still an undergraduate, he co-founded Timbre, a bar-restaurant, wanting to develop Singapores music scene by cultivating the talent of local musicians and growing sustainable audiences for them. He became the managing director of Timbre Group two years later.

The father of one wants to focus on young families, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), innovation, entrepreneurship and mental wellness.

Edward Chia, 36 (Photo: PAP)

Ivan Lim Shaw Chua, 42

Lim joined Keppel Shipyard after his GCE O Levels and was awarded a scholarship by Keppel Shipyard to pursue a diploma in marine engineering at Singapore Polytechnic. He later obtained a Master of Engineering in marine engineering from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, graduating with first class honours.

He currently manages specialised vessels for his company.

The father of four has been volunteering at Henderson-Dawson constituency over the past year. He wants to help elderly residents and children who have disadvantages, especially those with special needs, and support parents who must juggle between work and family. He is also interested in climate change and sustainability issues.

Ivan Lim, 42 (Photo: PAP)

Nadia Ahmad Samdin, 30

Nadia attended CHIJ Katong Convent and Victoria Junior College. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Singapore Management University.

The associate director with TSMP Law Corporation was formerly a current affairs producer with Channel NewsAsia.

She has been active in community service for the last 15 years and is active in the Malay-Muslim community. She initiated a programme where volunteers meet underserved students monthly to check on their well-being and top-up their EZ-Link cards to prevent absenteeism. She is also a panel advisor in the Youth Court and befriends young women sentenced to Reformative Training.

Nadia is married with no children. She wants to reach out to those who face social isolation and loneliness and help them lead more meaningful lives. She also wants to empower youths, particularly those from troubled backgrounds. As a recreational diver, she is passionate about ocean conservation and the environment.

Nadia Samdin, 30 (Photo: PAP)

Follow Yahoo News Singapores GE2020 coverage here.

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Irans underground church comes 'above ground' to aid Muslim neighbors during COVID-19

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Christians in Muslim-majority Iran are risking arrest to provide food and humanitarian aid to their neighbors struggling without jobs during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the head of one of the worlds most prominent Christian persecution watchdogs.

David Curry, CEO of Open Doors USA, an organization that monitors persecution in 60 countries, told The Christian Post that underground churches in Iran have surfaced amid the COVID-19 crisis to answer Jesus call to love their neighbors.

It just began with people spending their own time and their own money to make sure neighbors have the care and support they need because of lost incomes and the COVID pandemic fallout, Curry said, adding that efforts have become more organized over time as local church networks have gotten involved.

The church [serves] as a rally point [and] centers of care and compassion for Muslim communities that they are living in, he explained.

For security reasons, Curry could not go into detail about how many churches are involved in distributing aid and how the aid distribution works. He said that churches, which are already under tremendous societal pressure, are taking extra risk by trying to organize help for people who are struggling.

The remarkable thing about the Iranian church is their ability to mobilize online networks into offline outreach in this highly restrictive, risk-laden environment, Curry explained.

Iran is ranked by Open Doors USA as the ninth worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution.

Iranian society is governed by Islamic law and churches are banned from holding services in the nations most common language, Farsi. People caught attending underground house churches face arrest and many are arrested every year.

The Church has always been strong in the underground among supporting each other, Curry stated. This is something different because they are having to come above ground, so to speak. They are starting in their pockets and their communities and neighbors, people who they know who are hungry and need hygiene kits and things like that. But it has gotten more organized, which brings greater risk. They have not done this sort of above-ground relief before. Its a historic thing.

The bold effort comes as the Iranian economy was hit hard over the last few years. The situation has gotten worse thanks to alleged mismanagement of the COVID-19 crisis by Iranian leaders.

So far, Iran has over 209,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 9,800 people have died. In recent weeks, it has been seeing more than 2,000 new cases a day.

The added pressure of sanctions and the COVID pandemic shutdown has really hurt, Curry said. The leaders are always going to make sure they have theirs. But the working-class people, the elderly are suffering greatly in Iran.

According to Curry, any type of underground church activity to serve neighbors in need is considered illegal in Iran because the regime has laws to interpret these kinds of things.

They would see that as trying to coerce people, he said. There is no evangelism involved in this. It is just Christians loving their communities. They will interpret it as a reason to crack down on Christians, certainly.

Curry assured that the distribution of food and hygiene packets does not involve evangelism.

This is just people loving each other in Jesus name. Of course, [there are] individual stories. There are people who recognize that these are Christian folks who are helping them, he said. But this is not about trying to preach sermons or evangelize to people, per se, but just do the right thing because their faith calls on them to do it.

Despite the risk, Curry said Open Doors felt compelled to share about the Iranian Churchs aid efforts because there are many people right now who need some good news.

They need an example of the Church being the Church in the midst of the very intolerant situation, he said. I just think it is a good example for us to stand up, be brave. There are people in worse situations that are doing this and it is having a tremendous impact and it is the right thing to do.

Despite the persecution, the underground church movement in Iran continues to grow. Open Doors estimates that there are over 800,000 Christians in Iran, a significant increase from the 450,000 Christians the group estimated in 2016. The 2011 census found 117,704 reported Christians in Iran.

Curry believes that the Church in Iran has been able to grow because people have been able to share their experiences of what Jesus has done for them on a personal level with their Muslim brothers and sisters who need hope.

You have a very smart connected community in Iran, which is a great country that has been victimized by this regime. It has really been very organic, Curry said.

Similar church-led aid efforts are happening in other countries where Christians are persecuted, such as India, where there have been reports of Christians being denied aid by radical Hindus.

We have organized, big movements to help Christian communities and Christians are being salt and light to those around them, Curry explained. The situation is different [in India]. There are major needs there. There are mostly Christians being isolated in radical Hindu communities from aid. Churches are having to help each other survive. So it is a somewhat different manifestation but there is a lot of issues intensifying persecution in various countries.
But controlling the virus would require an understanding of where it is lurking, especially difficult for a disease in which 80% of the cases have mild symptoms. Several local public health directors said in interviews that they learned about outbreaks from the news. The level of detail that officials need to decide on localized shutdowns  the postal codes of people testing positive, for example  remains elusive.
What just happened? Olympus is a well-known name in the world of photography, but despite previously denying it would get out of the camera business, thats exactly what its done. The company has announced that Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), the same firm that bought Sonys VAIO computer segment, has signed a memorandum of understanding that will see it acquire the division.

The increasing photographic power of smartphones has seen fewer consumers buying digital cameras. Theyre still used by hobbyists and professionals, but the number of everyday users has dropped as handsets become more advanced.

The smartphone problem is something Olympus acknowledges. The company wrote that it implemented measures to cope with the extremely severe digital camera market, due to, amongst others, rapid market shrink caused by the evolution of smartphones. But these steps werent enough, and it recorded operating losses for three consecutive fiscal years up to the term ended in March 2020.

The last decade wasnt the best for Olympus, which has been one of the leading manufacturers in the Micro Four Thirds category. In addition to the rise of smartphones, it had to deal with a $1.7 billion accounting scandal back in 2013.

Olympus CEO Yasuo Takeuchi suggested last year that a sale of its camera business wasnt an impossibility, but the company later tried to downplay his comments, claiming it definitely wouldnt be selling.

As was the case with VAIO, JIP says it plans to streamline the business to make it more compact, efficient and agile, which often translates to layoffs. It will also sell existing models and develop new ones under Olympus brands such as OM-D and Zuiko. Olympus, meanwhile, will be concentrating on the larger part of its businesssupplying medical equipment.

During the ongoing discussions, Imaging will continue business as usual. Sales, service and marketing departments will continue to work hard to support customers passionate about photography with great products and services, said Olympus.

The deal is expected to be concluded by September 30. How much JIP paid for the acquisition has not been revealed.
PHILIPSBURG:--- With the St. Maarten Stimulus and Relief Plan (SSRP) in its second month of execution, it is no surprise that there have been quite a number of challenges on all ends regarding the many businesses and residents who have applied for financial support from the Government. MP Solange Ludmila Duncan submitted questions via the President of Parliament to the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) on Tuesday 23 June 2020 to ascertain the handling of complaints and objections regarding unemployment support.

The MP noted according to the SSRP website, the Ministry of VSA predicted unemployment at approximately 5000 persons within the 3 months following the lockdown. This signifies that there may well have been thousands of requests for unemployment support especially after numerous employee dismissals or reduced working hours.

MP Duncan has requested the Ministrys policy as it regards labor disputes and complaints received during the last two months. She mentioned that although the execution of this unemployment support task is being handled by the St. Maarten Development Fund, the Ministry of VSA is responsible for ensuring labor mediation and access to social welfare for residents.

I have gotten many complaints by residents about abrupt dismissals from companies who may or may not have applied for business payroll support. There are persons who have had their work hours cut and by extension their salaries but are not sure if objections are being investigated. Effective monitoring and control are quite necessary from each Ministry and executing agency involved in the SSRP. I am seeking clarity from the Minister on how this is being handled  added the MP.

MP Duncan concluded, the SSRP was designed by the Government to assist our people directly with financial support. When companies receive payroll support, we must also ensure that the rights of their employees and what is owed to them are still respected and that salaries are paid as they should be. I believe that any inquiries by residents regarding labor dismissals or issues with insufficient salary must be investigated and addressed in a timely manner. Our peoples livelihoods are at stake.
Some Canadians are getting unwelcome surprises this month: smaller Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) payments than they expected.

CBC News has heard from many people confused by correspondence from the government advising them that they will not be eligible for the full $2,000 in June.

"Because you previously received an advance payment of $2,000 of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, you won't receive a payment for the period of June 15, 2020 to June 28, 2020. This is to cover the equivalent of the first two weeks of this advance. We will communicate any further changes to your future CERB payments in the coming weeks," reads an email from Service Canada received by a CERB claimant.

What's behind the smaller payment?

A spokesperson for Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said that some people received larger up-front payments than others when the aid program was launched. Those who were eligible for employment insurance (EI) received two payments when the CERB program began  they have now hit the maximum $8,000 for the initial four-month period.

As CERB was being rolled out, Qualtrough said the double deposits were not a mistake and that adjustments would be made through the course of the program.

Other people had applied twice, through the EI and CERB streams, and ended up receiving extra payments.

"Don't worry, it's fine. We're on it. We're sorting it out," Qualtrough said at the time, assuring Canadians that the payments would be "reconciled" over time.

She did stress that payments would not exceed the maximum allowable amount and suggested that recipients "budget accordingly." The government has since announced the CERB program will be extended for two more months, which would make an individual eligible for a maximum of $12,000.

Conservative employment critic MP Dan Albas blames government communications blunders for the anxiety some Canadians are now experiencing.

Story continues

"The Liberals' announcement on April 8 has resulted in considerable confusion, as many Canadians are now finding themselves in an unexpected financial situation," he said. "Government communications to Canadians who are receiving the CERB needed to be clear and concise. Unfortunately, it has been the opposite."

Recipients through the EI stream are paid $1,000 every two weeks, while recipients through the CERB stream receive one $2,000 payment monthly, said Qualtrough's office.

What happens next?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged on Monday that some people who received the money earlier are now struggling financially.

"This is a situation that is difficult for many families and we're looking at that closely," he said.

For those still out of work due to COVID-19, the extension of CERB will allow them to claim another $4,000 over the next two months.

NDP MP and employment critic Daniel Blaikie said the federal government should warn people well in advance before cutting the payments. The eight-week extension provides an opportunity to let people know when their benefit will end without it stopping abruptly, he said. "Instead of putting Canadians at ease, the government has been systematically unclear. They're unclear about when payments will end, what penalties there will be and what constitutes a reasonable offer of work," he said. "What people need is clarity. What they have is a government more concerned about covering their political backside than being straight with Canadians."

Many Canadians who were paid too much in error already have made repayments. As of early June, CRA reported that Canadians had made almost 190,000 repayments of CERB benefits they weren't entitled to receive.

Are there penalties for abuse?

CRA said the agency acted quickly to deliver emergency aid programs to Canadians in need and designed CERB as an attestation-based system, similar to the tax-filing process.

The CRA can verify the claimant's information at the time of filing or at a later date. When a claimant is found to be ineligible, they are contacted to make arrangements to repay an amount.

Trudeau and some federal ministers have said the government will not go after those who made honest mistakes when filing for emergency benefits, but they've vowed to crack down on those caught deliberately defrauding the system.

The government had proposed legislation that would have imposed stiff penalties for CERB fraud, including fines and jail time. After a backlash that saw the government accused of trying to scare people even more during a global pandemic, the bill failed to pass a Commons vote earlier this month.

CERB vs. wage subsidy?

The government has been encouraging employers to take up the wage subsidy program, which covers up to 75 per cent of the employee's salary up to a maximum of $847 a week.

That program was designed to maintain the connection between employer and employees, to allow businesses and economies to restart quickly and smoothly as pandemic restrictions ease up. Businesses must show a 30 per cent decline in revenues due to COVID-19 to qualify for the wage subsidy.

The Conservatives say the government should move to a phased formula for programs to maintain an incentive to return to work  by gradually clawing back CERB payments when someone has higher earnings and allowing businesses to claim a partial wage subsidy when they don't have the full 30 per cent revenue drop.

"As businesses start having shifts to fill, Canadians should not be penalized for returning to work. But that's exactly how the Liberals' programs are structured. Earning more than $1,000 a month results in a worker losing their entire benefit," Albas said.

"That is why Conservatives have called on the government to make the CERB more flexible so that no one is worse off going back to work or picking up a shift."
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged governments to adopt a framework with layers of bio-safety measures as they reopen international travel and avoid quarantine of travellers.

IATA is promoting a layered approach of measures to reduce the risk of countries importing Covid-19 via air travel and to mitigate the possibility of transmission in cases where people may travel while unknowingly being infected.

Imposing quarantine measures on arriving travellers keeps countries in isolation and the travel and tourism sector in lockdown. Fortunately, there are policy alternatives that can reduce the risk of importing Covid-19 infections while still allowing for the resumption of travel and tourism that are vital to jumpstarting national economies," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATAs Director General and CEO.

"We are proposing a framework with layers of protection to keep sick people from travelling and to mitigate the risk of transmission should travellers discover they were infected after arrival, he said.

IATA encourages a layering of bio-safety measures in two areas:

* Reducing the risk of imported cases via travellers: Discouraging symptomatic passengers from traveling - It is important that passengers do not travel when ill. To encourage passengers to do the right thing and stay home if they are unwell or potentially exposed, airlines are offering travellers flexibility in adjusting their bookings.

* Public health risk mitigation measures: IATA supports health screening by governments in the form of health declarations. To avoid privacy issues and cut the risk of infection with paper documents, standardised contactless electronic declarations via government web portals or government mobile applications are recommended.

Health screening using measures such as non-intrusive temperature checks can also play an important role, IATA said. Although temperature checks are not the most effective screening method for Covid-19 symptoms, they can act as a deterrent to traveling while unwell. Temperature checks can also shore-up passenger confidence. In a recent IATA survey of travellers, 80% indicated that temperature checks make them feel safer when traveling.

Covid-19 testing for travellers from countries perceived to be higher-risk: When accepting travelers from countries where the rate of new infections is significantly higher, the arrival authority could consider Covid-19 testing. It is recommended that tests are undertaken prior to arrival at the departure airport (so as not to add to airport congestion and avoid the potential for contagion in the travel process) with documentation to prove a negative result. Tests would need to be widely available and highly accurate, with results delivered quickly. Test data would need to be independently validated so as to be mutually recognized by governments and securely transmitted to the relevant authorities. Testing should be for active virus (polymerase chain reaction or PCR) rather than for antibodies or antigens.

Mitigating Risk in Cases where an Infected Person Does Travel

*Reducing the risk of transmission during the air travel journey: IATA encourages the universal implementation of the Take-Off guidelines published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Take-Off is a temporary risk-based and multi-layered approach to mitigate the risks of transmitting Covid-19 during air travel. The comprehensive Take-Off guidelines are closely aligned with the recommendations of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These include mask wearing throughout the travel process, sanitisation, health declarations and social distancing where possible.

* Contact tracing: This is the back-up measure, should someone be detected as infected after arrival. Rapid identification and isolation of contacts contains the risk without large-scale economic or social disruption. New mobile technology has the potential to automate part of the contact-tracing process, provided privacy concerns can be addressed.

* Reducing risk of transmission at destination: Governments are taking measures to limit the spread of the virus in their territory that will also mitigate the risk from travellers. In addition, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travel protocols provide a pragmatic approach for the hospitality sector to enable safe tourism and restore traveler confidence. Areas of the industry covered by the protocols include hospitality, attractions, retail, tour operators, and meeting planners.

Safely restarting the economy is a priority. That includes travel and tourism. Quarantine measures may play a role in keeping people safe, but they will also keep many unemployed. The alternative is to reduce risks through a series of measures. Airlines are already offering flexibility so there is no incentive for sick or at-risk people to travel. Health declarations, screening and testing by governments will add extra layers of protection. And if someone travels while infected, we can reduce the risk of transmission with protocols to prevent the spread during travel or when at destination. And effective contact tracing can isolate those most at risk without major disruptions, said de Juniac.

There are some hurdles to being able to implement the full suite of measures. Data transmission, required for health declarations, testing and tracing, raises privacy concerns. And mutually recognized standards would be needed for testing. Governments have a common interest in finding solutions. The rapid agreement by governments to ICAOs Take-Off guidelines demonstrates that progress on complex issues is possible where there is the political will to do so, said de Juniac.

"There is every economic incentive to make a layered approach work. WTTC estimates that travel and tourism accounts for 10.3% of global GDP and 300 million jobs globally (direct, indirect and induced economic impact)," he said.

Mandatory quarantine measures stop people from traveling and recent public opinion research revealed that 83% of travellers would not even consider travelling if quarantine measures were imposed on travellers at their destination. And analysis of trends during the lockdown period shows that countries imposing quarantine saw arrivals decrease by more than 90%  an outcome that is similar to countries that banned foreign arrivals, he said.

A layered approach to safety has made flying the safest way to travel while still enabling the system to function efficiently. That should be an inspirational framework to guide governments in protecting their citizens from the terrible risks of both the virus and joblessness. Quarantine is a lop-sided solution that protects one and absolutely fails at the other. We need government leadership to deliver a balanced protection, said de Juniac. - TradeArabia News Service
NIA arrests key conspirator of Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, June 24: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key conspirator linked to the Khalistan group, Sikhs for Justice.

The arrested persons has been identified as Pargat Singh. He is one of the key conspirators and recruiter of radical Sikh youth while working under the directions of handlers located abroad to further the activities of SFJ (Sikhs For Justice) which has already been declared an unlawful association under the provisions of UA(P) Act.

ISI charges Rs 10 lakh per kilogram of narcotics that a Khalistan terrorist sells

Covid in Delhi: Screening to be done at all households in capital by July 6 | Oneindia News

Case is related to series of acts of violence including acts of arson in Punjab during the year 2017- 18, carrying out of propaganda activities both online and on ground, campaigns in support of Referendum 2020/ SFJ including pasting of posters in Delhi and various parts of Punjab.

These acts were committed by groups of radicalised youths under direction of and financial assistance from SFJ handlers located abroad. Investigation has revealed that arrested accused persons including Pargat Singh had received funds from their foreign handlers through various Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) platforms.
A new photo is fueling speculation that the Loch Ness Monster is real.

The Daily Record reports a tourist named Steve Challice snapped pictures of what he thought was a big fish creating ripples in Scotlands Loch Ness. The alleged creature, about 2.5 meters long, quickly popped up and then disappeared below the water.

It only appeared in one shot and to be honest that was something of a fluke, he told the UK publication.

According to Yahoo! News, Challice said he didnt go through the photos from his Scottish vacation until the coronavirus lockdown, and is now asking Facebook users what they think it is.

Took this in Loch Ness last September but I dont know what kind of fish it is, he posted in the Anomalous Universe group along with a photo. Copies have been widely shared on Twitter and other sites, raising questions.

Is this the Loch Ness Monster? pic.twitter.com/Blpnr8GgIH  Z-104.5 The Edge (@edgetulsa) June 24, 2020

Challice denied allegations the image was photoshopped and hasnt suggested its Nessie, but Loch Ness Monster became a trending topic on social media as many suggested it could be evidence of the mythical creatures existence.

However, Loch Ness Mystery blogger Roland Watson said theres a big red flag in his claims.

So I first found out more about our photographer and discovered on his LinkedIn page that he was a 3D graphical artist and he had a portfolio of images of various constructions such as the one below. To be clear, he earns a living creating CGI - computer generated images, Watson wrote on his blog.

A longtime Loch Ness monster hunter also poured cold water on the sea creature theories in 2015 when he said he doesnt think Nessie exists at all.

Looking at all the evidence, speaking to eyewitnesses, the most likely solution is a wels catfish, Steve Feltham said after 24 years of investigating Loch Ness. Wels catfish can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh nearly 900 pounds; they were added to the lake in the 19th century for sport fishing.

I have to be honest. I just dont think that Nessie is a prehistoric monster, Feltham said in 2015.

The myth of Nessie originated in the sixth century, when Irish monk St. Columba was said to have banished a water beast to the River Ness. A 1934 surgeons photo made Nessie famous, though the black-and-white image of the head and neck poking out of the water was revealed to be a hoax 60 years later.

New reports and theories of Nessie sightings emerge nearly every year. A 30-foot sea monster was found in the Highlands lake in 2016, but it turned out to be a leftover movie prop from the 1970 film, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes.

A large, 164-million-year-old fossil was once found in another lake in Edinburgh, Scotland. Researchers called the 13-foot ichthyosaur, a dolphin-like dinosaur, the Storr Lochs Monster.

Who had the Loch Ness Monster on their 2020 Bingo card? pic.twitter.com/TxiNDt9ax3  Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 24, 2020

New photograph of possible Loch Ness Monster taken in Sept 2019 surfaces 21 June 2020. Photographer is skeptical it is Nessie. https://t.co/7ECYevawAs ~ @CryptoLoren pic.twitter.com/e63zOUmecx  Loren Coleman (@CryptoLoren) June 23, 2020

It's not often you see a cryptid trending nowadays! Hopefully this allegedly authentic photo of the Loch Ness Monster will spark more interest in cryptozoology.



Sadly, I believe this photo is fake. It looks clearly edited. Furthermore, the photographer creates CGI for a living. pic.twitter.com/YPOac8P5WL  Sir Spooks (@TheSirSpooks) June 24, 2020
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.
Analysis of treatment outcomes in five severe COVID-19 patients showed substantial benefit to patients treated with opaganib under compassionate use in both clinical outcomes and inflammatory markers as compared to a matched case-control group from the same hospital

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All patients in the opaganib-treated group were discharged from hospital without requiring mechanical ventilation whereas 33% of the matched case-control group required mechanical ventilation

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Median time to weaning from high-flow nasal cannula was reduced to 10 days in the opaganib-treated group, as compared to 15 days in the matched case-control group

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Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial Applications submitted for a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled study with opaganib in 270 patients with severe COVID-19 to be conducted in up to 40 clinical sites across Russia, Italy, the UK and additional countries

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A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with opaganib in up to 40 patients with severe COVID-19 initiated at leading medical centers across the U.S.

TEL-AVIV, Israel and RALEIGH, N.C., June 24, 2020) ("RedHill" or the "Company"), a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that results from the treatment of the first severe COVID-19 patients with its investigational drug, opaganib (Yeliva, ABC294640)1, have been published in medRxiv.

The article 2, entitled 'Compassionate Use of Opaganib For Patients with Severe COVID-19' was published under an expedited process and is available publicly.

Mark L. Levitt, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director at RedHill, stated: "We are very encouraged by the analysis from severe COVID-19 patients treated with opaganib to date, demonstrating substantial benefit to patients in both clinical outcomes and inflammatory markers as compared to a matched case-control group. This data further supports our intensive efforts to rapidly advance the development of opaganib via the recently initiated Phase 2a clinical study under IND with the FDA and the Phase 2/3 study in European and other countries which we expect to initiate shortly, as well as through ongoing and planned compassionate use programs."

Seven patients with severe3 COVID-19 were treated with opaganib under compassionate use in a leading hospital in Israel. Prior to treatment initiation, these patients were hospitalized and required treatment with supplemental oxygen via high-flow nasal cannula while being treated with standard-of-care. Opaganib was given on top of standard-of-care therapy. Five patients were included in the final published analysis4 of the active arm. An investigator-selected matched case-control group of patients with similar baseline characteristics at the same hospital was identified for comparison (n=18).

A comparison of outcomes between patients treated with opaganib and the matched case-controls treated with standard-of-care alone for both clinical and inflammatory measures revealed:

All patients in the opaganib-treated group were discharged from hospital on room air, without having required mechanical ventilation, whereas 33% of patients in the control group required mechanical ventilation.



Median time to weaning from high-flow nasal cannula was reduced to 10 days in the opaganib-treated group, as compared to 15 days in the control group.



Improvement in lymphocyte counts was faster in opaganib-treated patients as compared to patients in the control group.



C-reactive protein (an inflammatory marker) showed faster improvement in the opaganib treated group as compared to the control group.



In this cohort of severe COVID-19 patients, opaganib was found safe and well tolerated and improvement in clinical and laboratory parameters was demonstrated for opaganib-treated patients compared to matched case-controls.

To find out more about RedHill Biopharma's Expanded Access policy, please visit: www.redhillbio.com/expandedaccess.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2a clinical study with opaganib in the U.S. is open for recruitment). This study is set to enroll up to 40 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring hospitalization and supplemental oxygen. This clinical trial is not powered for statistical significance.

In parallel, the Company has submitted Clinical Trial Applications (CTA) in Russia, Italy and the UK for a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled Phase 2/3 study with opaganib in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19. This study is planned to commence shortly and enroll up to 270 subjects across up to 40 clinical sites in these European and other countries.

About Opaganib (ABC294640, Yeliva)

Opaganib, a new chemical entity, is a proprietary, first-in-class, orally-administered, sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2) selective inhibitor with anticancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activities, targeting multiple oncology, inflammatory and gastrointestinal indications. By inhibiting SK2, opaganib blocks the synthesis of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a lipid-signaling molecule that promotes cancer growth and pathological inflammation.

Pre-clinical data have demonstrated both anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activities of opaganib, with the potential to reduce lung inflammatory disorders, such as pneumonia, and mitigate pulmonary fibrotic damage. Several prior pre-clinical studies support the potential role of SK2 in the replication-transcription complex of positive-strand single-stranded RNA viruses, similar to coronavirus, and its inhibition may potentially inhibit viral replication. Pre-clinical in vivo studies5 have demonstrated that opaganib decreased fatality rates from influenza-virus infection and ameliorated Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced lung injury by reducing the levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids.

Opaganib was originally developed by U.S.-based Apogee Biotechnology Corp. and completed multiple successful pre-clinical studies in oncology, inflammation, GI and radioprotection models, as well as a Phase 1 clinical study in cancer patients with advanced solid tumors.

Opaganib received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. FDA for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma and is being evaluated in a Phase 1/2a in advanced cholangiocarcinoma and in a Phase 2 study in prostate cancer. Opaganib is also being evaluated for the treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The development of opaganib has been supported by grants and contracts from U.S. federal and state government agencies awarded to Apogee Biotechnology Corp., including from the NCI, BARDA, the U.S. Department of Defense and the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development.

About RedHill Biopharma

RedHill Biopharma Ltd.) is a specialty biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on gastrointestinal diseases. RedHill promotes the gastrointestinal drugs Movantik for opioid-induced constipation in adults6, Taliciafor the treatment of Helicobacter pylori .

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words, including forward-looking statements regarding the preliminary findings from the treatment of COVID-19 patients with opaganib and the Company's discussions to increase the accessibility of opaganib under compassionate use program authorizations programs. The treatment with opaganib in Israel is administered under a compassionate use program in accordance with the Israeli Ministry of Health guidelines. The findings to date are only preliminary, are based on clinical results of a very limited number of patients and are not part of a clinical study. There is no guarantee that these patients will continue to show clinical improvement or that other patients will show similar clinical improvement. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control and cannot be predicted or quantified, and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risk that the clinical condition of the patients treated with opaganib will not continue to improve and may worsen, the risk that the Company will not expand access to opaganib under compassionate use and clinical development programs in other territories, the risk that other COVID-19 patients treated with opaganib will not show any clinical improvement, the risk that clinical trials of opaganib in Israel, the U.S., Italy or elsewhere for the treatment of COV-19, if conducted at all, will not show any improvement in patients, the development risks of early-stage discovery efforts for a disease that is still little understood, including difficulty in assessing the efficacy of opaganib for the treatment of COVID-19, if at all; intense competition from other companies developing potential treatments and vaccines for COVID-19;the effect of a potential occurrence of patients suffering serious adverse events using opaganib under the compassionate use programs as well as risks and uncertainties associated with (i) the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Company's research, manufacturing, pre-clinical studies, clinical trials, and other therapeutic candidate development efforts, and the timing of the commercial launch of its commercial products and ones it may acquire or develop in the future; (ii) the Company's ability to advance its therapeutic candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete its pre-clinical studies or clinical trials or the development of a commercial companion diagnostic for the detection of MAP; (iii) the extent and number and type of additional studies that the Company may be required to conduct and the Company's receipt of regulatory approvals for its therapeutic candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings, approvals and feedback; (iv) the manufacturing, clinical development, commercialization, and market acceptance of the Company's therapeutic candidates and Talicia; (v) the Company's ability to successfully commercialize and promote Talicia, and Aemcolo and Movantik; (vi) the Company's ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; (vii) the Company's ability to acquire products approved for marketing in the U.S. that achieve commercial success and build its own marketing and commercialization capabilities; (viii) the interpretation of the properties and characteristics of the Company's therapeutic candidates and the results obtained with its therapeutic candidates in research, pre-clinical studies or clinical trials; (ix) the implementation of the Company's business model, strategic plans for its business and therapeutic candidates; (x) the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its therapeutic candidates and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (xi) parties from whom the Company licenses its intellectual property defaulting in their obligations to the Company; (xii) estimates of the Company's expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; (xiii) the effect of patients suffering adverse experiences using investigative drugs under the Company's Expanded Access Program; (xiv) competition from other companies and technologies within the Company's industry; and (xv) the hiring and employment commencement date of executive managers. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 4, 2020. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

Company contact:

Adi Frish

Senior VP Business Development & Licensing

RedHill Biopharma

+972-54-6543-112

adi@redhillbio.com (mailto:adi@redhillbio.com) IR contact (U.S.):

Timothy McCarthy, CFA, MBA

Managing Director, Relationship Manager

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

+1-212-915-2564

tim@lifesciadvisors.com

___________________

1 Opaganib is an investigational new drug, not available for commercial distribution.



2 The article was authored by Ramzi Kurd, MD, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center; Eli Ben-Chetrit, MD, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center and Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine; Hani Karameh MD, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center and Maskit Bar-Meir, MD, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center and Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine. See full text here: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.20.20099010v1?rss=1 .

3 Definition based on U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance published on May 12, 2020.

4 Of the six patients who received more than one day of opaganib, one patient improved rapidly and was discharged from the hospital after only two doses. Hence, five patients who were administered more than one day of opaganib were included in the active group. A seventh patient was started on hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and opaganib within 24 hours, and had all 3 drugs stopped due to diarrhea after only one day of treatment with opaganib. Eighteen matched case-controls (same sex, same severity and similar background medication) from the treating hospital were retrospectively identified.

5 Xia C. et al. Transient inhibition of sphingosine kinases confers protection to influenza A virus infected mice. Antiviral Res. 2018 Oct; 158:171-177. Ebenezer DL et al. Pseudomonas aeruginosa stimulates nuclear sphingosine-1-phosphate generation and epigenetic regulation of lung inflammatory injury. Thorax. 2019 Jun;74(6):579-591.

6 Full prescribing information for Movantik.

7 Full prescribing information for Talicia.

8 Full prescribing information for Aemcolo.
IBMC joins hands with US Gold Currency Inc, Blockfills to bring the gold-backed digital asset

US Gold Currency (USG) is world's first digital asset represented by American Eagle One Ounce Gold Coin minted by the US Federal Agency MINT

Customers can redeem US Gold tokens at any time in US Dollars or American Eagle one ounce gold coins worldwide

Corporates can reduce the cost of business transaction and settle their inter-country company transactions to address business risks

MUMBAI, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IBMC Financial Professionals Group, an internationally recognized financial services institution and business consultants, has joined hands with US Gold Currency Inc and Blockfills to bring the world's first monetary gold-backed digital gold currency to India. The currency is also being simultaneously introduced in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Middle East and Africa.

For this, IBMC, which has presence in India, has partnered exclusively with US Gold Currency Inc, the issuer of the US Gold digital currency, and Blockfills, the transaction platform provider.

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 H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Hamed, Chairman of IBMC Financial Professionals Group and Mr 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. Today's 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 world's first monetary gold-backed digital gold asset to India in addition to the GCC, Middle East and African markets," said Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Hamed.

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. A customer can login with a secured user ID and password on the trading platform for buying and redeeming the coins.

With the launch of the digital gold currency, investors in India will have the significant opportunity to reduce the cost of their transactions as well as have the flexibility of time for making payments.

"Tackling the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the launch of the Digital Gold Currency will enable companies in developing countries settle their inter-company transactions without paying extortionate fees," said Dr. Abdul Dewale Mohammed, Deputy Director General, Asia-Africa Development Council. "As a vital transport currency, it will to a large extent help reduce and eliminate risks in business," he added.

Larry Debry, Director US Gold Currency, said: "We are honored to be working with the leaders of IBMC and their esteemed team of professionals. Gold has been one of the most significant legacy asset classes throughout history. Just as everyone has written gold off, saying it is outdated and no longer relevant, US Gold Currency created the USG forming a futuristic and modern gold asset class for the 21st Century by marrying monetary gold with the Blockchain. USG is the 'real' digital gold."

Each USGold token (USG) is backed 1:1 with an underlying physical gold coin, the US American Eagle, which is created and distributed by the US Mint. Therefore, USG token holders can redeem their tokens physically for gold coins, should they choose to forego the digital asset in their wallet. Token holders can also sell the USG on the open market through various digital asset exchanges or through Blockfills in exchange for US Dollars. USG can also be converted into several other digital assets, including BTC, ETH, USDT and more.

The US government division, the US Mint, sets the price of the underlying physical gold coin once per week, on Wednesdays. USG pricing follows this publicly available government set price.

"IBMC Financial Professionals Group is always committed to introducing innovative and credible services to the investing public. USG is easy to handle without customs barriers, easy to hold without any country restrictions, paying insurance cost or storage charges. USG is US regulated and fully online with easy account opening and operating procedures, enabling customers to avail all services of USG from their homes or office, which of course is an added advantage in the current and post COVID-19 pandemic period," said Mr. Sajith Kumar PK, CEO & Managing Director, IBMC Financial Professionals Group.

"The professional team of US Gold Currency, IBMC Group and Blockfills will pave the strong network and base of the innovative digital asset ecosystem and fiat pairings to generations," added Mr. Sajith Kumar.

Blockfills, a global leader in liquidity provision of digital assets for professionals and institutions and leading institutional market makers, provide liquidity for the USG Digital Gold Currency.

USG is backed by US Monetary Gold Coin and ensures true value currency. All classes of investors, including exchanges, treasuries, banks, financial institutions, corporates, HNIs and retail investors are permitted to invest in USG.

USG, the Blockchain Security Verified Currency by the authority, CertiK, USA partnering with IBM and Ethereum Foundation, will also ensure the credibility and security of USG.

"IBMC Financial Professionals, having strong market presence in GCC, Middle East, India and Africa, is ready to place USG to customers through the IBMC Global Network. IBMC's market reach and network will ensure adequate support and services to our global retail and institutional customers," said Mr. Anoop PS, CBO and Executive Director, IBMC Financial Professionals Group.

"Bringing the USG Digital Asset Currency to the public markets is a result of the great partnership that we have with US Gold Currency and IBMC. Over the past year, we experienced a growing demand for gold as a digital asset. Today's global economic climate has further increased that demand. We look forward to building a thriving business through our valued partnership with IBMC and US Gold," said Mike Pearson, Senior Vice President, BlockFills, USA.

The IBMC Hybrid event was virtually attended by Mr. Mark Bensen, Founder, US Gold Currency, USA, Mr. Lawrence S Debry, Principal, US Gold Currency, USA, Dr. Abdul Dewale Mohammed, Deputy Director General, Asia-Africa Development Council, Executive Chairman ASGON, GSEF, UK, a Signatory to United Nations Global Compact, Mr. Mike Pearson, Vice President, Blockfills, USA, and Mr. Anoop PS, CBO & ED, IBMC Financial Professionals Group.

About IBMC:

IBMC Financial Professionals Group is an internationally recognized financial services institution & business consultants specializing in Investment & Fund Management, Private-placement Management, Corporate Advisory Services, Financial Education, FinTech Development, Corporate Tax & Audit, Corporate Law and Compliance. IBMC Financial Professionals Group is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates and represented in India by IBMC Financial Consultants Pvt Ltd.

IBMC maintains a strong presence and high level of credibility within the financial services industry. IBMC connects different continents through its professional team and specialized international projects and events focusing on innovation, technology and diversification.

About USGold:

In its 40 years of service, US Gold, Inc. has provided bullion gold coin sales specializing in the 1oz American Gold Eagle coin - a monetary-gold coin minted under the direction of the United States Treasury. Today, US Gold Currency, Inc. provides the American Gold Eagle coin in a Digital Blockchain Receipt - the "USGold Token", each one fully collateralized 1:1 with a 1oz American Gold Eagle coin. Referred to as "USG" - for the US Gold Dollar.

About Blockfills:

Blockfills is a global digital financial service technology & trading firm which provides liquidity, execution and clearing of digital assets across time zones and geographies.

SOURCE IBMC Financial Professionals Group
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has been charged with 10 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the countrys conflict in the 1990s, a tribunal in The Hague said on Wednesday.

Wartime intelligence chief and former parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli is also accused of war crimes, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) said, adding that the charges against both men were brought on April 24 but not revealed publicly.

The indictment alleges that Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli and the other charged suspects are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders, the KSC said in a statement.

The accused are also facing other charges such as enforced disappearance of persons, persecution and torture, the tribunal said.

The crimes alleged in the indictment involved hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian, Serb, Roma, and other ethnicities and include political opponents, it added.

Prosecutors said they decided to make the accusations public because Thaci and Veseli had made repeated attempts to obstruct the KSC.

Thaci is currently preparing for a summit at the White House on Saturday with Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, and local media reports suggested he had already left for the US. His officials could not be reached to confirm the report.

The White House meeting was organised by the US special envoy to Serbia and Kosovo Richard Grenell, who has ruffled European feathers by launching a diplomatic process between the two sides parallel to decade-long talks mediated by the EU.

Grenell has denied trying to overshadow the EU-led process, saying his meeting will focus on boosting economic ties.Trump was not expected to attend the meeting.

 Wartime atrocities 

The EU-backed tribunal was established in 2015 to investigate crimes by independence-seeking ethnic Albanian guerrillas against mainly Serb civilians during the 1998-1999 war.

The conflict pitted Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas seeking independence for the southern Serbian province of Kosovo against Serbias forces, who withdrew from the territory after an 11-week NATO bombing campaign.

The tribunal was created after a Council of Europe report tied former guerrilla leaders including Thaci to atrocities.

The court announced in April that it had filed charges against high-ranking Kosovo officials without naming them, but speculation was already rife that the indictment included Thaci.

Asked in April whether he would resign if he was charged, Thaci told local media he was not even thinking about it and would respond positively if he was asked to appear at the tribunal.

Kosovos outgoing prime minister, Ramush Haradinaj, resigned last July after being summoned by the prosecutor for interrogation as a suspect.

Veseli said in November he had been summoned by the court to be questioned.

The KSC opened its doors in The Hague as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was winding down after almost 25 years of prosecuting crimes committed in the Balkans after Yugoslavias break-up in the early 1990s.

Haradinaj was acquitted of war crimes by the ICTY in 2012.

Kosovos independence war claimed around 13,000 lives, the majority of whom were ethnic Albanians.

The territory unilaterally declared its independence in 2008 with backing from the United States and most of the West.

But Serbia and its allies China and Russia have never accepted the move, and the status of Kosovo remains a major source of tension in the Balkans.
MILWAUKEE  Organizers upended the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday as they told state delegations not to travel to Milwaukee, moved the convention to a smaller venue and added satellite events around the country.

But even as Democrats downsize their convention  in contrast to what Republicans are doing  they say former Vice President Joe Biden will still formally accept the nomination in Milwaukee.

"Vice President Biden intends to proudly accept his party's nomination in Milwaukee and take the next step forward towards making Donald Trump a one-term president," Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said in a statement. "The city of Milwaukee has been an incredible partner and we are committed to highlighting Wisconsin as a key battleground state at our convention this August."

Former Vice President Joe Biden plans to still formally accept his party's nomination in Milwaukee amid scaled-down plans for the Democratic National Convention.

The decision to overhaul plans for the August 17-20 convention came after consulting with public health officials about the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers said.

The moves by the Democrats stand in stark contrast to the Republicans, who shifted their main convention events from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Jacksonville, Florida, after North Carolina officials couldn't promise that social distancing rules would not be in effect.

President Donald Trump plans to accept the renomination in front of large crowds expected to attend the Aug. 24-27 event.

Different approaches: Faced with coronavirus, Republican and Democratic leaders overhaul convention plans

For the Democrats, delegates will cast votes remotely for the presidential nomination in what is shaping up to be a scaled-back and increasingly virtual event.

Organizers also announced that large-scale events, such as a welcome reception for delegates and media and a party for volunteers, are canceled as coronavirus cases surge in the U.S.

"Leadership means being able to adapt to any situation," Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez said in a statement. "That's exactly what we've done with our convention. Unlike this president, Joe Biden and Democrats are committed to protecting the health and safety of the American people."

Story continues

He also praised convention organizers and Milwaukee officials for their handling of planning a major event amid a pandemic.

"I couldn't be prouder of the way our team has organized and mobilized to get out the vote and ensure a successful convention anchored in Wisconsin, and I'm grateful for the extraordinary leadership of our partners in the city of Milwaukee," Perez said.

Organizers also announced that Fiserv Forum will no longer serve as the centerpiece of the convention, as all event proceedings will move from the arena in downtown Milwaukee to the Wisconsin Center. While Biden is expected to travel to Milwaukee, state delegations are being told they should not plan to come to town for the event.

The convention, which was pushed back from July to August, had been expected to draw 50,000 visitors to Milwaukee this summer. Clearly the number of attendees will now be far smaller.

Convention planners said Milwaukee, as host city, will still anchor the events for the week but added that programming will include live broadcasts and content from other "satellite cities, locations and landmarks across the country."

Democrats are trying to honor their commitment to hold as much of the event in Milwaukee as possible, given the unpredictable nature of the coronavirus pandemic.

Convention organizers also said:

State delegations should not plan to travel to Milwaukee and should plan to conduct their official convention business remotely.

A process is being developed to ensure all delegates can cast their votes remotely on the presidential nomination and all other convention matters.

Milwaukee is set to anchor events every night Aug. 17-20, but programming will now include live broadcast and content from "other satellite cities, locations and landmarks" across the United States.

DNC standing committee meetings, which are tentatively set for the last week of July, will also take place virtually.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi will serve as permanent chair of the convention and will preside over all official convention business.

The convention program, including satellite broadcasts, will be led by Emmy Award-winning producer Ricky Kirschner.

In addition, Democrats are consulting with epidemiologists and infectious disease experts W. Ian Lipkin, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University, and Larry Brilliant, a former professor of epidemiology.

Earlier this month, Perez said he didn't know how many delegates would attend the party's national convention in Milwaukee, but he reaffirmed Democrats will stage their event in Wisconsin's largest city despite uncertainty caused by the coronavirus.

The team overseeing the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee already had maximum authority to change the format, size and dates of the event under a sweeping resolution that party insiders approved in May.

"Everything is on the line this November, which is why we must find creative and forward-looking ways to organize, mobilize, and unite our party around our shared values at the convention so that we can launch Joe Biden to victory this fall," said Joe Solmonese, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee.

Contributing: John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Contact Mary Spicuzza at (414) 224-2324 or mary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MSpicuzzaMJS.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democratic convention: Joe Biden to accept nomination at smaller event
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Armed Georgians have 'taken over' the Wendy's parking lot where Rayshard Brooks was shot dead by police in Atlanta.

People who live in the neighborhood said the group of people brandishing firearms had blocked the roads making it difficult for them to get home.

Some gun owners were seen holding rifles or with pistols in their pockets while standing outside the fast food restaurant that was burned down the day after Brooks was killed by Officer Garrett Rolfe.

On Tuesday, the day of Brooks' funeral, many locals watched his hearse went by, waving the American flag and hold 'black life matters' signs where flowers and pictures were placed.

Locals have said armed people have 'taken over' the Atlanta Wendy's parking lot where Rayshard Brooks was killed on June 12

Some locals carried their rifles over their chest and some had pistols in their pockets as Brooks' hearse went by on Tuesday

An armed man awaits the casket of Brooks to pass by the area in South Atlanta where he was gunned down 11 days ago

But one woman described a scene of many people boasting weapons, telling 11 Alive, 'they all had guns'.

'They were all brandishing the guns to me from their waistbands,' Jennifer Edwards said. 'And that they were going to shoot me in the back of the head if I did get away.'

She did get away. Edwards shared an image of her car with a large rock on the floor, claiming someone near Wendy's threw it through her windshield.

'The guy took his gun out of his waistband and started to point it at me,' Edwards told 11 Alive. 'I didn't care, I just went around him. If I hit him, if I bumped him, sorry. I have to get away with my life.'

Another woman caught in the inconvenient roadblock near University Avenue said that in the last few days people at the location were even making life difficult for those who lived in the immediate vicinity.

'They wouldn't let her through and she felt intimidated,' Kimberlee Jones told 11 Alive about her mother.

This weekend someone was shot near the Wendy's and the assailant is believed to have driven away.

It was also reported that a woman was shot in the leg.

Georgians stood by a setup of flowers and pictures, waving American flags and holding 'black life matters' signs

The spot where they stood was burned down the day after Brooks was killed by police as nearby protesters called for defunding the police

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

The family of Rayshard Brooks arrived earlier this afternoon, the majority of them dressed in white or in BLM shirts

People hold U.S flags outside Ebenezer Baptist Church while funeral was in progress for Rayshard Brooks

'My husband literally just missed getting caught in the crossfire when he was on his way home,' Jones said. 'And people have been shot and have been hurt.'

While in the days after Brooks was killed, protesters took the parking lot with placards showing their opposition to police brutality and systemic racism, Jones insisted the people outside Wendy's now, are not protesters.

'It's not a protest at this point,' she said. 'I use the term 'flea market' because some people are camped out, some are selling things, others are taking selfies and not actually protesting.'

Police told 11 Alive that they have a plan to get to the location back under control.

Jones said for now they're asking people to find an alternative route until they carry out a plan that doesn't worsen the situation.

'He (the police officer) asked people to stay away because, I'll use his term, the crowd has been hostile to a certain extent,' Jones said. 'He said that they are aware of what's going on, but they don't want to add fuel to the fire; to escalate things. So their advice is to stay out of that area.'

She added: 'It's physically draining, trying to figure out ways to get home, and it's emotionally draining dealing with the upheaval and the noise and the explosions. It's an emotional drain.'

As locals in Atlanta called for reforms, Reverend Bernice King, the daughter of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr, channeled her late father at the funeral service for Rayshard Brooks. She called for a 'revolution of values' across the country to end systemic 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."'

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

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

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.

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.

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.
The Saharan dust plume is leading to the worst dust storm in the Caribbean in decades, according to CNN.

Over this past weekend, Saharan dust moved into the Caribbean. By Monday, areas of the Caribbean known for its pristine water and blue skies turned into a dirty-looking, brown-gray color. As of Tuesday, the dust plume had started its 5,000-mile journey toward the United States, although dust will linger in the Caribbean for a few days.

It is definitely historic, Olga Mayol-Bracero, a researcher at the University of Puerto Rico told CNN Weather. We knew we were going to be in an extraordinary situation.

It is unusual that the dust is forecast to travel over central America and the U.S. with such high concentrations, Claire Ryder, NERC independent research fellow at the University of Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom, told CNN Weather.

https://t.co/GQOWdtyFZ9

CNN article about the current massive Saharan #dust plume quoting yours truly  Dr Claire Ryder (@DustyCRyder) June 23, 2020

The dust layer is so thick you can see it on weather satellites and astronauts have a good view of it from the International Space Station. We flew over this Saharan dust plume today in the west central Atlantic, Astronaut Doug Hurly tweeted on Sunday. Amazing how large an area it covers!

The station orbited above the shadow of the solar eclipse in Asia then the Saharan dust cloud over the Atlantic on June 21. https://t.co/qcHlvByj8M pic.twitter.com/npgL857jSC  Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) June 23, 2020

So, when will it reach the U.S.?

It is predicted the Saharan dust will move across the Gulf of Mexico toward Texas and reach the U.S. by Thursday morning. So, residents of Texas towns such as Brownsville and Houston will likely wake up to a beautiful sunrise and a hazier-than-normal sky.

Once it reaches Texas  then what?

The thicker layer of Saharan dust is likely to reach Texas by Friday and then take a turn to the east. If the forecast model is right, it will move over most of the Southeast and MidAtlantic states over the weekend.

How will Saharan dust affect the U.S.?

Once it arrives, there are three main ways you'll notice next week's Saharan dust in the U.S., wrote CNN meteorologist Tyler Mauldin.

One of the first things you'll notice when the Saharan dust layer arrives is typical blue skies will have more of a milky haze to it due to the tiny dust particles scattering through the sun's rays at dusk and dawn, giving way to stunning sunrises and sunsets.

Saharan dust to a hurricane is nothing more than extremely dry air. Hurricanes hate dry air, needing hot, humid and calm environments. So, as long as the Saharan dust is around, its likely well see less hurricanes.

The tiny dust particles dont always stay at 30,000 feet. Sometimes those particles make their way lower to the Earths surface, greatly affecting those with sensitive allergies.

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Chongqing Issued a Red Warning Amid Record-Breaking Floods

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Chongqing issued a red flood warning on June 22. Due to heavy rainfall in recent days, the Qijiang Rivers Chongqing section on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River was expected to see the largest flooding since 1940, according to Chongqing hydrological monitoring station.
The Kerala police on Wednesday arrested four persons for allegedly threatening and extorting money from south Indian actor Shamna Kasim.

Kasims father, in his complaint to the police, alleged that the extortionists were threatening to release some video clips.

A person called the actors father to talk about a marriage proposal. Elaborating on the subject, the person said that the groom, who has a business in Dubai, comes from a family in Kozhikode in north Kerala.

Later, six people visited the actors house in Kochi and made videos of all relatives. Subsequently, they started demanding money, when the money was refused, they, the actors father alleged, started making threatening calls.

The address given by the so-called marriage party turned out to be fake, said the father.

Police were able to make arrests by tracking the calls made to the father and actor. More arrests are likely, said the police, adding that the suspects were part of a well-knit extortion racket.

No one else should fall in such a trap, that is why I told my parents to file a complaint. They seem to be a part of an extortion gang, Shamna told a Malayalam news channel.

Shamna, who began her acting career in 2007, has acted in more than 40 films in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu cinema

Three years ago, a popular actor was abducted and sexually assaulted by a criminal gang in Kochi. They set her free later but threatened to circulate the video of assault if she approached the police. However, she filed a complaint the same day, and actor Dileep was arrested five months after the incident on charges of hiring a criminal gang to settle personal scores with her.

The trial is currently underway in a special court.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to scrap the rule requiring every coronavirus COVID-19 patient to get assessed at quarantine centres.

Addressing an online media briefing, Sisodia said, "The home isolation rules have been changed in Delhi and as a result, there is an atmosphere of fear among the people. This is putting an additional burden on the system. I request Union Home Minister Amit Shah to withdraw these rules."

He added, "There are two models in Delhi. The first one is of Amit Shah that requires every COVID-19 patient to go to the quarantine centre for examination. The second model is of Arvind Kejriwal government, in which the Delhi government medical team will visit the homes to investigate the COVID-19 patient. We need a model in which people will have less trouble."

Sisodia added that this is not a fight between Amit Shah's model and Kejriwal's model.

The Deputy CM said he had written to Lt Governor (LG) Anil Baijal on June 23 on the same issue, but the AAP government was yet to receive a response from the LG's office.

Sisodia said people were facing a lot of problems due to the new system and it should be scrapped immediately. He said the Union home minister himself was overseeing measures being taken to deal with the COVID-19 situation. The previous system should be implemented wherein teams of the district administration visited the house of an infected person for clinical assessment, Sisodia said.
New Delhi, June 24 : The Delhi High Court, while hearing the regular bail application filed by Delhi riots accused Shahrukh Pathan, said on Wednesday that "he didnt think of his parents when he was flashing the gun in pubic?" "He did not think of his parents when he was flashing the gun publicly? But when he got into trouble, he is recalling his parents now," said a single judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait.

The observation came in response to the submissions made by Advocate Asghar Khan, the counsel for the petitioner, while the court was hearing the application filed by Pathan, the man who had flashed a gun at the cops during the riots in northeast Delhi in February this year.

Khan submitted before the high court that his client is a victim of circumstances. He added that the accused has no criminal antecedents, and there's no evidence of anyone getting injured by the alleged acts of the accused.

"I have the responsibility of my family. Till today my father is on death bed, he is 76 years old. My mother is also on death bed and is very old; I am a victim of the circumstances," Khan submitted on behalf of Pathan.

Opposing these claims, the prosecution said that it has placed on record the CCTV footage which clearly shows the accused brandishing a gun at a police officer.

"Apart from this, we have two more CCTV footages and ample amount of other evidences to show what he did there," the prosecution said.

After hearing the arguments at length, the court said that it was not inclined to grant bail to the accused, following which Khan sought permission to withdraw the petition.

The court granted him the permission and dismissed the matter.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text


A Saudi official has said only a few thousand pilgrims can attend the Muslim religious observance known as the hajj next month. Concerns over the spread of the coronavirus mean that fewer people can come to the Muslim holy city of Mecca. The hajj usually brings up to 2.5 million Muslims to the Saudi city from all over the world. The pilgrimage begins in late July.

Saudis Hajj Minister Muhammad Benten said a small and very limited number of people can come to perform the pilgrimage, possibly only 1,000 from the Saudi kingdom.

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 an online news conference.

The decision to cut the number of people for this years hajj was expected although it has never happened before in Saudi Arabias nearly 90-year history. It bars nearly all Muslims from outside the kingdom from traveling there.

The Saudi government waited until five weeks before the hajj to announce its decision. The timing shows the sensitivity around major decisions concerning the hajj, which affect Muslims around the world.

This is a very sensitive operation and we are working with experts at the Health Ministry, Benten said. He said protecting the lives and health of pilgrims is important.

Saudi officials said that no one over the age of 65 will be permitted to perform the hajj. They also said everyone involved in the hajj this year will be quarantined before and after the pilgrimage.

Saudi Arabia first announced late on Monday that only a few Muslims could come to Mecca. It said they would be chosen from among people of many nationalities already inside the kingdom.



It is disappointing for Muslims who have saved money for years to pay for the trip. Making the hajj at least once is a requirement for all Muslims. It is also a chance to remove sins and to form relationships with Muslims from all over the world.

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 is one of Indias most influential Muslim clerics. He said China is responsible. Had China told the world about COVIDthe world would have reacted differently, he said. He added that a group of Indian Muslims should be permitted to go and perform the hajj.

The tradition should not be broken, he said.

Usually, each country is given a set number of hajj visas that are decided by the size of its Muslim population. Indonesia, the largest Muslim country, gets 221,000.

Pakistan usually sends around 180,000 pilgrims. Pakistan said Saudi officials already told them about the decision to limit this years hajj. Pakistani diplomats already in Saudi Arabia will represent the country this year at the hajj.

Saudi Arabias borders have been shut to foreigners since late February in attempts to slow down the spread of the virus.

Still, the kingdom has one of the highest infection rates in the Middle East, with more than 161,000 confirmed cases so far, including more than 1,307 deaths.

Saudi Arabia said the decision to limit the hajj agrees with the teachings of Islam, which require the preservation of human life.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

pilgrimn. one who undertakes a religious journey

reviewn. to look over

quarantinen. the isolation of someone who has a contagious disease

sinn. to commit a bad act that is condemned by one's faith

clericn. a religious man or woman
Romanian Prosecutor Says Iran Fugitive Judge Died Possibly By Falling From Heigth

Radio Farda June 23, 2020

Romanian prosecutors on Tuesday announced that an autopsy was carried out on the body of the fugitive Iranian judge, Gholamreza Mansouri, which indicated that he possibly fell to his death from a height at the Duke hotel in Bucharest where he was staying.

According to the report, Mansouri died as a result of traumatic injuries  meaning CPR could not be performed  that resulted from hitting a hard surface after falling.

The report also says several hotel employees heard the sound of something hitting the ground. The judge in charge of the case has permitted the examination of video surveillance tapes from the hotel to shed light on the incident and have questioned hotel staff. Homicide police are also involved in the investigation to establish the circumstances of the death which occurred at 14:30 local time on June 19, it said.

Judge Mansouri's body was found in an inner lobby on the ground floor of the hotel on Friday.

Sources close to the investigation have told RFE/RL that some documents in Persian, several mobile phones and bank cards were discovered by the police in Mansouri's suitcase, which appeared tidy and prepared for moving. They have also said that toxicology tests are being done on the deceased's blood.

The police have not ruled out homicide as the cause of the of the death but the possibility of suicide still remains the main theory. Iran's Prosecutor General Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri, however, still says Mansouri's death is suspicious and questionable.

On Tuesday social media users shared photos of Montazeri and a photo of the body of the fugitive judge wrapped in a white sheet being carried out of the hotel by forensic workers and pointed out that what they were carrying appears to be considerably smaller than what the body of Mansouri, a rather large man, would have been.

Montazeri's lawyer in Iran, Amir-Hossein Najafpour-Sani, explained to the Iranian Labor News Agency on Tuesday that the photos shared on social media were old and the judge had lost weight as a result of illness.

Mansouri's name recently came up in a massive corruption case involving the judiciary itself as one of the accused who had demanded and accepted large sums of money from the main defendants in the case.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/romanian- prosecutor-s-office-says-fugitive-judge-s-death- possibly-caused-by-falling-/30686831.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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Aaron Brady (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was shot dead in 2013

A witness in the Adrian Donohoe murder trial has said a suggestion from the defence that he was a member of the 'Ryan crew' or the 'Dublin Real IRA' was "completely false" and a "ridiculous statement", the court heard.

Daniel Cahill (28), a barman living in New York, has been giving evidence via video link in the trial of Aaron Brady (29), who denies capital murder.

The witness has said that on three occasions while living in the US the accused told him he had shot a garda.

Yesterday, under cross-examination, Mr Cahill told the court that he was a childhood friend of the late Vincent Ryan and knew Dean Evans, a convicted killer, from the gym he went to - but denied he was the member of any crew.

Vehemently

Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (41), who was then a member of An Garda Siochana acting in the course of his duty, at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Dundalk, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013.

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The defendant, of New Road in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, also denies robbery of around 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date.

Yesterday afternoon, Daniel Cahill was being cross-examined by defence counsel Justin McQuade BL, who put it to him a number of times that he was a member of the 'Ryan crew', or the 'Dublin Real IRA'.

The witness vehemently denied this, describing it as "completely false" and a "ridiculous statement".

Mr McQuade later apologised to Mr Cahill for suggesting that he was "engaged in dissident IRA activity", which was described as an "outrageous question" and "unacceptable" by trial judge Mr Justice Michael White.

Mr Cahill said he knew Alan Ryan, known as the leader of the Real IRA in Dublin and shot dead in 2012, through his childhood friendship with his younger brother Vincent Ryan.

"Vincent wore a bulletproof vest, and I didn't feel comfortable being around anybody who wore a bulletproof vest," he added.

The jury was also shown a picture taken from his Facebook page in which Mr Cahill identified himself and Dean Evans, convicted of the murder of Peter Butterly at the Huntsman Inn in 2013.

The court heard the image was uploaded 24 days before that murder and Mr Cahill said he had known Evans from the gym he went to.

Mr Cahill told the court that he left for the US in 2013 and he "didn't want to get caught up in anything going down, there were a lot of people getting hurt around Vincent and I separated myself from that".

Mr McQuade put it to him that the shooting of a garda would be a "red-hot topic" among the people he knew back in Ireland, to which the witness replied "yes", but added the first time he heard about the details of the shooting was in 2017.

He said he was working in a bar near Times Square in New York on St Patrick's Day of that year when he first heard the name Adrian Donohoe from off-duty gardai drinking in the pub.

Mr Cahill also told the court that he was giving evidence in the trial because he chose to, and not because he has to.

Mr McQuade put it to the witness that he was found hiding in the attic of his New York home by Homeland Security in July 2019 and his "life in America flashed before his eyes".

Sleeping

Defence counsel also put it to the witness that he was hiding from the Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agency.

Mr Cahill denied this, and said he felt his life was in danger after hearing a loud bang while sleeping.

The witness said he was aware ICE were deporting people who had no status but that he was not one of these people and that he was married to an American citizen.

Mr Cahill said he was asked if he wanted to speak to gardai and that the agents "made it clear" that his rights were not infringed and he was told he did not have to speak to gardai unless he chose to.

"I'm here to give evidence because I chose to, not because I have to," he added.

The cross-examination continues this afternoon.
A trio of Republican senators have submitted a bill that seeks to bring an end to warrant-proof encryption. If it passes into law as is, the Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act would compel device manufacturers and service providers to help law enforcement access encrypted data if that would help them carry out a warrant.

The bill -- from Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), Tom Cotton (Arkansas) and Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee) -- would permit the Attorney General to require those providers and manufacturers to explain "their ability to comply with court orders, including timelines for implementation. However, the AG wouldn't be able to tell them exactly how to include a backdoor for law enforcement to access encrypted data.

It'd also require the AG to create a competition that would reward "participants who create a lawful access solution in an encrypted environment, while maximizing privacy and security." In addition, the bill would allocate funding for the Justice Departments National Domestic Communications Assistance Center in order to bolster "digital evidence training for law enforcement."

Our legislation respects and protects the privacy rights of law-abiding Americans, said Graham, the Judiciary Committee chairman. It also puts the terrorists and criminals on notice that they will no longer be able to hide behind technology to cover their tracks.

Encrypted communication has been a contentious issue for some, particularly following a number of high-profile criminal acts. For instance, following the 2015 San Bernardino shooting, the FBI sued Apple in an attempt to make it unlock the suspect's iPhone. The agency eventually brought in a contractor to crack the device using brute force.

Earlier this year, the FBI and Attorney General asked Apple to unlock the phone of a suspected naval base shooter, but the company declined. It has argued that data privacy is a human rights issue. Americans have a constitutional right to privacy, as covered by the Fourth Amendment. The Department of Justice also asked Facebook last year to pause its plans to adopt end-to-end encryption in all its private messaging services.

End-to-end encryption is a necessity in modern life -- it protects billions of messages sent every day on many apps and services, especially in times like these when we can't be together, a Facebook spokesperson told Engadget in a statement. Rolling back this vital protection will make us all less safe, not more. We are committed to continuing to work with law enforcement and fighting abuse while preserving the ability for all Americans to communicate privately and securely.

While the bill might curry favor in the Republican-controlled Senate, it may encounter greater resistance in the House, in which the Democrats hold sway.

The Lawful Access To Encrypted Data Act will make it easier for bad actors to access peoples communications," said Alan Butler, interim executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. "You cannot build a backdoor that only law enforcement can access. Thats not how encryption works.
Cannabidiol, a type of medicinal cannabis, may reduce severe behavioural problems in children and adolescents with an intellectual disability a new study has found. Credit: Tatevosian Yana

Cannabidiol, a type of medicinal cannabis, may reduce severe behavioural problems in children and adolescents with an intellectual disability a new study has found.

The pilot study, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, recorded a clinically significant change in participants' irritability, aggression, self-injury, and yelling. The intervention was also found to be safe and well-tolerated by most study participants.

The randomised controlled trial involved eight participants, aged 8-16, years who took either cannabidiol or a placebo over eight weeks. Participants were recruited from paediatric clinics from both hospital and private paediatric practices.

Although the pilot study was not large enough to make definitive statements, the early findings strongly support a larger follow-up trial. Only a large scale randomised controlled trial can produce the definitive results necessary to drive changes in prescribing and clinical care guidelines. The researchers are planning a large study to definitively test the findings.

The researchers are also seeking funding for further research into the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis in children with developmental disorders such as autism and Tourette syndrome.

Associate Professor Daryl Efron, a clinician-scientist at MCRI who led the study, said this was the first investigation of cannabidiol to manage severe behavioural problems in children and adolescents with an intellectual disability. Most of the participants also had autism.

The study found the medication was generally well-tolerated and there were no serious side effects reported. All parents reported they would recommend the study to families with children with similar problems.

Associate Professor Efron said severe behavioural problems such as irritability, aggression and self-injury in children and adolescents with an intellectual disability were a major contributor to functional impairments, missed learning opportunities and reduced quality of life.

He said conventional psychotropic medications, including anti-psychotics and anti-depressants, were prescribed by Australian paediatricians for almost half of young people with an intellectual disability, despite limited evidence of their effectiveness. Given how extremely difficult behavioural problems were to treat in these patients, new, safer interventions were needed to treat this highly vulnerable patient group, he said.

"Current medications carry a high risk of side-effects, with vulnerable people with intellectual disability being less able to report side-effects," he said. "Common side-effects of antipsychotics, such as weight gain and metabolic syndrome, have huge health effects for a patient group already at increased risk of chronic illness."

Cannabidiol is already being used increasingly to manage a range of medical and psychiatric conditions in adults and epilepsy in children.

Associate Professor Efron said there was intense interest from parents and physicians in medicinal cannabis as a treatment for severe behavioural problems in youth with an intellectual disability.

"Parents of children with an intellectual disability and severe behavioural problems are increasingly asking paediatricians whether they can access medicinal cannabis for their child and some parents have reported giving unregulated cannabis products to their children," he said.

"We are also finding many physicians feel unprepared to have these conversations with their patients."Researchers from The Royal Children's Hospital, the University of Melbourne and Monash University also contributed to the study.

More information: Daryl Efron et al, A pilot randomised placebocontrolled trial of cannabidiol to reduce severe behavioural problems in children and adolescents with intellectual disability, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (2020). Journal information: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Daryl Efron et al, A pilot randomised placebocontrolled trial of cannabidiol to reduce severe behavioural problems in children and adolescents with intellectual disability,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14399
The blazing heat of the sun hitting the Mediterranean Sea makes it an exhausting task to pull stranded migrants on to rescue ships. But the new heavy equipment the rescue activists have to wear in the 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) heat to limit the risk of contagion from the coronavirus takes the exertion to a whole new level. The Ocean Viking rescue ship -- charted by French aid group SOS-Mediterranee -- has been heading through the waters towards Libya since Monday in its first mission since a three-month suspension during the health crisis. On the way, the crew rehearse operations under COVID-19 protection measures. Aid worker Ludovic is slumped in a corner of the ship's orange inflatable speedboat, panting. He has just pulled Oscar the dummy on board, given him CPR for three minutes, all while wearing a helmet, a visor and a respirator-style face mask. - 'Not possible' - "It's horrendous," he said, mask now dangling on one ear. "I'm sorry, but I can't breathe!" "It's going to be a lot harder than previously expected," said fellow rescuer Mary, who also had to stop for a breather and drink some water during the two-hour exercise. "What we can do is swap between the rescuers more often and take it in turns to do the CPR," said the British 23-year-old, who began working SOS-Mediterranee at just 19. "Because sometimes we're doing CPR for a really long time on the ribs before we get back to the Ocean Viking. "It's not possible for one person to be going for a very long time with this mask on the face." Even experienced rescue workers need to be mentally prepared to suffer, said the head of onboard operations Nicholas Romaniuk, "because you quickly get out of breath with all the equipment on". - 'Heavy equipment' - "We already have heavy equipment, with security boots, a huge life jacket and it's so hot," Romaniuk said. "We're trying to do two contradictory things - respect safety measures regarding the coronavirus but also limit stress for the rescuers who are already under maximum pressure." If a rescuer is hyperventilating, the most important thing is that he gets better, even if it means taking off the mask, said Romaniuk. "You can't save anyone if you're not in a good way," he said. With their faces fully obscured, Romaniuk is worried that the rescuers might be taken for Libyan coastguards by the migrants at sea, which might provoke panic as the coastguards take them back to the war-torn country and often detain them. "Put yourself in their shoes, they're going to see us arriving with helmets, masks, visors... I might actually take off my helmet, so that they can see that I don't look Libyan," said the Swiss rescuer. More than 100,000 migrants tried to cross the Mediterranean last year with more than 1,200 dying in the attempt, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration.
Amid the current anti-Chinese sentiment triggered by the Sino-India border tension and talks of an import substitution policy, Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy V Subramanian on Tuesday said shutting the doors to other countries will not help India.

He said the country had followed the import-substitution model till 1991, and that approach has been discredited since. Speaking at a webinar organised by MCCI, Subramanian said, "India has to compete with other countries and insulating itself from others will not help."

"Having said that, there are, however, exceptions to this. I will not say that trade should continue with countries which are creating problems at the border," he clarified. His comments came after the nationwide clamour for a boycott of Chinese goods is getting louder, following the fierce clash between the troops of India and China in eastern Ladakh that left 20 Indian Army personnel dead.

Subramanian said it is still not certain when demand in the economy will pick up. "The prevailing uncertainty is purely due to health reasons and it will go probably when the vaccine is available to fight COVID-19," the chief economic advisor said.

Quoting Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz, he said that no measure will help create demand-push in the economy in these times of uncertainty. According to him, people will defer discretionary spending and only expend money on essential items. The same psyche applies to firms as well, he added.

Regarding micro, small and medium enterprises, Subramanian said the government has announced a package for the sector to take care of their liquidity problems. The Centre had unveiled a major booster dose entailing a series of initiatives for micro, small and medium enterprises, including Rs 3 lakh crore worth of collateral- free automatic loans for businesses.

A subordinate debt of Rs 20,000 crore for stressed units, a fund of funds for equity infusion of Rs 50,000 crore, and revision in the definition of MSMEs are among the steps announced by the government to help MSMEs recover from disruptions caused by the coronavirus-related lockdown.

He said that the real estate sector is important for the economy as the construction industry creates lots of jobs. Subramanian said that the government is working on a concept like Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) where people will work on contractual terms with all benefits but not for lifetime.

Also read: Now, India throws the gauntlet! Imports from China held up at ports since June 22
In a 5-0 vote Tuesday morning, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution "affirming that racism [is] a public health crisis." (Los Angeles Times)

While the COVID-19 pandemic has topped more than 10,000 confirmed cases in San Bernardino County, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday declared it was the first California county to actively recognize another public health crisis: racism.

By a 5-0 vote Tuesday, the board adopted a resolution affirming that racism [is] a public health crisis that results in disparities in family stability, health and mental wellness, education, employment, economic development, public safety, criminal justice and housing.

This is historic for San Bernardino County in taking the first step, said Board Chairman Curt Hagman. Were probably the only county we have in California, so far, doing this, and this is the beginning of what were doing. This is not the end result.

The resolution identified racism resulting in the structuring of opportunity and assigning of value based solely on skin color and other physical characteristics, which creates unfair disadvantages to some individuals and communities and unfair advantages to other individuals and communities, therefore preventing societies as a whole from achieving their full potential.

The resolution recognizes several problems San Bernardino County's Black community faces, including an infant mortality rate more than double the countys average.

The U.S. Census lists the Black population at 9.4% in the county, but according to the resolution, about 19% of the countys prison population is Black, along with 38% of those booked at juvenile detention centers and more than 21% of the county's homeless population.

The resolution says the county will dismantle racism by several means, including enhancing diversity in the county workforce, and studying existing policies and practices through a lens of racial equality to promote and support efforts that prioritize health for people of color.

There are also plans for more collaboration between the countys law enforcement and justice agencies to boost public confidence, along with the creation of an Equity Element Group to identify and research public concerns related to law enforcement.

Story continues

The group is expected to include county experts in such fields as education and health along with members of the community.

You have begun the process of reconciliation and restoration, said Samuel Casey, senior pastor of the New Life Christian Church of Fontana. "Thats just the first step.

He added, in regards to the Equity Element Group, It is vitally important that were at the table lifting our voices and speaking for ourselves and claiming for ourselves."

Hagman thanked fellow Supervisor Josie Gonzales for spearheading much of the work in crafting the resolution.

Gonzales, for her part, encouraged the countys residents to think big.

I want to thank everyone who has been a part of this moment in time, she said. We all want to do something different, something good, something that will be remembered. Thats part of who we are and what we work for.

Mabel Morris-Dugbartey of Fontana was one of several speakers during the public comment period. She said she looked forward to a world where she didnt have to worry about being harassed by a racist person while doing errands by herself or be concerned about her brother being racially profiled because they are both Black.

Its a beautiful thing to feel change happening in full effect, meaning there is hope for humanity and for the future, where my peers and I wont fear bringing our children into such a dangerous world that will just dehumanize them, she said.
New Delhi: Actor Manoj Bajpayee, in an interview with WION, spoke at length about the Bollywood, how the industry functions, and on nepotism, which is being discussed yet again after Sushant Singh Rajput's death.

Manoj said that now Bollywood cannot afford to ignore talent, as it was done in the past and it's time to rectify the mistakes.

"Let me start with this, the world is not fair. I have been saying this since 20 years that as an industry we celebrate mediocrity. Forget about the industry, as a nation we celebrate mediocrity. Something is lacking somewhere - in our thought process, our value system. When we see talent, we immediately want to ignore or push it away. This is the value system of ours which is so deplorable," Manoj Bajpayee told WION.

Further, the 'Satya' star said that the film industry has 'wasted talent' and those people never got their due credit.

"I have said it before that this industry has wasted talent; so much that in any other country those talents who have not been given their due here, would have been known as the best actors of the world. But we don't care. Firstly, if you don't have talent then you have to be extremely lucky to get by. This is the system I am talking about. This is the cold value of this industry. I am not blaming anyone. I am a part of this industry. This is why I said in my past interviews that we have to look inward and rectify that. Rectify, or you will keep getting flak for it, cursed for it and will keep on losing respect of the common people," he added.

On the nepotism debate and the 'insider vs outsider' thing, Manoj said that irrespective of a person's background, he should be given a chance.

"You can't do it. You cannot afford to ignore talent, crush talent, and must give a chance to someone, no matter if he/she is an outsider or insider. Give a chance to somebody who is less capable," the actor said.

Meanwhile, Manoj Bajpayee is currently prepping for the release of his upcoming film titled 'Bhonsle' which will be streamed on Sony LIV. The actor has made a name for himself in the industry all by himself with his choice of films and roles.
Seek repentance: Clergy group calls on Mississippi to remove Confederate symbol from state flag

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An interfaith coalition of clergy has called upon Mississippi to remove the Confederate battle banner from the official state flag, renewing a years-long debate.

Earlier this month, clergy representing Christianity, Islam, and Judaism held a press conference at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in support of changing the flag.

In a statement published by Working Together Mississippi, the clergy group referenced the recent killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests against racism and police brutality.

There has never been a more fitting and necessary time to make this change. We ask that our state leaders and the legislature proceed immediately to do so. To delay doing this will only further exacerbate the deep racial divisions that have existed for 401 years, read the statement.

The immediate removal of the Battle Flag from the Mississippi state flag will be an important public symbol of our willingness as a state to seek repentance and racial reconciliation. We call on our elected leaders to act now.

Episcopal Bishop Brian Seage of the Diocese of Mississippi told Episcopal News Services that he believes the flag belongs in museums and in archives and in history books.

When we see the Confederate battle flag, yes, it represents history, but it also represents a painful period for folks  a really painful period for many of our African American brothers and sisters, of injustice and an intention to not really see their full humanity," said Seage.

The Rev. Jason Coker of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Mississippi expressed his support for removing the Confederate symbol from the state flag at the press conference.

Jesus said love God and love your neighbor, stated Coker, as reported by local media outlet WLBT. And I think we can do this if its an act of love to neighbor.

In recent weeks, longstanding debates over Confederate imagery like statues and flags on public property have ignited several protests and sometimes violent actions like vandalism.

In Richmond, Virginia, former capital of the Confederacy, protests have been held at the Confederate statues on Monument Avenue, with many being sprayed with graffiti or torn down.

Past efforts to remove the Confederate imagery from the Mississippi state flag have failed, including a 2001 referendum in which 64% of state voters rejected a proposal for change.

For many in the South, images like the Confederate battle flag represent heritage rather than racism, serving as a tribute to their ancestors, most of whom did not own slaves.

In 2016, the Southern Baptist Convention overwhelmingly passed a resolution encouraging members to not publicly fly the Confederate battle flag.

Cross Pointe Church Pastor James Merritt, a descendant of two Confederate veterans, explained at the time that he supported the resolution for the sake of the Gospel.

"This is not a matter of political correctness. It is a matter of spiritual conviction and biblical compassion," said Merritt in 2016. "Southern Baptists are not a people of any flag. We march under the banner of the Cross of Jesus and the Grace of God.

"This flag is a stumbling block to many African-American souls to our witness. And I rise to say that all the Confederate flags in the world are not worth one soul of any race."
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 Nigerian government says it will not fight dirty with its Ghanaian counterpart over the demolition of a building at the Nigerian high commission in Ghana.

Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday, the presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu stated that matters like this would rather be dealt with diplomatically.

He made the comment following calls from some quarters that a retaliation is necessary.

Read Also: Nigeria Must Reciprocate Attack In Ghana  Reps

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He further lauded the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Ado for calling president Muhammadu Buhari over the incident.

He said,The president of Ghana has called and regretted the action and apologised to the president of Nigeria, he said.

I think he has shown leadership in the matter and what should Nigeria do? These are two leading countries in West Africa.

Nigeria will not engage in a street fight with Ghana. This cannot happen. So, the two leaders, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, who is much respected in Africa, they all call him Baba, so he is bound to show restraint.

Matters such as this when they arise, it is always better when they arise, they should be resolved diplomatically.

No, there should not be in a fight between Nigeria and Ghana, this will not happen.
As more parts of Central New Yorks economy reopen, many small business owners concerns have shifted from basic questions about when and how they can reopen to more complicated issues involving employees and liability concerns.

Syracuse.com will host a live Facebook Q&A at 1 p.m. today with Syracuse labor and employment lawyer Adam Mastroleo, of Bond, Schoeneck & King, to discuss reopening.

Mastroleo has helped numerous businesses develop their reopening plans and strategies during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mastroleo will join Back in Business reporter Julie McMahon for an in-depth talk, covering questions about waivers, insurance and best practices for managing employees. Well cover the basics, too.

You can submit questions live on the syracuse.com Facebook page or in advance to jmcmahon@syracuse.com.

Dont forget to head on over to our Facebook page at 1 p.m. to join the conversation.

Small business owners: Have a question or a story to share about how youre coping through the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent shutdown? We want to hear from you. Contact Back in Business reporter Julie McMahon: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992

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Atlanta, GA, June 23, 2020  Breckenridge Insurance Services is pleased to welcome two expert brokers to the wholesale brokerage and binding firm. Alan Belthoff joins the organization as a senior vice president, senior broker and Dianna McCall as a vice president, broker. Both team members will be based in Texas serving agents nationally.

Belthoff has 30 years of insurance experience and was previously vice president of Global Special Risks. Prior to that, he owned a successful industry consulting business. For 22 years of his career, he worked at AIG and was last executive vice president and chief operating officer for AIG Small Business. At Breckenridge, Belthoff will focus on expansion of the professional liability business, specifically directors and officers (D&O) and employment practice liability insurance (EPLI). Belthoff can be reached at abelthoff@breckis.com.

McCall, a Certified Insurance Counselor, joins the company with extensive experience in diverse commercial property and casualty risks with an emphasis on commercial real estate accounts, coastal properties, contracting and products liability. Previously, she was a broker/underwriter at CRC Group and before then, served as a broker at U.S. Risk. McCall can be reached at dmccall@breckis.com.

What a wealth of experience and relationships Alan and Dianna bring to our organization, stated Trevor Pierce, president of Breckenridge Insurance Services. Its great to welcome these two professionals to our team. I know they will immediately contribute by providing valuable expertise to our customers, he added.

About Breckenridge Insurance Services:

BRECKENRIDGE INSURANCE SERVICES is a national wholesale insurance brokerage/MGA delivering top-rated, competitive commercial coverage solutions. With more than three decades of providing responsive counsel and risk management insights, Breckenridge has become a recognized leader and trusted partner to valued agents and coveted carrier partners internationally. With significant in-house contract binding authority and expert, award-winning brokers spanning nearly all property and casualty, workers compensation and professional liability risks, we offer collaborative, comprehensive solutions. As part of Breckenridge Insurance Group, the team has access to additional resources and expertise to help clients go further. For more information, please visit WWW.BRECKIS.COM.

About Breckenridge Insurance Group:

BRECKENRIDGE INSURANCE GROUP, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is an international specialty wholesale insurance broker, program manager, managing general agent (MGA) and insurance services provider. The company offers access to diverse range of commercial insurance and financial services products to businesses and professional services firms in a variety of industries. The company serves independent insurance agents, brokers, and financial institutions nationally by way of Blue River Underwriters, OSC, Breckenridge Insurance Services brokerage and contract binding group and Southeastern Underwriters, Inc. For more information, please visit WWW.BRECKGRP.COM or call 855.728.8822. CA Insurance License #0G13592

Media Contact:

Caren Henry

chenry@breckgrp.com

267.961.8252

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Americas borders could become even more restrictive this weekto people on both sides of them.

On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending the entry of workers using H-1B visas (skilled employees) or L visas (managers and executives). While the order justifies the suspension as necessary to protect American workers at a time of high unemployment, business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce say it will hurt business and stifle the overall recovery of the pandemic-ravaged economy. Trump also extended 60-day immigration restrictions first issued back in April until the end of the year. As with that April order, the initial effects wont be dramatic, as most visa processing is shut down due to the coronavirus anyway, but its another example of the administration using the pandemic as pretext to implement its hard-line immigration agenda.

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Mondays visa suspension may not be the cruelest or the most expansive of Trumps immigration orders, but it might be the most telling. The order ought to put to rest the notion that the administration is merely interested in combating illegal immigration, or that it wants skilled immigrants to get priority. Trump has tried out both of these arguments in the past. He said during his campaign for president that his big, beautiful wall would have a big, beautiful door to let in legal immigrants. But this order, along with moves taken in April to effectively abolish the U.S. asylum system under the pretext of stopping COVID, has shut that door tightly. Trump has also argued that he is merely concerned about the kind of immigrants allowed into the country. In a speech in May 2019, he suggested that his problem was that too many immigrants are admitted on the basis of a lottery system that is contrary to American values and blocks out many qualified potential immigrants from around the world who have much to contribute.  Under the senseless rules of the current system, were not able to give preference to a doctor, a researcher, a student who graduated No. 1 in his class from the finest colleges in the world.

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But by eliminating H-1B visas, Trump is closing the door to exactly the sort of high-skilled immigrants hes talking about. Even medical workers are barred, with the exception of those working directly on the coronavirus. The order does make an exception for those who can provide temporary labor or services essential to the United States food supply chain. This suggests that, contrary to its rhetoric, the administration is fine with having immigrants work in Americas fields and slaughter its livestock but not invent its software or work in its hospitals. It makes clear what should already have been obvious: that the administrations goal is not stopping certain kinds of immigration, but stopping immigration full stop. In this goal, the Trump team has been remarkably effective, in contrast to its dysfunction in other areas.

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While the U.S. shuts its borders to the world, the world is doing the same to the U.S. On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that the United States is included on a draft list of countries whose citizens would be blocked from entering the European Union as European countries lift travel restrictions and lockdowns. The U.S. would be included on the EU list with Russia and Brazil, where the coronavirus responses have been similarly dysfunctional. The move shouldnt come as a huge surprise. Trump banned travelers from the EU back in March, when Europe was the global epicenter of the virus. But since April, the number of new confirmed COVID cases in Europe has sharply declined, while in the United States, cases are increasing while officials seem intent on resuming business as usual.

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In other words, the policy choices of a presidency whose main goal has been closing Americas borders to foreigners have resulted in foreigners closing their borders to Americans.

The two outcomes are related. In defending his response to the coronavirus, Trump generally points to his decision to suspend travel to the United States from China in late January, saying that more people would have died if he had not done so. Temporary travel bans are certainly justifiable in combating a pandemic. But the president did little else to coordinate the federal response to the pandemic and undermined state and local efforts by downplaying the crisis and criticizing lockdowns. This is a presidency built to keep people out of the country, not to govern it. The result is that the disease continues to spread with no end in sight and that American citizens are now global public health pariahs.

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Can Trump really blame the EU for banning Americans? After all, European nations are arguably being discerning in the way that Trump has long insisted the U.S. should be. Trump allegedly, famously, said in 2018 that the U.S. should bring in more immigrants from countries such as Norway, but not from shithole countries. The New York Times noted on Tuesday that the EUs list of countries that will not be included in the ban includes China, as well as developing nations like Uganda, Cuba and Vietnam, all of which have effectively contained the spread of COVID-19. What this means is that countries like Norway may soon be comfortable admitting travelers from countries that Trump might consider shitholes, but will turn away Americans. So what kind of country does that make us?
(Natural News) An internal poll from the campaign of Republican congressional candidate Laura Loomer, who is seeking the GOP nomination in Floridas 21st congressional district, gives her a 9 point lead over incumbent Democrat Rep. Lois Frankel.

(Article by Allum Bokhari republished from Breitbart.com)

Loomer is the most censored congressional candidate in the country; she is banned on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, PayPal, Venmo, Uber, and Lyft.

The poll found that independent voters, who represent a large part of the 21st district, back Loomer in large numbers. 64 percent of independents who responded to the poll backed Loomer, compared to 18 percent who backed Frankel and 16 percent who are still undecided.

The 21st district includes Delray Beach, Palm Beach, and West Palm Beach, where President Donald Trump is officially a resident and will be casting his vote.

Katrina Pierson, a senior advisor to the Trump 2020 campaign, called the polling numbers impressive.

Impressive: Free Speech Candidate Laura Loomer Opens 9-Point Lead in Florida Congressional Race! https://t.co/5vXFCqRf6X  Katrina Pierson (@KatrinaPierson) June 22, 2020

Read more at: Breitbart.com
24.06.2020 LISTEN

The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) has confirmed the death of one of its members who passed away after contracting the novel coronavirus.

According to a statement from the Association, he died on Monday, June 22 after being rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) three days prior.

The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) with a heavy heart announces that one of its professionals has passed on to glory on Monday 22nd June 2020. The cause of death was COVID-19.

The departed professional worked at the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Hospital and was very much involved in sample collection for COVD-19 testing from the enhanced contact tracing in Accra from March 2020.

The Association expressed its condolence to his wife, three children and parents.

He left behind a family with three beautiful children including a 2-month old baby. Our hearts are with the family of the gallant professional, the statement read.

His burial service will take place tomorrow, June 25 in Kumasi.

Find below the full statement from GAMLS:

---citinewsroom
As early as next week, Israel proposes to forcibly annex up to a third of the Palestinian West Bank, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it "another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism". Israel's incendiary move, paved by US President Donald Trump's "peace" plan, has provoked near-universal condemnation.

It has been deplored as a grave violation of international law by the UK's Tory Prime Minister, most of Europe and the developing world, over 250 leading international lawyers, and an unprecedented 50 independent UN experts, and by 1000 European parliamentarians. Europe is considering sanctions.

Israeli soldiers make one of several arrests of Palestinians last month after a soldier was killed by a rock thrown from a rooftop in the West Bank village of Yabad. Credit:AP

Australia's position could not be more out of step with world opinion, as one of only two countries (with the Marshall Islands) to oppose a UN resolution this week condemning annexation. Just as extreme, Australia voted against resolutions recognising Palestinian self-determination and the illegality of the Israeli settlements.

The Australian government rightly promotes a "rules-based international order". The Foreign Affairs Minister's recent speech affirms Australia's commitment to multilateral rules that "preserve peace and curb excessive use of power" and promote human rights and the rule of law.
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.
By Sophie Yu and Emily Chow

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's appetite for salmon and other seafood has crashed this month, after a resurgence in coronavirus infections in Beijing was traced to chopping boards for imported salmon in a wholesale food market in the capital.

Exporters all the way to Europe are feeling the pinch as the virus scare prompts supermarkets and e-commerce players such as Taobao, JD.com and Meituan in China, the world's top consumer of frozen and fresh seafood, to slash salmon sales.

"I have cleaned out frozen fish from the refrigerator at home and won't buy more," said Ma Xuan, a government employee.

"I will wait till the origin of this new wave of virus is clear," the 40-year-old said. "Maybe I overreacted, but who knows? I don't want to risk the health of my family."

Alibaba's <BABA.N> Taobao and JD.com <9618.HK> <JD.O> have cut imported salmon sales in Beijing, Reuters checks show, while food delivery giant Meituan Dianping <3690.HK> said it has pulled all salmon products from its platform nationally.

Meituan Grocery said it had stepped up examination of raw and fresh products, adding searches for Japanese cuisine and seafood on the Meituan app had plummeted across China since June 12, a day after the recent Beijing market outbreak started.

Ele.me, Alibaba's food delivery arm, has also halted sales of all imported seafood in Beijing.

JD.com and Alibaba did not respond to a request for comment.

Panic about the virus has extended to other farm products like beef and mutton, forcing some grocers to pull them from shelves.

China's soybean buyers have asked exporters to guarantee their cargoes are not contaminated, while overseas meat and fruit suppliers said China's customs had asked them to sign declarations ensuring the safety of their shipments.

'HOPE IS LIKE A SOAP BUBBLE'

Sushi and hotpot restaurants in Beijing that saw business pick up after virus-related curbs were eased in April are once again struggling amid the renewed worries.

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Barron Qin, owner of a fish hotpot restaurant called Yufu Yuzai, said customers had been lining up everyday but now the restaurant was half empty despite not serving salmon.

"My hope is like a soap bubble, burst by the new round of the outbreak," he said.

More than 250 people have been infected in Beijing in the past two weeks, the city's worst outbreak since the virus first emerged in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019.

"Seafood consumption in June will collapse due to public panic that seafood may be the culprit for the second wave of virus," said Dan Wang, an Economist Intelligence Unit analyst.

She expects China's seafood imports to drop 3% this year.

China imported 4.44 million tonnes of seafood last year, worth 106 billion yuan ($15 billion), from suppliers including Russia, Peru and Vietnam, customs data shows.

China seafood imports https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/qzjpqekmkpx/China%20seafood%20imports%202016-2020.JPG

Norway's Bravo Seafood said its exports to China initially looked promising, but the Beijing cases had changed everything despite Chinese and Norwegian authorities concluding salmon from Norway was not the source of the coronavirus.

"We have not even sent one piece of salmon to China since June 13," Bravo's Asia sales director Chen Qiao said.

"No one dares to buy salmon now no matter the origin. We expect minimal sales to China in the next one to two months."

Interactive Graphic: World-focused tracker with country-by-country

interactive https://tmsnrt.rs/2WZPuOh

Interactive Graphic: Coronavirus: knowns and unknowns https://reut.rs/2UHIgvz

(Reporting by Emily Chow in Shanghai, Sophie Yu in Beijing and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Shivani Singh and Himani Sarkar)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP)  Even when it comes wrapped in plastic, a hug can convey tenderness, relief, love and devotion.

The fear that gripped Agustina Canamero during the 102 days she and her 84-year-old husband spent physically separated during Spain's coronavirus outbreak dissolved the moment the couple embraced through a screen of plastic film.

Pascual Perez, her husband, lives at a nursing home in Barcelona, one of the many that locked out visitors to try to shield their residents as the coronavirus killed so many elderly Spaniards.

Canamero, 81, stayed during the country's nationwide lockdown at the home she and Perez used to share. During their 59 years of marriage, the couple had never spent so many days apart.

So when the Ballesol Puig i Fabra nursing home allowed visits to resume with the addition of protective screens, Canamero was among the first to arrive. The husband and wife kissed for minutes through the thin layer of plastic  and their face masks.

Their tearful reunion was repeated several times throughout the day by others, washing other residents, visitors and even misty-eyed health care workers with waves of healing energy.

Beatriz Segura carefully put on long gloves before reaching her arms through two holes in the plastic film to hug her 96-year-old mother at Ballesol Puig i Fabra. It was their first in-person encounter since March 15.

As members of the nursing home's staff sobbed from a respectful distance, mother and daughter talked. Segura said she was looking forward to take her mother, Isabel Lopez, out to eat at a restaurant. Lopez replied that her first priority was getting to a beauty salon.

Dolores Reyes, 61, and her father, Jose Reyes, 87, also were together for the first time in nearly four months. In their eagerness, they pulled down the screen while reaching for each other.

Representatives of Ballesol Puig i Fabra wouldnt disclose how many residents had fallen ill with COVID-19 or died during the outbreak, citing an ongoing judicial investigation. Spain's nursing homes were hit particularly hard by the virus, which has exacted a nationwide death toll of at least 28,300.

___

Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
The Government is coming under pressure to reduce the social distancing rule for airports to one metre when it decides to ease air travel restrictions.

It comes as a State-appointed taskforce warned Ireland is "at risk of being set adrift" if it does not lift restrictions on airline passengers.

Ahead of a Cabinet meeting on non-essential air travel, it has emerged Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) warned people will face "extended and complex" queues if the two-metre rule is not reduced.

In a submission to the Government's Aviation Recovery Taskforce, the DAA, which manages Dublin and Cork airports, said queues will go beyond terminals if social distancing restrictions are not reduced.

"The continued implementation of two-metre social distancing rules is creating very significant challenges for our sector and will become more challenging as society continues to reopen over the coming weeks and month," it said.

Expand Close Making waves: King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain visit Gran Canaria on a tour promoting tourism as EU countries reopen for business. Photo: REUTERS/Borja Suarez / Facebook

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Whatsapp Making waves: King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain visit Gran Canaria on a tour promoting tourism as EU countries reopen for business. Photo: REUTERS/Borja Suarez

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The authority also said passengers will be urged to wear face coverings and there will be almost 1,000 hand sanitisers installed at Dublin and Cork airports, along with 760 protective screens at points where travellers engage with staff.

Yesterday, DAA chief Dalton Philips said he would consider making face coverings mandatory if there was not a high level of compliance among passengers. The DAA's submission informed the aviation taskforce's interim report which called for the ban on non-essential travel and the two-week quarantine for passengers arriving in Ireland to be lifted by next Wednesday.

The report warns that Ireland is "significantly behind" other EU countries in lifting restrictions on air passenger travel - despite having "equivalent or even better success" in containing Covid-19.

The move would clear the way for foreign summer holidays and also be a major boost for the Irish tourism industry.

"If Ireland is to rebuild connectivity, effective ways to stimulate airline capacity, domestic and international routes will need to be explored," it said.

It said the 14-day quarantine for passengers arriving in Ireland for non-essential journeys makes "discretionary travel challenging" and "inhibits business-related travel, which is critical for the economy".

However, the minutes of the taskforce's meeting painted an even starker picture of the impact of the Covid-19 rules on Ireland's reputation.

The group agreed Ireland is at "risk of being set adrift" by any "significant prolonging" of the current travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.

It said other EU states have "taken a march on" by reopening their airports sooner and have put competitiveness of the Irish aviation industry "seriously at risk".

The minutes say the financial impact on the industry is "unprecedented" due to "cataclysmic" loss of income and without State supports "many viable businesses will not survive".

"Every day of inactivity is a step closer to bankruptcies, job losses and potentially irreparable damage to the sector," it added.

At another meeting, it said the Government is "highly attuned to public health risks, and the potential danger of importing fresh outbreaks of the virus".

It added that while there was "trust" the aviation sector would do the right thing, there was still a strong sense of risk.

"There seemed to be a political assessment that it wasn't just enough for aviation to say it was safe, and that health authorities needed to agree," it added.

The group is comprised of representatives from major airlines, the tourism industry, workers' unions, aircraft leasing companies and Government officials.

However, speaking on RTE's 'Prime Time' last night, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar sounded a very cautious approach to opening up air travel.

"I think we need to be very careful about that. I haven't actually seen the report yet.

"We've got our case load of this virus down so low now that there is a real risk of reimporting it from countries where the virus is still very prevalent," he said.

"If we're going to open air travel between Ireland and other countries we need to do it safely," he said, adding that this could be done by pairing Ireland with other countries with low levels of the virus.

Tomorrow, the Cabinet will consider the report and also discuss establishing 'air bridges' with other EU members states. However, there are concerns among ministers about lifting restrictions before a new government is formed.

Health Minister Simon Harris is understood to be "uncomfortable" about easing the air travel ban and allowing people from other EU countries. A source said the minister is "worried about an influx of people coming to the country" and the impact this could have on the State's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last week, Mr Harris extended legislation until July 10 which requires people to fill in a passenger locator form on arrival in Ireland.

It is expected the forms will remain mandatory even if the two-week quarantine ban is lifted as they can assist contract tracing of people who become infected with coronavirus.
Having greater amounts of the peptide humanin is closely correlated with longer lives and better health in both animals and humans, including lower risk for Alzheimer's

A new study led by researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology is the first to demonstrate that a tiny protein has a big impact on health and longevity in both animals and humans.

The researchers examined humanin, a peptide encoded in the small genome of mitochondria -- the powerhouses of the cell. From experiments in laboratory animals to measurements in human patients, the multi-site collaboration demonstrates how higher levels of humanin in the body are connected to longer lifespans and better health. It is linked to a lower risk for diseases such as Alzheimer's.

"Humanin has long been known to help prevent many age-related diseases, and this is the first time that it has been shown that it can also increase lifespan," said senior author Pinchas Cohen, professor of gerontology, medicine and biological sciences and dean of the USC Leonard Davis School.

An intriguing evolutionary history

Humanin has been found not only in human mitochondria but also throughout the animal kingdom, a sign that its related gene has been maintained, or conserved, throughout evolution. The study, which was published online in the journal Aging on June 23, examined humanin in several animal species, including worms and mice, as well as humans, including Alzheimer's patients and children of centenarians.

The results highlight the potential for humanin and other mitochondrial proteins to become treatments for age-related ailments. They also indicate that humanin may be an ancient mitochondrial signaling mechanism that is key for regulating the body's health and lifespan, said first author and USC Leonard Davis Research Assistant Professor Kelvin Yen.

More humanin, longer lifespans

Humanin levels have previously been observed to decrease with age in many species. In this new study, the scientists observed higher levels of humanin in organisms predisposed to long lives, including the famously age-resistant naked mole rat, which experiences only a very slow decline in levels of humanin circulating in the body throughout its 30-year lifespan.

In contrast, mice experience a 40% drop in humanin over the first 18 months of life, and primates such as rhesus macaques appeared to have a similarly dramatic drop in humanin between the ages of 19 and 25.

In humans, researchers observed this phenomenon of higher and more sustained levels of humanin in 18 children of centenarians, versus a control group of 19 children of non-centenarians. Individuals whose parents reach 100 years old are statistically more likely than other people to reach very old age.

In some species, including worms and mice, modifying their genes to produce higher amounts of humanin within their bodies was enough to significantly increase lifespans. But these longer-lived animals had fewer offspring. Scientists have observed a similar pattern in long-lived humans.

"This tradeoff between longevity and reproduction is thought to be due to an evolutionarily conserved balance between using energy to produce more offspring or using the energy to maintain the organism for future reproductive efforts," Yen said. "Evolutionarily speaking, the goal of life is to reproduce and then you're done, but if you can't reproduce, you should try to hang around as long as possible, and a side effect of that is longevity."

Indication of - and protection against - disease

Higher humanin levels aren't just linked to increased lifespan; lower levels may increase the risk of disease and lower resistance to toxic exposures.

The researchers analyzed samples of cerebral spinal fluid from a small number of Alzheimer's patients and control individuals without dementia and noticed that humanin levels were much lower in the Alzheimer's patients. And in newborn cord blood samples, high levels of humanin correlated with a high mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, or the number of copies of the mitochondrial genome present within each cell.

"Humanin levels are inversely correlated with a decrease in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, which in itself has been associated with a number of different diseases such as cancer, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease," Yen said.

Potential for treatments

Cohen's laboratory was one of three groups that independently discovered humanin and has continued to unlock the secrets of the mitochondrial genome. Other promising mitochondrial peptides characterized by Cohen's team include MOTS-c, which plays a role in communication between the mitochondria and the nucleus in cells and appears to mimic the effects of exercise.

This new wide-ranging study highlights the importance of humanin as a potentially powerful regulator of lifespan and health, and harnessing it for treatments could address a variety of age-related illnesses, Cohen said.

"This study, as well as many others, suggest that humanin administration would be an effective therapeutic treatment for a large number of diseases and further solidifies the importance of the mitochondria beyond its traditional role as the 'powerhouse of the cell,'" he said.

###

Yen and Cohen's USC coauthors included Hemal H. Mehta, Su?Jeong Kim, Noel Guerrero, Jenna Port, Qiuli Bi, Gerardo Navarrete, Sebastian Brandhorst, Junxiang Wan, and Valter Longo of the USC Leonard Davis School and Carrie V. Breton of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Other coauthors were YanHe Lue, James Hoang, Ronald Swerdloff, and Christina Wang of the Lundquist Institute at Harbor?UCLA Medical Center; Kaitlyn Noel Lewis and Rochelle Buffenstein of the Barshop Institute, University of Texas Health at San Antonio; Julie A. Mattison of the National Institute on Aging; Gil Atzmon and Nir Barzilai of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Douglas Wallace of the Mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Cohen and Barzilai are consultants and stockholders of Cohbar Inc.

Funding sources for the study included the National Institutes of Health, including grants P01AG021654 (Barzilai), 1R01AG042188 (Atzmon), 1R01AG 034430 (Cohen), 1P01AG034906 (Cohen), and R21 ES025870 (Breton). Funding sources also included the Nathan Shock Center of Excellence for the Biology of Aging (P30AG038072, Barzilai), National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program (P40 OD010440, Mattison), and the Glenn Center for the Biology of Human Aging (Paul Glenn Foundation Grant to Barzilai and Cohen).
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont told CNBC on Tuesday that the leaders of Arizona and Texas, two states grappling with growing Covid-19 outbreaks, should reinstitute more aggressive containment strategies.

"I'd close down the bars," Lamont, a Democrat, said on "Closing Bell."

Both Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have said that a larger share of new Covid-19 cases in the states are occurring among young people, Lamont noted.

"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 last week, according to the Texas Tribune.

Lamont, whose state has seen its Covid-19 cases fall from nearly 1,000 per day in early April to less than 200 recently, said he was "not surprised" to see people at bars were not taking social distancing seriously.

"We've seen that has been a great source of infections," he said. "I think you do have to be very strict."

Connecticut entered the second phase of its reopening last week, allowing restaurants to go to 50% indoor capacity, for example. It began to ease restrictions on May 20 for nonessential retailers and offices, among others.

Lamont said he thinks people in Connecticut are taking precautions seriously as they begin to engage in the economy because of the severity of the state's outbreak.

"Sadly, because we were hit hard, people probably know somebody that was hit hard by Covid and we're more likely to wear the mask," Lamont said, suggesting states that are seeing a flare-up in cases push harder for people to wear face coverings in public. "I think that makes a big difference."

In an interview with local outlet KBTX-TV on Tuesday, Abbott urged Texans to stay home, going out only if it was necessary. Texas reported an all-time high of more than 5,000 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.

Most businesses in Texas were allowed to reopen May 1, with capacity restrictions and other public-health measures in place, after Abbott's mandatory stay-at-home order expired.
Despite denying persistent rumors that it would exit the camera business, Olympus is doing exactly that. The company has announced that will sell its camera business to Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), the same company that purchased Sonys VAIO PC division (via The Verge). Olympus will now focus on its much larger business supplying industrial and medical imaging equipment.

Olympus said it improved cost structure, focused on high-profit cameras and lenses and took other steps to cope with the extremely severe digital camera market. Despite those efforts, however, the company said it recorded operating losses for three consecutive fiscal years up to the term ended in March 2020. It likely didnt help that the company was rocked by a $1.7 billion accounting scandal in 2013.

Its unclear how this might affect owners of Olympus mirrorless cameras like the flagship O-MD E-M1 Mark III. JIP plans to streamline the business as it did with VAIO to make it more compact, efficient and agile, according to Olympus. It will also sell the existing camera models and develop new ones, so it would presumably support current Olympus owners. Beyond that, we dont know what JIP plans to do with Olympus, and it didnt exactly bring Sonys former VAIO division to greatness.

Olympus has implemented measures to cope with the extremely severe digital camera market, due to, amongst others, rapid market shrink caused by the evolution of smartphones; Olympus has improved the cost structure by restructuring the manufacturing bases and focusing on high-value-added interchangeable lenses, aiming to rectify the earning structure to those that may continue generating profit even as sales dwindles. Despite all such efforts, Olympuss Imaging business recorded operating losses for 3 consecutive fiscal years up to the term ended in March 2020.

Last year, Olympus CEO Yasuo Takeuchi let slip that a sale of its consumer camera division wasnt out of the question. However, the company took pains to walk that comment back, and marketing and sales VP Akihiko Murata also told Engadget that we want to say to our users, Please count on us.

Story continues

After reviewing the O-MD E-M1 III earlier this year, I was struck by the companys lack of innovation on its flagship camera compared to other manufacturers. Its normally an ominous sign for a company when it stops developing new product tech.

The sale of Olympus also has implications for the camera world at large. Olympus and Panasonic are the only major mirrorless camera companies supporting the Micro Four Thirds format, a segment playing third-fiddle to APS-C and full-frame systems. Those larger sensors are better in low light and produce soft bokeh backgrounds, helping camera manufacturers like Sony distinguish its products from increasingly excellent smartphone cameras.

Olympus still relies exclusively on Micro Four Thirds for its interchangeable lens cameras. However, Panasonic now has its own lineup of full-frame mirrorless cameras that have attracted a lot of attention, particularly in the video market. That gives it other options depending on what happens to Olympus, so well be keeping a close on both companies over the next few months. Following due diligence, the sale will conclude by September 3rd, 2020, Olympus said.

Update 6/25/2020 2:30 AM ET: The article originally stated that Olympus and Panasonic are the only companies supporting the Micro Four Thirds format. However, others including Blackmagic Design and DJI also build Micro Four Thirds cameras with interchangeable lenses. The post has been updated to indicate that Olympus and Panasonic are the only major mirrorless camera companies supporting the format. Thanks, Foo!
CHARLESTON, S.C.  The historic South Carolina city of Charleston removed a symbol of its legacy on Wednesday, after crews labored night and day to take away a statue honoring John C. Calhoun, an early U.S. vice president whose zealous defense of slavery led the nation toward civil war.

But the larger-than-life figure of Calhoun  known as The Cast-Iron Man in the early 1800s for his unbending support of Southern states rights  proved difficult to dislodge. After a nightlong struggle, contractors resorted to a diamond cutter to cut through a metal base securing his statue to a pedestal that towers more than 100 feet (30 meters) over a downtown square along Calhoun Street.

What had been expected to be a relatively quick task dragged on more than 16 hours before the statue was lowered down late Wednesday afternoon as dozens cheered.

Charleston Parks Director Jason Kronsberg told The Associated Press that unforeseen conditions were partly to blame for the delays, particularly a large bronze piece, deep inside the granite cylinder on which Calhoun stand. He said officials didnt know it existed.

Crews, which began the dismantling process at midnight Tuesday, discovered the bronze when a concrete saw failed to cut through. Kronsberg said that a company  that had planned once the statue was down to use a diamond-tipped chainsaw to chop up the towering monument  instead spent hours hacking away at the cylinder.

Charlestons council and mayor voted unanimously Tuesday to move it to an appropriate site where it will be protected and preserved, the latest in a wave of actions arising from protests against racial injustice in America.

I believe that we are setting a new chapter, a more equitable chapter, in our citys history, said Mayor John Tecklenburg.

Dozens of residents spoke for and against the statue at Tuesdays council meeting.

Grace Clark, a Charlestonian who said her family has lived in the city since the late 18th century, asked them to please not remove our history. Not all history is good but it is our history.

Clark offered an idea that city leaders had considered in the past: adding contextual information about Calhouns history with slavery, rather than taking down the monument.

Councilman Karl L. Brady Jr. said he would vote his conscience despite any political consequences, showing that in Charleston, we place white supremacy and white supremacist thought back where it belongs  on the ash heap of history.

The move comes days after the fifth anniversary of the slaying of nine Black parishioners in a racist attack at a downtown Charleston church. It also comes as cities nationwide debate the removal of monuments to Confederate leaders and others, and as thousands of Americans join street protests in the wake of George Floyds death under a Minneapolis police officers knee.

When Tecklenburg announced his plans a week earlier, dozens of protesters linked arms around the monument, shouting, Take it down! Some spray-painted the monuments base, and police reported making several arrests for vandalism.

The Calhoun Monument stood since 1898 in downtown Charleston, towering over a sprawling square where locals and tourists alike enjoyed festivals. But several event organizers said recently that they would not use the space while the statue remained.

About 40% of enslaved Africans brought to North America came through the port of Charleston, which formally apologized in 2018 for its role in the slave trade. The citys resolution says many see the statue as something other than a memorial to the accomplishments of a South Carolina native, but rather a symbol glorifying slavery and as such, a painful reminder of the history of slavery in Charleston.

Calhouns support of slavery, which he called a positive good, never wavered. He said in speeches on the U.S. Senate floor in the 1830s that slaves in the South were better off than free Blacks in the North. With his pro-slavery Calhoun Doctrine, he led the South toward secession before he died in 1850.

South Carolinas Heritage Act protects historical monuments and building names, but the mayor said the monument is not on public property, nor does it commemorate one of the historical events listed in the act.

Thus far, Tecklenburgs interpretation has not been legally disputed.

The Calhoun statues ultimate resting place will be decided by a special panel. The mayor has anticipated it would go to a local museum or educational institution.

As for the rest of the monument, Kronsberg said crews would rest Wednesday before returning at midnight to remove bronze plaques and decoration. They planned to begin to dismantle the tower itself on Thursday.

___

Meg Kinnard can be reached at https://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.
Bachelor fans recently re-watched JoJo Fletcher get her heart broken by Ben Higgins on his episode of The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons  Ever! Today, shes happily with her Bachelorette season winner, Jordan Rodgers. The couple has been engaged for four years. They were supposed to get married on June 13, 2020, but postponed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Jordan Rodgers and JoJo Fletcher | Tom Cooper/Getty Images for SeriesFest

What JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers have been doing during quarantine

JoJo and Jordan recently moved into a new house so theyve been spending a lot of time working on their new place.

Its been nice to focus on something positive thats really rewarding, JoJo told Showbiz Cheat Sheet. And the good thing is [Jordan] loves doing it, too, so its something that we get to do together.

One big project JoJo and Jordan recently tackled was fixing up a shiplap wall in their new home office.

RELATED: The Bachelor: How Madison Prewett Really Feels About Barb Webers Enthusiastic Love for Kelley Flanagan

We recently just did a huge DIY project during quarantine. We painted this huge shiplap wall. It had some stains and blemishes and imperfections over time. So we used KILZ Premium Primer and it gave us this awesome surface to apply our paint and then we painted this awesome moody blue/black color, also from KILZ called Kettle Black if anyone needs a color like that, but its beautiful. We redid the space and turned it into a home office, she shared.

JoJo recently partnered with KILZ Primer to give one DIYer $5,000 in e-gift cards to tackle a project. The winner will also get to meet JoJo virtually to get her advice on their project. 10 additional winners will also receive a $500 e-gift card to get started on their own DIY to-do lists.

JoJo Fletchers DIY advice

JoJo believes truly anyone can DIY.

If you prepare and are committed to finishing, you can absolutely do anything, she said.

For beginner DIYers, JoJo says painting is the perfect project.

I always tell people when theyre wanting to tackle a DIY project, if theyre a beginner, painting is always a great place to start. Any paint job, prep is so important. Starting with a primer is going to give you a long-lasting finish and durability. It helps transition paint jobs from dark to light. It blocks stains. I always tell people: Never skip this step, she said.

RELATED: Kaitlyn Bristowe Finally on Dancing with the Stars After Claiming Bachelor Creator Barred Her Because He Hates Women

If youre not sure where to start, JoJo suggests painting your front door or giving your laundry room a facelift.

If you want just a little thing to start with, painting your front door. I think curb appeal is always a nice refresher. If you want something in the house, maybe your laundry room is a little dull right now. You can repaint your cabinets. Give them a fun color; brighten up the space. Little things like that. You can also replace hardware. Those are really easy things that anyone can do, she said.

Read more: The Bachelor: Madison Prewett and Hannah Ann Sluss Get Honest About Their Current Relationship
B isto and Sharwood's owner Premier Foods today said sales were running a fifth higher than a year ago after the lockdown encouraged households to do more cooking.

The St Albans-based company, whose other brands include Mr Kipling, Ambrosia and Loyd Grossman, also benefited from stockpiling of groceries at the start of the pandemic.

Its revenues for the year to March 28 rose 2.8% to 847.1 million, with trading profits up 3.2% to a better-than-expected 132.6 million.

Revenues at the start of the new financial year are currently about 20% higher than the same quarter a year ago, with demand particularly strong in the grocery business that includes the brands Bisto and Batchelors.

CEO Alex Whitehouse said: One of the most prevalent trends we have seen during the lockdown is that Britain has got cooking again, with particularly high levels of demand for items relating to meal preparation, including cooking sauces, gravy and baking ingredients.

McDougall's flour also saw marked increases in demand as more consumers turned to baking at home.

Premier is on track to beat market expectations for the 2020/21 financial year as a whole, despite higher costs from equipping its supply chain for the pandemic. It also cautioned that it remains unclear how consumers' eating habits may change as lockdown measures ease.

Shares have soared during the Covid-19 crisis, with the stock up more than 200% from its low of 18.5p in mid-March. Confidence has also been boosted by a landmark pensions agreement, which has the potential to significantly reduce future funding costs.

Today's annual results show that Premier's biggest brand, Mr Kipling, increased sales by 4% to the highest ever level. The surge comes two years after a major relaunch, with the brand recently benefiting from a TV advertising push and the launch of its new Signature range.

Premier said its UK business had now delivered 11 consecutive quarters of revenue growth.
Over the past few days, there have been other allegations which have appeared as posts on social media, the theater added. To date, Signature has received no formal complaints, but would handle them according to the theaters comprehensive policies which could include an independent investigation.

Keegan said on Twitter Wednesday that he welcomed Schaeffers resignation, and called for the removal of the theaters board, which he accused of complicity. Sarah Valente, a member of Signatures board of directors, defended the boards handling of the initial accusation, saying, I do not believe that we ignored anything. A thorough investigation was done, we trusted the investigator who came highly recommended, we accepted her findings and moved on.

Valente said that Schaeffer had decided to leave of his own volition, and that the board had accepted his decision. Schaeffer did not respond to a request for comment about the allegations, and in a statement issued by the theater, he did not refer to the circumstances of his departure. After thirty years, with the world feeling upside down, I am retiring as Co-Founder/Artistic Director, he said.

I hope that the next generation of leaders can weather the many storms our profession faces, he added. To do so, it needs to pull together, dedicate itself to the work, and avoid the toxic polarization that damages not just the institutions, but the work itself, the art.

Founded in 1989 by Schaeffer and Donna Migliaccio, Signature initially staged its work in a middle school auditorium. It then spent years in a former auto garage before finishing construction on a $16 million, two-theater facility in 2007.
Currently, there is a movement of foreign direct investment (FDI) capital flow from China to other countries, especially in the ASEAN region.

LLM Doan Vu Hoai Nam ASL LAW

Recognising that movement, last year China issued a new Law on Foreign Investment to replace three legal documents. The country has adopted looser policies to foreign investors and has specifically prohibited government interference in business activities and requesting technology transfer from overseas companies. With the new law and accompanying policies, China is expected to return to the race to attract FDI although the US-China trade war has not cooled down.

However, taking advantage of that movement, together with the aim of becoming the third-largest area in FDI attraction, members have signed intra-ASEAN agreements, which have generated convenience for investors in the flow of goods in ASEAN countries.

Besides that, with the efforts to generate a good competitive environment in order to attract FDI capital into ASEAN countries, a legal framework on competition law for each member country has been promulgated.

Apart from these general agreements, each country has its own laws and policies to create its own competitive advantages.

Thailand has adopted outstanding policies such as a 50 per cent reduction in corporate income tax up to five years, and is also planning to revise foreign business laws with more open policies for foreign investors.

Elsewhere, in Singapore, although it does not have a specific investment law, the city-state has created a fair treatment environment between domestic and foreign enterprises, which is both simple and convenient.

Vietnam, meanwhile, boasts many areas of potential compared to other countries. First on the list is infrastructure, which is developing significantly from the capital the government invested into hospitals, transport, international airports, and new ports.

Although this infrastructure cannot be compared to that of leading ASEAN countries such as Singapore and Thailand, the governments efforts have shown its focus on the promotion of FDI attraction into Vietnam.

Vietnams success thus far in controlling the coronavirus ensures favourable conditions for investment compared to some neighbours

Taking advantage

Vietnam also has a great geographical advantage, bordering some countries in Asia and especially China, which could be a good reason for international companies to move their factories to Vietnam during the tensions between the US and China. Vietnam is also the gateway of the ASEAN region to trade with other member countries. In addition, with its long and large coastline, Vietnam becomes an important place adjacent to essential sea routes to generate convenient conditions for import and export.

The labour force is a great advantage for Vietnam too, because with a huge population and young labour force at working age  plus cheaper labour costs  this plays an important role in attracting FDI to Vietnam.

Furthermore, the Vietnamese law system is getting more and more developed to create a transparent and fair environment for foreign investors. According to the ASEAN and East Asia Research Institute, Vietnams system of legal documents and management ranks fourth in the region after Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. In particular, the Vietnamese law has regulations on investment such as protection against expropriation or no restrictions on inflow and outflow of funds.

Also, with the variety of means of dispute settlement, foreign investors interests can be protected well in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the country has promulgated policies to encourage technology transfer and attract FDI on new technologies with several incentives. For example, special incentives for scientific and technology enterprises are implemented, which can be a waiver or reduction of corporate income tax, or a waiver or reduction of land lease.

One of the other advantages is that Vietnam participates in many international investment agreements, creating great advantages for Vietnams import and export from and to signed countries in these free trade agreements (FTAs). From that, Vietnam will benefit from the reductions in tariffs mentioned in the agreement.

Hence, with low import and export tax rates, investors will move production and business facilities and invest in Vietnam to trade with third parties which Vietnam has an FTA with. Vietnam will then bring a great competitive advantage compared to other countries, especially China, which does not have an FTA with the EU.

Vietnam is now known as among the first countries controlling the COVID-19 pandemic effectively, with no deaths so far, which creates a wonderful condition for Vietnamese enterprises to return to their normal operation. The issue is how we let foreign investors enter Vietnam now.

Tough barriers

However, apart from competitive advantages, Vietnam must face challenges in the FDI attraction. Although 2019 was one of the bright years in attracting FDI into Vietnam, based on analysis of the FDI capital source, this source mainly focuses on processing and manufacturing industries (accounting for 45.8 per cent), but these industries do not require high skilled labour so it does not create a basis for further training of high skilled labour for Vietnam.

Therefore, in the coming years, Vietnam should focus on directing FDI capital to diversify investment sectors such as high-tech industries, industries for the development of labour skills, and research industries.

Next, based on the World Bank statistics on capital flow trends, investors are gradually choosing mergers and acquisitions as a mode of investment, instead of investing in new production facilities.

Therefore, Vietnam needs to improve laws and regulations in this field so that it is simple and flexible to avoid the cumbersome system. This will be the basis to amend laws on enterprise and investment in order to provide favourable conditions for those who wish to invest in Vietnam.

In terms of establishing a joint co-operation mechanism among countries in the ASEAN Community to compete with countries like China and India in attracting high-quality FDI, it is not very feasible considering the practical conditions of the countries in the ASEAN. There are several reasons for this.

First, the economic gap among countries in the region is still large from infrastructure to development capacity. With this large gap, it is difficult to create a general mechanism to balance benefits among countries when attracting high-quality FDI.

Next, ASEAN countries are still developing, so they still put their national interests first to focus on developing their countries with their own FDI attraction policies to compete with the other countries in the region.

Third, high-quality FDI requires high-quality human resources, but there are some ASEAN low-levelled developing countries that cannot meet the conditions for such a thing.

Lastly, there are still many problems in establishing a general legal institution because each country has its own attraction policy to create its own competitive advantage.

However, in the near future, conducting a general mechanism for this could be carried out thanks to some advantages. The ASEAN has had general transport agreements that facilitate the movement between countries. From that, this is a basis for the formation of a common production base and common economic zones in the community.

Also, the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community with regulations on tariff reduction creates a fair competition environment among nations. Businesses from large countries in the bloc can invest in small countries to help them grow, which shall close the gap between countries.

Finally, ASEAN member countries have to discuss issuance of general legal frameworks so that they can enhance their own law system. In addition, high-levelled developing countries need to support low-levelled countries to narrow the economic gap.

Anderson Tan - Managing director Xprienz Vietnam Co., Ltd. The pandemic has changed the way businesses pursue their investment journeys. Since March, due to tight lockdown policies implemented by many governments, many high-touch service sectors such as travel, tourism, hospitality, and retail have been decimated while low-touch sectors like delivery services, IT, and e-commerce are prospering. International investors who are into opportunistic high-yield sectors are looking for suitable countries, and Vietnam is presenting to be an attractive destination, as the countrys success in controlling the spread of COVID-19 has gained international reputation. However, many of Vietnams investment procedures are still manually carried out, and slowly. With tight travel restrictions, investors will find it challenging to complete the investment fulfilment in-person in Vietnam. Various competitive economies like India, China, and Singapore have policies that allow for business incorporation without the need for the investor to even set foot in the country. Therefore, Vietnam should explore decentralised solutions that would significantly ease investment procedures, and make the country an even more attractive investment destination. Fabio dAlba CFO Progetto CMR It is a good strategy to place focus on foreigner attention. Vietnam being a member of the ASEAN is a plus because this economic grouping helps enforce the strengths of each country as well as unify commercial or fiscal rules. A foreign investor in Vietnam could emerge at the same time to two advantages: the growth of the country and shared rules well-defined inside the ASEAN. With this dedicated task force, Vietnam will boost its appeal. Above all, it could simplify the opening of wholly-owned foreign companies and clarify fiscal standards. Moreover, a foreign investor can find a unique structure and take part in dialogues starting from pre-assessment stage until a company is set up here. Le Quang Minh - Research director Mirae Asset Securities Vietnam Vietnams growth prospects, especially in the stock market, are predicted to be challenging while the domestic economy is projected to hit rock-bottom in the latter half of this year. The VN-Index will likely face difficulties resulting from tensions between the US and China over trade disputes, COVID-19, and Hong Kong. The potential for retaliation, be it political or economic, will exert pressure on the global stock market in the short-run, and the pandemic is still spreading globally, in an unpredictable manner. The VN-Index faces a resistance area of 865-875 points and needs time to recover. The risk of a correction is increasing but remains low, thanks to strong domestic cash flows and positive fundamentals, with the economy likely to bottom out in April. The easing of monetary policy continues to support the market. We believe in the old saying what doesnt kill you makes you stronger, in regards to firms. If a firm can show its continuously outstanding fundamentals in the past, the firm is more likely to become a unicorn in the eyes of investors in the future. Matthew Smith - Head of research Yuanta Securities Vietnam The policy of improving infrastructure will be crucial in attracting high value-added manufacturing. Logistics and energy infrastructure are essential for attracting foreign investment in manufacturing. However, it is not only a funding challenge  the efficiency of existing infrastructure and integration of planning could also be improved. Based on my discussions with foreign businesspeople, infrastructure rollout over the years has not always been executed ideally. For a hypothetical example, a new and modern port facility might offer substantial benefits. However, if it lacks modern roads that connect it to manufacturing zones, it will not deliver optimal results. Improving the productivity of infrastructure is a matter of effective co-ordination among central planners and the local authorities. VIR

LLM Doan Vu Hoai Nam ASL LAW

Growing waves of FDI investment set to pose challenges for unskilled workers Foreign enterprises are beginning to shift their investments into industries that require medium-level workers or higher-skilled workers as opposed to putting money into labour-intensive industries as in the past,
The dailies have reported extensively on the proceedings of the impeachment motion against Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru that is before the Senate.

Fears by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that the 2022 General Election may be hampered by technical challenges that may affect result transmission have also been covered.

READ ALSO: Nairobi man in court for forcefully driving into State House at extremely high spee

Kenyan newspapers for June 24. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Afisa aliyedaiwa kumuua mkewe aachiliwa kwa dhamana

1. Daily Nation

Raila Odinga's allies in ODM want him to take the mantle of leadership from President Uhuru Kenyatta come 2022.

With Uhuru said to be looking for his successor outside the Jubilee Party following a strained relationship with his deputy, ODM feels Raila is the best option for Uhuru.

The party's secretary-general Edwin Sifuna said the former premier would not support any candidate again since he had done so before and repeating it "would be demanding too much".

His sentiments were echoed by the outfit's Treasurer Timothy Bosire who insisted ODM would not go for anything short of the presidency.

Daily Nation newspaper for June 24. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: 13-year-old boy who confronted regional commissioner George Natembeya crowned Narok peace ambassador

2. The Star

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned of a possible technical hitch that may result in failure of results transmission in 2022 General Election.

The electoral body said most of the gadgets that were bought during the 2017 General Election have not been undergoing regular servicing and maintenance due to financial constraints and may fail to work in the next election.

Commissioner Ahmed Guliye said nothing has been done to improve on the challenges encountered in the last poll.

He noted network issues would still hamper the process because no connectivity had been done even after experiencing the challenge in 2017 where the commission was unable to relay results from over 10, 000 polling stations.

The Star newspaper for June 24. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

3. The Standard

Senior political leaders have started realigning themselves ahead of 2022 General Election with majority of those who were in the opposition coalition in 2017 crossing over to join the government.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has established a formidable and cordial relationship with Uhuru which may go beyond 2022.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his Chama Cha Mashinani counterpart Isaac Ruto, both of whom are partners in Opposition coalition NASA, have signed a cooperation pact with the ruling party.

Independence party KANU, under the stewardship of Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, has also entered into an agreement with the president's party.

FORD Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula and his Amani National Congress (ANC) counterpart Musalaia Mudavadi appear to be sitting on the fence but with much weight leaning towards Deputy President William Ruto's side.

The Standard newspaper for June 24: UGC.

Source: UGC

4. Taifa Leo

Coast residents have opposed the move by the government to shift port services from Mombasa to Naivasha.

The agitated residents, particularly the business community, have threatened to commence a process of recalling their elected leaders for abandoning them and remaining silent in the wake of what they termed as "economic oppression".

This came shortly after a Nyali MP Mohamed Ali's notice of motion seeking to impeach Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia was thrown out by Speaker Justin Muturi over lack of merit.

Taifa Leo newspaper for June 24. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

5. People Daily

The publication reports on the proceedings of the impeachment motion against Kirinyaga Governor Anne which is before the Senate.

On Tuesday, June 23, the embattled county boss dismissed accusations levelled against her by the county assembly terming them malicious, unfounded and politically instigated.

Witnesses who appeared for the county assembly told the committee presiding over the dispute that Waiguru had embezzled county funds through irregular tenders and travel allocations that never happened.

Waiguru was also accused of plunging the health sector into a crisis by firing health workers and shutting down hospitals in the county without offering any option.

People Daily newspaper for June 24. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

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Source: TUKO.co.ke
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that he was proud that a contingent of the Indian Armed Forces was participating in the 75th Anniversary of Victory Day Parade in Moscow.

Singh 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.

"Attending the Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow today to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory of the Soviet People in the great Patriotic War of 1941-1945," Singh tweeted on Wednesday.

"I am proud that a Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces is also participating in this parade," he tweeted.

Pictures showed that social distancing being maintained at the Red Square where the parade will take place.

"Impressive turnout of the Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow is indeed an extremely proud and happy moment for me," Singh tweeted.

The Tri-service 75-member Indian military contingent is participating in the parade. The Indian team is participating alongside armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries, including China.

On Tuesday, he called on Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov and the two leaders held discussions on the bilateral relationship, regional issues, and reviewed the India-Russia defence cooperation.

Singh also conveyed his greetings for the solemn ceremonies of the 75th Victory Day and congratulated the "friendly" people of Russia, specially the veterans, who have contributed to the common security of India and Russia, an official statement said on Tuesday.

WATCH: Indian Armed Forces participate in Victory Day Parade in Moscow

Russia postponed its military parade traditionally held on Moscow's Red Square on May 9 for a later date due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On May 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Victory Parade would be held on Moscow's Red Square on June 24, TASS news agency reported.

He explained that this was chosen because on June 24, 1945 the legendary historic parade of victors took place, when soldiers, who fought for Moscow and defended Leningrad, who stood their ground for Stalingrad, liberated Europe and stormed Berlin, marched on Red Square, the report added.

Singh is the first senior union minister to undertake a foreign visit in four months as international travels were restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Singh travelled by an Indian Air Force aircraft, while strictly following all laid precautions against the coronavirus infection.
There will be a "massive" cost when it comes to reopening schools fully, the Minister for Education has warned.

Talks are underway between the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure. The Department of Education intends on proceeding with a full return to school in September, according to Minister Joe McHugh.

"There will be a massive cost in relation to schools returning fully and having the proper guidelines in place," he said.

This will include the mandatory infrastructure to keep staff and students safe.

Further guidance around voluntary summer programmes for children are expected to be sent to schools tomorrow.

There will not be a requirement for strict social distancing for children with special education needs as this would neither be "practical or possible", Mr McHugh told the Dail.

The Department of Education does not expect there will be a significant need for PPE when schools reopen, he added.

There is an urgent need for the department to research the learning losses of students caused by the extended school closures, according to Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fail education spokesman.

Emerging evidence from the UK suggests that students have done a lot less learning at home than they would have done in the classroom, despite the best efforts of parents and teachers, he added.

It would appear that there has been a scaling down of the ambition by the Minister, when it comes to the number of children who will attend summer programmes. That is according to Donnchadh O Laoghaire, Sinn Fein education spokesman, who said issues around insurance and transport to and from the summer programs remain an issue for many parents. He added that some groups of children remain excluded.

"I know many parents of children with Down Syndrome were very disappointed to see their children in mainstream classes excluded. It's a growing cohort, and the children who are transitioning to post-primary, is another sizable cohort," he added.

One insurance provider will not provide cover to schools for the summer programmes, according to Peader Tobin of Aontu. This is due to the lack of guidance around the scheme, he added.

Meanwhile, Aodhan O Riordain, Labour education spokesman, warned that thousands of children will go hungry over the summer unless school meal schemes are extended.

Domestic violence and additions have been exacerbated during the pandemic. Many families will be under increased economic strain, Mr O Riordain added.

"There is an absolute bone-crushing and spirit-crushing humiliation that goes with hunger. It's not just the lack of a meal. Resentment can build. It has a deeply wounding effect on a child who goes hungry."

"I'm asking you to be an ally in this," he said to Mr McHugh, asking him to work with Regina Doherty, the Minister for Social Protection, in the coming days before the next government is formed.

"It would be at the most a 10 million decision."

Mr McHugh said he would discuss the matter with Ms Doherty.
Hearst Connecticut Media / Tara O'Neill

NEW HAVEN  City police are investigating a double shooting Tuesday that left two men with gunshot wounds, according to police officials.

The victims are two New Haven men. A 24 year old has a gunshot wound to the ankle and a 22 year old has a gunshot wound to the side of his torso. Both men are expected to survive their injuries.
BAY CITY, MI - McLaren Bay Region is ending its EMS services and terminating 74 employees by the end of the summer, though the company stepping in is looking to incorporate those workers into its new system.

The employees were notified of their impending job loss via a letter dated Tuesday, June 23 and sent to the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics labor union.

The Hospital has decided to discontinue its emergency medical service (EMS) operations, Regional Vice President of Human Resources Carolyn Potter writes in the letter. As a result, McLaren is permanently closing its four Bay County EMS locations:

 110 S. Washington Ave. in Bay City

 1209 E. Smith St. in Bay City

 4811 W. Professional Drive in Monitor Township

 1456 W. Center Road in Hampton Township

The hospital is also permanently terminating 74 EMT dispatchers and paramedics. The terminations take effect Aug. 29.

Potters letter goes on to state Clinton Township-based nonprofit Medstar Ambulance is buying the capital assets of McLaren Bay Regions EMS operations and leasing the aforementioned locations.

We are informed that Medstar intends to operate from those locations and may offer employment to some of the affected employees, Potter wrote.

Magen Samyn, McLaren Bay Regions vice president of marketing and business development, said discussions regarding this development have been going on with employees for about a year. She described the development as an exciting opportunity for our community.

McLaren Bay Region is the only McLaren hospital who delivers our own EMS service, Samyn said. By joining with other health care organizations through Medstar, we have the opportunity to provide a better service to our community. Medstar does an exceptional job providing care and accomplishes it with the best response times and highest patient satisfaction. Medstar will be investing in services, additional vehicles, and new equipment. Our community will benefit from all of these investments into EMS.

Medstar is composed of stakeholders from McLaren Health Care, Ascension-Michigan, and Henry Ford Health System, Samyn added.

As we look at what services we want to provide and continue to better provide those services to our community and meeting the needs for ever-changing health care industry we look at who does it best, how to improve, Samyn said. Medstar is certainly one of the best in the country.

She said it came down to Medstar offers superior service and was the best way to go.

We recognize the commitment of McLaren Bay Region and the EMS employees over the last four decades, and look forward to building on that legacy with expanded services, additional vehicles, and new equipment, said Kolby Miller, Medstars chief executive officer. Medstar will also extend its EMT and nationally recognized paramedic education programs into Bay County as part of our training and workforce development initiatives. We look forward to welcoming the personnel from McLaren Bay Region into positions serving Bay County, as well as adding additional shifts and personnel.

Miller added Medstars first goal in the transition was to offer employment to those qualified McLaren Bay Region employees affected by the transition, saying local EMTs and paramedics can best provide care.

The number one thing on our punch list is to engage with employees there, Miller said. The service transition will be seamless from the publics view. Theyll simply report to work the next day (Aug. 30) as Medstar employees.

Medstar serves nine counties, has 680 employees, and is forecast to respond to 190,000 calls in 2020, Miller said. The company surveys nearly 100 percent of its patient population, yielding a 98.7 percent satisfaction rate, he added.

However, McLaren Bay Region paramedic Zane Rybkowski Jr. described Wednesdays news as marking a sad day for the residents of Bay County.

Rybkowski received his EMT and paramedic training from McLaren EMS, he said. He would have had 14 years with the company this year.

Our department was staffed with the majority of people that lived in Bay County, serving their friends, family and neighbors, he said. Many of our medics are seasoned with some having 30 to 35 years at Bay. We have weathered the pandemic with minimal PPE and no special considerations for our service. We have maintained a high quality of patient care. Our response times were excellent. We have assisted other counties during mutual aid requests.

Rybkowski further questioned the idea of an EMS service from another area providing the same level of care.

There is no guarantee that the same level of EMS coverage will remain in place, he said. Our EMS department was one of the last to be outsourced. We knew this was coming. Its still hard to see a firm date of termination.

Related:

Bay County first responders adopt new measures to halt coronavirus spread

Michigan hospitals still treating 1,000 coronavirus patients
The Police in Kano have rescued over 300 labourers who were forced to spend three months working in a rice-processing factory called popular farm rice, in Challawa industrial area.

The workers were rescued on Monday, June 22, when Policemen stormed the Indian-owned factory with a court injunction. Four managers were arrested.

According to BBC, the workers were promised an additional N5,000 a month on top of their N25,000 monthly salary  those who did not accept were threatened with the sack.

READ ALSO  Kano State Slashes Civil Servants Salaries

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Speaking with Journalists, the workers said they were denied access outside the premises of the factory due to the fear of bringing COVID-19 into the factory.

Police spokesman Abdullahi Haruna said that the plant had now been shut down and the owners were being investigated for holding the men against their will.

Some of the men said they were forced to work most of the time during their incarceration, with little food.

We were allowed to rest for only a short time, no prayers were allowed, no family visits, 28-year-old Hamza Ibrahim, one of those rescued, told BBC.
Oakland

Photo: Ed W./Yelp

Here's the latest in Oakland food news. In this edition: Adams Point gets a new takeout spot serving burritos, tacos and tortas; a modern American diner is on its way to Uptown; and a swath of Oakland's restaurants return to dine-in service with outdoor-only seating.

Opening

Adams Point

Comal Next Door (550 Grand Ave.)

Photo: Cassie Z./Yelp

Popular Berkeley Mexican spot Comal now has a sequel near Lake Merritt. Called Comal Next Door, it made its debut on Monday in the former home of Barlago, which closed last spring.

According to the Chronicle, owners John Paluska and Andrew Hoffman originally planned to turn the space into a bar. But with demand for their Mexican fare through the roof during the pandemic, they've pivoted to a takeout menu spotlighting the hits: burritos, bowls, tacos, tortas, grilled elote and a Tijuana Caesar salad.

To drink, there's bottled beer, aguas frescas or 16-ounce bottled cocktails like the Jack Satan (reposado tequila, hibiscus, infierno tincture and lime). Orders can be placed via takeout window or for delivery.

"In these unusual times, its gratifying to be continuing our mission in new ways," a statement on the restaurant's website reads.

Uptown

Daughters Diner (326 23rd St.)

Photo: Google Maps

Comal isn't the only Oakland eatery to pivot due to the pandemic. Early this year, Justyna and Keven Wilson took over the former space of Chinese restaurant New Lakeside Cafe, with plans to turn it into a high-quality American comfort food spot.

Named for their three-year-old, Daughter's Diner would have sold items like gougere breakfast sandwiches, inspired by Keven's decades cooking at high-end restaurants like RN74 and Perbacco.

But as Berkeleyside reports, the pandemic changed everything, and the Wilsons are now planning to switch to a to-go, counter-service operation. The focus will be on ready-to-eat American comfort foods, with a small selection of corner-store basics like milk, eggs and bread available for pickup.

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When it opens in August, Daughter's Diner may also have a small amount of outdoor seating, for those who prefer to enjoy their takeout al fresco.

Update

Outdoor dining during shelter-in-place

Spaced out outdoor dining at Dona. | Photo: Albertino M./Hoodline Tipline

As we reported last week, Alameda County allowed restaurants to resume outdoor dining on Friday. So far, about two dozen local restaurants are participating, with some drastically expanding their outdoor space and food offerings to make it work.

For example, Piedmont Avenue's Dona has made room for nearly 90 socially distanced seats on its patio and deck, while breweries like Line 51 and Original Pattern have teamed up with food vendors to keep outdoor drinkers fed.

To get the skinny on everywhere you can eat outside in Oakland right now, check out these guides from Berkeleyside and the Mercury News.

Thanks to our indefatigable tipste Al M.! Have you noticed a new addition to (or subtraction from) Oakland's food landscape? Text a tip and a horizontal photo to (415) 200-3233, and we'll look into it.
BERLIN  President Hashim Thaci of Kosovo, a guerrilla leader during Kosovos battle for independence from Serbia during the 1990s, was indicted on 10 counts of war crimes on Wednesday at a special court in the Netherlands. Prosecutors accused him and other former fighters of being criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders.

The charges, long anticipated, have yet to be accepted by judges at the court, but their timing came as a shock, both in the Balkans and in Washington. Mr. Thaci was to meet on Saturday at the White House with his Serbian counterpart, President Aleksandar Vucic, to continue a Kosovar-Serbian dialogue mediated by American officials.

Mr. Thaci, 52, will no longer attend the meeting, dashing American hopes that the negotiations might finally lead to a settlement between Serbia and Kosovo. Kosovo won autonomy in 1999, aided by a NATO bombing campaign, but Serbia has never recognized Kosovos sovereignty, and negotiations to reach a final peace deal stalled in 2018. The United States is one of about 100 countries that recognize Kosovos independence.

This affects Kosovo in all possible ways, said Agron Bajrami, the head of the Koha Media Group, Kosovos largest media conglomerate. It affects the process of dialogue, in which the president was the main interlocutor for both the European Union and the United States, and it will have an enormous effect in the political scene in Kosovo.
(Reuters) - The police chief in Louisville, Kentucky said on Friday he intended to fire one of three officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed in a burst of gunfire when drug investigators entered her home.

Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician, was killed on March 13 after the officers entered her apartment bearing a "no-knock" arrest warrant.

In a letter to Detective Brett Hankison posted on Twitter, Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Robert Schroeder said he intended to fire the officer for what he called "extreme" violations of standard operating procedures when Hankison used deadly force upon entering the apartment.

"Your actions displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life when you wantonly and blindly fired ten (10) rounds into the apartment of Breonna Taylor," Schroeder wrote. "I find your conduct a shock to the conscience."

The River City Fraternal Order of Police, which represents LMPD officers, did not reply to a request for comment.

Hankison, who was hired by the department in 2003, had previously been disciplined in January 2019 for reckless conduct that injured an innocent person, Schroeder's letter said.

It said Hankison would have the opportunity, with counsel or a union representative, to provide "additional information or mitigating factors" before his termination was finalized.

Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Taylor's family, called the police chief's letter "damning," and said on Twitter that he wanted to see the other officers fired and criminally charged.

Taylor's death, along with the May 25 death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd and other police killings of Black people, has become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement and has sparked nationwide protests against racism and police brutality.

Hours after the March 13 raid, Louisville police Lieutenant Ted Eiden told reporters the officers had knocked on the door before forcing entry and were shot at by Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. One officer was struck in the leg and all three returned fire, hitting Taylor at least eight times, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Walker was charged with attempted murder and assault, but last month state prosecutors dropped the charges, the Courier-Journal reported.

(Reporting by Gabriella Borter and Barbara Goldberg; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Frances Kerry and Daniel Wallis)
An advertisement for Bell & Evans poultry products is shown on the back of a company delivery truck in Fredericksburg, Pa. Read more

A high-end Lebanon County poultry processor struggling with unsafe levels of salmonella did not see an improvement over the last month, the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture data show.

Bell & Evans, of Fredericksburg, Pa., was found to have dangerous salmonella bacteria levels in its chicken parts and ground chicken lines in April. Both were listed as Category 3, the worst score, while its whole-chicken product was listed as Category 2, an acceptable level. (Category 1 exceeds government standards.) According to the most recent USDA reports, which end May 30, Bell & Evans scored the same as in April.

The USDA publishes processors salmonella scores online each month, but cannot take action against companies with dismal ratings. Thats because a landmark 2001 U.S. Court of Appeals decision classified salmonella as a naturally occurring bacteria that cant be regulated. Experts say the use of anti-microbial chemicals during production, when the chicken gets inspected by investigators, the cleanliness of plant water, and what happens when the live birds are trucked to poultry plants for slaughter can all play a part in the testing results.

While other poultry processors in Pennsylvania also landed in Category 3, Bell & Evans is the only operation to have that designation in more than one product line, records show. The company did not immediately return requests for comment. An undated FAQ about salmonella on Bell & Evans website suggests that the companys organic-certified facilities make it more difficult to fight against salmonella because our products and surfaces are not exposed to harsh cleaning agents that may otherwise eliminate some bacteria. The company said it aims to maintain a Category 1 status, but said its common for naturally occurring bacteria levels to fluctuate.

Spikes in Salmonella like Bell & Evans has recently experienced can occur from a number of factors including warmer temperatures, for example, the company stated.

Salmonella spreads through chicken waste, and sickens more than one million Americans a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, it wont cause infection if the meat is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Luckily, we dont eat our chicken raw, said Gregory Martin, a poultry expert from the Penn State Extension who has visited Bell & Evans processing center and knows the longtime owners of the business, the Sechler family.

Martin said Bell & Evans is likely trying to trace the source of salmonella back to one of its many supplying farms.

Its not that easy, he said.

The company has also struggled with a coronavirus outbreak among workers that has killed at least three people and sickened an unknown number of workers.

Bell & Evans, located 95 miles northwest of Philadelphia, is the largest private employer in Lebanon County and has grown rapidly in recent years. The company plans to add two manufacturing lines, each processing 140 chickens a minute, the fastest speed allowed under federal law without special waivers. Touting its new-age chicken processing techniques, the company has attracted consumers who are willing to pay more on store shelves. Locally, the brand is sold at Whole Foods and Wegmans markets.
[June 24, 2020] SAIC Wins $630 Million Contract to Modernize Air Force Critical Infrastructure for Accurate, Timely Weather Reports

Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC (News - Alert)) has received a contract from the U.S. Air Force 557th Weather Wing to manage and modernize the critical hardware and software for its Technology Application Development and Sustainment (TADS) system to support the development of accurate and timely weather reports. The contract, new business for SAIC, includes application development, software integration, application infrastructure, cloud migration, hardware, security and data management. The IDIQ contract has a base five-year ordering period and a six-month extension. If all options are exercised, the contract has a ceiling value of $630 million. The recipient of the contract, Unisys (News - Alert) Federal, was acquired by SAIC in March 2020. "Air Force warfighters need the latest and most accurate weather data to effectively carry out their mission, and TADS will provide them with innovative new capabilities to provide critical environmental situational awareness when and where they are needed," said Bob Genter, SAIC executive vice president and general manager. "This contract award underscores SAIC's ability to provide modernized mission-critical networks and infrastructure as well as the company's expansion into new areas of innovation in support of our customers." TADS will address the objective of Air Force Weather to investigate and implement innovative ideas to improve mission performance such as big data analytics, machine learning and improvements in meteorological and space weather science. TADS will move the service to a software-centric, cloud-based approach to efficiently respond to mission needs, including disaster recovery and increased collaboration. Under the TADS contract, SAIC will plan the prototyping and integration of new technologies to increase the relevance of environmental intelligence in mission planning and execution across Defense Department and coalition operations, while maximizing the use of modular, interoperable components. The new TADS system will fully integrate multi-level cybersecurity capabilities while increasing overall system reliability and performance with constant system operaional availability in support of all combatant commands, national agencies and international organizations.



"The TADS contract award is the culmination of a two-year effort to demonstrate our efficient and comprehensive capabilities to the Air Force Weather community," said Andrew Boyd, SAIC senior vice president, Defense Services. "We are pleased to have been selected, marking SAIC's continued success in winning new business in critical mission support areas where best practices in technology and innovation are of high value to the customer." About SAIC

SAIC is a premier Fortune 500 technology integrator driving our nation's digital transformation. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian, and intelligence markets includes secure high-end solutions in engineering, IT modernization, and mission solutions. Using our expertise and understanding of existing and emerging technologies, we integrate the best components from our own portfolio and our partner ecosystem to deliver innovative, effective, and efficient solutions that are critical to achieving our customers' missions. We are 25,500 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has pro forma annual revenues of approximately $7.1 billion.???? For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release contain or are based on "forward-looking" information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "guidance," and similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements in this release may include, among others, estimates of future revenues, operating income, earnings, earnings per share, charges, total contract value, backlog, outstanding shares and cash flows, as well as statements about future dividends, share repurchases and other capital deployment plans. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risk, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from the guidance and other forward-looking statements made in this release as a result of various factors. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause or contribute to these material differences include those discussed in the "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Legal Proceedings" sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated in any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC (News - Alert), which may be viewed or obtained through the Investor Relations section of our website at saic.com or on the SEC's website at sec.gov. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. SAIC expressly disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statement provided in this release to reflect subsequent events, actual results or changes in SAIC's expectations. SAIC also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by investment analysts or others. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005433/en/

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[June 24, 2020] Kane Biotech Receives New Funding from CanExport SMEs Program

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kane Biotech Inc. (TSX-V:KNE; OTCQB:KNBIF) (the Company or Kane Biotech) today announced that it has been approved for up to $54,750 in funding from the Government of Canadas CanExport SMEs program. Kane will use this funding to support the marketing costs associated with the U.S. launch of its Human Health anti-biofilm shampoo as well as to support international growth of its Animal Health business.

CanExport SMEs is a program delivered by the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) of Global Affairs Canada in partnership with the National Research Councils Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). It provides direct financial assistance to small and medium-sized businesses registered in Canada in order to help them develop new export opportunities and markets. Having reported overwhelmingly positive results from our shampoo consumer product test last month, we are grateful to receive this funding, which will support the products launch in the U.S. later this year, said Marc Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kane Biotech. As we prepare to execute our U.S. launch strategy, we are looking forward to making our shampoo available to Canadians, via online direct-to-consumer sales, this summer. Kane Biotechs shampoo was developed based on research indicating that the persistence of microbial biofilm may be linked with aggravating the symptoms associated with atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis (also known as eczema) and dandruff. The shampoo consists of coactiv+TM, a patented anti-biofilm formulation, and contains ingredients approved as safe for human use. About Kane Biotech Inc. Kane Biotech is a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of technologies and products that prevent and remove microbial biofilms. The Company has a portfolio of biotechnologies, intellectual property (5 patents and patents pending, trade secrets and trademarks) and products developed by the Company's own biofilm research expertise and acquired from leading research institutions. StrixNB, DispersinB, Aledex, bluestem, silkstem, coactiv+ and Kane are trademarks of Kane Biotech Inc. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "KNE."



For more information, please visit www.kanebiotech.com , or contact: Marc Edwards

Chief Executive Officer

Kane Biotech Inc.

+1 (514) 910-6991

[email protected]

Ray Dupuis

Chief Financial Officer

Kane Biotech Inc.

+1 (204) 298-2200

[email protected]

Stephen Kilmer

Investor Relations

+1 (646) 274-3580

[email protected] 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. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains certain statements regarding Kane Biotech Inc. that constitute forward-looking information under applicable securities law. These statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the Companys: (a) financial condition, including lack of significant revenues to date and reliance on equity and other financing; (b) business, including its early stage of development, government regulation, market acceptance for its products, rapid technological change and dependence on key personnel; (c) intellectual property including the ability of the Company to protect its intellectual property and dependence on its strategic partners; and (d) capital structure, including its lack of dividends on its common shares, volatility of the market price of its common shares and public company costs. Further information about these and other risks and uncertainties can be found in the disclosure documents filed by the Company with applicable securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedar.com . The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. COVID-19 Pandemic The outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 strain of coronavirus, was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020 and has resulted in a widespread health crisis that has affected economies and financial markets around the world, resulting in an economic downturn. The effects of this pandemic on the Company may include decreased customer demand, interruptions to supply chains, manufacturing activities and research and development programs and increased government regulations or interventions. The duration and impact of the COVID-19 outbreak is unknown at this time and it is not possible to reliably estimate the length and severity of these developments nor the impact of these developments on the financial results and condition of the Company in future periods.

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The late, great, Neil Peart wrote, in Tom Sawyer, He knows changes arent permanent, but change is. His words are an apt description of our modern world, an ever-changing landscape of pending tech. Right now, the shiny new change is 5G.

Even the coronavirus couldnt fully derail the coming build-out of the new 5G networks. It only delayed it. China and Korea are leading the world right now in bringing 5G networks online, with the US expanding its own new systems and Europe lagging behind. In the US, most urban areas have at least partial 5G connectivity online, and the major service providers are working to connect those centers.

For investors, the key here will be finding companies that are primed to gain as 5G expands. Its tempting to invest directly in the service providers; AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile/Sprint, the three largest wireless providers, are all heavily invested in 5G networks. But they face certain headwinds that make them less than ideal as 5G investments  for the present. They are absorbing the costs of the new networks, but without bringing in the new service fees to cover those costs. From a consumer perspective, the new service is more expensive, but hasnt surpassed existing 4G in convenience  yet.

This leaves investors seeking the right place to put their money, to benefit from 5G rollouts. Two segments come to mind, both deeply involved in different ways. The first is semiconductor chips; the second, surprisingly, are real estate investment trusts. These companies, inhabiting such different niches, find themselves well-positioned to profit  for different reasons  as 5G networks expand. Those different reasons are interesting to explore, as we open the TipRanks database to see what makes semiconductors and REITs compelling investments for 5G. Let's take a closer look.

Broadcom, Inc. (AVGO)

First up is a long-running major market player, a large-cap stock and a perennial champion for dividend investors. Broadcom is also one of the worlds largest semiconductor chip makers, ranked the sixth biggest by annual revenue in 2019, and reporting $5.25 billion in earnings in the first quarter of 2020.

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Broadcom has been making waves in 5G throughout 1H20. In February, the company announced completion of a 5G switching portfolio, designed for high-capacity switches and offering the feature set needed to meet new 5G tech standards. In March, Broadcom was noted by Forbes as one of the leaders in 5G wireless infrastructure; the company is deeply invested in providing chips that power the new devices. And earlier this month, handset maker Nokia, which has been having trouble in recent months sourcing 5G chips in sufficient quantity to meet demand, signed Broadcom on a supplier of 5G chips for Nokias ReefShark line.

With all of this good news for the company, its no wonder that AVGO shares have climbed 85% since hitting bottom on March 18, dramatically outperforming the broader markets. Q2 saw revenue grow to $5.74 billion, up 9% sequentially. And, despite the ongoing pandemic, the company has maintained its generous dividend, declaring $3.25 per share on June 4. The current dividend annualizes to $13 and gives an impressive yield of 4.3%.

Writing on AVGO for Deutsche Bank is 5-star analyst Ross Seymore, rated #26 overall in the TipRanks analyst database. Seymore notes the Nokia arrangement, and points out that it plays to Broadcoms strengths in addressing the 5G needs of OEM customers: We view [the Nokia] announcement as evidence that the co's investments and engagement with infrastructure OEMs on solutions within the base station which AVGO referenced in December, are bearing fruit. Broadcom's strength in custom ASICs and in routing and switching have enabled the co to leverage its Ethernet technology in bringing the network to the Edge (base stations).

To this end, Seymore rates AVGO a Buy alongside a $360 price target, indicating a potential 16% upside for the stock this year. (To watch Seymores track record, click here)

All in all, Broadcom has a Strong Buy from the analyst consensus, with 24 reviews breaking down to 21 Buys and only 3 Holds. Shares are priced at $311.30, and the average price target of $350.18 suggests an upside potential of 13%. (See AVGO stock analysis on TipRanks)

SBA Communications (SBAC)

The next stock on our list operates as a REIT, focused on cellular infrastructure sites. Specifically, SBA Communications owns small cells, distributed antenna systems, and traditional cell sites throughout the Americas and South Africa. SBA both leases and develops the properties in its portfolio  a business that perfectly positions the company to profit as telecom carriers and providers increase and densify their networks to accommodate 5G technology. This process naturally requires new cell towers, antenna placements, and small cells  and that is SBAs core business.

Standing as it does at the center of the 5G expansion, SBA is already showing gains. The companys stock is up 4.6% since February, having fully recovered from the market collapse in February/March and survived several weeks of price volatility that followed.

Its not just share price that has gained despite coronavirus-inspired recessionary pressures. SBA has reported modest sequential gains in quarterly earnings since the beginning of 2019, a trend that continued in Q1 2020.

Credit Suisse analyst Sami Badri is confident in this companys business model and solid balance sheet. He writes, We believe the evidence points to an initial majority mid-band spectrum buildout. Mid-band spectrum will mainly be utilized on macro towers, given its solid propagation characteristics, therefore the initial 5G wave should favor macro tower focused SBAC With SBAC capable of raising debt at such modest rates (3.875% May 19th) while maintaining its broader tower asset ROIC of 10%, we are comfortable and constructive with its current leverage profile.

Badri rates SBAC an Outperform (i.e. Buy), and his $361 price target indicates his belief in a 23% upside potential for the stock. (To watch Badris track record, click here)

Overall, the analyst consensus rating on SBAC, a Strong Buy is based on a 9-to-1 split between Buy and Hold reviews. The average price target, $328, implies an upside of 12% from the current trading price of $293.78. (See SBAC stock analysis on TipRanks)

American Tower (AMT)

Last up is American Tower, the Boston-based REIT with a global portfolio containing more than 180,000 cellular broadcast tower and wireless communication sites. The core of the portfolio is in the US, but the company has been expanding internationally, both to supplement the core holdings and to take advantage of the global nature of wireless com systems. AMT currently holds more than 40,000 US cellular sites, along with 75,000 Asia and 37,000 in Latin America.

As wireless providers expand their networks to introduce 5G connections, AMT is a logical beneficiary. Due to the shorter range of 5G systems, a denser tower network will be required; AMT, which owns and leases such sites, is ramping up acquisitions to take advantage. AMT derives most of its customer base  on the order of 88%  AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint/T-Mobile. These companies are not going anywhere, and lend a sense of permanence to AMTs holdings.

In addition, due to the long-term nature of cellular leases, AMT features a high proportion of recurring revenue in its portfolio  a feature that has insulated the company from the impact of COVID-19. AMT reported sequential gains in earnings for Q1, the coronavirus quarter, and share prices have shown a net gain during the last few months of market volatility.

Analyst Sami Badri covers AMT shares as well, and he writes of the stock: We expect Massive MIMO antennas to place more weight on towers, while taking up the same amount of physical vertical space or more on the structure. This will result in more revenue from tower leasing activity for AMT, which we expect to appear primarily as amendment revenues.

Badri is bullish on AMT, giving the stock a Buy rating with a $300 price target. His target implies an upside of 13% in the coming 12 months.

Once again, were looking at a stock with a Strong Buy analyst consensus rating. AMTs rating is based on 14 reviews, including 12 Buys and just 2 Holds. Shares are selling for $265.60, and the $269.42 suggests a modest upside this year. (See AMT stock-price forecast on TipRanks)

To find good ideas for 5G stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.
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ANCHORAGE (AP)  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.





. . .
- Sofia Andres made headlines when she announced days ago that she is already a mother to a beautiful baby girl named Zoe, whose father is Daniel Miranda

- Daniel is a 23-year-old race car driver and he has been in a relationship with Sofia for four years now

- His parents are Martin Miranda and Angelique Lhuillier and he grew up in Cebu with his brother Enrique.

- Angelique is a businesswoman while Martin is a karter, motocross rider, and drag-racer

- Daniels grandfather on his mothers side is Philippe Lhuillier, chairman of Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop  the largest pawnshop chain in the Philippines

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Sofia Andres shocked a lot of people when she announced days ago that she is already a mother to a beautiful baby girl named Zoe. The girls father is Daniel Miranda, Sofias boyfriend.

According to the ABS-CBN program TV Patrol, Daniel is a 23-year-old race car driver and he has been in a relationship with Sofia for four years now.

In a report by Esquire Magazine Philippines (authored by Paolo Chua), it turned out that Daniel also comes from a wealthy family.

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His parents are Martin Miranda and Angelique Lhuillier and he grew up in Cebu with his brother Enrique.

His mother is a businesswoman while his dad is a karter, motocross rider, and drag-racer.

Daniels grandfather on his mothers side is Philippe Lhuillier, chairman of Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop  the largest pawnshop chain in the Philippines.

PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news!

In a previous report by KAMI, Sofia shared new pictures of her adorable baby girl.

Sofia Andres is an actress and endorser in the Philippines. She is best known for her role in the hit Kapamilya series, Bagani. The actress made headlines when she announced that she already has a child named Zoe with her non-showbiz partner, Daniel Miranda.

Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters!

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Kathmandu: Amid growing trouble with India, a media report has emerged which showed how due to gross negligence of the Nepal government, a village in Gorkha in the mid-western part of the Himalayan nation has been under Chinese control for six decades.

Rui Gaun is administered by China which claims it to be part of so-called TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region), media reports said.

Rui Gaun, which falls in Gorkha district, has about 72 households and has been encroached on by China and is under its control, according to a report published in Annapurna Post, a vernacular daily, as quoted by ANI.

Nepal government has included the territory in its map but the administration is not in its hands, reports ANI.

China has also moved the pillars to the Nepali side to validate the encroachment, the report said as quoted by the Indian news agency.

The Land Revenue Office, Gorkha, has a record of revenues that were collected from the inhabitants of Rui Guan village, which clearly show that the encroached territory is Nepali.

"The details of the revenues paid by the inhabitants of the village are still safe in the Land Revenue Office, in File No.1," said Thakur Khanal, an official at the Land Revenue Office, according to the report as quoted as by ANI.

Nepal has been engaged in a border dispute with India in recent times only to divert attention from China's move of occupying several areas in the Himalayan nation, media reports said.

The documents available with Zee Media revealed that China has annexed many parts of Nepal, and there is tremendous pressure on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's government, the reason it picked up a border dispute with India to divert the people's attention in Nepal.

According to the exclusive documents available with Zee Media, China has occupied about 11 areas adjacent to Nepal, but the Oli government has maintained a silence over it.

The occupation of the Chinese government is being opposed in Nepal's Rui village while the incumbent government has raised the border row with India, thereby, souring the centuries-old ties between the two neighbours, reported Zee Media.

An official related to Nepal affairs told Zee News that China is investing heavily in Nepal while capturing the areas adjoining Tibet, taking advantage of changes in river water flow in the region.

Sources told Zee Media China has already occupied Rui village adjacent to Tibet for a long time and this is being opposed by the residents of that village.

Nepal, now, has raised the issue of the border dispute with India to divert attention from Chinese occupation of the village.

The village, which has several Nepali people living in it, is still a part of the Himalayan nation.

Notably, the Nepal government's new map has claimed some parts of India. The Nepali FM stations have also started propaganda in those areas which are adjacent to India, by airing anti-India sentiments as part of a larger conspiracy, according to security agency reports as quoted by Zee Media.

According to security agencies, China's Ambassador Hou Yanqi in Kathmandu has played a key role in inciting Nepal against India, reports the media outlet.
A three-judge High Court is hearing a significant constitutional action over whether there is, as of now, a validly constituted Seanad entitled to sit and pass laws.

The Seanad currently comprises 49 elected members of whom ten have brought the action disputing arguments by the Taoiseach and State that the Seanad cannot meet and pass laws until a Taoiseach nominates 11 further Senators to bring it to its full membership of 60.

The case has potential far-reaching implications because, if the court agrees with the State, and a new government is not formed this weekend with a Taoiseach nominating 11 Senators, very significant laws will lapse at midnight next Monday June 29th, including provisions of the Offences Against the State Act and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act relating to prosecution of serious criminal and terrorist offences and for trials before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Opening the case on Wednesday, John Rogers SC, for the ten, argued there is now a legislative stalemate in the State arising from the current political impasse and the respondents unjustified and improper interpretation of the relevant constitutional provisions.

Opposing the case, Attorney General Seamus Woulfe, noting media reports suggested no reasonable certainty of a Taoiseach in the next few days who can nominate the 11, said it would be risky and potentially unlawful for the Taoiseach to advise the President when a first meeting of the Seanad can lawfully and constitutionally take place.

The ten plaintiffs are elected Senators Ivana Bacik, Victory Boyhan, Gerard Craughwell, Annie Hoey, Sharon Keogan, Michael McDowell, Rebecca Moynihan, Ronan Mullen, Marie Sherlock and Mark Wall.

Their case, being heard by High Court President, Ms Justice Mary Irvine, Mr Justice Denis McDonald and Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, particularly centres on interpretation of Article 18 of the Constitution.

Article 18.8 provides the Seanad shall be composed of sixty members, of whom eleven shall be nominated members and forty-nine shall be elected members.

On Wednesday, Mr Rogers, with Eileen Barrington SC, and Hugh McDowell BL, said, as a result of a volte face, the respondents have moved from saying the outgoing Taoiseach has no power to advise the President to fix a date for the first sitting to saying the outgoing Taoiseach has "discretion" to do so but has not because of the view the Seanad cannot lawfully meet until a Taoiseach nominates the remaining 11 Senators.

His side agreed with a recent opinion piece in the Irish Times in which constitutional law academics Oran Doyle and Tom Hickey said an outgoing Taoiseach can convene the first meeting of the Seanad, counsel said.

The Constitution mandates a continuity of legislature before a government is formed and while there is now a political impasse, there is not a constitutional lacuna, he said. This case was about the fundamental law of the State and not a "discretion".

Article 18 plainly mandates the first meeting of the Seanad shall take place after the Seanad election, completed 74 days ago on April 4th, he said. It made no sense for the defendants to say the Taoiseach can advise the President to fix a date for the Seanad to meet and at same time say the Seanad cannot legislate.

While Article 18.8 provides the Seanad shall be composed of 60 members, it does not say the Seanad must be fully composed before it can meet, he said. The Constitution provides for a situation where a Taoiseach has not, in certain circumstances, nominated 11 Senators.

The consequences of the view the Seanad must have 60 members to lawfully meet are far-reaching, including there would be no functioning Oireachtas, a Dail unable to hold the government to account and a government that cannot seek legislative support for its programme and policies.

In opening arguments for the defendants, the Attorney General said the Article 18.8 unambigiously means a properly composed Seanad requires 11 nominated senators which can only be done by a new Taoiseach under Article 18.3.

Article 18.3 provides the first meeting of the Seanad shall take place on a date to be fixed by the President on the advice of the Taoiseach, he said. The Taoiseach may have a range of considerations concerning when to advise the President about a date for convening the Seanad, including whether there is a reality to a new Taoiseach being in position to nominate the 11 Senators.

Advising the President in this context was akin to a discretionary power and the Taoiseach has to have regard to various factors in exercising that, he said. Some of those may be "purely political" considerations and, while there may be issues about the courts ability to review that discretion, those did not arise here because the Taoiseach also has to have regard to legal considerations under Article 18.

The Taoiseach has to have regard to whether a first meeting of the Seanad could constitutionally and lawfully take place and, in the current uncertain circumstances, can only exercise his discretion as he has done.

The case is expected to conclude on Thursday with judgment reserved, possibly to Friday.
Russia slams Europe's dual standards on JCPOA, 'destructive' US actions

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 5:23 AM

Russia has censured the European signatories to a 2015 nuclear deal for putting pressure on Iran over its nuclear program in spite of claiming they remain committed to the accord, saying such problems are rooted in "destructive" measures adopted by the United States against the accord.

In a comment published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website on Monday, Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova hit out at the UK, Germany and France for introducing an anti-Iran resolution, which was passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Board of Governors last week.

She stressed that the European trio's actions fueling tensions around Iran's nuclear activities at the UN atomic watchdog contradicted their claims of commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"Reassurances of the British, German and French colleagues that they are committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program and are looking for ways to minimize negative effects of American sanctions against Iran run counter to their actions to heighten tensions surrounding the Iranian nuclear program in the IAEA," Zakharova said.

The resolution was passed on Friday with 25 votes in favor. Russia and China voted against, while seven countries  Azerbaijan, Pakistan, India, Mongolia, South Africa, Thailand, and Niger  abstained.

The IAEA resolution called on the Islamic Republic to "fully cooperate" with the IAEA and "satisfy the Agency's requests without any further delay," including by providing "prompt" access to two nuclear sites.

Zakharova further said the IAEA representatives' access to Iranian nuclear facilities is possible within the framework of existing standard procedures.

"We are certain that all questions arising, including the agreement of access to facilities that the agency is interested in, could be resolved in the framework of standard procedures of cooperation between states and the IAEA Secretariat."

"It is not coincidental that the resolution in the end was not supported by states representing more than half of the world's population, including two UN Security Council permanent members," she added.

The Russian diplomat also emphasized that Moscow and Beijing had previously warned the resolution's sponsors that it would be counterproductive.

"We repeatedly urged against playing up to backers of the policy of maximum pressure on Iran," she said.

Iran signed the JCPOA with six world states  namely the US, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China  in 2015.

However, Washington's unilateral withdrawal in May 2018 and the subsequent re-imposition of sanctions under the so-called maximum pressure campaign against Iran have left the future of the historic agreement in limbo.

Iran remained fully compliant with the JCPOA for an entire year, waiting for the co-signatories to honor their commitments.

As the European parties failed to do so under pressure from the US, Tehran moved in May 2019 to suspend its JCPOA commitments under Articles 26 and 36 of the deal covering Tehran's legal rights.

The Russian official further blamed Washington's "destructive" measures for impeding the JCPOA's implementation.

"The root cause of all difficulties and faults in the process of implementation of the Iranian nuclear deal has been and remains the destructive actions of the United States who unilaterally quit the JCPOA and to this day continues to systematically violate demands of UN Security Council Resolution 2231," she pointed out.

Zakharova's comments come as the US is preparing for yet another hostile move at the UN Security Council to kill the Iran deal.

Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that the US has shared a draft resolution with UNSC members that would extend a UN arms ban on Iran indefinitely. Under UNSC Resolution 2231, which enshrined the JCPOA, the embargo will expire on October 18.

Citing diplomats, the report said the Security Council is set to begin negotiations on the resolution on Wednesday.

The Russian official further called on all parties to the JCPOA to reaffirm their "unwavering commitment" to the deal, saying July 14  which marks the fifth anniversary of the deal's inking would be a "great occasion" for doing so.

"We are urging the European partiesto seize this opportunity to return to the unifying agenda and continue fighting for the common good," she added.

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In a heartwarming incident, a newly married couple in Maharashtra have just donated 50 beds to a hospital dedicated to treating COVID-19 Vasai.

The couple, Erin Lobo and Merlin Tuscano have been playing the part of coronavirus warriors ever since the start of the pandemic. But their charity came to the fore when the duo decided the cut down on their wedding expenses in order to pay for beds, blankets and pillows for COVID-19 patients.

They distributed the items at the quarantine centre on June 20, just hours after getting hitched at a simple ceremony held in a nearby church, news Agency ANI reported.

Maharashtra: Eric & Merlin, a couple from Vasai, Mumbai donated 50 beds to a quarantine centre on their wedding day. #COVID19 (23.06.20) pic.twitter.com/n5F8MuODSQ ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020

"Since the beginning of lockdown, we have been working on projects like arranging for trains for migrant workers and community kitchens.," the couple told ANI. "We talked to the Revenue Inspector and Sub Division officer of the district about the requirements of the COVID-19 centres and decided to pare down on the money we will spend on the wedding and instead contribute to the covid care centre."

Tuscano also said that the couple planned to donate oxygen cylinders to the centre to further help patients.

READ: Mumbai Man Sells SUV to Buy Oxygen Cylinders for Covid-19 Patients

Social media has been brimming with love and appreciation for the couple. Many also sent out best wishes and regards to the newlyweds.

Great work. Congratulations on the wedding. Hafnium (@Hafnium_India) June 23, 2020

What a lovely gesture . Best wishes to Eric and Merlin ! https://t.co/fPBixsEkrq Alok Pandey (@alok_pandey) June 24, 2020

Wish them a long, happy & blissful married life https://t.co/O7dc3Tz8ZB Anu Mittal (@stylistanu) June 24, 2020

A lovely gesture. Wishing the young couple all the very best as they start their new life together. To health and happiness. https://t.co/V6GKeCYrLl jyothi menon (@JyothiNair76) June 24, 2020

We are proud of this wonderful couple and express our gratitude towards them.Thank you !! https://t.co/NlWHhXs59A AIPCMumbaiWest (@AIPCMumbaiWest) June 24, 2020
When Ambe Chenemu finished rousing the crowd at the Black Lives Matter protest in Yellowknife earlier this month, he handed the megaphone to his former employer: Chief Ernest Betsina of the Yellowknives Dene.

Chenemu credits the First Nation with giving him his first real job.

"They welcomed me and I could relate to a lot of the traditional lifestyle and the traditional way of life," Chenemu says.

Chenemu is one of a handful of African immigrants finding kinship, and connection, with Indigenous organizations in the N.W.T.

submitted by Ambe Chenemu

The grandson of a chief in Cameroon, Chenemu moved to the N.W.T. in 2013 to study environmental resources and technology at Aurora College in Fort Smith. He's now a land use planner with the Tlicho Government in Behchoko, and says it's the right career for him.

"Having to deal with colonialism and rising above that and trying to empower yourself as a people, I think a lot of people back in Cameroon relate to that."

Chenemu is not the only one to make the connection.

Godlove Ngeh also grew up in Cameroon. He first encountered Indigenous communities in Canada while working for the Alberta government. He eventually specialized in Indigenous consultation, working with First Nations throughout northern Alberta. When his job was cut after a new government took power in the province, Ngeh looked north for opportunity.

He's now the director of lands and resources with the Gwich'in Tribal Council in Inuvik

"The Indigenous way of life very much relates to my culture back home," Ngeh says. "They also want to protect the land because all life flows from the land."

In Cameroon, Ngeh says, "land is a critical part of people's lives because even if you don't have a professional job, just on the family land, you can live."

submitted by Kanda Kola Gnama

Kanda Kola Gnama grew up in Togo. He first came north to work as a French interpreter at the Inuvik Hospital.

He liked it right away.

Story continues

"You see the respect of the elders and how they are cared for. It's something that I noticed because we have that same, almost the same, situation in Africa."

Gnama now works as a transboundary specialist for the Gwich'in Tribal Council, a job similar to one he once held with the Togo government.

For Gnama, there's also some history in common. He points to parallels between slavery and colonialism in Africa and Canada's residential schools.

"The fact that northern communities are protesting for Black Lives Matter," he says, "shows that we are two communities that are bonded with so many things."

submitted by Emmanuel Onumonu

Emmanuel Onumonu grew up in Nigeria. He now works as an environmental management coordinator for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation in Tuktoyaktuk.

His move north was something that "just kind of happened." He views working for an Indigenous government is the same as working for any government.

But he sees reminders of home in the community he lives in.

Onumonu says people in Nigeria also tend to identify "tribally, if I may put it that way." For example, he grew up in the city of Warri, but spent important family holidays in his father's village of Oguta, the Nigerian village he identifies as home.

"In this part of the world, it is a bit more pronounced than back home, but the cultures are quite similar."

Onumonu also says people in Tuktoyaktuk look after one another in a way that he can understand.

"We believe in extended family and that's exactly what they believe here. Somebody's problem is everybody's problem."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24



By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:



Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and head of the local representative office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Fatih Turkmenoglu discussed strengthening material and technical base in the country to support local small and medium-sized businesses, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.



The discussions were held at the MFA of Turkmenistan on June 23, 2020.



The parties considered the further development of cooperation in various fields, as well as conducting business consultations, where the private sector of Turkmenistan will participate.



The participants also reviewed the projects in the field of energy and transport, support for the private sector and others, where EBRD is involved.



Thus, the development of long-term and effective cooperation in various spheres between Turkmenistan and the EBRD was emphasized. In this regard, the importance of constructive partnership within the framework of the EBRD country strategy for Turkmenistan for the period from 2019 through 2024 was noted.



Earlier, the EBRD allocated a loan to Turkmenistan's Ak-hunji company, which is engaged in the production of building materials.



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Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
We are in the midst of an historic opportunity to begin the process of eradicating the systemic racism and injustice that has afflicted black people and other marginalized communities from before the founding fathers declared their intention to form a more perfect union. Although their words recognized that achieving justice and equality is a journey, not a destination, history and recent events have again made evident that black Americans were excluded from the outset, and are still not fully part of that journey.

Black Lives Matter protests have swept Connecticut; the conversations they have ignited are encouraging. There are hopeful signs that substantive changes are possible that will address police brutality and improve access to economic opportunity, education, health equity and affordable housing, to name a few. Equally important is tackling gun violence, especially as it impacts black and brown communities.

While Connecticut has the sixth lowest rate of gun deaths in the nation, gun violence in our communities of color is far too prevalent. Just this week in Bridgeport there were five shootings in less than 24 hours. Gun violence in Connecticut disproportionately takes the lives of African Americans; approximately 56 percent of the states gun homicide victims are black, five times the proportion who live here.

The conclusion is inescapable: Community gun violence must be a priority if Connecticut is to address racial injustice. The solutions must go beyond policing. Law enforcement-focused approaches are not enough to stop the violence. And as the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and others have made clear, we must not only admit that police violence exists, we must confront it head on. The simple truth is, police violence is gun violence.

CT Against Gun Violence and a broad coalition of organizations are calling on the state to create a Standing Commission to Prevent Community Gun Violence. The commission would be tasked with identifying, funding, implementing and overseeing evidence-based, community-centric programs and strategies to reduce gun violence, especially where it impacts communities of color.

There are a range of community-based programs that have proven track records of success. The three main strategies are being used in Connecticuts urban centers: hospital-based violence intervention, on-the-ground violence interrupters and focused deterrence. What the strategies have in common is a philosophy centered on local interventions to disrupt conflict and cycles of retaliation by engaging with the small proportion of individuals, mostly young men, who are either the perpetrators or victims of gun violence.

The key challenge is the struggle these programs have in attracting and maintaining funding, despite evidence of saving lives. It is a sad reflection of institutional racism that puts a lower value on black and brown lives than those of whites. In 2014 the state awarded a $50 million grant to rebuild the Sandy Hook Elementary School, but in 2017 could not find $308,000 to fully fund Project Longevity, the focused deterrence program with demonstrated evidence of reducing group member-involved shootings. The comparison is not meant to diminish the pain of the Newtown community, but rather to demonstrate the disparity that exists when it comes to addressing the same trauma in urban communities.

A standing commission, with dedicated funding, is needed to address community gun violence, and is long overdue. It should have participation from community leaders, executive branch agencies, state and local elected officials, urban and public health experts, law enforcement and gun violence prevention advocates  constituencies that have a stake in reducing community gun violence.

Legislative precedent exists around the nation for establishing and funding ongoing commissions to address community gun violence, including in Massachusetts, California and New Jersey.

Connecticut has long been a leader in gun violence prevention. It needs to show leadership now, more than ever, to reduce gun violence that victimizes and destroys the lives of black and brown people and the communities in which they live. The state should invest in the organizational infrastructure to find, fund and follow these programs. A Standing Commission to Prevent Community Gun Violence should be a priority for legislators and the governor; discussions for how to move forward should begin now.

Jeremy Stein is the executive director of CT Against Gun Violence. These organizations that serve communities of color in Connecticut and work to end gun violence endorse the op-ed: Center for Leadership and Justice, COMPASS Youth Collaborative, CT Violence Intervention Program, Danbury Area Justice Network, Hang Time & Her Time, Hartford Communities That Care, Helping Young People Evolve, Mothers and Others for Justice, Mothers United Against Violence, New Haven Healing Garden for Victims of Gun Violence, Newtown Action Alliance, Peace Center of Connecticut, Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership, and StreetSafe Bridgeport.
Agartala, June 24 : The opposition CPI-M on Wednesday demanded a judicial inquiry into the four custodial deaths in Tripura which happened over a period of the last eight months.

Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in a letter to the Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said that in violation of the basic human rights since October last year, two youths died in the police stations and another two in jails.

Demanding judicial probe into the four deaths, Sarkar, requested the Chief Minister to provide government job to one family member of each victim and cautioned the police and jail authorities to prevent recurrence of such "unnatural deaths".

Sarkar, Chief Minister for 20 years (1998-2018), led a four-member delegation of the CPI-M MLAs and visited residence of Sajaio Mog, who died in Amarpur jail (in southern Tripura) on June 17, at the Kamalachhari village in Gomati district.

"Sajaio Mog's mother while crying over her young son's custodial death said that he (Sajaio) was the main bread earner of her family. How the family now would survive? Villagers of Kamalachhari have also demanded a high level inquiry into the death and severe punishment to the guilty," Sarkar told Deb, who also holds the home portfolio.

While reviewing the programmes and actions of the law and parliamentary affairs departments on Monday, the Chief Minister asked the police and jail authorities to be more cautious about the deaths in jails and police custody.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

By Eldar Janashvili  Trend:

Some 1.6 million tons of cereals were collected from a 496,400-hectare area in Azerbaijan, as of June 24, which is 49.1 percent of the entire crop, Trend reports on June 24 referring to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Agriculture.

In particular, 880,080 tons of barley (78 percent) were harvested from a 370,000-hectare area, 686,700 tons of wheat - from a 206,700-hectare area.

The average barley yield is 30.4 centners per hectare, average wheat yield - 33.2 centners per hectare. The average grain yield is 31.5 centners per hectare.

Grain harvesting is underway in 22 districts.

Barley yield in Aghdam district reached 36.4 centners per hectare, Beylagan district - 30.5 centners per hectare, Barda district - 39.8 centners per hectare, Bilasuvar district - 32.3 centners per hectare, Fizuli district - 31.3 centners per hectare, Imishli district - 38.4 centners per hectare, Neftchala district - 27.8 centners per hectare, Saatli district - 36.4 centners per hectare, Sabirabad district - 37.9 centners per hectare and Yevlakh district - 28.6 centners per hectare.

Some 1,694 combines are involved in the harvesting process, of which 592 are combines that are on the balance of the regional offices of Agroleasing OJSC, as well as 919 combines owned by individuals and legal entities.

In total, more than 1,700 combines are planned to be involved in the harvesting process.

----

Follow the author on Twitter:@eldarjanashvili
While the COVID-19 lockdown is the best time for the employers to rethink the adequacy of wages for domestic workers, it provides an opportunity for workers to switch to online transactions with employers

Theres much work done in society on a regular basis that remains unrecognised or even taken for granted, until one takes it in their own hand. Thats something each of us have experienced over the last three months of the COVID-19-induced lockdown, as we have had to do all household work in the absence of our domestic workers.

Having washed utensils at least thrice a day, swept floors every day, and washed clothes and cleaned toilets, perhaps, we will now be goaded into some serious thinking about what we can do for the people who silently perform these chores, almost unnoticed, and help us to go about our professional and personal lives without having to worry about any of it.

For my productivity obsessive peers, domestic workers comprise the largest informal working force who step in to perform the largely gendered roles of women within a household, paving the way for these women to step out and participate in productive labour.

Interestingly, the chores comprising household work, even though performed by domestic workers, remains largely female-centric: of more than 4.2 million domestic helpers, according to the National Domestic Workers Movement, 90% are women. We are clearly a long way, even after a century of feminisms first wave, from breaking down the gendered roles from the wall.

However, the question that many are voicing now is whether, in the post-COVID-19 world, these workers will be able to secure for themselves fairer and more formalised work contracts. In this context, my research with a small group of domestic workers in Delhi (conducted for about three months with strong and helpful assistance of the field coordinators of Nirmana  a Delhi-based NGO which works for labour rights of construction and domestic workers) has some useful pointers.

Social security: A battle for standardising expectations

Delhi is just like any other big city  a host to numerous identities, workers and migrants. The hook of my research was placed in the vast slum dwellings in the north of Delhi, mainly Haiderpur and Shakurpur.

Haiderpur is predominantly the residence of migrant workers from Bihar, the female members among them employed as domestic workers in neighbouring upper-class areas such as Rohini, Pitampura, etc.

Shakurpur, on the other hand, has a few lanes occupied by south Indian migrant workers mainly from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, along with a significant settlement of Bihari migrants.

Over the one month of my research interactions with these people, I got a clearer idea of the issues faced by domestic workers in their occupational spaces. These included low wages, no income/salary cuts for days off, segregation (separate utensils; specifically assigned spaces to sit on, mainly floors, etc), no medical assistance, verbal abuse, no access to toilet during working hours, and an absence of social security benefits, etc.

Even though I was aware of all this and much more through the literature I had studied prior to the field work, learning about each of it through a first-hand source was a jolting experience altogether.

Domestic workers have been struggling for their rights for more than three decades now, both politically and economically. The fight has seen active participation of domestic workers and external players like organisations, lawyers, activists, etc. However, strangely, I saw that in all deliberations or movements, one of the most critical stakeholders was missing: the employers.

Every battle won, I felt, would be in vain if we failed to have the employers on board towards the betterment of the working conditions of domestic workers. In view of this, a pilot intervention was planned through a model that would ensure social security.

This model aimed at securing old-age pension for the workers here through the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Man Dhan Yojana, and have employers contribute to it regularly. The plan was to guide the workers to have their bank accounts linked with the mentioned scheme, and then convince the employers to pay their contribution.

The proposal proved far more difficult to execute than frame, and sadly, the intervention undertaken in two months ended with not much success. However, I wouldnt term it a failure either. We reached out to 90 domestic workers, spoke to over 15 RWAs (Resident Welfare Associations) to seek permission for visiting individual employer households, and made over 30 such household visits. In the process, we got several important and insightful pointers from the responses of both the stakeholders.

Most domestic workers were reluctant to take me to any one of the multiple employers they worked for. In some cases this was due to a preconceived notion that none of them would be interested in participating; in others, they appeared uneasy with the very idea of having their liquid cash earnings transferred to their bank accounts. There was a sense of nervousness or fear over the fact that they would have to visit the banks every month to access their earnings.

On the other hand, employers primarily cited the unwillingness of the workers to receive online payments; in the absence of that crucial first step, the issue of contribution to the pension scheme was mostly left hanging in the air.

The perspectives of the domestic workers and the employers rarely matched, but there were clear indications of the scope of, and need for, more robust dialogue, counselling and guidance to shape the movement right.

The right time to rethink!

The intervention proposed above  to bring employers to contribute to old-age pension scheme for domestic workers  is not an end in itself. It is just one important step towards the formalisation of the employee-employer relationship in this occupation of domestic work. And, maybe, this period of lockdown amidst COVID-19 is the right time to rethink.

On the one hand, this is the best time for the employers to rethink the adequacy of wages for these workers. Have our domestic workers been able to see through this period of crisis, or have their low savings due to low wages made sustenance itself a big challenge?

In saying this, I am not ignoring the fact that a lot of employers have been making efforts to still pay their workers partial or full salaries despite the lockdown. And here is when that first step towards progress  of crediting their salaries directly into their bank accounts  could be achieved.

The lockdown provides the best trigger as well as opportunity for the workers to switch to online transactions with employers. It would do away with the necessity of visiting multiple households in these vulnerable times, and more importantly, would signify a huge step forward in the long struggle towards formalisation of employment.

Online payments would imply registered transactions, making it easy to track wages paid to workers, violations and lapses. With this as a beginning, we may slowly move towards action that will ensure long term social security for this indispensable workforce.

This article was first published in Citizen Matters, a civic media website and is republished here with permission. (c) Oorvani Foundation/Open Media Initiative.
How did an SUV, whose launch amidst economic uncertainty and customer unease was believed to be poorly timed, manage to ride through the road blocks?

T E Narasimhan finds out.

Launched in the midst of a pandemic, Hyundai India's Creta sold over 3000 cars in May 2020, inching past Maruti Suzuki's Ertiga and Dzire that have ruled the roost for most of the past year.

How did an SUV, whose launch amidst economic uncertainty and customer unease was believed to be poorly timed, manage to ride through the road blocks?

Smart positioning, continued communication and a global design language have played a big role, say experts.

Hyundai has positioned the SUV brand on a plank of personal and environmental concern, targeting its communication at the panicked post-pandemic customer.

At the same time, the corporate branding too has stuck to messages of empathy and care, instead of relying on celebrity endorsers as has been the case in the past. S S Kim, MD and CEO, Hyundai Motor India said that his company has been a quick adapter to the new normal imposed upon the industry.

"Creta has made a humble beginning with a reasonable performance in May," he said. Launched on March 16, the new Creta has notched up over 26,000 bookings and sold 3,212 units in May.

Creta has also expanded its market share in the SUV market, from 17.3 per cent in 2018 to 25.9 per cent, thereby pushing up Hyundai's SUV market share up from 19.3 per cent to 35.9 percent.

Other SUV brands from Hyundai include Venue and Kona and Creta's closest competitor is also a group brand, Kia Seltos. Other competitors for Creta include Tata Harrier, MG Hector and Renault Duster.

Sandeep Goyal, brand consultant and founder of Mogae Media, believes that the company has managed to carve out a separate identity for Creta, not just with respect to others in the market but also within the Hyundai family of SUVs by continuously updating the product.

The first generation Creta was launched in 2015. Since then the car has sold more than 6.5 lakh units and much of this is because the car has reinvented itself to keep pace with changing customer desires.

Tarun Garg, director, Sales, Marketing, and Service, at Hyundai Motor India explains that the Creta brand is built on six pillars.

He lists them as: a masculine and futuristic stance, intuitive experience and comfort, advanced connectivity, smart technology, powerful and efficient next-gen BS6 Powertrain and Hyundai assurance.

The brand activated these pillars to crack open a door into the post-Covid-19 mindset.

Safety and assurance of service was played up while the feature-rich positioning was used to stand out in the crowd.

According to Goyal, Indian consumers are no longer afraid of paying for bells and whistles' making the add-on features such as an electronically operated sunroof among others an attractive pull factor.

Plus, he said, Creta has one of the largest portfolio of engine choices, which allows it to cater to a more varied customer base.

This could hold the brand in good stead in a post-Covid-19 marketplace too as consumer reports (Nielsen and Kantar) indicate that customers are going to cut back on expenses but will also be willing to pay more for safety and small indulgences that make them feel good.

A recent survey by Cardekho showed that nearly 38 per cent of the respondents are looking to purchase a car, new or old, as soon as the lockdown is lifted.

They are looking at an alternative to public transport and for such buyers, an SUV that serves many purposes is an attractive buy.

Here Creta expects the price band (its base price is Rs 9.9 lakh which goes up to Rs 17.20 lakh) to work in its favour.

At the time of the launch the company knew it had a marketing challenge on its hands as customer sentiment had hit new lows in a lockdown.

"When the customer sentiment is low, they look for empathy. We have been doing that in the last two to three months, under Hyundai Care," Garg said.

Customers want to know what the brand is doing for the community and that too has been a key part of the brand's narrative.

Apart from fixing the advertising and promotional activities, the company also focused on its digital channels of engagement.

Consequently, digital enquiries that used to be 12 per cent of its total enquiries shot up to as much as 32 per cent in May.

Photographs: Kind courtesy Hyundai Creta/Facebook

Production: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
The results of a clinical trial in pigs administered AstraZeneca's (NASDAQ:AZN) COVID-19 vaccine indicate that two doses of it could be effective in treating the disease. On Tuesday, the Pirbright Institute -- the U.K. researcher conducting the trial -- said that a prime dose followed by a booster produced a stronger immune response than a single dose.

The study was specifically designed to research whether a prime/booster combination of AZD1222 would be notably more efficacious. "This finding in pigs is important as it reveals that two doses of the new vaccine could potentially give significantly more protection in humans than a single dose, and therefore provide a clinical benefit," Pirbright wrote.

However, although pigs are physiologically more similar to humans than many other animals, clinical studies conducted on them indicate only potential for us, and are not a guarantee of success. Trials on human subjects are thus necessary following such research.

Last month, it was announced that researchers at the University of Oxford had begun enrolling people for a phase 2 clinical trial of AZD1222. This will be a significantly expanded trial compared to phase 1, involving 10,260 subjects.

The storied U.K. university is where AZD1222 was created; AstraZeneca subsequently licensed the vaccine. As a global pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca has already made arrangements to produce and distribute the vaccine at cost. Among other deals it has agreed with Europe's Inclusive Vaccines Alliance to provide up to 400 million doses throughout that continent when it is approved and available.

The company recently signed several agreements that will allow it to produce over 2 billion doses.

On Tuesday, AstraZeneca's shares rose by nearly 1.6%, outpacing the gains of the broader stock market.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 16:08:49|Editor: huaxia

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HARBIN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- After completing a 9,000-km journey over more than 20 days, freight train X8031 loaded with 123 Volvo cars finally reached Ghent, Belgium, on June 19.

"This is the 19th China-Europe train that departed from the city of Daqing for Ghent this year," said Sun Bingshui, the train driver. Daqing is a city in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

So far, train X8031 has transported 2,346 cars to Europe since the beginning of this year.

"The cars we produce are transported from Daqing to Ghent via China-Europe trains, which can save up to 30 days compared to the usual sea freight," said Lyu Leyang, deputy general manager of Daqing Volvo Car Manufacturing Co., Ltd. "The trains have greatly improved our efficiency."

Train X8031 starts its journey from Daqing, leaves China via Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and travels through Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany, before reaching its destination in Belgium, said Yan Hong, deputy general manager of HAO International Logistics Co., Ltd., the company responsible for train operations.

A total of 52 China-Europe train routes connect the two regions through Manzhouli, the largest land port on the China-Russia border, and the trains can reach 28 cities in 13 European countries.

China-Europe trains are managed by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. Despite the COVID-19 epidemic, trains are plying smoothly, and helping countries and regions along the Belt and Road to cope with the outbreak, stabilize trade and recover production.

From January to May, both the number of freight trains and the quantities of goods have surged. During this period, 12,524 tonnes of anti-epidemic materials were transported to Europe. Enditem
Reporter

Kareem Wilson covers health for the Georgetown and Myrtle Beach area for the Georgetown Times. He previously covered entertainment and community news for the Charlotte Post in Charlotte, NC.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Partners claim Oyo abandoned their properties when COVID-19 struck, later approached them to modify agreement terms

Oyo claims disgruntled partners are a small proportion of overall base

Weak occupancies, low openings since June 8 would likely trigger more legal cases against Oyo, experts say

Mumbai-based hotelier Dilip Datwani is planning to take legal action against Oyo Hotels. Hot under the collar, Datwani says that Oyo abandoned his hotel in Vile Parle East on March 24, a day before the first lockdown, sensing trouble. He tried to settle with Oyo in April, and in return, was offered a new contract term where Oyo proposed to share 10 per cent revenues with him.

Datwani says that he understands the current crisis situation in the hospitality sector but it was difficult to agree to those terms. Why? In his last contract, Datwani was getting a minimum guarantee (lease amount) of Rs 9 lakh per month from Oyo. Settling for 10 per cent would be a huge fall, he says.

But that's not his biggest grudge. He alleges that despite their obligations to pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) dues and utilities, Oyo adjusted these payments from the advance that it had given to Datwani at the time of property sign-up. For leased properties, Oyo gives advance amount to owners which are typically 40 per cent of the contract size. Datwani says that there's a long list of hotel owners around him who have got a similar treatment from Oyo.

As the damage from the pandemic begins to unfold in the hospitality sector, cases like these are rapidly growing. Just two weeks ago, Delhi-based Pearl Hospitality and Events had reportedly accused Oyo Hotels of breaching the contract, and dragged the hotel chain to Delhi High Court.

Oyo's story of taking over the global hospitality scene through its fast-paced growth strategy has been well documented. But the devastation caused by the pandemic has upended the fundamentals of the sector, including for Oyo which was valued at $10 billion last year. Occupancies are down, room rates are down, the economy is limping, and state-specific restrictions have only made it difficult for the sector to gain the confidence of travellers.

Even as hotel chains like Oyo plan to get back to normal after a hiatus of 75 days, there's more damage waiting to happen. "The continued safety concerns are expected to keep travellers away from the market until a vaccine is found. Almost all hotel owners (branded and unbranded) are operating at low occupancies that's threatening their long-term viability. While large hotel chains like Indian Hotels can still survive the onslaught, Oyo might have to go through irreparable loss in terms of business and reputation," says a hospitality consultant.

In a conversation with Business Today, Oyo's founder Ritesh Agarwal says that the problem with partner hotels is fairly small - covering just 2 per cent of its entire base of 43,000 hotels and 50,000 homes. The other 98 per cent, Agarwal claims, are franchisee partners who have no issues with fee-sharing and revenue-sharing arrangements.

Agarwal says that Oyo has been able to weather the COVID-19 storm better because of its restructuring exercise of last December that saw company exiting 200 cities (out of 600 before) and laying off 2,000 people in India alone. Though Agarwal didn't mention the retrenchment numbers in the COVID period, he says that Oyo did not do retrenchments other than geographies where they were required. "We did furloughs in India," he says.

Contrary to Agarwal's claims, another disgruntled Oyo owner says that the number of hotels under leased contract is far higher. "All of their Townhouse properties are under leased model which is a significant number. The fact that Oyo invests in them, and takes them for a longer period is essentially to control the guest experience which is not possible under the franchise model," he says.

As per consultancy firm HVS Anarock, just about 40 per cent of the branded hotels have opened up in the past 17-odd days, and their occupancy rates have been rangebound. "More hotels are reviewing the situation to determine their reopening schedules; business demand as of now remains limited and occupancies for June are expected to be between 15 and 20 per cent with a RevPAR [revenue per available room] drop of over 75 per cent as compared to last June," says Mandeep Lamba, president at HVS Anarock.

Agarwal says that the because of the most rigorous lockdown in India, his business went down to nothing. But today, Oyo is clocking occupancies of over 15 per cent, thanks to Vande Bharat flights, and its traditional customer base of SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and millennials. "There is definitely some improvement in utilisation. India is going to be a long route to a painful recovery. It's going to take a while before [situation] improves because the way cases are rising, people definitely are worried. The big corporates, their employees, and team members are the ones which are going to come slowly. We actually expect there may be some permanent loss in the business due to the video calling, etc," he says.

Amongst the number of passengers that have come back to India under Vande Bharat, a repatriation mission by Civil Aviation Ministry to bring back Indians stranded abroad, Oyo claims to have served nearly 40 per cent of the travellers. That's because of the rates at which Oyo rooms are available. For instance, there are state-wise quarantine policies for overseas passengers. For such passengers, it's economical to stay in Oyo properties for 14 days (at Rs 1,200-1,400 per night) as compared to Rs 4,000-5,000 in other branded hotels.

In March, Gurgaon-based hospitality consultancy firm Hotelivate had estimated the revenue loss for the sector at $4.7 billion in FY21 due to coronavirus outbreak. "As against the general belief that leisure segment would pick up first, the demand actually remains quite weak. Despite hotels taking top-of-the-line safety measures, the fear of getting infected discourages consumers at the moment," says a midscale hotel promoter.

Oyo's Agarwal says that as part of its effort to build deeper relationship with partners, he has taken some steps. One, the partners who have opened properties or about to open are given rebates. This Rs 24-crore rebate would go into ensuring that these hotels meet safety protocols. Then, Oyo has encouraged partners to go for one-time settlement with banks. On the back of these steps, Oyo claims to have signed up 84,000 rooms across different countries in the past two months.

The problem with partners has cropped up in properties where Oyo has evoked force majeure clause to modify the terms of agreement from minimum guarantee to revenue-sharing model. "We are actively discussing with our partners to say that in the world of COVID, nobody can guarantee that the hotels will be open all throughout... The force majeure didn't come for 98 per cent of the hotels. We have no intent, even for a small per cent of hotels, to continue arbitrating. Our genuine hope will be to work with them and come to a solution which is win-win for both," says Agarwal.

With both sides staring at huge losses, and lack of clarity on how deeper the COVID problem is; there's no reason to believe that this fight could be ending soon.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus impact: Oyo allots ESOPs worth Rs 130 crore to furloughed employees

ALSO READ: 5-star hotels turn into hospitals as Delhi braces for more coronavirus cases

ALSO READ: Coronavirus effect: Hotels may have to wait 12-18 months to return to pre-COVID business

ALSO READ: Hotels report 82% drop in occupancy; recovery unlikely before September
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 00:09:37|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam Wednesday signed the instrument of appointment of Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, 58, as the chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal with effect from January 11, 2021.

According to the HKSAR Basic Law, the HKSAR Chief Executive shall appoint or remove judges of the courts at all levels in accordance with legal procedures.

With regard to the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Lam, in accordance with Article 88 of the HKSAR Basic Law, accepted in March this year the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission on the appointment of Cheung as the chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal, and obtained the endorsement of the appointment by the HKSAR Legislative Council last week.

Lam has also reported the appointment to the National People's Congress Standing Committee for the record, completing the relevant legal procedures for the appointment of the chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal.

Lam said she was pleased to formally appoint Cheung as the next chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal. The rule of law and judicial independence are core values of Hong Kong.

"With his exceptional qualities, distinguished leadership and vision, coupled with his reputation in the Judiciary and the legal sector, I have no doubt that Cheung will lead the Judiciary to ensure the continuation of the rule of law and judicial independence under the 'one country, two systems'," Lam said.

According to Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance, the Court of Final Appeal is the highest appellate court in the HKSAR. The chief justice shall be the head of the Judiciary and shall be charged with the administration of the Judiciary and such other functions as may from time to time be lawfully conferred on him. Enditem
ATLANTA, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TexMark Timber Treasury, L.P. and its subsidiaries (collectively Triple T) announced today that they have agreed to a material modification of their wood supply agreement with Georgia-Pacific WFS LLC (Georgia-Pacific) intended to achieve market-based pricing on timber sales.

The supply agreement between Triple T and Georgia-Pacific has also been extended by two years from 2029 to 2031, with optimized harvest volume obligations to enhance and preserve long-term asset value.

Under the amended supply agreement, Triple T also will be able to sell timber to other third parties, expand its ability to sell large timberland parcels to third-party buyers and increase reimbursement for extended haul distances.

John Rasor, President of Triple T, said: "Georgia-Pacific has been and continues to be integral to the success of Triple T and we appreciate how they worked with us to achieve this mutually beneficial agreement."

Brian Davis, Co-Chairman of Triple T and CEO/President of CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., the general partner of Triple T, added: "Our operations can now realize the full potential of Triple T's premier timberland holdings to optimize future cash flow and value. In particular, a rapidly improving inventory profile will result in enhanced harvest opportunities now with greater revenue growth. We expect these amendments to increase cash flows from timber sales at market-based prices based on customary pricing mechanisms, improve the value and marketability of the property for the long-term, and significantly enhance our ability to make opportunistic timberland sales."

Gerrity Lansing, Co-Chairman of Triple T and Head of the BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group added: "We are gratified to achieve this milestone which has been a key element of the business plan in forming Triple T, since inception."

"Georgia-Pacific Building Products appreciates the partnership we have with Triple T," said Tim Chatlos, a spokesperson for Georgia-Pacific. "This agreement creates value for both our companies and allows us to continue our partnership into the future."

Perella Weinberg Partners LP advised Triple T in the transaction.

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, as amended. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "continue," or other similar words. However, the absence of these or similar words or expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are based on certain assumptions, discuss future expectations, describe plans and strategies, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition or state other forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about the ability to achieve market-based pricing and the intended effect of other contract amendments, improved value, marketability and cash flows from the property, and improvements in inventory profile. Risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, that (i) Triple T may not generate the harvest volumes from its timberlands that we currently anticipate; (ii) the demand for Triple T's timber may not increase at the rate we currently anticipate or at all due to changes in general economic and business conditions in the geographic regions where the timberlands are located, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken as a response thereto; (iii) a downturn in the real estate market, including decreases in demand and valuations, may adversely impact Triple T's ability to generate income and cash flow from sales of higher-and-better use properties; (iv) timber prices could decline, which would negatively impact Triple T's revenues; (v) Triple T may not be able to make large dispositions of timberland at prices that are attractive to us or at all; (vi) Triple T may not be able to access external sources of capital at attractive rates or at all; (vii) potential increases in interest rates could have a negative impact on Triple T's business. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

SOURCE TexMark Timber Treasury, L.P.
California Rep. Devin Nunes has failed in an effort to have a federal judge force Twitter to shut down the parody account Devin Nunes' cow.

The ruling comes after the Trump ally took the unusual decision to take the courts to try to take down the account, which had become an irritant and, according to Nunes, a political liability.

Judge John Marshall ruled the site was 'immune from the defamation claims.'

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has been used to protect platforms from content published by others on their sites.

Representative Devin Nunes, Republican of California, failed in his effort to have a federal judge take down the 'Devin Nunes' cow' parody account

Nunes seeks to have the court treat Twitter as the publisher or speaker of the content provided by others based on its allowing or not allowing certain content to be on its internet platform, Marshall wrote, the Fresno Bee reported. The court refuses to do so.

Nunes last year sued the platform and the account, as well as the Devin Nunes' mom account, saying it harmed his reputation. The $250 million suit in Virginia claimed Twitter was 'knowingly hosting and monetizing content that is clearly abusive, hateful and defamatory.'

The @DevinCow site celebrated the ruling

The cite Nunes sought to take down called him a 'treasonous cowpoke'

By suing, Nunes risked calling attention to the paraody site

Nunes, a prominent pro-Trump voice during impeachment and the Russia probe, also has sued multiple media organizations

Nunes also filed a $77.5 million lawsuit lawsuit against Hearst Magazines after publication of a story about his farm. The story chronicled a Nunes family farm operation in Iowa, even as Nunes talked up his Tulare, California, dairy farm as part of his bio.

Twitter's lawyers invoked Section 230, while Nunes' legal team said the platform had an unfair political bias. However by bringing suit, Nunes risked calling further attention to the account, which has 726,000 followers.

The cow account identifies itself as: 'Hanging out on the dairy in Iowa looking for the lil treasonous cowpoke.'

A tweet Wednesday showed Nunes with milk being splashed on his head. 'The herd responded to Devins loss in court today. I had to hide the [ice cream cone] so they didnt throw it as well,' said the "cow," using an ice cream emoji. The site ended with the hashtag: '#DevinNunesIsAnIdiot.'

Nunes was a reliable ally for Trump during the Russia probe while helming the House Intelligence panel, and has become a favorite target of Democrats.
'If you believe the Congress will win in 2024 because Modi is blundering from one monumental disaster to another, that means you are living in a fool's paradise.'

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi with Rahul Gandhi, the Congress MP from Wayanad in Kerala, left. Looking on is Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. Photograph: PTI Photo

When the Congress party recently removed Sanjay Jha as its national spokesperson following a couple of articles he wrote in a national newspaper about the party's internal affairs, it seemed to buttress the popular perception that the erstwhile ruling party would not stomach criticism of its leadership.

After all, Jha had been the most visible face of the party on television, defending it through thick and thin as it saw a series of its governments get formed and fall.

Only recently, Madhya Pradesh became the latest state to slip out of the Congress's grasp when Jyotiraditya Scindia walked out with his followers to the Bharatiya Janata Party camp.

What ails the Congress party under Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi?

"The party has to completely change and become less of a bureaucratic labyrinth," Jha, below, tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf in the first of a two-part interview:

The articles you wrote should have led to a debate in the Congress, but instead the party ousted you as spokesperson.

And yet you continue to say you are a committed, fearless, ideological soldier of the Indian National Congress.

The party took its decision and it is the party's prerogative.

The party has its own viewpoints and I as a Congress party member have my own.

In both my articles in March and June I expressed the angst and anguish of a genuine Congressman who was feeling dismayed at the manner in which the Congress party had allowed a mindless drift to happen.

It was meandering to the point where I think we were becoming moribund.

And the fact this was at a time when India is facing such a huge crisis in governance, specially the way the pandemic situation has been handled by the current government.

The health crisis, migrant crisis, was totally devastating.

It was a humanitarian crisis. The economy is in virtual doldrums and has gone completely down south.

Do you feel the Congress did not play an active role in these times to highlight the Modi government's failures and build public opinion against it?

That may be tactical, but the problem is the Congress party needs a drastic and dramatic overhaul.

You can react in an episodic manner and react sporadically. You can possibly respond tactically, but these things are not going to change the fortunes of the Congress.

For example, we managed to form a government in Jharkhand (along with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) and it was good news, but we got wiped out in the Delhi election.

The reality is the party has to stop thinking that you are going to revive yourself only by contesting one election to another.

The party has a fundamental fault line.

The party has to completely change its structure and it needs to become less of a bureaucratic labyrinth that it has become.

It needs to decentralise power.

It needs greater transparency in its inner working.

It requires elections for the Congress Working Committee and for the post of Congress president.

It eventually needs to become a robust party, a well-oiled and energised unit for its cadres to take on the BJP.

If we are not even going to debate and discuss why we are losing since 2014, it clearly tells you that there is a serious inability to grapple with the reality it faces.

This was said about the Congress party during the Vajpayee era when Sonia Gandhi was party president. And suddenly in 2004, the Congress won and ruled for the next 10 years.

In politics you have to control best what you can do.

The Congress party cannot control the BJP's either superlative performance or disastrous show.

And clearly the Modi government is struggling big time now with regards to China.

They (Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party) have a serious problem, but to believe that you will win on anti-incumbency is what the party did in 2014 when they thought Modi will never win because of his chequered political past. He managed to overcome that.

In May 2019, the economy was in a terrible mess, farmers were in distress, joblessness was at a record high and the economy was in recession, but still Modi won.

If you believe the Congress will win in 2024 because Modi is blundering from one monumental disaster to another, that means you are living in a fool's paradise.

You have got to win elections with a proactive agenda.

The only way people will vote for you is that people want you and not Modi.

And the only way you can win in 2024 is when you have a narrative, agenda and a clearly defined leadership and cadres on the ground.

You must have a decentralised structure and multiple leaders.

Uttar Pradesh is the only state where one saw a Congress leader, Ajay Kumar Lallu, protesting and arranging buses for migrants and going to jail.

In the rest of India Congress workers and leaders were missing.

One wonders whether the Congress has any ground-level workers anymore.

The Congress's ground level workers work 100 times harder than the leaders who sit in Delhi.

The Congress has become like a Delhi-centric party. They have suddenly discovered the power of social media power on Twitter.

Once upon a time we were conspicuous by our absence and now we have become extraordinarily obsessed, but that is not the answer.

Social media is an important vehicle and nobody can deny that. But ultimately India lives in nukkads, villages, chawls and streets of urban cities.

India does not live in Lutyens (Delhi) or Malabar Hill (south Mumbai).

We have to recognise that if we are not able to galvanise people, they will keep on supporting the BJP despite the fact that they are performing in an abysmal fashion.

I wrote because I was appalled as the BJP still seems to have popular support despite its dismal performance, despite devastating our economy, fracturing our society and playing communal politics and the Congress is still not looked upon as an alternative.
A federal appeals court Wednesday ordered a judge to dismiss the charge against President Donald Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents.

The 2-1 ruling by the panel of appellate judges stressed the power of the Department of Justice, which has sought to drop its prosecution of Flynn, to make criminal charging decisions given its status as part of the executive branch.

The ruling came in response to a request for a so-called writ of mandamus, or judicial directive, from Flynn's lawyers.

The defense attorneys asked the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit after the trial judge did not promptly grant the Justice Department's highly unusual motion to dismiss the case.

Instead, Judge Emmet Sullivan appointed a lawyer, former federal judge John Gleeson, to make arguments to him about why the case should not be tossed out. Sullivan also said he would consider arguments for or against the dismissal request from third parties not connected to the case.

Appeals court Judge Neomi Rao, in the decision for the majority Wednesday, wrote that the case is about whether a trial court judge can prolong a criminal case and appoint a so-called friend of the court such as Gleeson as a legal advisor after prosecutors have "explained why a prosecution is no longer in the public interest."

"On that, both the Constitution and [prior legal] cases are clear: he may not," wrote Rao, who was appointed by Trump.

It is not clear whether the ruling will be the last word in the case. A judge on the appeals court could ask for a review by all the court's judges. Such an review, known as an en banc hearing, is not usually granted in the D.C. circuit unless a case "involves a question of exceptional importance," or is needed to "maintain uniformity of the court's decisions,"

Beth Wilkinson, an attorney representing Sullivan in the appeals court proceedings, declined CNBC's request for comment.

Like the Justice Department's dismissal request, Sullivan's lack of immediate agreement with it and Flynn's request that an appeals court force Sullivan to comply were extremely unusual. An en banc review would add to the already odd nature of Flynn's case.

Trump praised Wednesday's appeals court ruling, tweeting that it was "Great!"

Tweet

Trump in an Oval Office meeting later Wednesday said he was very happy with the decision.

TWEET

The president has been highly critical of the prosecution of Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general who pleaded guilty in late 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the United States in the weeks before Trump's inauguration.

"We are delighted to see the D.C. Circuit apply the Rule of Law and appreciate the professionalism of the Department of Justice in producing the exculpatory evidence and moving to dismiss a case that should never have been brought," Flynn lawyer Sidney Powell said in an email to CNBC.

Powell, who replaced Flynn's previous attorneys, had sought to retract his plea since last year, claiming that prosecutors improperly withheld evidence from Flynn and his earlier defense team.

The Justice Department until last month had strongly fought that effort. It sought to have Flynn sentenced after more than a year of postponements related to his cooperation with then-special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. It also opposed Flynn's subsequent attempts to withdraw his plea.

But in May, the Justice Department asked Sullivan to dismiss the case.
A top spokesman for the U.S. Health and Human Services Department angrily unloaded on dozens of journalists Wednesday, accusing them of getting "spun" by what he said was a misleading story about federal funding getting eliminated for 13 coronavirus testing sites.

The tirade by Michael Caputo, the spokesman, led to the abrupt termination of a conference call that HHS was hosting for the reporters with Adm. Brett Giroir, the Trump administration's Covid-19 testing czar.

"The reason why we put this call together so quickly and why we have upwards of 75 reporters on this call is because you've been spun up," fumed Caputo, interjecting on the call for the first time after nearly an hour without speaking

"Somebody has given you disinformation," Caputo said loudly. "Do you understand? I'm old enough to remember when it was considered dishonest to undermine public confidence in the public health system."

"That's what the people who spun you on this story are trying to do," said Caputo, assistant secretary of HHS for public affairs, who was appointed to his job in April after years as a Republican operative in New York and work on President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign for the White House.

Caputo, and to a less strident degree, Giroir, objected to a number of news stories that detailed how the federal government is eliminating, by June 30, funding of 13 community-based coronavirus testing sites in five states. Seven of the sites are in Texas.

Giroir spent a significant amount of time during that call detailing how those sites will remain open, albeit with state and local funding, and that there already are hundreds of other Covid-19 testing locations run by private entities that are being supported either directly or indirectly with federal money.

Giroir said on the call that testing capacity nationwide would not be reduced by the elimination of funding to the 13 sites, but instead would actually be expanded.
AUSTIN, Texas, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 2.5 million Texans live below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and have a diagnosable mental illness1. The COVID-19 pandemic could cause this number to rise. That's why Superior HealthPlan is providing additional mental health resources to Texas residents impacted by this health emergency. Through a series of partnerships, Superior will enable providers to better support communities that are experiencing elevated levels of stress caused by an increase in grief, loss, economic pressure, unemployment or social isolation.

"We must consider the negative toll the pandemic is taking on the mental health of our communities  especially among those who are underserved," said Dr. David Harmon, Chief Medical Director at Superior. "We're proud to be able to offer additional resources so that we can continue to support Texas residents across the continuum of care throughout the pandemic and beyond."

As part of this effort, Superior is taking the following steps:

Collaborating, in partnership with its parent company Centene Corporation, with the Allegheny Health Network and the CARES Institute at Rowan University to fund virtual Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) training cohorts. This is an evidence-based treatment for providers for the impact of traumatic experience on child and adolescent mental health.

to fund virtual Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) training cohorts. This is an evidence-based treatment for providers for the impact of traumatic experience on child and adolescent mental health. Donating to the National Council for Behavioral Health's COVID-19 Relief Fund, specifically for the provision of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), ensuring a long-term impact beyond the current pandemic. MHFA teaches people to identify, understand and respond to someone who might be experiencing a mental health crisis, such as suicidal thinking or misusing substances. Superior's support will provide greater access to MHFA virtual trainings, helping more individuals support someone experiencing mental health and substance use challenges at this critical time.

In addition to these initiatives, Superior continues to offer members support through myStrength, an online tool for members to address their mental health needs. This program is available 24/7 from a computer or mobile device and offers personalized resources to help members improve their overall mood as well as help them overcome the challenges they may be facing.

To learn more about resources that may be available to address mental health or social isolation, visit Superior's COVID-19 resources page.

About Superior HealthPlan

Founded in 1999, Superior HealthPlan is a managed care company that delivers quality health care throughout Texas. Committed to transforming the health of the community, one person at a time, Superior supports active local involvement in all 254 Texas counties with more than 4,000 employees in 9 offices throughout the state. Superior is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading multi-national healthcare enterprise offering both core Medicaid and specialty services. More information on Superior can be found at www.SuperiorHealthPlan.com.

1Mental Health in America:

http://www.mhadallas.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/TEXAS-MENTAL-HEALTH-NUMBERS.pdf

SOURCE Superior HealthPlan

Related Links

https://www.superiorhealthplan.com


The Union County Prosecutors Office plans to disclose the names of its investigative staff who received serious discipline in at least the last 10 years, which goes further than what the state Attorney General has required.

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal earlier this month ordered all law enforcement agencies to annually publish a list of law enforcement officers who were fired, demoted or suspended for more than five days for a disciplinary violation.

The statewide directive requires the lists to be published no later than Dec. 31 and cover discipline that was finalized during the preceding year - at a minimum. The Union County Prosecutors Office implemented the standard operating procedure on Monday and will release the list of its seriously disciplined investigative staff going back at least 10 years by Sept. 1.

We as a nation, as a county, as an office, find ourselves in an unprecedented historical moment that calls upon us to question the long-held rules of the system we serve, Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay Ruotolo said in a statement.

Ever-vigilant of our duty to serve justice and the community, doing so now requires us to confront and own the imperfections of the criminal justice system, and even the atrocities that have been committed by fellow officers of the law and of the court who have held titles similar to those we hold now.

While the lists will include a brief summary of the officers transgressions, full internal affairs reports are still rarely released publicly statewide. The Union County Prosecutors Office this month successfully appealed to stop the release of internal affairs reports for former Elizabeth Police Director James Cosgrove, who resigned after using racist and sexist slurs to staffers.

CJ Griffin represented a former West New York cop-turned-whistleblower who filed the request for Cosgroves disciplinary files under the states Open Public Records Act. Griffin said the new directive from the state Attorney General wouldnt have applied to Cosgrove since he resigned and instead called for legislative action to make full disciplinary records public.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com.
Despite skyrocketing unemployment and widespread economic pain, New Jerseys property tax collections have not yet suffered a major blow from the coronavirus pandemic. But municipal officials are bracing for the hits still to come, they said Tuesday.

May property tax payments dropped off somewhat  results varied across the states 565 municipalities  though not as much some officials had feared. Local government leaders now are worried, however, about the rest of the year, when escrow accounts may be running dry for homeowners who have skipped or missed mortgage payments.
Washington: The US was unprepared for the coronavirus pandemic and needs to invest more in the tools needed to monitor outbreaks and respond rapidly to the next health crises, officials have told a US Senate committee hearing.

"Health security is national security, so let's treat it as such," Bill Frist, a surgeon and former Republican Senate majority leader, told a health committee hearing, one of three inquiries focused on the crisis in Washington on Tuesday, US time.

He and the other witnesses on lessons learnt so far in the pandemic  which has caused more than 120,000 deaths in the US, with rates of infection still increasing across the South and West  said the federal government must take the lead role in dealing with an outbreak. It also needs to spend more on public health at all levels, they said.

Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander said he wanted to translate some of the testimony into legislation that will help US readiness.

"While the nation is in the midst of responding to COVID-19, the US Congress should take stock now of what parts of the local, state and federal response worked, what could work better and how, and be prepared to pass legislation this year to better prepare for the next pandemic," Alexander said.
Toyota Motor Corporation TM recently announced that its domestic production volume in July is expected to recover and return to 90% of target output, as states continue to ease shelter-in-place strategies and begin reopening processes that were imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Toyota would make 10% fewer vehicles in July than originally planned, as it gradually resumes production following factory closures earlier this year amid coronavirus crisis. In July, the company plans to manufacture 71,000 and 39,000 fewer vehicles worldwide and in Japan than initially planned, respectively. While production has yet to return to normal, July's reduction is lower than 40% production cut in June. It expects the recovery trend to continue in August.

Toyotas six production lines will be suspended during July for a total of 16 days compared with 25 lines closed for 133 days till June. The firm will stop making its Coaster minibus model for six days, while lines producing the Land Cruiser and Prado SUV models, and the Porte subcompact, will stop for two days. Reportedly, second shifts at some of these plants will remain cancelled until September. Toyota will also cancel some Saturday shifts in July on four lines that produce models including its popular RAV4 SUV crossover model and the Prius gasoline hybrid, many of which are exported overseas.

Moreover, Toyota anticipates a global production drop of 30% from its initial plans for the April-July period, which were made before the virus outbreak and a drop in vehicle demand. Although Toyota halted production at some of its domestic factories from April to June, it will not change its plan to produce at least 3 million cars in Japan in 2020.

To capitalize on accelerated global shift to electric cars, the auto giant is focusing on manufacturing electric and fuel-cell vehicles, which will bolster the companys product competitiveness. By 2025, it plans to introduce fuel-cell-enabled SUVs, and pick-up and commercial trucks. Additionally, Toyota is working on hydrogen fuel stations in collaboration with various partners. The company aims to generate half of its global sales from electric vehicles by 2025.

Story continues

Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider

Toyota currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Shares of the company have declined 8.9%, year to date compared with the industrys fall of 12.3%.

Some better-ranked stocks are Niu Technologies NIU, AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. AGFS and AngloGold Ashanti Limited AU, each carrying a Zack Rank of 2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.

Shares of Niu have surged 80.7% year to date compared with industrys decline of 13.4%.

Shares of AgroFresh have gained 34.1% year to date compared with industrys rise of 27.4%.

Shares of AngloGold have rallied 23.6% year to date compared with the industrys rise of 17.5%.

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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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Johannesburg, South Africa  Wed, June 24, 2020 07:41 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406611fd5e 2 World South-Africa,drugmaker,Aspen,dexamethasone,coronavirus,producer,COVID-19,COVID-19-drugs,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

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 hospitalized 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 tumors, 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.
Meghan Markle fans have launched an attack on Prince Charles following his Windrush Day speech - as they accused him of failing to protect his daughter-in-law from racist criticism.

The Prince of Wales, 71, paid tribute to the 'invaluable contribution of Black people in Britain' in a video to mark 72 years since the Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex, bearing around 500 people from Jamaica.

Charles added that 'diversity of our society is its greatest strength' - but admirers of the Duchess of Sussex, 38, labelled the Duke of Cornwall a 'hypocrite', claiming he did 'nothing to protect' Prince Harry's wife from 'racial bullying'.

The Duke of Sussex, 35, previously raged about 'racist' social media attacks on Meghan, who has a black mother and white father, and said the media published articles with 'racial undertones'.

Meghan Markle, 38, fans have launched an attack on Prince Charles, 71, following his Windrush Day speech - as they accused him of failing to protect his daughter-in-law from racist criticism. Pictured: Meghan with her husband Prince Harry in October 2019

The Prince of Wales paid tribute to the 'invaluable contribution of Black people in Britain' in a video to mark 72 years since the Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex, bearing around 500 people from Jamaica

A clip of Charles talking about the 'debt of gratitude' the nation owes the Windrush generation was posted to his social media platforms on Monday.

The Windrush generation was named after the ship that brought over one of the first groups of West Indian migrants invited to the UK in 1948 to help rebuild post-war Britain.

But despite many followers praising the royal for his thoughtful speech, some made unfounded claims that the prince had 'failed' to help his daughter-in-law.

One person wrote: 'This from the man who sat back and watched his own daughter-in-law get racially bullied and did absolutely nothing to support her.'

Despite many followers praising the royal for his thoughtful speech, some made unfounded claims (above) that the prince had 'failed' to help his daughter-in-law

Another said: 'Shame on him for real. He did nothing to protect his daughter-in-law... as diverse as they come.'

A third questioned: 'What about Meghan? Why did you allow her to be abused? Was she not valuable enough?'

A fourth wrote: 'Shame on him! That family is not smart. Given their history, they should have gone out of their way to hug-up and protect Meghan Markle. She is as diverse as they will ever get. Now they look as out of touch and 'un-woke' as ever.'

However, some royal enthusiasts noticed the attack, and replied: 'Meghan Markle fans who know nothing about what went on behind doors spreading hate to Harry's father who funds him.'

Another said: 'Gotta say... Judging from these comments, Meghan is well liked.'

However, some royal enthusiasts (above) noticed the attack, and replied: 'Meghan Markle fans who know nothing about what went on behind doors spreading hate to Harry's father who funds him.'

The Duke of Sussex (pictured with Meghan in March 2020), 35, previously raged about 'racist' social media attacks on Meghan, who has a black mother and white father, and said the media published articles with 'racial undertones'

Prince Harry and Meghan are currently living in LA with their one-year-old son Archie after stepping back from life in the royal family.

In November 2016, Harry lashed out at the 'wave of abuse and harassment' the former US actress had faced from the media  citing the 'racial undertones of comment pieces' among his concerns.

Elsewhere, the duchess spoke in the 2019 ITV documentary Harry and Meghan: An African Journey about finding it hard to deal with the spotlight following her wedding to the duke.

She said she had 'no idea' of the struggles she would deal with as a member of The Firm and revealed her friends warned her not to marry Prince Harry because the public scrutiny would 'destroy your life'.
She's continuing to speak out in defense of her dear cast mates from the hit show Riverdale.

And actress Camila Mendes was seen Tuesday walking hand in hand with boyfriend Grayson Vaughan in Los Angeles, California.

The 25-year-old star famous for playing Veronica Lodge on the CW series was wearing a cute pair of cream Adidas shorts with reddish piping, along with a matching knit sweater.

Matching pair: Actress Camila Mendes was seen Tuesday walking hand in hand with boyfriend Grayson Vaughan in Los Angeles

Camila's raven tresses were in a half ponytail, and she had a bluish face mask hanging around her neck.

She paired her outfit with white Adidas trainers, and had a black pocketbook on her shoulder.

Camila's tall and hunky beau complemented her in a white Mammoth Mountain, California hoodie, along with black gym shorts.

He wore tortoiseshell sunglasses and weathered white Converse sneakers.

Casual chic: The 25-year-old star famous for playing Veronica Lodge on Riverdale was wearing a cute pair of cream Adidas shorts with reddish piping, along with a matching knit sweater

Earlier on Tuesday, Mendes again voiced her support of her Riverdale castmates including Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse, after they faced recent anonymous sexual misconduct allegations.

On SiriusXMs Jess Cagle Show, the social media influencer openly wondered why anyone would go so far as to falsely accuse a celebrity of something so damaging.

'It's so insane to me that somebody would do such a thing, to prove a point, it feels so trivial,' she reflected.

Stylin: Camila's tall and hunky beau complemented her in a white Mammoth Mountain, California hoodie, along with black gym shorts

'To damage not only the integrity of the Me Too movement, but also potentially damage the careers of these people and their lives in order to make a point about how easily people believe things  its so backwards to me,' she continued.

'I feel for my cast mates who had to deal with that,' Mendes added.

On Monday, the actress defended her co-stars Sprouse, Reinhart, along with Vanessa Morgan and KJ Apa on Instagram after they were accused of sexual misconduct by anonymous Twitter accounts the day prior.

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.'

Earlier on Tuesday: Mendes again voiced her support of Riverdale castmates including Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse (center), after they faced anonymous sexual misconduct allegations

On Monday: The actress defended her co-stars on Instagram after they were accused of sexual misconduct by anonymous Twitter accounts the day prior

She continued: '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.'

Camila concluded: 'Sending love to my castmates who had to deal with this nonsense. love you guys.'

The Perfect Date actress also recently purchased a luxurious new home in the Silver Lake district of LA, and will next month be seen in the Hulu comedy Palm Springs.
PLEASANT PRAIRIE  The village soon will have a fifth Kwik Trip location at its disposal.

In a virtual meeting held Monday, the Plan Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit and operational plans for the latest location within the Main Street Market development, west of Old Green Bay Road at 102nd Street.

The proposed location is about a half-mile from the Kwik Trip at 10451 72nd Ave. Three other stores are located at 10215 120th Ave.; 8900 76th St.; and 8800 75th St., which has a Kenosha mailing address but is within the village.

Kwik Trip is proposing 10 fueling dispensers under the canopy, along with a 10,976-square-foot convenience store and an attached garage. While most Kwik Trips run 24 hours a day, the new location will be open from 5 a.m. to midnight.

According to the village staff report, plans are to employ 28 people, 20 full-time and eight part-time. Construction is expected to be completed in 2021, Kwik Trip Real Estate Manager Troy Mleziva said.

Were looking to continue to grow our service in the community, he said. As Pleasant Prairie has been growing, weve been planning to grow along with the community, and this is our latest opportunity to be of service.

Plan Commission Chairman Mike Serpe said the project will bring value to the community.

Kwik Trip is a quality company that is Wisconsin-based, he said. I dont know a Kwik Trip in this area that is poorly run or that has a negative appearance to the neighborhood. Theyre a good company. Im proud to have them in the village, and I use them regularly.

Mleziva, who said the project represents a $5 million investment by the company, cited Kwik Trips diverse offerings as a main selling point for the added location.

Having access to fresh groceries and products in neighborhoods is important, he said. Weve seen that product be well received in Pleasant Prairie and the surrounding areas in Kenosha County.

Some concerns

The close proximity to the 72nd Avenue location and lighting concerns led to a bit of a discussion among the commission.

Because the proposed location is near the Meadowlands condominium development, the building and parking lot lighting, the height of the canopy and its signage, and the signage and its lighting all will be evaluated, the staff report stated.

Those detailed plans will be submitted and reviewed as part of the projects final site and operational plans.

Commissioner Brock Williamson questioned the need for the store to stay open until midnight.

It is very close to a residential area, he said. I cant think of any other fueling facilities that are so close to a residential area and why they would possibly need to be open until midnight if there is (another Kwik Trip) a half-mile away.

Commissioner Michelle Burnett raised the question regarding the short distance between the two locations.

Im just curious as to what we see as the benefits of having another identical Kwik Trip half a mile from the one that already exists and how thats going to any way better serve the community, she said.

Commissioner Mike Pollocoff said having two nearby locations isnt that unusual, however.

Ive been seeing more of these, specifically with Kwik Trip, across the state, where theyve been locating a store, especially if its on a major thoroughfare to take advantage of the traffic flow, he said. Theres an advantage to that in not stacking traffic up.

Resident opposes plan

Village Administrator Nathan Thiel read into the record a letter submitted by William Bolgar, who stated he was vehemently opposed to the project.

Bolgar cited a number of concerns: increased traffic; 24-hour, bright, intrusive lights; highly increased noise and sound pollution; safety concerns; a potential decrease in neighboring property values; the close proximity to the other location; a risk of a monopoly; and numerous environmental issues.

When it comes to safety concerns, Bolgar said that gas stations account for 6% of armed robberies, while employees suffer from workplace homicide second to only taxi cab drivers.

I ask that (the commission) make the right call for our citizens, our community, myself and my family, Bolgar wrote. This is not a decision you are presented with for just right now. The impact will be felt for many decades to come.

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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.
The Tennessee State Museum will reopen to the public beginning Wednesday, July 1 at 10 a.m., welcoming visitors back to experience Tennessee history, art and culture from the states natural history beginnings through the present day. The Museum has taken the Tennessee Pledge and is committed to protecting the customers that it serves. In preparation for its reopening, the Museum is sharing the following important information, also made available on the Museums website at TNMuseum.org.



The following information is provided by the Museum:



The Museum is located at the corner of Rosa L. Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street, adjacent to the Nashville Farmers Market at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Free parking is available in lot shared by the Museum and the Farmers Market, 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Nashville, Tn. 37208.

The Museum will be open its normal hours:

Sunday: 1 p.m.  5 p.m.

Monday: closed

Tuesday-Wednesday: 10 a.m.  5 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m.  8 p.m.

Friday-Saturday: 10 a.m.  5 p.m.



Admission to the Tennessee State Museum is free.



Based on Metro Nashville Davidson County Phase 3 Reopening Guidelines, the Museum will be able to welcome visitors at 75 percent of the normal capacity.



The Tennessee State Museum is housed in a State of Tennessee building which requires that all employees and guests receive a temperature check when entering the facility and wear a mask or similar face covering over their nose and mouth. Patrons will be permitted to wear their own face covering or be provided a disposable mask at the visitor desk. According to CDC guidelines, children under the age of 2 should not wear a face covering. Those not wearing a mask, or presenting with a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees, will not be allowed to enter. Notice for entry requirements will be posted at the visitor entrances.



Staff will be maintaining the recommended six feet distance when interacting with Museum visitors. Social distancing signs will be placed in the Grand Hall, gallery spaces and store and near elevators to assist in directing patrons to keep a safe distance from each other.



During this initial phase of the Museums reopening, our Childrens Gallery will be closed to the public. We invite visitors looking to engage their children with kid-specific programming to visit the new TSM Kids section of our website at TNMuseum.org/kids.



During this initial phase of the Museums reopening, all interactive touchscreens throughout the Museum will be disabled to further protect the visitor.



All Guided Tours, at both the Museum and the State Capitol, and public events at the Museum are currently postponed and will be evaluated again by Aug. 1. Keep an eye on our events calendar at TNMuseum.org for updates on events. We continue to offer many events, like our Lunch with a Curator lectures, classes, and book club discussion online. You may also wish to sign up for our newsletter at TNMuseum.org or follow us through our social media accounts for updates.



The opening of Ratified! Tennessee Women and the Right Vote, the Museums temporary exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, has been delayed and will be announced soon. Please check TNMuseum.org soon for updates. We invite visitors to visit Ratified! Statewide!, an online component of the exhibition that surveys activity related to the womens suffrage movement in every county in the state.



All of the Museums current permanent and temporary exhibitions will be open to visitors. These include the permanent exhibitions, Tennessee Time Tunnel, Natural History, First Peoples, Forging a Nation, Civil War and Reconstruction, Change and Challenge and Tennessee Transforms, and the temporary exhibitions, Early Expressions: Art in Tennessee Before 1900, In Search of the New: Art in Tennessee After 1900, Tennessee and The Great War: a Centennial Exhibition, and Why Do Museums Collect?



While the functionality that enables visitors to refill their own personal water bottles at our water foundations will be enabled, the water fountain functionality will not. Remember to bring your own water or a refillable bottle.



If you have a fever, are exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms, or have been exposed to anyone else with symptoms within a two-week period prior to your visit, we ask that you not visit the Museum at this time. If you experience any symptoms within two weeks of your museum visit, let us know by emailing info@tnmuseum.org



For questions about the visiting the Museum, contact us at info@tnmuseum.org or 615-741-2692.
ATLANTA - Mourners gathered for the funeral of Rayshard Brooks on Tuesday in Ebenezer Baptist Church, a historic Atlanta sanctuary that rose after the Civil War and Reconstruction, survived decades of Jim Crow laws, and for years served as a spiritual home for civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

The years weighed heavily as family and friends clad in white and wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic filed into the red-brick church under cloudy skies, for yet another black man killed, with a white police officer accused of murder in his death.

They mourned one man, and yet so many men and women, taken from their families over months and many years.

"This did not have to happen to Rayshard," the Rev. Bernice King, a daughter of King Jr. and the CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, said of Brooks, who was fatally shot June 12. King called the moment "all too familiar."

She was 5 when her father was assassinated. She wore a lacy white dress to his funeral in the same church in 1968. Fifty-two years later, she stood at the pulpit and saw Brooks's three daughters, also in white dresses.

"There's 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," she said.

The Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist, said 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 much bigger than him," Warnock said, invoking the names of George Floyd, who died in May when a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, Breonna Taylor, an EMT, shot and killed in March by police in Louisville, Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed in February by men who chased him while he was jogging, and many others. Three white men have been charged in Arbery's death.

"This country has become too accustomed and comfortable with black people dying," Warnock said.

Brooks, a 27-year-old married father of four, was shot and killed by a police officer who said he was investigating a report of an intoxicated man sleeping in a car at a Wendy's drive-through in Atlanta, authorities said. Brooks failed a field sobriety test. When officers tried to handcuff Brooks after speaking with him for nearly a half-hour, a scuffle broke out, Brooks grabbed an officer's Taser and started running, according to a preliminary report by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Video of the incident shows Brooks pointing the Taser toward officers while running away; shots are then heard. Brooks died of two gunshot wounds to the back, according to authorities.

Brooks' death led to the resignation of Atlanta police chief Erika Shields and inflamed ongoing nationwide protests over police violence against black people. Brooks died a little more than two weeks after Floyd.

Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe has been charged with murder and other offenses related to Brooks's death, and he remained in custody Tuesday, county records show. Devin Brosnan, the other officer at the scene, has been charged with aggravated assault and other crimes. Lawyers for Rolfe and Brosnan have defended their clients and said the shooting was justified in a volatile situation.

At the funeral, mourners said Brooks did not deserve to die, and his death has drawn national attention. Tyler Perry paid for the service, and the 200 guests - limited because of the coronavirus - included Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, and the rapper and actor T.I. About 60 people outside watched the service on a large screen.

"I'm here to let his legacy and the legacy of others unheard to go on even though they've been silenced," said Kimberlye McKinney, 42, as she live-streamed the scene outside the church on her phone.

Inside the church, mourners acknowledged Brooks's criminal history - the pastor said he was on probation - and suggested that his fear of returning to jail was one reason he fled the police that night. They said the death of Brooks and other black men and women is a plague in a nation that once enslaved black people and still discriminates against them in ways that can turn deadly. They pointed to the disproportionate rates of incarceration and law enforcement supervision of people of color, and the high rates of coronavirus deaths among black people.

In an interview with CNN in February, Brooks said he was arrested for false imprisonment and credit card fraud, and was sentenced to a year in prison. Afterward, he said, he struggled to find a job and pay his debts. The Fulton County court declined to provide information about his record over the telephone, and a court spokesman did not immediately return a call Tuesday.

Warnock said the service for Brooks was the first time the church had come together since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Despite the national attention on his death, mourners wanted most of all to remember the man they knew as "Ray."

Family and friends described Brooks as charming and bright. He wore steel-toed cowboy books, loved barbecue and dancing to old-school music.

He rode a bicycle to work in the hot summer months for a construction job in Toledo while living in Ohio. He once walked two hours with a friend whose car had broken down so he would have company, and he chased away a man who was abusing his neighbor, a single mother, said a tearful Ambrea Mikolajczyk, who hired Brooks last year to work at the ARK construction company.

He had planned to return to that job, she said, and she said he had felt the prison system was drawing him in like "quicksand."

Brooks's cousin Jymaco Brooks said their family did not have much growing up, and sometimes slept 10 children to a bed, a jumble of limbs, laughter and arguments from which they always recovered.

There were a thousand things they could have said about Brooks, his cousin said, but he was a simple man with simple dreams who loved his family and wanted to raise his children. He is survived by his wife, Tomika Miller, who bounced 1-year-old daughter Dream in her lap, according to the Associated Press. He is also survived by daughters Memory, 2, and Blessing, 8, and stepson Mekai, 13.

A pair of Atlanta restaurateurs have donated a car and life insurance coverage for his family, as well as college scholarships for the children, a spokeswoman for the entrepreneurs said.

"All he wanted to do was smile, crack jokes, dance a little bit," Brooks's cousin said.

"And live."
Jack Schaap, the former pastor of a 15,000-member northwest Indiana megachurch, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for engaging in sex with a troubled underage girl who sought him out for counseling.



In a statement, the victim wrote that Schaap would text her from the altar during his sermons. In another statement, written as a letter to Schaap, she wrote: "When you first kissed me I was shocked. . .When I asked you if it was wrong, you said 'No.' You told me that I was sent you from God, I was his gift to you. You made me feel special."



Schaap entered a guilty plea last September in a deal with federal prosecutors, admitting to allegations that led to his ouster from the highly conservative Hammond Baptist Church that his late father in-law, Jack Hyles, had built into one of the area's largest churches.



But at sentencing today, U.S. District Court Judge Rudy Lozano said a 10-year-deal hammered out by both sides did not meet the 12-year-minimum required under federal sentencing guidelines. Schaap stared at the judge without emotion.



While Lozano lauded Schaap for quickly pleading guilty last fall before the complaint was even filed, Lozano said he did not want to set the example by "giving a 25 percent discount" for that cooperation.



While Schaap eventually took responsibility for his actions Schaap initially denied the allegations when he was confronted by church officials, Lozano said. In explanations for the stiffer sentence, the judge pointed to Schaap's attempts to get rid of evidence by deleting text messages and photos of him with the girl and that the pastor also fired at least one church staffer who had questioned the pastor's relationship with the girl, Lozano said.



About 70 church members were in attendance at the hearing, with many of them bowing their heads as if in prayer. The girl's family declined comment.



More than 100 letters of support were sent to Lozano, attesting to decades of good works by the pastor, and claiming that stress and health problems including prostate troubles and "low lithium levels" led Schaap to stray during a romantic relationship with the vulnerable teen.



During his sentencing, Schaap referred to a news story about rescuers saving people who had fallen through ice and said, at first, his intentions had been honorable.



"I thought I wanted to be this family's savior," Schaap said. "Sometimes people try to be heroes  in trying to be a hero, I became a fool."



He apologized to his wife, children and parents and urged the congregation of Hammond Baptist to show compassion for the victim and her family.



"If you love me, please don't blame this family for my wrongdoings. Blame me," Schaap said.



Lozano noted that in the aftermath of the scandal, the girl was expelled from Hammond Baptist High School and the family from the church.



Schaap's wife, Cindy, who describes her husband's affair with the girl as "consensual," said her husband was suffering from "a severe case of prostatitis" and complained of exhaustion during the time he now admits he was involved in a sexual relationship with the victim.



"I feel compelled to ask once more for leniency in my husband's sentencing," she wrote.



Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 10 years in prison, saying the evidence against Schaap depicts a church leader who used his "inside track to God" to take advantage of the girl, who turned 17 during the relationship.



In a sentencing memorandum, federal prosecutors said that Schaap "groomed" the victim and exchanged nearly 700 text messages, phone calls and love letters with the girl. They point to evidence including photographs found on his computer that show Schaap kissing and groping the victim.



"Photographs taken at (Schaap's home) feature the defendant grinning like a Cheshire cat while rubbing cheeks with the victim, and, in another shot, engaging the victim in what one witness described as a 'very romantic lip-lock,'" prosecutors said.



"Rather than stress, exhaustion, depression or medical maladies causing Defendant's criminal conduct, the findings of the government's investigation suggest that it was lust, hubris and poor judgment that prompted Defendant's much-deserved fall from grace."



The photographs were taken at Schaap's home in far south suburban Crete, and at his cabin in Cadillac, Mich.



Schaap had a church member and her daughter bring the girl to Michigan for intensive counseling, and the same church member twice brought the girl to meet with Schaap at a forest preserve in Illinois, where Schaap told staffers he went once a week to "spend time with God walking and praying." From there he took the girl to his home in Crete.



Schaap also had encounters with the girl that violated state laws regarding sex with minors at his office in Indiana. Criminal charges he faces in the three states are to be dropped as part of his federal plea deal. Schaap will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. The judge also sentenced to 5 years of supervised release after he completes his prison term.



Upon leaving the hearing, a church member who would not give his name said, "I think he probably got what he deserved."

In a statement, the church backed the outcome of the case.

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"We always knew this day would come and still feel the same today as we did when we turned our former pastor in for the crimes that he committed," the church said in a statement. "We believe that the justice system was and is fair. We are also glad that our church family can now move beyond this situation and can continue the healing process."

agrimm@tribune.com

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Twitter: @agrimm34
Pristina, Kosovo  Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and nine other former separatist fighters were indicted Wednesday on a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes charges, including murder, by an international court investigating their actions against ethnic Serbs and others during and after Kosovos 1998-99 independence war with Serbia.

Because of the indictment, Thaci has postponed his trip to the White House in Washington, where he was to meet Saturday for talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The President of Kosovo has just informed us that he has canceled his trip to Washington, D.C. following the announcement made by the Special Prosecutors Office. I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settled, tweeted Richard Grenell, the U.S. envoy for the Kosovo talks.

The talks will still go ahead, with Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, he added.

A statement from a prosecutor of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers said Thaci and the nine others are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders involving hundreds of Serb and Roma victims, as well as Kosovo Albanian political opponents.

Other charges include enforced disappearance, persecution and torture, he said.

Thaci was a commander of the so-called Kosovo Liberation army, or KLA, that fought for independence from Serbia. The war left more than 10,000 dead  most of them ethnic Albanians  and 1,641 are still unaccounted for. It ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbian troops.

The former ethnic Albanian-dominated province declared independence from Serbia in 2008, which Serbia did not recognize.

The indicted group includes Kadri Veseli, former parliament speaker and leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo.

The court is trying to stain our liberating war, our aspiration for freedom and independence and legalize the (Serb) crimes in Kosovo,said Bardhyl Mahmuti, a former KLA political representative, to the public television station, RTK.

The indictment was the first by the special tribunal for Kosovo based in The Hague. The court has been operating since 2015 and has questioned hundreds of witnesses. Kosovos prime minister resigned last year before he was questioned.

The indictment is being reviewed by a pretrial judge who will decide whether to confirm the charges, according to the statement.

The prosecutor filed the indictment following a lengthy investigation and it reflects his determination that it can prove all of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, the statement said.

The prosecutor also accused Thaci and Veseli of repeated efforts to obstruct and undermine the work of the tribunal.

Thaci and Veseli are believed to have carried out a secret campaign to overturn the law creating the Court and otherwise obstruct the work of the Court in an attempt to ensure that they do not face justice, the statement said.

By taking these actions, Mr. Thaci and Mr. Veseli have put their personal interests ahead of the victims of their crimes, the rule of law, and all people of Kosovo, it added.

Kosovo politicians resisted and resented the scrutiny of the war crimes court, repeatedly noting that Serb troops committed massacres and other atrocities during the war that went unpunished.

Tensions between the two countries remain high. European Union-facilitated negotiations to normalize their relations started in March 2011 and has produced some 30 agreements, most of which were not observed.

The Washington meeting was set to be the first talks between the two sides in 19 months.
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.
MANTON, MI  A 56-year-old man who allegedly attempted to assault a person with a hatchet, then crashed his vehicle and fled on foot has been arraigned on felony charges in Northern Michigan.

The Michigan State Police 7th District Fugitive Team tracked down and arrested Charles Lynn Rogers, of Manton, about two weeks after the May 26 incident in Liberty Township, according to a June 24 news release from MSP.

Rogers was allegedly refusing to return an item belonging to another when an argument ensued over the phone. Rogers then allegedly drove to the victims home in Liberty Township where he attempted to assault the victim with a hatchet. He was unsuccessful and fled the scene.

Rogers then allegedly crashed his vehicle at North 43 Road and U.S. 131 in Manton. He left the scene on foot. Troopers and two MSP K9 units attempted to locate Rogers after the crash but didnt find him. A hatchet matching the victims description was found inside the abandoned vehicle.

The Wexford County Prosecutors Office authorized a felony warrant for Rogers. He was arrested by the MSP 7th District Fugitive Team on June 13 at a residence in the Evart area.

Rogers was arraigned for one count felonious assault with a dangerous weapon and habitual offender fourth offense notice on June 15 in the 84th District Court in Wexford County.

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The Central government has approved the opening of the key space sector for private participation in a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The government said the move will free up Indias premier space agency Isro (Indian Space Research Organisation) to focus on research and development while providing opportunities to expand Indias space exploration and technology through private participation.

These reforms can be compared to the reforms in the power sector carried out during the rule of Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Union minister Javadekar said at the cabinet press briefing in New Delhi.

We have built up really good space assets, these assets are now opening up for everyones use, Javadekar said. He recalled that a group of Indian students, who had developed a satellite indigenously, had to launch from a facility outside India due to regulatory limitations. He said, such a situation wont arrive in the future with the new reforms in the space sector.

Space minister Jitendra Singh said a new organization named Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (In-SPACe) has been floated to guide private enterprise participation in space activities and the use of countrys space infrastructure.

Newly created Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure. It will also hand-hold, promote and guide the private industries in space activities, said Singh.

He called it a historic decision and a departure from the past practice since Independence. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for piloting the far-sighted reform.

PM Modi is known for taking decisions that are bold, unorthodox, and futuristic; which is why

the decision for hosting the private sector participation in space sector activities has been taken. There was a history and tradition of keeping the space activities shrouded under secrecy, Singh said, explaining the background for the decision.

He added that the reform will allow Isro to focus more on research and development activities and also help in preventing the brain drain of Indian talent while enhancing the socio economic use of space assets and activities including approved access to existing space assets at facilities.

In the last 2-3 years, PM Modi has given a special boost to exploration of space through enhancing our launching activities and exploration of space through extra-launching activities, Singh said.

Singh added that India was now using space technology in every sphere of activity and the space tech has reached every household. He said the time has come to enhance Indias capacity in the sector by providing a level playing field.

In other important decisions, the Union cabinet has approved a scheme for interest subvention of 2% to Shishu loan category borrowers under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, outstanding as on 31st March 2020, for a period of 12 months to eligible borrowers.

The government also announced that it had cleared the development of an international airport at Uttar Pradeshs Kushinagar. Javadekar said that a three-kilometer-long air strip has already been constructed there to facilitate the landing of big aircrafts like the airbus. This is being done for the benefit of tourists travelling on the Buddhist circuit. The work on the upgrade of infrastructure of the Airport has been ongoing and it will further pick up pace, he added.

He also announced that ONGC will invest an additional Rs 909 crore in two gas blocks in Myanmar, namely A1 and A3. Exploration of these blocks will begin with the allocation. India is already invested in Myanmar gas blocks in partnership with South Korea.

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Humans should not be exploited as disposable resources and commodities. Coronavirus shows why we must democratize work globally and collectively strengthen workers rights and working conditions.

There are wide global variations in country responses to COVID-19, both in public health responses, and mitigating economic damage (protecting jobs, incomes, and safety standards). It is significant that the number of deaths and economic damage are highest in countries with right-wing populist governments like Brazil, India, UK, and US, who responded slowly due to COVID denial.

Some are more equal than others in the global economy. COVID-19 has starkly revealed global inequalities in workers rights and working conditions. Inequalities are most acute in less developed countries in the Global South compared to wealthier countries in the Global North.

Global South - exploitation

Workers in weakly regulated informal economies in the Global South are most likely to suffer from poor working conditions, unemployment, exploitation, gender and race discrimination, child labour, and exposure to health and safety hazards, as indicated by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Migrant workers, especially, are most vulnerable to exploitation as disposable commodities.

Countries like India have very weak workers' rights, notably in the unregulated informal economy. India's Modi government has faced accusations of using COVID-19 to exploit millions of workers. Some of Indias largest states have suspended labour laws to restart the economy. Trade unions claim changes to working hours, minimum wages, and health and safety regulations weaken workers' rights at a time when resistance is difficult.

In the Arabian Gulf states, low-income migrant workers are most exposed to poor working conditions in the pandemic. In Brazil, the right-wing populist Bolsanaro government response to COVID-19 has been widely criticised, with people exposed to safety risks, and unemployment and poverty increasing.

Moreover, there are also substantial differences in workers rights and intersectional inequalities (class, gender, race) between and within countries in the generally wealthier Global North.

American hire and fire

Workers in the United States have few employment rights, and most employers do not recognise trade unions. It is quite easy for employers to hire and fire workers, with very weak job and income protections. We are seeing this with COVID-19. Lots of US employers across different sectors are laying off workers, and unemployment has risen rapidly. Many laid-off workers are only receiving unemployment payments. Race inequalities are widespread.

Participants in a recent poll in the US ranked stronger workers rights as the top priority. Three out of four Americans said they would support workers having the right to engage in collective bargaining for salary increases, health benefits, paid sick leave, and worker safety. Indeed, grassroots trade union organising activity has increased in the US in response to COVID-19 related health and safety risks, and to demand better working conditions, job security and a real living wage.

European job retention

Europe generally evidences stronger collective workers rights compared to the US, especially in Northern Europe. Many European countries are more strongly unionised than the US, albeit with significant variations between Western and Eastern Europe.

There are notable differences in labour market policy responses to COVID-19 between the US and Europe. Many European countries have responded by introducing Job Retention Schemes (JRS) to prevent redundancies, which have been negotiated with trade unions and employer groups. Furloughed workers are paid up to 80-90% of their wages while the schemes last. Germanys short-time working scheme (Kurzarbeit) is the most famous exemplar.

The problem would be if such job preservation schemes are withdrawn too abruptly, and mass redundancies proliferate. In the UK, some employers have announced mass redundancies, like British Airways, despite using the JR scheme and receiving loans. BA unions also claim that BA plans to terminate employees contracts and rehire them on new contracts with worse pay and conditions. This comes across as opportunism.

Variation in work and employment responses to COVID-19 are evident elsewhere around the world. Many Asian countries had to face the pandemic earlier than elsewhere, and South Korea is among the most successful responses. New Zealand is also portrayed as very successful.

Rethink global politics of work

COVID-19 and the climate crisis are shining a spotlight on the need to rethink the future global politics of work at a time when the world also faces into an economic slump. The current system of continuous global capital accumulation (neo-liberalism, free-market capitalism), accentuating unequal distribution of perpetual economic growth, is broken. Consumer capitalism, as currently configured, is destroying the planet and causing widespread human suffering among the poorest populations. It is unsustainable.

A new global politics of work is required. There needs to be international coordinated responses and redistribution of resources to improve labour protection standards in the Global South.

The ILO should be politically supported to play a stronger regulatory role in spearheading a more emancipatory and democratic global future of work. The ILOs constitutional endorsement of decent work, stipulating upon its formation in 1919 that labour should not be regarded merely as a commodity or article of commerce, should be heeded by politicians worldwide.

Unfortunately, the political will does not seem to exist currently in a world where many countries have retreated from global multilateralism to individualist protectionist nationalism. Such a beggar thy neighbour approach is especially damaging in the current existential crisis.

This does not mean we cannot present what could be done and contest the battle of ideas. Workers rights should be strengthened globally, especially collective trade union rights. There is a need to outlaw extreme precarious working conditions in global supply chains, so workers are not disposable commodities. There should be a Global Living Wage and a World Basic Income, both tailored to local circumstances.

There have been calls for a new social contract underpinning fundamental labour and human welfare rights worldwide. This could prioritise socially essential key workers in foundational economy activities (such as health and social care, housing, transport, food production and distribution, community and green projects), that keep society functioning and support human life.

This could be supported by state Job Guarantee schemes. The JG idea has gained popularity in the US, but versions have been implemented in countries like Argentina, India and South Africa.

Above all, a global Green New Deal is necessary to create new green jobs, combat climate crisis, and shift economic activity away from unsustainable extractive capitalism that continually plunders scarce planetary resources. For example, green jobs could be created through global reforestation schemes, which would also benefit the environment and eco-tourism.

I am part of a community of thousands of work and employment scholars collectively calling for democratizing work and useful employment for all. A pandemic and environmental crisis require urgent international collective mobilisation and solidarity to champion the many and not the few, and preserve life on this planet.
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 SSLC Exams 2020 begins today amid COVID scare: Get complete details here

India

oi-Deepika S

Bengaluru, June 24: Amid coronavirus pandemic scare, the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board is all set to begin the Karnataka Board 10th exam 2020 tomorrow, i.e. 25th June 2020 onwards.

The government has maintained that adequate precautionary measures have been taken by the department and that students and parents need not worry.

Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) too, in a press release issued on Tuesday, said it has put in place various measures as per the Standard Operating Procedure. The department claimed that it had already distributed 18 lakh masks, at two per student.

Coronavirus: Kumaraswamy urges govt to reconsider decision on SSLC exams; calls for 20-day lockdown

Though the examination will commence at 10:30 am on Thursday, students have been advised to report to the examination centre three-hour before the commencement of the examination i.e., at 07:30 am.

This was done as a precautionary measure to help maintain social distancing that is very much essential during the pandemic.

Covid-19: CBSE and ICSE cancel class 10th and class 12th board exams | Oneindia News

Notably, states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu had cancelled their pending exams. Karnataka is the second state in south India that will be conducting its SSLC exams for pending paper after Kerala. The exams will begin from June 25 and are scheduled to end on July 4, 2020.

The Karnataka SSLC exams that were earlier scheduled to be held in March, postponed due to Covid-19 induced nationwide lockdown.

The Karnataka board has sent SMS to candidates giving information about their exam centres and reporting time.

About 8,48,203 students will write the exam. Candidates have been advised to adhere to the guidelines issued by the board such as Social Distancing. Candidates should not the without face mask the entry will not be permitted at the examination centre.

Minister of Education had said that the students from containment zones will be carefully handled.

The number of notice boards giving details of examinations halls too will be increased and so will be the frequency of announcements over the PA system to guide the students on what they need to do, once they are inside the examination centres.
Charles Farnetti was driving on a bridge over Caffee Creek almost two years ago when he saw the water had turned almost blood red, a starkly different color than hed seen in 24 years living at his current house in Woodstock, a rural town in northern Bibb County, made famous by the 2017 S-Town podcast.

The normally rocky creek water was laden with dirt and red clay mud that he knew must come from a construction site, but he didnt know where.

Farnetti followed the trail of rust-colored water upstream in Johnson Branch, which joins Caffee Creek on his property, heading north up Highway 5 toward Interstate 20, until he found what seemed to be the only possible explanation for the muddy creek: the ongoing construction on a 278-acre Mercedes Benz campus in Woodstock.

I had driven by that every day but you know, I hadnt thought anything about pollution coming until that day, Farnetti said. It was a muddy mess, just the whole 200 acres, so I thought, well, there it is.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management recently sent a letter of warning to the Birmingham company handling construction for Mercedes.

The German auto manufacturer broke ground in 2017 on a $1 billion expansion into Bibb County, including a new plant to build rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, a Global Logistics Center and after-sales hub. The new facilities are expected to provide more than 700 jobs to the town, located just off I-20 between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, about seven miles from the Mercedes plant in Vance.

But the expansion is also bringing something else: unwanted sediment pollution into an ecologically sensitive area of the Cahaba River watershed. Caffee Creek empties into the main stem of the Cahaba in the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, about three miles downstream of Farnettis property. The refuge is home to at least five threatened or endangered species, and attracts thousands of visitors each year to see the famous glades of Cahaba lilies growing in the rocky shoals.

Farnetti said he knows that Mercedes is bringing much-needed jobs and economic investment to an area that badly needs it, but he wants them to develop the area responsibly.

Nobody wants to fight Mercedes, Farnetti said. I mean, we sure dont. They have a real good economical impact on this community, which is very welcome. Everybody wants to see the growth.

Farnetti first reported the runoff into the creek to Alabama Department of Environmental Management in July 2018, when he noticed the issues. The initial complaint included several photos of the muddy creek water leading back to the construction site, but Farnetti said he spoke to someone at ADEM by phone after filing the complaint and told them the situation had improved and the complaint was closed. By early 2020, Farnetti said the problems were back as bad as ever.

He contacted Cahaba Riverkeeper David Butler, who filed another complaint on May 26 of this year. After the 2020 complaint, ADEM inspected the construction site and issued a warning letter to CS Beatty Construction, the Birmingham-based firm building the new facilities. They say they are working to address the pollution problem.

Both Mercedes and CS Beatty Construction say they are investigating the issues.

Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (MBUSI) is aware of the complaints about sediment deposits located somewhere in the Cahaba River watershed downstream from MBUSIs current construction operations in Woodstock, Alabama, the company said in a written statement. We are working to identify the location of the sediment deposits and all possible sources in the area.

"Our commitment to the environment does not stop at our property boundaries. We recognize that 'business as usual' is not an option in times of climate change. The site in Woodstock is being prepared for the production of batteries for our all new fully electric vehicles. This project is part of our plan to aid the Daimler organization in achieving a more sustainable passenger car fleet.

We are committed to taking an active role in implementing solutions to restore the health of the Cahaba River watershed, whatever the causes or sources.

Craig Beatty, president of CS Beatty Construction, told AL.com via email that he was working to prepare a response to ADEM, which is due by June 27.

We are working with the MBUSI environmental team to identify the potential sources of the issues to restore the health of the Cahaba River watershed, whatever the causes or sources, Beatty said.

The ADEM inspection of the facility identified several potential sources of sediment pollution, including large amounts of exposed dirt, where construction had not taken place for 13 days or more, erosion controls that were not properly maintained or damaged and sediment basins were the sides had not been stabilized.

ADEM warned CS Beatty that those conditions may constitute violation(s) of the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act.

Farnetti retired in March, and said after a winter and spring of heavy rains, he went to where Johnson Creek flows into Caffee Creek, and was greeted with mud so deep, he sank in to his knees.

I measured it, its up to my knees, my feet sunk up to my knees, he said. I had my son go with me because I was scared, I was scared Id get stuck.

Butler said the Cahaba Riverkeeper group became involved in the situation after being invited to participate in MBUSIs 8th Annual Enviro Days event at the Vance plant. Butler said after researching the runoff issues around the plant, including conversations with Farnetti, he wrote Mercedes a letter stating that Cahaba Riverkeeper could not participate in the event as they had in years past.

We have received complaints about mud leaving the construction site, and in preparation for attending this years event, reviewed publicly available documents and inspected the construction activity from the areas we could reach without trespassing, Butler wrote.

There is tremendous activity and progress at the site, but very little of the disturbed footprint has been temporarily or permanently stabilized, even in areas where there is no active construction. We believe dirt is still leaving the site, and that more could be done with little expense to prevent it.

Sediment pollution is a major problem in the Cahaba River, both in Bibb County and elsewhere in the watershed, where it winds through the suburbs south of Birmingham.

The Cahaba doesnt have the large hydro-electric dams found on the Coosa, the Black Warrior or the Tennessee that create massive, deep lakes. Because of that, the river is able to maintain its more natural character: the rocky glades and shallow pools that provide habitat for a handful of species found nowhere else in the world.

Alabama is arguably the most biodiverse state in the country, mostly because of the large numbers of small fishes, plants, snails, mussels and crayfish it supports. There are at least 135 species of fish living in the Cahaba and its tributaries, making it one of the most biodiverse rivers in the world.

Caffee Creek enters the river at Hargrove Shoals, one of the largest remaining stands of Cahaba lilies.

The major threats to the lilies are dam construction and siltation, Butler said. We dont have a lot of problems with dam construction at this point but siltation is definitely an issue.

The lilies kind of grow in the cracks in between rocks and all this mud just fills in those cracks. So the seeds have no place to settle and they just kind of wash downstream into deeper water and dont grow.

Too much silt or mud can also ruin the habitat for snails, mussels, insects and other parts of the food chain that make up the Cahabas unique ecosystem.

My concern now is okay, this has been going on for two years, I reported it and not much was done, Farnetti said. Whats gonna happen? Whats this gonna do to the creek and to the river? Im not an expert on that. How do we stop it, how do we keep it from happening again?

So far, the silt and mud from the Mercedes plant has not visibly impacted the wildlife refuge. But the confluence of Johnson Creek and Caffee Creek, on Farnettis property, has changed dramatically. Farnetti, 70, said he has lived at his current house for 26 years, but said grew up in Woodstock and learned to swim and caught his first fish on Caffee Creek.

That part of the creek right there, to me, has always been one of the prettiest parts of the creek, Farnetti said. Where the two creeks come together, it widens out and the grounds kind of more level there, theres always been a foot to two or three feet of water slowly moving down through there.

Its just a beautiful part of the creek, but now its basically just a mud hole with a little bit of water on top of it.
Despite the recently imposed Caesar Act, Jordan has announced that these sanctions will not affect its trade with Syria writes Sham Network.

Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz announced that the US Caesar Act, which is imposing new sanctions on the Syrian regime and its supporters, will not impact relations between Jordan and Syria.

In a statement broadcast on Jordanian TV station Al-Mamlaka on Monday, Razzaz added that there are real challenges inside Syria impacting trade movement and exchange between the two countries.

He pointed out that, the main goods that are exchanged [between Syria and Jordan] are already exempt from this act and others, and the real obstacles are present on the ground, rather than legal or imposed.

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.
AHN has partnered with Pittsburgh-based manufacturer Magee Plastics Company to design and equip caregiver teams with protective barrier enclosures that reduce clinical exposure to coughed droplets and aerosols produced during medical procedures on patients. The collaboration between the two organizations is supported by a $150,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation .

The protective barrier enclosure is produced by Magee Plastics and consists of a transparent plastic cube designed to cover a patient's head while they are in a hospital bed. Used as a physical barrier, the cube incorporates one or more ports through which the health care provider's hands are passed to perform medical procedures related to airway management such as intubation, extubation and suctioning of airways, and any aerosol-generating procedures such as nebulizer treatments and manipulation of oxygen masks.

"As part of our pandemic response efforts at AHN, we continue to explore innovative ways to enhance the safety of our practitioners who are caring for patients with COVID-19. In addition to the personal protective equipment worn by our clinicians, this new device has the potential to further minimize exposure to pathogenic airborne particles and provide an additional layer of protection. We are excited to partner with the team at Magee Plastics on the design of the unit, and are extremely grateful to the Richard King Mellon Foundation for its support in helping bring this project to fruition," said JP Lawrence, MD, Chair, AHN Anesthesiology Institute.

Magee Plastics, a premier provider of quality engineered products for the airline, rail, medical and other industries, will produce a total of 350 protective barrier enclosures  200 of which will be distributed to AHN facilities and 150 to other regional health care facilities over the next several weeks.

Protective barrier enclosures have been approved by the FDA for emergency use following the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services' declaration in early March that the shortage of medical equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic warranted authorization for emergency use of alternative medical devices and products.

Similar to the experience of many organizations and companies across the U.S., the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered daily operations at Magee Plastics. Magee president Charles Story said the company's commitment to the community and its employees made the decision to repurpose their operations to meet a critical need of our health care providers an easy one.

"Our region's health care workers have answered the call of this pandemic without hesitation and in heroic fashion. We are delighted to be able to support them through this unique collaboration, which has also enabled us to keep many of our employees working during this unprecedented time," said Mr. Story.

"The Foundation supported this project because it advances two of our key priorities in this pandemic  protecting our frontline healthcare workers, and protecting jobs," said Sam Reiman, Director, Richard King Mellon Foundation.

About the Allegheny Health Network

Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org), a Highmark Health company, is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is composed of 10 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, an employed physician organization, home and community based health services, a research institute and a group purchasing organization. The Network provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, cardiovascular disease, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, women's health, diabetes and more. AHN employs approximately 21,000 people, has more than 2,500 physicians on its medical staff and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

SOURCE Allegheny Health Network

Related Links

https://ahn.org


North Korean leader Kim Jong-un broke his silence Tuesday to call off "action plans" against South Korea. The official Rodong Shinmun reported Wednesday Kim called off its military action plans against Seoul in a "preliminary" meeting ahead of a Workers Party gathering.

The 11th-hour de-escalation comes after North Korea ratcheted up tensions by threatening retaliatory steps over propaganda leaflets being sent across the border by South Korean activists.

This was followed by a warning last week by Kim's sister Yo-jong, who has been cast as the bad cop in the recent theatricals, that she "gave instructions to the arms of the department in charge of the affairs with enemy to decisively carry out the next action." Then the North Korean military said that it will deploy troops to the Mt. Kumgang resort and the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

At least eight South Korean and U.S. spy planes were scrambled on Monday, when the North reinstalled propaganda loudspeakers in the demilitarized zone.


(@FahadShabbir)

Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Kravchenko on Wednesday discussed organization of an OSCE monitoring mission at the country's presidential election in a phone conversation with Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said

MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2020) Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Kravchenko on Wednesday discussed organization of an OSCE monitoring mission at the country's presidential election in a phone conversation with Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said.

"The parties discussed the issues related to setting up international monitoring of the ongoing presidential campaign in Belarus via ODIHR," the ministry said in a statement.

The presidential election in Belarus is scheduled for August 9. Currently, candidates are collecting signatures for registration, which will take place from July 5-14. According to the central election committee, international monitors will be invited after all candidates have been registered.
Two Derry men have had their heads shaved to support a charity which has helped a little boy close to their hearts.

Baby Michael MacHugh shocked his mum Sara and dad Conall in January of this year by arriving 15 weeks early.

His parents were told that he had a 60% chance of survival.

Michael ended up having to spend 13 weeks in hospital.

During this time, Tinylife, a charity which supports families of premature babies, was a vital help to Sara and Conall.

Michael is now at home and doing well but his family were keen to raise money for Tinylife.

Michaels uncle Caolan (pictured below before and after his head shave), his dad's identical twin, agreed to shave off his fair to support the charity.

Caolan's friend, Owen Brady, also agreed to so the same thing, and, between them, the two men have managed to raise more than 2,000 for the charity.

Michael's mum said it had been difficult time for their family.

Michael was born on 16th January 2020 at 25 weeks +3 days gestation, 15 weeks early, weighing just 1lb 11oz.

He is now over 9lb at 21 weeks old.

His due date was 27th of April 2020. Michael was born in Altnagelvin at 1.45am and transferred to The Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast at 3pm that same day.

He spent five and a half weeks in the Royal where he received four of his five blood transfusions and spent the last seven and a half weeks back in Altnagelvin, where he got his last blood transfusion.

During this hospital stay I was also told that a baby born at 25 weeks has a 60% survival rate, defying all the odds Michael is with us now, thankfully a happy healthy 21 week old.

He is smaller than other babies his age and developmentally has some catching up to do but he is a little fighter.

Sara said Tinylife had been a great support to them.

During our stay in hospital TinyLife were a huge support and continue to be there for us, by way of thanks we wanted to raise funds for the charity and so lockdown presented the perfect opportunity.

As lockdown has rolled on Michaels uncle Caolan, his dad's identical twin became increasingly in need of a visit to the barbers, we used this to our advantage and challenged Caolan to a head shave.

Caolans friend Owen Brady also braved the shave, she added.

Our family and friends rallied their support and Im delighted to say we have raised over 2,000 for for TinyLife.

Valerie Cromie, Head of Fundraising for TinyLife , said the funds raised would be put to good use.

We are greatly indebted to the MacHugh family for their generosity and to Caolan and Owen who were brave enough to take on the head shave challenge.

Funds raised will ensure families who experience the birth of a premature baby receive the practical and emotional support they need.
The Kerala government on Wednesday scrapped its demand for Covid-free certificates for expatriates returning home from West Asian countries after the Centre said tests are not feasible in Indian missions but insisted that passengers will have to wear personal protection equipment (PPE) during the flights.

For two weeks, the state government had crossed swords with the Centre over Covid-free certificates for expatriates even as the number of people from Kerala dying in Persian Gulf countries crossed 300. Despite a massive outrage after it made Covid-free certificates mandatory, the Kerala government stood its ground.

The state government finally relented after the Centre made it clear that evacuation will be difficult if it puts such unreasonable conditions.

But Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan maintained that the states position was consistent and it took such a decision to avert a super spreading of Covid-19. The government has now made personal protection equipment (PPE) mandatory for returning expatriates but many medical experts said in long-duration flights full PPE kits will pose many problems.

It will be difficult in long-duration flights. Once passengers wear them, they wont be able to go to washrooms. We hope someone will inform them about this, said Indian Medical Association Kerala chapter president Abraham Verghese.

The CM said there was a concerted move to array expatriates against the government but they will realise these follies. A Malayalam newspaper Madhyamam on Wednesday carried photos of more than 300 people who died in the Persian Gulf countries with a banner headline asking How many more will have to die for the government to open its eyes? The CM said this was a well-planned and calculated move to turn expatriates against the government.

We never blocked any flights. We took such a decision to check super spreaders and community spreading. More than 90 per cent of the cases in the state are people who came from abroad or other states. We insisted for certificates because of this, he said.

The Congress-led opposition criticised the government move saying it was more interested in its records, not welfare of stranded people.

At least 18 lakh people from the state are working in Gulf countries and out of which four lakh have registered to return on a government website which began after lockdown norms were eased. As on Tuesday 88,000 expatriates have returned in Vandhe Bharat and chartered flights. At least 149 Vande Bharat and 171 chartered flights are being planned in the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, the state reported more than 100 cases for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday with 152 fresh cases. Keralas Covid-19 tally now stands at 3,603. Out of these, 1,888 people have recovered while 1,692 are active cases. The Covid-19 death toll in Kerala is 23.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  The appeals of families of overseas Filipino workers who died of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia will be discussed by Philippine officials, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said on Wednesday.

In a Senate inquiry, the labor official said he would discuss with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Thursday the plea of families to repatriate the remains of their loved ones.

"The initial decision is to bury [in Saudi Araabia] those who died of COVID, pero malakas ang panawagan ng pamilya na iuwi pa rin sila," he said.

[Translation: The initial decision is to bury those who died of COVID, but there is a resounding appeal from the families to bring home the remains.]

In an open letter, the families pleaded to President Rodrigo Duterte and the IATF to allow the bodies of their relatives  often hailed as "modern day heroes"  to be brought home.

There are 282 OFWs who died in Saudi Arabia, with 108 of them losing their lives to COVID-19. Bello previously said that the IATF has decided to allow those who died from COVID-19 to be buried in the Gulf State, while the others who died of natural causes will be repatriated to the Philippines using three airplanes.

The Labor Secretary said he will discuss with the IATF, which includes health experts, if it is safe to bring home those who died of an infectious disease.

Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde noted that based on the requirements of international health regulations, those who die due to infectious disease  such as COVID-19  the remains should be cremated.

However, cremation is prohibited in the Muslim tradition. In Saudi Arabia, bodies are usually buried within 24 hours of death in observance of the Islamic custom.
Stunning pictures have emerged of a secret Tasmanian lake that only fills with water when the weather conditions are just right.

A 12km walking track on Mount Wellington, west of Hobart, leads to the Disappearing Tarn, which is empty on most occasions.

However, when the rainfall is right - as it has been this past week - the lake fills with crystal-clear blue water and creates a mesmerising sight for locals and hikers.

The legendary Disappearing Tarn (pictured), hidden away near Mount Wellington in Tasmania, has been refilled by recent rain and snowfall

The waterhole only fills up a couple of times a year when conditions are perfect - and its exact location is only known to a select few

Tasmanian woman Jemina Stuart-Smith came across the refilled lake, which she described as a 'sublime' sight.

'We spotted the deep blue colour as soon as we were there,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'Its a really pretty spot. Its really beautiful (and) the photos never do this sort of thing justice.'

She said the waterhole had become a popular destination among other hikers but it had also proven to be elusive.

'Its a bit of a favourite with local Tasmanian bushwalkers and photographers, but its rarely there and can be hard to predict,' she said.

'I always keep an eye on the rainfall, it only seems to happen once every couple of years after heavy rainfall and doesnt last long, a few days at most.'

A number of people were left stunned by the beauty of the tarn after the pictures were posted online.

'That is so lovely the colours are amazing ... just beautiful,' one Facebook user wrote.

The lake contains a large scree of dolerite boulders, which also help to create the spectacular water colour

It's believed a combination of heavy snow and heavy rain creates the perfect conditions to fill up the Disappearing Tarn a couple of times each year, otherwise it remains empty (pictured)

'Breathtaking absolutely stunning,' another added.

'How special is this!' a third replied.

The lake contains a large scree of dolerite boulders which also helps to create the spectacular water colour.

It's believed a combination of heavy snow and heavy rain create the perfect conditions to fill up the Disappearing Tarn a couple of times each year.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology more than 200mm of rain had inundated the mountain over the past three days.

While the exact location of the lake is only known to avid hikers, the Tasmania Facebook page says the waterhole is located in an area of the mountain known as the 'Potato Fields'.
Pro-democracy activists hold up their mobile phone torches as they sing during a rally in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on June 12, 2020. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing Ramps Up Influence Operations on Twitter in Bid to Shift Global Opinion

Beijing is amping up its influence campaigns on Western social media platforms as part of an ongoing endeavor to promote pro-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views on a global scale.

While Russian disinformation efforts on Facebook and Twitter have drawn the lions share of media attention since their bid to influence the 2016 U.S. elections, analysts say that the Chinese regime has since that time been playing catch-up, expanding and developing influence operations on these platformswhich are banned inside China.

The Chinese regimes initiatives went into turbocharge at the onset of the pandemic, with an aggressive global disinformation and propaganda campaign to deflect blame over its mishandling of the outbreak and amplify narratives praising its response efforts. Recently, it has exploited the nationwide unrest following the police custody death of George Floyd to undermine the credibility of the United States and democratic governance.

Earlier this month, Twitter announced that it had taken down more than 170,000 accounts linked to the Chinese regime that pushed its narratives surrounding the pandemic, the Hong Kong protests, and other topics.

The company said it has identified and removed 23,750 core accounts, and around 150,000 amplifier accounts which were designed to boost the core network by retweeting and liking their posts.

The removal builds upon the companys action last August when it scrubbed hundreds of Beijing-linked accounts that sought to undermine the pro-democracy protest movement in Hong Kong. Facebook and YouTube took similar action.

Despite Chinese campaigns lacking the sophistication of Russian operations, analysts believe the gap will close as a result of the regimes persistent and aggressive actions in this space.

Andrew Selepak, social media professor at the University of Florida, said that while Beijing may have more accounts peddling pro-CCP narratives, it is not as effective as the Russians at generating impact from individual accounts. But thats something thats going to change pretty quickly, he told The Epoch Times.

Operations

Researchers at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), in their analysis of the core Twitter accounts targeted in the recent takedown, found that most had underdeveloped personas78.5 percent had no followers at all.

The accounts sent out 348,608 tweets between January 2018 and April 2020. Most were in Chinese, with the campaign primarily targeted at Hong Kong residents and the Chinese-speaking diaspora, researchers said.

Amal Sinha, an independent data analyst who reviewed the dataset, deducted that the operation was likely run out of a human troll factory in Chinarather than by botsdue to the accounts tweeting behavior: they were tweeting during work hours at Beijing time, there was significant variations in time between tweets, and almost all were exclusively tweeted from a desktop computer.

Beijing is likely using human operatives, Sinha said, because bots tend to be easier for software to catch.

The Chinese regime employs an extensive network of internet trolls to censor online discussion, praise Chinese Communist Party policies, and demonize viewpoints critical of the regime. They have been dubbed the 50-cent army because they are reportedly paid 50 cents by Chinese authorities for each online post made.

ASPI also found that the Twitter operation used aged accountspotentially purchased from the influence-for-hire marketplace, hacked or stolento try and gain traction in larger networks.

ProPublica, a New York-based nonprofit media, in March similarly found a network of 10,000 inauthentic Twitter accounts spreading Chinese propaganda and disinformation that contained hijacked accounts, which may have been obtained by hacking or purchasing.

The media outlet found that the accounts were linked to OneSight (Beijing) Technology, a Beijing-based internet marketing company with connections to the Chinese regime. The companys CEO previously worked at the Beijing city foreign propaganda department.

Last year, ProPublica obtained a copy of a contract won by OneSight to boost the Twitter following of state-owned news agency China News Service. The outlet is run under the United Front Work Department, a Party organ dedicated to running Beijings influence operations inside and outside of China.

Selepak, the social media professor, said Beijing is also likely seeking to pay influential users to promote particular messages on Twitterto make use of their outsized voices on these platforms.

ProPublica referred to the case of Badiucao, a Chinese dissident cartoonist living in Australia, who said he was approached by an account claiming to be an international exchange company. The firm offered the cartoonist 1,700 yuan (about $240) to tweet out specific content per post.

During feigned negotiations with the company, Badiucao said he received a sample of what he would be asked to tweet out: a 15-second propaganda clip, showing that Beijing defeated the coronavirus and everything is back on track.

Badiucao said he was confident the company was working for the Chinese regime, based on their interactions. The company did not move forward with the negotiations after a review of Badiucaos posts.

Narratives

Tech analyses of the recently shuttered Twitter accounts showed that up until early February, they focused on criticizing protesters in Hong Kong; demonizing Chinese billionaire fugitive Guo Wengui, who is based in Manhattan and an outspoken critic of the CCP; and promoting the idea that Taiwan is part of China.

But as the outbreak in China worsened in late January, the narrative shifted. Accounts started cheerleading Beijings response to the outbreak, criticizing U.S. containment efforts, and countering claims that Taiwans response was superior to Chinas, according to an analysis by the Stanford Internet Observatory published in June.

The accounts also retweeted posts from Chinese state media and officials about the pandemic.

Chinese diplomats have in recent months aggressively taken to Twitter to promote the regime as an exemplar in global efforts to contain the disease, and push unfounded claims that the virus did not originate from China. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian notoriously suggested in March that the virus was brought into Wuhan by the U.S. army. In late May, Twitter added a fact check label to his tweet, which links to a series of Western media sources about the origin of the virus.

Meanwhile, Chinese state-run outlets also took to social media, promoting the hashtags Trumpandemic and TrumpVirus on its posts.

In early May, separate from the companys own investigation, the U.S. state department discovered a vast Chinese-linked campaign on Twitter aimed at spreading narratives favorable to the regime amid the pandemic.

The departments Global Engagement Center (GEC) found that Chinese diplomats Twitter accounts saw a surge in new followers around March. Many of these followers were newly-made accounts, suggesting they belonged to an artificial network designed to amplify narratives from Chinese officials, GEC head Lea Gabrielle said at the time.

In one case, a spokesperson for Chinas Foreign Ministry shared a video that claimed the Chinese national anthem was played in the streets when Chinese doctors arrived in Italywhich was later debunked as fake, Gabrielle said. The video appeared to show Italians saying, Thank you, China, when, in fact, they were thanking their own health care workers. This video was shared widely by Chinese diplomats and state-run media, which were then amplified by Russian-linked accounts, she added.

The campaign has recently evolved to exploit the race-related unrest across the United States, ASPI found. Posts on Twitter and Facebook used the killing of Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and U.S. authorities response to protests to promote anti-U.S., anti-democracy, anti-protest, and pro-Hong Kong police messages, it stated.

One account, for instance, tweeted an image of Lady Liberty leaning on Floyds neck, and compared U.S. authorities handling of the protests with Beijings suppression of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, accusing the United States of hypocrisy.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has derided Beijings propaganda surrounding the protests as laughable, pointing to the communist regimes systemic crackdown on freedom of speech, press, and religion.

ASPI said the Chinese regimes persistent online experimentation will allow it to recalibrate efforts to influence audiences on Western platforms with growing precision.

This large-scale pivot to Western platforms is relatively new, and we should expect continued evolution and improvement, it said.

The Epoch Times reached out to Twitter and Facebook over its efforts to counter Chinese disinformation but didnt receive a response as of press time.

Bigger Threat

Mark Grabowski, associate professor specializing in cyberlaw and digital ethics at Adelphi University, describes the regimes disinformation campaign as a far more menacing threat than Russias.

He pointed to the hugely popular video app TikTok, which is owned by the Beijing-based company ByteDance. The app, which had 37.2 million users in the United States in 2019, has seen a surge in popularity during the pandemic.

By analyzing its treasure trove of data, China can gain all kinds of insights and leverage it to manipulate Americans, Grabowski said.

With so many Americans practically living online now, especially during the lockdown, China understands American society very well and they know what buttons to push, he added.

U.S. officials and experts have raised concerns that data collected by the Chinese app could be transferred to Beijing due to Chinese laws that compel companies to work with authorities in intelligence collection efforts. TikTok has denied these claims, saying U.S. users data is stored in the country. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States is reportedly reviewing ByteDances 2018 acquisition of Musical.ly, a U.S. music video app that was the precursor to TikTok, for national security risks.

TikTok has sweeping powers to influence its users, Grabowski noted. It can suppress videos that are critical of China, and amplify any narrative or talking point or meme by artificially inflating shares or tinkering with their algorithm, he said.

The Epoch Times recently reported that TikTok deleted the account of a Chinese international student in the United States after he posted a video mocking the Chinese national anthem.

Grabowski said the regime could also exploit the anti-government sentiment held by many American academics, journalists, and lawmakers to propel anti-U.S. narratives. For instance, they could find an influential user with a blue checkmark who tweets that the coronavirus should be called the Trumpvirus, and amplify their views.

They provide the appearance of credibility and China simply provides the retweets and makes that narrative go viral, he said.
Liberty Fighters Network, the organisation which previously won a High Court case that declared South Africas lockdown regulations to be unconstitutional and invalid, has now argued that the COVID-19 lockdown is legally over as of Wednesday 24 June.

Liberty Fighters Network (LFN) and Reyno De Beer will be arguing in the High Court today that they believe that since of this morning Wednesday, 24 June 2020, the lockdown regulations are unconstitutional and invalid and that effectively the Lockdown is legally over, the organisation said.

LFN believes that the government incorrectly lodged an application to appeal the judgement made by the Gauteng High Court on 2 June in the hope of suspending the order of invalidity instead of requesting an extension.

As a result of this, LFN argued that the lockdown regulations are not legally in force anymore as the last day the government had to comply with the ruling by Judge Norman Davis was Tuesday 23 June 2020.

LFN and De Beer will be going to the High Court this morning to oppose the Application for Leave to Appeal lodged by Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to confirm the inevitable, according to them  that the Court, in fact, does not have any authority anymore to extend the period of 14 days and they will be arguing that the application has effectively become moot, LFN said in a statement.

The government has failed to make new lockdown regulations to replace the constitutionally invalid Level 3 regulations which ceased at midnight on 23 June 2020, notwithstanding that it had ample opportunity to have done so.

LFN further argued that South Africans may no longer be arrested or forced to adhere to the lockdown regulations, but smokers and gamblers will still be limited in their activities due to the specific exclusion of tobacco and casinos from the order of invalidity.

If the Court agrees with us today, this could be the best news South Africans have had since 1994 and definitely a victory for all who had to endure the mass human rights violations of the government the past three months, LFN said.

It has become obvious that COVID-19 is here to stay with us and that the so-called spread of the virus is so rampant that we have reached a stage to accept it as part of our lives and time to go back to normal.

Judgement reserved

Judgement has been reserved in the governments application for leave to appeal the High Court ruling, according to a report by EWN.

According to the report, Judge Norman Davis told said he understood the urgency of the decision and would send the relevant parties a ruling electronically.

LFN reportedly argued that Dlamini-Zuma failed to review the regulations within 14 days as mandated by the High Court ruling, despite the countrys alert level being downgraded to level 3.

The government argued that the decision of the High Court should be tested by the Supreme Court of Appeal.

High Court ruling

The South African government announced on 4 June that it would appeal the ruling made by the Gauteng High Court.

After obtaining legal advice and listening to numerous comments made by members of the legal fraternity in reaction to this judgement, we are of the view that another court might come to another conclusion on the matter, Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu said.

Cabinet has therefore decided to appeal the North Gauteng High Court decision.

The government said it will ask that its appeal is heard on an urgent basis so that the country can gain certainty on the regulations.

The original ruling concerned an application that was brought against the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs by the Liberty Fighters Network, which contested the validity of the declaration of the National State of Disaster and the regulations related to it.

Judge Norman Davis criticised the sheer irrationality of the regulations and found that there were many instances of rules which were not rationally connected to the objectives of slowing down the spread of the coronavirus.

I am certain, from what I have seen in the papers filed in this matter and from a mere reading of the regulations, even including the alert level 3 regulations, that there are many more instances of sheer irrationality included therein, Davis said.

I find that, in an overwhelming number of instances, the Minister has not demonstrated that the limitation of the Constitutional rights already mentioned has been justified in the context of section 36 of the Constitution.

Now read: Airbnb asks Ramaphosa to reconsider level 3 lockdown changes
Tensions between India and Nepal have increased along the border areas in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the past few months and several skirmishes have been reported. There have been incidents reported of Indian citizens being abducted by the Nepalese. Now, the Indian border security personnel have also been targeted.

The tensions have risen because of the arrival of monsoons as Indian villagers are building infrastructure and dam-like structures to prevent the water overflowing from the river flowing between the two countries. However, the Nepalese claim that Indians are trying to enter their territory and capture their land.

One of the villager speaking to Republic in Balba village in Bihar said, "Three to four persons entered from the Nepal side and tried to drag one of our officers to their side. They however failed as there was a timely intervention by villagers and other officers" Bihar state government has also alleged that Nepal has erected barriers and halted the work done by India to stop water flooding.

Nepal lays claim on Indian territory

This comes days after Nepal came out with a new map showing Indian territory of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as its territories.

Nepals National Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed the Constitution Amendment Bill to update the country's political and administrative map incorporating three Indian territories. India has termed as untenable the "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims by Nepal after its lower house of parliament on Saturday unanimously approved the new political map of the country featuring areas which India maintains belong to it.

The National Assembly, or the upper house of the Nepalese parliament, unanimously passed the constitution amendment bill providing for inclusion of the country's new political map in its national emblem. The bill was passed with all the 57 members present voting in its favour.

READ | Cong tells govt to act against Nepal FM channels beaming anti-India content across border

READ | Manisha Koirala faces Twitter wrath for 'sovereignty' tweet amid India-Nepal border row

Nepal FM channels broadcast anti-India speeches

Even Nepals FM radio channels close to the border with India are broadcasting propaganda to back Kathmandus claim on Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura, residents in Indias border villages said.

"Some Nepalese FM channels have of late started playing anti-India speeches in between Nepali songs, said Shalu Datal, a resident of Dantu village in Pithoragarhs Dharchula sub-division.

As people on both sides of the border listen to Nepali songs, they also hear the anti-India speeches delivered by Nepalese leaders in between them, she said. The main FM stations playing anti-India content between songs are Naya Nepal and Kalapani Radio, Datal said, as per PTI.

READ | After Nepal obstructs flood maintenance work, Bihar Minister seeks Centre's intervention

READ | Nepal says 90 pc of its coronavirus cases are foreign returnees, mostly from India

(With agency inputs)
A surprise housing market rebound will mean that property prices do not start to fall generally until later this year, Zoopla has predicted (Steve Parsons/PA)

A surprise housing market rebound will mean that property prices do not start to fall generally until later this year, a website has predicted.

Zoopla said it expects to see house prices bounce upwards over the coming months as pent-up buyer demand which has grown during the lockdown is released into the market  before falling towards the end of 2020 into early 2021.

While UK prices are set to increase by between 2% and 3% over the next quarter, the initial upward momentum will be followed by a price dip as economic conditions bite, it predicted.

Richard Donnell, Zooplas director of research and insight, said: The rebound in housing market activity has taken many in the industry by surprise.

It is welcome news given the projections for falling economic growth and rising unemployment.

Estate agents and developers are responding and using the upsurge in demand to rebuild their sales pipelines and open up their developments.

Zoopla said that while buyer demand is elevated, the choice of properties available per estate agency branch is down by 15% typically compared with a year ago.

Estate agents stock levels in Cambridge, for example, are up to 40% lower year on year.

We see returning pent-up demand and new buyers entering the market creating upward pressure on prices in the face of a lower supply of homes for sale Richard Donnell, Zoopla

Zoopla added that in England, where the housing market reopened in May, the sales rebound has been strongest in the North, led by Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester, where sales are up to around 20% higher than in February.

Activity levels are also expected to rebound in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as pent-up demand is released.

Mr Donnell continued: We see returning pent-up demand and new buyers entering the market creating upward pressure on prices in the face of a lower supply of homes for sale which has been exacerbated by the lockdown.

House price growth is set to hold up in the near term and we expect the downward pressure on prices to come in the final months of the year as demand weakens.

Overall, we had 10 viewings and the property sold in just eight days House-seller from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

Zoopla quoted a seller, Nicola McCarthy, 47, from Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, who put her home on the market at the beginning of June.

She said: I noticed that homes were selling fairly quickly in our area so wanted to get our home on the market swiftly as were looking to downsize.

We listed our home for sale at 5pm on June 2 and within an hour we already had a viewing booked for 7pm that night. Overall, we had 10 viewings and the property sold in just eight days.

Most new sales being agreed in the current rebound are likely to complete between August and October.

Going into the autumn, the downturn in demand will coincide with low deposit mortgages become more scarce and coronavirus having a further impact on employment levels, Zoopla predicted.

Lender caution and a more limited availability of 10% deposit mortgages will reduce demand, particularly among first-time buyers who, over recent years, have been the engine of the housing market, Zoopla said.

The impact on house prices will crystallise in the final months of the year, it added.

In 2019, a fifth of all home-buyers purchased a property with a deposit of 10% or less.

A lack of first-time buyers would be felt by the rest of the market as it would prevent other buyers higher up the housing chain from moving.

Zoopla said further support and innovation to support the economy and the housing market cannot be ruled out, which would help to limit the downsides for the property market.

Commenting on Zooplas report, Nick Leeming, chairman of estate agent Jackson-Stops, said: Those looking to sell their homes this year will benefit from listing their homes on the market sooner rather than later to capture the pent-up demand from when the market was closed.

These sellers are not only more likely to achieve higher offers but should also secure a quicker sale by listing their homes in the coming months. Currently, we are seeing multiple offers on well-priced country property.
As new coronavirus cases surged to a new two-month high of Tuesday mostly reported from more than two dozen western and southern states, top public health officials told US lawmakers they were concerned these could worsen.

Thats something Im really quite concerned about, Anthony S Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House task force fallen into disuse, said at a congressional hearing.A couple of days ago, there were 30,000 new infections. Thats very disturbing to me.

The total of reported new cases shot up to 34,720 on Tuesday taking the total to 2.34 million, according to the Johns Hopkins Institute tracker, and fatalities went up by 826 to 121,225.

Texas and California reported more than 5,000 new cases each Tuesday, surpassing their recent peaks and Arizona, where President Donald Trump addressed an election rally Tuesday, reported more than 3,500 to take the total over 58,000.

New York New Jersey and Connecticut, the triangle no northeaster states that had been the epicenter of the outbreak earlier and have since improved drastically, announced Wednesday mandatory two-week quarantine for people traveling from Florida, Texas and Arizona, southern states in the grip of the new surge.

Twenty-six states, all in the south and the west, reported more cases last week than the one before. Arizona has been the worst hit, with cases said to be spiraling out of control since its Republican governor ended stay-at-home restrictions last month. And participants at Trumps rally displayed a similar disregard for social distancing and preventive measures such as masks that the president has continued to show publicly.

Fauci and Brett Giroir, a top health department official who also testified along with CDCs Robert Redfield and FDAs Stephen Kahn, told lawmakers the new surge of cases was due to increased community transmission. And that the next weeks will be crucial in how the country deals with them

We have all done the best that we can do to tackle this virus and the reality is that its brought this nation to its knees, Redfield told the congressional committee

All four officials denied, however, ever being told to slow-down testing as has been stated by the president, starting with his speech at the thinly attended election rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Monday. He had said he ordered for the testing to be slowed down as they only showed increase in cases.

His aides claimed the president was joking, which he has denied.

None of us have ever been told to slow down on testing, Fauci told lawmakers when asked. That just is a fact.
Suspected Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian military and Iran-backed militia sites Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. There are differing reports on the casualties.

This mornings aerial assault targeted Syrian military sites outside the central city of Hama. The Syrian army said the missiles were Israeli and claimed to have downed many before they reached their targets. The damage was material, the Syrian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Syrian state media SANA also reported that two soldiers were killed in airstrikes Tuesday night near Deir ez-Zor in the east and in Suwayda, the location of recent anti-government protests, in the south. SANA did not say who carried out these airstrikes, calling them missile aggression.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said the two deaths were Syrian soldiers killed by Israeli airstrikes last night against a communications center used by the military and Iran-backed militias outside of Suwayda. The center sustained heavy damage. The observatory also reported that Israeli airstrikes killed five members of Iran-backed militias and destroyed one of their bases in Deir ez-Zor the same evening.

Iran is a major ally of the Syrian government. Syria holds strategic value for Iran due to its Mediterranean access and proximity to Lebanon. Israel views Irans presence in neighboring Syria as a threat, given the animosity between the two countries and the conflict between Israel and Irans ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel rarely comments on such strikes, but it is suspected of increasing its attacks on Iran-aligned forces in Syria this year. In late April, then-Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett said, We have moved from blocking Irans entrenchment in Syria to forcing it out of there, and we will not stop. Bennett made the comment following a suspected Israeli aerial attack in the country. His comments appeared to confirm Israels involvement in the airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria.

Last month, Iran-backed militia members were killed in suspected Israeli airstrikes also in rural Deir ez-Zor.
The police killing of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25 sparked outrage that has seen protests across the world denouncing police brutality, demanding change, and the end of systemic racism.

Floyd's death, unfortunately, is just one of a slew of police killings upon black men and women, including those who were unarmed and just going about their daily lives.

In some cases body cameras were turned off, police departments have refused to share footage, and officers have yet to be criminally charged.

Below are some of the black men and women who have died by the hands of police in 2020:

Rayshard Brooks

27 years old, June 12, Atlanta, Georgia

Rayshard Brooks (pictured), 27, was killed by police in the parking lot of a Wendy's restaurant in Atlanta on Friday

On June 12 Rayshard Brooks, a black man, was shot dead in a confrontation with Atlanta police officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Bronsan.

Officers were called to the scene following reports of a man sleeping in his vehicle at a Wendy's parking lot. Cops awoke him and had him complete a sobriety test, which he failed.

When trying to handcuff him Brooks grabbed one of the officera's Taser and ran from the officers and pointed the stun gun at one of them. Officer Rolfe then shot Brooks twice in the back and he died at a hospital. His death has been ruled a homicide

On June 17 the Fulton County District Attorney's Office announced Rolfe has been charged with 11 counts, including felony murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, in the killing of Rayshard Brooks.

Felony murder that carries a possible sentence of life without parole or the death penalty.

Brosnan has been charged on three counts, one of aggravated assault a charge that carries up to 20 years in prison and two violations of oath, including a failure to administer timely medical assistance.

Rolfe has been fired and Brosnan placed on administrative leave. Police Chief Erika Shields resigned from her post less than 24 hours after the shooting.

Atlanta police officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Bronsan were the cops involved in Brooks' killing. Rolfe, above, has been fired

David McAtee

53 years old, June 1, Louisville, Kentucky

David McAtee ran a popular BBQ joint in Louisville called Yayas BBQ Shack. He was fatally shot by police and the Kentucky National Guard as they dispersed a large crowd on June 1 following reports of a group of demonstrators in the area  though it wasnt confirmed if that group was a part of protests.

Witnesses said McAtee and his friends and family were separate from the group of protesters and were at a weekly neighborhood party where McAtee served food.

According to officials, the police and soldiers were fired upon and two Louisville cops and two National Guardsmen returned fire. McAtee was killed by a shot fired from a guardsmen.

Louisville police chief Steve Conrad was fired after it was revealed that the body cams of the police involved in the shooting had been deactivated.

Officer Katie Crews, a white woman, was involved in the shooting and had mocked a different protester on Facebook earlier the day of the shooting, was placed on administrative assignment following the shooting. The other officer in the shooting was Austin Allen.

Kentucky State Police, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI are investigating the shooting. Lawyers for the McAtee family intend to file a lawsuit.

David McAtee was shot dead on June 1 after Louisville officers and the National Guard 'returned fire' into a group gather in a parking lot, next to where McAtee's business is located

Two cops were involved in that shooting. Officer Katie Crews (left) and Officer Austin Allen (right), neither of whom had their body cameras switched on during the incident

Tony McDade

38 years old, May 27, Tallahassee Florida

Tony McDade, a black trans man, was shot dead in Florida just two days after the killing of George Floyd.

Though the details surrounding Tony McDade's (pictured) death are murky, he was killed on May 27, two days after George Floyd died under the knee of Derek Chauvin

He was killed after being approached by police as a suspect in a stabbing.

According to the Tallahassee Police Department, McDade was in possession of a handgun and a bloody knife that was found at the scene.

But videos shared on social media by witnesses appear to tell another story.

According to Rolling Stone, one witness said on Facebook: 'They said "Stop moving, n****r," and then they shot him after he stopped moving.'

Witness, Clifford Butler, told WFSU: 'I never heard, "Get down, freeze, Im an officer." I never heard nothing. I just heard gunshots.'

The identity of the officer who shot McDade has not been released due to Marsy's Law. The officer has been placed on administrative leave.

Marsy's Law classifies anyone whos allegedly had their life threatened as victims  including police officers  and ensures their right to privacy. Yet witnesses have said the officer in question was white. A press release from the TPD states that he has been placed on administrative leave.

The Tallahassee Police Department still hasn't released body camera footage.

George Floyd

46 years old, May 25, Minneapolis, Minnesota

On Memorial Day George Floyd was arrested by a group of officers for allegedly using a fake $20 bill at a deli.

George Floyd (pictured) died on May 25 under then knee of Officer Derek Chauvin

He was pinned to the ground by white police officer Derek Chauvin, who dug his knee into the back of Floyd's neck for an excruciating eight minutes and 46 minutes in a horrific act caught on camera.

In the video Floyd is heard gasping 'I Can't Breathe' - words that would be echoed across the globe to decry his violent death.

All the while, cops Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng helped restrain Floyd as Tou Thao stood nearby.

The video sent shockwaves across the country and sparked massive protests denouncing police brutality against black people and demanded justice.

All four officers were fired after the incident.

Chauvin was charged with a new, more serious count of second-degree murder on June 3. He had previously been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

He was arrested on May 29 and is being held at Minnesota Department of Corrections. His bail sits at $1million.

He was the subject of at least 18 prior complaints and only two were 'closed with discipline'.

From left to right: Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane

On Wednesday June 3 the three other officers involved were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

On Wednesday June 10 Thomas Lane was released from Hennepin County Jail after posting bail. The bail for him and the other officers was set at $1million unconditional or $750,000 with conditions.

He had been on the police force for four days when Floyd died.

On Friday June 19 J. Alexander Kueng was released on $750,000 bail bond.

Dion Johnson

28 years old, May 25, Phoenix, Arizona

On May 25 a Phoenix police trooper approached a vehicle and found Dion Johnson, 28, sleeping behind the wheel with beer and a gun visible in the car. Following a struggle, the trooper shot Johnson and killed him

On May 25 a Phoenix police trooper approached a vehicle and found Dion Johnson, 28, sleeping behind the wheel with beer and a gun visible in the car.

The details of the circumstances around Johnsons death are murky as troopers at the scene were not equipped with body cameras or dash cameras.

Cops said that the trooper approached Johnson and a struggle between the two ensued. The trooper then fired their weapon and struck Johnson, claiming they feared theyd be pushed into oncoming traffic, as per 12News.

Johnson was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

The trooper involved is on paid administrative leave.

Officials with the FBI will review evidence in Dion Johnson's case alongside the Arizona U.S. Attorneys Office, and the DOJs Civil Rights Division.

Maurice Gordon Jr

28 years old, May 23, New Jersey

Maurice Gordon, 28, was fatally shot by a white officer following a traffic stop on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey.

Maurice Gordon, 28, was fatally shot by a white officer following a traffic stop on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey on May 28

Gordon was shot by a New Jersey State Police trooper four times following a struggle with the officer, just two days before the death of George Floyd.

His car was pulled over for driving 101mph and while sitting in the back of a police cruiser, he tried to flee.

Gordon then allegedly tried to get in the drivers seat of the patrol car and in the confrontation with police was shot multiple times. Damcam video of the traffic stop shows him being shot and killed by the trooper.

The trooper involved in the case was Sgt. Randall Wetzel. Wetzel remains on administrative leave with pay.

An investigation is underway. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said that a grand jury would review the case to consider possible criminal charges.

Gordon had moved to the US from Jamaica to attend college and work.

His friend had called 911 in Dutchess County, New York in the early morning of May 22 hoping police would check on Gordon, who had been talking about being possessed and having paranormal experiences.

But New Jersey police did not know about Gordons mental health history.

The trooper involved in the case was Sgt. Randall Wetzel. He is seen above on dashcam before shooting Gordon dead

Robert Johnson Jr

29 years old, May 16, Essex, Maryland

Robert Johnson Jr was fatally shot on May 16 while celebrating his cousins 15th birthday party in Essex.

Robert Johnson Jr was fatally shot on May 16 in Essex, Maryland after getting into an argument with a neighbor after he bumped into their car. An officer was called to the scene who shot Johnson.

He dented a neighbors vehicle while trying to park and told the man who owned the car that hed pay for repairs, but the discussion escalated into an argument. The neighbor called police reporting that Johnson was armed.

The departments initial release on the incident stated 'the first arriving officer was confronted with an armed suspect and discharged his weapon.'

Johnson died after he was taken to the hospital.

The department later said that when the officer approached Johnson's car he exited his vehicle and his 'gun fell to the ground in plain view of the officer'.

Baltimore County Police say they recovered a gun from the scene and have body camera footage of the confrontation, which the department has declined to release.

'He wasnt even a threat, he dropped the gun. Yall didnt go by the protocol and the right procedures. They just got out of their car and started shooting,' Johnson's brother said following his death.

The officer in the shooting was identified solely by his surname as Police Officer First Class Knight, a 24-year-old veteran of the force with no prior offenses. He was initially placed on adminstrative leave and has resumed patrol duties.

On Wednesday June 24 prosecutors released bodycamera footage and said they wouldn't press charges against officer. They said the shooting 'justified' because Johnson was seen grabbing the gun off the ground and running with it, though he did not shoot or aim it at the officer.

Dreasjon 'Sean' Reed

21 years old, May 6, Indianapolis, Indiana

Dreasjon 'Sean' Reed was shot and killed by officers on May 6 during a high speed chase with police that was streamed on his Facebook live in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dreasjon Reed also known as Sean Reed was fatally shot by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police on May 6, 2020 following a police pursuit on the city's northwest side. The incident was recorded on Facebook Live by Reed

Officers saw someone driving recklessly on Interstate 65 speeding at nearly 90mph. Police pursued but lost sight of the vehicle. The car was later spotted in a city street and officers chased Reed on foot before cops said Reed and the officer exchanged gunfire.

According to police, there was an exchange of gunfire between Reed and an officer after the officer's use of a stun gun was 'ineffective'. However, Reed's family and their attorneys maintain that Reed did not fire a gun.

The officer who shot Reed was identified on June 10 as Dejoure Mercer, who had been with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police for four years.

A special prosecutor is investigating Reeds death.

The officer who shot Reed was identified on June 10 as Dejoure Mercer, who had been with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police for four years

Shaun Fuhr

24 years old, April 29, Seattle, Washington

Shaun Fuhr was fatally shot by police on April 29, suffering a gunshot wound to the head.

Shaun Fuhr was fatally shot by police on April 29, suffering a gunshot wound to the head following a domestic violence report

Police responded to a call by a woman who reported that her boyfriend, who is the father of her one-year-old daughter, had beat her, fired a gun at her, and taken their daughter at gunpoint and fled.

Seattle police body camera footage showed several officers chasing a man on foot as he ran through a small parking lot and confront him. He was holding the child when he was shot and an officer ran to pick up the child.

NAACP officials in Seattle argued that deadly force was not necessary in the confrontation and from the video Fuhr did not appear to display a weapon.

Fuhr with his infant daughter above

Seattle police SWAT Office Noah Zech, 35, was placed on paid administrative leave following the shooting.

The shooting is being investigated by its own force investigation team and the King County Sheriffs office.

Breonna Taylor

26 years old, March 13, Louisville, Kentucky

Taylor was a 26-year-old EMT who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police inside her home in the early hours of March 13 by officers conducting a 'no-knock- warrant.

Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black EMT, was shot eight times in her bed on March 13 by Louisville police officers who stormed into her home on a 'no-knock- warrant searching for a drug suspect who wasn't there

The warrant was a part of a drug probe, but the suspect had already been in custody.

Officers entered the apartment and were fired upon by Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who believed a robbery was in progress. Police returned fire, striking Taylor eight times, who had been sleeping in bed moments before.

On June 11 no-knock search warrants were banned in Louisville following a unanimous vote of the Metro Council.

Following the council's vote, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer vowed to sign Breonna's law 'as soon as 'it hits his desk'.

Det. Joshua Jaynes, the officer who applied for the 'no-knock' search warrant that led to Breonna Taylor's death, is now on administrative reassignment.

The three officers in the case - Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Officers Brett Hankinson and Myles Cosgrove - have not been charged in the shooting and have been placed on administrative leave.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer fired embattled Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad on June 1 after learning that officers behind fatal shooting of popular barbecue restaurant David McAtee did not have their body cameras on, even though they were mandated to following Taylors death

On Friday June 19 Mayor Greg Fischer announced Friday that Louisville Metro Police is moving to fire Brett Hankison for 'blindly' firing 10 rounds into Taylor's apartment.

On September 23 Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron indicted fired Det. Brett Hankison on three first-degree wanton endangerment charges accusing him of blindly firing into Taylors home and the walls of a neighbors apartment. No charges were filed againt any of the three officers directly related to Taylors death.

The three officers in the case - Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Officers Brett Hankinson and Myles Cosgrove - have not been charged in the shooting and have been placed on administrative leave. From left to right Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Det. Brett Hankison, Det. Myles Cosgrove

Manuel Ellis

33 years old, March 3, Tacoma, Washington

Manuel Ellis is a black man who died while being restrained by Tacoma police officers for allegedly 'trying to open car doors of occupied vehicles'.

Manuel Ellis, 33, died as he was restrained by Tacoma, Washington police officers on March 3, stopped for allegedly trying to open car doors of occupied vehicles

Cops said they approached Ellis and an 'altercation ensued' and Ellis had to be physically restrained.

Officers said they called for medical aid when they said Ellis needed help but he died at the seen.

In jarring audio from the 911 call Ellis is heard exclaiming, 'I cant breathe' as an officer is heard asking for hobbles to strap down Ellis' legs.

Video of his arrest shows Tacoma officers striking down a black man and pinning him to the ground.

An autopsy shows he died of respiratory arrest due to hypoxia caused by physical restraint. Hypoxia is a condition in which the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply.

Officers Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins, Masyih Ford and Timothy Rankine, who are now on administrative leave following the incident. Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards has called for them to be fired. The officers involved were also not wearing their bodycams, by Tacoma Police Department.

Masyih Ford (left) and Timothy Rankine (right), are two of the four officers involved. They were not wearing body cameras but there is footage of the incident that has been submitted. The four officers involved are on administrative leave

Ahmaud Arbery

25 years old, February 23, Atlanta

Ahmaud Arbery (pictured), 25, was killed on February 23 while jogging on a residential street just outside the port city of Brunswick

Arbery was fatally shot on February 23 while jogging on a residential street just outside the port city of Brunswick.

He was shot dead by father and son Greg McMichael and Travis McMichael who armed themselves and chased him down when they saw him running in their neighborhood.

Gregory McMichael had worked as an investigator in the Glynn County District Attorney's office for 24 years until he retired in May 2019.

But it wasn't until May 7 that the McMichaels were arrested and charged with murder, more than two months after Arbery's death.

The elder McMichael told police he suspected Arbery was responsible for recent break-ins in the neighborhood.

Video that showed Arbery collapse on the pavement after being shot three times fueled a national outcry not just over the killing but also that more than two months passed before arrests were made.
Australia Assaulted By Severe State-Backed Cyber Attacks

Australia's government and institutions are subject to a continued attacked by sophisticated state-based cyber hackers, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said.

Amongst other issues, the attack forced a password reset of all Australian Parliament House network users, affecting politicians and all of their staff in a repeat of events in 2019.

Cyber intelligence experts from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) have linked some of the hacks to China backed hackers. China has rejected the accusations that it was involved in these major cyber-attack on Australian institutions with a government spokesman claiming that China country is in fact a major victim of cyber-attacks.

The Prime Minister is reported saying that the cyber-attacks are continuing and are covering all levels of government as well as essential services, private sector and businesses and being directed and carried out by a sophisticated state based actor. It is understood that the attacks have been happening over a number of months and are increasing.

The attack has been identified it as a nation-state hack due to its scale, the nature of the targeting and the signature methods used. Although the Australian government has not directly accused China, it is one of the few states not allied with Australia, which has the capacity for such attacks.

Australia is likely seeking co-operation from it's Five Eyes intelligence partners, the United States, Canada, New Zealand as well as Britain



Relations between the countries have been growing difficult recent years and have significantly worsened after Australia echoed the US in calling for an inquiry into the origins of the Coronavirus, first detected in China last year. China subsequently imposed tariffs on Australian exports and warned its citizens not to travel to Australia.

ASPI: BBC: Guardian: SMH: ZDNet: Australian Finanacial Review:

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Cyber Security Experts Needed in Australia:
Aerospace giant Bombardier has said it's "extremely disappointed" at a decision by a top customer to cancel a major project.

Bombardier, which announced around 600 job losses earlier this month, has suffered another setback after the move by Airbus to use a product made by Collins Aerospace.

It's understood Bombardier had regarded the work on the nacelles of the A320neo jet as an important source of revenue in the future.

Around 50 people were working on the early stages of the project.

Read More

Bombardier, which has a major operation in east Belfast, also makes the wings of the Airbus A220, though that work is not affected.

Bombardier said: "We are extremely disappointed by Airbus' decision to stop this programme. We are now reviewing the impact on our business.

"We were still in the development phase of this programme in Belfast and no production was planned until 2022."

Airbus told the Belfast Telegraph that the "unprecedented" Covid-19 crisis had forced it to revisit all product development to protect cash.

"We have concluded that it is in the interest of our customers to concentrate on mature and existing product offerings.

"As a consequence, Airbus has decided it will stop the marketing, development and manufacturing of its own nacelle to concentrate its efforts on the current existing nacelle. As such, only the existing Collins nacelle for the A320neo family... will be offered."

It's not clear whether the move will affect jobs at Bombardier. This month it said the global downturn in aviation following Covid-19 and lockdown was to blame for its move to cut up to 600 of its 3,500 staff.

Meanwhile, Co Tyrone firm Mallaghan Engineering, which makes equipment for airports and airlines, is the latest big employer to confirm jobs will be cut due to a fall in demand. It has around 450 people between its HQ near Dungannon and another operation in Atlanta.

The Government's job retention scheme runs out in October, meaning firms which relied on it to keep staff in place now have to decide whether or not to maintain the same numbers.

Mallaghan's Gerard O'Callaghan told the Irish News: "Everybody has plans to downsize, to let people go, to react."

He said the aviation industry may not return to pre-Covid-19 levels until 2023/24.

The company recently announced major deals, including a contract to produce 32 airport buses for Ryanair. A spokesman for the airline told the Belfast Telegraph: "We placed this order for 32 buses last year, which they continue to produce."
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.
On Tuesday, confusion ensued over two rulings of the federal high court, Port Harcourt, on the participation of Godwin Obaseki, govern...





On Tuesday, confusion ensued over two rulings of the federal high court, Port Harcourt, on the participation of Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, in the governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).





After he defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP granted a waiver to Obaseki to contest in its primary election.





The governor defected to the PDP after the APC disqualified him from contesting in the primary election that has eventually produced Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the partys flagbearer.





OGBEIDE-IHAMA FILED TWO APPLICATIONS





Dissatisfied with the waiver, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a PDP aspirant, filed a suit and sought a relief to disqualify Obaseki from participating in the partys primary election fixed for Thursday.





Uche Secondus, PDP national chairman, Emmanuel Ogidi, Kingsley Chinda, Debekeme Boyleyefa, James Manager, a serving senator, PDP, Obaseki, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were named first to ninth defendants respectively.





Through Donald Denwinge, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and Ferdinard Orbih, also a SAN, Ogbeide-Ihama prayed the court to restrain PDP from allowing Obaseki contest in the primary election on the ground that he did not purchase the form within the period stated in the partys time-table.





He also asked the court to restrain INEC from accepting Obaseki as an aspirant of the PDP.

Ogbeide-Ihama: The man giving Obaseki a tough time in PDP





Ogbeide-Ihama said only aspirants who purchased the partys nomination form and were screened within the stipulated time should be allowed to contest in the primary.





Emmanuel Obile, the presiding judge, granted the restraining order pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.





In a different application, Ogbeide-Ihama also asked the court for an order permitting him to serve the originating summons and other court processes on all the defendants by substituted means.





He further prayed the court to abridge the time within which the defendants may enter appearance and file their respective counter affidavits or other processes in reaction to the plaintiffs claim.





THE JUDGE GRANTED PRAYERS OF THE APPLICANT





The judge granted leave to the applicant for substituted means of service on the defendants either by leaving the processes at the various addresses of the defendants or by publication in two national dailies and that it would be deemed as proper and valid service.





The judge ordered that processes be served on Secondus, Ogidi and Chinda by substituted means at their residences in Port Harcourt.





The order and other processes are also to be served on the PDP at its national headquarters in Abuja and Obaseki at the government house in Benin.





The judge also ordered accelerated hearing of the suit and made an order abridging time and adjourned till Wednesday.





Commenting on the two separate rulings, Tayo Adeniyi, a lawyer, told TheCable that both applications are interlocutory and were filed in the substantive suit.





The court has to deliver its ruling on the applications separately because the applications are interlocutory. Even if 10 applications are filed in a substantive suit, the ruling on all will carry the substantive suit number, he said.





THE CONFUSION





The report on the court restraining Obaseki from the PDP primary generated different reactions when a report emerged that no court granted such order.





But documents seen showed that the reliefs Ogbeide-Ihama sought in the two applications were granted by the judge.





He had asked the court to restrain Obaseki from the primary and that the defendants should be served through substituted means.





Apparently, the incomplete document was merged with parts of a different application and a wrong interpretation was given.









OBASEKI: THE RULING AGAINST ME WILL NOT STAND





Hours after the ruling of the court, Obaseki had expressed confidence that he would participate in the primary.





Speaking through Crusoe Osagie, his media aide, the governor said that he did not violate any aspect of the PDP constitution.





We know that the ruling will not stand. The governor has not violated any rule in the PDP constitution. We are hopeful that he will participate [in the primary poll] and the ruling will be set aside, he had said.





On Tuesday evening, a high court in Ekpoma, Edo, restrained the PDP from excluding Obaseki from the primary.





THE COURT PAPERS





The ruling that barred Obaseki from the primary

The ruling that granted the aggrieved PDP aspirant permission to serve the court processes on all the defendants by substituted means.




Democrats have accused Republicans of prioritising stacking the court with conservative judges over pressing issues.

The United States Senate has approved the 200th federal judge to be named by President Donald Trump, confirmed the Republican-controlled chamber.

To date, Trump has nominated more judges that have then been confirmed by the Senate than any other president in four decades.





Critics have accused the president and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of prioritising packing the courts with conservative judges while ignoring other pressing matters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence, voting rights and other issues.

Over the last three years, instead of focusing on legislation to help the American people, Leader McConnell and President Trump have dedicated almost every ounce of their energy and focus to packing the courts with right-wing ideologues who they know will do their bidding from the bench, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said.

Responding to the confirmation on Wednesday, former Vice President and Democratic candidate Joe Biden wrote that Instead of passing police reform or helping hardworking Americans get through this crisis, Republicans are jamming through another one of Trumps unqualified nominees. Its wrong.

Instead of passing police reform or helping hardworking Americans get through this crisis, Republicans are jamming through another one of Trumps unqualified nominees. It's wrong. Cory Wilson lacks judicial temperament and experienceand has no place on a Federal Court. https://t.co/jmVXBZroCa  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 24, 2020

The most recent nomination  of Mississippi judge Cory Wilson to a federal appeals court in New Orleans  overcame Democratic charges that Wilson has a record of working to undermine the voting rights of African Americans and other minorities.

Senator Kamala Harris, one of three Black senators in the chamber, called Wilsons record extremely problematic at this moment in time as the nation faces a reckoning over racism in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and other African Americans.

Vote along party lines

Wednesdays approval came on a nearly party-line vote of 52-48. Maine Senator Susan Collins was the only Republican to vote against Wilson.

Wilson will join the 5th Circuit court, which hears cases from Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The court is considered one of the most conservative appeals courts in the nation.

Even with all the outrage and protests happening across America against systemic racism, Senate Republicans still want to confirm anti-civil rights judicial nominee Cory Wilson. For a lifetime seat. This is so out of touch with what the people are demanding.  Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) June 24, 2020

Democrats and civil rights groups have said Wilson has been a longtime proponent of voter ID laws that disproportionately harm communities of colour, students, voters with disabilities and the elderly. Democrats also said he has made false claims about the prevalence of voter fraud in the US and expressed opposition to enforcement of the federal Voting Rights Act.

Judge Wilsons troubling record on voting rights is highly relevant to his nomination, said California Senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The 5th Circuit is a majority-minority circuit, she noted. About 55 percent of those who live in the region are minorities.

The Senate should not confirm a nominee who would work to further restrict the right to vote from the bench, Feinstein said.

Feinstein and other Democrats also said Wilson has demonstrated hostility to voting rights in Mississippi. In 2011, he dismissed concerns from the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP that a voter ID law would suppress the vote as poppycock, unless you count the dead vote.

In 2013, he wrote that then-Attorney General Eric Holder had whined that voter ID laws were part of an illegitimate orchestrated effort by Republicans to suppress poor and minority voting.





Meanwhile, McConnell called Wilson an outstanding nominee and noted that he has served as a lawyer in private practice, a state lawmaker, adviser to top state officials and a judge. The American Bar Association rates Wilson as well-qualified.

McConnell, who has made confirmation of judicial nominees a priority, said that with Wilsons confirmation, there will be no appeals court vacancies in the nation for the first time in at least 40 years.

As Ive said many times, our work with the administration to renew our federal courts is not a partisan or political victory. It is a victory for the rule of law and for the Constitution itself, McConnell said.
A Russian website is live-streaming footage of Australians in their homes and businesses using vision from hacked security cameras.

The Insecam website broadcasts security cameras and webcams connected to the internet with more than 16,000 camera feeds from around the world - 126 of those coming from Australia.

Backyard swimming pools in Perth, industrial warehouses in Hobart and Sydney, and Melbourne's coastline are among the dozens of places people can see via the site.

The website also allows people to control the cameras by zooming in and out and moving them around.

An office in Brisbane (pictured) is one of the many Australian homes and businesses being live-streamed on the Russian site Insecam

A woman can be seen standing in an office, which can be tracked to Sydney's CBD using the coordinates the website provides (taken off Insecam)

The live feeds show everything from traffic and parks to people's homes, backyards, driveways and businesses, and anyone with the Internet can access them.

Insecam describes itself as 'the world (sic) biggest directory of online surveillance security cameras'.

A simple search on the website brings up more than 40 live feeds of various security cameras from homes and businesses in Melbourne and Sydney.

The website even provides the latitude and longitude coordinates for the cameras, which were compromised after they were connected to the internet.

Professor Katina Michael from the Australian Privacy Foundation told the ABC the cameras could be used for break-ins and robberies.

The cameras allow people to know when someone is home, what property and assets they own, who visits and what times they sleep, Prof Michael said.

Prof Michael said even baby monitors could be hacked, and websites like Insecam could help hackers control cameras.

'If you can remotely control your device and zoom in, zoom out  remotely unlock your door, so can a hacker,' she said.

Anyone can access the website Insecam, which allows users to spy on more than 16,000 live feeds from around the world - including a pub in Melbourne (taken from the Insecam website)

The Insecam website broadcasts security cameras and webcams connected to the internet with more than 16,000 camera feeds from around the world (pictured: the security camera feed from a shop in Hillston, NSW)

Insecam allows anyone to watch properties and businesses, meaning they know whether residents are home or not.

When asked about hacking the devices, the group behind the website denied it and insisted the owners of the cameras did not have sufficient security.

Cyber security and privacy experts said the owners of the cameras have been opened up to the possibility of physical and internet attacks.

Ty Miller said almost anyone could gain access to countless vulnerable cameras on the internet.

'You can use the same Google hacking techniques to actually find your passwords online by simply using your web browser,' he said.

With more devices connecting to the internet hackers have the ability to 'find vulnerabilities' and get into the networks.

One live cam shows a woman sitting at her desk in an office - clearly showing her computer screen and what she's looking at - with the coordinates showing the location as Sydney's CBD

The site features more than 126 live feeds from Australia, including someone's backyard in Melbourne (pictured)

This means they could even get into televisions, laptops and anything in the home connected to the internet.

Mr Miller said once a hacker gets into the 'internal network or accounts', they can gather as much information as possible and use it to perform identity theft and cause financial and emotional damage.

Despite the invasion of privacy, Insecam claims only people who haven't changed the password to their security camera will have their footage streamed on their site.

'Only filtered cameras are available now. This way none of the cameras on Insecam invade anybody's private life', the website says.

Cyber experts are warning Australians to change the default password for their devices to avoid being streamed on the website.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Insecam and the Australian Cyber Security Centre for comment.
The Department of Justice prosecutor on the case called it "one of the largest and most pernicious price-fixing conspiracies ever prosecuted" that "essentially infected an entire industry selling goods in the U.S." The crime at the core of the case didn't involve a big global bank, fine jewels, or anything that could make for a MacGuffin in a Bond movie. These weighty words were about canned tuna. Canned tuna is a top tier safety net food for the broke, the lazy, the desperate. Little did the tuna-loving public know that a few years ago the canned tuna industry was rocked with a massive scandal that just got the former CEO of Bumble Bee Foods Inc. -- the makers of one of the most popular canned tuna brands in the world -- sentenced to 40-months in prison for spearheading the scheme.

Bumble Bee's former CEO Christopher Lischewski, along with folks from StarKist and Chicken of the Sea, had formed a canned tuna Illuminati. They mutually agreed to secretly reduce the weight of each can from six to five ounces while jacking up the price. They tried to hide the con behind the inflating price of tuna, but they got a little cocky and overshot their price gouging. A coalition of retailers like Walmart and Kroger sued Bumble Bee after catching on to their tuna shenanigans.
Three Different Rocks With One Name on Oregon Coast: Bandon, Pacific City, Cannon Beach

Updated Periodically

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Pacific City, Oregon)  One point of confusion on the Oregon coast is that some will point to Cannon Beach and its famed Haystack Rock, while others tout the taller Haystack Rock at Pacific City. There can't be two with the same name, can there? Some on the internet even shout in all caps, what the hell is going on? (Above: Cannon Beach).

The truth is there are actually three Haystack Rocks on these shores. The first two are the most famous, the subject of many selfies these days and bundles of Instagram moments. But a third sits unnoticed by many down in Bandon on the south coast.

None of them have any resemblance to an actual haystack, really  except maybe Bandon.



Bandon's rock: courtesy Google Maps

In that southern city by the sea, the Haystack Rock there lies about a mile from Face Rock and its famed beach, a bit of a hike south of there. That one is more of an indistinct lump shape, and actually if you stare at it enough it begins to look a bit like an elephant more than half submerged. Its not even quite 100 feet high. Geology of Pacific City's Haystack Rock





Up north, Pacific Citys Haystack Rock sits farther out to sea, almost a mile away. Its original name was Chief Kiawanda, given by the original inhabitants here and a name youll find on some other spots around Pacific City on occasion. These days, some locals have simply bypassed the states official designation and have begun calling it Kiawanda, even if it only winds up a nickname in passing or mention on social media.

Fun fact about ol Kiawanda: hes 340 feet high. Another odd fact: if it wasnt for Kiawanda, Cape Kiwandas soft sandstone wouldve eroded away much further than it has. Its entirely possible it would be gone. This ancient structure shields the cape from some of the wave activity.

Haystack in Pacific City  like its brothers  is made of basalt, what was once lava from some scary fissure or volcano. Scientists arent sure about this Haystack Rock as not much testing has been done on its age or makeup. However, its believed it was part of a lava flow that filled up a canyon somewhere over 16 million years ago, and then the rest of the canyon eroded away leaving this blob. Hotels in Pacific City - Where to eat - Pacific City Maps and Virtual Tours





Cannon Beachs Haystack Rock is 235 feet high  yup, its a shorty compared to Pacific City. While both are wildlife refuges, Pacific Citys rock only has to worry about boats coming close. Oregon maritime rules state you must stay clear from it.

In Cannon Beach, there are nesting birds atop the rock and youre not allowed to go tromping around the base of it. In fact, thats the reason there are no Fourth of July fireworks in town. Its worth it, as many of the protected birds are those adorable puffins.

The north Oregon coast landmark  possibly the most photographed piece of the state  is an especially weird geologic story. It came from a kind of double eruption, where one massive lava flow was so powerful it plunged into the ground somewhere else and re-erupted here. That happened about 16  18 million years ago. It doesnt look a day over 2 million years, does it?

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 04:51:59|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's Parliament on Tuesday approved a plan to stop Iran's "voluntary" implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), semi-official Fars news agency reported.

"Stopping implementation of the Additional Protocol, which was approved at the meeting of the parliament's commission this afternoon (on Tuesday), can also affect the future of the Iranian nuclear deal," Sara Fallahi, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Parliament, told Fars.

In a reaction to the recent approval of an anti-Iran resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Iranian Parliament has urged the government to reconsider the implementation of the Additional Protocol.

The IAEA's 35-nation board of governors passed a resolution on Friday, calling on Iran to cooperate fully with it and let the agency access two locations inside the country.

The board "calls on Iran to fully cooperate with the agency and satisfy the agency's requests without any further delay, including by providing prompt access to the locations specified by the agency," according to the text of the resolution submitted by France, Germany and Britain and adopted by a vote of 25 to two with seven abstentions, the IAEA said on its website.

By Tuesday vote of the Parliament's commision to the withdrawal of Iran from implementation of the Additional Protocol, the Iranian Parliament gets one step closer to the final approval of the plan, which if ratified will oblige the government of President Hassan Rouhani to drop the commitments concerning the protocol.

Under the Iranian 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the JCPOA, signed by Iran and the six world powers, including the United States, the Additional Protocol allows UN inspectors from the IAEA to carry out more intrusive inspections of Iran's nuclear program.

Earlier on Tuesday, the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's Parliament in a statement condemned the recent anti-Iran resolution of the IAEA as "politicized and unprofessional."

"Over the past years, Iran has been more cooperative with the IAEA than other member states," said the Iranian parliament's statement.

However, "the IAEA adopted the anti-Iran resolution under the political and unprofessional pressures of the United States and its allies," it said.

The statement noted that the IAEA has adopted the resolution based on the allegations by the Israeli intelligence service.

"It is for the world to know if Iran gives positive response to the IAEA demand, which is based on the alleged intelligence, to access (the locations inside Iran), it will help create a wrong attitude towards other states," it added.

Iran will not allow the international institutions to be used as instruments by the United States and its allies to threaten the country's sovereignty, the statement stressed.

Iran's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, on Friday slammed the IAEA for adopting a resolution against Tehran, saying that "adoption of this resolution will neither encourage Iran to grant access to the Agency based on fabricated and unfounded allegations nor will it force Iran to come down from its principal positions."

"Iran will take appropriate action in response, the repercussions of which would be upon the sponsors of this resolution," said Gharibabadi.

After the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in May 2018, Iran began to gradually reduce its commitments under the pact to retaliate Washington's departure and to respond to Europeans' "failure to honor their commitments."

On January 5, Iran took a fifth and last step in reducing its commitments and said it would no longer observe any operational limitations on its nuclear program concerning the capacity and level of uranium enrichment, as well as the volume of stockpiled uranium or research and development. Enditem
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Bottled water manufactured by Whole Foods and sold in most of its U.S. stores and on Amazon contains potentially harmful levels of arsenic, according to new tests by Consumer Reports.

CR recently tested dozens of bottled water brands and found that Starkey Spring Water, introduced by Whole Foods in 2015, had concerning levels of arsenic, ranging from 9.49 to 9.56 parts per billion (ppb), at least three times the level of every other brand tested. Federal regulations require manufacturers to limit the amount of arsenic, a potentially dangerous heavy metal, in bottled water to 10 ppb.

Consumer Reports experts believe that level does not adequately protect public health.

CR also tested samples of Starkey Spring Water in 2019, finding levels of arsenic that approached or exceeded the federal limit: Three samples ranged from 9.48 to 9.86 ppb of arsenic; a fourth registered 10.1 ppb. Those results are cited in two pending consumer lawsuits over Starkeys arsenic content.

Drinking a single bottle of Starkey probably will not harm you, says James Dickerson, Ph.D., CRs chief scientific officer. But regular consumption of even small amounts of the heavy metal over extended periods increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and lower IQ scores in children, and poses other health issues as well, he says.

The results of the testing come as CR and the Guardian US, the U.S. edition of the global news organization, launch a major project this week on the challenges of getting access to safe, clean, affordable water in this country. That includes how the bottled water that consumers sometimes resort to as alternatives to tap water is not only more expensive but also may not always be safer.

I think the average consumer would be stunned to learn that theyre paying a lot of extra money for bottled water, thinking that its significantly safer than tap, and unknowingly getting potentially dangerous levels of arsenic, says Erik Olson, senior strategic director of health and food at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy organization that has researched bottled water quality.

Story continues

CRs findings highlight inconsistencies with how water is regulated in the U.S. Research suggests that health risks from arsenic can emerge below the federal limit of 10 ppb, especially in children, prompting two states, New Jersey and New Hampshire, to lower their level to 5 ppb. Those limits, however, apply only to tap water.

The Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates municipal water in the U.S., allows states to set their own standards for tap water, as long as theyre at least as strict as the federal level.

But federal bottled water regulations, which are enforced by the Food and Drug Administration, generally prohibit states from creating more stringent limits for contaminants in bottled water.

That puts Starkey Spring Water in the unusual position of being legal when put in a bottle but, in certain states, illegal if it came out of a household faucet.

A spokesperson for Amazon, which owns Whole Foods and sells Starkey online for $1.99 in a plastic bottle, deferred to the grocery chains communications team. A Whole Foods spokesperson told CR that the companys highest priority is to provide customers with safe, high-quality, and refreshing spring water.

Beyond the required annual testing by an FDA certified lab, we have an accredited third-party lab test every production run of water before it is sold, the spokesperson says. These products meet all FDA requirements and are fully compliant with FDA standards for heavy metals.

A spokesperson for the FDA says that the arsenic levels CR found in Starkey Spring Water meet the agencys standard for the heavy metal. The agency also says that arsenic is a naturally occurring element and that it is not possible to remove arsenic entirely from the environment or food supply.





The FDA adopted a standard that no bottled water in the United States can have over 10 parts per billion of arsenic.

But many of the 45 brands of bottled water CR's scientists tested between February and May of this year had undetectable amounts of arsenic, demonstrating that lower levels are feasible, says Brian Ronholm, CRs director of food policy and former head of the Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service. Starkey Spring Water was the only brand CR tested that exceeded 3 ppb.

The FDA, which has not updated its bottled water standard for arsenic in 15 years, says the current limit ensures that the quality of bottled water is, at a minimum, comparable to public drinking water. CR urged the agency last year to lower the federal limit from 10 ppb to 3 ppb, a level that more clearly protects public health, especially for children, Ronholm says.

Ronholm said customers paying a premium for a potentially risky product was a bad deal for consumers. Being fully compliant with FDAs allowable levels for arsenic is a claim that rings hollow when you consider its an outdated standard that is inferior to tap water in certain states. The FDAs standard needs to be updated to be more consistent with public health goals.

Previous Starkey Recalls

Whole Foods introduced Starkey Spring Water in 2015, with chief operating officer A.C. Gallo telling investors, Its amazingly pristine water that naturally flows out of the ground, from a spring in Idaho. That point is reinforced on the products label, which declares that Starkey is made by Mother Nature.

But in December 2016, records show that the FDA was notified of tests conducted by Floridas bottled water regulator showing that Starkey had 11.7 ppb of arsenic, which is above the federal safety threshold. Weeks later, additional tests found 12 ppb of arsenic in samples taken from other lots.

The FDA told Whole Foods about the results, saying the findings could warrant a recall, and asked how the company planned to respond, according to FDA records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request (PDF). The FDA noted the potential health risks of long-term consumption of bottled water containing arsenicincluding cancer, skin lesions, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

With prolonged use of the product for many years, a wide variety of adverse effects may occur, the report said.

In late 2016 and early 2017, Whole Foods responded to the findings by recalling more than 2,000 cases of Starkey Spring Water.

Since then, the companys own internal tests (PDF) continue to show arsenic levels at 8 to 9 ppblower than the levels CR found.

A law in California requires bottlers that sell in the state to provide consumers an easy-to-read report detailing the quality of their product on request. If a bottled water has arsenic levels above 5 ppb, the company must include a disclaimer in those reports noting the elevated levels. Consumers often can find the report on a companys website or by contacting the manufacturer directly.

Arsenic levels above 5 ppb and up to 10 ppb are present in your drinking water, says the disclaimer in the Starkey Spring Water report. While your drinking water meets the current EPA standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic.

Californias Department of Public Health says it requires warnings for bottled waters with arsenic levels above 5 ppb and below 10 ppb because it requires similar statements from community water systems and wants the standards for bottled water and tap water to be aligned.

Inconsistent Standards

Studies examining the effect of drinking water with levels of arsenic below 10 ppb have been ongoing for years.

A 2014 study in the journal Environmental Health found that an arsenic level of 5 ppb or greater in a childs household water supply was associated with a 5- to 6-point reduction in IQ, compared with those who lived in homes that had arsenic levels below 5 ppb.

And researchers at Dartmouths Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program have found that long-term exposure to lower levels of arsenic can increase the risk of certain cancers and may be linked to heart disease and diabetes.

New Hampshire regulators relied in part on that research when it recommended in December 2018 to lower the states tap water limit for arsenic (PDF) to 5 ppb. The new limit goes into effect July 1, 2021.

Kathy Remillard, public information officer for the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, says the state now plans to lower the arsenic limit for bottled water distributed in the state to that same 5 ppb level.

While federal bottled water regulations generally preempt state laws, the FDA confirmed that New Hampshire could set a stricter limit, as long as it applied only to products manufactured and sold in the state.

New Jersey set a 5 ppb cutoff for arsenic in tap water in 2006. Water with arsenic above 5 ppb shouldnt be used for drinking, cooking, mixing baby formula, or in other consumptive ways, the state says in a consumer advisory.

But because of the FDAs preemption over state laws, New Jersey has no plans to consider limiting bottled water to a 5 ppb arsenic limit, a spokesperson says.

'Hardly What Shoppers Bargained For'

After CR published results from its initial tests of Starkey Spring Water in 2019, several consumers pursued legal action against Whole Foods, which calls itself Americas Healthiest Grocery Store.

David Berke, a California resident, bought Starkey Water based on Whole Foods reputation and long-running multi-media campaign for sourcing and selling safe, wholesome, and healthy products, according to a proposed class-action lawsuit he filed last year.

This is hardly what Whole Foods shoppers bargained for, the lawsuit alleges. Plaintiff and other purchasers of Starkey Water paid a hefty premiumespecially as compared to tap waterbecause they were and still are led to believe Starkey Water is the healthiest and least contaminated bottled water.

In court, Whole Foods has denied Berkes claims, saying they lack merit and are an attempt by him to use state consumer protection laws to regulate trace amounts of arsenic in Starkey.

In a separate action, Illinois siblings Lorenzo and Vienna Colucci filed a proposed class-action suit against Whole Foods over Starkeys arsenic level. Lorenzo Colucci is a stage 4 cancer survivor who is keenly aware of the dangers of carcinogens, according to the complaint.

Had he known the water contained arsenic in much higher amounts than other commercially available brands, the suit said, he would not have purchased it.

Whole Foods has yet to respond in court to Coluccis case. A spokesperson says the company doesnt comment on pending litigation. Carrie Laliberte, co-counsel for Berke and the Coluccis, also declined to comment, citing the ongoing case.

What You Can Do

To find information about the amount of arsenic and other contaminants in a particular brand of bottled water, start by looking for the water quality test report from the company, detailing the results of its own testing. While there is no central repository of such reports, CR has gathered reports published through early 2019 for numerous brands.

You could also go to the companys website to see whether it links directly to its own report. Or check the bottles label for contact information. Look for brands that report nondetectable levels of arsenic. But also make a point to review the entire report for other listed contaminants.

If you are interested in the quality of your tap water, you can check its quality by getting a copy of your local water utilitys annual report or by having your water tested.

And if you have high amounts of arsenic or other contaminants, you could use a water filter for your drinking water. Read more about CR's water filter testing.

Americas Water Crisis

Consumer Reports has a long history of investigating Americas water. In 1974, we published a landmark three-part series (PDF) revealing that water purification systems in many communities had not kept pace with increasing levels of pollution and that many community water supplies might be contaminated. Our work helped lead to Congress enacting the Safe Drinking Water Act in December 1974.

More than 45 years later, America is still struggling with a dangerous divide between those who have access to safe and affordable drinking water and those who dont. Communities of color often are affected disproportionately by this inequity. Consumer Reports remains committed to exposing the weaknesses in our countrys water system, including raising questions about Americans reliance on bottled water as an alternativeand the safety and sustainability implications of this dependence.

In addition to our ongoing investigations into bottled water, we are proud to be partnering with our readers and those of the Guardian US, another institution dedicated to journalism in the public interest, to test for dangerous contaminants in tap water samples from more than 100 communities around the country.

Americas Water Crisis is the name we are jointly giving to this project and the series of articles we co-publish on the major challenges many in the U.S. face getting access to safe, clean, and affordable water. We will share the results of our upcoming test findings with you. In the meantime, you can join our social media conversation around water under the hashtag #waterincrisis.

Gwendolyn Bounds

Chief Content Officer, Consumer Reports

Editors Note: Bottled water testing for this project was made possible by the Forsythia Foundation, a foundation focused on promoting public health and reducing chemical exposure.





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Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Baba Ramdev's Patanjali has not tested Coronil, its medicine for coronavirus, on any severe coronavirus patient. According to research papers submitted to AYUSH Ministry, the clinical trials were conducted only on 120 asymptomatic, mildly symptomatic and moderately symptomatic patients between the 15 - 80 year age group.

Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Research Foundation Trust also informed the ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) that the clinical trials were conducted at the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMS) University, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The company also said it had followed the government directives and kept the director general, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences informed about the trials on June 4.

Patanjali's response came after the Ministry of AYUSH took cognisance of the news about ayurvedic medicines developed for treatment of COVID-19 by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, Haridwar (Uttrakhand) and said that it was unaware of the facts of the claim and details of the scientific study.

The first patient for clinical trial was enrolled on May 29. Patanjali claims that 69 percent of the patients showed recovery on Day 3 PCR tests and 100 percent recovery on test conducted on the 7th day, which was 35 percent better recovery than the patient group on placebo. The results will be uploaded on the central clinical trial registry soon, it said.

The study was meant to see the impact of traditional ayurvedic treatment regime on COVID-19 through an interventional, randomised, parallel group, placebo controlled, single centric trial, the letter to AYUSH ministry said. The treatment regime was identified after screening close to 1000 phytochemicals from more than 100 medicinal plants, in sillico. "We looked for their binding affinities to COVID-19 essential proteins and host protein interactions. We have discovered that natural phytochemicals in ashwagandha, giloy and tulsi have potential to combat COVID-19 and its pathogenecity", it states. The primary outcome of the study was assessed by measuring virological clearance as measured by RT PCR for nasopharageal swab at baseline on 3rd, 7th and 14th day, it claimed.

The AYUSH ministry had on June 22 asked Patanjali Ayurved Ltd - the company that announced the launch plans of the products - to provide the name and composition of the medicines being claimed for COVID treatment; sites/hospitals where the research study was conducted for COVID-19; protocol, sample size, Institutional Ethics Committee clearance, CTRI registration and results data of the study. It also asked the company to stop advertising/publicising such claims till the issue is examined. The ministry also wanted the 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.

Also read: Coronavirus treatment: Patanjali submits 'Coronil' research documents to Ayush ministry
New Delhi: Amid ongoing border row with China following violent clashes in the Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India has deployed T-90 Bhishma tank, considered to be the world's most infallible tank in the world, in the eastern Ladakh region, according to Zee News.

Indian Army deployed T-90 Bhishma Tank earlier this month as part of its preparations to respond to any challenge posed by China. In the war-like situations, India has also given a clear message that the encroachment on the Sino-India border will no longer be tolerated.

The deployment of T-90 Bhishma also conveyed India's hidden message of gaining an edge over strategic and tactical terms. According to reports, border tension with China started in the month of May as China has started bringing armored vehicles.

China has T-95 tanks which are almost similar to T-90 tanks, which can give a befitting reply to any misadventure on part of China.

Key features of the T-90 Bhishma tank:

- It is the main battle tank of India with an excellent armored protection

- It can deal with biological and chemical weapons

- The early tanks were built in Russia

- It can fire 8 shells in 60 seconds

- Has 125 Mm main gun to make surefire

- Has capability to launch missile up to 6 Km

- One of the world's lightest tanks weighing 48 tons

- Ability to fight the enemy in day and night

- It comes with missile attack shield

- Equipped with powerful 1000 horsepower engine

- It can run with a high speed of 72 Km/h

- It can cover 550 km at a time

Other features of T-90 Bhishma Tank

- It is considered to be one of the world's strongest tanks

- Indian army has more tanks than China

- Indian Army has a total of 4292 tanks

- Chinese Army has only 3500 tanks

- It is an important weapon in the open field of Ladakh

- T-90 can be effective in sandy Demchouk and Spangur Gap Ladakh

Notably, T-90 Bhishma Tank can move faster on the sandy ground. China's highway is just 50 km away from Demchouk and Spangur Gap. Indian tanks can easily target Chinese tanks from the current deployment of this deadly weapon.

Considering Indian vigilance on the border, Councilor of Pangyang area K Stanzin, who returned from Pangyong two days ago, told Zee News that the army has been deployed in large numbers in many areas including Paigyang.

"Things are normal in rural areas, our claim is up to Finger 8. We do not accept the Chinese border with Pangyong, rather, we should it Tibet border," he added.
Harpreet Kaur, 29, donned a niqab and posed as a customer from Dubai in a plot to steal a 50,000 laser hair removal scheme before locking the frightened beautician inside

A woman who donned a full-length niqab and sunglasses as part of a plot to steal a 50,000 laser hair removal machine has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after a judge rejected her plea to avoid prison in case she caught coronavirus.

Harpreet Kaur, 29, booked an appointment at the Pure Skin salon in St Georges Wharf, south London and arrived wearing traditional Muslim dress as a disguise while claiming she was from Dubai.

Once inside Kaur unlocked the door for accomplice Monica Pashias, 42, who burst in posing as a policewoman who said she was there to take away the expensive Alma Soprano Platinum Ice hair removal machine.

A third suspect, Tyrone Waugh, 41, carried the equipment to a waiting car while Kaur locked the terrified beautician in the salon before fleeing.

Kaur stood trial at Inner London Crown Court and was jailed for 30 months after being convicted of false imprisonment and possession of an article for use in fraud. The jury couldn't reach a verdict on a third charge of robbery.

After being convicted Kaurhad begged to be spared prison in case she caught Covid-19 - but the judge said no.

Mr Justice Silas Reid said: 'You decided to use any means necessary to get that machine, and you have to bear the consequences of that now'.

Kaur, pictured leaving court with her solicitor, begged a judge not to jail her in case she got coronavirus but was given two and a half years in prison

Her two accomplices were both given suspended sentences after admitting robbery last year.

Judge Reid said Haur was the mastermind of the raid and had 'taken the law into one's own hands' because she believed the machine belonged to her.

Im quite sure you and Ms Pashias hatched a plan, at your instigation, to get your hands on that machine by any means necessary, he said according to the Evening Standard.

He went on: You disguised yourself by wearing Islamic dress which covered your face, and Im quite sure the reason you were dressed that way to go into the salon was to disguise your identity.

'You knew full well you were not entitled to use the methods you did to obtain that machine. Thats obvious, people cant go around falsely imprisoning people  thats vigilantism, taking the law into ones own hands'.

Her trial heard she had become 'fixated' with the idea that the Pure Skin salon had her laser hair removal machine after she reported it stolen to the police in 2018.

Her friend Ms Pashias then agreed to help her take the machine and they cooked up a plan that Kaur would go along for a 'patch' skin test with beautician Claudia Marques.

Minutes after arriving Pashia burst in claiming to be a Met Police officer and demanding the machine back and as it was taken away Kaur said: 'You are in big trouble, you need to run, this was stolen from me'.

Kaur orchestrated the raid with the help of two friends, one of whom posed as a police officer at St George's Wharf, Vauxhall (pictured)

Police then traced Kaur who then produced a document she claimed proved she owned it - but the judge said after the trial he believed she was lying.

Ms Marques said that she was terrified and traumatised by the event and was unable to keep working and began relying on her local food bank to feed her family.

Kaur, from Hounslow, west London, must serve at least half her prison sentence before being freed.
The United States on Wednesday said in a rare instance of such direct finger-pointing that Jaish-e-Mohammad founder Masood Azhar and 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Sajid Mir were widely believed to be living under the protection of the state in Pakistan, which, additionally, had still not taken decisive actions against terrorists based on its soil.

The United State has pushed Pakistan for long through threats and appeals to arrest and prosecute terrorists sheltered there and in the state departments 2019 country reports on terrorism released Wednesday, it welcomed the prosecution of Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Toiba, in 2019, along with 12 associates.

But Pakistan has made no effort to use domestic authorities to prosecute other terrorist figures such as Azhar and Mir, both of whom are widely believed to reside in Pakistan under the protection of the state, despite government denials, the repot added.

JeM claimed responsibility for the Pulwama terrorist attack in February 2019, that led to significant escalation in tensions between the two nuclear power neighbors. India carried out a retaliatory strike on a JeM camp in Balakot, Pakistan hit back with an air raid, that led to the first air battle between the two air forces in decades.

It was rare for the United States to have so very directly accused Pakistan of not only looking the other way as these two terrorists have lived and thrived there, but also of providing them state protection, which had been long apparent to most South Asian officials and experts.

The United States has bene critical of Pakistan for yers now for allowing terrorists sheltering on tis soil to operate against India to the east and Pakistan to the west, and had gone so far as to say the Haqqani Network, of the Afghan Taliban, was a veritable arm of the Pakistani intelligence agency, the ISI.

But accusing Pakistan of providing state protection to Azhar and Mir and their likes, is unusual, but not enough. The United State has known of the presence in Pakistan of jihadi leaders who operate in India and Afghanistan but wants to keep its channel of communication open with Pakistan which is why it has not used the kind of firm language that it uses about other countries, said Husain Haqqani, the former US ambassador to Pakistan who now lives in the US.

Hafiz Saeeds arrest and prosecution, for the ninth time, in 2019, had come under intense global pressure as Pakistan had faced with the possibility of being blacklisted at the initiative of the US by a global watchdog on terror financing and money-laundering, the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force.

Pakistan narrowly escaped then, but has remained in the dock, as the US terror report reminded. The FATF expressed serious concern at its October 2019 plenary about Pakistans continued deficiencies but noted it had made some progress and extended the deadline for full Action Plan implementation to February 2020. A final call is expected later in the year, in October.

But in the US state departments assessment, Pakistan still has much to show and improve. Pakistan continued to serve as a safe haven for certain regionally focused terrorist groups., the report said, adding, It allowed groups targeting Afghanistan, including the Afghan Taliban and affiliated HQN, as well as groups targeting India, including LeT and its affiliated front organizations, and JeM, to operate from its territory.

The report acknowledged that Pakistan had made some and modest progress on countering terrorism, the most difficult aspects of its 2015 National Action Plan to counter terrorism remains unfulfilled  specifically its pledge to dismantle all terrorist organizations without delay and discrimination.
The lady who accused Dbanj of rape has finally opened up on her ordeal with the Nigerian police. This is barely thirty six hours after I released an informed report on the rape titled Dbanj, Rape and the Police where I lambasted the irresponsible behavior of the police authorities in detaining her in police cell with criminals for over 24 hours.

The lady, Seyitan Babatayo, had revealed that she was detained for 48 hours with criminals and released into the hands of Dbanj, to delete her tweets, hide evidences and proofs of the rape, and turned her into an advert executive for the super star artiste.

I had argued in the report concerning the strange arrest that,

This is the height of irresponsible behavior of the police. This lady was forced to delete her tweets, and turn to advert executive for Dbanj new music which she was said to be promoting on her social handle. The police abandoned this lady in cell with criminals; she was probably slapped and maltreated by the criminals. The lesbian inmates in the cell might have molested her. She was abandoned for more than 24 hours without any bath, against the laws of the land, because a wealthy artist was throwing money around

.

There is no rationale for Seyitan Babatayo to be arrested and detained in cell in the first instance. The police are trying to harass and intimidate her into submission. That is not the purpose hundreds of billions of naira is budgeted to the police annually, to harass and intimidate victims. There is no rationale for the lady to be forced at the police station to delete all her tweets, if not to cover up a crime.

Dbanj had slammed a N100 million naira threat on an alleged rape victim. Let the law serve its purpose. Using the police again to detain and force the lady to delete evidences, in the midst of this national uproar, is an insult on our collective dignity, and that of all women. Let the police act responsible for once, and let the defenseless be defended. If at the end of the day, it was proven that the rape case was a set-up, let Babatayo face the music according to the statutes of the land.

All these things stated earlier, and more have been confirmed by the lady, thirty six hours late in a press statement where she revealed her ordeals with the police, sparking another round of national outrage.

According to the victim, On 16 lune 2020, almost two weeks after going public with my story, I was arrested by four (4) armed Police officers, who, under the pretence as delivery agent, gained entry into my home I was then taken to IGP IRT office in Harold Shodipo, Ikeja and detained in a cell like a criminal My mum was not arrested, contrary to widespread speculations. My mum remained supportive and engaged all her efforts like any good mother, alongside various other interventions to secure my release

In that cell, I had the right to remain silent, limited access to a lawyer, yet still oblivious to the crime I was being detained for I spent almost 48 hours at the Police station, without being charged for a single crime. When I requested to know the reason for the detention, the Police refused to answer, but they continued to treat me like a criminal.

I was locked up in a cell with criminals who had broken the law. I had never stolen or committed a crime in my life, yet there I was with others who had broken the law. What was my offence? f My own offence was daring to speak up.

Dbanj through his legal representative published a document In response to my Lawyers document, demanding N100m in damages. 16 June 2020: Four (4) armed Policemen stormed my apartment, and arrested me without a warrant. They seized my phones, other personal effects and detained me in the Police cell overnight at IGP  IRT Office at Harold Shodipo.

With various efforts, I was released from custody after being made to sign a gag order by the Police and Dbanis team, and could only post on social media what had been approved by Dbanss team I spent the night in a location of Dbancs teams choosing, which was not made known to the public.

I was isolated from my family, coerced, pressured and intimidated in person by Dbanj and his team to retract all statements and to announce that my testimony was a publicity stunt. Thanks to my friend, thanks to the Executive Director of Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER), and other activists who swung into action, and tracked me to the location where I was being held by Dban) and his team, using satellite mapping I was immediately removed from the environment and taken to a safe place where I was provided with immediate support. 

I want to warn the relevant police, statutory and public authorities charged with dealing with rape cases that if they try to cover up this case, Nigeria will be visited with rape pandemic never seen in the history of the world. I am talking as a prophet, not a columnist and activist, that any attempt to apply the corruption factor to this rape issue will backfire on the already traumatized Nigerian nation state.

I have forwarded all Seyitan Babatayos statements to relevant international bodies that are monitoring the progress on the issue. As I said in the piece if Seyitan s rape accusation is a set-up, let the law take its course, but from my own investigations, there was rape, there is an attempt to cover up, and the world is watching.

Rape must not be condoned in any sane society, CHIBOK girls were kidnapped and many of them raped to death, and the nation carried on as though nothing happened. I warned of the consequences in the piece titled Chibok Girls, Boko Haram and Jihad of the Penis, in 2014, and another follow up titled, From Jihad of the Penis to Rape in the Church-Chibok, Dapchi, RCCG now the nation has birthed rapists everywhere.

Dbanjs rape victim had opened up on ordeals with the police and it is not palatable, let the nonsense stop, and let the society protect victims of rape or else the zoo is headed for catastrophe.
Burundi's parliament has approved Alain Guillaume Bunyoni as prime minister, the first person to take on the role in 22 years.



The position has been restored by newly elected President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was sworn into office last week - two months sooner than planned as his predecessor, Pierre Nkurunziza, died earlier this month.



MPs also approved Prosper Bazombanza as the new vice-president.



The 60-year-old has served as vice-president before - under Mr Nkurunziza between 2014 and 2015.



For the last five year, Mr Bunyoni has been security minister and is a very influential figure in the ruling CNDD-FDD party.



The 48-year-old, who will be in charge of the cabinet, was a close ally of Mr Nkurunziza during his 15 years in power.



The new prime minister is under US government sanctions for his suspected role in violence and human rights violations during political unrest in 2015.



Burundi pulled out of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2017 amid ongoing investigations into the unrest that followed a failed coup attempt.

Source: bbc









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The BJP is fully aware that the former PMs credibility and standing with the Indian public is far higher than most Indian leaders

The very fact that Indias Lt. Gen. Harinder Singh, commander of 14 Corps, held 11-plus hours of discussions on Monday with his Chinese counterpart, Maj. Gen. Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region, and that these disengagement talks will continue, to press for the withdrawal of Chinese military forces from the Finger area around Pangong Tso lake as well as from the Galwan Valley, the site of the deadly June 15-16 clash between the two amies, seems to be a clear indication that the Peoples Liberation Army continues to remain in control of Indian territory.

After all, if there were no Chinese forces on Indian soil now, what would be the need for these talks anyway, and why would we demand that the Chinese withdraw and go back to the status quo that prevailed before May 2? What then is the breakthrough that we are looking for in this dialogue at Moldo?

This also raises some fundamental questions about Prime Minister Narendra Modis stunning assertion to top Opposition leaders at Fridays all-party meeting that neither has anyone intruded into Indian territory nor has anyone captured any (Indian) military posts.

Not surprisingly, senior Opposition leaders were driven to ask if that was indeed the case, what was the ongoing India-China military conflict in Ladakh all about.

And even if one accepts the far-fetched clarification by the Prime Ministers Office the next day that Mr Modi had been referring only to the Galwan Valley, why are we  several days later  still demanding that the PLA withdraw from Galwan?

It does not even begin to make sense. And no matter how much the PMO may talk about mischievous interpretations and the BJP, its pliant allies and Modi bhakts in general try to spin the PMs remarks, his clear-cut claim  which was quickly and gratefully acknowledged by the Chinese  are still hard to explain away.

Its in this context that we should see former Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs sage counsel to his successor on Monday to be mindful of the implication of his words on the nations strategic interests and that disinformation can never be a substitute for diplomacy and decisive leadership.

The BJP and its current president J.P. Nadda were of course quick to hit back at Dr Singh, calling his statement a mere word play, and tried to change the narrative, as is its wont, by referring to an alleged 600 Chinese incursions under the watch of both UPA governments, and claimed it had abjectly surrendered hundreds of sq km of Indias land, but the ruling partys discomfiture was palpable.

The BJP is fully aware that the former PMs credibility and standing with the Indian public is far higher than most Indian leaders and that, as a man of few words, Dr Singh speaks only when he feels he must. Noting that the Chinese had welcomed the PMs remarks on Friday, the former PM cautioned that Mr Modi cannot allow them to use his words as a vindication of their position.

On Tuesday, Chinas foreign ministry claimed the two armies had reached a consensus on resolving the outstanding issues between them and agreed to take steps to cool down tensions in Ladakh. That, of course, is extremely welcome and we await further clarity on how the disengagement process moves forward.
In total, 23,721 tests have been run.

Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has listed three regions with the most COVID-19 cases reported in the past day.

"In terms of the regions, the highest number of confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered in Lviv region (203), Rivne region (126), and the city of Kyiv (99)," he told a briefing on June 24.

In total, 23,721 tests were conducted in the country in the past day. In particular, there were 13,199 tests done with the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and 10,592 with the application of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

Read alsoNumber of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine exceeds 39,000 on June 24

As UNIAN reported earlier, there were 39,014 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of the morning of June 24, including 1,051 COVID-19 deaths and 17,409 recoveries. Some 940 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours.
H ousing Secretary Robert Jenrick was today told to come clean over a controversial planning decision ahead of a major Commons challenge.

Labour has accused Mr Jenrick of jeopardising the integrity of the entire planning system after he gave a Tory donor the green light on a 1 billion east London development.

They were set to try to force Mr Jenrick to publish all documents relating to his approval of the scheme by former Daily Express owner Richard Desmond.

In January this year, Mr Jenrick approved the Westferry development on the Isle of Dogs, 12 days before Mr Desmond gave 12,000 to the Conservative Party.

Shadow housing secretary Steve Reed has been leading the charge against the minister and has accused Mr Jenrick of being in a cash for favours situation. Mr Jenrick insists he has done nothing wrong.

Labour's Steve Reed accused Mr Jenrick of being caught in a cash for favours row / PA

Mr Reed told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that there were concerns the Secretary of State abused his powers and added: Because of what hes now done, the integrity of the entire panning system is in question. The way to clear this up is to publish these documents.

If hes got nothing to hide then hes got nothing to fear in coming clean and restoring the integrity of the planning system.

Mr Jenrick later quashed his own decision following a challenge from Tower Hamlets council which forced the minister to admit what he did was "unlawful by reason of apparent bias".

However, Mr Reed alleged he took this unprecedented measure in order to avoid scrutiny and added: We fear that he did it so he wouldnt have to reveal the true reasons why he took this decision.

Mr Reed said if the minister refuses to publish the documents there needs to be a full investigation by the Cabinet Secretary.

Mr Sharma defended his colleague on the airwaves this morning / Tolga AKMEN / AFP

Labour is set to use an opposition day debate in the Commons today to stage a vote requiring the Government to release all correspondence over the development. The Conservatives' 80 seat majority means Labour is unlikely to win the vote.

Labour says the timing of the decision to approve the scheme - just a day before a new community infrastructure levy came into force - would have saved Mr Desmond's Northern and Shell company up to 50million.

It later emerged Mr Jenrick had sat next to Mr Desmond at a Conservative Party fundraising dinner in November 2019.

Mr Desmond has since told The Sunday Times that he had shown Mr Jenrick a promotional video for the scheme on his mobile phone during the fundraiser at the Savoy Hotel, though Mr. Jenrick denies discussing the project with Mr. Desmond.

Mr Jenrick said that he took the decision to approve the scheme "in good faith with an open mind", and he was confident that "all the rules were followed".

His colleague, Business Secretary Alok Sharma today called for the issue to be brought to a close and said Mr Jenrick acted in "all propriety".

He said: "I think the key thing is how you act and that you act in all propriety. And that is precisely what the Housing Secretary has done. He has answered questions on this and I really do think that should be the end of the matter."

Pressed on the issue, he added: "I think the key issue is that you follow the rules and you ensure you do that in absolutely the right way.

"That is what the Housing Secretary has done - as I've said, he has answered questions on this and I am not sure I can really add any more to this discussion."

The Evening Standard has contacted the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for comment.
In a move unprecedented in Iran's political dynamics, two top military commanders have openly lent support to Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raeesi, who is the most talked about candidate to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iran's next supreme leader.

Mohammad Baqeri, chief of the joint staff of Iranian armed forces wrote in a letter to Raeesi on June 23 that that he was "prepared to cooperate with the Judiciary in any form." This was the first time Baqeri sent such a letter since taking office in 2016. An even more important point is that he made it known to everyone that has supported Raeesi.

In the letter, he called the hardliner cleric "A pious, revolutionary and brave jurisconsult whose actions have brought about hope and satisfaction among the nation."

Meanwhile, in a similar letter, IRGC commander in chief Hossein Salami commented that Raeesi's measures "have instilled hope and confidence in society."

Both senior officers thanked the Judiciary "for its confrontation with financial corruption."

The two messages can be viewed as part of a widespread campaign to boost Raeesi's popularity, raise his profile and trumpet his "success." This campaign is mainly furthered by highlighting his "strict measures" in confronting financial corruption.



While a media campaign has been going on to groom Raeesi (Raisi) for the post since his appointment by Khamenei as the head of Iran's powerful Judiciary in early 2019, the mid-ranking cleric himself has been at times going out of his way to take part in populist campaigns. Sometimes he intervenes in executive affairs or announces milder positions on cultural matters such as freedom of speech on social media, to appease younger Iranians.

At the same time, some of Raeesis "strict measures" appear to be aimed at intimidating dissidents and showing his ruthless will to suppress any dissent and protest. A clear example of this is the verdict issued on Tuesday about three young protesters who took to the streets in November 2019 to protest an unusual rise in gas prices. The Judiciary has condemned the three young men to death.

Radio Farda's Iran analyst Reza Haqiqatnezhad has observed in a June 24 tweet, "Next to Raeesi's gesture of campaigning against corruption, the death sentence against the November protesters, prison sentences against those who protested the downing of a civilian airliner, harsh treatment of labor and civil activists, and the heavy sentences handed to students, women and other dissidents reveal his true face. His project is not political suppression. It is one of national suppression. And he wants to showcase his abilities."



One of the biggest ongoing cases of financial corruption is about a corrupt gang within the Judiciary that has been actively operating for some 15 years, led by the deputy of former judiciary chief Sadeq Larijani, who was another possible candidate to replace Khamenei. Many see the corruption trial as Raeesis attempt to weaken his rival once and for all.

At the same, Iranian media have shown an interest in Raeesi's relations with military men. A number of commanders went to Mashhad in 2016 to congratulate him when he was appointed as the chief custodian of the holy shrine in that city. The support continued after Raeesi was appointed as Judiciary Chief.

Meanwhile, Iran's state television has portrayed him as a majestic figure in well-prepared interviews, quite a few times since 2019, most recently earlier this week. He sat on a special set during the interviews with red carpets under his feet. The media campaign has been part of the attempts that have given rise to the likelihood of Raeesi being a strong candidate for the post of Supreme Leader after Khamenei.

The body that has to name the next leader is the Assembly of Experts chaired by Ahmad Jannati, 93, whose deputy happens to be Ebrahim Raeesi who has been sanctioned by both the European Union and the United States for gross violations of human rights, including his key part in murdering thousands of political prisoners in 1988.

The U.S. government says Raeesi is part of Khamenei's inner circle and one of those who carry out Khamenei's destabilizing policies and his orders to conduct terror and suppression. According to international human rights watchdogs, the policy of suppression of Iranian dissidents has been escalated since Raeesi took office about 18 months ago. These include the death sentences for November protesters, and jail sentence against civil activists who protested the killing of 176 passengers of a Ukrainian civilian airliner shot down by IRGC missiles in January.
Acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi says he has spent days with cheats and alcoholics, and added that one starts valuing the good only when one has seen the bad.

"Maine thugon ko, lekhakon ko, vidhwano ko aas paas dekha hai. Bade bade sharabiyon ke saath din guzare hain aur un sabne milke banaya hai (I have spent days with cheats, low-life people, writers, educationists and even alcoholics. They have made me what I am). They were the people who made me the person I am today," he asserted.

Pankaj, who has tasted the highs of highs with his work in projects like Sacred Games, Mirzapur, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Gangs Of Wasseypur and Luka Chuppi among many others, shares details about how he values every success in his life.

"The value of good happens only when we have seen the bad. I have seen the worst and best of times over the last decade, which is why every success, every joy is of so much value," he shared.

Amid the lockdown, Pankaj realised "if bad has happened, it is inevitable that it gets better".

"I still think of my brief jail stint where I was surrounded by all kinds of people and I had an epiphany that I needed to make something better of my life. Every experience is nature's way to ask you to better yourself. Look for that sign!" he said.

On the acting front, he is gearing up for the release of Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl starring Janhvi Kapoor.

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is inspired by the life of Indian Air Force combat pilot Gunjan Saxena, and stars Janhvi Kapoor in the titular role. Saxena entered the war zone during the 1999 Kargil War.

He will also be seen in Kabir Khan's 83.

Follow @News18Movies for more
People in Melbourne's inner norther suburbs will likely be the worst affected

Millions of workers face financial ruin as a second wave of COVID-19 sweeps through Melbourne, with the economic damage ripping through the inner city and forcing residents into the outer suburbs.

Victoria recorded 20 new cases of the respiratory virus on Wednesday, marking the state's 18th consecutive day of double-digit infections after the rest of Australia brought the virus under control.

A study by Monash University has found people in Melbourne's inner norther suburbs - comprising large numbers of students and hospitality workers - will likely be the worst effected by pandemic-related business closures, potentially impacting the city for years to come.

Businesses in the area have been forced to offload staff or cut their hours.

A woman walks past St Paul's Cathedral while wearing a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus in Melbourne on June 21,

About 42.5 per cent of jobs in Melbourne's CBD (pictured) are at risk as business closures due to the pandemic see workers get laid off or have their hours slashed

Monash University director of planning and urban design Carl Grodach explained that workers living in more expensive inner-city locations such as Fitzroy and Brunswick would be forced to move further out of the city and into the suburbs.

'They will need to find a more affordable place to live,' he told the Herald Sun.

VICTORIA'S SPIKE IN CORONAVIRUS CASES 24/6: 20 23/6: 17 22/6: 16 21/6: 19 20/6: 25 19/6: 13 18/6: 18 17/6: 21 Source: Department of Health and Human Services Advertisement

'When those hotels come back and people are going to restaurants again, when the CBD is more active, I think those people will still be working there but living further out.

'I don't think things are going to come back in the same density as they were before.'

According to the study by Monash University, 43.8 per cent of the community in Parkville, in the city's north, are at risk of losing their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis.

About 42.5 per cent of people will be affected In Melbourne's CBD, and 39.3 per cent will feel the impact in the inner-city suburb of Carlton.

One third of residents in Brunswick, Fitzroy, Brunswick East, Fitzroy North and Collingwood - largely made up of students, arts and restaurant workers - will also be hit by the downturn.

The outer fringes of the city provide vulnerable workers with lower living costs, but with lower costs come greater health risks as the regions are hit by new infections.

Lorne and Torquay, south-west of Melbourne, have been identified as coronavirus hot spots, along with Casey and Cardinia in the city's south-east, Hume in north and Moreland, Cardinia and Darbin.

The six districts have a combined population of more than 1.1 million people.

While three caravan parks on the Great Ocean Road announced on Tuesday they would cancel bookings from travellers who reside in COVID-19 hotspots ahead of the school holidays, they backflipped on the decision a day later.

'The restrictions we announced yesterday for our caravan park guests living in hot spot areas has now been updated,' a statement by tourism body Great Ocean Road Coast Committee said on its website.

Australians have been warned to stay away from six coronavirus-affected council areas in Melbourne: Hume, Casey, Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin

About 39.3 per cent of workers are at risk in the inner-city suburb of Carlton (pictured) - where restaurants and cafes make up a large percentage of businesses

One third of positions in Brunswick, Fitzroy (pictured), Brunswick East, Fitzroy North and Collingwood are also at risk of being hammered by the coronavirus crisis

'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 twelve month permit holders back into our parks.'

They also urged people feeling unwell to avoid travelling to the tourist destinations and get tested for the virus.

The initial announcement on Tuesday left holiday-makers unable to visit the tourist parks.

Meanwhile, health officials will begin doorknocking hot spots across Melbourne to ensure residents are sticking to government guidelines.

But officials in charge of managing the crisis may have been unable to communicate with some families in hot spots.

Pictured: A coronavirus testing site at a shopping centre in Melbourne on Tuesday

Victoria has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, bringing the state's total to 1,884 since the pandemic began

Part of health minister Jenny Mikakos' $37 million contact tracing program, announced on April 4, was paying company Whispir to communicate with confirmed cases.

But sources have confirmed that Whispir only spoke to people in English before Monday.

The coronavirus clusters have high numbers of foreign born households, and people who speak English as a second language.

These areas have higher proportions of foreign-born families, as well as being less likely to speak English.

'The communities have got mixed messages and it can be hard enough to understand even when you do speak English,' Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria chairman Eddie Micallef said.

Cars are seen queueing up in a COVID-19 testing site at Craigieburn Health Service in Melbourne, Tuesday, June 23

43.8 per cent of the community in Parkville (pictured), in the city's north, are at risk of losing their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis

'One of the problems has been the complacency of the broader community and multicultural communities pick up that message.'

Indicating that not enough had been done to speak to multi-cultural communities, Ms Mikakos said the government was launching an engagement campaign.

'This is designed to make sure our public health message is reaching everyone in our state, and everyone is aware about risks and their obligations,' she said.

'We're going to focus on shopping centres and train stations as well, and  there will be doorknocking and there will be roundtables with multicultural communities in hot spot areas.'

In Brimbank, 47.9 per cent of people are born outside of Australia, with 58.4 per cent of people speaking languages other than English.

The area's average wage is just $44,455, compared to $48,360 nationally.

In neighbouring Hume, nearly 30,000 residents speak either Turkish or Arabic and 35.7 per cent of people were born overseas.

A long queue of cars wait at a drive-through COVID-19 testing site located in a shopping centre car park in Melbourne on Tuesday

Darebin also has a high immigrant population, with 33.3 per cent born overseas, as does Casey with 38.2 per cent.

In Moreland, it's 34 per cent but in Cardinia it's 19 per cent, which is less than the national average.

Mr Andrews said a legion of health officials will be sent out on Wednesday to speak to families on their doorstep, with a focus on breaking language and cultural barriers.

Two schools, Brunswick East Primary School and Keilor Views Primary School, have closed after students tested positive.

There are now 131 active cases in Victoria, after the number dropped to just 50 a fortnight ago.

'There's a possibility of tighter lockdowns, as we did in north-west Tasmania, on the table, and I think it's very important to be honest about that,' health minister Greg Hunt said on Tuesday.
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Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 08:23 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40661253a4 1 Business pertamina,oil-and-gas,IPO,business,restructuring,subholding-company,refinery,electricity,Gas,Trade Free

State-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina has reaffirmed plans for at least one subsidiary to go public within the next two years, despite resistance from its trade unions, as the company sets out to restructure its businesses.

Pertamina recently announced it would restructure dozens of subsidiaries into five subholdings for upstream, refining, power, gas and trade to improve efficiency. Gas subholding PGN is already listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX).

The company is looking to make its upstream subholding, Pertamina EP, the next subsidiary to conduct an initial public offering (IPO), hinted Pertamina president director Nicke Widywati during a webinar hosted by Rakyat Merdeka newspaper on June 15.

The shareholders aim is not privatization. This is not letting go of Pertaminas shares but conducting an IPO of Pertaminas subsidiaries, she told lawmakers in Jakarta on June 22.

Furthermore, she pointed out that, as per the 2001 Oil and Gas Law, all oil and gas fields in Indonesia belong to the state and not any particular company, including Pertamina.

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir first announced the IPO plan on June 12 following a shareholders meeting between the ministry and the oil company.

In the next two years, we expect Pertaminas Bu Nicke to take one or two subholdings public in order to become more transparent and accountable, he said.

Going public will, for instance, require Pertamina to publish quarterly financial reports one month after each quarter ends, according to current regulations. The company has yet to publish its first quarter financial report this year.

However, the IPO plan has been met with resistance by the companys inhouse trade unions, the Federation of Pertamina United Labor Unions (FSPPB) and the Pertamina EP Trade Union (SPPEP).

State control is still very much needed to protect Pertamina from the oil and gas mafia that is rampant in the free market, stated the FSPPB in a petition, which had 14,900 signatures as of Tuesday.

The FSPPB previously rejected the formation of gas subholding PGN and the appointment of former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama as Pertamina commissioner.

Meanwhile, SPPEP chairman Tata Musthafa said on June 18 that Pertamina EPs union opposed the IPO plan to safeguard Pertamina for the peoples welfare as stipulated by Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution.

Article 33 says that Indonesias natural resources must be controlled by the state. It does not, however, forbid IPOs, which have been conducted by many other national extractive companies such as PGN, coal miner PT Bukit Asam and tin miner PT Timah.

The SPPEP also argued that an IPO might reduce non-tax state revenue from the oil and gas industry. Official data show the industry contributed Rp 115.1 trillion (US$8.13 billion) to state coffers last year, the largest contribution from among the energy sector.

We demand the company provide an explanation about PT Pertamina EPs strategy in maintaining its company performance after the implementation of the holdings and subholdings, Tata said.
Pyongyang, June 24 : A military meeting in North Korea has decided to suspend the military action plans against South Korea, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Wednesday.

The KCNA reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over the preliminary meeting for the fifth meeting of the Seventh Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) through a video conference on Tuesday and made the decision.

"At the preliminary meeting, the WPK Central Military Commission took stock of the prevailing situation and suspended the military action plans against the South brought for the fifth meeting of the Seventh Central Military Commission by the General Staff of the Korean People's Army," Xinhua reported citing the KCNA report.

"The meeting examined agenda items of major military policy to be laid before the fifth meeting of the Seventh WPK Central Military Commission, and made a study of a report and decisions, which will be submitted to the fifth meeting, and some documents carrying the state measures for further bolstering the war deterrent of the country," it said.

A week ago, the army announced a detailed military action plans in protest against the South Korean authorities for failing to stop "defectors" from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets to the North.

The action plans proposed by the General Staff of the Korean People's Army include redeployment of troops to the Mount Kumgang tourist area and the Kaesong Industrial Zone, and security guarantee for the people to distribute propaganda leaflets to the South in the border areas.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
France 'Won't Tolerate' Turkey's Behavior in Libya, Macron Says

By VOA News June 23, 2020

French President Emmanuel Macron says he "won't tolerate" the role that Turkey is playing in Libya, calling it an obstacle to peace.

Turkey has been supplying arms to the U.N.-backed government in Tripoli, which is fighting a rival administration headed by General Khalifa Haftar.

At a news conference in Paris Monday with Tunisian President Kais Saied, Macron accused Turkey of ignoring a U.N. arms embargo against Libya and calls by the European Union for an end to all foreign intervention in Libya.

"I already had the opportunity to clearly say it to (Turkish) President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan: I consider today that Turkey plays in Libya a dangerous game and is in breach of all commitments it took during the Berlin conference," Macron said.

Relations between France and Turkey have become increasingly tense since an encounter between French and Turkish warships in the eastern Mediterranean two weeks ago.

France claims the Turkish ship flashed radar lights at a French vessel on a NATO mission to investigate whether the Turkish vessel was smuggling arms to Libya.

France accused Turkish sailors of taking up light weapons. Turkey called the French charges baseless.

Libya has been in turmoil since longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi was toppled and killed in 2011.

The country is currently split between the government in Tripoli and Haftar's eastern-based government, which is backed by Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.

After more than a year of fierce fighting for control of the capital, which has been largely stalemated, the Tripoli-backed forces appear to have secured control of the city, observers say, but not before sending thousands of civilians fleeing for their lives from the fighting.

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Crown Jewel diamonds may be gems from deep within the Earth, say scientists

A diamond that features prominently in the British Crown Jewels may have originated from very far below the Earths surface  several times deeper than the region where most diamonds are formed, scientists believe.

Researchers from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in New York City say the Cullinan diamond incorporated into the famous collection of royal regalia may be a super deep gemstone.

Mined in South Africa, the Cullinan is the largest diamond ever found. It was given to King Edward VII in 1907 by the government of the Transvaal  a symbolic gesture intended to heal the rift between Britain and South Africa following the Boer War.

The royal family refer to some of the other pieces cut from the original diamond  the Cullinan III, a pear-shaped 94.4-carat drop, and Cullinan IV, a cushion-shaped 63.6-carat diamond mounted together as a brooch, as Grannys chips.

Parts of it were later set in the Crown Jewels, in the Sovereigns Sceptre and the Imperial State Crown.

Diamonds are formed under high pressure conditions in the Earths mantle, the middle layer between the planets crust and the core.

The Cullinan Brooch at the Queens Gallery in Buckingham Palace (Sean Dempsey/PA)

Most diamonds form at depths of 150km to 200km below the surface of the Earth, in the base of the continental tectonic plates.

But some rarer diamond come from deeper in the mantle, beneath the rigid and stable continental plates, down where the mantle is slowly moving, which scientists call super-deep diamonds.

Another diamond thought to be super-deep is the Smithsonians famous Hope diamond.

The scientists examined a large 124 carat diamond from the Letseng mine in Lesotho alongside a blue diamond from a mine in South Africa.

The Lesotho stone is believed to come from the same class of diamond as the Cullinan while the South Africa gem bears similar characteristics to the Hope diamond.

The researchers speculate the depth of origin of these diamonds might span 360km to 750km below the Earths surface.

Dr Evan Smith, of GIA, who conducted the research, said: We examined the first large gem diamonds confirmed to originate from Earths lower mantle, which is several times deeper than most other diamonds.

Story continues

The results support earlier predictions based on smaller gems, suggesting that diamonds with properties similar to those studied, including both the Cullinan and Hope diamonds, are super-deep diamonds.

The Royal Sceptre which is part of the British Crown Jewels, featuring a Cullinan diamond (PA)

The team also detected the chemical remains of the mineral bridgmanite, which does not exist in the Earths surface, in the diamonds they examined.

Dr Smith said: Finding these remnants of the elusive mineral bridgmanite is significant.

Its very common in the deep Earth, at the extreme pressure conditions of the lower mantle, below a depth of 660km, even deeper than most super deep diamonds.

Bridgmanite doesnt exist in the upper mantle, or at the surface.

What we actually see in the diamonds when they reach surface is not bridgmanite, but the minerals left when it breaks down as the pressure decreases.

Finding these minerals trapped in a diamond means that the diamond itself must have crystallised at a depth where bridgmanite exists, very deep within the Earth.

The findings were presented at the virtual 2020 Goldschmidt geochemistry conference and have not yet been peer-reviewed.
ALBANY  During an appearance on MSNBC, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday said the order requiring nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients "wasn't a mistake."

That's his story, and he's sticking to it.

The governor is no longer holding his daily briefings, but he's been on a media victory tour in recent days, highlighting New York's lowest-in-the-nation coronavirus infection rate as cases rise elsewhere. That is, no doubt, a success story of which Cuomo should be proud.

But the governor rarely escapes a TV appearance without being asked about the infamous March 25 state Department of Health mandate, which said nursing homes couldn't deny admission "based on a confirmed or suspected diagnoses of COVID-19"  and even forbade them from testing incoming hospital transfers.

Cuomo's answers are either evasive or untruthful.

On "Morning Joe," for example, Cuomo once again claimed New York was simply following the Centers for Disease Controls guidelines when it issued the order, the implication being it's the federal government's fault that 6,300 residents of New York nursing homes died from COVID-19.

"It was federal guidance that was put out," Cuomo said, after being directly asked by host Willie Geist if the nursing home order was a mistake.

But the fact-checking website PolitiFact rates the governor's assertion about the CDC as "mostly false," finding the state's order differed from federal guidelines in key respects. For one, the CDC said COVID-19 patients should only be released to nursing homes able to safely care for residents recovering from the virus.

New York's order gave no such leeway. As PolitiFact wrote, "the March 25 memo did not say anything about making sure that a nursing home can care for a patient before making an admission decision, and said they 'must comply with the expedited receipt of residents.' "

That sure seems like a mistake to me. The governor disagrees.

"No, it wasn't a mistake," he told Geist, "because if you look at the facts  not that anybody looks at facts anymore  you didn't want to leave a senior citizen in a hospital bed for two weeks if they didn't need to be in a hospital bed for two weeks. You didn't want to use a hospital bed that way."

There, the governor is getting at what motivated the order. At the time, state officials were worried hospitals would be overwhelmed at the height of the pandemic and believed nursing homes could help alleviate the crunch.

The order may have made sense for hospitals, but it was devastating for nursing homes. As PolitiFact notes, they were pleading for relief within days, noting inadequate supplies, staffing and infection-control capabilities.

The state didn't listen. It wasn't until early May when New York finally reversed the policy and forbade hospitals from releasing COVID-19 patients to nursing homes.

Actions speak louder than words, and that state move, however belated, was an admission that A.) the policy was, yes, a mistake and B.) many New York nursing homes could not handle the challenges posed by the novel virus.

You won't hear Cuomo admit that, though. He has asserted that nursing home employees brought the virus into the facilities  which could certainly be true in some cases  without acknowledging the state's own culpability in places like the Diamond Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Troy.

As the investigative website ProPublica reported, Diamond Hill experienced 18 virus deaths within weeks of receiving a COVID-19 patient. Nearly 60 residents in total were sickened, and at least 50 of the facilitys more than 100 workers were also infected.

Thankfully, state lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans alike, are eager to reveal the truth. Several have called for an investigation; state Sen. James Tedisco, a Republican from Glenville, has proposed a state panel (with subpoena power) that would hold hearings on the deaths in nursing homes.

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.

But let's return to Cuomo's media tour. On Monday, again on MSNBC, host Stephanie Ruhle asked the governor, "Do you take responsibility for that order and the role it may have played in those deaths?"

You decide if Cuomo answered the question:

"The Republicans, Stephanie, are playing politics," he said. "They don't want to talk about how they are now handling this COVID virus."

When Ruhle pressed Cuomo, he said: "Yes, we had more people die in nursing homes than anywhere else  because we had more people die, because the federal government missed the boat and never told us that this virus was coming from Europe and not from China."

That's a bad response. It ducks responsibility. It shifts the blame. It's a return of the governor New York knew before the virus converted Cuomo into the pandemic's great communicator.

Yes, the federal government has handled COVID-19 poorly. And yes, the congressional Republicans calling for a federal investigation into New York's nursing home decision are being disingenuous, given their heads-in-the-sand approach to President Trump's corruption.

Still, Cuomo owes New Yorkers an honest assessment of the policy. In truth, all his ducking and finger-pointing is disrespectful to the families of nursing home patients who deserve honest answers about what went wrong.

The order is a stain on Cuomo's handling of the pandemic. So is his refusal to admit the mistake.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
Chinas Communist Party has haunted Leungs family for generations. Her father, Guo Yao, fled forced labour and the violent purges of the Cultural Revolution for a better life in Hong Kong, where he arrived with his wife in 1973 to find relative freedom and prosperity.

Years later, as his family watched the ceremony marking Hong Kongs 1997 handover from Britain to China, his then-teenage daughter had a premonition.

I thought to myself, maybe one day we will have to run away from the Chinese Communist Party again, says Leung, now 36. I just didnt imagine it would be this soon.

Now, 17 years after the death of her father  whose name means glory to the nation in Mandarin  Leung is preparing to flee Hong Kong. A new law approved by the Communist Party to take effect this summer will allow Chinas powerful state security agencies to operate in the territory, paving the way for political purges and intimidation of government critics by secret police. Officials are pushing to impose party propaganda in schools.

Recommended Hong Kong schools ordered to display Chinese flag and sing anthem

With their political freedoms deteriorating, nurses, lawyers, business people and other skilled workers are rushing to renew documents that could provide a pathway to residency in Britain, or finding ways to emigrate to Taiwan, Canada or Australia.

Applications for police certificates required to emigrate soared almost 80 per cent to nearly 21,000 in the latter half of 2019 from a year earlier, even before the advent of the security law, coinciding with a crackdown on pro-democracy protests. Animal rescue groups have reported an increase in surrendered dogs as their owners leave Hong Kong. Protesters fearing persecution have sought refuge in Germany, the Netherlands and the US.

The exodus of talent recalls the pre-handover years, when anxiety over Beijings rule drove tens of thousands of people out of Hong Kong. Many eventually trickled back, having obtained second passports as insurance, when the initial period of Chinese control seemed relatively benign.

This time is different; many say they have no plans to return and see little hope for a better Hong Kong. Those preparing to leave say they are wracked with guilt about abandoning their home at a pivotal moment, yet deeply worried about their futures and those of their children if they were to stay.

Families spoke to The Washington Post on condition of partial or full anonymity for fear of retribution from the authorities or their employers.

This is not a happy thing, says Law, a 40-year-old business executive who plans to move with his family to Taichung, Taiwan, when travel restrictions for the novel coronavirus ease. It isnt like we will have a farewell party to celebrate. I feel a bit ashamed, like Ive betrayed the protesters.

Beijing in recent weeks has redrawn its relationship with Hong Kong, whose autonomy and political freedoms it previously promised to preserve until 2047.

Facing widespread resistance to its encroachment, the party has moved to quash dissent with the security law, which western governments say violates the handover agreement and the one country, two systems model it established. Washington says it will no longer treat Hong Kong as distinct from China, and has begun to rethink the special trade status that helped Hong Kong flourish as a financial centre.

Yeung, a dual Canadian and British citizen, and his wife had previously discussed an exit plan if the metaphorical nuclear plant explodes in Hong Kong

Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of Chinas Hong Kong and Macao Affairs office, last week likened the security law to anti-virus software and said forces in Hong Kong are trying to subvert Communist rule  emphasising that Beijing now sees the city as a restive region that must be controlled.

The law will criminalise foreign interference  a broad phrase that legal experts say could ensnare anyone with ties to a foreign political party. That would be problematic for Chris Yeung, Leungs husband, who is an overseas member of Britains Liberal Democrats. In the neighbouring Chinese territory of Macao, which passed similar laws in 2009, such an affiliation carries a maximum 25-year prison sentence if China deems it to endanger national security.

Yeung, a dual Canadian and British citizen, and his wife had previously discussed an exit plan if the metaphorical nuclear plant explodes in Hong Kong, she says. That conversation became more serious last June, when protests erupted over a bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. Leung watched political divisions deepen and young people turn into fighters armed with petrol bombs as the police beat them bloody on the streets.

Leung had been prepared for her husband to run afoul of the law over his activism. But when he was arrested in September for participating in an anti-government protest  and denied legal access for hours  it was their first indication that rule of law was crumbling.

The national security law has changed everything, we now realise that each and every one of us can be the target, says Leung, who works in business development. The family plans to move to Vancouver, but has not settled on a departure date.

Theres no hope for any reconciliation, Leung says. Even if we love our city so much, the reality is that our government hates us.

The Law family began devising exit plans last year. The business executives wife, a 38-year-old broadcast producer, was documenting demonstrations one day when police sprayed protesters with a chemical-laced liquid from a water cannon, leaving a 14-year-old demonstrator writhing in pain as the substance burnt her skin.

Among their friends, mostly well-educated professionals with children, nine out of 10 have left or are in the process of leaving, he said

In a few years, she thought, that could be her child (she has two, ages seven and five).

And there is nothing I can do to protect her, she says. What else can you do but leave?

The Laws, together with three other families, met an agent who helped them gain Taiwan residency under an investment program. Documents in hand, they can leave when pandemic travel curbs end.

Still, they have agonised over the decision.

Deep down, I feel very selfish, the broadcast producer says. The only thing I can do is to raise my children in a land of freedom under the air of democracy. And hope that one day, whether they come back or not, they will remember their roots are in Hong Kong.

Others have wrestled with similar anguish. When Ho, a nurse at a hospital rehabilitation ward, joined a strike this year to pressure the Hong Kong government to close its border with China during the coronavirus outbreak, she did not fear payback. In the worst case, she figured, she could quit.

Now, with the security law looming, she fears a political purge.

You dont know what they can accuse you of under the new law, Ho says. Would joining a strike be considered a subversion of state?

The family is applying to emigrate to Taiwan through its program for foreign professionals, while her husband stays for a few months longer to support them with his job at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, the stock market operator.

Their departure is so hurried that Ho has yet to assess school options for her two children. Her husband does not know what he will do in Taiwan, which lacks a financial sector comparable with Hong Kongs. But even working at a restaurant would be acceptable. Having my freedom of speech is worth more, he says.

Among their friends, mostly well-educated professionals with children, nine out of 10 have left or are in the process of leaving, he says. At the Hong Kong Exchange, his colleagues who have dual citizenship are assessing their options, while others are making plans to procure foreign residency.

It has become the norm. We are the last to go, he says. In many ways, it feels like we are refugees, fleeing a war.

 The Washington Post
As the Trump administration and the US Pentagon are ratcheting up preparations for great power conflict with China, Russia and other overseas rivals, more than 4,300 workers at the Bath Iron Works in Maine, a contractor for the US Navy, have walked out on strike.

The shipyard workers launched the strike Monday after voting by 87 percent to reject a contract proposal by the company, an arm of General Dynamics. The last walkout at the facility took place in 2000 and lasted 55 days. The striking workers are members of International Association of Machinists Local S6, the largest union at the shipyard, which is located 40 miles south of the state capital of Augusta.

Management is offering a minimal 3 percent annual pay raise but wants significant changes to work rules that it claims are needed in order to boost production. The company wants to bring in more subcontractors and eviscerate work rules to allow it to shift workers from job to job as needed. The company is continuing operations with management and other non-striking personnel during the strike. Workers are outraged that under the terms of the proposed contract management can bring in subcontractors even though permanent employees are on layoff.

The company is about six months behind schedule on the building of six Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and the last of three Zumwalt destroyers. The Burke destroyers host the advanced Aegis combat system for air and missile defense. The backlog on production is despite the fact that Bath Iron Works continued operations throughout the pandemic.

On March 24, over 50 percent of the Bath shipyard workers stayed home to demand the suspension of operations after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The action was carried out by workers independently of the IAM and other unions. The shipyard soon reopened, bolstered by a declaration from the Trump administration that the building of destroyers was critical infrastructure. However, 25-30 percent of shipyard workers continued to stay home over COVID-19 concerns until management issued a back to work ultimatum in early May that met no serious opposition from the IAM.

The IAM had agreed to concessions in the previous contract in 2015 claiming they were needed to help management obtain a contract from the US Coast Guard. The deal substituted bonuses for annual pay raises and raised workers pension and health care contributions.

The Bath Iron Works lost the Coast Guard contract, but of course the concessions were never repaid. Workers appear determined not to accept more cuts. Furthering their determination is the fact that defense contractors such as General Dynamics were the beneficiaries of billions in COVID-19 bailout money courtesy of the US Congress.

The US Navy is insisting on the contract changes to speed up production. In a letter to local Maine congressmen about the state of the negotiations, Bath Iron Works President Dirk Lesko said, This (the need for more subcontracting) was a point communicated to both of you directly by Rear Adm. William Galinisat the time the program executive officer for ships and who is now the head of the Naval Sea Systems Commandwho noted that the other shipyards with which the Navy does business, our competitors, regularly use subcontractors to address shortfalls in skilled labor or to overcome schedule challenges.

One angry worker posted on Facebook Yes. It's a junk contract and WE will lose so much. THEY once called us essential but now are treating us like garbage and trying to bust the union. The management is the ... issue here.!!! They blame it all on us, but cant manage the place!! STRIKE!!!!!Help

The Bath Iron Works is one of the largest employers in Maine, with 6,800 workers. It hired 1,800 workers last year, mostly in lower-paid categories. The company plans to add another 1,000 this year, along with more subcontractors.

Bath strike - Maine AFL-CIO

Management has insisted that cost reductions are needed in order to compete with lower-cost operations along the US Gulf Coast. General Dynamic is massively profitable, reporting full year 2019 earnings of $3.5 billion on revenue of $39.4 billion.

The Trump administration is watching the strike closely. Navy spokesman Captain Danny Hernandez said in an emailed statement Sunday that the work performed by our industry partners is critical to our Fleet. To avoid disruptions, the Navy is hopeful leaders at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers come to agreement on the current contract negotiations soon.

In mid-April, the Trump administration issued an executive order forcing meatpacking plants to stay open, despite rampaging COVID-19 infections at many facilities. In issuing this order Trump cited the Cold War-era Defense Production Act that gives broad power to the president over critical industries.

At the same time, the White House exerted immense pressure on the Mexican government to restart production at plants that manufacture components for the US defense industry, which had been shut down due to the spread of deadly disease and worker protests.

In an ominous sign of impending military conflict, the Navy said it was taking the unprecedented step of calling up 1,600 reservists to fill labor shortages at shipyards repairing aircraft carrier and submarines to get them back to sea quickly.

For its part, the IAM is doing everything it can to limit the effectiveness of the strike and isolate the workers from other sections of the working class. In a long list of picket line rules issued to strikers, the union demanded that workers take no actions that might impede strikebreakers in any way, including the self-limiting of the number of workers on the pickets.

Among other reactionary directives, the IAM states, Hold no conversations with any truck drivers or other persons who attempt to make deliveries to projects or remove material from projects. And Do not, in any way, encourage or induce people to leave the project or to quit work on the project. Further, the union bans workers from bringing recording devices to the picket lines, leaving them unable to document possible provocations by scabs, management or police. In light of the nationwide epidemic of police violence this last directive is of particular significance.

Several Maine Democratic politicians have offered platonic support to the strikers. However, Maine Democratic Governor Janet Mills has refused to comment on the issues in the strike except to urge a resumption of negotiations, while adding the walkout impaired the ability of BIW workers to deliver much-needed ships to our Navy. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has also been conspicuously silent, as have other prominent Democrats.

The fight by Bath shipyard workers over key contract issues merges with the fight of the whole working class against the murderous policies of the ruling class of a forced return to work even as the COVID-19 pandemic surges. No confidence whatsoever should be placed in the unions, either to protect workers on the job or to wage a serious fight for contract demands.

The World Socialist Web Site and Socialist Equality Party urge strikers to build an independent rank-and-file strike committee to conduct their struggle. This committee should expand the fight of Bath workers to all sections of the working class, teachers, UPS workers, truck drivers, health care workers and food processing workers in the US and beyond. The strike should serve as a catalyst for a broader struggle in defense of workers right to jobs, decent incomes and safe, healthy working conditions. This must be combined with the fight for the international unity of the working class against war and for the conversion of war-making industries into production for human needs.
A man who kidnapped and raped his ex-girlfriend on a dirt track in north Queensland was already on bail after earlier choking and assaulting the woman.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the woman's identity, attempted to appeal his 12-year prison sentence on the basis that it was "manifestly excessive".

The man will have to serve at least 9 years and seven months of his 12 year sentence after losing an appeal.

His violent spree began in May 2017, the day after his girlfriend broke up with him.

He choked her until she lost consciousness then sexually assaulted her, according to a Court of Appeal judgment.
More than 20 years ago, the Ohio Supreme Court determined that Ohios public school funding laws failed to provide for a thorough and efficient system of common schools, as required by the Ohio Constitution. Since then, Republican-dominated legislatures in this state have failed to address the underlying problems of unequal school funding and the resulting inequality of opportunity in Ohio schools.

Last-minute school-funding changes championed by state Sen. Matt Dolan to House Bill 164 in the Senate further amplify the inequality. The changes increased state spending to a select number of public school districts, made up for the most part of wealthier suburban school districts. Topping the list of favored schools in Cuyahoga County are suburban schools within Dolans own 24th State Senate District.

The addition of funds to already wealthy school districts further fuels the inequality found to be unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court. It limits opportunities for students in poorer school districts.

Dolan is up for re-election this year, so were his moves also an attempt to assist his re-election campaign, using taxpayer money?

Bob Belovich,

Brecksville
A Siberian heatwave that has seen temperatures hit 100.4F (38C) in one Arctic town is a 'warning sign of major proportions', climate scientists have said.

Thermometers in the town of Verkhoyansk in Russia's Sakha Republic reached a peak of 32F (18C) above the normal level for this time of year on June 20, 2020.

The World Meteorological Organisation is looking to verify the temperature reading  which would be a new record high for the region within the Arctic Circle.

Siberia's increasing temperatures have been linked to the wildfires that grow bigger and more severe every year, as well as thawing of the permafrost.

A Siberian heatwave that has seen temperatures hit 100.4F (38C) in one Arctic town is a 'warning sign of major proportions', climate scientists have said. Pictured, surface temperatures in Russia on June 19, 2020  one day before the record-breaking temperature

'The Arctic is figuratively and literally on fire,' said University of Michigan climate scientist Jonathan Overpeck.

'It's warming much faster than we thought it would in response to rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and this warming is leading to a rapid meltdown and increase in wildfires.'

'The record warming in Siberia is a warning sign of major proportions.'

Unseasonable warmth has been felt across much of Siberia this year  averaging around 14.4F (8C) above average in the central-north region between January and May, the climate science non-profit organisation Berkeley Earth has reported.

'That's much, much warmer than it's ever been over that region in that period of time,' said Berkeley Earth climate scientist Zeke Hausfather.

Siberia is in the Guinness Book of World Records for its extreme temperatures  being a place where thermometer readings across the year can vary by as much as 190.8F (106C)  with a record low of -90.4F (-68C) to the high of 100.4F (38C).

Prolonged Siberian warmth as recorded at present has not been seen for thousands of years and 'is another sign that the Arctic amplifies global warming even more than we thought,' said Professor Overpeck.

Russia's Arctic regions are among the fastest warming parts of the world.

Globally, the Earth's surface temperature has been growing by around 0.32F (0.18 C) every ten years on average over the past few decades, said Moscow's Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory director Andrei Kiselyov.

In Russia, however, the average temperature has increased by 0.85 (0.47C) every decade  a figure which increases to 1.24F (0.69C) when considering the Russian Arctic alone.

'In that respect, we're ahead of the whole planet,' Dr Kiselyov added.

Thermometers in the town of Verkhoyansk in Russia's Sakha Republic reached a peak of 32F (18C) above the normal level for this time of year on June 20, 2020. Pictured, an outside thermometer in Verkhoyansk seen at 23:00 in Verkhoyansk on June 21, 2020

The World Meteorological Organisation is looking to verify the temperature reading  which would be a new record high for the region within the Arctic Circle. Pictured, this NASA graphic should land temperatures anomalies between March 19 and June 20 this year. Red colours depict areas that were hotter than the average for the same period between 20032018

Thawing permafrost is a huge problem in Siberia, as such provides the foundations for many buildings and pipelines.

Furthermore, its loss also releases more heat-trapping gases and dries out the soil, increasing the risk of wildfires, explained environmental scientist Vladimir Romanovsky of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

'In this case it's even more serious, because the previous winter was unusually warm,' he explained.

The permafrost thaws, ice melts, the soil subsides  and this can trigger a feedback loop that worsens permafrost thawing which 'cold winters can't stop', he added.

In May, a catastrophic oil spill from a collapsed storage tank near the Arctic city of Norilsk was attributed in part to subsidence due to the melting permafrost.

Back in 2011, part of a residential building in Yakutsk  the Sakha Republic's the biggest city  collapsed when the thawing ground underneath it destabilised.

Furthermore, last August, more than four million hectares of forest in Siberia were on fire, according to Greenpeace.

The director of the group's Russian wing, Vladimir Chuprov, has also warned that the fires started raging much earlier this year  as they normally begin only in July.

Siberia's increasing temperatures have been linked to the wildfires that grow bigger and more severe every year, as well as thawing of the permafrost. Pictured, a beach on the bank of the river Yana in Verkhoyansk is empty of people at sunset on June 23, 2020 as a result of the heat

'The Arctic is figuratively and literally on fire,' said University of Michigan climate scientist Jonathan Overpeck. 'It's warming much faster than we thought it would in response to rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and this warming is leading to a rapid meltdown and increase in wildfires.' Pictured, children play in the Krugloe lake, on the outskirts of the Siberian town of Verkhoyansk, during the recent heatwave

Persistently warm weather, especially when such is coupled with wildfires, causes permafrost to thaw faster than usual, said University of Alaska Fairbanks ecologist Katey Walter Anthony.

This, in turn, exacerbates global warming by releasing large amounts of methane  a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide  she added.

'Methane escaping from permafrost thaw sites enters the atmosphere and circulates around the globe,' she explained.

'Methane that originates in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. It has global ramifications.'

In the summer, unusual warming lessens the temperature and pressure differences between the Arctic and the lower latitudes where more people live, said climatologist Judah Cohen of the US-based Atmospheric Environmental Research.

This, he explained, seems to weaken and sometimes even stall the jet stream, meaning that weather systems such as those bringing extreme heat or rain can remain fixed over places for days on end.

Unseasonable warmth has been felt across much of Siberia this year  averaging around 14.4F (8C) above average in the central-north region between January and May, the climate science non-profit organisation Berkeley Earth has reported. Pictured, the weather in Verkhoyansk on June 21, one day after record breaking temperatures were reached

CBS News Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli wrote on Twitter than the recent heatwave in Siberia has been 'nothing short of remarkable'

Thermometers in the town of Verkhoyansk in Russia's Sakha Republic reached a peak of 32F (18C) above the normal level for this time of year on June 20, 2020

According to Russian meteorologists, a combination of factors contributed to the recent spike in Siberian temperatures  including the presence of a high-pressure suystem, a clear sky with a high sun, long daylight hours and the short, warm nights.

'The ground surface heats up intensively. The nights are very warm, the air doesn't have time to cool and continues to heat up for several days,' explained meteorologist Marina Makarova of the Russian federal service for environmental monitoring.

The temperature in Verkhoyansk was abnormally high from June 1922, she added.

Scientists agree that the spike is indicative of a much bigger global warming trend.

'The key point is that the climate is changing and global temperatures are warming,' concluded the UK's Copernicus Climate Change Service expert Freja Vamborg.

'We will be breaking more and more records as we go.'
DENVER, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth consecutive year, RE/MAX has more qualifying agents than any other real estate brand in the annual ranking of "America's Best Real Estate Professionals" by REAL Trends + Tom Ferry. Consisting of 14,626 individual producers and team leaders, "America's Best Real Estate Professionals" is the industry's largest ranking of agents based on homes sold. With 2,755 qualifying RE/MAX agents, one in five participating agents are members of the global real estate franchisor's network.

"We believe real estate buyers and sellers deserve the world-class services of outstanding agents who are skilled, driven and focused on achieving outstanding results," said Adam Contos, CEO of RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. "Dominating the list of 'America's Best Real Estate Professionals' once again with more qualifying agents than any other brand is a testament to that belief and our brand promise to the consumer."

The REAL Trends + Tom Ferry "America's Best Real Estate Professionals" survey ranks participating agents and teams in the United States based on 2019 residential transaction sides and sales volume. The survey is divided into 12 categories. Six categories for the type of producer are: individual producers, individuals who own their brokerage, teams who own their brokerage, and teams of three sizes: 2-5 agents, 6-10 and 11 or more. The same six categories are used to classify both transaction sides and sales volume.

The rankings were open to individual agents who closed at least 50 transaction sides, or $20 million in sales volume last year and teams who closed at least 75 transaction sides, or $30 million in sales volume.

Notable recognitions of RE/MAX agents and teams in the 2020 REAL Trends + Tom Ferry "America's Best Real Estate Professionals" include:

Of the rankings for transaction sides, 26% of all individual agents and teams (2,460 of 9,616) featured in the 2020 edition of the annual survey were members of the RE/MAX network.

1,507 individual RE/MAX agents qualified for the rankings.

RE/MAX agents who earned spots based on transaction sides averaged 71 sides last year.

RE/MAX agents who made the list based on sales volume averaged $30.8 million in 2019.

in 2019. 1,148 RE/MAX teams qualified for the rankings.

RE/MAX small teams averaged three members with 113 transaction sides and $48.4 million in volume; medium teams averaged seven members, with 162 sides and $55.4 million ; and large teams averaged 19 members with 349 sides and $111.9 million .

in volume; medium teams averaged seven members, with 162 sides and ; and large teams averaged 19 members with 349 sides and . RE/MAX dominated four categories that ranked agents and team leaders who own their brokerage. In the Agent-Owned Brokerage categories, RE/MAX agents made up 80% of the 313 qualifiers for transaction sides and 52% of the 182 rankings for sales volume. In the Team-Owned Brokerage categories, RE/MAX team leaders comprised 50% of the 495 qualifying for transaction sides and 39% of the 379 ranked for sales volume.

28% of the agents and teams in "America's Best" are ranked for both sides and volume, including 837 RE/MAX agents and teams.

In its eighth year, "America's Best Real Estate Professionals" is an offshoot of the REAL Trends "The Thousand" as advertised in The Wall Street Journal. The Thousand ranks the most productive 1,000 agents in the U.S.

Among the rankings for individual agents and agent teams closing the most residential transaction sides in "The Thousand," 111 are by RE/MAX agents  more than any other brand. Agents who qualified for "The Thousand" also are included in "America's Best."

About the RE/MAX Network

As one of the leading global real estate franchisors, RE/MAX, LLC is a subsidiary of RE/MAX Holdings (NYSE: RMAX) with over 130,000 agents in more than 110 countries and territories. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX, as measured by residential transaction sides. Dedicated to innovation and change in the real estate industry, RE/MAX launched Motto Mortgage, a ground-breaking mortgage franchisor, in 2016 and acquired booj, a real estate technology company, in 2018. RE/MAX agents have lived, worked and served in their local communities for decades, raising millions of dollars every year for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other charities. To learn more about RE/MAX, to search home listings or find an agent in your community, please visit www.remax.com. For the latest news about RE/MAX, please visit news.remax.com.

SOURCE RE/MAX, LLC
- Museveni took to his social media pages to celebrate his wife's birthday in a special message

- Janet Museveni turned 72 years on Wednesday, June 24, and from the look of things, she is aging like fine wine

- Ugandans and other netizens joined the president to wish the first lady a happy birthday

Uganda's President, Yoweri Museveni took to social media on Wednesday, June 24 to celebrate his wife's birthday as she turned 72.

Ugandans and other netizens joined the president in wishing the first lady a happy birthday.

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Uganda's first lady Mama Janet turned a year older on Wednesday, June 24. Photo: Janet. Source: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: CS Mutahi Kagwe confirms rapper Kahush is his youngest son after netizens doubted artiste

In a sweet message shared on Museveni's Facebook, the head of state wished his wife well as she added another year in life.

He thanked her for being a rock to their family and a mother to the entire Uganda nation.

"On Maama Janet's birthday this 24th of June, I would like to congratulate her. I thank her for being a rock to our family and mother to our larger family of Uganda," wrote Museveni.

READ ALSO: Wafanyakazi wa KPLC washambuliwa na wakazi mtaani Umoja baada ya kuwakatia umeme

Further, the tough president wished his wife a long life and prayed to God to continue blessing her.

"May God continue to bless and keep her," added Museveni.

READ ALSO: Magoha atangaza idadi ya wanafunzi watakaoruhusiwa katika darasa moja

Accompanying the beautiful message were two gorgeous photos of the first lady looking very elegant.

Netizens took to the comment section to celebrate Janet with kind words and wished her a long life.

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Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who is in Ladakh for a security review, on Wednesday awarded commendation cards to three soldiers who were part of the outnumbered Indian squad that bravely fought off Chinese troops during a brutal brawl in Galwan Valley on June 15, an official said on Wednesday.

The clash left 20 Indian soldiers and an unconfirmed number of Chinese troops dead.

Among the other troops who were awarded commendation cards by Naravane were two soldiers who displayed courage and resolve during a violent face-off with Chinese troops near Pangong Tso on May 5-6, the official said.

Both face-offs saw Chinese soldiers gather in large numbers and attack Indian troops with stones, iron rods and nail-studded clubs.

The army chief was briefed on the latest developments along the disputed border and the progress of military talks with China after a meeting between senior commanders on Monday at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control, the official said.

The army chief is in Ladakh at a time when both armies are working out the modalities of a disengagement plan even as the Chinese army has not stopped its buildup in key strategic areas.

Naravane visited Durbuk and Chushul in eastern Ladakh and also undertook an aerial survey of areas where the army is deployed, he added. The army chief is expected to interact with more soldiers on the ground on Thursday before flying back to Delhi.

On reaching Leh on Tuesday, he was driven straight to the military hospital where soldiers injured in the June 15 skirmish are undergoing medical treatment.

This is the army chiefs second visit to Ladakh after border tensions erupted in early May. He had earlier visited Leh on May 22.

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.

Last week, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria made a low-key visit to Ladakh to review the Indian Air Forces preparedness in the sector, where the IAF is operating its fighter jets and new attack and heavy-lift helicopters.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on June 24, 2020

2020/06/24

Recently the incident in the Galwan Valley in the western sector of the China-India border has received much attention. I already went through the ins and outs of the whole incident on June 19. The merits of what happened are very clear. None of the responsibility lies with China.

First, it is the Indian border troops who crossed the line first. The Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector of the boundary is clear. The Galwan Valley lies on the Chinese side of the LAC. The Chinese border troops, who have all along been patrolling the area, know very well the situation of management and control on the ground. Since April this year, the Indian side has been building roads and bridges at and across the LAC in the Galwan Valley, unilaterally changing the status quo. China has lodged representations on multiple occasions. On the early morning of May 6, Indian border troops crossed the LAC under the cover of night, trespassed into China's territory and deliberately made provocations. The Chinese border troops were compelled to take necessary measures to respond to the situation on the ground and strengthen management and control along the border.

Second, it is the Indian side that violated bilateral consensus and started provocations first. In the presence of China's diplomatic representations and military pressure, India originally agreed to withdraw its personnel who crossed the LAC and dismantled the facilities it built across the LAC as China demanded. In the first round of commander-level talks on June 6, the Indian side promised that it would not cross the river mouth of the Galwan river to patrol and build facilities. The two sides also agreed to build observation posts on either side of the Galwan river mouth. However, the Indian side later reneged on the consensus, wantonly demanded that China dismantle its observation post, and once again crossed the line for provocations, which triggered the conflict.

Third, it is the India side that violated international rules and attacked the Chinese side first. On the night of June 15, Indian frontline troops breached the agreement of the commander-level talks, once again crossed the LAC, and demolished the tents built by the Chinese side. When the Chinese army officers and soldiers came to negotiate as per customary practices on handling border-related issues, the Indian troops attacked them in an abrupt and violent manner, which led to fierce physical confrontations and casualties. The adventurous acts of the Indian army seriously violated the agreements reached between the two countries on the border issue, and breached the basic norms governing international relations. The acts of the Indian army are of a vile nature and have severe consequences.

As agreed by the Chinese and Indian foreign ministers during their phone call on June 17, both sides agreed to handle in a just manner the serious situation caused by the Galwan Valley clash, observe the agreement reached during the commander-level talks, cool down the situation on the ground as soon as possible, and uphold peace and tranquility of the border areas in accordance with bilateral agreements reached so far. From June 22 to 23, the two sides held the second round of commander-level talks and agreed to jointly take necessary measures for de-escalation, and work together for the peace and tranquility in the border areas. We hope the Indian side can strictly observe and implement the above-mentioned consensus, meet China halfway and take real actions to restore peace and stability in the border areas.

CCTV: The US State Department designated four Chinese media's US operations as foreign missions. Not long ago it began restricting visas for Chinese journalists. These measures will undoubtedly affect the work and life of Chinese journalists stationed in the US. Is China considering countermeasures for American media and journalists?

Zhao Lijian: China has solemnly stated its position and repeatedly lodged stern representations with the US side.

The US has long been applying discriminatory restrictive measures with regard to visa and other matters on Chinese journalists, for example, only granting them single-entry visas. As a result, many could not get back to their posts in the US because their visa applications were denied without cause after a vacation in China. Besides, Chinese journalists are required to provide a large amount of additional materials when applying for a visa. Since 2018, more than 20 Chinese journalists' visa applications have been denied without cause. Last month, the US limited visas for Chinese journalists to a maximum 90-day stay, which means they will have to apply for an extension every 90 days and will be forced to leave if not granted an extension. This is indeed harsh treatment compared to the one-year multiple-entry visa China grants resident US journalists. It is clear that the US is deliberately making things hard for Chinese journalists and seriously disrupting Chinese media's reporting in the US.

Now the US has designated four more Chinese news agencies as foreign missions in further escalation of its political oppression targeting Chinese media. This fully exposes the stark double standards and bullying approach behind the US banner of press freedom.

In response to the wanton oppression by the US side, China already announced countermeasures in March. We urge the US to stop political oppression and wanton restrictions targeting Chinese media, immediately change course and correct its mistake. If it is bent on going down the wrong path, China will have to take legitimate necessary reactions.

China Daily: Speaking via videolink at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit and in some recent interview, US Secretary of State Pompeo attacked China on a range of issues including Xinjiang-related matters. Could you comment on that?

Zhao Lijian: Mr. Pompeo has been launching unwarranted attacks and slanders against China on every possible occasion. However, lies repeated a thousand times are still lies. His groundless cliches expose deep-rooted Cold-War mentality, a zero-sum game mindset, ideological bias, and his nature of "lying, cheating and stealing."

One can never wake a person who pretends to be asleep. The lie of "one million Uyghurs detained in Xinjiang" was actually made up by an NGO funded by the National Endowment for Democracy after interviewing only eight persons. And Mr. Pompeo blindly cites it with no verification. China has stressed time and again that the vocational education and training centers lawfully set up in Xinjiang are active attempt on and useful exploration of preventive counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures. They are essentially the same as other countries' practice to this end, and they have already yielded good results. Xinjiang hasn't seen a single terror incident in the past three years or so. By the end of 2019, all trainees who received trainings including standard spoken and written Chinese, understanding of the law, vocational skills, and deradicalization had completed their courses, secured employment, and started a life of tranquility.

The Chinese government protects its people's freedom of religious belief. In China there are nearly 200 million religious believers, of which over 20 million are Muslims. There are more than 380,000 clerical personnel, approximately 5,500 religious groups and more than 140,000 places of worship registered for religious activities. Xinjiang now has 24,400 mosques, one for every 530 Muslims. By contrast, the number of mosques in the US nationwide is less than one tenth of those in Xinjiang. Mr. Pompeo's repetition of lies just cannot change those facts.

According to US media reports, the country is witnessing paltry efforts on handling COVID-19, an economy falling into recession, serious systemic racism, social disturbances, drug abuse and frequent mass shootings. How come Mr. Pompeo still accuses China with such blatancy? My advice to him: spend some time on managing domestic affairs before pointing finger at others.

CNR: On June 23, the US State Department released the 2020 Report on Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments (Compliance Report) in which it accused China of not fulfilling its commitment to nuclear testing moratorium and missile non-proliferation and questioned the voluntary Biological Weapons Convention confidence building measure (BWC CBM) declarations China has submitted. What's your comment?

Zhao Lijian: We noted the report. The US government has been compiling the so-called Compliance Report annually, posturing as a referee or judge to criticize other countries' arms control and non-proliferation measures and style itself as a "model". This is as absurd as the thief calling others thieves.

In recent years, the US, under the banner of "America first", has walked back on one commitment after another. It pulled out of the JCPOA and the INF Treaty, the Open Skies Treaty, unsigned the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), stood singly in the way of negotiations for a BWC protocol that includes a verification regime, has yet to destroy its chemical weapons stockpile, is deliberating resuming nuclear tests, and adopts a negative attitude on extending the New START with Russia. What it has done seriously disrupts global strategic equilibrium and stability and hampers international arms control and disarmament process. It has been condemned by the international community. However, instead of reflecting upon itself, the US tries to throw mud at others in an attempt to create pretexts for its own abandonment of obligations and look for scapegoats to deflect attention. The whole world, including insightful people in the US, can see through this.

I need to point out that the US accusations against China are purely groundless fabrications. With a high sense of responsibility, China faithfully fulfills its international obligations and commitments and firmly upholds multilateralism, contributing to safeguarding the international arms control and non-proliferation regime as well as world peace and security. You may have noted that the NPC Standing Committee has recently passed the decision on China's accession to the ATT. This stands in sharp contrast with the US withdrawal from the same treaty. When it comes to compliance with arms control instruments, the international community has a fair judgment on whether China or the US has a better record.

Shenzhen TV: John Bolton wrote in his new book that Trump wants to use Meng Wanzhou as a bargaining chip in trade talks. Prosecutions against Meng could be dropped in exchange for concessions from China. Can you confirm that?

Zhao Lijian: You may need to ask the US side for what was mentioned in the book.

China's position on the Meng Wanzhou incident is consistent and clear.

CRI: On June 23, the Arab League foreign ministers held an emergency meeting on Libya and adopted a resolution opposing external military intervention, calling for an immediate ceasefire and voicing support for a political settlement. Does China have a comment?

Zhao Lijian: China supports the Arab League in playing an active role on the Libya issue and welcomes all mediation efforts towards easing tensions, including the Cairo Declaration of June 6 proposed by parties including Egypt. China opposes military intervention by foreign forces and believes that military means is a dead end in Libya. Relevant parties should seek a political settlement under UN auspices while attaching high importance to counter-terrorism efforts. China calls on the conflicting parties to put national interests and people's welfare first, hold negotiations on ceasefire soon as possible, and work to stabilize the situation.

FSN: Some Canadian officials and legal experts have suggested that Canada could legally release Meng Wanzhou, but it would comprise the integrity of Canada's democracy and justice system. Do you have any comment to that? Also, there are several ways that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor could be offered a way of accessing consular services. Why is this being denied to them even though this is the limited form of access to the outside world?

Zhao Lijian: Besides what you mentioned, we have also seen reports of an interview with Kovrig's wife on June 23, during which she said that the Canadian justice minister had the authority to stop Meng Wanzhou's extradition process at any point; such options are within the rule of law and could open up space for resolution to the situation of the two Canadians.

China has repeatedly stated its position on the case involving Michael Kovrig. The case is handled by competent authorities in accordance with law, and Kovrig's legitimate rights are fully guaranteed. After COVID-19 broke out, relevant Chinese authorities overcame inconveniences and difficulties brought by the epidemic and took humanitarian measures to ensure the safety and health of detainees including Kovrig. In light of the health conditions of Kovrig's family, the authorities, acting within the scope of legal provisions, allowed Kovrig to speak by phone with his family, for which he expressed gratefulness. As to consular visits, they will be resumed duly once the epidemic situation gets better.

With regard to the Meng Wanzhou incident, China's position is clear. It is a serious political incident. Even if it is a judicial case as the Canadian side claims, the Canadian justice minister has the authority to stop the extradition process at any point, as Kovrig's wife said. This shows that the Canadian government can actually handle this incident in a just manner according to Canadian laws. Once again we urge the Canadian side to earnestly respect the spirit of rule of law, treat China's solemn position and concerns seriously, stop political manipulation, immediately release Ms. Meng and ensure her safe return to China.

The Paper: Japanese media say that Katsuo Nishiyama, a Japanese scholar, recently released a government document of the study and production of bacteria by Unit 731 in China, which is the first published official document in this field. Does China have any comment on it?

Zhao Lijian: During the WWII, in blatant violation of international law, the Japanese army operated a most horrific bacterial warfare with the Chinese people during its aggression against China. The official document disclosed by the Japanese scholar is another solid proof of the bacterial warfare launched by the Japanese militarism. There's no room for denial or sophistry. We appreciate the courage of people with vision in Japan to reveal and face the historical facts. We hope the Japanese side can heed the call of justice, both domestically and internationally, earnestly face up to and show remorse for its history of militarist aggression, and avoid a repetition of past lessons.

Sputnik News Agency: Today Russia is holding a military parade to commemorate the 75th anniversary of victory of the Great Patriotic War. Can you talk about the PLA's participation in the parade?

Zhao Lijian: We noted Russia is holding the military parade in Moscow's Red Square to commemorate the 75th anniversary of victory of the Great Patriotic War. It will surely be a complete success.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the victory of WWII. As a major victorious nation, Russia made important contributions to the victory of the war. Russia's grand commemoration of this occasion shows that it respects and remembers history and is firmly determined to safeguard outcomes of the victory of WWII. China is also a major victorious nation of the WWII. We stand together with Russia and the rest of the international community to uphold the correct view on WWII and oppose attempts at misrepresenting history or whitewashing aggression to safeguard the hard-won world peace.

China has sent a delegation and guards of honor to the parade. More information will be released in due course.

MBC: Tomorrow will be the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. Now the Korean Peninsula is still in a state of war, and China and the US still have various differences and concern on matters surrounding the Peninsula. What is China's comment on the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and on the attitude of US?

Zhao Lijian: Safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula serves the interests of all parties and requires the efforts from all sides. In recent years, the Peninsula issue has been brought back onto the right track of political settlement. We hope all parties can cherish this hard-won momentum, stick to dialogue and consultation, and work together to realize lasting peace and stability on the Peninsula and in the region.

AFP: Lowy Institute had an opinion poll which showed that the number of Australians who trust China to act responsibly on the world stage fell from 52 percent in 2018 to a record low of 23 percent. Do you have a comment? What is your evaluation of the current China-Australia relations?

Zhao Lijian: Australia's erroneous practices in its relations with China are not conducive to creating a favorable atmosphere of public opinion between the two peoples.

China's position on developing China-Australia relations is consistent and clear. A healthy and stable China-Australia relationship serves the common interests of both countries, but it requires the joint efforts of both sides. We hope that the Australian side will work with the Chinese side, earnestly uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and do more things that are conducive to China-Australia mutual trust and cooperation and in line with the spirit of China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Paper: According to Japanese media reports, on June 24, the Japanese government will hold a national security meeting to revise the current National Security Strategy and discuss contents such as having the capability to attack enemies' bases. I wonder if you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: We noted this report. Due to historical reasons, developments in Japan's military security have been closely followed by its Asian neighbors and the international community. Some in Japan have long been hyping up so-called "external threats" in order to free itself under various pretexts and achieve some breakthroughs in its military security policies. However, this intention has been seen through by the world. We urge Japan to draw lessons from history, faithfully implement its "exclusively defense-oriented policy", and stay committed to peaceful development by taking real actions.

China News Service: The Chinese medical team to Bangladesh has returned home after completing their mission. Can you give us more details on their work in Bangladesh?

Zhao Lijian: At the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, Bangladesh gave China support and assistance. Likewise, when COVID-19 spread in Bangladesh, the Chinese government and companies provided support and help to Bangladesh to the best of our ability. The team of medical experts you mentioned arrived at Bangladesh on June 8 and returned to China after accomplishing their mission on June 22.

During their 14-day stay in Bangladesh, the experts visited health authorities, key hospitals and nucleic acid testing labs, had discussions with Bangladeshi medical personnel, talked in detail of China's anti-epidemic experience, conducted technical training, provided guidance on epidemic prevention and control, and answered questions raised by the Bangladeshi side regarding the practical problems they encountered. The Bangladesh side welcomes and highly recognizes their efforts, which they believe will enhance local capacity of prevention and control.

I'd like to stress that the Chinese expert team was the first official medical team sent to Bangladesh by a foreign country after the epidemic broke out in Bangladesh, vividly demonstrating the fine tradition of mutual assistance between China and Bangladesh. I believe our friendship will be further consolidated and elevated as we fight the pandemic together.

China will continue standing firmly with Bangladesh and other regional countries to combat COVID-19 together. Hand in hand, we are striving for an ultimate victory against the virus at an early date.

TASS: Wall Street Journal reported on June 23 that to get close to President Trump, in April 2017, four Chinese nationals poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into Trump Victory for his re-election. What's the foreign ministry's comment on it?

Zhao Lijian: I haven't read that report. It is China's consistent policy that we do not interfere in other countries' internal affairs. We are not interested in the presidential election in the US.

***

According to the public holiday schedule for the coming dragon-boat festival, the MFA press conference will be adjourned on Thursday (June 25) and Friday (June 26) and resumed on Monday (June 29). In the meantime, you may call or fax the spokesperson's office with your questions as usual.
As coronavirus infections increase in Iraq, doctors warn the healthcare system is close to collapse.

Iraq is seeing an unprecedented rise in the number of coronavirus infections as doctors warn the healthcare system is close to collapse.

Ten days after the government decided to partly ease the curfew in Iraq, the rate of COVID-19 infections is rising rapidly, with more than 1,800 new cases recorded a day

Al Jazeeras Simona Foltyn reports from Baghdad.
The latest flurry of coronavirus cases across European meat plants has confirmed their status as pandemic hot spots and is now starting to disrupt shipments to key customer China.

More than 1,550 employees of a German slaughterhouse have tested positive for the virus this month, and at least eight plants in the U.K. have also found infections among workers. That adds to hundreds of COVID-19 cases reported earlier this year and poses a fresh challenge for the regions governments, which are reopening their economies after months of lockdowns.

The European Union is a heavyweight in global meat markets, ranking as the worlds top pork exporter and the largest purveyor to China. Europes role has gained greater prominence in recent years amid stronger demand from the Asian nation and increasing trade tensions between China and the U.S.

Here are five key points to watch:

1) How are meat plants around the world being affected?

Staff outbreaks have temporarily shuttered or slowed dozens of plants in the Americas, with more halted from Australia to the U.K. Slaughterhouse staff often work in close proximity in cold environments, potentially boosting the chance of transmission. The mass closures in the U.S. spurred some retailers to ration meat sales and burger chains reported temporary shortages. Farmers were also forced to cull thousands of livestock as there wasnt space to sell them.

2) Whats different in Europe?

Europes meat plants tend to be smaller than their U.S. counterparts. Theres also spare processing capacity, allowing some flexibility to process animals or add shifts at alternate sites. But the risks facing workers are similar worldwide. Germanys latest outbreak is massive and pushed the national infection rate well above government targets. Schools and child-care centres in the region were closed, and the army was summoned to help with testing.

The industry relies partly on contract workers from eastern Europe, who may also commute together and share housing. Thats helped companies circumvent stricter rules on working conditions, according to Germanys labour minister, who said hed like to speed up new rules aimed at cracking down on the practices.

3) Is there any impact on European consumers?

Unlike the U.S., Europe hasnt seen widespread meat shortages, and farm-gate livestock prices retreated as shuttered restaurants and cancelled festivals depressed consumption. The European Commission proposed a private-storage program in April to prop up beef and dairy markets. Retail sales for products like mince meat climbed as citizens stayed home, but fancier fare piled up in freezers.

4) Are companies changing practices?

In Germany, the government signalled that meat packers must stop subcontracting workers and will face stiffer fines for violating labour laws from next year. A few companies have since pledged to begin hiring workers directly and improve housing standards. Producers in Europe are also introducing measures to ensure distancing during staff commutes, while improving protective gear for employees.

The British Poultry Council said its unfair to portray meat-processing sites as virus epicentres, adding that businesses are limited in what they control outside the workplace. The trade association said its members have staggered shifts and added perspex screens to safeguard the health of their workers, but added that the availability of personal protective equipment remains a concern.

5) How are trade flows being disrupted?

A German abattoir recently stopped exports to China, and a U.K. pork plant also voluntarily halted sales after a few workers contracted the virus. That comes as the Asian nation  the worlds top consumer  has grown wary that imports may be a cause of domestic outbreaks. All Chinas testing of foreign meat has proven negative and officials agreed with global experts that food was an unlikely culprit. Still, the recent stoppages raise the prospect of further disruptions ahead.

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As the Republican National Committee moves its convention to Florida, 58 per cent of voters in Jacksonville claimed in a poll released Wednesday that they don't want the events to take place there.

While six in 10 are against the convention being held in their hometown, 42 per cent of respondents in the University of North Florida poll said they support the move of location.

Responses relied heavily on the individual's party identification, with only 10 per cent of Democratic Jacksonville voters claiming they either somewhat or strongly support the convention being held there and 81 per cent of Republicans feeling the same way.

But of independent voters, 62 percent said in the survey taken June 17-22 that they were opposed to the convention being held there.

The RNC announced earlier this month it is moving its marquee events for the August convention, including President Doanld Trump's nomination acceptance speech, to Jacksonville, Florida.

58 per cent of registered voters in Jacksonville, Florida are opposed to the Republican National Committee holding its convention there in August, while 42 per cent support the move

Trump urged the RNC to move the location of his coronation speech, as well as other marquee events, so he could pack an arena in Florida after North Carolina, the original site of the convention, refused to allow his desired large gathering

Florida saw its biggest day increase of new cases of coronavirus, with 5,500 new cases on Sunday, and 71 per cent of people said they are concerned the convention could increase the spread of COVID-19 in the state

The right-leaning city, which went 48.6 per cent for Trump in 2016, offered to host the event after the president complained about the conditions Charlotte, the original host city, was setting forth.

Trump also changed his permanent residence to the swing state last year, and now votes there, as he spends most of his winters snow-birding at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

Of the voters polled in Jacksonville, 71 per cent said they are concerned that COVID-19 will spread at a higher rate due to the convention.

The concerns come as Florida just saw its record high number of new cases on Wednesday with more than 5,500 new positive tests for coronavirus.

Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott said Tuesday that he is insisting attendees wear masks and social distance at the event.

Outside of concerns over coronavirus, 65 per cent of the 2,524 registered voters living in Jacksonville said they worried about 'social unrest' that could surround the convention.

The move in location came after Democrats in North Carolina would not allow Trump's desired packed arena due to continuing concerns over coronavirus.

Some smaller events will still be held in Charlotte, North Carolina so the RNC does not incur any legal costs for failing to fulfil its contract to hold the quadrennial event.

Although Duval County, which encompasses Jacksonville, has gone red it in the past, it has been trending blue recently.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, lost the county by 4.3 percentage points in the 2018 midterm elections.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 01:06:46|Editor: huaxia

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HELSINKI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin met her Norwegian counterpart Erna Solberg on Wednesday via video link to discuss issues including defense cooperation and the actions against COVID-19, according to the Finnish PM Office.

The two prime ministers confirmed in the talks the intention of increasing defense and security policy cooperation between Finland and Norway, a press release by the Finnish PM Office noted.

Increased military cooperation with Norway is one of the goals in the government program of the current Finnish coalition government.

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen told media last month that Finland is working on ways of increasing defence cooperation with Norway.

Norway is a member of NATO, while Finland is one of the NATO "Enhanced Opportunity Partners".

Wednesday's talks between Marin and Solberg also covered the actions of the two countries facing the COVID-19 crisis, supply safety issues and the opening of borders, according to the press release.

Finland and Norway have a shared land border in the far north. Travel between the two countries was opened in early June.

Finland will hold the presidency of the five-nation Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021. During its presidency, Finland will promote green growth, digitalization and democracy as council themes, the release said.

Marin also congratulated Norway for its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a two-year term in 2021-2022. Enditem
The United States sanctioned the captains of five Iranian vessels today for delivering oil to Venezuela.

Irans continued support to Venezuela is yet another instance of Iran wasting its peoples resources on ill-conceived foreign adventurism that prolongs suffering abroad, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

The Treasury Department said the five Iranian tankers delivered 1.5 million barrels of gasoline and gasoline components to Venezuela last month.

Why it matters: Broad US sanctions against Irans energy sector are a major component of President Donald Trumps maximum pressure campaign against Tehran. Additionally, the United States maintains stringent sanctions on Venezuela, going so far as to declare opposition politician Juan Guaido as the countrys president instead of the UN-recognized Nicolas Maduro government.

The US Navy conducted a freedom of navigation operation near the Venezuelan coast earlier this week after another Iranian ship arrived carrying food. Iran also dispatched a flight carrying humanitarian aid to Venezuela earlier this month.

Whats next: Pompeo has also called on the international community to stop flights from Irans Mahan Air, also subject to US sanctions, from reaching Venezuela.

Know more: Alireza Noori examines how Irans new conservative parliament will affect its foreign policy.
Bill Cosby with his wife, Camille, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., in 2017. (Brendan McDermid/File/Reuters)

Camille Cosby is speaking out about husband Bill Cosbys appeal, saying shes very, very pleased his 2018 conviction could be overturned. In an interview with ABC News, Camille doubled down on comparing the unproven sexual assault claims against the comedian to the brutal 1955 murder of Emmett Till. She also suggested the #MeToo movement is racist.

On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled it will hear parts of Bills appeal. The 82-year-old actor has been behind bars for nearly two years for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. He was sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison.

My first reaction is hopefulness, possibilities, Camille told ABCs Linsey Davis. The states highest court ... has said, Wait a minute. There are some problems here. They can be considered for an appeal.

Camille and Bill Cosby have been married for over 50 years, and she has stayed by his side throughout his #MeToo controversy. Dozens of women came forward and said they were sexually assaulted and/or drugged by the entertainer. The Cosby Show star was canceled before cancel culture was a thing  and Camille is unconcerned that many people view her to be on the wrong side of history.

First of all, I dont care what they feel, she said.

The #MeToo movement and movements like them have intentional ignorance pertaining to the history of particular white women  not all white women  but particular white women, who have from the very beginning, pertaining to the enslavement of African people, accused Black males of sexual assault without any proof whatsoever, no proof, anywhere on the face of the earth, Camille added.

And by ignoring that history, they have put out a lie in itself and that is, Because Im female, Im telling the truth. Well, history disproves that, as well, and gender has never, ever equated with truth. So, they need to clean up their acts. And its all of us as women who have not participated in anything nefarious  we know how women can lie, she continued. We know how they can do the same things that men do  that some men do  because there are good men and bad men. There are good women and bad women.

Story continues

Camille defended comparing Bills situation to the horrific lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till. The teen was murdered in Mississippi for allegedly making advances at a white woman, a claim the woman admitted was false years later.

The parallel is that the same age-old thing about particular white women making accusations against Black men that are unproven  Emmett Tills outcome, to mutilate his body in the way that it was, was just really so deeply horrendous, Camille said. I mean  theres a lack of words for that kind of hatefulness.

So you boil this all down to racism? Davis asked Camille. You feel that if your husband were not a Black man that these accusations would not have been made and he would not be in prison?

I dont know that, Camille replied, because some white men have ... there are some who have been sent to prison. But ... its not the same situation as the history [of] particular white women with Black men.

Weve seen them hanging from trees, Camille said of the Black men, once they make those accusations. Weve seen them being incarcerated ... those accusations are made and  once again  unproven. Unproven.

Camille noted that she speaks to Bill daily but wont visit him.

In terms of visiting him, no, I do not want to see my husband in that kind of an environment  and he doesnt want me to see him in that kind of environment, she said. So we are in sync with that, but I speak to him every single day.

Camille added that Bill does not have COVID-19 and is doing fine.

Watch  Bill Cosby granted appeal by Pennsylvania Supreme Court:

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On Friday of June 19, Tennessee legislation passed a heartbeat bill banning abortions after the point a fetal heartbeat can be detected which is as early as six weeks.

After last-minute budget negotiations between the House and Senate on Thursday, the legislation passed the Senate 23-5 just after 12:30 a.m. on a party-line vote.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee supported the legislation that also prohibits abortion in the following circumstances: if the doctor knows that the woman is seeking an abortion because of the child's sex or race, if the doctor knows the woman is seeking an abortion due to a diagnosis of Downs syndrome, and if it is for juveniles in the custody of the Department of Children's Services, including removing the current option to petition a judge for permission.

One of the most important things we can do to be pro-family is to protect the rights of the most vulnerable in our state, and there is none more vulnerable than the unborn.  Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) June 19, 2020

While there is an exception to the restrictions if a woman's life is in danger, there will be no exceptions for rape or incest.

The legislation also requires abortion clinics to post a sign in the waiting room and in patient rooms informing people that it may be possible to reverse a chemical abortion and impose a fine of $10,000 for failing to do so.

Republicans in the legislature have said they hope the legislation will propel their anti-abortion fight to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The Tennessee General Assembly's passage of this dangerous, flat unconstitutional bill is unacceptable," Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee said.

"Lawmakers used this measure in a game of political maneuvering to pass the state budget--pushing it through without regard for the actual Tennesseans who will be denied access to the care they need, including abortion."

Abortion rights organizations attempted to challenge the legislation as similar six-week bans have been struck down in Mississippi, Ohio, and other states.
Australian brand Peachay the Label has released a range of jeans dubbed the 'most flattering ever' for women of all body shapes and sizes.

The jeans, priced between $159.95 and $220, have a tight, high waisted design and wide leg frame - a cut that is particularly flattering for those with 'smaller waistlines and thicker thighs'.

For many women with curvier figures, shopping for jeans can be difficult  but the brand aims make women feel confident through their range of snug yet effortlessly stylish jeans.

Customers can purchase the jeans from the brand's website and can choose from three different shades - light, dark or black denim.

Australian brand Peachay the Label has released a range of jeans dubbed the 'most flattering ever' for women of all body shapes and sizes

The jeans, priced between $159.95 and $220, have a tight, high waisted design and wide leg frame - a cut that is particularly flattering for those with 'smaller waistlines and thicker thighs'

'These jeans (and this company) are incredible! With a waist at least two sizes smaller than my booty, I always dread buying jeans - but these fit beautifully,' one happy customer wrote online.

'I have forever struggled to find a pair of jeans that fits both my waist and bum, trying a million and one different pairs and always feeling so disheartened, but today all of that changed with the arrival of my Peachays!' another said.

A third added: 'I'd never bought jeans online and 95 per cent of jeans fit so badly, but I took the risk and it paid off!! These look just as good in real life as in pictures, if not better.

Rachael Calvert, owner of the swimwear label Marvell Lane, shared a six-minute video on Instagram explaining the constant difficulty she faces finding jeans that fit properly, but was overly amazed with Peachay's Chelsea Jeans.

Ms Calvert said she's a size ten through the waist and a size 12 through the leg  and so she described jean shopping as 'horrifying, demoralising and a horrible process'.

'I've found the best jeans for my juicy customers! You won't hate jeans shopping anymore!' she said in the caption of the video.

'Lots of room, super comfortable and a gorgeous, firm fit on top - the best jeans I think I've ever owned!' she said.

Ms Calvert suggested buying the jeans to suit the size of your waistline.

The label has three jeans of similar style to choose from in different shades  light, dark and black denim

Each pair is locally manufactured and ethically made with organic cotton to have less impact on the environment

Each pair is locally manufactured and ethically made with 100 per cent organic cotton to have less impact on the environment.

Organic cotton needs less water to grow than standard cotton and no chemicals are used, meaning farmers aren't exposed to harsh substances.

Customers will also receive the jeans in reusable compostable mailers that can also be used to store food scraps after dinner.
President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally June 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Indian American immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta told India-West regarding his proclamation June 22: The president is staying true to his creed to shut down the H-1B program, and he has found a way to do it now, using the pandemic as an excuse, he stated. This is going to hurt the economy rather than help it: tech workers have faced no higher levels of unemployment than other sectors, he said. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images)
(Alliance News) - Boris Johnson insisted that test and trace systems were in place to respond to fresh coronavirus outbreaks as England prepares for the widest easing of lockdown measures yet.

The UK prime minister insisted that a "cluster-busting operation" would quickly tackle localised outbreaks and defended the reach of the NHS Test and Trace system, even though the promised app now appears a distant prospect.

Johnson's comments followed calls from health leaders for an urgent review to ensure Britain is properly prepared for the "real risk" of a second wave of coronavirus.

The appeal is backed by the presidents of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Surgeons, GPs and Nursing a as well as the chairman of the British Medical Association.

Johnson was challenged by Labour leader Keir Starmer about the gap between the number of estimated coronavirus cases and those entering the test and trace system.

Starmer also rejected Johnson's claim that no country had yet developed a contact tracing app, pointing out that Germany's had been downloaded 12 million times.

The prospect of much wider social contact as a result of the July 4 easing of restrictions has underlined the need for an effective test and trace operation.

Starmer highlighted the estimated 33,000 people who are thought to have coronavirus in England, comparing the figure to the 10,000 within the test and trace system.

"The prime minister risks making the mistakes he made at the beginning of the pandemic, brushing aside challenge, dashing forward, not estimating properly the risks," the Labour leader said.

"If two-thirds of those with Covid-19 are not being contacted that is a big problem, because if we don't get track, trace and isolate properly running we can't open the economy, we can't prevent infection spreading."

The prime minister told him: "The 33,000 cases in the country is, of course, an estimate. What NHS Test and Trace is doing is contacting the vast majority of those who test positive and their own contacts and getting them to self-isolate, and it is a formidable achievement."

He dismissed concerns raised by Sir Keir that councils did not know whether they had the powers to respond to outbreaks with local lockdowns.

Johnson said there was an "effective cluster-busting operation" to tackle outbreaks.

In response to questions about the promised contact tracing app, Johnson said it was the "icing on the cake" rather than the main part of the system.

He challenged Starmer to name a single country in the world that has a functional contact tracing app "because there isn't one".

The Labour leader shot back: "Germany a 12 million downloads. I checked that overnight."

Downing Street acknowledged that other countries had produced apps, but said they did not "fully and reliably" record contacts in a way that would allow officials to advise people whether to self-isolate or not.

A range of businesses including pubs, restaurants and hotels can reopen in England from July 4 and two households will be able to meet indoors.

Social distancing rules will be eased, with a "one-metre plus" system combining physical distancing with other mitigation measures allowed in areas where keeping a two-metre distance is impossible.

In an open letter to the leaders of all the UK political parties published in the British Medical Journal, health leaders call for a "rapid and forward-looking assessment" of the state of national preparedness in the event of a renewed flare-up.

"While the future shape of the pandemic in the UK is hard to predict, the available evidence indicates that local flare-ups are increasingly likely and a second wave a real risk," they said.

"Many elements of the infrastructure needed to contain the virus are beginning to be put in place, but substantial challenges remain.

"The job now is not only to deal urgently with the wide-ranging impacts of the first phase of the pandemic, but to ensure that the country is adequately prepared to contain a second phase."

Ministers have already said that the temporary Nightingale Hospitals set up in case the NHS was overwhelmed by Covid-19 cases will remain on standby over the coming months.

By David Hughes, PA Political Editor

source: PA

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(CNN)  Joe Biden, with the support of his onetime boss former President Barack Obama, raised more than $7 million Tuesday night, the largest haul from a single fundraiser to date for the former vice president's campaign.

Obama, in their first joint fundraiser of the cycle, struck a hopeful note about the prospect of electing Biden, and, at times, derided President Donald Trump without mentioning him by name, accusing his administration of "actively promoting division." Obama drew a contrast on the coronavirus pandemic, saying, "Unlike our current President, (Democrats) recognize we have a public health crisis going on."

"I am here to say the help is on the way if we do the work, because there's nobody I trust more to be able to heal this country and get back on track than my dear friend Joe Biden," Obama said during the virtual fundraiser.

The Obama fundraiser is a boon for Biden and, by raising more than $11 million in total, represents the most successful finance event of the former vice president's campaign so far. Biden campaign spokesman TJ Ducklo said $7.6 million came from 175,000 grassroots donors, while the remainder was brought in from big donors. The event topped the campaign's previous leader  a fundraiser with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, which brought in $6 million.

Visit CNN's Election Center for full coverage of the 2020 race

The campaign billed the fundraiser as a grassroots event, since there was not a minimum donation required to tune in.

But before the main virtual fundraiser got underway, Biden and Obama did spend some time with high-dollar donors and contest winners in a virtual clutch, according to a Biden aide. The pre-event mimicked what is called a "clutch" during an in-person event, when candidates meet with certain VIPs before a fundraiser or campaign event.

Obama spoke openly about the prospect of Biden becoming president in 2021, arguing that if his onetime running mate wins, he will inherit a tougher situation than the one he inherited in 2009.

"Things were tough in 2008, 2009. We were going through the worst recessions since the Great Depression, a massive financial crisis, we were still in the midst of two wars," Obama said, reflecting on his time in office. "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, and in some ways things were tougher in terms of the financial system than they are today, but there was still a sense of a shared American idea that we could build on."

Obama was expected to make the case for, among other things, Biden's "empathetic leadership" in the middle of an "unprecedented health and economic crisis," an Obama aide said. The Obama aide also noted that the former president planned to campaign for and help raise money for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot this fall.

Obama's appearance Tuesday night marked his re-emergence in the political arena after endorsing Biden in April. Obama's political schedule is expected to get busier after the summer.

Appearing at a virtual town hall earlier this month hosted by My Brother's Keeper Alliance, a program of the Obama Foundation, Obama struck a hopeful tone as he discussed the protests and unrest following the death of George Floyd.

The events of the past few months represent "the kinds of epic changes... in our country that are as profound as anything I have seen in my lifetime," he said.

View 2020 presidential election polling

"There is something different here," Obama said. "You look at those protests, and that was a far more representative cross-section of America out on the streets, peacefully protesting, who felt moved to do something because of the injustices that they have seen. That didn't exist back in the 1960s, that kind of broad coalition."

Obama on Tuesday appeared excited to be touting his former vice president throughout the call. He also told the thousands of people who tuned in to know that just joining the virtual fundraiser was not enough.

"I appreciate you all being on this call but man, this is serious business. Whatever you've done so far is not enough. And I hold myself and Michelle and my kids to the same standard," Obama said. "We have this unique chance to translate a growing awareness of injustice in society into actual legislation and institutional change ... and those moments don't come too often."

After Biden wrapped up the event with a lengthy answer about the United States' standing on the world stage, Obama jumped in.

"That's why we need you as president," he said. "Love you, Joe."

"Love you too, pal," Biden responded.

This headline and story have been updated with additional details from the event.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Obama accuses Trump of 'actively promoting division' in Biden campaign's largest fundraiser yet."
The global terror financing watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), on Wednesday decided to keep Pakistan in the 'Grey List' as it has failed to check flow of money to terror groups like the LeT and the JeM, officials said.

IMAGE: Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa with Prime Minister Imran Khan. Photograph: @OfficialDGISPR/Twitter

The decision was taken at the FATF's third and final plenary held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plenary was held under the Chinese Presidency of Xiangmin Liu.

"The FATF plenary decided continuation of Pakistan in 'Grey List' till its next meeting to be held in October," an official privy to the development told PTI.

The decision has been taken as Pakistan has failed to check flow of money to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the official said.

The FATF decision comes on a day the United States Country Reports on Terrorism slammed Pakistan as a safe harbour for 'regionally focused terrorist groups' and allowing LeT and JeM to operate from its soil.

The US State Department report said Pakistan took modest steps in 2019 to counter terror financing and restrain India-focused militant groups from conducting large-scale attacks following the February attack on a security convoy in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

'Pakistan took action against some externally focused groups, including indicting Lashkar e-Tayiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and associates in three separate terrorism financing cases.

'However, Pakistan remained a safe harbour for other regionally focused terrorist groups. It allowed groups targeting Afghanistan, including the Afghan Taliban and affiliated HQN, as well as groups targeting India, including LeT and its affiliated front organisations, and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), to operate from its territory,' the report said.

A strong Indian delegation with experts on money laundering and terror financing participated in the half-day FATF plenary.

With Pakistan's continuation in the 'Grey List', it will be difficult for the country to get financial aid from the IMF, World Bank, ADB and the European Union, thus further enhancing problems for the nation which is in a precarious financial situation.

If Pakistan fails to comply with the FATF directive by October, there is every possibility that the global body may put the country in the 'Black List' along with North Korea and Iran.

India has been maintaining that Pakistan extends regular support to terror groups like LeT, JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen, whose prime target is India, and has urged FATF to take action against Islamabad.

Pakistan was placed on the 'Grey List' by the FATF in June 2018 and continues to be in the list since then as it has failed to comply with the tasks given by the FATF to stop terror financing.

The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organisations -- the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council.

India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 05:17:31|Editor: huaxia

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A woman wearing a face mask talks with a shop assistant at a pharmacy in Cairo, Egypt, June 23, 2020. Egypt confirmed on Tuesday 1,332 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total cases registered in the country since mid-February to 58,141, said Egyptian Health Ministry. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Egypt confirmed on Tuesday 1,332 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total cases registered in the country since mid-February to 58,141, said Egyptian Health Ministry.

The new infections mark the lowest in five days after a record of 1,774 cases was seen on June 19.

Also 87 patients died from the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 2,365, Egyptian Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement.

He added that 402 patients were completely cured and discharged from hospitals in the past 24 hours, increasing the total recoveries in the country to 15,535.

Megahed reiterated Egypt's close cooperation with the World Health Organization regarding the pandemic, case detection and treatment protocol.

The capital Cairo and the nearby provinces of Giza and Qalioubiya reported the highest numbers of COVID-19 infections in Egypt, while the provinces of the Red Sea, Matrouh and South Sinai saw the lowest, according to the statement.

Earlier in the day, Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed said that 79 percent of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients are less than 60 years old, noting that 85.7 percent of the coronavirus-related deaths already suffered chronic diseases.

Egypt announced its first confirmed COVID-19 case on Feb. 14 and the first death from the respiratory disease on March 8.

On Tuesday, the Egyptian cabinet decided to start from June 27 lifting a partial nighttime curfew that has been imposed in the country for three months, amid a "coexistence plan" to maintain anti-coronavirus precautionary measures while resuming economic activities.

The decision includes reopening restaurants and cafes with 25 percent of their capacity, yet serving smoking hookah or shisha will still be prohibited in these places.

Likewise, theaters and cinemas will be allowed to reopen as of June 27 with a 25-percent capacity.

"Mosques and churches will also be reopened for daily prayers but weekly mass prayers will remain suspended," Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in televised remarks.

All shops will be closed at 9 p.m. local time but restaurants and cafes will be closed at 10 p.m., according to the decision.

Public beaches and parks will remain closed, said the Egyptian prime minister, noting that public means of transport will continue working until midnight.

Egypt and China have been cooperating closely in fighting the pandemic through exchanging medical aid and expertise.

In early February, Egypt provided aid to China to help with its fight against COVID-19 and China later returned favor by sending three batches of medical aid to the North African country, the latest of which was in mid-May.

Since mid-April, Chinese doctors and medical experts have held three video conferences with Egyptian counterparts to share their experience in the prevention and treatment of the novel coronavirus.
Syrian military intelligence officers, who have been accused of torture during the war, are receiving training in the UAE reports Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

The UAE is training Syrian military intelligence officers and providing aid to Bashar al-Assads regime, according to an investiation by Orient XXI.

Syrian regime intelligence officers  thought to be behind the torture and murder of more than 100,000 detainees  are being trained by Emirati officials for between two and 12 months, starting on 15 January.

Thirty-one non-commissioned officers and eight civilian information and communication systems engineers are taking part in technical, scientific, and logistics training by the UAE, according to sources cited by the French publication.

Emirati officers have been providing support to the general staff of the Syrian army, while five Syrian pilots were allowed to train at the Khalifa bin Zayed military academy in the UAE, despite an official Arab League boycott of Assad after the regime brutally suppressed protests from 2011.

The trainees were supervised by four officers of the notorious Syrian intelligence services, including the cousin of Bashar Al-Assad, Lieutenant-Colonel Jihad Barakat, the report stated.

Abu Dhabi has provided food aid and medical supplies to hospitals located in areas controlled by the Syrian regime, since the UAE embassy opened in Damascus late 2018, Orient XXI added.

The Gulf state also financed the reconstruction of public buildings, thermal power stations, and hydraulic plants in the Syrian capital.

It comes after Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed in March made his first publicly known contact with Assad since diplomatic relations were cut in 2012, during a video conference call.

Two weeks after the call, reports stated that MbZ agreed to provide $3 million to the Syrian regime to recommence fighting in Idlib, the Syrian province bordering Turkey where a ceasefire was enacted on 6 March.

The Assad regime is thought to be behind the vast majority of the 500,000 people killed in the Syria war, which broke out in 2011.

The US recently enacted sanctions on Assad officials with the Caesar Act due to gross human rights abuses, named after a military photographer who defected from Syria with photos of thousands of detainees tortured to death in regime jails.

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.
Federal Judge Upholds Trump Administration Rule Requiring Hospitals to Disclose Negotiated Prices

The Trump administration can compel hospitals and insurers to publish negotiated costs for health care services that are normally kept secret from patients, a federal judge has ruled.

The ruling from Judge Carl Nichols with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on June 23 is a victory for the administration, which has been pushing for transparency in the U.S. health care system.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in June last year that pushes hospitals to publicly disclose the actual cost of services in an effort to lower health care costs and empower patients with information they need to find the lowest costs and the highest quality of care.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) introduced a rule in November 2019 that defined standard charges, laid out the publication requirements for hospitals and insurers, and the departments enforcement plans.

At the time, hospital and insurer organizations and advocacy groups objected to the agencys proposals, disputing that the Trump administration has the authority to require the disclosures, which they believe are trade secrets. The hospitals also disputed that the policy would benefit consumers and lead to lower costs, countering that compliance would instead be too burdensome and get in the way of providing services for patients.

The finalization of the rule, which goes into effect January 2021, prompted the American Hospital Association (AHA) to sue, arguing that the White House didnt have the authority to make the directive, had violated the First Amendment in its creation, and had acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner.

Nichols, a Trump appointee, disagreed on June 23, saying that the hospital trade group was attacking transparency measures generally that are intended to enable consumers to make informed decisions.

Hospitals may be affected by market changes and need to respond to a market where consumers are more empowered, but the possibility that the nature of their negotiations with insurers might change is too attenuated from the compelled disclosure to make the Rule unlawful, Nichols wrote in his opinion (pdf).

The decision was welcomed by Trump, who said in a statement on social media that the ruling was a BIG VICTORY for patients.

Federal court UPHOLDS hospital price transparency. Patients deserve to know the price of care BEFORE they enter the hospital. Because of my action, they will. This may very well be bigger than healthcare itself. Congratulations America! the president wrote.

Meanwhile, the AHA said it intends to appeal.

We are disappointed in todays decision in favor of the administrations flawed proposal to mandate disclosure of privately negotiated rates. The proposal does nothing to help patients understand their out-of-pocket costs. It also imposes significant burdens on hospitals at a time when resources are stretched thin and need to be devoted to patient care. Hospitals and health systems have consistently supported efforts to provide patients with information about the costs of their medical care. This is not the right way to achieve this important goal, AHA General Counsel Melinda Hatton said in a statement.

Todays decision was also premised on the erroneous conclusion that the standard charges referenced in current law can be interpreted to include rates negotiated with third-party payers. While the Court ruled that this was a close call, that conclusion clearly does not reflect the experience of hospitals and health care systems. The AHA will appeal this decision and seek expedited review.

Trumps executive order on improving transparency on health care prices and quality required the HHS secretary to propose a regulation to publicly post standard charge information in an easy-to-understand, consumer-friendly, and machine-readable format using consensus-based data standards that will meaningfully inform patients decision making and allow patients to compare prices across hospitals.

It also requires hospitals to regularly update the posted information.

David Mitchell, the founder of advocacy group Patients For Affordable Drugs, said in a statement to The Epoch Times in response to the ruling that he thinks we have to get rid of our system in which prices are secret and hidden from those who must pay them.

Additional reporting by Venus Upadhayaya.
Seetu Kohli Home - One Stop Destination for high end architecture and luxury interior design

If you are looking for high end architecture and luxury interior design in Delhi, Seetu Kohli Home is the right place to visit.

This is a one stop destination for leading Design, Furniture and Lifestyle stuff, which is owned by Seetu Kohli, who is a known Architect and a design fanatic. Her firm is a leading name in the country when it comes to design, furniture and lifestyle stuff.

All the products at Seetu Kohli Home are manufactured with heritage craftsmanship with contemporary designs and outlook.

The brand has been consistently a trendsetting force in the interior and luxury product market.

Thanks to the innovative designs it infused in each and every product, it makes the brand extend its unique aesthetic to the world of interiors, furniture and home decor. Every product seems to have been skilfully designed infusing the modern design sensibilities backed with high-quality materials.

Seetu Kohli Home thus promises the modern day consumers to accomplish the ideal lifestyle, which is impeccably dressed and inviting.

As you take time to explore the brand's website, you get a wide array of luxury, architecture and interior designs with different lines and perspectives. Each of the products falling in this brand remain in compliance with complete harmony speaking a lot about the brand philosophy of elegant lifestyle.

Talking about the brand of Seetu Kohli Home, the journey of the company started way back in 2001, when architect, interior designer and entrepreneur - Seetu Kohli launched her independent firm. Since then it was no looking back for the lady.

She collaborated with groups to embark upon the best products for her firm.

She then embarked with so many products under her brand catering a wide range of luxury, decor and lifestyle products under one roof.

In a sense, the lady was able to make her brand - Seetu Kohli Home as one of the first of its kind the Indo-Italian venture, which offers a wide range of collections of products like furniture, carpets, lighting, and accessories.

Currently, Seetu Kohli Home has its presence in Delhi and a known place in the National Capital. Seetu has numerous ventures in different global locations with an extremely prominent presence in Doha, Qatar.

Recently, she has designed a 60K square-foot sea facing villa in Tanzania, which speaks of the success story of the lady as a design professional in home decor and luxury arena.
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Casein & Caseinate Market Research Report by Type (Calcium Caseinate, Edible, Industrial Casein, Potassium Caseinate, and Sodium Caseinate), by Application (Cosmetica, Food & Beverage, Industrial, and Pharmaceutical) - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913759/?utm_source=PRN







The Global Casein & Caseinate Market is expected to grow from USD 2,574.05 Million in 2019 to USD 3,854.44 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.96%.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Casein & Caseinate to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



On the basis of Type, the Casein & Caseinate Market is studied across Calcium Caseinate, Edible, Industrial Casein, Potassium Caseinate, and Sodium Caseinate.



On the basis of Application, the Casein & Caseinate Market is studied across Cosmetica, Food & Beverage, Industrial, and Pharmaceutical. The Food & Beverage further studied across Dairy Products, Infant Nutrition, and Nutritional Food and Beverages.



On the basis of Geography, the Casein & Caseinate Market is studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region is studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region is studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region is studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Casein & Caseinate Market including Amco Proteins, Arla Foods, Armor Proteines, Danone, Fonterra, FrieslandCampina DMV, Groupe Lactalis, Nestle S.A., Saputo, and Westland Milk Products.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Casein & Caseinate Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Casein & Caseinate Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Casein & Caseinate Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Casein & Caseinate Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Casein & Caseinate Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Casein & Caseinate Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Casein & Caseinate Market?



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913759/?utm_source=PRN



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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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24.06.2020 LISTEN

The Assemblyman for Canteen Electoral Area in the West Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region, Hon. Ananpansah B. Abraham, has secured the support of a community member to fix damaged taps, water hoses among others of two mechanized boreholes.

Mr.Alhassan Sulemana Alancash,a successful Canteen born businessman based in Accra came to the aid of the community after the assembly member had disclosed to him the extent of wastage of water and burden the inherited broken parts of the two mechanised boreholes were posing the community.

The businessman responded to the plea of the honourable Assemblyman by fully funding the fixing of all 12 damaged taps of the two mechanised boreholes serving the community and parts of Damongo township.This includes six taps for each borehole.

Water hoses that would reduce the hitherto stress people with gallons go through to fetch the water have also been fitted to each of the boreholes.

General repair works on some broken parts of the boreholes that until now, caused unnecessary spillage of the water were also carried out.

In what signifies the old adage of "giving back to society,the benevolent gesture by Mr.Sulemana Alancash is born out of love for his community.

The two mechanised boreholes which are under the direct supervision and management of the Municipal Water Board aside other damages,had all the taps broken down for sometime now.

The Assemblyman disclosed that,he had on several occasions notified the Municipal Water Board about the damages and the need for a quick fix but to no avail.This compelled him to call for external support to salvage a situation he had inherited in order ameliorate the plight of the people.

The taps,aside the other broken parts he revealed,were all fastened with ties long before he assumed office,causing unnecessary leakages and wastage of the water.

On assumption of office,the young assemblyman said he was determined to bring changes to the "decade long problem.

He commended Mr.Sulemana for coming to the aid of the community,describing the gesture as a mark of a true Canteen Yaaro.

Like Oliver Twist however,he called on him to still continuo to extend his benevolent hand of support to the community in other areas of endeavor,whilst appealing to other well meaning members of the community and organisations to come to their aid as there are many unresolved challenges in the Electoral Area.

According to him,to work effectively as an assembly man it's very essential to establish good rapport with people of influence who can support your course beyond the assembly,adding that,"I will continuo to lobby and expand my network towards the agenda of gradual and total reformation of the Canteen Electoral Area".

The Development Journalist said it was his vision to stay committed,leave a mark for posterity and see the Canteen Electoral Area as a shining example of "bringing good governance to the doorsteps of the people.

It was his hope that the community will support him to ensure the proper management of the water resources within the area.

He said as part of effort to ensure the proper management of the water resources in the community,his regime superintendent over the formation of a Nine (9)-Member Water Resource Management Committee for the electoral area.

It can be recalled that the assemblyman wrote a letter to the West Gonja Municipal Water Directorate compelling them to implement the president's free water supply in his electoral area and beyond.

Residents of the community who spoke to PAD FM were full of praises for the intervention.

They thanked the businessman for coming to the aid of the community, noting that the initial state of the boreholes caused a lot of wastage of the water and delayed the process of fetching water, since, they had to rely on few taps which were not even in good shape.

The Assemblyman was also commended for conveying the plight of the people to the senior Canteen Yaaro who eventually responded positively in fixing the challenges.

A resident who came to fetch water from one of the boreholes with gallons disclosed to PAD FM News that,it has now become very easy,fast and convenient to draw water from the borehole with his gallons from any location.And that,there was no more wastage of the water as a result of spillage from broken parts.

He was full of gratitude to the businessman for the support,whilst expressing confidence in the abilities of the Assemblyman to lobby for more development for the area.

According to him,the Assemblyman has started very well and will surely take Canteen Electoral Area to the promised land.

He encouraged others to emulate the good example of Mr.Sulemana.

The businessman together with his elder brother have also jointly donated a cash sum of Ghc500.00 to help fix a broken borehole at Canteen Farmer's Council.
You'll either love it or you'll hate it. (Marmite/Lynx)

Yahoo Lifestyle is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Have you ever smelt a body spray and though: Hmmm, not Marmite-y enough? Well, your prayers mayve been answered thanks to Marmites new collaboration with Lynx.

While the male grooming brand and popular spread hardly seem to be a match made in heaven, Marmite lovers would argue that the spread goes with anything - including body wash and spray.

The scent, which has been described as for all lovers has certainly divided opinion, much like Marmite itself.

We must admit, though, the combination of scents do sound pretty desirable: it combines notes of white moss and green herbs with woody scents of creamy sandalwood.

Oh, and also - Marmite.

When the collaboration was released, many people naturally assumed that because we were in the coronavirus lockdown during the last April Fools Day, Marmite and Lynx had decided to fool us a little later this year.

But no, this is the real deal.

Read more: This Marmite hack has gone viral

By combining two iconic legends that have shaped dating and breakfast culture across the nation, we have created a product like no other that is sure to get lovers and haters spreading the news, Jamie Brooks, Lynx Brand Manager, announced.

Weve created the scent for all the lovers, whether thats Lynx or Marmite, but with the controversial nature of the spread, believe it also might help in keeping the haters at arms length.

The controversial spray (3.65) and wash (2.64) are both available in Sainsburys and Morrisons now and the collaboration will role out in further stores from 1 July.

Story continues

Read more: Bar shows off social-distancing re-vamp

In true Marmite fashion, the responses were mixed.

Thank you Lynx! This going to make the 1m rule hard to keep pic.twitter.com/ZSOqMmATe2  Rory Mac (@rory_53) June 23, 2020

Trust me when I say this...its vile.  Jake Phillips (@JAK3_PH1LL1P5) June 23, 2020

Can I spray it on my toast?  Gareth Jenkinson (@Galahad1980) June 23, 2020

Like pizza and ice cream. Two great things but they really shouldn't go together.  St. Charles (@RussellCS1) June 24, 2020

One fan said that the smell of Marmite floating around would make social distancing extra hard.

Thanks Lynx, this is going to make the 1m rule hard to keep, they admitted, speaking about the new rules that will begin to come into effect in England.

Can I spray it on my toast? Another eager Marmite lover questioned. Were going to go with a hard no on that one, folks.

People who have already got their hands on the goods arent all enthused, though.

One not-so-convinced person wrote: Trust me when I say this... its vile.

Another described the two products as great but was a little reserved about whether they would merge together that well: Like pizza and ice cream. Two great things but they really shouldn't go together.

Read more: Lolas Cupcakes reveal red velvet recipe

The lockdown hasnt been an easy ride for Marmite, which had to stop production of some of its larger jars due to a yeast shortage.

Due to brewers yeast being in short supply (one of the main ingredients in Marmite) supplies of Marmite have been affected, the brand announced on Twitter.

As a temporary measure we have stopped production of all sizes apart from our 250g size jar which is available in most major retailers.

Shop the Lynx Africa and Marmite Collection

Lynx Africa and Marmite Limited Edition Body Spray | 3.65 from Superdrug

Lynx Africa and Marmite Limited Edition Shower Gel | 2.85 from Superdrug
CHICAGO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Americaneagle.com, a full-service, global digital agency, has just strengthened its strategic alliance with one of its top partners. Leading SaaS-based ecommerce platform, BigCommerce is now providing additional support to Americaneagle.com through a dedicated Technical Account Manager (TAM). With this TAM and Americaneagle.com's Elite Partner status, agency clients that are on BigCommerce can get the support they need for complex builds, implementations, upgrades, and troubleshooting all from one place.

Acting as an advocate for Americaneagle.com clients, the BigCommerce Technical Account Manager will provide guidance and operational management. From the early sales process to production and post-launch, the TAM will assist the Americaneagle.com team with platform configurations, escalate and prioritize cases, give key recommendations for implementations, and provide expert advice on upcoming releases and enhancements. All of these benefits give clients further peace of mind and a greater return on their BigCommerce investment.

Jon Elslager, Americaneagle.com's BigCommerce Practice Manager said: "For our customers at Americaneagle.com having access to a Technical Account Manager give us the needed assistance within BigCommerce to escalate changes and to keep a pulse on all things new to the platform. Moreover, it helps us to accelerate the rate at which we deliver projects and allows us to more easily stay on time and budget."

Americaneagle.com has been a BigCommerce partner for over 5 years, launching several large scale implementations for clients like Berlin Packaging, Carson Dellosa, and Ohio State University. As an Elite Partner, the team has been at the forefront of the platform's enhancements and along with developing several connectors and tools within the BigCommerce marketplace. The TAM will amplify all of these efforts and strengthen the agency's tight-knit partnership with BigCommerce.

About Americaneagle.com

Americaneagle.com is a full-service, global digital agency based in Des Plaines, Illinois that provides best-in-class web design, development, hosting, post-launch support and digital marketing services. Currently, Americaneagle.com employs 500+ professionals in offices around the world including Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, London, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Washington DC, Switzerland, and Bulgaria. Some of their 2,000+ clients include Berlin Packaging, Delasco, The Ohio State University, Stuart Weitzman, WeatherTech, and Monticello. For additional information, visit www.americaneagle.com

Contact

Michael Svanascini, President

[email protected]

847-699-0300

SOURCE Americaneagle.com

Related Links

http://www.americaneagle.com


Recreating extreme conditions in the lab, like those in the interior of planets and stars, is very complex and can only be achieved for fractions of a second. An international research team led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) has now presented a new, very precise method of evaluating the behavior of mixtures of different elements under high pressure with the help of X-ray scattering. The results hone previous measurements and reinforce the premise that the matter in planets like Neptune and Uranus can alter dramatically: the hot hydrocarbon mixture in the interior of the ice giants can produce a kind of diamond rain, as the researchers report in Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16426-y).

Neither solid, nor fluid, neither gaseous, nor a plasma: the matter inside planets and stars can take on a particular intermediate state, at a temperature of thousands of degrees, and compressed a thousand times more than our Earth's atmosphere - experts call it warm dense matter. There is a lot we still don't know about it. Lab experiments are set to change all that but are technically highly complex because this exotic state does not occur naturally on Earth. Which all means that both the crafting and study of artificial warm dense matter is a challenge for investigators and theoreticians alike. "But in the last resort, we have to understand the processes in warm dense matter if we want to model planets," explains Dr. Dominik Kraus, lead author of the study and the mastermind behind the measuring method. "We now have a very promising new approach based on X-ray scattering. Our experiments are delivering important model parameters where, before, we only had massive uncertainty. This will become ever more relevant the more exoplanets we discover."

Diamond showers - a planetary energy source

At SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford University, the researchers studied the structure of the matter in mixtures that are typical for planets, in the case of ice giants, hydrocarbon, employing intense laser light. Standard plastic film served as a substitute for planetary hydrocarbon. An optical high-energy laser converts the plastic into warm dense matter: short, strong laser pulses generate shock waves in the film and compress the plastic to the extreme. "We produce about 1.5 million bars, that is equivalent to the pressure exerted by the weight of some 250 African elephants on the surface of a thumbnail," says Kraus, illustrating the dimensions. What happens is that the laser shock waves also heat up the matter to approximately 5,000 degrees. To evaluate the effect, researchers shoot an extremely powerful X-ray laser at the sample. Depending on how the light is scattered as it passes through the sample, they can draw inferences about the structure of the matter.

The researchers observed that in a state of warm dense matter, what was formerly plastic produces diamonds. The high pressure can split the hydrocarbon into carbon and hydrogen. The carbon atoms that are released compact into diamond structures. In the case of planets like Neptune and Uranus this means that the formation of diamonds in their interior can trigger an additional energy source. The diamonds are heavier than the matter surrounding them and slowly sink to the core of the planet in a kind of diamond rain. In the process, they rub against their surroundings and generate heat - an important factor for planet models.

X-ray scattering enhances measuring precision

In an earlier experiment, Kraus and his team were the first to prove the possible formation of diamonds in planets using X-ray diffraction in an experimental setting (DOI: 10.1038/s41550-017-0219-9). But the diffraction patterns of X-ray light can only reveal crystalline structures. Using additional detectors, the researchers now also analyzed how the light was scattered by the electrons in the matter. They compared the various scattering components with one another as well as with theoretical simulations. This process enables precise scrutiny of the entire structure of matter. "In the case of the ice giants we now know that the carbon almost exclusively forms diamonds when it separates and does not take on a fluid transitional form," explains Kraus.

The method is not only more sensitive than X-ray diffraction, it can also be used more extensively because it makes fewer technical demands on the light source for the analysis. The international research team is now planning to apply it to hydrogen mixtures similar to those that occur in gaseous planets and to compressed pure hydrogen as found in the interior of small stars. These experiments, which are planned to be conducted, among others, at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF) at the European XFEL, could help researchers to understand the many planets we already know about outside our solar system to ascertain whether life might even be possible on any of them.

Fusion experiments could benefit practically from the new measuring method, as well. Fusion research also tries to recreate on Earth processes that occur under great pressure in stars. During inertial confinement fusion, deuterium and tritium fuels are heated to extremes and compressed - warm dense matter is an intermediate state. With the help of X-ray scattering, this process could be monitored precisely.

###

Publication:

S. Frydrych, J. Vorberger, N. J. Hartley, A. K. Schuster, K. Ramakrishna, A. M. Saunders, T. van Driel, R. W. Falcone, L. B. Fletcher, E. Galtier, E. J. Gamboa, S. H. Glenzer, E. Granados, M. J. MacDonald, A. J. MacKinnon, E. E. McBride, I. Nam, P. Neumayer, A. Pak, K. Voigt, M. Roth, P. Sun, D. O. Gericke, T. Doppner, D. Kraus: Demonstration of X-ray Thomson scattering as diagnostics for miscibility in warm dense matter, in Nature Communications, 2020 (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16426-y)

Additional information:

Dr. Dominik Kraus

Institute of Radiation Physics at HZDR

Phone: +49 351 260-3657 | Email: d.kraus@hzdr.de

Media contact:

Simon Schmitt | Science editor

Phone: +49 351 260-3400 | Email: s.schmitt@hzdr.de

Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf | Bautzner Landstr. 400 | 01328 Dresden / Germany | http://www.hzdr.de

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) performs - as an independent German research center - research in the fields of energy, health, and matter. We focus on answering the following questions:

* How can energy and resources be utilized in an efficient, safe, and sustainable way?

* How can malignant tumors be more precisely visualized, characterized, and more effectively treated?

* How do matter and materials behave under the influence of strong fields and in smallest dimensions?

To help answer these research questions, HZDR operates large-scale facilities, which are also used by visiting researchers: the Ion Beam Center, the High-Magnetic Field Laboratory Dresden, and the ELBE Center for High-Power Radiation Sources.

HZDR is a member of the Helmholtz Association and has six sites (Dresden, Freiberg, Grenoble, Leipzig, Schenefeld near Hamburg) with almost 1,200 members of staff, of whom about 500 are scientists, including 170 Ph.D. candidates.
Back when they were compiling the Bible, a whole bunch of the most embarrassing stuff got left on the cutting room floor. Luckily, a bunch of those once-popular apocryphal books are still floating around out there. We've already told you about some of the most ridiculous and horrifying , but that was just the tip of the drunken, child-hating, surprisingly armpit-centric iceberg.

6 John The Baptist's Severed Head Flies Around Avenging His Murder

The Bible includes the story of John the Baptist, Jesus's cool cousin who is beheaded by the evil King Herod. But things go a little further in The Life Of John The Baptist, an early work traditionally credited to the 4th century Bishop Serapion, which relates how John returned from the dead to exact a truly spectacular revenge. The story picks up when John, already a famous prophet, starts spending all his time screaming "Don't marry your brother's wife" at Herod's palace through an angel-powered megaphone. This annoys Herod, who has indeed married his brother's wife (she was also Herod's niece, although John is apparently fine with this). And it really annoys his new wife, who sends her daughter Salome to do a sexy dance for her husband in exchange for John's execution. Great family situation over there.

John's head is brought to the royal family, who settle down for a really good gloat. But all of a sudden "the head of the blessed John let the locks of its hair loose from the plate, spread them, and flew into the center of the room." John then starts swooping around the room on his hair-o-copter, before the entire roof swings open and he zooms straight into the air and flies around the entire world for 15 years, shouting insults about Herod. Imagine being a poor peasant, minding your own business in some quiet Chinese village, when suddenly a severed head zips on by, rage-screaming about some jerk named Herod.
One of the worlds most famous feature film editors, Joe Bini is the latest expert to give the Wednesday Workshop to local and regional filmmakers.

The free online event will take place on Wednesday 1 July at 2pm and is the final event in the current series of webinars run by Innovate Limerick through Film in Limerick for aspiring and practicing filmmakers in the Mid-West.

Bini has worked with many iconic and original directors working in cinema today. He has collaborated with Werner Herzog on numerous documentaries and narrative films, including: Grizzly Man (2005), Encounters at the End of the World (2007) and Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010).

If that wasnt enough he also edits for Lynne Ramsay (We Need to talk about Kevin (2011); You Were Never Really Here (2017) and Andrea Arnold (American Honey (2016). Alongside his narrative and documentary editing, Bini is also an Emmy Award Winning screenwriter for this work on Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, directed by Marina Zenovich.

Originally, from California, Joe Bini, now lives in London and he will join the Film in Limerick event on Wednesday 1 July to discuss his career and approach to storytelling.

The event will be moderated by one of Ireland leading editors, Mick Mahon. With over 20 years experience in the business, Mahons editing credits include The Queen of Ireland, Citizen Lane and Breaking Out. In 2015 he received an IFTA for the feature documentary, Rough Rider and has been nominated a further eight times across film and television.

Regional Film Manager Paul C. Ryan said: Over the past few months we have had some fantastic guests join us for our Wednesday Workshop series and we are delighted to welcome Joe Bini and Mick Mahon for the final week in what promises to be an inspiring and revealing event.

We have had a strong focus on the art of editing in the webinars and are delighted to finish with two more great editors sharing their approach to the art.

The free series of online training events is run by Film in Limerick and designed for aspiring and practicing filmmakers in the Mid-West and is supported by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board.

Places are limited so you should register for the event here.

In advance of the event, there will be chance to watch clips of Joe Binis work. Links will be emailed once you register for a place on the webinar.
TDT | Manama

His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa received at his palace in Riffa yesterday newly appointed Italian Ambassador to Bahrain Paola Amadei. HRH the Premier congratulated Ambassador Amadei on her appointment to her post, wishing her every success in carrying out her diplomatic duties so as to further bolster relations between the two friendly countries.

HRH the Prime Minister affirmed the Kingdoms keenness to enhance its cooperation with Italy across various fields. The Italian envoy expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation to HRH the Premier for his support and interest in boosting bilateral cooperation in various sectors.

She also conveyed to HRH the Prime Minister the greetings and appreciation of the Italian government for the efforts he is making to enhance the level of cooperation between the two friendly countries.
[June 24, 2020] DNK DEADLINE ALERT - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC Notifies Phoenix Tree Holdings Limited Shareholders of Class Action and Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 26, 2020

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Phoenix Tree Holdings Limited ("Phoenix" or the "Company") (NYSE: DNK) and certain of its officers, on behalf of shareholders who purchased Phoenix American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") pursuant and/or traceable to prospectuses and registration statements, as amended (together, "Offering Materials"), issued in connection with the Company's January 22, 2020 initial public offering ("IPO"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/dnk. This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933. The complaint alleges that the Offering Materials issued connected to the Company's IPO were materially false and/or misleading and/or omitted or misrepresented the following facts: (1) Phoenix received complaints and negative press concerning its questionable business conduct before the IPO, including its practice of persuading renters to procure loans whose proceeds financed the Company's business and operations; (2) copetition in the residential rental market in China had dropped due to coronavirus at the time of the IPO, specifically in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, where Phoenix primarily operated; (3) Phoenix's technological capabilities were unable to enable the Company to overcome the complications and erosion of business resulting from the spread of the coronavirus throughout China at the time of the IPO; (4) Phoenix was competing with extremely adverse developments in China at the time of the IPO due to the coronavirus that presented events, risks and uncertainties that were reasonably likely to materially affect Phoenix's business, operations and financial condition, including a material increase in renter complaints and negative press and the prospect that renters could not continue to pay rent and service fees under conditions then existing as of the IPO; (5) consequently, Phoenix was positioned no differently than its competitors in managing the fallout from customer complaints or adverse implications stemming from the coronavirus in China; and (6) as a result, Phoenix's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.



If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/dnk or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Hurwitz of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Phoenix you have until June 26, 2020 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firm's expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005039/en/

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IN EUROPE, the European Commission will release an emergency fund of 750 billion euros by the end of the year. Brussels has indicated that the 27 national ministries of Culture and Communication have been assured of receiving their share. The balance of power has titled to the national level and some of our affiliates are already in discussion with the appropriate authorities.

In detail, the news in the United Kingdom, in France, North Macedonia, Finland, Ukraine, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Croatia Most of the measures taken at national level are updated regularly by the European Federation of Journalists and are available HERE.

IN AFRICA, discussions are also progressing, although this remains difficult. The Federation of African journalists (FAJ) released a major study on June 15 on the situation of journalists and the media on the continent. A webinar of the FAJ and the IFJ, bringing together around forty participants on June 16, allowed us to better understand the difficulties of each of our affiliates. Some, such as Kenya, Somalia, Mozambique have launched concrete actions in support of journalists. But in the majority of African countries, so much remains to be done while everything remains to be done as in Zimbabwe, Uganda...

IN NORTH AMERICA, IFJ affiliates were quick in writing and proposing at the very beginning solid national recovery plans, even if sometimes discussions were tense or difficult. This is particularly the case in the United States and Canada.

IN LATIN AMERICA, FEPALC, the Federacion de Periodistas de America Latina y el Caribe, also organised a webinar to take stock on the damage caused by the global crisis on the continent, but also to assess the worrying setbacks in the area of freedom of expression, particularly in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia , Chile, Paraguay

IN ASIA-PACIFIC, several online meetings have also taken place, noting that the gap is still as great between the countries of Oceania, Australia et la New Zealand and other countries like India, Myanmar, Indonesia, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mongolia

IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IN THE ARAB WORLD, the IFJ published a report on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, which shows how the region remains an area always complicated for journalists. Special focus on Iraqi Kurdistan, Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Iran
Sometime in the last few weeks, a person died in an encampment below a Toronto expressway. By the time police discovered the body over the weekend, they were unable to identify them  not their estimated age, nor race, nor ethnicity or gender.

The discovery underneath the Gardiner, prompted by a call for an overdose in progress, went unannounced  recorded by police as a sudden death and passed into the hands of a coroner.

The quiet end to a life has alarmed advocates, who question how someone could have died in the city unnoticed.

I just feel like we failed somebody, and I dont really know how to put that into words, said Jennifer Evans, whos been involved in outreach  bringing food and other supports  at the Lake Shore Boulevard and Spadina Avenue site for the last few years.

Evans heard of police in the encampment on Saturday, but has struggled to get answers about what happened.

Encampments have been thrust to the forefront of the conversation about homelessness in Toronto since the COVID-19 crisis began.

When the virus hit, the city stopped clearing outdoor sites. But by late April, they announced plans to start again  with Mayor John Tory citing concerns about the virus spreading through the makeshift camps.

The plan was to offer individuals living outdoors alternate housing in spaces like hotels and apartment buildings before clearings took place. That plan led to standoffs between outreach workers and the city, including one last month at the site beneath the Gardiner. Since the site was cleared, Evans said the vast majority of former residents were now in better housing.

Contrary to the citys position, she said she had encouraged people to live in encampments instead of the shelter system during COVID-19. As of Sunday, seven shelters in the city were reporting outbreaks, with between three and 48 cases per facility.

But this overlooked death left Evans devastated. Somebody got left behind, she said.

On Tuesday afternoon, the person who died was identified as a woman by Mary-Anne Bedard, manager of the citys shelter, support and housing administration, who did not name the deceased.

She originally connected with the citys Streets to Homes in 2011, but dropped off its radar from 2012 to 2017. In 2018, she reconnected with the program, and as of early May, was living at an encampment on Lake Shore. She was offered space in a hotel, but after a few weeks was discharged from the program for, according to Bedard, using racial language and causing property damage. They offered the woman a referral elsewhere, Bedard said, but she refused.

The last time they touched base with the woman was June 5. An autopsy will determine how and when she died.

In light of the death, Bedard reiterated the citys stance that indoor spaces, like shelters and hotels, were safer than living outside. She argued that the city and community agencies had gone to extraordinary efforts to prevent COVID-19 spread in their facilities, noting that encampments offer less opportunity for staff to check on a persons well being.

Bedard, Evans and street nurse Cathy Crowe each pointed out that, when offering support at an encampment, they could only really call out to individuals. If no one responded, they wouldnt start unzipping tents themselves. We dont want to invade peoples privacy, Evans explained.

In her view, the city has made strides. She said there was now a clearer separation between the time encampment residents were offered alternate housing, and the actual clearing of the sites.

Crowe, though, has criticized the city for being slow to address the problem and find alternate housing options.

City Coun. Joe Cressy, whose ward includes the Gardiner encampment, acknowledged on Tuesday that the city needed to do more to address chronic homelessness  specifically noting that theyd have failed if they created new spaces during COVID-19, then sent people back into an overcrowded shelter system. But he also took aim at other levels of government, alleging that they hadnt stepped up.

Have all three levels of government done enough? Absolutely not, he told the Star.

Not all encampments in the city are facing the same conditions. In Trinity Bellwoods Park, Michael OHare and Jason Hollis are among what they estimate to be around 20 people living in tents.

The men had lived in the park for about a week and a half, OHare said on Tuesday, and so far, havent been pressured by anyone to leave. I know there are much worse places to be homeless, OHare said.

Theyve still been able to pick up packed lunches from the Scott Mission shelter and people had dropped off food.

It could be worse, Hollis said.

The encampment beneath the Gardiner is a different story. Its scary underneath Spadina Bridge, OHare said, warning of stray needles scattered among the rocks and rubble.

Early on Tuesday morning, the Gardiner encampment was quiet. Furniture was overturned, belongings were scattered about, an open bag of cereal was perched on the rocks and, near a makeshift shelter slung with blue and green tarp, a single naloxone kit had been discarded.

Thats a person that had a family, and lived in a community of people, Evans said on Tuesday, reflecting on the death discovered on Saturday. And those people want to know what happened.

With files from Donovan Vincent

Victoria Gibson is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering affordable housing. Her reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Reach her via email: victoriagibson@thestar.ca
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath reviews India-Russia defence cooperation with Russian Deputy Prime Minister

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 23 JUN 2020 9:09PM by PIB Delhi

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh reviewed India-Russia defence cooperation with Mr. Yury Borisov, Deputy Prime Minister of Russian Federation in Moscow today. Mr Borisov is the co-chair of the Inter-Governmental Commission with India on Trade & Economic & Scientific Cooperation. He also co-chairs with Raksha Mantri the High Level Committee on Science & Technology. Their discussions on bilateral cooperation and regional issues were very positive and productive.

Raksha Mantri mentioned that despite all the difficulties of the pandemic, India-Russia bilateral relations are keeping good contacts at various levels. India and Russia enjoy Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and defence relationship is one of its important pillars.

Shri Rajnath Singh is on a 3-day visit to Moscow at the invitation of the Russian Defence Minister to attend the 75th Anniversary of Victory Day Parade. Raksha Mantri conveyed his greetings for solemn ceremonies of 75th Victory Day in World War II and congratulated the friendly people of Russia, especially the veterans, who have contributed so much to the common security of India and Russia.

Earlier this morning, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar had discussions with his counterpart, Deputy Defence Minister, Col General Alexander Fomin. They discussed bilateral defence cooperation issues and issues of regional development.

***

ABB/SS/Nampi/KA/DK/Savvy/ADA



(Release ID: 1633801)

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Ho Chi Minh Citys Party chief Nguyen Thien Nhan invited United States businesses to invest in its projects including the Silicon Valley-like Eastern City as he received U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink on Tuesday.

Ambassador Kritenbrink met Secretary Nhan on the formers working trip to the city to promote the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

We are investing in Vietnams success, Ambassador Kritenbrink told the city leader, noting that economic, trade, and investment ties play an important role in the Vietnam-U.S. relations.

He emphasized that the U.S. has a national interest in having a strong and successful partnership with Vietnam.

In response, Nhan said that Vietnam and the U.S. have common interests in developing peace and solving common problems.

He called on the U.S. to continue investing in Ho Chi Minh Citys projects such as its new Eastern City that encompasses Districts 2, District 9, and Thu Duc District.

The idea of such an innovative urban area was first announced by Nhan in early February 2018.

The tri-district hub, which has a total population of about 1.17 million people and a total area of 211.76 square kilometers, is expected to play a core role in the citys strategy to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan (right) receives the U.S. diplomatic mission at his office in Ho Chi Minh City, June 23, 2020. Photo: Tran Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

On the topic of defense cooperation between the two countries, the city leader mentioned the visits to Vietnam of U.S. military vessels, such as the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt's port call in March 2020, to help promote mutual understanding and demonstrate the goodwill of Vietnam and the U.S. to work together for peace and security in the region and the world.

Ambassador Kritenbrink said defense and security cooperation with Vietnam is very important to the U.S.

He assessed that bilateral cooperation in this area has seen many achievements, including the United States assistance in strengthening the capacity of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

We are very proud to be Vietnams partner on issues like the [East Vietnam] Sea, he said, emphasizing that all countries must play by the rules of international law.

The citys Party chief expressed appreciation for the U.S. efforts in settling the negative effects of the war, especially the dioxin decontamination projects in Da Nang and Bien Hoa.

In return, the American ambassador thanked Vietnam for its assistance in the search for the remains of American soldiers missing in Vietnam.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Vietnam-U.S. relations have not been organized as planned.

Despite this, the U.S. ambassador hailed Vietnams control of the COVID-19 epidemic and thanked the nation for its support of the United States response to the crisis.

Secretary Nhan affirmed that the city would ensure diplomatic and economic activities planned for the rest of 2020 are on track to mark the important milestone in bilateral ties between the two countries.

District 9 is home to the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, one of the leading of its kind in Vietnam, while Thu Duc District is where the citys university village is located.

The village houses the campuses of eight universities and colleges, with more than 1,300 PhD holders and over 69,000 students working and studying regularly there.

Meanwhile, a new financial center of Ho Chi Minh City has been on the blueprint in District 2, completing an innovative urban hub dubbed the southern metropolis Eastern City.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Teva Brender

Brender is a second-year medical student at Oregon Health & Science University. He lives in Portland.

When the full extent of the COVID-19 pandemic started to become apparent in mid-March, Oregon Health & Science University, where I am currently a second-year medical student, quickly suspended all clinical rotations. Practically overnight the School of Medicine scrambled to move its entire curriculum online and salvage what was left of the spring term.

Like many, I found myself bored, stir-crazy and eager to help. So when the school offered an elective training students as contact tracers, I jumped at the opportunity. I went through four weeks of instruction and then put my new skills to work as a contact tracer for the Clackamas County Public Health Division.

These past few months have been a crash course in epidemiology, infectious disease, outdated IT infrastructure and government bureaucracy, leaving me both inspired by the amazing and thankless work that public health workers do to keep our communities safe and terrified of what is going to happen as we re-open the country and establish a new, post-COVID normal. Outbreaks are no longer mostly confined to nursing homes and long-term care facilities  now they are affecting retail businesses, grocery stores and restaurants. And whereas when I first started I could usually trace every case back to a particular outbreak, increasingly the people I call are unable to identify where they got infected  evidence of growing community spread.

When someone tests positive for the coronavirus it is our job to call them and ask them a battery of questions about their symptoms, risk factors and with whom they have been in close contact going back to the 48 hours before they felt ill. If the person has already been social distancing, their contacts are usually limited to their household, making this part of the interview pretty quick.

However, I usually find myself holding my breath at this point in the conversation. If the patient has been going to work, or mentions that one of their contacts has been sick, the situation becomes like a Hydra sprouting new heads. Cases and contacts multiply, and things can quickly spiral out of control. We have to track down each person and go through the same battery of questions as with the original patient.

But the most difficult part of an interview is having to give instructions for people to isolate themselves. Those who are confirmed to have COVID-19 are told that they must stay at home, often in a separate room if they live with other people, for 10 days and until they no longer have any symptoms before they can be considered recovered. Meanwhile, all those who came in contact with them are asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days after their last exposure. And because many peoples living arrangements are not amenable to isolating within the home, their own quarantine can only begin after their loved one has recovered. Its heartbreaking to tell people who may be losing their business or job to stay home even when they arent symptomatic.

I am just as tired of the lockdown as everyone else. My sister-in-law just gave birth and I dont know when Ill be able to meet my new niece. I am anxious that due to the scheduling changes I may not be able to get all the courses that I need to graduate on time. And with summer fast approaching, I miss sitting in the sun and grabbing a bite to eat with friends. But the more people can limit their contacts, the easier it will be to keep COVID-19 infections from soaring. Contact tracing, the bread and butter of any infectious disease public health response, has never been deployed on this scale before; and though contact tracing isnt usually particularly difficult, you need to be trained and approved by the state, and the work itself is time-consuming.

The stay-home orders helped flatten the curve temporarily, but cases are starting to rise again. So as we continue to open up, lets be careful. Lets keep ourselves, and the most vulnerable among us, safe. I am inspired every day by my new colleagues Herculean efforts, but our long-underfunded public health infrastructure is being stretched further than ever before. Lets not see how far it can bend before it breaks.

Sign up for our opinion newsletter with links to some of the weeks editorials, op-eds and letters to the editor at oregonlive.com/newsletters.
Omar Salaam, business manager of sanitation workers AFSCME DC 33 Local 427 (back center black shirt), and Leonard Brown (front right green shirt), business manager of Local 403, rally on the steps of the Municipal Services Building as part of an ongoing campaign for more protective equipment and hazard pay for sanitation workers. Read more

As the Philadelphia region approaches the green phase, where businesses can reopen under certain restrictions, many workers  largely those employed in service industries  are being called back to work.

But many of those being called back are concerned about health, safety, and other conditions on the job, just as essential workers experienced during the most restrictive phases of the citys lockdown.

The top-level takeaway, according to lawyers and worker advocates, is this: While there are safety guidelines from the city, state, and federal government that businesses are required to follow, enforcement of these guidelines is spotty and not always reliable.

Your best bet is to talk with your coworkers, raise your concerns with your employer, and ask for better conditions. In other words, organize. Many workers have the legal right to do this  and even if youre not protected by law, organizers say theres a case to be made that this moment, when workers across the country have risen up to call for safer pandemic working conditions, is a form of protection in and of itself.

Your workplace would not be able to run without you and your coworkers, said KB Brower, organizing director for labor organization Bargaining for the Common Good. So when you come together, you have power to hold the boss accountable.

Heres what you need to know.

Im being called back to work but Im worried about safety. What should I do?

Ask your employer what measures theyre taking to keep workers safe and tell them what youd need to make you feel safe at work.

Its best to put this in writing, so you have a record of your ask, said Nadia Hewka, an attorney at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.

Hewka recommends speaking with your coworkers, as theres safety and power in numbers.

What guidelines are businesses required to follow?

These are just some of the measure that businesses may be required to follow, as per an order from Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine:

disinfect high-touch surfaces

stagger work stop and start times to prevent big crowds from forming

conduct meetings or trainings virtually

provide masks to employees and require them to be worn at the worksite

limit occupancy and follow social distancing guidelines

establish protocols around what to do if an employee tests positive

For more, read Pennsylvanias guidelines, Philadelphias guidelines, the Occupational Health and Safety Administrations guidelines, and the Center for Disease Control and Preventions guidelines.

My employer isnt following those guidelines. What can I do?

You have a few options.

If you work in Philadelphia, you can report your employer to 311. The city says it has been looking into these complaints. You could also report your employer to the Pa. Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) or to the police if you feel safe doing that. You could also file a complaint to OSHA, but the agency has not had a good track record of handling these complaints. Ultimately, its not clear that reporting your employer will get you results.

Thats why lawyers and organizers recommend talking with your coworkers about your concerns and raising them to management as a collective. Put your ask in writing so theres a record.

You have the right to health and safety on the job regardless of your immigration status. If youre an employee (and not an independent contractor), you also have the right to get together with your coworkers and ask for better working conditions under a federal law called the National Labor Relations Act  regardless of your immigration status. This law says that workers cant be retaliated against for trying to improve their working conditions.

Philadelphias City Council is also considering a law that will make it illegal to retaliate against workers who raise coronavirus safety concerns.

If I refuse to work for safety reasons, can I still get unemployment benefits?

If you have good cause for turning down work  and that could be safety concerns  you should still be able to get benefits, Hewka said. Youll have to prove that, though, which is why you should document efforts to raise your safety concerns. If you filed a complaint to any of the agencies listed above, you can also use that as part of your documentation.

Its important to note that since this is an unprecedented and evolving situation, its possible youll have issues getting unemployment benefits if you turn down work for safety reasons.

My coworkers and I discussed our concerns. What now?

You could start by writing a letter to your boss asking for better conditions. Brower, of Bargaining for the Common Good, said the most important thing is to get a majority of your coworkers on board.

They can ignore one person, she said. They cant ignore a majority of the employees.

If you have colleagues who are more fearful of retaliation  undocumented workers, for example  Hewka recommends that those who may have more power (whether thats through immigration status, standing at work, or job title) try to take a more prominent role.

If that doesnt work, you can take further action, said Mindy Isser, a Philadelphia labor organizer.

You could:

Circulate a petition (try Coworker.org).

Organize a rally with the support of the community or other labor groups.

Organize a work stoppage.

Go public through social media.

Brower suggests reaching out to experienced organizers who could help you think through a plan that works. That could be a union that focuses on your sector  AFSCME District 1199c for health care service workers, for example, or PASNAP for nurses and techs. Or it could be an worker advocacy organization, like one of these:

Im not being called back or Im being called back with lower pay. Do I have any rights?

If youre not covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the answer is likely no. There is no law requiring employers to call you back, even if you worked at the company for decades. There is also no law requiring that you get paid the same rate as before.

This could be another issue to organize with your coworkers, said attorney Rhiannon DiClemente of Community Legal Services. Workers in Philly have been organizing around this issue and going public when their employer doesnt call them back.

If your employer is calling back only specific employees (for example, only young people and not older people), DiClemente said that could be in violation of antidiscrimination laws.

You can call Community Legal Services with more questions at 215-981-3700.
Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) today announced that the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) utilized Workiva's cloud platform and global Inline XBRL expertise to create efficiencies and transparency when tagging data in its annual report process. The GLEIF 2019 annual report was recently showcased by ESMA as a paragon for European Single Electronic Format (ESEF)-compliance reporting.

Under ESMA's requirements, more than 5,000 public European companies must tag data with Inline XBRL in the ESEF taxonomy for their annual reports. Inline XBRL enables a standardized, machine-readable format to support digital analysis and improve data transparency.

With the Workiva cloud platform, customers are able to connect data from source systems and applications, have it update automatically, tag and validate it under ESEF taxonomy rules and securely create Inline XBRL filing packages at any time and from any place with an internet connection.

"Workiva has a long history of helping customers quickly and successfully achieve compliance when new regulations are introduced," said Dermot Murray, general manager of EMEA at Workiva. "We remain steadfast in delivering the world's only connected reporting platform and best-in-class customer experience every day. ESMA's showcasing of GLEIF's report is further evidence that the continuous availability of the Workiva platform and support team is paramount for European companies as they work towards their timely ESEF compliance deadline."

GLEIF provides trusted services and open, reliable data for unique legal entity identification worldwide through the Global Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) System. "As an organization focused on trust and transparency, it is critical that our annual report complies with ESEF reporting and serves as an example of industry best practice," said Stephan Wolf, CEO of GLEIF. "The Workiva platform was an obvious choice that delivered many efficiencies and has set us up for success in future reporting. We truly valued Workiva's support and guidance."

About Workiva

Workiva, provider of the world's leading connected reporting and compliance platform, is used by thousands of enterprises across 180 countries, including 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies, and by government agencies. Our customers have linked over five billion data elements to trust their data, reduce risk and save time. For more information about Workiva (NYSE:WK), please visit workiva.com.

Request a Workiva demo: www.workiva.com/request-demo

Read the Workiva blog: www.workiva.com/blog

Follow Workiva on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/workiva

Like Workiva on Facebook: www.facebook.com/workiva/

Follow Workiva on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Workiva

FORTUNE and FORTUNE 500 are registered trademarks of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. FORTUNE and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Workiva Inc. Note: Claim not confirmed by FORTUNE or Fortune Media IP Limited.

About the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF)

The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) is a not-for-profit organization established by the Financial Stability Board in June 2014 to support the implementation and use of the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) globally. GLEIF services ensure the operational integrity of the Global LEI System. GLEIF also makes available the technical infrastructure to provide, via an open data license, access to the full global LEI repository free of charge to users.

GLEIF is overseen by the LEI Regulatory Oversight Committee, which is made up of representatives of public authorities from across the globe. GLEIF has obtained the ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011 certification for its Partnership Program Services to the LEI issuing organizations (LOUs). GLEIF is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. For more information, visit the GLEIF website at https://www.gleif.org/en and https://www.gleif.org/annual-report.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005064/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Kevin McCarthy

Workiva Inc.

press@workiva.com
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) is proud to announce its partnership with the United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG), whose mission of uniting the hospitality industry to advance professional bartending remains strong. In 2018 and 2019, the ITA was a sponsor of the USBG Regional Conference programs that provided valuable opportunities, education, and training on Italian Spirits to the trade around the US, reaching bartenders from different parts of the country. Although the industry is facing major setbacks due to COVID-19, this time also presents a unique opportunity to reach new heights and connect with a broader audience thanks to technology.

Part of a larger Spirits Promotion Project, the ITA is excited to announce a series of webinars guided by industry expert Livio Lauro, in partnership with the USBG. "The goal of this project is to introduce and educate the American trade to the craftsmanship and authenticity of Italian distillates, fortified wines, liqueurs, and cordials" says Trade Commissioner Antonino Laspina.

Below are the dates of this new series of webinars that will take you on a journey of discovery about Italian Spirits:

June 30, 2020  11 AM PDT / 2 PM EDT: Italian Spirits & World Cuisine Food Pairing featuring Ramazzotti, Strega, Meletti, and Pallini. Learn how to combine the flavor of your food with its perfect drink for the best sensory experience.

July 7, 2020  11 AM PDT / 2 PM EDT: Guide to Italian Spirits from Aperitivo to Digestivo featuring Italicus, Cocchi, Toschi, and Poli. Discover the exciting selection of distinctive Aperitivi and Digestivi that Italy has to offer.

July 14, 2020  11 AM PDT / 2 PM EDT: Aperitivo: A Beverage or a Ritual? featuring Casoni, Luxardo, and Polini. Join us in debunking all the myths, as no Aperitivo stone will remain unturned.

July 28, 2020  11 AM PDT / 2 PM EDT: Fifty Shades of Amaro featuring Lucano, Montenegro, and Varnelli. Take a close look at Italy's bittered beverages to fully understand their unique shades of bitterness.

Learn more about each webinar and/or register HERE .

About the Italian Trade Agency

Since 1926, the Italian Trade Commission, with 78 oces in 66 countries worldwide, has been the Italian government agency entrusted with the mission of promoting trade between Italian companies and foreign markets. The Food and Wine department, based in New York City, works on increasing the awareness of the Italian products in the U.S. For all the activities regarding alcoholic beverages, see http://italianspirits.us/.

About the United States Bartenders' Guild

Founded in 1948, the United States Bartenders' Guild is a non-profit professional society of bartenders and other hospitality professionals uniting the hospitality community to advance professional bartending. The USBG believes that every US bartender achieves greater personal and professional success by connecting to diverse local and national hospitality communities. Through our network of over 40 communities nationwide, the USBG connects members with peer-to-peer learning, expert instruction, community service projects, and skills-based competition.

CONTACT: Daniela Porro, (212) 848-0327, [email protected]

SOURCE Italian Trade Agency

Related Links

https://www.ice.it/en/


Donald Trump has long boasted of his perfect endorsement record, so far backing the winning candidate in every race hes decided to weigh in on.

That winning streak came to a crashing halt on Tuesday, however, when a candidate he had thrown his full support behind was trounced by a 24-year-old political novice.

The runoff Republican primary for North Carolinas 11th congressional district was triggered in March when Mr Trump selected its representative, Mark Meadows, to be his chief of staff.

Mr Meadows and Mr Trump heavily backed Lynda Bennett, a local real estate agent, in her campaign for the solidly Republican seat, with the president twice tweeting his support and even recording a robocall for her.

However, her candidacy was poorly received among local Republicans. As Politico reports, it later came to light that Ms Bennet is a friend of Mr Meadowss wife and that her campaign website had been registered by Mr Meadowss brother. She also appeared to have advance warning that Mr Meadows was resigning, allowing her to file her papers when most other would-be candidates had too little time.

Recommended Biden ahead of Trump by 14 points in new poll

In the end, she lost Tuesdays Republican primary runoff to Madison Cawthorn, who is both well-known and popular in the area. Partially paralysed in a catastrophic car accident at the age of 18, he has a compelling personal story of recovery and determination  and in another embarrassing slight to both Mr Trump and Mr Meadows, his primary campaign made a point of explicitly rejecting outside efforts to influence the race.

I wont be beholden to the DC insiders, to their Super PACs, or to any caucus chair, Mr Cawthorn said to camera in one of his ads. I wont be under anyones thumb.

But Mr Crawthorn did not mention Mr Trump by name. And while he may have thwarted the presidents own choice for the seat, he is running as a solid conservative, not an ideological apostate.

His campaign ads bear the slogan Faith, Family, Freedom, and in an interview with the right-leaning Washington Examiner in May, he listed his top priorities as safeguarding the second amendment, introducing more competition into the health insurance market, and fighting the rising enthusiasm for socialism among young people, whom he says are being deceived by all these lies that sound good.

While Mr Cawthorn is currently below the minimum age of 25 required of members of the House of Representatives, his birthday falls in August, meaning he will be old enough to take his seat should he be sworn in in January.
Markus Braun, former CEO of Wirecard has been arrested. Photo: Michael Dalder/Reuters

Asian ride-share company Grab said it is distancing itself from German payments company Wirecard (WDI.DE), which is embroiled in a scandal over 1.9bn (1.7bn, $2.1bn) missing from its balance sheets.

Uber competitor Grab said on Wednesday that it was putting its partnership with Wirecard on hold until further notice, while a number of other big clients are reportedly keeping a close eye on the situation at the electronic payments provider.

We have not yet started the integration work for the Wirecard partnership and are pausing the partnership until further notice, said a Grab spokesman in Singapore.

Bank of America lowered its Wirecard price target to 1 on Tuesday, from a recent 14, and put an Underperform rating on it, based on the risk of Wirecard losing customers and licenses.

Reports that Revolut has decided to migrate its customers away from Wirecard, Grabs review of its Wirecard partnership, and news that Bank of China is considering terminating its credit line with the German company suggest that the level of support from lenders and customers may be low or non-existent going forward, the Bank said in a note.

The big question is whether they retain the Visa and Mastercard licenses, Mirabaud analyst Neil Campling told Bloomberg. Without those they have no business.

Wirecard, which has already been the target of investigations over its accounting practices by the Financial Times last year, last week claimed that 1.9bn had gone missing, after auditor EY said it was unable to sign off on the 2019 accounts.

READ MORE: Former Wirecard CEO Markus Braun arrested

Wirecard then followed up by saying the assets may not have existed, suggesting it may have been the victim of considerable fraud.

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.

Story continues

Markus Braun, the companys chief executive, resigned at the end of last week, shortly after COO Jan Marsalek was dismissed. James Freis will now head the company on an interim basis.

Braun was arrested by the state authorities in Munich yesterday (23 June), accused of market manipulation. Braun has since been freed on 5m bail, on the condition that he report in to the police on a weekly basis.

Braun, who was the biggest shareholder at Wirecard with a 7% stake, which he had financed by borrowing against the value of Wirecard stock, was forced to sell a large part of his shares on Thursday and Friday last week.

Munich-based Wirecard joined Germanys 30-company DAX in 2018, bumping Commerzbank out of the blue-chip index.

It was hailed as a shining example of how Germany could produce a successful fintech leader, but has now become a national embarrassment, with fingers pointing at financial regulator BaFin for failing to properly oversee the company.

READ MORE: Wirecard says missing 1.9bn doesn't exist

BaFin raided the Wirecard headquarters near Munich on 5 June as part of a probe into members of the management board for suspected market manipulation, based on misleading signals from Wirecard in the months of March and April.

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.
When protesters in Madison tore down two statues outside the state Capitol on June 23, it renewed interest in the two works of art and spurred debate about what should be done next. Read on for a history lesson on the both the "Forward" statue that had come to symbolize women's rights and the figure of Union Army Capt. Hans Heg, a noted abolitionist.
Syria's air defenses intercept invading drones

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 1:24 AM

Syrian air defense units have managed to intercept an unknown drone attack over the city of Jableh on the Mediterranean coast.

The unmanned aircraft had made an unsuccessful attempt to hit a Russian airbase in the region, according to Press TV's correspondent.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, but anti-government militants had recently struck the nearby Russian base of Hmeimim.

Israel also frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against terrorists.

Over the past year, the Russian military has thwarted several drone and mortar attacks launched by militants on its airbase, destroying dozens of drones and multiple-launch rocket system shells.

Russia has been helping Syrian forces in the ongoing battles across the conflict-plagued Arab country.

The Russian military assistance, which began in September 2015 at the official request of the Syrian government, has proved effective as Syrians continue to recapture key areas from Daesh and other terrorist groups across the country thanks to Russian air cover.

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BANGKOK - Anti-government activists in the Thai capital on Wednesday commemorated a military coup that toppled the absolute monarchy almost nine decades ago, defying official warnings and police harassment.

The gathering was one of several around the country to mark the day in 1932 when a group of progressive army officers and civil servants proclaimed constitutional rule and the transition to parliamentary democracy.

Government and police officials who made thinly veiled warnings against celebrating the anniversary had made clear that they also consider such activities to be subversive and undermining the countrys constitutional monarchy.

Both the government and its critics see commemorations of the 1932 event as a challenge to the continuing influence of the military in government and hyper-royalist sentiment. There was a reconciliation between the army and the royal palace in the 1960s, and since then they have been the countrys two most powerful establishments.

Organizers said about 100 people gathered at Bangkoks iconic Democracy Monument. Police moved in as the demonstrators began to erect a white sheet as a projector screen and tried to pull it down. After a short struggle they relented and let the event go ahead.

The gathering could be deemed illegal under current emergency regulations as a measure to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.

In steady predawn rain, the crowd watched a video reenactment of the revolutionary proclamation, played on the makeshift screen. Two activists stood to the sides, dressed in period army uniforms.

They also displayed a replica of a commemorative plaque that was installed in 1936 at the spot where the proclamation took place. It was removed in secret in 2017, not long after King Maha Vajiralongkorn took the throne, and has never been found. No culprit was ever identified.

In recent years, there has been a steady rolling back of symbols that extol the 1932 revolution. As well as the disappearing plaque, statues have been removed and buildings renamed to remove their association with the leaders of the revolt.

Prominent pro-democracy activist Chonthicha Jangrew, speaking to The Associated Press as the gathering dispersed, accused authorities of trying to delete everything about the anniversary, and ... how important democracy is in Thailand.

The current government is led by Prayuth Chan-ocha, who as army commander seized power in a 2014 coup. He returned as prime minister after an election last year that critics deemed free but not fair. Most of the key positions in the administration are held by former generals, leading to accusations that all the election did was launder military rule and erode democracy.
The Korea Times appointed Kim Jae-kyoung, 48, as its new managing editor, Wednesday.







Kim joined the newspaper in 2000 and has worked as editor of the finance desk since 2018. He was Asia Bureau Chief and Singapore correspondent from 2015 to 2018 covering the entire ASEAN region before becoming finance editor.







He received a bachelor's degree at Sungkyunkwan University with a major in journalism and earned an MBA at the Schulich School of Business of York University in Canada.







Regarding his role in the new post, Kim said that he would put a priority on turning the daily into the nation's most digitized English newspaper and best English content creator. He also aims to expand partnerships with overseas media.







Former managing editor Shim Jae-yun has been named editorial writer.


LONDON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores

C/ Edison, 4, 28006, Madrid

Att: Mr. Sebastian Albella, Chairman, and Mr. Rodrigo Buenaventura, General Director of Markets

In London, on 23 June 2020

Dear Sirs,

We refer to the request for authorisation of a public takeover bid launched by Lorca Telecom Bidco, S.A.U. (the "Bidder") on all of the shares of Masmovil Ibercom, S.A. ("Masmovil"), which was announced on 1 June 2020 (the "Bid").

In relation to the Bid, in our condition as shareholders of Masmovil, we would like to declare our great concern about the terms on which the Bid has been made, particularly in connection with the items further developed below.

1.- Equitable price

The Bid's announcement, published on 1 June 2020, states, in relation to the price offered in the Bid (amounting to 22.50 euros per share), that:

even though the Bid is a voluntary one, the Bidder considers that the price offered is an "equitable price" in accordance with sections 9 and 10 of Royal Decree 1066/2007, given that it is the highest price paid or agreed by the Bidder for the acquisition of shares of Masmovil in the 12 months preceding the announcement of the Bid, as it equals the price agreed with the significant shareholders of Masmovil that have entered into irrevocable undertakings with the Bidder;

the Bidder considers that none of the circumstances which, under section 9 of Royal Decree 1066/2007, may give rise to a review of the equitable price determined in such manner applies; and

the Bidder is providing an independent expert valuation report "with the purpose to support the Price of the Bid in accordance with the provisions of sections 9 and 10 of Royal Decree 1066/2007".

The request for authorisation states subsequently that, in the opinion of the Bidder: "If the CNMV considers that the Bid Price is not an "equitable price", the Bidder will not have the obligation to launch a mandatory takeover bid on the target's shares, provided that the Bid is accepted by holders of shares representing at least 50% of the voting rights to which it was addressed, excluding those held by the Bidder and those held by shareholders that have reached any agreement with the Bidder in relation to the Bid". The Bidder is making reference here to the exception, set out in section 8.f) of Royal Decree 1066/2007, to the obligation to launch a subsequent mandatory takeover bid when control is acquired through a voluntary takeover bid that meets any of the two mentioned requirements.

We understand that the statement reproduced above ignores the protection established in section 137, subsections 2 and 3, of the Securities Market Law, which undoubtedly is applicable to the current situation, considering the extremely serious public safety, economic and social crisis generated by the COVID 19 pandemic, the measures taken to stop the economic activity, both globally and locally, the state of alarm declared by a decision of the Spanish Council of Ministers on 14 March 2020 and Royal Decree 463/2020, still in force, and the severe impact that such COVID-19 crisis has had on the global economy and the Spanish economy, including an impact on quotation prices, both generally in the Spanish market and, particularly, in Masmovil. In particular, said subsections 2 and 3 of section 137 of the Securities Market Law set out that:

"2. When in the two years preceding the announcement of a takeover bid the circumstances listed in subsection 3 below have occurred, the bidder shall be obliged to provide an independent expert report on the methods and criteria applied to determine the offered price, which shall include the average quotation price for a given period, the target company's liquidation value, the value of the consideration paid by the bidder for the same securities in the 12 months preceding the announcement of the bid, the target company's theoretical accounting value and other generally accepted valuation criteria which shall, in any event, procure to safeguard the rights of shareholders.

The report will justify the relevance given to each of the valuation methods employed. The offered price shall not be lower than the higher of the equitable price mentioned in section 130 or the price resulting from taking into account, justifying their relevance, the methods considered in the report.

[.]

3. The circumstances referred to in subsection 2 above are the following:

[.]

b) That quotation prices, generally, or those of the target in particular, have been affected by exceptional circumstances such as natural catastrophes, war or calamity or any others arising from force majeure.

c) That the target company has been subject to expropriations, confiscations or any other circumstances of a similar nature that may entail a significant variation of its assets' real value."

It is a fact that quotation prices in the market generally, and those of the target company particularly, have been and are still affected by the exceptional circumstances emerging from the COVID 19 pandemic, which constitutes undoubtedly a situation of calamity or arising from force majeure. There is, as it is widely known, a unanimous opinion by experts, governments, supervisory bodies, central banks and all other national and supranational organisations in relation to the seriousness and magnitude of the crisis that the COVID 19 pandemic has generated. As an example, the General Director of the IMF declared last 9 April that the pandemic will lead the World to the worst global recession since 1929. If, on 5 March 2020, the shares of Masmovil were traded at 20.16 euros per share, 15 days later (20 March), it was at 12.20 euros per share, having suffered a fall of 39.48% in such a short period of time.

By applying the legal provision reproduced above, the price of the Bid can never be lower than the highest between the "equitable price" referred to in section 130 of the Securities Market Law, and the price resulting from the independent expert report. In our view, it cannot be accepted, as the Bidder suggests (as it would be contrary to mandatory law), that the Bid can be launched at a price lower than the "equitable price", trying to apply the exception to the subsequent mandatory takeover bid set out in section 8.f) of Royal Decree 1066/2007 to which the request for authorisation refers (deriving from acceptance of over 50% of the voting rights to which the bid was initially addressed, even if the price is not "equitable").

We think it is of the utmost relevance that, not only for the Bid launched by Lorca Telecom Bidco S.A.U., but also with a view on potential future deals that may be launched within the exceptional situation created by the COVID 19 crisis, and considering the impact that it is having in the quotation prices of Spanish listed companies that may be targets, that the CNMV clarifies the need to respect the provisions of section 137 of the Securities Market Law in relation to any voluntary takeover bid, in the sense that it may never be made at a price lower than the "equitable price".

We consider it is also of the utmost relevance that, in the present serious circumstances, the CNMV, as supervisory body, carefully scrutinizes the determination of the "equitable price" to ensure that all interests are duly protected. This implies assessing whether the "equitable price" determined by a given bidder must be amended, among others, when quotation prices, generally, or those of the target company, in particular, have been affected by "exceptional circumstances", as in the case at hand (section 130 of the Securities Market Law). We would expect the CNMV in this scenario, to exercise such legal authority to ensure that bidders are not allowed to take advantage of this severe crisis to the detriment of other shareholders and of the Spanish market generally.

The CNMV should also be mindful of the relevant information disclosed by Masmovil on 12 June 2020 (regarding the binding bid by an infrastructure fund for part of the company's network that will generate a very substantial net cash flow of EUR 215-245 million) and last evening, 22 June 2020 (regarding the new agreements reached with Telefonica for mobile and fixed access). This last announcement in particular will, according to Masmovil, create savings for the company of EUR 28 million. That figure would represent an increase of 6% vs. the EBITDA reported by the company in year 2019. Both of these developments, we believe, significantly improve the financial position of Masmovil and should be fully reflected in any fairness opinion in connection with this bid.

2.- Competing bids

The Bid's preliminary announcement reflects the following in relation to the irrevocable undertakings entered into with several significant shareholders of Masmovil, in relation to a potential competing bids scenario:

"The Selling Shareholders1 have assumed the undertaking to accept the Bid in relation to the shares indicated in the foregoing table within the first five (5) Stock Exchanges trading days of the acceptance period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a competing bid is launched by a third party and approved by the CNMV in accordance with Royal Decree 1066/2007, the Selling Shareholders will have the right to accept the competing bid provided that it is a higher bid and complies with each and all of the following conditions: (i) having been approved by CNMV and not having been withdrawn; (ii) having a price higher than 26 euros per share, payable in cash; (iii) having a minimum acceptance condition not higher than 50% plus one share among those shares to which the higher bid is addressed; and (iv) not including any other additional conditions other than those included in the Bid and, in relation to the antitrust condition, including a firm commitment from the bidder to accept any antitrust remedy which may be requested by any authority in order to approve the higher bid.

If the Bidder modifies the price of the Bid so that it is, at least, equal to the price of the higher bid, the undertaking to accept the bid by the Selling Shareholders will continue in force and will still be binding for the Selling Shareholders, who shall be obliged to sell their shares to the Bidder within the first five (5) Stock Exchanges trading days of the acceptance period."

It is important to note also that the Selling Shareholders (except for Estiriac XXI, S.L.) have assumed the undertaking to reinvest in the Bidder if the Bid has a positive outcome.

The request for authorisation goes on to disclose that the shareholders that have entered into irrevocable undertakings "have assumed the undertaking (on their own behalf and on behalf of any entity within their groups or any company, fund or person directly or indirectly controlled or managed by the relevant Selling Shareholder) not to invest or participate in any manner (including by providing funds or financing and/or giving operative or financial advice) in a competing bid without the prior consent of the Bidder. Said consent will not be required provided that the price offered in the competing bid exceeds 26 euros."

In addition, according to the request for authorisation, one of the significant shareholders has assumed similar commitments (but differing in some relevant points) to those reproduced above. In particular, according to the request for authorisation, PLT VII MAS S.a r.l. (Providence Holdings VII) ("Providence") has assumed the undertaking not to accept any competing bid authorised by the CNMV, except if the Bidder has withdrawn the Bid or if any of the conditions of the Bid has been unfulfilled (and not waived).

In our view, the terms agreed upon in the irrevocable undertaking, reproduced above, make impossible in practice the filing of any competing bids and, additionally, prejudice the system of price determination in a competing bids scenario which, to safeguard shareholders' interests, is set out in both the Securities Market Law and Royal Decree 1066/2007.

Firstly, it is not possible, as the Bidder pretends, for the selling shareholders to assume the undertaking to "sell their shares to the Bidder within the first five (5) Stock Exchanges trading days of the acceptance period" in case a higher competing bid has been filed and provided that the Bidder amends the Bid for it to be "at least, equal to the price of the higher bid". We must remember that, in accordance with section 45.3 of Royal Decree 1066/2007, in a scenario of competing bids, the initial Bidder and the remaining competing bidders that have not withdrawn their bids must file in a closed envelope a communication which may include, either their last improvement of the price or their decision not to improve. Given this, and once the envelopes are open and the requirements set out in subsections 4 and 5 of said section 45, if the improvement offered by any of the competing bidders is higher than the improvement offered by the initial Bidder, the envisaged scenario is not possible, given that, in accordance with the competing bids regime set out in Chapter IX of Royal Decree 1066/2007, the initial Bidder will not be authorised to match the improvement made in the closed envelope by the competitor as the Bidder pretends. The initial bidder would only be entitled, if the requirements of subsection 6(a) of section 45 are met (i.e. the improved price offered by the initial Bidder in the closed envelope having not been lower in 2% or more than the highest price offered in the closed envelopes), to improve the price of its bid in at least 1% in relation to the best price offered in a closed envelope by any of the competitors.

Additionally, in accordance with the request for authorisation, the Bidder has agreed with the Selling Shareholders and Providence an additional economic compensation in case that, even when a higher competing bid is filed, they accept the Bid, under certain conditions. In particular, as the request for authorisation states:

"(c) In case (i) a competing bid is filed by a third party, (ii) both the Bid and the competing bid are settled, and (iii) the stake held by the Bidder in Masmovil in the first of the following dates (A) the date of de-listing of Masmovil shares or (B) three (3) months from the date of settlement of the Bid is lower than 65,857,283 shares of Masmovil, the Selling Shareholders will have the right to receive the following compensation:

a. An amount equal to the result of multiplying (x) the difference between the price per share of the competing bid and the price per share of the Bid less 25 Euro cents (the Buffer) times (y) the number of shares indicated in the table above (the Economic Compensation).

b. In addition, if the requirements for payment by the Bidder of the Economic Compensation are met and in the term of 6 months since the date of settlement of the Bid, the Bidder transfers the shares subject to the irrevocable undertaking to the competing bidder, the Selling Shareholders will have the right to receive, on top of the Economic Compensation, an amount equivalent to the result of multiplying (x) the Buffer times (y) the number of shares indicated in the table above.

The Bidder shall pay the Economic Compensation in cash in the date falling 12 months after the date of settlement of the Bid."

In a similar sense, in the case of Providence:

"In case (i) a competing bid is filed by a third party, (ii) Providence Holdings VII accepts the Bid with its shares, (iii) both the Bid and the competing bid are settled, (iv) the stake held by the Bidder in Masmovil in the first of the following dates (A) the date of de-listing of Masmovil shares or (B) three (3) months from the date of settlement of the Bid is lower than 65,857,283 shares of Masmovil, and (v) the price per share of the Bid is lower than the price per share of the competing bid, Providence Holdings VII will have the right to receive an economic compensation equivalent to multiplying (x) 50% times (y) the difference between the price per share of the competing bid and the price per share of the Bid, plus the documented costs associated to the Offer per share, times (z) the number of shares held by Providence Holdings VII."

All of the foregoing would imply, de facto, that in the scenario described above the shareholders that are parties to the irrevocable undertakings would be receiving, as a consequence of accepting the same takeover bid, a compensation which is higher than the one received by other accepting shareholders. In our view, this is clearly contrary to the principle of "equal treatment" which is paramount to takeover bid legislation, and clearly acts as a mechanism to discourage competing bids, again in detriment of the best interests of minority shareholders of Masmovil.

On another note, it should be considered whether this "improved" price agreed upon with the significant shareholders of Masmovil should be taken into account as the highest agreed upon by the Bidder for Masmovil shares in the 12 months preceding the announcement of the Bid, in relation with the determination of the "equitable price" that must be offered to all shareholders.

3.- Board of Directors report and "passivity duties"

The request for authorisation of the Bid states that: "The Selling Shareholders have assumed the undertaking to procure that, insofar as legally possible and provided that legal fiduciary duties of directors are complied with, the directors of Masmovil appointed to represent them vote in favour of the issuance of a report of the Board of Directors, in accordance with section 24 of Royal Decree 1066/2007, which is favourable to the Bid." The same undertaking has been assumed by Providence.

Furthermore, as already noted, in accordance with the request for authorisation the selling shareholders (except for Estiriac XXI, S.L.) have assumed the undertaking to re-invest in the Bidder if the Bid has a positive outcome, i.e. they will be able to benefit from the performance of Masmovil after a successful Bid, possibility which is not offered to all other shareholders.

In addition, the request for authorisation states that "once the Bid is settled, the Bidder undertakes to amend the 2020 Plan of rights over the revalorization of shares to foresee the consolidation of 25% of the rights granted, or their expected value, to the CEO (which is also susceptible of being extended to the first-rank senior managers of the Target) in case he takes the decision to terminate his contract with Masmovil and resigns as CEO in the 18 months following the settlement of the Bid as a result of a material change in the implementation of the M&A strategy compared to past practice or the intentions expressed by the Investors based on the risk / profitability profile applicable to the Investors jointly." In a similar manner, the request for authorisation includes commitments by the Bidder to maintain or improve the variable remuneration plans of all the senior management team after the settlement of the Bid.

We believe that the foregoing undertakings result in a conflict of interest, in relation to the Bid, affecting the proprietary directors appointed by the shareholders that have entered into the irrevocable undertakings, but also the CEO. Said conflict of interest shall not only be placed on record in the report of the Board of Directors (as required by subsection 24.1 of Royal Decree 1066/2007), but shall also imply the obligation for such directors to abstain from taking part in deliberation and voting in relation to any agreements of the Board of Directors of Masmovil which may be taken in relation to the Bid (in accordance with the provisions of the Capital Companies Act).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and without respecting these transparency and abstention rules, in our view improperly, the Board of Directors of Masmovil has already publicly announced a favourable opinion in relation to the Bid, stating in the privileged information communication published on 1 June 2020 that:

"Regarding the Request, the Company informs that it has had negotiations and conversations with the Consortium on the Offer, which included a confirmatory due diligence process by the Consortium, as well as the signing of an agreement between the Bidder and the Company regarding the Offer, whose main terms are reflected in the Request made by the Bidder, and that has been authorized by MASMOVIL's Board of Directors and subscribed by the parties today.

The Bidder has manifested to the Company's Board of Directors its commitment, in case the Offer is successfully completed, of keeping the continuity of MASMOVIL's strategy and strategic and business plan, as well as its employees and management team.

Notwithstanding the report on the Offer that the Board of Directors should issue within the terms and timing stated in the applicable law, once the Offer is authorized by the CNMV, if that is the case, the Board of Directors believes that this is a transaction beneficial for MASMOVIL's shareholders and other stakeholders, and that the transaction confirms the Bidder full trust in the strategy, business project and success history of MASMOVIL."

There is no clear statement, in addition, on whether the directors affected by the aforementioned conflict of interest have abstained in the Board's decision to enter into the so-called "Agreement in relation to the Bid" with the Bidder, under which Masmovil has undertaken to pay relevant economic compensations to the Bidder in case the Bid is unsuccessful.

Finally, the request for authorisation indicates that the Bidder "waiving the board of directors' passivity duties, authorises the Masmovil Group to continue, during the Bid process, implementing its strategy of growth and expansion, including, without limitation, potential new corporate projects of mergers and acquisitions and/or development of infrastructures, and to continue projects of such nature actually ongoing, including those transactions that, due to their materiality, require the additional approval of Masmovil's shareholders for the execution under section 160.f) of the Capital Companies Act, all of the foregoing without prejudice to the express reserve of rights of the Bidder to, when applicable, withdraw the Bid on the terms of Royal Decree 1066/2007".

The Bidder has not legal capacity whatsoever to "waive" the "passivity duties" of Masmovil's board of directors, or to "authorise" any transaction (or, more importantly, the continuance of ongoing transactions). It is important to note that the so-called "passivity duties" are not legally established only for the protection of the bidder, but also for the protection of potential competing bidders and, more importantly, for the protection of the company's shareholders (particularly those that have not entered into arrangements with the Bidder like those described in the request for authorisation and which are therefore not affected by a conflict of interest). The protection of such interests is, in our view, extremely relevant and serious in this case, where the Bid seems to have been agreed upon in all detail between the Board of Directors and the Bidder, which makes it improbable to expect that the Board members, pursuing their loyalty duties, search for competing bids, or at least procure not to hinder them and to guarantee equal treatment to all potential bidders.

All of the foregoing, in our opinion, demonstrates clearly that the Bid has been designed in concert by the Bidder, not only with the significant shareholders, but also with the CEO and the senior management of Masmovil (including the negotiation of variable compensation and exit remuneration for the management team after the settlement of the Bid on terms that differ from those approved by the general shareholders meeting  noting that the Bid is not a de-listing one and that Masmovil may as well keep its condition as listed company even after settlement of the Bid). The foregoing, along with the "shielded" nature of the undertakings assumed by the shareholders, which in practice make it impossible for competing bids to be filed, clearly prejudices, in our view, the interests of the minority shareholders of Masmovil that applicable law intends to protect.

4.- Break-up fees payable to the Bidder by Masmovil

The request for authorisation states that the Board of Directors of Masmovil, in the so-called "Agreement in relation to the Bid" has agreed to pay the Bidder a compensation of 22.6 million Euros in case that, due to the authorisation and effective settlement of a competing bid, the Bid is not settled. In addition, however, the request states that an additional compensation, for a different concept, has been agreed, as set out below:

"In addition, the Target has undertaken to pay to the Bidder 22.6 million Euros to compensate the Bidder for damages and costs incurred in preparing the Bid in case each and all of the following conditions are met:

a. in respect of corporate transactions which require authorisation by the general meeting of shareholders of the Target in accordance with section 160.f) of the Capital Companies Act (a Significant Transaction), when the general shareholders meeting approves a Significant Transaction; or, if the Target announces the execution of an agreement for a Significant Transaction but the relevant shareholders meeting to assess the Significant Transaction has not been held prior to the end of the Bid's acceptance period; and

b. either (y) the VWAP of the shares of the Target for the last five days of the acceptance period exceeds in, at least, 3% the price per share offered by the Bidder in the Bid (including any increase of price that may have occurred during the Bid processing); or, whether (y) is fulfilled or not, (z) the CNMV has notified the Bidder, in accordance with subsection 36.2 of Royal Decree 1066/2007 that the acceptance of the Bid is lower than 50% of the share capital of the Target plus one share; and

c. the Bid is not settled because any of the Conditions for its effectiveness is not fulfilled (and the Bidder does not waive the condition) and, thus, the Bidder does not acquire shares in the Target as a consequence of the Bid."

Even though subsection 42.4 of Royal Decree 1066/2007 expressly permits an agreement between a target company and a bidder, consisting in payment to the bidder of a commission to compensate for the bid's preparation expenses, it does so only for the scenario where "due to the filing of other competing bids, the initial bid does not succeed". The provision does not permit, in our view, an agreement for compensation in case the bid is not successful due to lack of fulfilment of the conditions to which the bidder has made it subject (or any of the other circumstances reproduced above and agreed, which do not include filing of competing bids). We believe therefore that this provision of the "Agreement in relation to the Bid" is contrary to law and clearly prejudices the interests of all other shareholders of Masmovil, evidencing again the clear conflict of interest affecting its Board of Directors.

* * * * *

For all the reasons above, we request the protection of this Securities Market National Commission for it to make a deep and compete analysis of the issues raised and to procure all necessary amendments and clarifications to guarantee that the Bid and the agreements reached by the Bidder with certain significant shareholders of the target company are compliant with applicable law, promptly informing the market on whether the Bid, on the terms that have been published, are compliant with the provisions of the Securities Market Act and Royal Decree 1006/2007.

Thanking you in advance for your attention, we will expect your reply, and will be available for any additional information you may require.

Yours faithfully,

Nicolas Dautigny

Polygon Global Partners LLP

_____________________________________

1 Includes Onchena, S.L., Key Wolf, S.L., Inveready Capital Company, S.L., Inveready Seed Capital S.C.R., S.A., Inveready Evergreen, S.C.R., S.A., The Nimo's Holding, S.L., Josep Maria Echarri Torres and Estiriac XXI, S.L., jointly holding 20.41% of the share capital of Masmovil.

Contact: Polygon Investor Relations ([email protected]).

SOURCE Polygon Global Partners LLP
A pensioner has been jailed for sending death threats to an MP in her own home.

David Lowe, 66, sent a terrifying email to MP Liz Saville-Roberts during her calls for a second Brexit referendum, for which he has now been sentenced to 18 weeks and handed a five year restraining order.

Lowe set up a fake G-mail account under the name Anne Davies and even mentioned murdered MP Jo Cox.

A court heard Lowe sent the threatening email to the Westminster email account of Mrs Saville-Roberts, in which he said that she could be 'blown away' and mentioned the far-right and minority groups during a message of 'hate.'

David Lowe, 66, sent the terrifying email to the Westminster account of MP Liz Saville-Roberts during her calls for a second Brexit referendum

Prosecutor James Neary said Mrs Saville-Roberts was left frightened for the safety of her family - and considered not standing for re-election.

Llandudno Magistrates Court heard a victim impact statement from the Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd in North Wales.

She said: 'I had for a time felt that I was in potential danger wherever I was - at work out in the constituency, in my constituency office, even in my family home.

'David Lowe referred to the murder of MP Jo Cox, who was shot to death in her constituency just before the EU Referendum in 2016.

'I knew Jo, as we both started in the Westminster Parliament in 2015.

'Her death was a shock to all MPs, and especially to the female MPs who could not believe that such a scary thing could have happened in Britain.

'He also talked about threatening to kill me in my home. I had no place to feel safe. Even at home, I was thinking about these threats.

Lowe made passing reference to former Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in 2016

'When I was in London, I was worried about my husband and daughters, who were sometimes alone at home.

'We have had to put in place stricter security measures to maintain our confidence in our home. I was also concerned about staff in the constituency office.

'The message made me think more than twice whether I should stand again as a Member of Parliament, or whether I was putting my family, staff and myself in unnecessary danger.

'I have spoken to many other MPs and former MPs, and it is true to say that in 2019 some have not stood due to the level of threats to them via email and on social media.

'These are not jokes or jokes, but carefully chosen words to express hatred.. As the person who had to open and read the message in the middle of my work emails, I want to know that the sender understands and regrets the impact that his malicious act has.

'There needs to be a strong message that it is totally unacceptable to send out hateful communications with the intention of frightening people so that they shy away from participating in democracy. '

Deborah Davies, defending, said Lowe had mental health problems and had co-operated with police when he was arrested.

Lowe, of Y Felinheli, near Bangor, North Wales, pleaded guilty to sending a communication conveying threats.

District Judge Gwyn Jones then jailed him for 18 weeks and handed him a five year restraining order.
The Trump administrations views on the law have shifted over time, but it has always supported getting rid of provisions that prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against people on account of their medical history. Nonetheless, Trump has repeatedly assured Americans that people with preexisting conditions would still be protected. Neither the White House nor congressional Republicans have specified how.
The artist who designed the iconic cover for Led Zeppelin's debut album has sold the original tracing of the famous image for 260,000.

Revered designer George Hardie, 76, was paid just 60 to produce his version of photographer Sam Shere's image of the Hindenburg Zeppelin airship on fire in 1937 for the cover of Led Zeppelin's self-titled 1969 album.

Now, more than 50 years later, the original stipple tracing which went on to become one of the famous pieces of art work in rock and roll history, has sold for 260,500 at a sale at Christie's.

Mr Hardie, who marked tracing paper with small black dots to create an image similar to a low-resolution newsprint photo, had stored the single sheet of tracing paper in a drawer but seemingly forgot about it for decades.

The original tracing for Led Zeppelin's very first album cover in 1969 has sold for 260,500 at a sale at Christie's

The iconic rock band was originally going to be called The New Yardbirds until the The Who's drummer Keith Moon remarked that the idea would go down like a 'lead balloon'. Pictured left to right: Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham

However he recently unearthed it in the bottom of a plan chest in his studio alongside a prescient note written many years ago.

Mr Hardie, who retired as a lecturer in illustration at the University of Brighton in 2014, said: 'It was unsullied, in a clean folder on which one of my partners had written years ago, ''G's pension fund''.'

The designer offered it for sale at auction with Christies who gave it a pre-sale estimate of 25,000.

But the album and its art work is held in such high regard by music memorabilia collectors that interest and bidding in it took off and eventually sold for a total price of 260,500 - more than ten times the estimate.

Mr Hardie was an undergraduate at the Royal College of Art when his friend, photographer Stephen Goldblatt, recommended him to Led Zeppelin in 1969.

Revered artist George Hardie (pictured), who retired as a lecturer in illustration at the University of Brighton in 2014, was originally paid 60 for his design

After rejecting his initial ideas, guitarist Jimmy Page suggested that Mr Hardie adapt the photo of the Hindenburg disaster.

Mr Hardie added: 'I think the drawing made a good and memorable cover, but this was more to do with the photograph and Jimmy Page's choice of it than with my skill as a dotter.'

The artist, who graduated in 1970, went on to design album cover for Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon

The iconic rock band, which was set up by guitarist Jimmy Page in 1968, was originally going to be called The New Yardbirds until the The Who's drummer Keith Moon remarked that the idea would go down like a 'lead balloon'.

The term stuck with Page who changed the word 'balloon' for 'zeppelin' when he, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham formed Led Zeppelin.

Their debut record is said to have redefined the music industry and the art work has been reproduced countless times on posters, T-shirts and other items of Led Zeppelin merchandise.

A spokesman for Christies said: 'We are thrilled with the result of the sale and the vendor is also very pleased.

'From what we understand, the tracing had been in his (George Hardie) files for some time had not been located until recently.

Mr Hardie marked tracing paper with small black dots to create the iconic cover for the band. Pictured: George Hardie's signature on the cover

The British rock band Led Zeppelin pose for a photograph in front of their private airliner The Starship in 1973

'The market for important pop culture continues to be extremely robust and iconic images such as this one resonate very strongly with collectors in that area.

'Very often the most seemingly ephemeral things are the objects that collectors value later on.

'Consider for example how disposable comic books, rare early issues are valued so highly now.

'For Hardie, this was a simple tracing of a photograph, and little more than that, in a strictly artistic sense.

'But the image took on a life of its own, and is now recognised as one of the most iconic images in the history of rock and roll.'
The capital city of Ha Noi as of Monday received 36 proposals for memorandums (MoU) of understanding for investment cooperation, which were estimated to be worth more than US$26 billion in total.

The investment promotion conference themed Ha Noi 2020  Investment Cooperation and Development will be organised on June 26.  Photo hanoimoi.com.vn

The proposed MoUs were expected to be signed at the upcoming investment promotion conference themed Ha Noi 2020  Investment Cooperation and Development scheduled for June 26.

Among them, 23 proposals were from domestic companies and 13 from foreign enterprises and organisations.

At the conference, the capital city would call on investment for 116 projects with a total capital of more than VND339 trillion ($14.6 billion). These projects were mainly in urban housing, office buildings, tourism-services and industry, technical infrastructure and finance and banking sector.

The city would also call for investment in 282 projects which failed to find investors at previous conferences with a total capital of VND483 trillion.

According to Ha Noi Promotion Agency, about 540 enterprises already confirmed their participation in the conference, while 120 of them were foreign-invested. The conference was expected to attract 1,500 participants.

Secretary of the Ha Noi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue said that the conference would send a strong message that Viet Nam and Ha Noi were safe and attractive investment destinations for both domestic and foreign investors.

Through the conference, Ha Noi wished to show the determination of becoming a pioneer in post-COVID-19 economic recovery and development.

The capital city also strived to strengthen administrative reform and improve its investment climate to accelerate economic growth. The city targeted to achieve an economic growth rate 1.3 times higher than the countrys average.

Statistics of the Foreign Investment Agency showed that Ha Noi attracted more than US$1.17 billion in foreign investment in the first five months of this year with 258 new projects and 66 projects increasing their capital. Domestic investment was estimated at more than VND9.1 trillion in January  May.

The capital city has so far attracted $37 billion worth of foreign investment in more than 6,200 projects as of May 20, ranking second among 63 provinces and cities nationwide in terms of attracting foreign investment.

More than 12,260 new firms were set up in the capital city in the first five months of this year with total registered capital of VND181 trillion, a drop of 10 per cent in volume but a rise of nine per cent in registered capital over the same period last year.  VNS
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes to his soldiers as he is driven along Red Square an Aurus Senat car during the Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in Moscow, Russia. (Image: AP)
City Council President Darrell Clarke speaks during a news conference at the city's Emergency Operations Center about protests in Philadelphia against the death of George Floyd on Saturday, May 30, 2020. Protests began peacefully Saturday, drawing thousands to City Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but later turned tense as building windows were smashed and cars set on fire in Center City. Read more

In the midst of a pandemic that has killed 1,563 people since March, and protests and outcries to upend policing as we know it, Philadelphia City Council is taking their yearly summer break. After Thursday, for 11 weeks, Council is not scheduled to meet as a body. That means no oversight functions, no hearings, bills or resolutions, no deliberations, and no public input.

Philadelphias City Council summer recess is among the longest in the country, according to a Pew study from 2011. Almost every year, the break prompts editorials decrying the practice -- and annual arguments from Council that they are not at the beach but hard at work in their districts. But a city facing multiple crises, and where gun violence, overdose deaths, and poverty dont take breaks needs all hands on deck.

There is much at stake. Nearly every land use decision in the city requires legislation. The next few months will hopefully begin an economic recovery. With so many Philadelphians unemployed, it is unconscionable that potential new jobs could be delayed because Council cannot issue approvals for the disposition of public land, zoning remappings, or the permits that some businesses need to survive.

Thats not even considering the slowdown that COVID 19 imposed on the business of the city. In the past 15 weeks, City Council has held their weekly meetings eight times. Two of these meetings lasted about 10 minutes.

Multiple critical information committee hearings also didnt take place, despite being authorized by Council. Those includes a hearing on the citys preparedness for the pandemic that was authorized before the first COVID-19 case in Philadelphia was reported -- and multiple other hearings about the pandemics impact. Another hearing that didnt take place: one on safe reopenings for small businesses along commercial corridors, which Council authorized in May. Small businesses along commercial corridors are opening as Philadelphia transitions to yellow and green, without City Councils -- or the publics -- input.

A hearing about the process of vote by mail in the recent primary will also need to wait for the fall, providing little time to make changes before the November election.

A common defense of the summer recess is that Councilmembers use it for constituent services. Leading up to summer, many members have been active -- handing out protective gear, showing support for food banks, and assisting with testing capacity.

But the power of Council is in its deliberation, law-making and providing opportunities for the public to have input. Largely, Philadelphia residents did not have that power at its full disposal for the past three months-- and it wont until September.

The city is facing a continued public health threat of the pandemic, economic recession, a school district that needs support while trying to open a school year in uncharted waters, police response to protests that demands public evaluation, just to name a few. According to Council President Darrell Clarke, Council will meet at some point during the summer, particularly to allocate anticipated federal and state funds. There is no justification for Council not to meet every single week this summer. Council members and the public should demand it.
Entrepreneur Cyrus Poonawalla and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani added the most to their wealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Poonawalla is the 57th richest man in the world, Ambani has emerged as the eighth richest person in the world, according to a report by Hurun Research. Poonawalla's fortune rose on account of strong business potential of his company, Serum Institute of India.

Poonawalla ascended 57 places to 86th position in the list of world's richest people as of May 31 as his net worth surged 25% during the four months of COVID-19 pandemic. Pune-based Serum Institute of India is an unlisted company and is already the biggest vaccine maker in the world.

The rise in Poonawalla's net worth has been helped by vaccine distribution and manufacturing potential of his business, the report said.

Recently, Serum Institute struck an agreement with AstraZeneca to manufacture 1 billion doses of coronavirus vaccine being developed by Oxford University.

Also Read: 'Vaccine King' Cyrus Poonwalla's wealth grows to $15 billion amid COVID-19 pandemic

Meanwhile, richest Indian Mukesh Ambani continues to hold the number one ranking as the wealthiest Indian. After sharp losses in the first two months of the 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, the report highlighted.

However, despite the late surge, Ambani's wealth was down 1 per cent compared to pre-COVID levels, it said.

Ambani saw a "V-shaped recovery" in his wealth, wherein his net worth plummeted during the first two months and made up nearly all the losses in the next two months, the report stated.

Despite his net worth being marginally lower, Ambani climbed one place to become the eighth richest person in the world as of May 2020.

Meanwhile, 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. He 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), according to the report.

Also Read: Coronavirus vaccine: Serum Institute, CCMB, ICMR researches, other updates from India

Ambani's wealth erosion is the smallest compared to other Indian billionaires on the top-100 list, such as HCL's Shiv Nadar (16 per cent decline to $16 billion) and Gautam Adani and his family (18 per cent decline to $14 billion), it said.

Apart from Ambani, Poonawalla, Adani and Nadar, there are no Indians on 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, the report pointed out.

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, Hurun's report added.
We all have grown up with the tales of emperor Vikramaditya embedded in our subconscious. Known for his wisdom, he is remembered as the greatest judge in history. The hallmark of his justice was that both sides understood the rationale behind his thinking and were always satisfied by his solution. And so, in India, whenever a judge pronounces a judgment with great skill and wisdom, it is said of him,  He must have sat on Vikramadityas seat of judgment. Its another matter, though, that there is a fable of why that seat does not physically exist today, which is probably symptomatic of the times.

The Supreme Court is one our finest institutions and has displayed great wisdom over decades in pronouncing thoughtful, well rounded judgments and meted justice with an unquestionable fairness to all concerned. Though there have been rising instances of judicial overreach over the last decade, the Adjusted Gross Revenues (AGR) proceedings seem to be in quite a different bracket.

This was a case where the court had ruled that the telcos are liable to pay the department of telecom (DoT) the disputed amount. So far, so good. The courts role was perfectly understood till its ruling on the applicability of the AGR to telcos was concerned. DoT was the appellant, the telcos were the appellees, and there was a disagreement.

Since then, though, the court seems to have adopted a commercial role in negotiating the best bargain on behalf of a seemingly reluctant DoT, despite difficulties expressed by all telcos, including Vodafone Idea, in meeting the deadline.

Surprisingly, DoT itself is not an aggrieved party as it has expressed willingness to accept a 20-year payment period. Ostensibly, DoT, and by implication, the government would have carefully evaluated the wide implications of Vodafone Ideas collapse. Being a listed entity, its financial position is in the public domain and any professional finance expert  if appointed as an amicus curiae will be able to advise on the nuances of financial disclosures to prove the public perception that Vodafone Ideas balance sheet cannot support funding the required ~51,000 crore in the medium term, and the only possibility of paying up is by ensuring its survival to earn adequate profits over the long-term.

In this context, the courts comments on the existence of profits due to a provision of contingent liabilities, providing bank guarantees, personal guarantees of directors and its demand for a reasonable amount of upfront payment would seem unreasonable. Any insistence on squeezing immediate cash flows for the telcos would be tantamount to encouraging a duopoly in India as Reliance Jio is unaffected by the AGR situation. Surely, from a public policy perspective, that could not be an outcome which is either desirable,or acceptable, to any institution mandated to uphold the interests of public good.

The court has also brought up the concept of upfront payment by telcos to help the government in its resource augmentation efforts. Remember, the government had not pleaded this position at all and its resource constraints are gigantic multiples of these small upfront payments.

It must be appreciated that unless Vodafone Idea is allowed to remain competitive (which requires further massive investments), it will not survive long enough to pay the dues to DoT and the banks. Given its high leverage, the banking system will suffer immediate losses far in excess of AGR dues. And, given its obvious financial constraints, cash is the most critical resource it needs to conserve. Regrettably, it is this precise resource which is sought to being appropriated by a court judgement in a curious case where the creditor itself is willing to accommodate a reasonable payment schedule.

The government understands the implications of the collapse of Vodafone Idea on the banking system, employment , policy messaging to the international community and, of course, handing over the telecom market to two players ( Bharti and Reliance Jio ). As I have written elsewhere, Atmanirbhar Bharat can get off to a flying start almost immediately if strategic telecom-technology alliances are encouraged, without the hangover of uncertain policy and judicial pronouncements which stymie business and investments. This will reap immediate benefits for India as it desperately seeks avenues of accessing global capital to revive growth. The providential time window, though, provided by the current state of play in global technology trends, is short, and policymakers and courts must recognise the urgency of a genuine ease of doing business paradigm in India. Googles reported interest in Vodafone Idea is a low hanging fruit waiting to be plucked.

I trust the Supreme Court will weigh the implications of its going down the present route in totality. It must revert to its role of engaging only in disputes between parties. When it ordains its occasional undeniable role in public policy matters, then it must be guided by the larger interests of the entire community. That would remind the world of ancient Indian wisdom and that the judgment seat of Vikramaditya still endures in contemporary times.

Prabal Basu Roy is a Sloan Fellow from the London Business School, director and adviser to chairmen of corporate boards. The author has formerly been a Group CFO in various companies.

The views expressed are personal
[June 24, 2020] New Raptor Alert Software Allows Teachers and Administrators to Initiate Emergency Response With Simple Mobile Device Tap

HOUSTON, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Raptor Technologies, the nations leading provider of integrated school safety technologies for K-12 schools, today announced the upcoming launch of Raptor Alert , a new mobile panic button solution designed to reduce the time it takes for schools to notify first responders of an active emergency. It is slated to be available in Summer 2020.

Teachers and administrators can now report an emergency and instantly lockdown the school or request assistance with a simple tap on a mobile device, stated Jim Vesterman, Raptor Technologies CEO. Raptor Alert is an important new solution that supports our mission of protecting every child, every school, every day. With Raptor Alert, emergency notifications are instantly sent to multiple first responder agencies ensuring real-time coordination and ultimately getting emergency personnel on campuses faster. In fall of 2017, the company unveiled Raptor Emergency Management, a system that helps schools prepare for, respond to, and recover from an emergency with drill management, active incident management, parent-student reunification, and now Raptor Alert. The system provides real-time reporting dashboards that allow administrators the ability to track the status and location of every individual in the event of an emergency. Raptor Alert Key Benefits: Teachers and administrators can initiate an emergency response, instantly notifying first responders, and request assistance from a tailored list of personnel.

or localized incidents, the Team Assist function allows districts to create custom lists of scenarios such as fights, spills, vandalism, or any situation that can be handled by their building staff or SRO.

Users are provided with real-time messaging capability to authorized users across all devices.

The system is in 100% alignment with the Standard Response Protocol from the I Love U Guys Foundation and can be configured to any school protocol.

from the I Love U Guys Foundation and can be configured to any school protocol. The solution works with any web-connected device and integrates with the Raptor suite of school safety solutions, ensuring full emergency accountability for every person on campus.



To learn more about Raptor Alert, visit RaptorTech.com/RaptorAlert.

About Raptor Technologies

Raptor Technologies is the nations leading provider of integrated school safety technologies for K-12 schools. Founded in 2002 with the mission to protect every child, every school, every day, Raptor solutions include Raptor Visitor Management, Raptor Emergency Management, and Raptor Volunteer Management on one integrated platform. The Raptor system enables schools to add custom COVID-19 screening questions to the check-in process and detailed visitor reports help facilitate contact tracing. Raptor Technologies is a privately held corporation based in Houston, Texas. As of 2020, over 32,000 schools across the nation trust Raptor to help protect their schools. For more information, visit www.raptortech.com Media Contact:

Ida Yenney, KCPR

(818) 419-0516

[email protected] Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96147e0d-ef93-4f9c-9aea-112eba711a63 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/83654859-03db-4977-bb30-8bc2256a7981

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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.

- - -

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.

- - -

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.

- - -

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."
In the Washington Post appeared an analysis of what is going right for Biden against Trump. To summarize:

He is leading in polls, sometimes by double digits. Isn't it amazing how well Biden does in polls when most are skewed heavily toward Democrats and independents even though that is not how the public votes? Remember, Hillary was leading big through Election Day.

Biden is raising lots of money, and then the article admits that Trump has around $100 million more in the bank than Biden.

Trump is receiving poor marks on the pandemic. What a shock, considering he is attacked every day on it while they genuflect to Governor Cuomo, who had the worst results. Trump was even attacked for issuing the travel ban on China with many journalists and other Democrats, including Biden, calling it an overreaction and several calling it racist and xenophobic.

Trump has chosen to inflame racial tensions  what an absolute crock! Trump and his supporters have been attacked as racists for five years. Republicans running for president have been attacked for decades as racists. Biden and others have continued to misrepresent what Trump said in Charlottesville to gin up racial hate and violence, but Trump is supposedly inflaming racial tensions? Almost all journalists and other Democrats play the race card because, like Biden, they think they are entitled to the black vote.

What the public will rarely if ever see is an analysis of Biden's record because it is terrible. The public will also see very little talk about Democrat policies because they will destroy the U.S. economy and they are mostly unpopular. Since supposed journalists won't do their job, here is a short summary.

His domestic record:

The Obama administration continually lied to get his signature Obamacare passed. The results were loss of freedom of choice and skyrocketing health insurance prices. Why are minorities so vulnerable to COVID-19 after fifty years of government-run Medicaid and almost ten years of Obamacare if government-run health care is so good?

Under Obama/Biden, the U.S. had the slowest economic recovery in seventy years and stagnant wages. A major question would be why would journalists want to go back to policies that yielded such poor results if they really cared about the poor, middle class, the less educated, the young, the elderly, women, and minorities having opportunities to move up?

The Obama/Biden administration illegally spied on thousands including a presidential opponent. Do we really want a president who cares so little about peoples constitutional rights?

On Racism:

The number of blacks killed by white cops is down substantially from 2015 to today. Here are some of the things we didn't hear in 2015, when the deaths were much higher and when Obama/Biden were in the White House:

Obama or Biden called racists and bigots and blamed for the racial hate and division.

People didn't burn down police stations and light the church across from the White House on fire.

Streets were not painted with big yellow letters that black lives matter.

Massive protests demanding defunding of police.

Radicals didn't take over part of Seattle and close down the police station. (What took the Mayor and other Democrats so long to figure this wouldn't end well?)

Statues weren't torn down in masse.

The term "systemic racism."

Maybe Kamala Harris and all the black women campaigning for V.P. should be asked what they think of Biden giving a nice eulogy for KKK leader Robert Byrd.

On Immigration:

In 2006 Biden, like many Democrats, sounded like Trump on the dangers of illegal immigration. So why wasn't he called a racist and xenophobe. He was in his sixties at the time.

As for Obama Biden's foreign policy:

Obama/Biden loved the dictators.

Catered to the Castros and Cuba.

Gave kickbacks and rewards to the terrorist tyrants in Iran who pledge death to America. Maybe Biden could be asked how many people died from terrorism and drug overdoses because of the Obama/Biden huge kickbacks to Iran.

The secret backstory of how Obama let Hezbollah off the hook

Did not honor commitment to put missile shields in Poland and the Czech Republic to appease Putin.

Refused to give defensive weapons to Ukraine to appease Putin. Biden's son made huge amounts of money in Ukraine.

Is it any wonder that there are so many corrupt politicians enriching themselves at the public trough when the media looks the other way at the massive corruption of the Clintons and Biden while supporting them for President? Why don't they care?

The corruption occurring before their very eyes While Joe Biden and John Kerry were negotiating sensitive diplomatic deals with the Chinese government, on the sidelines stood two new business partners with little expertise in China or even their new field  Vice President Biden's son and Secretary Kerry's step-son. The Chinese were delighted with the deals and for the U.S. making no real issue of China's illegal, brazen creation of a new military base in international waters Then  talk about coincidence  the Chinese bestowed upon the two sons unprecedented and incredibly lucrative business concessions. These include a couple of multi-billion-dollar equity deals. How many millions went into the pockets of the sons? It's hidden. And they and their fathers refuse to answer questions about it. Joe Biden and John Kerry funneled a few billion dollars to the corrupt government of Ukraine, including having U.S. taxpayers guarantee $1.8 billion in loans. The money flowed through a bank controlled by a controversial oligarch who had been banned from entering the United States. Joe Biden's son teamed up with him, the ban was lifted  and, oh, more than $1 billion of the funds for Ukraine simply vanished from the oligarch's bank.

Had Putin monitor the chemical weapons of Assad and Syria.

It was Obama/Biden and several previous Presidents that continually allowed manufacturing jobs to China. Trump has been fighting to bring them back since he took office.

Why does the media put so much effort covering the unverified book by Bolton and so little on books that are critical of Democrats?

Robert Gates Thinks Joe Biden Hasn't Stopped Being Wrong for 40 Years "I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades," former Defense Secretary Robert Gates says of Vice President Joe Biden in his new book coming out later this month. Gates' assessment of Biden's boss is only slightly better, depicting an Obama administration with very murky lines of communication on military issues.

Which of the Obama/Biden actions yielded good economic results for the private sector and made the World safer? I can't come up with any.

Proposed policies:

The man three policies I see proposed by Democrats are:

Moving towards nationalized health care.

Raising the minimum wage to a higher level than most of the country can bear.

Getting rid of oil products.

All three will devastate the private sector permanently at a multiple much worse than COVID 19.

Biden should be asked a few simple questions:

Didn't the virus show how much we need the private sector on health care?

Wasn't the original intent of minimum wage and prevailing wage laws to price minorities out of the market?

How would we have mobilized medical supplies, equipment and personnel without oil?

How would we have a space program without oil?

How do we defend ourselves against countries like Russia, Iran and China without oil since they won't give it up?

Can you give any scientific data that shows a direct correlation between temperatures and storm activity as they relate to CO2 content, human populations and oil consumption which is the justification to stoop using oil? Hint there is none.

Here are some policy proposals and talking points of Democrats that the public doesn't like:

Sanctuary cities and states along with open borders.

Defunding or attacking the police.

Believing that most of us are racists.

Being against photo ID's to vote.

Being against vouchers and charter schools,

Higher taxes and bigger government.

Abortion on demand at all points in a pregnancy.

Is it really pro woman and women's privacy to support allowing men and boys who emotionally believe they are female to join them and expose themselves in women's facilities? What about allowing biological males to compete against females in sports?

Is the #MeToo movement sincere when they never gave a damn about all the women Bill and Hillary mentally and physically abused and sought to destroy? They also didn't give a damn about how much Bill Clinton hung around with pedophile Jeff Epstein.

How many women and young girls were mentally and physically abused by powerful men because the media, Hollywood and other Democrats spent so much time supporting the Clintons and intentionally looking the other way?

They also don't care about anyone Biden may have abused because he has a "D' behind his name, and he is the only hope to take out Trump. The women and young girls are disposable.

So, if people want an economy that allows people of all races and sexes to have the opportunity to participate in the great economic experiment of the United States and capitalism vote for Trump.

If people want to move towards economic collapse, socialism and government control of almost all aspects of our lives vote for the people most journalists are actively campaigning for, vote for the clearly incompetent Biden.

The choice is easy.

And remember how easy it is for Biden to lie while making up his life story, exaggerating his college record, lying about knowing about his son's kickbacks from Ukraine and China or lying about what Trump said in Charlottesville.

The media didn't vet Obama or Biden in 2008 as they were constantly attacking Palin and they won't vet Biden or his VP candidate in 2020 as they continue their attacks on Trump and his supporters.

Caricature by Donkey Hotey.
Cognizant of a technological sea change underway in the private and public sectors, and accelerated by COVID-19, Microsoft hosted a virtual summit June 23 on artificial intelligence.Eight guests included five experts from the tech company as well as the research firm CCS Insight , The Kroger Co. and Snohomish County, Wash., which recently used AI to create chatbots to disseminate critical information.Microsoft U.S. Chief Digital Officer Jacky Wright started the event by talking about why AI is becoming so important for large organizations. She said it comes down to the power of data, for two broad purposes: to accumulate and share new knowledge, and to solve problems.She polled an audience of industry officials about the top barriers to their AI adoption strategies, and the No. 1 answer was defining the AI strategy.As Wright repeatedly stressed, now is the time.We are in an inflection point in our society. We have a pandemic, we have an economic slump, and we have unrest due to racial, social inequities and disparities, she said. Think about how we can use the power of data to focus on these three things, where were going to transform who we are in todays society, and that transformation hinges on our ability to understand where we are right now, what we need to do in the future, and the effects of that.Mitra Azizirad, Microsofts corporate VP of AI and innovation, followed by talking about what it means to become an AI-powered organization, and what a difference that can make. She said most development involving AI has focused on three scenarios: business optimization, such as real-time monitoring, detecting anomalies in products, and other data-driven insights; helping with employee productivity by giving them better tools and more time for more skills-focused jobs instead of administrative tasks; and customer service, by anticipating and proactively addressing peoples needs.Azizirad defined an AI-powered organization as one with a culture thats data-driven, inclusive of different backgrounds and perspectives, committed to responsible use of new technology, and leveraging AI for everyone and not just those with technical expertise. The latter point was a common refrain among guests at the summit.Putting AI into action is the most effective and life-changing when you strategically scale its impact across the entire business, Azizirad said. To do this, it requires a mindset that embraces this idea that AI can fundamentally change whats possible for you to achieve with your employees and your organization.From CCS Insight, Head of Enterprise Research Nick McQuire listed his own three recommendations for an agencys success with AI: a data-driven culture involving business metrics and measuring success, a holistic look at the entire organization and every employee, and having a strategic adviser or trusted partner to help the organization understand the technologys potential and best practices.McQuire again stressed the need to put AI into the hands of every employee in every business function, so everyone can collaborate and offer the widest possible range of input. As one speaker put it: How do we make sure this isnt a forced march toward something they dont understand?Tom Lawry, Microsofts national director for AI, health and life sciences, described at length the potential of AI in the health-care space. Among other things, he advocated for large organizations setting up a modern data estate involving all the data they own, control, manage or use, regardless of where its stored. He said this allows organizations to better maintain it and make decisions on an agile basis. He pointed out that it may also be necessary because of the speed at which new data is being generated.Lawry discussed an organizational culture and a mindset, not just technology.Many organizations are starting, but theyre early in the journey. What were seeing in that AI-powered world in health care is, many organizations moving away from the traditional provision of services, and towards the use of AI to create whats coming to be known as intelligent health systems, he said. Intelligent health systems leverage data and AI to create strategic advantage, and they do that by making services more efficient. They also do that, not just in a little area or two, but they really focus on making things better across all touchpoints, all experiences, and all channels that a consumer may turn to when it comes to a health care need.On the subject of managing emerging technology in a fair and equitable way, Microsoft Chief Responsible AI Officer Natasha Crampton mentioned fairness and inclusiveness as concerns that keep her up at night. She said sources of unfairness in AI are many and complex, but she offered tips to mitigate: strive to have a diverse team working on building the technologies, think deeply about the context in which a system will be used, and be thoughtful and carefully curate data sets to test and train models.Start with principles. You need a north star to keep coming back to, and starting with a set of principles is how you do that, making sure that theyre aligned with the values of your organization, she said. Move to practices  and figure out what tangible steps you can take in order to advance those ends in your organization.Microsofts summit wrapped up with a government official from Snohomish County, Wash., Kendee Yamaguchi, executive director of trade and economic development. She said when her county verified the first reported case of COVID-19 in the U.S., they knew they needed to put out critical information as soon as possible. Within 24 hours, the county had set up Microsoft AI-powered chatbots to answer the publics questions, including a Spanish-language option.And it wasnt an anomaly. Azizirad had mentioned earlier in the talk that since March, public service and health organizations have created more than 1,200 bots.In a nutshell, Yamaguchi said information is power, and AI helps governments prepare for the future.In government, we arent often known for innovation, but even before COVID-19, Snohomish County was engaged in change, and this pandemic provided an opportunity for us to transform how we do business more quickly. Now our default is working from home, like many of you, and being in government, having the same tools that our business partners have helps us stay engaged and have strong communication.As an aside, Yamaguchi touched on the value of public-private partnerships. She said food producers in eastern Washington recently contacted the county because they had a large volume of produce that was going to spoil. The county sent public works trucks to pick it up, and the produce wound up at food banks instead of the dump.This is just one illustrative example of the hundreds that are happening every day, she said.
(Photo : Jonathan Ernst / Reuters) U.S. president Donald Trump is at a struggle with Twitter right now due to one of his tweets targeted against protesters.

The United States President Donald Trump often finds himself in "hot water" over his social media posts. On Tuesday, CNN reported that Twitter placed a warning label over one of his tweets due to the "threat of harm" against protesters in Washington, D.C.

While it is not the first time that Trump's tweets are put on the controversy, this particular post went around the news out of abusive tones that seemingly threatened the protesters.

Thus far, the protests that came in after the death of Black-American George Floyd in the hands of Minnesota police are ongoing in the country and have also reached European shores. Some protests have been held in London, United Kingdom, and in Berlin, Germany.

The Trump tweet

Trump seemed to have warned if protesters attempted to set up their "autonomous zone" in Washington, D.C., they will be "met with serious force."

The tweet read, "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!"

Did Donald Trump threaten D.C. protesters in one of his tweets?

RELATED STORY: Donald Trump Finally Stops Using Unsecured Android Phone And Switches To iPhone

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. https://t.co/AcmW6O6d4t  Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) June 23, 2020

According to Twitter's official statement, they placed "public interest notice" on this tweet, seeing that it violated the policy against abusive practices, especially the presence of "threat of harm" against an identifiable group. Twitter is referring to the protesters in D.C.

The president has recently been critical of the protesters' action on establishing autonomy.

D.C. protests

On Tuesday, D.C. police lined the streets around the White House, clearing out the barricades, tents, and other structures the protesters have built, the Washington Post reported. They reportedly want to create autonomous zones in the area weeks after the first wave of demonstrations began against racial injustice.

These comments also were reactions to the chaotic protests this week and on Monday, June 22, during which protesters attempted to topple President Andrew Jackson's statue at Lafayette Square, and cordoned off a street section near the White House, before the actions from the police.

Twitter hides Trump tweet

The company has hidden this tweet from the president but was only the second time the company acted against these tweets. This feature was created last summer. Facebook remains mum as of press time, out of the issue regarding the Trump posts.

Twitter informed chief executive Jack Dorsey of the decision before the notice was published, a spokesman from the social media platform said.

The protesters on Monday declared "Black House Autonomous Zone," and referenced a Seattle area known as the CHOP or Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone, near the presidential office in front of St. John's Church.

Twitter also tagged the message "when the lotting starts, the shooting starts," "violent" against these protesters. The plot thickens. Stay tuned for updates on Tech Times.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Terminator Princess 'Kim Yo Jong' will have North Korea in her sights as another round of provocations That will climax with the use of 'nuclear weapons' on the US.

Just recently, the North Korean embassy in Russia has made threats of using nuclear weapons against America. The threat was called sensational, to say the least, according to TASS, reported by New York Post.

According to TASS, that is the mouthpiece for the Kremlin that alleged the report was sent to them as a statement just this weekend. TASS is the official Russian news service too.

This year the US armed forces have been doing various military exercises with South Koreans. They noted the vicinity to North Korea and possibly a quick strike into North Korean territory if needed.

The statement continues with claims of another round of Korean War that will be a historical event that could be the end of another empire, the United States. These were the contents of the press statement sent from the North Korean embassy.

Only the TASS has gotten hold of the release statement, so far but other agencies have not. The release of the statement is before the 70th anniversary of the Korean War.

The Korean War started on June 25, 1950, when Chinese and Soviet-supported armies from the North, poured into South Korea starting the war. Soon after, the US went in deep and waged war for the South against communism.

In recent days, the Hermit Kingdom has been very loud in going after the south, and with their news agency, they gave the threat to drown South Korean in the deluge of leaflets as large as a mountain.

Also read: Next Dictator: Kim Yo Jong is Becoming the 'Terminator' Princess

An extension of the tout, the leaflets will be released to denounce South Koreans and defectors, mention in Daily Star.

North Korea is intent on giving the south a taste of its own medicine as Kim Yo Jong is tired of their antics. That is the continuous stream of propaganda that she has requested to be stopped, but with no compliance yet.

Leaflets that has exceedingly displeased Kim Yo Jong to no end is the common method by defectors from North Korea, who in the Terminator Princess term are considered mongrel dogs. The South Korean military propaganda materials were stopped since.

Sometimes, these defectors will get more creative and send some goodies, not just leaflets. Sometimes there we would be food, dollars, miniature radios with USBs that have South Korean news and of course dramas.

The influx of information from the south is what the Princess Terminator is against, especially those against her brother's policies.

Kim Yo Jong steps up and shocks the South at her rise in power.

In a shocking move, the Princess Terminator becomes the supreme leader, giving the order to destroy the liaison office in the Kaesong border. The world witnessed the rise of another North Korean leader, that is a woman with a loud boom, cited in New York times.

Till it's destruction, said South Korean office has been functional for two years.

Kim Yo Jong called South Korea as the adversary when she declared the absolute destruction of the office. The destruction is seen all over the world and negotiations were cut as well.

Kim Yo Jong the 'Terminator Princess' seemingly declares to the whole word that she has the blessing to do what comes next.

Related article: Kim Jong-Un Ramping Tensions With South Korea to Distract Trump Into Negotiations

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Spanish education officials have for weeks been debating how to get non-university students safely back to school in the fall for in-person classes.

Schools shut down across Spain in March due to the coronavirus pandemic and classes were moved online, but educators have been warning about the gaps in access to technology and the risk that some students could be left behind.

Central and regional officials are now working toward the goal of getting all children in pre-university studies back to school despite the logistical problems involved. One of the main issues is how to maintain a safe physical distance between students in facilities with large class sizes and reduced space.

The problem is that when the bubble gets very big, the risk of transmission is greater and controlling its components also gets more difficult Quique Bassat, pediatrician and epidemiologist

While the central government has issued a series of guidelines over the last few weeks, powers over education and healthcare are devolved to the regions. During the three-month state of alarm, health policy was partly recentralized as part of the governments effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

But the emergency measures were lifted on Sunday, and healthcare reverted to the regions with the exception of what is stipulated in a government decree regulating Spains new normality following the lockdown. This decree will be subject to a congressional vote on Thursday.

This decree states that schools must take measures to avoid large groups and to guarantee a safe distance of at least 1.5 meters between children. But the text adds that when this distance is not possible, the proper hygiene measures must be adopted to prevent the risk of contagion.

Regional governments have taken this to mean that children may sit closer to each other, as long as they adopt alternative safety measures such as wearing a face mask at all times.

Class bubbles

Meanwhile, the central government has also accepted the creation of so-called class bubbles or groups of students who stay together and do not interact with other people at school. These groups will be allowed in early education and primary school, and may contain as many as 25 students who will not have to observe social distancing or wear face masks.

The government had originally talked about a safe distance of two meters and class sizes of no more than 15 children. But the issue of space, especially in high schools, has led authorities to gradually change these numbers in order to adapt to the reality on the ground.

Expert report

In May, the Spanish Pediatrics Association (AEP) drew up a report with recommendations for a safe return to school, including setting a two-meter distance between students, although the authors said that 1.5 meters could be acceptable as well.

These experts also defended the bubble formula for the youngest children, for whom social distancing is more difficult. This option also makes it easier to isolate a group in the event of an outbreak without the need to close down the entire school.

There is a division of opinion among experts whether these bubbles should have around 10 students, or whether they would still work with class sizes of up to 25. The problem is that when the bubble gets very big, the risk of transmission is greater and controlling its components also gets more difficult, notes Quique Bassat, a pediatrician and epidemiologist.

No space

Most regional governments, regardless of the political party in power, believe that it is impossible to create groups of 10 students and maintain the 1.5-meter distance, and still have enough space to bring all students back to school in the fall.

In the region of Castilla-La Mancha, for instance, some high schools have classes of up to 40 students (in early and primary school, the maximum allowed class size is 25). Observing the 1.5-meter distance would mean dividing such a class into three groups.

Spanish students have been staying home from school since March. Marta Monzon (EFE)

The labor union CC OO has calculated that breaking up these larger classes would require hiring 165,000 additional teachers at an annual cost of 5.15 million in the public education system alone. And this would not solve the problem of insufficient space for the extra groups.

For now, the central government has allocated an additional 2 billion for regional education spending, and a further 260 million to distribute 500,000 computers and tablets at schools.

Regional education officials are also questioning the theory behind the guidelines, noting that schools are being asked to adopt exceptional measures while other public venues such as libraries, museums, restaurants and stores are now allowed to operate at increased capacity, as long as people use face masks when social distancing is not possible.

Instead, regional governments support designing a gradual protocol that would increase restrictions where required, and which would lead to a complete school closure in a worst-case scenario of widespread transmission.

English version by Susana Urra.
The Government is expected to present over 300 billion VND (14.3 million USD) to those who contributed to the national revolution on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27.

Presenting gifts to war invalids at the Kim Bang nursing center for wounded soldiers in the northern province of Nam Dinh.

The Government is expected to present over 300 billion VND (14.3 million USD) to those who contributed to the national revolution on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to submit gift proposals to the President.

The ministry proposed two levels of support: 400,000 VND (17.2 USD), and 200,000 VND for policy beneficiaries such as heroic Vietnamese mothers and wounded soldiers.

The cost has been set aside in the State budget plan for 2020./.VNA
Canadian Solar Inc. CSIQ recently announced a couple of power purchase agreements signed with Brazilina corporations - Braskem BAK and COPEL Energia. The agreements authorize Canadian Solar to build two solar projects, with a total capacity of 274 megawatt-peak (MWp), and consequently supply the solar energy to Braskem and COPEL Energia.

These two corporate PPAs will expand Canadian Solar's Brazilian portfolio, which has more than 1.9 gigawatt-peak (GWp) of contracted PPAs since the company entered this market.

Canadian Solar's high-efficiency bifacial BiHiKu modules will be installed in both the solar power projects, situated in Brazil. Once operational, the combined projects are expected to generate 610 GWh of clean energy annually.

Solar Prospects in Brazil

Brazil is currently one of the fastest-growing solar markets in the world, attracting the interest of a number of foreign investors, multilateral development banks, energy companies and equipment manufacturers. This in turn has been boosting employment in the nation, thereby making installation of solar energy even more desirable.

Per a recent report by ABSolar, the Brazilian Association for Solar Energy, solar has already brought more than $26.8 billion (in Brazilian real) in new private investments to the country and generated around 130 thousand jobs since 2012. Moreover, Brazil has crossed the 5-GW mark for installed solar power through large plants, and small and medium systems installed on roofs, facades and land.

Naturally, Brazils solar market offers a great profitable playground for solar project developer and module manufacturers like Canadian Solar to enhance their market share. The latest signed PPAs are a testament to that.

In October 2019, the company secured the right to construct three solar photovoltaic (PV) projects from two Brazilian Private Corporate Auctions. These projects, with a total output capacity of 393.7 MWp, are expected to start commercial operations before the end of 2022. Prior to that in July, the company won 51.1 MWP solar PV projects in a Brazilian auction. These project developments, including the latest PPAs, reflect the predominance that Canadian Solar enjoys in the solar market of Brazil.

Story continues

Global Solar Boom: Canadian Solar & Others

While Brazil remains a lucrative market for solar players expansion, the global solar market as a whole has been rallying over the past decade. Per a report by Fortune Business Insights, the global solar power market size is projected to reach 4766.8 MW in 2026 from 2019, exhibiting a CAGR of 30.7%.

To reap benefits from this expanding global solar market, Canadian Solar and other solar players are making every possible effort, which is expected to boost profits.

At the end of first-quarter 2020, Canadian Solars utility-scale solar power plants in operation totaled 956 MWp, with an estimated resale value of $830 million. The company ended the first quarter with total project pipeline of 12 GWp. This reflects solid prospects for this stock through monetization of global solar project assets.

During 2019, ReneSola SOL connected about 60 MW of projects. Going ahead, it aims incremental project pipeline in core markets to reach 1 GW by the end of 2020.

In 2019, JinkoSolar JKS reported record high solar module shipment of 14.3 GW. For 2020, it projects total solar module shipments of 18-20 GW, indicating an improvement of 35% year over year.

Price Performance & Zacks Rank

In a years time, shares of Canadian Solar have lost 13.4% against the industrys increase of 27.3%.

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Sydneys Inner West Council is facing a string of criminal charges over alleged child protection failures at a childcare centre, with the mayor and other elected officials kept in the dark about the investigation until just weeks ago.

The council is expected to face the Newtown Local Court next month over two alleged incidents that occurred at the Stanmore Out of School Hours Care in July and September 2018.

The Inner West Council is facing several criminal charges over alleged child protection failures at an out of school care facility in Stanmore. Credit:Kate Geraghty

It is facing five separate charges, including not protecting children from harm and children in care of service not being adequately supervised.

Council sources speaking on the condition of anonymity said charges relate to children leaving the facility without supervision, but it is not known what occurred after they left.
China warned the United States against the deployment of intermediate-range missiles in the Asia Pacific region after reports of negotiation with Japan emerged recently. During a regular news briefing on June 24, Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said that China firmly opposes the deployment, adding that China will not sit idle and will take all necessary measures to counter.

Wu said that if the United States insists on deploying missiles at its military bases in Japan, it will be provoking China to take necessary measures to resolutely fight back. He also suggested Japan and other relevant countries proceed cautiously from the perspective of regional peace and stability and not fall victim to the geopolitical plot of the United States.

China has been wary of US presence in the Asia Pacific since its military might could prove a major counterbalancing force to Beijings expansionist policy. Meanwhile, the US has been challenging Beijings claim on the South China Sea and helping Taiwan militarily too boost its defence inventory.

Read: China's Defence Ministry Peddles Precise Opposite Of LAC Events; Claims Galwan Sovereignty

Arms deal

Last month, Taiwan revealed that it is planning to buy Harpoon anti-ship missiles from the United States to deal with the rising threat from China. Deputy Defence Minister Chang Che-ping told the parliament that Taiwan, as part of its military modernisation efforts, plans to purchase land-based Boeing-made Harpoon missile which will serve as a coastal defence cruise missile.

Taiwan strait is a disputed zone since the self-governing island republic considers itself as sovereign while China claims the province as Beijings territory under its one-China policy. In recent months, China and the United States have increased their military activities near Taiwan which the later calls ordinary mission. The strait has been witnessing regular US sailings as Washington has emerged as a strong supporter of Taiwans inclusion on international platforms.

Read: China's Galwan Retreat Proven: Before-After Spectral Images Of India-China LAC Clash Here
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Cairo, Egypt  Wed, June 24, 2020 09:51 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406612b45c 2 World Egypt,curfew,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,coronavirus-effect,COVID-19,COVID-19-reopening,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Egypt will from Saturday lift a night-time curfew that had been in force since March 25 to curb the spread of the coronavirus, and reopen restaurants, cafes, and places of worship, albeit with limits on the numbers visiting, the government said.

The new measures come despite Egypt seeing an acceleration of new cases in recent weeks, with infections confirmed by the Health Ministry surging to 56,809, including 2,278 deaths.

While Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly acknowledged the numbers were rising as he announced the measures on Tuesday, he repeated the government's message that citizens will have to learn to live with the pandemic as it 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.

Restaurants and cafes will operate at 25% capacity and shut at 10 p.m. from Saturday, while mosques and churches will be open for daily praying but not for end-of-week prayers or services which sees larger crowds, Madbouly said.

Cinemas and theatres will also reopen at 25% capacity.

Public beaches and parks will remain shut and public transport will be suspended from midnight until 4 a.m.. Most tourist hotels have their own private beaches and pools.

The decisions to ease the restrictions could be revoked if people do not follow the rules still in place, Madbouly said.

The curfew will be fully lifted starting from Saturday, Hany Younes, the prime minister's media adviser said.

This month, Egypt said it would reopen all its airports for scheduled international traffic and open up its main resorts for foreign tourists on July 1.

As in other countries, many coronavirus cases are believed to have gone unreported. The higher education minister cited a study on June 1 estimating that the actual number of cases could be up to five times higher than the reported figure.

Separately, a telephone survey conducted by Baseera, a private center for public opinion research that is known for its support of the government, showed on Monday that nearly 616,000 Egyptians over 18 years in the country of 100 million people had been infected.

Some 15% said they were diagnosed through a coronavirus test, while others were diagnosed after normal blood tests, chest X-rays or a visit to a doctor. Nearly 16% self-diagnosed, given their symptoms. The government has not commented on the survey results.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 04:06:40|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The UN envoy for South Sudan on Tuesday called attention to the potential impact of COVID-19 on the country's already fragile health system.

"Our greatest fear of COVID is its potential impact on the already fragile health system. Disruption to vaccinations, maternal health services or routine treatment for curable diseases like malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia will result in a devastating increase in deaths - likely greater than the loss of life from COVID itself," David Shearer, UN secretary-general's special representative for South Sudan, told the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in South Sudan, a landlocked country in East-Central Africa.

Shearer said that, despite widespread awareness, observance of prevention measures "has remained patchy."

"Few will submit to isolation at home. The need to earn a living means that people's behavior remains unchanged - not working today means not eating tomorrow," he said.

The envoy noted that the full impact of COVID-19 is only beginning to hit South Sudan. While its 1,900 recorded cases appear low, he said that limited testing as well as social stigma is obscuring the true magnitude of the virus.

"Some early-affected countries are now beginning to emerge from the crisis. But for others, the full impact is only now beginning to hit. South Sudan is one of those countries," he said.

"The only antidote to COVID, as we know, is prevention. The government's prevention measures, informed by the World Health Organization guidance, have been communicated constantly through campaigns across the country, supported by the UN Children's Fund and the UN Mission in South Sudan," he added.

The envoy pledged that "the UN, humanitarian agencies and donors have remained and, together, we are saving and changing lives," he said. Enditem
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Linkedin Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 16:34 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406614dba0 1 City reclamation,reclamation-trial,Supreme-Court,Jakarta-administration,Jakarta-governor,anies-baswedan,Jakarta-Bay Free

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Jakarta administration in its appeal of a lower courts decision to uphold developer PT Taman Harapan Indah's permit to reclaim and build on man-made Islet H in Jakarta bay.

The dispute was one of a few that centered on the city's revocation of developers permits to reclaim and build on 13 islets, including Islet H, through a gubernatorial decree issued by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in September 2018.

PT Taman Harapan Indah challenged the decree in the Jakarta Administrative Court (PTUN). In July of last year, the court ruled in favor of the company, a subsidiary of property developer PT Intiland Development.

The city administration subsequently filed an appeal with the Jakarta Administrative High Court (PTTUN). In December 2019, the court ordered Anies to revoke the gubernatorial decree but stopped short of ordering the governor to extend the company's permit to build Islet H.

Both PT Taman Harapan Indah and the Jakarta administration then filed appeals with the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict.

The Supreme Courts ruling, posted on its official website mahkamahagung.go.id on Tuesday, said it "rejected the appeal" from PT Taman Harapan Indah and had ruled in favor of Anies.

The court overruled the PTUN and PTTUN and reestablished the gubernatorial decree that revoked the reclamation permits.

Jakarta Legal Bureau head Yayan Yuhanah said there were other legal avenues for PT Taman Harapan Indah to challenge the verdict.

Read also: Reclamation or not: City struggles to win lawsuits

The plaintiff can file a case review [with the Supreme Court]," Yayan said, "However, I am not yet sure if they will do it."

Anies lauded the Supreme Courts ruling and expressed his wish to win the other legal battles against reclamation efforts in Jakarta Bay.

The ruling is in line with our regulation. The other legal proceedings [over other reclaimed islets] are still ongoing. Hopefully, we can win those cases too, he told journalists on Tuesday.

The city's decision to revoke the permits of the developers in charge of the 13 reclaimed islets in 2018 followed an investigation by the Jakarta North Coast Reclamation Management Coordinating Body that found that the projects had failed to follow necessary procedures, including in the submission of design and Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal) reports.

The other islets with revoked permits are islets A, B and E, developed by PT Kapuk Naga Indah; islets I, J and K, developed by city-owned PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol; islet M, developed by PT Manggala Krida Yudha; islets O and F, developed by PT Jakarta Propertindo; islets P and Q, developed by KEK Marunda Jakarta; and islet I, developed by PT Jaladri Kartika Pakci.

Anies did not revoke the permits of the three developers overseeing the reclamation of islets C, D, G and N, arguing that the four islets had already been built on.

PT Manggala Krida Yuda challenged the city's decision in the PTUN, but the court rejected the lawsuit.

The PTUN also ruled in favor of PT Agung Dinamika Perkasa and PT Jaladri Kartika Pakci after they brought complaints forward. The Jakarta administration has filed appeals against the decisions, and the legal proceedings are currently ongoing. (ami)
New Delhi: The government has decided to put a halt on importing electrical items from China and other countries owing to concerns regarding malware while those already imported will be tested.

The government has decided that import of compulsory items will be allowed for two-three years, during which it will build domestic set up for manufacturing the items in the country itself, without having to depend on others. For the items and products that have already been imported, the government will run a security check for them to test for any possible malware threat.

The Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy in a high level meeting has said that the government will stop the import of solar module, solar cells, solar inverters among the cheap items for import.

Furthermore, government will impose basic custom duty on these items. Earlier, the government used to impose only 20 percent safeguard duty for the solar items coming from China, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Solar panel imported from outside will be levied with a 20 percent basic duty from August 2020, making them more expensive.

The ministry further said that developers who would lay more emphasis on using, manufacturing and promoting domestic equipments will be able to avail lower rates of interest from Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA).

Additionally the ministry said that custom duty certificate on renewable energy items will be ended.

The above decisions fall in line with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision, that aims to promote domestic manufacturing and reduce import content in large infrastructure projects.
The Singapore prime minister's estranged brother said Wednesday he has joined an opposition party ahead of elections next month, presenting a new challenge to the country's long-ruling government. The city-state's parliament was dissolved Tuesday for a general election on July 10, even as the country struggles to recover from a major coronavirus outbreak that has swept through migrant worker dormitories. Lee Hsien Yang is locked in a long-running row with his sibling, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, accusing him of seeking to capitalise on the legacy of their father, Singapore's late founding leader. The 62-year-old met with Tan Cheng Bock, the leader of new opposition group Progress Singapore Party (PSP), Wednesday morning and revealed that he had recently become a member. "I joined the party because I think that (Tan) is committed to doing the right thing for Singapore and Singaporeans, and he loves the country and has brought together a group of people who share his vision," he told reporters. He would not be drawn on whether he planned to run as a candidate in the election. Tan, a popular figure who was once a lawmaker with the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), said that Lee Hsien Yang was "not just an ordinary person". "His father is the founder of Singapore, so that's very important," he said. Their party, launched last year, will not threaten the PAP's decades-long hold on power but the combination of a Lee family member and Tan could draw some voters away from the ruling party, observers believe. Lee Hsien Yang, a business executive, and his sister Lee Wei Ling fell out with their prime minister brother following the death of their father, Lee Kuan Yew, in 2015. The Lee family row centres on allegations made by the premier's siblings that he is seeking to block the demolition of a family bungalow to capitalise on Lee Kuan Yew's legacy -- something he has denied.
Atlanta

Scores of mourners Tuesday paid their final respects to Rayshard Brooks at the Atlanta church where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. used to preach.

"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."

Brooks' widow, Tomika Miller, dressed in white, sat surrounded by family and friends. Former state lawmaker Stacey Abrams and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms were among the mourners.

Most people dressed all in white, while some wore shirts with Brooks' picture. Nearly everyone had masks on to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Brooks' killing June 12 came amid weeks of turbulent and sometimes violent protests across the U.S. over Floyd's death under a white Minneapolis officer's knee on May 25. In the aftermath of Brooks' death, the Atlanta police chief resigned, and protesters burned the Wendy's restaurant.

As the funeral was under way, authorities announced the arrest of a suspect in the fire, identifying her as 29-year-old Natalie White  according to her lawyer, the same woman Brooks described to police on the night he was shot as his girlfriend.

The lawyer, Drew Findling, said White was distraught over Brooks' death but was "absolutely not responsible for the fire," saying the blaze was already under way when she was seen on video approaching the restaurant.

The deaths of Floyd and Brooks have led to a groundswell of protests against racial inequality, a movement to take down Confederate statues and other symbols, and demands for the dismantling of police departments or the shifting of their funding toward social services.

"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, the civil rights leader's daughter, told the crowd at the funeral.

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.'"

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."

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 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.

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 nation's 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 alleged Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 renders have appeared, but theyre probably not real. Well, these renders are kind of real, as theyre based on Samsungs patent, but theyre probably not showing the Galaxy Fold 2.

These renders come from Pigtou and @xleaks7, and theyre directly based off of Samsungs patent sketches. This is probably just another one of Samsungs patents that may or may not come to life.

This is probably not the upcoming Galaxy Fold 2

Whatever the case may be, we cannot believe this is the Galaxy Fold 2. If it had a proper display on the outside, then it would be more plausible. This phone has a really narrow, vertical display on the front.

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Samsung is rumored, from reputable sources, to use a large display on the front of the device. That display will be larger than the one on the original Galaxy Fold, so this is almost certainly not it.

This phone is made out of metal and glass, and it has three camera sensors on the back. One of them is a periscope camera, even. The general build is similar to that of the Galaxy Fold, even the hinge seems to be similar.

There is a slight chance this is the budget foldable smartphone that has been rumored. Aside from the Galaxy Fold 2, Samsung is also rumored to release a Lite foldable handset at some point.

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Including such a small display on the front would certainly allow Samsung to cut some corners. On the flip side, that periscope camera on the back probably wont make it to the Lite version, so that doesnt make much sense either.

The inner display comes with a large notch

This phones inner display is quite similar to the one on the original Galaxy Fold. Instead of a display camera hole, which is rumored for the Galaxy Fold 2, this one has a large notch.

That notch is placed in the same place as on the Galaxy Fold, in the top-right corner. There seem to be two cameras included inside that notch, for selfies.

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The bezels on that inner display are quite thin, that hard to deny. The phone opens like a book, the same as the original Galaxy Fold. It is also worth noting that the phone seems to have a side-facing fingerprint scanner

This devices rear camera module does protrude a bit, while an LED flash sits right below it. The back side of this phone is curved towards the edges.

The Galaxy Fold 2 is expected to arrive in August. The phone will probably launch alongside the Galaxy Note 20 series, and the Galaxy Z Flip 5G. The Galaxy Fold 2 is coming, but the phone shown here is probably not it.
A culinary guide to Rome through its art galleries.

Painting and food: Rome, of course, abounds with both. But painting about food  and its sine qua non  wine? This article offers a sort of Gambero Rosso to just that in some of the citys galleries and museums, in more or less five courses.

First course is the painting Il Gusto (Taste) by Jusepe de Ribera, known more often as Lo Spagnoletto. Admittedly it was sold to Spain long ago with most of the painters other works, in this case ending up across the Atlantic. It now hangs in Wadsworth Athenium in Hartford USA. Yet the setting is eminently Roman, in this case less Via Veneto than low-life trattoria, one star not five, perhaps on Via Margutta, where the Spanish artist lodged between 1613-1616 with northern colleagues such as Valentin de Boulogne, Dick van Baburen and Hendrik Terbuggen.

Il Gusto by Jusepe de Ribera

Visit Pigneto or Tor Pignattara  name your suburb  and the subject depicted is still there. Talk about pugnacious and in your face. The cut-price gourmet is as famished as ever, living to eat. His glare from the frame seems to say So romano, chi sei, spagnoletto?, if only looks could speak. The artist seems to take the insult on board but delights in it. Those tarnished anchovies nearing their sell-by date replicate the bright sheen of the eaters shirt and threaten to venture into the realm of L'Olfatto (Smell), another of the artist's paintings complete with onion and garlic in a commissioned series portraying I Cinque Sensi (The Five Senses).

Chiaroscuro for the taste buds, olives spill from their roll of paper; some bread demands to be plucked from Il Gusto and eaten. The wine is surely Castelli Romani. The subjects massive right fist holds a wine-glass, his left a demi-litro held at an angle with no time for niceness. One false word or brush-stroke and you sense that he could launch it like a grenade. Salute, buon appetito, one can imagine the Spanish painter remarking, safe behind his precision gaze as his sitter responds with a burp, his fish-breathed laugh defusing another brawl.

Il Mangiafagioli by Annibale Carracci.

Next up is soup. Annibale Carracci's painting Il Mangiafagioli in Palazzo Colonna upstages an array of ten-a-penny counts and cardinals, even the odd pope or two. With a purposeful crouch, he tucks in with a gusto to make all that silk and purple of the surrounding portraits seem humdrum. Grub first, art (or class) later, to rephrase an Auden poem. Continuing regardless of angels and low-flying putti with which the museum is also packed, heres an example of appetite eclipsing the sublime, levelling delusions of grandeur in its course.

The third course is served by Carraccis fellow Bolognese and one-time master, Bartolomeo Passerotti. (Such was Passerottis influence that the Bean Eater was long attributed to him, rather than his more famous pupil.) In Palazzo Barberini, Passerotti's paintings have a whole wall to themselves. Influenced by the Dutch, who had established a tradition of tabletops heaving with highly-detailed plenty, in La Pescheria (The Fish Stall), Passerotti swaps the tabletop for a fishmongers bench. A larger than-life lobster threatens to slither over and drop on to the museum floor. Next to it a turtle peeks from its basket while a decapitated head (some innards still attached) bears witness to a customer who got away. In its detail the painting is something of an Aladdins cave. Shellfish of all shapes are depicted with loving care. Human interest comes from an old man getting an earful from an old woman who is also holding up a blowfish to his ear. Look again and there in one corner a cat eyes up a sparrow, or passero  the artists hallmark  destined to remain ever beyond its reach.

La Pescheria by Bartolomeo Passerotti.

In La Pescherias sister picture, La Macelleria (The Butcher) meat hangs like drapery, the butchers' toothy smiles and pride in their profession not a little disconcerting.

La Macelleria by Bartolomeo Passerotti.

No meal comes without a plentiful supply of wine. In a baroque trattoria theres no shortage of supply. In the next room of the same gallery (Sala 20) in Palazzo Barberini, Bartolomeo Manfredi's Bacchus dangles grapes above a wine-bibbing devotee, glass / chalice taking pride of picture, the bibbers mouth slightly goat-like.

More famously, in Palazzo Borghese, if Caravaggios Bacchino Malato (Sick Bacchus) is disquietingly lifelike, its because the godling is also a self-portrait during a bout of illness. His skin is a greenish-blue so that the grapes he holds with a soily thumb seem somehow a part of him. Not the merry figure of some paintings, more a study in deep-rooted compulsion, hangover and thirst in one. The grapes (and a couple of apricots) are a still life in themselves, eminently pickable. They also signal the Italian adoption of an art form in which precision-eyed painters from Holland excelled.

There was a colony of Dutch painters in Rome to pass on their tricks of the trade. They were also great topers, forming bacchic brotherhoods whose strange, wine-fuelled rituals feature in Roeland Van Laers painting Les Bentvueghels dans une auberge romaine at Museo di Roma Palazzo Braschi. The wine here is in two flagons balanced on the head of the red-stockinged hostess, while to the side a writer daubs graffiti to Venus and Bacchus, and several boozy acolytes sprawl in the foreground.

Les Bentvueghels dans une auberge romaine by Roeland van Laer.

Less course than post-prandium is the mosaic of an unswept floor now in the Vatican Museums. This is in fact a copy of a Greek original (by Sosus of Pergamum), such mosaics also becoming something of a fashion in Romaes triclinii (or dining-rooms) in the second century AD.

Proving that anything that painting can do a mosaic can equal, the remains of an ancient Roman banquet scatter the ground as fresh as the careless moment they were dropped. After 1,800 years even their shadows are still intact. A lettuce leaf, nutshells, molluscs, sprigs of cherries, a fishbone. Enjoying a banquet of its own, a mouse in the right corner advances towards a morsel, appetite immortalised. And lest the diners forget in their cups that this is only trompe-l'il  Roman wine was very strong  between the scraps the odd theatre mask or two acts as a reminder.

Mosaic at Vatican Museums.

Salute then, another buon appetito. Heres food for both mind and eyes, without worries over excess calories or tomorrows hangover.

By Martin Bennett

This article was first published in the October 2015 edition of Wanted in Rome magazine.
About a month ago, Alberto Sepulveda and his family were notified by their car insurance company that until they updated their vehicle registrations and licenses to their new address in Connecticut, their insurance would be suspended.

But with the Department of Motor Vehicles shuttered for in-person services due to the COVID-19 global health pandemic, there wasnt much they could do and in Connecticut, driving without insurance is a misdemeanor offense penalized by a fine of up to $500, imprisonment up to three months, or both, even during a pandemic.

Thats why they were among the first to sign up for an appointment at the Waterbury DMV branch, which along with nearly all other DMV offices in the state partially opened for appointment-only in-person services on Tuesday.

Our insurance company made it pretty urgent that we make an appointment as soon as possible, said Sepulveda, 25, who moved to Ridgefield from Yonkers with his mom and stepdad in April. The move was planned prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, but the virus certainly complicated matters, he said.

Gov. Ned Lamont and Commissioner Sibongile Magubane were at the Waterbury DMV office to announce the reopening on Tuesday. After a three-month shutdown for in-person transactions, the state Department of Motor Vehicles offices have partially reopened  by appointment only.

All visitors have their temperature taken upon entrance, and are asked by an employee if theyve traveled out of state in the past 14 days or have any shortness of breath. Customers check in for their appointment and then take a seat in one of the socially distanced chairs in the waiting area. Masks are required, all employees are protected by newly installed plexiglass and there are several hand sanitizer dispensers in the facilities.

Who would have thought everybody was missing DMV so much, Lamont joked.

Prior to the COVID shutdown, the department was working to move some services online, a process that was expedited by the closures. The shutdown for coronavirus tested the departments ability to move transactions online, a longtime effort that had already gained speed.

A year and a half ago there were a lot of complaints, Lamont added. One of the many things that we learned from COVID is how to upgrade what we do, and here we are opening the DMV in Waturbury and around the rest of the state and doing it with a new normal ... last year we tried to accelerate things ... to mitigate the load on DMV. But this is another sign that our state is getting back to business in a very cautious thoughtful way to keep people safe.

Magubane estimated roughly 60 to 70 percent of license and registration renewals are completed online these days.

We can do more and part of our strategy is to increase that number, she said. In terms of new credentials, you are required to come to the DMV in person ... When it comes to new credentials, its low because we need primary documents to transact that business, she said.

Credentials, meaning licenses and registrations.

In the next two weeks, Magubane said the department will introduce the ability for people to take pictures of their credentials, and upload them to an online system for pre-check to make sure people have all of the primary documents they need. She said employees working from home will be able to complete the pre-checks, reducing the number of employees in offices, and reducing the failure rate for people visiting the offices. That will reduce backlogs and wait times, she said.

So we are really using technology to transform how we are supporting the citizens of Connecticut for some very complex transactions that require primary documents, Magubane said.

The state delayed the renewal deadlines by 180 days for drivers licenses and vehicle registrations expiring March 10 to June 30 and by 90 days for those documents expiring in July though that process can often be carried out online. But others, such as tests for new drivers, transferring license and registration from out of state and some tax transactions, have been slowed, creating a significant backlog for the department, Magubane said.

Testing for learners permits is being done at the Cheshire and Wethersfield locations on limited days and requires an appointment.

Click here for more information and to make an appointment or go to portal.ct.gov/DMV.

DMV is one of the places where people directly interact with their government on a regular basis, Lamont said. I want them to see that were trying everyday to make this a good customer experience like were used to in the private sector. Getting it done on time, friction free, and COVID has reminded us more than ever how we have to do it safely as well.

kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt
The Kebbi State Governor and chairperson of the APC Governors Forum, Abubakar Bagudu, has said governors elected on the partys platform are pushing for a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in order to halt a drift of the party.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday announced a plan to participate in the NEC meeting convened by Victor Giadom who lays claim to the leadership of the party.

The President has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned and has determined that the law is on the side of Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman, a presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said in a statement.

But in statement he released earlier in the day, acting national secretary of the party, Waziri Bulama, had cited provisions of the APC constitution to declare the proposed NEC meeting as illegal.

Mr Bulama also said Mr Giadom lacks legitimacy as he was expelled from the NWC.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday night, Mr Bagudu said the governors are united in the search for immediate and lasting solution to the problems of the party.

But PREMIUM TIMES learnt only seven governors, including Mr Bagudu, are supporting the convening of the meeting, which may push for dissolution of the NWC of the party.

The Kebbi governor said the governors are pushing for peace and harmony in the party and to save it from its present predicament.

The APC is embroiled in leadership crisis following the suspension of the substantive chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.

A situation where the party is mired in crisis, where court cases are being filed all around and people making all manner of claims, it is disruptive and destructive.

Mr Bagudu was non-committal on what the agenda of the meeting would be but insisted that the aim is to resolve crisis rocking the party.

He denied permutations for the 2023 elections as the reason for the action of the governors.

We were given a mandate in which we just finished only one year. I think any person of faith should not be talking about 2023 at this time.

Mr Bagudu said ambition of persons like him was to have a united and strong party, not necessarily a platform to contest elections.
YORK, Pa.  Jim and Lorretta Raffensberger never really celebrated their wedding anniversary.

Theyre not party people, their son, Mark, said.

Their family did throw them a party a few years back at the fire hall. And they got to ride in the parade marking the 150th anniversary of their hometowns founding as the towns longest-married couple.

Jim and Loretta Raffensberger celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary in lockdown at their nursing home. Their family joined the small party via Zoom.

But as years passed, they didnt make a big deal about it. If anything, there might be a quiet acknowledgement of making it another year, Mark said.

This year, though, was different.

They had moved into an assisted living facility in January and since March, have been in isolation, like others in the home, a response to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday, the homes staff threw them a small party. Their family joined on Zoom.

It was low-key, which is kind of remarkable considering Monday, June 22, was their 74th anniversary.

Long friendship turns to love

Jim Raffensberger grew up on a farm south of Dallastown, down the hill from a village known back then as Red Town, so named for the P.H. Grove & Sons country store, painted barn red.

His father, Harvey, died when Jim, the youngest of five boys, was 6. Jim's mother, Rosa, kept the farm running as the nation, in the early 1930s, limped into the Great Depression. Jim went to a one-room country schoolhouse 2 miles away  Keener's School - and spent his time before and after school working in the fields of the 90-acre spread, plowing, planting and harvesting crops and tending to whatever other chores needed to be done. He finished 8th grade and continued to go to the school for two more years, not able to make the trip into the high school in town and maintain his schedule on the farm.

More: They have Down syndrome, can't leave their group homes & struggle to understand shutdown

More: York County couple dies of COVID-19 complications three days apart

Later in that difficult decade he worked for his brother, Emory, who took over the country store from the Groves, mostly listening to the local characters who hung out at the store and garage to spin tall tales.

Story continues

Jim and Loretta Raffensberger marked 74 years of marriage in quarantine in their assisted living facility.

In the summer he would earn extra money picking strawberries at Jerome Flinchbaughs farm off Honey Valley Road, helping his family survive the economic calamity that had beset the nation.

He had met Loretta Ryer before  their families were friends, even though she lived in Dallastown, on South Pleasant Avenue  and he would see her at Flinchbaughs, also picking strawberries. She was one of eight children, her father working as a cabinet maker in town. Like Jim, she lost one of her parents when she was young; her mother passed away when she was 48 and her father raised the family, with the help of Loretta and her sisters.

She was a little kid, Jim said. So was I.

They struck up a friendship and as the years passed, the friendship developed into love. One of the hit songs at the time was Glenn Millers version of Blueberry Hill, and Lorettas sisters teased her by singing that she found her thrill in a strawberry field.

Lorettas father was concerned, believing the relationship was getting too serious and in 1940, the summer before Lorettas senior year in high school, he sent her to Long Green in Maryland to spend the summer with a cousin.

Jim and Loretta remained close, though.

In 1942, when World War II was raging, Jim went into the Army, serving with the Signal Corps, attached to the Air Force in England. Loretta, who graduated from high school in 1941, and went to work at the Blaw-Knox factory on Arsenal Road, a plant that would later become the Naval Ordnance Plant, and later, Harley-Davidson, building 40mm anti-aircraft guns. She was one of the women who people called Rosie the Riveter, her sister said.

Building a quiet life after the war

Jim came home after the end of the war and he and Loretta got back together.

James Daniel Raffensberger and Loretta Marguarite Ryer married on June 22, 1946, in the rectory of St. Josephs Catholic Church in Dallastown. Lorettas younger sister, Helen, served as an attendant, and her brother, Paul, as best man. It was a small wedding and could not be held in the church sanctuary because Jim was not Catholic.

Jim and Loretta Raffensberger marriage certificate dated June 22, 1946.

They bought a house on East Maple Street, just off Main Street in Dallastown, and started a family. Jim went to work for the Leinhardt Brothers furniture store in York as a serviceman. He learned upholstery and became a skilled craftsman, eventually starting his own business in the garage behind his familys home. He did upholstery work for furniture stores and clients throughout York County, and beyond. He had clients in Philadelphia, Boston and all over the place, Jim said.

Loretta kept his books and raised their four children, Mark, Michael, Stephan and Barbara. Shes a generous and caring woman, often finding time to help her neighbors, tending to the sick and delivering meals to those who were struggling in hard times. They were immersed in the community. Jim volunteered at the fire companys bingo nights.

Jim was a hard-working man, his son recalled, toiling in the shop during the day and then, after dinner, hed take a quick nap and upon awakening, would head back to the shop. He made sure all of his kids helped in the shop, learning something of the craft and the business, even though none of his children followed in his footsteps, something he never minded. They had to make their own lives, he believed.

Years passed. They lived quiet lives and raised their family. They had hard times. Their daughter Barbara contracted cancer and Loretta took care of her as the disease consumed her. Barbara died at 52.

They never did much to celebrate their anniversary, just a quiet acknowledgement that they made it another year, Mark said.

On Dallastowns 150th anniversary in 2016, they were selected, as the towns longest-married couple, to ride in the parade marking the occasion. They enjoyed it, their son said, but they were a little uncomfortable with all of the attention.

And on their 65th anniversary in 2011, their family threw them a big party at the fire hall, inviting all their old friends. They wouldnt have done that on their own, Mark said. But they enjoyed it, Mark said, gathering the family and seeing old friends.

Quarantined together after all these years

This year, it was different.

Last December, Jim got sick and wound up in the hospital for a few days. He was released to rehab and when it was time to go home, it was clear that Loretta would be unable to care for him.

In January, Jim, now 98, and Loretta, now 97, moved from the home they had lived in for more than seven decades into The Haven at Springwood assisted living facility. After two weeks of quarantine, a preventative effort then to keep the flu out the home, they settled in.

Then, in March, the home went on lockdown, prohibiting visitors, among other things to prevent COVID-19 from entering the home. It has worked. The home has had no confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to its website.

Jim and Loretta were moved into adjacent rooms. They can visit each other and be together, but Loretta isnt happy about it. She has called her sister, Helen Pigg, asking her to get me out of this jail. She misses her home, her son said.

On Monday, they had a small cake and sparkling cider, and the staff decorated the room with balloons and a bouquet of red roses. Their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren joined via Zoom. Their son said there were between 15 and 20 people on the call.

They were happy to see everyone again, although Mom wished we could have been there in person, Mark said.

Its different, Jim said.

On how to keep a marriage alive and strong for more than seven decades,

Jim said there is no secret. Its pretty simple.

You just have to learn when to keep your mouth shut, he said.

Columnist/reporter Mike Argento has been a Daily Record staffer since 1982. He can be reached at 717-771-2046 or at mike@ydr.com.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Couple celebrates 74 years of wedded bliss in COVID-19 quarantine
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / Weekend Unlimited Industries Inc. ("Weekend" or the "Company") (CSE:POT)(FSE:0OS2)(OTCQB:WKULF) is pleased to announce the execution of a non-binding Letter of Intent, dated June 21, 2020, to acquire 100% of Ruby Mae's, LLC ("Ruby Mae's) intellectual property, including trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, inventions and know-how (the "Intellectual Property").

Weekend's brand alliance and licensing agreement with Ruby Mae's announced on September 17th, 2019, accelerated both the WKND! and Orchard Heights market entry and reach in Oklahoma. The proposed acquisition of the Ruby Mae's brand will further accelerate the Weekend's brand recognition within Oklahoma and substantially expand Weekend's lineup of brands, products, and sales.

"The proposed acquisition of the iconic Oklahoma-based brand is a significant milestone for the Company. With a presence in over 350 dispensaries, combining both Ruby Maes and Weekend Unlimited brands will add exceptional traction to our growth in the Oklahoma medical cannabis market," said Chris Backus, CEO of Weekend. "Together we intend to continue the expansion of new innovative products while simultaneously increasing the sales and exposure of our existing portfolio."

Pursuant to the terms of the LOI, the Weekend shall acquire the Intellectual Property in exchange for USD$2,000,000, which shall consist of USD$500,000 in cash and USD$1,500,000 in shares of the Weekend. At closing, Ruby Mae's shall receive USD$200,000 in cash and USD$800,000 of shares with the remaining shares and cash being paid out over a period of 24 months from closing. In addition, the vendors shall be eligible for bonus shares of the Company vesting over a period of two years from closing and based on specific revenue targets being achieved and entry into additional U.S. states. At closing, the Weekend shall enter into a licensing agreement with the vendors for use of the Ruby Mae's brand in consideration for a licensing fee and the Ruby Mae's Co-founders will be granted 2 board seats of Weekend.

During the period from April 1, 2020, to June 18, 2020, Ruby Mae's branded products received purchase orders for in aggregate USD$700,923, generating USD$414,127 in revenue (the difference of $286,796 awaiting delivery) with a gross profit of 33%. Additionally, from April to May 2020, Ruby Mae's demonstrated revenue growth by 74% month-over-month, while increasing gross profit by 63%.

Travis Hunter, CEO, and Founder of Ruby Mae's added, "We believe that the Weekend is the right home for the Ruby Mae's brand at this point in time to go along with the WKND! and Orchard Heights brands. The Weekend will provide the Ruby Mae's brand with the resources and capabilities to rapidly grow the company and will permit the brand to continually and aggressively gain market share in the Oklahoma cannabis market."

The completion of the acquisition remains subject to completion of due diligence and execution of final binding definitive documentation, which is expected to be completed within 30 days of the date of the LOI. There can be no assurances that the completion of the acquisition will occur on the terms set forth above or at all. In accordance with Oklahoma regulations and legislation, neither the Company, nor its subsidiary, shall acquire any interest in regulated inventory or licenses related to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, or sale of cannabis or cannabis-related products in connection with the transaction. The final terms and conditions of the transaction will be outlined at the execution of an asset purchase agreement and a licensing agreement.

About Ruby Maes

Located in Bixby, Oklahoma, Ruby Mae's is one of Oklahoma's most recognizable cannabis brands. Ruby Mae's products currently include premium, award-winning medical cannabis edibles and pre-rolls. Learn more at https://www.rubymaes.com/

About Weekend Unlimited Industries Inc.

Weekend Unlimited is a lifestyle-based cannabis and CBD wellness company. We are developing and launching premium cannabis and CBD brands to deliver life's highs - any- time, anywhere. Our CBD products are available online and at a retailer near you. Weekend Unlimited is well-positioned to launch and scale the brands that will define cannabis and CBD. Learn more at www.weekendunlimited.com

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Chris Backus, President & CEO, Director Telephone: 1(236) 317-2812

E-mail: IR@weekendunlimited.com

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 infor- mation 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 state- ments 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 condi- tions, 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 in- formation, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

SOURCE: Weekend Unlimited Industries Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595018/Weekend-Unlimited-Executes-LOI-to-Acquire-100-of-the-Intellectual-Property-of-Award-Winning-Oklahoma-Cannabis-Brand-Ruby-Maes
I took my first high-speed rail trip in China in 2015. Both the clean and comfort carriages and the convenient services impressed me very much.

Since then, I've been hoping that Indonesia can build its own high-speed rails and that I can personally take part in the construction. Therefore, when learning the open recruitment of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway undertaken by the Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA), I signed up at the first opportunity and fortunately became an employee of the company in Feb. 2017. At present, I translate and manage Indonesian employees at the first work area of the first division of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project. Besides, I also join external coordination affairs.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway is a signature China-Indonesia joint project under the Belt & Road Initiative. Upon completion, it will reduce the travel time between the two places from 3 hours to 40 minutes.

My work area is responsible for constructing the No.1 tunnel of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway. Located in suburban Jakarta, the tunnel goes underneath residential areas, light rail overpass and express ways. It is one of the 26 most important and difficult sections along the high-speed railway for its complicated geological conditions and high safety risks.

The No.1 tunnel is also the only tunnel holed through with shield-driven method along the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway. A huge Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was employed to construct the tunnel, the largest of its kind ever being operated in Southeast Asia.

Indonesian government officials, as well as personnel from engineering and academic institutions flocked to the construction site for observation, learning experiences for Indonesia's independent engineering projects in the future.

I didn't know much about the shield-driven method at the beginning, so I consulted different materials in my spare time. Every time I encountered a problem, my Chinese colleagues were always there explaining to me patiently. This has not only expanded my knowledge base, but also improved my capability.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still rampant in Indonesia, and the project site has taken comprehensive prevention and control measures. The site must be disinfected three times a day, and all employees are requested to wear masks in public space. Site employees take body temperatures twice a day, and enter the construction area only after disinfection and wearing masks. Safety distance is also kept at the site. Besides, an international SOS medical center has been established at the site to cope with emergencies. The complete epidemic control measures reassure us, and make us concentrating on the work.

Under the joint efforts of both Chinese and Indonesian constructors, everything is going well with the No.1 tunnel. Over 51 percent of the total workload has been completed so far.

The project department also actively fulfills its social responsibility, donating masks, disinfectants and milk to local hospitals. The packages of the donation were painted "Friendship and Mutual Assistance" in both English and Chinese, which carried the wish of the Chinese company to jointly fight the pandemic with the Indonesian people.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway has created abundant jobs for young Indonesian students and engineers, cultivated a batch of local constructors, and driven economic and social development along its route. I looking forward to taking the high-speed train after the project is completed and feeling the joy to be brought by my contribution. I also hope that high-speed railway can extend to my hometown Sumatra in the near future.

(The article is based on Peoples Daily journalist Xu Weis interview with Asih Lestari, director of the general office at first work area of the first division of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project.)
This issue has been a long standing bone of contention among grassroots and political scientists all over the world.

In Ghana, especially, it is common to hear from constituents especially in the run-up to General elections lamenting about their MPs not speaking on the floor of parliament to register their concerns(MPs).

Furthermore, constituents, especially party apparatchiks, mostly accuse the MPs of not serving the interests of their political parties in parliament.

Due the above, the issue of "How do constituents want their MPs to represent them?" remains a canker, thus should be dealt with...

Over the centuries, political scientists have proposed about three models by which one is selected especially in parliamentary democracy.

First of all, constituents vote MPs not really based on their personal qualities but for the parties that those MPs represent (Mandate model).

This is very prevalent in Ghana especially in the Ashanti and Volta Regions. As a result of this, constituents expect their MPs to solely and at all times, vote or take decisions which favour their Political party.

So they see their MP, as a "Political father" of the constituency, in the legislature.

Secondly, constituents vote for MPs to be their trustees .This means their MPs should only be exercising and expressing the minds and concerns of the people, even if they conflict with his personal beliefs.

It is the more reason why constituents mostly arise to even accuse MPs of sleeping on the job, for not coming to the constituencies and not even representing them properly...

All the above ways or expectations from constituents, in one way or the other, are needed and expected of MPs in our parliamentary democracy though MPs are supposed to do more than them.

I will at this point quote the 18th-century British renowned legislator and philosopher - Edmund Burke.

He said, "MPs should not be beholden to their constituents' wishes and be true to exercise their own judgement".

In the above, the scholar advocates a system where the MPs are seen as people with knowledge and experience and are allowed to exercise their own judgements on issues pertaining to development (how and where it should be done) even if it goes against those of their constituents.

In fact, I'm totally in support of this model, which will make the people see their MPs as their delegate but not stooges.

Our voters need to vote based on personal traits, wisdom and knowledge of their aspiring MPs rather than on any other consideration because if MPs are able to exercise good judgements premised on experiences and science, it will further the gains of the constituents.

Once again, our NCCE and the relevant CSOs must rise up to help re-educate our people to be equipped with the requisite know-how on how their MPs represent them.

This will reduce the tension, brawls, accusations and mistrusts in our body politics...

NANA OSEI BOATENG

(POLITICAL SCIENTIST, WRITER, BROADCASTER AND EDUCATOR)
The Ontario government has so far failed to develop a plan to get our children back to school. Last Friday, Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce instead released a trio of options for September that are so broad that they are essentially meaningless.

Ontarios two million students have been out of school for more than three months and school is set to resume in 12 weeks  and still no hard decisions have been made. The province, citing the need for local decision-making, has thrown it back to the local school boards with the direction of medical officers of health.

The options available range from:

A return to conventional, regular classroom instruction  a superior learning experience  combined with enhanced health and safety protocols.

Smaller classes capped at 15 students with alternating attendance, possibly every other day, or every other week.

At-home e-learning  which is considered an inferior learning experience and has proven highly unpopular this spring with far too many students, parents and teachers.

The province also gave parents the option to voluntarily keep their kids out of school and learn at home.

Our children and their parents need more from the province at this stage. By leaving the heavy lifting to local officials, as critics have charged, Ford and Lecce are setting up a potential patchwork system across the provinces 72 school boards that may not best serve students.

Some flexibility is of course required, as learning in Moose Factory will be always be different than in Mississauga. But what Ontario needs at this point is an assurance that provincial standards will be met, that children will be learning and playing with friends, and parents can get back to work.

For the best scenario to work  in-class full-time instruction  hygiene must be paramount, which has not always been the case in our schools, as parents can attest. Its unclear how much money the province is going to direct toward enhanced cleaning to fight the coronavirus and for hygiene promotion. Lecce said on Friday that potentially 2,000 more custodians could be hired and an additional $4 million has been set aside for cleaning supplies. Will that be enough? We dont know.

A safe school environment is only one health concern. Lets also look at mental health. Lecce announced an additional $10 million in mental health funding for children, which is always welcome, but the best move for our childrens mental health is a return to school, where they can learn, socialize and re-establish a healthy routine.

Physical health is another concern. Last week ParticipACTION released its 2020 report card on physical activity for children since the pandemic began. The numbers are not good. Our kids received a grade of D-plus for overall physical activity and for sedentary behaviour.

Too many other questions remain, as well. How will social distancing be accommodated on buses? How are parents supposed to go back to work if their kids are at home every other day? And what about teachers and school staff? We cant have more labour unrest because teachers feel their safety concerns are not being heard. We cant have a repeat of the daycare fiasco, where instead of consultation and three weeks notice, daycare operators were given a scant three days notice before opening.

Parents and students are being asked to wait until August for answers. Ultimately, there are certain risks that will have to be taken, but lets also remember that each day children are out of school presents increased social, health and economic risks to children and parents.

Tuesday, Sept. 8, will arrive sooner than expected. Theres not a lot of time left to lean in and create a workable plan that gets our kids back in school where they belong. At this point Ford and Lecce deserve an F for incomplete.
BEIJING - Chinese and Indian military commanders have agreed to disengage their forces in a disputed area of the Himalayas following a clash that left at least 20 soldiers dead, both countries said Tuesday.

The commanders reached the agreement Monday in their first meeting since the June 15 confrontation, the countries said.

The confrontation in the Galwan Valley, part of the disputed Ladakh region along the Himalayan frontier, was the deadliest between the two countries in 45 years.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the two sides had a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the prominent issues in the current border control and agreed to take necessary measures to cool down the situation.

The Indian army said in a statement that commander-level talks ... were held at Moldo in (a) cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere. There was mutual consensus to disengage.

Zhao denied apparent speculation by an Indian government minister that 40 Chinese troops had died in the June 15 clash.

I can tell you responsibly that it is false information, he said at a daily briefing.

India has said that 20 of its soldiers died. China has not released any information on casualties on its side.

Soldiers brawled with clubs, rocks and their fists in the thin air at 4,270 metres (14,000 feet) above sea level, but no shots were fired, Indian officials have said. The soldiers carry firearms but are not allowed to use them under a previous agreement in the border dispute.

Indian security officials have said the fatalities were caused by severe injuries and exposure to subfreezing temperatures.

The valley falls within a remote stretch of the 3,380-kilometre (2,100-mile) Line of Actual Control  the border established following a war between India and China in 1962 that resulted in an uneasy truce.
A Chinese man has been detained after allegedly slashing a doctor a dozen times at a hospital in broad daylight.

The suspect hacked the 55-year-old medic after accusing him of failing to treat his erectile dysfunction, according to the hospital.

The doctor, Professor Meng Qingjun, was left fighting for his life after suffering severe injuries on his neck and arms.

A Chinese man has been detained after allegedly slashing a doctor a dozen times at a hospital. The suspect hacked the 55-year-old medic, Professor Meng Qingjun (pictured right) after accusing him of failing to treat his erectile dysfunction, according to the hospital

Another doctor, Liu Yongfei, who rushed to help Professor Meng was slashed on his hand before the perpetrator was restrained by police.

Both medics are in stable condition after undergoing emergency treatment, according to a statement from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in Henan province.

The suspect, known by his surname Yin, had visited the Zhengzhou hospital multiple times in November for sex problems including erectile dysfunction and low sperm production, the hospital said.

Professor Meng, a urologist, saw the patient and ordered nurses to give Mr Yin an injection on his penis. Mr Yin was then examined with ultrasound.

The hospital did not specify if there were other treatments given to the man but claimed that they had never received any complaints from the patient or his family following Mr Yin's visits.

It is said that Mr Yin continued to suffer from sexual impotence and was convinced that his problems were the doctor's fault.

Mr Yin launched the unexpected attack on June 22 after arriving at the hospital, pretending to see a doctor, according to media reports.

Li Li, a doctor from the hospital, told reporters: 'The attacker was in his forties or fifties and had been to the hospital before.

'Dr Meng gave him an examination last year, and the patient thought his body went wrong after Dr Meng treated him.'

A Chinese man has been detained after allegedly slashing a doctor a dozen times at a hospital in broad daylight. The image shows police officers arriving on the scene after the attack

Professor Meng was said to have suffered 12 wounds on his face, neck and arms. The second doctor was injured with a cut on his hand.

The urologist underwent an emergency operation following the attack and was transferred to intensive care units after the surgery. He is said to be in stable condition.

The Monday attack was revealed on Chinese Twitter-like Weibo by a popular medical account, which released a picture of a man covered in blood, believing to be Professor Meng.

Another image released by Jiangsu Television shows police officers arriving on the scene after the attack.

Local police had detained Mr Yin for an allegation of manslaughter and launched an investigation, according to the hospital.

According to a Chinese Medical Doctor Association survey conducted in 2016 and 2017, 66 per cent of the 146,000 doctors surveyed said they had suffered physical or verbal assaults from patients. The file picture taken on June 17 shows a doctor speaking to a patient in Wuhan

Violence against doctors has become an increasing issue in China. Pictured, a man has blood taken for nucleic acid testing at a hospital in Xuhui district in Shanghai on June 15

The statement continued: 'While all of our staff are bravely fighting against the coronavirus, we feel deeply saddened and angry about such an attack against doctors.

'We strongly urge police to punish the attacker with quick and strong prosecution to protect doctors' rights and the medical environment,' the notice said.

Violence against doctors has become an increasing issue in China.

According to a Chinese Medical Doctor Association survey conducted in 2016 and 2017, 66 per cent of the 146,000 doctors surveyed said they had suffered physical or verbal assaults from patients.

And since 2016, at least 7,816 people have been prosecuted for the crime of intentionally injuring medical staff or inciting crowds at hospitals.
Further talks to be held with Air Products site owners over money for schools after councillors accuse them of greed

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jun 24th, 2020

Further talks are set to be held with the owners of a former manufacturing site over providing funding for schools after councillors accused them of greed.

Permission was granted for 232 houses to be built at the Air Products site in Acrefair in 2018. It followed the closure of the plant around a decade ago, which resulted in approximately 200 staff losing their jobs.

Wrexham Council gave the go ahead subject to Prospect Estates Limited entering into a Section 106 legal agreement to pay between 1,960 and 2,352 per house towards boosting the capacity of local primary schools.

However, the company has recently sought to remove the obligation, along with another to make a quarter of the properties affordable, claiming it would render the scheme unviable.

The local authoritys planning committee met to discuss the request at a virtual meeting held yesterday, with many community leaders voicing objections to the potential loss of money.

Speaking during the debate, Cefn councillor Derek Wright said: Our community has four primary schools, which is as many, if not more than any other area in the county borough.

Other than the Welsh medium school Ysgol Min y Ddol, there is very little room in any of our schools.

The age of our schools should be taken into consideration as well as Acrefair School is over 100-years-old, Min y Ddol is over 65-years-old, Cefn CP is around 50-years-old and Rhosymedre is around 10-years-old.

If we dont get the 106 money for this then we will never get the money for the schools that we desperately need in this area.

Among the bodies who asked for the school contributions to remain in place before the meeting was the councils own education team.

In an e-mail to the planning department, school places manager Paula Parry said there was already pressure and oversubscription in the area

.

But chief planning officer Lawrence Isted recommended that councillors should agree to remove the requirements.

Cllr Wright was joined in expressing concerns over the suggestion by a number of committee members.

Among them was Gwersyllt west councillor Gwenfair Jones, who said: I agree with Derek here. I think that the developers are being greedy and trying to pull the wool over our eyes.

Going down that route, if we let one lot of developers get away with it, others will try and do the same so I will definitely oppose this.

While some members appeared to be veering towards rejecting the application outright, a warning was sounded that the site had stood empty for around ten years.

Planning officer David Williams said it might never be developed if they refused permission, adding that commercial viability was a factor that needed to be considered.

Cllr Paul Pemberton suggested the decision should be put on hold in order to encourage the land owners to reach a compromise over the payments.

He said: One thing that worries me over this is the comment that David made that unless this is sorted out, theres nothing going to happen on that site.

Now that site has been empty since 2009, so its been ten or eleven years.

It looks a mess and I think if it was regenerated then it would benefit the whole area  not only the Cefn and Acrefair area, but Wrexham as a whole.

He later put forward a recommendation to defer the application to see if the company would be willing to pay a lesser amount towards education.

It was supported by ten votes to eight with one abstention.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme)
OFFALY Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen and the county's Green Senator, Pippa Hackett, have called on party members to back the government deal with Fine Gael.

Deputy Cowen, tipped by some observers for a cabinet post if an FF/FG/Green government is formed, told Fianna Fail members that 32% of voters backed Fianna Fail in Laois-Offaly in the February election because they know the commitment the party has to the region and its plans for the future.

This programme will see a Fianna Fail Taoiseach lead a Programme for Government that emphasises a Just Transition for the Midlands as well as a new emphasis on housing, health and job creation in the aftermath of Covid-19, he said.

Twenty weeks after the election we now have a chance to put in place a stable Government to lead the way as we come out of lockdown. Its a chance to implement the sweeping changes we need to tackle our health and housing crisis.

I believe the proposed arrangement with Fine Gael and the Green party is a new departure for Irish politics. That means a leap of faith for party members. However, we need a stable Government that can change direction and this new arrangement is the single best to provide that. I hope it will get the support it deserves and our county and country the leadership it needs.

The eight Fianna Fail Offaly councillors all called for a Yes vote too, saying they recognise Fianna Fails willingness to play a central role in Government.

The outcome hinges on the decision of the Green Party and speaking after a Laois-Offaly party meeting by Zoom on Monday night, Senator Hackett said she remains optimistic of a Yes vote.

Urging all members to support the programme for government before voting closes on Friday, Senator Hackett told the Tullamore Tribune: If this isn't passed I don't think we'll ever get an opportunity like this. With the Covid crisis everything has changed. It's an opportunity and both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail appreciate this, especially after the thrashing they got in the previous election. To keep relevant they're going to have to change.

The Geashill-based organic farmer believes the size of the No element in the Green Party may be overstated.

A lot of it is being debated on social media and there's a lot of loud voices there on the No side and maybe that gives the impression it is larger than it is.

It might well be tight because there are those who are very motivated for us not to go into government with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail and I think they will get all their No voters out to vote but I think as we go on the arguments against have run aground in a way.

She said the goalposts keep moving with those arguing for a No vote whereas those urging entry to government have remained focussed, stressed the transformative nature of the programme, and emphasised that this is the best the party can get at present.

The No side seem to have ventured into saying 'this isn't going to happen' and are dismissing huge swathes of the work that has gone into the Programme for Government.

Two-thirds of Green members in all of Ireland must back the deal for it to be approved and Senator Hackett the evidence from Monday's virtual meeting was that it's overwhelmingly a Yes in Laois-Offaly.

There are now about 60 party members across the two counties, compared only 12 when Senator Hackett joined, and up to 40 are eligible to vote in this week's postal ballot.

Between 20 and 25 people joined the Zoom meeting and party leader Eamon Ryan contributed for about half an hour.

I thinks it's interesting that the support outside Dublin is very strong. The Green people in rural Ireland and the people in the regional towns and cities are very much in favour of this, said Senator Hackett.

Meanwhile, in a strong message to party members, Fianna Fail councillors Eamon Dooley, Peter Ormond, Danny Owens, Eddie Fitzpatrick, Decky Harvey, Tony McCormack, Frank Moran and Robert McDermott said party core policies and beliefs are strongly contained and reflected in the programme for Government.

They said housing, the multi-million Just Transition package and the July stimulus are key elements of the plan which can only be implemented if Fianna Fail are in government.
Of its 23 ongoing territorial disputes from 1949, China proposed generous concessions in as many as 17

Is Xi Jinping in trouble at home because of a faltering economy, a lurch towards dogmatic Maoism, coupled with a mishandling of the pandemic? AFP Photo

An eminent think-tanker close to the government propounded how it does really matter why the Chinese have adopted a certain course of action  the fact is that the Chinese have violated the Line of Actual Control, grabbed our territory and butchered our solders. That is the situation we have to deal with.

With great respect, such an approach is at best myopic and at worst delusional for till the time India does not drill as deep down as possible to get the best possible read on Chinese intentions Indias responses would continue to be tactical and not strategic. This unfortunately has been our Achilles heel as a nation.

Every Indian strategic thinker of any serious consequence, therefore, must address themselves to a fundamental question  why did the Chinese transgress across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and that too at a point in time when the world is grappling with Covid-19  incidentally another Chinese gift to humankind.

Was it a desire to sweep the China exports the Wuhan virus to the world headline off the front pages of global newspapers and headlines of television channels around the world by creating multiple crises from the declaration of two additional administrative districts in the South China Sea, moving on the sovereignty of Hong Kong and creating flashpoints along the yet undelineated and undemarcated Sino-Indian border? Was it concern that the abrogation of Article 370 by India would change facts on the ground in Ladakh coupled with the beefing up of Indian border infrastructure especially the Darbuk-Shykok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road  a freshly constructed highway to Northern Ladakh?

Is Xi Jinping in trouble at home because of a faltering economy, a lurch towards dogmatic Maoism, coupled with a mishandling of the pandemic? Is it one of these reasons or all of them or something much more deeper and civilisational in character insofar as India is concerned?

Consider the following facts: To the exclusion of its territorial disputes with India and Bhutan, China has settled all its other land boundary disputes. China-watchers have been mystified and even a tad perplexed at the territorial concessions that China has repeatedly given to resolve its myriad conflicts.

Of its 23 ongoing territorial disputes from 1949, China proposed generous concessions in as many as 17, often agreeing to receive less than half the land it initially claimed. A classical example is the Sino-Tajik border dispute that was settled by an agreement between the two countries in January 2011.

The agreement that resolved a 130-year-old territorial dispute required Tajikistan to cede around 1,000 square kilometres of land in the Pamir Mountains to China. It mandates that China will receive only 3.5 per cent of the 28,000 square kilometres of land it had asked for by declaring them as historical Chinese lands.

Under its boundary settlements with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, China settled for just 22 and 32 per cent, respectively, of the land it had initially claimed.

This goes to demonstrate that the Chinese really do not care about territory.

In sharp divergence China has resolved none of its maritime border disputes, with the exception of the Gulf of Tonkin dispute with Vietnam, that was partially resolved after protracted negotiations spanning three rounds, i.e. in 1974, 1978-1979, and 1992-2000, spread well over 60 years.

This situation then begs the obvious question: Why have the SinoIndian border talks not made progress despite 22 rounds of them between the Special Representatives of both sides? The last such meeting was held on December 21, 2019, in New Delhi between national security advisor Ajit Doval and state councillor/foreign minister Wang Yi.

It is instructive, therefore, to refer to one paragraph of the statement put out by the Indian ministry of external affairs after the conclusion of the talks.

Both sides agreed that it is important to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas for the overall development of the bilateral relationship, pending final settlement of the boundary question.

In this context, they recognised the importance of existing confidence building measures (CBMs) to promote exchanges and communication between the border personnel and to ensure predictability in border management as well as strategic communication. They also agreed to work together for more CBMs in this regard.

Interestingly, the Chinese foreign ministry had this to say on the 20th of December, 2020, before the meeting.

Q: You announced the 22nd round of the China-India Special Representatives Talks on China-India Boundary Question. Can you elaborate the arrangements and specify what constitutes the boundary question to be discussed?

A: The Meeting of the Special Representatives of China and India on the Boundary Question is the main channel for boundary negotiations and an important platform for strategic communication between the two countries.

Following established practice, the venue to host this annual event alternates between the two countries. Special representatives from the two sides will follow leaders consensus and have in-depth discussions over such issues as boundary delimitation, boundary and border administration and control, and practical cooperation to seek solutions to the boundary question. They will also exchange views over bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. More information will be released to you in due course.

No further information was released by the Chinese foreign ministry to confirm or contradict the Indian version or give its own read after the talks had culminated. It is thus obvious that the Chinese have been stringing us along waiting for either strategic asymmetry or a weak leadership in India to settle the border question on its own terms.

Interestingly, Wang Li, in addition to being foreign minister, is also a state councillor, a notch higher in the Chinese pecking order. He obviously would have been privy to the sweeping theatre-level incursions that the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) was planning.

If he was not it still would have not been surprising for a deep fracture between the PLA and the civilian leadership in China is a reality that many Sinologists have written about over the decades.

Like war is too serious a matter to entrust to military men, similarly the study of China is too profound a matter to be just left just to MEA/MOD or government-funded think tanks any further. An architecture of deep scholarship on China outside the confines of government is the need of the hour.
WASHINGTON - U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan must immediately dismiss the criminal case against President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn and cannot scrutinize the Justice Department's decision to drop the long-running prosecution, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

In a 2-to-1 decision, the court said it is not within the judge's power to prolong a prosecution or examine the government's motives in the politically charged case. Flynn twice pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents about his pre-inauguration contacts with Russia's ambassador before the Justice Department moved in May to dismiss the charges.

"This is not the unusual case where a more searching inquiry is justified," wrote Judge Neomi Rao, a recent nominee of the president, in a decision that can be reviewed by the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

In a victory for Flynn and the Trump administration, the panel majority said Sullivan overstepped his role and committed a "clear legal error" by refusing to immediately close the case and instead appointing a former judge to argue against the Justice Department's position.

The judge's "demonstrated intent to scrutinize the reasoning and motives of the Department of Justice constitute irreparable harms that cannot be remedied on appeal," Rao wrote in the 19-page opinion that was joined by Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, a nominee of President George H.W. Bush.

Soon after the opinion was published, Trump tweeted: "Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request To Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn!" He later told reporters in the Oval Office: "I'm very happy about General Flynn. He was treated horribly."

Flynn later called Rush Limbaugh's radio show to praise the decision, saying it was a "great boost of confidence for the American people and our justice system."

In his dissent, the third judge on the panel, Robert Wilkins, said the majority had "grievously" overstepped its authority by taking the "unprecedented" step to intervene midstream and force Sullivan's hand before he had an opportunity to rule.

Sullivan "must be given a reasonable opportunity to consider and hold a hearing on the Government's request to ensure that it is not clearly contrary to the public interest," wrote Wilkins, a nominee of President Barack Obama.

The ruling from the three-judge panel means that at least for now Sullivan cannot hold a hearing set for July 16 to formally consider the government's request to dismiss Flynn's case. Sullivan could ask for a rehearing, or the full court could decide to revisit the decision from the three-judge panel, whose members are selected at random.

Attorney Beth Wilkinson, who represents Sullivan, said Wednesday, "We have no comment at this time."

In May, Sullivan refused to sign off on the Justice Department's plans and instead appointed John Gleeson, a former federal judge and prosecutor, to help him decide how to proceed. Gleeson argued that the government's move was "highly irregular conduct to benefit a political ally of the President."

Nothing about the case testing the powers of the judiciary to check the executive branch has followed a typical path. Flynn's attorneys took the rare step of asking the appeals court to step in and order Sullivan to close the case.

Sullivan then hired Wilkinson, a high-profile trial lawyer, to represent him. At oral argument this month, Wilkinson told the court it was premature to cut off Sullivan's review.

The ruling Wednesday was surprising because at least two of the judges at oral argument seemed to agree and repeatedly expressed concern that the judge would be a "rubber stamp" for the government.

Federal criminal rules require prosecutors to obtain permission from the presiding judge to drop charges against a defendant, but legal experts and former judges disagree about the limits of that judicial authority.

"Courts have said he's not a 'mere rubber stamp,' " Henderson said at oral argument of Sullivan's independent role. "There's no authority I know of that says he can't hold a hearing."

Wilkins cited past cases in which the Supreme Court upheld the power of judges "to perform an independent evaluation" of the government's action. In his dissent Wednesday, Wilkins said the majority had eviscerated the court's role by preventing any review.

"Today the majority declares that nevertheless - in spite of the Government's abrupt reversal on the facts and the law, and although the Government declares itself entitled not to be forthcoming with the District Court - these circumstances merit no further examination to determine whether there may be additional reasons for the prosecutor's actions, and if so, if any such reasons are impermissible."

Attorneys for Flynn had accused Sullivan of bias and asked the appeals court to reassign the case to a different judge, a request the court denied Wednesday.

In a sign of the high-level interest in the matter, which could reach the Supreme Court, the Justice Department was represented by Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall. He referred to Gleeson's report as a "polemic" and had urged the court not to get pulled into a "political spectacle."

Flynn was the highest-ranking Trump adviser charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Before its reversal, the government had recommended a prison term of up to six months for Flynn.

Before it moved to sentencing, Attorney General William Barr ordered a review of Flynn's case. The review found that the FBI agents who questioned Flynn had no valid investigative basis to do so and that, therefore, any lies he told were irrelevant to any crime.

The president and Flynn's defenders have long argued that the retired three-star general was a victim of FBI overreach. But the government's decision to undo a guilty plea prompted criticism that the department was bending to political pressure.

The court ruling came the same day of a House hearing in which a former member of Mueller's team testified that Barr and top deputies pressured prosecutors to give Trump's friend Roger Stone "a break" by requesting a lighter prison sentence.

Elizabeth Wydra, president of the Constitutional Accountability Center, which filed a brief backing Sullivan, said allowing the court's ruling to stand would erase a vital check on the executive branch.

Federal rules, she said in a statement, give the judge "a say in whether Attorney General Barr should be allowed to simply drop the matter, an act that would aid one of President Trump's stalwart allies by essentially giving him a 'get out of jail free' card."

In reviewing the government's actions, Sullivan had also asked Gleeson to consider whether Flynn may have committed perjury while pleading guilty to a crime that he and the Justice Department now say is no longer a crime. Gleeson advised Sullivan in his initial report not to impose contempt-of-court penalties on Flynn but to continue to the sentencing phase of the case.

The court majority took issue with the appointment of Gleeson in part because of his public advocacy for an adversarial process and his initial filing with Sullivan.

"These actions foretell not only that the scrutiny will continue but that it may intensify," Rao wrote. "Among other things, the government may be required to justify its charging decisions, not only in this case, but also in the past or pending cases cited in Gleeson's brief."

When new evidence surfaces, she continued, "the Executive Branch must have the authority to decide that further prosecution is not in the interest of justice."

- - -

The Washington Post's Spencer S. Hsu and Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report.
Oakland high school student Aniya Butler became an activist in large part because she was concerned about climate change, which threatens to shape her future in damaging and irreversible ways without decisive measures to curb the worst effects of a warming world.

But lately, Butler, 14, has taken to the streets to champion another cause: racial justice. Shes participated in multiple demonstrations spurred by the Memorial Day police killing of George Floyd that set off weeks of protests and reignited a broader public debate about police brutality and racism in the Bay Area and beyond.

For Butler, the recent protests come from a similar vein as the time she and other members of the local climate activism group Youth vs. Apocalypse rallied against Chevron last year, citing the harms of fossil fuels. She believes climate justice and racial justice go hand in hand.

People of color often live closer to factories and other major sources of pollution and experience the negative health consequences that proximity entails, Butler said. And communities of color have been at the forefront of the national cries for change following Floyds death, too. So Butler has taken an active role in recent demonstrations, marching and rallying in Oakland and speaking out against the presence of police officers in local schools.

At the end of the day, its our future, Butler said. I feel like, as a young person and as a Black person, if a lot of people see me out there, it encourages them to go out there and fight for their future (too).

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Shes in good company. Though the environmental movement has a well-documented history of racism and various climate-conscious organizations have not always included racial justice as core elements of their missions in the past, the causes are interrelated, experts say. That is clear in the Bay Area, where some of the activists who have protested around racial issues lately are also highly vocal about climate change.

In the United States, climate justice and racial justice are absolutely connected both in their origins and in the way they currently manifest, said Aya de Leon, who teaches African American studies at UC Berkeley and co-founded the climate blog the Daily Dose.

The same sort of class of people who were behind the exploitation of slavery and profited with those fortunes are also behind the fossil fuel economy, which has led us to the climate crisis, de Leon said.

But policy solutions that could address those problems are also related, she said, noting that proposals to radically overhaul law enforcement fit very well with the climate change proposals known collectively as the Green New Deal, which is all about completely changing our economic priorities. Both policy conversations relate to the same idea of shifting the governments investments more toward human needs and away from areas such as policing and fossil fuels, de Leon said.

Its a connection de Leon is sensitive to in her own work, whether she is writing a book or teaching or showing up to a racial justice protest herself  often wearing a shirt expressing support for the Green New Deal.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

For those of us who are Black people working on climate, were very clear that climate activism is about Black lives mattering, de Leon said. The communities that are hardest hit are communities of color in the U.S. and communities in the global south. These are the frontline communities. So I think its really important at this time for Black climate activists to be speaking up and making the connections.

The interrelated nature of those causes is also important to Inkza Angeles, a 19-year-old San Francisco resident who is a youth organizer with the local activism group People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights, or Poder.

Angeles said she was drawn to the group when she learned about it when she was a freshman in high school. She was drawn to Poders work around environmental and land-related issues  especially as they related to indigenous people. Lately, she has participated in a demonstration spurred by Floyds death that brought a huge crowd to the streets around Mission High School.

The disproportionate climate change burden borne by people of color and the injustices that gave rise to the Black Lives Matter movement share the same root, Angeles said  institutionalized racism. And the communities most harmed by racism are the ones that will be hurt first and worse by climate change, she said.

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 grim outlook of global warming is enough to make Angeles question whether she wants to have children, though she sees some hope in the youth-led protests she has recently participated in.

What if they are born into a world that is polluted and that will be unsafe? she said. What are my future generations going to be experiencing? There is this sense of urgency, but there is also this sense of power that I feel from many young people.

Oakland activist Quinn Redwoods witnessed the intersection of climate change and racial inequality while distributing respirator masks, many of them to homeless people of color, after wildfire smoke blanketed Bay Area skies during the Wine Country fires three years ago. Organized under the moniker Mask Oakland, Redwoods and others revived the effort during the 2018 Camp Fire and, to a lesser extent, the Kincade Fire last year.

This year, Mask Oakland has given respirators to health care workers who needed them because of the coronavirus pandemic. The group has also provided masks to help protect people protesting George Floyds death from the coronavirus.

Black homeless people are always going to be most at risk for all of these things: climate change, pollution, wildfire smoke, definitely police brutality, Redwoods said. The things were seeing against protesters now happen every day against homeless people in Oakland and in California and nationwide ... it all piles onto the same people.

Redwoods worries how the rest of the year will play out in Northern California, when existing inequalities faced by vulnerable people may be exacerbated as the pandemic collides with dangerous wildfires.

Its looking bleak, they said. I think thats partly why so many people are out in the streets. Its like, wow, the world is really ending  lets fight for justice.

J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris
LONDON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In the month that NET-A-PORTER celebrates its 20th anniversary, PORTER asked 20 Incredible Women  the designers, the storytellers, the performers, the founders and the activists  to share the words of wisdom they would give their younger selves.

Alison Loehnis , President NET-A-PORTER & MR PORTER: "You are younger than you think. You will never feel like a grown-up. Never underestimate the power of a smile. You will never regret time spent with family and friends. Travel, travel, travel! Grades don't really matter that much, hard work does. Go with your gut  it rarely lets you down. What does not kill you makes you stronger  truly. Your long-standing love of fashion will one day come in handy." Donatella Versace : "I would tell myself that I am going to have an incredible life, full of love, but also with its share of pain... That I am going to be a survivor, and for that reason I will feel a stronger connection to people, especially those who suffer or are being mistreated." Margaret Atwood: "It's 1960 in Canada , few writers make a living, and everyone knows women writers are bat-shit crazy and doomed to be single. My advice: times will change and so will attitudes. You can help change them." Jane Fonda : "I would tell myself that NO is a complete sentence. At 20 I was like a colander, I had no boundaries, I desperately wanted to be liked and so whatever anybody wanted I would be compliant." Janet Mock : "Don't let anyone's lack of imagination, low expectations, or distorted projections sway you from your path." Ava DuVernay : "I only learned in the past decade that whatever bad thing you are going through isn't happening to you, it's happening for you." Gillian Anderson: "Don't worry about what anyone else thinks of you. Your opinion is the only one that matters." Emilia Wickstead : "It's easy to get swept up when you're following your heart, but appreciating the present is an important part of the journey." Charlotte Tilbury : "I received a note from a Beauty Editor saying 'Knock it to them, Charlotte. I know you'll be a star.' It encouraged me to keep following my dreams during tough times and really gave me motivation when I was cold calling for jobs and struggling." Misty Copeland : "Most of all, embrace all that is to come and know that your voice can be used to bring about change far beyond what you'll do on the stage during your career." Zainab Salbi : "Oh, how I wish for my 20-year-old self to know that she is so beautiful. That her beauty comes from her loving heart and radiant soul." Roisin Murphy : "My 20-year-old self was my most instinctive self. I signed my record deal when I was 20, so I would tell myself that following my gut, going with the flow, was the right thing  but take away the anxiety that I didn't deserve it, that I wouldn't be able to handle it." Dr Barbara Sturm : "Don't spend too much time worrying about things you can't change. Just move on and smile, because it doesn't matter in the scheme of things." Bernardine Evaristo : "I'd tell her to consciously develop a positive mental attitude sooner rather than later, because it will get her through the difficult times, which might last many years. It will also help her grow her talent, achieve her goals and make her more compassionate towards her fellow humans, which is important for a writer who needs to understand and be non-judgemental towards their fictional creations." Simone Rocha : "I was in my first year of my masters at CSM. I would say to myself listen, concentrate, and contribute; [and] visit the library more." Gucci Westman: "Never be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone. If you don't try, you will never know what that new opportunity could have brought you." Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: "Looking now (at 41) at photos of myself at 20, I cannot believe how much time I wasted believing that I was not enough just as I was." Maria Balshaw : "It would have been nice if someone had also tipped me off that I would one day run the Tate that I so loved visiting when I was 20. But I wouldn't have believed them." Tata Harper : "This is a time that you will never get back. Put yourself out there and don't let anyone or anything stop you. Most importantly, have fun!" Isabel Marant : "I think your 20s is a period in which you search for yourself and an age where you can play a lot with your look. And that's something you should do, to find yourself and to gain self-confidence."

To see the full feature, read Porter at https://www.net-a-porter.com/porter/article-82c215c35c8ac11f

About NET-A-PORTER

NET-A-PORTER delivers incredible fashion for incredible women. As the world's leading luxury etailer with the most authoritative product edit globally, the site offers the ultimate curation of fashion from the most coveted designer brands, the most exceptional assortment of fine watches and precious jewelry, and more than 200 specialist beauty brands. Our discerning edit places special emphasis on highlighting the creativity and promise of the next generation of fashion talent via the Vanguard, our program for emerging brands. Consideration for environmental and social impact increasingly shapes the product offering, and the launch of the NET SUSTAIN platform, was created to showcase brands that place sustainability at the core of their product. Uniting content and commerce to deliver an immersive and inspiring customer experience, NET-A-PORTER speaks to a global community and features a dedicated editorial vertical with PORTER, which is renowned for its award-winning content featuring a diverse range of incredible women.

NET-A-PORTER champions unparalleled customer service offering express worldwide shipping to more than 170 countries including same or next-day delivery to the UK, US, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Australia and Singapore, a seamless shopping experience across all devices, luxurious packaging, easy returns and a multi-lingual customer care and personal shopping team that is available 24/7, 365 days a year. A pioneer of personal shopping and client relations services for the digital era in 2000, NET-A-PORTER continues to innovate and strengthen its offering, with virtual styling, invitation only digital exclusives, and a world class suite of specialized offers for EIPs, (Extremely Important People), the brand's most loyal and valuable customers.

NET-A-PORTER is a part of the YOOX NET-A-PORTER Group  the world leader in online luxury and fashion, comprised of multi-brand online stores NET-A-PORTER, MR PORTER, THE OUTNET and YOOX as well as its Online Flagship Stores division that partners with leading luxury brands to power their own e-commerce destinations. The Group has more than 4.3 million high-spending active customers globally. As pioneers in bringing together the realms of technology and luxury, YOOX NET-A-PORTER satisfies the most discerning clientele with expertly curated products from the best luxury brands, personalised end-to-end service, the latest technology and inspiring content, all shaped by nearly 20 years of insights into the modern luxury shopper.

For more information about NET-A-PORTER, visit NET-A-PORTER.com

For more about YOOX NET-A-PORTER Group, visit ynap.com

Follow @netaporter: Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Wechat / YouTube / Pinterest / Kakao / Weibo

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In his relatively brief stint in power, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) has managed to destroy the Saudi economy in record time while also sullying his own reputation and endangering Saudi Arabias geopolitical relations with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Now, it appears that there is another calamity in the making for MbS. Russia is currently offering him all sorts of benefits in exchange for his consideration of a deal. The deal, though, is pure poison - for him, for his family, and for his country - and it involves Saudi Arabia switching its core alliance from the U.S. to Russia. In exchange, Russia says it will guarantee the future safety of Saudi Arabia, including from Iran-backed threats. A timely reminder of Saudi Arabias current vulnerability to the continued threat that Iran and its proxies pose it  one of the key threats that the deal with Russia would eliminate, the Kremlin has said  came in the form of the attack on Tuesday 23 June when the Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen intercepted and destroyed eight booby-trapped unmanned aircraft that were targeting civilian objects and civilians in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis also intercepted three ballistic missiles from the Saada governorate towards Riyadh, according to the reports. In theory, the deal being discussed between the Kremlin and the Royal Palace is one that looks like only a marginal extension of the OPEC+ coalition that has been in place between Russia and Saudi since 2017. In practical terms, though, it may well lead to the most important geopolitical power shift since the fall of the U.S.S.R. The Kremlin had this deal creep in mind from November 2016 when it agreed to support the Saudi-led OPEC [oil] production cuts, a senior oil and gas industry source who works closely with the oil sectors of Iran and Iraq told OilPrice.com last week.

This new mutual understanding was clearly signaled when Russias President, Vladimir Putin, invited Saudi Arabias King, Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, to Russia in October 2017. It was the first-ever visit to Moscow made by a sitting Saudi monarch and the largest ever foreign delegation to Moscow, said the source. At this meeting, among the US$3 billion or so specific deals announced at just that time, was an investment by the Saudis of at least US$150 million into Russias Eurasia Drilling Company and, on the other side, a US$1.1 billion agreement for Russian petrochemical company Sibur to build a plant in Saudi Arabia. Russias Energy Minister, Alexander Novak, also flagged at the time that Russia gas producer Novatek was in talks for Saudi investors to take part in its Arctic LNG-2 project, a follow-up to its US$27 billion plant in the Yamal peninsula. At the same time, it was agreed that Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), was to establish a US$1 billion fund alongside Russias sovereign wealth fund, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which would invest in Russian technology companies.

In the same vein, Russian state-owned hydrocarbons companies Rosneft and Gazprom entered talks with Saudi counterpart Aramco on conducting co-ordinated oil and gas trading operations  bringing in the expertise and contacts of Lukoils Litasco trading operation when required  and the creation of a joint research and technology center. The upshot for Russia was, firstly, that the Saudis rowed back on their demand that Syrias President Bashar al-Assad be removed from power and, secondly, that Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase from Russia of its S-400 air defense system.

Related: Chinas Oil Industry Is In Crisis These two latter points can be regarded as the first clear evidence of the Kremlins core strategy of decisively moving Saudi Arabia away from its long-standing relationship with the U.S. and replacing it with one with Russia (and, by extension, China). As highlighted in my latest book on the global oil markets, this relationship was established in 1945 between the U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Saudi King at the time, Abdulaziz, in the Great Bitter Lake segment of the Suez Canal. The deal was that the U.S. would receive all of the oil supplies it needed for as long as Saudi Arabia had oil in place, in return for which the U.S. would guarantee the security of the ruling House of Saud. This has been altered slightly to ensure that Saudi Arabia also allows the U.S. shale industry to continue to function and to grow. Particularly since the end of the first oil price war in 2016 when Saudis finances had obviously been severely damaged for a long time to come, Moscow has been there to fan the flames of Saudi discontent about having to stick to production cuts that supported the very shale sector that used those production cuts to effectively steal supply contracts that were left unfilled by the Saudis, said the source.

By the time that the visit to Moscow of MbS in 2019 came around, Russia was in an even stronger position for three key reasons. Firstly, Saudi Arabias finances were deteriorating markedly, given its then-US$84 per barrel of Brent budget breakeven price was still higher than the spot oil price. Moreover, any attempt to move the oil price up to levels that would benefit the Saudi economy had been effectively cut-off by U.S. President Donald Trumps Tweet that: He [Saudi King Salman] would not last in power for two weeks without the backing of the U.S. military. Secondly, Saudis security vulnerability had been exposed by the rocket attacks in September by the Iran-backed Houthis on two of the Kingdoms key oil facilities  the massive Abqaiq oil processing facility and the Khurais oil field  which caused the temporary suspension of 5.7 million bpd (well over half of Saudi Arabias actual crude oil production capacity). It was obvious to everyone that such attacks could take place at will from that point, despite the presence of the enormously expensive U.S. military and anti-missile defence systems, said the source. And thirdly, simply to keep oil prices at a reasonable level (although still less than half of what the Saudis required to balance its budget), the Saudis absolutely needed the help of Russia for the extension of the OPEC+ output cut agreement.

So, in the October 2019 meetings, led by MbS and Putin, a slew of further deals were announced. The RDIF, for example, Saudi Aramco, and Saudis PIF agreed to jointly acquire a 30.76 percent stake in Russian oilfield services company, Novomet, from Rosnano, marking the first joint investment by the three entities through the energy investment platform that they set up in 2017. Aramco added that it had also signed agreements for equipment and chemical supplies with Angara Service, Chelpipe, Galen, Integra, NKT, Technovek, TMK and Intratool. The RDIF and Russian private equity group ESN agreed with Saudi petchems giant, SABIC, that they would jointly invest in the design, construction and operation of a methanol plant in Russias Far East Amur region. The RDIF and the PIF were also considering a US$300 million investment in NefteTransService, one of the largest Russian operators of railway rolling stock. Added to all of this was the creation of a Russia-Saudi Economic Committee that would identify and develop economic and trade ties as well as investments between Russia and Saudi Arabia across all sectors, co-chaired by RDIF chief executive officer, Kirill Dmitriev.

Related: Why The $17.5 Billion Write-Down Is Just The Beginning For BP

Having laid all of this groundwork, Russia then allowed Saudi Arabia to further destroy its finances and damage its crucial economic and security relationship with the U.S. by fighting a second oil price war on its own. Whether or not this was a deliberate strategy it is difficult to ascertain but lets put it like this: Russia doesnt leave anything to chance and the outcome of the latest oil price war could not have been better for Russia if it had planned it, the source told OilPrice.com. It certainly appears, though, that Russia is looking to move this relationship with Saudi into the next phase now, he added. The key to this for Russia, is to persuade the Saudis to reduce the presence of the U.S. military in its country, both personnel and equipment, including the air defense systems, and to replace them with Russian personnel and equipment, and this is not as difficult as many may think, he underlined.

For a start, Trump has already threatened to withdraw the U.S. military from Saudi, both in a Tweet and in a phone call with MbS, bringing the whole defense situation to the top of the minds of the senior Saudis. Russia has highlighted to the Saudis that it is due to spend nearly US$500 billion on U.S. defense purchases in the next five years but that last time around  with just the Houthis  none of this was any use, the source told OilPrice.com last week. On the other hand, the Russian air defense system  currently the S-400 but soon to be the S500 for general roll-out  is regarded by many as the most effective in the world, he said. In fact, provision for precisely this switchover was made in the 2017 visit to Moscow by King Salman. According to various sources, the state-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries also signed a memorandum of understanding with Russian state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport to buy the S-400 air defense system, plus the Kornet-EM anti-tank guided missile system, and the TOS-1A multiple rocket launcher and thermobaric weapons system, among other major arms purchases. Crucially for Russia, the agreement not only covered the supply of all of these weapons systems to Saudi Arabia and the transfer of necessary adjunct technology but also the manufacturing of these systems in Saudi Arabia, overseen by relevant Russian engineering and technical personnel and Russian security forces to ensure the safety of the people, the plants, and the products, at key sites on the ground in Saudi.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads from Oilprice.com:
The military parade celebrating Nazi Germany's defeat was postponed from 9 May due to the lockdown.

Vintage T-34 tanks - a mainstay of the wartime Red Army - rehearse in Moscow Image copyrightEPA



Russia will on Wednesday celebrate its biggest public holiday, Victory Day, with a military parade in Moscow that was meant to be held on 9 May.

President Vladimir Putin reluctantly postponed the big annual celebration because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is 75 years since the then USSR defeated Nazi Germany. World War Two cost more than 20 million Soviet lives.

Moscow's lockdown has eased this month, enabling the parade, featuring tanks and long-range missiles, to go ahead.

The annual parade in Red Square - starting this year at 10:00 (07:00 GMT) - is always an occasion for President Putin to harness Russian patriotic feelings, in a way reminiscent of Soviet times.

He has restored Cold War-era Soviet symbols, and in 2008 he reintroduced heavy weaponry in the parade. The black-and-gold wartime St George's ribbon is especially ubiquitous.

Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies - Britain, the US and USSR - on 8 May 1945. But traditionally Russia and the other ex-Soviet republics mark the victory on 9 May.

Holding the delayed event on 24 June commemorates the victory parade staged by the USSR back in 1945.

This year's parade is special for Mr Putin because in a week's time Russia will hold a nationwide vote on constitutional amendments that are expected to pave the way for him to stay in power beyond 2024, when his current term expires.

Technically, mass gatherings are still banned in Moscow, which continues to record a stubbornly high number of new Covid-19 cases each day - more than 1,000 were reported on Tuesday, the eve of the parade.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin has urged residents to stay at home and watch the parade on TV.

War veterans invited to attend will be spaced apart on the viewing stand, and the authorities believe this enforced social distancing means they can watch without wearing masks. All those invited have been required to be tested for the virus.

The military units taking part have been in quarantine during weeks of rehearsals, avoiding contact with anyone not directly involved in the event.

The parade will feature about 13,000 military personnel, 234 armoured vehicles, and 75 aircraft performing the traditional flypast.

It will include units from most of the ex-Soviet republics, as well as from China, Mongolia and Serbia.

Military parades were also being held in other cities, including "hero cities" that saw the heaviest fighting in the Soviet "Great Patriotic War" against the Nazis.

In Russia's Far East, Vladivostok held a parade without spectators, although war veterans and officials were visible, local media reported. However, this year 13 cities and big towns opted not to stage parades.

Mr Putin identifies on a personal level with the sacrifices made in the war: his father was seriously wounded in combat and his infant brother Viktor died in the siege of Leningrad - today's St Petersburg.

Some major world leaders were to have attended the cancelled 9 May parade, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko are expected to attend this year, but few other European leaders will. BBC
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If you werent desperate before to fly off to an exotic location for a spot of post-lockdown lolling  you will be after gazing at these sensational holiday snaps.

They capture sugar-white beaches, turquoise waters, impossibly romantic castaway islands and breathtakingly beautiful bays from Majorca to the Maldives. What makes the pictures all the more impressive is that they were taken by an amateur  Brazilian doctor Thiago Lopez, who often shoots with nothing more than a smartphone.

His talents havent gone unnoticed though. Hes been posting pictures from his travels to Instagram for over eight years and has amassed a whopping 422,000 followers.

Tranquil: Spiaggia dei Conigli (aka Rabbit Beach) on the Italian island of Lampedusa

On the left is a panoramic view of the Maldives from a seaplane. On the right is the heavenly Thulhagiri Island Resort in the archipelago

The two dinky islands that comprise Maafushivaru hotel in the Maldives. Thiago reveals that his photographic arsenal consists of an iPhone 11 Pro and a Phantom 4 Pro drone

The 36-year-old told MailOnline Travel: My passion for travel began 10 years ago with my first international trip to California and my first Instagram post took place long ago. My profile was created unpretentiously, with no goals.

It was a time with few travel profiles. It is very gratifying to realise that over these more than eight years on Instagram, many people identify with the way I travel and how I show the world through my eyes.

In this sense, the numerical question has always been secondary, both concerning the number of people who follow me and the number of countries visited.

Anantara Dhigu Resort in the Maldives, which is one of Thiago's favourite places to stay. Wonder why?

A spot of wanton lolling caught on camera by Thiago's drone at Anantara Dhigu

Thiago said: 'Big cities hardly conquer me. I can say Im passionate about islands and summer. Pictured is a hammock at Anantara Dhigu

Its nice to have a video in the gallery seen by over two million people and when it happens spontaneously, its even more rewarding.

Thiago, whos been an anesthesiologist for 10 years, reveals that his photographic arsenal consists of an iPhone 11 Pro and a Phantom 4 Pro drone.

He said: Both have incredible stabilisation and image capture quality. I dont use a professional camera or tripods. I prefer to capture spontaneous moments, in such a way that I hardly ever appear. The most important thing is the landscape, the nature, the moment and not me.

Calo des Moro beach in the south-east corner of Majorca. A real gem of a spot, as this mesmerising image shows

Pictured on the left are the black volcanic sands at Praia A Mare in the Calabria region of Italy. On the right is Navagio Beach - also known as Shipwreck Beach - on the coast of Zakynthos, Greece

The wooden bridge to the enticing pine-clad Agios Sostis island from the Zakynthos mainland

Cala Luna on Sardinia which, with its sugary sands and epic natural caves, is truly a sight to behold

An eye-catching sandbar leads to Malacory Island in the Sulu Sea in the archipelagic Palawan region of the Philippines. This stunning castaway set-up is located about 90 minutes by boat from Coron Town

Drone imaging is a therapy, mainly for the adrenaline of piloting the drone itself and checking later that the aspect seen from above is completely different and makes the place even more beautiful. I keep learning to this day and I know only the basics of the device, but I can still be entertained every time I use it.

And what are his favourite spots? Generally locations with lovely landscapes.

Thiago, who lives in Niteroi in Rio de Janeiro, said: As you can see from the pictures, I prefer to travel to places with nature, be it sea, mountains, waterfalls, lakes or places near forests. Maybe thats why Im passionate about Italy, a country with beautiful beaches, islands, mountains and lakes. Big cities hardly conquer me. I can say Im passionate about islands and summer.

Thiago said: 'I dont use a professional camera or tripods. I prefer to capture spontaneous moments, in such a way that I hardly ever appear.' Pictured here is Hong Lagoon in Thailand

Ilha Grande island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, known for its pristine beaches and lush vegetation

The Palawan archipelago in the Philippines is an Instagrammer's dream come true

Pictured is the incredible El Nido Resorts Apulit Island in the Philippines

The Palawan archipelago contains 1,780 islands. This picture was taken near one of them - Coron Island

His favourite places to stay, meanwhile, are  the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris (pictured here); Petani Bay Hotel on the Greek island of Kefalonia; Xales De Maracaipe in Porto de Galinhas, Brazil; The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort and Anantara Dhigu in the Maldives (also pictured here).

For now, of course, Thiagos travels are on hold  and we can only offer a watch this space regarding his next trip.

He added: The question everyone asks: where to go after the pandemic? I honestly dont think about travelling right now, and I dont even make plans. I live in a country with many social problems, that has increased even more by the issue of the disease and I believe that having health at that time is more important than any trip.

'So my focus right now is to keep working at the hospital, helping people in the way that I can in this difficult phase, and when all this is over then yes... we can first try to learn something important about how we have lived, try to change what needs to be changed and then maybe dream again with new landscapes and experiences.

To see more of Thiago's incredible photographs visit his Instagram page .

Hong Island in Thailand isn't, as this breathtaking picture shows, too shabby
Attorney General Bill Barr committed to testifying before the House Judiciary Committee next month after Chairman Jerry Nadler threatened him with a subpoena.

Barr's spokeswoman Kerri Kupec made the announcement Wednesday over Twitter.

'The Attorney General has accepted an invitation to appear before the House Judiciary Committee for a general oversight hearing on July 28th,' she said.

Attorney General Bill Barr will testify before the House Judiciary Committee on July 28, his spokeswoman said. He was supposed to testify in March, but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Barr has never sat before the Judiciary panel as attorney general

Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler threatened to subpoena Barr on Monday after the firing of U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman, which was done under unusual circumstances. Nadler has criticized Barr for 'unprecedented politicization' of the Justice Department

Nadler previously tore into Barr for refusing to appear before the Democrat-led committee in June, when he had time to 'tour the peaceful protests at Lafayette Park just minutes before riot police fired tear gas into the crowd,' the New York Democrat said

Barr was under fire for the decision to forcibly remove 'Black Lives Matter' protesters from in front of Lafayette park on June 1. Here riot police are seen using their shields against demonstrators

Minutes later, President Trump emerged from the White House and walked across Lafayette Park to stand in front of St. John's church, holding a Bible aloft. Protesters had been forcibly pushed out of the area using tear gas and pepper balls minutes before

Barr (second from left) was one of the Trump administration officials who accompanied the president on his controversial walk across Lafayette park and photo-up in front of St. John's Church, which had been damaged by protesters the night before

Nadler has wanted to get Barr in front of his Democrat-led committee for months.

In recent weeks Nadler's torn into Barr for 'unprecedented politicization' of the Justice Department, tear-gassing protesters in front of Lafayette park and ousting a U.S. attorney who was investigating Trump's associates.

Testimony on Wednesday by DOJ whistleblower upped the ante, with one witness, former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer, saying Barr 'poses the greatest threat in my lifetime to our rule of law and to public trust in it.'

Another witness, Aaron Zelinsky, a federal prosecutor in the Roger Stone case, testified 'we would be fired' if Justice Department officials didn't agree to go along with a lighter sentencing for Trump's longtime political adviser.

Barr was originally supposed to testify before lawmakers on March 31, but the hearing was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In mid-May, as Congress was restarting its hearings, Nadler sent a letter to Barr making the ask again.

On June 1, Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd wrote Nadler back, pointing to White House guidance that informed cabinet-level officials not to appear before Congressional hearings during the month of June due to the pandemic.

'Accordingly, the Department is pleased to consider rescheduling the Attorney Generals appearance at an appropriate time following the expiration of the White House guidance and the return of regular order to the House of Representatives,' the letter read.

June 1, however, was the day that Barr was spotted outside the White House surveying the 'Black Lives Matter' protesters directly before they were tear gassed.

Several minutes later, President Trump emerged from the White House for his infamous St. John's church photo-op.

'He told the Committee that he could not find the time to testify because of that epidemic - but took the time to tour the peaceful protests at Lafayette Park just minutes before riot police fired tear gas into the crowd,' Nadler said in a statement the next day.

Nadler then reluctantly floated a subpoena threat.

Later in the week, Nadler introduced a bill that would reduce Barr's office budget by $50 million, explaining that lawmakers needed to find other means to rein in Barr 'given his history of defying congressional subpoenas.'

More recently, Nadler has lashed out at Barr for the firing of U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman, the top prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, which was investigating Rudy Giuliani, among other Trump associates.

On Friday, Barr had put out a press release saying that Berman was 'stepping down' from his post.

Berman said that wasn't the case and refused to resign.

Trump signed off on Berman's firing Saturday.

Berman went willingly once his No. 2 was put in the interim role.

The incident pushed Nadler to start getting a subpoena ready, according to Axios and Politico.

Nadler confirmed this was the plan during a Monday night hit on MSNBC's 'The Rachel Maddow Show.'

'We have begun the process to issue that subpoena,' Nadler said.

Barr has not testified before the House Judiciary Committee since becoming attorney general in February 2019, about a month into the Democrats' tenure as the House majority.
Advertisement

 This is an outright lie  Management

The management of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is currently

enmeshed in job racketeering running into N1.2 billion bribery proceeds,

CORRUPTION REPORTER can exclusively report.

An investigation by CORRUPTION REPORTER has revealed that some senior

officials of FIRS have been secretly selling job slots for N2 million

each.

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It was also discovered that those involved in the 600 jobs racketeering

are enjoying the backing and protection of the top management.

This could explain why these senior officials of FIRS appear to have so

perfected their skills in job racketeering that even the COVID-19

lockdown and restrictions could not stop them from the illicit trade.

The FIRS management has, however, in a reaction, denied the allegation

of any job racketeering among its senior staff members.

Reacting through the director, Communications and Liaison, Dr Abdullahi

Ismaila Ahmad, the FIRS dismissed the allegation as outright lie.

The allegation of job racketeering is, not only a case of bribery and

financial crime, it is also a gross violation of guiding principles of

federal character which are equity and fairness.

It would be recalled that in October 2019, the FIRS was fingered, along

with other government agencies, in some job racketeering.

The only difference between the 2019 job racketeering and the 2020

dishonest and fraudulent business dealings is in the illegal job slot

fee charged by the senior officials of the FIRS.

When the Senate launched an investigation into the matter in 2019, it

was discovered that some agencies were selling a single employment slot

for as high as N1.5 million, FIRS inclusive.

What the FIRS senior officials have, therefore, done in 2020 barely nine

months later, was to hike the bribery fee.

The affected agencies in the 2019 job racketeering were, the Federal

Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency

(NDLEA); National Space Research and Development Agency, and the

National Open University.

Others include the Federal Civil Service Commission; the University of

Abuja Teaching Hospital; Rural Electrification Agency and the Nigerian

Navy.
Pedestrians walk past signage for an Apple Inc. store at the Shanghai International Center (IFC) shopping mall in Shanghai, China, on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018.

IPhone sales in China fell in May, showing signs of weakening after Apple saw an initial rebound when the country reopened as the coronavirus outbreak eased.

But other areas of the business grew, including spending on the App Store, which could point to some resilience for the U.S. technology giant in one of its biggest markets.

Data collated from third-party sources by CNBC pointed to a mixed picture for Apple's China performance in May.

Apple sold 3.6 million iPhones in China in May, down from 3.9 million in April, according to Shanghai-based CINNO Research. That's a 7.7% fall versus April, but higher than the 3.05 million iPhone sold in May 2019.

It contrasts with the 160% month-on-month rise in April, where Apple benefited from pent-up demand in China and saw a rebound as the country reopened its economy following a shutdown for several weeks earlier this year.

Sales for the iPhone in China dropped a staggering 60% year on year in February, when Apple was forced to close storesas authorities sought to stem the spread of Covid-19. By mid-March, all the stores in China had reopened.

Meanwhile, so-called sell-in shipments of iPhones  those sold to Apple's retail partners in China  totaled just over 2 million in May, according to preliminary estimates by another research firm, IDC. That's around a 25% month-on-month fall, IDC research manager Will Wong CNBC.

Sell-in sales can be used as a gauge for future demand.

Apple declined to comment on these figures.

Overall smartphone shipments in China fell nearly 20% in May from April, according to data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, a Chinese state-backed think tank.
Under strict security at the Electoral Commission (EC) Headquarters in Accra, a crunch meeting is currently underway between the EC, the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and some Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in what could be the final attempt at finding a common ground by stakeholders on the compilation of a new voters register.



The meeting which started at 10am is expected to provide updates on the Commissions plans for the voter registration exercise scheduled to begin on June 30.



Unlike the May 27 IPAC meeting, organized for a similar purpose but which was boycotted by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Graphic Online can confirm that the NDC is represented at the meeting by Mr Osei Griffin and Mr Bede Ziedeng, according to the registration form for the meeting sighted by Graphic Online.



The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is represented by Mr Peter Mac Manu while the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) is represented by Mr James Kwabena Bomfe and Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim.



There are about 42 representatives of political parties and about 30 CSOs represented at the meeting.



Graphic Online can confirm that the EC Chairperson, Mrs Jean Mensa is not present at the meeting. She was spotted being escorted to her office under military guard while the IPAC meeting was ongoing at about 11:30 am.



Graphic Online sources at the meeting say the deputy EC Chairperson, Dr Bossman Eric Asare addressed the meeting.



New voters register



The decision to compile a new biometric voter register and provide Ghanaian adults of voting age new voter cards has been a vex issue for some of the political parties in the past few weeks.



The ECs attempt to whip the parties in line and begin the process has been met with fierce resistance from some of the parties and CSOs. There are about three lawsuits against the move.









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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Singapore is about a week away from rolling out its portable contact-tracing device to help curb the spread of covid-19. It will be small and may eventually come in different colors.

The first batch of the gadget, called TraceTogether Token, will have a battery that can last nine months, Minister-in-Charge of GovTech Singapore Janil Puthucheary said in an interview on Wednesday. It won't be small enough to slip inside your jeans' back pocket, but may fit in front pockets and would be easy enough to clip to a user's bag, he added.

Janil, who heads the agency responsible for the development of these contact-tracing devices, said the token will complement a three-month-old phone app to reach the maximum number of residents. With a goal of reaching 100% of the population, Singapore's tracing program is among the most ambitious in the world. About four months into the pandemic, efforts by many countries to use mobile apps to fight the virus have mostly stalled or have been abandoned amid dismal take-up rates and privacy concerns.

In Singapore, about 2.1 million people, or about 35% of the population, have downloaded the TraceTogether app. While that's among the highest adoption rates in the world, it's still below the 75% to 80% for tracing to work effectively, which is why the physical token is being introduced as an additional measure.

Like the app, the token uses Bluetooth signals to record other nearby contact-tracing devices and would function in a similar way. The island-state is believed to be the first country to roll out a portable device on top of its tracing app to more effectively fight the virus as the economy reopens.

"What we want is to stitch those together and cover 100% of our population," said Janil, who is also senior minister of state in the ministry of transport as well as communications and information. "We are geographically small and we can deploy at a city level. So it's conceptually possible to put this in the hands of every Singaporean."

Singapore resumed most activities last week with the government assessing the virus situation in the country to be under control. With more than 42,000 recorded infections, mostly driven by an outbreak among foreign workers living in cramped dormitories, officials have said that a robust testing and tracing regime is needed to open the economy safely.

It's difficult to predict how many people would end up using the token vs. the app as it depends on people's behavior as well as the performance of the gadget. "We are building this real time," Janil said. "We have a strong belief it would work well. It's a simple device." The design of the token may change as the government progressively rolls out its plan to deliver the token likely through till the end of the year, he added.

The senior minister of state cited the country's success in distributing masks and sanitizers to every household during the pandemic as examples of deploying a solution at a national level. But like most countries in the world, its contact-tracing program has sparked public concerns about privacy and surveillance.

Janil said the token won't track users' location and the data collected on each device will be deleted after 25 days. The adoption will also be voluntary.

"When you make things mandatory, you have to balance the benefit and risks including the social risks," said Janil, who pointed out that the number of deaths and infections in the community is low. "So the risk doesn't seem quite significant. But if things change and we need a robust response, this will change."
U.S. Justice Department officials and some state attorneys general are set to meet on Friday to discuss next steps in a potential anti-trust case against Google.

According to the Wall Street Journal, federal and state officials will meet virtually to discuss the likely case and to assess whether the states wish to bring their own lawsuit against the internet giant or join one filed by the Department of Justice.

They will also discuss the scope of any legal complaint.

The federal government and nearly all state attorneys general have opened investigations into allegations that Google has broken antitrust laws.

Google may face an anti-trust case from the Justice Department and state attorneys general

The Justice Department and several state regulators have been gearing up to file antitrust lawsuits, alleging Google has abused its dominance of online search and advertising to stifle competition and boost its profits.

The federal probe focuses on search bias, advertising and management of Googles Android operating system.

Senator Josh Hawley, who wrote a letter to the Justice Department in March calling for a probe into Google's dominance in search, said Tuesday that 'evidence of anticompetitive conduct in search technology is striking'.

'I'm optimistic DOJ will do its due diligence and follow the facts,' he added.

Other lawmakers have called for the investigation to be widened to include Google's alleged viewpoint bias.

Senator Josh Hawley is among the lawmakers calling for an investigation into Google's dominance in search technology and whether it is working to stifle competition

'Both the American free market and the openness of our democracy are presently at stake,' Sen. Marsha Blackburn said in a letter to Attorney General Bill Barr on Monday.

'As the Department decides which actions to pursue, I urge mounting a full investigation that examines the company's control over vast sectors of the Internet economy, from online advertising to online search.'

Barr appeared open to the idea in a Fox News interview over the weekend.

'They [tech companies] are only presenting one viewpoint and they can push the public in a particular direction very quickly,' he said.

'One way this can be addressed is through the antitrust laws and challenging companies that engage in monopolistic practices.'

The Justice Department may file its case as early as this summer while Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton may take action in the fall, along with his peers in other states, according to the Journal.

AG Barr has previously said he hoped to decide whether to pursue an antitrust case against Google by the summer.

Texas and other states announced they were looking into Google's business practices in September 2019.

In a letter to U.S. AG Bill Barr on Monday, Sen. Marsha Blackburn called for the investigation to include whether conservative viewpoints are being attacked by the tech company

U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, pictured, has previously said he hopes to decide whether to pursue an antitrust case against Google by the summer

It is not known how many states will be involved in Friday's talks or if they are all in agreement about how to proceed.

Google acknowledged it has ongoing discussions with the Justice Department and Paxton without elaborating on the nature of the talks.

'We continue to engage with the ongoing investigations led by Attorney General Barr and Texas Attorney General Paxton,' a Google spokeswoman told the Journal.

'Our focus is firmly on creating free products that help Americans every day and lower costs for small businesses.'

This isn't the first time Google has been thrust under the microscope of antitrust in the U.S.

The Federal Trade Commission closed an extensive investigation into Google's alleged abuses in 2013 without taking any action because it concluded the Mountain View, California, company wasn't hurting consumers

Since then, Google has grown even more powerful under the umbrella of the corporate parent, Alphabet, that it spawned in five years ago.

When the FTC closed its case, Google was generating annual revenue of $50billion.

Last year, Alphabet raked in $162billion in revenue.

Most of the money comes from a digital ad market that Google dominates along with social networking rival Facebook - another potential target of antitrust regulators.

Google is the bigger of the two online ad giants, thanks mostly to a search engine that has become synonymous with looking things up.

The company also owns the leading web browser in Chrome, the world's largest mobile operating system in Android, the top video site in YouTube and the most popular digital mapping system.

Google consistently maintains that its services face ample competition from rivals, and have unleashed innovations that help people manage their lives.

Most of the services are offered for free in exchange for personal information that helps Google sell its ads.

Antitrust regulators in Europe have attempted to crack down on Google by imposing multi-billion dollar fines and ordering changes to its practices.

But the company's critics say those penalties haven't been severe enough and contend more extreme measures will be required to for Google to change its ways.

Those might include a government attempt to force Google to spin off its various services into separate businesses, an effort the company would be likely to fiercely oppose.
A KSC pretrial judge is currently reviewing the indictment to decide on whether to confirm the charges.

A prosecutor in The Hague has indicted Kosovar President Hashim Thaci, former parliamentary chairman Kadri Veseli, and "others" for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during or after the 1998-1999 Kosovo conflict.

The Specialist Prosecutor's Office (SPO) said in a statement on June 24 that the suspects "are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders," as well as the "enforced disappearance of persons, persecution, and torture," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported.

The alleged crimes involved "hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian, Serb, Roma, and other ethnicities and include political opponents," according to the SPO.

Read alsoBloody trail of Russian military in Libya  media

Thaci and Veseli were commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), an ethnic Albanian guerrilla group that fought against Belgrade's security forces in the 1998-99 war.

Veseli currently leads the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and serves as a lawmaker.

Both men have previously denied involvement in any war crimes.

After the SPO's announcement, Thaci's office said he had cut short a trip to the United States and would be back to Kosovo on June 25.

The Kosovar president was scheduled to meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the White House on June 27 for talks aimed at leading to a normalization of relations.

A 10-count indictment was filed with the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague on April 24, but the prosecutor decided to unveil them publicly two months later.

Prosecutors said the charges resulted from a "lengthy investigation" and they were confident they can prove "all charges beyond a reasonable doubt."

A KSC pretrial judge is currently reviewing the indictment to decide on whether to confirm the charges.

The prosecutor also accused Thaci and Veseli of repeated efforts "to obstruct and undermine the work" of the tribunal.

The two men "are believed to have carried out a secret campaign to overturn the law creating the Court and otherwise obstruct the work of the Court in an attempt to ensure that they do not face justice," the statement said.

"By taking these actions, Mr. Thaci and Mr. Veseli have put their personal interests ahead of the victims of their crimes, the rule of law, and all people of Kosovo," it added.

Kosovo was part of Serbia until an armed uprising by the ethnic Albanian majority population in 1998-99 triggered a Serbian crackdown.

The conflict ended following a 78-day NATO bombing campaign to force Serbian troops out of Kosovo.

The war left more than 10,000 dead and over 1,600 are still unaccounted for.
Jill Biden name-checked Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg as Democrats united in the fight of a lifetime during a virtual fundraiser with supporters in Oregon Tuesday night.

The two women on that list likely stand out to people eagerly waiting to hear whom Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, Jill Bidens spouse, will pick as his vice presidential running mate, given his commitment to choose a woman for the role.

With Oregons highest elected Democrats on the call, Jill Biden boasted that her husband believes in climate change, which the current president does not, as well as science and facts.

She also told supporters that the Trump administration didnt prepare at all for the pandemic, whereas Biden has the backbone to lead through chaos.

Democrats control four of the five statewide elected offices in the state and all four officials  Gov. Kate Brown, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, Treasurer Tobias Read and Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle  participated in the call.

Jill Biden told the roughly 60 supporters of the campaign how hopeful she is for Americas future if her husband is elected, even as she listed things that worry her: childrens mental health and anxiety in the pandemic, rising child abuse and animosity toward immigrants.

I feel really hopeful that these are things that we can fix and were not going to go back to what we felt was normal, Biden said on the video call with more than 60 supporters Tuesday evening. We cant. Things have changed so much.

Even with a recession underway and nationwide demonstrations against police violence and systemic racism, Jill Biden said she and Joe Biden are focused on the potential for big changes that will improve peoples lives.

We have to look at this as an opportunity and say OK, we now see this white-hot, searing light on all these problems and now we have an opportunity to fix them.

Oregon leaders held back little as they went after President Donald Trump on the call. After thanking Rosenblum for joining or filing at least 20 lawsuits against the Trump administration, the governor said she is horrified and appalled by what is happening in this country and supports Joe Biden for president because he will bring stability, sanity and reliability we need to the federal government.

-- Hillary Borrud: hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
A group of University of Texas college students travelled en masse to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for spring break - and 64 of them returned infected with coronavirus, a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report reveals.

The Texas group, dubbed Cabo 211, was by no means the only set of spring breakers to ignore health warnings and contract coronavirus, but they were the largest.

From a public health standpoint, the group is evidence of just how easily people with no symptoms of coronavirus - like one fifth of the Cabo 211 group - can spread the infection.

Coronavirus continued to spread among the college students even after their return to Austin, where many lived together, or at least shared facilities and social activities.

The report 'highlights the importance of universities and schools considering how to align students living arrangements with CDC recommendations for living in shared housing as they plan to reopen,' the officials warned.

The first students developed symptoms while in Cabo San Lucas, and between March 27 and 28, three tested positive back in Austin. By April, the outbreak had spread to four people who had not been on the ill-fated trip, a CDC graph shows

In addition to the infamous 211 students who travelled to Cabo San Lucas between March 14 and 19, the CDC included another 20 people in their report - likely close contacts of the travelling students who may have been exposed back in Austin.

The first student was tested for coronavirus on March 27 after developing a cough, sore throat and shortness of breath.

The day after that person's test came back positive, another two students turned up with similar symptoms and tested positive.

Word was sent to the University of Texas Health Austin that they might have an outbreak on their hands.

In the days that followed, the positive coronavirus tests stacked up.

Of 183 of the travelers who were tested, 60 were positive for the viral infection, meaning that more than 28 percent of the students on the trip contracted coronavirus.

One person who lived with one of the Cabo 211 was infected, as were three other people who had come into contact with the Cabo travellers.

The CDC investigation found that one fifth of the students were asymptomatic.

School and local officials jumped into action to find and test all the contacts of the infected travelers, including other people on their flights, family members and students they'd seen back on campus.

Coronavirus outbreaks among young people, like the UT students, can pose a particular challenge to public health officials' attempts to contain them because younger people are less likely to have obvious symptoms and more likely to have many social contacts.

Swift contact tracing almost entirely contained to the students who went on the trip. But some students hit out at the university, claiming that UT would not tell them where the Cabo 211 had been since returning to campus.

But the CDC warns that universities and colleges need to be prepared to do the same - potentially on a much larger scale - if they decide to allow students back on campus in the fall.

'A coordinated response with contact tracing and testing of all contacts, including those who are asymptomatic, is important in controlling future COVID-19 outbreaks that might occur as schools and universities consider reopening' the agency investigators wrote.

Fortunately, none of the students - all of whom were in their 20s - had to be hospitalized, and none died as a result of the Cabo trip outbreak.

But the students and UT certainly suffered backlash from their peers, strangers, health authorities, and even warning to be careful Matthew McConaughey.

CABO 211 AND UT SORORITY FACED BACKLASH OVER THE SPRING BREAK TRIP THAT LED TO A COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Parents and students defended the university and its students against harsh responses they have received since a spring break trip to Cabo San Lucas left 53 people infected with coronavirus.

Supporters have responded to critics and threatened to call the cops on anyone who has targeted the group with angry messages on social media.

In total 211 students, all in their 20s, traveled to Cabo San Lucas between March 14 and March 19 using both private and commercial flights.

The university's West Campus outside of Austin is now a coronavirus hotspot after it was announced that the trip had resulted in (at the time) 53 infections.

Actor Matthew McConaughey recorded a video urging the students to place themselves into quarantine and saying he was 'sorry youve got these responsibilities on you at this time'.

A University of Texas student commented on this picture of a sorority sister who went on Spring Break to Cabo criticizing the decision to do so. The sorority member's mother contacted the student to inform them she told the police about the comment and that none of the sorority had tested positive for coronavirus or chartered a plane to Mexico

The University of Texas had canceled classes on March 13 and instruction resumed online after Spring Break.

By the time the UT students headed to Cabo, not only had the campus been shut down and all programs abroad canceled but the City of Austin had already declared a local state of emergency.

Within two weeks of their return, the universitys west campus was identified as a hotspot and harsh criticism was left under the social media posts from the students' vacation.

Students who remained at home or had canceled their Spring Break plans were angered as the outbreak worsened because of the actions of other students.

University of Texas professor and actor Matthew McConaughey intervened as the heated debate continued, posting a video on April 2, just after it first emerged that students on the trip were beginning to test positive.

The youth in the city of Austin, all the students at the University of Texas, the virus has come on and youve been asked to grow up sooner than you thought you were going to have to, he said.

Youve had responsibilities laid on your lap that you didnt bargain for. You just went off to Spring Break, you got back with a tan, you feel great. Whats wrong with that? Not blaming any of that.

But no matter how good you feel right now, stay home if you can. Im sorry youve got these responsibilities on you at this time,' he added.

'Its an unprecedented time in all our lives but face the facts that theyre here. This is a science-fiction film no more. Its reality, man. Deal with it. Please, we need you to and you need us to. Please.

This tweet claimed the sorority house was spay painted with 'eat the rich'

University of Texas professor and actor Matthew McConaughey published this video on April 2 in which he urged the students who went on the trip to stay home

Other students complained on social media that the group sparked an outbreak on campus

Other UT students were frustrated that not enough information was being provided over where the Cabo 211 traveled to after their trip.

As a UT student I can tell UT will answer none of these questions, one wrote.

All we got was a flimsy email saying they traveled back to different locations in the US.... but now 78705 is a COVID-19 hotspot so clearly some of them are back in West Campus.

One detailed Twitter thread identified the impact the spring breakers could have and the harm their four-day trip could cause, stating that students were warned about the dangers of coronavirus and so playing dumb isnt gonna cut it.

CABO44 potentially infected more than a million (1,049,041) people, they said, using figures from earlier reports that 44 were infected.

But how big is that you ask? The city of Austin has a population of 950,254. So pretty huge.

So remember your fun spring break potentially put a million people at risk. So quit complaining about cyberbullying cause going on that trip was beyond irresponsible and stay at home for gods sake.

Also your Instagram pictures sucked, they added.

On Twitter user broke down the projected coronavirus impact of the group's trip

The Twitter user explained how many people they could have now infected

A hunt immediately began to track down which students were involved after their return.

UT twitter on another level, they found out everyones names and affiliations in less than a day... one Twitter user wrote.

In particular, criticism was leveled against the University of Texas branch of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, members of which are believed to be among the students that traveled.

Members had posted pictures using the hashtag #springbreak to the account.

'When stories came out about students on a chartered plane to Cabo, everyone was like, "Who the hell are these people?"' one student told Vice.

'And then someone was like, "Hey, Texas Theta just posted all these pictures from Cabo... It's them!"'

'We had a lot of students who canceled spring break trips; I canceled mine. It seemed very clear that we shouldn't be flying, for our own safety as much as other people's safety. Seeing those Instagram pictures of people in Cabo, it's just like, compounding the issue.'

The sororitys social media accounts have been made private after an influx of comments on their postings.

One tweet has even claimed that eat the rich was spray painted onto the wall of the Texas Kappa Alpha Theta sorority house.

Social media users were quick to hunt down the students who were on the Mexico trip

This Twitter user was contacted by a parent of a sorority member after this tweet. She claimed that she had contacted the police and that the sorority was not involved in the outbreak

The online conflict escalated as the spring breakers began to answer back with at least one parent sending threatening messages to other young people posting about their child.

There was uproar in mid-March as spring breakers defied warnings issued about spread of coronavirus and continued on their traditional party holidays to locations like Mexico and Florida.

Many of the students appeared to believe that they could not catch coronavirus because they are young. Not only can coronavirus hit a person of any age but anyone can be a carrier and increase the spread.

There have been other outbreaks among spring breakers from the University of Tampa and the University of Wisconsin-Madison after their own trips.

Officials at the University of Texas say a total of 83 students at the university have tested positive or have been presumed positive for COVID-19.

Eight employees have also tested positive for the disease.

DailyMail.com reached out to the university and the Austin Police Department for comment but a representative was not available.
An Edgewood Independent School District trustee who took her spot on the board just last month posted a photo Sunday on her Facebook page showing her children hanging her husband with a noose in jest.

Happy Fathers Day babe! Look what you helped create, Dina Serrano wrote with a laughing emoji.

The photo showed her husband, one daughter smiling as she gently pulled the rope and another daughter looking shocked.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios Edgewood ISD finishes transition back to fully elected board

Serrano, the board vice president, initially declined requests for comment, saying her Facebook was private. Screenshots of the photo circulated within the community. KSAT-TV published the photo, blurring out the faces.

On Thursday, Serrano published an apology on her social media accounts for what she said was her poor judgment in posting the photo and said she was naive to think it was an innocent fun picture. It was taken during a family trip to Arizona in 2015, she said.

I sincerely apologize to Edgewood ISD, family, friends, supporters and my tight knit community, Serrano wrote, noting that the photo was interpreted as malicious, insensitive, and racist.

I get it, being a Latina woman from the barrio, I understand how hurtful my actions were. I am sorry.

Board President Martha Castilla, a written statement Wednesday, said she was extremely disappointed in Serrano.

As board members in EISD, we make every effort to be sensitive to the entire community we serve, Castilla wrote.This does not reflect the Edgewood ISD Board of Trustees nor the Edgewood Independent School District. Our goal is to provide a safe learning environment where we empower our students through education.

The post was made amid a national outcry against systemic racism, fueled by a series of killings of African Americans at the hands of police, including viral video of the suffocation of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox

Serrano was elected to the Edgewood board in 2018. But because the district was under a state-appointed board of managers, she had to wait while the board transitioned to a fully elected board of trustees.

She took office last month and was voted by her peers to serve as vice president.

Serrano defeated Richard Santoyo, who had been appointed to the board of managers by Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath and sought election to the seat.

Serrano, a former teachers aide in Edgewood, has described herself as a community activist. Shes a past vice president of her neighborhood association and has been active in the Parent Teacher Association. She has a masters degree in early childhood education from Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Krista, become a subscriber. Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva
President of Russia Vladimir Putin looks on prior to the Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II, on June 24, 2020 in Moscow, Russia. Handout

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. As well as a day of national celebration, the parade allows Russia to show off the range of its military personnel and equipment to the world. More than that, however, the event is seen as a way for 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. Nonetheless, preparations for the parade have been taking place in Moscow and Russia's Ministry of Defense confirms that over 13,000 military personnel are taking part in the parade that will include 216 units of military equipment (ranging from tanks to armored vehicles to rocket launchers) and a fly past featuring 75 military aircraft, including fighter jets and helicopters. Russia political analyst Anton Barbashin told CNBC why the Victory Day parade matters so much to the Kremlin. "Victory over the Nazi Germany is by far the biggest and the most significant historical event for contemporary Russia. For the Kremlin it is the most effective way to unite diverse peoples of Russia, it is used to legitimize Kremlin's foreign policy aspirations and generally (the) Russian attitude towards great power status. In the past decade, its importance only increased as the Kremlin has been increasingly monopolizing its legacy," he told CNBC Tuesday.

A Mil Mi-8 helicopter flies over Moscow during the dress rehearsal of the Victory Day air show marking the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Stanislav Krasilnikov

Russian referendum

This year's parade would originally have come after a nationwide referendum that would have given the public a say (ostensibly) on changes to the Russian constitution. These would, among other things, enable Putin the freedom to run for further terms in office, potentially up to 2036, when his current term ends in 2024. Like the parade, however, the public vote was postponed and will now take place on July 1. Barbashin noted that the June 24 parade was "supposed to be the grand finale of Putin's own 'victory year'." "The original Victory Day was supposed to be a sort of a celebration with a high number of foreign leaders coming to Moscow, symbolically accepting Russia's new constitution," he said.

Parade formations before the Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II, on June 24, 2020 in Moscow, Russia. Handout

The public vote on constitutional amendments has been dismissed by political experts like Barbashin, who said that as the new constitution had effectively already been agreed by the Russian Parliament, the public vote was a purely "symbolic approval of Putin's prolonged rule that should legitimize Russia's new constitution for both domestic and international audiences." Still, the parade is seen as a way to boost a sense of national pride and public support for Putin ahead of the vote, particularly at a time when his popularity ratings have ebbed due to the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Coronavirus distraction

Putin is seen to have taken a "hands off" approach to managing the crisis which has hit ordinary Russians and the economy hard; Russia has the third highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, with almost 600,000 cases to date. Holding the parade was seen by experts as a way to distract Russians from the crisis and lockdown measures in Moscow were lifted earlier in the month, feasibly with the forthcoming parade in mind. An added sweetener came on Tuesday too when Putin announced more financial support measures for families, lowered taxes for the IT industry and raised income tax on higher earners.

Daragh McDowell, head of Europe and principal Russia analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, acknowledged that the Victory Day parade "is rightly a major, symbolically important holiday for the Russian people in that it represents one of the few, unambiguously positive accomplishments of the Soviet Union," but said the timing of the parade "does serve a clearly discernible electoral purpose." "Currently, the damage to the economy and public health from the pandemic  and the government's uneven response  is clearly visible to most Russians and there are indicators it is sapping public support for Putin. The Victory Day parade is an impressive spectacle, a visible demonstration of Russian military power designed to invoke both national pride and respect for Putin's re-establishment of a 'strong' Russia, which will circumvent concerns about Putin's management of the domestic economy."

Sukhoi Su-34, Sukhoi Su-35S and Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jets of Lipetsk Aviation Centre fly in formation over Moscow during the dress rehearsal of the Victory Day air show. Sergei Fadeichev

In normal times, Russia would use the parade as an opportunity to invite world leaders to Russia to attend the event and to impress as it showcases Russia's military might. The coronavirus outbreak has put paid to that this year, however, and there is a slimmed down guest list. Russia's Ministry of Defense says 13 foreign state officials will attend the parade, mostly hailing from former Soviet states and nations allied with Russia, with defense ministers from Armenia, Azerbaijan and India attending the event, among others, and the presidents of Belarus and Serbia. Putin was seen greeting dignitaries with handshakes earlier Wednesday. Western leaders including President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had been invited to the event but a number canceled their attendance due to the pandemic, and rescheduling of the parade.

T-90M tanks and MSTA-SM self-propelled howitzers are pictured ahead of the dress rehearsal of the Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Peter Kovalev
Argenis Hurtado Moreno

Providence, RI 02912

June 22, 2020

Jack Reed

Senator of Rhode Island

728 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Reed,

Thursday was an important and necessary victory for DACA recipients. The Supreme Court ruled against Trump, expressing:

We do not decide whether DACA or its rescission are sound policies. The wisdom of those decisions is none of our concern. Here we address only whether the Administration complied with the procedural requirements in the law that insist on a reasoned explanation for its action.

I spent many nights awake, restlessly worrying about the Supreme Court Judges reversing the Obama-issued order that allowed me and many others to remain with our families, granted us work authorization, made higher education more accessible, and bettered our economic standing. I was relieved by the Supreme Court decision. It means that I will be able to continue living in the country I have called home since I was three years old and that I will be able to continue working towards my academic goals.

Still, DACA IS NOT ENOUGH. The SCOTUS decision may not hold, but even if it does, it only benefits 643,560 people about 5% of the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the US. I need you to do more for all of us.

My name is Argenis Hurtado Moreno, and I am one of your new constituents. In September Ill begin my Doctorate in Anthropology at Brown University. I will be Browns only DACAmented Ph.D. student, and while this may appear to be an astounding feat, it isnt entirely surprisingonly about 4% of DACA beneficiaries hold a bachelors degree and fewer pursue post-graduate education.

Youre probably familiar with stories similar to minethe young, smart, hard-working immigrant who perhaps graduated at the top of their class and has a full-ride to a prestigious university. But missing from these success stories are the women whose invisibilized care and labor produce so-called model immigrants like me. These womens experiences are rarely, if ever, at the center of policymakers conversations on immigration. Their lived experiencesalong with that of immigrants who do not demonstrate qualities of the imagined model immigrantare silenced and disregarded by policymakers and the laws they advocate for and enact.

I need you to use your privileged position to advocate for a pathway to citizenship that is accessible to all who seek it and not just those who can prove they are smart enough, Ivy League-bound, working as a Covid-19 first responder, or somehow more valuable than people like my mom and sister.

I want to tell you about them because they have taught me valuable life lessons and they have shaped my perspective immensely. Their care, labor, and decision to migrate to the U.S. have helped me get to Rhode Island and Brown. My contributions as a model immigrant for the benefit of the U.S. economy and society are also very much their contributions.

My mom hates cooking, but you wouldnt know this if you tasted her meals, because they are phenomenal. When she was young, in Mexico, her mother would tease her because she didnt know how to cook an egg. Her mother would tell her often that no man would ever want to marry her because men dont like women who arent useful. My mom did marry, but only because my dad kidnapped her (something that is all too common, even in the US, when patriarchy goes unchecked). She crossed the border into the US in 1996, the reason being that her marriage was not a happy one, and she had a pair of children who depended on her. With her first paycheck, she paid a Coyote to bring me and my sister over from Mexico to Phoenix, Arizona, where they presently reside.

In the early 2000s, my moms health began to decline. Undocumented immigrants, who frequently do hard and dangerous work, have limited access to adequate healthcare. Unable to get a diagnosis in the US, she briefly returned to Mexico where she learned that she had lupus, a severe auto-immune disease.

My moms body and memory are severely affected by her condition. Today she is on hemodialysis, and her recollection is fading specialists call this lupus fog. She hoped that when her youngest daughter, who was born in the US, turned twenty-one, she would be able to petition for a green card for her. After all of these years of living and raising children and grandchildren in this country, my mom has only a temporary work permit (granted after being detained by Phoenix police and processed for deportation), which over the years has cost us thousands of dollars to renew. Now, even though my younger sister has reached age 21, my mom is not hopeful about gaining permanent residency. Shes discouraged by the way the current administration talks about immigrants. Shes afraid shell be denied and sent back to Mexico to die far away from us.

My mom once expressed to me, theres no point in applying for residency now because Ill become a public charge and then all that money will have gone to waste.

My mom is somebody. She deserves full equality and justice.

The second person I will tell you about is my older sistera kind and endearing person. She is the type of person that helps others no matter whether or not she receives anything in return. I envy this about her. She is also a DACA beneficiary, but she is not the DACAmented person that news stories call model immigrants or deem deserving of citizenship.

My sister struggles to speak English and reading is difficult for her. She didnt do well in school and dropped out when my moms health began to decline. She started working and contributing toward our familys growing financial needs. At 29, and with three children of her own, she returned to school to get her GED and satisfy the DACA requirements. She now works as a custodian with my mom.

Popularized narratives of exemplary undocu/DACAmented scholars unjustly devalue my sisters experiences of getting by, day by day. She may not feel confident in her language skills, but she is still a scholar in her own ways. She is the primary caregiver to our mom. She helps our mom at medical visits, and frequently does skilled translation work with physicians, health workers, administrators, and attorneys. My sister is an expert application reader and document-filler. She understands the language regarding acceptable documentation and which institutions participate in loopholes that put moral ethics over bureaucratic gatekeeping. She navigates this country wellperhaps better than I do.

As an anthropologist, I document the stories of undocumented/ DACAmented experiences, primarily those of women with little to no formal educationwomen without extensive CVs or well-paid jobs. Women like my mom and sister are the kind of people that get left out of the conversation. Women whom you and your colleagues tend to ignore. And I ask you, please, dont ignore them.

Senator Reed, youve held your position since 1996thats the same year that my family and I migrated to the US. I can only infer that youve got a grasp on how conversations about immigration have changed throughout the years. In 2006, regarding the Immigration Reform Bill, you stated:

People wishing to become citizens must play by the rules, hold a steady job, pay fines, and learn to speak English.At the same time, the bill recognizes a group of hardworking people who are here seeking a better life for their families, paying their taxes, and making positive contributions to society. They came to America for the same reasons that many of our ancestors did.

First and foremost, the colonists that came to this country didnt play by the rules. They stole this land. Whats now known as Rhode Island belongs to Narragansett, Niantic Eastern, Nipmuc, Pequot, and Wampanoag peoples. This country is built on the displacement and enslavement of people. Further, how do you expect a working mother of three to learn English while maintaining multiple low-paying jobs in order to buy groceries and pay bills?

Your website says you consider yourself a staunch supporter of the DREAM Act, but the DREAM Act isnt enough. Even the DREAM & Promise Act is not enough. You describe the DREAM Act as legislation that gives bright, law-abiding, hard-working immigrant students who serve in the military or attend college an opportunity to earn legal status. Your unfair rhetoric leaves out many immigrants who arent college students and have no intention of joining the military. They are hardworking, yes, but even that characteristic leaves out disabled immigrants unable to work. The definition of labor in such immigration policies further devalues the work undertaken by mothers: housework, childcare, kin-keeping, etc.

Someones welcome into this country should not depend on their economic value. Still, my mom and sister are extremely valuable economically. Theyve gotten me to where I am today. And immigrants like them have given their lives to this country, sustaining it during the coronavirus pandemic. But more importantly, my mom and sister are human beings. That alone should be enough to garner respect, dignity, and recognition. Their economic contributions, while important, cannot be the main reason for their protection. The main reason must be basic humanity.

As much as I worry about my future, I worry more about theirs. If I were to get deported, I could possibly rely on my prestigious and privileged academic networks to apply for a student visa to return to the US. But for my mom and sister, these safety nets do not exist. What happens to them and our family if one or both of them get deported? The same worry holds true for over 16 million families in the US that consist of at least one unauthorized migrant. Those who make and enforce immigration policies need to make a conscious effort to think beyond the discursive constructions of model immigrants and good citizens, and create inclusive pathways toward US citizenship.

I would be more than happy to discuss this in further detail with you. You can reach me at 480-XXX-XXXX and by email at argenis@brown.edu.

With thanks,

Argenis Hurtado Moreno

Argenis Hurtado Moreno, a son of immigrants, focuses his anthropological inquiries on topics of migration, gender, race, kinship, social movements, and media. He published a contribution to Somatospheres Dispatches from the Pandemic series, titled, El Virus: A Contagion of Racism & How Networks of Care Can Stop It. You can follow him on Twitter at @antropologoDACA



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Hong Kong Lawyers Raise Concerns About Beijings National Security Law Provisions

The Hong Kong Bar Association is questioning the legality of Beijings plan to grant the chief executivethe citys top officialpower to pick judges for certain criminal cases under a proposed national security law.

In a statement issued on June 23 evening, the Hong Kong Bar Association (HKBA) pointed out that the provision to grant Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam the power to designate a judge or a group of judges to try a particular type of criminal offense would contradict the intent and spirit of Hong Kongs mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

It explained that the chief executive currently appoints all of Hong Kongs court judges based on recommendations from a statutory body called the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, in accordance with Article 88 of the Basic Law.

Once judges are appointed, the Judiciary operates according to its own procedures to decide which judge would hear which specific case or type of cases, HKBA stated, such as the Chief Judge of the High Court can assign judges to specific duties.

But the executive arm of the Hong Kong government, which includes the chief executive, does not assign specific judges to any particular types of cases.

Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress (NPC), adopted the national security law for Hong Kong on May 28 after a ceremonial vote. The law would criminalize those who engage in activities connected to subversion, secession, terrorism, and foreign interference against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The NPC standing committee released more details about the law on Saturday, stipulating that Hong Kong would have jurisdiction over cases, except in specific circumstance when mainland China would intervene. The chief executive would appoint judges for national security-related cases.

The Hong Kong government will also establish a national security council headed by the chief executive under Beijings guidance, the NPC standing committee said.

The HKBA said it is vital for judicial decisions in the HKSAR to be perceived by the public as being made by judges on exclusively the legal and factual merits of the case  free from any actual or perceived influence or interference from the executive arm of the government.

As a result, Beijings proposal would pose a threat to the citys judicial independence, and would impair justice and fairness in the judicial process, HKBA said in its statement.

It is of utmost importance that no law be passed that will change the constitutional fabric of the HKSAR as designed under the Basic Law, HKBA concluded.

HKBAs statement on Tuesday marked the fourth time that it has voiced concerns about the national security law. It issued a statement each on May 25, June 12, and June 19.

On Tuesday morning, Lam had defended her power to select judges during her weekly press conference, saying that she wont handpick judges for every single national security case, but would appoint a group of judges to handle such cases under the law.

Joshua Wong, a local activist and secretary-general of pro-democracy Demosisto, expressed concerns about the future of Hong Kong in a series of tweets on Wednesday.

Wong wrote that the national security law is fatal to Hong Kongs waning judiciary independence, and once implemented, the Hong Kong government would be in control of both the law-enforcement and judicial power.
Economic stimulus checks are prepared for printing at the Philadelphia Financial Center May 8, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jeff Fusco/Stringer

The IRS is asking state officials to help get stimulus payments back from people who are incarcerated.

According to the Associated Press, states have returned hundreds of thousands of dollars to the IRS that had originally been issued to people who are incarcerated.

When the stimulus package was first announced, there was no language specifically banning inmates from receiving funds, but the IRS added a line to its website about banning inmates on May 6, according to the Prison Policy Initiative  a think tank focused on criminal justice reform.

The IRS hasn't explained the legality behind the decision.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The IRS wants prison and jail inmates to return any stimulus money they received from coronavirus relief payments, saying the funds were sent by mistake.

According to the Associated Press, the IRS is asking state officials to help get money back, and they've already received hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The IRS did not explain to the Associated Press the legal justification for taking the money back. The agency has not responded to a request for comment from Insider.

The Prison Policy Initiative, a think tank focused on criminal justice reform, said in May that the IRS's website didn't initially have language banning incarcerated people from receiving coronavirus relief funds. On May 6, the IRS added a line to it's frequently asked questions page, which said people in jail or prison cannot qualify for stimulus money.

"I can't give you the legal basis. All I can tell you is this is the language the Treasury and ourselves have been using," IRS spokesman Eric Smith told the Associated Press. "It's just the same list as in the Social Security Act."

The Social Security Act bans people who are incarcerated from receiving some insurance benefit payments, including old-age and survivor benefits.

It's not yet known how many prisoners have received stimulus funds, but officials in Utah, California, Vermont Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Kansas, Idaho, Montana, and California have all intercepted checks.

Story continues

Tax attorney Kelly Erb told the Associated Press that there's no hard rule that the money needs to be taken, and it remains unclear what would happen if an inmate kept his or her money.

"I think it's really disingenuous of the IRS," Erb said Tuesday. "It's not a rule just because the IRS puts it on the website. In fact, the IRS actually says that stuff on its website isn't legal authority. So there's no actual rule  it's just guidance  and that guidance can change at any time."

"It appears that the IRS is just making this up," Wanda Bertram, a spokeswoman for the Prison Policy Initiative, told the Associated Press.

In a blog post about incarceration and stimulus money, the Prison Policy Initiative's Stephen Raher said the funds could be lifesaving for people behind bars.

He said that many prisons and jails now charge inmates for toiletries and communication with loved ones, and that many inmates rely on money transfers from relatives and friends.

"Providing stimulus funds to incarcerated people helps protect the health and well-being of those behind bars and provides relief to their loved ones at home," he wrote.

Read the original article on Insider
Check out the news you should not miss today:

Politics

 While receiving U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday, municipal Party chief Nguyen Thien Nhan affirmed that Vietnam and the U.S. share an interest in developing peace and resolving common issues, while assessing that the Vietnam-U.S. relations are seeing development in many fields, including national defense and security.

 During a phone talk on Tuesday, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Minh Khoi and his Turkish counterpart Sedat Unal discussed measures to boost relations between Vietnam and Turkey in the context of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Society

 Tuesday was Hanois hottest day since the beginning of June, with the temperature topping 40 degrees Celsius.

 The National Fund for Vietnamese Children on Tuesday launched a community education program to share knowledge, experience, and skills to take care of children from 0 to 6 years old with a view to helping them grow up to their full potential in the loving arms of their family.

 The official Vietnam News Agency on Tuesday reported that an estimated 540,000 jobs have been added in Vietnam in the first six months of this year, meeting just 36.5 percent of the set target.

Education

 Vietnamese military officers from the Vietnam Peoples Army have graduated from their English language training course sponsored by the UK Ministry of Defense. They each undertook 400 hours of lessons to reach a proper level of English comprehension including reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills through the five-month intensive course at the British Council Vietnam English center in Hanoi, the British Embassy in Hanoi said on its verified Facebook page on Tuesday.

 The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union on Tuesday announced an English speaking contest under the theme of The new normal post-COVID-19 for high school and college students across the country, aiming to encourage them to learn English as well as to build self-confidence in order to practice international-standard communication skills, especially in the context of post-epidemic globalization.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
As part of strategies adopted Tuesday to promote Japanese-language education, the government is aiming to improve its outreach to foreign children so as to provide them with learning opportunities.

Based on a survey conducted last year by the education ministry, it is estimated that about 19,000 children of foreign nationalities who are within the age range for elementary and junior high schools do not attend any school at all.

In Japan, compulsory education covers nine years starting at first grade, from age 6 to 15.

The government hopes to ensure that all foreign children have opportunities to receive education at school. 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 such education to foreign children in the country.

Under the new policy, local governments will work closely with foreign schools and relevant nonprofit organizations to better assess the situation and offer parents of foreign children information about school.
KITCHENER  Darryl Moore has been in the hospitality industry for decades. Restaurants, bars, nightclubs  hes had a hand in countless establishments across Waterloo Region and beyond through the years.

Hes never seen anything impact the industry the way COVID-19 has.

His current list of associated establishments includes Elements Nightclub, Wax Nightclub, McCabes Irish Pub and Grill, Dallas Nightclub and several other pubs and restaurants spanning from Guelph to London.

His focus now is on utilizing patio spaces for the eligible pubs and restaurants. Nightclubs, on the other hand, remain shut down, surviving off government subsidies and rent relief until Premier Doug Ford provides a framework for reopening.

Its certainly been in the back of our minds  how to open and what can you do  but the question comes back to how you can social distance on a dance floor? he said. In my opinion, the clubs are open or theyre not. You can put protocols in place, but once you have people mingling and standing, its very difficult to control any of that.

Under the current sanctions for patio bars, provincial guidance dictates that both singing and dancing are banned in the outdoor seating areas. This comes after various reports of transmission through singing, including a major outbreak in a Washington state choir that met for rehearsals in early March. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report said 87 per cent of the choir had confirmed or probable cases.

That doesnt bode well for clubs that make a living off music and dancing.

For some, the writing is already on the wall, with local fixtures like Chainsaw closing its doors permanently amid the pandemic.

Its tough to watch, said Moore. One of the realities that has come out of this is how fine some of the margins are in the hospitality business.

With most of Ontario now firmly living in Stage 2, public attention is turning to prospects of the new normal under Stage 3, when all businesses can safely reopen.

With each phase expected to last two to four weeks, and the Ford government recently shifting to a regional approach, Waterloo Region could be among the first to enter the final phase in July.

However, regions will only get to move on from Stage 2 if the loosening of restrictions doesnt result in a major spike in new COVID-19 cases. And there is always the possibility the province could move back to Stage 2 if it sees numbers start to rise again.

The Ford government is taking a cautious approach to reopen because theyre stuck between a rock and a hard place, said Moore. Just look whats happening in Florida. They opened up and now the cases are skyrocketing. We dont want to put ourselves in that position, nobody wants to go through these last three months again.

Fortunately for Ontario, it has the luxury of looking into the crystal ball to see how other jurisdictions have fared before making its own rash decisions.

In British Columbia, some nightclubs were able to open their doors to customers for the first time in months this weekend, introducing the new bar experience  a combination of provincial guidelines and in-house safety precautions.

Lower capacity, dance floors refashioned with couches and tables to create a lounge experience, strict disinfection protocols, two metres between each table, reservations for every party, and minimum group sizes are all featured in the various clubs.

Some have gone as far as creating physical barriers between each table, and others have put markings on the floor to ensure patrons practise proper social distancing when watching live music performances.

Moore said he plans on looking into the B.C. experience to gauge public reaction and the overall success of the rollout before taking any serious steps toward reopening.

Its a similar approach being taken by other clubs in the region.

Chad Yurkin is a president and partner with District Nightclub, The Drink Uptown, The Zoo and Ace Ping Pong Lounge.

Right now, he said, its a waiting game.

We are waiting for specific guidelines on when we can open and what restrictions they will have in place, he said. We have a comprehensive plan for additional sanitizing protocols, but there is nothing more that we can do to move forward with more detailed plans without those guidelines.
GRASS LAKE, MI  Like districts across the state, Grass Lake Community Schools is dealing with cuts to education funding caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

More specifically, the district is facing a $500,000 deficit in the 2020-21 school year.

A preliminary $13 million budget for next year was presented to the Grass Lake School Board Monday, June 22 and passed by a 5-2 vote. Trustee Eric Burk and Board President Amy Humbarger cast the dissenting votes. Humbarger said their reservations had to do with the unknowns of how much the state would be cutting from state aid.

Grass Lakes budget is based on an approximately $800 per student cut in state funding, Superintendent Ryle Kiser said.

I mean almost everybodys got some different type of projection as to what the cuts are going to be, Kiser said. So, what I did was pick a middle spot for between $500 and $1,000, that was $750 and I put in another $50 as a cushion in case we do lose some enrollment.

Michigan is expected to lose between $1 billion and $3 billion in tax revenue thats used to help fund school districts statewide as unemployment skyrockets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan set to lose billions in tax revenue as coronavirus hits state budgets nationwide

Cuts in staffing may be necessary to help make up Grass Lakes deficit, but the exact number is not clear at this time, Kiser said.

We have not built any scenarios yet (for layoffs) because we were waiting to see what the board was going to do with an adoption of the budget, Kiser said.

The boards policy and personnel committee will study the situation and make a recommendation to the full board, he said, adding that the district will do everything it can to prevent as many staff cuts as possible.

We dont have a lot of cushion other than personnel, Kiser said. Because 84% of our budget is personnel costs. Once you cut the fat theres not a whole lot of other places to go.

If layoffs do occur, Kiser said they would be announced at the July 20 school board meeting.

READ MORE ON JACKSON AREA SCHOOLS:

Layoffs likely at Jackson Public Schools with budget shortfalls expected

46 employees face layoff in Jackson Public Schools due to budget shortfalls from coronavirus pandemic

Virtual showcase highlights Jackson County students artwork
NASA has delayed its highly-anticipated Mars 2020 launch by another two days, pushing the date to July 22.

The American space agency said additional time is needed to resolve a contamination issue in the ground support lines in NASA's Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF).

According to the announcement, the spacecraft and vehicle have not been affected and the launch is still set to take off at 9:35 ET from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The mission will take the Perseverance rover, along with the Ingenuity helicopter, to the Red planet to look for signs of past microscopic life and explore the geology of the Jezero Crater landing site.

Scroll down for video

NASA has delayed the highly-anticipated Mars 2020 launch by another two days, pushing the date to July 22. The American space agency said additional time is needed to resolve a contamination issue in the ground support lines

The launch window is determined by the alignment of the Earth and Mars, with lift-off scheduled to ensure the shortest possible travel time between the two planets.

If the launch happens any later than mid-August, the planets will be too far apart, meaning NASA will have to wait another two years for them to move back into alignment, increasing the cost of the $3 billion mission by at least $500 million.

NASA, like many companies in the US, were forced out of the office and into their homes during the coronavirus pandemic, which caused setbacks in work that could have resulted in a two-year delay.

The original day was July 17, but due to ground system equipment problems involving a faulty crane the team pushed it to July 20  but the latest concerns has added two more days, according to Space.com.

The mission will take the Perseverance rover (pictured) to the Red planet to look for signs of past microscopic life and explore the geology of the Jezero Crater landing site

NASA Ingenuity helicopter (pictured) will launch with the rover to Mars

NASA and United Launch Alliance are now targeting Wednesday, July 22, for launch of the Mars 2020 mission due to a processing delay encountered during encapsulation activities of the spacecraft,' NASA officials said in an update.

'Additional time was needed to resolve a contamination concern in the ground support lines in NASA's Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF).'

Perseverance is set to make landfall inside Mars' Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021.

The Red Planet's surface has been visited by eight NASA spacecraft and this one  the ninth  will be the first that involves gathering samples to bring back to Earth.

The rover's astrobiology mission will look for signs of past microscopic life on Mars, and explore the geology of the Jezero Crater landing site.

NASA says the mission will also demonstrate key technologies to help prepare for future robotic and human exploration  possibly within a decade.

'Fifty-one years ago, NASA was deep into final preparations for the first Moon landing,' said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

Perseverance is set to make landfall inside Mars' Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021

Perseverance is one of three upcoming missions to Mars. The United Arab Emirates and China are also preparing spacecraft for launch to the red planet by mid-August.

The European Space Agency and Russian space agency Roscosmos were due to send the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover to the Red Planet this summer, but that mission was delayed due to coronavirus.

ESA officials said it wasn't possible to complete all necessary testing and possible adaptations in time for the August launch window deadline.

It will launch towards the end of 2022  the next time Earth and Mars are aligned.
Zaandam, the Netherlands, June 24, 2020 - Ahold Delhaize today announces that Jan Hommen will retire as Chairman and member of its Supervisory Board on December 31, 2020. The Supervisory Board has appointed Peter Agnefjall as the new Chairman effective January 1, 2021. Effective immediately, Peter will serve as Vice Chairman to work with Jan to ensure a smooth transition.

Jan Hommen has a long tenure in the Supervisory Board of both Ahold Delhaize and before that, Ahold. At Ahold Delhaize, he has served as Chairman between 2018 and 2020 and as Vice Chairman between 2016 and 2018. At Ahold, Jan served as Chairman between 2013 and 2016 and as Vice Chairman between 2003 and 2007.

Peter Agnefj?ll has been a member of the Supervisory Board since April 2019. He served as president and CEO of the IKEA group from 2013 to 2017. Peter's appointment follows a recruitment and selection process comprising both internal and external candidates.

Jan Hommen said: "Although it is hard to leave Ahold Delhaize, the timely preparation and clarity on transition is particularly important in view of the macro-economic uncertainty in the coming years. Peter has been an outstanding member of the Board since he joined. He has extensive retail experience, leadership and knowledge of omnichannel and e-commerce, and is well positioned to lead the Board in supporting the company to deliver its Leading Together strategy."

Peter Agnefjall said: "I am honored and excited to be appointed by the Supervisory Board as its new Chairman. I look forward to working with Jan in preparation for the transition by the end of the year."

Cautionary notice

This press release contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This communication includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts may be forward looking statements. Words such as will, ensure or other similar words or expressions are typically used to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and that may cause actual results of Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V. (the "Company") to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to the risk factors set forth in the Company's public filings and other disclosures. Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company's management and assumptions based on information currently available to the Company's management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company does not assume any obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided in principle to cancel the final semester/year examinations of the degree, post-graduation and vocational degree courses in the state, in view of the Corona virus pandemic.

It has also decided to promote the students of first year and second year students to the next year.

A final decision to this effect will be taken by the state education department after taking approval from chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. Orders are likely to be issued in a day or two, a department official told HT.

The decision with regard to awarding grading or marks to the final semester/year students of degree and post-graduation courses will be left to the executive committees of their respective universities in view of the cancellation of the examinations, the official said.

The Andhra Pradesh government has already cancelled the AP Intermediate first and second year advanced supplementary exams 2020 in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. The exams were scheduled to be held from July 10 to 15 in which over 6.3 lakh students were supposed to appear.
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  June 23, 2020  Zacks Equity Research highlights Zscaler ZS as the Bull of the Day and Aspen Technology AZPN as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on NVIDIA NVDA, Inphi Corp. IPHI and MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. MTSI.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Zscaleris a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and it is the Bull of the Day today. I picked this stock in part because of the growth divergence that I always look for. What growth divergence you might ask? Well, when I see a strong Zacks Style Score for Growth (B for ZS) and a weak Zacks Style Score for Value (F for ZS) then I know I am on the right path.

Value investors and growth investors are inherently seeking different things so when the style scores are far apart, I know that growth investors will favor a stock like ZS.

Description

Zscaler Inc. operates as a cloud security company. It focuses on transforming networks and applications for a mobile and cloud-first. The company's flagship services consist of Zscaler Internet Access and Zscaler Private Access, engaged in securing connections between users and applications, regardless of device, location or network. Zscaler Inc. is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Earnings History

The Zacks Rank looks at the earnings history for all stocks, but it is not the most heavily weighted factor in determining what the final Rank is.

That said, ZS has a wonderful earnings history with 4 beats in the last four quarters. These are also very big beats, with the average positive earnings surprise coming in at 312% over the last year.

Story continues

Estimates

The Zacks Rank tends to focus on the earnings estimate revisions, and ZS has seen growth in estimates while many stocks have seen contractions. COVID has put a hurt on many estimates but ZS continues to see estimates trend higher.

I see the 2020 fiscal year estimate coming in at $0.17 and that is two cents than where it was 60 days ago.

The estimate for next fiscal year is $0.24 and it too is two cents higher than where it was 60 days ago.

Valuation

Growth investors tend to pay up for stocks as they are generally already seeing multiple expansion. I don't know how else to justify a 630x forward PE or a 42x price to book multiple. That said, nearly 40% topline growth is not something that is very commonplace so a 36x price to sales multiple is almost justifiable. I see margins moving the wrong way over the last three quarters so as that problem gets fixed the valuation multiples will probably become more reasonable.

Bear of the Day:

Aspen Technology is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) and it is the Bear of the Day today. Let's take a look at why this stock is the Bear, and if there is something the investors should still consider if they hold this stock or if they want to hold it.

Description

Aspen Technology, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides asset optimization solutions in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Canada, Latin America, and the Middle East. The company operates through two segments, Subscription and Software. It supplies asset optimization solutions that optimize asset design, operations, and maintenance lifecycle in various industrial environments.

The company software suites include aspenONE Engineering, aspenONE Manufacturing and Supply Chain, and aspenONE Asset Performance that are integrated applications, which allow end users to design process manufacturing environments, monitor operational performances, respond and adapt to operational changes, predict asset reliability and equipment failure, and manage planning and scheduling activities, as well as collaborate across these functions and activities. It also provides software maintenance and support, professional, and training services.

The company's customers are engaged in the process and other capital-intensive industries, such as energy, chemicals, engineering, and construction, as well as pharmaceuticals, transportation, power, metals and mining, pulp and paper, and consumer packaged goods. Aspen Technology, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Earnings History

I see an OK earnings history with two beats and two misses over the last four quarters. That alone is not enough to make a stock a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Estimate Revisions

The Zacks Rank is really all about the revisions of earnings estimates. After a miss, analysts are likely to take estimates for future quarters down as well. This is just what happened to AZPN.

I see the estimate for this quarter went from $1.31 to $1.18 over the last 60 days.

The estimate for next quarter moved from $0.84 to $0.77 over the same time period.

The full-year numbers are also falling with the 2020 fiscal year sliding from $3.63 to $3.37 while next year saw a decline of 34 cents over the same time period.

Big moves lower in the full year earnings estimates are what pushed this stock to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell)

Valuation

When I see the topline contracting by 10% and a forward PE of about 30x, I tend to stay away. I see the price to book multiple at 17.7x is also pretty rich as is the 11x price to sales multiple.

Margins have been coming in over the last 3 quarters so investors would be wise to continue to watch this stock to see if there is improvement in the margins.

Additional content:

3 Top-Ranked Semiconductor Stocks with Double-Digit Gains YTD

The global semiconductor industry, which plays a key role in the high-growth technology space, has been relatively less affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

With the reopening of the economy, rebound in smartphone sales in markets like China and people spending more time on mobile phones, the semiconductor industry is expected to benefit in the near term.

According to World Semiconductor Trade Statistics, annual global semiconductor sales are expected to grow 5.9% in 2020 and 6.3% in 2021.

Lets dig deeper to understand what makes the semiconductor space fundamentally attractive.

Semiconductor Stocks Hold Promise

There has been a spurt in chip demand lately from PC manufacturers and data-center operators.

The growing demand for hardware that is facilitating the work-from-home setting is a key catalyst. There has also been an increase in the demand for cloud storage. Data-center operators have enhanced their capacities to accommodate the demand spike for cloud services. The companies that provide design and other components for chip making are expected to benefit from this trend.

Additionally, growing adoption of IoTs, smartphones, storage solutions, networking and connectivity solutions  including Wi-Fi as well as Wi-Fi/Bluetooth integrated SOCs  and the need for high-speed data in both communications networks and data centers bode well for industry participants.

Increase in demand for higher speed will result in accelerated deployment of 5G technology, which promises far more speed than the current 4G LTE due to low latency. Further, 5G adoption beyond mobile is likely to boost demand for memory and storage, particularly in IoT devices, wireless infrastructure and data centers.

These apart, blockchain, IoT, autonomous vehicles, AR/VR and wearables are other growth areas.

Stocks in Focus

Here we present three semiconductor stocks that are well poised to benefit from this spaces solid prospects. These stocks have witnessed a double-digit rally so far in 2020. Further, these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The chart below shows the price performance of the three stocks year to date.

NVIDIA is anticipated to keep benefiting from solid demand for graphics processing units (GPUs) in gaming desktops and notebooks. The companys advanced graphics cards have become very popular lately, thanks to the strong rise in e-sports players and PC gamers, as well as more spending on gaming graphics processing units.

In addition, its Turing GPU and real-time ray tracing technology are witnessing increased adoption. The companys strong presence in the datacenters market is a boon for the tech giant in the current scenario, as more businesses are shifting to cloud. This has led to a spike in the demand for GPUs, which bode well for NVIDIA.

The long-term projected EPS growth rate for this company is 16.9%. The stock has climbed 57.4% year to date.

Inphi Corp. operates as a provider of fabless high-speed analog semiconductor solutions for the communications and computing markets. The company has been gaining from a data center boom, transition to 5G and more. It is a leader in data movement interconnects between and inside data centers, and helps move big data fast around the globe.

The long-term projected EPS growth rate for this company is 37.7%. The stock has climbed 49.4% year to date.

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. is a developer of radio frequency (RF), microwave, and millimeter wave semiconductor devices and components. The shift to 5G will require rearranging base stations with massive multiple-in, multiple-out (or Massive MIMO) architecture. Each base station requires 5G-enabled RF antennas to provide better wireless performance without maxing out individual antenna power. Massive MIMO requires extra RF antennas that MACOM Technology manufactures, all the same, increasing its demand.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for the current year has moved up 78.9% over the past 60 days. The stock has climbed 24.8% year to date.

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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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 04:56:03|Editor: huaxia

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MEXICO CITY, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake rocked Mexico City and many southern and central parts of the country around mid-morning on Tuesday.

The quake hit at 10:29 a.m. and the epicenter was located at 23 kilometers south of La Crucecita, a Pacific Coast village in southern Oaxaca state, the National Seismological Service (SSN) said via Twitter.

One person was killed, Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat told a news station.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that key infrastructure, such as oil and electricity production centers, were not affected.

According to the National Civil Protection Coordination, the quake was felt across seven states.

Mexico City also reported minor damage in two downtown buildings, but no injuries.

Mexico is located above various fault lines. In the past 35 years there were several powerful quakes in the southern and central parts of the country, which caused wide-scale destruction and deaths. Enditem
Reverend Faustina Baidoo, Headmistress of Adisadel College in Cape Coast has debunked rumours circulating that a student in the school had contracted COVID-19.



According to the School, speculation trending on social media indicating that one of the students who returned to school on Monday, June 23, had tested positive for COVID-19 and had been quarantined.



The Headmistress denied the rumours in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday, and assured parents of safe custody of their children.



"There is no Coronavirus at Adisadel College and we have not reported any suspected case to the Ghana Health Service as being speculated."



"The students started reporting just yesterday and there has been no qualms - students are in their classrooms studying," she said.



Dr Kwabena Sarpong, Deputy Regional Director in charge of Public Health when contacted, also debunked the rumours.



Earlier, Rev Baidoo has said the School had taken delivery of quantities of Veronica buckets, hand sanitizers, and were strictly adhering to safety protocols to prevent outbreak of the virus.



Schools reopened on Monday, June 23, in line with Government directive for Senior High Schools to resume for final yea students to prepare for their exit West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and Second Year Gold Track students to complete their second semester.



There was strict compliance of the safety protocols by all the Schools visited by the GNA on Monday as their entrances had security personnel readily available to check the temperature of all people entering the premises.



This was followed by detailed registration of all students with varied identification codes for easy tracing in case of any detection of the virus.



Also, nurses had been assigned to the schools with designated quarantined centres, while some trained staff were on hand to ensure compliance, monitoring, and evaluation of measures.



However, as of Tuesday, June 24, the Central Region had recorded 789 cases of the Coronavirus.







Source: GNA









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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining Corp. ("Calibre" or the "Company") (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) is pleased to provide its revised 2020 production and cost guidance following the temporary suspension of operations, as announced on March 25, 2020.



After a 10-week suspension of operations, Calibre now expects 2020 gold production of between 110,000 and 125,000 ounces at Total Cash Costs1 of between $880 and $920 and All-In Sustaining Costs2 of between $1,070 and $1,100 an ounce, respectively (all numbers expressed in United States dollars).

The Company has resumed exploration drilling with an expanded 60,000 metre program, increased from 47,000 metres. In addition, an unbudgeted 20,000 metre infill drilling program is underway (at sustaining capital costs of approximately $2.5 million) targeting a significant upgrade in inferred to indicated resources for inclusion in the end of year 2020 Mineral Reserve and Resource estimate.

Russell Ball, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The phased restart of operations continues as planned with enhanced safety and health protocols in place and we anticipate reaching steady-state production levels in July. With operations suspended for the majority of the second quarter, we now estimate 2020 gold production of between 110,000 and 125,000 ounces, or approximately 20% less than our original guidance."

"Despite the fixed-cost nature of the business and an additional $40 per ounce in All-In Sustaining Costs from (i) the unbudgeted increase in exploration drilling, and (ii) the unbudgeted infill drilling program, we are only guiding to a 4% increase in costs on a per ounce basis, as we see increased benefits from our 'hub-and-spoke' operating philosophy and are now starting to see the bottom-line impact of our increased focus on operating efficiencies and supply chain management practices."

Revised 2020 Production and Cost Guidance

Limon Libertad Consolidated Original 2020 Guidance

(provided on December 4, 2019) Gold Production (ounces) 55,000 - 62,500 55,000 - 62,500 110,000 - 125,000 140,000 - 150,000 Total Cash Costs ($/ounce)(1) $800 - $840 $950 - $990 $880 - $920 $840 - $890 AISC ($/ounce)(2) $980 - $1,020 $1,050 - $1,090 $1,070 - $1,100 $1,020 - $1,060 Growth Capital ($ million) $19 - $20 $8 - $9 $27 - $29 $24 - $28 Exploration ($ million) $5 - $6 $9 - $10 $14 - $16 $12 - $14 G&A ($ million) N/A N/A $7 - $8 $6 - $7

The Company has engaged Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. ("RPA," now part of SLR Consulting Ltd.) to prepare a NI 43-101 Technical Report for Libertad that will allow the Company to provide a multi-year production and cost outlook based on the new 'hub-and-spoke' operating philosophy. The Company expects to announce the results of the study and file the related Technical Report around mid-August.

Qualified Person

Darren Hall, MAusIMM, SVP & Chief Operating Officer, Calibre Mining Corp. is a "qualified person" as set out under NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Russell Ball"

Russell Ball, Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

Vice President, Corporate Development & IR

Calibre Mining Corp.

T: 604.628.1010

E: calibre@calibremining.com (mailto:calibre@calibremining.com)

W: www.calibremining.com



About Calibre Mining Corp.

Calibre Mining is a Canadian-listed gold mining and exploration company with two 100%-owned operating gold mines in Nicaragua. The Company is focused on sustainable operating performance and a disciplined approach to growth.

Notes: Non-IFRS Disclosure

The Company believes that investors use certain non-IFRS measures as indicators to assess gold mining companies, specifically Total Cash Costs per Ounce and All-In Sustaining Costs per Ounce. In the gold mining industry, these are common performance measures but do not have any standardized meaning. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

(1) Total Cash Costs per Ounce of Gold : Total cash costs include mine site operating costs such as mining, processing and local administrative costs (including stock-based compensation related to mine operations), royalties, production taxes, mine standby costs and current inventory write downs, if any. Production costs are exclusive of depreciation and depletion, reclamation, capital, and exploration costs. Total cash costs per gold ounce are net of by-product silver sales and are divided by gold ounces sold to arrive at a per ounce figure.

(2) All-In Sustaining Costs per Ounce of Gold : A performance measure that reflects all of the expenditures that are required to produce an ounce of gold from current operations. While there is no standardized meaning of the measure across the industry, the Company's definition is derived from the AISC definition as set out by the World Gold Council in its guidance dated June 27, 2013 and November 16, 2018. The World Gold Council is a non-regulatory, non-profit organization established in 1987 whose members include global senior mining companies. The Company believes that this measure will be useful to external users in assessing operating performance and the ability to generate free cash flow from current operations. The Company defines AISC as the sum of total cash costs (per above), sustaining capital (capital required to maintain current operations at existing levels), capital lease repayments, corporate general and administrative expenses, in-mine exploration expenses and rehabilitation accretion and amortization related to current operations. AISC excludes capital expenditures for significant improvements at existing operations deemed to be expansionary in nature, exploration and evaluation related to growth projects, rehabilitation accretion and amortization not related to current operations, financing costs, debt repayments, and taxes. Total all-in sustaining costs are divided by gold ounces sold to arrive at a per ounce figure.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibre's control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibre's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2019, available on www.sedar.com. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Calibre's forward-looking statements.

Calibre's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
A man who raped a university student for a traumatising 30 minutes, leaving her naked and bloodied in a bathroom cubicle has been jailed for 12 years.

Wayne Christ Adeline, 23, raped the 21-year-old Chinese woman in the toilets at the University of Western Australia in September, 2018.

The student was on her way to the library when she stopped by the bathrooms where Adeline had been sleeping following a night of drinking.

She then spent the next half-an-hour fearing for her life while being repeatedly sexually abused and beaten.

Wayne Christ Adeline, 23, has been jailed for 12 years after raping a student in a bathroom cubicle

On Wednesday, Adeline was sentenced to 12 years behind bars after he was found guilty of sexual penetration without consent, aggravated sexual penetration without consent and assault occasioning bodily harm, The West Australian reported.

On the morning of the horrific attack, Adeline had fallen asleep in the bathrooms around 4.30am.

A few hours later his victim entered the toilet block and Adeline slammed her into a cubicle, punched her in the face and smashed her glasses.

'She struggled with you and screamed once or twice ... [but] stopped ... because you put toilet paper in her mouth,' Judge Linda Petrusa said at the District Court of Western Australia.

Judge Petrusa said Adeline continued to rape the student in 'every conceivable way', pushing her against the door before dragging her into another cubicle.

The 23-year-old raped the woman for a traumatising 30 minutes in which she feared for her life

The 21-year-old woman was attacked in a toilet at the University of Western Australia in September, 2018

'[She] was terrified. She thought you intended to kill her ... and her struggles got her nowhere,' she said.

'Nothing she could do slowed you down.'

Prosecutor Sean Dworcan said the student was left 'injured from head to toe'.

She had tried to distract her attacker by telling him her Chinese name but the abuse continued.

When the assault finally came to an end, Adeline left the naked and bleeding student semi-conscious on the bathroom floor.

He also damaged her property and electronic devices.

When caught by police the 23-year-old claimed the student had pinned him down in the toilets prompting a violent struggle between them - despite her being significantly smaller than Adeline.

Adeline denied the offences, fought the charges and showed no remorse during his trial.

He had been using drugs such as methylamphetamine, heroin and cannabis since he was a child, the court heard.

Adeline's sentence was backdated to September, 2018 and he will be eligible for parole after serving ten years.
Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: The government has come up with a new plan to curb the spread of coronavirus in the national capital. Under this, every house in Delhi will be screened. It is claimed that the screening of every house in Delhi will be completed by July 6.

CoronavirusUnder the New Covid Response Plan, houses in all zones of the national capital will be inspected. However, the Kejriwal government said that it is ready to complete the probe by June 30. However, it is estimated that every house will be screened by July 6.

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The number of corona patients in the capital is increasing day by day. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had a meeting last week on the coronavirus crisis. A new plan has been drawn up after this meeting.

Arvind KejriwalCurrently, about 66,000 people in Delhi are infected with corona with the biggest single-day jump of 3,947 fresh infections and 2,301 deaths.

There are a total of 261 containment zones in the national capital.
Before ABC shakes off its factual focus, Escape from the City screens tomorrow (ok, admittedly its Lifestyle).

This week Jane Hall is in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Qld.

After throwing off the shackles of the corporate world, active retirees Christian and Hilary are ready to leave inner-city Melbourne behind for the resort-style lifestyle of Queenslands Noosa Hinterlands.

Theyd love to find a home that reminds them of where they met 31 years ago on Magnetic Island. Since then, the pair have travelled the world, raised a family and now they are finally ready to settle down in the Noosa Hinterlands.

They believe its the perfect place for them, with close access to the Sunshine Coasts best beaches, exciting national parks to explore and only an hour from Brisbane where their daughter has just moved.

With a top budget of $1.1 million, presenter Jane Hall has a tough job on her hands finding the pair four houses that meet their exacting standards.

8:30pm Thursday on ABC.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Cuyahoga County Jail officials waited more than 15 hours to provide proper medical care to an inmate who eventually died of a drug overdose, according to a lawsuit filed on Wednesday.

Instead of calling for an ambulance to take Esteben Parra to the hospital, jail staff shuffled him back and forth from his cell to the medical unit and strapped in a restraint chair for nearly two hours before an ambulance took him to the hospital, the lawsuit says.
Authorities identified a 23-year-old Boston woman as the victim of a fatal shooting Tuesday afternoon in Lowell.

Police responded around 3:33 p.m. to a report of a person shot on Coral Street, according to a joint statement from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lowell Police Superintendent Kelly Richardson.

Officers found the victim, later identified as Deija Mendez, in the front seat of a black Chevrolet Tahoe outside of a home on the street, the statement said.

Mendez was found with a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Ryan.

At this time this is not believed to be a random incident, the district attorney said. This is an active investigation and no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information about the shooting has been urged to call the Lowell Police Department at (978) 459-8477.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) announced today that in celebration of Pride month, it is teaming up with activist, TV personality and brand superfan Karamo to host a Lunch & Listen session on Chipotle's official TikTok channel. The session will take place on Friday, June 26 at 2pm ET featuring TikTok creators Isabella Avila (@OnlyJayus), Eva Gutowski (@mylifeaseva) and Collins O. (@thatboycollins) in discussion with Karamo about their experiences being prominent voices in the LGBTQ+ community.

To celebrate Pride, Chipotle is teaming up with with activist, TV personality and brand superfan Karamo to host a Lunch & Listen session on TikTok Live. The session will take place on Friday, June 26 at 2pm ET and feature discussions with popular LGBTQ+ creators. Chipotle will donate $1 for every TikTok Live viewer to The Center for Black Equity.

For every viewer that tunes into the Lunch & Listen session, Chipotle will donate $1, up to $50,000, to The Center for Black Equity, the national leader in connecting members of the Black LGBTQ+ community with information and resources to educate, engage and empower their fight for equity and access. The brand will also give away a total of 10,000 free burrito codes throughout the stream to encourage its fans to have their own Lunch & Listen sessions with members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.

"We wanted to transform our TikTok platform into a resource that both celebrates and educates people about Pride," said Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer. "Authenticity and inclusion are values that guide much of our decision making as a purpose-driven organization."

On Instagram and Twitter, Chipotle's employee-driven 'Love What Makes You Real' campaign will share individual stories of hope, courage and connection. The campaign celebrates the people who are essential to the business and the values that are essential to them. Chipotle's P.R.I.D.E. (People Respecting Inclusivity, Diversity and Education) employee resource group, which helps represent and further support the LGBTQ+ community, identified the team members that will be showcased in the campaign.

"The environment you're surrounded by often dictates your comfort and openness with sharing who you really are," said Andrew Harris, General Manager of the Chipotle restaurant in Aurora, Colorado. "I've never worried about how I identified at Chipotle, or about my transgender career path. I know that I have just as fair an option to succeed as anybody else."

As a longtime Pride supporter and company that fosters a culture of inclusivity, Chipotle was recognized by Forbes as a 'Best Employer for Diversity 2020' as well as a "Best Company" for Diversity and Company Culture by Comparably. Chipotle is committed to providing equal opportunities for success, and empowering employees to be their true selves. Chipotle enables its workforce by investing in the wellbeing of its employees and their families with world-class benefits like access to mental healthcare through Employee Assistance Programs. Further resources include recently enhanced paid parental leave for adoptive parents, same-sex couples, and paternity leave, as well as covered care and surgical services for Transgender employees. To learn more about Chipotle's commitment to cultivating a culture of openness and awareness, visit the People section of its Sustainability Report Update.

Free burrito offer is limited to one free regular-priced item per offer code. Valid for one-time use only, online and in-app only, for orders through participating Chipotle locations in the U.S. Offer expires on 7/30/2020. Redemption is subject to availability. Not valid on catering orders or delivery orders through third-party platforms. May not be combined with other offers. Additional restrictions may apply. Void where prohibited. Msg & data rates may apply. Privacy Policy: chip.tl/privacy

ABOUT CHIPOTLE

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chipotle had over 2,600 restaurants as of March 31, 2020, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants. With more than 85,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. Steve Ells, founder and former executive chairman, first opened Chipotle with a single restaurant in Denver, Colorado in 1993. For more information or to place an order online, visit WWW.CHIPOTLE.COM

SOURCE Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
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.
H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

Beleaguered retailer J.C. Penney is permanently closing more stores around the nation, including one location in the Bay Area.

The Sun Valley Mall Penney's in Concord will begin liquidation sales on July 3 as it prepares to shutter, the company announced this week.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has scaled up its financing for key banks in Serbia in a move to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as they grapple with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Loans for SMEs are available via Serbian subsidiaries of Banca Intesa, Erste Bank, Eurobank, ProCredit Bank and UniCredit Bank thanks to new EBRD financing worth 210 million.

Serbias SME sector is one of the pillars of the national economy, accounting for 66 per cent of the countrys employment. As a consequence of the Covid-19 outbreak many companies have experienced a decrease in turnover and profitability, leading to payment delays and an increased demand for liquidity.

The EBRD financing is addressing the liquidity needs of corporates and small businesses alike, helping to save jobs and keep the economys wheels turning. A part of the funds is available in dinar to help SMEs that sell their goods and services domestically in local currency mitigate currency risks.

Zsuzsanna Hargitai, EBRD Regional Director, Western Balkans and Head of Serbia, said: At the EBRD we pride ourselves on our ability to respond to the private sectors immediate needs in crises. Greater access to finance is a lifeline for many small businesses in Serbia as they face a drop in sales and cash-flow, and experience supply chain disruption.

In addition to facilitating access to finance through the provision of loans, the EBRD is also supporting local small businesses with other products such as trade finance lines under its Trade Facilitation Programme.

As importers and exporters grapple with increasingly complex supply routes, there has been a rapid rise in demand for trade finance that is vital to keeping open the channels of trade. Responding to this rising demand, the EBRD has committed new funds worth 90 million to Addiko Bank and Eurobank in support of their trade activities.

The EBRD is also planning to ramp up support for women entrepreneurs making new financing available via Banca Intesa in the near future. The Bank has created a dedicated Women in Business programme which combines access to finance with technical assistance for entrepreneurs.

To help mitigate the economic impact of Covid-19, the EBRD expects to deliver between 750 million and 800 million of new financing to the Serbian economy in 2020 alone. This follows a sharp increase in financing to over 500 million in 2019 from 396 million in 2018.

Aleksandra Vukosavljevic, EBRD Associate Director in the Belgrade office and in charge of working with financial institutions, added: The financing provided via Banca Intesa and Unicredit Bank will help businesses upgrade services and products to European Union standards to be more competitive at home and abroad. Under the two credit lines, SMEs that have successfully implemented investment projects are eligible to receive a 15 per cent cashback grant financed by EU.

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Serbia, having invested more than 6 billion across 267 projects in the country to date.

It is now entirely focused on responding to the coronavirus crisis and supporting economic recovery across the 38 economies where it invests; between 2020 and 2021 the EBRD expects to provide financing worth 21 billion.
Presidential Spokesperson Garba Shehu on Wednesday June 25, reacted to demolition of a building at the Nigerian high commission in Ghana.



Shehu who addressed newsmen at the state house in Abuja, stated that Nigeria will not engage in a street fight with Ghana over the incident. He affirmed that the incident will be resolved diplomatically as President Buhari who is respected in Africa, is bound to show restraint.



Shehu said;



The president of Ghana has called and regretted the action and apologised to the president of Nigeria.



I think he has shown leadership in the matter and what should Nigeria do? These are two leading countries in West Africa.



Nigeria will not engage in a street fight with Ghana. This cannot happen. So, the two leaders, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, who is much respected in Africa, they all call him Baba, so he is bound to show restraint.



Matters such as this when they arise, it is always better when they arise, they should be resolved diplomatically.



No, there should not be in a fight between Nigeria and Ghana, this will not happen.









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: The government has imposed anti-dumping duty on imports of certain type of steel products from China, Vietnam and Korea for five years stating that the domestic industry has suffered material injury due to dumping of the goods from these 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.

The ministry further said that it has recommended for imposition of definitive anti-dumping duty equal to the lesser of the margin of dumping and the margin of injury, so as to remove the injury to the domestic industry.

With a view to guard domestic manufacturers from cheap imports from these countries, the government has decided to impose anti-dumping duty 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 imposition of anti-dumping duty is permissible under the World Trade Organization (WTO) regime and is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers versus foreign producers and exporters.
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After the long economic and medical darkness of spring, midsummer offers some shards of hope.

There is a big recovery in the forward-looking purchasing managers' index (PMI), with both manufacturing and services output higher.

The easing of lockdown for the hospitality industry  with the two-metre rules relaxed  is a boost, allowing pubs and other hostelries to operate at up to 70 per cent capacity.

Trouble ahead: At the end of next month there will be 330,000 school leavers (a proportion heading for higher education) and a further 100,000 graduates to be placed

That should improve life for suppliers such as brewers. There can be no pretence though, that there is going to be 'V'-shaped recovery.

In retail, the damage is going to be permanent. Intu's fight for survival began long before anyone had heard of Covid-19.

Its 4billion debt burden and failed merger attempts made it a sitting duck for insolvency.

Curiously, survival chances, even in a greatly diminished form, may have been improved by the pandemic. The lifting of the business rates burden for a year has given some tenants a better chance.

Covid-19 changes to insolvency law effectively give more powers to the biggest banking creditors and squeeze the lesser players such as vampire funds. That may improve chances of a debt moratorium.

It would also give trade, real estate and private equity buyers time to snap up some assets, with Trafford Park in Manchester and Lakeside in Essex the crown jewels.

There is a more sombre picture developing for jobs. The PMI figures show job losses lagging behind falls in output.

Furlough for a proportion of the 9m-plus people on the scheme is a holding pattern for something worse.

At the end of next month there will be 330,000 school leavers (a proportion heading for higher education) and 100,000 graduates to be placed.

That is why the Chancellor Rishi Sunak's non-mini Budget next month must primarily address the threat of 1980s-style unemployment of 9 per cent or more of the workforce against 3.9 per cent before lockdown.

Easing of employers' national insurance contributions and a revamping of apprenticeships and training would be good places to start.

Fintech alert

Much of the Wirecard scandal focus has been on the misguided regulatory response by German regulator Bafin.

It has been more concerned with shielding a fintech start-up from the evils of Anglo-Saxon capitalism than its prudential responsibility.

Belatedly, with the arrest of former chief executive Markus Braun, on grounds of falsifying income and market manipulation, the net finally is closing.

But the blow-up and discovery of a huge black hole cannot but cast a giant shadow over the whole fintech sector where the UK, with the encouragement of the authorities, is a brand leader.

Lockdown and the UK Government's loan schemes for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is the immediate preoccupation of High Street banks.

They must be girding their loins for big loan losses as corporate failures and closures build.

Analysts reckon loan losses at RBS and Lloyds, with outsized exposures to SMEs, could rise by five times this year.

Lloyds might also acknowledge that buying the MBNA credit card firm for 1.9billion in 2017 may not have been the wisest move as bad consumer debts rise.

A better message for the commercial banks is that trouble in fintech may work to their advantage.

The shortened life of payday lender Wonga is a case in point. In the guarantor lending zone, Amigo is having governance difficulties.

The BBC's Watchdog programme criticised fintech start-up Monzo for freezing the accounts of thousands of customers.

Monzo and Revolut may be revolutionising finance but there is risk of sector contagion from the German experience.

High street banks are creating their own fintech experience. RBS has the Mettle app, HSBC has Bud and a good record of creating brands, notably First Direct.

And TSB, after an initial tech meltdown, is in the space. Barclays has Smart Investor.

By creating or acquiring digital brands and skills the established banks have a chance to future-proof outdated models.

No Saints

Forget past Woodford-associated mis-steps, an indulgent fat-cat and inducements culture and generous fees.

Sprauncy investment adviser St James's Place is having a good war. Excess savings caused by lockdown are coming in  670million arriving in May and assets under management are up 6 per cent to 112.5billion year-on-year.

Fools and their money...
Jason Miller, the controversial former adviser to Donald Trump, has returned to the president's campaign to help with strategy leading into November's election.

That role also includes being a morning briefer to Trump on the political news of the day, according to a report in Axios, and translating what the president says into 'political action.'

But the Trump campaign pushed back on that report.

'Jason is one of the many people who talks to President Trump,' an official with the campaign told DailyMail.com.

Jason Miller, the controversial former adviser to Donald Trump, has returned to the president's campaign to help with the final stretch

Jason Miller's role includes briefing President Trump in the mornings on the political news of the day, according to a report in Axios but the Trump campaign pushed back on that

Jason Miller briefing reporters in Trump Tower shortly after Donald Trump won the 2016 election, Miller was named White House communications director but left the role before formally beginning the job after he was revealed to have a son with a former colleague while his wife was pregnant

Miller was brought on board as a senior adviser to help campaign manager Brad Parscale and deputy campaign manager Bill Stepien.

Trump has pumped up his campaign team as polls show him trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden. A New York Times/Siena College poll out Wednesday had Biden ahead of Trump by 14 points.

The campaign announced Wednesday that deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley was moving to the campaign to be its spokesperson. Gidley has close ties to many officials in the White House - including Trump son-in-law and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, who is keeping a close eye on the campaign.

Miller was one of Trump's top advisers on his successful 2016 presidential campaign but he resigned from his position as incoming White House communications director on Christmas Eve 2016 - before Trump even took the oath of office.

He was sidelined by problems in his personal life, including revelations of an extramarital affair.

He fathered a son in July 2017 with fellow Trump campaign adviser A.J. Delgado, who claimed he demanded she abort the baby they conceived while his wife was also pregnant. The two went through a bitter custody battle and are continuing a child support legal battle.

They met on the campaign and Miller was her direct supervisor.

'Miller is in the midst of a very ugly legal battle over the fact that he sends $500 in child support,' Delgado wrote on Twitter Wednesday.

Miller is married and has two daughters with his wife Kelly Miller, who gave birth to their second girl about six months before his son with Delgado was born.

Delgado, one of Trump's key female Hispanic campaign advocates, said Miller misled her during their October 2016 relationship by claiming he was getting divorced from his wife.

In reality, however, Miller's wife was six months pregnant at the time and they were not separated.

Miller and Delgado's names were linked during the campaign in October 2016 when it was reported they went to a strip club in Las Vegas with members of the media the night before Trump debated rival Hillary Clinton.

Trump and Miller have remained close even though he didn't join the president's administration. Miller has a long history in Republican politics, having worked for Senator Ted Cruz and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

'Every day I strive to become a better husband, a better father and a better person, and I am humbled by the opportunity for a second chance to serve President Trump,' Miller told Politico earlier this month in a statement after he rejoined the president's campaign.

Jason Miller is a long time Republican operative who's had his fair share of controversies

Jason Miller is in a bitter custody battle with former Trump campaign aide A.J. Delgado, with whom he had a son in July 2017

He has not been without controversy.

In July 2019, Miller admitted to paying for sex with prostitutes and visiting so-called 'rub and tug' massage parlors.

The admissions came in a deposition released by Mediaite in Miller's ongoing defamation lawsuit against Gizmodo, which last year reported on allegations that he had secretly slipped a stripper abortion medication after impregnating her.

Miller has strongly denied the unverified abortion claim, which was put forward by Delgado in their bitter custody battle over their son.

However, in the May 30 deposition Miller confesses that he had visited escorts and 'Asian-themed' massage parlors for paid sex acts over the years, including in states where prostitution is illegal.

Miller filed a $100 million defamation suit against Gizmodo that remains ongoing. He lost his job as a CNN commentator after its original report was published.

Additionally, Miller left a job at as a managing director at Teneo - the 'CEO advisory firm' run by longtime Bill Clinton aide Doug Band - in June 2019 after a profanity-filled tweet storm attack on Congressman Jerry Nadler.

He called Nadler 'fat and nasty' - along with using an expletive - in response to Nadler's treatment of former White House communications director Hope Hicks during her testimony before the House Judiciary Committee.

Nadler, three times, called Hicks 'Ms. Lewandowski,' a reference to former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. He said messed up.

Miller, who worked with Hicks on the 2016 campaign, fired off a number of tweets criticizing Nadler.

'Dont harass Hope and then try to play nice. Youre gross,' he wrote.

He said he left Teneo by 'mutual consent.'
Development trajectory: PM to interact with DMs of various districts today

India pledges USD 10M to UN for Palestine refugees amid COVID-19 pandemic

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, June 24: India has announced to contribute 10 million US dollar to the United Nation's (UN) Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) over the coming two years.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Tuesday said that capacity enhancement through training and building durable institutions is a major plank of our developmental assistance to Palestine while addressing an extraordinary virtual ministerial pledging conference for UNRWA.

COVID-19: 40 per cent countries failed to support learners at risk says UNESCO

The Minister said when certain countries withdrew funding, India had stepped up its annual pledge from 1.25 million US dollar to 5 million US dollar in 2018.

Muraleedharan said, for this year, India has already disbursed two million dollars and will soon be remitting the balance three million dollars.

Diesel costs more than petrol after 18th consecutive day of price rise | Oneindia News

Asserting that UNRWA needs continued support, the Minister said, India provides 250 annual scholarships to Palestinian youth and officials, apart from regular customised training programmes, and the current project grant is around 72 million dollars.

"As a steadfast supporter of the Palestinian cause, India deeply appreciates the generous support and untiring work of host countries, donors and UNRWA to ensure millions of our Palestinian brothers and sisters displaced from their homeland lead a life of dignity", said Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan.

"The Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the globe, stretching governments' resources to address healthcare and socio-economic needs of their own people, and constraining capacities to assist others."

But victory over this unprecedented crisis demands collective and concerted action."

"Therefore, despite a surge in domestic demand for medical supplies amidst rising COVID cases, India is assisting countries in need of critical, life-saving drugs. India is sending a medical shipment to Palestine next week", said Muraleedharan.

Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 in Palestine is 1,169 following three deaths while India sees the highest single-day spike of 15,968 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday. The death toll rose to 14,476 with 465 new deaths.

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Story first published: Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 13:38 [IST]
Lawmakers are barring the U.S. Air Force from retiring any of its KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft while the service struggles to get the KC-46 Pegasus up and running.

In its markup of the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act legislation, the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee said that the Air Force may not begin retiring any of its 379 Stratotankers until at least 2023. But it may start steady retirements of its KC-10 Extenders over the next three years, as long as it maintains a minimum requirement set by Congress.

Read Next: Soldier Used Upcoming Deployment to Plan Deadly Attack on Unit, Indictment States

The Senate Armed Services Committee version of the bill, published Tuesday, also pushes back the divestment of legacy tankers.

In its 2021 budget request, the Air Force proposed retiring 13 KC-135s and 16 KC-10 refuelers.

House and Senate lawmakers set a minimum for the KC-10 as well: The Air Force must maintain 50 primary mission KC-10A aircraft in fiscal 2021; 38 in fiscal 2022; and 26 in fiscal 2023, according to the legislation. The Air Force currently has 59 KC-10s, 56 of which are considered primary mission tankers.

As for the KC-135 fleet, the Air Force can retire 14 starting in 2023, according to the Senate version of the bill.

As part of a larger strategy, defense officials have said they no longer want to kick the can down the road on aging aircraft -- especially over-deployed tankers and bombers -- that may not be suitable for a fight against a near-peer adversary such as China or Russia. The service has said it wants to avoid major overhauls for some of these aircraft just to keep less-than-capable fleets afloat.

The reductions, Air Force officials have said, are necessary as the service looks to invest in newer aircraft or technologies by reallocating resources in a more efficient way.

However, some top brass have been concerned about tanker capacity shortfalls, given persistent issues with the KC-46 Pegasus.

In February, Army Gen. Stephen Lyons, head of U.S. Transportation Command, called on the Air Force to slow the retirement of more than 20 aerial refueling tankers slated to be cut, saying doing so is necessary to reduce stress on overtasked aircrews while the service works with Boeing Co. to fix the KC-46. The Pegasus has had numerous problems, including how its boom connects and disconnects from other aircraft; foreign object debris, such as trash, tools, nuts and bolts, found scattered inside multiple planes; and a glitch in its Remote Vision System (RVS) software.

Currently, the RVS glitch doesn't allow an airman to look at a clear, aligned visual of the boom connecting to another aircraft. The first tankers were delivered to the Air Force in 2019 despite that problem.

Lawmakers have taken note. According to the legislation, the House subcommittee recommended that the Air Force slow the KC-46A procurement "to the minimum sustaining rate to minimize the number of aircraft that will require modification of the Remote Vision System given the Remote Vision System 2.0 is still in development."

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein told lawmakers in March that the service has been working with Boeing, "targeting the [2023/2024] timeframe to have a fix in place."

His comments revealed that the tanker's expected readiness has been pushed back at least a year. Last year, Gen. Maryanne Miller, head of Air Mobility Command, said the tanker would likely be fully ready to deploy to a combat zone sometime in 2022.

The service also intends to downsize its B-1B Lancer bomber fleet by 17 aircraft. It currently has 61.

The House subcommittee said it will allow the bomber retirements as long as the service keeps 24 combat-coded aircraft; lawmakers previously stipulated the service keep at least 36 bombers always ready for combat.

The B-1B fleet has been undergoing extensive maintenance for the past few months after the service overcommitted its only supersonic heavy payload bomber to operations in the Middle East over the last decade. The repeated deployments caused the aircraft to deteriorate more quickly than expected, Gen. Tim Ray, head of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), said last year.

"We still think it's the right move to make, where we take the 17 airplanes that require the most structural work and, rather than spend the money to repair those, we take that money savings and roll it back into" other programs, Maj. Gen. Jim Dawkins Jr., commander of the Eighth Air Force and the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, told Military.com last month. It would mean the service reduces its overall Lancer fleet to just 44 aircraft.

"Or to have [fewer] airplanes to take care of for our maintainers," Dawkins said.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: House Lawmakers Add Roadblocks to Air Force's Planned Global Hawk Retirements
Syracuse, N.Y.  While its branches will remain mostly closed in order to follow state orders, the YMCA of Central New York will move forward with summer camp programs that were scheduled to start on Monday, June 29.

The YMCA had anticipated opening its branches next Monday with safety protocols in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The plan shifted on Tuesday night following news reports that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had determined gyms would not be permitted to open at the start of phase four of the states reopening.

In Central New York, phase four is expected to begin on Friday. The YMCA and a number of other local gyms and fitness facilities had targeted Monday for their return to business.

While summer camps will take place as scheduled, a new opening date for the YMCA branches will be determined at a later time.

We anticipate hearing from those authorities in the coming days regarding a possible reopening date, the YMCA said in a statement. Its our goal to reopen safely for our community and well let you know as soon as we know more.

The organization said last week that it hoped to open its branches on Monday but noted that the opening was dependent on receiving permission from the state.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Restarting NY, Phase 4: Museums, zoos can open; movie theaters, casinos remain closed

Frustrations rise for bar owners who follow rules while others dont: A huge problem

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Contact Chris Carlson anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1639
What seemed like a crazy slogan on the far left -- "Defund the Police" -- is threatening to become a reality in some cities around the country. The president of the Minneapolis City Council announced that a two-thirds majority of the council now supports "ending the Minneapolis Police Department." Council members said they will be "taking intermediate steps toward ending the MPD through the budget process and other policy and budget decisions over the coming weeks and months."

The announcement was the latest progress of the growing Defund the Police movement. The slogan appears to create great excitement on the progressive left. But does anyone know what Defund the Police actually means?

"We recognize," the Minneapolis council members wrote, "that we don't have all the answers about what a police-free future looks like, but our community does." In fact, there seems to be great confusion about what a police-free future would look like.

Recently The Associated Press published a story headlined, "When protesters cry 'defund the police,' what does it mean?" The article discussed some of the political factors at work, and it quoted one anti-police group in Minneapolis talking about "strategically reallocating resources, funding and responsibility away from police and toward community-based models of safety, support and prevention." But the article gave readers no idea what that might actually mean in practice.

CNN published an article -- "There's a growing call to defund the police. Here's what it means" -- that was even less enlightening.

Neither discussed what seems to be the basic question of a police-free future: What would happen when a crime is committed? Say there is a murder, which happened 40 times in Minneapolis last year and 492 times in Chicago. Or say there is an armed robbery. Or an aggravated assault. What happens then? Does a social worker go to the scene? Do strategically reallocated resources solve the crime?

The Defund the Police movement has grown without seriously addressing that scenario, some version of which is guaranteed to happen multiple times on the first police-free day of the police-free future in any medium-sized or big city.

Indeed, a CNN anchor asked the president of the Minneapolis City Council, Lisa Bender, who supports "ending" the police department, "What if, in the middle of night, my home is broken into? What do I call?

"Yes, I hear that loud and clear from a lot of my neighbors. And myself, too. And I know that that comes from a place of privilege," Bender said. "Because for those of us for whom the system is working, I think we need to step back and imagine what it would feel like to already live in that reality where calling the police may mean more harm is done."

Perhaps Bender has not thought through the implications of her position. Her argument seemed to be that cities should put all citizens in danger rather than fix those areas where there are problems with the police.

Some of the Defund the Police movement comes from a 2017 book "The End of Policing," by a Brooklyn College sociology professor named Alex Vitale. In a recent appearance on NPR, he, too, did not seem eager to talk about what his policies might mean for victims of crime.

"People ask the question, without police, what do you do when someone gets murdered?" asked NPR's Leah Donnella. "What do you do when someone's house gets robbed? What do you say to those people who have those concerns?"

"Well, I'm certainly not talking about any kind of scenario where tomorrow someone just flips a switch and there are no police," Vitale began. "What I'm talking about is the systematic questioning of the specific roles that police currently undertake, and attempting to develop evidence-based alternatives so that we can dial back our reliance on them. And my feeling is that this encompasses actually the vast majority of what police do. We have better alternatives for them."

You'll notice there was no answer in Vitale's answer. He continued: "Even if you take something like burglary -- a huge amount of burglary activity is driven by drug use. And we need to completely rethink our approach to drugs so that property crime isn't the primary way that people access drugs. We don't have any part of this country that has high-quality medical drug treatment on demand. But we have policing on demand everywhere. And it's not working."

Vitale never addressed the serious crime question. And that's important, isn't it? Looking over some of his other interviews, it is amazing how often the question of crime has not come up. But if momentum continues to grow for defunding the police -- and certainly if some bold municipality actually tries it -- people will want to know what happens if a government defunds the police and crime still happens.

And Vitale never said what would happen in the event of a murder. Do social workers show up to solve the crime? What's the "evidence-based alternative"?

Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner.

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Seoul, June 24 : Samsung on Wednesday launched a 49-inch curved gaming monitor called Odyssey G9 which is the world's first Dual QHD gaming monitor that offers an industry-first, deep and immersive 1000R curvature.

Unveiled at CES 2020, the G9 joins the recently launched G7 in the Odyssey line-up and will be available for purchase from Thursday, the company said in a statement.

In South Korea, the Odyssey G9 is priced at 1.9 million won ($1,570).

"The G9 now joins the portfolio as the first dual QHD gaming monitor with 1000R curvature. This further solidifies Samsung's leadership in the global gaming monitor market, with innovation happening at an unprecedented rate," said Hyesung Ha, Senior Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics.

The G9 is set to deliver a powerful combination of features under the hood, including rapid 1 milli-second response time with a 240Hz refresh rate and crystal clear QLED picture quality for gaming in dual QHD.

The G9 pursues an innovative and futuristic design with a glossy white exterior.

It houses Infinity Core Lighting, which allows 52 different colours and five lighting effect options behind the display.

The Odyssey G9 is also the first monitor certified to support HRD10+, enabling it to deliver games and content in groundbreaking quality through a combination of Quantum dot technology and an HDR1000 panel.

"Samsung's Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor takes immersive gaming to the next level, giving any gamer the upper hand," Ha added.

The Odyssey G9 further presents a groundbreaking gameplay experience, with dynamic and seamless action scene-by-scene enabled by NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility, said the company.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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. The state recorded a record number of new infections in one day Tuesday with more than 5,000, up from the previous high of 4,600 last Friday. New cases hit the 5,000 mark again on Wednesday.

It doesnt matter what region of the state of Texas that youre in, Gov. Greg Abbott told TV station KAUZ Wednesday. People need to recognize that this is spreading, and as a result, people need to go back to those best practices to contain the spread.

ABBOTTS WARNING: Gov. Abbott warns of record-breaking 5,000 new COVID-19 infections for Texas

The East Coast states governors said the states subject to the advisory, which takes effect at midnight Wednesday, were chosen based on virus transmission rates of above 10 per 100,000 people or 10 percent of the population testing positive  both over a seven-day rolling average. The other states are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington and Utah.

We have to make sure the virus doesnt come in on a plane  again. Learned that lesson. Been there, done that, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. Its only for the simple reason that we worked very hard to get the viral transmission rate down, and we dont want to see it go up.

In late March, Abbott was the one imposing a 14-day quarantine on travelers from the three states as well as Louisiana, Washington and California. Hed also added travelers flying in from Miami, Atlanta, Detroit and Chicago. Abbott lifted the last of those restrictions in mid-May, as he aggressively pushed to reopen the state.

Texas ranks fifth in the country for the biggest statewide uptick in new cases compared to two weeks ago, behind Arizona, Florida, Idaho and Oklahoma, according to data from the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

On Wednesday, the governor acknowledged state officials are now closely watching hospital space  COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas hit 4,000 on Tuesday for the first time. The state is still reporting that it has 5,800 potentially life-saving ventilators available for acute patients.

With new cases and the number of COVID-19 patients rising rapidly, Abbott said Wednesday we are looking at greater restrictions and some could be localized, without detailing what those would be or where.

There are some regions in the state of Texas that are running tight on hospital capacity that may necessitate a localized strategy to make sure that hospital beds will be available, he said.

Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston, the largest pediatric hospital in the U.S., said Tuesday that 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.

Even with the hint of new restrictions to protect hospital space, Abbott said in a separate interview with KDFM-TV in Beaumont that hospital executives have assured him that they will be able to handle the rising numbers of patients.

If there are more people coming in with COVID-19, they will ensure that beds are available, Abbott said.

This story contains material from the Associated Press.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 00:33:33|Editor: huaxia

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TIANJIN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The fourth World Intelligence Congress, a major artificial intelligence (AI) event in China, opened online on Tuesday in north China's Tianjin Municipality, highlighting AI-powered life amid the pandemic.

The two-day event, with the theme of "Intelligent New Era: Innovation, Energization and Ecology," has attracted over 1 million visitors online.

A series of online activities, including forums, exhibitions and competitions, will be presented during the event. It will also discuss the growth points of AI, and other intelligent sci-tech industries in the post-pandemic era, hoping to provide more solutions for economic and social development.

Wan Gang, chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, said AI-assisted diagnostic systems, temperature detection and a series of AI products and technologies are playing significant roles in the anti-pandemic fight.

"Smart technology has comprehensively supported work resumption and the development of the digital economy amid the epidemic," said Wan. "The data technology helped enterprises resume work and production, the health QR codes facilitated our travel, and the Internet of Everything (IoE) has made urban management and community services more efficient."

Wan added that technological innovation of AI should go beyond national boundaries, and that China will play a more active role in its global research and development.

"We will participate more actively in the division of labor in the global industrial chain, and jointly safeguard the stability, safety, improvement and development of the global industrial and supply chain amid the COVID-19 pandemic with the rest of the world," said Wan. Enditem
- President Museveni said Uganda would not include cases of coronavirus from foreign nationals in its national tally

- The Head of state said foreign nationals who will have tested positive shall not be allowed into the country

- The leader disclosed so far 1,067 nonresidents had been turned away since the country recorded its first case of COVID-19 in late March

President Yoweri Museveni has said he will continue to deny foreign nationals who have tested positive for coronavirus entry into Uganda.

The East Africa's longest-serving leader disclosed so far 1,067 nonresidents have been turned away since the country recorded its first case of COVID-19 in late March.

READ ALSO: CBK extends zero transaction fees for mobile money transfers below KSh 1000 to December

President Museveni said his country will not include foreign coronavirus cases to its tally. Photo: Yoweri K. Museveni.

Source: UGC

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You cant come with the virus and you say I take you. You go back. I dont want to be like Trump to fight WHO. But WHO should have some modesty.

You should stop. We were able to turn back 1,067 foreigners. They were not residents. They had not yet entered when they tested positive, he said.

In his presidential address, Museveni said he would not include foreign coronavirus cases to those of Uganda as is the policy guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

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We had disagreements with WHO. Those WHO people also are not gods. They are like Museveni. They need help. They were saying somebody who is just passing, if he is tested here we own him.

We said no. We dont know him because he was not infected here. Initially, we were not sending them back. But we said no, he added.

A month ago, the Health Ministry said it had sent back over 100 coronavirus sick truck drivers including 17 Tanzanians, 15 Kenyans, three Eritreans and one Burundian.

The new policy will not allow the drivers to enter [Uganda]. As already seen, 14 Tanzanians, 16 Kenyans, one Rwandan, one Burundian, and three Eritrean drivers were turned back yesterday at the different border points," the ministry stated.

By June 24, Uganda had recorded 805 positive cases out of the over 170,000 test samples.

The country also recorded a total of 717 recoveries.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

My mother did not want me, I was called a man eater - Antony Wanjiru | My Story | Tuko TV.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Above, John Bolton behind President Trump: White House, February 2019.

By Aaron Mate, RealClearInvestigations

June 23, 2020

In late January, John Bolton became the latest  and unlikeliest  official to enjoy a moment of Resistance glory. A New York Times report about Bolton's forthcoming memoir fueled round-the-clock expectations that the former national security adviser would substantiate the core allegation at the heart of President Trump's then-ongoing Senate impeachment trial  that the president tried to coerce Ukraine into opening an investigation of Joe and Hunter Biden in a quid pro quo for military aid. Compelling his testimony was cast as a matter of national urgency. Bolton was never given the chance as Senate Republicans voted to block witnesses and acquit Trump on both impeachment counts.

The place where the Ukraine quid pro quo didn't happen, to judge from the ex-national security adviser's memoir.

In the publicity blitz for his new memoir, The Room Where It Happened, Bolton has tried to keep the initial narrative alive. Speaking to ABC News, he claimed that Trump, at a meeting in August 2019, said he "wanted a probe of Joe Biden in exchange for delivering the security assistance." That conversation, Bolton added, "was the crispest indication of the linkage.  The specificity of the linkage, I think, was unmistakable."

His memoir, however, fails to substantiate that allegation.

In fact, Bolton offers new evidence that undermines it.

What he told Martha Raddatz is not what he writes in his book. Instead of a sharp demand of a quid pro quo, Bolton writes, Trump "said he wasnt in favor of sending [Ukraine] anything until all the Russia-investigation materials related to [Hillary] Clinton and Biden had been turned over."

Bolton does not explain what he means by "materials"  and no interviewer has asked him to so far. RealClearInvestigations' request to Bolton for comment, sent through a representative, was not immediately answered.

Regardless, those were not at the heart of Trump's impeachment. Trump was not impeached for trying to coerce Ukraine into handing over "Russia-investigation materials" to the U.S., but for allegedly trying to force Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to open a wholly separate investigation of the Bidens and Burisma, the gas company where Hunter was given a lucrative board seat while his father was running U.S. policy in Ukraine.

Hunter and Joe Biden: The son is mentioned only in passing in Bolton's book, and Burisma not at all.

Yet Burisma is not even mentioned in Bolton's book  and Hunter only in passing. This includes an acknowledgement that Bolton does not even remember if the younger Biden was actually discussed. At a May 8 meeting where Trump and his legal adviser Rudy Giuliani discuss the latter's "desire to meet with President-Elect Zelensky," Bolton cannot recall if the purpose is "to discuss [Ukraine's] investigation of either Hillary Clinton's efforts to influence the 2016 campaign or something having to do with Hunter Biden and the 2020 election, or maybe both."

Bolton says his recollections are not precise because the Ukraine-related theories floating around the Trump administration "always seemed intermingled and confused, one reason I did not pay them much heed. Even after they became public, I could barely separate the strands of the multiple conspiracy theories at work."

Bolton's words are also ambiguous. The fact that Trump allegedly "said he wasn't in favor of sending [Ukraine] anything" is not an explicit linkage to military aid. And as for the "Russian-investigation materials," Bolton does not specify what Trump was referring to. It seems likely Trump may have been referencing his reported theory that the Democratic National Committee server was somehow hacked with Ukrainian involvement.

Trump may also have been seeking information on the Ukrainians who openly admitted to interfering in the 2016 campaign with the aim of thwarting his candidacy, most notably by leaking allegations of illegal payments to Paul Manafort. It is highly plausible that these were Trump's priorities. In his July 25 phone call with Zelensky, which sparked the whistleblower complaint behind Ukrainegate, Trump's top issue  and the object of the favor he requested  was not the Bidens, but securing Zelensky's assistance with the Justice Department's ongoing review of how the Russia investigation began in 2016.

A graphic displayed as Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler argued unsuccessfully to subpoena John Bolton during the trial of President Trump in the Senate in January.

Whatever the case, for Bolton to write that Trump drew a link between these issues and the security aid  and not a link to a demand that Ukraine open an investigation of the Bidens and Burisma  contradicts the impeachment case that many expected him to validate.

Bolton, perhaps inadvertently, also lends credence to the Trump administration's public defense of its freeze on security assistance to Ukraine, which Democrats cast as the linchpin of a politically motivated quid pro quo. In his July 25 call with Zelensky and subsequent public statements, Trump has said that he wanted NATO allies to spend more on Ukrainian military funding. Bolton recounts that on Aug. 30  just days after an article in Politico made the aid freeze public, including to the Ukrainian government  Trump repeated his complaints about the U.S. burden, and proposed that NATO provide Ukraine with the security assistance instead of Washington:

Trump said, I dont give a shit about NATO. I am ready to say, If you dont pay, we wont defend them. I want the three hundred million dollars [he meant two hundred fifty million dollars, one piece of the assistance earmarked for Ukraine] to be paid through NATO."  He then said to Pence, Call [NATO Secretary General Jens] Stoltenberg and have him have NATO pay. Say The President is for you, but the money should come from NATO, which still didnt make any sense.

If Trump is freezing the military aid for the sole purpose of coercing a Ukrainian investigation, it would be incongruous for him to propose an outcome that delivers the money without the investigation he is supposedly trying to compel.

As a part of their impeachment case, Democrats argued that Trump released the aid to Ukraine only after getting caught through publicity surrounding the whistleblower complaint. Yet Bolton writes that after Ukraine conducted a successful prisoner swap with Russia on Sept. 7, "Trump had seemingly indicated" that the swap "might be enough to get him to release the security assistance." The money was released four days later, on Sept. 11.

Bolton confirms national security aide Fiona Hill's testimony that he told her he did not want to be "part of whatever drug deal Sondland and [White House Chief of Staff Mick] Mulvaney are cooking up." But he offers context that makes that line far less explosive than it was initially received. Bolton was not referring to leveraging any military aid, but to Sondland's attempt to push for a hasty meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the White House, where the "Giuliani issues" could be discussed before Ukraines parliamentary elections in July. Bolton says he nixed the idea of a meeting because Trump had recently told him that "he didnt want to have anything to do with Ukrainians of any stripe," due to Ukrainian meddling against him in the 2016 campaign. Sondland, in Bolton's view, was "freelancing." According to Bolton, Trump had also "resolved the visit issue just before leaving for the United Kingdom in June," by saying he would meet with Zelensky "not until the fall, the right outcome in my view."

Ex-national security aide Fiona Hill: When she testified about Bolton's "drug deal" line, it seemed explosive. In Bolton's book, it seems less so.

It is easy to forget why Bolton was initially cast as a savior figure in January by those hoping to remove Trump by impeachment. When news of his memoir emerged, 10 days after the Senate trial began, Democrats had failed to prove their case. Not a single witness in the House impeachment hearings had provided direct evidence of a quid pro quo. The only witness who even spoke to Trump about the Ukraine aid was the then-European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland. He reiterated multiple times that "nobody told me directly that the aid was tied to anything," and that such a linkage was only his "presumption" and "personal, you know, guess."

Sondland's testimony was even more damaging to the impeachment case because, according to the impeachment narrative, he was the Trump official who purportedly relayed the alleged quid pro quo to the Ukrainian side. But Sondland revealed that he had only told Zelensky aide Andriy Yermak, in a very, very brief pull-aside conversation, that I didnt know exactly why the aid has been frozen, but that a demand to open investigations could be a reason.

For his part, Yermak has said he does not even remember discussing the frozen aid with Sondland. That highlighted another problem with the Democrats quid pro quo allegation: Not a single Ukrainian official substantiates it. In addition to Yermak, President Zelensky and Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko also said that they saw no tie between the frozen military funding and pressure to open investigations. Even Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, a staunch impeachment advocate, corroborates them: When they met in early September, Murphy recalled, Zelensky "did not make any connection between the aid that had been cut off and the requests that he was getting from Giuliani."

The Ukrainians' claims make sense in light of the fact that they only learned of the aid freeze, along with the rest of the world, with the Politico article published August 28. That would have meant that the supposed quid pro quo demand was made to them only after the issue became a matter of public controversy. That scenario was always implausible on its face. And now Bolton's memoir has failed to change the picture. Bolton seems to grasp this fact. "I think the House Democrats built a cliff, they threw themselves off of it," he told Raddatz of ABC News. "And halfway down, they looked up and saw me, and said, 'Hey, why don't you come along?' "
Indian forces engage in show of strength over flashpoint Himalayan area as China repeats India provoked June 15 clash.

Indian fighter jets have roared over a flashpoint Himalayan region as part of a show of strength even as China again accused India of provoking the border clash earlier this month that killed at least 20 soldiers.

Indian jets regularly took off on Wednesday from a military base in Leh, the main Indian town in the contested Indian-administered Ladakh region, and headed towards the mountainous border 240km (150 miles) away.

There were also checkpoints on main roads outside Leh and a frenzy of military activity around the main town, which lies at an altitude of 3,500 metres (11,500 feet).

Residents reported long lines of military trucks and artillery on roads near Leh.

We now have a good strength present in the area, an official of the Indian armys Northern Command told AFP news agency on condition of anonymity, referring to the reinforcements.

Tashi Chhepal, a retired Indian army captain who has served in the area and is based in Leh, said the mobilisation was unprecedented in a sensitive region touching Pakistan as well as China.

I havent seen this kind of military movement before, he told AFP.

Indian soldiers walk at the foothills of a mountain range near Leh, the main city in Ladakh, on Wednesday [Tauseef Mustafa/AFP]

Unilateral provocation

Meanwhile, Chinas defence ministry on Wednesday said the June 15 border clash in the disputed Galwan Valley was caused by the Indian side.

Chinese troops had taken defensive measures and determinedly counterattacked against the Indian sides violent actions, successfully protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese ministry said on its social media account.

The Indian actions violated a consensus between the two countries and were a unilateral provocation, it said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also asserted that the confrontation occurred on Chinas side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC)  the de facto border dividing the two nuclear powers  and that Indian forces had illegally entered Chinese territory.

The responsibility is entirely not on the Chinese side, Zhao said at a daily news briefing on Wednesday.

The reckless actions by the Indian military seriously violated agreements signed between the two countries and seriously violated the basic principles of international relations. They were evil in nature and the consequences were severe, Zhao said.

Asked why China was offering such a lengthy defence of its position when the two sides had already agreed to reduce tensions, Zhao said it was to counter a large amount of fake news on the matter being circulated by Indian diplomats and the countrys media.

An Indian federal minister earlier this week claimed 40 Chinese soldiers were also killed in the Galwan Valley clash, but did not provide any evidence. China has not released any information on casualties on its side.





After the latest round of talks between military commanders on Monday and Tuesday, Zhao had earlier said the two sides had agreed to take necessary measures to promote a cooling of the situation.

Experts say a major reason behind India-China tensions is New Delhis unilateral move last year to abrogate the partial autonomy of the former Jammu and Kashmir state, which also included the disputed areas in Ladakh region.

China has also objected to India inaugurating the 255km (158-mile) Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road, built along the LAC, last year.

China, which saw the move as a threat to its interests in the region, is attempting to assert control over the territory along the border that is not clearly defined in places, according to the experts.

In all, China claims some 90,000 square kilometres (35,000sq miles) of territory in Indias northeast, including the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, with its traditionally Buddhist population.

India says China occupies 38,000sq km (15,000sq miles) of its territory in the Aksai Chin Plateau in the western Himalayas, including a part of the Ladakh region.
In a cavernous Northeast Ohio factory that General Motors abandoned last year, a small group of engineers is coaxing dormant robots back to life -- one by one -- in a long-shot bid to build a new type of pickup truck.

Here, in the middle of the Rust Belt, the small, untested company hopes to build electric vehicles where GM once employed 10,000 at its peak, turning out Impalas and Firebirds -- and, when the end came, compact Cruzes.

So far, the fledgling company, Lordstown Motors, has hired just 70 full-time employees, and no one thinks it can bind up all the economic wounds that have hit the region time and again.

But the company's CEO, Steve Burns, says he gave the commercial truck a name with that history in mind: "a dual meaning about the endurance of the people of the region."

The Endurance will be unveiled Thursday, though it's a working protoype ahead of planned production in 2021. Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to attend the reveal at the plant, which became a national story in recent years because of President Donald Trump's attention to it.

As recently as June 19, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, spoke virtually with community leaders about their ongoing struggle to revitalize the area.

"The Lordstown closure served as a reminder of how interconnected local economies can be," Powell said.

By the time GM shut down production in March 2019, its ranks had dwindled to about 1,500, and most of those workers either retired or transferred to plants in states including Tennessee, Indiana or Kentucky.

The new company sits in the village of Lordstown and is just one of several enterprises that economic-development officials are counting on to change the narrative about the region, where the nearby city of Youngstown has long been a symbol of decline for the America's Rust Belt.

Youngstown has lost almost two-thirds of its population since the 1950s, hurt by the collapse of the local steel industry. In April, with covid-19 taking a toll, the metro area charted among the nation's slowest personal income growth. The jobless rate, which had recovered from the last recession, soared to 19.8% that month.

Development officials are fostering a hub of logistics companies and suppliers near the factory.

GM and South Korea's LG Chem are investing $2.3 billion in a venture called Ultium Cells to make batteries for electric vehicles. Old Dominion Freight Line is building a new facility next to the battery plant, retaining about 50 area jobs and adding 40 more.

"We're trying to build a whole eco-structure around this new kind of vehicle," Burns said in a June 5 interview.

The arrival of the covid-19 pandemic has only added to the challenges of an already frayed local economy, where the wounds from GM's closure are still raw for former workers.

"It saddens me -- I have a lot of heartache and I still miss our home," said Christina Defelice, choking back tears in a March telephone call on the anniversary week of GM's departure.

She mentioned the irony of Trump's words from a Youngstown rally in July 2017, when he told people "Don't sell your house" because he'd bring jobs back to Ohio. She and her husband Robert Defelice definitely kept their house -- but now there are renters in it because the couple had to transfer to a GM foundry in Bedford, Indiana.

Mindy Miller hasn't worked in more than a year since she drove GM's final car, a white Cruze, to its parking place outside the factory. She had to move from her two-bedroom townhome to the basement of her grandmother's house in nearby Niles.

Both Defelice and Miller say they wish the new Lordstown Motors well, even if the number of jobs and level of wages never match what GM offered. "I'd like Lordstown Motors to really boom, and this area be the hub, and bring jobs back," Miller said.

At the new company, Burns's engineers and consultants are retooling the assembly lines GM left behind to start handling pickups instead of small cars. In addition to the current 70 employees and 100 contractors working at the plant now, he plans to hire as many as 600 line workers for production next year.

Burns previously ran Workhorse Group, an EV company near Cincinnati that's bidding to build a U.S. Postal Service mail truck. It has a 10% stake in Lordstown Motors and some shared intellectual property.

GM helped Lordstown Motors fund the factory purchase with a $40 million loan, but the startup doesn't yet have all the money it needs.

As of early June, Burns was still working with investment bankers in Cleveland to try to secure the financing to build 30 test vehicles by December and start production next year. The number of pre-orders is already close to supporting a full year of production, he said, declining to be more specific ahead of this week's unveiling.

The company is even considering an initial public offering, something Burns's crew thought unlikely until this month's stunning market reception to the listing of Nikola. That Phoenix-based startup, which wants to build an electric semi truck, briefly surged as high as $34 billion in market valuation, surpassing Ford.

"That's a topic of conversation among us," Burns said of a potential IPO. "Wall Street normally doesn't like companies that are that far ahead of revenue, but it's just proving to be a hot space."

The plant's story is part of the broader evolution of worker displacement, diversity and inequity in pay, health care and education happening in the Youngstown area and many other American cities -- all of which have become more apparent in the era of covid.

"For working-class communities, which have always understood that racial and economic justice are linked, this is all coming to the forefront now," said Tim Francisco, director of Youngstown State University's Center for Working Class Studies, which is run alongside a museum documenting the region's once-dominant steel industry. "People are tired of the inequity," he said last week.

The factory continues to generate political controversy. GM has come under pressure from the state of Ohio to return $60 million in public subsidies it received while it owned the facility, and as recently as last week U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, was criticizing GM and Trump administration trade policies for the closure.

Trump carried Ohio about 8 points in 2016 but his support has waned, with a Fox News poll on June 3 showing him trailing Democrat Joe Biden by 2 points. The administration's response to the pandemic and to racial unrest following incidents of police violence are part of the reason, Francisco said, noting that people of color and women make up much of the workforce in health-care, food-processing and other essential industries that have been under stress for months.

"We really have gotten the sense in this community that no one is going to parachute in and save this community, or any other de-industrialized community," Francisco said. "What does make me optimistic is that I think in this town, in Youngstown, for the first time we see philanthropy united with economic development, united with education, trying to figure out a way forward that isn't dependent on one large industry coming in to save us."
Today the majority declares that nevertheless  in spite of the Governments abrupt reversal on the facts and the law, and although the Government declares itself entitled not to be forthcoming with the District Court  these circumstances merit no further examination to determine whether there may be additional reasons for the prosecutors actions, and if so, if any such reasons are impermissible.
Reese Witherspoon has said she didnt understand what homosexuality was until she moved to Los Angeles, having not been taught about sexuality during her upbringing.

Witherspoon recently took part in an interview with Watchmen star Regina King, her former Legally Blonde 2 co-star, as part of Varietys Actors on Actors series.

During their conversation, which was filmed from each of their respective homes during lockdown, the actors covered several topics, including Witherspoons new television show Little Fires Everywhere.

While speaking about the miniseries, which is set in the 1990s, Witherspoon referenced how homosexuality is discussed by her character Elena Richardson.

The 44-year-old drew comparisons between a statement made by her character in the script and the way in which she learnt about homosexuality in the same time period.

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The actor said it was a great experience to be able to look at a time that was actually 30 years ago and think: I was a teenager then. What did my mum say about sexuality, race, class? What were the things that I was told that maybe were true or not true? How was I insensitive?

No one spoke to me about sexuality when I was a teenager, she said. I didnt understand what homosexuality was. My grandparents didnt explain it; my parents didnt explain it. I had to learn from somebody I met on an audition in Los Angeles.

Witherspoon added that a line is included in the Little Fires Everywhere script that drew direct inspiration from a conversation she once had with her grandmother.

We incorporated some of the conversation I had with my grandmother afterward, she told King.

She said: Homosexuality is very rare, Reese. Thats not a thing that happens very often. And we put it in the script.

Witherspoon added that her character Elena said that particular line because thats what was said to me in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1994.

Recommended Regina King discusses teaching her son about racism

The Oscar winner was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1976 and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, before moving to Los Angeles during the early stages of her career.

King, who talked to Witherspoon about the prospect of returning to her critically-acclaimed television show Watchmen for a second season, recently spoke about teaching her son about racism.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the actor said: I think in most black homes, its not just a conversation, its an ongoing conversation. It never stops.

King won an Academy Award in 2019 for her performance in romantic drama If Beale Street Could Talk.
The Oneida Indian Nations three casinos in Central New York have been open, on a limited basis, since June 10. The Seneca Nations three Western New York casinos and other gaming halls have been opening in phases this month.

The small Lakeside Gaming hall run by the Cayuga Nation in Union Springs has been open since mid-May.

But the states non-Indian (aka commercial) gaming facilities are still waiting for the signal from the state to start back up. Unlike the tribal casinos, they are bound by the opening and closing orders issued during the coronavirus pandemic by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

It looks like commercial gaming wont resume at the start of the next phase (phase four) of the reopening, which is set to begin in regions like Central New York, the Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier at the end of this week. In guidelines issued today, casinos are specifically cited among the businesses not opening for the phase four start.

That means Upstate New Yorks four full-service casinos  del Lago Resort & Casino near Waterloo, Resorts World Casino Catskills in Monticello, Tioga Downs in Nichols just west of Binghamton, and Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady  are still waiting. So are the gaming floors at racinos (racetracks with slots) across the state.

Still, it may not be long.

Areas such as the malls, gyms, movie theaters, casinos, will not open on the first day of phase four, but will open at some time during phase four, former lieutenant governor Bob Duffy told Rochester TV station WXXI Tuesday. Duffy is an advisor to Gov. Andrew Cuomo on reopening in the Finger Lakes region and is in frequent communication with his aides.

Duffy noted that since phase four has no specific timeframe, unlike the two-week periods for the previous three phases, reopenings may follow a more drawn-out schedule.

Phase four could last two months, it could last three months, Duffy told WXXI. There wont be a phase five, so its going to be a gradation of certain activities just based on some of the research and feedback that the state is getting. And really its the measurement of these activities, region by region.

Thats a little disappointing for the operators of the commercial casinos, which like other non essential operations have been mostly shut down since mid-March. Some casino/racino amenities, like racing without fans, or restaurants and hotels, are allowed to resume.

We had hoped to be able to open by July 4, said Jeff Gural, who owns both Tioga Downs and the Vernon Downs racino in Oneida County. There are people who are waiting for the casinos to reopen. I know the governor is prioritizing health and safety, not economics, and I applaud that, but it makes sense to reopen as soon as we can.

Gural said he hopes to reach the governor or his aides and make the case for faster reopening.

His reasoning: Its not just the tribal gaming facilities that are opening, but casinos in neighboring states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

People who like to gamble are going to go to the casinos they can find, Gural said. Thats their mentality. So theyre going to travel to these places in other states, and perhaps theyre exposed (to the virus). Then they come back here.

Gural stressed that he believes Cuomo has done a good job in managing the spread of the coronavirus.

We dont have a big problem here, and were going to follow all the guidelines issued by New York state, Gural said. But we dont need people bringing back anything, from Wilkes-Barre (Pennsylvania) or Atlantic City (New Jersey).

Gural said he needs about a weeks advance notice to prepare for a reopening, so hed like to have a go-ahead as soon as possible for a July 4 start date.

When they are allowed to reopen, the commercial casinos will be bound by state guidelines, such as social distancing, required wearing of masks and limited crowd capacities. (The states Indian casinos are voluntarily following those guidelines as well).

At del Lago Resort & Casino, just off State Thruway Exit 41 in Seneca County, the staff is preparing to reopen under those rules, said Lance Young, executive vice president and general manager.

Del Lago Resort & Casino continues to plan for a safe reopening that protects our employees, customers and the general public, Young said in a statement. We have developed a comprehensive reopening plan  with input from various stakeholders  that meets or exceeds CDC and OSHA guidelines. We are ready to reopen upon state approval.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Restarting NY, Phase 4: Museums, zoos can open; movie theaters, casinos remain closed

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
This picture released by the Indonesian Navy shows a boat carrying Rohingya people about eight km (five miles) offshore in the Malacca Strait between Indonesia and neighboring Malaysia, June 24, 2020.

Fishermen rescued nearly 100 Rohingya after their boat broke down off Indonesias Sumatra Island, but the fishing boat that picked them up got stranded after running into its own technical problems, police in Aceh province said Wednesday.

The Indonesian fishing crew saw the Rohingya boat with 94 people onboard drifting at sea and moved them onto their own boat late Monday, according to North Aceh police chief Tri Hadiyanto. The fishermens boat broke down while trying to reach the shore, he said.

Today police, the military and local officials came to the site of the boat, which is four nautical miles off the coast, Hadiyanto told BenarNews, referring to the broken down fishing boat.

Meanwhile in nearby Malaysia, the coast guard chief said that an unknown number of Rohingya had died and their bodies were thrown overboard from a boat before it was towed to Langkawi Island earlier this month. Malaysian authorities have detained the 269 Rohingya who were on that boat.

In Aceh, a community leader, Muhammad Hasan, said local officials had agreed to transfer the 94 rescued Rohingya once they reached the shore of the northwestern Indonesian coast.

The plan is to evacuate them to the Syamtalira Bayu fish market, because there are shelters there, Hasan told BenarNews.

Footage shared by the local civil protection agency showed rescuers approaching the fishing boat, which carried what the man in the video described as Burmese people.

Were seeing children and women. We will pick them up and rescue them, the voice in the video said.

Police said 15 men, 49 women and 30 children were rescued. The Rohingya boats origin and the destination were not immediately known.

The 94 people were hungry and weak when they were discovered in waters off the Indonesian coast, the Associated Press quoted a local official as saying.

Lilianne Fan, spokeswoman for the Geutanyoe Foundation, a humanitarian charity established in Aceh in 1999, praised the community for offering to support the refugees.

Once again, the fishermen of Aceh show us true humanitarianism, rescuing Rohingya refugees whose boat was sinking, she said in a Facebook post, adding that villagers were preparing food for those on the boat. To help others, regardless of background, religion, nationality, is an obligation and a tradition that must be respected.

Our Aceh team has been coordinating closely with the courageous fishermen and the local government in this response and stands ready to provide assistance, she said.

About 1 million Rohingya who fled from Myanmars Rakhine state are sheltering in refugee camps in and around Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district. U.N. investigators have accused Myanmars military of carrying out killings and other atrocities against the stateless Rohingya during a 2017 offensive, which forced more than 730,000 across the border into Bangladesh to join thousands who had previously fled there.

Groups of Rohingya have packed onto boats and set sail for Malaysia and other locations in search of asylum, but have often been turned away.

In Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said the human rights situation in Rakhine came up during a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers on Wednesday.

Retno said she urged leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to facilitate a voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation plan for Rohingya refugees.

Repatriation is still a priority for Indonesia. We must continue to try to bring them back to their homes, the Rakhine state, Retno said at an online press conference.

Late last year, ASEAN leaders agreed to form an ad hoc task force to help repatriate the Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar.

On Wednesday, the director of the Indonesian office of Amnesty International, Usman Hamid, called on the government to allow the Rohingya boat people to land in Aceh.

This is really concerning. There are many children and women in the group, Usman told BenarNews. They must be given basic needs such as food, clothing, clean water and adequate shelter.

Malaysian coast guard chief: Some of them had died at sea

On June 8, Malaysian authorities towed a disabled boat ashore and detained 269 Rohingya after dozens jumped overboard and began swimming to Langkawi, an island off the northwest coast of peninsular Malaysia. The landing marked the first time that Rohingya had been allowed to disembark in Malaysia for more than two months.

Two days later, Mohd Zubil Mat Som, the chief of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the countrys coast guard, told BenarNews that another Rohingya boat carrying 300 people was sheltering north of Langkawi off the Thai island of Koh Adang. Thai officials at the time said their navy could not locate a boat.

On Wednesday, Mohd Zubil said the boat carrying 269 had been carrying more than 300 Rohingya. He referred to the boat as number 2  adding the Rohingya had left boat number 1 which had been carrying more than 800 before the transfer. Officials have not located the boat which apparently had been carrying as many as 500 refugees.

We were informed that over 300 individuals were transferred onto Mother Boat 2, but some of them had died at sea and they were thrown overboard. This we got through the interviews with the 269, he told reporters in Putrajaya.

Asked about the number of deaths, Mohd Zubil said, Im not sure, they said about 300-plus while 269 arrived here. You can figure it out yourself.

Throughout the region, meanwhile, countries have closed their borders to foreigners in recent months over fears tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. Human rights groups have raised alarms about the impact of such policies on boatloads of Rohingya and have urged countries in the region to allow the boats to land.

In April, hundreds of Rohingya men, women and children were said to be starving when brought ashore in Bangladesh following a nearly two-month failed journey to Malaysia during which dozens died, officials and survivors said.

Chris Lewa, the coordinator of the Arakan Project, an NGO that advocates for the rights of Rohingya people, told BenarNews last week that it was aware then of a Rohingya boat still at sea with hundreds of people on board.

As far as we know, there is only one boat remaining at sea with as many as 500 aboard. Reportedly a large trawler carrying about 800 sailed from the Bay of Bengal early April and these passengers were divided into two boats at sea sometimes in May, Lewa said.

One of these two boats is the one intercepted with a damaged engine in Malaysia on 7 June. We are not aware of any other boat unless the large trawler decided to again divide passengers into smaller boats, Lewa told BenarNews.

Pimuk Rakkanam in Bangkok contributed to this report.
Mumbai, June 24 : "Sufiyum Sujatayum" is a special film for Aditi Rao Hydari because it marks her debut as a leading lady in Malayalam cinema.

"'Sufiyum Sujatayum' is a special film for me. I've been lucky to work with some incredible people across India, and this film marks my debut as the leading lady of a Malayalam film," said Aditi.

"The film is an innocent love story, where love is unburdened by prejudices and discrimination. The movie is a drama and narrated with a lot of sensitivity and honesty," she added.

Looking back at her experience of working on the movie, Aditi said: "I had a great time working on the movie, it was challenging to work with some very brilliant colleagues and crew members. I'm really looking forward to the audience's response. I hope they get immersed in the world of Sufi and Sujata like I did and I hope everyone makes their own special connection to the characters and the story."

The film narrates a story of a mute girl Sujata (Aditi) who is in love with her neighbour, a Sufi priest (Dev Mohan) but her father gets her married off to a NRI in Dubai. After 10 years, her husband (played by Jayasurya) decides to bring her back to the village. What follows, forms the crux of the musical love story.

Jayasurya said: "The Malayalam film industry is known for rolling out good stories. 'Sufiyum Sujatayum' too keeps up with the tradition and depicts a story of a beautiful girl with an incomplete love-story. I play the role of the husband to Aditi's character. An interesting and nuanced role of a husband that knows of his wife's love for another man, and tries to find ways to keep his family together. There's a lot that we're trying to convey through the film and one will have to watch the movie and be part of it to know how beautifully these sequences take place."

The trailer released on Wednesday. Directed by Naranipuzha Shanavas, "Sufiyum Sujatayum" is shot by Anu Moothedath and edited by Deepu Joseph. The music is composed by M. Jayachandran with lyrics penned by Hari Narayan and songs sung by Sudeep Palanad. The film premieres on Amazon Prime Video on July 3.

-- Syndicated from IANS
For the second year in a row, Mercy College is proud to announce that it has been honored by Westchester Magazine as the 2020 Best College in Westchester. Mercy will be celebrated in Westchester Magazines Best of Westchester issue, as well as at this summers Best of Westchester party.

This is the second time Mercy College has been recognized as Westchester Magazines Best College and the only college to receive the honor twice.

We are honored and humbled to receive this accolade for the second year in a row, said Timothy Hall, President of Mercy College. It is wonderful to know your community of alumni, students and neighbors believe you stand out among the many fine institutions of higher education in Westchester County. After the unprecedented spring and summer term brought on by the coronavirus this recognition is even more meaningful, and we are looking forward to welcoming our students back for the fall term.

Mercy College finished with the highest number of votes in the College/University category in the Services section of the readers ballot. Readers of Westchester Magazine voted during a period of online balloting from December 2, 2019 through January 22, 2020.

The Best of Westchester party will take place on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 or Wednesday, August 19, at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle. Best of Westchester winners from various categories are expected to attend.

About Mercy College

Mercy College is the dynamic, diverse New York City area college whose students are on a personal mission: to get the most out of life by getting the most out of their education. Founded in 1950, Mercy offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs within five schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Mercy College challenges its faculty and staff to make higher education work for anyone hungry enough to earn a better place in life. With campuses in Dobbs Ferry, Bronx, Manhattan and Yorktown Heights, the vibrancy of the College culture is sustained by a diverse student body from around the region.


[June 24, 2020] MilesTek Introduces New Waterproof HDMI Cable Assemblies and Panel-Mount Coupler

IRVINE, Calif., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MilesTek, an Infinite Electronics brand and a leading manufacturer and supplier of products designed to address military and avionics applications, announced today that it has released a new series of waterproof HDMI cable assemblies for use in industrial computing, factory automation, outdoor digital signage, medical and harsh environment A/V applications. These rugged, IP67-rated HDMI cable assemblies feature a waterproof coupler that allows these HDMI cables to withstand harsh environments by preventing the ingress of water and fine particulates such as dust that would typically render standard HDMI cables useless. These robust cables feature gold-plated contacts that stand up to repeated mating cycles, operating temperatures of -24C to +85C, and lanyard-attached dust caps on each connector to keep debris out of the connector while not in use. In addition to the new waterproof HDMI cables, MilesTek now also offers an IP67-rated HDMI panel-mount coupler that can be used with the new IP67-rated HDMI cable assemblies. The MMIC00009 can be mounted to a panel or enclosure and ships with a chain-attached dust cap to keep the coupler water and dust free while not in use.



"These rugged waterproof HDMI cables and coupler offer a perfect solution for customers who require HDMI connectivity in harsh environments often found in military, industrial computing and outdoor display applications. These hard to find, IP67-rated HDMI cables and coupler are available off-the-shelf with no minimum order quantities," said Mark Blackwood, Product Manager. MilesTek's waterproof HDMI cables and IP67-rated HDMI panel-mount coupler are in stock and available for immediate shipment.

About MilesTek MilesTek designs and manufactures a broad range of MIL-STD-1553B and Ethernet connectivity products to address Military Avionics, Aerospace, Industrial and government applications. In addition to a wide selection of off-the-shelf products, MilesTek can custom manufacture cable assemblies and harnesses. MilesTek is headquartered in Lewisville, Texas and is ISO-9001:2015 certified. MilesTek is an Infinite Electronics brand. About Infinite Electronics Based in Irvine, Calif., Infinite Electronics offers a broad range of components, assemblies and wired/wireless connectivity solutions, serving the aerospace/defense, industrial, government, consumer electronics, instrumentation, medical and telecommunications markets. Infinite's brands include Pasternack, Fairview Microwave, L-com, MilesTek, Aiconics, KP Performance Antennas, PolyPhaser, Transtector, RadioWaves, ShowMe Cables, INC-Installs and Integra Optics. Infinite Electronics serves a global engineering customer base with deep technical expertise and support, with one of the broadest inventories of products available for immediate shipment. Press Contact:

Peter McNeil

MilesTek

17792 Fitch

Irvine, CA

978-682-6936 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/milestek-introduces-new-waterproof-hdmi-cable-assemblies-and-panel-mount-coupler-301082271.html SOURCE MilesTek

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STAMFORD  City police are investigating a weekend incident captured on a video in which a white male shouts at a group of young Black men in Cove Island Park, while calling police to report he is getting harassed.

Police also are investigating an allegation that the man sprayed pepper spray at the group. The video, versions of which have circulated via email and social media, does not show the man using pepper spray. But a still photo, posted to one of the younger mens social media account and provided by their attorney, shows him appearing to do so.

White lives matter too, the white male shouts at one point on the video.

The group, all in their mid-20s, one of whom is a Bridgeport police officer, according to their attorney, met in the park to celebrate two members birthdays, according to the social media post.

The older white man in the video is shouting that they are not allowed to launch their boat in the park.

What are you going to do to me? he says, approaching one.

He then says into his phone: Im getting harassed by a bunch of Black men down here.

Stamford Police Assistant Chief Thomas Wuennemann said the case has been sent to the departments Bureau of Criminal Investigation to determine what happened.

Police Tuesday would not identify the man involved, saying the matter is subject to an ongoing investigation. Wuennemann did confirm that the man called police Saturday.

The video, at just under two minutes, has been shared with police via email. A shortened version has been posted and reposted repeatedly on Instagram.

It was not clear Tuesday what occurred prior to the video, but in the clip the man is seen pacing next to his gray pickup truck yelling at the others.

Ive been down here my whole (expletive) life. I live here, he says at one point, while walking up to one of the younger men.

What are you going to do to me? the man asks while holding a phone up to his ear.

Keep it on camera, he says, pointing to one who is capturing the scene on video.

Im being harassed by a bunch of Black men down here, he says into the phone. A moment later, he continues: Is this the Stamford Police Department? There are people trying to put a boat in the water that is illegal. I have a boat down here. I have a legal right to put my boat in the water. They do not.

How do you know that? one of the younger men asks. Who said we are putting the boat in the water? No one said that. We are hanging out.

One of the men asks for his name and the white man replies, My name is God.

A bunch of Black guys are harassing me, he repeats. Yes, harassing me. White lives matter too.

Police responded to the scene at 4 p.m. Saturday.

It was not brushed off, Wuennemann said. There is an investigation going on. Obviously there is more to the story.

Wuennemen confirmed that there was an allegation of pepper spray used by the man during the confrontation, apparently after the filming of the incident stopped.

Attorney Darnell Crosland is representing the five men who were the target of the older mans anger.

He called the incident A case where a white (person) thought they should weaponize the police department ... At its heart its racist behavior of individuals exploiting a system built on racism.

Crosland said he is sending a letter to newly appointed Stamford Police Chief Tim Shaw to demand that he release the police report and charge the white resident with assault.

The younger men had a motorboat hitched to a pickup truck parked in the lot, which was not backed up to the ramp. Crosland said the five had planned to launch their boat from West Beach, where anyone, provided they have a pass, can launch a motorboat.

Stamford Parks and Facilities Manager Kevin Murray said only people who rent slips at the Cove Island Marina are allowed to launch motor boats on the parks launch ramp. Everyone else is restricted to launching canoes or kayaks.

Several attempts to reach the man shown in the video were unsuccessful Tuesday.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
The former boss of scandal-hit payments giant Wirecard has been arrested as fears for the firm's UK arm grow.

Markus Braun was arrested just hours after his former company admitted 1.7billion that was 'missing' from its accounts may not exist.

The 51-year-old, who turned himself in on Monday night, has been accused of false accounting and market manipulation by German prosecutors.

Former Wirecard boss Markus Braun was arrested just hours after his former company admitted 1.7bn that was 'missing' from its accounts may not exist

It follows his resignation on Friday, the day after Wirecard confirmed auditors had found the huge hole in its accounts.

The crisis plunged the Bavaria-based company's finances into chaos overnight, with the firm currently locked in talks with lenders over 1.6billion it owes them.

That has also prompted concerns about the future of Wirecard's British subsidiary, Wirecard Card Solutions Ltd, which has an office in Newcastle and reported 69 staff in its most recent accounts.

In the past it has provided services to UK fintech stars Monzo and Revolut, such as issuing customers with Visa and Mastercard-compatible payment cards.

And it held 465.7million in customer deposits at the end of 2018. Both of the digital banks have since stopped using Wirecard for card-issuing services.

But Revolut is thought to have carried on using its payment processing services until as recently as late last year.

Wirecard's UK arm reported annual revenues of 61.8million and a profit of 2.5million.

The company paid a dividend of about 5million to its parent, its accounts show.

When asked about the future of its British unit, a spokesman for the company said yesterday: 'Wirecard is currently not making any further statements.'

Wirecard was plunged into turmoil last week when its auditor EY refused to sign off its 2019 accounts.

It followed almost two years of fraud allegations surrounding the company. Accountants were unable to locate 1.7billion that was supposedly held by two Asian banks in trust accounts  about a quarter of its balance sheet.

But the problems deepened on Monday when Wirecard issued another statement saying there was now a 'prevailing likelihood' that the money did not actually exist, after search efforts hit a dead-end in the Philippines.

Allegations made against Wirecard over the past 18 months, many of them published by the Financial Times newspaper, have centred on whistleblower claims that some of its foreign divisions inflated their revenues and profits by booking sham transactions.

Yesterday, prosecutors in Munich said they had arrested Braun on suspicion of incorrect statements of data and market manipulation.

He was accused of doing so 'possibly in collaboration with further perpetrators' in order to 'portray the company as financially stronger and more attractive for investors and clients'.

The scandal marks a dramatic fall from grace for Wirecard, seen for years in Germany as a home-grown technology darling.

Since the revelations emerged, the company's shares have plunged by more than 80 per cent.
Tourism-reliant Fiji has proposed a "travel bubble" to welcome visitors from virus-free countries, as the South Pacific holiday hotspot desperately tries to revive its stalled economy. Without streams of international travellers flocking to their palm-fringed shores, tens of thousands of Fijians such as Ben Danford have been left without work. Danford who was laid off from his job as a river guide after borders closed in March, said he and his former colleagues were scraping a living as best they could. "All of the guys now are focusing on farming, planting root crops and selling them for daily needs and wants, and to support our families," said Danford. "We are happy if the borders will be open soon so that everyone can start working." In Fiji -- a nation of 900,000 people -- the government estimates tourism accounts for about 40 percent of the entire economy. The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) says even that figure underestimates the industry's influence, putting it closer to 60 percent once related jobs are factored in. In many communities, tourism has provided a lifeline for decades, helping the economy survive coups, natural disasters and the decline of the sugar and garment sectors. - Bringing business back - But the financial shock has been powerful and immediate, virtually shutting down the industry overnight and prompting officials to warn the economy could shrink by more than a fifth. FHTA chief executive Fantasha Lockington estimates that up to 98 percent of tourism workers have been laid off, while Fiji Airways has cut more than half its staff because of flatlining revenues. Hopes for a quick recovery now rest on the creation of a "travel bubble" that would bring holidaymakers from nearly virus-free Australia and New Zealand. Those two countries supply about 70 percent of traffic to Fiji, general manager of the Treasure Island resort Jim Saukuru told AFP. Saukuru's resort on the white-sand beaches of the Mamanuca Islands, to the west of Fiji's main island, has laid off 130 mostly local workers and is operating with a skeleton staff of 14. "The tourism industry is zero," he said. "To make things viable for our industry, Australia and New Zealand need to open up." Officials in Canberra and Wellington have already opened discussions on a quarantine-free bubble across the two countries, to capitalise on their success in containing the virus, with plans to eventually expand it to include Pacific island nations. However, with travel inside Australia still restricted and fresh outbreaks around Melbourne, even trans-Tasman travel appears unlikely before September. - 'Threat of virus is real' - Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has countered with his own proposal that would allow Australians and New Zealanders into the country provided they stay in areas sealed off from the general community. Dubbed the "Bula Bubble" -- after the Fijian word for hello -- it would create a VIP zone for tourists that begins on their aircraft, then extends to special lanes through customs and transport to a geographically isolated resort. "While Australia and New Zealand work out their trans-Tasman bubble, Fiji's equal -- or arguably greater -- success against the virus puts us in a position to take the lead in the Pacific," Bainimarama said. "This Bula Bubble will allow Aussies and Kiwis to once again enjoy the best of Fiji, while remaining separate from any other travellers and the general public." Bainimarama said quarantine restrictions could eventually be lifted for visitors who test negative for the virus and come from any country that Fiji deems "COVID-contained", although he did not specify what criteria this involved. Fiji has earned praise for its COVID-19 response, becoming one of the few nations to eliminate the virus, after recording 18 confirmed cases and no deaths. Opening up the borders poses a risk of reintroducing the virus, no matter what precautions are taken, and weighing that grim prospect against economic meltdown is proving as difficult in Fiji as anywhere else on Earth. "The industry is really, really desperate for the borders to open up, but every business knows the threat of coronavirus is real," Lockington said. "Businesses just want to know when things will open up again and how to prepare." For decades, tourism has provided a lifeline for many Fijians The crisis shut down virtually the entire Fijian tourism industry overnight and led to warnings the economy could shrink by a fifth Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said he hoped the bubble plan would 'allow Aussies and Kiwis to once again enjoy the best of Fiji'
It wasnt the answer pollster Leger was expecting when Manitoba businesses were asked what actions the provincial government should take to get the economy back on track.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It wasnt the answer pollster Leger was expecting when Manitoba businesses were asked what actions the provincial government should take to get the economy back on track.

The No. 1 response: invest in health care to prepare for a possible second wave of COVID-19.

Thats according to 40 per cent of respondents in a recent Leger poll, conducted for the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. The number was even higher for small businesses, at 48 per cent.

Support for local tourism came in second (33 per cent); reducing regulations was third (31 per cent).

"I somewhat expected the support for tourism and reducing red tape, but the investment in health care was interesting," Andrew Enns, Leger executive vice-president, said in a news release.

"I suspect that is a message to government that businesses cannot survive a second mass shutdown should infections increase significantly later in the year. The health-care system has to get us through."

Thats an important point, one Manitobans may have to come to terms with.

What is not an option, as many businesses alluded to in the survey, is another shutdown of the economy.

Manitoba still hasnt had a fulsome debate on how government should respond to the expected second wave of COVID-19, largely because the province (and the rest of the world) is still grappling with the first.

It likely peaked in Manitoba weeks ago, but fresh outbreaks in southern U.S. states such as Arizona, Texas and Florida show Canada remains vulnerable if it were to reopen its border.

However, with the right protections in place (including continued international travel restrictions), Manitoba and the rest of the country are well-positioned to contain the spread of the disease through the summer months.

But what about the possibility of a second wave in the fall or over the winter? Public health officials have no idea when or if that will happen; if it does, governments will have some tough decisions to make.

What is not an option, as many businesses alluded to in the survey, is another shutdown of the economy.

With millions still out of work and hundreds of businesses forced to permanently close, Canada and Manitoba cant afford another round of stay-at-home orders. The economy, already at near-collapse level, would undoubtedly fall into a deep and prolonged depression if that were to occur. Governments would not have the borrowing capacity to shell out the hundreds of billions needed in subsidies, as they did during the first wave.

The economic carnage, poverty, and social unrest of a second closure would far outweigh the benefits of containing the novel coronavirus.

Thats not to say society would operate on a business-as-usual basis. The economy will not return to normal any time soon, not until a safe, effective vaccine is available for widespread use (or long-lasting herd immunity is established).

Until then, large gatherings are out and social-distancing rules will remain in place. The use of non-medical face masks where social distancing cannot be maintained will be part of the new normal. Some people may continue to work from home.

Manitoba still hasnt had a fulsome debate on how government should respond to the expected second wave of COVID19, largely because the province (and the rest of the world) is still grappling with the first.

Many of the measures taken since the beginning of the pandemic will remain in place. Manitoba has brought up its daily testing capacity to 2,000 a day; there are now ample contact tracing resources in place to track new cases; hospital resources have been expanded.

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.

Despite new, cautious visitation rules for residents at personal care homes, those centres will remain largely locked down for the foreseeable future. International travel bans can, and should, be extended into the fall.

The whole manner in which Manitobans now work, shop and play has changed.

Public health officials could reinstate some orders if a second wave hits, but shutting down the economy to the extent the province did in March and April, including closing schools, is a non-starter.

What it needs to do above all else, as Manitoba businesses have recommended, is invest as much as possible into health care (including personal protective equipment).

Hospitals were not overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients during the first wave of the pandemic, as many had feared. That could change if a second wave hits.

tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca
Joint Forces returned fire to each enemy shelling.

Russia's hybrid military forces on June 23 mounted four attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.

"The Russian Federation's armed formations violated the ceasefire four times in the past day," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on June 24, 2020.

Russia-led forces fired grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms.

Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the villages of Orikhove, Luhanske, Pavlopil, and Vodiane.

Read alsoZelensky: Ukraine calls for ceasefire in Donbas amid pandemic

Joint Forces returned fire to each enemy shelling.

"Since Wednesday midnight, Russia-led forces have attacked Ukrainian positions three times near the villages of Shyrokyne, Starohnativka and Khutir Vilny, using 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and rifles," the update said.

No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops from Wednesday midnight.
24.06.2020 LISTEN

President Nana Akufo-Addo has apologised to Nigerias president, Muhammadu Buhari, following the demolition of a building on the premises of the Nigeria High Commission, according to Nigerias Presidency.

This was disclosed in a press release via a tweet from the Nigerian Presidency.

The tweet read: President [Akufo-Addo] of Ghana [Tuesday] spoke with President [Buhari], expressing his sincere apology for the demolition of a building on the premises of Nigerian High Commission in Accra, Ghana.

In a telephone call, the Ghanaian leader told President Buhari that he has directed full investigation into the incident, it added.

Armed men reportedly invaded the parcel of land on which the Commission was erecting a building on and pulled down parts of the said building in the evening on June 19.

This sparked outrage and protests from Nigerians home and abroad.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway was at the commission on Monday and also conveyed the apologies of the government.

She also assured that there will be a transparent probe into the incident.

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, she said.

Two persons have since been arrested over the incident and been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, unlawful entry and causing unlawful damage.

---citinewsroom
Washington  President Donald Trumps brother is asking a New York City judge to prevent the presidents niece from publishing a tell-all book, which is expected to be released later this month.

In court papers, Robert Trumps lawyers argue that Mary Trump and others had signed a settlement agreement in the late 1990s that included a confidentially clause explicitly saying they would not publish any account concerning the litigation or their relationship, unless they all agreed.

The settlement agreement related to the will of Donald Trumps father, New York real estate developer Fred Trump.

Confidentiality was at the essence of the Settlement agreement, the court papers say.

Robert Trump argues the publication of the book is prohibited by the settlement agreement reached in 2001 and he never consented to it being published. Mary Trump is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr., the president's older brother, who died in 1981.

A description of the book  titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man  on Amazon says it describes a nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse.

She explains how specific events and general family patterns created the damaged man who currently occupies the Oval Office, including the strange and harmful relationship between Fred Trump and his two oldest sons, Fred Jr. and Donald, the online description says.

The motion seeks an injunction to prevent Mary Trump and the book's publisher, Simon & Schuster, from releasing it.

President Trump and his siblings are seeking to suppress a book that will discuss matters of utmost public importance, attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr., a representative for Mary Trump, said in a statement. They are pursuing this unlawful prior restraint because they do not want the American people to know the truth. The courts will not tolerate this brazen and baseless effort to squelch speech in violation of the First Amendment.

A Simon & Schuster official said in a statement he was confident the attempt to block publication would fail.

Mary Trump has written a compelling personal story of worldwide significance, and we look forward to helping her tell her story, said Adam Rothberg, spokesman for the publishing house.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Tuesday granted bail to Jamia student Safoora Zargar, who is pregnant and 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 it on humanitarian grounds.

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, who is 23-week pregnant, 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.
Former Roger Stone Prosecutor to Say Sentencing Instructions Was Based on Political Considerations; DOJ Pushes Back

A federal prosecutor who withdrew from the Roger Stone case is planning to tell Congress on Wednesday that the Justice Departments (DOJ) sentencing instructions for Roger Stone were based on political considerations. The DOJ, in response, has pushed back, saying that his account was not based on first-hand knowledge.

Aaron Zelinsky was one of the four prosecutors who withdrew from the Stone case after department leaders decided to override the prosecutors sentencing recommendation of seven to nine years in prison. Zelinsky is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, alongside John Elias, the acting chief of staff to the assistant attorney general of the antitrust division, and former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer.

Zelinsky, who was a special assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, intends to testify that the DOJ had handled the Stone sentencing in an unusual and unprecedented way and that some members of the department were giving Stone unprecedentedly favorable treatment because of his relationship with President Donald Trump.

What I heardrepeatedlywas that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the President, Zelinsky will say, according to a prepared testimony (pdf).

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. I was also told that the acting U.S. Attorney was giving Stone such unprecedentedly favorable treatment because he was afraid of the President,' he added.

DOJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupec disputed Zelinskys account in a statement on Tuesday, saying that Zelinsky, who did not have any discussions with any member of political leadership about the sentencing, had based his allegations on his own interpretation of events and hearsay (at best), not first-hand knowledge.

The Attorney General determined the high sentence proposed by the line prosecutors in the Roger Stone case was excessive and inconsistent with similar cases. In the interest of ensuring the imposition of a fair sentence, the Attorney General directed Tim Shea, who was then U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, to leave the sentencing to the discretion of the judge. The judge ultimately sentenced Mr. Stone to half the time that the line prosecutors had originally proposed. As he has previously stated, the Attorney General did not discuss the sentencing of Roger Stone with the President or anyone else at the White House and had made the decision to correct the filing before the President tweeted about the case, Kupec said in the statement.

Notably, Mr. Zelinsky, a line prosecutor, did not have any discussion with the Attorney General, the U.S. Attorney, or any member of political leadership at the Department about the sentencing; instead, Mr. Zelinskys allegations concerning the U.S. Attorneys motivation are based on his own interpretation of events and hearsay (at best), not first-hand knowledge.

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, she added.

He will testify how the DOJ was exerting significant pressure on the line prosecutors in the case to obscure the correct Sentencing Guidelines calculation to which Roger Stone was subjectand 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 after he learned that his team was being pressured to seek a lower sentencing range, he and his colleagues pushed back and repeatedly argued that by recommending a below-Guidelines sentence without support for doing so would be inappropriate under DOJ policy and the practice of the D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office. He also added that a lower sentencing recommendation was also not warranted given the nature of Stones criminal activity and his wrongful conduct throughout the case, according to the prepared remarks.

[W]e were told by a supervisor that the U.S. Attorney had political reasons for his instructions, which our supervisor agreed was unethical and wrong, Zenlisky will say. We responded that cutting a defendant a break because of his relationship to the President undermined the fundamental principles of the Department of Justice, and that we felt that was an important principle to defend.

The prosecutors persisted with their recommendation and ultimately filed the recommendation, with approval, on Feb. 10 with language about Stones conduct removed from the memo, the prepared remarks said.

At around 3 a.m. the next morning, Trump weighed in on Twitter about the 7-to-9-year recommendation, calling it horrible and very unfair. Hours later, media began reporting that the department would reduce the prison term it was seeking. A senior DOJ official reportedly told CBS News Catherine Herridge that the department was shocked to see the sentencing recommendation and that it isnt what the department was briefed on.

Zelinsky said that he and the three prosecutors repeatedly asked to see that new memorandum prior to its filing but their requests were denied. Ultimately, the four prosecutors withdrew from the case.

Stone was eventually sentenced on Feb. 20 to three years four months in prison. He was convicted in November 2019 on all seven counts he was charged with, including obstruction, witness tampering, and making false statements to Congress. He is expected to report to prison on June 30, although he has said that he plans to court this week in an attempt to delay the start of his sentence.
Jacksonville police are investigating as potential hate crimes several reports of people being taunted because of their race.

We have zero tolerance for this and we want to investigate each of these claims, Police Chief Adam Mefford said.

Not all of the incidents have been reported to police, which makes it difficult to establish a timeline and potential links.

Detectives are looking into allegations that have been made in Facebook posts and Mefford said he encourages those who made the posts or have experienced similar situations to contact police.

We want to investigate these, but its been hard to narrow down time frames and information without the complainants, he said. We need help identifying suspects and vehicles.

Police also could use any videos that might exist showing such activities in Jacksonville.

Three separate incidents already are on the departments radar, with a common denominator being a red pickup truck.

The first report involved those in a truck and in a second vehicle yelling racial slurs and other vulgarities at postal worker Mick Walls, who is Black.

A second person commented on social media about being subjected to racial comments and vulgarities while jogging in Community Park.

A third person, who also is Black, posted that she was confronted while eating lunch in a Jacksonville park.

Although she does not identify the park, she said she was sitting in her car in the park when a group of five or six younger white men began throwing rocks at her car and using racial slurs.

Finally, after about 10-15 minutes, when they (realized) they were not going to get the reaction they wanted out me, they left, she wrote in the post. She said some of the youths were videotaping the confrontation on cellphones.

Mefford said he is concerned that the nature of the behavior in the reports may be escalating.

As disgusting as it is to yell racial slurs  and sad that its going on in our community  we dont want it escalating from yelling to incidents of violence, he said.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2020) - Pedro Resources Ltd. (TSXV: PED.H) ("Pedro" or the "Company") announces that, further to its press release of May 11, 2020 the Company is continuing an executive search for an independent director. The Company intends to appoint the independent director no later than June 25, 2020.

Neither 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

About Pedro Resources Ltd.

Pedro Resources Ltd. is a Canadian exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange focused on technology, vanadium exploration and development.

For further information, contact Corporate Communications at 647-946-2286 or visit the Company's website at www.pedroresourcesltd.com

On behalf of the Board,

Brian Stecyk

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Tel: 780-953-0111

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58497
By Julia Love MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - 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.

By Julia Love

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - 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 U.S. 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.

Neighbors 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 U.S. 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.

(Reporting by Frank Jack Daniel, Julia Love, Adriana Barrera, Stefanie Eschenbacher and Anthony Esposito in Mexico City and Sandra Maler in Washington; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 11:57 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406613410c 1 National KPK,Corruption-Eradication-Comission,Jambi,bribery,DPRD,bribery-case,Councilors,zumi-zola,regional-budget Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has detained three members of the Jambi Legislative Council for alleged graft in a case that also implicates former governor Zumi Zola Zulkifli.

The three councilors are former Jambi Council speaker Cornelis Buston of the Democratic Party as well as his two former deputies: AR Syahbandar of the Gerindra Party and Chumadi Zaidi of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

The three politicians, who served as councilors between 2014 and 2019, allegedly demanded money from the regional administration in exchange for their approval of the provincial regional budget for fiscal years 2017 and 2018. In addition, they also allegedly demanded kickbacks from projects handled by the provincial administration.

The antigraft body suspects each councilor of accepting between Rp 100 million (US$7,077) and Rp 600 million, KPK deputy chairman Alexander Marwata said.

The three suspects will be detained for 20 days from June 23 to July 12 at the KPK detention center, Alexander said during a press briefing on Tuesday, adding that they would be put in quarantine for 14 days as part of the COVID-19 health protocol.

The KPK has charged the three suspects with violating articles 11 or 12 of the 2001 Corruption Law, which prohibit state officials from accepting bribes and gratuities.

Read also: Zumi Zola spent illicit money on Marvel collectibles, says KPK indictment

Alexander went on to say that the antigraft body had named 18 suspects in the case  12 of whom had been brought to trial. One of them was Zumi, who was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison in December 2018.

Among the suspects were regional administration officials, local council members as well as businesspeople who allegedly involved in the rigged projects.

The case began with a KPK operation in 2017 that led to the arrest of a legislator and three regional administration officials over alleged bribery related to the 2018 provincial budget plan.

Alexander said politics had become one of the most corruption-prone sectors, as the antigraft body had arrested 184 national and regional legislative members since its formation in 2003.

This is a bad side of our democracy. The KPK strongly urges representatives in the House of Representatives and regional councils not to misuse the publics trust for personal gain.






Because apparently the world isn't scary enough right now, there are those in Japan who'd still like it kicked up a few notches. Sadly for them, though, the haunted houses and other Halloween-inspired shows that have rapidly risen in popularity there are understandably closed due to coronavirus. We haven't consulted a medical professional about this, but it sure seems like shouting "boo!" at someone seems like a great way of passing along airborne pathogens.

Alas, a Tokyo haunted house design company called Kowagarasetai, or "a squad wanting to scare," has come up with an ingenious and apparently surprisingly effective solution: the drive-in haunted house.

More accurately, it's a haunted garage that paying customers drive into. As the back story goes ...

"This is a garage where a horrible incident occurred long ago. Now people say that if you park your car inside and honk your horn three times, something will happen."

As the photos can attest, Biggie Smalls doesn't materialize. Instead, as the Kowagarasetai website describes, courtesy Google Translate, "A large number of dead people attack your car." Don't you hate it when that happens?

Besides the visuals provided by the actors and lighting effects, story details and other sounds play through your car's radio, much as they can at a drive-in movie theater. Producer Kenta Iwana told AFP in a feature about Kowagarasetai that the new drive-in format can actually be more frightening than their normal set-up since there's really no escape.

"At the drive-in haunted house, guests are confined in a car so they can't escape the horror until the end," Iwana told AFP. "It makes it even more scary for them."

According to the website, "We will make your car bloody if you wish. You can take a commemorative photo after the event! Furthermore, the staff wipes the blood off the car." Then in small print, "*Blood cannot be completely wiped off. Makes the road clean enough to run without problems."

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Well OK then. Nothing like coming home to discover the neighbor's Daihatsu kei car has been doused in blood.

According to SoraNews24, the admission price of 8000 yen or about $75 is paid by the car, and should you not own a car (a strong possibility in Tokyo), an additional 1000 yen will let you sit in a provided car with up to three other people. The car is then disinfected between sessions since, well, what could be lurking inside is ultimately far scarier than the horror show happening outside.

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Kathmandu, June 24

As Nepal has been waiting for Indias response regarding its calls for the talks on the border dispute concerning Nepals decision to include the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura region in its political map, Indian diplomats have said the New Delhi government is unlikely to take any initiative anytime soon.

Government officials and diplomats including former Indian ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae, have said India will neither hold talks with Nepal nor put pressure on it with any additional means such as the 2015 border blockade.

On the other hand, anti-Nepali sentiment is increasing in India of late. It has been learned that they are also contributing to the delay.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu seems uninformed about recent developments in New Delhi. Indian officials in Kathmandu have not talked about any political issue with Nepali officials of late. They say any meeting to discuss the border is not possible at least until the Covid-19 crisis will be over, adding they are not sure what happens next.

On Nepals part, Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali says Nepal has continued its efforts to hold talks at the earliest, adding no significant progress, however, has been made so far. Likewise, the prime ministers foreign affairs advisor Rajan Bhattarai says the government has continued formal and informal initiatives to convince India for early talks.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of cash-strapped Americans are seeking relief from their credit card bills.

Getting that relief can be a frustrating process, however. Unlike student loan or mortgage lenders, credit card issuers are not required by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, to provide help automatically for those impacted by the pandemic.

Many banks are providing COVID-19 accommodations at the customer's request by deferring payments, waiving fees, and other forms of relief. But you must call and negotiate the terms of that assistance on an individual basis, as we explain below.

But when it comes to actually delivering COVID-19 relief, Citibank was comparatively worse than other credit card issuers, according to a recent Consumer Reports analysis of complaints filed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

The analysis focused on narrative complaints filed to the CFPB involving credit card issuers and COVID-19 relief between March 16 and May 20 of this year. Of the 456 credit card relief complaints, 168, or almost 37 percent, were about Citibank.

No other bank even came close to Citibank in the number of coronavirus-related complaints, says Syed Ejaz, financial policy analyst at Consumer Reports.

The Hurdles to Getting Help

The specific complaints to the CFPB about Citibank's COVID-19 relief programs were wide-ranging, the analysis found, including failure to waive late fees, surprise account closures, and inability to get help from the banks customer representatives.

Many cardholders reported a disconnect between Citibanks promised relief policies and the relief they were actually offered.

As one consumer wrote to the CFPB on April 21:

"Due to the coronavirus and stay-at-home order . . . I tried to call my credit card company, Citi Card Services . . . I did get through to one card by phone and they said they would put card payment on hold for 3 months . . . But it's not showing on my account. It shows only my due past amount [total]. I don't want them to report bad credit past due. Now when I call, I'm on hold forever [with] no answer."

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Citibank told CR that the company's written policies explain that while past due amounts may still be shown on customers' statements, Citibank reported the accounts as current to the credit bureaus during the waiver period.

The volume of complaints about Citibank stands in sharp contrast to other major card issuers, the CFPB data show. The banks with the second and third largest number of complaints, Synchrony and Capital One, had only 40 and 38, respectively.

J.P.Morgan, which has a larger share of the credit market than Citibank, had only 32 credit card complaints related to COVID-19.

In response to these findings, Citibank spokesperson Jennifer Bombardier sent an emailed statement:

"The complaints referenced in the CFPB database include calls related to merchant disputes, as well as calls received very early in the crisis just prior to credit card assistance being available, and in total, the 168 complaints represent a very small fraction  .008% of the 1.9 million customers assisted. In addition, applying for relief did not require an attestation of hardship; terms did not need to be negotiated; to make the process easier for customers, enrollment was digitally enabled and 80% of customers self-serviced; and accounts in good standing before the waiver period began were not reported to credit bureaus during this time. In fact, industry data shows that customer satisfaction increased in April as it pertains to Citis response to COVID-19.

CR's review of the data shows that the majority of the complaints came in April and May, not early on in the pandemic.



Fixing the Relief Programs

These pandemic-related credit card complaints to the CFPB may make up a small percentage of overall consumer complaints, but it's important to consider the issues that led to these filings, Ejaz says.

"Consumers resort to complaining to the CFPB when theyve exhausted their efforts working directly with companies, so these complaints are often an indicator of larger problems, he says.

Consumer Reports has written a letter Citibank and other banks, urging them to improve their treatment of cardholders during the coronavirus pandemic. Among the steps that Consumers Reports recommends:

Make it easy to understand the COVID-19 relief policy. Banks should clearly state the specific types of help and assistance available to customers who are affected by COVID-19, as well as explain what it takes to qualify and the process for enrolling. This information should be made available through websites, customer correspondence, and mobile apps.

Make it easier to apply for relief. Lenders should relax documentation requirements for COVID-19 reliefan attestation of hardship should be sufficient. Banks should also waive all late fees and penalties during the crisis and offer manageable paths to repayment.

Dont ding consumer credit reports. Any consumer with an accommodation should be reported as current to the credit reporting agencies, in accordance with the CARES Act.

How You Can Get Help Now

For now, whether you hold a Citibank credit card or a card from another issuer, you are largely on your own in seeking COVID-19 relief. Here are four key steps that may help:

Ask for the specific relief you need. Your credit card company may steer you toward the standard relief package, perhaps a month or two of deferred payments and waiving fees.

But depending on your financial circumstances, you may be able to negotiate additional help, such as reducing interest charges or setting up a modified payment plan after the relief period ends.

You may not get all those concessions, but it doesnt hurt to ask, says Ted Rossman, an industry analyst at CreditCards.com.

If you receive a COVID-19 accommodation, ask that your payments be marked current on your credit file, rather than delinquent. That will ensure that your credit score wont be affected by late payments.

Talk to all your credit card companies. Dont give up if you have trouble getting accommodations from one card issuer. Ask your other card issuers, because they may be more willing to provide assistance.

Perhaps you can get a balance transfer card and shift your debts to a different issuers card. Or maybe you can qualify for a lower rate on another card that your issuer offers.

Every little bit helps, Rossman says.

Clarify and document the accommodation. "Bankers tend to talk in jargon, so make sure you understand the terms of any relief you receive," says John Ulzheimer, a credit expert who has worked at Equifax and FICO.

For example, if you receive a payment deferral, no interest accrues during that period. By contrast, if you're offered a payment holiday, interest may accrue, Ulzheimer says.

It's crucial to keep a detailed record of your interactions with the issuer and the accommodations you receive, in the event of future disputes.

Consider getting help from a credit counselor. For those who need additional assistance managing their debts, consider working with a credit counselor. Their help may speed the process, because the counselors are familiar with the relief programs offered by different issuers.

You can search for a credit counselor by going to the nonprofit National Foundation for Credit Counselingthe services are free or low fee. And for those impacted by COVID-19, the NFCC is offering free emergency help with credit card bills.

Whatever path you take, give some thought to how you'll manage your finances beyond the COVID-19 relief period.

"If you can't pay off your debts when the accommodations end, it's time to start developing a longer-term strategy," says Bruce McClary, vice president of communications at the NFCC.

Editor's Note: This story was updated with additional information from Citibank.





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Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
A South Jersey couple was charged Tuesday in an international romance scam that used bogus profiles on dating websites to woo unsuspecting victims into giving up more than $6 million, federal authorities said.

Martins Friday Inalegwu, 31, and Steincy Mathieu, 24, a husband and wife from Maple Shade, face charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, according to the New Jersey U.S. Attorneys Office. Authorities arrested Inalegwu while Mathieu remained at large.

The married couple and their conspirators, including some in Nigeria, carried out the con from October 2016 through last month, according to documents in the case. In all, federal investigators identified 33 victims who were scammed around the country.

Authorities alleged the scammers reached their victims through dating websites and social media, and pretended to strike up a romantic relationship with their targets. Agents found profiles allegedly used in the scam on sites including, eHarmony.com, Match.com and Plenty of Fish, documents show.

The conspirators bilked their supposed online romantic interests out of money using false emergencies, according to investigators. Some of the claims included customs fees, taxes, medical and travel expenses. Court documents show the victims wired the money or mailed checks to the scammers, who used the fake online personas.

In one case, a victim was duped by a profile claiming to be a Kentucky-native and widower who purported to be in South Africa for work, according to a criminal complaint. After about six weeks of chatting and forming a fake relationship, the scammer convinced the victim into sending money to fund his supposed businesses and medical expenses.

The unwitting victim sent $114,900 to various conspirators, one of several payments, according to court papers. Facing apparent financial ruin from the fraud, the victim allegedly began stealing money from her work to pay the accused scammers.

In or about March 2017, after exhausting her savings, liquidating her retirement account, borrowing from friends and family, taking out a personal loan, and maxing out her credit cards, [the victim], employed as the finance director, began embezzling money from her employer, a federal agent wrote in the complaint.

In all, the victim funneled $4 million to the scammer from her employer, according to the document. She pleaded guilty in a local court for embezzling from her job.

Inalegwu, Mathieu and their conspirators also defrauded people by advertising properties they didnt own and collected application fees and security deposits on the properties, authorities said.

Authorities said Inalegwu and Mathieu directly received $3.1 million in the scheme. The duo allegedly spent the victims money on their own expenses while also transferring the funds to accounts run by conspirators in Nigeria and Turkey.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury secretary, speaks during a Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, June 10, 2020.

This tax season may look more like a tax year, as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin weighs delaying the July 15 deadline once again.

"As of now, we're not intending on doing that, but it is something that we may consider," he said in a June 23 interview at the Bloomberg Invest Global 2020 virtual summit. He said he was considering another delay to Sept. 15.

Treasury has already pushed the April 15 deadline for federal income tax returns to July 15, giving individuals and professionals some relief as they grappled with coronavirus and stay-at-home orders in the spring.

On that day, federal income returns for 2019, as well as taxes owed, are due. The IRS also pushed a series of other deadlines  including taxes for the first and second quarter  to July 15.

More from Smart Tax Planning:

Work-from-home costs may get tax break in these states

Here's where to get your tax return done for free

IRS eases rules on retirement savings withdrawals

Be aware that your state may have different deadlines.

For tax professionals, a further delay of the tax season would be a mixed blessing.

Accountants are hustling 2019's tax returns out the door, as well as dissecting the Paycheck Protection Program and all of its tax-planning implications for small-business clients.

The PPP, a federal forgivable loan program established by the CARES Act, has many moving parts, and guidance on obtaining forgiveness continues to evolve.
DES MOINES, Iowa, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- National Asset Services, (NAS) one of the Nation's leading commercial real estate management companies, has successfully facilitated the sale of a three-property, warehouse portfolio on behalf of investors in the Iowa properties.

Known for their ability to deliver the best possible outcome for property investors, the NAS team assumed asset management responsibilities for the three properties, totaling 731,169 square-feet, in 2016 as ownership faced an impending 10-year loan maturity with no viable exit strategy.

At that time, the NAS team lead property investors through an innovative strategy involving reorganizing and consolidating the group of tenants-in-common co-owners into a new limited liability company while securing lease extensions that ensured 100% occupancy at all three warehouse properties. The formation of the newly created company enabled ownership to take advantage of an IRS code that enabled the contribution of the property to the new ownership entity without realizing a gain or loss. The newly created company then became a borrower for refinancing the property under a new loan.

In order to assist the investment group to sell the properties, the NAS team leveraged its vast resources to identify the right buyer, while overcoming challenges presented by the age of the three facilities, a planned relocation by the existing tenant, and the uncertainty in the real estate and finance markets cause by COVID-19.

The seller was represented by Paul D. Rubenstein, Attorney in Los Angeles, CA.

"We were incredibly lucky to be guided by NAS throughout a transaction that taxed everyone's patience and stamina for many months," commented Fredda Rose, Investment Group Co-Manager. "We also owe an incredibly huge debt of gratitude to our longstanding attorney, Paul Rubenstein, who navigated the most challenging final transaction on our behalf by negotiating and ultimately completing this most difficult sale."

"Our investment group, NAS and Paul Rubenstein are perfect examples of the strength and wisdom that can occur when people of different backgrounds and abilities interact with respect and purpose," added Stuart Wachter, Investment Group Co-Manager.

Since 2008, NAS' successful investment property track record includes guiding over 85 ownership groups through property refinancing and selling processes. NAS has sourced and delivered buyers and maximized returns for investors of 64 properties nationwide and has delivered the best possible capital resources for the re-financing of 21 other commercial real estate assets. In many cases, the re-financing process included the re-structuring of tenants-in-common properties into a limited liability corporation in order to secure the best financing option, a strategy in which the NAS management team has developed a high level of expertise.

"We are extremely proud of the milestones we have reached after 12 years of serving investment property clients. Our track record speaks volumes about our ability to maximize returns for property investors while consistently delivering high quality, proactive and transparent management services," commented Karen E. Kennedy, President and Founder of National Asset Services. "We started as a TIC property asset management company in 2008. Because of our reputation, we have steadily grown to providing asset management and property management services for real estate investment clients with varying ownership structures, including TIC, DST and single owner properties. Our ability to successfully manage a property regardless of its size, location, commercial class or ownership structure sets us apart from other commercial property management companies."

About Karen E. Kennedy, CRX, CSM

A 36-year veteran of the Commercial Real Estate Industry, Karen E. Kennedy is the President and Founder of National Asset Services and NAS Investment Solutions. Karen and her team are known nationwide for their objective, straightforward and transparent management style that delivers the best possible results to investors.

Karen is available for speaking at commercial real estate management and wealth management industry events. Accredited investors interested in seeking properties for a 1031 Exchange, self-directed IRA real estate or cash investment opportunities should contact Karen at 310.988.4240.

About National Asset Services (NAS)

NAS manages a wide range of diverse commercial real estate: Office, medical office, multifamily, retail, student housing, assisted living and industrial flex properties. The company manages sole-owner and multi-owner properties. NAS offers a wide range of asset management capabilities. They include: Property management; project management; lease administration; acquisition and disposition services; real estate strategy analysis; long-range business objectives; monitoring changing market conditions; investor relations; real estate and investor accounting; loan modification and workout solutions; exit and hold strategies; leasing & marketing; tenant retention plans; research studies; site selections; feasibility studies; insurance risk management; capital improvement planning and tracking; property tax appeal services and cost segregation services.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, NAS operates regional offices in Orlando, FL and Austin, Texas.

Contact:

JW Robison

310-795-8985

[email protected]

SOURCE National Asset Services
Veteran conservative politician Jay Hill has been named interim leader of the separatist Wexit Canada party, following the resignation of founder Peter Downing.

Hill  who served as MP for Prince George-Peace River in northern B.C. for 17 years, under three parties  has taken over until a new leader can be elected at its first convention, the party said Tuesday.

"I have been watching with great dismay the developments on the federal government scene and I'm very concerned about the direction the country's going in," Hill told CBC News.

"I came to realize that it will not matter to Western Canada who wins the Conservative leadership race and who forms the next government  because in the end, governments have to cater to the golden triangle of Toronto-Montreal-Ottawa and the West will never get a fair deal."

Hill said the party's short-term goal will be to build a strong base, and that the convention will have to wait until both enough members have signed up and pandemic restrictions allow for large groups to gather.

Hill said he hasn't spoken recently with Downing but that his understanding is that Downing will be moving on to other projects and there will be a clear break between himself and the new board.

Terri Trembath/CBC

Downing told CBC News he will focus on fundraising and activism, and said Hill's experience makes him the perfect person to lead the new party into its next chapter.

The party, which was granted federal eligibility by Elections Canada in January, plans to nominate 104 candidates to ridings in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Wexit also plans to run candidates at the provincial level in those provinces, but Hill said the federal party will not be affiliated with the provincial parties. The provincial Wexit Alberta party is holding a vote this week on whether to merge with the Freedom Conservative Party.

House leader under Harper

Hill lives in Calgary, and represented Prince George-Peace River under the Reform Party of Canada, the Canadian Alliance and the Conservatives. He was House leader under then-prime minister Stephen Harper at the time of his retirement in 2010.

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Before he entered politics, he worked in forestry and the oil and gas industry, and eventually took over his family farm.

One of his notable accomplishments in government was a private members bill that gave a tax break to adoptive parents.

A year after he left federal politics, he was reprimanded by the federal ethics watchdog who determined Hill had breached the Conflict of Interest Act when he contacted his ex-colleagues about a forthcoming multinational energy deal. At the time, his wife worked for a firm that had drafted a communications plan for the deal.

In October 2019, Hill told CBC that he felt Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority government was "illegitimate" and said it was time for Western Canada to separate.

"What's B.C. going to do if Alberta and Saskatchewan vote to leave? Because then all of a sudden, they're cut off from the rest of Canada. So there's going to have to be a lot of negotiation," Hill said at the time.

Hill says he re-entered politics to safeguard the future of his three young granddaughters.

"I'm deeply concerned with the growing national debt, with a lot of the issues that are facing Canadians with a prime minister and a government that continues to throw billions of dollars away internationally while so many people are facing tough times here at home," he said Tuesday.

"That my grandchildren will not have the same opportunities that my father's generation gave us, people of my age."

Downing had said in January he planned to lead the party he had founded into its first election.

But he said he and Hill share a vision for the party's next steps.

"I think that we both recognize that Alberta will never get a fair deal as part of Confederation and specifically Western Canada in general will never get a fair deal as part of the current confederation system," Downing said.

Downing is a controversial figure. The ex-RCMP officer was suspended for uttering threats against his now ex-wife. Downing has said the judge made a mistake in finding against him for uttering threats and said he left the force with a clean record.
President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he participates in a ceremony commemorating the 200th mile of border wall at the international border with Mexico in San Luis, Ariz., on June 23, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Commemorates 200 Miles of New Border Wall

President Donald Trump visited a section of the U.S.Mexico border in Yuma, Arizona, to celebrate 200 miles of newly built border wall.

Im thrilled to be in Yuma  to commemorate the completion of more than 200 miles of powerful border wall, he said June 23 during a roundtable briefing on border security, before he visited the border wall. Were on pace to complete 450 miles by the end of the year and 500 miles almost immediately thereafter.

The Army Corps of Engineers, I want to thank them, theyve been incredible.

Trump said the new wall system has enhanced the capability of the United States to secure the southern border.

The wall has reduced drug and human smuggling, stopped criminals and gangs from coming into the country, and lowered violent crimes in U.S. cities, the president said.

This is border security, which is national security, he said.

President Donald Trump looks at a plaque after signing it as he participates in a ceremony commemorating the 200th mile of border wall at the international border with Mexico in San Luis, Ariz., on June 23, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump visited a section of the newly built border wall after a roundtable briefing with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls, and others.

He examined the border and signed a metal plaque attached to the structure marking 200 miles of construction.

In a statement after Trumps visit, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that they had constructed 216 miles of new border wall system.

Construction is underway for an additional approximately 339 miles of new border wall system and another approximately 183 miles are in the pre-construction phase, the agency stated.

Illegal drug and human smuggling activities have decreased in those areas where barriers are deployed. Illegal cross-border traffic has also shifted to areas with inferior, legacy barriers or no barriers at all, said acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan.

Trumps visit came days after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his bid to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for now.

Good things will happen with DACA pretty soon, Trump said during the visit to the wall. Put your chin up, good things are going to happen.
6.5 M non-dilutive funding including PGE in Q2 2020

Progress report on THN102 and BBDF-101 programs



Lyon, XX June 2020 - Theranexus, a biopharmaceutical company innovating in the treatment of neurological diseases and pioneer in the development of drug candidates modulating the interaction between neurons and glial cells, is pleased to announce the signing of a 3.4 million non-dilutive loan agreement and provides an update on its clinical developments.



Approximately 6.5 M in non-dilutive funding during Q2 2020

The company recently secured a loan for 3.4 M under the French PGE State Guarantee Scheme from a consortium consisting of long-standing partner banks and Bpifrance. Under the loan agreement no repayment is required for 12 months and installments are then spread over a maximum 5-year period.

In addition, Theranexus benefited from an accelerated full refund of the 2019 Research Tax Credit (CIR) for a sum of 2 M in May 2020. Lastly, the company received from Bpifrance the first part of the funding (1 M) for its Neurolead R&D platform, developed in partnership with the College de France and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and financed under the Structuring Research and Development Projects for Competitiveness scheme (PSPC[1]) initiative operated by Bpifrance. The company is set to receive a further 3 M spread over the next three years in connection with the project.

As a reminder, the company's cash amounted to 7.8 M[2] at 31 March 2020 and did not include any of the above-listed payments.



Progress report on THN102 and BBDF-101 programs



Drug candidate THN102 - Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in Parkinson's disease

The positive results from the Phase II clinical trial[3] establish THN102 as the first potential treatment for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients with Parkinson's disease. Moreover, the absence of residual sleepiness in more than 25% of patients after treatment with THN102 promises a high level of medical service rendered.

According to a recent study by the leading consultancy firm Clarivate Analytics in June 2020, 40% of Parkinson's patients suffer from EDS in the absence of available treatment. More than half of them suffer from EDS that is sufficiently debilitating, both in terms of quality of life but also overall progression of the disease, to require specific treatment of the symptom which would therefore potentially be treatable with THN102. According to estimations by Clarivate Analytics, on the basis of its efficacy and safety profile established during Phase II trials, THN102 could achieve sales in excess of a billion dollars with a treatment price of more than 20,000 dollars in the United States and 5,000 dollars on average in Europe.

As announced previously, one objective for Theranexus is to join forces with a larger pharmaceutical player to capitalize on the positive results of this Phase II trial. This will allow Theranexus to be in a position to ensure the later stage clinical development of the drug candidate through to its approval and commercialization. This partnership is expected to be launched by the end of 2020. In this context, initial discussions with prospective partners confirmed the interest in THN102 of some of them and the team is confident this goal is achievable.



Drug candidate BBDF-101 for Batten disease, a rare orphan pediatric disorder of the nervous system

As a reminder, in December 2019, Theranexus and the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation (BBDF) announced an exclusive, global license agreement for the drug candidate BBDF-101 which covers the clinical development of the drug candidate BBFD-101 pending approval and its commercial use.

BBDF-101 is a drug candidate combining trehalose and miglustat, two active ingredients each with its own specific activity of interest for the disease as well as a synergistic effect.

The safety profile of each of the two compounds is well known and highly favorable: miglustat is a drug already approved in another rare disease and trehalose is a common excipient (notably for IV solutions). As the clinical program involves treating pediatric patients over a long period (24 months), the Food and Drug Administration[4] requested that Theranexus confirm without delay the preclinical safety of trehalose over a long exposure time to supplement the data already available. In light of the frequent use of trehalose - notably in IV solutions - and of miglustat, the company is very confident of the outcome of the research. The preclinical phase was initially planned in parallel with the clinical program, but will be brought forward to allow the program launch to proceed in the second half of 2021. Moreover, talks with the FDA confirmed that, if successful, the planned clinical development program would lead directly to product approval. In addition, "Orphan Drug" status is expected to be granted by the FDA and EMA[5] in the coming weeks.

Franck Mouthon, Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Theranexus, concludes: "I would like to thank the French government, as well as Bpifrance and our banking partners for their support and efforts in helping us to consolidate our cash position. All the non-dilutive funding from the first half of the year, amounting to close to 6.5 M, will help sustain the development of our business activities and strengthen our position in discussions with an industrial partner for THN102, which we aim to finalize by the end of 2020. This agreement will boost the company's value and growth prospects."



About THN102 for Parkinson's disease

THN102 met the primary efficacy endpoint of the Phase II clinical trial and significantly reduced EDS in Parkinson's patients with severe excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS of 16.5 on average) scored on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The ESS score improved by 3.9 points in patients after treatment with THN102-200/2. This improvement is highly significant (p=0.01) compared with that achieved by the placebo (2.4 points). Moreover, the proportion of patients no longer presenting with excessive daytime sleepiness for the duration of the treatment was considerably higher with THN102-200/2 than in the placebo group (p=0.05). The trial also demonstrated the excellent tolerability of THN102 and the absence of a negative impact on the disease's other symptoms.

Roughly 40% of patients suffering from Parkinson's disease are affected by excessive daytime sleepiness. The symptom is recognized by practitioners as a significant medical need[6] and associated with a considerably increased accident risk[7].



About BBDF 101 for Batten disease

The juvenile form of Batten disease, also known as Spielmeyer-Vogt or CLN3 disease, is a rare, fatal, genetic disorder of the nervous system for which there is no treatment. It belongs to a group of disorders referred to as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs). If successful, the clinical development program securing product approval will be launched in 2021. It will include efficacy measurements comparing the development of various symptoms to natural disease progression documented on the basis of patient cohorts already followed up as well as the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of BBDF-101. The program will include an adolescent/adult cohort and a pediatric cohort:

The trial will begin with the enrollment of an adolescent/adult cohort of six patients who will all be administered the drug BBDF-101 in escalating doses, with tolerability and pharmacokinetics established over 5 months. These patients will continue to be administered BBDF-101 throughout the trial and followed up for safety.

Once measurements of pharmacokinetics and tolerability have been performed for the adolescent/adult cohort, a pediatric cohort of 30 patients will be enrolled and undergo regular measurements to assess disease progression (vision, cognition, motor symptoms, etc.) over a period of two years.

At the end of the trial, patients' data will be compared to natural disease progression as measured within cohorts already followed up by American and European academic teams.



Next financial publication:

Thursday 9 July 2020 (before market opening): Cash position as of 30 June 2020



Theranexus is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that emerged from the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in 2013. It develops drug candidates for the treatment of nervous system diseases. Theranexus identified the key role played by non-neuronal cells (also known as "glial cells") in the body's response to psychotropic drugs (which target the neurons). The company is a pioneer in the design and development of drug candidates affecting the interaction between neurons and glial cells. The unique, patented technology used by Theranexus is designed to improve the efficacy of psychotropic drugs already approved and on the market, by combining them with a glial cell modulator. This strategy of combining its innovations with registered drugs means Theranexus can significantly reduce development time and costs and considerably increase the chance of its drugs reaching the market.

The proprietary, adaptable Theranexus platform can generate different proprietary drug candidates offering high added-value for multiple indications.

Theranexus is listed on the Euronext Growth market in Paris (FR0013286259- ALTHX).

More information at: www.theranexus.com



Contacts



THERANEXUS

Thierry Lambert

Financial and Administrative Director

investisseurs@theranexus.fr

FP2COM

Florence Portejoie

Media Relations

+ 33 (0)6 07 76 82 83

fportejoie@fp2com.fr

ACTUS finance & communication

Thomas Segouin

Investor Relations

+33 (0)1 53 67 36 75

theranexus@actus.fr

[1] https://www.theranexus.com/images/pdf/Theranexus_PR_PSPC_BPI_FINAL_20190129_VDEF.pdf

[2] https://www.theranexus.com/images/pdf/Theranexus_PR_2019_Full_Year_Results_2019_EN.pdf

[3] https://www.theranexus.com/images/pdf/Theranexus_PR_THN102_Parkinson_EN.pdf

[4] U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

[5] European Medicines Agency (EMA)

[6] Survey conducted with 23 experts in Europe and the United States

[7] Spindler et al., 2013

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A New York father whose one-year-olds died after he left them in a hot car while he worked an eight-hour shift has been spared a jail sentence after pleading guilty to reckless endangerment.

Juan Rodriguez pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment but was told that he would be jailed if he was arrested within the next year.

Rodriguez said he thought he had already dropped the twins, a boy and a girl, off at their usual day care before he went to his job at a Bronx hospital last July.

Juan Rodriguez, 39, whose young twins died after being left in a sweltering car pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment Tuesday and will avoid prison. He is pictured last December

Juan Rodriguez, pictured last August, appeared at a virtual hearing and pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor

His one-year-old daughter, Luna, and son, Phoenix, died in July 2019 after he forgot to drop them at daycare and they spent eight hours in a sweltering car

Shocked friends described Rodriguez as a devoted father. He is seen doting on the twins

Investigators say Rodriguez parked him silver Honda Accord with his infants, Phoenix and Luna still in their carseats.

The weather on that July day was in the 80s Fahrenheit with temperatures in the car up to 50 degrees higher.

It wasn't until after finishing work that he realized the twins were still in the back of the car.

Last year Rodriguez pleaded not guilty to two counts each of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child.

Rodriguez told authorities he thought he had dropped the twins off at day care before going to work. Rodriguez drove off after finishing work before realizing the children were in the car (pictured) and frantically summoning help

Luna and Phoenix died last July after being left for eight hours in their car seats in their father's car. They are pictured at their first birthday party

'For the rest of his life, he will be scarred by what happened here,' defense attorney Joey Jackson said. 'He will feel really badly by what has occurred here. So I don't think today is any vindication for him.'

'The defendant, Juan Rodriguez, left his one-year-old twins in the backseat of his car for hours while he went to work,' Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark explained.

'The children were strapped in their car seats throughout the hot summer day, with no windows open. These babies suffered horribly, and we owed them a thorough investigation. This was a tragic, unfortunate incident. I hope that as the sweltering weather is upon us, caregivers will be extra vigilant about children in vehicles.'

Rodriguez, an Iraq War veteran, said that he forgot the children were in the car on his way to work, possibly because his regular routine changed when construction forced him to take a different route that morning.

The twins were two of the pair's five children. Rodriguez, an Iraq War veteran, says that he forgot the children were in the car on his way to work, possibly because his regular routine changed when construction forced him to take a different route that morning

Rodriguez, had initially pleaded not guilty after being charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. He is pictured in court last December

Twins Luna and Phoenix who died in a hot car on July 26. They were found lifeless with body temperatures of 108 degrees Fahrenheit

The twins were two of Rodriquez's and his wife Marissa's five children.

Known as Forgotten Child Syndrome, experts say that any parent can potentially fall prey to a similar lapse in memory with horrifying consequences.

'Even the best of parents or caregivers can unknowingly leave a sleeping baby in a car; and the end result can be injury or even death,' according to the group Kids and Cars, which studies the issue and pushes to raise awareness.

The horrific scene unfolded outside James J. Peters VA Medical Center, where Rodriguez finished his eight-hour shift at 4pm.

Temperatures were in the 80s that day, and the twins body temperatures reached 108 degrees, investigators said.

Rodriguez, 39, parked his Honda Accord in a car park in The Bronx on July 26, 2019 forgetting that his daughter, Luna, and son, Phoenix, were in the back seat

The infant twins were strapped in the back seat of Rodriguez's Honda and he initially got into the car and began driving for a few minutes before seeing the sickening sight in his back seat.

Both twins were dead and 'foaming at the mouth', having succumbed to acute heatstroke.

After making the tragic discovery, he screamed which attracted the attention of a bystander who quickly called 911.

Juan Rodriguez is joined by his wife Marissa Rodriguez after appearing at Bronx Supreme Court in the Bronx last December

'I assumed I dropped them off at day care before I went to work,' he reportedly told cops who arrived at the scene.

'I blanked out! I My babies are dead! I killed my babies!'

Facebook photos show Rodriguez as a devoted family man who was frequently pictured doting on the twins.

Speaking for the first time since the tragedy in December, Marissa Rodriguez told Dr. Phil that no sentence could be harsher than the pain of losing their babies and that while she was 'mad' at her husband, she had forgiven him.

Marissa Rodriguez appeared on Dr. Phil in November to speak for the first time about her one-year-old twins' deaths in July

Juan and Marissa Rodriguez pictured on their wedding day

'I can't imagine not having my husband next to me to grieve throughout this process.

'Bottom line is that I'm supportive and understanding but I have been so angry. I just couldn't understand how it happened and as I'm processing all of this, I realize this happens more often than I ever knew.

'I also know that it was a terrible accident and there was no intention. he would never hurt our children,' she cried

She also recalled in excruciating detail the day of their deaths and what happened when Juan phoned her to tell her the babies had died.

'Like any other morning in general, we wake up bout five or 6am and get the children together, feed them, all three small ones, put them in their car seats. Our four-year- old was able to get in his car seat, Juan strapped him in, I strapped the babies in.

'I got them ready to go. That was the last time I saw them,' she said.

Dr. Rosina McAlpine told Fox News, that parents sometimes forget their children, leaving them inside hot vehicles, because they're in a rush to get to work, make an an appointment, or have some other obligation.

Juan Rodriguez avoided jail time with a conditional discharge, which would be voided if he is arrested within the next year. He is pictures last July, sobbing in court

They 'forget they haven't dropped the child off at day care or school and rush off to the meeting or work distracted, leaving their child behind.'

'Later they remember in shock but often it is too late,' McAlpine says, noting some parents alternate dropping their child off at day care, and might 'forget it was their turn.'

Some caregivers 'knowingly' leave children inside cars, as the kids 'are sleeping and don't want to disturb them in the hope they'll get back before they awake.'

Those who leave their children in the car also may not understand the danger they're in, or consider how fast cars can heat up.

The interior temperature of a car can quickly soar with 80 percent of the total temperature rise happening in the first 30 minutes a child is inside a car.

Temperatures inside the car can often exceed those outside by up to 50 degrees.
Who Owns The MLC Database of Songs?

Those keeping up with copyright will doubtless be aware of the new developments surrounding the Music Modernization Act, and the establishment of blanket licensing, curtesy of the Mechanical Licensing Collective. But who exactly owns the songs in the MLC database?

Guest post by Chris Castle of Music Technology Policy

If youve been following the evolution of the aircraft carrier revision of the U.S. Copyright Act styled the Music Modernization Act, you will remember that America now has a blanket license for the mechanical reproduction of songs (or will have as of 1/1/21). The MMA comes in three parts (or as I say three and one-half):

Title I which establishes the blanket license, a willing-buyer willing-seller standard for mechanical royalty rate setting, the Mechanical Licensing Collective (called the MLC), the all-important safe harbor for Big Techs massive infringement of songs, and authorized the creation of the musical works database which is the subject of this post;

which establishes the blanket license, a willing-buyer willing-seller standard for mechanical royalty rate setting, the Mechanical Licensing Collective (called the MLC), the all-important safe harbor for Big Techs massive infringement of songs, and authorized the creation of the musical works database which is the subject of this post; Title I-1/2 which gives certain small benefits to ASCAP and BMI;

which gives certain small benefits to ASCAP and BMI; Title II which provides meaningful relief and largely fixes the pre-72 loophole that the Turtles sued over (formerly the CLASSICS Act); and

which provides meaningful relief and largely fixes the pre-72 loophole that the Turtles sued over (formerly the CLASSICS Act); and Title III which gives producers a statutory basis for SoundExchange royalties, another truly meaningful change.

I supported Title II and Title III, but I have lots of bones to pick with Title I, not the least of which has to do with the musical works database. A lot of my issues have to do with what I perceive as sloppy drafting and a mad rush to get a bill at all costs which has led to a strong need to fix a lot of glitches in Title I itself (such as the failure to dovetail the major change in the compulsory mechanical from a per-song basis to a blanket basis. This in turn has an affect on other copyright provisions such as the termination right for songwriters which is now having to get solvedmaybethrough the caulking of regulations to cover sloppy workmanship. (Caulk cracks.)

For those of us who sweep up behind the elephants in the circus of life, I fear that the musical works database of other peoples things is an 11th Century solution to a 21st Century problema list of things that will be very difficult to get right and even more difficult to keep right, not unlike William the Conquerors Domesday Book. Static lists of dynamic things necessarily are out of date the moment they are fixed. We are going to discuss Title I musical works database today from a very simple threshold question: Who owns it?

Spoiler alert: The public owns it. This is logical, but like so many things in the drafting of Title I, the drafting is glitchy, which is what you call it if youre in a good mood. I apocryphally attribute the term glitch when applied to massive Internet data breaches to the Fathers of the Internet who did not take care that the

When you consider that the most valuable asset of the MLC is going to be the song database, and this database of other peoples things must be created by the efforts of potentially hundreds of thousands of songwriters given no choice in the matter, ownership matters. It would be a bit much for the U.S. Congress to require all this only to enrich one U.S. corporation controlled by the U.S. publishers by leveraging a compulsory license to create a very valuable private asset. Particularly one paid for by other people that might then get taken and given to a replacement MLC. (Theres that taken word again.) Thats typically not what they do.

Lets also remember that on paper, the MLC does not pay a penny for the cost of its operations, including the creation of the database. The entire cost of the MLCs operations is borne by the users of the blanket license through an organization called the Digital Licensee Coordinator. (If youre thinking whats with these names, I know, I know. Forget it, Jake, its Washington.)

This database ownership issue has been raised a couple times, and no one has answered it. I made it part of a recent comment I filed with the Copyright Office in the current rule making for regulations implementing Title I. Maybe theyll get around to answering the question this time. After a while, you have to wonder why they have not.

A side note demonstrating both that ownership matters and that The MLC is thinking about ownership: a service mark registration for The MLC. (A service mark is a kind of trademark.) There is a difference between the MLC and The MLC. Thats because the MLC is the organization envisioned by the Congress that has to be redesignated (think re-approved) by the Copyright Office every five years. On the other hand, The MLC refers to The MLC, Inc. which is the corporation created by the super popular proponents of Title I who were designated the first MLC and who style themselves The MLC using the definite article. But if I told you that there was a difference between the MLC and The MLC would you find that confusing?

The clear implication of the definite article seems to be that they dont envision any future in which they will not be the MLC, i.e., will not be redesignated. They also probably dont envision a future where a different corporation would be designated the MLC and The MLC would be looking for something to do. Maybe they know something we dont, but there it is.

This also raises some interesting trademark questions should The MLC seek to prevent a successor from trading under the name MLC, enough to stop The MLC from claiming a proprietary interest in the statutory description. That mark is arguably descriptive and probably should be denied. In fact its so descriptive it actually asserts a private intellectual property interest in the statutory language that describes the organization created by statute. Sort of like asserting a trademark in TVA or ICC or FOIA.

Lets be clear about who owns the Congressional database. As you will see, the musical works database does not belong to the MLC or The MLC and if there is any confusion about that, the Copyright Office should clear it up right away (which would save having to go to other avenues to do the same thing). There really isnt a practical alternative to the Copyright Office jurisdiction. Congress gave the Copyright Office broad regulatory powers over the MLC (and, therefore, The MLC).

The public musical works database that Congress envisioned in Title I of the Music Modernization Act is largely a crowdsourced asset. Congress has asked the worlds songwriters or copyright owners to spend considerable time preparing their catalogs in whatever format The MLC and the DLC determine is good for The MLC (with the Offices blessing through regulations). There inevitably will be quality control and accuracy review costs invested by the worlds songwriters and copyright owners in making sure that their catalogs are correctly reflected in the musical works database. Copyright owners may also include sound recording copyright owners asked to contribute their ISRCs or other data that they, too, have invested considerable expense in creating and maintaining.

Unfortunately, the transaction cost to the songwriter and copyright owner for participation in The MLC and crowdsourcing Congresss database is an unfunded mandate at the moment. From a commercial perspective, the dynamic evolution of data is a potentially limitless expense, yet we have both this unfunded mandate which will spike in the early years but continue on a rolling basis essentially forever. Yet the MLCs administrative assessment appears to be capped at a fixed increase by a settlement agreement. Again, a glitch. Still, MLC executives seem positively giddy about their prospects with all the relief of someone who got tapped for lifetime employment with a pension (no doubt) while the songwriters these leaders are to serve are having the fight of their lives.

Yet, it seems clear that at the time of passing Title I, Congress had no intention of using a public law to create a private asset. Neither was their intention to use the law to leverage the creation of an asset for private ownership by whoever the head of the U.S. Copyright Office designated to be the MLC, regardless of how popular they might have been.

The creation of the musical works database is replete with hidden costs paid or incurred by songwriters and copyright owners. Neither the Congress nor the Copyright Royalty Judges were asked to directly address these hidden costs of creating the musical works database. (The Copyright Royalty Judges (or CRJs) are relevant because they approve the DLCs financial contribution to the MLC through the Administrative Assessment. The assessment is intended to cover the collective total costs which includes broad categories of cost items related to the database.) And as usual, these costs appear to have gone straight over the heads of the Congressional Budget Office in their mandated assessment of the costs of Title I.

Even so, the MMA Conference Report from Congress addresses the cost issue head on:

The [Congress] rejects statements that copyright owners benefit from paying for the costs of collectives to administer compulsory licenses in lieu of a free market. Therefore, the legislation directs that licensees should bear the reasonable costs of establishing and operating the new mechanical licensing collective. This transfer of costs is not unlimited, however, since it is strongly cabined by the term reasonable.[1]

It will be impossible for the new mechanical licensing collective to fulfill its statutory duties or build the complete musical works database to which the United States aspires without songwriters and copyright owners around the world doing the intensive and costly spade work to prepare their data to be exported to The MLC.[2] It is clear that the reasonable costs of preparing and exporting that data should be borne by The MLC[3] as part of the Administrative Assessment.[4] This material cost clearly is covered by the definition of collective total costs[5] and so was, or should have been, included in the current Administrative Assessment,[6] unless the intention was to cover The MLCs side of these costs and force songwriters and copyright owners to eat their side of the same transaction. If that is the case, it would be helpful for the Copyright Office to clarify that intention in the name of transparency through their broad regulatory authority.

If there is another drafting glitch there, it is worth noting that the CRJs clearly contemplated revisiting the Administrative Assessment on their own motion for good cause.[7] If there were ever good cause, the staggering cost of registering potentially millions of songs would be it.[8]

It should be clear that no ones intention was for the services to pay to create the musical works database and for the songwriters and copyright owners to labor to export their data to make the musical works database complete, only to have The MLC claim ownership of the musical works database, particularly if The MLC were not redesignated as the MLC following the five-year review by the Copyright Office. That unhappy take my ball and go home arbitrage event is foreseeable and would entirely cut against the continuity contemplated by Congress.[9]

It is critical that the Copyright Office clarify in regulations that neither The MLC nor any other MLC owns the musical works database. In fact, the MMA clearly states that if a new entity is designated as the mechanical licensing collective, [the Office shall] adopt regulations to govern the transfer of licenses, funds, records, data, and administrative responsibilities from the existing mechanical licensing collective to the new entity.[10] Since The MLC will have to transfer the musical works database and the other statutory materials to the new MLC if they fail to be redesignated, there should be no misconceptions that The MLC owns the database and could withhold all or part of it.[11] Because The MLC is just An MLC.

It should also be made clear that any MLC or DLC vendor does not obtain an ownership interest in any copy of all or part of the musical works database they may obtain for any reason.

This should be an easy ask of the Copyright Office. Watch this space to find out if it is.

* * * * * * * * *

[1] Report and Section-by-Section Analysis of H.R. 1551 by the Chairmen and Ranking Members of Senate and House Judiciary Committees, at 1 (2018) at 2 (emphasis added).

[2] This effort is referred to as Play Your Part a business process trademarked by The MLC available at https://themlc.com/preparing-2021.

[3] I would point out that the way The MLC should workand in the end probably will end up functioning as a practical matteris that The MLC needs to be able to handle however songwriters ingest their data. Instead, it appears that The MLC is trying to dictate to all the songwriters in the world how they should assemble their song data before they register with The MLC. If The MLC wants to shift that burden, they should expect to pay for it. Otherwise, this is exactly backwards.

[4] 17 U.S.C. 115 (d)(7)(D). The Administrative Assessment is what makes the MLC different from other PROs or CMOs where members bear their own cost of participation. The Administrative Assessment is to cover the entire cost of creating the musical works database, not just The MLCs startup or overhead costs. If nothing else, another way to treat these out of pocket costs is as a contribution to the operating costs of The MLC by songwriters and copyright owners that should be offset against future Administrative Assessments.

[5] 17 U.S.C.  115 (e)(6).

[6] Order Granting Participants Joint Motion to Adopt Proposed Regulations, In re Determination and Allocation of Initial Administrative Assessment to Fund Mechanical Licensing Collective (U.S. Copyright Royalty Judges Docket No. 19-CRB-0009-AA (Dec. 12, 2019)).

[7] The CRJs included this footnote in their ruling on the administrative assessment (emphasis added): The Judges have been advised by their staff that some members of the public sent emails to the Copyright Royalty Board seeking to comment on the proposed settlement agreement. Neither the Copyright Act, nor the regulations adopted thereunder, provide for submission or consideration of comments on a proposed settlement by non-participants in an administrative assessment proceeding. Consequently, as a matter of law, the Judges could not, and did not, consider these ex parte communications in deciding whether to approve the proposed settlement. Additionally, the Judges non-consideration of these ex parte communications does not: (i) imply any opinion by the Judges as to the substantive merits of any statements contained in such communications; or (ii) reflect any inability of the Judges to question, [on their own motion without a filing from a participant] whether good cause exists to adopt a settlement and to then utilize all express or reasonably implied statutory authority granted to them to make a determination as to the existenceof good cause [to reject the settlement now or in the future]. Order Granting Participants Joint Motion to Adopt Proposed Regulations, In re Determination and Allocation of Initial Administrative Assessment to Fund Mechanical Licensing Collective (U.S. Copyright Royalty Judges Docket No. 19-CRB-0009-AA (Dec. 12, 2019) n.1 (emphasis added)).

[8] There is a simple solution to determining these costs to songwriters and copyright owners. The Copyright Office could designate several metadata companies who could compete to handle the various steps of creating and exporting metadata to The MLC, such as in the CWR format, for example North Music Group and Crunch Digital have such tools. To avoid picking winners and losers and to preserve competition, the Office could alternatively establish a benchmark of quality control or some other criteria for becoming an approved company. The costs charged would likely vary depending on the size of the catalog, but The MLC need only pay the invoice of these companies which would be included in the Administrative Assessment. Obviously, the entity performing such work should be independent of The MLC, the DLC or any of its members, or any of their respective vendors. This would, of course, introduce the concept of competition into the monopoly which may interest no one but might benefit everyone.

[9] See H. Rep. 115-651 (115th Cong. 2nd Sess. April 25, 2018) at 6 (hereafter House Report); S. Rep. 115-339 (115th Cong. 2ndSess. Sept. 17, 2018) at 5 (together with identical language, hereafter legislative history) (Although there is no guarantee of a continued designation by the collective, the Committee believes that continuity in the collective would be beneficial to copyright owners so long as the entity previously chosen to be the collective has regularly demonstrated its efficient and fair administration of the collective in a manner that respects varying interests and concerns. In contrast, evidence of fraud, waste, or abuse, including the failure to follow the relevant regulations adopted by the Copyright Office, over the prior five years should raise serious concerns within the Copyright Office as to whether that same entity has the administrative capabilities necessary to perform the required functions of the collective.)

[10] 17 U.S.C.  115 (d)(3)(B)(ii)(A)(II).

[11] It seems that if an incumbent MLC that was not redesignated and continued to operate, it would almost unavoidably compete with the newly designated MLC but with a substantial leg up. I realize there have been some statements made about The MLC taking on work beyond the blanket license, such as voluntary licenses. That additional work might require additional investment, or a sharing of the total collective costs by third parties. I have not addressed that allocation as I for one would like to see The MLC stick to their knitting and succeed at the job they are obligated to do, and, frankly, paid to do, before worrying about expanding into profitable roles for the non-profit corporation. It does seem that if The MLC is not redesignated, there would not be much for them to do once they transfer the publics assets to the new MLC.

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In housing the fourth-largest population in the worldestimated at more than 270 million a blossoming start-up scene and aggressive economic development plans, Indonesia has always been somewhat of a sleeping giant. Comfortably operating as the largest nation in terms of economy and geography across Southeast Asia, the archipelago is gradually emerging from the shadows to realise its potential on the regional and world stage.

Such progress is already underway with more than 61 per cent of Indonesian GDP expected to be digitalised by 2022, triggered by over 50 per cent of local enterprise organisations building digital-native IT environments, according to IDC. With the digital foundations being laid, global hyper-scalers are accelerating efforts to play a central role in the nations transition to the cloud.

Given the importance of the cloud and its greater availability in Indonesia, CIO ASEAN interviewed three Indonesian technology leaders on how they are taking advantage of the cloud.

XL Axiata advances beyond telecommunications through the hybrid cloud

As one of the leading telecommunications providers in Indonesiadrawing on more than 30 years of credibility and an expanding base of customers and employeestransformation at XL Axiata is no small feat.

The task of turning a ship the size of the Jakarta-headquartered organisation is the primary responsibility of Yessie D Yosetya as chief information and digital officer. With a target to move 70 per cent of workloads to the cloud within the next three years, Yosetya supercharged efforts by deploying Anthos to automate, manage and scale workloads across hybrid-cloud and multi-cloud environments.

XL Axiata Yessie D Yosetya, chief information and digital office, XL Axiata

XL Axiata is committed to the modernisation of our infrastructure to get more business agility and increase application deployment velocity, Yosetya said. Anthos was a natural fit as it lets us adopt containers while letting Google, a leader in Kubernetes, manage our container infrastructure for us.

Anthosunveiled by Google Cloud in April 2019is designed to allow large-scale organisations to build and manage Kubernetes-based applications on existing on-premises data centres, Google Cloud or competitive cloud platforms.

Google Cloud is latest entrant in Indonesia Following early expansion efforts from Alibaba Cloud, market leader Amazon Web Services (AWS) recently unveiled plans to build data centres in the country by early 2022, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella hosting 2,500 developers in Jakarta during late February 2020. And Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is now officially open for business. Representing the vendors ninth region in Asia-Pacific, the roll-out of GCP is helping reinforce the message that Indonesia is awakening to the potential of cloud computing, irrespective of the platform. Indonesia is a digital powerhouse but a lack of local cloud infrastructure has been a real barrier for cloud adoption locally, observed Rick Harshman, managing director of Asia-Pacific and Japan at Google Cloud. As outlined by Harshman, Indonesia is home to some of Southeast Asias most recognised unicorns, evident through born-in-the-cloud companies such as Tokopedia, Bukalapak, Go-Jek and Traveloka. But this is also important for financial services, retail, manufacturing and state-owned enterprises that are early in their digital transformation journey and stand to benefit from modernising their tech infrastructure for growth and scale, he added. The launch of GCPsimilar to Alibaba Cloud previouslywill also help local customers meet specific regulatory and compliance requirements, alongside providing disaster recovery options across Asia-Pacific.

By migrating its microservices platform to Google Cloudin addition to bringing Anthoss Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) to its on-premises data centresXL Axiata is aiming to extend cloud capabilities across on-premises and cloud-based resources.

Plans are also underway to implement Google Clouds data analytics platform to enhance customer experience levels through data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Amar Bank deploys first digital-only bank in Indonesia

One immediate beneficiary of the increased cloud focus in Indonesia is Amar Bank, evident through the unveiling of the countrys first digital-only bank in Senyumku. Meaning my smile in Indonesias Bahasa language, the offering will become the first local bank to be deployed via the cloud, with GCP as the host platform.

Amar Bank Vishal Tulsian, president director, Amar Bank

Senyumku is powered by AI, provides intelligence and nudges users to enable increased savings, said Vishal Tulsian, president director of Amar Bank. This requires the app to be highly responsive to the dynamic behaviour of customers. In the future, we plan to extensively use Google Clouds AI powered services to provide a micro-customised banking experience to our customers.

The fintech institutionwhich is majority owned by Singapore-based Tolaram Group leverages Google Cloud technologies organisation-wide, spanning Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Stackdriver and BigQuery, in addition to big data, AI and machine learning capabilities.

In terms of technology, we are on track to achieve continuous digital transformation to fulfil our customer needs and offer an outstanding customer experience, Tulsian told CIO ASEAN. We are committed to supporting financial inclusion in Indonesia through technology as we believe it should bring positive social impact in the society.

Central to such efforts is Tunaikumeaning my cash in Bahasawhich launched as a fintech online leading product aligned to the companys mantra of acting like a fintech but thinking like a bank.

To lead digital transformation, flexibility, scalability and security of the whole IT architecture is of utmost importance, Tulsian said. This is possible only through cloud solutions.

In operating as a licensed commercial bank, and as per Indonesian banking regulations, Amar Bank cannot place solutions off-shore or outside of in-country data centres or cloud providers. For Tulsian, the regional launch of GCP now allows the business to capitalise on the local potential of scalability, security and in-built AI.

GKE allows us to manage and scale our services easily and in a very cost-effective way, he explained. Google Clouds data analytics and AI solutions are also scalable and are key to providing a better customer experience solution.

Sequis seeks advantage in insurance through cloud migration

Speaking as chief digital officer of Sequisa Jakarta-based life insurance specialistMarlin Sugama acknowledged that irrespective of size or sector, businesses are moving at pace to embrace the cloud across Indonesia. The cloud has transformed many industry sectors with its ease of deployment, resourcefulness and flexibility, and the insurance industry is no different, Sugama told CIO ASEAN. Sequis acknowledges the significance of the cloud and understands the need to adopt it.

Sequis Marlin Sugama, chief digital officer, Sequis

In spearheading digital efforts within the business, Sugama said the cloud is widely accepted as the most efficient and effective way for the company, customers and brokers to connect and collaborate on the go. Sequis is not the only insurance company in Indonesia that acknowledges the significance of the cloud; in fact, the whole insurance industry does, added Sugama, while also referencing security concerns due to the transactional and financial nature of the industry.

Through GCP, Sequis is sharing risk for storage, maintenance and security elements of IT infrastructure, leveraging Google Cloud service-level agreements in the process. In addition to optimising risk, Sugama cited cost efficiencies, access to new technology standards, enhanced IT management and improved scalability as key factors in migrating workloads to the cloud.

GCP offers an environment to adopt the latest digital development trends by offering a new edge of extreme agility, security and resiliency, he said. This includes rapid deployment and microservices architecture. Although insurance is a steady industry, its possible to see spikes in business, which generally translates from an IT perspective into a higher demand on resources. But its not always possible to have the same resources readily available in a traditional IT environment. The cloud ensures that such spikes do not hamper business and can be handled easily and at a low cost.

Similar to Amar Bank, as a financial institution operating in Indonesia, Sequis is bound by the local regulations of Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK), otherwise known as the Financial Services Authority. Through GCP launching in Indonesia, we have a fully transparent and proactive engagement with the cloud as required by OJK, Sugama added. Through this process of collaboration, GCP gives the opportunity for Sequis to move to the cloud in a way that meets the highest compliance, risk and security standards.
A 48-year-old man died after he was dragged from a vehicle driven by another man in Shinjuku Ward on Monday. The driver is in custody, police said, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun (June 23).

At around 3:25 p.m., Azumi Shigeta, a company employee, and Hiroshi Toyota, a 62-year-old independent businessman, began arguing near Shigetaas residence in the Nishiochiai area.

Toyota then abruptly sped off inside his vehicle. Shigeta held on to the passenger door for a distance of around 10 meters until he slammed into a concrete pole.

Shigeta suffered a fractured skull. He was confirmed dead that night, police said.

After the incident, Toyota fled the scene. However, police used security camera footage to identify his vehicle.

On Tuesday, police arrested Toyota on suspicion of attempted murder. aThere was a traffic-related dispute problem, but I donat remember [anyone] getting hurt by being dragged.a

Prior to the incident, Toyota parked the car in front of the residence of Shigeta to visit a nearby supermarket. The pair then got into an argument.
Full-page newspaper ads attacking teachers unions that were traced to a Vaughan lawyer with Progressive Conservative ties appear to have violated Ontario election laws.

The controversial ads, published in the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Sun in February, were an apparent contravention of the Election Finances Act.

According to Elections Ontario, Vaughan Health Campus of Care, a company operating business as Vaughan Working Families, failed to register as a third party.

The chief electoral officer has therefore reported this matter to the Ministry of the Attorney General, Kevin Thomas, the manager of compliance enforcement at Elections Ontario, said Wednesday.

Once the chief electoral officer reports an apparent contravention, it may be investigated by a police service and, with the consent of the chief electoral officer, prosecuted by the Crown, added Thomas.

There are fines of up to $5,000 for breaching the election law.

Invoices for the ads were sent care of Loopstra Nixon LLP, where lawyer Quinto Annibale, whom the Tories appointed as vice-chair of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario last year, is a partner.

Allan Ritchie, managing partner of the law firm, said Annibale resigned as a director of the Vaughan Health Campus of Care on Feb. 12 after the controversy erupted.

Annibale did not return calls or emails from the Star.

But lawyer Stephen Thiele, who represents Vaughan Working Families, said the group did not contravene the Elections Finances Act in any way whatsoever and was not required as a matter of law to register as a third-party advertiser during Ontarios two most recent by-elections.

Thiele noted his client was doing the same thing as two teachers unions that took out ads at the same time and neither the Elementary Teachers Federation nor the Catholic teachers union is being investigated by Elections Ontario.

It is imperative that any rule be applied equally to both sides of a position. At this point we have, curiously, had no response to our clients complaint, he said.

During a 2019 confirmation hearing, Annibale testified that he was a member of the Conservative Party of Ontario, but had been a member of both the Liberal Party and the NDP in the past.

The ads, which contained the phrases teachers unions are risking student success and children are not pawns, included a stock photo of a woman holding up a mock report card with a number of grammatical errors.

They were placed in the four newspapers on the eve of strikes by three of the four Ontario teachers unions.

Premier Doug Ford said his Tories had nothing to do with the advertising and insisted he had never even heard of Annibale.

Im just telling you, honestly, if someone gave me a million dollars right now, I dont even know the persons name, said Ford.

I appoint probably 3,400 (people) a year, they send me these pieces of paper, make sure they have done their due diligence, I sign off on it, and away it goes, he said.

But NDP MPP Taras Natyshak (Essex), who filed the complaint with Elections Ontario, said the buck stops with the premier.

Ontarians deserve to know who shelled out serious money for newspaper ads that attacked teachers amid ongoing labour disruption caused by Doug Fords cuts to education, said Natyshak.

Im pleased to see that Elections Ontario has deemed these extremely fishy ads to be in violation of Ontario's Elections Finances Act. Ontarians deserve transparency, and third party advertisers need to play by the rules, he said.

Doug Ford cant simply look away while his buddies use PC Party messaging to further Fords agenda of cuts.

Toronto Catholic District School Board Trustee Norm Di Pasquale, who also filed a formal complaint, said he certainly wasn't expecting this  things had gone quiet for quite some time.

The law says anyone must register after having incurred expenses of a total amount of $500 for third-party political advertising during an election period.

I was upset that a shadowy group could put out this ad attacking teachers without repercussions or without identifying themselves, said Di Pasquale. It goes against where I came from. It feels like some justice has been served here.

Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation said the ads raise serious questions of potential impropriety. I hope an investigation will bring full transparency to who was behind them and how they were funded and published. Our democratic processes deserve that protection.

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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Eyad Al Ryabi is still missing after jumping in the River Thames in Cookham to help his friend on Tuesday evening

Emergency services are into the second day of a desperate search for a father-of-five who is feared to have drowned after jumping into the Thames to save his friend, who is now fighting for his life in hospital.

The 31-year-old man, named as Syrian refugee Eyad Al Ryabi, dived into the stretch of river by the village of Cookham, Berkshire, when friend Mohammed Al Safadi got into trouble on Tuesday evening.

While he failed to resurface, Mr Safadi managed to be pulled out of the water by friends but he was unconscious and need CPR before being rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

The pair had been part of a group of six friends who had travelled from Uxbridge in Middlesex for an afternoon by the river.

Omar Sawayah, who was among friends and relatives who headed to Cookham once the alarm was raised, said: 'Mohammed decided to dive into the water but got into difficulty.

'Eyad dived into the water to try and save him but nobody saw him resurface and he hasn't been seen since.

Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue teams were out on Wednesday as the search continues to find a man who jumped into the water to save a friend on Tuesday evening

Eyad Al Ryabi, dived into the stretch of river by the village of Cookham, Berkshire, when friend Mohammed Al Safadi got into trouble on Tuesday evening. A search continues to day

'Somehow Mohammed drifted unconscious to the bank where some of his other friends pulled him out the water.

'There was another group of people,I think locals, who tried to help resuscitate Mohammed before the paramedics came and took him to hospital.

'Eyad came here from the city of Daraa in Syria about eight months ago. He was a refugee living in Uxbridge.

Mohammed Al Safadi was pulled from the water but search teams continue to look for Eyad Al Ryabi

Crews were out on the water in Berkshire on Tuesday as they searched for the Syrian refugee

'He and his friends had come out to be by the river for the day as it was such nice weather. The others who didn't go in the water have gone to the local police station.'

A friend told how all the men, including Eyad, had travelled to the UK from Syria and many of them had families back home.

Eyad was applying for his family to come to the UK. His wife was due to attend an interview with the embassy in Beirut, the friend said, in just two weeks time. It was feared now, with her husband's death, she would not be able to come to the UK.

Connor Godfrey, a 27-year-old chef from London, told how he had given Mohammed Al Safadi CPR after he was pulled from the river.

The young man, who was fishing, had first aid training from his work place and so heroically stepped in as he felt the CPR was not being properly given by people.

Police joined search teams in Cookham after they were called at aroudn 7pm on Tuesday

Police Commander for Windsor and Maidenhead, Superintendent Colin Hudson, said: 'We are carrying out searches today to locate the missing man which includes searches on the banks of the river and in the water using specialist resources.

'One man remains in hospital in a serious condition. Our thoughts are with both the men's families and our officers are supporting them at this very difficult time.'

A third man who jumped into the water was unharmed, according to the BBC.

According to the Evening Standard, Mr Safadi remains in hospital in a serious condition today.

Rescue crews raced to the Thames on a stretch close to Odney Weir in Cookham, near Maidenhead, just before 7pm.

A spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service said they were supporting Thames Valley Police and firefighters at the scene.

Police today had enlarged the police cordon at the river to prevent onlookers watching them searching for the missing mans body. It was expected that specialist dive rescuers would be called in if they didnt discover the missing man quickly.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD captains union called for the end of CompStat, the program that tracks crime statistics for the department, calling it a policy that runs a wedge between police and the communities in a written letter to Police Commissioner Dermot Shea and Mayor Bill de Blasio, according to a New York Post report.

I believe COMPSTAT to be the primary driving force that is undermining police/community relations in New York City, said the Captains Endowment Association president, Chris Monahan, adding that, the program pressures members of the department to show productivity and become involved in street encounters that otherwise may not have occurred.

CompStat began in 1994, and presents the seven major New York State penal law felonies, among other crimes, in a mapped format across the city.

Monahan said that CompStat puts pressure on precinct and division commanders to go into minority neighborhoods for targeted enforcement (precision policing) by ways of arrests and summonses, which inherently creates tension between black and brown communities and the police because their subordinate officers are expected to produce activity.

As a result, the letter requests a meeting with Shea to discuss axing the program. Neither the mayors office nor the NYPD immediately responded to the Posts request for comment.
After almost two years in jail, Chrystul Kizer, the 19-year-old charged with murdering her alleged sex trafficker, has been freed from jail in Wisconsin.

Community activists raised enough funds to cover her $400,000 bail allowing her on Monday to leave Kenosha County Jail, where she had been awaiting trial.

In a case that drew worldwide attention, Ms Kizer claims she shot and killed her suspected trafficker in self defence, after a year of abuse.

Her bail was raised by community groups including the Chicago Community Bond Fund, the Chrystul Kizer Defence Committee, the Milwaukee Freedom Fund, and Survived & Punished.

Ms Kizer met Randall Volar when she was 16 and he was 33. She had posted an ad on a website that was investigated by the FBI for as a forum for prostitution

Mr Volar was the first person that contacted her, and for a year he allegedly sexually abused her while also giving her cash and gifts.

Police had evidence that he was abusing multiple underage black girls, some of it on video. He was arrested and charged, but released on bail.

In June 2018, Ms Kizer maintains that Mr Volar was trying to pin her to the floor at his home in Kenosha, when she shot him twice in the head. She then set the house on fire and fled the scene in his BMW.

She was charged with arson and first-degree intentional homicide, which in Wisconsin carries a mandatory life sentence. Her bail was originally set at $1m.

Prosecutors maintain that Mr Volars death was premeditated and that Ms Kizer had planned to steal his car. She had brought the gun to the house, and had downloaded a police scanner app in the moments before she shot him.

Recommended Teen sex trafficking victim faces life in prison after killing abuser

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that a plea deal to reduce charges from first-degree international homicide to felony murder is on the table. If convicted it is unlikely she would serve the decades in jail usual for such a conviction, and her young age, and the abuse she suffered, would be taken into account.

Ms Kizers mother led the committee working to raise bail, which was dropped down to $400,000 earlier this year.

The killing of George Floyd, and subsequent calls for criminal justice reform, drew attention to the case. The publicity attracted donations and approximately 950,000 signatures on a petition asking for charges to be dropped, The Washington Post reports.

At the same time, the Chicago Community Bond Fund was inundated with donations to release protesters arrested during related demonstrations. The fund contributed a sizeable portion of the money needed for bail.

Ms Kizer left jail on Monday with two large bags full of letters and artwork from supporters.

A news release from the activist groups involved in securing the bail money says that after the case the returned funds will be used to establish a national bail fund for criminalised survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

The fund will be overseen by Survived & Punished and house at the National Bail Fund Network,

No trial date has been set, but the case is scheduled for a status conference in September.
The Swiss beauty tech brand REDUIT continues its 20-20 campaign introducing its first luxury product lines

NEUCHATEL, Switzerland, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Traditional luxury is linked to commodities whose value is driven by scarcity, but true luxury is closely tied to innovation; it creates new value. Beauty, although fascinating in terms of its central role in our existence, has been largely untouched by innovation when compared to most other realms of present-day technology.

This is changing as we speak: beauty tech is beginning to bloom, and it is opening completely new opportunities for the evolution of luxury beauty. With the release of the REDUIT One Gold, and the LED Hairpods, REDUIT continues to set new standards.

Creating relevant innovation requires a lot of effort, and coming up with a new groundbreaking design is only the tip of the iceberg. You are now offering something nobody has yet seen, something that they have not yet had the opportunity to seek out, something that no one has ever bought or sold. One is now faced with rewiring a consumer path from scratch, formulating an experience that will link this innovation to existing realities. This is when luxury becomes key in terms of connecting novelty with existing context and evolving our semiotic landscape.

Luxury is the most natural of perception gateways to present new value. It commands attention and credibility, but it must be consistent along the entire contact perimeter: the product, its placement, the experience of discovery all have to be aligned to enhance value. Only then can luxury carry innovation; only then can tech evolve beauty itself.

The REDUIT One Gold represents the epitome of luxury haircare, providing a sophisticated solution for Hairpods applications. When used in conjunction with REDUIT Hairpods, it harnesses the power of magnetic misting and ultrasonic diffusion to nourish and rejuvenate your hair in seconds. With its unique boost function, the REDUIT One Gold can disperse even more actives on your hair, delivering them in less time and with less effort. Simply press the button twice to boost your treatment and discover haircare like never before.

The Precision Conditioner LED Hairpods complement the philosophy of the ultimate luxury haircare experience: the effectiveness of the highly concentrated actives is supplemented by a 462 nm blue LED-treatment designed to calm and improve scalp conditions and create stronger, more manageable hair from the inside out.

The new products are priced at USD 299.00 (AUD 599.00) for the REDUIT One Gold applicator device, and USD 29.90 (AUD 59.90) for the Precision Conditioner LED Hairpods. In addition to reduit.com, the products will be available from a select number of high-end department stores and premium e-commerce sites.

About REDUIT:

In French 'Reduit' means 'reduced'. We reduce packaging. Amplify results. Reduce time. Amplify e?cacy. Reduce steps. Amplify beauty.

REDUIT was created with one vision: to revolutionize the everyday beauty routine. We started in Neuchatel, Switzerland, with the dream of creating truly superior beauty products. From performance to sustainability and user-friendliness, we design products that truly elevate the everyday.

Set on raising the bar for professional and at-home beauty solutions that deliver on one simple promise: enhancing the results and experience while reducing the unnecessary.

For more information on REDUIT, visit our Media Center (reduit.com/media/) , or contact us directly at media@reduit.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1195809/Reduit_One_Gold_Device.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1170279/REDUIT_Logo.jpg
DALLAS, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs (NYSE:J) provided architecture, engineering, construction management and turnover services for a world class biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility, Cruiserath Biologics based in Dublin, Ireland, which, has won the Project Execution category at the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) 2020 Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA). The award recognizes innovation in facilities serving the regulated healthcare industry. The factory, optimized for rapid product changeover and future use as a multi-product facility, will support Bristol Myers Squibb in meeting growing global demand for its medicines.

In 2015, biopharmaceutical manufacturer Bristol Myers Squibb engaged Jacobs to reimagine its existing active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) plant in Dublin, Ireland, to enable large-scale production of its vital immuno-oncology medicines. Representing an innovative approach to fighting cancer, immuno-oncology seeks to harness the body's own immune system to combat tumor cells.

Jacobs was tasked with creating a facility of the future for the $1 billion Multi-Product Cell Culture (MPCC) facility. At the time, the project represented the largest pharmaceutical project being undertaken in Europe, with more than 2,200 people on site at peak. The project's fast-tracked 26-month delivery commanded collaboration from Jacobs' global network of expertise across Ireland, the United States and India, working around the clock to meet the ambitious schedule.

The complexity, scale and speed of execution required game-changing project delivery. A detailed and robust project execution plan was developed to address challenges, monitor progress and ensure project success. The facility was delivered within budget, applying stateoftheart project delivery techniques and tools, and achieving an impressive safety record during the 6.5 million hours worked. The facility was also awarded LEED Silver certification for its sustainability performance in respect of design, construction and operation.

"With growing demands for its immuno-oncology medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb needed to build a facility for the future," said Koti Vadlamudi, Jacobs Senior Vice President, Advanced Facilities. "The project is a huge success for Jacobs, Bristol Myers Squibb, and ultimately the many patients that rely on these medicines produced in the Dublin campus."

The facility met the design intent to be a flexible, multi-product manufacturing operation able to produce biopharmaceuticals for human therapeutic use. The project repurposed an existing site to design and construct a new manufacturing facility, global laboratory, offices, cafeteria, utility and warehouse buildings as one functional campus. The facility is now in commercial operation, having recently received regulatory approval from both the FDA and the European Medicines Authority.

Commenting on the award, Cruiserath Biologics General Manager and Executive Director, EU Biologics, Noel Heaney said, "Cruiserath's campus represents the largest ever capital investment for the company and is the first Bristol Myers Squibb biologics manufacturing facility in Europe. We set out with a vision to build a world class Biopharma Campus and state of the art facility, and to receive this highly coveted external and industry recognition indeed signifies we are well on our way."

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $13 billion in revenue and a talent force of more than 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. Visit jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related reaction of governments on global and regional market conditions and the company's business. For a description of some additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 27, 2019, and in particular the discussions contained under Item 1 - Business; Item 1A - Risk Factors; Item 3 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, as well as the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law.

For press/media inquiries:

Kerrie Sparks

214.583.8433

SOURCE Jacobs

Related Links

http://www.jacobs.com


Lockdown hasn't stopped this Victoria's Secret Angel from playing around with fashion.

And the same was said for Elsa Hosk on Tuesday, spotted putting on a stylish display while stepping out a pizza date with her long-term boyfriend, Tom Daly.

The 31-year-old beauty flashed her toned physique and washboard abs as she strolled around the Manhattan area in a cropped top.

City outing: Elsa Hosk was spotted with a mask over her face while stepping out for a pizza date with her boyfriend, Tom Daly, on Tuesday

Elsa's white top featured puffy sleeves, a frilled hem and a scooped neck.

She teamed the look with statement red and pink printed pants that had a floral design on them.

The Swedish model completed her look with platform sneakers and accessorised with a small taupe colored purse and a protective mask over her face.

Stylish: Elsa's white top featured puffy sleeves, a frilled hem and a scooped neck

Gorgeous: Elsa's blonde tresses were styled out and she appeared to be wearing little to no makeup

Elsa's blonde tresses were styled out and she appeared to be wearing little to no makeup.

The stunner was joined by her long-term boyfriend, Tom Daly, who also wore a mask and a bold orange colored T-shirt.

Together the pair enjoyed a sweet lunch date of pizza.

'Thanks Tom for telling me I had pizza all over my teeth,' she captioned the photo she posted to social media.

Casual: The stunner was joined by her long-term boyfriend, Tom Daly, who also wore a mask and a bold orange colored T-shirt

Elsa's appearance comes after she modeled a sheer baby blue lace thong underwear set for a sexy new photo which she posted on Instagram on Friday, in a photo taken by Tom.

Showing off her rear view, Elsa's photo looked professionally done as she stood aside blue hydrangeas which matched her look perfectly.

She captioned the image with the words: 'Shot the new @victoriassecret x @forloveandlemons collection during isolation with @tomtomdaly.'

Elsa's make-up looked stunning in the snap and her caramel tresses were styled into loose curls which framed her pretty features.

Pizza date: 'Thanks Tom for telling me I had pizza all over my teeth,' she captioned the photo she posted to social media.

Long-term love: Elsa and Tom have been dating since 2015

Wow thing: Elsa Hosk modelled sheer baby blue lace thong underwear as she shot a sexy Victoria's Secret advertorial from home during isolation on Instagram on Friday

A second picture showed her posing in the underwear from the front as she pulled her jeans down seductively.

Swedish beauty Elsa and Tom have been dating since 2015.

The pair most recently enjoyed a four-day camping trip late last month for Tom's birthday.

'Happy bday baby!!! This trip was for you! 4 days of camping bliss- I love u forever [Tom Daly]!! my double O Goose,' captioned Elsa.

She included ten photos in the post, which gave her 6.1million followers a glimpse at all of the forest fun they endured.

Elsa recently took to Instagram to share some of her feelings about the ongoing social unrest across America and show support for Black Lives Matter.

Jean genie: Elsa's long-term love Tom Daly shot the images for her including this sexy shot of her on her bed

Birthday boy: Elsa and Tom recently went on a camping trip together to celebrate his birthday

Her lengthy text post read: 'As a white person it is my duty to speak up about racism. I know I'm privileged. We need to change the systems of privilege that allow white people to move through the world far more easily than others; to buy homes where they choose. To go for a run without being murdered. Ask a cop a question without being murdered. That is white privilege.

'We need to listen and educate ourselves on the history of oppression and racism and police brutality. We need to vote for people that will try and change the systems that allow racism to continues.

'As always we need to look to ourselves and see how we contribute, what we do and don't and end racism in our daily lives; educate friends and colleagues, call people out that make racist comments and do it on the street, in our homes, at school and at work. We cannot overlook what is happening, black people alone cannot reform racism.'

She replied to one critic in the comments by breaking down the concept of white privilege.

'White privilege is not the suggestion that white people have never struggled,' she wrote. 'White privilege is not the assumption that everything a white person has accomplished is unearned.'

'Ill give you a few examples of what it can be; white privledge [sic] is being able to walk into a store and find that the displays of shampoo, makeup stockings etc were catered toward your hair type and skin tone.
(Newser)  It was almost a great plan. Officials say a man who's the subject of an Australian sexual assault case hatched a plan to stow away on a ship that was bound for Malaysiaand he reportedly managed to successfully conceal himself for two days. CNN reports that on Saturday morning, a cargo ship headed for Newcastle, New South Wales, encountered a yacht that had run into trouble; it attached a towline to the boat and brought the 31-year-old who had been on it aboard. By evening the ship was nearly at Newcastle, but the man was nowhere to be found, and the yacht was no longer attached to the towline. An "extensive" search was carried out by water police through Sunday, reports the BBC, but the man wasn't found. On Monday, NSW Police and Australian Border Force officers used dogs to search the shipand the man's hiding place was uncovered.

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Officials say he was found in an air-conditioning vent with just over $3,000 and a knife on him. He'd allegedly severed the line to his yacht, which police say he had originally planned to sail to an unknown destination before encountering trouble and being picked up by the cargo ship. "He attempted to sail east across the Pacific but got hit by some large seas ... [and] some strong winds he was incapable of sailing," said a rep for the NSW Police. He was charged with breach of bail and was set to have a court appearance Wednesday. (Read more strange stuff stories.)
Moscow  The Arctic is feverish and on fire  at least parts of it are. And thats got scientists worried about what it means for the rest of the world.

The thermometer hit a likely record of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Russian Arctic town of Verkhoyansk on Saturday, a temperature that would be a fever for a person  but this is Siberia, known for being frozen. The World Meteorological Organization said Tuesday that its looking to verify the temperature reading, which would be unprecedented for the region north of the Arctic Circle.

The Arctic is figuratively and literally on fire  its warming much faster than we thought it would in response to rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and this warming is leading to a rapid meltdown and increase in wildfires, University of Michigan environmental school dean Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist, said in an email.

The record warming in Siberia is a warning sign of major proportions, Overpeck wrote.

Much of Siberia had high temperatures this year that were beyond unseasonably warm. From January through May, the average temperature in north-central Siberia has been about 8 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) above average, according to the climate science non-profit Berkeley Earth.

Thats much, much warmer than its ever been over that region in that period of time, Berkeley Earth climate scientist Zeke Hausfather said.

Siberia is in the Guinness Book of World Records for its extreme temperatures. Its a place where the thermometer has swung 106 degrees Celsius (190 degrees Fahrenheit), from a low of minus 68 degrees Celsius (minus 90 Fahrenheit) to now 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit).

For residents of the Sakha Republic in the Russian Arctic, a heat wave is not necessarily a bad thing. Vasilisa Ivanova spent every day this week with her family swimming and sunbathing.

We spend the entire day on the shore of the Lena River, said Ivanova, who lives in the village of Zhigansk, 270 miles (430 kilometers) from where the heat record was set. Weve been coming every day since Monday.

But for scientists, alarm bells should be ringing, Overpeck wrote.

Such prolonged Siberian warmth hasnt been seen for thousands of years and it is another sign that the Arctic amplifies global warming even more than we thought, Overpeck said.

Russias Arctic regions are among the fastest warming areas in the world.

The temperature on Earth over the past few decades has been growing, on average, by 0.18 degrees Celsius (nearly one-third of a degree Fahrenheit) every 10 years. But in Russia it increases by 0.47 degrees Celsius (0.85 degrees Fahrenheit)  and in the Russian Arctic, by 0.69 degrees Celsius (1.24 degrees Fahrenheit) every decade, said Andrei Kiselyov, the lead scientist at the Moscow-based Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory.

In that respect, were ahead of the whole planet, Kiselyov said.

The increasing temperatures in Siberia have been linked to prolonged wildfires that grow more severe every year and the thawing of the permafrost  a huge problem because buildings and pipelines are built on them. Thawing permafrost also releases more heat-trapping gas and dries out the soil, which increases wildfires, said Vladimir Romanovsky, who studies permafrost at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

In this case its even more serious, because the previous winter was unusually warm, Romanovsky said. The permafrost thaws, ice melts, the soil subsides and then it can trigger a feedback loop that worsens permafrost thawing and cold winters cant stop it, Romanovsky said.

A catastrophic oil spill from a collapsed storage tank last month near the Arctic city of Norilsk was partly blamed on melting permafrost. In 2011, part of a residential building in Yakutsk, the biggest city in the Sakha Republic, collapsed due to thawing and subsidence of the ground.

Last August, more than 4 million hectares of forests in Siberia were on fire, according to Greenpeace. This year the fires have already started raging much earlier than the usual start in July, said Vladimir Chuprov, director of the project department at Greenpeace Russia.

Persistently warm weather, especially if coupled with wildfires, causes permafrost to thaw faster, which in turn exacerbates global warming by releasing large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas thats 28 times stronger than carbon dioxide, said Katey Walter Anthony, a University of Alaska Fairbanks expert on methane release from frozen Arctic soil.

Methane escaping from permafrost thaw sites enters the atmosphere and circulates around the globe, she said. Methane that originates in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. It has global ramifications.

And what happens in the Arctic can even warp the weather in the United States and Europe.

In the summer, the unusual warming lessens the temperature and pressure difference between the Arctic and lower latitudes where more people live, said Judah Cohen, a winter weather expert at Atmospheric Environmental Research, a commercial firm outside Boston.

That seems to weaken and sometimes even stall the jet stream, meaning weather systems such as those bringing extreme heat or rain can stay parked over places for days on end, Cohen said.

According to meteorologists at the Russian weather agency Rosgidrome t, a combination of factors  such as a high pressure system with a clear sky and the sun being very high, extremely long daylight hours and short warm nights  have contributed to the Siberian temperature spike.

The ground surface heats up intensively. . The nights are very warm, the air doesnt have time to cool and continues to heat up for several days, said Marina Makarova, chief meteorologist at Rosgidromet.

Makarova added that the temperature in Verkhoyansk remained unusually high from Friday through Monday.

Scientists agree that the spike is indicative of a much bigger global warming trend.

The key point is that the climate is changing and global temperatures are warming, said Freja Vamborg, senior scientist at the Copernicus Climate Change Service in the U.K. We will be breaking more and more records as we go.

What is clear is that the warming Arctic adds fuel to the warming of the whole planet, said Waleed Abdalati, a former NASA chief scientist who is now at the University of Colorado.
Armenian Assembly welcomes US House of Representatives members testimony in support of aid to Artsakh and Armenia, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) reported.

Their statement runs as follows:

Members of the US House of Representatives from California, Connecticut, Michigan, New York, and Rhode Island have provided testimony in support of continued demining aid to Artsakh and assistance to Armenia before the House Appropriations Committee.

Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Jim Costa (D-CA), TJ Cox (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jim Himes (D-CT), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) emphasized the importance of continued assistance to Artsakh specifically, while Rep. Costa also called for $100 million in aid to Armenia and raised concerns about the disparity in military assistance provided to Azerbaijan.

We welcome the testimony provided by the Members and very much appreciate the ongoing support for Artsakh and Armenia, stated Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan. As the appropriations process continues in the House and Senate, we will continue to advance our shared goals.

As the organization responsible for saving lives from landmines and other explosives in Nagorno Karabakh, we at The HALO Trust are so grateful for the support of Members of Congress who provided testimony to the House Appropriations Committee on Member Day. We hope to continue our work keeping families across the region safe, and appreciate the determination of Members of Congress who continue to fight to save this critical demining program, said The HALO Trust (USA) Executive Director Chris Whatley.
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In continuation of the exercise, the Niger State Environmental Protection Agency(NISEPA) disinfected Kontagora Correctional Facility 2days ago to help fight the deadly Covid-19 Virus in the State.

The post PHOTOS: Niger Govt Disinfect Kontagora Correctional Facility appeared first on Newsdirect.
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)
Italy's foreign minister met the head of Libya's unity government during a lightning trip to Tripoli Wednesday, weeks after the UN-recognised administration pushed back strongman Khalifa Haftar's bid to seize the capital.

Luigi Di Maio and head of the Government of National Accord Fayez al-Sarraj stressed "the need to resume the political process and end foreign interference" in Libya, according to a statement from Sarraj's office.

Referring to the Irini naval operation launched by the European Union in the Mediterranean to enforce an arms embargo on Libya, Sarraj said enforcement needed to be "global", covering maritime, land and air routes.

Sarraj, whose government has received weapons from Turkey, has previously criticised Irini on the grounds it favours eastern-based Haftar, who takes delivery of arms overland and via air.

Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates have all supported Haftar.

Di Maio and Sarraj also discussed the struggle against illegal immigration, and Italian support for de-mining Tripoli's war-ravaged southern suburbs, according to the prime minister's office.

An unnamed Italian foreign ministry source, cited by the Italian Messaggero daily, said Rome considers Libya "a priority... our most important issue, which concerns our national security."

"We can't afford a partition of the country. That is why we went first to Ankara, a (diplomatic) channel we've always kept open," the source said, referring to Di Maio's trip to Turkey on June 19.

He last visited Libya in January.

Libya has been mired in chaos since the 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

The Arab League on Tuesday called for the withdrawal of foreign forces in Libya and urged talks on ending the conflict in the North African country.

The Turkish-backed GNA has recently made major military gains against Haftar's forces, rolling back his year-long campaign to oust Sarraj's administration from the capital.

Egypt has warned that advances by Turkey-backed forces on the strategic Libyan city of Sirte could prompt an Egyptian military intervention.

The GNA denounced Cairo's statements as a "declaration of war".
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine villagers near a restive volcano on a central island are bracing for possible evacuations that would require physical distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic, an official said Wednesday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it detected dozens of small earthquakes on the western flank of Kanlaon volcano, which emitted plumes of steam up to 300 metres (980 feet) in the air overnight. Kanlaon on Negros island is one of about two dozen active volcanoes in the Philippines.

Those signs, along with a slight bulging of Kanlaons slope, indicate that hydrothermal or magmatic activity is occurring beneath the edifice, the institute said. It added that the volcano is at an abnormal condition and has entered a period of unrest.

Zeaphard Caelian, who heads the disaster response agency in Negros Occidental province, said authorities issued an initial alert in March after Kanlaon began showing signs of restiveness, which intensified last weekend.

More than 20,000 people in eight villages within 6 to 12 kilometres (4 to 7 miles) of Kanlaon would have to be evacuated if the volcano shows signs of an imminent eruption. Officials are identifying evacuation centres where physical distancing could to be observed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Caelian said.

The Philippines has reported more than 32,000 confirmed coronavirus infections, including 1,204 deaths, among the highest in Southeast Asia.

The volcano-monitoring institute warned the public from venturing into a permanent 4-kilometre (2.4-mile) danger zone around Kanlaon due to possible sudden eruptions of steam. It advised airplanes to avoid flying close to the summit of the 2,465-meter (8,087-foot) mountain.
Biden holds a lead of 22 percent over Trump among women voters, but has only a 3 percent lead over the US president among male voters.

Democrat leader Joe Biden has taken a comfortable lead of 14 percentage points over US president Donald Trump ahead of the national elections in the country, according to a poll by The New York Times and Siena College.

According to The New York Times, Biden's popularity among women and non-white voters has increased, and some traditionally Republican-leaning groups have shifted away from Trump due to his ineffective handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Till Wednesday, the United States has reported 24,41,005 cases of COVID-19 and 1,23,840 deaths due to the viral infection.

Biden holds a lead of 22 percent over Trump among women voters, but has only a 3 percent lead over the US president among male voters.

Among Black and Hispanic voters, Biden holds a lead of 74 percent and 39 percent, respectively.

This is not the first such poll which shows Biden leading over Trump.

A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll conducted in April 2020 about a general election matchup showed 44 percent of registered voters saying they would back Biden in the election, with 40 percent saying they would support Trump.

More critical for Trump, a recent poll by Reuters/Ipsos of the three battleground states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania had Biden with a 45 percent-39 percent edge over the president. Trump's victories in those states in the 2016 US presidential election had helped propel him to the White House.

However, Trump told Reuters he does not believe opinion polls and that he does not believe that the election would be a referendum on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I don't believe the polls," Trump said. "I believe the people of this country are smart. And I don't think that they will put a man in who's incompetent."

"And I don't mean incompetent because of a condition that he's got now. I mean he's incompetent for 30 years. Everything he ever did was bad. His foreign policy was a disaster," Trump said.

Earlier this month, the pollster Gallup showed Trump's approval rating sliding to 39 percent in a poll taken between 28 May and 4 June  one point below his term average of 40  from an all-time high of 49 percent the previous months, the best marks voters ever gave his presidency.
SAN DIEGO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In the ongoing monumental effort to de-stigmatize and legitimize the problem surrounding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) and the potential threat it poses to our men and women in uniform, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence introduced a bill for 2021 that includes an official public request for a UAP Task Force. The Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 2021 includes support for a UAP Task Force at the Office of Naval Intelligence in order to standardize the collection and reporting of UAPs across the intelligence community at the unclassified level. This strategy is to address the historic problem of inconsistent information and data-sharing that subsequently lacked attention from senior leadership.

To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science logo

To The Stars Academy (TTSA) applauds this major milestone towards greater U.S. Government transparency and national security. "Congratulations to Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Marco Rubio for requesting a public report on the UAP issue. This is a great step forward for both government transparency and national security," said Chris Mellon, TTSA Advisor and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. Those who want the report to become the law are encouraged to email Senator Marco Rubio who helped draft the bill.

It is part of TTSA's mission to shed light on the noteworthy problem of UAPs through the collection and distribution of highly credible evidence that can be researched by academic and scientific communities. The company was able to achieve part of this goal through the now famous three military videos that the company released alongside the New York Times in 2017, which have been to date viewed more than 28 million times on Youtube. These videos were later confirmed as UAPs by the Pentagon, and the U.S. Navy acknowledged a new organized effort to standardize UAP reporting guidelines so personnel can report anomalous aerial encounters.

TTSA team's research also reached 19.1 million people during its premiere season of HISTORY's groundbreaking series, "Unidentified: Inside America's UFO Investigation," which is slated to officially return for season two on Saturday, July 11, at 10 p.m. ET. In response to a call-to-action shared at the end of each episode last season, thousands of emails were sent in by viewers and military witnesses with personal accounts of UAP sightings. In season two, each episode will center around a specific case or aspect of the modern UAP problem.

People who are excited about the momentum and trajectory of the company's efforts are invited to join 2,000 shareholders who have invested in TTSA under the Reg A+ Securities and Exchange Commission Act.

Visit https://invest.tothestarsacademy.com for more information on how to invest.

Disclaimer: The offering will be made only by means of an offering circular. An offering statement on Form 1-A relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and has become qualified. The securities offered by To the Stars Academy of Arts and Science Inc. are speculative. Investing in shares of To the Stars Academy of Arts and Science Inc. involves significant risks. The investment is suitable only for persons who can afford to lose their entire investment. Furthermore, investors must understand that such investment could be illiquid for an indefinite period of time. No public market currently exists for the securities, and if a public market develops following the offering, it may not continue. The Company cannot accept investments from Canadian citizens or residents. The Common Stock will not be listed on any national securities exchange. The shares of Common Stock do not currently trade on any stock exchange or market.

For additional information on To the Stars Academy of Arts and Science Inc.'s offering and any other related topics, please review the Form 1-A offering circular that can be found HERE.

Additional information concerning risk factors related to the offering, including those related to the business, government regulations, intellectual property and the offering in general, can be found at the Risk Factors section of the Form 1-A offering circular.

Media Contact:

Olga Moreno

[email protected]

541-306-0595

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Porter Novelli and Rabin Martin, both part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, are forming a strategic alliance, effective July 1. While each firm continues to work remotely due to COVID-19, they plan to jointly occupy New York offices at 220 East 42nd Street in the fall. Their offices and teams will also be working together in London. The agencies will share client referrals and marketing resources as well as new business development opportunities. The alliance is intended to combine the scale and purpose-driven strategy of Porter Novelli with Rabin Martins capabilities in executing programs and alliances at the intersection of private sector capabilities and unmet public health needs. Together, we look forward to deploying new capabilities, strengthening our collective offerings and identifying more innovative solutions for clients, said Porter Novelli CEO David Bentley.

LaVoieHealthScience and Bioscience Valuation have announced a strategic alliance intended to combine LHS expertise in strategic communications for health and science companies with BSVs skill in providing strategic valuations. Bioscience Valuation offers evidence-based value, commercial, R&D and economic assessments to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to support investment and partnering decisions. Our strategic alliance with BSV will ensure that LHS clients have a roadmap for understanding the value of their strategic assets, said LaVoieHealthScience president and CEO Donna LaVoie. In January, LHS formed a global strategic alliance with Omnicom Public Relations Group.

Asia PR Werkz, a strategic communications and marketing agency headquartered in Singapore, has joined IPREX. Led by a team of owner-directors, Asia PR Werkz, which recently opened its first overseas office in Indonesia, focuses on clients in financial technology, government and public affairs, consumer and lifestyle, start-ups and education. Anu Gupta, director of Asia PR Werkz, said its membership in IPREX is expected to help the agencys clients in key markets across the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific. IPREX Asia Pacific regional president Xavier Prabhu said that the addition of Asia PR Werkz is a shot in the arm for IPREX in the region, as it now has a terrific local partner in Singapore, a major regional business and financial hub.

Broadcast Interview Source, which publishes the Yearbook of Experts and ExpertClick.com as well as running news release service Wire.com, is encouraging students from the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) to create Skill Pages on its Interns-On-Call.com platform. The platform, a part of ExpertClick, offers a way for students to offer their services to agencies, while providing PR clients, or private firms, with a wide range of affordable services. Students can apply to create a page at www.ExpertClick.com/free.
The boss of Pure Gym has slammed Boris Johnson for sidelining his promise to tackle obesity and allowing pubs to reopen before fitness chains.

Humphrey Cobbold, chief executive of the UK's largest gym operator, said he was 'hugely disappointed' gyms are not returning on July 4.

He accused the Government of listening to 'hearsay' rather than reviewing the safety measures which gyms had implemented, and said Pure Gym facilities had reopened in Switzerland and Denmark with no cases of coronavirus.

Pure Gym which has British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith (pictured) as brand ambassador, are owned by private equity firms desperate to get business back on track

Cobbold told BBC Radio Five's Wake Up to Money programme: 'We've got a Prime Minister who said he's going to wage war on obesity, and I think this is probably the first war on obesity that started with telling people to go to the pub first and not allowing people to go to gyms.'

Several of the UK's largest chains, including Pure Gym which has British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith as brand ambassador, are owned by private equity firms desperate to get business back on track.

Richard Branson's Virgin Group, which owns a stake in the Virgin Active chain, and Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne, who owns Bannatyne Health Clubs are also affected.

Cobbold added: 'We urge the Government to come back to the table on this, to really engage with us on the substance and facts of the issue.'
Former San Francisco supervisor and trailblazer for gay rights Harry Britt died early Wednesday, June 24. He was 82.

Britt was appointed to the board in January 1979 by Mayor Dianne Feinstein to succeed Harvey Milk, who was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone at City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White.

At the time, Britt said he considered himself the "third openly gay supervisor" from District 5  following Milk and Milk's aide, Anne Kronenberg, a 25-year-old lesbian. "Britt had wanted Feinstein to appoint Kronenberg, but Feinstein said she was concerned about Kronenberg's youth," the San Francisco Chronicle reported at the time.

Britt introduced domestic partner legislation in 1982. It was passed by the board but vetoed by Feinstein. He helped pass the legislation later in 1989 under Mayor Art Agnos.

He ran for California's 5th Congressional District in 1987, losing to Nancy Pelosi, 32% to 36%. Pelosi is currently the House speaker.

Sen. Scott Wiener shared a message mourning Britt's loss, writing, "Harry Britt was a pioneer in the LGBTQ communitys entry into electoral politics. He deeply understood that while our allies are essential, we must have our own seat at the table. Harry helped create space for people like me to serve in elected office. His death is a tragedy.

Jackie Fielder, who is running for election to the California State Senate, shared, "Harry Britt was also my first elected official endorserunafraid to back this Democratic Socialist queer woman of color. He believed in a world where the everyday person has more of a say in policies that affect their own lives than big business, real estate, and corporations."

Britt passed away at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco. "He had suffered from various health issues over the years," according to the Bay Area Reporter.

This story was updated June 24, 11:55 a.m. It previously incorrectly stated that Jackie Fielder is a state senator. Fielder is running for election to the California State Senate in 2020.

Amy Graff is the SFGATE news editor. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
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The global precision farming market size is anticipated to reach USD 12.9 billion by 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to register a CAGR of 13.0% over the forecast period. Precision farming, also known as site-specific crop management or satellite farming, is a farm management concept that uses information technology to ensure optimum health and productivity of crops. The precision farming technique largely depends on specialized equipment such as sensing devices, antennas and access points, and automation and control system. It also involves maintenance services and managed services. Additionally, it incorporates a broad range of technologies such as bio-engineering, robotics and automation, imagery and sensors, and big data.

Growing number of applications for telematics in agriculture is anticipated to drive demand for precision farming over the projected period. Telematics services include tracking devices using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to show the position of the equipment for management purposes. Major manufacturers of agriculture equipment are adopting telematics services for their equipment to improve farm efficiency, thereby reducing the cost of agricultural operations and maximizing profitability. Additionally, improved management can help reduce environmental impact. Telematics technology is used to capture and transfer data from the farm equipment through sensors installed on tractors and other field monitoring equipment. The increasing adoption of telematics systems by agricultural equipment companies is expected to drive the precision agriculture market.

Furthermore, with advancements in GPS guidance and automation, drones are poised to transform the agriculture industry. The ability of drones to precisely analyze the soil at the beginning of the crop cycle and detect a plant infected with bacteria or fungus is anticipated to propel the growth of the drone segment.

However, low rate of technology adoption among farmers is likely to hamper market growth over the forecast period. This may be due to factors such as absence of stringent standards and limitations on the exchange of data. Furthermore, farmers lack independent consulting and advisory services owing to the absence of validated agronomic models for Variable Rate Technology (VRT) to make decisions on investments. In addition, independent services are not linked to co-operatives, government bodies, and farmers associations where farmers can get additional information to make improved decisions.

Access Research Report of Precision Farming/Agriculture Market@

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/precision-farming-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:

Increasing government support for adopting modern agricultural techniques and growing need for efficiently monitoring the health of crops are expected to drive market growth

Cloud-based software model is anticipated to gain significant precision farming market share over the projected period as it reduces energy consumption and provides storage for large amount of data while facilitating cost saving

Innovations in GPS mapping and related farming applications are enabling farmers to operate more efficiently and increase their profit margins

Demand for drones is expected to grow in the agriculture field as they are increasingly used in monitoring irrigation systems

Yield monitoring finds wide applications in soil monitoring as it helps detect the properties of soil for increasing yields

Digital revolution in the agricultural sector, along with government financial incentives to farms, is likely to drive demand for precision farming in Europe in the forthcoming years

Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth owing to availability of the largest agricultural land, which provides growth opportunities in countries such as China, India, Australia, and Japan

Key players in the precision agriculture market include Agribotix LLC (U.S.); Deere & Company (U.S.); SST Development Group, Inc. (U.S.); Farmers Edge, Inc. (Canada); and Granular, Inc. (U.S.).

Grand View Research has segmented the global precision farming market based on offering, application, and region:

Precision Farming Offering Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Hardware Automation & Control Systems Drones Application Control Devices Guidance Systems GPS GIS Remote Sensing Handheld Satellite Sensing Driverless tractors Mobile Devices VRT Map-based Sensor-based Wireless Modules Bluetooth Technology Wi-Fi Technology Zigbee Technology RF Technology Sensing Devices Soil Sensor Nutrient Sensor Moisture Sensor Temperature Sensor Water Sensors Climate Sensors Others Antennas & Access Points Software Web-based Cloud-based Services System Integration & Consulting Maintenance & Support Managed Services Data Services Analytic Services Farm Operation Services Assisted Professional Services Supply Chain Management Services Climate Information Services



Precision Farming Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Yield Monitoring On-farm Off-farm

Field Mapping

Crop Scouting

Weather Tracking & Forecasting

Irrigation Management

Inventory Management

Farm Labor Management

Precision Farming Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America US. Canada Mexico

Europe Germany UK. France Russia Italy

Asia Pacific China India Japan Australia Singapore

South America Brazil

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.
JERUSALEM - More than a thousand European lawmakers have signed a joint letter protesting Israels planned annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, saying such a move would be fatal to hopes for a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The letter was addressed to European governments and published online Tuesday. It is part of a growing international outcry against the Trump administrations Mideast plan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus promise to begin annexing parts of the West Bank that have Israeli settlements, perhaps as early as July 1.

The letter by 1,080 parliamentarians from 25 European countries called for decisive action by European leaders to prevent annexation and to safeguard the prospects of the two-state solution and a just resolution to the conflict.

Failure to adequately respond would encourage other states with territorial claims to disregard basic principles of international law, the letter said. If Israel goes ahead, the letter calls for commensurate consequences.

Israels Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to comment.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war and in the decades since has built dozens of settlements that are now home to roughly 400,000 Israelis. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal. The Palestinians seek the territory as part of a future independent state.

President Donald Trumps Mideast plan, which heavily favours Israel and which has been rejected by the Palestinians, would scuttle any hopes of a viable Palestinian state.

Netanyahus government has yet to publish details of the proposed annexation but the prime minister has called for roughly 30% of the territory  including the strategically important Jordan Valley  to be annexed by Israel.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel on Tuesday to hear global calls and not to proceed with annexation plans. He told The Associated Press that annexation would not only violate international law, but would be a major factor to destabilize the region.

Last week British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he strongly opposed annexation of parts of the West Bank, which would amount to a breach of international law.
As part of the 6th International Yoga Day commemorations, the world's first yoga university outside India has been launched in Los Angeles, offering programmes that combine scientific principles and modern research approaches to the ancient Indian practice of yoga.

IMAGE: Women perform yoga on the occasion of 6th International Day of Yoga in Jammu. Photograph: PTI Photo

The Vivekananda Yoga University was jointly launched on Tuesday by minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan and chairperson of the standing committee on external affairs P P Chaudhary during a virtual event held at the Consulate General of India in New York.

Eminent Indian yoga guru Dr. H R Nagendra, Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana is the first Chairman of VaYU.

Addressing the virtual launch, Muraleedharan said Swami Vivekananda gave the message of universal brotherhood from the US and through the first of its kind yoga university outside India, the message of yoga will be broadcast from America to the world.

"As the symbol of India's culture and heritage, yoga has become the means for unity and brotherhood in the world. Through the medium of yoga, we can give the message of world peace," he said, adding that yoga provides mental balance and emotional stability.

The event was jointly hosted by the Consulate General and Jaipur Foot USA Chairperson and founding director of VaYU Prem Bhandari.

In his message, Nagendra, well known as the yoga consultant to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Swami Vivekananda "heralded the grandeur" of Indian yoga dimension to the world through his famous speech in Chicago in 1893.

"Inspired by his teachings and the solutions he has given to meet challenges of the modern era, we took up this entire process of bringing yoga into the academic dimension," he said.

He noted that the university combines best of the East and best of the West. Best of the East is yoga and its applications and best of West is modern scientific research."

"We want to bring this integrated dimension of healthcare to world at large - allopathy and the AYUSH systems, he said referring to the practice of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.

India's Consul General in New York Sandeep Chakravorty said that New York has deep ties with yoga as many years ago Swami Vivekananda spent time in the city and wrote books on yoga which popularised the Indian practice all over the world.

"It helped in making the US the adopted home of yoga," Chakravorty said, applauding the efforts of Nagendra and Bhandari for the initiative.

He underscored that VaYU will involve top line research on yoga and further popularise it in America, where currently about 40 million people practice yoga regularly.

Bhandari said that Swami Vivekananda, "a monk from India introduced Hinduism to the western world through his historic speech in Chicago in 1893. Now, 127 years later, another monk from India Dr. H R Nagendra is bringing to the western world the age old yoga science - Guru-Shishya Parampara by establishing this university."

He noted that in the years to come, VaYU would produce best modern day yoga practitioners who would not only spread peace but make planet Earth a better place to live.

The university is a prime example of people to people connections between India and the US, he said.

Chaudhary said yoga makes the human immune system very strong and is a bridge between the mind and body, which is very important in today's times.

He said the university will help thousands of yoga teachers in the US whose yoga education was limited to 200 or 500 hours of certificate programmes to progress further into university-based higher education.

He highlighted that Modi was instrumental in getting the UN to declare June 21 as International Day of Yoga, saying this further popularised yoga across the world.

In congratulatory messages, Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said in these trying times, the practice of yoga has kept life going and for the very first time, a university espousing yogic science is being launched in the US.

Through the scientific appraisal of yoga, I'm sure millions more will get benefit of it, he said terming the launch of the world's first yoga university outside India as a milestone in the world of yoga.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev said that the launch of the yoga university is a matter of pride and expressed confidence that VaYU will enhance India's pride for years to come in the field of yoga research.

Former Director General of Border Security Force K K Sharma said that yoga is the best system of exercise and recalled how he had introduced it in place of PT exercise and noticed a perceptible improvement in the overall physical and mental health of the force.

Founded on the principles of Swami Vivekananda's prescription for universal welfare, VaYU will offer online graduate programmes based on scientific principles and modern research approaches to yoga.

VaYU faculty has been recruited from SVYASA, the first Yoga university in India.

It will facilitate collaborative research, credit transfers and joint programmes with multiple premier universities across the world.

The university will offer online master's program in Yoga. The applications for fall 2020 semester are open with the first day of classes starting on August 24 in a virtual mode.

The launch comes within three months of receiving official recognition from the Bureau for Private Post-secondary Education, California to offer yoga-based higher education programmes in November 2019.
Tata Steel Ltd is quoting at Rs 335.55, up 1.07% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is down 32.62% in last one year as compared to a 10.75% fall in NIFTY and a 29.1% fall in the Nifty Metal.

Tata Steel Ltd is up for a fifth straight session in a row. The stock is quoting at Rs 335.55, up 1.07% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.55% on the day, quoting at 10528.25. The Sensex is at 35673.02, up 0.68%. Tata Steel Ltd has added around 19.65% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Tata Steel Ltd is a constituent, has added around 18.79% in last one month and is currently quoting at 2085.8, up 0.03% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 141.89 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 158.57 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark June futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 335.8, up 1.1% on the day. Tata Steel Ltd is down 32.62% in last one year as compared to a 10.75% fall in NIFTY and a 29.1% fall in the Nifty Metal index.

The PE of the stock is 3.96 based on TTM earnings ending December 19.

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Among 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh, the Gautam Buddh Nagar district has ranked second for two straight months in terms of response time to emergency 112 call, according to official data.

Gautam Buddh Nagar police clocked an average time of 8.10 minutes to respond to an emergency in the month of May, behind only Raebareli police which had the best time of 7.49 minutes, the state-level data showed.

In the month of April, Gautam Buddh Nagar polices average response time was exact 8 minutes, behind only Kanpur city police by one second, it showed.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Rajesh S, who is also the officer in-charge for 112 service in Gautam Buddh Nagar, said they attended a whopping 53,405 calls. In April and 16,428 in May  the two months when the Covid-19 lockdown was in place  and managed the second best response time in the state.

Adjoining Delhi in western UP, Gautam Buddh Nagar is spread over an area of 1,442 sq kms with a large rural area besides the urbane Noida and Greater Noida, officials said.

Currently, the district has 65 four-wheeler and 46 two-wheeler police response vehicles (PRVs) which handle emergency calls made on 112, the officials said.

All distress calls made on 112 are re-routed to the local PRVs from the Lucknow headquarters and the time duration is calculated from the moment a PRV responds to the situation till it reaches the incident spot, with both times being fed on mobile-data terminals, according to officials.

Also, the response time of any district is the average duration of urban and rural time, they said.

According to the data, the Gautam Buddh Nagar police clocked an average 8.33 minutes to respond to distress calls in rural areas and 7.12 minutes in urban areas.

The same figures for the month of May stood at 8.38 minutes in rural areas and 7.18 minutes in urban areas, the data showed.

Rural time is always difficult because of the terrain and distance, DCP Rajesh told PTI, adding that their focus is now at reducing the response time in urban areas to 7 minutes.

He credited the consistency in the ranking to team work but also stressed that the district police wants to improve not only its timing but also ensure better after-response situation.

My main concern is what happens after handling the distress call. We can always improve upon the timing but our focus is at ensuring that the emergency responders behave well with aggrieved persons. Being ranked second is fine, but my concern is on our personnel being sensitive and empathetic towards the caller, Rajesh said.

He added that the PRV personnel are regularly trained and a monitoring system is in place to analyse their work.

He said major portion of the distress calls during the lockdown was for food and dry ration from across the distress, as indicated in the whopping number of emergency calls.

The number of such calls came down drastically in May when a dedicated helpline for Covid-19 related issues was started in the district.

There have been occasions when early response by PRV teams have fetched excellent results. In the month of May, a man had called up 112 and said he was going to hang himself, the PRV team reached well in time and saved him. There was another instance when PRV officials helped evacuate a family caught in fire inside their house. This was possible because the people were aware that 112 emergency number would work and it did, he added.
Brazils Central Bank has put a pause on WhatsApp payments in the country, according to Bloomberg. Apparently, the bank decided to suspend the feature to preserve an adequate competitive environment, that ensures the functioning of a payment system thats interchangeable, fast, secure, transparent, open and cheap.

Facebook, WhatsApps parent company, rolled out payments in Brazil earlier this month after two years of testing. The South American country is WhatsApps second largest market after India, making it a great starting point for a feature that Facebook says will eventually be available to everyone. It allows users to pay for purchases from local merchants without leaving the app and without fees on top. A lot of small businesses in India, Brazil and other developing countries use WhatsApp as their main online presence, ad the feature will give them an easy way to accept digital payments.

At launch, the service supported cards issued by Banco do Brasil, Nubank and Sicredi, so long as they were issued by Mastercard or Visa. The Central Bank of Brazil asked both payment processors to stop money transfer activities through WhatsApp or face fines. According to bank authorities, the suspension will allow them to evaluate any risk the service might pose to Brazils payment systems and to figure out whether it meets all the necessary rules, particularly when it comes to competition, efficiency and data privacy concerns.

As for Facebook, Bloomberg says the banks decision took it by surprise, since the company had been in regular contact with its authorities until the feature launched. A spokesperson told the publication:
Princess Diana didn't want to end her marriage to Prince Charles, but would have preferred to stay in a separated partnership, royal expert Jennie Bond has claimed.

Jennie, a former BBC News Royal Correspondent, said the late Princess of Wales confided in her after her closest confidante, Patrick Jephson, resigned from his role as her private secretary, following her bombshell 1995 Panorama interview with Martin Bashir.

In a new Channel 5 documentary, Princess Diana, In Her Own Words, the journalist said that the late princess would have preferred to stay married to Charles and worked together on royal duties as separated partners, believing they made a strong team.

Diana's former aides also told the documentary that the mother-of-two was 'incredibly smart', albeit not academically gifted.

Princess Diana didn't want to end her marriage to Prince Charles but instead stay in a separated partnership, Jennie Bond has revealed. Charles and Diana are pictured together in 1985

Jennie told the programme: 'Diana was pretty unsettled with the divorce, she didn't want the divorce, she told me, "It's not something I want".

'I think she felt somehow they could continue as separated but partners and parents to the two boys, and she really did try to make it work and she wanted to make it work.

'She found the day of the divorce extremely hard. She did go out, she was seen in public, but she was hurting badly. She told me that it was an extremely difficult day, but she went home and burst into tears.'

Jennie added that the Princess would share incredibly personal things with her, but it was always off the record.

'Diana and I met at the palace a few times.

'I wrote to her actually. I said, "I don't know what to believe when I read all this stuff in the paper, I don't know whether it's true or not, can't we just meet as two women over a cup of coffee, as two mums?".

In a new Channel 5 documentary, Princess Diana, In Her Own Words, the journalist says: 'Diana was pretty unsettled with the divorce, she didn't want the divorce, she told me "it's not something I want". Diana and Charles are pictured together in 1981

'She was very happy to talk about extremely personal matters, but it was in confidence infuriatingly, she would always say "Jennie, this is just between me, you and these four walls".'

In 1997, Diana told the New Yorker she hoped her marriage would last.

'We would have been the best team in the world. I could shake hands until the cows come home and Charles could make serious speeches but it was not to be,' she said.

Patrick Jephson, Diana's former press secretary, is also interviewed in the new documentary, which rebroadcasts clips from interviews Diana filmed before her death in 1997.

He reveals the moment he found out about her interview, as well as why he decided to resign following the broadcast.

'She realised she had gone too far and it had done her no good. It was poignant, it was painful and to me there was a great sense of loss, inevitably after Panorama there was no way back,' he said.

'My objection was not the fact she'd done it, but it was her message, the poor little me message, was the wrong one. I felt it was an opportunity to demonstrate her strength and what a big heated person she was. I felt I had to resign.

Recalling his first knowledge of the interview, Patrick explained they were in a car travelling to Broadmoor Hospital, where Diana was visiting.

'I knew she was a bit uncomfortable, she said to me, "Patrick, I've done an interview on the TV."

'If you want more from a royal, particularly Princess Diana, you act interested, and frankly I said, "Yes tell me more".

'She said, it's for Panorama and I said "Sh, right, good," although inside I was thinking "God".

And she said to me "It's very good, don't worry". I said "Has it been taped, has it been done? Does the Queen know?".'

He revealed Princess Diana said it had been taped, she hadn't spoken to the lawyer and the Queen didn't know.

'I picked up the phone in the car and asked the switchboard to put me through to the Queen's private officer and Charles Anson [the Queen's private secretary] answered.

Patrick Jephson, Diana's former press secretary, is also interviewed in the new documentary, which rebroadcasts clips from interviews Diana filmed before her death in 1997. Diana is pictured in Angola

'So he was the first person I told. And Charles has a great poker delivery, he said. "Oh of course, yes".

'On the drive to Broadmoor I tried to coax more out of the Princess to find out what she said. She got more and more reluctant to speak and eventually we drove on in silence.

'She was fabulous at emotionally engaging with people she interacted with, she had such quick wit, she was not academically gifted but she was the smartest person I knew.

Ken Wharfe, a former royal protection officer, added: 'People often questioned her intelligence. She was incredibly streetwise but she'd be the first to admit she wasn't the brightest person on earth.'
From the beginning, a civil war was inevitable.

The first seven decades of our history are a story of compromise, accommodation and temporizing, all in the attempt to avert armed conflict as long as possible.

The Three-Fifths Compromise, the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 eased tensions temporarily.

But the conflict between an industrializing, modernizing, free-labor North and an agricultural South that depended on slaves and white supremacy was irresolvable, except, eventually, by war.

Hostilities began on Apr. 12, 1861, when confederates opened fire on U.S. troops garrisoned in Fort Sumter, South Carolina. We usually say the war ended four years later on Apr. 9, 1865, when Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia.

But dissatisfied interests in both the North and South began almost immediately to work to reestablish the prewar status quo. In some respects, the Civil War transcends the four bloody years in the 1860s.

It began with our founding and has continued through the long years of Reconstruction and Jim Crow, up to the current protests coalescing around Black Lives Matter.

In fact, the war will never be entirely over until two things happen. The first is the achievement of genuine, practical equality for African Americans.

Slavery and segregation have given way to their modern equivalents, de facto segregation in our schools, churches and neighborhoods and economic conditions that guarantee that Black family wealth is a fraction of white wealth.

Second, we have to abandon the cult of the Civil War. This means dismantling the monuments that glorify the so-called "Lost Cause," the revisionist idea that the South was fighting for states' rights or the preservation of a benign, honorable way of life.

It means letting go of our fetish for the Confederate flag, and it means renaming the 10 military installations that still commemorate Confederate officers.

This is not erasing history; it's embracing it honestly. The courage and gallantry these honored confederates might have displayed cannot redeem the fact that they were fighting to preserve white supremacy.

And they weren't terribly good at it. Robert E. Lee was a competent tactician, but he was no strategist, and his unrealistic stubbornness after his defeat was inevitable cost the lives of many Americans, on both sides.

Lee was a slaveholder who sometimes had slaves flogged; sometimes he flogged them himself. And like much of the Southern aristocracy, after the fighting stopped, Lee put his efforts into maintaining white supremacy.

In 1866, Grant said about Lee: "Lee is behaving badly. He is conducting himself very differently from what I had reason, from what he said at the time of the surrender, to suppose he would. No man at the South is capable of exercising a tenth part of the influence for good that he is, but instead of using it, he is setting an example of forced acquiescence so grudging and pernicious in its effect as to be hardly realized."

It would be better to understand Lee than to maintain monuments to his glory.

Lest you think that I'm just another liberal Yankee with no appreciation for the Old South, I'd be happy to put my confederate bona fides up against yours.

I've lived in Texas all my life. Some of my ancestors fought for the Confederacy. In fact, one of them, Francis Hays, a Texas frontier lawyer in my mother's direct line of descent, on March 6, 1860, went to a "negro auction" and purchased "one little boy about 10 years old for $1150.00." He called it "a good bargain."

Am I embarrassed by this slaveholding heritage? Not at all. After a few generations, family trees ramify so extensively that everyone's is filled with sinners and saints, priests and prostitutes, slaveholders and abolitionists. So is yours. Southern heritage is nothing to be ashamed of, but it's nothing to be proud of, either.

The Civil War wasn't a Lost Cause, it was a Bad Cause. We'll never bring the war to an end until we stop glorifying the men who fought to preserve white supremacy, no matter how gallantly.

John M. Crisp, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, lives in Georgetown, Texas, and can be reached at jcrispcolumns@gmail.com.

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With the COVID-19 pandemic, the Harvard University's Kennedy School, like most universities, moved to online teaching only. Our executive education classes have almost always required that people travel physically to Cambridge, and with the campus being closed, two sessions of our flagship exec ed program, Senior Executive Fellows, were actually cancelled. But for the June program we decided to bite the bullet and to hold the program virtually. It is going on now. (The School has also announced that the October Senior Executive Fellows will be online only.)

I was frankly very pessimistic, more than most of my colleagues, that people would not want to come except for an in-person experience, where they could interact with their government colleagues and with faculty. It turns out I was completely wrong  there was a lot of pent-up demand after two cancelled sessions, and some people welcomed the opportunity for a less-expensive program (with no need for lodging and meals) and the opportunity to stay with their families rather than leaving for a month. So we have ended up with 90 participants, somewhat larger than a typical SEF class.

Another thing that I was worried about missing was interactions with the participants outside of class. That too has worked somewhat better than I feared -- a number of participants have taken the initiative to set up Zoom meetings together.

One of those students is a New Zealander named Graham Wilson, who is doing the class remotely from New Zealand. I noticed him the very first class I taught when he brought up an issue about how New Zealand uses performance measurement in government, which some blog readers will recognize as a Steve Kelman hobby horse. He then contacted me about getting together on Zoom, which we have now done.

It was a fascinating conversation. Wilson is Navy veteran and a current New Zealand civil servant whose job for the last three months has been chief of staff in the Office of the Prime Minister, which puts him in charge of staffing and organizing committees involving the government that the prime minister runs. Interestingly, this is a civil service position, not a political one; when the new prime minister came to office several months ago, the prime minister asked ministries to nominate candidates. Wilson won an internal contest in the Ministry of Defense to be nominated, then he was interviewed and selected in a governmentwide competition.

He chose an interesting time for this job. The new prime minister was Jacinda Ardern, a 39-year-old mother of a toddler, whose only previous political job had been as a rank-and-file member of Parliament. Adern was a surprise choice as leader of the opposition Labour Party who then swept the country,bringing them to a surprise election victory.

And then almost immediately after she has become prime minister, the coronavirus broke out. Adern has received kudos in the U.S. and elsewhere for very early and aggressive actions against the disease, with a lockdown even before the first case hit New Zealand. The disease was effectively vanquished from New Zealand (though just last week the country uncovered two cases, the first in over three weeks, from people entering the country from abroad).

Wilson was given a number of responsibilities for coronavirus response involving the cross-agency committee that had been set up for this purpose. He told me a fascinating story: The government wanted to do tracing for those who had been in contact with people who had tested positive. The health ministry was really short of people to do this. At a tabletop exercise of the cross-agency committee in February, after the virus had spread to Italy, somebody came up with the idea of getting other agencies to provide capacity for contact tracing.

The police said crime was down significantly with the lockdown, so there were employees at their citizen call centers with little demand for their services. When the airports were closed a month later, transportation security said they had a lot of staff just sitting around, and they volunteered as well. With one day of training, these agencies were ready to serve as contact tracers, and they soon got to work. (Their salaries continued to be paid by their own agencies.)

I asked Wilson whether they considered using contractors  as we might have done in the US -- rather than an inside-of-government collaborative effort. He said they felt they couldnt have geared up such an effort so quickly.

And in some cases, these loaner employees brought unexpectedly relevant expertise. The Ministry for Primary Industries, for example, had dealt with a virus in cows across the farming community in 2018 and 2019. Communications staffers from that ministry were assigned to the COVID response team to take charge of comms.

The bottom line is that during the crisis a whole bunch of government employees started doing work not in their job descriptions. To hear Wilson tell the story, getting these other agencies to pitch in was not so hard. The crisis was one that required a whole-of-government response, so parochial resistance was minimal. Also, New Zealand is a very small country (population 5 million), so there are incomparably closer ties among Kiwi civil servants than in the U.S.

But still, we shouldnt underestimate this achievement. Nothing like this had been done before; after a devastating earthquake that hit New Zealand in 2011, no such collaboration was organized. And staff was being asked here to go above and beyond their duties.

If you can do this once during a crisis, you may create connective tissue available for use in the future as well. Now that its been done once, Wilson is working on how the model can be applied to other crises. Efforts such as these may sometimes fail to take place just because nobody thought to ask.

To put it gently, organizing a response like this one would be much harder in the U.S. Nonetheless, a much milder version of this occurred among anti-terrorism organizations such as the CIA and FBI after 9/11, despite a long tradition of interdepartmental suspicion and sometimes outright hostility. These organizations are now collaborating much more than in the past. If we think that such collaboration is important to solve public problems, we need to be self-conscious about creating and then nurturing it.
Congressman Brad Sherman also accused China of premeditated aggression in Ladakh, spoke at length about strengthening India-US relations.

US Congressman Brad Sherman on Tuesday spoke to Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and expressed his condolences over the demise of 20 Indian soldiers in a violent face-off with Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakhs Galwan Valley.

Good speaking with Indias Ambassador @SandhuTaranjitS today. I offered my condolences to the Ambassador for the 20 troops who died as a result of premeditated Chinese aggression at the actual Line of Control in Ladakh last week, Sherman tweeted.

He also said that they spoke in general restrengthening the US-India relationship.

(1/2) Good speaking with India's Ambassador @SandhuTaranjitS today. I offered my condolences to the Ambassador for the approx. 20 troops who died as a result of premeditated Chinese aggression at the actual line of control in Ladakh last week.  Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) June 23, 2020

The face-off happened on June 15 as a result of an attempt by China to unilaterally change the status quo during de-escalation in eastern Ladakh. India has said that the situation could have been avoided if the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side.

Also read: International relations must come to terms with contemporary realities: S Jaishankar at RIC meeting

Also read: US Intel claims Galwan attack was planned by China to teach India a lesson

Indian intercepts have revealed that the Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured.

Meanwhile, the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) is likely to hold a virtual meet on Wednesday to discuss border tensions between the two countries.

The WMCC talks are headed by joint secretary-level officials from both sides.

WMCC was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas, as well as to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation, including between their border security personnel.

Also read: China encroaching Nepali land through road construction: Govt report

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US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will soon sign an executive order to punish all those responsible for vandalization of historic monuments and statues. "I will have an executive order very shortly. And all it's really going to do is reinforce what's already there, but in a more uniform way, Trump told reporters at the White House.

His comments came a day after a group of protestors tried to topple a statue of President Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House. Local law enforcement officials had to use pepper spray and force to prevent the statue being pulled down.

In the past few week, protestors demanding police reforms and justice to African American George Floyd, who was killed in police custody, have vandalized several national monuments and statues including Lincoln Memorial, Statue of Mahatma Gandhi and historic church in front of the White House.

Trump described these people as hoodlums and anarchist. "If these hoodlums come around -- these are not protestors, by the way; these are -- these are anarchists and other things. If these hoodlums come around, and if the states can't handle it, we are ready, willing, and able to help..." he said in response to a question.

Monday night, he said, law enforcement stopped an attack on a monument of President Jackson in Lafayette Park. "I just want to thank law enforcement. They did a great job. We were working very closely with the White House Secret Service and some of our executives. They stopped it cold, he said.

"Numerous people are in jail and going to jail today. People are already there, but we're looking at long-term sentences under the act. We have a very specific monuments act, Trump said.

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 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, Trump said in response to a question.

Also read: US suspension of H1-B visas to have limited impact on India
LIGHTHOUSE GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. (LHGI), a Holdings Company for Tech Start-ups, is set to expand its acquisition target to include a range of revenue generating companies that have impact on the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) sectors

Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2020) - Lighthouse Global Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: LHGI) ("LHGI") has signed a MOU with Aero360 Solutions Inc., Philippines (AERO), to acquire up to 20 percent in exchange for LHGI ordinary restricted shares within the next 6 to 12 months, subjected to AERO's performance.



Image 1: LHGI Logo

To view an enhanced version of Image 1, please visit:

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AERO is a pioneer in utilising industrial-grade and survey-grade Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), or drones to perform aerial, ground and hydro surveys by leveraging on advanced technologies - Photogrammetry, LIDAR, Multi-beam Bathymetric sensors, Hi-Res Ground Penetrating Radar, Thermal Sensors, among others.

AERO's success in the Philippine market with the use of technologies is recognized to be a "Blue Ocean" in the global arena. The service industry alone, which AERO is part of, is projected to be a US$60 billion market in the next 5 years.

Danny explains, "The drone market is full of wonderful technology and applications. If you can integrate several unique applications into a drone, and derive important data analytics, you would have achieve something significant.This is where we find AERO's future very promising. With more than US$2 million in revenue in 2019, up 8 times from 2018, what they need now is additional resources to grow and expand rapidly to cope with mounting demand. "





Image 2: Danny Lim - CEO of Lighthouse Global Holdings, Inc.

To view an enhanced version of Image 2, please visit:

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With the signing of MOU with AERO, LHGI will start its due diligence on AERO's financials and technology edge as well as the feasibility study into the Philippines drone market.

Story continues

It is said that LHGI would have expected AERO to secure a leading pole position in UAV technology applications in the Philippines over the next 6 months. To necessitate the acquisition, LHGI and AERO will sign a more definitive Agreement, which will include LHGI to provide the necessary funding to help AERO achieve its milestone. Upon achieving a certain milestone, LHGI will then proceed to acquire up to 20 percent of AERO.

AERO's strategy for the next 5 years is to capitalise on the market opportunity and make a name on the global arena. At the moment, AERO is now gearing up to expand to countries such as India, Australia, USA, Switzerland, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia. This will help to grow AERO exponentially with strategic partnership and licensing of technologies.

The drone market is increasingly crowded, with thousands of start-ups all vying for a niche market. Basically, a drone can derive unlimited applications through innovations. However, it is limited by its payload, flight time and utilities. Any technology that can achieve a better efficiency will win the market.

It is noted that the drone market will grow from $14 billion in 2018 to $43 billion worldwide by 2024. Market intelligence stated the commercial drone industry will far outpace the growth of the military sector. However, at least 25 drone start-ups are closing or pivoting as they struggle to find a market fit, while 60 start-ups had been acquired or consolidated. Big players such as Airwave and GoPro have decided to close shop and Parrot has ceased production of poor-performing consumer models.

On the brighter side, special purpose industrial drone companies such as Zipline have continued to boom and investments in the drone start-ups industry have risen, surpassing US$1.2 billion in 2019. The Drone Industry Insights quoted that the 2020 market outlook may have another record-breaking year for VC deals, if not for the COVID19 pandemic.

Mark Villaflor, the CEO of AERO, commented; "We had received many opportunities to grow and expand beyond our current capabilities. With additional funding, we will be able to take advantage of the demand and grow rapidly. With LHGI as our potential Stakeholder, we are confident to reach our next level quickly."





Image 3: Mark Villaflor - CEO of Aero360 Solutions Inc.

To view an enhanced version of Image 3, please visit:

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During this time of crisis, AERO is recognised as an essential service, designing the use of drones to help companies and agencies to track, monitor and disseminate information and data to its relevant authorities. If AERO succeeded in achieving its milestone, and LHGI acquiring a percentage of the revenue generating company, it could possibly mean that LHGI will continue to seek out this strategy to increase its value, like how Berkshire Hathaway did, except that LHGI is more focused on technology start-ups, with huge potential upside in capital gains.

About Lighthouse Global Holdings, Inc.:

Lighthouse Global Holdings, Inc. is a diversified holdings company that acquires emerging companies in key industries where rapid revenue growth and market share penetration are poised for significant gains or simply a joint venture. Our main focus is to acquire, nurture and partner with technology-driven startups to bring them to Nasdaq or any National Exchanges in 5 years. Our target companies must have revenue or a ready market, competent management teams with in-depth experience in their industry and have developed products or services that have a unique edge in their marketplace. Our evaluation matrix and consultant screening process help us filter hundreds of opportunities to effectively pick companies that can grow and evolve into high performing growth entities.

For more information on Lighthouse Global Holdings, Inc., visit www.LHGIncorp.com.

CONTACT:

Jem Castro

jem@LHGIncorp.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58437
HOLYOKE  Veteran 1,' the first known COVID-19 diagnosis at the Holyoke Soldiers Home, remained in his room in the dementia unit with three roommates and had free reign to common areas despite displaying symptoms for weeks.

It was one in a series of catastrophic management missteps that led to at least some of the deaths of 76 veterans at the facility tied to the disease, according to an independent report on the deadly outbreak released Wednesday.

The most fatal fumble was the choice Superintendent Bennett Walsh and his top clinical staff made to combine two locked dementia units on March 27. More veterans were falling ill and staff began to call out sick, the 174-page analysis says.

A recreational therapist who was instructed to help with the move said that she felt like she was walking [the veterans] to their death, and that the veterans were terrified, the report reads, adding that a social worker also involved in combining the units felt it was like moving the concentration camp  we [were] moving these unknowing veterans off to die.

The report  commissioned by Gov. Charlie Baker on April 1  also paints a swift shift in attitude among top staff.

It appears that when COVID-19 struck the locked dementia units, the Homes leaders focus shifted from any attempt to prevent the spread of the virus within those units to preparing for the deaths of scores of residents, reads the report, authored by Boston attorney Mark Pearlstein.

It was the day hell broke loose at the Soldiers Home, one staffer told Pearlstein and his investigators.

On the afternoon the units were combined, 14 body bags were delivered. A refrigeration truck designed to augment the facilitys small morgue arrived the next day, on March 28. Walsh was put on paid leave two days later. State officials sent in a response team to assess the crisis and try to stem the tide of deaths that followed.

Val Liptak, a registered nurse and CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield who was appointed to take over Walshs duties, told investigators, none of us have ever seen anything like this.

Another passage from the report describes the unit: According to Incident Commander Lisa Colombo, on March 30, 2020, this hot unit had veterans crammed in on top of each other,' some were clearly dying.' There were chairs of people lined up, some were clothed, some unclothed, some were wearing masks, some werent.

The Republican has a request for comment pending with Walshs attorney and uncle, former Hampden District Attorney William Bennett.

Through Bennett, Walsh has previously denied keeping state officials in the dark about the outbreak  which was summed up the first onslaught of criticism of the superintendent. While the report breaks down a litany of failures at the facility, it did not find Walsh appeared to conceal the outbreak.

While decisions made by the Homes leadership team contributed to this tragedy, and while Mr. Walsh at times conveyed inaccurate or incomplete information about the Homes response efforts, we do not find a failure of reporting or an effort to conceal COVID-19 cases or deaths from the Department of Veterans Services or (the Executive Office of Health and Human Services), it reads.

At a press conference discussing the report, Baker said he has full confidence in Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders.

Earlier in the day, Baker issued a statement saying, This report lays out in heartbreaking detail the terrible failures that unfolded at the facility, and the tragic outcomes that followed. We now have an accurate picture of what went wrong and will take immediate action to deliver the level of care that our veterans deserve.

Baker appointed Pearlstein, a former federal prosecutor, to launch the investigation.

On Tuesday night Secretary of Veterans Affairs Francisco Urena confirmed to multiple media outlets he was asked to resign ahead of the reports release. In addition, the Soldiers Home Medical Director, Dr. David Clinton, resigned in the wake of the outbreak. The report says Clinton disavowed any responsibility for the early missteps in the crisis.

Medical Director Dr. David Clinton, who was present at the Home on the day of the consolidation, asserts that he was not involved in, or consulted in this decision, and that he disagrees with it. We find this not to be credible, and at the very least, that Dr. Clinton was aware (or should have been aware) of the move and did nothing to stop it, the report reads.

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, a Springfield Democrat whose uncle is a resident at the home, reacted to the report by renewing his earlier calls for accountability.

I stand with my constituents, family members of residents at the Home, Veterans, and staff in their calls for change, Neal said in a statement. Now, more than ever, it is time to refurbish the facility and it must be treated with the same equity as its counterpart in Chelsea. I stand ready to volunteer any resources that the federal government can provide as the state moves forward to examine next steps.

John Paradis, a former deputy superintendent of the Holyoke Soldiers Home who resigned five years ago along with former Superintendent Paul Barabani, called for a plan that restores our faith and trust in government to do the right thing.

Paradis and Barabani, who resigned over what they described as state officials failure to heed calls for more funding and more staff, are among a group of advocates leading a charge for reform and for upgrades to 70-year-old facility.

This must mean delivering on our states promise to truly provide care with honor and dignity, Paradis said. This must mean a path forward supported by a commitment to demonstrably improve the Home in three areas: staffing that ensures the utmost safety for Veterans; the approval of a new or vastly improved facility in Holyoke that is state of the art and which meets the highest of standards in long-term care; and third a new governance and oversight model that is removed from politics and which truly serves the Veterans. This is a moral as well as a statutory obligation given the nature of the services that the Soldiers Home provides.

This is a developing story that will be updated.

Related Content:
Google is showing off one of the most impressive efforts yet turning traditional photography and video into something more immersive: 3D video that lets the viewer change their perspective and even look around objects in frame. Unfortunately, unless you have 46 spare cameras to sync together, you probably won't be making these "light field videos" any time soon.

The new technique, due to be presented at SIGGRAPH, uses footage from dozens of cameras shooting simultaneously, forming a sort of giant compound eye. These many perspectives are merged into a single one in which the viewer can move their viewpoint and the scene will react correspondingly in real time.

This image from the researchers' paper shows how the cameras capture and segment the view.

The effect of high-definition video and freedom of movement gives these light field videos a real sense of reality. Existing VR-enhanced video generally uses fairly ordinary stereoscopic 3D, which doesn't really allow for a change in viewpoint. And while Facebook's method of understanding depth in photos and adding perspective to them is clever, it's far more limited, creating only a small shift in perspective.

In Google's videos, you can move your head a foot to the side to peek around a corner or see the other side of a given object  the image is photorealistic and full motion but in fact rendered in 3D, so even slight changes to the viewpoint are accurately reflected.

Image Credits: Google

And because the rig is so wide, parts of the scene that are hidden from one perspective are visible from others. When you swing from the far right side to the far left and zoom in, you may find entirely new features  eerily reminiscent of the infamous "enhance" scene from "Blade Runner."

It's probably best experienced in VR, but you can test out a static version of the system at the project's website, or look at a number of demo light field videos as long as you have Chrome and have experimental web platform features enabled (there are instructions at the site).

The experiment is a close cousin to the LED egg used for volumetric capture of human motion we saw late last year. Clearly Google's AI division is interested in enriching media, though how they'll do it in a Pixel smartphone rather than a car-sized camera array is anyone's guess.
New Delhi, June 24 : The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a slew of decisions that include opening up Indian space sector, pumping in money to create dairy infrastructure in the country, constructing an international airport at Kushinagar to boost tourism in the Buddhist circuit as well as giving a 6-month extension to the OBC Commission.

Talking about the creation of a new space body, Minister of State for Atomic Energy & Space, Jitendra Singh said, "A new institution has been formed. It will be known as Indian National Space, Promotion & Authorisation Centre. It will guide the private industries in space activities through encouraging policies in a friendly regulatory environment."

This, the minister claimed, will open up the space sector. However, to a question whether ISRO's role has been curtailed, he clarified that all these agencies will supplement each other. He also said that this will stop the "brain drain' from India. Singh said, while ISRO will continue to do what it has been doing, the new body will "fill the gap and fulfill demand.

Jitendra Singh added that the newly created Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACE) provides a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure. It will also hand-hold, promote and guide the private industries in space activities.

Meanwhile, in a significant move that concerns the rural economy, the cabinet approved establishment of Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund worth Rs 15,000 crore. The government said that it will provide 3 per cent interest subvention to eligible beneficiaries, under this new endeavour.

While, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar claimed that it will help generate more jobs, Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh claimed that the new infrastructure will help India create quality cheese which was not possible so far. He said, this is just a tranche of the massive financial aid the Prime Minister announced for "Atmanirbhar Bharat' program, as far his ministry is concerned.

The cabinet also took a decision that may help the tourism sector that has taken a massive hit ever since the pandemic hit India. The cabinet on Wednesday also approved declaration of Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh as an International Airport. Javadekar said this will give a boost to the Buddhist circuit and bigger flights like an airbus can land in the longer airstrips.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also decided to extend the tenure of the Commission which was brought in to examine the issue of sub-categorization within Other Backward Classes, by another 6 months. Javadekar added that the terms of reference for the commissioner has also been changed so as to those who could not avail the fruit of reservation due to spelling errors can also be looked into.

-- Syndicated from IANS
ViacomCBS has reversed course.

Days after announcing that its television adaptation of A Higher Loyalty, the best-selling book by the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey, would appear after the election, the company has moved the broadcast to September.

The director, Billy Ray, sent an email to cast members on Monday expressing disappointment that the mini-series had been scheduled to broadcast in late November on the ViacomCBS cable network Showtime. In the email, which was reviewed by The New York Times, the director said he had completed the project in the spring with the expectation that it would air before Election Day, Nov. 3.

The two-part, four-hour program, The Comey Rule, was adapted by Mr. Ray, the screenwriter of Shattered Glass, Captain Phillips and Richard Jewell. It stars Jeff Daniels as Mr. Comey, who served as the F.B.I. director from 2013 until President Trump abruptly fired him in May 2017. Mr. Trump is played by Brendan Gleeson, the actor perhaps best known for his portrayal of Alastor (Mad-Eye) Moody in the Harry Potter movies.

Showtime said in a statement on Wednesday that the mini-series would air on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28.

A Higher Loyalty was an instant blockbuster when it was published in April 2018, selling 600,000 copies in all formats its first week. In its pages Mr. Comey likens Mr. Trump to a crime boss and calls him unethical, and untethered to truth. Mr. Trump attacked the book and its author, calling him an untruthful slime ball in a tweet.
What happened

Shares of casino operator MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) fell roughly 6% in early trading on Wednesday. This move, however, needs to be put into a broader context. Although MGM's stock is still down around 45% for the year, it is well off its March nadir, when it was lower by roughly 75%. So while today's decline is notable on an absolute basis, it's not that big in the grand scheme of 2020.

So what

The obvious problem here is COVID-19. The coronavirus effectively shut down MGM Resorts' casino operations when the government closed nonessential businesses and asked citizens to practice social distancing. As the economy has begun to reopen, the company's casinos have been slowly welcoming customers back through their doors. That's the good news and helps explain why the stock is up off its worst levels of the year.

But MGM Resorts is operating under occupancy restrictions and with new health requirements. It's unclear just yet what impact this will have on its financial results.

And there's the not-so-subtle issue of continued business improvement being highly reliant on the progress in containing COVID-19. With many of the early states that moved to reopen their economies starting to see an uptick in coronavirus cases, there are concerns that the casino recovery won't be smooth.

In particular, Nevada is seeing a notable increase in cases. And that's providing the downward pressure on MGM Resorts' shares today, due the company's sizable presence in this key gambling state.

Now what

There are very real concerns here that operating a casino is no longer the same as it was before COVID-19. And beyond that admittedly broad statement, there is a great deal of uncertainty because the U.S. is still very much dealing with the impact of this health crisis. Until there's far more clarity, investors should expect continued volatility in MGM Resorts' shares.
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. ? Frederick Douglass.

To Dr. Bryan Johnson,

We have read with much interest the statements of school superintendents and districts from across the country--Los Angeles, Houston, Milwaukee, Cleveland, St. Paul, Atlanta, and others. Officials at Muncie Community School District in Indiana, for example, have acknowledged that some of the district's practices are unacceptable and they have made a commitment to dismantle racism.

Superintendent Aleesia Johnson of Indianapolis Public Schools shared in her statement, I want to remind all of our students but especially our black and brown studentsthat you are so valued. You are loved. You are brilliant. You are powerful. You are magic. And we are so proud of you.

Since its founding in 1909, the NAACP has shared its singular and consistent statement about racism: To ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race. Our education agenda is to eliminate the severe racial inequities that continue to plague our education system.

We talk in Hamilton County about the opportunity to become the fastest improving district in Tennessee, and until recently we used the words opportunity zone to identify the schools with the most opportunities to improve. Yet, with all the success we tout, we still have a group of chronically underperforming schools of predominantly children of color. This letter is to shine a light on some real opportunities to ensure we deliver on the promise of equity and opportunity for every child in every school.

At no other time in our history have we had an African American superintendentvisionary, smart, energetic, passionate, determined, beloved--- with an African American chief of staff, and an African American chief of equity leading our district. Top talent has been recruited from within and from afar. Partners have stepped up to support innovation and possibility. We have shown historic progress, receiving the highest designation possible a Level 5 based on the 2018-19 TN Ready test results and Tennessee Value-Added Assessment Scores. All this suggests we are definitely smart enough and determined enough to raise achievement in our district, so our question is, Why not in schools with high concentrations of children of color? We have had years of interventions that have not worked. Growth is not enough to declare victory in underperforming schools when that growth does not become a trajectory for the success we see in short order in schools we dont control serving predominantly poor students of color.

What have we missed? Maybe its the real opportunity to be the district that boasts historic progress in every school. Below is our starter list of real opportunities to make equity and real progress happen for all.

Say its name: Privilege. Then share it. There is a reason that underprivileged may be the most appropriate label assigned to poor students of color concentrated in underperforming schools, because they have less access to privilege. Some privilege is by circumstance of birth and zip code. But some has been historically granted by Hamilton County Schools, at its discretion, for the express purpose of ensuring an individual schools success. Those privileges, not Title I dollars alone, make the difference.

James Mapp, former president of the NAACP, may be best known for his history-making 26 year federal lawsuit against the city of Chattanooga to integrate Chattanooga Public Schools. In 1986, the year the lawsuit was settled, the district made bold moves---a mass transfer of teachers so that school faculties reflected the racial demographics of the city. That same year the city opened its first dedicated magnet school, CSAS, with intentionality to ensure its student population also reflected the racial demographics of the district. Years after the Mapp lawsuit was dismissed and the city was no longer under federal watch, dedicated magnet schools stopped being intentional about diversity. But even in 2020 when those schools no longer keep the promises of helping to address issues of diversity and equity in the district (as reflected in Tennessee Report card school demographic data), the district continues to grant all the privileges.

To create the appearance of equity, the district later designated predominantly black schools as magnet schools. The irony of history is that school names changed, but they never got the privileges. Those privileges are what affluent white families demand (and should), so we see them, for example in magnet schools like the predominantly white CSLA (21.9 percent students of color; 6.8 percent economically disadvantaged), but not in others like East Lake Academy (95.1 percent students of color; 75 percent economically disadvantaged), also a magnet school. The real opportunity, then, for Hamilton Countys Chief Equity Officer is twofold: determine how to share privilege so that black and brown children in both magnet and non-magnet schools are also its beneficiaries. Then, rather than take privilege from dedicated magnet schools, hold them accountable for significantly increasing diversity or assign them a zone that ensures their student populations increasingly reflect the racial demographics of the county. Regularly report progress to the community on initiatives for equity. That is just a good start for the Office of Equity, but an

important one. Stop segregating black and brown children and their faculties. Modern Day Segregation kills children long before they become adults.

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. In 1986, the 26 year lawsuit by NAACP President James Mapp requiring the integration of schools in Chattanooga was dismissed on the grounds that the school district was showing compliance. In 2020, Hamilton County still has white schools and black schools. The school district has no control over where families live. HCS does have control over disparities among white schools and black schools that scream for attention. The real opportunity is to change what we can change.

For example, stop segregating black and brown children in ways that isolate them from the high performance that will truly make us the fastest improving district in the state. Stop changing the group name for chronically underperforming schools every few years. Instead, change the practices. Stop delivering a curriculum to underperforming schools--same standards and expectationsbut under conditions still very similar to the separate but equal policies of the 1950s when schools were separate but never equal. The real opportunity is to simply do in underperforming schools what we do in high performing and nationally recognized schools. When black children get into those schools, they rise. They can rise in their neighborhood schools if we stop segregating them from the very practices and opportunities that work for high performing schools.

Stop isolating the teachers in struggling schools from their high performing peers in other schools. Consider whether the mass exits across the district from struggling schools each year (compared to transfers from predominantly white schools) are in part a desire of teachers not to be segregated from teachers with whom they could collaborate. Teachers in underperforming schools are not underperformers. We know that because in interviews, some have said they become high performers with a simple transfer to a high performing school. Stop penalizing the teachers who stay in struggling schools by barring them from access to leadership roles because their scores are not on par with peers in more diverse and affluent schools. The conditions under which they workisolation, oppressive supervision, and challenges beyond their experiencewould be equally daunting for any of their peers.

Stop segregating black children and killing them long before they become adults. Stop killing their chance to be brilliant and to work toward a future full of hope. Instead, give them regular access to their high performing peers across the district, even when their zoned neighborhood school is predominantly black. Stop using transportation as an excuse to offer opportunities with the caveatbut only if you can get there on your own. Find and fund the ways.

Stop the Oppression and Control in underperforming schools. Students and teachers cant breathe. Stop operating chronically underperforming schools like prisons, with oppression and control as the order of the day. Stop constant hall policing by teachers during instructional time, increased numbers of administrators and deans of students who merely react and punish negative behaviors that are the masked frustrations of children oppressed on a daily basis. Consider more support and mental health professionals instead. Stop line-ups where children march in silence with bubble mouths and folded arms from one location to another. Ask yourselves, When as adults will they use the muscle memory of these practices? Stop locking childrens restrooms, curtailing their access to the arts and extracurricular activities, suspending them for responding to frustration in the only way they know how, or mandating that schools with concentrations of poverty reduce suspension numbers by allowing studentswho need help beyond what inexperienced teachers can provideto wreak havoc in classrooms so that no one can learn. Stop beating up powerless teachers and administrators for not dramatically improving conditions that only those in power at the district level can change. Stop evaluating chronically underperforming schools long enough to help them.

With so much expertise and skill at the district level, invite yourselves to take the Zora Neale Hurston challenge: To know there, you have to go there. At some future date when schools reopen, send your children to a chronically underperforming school for a week and then ask them to describe elements of oppression and control they experience. Send your most outstanding teachers and visionary principals from high performing schools for a week and let them tell you where you could focus your expertise and resources to ease the oppression. (Make sure you send them there during the weeks your supervisors and directors are there so that they can listen and learn as well). Then reverse the process. Send students, teachers, and administrators from struggling schools to high performing schools for a week and then ask them about the differences. Talk to teachers who recently transferred from schools where oppression and control are the order of the day and let them tell you why they could no longer take it. When teachers smile and say they do not feel the oppression in their chronically underperforming schools, ask them how long they plan to stay.

Check the websites of schools with the most suspensions and the schools that have recently received national awards. Compare the differences in what schools offer and connect the dots. Resist the temptation to throw a few more Title I dollars at chronically struggling schools hoping that money alone will cure a cancer. As with cancer, the goal is cancer free. Free chronically struggling schools from oppressive and controlling practices and replace those practices with access, encouragement, high expectations, support, and other real opportunities.

While the many inequities and elements of systemic racism in Hamilton County Schools may be difficult to see and unintentional, they existand they start killing black and brown children long before they become adults. You inherited this, Dr. Johnson, and for that you share no blame. Please dont let ignoring this be your legacy.

The NAACP is here to help.



With respect and urgency,

George Calhoun, President of Chattanooga/Hamilton NAACP

NAACP, Chattanooga/Hamilton Branch
China has warned the United States on Tuesday that there will be a retaliation against new US restrictions on Chinese state media, according to AFP.

This development further escalates tensions between the two world powers, with each others media outlets serving as pawns caught in the middle.

According to AFP, the US State Department on Monday announced it was reclassifying four organisations  China Central Television, China News Service, the Peoples Daily and the Global Times  as foreign missions rather than media outlets in the United States, adding to five others designated in February.

China, on its part had already expelled more than a dozen American journalists.

The five state news outlets earlier designated as foreign missions according to AFP, are Xinhua news agency, China Global Television Network, China Radio International and the US distributors of the Peoples Daily and English-language China Daily.

In retaliation for the slashing of Chinese employees at these News outlets in the United States, Beijing hit back in March by expelling US citizens working for three major newspapers  The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

On Tuesday Beijing condemned the US move as part of an ongoing Cold War, saying the action is bare-faced political suppression of Chinese media that further exposes the hypocrisy of the so-called freedom of speech and press which the US likes to flaunt.

We strongly urge the US to reject this Cold War mindset and ideological bias otherwise China will have no choice but to make an appropriate response, said foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a routine briefing According To AFP.

All nine Chinese state-run news organisations will be required to report details of their US-based staff and real estate transactions to the State Department. Their news reporting will not be restricted, officials said.
Employees of German airline Lufthansa hit the streets to encourage shareholders to back a bailout plan

Lufthansa's top shareholder on Wednesday said he would back a nine billion euro government rescue package, removing the threat of a last-minute veto that could have plunged the German airline into bankruptcy.

"I will vote for the agreement," German billionaire Heinz Hermann Thiele told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper on the eve of an extraordinary general meeting at which investors will decide on the fate of the coronavirus-hit giant.

Chief executive Carsten Spohr has warned that "the future of the company" is at stake after the pandemic throttled Lufthansa's usual flood of passengers to a trickle for several months this year.

Spohr will address the online meeting set to begin at 1000 GMT, urging investors to back the plan he hammered out over weeks of talks with ministers and the European Commission.

The nine billion euro ($10 billion) plan includes the state claiming a 20 percent stake.

Thiele, who made his fortune in the rail and auto industries and owns 15.5 percent of Lufthansa's stock, had repeatedly voiced scepticism about the deal, to the dismay of Lufthansa management, employees and unions.

But in the interview with the Frankfurt newspaper, Thiele said insolvency had to be avoided even if he still had doubts about the bailout.

"It is in the interest of all Lufthansa employees that management can quickly begin talks about the necessary restructuring," he said.

Even with the government aid, Lufthansa said it will have to slash some 22,000 full-time jobs as travel demand is expected to stay below pre-pandemic levels for years.

Lufthansa shares jumped more than 15 percent by 2000 GMT in after-hours trading as investors welcomed Thiele's turnaround.

Low turnout

Given that shareholders representing just 38 percent of the capital have registered to participate Thursday, Thiele held the power to singlehandedly torpedo the deal.

The 79-year-old's motivations for building up his own stake in Lufthansa remain murky.

"I will continue to exert influence on the development of Lufthansa," he told the FAZ, declining to elaborate.

Lufthansa's board warned shareholders ahead of the meeting that insolvency was "unavoidable" if the deal fell through.

Bracing for the worst-case scenario, Spohr on Sunday said it was "prepared" to keep flight operations going even if the vote goes against the board.

Before launching insolvency protection procedures, bosses would "use the time to talk over alternatives with the government," he added.

The powerful Verdi union welcomed Thiele's green light.

"This ends an existential threat for almost 140,000 employees globally and their families," it said in a statement.

"Other shareholders must now follow Thiele's example and agree to the rescue package."

Heavy weather

Lufthansa's climb out of the coronavirus storm promises to be long and arduous as countries emerge from lockdown and air travel slowly resumes.

By September, the group expects its timetable to remain 60 percent below levels seen before the pandemic.

Further into the future, around 100 of Lufthansa's present fleet of 763 aircraft will likely be surplus to requirements.

Elsewhere in the group, Vienna granted subsidiary Austrian Airlines aid totalling 450 million euros, while Swiss and Edelweiss received loans totalling 1.2 billion euros from Bern.

Talks continue with the Belgian government over Brussels Airlines, which plans to shed 1,000 jobs.

Explore further German government moves to rescue Lufthansa bailout

 2020 AFP
Ms. Johnson was one of more than 20 people killed in the first three weeks of June amid a surge in shootings that has become a flashpoint in a debate over police reform in the city.

Natasha Allen, Ms. Johnsons mother, said her daughter was a budding entrepreneur who despised violence. She had participated in recent protests in Manhattan around the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. She was very adamant about it, Ms. Allen said.

Ms. Johnson and Mr. Branch had announced the party to their friends on social media. Hours before the party, Ms. Johnson wrote on Facebook: Its a function/vibe everyone wear a mask paaaaaleaseee.

A few hours later, she shared a video of her drinks, called nutcrackers, in the freezer. The bottles were labeled with flavors like Mango Madness, Watermelon, Patron Strawberry Lemonade and Buddy Water. Yall ready? she wrote in the caption.

Shania Herbert, 23, said she had sometimes helped Ms. Johnson prepare her concoctions, which also included Jell-O shots and shots in syringes.

She made those with love, Ms. Herbert said. She made it so everybody could enjoy it, have fun.

The surveillance video that the police released showed three men walking close to the silver BMW after it pulled up near the party. One reached inside the front-passenger window and another appeared to be dancing.

After the shooting, the video showed the three men get into the car, one in the drivers seat, one in the front passenger seat and the dancing man in the backseat, where he was joined by a fourth man.
As we watch mobs vandalize statues, a few kids will be buried in Chicago. They didn't die in an accident; rather, they were in the wrong place when the bullets started flying. One of them was riding in the car with his parent.

Chicago's "Killing Fields" go on and on.

Where is the mayor? She is angry at President Trump for everything and at a local city alderman for saying some of the businesses will never come back. They didn't in Baltimore and won't in Chicago.

This is from the Chicago Tribune:

A 3-year-old boy was shot and killed in Chicago over the weekend. Two hours later, a 13-year-old girl was shot and killed just blocks away. Between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, seven people were killed, including the 3-year-old, the 13-year-old and two other teenagers.

Where is the outrage? I see some, especially from family and friends.

Where is the political class? Where are the two U.S. senators and so on?

When will the governor of Illinois get out of his politically correct bunker and put the National Guard on the streets to stop this every weekend? Like the mayor, he is busy blaming Trump. After all, isn't everything Trump's fault in these cities run by Democrats?

Sadly, we've reached a point where "black deaths matter" only when they can be blamed on Trump or Columbus.

Who knew we'd be blaming Columbus 500-something years after he died?

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
Britain and the European Union are set to miss their end-June deadline for assessing future cross-border trade in financial services, leaving just six months before a potentially messy UK exit, financial industry and EU officials say.

Britain left the EU in January and complies with the blocs rules until the end of December in return for continued full access for financial firms.

Future direct EU access will depend on whether Brussels deems UK regulation to be equivalent to standards in the bloc. The EU and Britain agreed last year they would make best endeavors to complete the assessments by June 30.

Its a long, slow process and no one is rushing to finish them by the official target date, a senior official at an international bank said.

Britain has repeatedly said the assessments should be a formality, given that it has put all EU rules into UK law.

However, the EUs assessments go beyond checking if Britains rules are currently equivalent, to asking whether the UK intends to diverge from EU norms in future, raising a major strategic issue, an official at a UK financial firm with EU operations said.

UK finance minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday that comprehensive findings of equivalence were in the best interests of both parties, but also indicated there would be some changes to UK rulebooks, pleasing some Brexit backers who want to use Britains departure to change regulation.

Without equivalence, financial firms in Britain would be cut off from the EU market and have to open hubs in the bloc to continue serving customers there.

A European Commission official said the EU executive had sent questionnaires to British authorities covering 28 areas.

The UK has not yet answered most of the questionnaires, the commission official said.

Assessments are also challenging because equivalence assessment will have to be forward-looking, taking account of overall developments, including any UK intention to diverge from EU rules, the commission official said.

This is why we need clarity on how the relevant UK rules will evolve after Jan. 1, 2021.

The EU has said it will only take a decision on actual access once it is fully satisfied with the assessments.

It mirrors the slowness of progress in separate UK-EU talks on a free trade agreement.

Sunak on Tuesday began setting out how Britain will regulate the financial sector beyond December, flagging that it wants to make changes to parts of insurance capital rules inherited from the bloc, which could make equivalence problematic, and amend consumer disclosure rules.

We will analyze the UKs texts and discuss them with the UK authorities in the overall context of our equivalence assessments, the commission official said.

Britains finance ministry had no immediate comment.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by David Evans)

Topics Europe
U.S. crude inventories grew slightly in the third week of June despite increased refinery output, a sign that oil supply continues to outstrip demand.

Domestic commercial crude inventories increased by 1.4 million barrels during the week ended June 19, compared with the previous week. The national crude supply sits at 540.7 million barrels, about 16 percent higher than the five year average for this time of year, the Department of Energy said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, U.S. refineries processed an average of 13.8 million barrels of crude oil per day last week, an increase of 239,000 barrels per day compared to the previous week. Refineries operated at about 75 percent of its capacity, the agency said.

Energy companies have sharply cut crude production after the coronavirus pandemic plunged demand for petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. The pandemic exacerbated the global oil glut and heightened concerns that producers would run out of space to store it.

OIL RECOVERY: Oil crosses $40 milestone, but not out of the woods yet

At one key storage point in Oklahoma, oil had filled up to about 85 percent of capacity by the first week of May. However, as states have lifted coronavirus-related restrictions on business and travel, crude supply in Cushing, Okla. has fallen to about 62 percent of capacity as of last week.

As more drivers hit the roads, gasoline inventories fell by 1.7 million barrels, or 0.7 percent, last week, although they are still about 9 percent above the five year average for this time of year. Meanwhile, gasoline production last week increased by nearly 5 percent from the previous week, averaging 8.8 million barrels per day.

As oil prices have recovered, settling above the $40 threshold on Monday before falling again, some producers are turning the spigots back on. 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.

Jennifer Rowland, a senior energy analyst at Edward Jones, warned oil prices could fall again if producers bring back production prematurely as oil prices recover. Prices for West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark for crude oil, fell by more than 5 percent to $38.17 on Wednesday morning.

Thats a significant risk, Rowland said. Youre reliant on producers not opening up the spigots too quickly because we dont need all that supply to come back online too quickly yet.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has rendered an unqualified apology to the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari over the recent demolition of a building at the residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner in Accra.



In a release, the Presidency of Nigeria stated President Akufo-Addo in a telephone call told the Federal government that he has directed full investigation into the incident.



Akufo-Addo said some suspects have been arrested and arraigned before court.



Earlier in the day, it further emerged that some suspects had been arrested, and will be arraigned in court, the release signed by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President read further.



The Presidents call follows the demolition of a building nearing completion on the premises of the Nigeria High Commissioner in Accra by some unidentified armed men on June 19.



The Nigerian community in Ghana has criticized the government of creating tension between the Nigerians and Ghana, something which is described as having the tendency to disrupt the diplomatic ties between the two countries.



Meanwhile, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, the Paramount Chief of the Osu Traditional Area, has stated the Nigerian High Commission has trespassed on a parcel of land belonging to the Osu Stool.



He stated in a release that, the land in question is not a state land, therefore, it is only the Stool that has the mandate to grant lease be it expired or otherwise.



Read below the full release.

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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The industry needs another step up after this indoor dining because at 25% capacity, were still unable to tee up the levels of volume we had before.

Serving food out of take-out boxes and to-go cups has been a challenge for restaurants forced to transition from in-house dining to curbside pickup services. Unlike pizzerias and fast-food establishments, which have benefited from the uptick in delivery orders and drive-thru traffic, sit-down restaurants and banquet facilities are uncertain that they will ever be able to adapt to the strict limitations on dining capacity. Former nightclub/restaurant operator and a current owner of Branches Catering in West Long Branch, New Jersey, CPA, Carmen Penta predicts a rocky future for the hospitality industry - especially for banquet venues.

A long-time Jersey Shore resident, Penta started working in the food and beverage business at a young age, first as a short-order cook at the Surfside Beach Club in Long Branch, New Jersey in high school before managing the Deal Casino in Deal, New Jersey while in college. His experience led him to open Montego Bay  a popular nightclub in Belmar, New Jersey in 1982 that would reach its 1,000 person capacity almost every night. Thats how we made money, and thats something I think were not going to see for a long time, said Penta. Currently a Certified Public Accountant with Addeo, Polacco, & Penta, Penta represents over 50 restaurants in New Jersey. He is also part-owner and managing partner of Branches Catering in West Long Branch, New Jersey, a business that has faced many obstacles due to the coronavirus pandemic. Its a disaster, said Penta about the slow reopening of the hospitality businesses. New Jersey restaurants were able to open for outdoor dining beginning last week and indoor dining can resume July 2nd with 25% capacity. Were still not there and starting curbside pick-up and outdoor dining is really starting a new business for most of us, said Penta.

But the reopening of catering and banquet facilities poses a new set of questions including: (i) Can a profit be made on significantly smaller gatherings? (ii) Will guests feel comfortable being in a crowded room full of people again? Already, many of the venues previously scheduled weddings and corporate events have been postponed and rescheduled for the fall with a significantly reduced guest list. You can imagine the profit margins Im missing out on for an event of 40 people versus 150, its extraordinary, said Penta. The facility also had to lay off employees including waitresses, bartenders, and party planners, who they have had difficulty hiring back due to over-generous unemployment benefits and the ongoing fear of being exposed to the virus. Its been very difficult to bring back most of our help, said Penta who credits the paycheck protection loans for helping to keep his business open. Without that, we would have had a major problem and that was certainly something that was needed for all of the restaurant industry, said Penta.

Although restaurants are permitted to reopen dining rooms once again, Penta isnt convinced that the added business is enough. The industry needs another step up after this indoor dining because at 25% capacity, were still unable to tee up the levels of volume we had before, said Penta. While Branches Catering will be opening for inside dining, outdoor dining and curbside dining will no longer be available. We want to go back to doing what we do best, which is catering, said Penta. Instead, Penta is exploring implementing backyard and off-site catering, hoping people will be more comfortable hosting a party in a more familiar environment.

Despite the prolonged reopening, Penta believes that it is long overdue. Its definitely too slow for the businesses, however from a health standpoint you have to balance that, said Penta. It had to be done, unfortunately hurting a lot of businesses. Looking back on the progress New Jersey has made in containing the spread of the virus, Penta commends the decision to close early on. Trying to have events in April and May would have been a disaster health wise and people probably wouldnt have attended. It was the right decision, but now theyre too slow, added Penta. The summertime has undeniably helped businesses attract customers with the option of dining outdoors, something Penta has been taking advantage of as a consumer. I think I would be reluctant right now [to dine indoors] especially because its summer and we have the option to dine out[side]. I would do that over dine in[side], said Penta. The future is still troubling for banquet facilities who may not be able to reopen at all. My prediction is youre going to see some of these catering facilities go out of business and/or merge probably to lower overhead, said Penta, suggesting that ghost kitchens may become more of a reality for catering businesses.

To view the full video interview, visit Bielat Santore & Companys website at http://www.123bsc.com, Facebook page and stay tuned for next weeks Thursday Restaurant Rap interview.

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.








Atos to acquire ALIA Consulting to reinforce its leadership position for Energy & Utilities in Europe

Paris, June 24, 2020 - Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire AliA Consulting in France to complement its Energy & Utilities business through its subsidiary Worldgrid. The combination of the two companies will create a leading provider for energy and utility companies delivering state-of-the-art expertise in billing and CRM implementations and solutions. It will strengthen Atos' global industry strategy for the energy and utilities market and position Atos as the #1 SAP and S/4 HANA transformation provider for Utilities in Europe.

Alia is a leading IT consulting company specialized in SAP applications for the utilities sector and S/4HANA transformation which generated approximately 9 million Euros Net sales in 2019. Bringing deep industry and technology expertise since 2008, with more than 70 consultants, AliA will join Atos Worldgrid, a 100% subsidiary of Atos in France. Atos Worldgrid is the business activity addressing globally the energy market and developing a strong growth strategy on E&U billing and CRM sector, as evidenced by the recent acquisition of X-Perion in Germany. This acquisition is fully in line with the Group's verticalization strategy implemented in February.

Customers from both companies will benefit from an extended product and service portfolio with digital solutions that are specifically designed for the requirements of the utilities industry in the fields of billing and customer relation management.

The closing of the transaction is expected to take place before the end of the year and is subject to the final approval of Atos governance bodies.

***

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with over 110,000 employees in 73 countries and annual revenue of over  11 billion. European number one in Cloud, Cybersecurity and High-Performance Computing, the Group provides end-to-end Orchestrated Hybrid Cloud, Big Data, Business Applications and Digital Workplace solutions. The group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos Syntel, and Unify. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information technology space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education as well as multicultural and pluralistic approaches to research that contribute to scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the group enables its customers, employees and collaborators, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably and confidently in the information technology space.

Press contact:

Laura Fau | laura.fau@atos.net | +33 6 73 64 04 18 | @laurajanefau

Attachment
On June 1, Tom Ford, the chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, sent a letter to the board about its meeting the next day. He wanted the board to address the Black Lives Matter protests against racial injustice, he said, and systemic racism in the fashion industry.

Almost everyone Zoomed in: Michael Kors, Virgil Abloh, Prabal Gurung and Vera Wang among them. It was, said someone who was there, an animated but not angry discussion. The group agreed that a statement would be released and an action plan written. Everybody was invited to email their thoughts.

Two days later, the statement appeared.

Having a clear voice and speaking out against racial injustice, bigotry and hatred is the rst step, but this is not enough, it read, listing four initiatives to follow. Those included an employment program charged with placing black talent in all sectors of the fashion business to help achieve a racially balanced industry.

But not every idea that had been submitted was included. And not everyone liked the result.

It was, Kerby Jean-Raymond, the designer of Pyer Moss and a CFDA board member, told Highsnobiety, a watered-down, bubblegum-ass statement that didnt address the issues. Specifically, he said, it didnt address police brutality and what fashion could do about it. (Mr. Jean-Raymond was not available to comment for this story.)
Dear Mr. President (His Excellency),

We hope this letter finds you in the soundest health, even though the burden from the pandemic has made you virtually restless. We need not to remind you, His Excellency, on our last letter to you, stating the possible ways to deal with this dangerous Corona Virus. In that regard, we need to, first of all, extend our deepest gratitude to you for implementing most of the solutions we proffered. As a health-related NGO, we've monitored keenly various strategies and decisions implemented by your government in the fight against COVID-19, which strikes our attention.

We have also followed vehemently, the pragmatic steps taken by the President of Ghana to ease the tension and the discomfort surrounding the restrictions imposed on citizens of Ghana as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We in Medihelp West-Europe/ West-Africa were deeply concerned about the negative effects the restrictions imposed had on the citizens as a whole. Even though, we acknowledge that the measures which was put in place by the President was as of that time implemented, to the best of our understanding, the only option that befitted the moment.

As part of our mission as an organization, we owe it a responsibility to the nation, more especially, towards our dedication to offer healthcare needs to the underprivileged and the vulnerable in the society as well as contributing our ideas to health related issues which are of national and global concern.

As a result, we want to commend the President for the holistic management of the pandemic. And also use this same opportunity to advise that, the authorities responsible, for ensuring compliance to the laid down protocols enforce the laws to minimize the risk of community spread.

We as well urge all citizens to abide by the recommendations from the Ghana Health Service as the world looks for a better solution to help safe lives.

Written By:

Owusu Daniel Baffoe

Member, Communication Team.
CASPERMargery Phyllis (Green) Lefevre died Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at Life Care Center, Casper. Phyllis, born in 1923, was the eldest child of Forrest Aden and Blanche Violet Green of Spokane, Washington.

Phyllis enjoyed recounting her childhood growing up in Helena, Montana, particularly summers spent living in tents while her father followed road construction projects, building some of the first paved highways through western Montana Mountains. She also recalled times during the Depression when the family would search for stray bits of coal along railways, or times they lined their worn out shoes with paper.

High school valedictorian, she was the first in her family to attend college. She married fellow Montana State University chemistry student Lorin Durward Lefevre in 1946, received her Bachelors Degree in 1948 then moved to Casper.

She was a homemaker, renowned for her apple pie. Family recreation included reading, camping, rock hunting, singing, and playing music. Phyllis sang and played piano and violin. She and Lorin gave their children the gifts of music and music lessons. Among many other gifts to their children was a love for learning and particularly science

The couple was active in a Casper square dancing club and the Wyoming Fiddlers Association. A convert to Roman Catholicism, Phyllis was active in her parish life, particularly parish choirs and Our Lady of Fatima Altar and Rosary Society.

Phyllis husband, parents, sister, Delores Sparing of Helena, Montana, and great-grandson, Jaxon Kalinowski predeceased her.

She is survived by her sister, Myrtle Prohaska of Seattle, Washington; brother, Forrest Green of Cody, Wyoming; her six children, Richard (Julie) of Lander, Wyoming, Nancy Byrne (Dermot), Margie Valdez (John), David (Penny), Carol OHearn (Kevin) all of Casper, and Don of Rapid City, South Dakota. She is also survived by thirty grandchildren and forty five great-grandchildren.

Phyllis funeral mass was held June 22, 2020 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.

To leave a special message, please visit www.Newcomercasper.com.
China threatens to retaliate against US curbs on Chinese outlets

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 4:12 PM

China has threatened to retaliate against the new restrictions imposed by the United States on four Chinese media outlets.

On Monday, the US State Department said it had reclassified four Chinese outlets, namely China Central Television, China News Service, the People's Daily, and the Global Times, as "foreign missions" rather than media outlets in the US.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Tuesday described the latest US move as "bare-faced political suppression of Chinese media" that "further exposes the hypocrisy of the so-called freedom of speech and press which the US likes to flaunt."

"We strongly urge the US to reject this Cold War mindset and ideological bias otherwise, China will have no choice but to make an appropriate response," Zhao said.

Back in February, Washington branded five Chinese outlets as "foreign missions." The five were required to reduce their US-based staff.

It was unclear whether the four new organizations would be asked to cut the number of their staff.

"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," tweeted Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of the Global Times on Tuesday.

The tabloid is owned by the People's Daily, itself published by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

A closed-door meeting was held between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi in Hawaii last week. The recent restrictions indicate that the meeting did little to defuse tensions.

China has already expelled more than a dozen US journalists to reciprocate past restrictions.

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Chennai will soon get a Mumbai flavour  Naturals.

The hand crafted ice cream maker, a Mumbai favourite, plans to sell the delectable ice cream in the southern city and in some rural markets.

Naturals Ice Cream had shut production and sales in mid-March in Maharashtra, where it recently opened a factory, after the state imposed a lockdown. After Unlock 1.0, it resumed operations in mid-June.

We have always expanded with caution and strategy. Our motto is purposefully slow. We would be expanding to rural markets and Tier-I cities where we are not present yet, Chennai to be specific, Siddhant Kamath, Director of Naturals Ice Cream, told Moneycontrol in an interview.

Naturals has been in business for 35 years, and has 126 outlets across Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat and Goa. Two years ago, it opened an outlet in Kolkata.

The company is going slow and cautious over the sales overdrive that is expected from brands after a long period of zero business. Our current focus is on safety before getting retail operations back to normal, Kamath said.

Naturals resumed business after the lockdown with Mango, Tender Coconut, Chickoo, Roasted Almond, Anjeer, Choco Bite, Malai and Malai Khurma flavours.

We are currently focussing on selling only family packs, which are made at our factory under safe and hygienic conditions. We deliver these packs to the stores directly, Kamath said.

As far as end-customers are concerned, sealed, safe products are the priority. We are promoting delivery services and contactless (physical) options, Kamath said.

To promote safe and hygienic opening and consumption of ice cream packs, the company has come up with packaging sleeves that have paper soaps attached.

The ice creams are mostly made out of fresh, natural fruits and have a limited shelf life of 15 days. They are made with only three ingredients  milk, fruits and sugar.

Naturals produces 25 tonnes of ice cream a day, consuming 3,200 litres of milk and around 15,000 tender coconuts. Among the best sellers are the tender coconut, lychee, kala jamun and mango flavours.

Naturals is working on new product lines keeping convenience and home consumption in mind, Kamath said. He did not disclose any margin numbers, but said the companys FY21 retail revenue target was Rs 300 crore.

Coronavirus, Lockdown Impact

With hygienic premises, protective gear for employees and sanitisation becoming the priority during COVID times, the company had to bear a cost increment. Margins, he said, may take a marginal hit.

Kamath says this is the new way forward and it is crucial that these costs are absorbed by the company.

Speaking on the supply-chain disruption due to the lockdown, he said: As we procure from strategic vendors and partners, we did not witness any disruption. We process our own fruits and are not dependant on the market.

In the short term, the company may face logistical challenges. However, being a seasonal and fresh brand, Naturals have kept the menu limited, Kamath said.

The company works on two models  franchise and company-operated stores.

Most franchise stores are in the companys own premises. Those using leased space may face some difficulties in paying rent and the company is in talks with the landlords to work out a win-win model, Kamath said.

The Journey so far

What started out as a small store in Mumbais Juhu on Feb 14, 1984, founded by R S Kamath, has now become the symbol of Mumbais delectable taste for desserts.

In 1994, after 10 years of operations, five more outlets -- in Malad, Borivli, Bandra, Lokhandwala Complex & Vile Parle -- were started. It is also in the course of being one of the few home-grown brands adopting the franchise model for expansion.

The first outlet outside Mumbai -- in Pune-- was opened on 2000. This was followed by Ahmedabad, Goa, Hyderabad (2009), Bengaluru, Jaipur (2010) and Kolkata (2018).

Asked if the company is planning an initial public offer, Kamath said: We are a family run business and have no plans to go public yet.
Cowering in her bedroom all night, Caroline Straws heart pounded. She knew the chest of drawers barricading her door offered scant protection from the potential killer in her home, who had threatened to suffocate and poison her.

Carolines terror was complicated by a conflicting urge to love and protect  because her attacker wasnt a hardened criminal, nor a violent husband, but her 15-year-old daughter, Daisy.

An articulate teenager, who enjoyed baking and art and whose middle-class upbringing seemed to offer stability, Daisy had nonetheless waged a two-year campaign of abuse against her mother. Shes a loving girl, but its as if she has a switch. Ive had black eyes, cuts and bruises all over my body, says Caroline, 37. It was horrific and heartbreaking.

Shockingly, the child-to-parent abuse (CPA) Caroline experienced is more common than we think. In the UK, police figures revealed a 30 per cent rise in domestic violence offences by sons on their parents since 2010, to 5,294 last year, while of violence from daughters has doubled to 1,598.

Antonia Hoyle spoke to mothers who've been attacked by their own children, as police figures reveal there has been an increase in cases since 2010 (file image)

With secondary schools mostly closed until September and frustrated teenagers trapped at home, Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird flagged up reports of teenagers attacking their parents in lockdown. There is a spike likely to emerge of this new kind of domestic abuse that is just coming through, she told MPs on the Commons Justice Committee.

Michelle John, director of PEGS (Parental Education Growth Support), an organisation to support those affected by child-to-parent abuse, is receiving daily emails from desperate parents.

Seventy one per cent of children whose parents approach PEGS for support are boys, and 29 per cent girls, with physical attacks occurring regardless of the childs gender. All demographics are affected, Michelle says, and many are fearful to seek help in case they lose not just their children, but their job and reputation  with authorities often instinctively inclined to side with a child.

Quite often we see parents in community-led professions  doctors or solicitors, for example  whose children will use their parents job to assert control, threatening to report them as abusers. Theres no legislation clearly defining child-to-parent abuse. The authorities dont know what to do and so many just assume poor parenting is to blame.

Caroline consistently tried to enlist support from authorities, only to find none. If I were being abused by my partner it would have been different. Child-to-parent violence is horrific, but its not spoken about, she says.

This devoted mother from the Midlands says nonetheless: I feel Im betraying my daughters trust by talking about it now.

Caroline Straw, 37, who lives in the Midlands, revealed that her daughter Daisy began pushing boundaries and swearing around age 13 (file image)

She recalls how Daisys behaviour changed when she was 13. She started pushing boundaries, swearing, says Caroline, 37, who split up with Daisys father when she was four. She also has an eight-year-old son from a subsequent relationship.

At first, she put the aggression down to typical teenage behaviour. But Daisy started hitting and headbutting Caroline when she wasnt allowed out or to use her phone.

Carolines GP referred her to CAMHS, the NHS service for child and adolescent mental health. But when Daisy refused to cooperate, they said they couldnt help. I called social services, who said there were no safeguarding issues because we were meeting her needs, says Caroline. I felt isolated.

At 14, Daisy started using knives and saucepans to attack her mother. She threw whatever she could get her hands on. Sometimes shed scream that she hated me. I was constantly on high alert. If friends and family asked how she acquired her cuts and bruises, she told the truth. I didnt want to minimise what had happened. They didnt know what to say or how to help, she says.

Daisy, nearly 6ft, used her height to intimidate her 5ft 3in mother, and started attacking her then six-year-old brother: Shed pin him down and punch him, or wake him up in the middle of the night and say she was going to kill him. In terror, Caroline moved her son into the bedroom she shares with her electrician partner.

Caroline explained that she barricaded herself in her bedroom, after learning that Daisy had researched how to kill her (file image)

Experts believe CPA is more common in children who have witnessed an early trauma, and Caroline suspects her daughters violence stems from her fathers conviction for assaulting Caroline.

But while Caroline harbours guilt for not leaving him earlier, she doesnt believe this justifies Daisys actions. I accept adverse experiences can impact on childrens behaviour, but we cant allow them to use this as an excuse, she says.

At a meeting with social services last July, Daisy calmly announced she had researched how to kill her mother in seconds using suffocation and cleaning products. She said it would be fun. To hear her say she wanted to kill me and know she meant it was chilling, says Caroline who, horrified, called the police.

Caroline suggested the rest of her family went to stay with relatives, while officers advised they remove all knives from the house. Daisy was then left alone with her mother.

She was too high-risk to be taken into care, says Caroline, who barricaded herself in her bedroom. I didnt leave my room  I wasnt prepared to play Russian Roulette with my life. I was too panicked to sleep. I felt sadness, fear and desperation.

Miranda Rogers who is mother to 16-year-old Tristan, told how he began being violent towards her around the age of nine (file image)

Two days later, after more threats to kill and, Caroline says, with no further support offered from social services, police arrested Daisy.

She was crying as she was handcuffed, but we couldnt carry on like that any more, says Caroline. After Daisy spent the night in a police cell, the CPS decided it was not in her best interests to prosecute.

She was taken to a residential home for teenagers last summer. Before lockdown Caroline visited her once a week. They FaceTime every day. Id love her to come home, but the risk is too great, says Caroline.

While Caroline was driven to reveal the truth, many mothers keep abuse a secret. People would be shocked if they knew, says Miranda Rogers, whose son Tristan, 16, has been violent to her since he was nine. Im worried about people judging me, or that I might lose the children.

Miranda appears to have a charmed life, with a loving husband and smart semi in a West Country village. But she says: I lie in bed at night wondering where I went wrong to have a son like this. I love him unconditionally, but as he gets older I worry hell break my bones.

The deputy manager of a nursing home, who quit her job to raise her five children aged between two and 18, she first noticed second child Tristans behaviour change after her only daughter was born nine years ago. He started pushing boundaries and saying he hated me.

Miranda said Tristan's rages became weekly when he entered his teens and he pushes her to the floor (file image)

When Miranda caught Tristan smacking his five-year-old brother, she intervened and he punched her in the mouth. I took the two youngest children to my bedroom and cried, says Miranda, who removed Tristans computer games as a punishment. When he calmed down he said sorry and that he just got angry. As his mother, of course I forgave him.

Miranda explained the bruise to friends as an accident and when Tristan pushed her into a door frame after an argument aged 11, she blamed that bruise on playing with her three-year-old. She insists, however, that a lack of discipline is not fuelling the violence and her other children are well behaved. They have to work for their pocket money and tidy their rooms, she says. Ive taught them there are consequences to their actions. But if I send Tristan to his room, hell smash it up.

Tristans rages became weekly when he entered his teens, prompted by seemingly trivial occurrences like being denied money to go out with friends. He pushes me so hard Im knocked to the floor, says Miranda, who at 5ft 3in is dwarfed by her 6ft son.

I worry as he grows that he could kill me...

Six months ago, after Tristan punched a door, Miranda took him to A&E, admitting to a nurse that it happened because of his temper: She said I should speak to our GP to help with his anger, but Tristan cried and begged me not to take him. And I cant drag him there  hes bigger than me.

Perhaps because I do most of the childcare, Tristan has never been violent to his father [a 40-year-old warehouse operator]. My husband gets angry on my behalf, says Miranda. But Tristan also plays us off against each other, accusing me of winding him up.

Around others he is well behaved; at school he excels at maths and history. After hes been violent he usually apologises, and tells me I must hate him, says Miranda. I say, I dont hate you, but I hate the way you behave.

Catherine Slater, 32, admits that she doesn't like her ten-year-old son Richard, who punched her in the face multiple times last Christmas (file image)

Catherine Slater, 32, feels similarly conflicted towards her ten-year-old son, Richard. I love him, but I dont like him, and thats a horrible feeling, she says, through tears, explaining how Richard became aggressive 18 months ago after she and husband Michael, 37, bought him an Xbox.

Research suggests computer games can fuel aggression. When we wouldnt let him finish his game he began throwing things, says customer services manager Catherine, from Staffordshire. When I told him that wasnt nice, hed retort, What are you going to do about it?

Last Christmas, Richard punched her in the face three times. He hit me with such force I thought my nose was broken, says Catherine. There was blood everywhere. He didnt apologise  he told me Id made him angry. She told friends and family the black eye was caused by walking into a cupboard: Above all, I feel embarrassed.

The only person who knows the extent of the abuse is dad Michael, a funeral director, who Richard has never attacked and who has told Catherine she is too lenient.

Catherine insists if she were stricter, it would make Richard angrier still. I can see the anger in Michaels face. Hes heartbroken that someone is essentially abusing his wife. Michael would usually take their son out of Catherines way and tell him off.

Catherine revealed that he doesn't give his teachers a cause for concern, but she worries that he could kill her (file image)

A health supporter has seen him at school and said theres nothing wrong with him and to try to ignore it. A Jekyll and Hyde character who also loves playing Lego with his mother, Richard gives teachers no cause for concern. They say he hits me because he cares about me most, says Catherine. But as he grows, I worry he could kill me.

The pandemic makes things worse. Adoption UK says 31 per cent of adoptive parents report an increase in violence or aggression from their child since lockdown.

Families are under a lot more pressure, says the charitys chief executive, Sue Armstrong Brown.

For children who have had troubling experiences, Armstrong Brown says violence is an adaptive strategy the child has learned in early life. Theyve either witnessed adults behaving aggressively, or its something that has helped keep them safe.

By 11, Elizabeth Walters adopted daughter Joanne, now 15, was swearing at her and her husband, a decorator, 64. If I said no, shed call me horrendous names, says Elizabeth, 57, who gave up her job as a teacher to deal with her daughter.

When she was 12, Joanne threw a rock at Elizabeth, leaving a great big gouge on her head. She learned to restrain her daughter during rages by sitting astride her and holding her hands down.

Elizabeth Walters adopted daughter Joanne, now 15, has bitten and headbutted her (file image)

Ive had bites on my body and chest and shes tried to headbutt me. She tells me Im a big fat f***ing c***. If I get upset she says, No wonder youre crying, youve got no f***ing friends.

Joanne, adopted into their Sussex home at 11 months, has reactive detachment disorder, a condition almost certainly caused by developmental trauma. Shell never believe we will always love her and deliberately sabotages things, says Elizabeth.

She has fallen out with friends and argued with her husband because she believes her daughter responds to therapeutic parenting  which focuses on nurture rather than strict discipline.

But such devotion has taken its toll on her mental health. Four years ago, I felt so bad I could understand how people kill their children then commit suicide.

In lockdown, Elizabeth says: All hope has gone now Joanne realises its four months until school in September and a chance of normality. She verbally assaults me daily. Elizabeth adds: I feel completely desperate sometimes.

See pegsupport.com; adoption uk.org. Parents and childrens names have been changed.
Wellington: Aucklanders will be waiting a while longer for a light rail link to the airport after the New Zealand government shelved plans to build a route from the CBD.

The flagship project was the first policy announced by Jacinda Ardern as Labour leader in 2017 prior to her ascension to prime minister.

However, the multibillion-dollar proposal has fallen victim to politics between government parties Labour, NZ First and the Greens.

New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says his party has always been for "heavy rail". Credit:Getty Images

While the Greens and Labour want the rail link and put it into their confidence and supply agreement, the party of Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters did not.
GRANITE CITY  United States Steel Corporation has announced the award of college scholarships to 35 students across the country, including four area students representing U. S. Steels Granite City Works.

The U. S. Steel Scholarship recipients Hollie Bekeske, Joseph Feltz, Nicholas Feltz, and Chloe McIsaac are children of Granite City Works employees. The scholarships are funded by the United States Steel Foundation.

The U. S. Steel Scholarship program allows us to recognize the remarkable achievements of the outstanding children of our valued employees, said U. S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt. At U. S. Steel, our Culture of Caring not only extends to our employees, but also to their families, the communities where we operate and the next generation of leaders. We are proud to recognize these students and wish them the best in their academic pursuits.

Bekeske, an incoming freshman studying physical therapy at Maryville University of St. Louis, received a $10,000 scholarship. She attended Staunton High School.

Joseph Feltz, an incoming freshman studying animal sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, received a $10,000 scholarship. He attended Christian Brothers College High School.

Nicholas Feltz, an incoming junior majoring in mass communications and public relations at Southeast Missouri State University, received a $5,000 scholarship. He attended Christian Brothers College High School.

McIssaac, an incoming sophomore majoring in mathematics at the University of Southern Indiana, received a $5,000 scholarship. She attended Belleville East High School.

Since 1995, the U. S. Steel Scholarship program has awarded nearly $4 million to more than 400 children of employees across the company to support their higher education goals. Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic achievements, leadership and participation in school and community activities. This years winners were selected from a pool of 462 applications, a record high for the program.

This year, the U. S. Steel Scholarship program offered two types of awards: a $10,000 award ($2,500 per year renewable for up to four years) for current high school seniors, and a one-time, non-renewable $5,000 award for students who graduated from high school when the program was closed from 2017 through 2019. All winners will be enrolled full-time in an accredited two- or four-year college or university or vocational-technical school in the U.S. for the 2020-2021 academic year.

The U. S. Steel Scholarship program is administered by Scholarship America, a non-profit scholarship management organization. This years recipients represent U. S. Steel locations in Texas, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.
Deals among airlines, travel companies and hotels are expected to help boost tourism as the sector deals with the ravages of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Passengers enjoy Phu Quoc Island from a cable-car system linking An Thoi Township with Thom Island in Phu Quoc Island District, the southern province of Kien Giang.

Insiders have said that co-operation in joint sales would stimulate tourism as airlines companies can offer prices that aren't too high, while hotels and travel companies also offer deals to encourage travel.

Cooperation among businesses was discussed by participants at a conference on tourism promotion in the Mekong Delta held by Vietnam Airlines and Can Tho authorities in the southern city on Monday.

Speaking at the event, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu said the aviation and tourism industries were the two sectors most affected by COVID-19 and there was precedent for the impact the disease had made.

Travel demand is very high, but the opportunity to travel is not easy. The current tendency is to travel in small groups, near destinations with nature to ensure health and safety. People are not ready and still afraid of crowds and far destinations, posing both opportunities and difficulties for the tourism and aviation industries, Sieu said.

He said to overcome these difficulties, besides the Government's support policies, ties between airlines, travel agencies and hotels to produce tourism packages with reasonable prices would help.

Deputy Chairman of Can Tho Citys Peoples Committee Duong Tan Hien said local tourism revenue had sharply dropped due to the pandemic.

He said the volume of visitors to the city had decreased by 70 per cent year-on-year, making revenue fall 62 per cent.

The pandemic is so serious that the international tourism market has not been able to recover. Vietnam Airlines reopening of domestic routes connecting Can Tho City is very practical. It is also an opportunity to attract investors to the city and its neighbouring provinces in the Mekong Delta, Hien said.

Hyim Kdok, Deputy Chairwoman of Dak Lak People's Committee, said her province has targeted tourism as a key economic sector in its development process. Dak Lak is ready for investors and visitors from all regions.

In order to promote the effectiveness of new air routes, we want tourism sectors of localities to attach importance to co-operation in promoting the tourism potential of each locality, avoiding duplication and supporting each other with destination information, aviation services and tourism culture of each locality, Kdok said.

She also asked Vietnam Airlines and localities to create conditions for businesses to create more tourism products, which must ensure safety from the COVID-19 outbreak and quality to attract tourists.

Deputy CEO of Vietnam Airlines Le Hong Ha said the Mekong Delta is a potential market, which has been invested and developed by the carrier since it opened a branch in Can Tho 10 years ago. In this region, the city is a key gateway with seven routes connecting to localities across the country.

These routes will contribute to the development of regional tourism and economy, especially in the context that the whole country is working together to redevelop tourism and economy in the new normal, Ha said.

On the same day, Vietnam Airlines signed agreements with all localities having routes linking with Can Tho. It also opened three new routes connecting Can Tho with Buon Ma Thuot with a frequency of four return flights per week, Vinh and Hai Phong with three flights per week each.

New domestic air routes opened

Vietnam Airlines on Tuesday opened five additional routes including Da Nang - Phu Quoc/Thanh Hoa, Da Lat - Hue/Thanh Hoa va Can Tho - Da Lat, bringing its total domestic routes to 57.

The national carrier has recovered all domestic routes after the COVID-19 pandemic was controlled in the country, with an average of nearly 320 flights per day.

On the occasion of opening new routes, Vietnam Airlines offered airfares from only VND69,000 (US$3) per leg (equivalent to VND546,000 including taxes and fees).

To ensure the safety of passengers and the community, Vietnam Airlines still disinfects its entire fleet regularly, while implementing measures to check the health of passengers at the airport. The flight crew is equipped with masks, gloves and alcohol paper towels. Passengers on the plane during this time are required to wear a mask during the flight.  VNS

Rapid explosion in the domestic tourism arena Many businesses, travel agencies, restaurants, hotels, and other destinations have simultaneously reduced ticket prices and offered special deals to attract tourists
YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen addressed a joint letter to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

Armenpress presents the text of the letter:

Mr. Prime Minister, let us thank you for your congratulation on the Europe Day.

The European Union and Armenia are using the opportunity that they managed to establish close ties within the frames of the Eastern Partnership and the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. The European Union and Armenia did that based on strong common values for both sides such as democracy, the rule of law and respect to human rights. We encourage you to continue your reforming activity on these firm bases.

Unfortunately, this year we have to face the coronavirus challenge, its a disaster relating to all of us. We were informed that you have also been infected with the virus and are happy that you have already recovered. This is a moment of solidarity and close international cooperation. The European Union has already provided its concrete support to Armenia to overcome this crisis, in particular mobilizing 92 million Euros from the European funds, and the European Union will continue to be engaged for the benefit of your country. This support applies not only to the healthcare, but also the social and economic parts of the crisis. Together we can get out of this crisis stronger for building a better future.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
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The Woodlands liquefied natural gas company Excelerate Energy debuted its 10th tanker that can be used as an offshore LNG import terminal at destinations around the world.

Built at the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering shipyard in South Korea, the Excelerate Sequoia was delivered to The Woodlands-based company earlier this week.

The LNG tanker can store 173,400 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas and belongs to a class of ships known as floating storage and regasification units, or FSRUs, which can be used as offshore import terminals.

From Boston to Bangladesh: Houston area company emerges as global leader in offshore LNG industry

Excelerate Sequoia is the company's 10th ship that can serve as a floating storage and regasification unit.

The ship is supported by a a five-year deal signed in September Excelerate and the Greek liquefied natural gas shipping company Maran Gas Maritime. Excelerate has the option to purchase the Excelerate Sequoia during the five-year period.

"Since the delivery of the industry's first FSRU in 2005, our technology has allowed us to quickly and reliably open new natural gas markets around the world," Excelerate's President and Managing Director Steven Kobos said. "We have seen firsthand the difference our floating regasification terminals have made in communities who would have otherwise been locked out. We will continue to deliver affordable, clean energy to markets that need it."

Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox
Google looks to have removed the ability to conduct peer-to-peer transactions via Google Pay Send. This means that you can no longer send money on apps such as Assistant, Contacts, Gmail, and Messages. Google has made this move very silently as reported by Android Police.

The removal of this functionality was only noticed by a couple of tipsters and no announced by the company. The contacts app gained this feature back in 2018 but it now appears that it is no longer available. Using these related apps to send money was a really useful feature. This makes it surprising that Google has decided to remove it.

Google removes peer-to-peer transactions

Given the app was completely shut down in the UK this change only applies to US users. A Google support page has surfaced confirming the news.

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It states that Google Pay Send functionality has been removed from Assistant, Gmail, and Contacts. However, the app is still functional and you can still use it to send money.

There is some confusion as to what exactly is going here though. Reports have shown that sending money ahs been unavailable through Messages. However, Google has not confirmed that this is one of the apps where functionality has been removed.

This has led some to speculate that this may just be a bug in messages and in the future we will still be able to send money through it. Assistant, Gmail and Contacts are definitely gone but the question mark still remains over Messages.

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Feature removal still a work in progress

In a move that is probably not surprising for Google, this looks like the move is still under construction.

One user reported their story of trying to use Assistant to transfer money. It seems that the app stops you short of approving the transaction. However, as far as the UI is concerned, transactions are still very much possible.

So it looks like Google still has some tidying up to do in order to make this transition complete. The same action does not look to be available on Chromebook. It does appear as is something as awry, potentially lending more weight to the fact that some of this may be due to a bug.

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Speculation suggests that Google may wish to remove this feature to streamline some of its apps and make the process more straightforward. However, the haphazard approach to doing so makes the whole thing come across as confusing.

Google has already had problems recently with the transferring of music from Google Play to Youtube Music.

Issues with high-demand have caused delays so it has not been the most straightforward of times for the company. Hopefully, all the issues will be resolved soon and we can understand what is going on a bit better.
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Shares of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), Oil India (OIL), GAIL India, Power Grid Corporation of India and NTPC traded mixed in the morning trade on BSE after Fitch Ratings revised the outlook on these company's ratings.

Shares of Power Grid Corporation of India fell almost 2 percent while those of NTPC jumped over 2 percent in early trade on BSE.

Shares of IOC, BPCL, OIL and GAIL traded with gains of about half-a-percent each.

"Fitch Ratings has revised the outlook on the long-term issuer default ratings (IDR) of six rated Indian government-related entities (GREs) to Negative from Stable. The entities' long-term IDRs are affirmed at 'BBB-'. The rating action follows the revision of the Outlook on India's 'BBB-' sovereign rating to Negative from Stable on June 18," it said in a statement.

Also, Fitch revised the outlook on Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL), which is a subsidiary of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), to negative from stable.

Fitch said while ratings of IOC and BPCL are equalised with those of the sovereign given the strong likelihood of support, the same of GAIL and Power Grid are stronger than that of the sovereign at 'BBB' and 'BBB+', respectively. However, their ratings are capped at the same level as that of the state, according to the criteria.
CHICAGO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospitals and health systems across the country began to see signs of financial improvement in May following two brutal months of poor margin, volume, and revenue performance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new Kaufman Hall report.

For most hospitals, margins improved significantly from April to May due to federal emergency CARES Act funding and an uptick in volumes compared to low levels seen in April. Even so, margins remained well below 2019 levels and below budgets. These and other findings are highlighted in the June issue of Kaufman Hall's National Hospital Flash Report, which draws on data from more than 800 hospitals.

The more than $50 billion in CARES Act funding provided temporary relief, helping to push May's median hospital Operating Margin to 4%. Without this funding, the median margin would have been 8%. Overall, Operating Margin rose 100% from April to May, but fell 13% year-over-year and 6% below budget. These results follow April's record-low performance, when Operating Margin plunged 282% compared to the same period last year.

"The May results provide a glimmer of hope for our nation's hospitals, but they also serve as a stark reminder of the long road ahead," said Jim Blake, managing director, Kaufman Hall. "This pandemic is far from over, and the path to recovery will be arduous. Different organizations will move at different speeds as healthcare leaders continue to navigate the clinical, operational, and financial impacts of an unpredictable virus, and shape their organization's role in a post-COVID-19 environment."

Volumes also increased month-over-month in May, but decreased year-over-year and compared to budget across most measures. Adjusted Discharges were up 30% month-over-month, but down 27% year-over-year and 26% below budget. Operating Room Minutes saw the biggest increase of any volume metric, jumping 92% compared to low levels seen in April, as many hospitals resumed non-urgent procedures.

Without the CARES Act funding, May revenue results were poor, but demonstrated some recovery, with actual revenues lower year-over-year but up compared to April. Total Gross Revenue was down 14% compared to May 2019, but up 29% month-over-month. Outpatient Revenue was down 27% year-over-year, but saw the largest month-over-month increase at 39%. Inpatient Revenue fell 12% year-over-year and rose 19% month-over-month.

Hospitals also reduced actual expenses in May compared to the same period last year by controlling variable costs, with many instituting furloughs and other aggressive cost control actions. Total Expense decreased 6% year-over-year, but was up about 1% month-over-month. Total Labor Expense fell 3% year-over-year and rose 2% month-over-month, while Total Non-Labor Expense fell 7% year-over-year and rose less than 1% month-over-month.

For more details, please see the National Hospital Flash Report.

Kaufman Hall experts are available for comment; please contact Philip Anast at [email protected].

About Kaufman Hall

Kaufman Hall provides a unique combination of software, management consulting and data solutions to help society's foundational institutions realize sustained success amid changing market conditions. Since 1985, Kaufman Hall has been a trusted advisor to boards and executive management teams, helping them incorporate proven methods, rigorous analytics, and industry-leading solutions into their strategic planning and financial management processes, with a focus on achieving their most challenging goals.

Kaufman Hall services use a rigorous, disciplined, and structured approach that is based on the principles of corporate finance. The breadth and integration of Kaufman Hall advisory services are unparalleled, encompassing strategy; financial and capital planning; cost transformation; treasury and capital markets management; and mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and joint ventures.

Kaufman Hall software includes the Axiom Software Suite, providing sophisticated, flexible performance management solutions that empower finance professionals to analyze results, model the future, and optimize organizational decision-making. Solutions for long-range planning, budgeting and forecasting, performance reporting, capital planning, and cost accounting deliver decision support, reporting, and analytics within an integrated software platform. Kaufman Hall's Clinical Analytics empower healthcare organizations with clinical benchmarks, data, and analytics to provide a higher quality of care for optimized performance and improved patient outcomes.

Press Contact:

Philip Anast

Amendola Communications (for Kaufman Hall)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 312-576-6990

SOURCE Kaufman Hall

Related Links

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Thousands of suspected modern slavery victims are slipping through the net because they are not being referred for support once they are identified by the authorities, leaving them vulnerable to continued abuse and discounted from the official statistics, new figures show.

Data obtained by After Exploitation reveals 19 per cent of the 4,355 people identified as potential trafficking victims by the Home Office, police and other agencies over a four-month period last year were not referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which is designed to provide survivors with safe housing, counselling or legal support.

The figure stood at 18 per cent  or 1,551  in 2018, indicating that thousands of modern slavery victims have missed out on this support over the last two years, which campaigners say has left them more vulnerable to further exploitation and obscured their access to justice and support.

A number of organisations in England and Wales, including police forces, UK Visas and Immigration, Border Force, local authorities and charities, are designated first responders, meaning they are required to help identify victims of modern slavery and refer them into the NRM.

It is mandatory for first responders to refer suspected child victims of modern slavery to the NRM, so they will not be included in the data for people not referred, but adults will not be referred unless the individual provides consent for this to happen.

Charities say there is a dearth of advice for survivors at this stage to ensure they understand what the process is and provide assurance that it wont put them at risk, meaning many do not consent.

In 2017, the government pledged to fund places of safety so that adult victims leaving immediate situations of exploitation could be given assistance and advice for up to three days before deciding on whether to enter the NRM, but the scheme never materialised.

Paul Blomfield, Labour MP for Sheffield Central, told The Independent: Its deeply disturbing that so many trafficking victims are being failed by the system that was put in place to support them. These figures reflect an ongoing problem, and the government needs to tackle it by providing the funding to deliver their promise on providing places of safety.

The new data, which was obtained through freedom of information requests to the Home Office, reveal discrepancies among first responder agencies, with some holding much lower rates of referral than others.

Of the 1,260 people identified as a potential victims by police forces between June and September 2019, more than one in four (27 per cent) werent referred to the NRM, with the figure standing at 28 per cent (297) for UK Visas and Immigration, 45 per cent (60) for UK Border Force and 81 per cent (17) for the Gangmasters Licensing and Labour Abuse Authority, the UKs agency for labour exploitation.

Local Authorities (9 per cent), NGOs (4 per cent), and Home Office Immigration Enforcement (2 per cent) meanwhile rarely failed to refer potential survivors into the NRM during this period.

A Home Office spokesperson said this large disparity was not a fair comparison of the statistics on referrals to the NRM, nor the support [the department] provides to potential victims of modern slavery.

Recommended Home Office unlawfully delaying support for modern slavery victims

This data does not take account of the differences in referral processes for adults and children, and ignores the fact that some organisations cannot submit referrals, they added.

The government is committed to ensuring that victims of modern slavery continue to receive appropriate support.

Maya Esslemont, director of After Exploitation, said the figures showed trafficking victims were slipping through the net and facing a lottery of support.

Failure to refer exploited people may be leaving some victims vulnerable to continued abuse, and is obscuring victims access to justice, support, and official recognition of their experiences, she added.

Although some victims may knowingly reject support, more must be done to ensure that victims are given consistent, reliable, information on their entitlements before being asked to make a decision.

Kate Roberts, UK and Europe manager at Anti-Slavery International, said: Securing informed consent for a referral into the NRM takes skill, training and resources. People who have recently left exploitation may not self-identify, are likely to be traumatised and unfamiliar with the language around trafficking.

Modern Slavery in the UK Show all 13 1 /13 Modern Slavery in the UK Modern Slavery in the UK NCA has launched a touring photographic exhibition which aims to portray the signs of slavery and exploitation. Entitled Invisible People, the exhibition will tour the country as part of the National Crime Agencys campaign to raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking. National Crime Agency Modern Slavery in the UK Child trafficking Child trafficking for sexual exploitation Traffickers use grooming techniques to gain the trust of a child, family or community. The children are recruited, transported and then sold for sex, often returning to their homes immediately afterwards, only to be picked up by the same people again. This is happening here in the UK, to migrant and British-born children. Spot the signs of child trafficking: Often, children wont be sure which country, city or town theyre in. They may be orphaned or living apart from their family, in unregulated private foster care, or in substandard accommodation. They may possess unaccounted-for money or goods or repeatedly have new, unexplained injuries. National Crime Agency Modern Slavery in the UK Agriculture Some workers in the farming sector, harvesting grains or root vegetables, tending livestock or fruit picking, are being exploited every day in the UK. Victims of this crime in the agricultural sector are often Eastern European men and women, who were promised a job by traffickers, or they could be individuals on the fringes of society, homeless or destitute. Through threats, violence, coercion or forced drug and alcohol dependency, theyre enslaved, working for little or no money, living in squalid conditions having had their identity documents taken from them. Spot the signs of exploitative labour in agriculture: Agricultural slaves often have their wages paid into the same bank account, meaning an illegal gangmaster is likely collecting all their wages. Exploited agriculture workers often dont have suitable protective equipment, working instead in cheap sports clothing and trainers, and dont have a different change of clothes from day-to-day. National Crime Agency Modern Slavery in the UK Food processing Polish or Slovakian men are brought to the UK with the offer of employment and, after arrival, gangmasters seize documents, opening multiple bank and utility accounts in their names  but refuse to handover access to the accounts or bank cards. Hours are long and the work is gruelling and dangerous. Workers are abused and are controlled by threats of harm to their families at home. Spot the signs: Those exploited wear inappropriate clothes and often no safety gear  despite working with dangerous and life-threatening equipment. They may often have untreated injuries and be refused medical attention, and will live and work in agricultural outhouses. National Crime Agency Modern Slavery in the UK Construction Labour-intensive sectors like construction, where temporary and irregular work are common, are high-risk sectors for forced labour. With new homes, offices and buildings being constructed or upgraded in great quantity, labour exploitation is the second most common type of modern slavery, after sexual exploitation. Spot the signs of exploitative labour in construction: Exploited workers are often not provided with protective clothing or equipment, and may show signs of abuse or carry old untreated injuries. Slave workers are also likely to work extremely long work hours for six or seven days a week without any leave. Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: I wanted this image to communicate that despite being forced to live, eat, wash and sleep  where theyre working, in cramped and unhygienic conditions, that there is a human instinct to domesticate. I wanted to show how there is still hope and dignity in the most squalid and difficult of circumstances. National Crime Agency Modern Slavery in the UK Maritime In the tough maritime industry young men, often Filipino or Indian, Eastern European or African, are promised a better life, but instead find themselves in a cycle of debt and exploitation. Unable to read, they are offered a job, given papers to sign and begin working on a trial-basis, only to be told they have failed and owe money, and have to work more to settle the debt. They may be forced to work for long hours in intense, hazardous and difficult conditions. Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: In the 80s, Chris Killip published a series of images called In Flagrante, and these images were at the forefront of my mind while composing this shot. I wanted to show the utter desperation of these men - how passed their limit they are. The broken floats and the entire decaying environment around him, I saw as a metaphor for his existence. Rory Carnegie/National Crime Agency Modern Slavery in the UK Forced prostitution Each year, women from across Eastern Europe and West Africa are lured to the UK by the dream of a better life. Whether by fake migration services or unscrupulous individuals who befriend and then betray them, women fall into a dark spiral of sexual exploitation and forced, unpaid prostitution, unable to escape. Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: What I really wanted for this image, was to depict how women are used as commodities, the complete control slavery has over them  the helplessness of having to sit and wait for man after man, until no more men arrive. I wanted the image to show how lonely and eventually numbing that experience is, and for that ugliness to be contrasted against the bright blue of the wig  a fancy dress item that we would usually associate with a fun event  but here is used as a disguise, perhaps of her own identity to herself - to further emphasise how unjust the situation is. NCA Modern Slavery in the UK Cannabis farming The cannabis industry hides a dark secret in the house next door. Gangs bring young boys to the UK from countries like Vietnam and deliver them to a house where, once in, they wont be able to leave. Forced to tend cannabis plants that fill specially rigged houses, the boys are often locked in and forced to work, sleep and eat in one confined and dirty room. The chemicals used on the cannabis are poisonous, and often victims dont know where they are or how to get help if they do escape. The eyes, ears and compassion of the local community are essential. Spot the signs: Aside from the strong and prolonged smell of cannabis, have you noticed a house that looks unusual? Are the windows covered or usual entry points blocked? Buildings might be over-heated  in very cold weather is the roof without frost, because the house is being kept warm to grow plants National Crime Agency Modern Slavery in the UK Agriculture Some workers in the farming sector, harvesting grains or root vegetables, tending livestock or fruit picking, are being exploited every day in the UK. Victims of this crime in the agricultural sector are often Eastern European men and women, who were promised a job by traffickers, or they could be individuals on the fringes of society, homeless or destitute. Through threats, violence, coercion or forced drug and alcohol dependency, theyre enslaved, working for little or no money, living in squalid conditions having had their identity documents taken from them. Spot the signs of exploitative labour in agriculture: Agricultural slaves often have their wages paid into the same bank account, meaning an illegal gangmaster is likely collecting all their wages. Exploited agriculture workers often dont have suitable protective equipment, working instead in cheap sports clothing and trainers, and dont have a different change of clothes from day-to-day National Crime Agency Modern Slavery in the UK Forced prostitution Spot the signs of forced prostitution: Victims of this type of crime might appear withdrawn or scared, avoid eye contact, and be untrusting. Poor English language skills could indicate exploitation because it suggests someone else must be arranging the work. A brothel is likely to be an average house on a normal looking street, but may have curtains which are usually closed and many different men coming and going frequently. National Crime Agency Modern Slavery in the UK Maritime Spot the signs of exploitative labour in the maritime sector: Victims might appear withdrawn or frightened, often unable to answer questions directed at them or speak for themselves,. They might be afraid of authorities like police, immigration or the tax office, and may perceive themselves to be in debt to someone else. They may not have been given proper protective equipment so can suffer illness or injury. Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: Throughout the series of images, I wanted to juxtapose the harshness of the lives of slaves against bright primary colours  colours we traditionally associate with happiness or a feeling of wellbeing  to provoke a reaction. The image, as rich as it is, communicates how completely uncomfortable this person is. I wanted to show how his body is not his own, and how he has no right to avoid hardship, avoid the ice, or wear better shoes, he is utterly controlled. Rory Carnegie/National Crime Agency Modern Slavery in the UK Food processing Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: This image communicates utter exhaustion and dejection. We can see how dire his situation is. He has no protective gear on, and we can see the extreme tiredness that leads him to a place of anxiety and distraction, where he doesnt care about whether hes operating machinery safely, or putting himself at risk. National Crime Agency Modern Slavery in the UK The exhibition comprises a series of large, freestanding cubes displaying images capturing snapshots of life within different types of modern slavery - in agriculture, construction, maritime, cannabis farming and food processing, child trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced prostitution. Each image comes with written commentary describing what the viewer is seeing, and information about signs which may indicate someone is a victim. National Crime Agency

Places of safety are crucial. Without time to rest, feel safe and understand what information is needed of them or how it will be used, it is unlikely survivors will feel able or ready to disclose details of their exploitation.

Ms Roberts pointed out that where exploited people feel less able to consent to a referral, and a referral is submitted without crucial information, this may increase the likelihood of an inaccurate negative decision in the first decision-making stage within the NRM.

She added: As well as training and resourcing of the first responder role, it is vital that pre-NRM support is introduced. This should mean early access to specialist legal advice and translation as well as safe accommodation.
When the first case of coronavirus was diagnosed in Louisiana on March 9, doctors had little information about a disease that would soon threaten to overwhelm hospital systems in New Orleans, an early epicenter of the virus.

Within a week, hospitals were knocking out windows and putting up plywood to create negative pressure rooms on the fly. Glass doors were used as dry erase boards to communicate in a way that limited the spread of disease. Patients were intubated almost immediately based on early advice from New York, the West Coast and other countries.

When we were hit with the tsunami, we were just trying to stay afloat, said Dr. Julio Figueroa, the chief of infectious diseases at LSU Health Sciences Center.

A little more than three months later, the makeshift negative pressure rooms have been taken down. Hospitalizations have dramatically decreased. Mechanical ventilation is used as a last resort.

Its not clear whether there will be a second surge of COVID-19 that rivals the first peak, or if cases will ebb and flow as social distancing measures change. But one thing is certain: Medical providers have learned a lot from those first frantic months. They have a better sense of what medications and interventions help patients and what complications to look out for. They know how to rapidly expand and retrofit hospitals to deal with an influx in patients. And they are keeping a close watch on personal protective equipment and testing supplies so they can sound the alarm when shortages loom.

'My deepest fear': What happens if hospitals, state face dual threat of hurricanes and coronavirus? Dr. Jim Aiken knows how to provide care during hurricanes. He manned the Superdome for Category 4 Hurricane Georges in 1998 and stood on Chari

The biggest difference is now you have a health care manpower that is used to caring for a novel viral pandemic, said Dr. Kyle Happel, a pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist at LSU Health Sciences Center. Doctors and therapists and nurses are much more comfortable in dealing with a disease that in mid-March was a complete unknown.

Testing turnaround and availability

When patients started showing up in the emergency room with shortness of breath, delirium and cough, requirements set by the state based on the limited number of tests meant that many did not get tested. Even if patients did meet requirements, the turnaround was a week or more.

"On March 14 when we admitted our first patient, we didnt find out she had it until March 18, said Dr. Catherine ONeal, the chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge.

Some patients had to linger in the hospital as a result, raising their risk of infection and potentially taking up space in the ICU unnecessarily. Nursing home residents thought to have COVID-19 had to get two negative tests 24 hours apart before they could return to their facility.

These patients could be in the hospital for over three weeks, said Dr. Geraldine Menard, the section chief of general internal medicine and geriatrics at the Tulane University School of Medicine. That contributed to a lot of volume.

Now, a patient walking into the ER can get test results within 30 minutes, a game-changer that allows staff to prevent cross-transmission by grouping infected patients together and conserving protective gear for those with coronavirus. But that could change if the number of patients continues to rise quickly, providers are quick to point out.

The tests require certain swabs, vials and a special kit to be processed. Manufacturers distributing those supplies, perhaps stressed by all-time high daily cases in several states, are only allocating a certain amount per hospital, said O'Neal.

All of those things are in short supply right now, just like they were in March, said ONeal.

Capacity challenges

Negative pressure rooms in the ICU, which suck air out instead of recirculating it through the hospital, were also a scarce resource at the onset of the local crisis.

The largest standalone hospital in the state with 875 staffed beds, Our Lady of the Lake scrambled as free beds dwindled to 15 at its peak, O'Neal recalled.

Medical professionals needed to find answers on the fly. Like hospitals in New Orleans, OLOL expanded and has since built a new floor. They have extra 'air scrubbers' on hand with special filters for ventilation systems.

University Medical Center devoted an otherwise unused floor to coronavirus patients overflowing in other parts of the hospital, dubbing it the RICU  respiratory intensive care unit. They knocked down windows and had ducting put into ventilation units that sucked the air out of the rooms, said Happel.

Hospital staff were also forced to deal with shortages of personal protective equipment and learned valuable lessons. Hospitals in the state never experienced the dire situations seen in New York, where they used garbage bags and ponchos to protect themselves, but they did reuse equipment. They've since learned how to disinfect masks with vaporized hydrogen peroxide and heat. Hospitals within regions also donated gear to other hospitals when necessary.

"I was impressed with communication within and between hospital systems and linkage with the state," said Figueroa. "The systems are there and the knowledge is there to be able to respond to these things better than the first time around."

A dwindling reliance on ventilators

Ventilators were the go-to intervention for patients with low blood-oxygen levels in earlier days because the closed system was thought to pose less of a threat to workers and other patients  the virus does not spray into the air when the machine pumps oxygen into the body. But doctors noticed that the data for patients on ventilators were alarming: Almost all mechanically ventilated patients  88%  died, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Happel, who worked at University Medical Center for six weeks during the peak, helped to develop a non-invasive ventilator circuit that filters the air to limit the virus particles released. It also helps the patient avoid mechanical ventilation and the paralytics and sedatives that requires. Instead of being sedated with a tracheal tube, patients could wear a mask to deliver oxygen.

Typically, patients with respiratory illness might spend four or five days on ventilators. But coronavirus patients were spending weeks on the machines, requiring unheard-of levels of powerful drugs as their bodies became dependent. Beyond the unknown long-term effects of sedatives on the brain, the tube delivering air down a patient's throat can also cause lung infection, a likelihood that increases with time.

The powerful sedatives necessary to save coronavirus patients may also lead to a difficult recovery After a well-earned break following six weeks treating coronavirus patients in the University Medical Center ICU, Dr. Kyle Happel, a pulmonolo

We had people on noninvasive ventilation for weeks, said Happel. If you had to spend that amount of time with a tube down your throat, that is going to be associated with some complication.

Ventilators are still helpful for some patients, but they are a last-ditch effort.

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

There was a nice dose of fear and the unknown factor in March that drove us to do things we dont do anymore, said O'Neal. The sickest of the sick still need a ventilator, but many can be managed off it, even using proning, she said, referring to the practice of flipping patients on their stomachs to relieve lung compression.

No cure, but more medication options

A patient entering the hospital in March or April also might have received hydroxychloroquine, a drug typically used to prevent malaria and treat lupus. Based on a few small studies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the drug, which was touted repeatedly by President Donald Trump. That ended after a large, randomized trial in the U.K. found that the drug, which can have heart rhythm side effects, showed no benefit.

We had this hydroxychloroquine drug shoved down our throats with no human data, said Happel. We may have caused more side effects than we actually helped patients with that medicine.

The same large study out of the U.K. found that dexamethasone, a steroid, may help ventilated coronavirus patients, appearing to reduce mortality by 12%. Originally, providers were given guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that warned against steroid use based on previous studies showing that it increased the amount of virus in SARS and MERS patients.

If we had the data on steroids early, I would have used a lot more of that, said Figueroa. We saw a good number of individuals that would have been candidates given that information.

Still, Figueroa and other providers are wary of study findings that are released without being published in a journal, which allows for scrutiny of the data and clarity on the kind of patient the therapy would help.

Steroids in diabetes are like gasoline on a fire, said ONeal. Im cautious about applying it broadly.

Remdesivir, an experimental drug developed to treat Ebola, is more readily available in clinical trials and hospital supply than it once was.

At one point, you could only give it to children and pregnant women," said Dr. Abdul Khan, a pulmonary and critical care physician for Ochsner Medical Center. "We have a team review all cases at 11 a.m. to see if they meet criteria for remdesivir."

But as cases start to creep up, doctors worry that, like testing supplies, the remdesivir supply may dry up.

I am concerned, as were seeing an increase of patients, those supplies may not carry through for us, ONeal said.

Far more than a respiratory illness

Doctors now have a far better understanding of the domino-like effects coronavirus can trigger in the body. Originally described as a respiratory virus, the disease is now understood to have complications like blood clots, strokes, neurological issues, kidney injury and deadly inflammation.

Sedated coronavirus patients dont offer the same clues of distress as an awake patient.

Patients would come in very sick, be intubated, managed and sedated, said Figueroa. Later, when doctors gave them CAT scans, "youve found out theyve had a number of small strokes," he said.

Based on these issues, doctors adjusted how they monitor patients for complications.

Blood clots likely one of the major hallmarks in coronavirus deaths, LSU researchers say Autopsies of 10 African American victims of coronavirus in New Orleans show that the insides of their lungs were riddled with blood clots, add

We have a lower threshold of looking for clots and empirically treating for clotting disorders even if we cant find one, said Happel.

'Not a day goes by that I don't learn something'

Even with a three-month crash course in coronavirus care and a world of scientists searching for treatments, local health care workers say there are still many unknowns about the contagion.

In May, scientists learned that children, previously thought to be mostly spared from the disease, could experience a post-infection, life-threatening immune response. More discoveries may be ahead.

It wouldn't surprise me if we discovered other manifestations, said ONeal, who has kept a notebook of observations and thoughts. Not a day goes by that I dont learn something about SARS-CoV-2, she said.

A 'signal' that coronavirus is spreading again in Louisiana? Rise in hospitalizations, officials say As Louisiana experienced the largest one-day surge in coronavirus cases since the height of the outbreak in early April, state health official

Recently, ONeal has felt a shift in the downward trend and noted a rush of new diagnoses of COVID-like illness in the emergency department  a new kind of complaint bubbling, she said, similar to what she saw in March.

On Tuesday, the Louisiana Department of Health announced 1,356 new infections, the largest single-day increase in cases since April 9.

The community is the driver for this, said ONeal. Its just been in the last three weeks that whatever weve been doing is too much.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies with snow developing overnight. Low near 20F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snowfall around one inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies with snow developing overnight. Low near 20F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snowfall around one inch.
The Navajo Nation continues to be hit hard by COVID-19. The community has reported nearly 7,000 cases and more than 330 deaths. Leaders have ordered businesses closed on weekends in a community that is spread across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The Navajo Nations preexisting conditions like poverty, limited running water, and close living situations make it extra vulnerable to coronavirus.

The lockdowns have made it challenging for people to access the resources they need, says Donnie Begay, who along with his wife, Renee, directs the Nations Movement, a campus ministry thats part of Cru.

On the Navajo Nation, there are only about a dozen food grocery stories that cover 27,000 square miles that is the Navajo reservation, said Begay, who lives in Albuquerque. Many on the reservation live at least an hour away from the border of the reservations and these lockdowns cut them off from the businesses on the other side.

These lockdowns can be very cumbersome to people who need to drive an hour or more just to buy groceries or necessities and food during the pandemic, said Begay.

Begay joined digital media producer Morgan Lee and editorial director Ted Olsen to discuss the communitys complex relationship with Christianity, why theyre uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19, and how Navajo millennials are making their faith their own.

Take Quick to Listens survey!

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Follow our hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Ted Olsen

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The transcript is edited by Bunmi Ishola

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Rep. Darin LaHood is co-sponsoring proposed law enforcement reforms introduced by Republican lawmakers.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Rep. Pete Stauber of Minnesota.

Some of the reforms include restrictions on use of chokeholds, required reporting on use of force, and more transparent data on use of force both by and against law enforcement authorities.

Lynching would also be classified as a federal crime under the proposal, which would encourage the use of police body cameras and call for development of de-escalation training.

 Marco Cartolano
SAGINAW, MI  A Saginaw man accused of severely injuring his 2-month-old daughter has learned the penalty for his crime.

Taylor J. Cantu, 26, on Tuesday, June 23, appeared before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Andre R. Borrello from the Saginaw County Jail via Zoom. Cantu in May pleaded no contest to second-degree child abuse, a 10-year felony.

I just want to say that I am very sorry for what had happened, Cantu said. I do take responsibility and, uh, just very sorry. From the bottom of my heart, I cant express how sorry I really am. If given the opportunity, it would never happen again and Id do whatever I could to be a better father.

Borrello sentenced Cantu to one year in jail, with credit for 362 days already served, to be followed by the maximum allowed probation term of five years.

Ive thought about this case quite a bit. Its a very disturbing case, Borrello said. This is tragic. Mr. Cantu virtually  all but killed his child. She was severely violated in many circumstances. In this case, there has been understanding from the prosecutor. This is how the system should work, and I want that to be understood.

Borrello and defense attorney James F. Piazza made frequent references to Cantus history of mental health issues, with the judge saying he believes those matters contributed to the crime. If he were to send Cantu to prison, hed be out in two or three years with no oversight from the court to ensure hes addressing those issues, Borrello said.

Mr. Cantu, the fact you dont have custody of this child weighs heavily on my decision, Borrello said. If the vulnerable victim  was still in the picture here, Id be looking at this much differently, because I think, in this circumstance, Mr. Cantu is a very big threat to this victim. I think hes a threat to other types of situations. The reality is, hes going to be back in society. The question is, whats best for society in his return?

Borrello said he believed society would be best served with Cantu under very careful supervision with a multitude of conditions. Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor Jolina OBerry did not object to Cantu receiving a probation sentence with a specific treatment plan.

When Cantu pleaded, prosecutors dismissed a charge of first-degree child abuse, which is a life offense.

The conviction stems from Cantus 2-month-old daughter being brought to Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw by her mother and father the night of June 24, 2019. The parents told hospital staff they had brought their daughter in as she was experiencing seizure-like symptoms.

Examination revealed the baby had hemorrhaging to both sides of her head and both eyes and fractures to both legs and both arms, prosecutors allege. Some injuries appeared older than others.

The child was airlifted to University of Michigan C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital in Ann Arbor. Police began an investigation and developed Cantu as a suspect, arresting him three days after he brought his daughter to the hospital.

Cantus plea agreement states that he will not have to testify against his daughters mother, though she has not been charged with a crime related to her daughters injuries.

The child has since been placed in foster care, prosecutors have said.

Related:

Saginaw dad pleads no contest in abuse of 2-month-old daughter

Dad accused of abusing 2-month-old daughter sent for mental evaluation

Saginaw infant hospitalized with severe injuries, dad faces life offense
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
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

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The United States has formally asked the UN Security Council to extend an arms embargo on Iran beyond October, when it is set to be progressively eased under the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.



UN Ambassador Kelly Craft and Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook virtually briefed the council on a proposed resolution to extend the embargo, the State Department said in a statement on June 24.



Hook said the Security Council should be united over its concern with Iranian arms transfers and noted that it has maintained arms restrictions on Iran since 2007.



The statement said Hook updated council members on the full range of Irans malign activity, including drone and cruise-missile attacks on two Saudi oil facilities in September that U.S., Saudi, and European officials have said Iran was responsible for.



Given that Iran has neither abided by current restrictions nor demonstrated a change in its threatening behavior, Special Representative Hook and Ambassador Craft called on Security Council members to extend the arms embargo, the statement said.



While Washington has long argued that the embargo should not be lifted, the international community has been waiting for it to formally push the measure.



In an interview with Reuters, Hook complained about Russia and China blocking the extension of the ban, saying they risk being isolated at the United Nations and in the international community at large.



"We see a widening gap between Russia and China and the international community," Hook said.



He noted that Russia and China were isolated at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last week when it passed a resolution to demand Iran provide access to two sites where nuclear activity may have occurred in the past.



The five-year ban on selling conventional arms to Iran was established in conjunction with the 2015 nuclear agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. If it is lifted, Russia and China are two countries that experts say are most likely to sign arms deals with the Islamic republic.



The United States pulled out of the accord in May 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions that have battered the Iranian economy.



Tehran has been progressively breaking the restrictions laid down in the agreement, saying that it can reverse them if the remaining parties to the deal -- Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia -- comply with it. U.S. sanctions make it difficult for other parties to abide by their commitments.



The foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany last week announced they oppose lifting the ban, but they also said their countries would not back U.S. efforts to unilaterally trigger the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran.



U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier on June 24 he is "hopeful" that the "whole world" will understand the need to extend the embargo.



"I think all but a couple of nations understand that this should not expire and there is going to be a discussion about how it is that we extend it," Pompeo told reporters in Washington.

With reporting by Reuters
~ WEBINAR for Financial literacy soon to be launched.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion announced on Wednesday that the Dutch Government has imposed additional conditions for recipients of payroll support. The Minister said that these conditions must be implemented by July 1st in order for the Dutch Government to provide the financing. Conditions such as the calculations must be done on a 1 to 1 ratio, which means that businesses will only get what they declare as loss of income, while the maximum business can receive is 60%. Employees will receive 80% of their salaries while the companies will have to provide a written declaration to show that their employees have agreed to a 20% salary reduction.

Minister Irion also announced that businesses that receive stimulus support will be publicized as of June since changes were made to the regulation.

Businesses that were denied stimulus support can also appeal to the decisions.

When it comes to transparency the Minister of Finance said he is working on launching a WEBINAR for persons on St. Maarten to gain more financial literacy. He said he is aiming to educate the population on how government functions and to allow everyone to better understand the governments budget.

Minister Irion also shared some information on the governments income compared to 2019.

He said in April 2019 governments income was 50.65M compared to 16.92M for April 2020, while in May 2019 income for the government was 35.79M compared to 29M in May 2020.

Minister Irion further explains that while the governments income was 16.92M in April this year the payroll and subsidies from government stands at 14.2M.

Agreement with Unions on 50% vacation pay for Civil Servants.

Asked whether or not the government has an agreement with the chamber of labor unions on the 50% vacation allowance, the Minister said that based on his knowledge there is a verbal agreement that was secured during a meeting with the unions, he said now that unions have contested the agreement he already requested the minutes of the meeting which was 5 hours long to go over before making a final statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 01:46:41|Editor: huaxia

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MUSCAT, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Oman on Tuesday urged the Yemeni Houthis and Saudi Arabia to avoid any escalation which would be detrimental to the region's security and stability.

"The Sultanate followed up with great interest and deep regret the attacks staged at Saudi Arabia recently, and calls for an action to avoid escalation that would not be in the interest of security and stability in the region," the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

It urged all parties to focus on enhancing the UN-sponsored efforts aimed at reaching a rapid political settlement of the Yemeni crisis in a manner that safeguards the neighbouring countries' security and interests.

Saudi-led coalition forces announced on Tuesday 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. Enditem
Hong Kong health authorities have sent 10 transit passengers  stranded at the airport for the past five days  to a local quarantine centre amid public health concerns, as the group had travelled on the same flight as 26 others previously found to be infected with Covid-19.

Confirming an earlier Post report, a Department of Health spokesman said the group, which had attempted to travel from Dubai to mainland China despite a prohibition on transits to mainland cities, had been sent to an official quarantine facility at Chai Wan Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village.

The latest development came just seven hours after the Post contacted the department with inquiries about the travellers status.

A photo circulating on social media shows two of the passengers who were stranded at Hong Kong International Airport. Their faces have been blurred to preserve their anonymity. Photo: Weibo

The spokesman added the department had only become aware of the situation on Wednesday, but could not say if the travellers would have to undergo a full 14-day isolation.

A government source, meanwhile, said the group would be given Covid-19 tests, adding that poor communication between the health department and Airport Authority led to the delayed response.

The authority earlier confirmed that 11 passengers on Emirates flight 380 had sought to transit to the mainland but did not have boarding passes for their onward flights.

As of Wednesday evening, 10 of the group had refused an offer to be flown back to Dubai.

The airline has offered to arrange the 11 passengers return to their port of origin. [The authority] understands that one of the passengers took an Emirates flight back to Dubai on June 24, while the others have not yet accepted the return arrangement, a spokeswoman said in a statement.

It is the responsibility of airlines to understand entry restrictions and quarantine requirements of different destinations to avoid passengers being stranded at HKIA.

Meanwhile, police said the Airport Authority filed a report on Wednesday after one of the stranded passengers claimed he was wanted on the mainland.

A police spokesman said they received the report at 5.55pm and sent officers to the scene, but no arrest was made as the man was not wanted in Hong Kong and the force had no jurisdiction.

Story continues

In a statement, Emirates said the group attempted to transit to mainland China, which is not allowed under current travel restrictions. The respective onward carriers refused to accept the passengers.

They also confirmed the 10 remaining passengers had been offered tickets on the next scheduled flight back to Dubai. We will also continue to work closely with the Airport Authority and all relevant parties to resolve the situation, an airline spokeswoman said.

Emirates later revealed it was temporarily suspending passenger services to Pakistan altogether in light of the large number of passengers who tested positive for Covid-19 in Hong Kong after arriving aboard flight 380.

We are coordinating closely with the various authorities and will review and implement any required additional measures to satisfy all parties before we resume services from Pakistan. The health and safety of our crew, customers and communities remains our top priority, the airline said in a statement.

While Hong Kong resumed transit flight services on June 1, the mainland has remained off-limits for transfers. Given that prohibition, it was not immediately known why the stranded passengers were allowed to board the flight in Dubai.

On Monday, the Centre for Health Protection confirmed 26 passengers on the Saturday flight, residents returning from Pakistan, had tested positive for Covid-19, the highest number of imported infections yet to arrive by air.

But Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the centres communicable disease branch, has previously said the risk of in-flight transmission of the disease was low.

Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, a respiratory medicine expert from Chinese University, shared that view, saying the passengers would have worn masks and had minimal interactions.

A plane during the flight would have an excellent ventilation system that can filter air particles 10 to 20 times an hour, he said.

Hui explained that Hong Kong and the World Health Organisation define close contacts on a flight as anyone sitting in the two seats directly in front of or behind the infected persons as well as the two seats directly to the left and right.

But Dr Leung Chi-chiu, chairman of the Hong Kong Medical Associations advisory committee on communicable diseases, said the situation was concerning, as in-flight transmission could not be ruled out.

Transmissions could also take place within the airport, especially in such shared facilities as toilets and lounges, if the stranded passengers carried the virus, he said.

Leung suggested the Hong Kong government tighten air traffic rules, allowing only passengers who have received a negative Covid-19 test result before boarding to use the citys transit services.

An arrival hall at Hong Kong International Airport sits empty in May after coronavirus travel restrictions brought inbound passengers to the city to a near halt. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Otherwise, the public health risks of transit services would outweigh the economic benefits they bring, he said.

Hong Kong reported no locally transmitted coronavirus infections on Wednesday, according to the Centre for Health Protection, extending the city's streak of such days to 11.

Two imported cases were recorded, however, bringing the citys overall tally to 1,179, with six related deaths. Both new cases had returned from the Philippines.

Separately, a Tuen Mun Hospital spokesman on Wednesday revealed that water had leaked from the bathroom of a paediatric isolation ward housing Covid-19 patients earlier in the week onto the male surgical ward directly below, leading to 18 patients being moved to other rooms.

One male patient who had droplets land on his glasses will be isolated for 14 days and placed under medical surveillance for two weeks after, while another hit on his ankle will undergo medical surveillance for 28 days.

Before HKIA reopened the airport to transit passengers on June 1, the Airport Authority gathered airlines to brief them on the strict rules governing the resumption of transfer service.

Airlines have the utmost responsibility in ensuring, at the point of check-in at the origin ports, that transit passengers will be accepted at the final destinations, the authority said in an internal presentation to airlines on May 29.

It is the responsibility of the airlines to conduct all necessary verification at the origin ports.

In the first phase, only transit flights operated by the same airline group were allowed to handle transfer passengers  meaning only Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines qualified.

On June 15, rules were eased to allow different airlines to accept transit passengers flying on one ticket, as long as they had been checked through from their departure point with boarding passes issued.

Airlines were also required to ensure travellers met entry requirements for their final destination and the connecting time between flights was less than 24 hours, among other measures.

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Coronavirus: 10 who shared Emirates flight to Hong Kong with Covid-19 cases sent to quarantine centre after five days stranded at airport first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.
A federal appeals court ordered a judge to immediately dismiss the criminal case against President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

A three-judge appellate panel on Wednesday denied U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan the authority to examine whether the government's surprise motion to dismiss the case, in which Flynn pleaded guilty twice to lying to the FBI, was part of a corrupt effort to aid one of Trump's political allies.

The appeals court said such an inquiry would harm the executive branch's exclusive prosecutorial power. "The contemplated proceedings would likely require the Executive to reveal the internal deliberative process behind its exercise of prosecutorial discretion, interfering with the Article II charging authority," the opinion said.

The ruling is a win for Trump, who has repeatedly slammed the case against Flynn as part of a broader conspiracy by Democrats to undermine him and his administration. The Justice Department reversed course on its prosecution of Flynn last month, requesting the court drop the case because Flynn's lies to the two agents weren't "material" to the Russia probe and he shouldn't have been interviewed in the first place.

The latest ruling, which may be appealed to the full circuit court and the Supreme Court, is another twist in a prosecution that began when Flynn lied to two FBI agents in January 2017 about phone calls with the Russian ambassador, part of Robert Mueller's investigating foreign interference in the 2016 U.S. election. Fired by Trump soon after, Flynn pleaded guilty twice. He later sought to change his plea.

Instead, Sullivan appointed a former federal judge and mob prosecutor, John Gleeson, to argue against the Justice Department's dismissal motion. Gleeson issued a blistering amicus brief saying that the request was a politically motivated attempt to help an ally of the president and should be denied.

Lawyers for Flynn and the government went to the appeals court in Washington to try and stop Sullivan's probe. They argued at a June 12 hearing that Sullivan was barred by the constitutional separation of powers from doing anything other than immediately granting the Justice Department's motion to dismiss. Sullivan's lawyer argued the unusual nature of the case warranted digging deeper into the government's reasoning.

During that hearing, the panel had largely appeared skeptical of intervening in the case before Sullivan issued a ruling on the government's motion.
Each year, over 100,000 infants are born in New York City, where the pandemic has now reshaped the experience of childbirth. The virus has added more tension into what is an already uncertain process, as women are entering hospitals that have been overrun by a disease that has killed nearly 22,000 in the city and more than 120,000 nationwide.
As protesters poured onto the streets of Boston in early June, When We Disappear author Lise Haines watched with a growing sense of frustration that she could not join them. At risk for the new coronavirus, Haines wanted to support Black Lives Matter, but did not know how to do it. Three weeks later, Haines and five other Boston-area authors are the leaders of Writers Against Racial Injustice, a fundraising coalition that has blown past an initial goal of generating $10,000 in funds to raise more than $55,000 in support of the Montgomery, Ala.-based Equal Justice Initiative.

After I started my day and opened the newspaper, I was feeling my mood get lower and lower. It was this feeling of utter helplessness, Haines said. There are so many of us who are aware of the inequities in our society that never seem to go away, or get a whole lot worse. Something in me snapped.

When it did, Haines reached out to Strangers in Budapest author Jessica Keener, who has an extensive background in fundraising. Keener leapt at the opportunity and suggested a primarily Facebook-based fundraiser. They swiftly formed a group with Delia Cabe (Storied Bars of New York), Michelle Hoover (Bottomland), Elizabeth Searle (We Got Him), and Rosie Sultan (Helen in Love).

All of the authors have robust social media networks, and like Haines, four were unable to join the protesters because of the risk of coronavirus. With help from Haines daughter Siena, they launched the one-month fundraiser on June 4. The $55,000 raised to date, comes from more than 1,000 donors, and the initiative brought in $11,000 on Juneteenth alone.

The first 30 contributors of $100 or more are receiving a signed copy of We Cant Breathe, an essay collection by Haines and Cabe's Emerson College colleague, Jabari Asim. Two $50 gift cards to the Black-owned Boston-based independent Frugal Bookstore will also be given out. One writer, A Life in Men author Gina Frangello, raised $4,000 for the initiative.

Its nice to have a literary community come together for a good cause, elevating the role of writers and the power of language, Keener said.

Haines and Keener chose EJI in part because of the decades-long dedication of founder Bryan Stevenson, author of the memoir Just Mercy, to dismantling the language that underpins structural racism. Language is so powerful, Keener said. What we tell ourselves and what we tell our friends; the language we use and the words we choose. What are the words we accept and dont accept? You can take it down to a micro-level. You can take it down to the word. You should.

Part of what has been effective for the authors is their level of personal engagement, reaching out to small groups of people, sometimes one at a time, to ask them to contribute. When you consider that there have been at least 1,000 people who have contributed, it reminds me that even the smallest donation really adds up, Haines said.

With more than a week remaining in their fundraiser, the authors are busy writing thank you notes on Facebook to each donor, but they already have their eyes on the fall, where they hope to engage fellow writers in support of voting rights initiatives, using the same name, Writers Against Racial Injustice.

Were not done, Keener said. Were not done.
Court probing crimes committed during and after Kosovos war with Serbia indicts Hashim Thaci and nine former fighters.

Kosovos President Hashim Thaci and nine other people have been indicted by a court investigating war crimes committed during and after Kosovos independence war with Serbia.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Prosecutors Office (SPO) in The Hague, the Netherlands, said Thaci and the others suspects were criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders of Kosovar Albanian, Serb and Roma people.

Other charges include enforced disappearance, persecution and torture.

The indictment is the result of a lengthy investigation and reflects the SPOs determination that it can prove all of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, the office said in a statement.

Thaci commanded fighters in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the 1998-1999 war.

The indicted group also includes Kadri Veseli, former Parliament speaker and leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo.

Thaci was preparing for a summit at the White House on Saturday with Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, and local media reports suggested he had already left for the US.

But US special envoy to Serbia and Kosovo Richard Grenell, who organised the White House meeting, said in a tweet that Thaci had cancelled going to the summit following the charges in The Hague.

I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settled, Grenell said, adding talks will now go ahead with Kosovos new Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, who has moved to ease friction with Serbia.

The President of Kosovo has just informed us that he has canceled his trip to Washington, D.C. following the announcement made by the Special Prosecutors Office.

I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settled.  Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) June 24, 2020

A surprise to many in Kosovo

Reporting from Pristina, Al Jazeeras Avni Ahmetaj said Thaci has been confronted many times in the past regarding allegations of war crimes but has always denied any wrongdoing.

The news came as a surprise to many in Kosovo, Ahmetaj said. [KLA veterans] say the KLA did not commit any crimes, that they were defending their families during the war and the only army that committed war crimes during the war in 1999 was the Serbian army.

The indictment issued on Wednesday was the first by the special tribunal based in The Hague. The court has been operating since 2015 and has questioned hundreds of witnesses.

According to the statement, the indictment is being reviewed by a pretrial judge who will decide whether to confirm the charges.

The prosecutor accused Thaci and Veseli of repeated efforts to obstruct and undermine the work of the tribunal.

Thaci and Veseli are believed to have carried out a secret campaign to overturn the law creating the Court and otherwise obstruct the work of the Court in an attempt to ensure that they do not face justice, the statement said.

By taking these actions, Mr. Thaci and Mr. Veseli have put their personal interests ahead of the victims of their crimes, the rule of law, and all people of Kosovo, it added.

Bekim Blakaj of the Humanitarian Law Centre in Pristina told Al Jazeera that the pretrial judge has six months to confirm or reject the charges, adding the announcement is unusual as so far we havent seen such a practice that the SPO issues such a statement before the indictment is confirmed.

The war left more than 10,000 dead and 1,641 are still unaccounted for. It ended after a 78-day NATO air raid.

Serbia does not recognise Kosovos 2008 declaration of independence. Serbia and Kosovo have been engaged in European Union-brokered negotiations since 2011 to normalise relations as a condition for bloc membership.
[June 24, 2020] HyperSKU Successfully Completes Series A Financing, Hires Head of Business Development to Bolster European Expansion

HONG KONG, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HyperSKU, an up-and-coming B2B solution for eCommerce businesses, today announced that it completed its $4 million Series A round of financing. On the heels of this successful investment round, the firm has also named a new head of business development to focus on the brand's global expansion into the European market. Two notable co-investors led the round, IDG Capital and GGV Capital. IDG Capital's investments include Wish, Farfetch, and Shein, while GGV Capital's portfolio includes Alibaba, Wish, Xiaohongshu and Fordeal. "We have seen tremendous uptake in demand and having support of two premier investors with such strong expertise in eCommerce is proof positive of HyperSKU's viability and market potential," said Shawn Zhao, CEO of HyperSKU. With this financing, HyperSKU will continue its European expansion with a new local team led by Simon de Raadt, who joins as Vice President of Business Development for Europe. De Raadt is an experienced executive in cross-border logistics and commodity trading, having lived in China since 2011 and spent more than eight years at MAiNS International, first as general manager then as managing partner. Earlier in his career, de Raadt held key roles with TNT Post and Capgemini. His expertise has positioned him as an industry thought leader and sought-after speaker at global eCommerce events.



"Simon de Raadt's extensive experience in cross-border trade and eCommerce logistics, as well as the work he has done for PostNL, a European postal company to build the Chinese market from zero to a nine-figure annual revenue, is nothing short of extraordinary," said Shawn Zhao, CEO of HyperSKU. "We are thrilled to have him on board to localize and diversify our solutions for European online sellers." HyperSKU was founded in August 2018 and has grown rapidly due to the logistics demands of eCommerce sellers on Amazon, Facebook, and Shopify. HyperSKU provides backend infrastructure sourcing and fulfillment, a mission critical factor for all online sellers.

A new eCommerce trend, social shopping in which shoppers' purchase decisions are heavily influenced by social media, is also dramatically driving new demand. HyperSKU supports this expansion by offering easier access to goods sourced from China and more reliable shipping and delivery to locations across the globe. About HyperSKU HyperSKU provides streamlined logistics and delivery for eCommerce sellers through hyper efficient logistics and direct connection with sellers. With first-hand access direct to Chinese suppliers and the infrastructure of China's well-developed reliable global delivery system, sellers can improve sales performance and decrease costs across its full ecosystem. Visit https://www.hypersku.com/ to learn more. For more information about HyperSKU, or for media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hypersku-successfully-completes-series-a-financing-hires-head-of-business-development-to-bolster-european-expansion-301081723.html SOURCE HyperSKU

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The art must go on.

With public events on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, ArtBridge is inviting aspiring artists to attend a series of Zoom workshops hosted by professionals from Saturday to Tuesday.

The idea is that local artists can build their skills during COVID and create new works that will be displayed in local retail businesses when they reopen, said an organizer of ArtBridge, which advocates for public art in the New York City area.

Jenya Frid will host an illustration workshop Saturday at 10 a.m., where those who attend will learn how to build creative illustrations through concept sketches.

Manjari Sharma will host a workshop on photography Sunday at noon. Tapping into personal history, Sharma will teach participants how to tell compelling stories through capturing the world around them.

Natasha Platt will host a conversational workshop about overcoming self-doubt and sparking inspiration in your work Monday at 3 p.m.

Allison Maletz will host an introduction to watercolor class Monday at 7 p.m. The workshop will cover casting shadows and paint removal.

Jen Seggio will host a class for kids between the ages of 6 and 14 on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Those who choose to participate can learn illustration technique. Bill Murphy will host a charcoal illustration class at 1 p.m.

Each class is 90 minutes long except for Allison Maletzs class, which is 75 minutes. Those who wish to participate can sign up by emailing classes@art-bridge.org or calling 646-450-1463. The series is funded by the office of Councilman Joseph Borelli.

Prior to the pandemic, ArtBridge hosted an annual Arts on Amboy display on the South Shore. Last years event included 78 works from 31 Staten Island artists in 11 local businesses throughout Tottenville and Richmond Valley.

ArtBridge was founded in 2008 by Rodney Durso. Since then, its mission has been to empower local artists to tell the narrative of their neighborhood through public art. The organization is primarily based in the Bronx and in previous Arts on Amboy coverage, ArtBridge communications coordinator Diandra Patrick credited Borelli for the organizations migration to the borough.
The Thunder Bay Museum will be hosting a travelling quilt exhibit starting Jan. 31. The exhibit, titled Threads of Hope, explores hope, longing and desire for the future of the world. Fibre Art Network artists express world issues through their work in the exhibit. Each artwork is connected 
Younger voters across the United States are less likely to be loyal to one political party but instead look at how candidates address the issues most important to them. Issues most important to American voters under 30 are climate change, healthcare, student debt, and social justice.
Gilles Gade, the founder and chief executive of Cross River Bank, in Fort Lee, N.J., June 16, 2020. (Sasha Maslov/The New York Times)

Stacy Cowley

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 centerpiece of the governments $2 trillion 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.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

This is in our DNA, said Gilles Gade, Cross Rivers founder and chief executive. Its exactly what we were built for.

Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here

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.

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%  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.

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.

c.2020 The New York Times Company
She's the comic star of some now classic films helmed by her director husband Judd Apatow.

And Leslie Mann was spotted out looking summery on Tuesday, as she went shopping with daughter Iris Apatow, 17, in Malibu, California.

The This Is 40 actress, 48, had on a cap-sleeved white t-shirt that allowed a hint of her midriff to show, along with baggy shredded light wash jeans which hung low on her hips.

Movie star: Leslie Mann looked lovely and fresh-faced on Tuesday, when she was seen out with daughter Iris for a shopping trip in Malibu

Leslie had her dirty blond hair in a low pony and accessorized with thick black sat-eye shades.

The actress stepped her feet into a pair of slides for the shopping excursion, which took the girls to Beauty Collection among other shops.

Iris, whose appeared in her parents' films including This Is 40 and Funny People, had peroxide blond hair and wore denim shorts along with a loose-fitting pink tee with the words King Kong on the front.

Mom and daughter: The This Is 40 actress had on a lovely cap-sleeved white t-shirt, along with baggy shredded light wash jeans

She wore socks with white Birkenstock-style sandals.

Both mother and daughter at one point sported face masks.

Leslie is also mom to daughter Maude, 22, who is an up-and-coming actress appearing in such titles as HBO's acclaimed series Euphoria and the new film King of Staten Island, directed by her dad.

Hollywood fam: Leslie is also mom to daughter Maude, left, an up-and-coming actress appearing in the new film King of Staten Island directed by dad Judd Apatow; seen in 2015

Maude and Iris's parents Leslie and Judd, 52, have been married since 1997.

Leslie appeared in Judd's early work, including The 40-Year-Old Virgin in 2005 and Knocked Up in 2007, before going on to bigger (and hilarious) roles in This Is 40 in 2012 and 2014's The Other Woman.

One of Mann's upcoming projects is the fun-looking film update to Noel Coward's play Blithe Spirit, which will costar Judi Dench, Isla Fisher and Dan Stevens.

Evolution: Leslie appeared in Judd's early work before going on to bigger (and hilarious) roles in 2014's The Other Woman (pictured, with Kate Upton, right, and Cameron Diaz, center)
So were it up to me, Id rename Jefferson Street and leave the Columbus statues alone. The other way around gets dicey. If you nix the statue in Grant Park, wouldnt the park have to be renamed? Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War hero and U.S. president, was married to a woman who owned slaves. His father-in-law gave Grant a slave, whom he freed just before the war.
Colonie

For the handful of travelers arriving from Orlando, Fla. at Albany International Airport at 3:15 Wednesday afternoon, the fact that they beat a midnight quarantine deadline by just a few hours was one more twist in the sometimes contradictory experiences theyve had while traveling during the pandemic.

It doesnt make sense, Denise Rivera of Schenectady said, outside the nearly deserted Albany airport after arriving from the Sunshine State.

While not surprised by the upcoming quarantine, she was puzzled by the lack of questioning coming and going to Florida.

She expected to have her temperature taken and for airport or airline officials to ask about her health status, but none of that happened, either coming or going.

No questions, no nothing, said Rivera.

She was visiting relatives in Orlando, but spent much of her time in the hotel near her cousin to minimize the risk of exposure.

Things do seem to have lifted in the last week or so. Going south she was one of 66 people on the plane. It was more crowded coming back.

Poughkeepsie resident Justin Dillard went to Orlando in early May to visit family and back then, things were a lot tougher coming from New York.

Police and health officials at the Orlando airport were checking peoples home addresses, and since he was from the Empire State, he was told hed have to stay at his parents house for the first 14 days of his visit.

He wasnt too upset by the confinement, though. I knew that safety was the main reason, he said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in late March imposed a quarantine for people coming from states like New York which at the time had rising infection rates.

On Wednesday, the tables were turned with Gov. AndrewM. Cuomo imposing a 14-day self-quarantine regimen, starting at midnight, for people coming from Florida and other states where COVID-19 cases are on the rise.

Its like a war between the states, remarked Brad Wickersham, who was on his way from the Albany area to his home in Cincinnati.

Despite the lack of questioning, Catherine LeBrecht of Delmar said she wasnt too worried about the safety of airline travel. I feel like the airlines are doing a pretty good job, she said of the way they are cleaning the cabins and taking mask precautions. She wasnt flying but was instead picking up her daughter who is stationed with the Air Force in Colorado.

It wasnt immediately clear Wednesday afternoon if the quarantine orders would impact flights from or to Florida or other states that fell under Cuomos directive including Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas.

One Wednesday afternoon, there was one flight coming in from Tucson, Ariz., with others from Chicago and Baltimore.

Airport officials said they had started broadcasting news of the quarantine orders to travelers over their PA system shortly after Cuomo announced it.

Waiting, waiting

Though she lives in Saratoga Springs and he lives in Florida, Jamie O'Dell and her father are extremely close, having spoken every day for as long as she can remember. The family maintains a group chat where her father, Albert, loved to get updates and pictures from his children and grandchildren.

One day at the end of March, right as the coronavirus pandemic started getting serious in the United States, he did not respond to her texts. Jamie O'Dell's sister went to check on their father and discovered him disoriented after suffering a serious stroke.

More for you Albany International Airport sees minor uptick in boardings

O'Dell and her boyfriend had actually planned being in Florida on vacation that day, but canceled after New York issued a stay-at-home order. She pushed back her visit to April, but then Florida issued a mandatory quarantine for anyone entering the state. Another planned trip in May was scrapped, and O'Dell hoped to be able to visit her father soon.

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.

"He didn't understand what was going on regarding the pandemic and it was heartbreaking because we thought he felt like we abandoned him," O'Dell said.

Now she's not sure how soon that will be because Cuomo's quarantine announcement.

"Now New York is quarantining folks who come in from Florida so i'm faced with the same issue as I did when driving into Florida," Jamie O'Dell said. "... I think we've all just been holding our breath for a day when things seemed to be getting back to normal and unfortunately that just hasn't happened."

O'Dell is one of countless New Yorkers whose plans to vacation, retire, or visit elderly relatives in Florida have been upended by the order. Folks in essential industries whose jobs require cross-country travel -- truckers, for instance -- also aren't sure what the next step should be.

We encourage state and local officials to consider all the impacts rules and guidelines imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 might have on our industry and their citizens, said Sean McNally, a spokesman for the American Trucking Association. Truck drivers socially distance by the nature of the job, and to impose restrictions will prevent them from doing the important work of delivering critical supplies like groceries, PPE and other essential items.

Michael Moore, a Rensselaer resident, was about to book a vacation on Monday to Marco Island, when his sister-in-law warned him to wait to see if Florida's rapidly rising COVID-19 rates would force states to consider a quarantine on travelers from Florida.

Moore's glad he waited; the order came the next day. The vacation was moved back to August but he's not confident that it will happen even then.

"I'm not confident in anything right now," Moore said. "I'm just going to pencil it in and keep updated on what's going on and what authorities are saying."

David and Rosemary Shaver, a Delmar couple, had planned on leaving Thursday for Punta Gorda to scope out a home to retire in. Cuomo's order forced them to abruptly cancel flights, hotel rooms and a rental car.

David Shaver said he wondered whether Cuomo's order was in retaliation for Florida Gov. DeSantis issuing a similar quarantine order for folks traveling to the Sunshine State from New York earlier in the pandemic.

"You've got to wonder whether this is a tit-for-tat," David Shaver said.

Contributing: Brendan J. Lyons
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 23:20:30|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Ersoy on Wednesday announced new measures in the tourism sector to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The minister revealed that more than 727 hotels and 900 restaurants have applied for the "Safe Tourism Certificate" which can prove they have made standard precautions to prevent the spread of the pandemic, semi-official Anadolu Agency reported.

He also said the ministry would send officials to disguise as "hidden guests" to inspect the hotels and restaurants.

The country will also launch coronavirus testing centers in its international airports by July 1, said the minister.

Turkey also introduced a health insurance system for travels of foreigners and Turkish citizens abroad, he said, noting that the insurance will cover other diseases as well.

Turkey has informed other countries about the health infrastructure, ensuring them that Turkey is safe for tourism, he added. Enditem
A tight-knit family has been left devastated after a 'brilliant' engineering student tripped and died while on a sunrise bushwalk with her friend.

Annika Ferry, 21, fell near a World War Two bunker in Blue Fish Point, in Sydney's North Head about 6am on Wednesday.

Her friend, also 21, told emergency services Ms Ferry tripped and knocked her head. She desperately tried to perform CPR while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

Ms Ferry was a Dean's Honour List recipient at the University of New South Wales in 2019, where she was studying renewable energy engineering.

A tight-knit family has been left devastated after a 'brilliant' engineering student fell to her death while on a sunrise bushwalk with her friend. Pictured: Annika Ferry (second from right) with her father Jim (second from left) and brothers, Anton (left) and Christian (right)

Ms Ferry (pictured with her dad) had been studying engineering at the University of New South Wales

She grew up in a a well-to-do family from Sydney's northern beaches and completed her HSC at the prestigious Queenwood School for Girls in Mosman, where fees cost up to $26,000-a-year.

The young woman had also completed an entrepreneurship program in Scandinavia.

Ms Ferry, whose father Jim Ferry is a prominent obstetrician and gynaecologist in Manly, was likely visiting a known 'selfie' spot in the minutes leading to her death.

She and her friend had trekked through dense bushland from about 5.30am and were near a spot popular with sightseers trying to get the perfect sunrise snap when emergency services were called.

Paramedics trekked hundreds of metres through the bush to reach Ms Ferry, but by the time they arrived, it was too late to save her.

Annika Ferry had been walking with her friend in the dark during a bushwalk

Annika Ferry, 21, died on Wednesday morning after falling while on a bushwalk with her friend

Police arrived at the scene shortly after and found Ms Ferry with severe head injuries.

Harrowing footage from the scene showed Ms Ferry's distraught friend clutching onto paramedics as she was taken to hospital, where she was treated for shock.

Northern Beaches Police Area Command duty officer Stuart Byrnes said Ms Ferry's friend was 'not doing too well'.

He admitted detectives were still gathering the facts about the fall, but described the death as a 'very sad accident'.

'There was only two people there, and one of them has gone to hospital in shock, we're still trying to get to the bottom to the lead-up of it all,' he told reporters.

'We believe it was a very sad accident and our thoughts go out to the family, but it's the subject of an investigation at the moment.'

Annika Ferry fell near a World War Two bunker in Blue Fish Point, in Sydney's North Head around 6am on Wednesday

Ms Ferry was likely visiting a known 'selfie' spot in the minutes leading to her death

Acting Inspector Byrnes described the terrain at North Head as 'inhospitable', which further delayed Wednesday's operation.

'It's not easily accessible, it was extremely difficult,' he said. 'We've had to use helicopters as part of the operation.'

An employee at North Head agreed, telling Sydney Morning Herald the terrain was difficult to manage on the best of days.

He said he often gets stopped and asked for directions to the nearby tidal pools - which are frequented by adventurers looking for a selfie - and that he warns them of the risks.

'I always tell them how to get there, but I tell them not to go. It's very dangerous,' he said.

Police continue to investigate the lead up to Ms Ferry's death and a report is being prepared for the coroner.

Footage shows Ms Ferry's distraught friend clutching onto police officers as she is taken to hospital to be treated for shock
New Delhi: India and China are holding diplomatic talks through video conference on Wednesday to explore ways to ease tension along the Line of Actual Control in the Ladakh region, officials said.

The talks are scheduled to be held between Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs Naveen Srivastava and Director General in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wu Jianghao, they said.

The two sides held their first diplomatic talks in June.

The talks are being held two days after Chinese and Indian armies arrived at a "mutual consensus" to "disengage" from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh.
Traders' body CAIT on Wednesday wrote to Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani and 50 other captains of India Inc. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Traders' body CAIT on Wednesday wrote to Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani and 50 other captains of India Inc including Ratan Tata, Azim Premji, Gautam Adani, Ajay Piramal, Anand Mahindra and Sunil Bharti Mittal seeking their support in its campaign to boycott Chinese goods.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) also urged Kumar Mangalam Birla, Vikram Kirloskar, Rahul Bajaj, Shiv Nadar, Pallonji Mistry, Uday Kotak, Nusli Wadia, Shashi Ruia, Madhukar Parekh, Harsh Mariwala, Satish Reddy and Pankaj Patel, among other prominent industrialists, to join its "Bhartiya Samaan-Humaara Abhimaan" campaign.

The traders' body in the letter to Ambani said "at a time when China's army in the most clandestine manner has committed a barbaric attack on the Indian army at Ladakh border resulting into the brutal killing of 20 brave sons of the country, the heart of every Indian is filled with deep anguish, resentment and abhorrence against the atrocities of the Chinese and their persistent attitude of antagonism towards India".

It said the there is a firm resolve among Indians to hit back at China not only militarily but also economically.

"You and your organisation has always stood firmly in solidarity and support of the nation and this could be a great opportunity for you to show that nothing comes before nation and your support and initiative will surely encourage other Industrialists of the country to follow you in order to make India a self-dependent Bharat," CAIT said to Ambani.

The trader's body expressed hope that Ambani would give a clarion call to promote Indian goods.

"Your positive decision could be a big boost for the campaign and a great service to the Soldiers who have laid down their lives for their motherland," CAIT said to Ambani.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that being a successful entrepreneur and one of the captains of Indian Industry, it has invited the group of Industrialists led by Ambani to join the movement as a valued partner and sought their support, terming it a "game changing initiative that has the potential to reshape India's journey as a global superpower by reducing China's dominance".

CAIT has decided to boycott Chinese Goods in a phased manner and for the first phase it has earmarked "finished goods" from an identified list of about 450 broad categories of products which nearly has more than 3,000 products and those products are already been manufactured in India.

In the meantime, it will be pursuing the government to draw a comprehensive strategy to facilitate Indian Industry, small industry, entrepreneurs, startups and others to evolve and manufacture goods in India pertaining to raw material, spare parts and technology driven goods, which are currently being imported from China.
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. All content is free and openly accessible for hotels." Dr. Bijan Khazai, CEO of Hotel Resilient

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.
The Alabama Department of Archives & History said in a statement today that for much of the 20th century it promoted a view of history that favored the Confederacy and failed to document the lives and contributions of Black Alabamians.

Archives & History Director Steve Murray said he drafted the Statement of Recommitment that was approved by the agencys Board of Trustees. Read the statement.

The State of Alabama founded the department in 1901 to address a lack of proper management of government records, but also to serve a white southern concern for the preservation of Confederate history and the promotion of Lost Cause ideals, the statement says. For well over a half-century, the agency committed extensive resources to the acquisition of Confederate records and artifacts while declining to acquire and preserve materials documenting the lives and contributions of African Americans in Alabama.

While acknowledging its former role in presenting a distorted view of Alabamas past, the agency pledged to continue efforts of the previous four decades to tell inclusive accounts of history.

The statement comes as demands for racial justice and police reform sound across Alabama and the nation, a movement sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota on Memorial Day.

Like every other organization in the country and individuals we have been reflecting on the turmoil that weve seen in the last month and the calls for social justice and racial justice and how that discussion has spilled over into debate about public commemoration and kind of the historical landscape, Murray said. Our agency has done a lot of reflection during that time and thought it appropriate and timely for us to make a statement about our perspective in terms of how our work relates to the issues that our country is dealing with right now, and how our agency had a distinctive role in the early 20th century in shaping some of the history thats being talked about now.

The statement says systemic racism remains a reality in America even though most people believe in racial equality.

The decline of overt bigotry in mainstream society has not erased the legacies of blatantly racist systems that operated for hundreds of years, the statement says.

Derryn Moten, a professor of history and political science at Alabama State University, called the statement bold.

I think its one of the best statements that I have read coming out of any institution since George Floyds death, Moten said. I think its forthright. I think its considerate. I commend Director Steve Murray, whom I know, and the board for this statement. Particularly the frankness and the candor for which this statement speaks about the history and the legacy of the Confederacy.

Archives & History said it is committed to developing programs and exhibits to promote a deeper understanding of the roots and consequences of racism. An example was last years exhibit, We the People: Alabamas Defining Documents, which displayed and explained the origins of the six constitutions governing Alabama since statehood began in 1819. The current constitution, ratified in 1901 and heavily amended, was intended to preserve white supremacy and suppress the black vote.

This isnt about tearing down our state or the people who built Alabama, Murray said. Its about understanding them as flawed human beings who just like us fall short of our aspirations quite frequently.

But the reality is, some bad decisions were made along the way. And we collectively are continuing to pay a price for that. This is not a situation where only African Americans in the past paid a price for that. It continues to affect our people today. It continues to affect all of us because it rolls into issues related to access to education, to pockets of economic prosperity as opposed to persistent areas of widespread poverty.

The Alabama Department of Archives & History was the nations first publicly funded, independent state archives agency, according to its website.

Murray said the first two directors of the agency were there for more than 50 years.

They also did an awful lot of good things in terms of creating the capacity that we have to preserve history and to continue to interpret it, Murray said. But that interest and concern for presenting a particular view of southern history and of the Civil War and of slavery, existed, as we said in the statement, for over a half a century.

Murray said the agency gradually changed over the next several decades. He said the hiring of Edwin Bridges as the fifth director in 1982 was a turning point.

Ed professionalized this agency in many ways, starting in the early 80s, Murray said. But one of the ways that he did that was starting to open up that area of inquiry and of public programming that we had to be more inclusive of the African American experience.

That was especially true early on just in commemorating and studying the events of the civil rights movement, for example. And over time that has continued to grow.

Murray became director when Bridges retired in 2012.
(Photo : Monika Kozub / Unsplash) This is in lieu of the facial recognition systems that may threaten privacy of students.

Facial recognition technology can take security to greater heights, and within the walls of academic institutions, this ensures lesser crimes and threats from beyond the school grounds. But what if the other way around happens, particularly when the law does not support these technologies?

According to CNET, a lawsuit is around the corner against the New York State Education Department looking to scrutinize on a $3 million worth of facial recognition systems in the state's academic institutions. The reason for the probable lawsuit is student privacy concerns and issues with gender and race.

RELATED STORY: World's First AI-Powered Bar Uses Facial Recognition To Serve Customers In Proper Order

Facial recognition issues

On Monday, the education department was sued by the New York Civil Liberties Union over the approval to install facial recognition at the Lockport School District, one of the first public school systems in the United States that use this type of technology for the students and teachers.

The department pushed for approval of this system last November, and activated in January, CNET's Alfred Ng wrote.

Tech Times can obtain a copy of the lawsuit. This has been filed on behalf of parents of students from Lockport who argued that the facial recognition systems are breaching their privacy, since the system retains the biometric data of these students, thus violating the privacy protections of the state under the education law.

In the law, the education department originally enacted and implemented facial recognition for the schools since it believed this platform will protect the privacy of students.

Parents call

Parents of students at Lockport and NYCLU want to dismantle and deactivated the system. They pleaded with the education department. However, government officials concerned have not commented yet on the pending litigation.

One of the parents, Jim Shultz, and the plaintiff said, "The Lockport facial recognition surveillance system was the product of a Board of Education falling for the sweet talk of a salesman who misrepresented himself as an independent security expert. Neither the school district or state education officials gave a thought to the radical impact this would have on student privacy."

The use of technology

Academic institutions have turned to technology as a solution to the safety of students. They have utilized these tools, including social media monitoring, to identify potential threats. Some companies offer facial recognition, which marketed these platforms to detect infiltrations and stop the shooting threats.

Schools superintendent in Lockport, Michelle Bradly spoke with parents, letting them know they are installing the facial recognition technology to prevent the 2019 school shootings, and that the district is spending approximately $3 million on upgrading the security, nearly half will be spent for facial recognition. The finances will be sourced out from the Smart Schools Bond Act in New York.

"In court documents, parents expressed frustration that the school district spent millions on facial recognition rather than on funds to help students connect online during the coronavirus pandemic," Ng added in the report.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Instead of donating supplies or manpower to clear out homes affected by flooding, members of the Michigan Association of Chiropractors are offering a unique service to volunteers and victims alike. Three days a week, area chiropractors are providing free adjustments at a station at Calvary Baptist Church, 6100 Perrine Road, Midland.

MAC began providing chiropractic relief June 2 and expects to continue this donation indefinitely. So far, about 10 chiropractors have offered their services.

MAC member doctors are stepping up to help following the devastating flooding by donating their time and expertise to provide needed services to front line workers and local citizens. Chiropractors from across the state are committed to helping during this time of crisis, said MAC Executive Director Kristine Dowell in a statement.

Kim Langley, health advocate for Simmons Specific Chiropractic, in Midland, has been at the tent every day the adjustments are offered, signing people in. In recent days, she has seen a slight uptick in visitors, many of whom with complaints of pains in the mid- and lower-back.

Weve extended it to essential workers and volunteers for the flood and also for flood victims. Everybodys doing the same kind of work, Langley said.

About five people showed up at the MAC tent shortly after noon on Tuesday. Among them was Tina Romanick, of Midland, who came with a neighbor who told her about the chiropractic relief. Romanicks basement buckled due to the flooding it sustained.

My husband does the lifting, I do the cleaning, she said.

After guests sign in, they are called in the order of when they arrived to meet with the chiropractor. After a brief preliminary examination, the chiropractor will perform a quick, simple adjustment, sanitizing the table after each visitor. Overall, the process takes about 10 minutes.

Langley, who lives just down the street from Calvary Baptist Church, completely lost her basement to the flood. After doing heavy lifting and putting in long hours to gut out her basement, Langley appreciates all the help given by volunteers.

Being able to provide this service for them is just an amazing thing. It feels really good to be able to give back, she said. Its a stressful time for everybody and we want to help people feel the best they can in the midst of it.

This donated chiropractic relief is part of the first annual ChiroCares National Giving Back Day, a philanthropic initiative spearheaded by the MAC, partnering with ChiroCongress and the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP). At the state level, the MAC encouraged its doctors and their patients to donate virtually to their local food banks through Feeding America, the nations largest domestic hunger-relief organization. The initiative kicked off on May 19 and ran through the month of May but continued indefinitely after the devastating flooding in Midland and the surrounding areas. The MAC has encouraged chiropractors not living locally to help flood relief through donations to the Midland Area Foundation or the Red Cross.

Chiropractic relief is available from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in the Perrine Road parking lot of Calvary Baptist Church, in Midland. Adjustments are free of charge and no appointment is required.
Three people have now been charged with murder over the death of Zane Meyer, whose body was found in a paddock in Melbourne's south-east last week.

Nicole Anthea Anderson, 37, from Cranbourne, was charged on Friday night over the death of the 26-year-old.

Police have since also charged two men with murder. A 33-year-old man from North Melbourne and a 30-year-old man of no fixed address will face court on Thursday.

Mr Meyer was found at Lysterfield, in Melbourne's south-east, on June 17.
Migration has accelerated exponentially over the last decade in India. Current estimates of the total number of migrant workers range from 72 million to 110 million. India has the second-largest migrant worker population in the world, second only to China. One in four workers in India is essentially a migrant. The lack of authentic data on their numbers, their living and working conditions and perpetual uncertainty in their livelihood prospects have been brought in to sharp focus with the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the best effort of both the central and state governments, the mass movement of nearly 10 million migrant workers has brought into sharp relief the urgent need to shift to a new paradigm of economic development and urbanisation in which migration under economic distress or due to the lack of amenities is brought down. This can be done if we can convert the Covid-19 crisis into an opportunity to rethink and reimagine our development model. Fortunately for us, an alternative model that minimises migration is available in the works of Mahatma Gandhi, the late president APJ Abdul Kalam and social activist and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue Nanaji Deshmukh.

The aspiration for self-reliant development at the village level began with the Gandhian model of swaraj. From the time of his return from South Africa, Gandhi immersed himself in village movements in Champaran (1917), Sevagram (1920) and Wardha (1938). He visualised a comprehensive programme of constructive work, which included economic self-reliance, social equality and a decentralised political system at the village level.

For Gandhi, the model of self-reliant villages was the basis of a free democracy. He declared, My idea of village swaraj is that it is a complete republic, independent of its neighbours for its own vital wants, and yet interdependent for many others in which dependence is a necessity. His was not a model of a closed economy and a village economy perpetuating itself at the lower levels of income, but one in which local populations could be employed locally but with rising incomes and higher productivity. It is not well known that in his quest for technological improvement, Gandhi had put out an advertisement for a better version of the charkha in British and Indian newspapers in 1929, and even offered a handsome reward of 1 lakh for it (about ~2.5 crore today).

Kalam, the missile man, had his own model called Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA). His vision was to develop rural India through a cluster development system where 50-100 villages with common competencies and/or mutual markets could be horizontally or vertically integrated as PURA complexes. These villages would be linked through four connectivities  physical, electronic, knowledge and economic. The goal was to provide income and quality of life opportunities to all within PURA complex. While some rural-rural migration would be acceptable, rural to urban migration would be minimised. He envisioned 7,000 PURA complexes at the cost of 130 crore per unit built through public-private partnerships.

Deshmukh called for self-reliant villages based on a model of integral humanism where harmony was also a pivotal force. In his work across 500 villages in India, especially in the Chitrakoot area, the successful implementation of the model called not just for zero unemployment and no one below the poverty line, but also zero internal legal disputes and no widow being denied remarriage. In Deshmukhs model, the collective social consciousness that promoted collective well-being was considered to be a cornerstone to next-generation rural development.

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi implemented the model of rurban development when he was chief minister of Gujarat. This was sought to be replicated at the pan-India level through the launch of the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission in 2014. The model follows a cluster development design to create social, health, education and economic infrastructure across villages.

In order to make 650,000-plus villages and 800 million citizens self-reliant, technology will have to play a critical role. We need to create a rural knowledge platform through active collaboration between the public and private sector. This will provide the expertise to take cutting edge technology deeper into villages and generate employment. Today, the Internet and artificial intelligence are being used extensively around the world to facilitate sustainable agriculture. Large-scale and real-time data collected from farming practices and collated with global price and production numbers can be used to offer more profitable choices to our farmers.

In a survey of urban migrant workers, 84% of them reported that their primary source of livelihood in their villages was casual work. Only 11% stated that agriculture was their primary source of income. This indicates that there is a need to create jobs in rural areas far beyond just augmentation of agriculture. In fact, agriculture itself will shed jobs with the addition of technology.

To finance this ambitious re-engineering of our development model, Atmanirbhar Village bonds could be issued to raise resources. Part of the mandated priority sector lending by scheduled commercial banks could be used to finance these bonds. We need to prioritise self-reliant village projects to be funded from such lending. We need to create a fresh curriculum in engineering, medical colleges and business schools to train the workforce to operate in villages.

The capacity of Indias youth to innovate needs to be unleashed in villages. India needs to build the nation, village upwards and not city downwards. We need to eliminate the division between Bharat and India. This can be achieved bringing Gandhis and Kalams ideas of developing a rurban India to the centre of the development model.

Rajiv Kumar is vice-chairman, NITI Aayog

Srijan Pal Singh is CEO, Dr Kalam Centre, Delhi

The views expressed are personal
Businesses and residents will have unhampered Internet uploads thanks to Telus PureFibre 1.5 Gigabit . This new tier of Internet is available to BC and Alberta residents. Speeds clock in at 1,500 Mbps download and up to 940 Mbs upload  37 times faster than most widely available plans in Western Canada. That means those working at home can still do business while the rest of the family streams, games or video chats with classmates.

Telus Gigabit Internet is available for $165 / month for a two-year term

The 100 percent FTTP network is built with state-of-the-art fibre optics that physically attaches to the home or business. This connection means there will be the fastest upload and download speeds while simultaneously running multiple high bandwidth applications on a single connection. Networks that are 100 percent fibre are also more reliable and provide higher overall speed capabilities. Legacy networks run figure only to a central location in a neighbourhood with a non-fibre connection to the home.

At a time when our citizens rely on TELUS to accelerate their access to the health, education and economic resources that matter most, we are proud to deliver this powerful connectivity to our customers homes. As social distancing guidelines have forced many Canadians to transition to working from home, the advanced technology and unparalleled speeds of our PureFibre network are providing enhanced access to digital healthcare solutions, enabling virtual education and powering teleworking capabilities that fuel economic productivity and diversity, says Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS.

More details are available at telus.com/1.5Gigabit.
Traders' body CAIT on Wednesday wrote to Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani and 50 other captains of India Inc, including Ratan Tata, Azim Premji, Gautam Adani, Ajay Piramal, Anand Mahindra and Sunil Bharti Mittal seeking their support in its campaign to boycott Chinese goods.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) also urged Kumar Mangalam Birla, Vikram Kirloskar, Rahul Bajaj, Shiv Nadar, Pallonji Mistry, Uday Kotak, Nusli Wadia, Shashi Ruia, Madhukar Parekh, Harsh Mariwala, Satish Reddy and Pankaj Patel, among other prominent industrialists, to join its Bhartiya Samaan-Humaara Abhimaan campaign.

The traders' body, in its letter to Ambani, said, At a time when China's army in the most clandestine manner has committed a barbaric attack on the Indian Army at Ladakh border resulting into the brutal killing of 20 brave sons of the country, the heart of every Indian is filled with deep anguish, resentment and abhorrence against the atrocities of the Chinese and their persistent attitude of antagonism towards India.

It said there is a firm resolve among Indians to hit back at China not only militarily but also economically.

You and your organisation have always stood firmly in solidarity and support of the nation and this could be a great opportunity for you to show that nothing comes before nation and your support and initiative will surely encourage other Industrialists of the country to follow you in order to make India a self-dependent Bharat, CAIT said to Ambani.

The traders body expressed the hope that Ambani would give a clarion call to promote Indian goods.

Your positive decision could be a big boost for the campaign and a great service to the Soldiers who have laid down their lives for their motherland, CAIT told Ambani.

CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said that being a successful entrepreneur and one of the captains of Indian Industry, it has invited the group of industrialists led by Ambani to join the movement as a valued partner and sought their support, terming it a "game-changing initiative that has the potential to reshape India's journey as a global superpower by reducing China's dominance".

CAIT has decided to boycott Chinese Goods in a phased manner and for the first phase it has earmarked "finished goods" from an identified list of about 450 broad categories that have more than 3,000 products which are already being manufactured in India.

In the meantime, it will be following up with the government to draw up a comprehensive strategy to facilitate Indian Industry, small industry, entrepreneurs, start-ups and others to evolve and manufacture goods in India pertaining to raw material, spare parts and technology driven goods, which are currently being imported from China.
Kosovos President Hashim Thaci on Wednesday canceled a visit to Washington to discuss tensions with Serbia after he was charged with war crimes, the US mediator said.

Saturdays talks will go ahead with the participation of Kosovos new Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, who has moved to ease friction with Serbia, envoy Richard Grenell said.

A tribunal in The Hague charged the veteran Kosovar leader with 10 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the countrys conflict in the 1990s, accusing him and his counterparts of involvement in nearly 100 murders.

I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settled, Grenell, a former ambassador to Germany and US intelligence chief, wrote on Twitter.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will join this weekends talks, which are set to take place at the White House but without President Donald Trump personally.

At the heart of the dispute is Serbias rejection of the independence that Kosovo, home to an ethnic Albanian majority, declared in 2008 after breaking away in a bloody war.

Hoti took charge earlier this month and quickly eased tensions by lifting a ban on Serbian imports.
FILE PHOTO: A logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is seen at its headquarters in Hsinchu

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) <2330.TW> has made up its order book with other customers now that it has lost China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL], which is subject to U.S. sales restrictions, a government minister said on Monday.

TSMC's clients include Huawei's chip division HiSilicon. However, the U.S. blacklisting of Huawei over security concerns and trade disputes with China has left the world's biggest contract chipmaker exposed to diplomatic developments between two countries where it also has production bases.

Last month, the company unveiled plans for a $12-billion plant in the United States just hours before the U.S. Commerce Department outlined a proposal to amend chip export rules - a move that would restrict TSMC's sales to Huawei.

The amendment would require licences for sales of semiconductors made abroad with U.S. technology to Huawei, the world's biggest supplier of telecoms equipment and its second-largest smartphone maker.

Kung Ming-hsin, the new head of Taiwan's economic planning agency, the National Development Council, said the United States was taking aim at a specific company, not Taiwan's economic relations with China, the island's largest trading partner.

"The United States has not asked Taiwan to cut off all ties with China. It's aimed at Huawei," Kung told reporters in Taipei.

The main reason the United States has targeted Huawei is because it was not transparent and had too close a relationship with the Chinese government, he added, charges the company has denied.

"As for TSMC, although their orders no longer have Huawei, they've quickly been filled up, as other people really need them," Kung said, without elaborating.

TSMC declined to comment, saying it did not comment on its customers.

The chairman of TSMC, a supplier to U.S. tech giants such as Apple Inc <AAPL.O>, said this month the firm could quickly fill any order gap should U.S. curbs prevent sales to Huawei.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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Linkedin Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 18:31 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066159dbb 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,covid-19-task-force,regional-government,COVID-19-zoning-system,coronavirus,virus-corona,new-normal Free

The government has claimed that almost 60 percent of the country is either at low risk of COVID-19 infection or has zero cases.

According to the chief of the national COVID-19 task force expert staff, Wiku Adisasmito, 188 regions in Indonesia are classified as yellow zones (places where there is a low risk of infection), while 112 are green zones (regions where there are zero confirmed cases).

He explained that the percentage of regions included in yellow or green zones had been consistently increasing, from 46.7 percent to 58.3 percent between May 31 and June 21, though the number decreased once to 44.3 percent on June 7.

Some businesses [in those regions] have reopened, Wiku said in a virtual press briefing from the State Palace on Wednesday.

He claimed that Indonesias economic and public health situation was otherwise not really worse compared to other countries thanks to the policies implemented by the government.

Read also: Indonesia records new daily highs in cases during transition to 'new normal'

In the last three months, there was an increase in the number of hospitals that handed over reports of COVID-19 cases to the national task force, from 250 in the early days of the outbreak to 1,687 thus far.

Hospital availability has also increased, from 132 referral hospitals [three months ago] to 800 referral hospitals in all 34 provinces, Wiku said.

The country increased its rate of testing between May and June, when 220 laboratories tested nearly 20,000 samples a day. At the beginning of the outbreak, there was only one laboratory testing less than 1,000 samples daily.

Wiku further claimed that some regions had managed to contain the virus. As of Sunday, 38 cities or regencies in 19 provinces had recorded zero cases of COVID-19 in the last four weeks.

However, 57 cities or regencies are categorized as red zones (high-risk areas), while 157 areas are orange zones (medium-risk). The number of red zones increased from 51 to 57 between June 14 and 21.

The local administrations are the key actors of reporting and mitigating COVID-19 in their jurisdictions, said Dewi Nur Aisyah, an epidemiologist on the national task forces team of experts.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo said he appreciated local leaders and regional task forces that managed to contain the virus.

With an integrated information system, we can roll out policies that are based on data and science, he said.
A soldier of the Nigerian Army, Lance Corporal Martins, has been arrested after making a video blasting the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and other security chiefs in the country.

The soldier was arrested on the orders of Buratai.

According to SaharaReporters, the soldier was picked by senior military officers, who said they were acting based on an order from above.

READ ALSO  Why It Is Hard To Wipe Out Boko Haram: Army Chief

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In the video Martins made, the soldier expressed his anger at the security chiefs especially Buratai, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, for not being committed to end the incessant killings of Nigerians by terrorists and armed bandits.
Newlyweds Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell were forced to cancel their honeymoon in March as the coronavirus pandemic threatened their family financially.

One day after their wedding, the family held crisis talks to discuss how to keep their business, Australia Zoo, afloat, on 'skeleton staffing'.

In an Animal Planet special set to air in August, titled Crikey! Its the Irwins: Life in Lockdown, the couple will discuss how they addressed the zoo's $400,000-per-week payroll problem.

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Bad news: Newlyweds Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell were forced to cancel their honeymoon in March to help with Australia Zoo's financial woes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured with Terri and Robert Irwin at Australia Zoo

In a trailer for the upcoming TV special, Bindi's mother, Terri Irwin, addresses the problems Australia Zoo is facing because of COVID-19.

She says the zoo's typical weekly payroll totals $400,000, which accounts for 52 per cent of the business' income.

'The pandemic has severely affected Australia Zoo financially... I can't even come close to paying bills. We're having to stand down staff and it's very emotional,' Terri says.

'I can't even come close to paying bills': In a trailer for their upcoming TV special, Bindi's mother, Terri, addresses the financial problems Australia Zoo is facing because of COVID-19

Cancelled: Bindi and Chandler forfeited their honeymoon plans to help keep Australia Zoo operational on a 'skeleton staff'. Pictured on their wedding day at Australia Zoo on March 25

Bindi and Chandler go on to explain how they forfeited their honeymoon plans to keep the zoo operational on 'skeleton staff'.

'We had originally planned to do a road trip for our honeymoon,' Bindi says, adding that she and Chandler agreed to instead stay at the compound and look after their 1,200 animals.

The Crikey! It's the Irwins special will document the family's time in lockdown at the Sunshine Coast tourist attraction.

'We had originally planned to do a road trip for our honeymoon': Bindi and Chandler spent their honeymoon in lockdown at the Queensland tourist attraction, tending to their 1,200 animals

'Our honeymoon may not have turned out as we'd planned, but we're grateful to be spending time with our beautiful animals,' Bindi wrote on Instagram in May.

'Things are incredibly busy here while we're temporarily not open. We're all working together to make sure our animal family is happy,' she added at the time.

Australia Zoo reopened to the public with social distancing measures in place earlier this month, on June 12.

On March 25, Bindi and Chandler had made the 'difficult decision' to host their wedding at Australia Zoo without guests due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ceremony was filmed for Animal Planet and aired in the U.S. in April.

Crikey! Its the Irwins: Life in Lockdown will air on Foxtel's Animal Planet on Saturday, August 1 from 7:30pm
By now it is clear that neoliberalism is a project of big market players who seek to tilt the balance in their favour vis-a-vis the state in running an economy.

For this purpose, neoliberals have reinterpreted classical free market or laissez fair concept to stretch liberalism to the extreme and devised Public Choice theory to focus on 'government failure' to undermine the state.

But why should the free market running an economy cause alarm?

For one, here is what Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz has been highlighting.

In an article in 2019, Stiglitz writes: "Well, after 40 years (of neoliberalism)...growth has slowed and the fruits of that growth went overwhelmingly to very few at the top. As wages stagnated and the stock market soared, income and wealth flowed up, rather than trickling down. How can wage restraint - to attain or maintain competitiveness - and reduced government programmes possibly add up to higher standards of living?..."

In his 2019 book 'People, Power and Profits: Progressive capitalism in an age of discontent' he writes that "...over recent decades, markets have not done a good job of ensuring the basic requisites of a decent life for all..."

Also Read: Deconstructing Neoliberalism I: What is Crab-walk strategy; is it relevant for India in present times?

A 2014 book was titled "Economics of the 1%", popularising the idea. It was written by economist John F Weeks, professor emeritus at the University of London. This assertion is not disputed even by neoliberals.

Market needs state and the rest 99%

Markets or market players wouldn't be what they are without state's generous helpings.

Prof. Dirk Philipsen, an economic historian at the Duke University, bluntly drove home the point in April this year in an article, 'Private gain must no longer be allowed to elbow out the public good'.

The article reads: "...without massive public assistance, late-stage extractive capitalism, turbocharged by private interest and greed, would long be dead...Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Exxon - all would be bust without public bailouts and tax breaks and subsidies. Every time the private system works itself into a crisis, public funds bail it out - in the current crisis (following the pandemic), to the tune of trillions of dollars. As others have noted, for more than a century, it's a clever machine that privatises gains and socialises costs."

It goes on to add: "When private companies are back up and running, they don't hold themselves accountable to the public who rescued them. As witnessed by activities since the 2008 bailouts at Wells Fargo, American Airlines, and AIG, companies that have been rescued often go right back to milking the public...Now is the time to assert the obvious: without a strong public, there can be no private. My health depends on public health. My freedom depends on social freedom. The economy is embedded in a healthy society with functional public services, not the other way around."

Right from Adam Smith (18th-century economist and father of modern economics) nobody expects market or market players to provide public or social goods - health, education, social security, and other public services - to all, or at an affordable cost to most. The pandemic has demonstrated that in healthcare in the US and India.

Where market fails, state has to step in.

In any case, market is set by public policy, the rules of which are set by state, and that there is no evidence to suggest that unfettered or unbridled market is fair, equitable, or efficient. Markets need to be regulated. Markets fail, economists would tell you, when information is imperfect, competition is limited, and monopoly and monopsony thrive.

Market power translates into political power

Stiglitz warns in his 2019 book that "market power gets translated into political power" in a way that it evolves into "an economy and democracy of the 1 per cent, for the 1 per cent and by the 1 per cent".

He is stating the obvious when he writes "politics and economics are intertwined" and that, "our economic inequalities get translated into political inequalities, reverberating back with rules exacerbating these inequalities even more. So too, our economic failures reverberate on our political system. Trump is a manifestation..."

Also Read: Deconstructing Neoliberalism II: How neoliberal ideas can wreak havoc on economies

What has fashioned this collusion between market power and political power?

Stiglitz, again, writes the obvious. It is the "money-driven political system". Hence, the problem is "not the economics but the politics". Though said in the US context, what he says holds true for similar systems anywhere in the globe.

He explains that such collusion leads to government failure as the powers that enable the state to improve societal well-being can be used by some groups or individuals within society to advance their interests at the expense of others.

Judiciary has not remained untouched by neoliberal thinking either. In 2014, the US's Supreme Court struck down the limit on election campaign contributions, allowing unlimited contributions, thereby giving a free reign to money power to influence and distort democracy.

Back home in India, the electoral bonds introduced in 2017 facilitated "anonymous" corporate donations for political parties, took it out of the Election Commission of India's scrutiny, removed limits on donations by corporates and legalised foreign funding to elections (read: Part I and II of General Elections 2019: Who is funding the electioneering of our political parties?).

The nexus between state and market is bound to cause even bigger government and market failures.

Neoliberalism is also linked to the rise of populists, nationalists, nativists, and protectionists in response to the social and economic turmoil that it unleashes. History tells that any such drift poses an even bigger threat to people's wellbeing.

So what is the answer?

Restore balance, says former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan.

In his 2020 book 'The Third Pillar: How markets and the state leave the community behind', Rajan calls for a balance among the three pillars of society: state, market, and community.

He writes: "Society suffers when any of the pillars weakens or strengthens overly relative to the others. Too weak the market and society becomes unproductive, too weak a democratic community and society tends towards crony capitalism, too weak the state and society turns fearful and apathetic. Conversely, too much market and society becomes inequitable, too much community and society becomes static, and too much state and society becomes authoritarian. A balance is essential."

Among other measures, he suggests empowering people through decentralisation of power and funding local communities to revive those economically distressed and state action to make the market competitive and accessible to others.

For Stiglitz, the answer is in his 2019 book: "Before economic reform there will have to be political reform".

He explains that a strong government is needed to "offset the political power of concentrated wealth" and suggests three changes for this: "ensuring fairness in voting, maintaining an effective system of checks and balances in government, and reducing the power of money in politics".

Here is more food for thought.

Literature talks about an era called "The Golden Age of Capitalism".

This marks the post-World War II years of 1950-73. Stiglitz begins his 2019 book with, "I grew up in the golden age of capitalism..."

British tax expert and author Nicholas Shaxson sheds more light in his 2018 book 'The Finance Curse: How global finance is making us all poorer'.

He writes that in this era "economic growth in both rich and poor countries was collectively higher - much much higher - during this period than any other age of human history, before or since". Sixteen major advanced countries grew at 3.8%, for developing countries it was 3%.

"Golden Age growth was, moreover, much more equitable than in other eras, benefiting the poor and middle classes disproportionately", he adds.

He also points out that during this period tax rates for the wealthy were very high.

Average top tax rates remained around 70-80% in the US while that in the UK went up to 99.25% during World War II, came down to 97.5% for most of 1950s, before falling to 80% in 1959.

So much for lower-tax-for-higher-growth caper of neoliberals.

He also writes that there was the Bretton Woods system then, an agreement among advanced countries (signed in 1944), that allowed fairly free trade but restricted cross-border finances only to finance trade or real investment; strictly disallowing financial flow for speculation.

The US's New Deal brought in strong anti-monopoly (or anti-trust) laws, split up megabanks, and put strong regulations on financial institutions like banks.

America's radical right managed to reverse all of it, some with the help of judicial pronouncements in the US (as in case of anti-trust laws). The result was a repeat of 1929 in 2007-08. The story is the same.

An unbridled financial sector first builds up bubbles, which then bursts causing banking collapse, massive job losses, and damage to non-financial sector too (the US's housing sector in 2007-08). There have been many regional or local financial crises in between.

Liberal economists have been pleading to bring back the checks and balances of the Bretton Woods system. They have been asking for anti-trust laws to break up big banks, separating their commercial operations from investment operations, for instance, to reduce risks of failures. Rajan writes in his book that allowing unnecessary financial flows "may indeed do damage to some countries".

Prof. Mazzucato highlights in her book how the financial sector is proving counterproductive to economy. It is increasingly relying on rent-seeking, speculative activities, and extracting value from other sectors of economy (through interest differentials and expensive transaction costs), rather than producing any value on its own.

Here's something from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has been pushing neoliberal agenda across the globe.

Its internal study of January 2020, 'Finance and Inequality', says that, beyond a point, growth of financial sector worsens inequality and then causes financial crises (read Coronavirus Lockdown XVI: Why India should be wary of excessive push for liquidity or credit).
A surge in demand for homes since the English market reopened in mid-May and lower supply is expected to prop up prices over the summer, with falls expected at the end of the year when the economic impacts of Covid hit home.

Property website Zoopla said sales agreed over the past four weeks have bounced back to just above pre-Covid levels, with the bulk of the rise in northern cities, and that is going to keep prices rising between 2 to 3 per cent over the next quarter.

Values will start falling more towards the end of 2020 and into 2021 when demand is set to weaken in response to a likely rise in unemployment - as the furlough scheme comes to an end - and as a result of fewer mortgages available for people with smaller deposits.

Sales agreed over the past four weeks have bounced back to just above pre-Covid levels

In 2019, a fifth of all homebuyers purchased a home with a deposit of 10 per cent or less, so a decrease in the availability of high loan-to-value mortgages 'could preclude this cohort of would-be buyers from entering the market, effectively reducing demand', Zoopla said.

But for now, a resurgence in demand is going to prop up prices, according to the property website.

'We see returning pent up demand and new buyers entering the market creating upward pressure on prices in the face of a lower supply of homes for sale which has been exacerbated by the lockdown,' said Richard Donnell, director of Research & Insight at Zoopla.

'House price growth is set to hold up in the near term and we expect the downward pressure on prices to come in the final months of the year as demand weakens.'

Recently upmarket estate agent Savills, which recently said it expected UK house prices to fall by about 7.5 per cent this year across the UK, with property values recovering in 2021, at different rates of growth.

Zoopla said new sales agreed, subject to contract, have grown the most in England, where the market reopened for business since 13 May.

The rebound in sales has been strongest in northern England, led by Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester, where sales are up to 20 per cent higher than in February 2020.

But in Glasgow, Newcastle and Cambridge sales are still below pre-coronavirus levels, which Zoopla says it is down to a 'significantly' lower supply of homes for sale.

Stock levels in Cambridge, for example, are up to 40 per cent lower than last year, as sellers did not put their homes for sale during the lockdown period.

The rebound in sales has been strongest in northern England, led by Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester

Zoopla said UK house prices rose 2.4 per cent to an average 217,500 in May compared to last year, although that value is mostly based on sales agreed before the lockdown.

Provisional stats from the HMRC published yesterday have showed that house sales in May were still half of what they were a year ago, despite having risen 16 per cent compared to the previous month as the housing market reopened.

Anthony Codling, chief executive of online property platform Twindig, said most house price data was pointless at the moment as there are not enough transactions to base them upon.

'The proof point for house prices is the level of housing transactions, without a firm foundation of housing transactions house prices are as secure as houses built on sand,' he said.

He added that the best decision remained that of the Land Registry, which suspended its house price index until further notice.
Bill Cosby's wife Camille says the #MeToo movement needs to 'clean up their act' and that she doesn't 'care' about the feelings of the more than 50 women who have accused her husband of drugging and sexually assaulting them.

Camille Cosby, 76, spoke to ABC News correspondent Linsey Davis over the phone on Tuesday after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to hear part of her husband's appeal on his 2018 sexual assault conviction.

'My first reaction is hopefulness, possibilities,' Camille said in her first major media interview in six years.

'The state's highest court has said: "Wait a minute. There are some problems here. They can be considered for an appeal." I'm very, very pleased.'

Asked by Davis if she is concerned about 'blowback from the #MeToo movement and those who feel you're on the wrong side of history,' Camille replied: 'First of all, I don't care what they feel.'

Camille Cosby said she is 'very pleased' with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision to hear her husband's appeal on his 2018 conviction for sexual assault. Bill and Camille are pictured together outside the Montgomery County Courthouse during his trial in 2017

She illustrated her second point by reciting an iconic line from the late novelist and civil rights activists James Baldwin's 1972 book No Name in the Street: 'Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.'

'And I'm going to add the word "intentional,"' Camille said. 'The #MeToo movement and movements like them have intentional ignorance pertaining to the history of particular white women - not all white women - but particular white women, who have from the very beginning, pertaining to the enslavement of African people, accused black males of sexual assault without any proof whatsoever.

'And by ignoring that history, they have put out a lie in itself and that is: "Because I'm female, I'm telling the truth." Well history disproves that, as well, and gender has never, ever equated with truth.

'So, they need to clean up their acts. And it's all of us as women who have not participated anything nefarious - we know how women can lie. We know how they can do the same things that men do - that some men do - because there are good men and bad men. There are good women and bad women.'

Bill Cosby, 82, is currently serving three to 10 years in prison for sexual assault

Camille went on to defend comparisons she made in the past between the accusations against her husband and the lynching of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy who was kidnapped and murdered after witnesses said he whistled at a white woman in a Mississippi grocery store in 1955. The woman who made the claim in the first place admitted years later that it never happened.

'The parallel is that the same age-old thing about particular white women making accusations against black men that are unproven,' Camille said.

'Emmett Till's outcome, to mutilate his body in the way that it was, was just really so deeply horrendous. There's a lack of words for that kind of hatefulness.'

Camille also compared treatment of her husband to the 1921 massacre of hundreds of African Americans in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

'Years ago, I interviewed the survivors from the Tulsa Oklahoma riots in 1921. And that was another case of a white female making a claim of sexual assault claim against a black male, which we all know if we know about the Tulsa, Oklahoma riots,' she said.

'It gave license to mobs of white people converging on a very independent economically independent educationally independent black community, named Greenwood and Topher, and hundreds of people were killed.'

Davis asked in response: 'So you boil this all down to racism? You feel that if your husband were not a black man that these accusations would not have been made and he would not be in prison?'

'"I don't know that,' Camille replied, ' because some white men have  there are some who have been sent to prison. But  it's not the same situation as the history [of] a particular white women with black men.

'We've seen them hanging from trees once they make those accusations. We've seen them being incarcerated. Those accusations are made and - once again - unproven.'

Camille, who has been married to Bill since 1964 and shares five children with him, has passionately defended her husband for decades since he was first publicly accused of sexual assault in 2005. The couple are pictured together in 2014

The criminal case that landed Bill Cosby in prison centered on the allegations of Andrea Constand (pictured), who accused him of drugging and assaulting her in 2004

Camille, who has been married to Bill since 1964 and shares five children with him, has passionately defended her husband for decades since he was first publicly accused of sexual assault in 2005.

She continued to stand by Bill after he was convicted in April 2018 on three counts of indecent assault and battery for drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand in 2004.

Bill, 82, is now serving a three- to 10-year sentence at a maximum security prison in Skippack, Pennsyvania.

Camille did not indicate whether she had spoken to her husband following the court's decision to hear his appeal, but said he is doing 'very well'.

She said she has not gone to visit her husband at SCI Phoenix because: 'I do not want to see him in that environment, he doesn't want me to see him in that environment.'

Camille said she's been very concerned about her husband's health given coronavirus outbreaks at the prison but said that so far he is 'viral free'.

'If he was even outside of prison, I would have the same concerns, but of course the risks are greater in a prison like that,' she said.

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

Accusers Caroline Heldman, Lili Bernard and Victoria Valentino react outside the courtroom after Cosby was convicted

In a stunning decision that could test the legal framework of #MeToo cases, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to review two aspects of the case presented in a voluminous appeal by Bill's lawyers.

The first aspect is the trial 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.

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.

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.

Bill and Camille are seen arriving at court for his retrial on sexual assault charges in April 2018

Bill was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison in September 2018. He is pictured arriving at the sentencing hearing at the Montgomery County Courthouse

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's 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.
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has confirmed there are plans for a review of the Offences Against the State Act, and emergency legislation used to prosecute subversive groups and gangland cases.

The confirmation justice authorities are preparing to review the special security legislation comes after the Greens and Sinn Fein both indicated support for a court with special powers is still needed.

Both those parties have now relaxed their opposition to the act and laws underpinning the special criminal court on the basis that some kind of review of its functions goes ahead.

Speaking to the Dail earlier, Mr Flanagan signalled that this review, with the next government, would be forthcoming:

I want to make clear that I am not averse to a review of this legislation. Indeed, far from it, as will become clear in the months ahead. Deputies will be aware of the intensive work taking place to implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

That root and branch blueprint for policing includes a comprehensive review of security legislation. Work is ongoing in my Department to bring forward that review and the Offences Against the State legislation will, of course, be part of it, including the provisions before us today. While Mr Flanagan called on parties to remove amendments to the yearly renewal of the Offences Against the State Act, debated in the Dail today, others voiced concerns about human breaches with the existence of the current special criminal court regime.

Rise TD Paul Murphy said the existing laws for the court, without a jury, were a breach of civil liberties and human rights. He, TD Brid Smith and Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said the house should also take heed of warnings about the emergency powers from the likes of the United Nations as well as the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.
Photo by Gilbert Bages, courtesy of Winebuyers

Fear not, wine lovers, your favorite grape tipple is on its way, courtesy of delivery services expanded to deal with coronavirus restrictions.

From major international distributors to small niche operators, online wine shops have experienced a surge in demand as coronavirus restrictions continue to hamper peoples access to their favorite wines.

Though deliveries may take longer than usual in some places, most companies have hired more staff and expanded their services to cope with increased orders.

Many are also offering free delivery, discount codes and charity donations with every order, as well as gift card options for friends that people cannot visit during these difficult times.

Select case of California wines delivered by Winebuyers. Photo by Columbia Hillen

Winebuyers, launched two years ago is an online club with a difference. Flipping the traditional subscription model on its head, it charges its wine suppliers a monthly fee to list their products, with customers accessing the platform free. Using custom-built API technology, it then connects wine lovers directly with vineyards.

It integrates with producer websites for automated real-time stock updates, with access to over 80,000 bottles, spanning 40 countries, from Mexico to Madagascar, from rare Bordeaux to Plavac Mali matured at the bottom of the Adriatic Sea, with no mark-up and a commission-free price-tag.

As people continue to stay out of pubs and restaurants, wine delivery has become a familiar habit, said Ben Revell, founder and CEO of Winebuyers. People are certainly drinking more in lockdown, and Winebuyers has continued to support producers and consumers alike. By championing the little guy, weve enabled producers and independents to take back control by selling direct to customers. Consumers can access a huge array of wine, from their favorite, go-to bottles, to new and unique choices from independent vineyards across the globe.

Columbia Hillen

Consequently, officials say, the company has enjoyed their best back-to-back trading days, with a sales increase of 817% compared to the industry average of 400 percent.

Cocooning in remote rural Ireland with no access to wine stores, I beamed with joy when my case of California wines arrived safely from Winebuyers. It included two selections from the Peter Michael Winery, the L'apres Midi sauvignon blanc and L'esprit Des Pavots Bordeaux red blend, the formers bouquet of spring flowers, citrus, and passion fruit completed by acacia honey, and the latter rich with strong notes of blueberry, chocolate, cedar, coffee, vanilla bean and black truffle; a six-year-old pinot noir from the Melville Winery, exhibiting rosemary, cinnamon stick and star lily intertwined with ripe persimmon, mulberry and cherry pie; a chardonnay from Knights Bridge Winery, aged 14 months in new French oak; a second chardonnay, this time from Orin Swift vineyards, full of rich aromatics of meyer lemon, honeydew, butterscotch and honeysuckle, with accents of jasmine, white pepper and fennel pollen; and an Herb Lamb Vineyards cabernet sauvignon, one of the most popular wines from the Napa Valley, in Howell Mountain foothills.

Wines from Lebanon and Europe delivered by Virgin Wines. Photo by Columbia Hillen

In similar style, one of the UKS biggest online retailers, officials with Virgin Wines, an independently-owned online wine retailer using the Virgin brand, say they now offer over 500 boutique wines, with 90% of them being exclusive.

With the continued closure of peoples favorite feeding and watering holes, weve seen the need to recreate some of these experiences in homes, said Andrew Baker, wine buying director. Weve presented a full spectrum for this purpose and seen a huge uptake across the board, from everyday drinking right through to fine wines.

Columbia Hillen

My wine order, which arrived safely to my city home in Belfast, comprised an impressive traveler collection with regional appellations from Lebanon, Portugal and Romania.

They included a fine blend of rara neagra and malbec in a limited edition Vinohora from Chateau Purcari, Romania; an 18-year-old blend of cabernet sauvignon, carignan and cinsault from Chateau Musar in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon; a 2014 blend of sauvignon blanc, viognier, muscat and chardonnay from Chateau Ka in Lebanon; as well as Adema (field in Portuguese), a mix of fernao pires and verelho grapes created by Martta Reis Simoes, chief winemaker of Quinta da Alorna.

Interestingly, Virgin Wines has also partnered with The Drinks Trust and health charity Growing Well to assist people in the drinks industry struggling with mental health issues linked to covid-19. We believe in helping people within our own industry in their time of need, said Jay Wright, CEO. This is a worthy cause, one we are proud to support.

Bulgarian winemaker, Villa Yambol, receives award from His Royal Highness Prince Kyril and Master of Wine, Demetri Walters.

In addition to major wine distribution companies thriving in todays coronavirus climate, there are also boutique operations led by enthusiastic entrepreneurs with a passion for the grape.

Peter Petkov is one such person. Born in Bulgaria where he worked in the tourism sector, Peter emigrated to England, enjoying a successful sales and marketing career in the media sector. His love of wine led him to establish his own company, InVino-Vitalis, focusing on hard-to-find quality wines from small vineyards. He even established wine tasting awards in prestigious locations, and delivers to homes and businesses alike.

One of the old worlds wine producers, Bulgaria, has come back strongly on the international wine scene after years of post-communism industry restructuring and investment by enthusiastic winemakers whose primary objective is quality, he said. Both international grape varieties and native ones are grown to produce fresh, modern wines that challenge established producers at international competitions.

His range includes the Zitara series from Four Friends winery and Balars K series, based in Thrace, as well as the Gramatik series by Rupel from the Struma River valley, just north of Thessaloniki in Greece.
On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administrations attempt to end the DACA program, which provides legal protections for 650,000 young immigrants.

The 5-4 decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, didnt pass judgment on the legality of the Obama-era program. Instead, it ruled the administration failed to follow proper procedure in seeking to rescind the controversial program, which was created in 2012. Technically called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the initiative allows people who were brought to the United States illegally as children to stay in this country temporarily and get work permits.

It is worth remembering that former President Obama put this policy in place after Republicans and Democrats could not come to an agreement on a comprehensive immigration reform package. The hope was that, eventually, a permanent solution would be reached.

That has not happened. So thousands of people who live in Iowa and Illinois, who were brought here, on average, when they were less than 10 years old, are in limbo because our political leaders have not been able to find common ground on a solution.

The young immigrants, often called Dreamers, work in hospitals and nursing homes, labor on farms and in meatpacking plants. Lately, they have been especially vulnerable to COVID-19; yet, they continue to contribute to our well being. In Illinois, there are an estimated 35,000 people in the DACA program, and the households in which they live contribute almost $500 million in taxes each year; in Iowa, an estimated 2,500 people are in the program, contributing more than $23 million in taxes. Their total economic contribution is even higher.

It is our hope that the courts decision will be a starting point for the president and Congress to restart negotiations to find a solution for Dreamers, who have built lives here.

The president has previously expressed his willingness to deal on this issue. And polls show there is overwhelming support across the country for protecting Dreamers from deportation. A Pew Research Center poll said 74% of Americans want to give them legal status and the ability to stay; that includes a majority of Republicans.

It may be naive to expect a solution before the November election, but we think there is political upside to both sides if a deal is reached. More importantly, its the right thing to do.

For now, a cloud over thousands of people has been lifted. But it is a temporary reprieve. Our hope is our political leaders will take this as a cue to fix the situation permanently.

 The Dispatch, Moline
MOSCOW  To the boys, it was just a sugary treat. To their parents, prominent medical researchers, what happened in their Moscow apartment that day in 1959 was a vital experiment with countless lives at stake  and their own children as guinea pigs.

We formed a kind of line, Dr. Peter Chumakov, who was 7 at the time, recalled in an interview. Into each waiting mouth, a parent popped a sugar cube laced with weakened poliovirus  an early vaccine against a dreaded disease. I was eating it from the hands of my mother.

Today, that same vaccine is gaining renewed attention from researchers  including those brothers, who all grew up to be virologists  as a possible weapon against the new coronavirus, based in part on research done by their mother, Dr. Marina Voroshilova.

Dr. Voroshilova established that the live polio vaccine had an unexpected benefit that, it turns out, could be relevant to the current pandemic: People who got the vaccine did not become sick with other viral illnesses for a month or so afterward. She took to giving the boys polio vaccine each fall, as protection against flu.
Twitter Inc on Tuesday placed a warning notice on a tweet by President Donald Trump threatening "serious force" against protesters in the U.S. capital, the second time it has used the label since it began challenging Trump`s tweets in May.

"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 said in his tweet, which Twitter said violated its policy against abusive behavior.

Trump posted the message after anti-racism protesters on Monday declared a "Black House Autonomous Zone" - referencing a Seattle area taken over by activists known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) or Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone - in front of St. John`s Episcopal Church near the White House.

Police cleared the White House area on Tuesday and blocked access to the site, where law enforcement had used violence to disperse protesters earlier this month.

Twitter said it hid Trump`s tweet behind its "public interest" notice because it included a threat of harm against an identifiable group. The label restricts distribution of tweets by public officials which violate Twitter`s rules, while leaving them online to allow for scrutiny.

A Twitter spokeswoman said teams within the company`s safety division informed Chief Executive Jack Dorsey of the decision before applying the notice.

Facebook, which has taken a more hands-off approach to speech by political leaders, left the same post untouched.

At least 150,000 people had liked Trump`s tweet and 33,000 retweeted it before Twitter restricted engagement, according to the most recent image captured by the Internet Archive`s Wayback Machine. His post on Facebook received 12,000 comments.

The warning escalated Twitter`s challenge to Trump, who has used the platform unimpeded for years to rally supporters and deride opponents.

After the company last month started applying labels to his messages, Trump announced plans to scrap or weaken a law that has protected internet companies in order to regulate social media platforms more aggressively.

Twitter`s first public interest notice against Trump also involved a threat of force against protesters, who have been demonstrating against racial injustice since the May 25 death of George Floyd, a Black man, in police custody.

Trump had used the phrase "when the looting starts, the shooting starts" to threaten deadly force against protesters in Minneapolis, where Floyd died.

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.
THE POLITICIAN, from left: Ben Platt, Zoey Deutch, (Season 2, ep. 203, aired June 19, 2020). photo: Giovanni Rufino / Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

In season two of Netflix's The Politician, Payton Hobart (Ben Platt) takes on a new election, this time for New York State Senate. Payton, who is obsessed with campaigns and being in office, goes up against incumbent Dede Standish (Judith Light) who has been in office for over 30 years. He builds his campaign on the very real threat of climate change and saving the planet. The hyperrelevant show demonstrates what happens when a politician taps into what the next generation wants to see in a leader and how to go after their vote, something that real-life politicians, namely presidential ones, in the real world still struggle with.

Dede, the incumbent in the senate race, appears out of touch with young voters in the show and seemingly wants to remain in office simply because she's been there for so long. And though Payton almost seems to care more about taking office than anything, he soon realizes that the causes he built his platform on are actually important for the longevity of the world, quite literally. He taps into the youth vote and helps people all over New York City register to vote for the first time ever, bringing the race tighter than either candidate imagined. In the end, both Dede and Payton acknowledged that if it weren't for the youth vote and connecting with what this generation cares about, the election would most certainly have gone a different direction.

Millennials and Gen Z - and the next generations to come - have a real chance at making a difference in these elections and in the world. The first step is to vote and make our voices heard.

The youth vote in the real world remains a hot topic among the biggest elections in the United States. In the 2016 presidential election, where millennials were considered the youth vote, they remained the lowest voting generation, a fact that failed to line up with what they claim to care about. Though millennials have been vocal about activism, equality, and blatant kindness - and while the younger generations seem to lean toward a liberal stance - not enough turned out to vote for a presidential candidate who could have made a difference in those areas. Part of the issue here is that Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders was hugely popular with the younger voters in 2016, but when he failed to win the nomination, too many of his supporters didn't vote blue in the general election. Whether that was out of anger for their favored candidate not being nominated or thinking Trump would be more help for the young working class is up to them, but it ended in Trump winning the general election and turning this country into the butt of the rest of the world's jokes.

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But what's even more unfortunate is that Gen Z is struggling with turning up to vote, too. This generation, which is big into activism and is first in line to share their voices on the matters they care about, didn't turn out to vote for the presidential primaries as expected this year. That being said, primaries tend to have a low voter turnout compared to general elections, especially considering some states don't allow voters to take part in a primary if they aren't registered with a party that has a primary. Once again this presidential election cycle, Sanders was the favorite among younger voters, but when the youth vote he was counting on didn't come through, he ended up ceding the race, giving Joe Biden the nomination. We're now exactly where we were in 2016.

An interesting factor of the youth vote, though, as pointed out in this Atlantic opinion piece, is that it's not so much that the younger voters are fully failing to turn up to vote, but similarly to how people of color have a lower voting turnout because of systemic racism in the election process, youth are often excluded as well. The piece points out that registering to vote can be a confusing process for a new voter, and re-registering to vote when you move - something millennials and Gen Z do far more often than the older generations - is a cumbersome and confusing process, and one that some young voters don't bother to do. So then it becomes the problem that the youth vote is just not voting at all.

The Politician showed us how important it is to engage young voters and make sure they know that casting a vote is the first step to making a change, especially when there's a candidate who can make a real difference. But what The Politician also acknowledges is how powerful the younger generations can be and how much millennials and Gen Z cares. For many, it comes down to caring so deeply about the future but not seeing any person in government who can truly come through. In this season of The Politician, Payton is one of them. If anyone is going to understand how this generation feels and know how to fight for them, it's someone who is right there with them.

Younger voters predominantly favor the most radical candidates, according to The Atlantic, and when there isn't a candidate they feel strongly about, they sometimes don't bother to vote, which is the biggest thing we need to keep in mind when the 2020 election comes and every single election after that. Leading protests and fighting for change any way you can will absolutely make a difference, but so will voting for an elected official who will help. Millennials and Gen Z - and the next generations to come - have a real chance at making a difference in these elections and in the world. The first step is to vote and make our voices heard.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL  Hillsborough County public school parents will have a chance to weigh in on three models designed to get their children's education back on track when the new school year begins Aug. 10.

The Hillsborough County School Board spent 3 1/2 hours Tuesday discussing the options laid out by Superintendent Addison Davis, ranging from traditional classroom teaching to all online learning as more than 29,000 parents and teachers tuned in remotely to the live discussion.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has mandated that schools reopen for the 2020-21 year but left it up the school districts on how to accomplish this while protecting both teachers and students from the coronavirus.

Davis presented three scenarios.

The A option would be business as usual with students back in the classroom in front of a teacher with rules in place for social distancing, including staggered bathroom breaks and lunch hours.

Additionally, schools will be disinfected daily and students will be given disinfecting wipes to clean their own desks and any other equipment they might have used that day.

Option B is a rotational model with students attending reduced-sized classrooms for a 10-day period followed by a period of online learning.

"With the B blended model, students would go to brick-and-mortar school for 10 days and then use elearning to reduce the volume of traffic, cut class sizes in half and implement social distancing from a bus perspective," said Davis. "Teachers will have face-to-face instruction eight days and then virtual learning the other two days."



He acknowledged that the B model could present a child care dilemma for working parents.

"I know B may cause angst about child care, but we will seek out community partners to provide child care," he said.



In scenario C, all students will be taught remotely using a combination of Internet instruction and printed lessons for students who have technological disadvantages.

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"Elearning will be significantly improved from what weve learned over the last nine weeks," said Davis. In addition, students will have the option of enrolling in the Florida Virtual School or the newly developed Hillsborough County Virtual School.

"These models were developed to give parents a choice in how their child will be educated," said Davis.



He conceded that option A is going to be challenging.

"Social distancing will be difficult with class sizes of 18 and 25, so we'll have controlled movements where possible in the classrooms, lunchrooms and bathrooms," he said. "There will be limited mass gatherings, assemblies, pep rallies and field trips."

The district is recommending that staff wear masks but it won't be mandated. He said the county has already acquired 6.8 to 9 million face masks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other sources to provide all students with three reusable masks. And the district has applied to FEMA for a million more masks to provide students with five masks each.

In the event that an employee or student contracts the coronavirus, Davis said the district will either isolate the point of exposure or shut down the school for 48 hours.

The school district plans to launch a parent survey on July 1 to get feedback on the three options. Davis said the district will also survey teachers on their thoughts about returning to school.

"We may have some employees who elect to go to elearning," he said.

With elearning, students receive daily or weekly assignments from a classroom teacher that can either be done on line or on paper and turned into the school.

"We will define this more in the coming weeks," Davis said.

Florida has long offered students Florida Virtual School as an option. Last year, 363 students chose to attend Florida Virtual School. This year, more than 800 Hillsborough County students have applied for virtual school and the application period is open until July 24.

Rather than lose that funding to the state, the school district will offer its own virtual school so the $13 million that goes to Florida Virtual School will remain in the Hillsborough County School District.

After listening to Davis' proposal, school board member Lynn Gray said it was apparent that model A has the highest risk of exposure to the coronavirus and model C the lowest. She thinks model B will be the most popular choice.

Nevertheless, she wondered if face masks shouldn't be mandatory for all staff and students, especially with coronavirus on the rise in the county.

"I'm a fan of model A," said school board member Steven Cona. "It gives every parent the option of what's best for their child. But I'd like to see a more robust structure for elearning to ensure that it is going to be viable."

He said he'd also like assurance that cleaning standards will be consistent at every school in the district. Some schools, he noted, are immaculate while others need a lot more attention.

Davis said the principals of the schools should alert him if the cleaning standards aren't up to par, and he'll take action.

Cona also had concerns about the impact of these changes on students whose first language is not English and on special education students. He said they already struggle when there isn't consistency.

"I think option B will be a logistical nightmare for ELL and ESL students," he said.

School board member Karen Perez was concerned about the impact classroom learning might have on students with compromised immune systems or who live in multigenerational households with senior citizens who are susceptible to the coronavirus.

"Were living in unprecedented times when we have to protect our students against an invisible enemy," she said. "Studies show that children can unwittingly infect a grandparent and may shed the virus longer than we do as adults. We have vulnerable students and staff in schools, and social distancing and masking is simply not worth the risk. I like model A where you have the option of direct learning and elearning. But if they go with traditional learning, it's imperative that we protect those students."

School board member Tamara Shamburger said she can relate to Perez's concerns.

"I am battling COVID right now," she said. "I literally put my life on the line for the community. Masks should absolutely be required. I am one of those people who took them for granted and now Im quarantined battling this horrible disease."



School board member Stacy Hahn suggested putting together a task force of health experts, parents and teachers to review the options, and hone in on specific problems.

For instance, under model A, parents will be asked to check their child's temperature at home before they head to school.

"Anyone above 100.4 degrees, were just not going to let them in our facility," Davis said. "This is the only practical way to do temperature checks."

In option B, schools will have a designated person to check temperatures before children enter the school. But he said there is no way to check the temperatures of the entire student population under model A without losing valuable classroom time. There's also the logistics of lining 200-plus students up to take their temperatures while maintaining social distancing.

School board members were also concerned that some working parents may be tempted to send their child to school with an elevated temperature to avoid taking a day off from work and risking their jobs.

While Davis' plan is a good start, school board member Cindy Stuart said the final back-to-school plan will depend on whether the rate of coronavirus continues to increase in Hillsborough County.

"The spike were seeing now may or may not change our plans," she said. "I know this plan will probably change 10 times between now and Aug. 10."





See related stories:





This article originally appeared on the Tampa Patch
Luxembourg has faced an unprecedented few months. 'Duke's Day Celebrations' were subdued this year, with no large scale parties currently allowed. Public engagements were still required albeit with measures in place to ensure social distancing.

Grand Duke Henri, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, and Chamber president Fernand Etgen were all present to commemorate the Luxembourgish national day on Tuesday morning.

Here is a massive photo gallery for those who were unable to attend or missed the live stream.

Grand Duke Henri 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.

Xavier Bettel said "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, 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.

Read the full speeches here

If you have yet to ENTER this competition, you really should get a move on.
Openly, a Boston, MA-based provider of homeowners insurance platform, closed a $15m Series A funding.

The round was led by Obvious Ventures, with participation from existing investors including Gradient Ventures (Googles AI-focused Venture Fund), Point Judith Capital (PJC) Ventures, and others.

The company intends to use the funds to enter new states, including Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Since launching in late 2019, Openly has seen rapid adoption of its home insurance product and has expanded its coverage, currently on track to be live in 10 or more states by year-end. Agents are already live on its platform in Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Founded by insurance industry and technology veterans Ty Harris and Matt Wielbut, Openly uses technology to simplify the homeowners insurance process for independent agents and consumers, enabling them to obtain quotes quickly. The companys product combines technology with pricing methodology to offer homeowners comprehensive coverage and protection at a competitive price.

FinSMEs

24/06/2020
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 17:26:15|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has offered Victoria military support on Wednesday as the state struggles to contain a spike in coronavirus cases.

A man in his 80s has died from coronavirus in Victoria. The man's death is Australia's first coronavirus death since late May, increasing the national death toll to 103.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt confirmed that Prime Minister Scott Morrison has offered Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews military and contact tracing support.

"Victoria has identified 20 new cases overnight. One from hotel quarantine, seven linked to existing cases, existing clusters and the others are under investigation," said Hunt.

Hunt said it was "one of those difficult days" in Australia's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Somebody has either not known or not done the right thing, so we need to be honest about that, but we need to keep in perspective that Australia, by global standards, is doing extraordinarily well and we will continue to do well," he said.

"But we are facing a challenge. Here in Melbourne, whilst in seven states and territories we have largely achieved a very stable state, at the moment, there is a spike."

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Wednesday that the government was warned of a "missed opportunity" to prevent coronavirus outbreaks in migrant communities several weeks before the spike in Victoria.

In response, Hunt said the country has been a "world leading" in communicating with communities.

"There have been 4,300 consultations with migrant leaders or communities in different ways, shapes or forms," he said.

As at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, a total of 7,492 cases have been reported in Australia, and 6,915 have been reported as recovered from COVID-19, according to Department of Health.

The department also said that over the past week, there has been an average of 21 new cases reported each day. Of the newly reported cases, the majority have been from Victoria. Enditem
SIENA, Italy, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Philogen S.p.A., a privately-owned biotechnology company, is pleased to announce that, on Jan. 30, 2020, EMA's CHMP expressed a favorable opinion to the request of a combination pack for the to-be-marketed pharmaceutical form of NidlegyTM, a combination of the active principles bifikafusp alfa (L19IL2) and onfekafusp alfa (L19TNF). NidlegyTM is being developed as a neoadjuvant intralesional treatment for resectable Stage III melanoma patients and in locally advanced, not metastatic nonmelanoma skin cancers. NidlegyTM combination pack has now received confirmation of eligibility to the centralized procedure for submission of an application for a Union Marketing Authorisation under Article 3(1) - Indent 1 - Biotech medicinal product of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004.

"We are extremely pleased to record EMA's agreement to our strategy for the marketing of NidlegyTM as a combination pack that was considered by CHMP 'indispensable for public health reasons,'" commented Prof. Dario Neri, co-founder and President of the Scientific Advisory Board of Philogen.

About the Philogen group

Philogen is a Swiss-Italian clinical-stage company engaged in the discovery and development of novel pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products. Philogen's strategy is to deliver bioactive agents, for example, cytokines or drugs, to the site of disease using antibodies and other ligands that specifically and efficiently target stromal antigens. This technology has generated a strong proprietary pipeline of clinical-stage products and preclinical compounds in an array of disease indications. Philogen is headquartered in Siena, Italy, and has research activities at its subsidiary company Philochem in Zurich, Switzerland. Philogen is independently owned and has signed agreements with several major pharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit www.philogen.com and www.philochem.com.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Christian Lizak

+41 (0) 43 544 88 00

[email protected]

SOURCE Philogen S.p.A.

Related Links

http://www.philogen.com


A Perth man who was the subject of a Consumer Protection warning last week has faced court after being charged with fraud offences.

Tyson Vacher, operating as 'John Vacher', claimed to have a decade's experience in his field, despite only being 23 years old.

The consumer watchdog raised the alarm over Tyson John Vacher, who had been trading as John Vacher Psychology in North Fremantle, after the 23-year-old claimed to have 10 years of experience in the mental health field.

Mr Vacher  who is also due to face court in July on drug and stolen property charges  claimed to hold a psychology degree from the University of Southern Queensland and said he was a member of the Australian Counsellors Association, neither of which is true.

A listing on the Psychology Today website also suggested he had a PhD.
Lawyers for former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith say it is now probable the Victoria Cross recipient will be able to give his evidence in an open court in a coming defamation trial.

Mr Roberts-Smith is suing The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald over reports he allegedly committed murder on an overseas deployment. He denies the allegations and says the reports are defamatory because they portray him as a war criminal.

Ben Roberts-Smith. Credit:Darrian Traynor

The newspapers are defending the claim and allege in court documents that Mr Roberts-Smith was involved in seven unlawful killings as an Australian soldier in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

The federal government has moved to suppress parts of the defamation trial in the Federal Court out of concern information that might compromise Australia's national security interests will be aired in the hearing.
Every July for the last nine years, Candlewick Press has celebrated Waldo, the red-striped character who hides in plain sight, by sending scavenger hunt care packages to a select number of independent bookstores. But with the new coronavirus making in-store activities impossible, the Somerville, Mass.-based childrens press faced the question of whether to cancel this years Find Waldo Local.

Instead, determined not to lose track of its wandering character, Candlewick has modified and expanded the program to allow any store to participate, using digital and print materials to ensure that children and families can celebrate safely. The newly revamped Find Waldo Local will run from July to the end of August. Stores receiving the June ABA box mailing received physical materials and ABA members can print from the online toolkit.

We wanted to keep the interactive element and make the campaign something fun for families to do while also encouraging them to support their local stores, Candlewick executive director for publicity Karen Walsh said. Where many stores are still not open or having reduced hours, and with everyone trying to avoid unnecessary physical touching of books, we knew they wouldnt be able to hide Waldo in the stores for folks to find. So we tried to make the campaign online as turnkey as possible, and encourage consumers to do some of the creative hiding.

In previous years, Candlewick mailed small, standing cardboard cutouts of Waldo for bookstores to hide around their communities. The new campaign comes with digital and print assets that are only available through indies. Pamphlets were mailed to booksellers to include with curbside order pickups, and a digital site includes games and activities as well as print-your-own Waldos, which customers can color, cut, and hide. Bookstores will also receive special terms on Waldo book orders from Candlewick. To date, more than 75 million copies of the Waldo books have sold in 26 languages.

In 2019, Find Waldo Local was a way for River Bend Bookshop owner Meghan Hayden to introduce her recently opened bookshop to Glastonbury, Conn., readers. More than 130 children participated in the community-wide scavenger hunt passport program, collecting stamps and prizes for finding Waldo. With her store closed to in-person shopping and doing curbside pickup only, Hayden was saddened at the thought of losing the event and worried that Candlewicks new approach would not be effective. When the digital event kit went out, I kind of thought, do I have time to read this? Then the flyers came and I thought, absolutely we can do this, Hayden said. Its super clear for families and they get to be in on the fun.

Hayden is encouraging readers to post photos and plans to do raffles throughout the month. We think Candlewick did a wonderful job adapting, she said.

The pandemic has prompted a number of digital initiatives at Candlewick in recent months, from distributing a free Coronavirus e-book to launching an online summer camp for kids. Walsh said the publisher is looking at ways to continue to use digital tools to engage booksellers and readers beyond coronavirus.

While we obviously hope our bookselling friends can safely open their physical stores soon, she said, the need for virtual events and digital materials isnt likely going away. We heard over and over how little time booksellers have these days, so keeping that front and center, its been a fun challenge to figure out ways we can support stores and encourage sales.

Most campaigns going forward will likely be a hybrid of physical and digital, she said, and booksellers can use whichever elements work best for them.
Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee speaks on her candidacy for World Trade Organization director-general during a press conference at the Sejong Government Complex, Wednesday. Yonhap



By Nam Hyun-woo



Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee launched her campaign for the position of World Trade Organization (WTO) director-general, Wednesday, arguing the organization needs to recover its lost functions of promoting trade pacts and settling disputes.



The bid comes as part of the government's strategy to expand the country's influence in the global trade order, after its involvement in clashes with neighboring Japan. Tokyo delisted Seoul from its list of most preferred trading partners after imposing export controls on key industrial materials crucial to South Korean companies' manufacture of semiconductors and flat panels.



"South Korea is the world's seventh-largest exporter and one of the leading countries which have long supported the free trade order," Yoo said during a press conference at the Sejong Government Complex. "With the WTO-based trade order and international cooperation system at stake, recovering and enhancing them are significant for the Korean economy and its national interest."



Yoo is the third Korean to run for the top position of the Geneva-based trade body. Former Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy Kim Chul-soo made a bid in 1994 and former Trade Minister Bark Tae-ho attempted in 2012, but both failed to secure the position.



During the conference, Yoo said the WTO is "facing the greatest risk since its foundation in 1995" as it has failed to achieve any new trade deal in the past 25 years, as well being unsuccessful in keeping up with the digital innovation that is happening worldwide.



"Since the end of last year, the WTO's Appellate Body has been shut down, losing its dispute settlement function," she said. "Global society is seeing escalating protectionism while the WTO's basic principle of the free movement of goods and services is being neglected in the wake of COVID-19."



Yoo claimed South Korea's economic growth, based on the foundation of free trade networks, will help the body to recover its function in international cooperation in trade, and the country's status as "a middle power" can suggest the vision that can be shared across the world.



She said the WTO is in "a stalemate," failing to draw out meaningful outcomes in multilateral pacts and its reform agenda due to the conflict between developed and developing nations.



To address this, she wants to "upgrade" WTO agreements to restore its "negotiating function" so that the body can see tangible outcomes in dispute settlement, e-commerce rules and other fields which require urgent attention.



With regard to Japan's imposition of export controls, Seoul filed a complaint with the WTO in September last year, but suspended the follow-up process pending further negotiations with Tokyo. However, it resumed the procedure June 18, by requesting the WTO to open a dispute-settlement panel.



So far, the efficacy of this has faced questions due to the possibility of the case reaching the Appellate Body, which has been shut down. The shutdown has caused concern for not only Korea but also other WTO members as many cases will likely end up seeing no meaningful result. Yoo's pledge to restore the WTO's negotiating function appears to be in line with resolving this matter.



The government said Yoo's candidacy has "received unanimous approval and support from the Ministerial Meeting on International Economic Affairs," the top decision-making body dealing with Korea's international economic policies. The candidacy was formally submitted to the WTO through Korea's Permanent Mission in Geneva, Wednesday.



"Yoo is a well-respected leader and an expert in trade policy circles within Korea and abroad," the government said in an English statement. "She has a proven track-record of designing, negotiating and implementing trade deals, as well as developing innovative trade-related policies in domestic, bilateral and multilateral settings."




HELSINKI (dpa-AFX) - Finland's producer prices continued to decline in May and the jobless rate increased, figures from Statistics Finland showed on Wednesday.



The producer price index declined 7.1 percent year-on-year in May, following a 7.0 percent fall in April.



The latest drop in the producer prices was particularly attributable to a fall in prices of oil products, pulp, paper, paperboard and cardboard, as well as electricity, the agency said.



On a monthly basis, producer prices remained unchanged in May, after a 1.4 percent decline in the preceding month.



Data also showed that the import prices fell 9.4 percent annually in May, and export prices declined 8.0 percent.



On a month-on-month basis, import prices and export prices rose 1.5 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.



Separate data from the statistical office showed that the jobless rate for the 15 to 74 age group rose to 10.6 percent in May from 8.1 percent in April.



In the same month last year, the unemployment rate was 8.8 percent.



The number of unemployed persons increased by 46,000 persons to 295,000 in May from 249,000 in the same month last year.



The employment rate fell to 70.4 percent in May from 73.1 percent last year. The number of employed decreased by 96,000 annually to 2.49 million.



The youth unemployment rate for the 15-24 age group rose by 9.5 percentage points to to 39 percent in May. The number of jobless persons in this group was 140,000.



On a seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.8 percent in May.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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A police armored vehicle passes in front of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) as protesters march from the Police Administration Building to their eventual teargassing on I-676 June 1, 2020, as demonstrations continue in the city following the death of George Floyd. Read more

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the oldest accredited art school and museum in the United States. It was founded 60 years before the abolition of slavery and maintains an important legacy both in this country and in the city of Philadelphia. Alums include some of the most well-known American historical art figures and contemporary art stars, from Thomas Eakins and Mary Cassatt to Njideka Akunyili Crosby and David Lynch.

In 2020, PAFAs cultural standing is in jeopardy. In the midst of this important moment, when the country is holding up a mirror to its own inherent white supremacist infrastructure, PAFA, with its glaringly white leadership, remains incapable of real self-reflection.

This was exemplified on June 12, when faculty received an email cautioning them not to publicly affiliate themselves with PAFA when participating in a protest or signing a petition. Reported in a recent article in Billy Penn, the email was a direct response to multiple PAFA faculty and staff signing an online petition titled Philly Arts for Black Lives, which calls on the city to reinvest in human services over its police department, and supports the Black Lives Matter movement.

Of course, PAFA is not alone as an institution needing systemic changes. Starbucks stumbled in their response to recent events by banning employees from wearing Black Lives Matter apparel, though after much outcry it reversed the policy. Closer to home, the South Street Whole Foods was the scene of a protest this week as employees hoped to reverse a company policy banning clothing and accessories with insignia and slogans, including Black Lives Matter gear.

Unlike these two examples, however, PAFA is not a for-profit company, but a nonprofit institution of higher learning. Its community is not comprised of employees and customers, rather staff and students who place their trust in them. Nonaffiliation policies are not uncommon for private institutions, but enforcing one only after faculty express their support of BLM speaks to what  and who  PAFA considers a priority. The article sparked online outcry over the institutions behavior from current students, faculty, and alums, all of whom were outraged but not particularly surprised. This is not the first time the school has been criticized for being damagingly ignorant to the needs of its broader community.

PAFA president and CEO David Brighams response to the article was disturbingly out of touch. Claiming vaguely that facts in this story were not reported accurately or were misinterpreted, and that PAFAs policy is on par with other institutions, he pointed to a number of initiatives that PAFA has taken toward critically examining [its] own practices in order to do more to advance the causes of racial justice and equity in the future. This includes a years-old formal commitment to diversity and a Belonging Task Force, neither of which has a transparent agenda, or resulted in clearly visible change within the infrastructure of the school.

PAFA is happy to take the tuition money of its Black and other students of color, but turns its back on real, lasting infrastructural change that could support a safe and anti-racist environment within the school.

As a 2012 PAFA graduate who continues to live and work in Philadelphia, I feel embarrassed to be associated with a school that is so woefully antiquated in its approach to navigating the current political climate. I am ashamed to be an alumna of an institution so preoccupied with remaining neutral that it is incapable of taking a stand for basic human decency and basic rights for their Black students and colleagues or supporting its faculty in their pursuit of equity.

Samantha Mitchell is a Philadelphia-based artist, writer, and arts educator. She lives in Germantown.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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After serving two years as executive director, Lois MacDonald is leaving Westman Immigrant Services.

MacDonald, who was the general manager of the Riverbank Discovery Centre before taking on the role at Westman Immigrant Services two years ago, is moving to the private sector. An announcement on that will be made in the coming weeks, MacDonald said Tuesday, adding she will remain in Brandon.

"Im really proud of the work that we accomplished here, my time with Westman Immigrant Services," she said.

Under her leadership, the organization has experienced significant growth and development, a news release states. It secured a five-year contract with a federal funder, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

That, she said, "really provides a solid foundation for the organization."

As part of that process, the organization assumed responsibility for settlement services beyond Brandon and across the Westman region, which has made it a truly regional organization, MacDonald said.

In addition, new funding opportunities with the provincial government have recently come to fruition, and a number of programs and initiatives have been enhanced with the support of new, external funders.

The building lease at 1001 Pacific Ave. was renegotiated, and recently the construction of an accessibile front entryway was completed.

"Weve done lots of good work and made some some changes in the organization and streamlined lots of things that happen here just to ensure that were always providing the very best client-service delivery that we can," MacDonald said.

"Theres always things that you wish that you could finish up," she said when asked if there was anything she wasnt able to accomplish during her time at the helm of Westman Immigrant Services.

"But, I think, honestly a lot of the big jobs that were part of the position when I joined the organization got done. And then, really, looking at negotiating the agreement with our funders was the other really significant piece and now I think the organization is in a great place to move ahead and to really develop that regional service delivery model and just ensure that newcomers receive the support and the services that they need to settle here and to build their life in Canada."

Providing those services during the pandemic has been a challenge for MacDonald and her staff over the past few months.

"Im incredibly proud of the team here," she said. "In a very short period of time, people transitioned to delivering, as much as possible, online and remotely and supporting our clients in different ways, obviously, and more distant ways than were used to."

Westman Immigrant Services board chairman Steve Robinson said MacDonalds departure is "bittersweet."

"Its sad to see her go, because shes been doing such a great job," Robinson said, adding he was on the committee that chose MacDonald after an eight-week search.

"She, of course, emerged from that search as the strongest candidate and we were lucky to hire her, but at the time I was unaware of how good a candidate she was and it turned out she did a wonderful job for us, I think, in the two years that shes been there," he said.

"Very hard-working, very persistent, very broad-minded and capable of leading the organization in that role, and so were in a good position now as a result of that and looking forward to a good future."

A search for a replacement has begun.

"Were really just getting started but we hope to have someone in place in good time; its hard to suggest how long that will be," Robinson said.

In the interim, Westman Immigrant Services manager of settlement services Joy Escalera will take on the role.

Westman Immigrant Services provides settlement support, language classes and a variety of programs for newcomers to Canada. With more than 45 staff, they support thousands of clients annually on their settlement journeys.

 brobertson@brandonsun.com
President Vladimir Putin put Russia's military strength on display Wednesday in a parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the World War II defeat of Nazi Germany, braving the coronavirus pandemic ahead of a referendum that may allow him to rule until 2036.

The spread of the virus forced Putin to delay his annual May 9 Victory Day celebration on Moscow's Red Square, which this year featured 14,000 troops and weaponry including tanks, air-defense systems and nuclear-missile launchers, as well as a fly-past by Russia's air force. Several invited leaders stayed away because of the continuing threat from Covid-19.

"We will always remember that it was the Soviet people who crushed Nazism," Putin said in a speech. "We can't even imagine what the world would have become if the Red Army hadn't come to its defense."

The commemoration of what's known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War, in which 27 million citizens of the Soviet Union died, is traditionally an opportunity to rouse the nation. It took place a week before the July 1 referendum on constitutional changes backed by the Kremlin. They include a measure that would allow Putin to seek two more six-year terms once the current one, his fourth, ends in 2024.

Putin, 67, has said the changes already endorsed by Russia's parliament and Constitutional Court will only take effect if a majority of people support them in the referendum. While there's little doubt the Kremlin will secure approval for the measures, officials are eager to ensure a high turnout for the vote.

Putin has attached particular importance to this year's anniversary, inviting leaders of Western wartime allies to join him in Moscow even as they continue to sanction Russia for its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron accepted Putin's invitation to attend on May 9 before the pandemic upended Russia's plans.

While Putin has said Russia passed the peak of the epidemic, the country is still reporting more than 7,000 new daily infections, though new cases in Moscow declined to about 800 Wednesday from some 1,000 in recent days. About 30 cities have either suspended plans to stage local WWII parades or banned spectators, citing risks to public health.

Only about 10 foreign leaders joined Putin for the parade, mostly from ex-Soviet states as well as the heads of the breakaway Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attended. Croatian President Zoran Milanovic canceled plans to come at the last minute, saying the presidential plane had broken down, and Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov skipped the parade despite being in Moscow after two members of his delegation tested positive for the virus, Russian state news service RIA Novosti reported.

The leaders of China, France, Israel, Japan and the Czech Republic were among those who declined to come. Russia didn't invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy amid the continued dispute over Crimea and the war involving Kremlin-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

While Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin advised the capital's residents to stay home to watch the parade, he didn't ban spectators from the streets. Large-scale rehearsals by Russia's military took place in the run-up to the commemoration.

On the stands in Red Square, invited guests were seated apart from each other to reduce any infection risks. These measures didn't apply to VIPs, including foreign dignitaries sitting close to Putin at the parade. Nearly 80 veterans who were selected to join the Russian leader were isolated in a resort outside Moscow for 14 days to protect him from possible exposure to the deadly pathogen.

None of the thousands of soldiers marching in Red Square wore masks.
Mumbai, June 24 : Mumbai Police has received the final postmortem report of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. It has been signed by a team of five doctors.

"No struggle marks or external injuries" were found in the actor's body, suggests his postmortem report. The cause of death is mentioned as asphyxia due to hanging. His nails were also found clean. The report cites the actor's death as a "clear case of suicide with no other foul play" as reported by India Today.

Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging in his Mumbai residence on June 14. His body was sent to Mumbai's Cooper Hospital for postmortem the same day.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police has recorded the statements of his rumoured girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, his father and sisters, his close friends, domestic help and other staff, besides director Mukesh Chhabra who was helming Sushant's upcoming film "Dil Bechara", among others.

Even as Mumbai Police investigates Sushant's death, Bollywood actor Shekhar Suman has created a forum called #justiceforSushantforum demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death. On Twitter, the hashtag #CBIEnquiryForSushant has been viral for over a week now.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Hyderabad, June 25 : Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and director of Telangana State Police Academy, V.K. Singh on Wednesday sought the Union Home Ministry's permission for premature retirement, nearly a month after threatening to resign over not being promoted to the rank of Director General of Police.

The IPS officer of 1987 batch wrote to the Union Home Secretary that he does not want to be a burden on the government. He stated that he wants to work for reforms among people and serve Telangana.

"I have my own opinion that I should not be a burden on the government. Government should not be burdened with worthless people," wrote the official, who is known for making public statements criticising the government policies.

Singh, who initiated key reforms in Telangana jails as Director General of Prisons, said he decided to go for 'pre-mature retirement from 2nd October, 2020 - the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi - the apostle of truth and justice.' "I joined police with great hopes to change the police system but I think I have failed in my ambitions. The government of Telangana has also not been much impressed with my services. My advice to better the services in the government also did not cut much ice. Perhaps my opinion was not considered worth it," he wrote.

Singh had written to Telangana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar last month that he wants to resign if the government feels he is not worth promotion.

"I have nothing against any government. I thank the government of Telangana for the best treatment they have given to me," Singh wrote to the Union Home Ministry.

He also said that the police service, if done with a sense of justice and clear conscience, is just unmatchable.

"If anybody wants to join government service, my advice is, he must join only the police. I have also learnt many valuable lessons in decades of service. One of that is integrity, fair play and hard work is not the only thing required in service to be successful. There are many other attributes too," he added.

Last after he was transferred to the printing and stationery department, Singh had said that he would launch a mission to make Hyderabad garbage-free city.

He had also stated the "Bangaru Telangana" could not be achieved by politicians, but hastened to add he was not against the government policies. The "Bangaru Telangana" or golden Telangana is the slogan of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao.
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
The NSW Police bomb squad and HAZMAT crews have found "highly explosive" material at a medical research facility in inner Sydney after reports of a chemical spill.

Police and Fire and Rescue NSW arrived at the Garvan Institute building in Darlinghurst at about 1.15pm on Wednesday after receiving a triple zero call.

"Fire and Rescue HAZMAT crews are attending an address on Victoria Street Darlinghurst after the discovery of a container of perchloric acid," Fire and Rescue said in a statement.

"The acid is crystalised in form and has high explosive potential."
One of Donald Trump's former cabinet secretaries who led the fight against tech giant Huawei is advising Australia on how to combat Chinese espionage.

Kirstjen Nielsen, the former US secretary of homeland security, has joined the federal government's industry advisory panel on cyber security.

As one of President Trump's key advisers, Ms Nielsen was instrumental in driving the American ban on Huawei installing 5G mobile technology.

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Kirstjen Nielsen - one of Donald Trump's former cabinet secretaries who led the fight against tech giant Huawei - will soon be advising Australia on how to combat Chinese espionage

In early 2018, she lobbied former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to ban Huawei from being connected to this critical piece of infrastructure.

In August of that year Mr Turnbull, in one of his last acts as PM, barred Huawei from being allowed to set up any part of Australia's 5G network, adding to a 2012 ban on the company installing the National Broadband Network.

Ms Nielsen quit as President Trump's homeland security secretary in April 2019 and in November of last year joined the Australian government's industry advisory panel on cyber security, although it wasn't announced at the time.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton's office on Wednesday confirmed she had joined this panel, chaired by Telstra chief executive Andy Penn.

His spokeswoman issued a statement to Daily Mail Australia:

Kirstjen Nielsen, the former US Secretary of Homeland Security, has joined the federal government's industry advisory panel on cyber security

'Ms Nielsen brings a wealth of cyber security knowledge to the Panel from her experience in defending U.S. Government and critical infrastructure networks from cyber security attacks,' it said.

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

'She will provide valuable insights on how Australia can work with its international partners to address global cyber security threats from nation states and criminal groups.'

Mr Turnbull's successor Scott Morrison on Friday last week revealed a 'sophisticated state-based actor' had been targeting companies, hospitals, schools and government officials.

He 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, in retaliation for the ban on Huawei installing 5G.

Ms Nielsen's appointment was announced as a Lowy Institute poll found just 23 per cent of Australians trusted China, half the level of a year ago.

Former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard's government banned Huawei from installing the National Broadband Network in March 2012.

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.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday last week revealed a 'sophisticated state-based actor' had been targeting companies, hospitals, schools and government officials. He is pictured with Chinese President Xi Jinping

'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.
Prosecutors in Canada said Wednesday that they were dropping charges against an Indigenous leader accused of assaulting a police officer, after a video that showed the officer beating him prompted a national outcry.

In a further twist, the police confirmed on Wednesday that the arresting officer is himself facing criminal charges, including assault, from an off-duty incident nearly a year ago.

The video, made public on June 11, added fuel to an uproar in Canada over embedded racism in law enforcement, echoing protests in the United States over the police killings of African Americans. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the video, taken from a police car dash cam, as shocking, and said, I have serious questions about what happened.

In a statement distributed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Crown Prosecutions Office said the charges against the Indigenous leader, Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation of northern Alberta, will be withdrawn. The statement provided no explanation.
University of Limerick President Dr Des Fitzgerald said that incidents of sexual assault on higher education campuses in Ireland are grossly underreported. Stock image

University of Limerick President Dr Des Fitzgerald said that incidents of sexual assault on higher education campuses in Ireland are grossly underreported.

We know that the number of official complaints of sexual assault made every year in no way reflects the reality or the frequency of sexual assault or harassment that students may have encountered either at UL or on any other higher education campus, he said.

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Dr Fitzgerald was commenting in the wake of a survey across 14 third-level colleges showing high levels of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment.

Among the shocking findings of the Sexual Experiences Survey were that up to one in three female students in Ireland who responded had been subjected to sex involving force, or incapacitation due of alcohol or drugs.

While it was not a scientific survey involving a representative sample of students, 1,000, or 29pc, of the women who responded reported such incidents, along with 28pc of non-binary students and 10pc of men.

Among the other issues that emerged was a low level of reporting of such incidents.

Prof Fitzgerald said in recent years UL had focussed on continuing to provide a safe environment for students and staff, and on putting supports in place to encourage victims of any kind of discriminatory or abusive behaviour to make an official report.

He said it had led to a small increase in reported cases but the number still does not reflect the reality and we will continue to do more to support our students in reporting any instance of any kind of discriminatory or abusive behaviour, including sexual assault or harassment.

Dr Fitzgerald said it was sensitive issue for victims and unfortunately, most victims of sexual assault or harassment do not wish to make official complaints and so it is difficult to get a full picture of the size of the problem on any Irish higher education campus.

This is something we must and will change at UL and indeed should be encouraged at all universities.

The said UL was developing a Sexual Health and Wellbeing Policy, including a protocol for crisis situations, which would be in line with the recently published National Consent Framework for Higher Education.

To enhance security on campus, UL has installed six dedicated emergency call point pillars, with built-in strobe lights. In the event of the call button being pushed, the caller will be immediately connected with a member of the Campus Security Control Room.

UL also provides voluntary consent workshops/training for every incoming student, which in in the coming semester will take the form of virtual workshops.

Among the other measures being implemented at the university in the autumn, is a Report and Support system to provide students with the means to anonymously report sexual misconduct, sexual harassment and all other forms of unacceptable behaviour including racism and homophobia.
An unofficial poll on Twitter conducted by the commander of Army Training and Doctrine Command shows that an overwhelming majority of participants think the Army should purge official photos from the promotion board process.

The poll comes less than a week after Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced steps to eradicate racism in the ranks, which can be fueled by unconscious bias that puts minority service members at a disadvantage.

Read Next: US Returns Remains of 147 Soldiers in Largest-Ever Korean War Repatriation

Esper ordered the creation of a new Defense Board on Diversity and Inclusion, charged with creating a plan to increase racial diversity in the force. The move comes as the entire country wrestles with ways to change in the aftermath of nationwide civil unrest to protest the May 25 death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after being taken into custody by Minneapolis police.

As a more immediate solution, Esper floated the idea of removing professional photos as a requirement in promotion boards and schools, a concept he pushed for when he served as Army secretary.

To that end, Lt. Gen. Ted Martin, deputy commander of Army Training and Doctrine Command, launched a poll on Twitter Tuesday, asking, "Should official photographs be eliminated from promotion boards?"

On Wednesday, with less than 24 hours left to vote, more than 75% of the 3,255 votes cast favored eliminating official photos from the process. A little more than 24% voted to keep them.

The post also generated a strong discussion on the subject.

"If we are going to remove them for the reason the SECDEF says, then remove all bias from the [Selective Retention Bonus program] to include race and gender," Army Command Sgt. Maj. Tommy P. Fitzwater, senior enlisted leader for the 307th Brigade Support Battalion out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, wrote. "Let their records stand alone."

Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Tammy Smith, military assistant to the assistant secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) for Quality of Life tweeted, "Nothing in a photo reveals talent."

One poster asked whether the Army could "sanitize all the identifying info on board packets? Things like race, name, gender etc. Make it purely based off data and evals."

Martin answered by saying, "That was actually going to be the next vote -- trying out some ideas as I believe now is the time to STRIKE for positive, MEANINGFUL change."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: SecDef Proposes Getting Rid of Military Promotion Photos to Eliminate Unconscious Bias
PRISTINA, Kosovo  Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and nine other former separatist fighters were indicted Wednesday on a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes charges, including murder, by an international prosecutor probing their actions against ethnic Serbs and others during and after Kosovos 1998-99 independence war with Serbia.

Because of the indictment, Thaci has postponed his trip to Washington, where he was to meet Saturday for talks at the White House with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The President of Kosovo has just informed us that he has canceled his trip to Washington, D.C. following the announcement made by the Special Prosecutors Office. I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settled, tweeted Richard Grenell, the U.S. envoy for the Kosovo talks.

The talks will still go ahead, with Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, he added.

A statement from the prosecutor of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers said Thaci and the nine others are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders involving hundreds of Serb and Roma victims, as well as Kosovo Albanian political opponents.

Other charges include enforced disappearance, persecution and torture, he said.

A pretrial judge at The Hague-based court is currently studying the indictment and could still reject it if there is not enough evidence to back it up. If there is enough evidence to support the charges, the pretrial judge will confirm them.

Thaci was a commander of the so-called Kosovo Liberation army, or KLA, that fought for independence from Serbia. The war left more than 10,000 dead  most of them ethnic Albanians  and 1,641 are still unaccounted for. It ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbian troops.

The former ethnic Albanian-dominated province declared independence from Serbia in 2008, which Serbia did not recognize.

The indicted group includes Kadri Veseli, former parliament speaker and leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo.

Veseli said the indictment is politically motivated.

Taking into account the time and circumstances (of the indictment), only days before the White House meeting, one would fairly doubt that it was accidental, Veseli said.

Crimes in Kosovo were committed by Serbs, not Albanians, he said, calling it an attempt to rewrite history.

Several top Serbian officials and military officers have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms by a different war crimes court in The Hague for crimes committed by Serbian troops during the war.

The court is trying to stain our liberating war, our aspiration for freedom and independence and legalize the (Serb) crimes in Kosovo,said Bardhyl Mahmuti, a former KLA political representative, to the public television station, RTK.

The indictment was the first made by the prosecutor of the special tribunal for Kosovo based in The Hague. The court has been operating since 2015 and has questioned hundreds of witnesses. Kosovos prime minister resigned last year before he was questioned.

The prosecutor filed the indictment following a lengthy investigation and it reflects his determination that it can prove all of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, the statement said.

The prosecutor also accused Thaci and Veseli of repeated efforts to obstruct and undermine the work of the tribunal.

Thaci and Veseli are believed to have carried out a secret campaign to overturn the law creating the Court and otherwise obstruct the work of the Court in an attempt to ensure that they do not face justice, the statement said.

By taking these actions, Mr. Thaci and Mr. Veseli have put their personal interests ahead of the victims of their crimes, the rule of law, and all people of Kosovo, it added.

Kosovo politicians resisted and resented the scrutiny of the war crimes court, repeatedly noting that Serb troops committed massacres and other atrocities during the war that went unpunished.

Tensions between the two countries remain high. European Union-facilitated negotiations to normalize their relations started in March 2011 and has produced some 30 agreements, most of which were not observed.

The Washington meeting was set to be the first talks between the two sides in 19 months.



Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade contributed.


Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on his arrival in Moscow for a three day visit. He was received by Major General Kosenko Vasily Alexandrovich and the Indian Ambassdor to Russia. A PTI Photo

MOSCOW (PTI): 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 has said.



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.



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.


Netflix has announced Homemade, a collection of short films created by celebrated filmmakers around the world, will be released on June 30.

Confined at home as a consequence of the Covid-19 outbreak, filmmakers created personal, moving stories that capture our shared experience of life in quarantine, said Netflix.

Produced by The Apartment Pictures, a Fremantle company, and Fabula, Homemade is a celebration of the craftsmanship of filmmaking and the enduring power of creativity in the face of a global pandemic.

Filmed using only equipment found at home, the stories range from intimate diaries of the filmmakers day-to-day life to short tales of fiction across multiple genres, offering a magnifying glass over how the lockdown impacted different countries and lives around the world.

Lorenzo Mieli, CEO of The Apartment, Fabulas Juan de Dios Larrain and Pablo Larrain have rallied filmmakers from all around the world to join the project.

Behind the camera is a diverse and globe-spanning roster of some of the most acclaimed filmmakers of today, including: Nadine Labaki & Khaled Mouzanar (Caramel, Capernaum) - short filmed in Beirut (Lebanon); Ladj Ly (Les Miserables) - short filmed in Clichy Montfermeil (France); Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty, The New Pope) - short filmed in Rome (Italy); Rachel Morrison (Black Panther, Mudbound) - short filmed in Los Angeles (USA); Pablo Larrain (El Club, Jackie) - short filmed in Santiago (Chile); Rungano Nyoni (Kuuntele: I am not a witch) - short filmed in Lisbon (Portugal); Natalia Beristain (She does not want to sleep alone) - short filmed in Mexico City (Mexico); Sebastian Schipper (Victoria, Roads) - short filmed in Berlin (Germany); Naomi Kawase (True Mothers, Sweet Bean) - short filmed in Nara (Japan); David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water, Outlaw King) - short filmed in Glasgow (Scotland); Maggie Gyllenhaal - The Kindergarten Teacher / The Honourable Woman) - short filmed in Vermont (USA); Antonio Campos (The Devil All The Time) - short filmed in Springs, New York City (USA)

Johnny Ma (Old Stone; To live to sing) - short filmed in San Sebastian del Oeste, Jalisco (Mexico); Kristen Stewart - (Clouds of Sils Maria / Come Swim) short filmed in Los Angeles (USA); Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham; Blinded by the light) - short filmed in London (UK); Sebastian Lelio (Gloria Bell, A Fantastic Woman) - short filmed in Santiago (Chile); and

Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night; The Bad Batch) - short filmed in Los Angeles (USA)

Lorenzo Mieli, CEO of The Apartment, said: This project is a beautiful way to send a strong message of unity and resilience throughout the international creative community. I want to thank Netflix as well as all our directors for taking this challenge and proving that, even in such a complicated time, we can all try to move forward on exciting and unbeaten paths.

Juan de Dios Larrain, CEO Fabula, said: Homemade is an invitation to a group of directors to explore creativity under the same conditions. Its quite democratic. This is not about resources, this is about the craft of filmmaking.

Teresa Moneo, Director Original Films at Netflix, said: Seeing the stories of others can open hearts and minds and make us all feel more connected. This is why, in these unprecedented times, we are humbled to work with this incredible ensemble of diverse filmmakers and to bring their personal stories to our members around the world.

The anthology will be made available globally on Netflix on June 30 2020.

A donation in honour of each filmmaker will be made from Netflixs Hardship Fund to third parties and non-profits that are providing emergency relief to out-of-work crew and cast across the broader TV and film industry, the statement said. TradeArabia News Service
The investment firm Instinet analyzed a dozen states that as of last Friday had reported record highs in new Covid-19 cases: Florida, Texas, Utah, South Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, Missouri, Montana, Arizona, California, Tennessee and Oklahoma. In many of these states, cases have only grown since that time. Both Florida and California reported record one-day increases again Wednesday.

White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday at a congressional hearing that he doesn't think states will need to return to lockdown , but they may consider returning to a prior phase of reopening as cases increase.

The higher rates of Covid-19 have tended to follow decisions by state and local governments to open up restaurants, nonessential retailers and personal care services. While no state has rolled back phases of reopening yet, some states have slowed the pace.

As coronavirus cases surge in a number of hot spots across the country, some retailers may be more at risk than others of having to shut their stores down again.

The chart above takes select retailers and looks at the percentage of their total U.S. stores that are based in those 12 states. The information for these calculations was drawn from the companies' annual reports. Instinet found the retailers with the greatest exposure are the off-price chain Ross Stores, Costco and O'Reilly Auto Parts. Others on the list include AutoZone, Ulta Beauty, TJ Maxx owner TJX and Burlington.

Instinet analyst Michael Baker said in a note to clients Wednesday that another round of closures would hurt so-called discretionary or apparel retailers more than locations such as Walmart and Target that have been deemed essential during the pandemic.

"To the extent that means there is a potential that stores will need to close again, as Apple recently announced, this trend could impact our back-half sales estimates," he said.

Apple announced last week that it planned to shut 11 stores in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Arizona, for a second time, as Covid-19 cases were spiking in those areas. On Wednesday it said it would close seven stores in Houston.

Apple's decision was one that was made at the corporate level, rather than through a government mandate. Other companies could make similar decisions.

Levi Strauss & Co. Chief Executive Chip Bergh joined CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Wednesday morning to say the denim maker might have to close another round of stores, too.

"We are watching it every single day in a couple of states," Bergh said. "There is a possibility we may have to close more doors."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, meantime, said Wednesday that travelers arriving in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut from regions with spiking Covid-19 infection rates will be subject to a 14-day quarantine.

The Dow plunged, as traders grew more concerned about the economy reopening and recovering.

 CNBC's Crystal Mercedes contributed to this data visualization.




CONTROVERSIAL rapper Desmond Stunner Chidemes wife has accused him of sexually assaulting her 16-year-old sister.





His 22-year-old wife, Dyonne Tanaka Tafirenyika took to her Instagram stories and posted two stories in which she tagged her husband whose handle is @Stunnerzim asking him why he had been raping the 16-year-old and threatening to kill her (if she revealed the rape).





The two stories were deleted hours later. No criminal charges have been pursued against the rapper so far which has sparked debate over the internet.





Social commentator Dr Rebecca Chisamba said this issue shows how people are now abusing social media.





She said Zimbabwe is a country with laws on how to deal with cases like rape so justice can never be met on social media.





People are now abusing social media by posting every detail of their lives there, there are protocols on how to deal with issues like rape, and Zimbabwe is a country that has a Constitution which spells out how rapists, or suspected rapists are dealt with.





If there is suspicion, reasonable suspicion that someone has been abused, lets follow the laws put in place, and as we go about trying to seek justice, let us be respectable about it, protect the victim. The alleged victim is a minor who will want to survive after this, Stunner wacho munhuwo who has dignity and is innocent until proven guilty so this matter needs to be dealt with cautiously.





Social media haitonge nyaya, I dont understand who told you young people that social media is the judge and jury, sometimes we do things out of anger but posting this issue on social media has very serious implications, the minor in question may not even cope well with how social media will blow the issue out of proportion. Its her sisters job to protect her and seek justice on her behalf, this can only be done by taking it to the responsible authorities so that justice can be met, she said.





Enisia Mushusha, a theatre practitioner and womens rights activist, added her two cents to the matter questioning why Tafirenyika took down the post, queering whether she had been intimidated, threatened or her account had been hacked.





The internet has become a space to take ownership and shame attackers especially when the system fails them, the rape culture especially in our Zimbabwean community is still difficult to measure, characteristics like victim blaming, questioning victim credibility and showing empathy for the alleged perpetrator.





In this case we dont know what made Dyonne pull down the post? Was she lying? Is she being intimidated? In most cases, the victims are blamed by their family members kuti why you pulling our surname or our clan in the mud, at the same time rape victims are bullied and victimized and harassed both online and offline.





However if that post was one of those posts that they do when they seek for attention then this is really a bad thing to do because rape is a serious offence but if its something that has been happening then Stunner is in serious trouble, she said.





Most people commenting on the matter on social media were agreeing that rape is a serious accusation and if Tafirenyika is going to try and defend the post by saying she had been hacked, it was not going to be acceptable as the post was far reaching and there are screenshots with different time stamps to prove this.





One of the first to comment was Stunners ex-wife Olinda Chapel who said if the couple were trying to market their new music, it was in bad taste because young girls get raped every day and it cant be used as a joke.





Chapel added that if true, she hoped that these serious allegations will be seen through to court and the victim will get all the psychosocial help she requires, rape is very serious and shouldnt be taken lightly AT ALL.





Some questioned why the matter hadnt been reported to the police before it had spilt over to the internet.





Following rape allegations, a document purporting to be a medical report has found its way to the internet.





The document purporting to be from a private hospital started circulating on the internet claiming that the minor child had been taken to a private doctor to ascertain whether she had been raped.





The document indicated that the minor had been examined at 0115 hours and was found to be a virgin and there was no sign of recent vaginal penetration.





The document was, however, not the proper medical affidavit used in government hospitals when examining rape victims.





The document left a lot to be desired as there was no form of authentication to show whether it was done as required by the law when dealing with rape victims.





There was no comment on social media from the two, save to say that they deleted their pictures together.




Chihuri and his wife are also required to explain their roles, if any, in the engagement of the companies by the police between July 2, 2014 and December 2017. The court also wants Chihuris wife to explain the nature of Nodpack Investments contractual relationship with the police which led to the police transferring US$5 766 251.31 from the forces revolving fund to the companys bank account held by Ecobank Borrowdale between July 28, 2012, to December 11, 2017.


Russia on Wednesday staged its Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the former Soviet Union's victory in World War II. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), together with troops from 12 other countries, joined the parade at the invitation of the Russian side.

(Photo/People's Daily Online)

Scheduled on May 9, this year's parade was delayed and rescheduled to June 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new parade date, according to officials, was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the first post-war parade on Red Square, which saw Soviet troops throw down Nazi standards in front of the Lenin mausoleum on June 24, 1945.

13,000 troops from 13 countries, as well as vintage equipment and the latest military hardware, take part in the parade to show Russia's fighting capabilities.

(Photo/People's Daily Online)

The parade features more than 200 units of military equipment as well as 75 planes and helicopters. Over 20 pieces of new equipment, including Tosochka flame-throwers, T-90M tanks and Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile systems, are shown for the first time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a minute of silence for those who lost lives in WWII before his speech in Red Square during the V-Day parade on Wednesday.

(Photo/People's Daily Online)

In his speech, Putin honored the victory, stressing that the country will protect and defend the fair truth of the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War, an integral part of the World War II lasting from 1939 to 1945.

The Russian president also noted global security, pledging that Russia is open for dialogue and cooperation on the most burning issues, including the creation of a common reliable system of security, which the complex and rapidly changing world needs.

While Russia has announced that the peak of the epidemic has passed and since eased the lockdown, the situation is still severe.

The country confirmed 7,425 new coronavirus infections Tuesday, bringing the official number of cases to 599,075. The death toll stands at 8,359.

(Video source: People's Daily Online)
A young inspirational online influencer who became a millionaire at 15 has died in a motorbike accident in Bali.

Russian Anastasia Tropitsel, 18, suffered head injuries when she crashed on her Kawasaki on the Indonesian island.

Her boyfriend Viktor Maydanovich, 30, who was on a bike next to her said she began to wobble at around 60 mph and lost control, colliding with a roadside fence.

Footage shows her last moments just before she set off on the bike as she filmed herself in the vehicles mirror and the surrounding beach views.



Anastasia had been a blogger since the age of 12 and said how she became a millionaire at 15 from her successful internet presence.

She told her million-plus young followers: I inspire you to do what you cant.

I grow your wings and send you to go freelance.

Tropitsel  whose real name is Anastasia Zubrina  died soon after buying a new Kawasaki Ninja 250 motorbike and immediately following a public row with her doctor father who warned her that her online success story was turning to failure.

She had stayed in Bali for lockdown after a trip to the island to boost her Instagram.

Your business is collapsing, he said.

She was enraged when he told her: Your team is just having fun at your expense. You do not finish your new projects.

It is not pleasant to listen to this, but I hope it will be useful.

You have only fun in mind. You have to hold on to your mind and start working if you want to live well.

He claimed her boyfriend Maydanovich pulls you down and told her: Start working if you want to live well.

She accused her father of burning her emotionally and betraying her.

Her blog urged her followers to overcome fear by immersing themselves in whatever causes fear.

In response to her death her boyfriend, from Ukraine, posted: My beloved girl is not with us.

Please, my friends, say your last farewell to her with your good thoughts and meditations. It is very important.

(Anastasia) was moving at a speed of 80-100 kilometres per hour along a major road, where everybody goes at such a speed.

She always rode very safely and accurately.

Then her bike started wobbling.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
As part of the 6th International Yoga Day commemorations, the world's first yoga university outside India has been launched in Los Angeles, offering programmes that combine scientific principles and modern research approaches to the ancient Indian practice of yoga.

The Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU) was jointly launched on Tuesday by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on External Affairs P P Chaudhary during a virtual event held at the Consulate General of India in New York.

Eminent Indian yoga guru Dr. H R Nagendra, Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA) is the first Chairman of VaYU.

Addressing the virtual launch, Muraleedharan said Swami Vivekananda gave the message of universal brotherhood from the US and through the first of its kind yoga university outside India, the message of yoga will be broadcast from America to the world.

As the symbol of India's culture and heritage, yoga has become the means for unity and brotherhood in the world. Through the medium of yoga, we can give the message of world peace, he said, adding that yoga provides mental balance and emotional stability.

The event was jointly hosted by the Consulate General and Jaipur Foot USA Chairperson and founding director of VaYU Prem Bhandari.

In his message, Nagendra, well known as the yoga consultant to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Swami Vivekananda heralded the grandeur of Indian yoga dimension to the world through his famous speech in Chicago in 1893.

Inspired by his teachings and the solutions he has given to meet challenges of the modern era, we took up this entire process of bringing yoga into the academic dimension, he said.

He noted that the university combines best of the East and best of the West. Best of the East is yoga and its applications and best of West is modern scientific research."

"We want to bring this integrated dimension of healthcare to world at large - allopathy and the AYUSH systems, he said referring to the practice of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.

India's Consul General in New York Sandeep Chakravorty said that New York has deep ties with yoga as many years ago Swami Vivekananda spent time in the city and wrote books on yoga which popularised the Indian practice all over the world.

It helped in making the US the adopted home of yoga, Chakravorty said, applauding the efforts of Nagendra and Bhandari for the initiative.

He underscored that VaYU will involve top line research on yoga and further popularise it in America, where currently about 40 million people practice yoga regularly.

Bhandari said that Swami Vivekananda, a monk from India introduced Hinduism to the western world through his historic speech in Chicago in 1893. Now, 127 years later, another monk from India Dr. H R Nagendra is bringing to the western world the age old yoga science - Guru-Shishya Parampara by establishing this university.

He noted that in the years to come, VaYU would produce best modern day yoga practitioners who would not only spread peace but make planet Earth a better place to live.

The university is a prime example of people to people connections between India and the US, he said.

Chaudhary said yoga makes the human immune system very strong and is a bridge between the mind and body, which is very important in today's times.

He said the university will help thousands of yoga teachers in the US whose yoga education was limited to 200 or 500 hours of certificate programmes to progress further into university-based higher education.

He highlighted that Modi was instrumental in getting the UN to declare June 21 as International Day of Yoga, saying this further popularised yoga across the world.

In congratulatory messages, Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said in these trying times, the practice of yoga has kept life going and for the very first time, a university espousing yogic science is being launched in the US.

Through the scientific appraisal of yoga, I'm sure millions more will get benefit of it, he said terming the launch of the world's first yoga university outside India as a milestone in the world of yoga.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev said that the launch of the yoga university is a matter of pride and expressed confidence that VaYU will enhance India's pride for years to come in the field of yoga research.

Former Director General of Border Security Force K K Sharma said that yoga is the best system of exercise and recalled how he had introduced it in place of PT exercise and noticed a perceptible improvement in the overall physical and mental health of the force.

Founded on the principles of Swami Vivekananda's prescription for universal welfare, VaYU will offer online graduate programmes based on scientific principles and modern research approaches to yoga.

VaYU faculty has been recruited from SVYASA, the first Yoga university in India.

It will facilitate collaborative research, credit transfers and joint programmes with multiple premier universities across the world.

The university will offer online master's program in Yoga. The applications for fall 2020 semester are open with the first day of classes starting on August 24 in a virtual mode.

The launch comes within three months of receiving official recognition from the Bureau for Private Post-secondary Education, California to offer yoga-based higher education programmes in November 2019.
Ormax Consultants, Indias foremost consumer understanding company and Momspresso.com, India's largest platform for moms, jointly launched a much-awaited report, A Definitive Guide to New Age Digital Moms of India 2020. The report gleans insights into the changing face of motherhood in an increasingly nuclearized and digital world and a modern approach to childcare. It also touches upon ongoing trends such as the rise of mompreneurs and the impact of COVID-19 on mothers.

According to the report, even while living in joint families, mums are experiencing physical and mental nuclearization of families, which has led to the evolution of their approach to parenting. Today, mums rely more than ever before on social media for parenting tips, tricks, and advice instead of family members. This bears out in the fact that a high percentage of mums turn to online websites and portals to discuss crucial aspects, read/watch reviews for kids clothes & accessories (47%), babycare products (42%),academics (41%), extra-curricular activities (21%) and food and nutrition (17%).

With the country under lockdown due to the outbreak of COVID-19, moms have taken the responsibility of being the ultimate shield for their kids  building kids immunity (81%) & keeping a check on their nutrition intake (73%) on one hand, and keeping them engaged in some activities at home (71%) on the other.

PrashantSinha, Co-Founder & COO, Momspresso adds, At Momspresso, we believe that no one understands Moms the way we do, due to the volume of content that is created, consumed and engaged with, on our platform. The study reflects that in-depth understanding and is a definitive guide to the new age digital mom  not only in her ever-evolving role as a mother but also her multifaceted journey as a woman. This comprehensive report covering Bharat moms, not only in tier 1 but also tier 2 and tier 3 cities, is going to be an essential tool for all brands to leverage.

Interestingly, the study has revealed that modern mums are relinquishing control when it comes to parenting, moving past the dated my way or the highway approach. Instead of being in the drivers seat, new-age mums are adopting a more balanced parenting style. They believe that they stand to learn from kids as much as they can teach them.

The steady growth of vernacular content has also been covered by the in-depth report with Hindi emerging as the language of choice for a majority of mums. 65% of the respondents stated that they prefer watching television content in Hindi while 52% of moms consume internet content in Hindi.

Commenting on the launch, Priya Lobo, CEO of Ormax Compass, said, The title, A Definitive Guide to New Age Digital Moms of India 2020, is about digging deep to understand a mother from different perspectives. Ormax has been at the forefront of consumer understanding and behavior for over 35 years, and nothing gives me more pleasure than bringing the voices of mothers to the forefront. Over the years, the role of mothers and motherhood has been changing drastically, and today, more than ever, moms depend on digital platforms to raise their children. This 'over-dependence' on social media as the source of information is creating newer levels of confusion on how mothers should really raise their children - the best practices, is it good enough? The experiences of these mothers have stirred me. Having just been on this journey and concluding this report, I already look forward to the next exciting one.

The report is a result of a knowledge collaboration between Ormax and Momspresso, both accomplished names in their respective industries. At its core, the report prides itself on being the ultimate authority on Digital Moms of India at a day and age where most decisions pertaining to motherhood and childcare are made using technology. The study is a pan India research conducted through 2100+ online surveys with 270+ hours of consumer interactions. It covered 21+ metros and non-metros, including a wide scope of mothers and children from working and non-working, nuclear, and joint families across SECs.

As a part of the launch of Momspresso-Ormax study, the brand is hosting a series of discussions, the first of which is the CMOs Roundtable on New Age Digital Moms  what brands need to know moderated by Ms. ParulOhri, Founding Member & Chief Editor Momspresso and Ms. Priya Lobo, CEO Ormax Compass. This session will bring together top-level CMOs who are Moms from across industries to share their perspectives on the findings of the study.

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On June 2, over 60,000 protesters showed up to march in solidarity with the family of George Floyd in downtown Houston at Discovery Green. What lasted for hours as a peaceful protest suddenly turned into a night of confusion, aggression and maltreatment.

While the Houston Police Department tweeted proudly about the nights arrests, hundreds of students, medics, community members and supporters were forced to spend the next 18 to 30-plus hours in the Harris County Jail just blocks from where they honored George Floyds life and legacy.

After the Friday May 29 protest, I witnessed HPD deploy what appeared to me to be tear gas, intimidate protesters atop their high horses and incite the crowds by walking through the demonstrations. On the night of the Tuesday protest, I signed up for jail support through Black Lives Matter Houston , just in case the demonstrations escalated.

That evening, I watched truck after truck filled with officers take off from San Jacinto St. and rush into downtown.

The media was near-silent about events at the protest after dark, releasing photos and articles focused on the peaceful events of the afternoon.

But protesters dispatches on Twitter told a different story, one that deserves to be more widely known. Protesters who claimed to be peacefully exercising their rights accused police of surrounding crowds for no reason, needlessly escalating the situation with harsh tactics and targeting people who had no plans of criminal activity.

I had stayed on-site until 10:30 pm and did not find out about the arrests until the next morning. I was only able to piece together a story of escalation through the footage and tweets of protesters who were able to make it home safe. One such person posted a Twitter thread where, in video footage, demonstrators seemed to be walking away from where the arrests had taken place, but HPD pointed them back toward the turmoil. The officer said, You can go back around and join them, or there are some more over there you can join. This inspired the phrase protesters coined, the Houston protest trap, which referred to the HPD corralling groups of protesters and arresting them en masse.

It was not until the slow release of protesters in the early hours of June 4 that the sheer magnitude of escalation and intimidation enacted by the HPD was revealed online.

Protesters took to Twitter with the hashtags #HoustonProtestTrap to post photos and videos of what happened the night of the arrests. With the jail support of organizations like Black Lives Matter Houston , Mutual Aid Houston and West Street Recovery , protesters were met with an abundance of resources and references for legal aid. I returned to jail support through Mutual Aid Houston, and as protesters were released, we began to collect their testimonies which utterly contradicted the public statements of peace made by government officials.

An HPD officer was filmed encouraging protesters to demonstrate all day if they stayed on the sidewalk, but protesters in one tweet after another explained that even after remaining on the sidewalk, they were arrested anyway. Protesters said there was no way to leave without being arrested. Many posted videos of themselves chanting along the sidewalk and being forced back by HPD.

Footage emerged from protesters near Avenida de las Americas that showed police surrounding and charging at the protesters on the sidewalk. Protester Adriana Salazar described to me the moment she saw the other protesters being arrested. We were standing along the sidewalk facing the glass [of a hotel], Salazar said. Another protester said, Hey, Im gonna go peacefully, OK? and yeah thats when I knew it was all over. When explaining the arrests that followed, Salazar noted several protesters complained that their ties were too tight. Some protesters said that when they asked officers to loosen them, the officers just made them tighter.

City officials were not initially transparent about HPDs aggression toward protesters. On June 2, Chief of Police Art Acevedo released a statement on Twitter claiming HPD has not deployed tear gas and Councilwoman Abbie Kamin claimed at the June 3 city budget hearing that instead pepper spray was used, but a protester captured footage of a rapidly dispersing crowd coughing and covering their mouths and eyes from some sort of harmful substance. I was at a peaceful protest, 24-year-old Martell Wallace recalled when I spoke with him. It happened really fast, it was just a quick boom, everybody starting coughing, I just got out of the area as soon as I [could].

Acevedo celebrated his squadron via Twitter for their communication and relational policing, calmly interacting with the protesters, but multiple protesters said they were not told they were under arrest until after beatings with batons began. I turn around, I see police batoning people to get them out of the way, Jourdan Short recalled in a testimony to Mutual Aid Houston. I heard swears and I saw them ripping off peoples shoes trying to drag people, like trying to drag them by their feet.

Protesters said they were detained on buses for hours, held in cages in a gym and spent the night in the holding facility well into the next day. Protesters detailed their experience with HPD mismanaging their paperwork , withholding proper sustenance and denying them necessary resting conditions all without social distancing . Protester Acinagoth Mabor, 21, confirmed these conditions.

In a recent statement, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg wrote, Out of a total of 654 individuals criminally charged as a result of the protests, only 51 adults and one juvenile now remain charged with active cases. We will always protect the First Amendment rights of peaceful protesters.

Rather than publicly pat themselves on the back for their restraint, Acevedo and others in his command staff should hold their officers accountable in the instances where they abused power and infringed on peoples collective right to assemble.

Not only do the shameful actions and arrests by the HPD demean the protest on behalf of George Floyd, but they may stifle future demonstrations against injustice.

The #HoustonProtestTrap taught us something, though. People of Houston can rally together anywhere, be it on the streets, behind a hashtag or behind bars. A trap is only a trap if there is no way out, and Houston folks have proven you can always make it out if you can make it through.

Brown is a member of Mutual Aid Houston.
India and China held diplomatic talks through video conference on the border standoff in midst of fresh details emerging that China has strengthened its position in several areas in eastern Ladakh.

New Delhi: India and China on Wednesday agreed to ensure expeditious implementation of the understanding on disengagement of troops from eastern Ladakh as decided in a meeting of senior military commanders on 6 June, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The two sides held diplomatic talks through video conference on the border standoff in midst of fresh details emerging that China has strengthened its position in several areas in eastern Ladakh including Galwan Valley where a violent clash on 15 June left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

People aware of the development said China has significantly ramped up its military presence in several other key sectors along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.

In a statement after the diplomatic talks, the MEA said the situation in eastern Ladakh was discussed in detail and that the Indian side conveyed its concerns over the violent face-off in Galwan Valley.

"In this regard, it was emphasised that both sides should strictly respect and observe the line of actual control," it said.

The MEA said the two sides recalled the conversation between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi last week, and reaffirmed that the understanding reached during military talks on June 6 on disengagement and de-escalation should be implemented "sincerely"

"The two delegations agreed that implementation of this understanding expeditiously, in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols, would help ensure peace and tranquillity in border areas and the development of broader relationship between the two countries," the MEA said.

The talks were held between Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs Naveen Srivastava and Director General in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wu Jianghao.

The MEA said the two sides also agreed to maintain communication both at diplomatic and military levels including to resolve the existing situation peacefully.

The talks took place two days after Chinese and Indian armies arrived at a "mutual consensus" to "disengage" from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh.

It was the 15th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC). The last meeting under the WMCC framework was held on 5 June.

The MEA said the two sides also took note of the discussions in the second meeting of the senior commanders which took place on 22 June.

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.

It is learnt that China has significantly increased number of troops in several other sectors along the LAC including in Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.

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.

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.

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.
Indias coronavirus caseload has skyrocketed by a record of 15,000 as migrant workers left major cities and returned to rural villages.

The increase of 15,413 cases and a further 14,821 reported has brought Indias total Covid-19 infections to 425,282.

There were 445 new deaths from the disease today, bringing its total death toll to 13,699, Indias health ministry reported. A total of 306 new deaths were reported yesterday.



The Indian government has run special trains to return thousands of migrant workers to their native villages in recent weeks.

Nearly 90 per cent of Indias poorest districts have coronavirus cases, though the outbreak remains centred in Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu states.

These states are home to some of Indias major cities including New Delhi and Mumbai.

Infections slowed in China and South Korea, suggesting they are making headway in stemming their newest outbreaks.

Globally, the number of new virus cases has soared in recent days and in Brazil, Iraq, India and the United States, hospitals are scrambling to cope.

Nearly 9 million people have been infected by coronavirus and more than 468,000 people have died, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Experts say the actual numbers are much higher, given limits to testing and the presumed large share of asymptomatic cases.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 10:49:42|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The China-Africa friendship has most recently been magnified by the quick response and massive resource mobilization for Africa after the first COVID-19 cases were reported in the continent in March, a Kenyan party leader has said.

Africa is not only impressed by responses from the Chinese government but also Chinese private sector players like Alibaba and mobile phone manufacturer Tecno Mobile among others, Secretary General of Kenya's ruling Jubilee party Raphael Tuju told Xinhua in an interview.

Regarding the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 held via video link on June 17, Tuju said: "We want to thank the Chinese government for the commitments it outlined during the meeting between President Xi Jinping and African presidents. China has really stood with Africa during this time of crisis."

He said that China's commitments on helping improve Africa's health infrastructure and restructuring some of the debts are most welcome.

"Africa has also been very touched by the promise that once the vaccine is available, China will ensure that it is easily accessible and affordable across Africa," he said.

Tuju also praised China for its "impressive and amazing" response to COVID-19 at home.

"One of the insights we now have is that decentralization of services in China works perfectly. Public records system also works in China. This is why contact tracing worked very well," he said.

On China's development under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Tuju said China provides a very important model for Africa in the sense that it is possible to come out of poverty and create a prosperous community across the continent.

"Sometimes, it looks like an impossibility and people tend to give up along the way, but hasn't China done and is still doing it? So we admire the resolve of President Xi and see him as one of the greatest modern leaders of China whose philosophy will be a subject of studies many more years to come," he said.

Tuju said the success in fighting corruption by the CPC lies in its sustention and punishment for corrupt officials.

"Another success factor has also been guidelines issued by the party on ways to stop or avoid corruption. These guidelines and their review from time to time are important because they provide direction of not committing corruption," said the party leader.

As regards China's role in global multilateralism and "building a community with a shared future for mankind," Tuju said China's support for the World Health Organization illustrates the realization of this concept.

"We must not let our political divisions or pandemics reduce our growing fabric as a global village," he said.

"In Africa, we have seen China engage more on the Belt and Road initiative. The outcome is more development, better infrastructure, easing the cost of doing business, creating more employment and efficient economies," he said.

"These, therefore, help in creating a global community of empowered people. It will help create social equity across the world," the party official added. Enditem
Manipur attack: Mortal remains of Assam Rifles personnel to head to their homes

PM Modi to visit Manipur, Tripura on Jan 4 to inaugurate several Developmental projects

BJP retains Manipur, ally NPP back in fold after meeting with Amit Shah

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, June 24: BJP-led coalition government in Manipur managed to retain power in the state with the return of the National People's Party (NPP) to its fold on Wednesday.

The home-coming of the MLAs, who quit the BJP-led coalition government in the northeast state, bringing it to the brink of collapse came after a meeting with union minister Amit Shah.

The Manipur government headed by Chief Minister N Biren Singh was plunged into crisis recently after four NPP and three BJP MLAs withdrew their support from it.

Amit Shah Model vs Kejriwal Model: Sisodia asks Centre to roll back COVID order

Himanta Sarma, BJP's trouble-shooter and convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance which comprises of the BJP and its allies in the Northeastern states, took an NPP delegation for a meeting with Shah.

Coronavirus: Delhi crosses 70,000 Covid-19 cases with 3,788 new patients in 24 hours | Oneindia news

"NPP delegation led by Sangma Conrad and Dy Chief Minister of Manipur Y Joy Kumar Singh met Home minister Amit Shah today in New Delhi. Both BJP and NPP will continue to work together for the development of Manipur," Sarma tweeted after the meeting.

The NPP and other dissident MLAs have been demanding removal of Biren Singh. BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who handles the party's North East affairs, asserted in Imphal that the state government will remain stable. "Take it from me. We will be stable till 2022 (when next Assembly election will be held)," Ram Madhav told reporters at Imphal Airport.

Biren Singh also sought to downplay the trouble that has besieged his ministry saying it's a "family issue", and exuded confidence that the political problem will be resolved soon.

After the 2017 Assembly polls, the BJP had formed a coalition government with the help of the regional outfit NPP and others.
ATLANTA  A grand jury has indicted the three suspects accused in the death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, the Cobb County district attorney said Wednesday.

Travis and Greg McMichael and William Roddie Bryan were previously charged with felony murder in the death of Arbery, who was shot in February in a Brunswick neighborhood. All three are being held without bond in the Glynn County jail.

The indictment returned Wednesday formally charges each of the three defendants with nine counts: malice murder; felony murder (four counts); aggravated assault (two counts); false imprisonment; and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment, the DA said.

While most grand juries have not been in session because of the coronavirus, a judicial order allowed for those grand juries impaneled before the crisis to reconvene, Cobb District Attorney Joyette Holmes said. Holmes announced the indictment Wednesday afternoon in front of the Glynn courthouse.

Arbery died Feb. 23, but initially no charges were filed in the case. That changed weeks later, when cellphone video of the shooting went viral. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to investigate in May and the McMichaelses, a father and son, were quickly charged. Charges against Bryan were announced the following week.

Holmes was later appointed to prosecute the case, after other district attorneys in the area recused themselves.

Greg McMichael, a retired investigator with the Brunswick Judicial Circuit district attorneys office, told police Feb. 23, the day of the shooting, that he believed Arbery matched the description of a burglary suspect. When he saw Arbery running in their neighborhood just south of Brunswick, McMichael and his son armed themselves and followed him in their truck.

Prosecutors say Bryan joined their pursuit, eventually trapping Arbery, who tried to run past the McMichaels pickup but was confronted by Travis McMichael. The two men briefly tussled before Travis McMichael fired three shots at Arbery, who was unarmed, authorities say. Family and friends say the avid runner was out for a jog.

Earlier this month, a judge found probable cause against all three suspects. The three are all represented by different defense attorneys.

-- 2020 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Daily deaths in the US from COVID-19 have increased to the highest in a week as new cases continue to surge following alarming spikes in infections and hospitalizations in the South and West.

Just over 820 Americans died from coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the total death toll to more than 121,000.

It is the highest number of daily deaths recorded in the past week after fatality rates started declining nationwide. The current daily death toll is still down from the record 2,500 from mid-April.

It comes as new cases in the US have been surging for more than a week after trending down for over six weeks.

Nearly 35,000 new cases were reported on Tuesday, which is down from the record 36,000 infections that were logged on April 24. The total number of coronavirus infections across the US has now surpassed 2.3 million.

Health officials have warned that while deaths appear to be declining, it could potentially shoot back up again because fatality rates often lag behind infection rates.

Experts say younger people - who are less likely to be hospitalized - are now accounting for a large number of the new cases and that could also have an impact in several weeks.

Young people could currently be infecting their elderly relatives and other at-risk people, which could subsequently drive up hospitalizations and deaths.

Just over 820 Americans died from coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the total death toll to more than 121,000. It is the highest number of daily deaths recorded in the past week after fatality rates started declining nationwide

New cases in the US have been surging for more than a week after trending down for over six weeks. Nearly 35,000 new cases were reported on Tuesday, which is down from the record 36,000 infections that were logged on April 24

President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the surge in new cases is down to increased testing but public health officials say it only accounts for some of the increases as people continue to relax social distancing and states slowly reopen.

It comes as seven states - Arizona, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas - recorded their highest number of hospitalizations since coronavirus took hold.

Hospitalizations is a metric not linked to increased testing.

Florida recorded a record high 5,508 new cases on Wednesday, up from the previous record of 4,049 on June 20.

New cases in Florida surged 87 percent last week as Governor Ron DeSantis warned on Tuesday he will be cracking down on bars and restaurants that flout social distancing guidelines following reports of large parties across the state.

Rapidly worsening coronavirus numbers in Texas reached bleak new milestones on Tuesday as the state surpassed 5,000 new cases in a single day for the first time and hospitalizations again hit record numbers, leading the largest pediatric hospital in the US to begin treating adult patients in Houston.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott stressed that the public 'comprehend the magnitude of the challenge' ahead and, in a first since Texas lifted lockdown orders in May, empowered cities and counties to immediately put tighter restrictions on large gatherings.

Abbott says shutting down the economy again is a last resort but he is now emphasizing face coverings more strenuously than at any point during the pandemic.

He has, however, continued to resist calls from cities, business groups and teachers to make masks mandatory.

The move reflected a more urgent tone Abbott is now taking after previously asserting that Texas' rising numbers raised concerns, but not alarms.

FLORIDA: Florida recorded a record high 5,508 new cases (left) on Wednesday, up from the previous record of 4,049 on June 20. Forty four new deaths (right)were recorded across the state on Wednesday

TEXAS HOSPITAL: Hospitalizations again hit record numbers in Texas, leading the largest pediatric hospital in the US to begin treating adult patients in Houston

TEXAS CASES: Rapidly worsening coronavirus numbers in Texas reached bleak new milestones on Tuesday as the state surpassed 5,000 new cases in a single day for the first time

TEXAS DEATHS: In Texas, deaths were at 28 on Tuesday compared to the record 58 on May 15

CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL: The state reached a new high in the number of hospitalizations on Monday with 3,868 being hospitalized. Just over 1,200 of those were in intensive care

CALIFORNIA: California reached a record-high of more than 5,000 new cases in a single day. Another 65 Californians were also killed by the virus, taking the death toll to 5,580

OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma health officials on Wednesday reported a record one-day spike in the number of positive COVID-19 cases, with 482 positive tests reported in a 24-hour period. That's the third time in the past week the state reported record one-day increases, including the previous high of 478 new cases on Sunday and 450 on Thursday

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.

The infection rates in Texas has doubled since late May, and on Tuesday, the state reached an 12th consecutive day of record COVID-19 hospitalizations with more than 4,000.

That amounts to a more than 170 percent increase in hospitalizations since Memorial Day.

Texas Children's Hospital, the largest pediatric hospital in the US, said it was admitting adult patients across its campuses to free up more hospital bed space in the Houston area.

Hospital administrators and health care experts warned desperately on Wednesday that parts of the country are on the verge of becoming overwhelmed by a resurgence of the coronavirus, lamenting that politicians and a tired-of-being-cooped-up public are letting a disaster unfold.

'People got complacent,' Dr Marc Boom, CEO of the Houston Methodist hospital system, said. 'It's coming back and biting us, quite frankly.'

At Houston Methodist's eight Texas hospitals, the COVID-19 patient count has tripled in the last month, to 312. About 20 percent of the coronavirus tests the hospitals conduct now come back positive, compared with roughly 2 percent to 4 percent in mid-May.

If the trends don't change, the 2,000-bed hospital chain could have 600 coronavirus patients in the next three weeks and could be forced to cancel nonessential surgeries, Boom said.

'We need everybody to behave perfectly and work together perfectly' to slow the infection rate, Boom said. 'When I look at a restaurant or a business where people ... are not following the guidelines, where people are just throwing caution to the wind, it makes me angry.'

ARIZONA HOSPITAL: The number of people admitted to Arizona hospitals with COVID-19 or suspected of having coronavirus on Tuesday was at 2,200

ARIZONA CASES: Arizona reported 1,795 new cases on Tuesday, down from the record 3,591 new infections a day earlier

ARIZONA DEATHS: Arizona recorded 79 new deaths on Tuesday - compared to the 67 deaths recorded on May 8

ARKANSAS HOSPITAL: The number of people hospitalized in Arkansas has surged this week

NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITAL: Hospitalizations in North Carolina hit record highs on Tuesday with 915 people hospitalized

Oklahoma health officials on Wednesday reported a record one-day spike in the number of positive COVID-19 cases, with 482 positive tests reported in a 24-hour period.

That's the third time in the past week the state reported record one-day increases, including the previous high of 478 new cases on Sunday and 450 on Thursday.

Arizona, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee have all also recorded record high hospitalizations this week.

In Arizona, cases will probably exceed statewide hospital bed capacity within the next several weeks if the trend continues, according to Dr Joseph Gerald, a University of Arizona public health policy professor.

'We are in deep trouble,' Gerald said, urging the state to impose new restrictions on businesses, which Gov. Doug Ducey has refused to do.

Without such steps, Gerald said, the death toll will reach 'unheard-of' levels.

Infectious-disease expert Dr Peter Hotez, who works with the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, said he worries that the states will squander what time they have to head off a much larger crisis.

'We're still talking about subtlety, still arguing whether or not we should wear masks, and still not understanding that a vaccine is not going to rescue us,' he said.

It comes as California reached a record-high of more than 5,000 new cases in a single day. Officials say part of the surge is due to an outbreak among the San Quentin prison population.

The US saw a 25 percent increase in new cases in the last week compared to the previous seven days. 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

The state reached a new high in the number of hospitalizations on Monday with 3,868 being hospitalized. Just over 1,200 of those were in intensive care. Another 65 Californians were also killed by the virus Monday, taking the death toll to 5,580.

Experts are warning that the nationwide increase in infections is largely coming from a spike in cases among young people who are ignoring social distancing measures and testing positive for the virus.

It comes as the US saw a 25 percent increase in new cases in the last week compared to the previous seven days.

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.

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.

In a sign of the shift in the outbreak, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey announced on Wednesday they will require visitors from states with high coronavirus infection rates to quarantine themselves for 14 days.

That is a turnaround from March, when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued such an order for visitors from the New York City area where cases were surging at the time.

The states included on that list are: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas.
Dow Inc. DOW announced that it signed four renewable power purchase agreements. Notably, it is expected to provide the company with access to 338 megawatts of installed wind and solar capacity.

The renewable energy generated from the deals is anticipated to lower more than 225,000 metric tons of CO2e and produce roughly 800,000 megawatt hours per year of energy.

Per management, the renewable energy purchase agreements will support Dow customers ability to lower value chain emissions. Notably, the agreements offset the usage of power from other sources and increase the use of renewables to power the companys operations. The agreements include three solar energy deals near its sites in Brazil, Kentucky and Texas, and a deal to provide Dows site in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, with access to wind capacity.

The agreements reflect the commitment of the company to pursue renewable energy supply in support of its recently announced targets to lower the net annual carbon emissions by five million tons by 2030 toward its goal of achieving carbon neutrality in 2050. Moreover, Dow is well on its way to exceed one of its 2025 Sustainability Goals i.e. to obtain 750 megawatts of its power demand from renewable sources.

Notably, each of the long-term renewable power agreements lowers the companys Scope 2 carbon emissions. Moreover, it can help customers of Dow to attain their value chain emission reduction objectives and allow new renewable power generation capability in the region.

The companys shares have lost 15.8% in the past year compared with the 15.2% decline recorded by the industry.

Dow, on its first-quarter earnings call, said that it is seeing indications of a recovery from the virus outbreak in China, while still assessing the impacts of the same in other major geographies. Factoring in a gradual and sustainable return of global economic activities, and the reopening of economies in May and June, the company expects recovery as the year progresses.

Story continues

Dow also said that it is taking actions to further strengthen its financial position. These include the reduction of operating expenses by $350 million and further trimming of capital expenditure target to $1.25 billion (a $750-million reduction from that in 2019). The company is also temporarily idling certain manufacturing units to balance the production to the demand across markets, which have been significantly affected by restrained economic activities.

Dow Inc. Price and Consensus

Dow Inc. Price and Consensus

Dow Inc. price-consensus-chart | Dow Inc. Quote

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Dow currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked companies in the basic materials space are AngloGold Ashanti Limited AU, Barrick Gold Corporation GOLD and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited AEM.



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 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Barrick has a projected earnings growth rate of 54.9% for the current year. The companys shares have rallied around 57% in a year. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2.



Agnico Eagle has an expected earnings growth rate of 53.6% for 2020. The companys shares have gained 17.3% in the past year. It presently carries a Zacks Rank #2.



These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic



The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.



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After raising over 1.68 lakh crore via mega investment and rights issue, billionaire Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani is now focussing on another big task - a $15 billion stake sale deal with global oil giant Saudi Aramco. RIL is in talks with the Saudi Oil major to sell 20 per cent stake in the petrochemical business for an enterprise value of $75 billion by March 2020. The company on Tuesday said it was working to complete contours of a USD 15-billion deal with Saudi Aramco but did not give a timeline for its completion.

Since April 22, 11 tech investors have pumped in Rs 1.15 lakh crore into Jio Platforms at a valuation of Rs 4.91 lakh crore considering its huge potential to catapult e-commerce and tech space in India. The latest to invest is Saudi Arabia-based Public Investment Fund (PIF), which put in Rs 11,367 crore for 2.32 per cent equity stake in Jio Platforms.

Also read: Mukesh Ambani's Jio Platforms 5th most-valued company in India; ahead of HDFC, Airtel, Infosys

While global investors including Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic, KKR, Mubadala, ADIA, TPG, L Catterton and PIF infused Rs 1.15 lakh crore in Jio Platforms, RIL also raised Rs 53,124.2 crore via a rights issue.

RIL's net-debt as on 31st March 2020 was Rs 161,035 crore. With these investments, the company has now become net debt-free. "I have fulfilled my promise to the shareholders by making Reliance net debt-free much before our original schedule of 31st March 2021," Ambani said last week while vowing to achieve even more ambitious growth goals in future.

Mukesh Ambani in RIL's annual report for 2019-20 had said both the companies were in talks of arriving at a deal. "In the energy businesses, Reliance is working to complete the contours of a strategic partnership with Saudi Aramco. The partnership gives our refineries access to a wide portfolio of value-accretive crude grades and enhanced feedstock security for higher oil-to-chemicals conversion."

The partnership with Aramco would give Jamnagar refineries "access to a wide portfolio of value-accretive crude grades and enhanced feedstock security for higher oil-to-chemicals conversion," he said.

Mukesh Ambani in August last year announced talks for sale of 20 per cent stake in the oil-to-chemical (O2C) business, which comprises its twin oil refineries at Jamnagar in Gujarat and petrochemical assets, to the world's largest oil exporter. The deal was to be concluded by March 2020 but has been delayed amid the coronavirus crisis. RIL is also going to hold its first-ever virtual annual general meeting or AGM on July 15.

Read: It's raining cheques for Ambani! Saudi Arabia-based PIF to invest Rs 11,367 crore in Jio Platforms

Read: Mukesh Ambani fulfils promise to shareholders as RIL becomes net-debt free months before target
To hear more audio stories from publishers like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.

President Trump says the coronavirus is fading away and pats himself on the back for a great job on CoronaVirus that saved millions of U.S. lives.

Its going away, Trump said Tuesday at a packed megachurch in Phoenix where few people wore masks.

Thats what delusion sounds like. We need a Churchill to lead our nation against a deadly challenge; instead, we have a president who helps an enemy virus infiltrate our churches and homes. Churchill and Roosevelt worked to deceive the enemy; Trump is trying to deceive us.

For a reality check, look at this map by my colleague Nathaniel Lash showing how much of America is trending in the wrong direction.
TDT | Manama

The Ministry of Health announced yesterday two more deaths from the coronavirus (COVID-19). Both of the deceased were Bahraini men. They were aged 57 and 91. Their passing brought the overall number of virus-related casualties in the Kingdom to 67. The Health Ministry expressed its condolences to the victims families.

Meanwhile, it was announced early this morning that out of 8,313 COVID-19 tests conducted yesterday, 655 new cases were detected. From these, 379 were expatriate workers, 264 were contacts of active cases, and 12 were travel-related. Their detection brought the overall confirmed cases in Bahrain to more than 23,000 from the time the first cases were reported.

There were also 588 additional recoveries from the virus yesterday, the Health Ministry said. After confirming that the patients were free of COVID-19, they were released from their respective isolation and treatment centres. That brought the total number of discharged in Bahrain to 17,450.

The total number of current active cases increased to 5,545, of which 117 are receiving treatment, with 36 in critical condition. The remaining 5,509 are stable. The total tested increased to 494,028.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Exosomes, microscopic packets containing genetic material, are shed by tissues into the blood. By sequencing microRNA within exosomes originating in the brain, it is now possible to definitively distinguish blood samples of ALS patients from healthy controls, a team of researchers at the Brain Chemistry Labs announced today in Open Biology. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that typically affects people in the prime of their life.

"We think this is a game changer: The methods we have pioneered will lead to the ability to rapidly diagnose ALS from a single blood draw, compared to current scientific measures where patients may have to wait for over a year for a confirmed diagnosis," reports Dr. Sandra Banack, Brain Chemistry Labs Senior Scientist and first author on the new paper. "People with ALS typically live an average of two to three years after diagnosis, so a rapid assessment is crucial."

The new test is based on exosomes, which are microscopic packets containing genetic material that are shed by different tissues in the body. The researchers purified brain exosomes from blood plasma by targeting a unique protein on the exosome surface. Using the brain exosomes, the researchers extracted microRNA, which are short sequences of genetic material that typically regulate gene expression within the cell. Eight different microRNA sequences together form a unique genetic fingerprint that distinguishes blood samples of ALS patients from healthy controls.

According to Dr. Rachael Dunlop, Brain Chemistry Labs senior research fellow, "This new genetic fingerprint may open up opportunities for novel drug discovery. Given the lack of treatments for ALS, physicians and researchers understand the importance of having a new biomarker to help in assessing the effectiveness of new drug candidates, and in enabling patients to receive experimental treatments at an earlier stage of the disease."

Dr. Walter Bradley, Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, who was not an author on this study, welcomed this advance. "Early diagnosis is the holy grail for many neurological diseases," he said. "These new results are extremely promising for patients and their physicians."

Translating these new techniques from the laboratory bench to the clinic may still take time, cautions Brain Chemistry Labs Director Dr. Paul Alan Cox. "We are excited by this discovery," Cox explains, "but the analytical techniques at present are costly and time consuming."

Explore further Paper-based technology advances earlier cancer detection

More information: An miRNA fingerprint using neural-enriched extracellular vesicles from blood plasma: toward a biomarker for ALS/MND, Open Biology, rsob.royalsocietypublishing.or  /10.1098/rsob.200116 Journal information: Open Biology An miRNA fingerprint using neural-enriched extracellular vesicles from blood plasma: toward a biomarker for ALS/MND,

Provided by Brain Chemistry Labs
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 22:10:18|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense ministry spokesman on Wednesday slammed attempts by some U.S. politicians to shift blame and deflect responsibility by smearing China for their own country's poor COVID-19 response.

Speaking at a press conference here, spokesman Wu Qian expressed strong dissatisfaction with, and firm opposition to, recent moves by U.S. defense department leaders to play up the so-called "China threat," sow discord in the region, and stigmatize China's anti-epidemic efforts in total disregard of facts.

The situation in the East and South China Seas is generally stable, Wu said.

However, the United States, a country outside the region, has sent military vessels and aircraft to the East and South China Seas, in a series of provocations, to carry out frequent, close-in reconnaissance against China and conduct highly targeted military exercises.

These actions have seriously endangered the sovereignty and security interests of countries in the region and undermined regional peace and stability, he said.

For China and the United States, both important countries in the world, cooperation is the only right choice, Wu said, expressing hope that the United States will meet China halfway to add positive factors to the China-U.S. relationship featuring coordination, cooperation, and stability. Enditem
Ana De Armas has something to smile about.

The Cuban beauty laughed cheerfully as she stepped out to meet female pals for a vegetarian lunch on the trendy Abbot Kinney block of Venice, California on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old actress, who is now dating Ben Affleck, cut a California casual figure in a white tee tucked into black slacks.

Stepping out: Ana De Armas could be seen laughing cheerfully as she stepped out to meet female pals for a vegetarian lunch on Abbot Kinney

She complemented the look with a pair of flats and accessorized with a wine-colored handbag as well as sleek sunglasses.

The Knives Out actress was glimpsed without a mask on as she sat down the table or strolled outside with her friends.

However she did bring a face covering which she could be seen holding at one point as she headed up the sidewalk with a masked friend.

She appeared to be in bright spirits during her outing, hugging one of her friends in the restaurant doorway and smiling as she chatted with pals on the sidewalk.

Sleek and chic: The 32-year-old actress, who is now dating Ben Affleck, cut a California casual figure in a white tee tucked into black slacks

Looking fab: She complemented the look with a pair of flats and accessorized with a wine-colored handbag as well as sleek sunglasses

On the go: The Knives Out actress was glimpsed without a mask on as she sat down the table or strolled outside with her friends

In hand: However she did bring a face covering which she could be seen holding at one point as she headed up the sidewalk with a masked friend

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted May 13: 'Were requiring all Angelenos to wear face coverings when they leave the house. There are exceptions in place for small children or those with disabilities.'

The Mayor has insisted that 'as long as youre not doing a solitary activity, or with your own household, put that mask on, always now, and that is a requirement.'

California Governor Gavin Newsom made news last week by imposing a statewide mask guideline for anyone in an indoor public space, as well as outdoors where six-foot social distance is not achievable.

There have also recently been protests and riots in Los Angeles after the George Floyd killing - including an estimated 20,000-person march on Hollywood Boulevard early this month - amid an ongoing statewide ban on mass gatherings.

Good feelings: She appeared to be in bright spirits during her outing, hugging one of her friends in the restaurant doorway and smiling as she chatted with pals on the sidewalk

Backdrop: Ana recently enjoyed a trip to Georgia with her beau Ben Affleck, his three children and his mother Christine

History: Ana and Ben became a public item after shooting the erotic thriller Deep Water based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith and helmed by Unfaithful director Adrian Lyne

Ana recently enjoyed a trip to Georgia with her beau Ben Affleck, his three children and his mother Christine.

Ben, who is 15 years Ana's senior, shares Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Samuel, eight, with his amicable ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

They left Los Angeles in a private jet the week before last and were all seen wearing masks as they climbed aboard the aircraft that would take them to Georgia.

'They are spending a few days in Georgia with Ben's kids. It's a low-key vacation. Ana seems to love being around his kids,' a People source dished.

Family matters: Ben, who is 15 years Ana's senior, shares Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Samuel, eight, with his amicable ex-wife Jennifer Garner

Mover and shaker: Ana and Ben also recently enjoyed a getaway to Joshua Tree National Park, where Ana was treated to cake and balloons for her birthday

Details: The leather on Ana's purse was fashioned into a rose pattern

This insider gushed of the arrangements: 'Everyone has been getting along great. Ana is making an effort to get to know his kids.'

The pair became a public item after shooting the erotic thriller Deep Water based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith and helmed by Unfaithful director Adrian Lyne.

Before the coronavirus lockdowns began they holidayed together to Costa Rica and also visited Ana's native Cuba.

Relationship history: Before the coronavirus lockdowns began Ana and Ben holidayed together to Costa Rica and also visited Ana's native Cuba

They were frequently seen packing on the PDA during loved-up outings in Los Angeles and in April on her 32nd birthday they went Instagram official.

The dynamic duo enjoyed a getaway to Joshua Tree National Park, where Ana was treated to cake and balloons for her big day, according to an Us Weekly insider.

'Ben went over-the-top to make her happy and make her birthday with him be extremely special. Ana feels like the luckiest girl to be with him,' said the source.

Jennifer is copacetic with Ben dating Ana, according to a source who clarified: 'Jen has completely moved on from Ben in a romantic sense.'
A common anti-inflammatory drug can prevent serious complications caused by the novel coronavirus and improve survival odds in patients, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that those given colchicine had lower levels of proteins in the blood that are a sign of heart injury and of a protein made by the liver as a marker of inflammation.

What's more, patients who received the medication increased the chance of surviving by nearly 10-fold.

The team, from the University of Athens in Greece, says colchicine could help the most severely ill patients eventually be discharged from the hospital.

Researchers gave half a group of coronavirus patients colchicine (pictured), a drug commonly used to treat gout, and the other half a placebo

Patients receiving colchicine had lower levels of proteins that are a sign of heart injury and inflammation. Pictured: Medical staff members are seen at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, May 2020

About 14% of those in the control group died, living an average of 18.6 days, while the 1.8% in the drug group died, living an average of 20.7 days (above)

Colchicine is most often used to treat gout, a complex form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in the joints, most often in the big toe.

Scientists theorize the anti-inflammatory effects of the drug may prevent cytokine storms, which occur when the body doesn't just fight off the virus but also attacks its own cells and tissues.

For the study, published in JAMA Network Open, the team looked at 105 coronavirus patients across 16 tertiary hospitals in Greece.

Between April 3 and April 27, half the group were given two doses of colchicine per day and the other half were given a placebo.

Researchers compared levels of cardiac troponin and C-reactive proteins in the two groups.

Cardiac troponins are a group of proteins found in skeletal and heart muscle fibers that help detect heart injury.

Levels were 0.0112 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) in the control group and 0.008 in the colchicine group.

Meanwhile, C-reactive proteins are made by the liver and levels in the blood increase when there is a condition causing inflammation somewhere in the body.

Normal levels are typically below 3.0 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Median maximum C-reactive protein levels were 4.5 mg/dL in the control group and 3.1 mg/dL in the colchicine group.

Patients were also more likely to die in the control group with 14 percent dying who didn't receive colchicine compared to 1.8 percent who did.

And, of those who did pass away, people in the control group lived for an average of 18.6 days and those in the colchicine group lived an average of 20.7 days.

'In this randomized clinical trial, participants who received colchicine had statistically significant improved time to clinical deterioration compared with a control group that did not receive colchicine,' the authors wrote.

'The hypothesis-generating findings of this study suggest a role for colchicine in the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019.'

In the US, there are more than 2.3 million confirmed cases of the virus and more than 121,000 deaths.
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Tuesday nights primary races produced some winners, but some elections will have to be determined by absentee ballots.

A number of changes were made to Primary Day in New York as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Polling site staffers and voters had to follow new safety procedures amid the coronavirus pandemic. Social distancing markers were placed on the ground at polling sites and everyone was required to wear a face mask.

And thousands of absentee ballots were sent out to voters across the state.

As a result, many winners could not immediately be determined Tuesday night by the in-person votes alone.

By the end of last week, the state issued 28,926 absentee ballots on Staten Island. Those ballots will not be tallied for a week and will have to be counted manually.

Republican primary for Congress -- Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis vs. Joseph Caldarera

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis declared victory against former Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Joseph Caldarera in the Islands highest-profile race.

With 99% of precincts reporting, Malliotakis walked away with 70% of the vote while Caldarera held 29%, according to unofficial election night results.

Malliotakis will now go on to challenge incumbent Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) in November in one of the most closely watched congressional races in the country.

Caldarera thanked Malliotakis for her gracious acceptance of his concession and said he looks forward to helping her take on Rose in the November general election.

Democratic state Senate primary -- State Sen. Diane Savino vs. Rajiv Gowda

State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) also declared victory against Rajiv Gowda in the Islands only Democratic primary race this cycle.

With 99% of precincts reporting, Savino walked away with more than 72% of the vote compared to Gowda, who secured 26% of the vote.

Republican Assembly primary -- Marko Kepi vs. Michael Tannousis

The race between attorney Michael Tannousis and former Brooklyn political operative Marko Kepi, who are both vying for Malliotakis soon-to-be-vacant Assembly seat, was too close to call.

With 99% of precincts reporting, Tannousis walked away with 61% of the vote while Kepi held 38% of the vote -- a difference of 1,121 votes.

While the Islands Republican Party Chairman Brendan Lantry called Tannousis the winner of the 64th Assembly race, the candidates will determine the clear winner of the race in about a week when absentee ballots are counted.

Democratic primary for president

A court decision in early May reinstated New Yorks Democratic presidential primary after the state Board of Elections effectively canceled it, allowing Democratic candidates to appear on the ballot.

With more than 95% of precincts reporting across the state, former Vice President Joe Biden won the states Democratic primary for president with more than 65%. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was the runner-up with 19% of the vote followed by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg with more than 4% of the vote.

Conservative Assembly primary -- Anthony DeGuerre vs. Abraham Monheit

While attorney Anthony DeGuerre is running unopposed as a Republican against incumbent Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island), he was challenged by Abraham Monheit on the Conservative Party line.

With 99% of precincts reporting, DeGuerre walked away with 62% of the vote while Monheit held 35% of the vote.

DeGuerre said he considered Tuesday night a win for his campaign.

With less than a month to prepare for the primary, Im proud of the work done by the Conservative Party and our campaign volunteers to rally the district on such short notice, said DeGuerre. While there are absentee ballots that were requested, given our campaigns contact with Conservative voters, we are declaring this a win. The campaign is looking forward to the November election.

Just 173 in-person votes were cast in this race.

SAM Party State Committee for 13th Judicial District -- Frank Morano vs. Nicholas Robbins and SAM Party delegate to Judicial Convention -- Frank Morano vs. Nicholas Robbins

A lesser-known political party founded in 2017 -- the Serve American Movement, or SAM Party -- held primary races for the boroughs 13th Judicial District and party delegate for the judicial convention.

Radio host and political activist Frank Morano faced off against fellow political activist Nicholas Robbins, the chairman of the Staten Island SAM Party, in both races.

Just 41 in-person votes were cast between both of these races.

Morano held more votes in both races against Robbins, who said he conceded to Morano shortly after the race.

Morano said: Im incredibly grateful to all the people who voted for me. I think this was not only a victory for me, but a tremendous step forward to all Staten Islanders who believe our political system is in dire need of reform. Every day it becomes clearer that we need an alternative to the major parties and Im eager to provide one. Now that Im in the leadership, Im hoping the SAM Party will do a better job picking candidates than they did this year.

Im disappointed in the outcome, obviously, but I did expect it and Im looking forward to putting all the election rhetoric aside and working with Frank because Im the chairman of the party, said Robbins. [Morano will] be my state committee member and well get to actually save the party and fight for our candidates in November.

SAM Party alternate delegate to the Judicial Convention for 63rd Assembly District -- Michael Reape vs. John Rodriguez

There also was a SAM party primary for the position of alternate delegate at the convention between Michael Reape and John Rodriguez.

Reape had 56% of the vote while Rodriguez had 43%. Only 16 in-person votes were cast in the race.

Democratic delegates to the National Convention for 11th Congressional District

Some 30 candidates ran for the Islands delegates to the national convention for the 11th Congressional District. Six people were to be elected.

With 99% of precincts reporting, Bianca Rajpersaud, Michael N. Mulgrew, Nancy D. Meyers, Daniel J. Cassella, Dilia R. Schack and Mohammed A.K. Chowdhury were leading.
It's no secret that Attorney General William Barr is an authoritarian tool for President Trump. Barr has shielded Trump from accountability, investigated Trump's conspiracy theories, targeted Trumps enemies, protected Trumps allies, and blatantly lied to the American people.

In today's House Judiciary Hearing on Barr's politicization of the Justice Department (DOJ), Barr's corruption was put on display in the most devastating manner thus far. In his opening statement, House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) referred to Barr as Trump's "fixer." This hearing proved his point.

The chief witnesses today were two current employees at the DOJ who put their careers on the line to allege unprecedented abuses of power on the part of Barr. Aaron Zelinsky, Assistant United States Attorney in Maryland, and John Elias, who works at the DOJ's Antitrust Division, both testified to improper and downright corrupt activity in Barr's DOJ.

The other two witnesses have worked in the office of the Attorney General under Republican presidents but had opposing viewpoints. Donald Ayer, the former Deputy Attorney General for President George H W Bush, eviscerated Barr's conduct every time he spoke in the hearing. Michael Mukasey, former Attorney General for President George W Bush, defended Barr's conduct every step of the way.

The most revelatory testimony came from Zelinsky. The name is familiar not just because it sounds like Ukrainian President Zelensky's. Zelinsky was a top prosecutor on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team and he resigned from his work on the case of Trump's longtime adviser Roger Stone after Barr intervened. Now, we have more details as to exactly what happened during that infamous week in February.

Zelinsky, along with other US prosecutors in DC, recommended a seven to nine-year sentence for Roger Stone's crimes, which include obstruction of justice, lying to investigators and witness tampering. The next day, President Trump sent a tweet complaining about the sentencing. Pretty much right away, the DOJ reduced Stones sentencing recommendations and undercut their own prosecutors in DC, calling the sentence "extreme." Trump thanked Barr publicly on Twitter. In protest of the move, four federal prosecutors quit the Stone case, including Zelinsky.

Zelinsky alleged that he was told Stone got special treatment because of "his relationship to the President." Zelinsky also testified that he was told that the Acting US Attorney in DC installed by Barr, Timothy Shea, got pressure from the highest levels of the DOJ. Zelinsky went on to say that he was told the sentencing reduction was based on political considerations and Shea gave Stone favorable treatment because he was afraid of the President. He depicted an out-of-control DOJ that was used to bending the rule of law to Trump's whims.

John Elias testified that Barr improperly launched antitrust investigations and targeted automakers because of tweets President Trump sent, not for reasons of upholding the rule of law. While Michael Mukasey defended all of Barr's conduct, Donald Ayer did not hold back, giving one of the most concise, blistering condemnations of Barr's conduct I've heard: I am here because I believe that William Barr poses the greatest threat, in my lifetime, to our rule of law and to public trust in it.

Throughout the hearing, House Republicans deployed the usual Russia hoax and Obamagate conspiracy theories. In an apparent effort to outdo his own asinine efforts in previous hearings, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) quite literally tapped loudly non-stop on the table during the entire last half of Ayer's opening statement. This didn't stop Ayer from clearly articulating that Barr has held a lifelong belief in the President's right to autocratic power  an allegation that holds true if you look at Barr's history of espousing the conservative unitary executive theory. If this hearing wasn't enough to prove that, look no further than today's headlines.

After Barr's DOJ requested that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's case be dropped, an Appeals Court just ordered that the case be dismissed before Judge Sullivan can complete his review. Michael Flynn lied to investigators and pleaded guilty to doing so but he could be let off the hook because he's Trump's buddy. While this case will likely be subject to future appeals, it's still a failure of justice.

This comes days after Barr's botched firing of US Attorney in the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Geoffrey Berman. Barr said Berman resigned last Friday; that was a lie. In fact, Berman initially said he would not resign until the Senate voted on his replacement, but ended up doing so after getting Barr to agree to put his deputy in charge. Trump denied all involvement with the matter  but given Trump has made 19,000 false or misleading claims according to The Washington Post, I'd say take his words with 19,000 grains of salt.

The SDNY put Trump's former personal fixer Michael Cohen in jail and is currently probing Trump's inaugural committee, Deutsche Bank, Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani and his associated Igor Fruman, and Lev Parnas. This move, quite frankly, reeks of corruption and abuse of power.

Barr lied about the Mueller report after taking office last year and cleared Trump of obstruction of justice. He then launched a probe to undermine the Russia probe. Barr interfered in the Roger Stone case to recommend lighter sentencing. He moved to get Flynn's case dropped. He ordered authorities to violently clear the peaceful protestors from Lafayette Square for Trump's Bible photo-op. There's a reason over 1,100 former prosecutors and DOJ officials have called on him to resign.

Barr's scandals continue to mount during one of the most politically perilous moments of Trump's presidency. Trump is down in some national polls by double digits as coronavirus spikes in red states. Over 120,000 people have died, over 40 million Americans remain unemployed, and the country is undergoing a racial reckoning that the President stands firmly on the wrong side of. Barr is just yet another thorn in Trump's faltering campaign.

While there have been calls for House Democrats to impeach Bill Barr, some say it might be best to hold him accountable by other means, such as targeting the budget of his office, or holding more hearings such as the one he has to attend next month. It's certainly a concern that Barr could try some last-minute moves ahead of the election in November to try and help Trump win, but his credibility has been so damaged that its hard to imagine anyone will believe what he says.

Needless to say, as long as Barr is in this role, his authoritarian tenure at the DOJ is on the ballot and anyone who values American democracy should vote accordingly.
A 23-year-old Massachusetts man died after his motorcycle caught on fire following a collision with a dump truck Tuesday night on Interstate 495, authorities said.

Massachusetts State Police troopers responded to a crash on I-495 south near Exit 8 in Raynham around 11:10 p.m., law enforcement said.

A man driving a 2016 Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycle had rear-ended a 2004 commercial dump truck that was hauling asphalt at the time, according to a statement from state police.

As a result, the motorcycle became engulfed in flames, and the operator was determined deceased at the scene, the statement said. Prior to the crash, the motorcycle was seen swerving in and out of travel lanes at an extremely high rate of speed.

State police did not release the name of the victim but said he was a 23-year-old Rehoboth man.

The collision caused the southbound side of the highway to be closed for roughly three-and-a-half hours. All traffic on that side of I-495 was detoured.

The crash remains under investigation.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Cupertino, we have a problem.

On Monday, Apple Inc. kicks off its Worldwide Developers Conference  a week-long annual event for the millions of programmers who create the apps that are enjoyed by roughly a billion iPhone users. Its meant to be a platform for celebrating the tech giants developer community, but this year the backdrop is different  and not just because the conference is being held entirely online for the first time. This time around, the festivities arrive just as Apple faces fresh scrutiny about the fairness of its App Store policies. There is a rising chorus of criticism over Apples business practices and how the company treats its partners, and the company will have trouble sidestepping the debate.The issue came to the fore last Tuesday, when the European Union said it opened two formal antitrust investigations into Apple. One of the probes is centered around Apples requirements on when companies are required to use the App Stores in-app purchase system, where it charges developers up to a 30% cut for digital content or services sold on its platform. Soon after that news hit, well-known Basecamp developer David Heinemeier Hansson accused Apple of a shakedown in rejecting the latest revision of his companys Hey email app. After an initial approval, Apple later decided the Hey app didnt deserve an exemption from using its in-app payment system, and thus would be required to use Apples billing service  and be subject to the fees that go with it  or face being kicked out of the app store.

Hanssons willingness to call out Apple publicly unleashed a tidal wave of similar negative commentary from other developers, who resent what they see as Apples arbitrary enforcement and seemingly haphazard rule set in its App Store Review Guidelines. Some complained Apples fee structure was way too high, while others wrote about their similar domineering treatment experiences going through Apples app approval process. As the anecdotes piled up throughout the week, many journalists and bloggers increasingly took the side of developers. Of course, it didnt help that Apple had already granted exceptions to larger companies including Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com, Inc. under special category exemptions and negotiated deals.

Story continues

And it wasnt only the developer community that was up in arms. Other larger technology companies and politicians felt compelled to weigh in amid the firestorm last week. Microsoft Corp. President Brad Smith said regulators should review Apples App Store practices, saying todays digital mobile stores now had far higher walls and far more formidable gates against competition than when Microsofts Windows operating system did two decades ago during the companys own antitrust battle. Further, Rhode Island Democratic Representative David Cicilline, the chairman of the House antitrust subcommittee, told The Verge the Apple App Store is charging exorbitant rents  highway robbery, basically  bullying people to pay 30 percent or denying access to their market.

The truth is, Apples dominance over nearly half of the U.S. smartphone market and its more affluent customer base means every developer and company with an app simply needs to be on the iOS platform. And its power is such that it can materially harm potential competitors at a whim with anti-competitive business decisions. Antitrust laws are tailor-made for situations like this.

Apple should accept this new reality and act accordingly. The company can defuse the situation by updating its policies to be more developer friendly. Many of its current guidelines were created under a drastically different circumstance more than a decade ago and need to be revamped. For example, Apples in-app payment system exemptions  from a business versus consumer service delineation to the exception for reader apps such as Netflix and Amazons Kindle  do not have much business logic behind them in todays world. The fact that some developers are forced to give up nearly a third of their sales to Apple, while others can skate by without paying anything simply doesnt seem fair.

So, here are the four things Apple can do:

Rewrite its App Store review guidelines with clear, concise and precise language for its requirements and terms. There is still too much confusion on what is allowed or not allowed under its current policy, making every app approval process a worrisome ordeal for developers. Make any in-app purchase system exemption that is offered to larger and powerful companies available to smaller developers as well. Its a bad look to offer loopholes for Amazon, but not for the rest of the community. Consider a complete revamp of the entire fee business model. Online dating company Match Group, Inc. said in a statement last week it is unfair that the digital services app category is the only one that is forced to pay fees to Apple. The company noted apps that provide ride-sharing services and social-network apps that monetize through advertising dont have to pay that same cut. Perhaps, if Apple can spread its fee take to a larger base of companies, it can then lower the overarching percentage. For example, the Epic Games Inc. Games Store charges a 12% fee on software sold on its platform, while also allowing developers the ability to use their own payments services for in-app purchases. Abandon certain blatantly anti-competitive restrictions  such as forbidding links and descriptions to external, potentially cheaper purchasing alternatives.

The ability to offer more choice to consumers is the main request by the developers who are criticizing Apples policies. Hansson, the developer at the center of the last weeks debate, told me he and others like him want the ability to bill their own customers and direct potential customers to where they can buy a subscription. Fundamentally, we want choice, he wrote in an email. It's plain, it's fair, and it's way over due. European Union said last week it will look into Apples restrictions that keep developers from informing users of alternative purchasing avenues inside apps.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney also agrees app developers should not be forced to use Apples in-app payments system. Apple blocks competing payment providers from offering lower fees, Sweeney told me in an email. iOS and Android should be level playing fields where all stores and service providers can compete freely, unhindered by anti-competitive tying of stores and services, he wrote.

Yes, acceding to some of these demands and concessions may hurt Apples finances on the margin. But the tech giant valued at nearly $1.5 trillion can afford it. Meanwhile, there is no doubt the antitrust regulatory freight train is coming down the track at full steam in both the U.S. and Europe. Apple should proactively offer fairer terms or risk cruder regulatory actions from governments that will likely be far worse.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Tae Kim is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. He previously covered technology for Barron's, following an earlier career as an equity analyst.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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On the Friday before her court date, Reed received data crunched by UVA. The university partners with the Virginia Department of Education to calculate teacher turnover rates, said Michelle Hudacsko, the school systems chief of staff.

Hudacsko said the city school district wanted to make sure that the data they share matches what UVA is sharing, hence the delay in providing her with the numbers from the 2017-2018 school year.

Id be concerned if someone were to try to create a retention rate out of the raw data, Hudacsko said. Then you dont have the apples-to-apples business rules. By business rules, she means that UVAs way to calculate the rate of teacher turnover requires attention to special circumstances regarding turnover, like retirements and promotions.

Judge Tracy William Thorne-Begland said the request for data was exactly that: data. With that, he said the district should provide raw data regarding teacher turnover in the next two weeks.

Reeds request stemmed from her concern that Black teachers are being pushed out of Richmond Public Schools. She said she also worries that when these teachers leave, the district might replace them with less experienced teachers.
First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar and U.S. Charge d'Affaires a.i. in Ukraine Kristina Kvien discussed the strengthening of international efforts to de-occupy Crimea annexed by Russia and the temporarily occupied areas of Donbas.

"During the meeting, the parties discussed the further development of cooperation, including issues on restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, strengthening international efforts to de-occupy Crimea and certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions," the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reports.

Dzheppar also emphasized the importance of strengthening security in the Black and Mediterranean Seas, protecting human rights, expanding cooperation in the information sector, as well as implementing the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs in Ukraine.

In turn, Kvien confirmed the full support by the U.S. Administration and Congress for the inviolability of Ukraines borders and democratic development.

The parties also noted the need for further coordination and expansion of USAID projects, including in the humanitarian sector.

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Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 14:05 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406613d618 1 Business credit-card,central-bank,PIN-number,COVID-19,cashless-payment Free

Credit card holders should activate their six-digit personal identification number (PIN), which will be mandatory for transactions as of July 1, the Indonesian Credit Card Association (AKKI) has stated.

In accordance with Bank Indonesia regulation, starting from July 1, all credit card transactions will require six-digit PIN numbers as a form of authentication, while signature authentication will be disallowed. The only exception is for purchases below Rp 1 million (US$70.9) using contactless credit cards.

A survey by YouGov in June showed that one in four Indonesian credit card users had yet to activate their PIN, despite an overwhelming 81 percent stating they were aware of the regulation deadline.

People know about the regulation, but they say they are too busy to activate their credit card PIN, while in fact it can be done in minutes, AKKI chairman Steve Marta said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

Steve added that switching to PIN authentication was essential to increase the security of cashless transactions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic which had prompted people to use more cashless payments to minimize the virus spread.

According to the survey, in the last three months, 75 percent of respondents have more often used digital payments, such as e-wallet OVO, followed by debit or credit cards.

All transactions, including credit card usage, has gone down this year due to the pandemic. When transactions do happen, it is usually through online platforms instead of retail stores, he said.

However, he said he was optimistic that credit card usage could still grow as people started to enter the transitional period when the government eases large-scale social restrictions (PSBB).

The PIN authentication requirement was initially planned for 2015 but was pushed back to 2020 as the banking industry faced difficulties in implementing the measure.

Meanwhile, Visa Worldwide Indonesia president director Riko Abdurrahman said the pandemic had accelerated consumers adoption of cashless payment methods globally.

According to the Kantar Covid-19 Barometer study in March, 62 percent of Indonesian consumers said they would continue to use credit cards and mobile e-wallets to pay for goods instead of cash, in line with the global trend.

We are on the right trajectory in becoming a less-cash society. In fact, people are expecting Indonesia to become cashless in the next two to five years, he told the press. This is why it is essential for credit card holders to activate the PIN [payment method] and ensure a seamless payment experience.

A recent survey by global fintech organization Rapyd showed that credits cards remained the most popular form of payment in Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, while e-wallets were the preferred choice in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

While developed countries have been using cards for years and seem to be slower in adopting alternatives, consumers in emerging economies have leapfrogged the cards stage altogether and use mobile wallets or bank transfers, the report stated.

The report suggests that only 4 percent of Indonesians have international credit cards and that debit cards are usually set up to disallow online purchases.
Manchester & London Investment Trust Plc - Issue of Shares, Related Party Transactions & Circular

MANCHESTER AND LONDON INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

(the "Company" or "MLIT")

Proposed Issue of Ordinary Shares, Related Party Transaction and Publication of Circular

The Proposals

The Board of the Company announces that it has today published a circular (the "Circular") setting out the Board's proposals to seek Shareholder approval to grant authority to allot up to 2,275,000 New Ordinary Shares on a non-pre-emptive basis and to approve the Related Party Transaction and Smaller Related Party Transaction (the "Proposals").

The Proposals are subject to Shareholder approval and accordingly the Circular contains a notice convening a General Meeting of the Company to be held at 12a Princes Gate Mews, London SW7 2PS, United Kingdom on 16thJuly 2020 at 11.55 a.m. at which the following resolutions will be put to Shareholders:

authorise the allotment of up to 2,275,000 New Ordinary Shares (representing 6.7 per cent. of the issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) of the Company as at the date of this document) (" Resolution 1 ");

dis-apply statutory pre-emption rights otherwise applicable to the allotment of New Ordinary Shares such that New Ordinary Shares do not first have to be offered to Shareholders in proportion to their holdings of Ordinary Shares (" Resolution 2 "); and

approve the issue of New Ordinary Shares to the Related Party by way of an issue of up to 2,275,000 Shares and to retrospectively approve the issue of 1,250,000 Ordinary Shares to the Related Party on the 12thFebruary 2020 ("Resolution 3").

The background to, the reasons for and the Directors' recommendations for these Proposals are set out in the Circular which will shortly available for download from the national storage mechanism: www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM and from the Company's website: http://mlcapman.com/manchester-london-investment-trust-plc/

Please note that as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the imposition of Stay at Home measures by the UK Government, physical attendance at the General Meeting will not be possible. In addition, and in accordance with the Company's Articles of Association, the Company will impose entry restrictions on attendance at the General Meeting. Shareholders are strongly encouraged to vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting. In light of Covid-19 and restrictions on attendance at the General Meeting, the Board encourages Shareholders to vote electronically and to appoint the Chairman of the meeting as their proxy with their voting instructions.

Proposed Related Party Transaction

M&M Investment Company Plc ("MMIC"), a company controlled by Mark Sheppard, the owner of M&L Capital Management Limited, the Company's Manager, and a controlling shareholder in the Company, has committed to subscribe for up to 2,275,000 new ordinary shares of 25 pence each ("Shares") for cash at the time of the Issue at a price equal to the then prevailing Net Asset Value per Share ("Subscription"), subject to a maximum subscription amount of 16m (the "Maximum Subscription Amount"). In the event, the Subscription were to exceed the Maximum Subscription Amount, the number of Shares to be issued to MMIC will be reduced such that the Subscription does not exceed the Maximum Subscription Amount. The Company may issue up to 2,275,000 Shares to other investors not connected to the Related Party pursuant to the Issue with any such issue of Shares to other investors reducing the number of Shares available to be issued to MMIC.

This Subscription is deemed to be a related party transaction within the definition of the LR 11.1.5R and is subject to shareholder approval.

The Board believes that the proposed Issue would bring the following benefits to the Company:

increased scale which in turn increases the appeal of the Company to a broader group of investors;

increased liquidity in the Shares through a greater number of Shares in issue (and potentially an increased free float); and

an increase in assets of the Company over which its fixed costs can be spread reducing the Company's ongoing charges ratio.

Following the Subscription, assuming 2,275,000 Shares are issued to MMIC, the Mark Sheppard, via MMIC, will be interested in a total of 19,614,169 Shares in MLIT, representing 54.3% of the Company's issued share capital, as enlarged by the Subscription. The new Shares will rank pari passu with the existing Shares in issue.

The Board is also seeking retrospective Shareholder approval at the General Meeting for the issue of 1,250,000 Shares to the Related Party on the 12 February 2020. As announced on the 12 February 2020, this transaction was deemed to be a smaller related party transaction within the definition of Listing Rule 11.1.10R which has been aggregated under LR 11.1.11R for the purposes of assessing the application of LR 11 to the Related Party Transaction.

Capitalised terms used in this announcement and not otherwise defined have the meanings given to them in the Circular.

EXPECTED TIMETABLE

2020 Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy 11.55 a.m. on 14 July General Meeting 11.55 a.m. on 16 July

The above times and/or dates may be subject to change and, in the event of such change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified to Shareholders by an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.

All references to times are to London times.



Enquiries:

M&L Capital Management Limited (AIFM): +44 (0) 207 584 5733

Link Company Matters Limited - Company Secretary: +44 (0) 1392 477500

Winterflood Securities Limited (Sponsor): +44 (0) 20 3100 0000



LEI: 213800HMBZXULR2EEO10
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:18:02|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, June 23 (Xinhua) -- New job opportunities offered by the Indian government to migrant laborers who had returned home during COVID-19 lockdown under various schemes have resulted in much-needed boost to employment in rural areas, a new data released by the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) showed.

Opening up of the country's rural economy, good progress of the ongoing monsoon season, and a robust sowing season are aiding the employment pick-up in rural India.

Promising monsoon is providing seasonal farm jobs to hundreds of thousands of migrant workers who returned to their rural homes.

Due to the nationwide lockdown which was imposed on March 25, hundreds of thousands of jobless laborers had migrated to their native places. Many of them walked down long distances, up to 2,000 km, as all public transport, including train, buses, and airlines, were suspended during the lockdown.

Many of the laborers hailed from states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Odisha. They migrated from big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru.

Following the exodus, the federal government had promised jobs to such migrant workers right at their doorsteps, under various schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), Skill India, Jan Dhan Yojana (Public Money Scheme), Kisan Kalyan Yojana (Farmers Welfare Scheme), Food Security Scheme, and Prime Minister Awas Yojana (Prime Minister Housing Scheme).

According to the CMIE data, the rural unemployment rate fell to 7.26 percent in the week ended June 21, from 10.96 percent in the previous week. The job loss rate has dropped to the lowest level in three months, even lower than the week preceding March 25.

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, reported the Hindustan Times.

It quoted economist Aroop Mitra as saying, "A good sowing season is helping the rural employment environment. There is distressed employment in rural areas. Hence, the labor force participation is going up."

Additional spending by the central government and states in schemes such as the employment guarantee scheme and the new jobs schemes to offer informal work to migrants have also helped, Mitra added.

While the employment rate in rural areas had seen a steady pick-up since the government eased lockdown curbs, urban India continues to witness higher joblessness as cities struggle to contain rising COVID-19 infections, revealed the CMIE data.

The urban unemployment rate continued to hover much above the 10 percent level, partly because of the impact of rising infections in cities such as Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai, and as companies resorted to retrenchment as cost saving measures. The urban job loss rate fell 2 percentage points to 11.19 percent in the week ended June 21, added the data.

According to the data, the country's overall unemployment rate was, however, lower at 8.48 percent in the week ended June 21, a drop of more than 3 percentage points from the previous week. In the pre-lockdown week, India's overall job loss rate was 8.41 percent, it added. Enditem
Walid al-Muallem has condemned the recent sanctions imposed on Syria by the US and has called on Syrians to use this opportunity to pull the country from its economic slump writes SANA.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Muallem has said that the real goal behind the so-called Caesar Act is to open the door for terrorism to return Syria to 2011 and to force Syria to give up its alliance with the resistance and accept normalization with Israel.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Muallem said that the statements made by Mike Pompeo and James Jeffery about the so-called Caesar Act prove that they are all liars because if they worked for the good of the Syrian people they wouldnt conspire against their livelihoods.

He stressed that there are no exceptions in the so-called Caesar Act and that the Americans are lying when they claim that this Act doesnt include medical supplies and food.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the Syrian people are used to dealing with unilateral sanctions, which have been imposed on them since 1978.

He added that the act should be turned into an opportunity for the Syrian people to perk up their economy, achieve self-sufficiency and deepen cooperation with friends and allies in all domains, underlining that Syrias war on terrorism will not stop.

Muallem wondered if the presence of US forces around Syrian oil fields, the burning of wheat fields and the US threat to friendly countries that want to contribute to reconstructing Syria serve the interests of the Syrian people.

He said that the US occupation forces are investing in terrorism and this was proved by the transporting of Islamic State leaders by helicopter to Iraq and the support given to Jabhat al-Nusra and the Turkish regime in their aggression on Syria.

He said that the US defends Israeli interests and its withdrawal from the region is inevitable.

Muallem added that Turkey occupies Syrian territories and the lessons of history have shown that the people who struggle for the sake of their freedom and sovereignty will win in the end.

On the political track, Muallem affirmed Syrias commitment to the process of finding a political solution to the crisis in the country and its rejection of any American or non-American foreign interference in the work of the Constitution Committee, which must be a Syrian-led process away from any foreign interference.

He emphasized that the Syrian people will not allow anyone to interfere in their constitution and will only accept a national constitution that meets their aspirations.

The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated that the Syrian people are the only ones who will decide their future and Trump, Pompeo and Jeffrey are not entitled to speak about it.

Muallem affirmed that Syria is determined to stand by the Palestinian people and it rejects the Israeli occupation plots to annex territories from the west Bank, adding that Israel must withdraw from all occupied Arab lands.

He asserted that Syria backs the Libyan National Army and institutions as well as Libyan sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also reiterated Syrias support for Egypts national security.

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.
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.
Actor Manoj Bajpayee has joined the debate on Bollywood nepotism. In an interview with WION, Manoj said that the industry celebrates mediocrity, and ignores those that are actually talented. The debate was reignited after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, whod frequently spoken about the difficulties that an outsider has to face in the industry.

Let me start with this, the world is not fair. I have been saying this since 20 years that as an industry we celebrate mediocrity. Forget about industry, as a nation we celebrate mediocrity. Something is lacking somewhere -- in our thought process, our value system. When we see talent, we immediately want to ignore or push it away. This is the value system of ours which is so deplorable, Manoj said.

Sushant died by suicide at the age of 34. He was depressed. His fans have picked up the pitchforks against powerful filmmakers, monopolistic film studios, and star kids, for allegedly not giving Sushant his due.

Also read: The real reason Sushant Singh Rajput was forced to drop out of Half Girlfriend, was replaced by Arjun Kapoor

Manoj, who worked with Sushant in Sonchiriya, said that the industry needs to check itself or it will keep facing flak by the audience. I have said it before that this industry has wasted talent; so much that in any other country those talents who have not been given their due here, would have been known as the best actors of the world. But we dont care. Firstly, if you dont have talent then you have to be extremely lucky to get by. This is the system I am talking about. This is the cold value of this industry. I am not blaming anyone. I am a part of this industry. This is why I said in my past interviews that we have to look inward and rectify that. Rectify, or you will keep getting flak for it, cursed for it and will keep on losing respect of the common people, he said.

Talking about himself, Manoj said that he survived in the industry as he is thick-skinned and the son of a different mother. He said that films of a smaller scale are not marketed properly and the moment they start doing well, they are pulled out of theatres.

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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[June 24, 2020] Ridecell and Continental Collaborate with Shared Mobility Operators to Offer Financial Relief for Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Crisis

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ridecell Inc., the leading platform provider for shared mobility operators, and technology company and automotive supplier Continental which also provides keyless entry solutions that enable sustainable and connected mobility, today announced that they are collaborating to support ZITY who is offering free services to medical workers. Ridecell is the platform that powers shared mobility customers, and Continental provides its Key as a Service (KaaS) solution that allows service providers to securely access and start vehicles using an App, and manage the vehicle status from the cloud. Together, the companies are offering discounted access to their mobility cloud products to ZITY in Paris during the pandemic to support essential workers. Shared mobility thrives on an ecosystem of partners, and during this crisis, each is doing its part to help front line workers. "In times of plenty and in times of crisis, Ridecell helps shared mobility operators remain agile and adjust to customer need and demand," said Aarjav Trivedi, CEO of Ridecell. "We do that through our platform's data combined with our vast ecosystem of partners who work together to deliver exceptional customer experiences. During COVID-19, that ecosystem has come together in the service of medical teams and essential workers. We are proud to do what we can to thank these personnel for saving lives while they risk their own. This is a small gesture in comparison to the epic work they do, but we're happy to help them move to and from work without worry." While ridehailing and carsharing services have taken a hit during the COVID-19 outbreak as fewer people commute, essential workers and delivery services have experienced an increased need for vehicles. Shared mobility operators are offering free rides an rentals to front-line service workers. ZITY is offering free week-long rentals to healthcare and Red Cross workers in Paris to help them get to and from work without worry or costs. Ridecell and Continental have adjusted their pricing for ZITY in solidarity with their commitment to essential workers.



"While every company is facing their own hardships during this crisis, it is still important to work together to get through these challenging times," said Ms. Jennifer Wahnschaff, head of Intelligent Transportation Systems business segment at Continental. "We salute our customers for going above and beyond to service their communities right now. Ridecell and Continental were inspired to discount our joint cloud offerings and bolster ZITY's efforts. Ridecell offers the world's only end-to-end platform for both carsharing and ridehailing businesses and is designed to create high-yield shared mobility businesses. For more information, visit www.ridecell.com

Continental uses constantly connected driving technologies to improve safety, reduce emissions, and provide mobility for everyone. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic, and transportation. For more information, visit www.continental.com About Ridecell Ridecell helps companies build and operate profitable shared mobility businesses. With the company's High-yield Shared Mobility SaaS toolkit of intelligent software, business services, and ecosystem partners, Ridecell customers maximize three key profit drivers: customer experience; fleet utilization; and operational efficiency.

Founded in 2009, today Ridecell powers some of the most successful shared mobility services in cities across Europe and North America. These services include ZITY from Ferrovial and Groupe Renault, Gig Car Share from AAA, Blu Smart EV Ride sharing Service, and Karma Mobility Experiences from Karma Automotive. Ridecell is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with more than 170 employees in offices across the globe. About Continental Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic, and transportation. In 2019, Continental generated sales of 44.5 billion and currently employs about 240,000 people in 59 countries and markets. Continental expands its portfolio of products and technologies with a growing range of services that contribute to safe, efficient, and intelligent mobility. The company's solutions include data collection and analyses for road, traffic, and vehicles as well as transportation and parking management. Further, intelligent toll payment, fleet services, digital tire management, smart access systems, as well as mobility as a service, complement the range. The solutions address needs of vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, fleets, tire dealers and tire service providers, industrial customers, or cities. Continental significantly invests in global acquisitions and strategic partnerships to further grow its service business. In 2017, Continental accounted for an annual turnover of more than 500 EUR million from its services business worldwide.

Media Contact:

Jane Gideon

Tel: 415-682-9292

Email: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ridecell-and-continental-collaborate-with-shared-mobility-operators-to-offer-financial-relief-for-essential-workers-during-the-covid-19-crisis-301080459.html SOURCE Ridecell Inc.

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Sushant Singh Rajput's untimely demise by suicide has re-ignited the debate of nepotism, lobbying and favouritism in Bollywood on social media. After filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap accused Salman Khan of sabotaging his career and Raveena Tandon tweeted on Bollywood camps and dirty politics within the film industry, actor Abhay Deol shared his thoughts on lobbying culture in the showbiz in an Instagram post.

The actor claimed that when Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara released in 2011, almost all the awards ceremonies "demoted" him and Farhan Akhtar from main leads, and only nominated Hrithik Roshan as actor in a leading role."

Now, the actor has spoken at length about the same in an interview with Hindustan Times.

"This was clearly an overt example," Abhay said. "They didnt even bother hiding their bias, something that they normally take efforts to do. Lobby culture has been prevalent in our industry not for years, but decades. Hence, no one thinks about standing up, or bothering to do anything. They are all ready to conform, which is why they know that they can get away with it."

Deols post comes in the wake of Sushants death, after which many are slamming nepotism and lobbying culture in the film industry. Abhay said although he didnt know the late actor, but I could relate to his career.

Sushants death definitely sort of pushed me to speak up a little bit. But, this isnt my first time speaking up. In the past, Ive taken on the biggest. Im sorry it took someones death to wake everybody up. But Im glad that people have taken note and they want to be heard. Theyre asking for a change not just from the outside of the industry but even from the inside."
Quandel 'Chucky' Smothers, 29 (pictured), said to be the 'Godfather' of the Elite Assassin Millas, a street gang affiliated with the Bloods, is one of seven men who have been charged with a slew of felonies

Seven members of the Elite Assassin Millas, described as a street gang affiliated with the Bloods, have been charged with a slew of felonies, including murder, attempted murder and conspiracy racketeering.

The United States Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of New York this morning unsealed a 20-count indictment in federal court in Brooklyn charging the suspected gang members, all of them men in their 20s or early 30s living in Brooklyn, in connection to five shootings, which left one person dead and two others paralyzed from their wounds.

The suspects have been identified as Tyshawn 'Reck' Corbett, 30; QAwon 'Phorty Wap' Allen, 26; Desmonn 'Des' Beckett, 27; Devon 'D' Bristol, 29, and his older brother, Marlon 'Marlo' Birstol, 32; Andrew 'Phaze' Campbell, 24, and Quandel 'Chucky' Smothers, 29.

The men said to be affiliated with the Elite Assassin Millas (EAM), a subset of the Bloods, are facing charges of racketeering conspiracy; murder in-aid-of racketeering; attempted murder in-aid-of racketeering; conspiracy to commit murder in-aid-of racketeering; assault in-aid-of racketeering; interstate stalking; accessory after-the-fact to attempted murder and assault and related firearms offenses.

Five of the suspects were arrested on Tuesday night and will make their initial appearance via videoconference this afternoon. The two remaining defendants, who were already in federal custody, will be arraigned on the new charges later.

According to court filings, EAM has been around since 2006 and follows many of the rules and the hierarchical structure of other Bloods sets, earning money through criminal activities like drug trafficking and fraud, and protecting their 'turf' and reputation through violence and acts of retribution.

US Attorney Richard Donoghue in a statement accused EAM and other street gangs of turning the streets of East New York in Brooklyn into 'lethal shooting galleries.'

In recent years, according to federal prosecutors, Quandel Smothers has held EAMs highest-ranking position of 'Godfather.' State records indicate that he has racked up more than a dozen arrests and previously served three years on a weapons conviction.

In April 2011, Smothers allegedly shot a fellow gangster to stop him from harming another member of their gang over a drug-related dispute. As a result of the shooting, the victims leg had to be amputated.

Three years later, Smothers himself was shot and wounded during a shootout with police officers, but survived.

Then in April 2015, Smothers' associate Tyshawn Corbett allegedly shot dead Michael 'Nitty' Tenorio, 22, in retaliation for an earlier shooting that claimed the life of a fellow EAM member.

According to documents, Corbett was seen on surveillance video chasing Tenorio through Cypress Hills in Brooklyn while firing at him, then repeatedly shooting the victim after he collapsed to the ground.

The following March, Corbett allegedly ambushed and shot another man in East New York.

Prosecutors say the Elite Assassin Millas is a set of the Bloods gang that has been around since 2006 (Pictured: Bloods members in red seen in Missouri)

The victim, identified in the indictment only as 'John Doe 1,' survived that first attempt on his life, only to be hunted down and attacked a second time in June 2018 while sitting in a car in Queens. The victim was left paralyzed as a result of his injuries.

Prosecutors say that in order to track down Doe, Crobett and the Bristol brothers used a GPS device, which they attached to the victim's car.

In the spring of 2018, members of EAM, with Corbett among them, got into a feud with another person, identified in charging papers as John Doe 2, leading to a physical altercation and a shootout where no one was hit.

That summer, Allen, Campbell and other suspected members of EAM allegedly hatched a plot to kill Doe 2, leading to a shooting in July on Glenmore Avenue in East New York that left the targeted man paralyzed.

'Gang-related violence begets more violence, and we will not tolerate the violent crimes allegedly committed by these defendants in our communities,' stated Donoghue.

If convicted of murdering Tenorio, Corbett faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison and is eligible for the death penalty.

If convicted at trial of the firearms offenses, Allen, Smothers and the Bristol brothers could be sentenced to up to life in prison.

Campbell and Beckett each face up to 10 years in prison, if found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in-aid-of racketeering, and accessory after-the-fact to the assault in-aid-of racketeering, respectively.

Prosecutors on Wednesday filed a motion asking the judge to order all seven defendants held without bail, arguing that they are a flight risk and a danger to the community.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) entered into between the Congress party and the Communist Party of China in 2008 raises concerns regarding national security and should be investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a petition filed before the Supreme Court on Wednesday prayed.

The petitioners, Shahshak Shekhar Jha, a Delhi based advocate and Savio Rodrigues, the editor of Goa based online news portal, Goa Chronicle alleged that despite India having hostile relations with China, the Congress party had signed the MoU when it was leading a coalition government at the centre and it also failed to disclose the facts and details of the agreement to the public.

Petitioner No. 2 (Savio Rodrigues) had demanded the respondents to make the said MoU public, however, no heed was shown in that respect which shows the malafide intention of the Respondents (Congress party and its leaders), the petition stated.

Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have also been made party to the case apart from the Congress party.

Issue an order directing NIA to investigate the said agreement under UAPA, it was prayed by the petitioners.

The UAPA is a law aimed at punishing those involved in terrorist activities and activities intended to bring about secession of any part of the country from the union of India.

In the alternative, Jha and Rodrigues sought a court-monitored probe by CBI.

After the recent faceoff between Indian and Chinese armies at Ladakh, the Congress party has stepped up its attack on the Narendra Modi government alleging it failed on diplomatic and military fronts.

The ruling BJP, on the other hand, countered by referring to the MoU signed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on behalf of the Congress party with the Chinese Communist Party. The MoU was signed at Beijing in the presence of Sonia Gandhi who was then the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) headed by the Congress.

Placing reliance on media reports, the petitioners submitted that at least 600 incursions happened from Chinese side into Indian territory between 2008 and 2013.

The Congress party brought the Right to Information Act during its rule, yet it failed to be transparent in this matter which is of national importance, the petition said.

Jha had earlier approached the top court seeking CBI probe into the lynching of Hindu seers in Palghar district of Maharashtra. The court, on May 1, sought a status report from Maharashtra government regarding the same. That case is expected to be heard again in the second week of July.
Magical smoker

Author: shaohu du

Summary of the story



Nell Stallone and Chali are an unmarried couple and they travel to Europe,

Chinese spy Lijian Deng lead four Chinese men to the Hong Kong Airport.

The four Chinese men were patients of the CCP virus,

Their mission is to spread the CCP virus to Europe.

At the Hong Kong Airport, Stallone was infected.

He was very ill and after traveling in Europe for 20 days,

he returned to the United States where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.

After three months more in a coma, Stallone woke up.

Stallone lost a lot of memory and he got a new strange disease,

More often, when he sneezes or coughs, his nose or mouth may emit black smoke.

From this he created many funny scenes:

The medical staff and his relatives they give his celebrate the birthday,

He coughed out black smoke change the white cake to black...

At the farmers market, The black smoke from he coughed change a group of white sheep into black sheep...

He coughed up black smoke to make his grandmothers white hair change black.

The black smoke he coughed made a delicious roast duck...

The black smoke he coughed like a snake would they will into the people's clothes...

The black smoke he coughed up helped many old people make new black hair...

He coughed up smoke to punish a vicious Chinese woman.

Jordan is the old brother of Stallone,

Linda is the wife of Jordan; They took Stallone to a cemetery,



Tell him that Chali is your fiancee and she is buried here.

She was also infection the CCP virus unfortunately died.

They took Stallone to a Advanced Research Institute.

The professor there said that because Stallone was ill due to the CCP virus,

this virus mutated in his body,

And the gas he inhaled would turn black and have powerful energy.

They encountered a traffic jam on the way home.

There was a patient in an ambulance that needed emergency treatment.

Stallone coughed sprayed black smoke therefore give the patient rehabilitation.

The news spread that Stallone became a celebrity.

Many people were unfortunately infected with the CCP virus.

Stallone went to the hospital to treat patients,

Chali saw Stallone treating patients on TV.

It turned out that Cha Li did not die, she was lucky to avoid form assassination of Li Jian Deng.

Chali has a good friend named Zhou Xiaoling,

She joined the FTL organization; this organization promotes violent art,

Advocating robbery and destruction,

Mamali was the daughter of the former US president and she is also a member of this organization.

Zhou Xiaoling took Chali to participate in FTL activities.

Chali found that someone was tortured in the FTL headquarters building.

Chali is a very powerful hacker.

She obtains FTL's confidential documents and knows that the CCP government provides activities funds to FTL.

She told Zhou Xiaoling these secrets and advised Zhou Xiaoling to leave the FTL,

but Zhou Xiaoling said she would not believe it.

Cha Li did not expect that everyone who joined the FTL was under monitor,

Lijian Deng arrange a spy to assassinate Chali.

That night, Chalis cousin Zi Ying came to the United States from China and she stayed at Chalis house.

Zi Ying she looks like Chali.

The spy thinks she is Chali and kills her.

Cha Li knew that Li Jian Deng would come back to assassinate herself again.

She was helped by Jordan and Linda. They buried Zi Ying.

The name written on the tombstone was Chali.

Chali knew that Stallone was not dead,

She missed him very much and secretly followed him.

One day, Stallone went to the hospital to treat the patient,

But he couldn't cough out black smoke.

After that, Stallone can't cough black smoke every time.

Jordan and Linda take him go to the advanced institute.

The professor said that to ensure that Stallone coughed up black smoke,

Love is needed.

On the way home need to refuel and then they go to a gas store,

Chali was robbed by two yellow men,

And she was robbed of the diamond engagement ring.

By chance this moment Stallone came out of the store,

He spewed black smoke to wrap an escaped robber,

And the robber was arrested by the police.

Stallone found that diamond ring underground,

And the ring was engraved with abbreviated letters to indicate that this was his and Cha Li's name.

He knew that Chali was still alive.

Lijian Deng take action to assassinate Cha Li, But her had fled to Britain.

The British Prime Minister John was infected with the Chinese Communist Party virus,

He entered the intensive care unit,

The British through diplomatic contact,

Stallone comes to England to help John get heal.

He sneezes and a plume of black smoke flies to John to let open his eyes.

Who are you? He asked Stallone.

I'm Stallone. You konw this is me coughed the black smoke to help you wake up?

But you need more black smoke to get well.

John said aloud that I never smoke and are most afraid of smoke,

You are a liar! He hid under the bed and refused to let Stallone spray black smoke at him.



Stallone was very anxious.

The black smoke he hard force coughed up was like a tornado,

The black tornado was pulling John through the window and flying out.

John entangled in Black smoke and flew into house and fall on the sofafly.

After the black smoke disappeared,

People saw John standing up and shouting angrily.

He was almost naked.

The Chinese man who transmitted the CCP virus to Stallone was also treated in a London hospital,

He also got help from Stallone to recover,



So he revealed to the media the CCPs conspiracy to spread the CCP virus to Europe and the United States.

Stallone is also a hacker.

When Chali came to the UK and used a credit card to spend,

Stallone found that she was staying in a hotel.

Lijian Deng and the two spies also came to Britain, and they also found the location of Cha Li.

The big screen of the mall played a video about Stallone spray black smoke to treatment John.

Cha Li was also watching.

She also saw Lijian Deng with two Chinese men into the mall.

She fled and three Chinese spies chased her.

Stallone also entered the mall and saw Cha Li being chased by three Chinese men.

Cha li ran out of the mall, She snatch a woman's car key and drove away.

Stallone ran out of the mall and coughed at a passing car.

the black smoke dissipate After ,

The car lost and the couple lay on the ground and they looked strange.

Cha Li runs away in front, Lijian Deng chases in the back,

Stallone chases Lijian Deng.

He saw that Li Jiandeng is about to catch up with Chali.

He are anxious and then sprayed black smoke and drove a group of cattle onto the highway.

This group of cows blocked Lijian Dengs car can't go ahead.

Chali fled to a small town, a large Morris prom is being here,

And the streets were full of people and cars no through traffic.

There were two lines of people dancing, and Chali crawled forward among them.

Three Chinese spies chased them and they also could only crawled chase Cha Li.



This scene made crowd excited.

Stallone also crawled behind Li Jian Deng,

He saw Lijian Deng will catch up with Cha Li,

He coughed out black smoke to wrap the three Chinese spies,

He crawled on their body and quickly caught up with Chali,

Cha Li hugged Stallone tightly, they kissed excited,

This scene made crowd more excited.

Stallone and Chali escaped from the town,

But three Chinese spies continued to chase them.

They came to the mountain, and there was no road ahead.

They see outside the cave stand a sign,

Have warning on the sign saying it was a dangerous cave with a lot of vampire bats inside.

They dare not go in cave.

As three Chinese spies approached, Stallone and Cha Li ran into the cave.

Three Chinese spies chased them and shot them.

Stallone and Cha Li ran into the cave,

Three Chinese spies also came outside the cave.

Stallone coughed but could not emit black smoke.

Chali kissed him hard, Stallone get huge energy,

He coughed hard spurt the strong black smoke,

The bats in the cave was frightened,

They flew outside to attack surround the three Chinese spies.

Lijian Deng was twine by the black smoke and he fall off cliff.

The other two spies also died because they were attacked by the bats.

But Lijian Deng, who fell into the sea,

He was lucky to be rescued by the fishermen to the boat.

The yellow man who robbed the Chali diamond ring,

He robbed a woman again and run away.

But police caught up with him.

He resisted and bumps police repeatedly with his body.

The police use electric batons to work hard and then to subdue him.

Someone shoot a video of this scene.

After the video was broadcast on the TV station,

People think that police violent law enforcement.

Many demonstrations broke out.

A lot of people robbed and cause destruction of police cars.

Cha Li's friend Zhou Xiaoling also participated in the demonstration,

And also participated in the robbery and burning of police cars during the demonstration.

Stallone and Cha Li knew through hacking that the demonstration riots were planned by FTL leaders and Chinese spies.



The slogan they shouted was "The yellow lives matte ",

They's purpose is to create turmoil and chaos across the United States and then disappear the government.

Cha Li persuaded Zhou Xiaoling to leave the FTL organization,

But Zhou Xiaoling was assassinated by Lijian Deng.

The US President is going to hold a press conference at the White House.

The FTL received missiles from the Chinese government.

They planned to hold demonstrations outside the White House to launch missiles at the President.

Stallone and Chali obtained this secret.

They drove to Washington in an emergency.

Five seconds before Lijian Deng shot the missile,

Stallone coughed jet black smoke no twines him.

The missile changed direction after it was launched,

It did not shoot to White House but flew to the FTL building.

Li Jian Deng shoots Cha Li,

Stallone used his body to protect her,

He coughed at Lijian Deng; The black smoke tore Lijian Deng...

Stallone and Chali held their wedding ceremony in the city hall,

The President of the United States congratulated they on the big screen in City Hall,

Stallone sneezes inadvertently, A little smoky black smoke floats towards the big screen,

The Presidents blond hair turned black, He yelled: No





19972010201708SOHU.COMGMAIL,515SOHU



Greetings and Congratulations!

The WL Literary Agency is prepared to offer you a contract for acceptance as our client for Agency Representation based on:

1) the manuscript you submitted,

2) the information that you have provided to us and the plan of action that we have agreed upon.

In the sole opinion of the Literary Agency, if any of these items are inaccurate or misleading this contract may be withdrawn at any time. This contract offer is good for 14 business days from receipt. (This deadline can be automatically extended by 10 days if you contact us via email and request an extension).

Some authors ask, why did you accept me? Based on our interactions, you have agreed to follow a plan of action that will lead to your work being of the highest quality. We believe that successful authors are made, not born. We believe that you deserve a chance to succeed.

We look forward to working with you. Congratulations again.

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Best regards,

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Whats Next?

1) Send the contracts immediately. Please tell us the status of your critique when you send in your contract. Use either the mail or email option to send in your contract.

2) If you dont have a critique already please contact 2) adminscreenplay@writersliterary.com. If you have a critique please include it with your contract. If not, let us know the vendor you are using and the status/expected date of completion.

3) Once we have your finished critique you will start working with the Agent who will be assigned to market your work.

In the future, please send any questions to andrea@WLscreenplayagency.com . I have enjoyed our interaction however, my role with you is now complete. If you have additional work, please bring them up with your agent who you will meet after your critique is completed or processed. Of course if anything goes astray please contact me immediately.AGREEMENT FOR LITERARY AGENT REPRESENTATION

Page 1/3

This Agreement is between _____SHAOHUA DU_________________________ [the Writer/Producer] and Writers Literary Agency & Services, Inc. [The Agent] as of __05/20/2010____TO__11/20/2010, (please enter the date you sign the contract) for the work entitled:

___ SMOKING MAN__________________________________________________________________

(Hereinafter Work)

Other Works Should Be Submitted Separately.

NOW, THEREFORE, for the consideration set forth in this Agreement Agent and Writer intending to be legally bound hereby, mutually promise and agree as follows:

The copyright and ownership is specifically retained by the Writer for this work and all Writers works submitted to, and accepted by, the Agent. The Writer does not grant to Agent or any other party any right, title or interest of any kind in any copyright, ownership and/or any other intellectual property right contained in or as a part of any work of the Writer submitted to the Agent. The Agent agrees to make no claim to any such right, title or interest, however denominated.

The Writer warrants that he is the sole and exclusive owner of the Work and that the work does not infringe on any other copyright. The Writer agrees to indemnify Agent against any judgments, liabilities, damages or loss related to copyright or ownership.

The term of this contract shall be __6 MONTHS__ 6 months or ______ one year (please choose one) from the above date and must be renewed in writing for each successive term. Either party may terminate this Agreement after 90 consecutive days of no sale by Agent. Renewals and terminations via email are deemed acceptable. In the event of a termination both parties agree to not disparage the other party in any form.

The rights granted in this pertain to this written creative work prepared by the Writer/Producer for print, television, radio and motion pictures to be sold in the geography of the United States of America. The Agent at his discretion may use the Writer/Producers name or pen name and the name of the work in promotions for the Agent and to promote the Work.

The Agent is entitled to a ten percent [10%] commission on gross compensation accruing to the Writer/Producer from any contract negotiated under this Agreement. This paragraph shall survive termination of this Agreement. (This means that if we help you with a deal, you cant fire us and take away our commission. It means that we get 10% of what you get).

The Agent is not responsible for damage or loss or return of any material. The Writer/Producer will supply the Agent with an electronic version of their creative work in a common word processing format (rtf, doc, pdf) for the Agent to submit the work to potential clients.

The Writer/Producer also agrees that all leads, contacts, communications, documents, emails, forms, and business processes employed by the Agent are considered confidential and

trade secrets and as such shall not be disseminated in any form or format without the express written permission of the Agent. This clause survives termination of the Agreement.

The Writer/Producer has final say on any and all proposals or contracts delivered by the Agent. The Writer/Producer is the only signer on any contract with a buyer.

The Writer/Producer acknowledges that the Agent will act only as an advisor and negotiator. The Agent specifically states that he is not an attorney, and is NOT providing legal advice nor providing or seeking employment for Writer/Producer.

Both parties will make themselves available to each other within reason for any purpose outlined in this Agreement. Both parties agree that any disputes will be settled through arbitration.

This Agreement is binding on the Writer/Producer and Agent and their respective heirs and assigns. However in the event of a sale, insolvency or other change in the ownership or operation of the Agency the Writer at his sole discretion may choose to terminate this Agreement on 90 days notice.

In the event that this Agreement is terminated for any reason, the Agent, his heirs and/or assigns may continue to collect all commissions due on existing contracts negotiated under this Agreement. If an existing contract between the Writer/Producer and any client is renewed, the Writers Agent/heirs and or assigns may collect commissions on renewals until the existing contract with that client is terminated. (This means that as long as a client that we find keeps paying you, we keep getting paid.)

This is the entire agreement. All changes shall require signatures and initials of both parties.

WRITER/PRODUCER HAS THE RIGHT TO CANCEL THIS CONTRACT WITHOUT QUESTION, WITHOUT RECOURSE, FOR 72 HOURS AFTER MAILING.

The Author may specifically EXCLUDE from this contract, any contact already made who might sell or buy your work. Write them in here, up to a maximum of 3. If a sale occurs to, or through, any of the following people or companies the Agent is NOT entitled to a commission. (In other words, if we dont find the buyer, we dont deserve a commission. You will find that we are very straightforward in our business dealings.)

1 ________________________________________________________

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Self-Published authors please note: Your existing contract must give you the right to cancel or must clearly state that you maintain all rights. If you are in doubt please check with your attorney or forward us your contract for review.

THE WRITER/PRODUCER ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT AT NO TIME AND IN NO FORM HAS AGENT GUARANTEED OR INDICATED THAT A SALE WILL BE MADE. THE WRITER PRODUCER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A DIFFICULT BUSINESS TO BREAK INTO AND THE WRITER/PRODUCER SHALL NOT HOLD THE AGENCY LIABLE FOR LACK OF SUCCESS IN SELLING THEIR WORK. ____D___ Writer Initial Here.

THE WRITER/PRODUCER ALSO HAS BEEN TOLD THAT AGENCY DESIRES TO ONLY REPRESENT EDITED, CRITIQUED, OR VOUCHED FOR WORK AND THAT THE WRITER/PRODUCER MAY USE ANY VENDOR OF THEIR CHOICE. ____D_____ Writer Initial Here.

THE WRITER/PRODUCER ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ANY RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY AGENCY TO IMPROVE THE WORK OR SELL THE WORK ARE OPTIONAL AND NOT MANDATORY. __D_______ Writer Initial Here.

I UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL BE WORKING WITH CONSULTANTS AND AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES THAT MAY BE USING PEN NAMES AS THEY HAVE OTHER JOBS IN THE INDUSTRY. __D______

THE WRITER/PRODUCER HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT THEY ARE OLDER THAN 18 YEARS OF AGE. _D______ Writer Initial here. If younger than 18 the parent must sign.

PLEASE CHOOSE EITHER THE ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OPTION OR THE PAPER SIGNATURE OPTION FROM THE NEXT TWO PAGES.

If there are two authors please choose one as the primary contact and that person should sign the contract. Please execute a sub-agreement between the authors if needed. We can only deal with one primary contact.

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OPTION

Many of our clients desire good old fashioned signatures and paper that they can hold and file. Many of our clients dont want the clutter of paper, or dont live in the US and realize that international mailing can be problematic.

If you are comfortable with an electronic signature block to cement our relationship, please consider using the following option. (We are comfortable with this and so are our attorneys).

By using this option your work will be readied for market more quickly and the issues of lost, or never received contracts will be negated. The management of paper is a significant cost center for us. That is why we are so insistent on electronic manuscripts and we hope you will consider this option.

1) Using your word processor, simply fill in the blanks in the contract.

2) Signify your acceptance of an electronic signature by filling in the following information.

3) Email the filled in document to contractadmin@Wlwritersagency.com . You only need to email one copy and you do not need to mail a copy.

Our contract administration department will then type in our signature and email the contract back to you and we can move to marketing that much faster.

Once again, congratulations and my best wishes for your success.

Here is how to use the electronic contract option. First open the contract, read it, and fill in the blanks. At the last page, type in your name

Then save the contract.

Then send an email with the filled in contract as an attachment to contractadmin@wLwritersagency.com.

Its that easy.

They will then email it back to you with our signature, typed into our signature line.

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OPTION

By filling in this section I signify my acceptance of this contract. I understand that the Agency will fill in their signature block electronically as well, and both parties agree to be bound by this contract.

Then simply email the entire document back to ContractAdmin@Wlwritersagency.com .

WRITER/PRODUCER:

Print/typed Name:SHAOHUA DU

>>

Address: 770 C SACRAMENTO ST

>>San Francisco

>>

City/State/Zip: CA 94108

>>

>>

Phone: 415-728-3088

>>

Email: JIANDAO911@YAHOO.COM.CN

YUMIN300@SOHU.COM

>>

-------------------

WRITERS LITERARY AGENCY

& SERVICES.

Robert Fletcher, Sr. Agent STANDARD SIGNATURE OPTION

WRITERS LITERARY AGENCY

& SERVICES, INC

_______________________________

Robert Fletcher - Senior Agent

WRITER/PRODUCER:

Sign: __SHAOHUA DU__________________________________

Print/typed Name:__SHAOHUA DU_______________________

Address: __770 C SACRAMENTO ST__________________________

City/State/Zip: __CA 94108__________________________

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PLEASE BE SURE YOUR EMAIL IS LEGIBLE!

Pay particular attention to 1,l,0,O,2,Z, etc. in your email so we can read it!

PLEASE MAIL TWO SIGNED COPIES OF THIS CONTRACT TO:

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You will be notified via email upon receipt of your mailed copies. Please allow approximately 30 days for the return of your fully executed copy.

p.s. Please use the electronic signature. I promise you that it will save each of us time, money, and aggravation. :)
It was a bizarre Tweet which had many respondents asking if Rishi Sunak needed a trip to Barnard Castle to check his eyesight.

The chancellor has been widely mocked after a social media post saying he couldnt wait to get back to the pub following the coronavirus lockdown  and I dont even drink, he added.

The sticking point? An accompanying picture appeared to show him giving a cheery thumbs up to hardware shop.

I dont drink either, replied one user. But I know my pub from my kitchen appliance store.

Rishi, old sausage, said another, you seem to be giving a thumbs up to a window full of kettles. Are you on drugs?

The post came on Tuesday afternoon shortly after Boris Johnson had announced bars would be allowed to reopen form Saturday 4 July.

But, with the UK's death toll from coronavirus now fast approaching 45,000  the third worst in the world in absolute terms  and without any discernible strategy for managing the disease as the country comes out of lockdown, not everyone was entirely amused by the surreal tweet.

My dad will never go to a pub again because of multiple government failures, wrote one user whose 60-year-old father died after being diagnosed with Covid-19 in April. This self congratulatory tone is sickening.
This weeks question was asked by: friends

QUESTION: What is psychic surgery?

ANSWER: Psychic surgery is a cautionary tale of faith misplaced in the paranormal and occult. From a website, Psychic surgery is a pseudoscientific medical fraud in which practitioners create the illusion of performing surgery with their bare hands and use trickery, fake blood and animal parts to convince the patient that diseased lesions have been removed and that the incision has spontaneously healed.

The Philippines remain the hotbed of bloodless surgery, in which a psychic surgeon pulls out what appears to be tumors and organs. The skin is left untouched, which the psychic surgeon attributes to miraculous and speedy healing.

Andy Kaufman was a comic genius. He opened a Saturday Night Live show and appeared on the Letterman show and starred in the movie Man on the Moon. At a November 1983 Long Island Thanksgiving dinner, friends noticed his persistent coughing. He went to a doctor who told him nothing was wrong. He visited a quack clinic in a Hollywood strip mall and the holistic doctor treated his left arm with radiation.

In November 1983, Kaufman checked himself into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for a series of medical tests. He was diagnosed with large cell carcinoma lung cancer, an aggressive cancer with a high mortality rate.

Kaufmans final public appearance was at the premiere of My Breakfast With Blassie in March 1984, where he appeared thin and emaciated. The following day, he and girlfriend, Lynne Margulies, flew to the Philippines for a six-week course of psychic surgery. That trip made U.S. tabloid headlines. Kaufman died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on May 16, 1984, at the age of 35.

The passing of Peter Sellers (1925-1980) is another cautionary tale. Peter Sellers achieved worldwide fame as Chief Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther series of films. He played three different characters in the Dr. Strangelove movie. He was a movie legend.

In 1964, at age 38, Sellers suffered a series of heart attacks that caused serious damage to his heart. Four unsuccessful marriages and using popper pills, marijuana and cocaine did not do his failing heart any good. Refusing to have open heart surgery, which could have saved his life, Sellers turned to psychics, whom he visited twice a year.

On July 22, 1980, Sellers flew in from Switzerland to stay at his favorite suite in the Dorchester Hotel in London. He visited the ashes of his overbearing mother, whose funeral he had refused to attend. Sellers had a lot of demons in his life, real and imagined. Preparing to meet some old friends for dinner that evening, he fell out of his chair, turned blue, was rushed to Middlesex Hospital, and never regained consciousness.

The medical profession will generally agree that there is a role for holistic healing. But turning to the paranormal or the occult while ignoring proven tradition medical practices is not on the positive side of the ledger. In the case of Andy Kaufman, the odds seemed stacked against him, given his diagnosis. It appears that Peter Sellers, on the other hand, made some really bad choices.

Speaking of bad choices, right before his death, Sellers was about to divorce his fourth wife, actress Lynne Frederick. However, she got his $7 million estate and Sellers own three children each got a measly $1,000. Lynne Frederick married twice more and later succumbed to drugs and alcohol. The bulk of the money went to Lynne Fredericks daughter, Cassie, fathered by Fredericks third and last husband.

Send questions and comments to: lscheckel@charter.net.

Larry Scheckel is a retired Tomah High School physics teacher.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has congratulated Slovenian counterpart Borut Pahor.

Dear Mr President, I cordially congratulate you and the friendly people of Slovenia on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of your countrys national holiday  the Statehood Day, the Azerbaijani president said.

The current level of the Azerbaijan-Slovenia relations based on mutual respect and beneficial cooperation is gratifying, President Aliyev said. I am confident that our ties that serve the interests of our countries will be further expanded through joint efforts.

I wish to stress that the people of Azerbaijan are in solidarity with the friendly people of Slovenia as the world fights COVID-19, the Azerbaijani president said. On this remarkable day, I wish strong health and success to you, and everlasting prosperity to your country.
(Newser)  Foul play is suspected in the disappearance of 20-year-old Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen, who's now been missing for two months. Texas Rep. Sylvia Garcia held a press conference with Guillen's family on Tuesday after meeting with Army leadership. "They are convinced now there's foul play involved and they are following all the leads that they can," Garcia said, per ABC News. "I still don't understand why it had to take a little more than six weeks for them to start taking action because we started since day one," said Guillen's older sister, Mayra. "Investigate from the top to the bottom, everyone is responsible, added mother Gloria Guillen, per KXXV. She said she directed officials "to search barrack by barrack and they never did it" so "if my daughter appears dead, close this base immediately."

story continues below

Chris Grey, Chief of Public Affairs, USA Criminal Investigation Command, says officials have been investigating since April 23 and came to suspect foul play based on information "developed in the last few days," per ABC. KTVT reports officials searched the Leon River on Monday but ultimately found nothing. Guillen was last seen April 22 in the parking lot of her military unit's headquarters. Her wallet, keys, and identification card were found in a room in which she'd been working. Her phone has yet to be found. On the day she vanished, Guillen had apparently texted the serial number of a gun she was tasked with reviewing to a supervisor, attorney Natalie Khawam tells USA Today. Per NBC News, Khawam suspects the supervisor was the same sergeant Guillen claimed had followed her into a shower while she was naked. (Another Fort Hood soldier just turned up dead.)
Domino's Rain Check Registry is filled with everything the pizza-loving couple will need to get through long days of creating change-the-date cards, negotiating with florists and rescheduling honeymoon plans. Gift card packages include "Virtual Bachelorette Party" and "Vendor Call-A-Thon" among other postponed wedding registry options.

"We created Domino's Wedding Registry because pizza-loving couples have shared over the years how Domino's pizza was a part of their big day," said Kate Trumbull, Domino's vice president of advertising. "With so many weddings being postponed or scaled back in 2020, we knew those couples might need some extra love from those around them, because everything is better with pizza."

Couples who choose to create a Rain Check Registry can select from packages including "Small Wedding Now, Big Celebration Later" or even "Bridal Shower, but Make it Virtual," depending on what twists and turns their wedding plans have taken. After the couple creates their registry, they can share their wish list with family and friends on social media or with a unique URL. All gifts will be delivered to the lucky recipients as Domino's eGift cards.

Even if a couple isn't registered, supportive family and friends can still send eGift cards from any Rain Check or Wedding Registry packages at dominosweddingregistry.com.

About Domino's Pizza

Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza is the largest pizza company in the world based on retail sales, with a significant business in both delivery and carryout pizza. It ranks among the world's top public restaurant brands with a global enterprise of more than 17,000 stores in over 90 markets. Domino's had global retail sales of over $14.3 billion in 2019, with over $7.0 billion in the U.S. and nearly $7.3 billion internationally. In the first quarter of 2020, Domino's had global retail sales of over $3.4 billion, with over $1.7 billion in the U.S. and over $1.7 billion internationally. Its system is comprised of independent franchise owners who accounted for 98% of Domino's stores as of the end of the first quarter of 2020. Emphasis on technology innovation helped Domino's achieve more than half of all global retail sales in 2019 from digital channels, primarily online ordering and mobile applications. In the U.S., Domino's generates over 65% of sales via digital channels and has developed several innovative ordering platforms, including those developed for Google Home, Facebook Messenger, Apple Watch, Amazon Echo and Twitter  as well as Domino's Hotspots, an ordering platform featuring over 200,000 unique, non-traditional delivery locations. In June 2019, through an announced partnership with Nuro, Domino's furthered its exploration and testing of autonomous pizza delivery. In late 2019, Domino's opened the Domino's Innovation Garage adjacent to its headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan to fuel continued technology and operational innovation  while also launching its GPS technology, allowing customers to follow the progress of the delivery driver from store to doorstep.

Order  dominos.com

AnyWare Ordering  anyware.dominos.com

Company Info  biz.dominos.com

Twitter  twitter.com/dominos

Facebook  facebook.com/dominos

Instagram  instagram.com/dominos

YouTube  youtube.com/dominos

Please visit our Investor Relations website at biz.dominos.com to view news, announcements, investor presentations, earnings releases and conference webcasts.

SOURCE Domino's Pizza, Inc.
Australia's most senior banker has slammed bosses for failing to hire new people, fearing the lack of innovators will worsen the COVID crisis.

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe said there was a 'lack of economic dynamism in Australia' as the first recession in 29 years loomed.

'I've been concerned about this for some years and I'm even more concerned it now,' Dr Lowe told an Australian National University leadership forum.

Scroll down for audio

Australia's most senior banker has suggested the nation's entrepreneurs are too lazy when it comes to taking risks - which could worsen the COVID crisis. Pictured is an office site for lease at Bourke Street in downtown Melbourne

The head of Australia's central bank, who earns more than $1million a year, said that even before the coronavirus pandemic, too few new businesses were being set up.

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

'Before the virus hit, we saw slow rates of business formation,' he said.

'We saw low rates of job switching and we saw reduced research and development expenditure in Australia.

'They're all signs we're not as dynamic as we used to be.'

Australia's unemployment rate in May surged to a 19-year high of 7.1 per cent, following two full months of coronavirus shutdowns of non-essential businesses.

This occurred as 227,700 people last month either lost their job or gave up looking for one.

In April, close to 600,000 workers in the same position left the labour market, which saw the jobless rate rise from 5.2 per cent to 6.4 per cent.

Since mid-March, shortly before the shutdowns, 980,000 jobs have been lost, Australian Bureau of Statistics payroll data showed.

The Reserve Bank is expecting Australia's jobless rate to hit ten per cent by June, a level unseen since April 1994.

Dr Lowe said the over regulation of business was preventing entrepreneurs from setting up new businesses.

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe said there was a 'lack of economic dynamism in Australia'

'The society's attitude to risk taking, the nature and extent of regulation, the tendency to regulate whenever we see a problem, incentives we set up in the tax system for entrepreneurship and the arrangements for research and development  they're the things making us less dynamic,' he said.

The RBA and Treasury are both bracing for the worst economic downturn since the 1930s Great Depression, amid fears gross domestic product will plunge by ten per cent in the first half of 2020 - the equivalent of four-and-a-half years of economic activity.

In a sign of things to come, the Department of Social Services revealed earlier this month the number of people on JobSeeker - covering unemployment, sickness and Youth Allowance benefits - surged by 300,000 in just one month, climbing from 1.346million on April 24 to 1.641million by May 22.

While some businesses are slowly reopening, many businesses across Australia remain closed or open in a restricted form as social distancing rules remain in place.

Despite that, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is adamant the $70billion JobKeeper program, providing $1,500 a fortnight wage subsidies, won't be extended beyond the September end date.
Jordan Gross

MISSOULA  University of Montana law Professor Jordan Gross has earned a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to serve as a research chair in Indigenous Public Policy and Criminal Justice at the University of Guelph, Ontario.

Gross, who teaches in UMs Blewett School of Law, is one of over 800 U.S. citizens who will teach, conduct research and provide expertise abroad for the 2020-21 academic year through the Fulbright Program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as record of service and leadership in their respective fields.

Gross teaches and researches comparative federal, tribal and state court systems, with an emphasis on criminal jurisdiction and procedure and interdisciplinary criminal justice reform.

Gross Fulbright project, Making Space for Indigenous Justice Norms within Colonialist Legal Structures  Criminal Procedure as a Vehicle and Boundary for Self-Determination Interests in Canada and the United States, considers criminal procedure rules and practices that reflect indigenous and mainstream justice norms.

As part of her research, Gross will visit indigenous justice forums and mainstream courts in Canada. She also will also explore ongoing collaborations with Canadian scholars, including designing a seminar class on comparative indigenous criminal justice traditions that will be co-taught with faculty from her host institution and offered to UM and Canadian students through remote instruction.

Im honored to receive this Fulbright Award and grateful for the opportunity to add an international dimension to my teaching, research and service, said Gross.

Through her participation in the Fulbright program, Gross hopes to serve Montanas Constitution by committing educational resources to the preservation of the cultural heritage of American Indians.

Gross serves on the Presidents International Council and on the Steering Committee for UMs Justice, Policy and Public Service Community of Excellence. She looks forward to representing the UM abroad and using her Fulbright experience to support ongoing efforts to internationalize institutional engagement and outreach.

The Fulbright program is the U.S. governments flagship international educational exchange program and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and other countries.

For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://www.cies.org/.

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Barn swallows live almost everywhere on the planet, recognizable by their forked tail and agility in the air. Yet while they share these characteristics, these little birds often look slightly different in each place they live--with some so distinct they're splitting off to become new species.

Researchers at CU Boulder think that local parasites are influencing why barn swallows in Europe, the Middle East and Colorado are choosing their mates differently. Their new research, published in Evolution, finds that these parasites could be playing an important role in changing the traits displayed to attract mates early in the process of the creation of new species.

"It's possible we haven't appreciated just how important parasites might be in shaping the evolution of their hosts," said lead author Amanda Hund, who conducted the research as a doctoral candidate in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department.

Every organism, including humans, has co-evolved with a unique community of parasites, that by definition live at the expense of their host. While they are not beneficial to us like many other microbes are, parasites have shaped our own immune system, pheromones and even our mate selection, previous research has shown.

Hund set out to characterize as many parasite communities as she could in barn swallows, to find out if they could be influencing their mate selection, and therefore the male birds' physical traits and the creation of new species.

Hund and her colleagues studied barn swallows at sites in Colorado, the Czech Republic and Israel over four years. They measured the number and types of parasites on them, in their nests and in their blood and tracked who they chose to mate with in a given breeding season, their sexual signals--breast color, throat color and tail shape--and their health and the survival rate of their offspring.

In all but one population in the study, the most "attractive" males had fewer parasites. Somehow the male birds' breast color, throat color and tail shape allowed females to make informed choices about their health and the likelihood of reproductive success with that partner.

Many birds also had multiple parasites with connections to the same physical trait. For example, in Colorado, males with darker breast color are less likely to have mites, but more likely to have malaria. Nest mites are detrimental to the nestlings' survival--whereas malaria only impacts the male bird.

"Males are investing in traits to attract females, and it looks like that comes at a cost--where they are more attractive, but also more susceptible to malaria," said Hund, now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota. "It is a tradeoff."

Evolution in action

Researchers who study the origin of biodiversity, or why the Earth has so many different species, often examine which traits animals are choosing in their partners. But the real question is: Why are they choosing those specific combinations of traits?

To answer that question requires a very detailed type of scientific research, looking at the full reproductive cycle, health and survival rate of a population, in order to create a rich data set that unpacks how evolution is working between closely related populations.

"Most people are really good at characterizing the pattern. But Amanda's work is very special in terms of trying to unpack the process," said Rebecca Safran, associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and co-author on the study.

Many factors affect the divergent evolution of species. But as opposed to something like the weather, parasites are evolving as rapidly as their host species--leading to a co-evolutionary relationship. While this has been studied in other animals, it has only previously been studied in one barn swallow population in Europe.

Barn swallows make a great study specimen: they're ubiquitous and charismatic.

"These birds have evolved alongside humans for thousands of years. Every culture that we've visited seems to have its own unique story or relationship with this bird," said Safran.

But because they nest almost exclusively in human made structures--barns, bridges, culverts and the like--barn swallows often live on private land. It turns out that winning the trust of landowners is as much a part of the work as catching the birds.

"Public relations is a very large part of barn swallow research," said Hund.

Safran has been working with dozens of collaborators all over the world for over a decade. Hund built off these connections to do this research in Europe and the Middle East, facing unique circumstances and language barriers along the way.

In Israel Hund lived on a Kibbutz, a collective community, in order to complete her research over several months. In the Czech Republic, Hund used award-winning skills from her childhood and rode horses at an equestrian center to build trust and gain access to an important nesting site.

And here in Colorado, there were landowners who were unsure or suspicious of the project at the start of the breeding season. "But by the end, they were having us over for dinner," said Hund.

The work doesn't stop here. The researchers are already trying to answer the next big question: why are local parasites and certain sexual traits linked?

"And once you really figure that out, you can export that knowledge and our study methods to other populations and actually watch mate selection decisions and the associated reproductive consequences unfold," said Safran. "It's like watching evolution in action."

###

Additional co-authors of this study include Joanna Hubbard of CU Boulder; Tomas Albrecht of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Charles University, Czech Republic; Yoni Vortman of Tel Hai Academic College, Israel; Pavel Munclinger and Simona Krausova of Charles University, Czech Republic; and Old?ich Tomasek of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
The Grievances of African American Prisoners, and Politicians Failure at Reform

Commentary

One positive aspect of having spent three years and two weeks incarcerated in U.S. federal prisons (for crimes I would never have dreamt of committing and of which I was ultimately acquitted and pardoned), was that it gave me considerable insight into the lives and treatment of lower-income African and Latino Americans.

I got on well in prison with all of my fellow residents and almost all of the so-called correctional staff, and apart from the fact that it was an outrage that I was there, I found it interesting and in some ways enjoyable.

To bolster my morale, I read the upbeat accounts of the prison life of Boethius prior to his execution, and of the slavery of the stoic Epictetus, as well as a splendid anthology of fine prison writing, sent to me just before I self-surrendered, by my late friend William Safire. (I had not realized that many of the celebrated people cited, including Miguel de Cervantes and Britains longest-serving prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole, had ever been incarcerated).

As a Canadian, I got a pass on the natural friction between black and white prisoners as I was deemed to have been a non-combatant through the entire difficult legacy of race relations in the United States. My prison employment was as a tutor for all of those prisoners who hadnt matriculated from secondary school, and under Bureau of Prisons rules, they were obligated to attempt to do so.

Tutoring in Prison

I was sent the candidates who had failed the classes the Bureau conducted, and I got to know hundreds of these men very well.

In every case, it was a matter of debriefing them when they sullenly arrived to see me by assuring them that this wasnt another attempt by the regime to exploit and belittle them, that it wasnt my concern whether they wished to make a serious effort or not as long as they didnt disturb those who were trying to graduate, but that I was available to them if they wanted to outsmart our jailers and rejoin society with a foot on the up escalator and the possibility to make a survivable income in a way that didnt lead directly back to such places as the one where we unhappily found ourselves.

They all claimed to have gotten to grade 10 or 11, but very few of them, (and there were approximately equally divided between black, white, and Latino men), could compose an English sentence. I recruited a former mathematics teacher and commodities trader (from Little Rock, Arkansas) and the former commander of the torpedo room of a nuclear submarine (from Chattanooga, Tennessee) as tutors in mathematics and the sciences, while I stuck to English.

I didnt like school or most teachers that I had, but there are few things in my career of which I am prouder than the fact that all 204 of the lads I tutored did matriculate; an appreciable number went on successfully to university, some starting in correspondence courses from prison.

It was a pleasure and an honor to have assisted them.

African American Experience

Once I had earned their trust, they all tended to be quite loquacious. The common threads in the backgrounds of the African Americans were they rarely saw their fathers, were unclear in many cases as to who their fathers were, and most had a number of children with different women without benefit or any thought of wedlock.

The Great Society welfare programs had, in effect, rewarded promiscuous fathers by entitling them to a share of welfare payments for dependent children. In most cases, the proliferation of siblings and the limited ability of their mothers to earn enough to pay for the normal requirements of their truncated families commended amateur drug dealing as a well-paying form of unskilled labor.

Of course, in the so-called War on Drugs, the low-hanging fruit for the authorities was to cruise through the ghettos, round up people randomly, charge those in possession of illegal substances, and give them slap-on-the-wrist sentences in exchange for denunciations of those from whom they bought the drug.

My students had all been sitting ducks, had been thus denounced, had no defense nor any means to pay for a defense. They were oversentenced after being misled and deserted by the public defenders, who in these courts tend to be just stooges of the prosecutors. They arrived in prison unskilled, hostile, embittered, betrayed, and facing unpromising horizons.

Some were innocent, some convicted of ridiculous offenses, and almost all were oversentenced. They were almost unanimous in having been roughly treated by the police, even when they were clean of drugs and engaged in innocuous behavior. They were subject to detention and interrogation and, to use the current euphemism, disrespected.

Disillusioned

They arrived in prison cynically disillusioned with the entire justice system and white-dominated society in general. After I overcame their initial reticence, they looked upon me as a somewhat exotic representative of a world of which they had had even less knowledge than I had had of theirs.

They uniformly regarded the police as dishonest, trigger-happy, rough with them physically, very often racially hostile, and lacking a normal sense of humanity. Even allowing for self-serving exaggeration and the insalubrity of lower-income African American neighborhoods, and conceding the difficulties the police have in protecting law-abiding people in such areas, I have no doubt that there is considerable room for improvement in the techniques of policing in these areas.

I also consider that the war on drugs is largely a farce, riddled with corruption, and substantially unsuccessful. If the United States government were serious in its war on drugs, it would be as vigilant and ambitious in prosecuting middle-class users, including in the universities as they are in the ghetto, and they would deploy forces adequate to prevent wholesale importation of drugs by land, sea, and air into the United States from Latin America.

The Latinos, generally, werent as alienated from the justice system, and their family backgrounds, largely due to their Catholicism, were more stable and supportive. They or their families had come voluntarily to the United States and werent burdened with the legacy of slavery, the consequences of which are so vivid in the consciousness of my African American fellow inmates.

Reform Hopes Disappointed

I was in prison when Barack Obama was elected president, and it was a matter of immense rejoicing by the African American prisoners. Some had wildly optimistic notions that the gates of Americas bloated prisons were about to be thrown open to those of the president-elects pigmentation. Most, though less sanguine, did expect genuine reforms and Obama in his campaign had frequently justified such hopes.

He didnt live up to those expectations. The disparity between sentences for use of crack cocaine (which is generally how African Americans take cocaine), and powdered cocaine (favored by whites), had been 100 to 1, a direct comparative repression of the African Americans.

The Obama administration eventually reduced the ratio to 18 to 1, still reprehensible discrimination.

I personally came to believe that the best policy was to legalize all but the deadliest drugs and require treatment for hard drug addicts, but if the existing policy is to be continued, it shouldnt be on this uneven basis.

Particularly irritating were posturing African American members of Congress Danny Davis, Maxine Waters, and Sheila Jackson Lee. They all had large numbers of offenders and their families in their districts and were continually posturing as bountiful reformers helping those who had fallen afoul of the drug enforcement system.

I corresponded with them from prison but through my office, under my letterhead as a member of the British House of Lords, one legislator to another, questioning them about the initiatives they had undertaken for incarcerated people.

They are all frauds, illustrative of the cynicism of the Democratic political machine that has taken the black vote for granted since Lyndon Johnsons Voting and Civil Rights Acts of the mid-60s. African Americans were correct to reward the Democratic Party then, but they dont owe that party anything now.

There are legitimate African American grievances against much of the police apparatus; the answer is better police, not fewer and demotivated police. The real rot is the corruption of the Democratic urban political machines, and the omnipotence of prosecutors who win about 99 percent of their cases because of the much-abused plea bargain system in which false inculpatory evidence is routinely extorted or suborned.

Better government would produce better police, as Rudolph Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg did in New York, and better police are good for everyone, relatively defenseless African Americans most of all.

Conrad Black has been one of Canadas most prominent financiers for 40 years, and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world. He is the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon, and, most recently Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Australian companies are being encouraged to ditch Chinese suppliers to reduce the risk to supply chains as trade tensions escalate.

Brett Kelly, chief executive of ASX-listed accounting network Kelly+Partners, has called on his clients to look for alternative suppliers for manufactured and primary products.

He said many of his clients experienced major disruption to supply during the coronavirus pandemic, which saw countries forced into lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Australian companies have been urged to ditch Chinese suppliers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic (pictured is Kmart's legendary $29 pie maker, which is made in China)

So reliant on cheap Chinese labour is Kmart that entire aisles across its stores are empty until at least July after COVID-19 tore through Asia

'We are advising our 7,500 clients to reject Chinese imports on the basis that they should not risk further disruptions to their supply chain, reject the communist regime and expand their horizons and recognise country risk,' he told the Australian Financial Review.

'We are assisting many of our clients to move their product sourcing to other countries and Australia, where certified, high quality and cost-competitive raw materials and finished products are available without the spectre of illegal work and political practices.'

He said the move away from China would be a major benefit to Australian suppliers.

His comments come as the relationship between the two nations continues to deteriorate.

Last month China suspended export from four Australian abattoirs over discrepancies in paperwork.

Brett Kelly, chief executive of ASX-listed accounting network Kelly+Partners, has called on his clients to look for alternative suppliers for manufactured and primary products Pictured: An electric fry pan made in China)

The meat suppliers - three from Queensland and one from New South Wales - sell around $1billion worth of meat to China each year, making up around a third of total beef exports to our biggest trading partner.

The move came just a day after China threatened to slap an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley, a move which would cripple the industry.

The difficulties in the bi-lateral trade relationship followed the Australian government's call for a ban on wildlife wet markets and an inquiry into how the coronavirus originated and spread from Wuhan.

The proposed inquiry - as well as repeated suggestions that China covered up the spread of the disease - have infuriated Beijing.

Employees work on the production line of LED chip at a workshop of Huai'an Aucksun Optoelectronics Technology

The dispute comes after a torrid year for Australia-China relations saw clashes over political interference, human rights abuses in western China and Huawei 5G equipment.

China has a track record of using economic sanctions for political purposes.

It includes encouraging a boycott of South Korean cars after the country deployed a US missile shield in 2017 and a ban on Norwegian salmon after Chinese rebel Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo that same year.

Australia and China have had a free trade agreement since 2015 but some exporters have still run into difficulties as relations have soured.

In 2018 Beijing imposed new customs regulations on Australian wine resulting in shipments being held up in Shanghai.

And last year - after Canberra stripped Chinese businessman Xiangmo Huang of his visa - major ports prolonged clearing times for Australian coal to at least 40 days, claiming the delay was due to 'normal' safety checks.
WACO, Texas, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Time Manufacturing Company subsidiaries Versalift and TRL Rents announced this week that they are donating four brand new pieces of equipment to the State Technical College of Missouri. The donation of aerial devices , which is being made through the PCCA (Power & Communications Contractors Association) Education & Research Foundation, includes bucket trucks, digger derricks and cable placers. These units come directly out of the Versalift Ready-To-Go Fleet, so they are exactly the same units going to customers. Since February, Versalift, as an essential business manufacturer, has been ramping up production of ready to go units to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, as well as pent up demand as the Country gets back to work.

Aerial device manufacturer, Versalift and its rental subsidiary TRL Rents will deliver the equipment to the State Technical College of Missouri in August, and will provide operational training for the instructors. The PCCA (Power & Communications Contractors Association) Education & Research Foundation is a charitable organization that works to promote and strengthen the power and communication construction industries, including workforce development. The State Technical College of Missouri is at the center of PCCA's workforce development program, and will use the new equipment to educate students in its Utility Systems Technician and Electrical Distribution Systems programs.

Operator Safety Comes First

Aerial device manufacturer, Versalift is committed to manufacturing innovative equipment that puts operator safety first. Time Manufacturing Company CEO Curt Howell recognizes that ongoing workforce training in the utility and communications industries meaningfully increases operator safety. "We are pleased to make this donation to the PCCA Education Fund, whose support of utility systems operator training makes us all safer."

Versalift and TRL Rents are donating the following brand new aerial devices:

PCCA President & CEO Tim Wagner recently expressed his excitement about the donation. "Getting news like this is one of the best parts of my job. Thank you to Versalift and TRL Rents for their generous donation, and to Denny Nelson for putting all of this together."

Denny Nelson, Versalift's Director of Sales for USA and Canada understands the value of high-quality operator training. "At Versalift, we are really excited about partnering with PCCA to train the next generation of equipment operators, line workers, and technicians for the power and telecommunications market. This equipment donation is a great way to contribute to the contractor market that has given so many opportunities to us." As the son of a lineman, Nelson knows how important equipment training is to employee safety and business success. "This partnership helps us to get our equipment in the hands of the people who will build our future, and that is an exciting proposition!"

State Technical College of Missouri - Utility and Electrical Systems Training

In its Utility Systems Technician program, The State Technical College of Missouri prepares students for careers in utility contracting and working within public utilities. In the program, students learn how to build, install and maintain underground and overhead utility systems, including fiber optic and copper communication, natural gas distribution, water, wastewater, and oil pipeline transmission.

The college also offers an Electrical Distribution Systems program, which equips students with the knowledge and technical skills needed to safely maintain electric power distribution systems. In the program, students learn how to safely access the elevated workplace, the principles of building and maintaining electric power distribution systems, how to respond to emergencies, and several other key practices for workplace safety and preparation.

Time Manufacturing Company is a global manufacturer of bucket trucks, digger derricks, cable placers, service bodies and other specialty equipment for power generation, transmission and distribution, electric utility, telecommunications, bridge inspection, light and sign, tree care and other fleet-supported industries. Working with co-ops, municipalities, government agencies and corporations through its global network of facilities and distributors, the company employs more than 1,400 associates worldwide.

Media Contact: David Post  (254) 399-2139  [email protected]

SOURCE Versalift

Related Links

http://www.versalift.com


The United States offers 85,000 H-1B visas every year. (Photo: AFP/JOHN MOORE)

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.

"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 programme 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."
It took a pandemic to propel Gov. Phil Murphy to his highest approval ratings ever. That support may be short-lived as the first-term Democrat confronts the depth of New Jersey's fiscal crisis.

In the coming months, Murphy will consider tax increases and spending cuts to fend off what he calls "financial Armageddon" -- a $10.1 billion revenue shortfall through June 2021 that may grow if the coronavirus resurges. Already, critics say Murphy is reopening businesses too slowly and counting prematurely on uncertain state borrowing and federal grants.

At his daily briefings, the former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. senior director cheers New Jerseyans for enduring his March 21 lockdown and other precautions that have slowed Covid-19's spread. Murphy garnered 77% approval in a May Rutgers-Eagleton poll, up 25 points from a year ago.

In a state second only to New York for virus infections, New Jersey is well on the mend, with hospitalizations 85% below an April peak. But 28% of the state's workforce have filed for unemployment benefits, and Murphy has yet to name a target date for the resumption of unrestricted business operations. Almost 13,000 New Jerseyans have died of Covid-19, and many health experts expect cases to spike later this year.

"This is a real-life battle to save lives, even as we begin restarting our economy," Murphy said on Tuesday.

New Jersey's scrappy, straightforward political culture tends to cast even its heroes in a short-lived glow.

Gov. Tom Kean, R, left office in 1990 after two terms with approval above 60%, putting him among the state's most popular chief executives but well short of his 79% first-term high. His successor, Democrat Jim Florio, raised taxes almost immediately after taking office, setting him up for 18% approval and a single term in office. Republican Chris Christie's post-Hurricane Sandy leadership sent his approval above 70%, but he plummeted to 15% in the wake of the George Washington Bridge traffic-jam scandal.

For Murphy, it's been a rocky few weeks. He drew criticism on social media for attending Black Lives Matter rallies this month in defiance of his own ban on mass gatherings. Some local officials tried to skirt his graduation and indoor dining bans, forcing Murphy to shut them down with court orders. A former assistant health commissioner, in a whistleblower lawsuit filed on June 16, alleges that he was fired after he denied scarce coronavirus tests to the family of a top Murphy aide.

And lawmakers from both parties say the governor's plan to borrow at least $5 billion has no shot at Senate approval, even though it won the Assembly's blessing on June 4.

"We will come to an agreement on borrowing, but how much and how are we paying it back?" Senate President Steve Sweeney, a Democrat who has refused to post the bill, said in an interview. "I have an obligation to my caucus and the public to say, 'These are the taxes we're going to raise."'

Murphy on Tuesday announced a cost-savings agreement with the Communications Workers of America, which represents 35,000 state employees, for furloughs and deferred wage increases. He said details would be released after a union vote later this week.

"Do we have big structural deficits? Yes, we do -- we had them before Covid-19," Murphy said at his briefing. "We were on a journey. We had a plan. We'll continue, God willing, on that plan."

Critics say savings could have happened five weeks ago, when the legislature sent a bipartisan furloughs bill to his desk. Meanwhile, they say, New Jerseyans have been in the dark about a return to normal.

"Everybody understood the decisions he had to make early on," Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr., a Republican from Westfield and the former governor's son, said by telephone. "Since then the approach is not to be coordinated, not to be straightforward."

Murphy has said that without borrowing, plus billions of dollars in federal aid, New Jersey will have to fire half its 400,000 state and local employees, including police, health workers and others who are helping to stanch the virus' spread. Federal grants are no sure bet, as Republican congressional leaders say they won't let states plug budget holes with help from U.S. taxpayers. And the New Jersey constitution disallows the use of borrowing for budgets -- priming any such plan for a court challenge, although Murphy is putting faith in an emergency clause.

"I hope the Senate gets there soon," Murphy said of borrowing legislation.

New Jersey is in the second phase of a four-step reopening, with crowd limits and other health precautions in place for automobile sales, day care, nonessential retail, outdoor dining, swimming, elective surgery, pet grooming and worship services. Indoor dining and casinos, when they restart on July 2, will be capped at 25% capacity.

Employees still are being encouraged to work remotely; gyms and overnight camps remain off limits; and grade schools, if they restart in-person learning in September, will have vast restrictions.

The governor has been criticized by Republican and Democratic lawmakers for not publicly disclosing how fluctuating virus figures -- daily hospitalizations, say, or infection rates -- inform his reopening decisions. "Data determines dates," Murphy says at his news conferences. A Bloomberg request for the information, made under the state's public-records law, was denied on June 19 as overly broad.

In a June 19 letter to Murphy, Senate Republicans said the administration had yet to distribute more than $1 billion from the CARES Act, and asked that it be channeled to small businesses.

"Many businesses, including gyms and health clubs, remain closed completely with no revenue at all to support their recurring expenses," the Republicans wrote. "As a result, more are going out of business permanently each and every day."

Murphy's chief counsel, Matt Platkin, said the administration had presented lawmakers with a plan for such spending and was awaiting feedback.

Meanwhile, Kean and Sweeney were among lawmakers who received an anonymous letter, purportedly by health department insiders, questioning decisions on personal protective equipment, testing, nursing-home risks, contact tracing and reopening. On June 15, NorthJersey.com and NJ.com reported on taped internal audio discussions that included Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli criticizing some department operations.

In a June 16 whistleblower lawsuit, former Assistant Health Commissioner Christopher Neuwirth said he was fired after he refused a request by state police Superintendent Patrick Callahan to give test kits to the family of George Helmy, Murphy's chief of staff. Murphy declined to comment on the lawsuit, but praised the two aides and Persichilli.

"I literally don't know where we would be in this state without Pat Callahan and George Helmy," Murphy said at a news conference. They, along with Persichilli, were "heroes," he said.

Florio, the Democratic governor ousted on tax increases, said controversy was a natural offshoot of crisis. Murphy, he said, was displaying "toughness and collegiality."

"He's being fairly firm in terms of not opening things too rapidly and he's working very hard on economic growth," Florio said in an interview. "You've got to be a little bit pragmatic in terms of not banging your head against the wall. He's trying to strike that balance."
The Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly in its efforts to boost maternal health, yesterday donated assorted theatre equipment and accessories to the Legon Hospital, in Accra.



The equipment valued at GH592,000, included anesthetic machines, theatre trolleys and ultrasound gadgets.



The assembly also presented a quantity of Veronica buckets, hand sanitisers and liquid soap to support the hospitals fight against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).



The Municipal Coordinating Director of the assembly, Joshua Esuhene, presented the equipment on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive to the hospital.



He said the gesture formed part of the assemblys mandate to provide medical services to communities towards making health delivery affordable to the people.



According to Mr Esuhene, the maternity and the theatre units, the recipients of the donation, would now function effectively to complement efforts of the hospital and that of the Ghana Health Services.



These equipment are to complement governments efforts in providing efficient health delivery in the catchment area, especially for the staff of families of the numerous employees of government agencies and departments, who operate within precincts of the hospital, he said.



The Head, Maternity and Theatre Unit of the hospital, Dr Timothy Senunyeme, commended the assembly for the gesture, and urged other organisations and individuals to support the hospital.



He said the equipment arrived at the time the pandemic was spreading, and that it would help monitor patients.



Dr Senunyeme urged expectant mothers to report medical conditions they might notice for prompt action, explaining that no medical situation was beyond the expertise of personnel at the hospital.



The Acting Director of the Hospital, Dr Mark Frempong, urged the public to abide by COVID-19 protocols.



You need to wear your face mask, ensure regular usage of hand sanitisers and constant washing of hands with soap under running water and also observe the social distancing directive, he advised.









Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Momin Mohibys gyro cart sits in the shadow of the Comcast Center, parked at the corner of 17th and Arch Streets. Its usually a prime location for lunch hour in Philadelphia, with thousands of workers walking in and out of skyscrapers.

But these are not usual times. Last week, Mohiby diced lamb on a desolate Center City street. His sales are down almost 90% since he reopened June 8 after shutting down in mid-March, he said. Although outdoor dining and retail recently restarted in Philadelphia, most white-collar office workers are still stuck at home, crushing Mohibys business.

The reason why I came out is because I heard the city is partially reopening, he said. If its like this, it would be better for us to be closed.

About three months after the city largely shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, Philadelphia this week is set to enter a modified green phase of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfs three-phase reopening plan. But the citys largest employers arent rushing back to the office. They plan to continue remote work for a while, disrupting already struggling downtown businesses.

Restaurants and retailers that relied on foot traffic from office workers could be forced to pivot or perish. The economic impact of remote work could be long-lasting, as companies realize they dont need all employees in the office to get the job done.

 READ MORE: The Fashion District mall will reopen next week as Philly coronavirus restrictions are lifted

Many stores are waiting for companies to make final decisions about remote work before making their own plans, said Subodha Kumar, a marketing and supply-chain management professor at Temples Fox School of Business. Once companies have firm plans, stores will move to suburban and residential areas, downsize their downtown footprints, or close altogether, he said. He noted that Starbucks plans to shut down 400 stores.

After the pandemic, some of the locations are not going to even come back, Kumar said of downtown stores. They are a little watchful, and they dont do knee-jerk reactions, but they are realizing that this [remote work] is going to stay.

At Comcast, the vast majority of its 9,000 workers at headquarters wont return until after Sept. 30, at the earliest, according to an internal email. Thomas Jefferson University, which has 7,000 people working from home in its clinical, university, and corporate departments, said it will encourage remote work when the city enters the green phase. Independence Blue Cross, with 4,500 employees working from home, said it will continue telework in the green phase, too.

 READ MORE: What's allowed to be open in Pa. during the green phase?

Theyre hardly alone in taking a slow approach. A quarter of firms surveyed by S&P Global Market Intelligence said they will wait a month or more to return to the office. And 24% more have no timeline. Almost 19% plan to come back as soon as local regulations allow.

Big companies across the country have already announced long-term or permanent remote work plans. Tech giants Facebook and Twitter have said that some of their employees will never come back to the office. Amazon told staff they can work from home until at least October. Nationwide Insurance is closing some offices forever and having those workers telecommute permanently.

To maintain social distancing, companies wont staff offices at full capacity even when they do reopen. Mark Silow, chairman of the Fox Rothschild law firm, said hes aiming to bring workers back to the Center City office starting after July Fourth, but expects to have about half his 200-member staff there at first. Hed eventually like them all to come back on some sort of regular basis, but said remote work has gone remarkably well and could lead to lasting change.

I do think it certainly opened our eyes to the fact that not every lawyer needs to be in their office every minute of every day, he said.

 READ MORE: How to shop safely now that stores are open

That shift has forced lunch spots to pivot to online ordering, delivery, and other ways to meet customers where theyre working: at home.

Baology, a Taiwanese street food spot in Center City, recently launched a meal prep service that delivers a weeks supply of food to the city and suburbs, owner Judy Ni said.

 ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters.

She handles grocery shopping, ensures that ingredients are well-sourced, and packages meals that can be made with minimal cooking. That can save customers time to focus on work or child care, she said.

The question is how do we meet them where they are and adjust to their needs? Ni said of corporate workers. Because we are a service industry. Were here to take care of them. So our definition of care is now different.

Shes considering a restructuring of her restaurant near the corner of 19th Street and JFK Boulevard to make space for more refrigeration and meal preparation.

HipCityVeg, a casual lunch and dinner spot with three locations in Center City and two in the suburbs, saw its sales plummet 90% when the pandemic paralyzed the economy, owner Nicole Marquis said.

The vegan eatery beefed up online ordering and partnered with delivery platforms it never used before. HipCityVeg also pivoted its marketing to remind customers that they can still get plant-based burgers and sandwiches for lunch while working from home.

Sales have since incrementally increased as customers learn that the eatery offers delivery and curbside pickup options, and are now down 40% to 50%, she said.

It has given us an opportunity to invest more heavily in technology to reach customers digitally, including online ordering and more delivery options, Marquis said. Were investing more in digital marketing, since not many people are walking by our shops.

Some downtown stores dont think they can adapt if remote work becomes permanent.

Dollar Plus sells clothes, toiletries, cheap electronics, and lately a lot of masks on Chestnut Street between 15th and 16th Streets. Roughly 80% of its sales typically come from office workers who walk in during breaks or after work to quickly grab items, owner Ashghar Ansari said. He said online shopping and delivery wouldnt work for his business.

This is not a food business, he said. People have to come. They look, they like, they buy.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus is forcing small businesses to close for good: Theres nothing we can do

The breakfast business has been particularly hard hit with fewer people commuting to work. Dunkin said it saw business drop between the hours of 6-9 a.m. during the first quarter of this year. McDonalds told investors that breakfast will be the most challenged part of the day.

Just 6% of consumers said they recently bought breakfast, compared with 64% for dinner and 26% for lunch, according to an online survey of 1,000 people in early May by Datassential, a Chicago market researcher. Four percent said they were excited to eat breakfast at restaurants again, the lowest result of any food category, the survey found.

We have seen a big dip into early-morning traffic. And we will continue to see that, said Kumar, the Temple professor. All the recent studies say that 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. window, it is going to go down over time. And it is permanent.

Some are more optimistic that telecommuting consumers will still want to work in coffee shops and restaurants in a post-pandemic world.

Ellen Yin, owner of five restaurants in Philadelphia, including High Street on Market, used to work from home as a consultant and said she found herself craving social contact.

I think that a lot of those people do want to get a break or do want to get out for a short period of time, whether it be for a cup of coffee, sit in the park, get some sun, bring their laptop someplace where they see people, she said. Maybe they dont feel comfortable right now, but when the outdoor dining becomes open, and this all kind of settles out  then well know better.

Mohibys gyro cart cant offer delivery or outdoor seating. Before the pandemic, he largely relied on nearby Comcast workers, many of whom love his popular goat biryani, he said. He accepted Venmo and Cash App payments to serve tech-savvy millennials.

These days, Mohiby thinks hed be better off parking his cart somewhere else, far away from the Comcast towers. Perhaps hed find more hungry workers in residential areas.

Outside the city is better, he said.
Germany will face a second coronavirus wave if it does not quickly tackle new outbreaks which have risen across the country, a top virologist has warned.

Christian Drosten, Director of the Institute of Virology at the Charite Hospital in Berlin, said he was deeply troubled by recent spikes, such as ata meat plant in North Rhine-Westphalia.

'I am not optimistic that in a month's time we will still have such a peaceful situation as we have now in terms of epidemic activity,' Drosten said on his NDR podcast.

'In two months, I think we're going to have a problem if we don't turn on all the alarm sensors again now.'

'I am not optimistic that in a month's time we will still have such a peaceful situation as we have now in terms of epidemic activity,' Drosten said on his NDR podcast. 'In two months, I think we're going to have a problem if we don't turn on all the alarm sensors again now.'

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

Dorsten urged the public to give their support to health authorities and continue sticking to the social distancing guidelines.

He referred to the southern states of the USA which he said were facing a 'terrible situation' because of premature lockdown easing.

Yesterday Germany 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 since 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 have shut again while picnics and barbecues have been 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.

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

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

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 yesterday - taking the total in Germany to 8,895

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.

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.

German army soldiers wearing face shields carry crates of supplies as they enter the accommodation block along with colleagues wearing protective suits yesterday

A member of the German army adjusts the googles of a health professional outside the houses of employees of the Toennies factory yesterday

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

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 yesterday 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.

A woman wearing a mask passes a packet of nappies over a fence yesterday as the German army and police help to distribute supplies to people living in quarantine after the coronavirus outbreak

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 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.

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.

German soldiers wearing masks carry crates of bottles and other supplies to employees of the Toennies slaughterhouse yesterday as the whole Guetersloh district went back into lockdown after an outbreak at the plant

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

'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.

The outbreak near Guetersloh was first reported last 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.

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.
Prominent MeToo supporter Amanda de Cadenet has dropped her support for Amber Heard after listening to her 'verbally abusing' Johnny Depp in bombshell audio tapes published exclusively by DailyMail.com.

The 34-year-old actress was expecting de Cadenet, a close friend and longtime women's rights activist, to testify against Depp in a series of looming defamation cases.

But the British-born TV host, 48, reveals in a new legal declaration that she changed her mind because she was 'appalled and shocked to hear how Amber was speaking to Johnny'.

Her dramatic about-turn came after DailyMail.com released a series of bombshell audio tapes in which the couple were overheard discussing their marriage problems and frequent fights.

The Aquaman beauty admitted clocking' her Oscar nominated husband in the jaw and pelting him with pots, pans and vases in various recordings made prior to the couple's May 2016 split.

She also appeared to be goading 57-year-old Depp, predicting that nobody would believe his accounts of the violence and telling him: 'You are such a baby. Grow the f**k up Johnny.'

Amanda de Cadenet dropped her support for Amber Heard after listening to her 'verbally abusing' Johnny Depp in audio tapes published by DailyMail.com. The 34-year-old actress was expecting de Cadenet, a close friend and longtime women's rights activist, to testify against Depp in a series of looming defamation cases.

Her dramatic about-turn came after DailyMail.com released a series of bombshell audio tapes in which the couple were overheard discussing their marriage problems and frequent fights. The Aquaman beauty admitted clocking' her Oscar nominated husband in the jaw and pelting him with pots, pans and vases in various recordings made prior to the couple's May 2016 split

De Cadenet is the second prominent MeToo figure to part company with Heard in the space of a week after high-profile Times Up attorney Roberta Kaplan confirmed her firm is no longer representing her.

A source close to de Cadenet said she was a survivor herself and remained a steadfast advocate of womens rights.

Amanda feels she was used and misled by Amber and hopes Amber receives the help she needs, the source added.

Amanda believes in the power of redemption and reconciliation and hopes both parties are able to achieve that.'

Heard's historical claims of domestic abuse will come under the microscope in defamation cases either side of the Atlantic, beginning next month when Depp takes the UK's Sun newspaper to court in London for calling him a 'wife-beater'.

The former lovebirds will square up again next January in Virginia where Depp is suing his ex-wife for $50 million over an op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post about surviving domestic violence.

Heard turned to close pal de Cadenet for support after her marriage ended in a May 21, 2016 blowout fight, attending a party at her house the very next day where she was pictured smiling but with hair covering one side of her face.

The photographer and founder of non-binary digital jobs platform, Girlgaze, became a staunch ally, publicly indicating that she believed Heard's claims that she was abused and beaten by Depp.

'As a long time womxns rights activist and survivor, it is my fundamental position to believe womxn who speak up about domestic or sexual assault,' de Cadenet states in her June 18 declaration, using an alternative spelling for women favored by some feminists and trans activists.

A source close to de Cadenet said she was a survivor herself and remained a steadfast advocate of womens rights. Amanda feels she was used and misled by Amber and hopes Amber receives the help she needs, the source added. Amanda believes in the power of redemption and reconciliation and hopes both parties are able to achieve that'

Heard turned to close pal de Cadenet for support after her marriage ended in a May 21, 2016 blowout fight, attending a party at her house the very next day where she was pictured smiling but with hair covering one side of her face (pictured)

'Historically womxns rights in this area have been chronically undermined and womxn have had their voices silenced.

'This is one of the reasons why, when Amber told me her version of the conflict between her and Johnny, it was my inclination to believe her and support her.'

However de Cadenet, who divorced Duran Duran bassist John Taylor in 1997 and is now married to Strokes guitarist Nick Valensi, goes to reveal her abrupt change of heart.

'I recently acknowledged that I will not testifying (sic) in Johnny Depps upcoming defamation case against the Sun. I also acknowledged that new facts have come to my attention which has changed my perspective on this matter,' she writes in her declaration, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.

'When the first audio tape was released, and I heard Amber being verbally abusive to Johnny, I was horrified,' she writes in the statement, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.

'I texted Robbie Kaplan, Ambers attorney, and let her know I needed to speak with her urgently. When we spoke, I told her I was appalled and shocked to hear how Amber was speaking to Johnny and that it was not ok with me.

'When I confronted Amber concerning the recording, she informed me it was edited by Johnnys team. I had hoped Amber would take accountability for her behavior but she did not.

'I have not spoken with Amber since this exchange and have come to the very painful realization that someone who I advocated for and believed so wholeheartedly, was not entirely forthcoming with me.'

Heard cataloged the 'horrific' abuse she claims to have suffered at Depp's hands, describing him as 'the monster' and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce. The filing included photos of bruises and scars (left and right)

The estranged couple managed to agree to a $7 million divorce settlement in August of that year, however their feud reignited when Heard's op-ed was published in December 2018. It didnt mention Depp by name but he nonetheless sued her the following March, saying it led to speculation that he was the abuser and caused him to lose the role of Captain Jack Sparrow

LA-based de Cadenet adds: 'I want to emphasize that I have no further personal knowledge of what happened between Johnny and Amber, and no knowledge of the truth of her accusations against him.

'I have made this statement in support of due process and upholding the truth.'

Depp and Heard met on the set of The Rum Diary back in 2011 and married four years later before their May 2016 fight proved the final nail in their chaotic relationship.

The estranged couple managed to agree to a $7 million divorce settlement in August of that year, however their feud reignited when Heard's op-ed was published in December 2018.

It didnt mention Depp by name but he nonetheless sued her the following March, saying it led to speculation that he was the abuser and caused him to lose the role of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Depp has always argued he was the victim of an 'elaborate hoax' instigated by his ex-wife, who faked her injuries with makeup and falsified accounts of abuse.

'Ms. Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse; she is the perpetrator,' his suit alleges.

'She hit, punched and kicked me. She also repeatedly and frequently threw objects into my body and head, including heavy bottles, soda cans, burning candles, television remote controls and paint thinner cans, which severely injured me.'

Heard responded with a 300-page filing of her own, cataloging the years of alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of the monster and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce.

These included a blood-curdling account of how Depp cut off his own finger after a booze and ecstasy bender one month into their marriage, an accusation he denies.

Heard responded with a 300-page filing of her own, cataloging the years of alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of the monster and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce. These included a blood-curdling account of how Depp cut off his own finger after a booze and ecstasy bender one month into their marriage, an accusation he denies.

The violent incident took place a month after the pair were married and while Depp was filming the fifth installment of the Pirates of Caribbean movie franchise in Australia. The Captain Jack Sparrow actor, 56, chuckles on camera as he reveals how he nicknamed the permanently-damaged digit 'Little Richard.' Pictured: Depp's finger after surgery

As part of Depp's $50m defamation case against Heard, he included images of his own bruised and battered face (pictured ) following Heard's alleged attacks

DailyMail.com revealed in January that the couple had a habit of recording their arguments so they could listen back to them later as a form of DIY marriage guidance.

Depp's supporters say they amount to a series of bombshell confessions, with Heard admitting she hit the Pirates of Caribbean actor and telling him on tape: 'See how many people believe you.'

Kaplan, co-founder of the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund and Heards attorney until two weeks ago, claimed the tapes had been 'doctored'.

She argued it was completely legitimate for victims of repeated physical and emotional abuse to defend themselves.

We believe Amber and we believe in Amber, Kaplans firm insisted last week, despite announcing it was no longer representing her.

In the strange and unexpected circumstances of todays world, as travel and logistics have become more costly in light of the pandemic, we understand the decision to move the case to local, Virginia-based trial counsel.

Heards rep declined to comment on the latest legal development.

Depp's attorney Adam Waldman said: 'When Amanda de Cadenet, Amber Heards best friend and #MeToo activist recants her support for Ms Heard and testifies against her, you know we have reached the beginning of the end of Ms. Heards abuse hoax against Johnny Depp.

But Ms Heard did not execute her hoax without help from her other powerful friends and the media; we will expose their various roles at the trial Mr Depp and I have arrived in the UK to prepare for.
Microsoft has just announced new Teams features that extends beyond work life to personal life. The new features are designed to alleviate the need for disparate tools and instead, offer one central hub for individuals, groups, and families to collaborate, stay connected and organized.

New features designed for personal life begin to roll out in preview to the Microsoft Teams mobile app today

Users can expect to connect, collaborate, and jointly organize their lives across work groups, friends, and family. The new features start to roll out in preview to the Teams mobile app today and will be fully rolled out in the coming weeks.

"We are using multiple apps and tools--both online and offline--such as calendars, email, messaging, photo apps, to-do lists, and documents to manage it all. Every day more people love what Teams does for them because it is the hub for teamwork that lets you chat, meet, call, and collaborate all in one place. And while Teams is great for work, we believe it can help everyone better manage their responsibilities across work and personal life. With these new features, we hope to extend the power of Teams to your personal life whether you're managing daily family life or just trying to stay connected and in sync with those who matter most," said Rami El Bayadi, Regional Director, Microsoft Office Asia.

With the new features, Microsoft hopes to provide users one app that seamlessly manages work and personal life as well as staying connected with those who matter most. Microsoft Teams will now provide the tools for users to manage daily life; share grocery lists, organize across family calendars, safely store important information like Wi-Fi passwords and account info, and even see location updates when loved ones arrive home or at other locations like work or school.



Stay connected with text chat and video calling: Microsoft Teams will become the messaging hub for all personal chats and video and voice calls, with fun features like sharing GIFs, photos, videos, documents, and even location already integrated. Users can create groups to chat and call, to stay connected with family and friends.

Microsoft Teams will become the messaging hub for all personal chats and video and voice calls, with fun features like sharing GIFs, photos, videos, documents, and even location already integrated. Users can create groups to chat and call, to stay connected with family and friends. Keep everyone on the same page and pick up where they left off: Users will be able to stay organized by sharing lists, documents, and calendars all within the group dashboard. Microsoft Teams will allow users to easily go back and see the chats, tasks, pictures, videos, and group calendars shared within the dashboard, providing a great way to pick up conversations or projects where they left off.

Users will be able to stay organized by sharing lists, documents, and calendars all within the group dashboard. Microsoft Teams will allow users to easily go back and see the chats, tasks, pictures, videos, and group calendars shared within the dashboard, providing a great way to pick up conversations or projects where they left off. Collaborate and share important documents efficiently and securely: Microsoft Teams integrates with other Microsoft 365 apps so users can easily share from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint right from within the Teams app. All documents are also stored on OneDrive and users can now access these documents across other devices - whether it is for planning a family budget or preparing kids' schedules.

Microsoft Teams integrates with other Microsoft 365 apps so users can easily share from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint right from within the Teams app. All documents are also stored on OneDrive and users can now access these documents across other devices - whether it is for planning a family budget or preparing kids' schedules. Easily share location and information: Location sharing is now available as part of these new personal features as well, making it easier for users to share their location and find their friends.

Microsoft Teams will also come with a Safe, which lets users securely store and share important information, like passwords, rewards numbers, or login information. Users can easily share this information directly from the Teams app with families and friends, all backed by the security of two-factor authentication and end-to-end encryption.

To get started on the preview, users can simply use their Microsoft Teams mobile app at work and add in their personal account. Users will then be able to toggle between their personal and work accounts. New users can also visit the app store on iOS or Android to download the mobile app and sign up with a personal Microsoft account, or create a new one with their phone number. General availability of the new features, as well as expanding features to the desktop and web versions of Teams, is expected later this year.
China and Latin America have helped each other throughout the years, and together have set an example for South-South cooperation, Zhao Bentang, Director General of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, China's Foreign Ministry, told Peoples Daily Online in an exclusive review recently.

Zhao Bentang, Director General of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, China's Foreign Ministry. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

Noting that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Latin America-China diplomatic relations, Zhao said both sides will join hands to forge a relationship characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and that is people-oriented.

In the early days of the COVID-19 epidemic, when China was hit particularly hard, the governments and people of Latin American countries gave a great deal of help and support to China.

The leaders of many Latin American countries and the heads of regional organizations sent letters to express their condolences and support for China. Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Uruguay mobilized their entire countries to provide China with anti-epidemic materials, including 600,000 masks, nearly 1 million pairs of sterilized gloves and more than 60,000 sets of surgical clothing and other medical supplies.

China also shared its anti-epidemic experience and quickly offered aid materials that the Latin American people badly needed to cope with the pandemic.

Under the joint leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leaders of Latin American countries, China held more than 30 video meetings to exchange experience in prevention and control of the pandemic with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Caribbean countries that have diplomatic relations with China, and Andean countries.

At the same time, China provided valuable anti-pandemic materials to 27 countries in Latin America, and assisted the relevant countries in purchasing and transporting medical materials they had bought in China.

Chinas solutions, sense of responsibility as a major country, vision of building a global community with a shared future for all, and promotion of cooperation with Latin American countries have been commended by the leaders and people of Latin American countries, Zhao said.

COVID-19 is the common enemy of China and Brazil. The leaders of the two countries have attached great importance to anti-pandemic cooperation since the onset of the disease, Zhao said.

Certain countries, such as the U.S., have done all they can to politicize and mislabel the virus to smear and attack China. This kind of conduct, which has led to the spread of a political virus in some countries, is highly immoral, he added.

China-Brazil relations are long-term and strategic. The diplomatic relationship between the two countries has withstood the challenge brought by the international situation and seen healthy and stable development since its establishment 46 years ago.

No stigmatization of China nor any force attempting to sow discord will affect this kind of relationship. China-Brazil relations enjoy bright and broad prospects.

The sudden onslaught of COVID-19 has posed a threat to Latin Americas economy and China-Latin America economic and trade cooperation, and hindered trade and personnel exchanges between China and the region, with several cooperation projects either shut down or delayed.

However, China has full confidence in the economic cooperation between the two sides, Zhao said, adding that the current difficulties are only temporary.

China and Latin America will stick to the basic direction of bilateral future cooperation, as both sides complement each other strongly and enjoy great cooperation potential, treat each other as partners and attach great importance to deepening China-Latin America cooperation.

China has brought the pandemic under control and enjoyed sound economic and social development, and was one of the first countries to resume work and production. This showcases the resilience of the Chinese economy, and brings confidence to Latin Americas cooperation with China, Zhao said.

On the other hand, we need to seize this momentum brought by the pandemic, which has not only driven the development of Internet infrastructure construction, cross-border e-commerce and the healthcare industry, but greatly expanded new forms of business covering non-contact economy, telemedicine and online education.

Cooperation in these areas will become a new engine and key element for bilateral cooperation, Zhao said.

Cuba established diplomatic relations with China in 1960, becoming the first country in Latin America to do so, ushering in a new era in Sino-Latin American relations.

Both China and Cuba are socialist countries and are good friends, comrades and brothers. The two sides are actively studying ways to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations through high-level interaction and the holding of cultural activities, so as to promote a new development of China-Cuba relations at a new historical starting point, Zhao said.

Over the past 60 years, China and Latin America have overcome many difficulties, such as geographical distance and differences in national conditions, setting an example for South-South cooperation.

Zhao Bentang further pointed out that there are three reasons why China-Latin America relations are developing so well: the first is mutual respect and an equal relationship, which is the essential feature of China-Latin America relations; the second is mutual benefit and common development, which is the brightest background to China-Latin America cooperation; and the third is persisting in exchanges and mutual learning, which is a profound byproduct of China-Latin America cooperation.

The United States has recently ramped up its intervention and sanctions against Venezuela and Cuba, which has been condemned by the international community.

Zhao noted that the U.S. exercises hegemony in Latin America and has always slandered and been wary of the development of relations between Latin American and other countries. In particular, the U.S. has openly smeared the cooperation between China and Latin America, including stigmatizing China-Latin America anti-epidemic efforts.

Zhao Bentang stressed that it is right for China to carry out equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with Latin America in order to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, help Latin America's development, and give Latin America a ladder when it is struggling in the process of development.

The development of China-Latin America relations will not stop because of deliberate obstruction and smearing by some countries, but will instead get better and better, Zhao said.
Amazon.com Inc said on Tuesday it will launch a $2 billion venture capital fund that will focus on technology investments to reduce the impact of climate change and support sustainable development. The Climate Pledge Fund will invest in companies across industries such as transportation and logistics, energy, storage and utilization, manufacturing and materials, and food and agriculture, the e-commerce giant said.

Amazon, which delivers about 10 billion items a year and has a massive transportation and data center footprint, has faced protests from environmental activists and pressure from its employees to take action on climate change. The company has vowed to be net carbon neutral by 2040. "Each prospective investment will be judged on its potential to accelerate the path to zero carbon and help protect the planet for future generations," Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos said in a statement.

In February, Bezos committed about $10 billion to fund scientists, activists, non-profits and other groups fighting to protect the environment. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the new fund.

Also read: RIL deal: Mukesh Ambani closes in on $15 billion-agreement with Saudi Aramco
The combination of CBD, the full-spectrum of hemp plant compounds, vitamins, and omegas creates a synergistic effect to promote a deep sense of well-being

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Also, the gummies include a proprietary mix of vitamins A, C, D, and B12 for immune support. And they contain omega 3-6-9 fatty acids for inflammation support. The combination of CBD, the full-spectrum of hemp plant compounds, vitamins, and omegas creates a synergistic effect to promote a deep sense of well-being.*

These top-rated CBD gummies have received a lot of praise by customers which are documented in their testimonials and reviews.

Anyone can take advantage of this sale. Simply visit the companys online store at Hemp Health One and add two jars of CBD gummies to your shopping cart. Then, type in the promo code BOGOGUMMY at checkout. This will apply the discount and give you two products for the price of one.

The founders of Hemp Health One understand the importance of staying healthy  now more than ever. The fear of COVID-19, the stress of homeschooling your kids, the horrifying images seen in the media because of racial injustice, etc. This is an essential time to take care of your physical and mental health.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was extremely proud that a 75-member Tri-service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces participated in the 75th anniversary of the Victory Day Parade at the iconic Red Square here on Wednesday.Singh arrived here on a three-day visit on Tuesday at the invitation of the Russian Ministry of Defence to attend the celebrations.

Attending the Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow today to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory of the Soviet People in the great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, Singh tweeted.

I am proud that a Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces is also participating in this parade, he tweeted.

Impressive turnout of the Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow is indeed an extremely proud and happy moment for me. pic.twitter.com/csEKNGKFLU  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 24, 2020

Impressive turnout of the Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow is indeed an extremely proud and happy moment for me, Singh said in another tweet.

The Indian embassy later tweeted that the Defence Minister was accompanied by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, Vice Admiral Hari Kumar and Ambassador D B Venkatesh Varma. The Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces comprised 75 all ranks and marched along with contingents of Russian Armed Forces and 17 other countries, according to an official statement.

The British Indian Armed Forces during World War-II were one of the largest Allied Forces contingents which took part in the North and East African Campaign, Western Desert Campaign and the European Theatre against the Axis powers. This campaign witnessed sacrifice by over 87,000 Indian servicemen beside 34,354 being wounded, the statement said.

The Indian Military not only fought on all fronts, but also ensured delivery of goods along the Southern, Trans-Iranian Lend-Lease route, along which weapons, ammunitions, spare parts for equipment and food went to the Soviet Union, Iran and Iraq, it said.

On Tuesday, Singh called on Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov and the two leaders held discussions on the bilateral relationship, regional issues, and reviewed the India-Russia defence cooperation.

Singh also conveyed his greetings for the solemn ceremonies of the 75th Victory Day and congratulated the friendly people of Russia, specially the veterans, who have contributed to the common security of India and Russia, the statement said on Tuesday.

The parade was reviewed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, war veterans and guests, including Defence Minister Singh.

This year, 14,000 troops and several hundred military machines took part in the parade, including 30 historic T-34 tanks. Modern vehicles also participated, including AFV Terminator, T-72, and T-14 Armata tanks, 9K720 Iskander missile systems, and many other cutting-edge military hardware, Sputnik International reported.

Planes and helicopters also participated in an air parade, with Su-25s colouring the sky in white, blue, and red - the colours of the Russian flag, the report added.

President Putin congratulated the military and guests, saying this victory determined the future of the planet. Russia postponed its military parade traditionally held on Moscows Red Square on May 9 for a later date due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On May 26, President Putin announced that the Victory Parade would be held on Moscows Red Square on June 24.He explained that this was chosen because on June 24, 1945 the legendary historic parade of victors took place, when soldiers, who fought for Moscow and defended Leningrad, who stood their ground for Stalingrad, liberated Europe and stormed Berlin, marched on Red Square.

Singh is the first senior union minister to undertake a foreign visit in four months as international travels were restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As the district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, Paul L. Howard Jr. says he attends a lot of funerals.

Tuesday, at the invitation of the Brooks family, Howard attended Rayshard Brooks' funeral, which was held to honor the late father of four, just one day after Father's Day.

In an interview with ABC News, Howard said seeing the family of Brooks at the service "magnified the hurt" he felt when he watched the video of Brooks' death.

Brooks was fatally gunned down by police in a Wendy's parking lot in Atlanta, Georgia on June 12.

"Because of our investigation, I had a chance to watch an extraordinary kind of interchange between him and two police officers, and it's almost like you got a chance to know something about him and his life just by watching [those] 41 minutes or so. And so I wanted to honor his death," Howard said.

MORE: MLK's daughter shares message with Rayshard Brooks' children at funeral

Howard continues to face criticism from lawmakers and the police union representing Atlanta police officers for his decision last week to charge former officer Garrett Rolfe and officer Devin Brosnan in the shooting death of Brooks. But Howard said he was "just doing his job."

"What we do is to look at the evidence. And in this case, we had the evidence that was before us. And my philosophy is we should move," Howard told ABC News. "If we had been talking about a civilian who shot someone, I've never heard anybody say that we indicted or charged the civilian quickly. It's strange that people only talk about quickly when you're talking about a policeman. I think that's one of the things that we've got to change in this country."

Howard said that there was nothing political about his decision to charge the officers, referring to the first police case his office prosecuted in 2002. That case, he said, involved a 19-year-old Black man who was killed by police while sitting in a car that belonged to his mother, but which an officer believed was stolen. "Every case that we've handled, that's what they've said, it's political, every case," he said.

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PHOTO: Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard Jr. speaks during a press conference announcing charges against Atlanta Police Department officer Garrett Rolfe in the fatal police shooting of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, Georgia, June 17, 2020. (Erik S Lesser/EPA via Shutterstock)

Howard also defended himself against criticism that he charged the officers before the Georgia Bureau of Investigations finished its investigation. He said his office had "enough evidence to move" and that they are not required by law "to wait for anyone."

He questioned the criticism further, noting that the GBI is a state police office. "I guess people are suggesting that we should wait for the police to tell us how they've investigated themselves. I don't think that's the way that the law works. We are independent. We made an independent decision and we will appreciate the report when they get it to us," Howard said.

Howard's office continues to add to its own investigation and is preparing for a bond hearing for Rolfe scheduled for next Tuesday. He told ABC News that he does not expect the grand jury to convene in this case until October 1.

His office is not planning on seeking the death penalty, the harshest possible punishment, for Rolfe's felony murder charge. "We have not even gotten to the point that we're thinking about what kind of sentence we're asking," Howard said.

Meanwhile, both Rolfe, through his legal team, and Brosnan, have denied the allegations against them, which include that they were late in administering aid to Brooks after he was shot. Howard said he charged the officers based on videotape evidence. "It's really critical in a case when somebody has been shot twice in the back that there ought to be some immediate medical attention, and I know people will say that you shot in the heart and that means you can't survive; that doesn't mean that you should not try," he said.

Howard believes that the officers broke the rules when they did not immediately attempt to keep Brooks alive.

MORE: Atlanta police officer fired after Rayshard Brooks death during confrontation at Wendy's drive-thru

Howard has also been critiqued for backtracking on whether a Taser is a deadly weapon, deciding so in the recent tasing incident of college students Taniyah Pilgrim and Messiah Young, but seeming not to decide the same in this case. "You know what they seem to be saying, 'Mr. Howard, if you're not perfect, if you made a mistake in the other case then now you have to bear with it," Howard said. He called the criticism "hogwash" and disgraceful to Mr. Brooks. "First of all, Mr. Brooks, at the time he was shot, he was running away, his back was turned. He was not firing a Taser. So why people are engaged in this imaginary argument about a Taser, I'm not real sure," he said.

Howard contended the Taser had nothing to do with Brooks' death. "He was some 18 feet, 3 inches from the officer when he shot him. And I would just ask people to use their common sense. And if you did that, I don't think you'd be talking about a Taser," he added.

Howard took particular issue with the officers' actions after Brooks was gunned down. For one, he said that Rolfe kicked Brooks. Brosnan, meanwhile, admitted that he stood on Brooks' shoulder, because he thought he was still a threat.

MORE: Video: Thousands mourn Rayshard Brooks at funeral service

"Number one, you don't shoot a man in the back. You know, it's the immediate sign of a coward when you shoot a man in the back. But once you do that, when a man is already down, you know, even if you were hunting an animal, if you were hunting a deer, when the deer is down, you don't walk over and then kick him and stand on him," Howard said.

"So when people are talking to me about Tasers, and how quickly you finished, I'm saying to them, 'Did you see the insult to humanity?'" Howard said. "'What are we going to do about that?' And I think what those young kids on the streets are trying to say to people is, 'When are you going to pay attention to what's really happening?'"

Howard has a lengthy list of policy suggestions to answer protesters' outcry for change in policing. He believes the nation should require all police misconduct criminal incidents to be independently investigated by a police agency separate from the department involved in the act of misconduct. Additionally, Howard would like to see district attorneys as the "gatekeepers" to the criminal justice system, granted the authority to charge police officers in the death of a civilian without the involvement of a grand jury.

PHOTO: Frame grab from police camera footage of the arrest of Rayshard Brookes by Atlanta Police, June 13, 2020. (Atlanta Police Department via Reuters)

He believes there should be a national law that every police officer, federal or state, involved in the arrest of an individual, or in contact with civilians, be required to wear and operate a body camera and utilize dash cameras. He also believes an independent federal agency should be created devoted to police shootings and collecting data. That agency would keep a nationwide database of officers involved in police misconduct and use of force incidents, develop and provide training standards and programs, reward police departments and communities that practice and excel in de-escalation with pay increases and pay incentives and provide an avenue for citizens to appeal local prosecutors' decisions not to charge or prosecute cases. This agency would be authorized to prosecute state cases in federal court.

In addition to policy reform, Howard argued there needs to also be a culture change. It begins with what he called the "thin blue line" -- the lack of officers willing to speak out against their fellow officers.

"What I hear people say often is, 'Well, you know, there's some good police officers, some bad ones, few bad ones, but everybody else is good.' And this is where I ask people all the time, 'Well, guys, when is the last time that you heard of those good officers testifying or complaining about the bad officers?'" he said.

MORE: Attorney for former officer who killed Rayshard Brooks says DA's investigation isn't credible

Howard believes the conduct of police unions and what they mean to police departments and the average citizen also needs to be examined.

"There's a culture that has developed. If we don't change that culture, then the result that we're going to get is going to continue to be the same," he added. But until that change comes, he said he hopes the young people in Atlanta keep putting pressure on the system.

"I'm hopeful that we can change. I'm hopeful that people will say this is too much," Howard said. "As an African American, my feeling is the reason we haven't stopped is because the deaths are mainly deaths of African Americans -- and until we accept the fact that we are not treated equally as citizens of this country, we will continue to make these mistakes."

DA says he was 'just doing his job' by charging officers in death of Rayshard Brooks originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Four part documentary Murder In The Outback: The Falconio & Lees Mystery will screen on Seven in July.

The series was commissioned by Channel 4 in the UK and produced in Australia by CJZ (Undercurrent, The Good Cop, Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Boy, Bondi Rescue). On Seven it will screen under the Seven News Presents banner.

It features former profile lawyer, Andrew Fraser who was himself the subject of a miniseries, Killing Time, on Foxtel.

The story later became a telemovie, Joanne Lees: Murder in the Outback starring Joanne Froggatt.

This screened in the UK earlier this month.

From the heart of the Australian outback, the inside story of the terrifying murder that shocked the world.

This blockbuster four-part true crime series investigates the 2001 disappearance of British backpacker Peter Falconio in outback Australia.

Every detail and the dramas that have surrounded this extraordinary case from day one are examined in this comprehensive re-investigation, featuring powerful first-hand accounts of those closest to the case.

With exclusive access to the never-before-seen original defence case documents, the documentary will re-examine the evidence put forward at the trial of the man convicted of Falconios murder  Bradley John Murdoch.

Some of the evidence doesnt add up and debate remains about whether Murdoch was correctly identified. What really happened on that night in the outback? Is there more to this story?
A protester burns the American flag during a 2014 rally against police violence in Los Angeles. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

President Trump did not offer a word of comfort for victims of police brutality, nor for those who have lost their lives in the COVID-19 pandemic, during his rally in Tulsa, Okla., last weekend.

That would have required compassion or empathy.

But rail against an imaginary issue like flag burning? Sure, why not?

It was another cheap and easy chunk of red meat tossed to the anemic crowd on Saturday night: We ought to come up with legislation that if you burn the American flag, you go to jail for one year! he said, addressing Oklahomas two Republican senators, who basked in his attention.

It wasnt the first time Trump has injected flag burning into the national political conversation.

In 2016, he suggested that anyone who burns an American flag should be imprisoned and lose their citizenship. Last year, when two Republican senators introduced a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning, he tweeted his support: A no brainer!

A couple of weeks ago, in a call with governors, he brought it up again, according to the Washington Post. If states would pass a very powerful flag burning statute with strong punishment, he promised to back you 100% and mused that the current members of the Supreme Courts conservative majority will accept that.

Theres just one problem with Trumps fantasy of jailing flag burners.

The Supreme Court has ruled  more than once  that flag burning is a constitutionally protected form of speech.

If it were up to me, the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said in 2015, I would put in jail every sandal-wearing, scruffy-bearded weirdo who burns the American flag. But I am not king.

Indeed, as painful as it must have been for him not to be king, Scalia cast the deciding vote in the landmark 1989 5-4 ruling that declared that flag burning is protected under the 1st Amendment.

Even as ardent a conservative as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has said he supports the rights of flag burners: No act of speech, he wrote in 2006, is so obnoxious that it merits tampering with our First AmendmentSurely we are strong enough to withstand a few degenerate attention-seekers.

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As angry as this country makes me at times, I would never burn an American flag. That form of protest is not my style.

But if I happened to find myself alone with a box of matches and a Confederate flag?

Its quite possible my inner arsonist would burst into view.

::

Flag burning is one of those culture war issues that raises its ugly head every few years.

Back in 1968, Congress passed the Federal Flag Desecration Law after Vietnam War protesters destroyed American flags. Eventually, 48 states also banned flag desecration.

The Supreme Court began to challenge those laws in 1974, when it ruled that a University of Washington student named Harold Spence did not violate the law by hanging an American flag from his dorm window upside down with peace symbols taped to it. Spence hung the flag to protest the killing, in 1970, of four Kent State University anti-war protesters by Ohio National Guardsmen.

By 1989, the court had rendered invalid all state and federal laws aimed at protecting the flag from protesters.

The landmark case, Texas vs. Johnson, arose from an incident that occurred in Dallas at the 1984 Republican National Convention.

Gregory Lee Joey Johnson, a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party, poured kerosene on a flag that someone had ripped from a flagpole, and burned it. Johnson was protesting U.S. backing of wars against leftist governments in Central America and also the invasion of Grenada, a tiny Caribbean island where 2,000 U.S. troops were sent in 1983, in what many believed was an effort to divert attention from the bombing deaths of at least 240 troops and personnel at a Marine barracks in Lebanon.

As the flag burned, protesters chanted, America, the red, white and blue, we spit on you.

No one was injured, Justice William J. Brennan Jr. later wrote in his majority opinion, though several witnesses testified that they had been seriously offended.

Johnson was accused of desecration of a venerated object, convicted and sentenced to one year in jail and fined $2,000.

After the Supreme Court overturned his conviction, Congress passed the Flag Protection Act, which, again, was ruled unconstitutional by the court.

Not one to relinquish his constitutional rights, Johnson was arrested in 2016, outside the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, where he burned a flag in protest because, he said, America was never great. A judge dismissed his case, and he later won a $225,000 settlement from the city.

Johnson was arrested again last year in front of the White House, during Independence Day celebrations, for burning a flag to protest what he called Trumps fascist agenda.

At what point, I have to wonder, will folks opposed to flag burning grasp the fact that the flag represents the very freedom that allows protesters to burn it? No one has ever died for the flag; they have died defending the liberty it represents.

As much as I support Joey Johnsons right to burn the flag, I have to admit I was touched when I read what happened to the ashes of the flag he torched.

According to Brennan, a witness collected the flags remains in 1984, took them home and buried them in his backyard. It was, you see, just as much his right to lay the flag to rest as it was Johnsons to burn it in the first place.

@AbcarianLAT




Congress is moving to respond to public calls for police reform as protests continue across the country over the death of George Floyd and similar cases of excessive force. A Minneapolis police officer has been charged with murder in killing Floyd, a handcuffed, unarmed Black man, by kneeling on his neck for more than eight minutes.

While Republican and Democratic proposals differ, lawmakers on Capitol Hill seem to recognize that they have an opportunity to make real change through legislation.

But what they can do is limited by the Constitution, and their own political will.

Here's a look at what Congress has done before to address police reform at the local level, what the limits are, and what is now being proposed.





First off, does Congress have the power to tell local police departments what to do?

Kind of. It's complicated.

The U.S. Constitution doesn't give the federal government power over local or state police. And the 10th Amendment says any authority not specifically granted in the Constitution is left to the states, so Congress has little direct authority over state and local police.

But what they do have is control over money the federal government sends the states, and grants from the Justice Department are often a significant chunk of local police budgets.

So they can't tell police what to do, but Congress can withhold money unless police departments act in a certain way.





What has Congress done before?

Congress hasn't done much to address the use of force by local police or set standards regarding local law enforcement, said Barry Friedman, director of New York University School of Law's Policing Project.

Congress has placed conditions on popular policing grants like Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, or the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. But the Justice Department has been reluctant to use its authority to enforce the restrictions Congress has called for.

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One of the most notable examples is a 2014 law passed by Congress requiring law enforcement agencies to report deaths that occur during custody. But the Justice Department still hasnt adopted procedures to collect the data or penalized any state for not complying.

Lawmakers could force a police department to comply by threatening to restrict the Justice Department's budget or holding hearings to increase public pressure, Friedman said, but they have not.

But beyond the legal and logistic restraints faced by Congress in regulating local police, Friedman said, there's another reason lawmakers haven't moved aggressively: They haven't really wanted to.

The problem here isn't a lack of a capability. It's a lack of political will, he said. You're only seeing the kind of action you are seeing now because people have so loudly taken to the streets.





So what does Congress want to do?

There are two competing proposals at this point.

House Democrats' bill would ban federal officers from using chokeholds, or from using "no knock" warrants in drug cases. It would establish national standards for police departments, including requiring training on racial, religious and discriminatory profiling, and make some federal funding for state and local police contingent on the passage of state laws banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants for drug cases.

The bill also would limit what military equipment can be transferred to civilian police departments, require federal officers to use body cameras and have cameras on the dashboards of their vehicles, and instruct local departments to use federal funds to do the same. It also makes lynching a federal crime and requires departments to report data on use of force to a federal database.

It would amend federal statute to allow officers to be prosecuted for "reckless" rather than "willful" criminal conduct, a move sponsors say will make it easier to successfully prosecute officers for criminal violations, and also modify the "qualified immunity" protection for officers to make it easier for citizens to press civil lawsuits against officers for violating their constitutional rights.

The bill was sponsored by Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles).

Senate Republicans' bill would require greater disclosure of police use of force and no-knock warrants and mandate the collection of data about how and when force is used. It would prohibit federal grant money to departments unless they have a policy banning the use of chokeholds except when deadly force is authorized.

The legislation includes emergency grant programs to increase the use of body cameras on officers, would make lynching a federal hate crime and create a commission to study the social conditions and discrimination facing Black men and boys.

It was introduced by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). and could be considered as soon as this week. But Democrats signaled Tuesday that they will block the bill.

What are the chances of a compromise?

Despite some inevitable finger pointing and brinkmanship, there are signs that a deal could be reached. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) indicated that she'd like a chance to formally work out the differences between the bills. Some Senate Republicans have proposed going further than Scott's version. And some elements, including making lynching a federal crime, are already included in both versions.

Both sides are feeling pressure to do something from the mass protests that have occurred in all 50 states, and neither can count on escaping blame for inaction.





What are the likely sticking points?

It may well be the fight over qualified immunity.

Many Republicans oppose ending it, saying officers shouldn't have to second guess, or hesitate to act, out of fear of being sued. Scott called it a poison pill, though some Republicans have signaled a willingness to consider modifying it.

Democrats call it a nonnegotiable centerpiece of reform that is necessary to ensure people have some way to hold police officers accountable for violating a constitutional right.

Qualified immunity for police officers is a doctrine created by the courts.

It's actually a fairly recent interpretation of a nearly 150-year-old law passed by Congress during the Reconstruction period following the Civil War.

Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1871, also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, to enforce the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment across the South. It allows a person to seek civil damages in court if their constitutional rights have been violated by a person acting under state authority  with no exception for police. While other parts of the act have been struck down, this aspect still exists as 42 U.S.C.  1983.

It was largely ignored by the courts until the 1960s, when the U.S. Supreme Court first introduced the concept of "qualified immunity," which prevents police officers from being successfully sued for abuse of power or misconduct unless a prior case has clearly established that the specific abuse or misconduct is illegal. In the last decade it has been used to shield officers from being sued for using excessive force, including brutal arrests and shooting innocent people in their homes.

Just this month the Supreme Court declined a chance to revisit the doctrine by turning down eight qualified-immunity cases, including one in which an officer unleashed his police dog to attack an unarmed Tennessee burglary suspect who had sat on the ground and surrendered.

Congress has the power to essentially declare the doctrine moot and assert its need to address a nationwide problem  in this instance improper use of force by police  under Section 5 of the 14th Amendment, which allows Congress to legislate to enforce the amendment.

The question remains whether it will do so.
Mayor William Peduto is calling for changes to state law to make it easier for city officials to quickly release footage from police body-worn cameras.

Last year Pittsburgh Police invested $10 million in new cameras for more than 900 officers. Yet, pursuant to existing law, city leaders are barred in most circumstances from immediately releasing body-worn camera footage to the public.

"Now more than ever cities need to show transparency and accountability for police actions, and city leaders across Pennsylvania need more power to share taxpayer-funded camera footage with the public as soon as possible. This is allowed in many states across the nation and should be here as well," Mayor Peduto said.

"Body-worn cameras are known to protect both the public and police by providing unfiltered checks on community-police interactions. Pittsburgh and other cities in the Commonwealth must be given the flexibility to quickly release such footage in designated situations in compliance with applicable law."
A fatal shooting near a Capitol District restaurant grew out of a fistfight between the alleged shooter and his former wifes boyfriend, an assistant Douglas County attorney said Wednesday.

Marlon E. Miranda Jr., 27, of Lincoln is charged with first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. He is accused of shooting Jose Santos Parra Juarez, 26, who also lived in Lincoln, about 2 a.m. June 13 near 12th and Davenport Streets in downtown Omaha.

During a bail hearing Thursday, prosecutor Josh Baumann said Miranda and Juarez got into a fight inside the Epoca Cantina. Miranda left and returned with a gun, allegedly shooting Juarez after he exited the restaurant, according to the prosecutor.

Miranda then grabbed his ex-wife, Sharon Miranda, 25, of Lincoln, by the hair and banged her head into a brick wall, Baumann said. An off-duty Bellevue police officer working security in the area then shot Miranda.

Miranda and Juarez were both taken to the Nebraska Medical Center, where Juarez was pronounced dead upon arrival, according to an Omaha police report. Miranda, who appeared in court using a walker, was released from the hospital on Monday and booked into the Douglas County Jail.
Coronavirus antibody tests should not be used to tell people whether they have had the infection already, scientists have warned.

In a joint letter published in the British Medical Journal, a dozen leading scientists have cautioned that the blood-based kits  once dubbed 'game-changers'  by top politicians may actually be more trouble than they're worth.

Antibody tests examine blood to look for signs of past infection, as opposed to swab tests that tell if someone is currently infected.

An antibody is a substance produced by the immune system to remember how to fight off a particular illness  a Covid-19 antibody shows someone has had Covid-19.

But the presence of them doesn't guarantee someone won't get the illness again, the experts warned, because there is no firm proof that long-term immunity exists.

And, despite the Government having bought more than 10million of the tests, the way they have been tested is not good enough to prove their quality, the letter added.

Rolling out the tests in the NHS to patients would use up so much time and money, to produce uncertain or potentially worthless results, that it isn't worthwhile, it said.

Antibody testing is currently only available to frontline NHS staff, who are given tests made by the pharmaceutical companies Roche and Abbott.

Antibody tests work by feeding someone's blood through a device containing a fragment of the coronavirus and an enzyme to encourage them to react if all are present (Pictured: A test being used in Russia)

The scientists' warning in the BMJ was triggered by an NHS letter in May that asked hospitals to prepare to roll out antibody testing en masse to their staff and patients.

This asked NHS England to test all staff who want one, as well as patients for whom it would be useful or desired to know if they had had the infection.

WHO SIGNED THE LETTER? Dr Monique Andersson (John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford)

Professor Nicola Low (University of Bern, Switzerland)

Professor Neil French (University of Liverpool)

Dr Trisha Greenhalgh (University of Oxford)

Dr Katie Jeffery (Oxford University Hospitals)

Dr Andrew Brent (Oxford University Hospitals)

Professor Jonathan Ball (University of Nottingham)

Professor Allyson Pollock (Newcastle University)

Professor David McCoy (Queen Mary University of London)

Professor Miren Iturriza-Gomara (University of Liverpool)

Professor Iain Buchan (University of Liverpool)

Dr Helen Salisbury (University of Oxford)

Professor Deenan Pillay (University College London)

Professor Will Irving (University of Nottingham) Advertisement

Antibody tests work by feeding someone's blood through a device containing a fragment of the coronavirus and an enzyme to encourage them to react if all three parts are present.

If there is a reaction when the blood is inserted, it indicates that someone's immune system has antibodies and has learned how to fight off Covid-19 in the past.

But the researchers writing in the BMJ, who work at universities including Liverpool, Oxford, Nottingham, and Queen Mary and UCL in London, said this did not mean anything more than that someone had had the virus already.

With other disease, a positive antibody test may prove that someone is immune to an illness. But because the coronavirus has only been around for six months, scientists do not know whether people's bodies protect themselves from it over the long-term.

Studies have suggested that antibodies last for months, at least, but it remains unclear how protective they are.

The scientists wrote: 'The concept of 'immune passports,' allowing healthcare workers or others to work, has not been established.

'Those with a positive antibody test should still consider themselves at risk and follow infection control policies designed to prevent [in-hospital] spread and risk of infection.

'There is, therefore, no benefit to healthcare organisations or to others in knowing the status of employees at present.'

Another concern of the scientists was that the antibody tests being used in the UK have not been evaluated well enough to prove that they are good.

They raised concerns that tests were not being done on enough people known to have the coronavirus, to check their accuracy.

Public Health England antibody testing results show the levels of exposure to Covid-19 vary wildly across the UK, from around 17.5 per cent in London to lower than five per cent of people in the South East and North East

WHAT IS AN ANTIBODY TEST AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR? Antibody tests are ones which look for signs of past infection in someone's blood. Antibodies are substances produced by the immune system which store memories of how to fight off a specific virus. They can only be created if the body is exposed to the virus by getting infected for real, or through a vaccine or other type of specialist immune therapy. Generally speaking, antibodies produce immunity to a virus because they are redeployed if it enters the body for a second time, defeating the bug faster than it can take hold and cause an illness. An antibody test, which involves analysis of someone's blood sample, has two purposes: to reveal whether an individual has been infected in the past and may therefore be protected against the virus, and to count those people. Knowing you are immune to a virus - although whether people actually develop immunity to Covid-19 is still unknown - can affect how you act in the future. Someone may need to protect themselves less if they know they have been infected, for example, or medical staff may be able to return to work in the knowledge they are not at risk. Counting the numbers of people who have antibodies is the most accurate way of calculating how many people in a population have had the virus already. This can be done on a small sample of the population and the figures scaled up to give a picture of the country as a whole. In turn, this can inform scientists and politicians how devastating a second outbreak might be, and how close the country is to herd immunity - a situation in which so many people have had the virus already that it would not be able to spread quickly a second time. Experts believe that around 60 per cent exposure would be required for herd immunity from Covid-19, but the UK does not appear to be anywhere close to that. Early estimates suggest 17 per cent of Londoners have had the virus, along with five per cent of the rest of the country  about 4.83million people. This means the virus might spread slightly slower in future but the risk of second outbreak and hundreds or thousands more deaths remains very real. Advertisement

And they were also not being tested on enough people with other illnesses, to check whether the tests cross-reacted and returned a positive result for a different type of infection.

The letter said: 'Those who are at highest risk of death from this infection are elderly people, those from black and minority ethnic groups, and immunocompromised people.

'There are currently no data showing the performance of the tests in these groups.

'The correct route to generating valid test performance data is well designed prospective clinical studies.

'The [test] is being rolled out at an unprecedented pace and scale without adequate assessment, potentially compromising public trust in pathology services in the future.'

Because of concerns about the quality of the tests, and uncertainty about what the results even show, the scientists said the NHS's plan to roll out antibody tests was a waste of time and money.

The service would require results to be produced within 24 hours, they said, which would cost laboratories time and money.

They added: 'Given that routine testing of patients is neither clinically urgent nor meets a clear public health need, this push to introduce a non-evidence based test for uncertain gains risks inefficient use of scarce resources.'

In conclusion the researchers admitted that antibody tests were useful for research, to track how far the virus has spread, but not for much more.

Both the Office for National Statistics and Public Health England are using antibody tests for this purpose, and have tested tens of thousands of people to date.

This blood testing on behalf of the government has found that around 5.4 per cent of people in England have had the virus already. The ballpark is somewhere between 4.3 and 6.5 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This means around 3million people have had the virus already, and considerably more people in London have had it than in other regions.

Testing by Public Health England has found that around 17.5 per cent of people living in the capital have got antibodies to the disease, meaning their immune system has fought it off already.

This varies wildly across the country, PHE data shows, with around 12 per cent of people exposed in the North West and 10 per cent in the East of England, but fewer than 10 per cent in every other region.

Lowest are the South East and North East, where only around four per cent of people appear to have had the illness already.

CDC WARNS EVEN GOOD TESTS MAY BE WRONG 50% OF THE TIME - SO HOW DO THE TESTS FALL DOWN? The US's Centers for Disease Control & Prevention last month warned that coronavirus antibody tests may be wrong 50 per cent of the time even if they are high quality. It warned that the antibody testing is not accurate enough for it to be used for any policy-making decisions, as even with 95 per cent test specificity (the accuracy of negative results), 'less than half of those testing positive will truly have antibodies'. This is why: Antibody tests with what could be considered a high level of accuracy can still produce large margins of error if only a small proportion of a population has been infected. A 95 per cent specific test, for example, will always produce five false positive results from a group of 100 people. Even if it is sensitive enough to detect all the people who have genuinely had the disease, it will still return five false positives, and the effect this has on the results of a survey can be large if the number of true positives is low. If the prevalence of antibodies is low - for example, only five per cent of people in the group have had the illness - the results could end up half wrong. The 95 per cent test, in that situation, would be expected to return 10 positives - five of them right, five of them wrong. This means the functional accuracy of the test, known as its true predictive value, is only around 50 per cent. The effect of these false positives is magnified if the prevalence of the virus in the population is low, and less noticeable if the prevalence is high. For example, if 30 per cent of the population have been infected, those five false positive results would be counter-balanced by 30 true positives, making the test more like 85 per cent accurate. A more specific test can reduce this effect; by comparison a 99.9 per cent specific test would return one wrong result per thousand - 100 per million. Advertisement

NHS to trial coronavirus tests that give results in minutes

Coronavirus tests which could give results in minutes rather than days will be tried out in the NHS as part of a research programme.

Researchers from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Manchester will assess the effectiveness of tests, which could be quicker, more convenient and more accurate, as part of a 1.3million national programme.

The Covid-19 National DiagnOstic Research and Evaluation Platform (CONDOR) will evaluate how new diagnostic tests perform in hospitals, general practices and care homes.

Tests being used to detect Covid-19 at the moment can take 72 hours to give results.

A research team will work with the Government and scientific advisers to identify which new tests could be most valuable in the NHS and then evaluate them in health and care settings including emergency departments, critical care and care homes.

The research will take place across Greater Manchester, including at the Manchester Royal Infirmary and Salford Royal hospitals.

Between 10 and 20 new Covid-19 tests will be conducted at about 30 hospitals where patients are recruited for the study, which is expected to start by the end of the month.

Lord Bethell, minister for innovation at the Department of Health and Social Care, said: 'We need the fastest, most accurate tests in the NHS to help keep Covid-19 under control.
Kitui County Governor Charity Ngilu is staring impeachment in the face after the Majority Leader in the County Assembly submitted a censure motion to remove her from office to the speaker of the assembly.

Athi Ward Representative, Peter Kilonzo, drafted the impeachment motion in which he accuses Governor Ngilu of abusing her office, gross misconduct and violating the constitution.

A notice in a local daily indicated that the Kitui County Assembly would debate Governor Ngilus ouster on Monday, June 29.

The notice further asked members of the public to submit their opinions on the matter through written memoranda and/ or a filled and signed questionnaire before the close of business, Friday, June 26, 2020.

Questionnaires and memoranda may be hand-delivered to the Office of the Clerk, County Assembly of Kitui, at the designated desk, or emailed to [email protected]

Governor Ngilu is accused of among other things, failure to account for the management of the county funds and expenditure for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 financial years.

According to Mr Kilonzo, Ngilus failure to account for the said expenditure eroded the public confidence of the people of Kitui County in the integrity of the holder of the office.

The MCA further accuses Ngilu violating Section 44 of the County Governments act by irregularly and unlawfully hiring of the County Secretary, failing to dismiss the impeached county executive member for trade, cooperatives and investments.

The county boss is also accused failing to comply with the two-third gender rule in appointments, violating peoples right to health and conflict of interest in the purchase of a stationary stone crusher plant.

Out of the seven, only one is a woman  the governor herself. She has failed to nominate more women and comply with the two-thirds gender rule which is a gross violation of the constitution. It is quite astonishing that the governor being a woman herself has continuously elected to oppress and deny the women of Kitui their constitutional rights, privileges and opportunities, the motion reads in part.

The impeachment motion dubbed the removal of Hon Charity Ngilu from the office of the governor by impeachment has been signed by 40 MCAs out of 56
SAN FRANCISCO  Sex workers need real resources for harm reduction and not criminal prosecutions, according to the Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA (SWOP-USA), which on Tuesday made a statement regarding the recent bust and seizure of CityXGuide.com.

Last week, federal authorities announced that the hookup site was taken offline and its Bay Area owner charged in a 28-count federal indictment.

In a court filing, operator Wilhan Martono is said to have built a suite of illicit sites  CityXGuide.com, Backpage.co, CAPleasures.com and BodyRubShop.com  promoting prostitution and sex trafficking.

CityXGuide.coms shutdown is only the latest step in the long history of targeting the entire sex trade in the name of trafficking while disregarding the impact on the very people these shutdowns pretend to protect, SWOP-USA spokesperson Phoenix Calida said in the statement. People in the sex trades need real resources  not expensive and media-friendly criminal prosecutions against ad sites used for harm reduction.

Calida noted that the CityXGuide bust was the first time authorities utilized the criminal expansions created under FOSTA/SESTA, which allows the federal government to prosecute websites that facilitate sex trafficking.

Though the law was sold under the banner of anti-trafficking, Calida noted that the 2018 passage instead expanded federal criminal charges for facilitation of commercial sex and has led to many sites which offered harm reduction to sex workers pre-emptively shutting down.

While advertising websites such as RentBoy have faced similar charges, this is the first use of FOSTAs new expansion of federal policing in a moment when the latitude and effectiveness of police is being directly questioned, Calida said.

Lorelei Lee, an adult performer and collective member of Hacking//Hustling, a group of sex workers formed in response to FOSTA, also joined in SWOPs press release.

When we are re-envisioning public safety, this is a perfect example of why we cant exempt human trafficking, Lee said. Instead of resources going to community outreach or victim support, you have six agencies spending time and resources reading ads and looking for the word blowjob.

In Martonos case, federal authorities charged the online entrepreneur on one count of promotion of prostitution and reckless disregard of sex trafficking, one count of interstate racketeering conspiracy (facilitating prostitution), nine counts of interstate transportation in aid of racketeering (facilitating prostitution) and 17 counts of money laundering.

According to the indictment, Martono allegedly netted more than $21 million off the sites, which he allegedly registered just one day after authorities shut down Backpage.com.

Authorities said that CityXGuide ads had to be purchased with cryptocurrency Bitcoin or gift cards from establishments such as Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowes, Amazon and Sephora. Martono used third-party gift card resellers to shroud the money transfers, the indictment said.

Martono allegedly took steps to conceal his online activity by routing website traffic through an IP address in Europe, using a VPN to mask his IP address while conducting CardCash transactions, and funneling his proceeds through a network of business and personal bank accounts.

CityXGuide, which served clients across the globe, included a list of 14 Favorite Cities, including Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and Boston. Authorities said they identified numerous minor victims in CityXGuide advertisements.

Martono was arrested last Wednesday and faces up to 25 years in federal prison.

Lawrence Walters, an industry attorney who represents Woodhull Freedom Foundation in its challenge over the constitutionality of FOSTA, said that the CityXGuide case is another salvo in the governments ongoing attempt to sanitize the Internet of sex worker ads.

Here, the DOJ has indicted the defendant for a FOSTA violation at the same time the constitutionality of the law is being tested in federal court in the Woodhull case, Walters told AVN. We believe the law is patently unconstitutional and hope the court will put a stop to its enforcement.

The Woodhull Freedom Foundation  along with Human Rights Watch, Alex Andrews, the Internet Archive and Eric Koszyk  is seeking to block enforcement of FOSTA. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia recently reinstated the case after it was tossed by a lower court.

The lawsuit argues that FOSTA expansively criminalizes online speech related to sex work and removes important protections for online intermediaries in violation of their First Amendment rights.
Jamaal Bowman jumped out to an early lead over Rep. Eliot Engel in a Tuesday primary that wont be settled for more than a week.

But Bowman told supporters he was fired up as the first results showed him with a big edge over Engel, a 16-term incumbent Democrat in New Yorks 16th congressional district.

I cannot wait to get to Congress and cause problems for the people in there who have been maintaining a status quo that is literally killing our children, Bowman said during a speech in Yonkers livestreamed to social media.

Thousands of mail ballots that wont be opened until June 30 will delay the final results of the election, but it was a matter of so far, so good for Bowmans campaign. He led Engel 60%-35% with 698 of 732 election districts reporting Wednesday.

Jamaal Bowman, who's running against Rep. Eliot Engel in a Democratic Party primary, pictured at an endorsement event with Zephyr Teachout in Mount Vernon.

RESULTS: Polls close after long lines, lengthy delays

Bowman, a former middle school principal, campaigned as a progressive looking to shake up the system. Engel had called himself a thorn in President Donald Trumps side, Bowman said.

But you know what Donald Trump is afraid of more than anything else? A Black man with power, Bowman, 44, said in a lively speech where he promised to fight against a racism, sexism and other forms of oppression.

More: AOCs blowout win, last-minute voting in Kentucky and other key takeaways from Tuesdays primaries

He railed against economic inequality in the country, where there is great wealth but children living in poverty. He said he as a Black man in America he learned about death and homicide at a young age, seeing how it affects not just an individual but the larger community.

Poverty is not a result of children and families who dont work hard, Bowman said. Poverty is by political design and is rooted in a system that has been fractured and corrupt and rotten from its core from the inception of America.

A Bowman victory would mirror Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez victory over longtime Rep. Joe Crowley in a 2018 primary that has sparked a new energy in the Democratic Party. But Engels campaign said it was too early to say the race is over with the number of ballots still to be counted.

Story continues

Congressman Eliot Engel speaks during a vigil at the First Baptist Church of White Plains Aug. 5, 2019. The vigil was held for the victims of the recent gun violence in the country.

A statewide emergency order has allowed for any party member to vote by mail this year, and tens of thousands of ballots are enough to sway the result. The available results are from votes cast in person Tuesday and at early voting sites earlier this month.

The 16th District includes the lower part of Westchester County and the Bronx, and Bowman led by big margins in both parts of the district.

The bottom line for Congressman Engel is that every voter deserves to have their voice heard in our electoral system, and every primary ballot must be counted to ensure that happens, Engels campaign said in a statement.

Whatever the ultimate result, it was clear for months that Engel was facing one of his most serious challenge in years. Engel, in office since 1989, faced three primary challengers in 2018 but won with more votes than all of his opponents combined.

Some viewed Bowman as having the potential to be the next AOC, and he gained momentum through the campaign with endorsements from Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders and The New York Times.

Engel, 73, received high-profile support from the likes of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the last few weeks.

Mark Lungariello covers government and politics. Follow him on Facebook @lungariello and Twitter @marklungariello. For our latest subscription offers click here.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Jamaal Bowman steps closer to upsetting longtime Rep. Eliot Engel
Abhishek Bachchan has shared his childhood memories with actor-director Farhan Akhtar as the two grew up together due to the professional commitments of their respective fathers: Amitabh Bachchan and Javed Akhtar. Abhishek has revealed all about their friendship and much more as he looked back at memories from their film, Game.

Abhishek, who has been documenting his 20 years in Bollywood on Instagram, has now penned a note about his two 2011 films -- Game and Dum Maaro Dum. Sharing trivia about Game, he wrote, Game was a very cool and slick whodunnit. A genre Ive always wanted to do being a big fan of Poirot. The film gave me the opportunity to work with wonderful actors and an awesome crew helmed by Abhinay Deo and produced by my good friends @ritesh_sid and @faroutakhtar.

Talking about working with Farhan, he said, Farhan also wrote the dialogues. Never in a million years would I have dreamt that as two young kids at each others birthday parties participating in the dance competitions (unsuccessfully) that I would act in a film that was produced by and mouth dialogues written by Farhan; something our fathers did rather successfully. a super cast filled with talent and fun.

The film starred Boman Irani, Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher , Sarah Jane Dias, Jimmy Sheirgill, Shahana Goswami and Gauhar Khan. Abhishek said it was fun shooting with them especially in Greece and Turkey.

Abhishek then moved to his other release that year. He wrote, Dum maaro dum was my 3rd film with @rohansippy and a totally different genre to his last two films. A rom-com to a cool con film to now a gritty thriller! Speaks volumes about his range and versatility as a director. We shot this film entirely in Goa except for the Thayn Thayn video. Rohan, through the shooting of the film introduced me to a Goa that I had never seen. Locations I wouldnt have even imagined existed.

Also read: 37 years of Woh Saat Din: Anil Kapoor shares his journey when he started as an actor, became a star

The film boasted of a huge star cast including Bipasha Basu, Rana Daggubati, Prateik Babbar and Gulshan Devaiah, with Deepika Padukone and Vidya Balan in guest appearances. Talking about working with Gulshan in particular, Abhishek said, An actor who just blew me away with his ease and talent. So exciting to watch. I would love to get the opportunity to work with him again.

Sharing a fun fact of working with Bipasha Basu, he revealed, Not many know, Bipasha was the first actor I ever faced the movie camera with. We had both screen tested together for JP saab. Kamaalistan studious in the year 1998. That was for a different film/script. Weve remained dear friends since.

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Tunisian youths clashed with police overnight in a town in Tunisia's deprived south, where a protest movement is demanding jobs and services, the interior ministry said Wednesday.

"Several hundred people" gathered Tuesday night in front of a local security forces facility in Douz, 475 kilometres (295 miles) south of the capital Tunis, to protest disrupted water supplies, ministry spokesman Khaled Hayouni told AFP.

Demonstrators also came out in support of a growing protest movement underway in Tataouine, 200 kilometres southeast of Douz, where protesters are demanding authorities make good on a 2017 promise to provide jobs.

Protesters in Douz burned tyres and threw rocks at security forces, who responded with tear gas, Hayouni said.

Calm was restored by Wednesday morning, he added.

Local private radio station Mosaique FM reported that officers were injured and patrol cars damaged.

Southern Tunisia is one of the country's most marginalised regions, with unemployment above the national average, failing public infrastructure and a stunted private sector.

Ten years after the revolution that toppled Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, the government is yet to address this regional inequality.

On Sunday and Monday, police in Tatouine clashed with protesters denouncing the government's unkept promises.

For weeks they have blocked roads and sought to prevent trucks from delivering supplies to the remote El-Kamour pumping station, one of the main sites for Tunisia's small oil industry.

The protesters insist the government honour an agreement reached after a months-long 2017 sit-in, pledging to hire thousands of unemployed workers and invest millions in the region's development.

They are also demanding the release of a protest leader arrested overnight on Saturday and charged with "participating in a gathering likely to disturb the peace".

A special cabinet meeting is scheduled for Friday on the situation in Tataouine, coming as the government faces tensions within its coalition.
MUNICH, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IDnow (www.idnow.io), a leading provider of Identity Verification-as-a-Service solutions, sees strong volume growth for its artificial intelligence-based solution. Transactions via IDnow AutoIdent have increased tenfold in the first two quarters of 2020.

Since its launch in 2018, IDnow's AutoIdent has grown from strength to strength and expanded into new industries. In 2020 IDnow sees an exponential growth in volume. From January to June, an increase of over 1000% in the number of transactions was recorded. The customer base covers a wide range of different industries: insurance, banking, mobility, cryptographic currency platforms and telecommunications. The reasons are equally diverse: new business models, security maximisation, digitalisation - companies are increasingly turning to secure and efficient solutions.

"Identity verification in general, but especially AI-based products such as AutoIdent, have great growth potential - particularly in the current crisis, where digital products are in greater demand than ever before. Digitalisation must now move faster, and many new use cases - that have been performed with personal interaction - now require efficient digital products like AutoIdent. With short setup times and easy integration of a single API, this is the perfect product to be secure and compliant on the one hand, and to allow fast and easy onboarding without personal interaction on the other hand," says Andreas Bodczek, CEO of IDnow.

"AutoIdent has a huge international potential, especially due to the rapidly advancing digitalisation in many industries and the resounding success of FinTechs and InsureTechs, the demand for simple, lean solutions is growing. Whether in banking, mobility, telecommunications or economy platform sharing, everyone is interested in a fast, seamless and secure onboarding process that increases conversion rates and customer satisfaction while providing the highest level of security," Andreas Bodczek continues.

AutoIdent's artificial intelligence uses the smartphone's camera, to recognise the country and type of ID document without the need for user input. The technology then captures the machine-readable part of the ID document as well as non-machine-readable areas, such as address fields. In the next step, the artificial intelligence automatically checks the optical security features of the ID documents, such as holograms. With the subsequent biometric video check of the person and "liveness detection", the identification process is completed for the customer within a few steps. On the basis of the recorded data, the system is able to decide whether the identification is valid, with a reliability that far exceeds the legal requirements.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning technology guarantee the highest quality and accuracy in identification verification. Furthermore, the IDnow process relies on a hybrid approach that optimally combines the advantages of man and machine. In special cases, the AI is supported by a human identity specialist who acts as an additional verification and security level.

Read more about IDnow AutoIdent and AI-based identification in our report: "Reliable, powerful and ready for the future". Download: https://www.idnow.io/use-cases/autoident-quick-guide/

About IDnow

With their Identity-Verification-as-a-Service (IVaaS) platform, IDnow is committed to making the networked world a safer place. The forgery-proof identity verification offered by IDnow is used in all industries in which companies process customer interactions online that require a maximum level of security. IDnow technology uses artificial intelligence to ensure that an identification document has all security features in order to reliably detect forged documents. It can potentially verify the identities of more than 7 billion customers from 193 different countries in real time.

IDnow covers a wide range of applications in regulated industries in Europe and for entirely new digital business models around the world as well. Through the platform, the identity flow can be adapted on a case-by-case basis to suit regional, legislative and economic requirements.

IDnow is supported by the venture capital investors BayBG, Seventure Partner, G+D Ventures, Corsair Capital and Jet A as well as a consortium of renowned business angels. With more than 250 customers, their clientele includes leading international companies in various industries such as Bank of Scotland, BNP Paribas, Commerzbank, eventim, Raisin (Weltsparen), Sixt, solarisBank, Telefonica Deutschland, UBS, Western Union and wirecard in addition to FinTechs such as Fidor, N26, smava and wefox.

Press contact:

Christina Schwinning

[email protected]

+49-89-41324-6054

SOURCE IDnow GmbH

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The constitutional amendments clearly state whom they may concern. Accordingly, the conclusion of the Venice Commission also shows that they concern three sitting judges of the Constitutional Court. This is what head of the My Step faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Lilit Makunts told reporters today, touching upon the fact that member of the Constitutional Court Alvina Gyulumyan has declared that these amendments dont concern her since she became a member of the Constitutional Court in 2014.

As far as Mrs. Gyulumyans interpretation is concerned, of course, lawyers will interpret it more clearly, but in regard to her interpretation, the question is how is it that Mrs. Gyulumyan demanded a surcharge from the Constitutional Court through a court procedure after serving as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights, she said.

Member of the Constitutional Court Alvina Gyulumyan has been a member since the 1990s. She terminated her activities and served as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights, and in 2014, she returned to Armenia and was appointed a member of the Constitutional Court again. Overall, she has been a member of the Constitutional Court for over 12 years. However, Gyulumyan claims that the last time she became a member of the Constitutional Court was in 2014, and the constitutional amendments concern judges who have served for over 21 years.
Photo: Contributed Police are appealing for information about Bo Fan, a Chinese national who had been living in Surrey, B.C., since last February but arrived at hospital in June 17 with critical injuries and died a short time later. Bo Fan is seen in an undated handout photo.

Homicide detectives in Metro Vancouver are appealing for information as they investigate the murder of a 41-year-old woman who died in hospital on June 17.

A statement from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says little is known about Bo Fan, who was dropped off at a Surrey hospital with life-threatening injuries and died a short time later.

Sgt. Frank Jang says police do not believe her murder was random.

He says investigators have determined she was a citizen of China, had links to a group known as either Golden Touch or Create Abundance, and had been living in Surrey since February 2019.

She was last seen in an area of well-groomed homes in central Surrey in the hours before she arrived at hospital.

Jang says there is still much to learn about Fan and her history and he urges anyone with information about her to contact the homicide team.
[June 23, 2020] Lynx Analytics releases LynxKite 4.0, an Open Source Graph Data Science Platform, to democratize adoption of Graph AI

SINGAPORE, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lynx Analytics, a leader in artificial intelligence and data science solutions, announces the open source release of its Complete Graph Data Science Platform, LynxKite 4.0, after years of development and successful deployments with customers. With rapidly growing availability of network and relationship data as well as new graph deep learning technologies, Graph AI is the next frontier of machine learning as advocated by leading machine learning experts . By integrating relationship information into machine learning models, graphs are a crucial component in numerous AI applications: network based attribute prediction, fraud detection, product recommendation, infrastructure and operations optimization, drug discovery, etc. Up until today, building Graph AI solutions has been a highly technical process that involved numerous skills, tools and coding efforts. This has created a high barrier to entry and slow adoption o Graph Analytics. As a "one stop shop" graph data science platform, LynxKite removes these obstacles and makes Graph AI more accessible to enterprises and citizen data scientists.



"After having been conceived and developed by professors from prestigious US, European and Asian universities, and a top-notch engineering team, LynxKite has already been deployed at a number of our enterprise customers and across many industries. It's also been tested and used extensively by our data scientist team." says Gyorgy Lajtai, Lynx Analytics' CEO. "With increasing requests from our clients and users, we are pleased to open source LynxKite to benefit the larger data science community." he added. All interested users can download LynxKite from lynxkite.com and access the source code on GitHub under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0. Alternatively, they can also evaluate the tool through a Cloud Demo . Detailed documentation and usage examples are available online as well.

About Lynx Analytics (www.lynxanalytics.com) Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Singapore with an engineering team based in Hungary, Lynx Analytics is the brainchild of a group of INSEAD students and professors. Lynx Analytics is a leader in artificial intelligence and data science solutions with a strong expertise in predictive analytic models, is home to an extremely talented team of data experts from top academic institutions like INSEAD, ELTE, UC Berkeley, NUS and NTU and serves clients globally by deploying dedicated project teams on-site. SOURCE Lynx Analytics

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The Porsche driver who allegedly taunted a dying police officer in the aftermath of the Eastern Freeway crash has withdrawn his second bid for bail.

Richard Pusey, 41, had lodged a bail application with the Melbourne Magistrates Court, which was to be heard on Thursday morning.

However, the court was notified on Tuesday that Mr Pusey, who is on remand, had withdrawn the application.

Richard Pusey is led from his home by police in Melbourne in April. Credit:AAP

He applied for bail in mid-May but it was refused by a magistrate, who said she held concerns about his risk of committing offences while on bail and about his drug use.
Impossible Foods founder and CEO Patrick Brown told CNBC on Tuesday that the meat industry is in the midst of a reckoning.

As more consumers seek out healthier food options, Brown is convinced that the animal-based market will be obsolete within the next two decades.

"From a nutritional standpoint our products match the protein quality and content of the animal products that they replace" and "ours is a clear winner from a health and nutrition standpoint," he said in a "Mad Money" interview.

"This is why I think people are increasingly aware plant-based products are going to completely replace the animal-based products in the food world within the next 15 years. That's our mission. That transformation is inevitable," the told host Jim Cramer.

Impossible Foods earlier that day announced that it inked a partnership with Starbucks to carry the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich at most of the international coffee chain's U.S. locations as the craze for plant-based diets continues to grow. The deal is a key victory for the privately owned alternative meat company and Brown.
Iran has rejected a United Nations report concluding that the cruise missiles used in last years attack on Saudi oil facilities and an airport in the kingdom were of Iranian origin.

According to the Associated Press, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres outlined the results of the investigation to Security Council members, but the report itself has not been released. The Sept. 14, 2019, attacks hit Saudi-Aramco facilities and shut down more than 5% of global oil supplies, causing a spike in oil prices.

Iran called the U.N.s conclusions baseless and said the world body is politically motivated and extremely unprofessional.

Russia also echoed Irans critique, stating that the U.N.s findings were based not on convincing evidence but merely some images such as media pictures of military exhibitions.

On June 13, Irans U.N. ambassador, Majid Takht Ravanchi, said on Twitter: Iranian origin of arms is a fallacy. UN Secretariat lacks capacity, expertise & knowledge to conduct investigations. https://en.irna.ir/news/83820417/Envoy-terms-Iranian-origin-of-arms-as-fallacy

The claim about U.N. capabilities is false.

Analysts told Polygraph.info that there is no doubt about the U.N.s expertise and capacity to authoritatively investigate such cases.

The U.N. Panel of Experts has a high level of forensic weapons intel capability, both internal and through contacts and contractors, to identify and trace partial and complete weapons system, said Michael Knights, senior Mideast analyst at the Washington Institute.

They use U.N.-appointed, long-term subject matter experts who are very picky about chain of custody and evidencing, Knights said. The Iranian comment is not accurate, and Iran never replies to information requests from the U.N. investigators.

Tim Michetti, a private-sector expert on illicit weapon flows in Africa and the Middle East, also lauded the U.N.s work on arms. Working together with independent weapons technical intelligence organizations, the U.N. has produced the best open-source information to date on illicit transfers of Iranian materiel, he said.

The U.N. has not revealed which of its teams were involved in the Saudi Aramco attack investigation. Asked about the findings, the U.N. media office told Polygraph.info further details may be made public after the Security Council holds a private meeting on June 24.

Yemens Iran-supported Houthi rebels, known as Ansar Allah, claimed responsibility for the attack, as they have for several dozen other attacks on Saudi Arabia since 2015, when Riyadh entered the war in Yemen to back the government in Sanaa.

The U.N. investigators previously confirmed the Houthi forces were responsible for most of those earlier attacks, and that the weapons they used were of Iranian origin and shipped from Iran.

In the case of the Sept. 14 attack, however, the U.N. team said the Houthi forces were not responsible. Thats because the missiles that struck Saudi targets came from a north/northwestern and north/northeastern direction, rather than from the south, as one would expect in the case of a launch from Yemeni territory.

In January, Reuters reported that the U.N. investigators were not tasked to identify the perpetrators. Still, their preliminary report said the Houthi forces were receiving assault rifles, rocket propelled grenade launchers, antitank guided missiles, as well as more sophisticated cruise missile systems.

Some of those weapons have technical characteristics similar to arms manufactured in Iran, Reuters said, quoting the U.N. investigators.

Writing at the time, Michetti said that the U.N. investigation may have been stymied somewhat by U.S. exploitation teams, who initially combed through and removed some of the weapon debris.

But he noted that the U.N. requires near-certain evidence before making attributions, and that its standards of transparency and verification require that it sidestep controversial findings.

Some wreckage from the Saudi Aramco attack is on display at the Iranian Materiel Display (IMD) at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., along with other Iran-manufactured weaponry that the U.S. has seized over the years.

The Pentagon launched the IMD three years ago, to present evidence that Iran is arming dangerous groups with advanced weapons, spreading instability and conflict in the region. The U.S. maintains the exhibit is proof of Iranian proliferation into Yemen, Afghanistan and Bahrain.

The U.N. Secretariat has traveled a number of times to Saudi Arabia and to Washington, D.C., to examine the Iranian weapons and the debris, Guterres said last December, and was able to independently verify the Iranian origin of the weapons.

In its critique of the U.N. report, Iran took a swipe at the prevalence of U.S. arms, citing the origin of sophisticated weaponry being poured into our region by the U.S. and its allies killing and maiming innocent people is quite obvious.

The Trump administration has kept the arms pipeline open to Saudi Arabia despite criticism from human rights groups and others.

Both Iran and Yemen are under a U.N. arms embargo. Iran has been accused of violating the ban by smuggling weapons to state and non-state regimes and groups in the Middle East and in Africa.
A roundup of campaign news items of interest for Wednesday, June 24:

GUN SAFETY GROUP BACKS STATEHOUSE DEMS: Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, an issue advocacy group for gun safety policies, announced a new ad campaign as part of its pledge to help Iowa Democrats earn a majority in the Iowa House in this falls election.

The digital ad accuses Iowa House Republicans of blocking gun safety proposals while advancing policies that weaken current gun safety standards.

Iowans demanded action on gun safety. Instead, Iowa Republicans rolled back our gun laws. Now, we vote them out, Traci Kennedy, a volunteer with the Iowa Chapter of Moms Demand Action, said in a news release from the group. Iowans deserve leaders who will put their safety first so well be putting our grassroots power toward electing a gun sense majority in November.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Iowa House. Democrats believe they can flip enough seats in the November elections to regain the majority they last held in the chamber in 2010.

The gun safety group in February announced its plan to spend at least $60 million on the 2020 elections, including races in Iowa. The group pledged to employ a similar strategy to the one it used in helping to flip Virginias General Assembly in 2019.

TEACHERS UNION ENDORSES GREENFIELD: Iowas largest public education union endorsed Theresa Greenfield, the Democratic candidate in Iowas U.S. Senate race.

Greenfield, a Des Moines businesswoman, faces Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Recent polling has showed a close race between the two, with Greenfield leading within the polls margin for error.

The Iowa State Education Association represents more than 50,000 Iowa public education workers.

Theresa Greenfield will be the leader Iowas students and educators need in Washington, Mike Beranek, the organizations president, said in a news release. She understands the importance of fully funding our public schools and making sure every student receives a quality education, regardless of their zip code. We are proud to support Theresa and will work to make sure she is elected in November.

The group also endorsed the Democrats running in Iowas four Congressional Districts: incumbents Abby Finkenauer in the 1st District and Cindy Axne in the 3rd, and in open-seat races Rita Hart in the 2nd District and J.D. Scholten in the 4th.

CAUCUS VETERAN NAMED TRUMP CAMPAIGN PRESS SECRETARY: President Donald Trumps re-election campaign has named Hogan Gidley its national press secretary. Gidley has been serving in the administrations press office; he will move to the campaign on July 1, the campaign announced.

Gidley has worked on Iowa caucus campaigns: he did press for Rick Santorums 2012 campaign and Mike Huckabees 2016 effort.

I am overwhelmingly humbled and deeply appreciative to President Trump for giving me a front row seat to witness history, Gidley said in a news release from the Trump campaign. 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.

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Ashwini M Sripad By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The rising number of Covid-19 cases could force the Karnataka government to postpone the legislature session to a later date, as permitted by law. Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri told TNIE that it is wait-and-watch for now. We will see what decision Parliament takes, and whether other states conduct assembly sessions. In Karnataka, the government is yet to take a call on holding the session which will depend on the situation, he said.

State Secretariat sources said holding a session in the current environment was not advisable because despite implementing health measures, the virus is spreading, as the staff and followers of MLAs, MLCs and ministers visit Vidhana Soudha. We can take health measures, but cannot avoid physical closeness. Its like a bomb ticking, an official said.

Law Minister J C Madhuswamy pointed to Article 174(1) of the Constitution, which mandates that there should not be a gap of more than six months between sessions. The Governor shall from time to time summon the House, or each House of Legislature of the State to meet at such time and place as it thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session, the Article reads.

Both Houses last met in March, during the Budget session, which had to be cut short due to the pandemic. The government has time till September for the next session, he said. If the situation still looks alarming in September, we will hold a session for a day or two, and adjourn so that we get six months time to hold the next session, he said.

Several senior elected representatives are of the opinion that holding the monsoon session is not desirable. Former Legislative Council chairman and senior BJP leader D H Shankaramurthy said the monsoon session is usually called in the month of June. Although politicians cutting across party lines were behaving responsibly, he was not in favour of holding the session. Former Speaker and senior Congress leader K R Ramesh Kumar, too, said it was not advisable for the houses to meet when the situation was worsening.
Jamaal Bowman, a Democratic congressional candidate, at Edenwald Houses in the Bronx borough of New York City. Bowman is looking to unseat Rep. Eliot Engel.

Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Rep. Eliot Engel, a 30-year House veteran and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has lost his Democratic primary on Tuesday to a progressive challenger, Jamaal Bowman.

The Bronx moderate has held his seat in New York's 16th Congressional District for three decades and hadn't faced a competitive primary challenger in 20 years.

Bowman had overtaken Engel in polls in the weeks leading up to the election, and a few strategic errors on Engel's part helped consolidate Bowman's support.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Rep. Eliot Engel, a 30-year House veteran and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has lost his Democratic primary on Tuesday to a progressive challenger, Jamaal Bowman  a significant victory for the left and a blow to the party establishment.

Bowman had won nearly 62% of the vote, with Engel trailing by 27 percentage points, according to Decision Desk HQ, which decided to call the race for Bowman after determining it would be near impossible for Engel to make up the gap in votes with the absentee ballots left to be processed.

Because of the large number of New Yorkers voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, the final results of the race likely won't be known until next Tuesday, June 30, meaning Bowman's current lead over Engel is not final and could narrow.

Ballots postmarked by June 23 will count if they arrive at election offices by then. Under New York law, all in-person votes must be processed and cross-checked before any absentee ballots can be counted.

Engel, a 73-year-old Bronx moderate, has held his seat in New York's 16th Congressional District for three decades and hadn't faced a competitive primary challenger in 20 years. Bowman, a Black former Bronx middle-school principal, ran to his left on a policy platform that included the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.

Bowman had overtaken Engel in polls in the weeks leading up to the election, and a few strategic errors on Engel's part helped consolidate Bowman's support. The progressive group Data for Progress found Bowman up by 10 points in its polling earlier this month.

Story continues

Engel's campaign took a significant hit earlier this month when he was caught on a hot mic telling Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz that he "wouldn't care" about speaking at a news conference about protests against police brutality if he weren't facing a primary challenge.

The gaffe attracted significant negative media attention at a moment when Engel could least afford it.

Meanwhile, Bowman attracted high-profile endorsements from prominent progressives, including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

With his reelection in jeopardy, Engel won last-minute endorsements from powerful New York Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime ally of Engel's, endorsed the incumbent earlier this month but attempted to ward off the perception that her support of a colleague signaled disapproval of the progressive movement.

"I firmly support Eliot Engel for Congress and I support Alexandria for Congress as well," Pelosi told reporters. "I think the people of New York are very blessed to have them both in the Congress."

Bowman's triumph would mark a win for Ocasio-Cortez and the progressive left, whose coalition was soundly beaten in the Democratic presidential primary as former Vice President Joe Biden defeated Sanders and Warren.

"This is an important result for the surging progressive wing of the party and proves their momentum continues," Ian Russell, a former deputy executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told Business Insider. "This will be especially significant because the momentum will likely continue to build heading into the redistricting cycle, which could have a big impact on the House map  especially in safe Democratic seats."

Those on the progressive left said the success of New York's left-wing candidates was evidence that these races should be replicated elsewhere.

"The Black base and progressives is the coalition everywhere. It's how we win," Sean McElwee, a co-founder of Data for Progress, told Insider of Bowman's likely win. "Progressives need authentic coalitions."

Bowman's success is in some ways strikingly similar to Ocasio-Cortez's defeat of Rep. Joe Crowley in the 2018 primary. Both progressive challengers took on veteran white congressmen with more moderate politics in districts that are mostly Black and brown and disproportionately immigrant. Engel, like Crowley, is one of the most powerful Democrats in the House.

Like Ocasio-Cortez did in 2018, Bowman argued that Engel had lost touch with his constituents. Indeed, Engel had faced scrutiny for remaining in his home outside Washington for much of the pandemic, even while his Bronx district was ravaged by the coronavirus.

"I ask voters about our current representative, Eliot Engel, and I hear one word across the district: absent," Bowman said in a recent campaign ad. "He doesn't live in our community  I live in our struggles. He's taken us for granted. After 31 years of the same, it's time for a change."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Children of stranded migrant workers wait to board a special train to Bihar state from MGR central railway station after the government eased a nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Chennai. (AFP)

Hyderabad: The Covid-19 pandemic has the potential to disrupt services critical to childrens welfare and well-being in South Asia, including India, the United Nations Childrens Emergency Fund (Unicef) has said in its latest report Upended Lives, released on Tuesday.

The disruption of services would add to the existing undermining of many essential maternal, new-born, and child health services. The reassignment of health workers, equipment, and facilities to care for Covid-19 patients, is forcing suspension of routine services, the report said, citing research in May by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

An additional 2,400 children in South Asia could die every day from the indirect consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pandemic is unravelling decades of health, education and other advances for children across South Asia and governments must take urgent action to prevent millions of families from slipping back into poverty, the Unicef said.

In the worst-case scenario, South Asia could see the death of an additional 8.81 lakh children aged five or under and that of 36,000 mothers over the next 12 months. The bulk of these deaths would occur in India and Pakistan, although Bangladesh and Afghanistan could also see significant levels of additional mortality, the report said.

The direct risk to children from the virus is much less than that from the disruption to routine health services, said Unicef health adviser for South Asia, Paul Rutter. It is crucial that childbirth, child health and nutrition services remain available for families during the time of Covid-19, said the report, quoting him.

The side-effects of the pandemic across South Asia, including the lockdown and other measures, have been damaging for children in numerous ways, said Jean Gough, Unicef regional director for South Asia.

But the longer-term impact of the economic crisis on children will be on a different scale entirely. Without urgent action now, Covid-19 could destroy the hopes and futures of an entire generation, an official release from Unicef, quoting her, said.

The lockdowns and other restrictions on movement had a devastating impact on children which was apparent in many parts. It was perhaps most visible in the huge movement of guest workers and their families heading back to their homes.

The journey for these children was arduous enough, said Unicef India representative, Yasmin Haque, but many of them have continued to suffer abuse, uncertainty, stigma and discrimination even after they reached home.
MIDLAND, MI  Michigan regulators are encouraged by preliminary test results that show low pollutant levels in sediments deposited in the Tittabawassee and Saginaw river floodplains downstream of the Dow Chemical Co. complex following historic flooding.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has been testing for dioxins and furans along the river after the May 19 dam failure in Gladwin County washed floodwaters through downtown Midland.
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The alarming global pollution levels combined with increased traffic have spurred the adoption of ride sharing apps and services. Reports that deliver insights into the automobile industry has been presented by Market Research Future, which creates reports on industry verticals that judge the market progress and options for growth. The market is expected to be on track to realize a motivating CAGR in the forecast period.

The low cost that can be gained at low prices is expected to motivate the ride sharing market globally. Also, as the fuel prices soar around the world, the ride sharing market size is anticipated to promote the ride sharing market in the approaching period. Furthermore, the rising demand for ride sharing and carpooling services by urban citizens is expected to generate new prospects for progress in the coming years.

Segmental Analysis

The segment-based assessment of the ride sharing market is conducted on the basis of vehicle type, type, business model, and region. Based on the types, the ride sharing market is segmented into e-hailing, car sharing, car rental, and station-based mobility. Based on the vehicle types, the ride sharing market has been segmented into CNG/LPG vehicle, ICE vehicle, and electric vehicle. Based on the business models, the ride sharing market has been segmented into B2B, P2P, and B2C. On the basis of regions, the ride sharing market is segmented into APAC, Europe, North America and the rest of the world.

Detailed Regional Analysis

The regional assessment of the ride sharing market has been segmented into regions such as APAC, Europe, North America, and the other regions in the world. The North American region is appraised to be responsible for a noteworthy market segment in the ride sharing market globally. The North American regional market is dominated by the U.S., which is extremely established with the presence of ride-hailing titans such as Lyft and Uber, who together are responsible for the mainstream market share. The agreements between corporations and ride sharing companies to decrease traffic congestion and handling pollution from vehicle emissions are identified as the chief driving factors of the ride sharing market in this region. The market is also anticipated to observe uppermost development in the Asia Pacific region during the forecast period. The air pollution and parking space problems are motivating the governments of these nations, particularly China, to encourage the concept of ride sharing and carpooling.

Competitive Analysis

The innovation scale of the product offering is improving at an accelerating rate, which will enable the advancement of the market in the coming years. The aptness of manufacturing resources is estimated to furthermore replicate, evidently, on the overall growth development of the market. The market is anticipated to be motivated by increased investment from various sources. The market is expected to be abreast of the trends that are prevalent in the market which will aid in the long term growth of the market. Also, the enhanced access to resources from investment leviathans and venture capitalists is anticipated to authorize an encouraging development viewpoint in the market in the forthcoming period. The reassessment of the logistics budget is expected to open up avenues of expansion in the upcoming years.

The foremost competitors in the Ride Sharing market are Lyft, Inc. (U.S.), Didi Chuxing Technology Co. (China), Gett (Israel), Uber Technologies Inc. (U.S.), GrabTaxi Holdings Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (India), Taxify (Estonia), Careem (UAE), Cabify (Spain) and car2go (Germany).

Industry Updates:

Nov 2019 Ola, an Indian ride-sharing firm, has begun registering drivers in London in advance of its plans to present services in the countrys capital in the approaching weeks. The India based firm was given a license from Transport for London (TfL) in the first part of this year. Ola's momentum for growth in the London capital closely follows as opponent Uber organizes an appeal against TfL's judgment to deprive the firm of its license in the country.
It turns out that with solar panels, even the grass is greener during a drought.

That's the experience of Dubbo grazier Tom Warren, who says condensation dripping off the panels arrayed across 55 hectares of his farm provided a moisture source that was the envy of neighbours.

Sheep and solar mix well, Mr Warren said, with condensation from the panel providing extra grass for his flock during the drought. Credit:Janie Barrett

"During the drought, everybody around here was feeding sheep [by hand]," Mr Warren said on Tuesday as sheep grazed among the rows. "We only had to feed these sheep for about three months."

The Berejiklian government is relying on the good word of such landholders to help accelerate the roll-out of large-scale wind and solar, particularly in its three designated renewable energy zones.
Australians' trust in China has collapsed, according to a public opinion poll Wednesday that showed the impact of rising confrontations between the two trading partners. A survey from Sydney's Lowy Institute showed the number of Australians who trust Beijing to act responsibly on the world stage fell from 52 percent in 2018 to a record low of 23 percent today. China has become increasingly assertive under President Xi Jinping, as Beijing looks to translate its rising economic might into political, diplomatic and military power. But the muscle-flexing has caused a series of disputes with regional neighbours -- from border skirmishes with India to public diplomatic spats with Australia. Recent months have seen China slap trade sanctions on Australian goods, sentence an Australian citizen to death and mock Canberra's long-standing alliance with the United States. Beijing had been angered by Australia's push-back against technology giant Huawei, public complaints about Chinese spying and influence-peddling in the country and calls for an independent inquiry into the origins and management of the coronavirus pandemic. "Trust in our largest trading partner -- China -- has declined precipitously," Lowy director Michael Fullilove said in announcing the survey results. "Confidence in China's leader Xi Jinping, has fallen even further." Ninety-four percent of respondents said they would like to see Australia reduce economic dependence on China and 82 percent backed sanctions on Chinese officials linked to human rights abuses. China accounts for around a quarter of all Australian trade, according to official statistics -- with Australian minerals helping build China's heavy industry and fuel power generation. The poll has been conducted since 2005 and this year surveyed 2,448 adults across Australia.
This is where Canadas Waterloo conducts a silent coup against Silicon Valley, thanks to the use of immigration as a political punching bag in the United States, and yet another move against foreignw workers by the Trump administration.

The American tech industry is already reeling from the effects of a lack of homegrown talent at a time when the United States is ostensibly in war for technological dominance--the only kind of dominance that matters right now.

Now, it will be in bigger trouble.



On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order to suspend several temporary work visas for skilled workers, managers and au pairs through the end of the year, proclaiming: "Under the extraordinary economic contraction from the Covid-19 outbreak, certain nonimmigrant visa programs pose an unusual threat to the employment of American workers.

This move follows a similar one In May, when Trump issued a temporary halt on new green cards, which was set to expire Monday but stopped short of suspending guest worker programs amid concerns from the business community.

Faced with protests, COVID crisis, slow economic recovery, plunging approval ratings and criticism of his overall handling of the pandemic, Trump is turning to his tried and true method of reanimating his support base--attacking immigration.

According to the White House officials, the goal of the move is to protect 525,000 jobs and is part of its response to job losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the start of the pandemic, 46 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits, but they originate from very few professions covered in Mondays executive order.

The order applies to H-1B visas, which are designed for certain skilled workers such as those employed in the tech industry and researchers, as well as L-1 visas, which are meant for executives who work for large corporations.

Unsurprisingly welcomed by hardlines, the tech industry is up in arms. Immigrant tech labor, they say, could speed up economic recovery, and the executive order will thus backfire profoundly.

Amazon called the order short-sighted.

Tech companies have been at odds with Trump over immigration since his first days in office. Silicon Valley has clashed with him over travel bans, as well as his crackdown on immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children, known as Dreamers.

Just last week, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration could not carry out its plan to shut down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has allowed nearly 800,000 young people to avoid deportation and remain in the U.S. But its more than likely only a temporary victory--November 2020 elections aside.

What the business community is concerned about is this: America will lose the tech war if it bans immigration for specialized workers.

In the first 20 days of March alone, when the federal government rolled out a new streamlined H-1B visa process, employers sought to hire 275,000 foreign workers, nearly half of them foreigners with advanced degrees from U.S. universities. As it stands, there is a cap of 85,000.

Data shows that in 2018, immigration officials denied nearly one out of every four requests for new visas for skilled foreign workers. Thats the highest denial rate for new H-1B visa applications in nearly 10 years.

But the reality is that America was losing the global tech dominance war even prior to the pandemic.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the Trump administrations crackdown on foreigners is Canada, followed by Australia, Germany and a handful of Asian nations. Instead, the U.S. has become a training ground for the rest of the worlds high-tech workforce.

Silicon Valley is succumbing to this new reality, with companies opening offices in Canadas Tech Triangle at Waterloo to tap tech talent, including Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon.

By Michael Kern for Safehaven.com

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ROME (dpa-AFX) - Italy has approved a decree offering state guarantees for a 6.3 billion euros to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Italian unit. FCA Italy S.p.A. and other Italian companies in the FCA Group said that they have signed a 3-year, 6.3 billion euros credit facility with Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy's largest banking group, the proceeds of which will be dedicated exclusively to FCA's activities in Italy and to support the more than 10,000 small and medium enterprises that make up the Italian automotive sector. The facility will be guaranteed by FCA N.V. The facility will be 80% guaranteed by SACE, Italy's Export Credit Agency, under the Italian Government's Liquidity Decree. The new credit facility forms part of FCA's broader plan to support the safe restart of its Italian operations, the company said. 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.
Dear Annie: I so enjoy your column, and, as usual, you are on target in your advice concerning the woman who was hurt by not being notified about her cousin's death.

Two things have caused me to be a happier person. One is dropping my expectations of others, and the other is choosing not to be offended.

People generally don't set out to hurt other people. They are encased in their own pain and trying to navigate through their own rough waters.

Those who would set out to cause pain are not worthy of our tears. I realized also that people cannot read my mind on what I want. So it's best to give them what we need, which is love. Love lavishly, including those who are unlovable. Be thoughtful. Give encouragement and sincere compliments.

I encourage this cousin to send loving words in sympathy cards to her grieving cousins. As you said, "grief has a way of wreaking havoc on short-term memory." -- Still Learning

Dear Still Learning: Thank you for your wise words. True wisdom comes when you realize how little in the world you really know and you are forever a student of life. Seeing the world through love and compassion always leads to a better world and a happier life for you.

Dear Annie: In response to the letter regarding a request to wear socks at a party to preserve wood floors, such a request should always be accompanied by a statement of understanding that such an act is not possible for some guests.

As a wheelchair user, I could not take my wheels off my chair! And some people can't walk without their shoes, or they need to use a walker that scrapes the floor.

We will never have a welcoming society for all if hosts create home features that they value over the ability of some guests to visit and enjoy their company. This is a sad example of prioritizing things over people. I had hoped you would point that out, as an example of your usual good advice. -- Good Guest in Kansas

Dear Good Guest in Kansas: Thank you for the reminder that not everyone can take their shoes off. A wheelchair should be an obvious exception. If a host complains about a wheelchair, I say that person is not worth visiting at all!

Dear Readers: We had some differing opinions on my response to Don't Call Me 'Dear.'

Dear Annie: I read the letter from Don't Call Me 'Dear,' and I agree with her that it is demeaning. The reason I can tell is that it did not happen in the past. People only started calling me "Honey" and "Sweetheart" once I got enough wrinkles. These "terms of endearment" are the ones we use with children, and that is why I find it insulting. I am 66 years old, but I am not yet in my second childhood. I have asked the nurses at my doctor's office to quit referring to me this way -- to no avail.

Unfortunately, I fear there is nothing to do about this. It's just another irritation of advancing age that must be endured.

Thanks for asking our opinions on this matter.

Dear Annie: I can understand how the terms some people use (like "dear," "sweetie," "hon" or "honey") in addressing you can seem a little too familiar if they're total strangers. But in the days we're living in now, I just choose to be thankful that these people are being kind in their address, and assume that they have no other motive than just being friendly. Life's too brief to be upset by the little things.

"Ask Me Anything: A Year of Advice From Dear Annie" is out now! Annie Lane's debut book -- featuring favorite columns on love, friendship, family and etiquette -- is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM

Read more advice:

Ask Amy: Separated soulmates are eager to connect

Dear Annie: Looking to hop off the hamster wheel

Dear Abby: Children cut off stepmother with dads power of attorney
DNA identifies members of notorious Brazilian gang in high-stakes robbery of cash transit facility

SEATTLE and TACOMA, Wash., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs (GTH-GA) has announced that a case known as the "Robbery of the Century" was selected as the 2020 DNA Hit of the Year. The case was selected from 50 cases submitted from 20 countries. It was chosen by a panel of seven international judges with career backgrounds in forensic DNA and law enforcement. The recognition was announced during the annual Human Identification Solutions (HIDS) Conference held virtually this year.

Now in its fourth year, the DNA Hit of the Year program is organized by GTH-GA, an international authority on DNA database policy, legislation, and law. "The 2020 slate of cases exemplifies the extraordinary power of DNA databases to solve crime, identify the missing, and exonerate the innocent," said Tim Schellberg, GTH-GA's President. A full list of submitted cases and a presentation on this year's program can be found at http://www.dnaresource.com/hitoftheyear-2020.html.

Named the "Robbery of the Century" by the Brazilian media, this crime occurred in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, but was committed by members of Brazil's largest criminal organization and investigated by the Brazilian Federal Police. On April 24, 2017, an estimated 50 heavily armed gang members crossed the border into Paraguay and blew up a Prosegur cash transit facility in pursuit of $40 million USD stored in company vaults.

After testing an extraordinary 457 separate pieces of evidence recovered from the crime scene for DNA, the crime lab produced 47 separate crime scene profiles. Brazil used its DNA database to link many of the profiles to other serious crimes, including matching 13 of the 47 profiles to criminals suspected of taking part in the crime. Due to recent investments by the Brazilian government to expand their criminal offender DNA databases, it is believed that most of the 47 profiles left at the crime scene will eventually match to offenders placed into the Brazil DNA database.

Federal Police Director General Rolando Alexandre de Souza said: "The Prosegur (Robbery of the Century) case highlights the value of Brazil's DNA database program to solve crime. The Brazil DNA database is rapidly expanding. This will have a significant impact on solving crime and will make our communities safer from violence."

"Being recognized as the DNA Hit of the Year is a great privilege and an honor. I am proud of the men and woman of our police force that worked very hard to collect and test DNA to help bring the criminals responsible for this crime to justice," said Director General de Souza.

About GTH-GA : GTH-GA is globally recognized as experts in forensic DNA database policy, legislation, and law. For over twenty years, consultants at GTH-GA have consulted in over 50 countries and states on legislation and policies to establish or expand criminal DNA databases.

SOURCE Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs
There has been another rise in the rate of new coronavirus cases. Tension is growing around the parliament's speaker. The business environment might get a boost soon.

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This is your overview of news from Slovakia from Wednesday, June 24, 2020. To help us continue providing Slovak news you can trust, buy our online subscription. Thank you.

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Matovic will not insist on Kollar's resignation

Several ruling coalition politicians and some ministers opine that leader of the ruling coalition Sme Rodina party and Parliament's Speaker Boris Kollar should step down after he admitted to having copied part of his master thesis from textbooks and the internet.

Prime Minister Igor Matovic, whose reaction was most awaited during the day, on the other hand, said he will not demand Kollar's resignation.

Matovic says his priority is for his government, whose ambition is to purge Slovakia from "the mafia that ruled here", to keep going strong.

Return of compulsory quarantine not out of the question

The government is pondering using mobile phone data to gain information about people coming from unsafe countries, which include, among other countries in Europe, Italy, Spain and the UK.

Health Minister Marek Krajci suggested on Wednesday that this solution is being considered. He also admitted this kind of control would require changes to the laws.

On June 17, PM Igor Matovic said re-introducing compulsory state quarantine is the topic of the day following the higher number of new cases recorded by then.

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Related article Quarantine and tracking mobile phone data pondered as number of COVID-19 cases rises in Slovakia Read more

Measures for business environment go to parliament

The business environment in Slovakia will undergo major changes. The cabinet has greenlighted, with comments, the changes proposed by Economy Minister Richard Sulik, who called Wednesday "the most beautiful day for Slovakia since the introduction of the tax reform".

The long-awaited draft bill, which the parliament is to debate in a fast-tracked legislative procedure next week, amends several laws. It contains 114 measures, the TASR newswire reported.

Read more about the proposed measures and the reactions of businesses.

In other news:

President Zuzana Caputova has not met with her Austrian counterpart, Alexander van der Bellen, who was supposed to visit her in Pezinok on Wednesday. The president cancelled her programme and went into voluntary home isolation after she had been in contact with a person who was in contact with a COVID-19 positive person. Caputova tested negative.

after she had been in contact with a person who was in contact with a COVID-19 positive person. Caputova tested negative. Tuesday's testing has returned 18 new COVID-19 positive cases , several of them in the Cadca and Revuca districts. One case has also been confirmed in the settlement in Zehra, eastern Slovakia, which had been quarantined one month ago. The person who tested positive does not have travel history as a reason for the infection. (Spis Korzar)

, several of them in the Cadca and Revuca districts. One case has also been confirmed in the settlement in Zehra, eastern Slovakia, which had been quarantined one month ago. The person who tested positive does not have travel history as a reason for the infection. (Spis Korzar) Officers of the Interior Ministry's inspectorate detained a former senior official of the Police Corps, Pavol Vorobjov, in connection with the illegal screening of journalists. The investigator also accused him of the crime of abuse of power of a public official. (SITA)

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Related article Kuciak murder trial: Witnesses described how they screened journalists (UPDATED) Read more

The Constitutional Court will check on the constitutionality of the amendment to the law on social insurance that introduced the 13th pension in Slovakia. The court has ruled to accept the motion filed by President Zuzana Caputova in March.

The state-run railway carrier ZSSK will restore more train lines to Poland and Czechia as of Friday, June 26.

FlixBus will gradually renew more of its international bus lines from Slovakia, including those to Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Budapest, Warsaw and Split.

Related article

Related article How to travel to and from Slovakia post-coronavirus Read more

Do not miss on Spectator.sk today:

Slovakia not out of the woods on COVID-19 Read more

Slovakia is a moderate innovator Read more
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has reiterated Egypts commitment to diplomatically resolving the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute with Ethiopia, which recently landed at the UN Security Council.

According to a statement by the presidency, El-Sisi ordered the government to continue pursuing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, especially through intensifying consultations with Sudan and Security Council member states.

The president made the statements during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, irrigation and water resources, justice, interior, and the chief of general intelligence.

The statement reiterated Egypts stance that the GERD issue should be resolved through a comprehensive agreement between the concerned parties on the filling and operation of the dam, as well as its rejection of any unilateral action that affects Cairos rights to the Nile waters.

Wednesdays meeting comes a few days after Ethiopia submitted a 78-page letter to the UN Security Council. The letter was in response to Cairo filing a complaint with the Security Council after Addis Ababa said it would start filling the dams reservoir next month regardless of whether a deal is reached.

The latest round of talks -- brokered by Sudan -- over the giant $4.8 billion hydropower project collapsed earlier this month after Ethiopia refused to enter into a binding agreement on how the dam should be operated.

During Wednesdays meeting, El-Sisi was also briefed on developments in the Libyan crisis, and he ordered the government to continue working to restore security and stability in Libya and to ensure Egypts national security is maintained along its western border.

The president stressed Egypts stance that the crisis should be contained by maintaining a ceasefire, establishing the requisite safeguards over the matter, and through the dismantling of militias and the exit of mercenaries from the conflict to allow for a comprehensive political resolution.

The meeting came hours after the head of the eastern Libyan parliament Aguila Saleh said that the Libyan people will request Egyptian military intervention if armed militias infiltrate the strategic city of Sirte.

Earlier this week, the Egyptian president said that Cairo has a legitimate right to intervene in the war-torn neighboring country to restore security and stability after receiving "direct threats" from "terrorist militias," stressing that Egypt has long been reluctant to make such a move.

El-Sisi said that any intervention in Libya by Egyptian forces would be led by the Libyan tribes, stressing that the Libyan frontline of Sirte and Al-Jufra is a red line for Egyptian national security.

An urgent meeting was held by the Arab League on Tuesday following El-Sisis warning, where the regional organisation stressed on the importance of a comprehensive political solution in Libya.

Egypt succeeded during the emergency meeting of foreign ministers in rallying 18 Arab countries who welcomed the Cairo Declaration on Libya.

Earlier this month, President El-Sisi, commander of the LNA Khalifa Haftar, and the speaker of the Libyan parliament Aguila Saleh announced a peace initiative, dubbed the Cairo Declaration, to end the civil war in Libya through a ceasefire and an elected leadership council.

The Cairo plan comes after the collapse of an offensive launched by Haftar in April 2019 to capture the Libyan capital, further extending the rival GNAs control over most of northwestern Libya.

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A 13-year-old girl was injured after explosives detonated on a residential street - with police keeping an 'open mind' about whether the incident was terror related.

Neighbours said they heard two blasts ring out just after midnight on the road in Tipton, West Midlands, leading to a huge emergency services response.

'I heard what sounded like fireworks and then screaming so I came outside,' one resident said. 'There were two blasts and it was loud. I saw smoke after it happened.'

The injured girl was taken to hospital and a man and a woman treated at the scene. Residents were evacuated before the bomb squad arrived to make the devices safe.

The child was taken to hospital after the devices went off on a road in Tipton, West Midlands, just after midnight. Two other people were treated at the scene

Police said they are not treating the matter as terror-related but are keeping an 'open mind'. The road remained cordoned off this morning.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: 'We have cordoned off and evacuated an area of Coronation Road in Tipton this morning after explosive devices were discovered outside a property just after midnight.

'A teenage girl from the property who was outside at the time, was taken to hospital with superficial injuries; no-one else was hurt.'

The Explosives Ordnance Division (EOD) used robots to examine the devices with army teams seen in full protective gear. Forensics experts were today scouring the surrounding area for evidence.

A spokesman added: 'We are in the early stages of this inquiry and detectives are asking anyone with information who hasn't already spoken to officers to get in touch on 101.

'Initial enquiries do not lead us to believe this is terrorism related, however we are keeping an open mind at this stage.'

Residents were evacuated from the street as the bomb squad was called in to make the suspicious devices safe

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 00:06am to an incident in Coronation Road, Tipton.

'We sent the Hazardous Area Response Team, one ambulance, two paramedic officers and a Critical Care car with a doctor on board.

'We treated a teenage girl for injuries not believed to be serious before taking her to Birmingham Children's Hospital for further treatment.

'A man and woman were also treated for minor injuries and discharged at the scene.'
GREENWICH  The new head of curriculum for kindergarten through eighth grade in the Greenwich Public Schools is a familiar face in the district  but his promotion is a loss for Glenville School.

Marc DAmico, who has been principal at Glenville for 15 years, will begin his new role July 1, Superintendent Toni Jones announced Wednesday. DAmico will also head up the K-5 leadership team for the school district.

Previously, DAmico had been an elementary school teacher in Shelton for seven years and then came to the district as assistant principal at Julian Curtiss School.

We are very excited for Marc to join our central office team, Jones said. He brings with him a deep understanding of and appreciation for student-centered instruction, educational administration, parent and community involvement, and effective team-building. He has experience as a classroom teacher and building administrator, giving him a unique perspective on curriculum delivery and oversight.

In his new role, he will lead the elementary principal team and be responsible for K-8 curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Marc is highly valued by his colleagues, and has been a leader among his peers for many years, Jones said.

For DAmico, it means leaving behind Glenville School, which he has overseen through its transition to a new school building.

I am excited to be joining the administrative team for the district, DAmico said. I am humbled by this appointment and thankful for the opportunity to bring my 25 years of experience as a building leader and classroom teacher to this role.

He also said he is incredibly grateful for the past 15 years that I have had the honor to serve the Glenville community and he thanked the staff there for always putting the needs of our students first and for your willingness to be risk-takers and innovators in our endless pursuit of excellence.

You will be greatly missed and I am forever appreciative of the trust you have had in me as a leader, DAmico said.

As the principal at Glenville School, DAmico initiated a school improvement plan, created structural processes for data analytics, initiated before and after school supplemental programs, managed and led a team of staff and assistants in implementing strategies and promoted a culture of collaboration and professional growth.

At Julian Curtiss, he was also responsible for staff recruitment, development and retention, and supervised all special education services and fiscal management.

DAmico has a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Pace University, a masters in elementary education from Sacred Heart University, a sixth-year degree in educational leadership from Southern Connecticut State University, and was a nationally recognized PIMMS Fellow in mathematics and science through Wesleyan University.

He began his career in education as a fourth, fifth and sixth-grade teacher at Lafayette Elementary School in Shelton. During his seven years as a classroom teacher, he initiated the Natures Classroom experience, held the stipend position of Technology Champion, charged with infusing technology into classroom instruction.
Earlier this month, reports surfaced that the CRA was moving ahead with enforcement against fraudulent CERB claims. On June 10, CTV News reported that 190,000 Canadians had repaid CERB money they had received in error. A day later, Global News reported that the CRA had received 1,300 tips of fraudulent CERB claims on its newly opened snitch line.

These stories show that the CRA is making good on Justin Trudeaus promise to clean up [fraudulent claims] after the fact. After pushing through CERB payments with record speed, the CRA is now conducting investigations to determine who needs to pay them back. The following are some factors that may influence how the investigations go.

Factors influencing repayment

The biggest factor influencing whether somebody has to repay CERB is, of course, eligibility. To receive CERB, you need to have earned $5,000 or more in the last 12 months (or in all of 2019), and no more than $1,000 in the last two weeks. If you dont meet these eligibility criteria, you may be forced to pay your CERB money back. If you actively lied on your application to get the benefits, you could be looking at a fine of up to $5,000.

Implications for investors

The CRAs push to recover CERB money has several implications for investors.

The first and most obvious of these is its impact on consumer demand. The CERB helped keep consumer demand afloat during the COVID-19 era. If the CRA is now getting stricter about who has to pay the CERB back, and jobs dont come back at the same time, that could hit retailers in the pocketbook.

Additionally, the CERB repayment push could signal the government tightening up on COVID-19 benefits in general. That would be bad for companies that depend on these benefits to survive  in turn, that could adversely impact their stock prices.

Major companies like Air Canada (TSX:AC) have benefitted enormously from the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), which pays up to 75% of a laid-off employees wages. Thanks to that program, Air Canada was able to re-hire more than 16,000 laid-off employees. That may have gone a long way toward helping the company remain operational when it had little revenue coming in.

Story continues

If the government will be taking a closer look at CEWS money, as it has been with CERB, that could be bad news for Air Canada. Not only did the company take CEWS money, it also raised $1.6 billion in a major funding round. Its possible that Air Canada may need to tap the federal governments bridge loan program at some point. But if it did that at a time when the government was clamping down on benefits, theres a decent chance itd be refused. That would be bad news for the company and its shareholders.

The post 190,000 Repayments and 1,300 Tips: The CRA Wants its CERB Back appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Andrew Button has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

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(Natural News) Tens of millions of Americans were outraged after Empire actor Jussie Smollett claimed that he was attacked and severely beaten by two MAGA-hat-wearing white people outside a Chicago Subway in the wee hours of the morning in February 2019.

The actor said he was not only attacked, but called racial epithets and doused with a liquid initially reported as being bleach.

Naturally, President Trump was blamed right away for stoking racial hatred though he had absolutely nothing to do with anything at all related to the alleged incident.

But as Chicago P.D. investigators began to suspect early on, the allegations and so-called evidence Smollett was presenting didnt add up  and for a good reason.

The entire story was a hoax. Come to find out, Smollett paid a couple of Nigerian brothers to beat on him and make it look like a Trump-inspired racially motivated attack.

It now appears as though another race-related hoax has been perpetrated.

On Sunday, NASCAR officials reported that someone from the team of No. 43 driver Bubba Wallace, who is black, found a noose in their highly secure garage space ahead of a Monday race at the Talladega Superspeedway.

The incident was reported to the FBI and the Justice Department announced it would investigate the incident as a hate crime.

It also earned a stern rebuke and threat from NASCAR President Steve Phelps, who vowed to ban the guilty party from the sport for life.

Todays 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, he said in a statement posted online.

Together our sport has made a commitment to driving real change and championing a community that is accepting and welcoming of everyone, adding, we will not be deterred by the reprehensible actions of those who seek to spread hate.

On Monday, ahead of the race, all drivers and pit crew joined with Wallace before the race, walking behind him, some pushing his car to the end of pit row, in a show of solidarity.

We rally around @BubbaWallace. Fellow drivers push his No. 43 car to the front in Talladega.#IStandWithBubba pic.twitter.com/n0YwN1qq5l  FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 22, 2020

But, it turns out that this is a hoax too.

This is a photo from last year at Talladega. This is the cord used to pull garage door up. There is unconfirmed speculation this may be what the crew member saw. pic.twitter.com/ZnRd9Mlwul  Denlesks (@Denlesks) June 23, 2020

The UKs Daily Mail reported Tuesday:

The noose found hanging in Bubba Wallaces garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway had been there since at least last October, federal authorities said Tuesday.

They announced that video surveillance footage from NASCAR confirmed the noose was hanging in the garage in October 2019 and as a result, no federal charges would be filed.

Wallace had been assigned the garage number last week.

According to U.S. Attorney Jay Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, their investigation determined although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week.

Also, according to the pictures above, it appears that the noose is really nothing more than part of a rope used to raise and lower garage doors at Talladega.

After reviewing prior 2019 video of that specific garage bay, at that specific speedway; and after reviewing a picture released yesterday showing the FBI investigators on the scene; it is clear the rope noose in question was nothing more than a manual garage door pull-down with a hand loop tied into it, the sleuths at The Conservative Treehouse reported Wednesday, calling the latest reports a hoax.

How many more times are people going to perpetuate these hoaxes before someone mistakes them for real and takes a life in vengeance?

Sources include:

TheConservativeTreehouse.com

DailyMail.co.uk

TrendingPolitics.com

NaturalNews.com
India and China on Wednesday said the speedy implementation of disengagement and de-escalation measures agreed on by their senior military commanders will help calm tensions triggered by an ongoing border standoff.

However, the strains and pressure simmering beneath the surface were evident in Beijings reiteration of accusations that New Delhi had violated bilateral agreements and provoked the June 15 clash in Galwan Valley that resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and unspecified Chinese casualties.

During a more than three-hour meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs, the Indian side conveyed its concerns on developments in eastern Ladakh, including the violent face-off on June 15, and emphasised both sides should strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The stance adopted by both sides indicated the ongoing military and diplomatic engagements to end the standoff, especially in Galwan Valley, which has been the focus of tensions, will be a long-drawn affair with no early resolution in sight.

The meeting of WMCC, held via video conference, focused on developments along the disputed border, especially the situation in eastern Ladakh, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. The Chinese readout of the meeting described the talks as candid and in-depth.

The two sides referred to the June 17 phone conversation between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and the meeting of the corps commanders on June 22 and reaffirmed that both sides should sincerely implement the understanding on disengagement and de-escalation that was reached by the Senior [military] Commanders on 6th June, the Indian statement said.

The two delegations agreed that implementation of this understanding expeditiously, in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols, would help ensure peace and tranquillity in border areas and the development of broader relationship between the two countries, the statement added.

The Chinese readout said the two sides will actively accommodate with the two military forces to implement the outcome reached during the two rounds of commander-level meetings on June 6 and 22... strengthen communication and coordination through military and diplomatic channels, and peacefully resolve relevant issues in the border areas through bilateral dialogue and consultation. It also spoke of strengthening military confidence-building measures.

This was the second meeting of the WMCC since June 5, and the Indian side was led by joint secretary (East Asia) Naveen Srivastava of the external affairs ministry, while the Chinese side was headed by director general Hong Liang of the department of boundary affairs of the foreign ministry.

People familiar with developments on condition of anonymity said the meeting also discussed possible contours of future diplomatic engagements and parameters for taking forward the measures agreed on by military commanders to ease tensions. This is going to be a protracted process and we have to be ready for the long haul, said one of the people cited above.

The two sides will maintain communications at the diplomatic and military levels, including through WMCC, to resolve the situation peacefully.

But even as the meeting was underway, Chinas defence and foreign ministry kept up a shrill barrage of accusations against India, blaming the Indian side for the Galwan Valley clash and alleging the external affairs ministry was behind false reports.

The allegations came two days after the corps commanders of the two sides reached mutual consensus to disengage in all friction areas along the LAC. People familiar with the military talks too said the process is expected to be arduous and completed in phases.

Chinas defence and foreign ministry separately castigated India for allegedly violating bilateral agreements and provoking the clash. There was also a reiteration of a claim of sovereignty over Galwan Valley. India has already dismissed these allegations and said the contested valley has always been under its control.

Asked why Chinas foreign ministry was repeating these contentious points amid renewed talks of peace and tranquillity on the border, spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a news briefing: What I have just saidis meant to clarify the whole situation, tell the truth to everyone. We made the statement because the [external affairs ministry] and Indian media have made some false reports.

In a statement read out after the briefing was over, Zhao repeated accusations that Indian troops had trespassed into Chinese territory and provoked an incident on May 6. He claimed the Indian side had agreed to withdraw from Galwan Valley and had dismantled its facilities as requested by the Chinese side.

Referring to the corps commanders meeting of June 6, Zhao contended the Indian side had committed it would not trespass into Galwan Valley for patrol and for building. The two sides agreed to set up observation posts on both sides of the Galwan river estuary, but the Indian side went against these agreements and asked China to dismantle Chinas posts and also it crossed the [LAC] to provoke which led to the clash, he added.

Zhao also reiterated Chinas accusation that the June 15 clash occurred because Indian troops went against the agreement reached on June 6 and crossed the LAC and sabotaged the tents Chinese side set up. He also alleged the Indian side attacked Chinese personnel  such accusations have been dismissed by India, which has maintained the premeditated and planned actions of the Chinese side led to the violence and casualties.

Separately, Chinas defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian made similar accusations during an online interaction with selected media.

Analysts questioned the divergent positions taken by the Chinese side during bilateral discussions and while making public remarks on the border stand-off.

Leading strategic analyst Brahma Chellaney tweeted: In keeping with Chinas standard playbook for camouflaging offence as defence, its foreign ministry almost daily has been branding India as the aggressor. But today, its foreign and defence ministries launched twin attacks on India. Is the disengagement deal already unravelling?

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Now that Scott Disick and Sofia Richie are done, theres a big question mark surrounding Disicks future with his on-off girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian.

The pair broke up in 2015 after nine years and three children together. But they have remained close friends. While neither of them has said anything about getting back together, some of their recent activities have convinced fans that the pair might reconcile.

Amid the speculation, a source spoke to People and revealed where the former couple actually stands. Heres what to know.

Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian at an event in April 2015 | Denise Truscello/WireImage

First, a brief timeline of Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disicks relationship

The reality stars began dating in 2006 after being introduced by Girls Gone Wild creator Joe Francis. They welcomed their first child, Mason, in 2009 and went on to have two more children, Penelope and Reign, in 2013 and 2015, respectively.

They dated off-and-on throughout those years before breaking up for good in 2015 when Disick got caught up in a cheating scandal. After their split, Kardashian dated Younes Bendjima from 2016 to 2018 while Disick sparked a romance with Richie that lasted for two years between 2017 and 2020.

RELATED: Scott Disick Says Kourtney Kardashians New Boyfriend Must Meet These 3 Conditions

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disicks latest actions have fans wondering if theres still something between them

Fans started questioning their relationship in April when Disick was seen liking old pictures of him kissing Kardashian. His split from Richie in May only fueled their suspicions, even though sources told E! News that Richie left him so he could focus on issues that led to him spending time in rehab in April.

Neither of them addressed the speculation, but they continued to ramp up the rumors with their actions. They vacationed in Utah together in May and took a family trip to Wyoming in June. Kardashian also posted an Instagram photo from Wyoming showing her in a shirt that fans say belongs to Disick and shared a sweet note to him on Fathers Day. A day after the June 21 holiday, Disick left a flirty comment on Kardashians Instagram page.

RELATED: Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disicks Kids Want Them to Get Back Together, Source Reveals

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disicks relationship status revealed

Despite all of that, a source told People on June 23 that Kardashian and Disick are not back together, explaining that they are just incredibly close.

Sources also told E! News that Disick had simply been relying on Kardashian for support as he works on himself and that it helps to spend time with his family.

They said, Kourtney knows how to handle Scott and he is always in a better headspace when he gets to spend time with his kids. She has really been there for him since his rehab exit, and has had a lot of sympathy towards him.

So maybe its just as simple as that.

Read more: An Update on Kylie Jenner and Travis Scotts Relationship Status After They Were Seen on a Dinner Date
Paul A. Hofmann, Bellaires six-year City Manager, will step down on August 2 to become the city of Bastrops new city manager.

It is Pauls experience and strength in constructing and operating capital improvement projects that drew many of us to his resume, said Bastrop Mayor Pro Tem Lyle Nelson in a written statement.

Related: Bellaire cancels July 4 celebration, approves $4 million for infrastructure

Hofmanns most tangible accomplishments as Bellaires city manager involved the progress of the physical development of Bellaires commercial areas, including the completion of the municipal facilities project that resulted in the construction of a new city hall, police station, municipal court, and civic center. Hofmann also established the Bellaire Citizens Academy that offered Belaire citizens a chance to learn, serve, and be involved with the city.

According to a post on Bellaire Mayor Andrew Friedbergs blog, the city council will appoint an interim city manager to serve in the transition to a permanent hire, likely for the next several months at least.

Theres a lot to consider, and its not made any easier by the ongoing pandemic, Friedberg wrote. Though were now in budget season since its the assistant city manager whos already primarily responsible for shepherding the development of a proposed budget, there shouldnt be any interruption to that process.

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From the start of 2020, Bellaires largely new city councils productivity has sometimes been slowed by individual council members Council-Manager relationship. The, currently prevailing dynamics of the Council-Manager relationship will no longer get in the way, wrote Friedberg. Well be able to restore our focus on the issues when the city manager is no longer made out to be, himself, the issue.

Nevertheless, Bastrops city council was drawn to Hofmanns experience with innovative approaches to community engagement and skills related to staff development.

It speaks volumes about the Bastrop community that we were able to recruit such top talent despite the hindrances of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Bastrop Mayor Connie Schroeder.

Im honored to be selected as city manager by the city of Bastrop, said Hofmann. My wife, Barb, and I look forward to settling in quickly and becoming a part of this wonderful community.

ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com
T HEREs a management shake-up at Naked Wines today, alongside decent results which suggest the business did well under lockdown.

James Crawford, presently the chief financial officer, is to become managing director of the UK arm of the business, a role he has undertaken alongside other duties since November. That will now become permanent and full-time once a new finance chief is appointed.

Nick Devlin, Group CEO, said: In his long-standing role as CFO of Naked, James has guided the business through start-up challenges and along its rapid growth trajectory. Under his tenure the Naked business has grown 4x in size, demonstrated its potential in the US market and navigated the challenges of transition to a listed environment.

In the year to the end of March, sales rose 14% to 203 million. While the business is still making a loss, that loss fell by 46% to 5.4 million.

Naked said its performance was positively influenced by COVID-19. The scale of that should become clear in later results statements.

Brits in particular as assumed to have stocked up on booze as it became clear they were going to be shut indoors for some time.

Devlin admits the future is far from clear. He said: Whilst predictions are harder than ever this year, I am excited about our plans for growth and confident that the mission of Naked to connect everyday wine drinkers to the world's best winemakers is more relevant than ever. I believe the enduring impact of COVID-19 will be to accelerate trends towards direct, online models in categories like wine and that Naked is well positioned to deliver the combination of quality, value and community customers are looking for.

Naked shares were up 3% this session.

The business has also taken on extra banking help. Jefferies International joins Investec as joint brokers.
Written by Brad Lane

Jun 23, 2020

From primitive tent camping to awesome spots to park an RV, the best places to camp in Texas offer stunning landscapes to sleep near. The Texas Panhandle; the Texas Coast; and the south, central, and western parts of the state all feature great places to go camping. Unique features of a few include spring-fed swimming pools, wild rivers, and ancient caverns.

Places like Colorado Bend State Park offer some of the best tent camping in Texas. The nearby Guadalupe River State Park features an excellent RV park close to Austin. Both state parks are within Texas Hill Country, near Central Texas, which is a prime destination for RV camping and places to pitch a tent. Texas Hill Country is also home to many of the best caverns in the state.

Great places to camp can be found in every corner of the state. Palo Duro Canyon is a beautiful state park and place to camp near the Panhandle. Padre Island, off the Texas Coast, features incredible beach camping on an undeveloped coastline. Cypress swamps define places to camp in East Texas, and rugged mountains offer a scenic backdrop in West Texas.

During school breaks and other peak times it's best to reserve a site in advance. You can make campsite reservations at most state parks.

While all campsites have their unique differences, each place to camp shares the same spectacular Texas sunsets and sunrises. Lay claim to your site today with our list of the best places to camp in Texas.

Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues.
Rockwell Automation, a leading company dedicated to industrial automation and IT has announced that Canninah Mapena will now be heading its activity in Sub-Saharan Africa from June 1.

Operating from the companys offices in Randburg, Mapena will lead the business in the region and continue the implementation of Rockwell Automations global and pan-EMEA sales strategies and initiatives, with a focus on bringing the Connected Enterprise to Rockwell Automation customers across the Sub-Saharan region.

With extensive experience leading regional departments of other large American and European multinational industrial automation and software companies, she is well-placed to offer business development, improved customer relationship management, and strategic planning to drive Rockwell Automations growth in the region. In her new role, Mapena and her team will continue to increase customer intimacy and collaboration, driving sales through increased customer satisfaction.

On her new appointment, Mapena says: "I am delighted with this new opportunity at Rockwell Automation and look forward

to bringing my expertise and experience to the Sub-Saharan African region and to contribute further to Rockwell Automations growth, delivering the best quality solutions to our customers.

Mapena will be reporting to Sebastien Grau, Regional Sales Director for the Middle East, Turkey & Sub-Saharan Africa.

We welcome Canninah to the team and look forward to her contribution in reinforcing and expanding Rockwell Automations presence across the region. In her role, she will strengthen our team, focusing on customer satisfaction and developing our network of partners who we strongly rely on as part of our growth strategy, says Grau.

Mapenas background lies in both business and engineering, providing the perfect fit for this role. She holds a bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of Johannesburg, as well as an Electrical and Electronics Engineering degree from the University of the Witwatersrand. She will be taking over from Henry Craukamp, who has provided highly valued business contributions to Rockwell Automation for the past 12 years through various roles.-- Tradearabia News Service
Photo credit: Douglas Friedman

From ELLE Decor

When certain city slickers decamp to greener pastures, the luckiest take their decorators with them. For a lodge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a devoted client flew out New York Citybased ED A-List designer Jeffrey Bilhuber to a land of bucking broncos and Arcadian vistas, bringing his signature brand of American eclecticism to a rustic perch under the penumbra of the Teton mountains.

For many longtime New Yorkers, the name Jackson Hole evokes images of gray-colored hamburgers served in a hazy room on the Upper East Side of Manhattan where the air was equal parts oxygen and grease. But recently, theres been a mass migration of the needle-tower crowd to the quaint frontier town for which the diner was named. Jackson Hole may have a population of just 10,000, but the homeowners here include Harrison Ford, Christy Walton, and the Kardashian Wests. Clearly, for a certain kind of urbanite, theres something about a pristine natural landscape that is ideal for escape or renewal.

Photo credit: Douglas Friedman

Bilhubers immediate goal with the lodge was to defy everyones expectationsparticularly his own. The house is made up of 19th-century structures, connected by long corridors, that were moved here from Vermont in the 1970s. Historically, the lodge genre signals wood-burning fireplaces, high ceilings, and thick timber beams. Bilhuber could see the charm in that kind of aesthetic, but he also saw brown, brown, and more brown. You say lodge, and you get clear ideas of what one should look like, he says. I had to invent a whole new language. This rejection of the status quo was the starting point for the designer, who in his 30-plus-year career has created homes for David Bowie, Hubert de Givenchy, and actress Mariska Hargitay.

A few years ago, this client, a successful northeastern businessman, fled the din and density of urban life with his wife and teenage son to make Jackson Hole their permanent residence. Bilhuber had previously designed their Manhattan townhouse and country home in Lyme, Connecticut, which established bona fides. Jeffrey is the kind of designer who takes your own taste and makes it better, the homeowner says. We gave him a blank sheet of paper and said, Do what you want.

Story continues

Photo credit: Douglas Friedman

The first thing Bilhuber did was bring in color to counteract all that brown. He had the floors of the homes largest, most frequented roomsstudy, family room, kitchenpainted in a variety of geometric patterns using mostly shades of blue with a pop of red here and there. Painting the stripes on the floor was a significant step forward, he says. In the kitchen, he removed partition walls to satisfy modern living needs. Today, we want life to be around the kitchen. The sweeping, singular space includes dining and living areas as well as a freestanding island. For the painted floor, he chose a chevron pattern, which he says unifies the dissimilar ceiling heights but also acts as a subtle reminder that theres more of the house to see.

The rooms on the ground floor are all on an axis, each opening onto the next like cars on the Orient Express. The instinct with an enfilade such as this is to walk a straight line through all rooms until the end is reachedin this case, a screened porch filled with humble Low Country furniture. In the living room, which abuts the porch, Bilhuber created an elegant bottleneck to prevent this. I want people to congregate here, he says. He split the space up into two distinct furniture groups that keep the center open and encourage intimate gatherings. It allows you to pause and take a breath before you move to the next room.

In the guest room, Bilhuber placed twin beds with custom upholstered mattresses perpendicular to each other so that one profits from the window light and view, while the other is up against a wall, more inward and quiet.

Outside in the crisp Wyoming air, Bilhuber created two grand gathering areas, one of which features a dining table that comfortably seats 10. A particular joy of that area is that you are fully one with the landscape, he says. You are surrounded by uninterrupted views of mountains, green pastures, and plains and not conscious of neighbors. In that regard, life here seems to be on the opposite pole to New York Citynary a gray hamburger in sight. There is only, as Bilhuber puts it, sky, light, purpose, and meaning.

Photo credit: Ricardo Labougle

This story originally appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of ELLE Decor. SUBSCRIBE

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As Form 3 and Form 2 Gold track students in senior high schools across the country return to school, the Ministry of Education says it has had a generally good report from the regions in respect of the governments supply of PPEs to schools in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.



It will be recalled that in May 2020, President Akufo-Addo announced to the nation that our educational institutions would be reopened in a phased manner as the nation sought to return to normal following the imposition of various restrictions in the wake of the Covid-19 in Ghana. All final year students at our tertiary institutions were to report to school on Monday 15th June 2020, whilst SHS 3 and Form 2 Gold Track students were to report on Monday 22nd June 2020. Finally, JHS3 students are to report to school on Monday 29th June 2020.



The purpose of this is to enable the finalists to write their terminal examinations. Government pledged to support the schools with various items to fight the pandemic during this period.



According to sources in the Ministry, over 80% of the items have been delivered to school and that deliveries are ongoing. A total of 334 teams have been constituted to monitor and support schools during this reopening and to provide feedback to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES).



The items include temperature guns, face masks, Veronica buckets, sanitizers, tissue paper, and handwashing soap. The coordination for the delivery of the items was done under the auspices of the President's Team on Re-opening headed by the Senior Minister and included consultations with the Regional and District Directors of Education, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS), faith-based organizations, teacher unions, the National Buffer Stock Company Ltd and various NGOs and Civil Society Organisations.



According to the Ministry, all schools are mapped to health facilities within its locality and each school has the contact of their health officer. In the case of a suspected case, schools have instructions to liaise with the Health care facility for them to handle the situation.



Meanwhile, the Ministry and the GES are in talks with all Regional Education offices to ensure smooth and safe admission of students back to school.

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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Home Search ICH Noam Chomsky: Trump Is the Worst Criminal in History, Undeniably By Michael Brooks June 23, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - No public intellectual has been more influential over the last half century in the United States than Dr Noam Chomsky, the legendary linguist, political analyst, activist, and author of dozens of books. At ninety-one, he still maintains a tireless schedule of writing and interviews  including last week with Michael Brooks for the Michael Brooks Show . You can subscribe to the Michael Brooks Show on YouTube here or as a podcast here, and you can watch Brookss interview with Chomsky here. The transcript has been edited for length and clarity. ==== MB What are your thoughts as you look at the movement that has erupted after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police? NC The first thing that comes to mind is the absolutely unprecedented scope and scale of participation, engagement, and public support. If you look at polls, its astonishing. The public support both for Black Lives Matter and the protests is well beyond what it was, say, for Martin Luther King at the peak of his popularity, at the time of the I Have a Dream speech. Its also far beyond the level of public reaction to earlier police killings. It may be the most similar to the reaction to the beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles. They beat him almost to death. Most of the attackers were freed in the courts without charge. There was a week of protest; sixty people were killed, and they had to call in federal troops to quell the protests. But that was in Los Angeles. Now its everywhere. And its not just the police killing  its background issues. Its beginning to move into concern, inquiries, and protests about the facts that lead to events like this occurring. This rise in consciousness is aided by the rise in consciousness of four hundred years of vicious repression. MB What do you think accounts for the unprecedented nature of this? NC I think its the result of many years of intensive activism. For example, years ago, the New York Times highlighted an important series, 1619, on the history of racism in the United States  1619 because that was the year when black slaves began coming in substantial numbers. You couldnt have imagined that a few years ago. Thats one of many signs of what I hope are really significant changes, and seem to be a tribute to groups like Black Lives Matter and others who have been bringing these issues to public attention and making people think about them. And the reaction right now is quite important. [Its different from] when you go back to Ronald Reagan, opening his campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the site of the murder of three civil rights workers  the message was pretty plain, but there was little reaction. MB Theres much more reaction now, and the parallels are quite stark there. Its very hard to get a grasp on something like this, in terms of various types of reporting, misinformation, and so on. We need to approach it gingerly, but as someone who has a rooting (in some respects) in the anarchist tradition, to maybe in many respects, what is your thought on this autonomous zone that arose in Seattle? NC Its one of a number of very interesting developments  in part reactions to the pandemic, in part reactions to [George Floyds murder]. Creating the structures of mutual support and cooperation that extricate people from the governmental structures, which have been shown to be completely inadequate in dealing with particular problems, like getting water to people  more fundamental problems of why we were so desperately unprepared for the crisis. The autonomous zone is an interesting case of this. Its also striking to see the support [from people like] the mayor of Seattle, and plenty of popular support, which is driving Trump and Fox News insane. Thats a positive sign, something important. I think its an important manifestation of the sense that weve got to take our lives under control, and that we cant leave them in the hands of the authorities who declared themselves our masters. We have to take charge. MB Is it important to reframe that a bit  that something can arise, and even result, in failure, but if theres information in it, and if it expresses a certain impulse toward justice, it doesnt need to be linearly measured as a success or failure? NC Success and failure are complicated things. Any serious struggle is going to have moments of regression. Things dont work out the way you expect, so you pick up, you go on from there. Anyone you can think of  civil rights, womens rights, abolition, all of them  its a process. Take, say, the Bernie Sanders campaign. I get letters all the time or see things posted saying, We tried, we lost, its over, so Im getting out. Thats not what happened. What happened was a tremendous success, an unparalleled success. Nothing like this has happened in US political history  actually, almost ever, since the real populist movement, the radical farmers movement, was crushed by force. The spectrum of discussion has been substantially shifted. Things that were not on the agenda not long ago are front and center: universal health care, called for and amplified by the pandemic disaster; a Green New Deal, the result of serious activism by a small group of young people who occupied congressional offices; and the background was the Sanders success, and of young members of Congress who swept into power to support them. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Sanders has made the tactical decision, which some criticize but I think is correct, to join the Joe Biden campaign and push it to the left. His associates are working on planning commissions, and in fact, if you look at the program thats emerged, its further to the left than anything since FDR. It offers lots of opportunities. Now, this didnt happen by magic. It happened kind of like the Green New Deal. It happened by constant pressure and activism. Thats the way the Left should conceive of elections. Pushing the button [for a candidate] is not the issue. Its the constant activism that is reshaping the array of choices, issues, policies. You dont win by snapping your fingers. Some things work, some things fail, and you pick up and go on from there. MB I want to ask about freedom of speech. It seems to me that its fallen out of favor among some on the Left. How do you relate to the question of freedom of speech? NC Manufacturing Consent , the first book that Ed Herman and I worked on together, was in the early 70s. The book was published by a very successful publisher; twenty thousand copies were printed. The publisher was owned by a big corporation, and one of the executives in the corporation saw the book, was horrified, and demanded that the publisher withdraw it from publication. When they refused, he destroyed the entire publisher. All of its stock was destroyed, to prevent it from distributing the book of errors. First of all, we should think a little bit of the history. Why is this issue arising now? Is it new? No. Its been the norm for decades, but it was always targeting the Left, so nobody paid attention to it. Way beyond anything thats happening now: meetings being broken up, violently disrupted; talks canceled; books destroyed. So, for example, the first book you mentioned,, the first book that Ed Herman and I worked on together, was in the early 70s. The book was published by a very successful publisher; twenty thousand copies were printed. The publisher was owned by a big corporation, and one of the executives in the corporation saw the book, was horrified, and demanded that the publisher withdraw it from publication. When they refused, he destroyed the entire publisher. All of its stock was destroyed, to prevent it from distributing the book of errors. Did anybody care? Out of curiosity, I brought it to the attention of leading civil libertarians, like Nat Hentoff and the ACLU, but they didnt see any problem. Its not state censorship if a corporation decides to destroy a publisher and destroy all of its stock to keep some book from appearing. In fact, it was hard to find [inaudible] about the person who found something wrong with it. But thats not the only time. I could give you other cases of mine where books were withdrawn from publication, and I was asked to return the advance, because it had some political content that the publisher didnt like. Other people have been fired, and faculty positions eliminated, and so on. They didnt care. It wasnt censorship  it was directed against the Left, vastly beyond anything thats going on today. Now, that doesnt justify whats going on today. First of all, I really wouldnt call it the Left  when the New York Times withdraws an op-ed, which I dont think they should have done, its pretty hard to call that the Left. When a lot of young people decide to de-platform some speaker, I think theyre making a bad mistake, even from a tactical point of view. There are much better ways to deal with it  you can run a counter-session, where you expose whats going on and use it as an educational opportunity. I think its wrong in principle and its tactically wrong. Its a gift to the far right; they love it. MB One of the many pieces of activism that Ive appreciated immensely that youve been involved with was your advocating for President Lula da Silva of Brazil when he was a political prisoner. You visited him when he was in prison in Curitiba. Can you tell us why you think President Lula is such an important leader? NC President Lula came from a working-class background, was an activist  in the days of the dictatorship, succeeded in organizing significant opposition and ran for president. He had his victory stolen a couple of times, but he finally won the presidency and initiated a new era in Brazilian history. Dont take my word for it; take the World Bank  not a radical institution. In 2016, a couple of years after the end of his term, they published a long study of recent Brazilian economic history. They called Lulas term in office the golden decade of Brazilian economic history. Enormous reduction of poverty, tremendous increase in inclusion, large parts of the population, blacks and totally marginalized and oppressed people, brought into policies to give people some control over their lives. Tremendous success. Brazil became one of the most respected countries in the world, if not the most respected. Take a look now. Its an absolute pariah, one of the most ridiculed and condemned countries in the whole world. There were plenty of problems with Lulas terms. One of them was that he tolerated corruption, didnt pay attention to it. There was a lot in the Workers Party (PT)  its endemic in Brazil, in the entire region. The thing his administration really failed to do was to get people to understand that they were part of the system that was developing. So now its quite strange that when people are asked who benefited greatly from Lulas programs  when you ask them, How did this happen? they say, It came from God, like it was an accident. They dont know that it was part of the PTs programs. That was a real failure of engagement  that it just came to them somehow and they were not part of it. That was a big failure. There are other things you can criticize. The judgment about the golden decade, I think, is quite right, and the rising to a position of great international respect, as a voice of the Global South, was extremely significant  and part of the reason for his downfall. Political systems dont like upstarts. Theyre not supposed to do that. The elites in Brazil are extremely racist and class conscious. Heres this guy who comes from a working-class background, who doesnt even speak proper Portuguese; he didnt go to the right schools. Hes supposed to be humble, grateful for what we do for him  not up there setting policy. You talk to people and can sense the bitterness and the anger, just for these reasons, even more than the policies. A couple years after Lula was out of office, a soft coup was initiated [against Lulas successor, Dilma Rousseff]. This finally led to the October 2018 election. Lula was jailed; he was the most popular candidate, very likely to win. He was jailed on very dubious charges, but he was also silenced. Unlike a mass murderer on death row, he was not permitted to make a statement. That was very important. He kept quiet during the electoral campaign. Now hes held on partial release while the appeals were going on. But before the election, they kept him out. What came in was an ultraright fanatic [Jair Bolsonaro] whos destroying the country. Brazil right now is just on the verge of a military coup. I dont know if you saw the clips from a couple of days ago, where Bolsonaro gangs were attacking the parliamentary buildings, the Supreme Court, and saying, Get rid of it. Bolsonaro fired the heads of the executive divisions, which were looking into his family. His executive statement was that Nobodys going to fuck around with my family, which is pretty similar to what just happened here. Bolsonaro sees himself as a kind of clone of [Donald] Trump. Tragedy and farce. Trump is very similar. He just fired all of the inspectors general who were put into place to monitor corruption and malfeasance in executive offices. They were beginning to inquire into this fetid swamp that hes created in Washington, so he fired them all. And like any tin-pot dictator, he went out of his way to humiliate the senior Republican senator, Charles Grassley, who had spent his career setting this system in implementation. Not a peep from the Republican Party. Theyve disappeared as a party. Its worse than the old Communist Party. The leader gives an order; we [fall] on our knees. MB Could you explain why what Donald Trump is doing institutionally actually is unique and does matter on its own terms? NC This sounds strong, but its true: Trump is the worst criminal in history, undeniably. There has never been a figure in political history who was so passionately dedicated to destroying the projects for organized human life on earth in the near future. That is not an exaggeration. People are focused now on the protests; the pandemic is serious enough that we will emerge from it at terrible cost. The cost is greatly amplified by the gangster in the White House, who has killed tens of thousands of Americans, making this the worst place in the world [for the coronavirus]. We will emerge [from the pandemic, but] were not going to emerge from another crime that Trump has committed, the heating of the globe. The worst of it is coming  were not going to emerge from that. The ice sheets are melting; theyre not going to recover. That leads to exponential increase in global warming. Arctic glaciers, for example, could flood the world. Recent studies indicate that on the present course, in about fifty years, much of the habitable part of the world will be unlivable. You wont be able to live in parts of South Asia, parts of the Middle East, parts of the United States. Were approaching the point of 125,000 years ago, when sea levels were about twenty-five feet higher than they are now. And its worse than that. The Scripps Oceanographic Institute just came out with a study that estimated that we are coming ominously close to a point [similar to] 3 million years ago, when sea levels were fifty to eighty feet higher than they are today. All around the world, countries are trying to do something about it. But there is one country which is led by a president who wants to escalate the crisis, to race toward the abyss, to maximize the use of fossil fuels, including the most dangerous of them, and to dismantle the regulatory apparatus that limits their impact. There is no crime like this in human history. Nothing. This is a unique individual. And its not as if he doesnt know what hes doing. Of course he does. Its as if he doesnt care. If he can pour more profits into his pockets and the pockets of his rich constituency tomorrow, who cares if the world disappears in a couple of generations? As far as the government is concerned, were seeing something pretty interesting. Parliamentary democracy has been around for 350 years, starting in England in 1689 with the so-called Glorious Revolution, when sovereignty was transferred from the royalty to the parliament. The beginnings of parliamentary democracy in the United States [came] about a century later. Parliamentary democracy is not just based on laws and constitutions. In fact, the British constitution is maybe a dozen words. Its based on trust and good faith, the assumption that people will act like human beings. Take Richard Nixon. Pretty rotten guy, but when the time came that he had to leave office, he left office quietly. Nobody is expecting that with Trump. He doesnt act like a human being. Hes off somewhere else. He [doesnt] even make appointments that can be confirmed by the Senate. Why bother? I dont like somebody, Ill throw them out. One Republican, Lisa Murkowski, dares to raise a small question about his nobility, [and he] came down on her with a ton of bricks  Im going to destroy you. Its not fascism. Its what I said before: tin-pot dictator of some small country where they have coups every couple of years. Thats the mentality. Congress, the Senate, happens to be in the hands of a soul mate of his, Mitch McConnell  in many ways the real evil genius of this administration, dedicated to destroying democracy long before Trump. When [Barack] Obama was elected, McConnell said openly to the public, My main goal is to ensure that Obama can achieve nothing. Okay. Thats saying, I want to destroy parliamentary democracy, which is based, as I said, in good faith and trust in the interchange. The Senate. the so-called worlds greatest deliberative body, is reduced to passing legislation that will enrich the very rich, empowering the corporate sector, and making judicial appointments to stack the judiciary with young, ultraright, mostly incompetent justices who can ensure for a generation that no matter what the public wants, theyll be able to block it. Its a deep hatred of democracy and fear of democracy. Thats not unusual among the elites; they dont like democracy for obvious reasons. But this is something special. Thats on top of the pandemic, on top of the global warming crisis, the crisis of nuclear weapons, which is equally severe. Trump is dismantling the entire arms-control regime, greatly increasing the risk of destruction, virtually inviting enemies to develop weapons to destroy us that we [wont be able to] stop. Trump is taking the worst aspects of capitalism, particularly the neoliberal version of capitalism, and amplifying them. Lets just take the pandemic. Why is there a pandemic? In 2003, after the SARS epidemic, which was a coronavirus, it was well understood by scientists  they were saying, Another coronavirus, much more serious than this, is very likely. Now here are the steps we have to take to prepare for it. Somebody has to take the steps. Well, there is a pharmaceutical industry, but extraordinarily wealthy, huge labs cant do it. You dont spend money on something that might be important ten years from now  stopping a future catastrophe is not profitable. Thats a capitalist crisis. Government has the resources; they have great labs. But then comes something called Ronald Reagan, at the beginning of the neoliberal assault on the population, arguing that government is the problem, not the solution  meaning we have to take decisions away from government. Government is influenced by people. Now we have to put [decisions] in the hands of unaccountable private institutions which have no influence from the public. In the United States, thats sometimes called libertarianism. Thats the beginning of the neoliberal assault. George H. W. Bush established a presidential scientific advisory council board. Obama called it into office, correctly, the first day of his administration and asked them to prepare a pandemic warning reaction system. A couple of weeks later, they came back with a system that was put in place. January 2017, the wrecker comes into office. First days of his administration, [Trump] dismantles the whole system to respond to a pandemic; started defunding the Centers for Disease Control [and Prevention] (CDC) and every health-related aspect of government, year after year. Eliminated programs of American scientists in China working with Chinese scientists to identify potential coronavirus threats and throws it out. So when [the coronavirus] hit, the United States was uniquely unprepared  thanks to the wrecker. And then it got worse. He refused to react to it. Other countries responded to it, some of them very well and very quickly. Its almost gone, mostly under control. Not in the United States. He didnt care. For months, US intelligence couldnt get the White House to say, Theres a serious crisis. Finally, according to reports, he noticed that the stock market was declining, and then said, We have to do something. What he has done is just chaos. But a large part of the problem is pre-Trump. Why arent the hospitals ready? Well, they run on a business model. Thats neoliberalism. It has to be just-in-time delivery. They dont want to lose a cent. So we dont have an extra hospital bed; we have to make sure the CEOs of the private hospitals get millions of dollars a year in compensation. Cant have an extra bed  you cut into that. So everythings parroted above. The nursing homes, which are privately owned, are reduced to minimal functioning, because we can make more money that way, if were a private-equity corporation that owns them. Now we can contribute to Trumps campaign so he can have a photo-op with us, telling us how wonderful we are for destroying the nursing homes, killing all the elderly people. It goes deep into issues well before Trump, but he is a unique phenomenon  again, the worst criminal in human history, so his minor crimes are to destroy American democracy and to amplify a pandemic killing over a hundred thousand people. But those are minor crimes by his standards. Michael Brooks is host of The Michael Brooks Show and cohost of The Majority Report . - " Source " - Post your comment below See also Search Information Clearing House === The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load.
Police have released new pictures of a 1982 murder victim in the hope of identifying her, four decades after her body found in a New York dumpster.

Officers in Nassau County shared the images of 'what the victim was believed to have looked like' using facial recognition technology Tuesday.

The young woman - believed to be in her early 20s or teens - was found in a dumpster in Freeport, Long Island nearly four decades ago.

Authorities say she was wearing a heart pendant necklace with a green stone with the letter K in the center.

Officers in Nassau County, New York, shared the images of 'what the victim was believed to have looked like' using facial recognition technology Tuesday

Officials say she was wearing a heart pendant necklace and a yellow striped top. The necklace had a green stone with the letter K in the center, police said

She is believed to have been between 5 feet and 5 feet 3 inches tall.

Police also released images of the yellow striped top and necklace she was wearing when her body was found.

The county medical examiners office said she had been dead for two to four months when she was found on November 4 1982.

Detective Lt. Shaun Spillane told The Daily News that year: 'We dont know who she is, how she died or where she died.'

Hemlock needles are said to have been found in her clothing at the time, suggesting she had been in the woods before her death.

Anyone with information is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers on 1-800-244-TIPS or to call 911.
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.
FILE PHOTO: A tenant of a low-income boarding house receives trays of eggs donated by El Chato and La Chicheria Demente restaurants, amidst the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID19), in Bogota

By Drazen Jorgic

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Latin America's death toll from the coronavirus pandemic surpassed 100,000 on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, with few signs of the outbreak easing in a region marked by crowded cities and high poverty levels.

Latin America has seen an alarming spike in cases and deaths even as the tide of infection recedes in Europe and parts of Asia. The number of infections, at 2.2 million, has doubled in less than a month.

Brazil - Latin America's largest and most populous nation - this week became only the second country to reach the 50,000 deaths milestone, after the United States. Mexico on Tuesday registered a fresh one-day record for confirmed infections.

The true scale of the coronavirus damage to Latin America is likely to be much deeper, experts say, as countries across the region have failed to implement rigorous testing programmes. Many officials concede the death toll is likely far higher.

Hugo Lopez-Gatell, Mexico's deputy health minister and the country's coronavirus tsar, on Tuesday signaled that his nation is in for a long battle against coronavirus.

"We must learn to live with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and permanently incorporate hygiene and prevention practices into the new reality," said Lopez-Gatell, urging the Mexican society to adapt its response to the threat.

On top of creaking healthcare systems in many countries across the region, Latin America's battle against the virus has been hamstrung by widespread poverty and many workers living a hand-to-mouth existence in the informal sector that has hindered quarantine efforts.

The leaders of regional heavyweights Brazil and Mexico have also been chastised for not taking the virus seriously enough and for pushing for a reopening of their economies before the virus has been tamed.

A Brazilian judge on Tuesday ordered President Jair Bolsonaro to wear a mask in public after the right-wing populist attended political rallies without one in the middle of the world's second-worst coronavirus outbreak.

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Brazil registered an additional 1,374 deaths on Tuesday from the virus and 39,436 new cases, pushing the death toll from the novel coronavirus to 52,000 people in Latin America's biggest economy. More than 1.1 million have been infected.

Mexico, the worst hit-nation in the region after Brazil in terms of overall figures, on Tuesday registered 6,288 new infections and 793 additional deaths. That brought the totals for the country to 191,410 cases and 23,377 deaths.

The virus also appears to be on the rise in Central America, where Guatemala on Tuesday recorded more than 700 new infections for the first time. An additional 35 deaths were registered in Guatemala, taking it deaths total to 582.

(Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Kim Coghill)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of artificial marble and granite production plant of NB Procurement and Trade LLC in the city of Ganja.

The president and first lady were informed about the activity of the enterprise.

President Aliyev launched the plant.
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(Kitco News) - Mergers are likely to continue in the gold-mining industry, although there is a trend toward no-premium acquisitions, fund managers and analysts said.

A lot of larger global shareholders of these mining companies for a while have been advocating for consolidation, said William Winmill, analyst with the Midas Fund (MIDSX). So I would not be surprised if a number of these companies listen. And we have seen that.

Two mega-mergers  Barrick Gold Corp.-Randgold Resources Ltd. and Newmont Mining-Goldcorp  occurred during the last couple of years. However, companies with smaller market capitalizations are also getting in the act.

In its Gold Focus 2020 report released Wednesday, the consultancy Metals Focus reported that M&A activity in the gold sector nearly doubled last year to $24.7 billion, although half of this was the $12.3 billion Newmont-Goldcorp merger. The number of transactions remained almost the same as the previous year at 106.

Joe Foster, portfolio manager of VanEck International Investors Gold Fund (INIVX), said he looks for M&A activity to continue, particularly between midtier and junior-mining companies. He also looks for more mergers of equals in which producers do not pay a premium to acquire another company, but in which mining firms instead partner up with another with the goal of creating a stronger company.

Mergers of equals have been very far and few in between historically, Foster said. They do happen occasionally, but not very often.

Over the years, mergers usually occurred when one company paid a premium to buy another.

In the past, weve seen many times where companies have overpaid for an acquisition, Foster continued. Even though companies do a considerable amount of due diligence on their acquisition targets, its very hard to know exactly what youre buying until you have the asset and start working and mining the asset. Sometimes you find its not as robust as you thought it was, and it doesnt deliver like you thought.

Thus, the returns are not as great as envisioned.

I think there is a concerted effort to keep that from happening again, either refraining from M&A activity or doing a friendly merger of equals, Foster said.

Winmill commented that the no-premium mergers are a contrast from the last [gold bull-market] cycle 10 years ago where companies were borrowing to buy out other companies. So perhaps its safer acquisitions this time around.



With no-premium deals, bigger and stronger companies potentially can attract a broader shareholder base. So-called generalist investors like to come into companies with a certain size, Winmill said.

A larger company in turn might be able to take advantage of other opportunities that arise around the world, Foster continued.

You dont get a big premium up front, but youre creating value in the longer term, he said.

As an example, he cited the no-premium mergers in recent years between Barrick and Randgold, as well as the Equinox Gold Corp. and Leagold Mining Corp.

The market saw the benefits of those mergers of equals, and their short prices performed very well immediately after the mergers, Foster said. In some of these mergers, it takes a while to play out and you see the value develop over time.

Still, Winmill cautioned that no-premium mergers may not always create increased value for shareholders. For instance, two companies that are not healthy to begin with may not be able to prop one another up. Further, producers that already have lean management teams have reduced potential savings from a merger.

The bottom line is some combinations make more sense than others, Winmill said. As an example of one of the successful ones, he cited the Nevada joint venture between Barrick and Newmont that allowed the two gold-mining giants to cut costs, such as reduced expenses in trucking ore across the state.

Large companies seen focusing on organic growth

Foster said he does not expect much M&A activity from the largest gold-mining companies in the near term.

The majors seem to be content with their organic [growth] opportunities, Foster said.

However, another trend that may well continue is China becoming more active in mergers, going after junior developers, in particular, he said.

That is a change in this cycle, Foster said. In past cycles, weve seen North American and Australian companies doing more M&A activity with junior developers. So far in this cycle, its been the Chinese that have been happy to snap up some of these companies.

The interest was probably always there on the part of Chinese firms, but now they are acting, Foster said.

Weve known for a long time that the Chinese are very interested.I think the increase in gold prices has prompted them to act on it, Foster said.

Winmill said another trend is for Australian companies to acquire producers in other parts of the world. Australian producers have been a real success story, the analyst said, noting that the trend in the Australian dollar has boosted their profitability.
If theres an indication of demand for the state Motor Vehicle Commissions agencies to reopen, it might be the people who showed up at the Bakers Basin agency in Lawrence Township on Tuesday, looking for answers, even though it wont open for another six days.

Opening day for agencies is June 29, and it will only be for limited transactions that cant be done online. MVC officials have to process a three-month backlog of these transactions and make sure customers follow the new rules to prevent spread of the coronavirus.

In an exclusive tour, Chief Administrator B. Sue Fulton walked a reporter and photographer through the processes and showed whats changed about going to the motor vehicle agency and how theyve changed since COVID-19 forced them to close on March 15. Inspection stations also reopen on June 29.
Senate Democrats voted almost unanimously on Wednesday against a Republican policing reform proposal, effectively ending congressional efforts to rein in law enforcement as thousands of protesters continue to flood streets across the country demanding racial justice in the wake of George Floyd's death.

Sixty votes were needed to open debate on the Republican policing reform bill authored by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., that sought to offer federal incentives to compel departments to implement best practices, train in deescalation and end controversial tactics -- penalizing those that do not.

But the bill stopped short of implementing federal mandates to curb police use of force and other questionable practices -- like chokeholds and carotid holds -- limiting the transfer of federal military equipment to localities and creating a national police misconduct database, shortcomings Democrats said made the bill "irrevocably flawed."

Republicans fell five votes short of advancing the bill to debate, with all but three Democrats voting against it. Sens. Doug Jones of Alabama, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Maines Angus King cast "yes" votes along with all Republicans.

MORE:Policing reform bill likely dying in Senate

Before the vote, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell urged Democrats to vote to allow "discussion, debate and votes on amendments" on the GOP bill and chided them for their reported reluctance to vote to advance the bill.

"We're ready to make a law not just make a point," McConnell had said of Senate Republicans. On Wednesday, he called the decision of Democrats to block the bill "political nonsense elevated to an art form."

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Wednesday called the now-failed Republican policing bill "fundamentally and irrevocably flawed" and said it could not be amended, despite calls from Republicans to allow a debate to go forward.

Schumer called the Republican bill the "legislative equivalent of a fig leaf: something that provides a little cover but no real change."

Story continues

But a few Democrats broke with their leadership and voted to proceed to debate. Jones said in an interview that the "time is now," on policing reform but recognized that "theres a good faith belief among Democrats that Sen. McConnell is not acting in good faith."

Manchin told reporters that he bucked his party because "We need to be on this bill and debate it and talk about."

Scott took to the floor following the failed vote to express his remorse that the Senate would not move forward with legislation that he said could have changed the relationship between police and communities of color.

"Today we lost, I lost, a vote on a piece of legislation that would have led to systemic change in the relationship between the communities of color and the law enforcement community," Scott said. "We would have broken the concept in this nation that somehow someway you have to be either for law enforcement or for communities of color. That is a false binary choice."

Democrats have offered their own piece of legislation, the Justice in Policing Act, which is expected to pass out of the House on Thursday. That bill outlaws choke holds and no-knock warrants in drug cases, limits the transfer of military grade equipment to police departments and amends the law to make it easier to prosecute potentially offending officers in court.

McConnell said this bill will not be considered by the Senate.

MORE:Senate Republican bucks party and president on law enforcement immunity

In an interview with CBS Radio on Tuesday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi accused Senate Republicans of "trying to get away with murder, actually -- the murder of George Floyd."

Pressed on her comments on MSNBC Wednesday morning, Pelosi said she would "absolutely, positively not" apologize for her comment, and said she was referring to leader McConnell when she made it.

McConnell characterized Pelosis accusation during his floor remarks Wednesday as political showmanship.

"Are you beginning to see how this game works?" McConnell questioned. "Two weeks ago it was implied the Senate would have blood on our hands if we didnt take up police reform. Now Democrats say Senator Scott and 48 other Senators have blood on our hands because we are trying to take up police reform."

Senate Democrats' decision to stop the Republican bill from advancing was supported by a variety of civil rights groups, including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the ACLU, as well as the powerful Congressional Black Caucus whose members rarely weigh in on matters before the Senate.

The leader of the Caucus, Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., called the Republican bill a "watered-down fake reform bill" in a statement Tuesday night urging senators to vote no on proceeding to the legislation.

In emotional speeches yesterday, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Sen. Corey Booker, D-N.J., said the Republican bill lacked teeth to drive meaningful change, so much so that it could not be amended.

In an emotional speech on the Senate Floor, Sen. Corey Booker speaks out against the GOP policing bill: "This is not what the American people want. This is not what this moment calls for. This is shameful." https://t.co/SSZQAxjyA4 pic.twitter.com/WF42tIcKa8  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 23, 2020

"For all of the pundits out there that want to entertain a conversation about whether Democrats actually want police reform: Are you kidding me?" Sen. Kamala Harris condemns the GOP policing reform bill that she says equates to "watered down politics." https://t.co/SSZQAxB9rC pic.twitter.com/UP9bA3PaXT  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 23, 2020

"We are in a moment of profound possibility but what we do face is it being shut down in the Senate over an impotent bill that fails to meet this moment," Booker said.

On Wednesday, just before the vote that tabled the bill, Scott, the lone African American Republican in the Senate, appealed to Democrats, urging them not to "walk away" from a bill that could send a strong message to communities of color.

"My concern is that our friends on the other side will not take advantage of this opportunity to say to the communities that are suffering we see you, we hear you, we are willing to respond as one body," Scott said.

The political recriminations in this tumultuous election year were likely to foreclose any further policing reform efforts this year, a stark contrast to the momentum for change on the streets in the wake of high profile police confrontations and killings of African Americans -- momentum that is leading to sweeping reform efforts at the state level across the country.

MORE:Supreme Court wont revisit qualified immunity for police, leaving it to Congress

Though this vote likely marks the end of the road for policing reform legislation this year, Sen. McConnell, R-Ky., said he intends to use a procedural move that would allow the bill to be reconsidered at a later time.

On Wednesday, Schumer called on McConnell to create a bipartisan space for additional conversations on how to proceed with policing reform.

Harris, Booker, as well as Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and other key leaders met behind closed doors Tuesday suggesting that some bipartisan conversations could be happening behind the scenes. It is unclear, however, what has become of those conversations. Booker told reporters Tuesday that no bipartisan working group had yet been appointed by McConnell.

Senate Dems block GOP policing reform bill, dimming chances of legislation originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has received US$200 million loan facility from a consortium of banks for the take-off of the Productivity Enhancement Programmes (PEPs).



The facility is the first tranche of a US$600 million credit from the banks signed in 2017 to enhance both cultivation of cocoa beans and the processing of same in the country.



Chief Executive Officer of the Board, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, who disclosed this in Accra yesterday at the launch of the syndicated loan facility for the PEPs said the facility has come at a right time to support the cocoa sector.



The facility will among others increase cocoa production through the PEPs, irrigation facilities, the expansion of warehousing capacity, processing and promotion of cocoa consumption, as well as, the creation of a reliable database required for the smooth distribution of inputs to farmers.



We believe this loan will support us to strengthen the cocoa value chain, help alleviate poverty by increasing productivity and promoting a progressive cocoa consumption environment, the CEO of COCOBOD said.



According to him, through the Boards own resources, significant progress has been made in efforts to implement the PEPs to increase yield per hectare to at least 1000 kilograms.



For example the cocoa swollen shoot virus disease control programme which is in its second year in the Western and Eastern Regions, Mr Aidoo said, has seen the rehabilitation of several hectares of diseased farms.



Additionally, Mr Aidoo said the 2020 mass pruning exercise which began two months ago has been excellent; adding that, We have achieved 100 per cent coverage of farm area, giving more prospects for higher yields.



He assured the investors that the fund would be used judiciously to achieve the intent behind the programme.



The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, on his part said in governments effort to ensure the provision of quality extension services and give farmers equal access to all of its interventions, we have rolled out a cocoa management system which will enable us have adequate and accurate data of our farmers, farms, licensed buying companies input suppliers and other players in the cocoa value chain.



The cocoa price volatility on the world market, Dr Akoto said, required that domestic processing was increased to ensure a stable income for farmers.



Linking local production and consumption, he said amidst the current Coronavirus pandemic, I strongly believe that increased intake of cocoa with high concentration of flavanols and its associated components will help significantly in fighting the disease.



Mr Yasumichi Araki, the Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the lead of the Consortium, hoping that the partnership would yield the needed result underscored the need for greater support for the protection of farmers livelihoods.



The rest of the firms making up the consortium include the Africa Development Bank, Development Bank of South Africa, Credit Suisse, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Italian investment firm CDP.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  The Department of Budget and Management announced Wednesday it is proposing 4.3-trillion national budget for 2021.

Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said in a briefing that his agency is still determining the budget ceilings for the departments in the Executive branch.

The ceilings are expected to be finalized by the first week of July, after which the spending program will be submitted to the Office of the President for inclusion in President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation address later that month.

In case the formal budget proposal fails to meet that deadline, Avisado said it will be ready by the second week of August.

Avisado said the 2021 budget will focus on labor intensive projects and activities aimed at giving income opportunities to millions of workers in both private and public sectors who have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis.

All of these programs are devoted to priorities of national government in line with our desire to continue to combat this pandemic, he added.

It will be recalled that the 4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 was formally signed by Duterte six days into the new fiscal year.

The bulk of that budget was earmarked for social and economic services, but some of the amount was later realigned to fund the countrys COVID-19 outbreak response programs.

As of June 22, 355.6 billion has been released for COVID-19 mitigation efforts, according to Avisado.
Landon's Heating and AC offers HVAC installation and repair services in the Southern Louisiana region, including Youngsville, Broussard, and Lafayette. Stay cool this summer with air conditioning installations, tune-up packages, and repairs on all makes and models from a certified team.

YOUNGSVILLE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Residential and commercial properties in Broussard, Lafayette, and Youngsville, LA, and the surrounding area can benefit from HVAC services with Landon's Heating & AC. The company assists with all HVAC needs, including maintenance and repairs to air conditioning and heating systems. They serve both residential and commercial clients and include a wide range of brands and models.

Landon's Heating & AC has been a community staple in the Youngsville, LA area since 2008. The company brings over 20 years of experience in the HVAC industry by providing trustworthy services to private homes and businesses. As the heat of summer persists, Landon and his team offer air conditioner repairs and tune-ups that can extend the life of AC systems, as well as installations.

More information is available at https://landonsac.com/services/.

Southern Louisiana is home to a unique climate that feels hot and muggy for much of the year. Landon's Heating & AC understands the importance of keeping AC units in their best shape. HVAC units tend to use a lot of energy, so it's vital to ensure that they're efficiently functioning to keep homeowners happy and their costs down.

Landon's Heating & AC services all makes and models and is an official distributor of the well-respected brands of Trane and American Standard. With a professional and experienced team, skilled HVAC experts can help homeowners choose the unit that's right for their home or business needs. Aside from installation services for new AC or heating systems, Landon's can also supply customers with routine maintenance and repairs to keep you comfortable all year long.

Story continues

If your unit isn't working at its full potential, Landon's Heating & AC offers routine maintenance that can save customers money on operational costs. Home and business owners could avoid 80% of air conditioning repairs if they had regular maintenance! Landon's AC Tune-Up package addresses common issues that can slow down a unit and greatly increase costs. If repairs are necessary, clients receive fast service from a friendly team of experienced, NATE-certified technicians.

Aside from Trane and American Standard, Landon's services other popular and trustworthy makes and models, including Amana, Mitsubishi, Carrier, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, Ruud, Bryant, York, Weather King, Coleman, and ComfortMaker. Any customers in need of financial assistance can inquire about financing options on any AC units.

A satisfied customer said: "Call Landon for your AC work! Numerous people in my family have used Landon for years. There is no problem too small or big for him, but what separates him from most is that he KNOWS what he is doing. He's not someone who just knows how to turn a wrench but can actually diagnose the issue and get to the source of whatever problem you are having with your heating or AC. He also communicates with each client quickly and effectively, and is quick to make each service call. He is our AC guy, and you should make him yours. Highly recommend."

Although we're just entering the summer heat, it's never too early to check in on heating systems. Landon's trained, certified, and experienced HVAC team offers a multi-point annual tune-up for all heating systems. These preventative measures will ensure all units are running at full and efficient capacity to keep homes and businesses cool this summer.

More information about Landon's Heating and AC installation and repair services in Youngsville, LA, and surrounding areas is available by visiting the website address above.

Contact Info:



Name: Landon Myers

Email: Send Email

Organization: Landon's Heating & AC

Address: 416 South Larriviere Road, Youngsville, LA 70592, United States

Phone: +1-337-519-2135

Website: https://landonsac.com/



SOURCE: Landon's Heating & AC





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/595031/HVAC-and-Air-Conditioning-Repair-Services-Announced-for-Youngsville-LA




Apropos the column PIL spike in corona times (June 24), the concerns expressed by the author should be a wake-up call for the first two pillars of our democracy  the legislature and executive. One of the prime reasons why the number of public interest litigations or PILs have gone up during this trying time is the failure of our federal structure, in which the states are at odds with the Centre with the need for an umpire  the judiciary.

While the states expect they be respected as federal units, the Centre behaves as if it is a unitary government. Further, ...
Greater Albany Public Schools had a question for parents: Would you feel comfortable sending your child to school if public health officials said it was safe to do so? The answer: Sort of.

In a survey answered by approximately 2,500 families, 52% said they would be very comfortable sending their children to schools that adhere to Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education guidance.

Schools were closed in March in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, with schools shifting to distance learning under the direction of ODE. Last month, ODE released additional guidance for fall, leaving the decision between in-person classes, online learning or a hybrid model largely up to individual districts.

Of the families surveyed, 25% said they would be somewhat comfortable sending their children to school and 24% said they didn't know how they felt or were uncomfortable.

"We weren't surprised," Superintendent Melissa Goff told the school board on Monday. "We thought about 15% will be looking for another option other than coming back to school in person."

GAPS has not decided on a model for fall and said family feedback and additional input from teachers and staff would impact the decision.

While results from staff surveyed were not yet available, family surveys showed that the biggest concern for parents was the sanitation of classrooms and the spread of COVID-19.

Parents asked for small class sizes, daily temperature checks for staff and daily cleaning of classrooms if students return. Of those surveyed, 63% said that fall should include only in-person classes while 28% asked for a hybrid model. Only 5% said they would prefer learning online only.

There will be additional considerations if children return to school. ODE has issued guidance noting that masks are recommended for students in 6th through 12th grade, but in some counties around the state Gov. Kate Brown has mandated masks for individuals visiting indoor public spaces. That requirement has not been imposed on Linn or Benton counties.

"If they're required, they're required for a reason," said board member Kim Butzner, noting that privacy issues could be at play for students and staff who can't wear masks due to medical issues. "I think it's something we're going to have to be thinking about."

Goff noted that planning for the fall has been complicated due to the number of agencies of authority.

"Part of the challenge," she said, "is we have guidance from ODE and decisions made at the governor's level and at the county-by-county level, but education is independent from the county."

Additional guidance is expected to come after a meeting with the state superintendent for all of Oregon's district superintendents Wednesday morning.

Goff has consistently told the school board that planning for fall will be an ongoing effort and the situation will remain fluid over the summer with updates provided to families through the district's website and social media channels.


BENTONVILLE (dpa-AFX) - Walmart Inc. has stopped displaying the Mississippi state flag from outside its stores as it includes the Confederate battle flag, a symbol of racism for many.



The decision comes amid the increasing efforts to remove memorials related to the Confederacy following protests against racism and police brutality that arose after the killing of African-American George Floyd.



Generally, the retail giant displays the local state flag in its US stores. In Mississippi, there has been efforts for long to remove the Confederate emblem from its flag that has flown over the state since 1894. As of January, Walmart had 85 stores in Mississippi.



The latest move is said to be in line with Walmart's 2015 decision to ban the sale of Confederate flag merchandise, along with other retailers including Amazon, Sears, and eBay. The then decision was after a shooting at a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina.



Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina at that time, signed legislation calling for the removal of the Confederate flag from the State Capitol.



In Mississippi, many public universities reportedly have stopped flying the state flag.



The city of Gulfport, Mississippi, unanimously passed a resolution last week, urging the Mississippi Legislature to respectfully retire the flag, acknowledging that for many it is 'a painful reminder of past days of transgressions in this State and has also been used by some as an image of hatred, divisiveness, and violence.'



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Several employees of a slaughterhouse, the PHW group ("Wiesenhof") in Wildeshausen (Kreis Oldenburg) are positive in the Coronavirus tested. The company said on Tuesday. A on Monday was range testing is run at 23 of 50 employees in a positive, said a spokesman for the district. The PHW group-according to all of the more than 1100 employees of the slaughterhouse are to be tested at a Corona-infection. PHW holds a majority share in the slaughterhouse the country Geest Turkey specialities (GPS).

Twelve of the infected employees live in the district of Oldenburg. Together with the company, and steps will be taken to prevent the spread of the Virus and to halt the causes to be processed, said County administrator Carsten Harings (independent). According to the slaughterhouse, the affected employees live in private accommodation. All Concerned have a contract of work.

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test was Already the beginning of June, more than 1100 employees tested, an infection was discovered in the case. Of the currently 23 people with the County, according to the previous level of 22 negative been tested. A new employee had not been at the Tests at the beginning of June still. To assist in the contact investigation, the district administration has asked the lower Saxony state health Department, additional Containment Scouts, so people, the the contacts of the Infected to detect and track.

On Sunday, the district administration notes to the infections received, as an employee with symptoms was tested positive for the Corona. Another Person from Wildeshausen was also tested positive. This is not working in the slaughterhouse, the two know each other and have contact. The health Department had contact persons in the first degree and for work colleagues, immediate quarantine.

The entire meat industry is since a long time because of the working conditions in the criticism. The Federal government wants to ban contracts for work in meat factories. Accordingly, only employees of their own company of animals to slaughter and the meat processed. Critics of the meat industry's widespread collective accommodation for workers, who often come from Romania, Bulgaria or Poland, as well as poor hygiene standards for the rapid spread of the Virus in the industry to be responsible.

Updated Date: 23 June 2020, 19:20
Ice cream giant Ben & Jerry's said it will stop buying advertising space on Facebook, joining a growing list of prominent brands boycotting the social network over its perceived failure to crack down on hate speech and incitements to violence.

'As of July 1st we will pause all paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram in the United States,' the Vermont-based confectioner said Tuesday.

'We call on Facebook, Inc. 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 said.

The company said it was joining the 'Stop the Hate for Profit' initiative supported by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other groups.

Ben Cohen and Jerry Epstein demonstrate during "Fire Drill Friday" climate change protest outside the White House on November 8, 2019 in Washington, DC

Ben & Jerry's Justice ReMixd ice cream is dedicated to criminal justice reform

It is the latest company to pledge to halt ad spending on Facebook over concerns hate speech and incitement to violence are not being moderated on the platform.

Sporting goods maker Patagonia added its name to the list Sunday, joining rivals North Face and REI and the freelance staffing agency Upwork.

Companies that have joined Facebook boycott Ben & Jerry's

Patagonia

North Face

REI

Upwork Advertisement

The #StopHateForProfit campaign comes as Facebook faces growing pressure over its hands-off approach to misinformation and inflammatory posts, including from President Donald Trump.

The social media company made an estimated $70 billion annually from ads, the coalition claimed in a statement on the ADL website.

The campaign has criticized Zuckerberg's decision to not moderate the president, after the CEO again defended his decision not to limit Trump's often controversial, incendiary and inaccurate posts.

Twitter's decision in May to hide one of Trump's tweets for 'glorifying violence' exposed turmoil at Facebook, with employees rebelling against Zuckerberg's refusal to sanction false or inflammatory posts by the president.

Facebook last week said it removed ads by Trump's re-election campaign that contained a symbol used in Nazi Germany for political prisoners, a move welcomed by rights activists.

The activists called on Facebook to crack down harder on Trump and his campaign as the November election looms.

The coalition criticized Zuckerberg's decision late last month to leave up a particularly inflammatory Trump post, which stated in part: 'When the looting starts, the shooting starts'

'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,' the NAACP said in a tweet.

The coalition criticized Zuckerberg's decision late last month to leave up a particularly inflammatory Trump post, which stated in part: 'When the looting starts, the shooting starts'. Twitter hid the same message behind a warning that said the post 'incited violence'.

Several Facebook employees staged a 'virtual walkout' over Zuckerberg's decision.

The Facebook co-founder then held a conference call with civil rights leaders who condemned him for failing to remove the post.

In a subsequent statement, Rashad Robinson of Color of Change, Vanita Gupta of the Leadership Conference and Sherrilyn Ifill of LDF said: 'He [Zuckerberg] did not demonstrate understanding of historic or modern-day voter suppression and he refuses to acknowledge how Facebook is facilitating Trump's call for violence against protesters. Mark is setting a very dangerous precedent for other voices who would say similar harmful things on Facebook.'

Ben & Jerry's has kept its political agenda after maintaining control over most board members; Unilever appoints two of the 11 seats. The rebranded ice cream flavor Pecan Resist is pictured in 2018. Ben & Jerry's says it's taking a stand against what it calls the Trump administration's regressive policies with the ice cream flavor

Color of Change subsequently joined forces with a number of other civil rights group to launch the '#StopHateforProfit' campaign earlier this week, encouraging companies to pull ads from Facebook.

Other organizations in the campaign include the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, Sleeping Giants, Free Press and Common Sense.

Last week, the campaign took out a full page ad in the Los Angeles Times pushing for companies to boycott Facebook. The social media giant reportedly made close to $70 billion in ad revenues last year.

'What would you do with $70billion?' the #StopHateForProfit ad asks.

'We know what Facebook did. They allowed incitement to violence against protesters fighting for racial justice in America in the wake of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks and so many others'.

The ad goes on to accuse Facebook of 'turning a blind eye to voter suppression' and 'amplifying white supremacists'.
During a 70-minute roundtable discussion at the Atlanta evangelical megachurch Passion City Church with Christian rapper Lecrae Moore, Pastor of Passion City Church, Louie Giglio, and Chick-fil-A CEO, Dan Cathy, it was suggested that white Christians repent of racism.

The roundtable came subsequently after the death of Rayshard Brooks, who was fatally shot dead by two Atlanta police officers at a Wendy's parking lot.

"We as Caucasians, until we're willing to just pick up the baton and fight for our black, African-American brothers and sisters, which they are as one human race, we're shameful. We're just adding to it," Cathy said.

As the founder of Chik-fil-A held a shoeshine brush in his hand, he recalled a story that was shared with him about a church revival event in Texas.

"At that revival on the front seat, there was an older African American man that was sitting there. And this young man got up that was there in the service and he'd been so gripped with conviction about the racism that was in that local community in a small town in Texas that he took a shoe brush and he walked over to this elderly gentleman and he knelt on his knees and began to shine his shoes and tears began to flow in that service," Cathy shared.

"It was an attitude of conviction," Cathy said as he invited the audience to "put some words to action" as he stood from his seat and proceeded to shine Lecrae's shoes on stage.

Cathy finished "shining" Lecrae's shoes by giving him a hug and concluded with the statement, "Any expressions of a contrite heart, of a sense of humility, a sense of shame, a sense of embarrassment begin with an apologetic heart. I think that's what our world needs to hear today."

Comments on Youtube rather expressed frustration and asked others to not insist on shining anyone's shoe or apologize for one's skin color like Cathy implied in the 70-minute discussion.
Credit: art_photo_s, Shutterstock

Faced with the urgent need to tackle climate change, governments, companies and institutions have been focusing on a possible transition towards a sustainable future. However, some believe that the adoption of more ambitious environmental and energy policies requires drastic financial or behavioral sacrifices. This isn't necessarily the case, as innovative products and new clean and energy-efficient processes can help create worldwide change, according to the Solar Impulse Foundation (SIF).

The SIF has selected 1,000 solutions that can protect the environment in a profitable way. The EU-funded DISIRE project was among the initiatives awarded the Solar Impulse Efficient Solutions Label in May for the potential to bridge the gap between economic and ecological interests. "The Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label is designed to shed light on existing Solutions that are both clean and profitable and have a positive impact on quality of life," as stated on the SIF website.

Covering physical or financial products, technologies, industrial processes and services, the solutions that have received the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label have been developed and/or partially/fully owned by a member of the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions. The World Alliance network, which was created at the initiative of the SIF, "brings together the main actors in the field of clean technologies to create synergies, facilitate matchmaking between solution providers and investors, and showcase clean and profitable solutions that have the potential to address today's environmental challenges," as noted on the SIF website. The Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label is awarded to solutions that help achieve at least one of the UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Inline sensing

The DISIRE project addresses an SDG that involves building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialisation and encouraging innovation. The SIF website explains the project's solution: "DISIRE is creating inline sensing that can be utilized with big data cloud analytics in order to achieve an optimal integrated process control reconfiguration for industrial plants and processes." It states: "Addressing the needs for more energy and resource-efficient processes in multiple industrial sectors, including the non-ferrous, ferrous, chemical and steel sectors, DISIRE provides miniaturized Process Analyzing Technique (PAT) technologies capable of being inserted into flows of raw materials. The 'Intelligent Raw Materials' technology allows better characterisation of the material, optimisation of the processing plants, increase of the process intensification and energy efficiency in chemical, steel, and mineral processing while improving the industrial combustion processes."

The technologies introduced by DISIRE reduce "by 4% the CO 2 emissions and up to 10% NOx [nitrogen oxides] related to the chemical sector," the SIF website notes. It states that the energy savings in the steel sector are 10 % to 20 %. The DISIRE (Integrated Process Control based on Distributed In-Situ Sensors into Raw Material and Energy Feedstock) project ended in December 2017. Project partners emphasize that their concept will enable the self-reconfiguration of all the production lines by the produced products themselves.

More information: DISIRE project website: DISIRE project website: www.spire2030.eu/disire/
LORDSTOWN, Ohio  For the first time in months, Gov. Mike DeWine ventured outside of Columbus for a public appearance on Wednesday.

The setting was a familiar  and significant  one, outside the Lordstown Motors factory that General Motors shuttered last year. Press conferences, especially ones highlighting Ohio businesses, had been commonplace for DeWine since taking office.

But none of them, until now, had taken place during a pandemic.

Really, this is the future, DeWine said of the truck and the facility, where he got a private tour. I think this truck has a great competitive advantage over its competitors.

In an odd way, it was a return to normalcy for the governor, whos spent the better part of the year dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and protests over police brutality. Before the pandemic, DeWine frequently traveled the state, meeting with businesses and interest groups on a variety of subjects, generally holding a media availability afterward.

That all stopped in March as the pandemic hit Ohio. DeWines public travel schedule was wiped clean to focus on the response. A slowed economy and civil unrest only compounded the issues. Health and safety guidelines such as social distancing and masks made the governors routine roundtable sessions and press gaggles impossible.

But outside the former site of the General Motors plant in Lordstown, DeWine engaged in what will likely be the new normal until a coronavirus vaccine is developed.

As he does in his regular briefings with the Columbus press corps, he walked to the lectern with his mask on. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Lordstown Motors CEO Steve Burns, who normally would have flanked the governor on either side, stood six feet away from each other. The 30 or so media members followed suit with facial coverings and social distancing.

He talked about jobs and pumped up Ohios standing as a place manufacturing can thrive. He joked with members of the media and updated the group of reporters on his negative coronavirus test, which he, Husted and first lady Fran DeWine took on live television Tuesday.

DeWine was chipper about the plants viability, which could prove a boon to the Mahoning Valley after decades of job loss if the companys all-electric truck pans out. The company will unveil the truck Thursday in an event featuring Vice President Mike Pence.

Theres a lot of room to grow, DeWine said. Im optimistic about the future of Lordstown Motors. The Valley should be very excited about this. Its going to start and continue to build. Its a great opportunity.

DeWine said ancillary jobs, such as parts suppliers, could come to the city if the factory proves successful.

As has become commonplace at his regular coronavirus briefings, DeWine also took time to stress health and safety guidelines for the coronavirus like masks, social distancing and avoiding crowded places. The state has seen a spike in cases the past week, a trend which DeWine said could be catastrophic for the economy if it continues.

One public-facing question is whether Pence will wear a mask during the unveiling Thursday. DeWine said he did not tell the vice president to wear one personally, though he has recommended it when asked by the media.

Burns said the decision of whether Pence wears a mask  which has become a politicized issue in President Donald Trumps administration  will be up to the vice president, though the company will be handing out masks to attendees.

I would never presume to require the vice president to do anything, Burns said.
At a Cabinet meeting in Tehran June 24, President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran is open to negotiations as soon as the White House and Congress return from the wrong path  offer an apology and compensate [for] the loss they inflicted upon Iran. Rouhani was referring to the US withdrawal from the multilateral 2015 Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which US President Donald Trump walked away in May 2018.

We have no problem [with negotiations]. [The Americans] are the ones who broke the table, Rouhani added, expressing readiness for talks even before the November US presidential elections if the Trump administration rejoins the JCPOA. The Iranian president appeared to be responding to the latest overture from his American counterpart, as he advised Iranians to sit down with him for a deal without pinning hopes on his possible defeat in the vote.

As opposed to Rouhanis stance, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who maintains the ultimate authority over sensitive foreign policy decisions, has publicly dismissed talks with the Trump administration as poison. And last week, the newly inaugurated Iranian parliament dominated by Rouhani rivals made it clear that a compromise with the United States is absolutely forbidden.

Nonetheless, the question of a Tehran-Washington dialogue is not the only challenge facing the fragile nuclear deal. Uncertainty is already hovering over the prospects of Irans cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). During his televised address, Rouhani warned that a firm response will be an easy task in reaction to the agencys resolution last week, which demanded that Tehran allow inspectors into two contentious nuclear facilities. The resolution  triggered by France, Germany and the United Kingdom, three out of the six remaining signatories to the JCPOA  has raised suspicions about possible undeclared nuclear material at the two locations.

Despite stressing that Iran remains open to any legal inspection by the nuclear watchdog, Rouhani suggested that access to those two sites will continue to be denied. The issue, according to the Iranian president, is a 20-year-old file that the IAEA is now exhuming under pressure from Israel and the United States, two tricksters that he feared may taint the watchdogs independence.

The ongoing deadlock over the JCPOA is also being further complicated by an unrelenting US push to extend an Iran arms embargo that under the accord will expire in a few months. The Rouhani government has been capitalizing significantly on embargo removal as one of the few concrete outcomes from the deal.

As Washington presses members of the UN Security Council on extending the ban, Tehran is hoping that during a series of council meetings starting June 24, its allies China and Russia will exercise their veto powers to salvage the JCPOA and impose failure on the US plan. To that end, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was in Moscow last week for assurances that the Islamic Republic will enjoy the Kremlins backing in the face of the White House.
[June 23, 2020] Johnson Controls Partners EDB to Set Up Lab to Drive AI-Based Innovations in Cognitive Built Environment Technologies

SINGAPORE, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls, a global leader in building technologies and solutions, with the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), will set up a S$50 million innovation lab to pioneer a new branch of digital technology that blends building, spatial and behavioral data with analytics and machine learning. Scheduled to open by the end of September, the lab is expected to have more than 100 employees within four years. The investment is part of Johnson Controls' commitment to spearhead the creation and adoption of disruptive solutions for the built environment industry as well as to accelerate digital transformation. Alvin Ng, vice president, Digital Solutions, Asia Pacific, Johnson Controls, said, "Urban living needs a reboot in the wake of a global pandemic. We see a renewed urgency to strengthen the resilience of our community and an opportunity to enhance sustainability. This innovation lab has a unique focus on the intersection of technology, people and space, creating new value for organizations and end users." The lab will take on a multi-pronged strategy that covers research, collaboration, commercialization and implementation. The resulting slew of customizable, autonomous or voice-activated solutions will meet the expectant growth for contactless applications, following societal adoption of safety and social-distancing measures as the post-pandemic norm. Property owners, facilities managers, business users and building occupants are among the target groups expected to benefit. The four-pronged approach includes: Forming partnerships with key local research organizations to leverage Johnson Controls' deep domain expertise in building technologies (such as heating ventilation, air-condition, lights, and security) to accelerate innovation in software engineering and product development. Key areas include edge devices, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Working with property developers and building owners to create "cognitive buildings" or thinking buildings that can understand, or even predict, occupants' preferred ambient settings and recognize space usage patterns. Such innovation will improve energy usage, increase the commercial attractiveness of the property, and enhance its environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics. This is done through collaboratively developing solutions that apply advanced algorithms to a mash of data sets collected from Johnson Controls' open platform of building solutions, consumer wearables, networked devices, location data and Johnson Controls Digital Twin [1] .

. Building an ecosystem comprising lifestyle, fitness and smart furniture datapoints. The data can be used for designing business and personal spaces. For example, a workplace with flexible furniture can be configured into "pods" for private videoconferencing or extended to become "conversation lounges" for small group collaboration. Building occupants can also benefit from timed artificial lighting that mimics the changing natural lights throughout the day.

Engaging with professional bodies to deliver the new applications that impact the sustainability and resilience of local properties, as well as setting the standards for delivery of professional services in this field. Tan Kong Hwee, executive vice president, EDB, said: "Johnson Controls' decision to set up its innovation lab in Singapore underscores Singapore's attractiveness as a location for companies to develop and commercialize new digital solutions for the global market. We welcome Johnson Controls' approach of partnering with the vibrant ecosystem in Singapore even as it plans to build a substantial development team in Singapore. We look forward to the impactful solutions that Johnson Controls will create, and the exciting job opportunities for Singaporeans in areas such as software engineering, data science and cybersecurity." "We are excited to partner with EDB and plug into the vibrant ecosystem in Singapore. As a pure-play intelligent buildings solutions provider, our depth of assets, resources, domain knowledge give us insights on the way forward for the built environment. This new innovation facility in Singapore will play a pre-eminent role in reshaping how we approach intelligent built environment technologies, and to attract like-minded talents who are eager to make a difference in Singapore and beyond," said Visal Leng, vice president and president, Building Solutions, Asia Pacific, Johnson Controls. About the Singapore Economic Development Board The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), a government agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is responsible for strategies that enhance Singapore's position as a global centre for business, innovation, and talent. We undertake investment promotion and industry development, and work with international businesses, both foreign and local, by providing information, connection to partners and access to government incentives for their investments. Our mission is to create sustainable economic growth, with vibrant business and good job opportunities for Singapore and Singaporeans. For more information on EDB, please visit www.edb.gov.sg. About Johnson Controls: At Johnson Controls, we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. From optimizing building performance to improving safety and enhancing comfort, we drive the outcomes that matter most. We deliver our promise in industries such as healthcare, education, data centers, and manufacturing. With a global team of 105,000 experts in more than 150 countries and over 130 years of innovation, we are the power behind our customers' mission. Our leading portfolio of building technology and solutions includes some of the most trusted names in the industry, such as Tyco, YORK, Metasys, Ruskin, Titus, Frick, PENN, Sabroe, Simplex, Ansul and Grinnell. For more information, visit www.johnsoncontrols.sg or follow us on Johnson Controls APAC LinkedIn page.







[1] A connected, virtual replica of a physical product, asset or system.

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200623/2838740-1

Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150623/8521504142LOGO SOURCE Johnson Controls

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A special CBI court on Wednesday rejected the interim plea of Sanjeev Khanna, one of the alleged killers of Sheena Bora.

Khanna, former husband of Sheenas mother Indrani Mukerjea had approached the special court for interim bail on May 14 citing the spread of Covid 19 in the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai where he is lodged. In his application, he pleaded that an accused booked for murder does not fall under the category of prisoners who cannot be released from jail as recommended by the high power committee of the Bombay High Court.

The CBI in its objection on Friday said that though the minutes of high power committee did not include murder charges, in the list of charges for which the bail cannot be granted, the court has to decide the plea on the merits.

The agency claimed that the prosecution has submitted enough evidence against Khanna to prove his role in the alleged murder of Sheena and subsequent act of destruction of her body and other evidence.

After considering arguments from both sides, the court refused to grant any relief to Khanna. The detailed order would be made available to lawyers later.

Meanwhile, Indran Mukerjea, approached the special CBI court for bail for the sixth time. While her previous bail plea is still pending for arguments by CBI, the fresh plea has been filed on the ground of the spread of Covid 19 in Mumbais Byculla jail. She has claimed that she is vulnerable to infection from the virus. The special court has asked the CBI to respond to the plea by Friday and scheduled arguments on the plea by July 1.

Sheena Bora disappeared on April 24, 2012. On May 23 that year, police found a decomposed body in Pen, Raigad district which turned out to be Sheenas.

Indrani Mukherjea was arrested by the Mumbai Police on August 25, 2015 after a three-year probe. Indranis ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna was arrested in Kolkata the next day.

On September 18, 2015, the Maharashtra government transferred the case to the CBI.
WILTON  Ballston Spa National Bank, in conjunction with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and Adirondack Community College, will hold a contactless drive-through food pantry for those in need of food at the college's Wilton campus, 696 Saratoga Road, Gansevoort, beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, June 29, and continuing until the food, donated by the Regional Food Bank, runs out.

Volunteer bank employees will follow CDC guidelines as they distribute the food. The bank also seeks donations for the food bank. Those designated as "BSNB Matching Campaign," and made by June 27 will be matched by the bank up to a total of $5,000.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24) The dismissal of the quo warranto petition lodged by Solicitor General Jose Calida against ABS-CBN will have a significant impact on the ongoing House hearings on the media giants franchise, a lawmaker said Wednesday.

Rep. Lawrence Fortun said Congress will have to respect the opinions of agencies including the Justice Department, given that some of the issues being tackled in the lower chambers proceedings were already raised in Calidas plea.

With the dismissal, there will be no more Supreme Court ruling to counter the statements, he explained.

So when the DOJ said that former ABS-CBN President was 100 percent Filipino, and the time he became president and owned shares of the corporation, Congress will have to respect that. When the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) said that the PDRs (Philippine Depositary Receipts) issued by ABS-CBN to foreigners were not illegal, then Congress will have to respect that, Fortun told CNN Philippines The Source.

What Im saying is that since there is no ruling by the Supreme Court and theres no more pending case that are looking at these issues, Congress will have to respect the legal and expert opinions of the agencies that are concerned, he added.

The high court on Tuesday junked Calidas quo warranto charge against ABS-CBN, noting the franchise in question already expired in May, thus making the move moot.

The governments top lawyer, in seeking to revoke ABS-CBNs then-valid license, cited highly abusive practices by the network, including supposed foreign ownership and operational issues.

The media company has since refuted the allegations.

ABS-CBNs broadcast operations halted following the expiry of its franchise, in compliance with the National Telecommunications Commissions shutdown order. Despite the sign-off, its digital platforms including its online news websites, video streaming services, and social media platforms continue to operate.

Hearings on the media giants franchise are set to resume on June 29.
The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Plc.s experimental vaccine is the first to enter the final stages of clinical trials to assess how well it works in protecting people from becoming infected by the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which has infected 9.4 million and killed 480,000 globally since late December.

The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, which has been licenced to AstraZeneca, will be given to 10,260 adults and children in the next stage in the UK. The vaccine is also being trialled in South Africa and Brazil, with Serum Institute of India (SII) investing $100 million to mass-produce one billion doses for India and other low-and-middle-income countries.

The vaccine is made from the ChAdOx1 virus, which is a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infections in chimpanzees; it has been genetically changed so it cant cause infection in humans.

Watch | Oxford vaccine in final stage of clinical trials, academic calendar set to be reworked

Also Read: In 100 days of Covid, many lessons for Lok Nayak hospital

The clinical studies are progressing very well and we are now initiating studies to evaluate how well the vaccine induces immune responses in older adults, and to test whether it can provide protection in the wider population, said Professor Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, in a statement on Wednesday.

If the trial is successful, the Oxford Vaccine Group expects to launch the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of this year, which will make it the fastest vaccine to progress from lab to getting regulatory approval for use.

The Oxford Vaccine Group is not the only group to move to a vaccine at warp speed. The pace of vaccine development is accelerating with each passing week with companies from around the word racing to be the first to develop an effective vaccine to stop or at least slow the spread of Covid-19.

There were 13 experimental vaccines in clinical trials and another 129 in the preclinical evaluation stage on June 22, according to the World Health Organisations draft landscape of Covid-19 vaccines. On June 12, there were 10 in advanced clinical trials and 115 in preclinical evaluation stages.

Vaccine development, on average, takes 10.71 years from the preclinical phase, and has a success rate of 6%, according to a study in the science journal, PLOS One. Some remain elusive for decades despite massive investments, like for vaccines against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Also Read: Covid-19: What you need to know today

Vaccines from US-based Moderna Inc. and Chinas Sinovac Biotech a will enter the final stage of trials next month, and Beijing-based China National Biotec Group Co. is the latest to receive regulatory approval to conduct phase 3 trials of its Covid-19 vaccines in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

Four vaccine candidates Indian companies are partnering to develop are in the preclinical trial stages to test their pharmacological effect and toxicity, with five companies in the fray. Delhi-based Panacea Biotec is partnering with Refana Inc. in the US to develop an inactivated whole virus vaccine, Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech is working on three vaccine candidates using two different platforms in the works, including one that uses an existing nasal flu vaccine, and SII has three partnerships with Oxford-AstraZeneca, US-biotech firm Codagenix, and Austrias Themis Bioscience. Zydus Cadila in Ahmedabad and India Immunologicals in Hyderabad have also formed partnerships to develop Covid-19 vaccines.

While a fast-tracked vaccine development process could have a vaccine for emergency use ready by early 2021, safety must not be compromised in the rush to reach the finish line, experts cautioned.

The dengue vaccine (Dengvaxia) controversy in the Philippines should be a grim reminder of the dangers of rushing ahead without safety checks in place. Philippines suspended its school-based dengue vaccination programme using Sanofi Pasteurs Dengvaxia vaccine following reports of vaccination-related deaths. The company then cautioned that the vaccine carried higher risk for people without prior dengue infection, said Dr N K Ganguly, former director general, Indian Council of Medical Research.

Vaccination of healthy people carries a risk of subsequent Sars-CoV2 infection becoming more severe, as has happened before with vaccines including a coronavirus-unrelated respiratory virus in children, according to a paper published in Science on May 29.

Vaccine development includes at least three human trials to test their safety, dosage and the strength and duration of the protection they offer, followed by production, licensing, deployment and plans for post-marketing surveillance. Many of these trials have been collapsed and merged in the case of Covid-19 to have a vaccine ready for use by early 2021.

With promising preliminary preclinical and phase 1 data available, meticulously planned trials are needed to separate the contenders from pretenders. Post-marketing data on adverse reactions is vital to measure the benefits in a large population, 60% of whom may develop some amount of herd or community immunity over the next two years that would help reduce transmission, said Dr Ganguly.

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- A beautiful woman, who was only identified as @_Newturn1_, celebrated a great milestone in her life

- She recently graduated with a degree in engineering and posted snaps and a video online

- @_Newturn1_ thanked God for helping her succeed and she inspired many

Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

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Women have been filling more and more roles in industries that have till now been dominated by men.

On Tuesday, a woman, who was only identified by her Twitter handle @_Newturn1_, took to the social media platform to gush about her academic success.

The beautiful lady is originally from Namibia but she has been living and studying in China.

She posted a video of herself dancing in a graduation gown and added that she is a woman in engineering.

Her video was captioned:

"Glory be to God #WomenInEngineering."

Take a look at the video below:

READ ALSO: Ghanaian players appeal to government to evacuate them from Ethiopia (video)

Her post inspired many social media users who congratulated @_Newturn1_ on the achievement.

Twitter user, @Makoto_1960, commented:

"Congratulations, beauty with brains."

Another tweep, @Kankoshi_J, wrote:

"Congratulations Bertha, industry awaits. Come join us."

Social media user, @MiaNdeshi, said:

"Nicely done. Dimples wow."

Twitter user, @VatileniMorris, added:

"Congrats come back home so we get married yeah!"

In another story, YEN.com.gh reported that Ghanaian-American, Joy Buolamwini, is a computer scientist who is known for her work which highlights the social implications of Artificial Intelligence.

The young female tech genius just landed a deal with Random House for her book, Justice Decoded. According to a Face2Face Africa report, her book will research into the harms and biases of AI and other technologies.

Her book will also investigate the racial bias in facial surveillance to gender bias in voice recognition and more.

Ghanaian female accounting graduate and mushroom farmer recounts her experience | #Yencomgh

Have national and human interest issues to discuss?

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
MENLO PARK, Calif., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kespry, the leading drone-based Aerial Intelligence solution provider, today announced its Summer 2020 Aerial Intelligence platform updates. The enterprise-focused enhancements for mining, aggregates, construction, and insurance industries include new capabilities, tools, integrations, and third-party operator options that make the platform more powerful, flexible and easier to use and deploy than ever.

Kespry's Summer 2020 Aerial Intelligence platform release includes:

New Haul Roads Feature

Haul roads are complex elements mining and aggregates site managers need to carefully design and calibrate. A well-designed haul road means a more efficient worksite. It also means workers are kept safe. Kespry's new Haul Roads feature makes designing haul roads faster and more accurate, while ensuring worker benefits are foremost in mind. Kespry has increased the depth of automation it provides by automatically capturing measurements for all roads required. Kespry also monitors the road against compliance thresholds and alerts the user when an area needs attention. The Haul Roads feature means there's no more measuring road widths, grades, and berm heights. Kespry automates it all.

DJI Phantom 4 RTK Support

The Kespry platform now supports the DJI Phantom 4 RTK, the popular, compact and accurate mapping drone. Kespry offers the drone as part of its standard fleet, in an integrated package that includes our Aerial Intelligence platform and acclaimed customer support and service. Both base station and network solutions are supported. The end-to-end solution is designed to get customers up and flying, and harnessing insights as quickly as possible. Kespry also supports the DJI Phantom 4 RTK as part of its "Bring Your Own Drone" program, enabling companies with their own DJI Phantom 4 RTK fleets to integrate them into the Kespry platform.

Enhanced Hail Detection

Kespry's hail detection capabilities now deliver greater accuracy than ever, alleviating the drone analytics industry's false positive issue inherent in many systems. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning, Kespry's enhanced hail detection algorithms provide hail strike profiles insurance adjustors and companies can depend on to make rapid, precision claims determinations.

Seamless Third-Party Drone Operator Support

Kespry now gives companies flexibility in how they source their aerial data, whether they use a Kespry managed fleet, third-party pilot service providers, or their own existing drone hardware. By working with providers such as Dronebase, Kespry customers can access global pilot networks to fly their missions, and have results in 48-72 hours. The fully-integrated pilot services solution brings the best of the platform and services worlds together, offering a cost-effective, time-saving, productive way of using drone-based analytics across the largest enterprises.

Comprehensive Customer Training

Kespry customers benefit from webinars and one-on-one consultation on all new features, product options and enhancements. Kespry's new seasonal platform update includes a complete educational program that ensures customers have everything they need to rapidly get value out of it.

"Kespry is committed to continually innovating and delivering Aerial Intelligence enhancements that meet our customers' exacting needs," said George Mathew, CEO and Chairman, Kespry. "When customers work with Kespry, they're not just benefiting from the industry's leading platform, they also play a key role in telling us how they'd like it to iterate as they continue expanding their usage. Our Summer 2020 release specifically addresses their high expectations of us. We're incredibly pleased to collaborate with them and help make their operations more productive and profitable than ever."

To learn more about Kespry, visit Kespry.com.

About Kespry

Kespry's Aerial Intelligence platform is transforming how organizations capture, analyze and share insights about their business, providing the information they need to accelerate their operations. Purpose-built for industrial use yet simple enough for any user, a wide variety of industries rely on Kespry to solve business-critical problems. Delivering a fully integrated solution from drone data capture to industry-specific analytics, Kespry serves customers across North America, Europe and Australia, including Colas, Grinnell Mutual, Lehigh Hanson/Heidelberg, Oldcastle, Titan America, XAP 360, and Zellstoff Celgar.

Media Contact:

Amanda King

[email protected]

+1.720.577.5403

SOURCE Kespry

Related Links

http://kespry.com






By Lee Kyung-min







The Korea Customs Service (KCS) said Wednesday that it is continuing cooperation with developing countries to help them improve their customs service despite the COVID-19 pandemic.







The KCS said high-level meetings and remote operation of online platforms were ongoing with countries in Africa, North America and Southeast Europe including Cameroon, Gabon, Jamaica and Tunisia.







The latest success was launching the Cameroon Customs Information System (CAMCIS), an electronic clearance system modeled after UNI-PASS, a KCS-developed one designed to enhance swift customs clearance and logistics service convenience.







"Cameroon's Finance Minister Moataze Louis Paul expressed gratitude for the modernization of the country's customs management. We are happy to help other countries seeking to advance their customs service," a KCS official said.







The e-clearance system highly regarded by the KCS's global peers increases work efficiency by minimizing manual errors and improving input accuracy by auto-generating trade records. It also simplifies work processes via automatic acceptance of declarations which reduces document review time.







The KCS first helped overseas countries set up e-clearance systems similar to UNI-PASS in 2005 and has since earned $410 million (492 billion won) in contracts.


A man is behind bars after deputies say he shot and killed a man in Southwest Albuquerque early Tuesday morning.

Nick Danielson, 41, is charged with an open count of murder in the death of 66-year-old David Boros.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court:

Deputies responded around midnight to a shooting in the 3100 block of Lisa SW, near Coors and Gun Club. They found Boros shot in the chest outside a mobile home and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Boros roommate told deputies someone knocked on their front door and he went with Boros to answer it. He said a man at the door exchanged words with Boros before Boros told him to get off their property.

The roommate said the man threatened to shoot and Boros replied well then do it before the man grabbed a gun from a vehicle and shot Boros. A woman at Boros home told deputies she heard Boros tell someone leave her alone and get off my property before she heard a gunshot.

The woman said she ran outside to see Danielson, a man who has been stalking her and refuses to leave her alone, and he told her Denise I didnt do it before driving off in a red vehicle.

Danielson was arrested hours later at his home and told deputies he went to the house to speak to the woman. He said he shot Boros because he thought she was being kidnapped and screaming for help.

Danielson told deputies he wasnt thinking straight and just went home, taking the gun apart and throwing pieces out the window on his way. Deputies were not able to find the handgun parts but Danielson told them he had a dozen more guns in his car and several in his home.
This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here.

Robert M. Laughlin, an anthropologist and linguist whose extensive work in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico documented and helped revitalize Mayan languages and culture, died on May 28 in Alexandria, Va. He was 85.

His son, Reese, said the cause was the new coronavirus.

Dr. Laughlin spent much of his professional life doing field work in Chiapas, beginning in the late 1950s. He learned the Tzotzil (also spelled Tsotsil) language as a graduate student with the Harvard Chiapas Project, a long-term ethnographic field study that had just been started by Professor Evon Vogt and was focusing on the town of Zinacantan. After years of painstaking work, in 1975 Dr. Laughlin published The Great Tzotzil Dictionary of San Lorenzo Zinacantan, with 30,000 entries.

Indigenous languages in the region  there are many  had been under siege since the Spanish conquest, and Dr. Laughlins dictionary helped spur a revival of interest in them. The dictionary, published by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, where Dr. Laughlin was curator of Mesoamerican ethnology, was not simply a compilation of which Tzotzil word equals which English word. It was a deep dive into word origins, how the language had mutated and more.
The Irishman being taken away in cuffs

Footage showing the officers smashing down the doors of the luxury mansion

Footage released by police showed officers smashing down the doors of the luxury mansion before taking the Irishman away in handcuffs and seizing a gun

This is the dramatic moment a Dublin man was arrested after heavily armed Spanish police smashed down the door of a luxury mansion using a battering ram.

Police carried out the spectacular raids to arrest two British men and an Irishman on suspicion of shooting a "partner-in-crime" following a Costa del Sol drugs dispute.

Footage released by police showed officers smashing down the doors before pinning a bare-chested suspect thought to be the Irishman to the ground and taking him away in handcuffs after seizing the gun used.

The 29-year-old is originally from Dublin but has been living in Spain for several years.

Mugged

He is understood to come from a respectable background and had never come to the attention of gardai while living here.

The other suspects were held at separate addresses where they were also filmed being marched away by elite police.

Officers say the Irishman pretended to help the British gunshot victim by taking him to hospital and assist officers by leading them to the crime scene nowhere near the spot where the gang claimed the injured man had been mugged by Moroccans for his watch.

The shooting on May 25 is said to have left the victim disabled after he was kneecapped in an alleged warning by members of his own gang. The 27-year-old victim is understood to have flown back to the UK.

He did not co-operate with investigators and also told them he was the victim of a mugging.

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 the police raids.

The incident was investigated by an elite police unit set up to combat organised crime.

The unnamed Irishman took the victim to A&E at Marbella's Costa del Sol Hospital in the early hours in a high-end car believed to be a Mercedes.

Gardai say they have been notified of the shooting incident and arrests by Spanish police but are not carrying out any parallel inquiries here.

It is alleged that Dubliner began associating with members of a low-level crime gang while living in the Marbella area.

The gang, whose members are mainly British, is suspected of being involved in local drug- trafficking and the shooting resulted from an internal dispute.

"National Police officers have arrested three people suspected of injuring a fourth man with several shots to his legs," a Spanish National Police spokesman said yesterday.

"One of the detainees pretended to have found him injured in the street and even took him to hospital.

"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 gang."

Officers are understood to have tracked the vehicles used by the suspects, including the Mercedes.

Blood

The police spokesman said the shooting happened around 6km from where the victim claimed to have been hurt.

"The Irishman 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," he said.

"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.
Scientists working at the Department for Functional Nanomaterials at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences designed and synthesized a functional ternary Pt/Re/SnO2/C catalyst as an anode material in a direct ethanol fuel cell. It was possible by synthesizing platinum, rhenium and tin oxide nanoparticles of a spherical shape and ensuring physical contact between them. This finding will lead to the production of more efficient, greener and cheaper fuel cell catalysts.

One of the biggest challenges modern science faces today is the development of new, efficient and environmentally friendly technologies for converting chemical energy into electricity. Ethanol fuel cells are becoming such an alternative source of energy. Ethanol seems to be the ideal fuel of the future, because, compared to methanol or hydrogen, it has significantly lower toxicity, poses no problems or threats in storage and transport, and can also be obtained from biomass. However, the catalysts used in direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) are not sufficiently effective and mainly produce by-products instead of the expected ethanol final product, such as carbon dioxide. These substances strongly adsorb on the surface of platinum, which is the most commonly used catalyst. As a result, they block the catalytically active sites preventing a further reaction, thus causing so-called catalyst poisoning and lowering the overall efficiency of the device. Therefore, the key challenge is to develop the appropriate type of catalysts.

Platinum and platinum-based catalysts are widely used in DEFCs. Ethanol adsorption occurs on the platinum surface, which triggers its oxidation reaction (Ethanol Oxidation Reaction - EOR). Poisoning problems can be solved by adding other components to platinum, such as metallic rhodium and tin oxides, which improve the efficiency of the EOR because they play a unique and individual role in the ethanol oxidation pathway. The function of rhodium is to split the carbon-carbon bond in the ethanol molecule, while tin dioxide provides hydroxyl groups for oxidizing intermediates and helps unblock the inactive surface of platinum. In addition to rhodium and tin, elements such as Ru, Ir, Cu, Fe, Co, Ni and many others are also used. A ternary nanocatalyst containing platinum and rhodium nanoalloys deposited on tin oxide, which is currently considered one of the most efficient and selective configurations in the ethanol oxidation reaction, has also been extensively studied. It is also suggested that physical contact between nanoparticles plays a crucial role.

Scientists from the Department for Functional Nanomaterials at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, led by Prof. Eng. Magdalena Parlinska-Wojtan, undertook the task of designing and synthesizing a new material, which could play the role of an anode catalyst. For this purpose, they decided to analyze the effect of rhenium, used as one of the three catalyst components, on improving the efficiency of the EOR. Moreover, the researchers assumed that by using intermolecular interactions and electrokinetic potential measurements, it would be possible to assemble the separately synthesized Pt, Re and SnO2 nanoparticles into double and triple combinations to ensure their physical contact. This assembling is possible due to the opposite values of the electrokinetic potential of each type of nanoparticles. While performing stability studies, the researchers also focused on the durability of the catalyst because the degradation of nanocatalyst components is a serious factor limiting the stability and commercialization of catalysts.

"In the first stage of our work, we optimized the processes for obtaining individual nanoparticles: platinum, rhenium and tin oxide, which were intended to be the components of an anode catalyst," says Dr. Eng. Elzbieta Drzymala from IFJ PAN, the leading author of the scientific publication, describing the details of the conducted studies. "Then, using intermolecular interactions, we put individually synthesized nanoparticles together to ensure physical contact between them. In this way, we obtained binary and ternary nanoparticle combinations, which were then deposited on carbon substrates with even distribution to provide ethanol molecules with the best access to active surfaces. The next step was to study the electrochemical properties of selected binary and ternary combinations given their potential use as anode material in ethanol fuel cells. Finally, we compared the results of our work with a commercial platinum catalyst."

The obtained results turned out to be very important and encouraged further research on this type of materials. The catalyst developed by the IFJ PAN group made of Pt, Re and SnO2 nanoparticles can be successfully used as an anode catalyst in DEFCs. Analyzes carried out with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in combination with EDS spectroscopy confirmed the physical contact between the nanoparticles forming the ternary Pt/Re/SnO2/C catalyst (see figure). It has been experimentally proven by voltammetric techniques that this ternary catalyst exhibits more than ten times higher activity in the ethanol oxidation reaction compared to a commercial platinum catalyst. Besides, it has been shown that the Pt/Re/SnO2/C catalyst features the best stability - after testing, it preserved nearly 96 % of the electrochemically active surface (compared to 12 % for the commercial catalyst). It is also important that the ternary catalyst shows the lowest value of onset potential - the value of the initial oxidation potential is almost 0.3 V lower compared to a commercial platinum catalyst. Thus, the use of rhenium as the third component and connecting nanoparticles in such a way that they remain in physical contact generated the desired effect of improving the efficiency of the EOR.

"Our further research will continue to focus on fuel cell catalysts," explains Dr. Eng. Drzymala. "However, going a step further, we would like to solve the economic issues and develop a catalytic system with better or at least comparable properties but without the addition of platinum. I believe that the use of platinum-free nanoparticles decorated with small 2-nanometer SnO2 nanoparticles as components of such a catalyst will bring us closer to creating a fully functional material for the fuel cell anode. I hope that the catalyst without platinum will be synthesized soon at the Department for Functional Nanomaterials at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences."

###

The Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics (IFJ PAN) is currently the largest research institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The broad range of studies and activities of IFJ PAN includes basic and applied research, ranging from particle physics and astrophysics, through hadron physics, high-, medium-, and low-energy nuclear physics, condensed matter physics (including materials engineering), to various applications of methods of nuclear physics in interdisciplinary research, covering medical physics, dosimetry, radiation and environmental biology, environmental protection, and other related disciplines. The average yearly yield of the IFJ PAN encompasses more than 600 scientific papers in the Journal Citation Reports published by the Clarivate Analytics. The part of the Institute is the Cyclotron Centre Bronowice (CCB) which is an infrastructure, unique in Central Europe, to serve as a clinical and research centre in the area of medical and nuclear physics. IFJ PAN is a member of the Marian Smoluchowski Krakow Research Consortium: "Matter-Energy-Future" which possesses the status of a Leading National Research Centre (KNOW) in physics for the years 2012-2017. In 2017 the European Commission granted to the Institute the HR Excellence in Research award. The Institute is of A+ Category (leading level in Poland) in the field of sciences and engineering.

CONTACTS:

Dr. Eng. Elzbieta Drzymala

Institute of Nuclear Physics of Polish Academy of Sciences

tel. +48 12 662 8390

e-mail: elzbieta.drzymala@ifj.edu.pl

SCIENTIFIC PAPERS:

1.

Elzbieta Drzymala, Grzegorz Gruzel, Joanna Depciuch, Miroslawa Pawlyta, Mikolaj Donten and Magdalena Parlinska-Wojtan "Ternary Pt/Re/SnO2/C catalyst for EOR: Electrocatalytic activity and durability enhancement"

Nano Research 2020, 13(3): 832-842

DOI: 10.1007/s12274-020-2704-1

LINKS:

http://www.ifj.edu.pl/

The website of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences

http://press.ifj.edu.pl/

Press releases of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences

IMAGES:

IFJ20200624_foto1s.jpg HR: http://press.ifj.edu.pl/news/2020/06/24/IFJ20200624_foto1s.jpg

Ternary Pt/Re/SnO2/C catalyst: a) EDS map confirming the presence of Pt (red), SnO2 (blue) and Re (yellow); and b) high-resolution HAADF STEM high-resolution image confirming physical contact between Pt, Re and SnO2 nanoparticles, obtained by using a transmission electron microscope. The upper right corner shows a scheme of SnO2 nanoparticles decorated with metallic Pt and Re nanoparticles. Black dashed arrows indicate places of physical contact between individual nanoparticles. (Source: IFJ PAN)
"Working age" military retirees -- those under age 65 -- who use Tricare Select for their health care will start paying enrollment fees beginning next year, Defense Department officials announced Tuesday.

For the first time since the creation of Tricare Standard, now known as Tricare Select, retired beneficiaries who joined the military before 2018 will pay a monthly fee for their health care: $12.50 for an individual or $25 for a family.

Read Next: Pentagon Quietly Moves to Make CBD Use a Criminal Offense for Troops

The enrollment fees do not apply to active-duty family members on Tricare Select or Medicare- eligible retirees on Tricare For Life.

Defense health officials said these retirees can expect to hear from their regional contractors -- either Health Net Federal Services for Tricare West or Humana Military for Tricare East -- in the coming months instructing them on how to set up payments, either by allotment from their retired pay, electronic funds transfer, debit or credit card.

Dr. Danita Hunter, director of Tricare at the Defense Health Agency, said the DHA decided to issue a news release now to give beneficiaries time to prepare and factor the fees into their decisions on health care.

"We're communicating this well before the change is implemented so beneficiaries can be informed about the change, as well as their Tricare plan and cost options," Hunter said in the release.

In the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress approved a request from the DoD to implement enrollment fees for what was then known as Tricare Standard.

At the time, the DoD argued that the change would entice more retirees to use Tricare Prime at military hospitals and clinics, where they would pay an annual enrollment fee but not make any copayments.

The switch would curb the government's cost of providing health care to these beneficiaries, since private care was determined to be more expensive to provide than military health care.

But in the past three years, the DoD has done an about-face on providing health services to the 3.2 million retirees and their family members under the age of 65 who are eligible for Tricare, forcing many from military hospitals as soon as they retire and embarking on a restructuring geared to reserving military treatment facilities to treat active-duty personnel only.

By law, the DoD was required to wait to implement the Tricare Select enrollment fees until at least 90 days after the Government Accountability Office provided a report to Congress reviewing Tricare patients' access to medical care, the percent of network providers that accept new patients, the satisfaction of beneficiaries in Tricare Select and any changes to the Tricare system since 2017.

In response, the GAO issued several reports this year indicating that, overall, patients saw very little change to their health care or access to care when Tricare Standard became Tricare Select.

Patient satisfaction also remained relatively unchanged during the first year of care, although some did report issues finding providers, according to the GAO.

In another report released in late May, GAO analysts warned that DoD's assessment of whether there are enough network providers to accept an influx of new patients once seen at military treatment facilities is built on "incomplete and inaccurate information."

Without a robust network able to accept patients from military facilities that are being realigned to serve active-duty troops, some may experience problems finding care, the GAO said.

With the announcement of the new enrollment fees, all military retirees under age 65 will be paying a baseline for participating in Tricare.

Retirees using Tricare Prime, a health-maintenance style program offered at military treatment facilities and through specialty programs and networks near military bases, pay $300 a year for an individual and $600 a year for a family. Copayments per visit to a network provider run from $20 for primary care and $31 for specialty care or urgent care. These retirees make no copays if they are seen at a military treatment facility.

Retirees using Tricare Select currently pay no enrollment fees. But with the new change, they will pay $150 per year for an individual and $300 per year for a family. They also are obligated to meet deductibles of $150 for an individual and $300 for a family. And they must pay a $30 copay for a primary care visit or urgent care at a network physician, or 25% of the cost for non-network care, as well as $45 or 25% at a network or non-network specialty care provider, respectively.

If retirees on Tricare Select do not pay the enrollment fees, they could lose their health care for nearly a year, since they would have to wait for Tricare open season to re-enroll.

That potential loss has some military advocacy organizations worried.

The stakes are high, Karen Ruedisueli, director for Health Affairs at the Military Officers Association of America, said.

"We are very concerned about the new Tricare Select enrollment fee for Group A retirees [retirees who joined the military before Jan. 1, 2018]. For the past couple of years, the open enrollment message has been 'if you are happy with your plan, you don't have to take action.' I think that has created an uphill battle for effectively communicating about this enrollment fee," Ruedisueli said.

Eileen Huck, deputy director of health care at the National Military Family Association, called it "unfortunate" that the enrollment fee is being imposed on retirees.

However, she added, "We're glad the Defense Health Agency is being proactive and putting out the information. That will make it easier for families to plan and budget for this change."

Tricare Open Season, the period during which Tricare beneficiaries can switch health plans, is scheduled for Nov. 9 through Dec. 14 this year.

The DoD has established a Tricare Select Enrollment Fee information page, and beneficiaries can sign up for email alerts through the website.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Troops, Families Say They Are Worried About Planned Changes to the Military Health System
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

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, 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) analyzed 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 analyzed 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.

Explore further Frozen embryos result in just as many live births in IVF

More information: Jianghui Li et al, The effect of storage time after vitrification on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes among 24 698 patients following the first embryo transfer cycles, Human Reproduction (2020). Journal information: Human Reproduction Jianghui Li et al, The effect of storage time after vitrification on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes among 24 698 patients following the first embryo transfer cycles,(2020). DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa136
In India, the nationalist chorus is boycott China, while in America, it is boycott Indians via the temporary suspension of H-1B visas. Donald Trump as the President of the US has the sovereign right to do so. People voted for him to create jobs.

As the election is knocking at the door, this is nothing but just a poll rhetoric, a temporary but recurring theme. The Trump administration believes the move will open up employment opportunities for Americans in an economy that has reported record job losses. Trump has made it clear that he sees restricting immigration as a key poll plank; ...
The popular Emirates A380 aircraft will begin serving travellers on flights to London Heathrow and Paris starting from July 15.

This marks the return of Emirates' flagship aircraft on scheduled services since the pandemic forced the temporary grounding of the airline's passenger fleet in March.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates' Chief Operating Officer, said: "The A380 remains a popular aircraft amongst our customers and it offers many unique on-board features. We are delighted to bring it back into the skies to serve our customers on flights to London and Paris from July 15, and we are gradually looking forward to gradually introduce our A380 into more destinations according to the travel demand on specific destinations. The Emirates A380 experience remains unique in the industry, and even though we've modified services onboard for the health and safety of our crew and customers, we are confident that our customers would welcome flying again in this quiet, comfortable aircraft."

In addition, Emirates has announced that it will commence flights for travellers to Dhaka (from June 24), and Munich (from July 15), adding to its growing network.

This follows the announcement earlier in the week, that Dubai will re-open to business and leisure visitors from July 7, with new air travel protocols that facilitate travel for UAE citizens, residents and tourists while safeguarding the health and safety of travellers and communities.

Emirates currently offers flights to over 40 cities, with safe and convenient connections to, from, and through its Dubai hub for customers travelling between the Asia Pacific, the Gulf, Europe and the Americas.

Flights to Dhaka and Munich will be operated with an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and can be booked on emirates.com or via travel agents. - TradeArabia News Service
Worried about a simultaneous assault of the novel coronavirus and seasonal influenza this winter, public health officials and vaccine manufacturers are making millions of extra flu vaccine doses to protect those most vulnerable to the pandemic and influenza, according to government and company officials.

Even though flu season doesn't begin until the fall, major flu vaccine manufacturers say they plan to boost production by about 10 percent, to about 189 million doses, up from 170 million doses last year, to ensure enough doses exist for an anticipated surge in people seeking flu shots.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has taken the rare step of buying 7 million doses directly from manufacturers to be distributed to states for adult vaccination, CDC Director Robert Redfield said in an interview. "This is a big move," he said.

That's about 14 times the 500,000 doses the agency typically purchases for adults. The adult doses are included in the industry's total planned production.

Getting a flu shot does not protect against the coronavirus, but disease experts said reducing episodes of flu could prove pivotal in freeing up space in hospitals and medical offices to deal with covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

In contrast to rhetoric from President Donald Trump and other White House officials downplaying the pandemic threat this fall, the flu preparations underscore the alarm among public health officials, clinicians, advocacy groups and industry executives about the additional threat from the coronavirus. The unprecedented convergence of two highly contagious respiratory viruses could happen in the winter, with each pathogen causing life-threatening illness and death.

Health officials are especially concerned about people at higher risk for both the coronavirus and influenza, including residents and employees at long-term care facilities, African Americans, Hispanics, and people with underlying medical conditions.

Typically, fewer than half of Americans get a flu shot each season. Vaccination rates for blacks and Hispanics have traditionally been lower. Slightly more than a third of black and Hispanic adults get vaccinated, according to CDC data. The CDC recommends the vaccine for everyone over age 6 months.

It's unclear whether the possible double whammy of the coronavirus and influenza will push more Americans to get a flu vaccine.

Almost nothing is known about the interaction between the coronavirus and influenza, experts say. It is possible for someone to be infected with the coronavirus and influenza at the same time, but experts have very little data. There is no coronavirus vaccine and only limited treatment for covid-19.

But even a moderately effective flu vaccine reduces the severity of flu-related illness and keeps people out of the hospital, officials have said.

"We want to take flu off the table, in every way possible, make flu a non-factor," said LJ Tan, chief strategy officer of the Immunization Action Coalition. At the advocacy group's annual flu summit in May, manufacturers who supply vaccine disclosed their plan to boost production by 10 percent for the upcoming flu season.

At a House hearing this week, lawmakers asked top health officials what the government needed to do to prepare for the coronavirus in the fall. Among the items Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir identified was "enough flu vaccine to get everybody vaccinated this winter."

He added, "That's one less virus that could kill 20, 30, 50,000, 70,000 [people] and potentially even be a co-infection with covid."

The CDC's purchase of additional doses for adults is "certainly unprecedented in recent memory," Nancy Messonnier, director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in an interview.

CDC spent $100 million to buy the adult doses, officials said.

An initial CDC request to spend $700 million to buy 50 million doses for adults was turned down by administration officials, according to federal health officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss policy deliberations.

Some immunization advocates are pushing the government to tap pandemic-related emergency funds to buy additional adult doses.

A small fraction of that money could be used to "ramp up dosage levels to anticipate what we think demand will be this fall," said former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, who heads the recently formed Coalition to Stop Flu. The group includes immunization advocates, state and local health organizations, the American Heart Association, and vaccine manufacturers.

If the U.S. government secures additional funding by mid-July, flu manufacturers in the coalition said they would be able to fulfill additional orders for later in the flu season, Daschle said.

Influenza viruses change year to year, so vaccines must be updated annually. But tight production deadlines mean that manufacturers need to know within weeks how many total doses they need to produce.

Officials at Sanofi Pasteur and Seqirus, which have committed to producing 75 million and 55 million doses, respectively, said they have received an increase in preorders from customers, including retailers and health-care systems.

"This is a flu season like we've never seen before," said David Ross, vice president of commercial operations for North America at Seqirus. The company has already adjusted manufacturing capacity to address the increase in demand, he said.

"We'll continue to explore opportunities to manufacture more vaccine if demand requires it," Ross said.

Flu vaccine effectiveness varies by season. Officials pick the flu strains that the vaccine will target months ahead of the flu season, meaning the vaccine isn't always a good match for the strains that wind up circulating. When the vaccine is similar to circulating flu viruses, vaccinations have been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor by 40 percent to 60 percent. The overall effectiveness of last year's vaccine was 39 percent, according to CDC data released Wednesday.

Health officials are also grappling with another big challenge this fall: making sure people can get vaccinated safely, free from exposure to the coronavirus. The CDC has given $140 million to immunization programs across the United States to boost adult flu vaccination. The agency is working with state health departments, pharmacies and other health-care providers to develop curbside and drive-through flu clinics and other alternatives for people to get vaccinated.

The CDC has also developed a new test that can simultaneously detect the novel coronavirus and the influenza virus, and is seeking emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.

Getting the right public health message out will also be critical. Older adults, blacks and Hispanics are among the groups who need to be prioritized for flu vaccination, said Michael Greenberg, head of medical operations for Sanofi Pasteur in North America.

But if stay-at-home orders are in place because of the pandemic, these are the same people who are told to avoid leaving their homes.

"It's a very delicate communication," Greenberg said. "You need to instill confidence, and at the same time, stress the need to get vaccinated."
The Eastern Regional General Secretary of the ruling New Patriot Party(NPP) Hon. Jeff Konadu on behalf of the party has warned the National Democratic Congress(NDC) to desist from any act of hooliganism that intends to disrupt the registration exercise by the Electoral Commission.

Addressing the media in a press conference held at the partys regional office in the Eastern Regional Capital Koforidua the Communications Director of the party Mr. David Prah also affirmed what Hon. Konadu indicated at the press conference.

The Regional Executives took the opportunity to congratulate both losers and winners in the just an ended parliamentary primaries in the Region.

The secretary assured party members that the party is adequately prepared and well poised for the forthcoming election not only to win but to win massively with wide vote margins both Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December this year.

He entreated all those who won to jubilate consciously to run an all-inclusive campaign as known of the NPP.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is ironic that the NDC who started her parliamentary primaries about a year ago has still not been able to attain the full complement of their parliamentary candidates.

"They have successfully affirmed their undisputed incompetent title once again. The NDC is struggling to get party members to represent them for the upcoming parliamentary elections and it demonstrates the mass rejection of Mr. John Mahamas second term bid even among their ranks the secretary asserted.

"How can Ghanaians entrust the governance of the nation into the hand of this create  loot  share incompetent NDC," Mr. Jeff Konadu Addo quizs

He dared the NDC to name their parliamentary candidates for New Juaben North, Akuapem North, Fanteakwa South and Fanteakwa North, Atiwa East and West, Mpraeso and Abetifi.

On Covid 19, he stated that the party observed all the social protocols and measures put in place by the Government in order to control the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

The use of face masks and sanitizers, as well as the social distancing protocols coupled with washing of hands with soap under running water, was evident at the polling stations.

The secretary stated that at the parliamentary levels it is the electorates who have the power to give MPs the nod therefore sitting MPs leaving parliament is the choice of the people and that their experience will be used to champion the NPP to victory come December.

The Eastern Regional Secretary stated that the Party in the Region is going to roll out monumental developments that have been undertaken by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in coming weeks.

Mr. Jeff Konadu Addo assured the Electoral Commission (EC) that the party is ready to cooperate with the independent body for the scheduled registration for a new voters register in preparation for the upcoming election.

And that they will not interfere in the ECs work to carry out its Constitutional mandate like the NDC is opposing.

The Eastern Regional Secretarys final words were that, we urge Ghanaians to continue to stand by the Akufo-Addo administration since the policy direction of this government gives clear indication that Ghana is on an unprecedented and aggressive developmental path.

Source: Thepressradio.com
Technicians work near the door of a 737 Max aircraft at the Boeing factory in Renton, Wash., on March 27, 2019. (Lindsey Wasson/Reuters)

US Considers $3.1 Billion in Tariffs for EU Imports

US may tax EU, UK luxury goods to combat unfair EU subsidies to Airbus

The United States is considering a raft of new tariffs on British and European Union imports as a dispute over EU subsidies to aircraft manufacturer Airbus threatens to morph into a trans-Atlantic trade war. A notice detailing the goods in question was posted by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) this week.

The notice (pdf) is filed as the Enforcement of U.S. WTO Rights in Large Civil Aircraft Dispute, as the World Trade Organization found that the European Union had been supplying illegal subsidies to Airbus SE. The goods in question have an estimated 2018 import trade value of $3.1 billion.

Items as diverse as decaffeinated coffee, metal-working tools, and trucks with lifting equipment are being considered for the imposition of new tariffs, while Italian-style cheeses, non-military helicopters, luxury handbags, wooden tool handles, and camera lenses are being considered for additional duties. The USTR is inviting public comments on whether specific items should be removed from the listor the tariff increased up to a level of 100 percent, effectively doubling the price of the products to U.S. consumers.

Aircraft Subsidy Conflict

In a complex and long-standing dispute between the United States and the EU on subsidies to aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, the WTO ruled in October that given the EUs illegal aid to Airbus, the Trump administration had the right to retaliate against European imports worth around $7.5 billion. However, the WTO is poised to hear a related case where the EU accuses the United States of unfairly subsidizing American aircraft giant Boeing.

An Airbus A350-1000 and an Airbus A330 NEO are seen during the 53rd International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, on June 17, 2019. (Pascal Rossignol/Reuters)

The USTR notice said that In connection with this review, the U.S. Trade Representative is considering modifying the list of products of certain current or former EU member States that currently are subject to additional duties.

The notice is to be published in the Federal Register on Friday, and comments must be submitted by July 26.

According to the notice, the measure leaves the door open to achieving a mutually satisfactory solution. However, the public is also encouraged to consider whether maintaining or imposing additional tariffs on the products of current or former EU States would cause disproportionate economic harm to U.S. interests, including small or medium-size businesses and consumers.
Shiner spends his spare time with his wife and family, often visiting local parks like Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, and West Delray Regional Park. It is Shiner's connection with the environment that makes preservation and responsible growth a priority for him. Shiner also spends his free time giving back to the community. He is a major sponsor for the Delray Beach Police Department's National Night Out, which helps provide school supplies for the community's students. Public safety is one of Shiners most important priorities.

Participation in the legal community also keeps Shiner busy. He is a member in good standing with the Florida Bar and has been admitted to practice before all Federal District Courts in Florida. Shiner is also a member of the South Palm Beach County Bar Association, the Palm Beach County Bar Association, the Palm Beach County Justice Association, the American Association of Justice, the Florida Justice Association, the American Bar Association, and other local organizations.

An active member of the community, Shiner was born in Fort Lauderdale and has lived most of his life in South Florida; Shiner's main law office has been in Boca Raton since the genesis of his firm. He is a graduate of Coral Springs High School, where he met his wife, Laura. Shiner is also an alumnus of the University of South Florida, where he obtained a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science and a minor degree in Religious Studies. Today, Shiner and his wife proudly call Delray Beach their home, where their sons, Lucas and Benjamin, attend local public school.

Shiner's extended family also proudly call the area home. His parents, who remain a strong influence in his life, live within walking distance, providing ample opportunity for Grandma and Grandpa to spoil the boys; Shiner's sister, also a lawyer at his firm, lives in District 5 off of Atlantic Avenue; and his brother serves the community as a Delray Beach Police Detective.

"Practicing law has given me a unique understanding of how to work to influence others, so my clients have the best chance of winning their case. As your next County Commissioner, I will use the skills I have developed in my practice to ensure District 5's voters get professional and effective representation, and their concerns are prioritized as I tend to the business of Palm Beach County."

For more information about David Irving Shiner's candidacy, please contact David Irving Shiner at (561) 279-5733 or email [email protected].

To make a contribution to the David Irving Shiner for Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 5 Campaign, click here , or visit VoteDavidShiner.com .

Paid by David Irving Shiner, Rep. for Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 5

Contact: David Irving Shiner

Phone: (561) 279-5733

Email: [email protected]

Address: 10290 Atlantic Ave., P.O. Box 480933, Delray Beach, Florida 33448

SOURCE Paid for by David I. Shiner, Republican, for Palm Beach County Commission, District 5

Related Links

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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

[email protected]

+44-(0)-7803-856-200

SOURCE Diageo Plc

Related Links

www.diageo.com


NAIROBI, Kenya, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As government restrictions slowly lift in Africa and communities begin to return to normalcy, global cleft charity Smile Train is working with their local partners in Africa to resume providing life-saving, free cleft surgeries. While the world is different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Smile Train's top priority remains, as always, the safety and well-being of their beneficiaries, medical partners, and families.

Smile Train Africa Vice President and Regional Director Dr. Esther Njoroge-Muriithi noted that there have been many cleft patients awaiting surgeries since they were postponed in April. During this time, Smile Train continued to provide comprehensive cleft care including nutrition, speech therapy and psychological support to patients. Smile Train also invested more than $500,000 in the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), handwashing facilities and masks for partners and patients as well as equipment to empower their partners to continue cleft care while protecting themselves and their patients against COVID-19.

"At Smile Train Africa we are delighted that, where possible, patients can now receive safe cleft surgeries that will enable them to live full and productive lives. Over the last two months, there have been approximately 2500 patients who were not able to receive treatment. Though the surgeries were postponed, our comprehensive cleft care and partnership model enabled us to get back on track swiftly and sustain access to safe treatment for our patients," said Dr. Njoroge-Muriithi.

"Smile Train Africa has provided the much-needed PPE, pulse oximeters, non-contact infrared thermometers, handwashing stations and masks that will go a long way in protecting the safety and well-being of health workers and patients, as well as support in curbing the spread of the virus. Where testing is available, Smile Train is supporting our local partners with grants that will aid testing of patients before they undergo surgery," she added.

Although Smile Train has provided guidance for resumption of cleft treatment, Smile Train Africa Medical Advisory Council Member Prof. Adetokunbo Adebola noted that the cautious return of the surgeries was primarily guided by the in-country measures put in place by the Ministries of Health. While some countries have managed to slow the spread of the virus more efficiently, some are still experiencing challenges. Prof. Adebola advised the partners to follow in-country guidelines while resuming cleft care.

"The resumption of surgeries is a welcome relief even for our surgical teams but must be implemented systematically with the guidance and support of the Government. The threat posed by the virus is real. Some countries are still grappling with rampant infections that are overwhelming their healthcare workforce. We therefore encourage Smile Train partners to uphold the highest standards of prevention and control for our patients," noted Prof. Adebola.

Smile Train has been actively supporting programs in Africa since 2002. In that time, the organization has developed local partnerships with more than 245 partner hospitals throughout Africa to support more than 120,000 free cleft surgeries.

A cleft is a common birth difference that occurs when certain body structures around the mouth do not fuse together during fetal development. They can involve the lip and/or the roof of the mouth, which is made up of both the hard and soft palate. Causes of a cleft remain unknown but risk factors include environmental factors, lack of proper nutrition before and during pregnancy, as well as genetics.

Many children with untreated clefts around the world live in isolation, making it difficult to make friends and go to school, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing, and speaking. Smile Train continues to reach out to local communities, dispelling myths and misinformation that surround cleft.

ABOUT SMILE TRAIN

Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children's lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org. For more information about Smile Train's work in Africa, visit smiletrainafrica.org and/or contact info@smiletrainafrica.org.

SMILE TRAIN PRESS CONTACT

Emily Manjeru

PR & Communications Manager, Africa

+254 724 926 269/ +254737 621 668

emanjeru@smiletrain.org

Related Links

http://www.smiletrain.org



SOURCE Smile Train
KYODO NEWS - Jun 24, 2020 - 15:01 | World, All

South Korea's trade minister said Wednesday she is running to be the next director general of the World Trade Organization, joining several others eyeing the top post at the Geneva-based trade body.

If successful, 53-year-old Yoo Myung Hee would be the first South Korean and woman to head the organization.

Yoo's candidacy comes as her country is involved in a dispute with Japan at the WTO over the tightening last year of Japan's export controls on materials used by South Korean chipmakers.

Related coverage:

S. Korea demands removal of Japanese sites from World Heritage list

South Korea minister in charge of ties with North offers to resign

South Korea rebukes North Korea for disparaging Moon's dialogue offer

At Wednesday's press conference announcing her bid, Yoo denied the impact her possible appointment as WTO director general would have on the dispute.

She noted that the WTO head does not represent a particular country in a particular dispute.

In addition to Yoo, there are at least four other candidates from Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria and Moldova vying to succeed Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, who is set to step down at the end of August.

As minister for trade at the Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry, Yoo was involved in crafting South Korea's responses to Japan's toughening of rules governing the shipment of semiconductor materials to South Korea.

South Korea last week reopened its complaint with the WTO over the Japanese measure by asking the trade body to set up a dispute-settlement panel.

The WTO will accept nominations until July 8. Candidates will then present their views at a special General Council meeting. The council is supposed to arrive at its choice by consensus by narrowing the field of candidates through consultations.
The ongoing auction of 41 coal mines across the country would open up pristine and contiguous forests for mining in parts of central India, government documents show, even as the Union environment ministry has said decisions regarding auctioning were being taken on a case-by-case basis.

The government was until 2015 considering declaring dense forests with hydrological value, and those near or overlapping streams and rivers as inviolate and hence no mining zones.

Jairam Ramesh, the then Union environment minister, proposed go and no-go area classification for coal mining in 2009-10, and nine major coal blocks were studied for their biodiversity and forest cover.

As many as 70% of the blocks were found to be suitable for mining while 30% were categorised as no-go areas. But the classification was never implemented following stiff resistance from steel, power and coal sectors.

Rameshs successor, Jayanthi Natarajan, began an exercise for categorising inviolate forest areas in 2012. A group of ministers was constituted earlier in 2011 to consider environmental and developmental issues related to coal mining. It suggested all forests that cannot be regenerated to the desired capacity should be protected, according to a July 2012 report of the environment ministry.

The report, a copy of which HT has seen, dealt with the formulation of parameters for the identification of inviolate forest areas. The parameters included forest type and cover, biological richness, wildlife value, landscape integrity, and hydrological value.

The Forest Survey of India, Wildlife Institute of India, National Biodiversity Authority and National Tiger Conservation Authority were tasked with applying these parameters and to come up with a list of inviolate areas, according to the report.

Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air director Nandikesh Sivalingam received a list of proposed inviolate areas under the Right To Information (RTI) Act from the environment ministry in 2015.

The list showed that nearly 50% of the 825 current and future coal blocks met the inviolate area parameters. Sivalingam filed more queries under the RTIs, but did not receive any information on the implementation of the inviolate forest area policy.

Fatehpur East, Morga II, Morga South (in Hasdeo Arand) in Chhattisgarh and Bandha in Madhya Pradesh are some of the 41 blocks being auctioned that were on the 2015 list of inviolate areas. A description of mines up for auction on Metal Scrap Trade Corporation (MSTC) website shows several of the mines do not have required forest clearance and are in the midst of protected forests.

For instance, 19 sq km of Madanpur Norths 21 sq km area in Chhattisgarh is forested and several streams pass through it before joining the Hasdeo river. It awaits both forest and environmental clearance. Morga II has an area of 26.64 sq km, out of which 85% is in forest land. The area falls within the drainage of the Hasdeo, a major tributary of the Mahanadi river. Almost the entire Morga South coal block is spread over the forest land as per site description on the MSTC website.

Environment ministry secretary RP Gupta said they have come out with parameters and decisions about the auction will depend on location, importance and nature of the projects.

Officials cited the instance of Jharkhands Saranda Forest and said mining there was being restricted to a part of it after a study was conducted there.
An elderly woman wearing a napkin for a mask walks on a sidewalk near her home in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 22, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Mixed Reactions Follow Californias Statewide Mask Requirement

ORANGE, Calif.A sign at the entrance of MMD Antiques shop in Orange, California, reads, Masks are NOT necessary. PLEASE COME IN!

Owner Matt De Vaul intends to keep that sign up despite Governor Gavin Newsoms statewide order requiring masks be worn in public spaces. I want people to feel normal in my store, De Vaul told The Epoch Times.

A sign in MMD Antiques lets customers know that masks are optional in the store, in Orange, Calif., on June 19, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

In Orange County, mask requirements have especially been contentious.

Dr. Nichole Quick resigned as the countys chief health officer after her order requiring face coverings in public spaces met with a strong backlash, including personal threats.

Her interim replacement, Dr. Clayton Chau, downgraded the requirement to a strong recommendation on June 11. Newsom issued his order requiring masks statewide on June 15.

Some sheriffs throughout the state have said they will not enforce the new mask order. Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes is one of them.

It is each persons responsibility to wear a face covering and follow the recommended safeguards in order to stop the spread of COVID-19; it is not law enforcements responsibility to enforce it, he told ABC7.

De Vaul isnt worried about consequences. This is another complete overreach of power, he said. In my opinion, its not a law and its not enforceable. Any citation would not hold up in the court of law.

The court of public opinion is another matter.

De Vauls decision to open his shop before officially permitted to do so, and his stance on protective gear in his store, have met with mixed reactions. I know I lost customers in the last three months, but I have also gained new ones, he said.

A mask lays on the sidewalk across the street from MMD Antiques in Orange, Calif., on June 19, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Newsoms mask orders come with a few exceptions. For example, customers at restaurants who maintain a 6-foot distance from others may remove their masks.

People with medical conditions or disabilities that make mask-wearing dangerous or particularly difficult for them, along with children under the age of 2, do not have to wear masks.

Regarding enforcement, Were not looking to fine people, Newsom said, according to the LA Times. Were looking to educate people, encourage people, he said.

And to the extent that people flaunt and abuse, which may be the exception, then we have many tools in the tool kit, Newsom said. Regulatory agencies, such as the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, may be called upon to exercise a little bit of persuasion, he said.

The governors office did not reply to further inquiry from The Epoch Times about enforcement as of press deadline.

Newsom has said the mask requirement is necessary because many Californians have ignored recommendations to wear masks, and hes worried about hospitalization numbers rising.

While De Vaul flouts the order, many are following itand some worry the supply of masks will be further strained.

A man and woman wearing masks walk into a grocery store in Playa Vista, Calif., on June 23, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Steve Snook, a pastor at Metropolis Church in Santa Monica, Calif., wears a facial covering as he hands out bags of food to low-income individuals near his church, on June 22, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

As lunch hour hits in Playa Del Rey, Los Angeles, a group of men clad in construction vests files into a cramped Subway restaurant. Maintaining distance between people is difficult there, but all are wearing masks.

Construction technician Matt Thalin, 30, like other essential workers, has encountered challenges with the high demand for masks in Southern California.

Some of the jobs we do require masks as we deal with mold and chemicals that are worse than COVID, Thalin told The Epoch Times.

Ive been using the same mask for months, he said. The masks they need for those jobs are of a relatively high grade. So, its tough when work masks are all extinct. Not being able to buy masks for some jobs is the most frustrating. Otherwise, it hasnt affected us much.

He said, Most clients weve worked with havent cared if weve had masks or not.
Contributing to a sustainable future for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in line with Vision 2030 to diversify energy sources and capitalize on renewable energy Effat University Launches the Second Solar Energy Project Scientific Testing for Solar Panels Designed for Desert Conditions

Effat University, together with partners ECN.TNO, DSM, and Exasun of the Netherlands started a large-scale outdoor test of solar panels specifically designed for desert conditions. The project is sponsored by the local partner Altaaqa alternative solutions a Zahid Group Company, and the Dutch government organization 'The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)'.

A total of 60 desert proof solar panels are monitored at the rooftop test site of EFFAT University. Special solar panel materials and design are being tested compatible with desert conditions: high ultraviolet radiation, abrasion by sand, and elevated temperatures.

The solar panels have several special features:

1. Panels have a special low soiling coating and are being compared to panels without this coating

2. Panels have a design to withstand heat during irradiation to avoid degradation and have a higher power output

3. Panels comprise a frameless glass front and rear side to optimize the lifespan

Effat University erected on-site a versatile test field comprising a grid-connected installation supported by meteo, panel measurement equipment and data collecting.

"Effat University is committed to supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to ensure a sustainable non-oil dependent future for the Kingdom, said Dr. Haifa Reda Jamal Al-Lail, President of Effat University.

Dr. Malak Alnory, Effat University Provost said: "Effat University is an exciting place to be right now, working on sustainable energy research and development. Commissioning the PV test field and executing the panel monitoring is an attractive prospect for generations of students to come."

ECN part of TNO is delighted to co-operate with Effat University on this project, which highlights the enduring potential of solar energy as an affordable, decentralized source of electricity in Saudi Arabia.

Effat University is the first in the Kingdom to introduce a Masters in Energy Engineering degree. The program is designed to provide students with the skills they need to succeed in the professional fields of traditional and sustainable energy, two industries that are vital to the future of Saudi Arabia and fertile ground for the employment of educated energy professionals. The program offers two tracks: Petroleum Engineering and Renewable Energy.

About the collaborators

About Effat University:

Effat University is the first non-profit educational institute specialized in offering higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was established by the late Queen Effat AlThunayyan, wife of King Faisal, in 1999 (may God rest both their souls). The University operates under the umbrella of the King Faisal Foundation.

Effat University offers a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs that enhance lifelong learning and education through four Colleges: Effat College of Business, Effat College of Humanities, Effat College of Engineering and Effat College of Architecture and Design.

Effat University today is a centre of excellence where researchers from different fields collaborate in building and expanding the knowledge base to add future value to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

About ECN part of TNO:

TNO is the Dutch organisation for applied research and technology with a staff of approximately 3000 and active, among others, in healthy living, industrial innovation, traffic & transport, buildings & infrastructure, circular economy, energy technology, and safety & security.

The former ECN has become part of TNO since 1 April 2018. The new ECN part of TNO department is a symbiosis of all energy R&D activities of ECN and TNO, and is thereby the leading institute for energy research in the Netherlands with about 600 researchers. The research and development of ECN part of TNO contributes to transforming the current energy system into one without CO 2 emissions.

ECN part of TNO includes these main innovation programmes: solar energy, wind energy, built environment, CO 2 -neutral industry, fuels and feedstock, system integration, and societally embedded energy transition.

About AlTaqaa

Altaaqa Alternative Solutions Company is Saudi Arabia's leading provider of total utility solutions, covering the Kingdom and executing custom-tailored and turnkey projects for water, energy and cooling across the nation. Altaaqa is the largest provider of temporary energy solutions in Saudi Arabia offer zero initial investment to our clients. Established in 2004, Altaaqa is a Zahid Group company.

Provided by Effat University
A masked and white-gloved Marine sergeant approached the table in the silent aircraft hangar, where a diminutive casket draped with the United States flag rested on a table. Rows of socially distanced dignitaries stood nearby.

The sergeant saluted and picked up the casket during the solemn honors ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on Tuesday to complete a transfer in the custody of remains that was 70 years in the making.

Read Next: Soldier Used Upcoming Deployment to Plan Deadly Attack on Unit, Indictment States

The U.S. flag was removed and, under strict protocol, was replaced briefly with the flag of the United Nations Command in South Korea and then the Republic of Korea's flag.

A South Korean soldier, who fought alongside U.S. troops in the 1950-53 Korean War, was at last going home to the "Land of the Morning Calm," and to a welcoming ceremony in Seoul on Wednesday led by President Moon Jae-in, the son of North Korean refugees.

The casket was the last of a total of 147 placed aboard a waiting Republic of Korea Air Force A330 Airbus for the journey home in what the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) called the largest ever transfer of repatriation remains from the U.S. to South Korea.

DPAA forensics teams have determined that all the remains are Korean. At least seven sets of the remains have thus far been identified through lab analysis to be returned to their families in South Korea, according to the DPAA.

The remains "represent the ultimate measure of full devotion and sacrifice to their nation in the Korean war, believing that, without their country, their existence would have been meaningless," Army Col. Chul Kim, chaplain of U.S. Army Pacific, said in his invocation, spoken first in Korean and then in English.

"Let their valor become a seed for enduring peace and prosperity of the Republic of Korea," he said at the ceremony, where attendance was limited to officials and honor guards because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his remarks, Rear Adm. Darius Banaji, deputy director of operations at the DPAA, said the 147 repatriations were enabled through close cooperation with South Korea's Ministry of National Defense Agency for KIA Recovery.

"We look forward to many more events like this in the future," Banaji said, although there have been no more recoveries since North Korea transferred 52 boxes of commingled remains to the U.S. in August 2018, following the Singapore summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that June.

Kim has since rejected DPAA requests to resume recoveries in North Korea and turned increasingly hostile, launching frequent missile tests and threatening to resume underground nuclear testing.

According to the DPAA, a total of 62 U.S. service members have thus far been identified from the boxes of remains returned by North Korea in 2018.

More than 7,500 Americans are still listed as missing from the Korean conflict, and about 5,300 of those are believed to have died on battlefields or in prison camps in North Korea.

Some of the remains transferred Tuesday were from the boxes of remains returned by North Korea in 2018, while others recently identified as South Korean were from previous recovery efforts dating back 30 years, according to the DPAA.

At the Pearl Harbor ceremony, Jae Min Park, South Korea's vice minister of defense, noted that it has been "seven decades since the Republic of Korea and the United States fought hand-in-hand as allies."

He said it was especially fitting to return "the remains of our heroes to the nation for which they gave their lives on the eve of the 70th anniversary [June 25] of the Korean War."

Park pledged that the U.S. and South Korea would continue to work together "to bring every last one home" from the ranks of American and ROK service members still listed as missing from the conflict.

In his keynote address, Adm. Phil Davidson, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said the fallen from the Korean War contributed to a solid and enduring partnership between the U.S. and South Korea, which has brought security and stability to the region.

"Our missing and unaccounted for service members are entitled to one certainty -- that they will never be forgotten," he said. "The conflict in which South Koreans and Americans fought bravely side-by-side to defend the values and bodies embodied in the established rules-based international order, which was then in its very infancy  [brought] peace and prosperity to the globe."

He concluded by saying "Katchi Kashida," the motto of U.S. and South Korean forces on the peninsula, meaning "We Go Together."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Related: Korean War: Work Continues to Find Remains of MIAs, POWs and 'Bring Them Home'
Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) CEO Bang Moon-kyu, left, poses with Hana Bank CEO Ji Sung-kyoo after signing a memorandum of understanding to offer financial support to Korean firms expanding overseas, at the former's headquarters on Yeouido in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Eximbank



By Lee Min-hyung



The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) is teaming up with Hana Bank to financially support Korean companies' global expansion, they said Wednesday.



The partnership is part of their efforts to help local firms make smooth inroads into countries in East Asia. Details of the memorandum of understanding include loan offers to firms planning to expand into emerging Asian countries with growth potential.



"The two lenders have provided trade finance worth 13 trillion won to local firms since 2013," Eximbank CEO Bang Moon-kyu said. They have also offered project financing worth $4.8 billion during the same period, according to the two lenders.



"We are going to actively back up local firm's expansion into overseas territories by tightening our alliance," he said.



Under the partnership, both sides will provide financial aid to companies considering expansion into the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and north of the Korean Peninsula in line with the Moon Jae-in administration's New Southern and New Northern policies.



They are President Moon Jae-in's two signature economic policies under which the administration aims to enhance diplomatic and economic ties with ASEAN states to a similar level as that of the so-called "big four" powers surrounding the peninsula  the United States, China, Japan and Russia.



The state-run lender has in recent years backed up the government's drive, identifying Southeast Asia as an emerging hub for economic growth due to its massive trading and demographic potential.



Hana Bank, one of the nation's major commercial lenders, also pledged to continue supporting Korean companies for them to enhance their global competitiveness.



The lender, along with Eximbank, will join hands to find companies competitive enough to do business abroad, the lender said.



"Hana Bank will make more specific efforts to ensure the trade competitiveness of Korean firms," Hana Bank CEO Ji Sung-kyoo said.



"By expanding financial support for export-driven companies to make entry into the emerging markets, we expect coronavirus-hit companies to overcome their difficulties," he said.



The latest in a series of collaborations between the two lenders came earlier this month when Eximbank and Hana Bank offered joint financial support for Korean IT firms to export production equipment for electronic goods to Uzbekistan.



The two lenders provided 38 billion won in loans to Uzbek firms importing items from the Korean firms, according to the Eximbank.


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Mark Zuckerberg is hiding out at his sprawling $100million estate in Hawaii amid mounting turmoil at Facebook as a growing list of prominent brands are boycotting the social media network over its perceived failure to crack down on hate speech and incitements to violence.

The Facebook founder - who recently became the fourth-richest person in the world as his net worth rose to a staggering $86.5billion - was photographed on a Kauai beach with wife Priscilla Chan, their toddler daughters Max and August, and several family friends on Monday.

It's unclear when the Zuckerbergs arrived on the island's north shore, where they began snapping up 700 acres of land in 2014.

The massive property is an ideal setting to ride out the coronavirus pandemic gripping the nation as it offers both seclusion and stunning views while Zuckerberg and all of his staff work from home for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile chaos is erupting at Facebook's headquarters in Silicon Valley as a number of brands including Ben and Jerry's, Patagonia and REI have stopped advertising on the site after the NAACP called for a boycott and accused Facebook of promoting 'bigotry and violence'.

Mark Zuckerberg was photographed hitting the waves in Hawaii with his wife Priscilla Chan and their daughters on Monday. The sighting came amid mounting turmoil at Facebook as a growing list of prominent brands are boycotting the social media network over its perceived failure to crack down on hate speech and incitements to violence

Zuckerberg, 36, is seen kayaking with one of his daughters in his lap on the north shore of Kauai, where the family owns a $100million, 700-acre property

It's unclear when the Zuckerbergs arrived on Kauai, where they're holing up amid the coronavirus pandemic

The family appeared to be joined by another couple with three young children and an unidentified blonde woman

Zuckerberg appeared unfazed by the drama surrounding Facebook as he hit the waves with his family on Monday.

He was seen floating just off the coast in a kayak with Max, four, and August, two, while his wife paddleboarded nearby.

Mark and Priscilla (pictured in November) began snapping up land in Kauai in 2014 after falling in love with the scenery

The family appeared to be joined by another couple with three young children and an unidentified blonde woman who helped Zuckerberg lug his kayak back onto the sand before they packed up to return to their luxury home.

The 36-year-old's net worth has reportedly grown by $30.1billion during the pandemic, according to a Forbes profile published earlier this month.

Zuckerberg's property is bordered by three beaches with about 2,500 feet of coastline. While all three are public, they are very difficult to reach as they sit below a steep slope that's dense with local flora and fauna.

The CEO shared photos of the property on Facebook on Christmas Day in 2016 and said he and his wife 'fell in love with the community and the cloudy green mountains ... and eventually decided to plant roots and join the community ourselves'.

Two days later, his lawyers filed a slew of lawsuits against hundreds of Hawaiians who may own an interest in small parcels of land within the boundaries of his estate.

The parcels originally belonged to Native Hawaiians who were given the land when private property was established in Hawaii in the mid-19th century. Many of the landowners died without making wills, and it was never determined who inherited the land.

Zuckerberg's lawsuits drew fierce backlash from locals who called him 'the face of neocolonialism'. The billionaire backed down from the legal battles weeks later - but it's believed he remains a controversial figure on Kauai.

He sought to improve his local reputation in April when he and Priscilla donated $1million from their foundation to help fight coronavirus on the island.

Zuckerberg carried one child in his kayak while Priscilla escorted two others on her paddleboard

The crew donned hats and sunglasses to keep a low profile on the beach, which is public but difficult to access by land

The blonde woman helped one of Zuckerberg's daughters out of the kayak after they got their fill of the waves

Zuckerberg was seen lugging his kayak onto the sand as the family packed up to head home

The scenery surrounding the Zuckerberg's $100million estate is pictured above in a file photo

Zuckerberg's beach day came to light just as his company was targeted by 'Stop the Hate for Profit', an initiative supported by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other groups.

Ice cream giant Ben & Jerry's joined the initiative on Tuesday, writing in a statement: 'As of July 1st we will pause all paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram in the United States.

'We call on Facebook, Inc. 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.'

Color of Change joined forces with a number of other civil rights group to launch the '#StopHateforProfit' campaign earlier this week, encouraging companies to pull ads from Facebook. Last week the campaign took out the full page ad above in the Los Angeles Times

Sporting goods maker Patagonia added its name to the list Sunday, joining rivals North Face and REI and the freelance staffing agency Upwork.

The #StopHateForProfit campaign comes as Facebook faces growing pressure over its hands-off approach to misinformation and inflammatory posts, including from President Donald Trump.

The social media company made an estimated $70billion annually from ads, the coalition claimed in a statement on the ADL website.

The campaign has criticized Zuckerberg's decision to not moderate the president, after the CEO again defended his decision not to limit Trump's often controversial, incendiary and inaccurate posts.

Twitter's decision in May to hide one of Trump's tweets for 'glorifying violence' exposed turmoil at Facebook, with employees rebelling against Zuckerberg's refusal to sanction false or inflammatory posts by the president.

Facebook last week said it removed ads by Trump's re-election campaign that contained a symbol used in Nazi Germany for political prisoners, a move welcomed by rights activists.

The activists called on Facebook to crack down harder on Trump and his campaign as the November election looms.

'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,' the NAACP said in a tweet.

The coalition criticized Zuckerberg's decision late last month to leave up a particularly inflammatory Trump post, which stated in part: 'When the looting starts, the shooting starts'. Twitter hid the same message behind a warning that said the post 'incited violence'.

Several Facebook employees staged a 'virtual walkout' over Zuckerberg's decision.

The Facebook co-founder then held a conference call with civil rights leaders who condemned him for failing to remove the post.

In a subsequent statement, Rashad Robinson of Color of Change, Vanita Gupta of the Leadership Conference and Sherrilyn Ifill of LDF said: 'He [Zuckerberg] did not demonstrate understanding of historic or modern-day voter suppression and he refuses to acknowledge how Facebook is facilitating Trump's call for violence against protesters. Mark is setting a very dangerous precedent for other voices who would say similar harmful things on Facebook.'

Patagonia announced that it is pulling ads from Facebook on Sunday. Ben & Jerry's followed suit on Wednesday

Color of Change subsequently joined forces with a number of other civil rights group to launch the '#StopHateforProfit' campaign earlier this week, encouraging companies to pull ads from Facebook.

Other organizations in the campaign include the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, Sleeping Giants, Free Press and Common Sense.

Last week, the campaign took out a full page ad in the Los Angeles Times pushing for companies to boycott Facebook. The social media giant reportedly made close to $70 billion in ad revenues last year.

'What would you do with $70billion?' the #StopHateForProfit ad asks.

'We know what Facebook did. They allowed incitement to violence against protesters fighting for racial justice in America in the wake of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks and so many others'.

The ad goes on to accuse Facebook of 'turning a blind eye to voter suppression' and 'amplifying white supremacists'.
Leader and several members of Wazalendo Alliance for Transparency and Change held over unlawful assembly, party says.

Tanzania opposition leader Zitto Kabwe has been freed on bail after he and several members of his party were arrested as they held an internal meeting in southern Kilwa district.

The release on Wednesday came after Kabwe and the others were taken into police custody the previous day for holding an unlawful assembly, according to his ACT Wazalendo party, which accused the government of repression before a presidential election in October.

We welcome the release of Zitto Kabwe and fellow ACT Wazalendo members earlier today, said Seif Sharif Hamad, the partys chair.

We now call for the charges to be dropped completely. Yesterdays arrests were unlawful and an attempt to disrupt the legitimate actions of a political party.

President John Magufuli, who is expected to run for a second term, dissolved parliament last week in advance of the election. The vote is scheduled for October, but the precise date has not yet been set.

The dissolution came days after Freeman Mbowe  another opposition leader who has announced his intention to run against Magufuli  was allegedly beaten and hospitalised in what his Chadema party said was a politically-motivated attack.

Tanzanian police have cast doubt on the allegations.





Rights groups accuse Magufuli of shrinking the democratic space in the country since taking power in 2015. Newspapers have been shut down, and non-governmental organisations work has been severely restricted.

In a statement on Wednesday, Amnesty International described the arrests as a calculated move to harass and intimidate the opposition and critics ahead of elections, restrict their human rights and limit their campaigning.

Last month, Kabwe was found guilty of sedition and incitement after being found to have falsely alleged that approximately 100 people had been killed in his home region in 2018 in clashes between herders and police.

200511054304751

He was released without sentencing on condition that he refrain from saying or writing anything potentially seditious for one year. Kabwe had pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers said they would appeal.

Before that, he had been a vocal critic of Magufulis administration and its approach in dealing with the coronavirus.

Tanzania has not 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.

Also on Tuesday, the government revoked the licence of the opposition-leaning newspaper Tanzania Daima, alleging violations of journalistic ethics and laws including spreading false information.

An official at the Department of Information said the newspaper had received 10 warnings, but he did not elaborate on the alleged breaches. He said the paper had 30 days to appeal, or could apply for a new licence.

The papers editor, Martin Malera, said it had been questioned for publishing a story in which a bishop urged opposition parties to demand a free electoral body, called for independent candidates to be allowed to stand, and urged the public to wear white as a sign of political protest.
Ice cream maker Ben & Jerrys is the latest company to pull US advertising from Facebook as pressure grows on the social media platform to do more on hate speech.

Ben & Jerrys, which is owned by UK consumer goods giant Unilever, called 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.

As of 1 July we will pause all paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram in the United States as part of the #StopHateForProfit campaign.

We call on 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, it added in a statement.

The action follows boycotts from outdoor apparel companies The North Face, Patagonia and REI as part of the Stop Hate For Profit campaign.

The campaign was created by racial justice organisation Colour of Change in the wake of the death of George Floyd, which sparked protests across the world.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been criticised for failing to take action over inflammatory posts made by Donald Trump and others on the platform.

Supported by civil rights groups such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP), the campaign calls for advertisers to demand that Facebook addresses racism across its platforms.

What has allowed Facebook to continue racist practices is the $70bn of revenue from corporations every year. Companies have a choice to make about whether they want their business featured on Facebooks platforms side-by-side with racist attacks on Black people, says the campaign on its website.

The founders of Ben & Jerrys have been vocal about their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. After the death of Mr Floyd, chief executive Matthew McCarthy said businesses should be held accountable as he set out plans to increase diversity.

The company also issued a strongly worded statement condemning white supremacy and declaring solidarity with victims of murder, marginalisation and repression because of their skin colour.

Carolyn Everson, vice president of Facebooks Global Business Group, said in a statement: We respect any brands decision, and remain focused on the important work of removing hate speech and providing critical voting information. Our conversations with marketers and civil rights organisations are about how, together, we can be a force for good.
New York-based immigration attorney, Anand G. Sinha, Founder & Principal Attorney at Anand Sinha Law, P.C told Business Today that the idea is to focus more on finding the right talent in the US. Apart from focusing on finding the right talent, companies in the US are also worried about the cost they have to bear if they dont make a competent workforce.

Whereas Indian IT firms have been investing in localisation efforts. Ever since the increased rejection of H-1B visas over the past two years, Indian firms are trying to increase local hiring and onsite cost structure. A report by HDFC Securities dated March 18 highlighted 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. The report further noted that despite IT firms aiming for higher localization and on- site delivery centres, the H1B applications have shifted to lower cost destinations like Texas, Virginia and Florida.

The Indian IT industry body National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) said in a statement that the new proclamation is misguided and is actually harmful to the US Economy.

While some experts from Companies such as Tata Mahindra, Infosys and Kotak Securities think that the h1B visa ban will not make much of a difference and will not affect them, others think it will do more harm than good.

Some of them believe it does not pose a big threat because the number of H1B visa holders working in many IT majors have reduced over the years. According to Emkay Research, the initial H-1B visa approvals for TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. and HCL Technologies fell to less than 5,200 as of March 2019 from more than 23,000 in 2012-13. Over the last 5 years, approvals for continuing visas have also come down, Trak.in cited in its report.

Number of H1B Visa Holders in IT Companies in Financial Year 2019 (Data from Business Today):

1- Cognizant- 29,128

2- Infosys- 21,535

3- TCS- 11,869

4- Capgemini- 8,516

5- IBM- 7,253

Almost all the IT Companies have now adopted Work from Home model due to the coronavirus outbreak. Changing industry trends coupled with reduction in H-1B visa holders working in IT Majors over the years, definitely plays a role in reducing the impact of the order on the Indian IT industry.
Police in Nigeria have rescued more than 100 people they say were locked in a rice-processing factory and forced to work throughout a coronavirus lockdown.



From the end of March, the men were allegedly not allowed to leave the mill in the northern city of Kano.



The workers were promised an additional $13 (10) a month on top of their $72 monthly salary  those who did not accept were threatened with the sack.



Five managers at the Indian-owned mill have been arrested. The company, called Popular Farms, has not responded to BBC requests for comment.



Police spokesman Abdullahi Haruna told the BBC that the plant had now been shut down and the owners were being investigated for holding the men against their will.



He said that 126 people had been found, although workers told the BBC there were 300.



Some of the men say they were forced to work most of the time during their incarceration, with little food.



We were allowed to rest for only a short time, no prayers were allowed, no family visits, 28-year-old Hamza Ibrahim, one of those rescued, told the BBCs Mansur Abubakar in Kano.



Living like animals



The police were tipped off about the mens plight after one of them called a human rights organisation.



What I saw was heartbreaking. Where the company kept these people to live isnt fit for animals, Karibu Yahaya Kabara of the Global Human Rights Network told the BBC.



Their meals werent enough and there were no drugs for those that took ill, he said. Mr Kabara said his organisation was taking up the case to ensure that the men got justice.



Nigerian businesses were asked to close up shop in late March as part of government guidelines to halt the spread of coronavirus.



The country has more than 20,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus.



Lagos, in the south, remains the epicentre of the virus, but Kano  Nigerias second-biggest city and the capital of Kano state, has the most cases in the north.



Lockdowns elsewhere in the country have been eased  but in Kano people are still only allowed to go out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to buy food at stipulated times.



Popular Farms workers say they were asked to double their hours in February as their employers wanted to stockpile in preparation for a shutdown.



By March they say it was decided to keep the plant going by offering them more money to stay on working or be sacked.



However, having agreed to stay on the workers discovered they had been prevented from ever leaving the mill.





Source: BBC









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The ban will be in effect between 6am and 12am, and applies to trucks carrying more than four tonnes of cargo

Egypt said it is restoring a partial ban on heavy trucks using Greater Cairos Ring Road starting Saturday, a statement by the interior ministry read on Wednesday.

The ban will be in effect between 6am and 12am, and applies to trucks carrying more than four tonnes of cargo.

The decision to restore the ban, which was first implemented in 2018, comes one day after Egypt said that starting Saturday it will shorten the nighttime curfew that has been in place since March to reduce the coronavirus infection rate.

Heavy trucks can use the country's massive regional road as an alternative to the ring road. The regional road connects several major districts of Greater Cairo, and is a key route for commuter traffic.

The ring road is notorious for traffic accidents, and heavy trucks are often blamed for deadly crashes on the country's highways.

Deadly road accidents take place on a near daily basis in Egypt, which suffers from poorly maintained road infrastructure and loosely applied traffic regulations.

Road accidents in Egypt dropped 41.1 percent to record 8,480 accidents in 2018, down from 14,403 accidents in 2014, an infograph by the Egyptian cabinet showed last year.

Deaths due to accidents declined 50.5 percent from 2014 to 2018, with 3,087 deaths in 2018, down from 6,236 in 2014.

Egypt has allocated millions of pounds to developing and expanding road networks in recent years.

It is currently implementing a comprehensive traffic law to crack down on violators and enhance safety and security.

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More than 1,000 workers in a garment factory in India lost their jobs without warning, reportedly after H&M cancelled their orders amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Sacked workers are still protesting outside the Euro Clothing Company factory (ECC-2), owned by Gokaldas Exports, in Srirangapatna, Karnataka, weeks after the factory was shut down.

When the factory closed at 5:30pm on Saturday 6 June, an announcement was reportedly made informing workers that the 1,200 staff members were to be laid off immediately.

The announcement confirmed that the workers would be paid half of their remaining wages and that the factory would no longer be operational, according to The News Minute.

A notice at the factory read: The management of the company has decided to lay off the workers at Srirangapatna plant with effect from June 8, 2020, in the interest of the plant and also to save the employment of the workmen.

Recommended The terrifying similarities between India and the US

The notice, from the manager of the factory, said the sudden closure was due to the global effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The adverse circumstances prevailing in India, as well as the countries where overseas buyers are located, has resulted in overseas buyers cancelling their orders or withdrawing their orders and there is uncertainty about the market conditions, it read.

Gokaldas Exports also released a statement, that read: The lay-off is due to reduction and cancellation of orders from its customers based out of key markets consequent to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI) general secretary Gautam Mody told the Independent that protesters started demonstrating against the decision on 6 June, and have continued to do so every day since.

One of the workers, 28-year-old Shobha, told the Independent: Ive worked in this factory for 9 years and weve been producing for H&M for more than 6 years. We built up the factory and the brand and just one fine day they layed us off with no notice. Theyve left our families to starve.

There are no other jobs to be had in this small town.

Local trade unions, alongside labour department official, MV Roopa, claimed that the factory was closed without the one month notice period, that is legally mandatory, according to the Telegraph India.

According to the general secretary, the process of layoff is illegal because the ECC-2 did not follow the procedure laid out under section 25 M of the Industrial Disputes Act, which states that in an establishment that employs more than 100 workers the employer needs to get prior permission from the government in a specified format to lay off its workers.

Mr Mody said that after some machinery was removed from the factory on 30 May, officials from the Garment and Textile Workers Union (GATWU), spoke to factory management, but there was no indication that the removal was related to lay-offs.

They spoke to factory management on the morning of 6 June, but were again not made aware of the upcoming closure.

The local trade unions met factory management again on 8 June, to try and resolve the issue and get the workers their full pay, but an official from GATWU told the Independent that no progress has yet been made.

Ms Roopa told The News Minute: We held meetings with the officials on Monday but they said that they cited the same reason for laying them off, that is, due to lack of orders in view of the Covid-19 crisis.

The labour department has now issued a notice to the company against this decision.

Mr Mody added that the discussions are at a complete impasse. The supplier refuses to budge and H&M is incommunicado. H&M is bound by a global framework agreement with IndustriALL Global Union which it is unwilling to even bring to the table.

Gokaldas Exports has 20 factories in the area, but the plant in Srirangapatna was the only one that it closed.

Mr Mody claimed that the factory suddenly shut down after H&M cancelled its orders.

The general secretary wrote: H&M did not commit to the order status even after being informed by GATWU on 1 June. Even as GATWU sought a meeting with the management, H&M allowed the management to proceed with the factory closure while asking the union to meet with the management.

During the meeting, the management informed GATWU that payments of old orders were still due.

Mr Mody added: H&M is the only MNC (manufacturer) for which ECC-2 has been manufacturing in 2020. In 2019, ECC-2 manufactured almost 90% production for H&M.

Therefore, H&M was clearly aware that they were reducing orders leading to the shutting down of the factory.

After a video of the protesters circulated on social media on Monday, H&M said it was attempting to resolve the conflict.

H&M replied to a tweet that criticised the factory closure, and said: The drop in customer demand due to Covid-19 will inevitably impact suppliers, however we are placing orders with this supplier and we fully stand by our responsible purchasing practices.

We are in dialogue with the supplier and the trade unions to resolve the conflict peacefully.

On Tuesday, an H&M spokesperson told The Independent: Covid-19 has caused an unprecedented situation for the whole industry. The drop in customer demand will inevitably have an impact on production levels, in particular when a country has been in lockdown for a long period, as is the case with India.

Recommended Millions of garment workers facing destitution as demand dries up

However, at this point, our orders at this specific supplier are on similar levels as during the same period last year. We are also fulfilling our payments for goods in accordance with contracts, on time and at the originally agreed price.

The spokesperson added: The supplier wants to lay off workers at one of its units (out of 20 in total) and the conflict between the supplier and the trade unions is about different interpretations of the national law. We are in close dialogue with both parties to help them resolve the conflict peacefully and reach an agreement that is acceptable to both parties.

In response to H&Ms claims, Mr Mody told the Independent: H&M claims are mere words. Workers have been out on the picket line for 18 days and there hasnt been any demonstrable action from H&M.

Mr Mody added that he thinks the actions of the supplier are patently illegal and H&M has nothing to say on this. Which law allows the supplier not to pay wages or to lay-off without notice? H&M is in effect party to the union busting through its silence.

He claimed: H&M must take full responsibility of the situation and require Gokaldas to immediately place orders specifically at ECC-2 and live up to its commitment that it has made to the international community to ensure jobs are not lost in their supply chain.
PORTLAND, Ore., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- When her twin five-year-olds begged her for a book about other children who also had to stay home and miss their friends, essayist Jessie Glenn couldn't say no.

She joined with Alabama muralist and illustrator, Kevin King and wrote, What's All The Commotion, a Book about Social Distancing.

"What's All The Commotion?"

Peer reviewed by child psychologists, "What's All the Commotion" seeks to start conversations with children and answer questions about Covid-19 and social distancing in a candid, optimistic way.

Released in June of 2020, What's all the Commotion is published by Eldredge Books who will be donating all proceeds to No Kid Hungry.

Jessie Glenn and Kevin King are available for interview. Jessie's career writing about family and children's issues include essays in The New York Times, Washington Post, interviews on Cheryl Strayed's NYT podcast "The Sugars," and more.

Contact:

Emily Keough

[email protected]

Mindbuckmedia.com

503-998-8770

SOURCE Jessie Glenn
Talking Heads

Rating:

The Choir: Singing for Britain

Rating:

When the BBC were looking for something fresh to fill out their schedules in the lockdown, its not surprising the remaking of Talking Heads (BBC1) topped the list.

Featuring one performer, mostly filmed on one set requiring a skeleton crew, Alan Bennetts famous series of monologues, first screened in 1988 and 1998, were perfect.

Whats more, a halt to all film and theatre meant that a glittering cast of A-listers youd normally have to book two years in advance were suddenly available.

First up was A Lady Of Letters, the story of Irene Ruddock, a curtain-twitching busybody. Played by Patricia Routledge first time around, the role was reprised by no less than Imelda Staunton (above). Imelda gave a mesmerising performance as Irene, effortlessly moving from outrage and indignation to kindness and compassion

Last night, BBC1 screened two episodes and made all 12 available on iPlayer.

First up was A Lady Of Letters, the story of Irene Ruddock, a curtain-twitching busybody.

Played by Patricia Routledge first time around, the role was reprised by no less than Imelda Staunton.

Irenes favourite pastime is writing letters of complaint.

She wrote to a crematorium to complain about hearse drivers smoking, to the police commissioner to complain about the number of constables wearing glasses and to The Queen to point out the dog mess outside Buckingham Palace.

It was only a matter of time before that inability to mind her own business landed her in trouble.

When a couple moved in across the road, she was convinced they were neglecting their child who was, in reality, dying of leukaemia.

Having previously made false accusations about a chemists wife being a prostitute and a lollipop man being a paedophile, the unfounded allegation landed her in prison.

Darkly comic, with sharp observational dialogue, all of Bennetts monologues have one thing in common: the characters are deeply troubled souls.

Yet despite being lonely, friendless and incapable of empathising with the struggles of others, prison ended up being the making of Irene.

She learned to dress-make, type and bind books  while her cellmates taught her to smoke and swear.

Its the first taste of freedom Ive had in years, she said.

Imelda gave a mesmerising performance as Irene, effortlessly moving from outrage and indignation to kindness and compassion.

Things turned several shades darker in the second episode, An Ordinary Woman, starring Sarah Lancashire.

In desperate need of a haircut, Gareth Malone (above) persuaded 100,000 people to join his lockdown choir, singing together from their homes with the aim of recording a song that gives us hope for brighter days

One of two new monologues, she played Gwen, a woman sexually attracted to her 15-year-old son.

Again, the performance was compelling, but the material felt unnecessarily provocative as Gwen discussed what she called her Shakespearean lust for her son while doing the laundry and baking a pie.

When it comes to lifting the mood of a nation, its hard to think of anyone more suited for the job than choirmaster Gareth Malone.

In The Choir: Singing For Britain (BBC2) we saw how Gareth, who has previously formed choirs of military wives and of prisoners, orchestrated a Great British Home Chorus.

In desperate need of a haircut, he persuaded 100,000 people to join his lockdown choir, singing together from their homes with the aim of recording a song that gives us hope for brighter days.

In the first part we saw Gareth encouraging NHS workers to contribute lyrics.

There was Sara, a junior doctor, Hannah a trainee nurse and William, a dementia care worker.

William, having lost 23 of his patients to Covid-19, described how he loved to sing to those he cared for as it often triggered a fond memory for them which lifted their spirits.

Gareths puppy dog enthusiasm for every project is infectious and theres no arguing with his ability to bring out the best in people.

But Zoom is no substitute for real interaction which, sadly, meant this show lacked the usual Malone magic.
A section of Kenyans on Twitter took to the site Tuesday to fault Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru for playing Solitaire during her impeachment hearing.

The governor was pictured by the Star playing the popular card game on her smartphone as her impeachment case was being heard in the Senate.

When she wasnt so engrossed in Solitaire, Waiguru told the 11-member Senate team that her impeachment by County Assembly members is baseless and was driven by malice.

Unfortunately what is before you is in every respect false, unfounded and salacious allegations, which have no place in an impeachment motion.

The grounds contained in the allegations are obvious falsities, unfounded and malicious. They relate to minor administrative issues that would easily have been clarified by a routine inquiry, she said.

Waiguru will take the stand today to defend herself against the allegations leveled against her before the Committee led by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala retreat to scrutinise the submissions and file a report.

The report is expected to be tabled on the floor on Friday.

On matters Solitaire, some Kenyans described Waiguru as arrogant while others speculated that her nonchalant demeanor means she already knows that she will survive the impeachment.

She(Waiguru) is simply saying youre wasting your time, wrote one Kili Hillary.

Samwel Mwaniki said: She knows that the sorcerer sanitised her and she has nothing to worry!

A third Twitter user, Chebet Purity added: Waiguru already knows that she will win the caseCommittee are wasting time and resources. She belongs to Jayden we all know that.

She has baes powers at her disposal. She isnt worried. Impunity at its best, Hasashi Hanzo commented.

David Kanyuga added: Whats the point of following the proceedings when you already know the results I mean, this is confidence! I am almost jealous.

Waiguru knows we are all being taken on a merry go round. Shes going nowhere, its all a charade. Theres someone somewhere who would never let her go down. And thats all what matters. Thats why shes playing solitaire in in her trial. Sad, said one red pepper.

Calming nerves We all do it in different ways said Adagi.

Chuma Baridi blasted: Bure kabisa! Arrogance at display!

Boredom, lack of interest, contempt and thinking this process is a waste of time, wrote KingMenes.

Mark Kalomba added: Shes indirectly saying #SenateNiYaSweetie. Yall are wasting precious time as a useful resource.

Jared Nyakomita had a different opinion: Yes. She entrusted the whole job with her advocates. What else could she have done to relieve her of boredom?

Who won? The solitare game is called wajinga nyinyi, wrote Mkunsim.

Not surprised. These guys can produce all the evidence from here to Timbaktu but she wont be found guilty. The decision was made, observed Akala.

Kibet noted that: Thats how arrogant and indisciplined she is!!!

While Wanjala Dennis said: When you fly under the wings of a godfather, nothing ever scares you. Your confidence is always over the roof. Thats what waiguru is portraying. Kiburi!

Another who held a different opinion was one, The Uthamakistan President, who wondered: But whats wrong with playing Solitaire? We know so many of us who are always on Instagram while in church. Hypocrisy.

One Pablo Escobar ironically threw his weight behind Waiguru saying: People can call her all sort of names, but I completely stand with her. What do you do if you warn someone not to elect a thief? You stand by the thief. Kirinyaga was warned but they continued to elect her. No sympathy for Kirinyaga people. Let her come back and steal so much as she can so that Tangatanga supporters learn what they will get when they elect Ruto.

Andrew Kabena said: I sympathize with her. I too would be extremely bored. Waigush plays in the league of the moneyed big balls big hagas club. Who can touch her majesty the creator of the heavens as her name suggests?
Georgia's legislature voted 127-38 on Tuesday to pass a bill requiring police officers to document when someone is subjected to a hate crime on the basis of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion or national origin.

The big picture, via the Wall Street Journal: Georgia has been weighing the passage of a hate crimes law for two decades.

The version passed Tuesday had been stalled in the state senate since March 2019, per the WSJ.

The bipartisan effort comes on the heels of countrywide police reform fueled by Black Lives Matter protests, some of which called for justice for Georgia resident Ahmaud Arbery.

Details: The bill also increases prison sentencing for hate crimes. If someone is convicted of a misdemeanor, they will be sentenced to prison for 6-12 months and not fined over $5,000.

If someone is convicted of a felony, they will be sentenced for at least two years and not fined under $5,000.

Driving the news: Gregory and Travis McMichael were arrested on charges of murder and aggravated assault in May for Arbery's death on February 23 in Glynn County, Georgia, which was captured on an alleged cellphone video.

What's next: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) commended the bipartisan push behind the bill on Tuesday and said he plans to sign it, pending a legal review, per his office.

Go deeper: Hate crimes reached a 16-year high in 2018, per FBI report
Music: in Paestum, Muti builds a bridge towards ailing Syria Eroica on 5 July honouring Hevrin Khalaf and Khaled al-Assad

(ANSAmed) - NAPLES, JUNE 24 - A concert event titled "The Roads of Friendship" directed by conductor Riccardo Muti and organised by the Ravenna Festival began in 1997 in Sarajevo and has since taken place in various cities across the world, including Beirut, Jerusalem, Yerevan, New York, and Damascus. This year, the concert moves to Paestum, where it will serve to build a musical bridge towards Syria and the archaeological site of Palmyra, which was devastated by ISIS and was joined with Paestum through a twinning initiative that was launched in 2018.



The concert, performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 "Eroica", will take place in front of the Temple of Neptune on 5 July, with Muti conducting the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra with musicians from the Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert is dedicated to the suffering of the Syrian people in recent years, in the form of two people who are symbolic of that suffering: Hevrin Khalaf and Khaled al-Assad. Khalaf was on the front lines in the fight for women's rights in Syria, and for this she was killed at age 35 in an ambush in October 2019. Assad was the director of the Palmyra museum, left alone to defend it from the destruction of ISIS members who beheaded him before they laid waste to the museum. Kurdish-origin musician Aynur Dogan and artist Zehra Dogan, both of whom work for women's rights and as such have been subject to attacks and censorship, will also be at the concert with Muti. "We are coming to Paestum following the path of the Roads of Friendship that started many years ago in a Sarajevo torn apart by bombs," Muti said. "We are coming with the execution of the Eroica by Beethoven, with that funeral march that reflects the state of our souls for the massacres against culture, and I'm referring to Palmyra, twinned with Paestum, and highlighting our relationship with Syria. The Paestum concert has deep meaning that underscores love and brotherhood towards a country that I've visited. Many years ago I was in Damascus, and I had the chance to work with young Syrian musicians in a rehearsal for a symphony by Tchaikovsky. I don't know if that orchestra still exists, I don't know if the conservatory, which had just been built, still exists. But we are proud to have incorporated some musicians who come from the Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra, who will perform with us," he said.(ANSAmed). (ANSA).




New Delhi: Even as the countrys drug regulator has approved Glenmarks FabiFlu, the generic version of antiviral drug Favipiravir, CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) and Cipla will carry out a larger, multi-centre clinical trial of the drug to check its efficacy and safety among Covid-19 patients.

The CSIR is also going to submit before the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) new proposals to conduct trials on combination drugs, Director General-CSIR Dr Shekhar Mande told News18.

The autonomous body under the Ministry of Science and Technology has focused on repurposing of existing drugs that have been used globally as antiviral medicine. The CSIR has partnered with pharmaceutical companies such as Cipla and Sun Pharma. The scientific body and its partners have got clinical trial approvals for four repurposed drugs  Sepsivac, ACHQ (a phytopharmaceutical plant based drug), Favipiravir and Umifenovir. Sepsivac and Favipiravir are in Phase III of the trials.

Results on repurposed drugs are showing promise and we have some good leads. Cipla is already carrying out Favipiravir trials. The earlier trials had a limited number of people. But now we need a much larger trial on 600-700 people and we will approach the DCGI on that issue, said Dr Mande.

In addition, we have also prepared proposals on trials about three to four combinations of drugs. Our emphasis from now on will be on combinations. One of the drugs would be an antiviral drug. We will be submitting these proposals to the DCGI in the coming days to seek approvals for trials, Dr Mande added.

As per the Clinical Trials Registry  India website Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is carrying out a randomised open-label study to evaluate efficacy and safety of Favipiravir and Umifenovir combination as compared to Favipiravir alone. This is being tested on moderate hospitalized adult Covid-19 patients.

Meanwhile, Cipla is currently in Phase-3 of Favipiravir trials which are being carried out in eight centres in the country. Five of these eight centres have approved the Phase-3 trials. These randomised, open label, prospective, comparative parallel group clinical trials will evaluate efficacy and safety of Favipiravir with supportive care versus supportive alone among patients with mild to moderate Covid-19.

While Glenmark worked independently, CSIR worker on the research and actual synthesis of Favipiravir drug. Favipiravir is a compound and to make the chemical structure in large quantities you need key starting materials. Through a series of chemical synthesis steps, you have to generate the final compound. We generated the end-to-end process and it was handed over to Cipla, Dr Mande said.

We understand our limitations of scaling up beyond our labs while companies can scale up but they need our technical know-how. This is a perfect win-win situation, he added.
Signe Poulsen has led the United Nations Human Rights Office in Seoul, South Korea since it was opened on June 26, 2015 by then U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Zeid Al Hussein to monitor and document human rights issues in North Korea. She recently sat down with RFAs Korean Service on the eve of the offices fifth anniversary to discuss recent increased tensions between Pyongyang and Seoul that stem from the launching of leaflets critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un into the North by helium balloon across the Demilitarized Zone from South Korea.

The anti-Kim leaflets have been a tactic of Pyongyang opponents and human rights groups in the South for decades, but North Korea recently decided to make the fliers a main point of contention in inter-Korean relations. Last week, North Korea destroyed a landmark liaison office with South Korea in a terrific explosiondays after the country said it was cutting all communications with Seoul over the leaflets.

Many experts believe that the leaflet drops are merely an excuse that North Korea is using to ratchet up pressure on Seoul and Washington in a renewed drive to gain concessions in stalled denuclearization negotiations. Pyongyang seeks relief from sanctions aimed at depriving it of resources and cash for illicit weapons programs. Poulsen, a veteran U.N. rights expert with experience in East Timor and Liberia, told RFA that Seoul should investigate ways to send information into North Korea that are less likely to raise tensions between the two Koreas.

RFA: This week marks the fifth anniversary of the opening of the U.N. Human Rights Office in Seoul. A report titled Five Years of the United Nations Human Rights Office in Seoul, was also recently published. Could you please describe the activities of your office?

Poulsen: In the last five years we have been working to implement the mandate that the Human Rights Council of the United Nations gave us, which was basically to follow up on the findings of the Commission of Inquiry report which came out in 2014/2015. And in that regard, we have been doing various things. One of them is monitoring the situation in North Korea. Weve been interviewing persons who recently arrived in South Korea from North Korea. Weve been looking at other information to figure out whats going on. And weve been reporting to the Human Rights Council, to the General Assembly, and to other U.N. rights bodies about the information. And this has meant that the situation in North Korea after the Commission of Inquiry report has remained very solidly on the United Nations agenda so that member states stay informed and updated on recent developments and other issues that may be happening in North Korea. Weve also done quite a bit of publicity with media but reporting on thematic issues like separated families or economic and social rights. And weve built relationships with civil society organizations here in Seoul and beyond that seeking to work together on areas of accountability and human rights in North Korea.

RFA: What are your plans for the next five years?

Poulsen: For the Human Rights Office, what I hope is that we will continue our work, well continue to document what is happening inside North Korea. I hope that we will be able to have access to more information and to have access to North Korea at some point. I hope that well be able to engage with the North Korean authorities to improve their understanding of human rights. And of course, with the people as well. I would also hope that the member states of the United Nations, and the international community as a whole, keeps alert and integrate human rights in approaches to North Korea whether they be on peace talks or in other types of engagement. So, all of those things are things from a human rights office perspective that I hope can happen in the future.

Anti-Kim leaflets

RFA: Recently, North Korea has continued to engage in hostile acts against South Korea, including blowing up a joint liaison office between the two Koreas using the pretext of a North Korean defector groups distribution of leaflets. The South Korean government has said it will legally regulate propaganda leaflets. How do you think the South Korean governments plan squares with the rights of North Koreans to access information?

Poulsen: Both South Korea and North Korea are state parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and that covenant includes the right to impart information by any means, including across frontiers, and this is a right that must be upheld. Now, there are certain restrictions that may be imposed, including for the security of populations, so the South Korean government and the courts of South Korea can take that into consideration. However, its very important that the organizations that work have the right to freedom of expression and that they are able to carry on their important work.

In this regard what one would also hope is that there is a serious conversation with all of those civil society organizations that also have been working on human rights in North Korea, imparting information, and authorities here and other relevant partners on how to best carry on this work and how to most effectively carry on this work, of course without causing big security risks. And that conversation is also in a way a marker of a democratic societyhaving all these diverse voices working. Its good that theres a Panmunjom Declaration where the political leaders talk about inter-people relations in the Koreas and that should certainly be encouraged, but there are other channels that can be used as well. So, I think its important to look at constructive ways of allowing these organizations to continue their important work.

Rights situation

RFA: As the U.S.-North Korea stalemate continues and inter-Korean relations deteriorate, chances of improving human rights in North Korea seems to be decreasing. The human rights situation in North Korea is still poor. What efforts do you think the international community should make to improve it?

Poulsen: I think the international community should make massive efforts because the situation of human rights in North Korea is bad. It continues to be bad and it has been bad. And there are, of course, human rights violations, but what the Commission of Inquiry found on the balance of probability is that there are probably also crimes against humanity happening and certainly over the last five years the testimonies or the information that our office has received indicates that those findings of the Commission of Inquiry are still happening. So, in that sense, its an obligation of the international community to take action, whether through a criminal process, but also through trying to improve the situation inside North Korea. And that requires the cooperation of the North Korean authorities as well.

So, its important that we continue to talk about this and that we dont think that we can change something by putting human rights on the sidelines. I think that what weve shown over the last five years is that by continuing to raise human rights, we can have an impact. Over the last five years, North Korea has reported on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and on the Elimination of the Discrimination of Women. Theyve taken part in the Universal Periodic Review, which is a regular human rights review that all countries undergo. They have started engaging with our headquarters, our office in Geneva, on human rights.

Reported by Jae Duk Seo for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
The number of people in mortgage arrears rose at the start of the year as the lockdown started.

New figures from the Central Bank show a rise in those in arrears for less than three months in the first three months of this year.

There was a rise of 2,841 in the number of home mortgage accounts in arrears in the three months to March.

This was driven by a 3,827 increase in the number entering early arrears. This is defined as an account in arrears for less than 90 days.

The increase in those in early arrears was due to a combination of longer-term arrears accounts reducing, and an increase in new arrears, the Central Bank said.

People in long-term arrears who make some payments, but are still in arrears, are classed as "early arrears" if they get the account's arrears below 90 days past due.

There was a drop of almost 1,000 in those making some payments to reduce the length of time they are in arrears.

Central Bank statisticians said that preliminary indications were that a large number of new arrears accounts had since reverted to having no arrears.

This is largely due to the introduction of Covid-19 payment breaks in the last two weeks of the quarter.

Some 80,000 mortgage holders are currently on payment breaks.

Those availing of the pandemic payment breaks are not classified as being in arrears.

The Central Bank said a total of 63,437 accounts were in some form of arrears.

A key measure is the number of mortgage accounts in arrears for more than two years, as these households face the prospect of being evicted.

The new figures show there were 26,421 accounts in arrears for more than two years, a fall of 664 from the end of last year.

Non-bank entities, such as vulture funds whose mortgages are handled by credit servicing firms, held 13pc of all residential mortgage accounts outstanding at the end of March.

However, they held 55pc of mortgages in arrears for more than two years, the data shows.

Brokers Ireland accused lenders of pursing a policy of "extend and pretend".

Rachel McGovern, of the organisation, said most of the 81,255 home mortgage terms restructured involve arrears capitalisation where arrears are added to the remaining balance.

"Effectively that is extending and pretending. It is prolonging the agony which will have to be faced up to at some point," she said.
Today, the U.S. Senate is working on a bipartisan climate solution that could help future generations avoid the worst effects of climate change and help farmers across America today. Our nations farmers and ranchers always have been a symbol of hard-working Americans, an essential part of our food supply, and a bellwether for our economy. Thanks to well-crafted, market-based legislation with broad private-sector and environment support, soon theyll be growing climate solutions too.

If enacted, the framework for voluntary climate action would open the door for farmers, ranchers, and private landowners to supplement their income by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering emissions in soil and biomass.

For as long as weve known about climate change, its been clear that plants are part of the solution: plants are the oldest and most efficient mechanisms for pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Over the past few decades a patchwork of programs and markets have sprouted up around the country to match demand for carbon emissions reductions with supply. However, no federal program exists to verify protocols and establish accounting methodologies for these markets. As a result, the transaction cost for utilizing these types of carbon offsets was too high, and markets were small.

The Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2020 solves this market failure by establishing a voluntary framework for certifying third-party credits, providing technical assistance to land managers, and establishing an Advisory Council of diverse environmental, agricultural, scientific, and business interests to help define the proper role for the federal government in these markets going forward.

Its a big deal because of support from some of the biggest names in agriculture (e.g., Cargill, American Farm Bureau) and conservation (e.g. Audubon, The Nature Conservancy). The conservative proposal is sponsored by Republican Senators Mike Braun (IN) and Lindsey Graham (SC). Its bipartisan and has drawn Democratic co-sponsors Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) because it is strong climate policy. These four senators should be congratulated for putting pen to paper on a commonsense solution that helps solve the climate challenge.

The climate bill would grow the market for a wide range of projects including land or soil carbon sequestration, livestock emissions reductions, reforestation, and improved grassland management, including prescribed grazing. Wisely, the climate bill keeps the door open to other activities that are deemed legitimate by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Advisory Council.

Indeed, the strength of the proposal is the focus on quantifying emissions reductions and sequestration, verifying that data, and assuring that carbon sequestration is permanent and better than the historic baseline.

This can work because offset credit and voluntary markets have overcome historic challenges and growing pains. The European system was plagued by fraud from credits offered by developing countries, and the Chicago Climate Exchange closed its doors due to a thin market. But times have changed. Companies are lining up in the race to achieve net zero emissions. Smartphones have enabled offset producers to use GPS-tagged photos of whats growing on the ground while satellites verify from the sky. The approach could help speed up a race-to-the-top in environmental performance.

This voluntary framework approach will increase transparency and accountability, increase investment in offsets and a carbon-focused economy, and further decrease U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. It will help protect investors and help assure fair and orderly voluntary carbon transactions. And it is a federal approach that complements what states are doing to tackle climate change. The federal government wont dictate how carbon emissions will be reduced, but individuals, businesses, and capital markets will have better information on who is active in this space.

Climate hawks should be encouraged by the laser-focused and limited federal effort envisioned by the Growing Climate Solutions Act. Big government should not by synonymous with big climate action. By facilitating many more people and companies to take matters into their own hands and get credit for implementing best carbon management practicesor financing those practicesthe scale of the solution grows. Passing this bill will not be the final step in solving the climate problem, but it is an important step to take now. And action in the agriculture sector could be mirrored for other sectors too.

By democratizing and decentralizing climate action we can feel better about the decisions we make in the store or when shopping online. And, once again, well have Americas farmers and ranchers to thank.

Charles Hernick is the Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) Forum, a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501c(3) organization committed to educating the public and influencing the national conversation about clean energy, including through the Clean Energy Forward campaign.
President of Dankook University Kim Soo-bok speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, June 15. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



By Kim Se-jeong



In 1974, Kim Soo-bok was a freshman at Dankook University's Korean language department.



In his second year of study, he won an award for a poem he wrote and started his life as a poet.



In 1985, he joined the school faculty and from 2004 he took a management position at the school.



After serving as dean at the College of Liberal Arts and for Academic Affairs, he became vice president of the university's Cheonan campus in 2017.



And on Aug. 26 last year, he was sworn in as Dankook's president, becoming the first alumni to take office in the school's 73-year history.



Kim had a vision for his presidency of nurturing and empowering students by giving them the freedom to choose what they want to study regardless of their initial fields and integrating technologies to achieve this goal. He utilized the "Digital Creative Campus," project as a means to achieve his ambitious goal.



In October last year, he visited Arizona State University which is regarded as a frontrunner in digital education in an attempt to find benchmarks and cooperation.



Then, came the COVID-19 pandemic.



"We, as a school, were developing new ways of giving lectures, and the pandemic gave us the opportunity to test what we'd been developing," Kim said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.



As the university remained closed, the school organized an online welcoming ceremony for new freshmen and streamed it live on YouTube. During the ceremony, Kim took questions from student body representatives about the upcoming school year in the pandemic.



Around 5,000 lectures were recorded and posted as files online  professors recorded these themselves and posted them on the school website for all students.



To adapt to the online education, Dankook expanded its server by 40 terabytes and made other technical improvements to make the school system more accessible.



"The first three weeks were very hectic. Teachers needed time to use the tools and deliver the lectures," Kim said adding that "It was not easy to make new syllabuses, record lectures and edit them. I have a big appreciation for the professors."



"After three weeks, students began to show satisfaction. It was a big relief that things began moving without any big problems. It was important for us to keep the students' rights to learn amid the pandemic and we were trying to see what we could do to protect those rights," Kim said.



Yet, not all students were happy with the online lectures and some demanded their tuition back.



Asked about the tuition refund, President Kim only said representatives from the school and the student body were in close communication.



His comments came only a few hours after the Konkuk University in Seoul announced it would give a partial tuition refund, triggering another nationwide debate among universities and the government.



"Every university has a different financial condition and so a solution for each school should be different. Discussions are under way. It's too early to say what we will do," Kim said.



In 2007, Dankook moved its Seoul campus to the current location in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. With the new land more than double the size of the Seoul campus, the school invested in modernizing facilities equipping them with cutting-edge technologies.



The president said the pandemic is bringing in sweeping changes to Korea's higher education and Dankook is adapting fast to these.



This summer, the school will outfit 30 classrooms with devices that will enable professors to record videos and edit the content much more easily than now.



"The pandemic taught us that conventional teaching in a room with a group of students doesn't work anymore," Kim said.



The school is also looking forward to integrating its chatbot, DanAI, into student's academic decision-making.



Invented four years ago, DanAI was put online last year.



"The chatbot is like an advisor. For example, if a student majoring in Korean language wants to become a journalist, DanAI can advise them with information on courses he (she) can take at Dankook and help make an academic schedule for them for the entire four years. Also, DanAI can answer simpler questions about scholarship opportunities and extra-curricular activities that suit the person," the president said.



Founded in 1947, Dankook was the nation's first private four-year higher education institute since independence in 1945.



Among 25,000 enrolled students, the number of international students accounts for 2,000.



In the beginning of the pandemic in Korea, 163 Chinese students staying in quarantine collected donations of 3.3 million won and sent it to the Daegu Metropolitan Government.



"It was when there was a heated debate over banning Chinese people from entering Korea. I can say for sure what the Chinese students did contributed to alleviating tension between Korean and Chinese nationals at the time," Kim said. "In response, we received almost 4,000 masks from Shandong University of Arts and other institutions in China," the president said.


Medical consultations are vital to save the lives of manyeven the process of making the structure of healthcare organizations more efficient benefits the health of patients.

American actor Laurence Fishburne is best known for his impressive list of performances throughout the decades, playing leads and supporting roles in film, television, and the stage. The Apocalypse Now actor is now using his talents hosting the educational television show In Depth with Laurence Fishburne. Industry experts are interviewed on the segment to bring attention to various subjects that impact individuals worldwide. An upcoming episode will delve into the medical industry and will discuss consultation within the medical field with healthcare professionals.

A consultation is the act of physicians seeking assistance from other physicians or healthcare professionals for therapeutic interventions, diagnostic studies, or other additional services that may help the patient. Medical practitioners all have individual experiences and levels of knowledge of the industry. It can be beneficial to consult with other physicians to gain comprehensive assessments, recommendations, and facilitated action plans.

Consulting can go beyond diagnosing patients. Healthcare professionals can discover different ways to organize and assess various medical staff and discuss governance strategies and structures.

Medical consultations are vital to save the lives of manyeven the process of making the structure of healthcare organizations more efficient benefits the health of patients. In Depth will discuss more consulting within healthcare systems details in the new episode.

In Depth with Laurence Fishburne is carefully reviewed before broadcast to a broader viewing audience. The informative TV program has received numerous accolades for its endeavors in the television arena.


DECATUR  The nine-year run for Decatur's Come Together, Be Empowered event has come to an end, and the coronavirus isn't to blame.

They decided to break off and do something different, event coordinator Brenda Fleming said of the sponsors. They were going to use their funding to fund other things.

Fleming said the decision was made soon after last year's event concluded.

Come Together, Be Empowered, usually held at the end of June, included a competitive, timed 5K run and a one-mile and 5K walk. In the past, it went by other names including Come Together, Lets Walk and the Decatur Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Participants gathered together, sometimes dressed in matching clothing or in costume, to walk around Fairview Park. The event was designed to raise money for ovarian, breast and cervical cancer programs and education. Nearly 1,000 participants would take part in the races.

The fundraiser was able to contribute approximately $40,000 each year to local agencies.

The local hospitals were important sponsors for Come Together, donating approximately $15,000 each. Both healthcare facilities have gone through changes in the past year.

It was good timing for them to put their funds somewhere else, Fleming said. But without their funding, it would make it very difficult for Come Together to survive and have the type of event that weve had each year.

The Community Foundation of Macon County has been an important partner in helping fund the event. Without assistance from the organization, Come Together would have had to apply for its own 501(c)3 status.

And trying to come up with additional funding, it was just something that would have been very difficult for the committee to do, Fleming said. We just decided to not move forward.

Fleming admits she is disappointed in the decision. Its a great event for our community, she said. It was something we really rallied around.

Fleming said she has been a member of the committee for nearly 20 years, when the event was associated with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Its hard to see it go, Fleming said. The groups who received that funding, its going to be difficult for them, because its hard for them to make up that kind of extra, additional income that they get to use for programs.

The event provided funding for womens health and cancer education and research. And it also provided hope, Fleming said.

Come Together, Be Empowered 2019

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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[June 24, 2020] Golden Future Expected for Burgeoning Bitcoin Mining Industry

NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NetworkWire  International Spirits & Wellness Holdings Inc. (ISW Holdings) (OTC: ISWH) today announces its placement in an editorial published by NetworkNewsWire ("NNW"), one of 40+ brands in the InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN), a multifaceted financial news and publishing company for private and public entities.

To view the full publication, The New Gold Rush Isnt Gold, visit: http://nnw.fm/VYjy8. In a bold foray into the new gold rush, International Spirits & Wellness Holdings Inc. (ISW Holdings) (OTC: ISWH) ( ISWH Profile ) recently announced a strategic partnership with Bit5ive LLC, a global leader in cryptocurrency mining and innovative turnkey mining solutions. ISW Holdings looks to combine this joint venture with its current renewable energy project to provide crypto miners the energy, hardware, and infrastructure they need, capturing a significant slice of a burgeoning digital bonanza. As in 1848, cashing in from the crypto bonanza seems best achieved by providing crypto miners with the needed tools and supplies. Outside of a few industrial uses, golds inherent value is really based on its scarcity due to the difficulties and costs of mining it. Gold has long held the mantle of safe haven from fiat currency gyrations and economic turmoiland the same is proving true for the new digital gold. In just 11 years, cryptocurrency has exhibited similar attributes, and a myriad of forecasts project Bitcoin to reach over one hundred thousand dollars in the next few years. About ISW Holdings

ISW Holdings ( ISWH ), based in Nevada, is a diversified portfolio company comprised of essential business lines that serve consumer product demands. Our expertise lies in strategic brand development, early growth facilitation, as well as brand identity through our proprietary procurement process. Together, with our partners, we seek to provide a structure that meets large scalability demands, as well as anticipated marketplace needs. We are able to meet these needs through a variety of strategic innovative processes.



ISWH is creating and managing brands across a spectrum of disruptive industries. It maneuvers its proprietary companies through critical stages of market development, which includes conceptualization, go-to-market strategies, engineering, product integration, and distribution efficiency. The company has also partnered with a well-known software development and consulting company, Bengala Technologies LLC, which is developing significant enhancements in the supply chain management space; and, the partnership has a vitally needed patent pending. For more information, visit www.iswholdings.com

About NetworkNewsWire NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is a financial news and content distribution company, one of 40+ brands within our InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN), that provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via NetworkWire?to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) enhanced press release solutions to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience comprising investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in todays market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge. For more information, please visit: https://www.NetworkNewsWire.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published:?http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Corporate Communications: NetworkNewsWire (NNW)

New York, New York

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A s businesses start to reopen their doors for the first time since March, employees are facing new uncertainty about returning to work.

Businesses have been forced to rely on Government handouts to stay open during the coronavirus crisis, as attempts to stop the spread of the disease forced them to send their staff home and close their doors.

Some 9.2 million jobs were covered by the furlough scheme, with 1.1 million businesses claiming a total of 22.9 billion up to June 21.

But the furlough scheme closed to new applications earlier this month, and employers will need to start making compulsory contributions to the scheme from August.

Here, we take a look at what you need to know about returning to work.

Millions of people have been working from home amid the coronavirus outbreak / PA

Can I still work from home if I want to?

While the Government has not recommended ending working from home, the reduced virus transmission risk might encourage employers to start calling workers back in.

Mr Johnson said "reducing the number of people in enclosed spaces, improving ventilation, using protective screens and face coverings" could all be deployed, on top of keeping a metre away from each other.

He also suggested shift patterns could be changed so staff work in set teams.

While some firms have told staff they will not be returning to the office until September, others are encouraging employees to return sooner.

If you don't want to go back to work, you could be asked to take the time off as holiday or unpaid leave, but your employer does not have to agree to this.

If you refuse to attend work without a valid reason, it could result in disciplinary action.

If you want to continue working from home, it is worth asking the question, but legally, your employer does not have to let you.

Shops reopen during Coronavirus lockdown ease 1 /45 Shops reopen during Coronavirus lockdown ease Primark in Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn A member of staff prepares to open a branch of H&M in Canterbury, Kent, PA Primark in Birmingham PA NikeTown Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Primark in Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Shop staff in face masks give a round of applause to the first customers through the doors at the Fenwick store in Newcastle PA Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn A doorman in a face mask waits to welcome back customers to the Fenwick store in Northumberland Street, Newcastle PA People queue for outside shops in Canterbury, Ken PA People queue for outside shops in Canterbury, Kent PA Primark in Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn A customer dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE) in line to shop at Primark, Birmingham PA Primark in Birmingham PA Primark in Birmingham PA NikeTown Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Selfridges Matt Writtle/Selfridges Selfridges Matt Writtle/Selfridges A Harrod's 'Green Man' welcomes customers back to Harrods store in Knightsbridge, London PA Customers wait outside Harrods store in Knightsbridge, London PA Primark in Birmingham PA Primark in Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Kathryn Stanczyszyn Kathryn Stanczyszyn/BBC People queue ahead of the opening of Primark in Leeds PA Selfridges Matt Writtle/Selfridges A customer dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE) in line to shop at Primark, Birmingham PA A customer carrying bags of shopping leaves Primark in Birmingham PA Primark Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Primark Oxford Street Jeremy Selwyn Shoppers in line outside John Lewis in Kingston PA Shops and businesses in Chelsea, West London prepare to re-open to customers Daniel Hambury REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS

How soon could I have to return to work?

There is no legal requirement outlining how much notice an employer must given you before asking you to return to work.

But they are expected to be reasonable and experts suggest giving staff at least a week's notice.

What if I don't think it will be safe?

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, employers must ensure the workplace is safe.

Employers should undertake a risk assessment to identify what might cause harm and take reasonable steps to prevent it.

If you are concerned about returning to the workplace, you should speak to your employer about the steps which are being taken.

Face coverings on public transport have become mandatory as usage starts to rise / Reuters

Could my hours be reduced?

An employer is generally not allowed to impose a pay cut or reduced hours without your consent.

But there is an exception if your contract reserves the right to vary your pay and hours.

If your employer decides to reduce your hours without consent or the right reserved in your employment contract, you could pursue a claim for constructive dismissal.

Can I apply for another job?

You might be able to get a different job while your current employer has put you on furlough, as this will not affect the grant they can claim to cover your wages - but check with your employer first.

If you are furloughed, you are not allowed to work for the company, even if you can or you want to.

Remember, your employer also cannot ask you to do work for another linked or associated company.

If this happens, you can complain to your boss in writing, or complain directly to HMRC.

Coronavirus has killed more than 40,000 people in the UK / REUTERS

What if I am made redundant?

It is important to be aware that your employer can still make you redundant while youre on furlough or afterwards.

But your rights as an employee are not affected by being on furlough, including redundancy rights.

The statutory minimum notice period for redundancy is one week for every year you have been employed, up to 12 weeks.

For those aged 22 to 40, who have worked at the company for at least two years, statutory redundancy pay is one week's wages for every year you have worked there.

This increases for those aged 41 or older.

Many firms have their own redundancy packages.

Can I be forced to take annual leave?

Employers can require you to take a period of annual leave, provided that they give you the required notice.

An employer could, for example, close for a week and tell everyone to use their holiday.

But the business must give you a period of notice which is at least twice as long as the period of leave it requires you to take.

Businesses have started to reopen, with many more set to restart from July 4 / AP

For example, if your employer wants you to take one week's annual leave, it must give you at least two weeks' notice.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Asas) said the Government has also introduced a temporary new law allowing employees and workers to carry over up to four weeks' paid holiday into their next two holiday leave years.

The law applies to any worker who does not take holiday because of coronavirus - for example if they're self-isolating or they have had to continue working and could not take paid holiday.

Workers may also be able to carry over holiday into next year if they have been furloughed and cannot use it.

What if I am self-employed?

You can apply for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant, which is worth up to 80 per cent of average trading profits for those stuck at home.

It is designed to match the support being given to furloughed workers.

The maximum payment will be 7,500, intended to cover March, April and May.

HMRC will work out your eligibility by looking at your 2018 to 2019 Self Assessment tax return.

Your trading profits must be no more than 50,000 and at least equal to your non-trading income.

Brits must self-isolate for 14 days if they develop coronavirus symptoms / Reuters

What if I need time off to look after someone or I need to self-isolate?

Employees are entitled to time off work to help someone who depends on them in an unexpected event or emergency, such as coronavirus.

There's no statutory right to pay for this time off, but some businesses might offer pay depending on the contract or policy.

But if you or someone in your same household gets coronavirus symptoms, you should receive Statutory Sick Pay at 95.85 a week, as long as you earn at least 120 a week and are not self-employed.

As of March 13, anyone who has coronavirus symptoms or needs to self-isolate is entitled to sick pay.

People who have been told to "shield" or told to self-isolate by the Government should also receive sick pay.

Remember, if you are self-isolating, you still need to follow your workplace's usual sickness reporting process.

Is this the end of lockdown, then?

Not fully. There are still restrictions in place but it is a significant easing and the new measures will allow people to socialise more than they have in months.

But the PM warned that local lockdowns, and even a clampdown affecting the whole country, could still be required if major Covid outbreaks occur.
Veteran Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan has been admitted to the Guru Nanak Hospital in Bandra after she complained of trouble in breathing. The 71-year old, who has been in the hospital since Saturday has tested negative for novel coronavirus.

IANS quoted a relative of the choreographer as saying, "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."

In a career spanning around four decades, Saroj Khan has choreographed more than 2000 songs. The three-time national award winner is famous for superhits like Hawa Hawai from Mr India featuring the late Sridevi, Ek do Teen from Tezaab and Dhak Dhak, both of which featured Madhuri Dixit. Apart from these, her famous film outings include hits like Hum Ko Aaj Kal Hai Intezaar from Sailaab, Nimbooda from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Dola Re Dola from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas.

Lately, she has been selective about her projects. Her latest film outings include Tabaah Ho Gaye from the 2019 movie Kalank, choreographing Kangana Ranaut in the 2019 film Manikarnika as well the 2015 film Tanu weds Manu Returns.

Also read: Keerthy Suresh's Penguin leaked online on TamilRockers, other torrent sites
[June 24, 2020] InsurTech NY Announces First NYC InsurTech Accelerator Coming in October

NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- InsurTech NY, the largest InsurTech community in the New York metro area, announced today the upcoming launch of the InsurTech NY Accelerator, the first dedicated NYC-based accelerator for growth-stage InsurTech startups. Scheduled to begin operations in October, the accelerator will start taking applications from growth-stage startups that have revenue and customers in late July. "Growth stage InsurTechs will benefit from a dedicated advocate to help them navigate the partnership process with insurance carriers and brokers," said David Gritz, InsurTech NY Managing Director. "Our community has been there to support the needs of the InsurTech ecosystem. We are pleased to introduce a platform for those that want to rapidly expand their business through our partners." InsurTech NY Accelerator will focus on the three things that matter most to growth-stage InsurTechs: traction, talent, and financing. The program will provide access to insurance carriers and brokers looking to deploy new technologies and provide financial backing to digital managing general agencies (MGAs). "New York is known as the home to three InsurTech nicorns: Lemonade, Oscar, and Policy Genius," said Paul Tyler, CMO of Nassau Re. "We hope to use the InsurTech NY platform to find and support the next set of InsurTech unicorns."



The initial carriers and brokers in the program include Arch Capital, Flagship Insurance, Greenlight Re, Nassau Re, Nationwide, Swiss Re, Transverse Insurance, and five others to be announced. Participating corporations will rotate in hosting InsurTechs during the program. The first cohort will run for six weeks, and InsurTech startups will not give up equity to be part of the program. About InsurTech NY

InsurTech NY supports the insurance innovation community in the New York metro area. InsurTech NY brings together carriers, brokers, investors, and InsurTech startups via bi-monthly programs. InsurTech NY's mission is to drive talent to insurance, make regulation innovation-friendly, attract InsurTechs to the New York metro area, and improve access to investment. See more at www.insurtechny.com/accelerator or follow us on LinkedIn( www.linkedin.com/company/insurtechny ).

Media Contact

David Gritz

[email protected]

212-634-9516 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/insurtech-ny-announces-first-nyc-insurtech-accelerator-coming-in-october-301082803.html SOURCE InsurTech NY

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Alabama has begun cutting unemployment benefits for people who refuse to return to work after the coronavirus lockdown.

Employers have reported 3,336 people to state authorities for refusing to return to work since January, according to AL.com.

Workers who are directly affected by coronavirus will not have their benefits cut - but a general unease about returning to work is not a good enough excuse, officials say. Ohio has previously imposed similar rules.

Alabama has suffered 30,670 coronavirus cases, with nearly a third of those coming in the last 14 days amid a spike in infections in the South.

Alabama has begun docking unemployment benefits for people who refuse to return to work after the coronavirus lockdown (file photo)

Tara Hutchinson, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Department of Labor, said cases were reported where bosses 'have called the employee back to work and the employee has refused'.

The volume of 'refusal to work' cases being reviewed is unusually high due to the pandemic, she said.

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.

The federal CARES Act allows workers impacted by Covid-19 to stay on unemployment benefits under some circumstances.

These include employees who currently have the disease itself, or are caring for someone who is infected.

Caring for a child whose school is closed or dealing with the Covid-19 death of a primary breadwinner are other exceptions under the federal legislation.

However, those who simply feel unsafe returning to work are not protected. 'A general fear is not a valid reason,' Hutchinson said.

After the labor 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.

Hutchinson said the review has been 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.

UAB professor of Management, Dr. George Munchus, said going forward will require mutual adjustments from employers and workers.

'Employers are going to have to listen to some of the ideas the employees have on how to make the workplace safe,' he said.

Alabama has begun re-opening despite a rise in new cases, with 9,181 new infections reported in the last two weeks.

Over the two weeks up to June 21, Alabama had the second highest number of new cases per capita in the nation.

South Carolina was fourth while Louisiana and Mississippi were also in the top 10 amid fears of a growing surge in the South.

Dr. Selwyn Vickers, dean of the UAB School of Medicine, said the South has high rates of diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease and high blood pressure - all illnesses that put people at risk from Covid-19.


While some people are slowly venturing out to local bars and restaurants, taking an overseas vacation is not a reality for most of us right now. Creating an outdoor entertaining space is not only a way to make your backyard a summer vacation destination, it can also prove to be a wise move down the line. "The investment that homeowners are willing to make in outdoor kitchens and bars continues to rise. We know it's a difficult time for everyone, but hopefully we can help people create comfortable and beautiful spaces that they can enjoy with friends and family now and for years to come," said Heather Shannon, Perlick Senior Brand Marketing Manager.

Perlick has the industry's widest selection of residential UL-rated outdoor refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, wine reserves and beer dispensers. Each Perlick unit is tested to 105 degrees to ensure peak performance, so you can serve up cold beer and tropical drinks in your backyard oasis! Unique door and drawer frame heaters prevent condensation on our beverage centers. Each unit features Perlick's exclusive RAPIDcool forced-air refrigeration system that pulls down product temperature twice as fast as the competition, so beverages get cold quicker, and maintain temperature 70% better than other systems so your beverages and snacks can always be enjoyed at the perfect temperature.

Perlick's 103-year-old history of commercial bar and refrigeration manufacturing means customers can expect the same level of quality and dependability at home as they can at their favorite bar, restaurant or stadium. "When designing our outdoor line, we relied on our commercial engineering knowledge to ensure family chefs, grill masters, home brewers and amateur mixologists can store their fresh ingredients and beloved beverages with the same care and precision as prized wine collections and gourmet restaurant delicacies," Shannon said.

Perlick has dealers across the U.S. and Canada who can help you create your stress-free backyard escape. Contact us for more information. Our customer service representatives can answer any questions you may have about designing the perfect outdoor space for your family's individual needs.

Cheers to the sounds of laughter over a glass of wine with girlfriends, a cold draft at the barbeque, or frozen treats with the kids poolside. Don't let these precious summer months slip by; enjoy them outdoors gathering with family and friends.

ABOUT PERLICK CORPORATION

Family owned since 1917, Perlick Corporation is a national manufacturing leader in customizable food and beverage storage and serving solutions. Perlick's commercial line includes custom bar and beverage and refrigeration equipment, innovative underbar items, industry-leading beverage dispensing equipment and time-tested brewery fittings. The company's award-winning, luxury residential product line features indoor and outdoor undercounter refrigerators, wine reserves, freezers, freezer and refrigerator drawers, ice makers, and beer dispensers. In 2018, the company brought its history of innovation to the full-size appliance category with the introduction of column refrigerators, freezers and wine reserves. A Milwaukee-based manufacturer, Perlick is dedicated to providing precision-engineered, quality, customizable food and beverage storage and serving solutions. To learn more, visit www.perlick.com or call 800-558-5592.

SOURCE Perlick Corporation

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Nicosia, Cyprus, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) and the American Medical Association (AMA) marked the one year anniversary of the adoption of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and the significant health care progress that the medical code set has enabled in the last year.



An agreement with the AMA provided the HIO a license to use CPT content, a comprehensive, leading-edge code set developed by the AMA that identifies and describes more than 10,000 medical services and procedures. Since the agreement, the HIO has been using CPT to improve standardization and data quality. This has an important impact not only on the HIOs ability to track data, but also impacts claims management as well. To reduce the incidence of incorrect coding, HIO has built medical rules that encourage proper coding while also making it easier to limit deviations and improper use. This improves the integrity of the entire system. The one-year anniversary has also given the HIO enough time to extract meaningful data to drive policy and further support the evolution of the healthcare system.



Following the initial launch of the General Healthcare System in Cyprus and the adoption of CPT as a code set for the purposes of outpatient specialists activities, the HIO has been identifying through claims management trends and patterns on the services provided to GHS beneficiaries. Data reported by the CPT code has helped guide policy making. More specifically, guidelines are being issued to healthcare providers as a measure to promote better healthcare quality, correct coding but also to control costs and define coverage of services.



Furthermore, HIO has set up a separate department to manage activity catalogues and interact with scientific societies in order to refine existing catalogues as a means of achieving ongoing improvement.



HIO was established for the implementation and administration of the GHS, a patient-centric healthcare system based on social solidarity that achieves universal coverage of the population, equal treatment of all beneficiaries, provision of a comprehensive package of healthcare services and freedom of choice of provider by beneficiaries.



HIO administers a special GHS fund from which all payments are made to compensate healthcare providers for the provision of healthcare services to GHS beneficiaries. CPT codes are used to identify the specific treatments and procedures provided to patients by Outpatient specialists and streamlines the reporting of this information to HIO for review and payment.



CPT content serves the needs of data-driven health systems by allowing healthcare providers and payor organizations to easily exchange unprecedented amounts of standardized data on the medical services and procedures provided to patients. This seamless flow of information facilitates reporting, measuring, analyzing, researching, and benchmarking of medical services and procedures with the goal of delivering better patient care, better outcomes and lower costs.



For over fifty years, CPT has served the needs of integrated health delivery systems that need efficient and effective data exchange to help improve cost, quality, and access to care, said AMA President-elect Gerald E. Harmon, M.D. As a uniform and rigorous code set, CPT is widely trusted as medicines universal language for reporting medical services and procedures provided to patients.



Medical knowledge and science are constantly advancing, so the CPT Editorial Panel manages an extensive process to make sure the CPT code set advances with it. The Panel obtains broad input from practicing physicians and the health care community to ensure that the CPT code set reflects the coding demands of digital health, precision medicine, augmented intelligence, and other aspects of a modern health care system. This rigorous process keeps the CPT code set current with contemporary medical science and technology, so it can fulfill its vital role as the language of medicine today and the code to its future.


In a 2-1 opinion, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has granted Michael Flynns petition for a writ of mandamus ordering Judge Emmet Sullivan to dismiss the case against General Flynn. I commented on the oral argument before the court here on June 12. I have embedded the panel opinion below along with the dissent.

Judge Raos opinion for the panel responds in detail to Judge Wilkinss dissent. I think Judge Rao seeks to dissuade the D.C. Circuit from finding a way to rehear the case en banc under Rule 35 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

The Flynn case constitutes a sidebar to the biggest political scandal in American history by far. One can only hope that this is, as it should be, the end of the road for this utterly disgraceful case.

20-5143-1848728 by Scott Johnson on Scribd
A spike in coronavirus cases across several states is fueling fears of a second wave of the deadly virus, with Texas now urging residents to stay home, states including Florida and New Jersey vowing to crack down on bars and California recording its worst day on record for new cases.

Seven states of Arizona, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas are recording their highest number of hospitalizations since the pandemic first started ravaging the nation.

California has reached a record-high of more than 5,000 positive coronavirus tests in a single day, as cases surge among the San Quentin prison population and officials say a 'superspreader' infected at least 12 people at a large family gathering.

Texas, which was one of the first states to start reopening back in April, has also reached an all-time high of new cases leading Republican Governor Greg Abbott to backpedal on efforts to get back to business as usual and tell people not to leave the house unless they need to.

In Florida, where new cases surged 87 percent last week, Governor Ron DeSantis warned Tuesday he will be cracking down on bars and restaurants that flout social distancing guidelines, after reports of large parties across the state.

A similar hard line is being adopted in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy said Monday, in response to images circulated on social media which showed large crowds gathering at newly reopened bars and restaurants.

Experts are warning that the nationwide increase in infections is largely coming from a spike in cases among young people who are ignoring social distancing measures and testing positive for the virus.

CALIFORNIA: Beach-goers enjoy a nice summer day at Corona Del Mar State Beach in California Monday. Fears are mounting that the state could be on track for a 'second wave' of the killer virus as the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations steadily climbs while lockdown rules continue to ease

FLORIDA: Governor Ron DeSantis said Tuesday bars and restaurants found to be breaking the state's social distancing and capacity guidelines could lose their alcohol licenses. Pictured Lynch's Irish Pub where several revellers tested positive for the virus after going to the bar

NEW JERSEY: Governor Phil Murphy said he will clamp down on reopened bars and restaurants in response to images circulated on social media which showed large crowds gathering at newly reopened bars and restaurants. The D'Jais Bar and Grill in Belmar Saturday

TEXAS: Hospitalizations in Texas soared to record levels sparking fears of a second wave

ARIZONA: Arizona reported a record 3,591 new infections on Monday

Stark data revealed Tuesday that Arizona, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas have all reached all-time highs in hospitalizations due to COVID-19.

Arizona, Nevada and Missouri also reached record highs in new daily cases of the virus and nationwide the US marked its first increase in daily deaths since June 7 with more than 800 Americans killed by the virus, the shocking report from The Washington Post found.

A staggering 33 states and US territories recorded a higher rolling average of new cases this week than the week before, with the virus spreading across the South and West.

California recorded its highest number of daily new COVID-19 cases throughout the entire pandemic Monday, with 5,019 infections in just 24 hours.

The concerning tally of new infections soared past the previous record of 4,515 recorded on Saturday and has taken the US's second hardest-hit state up to 183,073 total infections.

Fears are mounting that the state could be on track for a 'second wave' of the killer virus as the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations steadily climbs while lockdown rules continue to ease.

California has reached a new high in the number of hospitalizations, with 3,868 hospitalized patients Monday, of which 1,225 were in intensive care.

Another 65 Californians were also killed by the virus Monday, taking the death toll to 5,580.

Texas, which was one of the first states to start reopening back in April, has also reached an all-time high of new cases leading Republican Governor Greg Abbott (pictured) to backpedal on efforts to get back to business as usual

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

Los Angeles County continues to be the hardest-hit region, with more than 2,000 new infections recorded for the third time in the last week alone.

Another 2,542 people tested positive for the virus Monday, soaring higher than the previous record day of 2,115 new confirmed cases on Wednesday and taking the total number of cases to 85,925.

San Diego County has also beaten its own records in recent days, with more than 300 new cases confirmed for the second day in a row Monday, after a historic high of 310 Sunday.

The surge in cases across the state comes amid reports that cases are growing among the San Quentin prison population in Marin County, around a month after multiple inmates were moved there from the highly-infected California Institution of Men in Chino facility.

As of Monday afternoon, 342 inmates at San Quentin have tested positive for the deadly virus, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation COVID-19 tracker.

California recorded its highest number of daily new COVID-19 cases throughout the entire pandemic Monday, with 5,019 infections in just 24 hours

People flocked to beaches in line with the state's reopening. California has reached a new high in the number of hospitalizations, with 3,868 hospitalized patients Monday, of which 1,225 were in intensive care

The scale of the outbreak is sparking concerns, after the figures skyrocketed in the last two weeks, with only about two dozen cases recorded just a fortnight ago.

No cases at all had been recorded in the prison until inmates were moved from Chino late May.

The inmates were moved because Chino was grappling with a major outbreak so as 'to reduce density in living quarters and protect our most vulnerable population,' the CDCR said.

Inmates were tested for coronavirus before being transferred, but some then tested positive after arriving at San Quentin, SF Gate reported.

However, a federal judge blasted the move of inmates between the two prisons a 'significant failure of policy and planning'.

US District Judge Jon Tigar of Oakland said during a court hearing Friday that prison officials should transfer vulnerable prisoners to a new facility or release some inmates early in desperate efforts to save their lives as the outbreak ramps up.

Cases are growing among the San Quentin prison population in Marin County (pictured), around a month after multiple inmates were moved there from the highly-infected California Institution of Men in Chino facility

California Governor Gavin Newsom (pictured) has not ruled out putting the state back into lockdown if cases continue to soar

Prisons have long been hotbeds for the virus since it first touched down on US soil, as a large volume of people in cramped environments creates the perfect condition for the infection to spread.

Officials have also traced a new outbreak in Shasta County back to a man who defied social distancing guidelines to attend a 'large family gathering' where he infected at least 12 people.

The unnamed male 'superspreader' in his 20s went to the party of at least 20 a few weeks back and later tested positive for the virus.

The other partygoers were told to self-quarantine by health officials and, by June 21, 12 had also tested positive with most showing symptoms for COVID-19.

Large indoor gatherings continue to be banned under the state's stay-at-home order.

Numbers in the county have been gradually rising throughout June, leading health officials to issue an alert level of 3 out of 4.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has not ruled out putting the state back into lockdown if cases continue to soar.

Newsom said Monday that he does not want to shutter the state again but that he is 'prepared' to do so if necessary, as he urged residents to keep following social distancing as rules are relaxed.

'It's your individual decision that will determine our fate and future... to mitigate the likelihood and need that we ever have to toggle back on these stay-at-home orders,' he said in a press conference.

'We don't intend to do that. We don't want to do that. But I want to make this clear: We are prepared to do that, if we must.'

California is just one of several states were fears are mounting that officials plowed ahead with reopening plans too soon, triggering a renewed spike in cases.

The US 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.

Fears that the state is buckling under the outbreak have led Governor Abbott to somewhat backtrack on reopening plans, telling residents to stay home unless they have a good reason to go out.

New cases soared to 5,489, while hospitalizations reached 4,092 - marking the worst figures the state has seen on record.

The Texas Children's Hospital in Houston is now taking adult patients to provide additional beds in efforts to meet the spike in demand.

TEXAS DEATHS: In Texas, deaths were down to 10 on Monday compared to the record 58 on May 15

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

Venues in Texas are packed with revellers at the weekend, while fears mount that the state is buckling under the outbreak

Governor Abbott is somewhat backtracking on reopening plans, telling residents to stay home unless they have a good reason to go out

Abbott gave a dire warning in a press conference Tuesday that the outbreak is now 'rampant' and gave local officials more powers to reduce the size of outdoor gatherings ahead of July 4 celebrations as Texas set a record for the 12th straight day.

Abbott, who plowed on with reopening the state in April at the peak of the US crisis, gave local mayors and county judges the ability to restrict outdoor gatherings to 100 instead of the current limit of 500.

'I did authorize local officials to have the authority to establish regulations in gatherings of 100 or more people,' he said in a press conference Tuesday.

'This was intended to allow local authorities in particular to regulate gatherings for Fourth of July celebrations. We did not specify what restrictions or regulations they could impose. It's possible they could require masks in such an environment. It's going to be up to local officials in that regard.'

Abbott also gave the Texas Health and Human Services Commission emergency powers to roll out strict health and safety standards for child care centers after cases have soared in facilities across the state.

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

In Florida, where new cases surged 87 percent last week, Governor Ron DeSantis warned Tuesday he will be cracking down on social distancing (pictured Miami Beach Florida)

Florida Governor DeSantis is also clamping down on residents after new cases rose 87 percent last week to almost 22,000 with the state's positive test rate nearly doubling to 11 percent. Pictured people participate in a 'Right to Work' rally outside of the Elbo Room bar on June 16

Florida Governor DeSantis is also clamping down on residents after new cases rose 87 percent last week to almost 22,000 with the state's positive test rate nearly doubling to 11 percent.

Fears are mounting that the Sunshine State is on track to be the new virus epicenter as it has seen historic highs of new cases several days over the last week.

The governor, who previously insisted the state will plow on with its reopening regardless of a surge in infections, said Tuesday that bars and restaurants found to be breaking the state's social distancing and capacity guidelines could lose their alcohol licenses.

'There's not going to be any tolerance for it,' DeSantis said during a press conference.

'If you go in and it's just like mayhem, like Dance Party USA, and it's packed to the rafters, that's just cut and dry, and that's not just an innocent mistake.'

He said Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Halsey Beshears will now be 'the grim reaper for business licenses' and will take away licenses of establishments not sticking with the rules.

In New Jersey Gov. Murphy vowed to 'tighten up' on recently reopened bars and restaurants which have been caught with big crowds (pictured)

Images on social media showed people flocking to establishments over the weekend (pictured)

This comes after The Knight's Pub in Central Florida lost its license Monday after a state inspector found patrons were not social distancing at the bar and an outbreak had struck down 13 employees and 28 partygoers.

Under the reopening rules in place, bars can operate at 50 percent capacity, but concerns have been building that some sites are ignoring the retirements.

Similar concerns have been raised in New Jersey with Gov. Murphy vowing to 'tighten up' on recently reopened bars and restaurants caught with big crowds after images on social media showed people flocking to establishments over the weekend.

'Folks should know that we can't look the other way on this,' Murphy said during a press briefing Monday.

'Can you blame people for coming out and letting their hair down a little bit? ... But we are going to have to tighten up.'

Murphy said people were violating the outdoor dining rules that went into effect last week and that anyone doing so - and the places they are caught doing so - will be dealt with heavily.
AGOURA HILLS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / Renowned clinical psychologist and addiction specialist, Dr. Shari Corbitt, will head the Awakenings Treatment Center's new, state-of-the-art detoxification program when it opens September 1st. https://www.awakeningstreatment.com/

The Awakenings Detox program will offer patients safe and supportive recovery from alcohol, opiates and benzodiazapines in a luxurious, private setting. Patients will be housed on the 13,000-square-foot campus of the Awakenings Treatment Center in Old Agoura Hills, and receive 24/7 daily care by licensed medical doctors, nurses, doctoral level psychologists and holistic healthcare practitioners

A licensed psychologist in the state of California, Dr. Corbitt has spent almost two decades providing treatment and therapy to diverse populations across the Southwest. Dr. Corbitt founded the Awakening Treatment Center in 2010, which offers cutting-edge, intensive outpatient healing from chronic pain medication addiction, mental health disorders, eating disorders, trauma, and PTSD.

Dr. Corbitt holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Yeshiva University in New York. Before founding Awakenings Treatment Center, she worked as Director of Human Services on the Rincon Indian Reservation in Pauma Valley, Calif., as the Clinical Director at Sierra Tucson in Tucson, Ariz., and as Vice President of Promises Treatment Centers in Malibu.

The new Awakenings Detox program will allow Dr. Corbitt and her staff to care for patients in the critical first stages of addiction recovery. Medical detoxification requires controlled administration of medications to soothe the physical symptoms of withdrawal and prevent potentially life-threatening withdrawal effects. The program is licensed by California's Department of Health Care Services, and certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, ensuring it meets the highest standards of comfort, safety, and sophistication.

"I'm proud and delighted to lead this new program at Awakenings Treatment Center," Dr. Corbitt said. "We're looking forward to providing our patients with the very best treatment and care right from the start of their recovery journey."

Medical detoxification typically takes three to 10 days on average, depending on the specific drug or drugs a person has abused and the duration of use. Awakenings Detox clients will receive an individualized treatment schedule and timeframe based on their needs. Once the drugs are successfully purged from their bodies, clients will be eligible to move on to the rehabilitation stage of addiction recovery at the Awakenings Treatment Center, where they can receive support for the psychological and emotional aspects of addiction and ensure a sustainable, long-term recovery.

Awakenings Treatment Center is located at 28720 Roadside Drive, Suite 200, in Agoura Hills. For information on admissions, call 855-717-3268 or visit awakeningstreatment.com/admissions.

SOURCE: Awakenings Treatment Center

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594947/Dr-Shari-Corbitt-to-head-Awakenings-Treatment-Centers-New-Detoxification-Program
Heres a sampling at what some Bay Areas communities will be doing to honor Americas 244th birthday.

League City will host a Fireworks Extravaganza on Friday, July 3 with some modifications to safeguard against the threat of COVID-19,

Clear Creek ISDs Challenger Columbia Stadium, 1955 W. NASA Blvd., will be the site for the show, which will start at 9 p.m. Gates will open at 7.

Folks may want to get to the stadium extra early because vehicles will be spaced apart. Entry will be first-come, first served. Those in attendance will be encouraged to wear masks and to socialize only with those who arrived in the car.

Lawn chairs are welcome, as well as bringing your own food and drink. So bring a cooler and enjoy the summer evening.

However, the following items will not be permitted  Pets, tents, alcohol, cooking devices of any kind, drones, glass containers, individual fireworks and smoking.

The next day, The Citizens Appreciation Day Parade will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hometown Heroes Park, 1001 E League City Parkway, League City. Residents are invited to caravan through the parking lot of the park, stopping at different pit stops so each vehicle can collect a prize, cool treat or patriotic giveaway. Admission is free.

Participants are encouraged to decorate their vehicles to compete in the Most Patriotic Car contest. Winners will be announced on the City's Facebook page on Monday, July 6.

Kemah fireworks planned for Fourth

Kemah could have both a fireworks display and a parade Independence Day weekend. The fireworks are a certain thing, set for July 4 at 9:30 p.m.

There is a possibility of a parade as well. City Council is scheduled to discuss that possibility at its Wednesday, June 24 meeting at City Hall. If there is a parade, it will begin at the visitors center.

Webster plans fireworks display

The city of Webster is scheduled to have a fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. July 4 from Texas Avenue Park.

However, due to the coronavirus, there will be no public gathering in the park, 17100 Texas Ave., located between Medical Center Boulevard and Bay Area Boulevard.

El Lago residents to mark quiet holiday

There are no official July Fourth activities planned for the tiny community of El Lago according to City Hall. Residents, however, are encouraged to fly Old Glory in front of their homes that day.

In the past, El Lago hosted a parade on its city streets, a parade that consisted of a fire truck and children on bicycles. Perhaps next year, El Lago.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) officials carrying out the ongoing mob-up registration exercise in the Upper East Region are not enforcing the social distancing protocols at the various registration centers in the region.

When ModernGhana News visited some centres in the Bawku West, Bawku and the Tempane District specifically Bugri most of all the applicants were not wearing nose masks. As for regular handwashing and hand sanitising, it has been thrown to the dogs.

At Zebilla in the Bawku West District, the NIA registration centre which is about 25metres away from Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at Aramkoliga electoral area, there was total disregard for social distancing as large crowds gathered to register for their cards. Registrants were in a long queue without nose masks. Others who had their nose masks refused to put it on. The excuse was that they sometimes remove it to take in fresh air while others complain of difficulty in breathing.

Speaking with Modern Ghana news, a resident of Zebilla, Awini Abugri, said he brought his father to be registered but immediately he got to the centre, the place was choked with no breathing space.

"If only the virus they are talking about is actually real then I don't think all these people in this centre will be spared. Look at how it is, are we in a funeral grounds? Or we are in normal times? he quizzes.

Another resident of the area, Apambilla Ayaripoaka, described the exercise as boring, adding she and her daughter has been at the centre for three days but there was no easy access for them to register.

According to her, the entire process is very slow.

She said the NIA officers at the centre were trying their best to make sure everybody observe the protocols but it was not possible due to the increasing numbers. "Some are not wearing nose mask and they will not also wash their hands to join the line," she lamented.

At Bugri in the Tempane District, the story was not different, registrants were seen not observing the physical distancing and not also wearing nose mask.

The residents said most of the people in the communities will be disenfranchised if the number of NIA officials are not increased in the districts or perhaps the number of days.
Michael Flynn was Donald Trump's first national security adviser - Carlos Barria / REUTERS

A US federal appeals court ordered a judge to immediately dismiss the criminal case against Donald Trumps former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

A divided three-judge panel on Wednesday said US District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington did not have the authority to decide on his own whether to grant the governments surprise motion to dismiss the case or examine whether it was part of a corrupt effort to aid one of Mr Trumps political allies.

This is plainly not the rare case where further judicial inquiry is warranted, the court said. The governments motion includes an extensive discussion of newly discovered evidence casting Flynns guilt into doubt.

The 2-1 ruling is a win for Mr Trump, who has repeatedly slammed the case against Mr Flynn as part of a broader conspiracy by Democrats to undermine him and his administration.

The Justice Department under William Barr, the US attorney general, reversed course on its prosecution of Mr Flynn last month, requesting the court drop the case because Mr Flynns false statements to two federal agents were not material to their investigation and they set him up to lie as part of a biased agenda.

The panel divided along party lines, with Mr Trump appointee Neomi Rao joining with George H.W. Bush appointee Karen Henderson in the majority and Barack Obama appointee Robert Wilkins dissenting. The split could tee up an appeal to the full circuit court in Washington or even the U.S. Supreme Court.

The president quickly hailed the ruling on Twitter.

Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request To Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2020

Beth Wilkinson, the lawyer hired by Mr Sullivan to represent him in the appeals court, declined to comment on the decision. Mr Flynns lawyer, Sidney Powell, didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Story continues

An appeal by Mr Sullivan to the full circuit might find a more receptive audience. Judges appointed by Democratic presidents still form a majority of the courts complement.

The majority in Wednesdays ruling said an inquiry by Mr Sullivan into the governments decision on Mr Flynn would harm the executive branchs exclusive prosecutorial power under Article II of the Constitution.

The contemplated proceedings would likely require the Executive to reveal the internal deliberative process behind its exercise of prosecutorial discretion, interfering with the Article II charging authority, Ms Rao wrote for the majority.
President Trumps White House staff did everything to push back on his claim during his suicide rally in Tulsa that he was going to slow testing for the coronavirus down. Yesterday, Trump insisted he wasnt kidding. He was saying, I dont, kid. Now we know his staffers were lying or have no clue what their boss will do next.

White House officials attempted to walk-back President Trumps statement that he was kidding about slowing down testing in the U.S. for coronavirus. Even Peter Navarro Trumps trade advisor called it a tongue-in-cheek remark that shouldnt be taken seriously. Even White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany claimed Trump was sarcastic in saying, I dont kid, on Tuesday.

Just a day later, the president has thrown Navarro and McEnany under the bus by contradicting their efforts to save his dignity. The White House has made the joke official; it plans to end federal funding for coronavirus testing sites in several states even as the virus continues to ravage parts of the country, according to a Trump Tweet

Twitter

This isnt news to anyone paying attention.

Trump insisted during his poorly attended Tulsa rally that the U.S. has done too good a job at testing. He had instructed his people to slow the testing down, please. He then repeated the false claim he and Vice President Mike Pence frequently repeat - that testing increases and causes coronavirus cause surges.

The White House is planning to end federal funding for 13 coronavirus testing sites across five states on June 30th. He is doing this while cases of coronavirus are soaring in 23 states, increasing newly reported cases by over 30,000 during the last five days. The White House had initially planned to end funding to the sites in April by transitioning to state-managed sites, but reversed the plan after receiving bipartisan pushback from Congress.

The number of testing sites has already been reduced from the 41 initially put in place to speed up testing at the local level, including seven in hard-hit Texas, where cases of the coronavirus are currently surging and swelling the state hospitals with Covid-19 cases. Trump now intends to also close two testing sites in Illinois and New Jersey and one in Colorado and Pennsylvania each.

The reaction to Trumps decision to slow down testing has drawn sharp rebukes across the country by those trying to minimize the spread of the virus. Rocky Vaz, Dallas director of emergency management, told Talking Points Memo that the White House told us very clearly that they are not going to extend it. Still, cases are on the rise in Dallas and that they want to continue with the testing.

A health official in the Philadelphia suburbs called their site very successful in April, adding that it provides supplies that the county would not be able to acquire on its own.

The attempt to cover up just how many coronavirus infections can be seen in its spending on testing. Nearly $14 billion in undistributed funds allocated for testing and tracing months earlier has yet to be used. So when Trump said he was going to slow testing down, he really meant he was going to do everything to stop testing altogether. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) alleged in a letter to the head to the Department of Health and Human Services has spent just $10.8 million of $2 billion set aside for free testing for the uninsured.

At the current rate of testing yielding over 30,000 cases a day and 132 days left before the election, including today, Trump is trying to prevent the numbers of those recorded as being infected from hitting 4 million cases on November 3rd, Election Day. Its a cynical deadly attempt to cover up his ineptitude, and callous indifference to the danger 330 million Americans are facing.

It also shows just how ignorant and desperate President Trump is now that he recognizes the odds of his being re-elected are growing worse by the day.

His decision to hold indoor political rallies with thousands of people without masks, social distancing is contrary to his oath of office. Meanwhile, the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, former Vice President Biden is holding online rallies and fundraisers. They raised $11 million in their first 2020 fundraiser together from 175,000 viewers. In Bidens official return to the campaign trail, the former vice president urged supporters not to be complacent about the 2020 race despite the wide margin Biden is showing in the polls.

Coronavirus: Trump says he wanted to slow the testing down for COVID-19




Remember the last time you dropped by your friendly neighborhood barber? The makeshift shop with an old tape recorder playing nostalgic Bollywood songs, and the gracious ustaad who gives a hearty champi and combs your hair slick  oh, the pre-Corona times. However, even as the lockdown is easing, Indias barber community is struggling to pick up from where they left. There is still a sense of uncertainty looming in the air.

Gillette

As India starts opening up, we will go back to our livelihood for sure, but for these barbers given their nature of work the future is still uncertain. Their biggest challenge is going to be maintaining safety standards. While enough and more has already been said on wearing a mask and social distancing, there is scope for a lot more to be done to help bring barbers back to business.



Keeping their plight in mind Gillette launched its Barber Suraksha programme supporting them to stand strong, it brings much needed relief to the barber community

As part of the Barber Suraksha Programme, Gillette has launched a video that takes you through a journey where you can relive your fondest barbershop memories, learn about their current situation and the initiatives under the programme.

It moved us and were sure it will move you too.





Every single word in the video resonated with us. One can only imagine how long it is until our barbershops will see long queues again.

While we slowly get there, right now with the Gillette Barber Suraksha Programme the brand has taken multiple steps for the welfare of this community, helping them accept their new normal through:

Suraksha Education

A series of educative videos on health, hygiene and social distancing awareness in the community. With expert Aalim Hakim, the videos consist of quick on the go content, on how to keep their barbershops and equipment sanitized, along with ensuring rules laid down by the government are followed in the shop.

Suraksha Kit

Gillette

A back to business kit that has essentials and products that will help bring relief to barbers when they open for business.

Suraksha Insurance

Most importantly the programme covers barbers with a customized insurance that ensures they are insured against Covid-19

Gillette and barbers have had a strong relationship throughout the years. In fact, last year, Gillette beautifully showcased the story of the Barbershop girls of India shaving stereotypes. Not only did these girls shave the stigma around gender roles, but they also gave Sachin Tendulkar his first-ever shave!

A First for me! You may not know this, but I have never gotten a shave from someone else before. That record has been shattered today. Such an honour to meet the #BarbershopGirls and present them the @GilletteIndia Scholarship.#ShavingStereotypes#DreamsDontDiscriminate pic.twitter.com/DNmA8iRYsb  Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 3, 2019

From applauding the community earlier to standing with them now through the crisis Gillette has led from the front and set an example. Heres hoping our humble barbershop community gives a tough fight to COVID-19, and inches towards normalcy again.


HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's Opposition Progressive Conservatives are calling for a timely release of a plan for the province's public schools, saying parents and teachers require "peace of mind" ahead of September.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston takes questions from reporters, Wednesday, June 24, 2020 outside the provincial legislature in Halifax as party education critic Tim Halman looks on. Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservatives are calling on the province's Liberal government to release its plan for the return of students to public schools this fall.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keith Doucette.

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's Opposition Progressive Conservatives are calling for a timely release of a plan for the province's public schools, saying parents and teachers require "peace of mind" ahead of September.

Tory Leader Tim Houston made the call at a news conference held outside the provincial legislature on Wednesday, pointing out that nine other provinces have already made their plans public.

Houston said his party has written to Premier Stephen McNeil asking for immediate action and also submitted its own plan with 30 recommendations for the government's consideration.

"Once you have a plan, it takes time to execute on that plan," said Houston. "It's not fair to wait until August, or July even, to tell people what to expect or how to prepare. You have to let them know sooner."

Houston said his party's plan is based on consultations with the education sector and includes input from former teachers and principals, as well as party caucus members.

Among the Tories' recommendations: a 15-child class-size cap for pre-primary through Grade 5; help for at-home learning that also takes into account capacity for a family's access to the internet; having schools submit plans for cleaning protocols; and having school buses operate at half capacity.

While younger children would return to school with reduced class sizes, the Tory plan would see students from grades 6 through 12 return under a blended program. It would see them in school two to three days a week with at-home learning during the other days.

The Tories say the health risk level needs to be constantly assessed because of the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 into the fall and winter months.

The plan also calls for school operations to be decentralized to the local level, where teachers and administrators are in closer contact with students and the wider community.

"There's a lot of planning to be done around human resource requirements and that's why this discussion can't be put off any longer," Houston said.

However, Education Minister Zach Churchill said the amount of work required to get a proper plan in place is the reason one likely won't come out until mid-summer.

Churchill said a working group is currently examining 22,000 survey responses from parents about their experiences over the last few months as students learned at home. Another student survey is due this Sunday, he said, as Education Department officials continue to seek feedback from teachers and administrators.

"We are going to take some time to really go through this and find the themes of concerns and challenges ... and apply that to next fall," said Churchill.

The minister said his department is looking at some blended teaching options between in-home and in-school instruction, but is also wary of the potential for a second wave of the virus.

"We are going to be prepared for whatever the situation is come fall, and there will be communication with school communities throughout the summer," he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2020.
Three Tucson cops have resigned before being fired after it emerged a man died in their custody two months ago while handcuffed.

The incident took place on April 21 in the city in Arizona and a video of what happened was viewed by police officials before the three cops resigned.

Officials said they would have been fired if they had not opted to quit.

The medical examiner found the man's cause of death to be a 'sudden cardiac arrest' and they said he had 'acute cocaine intoxication and an enlarged heart.'

It has not yet been revealed what ethnicity the arrested man or the cops who resigned were.

City mayor Regina Romero said the release of the video as well as the man's name and details of what happened is being delayed at the request of his family, who are yet to see the footage.

Police chief Chris Magnus said in a statement to AZPM: 'In this case, three officers did not live up to the high standards of the Tucson Police Department.

Three Tucson cops have resigned before being fired after it emerged a man died in their custody two months ago while handcuffed

'They are no longer employed here.

'The vast, vast majority of our officers do their jobs well and responsibly and are rightfully disturbed and dismayed by any statements to the contrary.

'I continue to have the utmost confidence in the men and women of our police department.'

Police chief Chris Magnus said the officers did not live up to 'high standards'

Alluding to the death of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis, who died after white officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, Tucson City Council member Steve Kozachik insisted the local police department was different.

'This is not an agency that you are going to see with some very ugly footage, for instance, like what we've seen out of Minneapolis, that's not TPD,' he told AZPM.

'Officers go through extensive training. These guys didn't carry that training out.'

The city's medical examiner said there were 'no shots fired' in the man's arrest.

'The person had been restrained in handcuffs. No blows, strikes, chokeholds, knee to the neck, chemical or electronic weapons were used. No shots were fired,' they said.

The death came to light when a Tucson City Council meeting in which police funding was set to be discussed was suddenly cancelled.

Mayor Romero said: '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.'

The family is expected to see the footage before a news conference expected later on Wednesday.

A review board which makes recommendations to Tucson police department has not met since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jaime Tadeo, a member of the board, said recommendations had been made to the department about cops' training.

'There have been open conversations with TPD about transparency, about how they are handling their trainings lately which includes how trained they are in dealing with substance use,' said Tadeo.

The medical examiner found the man's cause of death to be a 'sudden cardiac arrest' and they said he had 'acute cocaine intoxication and an enlarged heart' (file photo)

It comes after one of the four officers charged in the death of George Floyd told an angry shopper 'I'm sorry you feel that way' when she admonished him as he bought groceries while out on bail.

J. Alexander Keung, 26, on Saturday was shopping at a Cubs Food grocery store in Plymouth, Minnesota - just one day after he was released from the Hennepin County jail on $750,000 bail.

Keung was arrested earlier this month after standing by when former officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd's neck as he yelled 'I can't breathe!'

A woman at the the grocery store spotted Keung and recorded the interaction on her cell phone.

Kueng was one of the three former Minneapolis police officers had have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter during the incident on May 25.

Kueng and former officer Thomas Lane, 37, were the first to respond to the call that a man - later said to be Floyd - had been trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill at a deli.

Kueng and Lane discovered Floyd sitting in a nearby car. They handcuffed him and attempted to put him inside their squad car.

Later, after the arrival of officers Derek Chauvin and Tou Thao, witness video shows Kueng holding onto Floyd's back while he was lying in the street. Kueng then told the other officers that he 'couldn't find' Floyd's pulse.

Authorities said Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck for about two minutes after Kueng's statement.

According to charging documents, Lane - who initially took Floyd into custody - held down the father-of-five's legs, while Kueng held his back and Chauvin knelt down on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.

During the arrest, Floyd pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving. He was handcuffed at the time.

Immediately following Floyd's death, Black Lives Matter protests erupted globally.

While the majority of protests remained peaceful, buildings, businesses and police departments have burned after some demonstrations turned violent in major US cities.

Protesters have not only demanded justice for Floyd, but they've called for justice for Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and most recently Rayshard Brooks. Demonstrators have also marched for Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot dead by a white man in Georgia in February.

Floyd was laid to rest June 9 in Houston, Texas.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 15:20:03|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Secretary for Food and Health of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Sophia Chan said on Wednesday that Hong Kong will develop a local health code system to facilitate people traveling between Hong Kong and Guangdong, or Hong Kong and Macao.

Chan said in a written reply to HKSAR Legislative Council members that the Hong Kong SAR, Guangdong province and the Macao SAR are considering a pilot scheme on mutual recognition of test results of COVID-19 and mutual exemption of quarantine in a bid to relax cross-boundary flow of people among the three places within certain limits.

The "Hong Kong Health Code", one of the HKSAR government's preparatory tasks to complement the launch of the pilot scheme, enables the virus test results of participants of the pilot scheme in Hong Kong to be uploaded onto the code, Chan said.

She introduced that before departing from Hong Kong, eligible persons with negative test results can connect to the electronic platform through a web browser using their mobile phones or other devices, and apply for the "Hong Kong Health Code" online and download it to the relevant mobile phone or device.

To facilitate the mutual recognition of test results by the boundary control officers of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, participants of the pilot scheme can on their own accord choose to exchange the "Hong Kong Health Code" for use on the "Yuekang Code" system of Guangdong or "Macao Health Code" system of Macao for health declaration purpose when entering Guangdong or Macao, Chan said.

She stressed that the "Hong Kong Health Code" computer system will only collect basic personal information and nucleic acid test results from applicants for the purpose of applying for the system, and applicants' information security including data will be protected in strict accordance with regulations.

The HKSAR government will announce the details as soon as possible once the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR have completed discussion on the pilot scheme, said Chan. Enditem
The FBI has concluded no hate crime was committed over the noose found in a trackside stall used by black Nascar driver Bubba Wallace, saying it was a pull-rope handle that had been there since at least October 2019.

The noose was spotted last week inside a garage space at Alabamas Talladega Superspeedway.

Shocked Nascar bosses condemned it amid nationwide protests against systemic racism weeks after George Floyd, an unarmed black American, was killed in Minneapolis police custody on 25 May.

Mr Wallace, the sports single black professional driver who pushed Nascar to ban the Confederate flag from circuits and venues, called it a despicable act of racism and hatred.

However, the US justice department and FBI said in a statement that they have concluded that no federal crime was committed.

Nascar added that the noose appeared to be a door pull-rope and could not have been targeted at a particular driver.



The FBI report concludes, and photographic evidence confirms, that the garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose had been positioned there since as early as last fall, Nascar in a statement. This was obviously well before the 43 teams arrival and garage assignment.



We appreciate the FBIs quick and thorough investigation and are thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba.



We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who love racing.

Mr Wallace, who has been a prominent Black Lives Matter advocate in recent weeks, denounced the investigation.

It was a noose. Whether it was tied in 2019... it is a noose, he told CNN. Im p****d. Im mad because people are trying to test my character and the person that I am and my integrity.

The 26-year-old driver, who said he had never seen the rope in question, said Nascar president Steve Phelps visited him on Sunday night with tears running down his face after the noose had been reported.

The evidence he brought to me was that a hate crime has been committed, quote-on-quote, said Mr Wallace.

He added: Nascar was worried about Talladega. We had that one circled on the radar with everything going on.

The FBI was informed on Monday that someone from the Wood Brothers Racing team recalled seeing a rope tied like a noose at Talladega in October 2019.
Its times like these that make you appreciate your community and the people stepping up to help, said Bumpers. Right now we want to focus on helping our industry welcome back their customers and take care of their employees.

McClintock Distilling is offering a free gallon of hand sanitizer to any on or off-premise account in the mid-Atlantic region. Even if an account does not currently carry McClintock spirits, the distillery aims to help restaurants, stores and bars keep their doors open and their staff safe.

We want to support our community the way we were supported when we first started out. Its a difficult time for so many businesses so were working around the clock to produce the hand sanitizer. Hopefully it will help our friends and neighbors in the industry get back on their feet as we all start to reopen.  Braeden Bumpers, Co-Owner, McClintock Distilling

Though still a small and growing business, McClintock is proud to pivot production to hand sanitizer in the fight against the pandemic. The distillery has already donated more than $45,000 in hand sanitizer to frontline workers during the height of the crisis.

McClintock has kept all ten of its staff employed during the pandemic and hired an additional twelve professionals that were formerly in the service industry to help with production, processing, and delivery.

Its times like these that make you appreciate your community and the people stepping up to help, said Bumpers. Right now we want to focus on helping our industry welcome back their customers and take care of their employees.

Interested accounts can reach out to Brittany Turner (Brittany@mcclintockdistilling.com) or get in touch with their Bacchus sales representative. Free gallons of McClintock hand sanitizer are ready for distribution to any and all accounts in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, DC.

McClintock Distilling, an organic craft distillery located in Frederick, Maryland, offers vodka, gins, and whiskeys. McClintock Distilling strives to maintain a sustainable and locally sourced business with a focus on product quality, environmental impact and community betterment. McClintock Distilling is committed to bringing the McClintock experience to all of our customers through every drop. For more information please visit http://www.mcclintockdistilling.com.


If theres one thing that foretold the City of Londons ambition to become the epicenter of finance it was the founding of the Royal Exchange almost 500 years ago.

The driving force behind the capitals first purpose-built center for trading stocks was Sir Thomas Gresham, whose legacy survives in the college, City street and law of economics that bear his name.

Less celebrated is the role of his prominent backer in the venture, Sir William Garrard: former Lord Mayor and pioneer of English involvement in the slave trade.

The City of London is interwoven with so many layers of history, from Roman to Medieval, Civil War and the age of empire, that the lives of the myriad figures who contributed to its status today are often obscured by time.

But with outside scrutiny comes the realization that many made their fortunes off the back of slavery and colonial oppression, a fact that is now being acknowledged by some of the financial districts most venerable names, shaking the foundations upon which many of these institutions were built.

The Bank of England apologized last week for some inexcusable connections to slavery by former governors. Barclays Plc is examining its own history. While we cant change whats gone before us, the bank is committed to do more to further foster our culture of inclusiveness, equality and diversity.

We understand that we cannot always be proud of our past, Lloyds of London, which began life insuring ships and their cargo in the late 17th century, said in a statement. In particular, we are sorry for the role played by the Lloyds market in the 18th and 19th century slave trade  an appalling and shameful period of English history, as well as our own.

Those cases were far from isolated.

According to Richard Drayton, professor of imperial history at Kings College London, Britain became the principal slaving nation of the modern world, with the City providing the finance to facilitate trade with the plantation colonies. This was big business, and the rich men of the City were in the thick of it, Drayton said in a lecture delivered in the Museum of London last October.

The triangle trade involved shipping manufactured goods to western Africa and exchanging them for human beings, who were transported in appalling conditions to the Caribbean and sold as slaves to work in the plantations.

The tobacco, rum and most of all the sugar that were the fruits of their forced labour were then taken back to Europe. The formation of the City of London was shaped significantly by sugar, said Nick Draper, one of the lead researchers on University College Londons groundbreaking Legacies of British Slave Ownership project. Merchants in London would advance credit to planters and guarantee remittances to slave traders so that London merchant houses became the center of this economic system built on Caribbean slavery.

That uncomfortable, probing questions are now being asked of the institutions that profited from the trade is down to the Black Lives Matter movement that began in the U.S. and crossed over the Atlantic, prompting a re-examining of the role of prominent figures with sometimes contradictory histories in London, but also in the mercantile cities of Liverpool, Bristol and Glasgow.

Walking through the warren of ancient streets lined with discrete Victorian facades and modern steel-and-glass towers that make up Londons Square Mile  effectively a city within a city  its possible to find echoes of that legacy.

Pubs with names like the Jamaica Wine House in St Michaels Alley, or the Sugar Loaf on Cannon Street  while both housed in 19th century buildings constructed after the abolition of slavery  hint at what came before.

Whereas in the Elizabethan age, financiers like Garrard invested in the voyages of glorified privateers, by the 17th century the trade was more developed, if no less barbaric.

Barbados became Englands first sugar producing colony in the 1640s, followed by Jamaica after it was seized from Spain. Cargoes of cane were landed at the sugar wharf beside the Tower of London at what is now Customs House. Cannon Street was the site of sugar refineries that helped fuel the rise of England, and after the union of 1707, Great Britain, to a world power.

In 1672 came the founding of the Royal African Company, an enterprise backed by the Crown that historian William Pettigrew has said shipped more enslaved African women, men and children to the Americas than any other single institution during the transatlantic slave trade.

Its shareholders included 15 Lord Mayors and 38 City of London council members known as Aldermen, according to Drayton. Edward Colston, whose statue was torn down and dumped in Bristol harbour this month, was a deputy governor. Its symbol  as stamped on guineas of the day made with African gold  was an elephant with a riding carriage, or houdah: the Elephant and Castle.

Its not known if the symbol bears any relation to the London landmark of the same name, such are the layers of juxtaposed history. Take the Lloyds building: Located off Leadenhall, it occupies the site of the headquarters of the former East India Company, which employed a private army to appropriate the subcontinents wealth. The East India Companys original marble fireplace was incorporated into the Foreign Office in Whitehall when it opened in 1868.

The Guildhall off Moorgate, the ceremonial and administrative center of the City since the 15th century, illustrates the difficulty in unpicking and assigning guilt to institutions. Inside is a statue of William Beckford, a two-times Lord Mayor and owner of thousands of acres of Jamaican plantations worked by slaves. The Guildhall was also the scene of a court case over the killing of more than a hundred slaves at sea that spurred the anti-slavery movement, leading to full Abolition in 1833.

Even then, Drayton said, slavery continued for decades in other countries in the Americas. London was the close partner of the expansion of the cotton south in the United States, creating complex mortgage-backed securities which provided a paper veil for a new kind of slave-ownership, he said.

David Barclay, one of the founders of the eponymous bank, was a keen and committed advocate for abolition of the slave trade, even as his bank then in Lombard Street financed plantation mortgages, causing him to suffer a moral dilemma, according to the UCL slave ownership project.

The Citys institutions are now confronted with their own moral dilemma. Lloyds is among those to have pledged to invest in programs to attract and develop Black and Minority Ethnic talent. In 2018, 28% of the Citys workforce was of non-White origin. The City of London Corporation, the financial districts governing body, said it understands its not enough to say that we are against racism but we have to work to eradicate racism in all that we do.

Sajid Javid, the former chancellor of the exchequer, has spoken about his decision to leave the City for New York early in his career in part because of his ethnicity and class. The U.K. has come a long way since then, he told PBS. But we still need to make sure were not complacent and we keep tackling racial injustice wherever we find it.

Kehinde Andrews, a professor of Black studies at Birmingham City University, says the wealth generated then is still with us now, helping to perpetuate the racial divide. Its not past, its very much the present and a continuation, and the banks are one of the key drivers, he said. The idea they can just apologize and have some more diversity is frankly insulting.

The son of a father whose own parents came from Jamaica as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean immigrants invited to the U.K. after World War II, Dominic Burris-North has a personal connection to the dilemmas raised. He is one of just two qualified Blue Badge guides who provide tours of the City focusing on its historic ties to the slave trade. The reactions, he says, are predominantly shock, horror and dismay.

Its really hard to separate slavery from so many things that we know of in modern Britain, from the royal family to our galleries to the British Museum to the Bank of England to former prime ministers  all of these names, all of these institutions, he said. As more people start to understand and hear about these things, eventually there will be a reckoning.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) attends the confirmation hearing of Attorney General nominee William Barr at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 15, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Senator Hawley: Offers Amendment to NDAA to Stop Assault on American History

As vandals indiscriminately tear down historic American landmarks, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is introducing an amendment to the NDAA to stop an effort by Sen. Elizabeth Warren to unilaterally require that the Department of Defense rename military bases and remove war memorials of confederate figures.

Any discussion about renaming bases should be had in the light of day, out in the open, and it should involve military families, veterans, and state and local stakeholders. Thats what my amendment would do, said Hawley.

The reality though is that this was never about the Confederacy. Thats what left-wing activists want us to believe. The events of the last few weeks where rioters have attacked American and religious landmarks tell us otherwise. It only took days for them to move on to Grant and Lincoln. And the mob will keep marching through all our cultural institutions until every American whom the woke crowd deems unjust is canceled, added Hawley.

The Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee voted June 10 to pass an amendment offered by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

According to a summary of the amendment (pdf), the measure requires that the Defense Department rename posts and assets either named for Confederate officers or that honor the confederacy within three years.

Warrens amendment states that a commission will be established to study and provide recommendations concerning the removal [of] names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America, which includes military bases and other Pentagon assets such as aircraft, ships, and any type of equipment.

Sen. Hawleys amendment would take out language for renaming military bases named for Confederate officers and make the removal and renaming process public by holding public hearings on any proposed criteria or recommendations for removal, which then would be reported to Congress for oversight.

While Democratic lawmakers have largely been silent on the issue of tearing down statues, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said she is introducing a bill, for the 1876 statue, Emancipation Memorial, paid for almost entirely by donations from former slaves, to be taken down and put in a museum.

The designers of the Emancipation Statue in Lincoln Park in D.C. didnt take into account the views of African Americans. It shows. Blacks too fought to end enslavement. Thats why Im introducing a bill to move this statue to a museum, said Holmes Norton.

On the other hand, when the statues of former Presidents Ulysses Grant, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson were defaced and toppled, Republican senators criticized the vandals.

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 (R-Ky.) 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.

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. And added, Theyre simply agitators and simply trying to find their way to create anarchy, chaos, and lawlessness.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report
Microsoft top boss Satya Nadella feels the increase in productivity has come at the price of burning the 'social capital' built up by companies over very many years, observes ad guru Sandeep Goyal.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Satya Nadella is perhaps the first global chief executive officer to bemoan the 'lack of touch' in the 'work from home' (WFH) new normal that has started to define contemporary corporate work, especially in tech industries.

Mr Nadella acknowledged in a recent media interview that the productivity of Microsoft employees working from home has gone up visibly in recent weeks, but he feels it isn't something to 'over-celebrate'.

The Microsoft top boss feels the increase in productivity has come at the price of burning the 'social capital' built up by companies over very many years.

Back to the 'lack of touch' one experiences when everyone is working remotely, the 52-year-old tech mogul said he misses walking into a physical meeting which gives him a chance to connect with the persons next to him 'for the two minutes before and after'.

To be honest, Mr Nadella is kind of a lone ranger in this territory.

Most corporate bosses are going ga-ga over WFH which has, in fact, been touted of late as the new panacea for both employees and employers.

From simplistic, and obvious, arguments on why employees love WFH: Zilch commuting time, almost zero wardrobe costs, to money saved from buying lunch at the office cafeteria, and more.

Employers are happy because of demonstrable savings in office space, lower infrastructural overheads and the almost 24x7 availability of employees. It seems a win-win for all.

Once WFH was announced in many multinational companies days ahead of the governmental lockdown in March earlier in the year, about 30 to 40 per cent employees packed their bags and headed to their hometowns.

Not every one of them has the necessary broadband connectivity (and many have perennial problems of power outage) in their small town homes, and this has become an issue with provision of consistent quality service to global clients.

Most also do not have the physical space within their family homes to afford a quiet corner for conference calls, or even day-to-day work.

Another problem that has happened with many of the single employees living in paying guest or shared accommodation is that their roommates have objected to them working at odd hours, leading to unpleasantness and at times ugly fights.

Some landlords and housing societies have raised another red flag: Does WFH mean that power companies can, and will, charge commercial rates for electricity even in dwelling units, now that these are being used for 'work'? Similar issues could well soon be raised by municipal authorities on local taxes.

Which is why many landlords have started saying 'no' to potential tenants who say they will largely be working from home! So there are early hints of trouble in paradise already.

Many companies with global clients, especially those handling critical and confidential functions, including sensitive financial data, are invariably security cleared after rigorous checks by specialist teams from overseas.

Employees working on these kinds of projects cannot be allowed access from home. The risks are just too pronounced.

Advisories from clients and foreign governments prevent workers from home being associated with many projects where sensitivities are high.

There is no denying that WFH has its benefits. Most importantly, it allows a large number of women to actively join the workforce, and constructively use their education and talents, without being constrained by motherhood and other family responsibilities.

WFH allows flexible work hours. It also makes possible compensation based on transactions... those who work longer hours can be paid more based on a success fee model.

WFH during night shifts obviates the need for company transportation and security protocols.

The small town problem discussed earlier as a limitation can also be turned into a low-cost advantage with proper planning and resourcing, with the added benefit of geographically spreading the business continuity programme that most companies today need to necessarily have in place -- today Mumbai and Delhi are red zones but lots of other states, and their towns and cities, are orange and green, hence not obstructed by restrictions on movement or work.

WFH employees in such locations provide a big safety valve to the seamless running of business processes.

Also, an additional million or more qualified youngsters can gain employment without leaving small towns for big cities.

Back to Mr Nadella's 'lack of touch', the biggest limitation of WFH is the absence of water cooler conversations, impromptu corridor meetings and cafeteria interactions that build the 'social capital' and company culture that differentiates one organisation from another.

One possible solution is a shift from the current 100/100 model to 25/25 -- that is 25 per cent of employees attend office at any given time, and overall all employees spend at least 25 per cent of their time in the office.

That could help HR initiatives on mentoring, team-building and empowerment.

As Socrates said, 'Change should focus not on fighting the old, but on building the new'. He could well have said that about WFH.

Production: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Hong Kong clergy face arrest, extradition to China in new security laws

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A blueprint for a controversial new national security law for Hong Kong, as proposed by China, has caused concerns that the semi-autonomous citys vocal clergy who have supported the democracy movement could be extradited to and tried in mainland China.

The Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress, Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, may formally approve the law, which broadens Beijings direct control over Hong Kong and erodes the citys human rights and freedoms, at a June 28-30 meeting, according to The Epoch Times.

Submitted last week for deliberation, the draft covers four categories of crimes: succession, subversion of state power, local terrorist activities and collaborating with foreign or external foreign forces to endanger national security, according to the U.S.-based Christian persecution watchdog International Christian Concern.

Under such laws, vocal Hong Kong clergy who have been supportive of Hong Kongs democracy movement, such as Cardinal Joseph Zen and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, could be extradited to mainland China to be tried, since Beijing considers them to be threats to the regime, said ICC.

Other hundreds of protestant leaders or Christian organizations who have actively spoken out against the Hong Kong government might face the same fate, since Beijing has said it considers the mass protests that began last June as terrorist acts and any calls for Hong Kongs independence from China as acts of sedition."

In 1997, China had agreed for a one country, two systems arrangement to allow certain freedoms for Hong Kong when it received the city back from British control. The security law undercuts the promised autonomy.

This law fundamentally compromises one-country, two-systems, and breach of the handover agreement. The details emerging put human rights in jeopardy, the U.K.-based group Hong Kong Watch wrote on Twitter.

The European Parliament has voted to take China to the International Court of Justice in The Hague if the law is imposed.

The United States has also threatened to revoke Hong Kongs special trading relationship with it and impose sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials.

Chinas state-run Xinhua News Agency revealed an explanatory note summarizing the draft, which says Beijing will set up a dedicated central government office in Hong Kong to manage national security affairs, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The office will be given the authority to assess Hong Kongs security, gather and analyze intelligence, advise and supervise local authorities on national security matters and also handle select criminal cases, according to the report, which added that the office would exercise jurisdiction over a very small number of cases.

The office would also be empowered to oversee education about national security in Hong Kong schools.

In case of any discrepancies between the new law and Hong Kongs Basic Law, the former would supersede, according to the explanatory note.

Hong Kong will not be a bridgehead for exterior forces that jeopardize [Chinas] national security, Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, wrote on Facebook, according to the Times.

ICC warned that Chinas notorious legal system and its lack of transparency can easily criminalize anybody and place them in jail. Many Chinese pastors and Christians, such as pastor Wang Yi, elder Qin Derfu, pastor John Cao, are now imprisoned for trumped-up charges, such as subversion of state power, illegal border crossing, and illegal business operation.

Responding to the law, Republican Sen. Rick Scott from Florida wrote on Twitter, Communist China continues their mission to destroy human rights and autonomy in #HongKong. Its plans to suffocate and intimidate those fighting for their basic rights is clear. The US continues to stand with the people of HK.
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Linkedin Francois Murphy (Reuters) Vienna, Austria  Wed, June 24, 2020 08:45 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40661263cf 2 World US-Russia,arms-deal,Nuclear,bilateral-meeting,bilateral-relation,bilateral-ties Free

The United States wants to broaden its main nuclear arms control agreement with Russia to include all their atomic weapons, a US envoy said on Tuesday after talks with Moscow on a new accord.

US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea also said Washington would keep pressing China to join the talks on replacing the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) which expires in February.

The two sides, who were rivals in the Cold War, agreed to set up technical working groups and to hold further talks, possibly in late July or early August, he said, but gave no details of the working groups.

Washington wants Beijing involved because it says China is secretly racing to increase the size and reach of its nuclear arsenal, but Moscow favors a multilateral accord, possibly including France and Britain, Billingslea said.

"We, the United States, intend and believe ... that the next arms control agreement must cover all nuclear weapons, not just so-called strategic nuclear weapons," he told a news conference in Vienna that followed the talks there on Monday.

New START caps the countries' deployed strategic nuclear weapons warheads at 1,550 each, far fewer than the thousands of atomic weapons they possess.

Last year Washington withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), with senior officials saying Moscow had deployed "multiple battalions" of a cruise missile throughout Russia in violation of the pact and that some had "the ability to strike critical European targets".

Russia denied that, saying the missile's range puts it outside the treaty. A more comprehensive agreement would be intended to overcome such disputes and avoid further erosion of the global arms control architecture.

China, whose nuclear arsenal is a fraction the size of the United States' or Russia's, has rejected US attempts to involve them in the negotiations.

Billingslea posted a picture of Chinese flags at empty seats around the negotiating table before talks began, a move Beijing dismissed as an act of "performance art".

Russia said China joining was unrealistic.
Indias priority is to actively and proactively engage with China, diplomatically and militarily, and assert its right to the last inch of its territory, said Bharatiya Janata Partys general secretary, Ram Madhav on Wednesday in reference to the current stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The BJP functionary said perceptions that the 1962 war was fought by China to teach USSR, of which India was an ally, a lesson and that in 2020 Beijing is trying to send a message to the US are valid but New Delhis priority will remain defending its territory.

After 2014, Madhav said, the government is insisting on ownership of the LAC as India perceives it.

There will be no defeatist explanation of the past that there is an overlap (of the LAC), he said, hitting out at the previous governments, whom he blamed for allowing China to grab Indian territory.

The BJP leader said India will engage and push back.

India and China have been locked in a stand-off along the LAC since early May and on June 15 a violent face-off between the two armies led to 20 India soldiers being killed in the line of duty.

While the Congress has blamed the union government for the current strain in ties with Beijing, Madhav said, the Narendra Modi government has changed Indias China policy and unlike in the past when the neighbour was allowed to nibble away Indian territory, the county is now fighting and pushing them back.

Speaking at an interactive session on the India-China Border Issue, organised by RSS publications Organiser and Panchajanya, Madhav said even as governments under Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao and HD Deve Gowda signed agreements with China, Beijing refused to acknowledge the LAC and was continually violating border.

What China has continued to do is gradually nibble away our territory like Aksai Chin, post 1980s the tactic has been to encroach little by little. What have we been doing in response? We are experts in bilateral agreements, we enter into a new agreement every five years, he said, lashing out at the previous governments.

The Chinese side has always exploited this notional weakness of ours that the LAC is not a demarcated boundary so there is possibility of confusion. In 2013, Dr Manmohan Singh told Parliament, the LAC is a disputed imaginary line. There is an overlap of claims and confusion. The assertion that we will push them back, our benefit of doubt allowed them to nibble away our territory, Madhav said.

Pointing out that India is not a warmonger, the BJP leader said, the country will not settle for the peace of the graveyard.

We engage diplomatically, but on the ground we will be aggressive. We are asserting our right and not letting them get away with their semi constructions. PM Modi took up the issue of Chushul with Xi Jinping, we are not hiding, but confronting, he said.

The Congress accused the government of giving China a clean chit, rather than pushing them back.

Confusion rather than clarity dominates BJP foreign policy, where the PM, EAM, DM & BJP Gen Secy speak in different tones. Rather than giving theoretical explanations on the China stand-off, Mr Madhav should explain when will the status quo ante be restored? Have the Chinese made new structures in the Galwan Valley? Why are Chinese asserting again & again that Galwan is their territory and India has not given a firm reply? said Jaiveer Shergill.

Madhav said despite the Chinese aggression, India is determined to improve its border infrastructure. We have close to 60 roads and bridges under construction. Indias claim line is not just the LAC, we have categorically stated that PoK and Aksai Chin, Gilgit-Baltistan are part of India too, he said.

Taking a swipe at the Congress, Madhav said, the party allowed reverse Bhoodan (land donation) by letting territory incursions happen on the Pakistan and China side.
Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading.

Dell  Shares of the tech company jumped 8.3% following news that it was exploring options for its majority stake in VMware, which is worth roughly $50 billion. A sale or spinoff of the investment in the software company could not happen until after September 2021, CNBC's David Faber reported.

Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruises  Shares of cruise lines cratered on Wednesday as investors ditched riskier stocks on concerns about a resurgence in coronavirus cases. Shares of Norwegian Cruise Line fell 10.9% and shares of Carnival Corp. dropped 9.9%. Royal Caribbean fell more than 10%. Barclays also downgraded Royal Caribbean and Norwegian to equal weight from overweight Wednesday.

Hertz  Shares of bankrupt car rental company Hertz spiked again on Wednesday, rising by nearly 30%. Jefferies said in a note that it believes AutoNation and Carmax are considering buying cars from Hertz. The stock, which closed at $1.24 per share on Tuesday, hit $2.49 per share at one point on Wednesday. The stock had been trending down in less-volatile trading in recent sessions.

Cheesecake Factory  Shares of Cheesecake factory fell more than 4% after JPMorgan downgraded the restaurant chain to underweight from neutral. The bank said destination-oriented restaurants are not as appealing in the coronavirus environment.

Disney  Shares of Disney fell 3.8% to after its theme park workers urged to postpone the reopening amid the rise in new coronavirus cases in Florida. More than 7,200 have signed a petition asking Disney and government officials to delay the Disney World reopening next month. Disney has plans for a phased reopening of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11, while Epcot and Hollywood Studios would reopen on July 15.

United, American, Delta, Southwest  Airlines fell on Wednesday as news of an uptick in coronavirus infections pulled investors away from reopening trades. United Airlines fell more than 6% and American Airlines ticked 4.5% lower. Southwest and Delta lost 4.8% and 6.7%, respectively. Alaska Air Group dropped 4%.

Gap, Kohl's, Simon Property  Shares of retailers plunged as a shape rise in new coronavirus cases in some states damped hopes for a successful reopening. Apparel retailer Gap dropped 10%, while shares of Kohl's fell nearly 8%. Simon Property Group, the U.S.' biggest mall operator, tanked more than 9%.

CNBC's Jesse Pound and Maggie Fitzgerald contributed reporting.

Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world.
Why Is A Czech Firm Selling Furniture In Separatist-Controlled Donetsk?

By Yaroslav Kreshko, Sergii Stetsenko, Ivanna Trutnenko, Tony Wesolowsky June 23, 2020

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 Ukraine's 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/RL's 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/RL's 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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/why-is-a- czech-firm-selling-furniture -in-separatist-controlled -donetsk-ukraine-/30686581.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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(Natural News) There is a real-world cost for complacency, and with many Texans now foolishly declaring the coronavirus a complete hoax, complacency has set in. Thanks to that complacency  and recent left-wing Black Lives Matter protests in Texas cities  confirmed covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising in Texas at an unprecedented rate.

Most importantly, the rate of infections is exploding in young people. As the Texas Tribune reports, Texans under the age of 30 are testing positive for the new coronavirus at a higher rate than previously seen since the pandemic began, contributing to a recent surge in the number of cases in the state, Gov. Greg Abbott said during a press conference Tuesday.

This is Texas its not a Democrat-run state thats rigging the numbers to hurt Trump

While many prominent conservative and independent media outlets have been reporting the coronavirus to be a hoax that was attributed to Democrat-run cities like New York, this new explosion of coronavirus infections is taking place in Texas, where the governor (Abbott) is a Republican. There is no reason for Abbott to rig the numbers, especially since Abbott is an ally of President Trump (and Abbott doesnt want the State of Texas to suffer dire economic consequences from a second lockdown).

According to media reports, hospitals in Houston are just 11 days away from reaching maximum capacity. There are already over 4,000 covid-19 patients in Texas hospitals, with nearly 400 new hospitalizations taking place just yesterday.

Texas is now seeing over 5,000 confirmed infections per day, putting it on par with the infections experienced by the State of New York in March of this year.

Confirmed COVID patients in Texas hospitals went up *381* in just 1 day to 4,092, the 12th record day in a row. Confirmed 5,489 new COVID cases shatters the previous Texas high of 4,430 cases.  Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) June 23, 2020

According to the Houston Chronicle, by mid-July, Houstons hospitals will be overrun by covid-19 patients:

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.

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.

NYC nurse proves the coronavirus is real and it was weaponized by NYC hospitals to infect innocent people

The vast majority of independent media readers, of course, dismiss the coronavirus as a total hoax, with many now believing there never was a coronavirus at all. Yet that belief was flatly contradicted across the independent media itself over the last two weeks as bombshell stories appeared about a NYC nurse (Erin Olszewski) who went public with undercover videos, revealing that hospitals in NYC were putting non-infected patients in the same room as coronavirus-infected patients, causing the infections to spread and kill more people.

Obviously, that cant happen if the coronavirus is a hoax as is being claimed by many independent and conservative media outlets (many of which, confusingly, carried the story of the NYC nurse but still claim the virus is a hoax).

That nurse even made an appearance on Tucker Carlson:

The coronavirus cant simultaneously be a hoax and maliciously used to infect patients in NYC. If the virus isnt real, how did it infect people in NYC hospitals, then?

According to Worldometers.info, Texas has seen over 125,000 confirmed coronavirus infections, and over 2,250 deaths. More than 70,000 patients have recovered, and the county worst hit is Harris county (overlaying Houston).

Yet medical authorities have lost all credibility by flip-flopping on everything from wearing masks to asymptomatic spread

Adding to the confusion in all this is the fact that the entire medical establishment has lost all credibility with an increasing number of America, mostly thanks to the wishy washy flip-flopping on key issues. For example, in February the U.S. Surgeon General was demanding that Americans stop buying masks, insisting they didnt work for the general public. Later, he claimed they magically did work after all.

In January, the WHO insisted that the coronavirus wasnt transmissible via humans, and in June, the WHO claimed there was near-zero asymptomatic spread of the virus among humans, contradicting the entire logical basis for social distancing and masks.

Dr. Fauci is widely known as a vaccine-pushing huckster, and the CDC is now seen to be nothing more than a fraudulent front for Big Pharma and the vaccine industry. Even worse, credible evidence has emerged that U.S. hospitals have been deliberately killing patients with covid-19 infections and ventilator euthanasia in order to collect more money from Medicare.

Thus, when so-called health authorities claim X number of infections or X number of deaths from covid-19, many Americans flat-out dont believe them anymore.

And you cant blame them. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

As a result, the medical establishment has lost any moral authority to demand more lockdowns, masks or mandatory vaccines. Dr. Fauci is the Boy Who Cried Wolf one too many times, and when we all witness the absolute fraud of The Lancet and the medical establishment in their twisted efforts to destroy hydroxychloroquine in order to make sure more patients needlessly suffer and die, we reach the inevitable conclusion thats now inescapable:

The medical system cares nothing about public health. It only cares about profits. Facts be damned.

And if the situation requires hospitals, doctors and nurses to literally murder patients in cold blood in order to spike the fatality numbers and create more demand for a lucrative Big Pharma vaccine, then thats exactly what theyre all willing to do (as weve now seen multiple times).

So how do we navigate the medical and media lies in order to protect ourselves without overreacting? Its simple: Rely on nutrition and smart immune support.

If you practice good nutritional habits and support your immune function while taking basic precautions  such as wearing a mask in public places  you can reduce your chances of being killed by the coronavirus to near-zero. No vaccines required.

Note carefully that the dishonest corporate-run media wont dare tell the American people to consider vitamin D, zinc, magnesium or vitamin C. They dont want people having the tools to support their own immune function and possibly evade health problems that are being hyped up to amass even more murderous profits for the drug cartels.

In summary, we are now about to see a collision of media lies, conservative complacency, widespread public protests and a genetically engineered biological weapon thats circulating in the wild. The results wont be good, and denying the existence of the virus is not a sensible way to attempt to defeat it.

Anyone telling you the coronavirus is a hoax is wildly misinformed, of course. As a reminder, weve publicly predicted that June and July would be the complacency months, with a second wave of infections surging back in August. Perhaps we were too conservatives in our projections (yet again).
Four Wonders of Nehalem Bay - Eye-popping, Even Surreal N. Oregon Coast

Published 06/23/020 at 8:44 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Wheeler, Oregon)  Because its not the beach it gets a bit overlooked. That stretch of north Oregon coast around the Nehalem Bay snakes its way inland a ways between the hot destinations of Manzanita and Rockaway Beach, but a lot of people arent paying attention as they zip through the tiny towns of Wheeler and Nehalem.

Besides the delectable eateries here and the river recreation possibilities, there are some truly unique aspects to Nehalem Bay, especially in the natural world. Heres four rather mind-blowing wonders you likely know nothing about.



Glowing in the Bay. One of the greatest pleasures by far of the Oregon coast is catching sight of the glowing sand phenomenon, which is caused by tiny forms of phytoplankton that are bioluminescent. This means they glow like fireflies, a biochemical reaction in their bodies that causes them to light up when moved or disturbed somehow.



Photo above courtesy Angelina Martin

On the beaches this causes little blue / green sparks as you move your feet along. But did you know you could spot it in Nehalem Bay itself?

There, its an extra special, surreal sight. If its happening on the beaches, head to the docks at Wheeler, stick your hand in the water and you may see a wild glow in the wake of your hand movements. These tiny creatures sometimes make it into the bay, and its particularly bizarre if youre swimming in there (see the photo above and this video). Some have described this as its like youre a skeleton in the water.

Summer in the Bay  Calmer River Winds. As you wind along the Nehalem Bay from Manzanita going south, you may notice a sudden change in weather. Its downright striking in summer during a heatwave, especially if the valley is up in the 90s or beyond, because as you get just a mile or so inland from the cooler beaches it suddenly heats up again. By the time youve gotten into Nehalem or certainly Wheeler, youre likely basking in summers sizzling heat once more.

Wheeler is only a few miles inland but thats all it takes for marine layers to lose their cooling influence on hot days. In fact, many times during those days of coastal fog and valley heat, the sun suddenly comes out once you get into Nehalem or Wheeler. However, head south again and well before Rockaway Beach youre back into whatever weather system the shoreline is dolling out.

Conversely, Nehalem is protected from major coastal storms a bit by the hills just southeast of Manzanita, and if heavy storms are getting you down youll generally find that area calmer. However, Wheeler winds up still exposed because the Nehalem Bay opens up directly to the west, so winds there can be as punishing.

See these to stay in and around Nehalem and Wheeler: Beach Break Vacation Rentals - Sunset Vacation Rentals - in Manzanita, Rockaway Beach

Looking Down on the Bay. The overlooks above Manzanita are the definite highlight of the Nehalem Bay area, indeed one of the coolest, most cajoling sights of the entire Oregon coast. From here, youve got a view to forever, with the whole of the Nehalem Bay spit and Manzanitas beaches down below, even glimpses of Oceanside if the weather is clear enough.

Perhaps the unsung pleasure is looking way down onto Nehalem Bay itself: you see the large expanse of blue, inland water in the distance as the spit trails off into almost nowhere.

Even more such aerial views lie above at the top of Neahkahnie Mountain, which is quite a hike but it gets you to 1600 feet above everything.

Nehalems Boatel. Driving along those forested bends just as you leave little Nehalem you may spot a head-turner: a sign that says boatel and apparently some kind of houseboat lodging on the Nehalem River. Indeed, thats the story here.

There are actually three little vacation rentals clumped together here, part of the roster of Beach Break Vacation Rentals. They all can be combined into one big vacation rental for larger groups as well. All sit cozily on a dock with bundles of amenities, the most attractive of which is the fact youre out in the middle of nature, right on the river. Wildlife like elk, seals, birds (including bald eagles) and of course fish abound here.

In fact, if youre lounging on the dockside patio dont be surprised if a seal comes up and pays you a visit. See the Beach Break Vacation Rentals site for the full scoop on rates and availability. 503-368-3865. 877-655-0623

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During his Tuesday visit to the southwestern border, United States President Donald Trump tried to recover his re-election campaign using a new appeal focused on being anti-immigrant.

He boasted his continuous attacks on migrants and admiring his administration's work on building the "big, beautiful wall" standing along Mexico's border.

Visiting the wall

According to The New York Times, Trump picked a handful of officials and allied Republicans to escort him to Yuma, Arizona, where the wall is located. The president seeks to resurface his reason for victory in the 2016 elections: depicting immigrants as threats to America's economic and social security.

Trump had expressed the pride of his administration for allegedly achieving much more than any administration in history in maintaining the security of the United States' southern border.

The claim comes after workers finished completing approximately 220 miles of the massive wall that Trump said was the "most powerful and comprehensive border wall structure anywhere in the world."

The president's visit to the wall along with his previous decision to suspect most worker visas for the remainder of the year suggests that America is effectively shutting its doors to immigrants, with the visa halt to affect more than 500,000 foreigners which include those who possess green cards in the hopes of joining their families.

Trump's visit to the wall also included him signing a section of the completed section. He considered the construction as "foolproof." The president had also visited the wall last year where he also signed a section near San Diego, as reported by The Hill.

Critics, however, have noted that the majority of the built section of the wall was either rebuilt or have existed beforehand, but the enhanced construction helps in deterring immigrants.

Also Read: Fact Check: Did Donald Trump Confirm Second Stimulus Checks are Coming?

Trump discussed the importance of the wall in assisting his campaign in the November elections during a roundtable meeting with federal and state officials. The event was initially held to talk about border security.

The United States president depicted his political rival, Joe Biden, as being under the control of someone else and not the other way around. Trump also noted his opponents wanted to open America's borders and welcome in criminals.

A winning move

Trump also claimed that Democrats stopped talking against the border wall because they knew it was a massive success for his administration. The American leader said that the wall is never included in conversations anymore because it had shown how much success it was.

The president used the recent coronavirus pandemic to accelerate the construction of the wall by stating they should turn away immigrants that could pose a risk to American citizens.

In the last five months, the wall's construction accelerated as Trump's administration waived federal contracting laws, continuing with the development of 100 miles of the wall's section.

Trump's initial plan of building a wall along the entire border and getting Mexico to fund it would most likely not continue as the president acquired the $15 billion budget from other governments and military funds.

The completion of the 450 miles of the planned border, however, would challenge Trump who plans on finishing it by the end of the year.

Related Article: Federal Judge Denies Trump's Attempt to Block Bolton's Tell-All Book

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
India and Pakistan to expel embassy staff in spy row: 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. Pakistani 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. The two were released to the high commission and later crossed into India, the authorities said.
Wirecard's former CEO has been detained by Munich prosecutors after 1.9bn went missing from the digital payment company in a scandal which has rattled Germany's financial industry.

Markus Braun, who resigned last week, turned himself in on Monday evening in Munich as part of a probe into the company's accounting practices, prosecutors said in a statement. He was granted bail of 5m at a hearing yesterday.

The company is fighting for survival after acknowledging the missing funds probably don't exist. The payment processor said it is in discussions with creditors and is considering a full-scale restructuring after pulling its financial results for fiscal 2019 and the first quarter of 2020.

"It's a brutal development, it could hardly have turned out worse," said Oliver Kipper, a defence lawyer who isn't involved in the case, before Braun's arrest.

"You should know what happened to 1.9bn of assets you have listed in your books."

In less than a week, the fintech once hyped as the future of German finance has lost most of its market value.

"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."

Munich prosecutors said Braun is suspected of inflating Wirecard's balance sheet and sales volume by faking income from transactions with so-called third-party acquirers, possibly in co-operation with other perpetrators.

That would make the company appear financially strong and more attractive for investors and customers.

Braun can be released once he posts the bail and must report to a police station once a week. Prosecutors said they are likely to add additional suspects to the probe.

Braun's arrest will come as a further shock to Wirecard employees. Interim CEO James Freis told employees to expect a major restructuring as it tries to salvage the company, people familiar with the situation said.

In his first message to the company as interim chief, Freis said in a pre-recorded video that management is looking at all options, including selling assets.

Wirecard is working with investment bank Houlihan Lokey on a financing strategy, while also considering a broad restructuring to keep its business operations going.

Wirecard had been championed by German politicians as their own tech giant. It became a favourite of investors, breaking into Germany's elite Dax index of the largest companies in 2018, at the expense of the then 148-year-old Commerzbank.

Bloomberg
Estimated annual rates of fatal police violence per 100,000 residents, by MSA. Estimated MSA-specific rates of fatal police violence per 100,000 residents per year are mapped. Quintiles are labeled in the legend along with, in parentheses, the range of estimated rates included in that quintile. Credit: Schwartz and Jahn, 2020 (PLOS ONE, CC BY)

A study analyzing and describing US police-involved fatalities across racial/ethnic groups at the level of individual metropolitan statistical areas publishes June 24, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, by Gabriel Schwartz and Jaquelyn Jahn from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

In the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of the police in Minneapolis and the following surge of protests against police violence, uncovering specific data on police-related fatalities in the US has never been more critical.

In order to estimate rates of fatalities involving police for every metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the USa level of geographical precision that surpasses previous work in this areaSchwartz and Jahn analyzed 5,494 police-related fatalities from 2013-2017, using a comprehensive and independently-validated database, Fatal Encounters (endorsed by the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics). The analysis excluded 1,670 cases reported as suicides, accidents, or vehicle collisions; 547 deaths also lacked race/ethnicity data, and so were excluded from the portion of the analysis related to racial/ethnic inequities. While Fatal Encounters offers the most comprehensive data on police use of deadly force in the US at this time, it likely misses a number of similar cases because not all of these incidents are reported. Other limitations with the dataset include a possibility of racial/ethnic misclassification, since race was not self-reported, and a risk of misclassification of cause of death (e.g.: accidental versus non-accidental death). The database also does not include the circumstances around each police-related fatality, and it's unclear if every fatality in the database would have been prevented had the police not become involved.

Estimated Black-White incidence rate ratios (annual) for fatal police violence, by MSA. Estimated MSA-specific incident rate ratios comparing rates of fatal police violence experienced by Black people relative to those experienced by White people are mapped. Credit: Schwartz and Jahn, 2020 (PLOS ONE, CC BY)

The data showed large variation in the number of police-involved fatalities across MSAs generallyrates of fatal police violence were nine times higher in the metro area experiencing the highest rates than the least lethal metro area. Across all groups, fatalities were higher in the West and South than in the northern Midwest and Northeast. The data also shows large inequities in the rates at which White and Black people were killed during police contact. Across all MSAs, Black people were on average 3.23 times more likely to be killed than White people (95% CI: 2.95, 3.54, p < 0.001). The specific rates varied greatly across MSAs: Black fatalities ranged from 1.81 times greater than White fatalities in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA, to 6.51 times greater than White fatalities in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin MSA. In general, MSAs with low rates of police-related fatalities against White people tended to exhibit more extreme Black-White inequities. The authors did not calculate MSA-specific rates for people of other races/ethnicities, including Native American, Middle Eastern and Asian/Pacific Islander, due in part to the low total number of deaths for these groups in the Fatal Encounters database.

Importantly, Schwartz and Jahn compare rates of fatal police use of force to the general population, and not to the number of general police contacts with the population, making it impossible to examine rates of fatal police use of force relative to all police contacts. While this paper is descriptive, and thus does not attempt to draw conclusions about the causes of the observed disparities, the authors suggest that place-specific policies, such as firearm regulations, levels of segregation, differences in police training and police department protocols, may help to explain differences in incidence rates.

The data highlights the fatal impact of disparate police use of force on populations and on public health. More and better data, as well as an awareness of the varying historical contexts across the US at a metropolitan and even at a neighborhood level, will enable researchers to dig further into the reasons behind these described disparities to address the public health issue of police-related fatalities in the US.

The authors add: "People's risk of fatal police violence varies hugely from one metro area to another; some metros have death rates 9 times those of other cities, which points to how preventable these deaths are and why so many people are protesting police violence across the country." They conclude: "Nationally, Black people are at much higher risk of being killed by the police, but in some places the difference is truly enormous: Black Chicagoans are more than 650% more likely to be killed than White Chicagoans."

Explore further Police use of fatal force is identified as a leading cause of death in young men

More information: Schwartz GL, Jahn JL (2020) Mapping fatal police violence across U.S. metropolitan areas: Overall rates and racial/ethnic inequities, 2013-2017. PLoS ONE 15(6): e0229686. Journal information: PLoS ONE Schwartz GL, Jahn JL (2020) Mapping fatal police violence across U.S. metropolitan areas: Overall rates and racial/ethnic inequities, 2013-2017.15(6): e0229686. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229686
Hearing from Grace and Nomase continues to inspire me that we need to do more and now. Their lives were changed as a result of the S2S programs and with increased donations, S2S is ready to motivate our next generation of STEM leaders.

For the past 10 years, Students 2 Science (S2S) has been a trusted authority in STEM education. S2S aims to inspire, motivate, and educate the nations future STEM leaders by closing education, access, and opportunity gaps. They developed a comprehensive district-wide STEM solution for underserved communities and worked with over 30 school districts in New Jersey to provide opportunities for more than 87,000 students. Students 2 Science has set an ambitious goal of empowering 1 million students per year in underserved and socio-economically disadvantaged communities with great STEM education.

Education and equity in STEM changes lives, communities, and our ability to compete globally. There is a need to fill over 3.5 million STEM jobs by 2025. Students 2 Science is a model program with demonstrated success in meeting the needs of the public and private sectors. They have collaborated with businesses, institutions of higher education, school district leadership, and workforce-readiness agencies to increase workforce diversity in STEM and to provide STEM education.

70% of high school students surveyed expressed interest in STEM. Our objective is to make career alternatives and their earning potential clear, so students continue on the path to receive STEM certificates and post-secondary degrees in STEM fields. Paul Winslow, President, and Co-Founder.

The impact of COVID-19 is being felt throughout communities across the nation, and it has had a significant impact on education. Students 2 Science is poised to meet the demand for virtual and digital learning and to fulfill the need for STEM education with its successful V-Lab (virtual lab) program. The V-Lab program provides students in grades 5-12 with hands-on STEM experiences via a digital platform. V-Labs are cost-efficient and easily scalable, and they were designed to overcome geographic and linguistic barriers. Working with over thirty school districts in NJ, PA, and NC they have developed solutions for the academic year 2020-2021 where S2S V-Labs provide learning in the classroom and at home.

Students 2 Science set a goal of raising $3.5 million to expand the V-Lab program, throughout New Jersey and globally, in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in dire need of STEM education.

This year S2S was to hold its first-ever fundraising event S2S: The Salon championing the need for greater diversity and inclusion in STEM. Due to COVID-19 and the ongoing need for social distancing, S2S transitioned to a virtual event instead where over 400 have joined the event including leaders from the public and private sectors.

S2S virtually celebrated its 10th Anniversary and reaffirmed its commitment to empowering students with authentic STEM education. A recording of the S2S: The Salon event is available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE_KPCZEPZU&feature=youtu.be. It features success stories from students, like Grace and Nomase, who participated in S2S programs and is also a tribute to the importance of equity in STEM education, the guiding principle for the Students 2 Science journey over the next 10 years.

Hearing from Grace and Nomase continues to inspire me that we need to do more and now. Their lives were changed as a result of the S2S programs and with increased donations, S2S is ready to motivate our next generation of STEM leaders. Karnel R Walker, Director, Global Business Management, Pharma Services at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Students 2 Science Advisory Board Member.

Students 2 Science also launched a GoFundMe fundraiser. Donations will support Students 2 Science as the organization pivots post-pandemic to scale the virtual labs program, remediate the gap in learning as a result of the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and provide for the challenging demands of new school requirements over the next 18 months.

About Students 2 Science

As a model program with demonstrated success in meeting the needs of the public and private sectors, Students 2 Science (S2S) aims to inspire, motivate, and educate the nation's future STEM leaders by closing education, access, and opportunity gaps. S2S's success is rooted in exemplary, hands-on science instruction at its commercial-grade laboratories that foster workforce readiness. S2S achieves this through cross-sector collaborations between district leadership, corporate partners, and institutions of higher education. The goal of S2S is to close the gap between education and New Jersey's and the nation's projected economic growth and global leadership. To learn more about Students 2 Science visit http://www.students2science.org/ or check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Students2Science/.

Students 2 Science, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) model program in New Jersey that bridges the needs of the public and private sectors. Their mission is to inspire, motivate, and educate elementary, middle, and high school students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM subjects). They do so by providing an authentic, state-of-the-art laboratory experience complete with modern instrumentation and professional scientists. Additionally, they offer a remote, web-based virtual STEM experience that eliminates geographic and language constraints and broadens their reach to serve a wider audience. Teams of students, working collaboratively with scientific professionals who serve as role models, solve real-life problems while being introduced to a wide variety of 21st century STEM career opportunities.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the spate of pre-election litigations as well as conflicting court orders ca...





The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the spate of pre-election litigations as well as conflicting court orders can disrupt the smooth conduct of primaries and the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state.





In a statement on Tuesday, Festus Okoye, INECs national commissioner for information and voter education, said the commission deliberated on a range of issues concerning the governorship election which is slated for September 19.





INEC said following the meeting, the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes, will end on June 27, 2020.





It added that the submission of the list of candidates the parties propose to present at the election and affidavits of validly nominated candidates will close at 6pm on June 29, 2020.

On court orders, the commission said the spate of pre-election litigations and conflicting orders emanating from such can affect the smooth conduct of primaries and the upcoming election.





In view of this and as part of its commitment to deepen the use of technology in elections, the commission will conduct a training programme for Liaison Officers nominated by all the registered Political Parties on the use of the INEC Portal for uploading nomination forms of candidates, Okoye said.





The training will take place at the Conference Hall of the Commission on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th June 2020 in two batches, to allow for physical distancing in line with the COVID-19 protocols.





Political Parties should note that the organisation and scheduling of various activities and processes leading to the conduct of elections are complex and involve extensive and careful planning and any disruption of these processes comes at a huge cost to the nation.





The spate and tenor of pre-election litigations and the conflicting orders emanating therefrom can harm the smooth conduct of primaries and the upcoming elections.





It added that the commission is closely monitoring cases arising from the administration of political parties, conduct of primaries, and nomination of candidates and restated INECs commitment to obey all orders and judgements in accordance with the rule of law.





INEC said it has also considered the report from the meeting of the inter-agency consultative committee on election security (ICCES), which recently approved a code of conduct and rules of engagement for security officials on electoral duty.





It said, the code, signed by the chairman of INEC, the national security adviser (NSA) as co-chairman of ICCES and the inspector-general of police (IGP), will be uploaded on the websites of INEC, the office of the NSA and the Nigeria police force on June 25, 2020.





The APC has been embroiled in a leadership crisis following the appeal court ruling that upheld the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the party.





While the party announced Abiola Ajimobi, former Oyo governor, as acting chairman, Giadom declared himself as national chairman and also reversed the disqualification of Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, from the gubernatorial primary election.





But the national working committee of the APC overruled him and appointed Hilliard Eta, vice chairman of the party (south-south), to stand in for Ajimobi who was unavoidably absent.





A high court of the federal capital territory (FCT) reaffirmed Giadom as the acting national chairman of the APC but another high court in Rivers state restrained him from parading himself as such.




Click here to read the full article.

J.C. Penney Co. is upping the count on its store closings.

The bankrupt retailer, as part of its store optimization strategy, disclosed Monday evening that it will close an additional 13 stores on top of the 136 units being liquidated. However, even more closings will be revealed.

More from WWD

We do anticipate a third round of store closures, but the date has not been decided yet, a J.C. 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, J.C. Penney 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.

Currently 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 that 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.
Central New York Democrats arent waiting for the results of the 24th Congressional District primary election between Dana Balter and Francis Conole to unify their party.

Instead, a group of prominent local Democrats announced today that they would begin a new fund to raise money for the partys eventual nominee in the November election against Rep. John Katko.

The NY-24 Democratic Unity Fund will raise money through Crowdpac to support the partys nominee.

After votes at the polls Tuesday, Balter led Conole 64%-36%. But the election will be decided by absentee ballots because twice as many people chose to vote by mail. Those ballots wont be counted until after June 30.

Assemblywoman Pam Hunter, who chairs the Onondaga County Democratic Committee, said today the party cant afford to wait for the results to raise money for the nominee.

When Democrats work together, we are unstoppable, Hunter said in a statement. NY-24 is the most flippable Republican-controlled district in the entire country. With historic turnout for a spirited primary election, it is time for us to turn that energy into unified action and finally win this seat.

Hunter and the Onondaga County Democratic Committee endorsed Conole in the election.

Other initial supporters of the unity fund are Oswego County Legislator Tom Drumm, Cayuga County Democratic Chair Ian Phillips, Wayne County Young Democrats Chair Allison Kirsch and Roger Misso, a Navy veteran from Syracuse who ended his campaign for the 24th District seat in March.

Phillips said the Democratic nominee will need to raise more than $2 million to defeat Katko, R-Camillus, in November. Katko reported to the Federal Election Commission this month that he has more than $1.3 million cash on hand for his campaign.

Donations to the fund will be transferred to the eventual Democratic nominee after the Board of Elections certifies a winning candidate in the 24th District race.

The 24th Congressional District spans all of Onondaga, Cayuga and Wayne counties, and the western half of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton.

MORE ON 2020 NY PRIMARY

Election Day 2020: NY primary voting results for Central New York

Dana Balter opens wide lead over Francis Conole in Democratic primary

George Phillips concedes to Claudia Tenney in 22nd Congressional District

Joe Biden finishes night with big lead in CNY presidential primary vote

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
After surviving fourteen months living in fear and hunger during the siege of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus, Wafaa Hashim and her family were grateful just to escape with their lives when they fled the siege and made their way to Lebanon as refugees in 2014.

When we arrived in Lebanon, it was like we moved from hell to heaven, said Wafaa, 32, as she remembered the day the family finally made it across the border.

But after more than five years of deepening poverty and steadily deteriorating circumstances in Lebanon, familiar feelings of entrapment and despair once again began to take hold.

With Wafaas husband Mohammad struggling to find regular work due to an injury sustained during the siege, they are now forced to rely on the income of their 13-year-old son, Bakr, who works at a local supermarket delivering goods to customers.

"This is really hard for a child."

When I see my son working and not studying, I feel so sad, said Wafaa. I look at his friends who learned to read and write, but he can't. He often comes back exhausted from work and asks me: when is this going to end?

His psychological state of mind isn't great, added Wafaa. He doesn't go out to play and he has very few friends. He spends too much time alone. I feel so sad for him, I feel he is broken because he cant read or write. This is really hard for a child.

The family lives in a sparsely furnished apartment in Mount Lebanon governorate, outside the capital Beirut. Bakrs earnings barely cover the monthly rent, meaning the family often has to go without other necessities.

Recently the family had to manage without electricity for four months, as they were unable to afford the fuel to run the generator.

Syrian refugee Wafaa pins daughter Yasmine's hair at their home in Barja, Lebanon.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Thirteen-year-old Syrian refugee Bakr works in a supermarket and delivers food to support his family.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Bakr dropped out of school and started working two years ago, but dreams of studying architecture.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Wafaa, 32, and her husband Mohammad, 37, have their portrait taken at home in Barja, Lebanon.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Layan, 10, plays a game with her younger sister Yasmine, 3.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

One evening, as she was putting her youngest children to sleep, Wafaa tried to reassure them that things would get better. We were under a lot of pressure, we had to pay rent and couldnt. I was joking with my daughters, telling them to sleep early as we have an interview at UNHCR the next day so that we can go abroad.

To her surprise, Wafaas hopeful story came true the next day when UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, called her husband to tell them that the family would be interviewed by Norway for resettlement I was completely shocked; I didnt believe him. I thanked God we can finally get our children out.

Following an interview with the Norwegian selection mission at the end of last year  which was held via videoconference after the delegation was unable to travel to Lebanon due to protests in the country at the time  the family was accepted and scheduled to fly out on 23 March 2020.

See also: UNHCR appeals for resettlement places as record forced displacement and protection needs outstrip solutions

But the lockdown measures introduced in mid-March to prevent the spread of COVID-19 meant the familys flights were cancelled and their resettlement put on hold.

Being poor is hard, being vulnerable is hard. Our hopes were pinned on this trip, but it hasnt worked out, Wafaa said.

With many countries worldwide closing their borders in response to the pandemic, and with widespread disruption to international air traffic, in mid-March UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced most resettlement departures for refugees would be put on hold, except for emergency cases.

But with restrictions starting to be lifted in some countries, last week UNHCR and IOM announced the resumption of resettlement departures as soon as the situation in each country allows. Beirut airport is due to begin partial reopening in early July.

See also: UN refugee chief Grandi and IOMs Vitorino announce resumption of resettlement travel for refugees

While fewer than 1 per cent of the worlds refugees having the possibility to be resettled, finding a new home in a third country remains a vital and often life-saving option for some of the most vulnerable individuals under UNHCRs mandate.

The family still hopes to travel to Norway when airports reopen and commercial flights resume.

We hear that Norway is developed and is beautiful, said Wafaa. That they have respect for other people, and they respect the freedom of speech. We hope to still make it there.

"We want to forget our past."

Wafaa dreams of educating all her children and hopes to go to school herself to study psychology. She hopes her husband can get the treatment he needs to overcome his injury there too.

The family recognizes that the postponement of their much-awaited trip is due to circumstances beyond their control, and they remain hopeful that their current predicament will not last as long as previous difficult periods in their lives.

We put so much hope on traveling, Wafaa said. We are still positive we will get there once this pandemic is over and airports reopen. We want to forget our past, we got some hope with this opportunity. As they say, after hardship comes light.
She's one of Australia's hottest models.

And on Wednesday, Natalie Roser put on a cheeky display as she flaunted her sensational physique after enjoying an early morning winter dip in the ocean.

'Apparently, its winter here in Aus,' the 30-year-old stunner caption the post on Instagram.

That's cheeky! Guess model Natalie Roser (pictured) flaunted her sensational physique after enjoying an early morning swim at the beach in Sydney this week

Accompanying the post was a series of three gorgeous photos of the Guess model frolicking on the sand, with the picturesque ocean view behind her.

The blonde beauty flaunted her toned physique and flat stomach in high-cut pastel string bikini bottoms and a blue cropped hoodie from Alo Yoga, which is available for $108.

In one image, Natalie flaunted her trim pins and toned waist as she stretched, while her blonde locks glistened from the water.

Admiring the view! In one photo, Natalie turned around to check out the view of the ocean while flaunting her pert derriere

Stylish: The blonde beauty flaunted her toned physique and flat stomach in high-cut pastel string bikini bottoms and a blue cropped hoodie from Alo Yoga, which is available for $108

In the next picture, Natalie playfully hid from the camera, as she used her hoodie to cover up her glorious mane.

In the final photo, Natalie turned around to admire the view while flaunting her pert derriere.

Natalie celebrated her 30th birthday last month.

Hot to trot! Natalie celebrated her 30th birthday earlier this month

Her partner, former Neighbours star Harley Bonner, shared a heartwarming tribute to her on the day.

The 29-year-old actor posted a series of loved-up photos of the couple to Instagram and professed his love for the blonde beauty, who he started dating in 2017.

'Happy 30th to my darling angel!! I love this life with you. More than anything. What a beautiful privilege,' he wrote.

'I love this life with you': Her beau Harley Bonner shared a sweet tribute to his girlfriend Natalie on her big day

'Thank you for your enormous, unwavering love and understanding. You are heaven,' he added.

'I really need to learn more languages because every day I wake up to your gorgeous face the words "I LOVE YOU!" fall shorter and shorter of the way I feel.'

In one photo, Harley kissed his girlfriend while she embraced him from behind, while another showed the pair posing as they ate ice-cream.

The couple is believed to have started dating in 2017, shortly after Natalie ended her engagement to personal trainer Dan Adair.

The loved-up pair relocated back to Australia earlier this year, moving into an apartment in Rose Bay, Sydney, after residing in LA.
The state of Rhode Island is moving toward changing its official name to remove a portion that connotes slavery.

Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order to that could lead to and Providence Plantations being removed from the states official name (Rhode Island and Providence Plantations). The official name has come under renewed scrutiny in the wake of global protests over racial injustice spurred by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Under Raimondo's executive order, the issue will be put on the ballot for the November election.

"I urge the voters to approve the name change in November but will take all measures now that are within my control to eliminate the name from my official communications and those of my executive agencies," Raimondo said.

The state's full name will also be removed from state-operated websites, official documents, stationary and other executive orders.

The state seal may also be replaced or redesigned.

The state senate has also passed a resolution to remove "and Providence Plantations" from the official name, but it is unclear when the issue will be put to a vote.

Harold Metts, the state's only Black senator, introduced the bill.

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, Metts told the Providence Journal last week.

Nearly 78% of the state's voters opposed removing the phrase in 2010 when a similar resolution was made a ballot measure, according to the Providence Journal.

By David Matthews, New York Daily News (TNS)

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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.

Agartala, June 23 (IANS) 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.

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.

--IANS

sc/tsb
The Michael Flynn prosecution is over, assuming no en banc review of the panels decision putting an end to it. However, we can expect plenty of moaning from Democrats and their media allies, as well, I assume, as congressional hearings.

For the moment, though, its the Roger Stone prosecution that Democrats are investigating. Bill Otis has the details.

Stone was sentenced by a liberal Democrat judge to 40 months in prison. But House Dems wanted a much longer sentence, and are crying foul because they didnt get it.

As I write this, Aaron Zelinsky, one of Stones prosecutors, is telling the House Judiciary Committee that the Department of Justice exerted significant pressure on the line prosecutors to reduce their recommended sentence for Stone. Zelinsky has said:

What I heard  repeatedly  was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the President. 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.

As Bill points out, its pretty clear from this statement that Zelinsky lacks first hand knowledge of what was going on. And, indeed, the Justice Department has confirmed his lack of knowledge. Its spokesperson issued this statement:

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.

Zelinsky complains that the Department of Justice exerted significant pressure on the line prosecutors in the case to obscure the correct Sentencing Guidelines calculation to which Roger Stone was subject. The convoluted nature of this accusation (how does one obscure the correct. . .calculation?) is a slippery way of saying that Zelinskys bosses disagreed with him about how the Sentencing Guidelines should be applied to this case.

Reasonable people can disagree about the sentence Stone should have received. Its noteworthy, though, that the sentencing judge  liberal Obama appointee Amy Berman Jackson  sentenced Stone to less than half the incarceration Zelinsky wanted. As Bill notes, the judges sentence was right in line with what Zelinskys politically appointed and much more experienced superiors settled upon. Did the liberal sentencing judge, who clearly was no fan of Stone, obscure the correct calculation?

For more about the factors bearing on the sentencing of Stone, read Bills full article. You can find my take on it here. Andy McCarthys analysis is here.

Facts supporting the sentence include Stones age, the fact that this was his first offense, and, most importantly, the reality that the witness on the receiving end of Stones ostensible intimidation had a longstanding relationship with Stone, and said he did not feel threatened by him.

Bill concludes his piece with a thought experiment. How would congressional Democrats and their media affiliates like the Washington Post be treating this story if everyones positions were reversed  that is, if we had a Democratic President, a Democratic Attorney General and US Attorney, a slimy Democratic defendant (instead of a slimy Republican one), and a Republican or Republican-leaning line prosecutor who wanted a seven-to-nine year sentence for a 67 year-old white collar defendant?

In this scenario, says Bill, the Democratic/media party line would be something like this:

Vindictive prosecutors draconian sentencing recommendation for aging, first-time, non-violent offender overruled by more mature judgment of Attorney General; well-respected district judge rejects line prosecutors barbaric sentencing wishes and sides with AG.

Thats about right.

Would Republicans be taking the line that Dems are now espousing in the Stone case? Possibly. But I dont recall seeing an example of that level of vindictiveness regarding the prosecution of an elderly Democrat operative.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  An Ohio Senate committee heard several hours of witness testimony on Wednesday as it resumed public hearings on a resolution that would declare racism as a public health crisis.

Sen. Dave Burke, a Marysville Republican, said the Senate health committee likely will hold another hearing on the resolution before considering whether to recommend it for passage by the full Senate.

But he told committee members whether it advances past the committee stage will depend on the level of support from his fellow Republicans, who hold 24 of the Senates 33 seats.

In all honesty, youd probably know my personal feelings, said Burke, who has expressed support for the resolution. But I am one of 33. Along with the bill sponsors, thats at least three. Well mature this conversation and have a better answer when the committee meets again in a week or so.

Two Republican committee members, Sens. Peggy Lehner of Dayton and Stephanie Kunze of Columbus, also seemed supportive during their questions on Wednesday. A third Republican, Sen. Kirk Schuring, of Canton, is a co-sponsor.

Senate President Larry Obhof, a Medina County Republican, told reporters following a Senate session on Wednesday that he isnt sure if the resolution will be approved. But he said the larger conversation around racial equality has inspired legislation, including bills addressing disparities in maternal health and infant mortality.

I think the most important part of this is how much the discussion sparks legislation that will have a real effect in improving peoples lives, he said.

Attention has focused on the resolution, called Senate Concurring Resolution 14, amid the protests that have emerged in Ohio and nationally since the death of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, leading to a murder charge against the officer who arrested him.

The resolution is modeled after one approved in Milwaukee city and county last year. It would urge Republican Gov. Mike DeWine to form a working group to promote racial equity and commit to reviewing all state laws through the lens of racial equity. But supporters have said it would make a powerful statement about the role racism plays in leading to higher levels of poverty and worse health outcomes for African-Americans and other racial minorities in Ohio.

It is a non-binding resolution, giving it less force than a full-fledged law. Its sponsors are Democratic Sens. Sandra Williams of Cleveland and Hearcel Craig of Columbus.

Wednesdays hearing was the first since June 9, when the committees vice-chair, state Sen. Steve Huffman, provoked outrage by asking whether the colored population might be more susceptible to COVID-19 because of poor hand-washing practices. Huffman, a Republican from the Dayton area, subsequently lost his job as an emergency-room physician and has faced calls from prominent civil-rights groups for his resignation.

He has apologized.

Huffman attended Wednesdays hearing but asked no questions of witnesses who testified in support.

Among those witnesses was Ronnie Dunn, a longtime professor of urban studies at Cleveland State University.

Dunn, who is CSUs chief diversity officer, said he is cautiously optimistic that the current national conversation around racism will lead to changes in the system that has disadvantaged Black Americans since the nations founding.

He told committee members he thinks Floyds death struck a chord with white Americans because the coronavirus pandemic has created a captive national audience.

They had to explain it to their children, and couldnt just turn a blind eye anymore, he said.

The Greater Cleveland Partnership also submitted written testimony in support of the resolution, joining chamber of commerce groups in Columbus and Dayton.

A companion resolution introduced in the Ohio House has yet to receive a hearing, to the frustration of Black state lawmakers and other Democrats.

Read recent coverage from 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

Ohio GOP state senator fired from ER doctor job after using racist language

Ohio Legislative Black Caucus introduce resolutions to declare racism a public health crisis
A Texas man has been arrested and charged in connection with the discovery of the body of a woman in a plastic container floating in Kentucky Lake.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said agents believe 60-year-old Jeffrey Rogers, of Arlington, Texas, used a boat rented in Paris, Tennessee, to dispose of the body in the lake located north of the state line.

Kentucky State Police said earlier that the woman was identified as 41-year-old Traci Leigh Jones, of Granbury, Texas.

Jeffrey Rogers, 60 (left), has been charged with abuse of corpse and tampering with evidence in the death of Traci Jones, 41 (right), in Kentucky

Jones' body was found inside a plastic container floating in Kentucky Lake, Kentucky

Rogers was charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Police say he was arrested on Tuesday in Fort Worth, Texas, located more than 650 miles southwest of the lake.

According to a press release from the TBI, Jones' body was discovered in the lake on Saturday night.

Rogers is being held on $1million in Tarrant County Jail in Texas

The Kentucky State Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and ruled the manner of death homicide. Officials have not revealed how Jones died.

During the investigation, TBI agents learned that Rogers had allegedly used the rented boat to dispose of the victim's body.

Investigators so far have offered no information on a possible motive and have not said whether Rogers and Jones knew each other.

Rogers is being held on $1million bail in Tarrant County Jail pending his extradition to Tennessee.

According to her obituary, Jones was a single mother who worked as a waitress for most of her life.

'She loved her son and animals and was definitely a mommas girl,' the post read. 'She was a free spirit and now is at rest with her mom.'
New Delhi, June 24 : Defying the agreed mutual consensus to disengage, Chinese People's Liberation Army troops have returned to Patrolling Post 14 on the Line of Actual Control in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh where the barbaric June 15 attack, in which 20 Indian Army soldiers were killed, occurred.

The PLA has even set up tents and an observation point exactly where it was on June 15, sources said, adding that the Chinese have returned with huge reinforcements even after they have agreed to withdraw their troops and dismantle their setups.

Sources said that during 11-hour-long Corps Commander level talks between India and China on June 22, it was stated that there was "mutual consensus to disengage". It was also stated that "modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in eastern Ladakh were discussed".

The Corps Commanders of two countries' militaries had met at Moldo to resolve the border issue and ease tension in eastern Ladakh. This was their second meeting after the first one on June 6.

The meeting took place between 14 Corps commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major General Liu Lin and it happened on the lines of the one they held at the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting point in eastern Ladakh on June 6.

However, Chinese Army troops were back at the same location where the conflict took place. The Chinese Army deployment is a major concern for the Indian government, but the forces in Eastern Ladakh are ready for any conflict, sources said.

On June 15, the clash occurred at the south bank of Galwan river, which flows in an east-west direction before its confluence with Shyok river.

The killing of the 20 soldiers became the first fatalities faced by the Indian Army in a clash with the PLA since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Indian Army said that its soldiers went to the spot where the clashes happened without any animosity to check if the de-escalation agreement was being followed as promised and were displaying friendly gestures to the Chinese side when they were attacked.

Sources said Indian soldiers were outnumbered by 1:5 ratio when they came under a "savage attack" from the Chinese soldiers at Patrolling Post 14.

"The numbers were stacked up against the Indian Army troops. Yet, the Indian side decided to fight the PLA....," a source had said.

China had also 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 source said.
In spite of the ongoing pandemic and government's drive to discourage consumption of wildlife and pet animals for meat, Yulin's controversial dog meat festival has been organised once again. The annual festival takes place in the southwestern city of Yulin and attracts thousands for visitors for 10 days. As the report of the festival hit the internet, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma took to her Instagram and reacted to the news.

She shared a screengrab of a news article and captioned the Instagram story as, "What will it take for them to learn?!"

Kartik Aaryan also took to his Instagram account and spoke up against the festival. He shared a post in which he can be seen playing with two dogs and the caption read, "Har saal Dil Todte hain yeh Yulin Festival waale  #YulinKMKB #StopYulin".

Later he also shared the same picture on Instagram stories and wrote, "Stop Yulin Dog Meat Festival. #YulinKMKB."

Anushka Sharma's Instagram Story While many have called out the organizers on social media, activists are hoping 2020 will be the last year when the festival takes place in China. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the government is considering new laws to halt the trade and assure the protection of the pet animals. Since COVID-19 is believed to have been originated in horseshoe bats before transmitting it to the humans, China is reassessing its relationship with wildlife trade and consumption. The agriculture ministry has also decided to classify dogs as pets and not livestock. Kartik Aaryan's Instagram Story Zhang Qianqian, an animal rights activist said, "From what we understand from our conversations with meat sellers, leaders have said the consumption of dog meat won't be allowed in future, but banning dog meat consumption is going to be hard and will take some time." Activists Hope 2020 Is The Last Year O fDog Meat Festival In Yulin In late February, a ban was imposed on the sale and consumption of wild animals, such as bats and snakes. Shenzhen became the first city in Mainland China to ban the consumption of dogs back in April. The festival's popularity has dropped and activists hope other cities will soon follow suit.

Pooja Bhatt Condemns The Brutal Killing Of The Pregnant Elephant In Kerala!

Anushka Sharma Says Producing Is More Daunting Than Acting
CHICAGO and MENLO PARK, Calif., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Accel-KKR and ParkerGale joined forces to back ATP in its acquisition of FlightDocs, a provider of maintenance tracking software for the business aviation industry. Founded nearly fifty years ago, ATP provides aircraft maintenance information, predictive diagnostics, and troubleshooting software to over 6,700 aviation customers worldwide. ParkerGale, a technology-focused buyout fund based in Chicago, acquired ATP in 2015 and subsequently added on CaseBank Technologies in 2016.

ParkerGale co-founder and ATP Board Chairman, Devin Mathews, said, "We have been trying to convince Flightdocs' owners to join the ATP family for a few years, and we are so pleased to have finally put the companies together. We have ambitious plans for ATP as one of the largest aviation software companies and we are excited to have Accel-KKR's support in the endeavor. We couldn't be happier with the partnership between our firms."

"We are excited to support ATP's acquisition of Flightdocs to create a unique combination of mission-critical solutions for the business aviation industry that help make flying safer and more reliable," said Joe Porten, Principal of Accel-KKR's growth capital fund. "ParkerGale has a track record of investing in quality, founder-run, profitable growth-oriented software companies, which aligns well with Accel-KKR and we look forward to working with both ParkerGale and the ATP management team in the coming months and years." Mr. Porten will join the ATP Board of Directors.

While ParkerGale retains majority ownership of ATP, Accel-KKR's minority investment comes from Accel-KKR's growth capital fund as well as credit financing from Accel-KKR Credit Partners. The combination of equity and debt funding demonstrates Accel-KKR's flexible model for capital investment and the firm's commitment to leveraging the right solutions to support management in achieving the company's growth potential.

"We are pleased that ATP and ParkerGale came to us for our software focus," said Samantha Shows, Managing Director of Accel-KKR Credit Partners. "But just as importantly, they recognize that we have the flexibility to support their vision by providing the right types of capital solutions that enable growth. It is something that we pride ourselves on at Accel-KKR: being a true partner to management in pursuit of the company's potential."

Maintenance operations have become more complex over time, and technology solutions help customers reduce operating costs, improve reliability and support technical knowledge sharing. With Flightdocs joining the ATP family, the combined company will become a leader in the aviation industry by providing a comprehensive range of technical publications, troubleshooting, diagnostics and maintenance workflow solutions under one umbrella. The combined company now supports 75,000 maintenance professionals across more than 7,500 customers in 137 countries.

Kirkland & Ellis provided legal support for the transaction. Cafferty & Company provided debt capital markets support. Harris Williams provided ParkerGale with buyside advisory services.

About ParkerGale:

ParkerGale Capital is a small private equity firm based in Chicago that buys profitable, founder-owned technology companies and corporate carve-outs where the firm's operating resources can have a meaningful impact on the outcome. ParkerGale also hosts the private equity industry's only podcast, the PEFunCast with almost a million downloads. Please visit www.parkergale.com to learn more.

About Accel-KKR:

Accel-KKR is a technology-focused investment firm with over $9 billion in capital commitments. The firm focuses on software and IT-enabled businesses, well-positioned for topline and bottom-line growth. At the core of Accel-KKR's investment strategy is a commitment to developing strong partnerships with the management teams of its portfolio companies and a focus on building value alongside management by leveraging the significant resources available through the Accel-KKR network. Accel-KKR focuses on middle-market companies and provides a broad range of capital solutions including buyout capital, minority-growth investments, and credit alternatives. Accel-KKR also invests across a wide range of transaction types including private company recapitalizations, divisional carve-outs and going-private transactions. Accel-KKR is headquartered in Menlo Park with additional offices in Atlanta and London. Visit accel-kkr.com.

About Accel-KKR Credit Partners:

Accel-KKR Credit Partners provides strategic financing to leading software businesses. Accel-KKR Credit Partners provides non-dilutive investments to founder-owned businesses and flexibility to institutionally-owned businesses. Accel-KKR Credit Partners has completed 25 investments and deployed over $300 million in capital. Use of proceeds include acquisitions, dividends, shareholder buy backs and growth.

Media Contact:

Todd Fogarty

Kekst CNC

T +1 212 521 4854

[email protected]



SOURCE Accel-KKR

Related Links

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Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday asked the Centre to withdraw an order mandating every individual diagnosed Covid positive through a swab test to be taken to a Covid care centre (CCC) for clinical assessment of symptoms, equating it with detention, even as deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah to roll back the directive which he said was putting a burden on the administrative machinery fighting the pandemic.

I have received many requests to reverse the home isolation-related order, especially from people with mild symptoms or no symptoms, because it is not feasible. If the police and district administration arrive as somebodys residence and takes that person to a Covid centre, it is equivalent to 15 days detention, Kejriwal said.

The new health assessments protocol formalised by the administration on Monday 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.

Suppose, someones 80-year-old mother gets Covid-infected, and she is asymptomatic or has mild symptoms, how can she be taken to a quarantine centre and why? At home, she will be taken care of better by her children. Those who can be treated at home should be isolated at home and those who need medical attention can be taken to hospital. Why force everyone into a Covid centre. Such an order is not correct. the CM said after inaugurating a 100-bed covid health centre set up at a banquet hall attached to Lok Nayak Hospital in central Delhi.

Kejriwal said, Why should a person with high fever be forced to stand in a queue for assessment of Covid symptoms when that can be done at home? The Delhi government and central government are working in cooperation with each other. I would like to request the Centre to roll back the order.

Earlier in the day, Sisodia urged Shah to roll back the order that has sparked a row. Its not a matter of the Amit Shah model versus Arvind Kejriwal model of fighting Covid-19. Its about ensuring minimum inconvenience to the public and also that the administrative machinery fighting the pandemic is not overburdened, Sisodia said at a briefing via a video conference, a day after the Delhi government said in a letter to the L-G that the old system of assessing Covid-19 patients at their residence to determine if they are fit for home isolation must be brought back.

Also, on Wednesday, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)  chaired by lieutenant-govenor (L-G) Anil Baijal  wrote to the six-member expert committee set up by the L-G earlier this month, seeking help on the matter and directed them to submit a proposed standard operating procedure (SOP) by Thursday.

The letter, which HT has seen, said: The subject of the letter (SOP for management of patients who have tested covid positive) is self-explanatory for consideration by the advisory group I am directed to request you to kindly consider the issues raised in the letter (attached) of the deputy chief minister urgently and submit a proposed SOP in this regard in 24 hours.

The six-member advisory group is led by Dr Balram Bhargava, director general of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). A senior official in the DDMA said, These are technical things and demand a scientific approach. So, the DDMA has written to the expert committee seeking guidance.

Sisodia, who has been holding the additional charge of the health portfolio after health minister Satyendra Jain tested Covid-19 positive and is undergoing treatment, said the rule to visit a CCC was causing chaos.

Delhi is reporting over 3,000 Covid-19 positive cases daily. We have written to the L-G, explaining how his directive is causing chaos. We have urged him to roll back his decision. The district authorities are in the process of arranging buses to adhere to the order and they are overburdened. We have requested the L-G to preside over a meeting of the state disaster management authority at the earliest. However, we have not got any response yet, Sisodia said.

Delhi on Wednesday reported 3,788 new cases, taking the overall count to 70,390. The health bulletin reported 64 deaths, pushing the count to 2,365.

The Delhi government was earlier conducting a similar assessment by sending health officials to residences of Covid-19 patients.

But last Friday, Baijal scrapped the home isolation practice and issued a controversial order making a five-day institutional quarantine mandatory for all patients, including those with mild symptoms who were eligible for home quarantine. The order was, however, reversed the following day after furore.

The rollback of Fridays order, however, came with the condition that all patients should be taken to CCCs for a clinical diagnosis.

The official notification issued on Monday by the director-general of health services (DGHS), Delhi, specified that all those who tested positive through the RT-PCR test should be taken to CCCs for a clinical diagnosis of their symptoms. Those who tested positive through rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are to be assessed in the clinics.

The order said a medical officer is empowered to take a call on whether a Covid-19 patient should be sent to a hospital or a Covid-19 Health Centre (CHC) or can undergo self-isolation at home.

A separate team will visit the residence of a Covid-19 patient to check if facilities required for self-isolation, such as a room with a separate toilet, etc, were available so that others in the family do not get infected, the order said.

Jugal Kishore, head, community medicine department, Safdarjung Hospital, said: If many Covid-19 patients visit CCCs, it will create multiple problems. It increases the exposure risk for healthcare workers; attendants, who accompany Covid-19 patients in ambulances; and also ambulance drivers, among others. Besides, a Covid-19 positive case can multiply to three in no time. In this context, its a logistically better option to send an equipped team to a Covid-19 patients residence.

The Bharatiya Janata Party criticised the Delhi government for the requests sent to the Union mister and L-G. The situation in Delhi came under control only after the central government intervened. The Aam Aadmi Party government is politicising the issue of Covid patients being sent to care centres for clinical assessment because it exposes their failure on the healthcare infrastructure front, said BJPs Delhi unit president Adesh Gupta.
It also has action. And a murder mystery. And cursing and nudity. And competition. "There are so many good shows," and attention is strained, he says, so he packed as many of the things he likes into Upload as possible. People love the characters Daniels creates and writes  as in, actually love. The way viewers talk about Michael Scott and Leslie Knope, they might as well be real people. Pam and Jim could be a real couple. Put Ron Swanson on an election ballot and he'd probably do OK. Nathan (Robbie Amell) finds that he can continue to live after his death but not on his own terms. Credit:Amazon Prime Video Along the way, the list of actors his series have turned into stars is impressive. Aziz Ansari, Mindy Kaling, John Krasinski, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt: all were relative newcomers before appearing in Daniels' sitcoms. Fans of The Daily Show knew Steve Carell as a correspondent but it was his role on The Office that catapulted his career.

Upload has a sharper edge than Daniels' earlier shows (including the animated King of the Hill, which he created with Mike Judge) but the cast has familiar qualities: charismatic, diverse, good-looking but approachable and led by actors who have the glow of indwelling stardom but aren't widely known. "I think what's really exciting from a casting standpoint is to find somebody and see how you're going to break them," Daniels says. "And I think there's a pleasure for the audience in going into a show and being like, I don't know any of these people.'" A scene in Upload. Credit:Amazon Prime Video One of them is Andy Allo, who plays Nora, a customer service representative at Horizen, a company that manages the virtual afterlife and its digitised human souls, known as uploads. (The reps function as the angels of this digital heaven.) In the series, Nora's father, a religious man, is dying, and he hopes to join Nora's deceased mother in the celestial afterlife, not some digital one.

"It does bring in so many questions of your existence after death," Allo says between takes. "Heaven, on this spiritual level, is what my dad believes in but I work for this company that has created heaven." Like today's wireless companies (note the name), Horizen offers different data plans based on what families can afford. If customers exceed their limits, things get glitchy. Parks and Recreation creator Greg Daniels on the set of Upload. Credit:Amazon Prime "How darkly funny it is that you end up almost in a similar way and place that you were in real life?" Allo asks. "It's like pay-by-month" on the bottom tier, she adds  heaven when you can afford it. "You get two gigs a month and once you run out you freeze." Although Nora has dozens of other clients, she grows close with Nathan (Robbie Amell), a handsome young upload who took his charmed life for granted before he was critically injured in a self-driving car crash. Ambiguity surrounds the circumstances of his eventual death, drawing Nora and Nathan deep into a dangerous mystery.

Meanwhile, Nathan is even more beholden to his rich and controlling girlfriend (Allegra Edwards) than he was before he died because her family is financing his digital existence. "Being uploaded and essentially being owned as a human being, or as intellectual property, by my girlfriend throws a huge wrench in my life," Amell says. "So although I get to continue living, it's definitely not on my own terms." To create the show's complex mesh of realities, Daniels relies on multiple directors with prestigious, wide-ranging resumes. (Reid won an Emmy nomination for The Handmaid's Tale; Jeffrey Blitz directed the Oscar-nominated documentary Spellbound.) TV has become highly interested in post-mortem journeys of self-discovery, in shows such as Amazon's Forever, TBS' Miracle Workers and Netflix's Russian Doll. Daniels is aware of the microtrend but doesn't consider Upload to be following an increasingly well-trod metaphysical path. Ask about Black Mirror and he is quick to tell you he devised and sold the idea for Upload well before the debut of San Junipero  an episode that won two Emmys in 2017 for its story set in a digital hereafter.

Ask about The Good Place, however, and he is thoughtful to the point of appearing vulnerable. The Good Place wasn't TV's only comedy about the afterlife, as he notes. But it was the only one put out by his Parks and Recreation co-creator, Michael Schur. Loading "I couldn't believe that Mike had the idea for The Good Place while I was doing this," Daniels says. "I don't watch The Good Place because of the similarities. I don't want to watch it." Given the creators' shared history, comparisons between the shows will be inevitable. Each is a high-concept comedy set in an afterworld with design flaws and equally flawed but charming staff. But Upload has a detailed and believable universe all its own. Perhaps its greatest distinguishing feature is the focus on technology and class. The tone is sometimes dark, not just darkly funny, and even frightening.
India's oil imports in May hit the lowest since October 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 October 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 US 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 US 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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 22:34:09|Editor: huaxia

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HELSINKI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A majority of Finns oppose the recovery fund proposed by the European Commission to repair the economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, said a survey conducted by the Finnish newspaper group Uutissuomalainen and published by the newspaper Iltalehti on Wednesday.

The survey found that 52 percent of the respondents were against the idea of a European Union (EU) recovery fund. Only 26 percent supported it, and 22 percent had no opinion on the matter.

Those aged below 30 and above 70 were mostly in favor of the EU proposal, but most of working-age Finns were against it, according to the survey.

The poll also showed that the strongest opposition came from supporters of the right-wing Finns Party, which argues that EU-wide grants and loans could increase Finland's debt burden.

Supporters of the Social Democratic Party and the center-right National Coalition Party were also less positive about the proposed 750-billion-euro (845 billion U.S. dollars) fund, while supporters of the Green Party and the Left Alliance had a more positive attitude towards the plan.

Antti Ronkainen, a researcher at the University of Helsinki, told Uutissuomalainen that young people have been very positive about the EU and have supported the transfer of decision-making powers to the EU.

Jenni Karimaki, a researcher at the Center for Parliamentary Research at the University of Turku, was quoted by Iltalehti as saying that the survey reflected the Finnish people's healthy criticism of the EU's economic policies.

At the end of May, the European Commission proposed the 750-billion-euro recovery fund. The plan is for the EU to use its strong credit rating to borrow this sum from the financial markets. Some 500 billion euros of this sum would be made available to the EU member states in the form of grants and the rest in loans. Enditem
In private, most of my left-leaning friends say that Washington should stay. They dont play down the moral catastrophe of his slave ownership, but they weigh that, as Bell advised three years ago, against his role as a heroic commander in chief, as an immensely popular political leader who resisted the temptation to become anything more than a republican chief executive, and who brought the country together around the new Constitution. And they conclude that Washington deserves to stay in the canon of our countrys heroes  deeply flawed, as most heroes are, but still worthy of admiration for the good he did.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 22:39:06|Editor: huaxia

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WARSAW, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Poland's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to decline by 4.3 to 4.7 percent this year and the economy should rebound by 4 to 4.1 percent next year, Development Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz has said.

"We assume that the moderately optimistic scenario for Poland for this year will materialize and our economy will be least impacted by the pandemic," Emilewicz was quoted as saying by Polish Press Agency on Wednesday.

In her opinion, the economic situation in the country is improving. "The level of consumption in Poland -- when we looked at it last week -- is comparable to that of January this year," said the minister.

She also pointed out the "relatively good" level of optimism of investors and managers in Europe.

To date, Poland has a total of 32,821 COVID-19 infections, with 1,396 deaths, according to the daily update by the Health Ministry. Enditem
We are proud to say that we have achieved a 100% approval rate on I-924 exemplar petitions across all of our previous funds and projects. This reflects out commitment to structuring EB-5 projects that minimize immigration and financial risk. --Sam Silverman, Managing Partner, EB5AN

Prominent EB-5 service provider EB5 Affiliate Network (EB5AN) today announced that United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has granted I-924 exemplar approval for its Saltaire St. Petersburg Phase I project. This means USCIS has approved a sample I-526 petition, including the supporting project documents, for the project, which significantly lowers immigration risk for EB-5 investors. Four investor slots remain available, at $900,000 each.

Saltaire St. Petersburg Phase I is structured as a preferred equity investment in the construction and development of a 35-story luxury condominium tower in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Construction is already underway, and the senior loan for the project has been executed with Wells Fargo. The project is fully capitalized, and there is no minimum EB-5 raise.

Project highlights include an above-market return of 6.0% for EB-5 investors, a strong financial structure, with EB-5 equity as only 4% of the total cost, an I-526 EB-5 investor approval refund guaranty, and transparent quarterly financial reporting for the entire investment period. Additionally, the creation of 32.8 eligible jobs per EB-5 investor creates a considerable job cushion.

EB5AN partnered on the project with The Kolter Group, one of the largest private developers in the country, with a 100% record of success across more than $15 billion of real estate transaction value. Sam Silverman, a managing partner of EB5AN, noted that this is the 10th project fund EB5AN has undertaken with Kolter as developer. Mr. Silverman further said, We are proud to say that we have achieved a 100% approval rate on I-924 exemplar petitions across all of our previous funds and projects. This reflects out commitment to structuring EB-5 projects that minimize immigration and financial risk.

EB-5 investors who are interested in joining the investor pool on the Saltaire St. Petersburg Phase I project can book a call to discuss the project or learn more about the project by visiting EB5VisaInvestments.com.

About EB5 Affiliate Network, LLC: EB5AN is a leading provider of EB-5 project consulting and regional center affiliation services. The company has worked on more than 200 EB-5 transactions across the country and has completed applications for more than 75 new regional centers. Additionally, the company owns and operates 14 USCIS-approved regional centers across 27 states with an international team from a diverse set of institutional backgrounds in both law and finance, including business strategy, private equity, securities, and real estate.
After years of failed attempts, advocates for nursing home residents this year won approval of legislation that allows families to install surveillance cameras in residents rooms.

The measure, backers say, will help prevent abuse or neglect and aid investigations into misconduct at long-term care facilities, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

It allows people to peek into what is going on each and every day, said Marjorie Moore, executive director of VOYCE, a Creve Coeur-based nonprofit that pushed the legislation with support from AARP and the Missouri Coalition for Quality Care.

The passage is also timely, they said, after recent reports revealed COVID-19 swept through dozens of Missouri nursing homes and residential care facilities, killing at least 300 people and infecting more than 1,400 others.

But to win passage, backers of the camera bill had to compromise with the Missouri Health Care Association, or MHCA, the states chief nursing home industry group.

The MHCA had long lobbied against the video camera measure, citing concerns any footage could be released out of context and violate residents and employees privacy. But this year, the issue gained traction after COVID-19 closed facilities to visitors, said Rep. Andrew McDaniel, R-Deering, who has sponsored similar legislation since 2015.

To compromise, the bill now prohibits footage from being released without permission from both the resident or the residents family and the nursing home operator, with an exception for officials investigating abuse or neglect.

McDaniel said getting the bill passed was a struggle, given the industrys early opposition. They werent really happy, but they ultimately saw this coming and wanted to get ahead of it, he said.

Ann Bickel, vice president of the Missouri Coalition for Quality Care and a former legislative aide, said it was a miracle the bill passed the Legislature because the industry has had great influence in Jefferson City. They have for many years.

With 15 lobbyists, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions, the MHCA is one of the most politically engaged industry groups in the state. A review of campaign finance records shows the organization, as well as some of its biggest members, have been generous contributors to many of the states top leaders.

Among them: Gov. Mike Parson, who on Dec. 11 attended a St. Louis fundraiser that generated more than $145,000 from 31 donations from the nursing home industry for his political action committee, Uniting Missouri. Afterward, Parson traveled to Washington, D.C., on a plane belonging Rick DeStefane, owner of Reliant Care, which operates 22 facilities across Missouri.

Parson has until mid-July to sign the bill.

Meanwhile, some lawmakers have moved to shield businesses including the nursing home industry from COVID-related lawsuits.

Moore, the VOYCE executive director, said while the highly contagious virus caught nursing homes off guard, it has also spotlighted long-standing issues within the industry: staffing shortages and a lack of personal protective equipment, and poor communication with residents and families, issues that may have contributed to the virus spread.

A lot of the things that are happening with COVID are worse versions of things that are happening, when you talk about staffing shortages, communication problems, none of this is new, Moore said.

Though legislation limiting COVID-19-related lawsuits against nursing homes and other businesses died in May at the end of the annual legislative session, Parson signaled at a news conference this month the topic would be on the agenda of any special session he might call later this year.

Im not interested in a bunch of people taking advantage of the good, hardworking people trying to do a job, the Republican said at a news conference. If we have a special session, that will be part of the discussion.

Parson also has insisted the December fundraiser didnt influence his thinking on whether to limit lawsuits against nursing homes.

No, it has nothing to do with that, he said.

Donations

While Parson has been a prominent beneficiary of nursing home industry support, hes hardly the only one. Others have included State Auditor Nicole Galloway, who is Parsons likely Democratic opponent in the November election, former Govs. Eric Greitens and Jay Nixon, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, House Speaker Elijah Haahr, House Majority Leader Rob Vescovo, former Attorney General Chris Koster, Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, and Rep. Cody Smith, chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee.

Parson got his first contribution in 2009 when he was running for state senator. In that year, he received $3,000 from the then newly formed Long Term Care Leadership PAC, which received $85,000 from the MHCA. The treasurer of the LTCL PAC formed the Missouri Health Care Association PAC in 2011, which in that year received $287,500 from the MHCA and made more than 160 contributions to political campaigns totaling $240,881.90.

From 2015 through 2018, the Missouri Health Care Association PAC gave a total of $423,743 to dozens of candidates and committees, including its only contribution in 2018: $1,000 to Parsons campaign.

Two PACs formed in 2017, DSV and RQC, have made similar donations to dozens of candidates. Both PACs are largely funded by the MHCA, as well as a handful of nursing homes and attorneys contributing $300 or less. Last year, RQC PAC made 48 contributions totaling $84,950, to recipients including Uniting Missouri and American Dream. DSV made 39 contributions totaling $67,600 to many of the same candidates.

The two PACs each contributed $5,000 to Uniting Missouri at the Dec. 11 fundraiser.

While the PACs have given to Republican candidates in greater amounts, theyve also supported Democrats. Galloway for Missouri, for example, received $2,500 from the MHCA PAC in 2016; RQC gave $1,000 to Galloway in 2017; and the DSV PAC contributed $2,600 in 2018.

MHCA reported spending $329,767 in nondeductible lobbying expenditures in 2017, according to federal tax filings of the most recent year in which tax filings were available. The association also listed $39,772 in legislative expenses. The group spent $296,357 on lobbying efforts in 2016.

Another industry group, the Missouri Assisted Living Association, also operates three PACS _ the Missouri Assisted Living PAC, Residential Care Facility PAC, and the MO Residential Care-PAC  that also similarly made contributions. Those three PACs have given a total $29,525 since 2017, including $3,000 to the campaign accounts of Parson and $1,000 to Kehoe.

Among other influential nursing home industry donors are a handful of businessmen who own some of the largest nursing home chains in the country.

For example, DeStefane, the nursing home owner who flew Parson to Washington, personally gave Uniting Missouri $4,000 at the fundraiser. He also donated $2,600 to Parsons campaign in 2018 and gave $5,000 to Kehoes American Dream PAC in October of last year.

He has previously given thousands to other candidates personally or through Reliant Care and other businesses he owns.

DeStefane was a longtime business partner of Joseph Shepard, the husband of former U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill and a former co-owner in Reliant Care. The Reliant network of nursing homes reports annual revenue of $200 million, according to DeStefanes personal website.

In 2017, Reliant paid $8.3 million to settle claims of Medicare fraud. Two of the companys St. Louis area nursing homes were recently targeted by protesting workers represented by the Service Employees International Union after they were forced to quarantine for two weeks without sick pay after testing positive for COVID-19 at the homes.

Another major political donor is Health Systems Inc. owned by James Lincoln. Through Health Systems, Lincoln has given since 2016 a total of $444,500 to candidates and political action committees, including $25,000 in 2019 to American Dream. In 2014, Lincolns RehabCare Group, which included Health Systems Inc., paid $30 million to settle a federal lawsuit alleging it paid kickbacks to gain access to Medicare and Medicaid patients in Missouri nursing homes.

A Post-Dispatch investigation on May 10 detailed how COVID-19 swept through a Franklin County nursing home the company owns, killing residents and infecting dozens of others, as employees working overtime hours scrambled to contain the virus.

Another company, Northport Health Services Missouri LLC  also making contributions as NHS Management  has donated thousands to Parson and currently high-ranking Republicans, including $10,000 at the Uniting Missouri fundraiser in December, as well as previous Democratic candidates for statewide office including Koster and Nixon. The company, owned by Norman Estes, owns 50 nursing homes across four states, including Missouri.

Haahr, the House speaker, acknowledged the industrys contributions but denied they have influenced legislation.

Theyre a fairly organized organization, Haahr said of MHCA. I think the nursing homes are as organized as any of the other groups in the Capitol. They certainly have a pretty robust individual organization.

He said, No ones donations to me impact how I handle their legislation.

Former Senate Majority Leader Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, said the industrys No. 1 issue is maintaining an adequate Medicaid reimbursement rate for nursing homes.

Its very influential, Engler said. The nursing homes are organized about as well as any industry because they know that they have things that affect them, especially the (Medicaid) reimbursement rate.

My parents were in nursing home for years, Engler said. I get it. If they have to cut down the number of staff and stuff, then my parents get worse care. You know, so you want them to be profitable so the cares there but not real profitable so that theyre making huge amounts of money.

Agenda

The MHCA, which represents more than 300 residential care facilities in the states, defends its active courtship of state lawmakers, saying the industry represents an essential part of the overall health care system  something the pandemic helped underscore.

This truly is an all hands on deck situation, Nikki Strong, the groups executive director, said in a lengthy email. We cannot beat this virus alone. Its time to rally around our seniors and our health care heroes who work in long term care facilities.

Long-term care facilities have taken every precaution against the virus, but it has spread through asymptomatic staff taking close care of a vulnerable population, Strong said, pointing to recent analysis by Harvard Medical School and Brown University that determined a homes location and size are predictors of an outbreak, and not homes quality ratings.

Even before COVID-19, nursing homes in the state have been operating on a razor thin profit margin, and fighting COVID-19 has only increased costs, costing the industry an estimated revenue loss of up to 23%, Strong said.

The MHCA did not oppose the camera bill this year, but assisted the sponsor in dealing with the many technical and legal issues including federal patient privacy laws, Strong said.

The MHCA did not organize the December fundraiser Parson attended, Strong said. But the MHCA actively lobbies and supports campaigns of those persons who support our members and the residents, be they elderly, disabled, behavioral or veterans, she said.

We want to bring a pragmatic approach to ensuring each of these Missourians have access in their community to quality long-term care services. There are many competing interests at the state Capitol, and most of them are well-intentioned; however, we believe caring for these senior, disabled and behaviorally disordered citizens should be very high on the list, and look for legislators who share that vision.

Immunity

Brett Emison, president of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, which opposes sweeping COVID-19-related litigation restrictions, said his group understood the need for narrowly tailored protections for workers on the front line of a pandemic that we havent seen before.

But what we dont want to see is (protection for) a nursing home that may have been chronically understaffed, inefficient in the care that they were giving, that was exposed when this virus hit and suffered just tragic, tragic consequences for its residents and their families, he said.

But Strong worries that nursing homes, which have already been roiled by the pandemic, will become convenient targets for trial lawyers.

It is disgusting to hear some of their rhetoric since COVID-19, Strong said in a lengthy statement. I am not suggesting that a provider that didnt provide adequate care shouldnt be held accountable. Our front-line health care providers are heroes who are working around-the-clock to protect Missouris most vulnerable from this virus.

Sen. Scott Sifton, a Democrat who supports some limits on coronavirus-related litigation, said MHCA contributions to his campaign account dont color his thinking on issues that affect the industry.

On the industrys political contributions to dozens of candidates, Sifton said, It shows engagement in the discussion of policy by some, but youre not going to hear me suggest that theres untoward influence or anything improper about the industry advocating for its point of view on things.

Sometimes they get their way, and sometimes they dont, he said. Sometimes they should and sometimes they shouldnt.

Related:

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Topics COVID-19 Legislation Missouri Medical Professional Liability
School kids dont appear to transmit the new coronavirus to peers or teachers, a French study found, weighing in on the crucial topic of childrens role in propagating Covid-19.

Scientists at Institut Pasteur studied 1,340 people in Crepy-en-Valois, a town northeast of Paris that suffered an outbreak in February and March, including 510 students from six primary schools. They found three probable cases among kids that didnt lead to more infections among other pupils or teachers.

The study confirms that children appear to show fewer telltale symptoms than adults and be less contagious, providing a justification for school reopenings in countries from Denmark to Switzerland. The researchers found that 61% of the parents of infected kids had the coronavirus, compared with about 7% of parents of healthy ones, suggesting it was the parents who had infected their offspring rather than the other way around.

Understanding the pandemic and the new viruss transmission patterns is key to determining which parts of society can reopen -- or should be shuttered again in the event of a resurgence -- and mitigate the outbreaks impact on the economy. The data on kids has been contradictory so far, with some reports corroborating the Pasteur findings and at least one pointing the other way.

Epidemiologist Arnaud Fontanet and colleagues said more studies on schools were needed because of the small number of cases they were able to study. They found that an estimated 41% of the children infected showed no symptoms, compared with about 10% of adults.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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Cambridge UK, 24 June 2020: A research programme pioneering the use of whole genome sequencing in the NHS has diagnosed hundreds of patients and discovered new genetic causes of disease. Whole genome sequencing is the technology used by the 100,000 Genomes Project, a service set up by the government which aims to introduce routine genetic diagnostic testing in the NHS.

The present study, led by researchers at the National Institute for Health Research BioResource together with Genomics England, demonstrates that sequencing the whole genomes of large numbers of individuals in a standardised way can improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with rare diseases.

The researchers studied the genomes of groups of patients with similar symptoms, affecting different tissues, such as the brain, eyes, blood or the immune system. They identified a genetic diagnosis for 60% of individuals in one group of patients with early loss of vision.

The programme, the results of which were published today in two articles in the journal Nature, offered whole-genome sequencing as a diagnostic test to patients with rare diseases across an integrated health system, a world first in clinical genomics. The integration of genetic research with NHS diagnostic systems increases the likelihood that a patient will receive a diagnosis and the chance that a diagnosis will be provided within weeks rather than months.

"Around 40,000 children are born each year with a rare inherited disease in the UK alone. Sadly, it takes more than two years, on average, for them to be diagnosed," says Willem Ouwehand, Professor of Experimental Haematology at the University of Cambridge, the National Institute for Health Research BioResource and NHS Blood and Transplant Principal Investigator. "We felt it was vital to shorten this odyssey for patients and parents."

"This research shows that quicker and better genetic diagnosis will be possible for more NHS patients."

In the study, funded principally by the National Institute for Health Research, the entire genomes of almost 10,000 NHS patients with rare diseases were sequenced and searched for genetic causes of their conditions. Previously unobserved genetic differences causing known rare diseases were identified, in addition to genetic differences causing completely new genetic diseases.

The team identified more than 172 million genetic differences in the genomes of the patients, many of which were previously unknown. Most of these genetic differences have no effect on human health, so the researchers used new statistical methods and powerful supercomputers to search for the differences which cause disease - a few hundred 'needles in the haystack'.

In one study from the programme, published as a standalone article in Nature, researchers examined 886 patients with primary immunodeficiency - a condition that affects the ability of the immune system to fight infections by microbes - and identified four novel associated genes.

"Providing the best treatment and the most appropriate care for patients with inherited immune disorders depends absolutely on a conclusive molecular diagnosis," says Professor Adrian Thrasher of the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH) in London. "Our study demonstrates the value of whole-genome sequencing in this context and provides a suite of new diagnostic tools, some of which have already led to improved patient care."

Using a new analysis method developed specifically for the project, the team identified 95 genes in which rare genetic differences are statistically very likely to be the cause of rare diseases. Genetic differences in at least 79 of these genes have been shown definitively to cause disease.

The team searched for rare genetic differences in almost all of the 3.2 billion DNA letters that make up the genome of each patient. This contrasts with current clinical genomics tests, which usually examine a small fraction of the letters, where genetic differences are thought most likely to cause disease. By searching the entire genome researchers were able to explore the 'switches and dimmers' of the genome - the regulatory elements in DNA that control the activity of the thousands of genes.

The team showed that rare differences in these switches and dimmers, rather than disrupting the gene itself, affect whether or not the gene can be switched on at the correct intensity. Identifying genetic changes in regulatory elements that cause rare disease is not possible with the clinical genomics tests currently used by health services worldwide. It is only possible if the whole of the genetic code is analysed for each patient.

"We have shown that sequencing the whole genomes of patients with rare diseases routinely within a health system provides a more rapid and sensitive diagnostic service to patients than the previous fragmentary approach, and, simultaneously, it enhances genetics research for the future benefit of patients still waiting for a diagnosis," says Dr Ernest Turro from the University of Cambridge and the NIHR BioResource.

"Thanks to the contributions of hundreds of physicians and researchers across the UK and abroad, we were able to study patients in sufficient numbers to identify the causes of even very rare diseases."

Although individual rare diseases affect a very small proportion of the population, there exist thousands of rare diseases and, together, they affect more than three million people in the UK. To tackle this challenge, the NIHR BioResource created a network of 57 NHS hospitals which focus on the care of patients with rare diseases. Nearly 1000 doctors and nurses working at these hospitals made the project possible by asking their patients and, in some cases, the parents of affected children to join the NIHR BioResource.

"In setting up the NIHR BioResource Project, we were taking uncharted steps in a determined effort to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients in the NHS and further afield" says Dr Louise Wood, Director of Science, Research and Evidence at the Department of Health and Social Care and who together with the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has the overall responsibility for the National Institute for Health Research.

"The NIHR-funded researchers on this scientific report were part of those earliest discussions as we sought to ensure we could deliver the science and transform it into clinical practice across the NHS. This research has demonstrated that patients, their families and the health service can all benefit from placing genomic sequencing at the forefront of clinical care in appropriate settings.

"The pioneering work undertaken by the NHS in partnership with Genomics England and academic researchers across the UK has laid the foundation for applying the same genome test to patients with COVID-19, with the hope of finding clues why some patients experience such a severe form of this new disease."

Based on the emerging data from the present NIHR BioResource study and other studies by Genomics England, the UK government announced in October 2018 that the NHS will offer whole-genome sequencing analysis for all seriously ill children with a suspected genetic disorder, including those with cancer. The sequencing of whole genomes will expand to one million genomes per year by 2024.

Whole-genome sequencing will be phased in nationally for the diagnosis of rare diseases as the 'standard of care', ensuring equivalent care across the country.

The benefits include a hastened diagnosis for patients, reduced costs for health services, improved understanding of the reasons they suffer from disease for patients and their carers and improved provision of treatment.

###

Notes to Editors

Study and history

Turro E et al. (2020) Whole-genome sequencing of patients with rare diseases in a national health system.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2434-2

URL when live: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2434-2.

Thaventhiran J et al. (2020). Whole-genome sequencing of a sporadic primary immunodeficiency cohort. Early online publication in Nature, 6 May 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2265-1

This international genomics study took place under the umbrella and oversight of the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) BioResource, based in Cambridge, UK. The main study was coordinated by Lucy Raymond, Professor in Medical Genetics and Neurodevelopment at the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals, and Willem H Ouwehand, Professor in Experimental Haematology at the University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant.

The study is one of two major pilots for the 100,000 Genomes Project, conceived in 2012, following development of whole-genome sequencing and analysis at scale.

Funding and support

The two pilot studies for rare diseases for the 100,000 Genomes Project were mainly funded by grants from the NIHR in England to the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre and Genomics England. Additional funding was provided by the British Heart Foundation, the Medical Research Council, NHS England, the Wellcome Trust and many other fund providers.

This research was made possible through access to the data and findings generated by two pilot studies for the 100,000 Genomes Project. The enrolment was coordinated for one by the NIHR BioResource and for the other by Genomics England Limited, a wholly owned company of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Full details of support for this research and for individual authors are listed in the paper and supplementary material.

The NIHR BioResource for Translational Research

The mission of the National Institute for Health Research BioResource is to facilitate human health research and its transformation into medical practice. The BioResource is an NIHR initiative established at thirteen local Research Centres - Birmingham, Cambridge, Exeter, Leeds, Leicester, London - includes Barts Health, GSTT, Maudsley, Moorfields and UCL, Manchester, Newcastle and Southampton. The NIHR BioResource is at the heart of efforts to improve healthcare and the long-term prevention and treatment of disease. More than 150,000 participants, both with and without health problems, have already joined the BioResource to help transform the genetics of health research. The enthusiasm, commitment and contribution of BioResource participants help its researcher partners in academia, industry and NHS to uncover the causes of disease.

NIHR

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is the nation's largest funder of health and care research. The NIHR:

Funds, supports and delivers high quality research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care

Engages and involves patients, carers and the public in order to improve the reach, quality and impact of research

Attracts, trains and supports the best researchers to tackle the complex health and care challenges of the future

Invests in world-class infrastructure and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services

Partners with other public funders, charities and industry to maximise the value of research to patients and the economy

The NIHR was established in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research, and is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. In addition to its national role, the NIHR commissions applied health research to benefit the poorest people in low- and middle-income countries, using Official Development Assistance funding.

This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support and would not have been possible without access to this data. The NIHR recognises and values the role of patient data, securely accessed and stored, both in underpinning and leading to improvements in research and care. http://www.nihr.ac.uk/patientdata.

Cambridge University Hospitals

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) is one of the largest and most renowned NHS Trust Hospitals in the United Kingdom. In addition to delivering care through Addenbrooke's and The Rosie Hospitals, CUH is also a leading national centre for specialist treatment, a University teaching hospital, and has formed in partnership with the University of Cambridge one of the government-designated NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, with a worldwide reputation for translating new discoveries into delivering better health for citizens in the UK and beyond.

The University of Cambridge

The mission of the University of Cambridge is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. It admits the very best and brightest students, regardless of background, and offers one of the UK's most generous bursary schemes. The University of Cambridge's reputation for excellence is known internationally and reflects the scholastic achievements of its academics and students, as well as the world-class original research carried out by its staff. Some of the most significant scientific breakthroughs occurred at the University, including the splitting of the atom, invention of the jet engine and the discoveries of stem cells, plate tectonics, pulsars and the structure of DNA. From Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking, the University has nurtured some of history's greatest minds and has produced more Nobel Prize winners than any other UK institution with over 80 laureates.

About Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Founded in 1852, Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world's leading children's hospitals with the broadest range of dedicated, children's healthcare specialists under one roof in the UK. With more than 252,000 outpatient and 43,000 inpatient visits every year, the hospital's pioneering research and treatment gives hope to children from across the UK with the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions. As an international centre of excellence in child healthcare, our patients and families are central to everything we do - from the moment they come through the door and for as long as they need us.Visit http://www.gosh.nhs.uk

Research at GOSH is underpinned by support from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and GOSH Charity.

About the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH)

The UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH) is part of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences within the School of Life and Medical Sciences at University College London. Together with its clinical partner Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH), it forms the UK's only paediatric National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre and has the largest concentration of children's health research in Europe. For more information visithttp://www.ucl.ac.uk/child-health

NHS Blood and Transplant

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority. Its remit includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood, and associated services to the NHS in England. It is also the organ donor organisation for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs. Involving donors in research is a key aim of NHSBT's planned Research & Development Strategy. The main research sites, in collaboration with leading NIHR Biomedical Research Centres, are at Cambridge, Oxford, London and Bristol, with specialist activity in Birmingham and Liverpool.

British Heart Foundation

With donations from the public, the BHF funds ground breaking research that will get us closer than ever to a world free from the fear of heart and circulatory diseases. A world where broken hearts are mended, where millions more people survive a heart attack, where the number of people dying from or disabled by a stroke is slashed in half. A world where people affected by heart and circulatory diseases get the support they need. And a world of cures and treatments we can't even imagine today. We are backing the best ideas, the brightest minds and the biggest ambitions - because that's how we'll beat heartbreak forever.

Find out more at bhf.org.uk

Affiliations

A full list of authors and affiliations are listed in the paper and supplementary material.

Contact information

NIHR BioResource

Professor Willem H Ouwehand

Email: who1000@cam.ac.uk

Mobile: 44 (0)7730 53 5974

National Institute for Health Research

Eleanor Barrie

Communications Manager, NIHR

Mobile: + 44 (0)7387 106 748

Email eleanor.barrie@nihr.ac.uk

NHS Blood and Transplant

Sian Edwards

Senior Communications Officer - Media and PR

Mobile: +44 (0)7384 919 180

Email: Sian.Edwards@nhsbt.nhs.uk

Press Office 01923 367600 pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Kate Hazlehurst

Research Communications Manager, GOSH

Mobile: +44 (0)0751 402 4238

Email: Kate.Hazlehurst@gosh.nhs.uk

British Heart Foundation

BHF press office

Desk: +44 (0)20 7554 0164

Mobile: +44 (0)7764 290 381 (out of hours)

Email: newsdesk@bhf.org.uk

Moorfields Eye Hospital Trust

Press office

Desk: +44 (0)20 7566 2628

Email: moorfields.pressoffice@nhs.net

Media coordinator

Don Powell

Don Powell Associates

Email: don@donpowellassociates.co.uk

Mobile: +44 (0)7786 858 220
Ariana Grande tried to make life a little easier for people heading to the polls in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday.

The state held its primary election but only opened 170 polling stations instead of the usual 3,700, meaning voters were faced with long lines and long wait times to cast their ballot.

Grande sent food and coffee trucks to the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, tweeting: 'please pull up, enjoy and use your voice today we need u.'

The Expo Center is the only polling station open in Jefferson County, a predominantly black community.

Support: Ariana Grande tried to make life a little easier for people heading to the polls in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday, sending food and coffee trucks for those waiting in line

Activism: The pop star tweeted: 'please pull up, enjoy and use your voice today we need u'

Grande has been busy during quarantine, releasing two hit duets from home during the COVID-19 pandemic - Stuck With U with Justin Bieber and Rain On Me with Lady Gaga.

The Grammy winner also registered a new song titled My Hair on an online music database for copyright reasons, according to The Sun's Bizarre column.

The R&B belter co-wrote the track with Victoria Monet, Tayla Par, and Tommy Brown, all of whom worked on her fifth studio album Thank U, Next.

Hits: Grande has been busy during quarantine, releasing two duets from home during the COVID-19 pandemic - Stuck With U with Justin Bieber and Rain On Me with Lady Gaga

While she is expanding her music empire, Grande also recently expanded her real-estate portfolio.

The hitmaker recently plunked down $13.7 million for 10,000-square-foot contemporary Hollywood Hills home.

And then she shelled out another $6.75 million on an English Tudor-style residence in Montecito in Santa Barbara County.

The historic Porter House was sold by talk show tycoon Ellen DeGeneres and her actor wife Portia de Rossi, according to Variety.
Sashin Pillay is a 24-year-old passionate South African who believes that digital has the ability to unlock potential in our local economy. A recent BBusSci Marketing graduate from UCT, Pillay currently works at Google as a digital growth strategist for sub-Saharan Africa.

Digital growth consultant at Google Africa, Sashin Pillay.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.

My theme for 2020: growing [others] exponentially  pic.twitter.com/HiqmBgwTzA  Sashin Pillay Gonzalez  (@SashGonzalez) December 30, 2019

What are some of the highlights in your career so far?

I interned at OrderIn (the food delivery company) and was responsible for planning and executing digital advertising for the student market in Cape Town. Startups are great places to learn.

I spent time with the marketing team at Nandos where I learnt from and engaged with one of South Africas favourite brands - its the people that make the chicken!.

My group received the 2018 Research Excellence Award at UCT for the best Honours thesis that we did in collaboration with Nandos.

At Google, I have been fortunate enough to work with some really amazing local businesses, but the most inspiring experience to date has to be working with MaXhosa Africa. I was able to attend their show at New York Fashion Week last year too!

I must add, meeting Trevor Noah after his keynote address at a Google conference in California wasnt too shabby either...

What do you think the industry can improve on and how can young people help bring this change about?

Im often reminded of this from @mzamomasitos keynote at the 2018 @loeries. Profound. pic.twitter.com/guIox38kdb

 Sashin Pillay Gonzalez  (@SashGonzalez) June 6, 2020

In line with this, I think the industry as a whole can improve by actively hiring more diversely. Diversity can take many different forms: race, culture, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation and class (to name a few). I think that we live in a society where there is an increasing need for differences to be acknowledged, understood and celebrated. Hence, if companies do not hire diversely, their idea of reality is inherently biased, and they will ultimately struggle to understand the demands of the modern-day market.

Why do you think its important for brands to support and collaborate particularly with young creatives?

What do you think is key for brands to keep in mind when marketing to the youth?

I think brands need to reverse-engineer the way they think about marketing. Marketing, as a function, should lead with insights into what product/service gets created/delivered in the first place.

Who are some of your role models?

Close to home: my late grandad, who was known and loved in his community as a serial networker. He always knew someone who could help you out and hed make sure that youre connected.

Creatives who are paving the way and opening doors for other South Africans: Trevor Noah (host of the Daily Show); Black Coffee (DJ); Laduma Ngxokolo (designer of MaXhosa Africa); Nelson Makamo (artist). #CNILux: The creative cultural legacy of MaXhosa by Laduma

Industry leaders who are challenging the norms: Khaya Dlanga (CMO of Rain); Mzamo Masito (CMO of Google Africa); Nunu Ntshingila (CEO of Facebook in Africa); Doug Place (CMO of Nandos).

What advice would you like to convey to all the newbies trying to crack into the industry?

You have to be obsessed with the art and the science behind marketing. Creativity alone is not enough. Dont shy away from understanding the numbers: how do you measure the impact of your idea? What are the clear KPIs? How does your idea impact cash flow, the P&L? What is the forecasted ROI?

Here, Pillay tells us more about some of the highlights of his career so far and shares his views on diversity and how the industry as a whole can improve by actively hiring more diversely.I am a 24-year-old global citizen: a product of a Mexican mother and a South African father of Indian descent. I was born in Johannesburg, attended boarding school at St Albans College in Pretoria and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Science in Marketing at the University of Cape Town in 2018. I also have a far more intelligent older sister who is currently completing her PhD at Wits.After a few part-time internships while at university, I landed my first full-time job in May 2019 as a digital growth strategist at Google in Dublin, Ireland - the headquarters for Googles EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) operations. More specifically, I form a part of the small sub-Saharan Africa team that is based there, with colleagues from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.My primary focus at Google is to work with SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in the region to unlock potential growth opportunities through online and digital strategies.Outside of work, I am passionate about sport, local music, local fashion and homegrown startups - I love seeing young Africans succeed!As youve probably gauged, Im still really young and definitely still have a lot to add to the list, but here are a few...In his keynote address at the 2018 Loeries, Mzamo Masito (CMO of Google Africa) said: If we dont deliberately, intentionally, proactively include we unintentionally exclude.While the decision to hire more diversely will most likely fall in the hands of existing (and often older) leaders, young people within these organisations can help by identifying and challenging the hiring trends that exist and by bringing the need for more diversity to the attention of their leaders.You just have to look at the numbers: we are the worlds youngest continent with almost 60% of Africas population being under the age of 25. South Africas median age is 27.Whether brands like it or not, we, young people are the target market, and no one can authentically appeal to and resonate with young people like young people.As a young person, it is often easy to identify when a brand is only using young people to deliver their message. It feels inauthentic and forced. Brands need to make sure that they include and consult young people throughout the entire process: from concept ideation to fleshing out a strategy, to creating the product/service and then to ultimately also delivering the message.I have many, but Ill attempt to name a few:I was offered the following advice by one of my role models:Connect with Pillay on LinkedIn and visit his blog, Learning with Sash and you can also follow Pillay on Twitter
Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

Sculptor Capital Management closed its fourth opportunistic real estate fund, Sculptor Real Estate Fund IV (SRE IV), with $2.6 billion in commitments.

Through SRE IV, its largest-ever real estate fund, Sculptor will invest in real estate and real estate-related assets across North America and Europe.

SRE IV will employ the same strategy of its predecessor funds, including, most recently Sculptor Real Estate Fund III, LP which had total capital commitments of $1.5 billion.

SRE IV includes a diverse group of more than 100 limited partners committed to the fund, including public and private pension plans, financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, and family offices.

Investors in the fund include Oregon Investment Council, Tigard, which runs the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund; Texas County & District Retirement System, Austin; and Seattle City Employees' Retirement System.

Steve Orbuch, Founder and President of Sculptor Real Estate, says: "It has been rewarding to see the abundance of client interest in Sculptor Real Estate Fund IV. We believe this is a testament to our strong investment team, platform, and focus on traditional and non-traditional real estate, as well as our strong and consistent historical performance."

Steve added: "The team looks forward to continuing its patient and disciplined investment style across a broad spectrum of real estate in this dynamic and un......................

To view our full article Click here
Appointment

24 June 2020

In a move to further expand its organizational support structure, My Place Hotels of America named former Associate General Counsel Adam Altman as the company's General Counsel today.

Adam Altman joined My Place Hotels of America as Associate General Counsel in 2017. Altman graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School with a J.D. He has practiced law for over 20 years with an emphasis in local government, serving as City Attorney for the communities of Rapid City, SD and Aberdeen, SD. With this experience, Altman provides immense value to the My Place Hotels of America brand in offering legal guidance and assistance.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom on June 24 said he expects the global coronavirus case tally to reach 10 million next week. The number of COVID-19 cases across the world is currently at about 9.3 million.

The WHO chief reiterated the urgent need to use all tools to suppress the transmission of the novel coronavirus.

At a news briefing, he also backed Saudi Arabia's decision to ban pilgrims from abroad from attending the annual Haj pilgrimage to help limit the spread of the virus.

He said WHO was now supporting many countries in dealing with difficulties obtaining oxygen concentrators, devices that boost the flow of oxygen to support the breathing of COVID-19 sufferers. "Demand is outstripping supply," he said.

Dr Mike Ryan, head of the WHO emergencies programme, said the pandemic for many countries in the Americas had not yet peaked, and that it was "still intense", especially in Central and South America.

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

"I would characterise the situation as still evolving, not having reached its peak yet, and likely to result in sustained numbers of cases and deaths in the coming weeks," Ryan said.

Many countries in the region have experienced 25-50 percent increase in cases in the last week, he said.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Follow our coverage of the coronavirus crisis
When Bayer, the giant German chemical and pharmaceutical maker, acquired Monsanto two years ago, the company knew it was also buying the worlds best-known weedkiller. What it didnt anticipate was a legal firestorm over claims that the herbicide, Roundup, caused cancer.

Now Bayer is moving to put those troubles behind it, agreeing to pay more than $10 billion to settle tens of thousands of claims while continuing to sell the product without adding warning labels about its safety.

The deal, announced Wednesday, is among the largest settlements ever in U.S. civil litigation. Negotiations were extraordinarily complex, producing separate agreements with 25 lead law firms whose clients will receive varying amounts.

Its rare that we see a consensual settlement with that many zeros on it, said Nora Freeman Engstrom, a professor at Stanford University Law School.
Current PFV Members

The Primum Familiae Vini (PFV), an invitation-only association of twelve of the worlds most historic and lauded wine producers in Europe's greatest wine regions, has announced the launch of The PFV Prize, an annual award of 100,000 to a family company in any area of enterprise that demonstrates excellence in sustainability, innovation, craftsmanship, and the successful passing along of responsibility and commitment from one generation to the next. The winner will have the opportunity to share knowledge with the twelve PFV families, all of whom have hard-won experience in overcoming numerous and, at times, existential challenges over their generational spans.

Established in 1992, the mission of Primum Familiae Vini is to represent the highest level of excellence in the world of wine, to be synonymous with both exquisite quality and sustainability, to blend family heritage and innovation, and to be aspirational through their vision and passion. The Twelve members of the PFV are Marchesi Antinori (Tuscany), Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Bordeaux), Joseph Drouhin (Burgundy), Domaine Clarence Dillon (Bordeaux), Egon Muller Scharzhof (Mosel), Famille Hugel (Alsace), Pol Roger (Champagne), Famille Perrin (Rhone Valley), Symington Family Estates (Portugal), Tenuta San Guido (Tuscany), Familia Torres (Spain) and Vega Sicilia (Ribera del Duero).

'We in the PFV believe that family companies are the bedrock of regional and national economies, said Marc Perrin, President of the PFV. The best family enterprises have a profound commitment to sustainable development and to the environment. Family companies should personify the best values of social responsibility and the kinder human face of free enterprise at a time when globalization and a rather depressing uniformity have become increasingly prevalent. By announcing this prize at a time of international crisis resulting from Covid-19, we emphasize the long-term thinking of family companies and our inherent optimism about the future providing we defend the right values.

The twelve members of the PFV represent the distinctive voices and deep artisan roots of family companies who are committed to the absolute quality of their wines and all have a long history of dedication to their respective regions. The PFV aims to encourage other family companies to continue their independent development and to prove that a family business can be a powerful tool to respond to the social and environmental challenges of our time.

Applications for The PFV Prize 2020 can be submitted July 1 through October 30, 2020 on thePFVprize.com. The PFV Short List of five family-owned companies will be published in January 2021 and the PFV Prize winner will be announced in March 2021.

The Selection Jury for The PFV Short List and The PFV Prize will include one member of each of the twelve PFV wine families:

Priscilla Incisa Della Rochetta, Tenuta San Guido, Italy, Founded 1840

Albiera Antinori, Marchesi Antinori, Italy, Founded 1385

Egon Muller, Egon Muller Scharzhof, Germany, Founded 1797

Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Domaine Clarence Dillon, France, Founded 1935

Marc Perrin. Famille Perrin, France, Founded 190

Paul Symington, Symington Family Estates, Portugal, Founded 1882

Frederic Drouhin, Maison Joseph Drouhin, France, Founded 1880

Miguel Torres Maczassek, Familia Torres, Spain, Founded 1870

Jean-Frederic Hugel, Famille Hugel, France, Founded 1639

Pablo Alvarez, Vega Sicilia, Spain, Founded 1864

Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, France, Founded 1853

Hubert de Billy, Champagne Pol Roger, France, Founded 1849

The PFV Selection Jury will be supported by Christophe Brunet, General Secretary of the PFV. For more information, visit thePFVprize.com.

Images courtesy of Calhoun & Company Communications
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. on Wednesday outlined new wildfire safety measures that it is willing to accept instead of more sweeping requirements that a federal judge sought to impose on the company in April.

PG&E attorneys told U.S. District Judge William Alsup that, following his instructions, they had met with federal prosecutors and the companys court-appointed monitor and agreed on several potential mandates about tree trimming, power-line inspections and record-keeping. Alsup must decide whether to approve the plan.

By next Wednesday, PG&E said it is willing to employ a new manager to help provide on-the-ground oversight of the contractors who trim trees around the companys power lines to prevent wildfires. Starting in September and continuing through January, PG&E said it would hire 30 tree-trimming inspectors to conduct in-field oversight of PG&E contractors while the work is being performed.

PG&E also agreed to develop better records about the age of equipment on high-voltage power towers that could break  the exact scenario that caused the 2018 Camp Fire, Californias deadliest and most destructive wildfire. The company said it could begin that effort immediately and provide progress reports each month to the monitor.

PG&E said it would hire a crew by the end of the year to oversee high-voltage power-line inspections while they occur. The company further said it would agree that, if certain kinds of electrical tower equipment start losing about 50% of their material, those pieces would be required to be replaced within 90 days.

Alsup oversees PG&Es probation that arises from the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion, and he has repeatedly scrutinized the company over its responsibility for major wildfires.

In April, Alsup sought to improve the safety of PG&Es electrical system by ordering a more far-reaching set of requirements than what the company outlined Wednesday. The judge had told the company to completely overhaul its process of inspecting high-voltage power lines, hire many more people to oversee the work of tree trimmers, and keep far more detailed records about the age of transmission equipment. Alsup also sought to impose strict insurance requirements on PG&E power-line contractors.

PG&E attorneys then urged the judge to reconsider his order, saying it was based on factual errors and interfered with state regulators role. At a hearing in May, in which Alsup called the company a recalcitrant criminal that deserved prison time, he ordered the company to confer with prosecutors and the monitor and report back later.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

San Diego attorneys representing two PG&E customers told Alsup on Wednesday they support his order from April. The customers lawyers said the judges original vision protects public safety consistent with this courts jurisdiction over PG&Es probation and the company cannot be trusted.

Separately, Alsup has ordered PG&E to say whether it disputes anything in a detailed report from the Butte County district attorneys office about its criminal investigation into the Camp Fire. PG&E just pleaded guilty to 85 felony counts, most for involuntary manslaughter, because of its responsibility for the horrific fire that nearly destroyed the town of Paradise. The company must respond to Alsup by next Wednesday.

J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris
CEO of Softbank Group Masayoshi Son attending a news conference in Tokyo on February 8, 2017. Alessandro Di Ciommo | NurPhoto | Getty Images

SoftBank has come under renewed scrutiny about its investment strategy  but this time it's about one of the Japanese tech conglomerate's lesser-known bets. Last year, the company made a 900 million euros ($1 billion) investment in Wirecard, as part of a broader tie-up between the two on digital payments. But that deal has raised eyebrows now due to a deepening accounting crisis at the German payments processor. The Munich-based company is fighting for its survival after revealing that 1.9 billion euros of missing cash  roughly a quarter of its balance sheet  likely doesn't exist. Auditors at EY refused to sign off the firm's 2019 accounts last week because they couldn't locate the funds. The scandal has battered the tech firm's shares, which have fallen more than 80% since last Wednesday's market close. And this has led to fresh doubts over SoftBank's methods, although a person familiar with the matter, who preferred to remain anonymous as the information has not been made public, said the Japanese firm took care to hedge against potential losses.

Complex transaction

Wirecard and SoftBank announced the investment and partnership between the two firms in April 2019. The two structured a 900 million euros convertible note issuance from Wirecard  convertible notes being a type of debt that can be repaid in stock rather than cash. The notes, which have a five-year maturity, would convert into a 6% stake in Wirecard. Analysts say the deal was structured in such a way that there was no financial risk to SoftBank.

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. Michaela Handrek-Rehle | Bloomberg via Getty Images

At the time, there had already been concerns about Wirecard's accounting practices. The Financial Times ran a series of reports detailing suspicious transactions and forged contracts used to artificially inflate Wirecard's balance sheet. But at that stage, these were allegations that Wirecard disputed and even threatened legal action over. As far as SoftBank was concerned, Wirecard's financials were in good health. The business was growing and the firm had recently replaced Commerzbank in Germany's blue-chip DAX index. The transaction was managed by SoftBank Investment Advisors, the SoftBank subsidiary in charge of its huge $100 billion Vision Fund, and Credit Suisse was hired to act as advisor. Credit Suisse was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. The deal was given shareholder approval in June, while Wirecard secured an investment-grade credit rating from Moody's in August. Moody's has since downgraded the company's rating to junk. In September, SoftBank did another deal, this time looking to hedge against its original bet. The company essentially repackaged the convertible bonds into exchangeables, which are also repaid in stock. Credit Suisse helped SoftBank sell the debt to a group of institutional investors to book early profits and protect its principal investment. This strategy, reported by other outlets including the FT, was confirmed to CNBC by the source familiar with the deal. Neil Campling, a tech, media and telecom analyst at Mirabaud Securities, told CNBC the transaction "was structured in such a way that SoftBank took no financial risk whatsoever."

KPMG audit

Then in October, the FT released a new report claiming that Wirecard employees appeared to conspire to fraudulently inflate sales and profits. That same month, Wirecard had brought in KPMG to run an independent audit of the company's accounts. The findings of that audit did not work in Wirecard's favor. KPMG said it was unable to conclude whether revenues booked from three partner processing companies  which had been highlighted in the FT's reporting  existed or not for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Wirecard has said it won't be commenting further on the matter. CNBC understands that SoftBank was relying on the same data used by Germany's BaFin financial regulator, lenders, shareholders and ratings agencies.


Joseph Yam Chi-kwong, former chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, is optimistic about the impact of the new Hong Kong national security law.

This is really great and I look forward to the passing of the Hong Kong national security law, he said.

There is a chance for Hong Kong society to end this period of unrest, he added.
The Redmi 9 unveiled a couple of weeks ago has finally arrived in China. It comes in three memory versions there - 4GB/64GB priced at CNY799 ($115/100), 4GB/128GB priced at CNY999 ($140/125), and 6GB/128GB that costs CNY1,199 ($170/150).

The Redmi 9 is offered in four different colors and it's up for pre-orders through the company's official China site, JD.com, Suning.com and TMall till June 29, with shipments beginning the next day.

The Redmi 9 is built around a 6.53" LCD of 2340x1080-pixel resolution and has a Helio G80 SoC at the helm. It runs MIUI 11 out of the box and Redmi says the stable build of MIUI 12 is expected after July 30, 2020.

The Helio G80-powered smartphone features a total of five cameras - an 8MP selfie shooter sitting inside the waterdrop notch, and a 13MP main camera at the back accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro and 2MP depth sensor units. The rear cameras are also joined by a fingerprint reader.

The Chinese unit comes with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and fueling the entire package is a 5,020 mAh battery that draws power through a USB-C port at up to 18W. But do note that the bundled adapter only charges the phone at up to 10W, so you'll have to spend extra if you want faster charging.



Redmi 9 color options

Source 1, Source 2 (both in Chinese)
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
It feels different this time.

Black Americans protesting the violation of their rights are a defining tradition of this country. In the last century, there have been hundreds of uprisings in black communities in response to white violence. Some have produced substantive change. After the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, uprisings in more than 100 cities broke the final congressional deadlock over whether it should be illegal to deny people housing simply because they descended from people who had been enslaved. The Fair Housing Act, which prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, gender and religion, among other categories, seemed destined to die in Congress as white Southerners were joined by many of their Northern counterparts who knew housing segregation was central to how Jim Crow was accomplished in the North. But just seven days after Kings death, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the act into law from the smoldering capital, which was still under protection from the National Guard.

Most of the time these uprisings have produced hand-wringing and consternation but few necessary structural changes. After black uprisings swept the nation in the mid-1960s, Johnson created the Kerner Commission to examine their causes, and the report it issued in 1968 recommended a national effort to dismantle segregation and structural racism across American institutions. It was shelved by the president, like so many similar reports, and instead white Americans voted in a law and order president, Richard Nixon. The following decades brought increased police militarization, law-enforcement spending and mass incarceration of black Americans.

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The changes were seeing today in some ways seem shockingly swift, and in other ways rage-inducingly slow. After years of black-led activism, protest and organizing, the weeks of protests since George Floyds killing have moved lawmakers to ban chokeholds by police officers, consider stripping law enforcement of the qualified immunity that has made it almost impossible to hold responsible officers who kill, and discuss moving significant parts of ballooning police budgets into funding for social services. Black Lives Matter, the group founded in 2013 by three black women, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi, after the acquittal of Trayvon Martins killer, saw its support among American voters rise almost as much in the two weeks after Floyds killing than in the last two years. According to polling by Civiqs, more than 50 percent of registered voters now say they support the movement.

The cascading effect of these protests has been something to behold. The commissioner of the N.F.L., which blackballed Colin Kaepernick for daring to respectfully protest police brutality, announced that the N.F.L. had, in fact, been wrong and that black lives actually do matter. (Kaepernick, on the other hand, still has no job.) HBO Max announced that it would temporarily pull from its roster the Lost Cause propaganda film Gone With the Wind  which in classically American fashion holds the spot as the highest-grossing feature film of all time. NASCAR came to the sudden realization that its decades-long permissiveness toward fans waving the battle flag of a traitorous would-be nation that fought to preserve the right to traffic black people was, in fact, contrary to its commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry. Bubba Wallace, the only full-time black driver at the sports top level, who had called on NASCAR to make the move, drove victory laps in an all-black stock car emblazoned with the words #BLACKLIVESMATTER.

Dr. Ernest C. Withers/Withers Family Trust Memphis, 1968. Anthony Geathers Harlem, 2020.

Multiracial groups of Americans have defaced or snatched down monuments to enslavers and bigots from Virginia to Philadelphia to Minneapolis and New Mexico, leading local and state politicians to locate the moral courage to realize that they indeed did have the power to purge from public spaces icons to white supremacy. Even the University of Alabama, the place where Gov. George Wallace quite literally stood in the schoolhouse door to try to block the court-ordered admission of two black students, a place whose Grecian-columned campus and still largely segregated sororities pose the living embodiment of Dixie, is removing three plaques honoring Confederate soldiers and will study whether to rename buildings holding the monikers of enslavers and white supremacists after a student-led campaign garnered more than 17,000 signatures.

Unlike so many times in the past, in which black people mostly marched and protested alone to demand recognition of their full humanity and citizenship, a multiracial and multigenerational protest army has taken to the streets over the last month. Theyve spread across all 50 states in places big and small, including historically all-white towns like Vidor, Texas, where as recently as 1993 a federal judge had to order its public housing integrated. Shortly after, white supremacists ran out of town the handful of black people who had moved in. That Vidor, Texas, which remains 91 percent white and 0.5 percent black, held a Black Lives Matter rally in early June. In countries as disparate as England, Brazil, Kenya and Turkey, crowds pumped fists and carried signs with George Floyds name.

And this month, a Monmouth University poll showed that 76 percent of Americans, and 71 percent of white Americans, believe that racial and ethnic discrimination is a big problem in the United States. Just a few years ago, little more than half of white Americans believed that. The numbers in the Monmouth poll were so high that it left some political scientists questioning the polls quality.

This number is crazy, Hakeem Jefferson, a Stanford University political scientist, told me. When I saw it, I thought, This is a polling error. So I did what good social scientists do. I opened the methodological report, worried that they had done a weird sampling. But this is high-quality data.

It is hard in the midst of something momentous to pinpoint exactly what has caused it. What were seeing is most likely a result of unrelenting organizing by the Black Lives Matter movement. Its the pandemic, which virtually overnight left staggering numbers of Americans without enough money to buy food, pay rent and sustain their businesses. For many white Americans who may have once, consciously or unconsciously, looked down upon this nations heavily black and brown low-wage service workers, Covid-19 made them realize that it was the delivery driver and grocery clerk and meatpacker who made it possible for them to remain safely sequestered in their homes  and these workers were dying for it. Black Americans, in particular, have borne a disproportionate number of deaths from both Covid-19 and law enforcement, and many nonblack protesters have reasoned that black people should not have to risk their lives alone in taking to the streets demanding that the state not execute its citizens without consequence. And as they did, white Americans both in the streets and through the screens of their phones and televisions got a taste of the wanton police violence that black Americans regularly face. They saw the police beating up white women, pushing down an elderly white man and throwing tear gas and shooting rubber bullets at demonstrators exercising their democratic right to peacefully protest.

With so many Americans working from home or not working at all, they have had the time to show up to protests every day. These protests not only give Americans who are not black a moral reason to leave their homes after weeks of social isolation; they also allow protesters to vent anger at the incompetence of the man in the White House, himself a product of this nations inability to escape its death pact with white supremacy, who they sense is imperiling this terribly flawed but miraculous country.

It has been more than 150 years since the white planter class last called up the slave patrols and deputized every white citizen to stop, question and subdue any black person who came across their paths in order to control and surveil a population who refused to submit to their enslavement. It has been 150 years since white Americans could enforce slave laws that said white people acting in the interest of the planter class would not be punished for killing a black person, even for the most minor alleged offense. Those laws morphed into the black codes, passed by white Southern politicians at the end of the Civil War to criminalize behaviors like not having a job. Those black codes were struck down, then altered and over the course of decades eventually transmuted into stop-and-frisk, broken windows and, of course, qualified immunity. The names of the mechanisms of social control have changed, but the presumption that white patrollers have the legal right to kill black people deemed to have committed minor infractions or to have breached the social order has remained.

In a country erected on the explicitly codified conviction that black lives mattered less, graveyards across this land hold the bodies of black Americans, men, women and children, legally killed by the institutional descendants of those slave patrols for alleged transgressions like walking from the store with Skittles, playing with a toy gun in the park, sleeping in their homes and selling untaxed cigarettes. We collectively know only a small number of their names: Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Kendra James, Breonna Taylor, Rekia Boyd, Eric Garner, Aiyana Stanley-Jones and Tanisha Anderson are just a few.

And because of what is happening now, George Floyds name will forever stand out since enough Americans have decided that his death mattered.

MPI/Getty Images New York, mid-1930s. Devin Allen/Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Baltimore, 2015.

What has spawned this extraordinary reckoning, the fire this time, was our collective witness of what must be described without hyperbole as a modern-day lynching. In his 1933 book, The Tragedy of Lynching, the sociologist Arthur F. Raper estimated that, based on his study of 100 lynchings, white police officers participated in at least half of all lynchings and that in 90 percent of others law-enforcement officers either condone or wink at the mob action. The nonchalant look on Officer Derek Chauvins face  as, hand in pocket, for 8 minutes 46 seconds, he pressed his knee against the neck of a facedown black man begging for his life  reminds me of every callous white face captured in the grisly photos taken in the 1900s to mark the gleeful spectacle of the public killings of black men and women.

It devastates black people that all the other black deaths before George Floyd did not get us here. It devastates black people to recall all the excuses that have come before. That big black boy, Michael Brown, must have charged the weapon-carrying officer. Eric Garner should have stopped struggling. Breonna Taylors boyfriend had a weapon in her home and shouldnt have shot at the people who, without a knock or an announcement, burst through her door. Were not sure what Ahmaud Arbery was doing in that predominantly white neighborhood. Rayshard Brooks, who in the midst of nationwide protests against police violence was shot in the back twice by a police officer, just shouldnt have resisted.

It should devastate us all that in 2020 it took a cellphone video broadcast across the globe of a black man dying from the oldest and most terrifying tool in the white-supremacist arsenal to make a vast majority of white Americans decide that, well, this might be enough.

We, now, have finally arrived at the point of this essay. Because when it comes to truly explaining racial injustice in this country, the table should never be set quickly: There is too much to know, and yet we aggressively choose not to know it.

No one can predict whether this uprising will lead to lasting change. History does not bode well. But there does seem to be a widespread acceptance of the most obvious action we could take toward equality in a nation built on the espoused ideals of inalienable, universal rights: pass reforms and laws that ensure that black people cannot be killed by armed agents of the state without consequence.

But on its own, this cannot bring justice to America. If we are truly at the precipice of a transformative moment, the most tragic of outcomes would be that the demand be too timid and the resolution too small. If we are indeed serious about creating a more just society, we must go much further than that. We must get to the root of it.

Fifty years since the bloody and brutally repressed protests and freedom struggles of black Americans brought about the end of legal discrimination in this country, so much of what makes black lives hard, what takes black lives earlier, what causes black Americans to be vulnerable to the type of surveillance and policing that killed Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, what steals opportunities, is the lack of wealth that has been a defining feature of black life since the end of slavery.

Wealth, not income, is the means to security in America. Wealth  assets and investments minus debt  is what enables you to buy homes in safer neighborhoods with better amenities and better-funded schools. It is what enables you to send your children to college without saddling them with tens of thousands of dollars of debt and what provides you money to put a down payment on a house. It is what prevents family emergencies or unexpected job losses from turning into catastrophes that leave you homeless and destitute. It is what ensures what every parent wants  that your children will have fewer struggles than you did. Wealth is security and peace of mind. Its not incidental that wealthier people are healthier and live longer. Wealth is, as a recent Yale study states, the most consequential index of economic well-being for most Americans. But wealth is not something people create solely by themselves; it is accumulated across generations.

While unchecked discrimination still plays a significant role in shunting opportunities for black Americans, it is white Americans centuries-long economic head start that most effectively maintains racial caste today. As soon as laws began to ban racial discrimination against black Americans, white Americans created so-called race-neutral means of maintaining political and economic power. For example, soon after the 15th Amendment granted black men the right to vote, white politicians in many states, understanding that recently freed black Americans were impoverished, implemented poll taxes. In other words, white Americans have long known that in a country where black people have been kept disproportionately poor and prevented from building wealth, rules and policies involving money can be nearly as effective for maintaining the color line as legal segregation. You do not have to have laws forcing segregated housing and schools if white Americans, using their generational wealth and higher incomes, can simply buy their way into expensive enclaves with exclusive public schools that are out of the price range of most black Americans.

It has worked with impressive efficiency. Today black Americans remain the most segregated group of people in America and are five times as likely to live in high-poverty neighborhoods as white Americans. Not even high earnings inoculate black people against racialized disadvantage. Black families earning $75,000 or more a year live in poorer neighborhoods than white Americans earning less than $40,000 a year, research by John Logan, a Brown University sociologist, shows. According to another study, by the Stanford sociologist Sean Reardon and his colleagues, the average black family earning $100,000 a year lives in a neighborhood with an average annual income of $54,000. Black Americans with high incomes are still black: They face discrimination across American life. But it is because their families have not been able to build wealth that they are often unable to come up with a down payment to buy in more affluent neighborhoods, while white Americans with lower incomes often use familial wealth to do so.

The difference between the lived experience of black Americans and white Americans when it comes to wealth  along the entire spectrum of income from the poorest to the richest  can be described as nothing other than a chasm. According to research published this year by scholars at Duke University and Northwestern University that doesnt even take into account the yet-unknown financial wreckage of Covid-19, the average black family with children holds just one cent of wealth for every dollar that the average white family with children holds.

As President Johnson, architect of the Great Society, explained in a 1965 speech titled To Fulfill These Rights: Negro poverty is not white poverty.  These differences are not racial differences. They are solely and simply the consequence of ancient brutality, past injustice and present prejudice. They are anguishing to observe. For the Negro they are a constant reminder of oppression. For the white they are a constant reminder of guilt. But they must be faced, and they must be dealt with, and they must be overcome; if we are ever to reach the time when the only difference between Negroes and whites is the color of their skin.

We sometimes forget, and perhaps it is an intentional forgetting, that the racism we are fighting today was originally conjured to justify working unfree black people, often until death, to generate extravagant riches for European colonial powers, the white planter class and all the ancillary white people from Midwestern farmers to bankers to sailors to textile workers, who earned their living and built their wealth from free black labor and the products that labor produced. The prosperity of this country is inextricably linked with the forced labor of the ancestors of 40 million black Americans for whom these marches are now occurring, just as it is linked to the stolen land of the countrys indigenous people. Though our high school history books seldom make this plain: Slavery and the 100-year period of racial apartheid and racial terrorism known as Jim Crow were, above all else, systems of economic exploitation. To borrow from Ta-Nehisi Coatess phrasing, racism is the child of economic profiteering, not the father.

Numerous legal efforts to strip black people of their humanity existed to justify the extraction of profit. Beginning in the 1660s, white officials ensured that all children born to enslaved women would also be enslaved and belong not to their mothers but to the white men who owned their mothers. They passed laws dictating that the childs status would follow that of the mother not the father, upending European norms and guaranteeing that the children of enslaved women who were sexually assaulted by white men would be born enslaved and not free. It meant that profit for white people could be made from black womens wombs. Laws determining that enslaved people, just like animals, had no recognized kinship ties ensured that human beings could be bought and sold at will to pay debts, buy more acres or save storied universities like Georgetown from closing. Laws barred enslaved people from making wills or owning property, distinguishing black people in America from every other group on these shores and assuring that everything of value black people managed to accrue would add to the wealth of those who enslaved them. At the time of the Civil War, the value of the enslaved human beings held as property added up to more than all of this nations railroads and factories combined. And yet, enslaved people saw not a dime of this wealth. They owned nothing and were owed nothing from all that had been built from their toil.

Slaverys demise provided this nation the chance for redemption. Out of the ashes of sectarian strife, we could have birthed a new country, one that recognized the humanity and natural rights of those who helped forge this country, one that attempted to atone and provide redress for the unspeakable atrocities committed against black people in the name of profit. We could have finally, 100 years after the Revolution, embraced its founding ideals.

And, oh so briefly, during the period known as Reconstruction, we moved toward that goal. The historian Eric Foner refers to these 12 years after the Civil War as this nations second founding, because it is here that America began to redeem the grave sin of slavery. Congress passed amendments abolishing human bondage, enshrining equal protection before the law in the Constitution and guaranteeing black men the right to vote. This nation witnessed its first period of biracial governance as the formerly enslaved were elected to public offices at all levels of government. For a fleeting moment, a few white men listened to the pleas of black people who had fought for the Union and helped deliver its victory. Land in this country has always meant wealth and, more important, independence. Millions of black people, liberated with not a cent to their name, desperately wanted property so they could work, support themselves and be left alone. Black people implored federal officials to take the land confiscated from enslavers who had taken up arms against their own country and grant it to those who worked it for generations. They were asking to, as the historian Robin D.G. Kelley puts it, inherit the earth they had turned into wealth for idle white people.

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Birmingham, Ala., 1963. Scott Olson/Getty Images Ferguson, Mo., 2014.

In January 1865, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman issued Special Field Order 15, providing for the distribution of hundreds of thousands of acres of former Confederate land issued in 40-acre tracts to newly freed people along coastal South Carolina and Georgia. But just four months later, in April, Lincoln was assassinated. Andrew Johnson, the racist, pro-Southern vice president who took over, immediately reneged upon this promise of 40 acres, overturning Shermans order. Most white Americans felt that black Americans should be grateful for their freedom, that the bloody Civil War had absolved any debt. The government confiscated the land from the few formerly enslaved families who had started to eke out a life away from the white whip and gave it back to the traitors. And with that, the only real effort this nation ever made to compensate black Americans for 250 years of chattel slavery ended.

Freed people, during and after slavery, tried again and again to compel the government to provide restitution for slavery, to provide at the very least a pension for those who spent their entire lives working for no pay. They filed lawsuits. They organized to lobby politicians. And every effort failed. To this day, the only Americans who have ever received government restitution for slavery were white enslavers in Washington, D.C., who were compensated for their loss of human property.

The way we are taught this in school, Lincoln freed the slaves, and then the nearly four million people who the day before had been treated as property suddenly enjoyed the privileges of being Americans like everyone else. We are not prodded to contemplate what it means to achieve freedom without a home to live in, without food to eat, a bed to sleep on, clothes for your children or money to buy any of it. Narratives collected of formerly enslaved people during the Federal Writers Project of the 1930s reveal the horrors of massive starvation, of liberated black people seeking shelter in burned-out buildings and scrounging for food in decaying fields before eventually succumbing to the heartbreak of returning to bend over in the fields of their former enslavers, as sharecroppers, just so they would not die. With the advent of emancipation, writes the historian Keri Leigh Merritt, blacks became the only race in the U.S. ever to start out, as an entire people, with close to zero capital.

In 1881, Frederick Douglass, surveying the utter privation in which the federal government left the formerly enslaved, wrote: When the Hebrews were emancipated, they were told to take spoil from the Egyptians. When the serfs of Russia were emancipated, they were given three acres of ground upon which they could live and make a living. But not so when our slaves were emancipated. They were sent away empty-handed, without money, without friends and without a foot of land on which they could live and make a living. Old and young, sick and well, were turned loose to the naked sky, naked to their enemies.

Just after the federal government decided that black people were undeserving of restitution, it began bestowing millions of acres in the West to white Americans under the Homestead Act, while also enticing white foreigners to immigrate with the offer of free land. From 1868 to 1934, the federal government gave away 246 million acres in 160-acre tracts, nearly 10 percent of all the land in the nation, to more than 1.5 million white families, native-born and foreign. As Merritt points out, some 46 million American adults today, nearly 20 percent of all American adults, descend from those homesteaders. If that many white Americans can trace their legacy of wealth and property ownership to a single entitlement program, Merritt writes, then the perpetuation of black poverty must also be linked to national policy.

The federal government turned its back on its financial obligations to four million newly liberated people, and then it left them without protection as well, as white rule was reinstated across the South starting in the 1880s. Federal troops pulled out of the South, and white Southerners overthrew biracial governance using violence, coups and election fraud.

The campaigns of white terror that marked the period after Reconstruction, known as Redemption, once again guaranteed an exploitable, dependent labor force for the white South. Most black Southerners had no desire to work on the same forced-labor camps where they had just been enslaved. But white Southerners passed state laws that made it a crime if they didnt sign labor contracts with white landowners or changed employers without permission or sold cotton after sunset, and then as punishment for these crimes, black people were forcibly leased out to companies and individuals. Through sharecropping and convict leasing, black people were compelled back into quasi slavery. This arrangement ensured that once-devasted towns like Greenwood, Miss., were again able to call themselves the cotton capitals of the world, and companies like United States Steel secured a steady supply of unfree black laborers who could be worked to death, in what Douglass A. Blackmon, in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, calls slavery by another name.

Yet black Americans persisted, and despite the odds, some managed to acquire land, start businesses and build schools for their children. But it was the most prosperous black people and communities that elicited the most vicious response. Lynchings, massacres and generalized racial terrorism were regularly deployed against black people who had bought land, opened schools, built thriving communities, tried to organize sharecroppers unions or opened their own businesses, depriving white owners of economic monopolies and the opportunity to cheat black buyers.

At least 6,500 black people were lynched from the end of the Civil War to 1950, an average of nearly two a week for nine decades. Nearly five black people, on average, have been killed a week by law enforcement since 2015.

The scale of the destruction during the 1900s is incalculable. Black farms were stolen, shops burned to the ground. Entire prosperous black neighborhoods and communities were razed by white mobs from Florida to North Carolina to Atlanta to Arkansas. One of the most infamous of these, and yet still widely unknown among white Americans, occurred in Tulsa, Okla., when gangs of white men, armed with guns supplied by public officials, destroyed a black district so successful that it was known as Black Wall Street. They burned more than 1,200 homes and businesses, including a department store, a library and a hospital, and killed hundreds who it is believed were buried in mass graves. In 2001, a commission on the massacre recommended that the state pay financial restitution for the victims, but the State Legislature refused. And this is the place that in the midst of weeks of protests crying out for black lives to matter, Donald Trump, nearly 100 years later, chose to restart his campaign rallies.

Leonard Freed/Magnum Photos Washington, 1963. Malike Sidibe for The New York Times Brooklyn, 2020.

Even black Americans who did not experience theft and violence were continuously deprived of the ability to build wealth. They were denied entry into labor unions and union jobs that ensured middle-class wages. North and South, racist hiring laws and policies forced them into service jobs, even when they earned college degrees. They were legally relegated into segregated, substandard neighborhoods and segregated, substandard schools that made it impossible to compete economically even had they not faced rampant discrimination in the job market. In the South, for most of the period after the Civil War until the 1960s, nearly all the black people who wanted to earn professional degrees  law, medical and masters degrees  had to leave the region to do so even as white immigrants attended state colleges in the former Confederacy that black American tax dollars helped pay for.

As part of the New Deal programs, the federal government created redlining maps, marking neighborhoods where black people lived in red ink to denote that they were uninsurable. As a result, 98 percent of the loans the Federal Housing Administration insured from 1934 to 1962 went to white Americans, locking nearly all black Americans out of the government program credited with building the modern (white) middle class.

At the very moment a wide array of public policies was providing most white Americans with valuable tools to advance their social welfare  ensure their old age, get good jobs, acquire economic security, build assets and gain middle-class status  most black Americans were left behind or left out, the historian Ira Katznelson writes in his book, When Affirmative Action Was White. The federal government  functioned as a commanding instrument of white privilege.

In other words, while black Americans were being systematically, generationally deprived of the ability to build wealth, while also being robbed of the little they had managed to gain, white Americans were not only free to earn money and accumulate wealth with exclusive access to the best jobs, best schools, best credit terms, but they were also getting substantial government help in doing so.

The civil rights movement ostensibly ended white advantage by law. And in the gauzy way white Americans tend to view history, particularly the history of racial inequality, the end of legal discrimination, after 350 years, is all that was required to vanquish this dark history and its effects. Changing the laws, too many Americans have believed, marked the end of the obligation. But civil rights laws passed in the 1960s merely guaranteed black people rights they should have always had. They dictated that from that day forward, the government would no longer sanction legal racial discrimination. But these laws did not correct the harm nor restore what was lost.

Brown v. Board of Education did not end segregated and unequal schools; it just ended segregation in the law. It took court orders and, at times, federal troops to see any real integration. Nevertheless, more than six decades after the nations highest court proclaimed school segregation unconstitutional, black children remain as segregated from white kids as they were in the early 1970s. There has never been a point in American history where even half the black children in this country have attended a majority-white school.

Making school segregation illegal did nothing to repay black families for the theft of their educations or make up for generations of black Americans, many of them still living, who could never go to college because white officials believed that only white students needed a high school education and so refused to operate high schools for black children. As late as the 1930s, most communities in the South, where the vast majority of black Americans lived, failed to provide a single public high school for black children, according to The Education of Blacks in the South, 1860-1935, by the historian James D. Anderson. Heavily black Richmond County in Georgia, for instance, did not provide a four-year black high school from 1897 to 1945.

The Fair Housing Act prohibited discrimination in housing, but it did not reset real estate values so that homes in redlined black neighborhoods whose prices were artificially deflated would be valued the same as identical homes in white neighborhoods, which had been artificially inflated. It did not provide restitution for generations of black homeowners forced into predatory loans because they had been locked out of the prime credit market. It did not repay every black soldier who returned from World War II to find that he could not use his G.I. Bill to buy a home for his family in any of the new whites-only suburbs subsidized by the same government he fought for. It did not break up the still-entrenched housing segregation that took decades of government and private policy to create. Lay those redlining maps over almost any city in America with a significant black population, and you will see that the government-sanctioned segregation patterns remain stubbornly intact and that those same communities bore the brunt of the predatory lending and foreclosure crisis of the late 2000s that stole years of black homeownership and wealth gains.

Making employment discrimination illegal did not come with a check for black Americans to compensate for all the high-paying jobs they were legally barred from, for the promotions they never got solely because of their race, for the income and opportunities lost to the centuries of discrimination. Nor did these laws end ongoing discrimination any more than speed limits without enforcement stop people from driving too fast. These laws opened up opportunities for limited numbers of black Americans while largely leaving centuries of meticulously orchestrated inequities soundly in place, but now with the sheen of colorblind magnanimity.

The inclination to bandage over and move on is a definitive American feature when it comes to anti-black racism and its social and material effects. A joint 2019 study by faculty members at Yale Universitys School of Management, Department of Psychology and Institute for Social and Policy Studies describes this phenomenon this way: A firm belief in our nations commitment to racial egalitarianism is part of the collective consciousness of the United States of America.  We have a strong and persistent belief that our national disgrace of racial oppression has been overcome, albeit through struggle, and that racial equality has largely been achieved. The authors point out how white Americans love to play up moments of racial progress like the Emancipation Proclamation, Brown v. Board of Education and the election of Barack Obama, while playing down or ignoring lynching, racial apartheid or the 1985 bombing of a black neighborhood in Philadelphia. When it comes to race relations in the United States  most Americans hold an unyielding belief in a specific, optimistic narrative regarding racial progress that is robust to counterexamples: that society has come a very long way already and is moving rapidly, perhaps naturally toward full racial equality.

This remarkable imperviousness to facts when it comes to white advantage and architected black disadvantage is what emboldens some white Americans to quote the passage from Martin Luther Kings 1963 I Have A Dream speech about being judged by the content of your character and not by the color of your skin. Its often used as a cudgel against calls for race-specific remedies for black Americans  while ignoring the part of that same speech where King says black people have marched on the capital to cash a check which has come back marked insufficient funds.

King has been evoked continuously during this season of protests, sometimes to defend those who looted and torched buildings, sometimes to condemn them. But in this time of foment, there has been an astounding silence around his most radical demands. The seldom-quoted King is the one who said that the true battle for equality, the actualization of justice, required economic repair.

After watching Northern cities explode even as his movements efforts to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act came to fruition, King gave a speech in 1967 in Atlanta before the Hungry Club Forum, a secret gathering of white politicians and civil rights leaders.

King said: For well now 12 years, the struggle was basically a struggle to end legal segregation. In a sense it was a struggle for decency. It was a struggle to get rid of all of the humiliation and the syndrome of depravation surrounding the system of legal segregation. And I need not remind you that those were glorious days.  It is now a struggle for genuine equality on all levels, and this will be a much more difficult struggle. You see, the gains in the first period, or the first era of struggle, were obtained from the power structure at bargain rates; it didnt cost the nation anything to integrate lunch counters. It didnt cost the nation anything to integrate hotels and motels. It didnt cost the nation a penny to guarantee the right to vote. Now we are in a period where it will cost the nation billions of dollars to get rid of poverty, to get rid of slums, to make quality integrated education a reality. This is where we are now. Now were going to lose some friends in this period. The allies who were with us in Selma will not all stay with us during this period. Weve got to understand what is happening. Now they often call this the white backlash.  Its just a new name for an old phenomenon. The fact is that there has never been any single, solid, determined commitment on the part of the vast majority of white Americans to genuine equality for Negroes.

A year later, in March 1968, just a month before his assassination, in a speech to striking, impoverished black sanitation workers in Memphis, King said: Now our struggle is for genuine equality, which means economic equality. For we know that it isnt enough to integrate lunch counters. What does it profit a man to be able to eat at an integrated lunch counter if he doesnt have enough money to buy a hamburger?

As we focus on police violence, we cannot ignore an even starker indication of our societal failures: Racial income disparities today look no different than they did the decade before Kings March on Washington. In 1950, according to a forthcoming study by the economists Moritz Schularick, Moritz Kuhn and Ulrike Steins in The Journal of Political Economy, black median household income was about half that of white Americans, and today it remains so. More critical, the racial wealth gap is about the same as it was in the 1950s as well. The typical black household today is poorer than 80 percent of white households. No progress has been made over the past 70 years in reducing income and wealth inequalities between black and white households, according to the study.

And yet most Americans are in an almost pathological denial about the depth of black financial struggle. That 2019 Yale University study, called The Misperception of Racial Economic Inequality, found that Americans believe that black households hold $90 in wealth for every $100 held by white households. The actual amount is $10.

About 97 percent of study participants overestimated black-white wealth equality, and most assumed that highly educated, high-income black households were the most likely to achieve economic parity with white counterparts. That is also wrong. The magnitude of the wealth gap only widens as black people earn more income.

These data suggest that Americans are largely unaware of the striking persistence of racial economic inequality in the United States, the studys authors write. Americans, they write, tend to explain away or justify persistent racial inequality by ignoring the tailwinds that have contributed to their economic success while justifying inequalities of wealth and poverty by invoking the role of individuals traits and skills as explanations for these disparities. They use the exceptional examples of very successful black people to prove that systemic racism does not hold black Americans back and point to the large numbers of impoverished black people as evidence that black people are largely responsible for their own struggles.

Jack Thornell/Associated Press Memphis, 1968. Jabin Botsford/Getty Images New York, 2020.

In 2018, Duke Universitys Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity and the Insight Center for Community Economic Development published a report called What We Get Wrong About Closing the Racial Wealth Gap that examined the common misperceptions about the causes of the racial wealth gap and presented data and social-science research that refutes them all.

The study shows that the racial wealth gap is not about poverty. Poor white families earning less than $27,000 a year hold nearly the same amount of wealth as black families earning between $48,000 and $76,000 annually. Its not because of black spending habits. Black Americans have lower incomes over all but save at a slightly higher rate than white Americans with similar incomes. Its not that black people need to value education more. Black parents, when controlling for household type and socioeconomic status, actually offer more financial support for their childrens higher education than white parents do, according to the study. And some studies have shown that black youths, when compared with white youths whose parents have similar incomes and education levels, are actually more likely to go to college and earn additional credentials.

But probably most astounding to many Americans is that college simply does not pay off for black Americans the way it does for other groups. Black college graduates are about as likely to be unemployed as white Americans with a high school diploma, and black Americans with a college education hold less wealth than white Americans who have not even completed high school. Further, because black families hold almost no wealth to begin with, black students are the most likely to borrow money to pay for college and then to borrow more. That debt, in turn, means that black students cannot start saving immediately upon graduation like their less-debt-burdened peers.

Its not a lack of homeownership. While its true that black Americans have the lowest homeownership rates in the nation, simply owning a home is not the same asset that it is for white Americans. Black Americans get higher mortgage rates even with equal credit worthiness, and homes in black neighborhoods do not appreciate at the same rate as those in white areas, because housing prices are still driven by the racial makeup of communities. As the Duke University economist William Darity Jr., the studys lead author, points out, the ability to purchase a home in the first place is seldom a result of just the hard work and frugality of the buyer. Its actually parental and grandparental wealth that facilitates the acquisition of a home.

Its not because a majority of black families are led by a single mother. White single women with children hold the same amount of wealth as single black women with no children, and the typical white single parent has twice the wealth of the typical two-parent black family.

To summarize, none of the actions we are told black people must take if they want to lift themselves out of poverty and gain financial stability  not marrying, not getting educated, not saving more, not owning a home  can mitigate 400 years of racialized plundering. Wealth begets wealth, and white Americans have had centuries of government assistance to accumulate wealth, while the government has for the vast history of this country worked against black Americans doing the same.

The cause of the gap must be found in the structural characteristics of the American economy, heavily infused at every point with both an inheritance of racism and the ongoing authority of white supremacy, the authors of the Duke study write. There are no actions that black Americans can take unilaterally that will have much of an effect on reducing the wealth gap. For the gap to be closed, America must undergo a vast social transformation produced by the adoption of bold national policies.

Underwood Archives/Getty Images New York, 1917. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images New York, 2020.

At the center of those policies must be reparations. The process of creating the racial wealth chasm begins with the failure to provide the formerly enslaved with the 40 acres they were promised, Darity told me. So the restitution has never been given, and its 155 years overdue.

Darity has been studying and advocating reparations for 30 years, and this spring he and his partner, A. Kirsten Mullen, published the book From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the 21st Century. Both history and road map, the book answers the questions about who should receive reparations and how a program would work. I will not spend much time on that here, except to make these few points. Reparations are not about punishing white Americans, and white Americans are not the ones who would pay for them. It does not matter if your ancestors engaged in slavery or if you just immigrated here two weeks ago. Reparations are a societal obligation in a nation where our Constitution sanctioned slavery, Congress passed laws protecting it and our federal government initiated, condoned and practiced legal racial segregation and discrimination against black Americans until half a century ago. And so it is the federal government that pays.

Reparations would go to any person who has documentation that he or she identified as a black person for at least 10 years before the beginning of any reparations process and can trace at least one ancestor back to American slavery. Reparations should include a commitment to vigorously enforcing existing civil rights prohibitions against housing, educational and employment discrimination, as well as targeted investments in government-constructed segregated black communities and the segregated schools that serve a disproportionate number of black children. But critically, reparations must include individual cash payments to descendants of the enslaved in order to close the wealth gap.

The technical details, frankly, are the easier part. The real obstacle, the obstacle that we have never overcome, is garnering the political will  convincing enough Americans that the centuries-long forced economic disadvantage of black Americans should be remedied, that restitution is owed to people who have never had an equal chance to take advantage of the bounty they played such a significant part in creating.

This country can be remarkably generous. Each year Congress allocates money  this year $5 million  to help support Holocaust survivors living in America. In backing the funding measure, Representative Richard E. Neal, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said in 2018 that this country has a responsibility to support the surviving men and women of the Holocaust and their families. And he is right. It is the moral thing to do. And yet Congress has refused for three decades to pass H.R. 40, a bill to simply study the issue of reparations. Its drafter, Representative John Conyers Jr., a Michigan Democrat and descendant of enslaved Americans, died in 2019  during the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Africans enslaved in Virginia  without the bill ever making it out of committee.

There are living victims of racial apartheid and terrorism born in this country, including civil rights activists who lost their homes and jobs fighting to make this country a democracy, who have never received any sort of restitution for what they endured. Soon, like their enslaved ancestors, they will all be dead, too, and then well hear the worn excuse that this country owes no reparations because none of the victims are still alive. Darity and Mullen call this the delay until death tactic. Procrastination, they say, does not erase what is owed.

The coronavirus pandemic has dispatched the familiar lament that even if it is the right thing to do, this nation simply cannot afford to make restitution to the 40 million descendants of American slavery. It took Congress just a matter of weeks to pass a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill to help families and businesses struggling from the Covid-19 shutdowns. When, then, will this nation pass a stimulus package to finally respond to the singularity of black suffering?

Colossal societal ruptures have been the only things potent enough to birth transformative racial change in this country, and perhaps a viral pandemic colliding with our nations 400-year racial one has forced that type of rupture today. Maybe it had to be this way; this deep and collective suffering was necessary for white Americans to feel enough of the pain that black Americans have always known to tilt the scale.

With Covid-19, black Americans face a financial catastrophe unlike any in nearly a century. Black Americans had already lost the largest share of their wealth of all racial groups as a result of the last recession and have struggled the most to recover. They are the only racial group whose household median income is less than it was in 2000. Today already more than half of black adults are out of work. Black businesses are withering. Their owners were almost completely shut out of the federal paycheck-protection program  just 12 percent of black and Latino business owners who applied for the small-business loans received the full amounts they requested, according to a Global Strategy Group survey last month. Nearly half the respondents said they would most likely shutter permanently within six months. Black children are expected to lose 10 months worth of academic gains because of school closures, more than any other group, and yet they attend the schools with the least resources already, schools that will have even fewer resources as states slash spending to make up for budget shortfalls. One in five black homeowners and one in four renters have missed at least one home payment since the shutdowns began  the highest of all racial groups.

The pandemic, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, a scholar of social movements and racial inequality at Princeton University, told me, has pulled what is hidden and buried on the bottom to the surface so that it cant actually be ignored. It is a radicalizing factor because conditions that have been so dire, now combined with revolts in the street, might lead one to believe that not only is the society unraveling, but it might cause you to question what foundation it was built upon in the first place.

Race-neutral policies simply will not address the depth of disadvantage faced by people this country once believed were chattel. Financial restitution cannot end racism, of course, but it can certainly mitigate racisms most devastating effects. If we do nothing, black Americans may never recover from this pandemic, and they will certainly never know the equality the nation has promised.

So we are left with a choice. Will this moment only feel different? Or will it actually be different?

If black lives are to truly matter in America, this nation must move beyond slogans and symbolism. Citizens dont inherit just the glory of their nation, but its wrongs too. A truly great country does not ignore or excuse its sins. It confronts them and then works to make them right. If we are to be redeemed, if we are to live up to the magnificent ideals upon which we were founded, we must do what is just.

It is time for this country to pay its debt. It is time for reparations.

Nikole Hannah-Jones is a staff writer for the magazine. In 2020, she won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary for her essay about black Americans and democracy. She is the creator of The 1619 Project, which won the National Magazine Award for public interest and a George Polk special award this year. She is also a 2017 MacArthur fellow.
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BOSTON (AP)  A utility company was ordered Tuesday to pay a $53 million criminal fine for causing a series of natural gas explosions in Massachusetts that killed one person and damaged dozens of homes.

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts was sentenced more than three months after the company pleaded guilty in federal court to causing the blasts that rocked three communities north of Boston in September 2018.





. . .
Australia's youngest billionaire and digital design mogul Melanie Perkins leads a life of luxury as the country's third richest woman - but she and her fiance business partner stress they want to give away all their money to help others.

Ms Perkins has amassed a personal fortune of $2.5billion through her Sydney-based company Canva, which allows businesses to build their own social media graphics, posters and invitations.

Her stock soared as the COVID-19 pandemic confined workers to their homes and forced them to work remotely - doubling her wealth in a matter of just months.

The 32-year-old's social media profile boasts of her lavish trips to international countries - with Australia's third richest woman most recently sharing a photo of her taking in the Rio de Janeiro skyline in Brazil.

Australia's youngest billionaire Melanie Perkins pictured with her fiance and business partner Cliff Obrecht on a holiday to Turkey's popular Cappadocia region last year

Last July, she and her fiance Cliff Obrecht - with whom she founded Canva in 2014 - shared photos of the pair enjoying a trip to Cappadocia in central Turkey.

The pair have also jetted off to Richard Branson's luxurious privately-owned island Necker Island in the Caribbean's British Virgin Islands.

Their company expanded to Manila and Beijing in the five years since Canva launched - recently reaching a $US6billion ($AUD8.3billion) valuation.

With the added stimulus of the work from home customer base during the pandemic, Ms Perkins' fortune has almost doubled from the $1.3billion it was valued at last year.

Mr Obrecht proposed to Ms Perkins on the trip to Turkey, although he stresses the couple live a simple life despite the wealth they have gained from their graphic design firm.

He said the couple plan to donate their billions to the 'greater good' rather than spend it on themselves.

The 32-year-old's social media profile boasts of her frequent trips to far-flung countries - including Rio de Janeiro in Brazil (pictured)

'Mel and I are committed to giving away all our money to make the world a better place,' he told The Australian.

'I think with running such a large company with such a significant valuation now, it's an obligation on us to use that to be a force for good and make the world a better place, rather than just hoard s**t.'

Mr Obrecht said he proposed to his wife with an engagement ring worth just $30, and the couple were instead focusing on spending their money on causes like reforming the global health system.

Ms Perkins pictured at the Center Stage of Web Summit in Portugal in November 2019 with what appears to be the $30 engagement ring given to her by her fiance in Turkey. Her wealth is trumped only by that of Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart

In 2013 the pair jetted off to Richard Branson's luxurious privately-owned island Necker Island in the Caribbean's British Virgin Islands (pictured on the holiday)

'We live pretty modestly and we don't really see the need to just accrue wealth. The priority for the company is education, because we really feel educating underprivileged people gives them the opportunity to break the cycle,' he said.

His fiance added she hoped to bring more equality to disadvantaged communities through her position of power in the business world.

Perkins' wealth 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.

Perkins said she hoped to bring more equality to the world through her position of power in the business world

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 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.

She fell in love with graphic design and developed skills far exceeding those of her peers, to the point where she was invited to teach graphic design workshops to students in other faculties.

Ms Perkins, originally from Perth, founded the Sydney-based digital graphics business Canva with her fiance in 2014 after dropping out of university

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.

Ms Perkins and Mr Obrecht are still together after starting up two successful companies

'My boyfriend became my co-founder and we started in my mum's living room,' she said.

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 $400million from investors and increases in value with each investment round.
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Economists at UCLA predict the coronavirus pandemic will plunge the U.S. into a "depression-like crisis," and employment levels in California won't return to normal for years.

According to the UCLA Anderson economic forecast published Wednesday: "For too many workers, the recession will linger on well past the official end date."

While economists had hoped for a V-shaped recovery -- with a steep downturn followed by an equally steep snap back -- the UCLA report envisions a recovery shaped more like the Nike swoosh, with a sharp 42% drop in GDP followed by gradual job growth playing out over years.

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The retail and leisure and hospitality sectors have taken the brunt of layoffs so far. With tourism down and consumers fearful of going back to old habits, many businesses will close for good and others will hobble along with fewer workers.

UCLA economist Jerry Nickelsburg said Californians working in those fields could take the longest to recover.

"Those two sectors are low-income sectors," Nickelsburg said. "So it creates an additional problem in that these are folks that are the least capable of making it through without a great deal of suffering."

SOME HIRING PICK-UP

L.A. County's unemployment rate is currently close to 21%. Nickelsburg predicts hiring will start to pick up, with faster job growth in California's tech industry as people rely on new digital tools for work and socializing. But by 2022, California's overall unemployment rate will still be significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels -- 6.8%, according to the forecast.

California home-building is forecast to decline by 17.3% this year. Nickelsburg said there's really no chance of developers building enough housing to ease the state's affordability crisis. However, less migration into California could ease some of the upward pressures on rents and home prices.

A word of caution: UCLA's outlook assumes the pandemic will start to wane this summer, and that new waves of infection won't lead to more lockdowns.

"If that assumption is too optimistic, so is our forecast," said Nickelsburg.
By Ayya Lmahamad

Starting from June 29, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) and Turkish Airlines will perform regular charter flights on Baku- Istanbul- Baku and Istanbul- Baku- Istanbul routes twice a week on the basis of mutual agreement, local media reports on June 24.

Azerbaijani citizens, including students staying in Turkey, who want to return back to the country, will be able to arrive in Azerbaijan on these specified routes, as well as citizens who want to travel to Turkey for various reasons.

Moreover, those citizens, staying in other countries and wanting to return to Azerbaijan, will be able to do so using transit opportunities via Istanbul airport.

Additional information on flight dates, ticket prices, discounts to be applied to students and other requirements and conditions will be provided later.

It should be noted that, on June 17 and 18, the national air carrier Azerbaijan Airlines operated special flights on the Baku- Istanbul- Baku route.

According to the new rules introduced by AZAL, only passengers who have been tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) in special laboratories accredited by the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) and received negative test results will be allowed to board the flight. In this case, passengers are exempted from quarantine. However, if COVID-19 symptoms are found, the passengers of this flight may be sent for the second medical examination.

Thus, when departing, at the airport check-in counter, passengers need to provide a certificate with negative results for COVID-19 testing, received no later than 48 hours before the flight departure.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Senatorial candidate Manny Sethi opened his Chattanooga office on Wednesday afternoon, and did so flanked for former Congressman Zach Wamp. Dr. Sethi is attempting to fill the void left by the retiring Lamar Alexander, who has represented Tennessee since 2003. The orthopedic trauma surgeon is running against Bill Hagerty, who has an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Mr. Wamp actually saw the lack of a presidential endorsement as a positive for the Sethi campaign.

Well one thing is that Mr. Hagerty is a good man, but hes the establishment candidate. Theres no doubt about who is supporting him and where he is coming from. The true citizen legislator and true outsider is a surgeon named Dr. Manny Sethi. He didnt strategize a decade ago about 'how can I become a United States senator and how can I maneuver my way through this thing?' 



Mr. Wamp said, "Article one says Congress has its job to do, and we dont need any more cheerleaders for the president. We need rugged individuals representing Tennessee who will stand on their own two feet and stand on Tennessees best interests, and not just what the president wants to do.

There are three reasons why I am endorsing Dr. Manny Sethi for Senate, said ex Congressman Wamp. He is the true conservative in this race, and he will stand for fiscal responsibility when so many others have buckled. He is authentic and he will represent the people of Tennessee, not the establishment, in every decision he makes. Finally, he belongs to a new generation of conservatives who have the chance to lead our country to greater freedom and prosperity. We need more political outsiders and citizen legislators like Dr. Manny Sethi in the US Senate, and that is why I am proud to endorse him.

I am grateful to have the support of Congressman Zach Wamp, a true conservative leader in our state and a great representation of East Tennessee, said Dr. Sethi. Zach has spent his life fighting for our conservative principles and Im humbled to have his vote and his support.

Dr. Sethi cited healthcare as one of his points of emphasis as a senatorial candidate. He advocated for a movement away from a reliance on China for medical supplies and gear. Dr. Sethi also called the Republicans inability to repeal Obamacare as the greatest broken political promise in our countrys history and laid out his alternative healthcare plan.

We need a free market-based plan that focuses on pricing transparency on an individual insurance market on paying for prevention, said Dr. Sethi. So I do believe as a physician, I am uniquely positioned for this time. But the bottom line is that I dont think we need any more Washington insiders. Its time for folks from outside of government, and thats why Im running.

Dr. Sethi also spoke candidly about his familys background as immigrants, and championed for stricter immigration laws.

I think illegal immigration is a huge problem that continues in our country, said Dr. Sethi. We need to end chain-based migration and we need a merit-based system. We need to end birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Former congressman Wamp told those in attendance that Dr. Sethi is part of a new and more diverse generation of conservatives, along with Tim Scott and Nikki Haley and a few others. Dr. Sethi did not see race as being a possible issue for him as he campaigns through the state.

Our name was a little different and my parents had an accent, but nobody ever made us feel (unwelcome), said Dr. Sethi about his growing up in rural Tennessee. Thats the problem with our country today, brother. People and our younger generation dont see it like that. I see what brings us together and thats what Tennesseans want. Rural Tennesseans and people across the state dont care if youre black, white, green, or purple. They want someone who is going to fight for them and be there for them, not someone who is going to sell out to the Washington swamp. So I dont think it matters.

Dr. Sethi is traveling across Tennessee over the coming weeks, and he stated his goal is to visit every county in the state as he campaigns. Aside from Chattanooga, the Sethi campaign is setting up offices in most major cities in the state.

We are opening offices in the Tri-Cities, in Jackson, Knoxville, Memphis, and my home county of Manchester, said Dr. Sethi. If you are truly represent every Tennessean, you need to shake every hand and meet every voter, because thats what people want and thats what I want people to expect of me.
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Linkedin Rob Lever (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Wed, June 24, 2020 16:02 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406614a14a 2 Environment Amazon,environment,climate,climate-change,climate-crisis,united-states Free

Amazon on Tuesday pledged to invest $2 billion in projects aimed at combating climate change, stepping up efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the tech giant and others.

The Climate Pledge Fund will back efforts by startups and other firms in multiple sectors to "facilitate the transition to a zero carbon economy," Amazon said in a statement.

The initiative "will look to invest in the visionary entrepreneurs and innovators who are building products and services to help companies reduce their carbon impact and operate more sustainably," said Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos.

"Companies from around the world of all sizes and stages will be considered, from pre-product startups to well-established enterprises. 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 move follows an announcement by Bezos last year that Amazon would accelerate its own efforts to cut its carbon footprint while encouraging others to join his "Climate Pledge" aimed at meeting goals of the Paris accord on climate ahead of schedule.

Since then, the pledge has been joined by other companies including US-based telecom giant Verizon, British consumer goods firm Reckitt Benckiser and India-based tech giant Infosys.

Amazon has said it is on track to run on 100 percent renewable energy by 2025 and would become carbon neutral by 2040.

It also will deploy more than 100,000 electric delivery vans to replace gasoline-powered vehicles for its logistics operations. The first will hit the road in 2021, with the fleet to be fully operational in 2030.

The new fund will invest in companies in multiple industries, including transportation and logistics, energy generation, storage and utilization, manufacturing and materials, circular economy, and food and agriculture.

Amazon will also seek other investors to add to the fund which is aimed at efforts to "decarbonize the economy and protect the planet."

Read also: Amazon's Jeff Bezos pledges $10 billion to climate change fight

Sense of urgency

The news comes amid growing concerns on climate change and with the US administration on course to withdraw from the global agreement aimed at curbing emissions.

Some scientists have warned that climate change is accelerating, making mitigation efforts more urgent.

The last five years have been the hottest on record, as has been the last decade, according to the European climate monitoring network.

Amazon has faced criticism, including from some of its own employees, that it has failed to move quickly enough on climate change.

The company, which is a major cloud computing service provider, says it has invested in 91 renewable energy projects around the globe.

It has also made investments in reforestation projects around the world, and stepped up efforts to reduce its use of packaging materials.

The company, which has expanded its workforce to meet consumer demands during the coronavirus pandemic, is also being scrutinized for its growing power in retail by lawmakers and antitrust enforcers.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) as recommended by the economic sustainability committee led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the content of the report produced by the committee to ensure Nigerias economy survives the impact of the COVID-19.

The FEC approved the N2.3 trillion stimulus plan at its meeting on Wednesday.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, announced the approval at the end of the FEC meeting.

The total package that we presented today is in the sum of N2.3 trillion. N500 billion of this is a stimulus package that is already provided for in the amended 2020 Appropriations Act. These are funds that we have sourced from special accounts. We also have N1.2 trillion of this funds to be sourced as structured low-cost loans which are interventionary from the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as other development partners and institutions.

We have N344 billion that will be sourced from bilateral and external sources and also additional funds that we can source locally, she said.

Goals

The goals of the NESP are to create jobs, pump money into the economy and hopefully stop it slipping into recession, support small businesses and prioritise local content (Made-in-Nigeria).

The NESP is a 12-month Transit Plan between the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the ERGP-successor-plan currently being worked upon.

There is a strategy that has been adopted and this whole plan is to enable us respond to the triple problem of low exchange rate, youth unemployment as well as negative growth which is facing us now, Mrs Ahmed said.

The plan has to also support small businesses that have suffered severe impact of COVID-19 as a result of lockdowns, especially, the hotel industry, private schools, restaurants as well as the transport sector have been very well impacted by this.

We have also seen a significant impact on the poor and the vulnerable and even people that were okay as small traders, have been hard hit , she said.

Revamping economy, businesses

The minister also said the council noted interventions in the plan that would prevent businesses from collapsing and also infuse liquidity into the Nigerian economy.

These will create jobs using labour-intensive methods such as agriculture, facility management, housing, construction, direct labour interventions that will create a lot of jobs very quickly. We had also proposed in the plan to undertake growth-enhancing jobs, creating infrastructure investments in roads, bridges, solar power, communications technology and several others.

We have promoted in the plan, manufacturing and local production at all levels. We are advocating for the use of made in Nigeria in all of these public works that we will be doing as a way of creating jobs opportunities to enhance jobs sufficiency.

So we expect  for road construction, for instance  we expect the minister of works not to buy bitumen but to consider the use of gemstones and cement or other materials that can be used here. That way we conserve our resources and will also be able to ignite other sectors within the economy, she explained.

Housing

The official also spoke on specific interventions in the construction and housing sector.

The same thing for housing as well. The design is to have 300,000 houses built using standard designs that will be done by the ministry of works and housing but using strictly low-cost materials.

On the building sites, the plan is to have carpenters and others that will have multiplier effect on the economy, she said.

She said the third pillar for us is to ensure rigorous implementation and this is important because this is a 12-month plan that is meant to pull our economy from sliding into a deep recession.

It will also be a plan that will anchor to the successor period that we have already started working on, she said. It is a 12-month plan, a transit plan meant to be implemented quickly.

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To that effect, the federal executive council has agreed that the procurement processes become relaxed in a manner that we are adopting a faster mood as opposed to using the longer procurement process.

With the National Assembly passing the budget, we have funding ready to go but we need procurement to be done quickly so that this money can be put to immediate use, she added.
The lawmaker representing Gumel constituency in the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Sani Isyaku, has sued the House, demanding N50 million as damages for his illegal suspension

The assembly had on March 5 suspended Mr Isyaku indefinitely for alleged thuggery. He was specifically accused of conniving with thugs to attack the convoy of the state governor, Muhammad Badaru, in Hadejia Local Government Area.

The Speaker, Idris Garba, announced the suspension during plenary. He said the decision to suspend the lawmaker was unanimous.

However, PREMIUM TIMES reported how the states High Court in its first ruling, voided the resolution of the house over the suspension of the lawmaker and ordered for the restoration of his rights and privileges.

The assembly, on June 11, recalled Mr Isyaku as ordered by the court. Mr Garba, however, said his recall was due to the intervention of some leaders in the state.

On Tuesday, Mr Isyakus lead counsel, Mamman Yusufari, told the court that the suspension of his client remained unconstitutional and illegal as it violated the houses standing rules.

He said the sanction caused damages to the reputation of Mr Isyaku and those that elected him to represent them.

He, therefore, urged the court to award his client N50 million as damages.

The defence counsel, Musa Aliyu, in a preliminary objection to the suit demanded the exclusion of the 3rd defendant who is the clerk of the assembly from the original summon filed before the court.

Mr Aliyu, who is also the states Commissioner for Justice, argued that the clerk ought not to have been dragged into the Assembly crisis since he is not a lawmaker.

However, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Yusufari, a professor, accused the clerk of partisanship despite being a public servant and insisted that he should be joined in the suit being the chief accounting officer of the house.

The presiding judge, Ahmed Isa, set July 21 for ruling on the matter.
UPDATE: 3:12 P.M.

The Amber Alert has been canceled.

Original story:

An Amber Alert has been issued for a 15-year-old boy who was abducted near 46th Avenue in Queens early Wednesday.

New York City Police Chief Terence A. Monahan said Ahsan Ali was abducted around 4:40 a.m.

He said Mohsin Ali  Ahsans 28-year-old brother  threatened to harm the teen.

Monahan said Mohsin fled with his younger brother in a white Toyota Sienna with NY plate JJX 5315.

Connecticuut State Police also shared the alert because the vehicle may be headed to Connecticut.

Ahsan Ali was last seen wearing jeans and a T-shirt. He is described as havin brown hair and eyes, stands 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs around 120 pounds.

Mohsin Ali has brown hair and eyes, stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans. He also has tattoos on his arms and chest. There are also recent cuts on his arms.

Police said if the vehicle or the two are scene, people are asked to call 1-866-NYS-AMBER (1-866-697-2623) or 911.
St Columbs Cathedral in Derry is to get its first female canon in its 400-year history.

Reverend Katie McAteers appointment to the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of St Columb is one of two announced today by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Reverend Andrew Forster.

Reverend Robert Boyd, the Rector of Glendermott and Newbuildings Parish, has also been appointed a Canon.



By happy coincidence, today - the Feast Day of St John the Baptist - is the anniversary of both new canons ordinations.

Rev Boyd and Rev McAteer will fill the positions left vacant following the departure of the Ferry brothers  Rev Canon David, who has retired, and Rev Malcolm, who has become the Rector of Agherton Parish in Portstewart.

Rev McAteer, who is the Pastoral Director of the Christ Church, Culmore, Muff and St Peters Group of Parishes, said she was humbled and honoured by the appointment.



When Bishop Andrew first asked me, I was totally taken aback, Rev McAteer said.

It was never on my radar, never in a million years  or even 400 years  would I have expected the Bishop to ask me to accept this appointment.

St Columbs Cathedral, probably more than any other cathedral, has been a history-maker  the first cathedral built in these islands after the Reformation; playing a leading role as a place of reconciliation  and now another brick is being laid in its rich history.

I still keep thinking, No, not me. It cant be me. Its exciting. Its quite daunting. Im humbled and honoured.

Rev McAteer, whose father was a Canon of Chester Cathedral, evoked the words of the Ordination Service.

Throughout ministry, whatever God calls us to do, we pray that He will give us the needful gifts of grace to fulfil that ministry. Im hoping that this is at Gods direction; I can only do this in Gods strength.

While this is new territory for Rev McAteer, the second new canon is on familiar ground.

Rev Boyd, was a Canon of St Patricks Cathedral in Armagh until three years ago, a position he relinquished when he was appointed incumbent of the Parish of Glendermott and Newbuildings.

He has since taken up the role of Diocesan Director of Ordinands for Derry and Raphoe.

I feel very privileged and very honoured by the appointment, Rev Boyd (pictured below) said.

Im extremely grateful to Bishop Andrew for having the confidence in me to appoint me to this role and for thinking me worthy of it. I think its an honour, too, for the Parish of Glendermott and Newbuildings, so Im very pleased that our parishioners are also being acknowledged and recognised by the Bishop.

The installation of a new canon is a significant and joyful occasion for any cathedral but given its uniqueness, the forthcoming Service of Installation in St Columbs  with its historical first  will arouse considerable interest within the Church of Ireland and beyond.

A date has yet to be fixed for the Service but it is hoped it will take place in the early autumn.

St Columbs Cathedral, which was completed in 1633, was the first Anglican cathedral built in the British Isles after the Reformation in 1517.
This past week, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ordered that the official portraits of four of her predecessors be removed from the Capitol walls. This grandiose display of virtue signaling occurred, she said, because we must lead by example.

Example of what? There is no room in the hallowed halls of this democracy, this temple of democracy, to memorialize people who embody violent bigotry and grotesque racism of the Confederacy. The four portraits are of whom? Robert Hunter who served as Speaker 20 years prior to the Civil War and Charles Crisp, an enlisted man in the Confederate Army, who served as Speaker 26 years after the Civil War. Howell Cobb who served 10 years prior to the war and James Orr who served as Speaker just prior to the war. Cobb became the President of the Provisional Congress of the Confederacy. The others most people probably never heard of. None are household names. Hardly the rogues gallery portrayed by the overwrought Pelosi.

Speaker Pelosi really should think through why she wants to expunge the hallowed halls of violent bigotry and grotesque racism.

The history of the Democratic Party is a chronicle of violent bigotry and grotesque racism.

The Republican Party was founded in the 1850s primarily in opposition to the pro-slavery policies of the Democratic Party. The Confederacy, at which Madame Speaker rails so roundly, was the Democratic Party. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected as the first Republican President with a Republican Congress. The slave holding Democrats were so incensed that abolitionist Republicans were in control that, in a monumental act of sedition, on April 12, 1861, they attacked Fort Sumter. They seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America. Does Pelosi propose to remove the picture and statue of every Democrat in the country as secessionist racists?

In 1866, a group of Democrat Confederate soldiers in Pulaski, Tenn., upset about losing the war, formed the Ku Klux Klan to gain control of the electorate. In 1868, the Democratic National Convention honored Democrat General Nathan Forrest as the first KKK Grand Wizard. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WVA), eulogized by former Presidents Obama and Clinton in 2010, was not only a KKK member but also an Exalted Cyclops of the Klan. There are 55 highways, bridges, dams and other facilities named after Byrd. Does Pelosi propose striking this violent bigot and grotesque racist from all of them?

Every year the Democratic Party holds elaborate Jefferson-Jackson dinners and celebrations honoring its founder, Andrew Jackson, the seventh of the United States and Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence. Jackson was a master thief of land from the Indians which he in turn sold to white settlers at a tidy profit to himself. He was not only a slaveowner but a slave trader. Jefferson was the largest slaveholder of all our presidents. What about their pictures and statues, Madame Speaker?

How many pictures of Woodrow Wilson hang in the Capitol and around Washington? Wilson was an extreme bigot who resegregated the bathrooms in the Federal Building next to the White House. He said, Segregation is not a humiliation but a benefit. Does Nancy Pelosi propose ripping his name off the Woodrow Wilson Bridge? Does Princeton University, where he served as president, propose obliterating his name and portrait?

Sen. Richard Russell, another of Pelosis stalwart Democrat luminaries, represented Georgia, just like Howell Cobb did 10 years before the Civil War. Cobbs picture is one of the pictures Pelosi removed from the capital wall. Sen. Russell said, I am willing to go as far and make as great a sacrifice to preserve and insure white supremacy in the social, economic, and political life of our state as any man who lives within her borders. Cobbs picture is gone, but the Senate Office Building is named for Russell and Ill bet there are plenty of pictures of him around.

Taking down pictures and toppling statues is neither leadership nor positive example. We cannot rewrite history to conform to todays standards and values. History is the story of the past, good and bad. History is the record from which we learn and improve. What we know about science today is because of what we learned in the past. The development of the great philosophies and economic theories are how we understand what we think and believe. If we erase the past, we erase the lessons learned and are doomed to learn them again.

A statue or a painting or a book may contain or represent something with which we may not agree but that is hardly cause to destroy it; in fact that is all the more reason to keep it and to study it and to learn from it.

To continually erase the past leaves only the present with no frame of reference, no context, only what is. It leaves an eternally shallow and unenriched existence.

The mobs that are currently running around pulling down statues and the mindless elected officials like Pelosi taking down and hiding the past are neither leaders nor thinkers. They are behaving mindlessly, responding to emotion.

We need to raise up true leaders and thinkers who see the value of the past and can get beyond presentism. The past can only inform the present, it cannot be conformed to it.

Leave the statues and paintings and books alone. Stop the PC analysis of 100-year-old books. Move on. Tearing a page out of the book of history will change neither the past, the present nor the future and will leave us all diminished.

Dave Ball is a conservative political commentator and author. He is a frequent guest on talk shows, is an elected official and party officeholder.
Inspiring a sense of mission while reminding people why their work matters is one way some of historys greatest leaders helped people through challenging times, according to Harvard Business Schools Nancy Koehn.

Were in the worst downturn since the Great Depression. The IMF expects growth to fall 4.9 percent this year, while the total loss to global GDP from the pandemic could be $12 trillion by 2021.

On the one hand, we all hope beating COVID-19 will make it possible to return to business as usual soon. But, on the other, I think this crisis has shown that the constraints of business as usual were impeding progress in ways we should no longer accept.

Pre-coronavirus, most companies aspired to become digitally transformed, data-driven enterprises. Analyses pointed to upside in the trillions of dollars from increased application of AI and analytics across industry and government.

There were plenty of reasons to be inspired by this. For example, 30 percent of construction spend is waste. Likewise, about one third of all food produced never makes it to human consumption. When Microsoft Japan adopted a four-day workweek, productivity rose 40 percent.

But, nonetheless, we now have strong signals that we were tolerating needless delay applying technology to drive efficiency or growth. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadellas statement on April 30 cut to the chase: Weve seen two years worth of digital transformation in two months.

We ought to enroll everyone in a mission to overcome everything holding back progress in the status quo ante. We should be inspired by the opportunity to define new practices in our organizations that drive a faster, bigger bounceback.

For me, the past few months have shone a light on three patterns for successful transformation that Ive observed over the last decade. The first and foremost is: build conviction, not consensus.

One CIO we interviewed told us why he was able to make the kind of progress Nadella was describing as a result of this crisis: Historically, when weve tried to make digital transformation steps, there have been curmudgeons that have said, You cant do that. Here are all the problems. Itll never work, yada, yada, yada. And that obstructionism is really easy to do.

Building consensus takes time and effort. Reducing its cost is a mugs game. Thats because increasing the correctness of beliefs by doing wins over trying to do it by debating.

Most decisionsthe kind that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos describes as two way doorscan be reversed.

In his words, To invent you have to experiment, and if you know in advance that its going to work, its not an experiment.

The only thing everyone needs to agree on is that its everyones obligation to relentlessly create conditions for fast failure and learningand leaderships job is to celebrate it when it occurs.

In my next post, Ill dig into the other top two patterns for success Ive observed: embrace urgency and aim high.
India has downgraded its diplomatic relationship with Pakistan. It has told the Pakistani high commission in Delhi to reduce its strength by half, on the grounds that officials were supporting cross-border violence and terrorism. Given the reciprocity that governs diplomatic ties, India will do the same in Pakistan. This comes soon after India expelled two Pakistani high commission officials for spying, and Pakistani agencies detained and harassed two members of the Indian diplomatic mission in Islamabad. Since August, when India decided to change the constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the two countries have also not had high commissioners in each others country. New Delhis recent decision is the first time after the 2001 Parliament attack that it has downgraded ties to this level.

But the tit-for-tat diplomatic battle hides beneath it a real dilemma in Indias Pakistan policy. On one hand it is a clear, well-recognised, fact. Pakistan is a State that sponsors terrorism and engages in asymmetric warfare against India. It has, directly through its military-intelligence nexus, given patronage to terror groups that have conducted attacks, leading to huge loss of Indian lives. Pakistan continues to cause violence and instability in J&K  an integral part of India. It engages in mass disinformation campaigns against India internationally. And it is an all-weather friend of China, which has stepped up its offensive against India  perhaps even in close consultation with Islamabad. In this backdrop, even continuing with diplomatic niceties and talking to Pakistan appears futile.

At the same time, Pakistan is a neighbour. Its alliance with China poses a threat, for it can lead to an adversarial two-front situation  which Indian policymakers have factored in, but must be avoided for the costs involved. Countering Pakistans disinformation campaigns is also a distraction from Indias core diplomatic goals. And not talking at all  and downgrading diplomatic ties  will not make the situation better. This then is the dilemma. The United Progressive Alliance government talked, hoping it would embolden constituencies of peace and lead to a breakthrough. It did not work. For the most part, the Narendra Modi government has not talked. It hasnt worked either. There are no easy solutions. But at the minimum, diplomatic channels of some sort must remain intact to handle unforeseen situations, as well as the other elements of the relationship, including people-to-people ties. India must think more creatively about its legitimate Pakistan dilemma.
Donald Trump Jr. has called for statues being pulled down across America to be replaced with a 'more sturdy' likeness of his father.

The president's son waded into the debate over racist and Confederate monuments in public places Tuesday, tweeting his suggestion that a statue of President Trump be erected in the place of any downed figure.

'Want to save our monuments? Let's get a movement going to replace any statue torn down during these riots with a new and more sturdy statue of @realDonaldTrump,' he wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning.

'The nonsense would stop instantly.'

Donald Trump Jr. called for statues being pulled down across America to be replaced with a 'more sturdy' likeness of his father in a social media post Tuesday

Twitter users were less sure of the idea with several mocking his suggestion, saying the whole point of the statues being taken down is 'to erase the monuments to racism'.

'The point of removing the statues is to erase the monuments to racism and intolerance, putting up a statue of RACIST @realDonaldTrump would mean we are continuing to erect monuments to racism,' one person tweeted.

Others pointed out irony in the president's son's idea.

'Not sure he understands what he's saying here,' one person flagged.

'A permanent statue of my father is such a horrible thing that the threat of Trump replacement statues will deter ppl from tearing down Confederate-type statues "Hey guys, a confederate statue is the lesser of two evils, amirite?"'

However, Trump Jr's suggestion sparked memories for some of the five identical nude statues of Trump that sprung up in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Seattle, and New York City back in 2016.

The figures were put up by anarchist collective INDECLINE who took inspiration from story 'The Emperor's New Clothes' about stripping an overly confident leader of his clothes.

The president's son Donald Trump Jr. (left) waded into the mounting debate over racist and Confederate monuments in public places Tuesday, tweeting his suggestion that a statue of President Trump (right) be erected in the place of any downed figure

Several people replied to Trump Jr's post with an image of the statues with one simply sharing a picture with the line: 'Already been done...'

Trump Jr's tweet came hours after the president announced that any protesters vandalizing or tearing down statues could be slapped with 10 years jail time.

'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.

'This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused. There will be no exceptions!'

Twitter users were less sure of the idea with several mocking his suggestion

Just hours earlier he had tweeted that 'numerous' people were arrested following last night's protests in Lafayette Park in Washington DC after demonstrators tried to pull down a bronze statue of former president Andrew Jackson.

He also said he was planning to sign yet another executive order to target protesters trying to remove racist statues.

Trump blasted what he called the 'disgraceful vandalism' of the 'magnificent' statue of the controversial general Jackson, who Trump has touted as a personal hero.

Statues, flags and displays of Confederate or racist symbols and historical figures are being removed across America, amid widespread protests calling for an end to systemic racism following the death of black man George Floyd at the hands of a white cop in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.

The American Museum of Natural History in New York is removing a statue of Theodore Roosevelt, flanked by a Native American man and African American man

A statue from the Richmond Howitzers Monument lies after being toppled by protesters against racial inequality overnight in Richmond, Virginia, last week

Several officials and institutions have pledged to remove them while, in some cases, protesters have taken matters into their own hands and toppled monuments linked to the Confederacy and slavery.

On Sunday, the American Museum of Natural History announced plans to remove a statue of Theodore Roosevelt from its entrance after years of objections that it symbolizes colonial expansion and racial discrimination.

The bronze statue in the New York City museum depicts Roosevelt on horseback with a Native American man and an African man standing next to the horse.

'The American Museum of Natural History has asked to remove the Theodore Roosevelt statue because it explicitly depicts Black and Indigenous people as subjugated and racially inferior,' New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a written statement.
STORY LINK GBP to NOK Exchange Rate Avoids Losses as Norways Economy Worse-Hit Than Expected

GBP Exchange Rates Struggle to Advance as Currency Seen Increasingly Risky

The Pound increasingly resembles the more liquid emerging market currencies rather than a core G10 currency,



We believe Sterling is in the process of evolving into a currency that resembles the underlying reality of the British economy: small and shrinking with a growing dual deficit problem similar to more liquid [emerging market] currencies,

NOK Exchange Rates Throttled by Global Trade Jitters and Data

Yet familiar worries around trade friction have also re-appeared. Not only does the US-China deal look tenuous as Beijing remains behind on its promised purchases and the election campaign heats up, but reports have emerged that Washington is considering broad new tariffs against European luxury amid longstanding concerns about aircraft subsidies. Clearly, there is still much about the post-COVID world that looks a lot like the pre-COVID world!

GBP/NOK Exchange Rate Forecast: Trade Sentiment and Norwegian Data in Focus

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Despite market risk-aversion hitting the Pound today, the British Pound to Norwegian Krone exchange rate has been able to avoid losses. The latest Norwegian data has been unable to impress investors, and looking ahead the Norwegian Krone could take more damage from flaring coronavirus pandemic fears.Still, GBP/NOK has only seen limited recovery. Last week saw GBP/NOK slump from 12.09 to 11.90 as various factors bolstered the Krones appeal.This weeks movement has been more narrow and jittery so far. While the Norwegian Krone is too weak to push GBP/NOK lower, the pair still briefly touched on a low of 11.81 earlier in the weej before recovering.At the time of writing on Wednesday, GBP/NOK is trending just above the weeks opening levels, in the region of 11.94. The Pound is fairly unappealing, so it is largely benefitting from Norwegian Krone weakness.Even after hitting major lows against many major currency rivals, investors are hesitant to buy the Pound back up too much.Not even this weeks strong UK data has helped the Pound much.Yesterdays UK PMI results beat expectations in all major prints and indicated that Britains economy was weathering the coronavirus pandemic, but concern about how the pandemic would continue to impact Britains economy continued to weigh heavily.On top of that, market risk-aversion is weighing on the Pound this week.This is because markets are increasingly perceiving the Pound as an asset correlated to market risk-sentiment.According to Kamal Sharma, Currency Analyst at Bank of America (BofA), the Pound just hasnt recovered from the impact the 2016 Brexit referendum had on it. He said today:While market risk-aversion is weighing on the Pound, the Norwegian Krone is much more strongly correlated to market trade-sentiment than Sterling is.Oil is a major export for Norway, and oil prices have taken a hit in recent sessions due to surging fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections.Oil prices tumbling on second wave fears and signs of rising oil inventories were only one of the things causing trade jitters today though.There are rising signs that trade tensions between the US and Europe are surging again. According to Christopher Smart, Chief Global Strategist at Barings:On top of worsening trade jitters, the latest Norwegian data has done little to support the Krone outlook either.This mornings Norwegian unemployment rate unexpectedly worsened from 3.6% to 4.2%, rather than the forecast 3.8%. It has worsened concerns about how Norways economy is weathering the coronavirus pandemic.Could the Pound to Norwegian Krone exchange rate see further gains in the coming sessions? That depends on various factors both global and domestic.While the Pounds outlook remains clouded by coronavirus and Brexit gloom, the British currency could become more appealing than the Norwegian Krone if upcoming news causes the Krone to fall.Investors may be more willing to sell the Krone and have GBP/NOK recover if the global trade outlook worsens for example.If second wave coronavirus fears continue to knock oil prices, or if US trade tensions flare up again, the Norwegian Krone is likely to see fresh weakness.Domestically, the Norwegian Krone could also be hit if Fridays upcoming retail sales results from May come in worse than forecast.As investors have been overlooking UK data recently, the British Pound to Norwegian Krone exchange rate is likely to brush over tomorrows UK distributive trades data in favour of coronavirus developments.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

TAGS: Pound Norwegian Krone Forecasts
Anuradha Shukla By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Centre Tuesday imposed anti-dumping duty on imports of certain type of steel products from China, Vietnam, Korea for a period of five years to safeguard domestic manufacturers from cheap imports.

According to a government notification dated June 23, the duty was imposed after the Commerce Ministrys 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 $13.07 per tonne to $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. This was a long-pending demand from the domestic steel players since last two years.

The DGTR had earlier initiated 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 say that the Centre may initiate more probes and has listed about 400 items for duty hikes.
DUBLIN, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "HIV Self-test Kits - Global Market Outlook (2019-2027)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global HIV Self-test Kits market accounted for $71.76 million in 2019 and is expected to reach $288.56 million by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 19.0% during the forecast period. The rise in prevalence of this disease across the globe and growing uptake of HIV self-testing policies and implementation are the major factors driving market growth. However, a false-negative result of these kits is restraining market growth.



HIV Self-test Kits helps the individuals to access critically important health information, at their convenience by conducting their own HIV test using a simple oral or blood-based test while preserving their privacy.



Based on specimen type, the blood segment is likely to have a huge demand as these products are likely to have shorter minimum and maximum reading time. By geography, North America is going to have a lucrative growth during the forecast period due to an increase in the number of occurrence of this infection among individuals.



Some of the key players profiled in the HIV Self-test Kits Market include Abbott, Atomo Diagnostics, BD, bioLytical Laboratories, Bio-Rad Laboratories, BioSURE UK, Biosynex, Chembio Diagnostic Systems Inc, Danaher, OraSure Technologies, Roche and Sedia Biosciences Corporation.



What the report offers:

Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments

Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

Covers Market data for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024 and 2027

Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis, etc.

Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

Company Profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Key Topics Covered:



1 Executive Summary



2 Preface

2.1 Abstract

2.2 Stake Holders

2.3 Research Scope

2.4 Research Methodology

2.4.1 Data Mining

2.4.2 Data Analysis

2.4.3 Data Validation

2.4.4 Research Approach

2.5 Research Sources

2.5.1 Primary Research Sources

2.5.2 Secondary Research Sources

2.5.3 Assumptions



3 Market Trend Analysis

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Drivers

3.3 Restraints

3.4 Opportunities

3.5 Threats

3.6 Product Analysis

3.7 End User Analysis

3.8 Emerging Markets

3.9 Impact of Covid-19



4 Porters Five Force Analysis

4.1 Bargaining power of suppliers

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

4.3 Threat of substitutes

4.4 Threat of new entrants

4.5 Competitive rivalry



5 Global HIV Self-test Kits Market, By Test Generation

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Third Generation

5.3 Second Generation



6 Global HIV Self-test Kits Market, By Specimen Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Urine

6.3 Oral Fluid

6.4 Blood



7 Global HIV Self-test Kits Market, By Product

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Fluorescent Chromatography

7.3 Immunofiltration

7.4 Lateral Flow Immunoassay



8 Global HIV Self-test Kits Market, By End User

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Diagnostic Laboratories

8.3 Hospitals

8.4 Research Institutes

8.5 Specialty Clinics



9 Global HIV Self-test Kits Market, By Geography

9.1 Introduction

9.2 North America

9.2.1 US

9.2.2 Canada

9.2.3 Mexico

9.3 Europe

9.3.1 Germany

9.3.2 UK

9.3.3 Italy

9.3.4 France

9.3.5 Spain

9.3.6 Rest of Europe

9.4 Asia Pacific

9.4.1 Japan

9.4.2 China

9.4.3 India

9.4.4 Australia

9.4.5 New Zealand

9.4.6 South Korea

9.4.7 Rest of Asia Pacific

9.5 South America

9.5.1 Argentina

9.5.2 Brazil

9.5.3 Chile

9.5.4 Rest of South America

9.6 Middle East & Africa

9.6.1 Saudi Arabia

9.6.2 UAE

9.6.3 Qatar

9.6.4 South Africa

9.6.5 Rest of Middle East & Africa



10 Key Developments

10.1 Agreements, Partnerships, Collaborations and Joint Ventures

10.2 Acquisitions & Mergers

10.3 New Product Launch

10.4 Expansions

10.5 Other Key Strategies



11 Company Profiling

11.1 Abbott

11.2 Atomo Diagnostics

11.3 BD

11.4 bioLytical Laboratories

11.5 Bio-Rad Laboratories

11.6 BioSURE UK

11.7 Biosynex

11.8 Chembio Diagnostic Systems Inc

11.9 Danaher

11.10 OraSure Technologies

11.11 Roche

11.12 Sedia Biosciences Corporation



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pjk9np

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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Local News, Local Steals & Deals, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause

By Long Island Published: June 24 2020

Local businesses on Long Island have endured countless challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic and many still struggle to serve their customers, communities and employees

Now, as Nassau and Suffolk Counties start to open back up, they are depending on all Long Islanders to help get locally owned businesses back on their feet.

Cox Media Groups 102.3 WBAB and 106.1 BLI are teaming up to encourage Long Islanders to exclusively Shop Local on Long Island every Saturday.

This on-air and digital campaign will remind listeners about the benefits of shopping local and supporting small businesses, while featuring many of the homegrown business success stories and focusing on some that need our support RIGHT NOW in order to stay open, and bring back the Long Island economy stronger than we left it!

Local business owners can sign up at WBAB.com and WBLI.com to be included on the Shop Local Saturday listing and to be featured in radio announcements each Friday and Saturday.

Local business groups and Chambers of Commerce can assist by encouraging their members to participate and are welcome to contact Cox Media Group to find out how they can be more involved with the campaign and support their members.

All Long Islanders are encouraged to post messages and photos with the hashtag: #LIShopLocal and draw attention to their favorite local businesses that need a boost.
MARION  The U.S. Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration on Tuesday announced it is awarding a $400,000 CARES Act recovery assistance grant to the Greater Egypt Regional Planning & Development Commission in Marion.

The funds will go toward updating economic development plans and will support programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. This is the first EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance investment from the bureaus Chicago region.

Cary Minnis, executive director of Greater Egypt, called the grant a pretty substantial infusion of resources to help the region recover." The funding will be used to hire three new positions  an economic development director and two planners. The positions will help in pandemic recovery and building resilience into businesses, Minnis said.

I am proud of the perseverance and strength shown by our communities coast to coast throughout this pandemic, and these funds will help provide the Greater Egypt region with the necessary resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a Tuesday news release.

Greater Egypt will partner with other groups doing similar work, with the goal of increasing the workforce. Minnis explained that they have four main goals: to increase the workforce, to increase the areas population, to increase wages and to increase enrollment at Southern Illinois University.

SIU is an economic engine for the region and we would be remiss if they were not included, Minnis said.

Greater Egypt serves Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry and Williamson counties. During the pandemic, unemployment in that five-county area greatly increased. In March, 5,248 people in the area were unemployed. That number jumped to 29,911 in April.

Jefferson and Franklin counties have the highest unemployment rates in the state for April. Jefferson County was first with 29%, Minnis said.

The CARES Act provides EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus pandemic. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance is being administered under the authority of the bureaus flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance program.

Thanks to the federal representatives and Economic Development Administration for providing resources for us, Minnis said.

To learn more about Greater Egypts economic development plan, visit greateregypt.org.

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Despite barriers caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Torontos mega-development boom continues to reshape downtown Toronto as the city goes vertical. Construction sites that had been halted due to COVID-19 are back in operation, cranes that had been idled are now up and running, and workers are taking a full-steam ahead approach as the summer construction season begins.

Real estate developers continue to assess the impact of the pandemic on their projects, while also looking ahead for new, innovative ways to incorporate more green space and other living conditions conducive to social distancing practices -- for instance, working from and spending more time at home.

At the site of the in-development megatower The One, President of Mizrahi Developments, Sam Mizrahi, says the pandemic has given him and his team plenty of time to think, plan ahead and incorporate a new way of living into his construction projects, both at The One and at his Ottawa project, 1451 Wellington.

Both of these buildings will be constructed to enhance the residents world inside and to be safe and inspiring should an unfortunate pandemic happen again. Hopefully it wont, but if it does our buildings will be well prepared well in advance, Sam Mizrahi notes.

On the corner of Yonge and Bloor Streets, which is the site of The One, crews have already made plans for wider sidewalks at street level and will incorporate green spaces inside of the building in order to promote social distancing and healthy living.

In addition to these features, Mizrahi adds:   now we are implementing technological and valet services for The One, and for our building at 1451 Wellington in Ottawa, that would incorporate pandemic measures that would keep residents safe, healthy, inspired, productive and restored (for example, to start, social distancing measures in place for valet parking and security for the building, all health and gym areas have required social distancing of all equipment and proper hygiene standards, security will monitor health and wellness protocols to include thermal scanners for fever detection in the public areas of the building, that will be built into the security cameras).

Mizrahi and his team continue to drive forward their milestone project, The One, with Mizrahi Developments most recently announcing that it had entered into an agreement with Hyatt Hotels Corporation to build a luxury Andaz hotel in the tower.

Upon completion, The One, which will be Canadas first supertall (300+ m) skyscraper, will also feature high-end retail (including an anchor tenant that will occupy 17,000 square feet of corner retail space) restaurants and a condominium tower (with multi-level penthouses).

The 85-storey residential and retail tower designed by Foster + Partners will feature a signature hybrid exoskeleton, an architectural element which will place the bulk of The Ones structural support system on the tower's exterior. This, in turn, will allow for the construction of wide-open, naturally-lit floor plans in the buildings interior.

If navigating through coronavirus-related red tape is any indication of Mizrahis drive to keep the project on schedule, today at-grade construction on The One is near completion, as is work to the underground of the building.

The developer behind The One clarifies the current status of the project, Our construction site was closed during the COVID-19 requirements, as legislated under law, but now under the new guidelines we have resumed construction, adhering to the regulation safety guidelines for our workers and moving forward to make up for the downtime.

Mizrahi says the process of obtaining above grade permits are underway for the erection of the superstructure above ground --- welcome news for Sam Mizrahi and his team.

In terms of sales for The One, Sam Mizrahi says things are not slowing down, We are currently over 77 per cent pre-sold in our residential condos and we are 100 per cent fully leased on our commercial retail.

Despite the pandemic, Mizrahi says the luxury real estate market has remained strong. One reason --- supply and demand for luxury living has not been altered.

Toronto is still one of the key immigration centres in Canada with over 125,000+ immigrants calling Toronto home every year and there is still a shortage of condo units to meet this demand, especially in the high-end luxury condo market.

As far as altering blueprints to accommodate a post-coronavirus pandemic style of living, Mizrahi says developers may see heightened demand for more home office space.

Our team of architects, constructors, engineers and so on will be continuously reviewing what those requirements are going to look like, explains Mizrahi.

Although the future of the pandemic is unclear, one thing is certain; expanded immigration and a growing tech industry, among other factors, have fueled a condominium boom in Toronto. There are 400 proposed high-rise projects in the pipeline and the city has the most construction cranes in North America.
A researcher works in an industrial development laboratory at the French drugmaker's vaccine unit Sanofi Pasteur plant in Marcy-l'Etoile, near Lyon, on Jun 16, 2020 (Photo: GONZALO FUENTES / POOL / AFP)

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 hospitalised COVID-19 patients in clinical trials.

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 the 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 the 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.
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.
Our request is simple: Equal treatment under the law. We want to be able to get our message out and do our work just like the other advocacy organizations and social causes that the governor has permitted to do so.
As Britains airlines and travel firms wait with increasing desperation to hear when foreign holidays might begin, the transport secretary has given few details of how the controversial quarantine measures might be eased.

At present the Foreign Office warns against all but essential travel abroad. Anyone who ignores the advice and goes overseas faces two weeks of self-isolation when they return home, along with inbound tourists and business travellers.

The blanket quarantine rules have stifled bookings for inbound and outbound travel businesses, and have been blamed for job losses.

The policy is due to be reviewed on 29 June.

In a bid to limit the damage to the travel industry caused by the quarantine policy, the Department for Transport is negotiating air bridges or travel corridors  reciprocal no-quarantine deals signed with key destination countries.

On Wednesday 24 June, Grant Shapps told MPs on the Transport Select Committee that international travel corridors will be part of the solution.

The transport secretary refused to say how many countries will be covered. Spain, France, Portugal, Italy and Greece are expected to be part of the first wave of agreements, with foreign travel expected to start on 4 July  by which stage the Foreign Office warning will be eased.

Most European countries are opening up to international tourism on 1 July.

Mr Shapps did give some details of the tests that the government is applying to judge if a country is worthy of a travel corridor deal.

Besides the level and trajectory of coronavirus cases, he said a key measure was: Do they have something equivalent to our NHS track and trace, test and trace system?

Does the country have that kind of capability? Do they have the testing capability that we have?

And then what are their social distancing rules? Do they have measures in place as strict as ours?

I dont want to be evasive on it, but I dont want to give people false hope.

Simon Jupp, the Conservative MP for East Devon, said the quarantine policy is just killing the aviation industry.

He told Mr Shapps: I checked Exeter airport, which is based in my constituency. There are no scheduled flights today.

Thats a disaster, and clearly not sustainable. How much of a priority are these travel corridors in your workload?

The transport secretary said: Massively. I understand entirely the pain that aviation is going through.

He said that the chief medical officer had told him at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis that quarantine was not a solution at that point.
>>> Hanoi officially launches double-decker city tour service

>>> Open double-decker bus debuts in Da Nang

The move aims to satisfy the sight-seeing needs of domestic and foreign visitors, contributing to developing and increasing the attractiveness of tourism in the localities.

The PM assigned the Ministry of Transport to guide the provinces to carry out the pilot activities, carefully calculating the operational routes, the number of buses per route, the bus frequency, and bus terminal planning, in order to ensure traffic order and safety. The Government leader also urged the prompt review of the pilot activities, which will serve as part of the foundation for the building of the Law on Road Traffic (amended).

With the addition of Binh Thuan and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, there will be a total of six localities in Vietnam to have piloted open-top double-decker tour bus services, alongside Da Nang city (2017), Hanoi (2018), Quang Ninh province (2019) and Ho Chi Minh City (early 2020).

Open-top double-decker bus is a flexible and convenient type of tourism service combining transportation and visiting a series of service-tourism products of localities, thus contributing to promoting the image of local tourism to visitors.

With this new type of transportation, passengers on board can enjoy the street landscapes from above, thus gaining new perspectives and new experiences.
Mothers' Union knits together families in Norfolk

From refugee resettlement to making face masks for NHS staff, Mothers Union members in Norfolk are helping to provide vital community services.

During the Covid 19 Pandemic, Mothers' Union members made knitted hearts and colourful crosses for hospitals in Norfolk and Waveney, which were well received. Others set to work making facemasks and other items to be used by NHS staff.



Mothers' Union is a Christian organisation with more than 4 million members worldwide. The backbone of Mothers Union is its worldwide network of volunteers, with their shared vision of promoting flourishing relationships and stable family life, where children are protected and can thrive.



Volunteers give generously to help others, whether by running local projects, supporting international campaigns, or fundraising to sustain family life through projects at home and abroad. This is all underpinned with active prayer.



Across the Norwich Diocese there are hundreds of Mothers Union members, many of whom volunteer in their parishes and beyond.



Over recent years members have been involved in a successful campaign to resettle Syrian Refugees in Norwich. They have also raised funds to buy bedding for the homes the families move into. Teams of volunteers have helped prepare the homes by making up the beds in readiness for their arrival and left a card of welcome too.

Our organisation is part of the Modern Slavery Collaboration Network headed up by St Thomas Trust, working with other organisations to fight modern slavery here in Norfolk. Members have also received training and resources from the Clewer Initiative to further help in this aim.





Every Christmas, Mothers Union, in partnership with Prison Fellowship, run the Angel Tree project which organises Christmas presents to be bought and delivered to children who have a parent serving time. Member support involves raising funds and in December a team of volunteers attempt the mammoth task of wrapping a multitude of gifts.



Mothers Union continues to have a presence at a number of wedding shows throughout the year and has a strong to desire to encourage and promote wedding services in churches.



Alongside this is a vibrant prayer and worship calendar of events and social policy campaigning at a national and international level.

As well as this, members hold many fundraising events to support Mothers Union development work with families both overseas and at home. In this area, Mothers Union provides the Away From It All holiday scheme for disadvantaged UK families. We work closely with both professional referrers who recommend the families and Haven Holidays who provide the accommodation.Every Christmas, Mothers Union, in partnership with Prison Fellowship, run the Angel Tree project which organises Christmas presents to be bought and delivered to children who have a parent serving time. Member support involves raising funds and in December a team of volunteers attempt the mammoth task of wrapping a multitude of gifts.Mothers Union continues to have a presence at a number of wedding shows throughout the year and has a strong to desire to encourage and promote wedding services in churches.Alongside this is a vibrant prayer and worship calendar of events and social policy campaigning at a national and international level.
Mobile County recorded its largest single-day spike in coronavirus cases Tuesday, stunning public health officials who had started feeling optimistic about what had otherwise been a slow and gradual increase in the number of cases since last month.

The 103 new cases added on Tuesday was 35 more than the countys previous daily high in March, according to Dr. Rendi Murphree, an epidemiologist who is the director of the Mobile County Health Departments Bureau of Disease Surveillance and Environmental Services.

Were shocked to see more than 100 cases added in one day, she said.

The spike is attributed to people ages 18-29. She said that 35 new cases involving that age group were added on Tuesday, up from just 6 on Monday.

It adds strength to this pattern were seeing is that most of the cases added in the last few weeks are driving by the youngest age categories those who will have a rather mild illness, Murphree said. We believe that is what is driving community transmission around Mobile.

Mobiles 103 cases represented 16% of the 639 new cases reported in Alabama on Tuesday. Mobile is just behind Montgomery and Jefferson counties for most total cases since the pandemic began in March.

For Alabama, 11 of the top 12 days of the pandemic have come in June.

The escalation in Mobile comes as several restaurants announced temporary closures after employees came in contact with the virus. Moes Original BBQ in downtown Mobile is closed after an employee was exposed to COVID-19. The employee has not worked at or had any contact with employees at the other five Moes restaurants.

During this closure, we are taking precautionary measures to have the restaurant disinfected and our entire staff tested before reopening,an official with the restaurant wrote on the eaterys Facebook page. We will open as soon as it is safe for everyone.

Bluegill Restaurant on the Spanish Fort Causeway is also closed until further notice. The restaurant, in a Facebook post, indicated that COVID-19 has impacted our Bluegill family. The restaurant closed Sunday and will be professionally cleaned and sanitized, according to its Facebook page.

Murphree said restaurants throughout Alabama are supposed to adhere to the current Safer at Home State Health Order that expires on July 3, and requires restaurant employees to wear face coverings. She also said other close contact businesses  barber shops, hair salons, nail salons, massage therapists -- are required to have their employees wear face coverings as well.

I continue to get questions from businesses that clearly are not reading the governors health order, said Murphree. It states that anyone from a restaurant that interacts with the public shall wear a face covering. Its not a suggestion. Its an order.

The escalation in Mobile County also comes as neighboring Fairhope in Baldwin County is coping with a virus confirmation at City Hall. The city is urging anyone who attended Mondays council meeting or conducted business at City Hall since June 18, to be aware that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Unfortunately, an employee at City Hall has received a positive test for COVID-19, the news release from Fairhope states. Additionally, multiple individuals in attendance at the City Council meeting  have been or may have been exposed to COVID-19 through contact with third parties who have tested positive. None of the individuals that tested positive were at the meetings.

The Fairhope City Council is scheduled to host a special meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday to discuss canceling the citys annual Fourth of July fireworks show. A city spokeswoman said the cancellation decision is unrelated to the COVID-19 case at City Hall.

Fairhope Mayor Karin Wilson, in a Facebook statement, said shes imploring the council to consider the implications of having the July 4th celebration this year due to the COVID-19 exposure. Fireworks in Baldwin County are a mixed bag this year  cities like Gulf Shores and Saraland have canceled their shows, but Robertsdale and Daphne are planning to move ahead with their shows.

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Confirmed cases are increasing and although I have been restricted from sharing Fairhope data with the public (something Ive been challenging for months), canceling this event is a necessary decision. We hope to hear from council on the final decision soon, wrote Wilson.

In Mobile, the city council authorized $30,000 to spend on pyrotechnics for a Fourth of July show. There is no word on whether the show will be canceled.

Red, White and Poof: Alabamas July 4th firework shows fizzle due to coronavirus

The current Safer at Home Orders expires on July 3, and its not clear what orders, if any, the state could issue for the Fourth.

We will have to wait and see, said Murphree, referring to whether Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey or State Health Officer Scott Harris will be willing to loosen the existing order and the social distancing requirements for cities that agree to host the holiday events.

This incredible rise of cases in Alabama, I doubt (Ivey) will lift the order, Murphree said.
Except  this is not about visiting someone in the hospital. You want to get married and have children one day, and  you dont need to justify that. Your guy seems to have been deeply affected by his own parents divorce, and it is not surprising that he is marriage-avoidant, although his very dim view of family life is cause for concern. It is a red flag, and you cannot simply choose to ignore it  because you are not built that way.
A hospital in Houston, Texas, says its intensive care unit is near capacity as cases of the novel coronavirus continue to surge in The Lone Star State.

Texas Medical Center (TMC), the self-declared largest medical complex in the world, said on Tuesday that 97 percent of its ICU beds are occupied. The normal occupancy rate is 70 to 80 percent.

Of those patients, 27 percent have contracted COVID-19, the highly-infectious disease caused by the virus.

At the current rate of infections, all of the hospital's beds, including the backups added during spikes, will be full in the next two weeks, TMC data shows.

It comes as a new model from PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that coronavirus cases in Houston could surge to 4,500 per day by mid-July.

Texas Medical Center in Houston said 97% of its ICU beds are occupied, and its normal occupancy rate is 70% to 80% and that it will run out of beds in two weeks (above)

A new model from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia predicted cases in Harris County will surge to 4,578 by July 18 (pictured)

Coronavirus hospitalizations have doubled in Texas over the last month and tripled in the Greater Houston area. Pictured: A patient is wheeled into Houston Methodist Hospital, June 22

According to Houston Health Authority Dr David Persse, many hospitals have surge plans, or emergency plans, to increase the number of available ICU beds from normal capacity.

Normal ICU bed capacity at TMC is 1,462, reported Click2Houston. In an emergency, this capacity can double to 2,649 beds.

However, hospitals cannot sustain this long-term.

'When challenged with those surge plans, [which[ are very resource-intensive, and that's probably not something they would be able to do for a long period of time,' Persse told the station.

With the increase of beds also comes an increase in the number of doctors and nurses needed to tend to those patients.

Inevitably, hospitals will see a shortage in staff members and overstretched clinicians will contract the virus themselves.

Coronavirus hospitalizations in Texas have doubled in the last month to more than 4,000, as of Wednesday.

In the Greater Houston area, they've tripled over the last four weeks.

This has led to some hospitals trying to ease the burden placed on other facilities.

On Tuesday, Texas Children's Hospital announced it was admitting adult transfer patients, both with and without COVID-19, to help other hospitals out.

Meanwhile, Houston Methodist hospital system said it was reaching a near-breaking point.

'We appear to be nearing the tipping point,' Dr Marc Boom, head of the Houston Methodist hospital system, wrote in an email to employees on Friday, reported KHOU 11.

'Should the number of new cases grow too rapidly, it will eventually challenge our ability to treat both COVID-19 and non-COVID 19 patients.'

An infectious disease expert predicted the only way to stop the virus may be 'herd immunity' where enough people are infected so the virus can't spread (above)

Meanwhile, Houston, the fourth-most populated city in the US, could see daily cases surge to more than 4,500 per day.

The model, from the PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, uses cellphone data to track changes in mobility to predict the trajectory of new infections over the next four weeks.

By July 18, it could see cases spike from nearly 1,200 per day to 4,578 per day - a 286 percent increase.

'My read: It's saying if there is no major intervention the only thing that stops this virus is herd immunity,' Dr Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, tweeted.

Herd immunity occurs when 80 to 95 percent of a population is infected with a virus or is vaccinated to become immune so it doesn't spread throughout a community.

In the past, Dr Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the US, has said not enough of the population has become infected to achieve herd immunity.

Hotez argues that with the recent trend in cases, it's very likely that three-quarters of Houston residents could become infected and build-up antibodies to the virus.
Samsung ranks fifth and LG 18th among this year's Top 50 innovative global companies as assessed by the Boston Consulting Group.

First on the largely predictable list was Apple, followed by Google's Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft.

BCG polled 2,500 executives of more than 1,000 businesses around the world. It said it is not an easy task for a company to remain innovative, and 48 of the 160 global companies ranked by BCG since 2005 disappeared from the list after being includes just once.

Only eight companies have been included all 14 times since the rankings began, including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet and Samsung.

The American management consultants focused on 1,200 companies spanning 19 industries and concluded that the belief that smaller companies are more agile is not accurate. In fact, 42 percent of businesses with total sales of more than US$1 billion achieved results that surpassed the industry average.

Also, BCG is satisfied that aggressive investments in innovation yields huge profits. The industry "leaders" spent 1.4 times more than the "laggards" on innovation, which yielded a four-fold increase in profits compared to sales.
But other corporate boards, which hire the chief executive and set compensation for senior officers, seem to be showing more grace toward the boss. In many cases, the executives could do little to prevent the crushing fall off in business that occurred when the pandemic and lockdowns stopped people going into stores, eating out and taking trips. The drop in the oil price earlier this year was unusually large, walloping many energy companies, though some, like Chesapeake, were already burdened with large debts. Can't a bankruptcy judge prevent companies from handing out big bonuses? Certain outlays that a company makes just before bankruptcy  for instance, payments to suppliers  are at risk of being clawed back. But the bonus payments typically don't fall into that category, legal scholars say. The companies are creating certainty for their CEOs at a time of the greatest uncertainty for the employee base and the company in general. Brett Miller, head of data solutions for the responsible-investment arm of Institutional Shareholder Services Typically, a company in bankruptcy court has to get a judge's approval before doing just about anything of importance, especially spending millions of dollars. If a chief executive gets a new compensation package during bankruptcy, a judge would have to decide whether the compensation is justified after hearing from creditors, shareholders and other groups. But this can be a drawn out and expensive process  a big reason companies pay bonuses before bankruptcy.

Why are the CEOs getting cash? In normal times, a large portion of executive compensation is paid out in stock-based awards that top officers earn over time. But the stock of a bankrupt company is most likely going to be wiped out or be worth little once a company resolves its bankruptcy or, in extreme cases, sells off its assets and goes out of business. As a result, boards have quickly changed how top officers get paid, giving them cash bonuses instead of stock-based awards. But paying cash upfront can be a windfall for chief executives at a time when the livelihood of employees are under threat. "The companies are creating certainty for their CEOs at a time of the greatest uncertainty for the employee base and the company in general," said Brett Miller, head of data solutions for the responsible-investment arm of Institutional Shareholder Services, which advises investors on corporate governance issues. How big are these bonuses compared to what executives earned before?

Some companies point out that their cash bonuses are smaller than the incentive-linked compensation previously awarded to executives. Chesapeake said in a filing that its chief executive, Robert D. Lawler, was eligible for a cash bonus 34 per cent smaller than the $US13.5 million at which his 2019 variable compensation was valued. Soltau of JC Penney got a $US4.5 million cash bonus before the retailer declared bankruptcy, much lower than the $US8.2 million at which her 2019 incentive-based awards were initially valued. Loading But some stock awards had slumped in value, as share prices of troubled companies plummeted, even before the pandemic took hold. Put another way, the cash bonuses may have enabled the executives to recover pay that they had most likely already lost, possibly for good. Some companies don't even try to argue that executive pay was cut. At $US6.4 million, the cash bonus paid to Whiting Petroleum's chief executive, Bradley J. Holly, is larger than the $US5.5 million at which the company valued his total compensation for 2019. And of course the bonuses are far higher than what regular employees earn. Soltau's was many times the $US11,482 the retailer's median employee, a part-time worker, earned during JC Penney's 2019 fiscal year, according to a securities filing.

Are troubled companies linking bonuses to goals in any way? The cash bonuses have also led to the concealing, loosening and removal of the tools companies normally use to tie pay to performance, which many critics contend were already too weak. Companies still operate when seeking protection under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code. And, in theory, boards could require chief executives to hit sales targets or achieve other goals. And in some cases, a few strings remain. Soltau has to repay a fifth of her cash bonus if she fails to achieve certain performance goals, and Lawler has to repay half of his. But JC Penney and Chesapeake did not disclose the goals in their securities filings and declined to answer questions about them. Hertz and Whiting, the oil and gas company, did not tie cash bonuses to performance goals at all. Whiting and Holly didn't respond to requests from comment, but the company said in a securities filing that the new bonuses "eliminate any potential misalignment of interests that would likely arise if existing performance metrics were retained and/or new performance metrics were established at a volatile and uncertain time." Could lawmakers do anything about these bonuses?
CCPA At the specialized center within the LA base of transcosmos America, bilingual operators in Japanese and English can provide everything from reception to reporting at low cost in a short time as a shared service.

transcosmos inc. has been working with transcosmos America Inc., the US subsidiary, to begin providing an "opt-out contact contact center service" corresponding to the CCPA (California consumer privacy act), which is fully implemented in California starting July 2020.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which came into effect in January 2020 and is scheduled to come into full effect from July 2020, protects personal information of consumers living in California and protects data privacy rights. This law gives consumers (California residents) eight privacy rights and imposes eight obligations on the handling of "personal information" of such consumers on companies who process the information. It may also apply to companies not only in California but also to companies with users in California. It is also drawing attention in states other than California, where measures need to be taken because it can be presumed that similar laws will be enforced in those states in the future.

What is California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): https://transcosmos.com/jp/ccpa-update/

With CCPA enforcement, companies must comply with consumer opt-out requests and the law requires that there be two or more opt-out reception channels. Therefore, transcosmos has begun offering the "CCPA-compatible opt-out reception contact center service" that corresponds to consumers' requests for opt-out from companies through three channels: phone call, email, and web form. A specialized center will be opened within the LA base of transcosmos America, and bilingual operators in Japanese and English will provide everything from reception to reporting. A reception desk can be set up at low cost in a short time as it will be provided as a shared service.

transcosmos America's "CCPA-compatible opt-out reception contact center service" aims to provide not only to companies in the US, but also to Japanese companies with users in California.

transcosmos has 168 bases in 30 countries and regions around the world. It researches and analyzes market characteristics of each country to provide support services and digital marketing services that match the business customs, culture, laws and user needs. Going forward, we will continue providing services for the US market by our teams that understand the culture and business customs of the Japanese and North American markets, leveraging our global experience and support experience.

*transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. In Japan and other countries.

*Other company names and product or services names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.

transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 168 bases across 30 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services in 48 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients' transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment.

About transcosmos America Inc.

Since our foundation in 1988, transcosmos America Inc. has been committed to increase customer satisfaction by assisting clients, in particular Japanese businesses, operate in the U.S. market. Building on both proven know-how developed in Japan and knowledge, experience and cutting-edge technologies in the U.S., we continue to deliver diverse services including e-commerce strategy planning, e-commerce site development, digital marketing, selling on Amazon, e-commerce one-stop services that range from importing to logistics to fulfillment to customer services as well as customized solutions that meet the needs of each client. Visit us here: https://transcosmos.com/

The U.S. E-Commerce Market Blog (Japanese only): https://transcosmos.com/jp/blog/
Saroj Khan

Mumbai: Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan, who was admitted to hospital here, is under observation and doing fine, family sources said on Wednesday.

Khan was rushed to Guru Nanak Hospital in Bandra on June 20 after she complained of breathing problems.

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Saroj KhanA source said that the choreographer is doing better and will be discharged soon.

Following her hospitalisation, a mandatory Covid-19 test was done, which turned out to be negative.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha took to Twitter to assure the people that there is "nothing to worry" as the veteran choreographer is doing well.

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Anubhav Sinha tweet"Just spoke to people looking after Saroj Ji. She is in fact in hospital. But doing well. Should be out in a day or two. Nothing to worry. Was there for regular treatment. Felt weak, got admitted. Tested Covid too. Negative," he posted.

In a career spanning over four decades, Khan is credited with choreographing more than 2,000 songs.
Police have arrested a seventh suspect in connection with the theft of a 5 million solid gold toilet from Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.

The 44-year-old man from Kent was arrested on suspicion of burglary on Thursday, June 18 and later released under investigation.

So far six men and one woman have been detained in connection with the raid on the stately home on September 14, 2019.

A solid gold toilet was fitted in Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, as part of an exhibition by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. It was stolen in a burglary on September 14, 2019

The raiders pulled the toilet from the wall, leaving behind several pipes and the toilet paper

Blenheim Palace, pictured, is a World Heritage site and the birth place of Winston Churchill

Officers have not yet charged anyone in connection with the incident.

The raiders stole the solid gold toilet - which was fully operational - which has not yet been discovered.

The toilet was created by controversial Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.

Earlier in the investigation, officers arrested a 35 year old man from London on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

A 66-year-old man from Evesham was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

A Cheltenham man, aged 35, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle.

Three people from Oxford, two men aged 35 and 34 and a 36-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit a burglary other than a dwelling.

All of those arrested have been released under investigation.

The toilet had previously been on display in the Guggenheim museum in New York, where more than 100,000 people queued up to use the facility, which is fully operational

A 35-year-old man from London was been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

A 66-year-old man from Evesham has been arrested on suspicion of burglary.

A 35-year-old man from Cheltenham has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle.

A 35-year-old man, a 34-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, all from Oxford, were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit a burglary other than a dwelling.

All of these people have been released under investigation while the investigation continues.

The 18 carat toilet, named America, was installed at the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

When in New York, more than 100,000 people queued up to use the toilet at the Guggenheim museum before it arrived in the UK last year.

Curators were shocked to discover the toilet had been ripped from the wall, leaving pipework exposed in the World Heritage site which dates from the early 18th century.
BJP leader Sambit Patra on Wednesday slammed the Congress party for their constant questioning over the LAC situation, asking them why throughout the UPA tenure had they conceded Indian territory to both China and Pakistan. Quoting the parliamentary proceedings in the Rajya Sabha in 2012, he revealed that the UPA had agreed that about 38,000 sq km of Indian territory was in China's possession and about 78,000 sq km in J&K was in Pakistan's possession.

Read: UPA Min's 2012 Reply Admits 38,000 Sq Km China Land-grab; Then Govt's Action- 'vigilance'

"The way the Congress party is trying to politicise the Ladakh issue, we are here to expose how the Congress throughout its history has had a soft stance towards China and has conceded Indian territory because of it."

Sharing the statements of the MoS in the then UPA Government E Ahamed with regards to the unlawful possession of Indian territories Patra quoted, "Pakistan has been in illegal occupation of 78,000 sq km in J&K. China continues to be in illegal occupation of 38,000 sq km. Under so-called Sino-Pak boundary agreement of 1962, Pakistan has also ceded 5180 sq km to China."

Sambit Patra evoked JP Nadda's earlier tweets calling the Congress party a rejected and ejected dynasty saying that 'clown prince' Rahul Gandhi has been working against India's interests by going on with his 'Surender Modi [sic]' claim stemming out of his political agenda.

Read: China's Casualty Denial Escalates; After Refuting '20', Beijing Now Calls '40' Fake News

"The entire nation asks this mother-son duo, under whose leadership such treaties are signed, from Nehru to Manmohan Singh. Our soldiers were not given any aid or warning. They ran to defend our Indian territory in canvas shoes on the Himalayas. They did not back down, they fought valiantly for the country. They died in the cold and their feet lost sensation due to frostbite but they gave their all just because of the foolishness of this dynasty who went on distributing Indian territories to China and Pakistan," said Sambit Patra.

Meanwhile, amid Congress alleging that PM Modi has 'betrayed the Army' by 'surrendering' to China, Congress party's own dealings with the Communist Party of China have come under the radar, over photos of Rahul Gandhi signing a pact of some sort while visiting the country with Sonia Gandhi in 2008.

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: EXCLUSIVE: China Asked To Disengage From Re-occupied Areas, Details Accessed

Read: MHA Decides To Beef Up Presence At LAC; To Deploy 40 Companies Of ITBP Along China Border
97 confirmed cases in Wrexham outbreak with over 1,000 tests taken

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jun 24th, 2020

There has been an increase of 27 confirmed coronavirus cases in the outbreak connected to a Wrexham factory.

Today Welsh Government have said of the Wrexham incident:

So far there are 97 confirmed cases and over 1,000 tests have been taken. The factory remains operational. A site visit will take place later this week. All contacts of cases are being followed up and tested and all cases and contacts are self-isolating All cases directly linked to people working in these factories have been identified through our Test, Trace, Protect system. I am very grateful to our local and regional TTP teams across the country who are working to Keep Wales Safe.

The Health Minister has said, Whilst all necessary action is being taken to control and prevent the spread of the virus from person to person, I would like to emphasise that there is no evidence that coronavirus survives in food. Cases of coronavirus are generally continuing to fall across Wales  we have seen fewer than 100 cases each day in the first few weeks of June.

However we can expect to see some increases in cases as a result of these outbreaks. These outbreaks show that we all need to continue to take coronavirus very seriously  it has not gone away.

Earlier this week, I met unions representing the workforce at the two North Wales plants and agreed a set of wider actions, focusing on workforce wellbeing. A meeting will be held later this week with the sector, unions and employers to discuss worker benefits. 

Oscar Mayer, owners of Rowan Foods, have previously said: The Wrexham area has a high number of positive cases, and as such it is concerning but not surprising that we are continuing to see a number of our staff affected by this local trend.

As Public Health Wales has stated today, whilst we are seeing a number of cases on site, there is no clear evidence to suggest that there is a spread of the virus within the site. Specifically, it has said: This does not mean that the company has been identified as the source of the infection, or that finding additional cases means the infection is increasing. However, we are identifying previously asymptomatic individuals that work for Rowan Foods Ltd with the infection.

We are thankful that our colleagues are recovering from this virus and returning to normal health, over the course of this week we will welcome a number of staff back to work who have completed their period of isolation.

The safety of our colleagues remains our priority and our focus is on remaining COVID-19 secure as a site; we continue to follow government guidelines at all times for our own safety and the safety of our colleagues.

We are fully engaged with local authorities to actively test our employees for COVID-19 and over the weekend began whole site testing; we will also continue with rapid contact tracing for the workforce. We continue to actively encourage all staff to stay home if they have any potential COVID 19 symptoms, however mild these symptoms may be. 

You can view two further articles in connection to the outbreak from yesterday here and comments from the Health Minister here.
A male model facing international money-laundering charges should not be extradited to Northern Ireland due to Brexit, it was argued in the High Court yesterday.

Mark Adams (40), of Castleheath, Malahide, Co Dublin, is alleged to have been in possession of 180,000 in two brown envelopes when stopped at Belfast International Airport while attempting to get a flight to Spain on May 9, 2018.

Northern Irish authorities are seeking his extradition on charges that he concealed the money in his hand luggage and attempted to remove it from Northern Ireland on that date, knowing or suspecting the money to be the proceeds of crime.

Postponed

He is also facing prosecution for allegedly entering into an arrangement, namely the attempted removal of criminal property from Northern Ireland, and knowing or suspecting that this arrangement would facilitate the retention, use or control of such criminal property, by persons unknown, between May 13, 2013 and May 10, 2018.

An application for an extradition order to be granted and postponed was made yesterday in the High Court.

Counsel for Mr Adams, Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe, told the court that he faced trial on June 21 next year for four domestic charges in this jurisdiction for money-laundering.

Mr Comiskey O'Keeffe said that in the event of him being convicted and sentenced in this jurisdiction, a potential trial in Northern Ireland could be an infringement of his rights to a fair trial due to the withdrawal agreement of the UK from the European Union.

He admitted he was "putting the cart before the horse" if, assuming the application for surrender was successful and postponement successful, it will impact proceedings in the UK trial due to the withdrawal agreement.

Mr Comiskey O'Keeffe said that depending on what happ-ens next, if the court makes an order for extradition, Mr Adams could be put in a territory outside the EU.

Justice Paul Burns noted that people are extradited to the US and other places. He told counsel for Mr Adams that he was asking the court to speculate about the UK changing its legislation before the possibility of Mr Adams being extradited.

Justice Burns said the rights to a fair trial in the UK could be argued after a potential surrender is made.

Counsel for the State, Aoife Carroll, made an application to the court for a surrender and postponement order and asked the court to "let the chips fall where they may".

Ms Carroll said she was satisfied surrender to the UK would not give rise to an unfair trial.

Justice Burns said it was an "interesting and novel" case and there may be more of them.

Mr Adams was remanded in custody to appear in court again on July 16.
The landlord of one of the UKs smallest pubs has said loosened restrictions is not going to change very much at all for his establishment.

After pubs were given the green light to reopen on 4 July with the social-distancing rule reduced to one-metre, The Nutshell in Suffolk said they will have to stay shut unless they can get permission for people to drink outside.

Our unique selling point  the size of us  happens to be the Achilles heel in this particular situation, Geoff Page, the joint landlord of the pub in Bury St Edmunds, told The Independent.

We wouldnt be able to serve a pint on the bar very easily, he explained.

The member of staff would have to step back from the bar for the customer to get up from the seat on the edge of the pub to collect the pint.

The pub, which held the official title of the Britains smallest pub until several years ago, has a bar area of 15 by 7ft.

Mr Page estimated the pub would be able to fit five single people inside  all sitting on their on their own  under the social-distancing rules, which say people must stay at least one-metre apart as a preventative measure against coronavirus.

Its not really feasible for us to open until we can get permission for people to drink outside, he told The Independent.

The Nutshell pub in Bury St Edmunds say they will have to stay shut unless they can get permission to serve outside (Mary Page)

He said this would give them a fighting chance  as long as the weather stays nice.

Boris Johnson said on Tuesday pubs  as well as other venues, such as restaurants, cinemas and museums  can reopen from 4 July after being shut for months due to the pandemic.

However, pubs will have to implement changes to make sure they are safe for their staff and customers, with government guidance telling owners to take into account the maximum number of customers able to social distance and to not play loud music which could lead to people raising their voices.

People should stay two metres away from each other  or one metre is acceptable with extra mitigation, such as wearing face masks.

Speaking about pubs being able to reopen on these conditions, the landlord of the tiny Suffolk pub said: It is not going to change really very much at all for ourselves at all.

However, he said the unusual establishment has been helped by the furlough scheme for their three permanent staff members and the small business grant, and himself and the other co-landlord had other sources of income.

We are just dealing with it, same as other people, Mr Page said. We are not in any way near a bad a situation as some others.
Amidst one of the longest cold spells to hit the Northeast in years, and a natural gas shortage that could have triggered a public safety emergency for millions, the Gaselys tanker ship entered Boston Harbor with a lifeline  from Russia.

Carrying liquefied natural gas from a remote Arctic facility celebrated by Vladimir Putin, the Gaselys tanker delivered emergency natural gas to heat New England homes, despite higher transmission costs and concerns about national security.

STOP OF THE MADNESS OF CONGRESSIONAL SPENDING

New Englands bailout from Russia two winters ago was not because of a lack of U.S. natural gas. Instead, it was the lack of a sufficient gas delivery system caused by the culmination of years of extreme political anti-natural gas policies that hindered federally-approved interstate natural gas infrastructure carrying domestic energy across state lines.

Now, there is a chance to reverse political mistakes of the past. The Supreme Court this week will decide whether to accept a case over the fate of a proposed underground natural gas pipeline running from Pennsylvania to New Jersey.

If the Supreme Court declines to take up the case and a lower court ruling blocking the pipeline is left to stand, it would turn nearly 80 plus years of precedent on its head  rewriting the rules on how interstate pipelines are approved and built.

CONGRESS, CORONAVIRUS TRILLIONS NEED TO BE REINED IN, PLEASE STOP SPENDING OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

The results would be devastating and far-reaching: threatening to cripple future natural gas production in the U.S., take away union jobs, drive up prices for consumers, and cede U.S. energy leadership to competitors like Russia. It could also affect state renewable energy policy goals which rely on natural gas to complement the deployment of wind and solar power generation.

Relying on Russia for energy was just one ugly piece of the story. Energy prices spiked in New England to world highs, followed by threats of rolling blackouts by the regional power grid operator if more natural gas is not available in the years ahead.

Story continues

Further, politicized energy policies led to insufficient natural gas transportation capacity and created gas utility moratoriums across the Northeast, preventing businesses from opening, stopping housing development projects, and costing jobs. In comments submitted to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, natural gas utilities and independent experts warned New Jersey that it too will be running out of natural gas without new energy infrastructure. They cite the very interstate pipeline before the Supreme Court as needed to avert a public emergency.

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The U.S. Constitution provides clear guidance to avoid these scenarios by requiring the federal government to regulate interstate commerce between states, including energy transportation. Congress, under the Natural Gas Act, also established a clear framework over 80 years ago to guide energy infrastructure development, which has served our nation well and promoted economic prosperity for all.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which administers the Natural Gas Act to ensure safe, reliable and affordable energy for millions of Americans, carefully evaluates the need for each proposed interstate project against its environmental impact, with input from a wide variety of stakeholders.

Natural gas is produced and delivered by an extensive interstate pipeline network to power the economies of many states and heat the homes of those hundreds of miles away. But those benefits are now in jeopardy if the PennEast Pipeline Co. v. New Jersey petition is denied by the Supreme Court. Last fall, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court ruling, allowing New Jersey policymakers to veto a federally approved project to further their narrow political agenda.

As a result, any state politician with an agenda could a block federally-approved project by identifying a parcel of land with a state ownership interest, even if the state only has a conservation easement even when that project was found to be in the nations benefit and the overall public good. This is explicitly what the Natural Gas Act aimed to avoid.

The fundamentals of our Constitution regulating interstate commerce, congressional intent under the Natural Gas Act, and the mutually beneficial economics of natural gas transmission between states leads us to a clear conclusion: the Court must hear this case and reverse a dangerous precedent.

Make no mistake: the Third Circuit ruling threatens jobs, energy security and our ability to build energy infrastructure. It also could lead to a greater reliance on foreign sources of energy.

As we are recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic we need plentiful, reliable and inexpensive energy to get our economy running again. Now is not the time to roll the dice with our energy policy, our economy, and our national security.

Alex Oehler is the interim president and chief executive officer of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. Learn more at www.ingaa.org.

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Photo: David Buchan/Shutterstock

At Home With Amy Sedaris, now in its third season on TruTV, is the rare show that feels like a pure, uncut look into an artists mind. This particular artists mind just happens to be littered with meddling neighbors, flaccid hot dogs impaled on rakes, and a very cute baby orangutan named Huckleberry. Sedariss singular sketch comedy series is perhaps the perfect thing to watch in quarantine, because its a homemaking show that acknowledges how doing chores and adult crafting projects and baking in your home all day can feel ludicrous. Its Pee-Wees Playhouse for broken adults. As she puts it in one episode: I believe that visual chaos promotes intellectual growth. We spoke to Amy Sedaris, who like all of us is at home, about At Home With Amy Sedaris.

Hows your rabbit, Tina, doing?

I put a little weight on her, so Im taking her to this couple who watch her for me when I go out of town. Im going to consider it like a fat camp, because they wont give her the treats that I give her. I just need to get her waistline down a little bit, and I cant do it. Im constantly giving her treats. She wakes me up for it. She circles me at night for it like a little addict.

At Home With Amy Sedaris is a sketch show that goes off in these wacky directions, but its all based in one house: the kitchen, the craft room, sometimes the yard. What is it about the home that inspires so much of your comedy?

Im just too old now for location shooting. And I grew up with an appreciation for set design. I like props. Since it was going to be a crafting, cooking show, I just felt like everything needed to be a craft or made. Like, Oh, look, somebody hand-painted that! Somebody built that! Somebody made those flowers! It was important for me to have everything on the show look like it was touched by a creative person.

At Home is definitely comfort viewing right now. Even though you make jokes like Crafting, or scissoring, is the art of getting fucked in the ass with a glue stick. That would make for a really cute cross-stitch.

We shouldve done that.

What percentage of stuff on-set is thrifted or vintage, versus made for the show?

Its a good mix. I bring a U-Haul of my own stuff to set, so it takes me a while to set up. When it comes to shooting a scene, Im like, Oh, Ive got that fake cigar, lets go get it, or, I want to use this fake glass of wine that I got in Tokyo, or, I want to wear these bows that Ive had since the 1960s. So a lot of stuff is my own. Jason Singleton, who did the set, came to my apartment and took pictures, and we re-created the artwork that I have at home. My friend Adam Selman made a special bedspread, he made a nice rabbit hutch for me, he made the wallpaper in the bedroom. Todd Oldham, another friend of mine, came on and contributed to the set. You get people involved, just re-creating things I love.

Has quarantine been a good time for workshopping craft and recipe ideas?

Before quarantine, I got rid of a lot of craft supplies, because once you do a craft book, you get sick of having popsicle sticks in your house. But I do a few little things, like making potholders or my own little covers for Bic lighters. When I go out and theres an audience, I like to sell them, just to make allowance money. But mostly just cooking. Cooking is where Ive gotten creative.

Have you made a quarantine sourdough yet?

I dont have the room! I dont have a closet to put a bowl of bread in and let it rise. My place is jam-packed with stuff, and its not that big. What am I gonna do, sit at home and eat a loaf of bread by myself?

Theres often an underlying danger to the cheery crafts you make, like a garnish with some off-looking shrimp, or wind chimes made out of rusty nails. Do you think theres a menacing undercurrent to that sort of Martha Stewart homemaker perfectionism?

We say our show is like Martha Stewart if she was being attacked by wild turkeys. It was a real craft back in the day, making a wind chime out of nails. I dont know why I chose rusty nails. I made rusty-nail wind chimes for my Simple Times book, but you cant find nails getting rusty anymore; theyre galvanized. I had to go on eBay, and there were a lot of weird people selling rusty nails. Its just funny to me, like a wind chime made out of tuna fish can lids. I like stupid ideas and dumb ideas. Nothing makes me laugh harder than a bad idea.

My favorite craft from Simple Times is the tampon ghosts that are just tampons with googly eyes on them.

In my house, Im always stepping on googly eyes. I keep finding them every time I clean up, or theyre stuck on the bottom of my shoe.

You play many characters on At Home. I want to ask about two of my favorites: Patty Hogg and Nutmeg. Who was your inspiration for Patty?

Patty Hogg is a combination of a lot of southern women that I grew up with. I didnt even think of doing Patty for the show. I just started doing the voice, and the person I was with was like, Lets do more of that. The hard part about doing her is, Pattys face takes a lot of muscles. In this season, I do a Jerri Blank-type character, and in the same scene Im doing Patty. The muscles I use for Jerri are completely opposite from the muscles I use for Patty, so my face is just on fire that whole episode.

I dont know if a lot of people relate to Patty. Its always fun to have that kind of person around. You just trust them. Theyre gonna take care of everything. I can look at Patty and say, Well, Patty looks really good for her age. Whereas I look at me on the show, like, Oh God, look how old I look.

Nutmeg, meanwhile, has a Scotch tape facelift. Whats going on there?

When youre younger and you stick tape on your nose and pull your nose up, I just never stopped doing it. Ive always wanted to do Nutmeg in something, but all the meetings Ive had about doing Nutmeg on TV, people were concerned that you can see the tape. Im like, Youre supposed to see the tape! In my head, Nutmegs 36. And shes not Pattys daughter; shes Pattys granddaughter. So we can find out who Nutmegs mother is. Maybe if we do a fourth season, we can discover that. People think, Oh, shes crazy. Shes not.

I think Nutmeg knows what shes doing.

Nutmeg knows. Nutmegs the sanest one on the show, actually.

The show has a great guest list too: David Pasquesi as the Knife Man, Cole Escola as Chassie Tucker, Moujan Zolfaghari as Puja, John Early, Justin Theroux. Whats the collaboration process with these guests like?

I worked with Moujan on a show, and I always thought shed be so much fun to bring into our world. Shes really sweet and really funny. And then I worked with Cole on Difficult People and I was really blown away by him. I saw Orange Juice Commercial on YouTube, and I thought, Oh my God, theres my neighbor. Coles also a writer on the show, so its always, Whats Chassies game here? I love working with him so much. And no ones funnier than John Early. He reminds me a lot of Geoffrey Jellineck from Strangers. When he comes on, he brings energy and we step up for it. Pasquesi was Stew the Meat Man on Strangers, so we made him the Knife Man. Matt Malloy, I got to work with on a show called Alpha House, and I thought, Hes perfect for Patty Hoggs husband. You work with people, you write their names down in a book, and then you think, That person would be perfect.

Who found Baby Huckleberry from this seasons Babies episode?

Someone made that for me from a kit years ago. I used to mistreat it as a joke, like, Punish Huckleberry! and then I put it under a stack of clothes and neglected it. But Huckleberry feels really good when you hold him. Hes a really good-sized baby. Ill play with him once in a while. In the writers room, I was like, Gotta get Huckleberry on the show. Because I always want to do a baby episode. I brought it back to North Carolina, and I was at the airport and had to go through one of the scanning machines. I remember the technicians laughing at it, making fun of it, and I remember thinking, Oh my God, thats my baby! How rude!

If you had to pick one fictional ham brand: Hammly Waggly or Captain Brineys?

Hammly Waggly!

The chemistry between you and Michael Cera as the ham boy in the Valentines Day episode was really palpable.

That was based on Summer of 42. That little kitchen was inspired by that movie. And then, of course, the living-room scene was inspired by The Graduate.

Last weeks episode, about the danger of cruise ships, felt weirdly prescient. Its certainly a newsworthy thing during coronavirus.

Its funny when we write something and then it wont come out for a year, but then something happens in the news. Like, Dont bring back any diseases!
ATLANTA, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- UCB today announced six posters selected for presentation at the 72nd American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting, available online via the 2020 AAN Science Highlights virtual platform, which replaced the in-person event previously cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The abstracts were also published in the online supplement to Neurology.

The UCB scientific program includes real-world evidence and clinical data for BRIVIACT (brivaracetam) CV, FDA-approved for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older1 and NAYZILAM (midazolam) nasal spray CIV, FDA-approved for the treatment of intermittent, stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure activity (i.e., seizure clusters, acute repetitive seizures) that are distinct from a patient's usual seizure pattern in patients with epilepsy 12 years of age and older. Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.2 See below for additional information including important safety information.

"We know that the healthcare system and people living with epilepsy are experiencing an enormous amount of pressure due to COVID-19, and we are grateful that AAN is providing a virtual platform to present new data from our epilepsy portfolio," said Mike Davis, head of U.S. Neurology at UCB. "At UCB, we're committed to providing both chronic and acute seizure treatments for people living with epilepsy during this critical time."

Following is a guide to the UCB-sponsored data presentations:

NAYZILAM Posters

First onset of any treatment-emergent adverse event over the course of repeated midazolam nasal spray (mdz-ns) use for the treatment of seizure clusters: a post hoc*3 Michael Gelfand, MD, PhD; Svetlana Dimova, MD, PhD; Eun Jung Choi, MD, PhD; Aliceson King, MD, MPH; Jody Cleveland, MS

BRIVIACT Posters:

Baseline Seizure Related Disability Assessment Scale (SERDAS) scores in an observational study of brivaracetam,4 Jacqueline A. French, MD; Roger J. Porter, MD; Julie Varner, PhD; Anne-Liv Schultz, MD; Ying Zhang, MS; Melinda Martin, PhD

Long-term retention on adjunctive brivaracetam and reasons for discontinuation by number of lifetime AEDs in adults with focal seizures: a post-hoc analysis,5 Pavel Klein, MD; Richard McLachlan, MD, FRCPC; Cedric Laloyaux, PhD; Xavier Nondonfaz, MD; Sami Elmoufti, MS; Svetlana Dimova, MD, PhD; Christian Brandt, MD

Long-term tolerability and retention of adjunctive brivaracetam in children with primary generalized or mixed seizure types: interim subgroup analysis of pooled data from two open label trials, 6 Anup D. Patel, MD; Teresa Gasalla, MD; Xavier Nondonfaz, MD; Sami Elmoufti, MS; Jan-Peer Elshoff, PharmaD, PhD

Real-world study of brivaracetam in the United States: an interim analysis,7 Melinda Martin, PhD; Roger J. Porter, MD; Julie Varner, PhD; Anne-Liv Schultz, MD; Ying Zhang, MS; Jacqueline A. French, MD

Epilepsy Care Research Poster:

Unit cost of epilepsy-related health care encounters in the United States,8 Simon Borghs, MS; Silky Beaty, PharmaD, MSPH; Witesh Parekh, BPharm, MS, MRPharmS; Linda Kalilani, MBBS, MPhil, PhD; Nada Boudiaf, MS; Andrea Loewendorf, MB

About NAYZILAM (midazolam) nasal spray CIV2

NAYZILAM was approved by the U.S. FDA in May 2019 for the acute treatment of seizure clusters in epilepsy patients 12 years and older. More information is available at www.NAYZILAM.com.

NAYZILAM INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

NAYZILAM (midazolam) nasal spray CIV is a benzodiazepine indicated for the acute treatment of intermittent, stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure activity (i.e., seizure clusters, acute repetitive seizures) that are distinct from a patient's usual seizure pattern in patients with epilepsy 12 years of age and older.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

NAYZILAM is contraindicated in patients with acute narrow-angle glaucoma.

RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH OPIOIDS

Concomitant use of benzodiazepines, including NAYZILAM, and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.

Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate.

Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.

Follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation.

RISKS OF CARDIORESPIRATORY ADVERSE REACTIONS

Serious cardiorespiratory adverse reactions have occurred after administration of midazolam. Warn patients and caregivers about the risks of respiratory depression, cardiac and respiratory arrest. Respiratory depression was observed with the administration of NAYZILAM during clinical trials. Cardiac or respiratory arrest caused by NAYZILAM was not reported during clinical trials.

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSION FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH OTHER CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS, OR MODERATE OR STRONG CYP3A4 INHIBITORS

Drug products containing midazolam, including NAYZILAM, have a central nervous system (CNS) depressant effect.

Risks from Concomitant Use with Other CNS Depressants

NAYZILAM may cause an increased CNS-depressant effect when used with alcohol or other CNS depressants (e.g., opioids). Warn patients and caregivers that the use of NAYZILAM in combination with alcohol or other CNS depressant drugs may increase the risk of hypoventilation, airway obstruction, desaturation, or apnea and may contribute to profound and/or prolonged drug effect.

Risks from Concomitant Use with Moderate or Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors

Concomitant use of NAYZILAM with moderate or strong CYP3A4 enzyme inhibitors may result in prolonged sedation because of a decrease in plasma clearance of midazolam. Caution patients against engaging in hazardous occupations requiring mental alertness, such as operating machinery, driving a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle until they have completely returned to their level of baseline functioning.

SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AND IDEATION

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including NAYZILAM, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Monitor patients treated with NAYZILAM for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior. Advise patients and caregivers to be alert for these behavioral changes and to immediately report them to the healthcare provider.

IMPAIRED COGNITIVE FUNCTION

Midazolam, including NAYZILAM, is associated with a high incidence of partial or complete impairment of recall for several hours following an administered dose. Counsel patients on when they can engage in activities requiring complete mental alertness, operate hazardous machinery, or drive a motor vehicle after taking NAYZILAM.

GLAUCOMA

Benzodiazepines, including NAYZILAM, can increase intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. NAYZILAM may be used in patients with open-angle glaucoma only if they are receiving appropriate therapy. NAYZILAM is contraindicated in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the most common adverse reactions (5% in any NAYZILAM treatment group) were somnolence, headache, nasal discomfort, throat irritation, and rhinorrhea.

NAYZILAM is a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Please refer to the full Prescribing Information.

For additional medical information about NAYZILAM, patient assistance, or any other information please visit our website or call ucbCARES at 1-844-599-2273.

About BRIVIACT (brivaracetam) CV1

BRIVIACT was approved in the U.S. in 2016 as an add-on therapy for adult patients. BRIVIACT was approved as monotherapy for adults in September 2017, and as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy in patients four years of age and older with partial-onset seizures in 2018. BRIVIACT is available in three formulations: oral tablets, oral solution, and intravenous (IV) injection. More information is available at www.BRIVIACTHCP.com

BRIVIACT INDICATION AND SELECT IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

BRIVIACT (brivaracetam) CV is indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older. As the safety of BRIVIACT injection in pediatric patients has not been established, BRIVIACT injection is indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures only in adult patients (16 years of age and older).

BRIVIACT is associated with important warnings and precautions including suicidal behavior and ideation, somnolence, fatigue, dizziness, disturbance in gait and coordination, psychiatric adverse reactions including nonpsychotic and psychotic symptoms, and hypersensitivity reactions (bronchospasm and angioedema). BRIVIACT is contraindicated in patients with a prior hypersensitivity reaction to brivaracetam or any of the inactive ingredients.

In adult adjunctive therapy placebo-controlled clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions (at least 5% for BRIVIACT and at least 2% more frequently than placebo) were somnolence and sedation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea and vomiting symptoms. Adverse reactions reported in clinical studies of pediatric patients 4 years to less than 16 years of age were generally similar to those in adult patients.

BRIVIACT is a Schedule V controlled substance.

Please refer to full Prescribing Information.

About UCB in Epilepsy

UCB has a rich heritage in epilepsy with over 20 years of experience in the research and development of anti-epileptic drugs. As a company with a long-term commitment to epilepsy research, our goal is to address unmet medical needs. Our scientists are proud to contribute to advances in the understanding of epilepsy and its treatment. We partner and create super-networks with world-leading scientists and clinicians in academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and other organizations who share our goals. At UCB, we are inspired by patients, and driven by science in our commitment to support patients with epilepsy.

UCB Response to COVID-19

UCB is committed to helping those impacted by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. This includes helping patients maintain access to and answering any questions about UCB medicines. We are also working closely with regulatory authorities to ensure the safety of all clinical trial participants and investigators, maintain compliance with good clinical practice, and minimize risks to trial integrity. The evolving COVID-19 pandemic has placed tremendous strain on medical healthcare systems worldwide as they focus on the ongoing extraordinary medical emergency. Taking this into consideration, UCB has taken measures to protect patients, healthcare providers, our employees, and the communities we serve around the world.

About UCB

UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases in immunology and neurology. With 7,500 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of 4.6 billion in 2018. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCBUSA

For further information, UCB:

U.S. Neurology Communications

Erica Puntel

U.S. Communications, UCB

T 404.938.5359, [email protected]

Global Neurology Communications

Jim Baxter

Neurology Communications, UCB

T +32-2-559 9368, [email protected]

Investor Relations

Antje Witte,

Investor Relations, UCB

T +32.2.559.94.14, [email protected]

Isabelle Ghellynck,

Investor Relations,

UCB

T+32.2.559.9588, [email protected]

BRIVIACT, NAYZILAM, and ucbCARES are registered trademarks of the UCB Group of Companies.

2020 UCB, Inc., Smyrna, GA 30080. All rights reserved.

Forward looking statements UCB

This press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "seeks", "estimates", "may", "will", "continue" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial information, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices and other such estimates and results. By their nature, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions which might cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of UCB, or industry results, to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or to obtain them on acceptable terms or within expected timing, costs associated with research and development, changes in the prospects for products in the pipeline or under development by UCB, effects of future judicial decisions or governmental investigations, safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, product liability claims, challenges to patent protection for products or product candidates, competition from other products including biosimilars, changes in laws or regulations, exchange rate fluctuations, changes or uncertainties in tax laws or the administration of such laws, and hiring and retention of its employees. There is no guarantee that new product candidates will be discovered or identified in the pipeline, or that new indications for existing products will be developed and approved. Movement from concept to commercial product is uncertain; preclinical results do not guarantee safety and efficacy of product candidates in humans. So far, the complexity of the human body cannot be reproduced in computer models, cell culture systems or animal models. The length of the timing to complete clinical trials and to get regulatory approval for product marketing has varied in the past and UCB expects similar unpredictability going forward. Products or potential products which are the subject of partnerships, joint ventures or licensing collaborations may be subject to disputes between the partners or may prove to be not as safe, effective or commercially successful as UCB may have believed at the start of such partnership. UCB' efforts to acquire other products or companies and to integrate the operations of such acquired companies may not be as successful as UCB may have believed at the moment of acquisition. Also, UCB or others could discover safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products and/or devices after they are marketed. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of UCB's products that implicate an entire class of products may have a material adverse effect on sales of the entire class of affected products. Moreover, sales may be impacted by international and domestic trends toward managed care and health care cost containment, including pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, and the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers as well as legislation affecting biopharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement activities and outcomes. Finally, a breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UCB's data and systems.

Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any of such forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labelling in any market, or at any particular time, nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be or will continue to be commercially successful in the future.

UCB is providing this information, including forward-looking statements, only as of the date of this press release and expressly disclaims any duty to update any information contained in this press release, either to confirm the actual results or to report or reflect any change in its forward-looking statements with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless such statement is required pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.

Additionally, information contained in this document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

____________________________

References:

BRIVIACT (brivaracetam) CV. U.S. Prescribing Information NAYZILAM (midazolam) nasal spray CIV. U.S. Prescribing Information AAN Annual Meeting Posters. Available at:

https://cslide-us.ctimeetingtech.com/aan2020/attendee/eposter/poster/4496 AAN Annual Meeting Posters. Available at:

https://cslide-us.ctimeetingtech.com/aan2020/attendee/eposter/poster/3789 AAN Annual Meeting Posters. Available at:

https://cslide-us.ctimeetingtech.com/aan2020/attendee/eposter/poster/3787 AAN Annual Meeting Posters. Available at:

https://cslide-us.ctimeetingtech.com/aan2020/attendee/eposter/poster/3786 AAN Annual Meeting Posters. Available at:

https://cslide-us.ctimeetingtech.com/aan2020/attendee/eposter/poster/3788 AAN Annual Meeting Posters. Available at:

https://cslide-us.ctimeetingtech.com/aan2020/attendee/eposter/poster/3061

SOURCE UCB, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ucb.com


Arab foreign ministers declared Egypt and Sudans rights to the use of the Nile River a matter of regional security, criticizing Ethiopias plan to fill the reservoir of its giant dam with or without an agreement.

The statement, issued Tuesday at an extraordinary Arab League meeting, urged the three African countries to return to negotiations once Ethiopia agrees to delay the filling of the Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile, which its set to begin in July. The League also welcomed a call by the United Nations for a resumption of talks.

The latest US-backed negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and mutual neighbor Sudan ended last week with Ethiopia refusing to accept a permanent, minimum volume of water that the dam should release downstream in the event of severe drought. Egypt, which relies on the Nile for almost all its fresh water, has described any filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam without such a deal as illegal.

Ethiopia says that a so-called declaration of principles agreement signed by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan in 2015 allows it to proceed with damming the GERD.

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New Delhi: BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday launched a veiled attack on the Congress' first family and its scion, stating that a "rejected and ejected dynasty" is not equal to the entire Opposition and relaunch of "the scion" for "nth time" can wait as it is a time for unity and solidarity.

"One 'royal' dynasty and their 'loyal' courtiers have grand delusions of the Opposition being about one dynasty. A dynast throws tantrums and his courtiers peddle that fake narrative. Latest one relates to the Opposition asking questions to the Government," Nadda tweeted while hitting out at Congress.

"A rejected and rejected dynasty is not equal to the entire opposition. One dynasty's interests are not India's interests. Today, the nation is united and supportive of our armed forces. This is the time for unity and solidarity. Relaunch of 'the scion' for nth time can wait," he added.

Speaking about the recent all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over India and China border tension, he said it is the Opposition's right to ask questions and while several opposition leaders fully supported the Centre in determining the way ahead, only "one family" was exceptional.

"It is the Opposition's right to ask questions. The All-party Meeting saw healthy deliberations, with several Opposition leaders giving their valuable inputs. They also fully supported the Centre in determining the way ahead. One family was an exception. Any guesses who?" he asked.

The BJP chief further shared an English daily's article titled 'When MK Naryanan stalled Siachen deal'. MK Narayanan was the National Security Advisor during the UPA tenure. Continuing his tirade against the Congress, Nadda said that Siachen glacier was almost gone due to the "misadventures of one dynasty".

"Due to the misadventures of one dynasty. We lost thousands of square kilometres of our land. The Siachen glacier was almost gone. And much more. No wonder India has rejected them," he said.

The recent Galwan valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh claimed 20 lives of Indian Army personnel.
A 2nd Judicial District Court judge denied a motion to put a man tied to a grisly child killing back in jail.

Instead, Judge Charles Brown eased pretrial release conditions on Fabian Gonzales to allow him to work outside Bernalillo County and to be unsupervised around children. Gonzales will now be allowed to live with his girlfriend and her children.

Gonzales, 35, is charged with reckless abuse of a child resulting in death, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence in the death of 10-year-old Victoria Martens in August 2016.

Gonzales was previously required to live at a residence determined by the courts Pretrial Services Division and was not supposed to have contact with minors unless he was supervised by another adult, among other restrictions. He was released from jail in November.

Earlier this month, staff with Healthcare for the Homeless told the courts Judicial Supervision and Diversion Program that Gonzales was at the facility with his girlfriend and her children and was around the children unsupervised for several minutes. Prosecutors then asked Brown to revoke Gonzales conditions of release.

Brown denied the request at a hearing Tuesday morning and removed the condition that Gonzales must be supervised around children. Brown said he wasnt sure why he ordered Gonzales to have no unsupervised contact with children in the first place. Gonzales was initially charged with killing Martens, but now investigators say the killing was committed by an unknown man.

Other than the crime for which hes charged, there is no evidence that hes ever been a danger to any child anywhere at anytime, Brown said during the hearing.

Bernalillo County District Attorney spokesman Adolfo Mendez said the office cant appeal Browns ruling, but it is looking at other avenues of review.

We are disappointed that the district courts response to Mr. Gonzaless violation of conditions of release is increased leniency, Mendez said in an email.

Stephen Aarons, Gonzales attorney, said in an email that the ruling today reflects how well Mr. Gonzales has done with pretrial supervision: full time employment, a new lease, no alcohol, no drugs, no violations of any kind.

Prosecutor Greer Rose said that while Gonzales girlfriend was filing for a housing voucher at Healthcare for the Homeless, Gonzales took her son to a nearby gas station to use the bathroom. Brown found that Gonzales did not violate his conditions by doing so.

The ruling today reflects how well Mr. Gonzales has done with pretrial supervision: full time employment, a new lease, no alcohol, no drugs, no violations of any kind, Aarons said in an email. The district attorney has spent 1,400 days and millions of taxpayer dollars prosecuting the wrong person. When will it end?

Brown also granted a defense motion to allow Gonzales to work outside Bernalillo County.

Brown didnt grant a defense request to remove Gonzales GPS monitor and left it to the discretion of pretrial services.
Physicists from the University of Glasgow and the University of Arizona have experimentally verified a half-century-old theory that began as speculation about how an advanced alien civilization could use a rotating black hole to generate energy.

In 1969, British mathematical physicist Roger Penrose proposed a method to extract the energy of a rotating black hole, now known as Penrose superradiance.

He suggested that a very advanced, perhaps alien, civilization might one day be able to extract energy from a rotating black hole by lowering and then releasing a mass from a structure that is co-rotating with the black hole.

In 1971, Belarusian theoretical physicist Yakov Zeldovich translated this idea of rotational superradiance from a rotating black hole to that of a rotating absorber such as a metallic cylinder.

He proposed that twisted light waves, hitting the surface of a rotating cylinder turning at just the right speed, would end up being reflected with additional energy extracted from the cylinders rotation thanks to a quirk of the rotational Doppler effect.

But Zeldovichs idea has remained solely in the realm of theory since 1971 because, for the experiment to work, a proposed metallic cylinder would need to rotate at least a billion times a second.

Now, Professor Daniele Faccio, Professor Miles Padgett and their colleagues have finally created a system which uses small ring of speakers to create a twist in the sound waves analogous to the twist in the light waves proposed by Zeldovich.

Those twisted sound waves were directed towards a rotating sound absorber made from a foam disk.

A set of microphones behind the disk picked up the sound from the speakers as it passed through the disk, which steadily increased the speed of its spin.

What the authors were looking to hear in order to know that Penrose and Zeldovichs theories were correct was a distinctive change in the frequency and amplitude of the sound waves as they traveled through the disk, caused by that quirk of the Doppler effect.

The linear version of the Doppler effect is familiar to most people as the phenomenon that occurs as the pitch of an ambulance siren appears to rise as it approaches the listener but drops as it heads away, said first author Marion Cromb, a Ph.D. student in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow.

It appears to rise because the sound waves are reaching the listener more frequently as the ambulance nears, then less frequently as it passes.

The rotational Doppler effect is similar, but the effect is confined to a circular space.

The twisted sound waves change their pitch when measured from the point of view of the rotating surface. If the surface rotates fast enough then the sound frequency can do something very strange  it can go from a positive frequency to a negative one, and in doing so steal some energy from the rotation of the surface.

As the speed of the spinning disk increases during the experiment, the pitch of the sound from the speakers drops until it becomes too low to hear.

Then, the pitch rises back up again until it reaches its previous pitch  but louder, with amplitude of up to 30% greater than the original sound coming from the speakers.

What we heard during our experiment was extraordinary, Cromb said.

Whats happening is that the frequency of the sound waves is being Doppler-shifted to zero as the spin speed increases.

When the sound starts back up again, its because the waves have been shifted from a positive frequency to a negative frequency.

Those negative-frequency waves are capable of taking some of the energy from the spinning foam disk, becoming louder in the process  just as Zeldovich proposed in 1971.

Were thrilled to have been able to experimentally verify some extremely odd physics a half-century after the theory was first proposed, Professor Faccio said.

The teams work was published in the journal Nature Physics.

_____

M. Cromb et al. Amplification of waves from a rotating body. Nat. Phys, published online June 22, 2020; doi: 10.1038/s41567-020-0944-3

This article is based on text provided by the University of Glasgow.
South Korea Center for Disease Control is revolutionizing their contact tracing program with innovative cloud contact center technology to contain the spread of COVID-19

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 18, 2020 /CNW/ -- Bright Pattern, a leading provider of AI-powered cloud contact center software for innovative companies, announced today that it was deployed by South Korea's Center for Disease Control for citizen outreach and contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic. South Korea launched a massive, technology-reliant testing and tracing campaign to combat the spread of COVID-19. Their efforts have been meticulous and includes entry registration for nightclubs and gyms, health-monitoring phone apps, and a high-tech remote contact center powered by Bright Pattern, the No. 1 provider of omnichannel cloud contact center technology . Publications such as Forbes and the Guardian noted their leadership in containing the virus was a direct result of their contact center tracing using the Bright Pattern platform.

The Center for Disease Control selected Bright Pattern because of its innovative cloud-based software, speed of deployment, and ease of use requiring little to no product training for remote workforces. As reported by the national news in South Korea, the largest obstacle faced when deploying the remote agents was security issues, such as personal information leakage. By using Bright Pattern, a 100% cloud-based contact center platform, employees can connect directly to the cloud server from their home. Cloud contact center technology is being deployed in all of the 339 Center for Disease Control call centers.

Additionally, remote centers will protect contact center agents, allowing them to work from home. "[This remote model] is expected to set the customer center staff free from the periphery of the danger of infection," noted a Naver customer support leader on the Seoul Broadcasting System's national news.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has affected lives and company's around the world and the call center industry is no exception," said Michael McCloskey, CEO of Bright Pattern. "Bright Pattern's solutions can be used remotely, where work from home agents can seamlessly supplement companies current workforce to provide a personalized and effortless experience to your customers virtually. We are proud to help the country leading the way in contact tracing efforts, taking massive strides to contain the virus."

Bright Pattern Virtual Call Center

Bright Pattern's cloud-based virtual call center solution for remote agents delivers all of the benefits of a traditional contact center solution while providing the additional benefits of the flexibility gained through the use of remote workers. Our virtual contact center software solution allows your organization to "flex" during peak or low times, recruit talent from any geography, and deliver a complete omnichannel customer experience. In addition, Bright Pattern provides a powerful omnichannel quality management solution that allows you to score 100% of all customer interactions and manage agent performance to better manage remote workers. This combination of advanced omnichannel virtual contact center software with embedded quality management makes Bright Pattern the clear choice for delivering the best customer and agent experience.

Bright Pattern Cloud Contact Center Features:

Business Continuity  Keep your business going no matter what interruptions local offices or business settings face. Bright Pattern has a robust system designed to ensure uninterrupted continuity in the case of a local disaster or facility interruption.

 Keep your business going no matter what interruptions local offices or business settings face. Bright Pattern has a robust system designed to ensure uninterrupted continuity in the case of a local disaster or facility interruption. Scalability  Bright Pattern cloud call center software allows you to easily supplement your existing workforce with additional remote agents in minimal time.

 Bright Pattern cloud call center software allows you to easily supplement your existing workforce with additional remote agents in minimal time. Deploy in Days : Bright Pattern was rated #1 by G2 Crowd for quickest time to deploy out of all CCaaS vendors in the industry with the highest ROI and ROI payback time. Bright Pattern Cloud Contact Center can be deployed in days instead of the weeks it takes most CCaaS vendors.

Bright Pattern was rated #1 by G2 Crowd for quickest time to deploy out of all CCaaS vendors in the industry with the highest ROI and ROI payback time. Bright Pattern Cloud Contact Center can be deployed in days instead of the weeks it takes most CCaaS vendors. Geographic flexibility  allow agents to access the exact same information that they would typically access in their offices from anywhere with a stable internet connection.

 allow agents to access the exact same information that they would typically access in their offices from anywhere with a stable internet connection. Maintain voice quality across geographies  Bright Pattern's Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) software routes callers to the optimal agent.

 Bright Pattern's Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) software routes callers to the optimal agent. Built in Quality Assurance  Monitor 100% of interactions regardless of channel with AI-powered quality management with sentiment and speech analytics for automated quality assurance in real-time across the globe.

 Monitor 100% of interactions regardless of channel with AI-powered quality management with sentiment and speech analytics for automated quality assurance in real-time across the globe. Data Privacy  Fully compliant with international regulations including PCI DSS, HIPAA, DGPR, TCPA, and SOC.

If you are experiencing a spike in calls as a result of the outbreak or need to deploy a remote workforce, Bright Pattern is prepared to deliver consultations and cloud services to existing and new customers. Please contact us at [email protected] , call 925-548-0532, or request a demo .

Additional Resources:

About Bright Pattern

Bright Pattern provides the simplest and most powerful AI-powered contact center for innovative midsize and enterprise companies. With the purpose of making customer service brighter, easier, and faster than ever before, Bright Pattern offers the only true omnichannel cloud platform with embedded AI that can be deployed quickly and nimbly by business userswithout costly professional services. Bright Pattern allows companies to offer an effortless, personal, and seamless customer experience across channels like voice , text, chat , email , video , messengers , and bots . Bright Pattern also allows companies to measure and act on every interaction on every channel via embedded AI omnichannel quality management capability. The company was founded by a team of industry veterans who pioneered the leading contact center solutions and today are delivering architecture for the future with an advanced cloud-first approach. Bright Pattern's cloud contact center solution is used globally in over 26 countries and 12 languages.

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For further information: Shelby Bozekowski, Marketing Manager, Bright Pattern Contact Center, [email protected], (720) 209-2818, http://www.brightpattern.com

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The RTS components were made available in India earlier this year, and the RTU gamma sterilized components are now available.

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., a global leader in

innovative solutions for injectable drug administration, recently announced the launch of the AccelTRA Ready to Sterilize (RTS)/Ready to Use (RTU) product line in the Indian market, under the AccelTRA components program.

The AccelTRA components program was designed to provide generic drug manufacturers with components for injectable drug delivery that meet the challenges of todays fast-paced market.

West designed AccelTRA components around the ideas of quality, speed and simplicity to help address the unique needs of generic drug manufacturers to be able to quickly respond to un-forecasted market demand while meeting increasing quality standards. The RTS components were made available in India earlier this year, and the RTU gamma sterilized components are now available.

Elaborating about the new product launch, Alagu Subramaniam, Managing Director, West India said, The AccelTRA component program offers delivery times and a single next-generation formulation that helps our customers in India stay competitive and move product to market quickly. By partnering with West, customers receive reliable and safe products that may help to mitigate risks as

they navigate the regulatory approval process.

West is highlighting its expanded innovations for global customers and their patients with the introduction of an AccelTRA component line extension. This product line provides greater flexibility in a stricter regulatory environment to customers who need a high-performing elastomer that leverages Wests 4031 formula, with optimized product lead times, and global warehousing to help

our customers get their products to market quickly, added Subramaniam.

Launched in March 2017, the AccelTRA component programs high-quality 4031/45 elastomer formulation enables optimized lead times, extremely low particulate levels and can withstand multiple punctures. These features help to reduce patient risk and ensure the drug and its packaging meet strict standards for quality set by regulatory agencies. Through the AccelTRA component program, West can provide generic drug manufacturers with sample components for injectable drug packaging in as little as one week and commercial quantities in six weeks. Available globally, the high-quality components are offered either Ready to Sterilize (RTS) or Ready to Use (RTU), have an industry-leading extractables profile and meet United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and European

Pharmacopoeia (EP) compliance requirements.

AccelTRA products are currently stocked in India to deliver speed to the local generic drug manufacturers. Wests presence in India began in 2004 with a commercial office in Hyderabad, and has since expanded with the establishment of a manufacturing plant in Sri City in 2014 and a Digital Technology Center (DTC) in Bengaluru in 2019.
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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 23:29:13|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 5,034 after 186 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed on Wednesday, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health said.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Health, in a statement issued on Wednesday, revealed that from the total of 4,034 medical tests that were conducted within the last 24 hours, 186 of them have been tested positive for COVID-19, eventually bringing the total number of cases in the country to 5,034 as of Wednesday afternoon.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Health further indicated that 181 of the latest confirmed cases are Ethiopian nationals, while the other five patients were said to be foreign nationals.

Among the latest 186 confirmed COVID-19 positive cases include a six-month-old child, it was noted.

The ministry further said that 1,486 patients who were tested positive for COVID-19 have so far recovered from the virus, in which 74 of the patients recovered during the past 24-hours period.

The ministry said that three more COVID-19 patients succumbed on Wednesday, eventually bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the East African country to 78.

Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation with about 107 million people, confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 13, which has so far conducted about 227,375 COVID-19 medical tests.

Since then, the Ethiopian government has instituted a wide range of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. In April, the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives announced a five-month state of emergency to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Enditem
Less than two weeks into a test on WhatsApp that allowed in-app payments via Facebook Pay, Brazil's Central Bank has pumped the brakes.

According to a report from Bloomberg, authorities paused WhatsApp's payment feature in an effort to 'preserve an adequate competitive environment, that ensures the functioning of a payment system thats interchangeable, fast, secure, transparent, open and cheap.'

The new WhatsApp feature lets users send money and buy goods via Facebook pay. The feature (pictured) was currently only being made available in Brazil

The Central Bank reportedly asked Visa and Mastercard, which power the payment feature, to stop processing transactions or face fines.

The suspension of the feature comes after two years of tests and affects WhatsApp's biggest market outside of India.

'Our goal is to provide digital payments to all WhatsApp users in Brazil using an open model and we will continue to work with local partners and the Central Bank to make this possible,' a WhatsApp spokesperson told Bloomberg.

While suspended, Brazil's central banks will reportedly assess whether or not the payment method meets the country's regulations.

WhatsApp's feature allows users to send money in the app using Facebook Pay and also allows them to make purchases from merchants directly in the app.

WhatsApp said sending money is free for regular users while businesses who use the app for commerce will pay a processing fee which the company says will be comparable to what they pay to use credit cards.

The feature is designed to work in tandem with WhatsApp's catalogs which were rolled out in November last year. The catalogs act as digital storefronts in which users can browse products.

WhatsApp partnered with debit or credit cards from Banco do Brasil, Nubank and Sicredi, which are both a part of the Visa and Mastercard networks.

It said that it will also work with Cielo, which is a payment processor in Brazil and will open the feature to more organizations in the future.

The company, which is owned by Facebook, says that it eventually wants users to be able to use any card they've linked to Facebook across its family of apps - that would include WhatsApp and Instagram, as well.

WhatsApp hasn't said when it will roll out the feature in the US and the UK.
French drugmaker Sanofi SA said on Tuesday it expects the first of its vaccines to enter human trials as early as September and that it will get approval for the potential COVID-19 shot by the first half of next year.

The company is developing the shot - a recombinant vaccine - with Britain's GlaxoSmithKline, and has now significantly shortened its timeline.

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.

Sanofi has also signed a $425 million deal with a smaller firm, Translate Bio, to develop a second vaccine, expected to enter clinical trials by the end of the year.

Although its production timeline has lagged behind competitors' Sanofi now says the first of the two coronavirus vaccines it is developing will enter human trials as early as September

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 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.

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 CEO Paul Hudson was confident in his company's vaccine, saying he expected approval by the first half of next year and that it's odds are 'higher than anybody else'

Sanofi, whose Pasteur vaccines division has a long established reputation, notably in flu, is currently working on two vaccine projects.

The vaccine it is manufacturing with the help of GSK is based on the same technology and methods it uses for its flu vaccine.

An exact genetic copy of the virus's spike protein - the component that allows it to enter human cells, and to which scientists think the immune system has the most profound immune response - is made in the lab, then combined with a less dangerous virus.

This type of vaccine is well established as safe and effective for preventing other viruses, including the flu.

Sanofi is also 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 vaccine being developed by Sanofi with US company Translate Bio, 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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 22:19:39|Editor: huaxia

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AMMAN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian officials and experts praize China's anti-coronavirus cooperation with Jordan.

"Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Jordan, we started cooperating with China in this regard, and our cooperation is solid," Jordan's Health Minister Saad Jaber said in response to Xinhua's question during a press conference in Amman on Tuesday.

"We have been granted and imported lots of medical equipment from China, and we got reports from China about the situation there... Our cooperation with the Chinese embassy is firm, and we exchange information," Jaber said.

"We are closely following up on the development of a vaccine in China, and once it's proven successful, we will seek to acquire the vaccine from China, for the benefit of Jordanian citizens," he added.

Nazir Obaidat, a spokesperson of the Jordanian Health Ministry's National Epidemiological Committee, told Xinhua that Jordan implements the same COVID-19 prevention and control measures China has adopted.

Samer Khair Ahmed, a Jordanian expert on the Arab-China relations, said that China shares anti-coronavirus experiences with and offers medical equipment to Jordan and other countries.

Former Jordanian expert at the Investment Promotion Commission Mazen Marji said China plays a vital role in fighting COVID-19 as well as in maintaining the stability and growth of the world after the pandemic.

China has supported Jordan's fight against the pandemic.

On May 31, China donated a batch of medical supplies to Jordan to help combat the coronavirus.

The donation includes 10,000 medical protection gears, 60,000 medical face masks, 10,000 gloves, 200 body temperature scanning devices and 20,000 testing kits, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Pan Weifang said in a statement.

On April 4, a batch of medical supplies was donated to Jordan by China's Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation. On April 27, China's State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC), a key partner of Jordan's Arab Potash Company, donated medical supplies worth 1.2 million U.S. dollars to help Jordan fight COVID-19. Enditem
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Police Officers are reminding people to leave the black bear traveling through western Illinois alone after more than 300 people gathered to watch, follow and harass the animal as it traveled through northwest Henderson County over Fathers Day weekend.

Biologists and Conservation Police officers have been monitoring the bear since it crossed into Illinois from Wisconsin on June 10. The bear later crossed into Iowa and came back into Illinois in southern Rock Island County on June 18. Since then, the bear had traveled through northwestern Illinois unmolested until last weekend, according to news media reports.
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.
The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has expressed dissatisfaction with the air quality control systems at the United Steel Manufacturing Company, Rider Steel, Success Aluminum and MND Metals Company Limited at Tema Free Zones enclave.

The Minister during a visit to the above-mentioned companies this week has been left unimpressed due to the level of air pollution been caused by the activities of these companies.

He has directed the various companies to work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rectify the anomalies to ensure it does not in turn harm residents who are living around the companies and the environment at large.

The government will not tolerate such level of pollution and would not hesitate to close down any company that fails to heed to directives from the regulatory authorities, he warned during the visit.

The visit is to familiarize himself with the operations of the various steel manufacturing companies and to check on their level of compliance with air quality standards and other environmentally related issues.

The various companies have been given a week to present a work plan and roadmap towards rectifying existing defects in their air quality systems.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: The temporary suspension of H-1B and other non-immigrant visas by President Donald Trump will "disproportionately" impact high-skilled workers from Asia as well as harm the American businesses that rely on immigrant workers, US lawmakers have said.

In a huge blow to Indian IT professionals eyeing the US job market, Trump signed a proclamation on Monday suspending the most sought-after H-1B visas along with other types of foreign work visas until the end of 2020 to protect American workers in a crucial election year.

The new restrictions take effect from Wednesday.

"This (the suspension of visas) will disproportionately impact high-skilled workers from Asia, who overwhelming utilise the H1-B visa system and account for over 80 per cent of H1-B visa holders in the United States," Congresswoman Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: Visa order to hit both India & US

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

"It's a purely xenophobic and bigoted agenda that actually works against our national interest," Chu said.

She underlined that immigrants are vital to the US economy and are needed not only in the agriculture and medicine sectors, but also in business, academia, and "everything in between as well".

"If we want to rebuild our economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot close ourselves off from immigrants. The President's order puts his own election-year politics over the needs of our country," Chu said.

ALSO READ: US work visa suspension may hurt Indian IT companies' margins, further drive local hiring - Analysts

"Worse, by stoking xenophobia and furthering the false impression that immigrants take away American jobs, the President's order is putting immigrants at risk at a time when hate crimes are spiking. This order divides our country at a moment when we need to be rebuilding. I'm strongly opposed to the Trump administration's continued attacks on our legal immigration system," she said.

According to Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, the visa suspension order is both an "abuse" of the president's executive power and a "politically motivated" attempt to shift blame.

Trump's "relentless anti-immigrant agenda is not only immoral, it harms the American businesses that rely on immigrant workers", he said.

The visas which are temporarily suspended include L-1 visas for intracompany transfers, H-1Bs for workers in specialty occupations as well as the H-4 visa for spouses, H-2Bs for temporary non-agricultural workers and most J-1 visas for exchange visitors.

ALSO READ: Trump defends suspending Green Card applications till December 31

The new rules 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.

In a joint statement, Nadler and Immigration and Citizenship Chair Zoe Lofgren said Trump is once again abusing the law in an attempt to distract the American public from his abject failure to combat COVID-19.

"Rather than leading us into a stable period of economic recovery -- one that brings real, sustainable jobs to the American public -- he tries to shift blame and return to his favourite political ploy of targeting and scapegoating immigrants," said the two Democratic Congressman.

Congresswoman Anna G Eshoo said the president's decision unfairly blames immigrants for America's cascading economy and will only harm the nation's long-term economic recovery, growth and competitiveness.

"I represent the heart of Silicon Valley, which leads the world in innovation. Nearly one in three of my constituents was born outside of the US and they are essential to our nation's success," the Democratic lawmaker said.

Congressman Filemon Vela said the suspension will affect high-skilled workers, seasonal workers, spouses of high-skilled immigrants, researchers, scholars, and company executives seeking to transfer to the US from positions abroad with the same employer.

Noting that immigrants are essential to positive economic growth in the US, he said, "Texas alone is home to about 10 per cent of all green card holders...the state will likely be impacted the hardest after New York.

Experts predict the long-term ramifications of this decision will not only stifle the nation's ability to attract top global talent, but also hurt America's greatest asset "its diversity."

A green card, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, allows a foreigner to live and work permanently in the United States.

Meanwhile, Congressman Mo Brooks praised Trump's action.

"I'm also pleased President Trump refused to cave to intense pressure from the US Chamber of Commerce and other special interest groups that, out of greed and self-interest, had the hutzpah to demand the importation of even more cheap foreign labour despite the severe damage done to struggling, jobless American families," he said.

Congressman Lance Gooden said H-1B visas and similar guest worker programmes are unnecessary when 45 million Americans are out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While defending his move, President Trump had noted that the overall unemployment rate in the US nearly quadrupled between February and May of 2020 -- producing some of the most extreme unemployment rates ever recorded by the Bureau of Labour Statistics.

While the rate of 13.3 per cent unemployment in May reflects a marked decline from April, millions of Americans remain out of work.
Melbourne Virus Hotspot Home to Cedar Meats, Source of Previous Outbreak

The Victorian government has named Brimbank as one of six CCP virus hotspots to avoid in the states capital city, Melbourneit is also home to the Cedar Meats abattoir that had a cluster of 111 COVID-19 cases in April.

In response to the fresh outbreak, authorities have strongly discouraged people from travelling to and from the suburbs of Brimbank, Hume, Casey, Moreland, Cardinia, and Darebin. Testing will be increased in these hotspots.

At present, Cedar Meats has been linked to 111 cases, with 67 staff and 44 close contacts becoming infected.

Although it has been two months since the Cedar Meats outbreak in April, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on June 20 said virus case numbers have been increasing since then.

However, it is in the last 8 days that the Victorian government has been reporting COVID-19 cases in the double digits.

The premier has blamed families for spreading the virus to each other during big get-togethers and not following the advice around distancing and hygiene.

In fact, around half of our cases since the end of April have come from transmission inside someones home, Andrews said.

Read More Vic Premier Blames Families for Daily Spikes of CCP Virus Cases, Halts Lifting Restrictions

Victorian Governments Handling of Cedar Meats Outbreak Under Scrutiny

In May, the federal government called for greater transparency from the Victorian government about the CCP virus outbreak at Cedar Meats.

Speaking on 3AW radio on May 7, Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said he was concerned by the protocols around the incident and had launched an investigation.

Victoria Health notified his department about the outbreak on April 30, a few days after his department had already found out through gossip.

So its important that there is transparency and swift action in notifying, particularly those that come into contact so that we dont spread this virus, Littleproud said.

The Victorian Labor government and the Department of Health and Human Services did not name Cedar Meats when first disclosing the outbreak, despite previously having named a school during another outbreak.

This decision was criticised by Liberal opposition leader Michael OBrien.

OBrien wrote on Twitter on May 5: Is this the same meatworks that Daniel Andrews tried to keep secret  despite naming schools, hospitals and aged care homes? Is this the same meatworks that donated $15,000 to Labor just before Daniel Andrews became Premier? You know the answer

Is this the same meatworks that Daniel Andrews tried to keep secret  despite naming schools, hospitals and aged care homes? Is this the same meatworks that donated $15,000 to Labor just before Daniel Andrews became Premier? You know the answer #springst https://t.co/P2flMwxApZ  Michael OBrien (@michaelobrienmp) May 5, 2020

During April, Cedar Meats sent tonnes of mutton through Victoria and New South Wales to be shipped out a humanitarian aid flight to China.

After China sent 37 tonnes of personal protective equipment to Sydney from Wuhan, China on April 8, the mutton was loaded for its return flight the next day.

Speaking to 3AW radio on May 6, Victorias Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the Department of Health had ruled out the possibility the first abattoir worker infected by the virus could have passed it on to others after they had said they not been at the facility for weeks.

Opposition Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Georgie Crozier has called out Andrews for his handling of the Cedar Meats situation, and for blaming families for the second outbreak.

Read More Wuhan Flight to Sydney Draws Criticism, Raises Concerns

On June 20, Crozier wrote on Twitter: Why dont you take responsibility 4 your actions on protests, saying largest #cluster at Cedar Meats was handled absolutely perfectly, stuff ups at hotel quarantine with security guards with training & PPE.

Blaming families is hardly helpful @DanielAndrewsMP .. why dont you take responsibility 4 your actions on protests, saying largest #cluster at Cedar Meats was handled absolutely perfectly , stuff ups at hotel quarantine with security guards with training & PPE . #springst  Georgie Crozier MP (@georgiecrozier) June 20, 2020

Victorias Steady Increase in COVID-19 Cases

Victorias Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said 241 cases were identified as by community transmission, an increase of eight since Tuesday.

This is the eighth-day of growth in new virus cases, bringing the states total number of infections to 1884.

On June 24, a man in his 80s died from COVID-19, he was the twentieth person to succumb to the disease caused by the CCP virus in Victoria, and the first death in Australia in a month; taking the national toll to 103.

Community transmission refers to the fact that the outbreaks of the virus did not come directly from overseas, and the exact locality of contraction is unknown.

Epoch Times reporter Victoria Kelly-Clark contributed to this article.
In this article MSFT

Ahmed Mazhari, President, Microsoft Asia Source: Microsoft

In an environment where firms big and small have suffered tremendous disruption due to the coronavirus pandemic, Microsoft wants to enable its clients to stay in business and build long-term resilience, the company's Asia president told CNBC. One of the hardest challenges at the moment is the fragile balance between lives and livelihoods as governments are forced to decide between restarting their economies, or keeping them in lockdown to contain the virus, Ahmed Mazhari said. Mazhari recently completed his first 100 days at the helm of Microsoft's Asia business, after replacing Ralph Haupter in February. "The times are challenging for humankind, but the last 100 days have been lots of learning, lots of anxious moments with our customers, with our partners, with governments," he said in a recent exclusive interview with CNBC. "Our business priority is to ensure that we help people, in the long term, become more resilient in their businesses and institutions," Mazhari added. "In the short term, enabling them to keep business running."

Cloud performance

Microsoft said during its last earnings release in late April that the initial impact of Covid-19 on the business was mixed. Cloud computing-based products  such as Teams and Azure  saw increased usage as more organizations shifted to remote work. But "there was a slowdown in transactional licensing, particularly in small and medium businesses, and a reduction in advertising spend in LinkedIn," the company said. Mazhari explained there were two aspects where Microsoft saw an acceleration in its cloud business.

"The one is just consumption as a consequence of the fact that there's more ... telecommuting happening, (a) lot more people on the internet, lot more people accessing corporate networks," he said. The other aspect was that institutions and corporations realized they were not ready for remote work when the pandemic forced countries to step up restrictions and require nonessential employees to work from home. "Cloud plays a huge role in enabling virtualization of your workforce, virtualization of your technology and consequently your workforce," Mazhari added. Cloud computing in recent years has grown into a larger part of Microsoft's business model and its Azure platform remains one of the dominant players in the market.

Asia focus
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Caribbean island of Grenada has opened a Consulate in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to further develop economic, cultural and scientific ties between the two countries. The Consul General said she was delighted to be opening Grenada's first Consulate in the Middle East.

"It is a pleasure to be representing Grenada in the UAE," said Rose-Ann Benjamin, Grenada's Consul General. "I'd like to thank the Government of the UAE for this opportunity and the warm welcome I have received. My Government is serious and committed to strengthening the relations between the two countries."

Grenada is an English-speaking island in the Eastern Caribbean, with a population of approximately 120,000 and 348 square kilometers in size. It is the world's second largest producer of nutmeg.

Grenada has been a friend of the UAE since its creation, and the recipient of numerous generous grants from the Government of the UAE, including funds aimed at rebuilding Grenada's Parliament building.

Grenada has one of the fastest-growing economies in the region, averaging 5 per cent growth since 2013. The economy is powered mainly by tourism, agriculture, St. George's University School of Medicine, and investment from both local and foreign investors, particularly via the country's respected Citizenship-by-Investment program.

Grenada's Consulate in Dubai aims to bolster the country's Citizenship-by-Investment program, working actively to promote it to potential investors and its many benefits for family members and the peace of mind that comes with convenient global mobility.

For developers, the new consulate will foster ties between the Middle East and Grenada while providing invaluable, quick, and convenient services to Grenada passport-holders not just in Dubai, but in the wider region. The process is fast, efficient, straightforward, and gives visa-free travel to over 130 destinations worldwide including the UK, the EU Schengen States, China, Russia, Brazil, Hong Kong, Singapore. Citizens can take advantage of the US E2 visa, which allows them to live and work in the United States.

The Grenada consulate commends the UAE for its strong support for the development of robust sustainable development goals post-2015. Grenada also applauds the UAE for hosting the Headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency and championing the thrust to renewables in Small Island Development States. Renewable energy is also a priority for the Government of Grenada as the high prices of energy have such negative effects on the economy. Grenada sees the UAE as an important development partner and welcomes the idea of deeper cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1195334/Grenada_Consul_UAE.jpg
Former President Barack Obama raised more than $4 million from 120,000 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 Obama's 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.

"There's 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 doesn't 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 Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. "Given what's going on with criminal justice reform and Black Lives Matter, having the first African American president out there publicly backing Biden is extremely helpful."
Is this Gods super sign of the End Times?

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Author Jeff Kinley believes the Bible lays out some fascinating circumstances that will unfold as humanity marches toward the biblical "end times."

But there's one sign, in particular, that Kinley, author of the new book, Interview With the Antichrist, believes has already unfolded: the re-emergence of Israel.

READ ALSO: ARE SIGNS OF THE BIBLICAL END TIMES HAPPENING BEFORE OUR EYES?

He explained the development while telling "The Pure Flix Podcast" why he is so intrigued by eschatology (i.e. the study of the end times).

"Part of it is ... the sense of knowing that we are living in the last days, with Israel being reborn as a nation  that's really God's super sign," he said. "There's so many things that are happening almost daily around the world that it's almost like you ... have to be living under a rock not to notice it."

Listen to Kinley break down the ins and outs of end-times theology:

Kinley also addressed many of the social and political unrests unfolding across the globe, noting that many "people feel like the world's in peril."

Despite these feelings, end times theology is sometimes overlooked, ignored or downplayed even within Christian circles.

"We know that Jesus is coming back but no one is talking about what happens in between," he said. "God actually tells us what's going to happen and He tells us how to prepare for it."

READ ALSO: 11 CHRISTIAN MOVIES ABOUT THE END TIMES

But Kinley was pointed in his warning that Christians must be cautious when it comes to end-times theology, declining to make specific predictions, especially when it comes to timetables as the Bible notably tells Christians to avoid date-setting.

"We need to be reasoned, we need to be seasoned, we need to be biblical," Kinley said, urging people not to "make crazy claims."

The popular author also discussed the rapture  the biblical belief that Christians will be taken up to heaven and spared from the majority of end-times events.

The rapture typically sparks debate, as not everyone believes the rapture is seen in scripture. Kinley, who believes the rapture is indeed a biblical construct, said that the issue isn't a matter of salvation.

"It's not a salvation issue," the author said. "But it is an important issue."

WATCH: SEE THOUSANDS OF PURE FLIX MOVIES AND TV SHOWS WITH A FREE TRIAL

Toward the end of the interview, Kinley discussed the secular cultural changes that are afoot, and encouraged Christians to take a cue from the early Christian church. While the church was a small and unpopular cohort, the message grew and resonated.

"Go out there and be the light of Jesus Christ to the world," Kinley said.

If you're looking to understand the end times, consider downloading this theology guide, which explains the ins and outs of what the Bible says about the end of days.

This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free trial here.

Billy Hallowell, author of "The Armageddon Code," has contributed to TheBlaze, the Washington Post, Human Events, the Daily Caller, Mediaite, and the Huffington Post, among other news sites. Through journalism, media, public speaking appearances, and the blogosphere, Hallowell has worked as a journalist and commentator for more than a decade.
Mobile, AL -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/24/2020 -- The Secret Scientist store will be comprised solely of Secret Scientist merchandise and will feature over 140 new products when it opens its doors.



Secret Scientist understands that a major hurdle when shopping clothing online is having to judge clothing solely by the appearance instead of being able to try something on. Although customers will find a useful sizing guide on the Secret Scientist website, the physical store will go a long way in helping customers make their buying decision.



A grand opening date for the Secret Scientist store at Bel-Air Mall will be announced on Facebook. To celebrate the grand opening, the first 100 customers will receive a free beer pong set and floatie set to take home.



About Secret Scientist Clothing

Launched in 2009, Secret Scientist Clothing is an urban streetwear brand based in Mobile, Alabama providing a range of products from t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, and footwear to accessories and more. The brand recognizes and embraces individuality while making fashion fun, accessible, and always trendy. For more information on urban clothing online, please call 251-680-0429 and be sure to follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
GENESEO  Five local broadband projects will receive more than $9.2 million from the state as part of Connect Illinois.

On Wednesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced $50 million in Connect Illinois grants to 28 projects. The state grants will be matched by $65 million in nonstate funding for a total of $115 million, with plans to expand access for more than 26,000 homes, businesses, farms and community institutions across Illinois.

Madison Communications will receive $4,230,223 for broadband work in Madison and Macoupin counties, with $12,962 and $52,667 going to Spectrum Mid-American 2 and 3 projects respectively in Madison County, according to the Illinois Deparment of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

IEC will receive $3,443,670 for broadband work in Calhoun County. Grafton Technologies will receive $1,483,007 for broadband work in Jersey County.

The funds are being released as part of Connect Illinois, the states $420 million statewide broadband expansion designed to bring basic access to all communities by 2024.

The unacceptable consequences of disparities in broadband access were clear before the pandemic, Pritzker said. And over the last few months, weve seen firsthand what it means when a small business that had to close its doors has no online shop, what it means when an elderly couple has no safe way to get medical advice at a distance, what it means when a child has no ability to access homework assignments online.

This work has never been more urgent, he said. The disadvantages that persist when our communities are left out of opportunity demand ambitious efforts to bring them to a close.

Grants were awarded to a diverse group of recipients representing every region of the state, with projects supporting fully scalable broadband infrastructure that will serve these areas for decades into the future.

Reliable and affordable broadband service is a necessity for the success of agriculture and the quality of farm family life, said Richard Guebert, Jr., President of the Illinois Farm Bureau. Improving broadband service will help revitalize rural Illinois and boost our economy.

Grant applications were reviewed and evaluated on a competitive basis, with proposals evaluated in seven categories: broadband impact; matching funds; community support; project readiness; project sustainability; broadband adoption assistance; and shared use/open access.

Applicants were eligible for up to $5 million per project and had to provide a non-state funding match of at least 50 percent. Funds will be used for projects that build or increase fiber infrastructure to support broadband access.

High speed internet is an absolute necessity for economic growth and our ability to deliver high-quality education and health care, said Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill.
The last few months have reshaped many industries due to the COVID-19 outbreak and one such industry where the impact has been overwhelming is the photography industry. With the lockdown being eased only a few weeks ago, most photographers have found themselves in a tight spot. With social distancing in place, wedding photographers have had a hard time coping, as have those working in any other commercial field of photography. To share some insight on how this has impacted the camera business, we spoke to Mukesh Srivastava, Head of Digital Imaging, Sony India who shared some very interesting insights into how the company has quickly pivoted

Srivastava, in conversation, noted that the lockdown, while severely impacting overall business for photographers, also brought out some very creative results. Many photographers around the world took the opportunity of being locked within the confines of their homes to create some marvellous photos using day-to-day items. One project saw a photographer create a body of work using vegetables to emulate foliage and forests while Lego figurines played the role of models. We even saw a shoot by Bangalore-based Guru Charan who shot images using a figure of the Hulk, doing average household chores. The series is titled Hulk in Lockdown.

With photographers getting creative and a lot of the worlds workforce turning to video conferencing, Srivastava revealed some interesting trends for the lockdown. The first is the growing sales of Sonys Macro lens for their mirrorless camera system. The second is a surge in video conferencing and vlogging. In fact, Sony's Imaging Edge desktop app allows a vast range of their cameras to be used as webcams. However, its not just video conferencing that benefits from this, but vloggers too would be able to reap its benefits. In fact, the lockdown has increased Sony Indias focus on vloggers as many content creators who worked with a camera crew, are now having to resort to doing the shooting bits on their own. Thus, enabling the ability to shoot video on mirrorless cameras all the way from the A9 to the A6600 using a desktop software goes a long way in making things a lot more convenient.

While on the topic of convenience, we also touched upon the topic of service. What is a user supposed to do in case they need to get their camera serviced? So, for starters, Sonys service centres are now operational in most cities, depending on the lockdown guidelines. When you visit a Sony service centre, the company has implemented a number of measures to ensure safety. A customer who does bring their camera in for service is required to wear a mask at all times, and hand sanitizer is provided to purify your hands before you interact with any person in the service centre. The staff and the engineers, besides having their temperatures checked multiple times daily, also have to wear gloves at all times. We asked Srivastava about how the company ensures removing any contamination from tainted cameras that come in. To this, he said that the engineers use gloves and a solvent to clean the outer surface of the cameras before taking it into the service area. Similarly, the camera body is sanitized after it's been worked on just before being handed over to the customer. We verified this process independently when we had to get our Sony A7 MarkIII camera bodies serviced. Lastly, the company also extended warranties on all camera bodies that expired within the lockdown period.

Last but not the least, Srivastava said that collaborating with a third-party to set up the online store was important to help Sonys large offline dealer network get back into the business. The web store is not owned or run by Sony but has the brands endorsement for authenticity. Offline retailers can get their inventory listed on the platform, while orders would be fulfilled by the store nearest to the point of delivery. This, the brand hopes, will not only help the offline retail partners but also boost sales for the company.

While it was only a matter of time that Sony would get its sales network up and running, what was particularly impressive is the resumption of their service centre and the number of precautions the company has taken to stem the spread of the virus. If youve had your equipment just lying around for the last few months, a service may be required. Maybe you need the sensor cleaned. Maybe your camera was giving you trouble before the lockdown happened. If that is indeed the case, Sony has got you covered.
24.06.2020 LISTEN

The Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has been detained at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) over fears of contracting COVID-19.

He is awaiting his COVID-19 test results after reporting himself to the facility when he felt unwell.

This is the second time he has been tested for COVID-19, according to a statement from the Ministry of Education.

On Tuesday, 16th June 2020, he underwent various tests, including COVID-19, after feeling unwell for a couple of days. He tested negative for the virus, and this informed his decision to travel to his constituency for his acclamation on Saturday, 20th June 2020.

Following his return to Accra, he still felt unwell, and decided to check himself for further tests, including second test for COVID-19, the statement noted.

Although the results are not out, the Education Ministry said the Minister has been detained at the UGMC as a precautionary measure for further observation, due to his condition.

This development follows reports that the Chief Executive Officer of the Korle Bu Teaching hospital, Dr. Daniel Asare, tested positive for the virus.

Ghana's Health Minister, Kweku Agyeman Manu, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Lydia Dsane-Selby are among the high profile government appointees who have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Sekondi-Takoradi, Anthony K.K. Sam, also contracted the virus and unfortunately passed away.

Ghana's COVID-19 case count is now 14,568 with 10,907 recoveries and 95 deaths.

Find below a statement from the Education Ministry

---citinewsroom
The Friendly Spot closed immediately Tuesday after a man threatened on social media to show up to the Southtown staple to spread the coronavirus.

Jody Bailey Newman, the owner of the bar, said she was made aware of the threats on Tuesday, a day after the social media posts were published. She said the ice house was closed immediately, a disinfection team was called in and so was the San Antonio Police Department.

RELATED: San Antonio moves up on list of U.S. cities with quickest coronavirus growth

The bar was tipped off via Twitter on Tuesday night with screenshots of an Instagram post created by an unidentified man who claimed to have tested positive for the virus.

"Since I'm positive f--k it," the post reads. "Come catch it at The Friendly Spot."

SAPD said it is aware of the incident, but a report is not ready. Officials did not comment about another claim that the person was seen at a local Gold's Gym.

In April, Christopher C. Perez, 39, was arrested by federal agents in San Antonio after he was accused of spreading similar claims on social media in an unrelated case. He was charged with the federal offense of communicating false information or hoaxes related to weapons of mass destruction. Perez faces up to five years in prison, according to a San Antonio Express-News report.

The Friendly Spot said staff did not recognize the man in question. The team also searched credit card records.

"We have no indicators that he followed through on his threat of being COVID-19 positive with intention to spread at our business," Newman said.

The Friendly Spot at 943 S. Alamo St. reopened Wednesday at noon. Masks are required.

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye
Donald Trump speaks at the Students for Trump conference at Dream City Church, Arizona, on Tuesday 23 June 2020: Ross D Franklin/AP

An appeals court has ordered a judge to drop the case against Michael Flynn, a former aide to Donald Trump who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in 2018, news that Mr Trump boasted on social media while asking whether FBI Director James Comey would apologise.

Hours later, the president attended a press briefing in the White House's Rose Garden with Poland's nationalist president Andrezj Duda.

He accused protesters across the country of trying to tear down statues of prominent figures such as Jesus Christ, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson following unrest in Washington DC as protesters attempted to pull down a statue of former President Andrew Jackson.

The president once again railed against German officials for falling short of Nato goals, calling the country's contributions a "tremendous delinquency" and has threatened to withdraw troops from the country as punishment. The Polish leader said removing any of the 52,000 US service members that are currently in Germany would be "very detrimental to European security".

Meanwhile, Mr Trump's top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci has issued a warning to Congress about the disturbing resurgence of the coronavirus in southern states that moved quickly to re-emerge from shutdown like Texas and Florida, saying the next few weeks will be critical to tackling the virus.

New York's tri-state area also announced a travel advisory against nine states with increased coronavirus cases, including Texas and Florida.

The president's predecessor Barack Obama, who Mr Trump has accused of "treason" in his Obamagate conspiracy, made a rare public rebuke of the sitting president, attacking his "shambolic" and "mean spirited approach to government" during an appearance at a virtual Joe Biden fundraiser.

"What we have seen over the last couple of years is a White House enabled by Republicans in Congress and a media structure that supports them that has not just differed in terms of policy but has gone at the very foundations of who we are and who we should be," he said.

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Credit: Andrew Lorrey, Author provided

Brewster Glacier in New Zealand's Southern Alps lost 13 million cubic metres of ice between March 2016 and March 2019almost the equivalent of the basic drinking water needs of all New Zealanders during that time.

Simultaneously, seasonal extremes for AucklandNew Zealand's largest cityswung from the wettest autumn on record to one of the most severe multi-season droughts.

Water is arguably the most precious resource in New Zealand. These contrasting extreme events in two very different regions highlight the critical importance of long-term observations as we confront water security challenges.

Water extremes

2017 became the wettest autumn on record for Auckland when an "atmospheric river" drenched the city for several days. Within a month, ex-tropical cyclones dumped even more extreme rainfall.

Exceptionally high autumn rainfall (more than 200% higher than normal for many sites) during 2017 saturated soils and produced numerous slips. Sediment hampered water treatment for regional reservoirs that provide about 75% of the city's water supply.

Fast forward to 2019, when one of the most significant multi-season droughts since the early 20th century started unfolding. Four Auckland sites we monitor show it was the driest summer in recent memory. The drought has continued, and water restrictions are currently in place.

The big wet versus the big dry in Auckland only three years apart gives us a taste of New Zealand's water futurea higher likelihood of more frequent water extremes with stronger impacts.

Climate and glacier scientists monitor New Zealands ice and snow. Credit: Rebekah Parsons-King and Stuart MacKay

Shrinking ice

The Southern Alps tell a different story arising from climate extremes, where recent changes have been rapid, widespread and exceptional. The National Institute of Water and Atmosphere end-of-summer snowline mission  which has run nearly unbroken since the 1970sprovides valuable "time capsules" of glaciers and snowlines through a changing climate.

The long-term permanent snowlinethe boundary between exposed glacial ice and recent snowmust sit below the mountain top for a glacier to exist. The 2018 Tasman Sea marine heatwave drove snowlines off the top of many peaks. Then, 2019 produced a second marine heatwave around northern New Zealand. Some small glaciers sustained so much damage during these extreme years that they are now on a path to extinction.

As if this wasn't enough, ash and dust from Australian bushfires blanketed Southern Alps glaciers during the 2020 summer and increased the potential for seasonal melt.

New photogrammetry techniques that produce digital elevation models with annual glacier photos help to define the impacts from extreme years like the last three. We are extending these techniques to our historic image archive to construct a 4-D vision of ice volume, which brings us closer to quantifying water volume loss and gain for individual glaciers.

The stark contrast between extreme wet and dry conditions for the North Island (top) had significantly different impacts on Upper Mangatawhiri Reservoir (bottom). Both led to water conservation calls in Auckland. Credit: NIWA, Google Earth maps, Author provided

The recent ice loss from Brewster Glacier is only a small part of the frozen water volume stored in New Zealand's Southern Alps. Since the first New Zealand glacier survey in the late 1970s, there's been a long-term trend of glacial retreat through climate warming.

Southern Alps glaciers are estimated to have lost more than 30% of their volumeabout 16 billion cubic metres of ice, or the equivalent of about 200 litres a day for each New Zealander over 40 years.

While water loss from vanishing glaciers is deeply troubling, it is a reminder that more severe and immediate concerns can arise from long and intense seasonal droughts and changes to rivers in a warming world.

Past and present observations help prepare for the future

Long-term environmental observations help to inform national water security policy and water resource management. Our observations also underpin weather forecasts, seasonal climate predictions and climate change projections that cover a spectrum of advance warnings for extreme weather and climate impacts.

Rising temperatures, higher snowlines, glacial lake expansion and dust from Australian bushfires are pushing some South Island glaciers towards extinction. Credit: Andrew Lorrey, Author provided

We need to grow environmental observations, but making and archiving them can be costly and difficult. Global support for their long-term stewardship once they are gathered is also at risk. As a result, small countries like New Zealand confront hard choices about which observations to make, what sites they come from, and how they are continued.

Amid the many COVID-19 announcements was an increase in funding for nationally significant databases and collections. This boost is a welcome signal for maintaining valuable scientific resources, including environmental observations, for future generations.

But ongoing support is needed to reduce attrition of our comprehensive evidence base. It would be even more risky to abandon long-term water and climate observations, and simply fly blind into an uncertain future.

Explore further A bird's eye view of changing glaciers

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Click here to read the full article.

You know what, were back, said Los Angeles retail real estate impresario Rick Caruso, surveying the smaller-than-usual but not insignificant crowd on a recent weekday afternoon at The Grove, which reopened June 10. Were back, he repeated for emphasis, eyes gazing out at his kingdom over a businesslike black face mask, while sitting at an outdoor table at a sushi restaurant.

Since 2002, The Grove has been a center for a city without one, drawing more visitors annually than Disneyland, who flock to the open-air shopping area and faux Main Street with dancing fountain and an old-time trolley ride, where fireworks blaze on the Fourth of July and it snows in sunny California at Christmastime.

After closing in March because of the coronavirus, The Grove was due to reopen June 1, but the plan was scrapped May 30 when the Black Lives Matter protest arrived on its doorstep. It was scary, scary to watchand anguishing, said the civic-minded billionaire, who was a two-term president of the Los Angeles Police Commission from 2001 to 2003 and is serving on economic recovery task forces for both California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the White House.

The historic twin challenges of the pandemic and the call for racial equality have renewed Carusos interest in politics and hes hinted at a run for mayor in 2022. We are a nation called to duty, he posted in a public letter to Angelenos about George Floyds killing, pledging to speak up to leaders who need to be held accountable, and recommit to his foundations philanthropic work with Operation Progress and SCS Noonan Scholars to deliver high-quality education to children in Watts and South Los Angeles.

In response to COVID-19, Caruso has enacted a stringent Health & Safety Standards policy at his properties overseen by an epidemiologist at USCs Keck School of Medicine, and he is optimistic that The Grove and his other open-air centers, including Palisades Village and Americana at The Brand in Glendale, as well as his first hotel, the Rosewood Miramar Beach up the coast in Montecito, are indeed back for good.

Story continues

At The Grove, the movie theater has yet to open; the trolley is grounded, and valet parking is unavailable. But there are other things on offer  like face masks (theyre mandatory in California) and hand sanitizer distributed by physical distancing ambassadors stationed around the property. (Community builder Caruso prefers physical distancing over social distancing.) Restaurants are open for (sparsely crowded) outdoor dining with the occasional temperature check, and while there arent any live family concerts yet, there are physically distant circles for sitting on the grass and enjoying a Cronut or Sprinkles cupcake.

Some retail tenants may be on more tenuous footing than others (J. Crew, for one), but Lululemon just moved in, and construction is under way for a still-under-wraps store next to Nordstrom. There werent a ton of shopping bags on a recent afternoon, but there was a 20-plus person line to get into the Nike store and plenty of selfie-taking going on in front of the famed fountain.

Caruso sat down with WWD to discuss his reopening strategy, retail formula and his outlook for an economic recovery, which he said will require an alignment between Wall Street and Main Street.

WWD: How has it been going?

Rick Caruso: All of the properties have really bounced back very quickly. I was out at Palisades yesterday, it was very busy. Americana has been very busy, so its good.

WWD: There is no trolley and no valet, but you have some new touchpoints.

R.C.: We have ambassadors who will gently and nicely let people know you need to be distant. Theyre walking around. And we have extensive cleaning protocols, and hand sanitizer everywhere. If you dont have a mask, we have masks for you. Our first obligation is to keep everyone as safe as we can, we want everyone to feel welcome and safe. And I think people are going to go where they feel that way.

WWD: As part of your new protocols, you teamed up with a doctor from USCs Keck School of Medicine. Do you think thats the way to go now for property owners and retailers, to enlist some branded medical expertise?

R.C.: One hundred percent. We also hired a full-time registered nurse in infectious disease and all that R.N. is doing is working with our cleaning crews, making sure the protocols are followed. She travels around to all the properties, including the hotel. I dont think that changes, even when the virus goes away or there is a vaccine or therapeutic, this whole idea that we care about you and are going to keep you safe and clean is critically important. We own our own restaurants, and at the hotel, when you put your head on the pillow, we want you to know youre safe.

WWD: What can retailers do to encourage people to come back to stores again?

R.C.: They have to reinforce their stores are safe that they have cleaning protocols. All the things were doing, our stores have been doing the same. You see we have lines outside Nike, Nordstrom is very busy. The Grove, all of our properties were fortunate to have a great loyalty to them so people are going to return. Second to being safe, they have to be relevant. A lot of these retailers have taken the time to reinvent themselves, theyve gotten better online, they have to deliver to stores and pick up in stores. All of that stuff is important and I dont think any of it is going away. Omnichannel is an important way to do business.

WWD: How have retail sales been at the properties since they opened?

R.C.: Conversion has been very high. People who are showing up are showing up with a mission in mind. The mission is to shop.

WWD: Are all of the tenants paying their rent?

R.C.: The smaller tenants and restaurateurs we have given a lot of relief to and support and we want to continue to do that. We will continue to support them until they get back in business. The larger tenants who have the wherewithal and capital to pay, we expect to be paid. But our collections have gone up dramatically, so we are doing well.

WWD: Is there anyone you will have to kick out?

R.C.: There may be but Im hoping not. Were different because were not trying to operate a 2 million-square-foot indoor mall. Were outdoors and people want to be outdoors.The sunshine is a natural disinfectant so it gives people comfort to be here anyway, and our properties are 700,000 square feet and they are all best-in-class retailers. Are there a few in-pain points, like J. Crew, yes, but they also didnt reject these leases because they know if they are going to come back, this is going to be a high likelihood where they will do well. So I think we are going to lose a couple of tenants unfortunately, but we have demand for space, were actually signing new leases. We just signed four new leases between here and Americana, so Im optimistic.

WWD: Palisades Village is an even smaller, more elevated and locally tailored experience, with Elyse Walker Towne, A.L.C., Jennifer Meyer and several other first-time retailers. Is that approach still going to be relevant in the new world?

R.C.: More relevant than ever. The Palisades has gained the most momentum because you have the support of the local community and now more than ever people want to stay pretty close to home. But what were also seeing in the last week is the zip codes that are coming into shop at the Palisades have expanded. So the smaller nature of it  its charming, its safe and feels comfortable, weve got great retail and fashion  thats really resonating. So were pulling a lot from Beverly Hills, Bel Air, were getting Calabasas. Its a pretty significant draw.

WWD: So overall, since you opened in 2018, its performed up to what you expected?

R.C.: Oh yeah, we were on an enormous trajectory until we stopped, but we have retailers there now that are already back to pre-closure levels.

WWD: Like who?

R.C.: Elyse Walker Towne, there are about three or four that are back. And the restaurants, Blue Ribbon Sushi and Hanks, are back to where they were.

WWD: There was a rumor that you gave incentives, lower rent or free rent to some tenants, to move in.

R.C.: Weve never given free rent to anybody in my career, we never would!

WWD: Do you see the potential to replicate the Palisades model in other places?

R.C.: Yes, and that was always designed to be a new format, a little more forward-thinking, smaller stores. Its worked as designed better than expected and we want to do more. We just need to find the locations where we can do it.

WWD: Its not promoting elitism in a city thats been accused of having an elitist problem?

R.C.: The beauty of our projects, no matter where they are located, is they are open to everybody. We dont put turnstiles on them. You look here and the Palisades, its every race, creed and economic status. Not at all. Were probably the most democratic of anybody.

WWD: You could see replicating it in other neighborhoods of Los Angeles that are not on the West Side?

R.C.: Oh yeah, absolutely.

WWD: What was it like to have the Black Lives Matter protests come to The Grove?

R.C.: It was scary, and it was scary to watch, and anguishing, Im grateful it wasnt worse. We lost seven storefronts; our team did an amazing job and had everything repaired in a matter of days. Everything pristine as you can see in a matter of days. But my anger was more about what happened around us, because I am a big proponent of small business, and all of these small businesses on Fairfax, Beverly, Melrose, they had been closed for 10 weeks. It was the first weekend they could come back and open their stores. They were fully stocked up. And the fact that the city didnt protect them, that there was so much looting and devastation, that really bothered me because all of our properties are part of a broader community and thats what we take pride in. We want to be part of the fabric of the community where you dont know where The Grove begins and ends, so to have our neighbors in that much pain was troubling. And I shared that frustration to the local authorities and I felt they failed us.

WWD: Do you think the LAPD should have handled it differently?

R.C.: I think the police were hampered by the local leaders. I know the LAPD, and I dont know what the standing orders were and whatnot, but I think the local leaders are the ones accountable for it, whether they are the elected or appointed officials. It was tough to watch, especially being a former police commissioner. It was tough to watch.

WWD: Were you here that day?

R.C.: We had a family weekend away, and probably the hidden blessing in that I was limited to CNN, I couldnt get a local station. So I wasnt watching the local news as it was happening. I probably would have been more frustrated, so I was getting reports over my phone and watching it on CNN.

WWD: The National Guard was stationed here for a while afterward. Did you request that?

R.C.: That was organized by the police, those were located where they thought there were flashpoints. What I learned is the National Guard comes in where there has already been destruction. So they were here at the Farmers Market, which had a lot of graffiti and looting. I was glad to see them here, though. I think they were calming to the local community and a deterrent to people looking to do something bad.

WWD: What can we do to bring communities together and end police brutality?

R.C.: We have to acknowledge racism is systemic, its been part of our society and its wrong and we have to call it out. And we need to get some leaders together who are really smart and really care and create some unity. Its not just about  and listen, there needs to be more police reform and there should be. The LAPD is a very good department, and we need to quickly root out where theres bad cops. But we need to help the communities hurting the most, the underprivileged communities, we need to invest in them and give them opportunity, they need to have better education and health care. I dedicated my time and resources to education in the Black and Latino communities. We need to do more than that. There shouldnt be so much of a difference between being here and being 20 minutes away, its just not right. We just have to acknowledge it and figure out ways to have everyone working together.

WWD: Do you have ideas about how you could incorporate businesses owned by people of color or businesses from other parts of the city into your properties?

R.C.: Were very open to that. Im a big proponent of small business, so Im very into that. If you take a look at all of our properties, we get small businesses from every community. And we want to do more of that.

WWD: What should business in general be doing about fixing systemic racism?

R.C.: We should all get our hands a little dirty, support local businesses, families and schools. And Im not talking about with just money, money is great, but actually go down and work there. Me and my family go to the schools, work with the kids, get to know the families. Walk around and see what the living conditions are like. Its bad, its very tough. We first have to gain knowledge and insight, open our minds and our hearts, understand how people are suffering and how they have been struggling. If you see it with your own eyes, it will change you. You will become a better person. Im not trying to be holier than thou, but for me, its changed my life. I cant imagine what they live with every day, and through that struggle how so many of these young kids take off and succeed. We have 80 kids in college out of the projects at Watts, Im talking about MIT, Harvard, Columbia, so we need to give people opportunity, an equal platform.

WWD: Whats your outlook for economic recovery?

R.C.: I think we are going to have a bumpy 2020, a bumpy 2021, who knows what will happen with the politics with the elected officials, so that will be up in the air. But I think there is a lot of optimism, and a lot of consumer confidence. I think if businesses readjust and retool and meet the customer where and how they want to be met, they are going to be mightily rewarded. Through that, the economy is going to come back. There has to be an alignment between Wall Street and Main Street. Wall Street cant continue to do well unless Main Street does well, because every one of these small shops, they are buying product from somebody, getting deliveries from UPS, that fuels their business, so the more we can get alignment, the economy will go back again.

WWD: How do you build those bridges?

R.C.: You have to get larger businesses that are dependent on smaller ones to have programs to support them. Just like we did. We leaned in, we said to small businesses, dont worry about rent, build your business back up, reach out to your customers, and its happening. The patios have people on them. UPS could say, if youre a small business, were going to give you a 75 percent discount the next 90 days. The better your customers are doing, the better you are going to do.

WWD: Will luxury will be slower to recover?

R.C.: I think there are still people who will want luxury. I do think there is probably a bit of a shift in everybodys mind on priorities. We have all lived through this pandemic where there is a silent killer and you know people who have got sick or died, and it does readjust your priorities quickly. But I dont think luxury is going away. Human nature is people will want some nice things. All the boats will rise in the tide.

WWD: How do you keep the community sense that your properties are known for, in a time when people have to be distant?

R.C.: You set out rules that make sense from a science standpoint, so everyone understands it and is respectful. You also have to believe in people self-regulating. We need human contact, fellowship and conversation. And you have to create beautiful spaces; it doesnt happen overnight.

WWD: How do you rate the response to the economic crisis?

R.C.: Gavin [Newsom] is doing a good job. But he has a very tough task ahead of him  hes going to have a massive budget deficit. The federal government, especially the Treasury, the federal support thats been out there financially, has been good. Its been a savior. The small business loans have really kept the economy going. The amount of money the Treasury has put into the economy has stabilized the economy.

WWD: Do you think that needs to keep going and not stop now?

R.C.: Yes, absolutely.

WWD: Has this crisis moment made you think seriously about entering politics?

R.C.: Right now, my focus is on getting the properties opened up, and getting the neighborhoods around us supported. I want to lean into Operation Progress and what we do in the inner city, thats my focus. The election is a couple of years away, so Ive got time.

WWD: What are your benchmarks for evaluating how your business is recovering?

R.C.: Our little micro-set is going to be the performance of our properties. We have been open a week, the numbers are better than I expected. If that continues, it will be a positive sign.

WWD: Can you share any numbers?

R.C.: No.

WWD: What has warmed your heart?

R.C.: Honestly, this does. Its a good crowd here. Like Elyse Walker getting back to her numbers, the restaurants getting back. Thats a positive sign. Weve created and have an atmosphere that gives people the opportunity to come back. We have a platform that motivates people to come out and thats what you need right now, because all of us are still a little scared, right? You hear bad news every day, you come here, there is no bad news. Thats why people come here!

WWD: Do you think fashion will have a harder time bouncing back?

R.C.: I think technology will continue to take off, because were all dependent on it, so are the Apples and Samsungs. Home improvement is doing well. The biggest issue for fashion or any store is are you relevant to your customer? Or are you a disconnect that people dont think about? Then you have to reinvent yourself.

WWD: Do you see a day when there might not be a J. Crew or Gap at The Grove?

R.C.: Gap is super productive, we just got their numbers. This is a really big store for them, at The Grove, and it bounced back quickly. J. Crew, historically I have loved that brand, I was a massive fan and still am of Mickey Drexler. But they have to reinvent themselves. It just depends with innovation and ingenuity if they can connect with the customer again. They had it once, Im sure they can do it again.

WWD: I heard the rates at your hotel in Montecito are higher than they were the last time last year, and youre almost at full occupancy.

R.C.: Its off the charts. You have a beautiful resort on a beautiful beach thats an hour and a half away from millions of people. Right now, and this isnt going to change for a long time, people want to get in their car and drive and not go to an airport, not get on a plane, not hassle traveling and were booked. Were slammed and actually hiring more people because we are so busy up there. The spa is not open, but the pool, the beaches, bar and restaurants are open. The trick up there is God created a beautiful set, our team did an incredible job designing it and its all outdoors. You dont have to share a corridor or elevator, you walk straight to your room, you are standing on that beach and watch the sunset, its pretty glorious.

WWD: Do you see more of a merging of hospitality and retail in the future?

R.C.: Absolutely, and we have been doing that for years.

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Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh's press statement at media interaction in Moscow

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 23 JUN 2020 9:48PM by PIB Delhi

Following is the text of statement issued to press by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh in Moscow on June 23, 2020:

I am in Moscow at the invitation of the Russian Ministry of Defence to attend the 75th Anniversary of Victory Day Parade which is a most auspicious occasion for Russia and the whole world. As we remember and pay tribute to the immense sacrifice of the Russian people for victory in the Second World War. 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. Therefore, it is a great honor that an Indian Military contingent will be marching in the Red Square tomorrow. This is a sign of everlasting friendship between the armed forces of both our countries.

My 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. We look forward to the visit of His Excellency President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, later this year.

India-Russia relations are one of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Our defence relationship is one of its important pillars. I had an opportunity to review our defence relationship with Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov and I thank him for the honour for visiting me in this 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 response from the Russian side. I am fully satisfied with my discussions. Earlier this morning, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar had discussions with his counterpart Deputy Defence Minister Fomin. I can say with confidence that the traditional friendship between India & Russia remain strong. Our mutual interests are solid and we look to future cooperation in the spirit of our special friendship.

I look forward to participating in the 75th Victory Parade tomorrow. I convey my greetings to the friendly people of Russia, specially the veterans, who have contributed so much to our common security.

***

ABB/SS/Nampi/KA/DK/Savvy/ADA



(Release ID: 1633803)

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SACRAMENTO  Gov. Gavin Newsom could withhold financial relief from local governments in the upcoming state budget if they do not follow guidelines that he says are necessary to tamp down the spike in coronavirus cases in California.

The budget deal with legislative leaders announced this week ties $750 million in funding to replace lost tax revenue for county services, as well as $1.3 billion for counties and $500 million for cities from the federal bailout package, to local governments compliance with the stay-at-home order and other state requirements on the coronavirus response.

Newsom, through his Department of Finance, could order state officials not to send local governments their portion of the money if they do not certify they are following the rules, which include a new mandate for Californians to wear masks nearly everywhere outside the home.

At a news conference Wednesday, the governor said that authority would give him leverage over those who simply thumb their nose at state guidelines. He did not specify how cities and counties would be expected to prove their compliance, though he added that he was trying to encourage good behavior rather than punish bad behavior.

We give an enormous amount of power, control and authority to local government, but what were now looking for is accountability, Newsom said.

Since the state rolled out its requirement for face coverings last week, county sheriffs and local police chiefs from Orange County to Sacramento have announced that they do not plan to enforce the order. The mayor of Nevada City, in Nevada County, encouraged residents to defy the mandate to prevent all of us from slipping down the nasty slope of tyranny.

Newsom, who has previously used state regulatory agencies to pressure businesses and local governments that defied his lockdown measures, said Wednesday that the power of the purse would give him another tool.

If counties that have submitted that they need more state money to address this pandemic but are unwilling to enforce the rules and laws related to mitigate that pandemic, it seems not only counterintuitive that you would continue to provide those resources, but actually harmful to the broader effort, he said.

California reported a record 7,149 new cases of the coronavirus Tuesday, Newsom said, which he attributed not only to an increase in testing but also a rising rate of positive tests. The state has recorded more than 12,000 cases in the past two days.

Hospitalizations of coronavirus patients have grown by 29% over the past two weeks, to 4,095, though the governor noted that is only a fraction of the states capacity.

Newsom blamed the spread on more Californians venturing out of their homes to visit family and friends, which he suggested was threatening the ability of the state to continue reopening its economy.

Many of us, understandably, developed a little cabin fever. Some, I would argue, have developed a little amnesia. Others have just, frankly, taken down their guard, he said. It is our behaviors that are leading to these numbers, and we are putting peoples lives at risk.

Earlier this week, Newsom acknowledged that he might have to shut down businesses again if the state loses control of its coronavirus outbreak. He released a video with former governors Jerry Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gray Davis and Pete Wilson encouraging the public to wear masks.

On Wednesday, Newsom pleaded with the public to continue washing their hands, wearing face coverings and avoiding large crowds and intimate gatherings.

Consider others in your life and strangers. Love thy neighbors like yourself, he said. If you cannot practice physical distancing, then are you practicing love?

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 01:56:49|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, June 23 (Xinhua) -- At least one people was killed and eight others were wounded on Tuesday in flash floods in Turkey's biggest city Istanbul, local authorities said.

"A 30-year-old Syrian died in the flood in the Esenyurt district," Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya told reporters on the scene.

He added that a total of eight people were wounded across the city, including three Syrian children.

Rescue teams pulled out the children from a flooded apartment in Esenyurt, Yerlikaya said, noting that they had been rushed to nearby hospitals and all were in good condition.

Heavy downpours hit the megacity with a population of over 16 million in the afternoon, causing flash floods.

Many vehicles and pedestrians were trapped, and a landslide occurred at a parking lot in the European part, causing excessive damages.

Following the rainfall, strong winds swept across the city, blowing the roofs off some buildings and bringing down several trees.

The electricity went out in various neighborhoods on the European side of the city. Enditem
Black Lives Matter protests across the United States haven't caused a spike in coronavirus cases like health experts had initially feared, new research shows.

A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research used cellphone data to track protests held in 280 large cities across the US and found no evidence, overall, that the demonstrations contributed to significant increases in COVID-19 cases.

Researchers say that even though hundreds of thousands of protesters crowded the streets in the weeks after George Floyd's death in Minneapolis, social distancing surprisingly increased in large cities with major protests.

The study suggests that social distancing went up in some of those cities as people tried to avoid the protests and stayed home, which in turn offset the behaviors of the demonstrators.

'While the protests themselves were large gatherings that do not match well with social distancing guidelines, the protesting population is not the only one that may have a behavioral response,' the study read.

A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research used cellphone data to track protests held in 280 large cities across the US and found no evidence, overall, that the demonstrations contributed to significant increases in COVID-19 cases. Protesters are pictured above in New York City on Tuesday

'For example, other individuals who did not wish to participate in the protests, perhaps due to fear of violence from police clashes or general unrest, may have chosen to avoid public spaces while protests were underway.

'This could have an offsetting effect, increasing social distancing behavior in other parts of the population.'

The study used cellphone data from SafeGraph to track the timing of the protests compared to the number of people staying home.

It also used COVID-19 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to compare case growth in those cities.

While researchers say the evidence doesn't point to a substantial spread due to protests, the study does point out that protesters could have caused an increase in the spread of the virus.

The study includes an analysis of 13 counties where protests were held and only one - Maricopa County in Arizona - saw an increase in cases around the time of the protests.

'With the exception for Maricopa County, Arizona, we find essentially no evidence that protests contributed to significant or substantial increases in COVID-19 during the period following protest onset,' the study read.

Arizona, which is now a virus hotspot, is currently seeing a record numbers of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Meanwhile, activists in South Carolina have halted future protests after at least 13 demonstrators tested positive for coronavirus.

The study used cellphone data from SafeGraph to track the timing of the protests compared to the number of people staying home. It also used COVID-19 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to compare case growth in those cities. The study includes an analysis of 13 counties where protests were held and only one - Maricopa County in Arizona - saw an increase in cases around the time of the protests

Organizers of 'I Can't Breathe' protests in South Carolina said the protesters who tested positive had marched in Columbia between May 30 and June 17.

Among the 13 infected were four organizers, three photographers and four protesters.

Organizer Lawrence Nathaniel has since urged protesters not to attend any further demonstrations until they get tested.

'We need to do our part,' he said. 'Go get tested. Don't come to a protest until you get tested, okay?'

Separate data from the PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia forecasts that cities like New York and Minneapolis will continue to see a downward trend of new cases over the next month if current social distancing measures are maintained.

The study's finding came as Dr Anthony Fauci told Congress on Tuesday that the next few weeks would be critical to tamping down a disturbing coronavirus surge as he pleaded with Americans to wear masks and avoid crowds.

The US on Tuesday reported 34,700 new cases of the virus. There have been only two previous days that the US has reported more cases: April 9 and April 24, when a record 36,400 cases were logged.

New cases in the US have been surging for more than a week after trending down for over six weeks.

While early hot spots like New York and New Jersey have seen cases steadily decrease, the virus has been hitting the south and west.

Separate data from the PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia forecasts that cities like New York City (above) and Minneapolis will continue to see a downward trend of new cases over the next month if current social distancing measures are maintained

The PolicyLab forecasts show COVID-19 cases leveling out in Minneapolis where George Floyd protests first broke out last month following George Floyd's death

Troubling surges worsened on Tuesday in several states with Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada and Texas setting single-day records for new coronavirus cases.

Some governors are also now saying they'll consider reinstating restrictions or delaying plans to ease up in order to help slow the spread of the virus.

Arizona, where Trump was headed for a speech at a Phoenix megachurch, reported a new daily record of nearly 3,600 additional coronavirus infections Tuesday. Arizona emerged as a COVID-19 hot spot after Republican Gov. Doug Ducey lifted his stay-home orders in mid-May. Last week he allowed cities and counties to require masks in public places and many have done so.

Texas surpassed 5,000 new cases for a single day for the first time - just days after it eclipsed 4,000 new cases for the first time - as America's largest pediatric hospital began taking adult patients to free up bed space in Houston. The infection rate in Texas has doubled since late May.

Nevada surpassed a record one-day increase for the fourth time in the past eight days. Other states also were experiencing surges, including Louisiana, Utah and South Carolina.

Another worrisome trend: an increase in infections among young adults.

Fauci said while COVID-19 tends to be less severe in younger people, some of them do get very sick and even die. Younger people also may be more likely to show no symptoms yet still spread the virus.

About 2.3 million Americans have now been infected and more than 120,000 have died during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The US on Tuesday reported 34,700 new cases of the virus. There have been only two previous days that the US has reported more cases: April 9 and April 24, when a record 36,400 cases were logged
Several Asian countries that have eased COVID-19 restrictions have in the past weeks reported new outbreaks of the disease prompting fears of a second wave that could cripple the region.

Health authorities in South Korea said for the first time this week said the country is in the midst of a "second wave" of novel coronavirus infections around Seoul, driven by small but persistent outbreaks stemming from a holiday in May.

KCDC director Jeong Eun-kyeong said it had become clear that a holiday weekend in early May marked the beginning of a new wave of infections focused in the densely populated greater Seoul area, which had previously seen few cases.

In the metropolitan area, we believe that the first wave was from March to April as well as February to March," Jeong said at a regular briefing. "Then we see that the second wave which was triggered by the May holiday has been going on.

At the end of February, South Korea reported a peak of more than 900 cases in a day, in the first large outbreak of the coronavirus outside of China.

An intensive tracking and testing campaign reduced the numbers to single digits by late April.

But just as the country announced it would be easing social distancing guidelines in early May, new cases spiked, driven in part by infections among young people who visited nightclubs and bars in Seoul over the holiday weekend.

"We originally predicted that the second wave would emerge in fall or winter," Jeong said. "Our forecast turned out to be wrong. As long as people have close contact with others, we believe that infections will continue."

As of midnight last Sunday, South Korea reported 17 new coronavirus cases, the first time in nearly a month that daily new cases had dropped below 20. It was a drop from the 48 and 67 cases reported in the previous two days.

Chinas second outbreak is centred in Beijing, with at least 184 new cases reported since last week, as authorities cancelled scores of domestic flights, banned outbound travel and imposed a partial lockdown.

On the prospect of dealing with the second wave of the coronavirus, experts generally agree that regional governments appear to be better prepared to cope after the substantive experience they have gathered tackling the initial outbreak of the pandemic, reported SCMP.com.

However, analysts also point out that challenges remain, especially in maintaining vigilance and ensuring that small clusters are swiftly contained so they will not morph into bigger and more uncontrollable infections.

Paul Ananth Tambyah, president of the Asia-Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection, said countries and communities most at risk of a second wave were those with ongoing cases of local transmission, with daily numbers in the hundreds or thousands.

Although it could be argued that this is still the tail end of the first wave, there are likely to be multiple chains of transmission in those countries which have not been cut off, Tambyah said.

Countries with high infections that Tambyah alluded to include India, which last Friday recorded the highest one-day spike of 13,586 coronavirus cases, raising the total to 380,532, the fourth highest in the world, after the United States, Brazil and Russia. Its death toll stood at 12,573.

In neighbouring Pakistan, 136 more deaths were reported on Friday, bringing coronavirus-related fatalities to 3,229 and overall infections to 165,062.

In Indonesia, the country has boosted sample testing to meet President Joko Widodos target of 20,000 per day. The country reported 1,331 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, its biggest daily increase since the outbreak started locally, bringing the total number of cases to 42,762. Fatalities stood at 2,339.

In the clearest sign that the pandemic is here to stay, countries that have overcome the first wave are now gearing up to stem the emergence of a second wave.

Also worrisome is the situation in Japan, where health experts say there is a high likelihood of a second wave of the coronavirus hitting the country.

Officials in Tokyo confirmed 41 new coronavirus infections last Thursday, marking the third time in the week that the capital logged more than 40 cases in a day. This brings the total cases in Tokyo to 5,674.

According to Kazuhiro Tateda, president of the Japan Association of Infectious Diseases (JAID) and a member of the committee set up by the government to combat the spread of the virus, many of the recent cases in Tokyo can be traced back to the citys nightlife districts.

Tateda said that even though these clusters were easier to control as they were linked to traceable parts of the city, there was always the risk of more localized outbreaks.

We do know that there is a lower risk of transmission in the summer months, which means that there is a chance of a second wave  from October onwards, Tateda added.

in the Philippines, officials earlier said that health had been given priority over the economy as the government scrambled to establish additional medical and quarantine facilities during the lockdown with the aim of better responding to the pandemic.

While some countries already dismantled their lockdowns, Oxford Economics warned that the second wave of infections is the key risk.

The recent pick-up in COVID-19 cases in some economies has prompted renewed concerns of a second wave of the pandemic, it said.

A rise in cases could hit activity either by triggering greater voluntary social distancing, or by the renewed imposition of restrictions on movement at a national or regional level in the worst-affected economies, Oxford Economics said. This could push many economies back into recession, it added.

In a separate report last Wednesday titled Plotting recovery paths, Oxford Economics head of India and Southeast Asia economics Priyanka Kishore and economist Thatchinamoorthy Krshnan placed India, the Philippines and Indonesia at the bottom of the pack in the region in its recovery scorecard.

All three are clearly still struggling to get past the peak of the pandemic, which is a major headwind to their outlooks, they said.
A "liquidity-driven boom" is creating a dislocation between the real economy and the financial markets and a correction is likely "somewhere along the line," according to Piyush Gupta, the chief executive of DBS Group Holdings of Singapore.

Speaking at the Bloomberg Invest Global virtual conference on Tuesday, the head of Southeast Asia's biggest banking group said the amount of stress on the real economy will be "huge" after months of lockdowns from New York to Singapore because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The viral outbreak last quarter caused a slump in economies from the US to China and Europe "unlike anything the world has seen before," according to the IMF, while stock-market losses have evoked some parallels to the Great Depression era. The threat of a second wave of infections in recent weeks are threatening an early rebound, putting policymakers on notice for more liquidity stimulus.

"Everything suggests the recovery is going to be long and drawn out, including in China," Gupta said. "I don't think this V-shaped recovery is going to persist. China needs demand from the rest of the world as well."

Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Group Holdings of Singapore. Photo: Reuters alt=Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Group Holdings of Singapore. Photo: Reuters

The global economy is in for an extended period of slow growth, he said, making it hard to justify strong corporate earnings. Without that backing, it is equally hard to justify that markets will rise forever, he added.

"It is my belief the market has gotten ahead of where the economy will be in six months. So, we are ripe for some consolidation," Andrew Slimmon, Head of Applied Equity Advisors Team at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, said in a report on June 22. The current disconnect, however, should become "less acute" as the economy reopens, he wrote.

Duncan Lamont, Head of Research and Analytics at Schroder, said "false dawns" are an unfortunately common occurrence in financial-market history, according to a research report published this week.

Story continues

"We've seen some stock markets stage remarkable comebacks since the precipitous falls of March," he said. "This doesn't mean we're out of the woods yet though."

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in April that the global economy was projected to contract sharply this year, at a pace much worse than the global financial crisis in 2008. The outlook has not improved dramatically as countries and cities that have opened up are experiencing second and third waves of the coronavirus.

Gita Gopinath, the IMF's chief economist, said in a June 16 blog post earlier this month that the IMF's upcoming World Economic Outlook Update is "likely to show negative growth rates even worse than previously estimated". The update is set to be unveiled on Wednesday.

Speaking on the same panel at Tuesday's Bloomberg conference, Filippo Gori, the Asia-Pacific CEO of JPMorgan Chase, said a lot of emotions are "running wild" among investors right now, particularly as they react to geopolitical headlines and government stimulus efforts.

" Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020

"My personal view is governments are trying to help the economies get back on their feet. They've done well in doing it exceptionally fast," he said. "It is a long process. I don't think we have yet seen the end of this crisis."

Markets in Hong Kong and other parts of Asia swung wildly on Tuesday morning as White House adviser Peter Navarro told Fox News that a Phase 1 trade deal between the US and China was "over." He later said his remarks were taken "wildly out of context."

President Donald Trump later tweeted the deal was "fully intact" as markets in Asia reacted to confusion over Navarro's comments.

Separate, Gori said JPMorgan's strategy in China had not changed in the face of rising US-China tensions, which is to be present for both the international and Chinese clients, especially when it comes to cross-border situations.

"In the last few years, the flows both inbound and outbound that we have seen coming from China have been particularly remarkable," he added. "Our strategy, for the time being, remains the same, which is to keep on investing in the country and helping our customers and clients in what are their business needs."

JPMorgan has had a presence in the country since 1921 and is stepping up its business in the mainland.

It received approval last week to operate the first fully foreign-woned futures business in China, its asset-management arm agreed in April to buy out its joint venture partner in its mainland mutual fund business and received the go-ahead in December to start operating a majority-owned securities joint venture.

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.
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An eight-bedroom townhouse in London's upmarket Marylebone area, once owned by Victorian retail lawyer Christopher Bicknell and let to famous musicians in the 1960s and 1970s, has gone up for sale at 9.75 million.

The elegant Grade II listed Georgian home covers 5,043 square feet and stands on Manchester Street, which was named after local owner the Duke of Manchester and the house was built in the 1790s under the auspices of Viscount Portman and family.

During the Victorian era, between the 1840s and 1890s, the Manchester Street townhouse was owned by leading retail lawyer Christopher Bicknell, whose practice Bicknell & Co advised the newly emerging retailers of Oxford Street and Marylebone High Street (formerly residential addresses) on product patents, copyright law and shopper's legal rights.

In the 1960s and 1970s rooms in the house were rented out by local neighbour Ken Pitt, who owned an adjacent flat at 39 Manchester Street. Ken, who died in 2019 aged 97, was a talent manager and publicist who managed the career of leading musicians during the 1960s and 1970s with clients included David Bowie, Danny Purches and rockband Manfred Mann.

Ken would house young up-and-coming artists at his flat or rent rooms for them in the adjacent property now for sale. In the late 1990s the house returned to private ownership and accommodation, which remains its current status.

The double fronted townhouse currently boasts eight generously sized traditionally-themed bedrooms, two large living rooms with double fronted windows, a study and a conservatory over four floors - and has planning consent to remodel & install passenger lift, lavish rooms, cinema, cocktail bar, gym & VIP bedroom suites.

An eight-bedroom townhouse in London's upmarket Marylebone area, once owned by Victorian retail lawyer Christopher Bicknell and let to famous musicians in the 1960s and 1970s, has gone up for sale at 9.75 million

The elegant Grade II listed Georgian home covers 5,043 square feet and boasts two large living rooms with double fronted windows (one is seen, boasting traditional decor)

The double fronted townhouse currently boasts eight generously sized traditionally-themed bedrooms over four floors (one is pictured)

The street was named after local owner the Duke of Manchester and the house was built in the 1790s under the auspices of Viscount Portman and family. In keeping with Georgian elegance, the four storey townhouse has an understated brick facade with white stone render at ground level.

During the Victorian era, between the 1840s and 1890s, the Manchester Street townhouse was owned by leading retail lawyer Christopher Bicknell.

Retail law, which Bicknell specialised in, is based on English historic legal customs, known as 'tort law' (righting wrongs), which date back to Roman law and the origins of Oxford Street, which was built by the Romans, when it was known as Via Trinobantina.

Via Trinobantina served as an open-air market and in Roman times, people stealing goods, or vendors selling rotten food, could be flogged or hanged.

The home has maintained its Georgian feel and boasts plush carpets and traditional decor and wallpaper - however has planning consent to remodel & install passenger lift, lavish rooms, cinema, cocktail bar, gym & VIP bedroom suites

Another living area shows chandeliers, traditional curtains, and quaint furniture - but the generous spaces in such a central area of London really seal the deal

The bright and airy conservatory boasts a home gym overlooking the outdoor area, and could also be turned into a luxurious living space

By the Victorian era it had been established that a retailer had a legal 'duty of care' and from 1796 patents (intellectual or product property rights) could be taken out on all manner of retail goods.

Advising retailers on buying houses and turning them into shops, issuing patents and dealing with shoplifting prosecutions kept Bicknell & Co extremely busy.

The firm advised retailers such as John Lewis (1936-1928), the founder of Oxford Street's John Lewis store, which opened in 1864 as a small drapery shop.

Bicknell often agreed deals with clients in his townhouse, so it is possible that the leases on some of Oxford Street's most famous shops were originally founded in the Manchester Street property.

Ken Pitt (1922-2019) (seen left) was a talent manager and publicist who managed the career of leading musicians during the 1960s and 1970s with clients included David Bowie, seen right, Danny Purches and rockband Manfred Mann

A fascinating black and white photo of Oxford Street in 1908 shows the department store Selfridges under construction

In the 1960s and the house was adapted and used to provide first rented rooms and later staff accommodation,making use of the current large number of eight bedrooms.

Jeremy Gee, Managing Director of Beauchamp Estates - who estimate a refurbishment could boost the market value to 12 million - said: 'This large family house in the heart of Marylebone has a varied history, originally owned by the leading retail lawyer of the Victorian era who helped to create Oxford Street as it is today.

'During the 1960s and 1970s rooms in the property were rented out to young musicians who would later become famous household names. Now it provides a discerning end user buyer or investor with a unique opportunity to remodel it into a luxurious contemporary family home, complete with a lift, cinema and home gymnasium.'
You are not alone if you have felt an overwhelming urge to pinch yourself while listening to political interviews lately. Are they dreaming? Are we?

Yesterday was a prime example. There was a twin charm offensive from the leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on the national airways to convince recalcitrant party members of the merits of their deal. In a sign of the new detente that exists between the old enemies, both men trotted out identikit lines.

Speaking on RTE's 'Morning Ireland', Micheal Martin warned that a rejection of the deal would create "a political crisis for all concerned". Meanwhile, on 'Newstalk Breakfast', Leo Varadkar said a failure to do a deal would precipitate "a political crisis".

I can't have been the only one shouting at the radio, imploring the party leaders to look around. They may not have noticed, but we are already mired in a deep political crisis.

It is now more than four months since the election, the current caretaker Government has no mandate, it has been unable to pass legislation since the end of March, more than one million people are reliant on some kind of State income support and a deficit of 30bn is looming by the end of the year. I could go on. Deadlines are down to the wire now, given legislation which underpins the Special Criminal Court needs to be renewed by Tuesday, but the leisurely pace of the negotiations is to blame for that.

The country has been trundling along for months, its direction of travel set by public health experts, with politicians elected in February happy to take a back seat. Now they are arguing about who should grasp the steering wheel before we go over a cliff.

Not to be outdone in the surreal stakes, the Green Party, which has been riven by the prospect of going into government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, brought out the big guns to restore harmony. The Incredible Hulk.

Now, the Incredible Hulk may be very green, but it's doubtful the musings of actor Mark Ruffalo will butter many parsnips among Green Party members when it comes to social justice issues like housing and health.

Were Green Party members supposed to be fangirled into voting for the deal on the basis that Ruffalo deigned to get on a Zoom call with Eamon Ryan? Someone pass me the smelling salts.

If the party leadership had any cop on, they would have invited a respected climate scientist or housing expert to speak about the deal and attempt to assuage the concerns of members, two-thirds of whom need to endorse the plan for it to pass.

An easy way to win hearts and minds would be to publish details of the affordable housing scheme that is planned by the new coalition. Fianna Fail has been telling us for years that it has been working on such a scheme. Where is it? Why isn't it in the programme for government and ready to go?

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also popped up on the radio yesterday in an interview with RTE's 'Today with Sarah McInerney'. Ms McDonald wanted to reassure a jittery nation that Sinn Fein is waiting in the wings to save the day.

If a grand coalition is rejected at the end of this week, Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein and other parties for change could coalesce to form the "spine of a government" and a programme for government could then be published quite rapidly.

Ms McDonald may have plans to create the spine of a government, but what about its brain and central nervous system? If Sinn Fein was really interested in forming a government, it would have already agreed a programme with smaller, like-minded parties.

Instead, over a period of more than four months, it has singularly failed to get an agreement on anything with other parties and has instead been biding its time waiting for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael's efforts to fail.

Sinn Fein supporters may attack the Green Party for considering coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, but the truth is their only route to government also involves a deal with one of those parties. It is also true that as soon as Fianna Fail is mooted as a coalition partner, People Before Profit and Rise TDs will abandon ship.

When I was growing up, and acting up, my Mayo father would routinely warn me to stop "messing and slobbering" - sage advice that the elites in our political system would be wise to take on board.

The programme for government contains the most radical environmental policy platform in the history of the State and, if the Green Party enters government, it will have three ministers and four junior ministers to ensure those policies are implemented.

Is the deal perfect? No. Is a better one on offer? That is extremely doubtful given Sinn Fein is just as wedded to road projects as Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and is opposed to a carbon tax.

So, can someone please inject a good dollop of reality into the political debate? The Green Party has 12 seats. Not 80. If the talks fail, it will not be easy to put together an alternative given the current Dail arithmetic. Those talks would also necessitate the Dail electing Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach on Saturday, on an interim basis, to allow important legislation to be passed.

Holding an election may ultimately provide the only solution to this impasse but doing that, at a time when the country is gingerly lifting restrictions that have kept a pandemic at bay, would be reckless and dangerous.

It would also be an indictment of the political system if politicians were unable to compromise, and work together, during a period of unparalleled national crisis.

The answer from the voters at the ballot box could well be a plague on all your houses.
The cross border tussle at the LAC in Ladakh coupled with the coronavirus pandemic has created a stir of anti-China sentiment among Indians calling to boycott Chinese smartphones and other products. However, Xiaomi India chief Manu Kumar Jain believes the sentiment is only limited to social media and is unlikely to affect the companys business in India.

In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Jain stated that Xiaomi is more Indian than any other smartphone brand. Over the past six years, Jain states that the company has brought its R&D, manufacturing and production team in India, generating employment for more than 50,000 locals.

Jain further stated that all Xiaomi smartphones and most of the brands other products are made in India. Moreover, 65 percent of the components required for these products are also sourced locally. There are companies whose phones are 100 percent made in China. There are so-called Indian companies who buy phones from China and rebrand them and sell in India. We are actually more Indian than any of them, Jain said.

Indias number one smartphone brands CEO also hopes that the India-China border face-off will not hamper the companys business here in India. I understand that there is a sentiment on social media but in reality, I dont think consumers will take this into account, Jain explained, reiterating PM Modis call for local for vocal. He further stated that Xiaomi is one of the highest tax-paying smartphone companies that also generates massive employments for Indians.

Jain further believes that the mass-sentiment does not prevail among everyone as the companys recently-launched products saw record sales. If this was a concern, we would not have sold over 1 lakh Redmi Earbuds. The best-selling brands achieve this in a quarter and we were able to meet that number in just a week, Jain said.
Plagiarism can be defined as using or lifting some other person's ideas and information without acknowledging that specific person as the source or giving them any credit. Even if some claim to draw 'inspiration' from another source, without making any changes or adding any original ideas to the craft, the work will be considered to be plagiarised. In Bollywood, films have been accused of plagiarism far too many times. From similar plotlines to action sequences to even poster art.

While some of these accusations are genuine, facing plagiarism charges can really shift the reputation of a film. Here are 7 instances when Bollywood films were accused of plagiarism.

1. Gulabo Sitabo

 IMDB

Gulabo Sitabo's scriptwriter Juhi Chaturvedi was accused of plagiarism by Akira Agarwal. He is the son of late writer Rajeev Agarwal who had submitted his story in 'Cinestaan Indias Storyteller Script Contest', of which Juhi was a jury member, claimed Akira's lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee. A legal notice was sent by advocate Rizwan Siddiquee on behalf of Akira Agarwal on the grounds of the film's plotline being too similar to the story submitted by Rajeev Agarwal.



2. Judgementall Hai Kya

 IMDB

A Hungarian visual artist, Flora Borsi accused the makers of Rajkummar Rao and Kangana Ranaut's Judgementall Hai Kya for plagiarising her work. She took to Facebook to point out the uncanny resemblance between her poster and Kangana's poster for the movie with a cat.



3. Hindi Medium

 IMDB

It was alleged in the past that the film Hindi Medium was lifted from the 2014 Bengali film Ramdhanu. The latter was written and directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee.



4. Dear Zindagi

 IMDB

Gauri Shindes film Dear Zindagi was accused of being a replica of the Canadian comedy-drama TV series Being Erica created by Jana Sinyor.



5. Raabta

 IMDB

The film Raabta, starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon almost did not get a release date when the makers of 2009 Telugu blockbuster film Magadheera alleged that Raabta was 'too inspired' from their film. However, the Telugu production house later withdrew the case against Raabta.



6. Mardaani

 IMDB

Director Mrityunjay Devvrat reportedly accused the producers of the film Mardaani, Yash Raj Films of blatantly lifting a couple of scenes from his film, Children of War.



7. Ghajini

 IMDB

The trailer of Aamir Khans film Ghajini was accused of having glaring similarities with Christopher Nolans neo-noir thriller Memento.

 IMDB

Other than that, the makers of Ghajini were also accused of lifting the poster art from the film, The Incredible Hulk.


Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Earthquake hits Mizoram for the fourth day

An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 on the Richter scale struck Mizoram on Wednesday morning, the fourth in the northeastern state in as many days. Read more

Yogi Adityanath to announce employment for 1 crore people on June 26

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will be making a record on June 26 by handing over employment to one crore people. The event will be held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hindustan further reported. Read more

Petrol, diesel prices revised further, two fuels now cost almost same in Delhi

Diesel price was increased on Wednesday for the 18th day in a row since June 7, taking the total hike during the period to Rs 10.49 a litre. While diesel will cost Rs 79.88 per litre after an increase by 48 paise, the price of petrol remained unchanged at Rs 79.76 or every litre in Delhi today. Read more

US freeze on H-1B visas to hit IT firms coping with travel curbs amid Covid-19 crisis

The US decision to freeze work visas, including the H-1B visa for highly skilled workers, till the year end will add to the troubles of Indian software services companies that are already struggling to cope with travel curbs amid the pandemic. Read more

When Sara Ali Khan paid emotional tribute to Sushant Singh Rajput for guiding her on Kedarnath

An old video of Sara Ali Khan praising her Kedarnath co-star Sushant Singh Rajput is being widely shared online. Sushant died by suicide last week, at the age of 34. He was suffering from depression. Read more

Sachin Tendulkars lookalike battles downsizing blues

Balvir Chand knows all about reflected glory, having soaked in the adulation for years as the spitting image of Sachin Tendulkar. Chand wasnt just sought after for pictures in the stands while the original tamed bowlers on the field, he was so convincing a duplicate he was made brand ambassador for a Mumbai food chain. Read more

Songs for succulents: Barcelona opera reopens with concert for plants

Barcelonas Liceu opera reopened its doors on Monday for the first time in over three months post the coronavirus-led lockdown to hold a concert, exclusively for a quiet, leafy audience of nearly 2,300 house plants. Read more

HT Salutes: Dehradun duo who distribute free milk packets across the city

Sukriti Sharma and Nitin Gaur are helping hundreds by distributing milk packets during the lockdown. The Uttarakhand duo runs a milk production unit named Moo Day which distributes free milk packets to the needy. Sharma and Gaur say profit is not everything in such times. Watch full video
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 23:46:44|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

MOSCOW, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) participated in Russia's Victory Day parade at Moscow's Red Square on Wednesday, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War.

During the parade, the PLA guard of honor escorted the Chinese national flag while marching across Red Square. It was the second time the guard had taken part in the event, after attending in 2015.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Russia postponed the annual Victory Day parade from the traditional date of May 9 for the first time since 1995, when the day was declared a national holiday. Enditem
Asia Cup could be staged in Sri Lanka or the UAE, says PCB chief executive

Pakistan were supposed to stage the tournament but with an upshot in Covid-19 cases, Wasim Khan has conceded that the event will likely have to be moved from its shores

The Asia Cup will take place this year, with either Sri Lanka or the UAE as its host, PCB chief executive Wasim Khan has said.

Pakistan were supposed to stage the tournament but with an upshot in Covid-19 cases, Khan has conceded that the event will likely have to be moved from its shores.

However, he stressed during a video media conference that the competition will take place. There have been suggestions that the Indian Premier League, postponed from April, could be moved into the October and November slot.

The Asia Cup will go ahead. The Pakistan team returns from England on September 2 so we can have the tournament in September or October, he said.

There are some things which will only get clear in the due course of time. We are hopeful of having the Asia Cup because Sri Lanka has not had too many cases of the Coronavirus. If they cant do it, then UAE is also ready.

Pakistan has had more than 185,000 confimed coronavirus cases and around 4,000 deaths, according to official records. Sri Lanka, by contrast, has reported around 2,000 cases.

The UAE, meanwhile, is beginning to open up its tourist industry.

The PCB is also hoping to stage the remaining five matches of the Pakistan Super League season in November, Khan said.

The league was suspended ahead of its knockout stage in March as Covid-19 spread across the world.

And Pakistan's players look like they will still take part in a full winter schedule.

We are to go to New Zealand in December after hosting Zimbabwe at home. South Africa are ready to tour in January-February to play two or three Tests and some T20 matches, Khan said.

The squad are due to fly to England on June 28 without 10 members, who are all in self-isolation after returning positive Covid-19 tests.
Noida: The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) on Wednesday (June 24) decided to dedicate the Sector-50 Metro Station on the Aqua Line to the Transgender Community and renamed it to 'Rainbow' station.

Earlier, NMRC had changed the name to 'she-man station' but the decision reportedly received backlash from the transgender community after which NMRC decided to re-name it to Rainbow station.

NMRC Managing Director Ritu Maheshwari on Wednesday said, "NMRC had received a number of suggestions from individuals and NGO's regarding a suitable name for the station which would correctly signify and represent the essence of this Community. Keeping these suggestions in mind, NMRC has decided to name the station as Rainbow station."

She added," NMRC has started this initiative with very noble intentions with the aim to empower the Transgender Community."

She also mentioned that NMRC will be providing them with employment opportunities to help them become self-reliant.

There will also be structural changes in terms of change in restroom infrastructure and creation of separate security check for the Trans Community, read the NMRC statement.

They stated:

1. NMRC will also be generating awareness about the Trans Community among its other commuters through its signages at its stations and announcements inside the trains and stations.

2. The NMRC staff will also be sensitized and trained to communicate with the trans community in a sensitive and cordial manner.

3. NMRC also plans to include members of the Trans community into its system by engaging the services of the community members in various aspects of the functioning of the NMRC system, like ticket counters and other areas through NMRCs deployed contractors. Transgenders will be provided proper training, like other NMRC employees, before being inducted into the NMRC system.

NMRC said that as per Census 2011, there are 4.9 lakh transgenders in India out of which 30,000  35,000 are staying in NCR.
Jacksonville police and the State Fire Marshals Office are investigating a fire at an Allen Avenue residence.

The fire about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday at 1241 Allen Ave. was contained to a single room, according to the Jacksonville Fire Department. Damage was estimated at $4,000 to $5,000.

Jacksonville Fire Chief Doug Sills said the fire is very suspicious in nature due to the evidence found at the scene.

The house was occupied at the time, but no injuries were reported.

Firefighters were on the scene about an hour.

 Rochelle Eiselt
Illustrative image. Source: internet

Banks are among the entities hardest-hit by the outbreak. As in the past, they may again sell their bad debt to Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC), which allows them to amortise provisioning costs over five years, further limiting the near-term impact on earnings.

According to global rating firm Fitch Ratings, non-performing loans (NPLs) of Vietnamese banks largely comprise of mortgages and personal business loans and are usually secured by property, which may help recovery prospects in the event of default. However, the debt resolution process can be protracted and hindered by the countrys evolving legal framework. Meanwhile, banks underwriting standards also remain largely untested.

Deputy chief inspector of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Tran Dang Phi noted the amount of soured loans has rallied since March, but said the situation is under control.

As cited from SBV statistics, by June the bad debt ratio of credit institutions was below 2 per cent, thus the ratio of the whole year may reach the target of below 3 per cent set in the prime ministers Decision No.1058/QD-TTg dated July 19, 2017 on approving the scheme to restructure credit institutions in combination with NPL resolution in the 2016-2020 period. From 2012 to the end of March, the entire sector handled more than VND1 quadrillion ($43.5 billion) of soured loans.

Nguyen Duc Thach Diem, general director of Sacombank, noted that in the first five months of 2020, the bank successfully auctioned VND9.7 trillion ($42.17 million).

However, despite the rapidly-growing segment, many are facing hindrances accessing the distressed assets.

For instance, Nguyen Mien Tuan, vice chairman of Sacombanks Board of Directors, admitted the process for auctioning the banks Phong Phu Industrial Park might be difficult, so Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee asked the bank to suspend the sale for further review.

Last month, state-owned lender BIDV announced the latest round of sales at The Era Town project in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 7, with 55 apartments being offered at a 5 per cent discount compared to its initial offer.

Accordingly, the real estate products are on trade at VND2.08-5.26 billion ($90,400-228,700) each. On the other hand, some analysts cautioned the higher asset value is, the fewer buyers would be interested. Projects with total value above VND30 billion ($1.3 million) pale in comparison with lower-value ones.

Meanwhile, foreign bank branches, such as Mizuho Bank, Citibank, Bangkok Bank, and MUFG Bank have recorded a low NPL ratio  the total bad loans of these branches reached VND126 billion ($5.6 million), making up for 0.04 per cent of the whole system.

This is probably because these foreign lenders are focusing on their mainly deep-pocketed customers.

Our customer base has been so far so good, and we havent recognised much of a spike in the NPL ratio. But I dont think selling distressed assets is a sign of a stagnant economy. In fact, commercial banks should explore new solutions to get rid of NPLs in different mechanisms, said Nirukt Sapru, CEO for Vietnam and ASEAN and South Asia Cluster Markets at Standard Chartered Bank.

VAMC, as reported by VIR, is preparing the foundation to set up a so-called bad debt exchange platform for 2020-2021, where investors can buy and sell distressed assets easily. This year, the company aims to settle NPLs worth VND50 trillion ($1.25 billion).

However, VAMCs current charter capital of VND2 trillion ($87 million), which is relatively modest, will itself hinder the firms potential to cover more loans from commercial banks.

In recent years, much has been done to improve the procedural requirements for registering a mortgage of land use rights in favour of a domestic lender, and this has freed up large amounts of capital for the development of residential and commercial properties across the country, said Frederick Burke, principal at Baker McKenzie Vietnam.

However, foreign lenders cannot take a direct security interest or mortgage of land use rights in Vietnam. Therefore, they have to co-operate with local banks who may not have a balance sheet strong enough to meet the mandatory prudential requirements applicable to both domestic and foreign lenders.

There are plenty of foreign investors who can deploy various forms of debt and equity capital to take stakes in struggling Vietnamese property companies at the shareholders level, as has happened in the financially hard times Vietnam has experienced in years past, Burke told VIR.

For example, China is now embracing foreign funds as the country grapples with a tide of bad debts. Some US firms, including Oaktree Capital Group and Bain Capital Credit, have already been pushing into one of the worlds largest distressed debt markets.
Mumbai, June 24 : Labels do not matter to him as he believes in his talent, says Anil Kapoor. The veteran actor has explained why he feels this way while talking about becoming a star, a superstar then a flop star and finally a supporting actor, in his latest Instagram post. He feels, he has stood the test of time.

Anil Kapoor spoke about this while going down memory lane, while remembering his first film as a solo hero, "Woh 7 Din", which released 37 years ago on June 23, 1983.

"Got so involved in my work today as usual as I always look forward and not at the past .. but still, there are some milestones in your life you should not forget...#37YearsOfWoh7Din, 37 years of being a star actor, always been tradeable, accessible, working and making choices... good...bad...great...sometimes even if they might not have seemed right at the time but have always stood the test of time," he wrote.

"Started as an actor, become a star...super star according to the trade....then a flop star...rose as a star again...international star...supporting actor....evergreen star and the list goes on... labels never really mattered to me nor did I ever take them seriously..." "I have always been aware of my talent and caliber...just wanted to feed my love and hunger for work...37 years later it's still the same and hopefully by the grace of almighty will continue to remain the same...." "A Big Thank You to all my fans, filmmakers, co-actors & crews that I have worked with.... and of course my family for being my backbone....," Anil Kapoor wrote on Instagram.

On the work front, Anil Kapoor will next be seen in Anees Bazmee's "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2", starring Karthik Aaryan, Kiara Advani and Tabu. The film is a follow-up to Priyadarshan's 2007 horror comedy "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" that starred Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan.
Actor Elizabeth Hurley paid tribute to her ex, Hollywood producer and film financier Steve Bing, who died on Monday at the age of 55. In a heartfelt note shared on social media, she called the news devastating and remembered him as a sweet, kind man. Bing is the father of Hurleys son Damian.

I am saddened beyond belief that my ex Steve is no longer with us. It is a terrible end. Our time together was very happy and Im posting these pictures because although we went through some tough times, its the good, wonderful memories of a sweet, kind man that matter. In the past year we had become close again. We last spoke on our sons 18th birthday. This is devastating news and I thank everyone for their lovely messages, she wrote.

Im saddened beyond belief that Steve is no longer with us. Our time together was very happy & although there were some tough times, the memories of a sweet, kind man are what matter. We became close again in the last year & last spoke on our sons 18th. This is devastating news. pic.twitter.com/aivYc5lL3x  Elizabeth Hurley (@ElizabethHurley) June 23, 2020

The New York Times reports that Bing jumped from the balcony of his 27th-floor apartment on Monday. His death was confirmed by the Los Angeles County coroner.

Bing was known for financing The Polar Express (2004) and Beowulf (2007). He also co-wrote the screenplay and story of Kangaroo Jack (2003).

Also read: Chris Hemsworth almost lost Thor role, Kevin Feige warned him Marvel fans are going to eat us alive

In an Instagram post shared after his fathers death, Damian Hurley said that it was a very strange and confusing time for him. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has reached out following the devastating news. Im trying to reply to as many of you as I can, but please know I will always remember your kindness. This is a very strange and confusing time and Im immensely grateful to be surrounded by my phenomenal family and friends, he wrote.

I loved Steve Bing very much. He had a big heart, and he was willing to do anything he could for the people and causes he believed in. I will miss him and his enthusiasm more than I can say, and I hope hes finally found peace.  Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) June 23, 2020

Former US President Bill Clinton also paid tribute to Bing. I loved Steve Bing very much. He had a big heart, and he was willing to do anything he could for the people and causes he believed in. I will miss him and his enthusiasm more than I can say, and I hope hes finally found peace, he wrote on Twitter.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
In the latest development in the ongoing border tensions between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, both the countries have arrived at a mutual consensus to disengage on their disputed eastern Ladakh boundary, Army sources said on Tuesday after detailed talks between Corps Commanders on Monday. In the week since the India-China clash, a conspicuous feature has been the silence of China's 'all-weather friend' and economic dependent Pakistan. However, it has emerged that India's western neighbour has been surreptitiously involved in a plot at its end.

Pakistan pushing 'anti-India' propaganda

Since the past two weeks, cyber warfare by China has been taking place on the Indian websites and it has been revealed that a lot of that 'Anti-India' and 'Pro-China' activity and propaganda that has been pushed has a Pakistani role as well. A recent report has observed that there has been a lot of 'retweets' of pro-Chinese tweets and many Pakistani handles have changed their names and have been tweeting in Chinese.

Many old videos and images are being used by several groups backed by ISI to spread their anti-India propaganda.

A report by Technisanct -- a cybersecurity data firm based out of Kochi - compiled with help of open-source intelligence by a team of analysts states that a war is being waged side-by-side on the Twitter and Telegram. The Chinese narrative is highly backed by the dedicated Intelligence agencies of Pakistan. There are multiple groups which belong to Pakistan where they use fake handles to trend against India, especially on Twitter where a lot of the narrative is spun.

The analysts monitored around 500 Twitter accounts which are used by Pakistani groups that propagate and operate more and more campaigns against India. The report says that these fake accounts sport Pakistani and Chinese flags in their handles, and a bio to create a feeling that Pakistan is highly backed by Chinese.

Here are a few examples of the fake narratives propagated by these accounts:

Pakistan accounts have built a narrative that just 4-5 PLA men were injured. This narrative was backed by huge proxy accounts which retweeted and liked these narratives.

Pakistan's narrative of Indias latest meeting with Chinese officials after India lost 20 Soldiers were faked and it was circulated that the meeting was over by just having tea. An account named 'YasifXi' which is from Pakistan in the garb of a Chinese account tweeted the photo of two officers from both sides having a conversation with the hashtags #WorldWar3 and #LadakhBorder. Those tweets were from Pakistan.

'China studies each nation & their activities'

The report states that Chinese ways of operations are always popular for spreading propaganda. "They make it and fake it until they achieve their objective. They study each nation and their activities. Similarly, they have learned well about the Indian digital networks that speak for and against the government, and have understood the opposition systems which can gather more popularity among a group where the disagreement lies," it says.

"This is what they did in Hong Kong as well. In the same way, with aid of Pakistan, they are building out a massive disinformation network," it adds. Twitter is banned in China, except for those it uses to peddle its propaganda.

READ | Covid black market flourishes in Pakistan; hospitals turn blood plasma-hawking dens

READ | India-China joint secretaries to hold WMCC meet on border tension amid 'cordial' LAC talks

Twitter has been advised to monitor these kinds of accounts and ensure that they are removed with priority, as they seek to cause trouble for citizens. The report advises Twitter to deploy its fact-checking policies to ensure that the stories are marked as fake as they use in the US.

Technisanct CEO Nandakishore Harikumar speaking to Republic TV said, "The only way to get rid of these accounts is to keep reporting them. Recently, researchers from Europe have come out and said that China is using social media to counter the COVID outrage against the Communist Party of China. Government of India has to take a strong stand against Twitter to stop this."

READ | China's casualty denial escalates; after refuting '20', Beijing now calls '40' fake news

READ | What is the Hindi word for mask? Big B exults after finding, poses with Gulabo Sitabo one
CQ fluency was inducted as a National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) official Corporate Plus member with supporting sponsorship from Anthem. The NMSDC Corporate Plus program is an unprecedented program for minority businesses of the highest caliber, raising the prominence of minority businesses across America. The Corporate Plus program was established to facilitate requests from corporate members to bridge connections with minority suppliers.

CQ fluency is a certified minority-owned business (MBE) by the NMSDC since 2009. President and CEO of CQ fluency, Elisabete Miranda, is a former board member as well as a former MBEIC Committee Co-Chair. As an MBE, CQ fluency is part of a powerful network of minority businesses directly impacting economic growth in the United States.

The Corporate Plus status acknowledges CQ fluencys proven capacity to fulfill national contracts and underscores a commitment to diversity by proactively identifying and building relationships with certified small and minority owned businesses. Upon award of membership, Elisabete said, I cant begin to tell you how grateful I am that CQ fluency is now part of an elite group of MBEs (less than 100) that help raise the level and perception of minority businesses to national prominence in corporate America, especially now when minority support is so critically important.  Elisabete continued, All of us at CQ fluency thank NMSDC for the recognition and Anthem not only for the nomination but also for being such an important client of ours for several years.

About CQ fluency:

CQ fluency is a language services company that specializes in culturally relevant translations for life science and healthcare in over 170 languages. We translate meaning and feeling of messages to facilitate real connections and true cultural understanding between people who dont speak the same language. More about CQ fluency can be found on our website at http://www.CQfluency.com.

About NMSDC:

The National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. established in 1973, is a vital link between major corporations and minority business enterprises (MBEs). Each year, member corporations have reported billions of dollars spent with Council- certified Minority Business Enterprises. Serving the United States, The Council is one of the 23 regional affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. for more information about NMSDC visit http://www.nmsdc.org
Since the IFJs creation in 1926, there has always been a good reason to think about the future of journalism, and this reason is most often linked to an economic crisis or a technological turning point. The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented event in our societies and it will have social and economic consequences that we have yet to fully understand. In this context, the IFJ is already looking to the future.

The future of journalism is not just a casual matter; it is an imperative on us. Experts around the world have promised that the Covid-19 crisis, which has crippled nearly 4 billion people around the world, will radically change our lifestyles, the way we think, eat and behave. The top priority concerns an ambitious future plan which must save the planet.

However, it seems that all these good resolutions are already being ignored when many of the regions affected are lifting lockdown measures: the unequal and faceless economy is regaining its place as the sole driver of everyday life; social violence, hitherto confined, is increasing everywhere in the world; and the climate, which has had a short three-month respite, will still have to wait until a global agreement is reached.

Faced with this observation, the IFJ decided from the start to fight back, to prepare for the future and did not wait for long empty speeches to build a real recovery plan for the media sector by publishing its Global Platform for Quality Journalism and making it available to the profession.

This document, which has become a reference, received immediate support from all the global workers' federations, representing several hundred million members, and also from our affiliates around the world.

The most significant measure of that Platform is undoubtedly the creation of a tax on income generated in national territories by large digital platforms. This income is not only the one of the GAFAM which have, in addition, largely benefited from the world crisis to make even more profits. Last year, these profits were estimated at more than $ 900 billion. It is not an unfounded tax, but just a return to the source, the funding of independent and quality journalism that allows the maintenance of a true democracy everywhere in the world.

Its a new business model. The future of journalism cannot be imagined without and it must first benefit journalists, who, it should be remembered, must work in complete safe ty , uphold the IFJ's Global Charter of Ethics and receive a decent pay.

The IFJ has called on all of its regional groups and affiliates to open negotiations with the governments and representatives of these major digital platforms, Google and Facebook in the first place, that pay no taxes in the various national jurisdictions, where they continue to make outrageous profits.

The IFJ's revival plan for quality journalism therefore proposes new funding for journalism which must be accompanied by ambitious political support in order to revitalize editorial staff and professional journalists (casual and freelancers included).

The IFJ demands that the revenue of this tax on digital giants benefit the public service media, the private media and the national and local media, provided that these companies respect social dialogue and the right to organise, in accordance with the conventions of the ILO; do not fire if the company makes a profit; make the annual accounts public and transparent; or demand the respect of diversity and of equality between women and men ...

There are many challenges facing the International Federation of Journalists for our profession and the IFJ alone cannot undertake everything. It must be able to rely on the support of all its members that want more justice and social equity.

Information should never be confined. Information must remain a public good.

There is no question of preparing the world of tomorrow with the ideas of yesterday. It is also the social responsibility of journalists and trade unionists.

Anthony BELLANGER

IFJ General Secretary
Think it can't happen here?

It can happen here.

That's the warning from a young woman from Venezuela, who has seen the statue-topplings before  and the street-renamings, (and the flag-alterings, and the name-changings) along the destruction of history, and knows exactly where it leads.

She made this powerful video here:

Venezuelans recognize signs of a communist takeover better than almost anyone



(p.s. that accent is )pic.twitter.com/UJSjmfDXCo  Roz  (@PolitiKurd) June 22, 2020

"Why do I even worry about some silly little statues coming down? Or some silly little street names changing? Why do I care? It's because the last time I didn't care about this, I was a teenager. I have already lived through this thing, when I was living in Venezuela " she begins.

"Statues came down, [Hugo] Chavez didn't want the history displayed. Then he changed the street names, then came the (school) curriculum, then some movies couldn't be shown on certain TV channels. And so on, and so forth...

"You guys think it can't happen to you. I've heard this so many times. But always be on guard, never believe that something can't happen to you. You need to guard your country and your society or it will be destroyed."

She concludes: "And there's clearly a lot of people wanting to destroy the U.S."

Why is what she says so powerful? Because it's true.

It really happened that way in Venezuela. The statue-topplings began in 2004 and were dismissed then as disturbing but still largely a Chavista clown show for the cameras at the time.

When I visited Venezuela in late 2005, the trajectory of her warning  from statue-topplings to curriculum change, was advancing. I was privileged to experience the "curriculum" changes that followed firsthand from the red-shirted Chavista "Bolivarian Circles" in the shantytowns  where they invited me to come in and sample the communist propaganda  conducted by 1960s backwash professors of complete ignorance but total ideological zeal, to bored, disconsolate peasants who simply wanted the paycheck that came at the end for attending.

I also recall the dismissals of anything truly terrible happening at the time. I went to an investment banking conference in Caracas, where the suits said the government was "very strong" but there was nothing to worry about, things would eventually correct themselves, and in any case, there was still money to be made for the bold.

I also talked to the small shopkeepers, their walls sprayed with Marxist FARC graffiti, who told me exactly the opposite.

Among many Venezuelans, there were stories about flight. There was terror about crime and lawlessness and criminals being allowed to rampage to keep the population docile. There were conversations about whether it would be wise to collaborate with the CIA. There were warnings about not talking too loudly, even in English, in restaurants. There was resigned talk about stolen elections  from the people who actually had them stolen from them. There was talk about what families should do if someone were to be taken in a kidnapping. There were Cubans there, too, exiles who fled the Castro regime and made a new life for themselves in Venezuela, who made the same warnings this young woman made, about where the statue-toppling was going to lead.

It was a helluva lot. But there was always sense back then, in 2005, that life was still normal, that what was causing unhappiness was still recoverable if they could just protest and vote hard enough. Faucets would work. Police could be called. Newspapers would be delivered. Some of the media coverage was still untainted. Mail would be delivered. Elections could be won.

It's not like that now.

And here's the scary thing she didn't bring up.

Who are the people wreaking havoc on the U.S. with the statue-topplings? Who are their leaders? Who is causing this turmoil so redolent of what happened in Venezuela? The Black Lives Matter leaders are people who openly worship what's going on in Venezuela. They're, in their own words, "trained Marxists," and they've made pilgrimages to Caracas itself, even as the rest of the world could see what a disaster it became. They take Venezuela as not a warning, but a model.

According to the PanAmPost:

In December 2015 Black Lives Matter sent a delegation, headed by the organization's co-founder, Opal Tometi, to act as observers during the Venezuelan Parliamentary elections of that year. The Maduro regime did not allow accreditation for observers from the Organization of American States, the UN, or the EU. The only accredited observers where from regimes and organizations friendly to the "revolutionary cause." Later that same month Tometi penned an article where she espouses, word for word, the regime's standard text for international propaganda. "In these last 17 years, we have witnessed the Bolivarian Revolution champion participatory democracy and construct a fair, transparent election system recognized as among the best in the world ," wrote Tometi about one of the world's most corrupt voting systems in history.

...and as I wrote about earlier this month:

Thus far, there have been accurate-looking comparisons of these riots and loot-fests hitting the U.S. on a mass scale to the doings of the Palestinian Authority and parallels to the events of the Russian and French Revolutions. They are useful as pointers. But the one place that really shows evidence of instigation is the failed state of Venezuela and its controlling agent, Cuba. In this case, it's not just the similarities in the end result  the mass riots that engulfed much of South America's conservative-led states last year are remarkably similar to what is happening now in the States. There's actual evidence of collusion. Here are some photos of Black Lives Matter founder Opal Tometi whooping it up with Venezuela's malevolent dictator in Harlem[.]

Now we have the still small voice of experience coming as a warning from a young woman from Venezuela, Elizabeth Rogliani. She's bound to be ignored, as Russian exiles were ignored with their warnings. She's bound to be ridiculed, as Cuban exiles were with their warnings.

But what she said was true.

It's pretty obvious a plan has been set in motion. It's pretty obvious it's at least partly Made in Venezuela.

And the picture they have planned for us, based on this woman who knows firsthand, is extremely destructive, and way beyond ugly. One only hopes that somehow, its excellence and power will ensure it be heeded. Her last line: "And there's clearly a lot of people wanting to destroy the U.S." is probably the most chilling of all.

Image credit: Twitter screen shot.
Robert Jenrick was mired in a fresh row yesterday after it emerged Tory councillors approved an extension to his 2.6million townhouse despite planning officials rejecting it three times.

Documents show the Housing Secretary, 38, submitted plans to turn a rear first-floor roof terrace into an extra room as part of renovations costing 830,000.

It was twice rejected by Westminster City Councils planning officer in January and April 2014. This was on the grounds it would harm the character and appearance of the building and surrounding conservation area.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick (pictured) has been involved in a fresh property storm this week involving his London townhouse

His 2.6million home (pictured) was granted an extension by Tory councillors despite it being rejected by planning officials three times

But in August 2014, two months after he became the Tory MP for Newark in Nottinghamshire, Mr Jenrick and his wife submitted plans for a third time.

Although the planning officer ruled it should again be refused, Tory councillor Steve Summers intervened and requested that it be referred to a committee to decide.

Mr Summers lives in the same exclusive square, just a short walk from the Houses of Parliament, as Mr Jenrick, The Times reported.

In November 2014, three Tory councillors on the planning committee then voted to overturn the officers decision and approve it.

The first two applications had been made in Mr Jenricks name, but the third was under his wifes, although she was wrongly listed as Mr Michal Berkner on documents.

The only councillor who voted against on the four-member planning committee was Labours Ruth Bush.

Last night she said it raises new concerns about why fellow councillors approved the scheme.

She said: It is strange. There are clearly questions to be asked now. I kick myself for not thinking, who is this Mr Michal Berkner?

I made a note at the time that I thought it was a foolish decision because of the possibility of it setting a precedent.

The Housing Secretary's townhouse (pictured) is located just a short walk away from Parliament

She added: For smaller applications its very unusual for them to be referred to committee. Its usually only for major applications or where there are objections from the public. Neither applied in this case.

The documents show permission was granted despite the structure under the third application being 25cm higher. If it hadnt been called into committee the planning officers refusal would have stood.

Mr Jenricks opposite number, Labours shadow communities secretary Steve Reed, called on the minister to reveal details of any contact he had with Tory councillors in the run-up or during the process.

He said: The public need reassurance that theres not one rule for Conservative politicians and another for everyone else.

Further documents show Mr Jenrick set up a private company to have the renovations carried out after buying the five-bedroom terrace house in 2013.

Accounts show his wife, a City lawyer, paid more than 800,000 into the company for the work to be done.

The arrangement has raised eyebrows among experts, who said it was a strange way of structuring the work.

Property tax specialist Simon Misiewicz, who looked at the companys accounts, said: Its clear no profits were made, so whats the ulterior motive?

Why would you carry out an activity like this for you to make no money?

A spokesman for Mr Jenrick said there were no tax advantages to this arrangement and that all applicable taxes were paid.

The light and airy interior design of the apartment (pictured) before Mr Jenrick bought the property

Paul Church, one of the Tory councillors who gave planning approval, said he could not remember why he did and did not know Mr Jenrick was the homeowner.

Richard Beddoe, chairman of the committee, did not respond to requests for comment.

The third Tory member, Robert Rigby, said he had no contact with Mr Jenrick or his wife in the run-up to approving the extension, did not know Mr Jenrick was the owner, does not consider the housing minister or his wife a friend and that the application was judged on its merits and in planning terms.

Mr Summers referred questions to the councils press office. Westminster City Council said the scheme had support from neighbours and due process was followed at all times.

A spokesman for Mr Jenrick said: Normal planning process for a standard planning extension was followed by the applicant.
Voices within the Worcester City Councils virtual meeting and outside City Hall shared a similar message Tuesday night - defund the Worcester Police Department.

The voices sparked debate within the council meeting and again delayed the citys 2021 budget. The council unanimously voted to hold the budget.

Councilor-at-large Khrystian King spoke of a potential special meeting to vote on several measures he laid out Tuesday night, including reallocating funds from the police budget to social services.

A budget must be approved by Friday, June 26. A special meeting would have to occur prior to Friday. Five councilors can call a special meeting, as can the mayor or the councils vice chair. If the budget is not approved it would automatically pass as it was presented by City Manager Edward Augustus Jr.

King, Tuesday night, said he wants to reallocate funds from the police department to provide a cultural hub within Black communities and create a case manager in health and human services. He also wants money to be used for a social worker that could be part of a jail diversion initiative.

Thats in addition to the about $120,000 the council reallocated from the police budget last week, which would create two social workers within the public schools.

King said the total amount of police money that would be reallocated would be $257,000, about $3,000 more than the slated increase for the department within the proposed budget.

The councils authority is limited to cutting within the budget and it cannot reallocate funds, but it can request Augustus to reallocate the funds.

We have an opportunity to make common sense changes, King said.

Prior to the debate, numerous residents spoke to city councilors in favor of reconsidering the 2021 budget and defunding the police department for more than an hour. Only three people voiced support for maintaining the police budget.

The council last Tuesday approved a $254,320 increase for police, bringing the departments budget to a total of $52,766,614. Worcesters fiscal 2021 budget includes $721 million. It was reconsidered on Tuesday, which nullifies the councils prior vote.

Last week, the council approved an order from King that requested that Augustus work with Superintendent Maureen Binienda to adjust the school budget to eliminate or reduce the charge for assigned police officers. It further requested Augustus to reallocate those funds to the positions of a school social worker and/or adjustment counselor.

Outside City Hall dozens gathered along the Main Street entrance to voice similar concerns.

They held signs declaring Black Lives Matter, calling for the defunding of police and one even had the faces of every city councilor.

Many of those protesters and those on the Zoom meeting called for reallocating funds to Worcester schools.

Funding for Worcester Public Schools is increased by about $19 million or 5% to $388.4 million.

However, only about $1.1 million of the increase to schools comes directly from the city. Instead much of the funding is supplied by the state.

Talking about defunding the police, people get in an uproar, Nathan Pickens said outside of City Hall in front of a hundreds of protesters. So lets talk about funding young kids.

Pickens followed Roberto Solis who inspired the crowd by shouting from the steps of City Hall even as the microphone went out.

We will push forward and leave them [city council] on the wrong side of history, Solis said.

Following the protest, Richard Cipro, the president of local IBPO 504 representing Worcester Police Officials, posted a photo on Facebook that showed a Worcester Police Department cruiser by the garage under city hall with F*** 12 spay painted across it.

Police said they are investigating the incident.

Councilors acknowledged the moment and the movement within the country regarding racism and municipalities looking at reforming police departments.

Multiple councilors cited the endless calls streaming into each meeting speaking in favor of defunding the Worcester Police Department.

King cited jail division social workers in Framingham. Councilor Gary Rosen pointed to a program in Eugene, Oregon.

We have to expand upon public safety, Rosen said. ... Not every incident requires a person with a gun to arrive.

Councilors expressed support for Kings motion but wanted further information, which sparked the notion of holding the budget.

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IOWA CITY, IA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / The long road to recovery after COVID-19 has started in many different sectors. Lockdowns are easing, or are in the process of being adjusted, businesses are creating re-opening plans while also planning for potential second waves, and the battle for various stimulus packages continues around the world.

At this time, Jeff Nock recommends looking ahead and examining key markets that are going to perform the best as coronavirus restrictions begin to ease. What segments will bounce back the fastest? What's due for the most recovery? Where might investments be the most profitable? Jeff Nock's market analysis has yielded interesting results, examined in more detail below.

Digital Payment Platforms

Digital payment platforms have already seen a lot of growth during lockdown months as businesses and contractors searched for new ways to make transactions and enable payments. So it's no surprise that platforms like Paypal have done very well in 2020. However, the digital payment industry isn't something that companies dabble in and then quickly exit: Once these payment structures are set up as a potential source of revenue for businesses, they don't go away.

That means good news for all kinds of digital payment vendors as economies begin to reopen and new customers find it easier than ever to pay online and remotely. Jeff Nock Iowa points out that this is an excellent example of an up and coming trend that has been rapidly sped up by unforeseen circumstances.

Mobile Device Creators

Consumers have largely made mobile device purchases a cyclical event. They tend to replace devices according to their own timetables - every year or two for many, every several years for others. In 2020, mobile device purchases are largely being delayed, due in part to lack of availability (manufacturing issues and the inability to personally test the product in-store) as well as lack of income.

Jeff Nock of Iowa believes this is likely to create pent-up demand for new mobile devices that will spill over into next year, leading to a sudden uptick in consumers and companies purchasing updated mobile devices. Upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 compatibility will only encourage this trend. With this expected increase in demand, it will likely be a good couple of years for Apple and Google's hardware divisions!

Story continues

Jeff Nock Iowa on Why Cleaning Products Will Continue to Grow

Cleaning products may seem an odd fit for future growth as most revenue gains have already occurred with massive purchases of bleach and cleaning products. However, Jeff Nock reminds us of two important points. First, cleaning product companies now have extra revenue to invest in new expansions over the coming years, leading to many new opportunities. Second, Jeff Nock Iowa notes concerns over COVID-19 will persist for at least a year or two into the future, leading to strong cleaner sales even as the danger from the virus eventually fades.

Beverage Companies (Especially Coffee Brands)

Beverage companies are in an interesting place right now, and Jeff Nock Iowa believes that it's because of remote work situations. Many more people are working from home now and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Within this remote situation, employees are discovering a need to get their own beverages that were once available in the break room. Jeff Nock Iowa thinks that's great news for Keurig, Snapple, Dr. Pepper, and a variety of other beverage companies.

Fast Food

Growth within the fast-food industry is straightforward. As Jeff Nock Iowa explains, consumers of fast food tend to rely on it as a frequent, convenient habit. That habit was constrained during the lockdown as fast food companies were limited in the services they could offer. As fast-food chains open up again, expect their dedicated regulars to come surging back in order to make up for the lost time.

For more information on potential growth and the best growth strategies, be sure to visit Jeff Nock's firm, Prescient Consulting.

CONTACT:

Caroline Hunter

Web Presence, LLC

+1 7865519491

SOURCE: Bryan Nazor





View source version on accesswire.com:

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The number of houses on the market in Midland County continues to climb.

The Texas A&M Real Estate Center reports the number of available houses at the end of May climbed to 885, which was 82 more than April and the highest number since the real estate center began keeping statistics in 2015.

Months of inventory also increased to 4.1, which tied the high set in July and August of 2016.

The report also shows a two-month continuation in the dropping of price metrics. The first was that the average home sold for $321,339, which was a decline of nearly $16,000 compared to April and a drop of nearly $30,000 compared to May 2019.

The median price for a home sold in May -- $285,000 -- dropped more than $19,000 month over month and year over year. Also, it was the lowest median price in May going back to 2017.

The number of homes sold in May  156 -- followed similar trends. The Texas A&M Real Estate Center reported 253 homes sold in May 2019 and 245 in May 2018. Data show that one has to go back to February 2016 to find a month when fewer homes were sold in a month.

The Texas A&M Real Estate Center in a report about home sales in May stated, existing homes sold through Texas Multiple Listing Services fell to their lowest level since 2012 amid public health precautions and social distancing measures.

Texas existing-home sales plummeted 32 percent year over year on top of a 22 percent slide in April," James Gaines, chief economist for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, said.

The centers report also cites the National Association of Realtors, stating existing-home sales across the country fell for the third consecutive month in May, slumping 27 percent year over year.

May housing report

Houses sold: 150

Total dollar volume: $48.2 million

Average sold price: $321,339

Median sold price: $285,000

Inventory at end of the month: 885

Months of inventory: 4.1

Source: Texas A&M Real Estate Center
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico on Tuesday, killing six people, sending hundreds fleeing from their homes and forcing the closure of a major state-owned oil refinery. Hundreds of aftershocks were reported in the hours following the initial tremor, which was felt in Mexico City, some 700 kilometers (430 miles) distant from the epicenter in Crucecita, in Oaxaca state. "We had to leave because there is a risk that the market will collapse. We are hardly selling anything because of the pandemic and now if the market is closed we will have a worse time," said Juana Martinez, 60, a flower-seller in Oaxaca city. All the deaths occurred in Oaxaca, with the majority due to the collapse of buildings. A woman died near Crucecita, and five other people died in towns located within 150 kilometers of the epicenter, officials said. The 7.4 quake struck at a depth of 23 kilometers, the US Geological Survey reported. An initial tsunami warning was later reversed. There was no damage reported to "strategic infrastructure" including ports, airports, refineries and hydroelectric plants, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said in a video published on social media. Mexican Oil said its refinery in Salina Cruz in Oaxaca had been shut down as a precaution after a fire broke out at the plant "that was immediately stifled." One of the dead from the earthquake was a worker at the refinery, who was killed after falling off a high structure. Other refineries in the state are operating as normal, Mexican Oil said. Rescuers were battling to reach a remote area of the rugged state amid reports that 15 workers had become trapped while constructing a highway. The quake also caused slight damage to four hospitals and a clinic, as well as to churches, markets and other buildings, authorities said. Six hours after the quake, 447 aftershocks had been recorded across the region, the strongest at a magnitude of 4.6. The US Pacific Tsunami warning center initially said hazardous waves as high as three meters could strike anywhere within 1,000 kilometers of the quake's epicenter, affecting the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central and South America. - Quake adding to virus woes - Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum also activated response protocols, adding that two people had been injured. Apart from some building facades falling, she said there had been "no major incidents" reported. The earthquake was felt in several parts of the capital of 8.8 million people which in 2017 was hit by a 7.1 magnitude quake that left 360 people dead throughout the country. That same year, 96 people died after an 8.1 magnitude quake struck the south of the country, with Oaxaca the worst affected state. The quake has hit at a time when Mexico is already reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. It has suffered more than 23,000 COVID-19 deaths -- the second most in Latin America -- and 191,410 cases. On Tuesday the country recorded its highest number of cases in a 24-hour period, with 6,288 new infections, according to the Ministry of Health. Medical staff were evacuated from some hospitals in the capital alongside patients, although those suffering from the coronavirus remained isolated inside the buildings, alongside their caretakers. "All those that are in an area with COVID patients remain inside, only those of us who weren't there at the time" have come out, said Jaime Gomez, a nurse at a hospital caring for coronavirus patients. Many of the people that fled into the streets of the capital were not wearing face masks. "With all the virus problems and now the tremors, and I've just lost one child and the other is ill, so imagine (how I'm feeling)," a tearful Maria Teresa Duran, 80, told AFP. Workers remove rubble and place security tape alerting of a damaged building after a quake in Oaxaca, Mexico People gather outside a hospital in Mexico City on June 23 after a powerful quake rocked the south of the county A motorcyclist rides past a damaged building after a quake in Oaxaca, Mexico Map locating a 7.4 magnitude earthquake which struck southern Mexico on Tuesday.
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

Army Chief in Ladakh, to take stock of situation

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, June 24: Indian Army Chief, General M M Naravane had arrived will interact with the troops in Ladakh.

The Chief is on a two day visit to Ladakh. Genera Naravane who arrived on Tuesday, will visit the forward locations in the Eastern Ladakh area today. He will also interact with the troops on the ground there.

General Naravane discusses security situation with top commanders of Indian Army

While reviewing the situation, he would also be briefed about the military level talks between India and China.

Covid in Delhi: Screening to be done at all households in capital by July 6 | 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.
Health and wellness company GNC has filed for bankruptcy and will close up to 1,200 stores by the end of the year, as it becomes the latest victim of the coronavirus economic fallout.

The company filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday night in a bid to 'restructure' and 'protect its long-term sustainability.'

GNC had been struggling to reduce its $900million debt load amid declining sales at stores when the coronavirus pandemic struck and forced retailers and businesses to shut.

In a letter to its customers, the company said the pandemic 'created a situation where we were unable to accomplish our refinancing and the abrupt change in the operating environment had a dramatic negative impact on our business.'

Health and wellness company GNC Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and is looking to close at least 800 to 1,200 stores

About 2,100 of its 11,000 employees remain furloughed.

The Pittsburgh-based company, whose name is an acronym for General Nutrition Centers, is now planning a 'dual-path' restructuring where it would either be sold as a going concern, or improve its balance sheet by shedding more than $300million of debt.

Business operations will continue, and fewer than 500 stores remain closed because of the pandemic. The company hopes to emerge from Chapter 11 in the fall.

It comes as the pandemic and government shutdowns have battered retailers, with J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus and J. Crew all filing for bankruptcy protection.

GNC said it has agreed in principle with many lenders to sell itself to an affiliate of its largest shareholder, Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Co, for $760million in a court-supervised auction, subject to higher bids.

It also said it has lined up $130million in new financing, including support from Harbin and International Vitamin Corp, its largest vendor.

Business operations will continue, but the company plans to downsize by closing up to 20 per cent of its stores. Pictured: A GNC vandalized in New York City during George Floyd protests earlier this month

Chief Financial Officer Tricia Tolivar said GNC and 16 affiliates sought court protection with a goal of 'operationally re-aligning their businesses,' while minimizing the impact on customers, employees, landlords and vendors.

GNC has since updated its website with the list of stores that will be closing 'as part of our restructuring.'

The list includes 248 locations, including 14 in New York, 27 in California, 10 in New Jersey, and 12 in Florida.

GNC has about 7,300 locations, including 5,200 in the United States and 1,600 'store-within-a-store' locations in Rite Aid stores. The rest are in about 50 other countries.

Roughly 2,633 U.S. and Canadian stores are company-owned.

The company lost $200.1 million in the first quarter, in part because of the forced closures. It had shuttered 596 under-performing stores from January 2018 to March 2020.
As India recorded the highest single-day jump of nearly 16,000 COVID-19 cases, Delhi surpassed Mumbai on Wednesday while the lockdown in containment zones in West Bengal was extended till July 31 and a fresh 'test, track and treat' strategy put in place by the Centre to curb the spread of the infection.

The total tally reached 4,56,183 with yet another record jump of 15,968 fresh cases.

IMAGE: A worker sanitses an area as people wait to undergo COVID-19 tests at a mobile swab collection bus in Vijayawada. Photograph: PTI Photo

Use of combination of various tests and making testing widely available to all symptomatic individuals across the country were at the heart of the government's revised strategy to fight the pandemic that has claimed over 14,000 lives.

Delhi, which already is the second worst hit state in terms of coronavirus caseload and fatalities, overtook Mumbai after the number of cases soared by 3,788 to touch 70,390.

Mumbai has so far recorded 69,625 cases, according to official figures.

As part of the Delhi government's revised COVID-19 response plan, a house to to house screening will be completed by June 30 in containment zones and for the rest of the city by July 6 in what is billed as a mammoth exercise.

As COVID-19 cases continued to spike in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced extension of the lockdown in the containment zones till July 31.

The lockdown in these zones was to end on June 30. With overall cases in the state inching towards 15,000, it is in the 7th position in the all India tally.

Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka surpassed the 10,000 mark while Telangana inched towards this grim milestone, according to official figures from the states.

In all, 12 states now account for more than 10,000 coronavirus cases as they continued to report record daily spikes that were mainly attributed to augmented testing.

As daily testing of samples of blood and throat and nose swabs crossed two lakh for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic, over 14,000 new coronavirus cases were registered in the country for the fifth day in a row to take the total count to 4,56,183, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

IMAGE: A medic wearing a PPE collects samples for COVID-19 tests at Kalasipalya police station in Bengaluru,. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo

The fatalities also rose by a record 465 and the death toll stood at 14,476.

At the same time the recovery rate was steadily improving to reach 56.71 per cent, the data showed.

The country has witnessed a surge of 2,65,648 infections from June 1 till June 24 with Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh remaining the top five contributors to the rising tally.

As many as 3,890 new COVID-19 cases were registered in Maharashtra on Wednesday, taking the count of patients to 1,42,900, a health department official said.

Andhra Pradesh accounted for 10,331 cases with 497 more people testing positive. While it took close to three months from March for the first 5,000 cases to emerge in AP, the second 5,000 came in just 15 days.

The tally in Karnataka was 10,118 with the state reporting 397 new positive cases.

The surge in COVID-19 cases continued unabated in Tamil Nadu with an all-time high of 2,865 people testing positive in a single day, taking the tally to 67,468 while the toll mounted to 866 with 33 deaths.

With the focus on increasing testing, the state analysed a record 32,079 samples on Wednesday.

Inter-district public transport bus services were also being withdrawn in the state for six days from Thursday.

IMAGE: A health technician pours a sample on a COVID-19 rapid antigen kit at a testing centre in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/ PTI Photo

Kerala also reported the highest single day spike of 152 cases pushing the infection count to 3,603, officials said.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said a total of 73,52,911 samples were tested up to June 23 with 2,15,195 samples being analysed on Tuesday and there were over 1,000 COVID-19 testing laboratories but acknowledged more needs to be done.

'However, in spite of these developments, access to testing still remains a huge challenge in a large country like India. There is a definite need to increase the outreach of testing by introducing rapid point of care diagnostic tests,' the ICMR noted in its advisory issued late on Tuesday.

Expanding the testing criterion for coronavirus, the ICMR said it should be made widely available to all symptomatic individuals across the country.

'Since 'test, track and treat' is the only way to prevent spread of infection and save lives, it is imperative that testing should be made widely available to all symptomatic individuals in every part of the country and contact tracing mechanisms for containment of infection are further strengthened,' it said in an advisory on 'Newer Additional Strategies for COVID-19 Testing'.

The apex health research body has also advised authorities to enable all government and private hospitals, offices and public sector units to perform antibody-based COVID-19 testing for surveillance to help allay fears and anxiety of healthcare workers and office employees.

The earlier advisories on rapid antibody testing advisories had focused on areas reporting clusters (containment zones), large migration gatherings/evacuees centers and testing of symptomatic ILI individuals at facility level.

Besides, the ICMR also recommended deployment of rapid antigen detection tests for COVID-19 in combination with RT-PCR tests in all containment zones, all central and state government medical colleges and government hospitals, all private hospitals approved by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare (NABH), all NABL-accredited and ICMR approved private labs, for COVID-19 testing.

'ICMR advises all state governments, public and private institutions concerned to take required steps to scale up testing for COVID-19 by deploying combination of various tests as advised,' the advisory added.

IMAGE: A chemist displays the Fabiflu tablets at his medical store, in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo

Also, there is value in conducting serosurvey with IgG-based antibody tests, an additional testing method, in certain situations, it said.

The Immunoglobulin (IgG) Serum test is performed to determine the presence of any infection in the body and the level of immunity.

In Delhi, authorities have planned to use Aarogya Setu app coupled with an IT-driven tool to boost surveillance and contact tracing in the COVID-19 affected areas.

This is part of the new COVID-19 response plan prepared by Delhi government health department, as per the recommendations from the Union Health Ministry.

The purpose is to boost surveillance of positive cases and improve contact tracing, officials said.

The Karnataka government also issued an order notifying establishment of fever clinics and swab collection centres in 66 private hospitals or medical colleges in the city, aimed at controlling the spread of the disease.

It said, with the spike in number of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases, there is a need to increase the number of fever clinics and swab collection centres.

In the national capital, the Army Medical Corps(AMC) was roped in to manage the health care at the Railways' COVID-19 care centre at the Shakur Basti station where the first two patients were put up in isolation coaches.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) also took over a 10,000-bed capacity centre in Delhi for coronavirus patients, officials said.

A team of officials from the border guarding force visited the Radha Soami Beas facility and held discussions with the Delhi government and other stakeholders who will be partners in running the centre, an ITBP officer said.
Technavio has been monitoring the energy drinks market and it is poised to grow by 35.41 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 7% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005391/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Energy Drinks Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. AriZona Beverages USA LLC, Dabur India Ltd., Living Essentials Marketing LLC, Monster Energy Co., Mutalo Group, National Beverage Corp., PepsiCo Inc., Red Bull GmbH, The Coca Cola Company, and Vitale Beverages Pvt. Ltd. are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Hectic lifestyle and need for instant energy has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, stiff competition from low-cost substitutes might hamper market growth.

Energy Drinks Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Energy Drinks Market is segmented as below:

Product Sparkling Energy Drinks Still Energy Drinks

Type Standard Energy Drinks Energy Shots

Geography APAC North America Europe South America MEA



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=IRTNTR43781

Energy Drinks Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our energy drinks market report covers the following areas:

Energy Drinks Market size

Energy Drinks Market trends

Energy Drinks Market industry analysis

This study identifies the convenience associated with energy drinks as one of the prime reasons driving the energy drinks market growth during the next few years.

Energy Drinks Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the energy drinks market, including some of the vendors such as AriZona Beverages USA LLC, Dabur India Ltd., Living Essentials Marketing LLC, Monster Energy Co., Mutalo Group, National Beverage Corp., PepsiCo Inc., Red Bull GmbH, The Coca Cola Company, and Vitale Beverages Pvt. Ltd. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the energy drinks market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Energy Drinks Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist energy drinks market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the energy drinks market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the energy drinks market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of energy drinks market vendors

Table Of Contents :

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Product

Market segments

Comparison by Product

Sparkling energy drinks Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Still energy drinks Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Product

Market Segmentation by Type

Market segments

Comparison by Type

Standard energy drinks Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Energy shots Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Type

Market Segmentation by Packaging

Market Segmentation by Brand labelling

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

AriZona Beverages USA LLC

Dabur India Ltd.

Living Essentials Marketing LLC

Monster Energy Co.

Mutalo Group

National Beverage Corp.

PepsiCo Inc.

Red Bull GmbH

The Coca Cola Company

Vitale Beverages Pvt. Ltd.

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005391/en/

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Tom Reel/Staff photographer

A pause is being put on tubing season at one New Braunfels outfitter as coronavirus cases surge in Central Texas.

The Float In, a private park on the Comal River, said it has spent the last few weeks welcoming "flocks" of guests. Tuesday night, the family-owned business posted a Facebook notice alerting customers of a temporary closure due to the spike in cases.
Representative image

The news of global private equity giant Blackstone raising around Rs 2,000 crore by selling some of its units in Embassy Office Parks Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) to monetise part of its investment sends out a positive signal for the commercial real estate story in India despite the COVID-19 setback, said experts.

Experts said Blackstone has only sold a part of its holding and it is on expected lines. The move is an indicator that new investors continue to repose confidence in the commercial real estate segment and that it has potential going forward.

This is not a distress sale and a normal exit for Blackstone. Any private equity fund exits after having committed capital for a five to a seven year period.

"Even in unprecedented times, large institutional investors are seeing value in committing significant incremental capital and that is a positive for Indias commercial real estate segment," said Anckur Srivasttava of GenReal Advisers.

Some experts said what is important here is that Blackstone is not selling on account of stress and that this is normal course of exit.

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, Blackstone selling some of its units has no impact on the portfolio. It is a secondary market sale.

"Just as sale of any company share is a secondary transfer by a shareholder and does not impact the company per say, similarly this sale has no impact on the commercial real estate or Embassy Reits performance," Piyush Gupta, managing director, Capital Markets and Investment Services at Colliers International India, told Moneycontrol.

Sources said that Blackstone may have exited 8.7 percent out of the 55 percent share it currently holds. Global institutional investors are said to have bought these shares, they said.

Since its listing in 2019, Embassy REIT has delivered a total return of 25 per cent.

"Considering the current commercial real estate environment, the sale demonstrates partial exit to their global investors," said another expert.

Also, a 7 percent consistent cash yield on a Grade A commercial asset is a good investment. Even if one were to assume that corporate tenants may decide to contract space on account of COVID-19, focus on work-from-home or even decide to move out, a 7 percent yield can at best fall to 6 percent and is still an attractive investment, Gupta said.

"Despite tenants deciding to contract space, post tax REITs are still an attractive investment option with full potential of upside in the future," he said.

The point here is that Blackstone is selling and there is an investor willing to sign a large cheque and take a call on commercial real estate. What is important is that the investor is willing to take a bet on the commercial portfolio in this market despite COVID and the focus on work-from-home, the expert added.

Blackstone will continue to hold the majority stake in Embassy REIT. Embassy group has around 15 per cent stake. Blackstone has deployed over 8 billion dollars in the Indian commercial real estate space.

Embassy Office Parks REIT is the country's first Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), which was launched last year by realty firm Embassy group and global investment firm Blackstone to raise nearly Rs 5,000 crore. The REIT is listed on the stock exchange.

Sponsored by Blackstone, the global alternative asset management giant, and Embassy Group, the Bengaluru-based developer, Embassy REIT owns 33 m sq ft of office space across seven Grade A office parks and four city-centre office buildings in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune and the National Capital Region. More than 80 percent of Embassy REITs tenants by area leased are global bellwethers such as IBM, JPMorgan, Facebook and Google.

Follow our coverage of the coronavirus crisis
New Delhi: Bhojpuri star turned television star Monalisa has upped her Insta game like a pro. She took to Instagram and posted a throwback picture of her enjoying pool time donning a scintillating black swimsuit.

Monalisa captioned the picture: Everyday Is A New Beginning... Take A Deep Breath, Smile, and Start Again...#goodmorning #happy #bepositive #strong #smile

The actress has had the opportunity of working with almost all the Bhojpuri big shots in her movie career. In 'Nazar', she played an evil force named Mohana. She has a solid social media presence with 3.3 million followers on Instagram alone.

Monalisa was seen this year in 'Nazar 2' as Madhulika Chaudhary. She sure knows how to keep her social media fam happy and smiling.

Mona was seen as a popular contestant in the reality show 'Bigg Boss 10' and in fact, got married to her then-boyfriend Vikrant Singh inside the BB 10 house.
Norway is looking to offer 136 blocks for oil and gas exploration in the licensing round for less explored areas on its shelf, including 125 blocks in the Arctic Barents Sea that are currently not available for drilling, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy said on Wednesday.

The so-called 25th numbered licensing round  expected to be announced in the fall of 2020 after consultation on the proposed areas for oil drilling  typically includes frontier parts of the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

According to Norways oil ministry, it will be the frontier regions that are most likely to host large new discoveries.

The ministry proposes nine frontier areas for exploration, including eight areas in the Barents Sea and one area in the Norwegian Sea. The proposal is now submitted for public consultation, which should be completed by August 26.

Access to new exploration areas is crucial to maintaining activity on the Norwegian continental shelf, Petroleum and Energy Minister Tina Bru said in a statement. Norway needs new discoveries to maintain employment in one of its most important industries and its supply chain, especially after the last few challenging months, the minister added.

Norway is currently reducing its oil production by the end of the year because of the slump in oil prices. But after Johan Sverdrup and the planned Johan Castberg oilfield reach peak production in a couple of years, Norways oil production is set for a natural decline after 2023 in the absence of significant discoveries.

According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD), Norway has so far produced 48 percent of the recoverable resources on the shelf. This means that more than half are still untapped.

Last week, Norway announced the annual licensing round for oil and gas exploration in mature areas on the shelf, expanding the total acreage up for grabs by 36 blocks west of the Norwegian Sea. The so-called Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) are announced every year and comprise the mature parts with known geology and good infrastructure already in place, allowing tie-backs to existing infrastructure for any new discoveries.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
[June 24, 2020] Unite Private Networks Announces Lubbock, Texas Network Expansion

LUBBOCK, Texas, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite Private Networks (UPN), a leading provider of high-capacity, fiber-based communication networks is pleased to announce a network expansion in Lubbock, Texas The expansion will bring over 25 miles of new fiber-optic infrastructure throughout Lubbock, TX, adding to the already established 75-mile network. Business customers will now have expanded access to dark fiber or dedicated lit services that are scalable from 100 mbps to 100 gbps, newly launched FiberVoice, and a suite of other products. "UPN has a significant presence in Lubbock and this expansion is a continuation of our commitment to serving the entire metro area," said Stuart Howerter, Vice President of Sales at Unite Private Networks. "When complete the expansion will add four additional diverse routes, spanning throughout the city connecting major business parks and the medical district, giving our customers access to metro Etherne, dark fiber, Internet, wavelengths, voice solutions and custom-built options all powered by a low-latency carrier-grade, 100 percent fiber-optic network. We're thrilled to extend our network infrastructure in Lubbock and are looking forward to working more with the business community."



"Unite Private Networks is a great Chamber partner and the expansion couldn't have come at a better time for the business community," said Eddie McBride, Lubbock Chamber President and CEO. "With the uncertainty in the workplace and increased demand for virtual communications and events, a reliable fiber network is now more important than ever." About Unite Private Networks: UPN provides high-bandwidth, fiber-based communications networks and services to schools, governments, carriers, data centers, hospitals, and enterprise business customers across a 21-state service area. Service offerings include dark and lit fiber, private line, metro-optical Ethernet, Internet access, data center services, voice and other customized solutions. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO, UPN has been providing customer focused communications solutions since 1998. For more information on UPN, please visit www.uniteprivatenetworks.com , or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Brandi Tubb

816-903-9400

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unite-private-networks-announces-lubbock-texas-network-expansion-301082990.html SOURCE Unite Private Networks

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 01:03:38|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong will continue to be an ideal place for multinational companies to thrive after the law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is enacted, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday.

"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'," Lam said at an online briefing session of the China Development Forum.

The legislation only targets acts of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security, Lam noted. "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," she said.

The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, has made it clear in its decision and relevant explanatory statement that the legislation will be guided by a number of fundamental principles, including 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.

"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," Lam pointed out.

"Enactment of national security legislation will not change the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by the HKSAR; it will have no impact on the HKSAR's 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 re-assuring," she added.

Dismissing allegations by certain foreign politicians that the principle of "one country, two systems" is proclaimed dead, Lam stressed that 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 center, and as a gateway between the mainland and the world," she said.

"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 NPC adopted the decision on the legislation, the HKSAR government has been fending off quite a lot of unfair criticisms against it, including from some foreign governments, the chief executive said. "My observations on those behaviors could be summed up by two terms - double standards and hypocrisy."

On double standards, 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, Lam said. "Hong Kong is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China and why would China be inhibited from enacting legislation to protect its own soil and its own nationals?"

On hypocrisy, vocal remarks have been heard about granting citizenship to Hong Kong residents or threatening sanctions against Hong Kong, she said. "We await the likely outcome of these gesturing rhetoric when their own people or domestic politics render those acts unpopular at home."

The chief executive said Hong Kong is not 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," she said.

Further to the fundamental strengths, Hong Kong continues to enjoy its unique advantages brought about by the continuous opening up of the mainland economy, and its active participation in major national initiatives including the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Lam pointed out.

"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," she added.

The chief executive emphasized that Hong Kong is determined to conquer the political, social and epidemiological crises that have so harmed its economy and shaken the community over the past year.

The national security law is an anti-virus software and a beacon of hope, said the chief executive, adding that it will guide Hong Kong to a better future and restore its glory as the Pearl of the East, a proud special administrative region of China. Enditem
Max Verstappen can already request a new update of Honda in Austria. The men in Japan have worked hard to have a new engine ready for the first race of the Formula 1 season after the winter tests.

During the winter tests Red Bull Racing and Mercedes already emerged as the two strongest teams for this season. Of course they remain tests, but at least the omens are good. Red Bull will come up with an update to the car itself, but Honda is now also announcing that they will also be travelling to Austria with an update.

New Honda engine for Verstappen

A so-called version 1.1 takes Honda to Austria, according to Yasuaki Asaki. The man who oversees Honda's programme in Sakura confirms to the Polish F1wm.pl that a new engine is ready for Red Bull and AlphaTauri in Austria.

''It's our goal to win and I'm already looking forward to the chance to become world champion," Asaki says about the new bike. Masafumi Yamamoto complements it. ''This year will be an important milestone for Honda. We want to achieve our goals and hopefully this will bring a smile to the faces of all our fans," concluded the Honda CEO.
The University of Maiduguri ranked top of Nigerian universities with the highest admission figure for 2019, data from the JAMB shows.

The school admitted 12,523 students for the year, an increase from the 11,665 students it matriculated the previous academic year.

The university is located on the outskirts of Maiduguri en route Bama in Borno State, the hotbed of the decade-long Boko Haram war.

The school has not been spared from attacks by Boko Haram, an extremist sect that professes to hate education. The group has killed thousands and displaced millons in northern Nigeria.

In 2017, a twin bomb in the university killed four people, including a professor, Aliyu Mani, and one of the attackers.

More explosions would be recorded later in the year with no casualties save the attackers.

In the years that followed, there were reports of foiled attempts to attack the school by the insurgents.

Asked about the schools rising admission figure in the face of the war, the schools director of information, Ahmed Muhammed, told PREMIUM TIMES that admission only dipped at the peak of insurgency in the state, but has increased in recent years due to the security measures put in place by the management.

He said asides the federal and state security agencies, the school has employed local hunters to ensure security of the school.

There have also been reports of authorities in Borno digging a 27 km (17 mile) trench around the University of Maiduguri to prevent attacks by Boko Haram militants.

Before you enter (the school), you are being checked thoroughly. If you dont have a means of identification, you cannot be allowed into the school, Mr Muhammad said.

We have other security measures which we dont need to mention so that if anyone tries usso that they dont even try to come.

Top ten

For every six students admitted by Nigerian tertiary institutions in 2019, at least one of them was admitted by 10 universities, a review of data from JAMB shows.

These universities account for about one-sixth of all admissions in 2019.

UNIMAID aside, the schools that admitted the highest number of students include Universities of Calabar, Benin, Ilorin, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

Others are Nnamdi Azikiwe University, University of Nigeria, Ekiti State University and Rivers State University.

Universities with the highest admission in 2019

The admission data released by JAMB shows that the nations universities admitted a total of 444,947 students. Judging by this, a quarter of these students were admitted by the aforementioned universities.

While UNIMAID offered 12,435 students admission, UNICAL offered 12,237; UNIBEN, 11,747; UNILORIN, 11,616; UNILAG, 9,625; UNIPORT, 9,107.

NAU admitted 8,880 students; UNN, 8,585; EKSU, 8,119; RSU, 7,843.

Comparison between students application and admission

Comparatively, the admission figures of UNIMAID, UNICAL and NAU are only about a quarter of their applicants.

For UNIBEN and UNIPORT, admissions were offered to one-seventh of their respective applicants. In UNILORIN, UNILAG and UNN, it is respectively one in eleven, one in ten and one in nine applicants that made the admission cut respectively.

Picture 3

The duo of EKSU and RSU, in that order, offered half and a third of their applicants admission.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how two-thirds of about two million candidates who applied for tertiary education in the country in 2019 were not admitted as revealed by the JAMB.

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Data from the board while about two million students applied for the Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examinations and Direct Entry, the countrys institutions had a target of 600,000.

This is in spite of roughly 1.2 million making JAMBs cutoff of 140 and above and having five O Level credits, including mathematics and English.

Polytechnics and Monotechnics

A third of the 96,423 students who gained entry into the nations polytechnics and monotechnics did so into:

Picture 4

Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna  7,897

Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos  4,046

The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo  3,270

Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Ebonyi  3,212

Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin-Ladi  3,024

Lagos State Poly, Ikorodu  2,822

Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara  2,711

Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro  2,646

Ogun State Institute of Tech (formerly Gateway ICT Poly), Igbesa  2,471

Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti  2,432

Colleges of Education

More than half of the 69,810 students admitted by colleges of education nationwide were admitted into:

Picture 5

Federal College of Education, Pankshin, Plateau  4,828

Federal College of Education, Kano  4,793

Federal College of Education (Technology), Gombe  4,720

Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan-Waya  4,276

Federal College of Education, Zaria  4,188

College of Education, Akwanga, Nasarawa  2,923

Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo  2,771

Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina  2,735

Federal College of Education (Technology), Potiskum, Yobe  2,650

Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta  2,638

Innovation Enterprise Institutions (IEIs)

Almost all the 1,377 students that were admitted into Nigerias innovation enterprise institutions were admitted by:

Picture 6

Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management, Katsina  428

Eko College of Management and Technology, Ikotun, Lagos  160

PEFTI Film Institute, Lagos, Lagos  106

Highland College of Technology and Further Education, Ibadan, Oyo  105

Global Maritime Academy, Ogoni-Olomu, Ughelli South, Delta  69

Mbara Ozioma College of Technology, Ehime-Mbano, Imo  66

College of Banking and Finance, Ibadan, Oyo  55

Maurid Institute of Management and Technology, Mbiaso, Akwa Ibom  42

Ipetu-Ijesha College of Technology, Osun  39

Federal College of Forestry, Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna  38
GLEN CARBON  Officers used both low and high-tech means to track down and arrest a suspected robber after a 911 call Monday night from a Caseys General Store on West Main Street in Glen Carbon.

Ricky L. Allen, 35 , of Glen Carbon, is charged with aggravated robbery, a Class 1 felony.
One of San Francisco's iconic skyscrapers, 555 California Street, is for sale.

Once the tallest building to the west of the Mississippi, the 52-story former Bank of America headquarters has an estimated value of more than $1 billion and currently hosts tenants such as Microsoft and Goldman Sachs.

The property is co-owned by Vornado Realty Trust and the Trump Organization, with Vornado owning 70% controlling interests in the partnership.

The 779 feet high skyscraper was the tallest building in San Francisco on completion in 1969, though it was soon eclipsed by the building of the nearby Transamerica Pyramid in 1972, which was later surpassed by the Salesforce Tower.

555 California has thousands of bay windows, intended to reflect the windows common in San Francisco homes. The angled cutouts at the crest of the building were designed to symbolize the Sierra mountains.

ALSO: Warning signs keep mounting for Trump, from polls to primaries

In an announcement Tuesday, Vornado, which has sole decision making power over the property, said that it is initiating a process to explore options to recapitalize the property in San Francisco along with another property in New York City, 1290 Avenue of the Americas.

Bloomberg reported that the Trump Organization is considering selling its stakes in the building.

Andrew Chamings is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings
Attorney General William Barr speaks during in a roundtable with law enforcement officials in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on June, 8, 2020. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

Attorney General William Barr to Testify Before Congress in July

Attorney General William Barr has accepted an invitation to testify before the House Judiciary Committee, a DOJ spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The Attorney General has accepted an invitation to appear before the House Judiciary Committee for a general oversight hearing on July 28th, DOJ spokesperson Kerri Kupec announced on Twitter.

This comes a day after House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) threatened Barr with a subpoena to compel the attorney general to testify before a July 2 committee hearing if he does not come forward to testify voluntarily.

Barr was originally scheduled to voluntarily testify at the end of March, but the CCP virus pandemic forced the House to call off committee proceedings. The testimony was rescheduled for early June but the DOJ said Barr was not able to participate, citing a May 29 White House guidance restricting cabinet-level officials from participating in congressional hearings in June during the pandemic (pdf).

The DOJ came under scrutiny from Democrats earlier this year over claims that the department was acting under the influence of improper political interference from President Donald Trump in cases related to former associates of the president such as Roger Stone and Trumps lawyer, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Democrats had billed the hearing as an opportunity to seek information and fulfill its oversight responsibility regarding how several departmental matters had been handled, including the Stone case, the criminal case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn, the departments probe into the origins of the 2016 counterintelligence investigation on the Trump campaign, and the creation of a new process to vet information submitted by anyone about Ukraine, including Giuliani.

House lawmakers also want to seek testimony from the attorney general over the recent dismissal of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) Geoffrey Berman, who initially resisted calls to resign before conceding to his removal after the attorney general invoked the authority of President Donald Trump.

During his time in office, Berman led the prosecution against sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, before Epstein committed suicide in jail.

Bermans dismissal sparked controversy because the SDNY, under his leadership, also oversaw the prosecution of Trumps former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, and indicted two associates of Giuliani. Critics have accused Barr of partisanship in Bermans dismissal.

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.

The attorney general is also facing scrutiny over his role in the handling of protesters on Lafayette Square near the White House on June 1. The protesters were cleared from the area shortly before President Donald Trump and several of his aides made their way across the area to visit the nearby St. Johns church.

Some media reported that the protesters were forcefully removed using tear gas and rubber bullets in order to make way for Trumps visit to the church, but Barr had repeatedly denied that the two events had any correlation.

Barr said that the decision to clear the park was made before he knew that Trump was going to speak there, and that it was not an operation to respond to that particular crowd, but rather an operation to move the perimeter one block following violent riots in the area over the previous few days.

The announcement of Barrs testimony comes on the same day several DOJ officials are testifying before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on the department.

Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.
Officials voted unanimously to remove the statue of former US VP John C Calhoun from downtown square in Charleston.

Several hundred people gathered in Marion Square, in the historic South Carolina city of Charleston, early Wednesday to watch the removal of a statue of former United States vice president and slavery advocate John C Calhoun.

Officials voted unanimously on Tuesday to remove the statue from the downtown square, the latest in a wave of actions arising from protests against racism and police brutality against African Americans.

Its sunrise in Charleston, where work continues on removing this statue of John C. Calhoun, a former vice president & South Carolina native who strongly advocated for slavery. Weve been out here all night, since crews began moving equipment into the square at around midnight. pic.twitter.com/asmPLwczcR  Meg Kinnard (@MegKinnardAP) June 24, 2020

The move comes in the aftermath of protests in the US that broke out  leading to widespread unrest  after the death of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis. Protesters and public officials have made demands that include the removal of any public statues or monuments perceived to be symbols of racism and colonisation in the US.

Some onlookers grew restless after 1am and began to leave just before crews used bucket trucks to soar more than 30 metres (100 feet) in the air to the top of the statue to make preparations for its takedown.





Another piece of equipment that appeared to have pulleys attached was raised to the height of the statue from Calhoun Street, the roadway that marks the southern border of the square where the statue sits and also bears Calhouns name.

John C Calhouns support of slavery never wavered. He said in several speeches on the US Senate floor in the 1830s that slaves in the South were better off than free Blacks in the North while calling slavery a positive good.

A new chapter

Council members approved the measure 13-0 at a late-day meeting. The resolution authorised the removal of the statue of the former US vice president and senator from South Carolina.

City officials said eventually the Calhoun statue will be placed permanently at an appropriate site where it will be protected and preserved.

200610103154036

The vote comes a week after Charlestons mayor, John Tecklenburg, announced he would send the resolution to the city council.

I believe that we are setting a new chapter, a more equitable chapter, in our citys history, Tecklenburg said, just before the vote. We are making the right step. Its just simply the right thing for us to do.

Council members heard from dozens of residents for and against the statues removal.

Take it down!

Councilman Karl L Brady Jr said he knew his support of the statues removal may cost him votes, but he was voting his conscience in a move he said shows in Charleston, we place white supremacy and white supremacist thought back where it belongs  on the ash heap of history.

Last Wednesday, when Tecklenburg announced his plans to remove the statue, dozens of protesters linked arms around the monument, shouting, Take it down!

Video posted on Twitter also showed signs and spray-painting on the monument. Police said they made several arrests for vandalism and ultimately closed off the area overnight.

In the heart of downtown Charleston, Calhoun towers over a sprawling square that is frequented by locals and tourists alike and that is a frequent venue for festivals and large public events.

Several organisers have said recently they would no longer use the space while the statue remained.

About 40 percent of enslaved Africans brought to North America came through the port city of Charleston, which formally apologised in 2018 for its role in the slave trade.
Myanmars military said Tuesday it will maintain a year-long shutdown of internet services to war-hit areas of Rakhine and Chin states, dismissing calls from rights groups and diplomats to lift the ban, which has cut civilians off from information flows and help from aid groups amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking at a press briefing in Myanmars capital Naypyidaw, Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Htun said the ban has helped the army keep order in areas torn by fighting between government forces and the separatist Arakan Army and should be maintained.

We have no plan yet to restore the internet in northern Rakhine and Chin states Paletwa township, the military spokesman said.

We have seen military secrets, hate speech, and extreme nationalist postings published online. And because of these posts, we have seen more conflicts and fighting in these areas. That is why we have shut down the internet there, he said.

The ban, which began on June 21, 2019, affects eight townships in an area that has been the scene of an 18-month-long conflict between the insurgent Arakan Army (AA) and Myanmars military that has killed 260 civilians and displaced more than 160,000.

It has been impossible to measure any real benefit resulting from the ban, though, Htu Maya parliamentarian in Rakhine states upper housetold RFAs Myanmar Service on Tuesday, calling the generals remarks unreasonable.

People have been living without the internet for a year now, but do we see less hate speech? Do we see fewer people harmed, or less fighting in Rakhine? [The general] is just offering excuses, he said.

Information blackout

On June 19, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Myanmar to end the internet shutdown, which has prevented more than a million people in Rakhine and Chin states from getting information about the coronavirus pandemic and has hampered the work of aid workers in a war zone.

The ban has affected the ability of journalists to get news out of the conflict zone, and critics of the government say the shutdowns chief aim is to cover up the militarys operations and war crimes in an information blackouta claim that Naypyidaw has denied.

Myanmar should immediately end what is now the worlds longest government-enforced internet shutdown, Linda Lakhdhir, (HRW) Asia legal adviser, said on June 19.

With armed conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in Rakhine state, its critical for civilians to get the information needed to stay safe, Lakhdhir said.

Foreign diplomats urge end to ban

Foreign diplomatic missions in Myanmar have also called on the government to lift the ban, calling access to the internet and other media vital for people to obtain and share information for their health, safety, and security.

Everyone should be able to access the latest information available, said the joint statement signed on June 21 by the diplomatic missions of Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Two-way communications with people in Internet-restricted areas are critical for the health sector to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Myanmar, even during a conflict, the statement said.

Nicky Diamond of the rights group Fortify Rights told RFA that the Myanmar military has shut down internet services in Rakhine and Chin states only to conceal its atrocities, such as killing, detaining, and burning civilians homes, from the international press.

There is no advantage from an internet blackout, only disadvantage, and no benefit for the people of Rakhine, Diamond said.



Reported by Thet Su Aung and Thiha Tun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Richard Finney.
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Give em out like candy, advised a senior resident while handing me a stack of small flyers. The text outlined a list of services provided by a nearby community resource center for help with things like housing, food, education, employment, and legal issues. I never thought this quarter page of paper would prove so critical throughout my time working as a psychiatry resident in our county clinic.

I also did not expect my job to share so much with the modern work of cops, highlighted in recent weeks following the police killing of George Floyd. In fact, both us in psychiatry and those in policing are often tasked with managing the failures of American social policies  and neither of us is very good at it.

Unaddressed basic needs  like those spelled out on the prized flyer  are frequently a significant driver of my patients symptoms. I feel helpless when the most I can do is offer the piece of paper. And not uncommonly, my patients have returned to the next visit reporting they went to the resource center only to be placed on a months-long waiting list for the relevant assistance.

My most vulnerable patients and I are forced to do our best from where we are and with what we have. However, an antidepressant for your homelessness and cognitive behavioral therapy to reframe your food insecurity clearly leaves something (everything) to be desired.

When these sorts of interventions unsurprisingly fail to work, patients are left in the same position or worse, potentially experiencing side effects and definitely the pain of our persistent neglect of their fundamental needs. At the same time, taxpayers, in the case of Medicaid, cover the bill for a psychiatrist instead of a social worker or better yet preventive policies.

This phenomenon is referred to as the medicalization of poverty. People present to the healthcare system with ultimately social problems and, without great alternatives, we as providers react, assigning a diagnosis or offering a medication (something) despite the true cause of their suffering or clear benefit.

A number of tragic outcomes, such as aspects of the opioid epidemic, are a consequence of this dynamic. Stanfords Dr. Anna Lembke has described instances of opioids acting as a proxy for a social safety net, prescribed at times as a quick fix, conscious or not when clinicians are confronted with profound and immediately unfixable social problems.

Not dissimilarly, much of modern policing arguably functions as a proxy for a social safety net. The most downstream point in a chain of missed opportunities, police are currently asked to step up as makeshift social workers, mental health professionals, trauma experts, and more.

In the now widely circulated words of former Dallas police chief David Brown, Were asking cops to do too much in this country.  Every societal failure, we put it off on the cops to solve. Not enough mental health funding; let the cops handle it  Here in Dallas, we got a loose dog problem; lets have the cops chase loose dogs. Schools fail; lets give it to the cops  Thats too much to ask. Policing was never meant to solve all those problems.

Take this headline from last year: Police Train to Be Social Workers of Last Resort. In the article, several well-intended police officers express support for a newly mandated mental health and de-escalation training to better prepare them for calls related to mental health issues.

But if we allow ourselves to zoom out for a moment, it becomes obvious we are far down a misguided path. If you had a problem with your car, but there wasnt a mechanic available, you wouldnt spend your time and money training your plumber to fix your car. Its nice that your plumbers willing, but it shouldnt and doesnt need to be their job.

Its time to end both our medicalization and criminalization of social problems and free up resources for the people and programs that we know are best equipped to address the relevant root causes. With a key root cause being systemic racism, the solution will require systemic re-thinking.

This sort of reimagining of and reinvestment in our social policies would help us avoid inappropriate, expensive, and potentially dangerous band-aid solutions. Lets make a world where police and psychiatrists dont have all that much in common.

Sara K. Zachman is a psychiatry resident.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Baking bread started as a hobby for Lindsay Martin. Three years later, the self-taught baker began selling her loaves of bread through Instagram. She now makes about 16 loaves a week in her 150-square-foot kitchen.

When I first started, I hadnt been doing any wheat or grains for a long time, but I was doing a lot of research about sourdough and how good it is for your health and your gut, she said. I would give it away to my friends and they would tell me I need to sell this.

Martin is a stay-at-home mom of one son, 1 -year-old Jackson. She is originally from Colorado and lived in North Dakota before her husband, Reese, was transferred to Midland in 2016.

She bakes everything from sourdough loaves to braided sweet bread. She has experimented and developed some recipes but started with recipes from Vanessa Kimbell who runs The Sourdough School. Martin said her favorite part about baking has been watching the doughs transformation at each stage of baking.

Want to buy fresh bread?

For more information visit https://www.instagram.com/loaves_midland/ See More Collapse

I think the transformation process is crazy because it was just a mass of flour before, Martin said. Then come tomorrow I will dump them out to bake and score them. Then put them in the oven and you take them out in an hour and 15 minutes later; they are just magical and beautiful.

She usually starts preparing the dough on Monday and then bakes the loaves on Tuesday and Wednesday, which are also the days when orders are picked up. Martin said she is very particular about the flour she uses. Her favorite flour is from Barton Springs Mill outside of Austin. While businesses were shut down and supplies were limited during the pandemic, she had to stop baking for about a month because she couldnt find flour and didnt want to buy all of the flour she did find.

From the end of March to the first of April I could barely find flour at the store, she said. I was ordering from Barton Springs Mill and making some for our family, but it was a little hard to sustain.

Martin said her family has different favorites: Jackson loves sourdough pancakes, her husband loves the cinnamon braided loaves and she loves the classic sourdough loaf.

She said baking break makes her happy.

I love baking it and I love sharing it with people, Martin said.

Reese has been very supportive about her baking endeavor. She said he posts on Instagram while she is baking bread. They have talked about upgrading kitchen appliances and possibly buying a trailer for a to-go bakery.

She sells her loaves for $10 each and takes orders on her Instagram Loaves Midland.

Just meeting a bunch of people in our community that I wouldnt have naturally bumped into otherwise is probably my favorite thing, Martin said. I wanted to start it just if there was a possibility of being able to share (with other people) something that I love so much, and our family loves so much.
Boris Johnson backed beleaguered minister Robert Jenrick today as he facing ever increasing demands to quit over a 'cash-for-favours' row involving a Tory donor's 1billion property development.

No10 said this morning that the under-fire Housing Secretary still had the support of Boris Johnson after documents showed he rushed through approval of the Westferry Printworks development to save Richard Desmond 45million.

Bombshell text messages released by the Ministry of Housing last night showed that the former Express owner opposed paying the fees to the Labour-run council, saying he didn't want to hand cash to 'Marxists'.

Emails in the cache he was forced to release last night showed that Mr Jenrick was 'insistent' that the approval went through before the introduction of Tower Hamlets' Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which sought to fund projects in one of the most deprived parts of the capital.

In one text message, Mr Desmond wrote: 'We appreciate the speed as we don't want to give Marxists loads of doe [sic] for nothing!'

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said today: 'The PM has spoken with the Communities Secretary. The Communities Secretary gave his account in public and to Parliament and published the relevant documentation.

'In light of the account that was given, the PM considers the matter closed.'

But Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, told the BBC: 'The Prime Minister's judgement is in issue  he says the matter is closed, but it's far from closed.

'The latest disclosures show discrepancies. They show that Jenrick initiated conversations We want straight answers on this.'

Labour this afternoon demanded Mr Jenrick return to the Commons to answer more questions over 'discrepancies' between his account to MPs last night and the documents released.

The Housing Secretary was forced to hand over damning texts he exchanged with former newspaper tycoon Richard Desmond

No10 sources said this morning that the under-fire Housing Secretary still had the support of Boris Johnson after documents showed he rushed through approval of the Westferry Printworks development to save Richard Desmond (pictured with the PM in 2014) 45million.

The Housing Secretary was forced to hand over damning texts he exchanged with former Daily Express owner Mr Desmond as calls grew for Boris Johnson to sack the minister.

Anyone can access Tory MPs - as long as they pay the party, says minister in new gaffe A Tory minster was under fire today for claiming anyone attending Tory fundraising events could get similar access to politicians as wealthy developer Richard Desmond. Nadhim Zahawi said the fresh documents proved there was no overt influence exerted by ex-Daily Express owner Mr Desmond. Under pressure to explain why a wealthy businessman could have such access, the business minister indicated that anybody could deploy similar tactics if they had the money for a ticket. 'If people go to a fundraiser in their local area, in Doncaster (for example), for the Conservative Party, they will be sitting next to MPs and other people in their local authorities and can interact with different parts of the authority,' he said. Mr Zahawi stressed that 'the access did not buy this billionaire a decision'. 'Yes, of course there was access, because there was a dinner party that Robert Jenrick didn't know he was going to sit next to Richard Desmond in, but Robert Jenrick also said in those messages, that he released after promising the select committee he would release them, 'I can't have this meeting with you'.' A Labour spokesman said: 'Senior Tories say that anyone can get the same access to the Government Richard Desmond enjoys - all they have to do is attend swanky Tory fundraisers and hope they get sat next to an MP. 'The 'cash for favours' scandal has laid bare that it's one rule for the Tories and their wealthy friends, another for the rest of us.' Liberal Democrat housing spokesman Tim Farron said: 'The ''defence'' of Robert Jenrick is in reality little more than an admission of cash for access. It seems the Tory Party's commitment to the ''levelling up'' agenda amounts to sleaze and corruption.' Advertisement

Business minister Nadhim Zahawi earlier attempted to defend the actions this morning, saying it had been done to ensure 'viability' of the Docklands scheme.

But Lord Bob Kerslake, a former head of the Civil Service, said the relationship between the two men 'raised some troubling issues ... about access and influence'.

The Housing Secretary has faced accusations of 'cash for favours' since the Daily Mail revealed Mr Desmond had donated 12,000 to the Conservative Party two weeks after his scheme for 1,500 homes was given the go-ahead.

Mr Jenrick had resisted calls to make public the correspondence relating to his decision. But yesterday he finally agreed to release 'all relevant information'  under pressure from Labour in Parliament.

The minister over-ruled Tower Hamlets council and a planning inspector to grant permission for the development in January, two months after he sat next to Mr Desmond at a Tory fundraising dinner.

Mr Jenrick yesterday admitted watching a promotional video about the scheme on Mr Desmond's mobile phone at the event at the Savoy Hotel but insisted he 'informed the developer it was not appropriate to discuss the matter'.

However, the two men swapped mobile phone numbers and exchanged a series of messages, including over arrangements for a possible visit to the site.

In a message on December 23, Mr Desmond appealed for a quick decision. He wrote: 'We have to get the approval before January 15 otherwise payment of 45million to Tower Hamlets, meaning we have to stop and reduce social housing.'

Mr Jenrick raised the issue in a meeting with his officials a fortnight later. A few days later, one wrote: 'My understanding is that the Secretary of State is/was insistent that decision issued this week  as next week the viability of the scheme is impacted by a change in the London community infrastructure levy regime.'

A document prepared by Mr Jenrick's department shows that officials advised him not to approve the development.

Mr Zahawi claimed the documents proved there was no overt influence, telling the BBC: 'Yes, of course there was access, because there was a dinner party that Robert Jenrick didn't know he was going to sit next to Richard Desmond at.

'But Robert Jenrick also said in those messages, that he released after promising the select committee he would release them, ''I can't have this meeting with you''.'

When asked whether those who voted Tory for the first time at the election in Labour's traditional heartland areas would be afforded the same level of access to decision makers as Mr Desmond, Mr Zahawi indicated that anybody could deploy similar tactics.

'If people go to a fundraiser in their local area, in Doncaster (for example), for the Conservative Party, they will be sitting next to MPs and other people in their local authorities and can interact with different parts of the authority,' said the minister.

Downing Street distanced No 10 from the row over Robert Jenrick's handling of the planning decision on Richard Desmond's Westferry Printworks development.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'No one in No 10 has discussed this appeal with Mr Desmond or the applicants.

'No 10 had no involvement with the Secretary of State's appeal decision.'

The spokesman was unable to say whether anyone in No 10 had discussed the development more generally with Mr Jenrick.

Tory chairman of the Commons liaison committee, Sir Bernard Jenkin branded it a 'very partisan spat' and noted that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer 'didn't go for Jenrick in the Prime Minister's Questions yesterday'.

Sir Bernard conceded that the public 'don't like the idea of ministers and rich businessmen cosying up together' but added: 'Clearly there has been a little bit of a mistake and a decision had to be rescinded but there is no sign of actual maladministration.'

However Lord Kerslake, an adviser to Jeremy Corbyn when he was Labour leader, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I'm pleased the documents have come out but I do think they have raised some troubling issues, I have to say, about access and influence.

'I don't for a moment suggest the minister took his decision simply because of a donation to the Conservative Party.

'But the fact is, for the price of a dinner, the developer was able to present his scheme to the minister, follow up with texts and seek to influence the decision.'

Mr Desmond had donated 12,000 to the Conservative Party two weeks after his scheme for 1,500 homes was given the go-ahead

In the Commons yesterday, MPs warned there was a 'stench of sleaze' around the Housing Secretary's approval for the plan to redevelop the site of the Westferry printworks in east London.

Mr Jenrick insisted that he had acted within the rules, but admitted: 'I am not blind to the fact that things could and should have been done differently.' He said it was 'outrageous' to suggest his decision was influenced by his interactions with Mr Desmond.

Labour's housing spokesman Steve Reed said the documents confirmed that Mr Jenrick 'rushed through the decision specifically to help the developer avoid a 30-50million levy payable to the local council for infrastructure in one of the poorest local authorities in England'.

Mr Jenrick last month agreed for his decision to be quashed after Tower Hamlets launched a High Court challenge.

The Housing Secretary who keeps getting caught out by houses Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has found himself in hot water repeatedly during the coronavirus crisis. Not long after the lockdown began, the 38-year-old father-of-three found himself having to explain his actions after travelling for more than an hour to visit his parents, despite warning the public they must stay at home. He also faced criticism for driving 150 miles from his London property to his Herefordshire home, a 17th century manor house, from where he then travelled to his parents in Shropshire. The house is around 150 miles from his Newark constituency, with his website saying he split his time between homes in the Nottinghamshire seat and London. But he defended himself, saying he went to deliver food and medicine to his isolating parents, and was backed by Boris Johnson, whose official spokesman said he was confident that Mr Jenrick had complied with the social distancing rules during the visit. Mr Jenrick grew up in Shropshire and is a trained solicitor who worked in corporate law at leading international law firms in London and Moscow. He then turned his attentions to business, working in senior commercial management at the world-famous global art firm Christie's. According to Mr Jenrick's website, his last role was as an international managing director of the company, managing sales and staff in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and New York. Wolverhampton-born, Mr Jenrick entered the Commons as MP for Newark in a 2014 by-election, and took up his first ministerial post as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in 2018. He was appointed Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in July last year. His website proudly displays photographs of him with former Conservative prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, as well as broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough. Advertisement

The riddle of Robert Jenrick's 830k home makeover that planners refused

Robert Jenrick was mired in a fresh row yesterday after it emerged Tory councillors approved an extension to his 2.6million townhouse despite planning officials rejecting it three times.

Documents show the Housing Secretary, 38, submitted plans to turn a rear first-floor roof terrace into an extra room as part of renovations costing 830,000.

It was twice rejected by Westminster City Council's planning officer in January and April 2014. This was on the grounds it would 'harm' the character and appearance of the building and surrounding conservation area. But in August 2014, two months after he became the Tory MP for Newark in Nottinghamshire, Mr Jenrick and his wife submitted plans for a third time.

Although the planning officer ruled it should again be refused, Tory councillor Steve Summers intervened and requested that it be referred to a committee to decide.

Mr Summers lives in the same exclusive square, just a short walk from the Houses of Parliament, as Mr Jenrick, The Times reported.

In November 2014, three Tory councillors on the planning committee then voted to overturn the officer's decision and approve it. The first two applications had been made in Mr Jenrick's name, but the third was under his wife's, although she was wrongly listed as 'Mr Michal Berkner' on documents. The only councillor who voted against on the four-member planning committee was Labour's Ruth Bush.

The exclusive square, just a short walk from the Houses of Parliament, where Robert Jenrick lives

Documents show the Housing Secretary, 38, submitted plans to turn a rear first-floor roof terrace into an extra room

Last night she said it raises new concerns about why fellow councillors approved the scheme.

She said: 'It is strange. There are clearly questions to be asked now. I kick myself for not thinking, 'who is this Mr Michal Berkner?'

'I made a note at the time that I thought it was a foolish decision because of the possibility of it setting a precedent.'

She added: 'For smaller applications it's very unusual for them to be referred to committee. It's usually only for major applications or where there are objections from the public.' Neither applied in this case.

The documents show permission was granted despite the structure under the third application being 25cm higher. If it hadn't been called into committee the planning officer's refusal would have stood.

Mr Jenrick's opposite number, Labour's shadow communities secretary Steve Reed, called on the minister to reveal details of any contact he had with Tory councillors in the run-up or during the process.

Mr Jenrick's application was twice rejected by Westminster City Council's planning officer in January and April 2014

But in August 2014, two months after he became the Tory MP for Newark in Nottinghamshire, Mr Jenrick and his wife submitted plans for a third time

He said: 'The public need reassurance that there's not one rule for Conservative politicians and another for everyone else.'

Further documents show Mr Jenrick set up a private company to have the renovations carried out after buying the five-bedroom terrace house in 2013. Accounts show his wife, a City lawyer, paid more than 800,000 into the company for the work to be done.

The arrangement has raised eyebrows among experts, who said it was a 'strange way' of structuring the work. Property tax specialist Simon Misiewicz, who looked at the company's accounts, said: 'It's clear no profits were made, so what's the ulterior motive? Why would you carry out an activity like this for you to make no money?'

A spokesman for Mr Jenrick said 'there were no tax advantages to this arrangement' and that 'all applicable taxes' were paid.

Paul Church, one of the Tory councillors who gave planning approval, said he could not remember why he did and did not know Mr Jenrick was the homeowner.

Richard Beddoe, chairman of the committee, did not respond to requests for comment. The third Tory member, Robert Rigby, said he had no contact with Mr Jenrick or his wife in the run-up to approving the extension, did not know Mr Jenrick was the owner, does not consider the housing minister or his wife a 'friend' and that the application was 'judged on its merits and in planning terms'. Mr Summers referred questions to the council's press office. Westminster City Council said the scheme had 'support from neighbours and due process was followed at all times'.

A spokesman for Mr Jenrick said: 'Normal planning process for a standard planning extension was followed by the applicant.'

HENRY DEEDES: He sweated under the glare like a saveloy in a chip shop

Robert Jenrick sat on the Government front bench, arms folded, feet still, his mouth occasionally gulping like a cornered koi carp.

Perched all alone, with no colleague nearby, he could have been a lonely seafarer bobbing inside a lifeboat as the waves crashed around him. Which was apt really. Attacks were raining in at him from all over the chamber.

The Housing Secretary had returned to the Commons to face questions over his links to Richard Desmond, whose 1billion housing application Jenrick had intervened to wave through just before the developer made a 12,000 donation to the Tories.

This murky saga has rolled on for weeks now. How's Jenrick holding up? Passing him late on Tuesday along Whitehall, he looked little green around the gills, as though the weight of the world was hanging from his shoulders. To give him his due, he showed unexpected mettle through yesterday's tussle.

The Housing Secretary had returned to the Commons to face questions over his links to Richard Desmond

Labour's Housing spokesman Steve Reed clearly smelt blood and had worked himself into an appropriate froth. He arrived in the chamber with his hair ruffled and his tie askew. It's possible he'd been psyching himself up in front of the mirror.

Reed accused Jenrick of having something to hide. He'd come armed with a stack of headline-friendly cliches to hammer this home. We heard phrases like 'cash for honours' and 'mates' rates for friends of Tories'. A couple of times he trotted out that old Labour favourite: 'One rule for billionaire donors and one for the rest for us'.

Jenrick looked on, a little twitch of irritation occasionally dancing across his temple. Sometimes he would begin gesticulating the way unruly pupils do. 'What sir, me sir?'

When he finally rose, someone  Labour's Toby Perkins, possibly  immediately tried to make an intervention. Jenrick airily questioned whether his opponents were genuinely interested in what he had to say. Punchy.

He agreed to publish all documentation on the matter, but insisted Mr Desmond's application had been made 'with an open mind' and 'after a thorough decision-making process'.

Jenrick had intervened in Sir Desmond's 1billion housing application just before the developer made a 12,000 donation to the Tories

We heard about the night he sat next to Mr Desmond at a Tory fundraiser while his planning application was still pending. He reiterated that he had no idea they would be placed next to next to one another. Cue several sly smirks around the House.

At the same table that evening, we were told, was the editor of The Mirror. Editor of the Left-wing Mirror at a Tory fundraiser? Must be a first. There was also a 'former Tory MP.' This was apparently Norfolk grandee Sir Henry Bellingham. What an old gent like Sir Henry's doing mixed up with Mr Desmond is anyone's guess.

By now, a thin film of sweat had formed on Jenrick's forehead. Fifteen minutes under the Commons lights will do that to you. Before long his brow was shinier than a saveloy in a chippie's broiler.

Meanwhile, just inside the chamber door sat the Prime Minister's PPS Alex Burghart (Con, Brentwood and Ongar). Preparing a match report for the boss, no doubt.

Jenrick scored a decent hit following an intervention from Apsana Begum (Labour, Poplar and Limehouse) in whose constituency the development falls. Miss Begum appeared critical of the decision to grant the application.

Yet Jenrick said when he asked officials what representations she'd made when it was first lodged, they had told him she had 'taken no interest' in it at all. Boom! Miss Begum reeled in her neck. Worth noting was Jenrick's menace toward Reed, whom he went for doggedly at the end.

He accused him of 'living for smears and innuendos, not substance'.

It was biting stuff. Reed affected an air of apathy by giving his goatee whiskers a casual rake of the fingernails.

As the Minister returned to his seat, the attacks resumed. David Linden (SNP, Glasgow E) said the whole business 'stunk to high heaven.'

Rupa Huq (Lab, Ealing Central and Acton) claimed that 'the wheels were coming off this oven-ready Government'. Jenrick continued to sit there, twisting and turning, though just about keeping his mouth above the surf.

For how long?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 17:07:52|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Fiji-China Friendship Association donated on Wednesday 136,250 Fijian dollars (about 62,906.6 U.S. dollars) worth of medical supplies to Fiji to help battle COVID-19.

During the handover ceremony held here on Wednesday, Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama thanked the Chinese government and the Chinese community for their donation to assist the frontline workers in the island nation.

"Thank you for this wonderful donation that will help our frontline workers, assist them with the work that they do every day," he said.

For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo said it was not the end of the Chinese cooperating with the Fijian government but a new beginning.

The ambassador added that the Chinese government remained committed to providing the necessary support in all areas.

"Our next priority is the post-COVID-19 period and how China can facilitate the Fijian people and the country to recover economically," he said.

Wu Fangfang, president of the Fiji-China Friendship Association, said the relationship between China and Fiji has been further enhanced during this COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the Chinese community, the Fiji-China Friendship Association would like to assist the Fijian government and the people in combating this pandemic, she said.

According to Wu, the medical supplies, which range from disposable medical masks, protective clothing, protective shields, protective goggles, disposable gloves and hand sanitizer were from the Fiji-China Friendship Association and the China Chamber of Commerce in Fiji. Enditem
Goldmining announces creation of Gold Royalty Corp., A new gold-focused royalty company

Posted by Publisher Internet

Highlights:

-??????????Creation?of?Gold Royalty Corp.?(GRC),?a?new?and?wholly owned?gold-focused?royalty company,?to?expose existing shareholders to an additional and distinct form of value enhancement;

-??????????Portfolio?to include 14 newly created royalties comprised of?2% NSRs on?2?gold projects,?1% NSRs on?11?gold projects, and?a?0.5% NSR on?1?gold project?(Table 1);

-??????????11?of the?14?NSRs are associated with?advance-stage?resource?and?development?projects with exposure?to?the following aggregated resources?(Table 2):

11.4 Moz?gold (14.3 Moz gold equivalent)?in the measured and indicated categories;?and

13.8 Moz gold (16.6 Moz gold equivalent)?in the inferred category;

-??????????GRC?will retain exposure to future discoveries through?its?precious metal?focused?portfolio?covering?over?1,290 km2?(139,000?Ha)?in mining friendly jurisdictions in?five countries in?the Americas;?and

-??????????Additional opportunities?to?expand royalty portfolio through?buy-backs?of existing?NSR?royalties ranging from 0.5%?to?2%?from third-party holders?on?up to?5?of the?14?projects.

GoldMining Inc.?(the \Company\ or \GoldMining\) (TSX: GOLD; OTCQX: GLDLF?-?https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/goldmining-inc/?)?is?pleased to?announce?today?the?creation?of Gold Royalty?Corp. (\GRC\),?a newly incorporated wholly owned subsidiary, that will hold?14 newly created?net smelter return (\NSR\)?royalties?on its extensive gold-focused asset portfolio in the Americas.

Amir Adnani, Chairman, commented:?\Following a?decade-long?effort?since forming the Company?to assemble an extensive portfolio of?gold projects in mining friendly jurisdictions in North and South America, we believe that the timing is right to create this royalty entity, which imparts?an?additional,?and?non-dilutive layer,?of value to existing shareholders.??Over the long-term, we intend to explore potential value-enhancing transactions for?Gold Royalty Corp., including a potential spin-off,?initial public offering,?sale, merger or?other transactions that?may?increase shareholder value.\

Garnet Dawson, CEO, commented: \GoldMining\-\-s?focus?remains?on?our?two-pronged strategy of?expanding our?property?portfolio through accretive?transactions?of resource stage gold projects and?their?advancement towards?development.? We believe Gold Royalty Corp.?will be a complementary platform to GoldMining\-\-s future acquisition and development plans.\

GRC\-\-s?royalty?portfolio is expected to?comprise?of?0.5% to 2.0%?NSR royalties?on?the Company\-\-s interest in?14 existing projects?with the?opportunity to expand?the?royalty portfolio through?the Company\-\-s?buy-back?rights?on?existing?NSR?royalties ranging from 0.5%?to?2%?held by third-parties?on up to?5?of the?14?projects?(Table 1).

Qualified Persons

Paulo Pereira, President of GoldMining Inc. has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.? Mr. Pereira holds a?Bachelors?degree in Geology from?Universidade?do Amazonas in?Brazil,?is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario.

About?GoldMining?Inc.

GoldMining Inc. is a public mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of gold assets in the Americas.? Through its disciplined acquisition strategy, GoldMining now controls a diversified portfolio of resource-stage gold and gold-copper projects?and royalties?in Canada, U.S.A., Brazil, Colombia and Peru.? Additionally, GoldMining owns a 75% interest in the Rea Uranium Project, located in the Western Athabasca Basin of Alberta, Canada.

Table 2: GoldMining\-\-s Aggregated Mineral Resource Statement across all its Projects1,2,3.

Table 2?Notes:

1.????????Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resources will be converted into mineral reserves.?The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant issues.

2.????????The above aggregated resource table is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to represent the viability of any project on a standalone or aggregated basis. The exploration and development of each project, project geology and the assumptions and other factors underlying each estimate, are not uniform and will vary from project to project. Please refer to the technical report for each respective project, as referenced herein, for detailed information respecting each individual project.

3.????????All quantities are rounded to the appropriate number of significant figures; consequently, sums may not add up due to rounding.

4.????????Gold cut-off for all projects except for Whistler and Yarumalito, which is gold equivalent cut-off.

5.????????Notes for Titiribi:

Based on technical report titled \Technical Report on the Titiribi Project Department of Antioquia, Colombia\ prepared by Joseph A. Cantor and Robert E. Cameron of Behre Dolbear & Company (USA), Inc., with an effective date of?September 14, 2016.

Gold equivalent estimated for the Titiribi deposit assumes metal prices of US$1,300/oz gold and US$2.90/lb copper and recoveries of 83% for gold and 90% for copper.

6.????????Notes for Sao Jorge:

Based on technical report titled \Technical Report and Resource Estimate on the Sao Jorge Gold Project, Para State, Brazil\ prepared by Porfirio Rodriguez and Leonardo de Moraes of Coffey Mining Pty Ltd. (\Coffey\), with an effective date of November 22, 2013.

7.????????Notes for Cachoeira:

Based on technical report titled \Technical Report and Resource Estimate on the Cachoeira Property, Para? State, Brazil\ prepared by Gregory Z. Mosher of Tetratech, Inc. with an effective date of April 17, 2013 and amended and re-stated October 2, 2013.

8.????????Notes for Whistler:

Based on technical report titled \Technical Report on the Whistler Project\ prepared by Gary Giroux of Giroux Consultants Inc., with an effective date of?March 24, 2016.

The Whistler Project is comprised of three deposits: Whistler, Raintree West and Island Mountain.

Gold equivalent estimated for the Whistler deposit assumes metal prices of US$990/oz gold, US$15.40/oz silver and US$2.91/lb copper and recoveries of 75% for gold and silver and 85% for copper.

Gold equivalent estimated for the Raintree West deposit assumes metal prices of US$1,250/oz gold, US$16.50/oz silver and US$2.10/lb copper and recoveries of 75% for gold, 85% for copper and 75% for silver.

Gold equivalent estimated for the Island Mountain deposit assumes metal prices of US$1,250/oz gold, US$16.50/oz silver and US$2.10/lb copper and recoveries of 75% for gold, 85% for copper and 25% for silver (recovered in copper concentrate).

A gold equivalent cut-off of 0.3 g/t was highlighted in the estimate as a possible open pit cut-off (Whistler, Raintree-shallow and Island Mountain), and a gold equivalent cut-off of 0.6 g/t was highlighted in the estimate as a possible underground cut-off (Raintree-deep).

9.????????Notes for La Mina:

Based on technical report titled \Technical Report on the La Mina Project\ prepared by?Scott E. Wilson of Metals Mining Consultants, Inc. (\MMC\) with an effective date of October 24, 2016.

Gold equivalent estimated for the La Mina project assumes metal prices of US$1,275/oz gold, US$17.75/oz for silver and US$2.75/lb for copper and recoveries of 93% for gold and 90% for copper.

10.?????Notes for Boa Vista:

Based on technical report titled \Technical Report on the Boa Vista Project and Resource Estimate on the VG1 Prospect, Tapajos Area, Para State, Northern Brazil\ prepared by Jim Cuttle, Gary Giroux and Michael Schmulian, with an effective date of November 22, 2013.

11.?????Notes for Surubim:

Based on technical report titled \Technical Report on the Rio Novo Gold Project and Resource Estimate on the?Jau?Prospect, Tapajos Area, Para State, Northern Brazil\ (\Surubim Project\) prepared by Jim Cuttle and Gary Giroux, with an effective date of November 22, 2013.

12.?????Notes for Crucero:

Pit constrained resource estimate based on US$1,500/oz gold, mining cost of US$1.60/t, processing cost of US$16.00/t and pit slope of 47 degrees.

Based on technical report titled \Technical Report on the?Crucero?Property,?Carabaya?Province, Peru\ prepared by Greg Z. Mosher with an effective date of December 20, 2017.

13.?????Notes for Yellowknife:

Pit constrained resources with reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction reported above a 0.50 g/t Au cut-off.?

Pit optimization is based on an assumed gold price of US$1,500/oz, metallurgical recovery of 90%, mining cost of US$2.00/t and processing and G&A cost of US$23.00/t.

Underground resources with reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction stated as contained within gold grade shapes above a 1.50 g/t Au cut-off.?

Mineral resource tonnage and grade with reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction are reported as undiluted and reflect a bench height of 3.0?m.

Based on a technical report titled \Independent Technical Report for the Yellowknife Gold Project, Northwest Territories, Canada\ prepared by Ben Parsons (SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc.)? and Dominic Chartier (SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and Eric Olin (SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc.) with an effective date of March 1, 2019.

14.?????Notes for Yarumalito

Pit constrained resource estimate based on US$1,500/oz gold?and US$2.70/lb copper, mining cost of US$2.00/t, processing cost of US$8.00/t and pit slope of 45?degrees.

Based on technical report titled \Technical Report: Yarumalito Gold-Copper Property, Departments of Antioquia and Caldas, Republic of Colombia\?prepared by Greg Z. Mosher with an effective date of April 1, 2020.

15.?????Notes for Almaden

Pit constrained resource estimate based on US$1,500/oz gold and US$2.70/lb copper, mining cost of US$2.25/t, processing cost of US$10.00/t and pit slope of 45 degrees.?0.3 g/t Au cut-off.

See News Release titled \GoldMining Announces Resource Estimate for Almaden Gold Project, Idaho,?USA\ on June 3, 2020, which is available at www.sedar.com under GoldMining\-\-s SEDAR profile. A technical report documenting this work is currently in preparation and will be available at www.sedar.com under GoldMining\-\-s SEDAR profile in due course.

The above aggregated resource statement is provided for information purposes only.?? Investors should refer to the underlying technical reports referenced above for project-specific factors relating to each resource estimate.

Forward-looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of GoldMining with respect to its business and future events, including expectations and future plans respecting each of GoldMining\-\-s and?GRC, business plans and strategies, including expectations and plans regarding future acquisitions and value-enhancing transactions, and resource estimates.?Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which GoldMining including?GRC, operates.?Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: the ability of the Company to identify and execute additional transactions, including any potential spin-off, sale or merger, on acceptable terms or at all, the ability of the Company to realize or enhance value through its?GRC?strategy as envisioned, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other exploration data, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with expectations, accidents, equipment breakdowns, title and permitting matters, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations, fluctuating metal prices, unanticipated costs and expenses,? and uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future.?These risks, as well as others, including those set forth in GoldMining?s Annual Information Form for the year ended November 30, 2019, management\-\-s discussion and analysis for the three months ended February 29, 2020 and other filings with Canadian securities regulators, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly.?Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.?There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward looking information, will prove to be accurate.?GoldMining?does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.
CHICAGO, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The future of office demand is a hot topic of discussion in boardrooms across the country as the COVID-19 pandemic has required companies to engage in the largest work from home experiment in history. By looking at historic trends, current research and client insights, JLL's new "The Future of Office Demand" report finds the physical office will maintain its importance for facilitating innovation and collaboration and, ultimately, employee health, well-being and productivity.

After a three-month mandatory hiatus, corporations and their employees have largely adjusted to working from home successfully, but new surveys are pointing toward workers having a desire to get back to normal routines over working from home permanently.

"The global pandemic has forced many employers to reconsider the role of the office in supporting business culture and purpose," said Christian Ulbrich, JLL CEO. "Real estate demand follows economic cycles, so we know these unprecedented times are also creating opportunities for companies across the globe to reimagine their workspace needs as they return to the office."

Companies' location strategies may also shift, with greater emphasis on a diverse market ecosystem. In the short term, there will be an increased demand for some office-based activities to move to locally-accessible suburbs, and second and third-tier cities that make it easier for employees to connect with colleagues closer to home. This could also be an added asset post-pandemic, with the lack of commute being the element workers enjoyed most about working from home  according to nearly half (49%) of respondents from a recent JLL survey of 3,000 office workers.

By studying historical trends of previous global economic downturns such as the 1990s recession, dot-com crash and 2008 global financial crisis, JLL understands how the corporate real estate market recovered as the economy was rebuilt. The unknowns surrounding the pandemic and the potential for a second wave of outbreaks make it difficult to predict the recovery time; however, the ingenuity of employers to enable productivity with alternative staffing and socially distant work spaces offer an encouraging outlook for office demand.

The past few months of mass working from home has given us clarity on the reasons for commuting to the office. Offices encourage collaboration, innovation, mentoring and team building  all things that technology struggles to replicate. In fact, the same JLL survey found that 58% of office workers missed the office, with younger cohorts  those 35 and under  showing an even stronger desire to return (65%). Human interaction and socializing with colleagues were the most missed element of the office (44%) followed by collective face-to-face work (29%) according to the survey.

JLL's Global CEO, Corporate Solutions, Neil Murray agrees with this outlook, "Density requirements will change and there will be an evolution in how office space is used, designed and developed. But history, and our latest office worker survey, shows that the office is not going away anytime soon."

A survey by Gensler found only 12% of workers want to work from home full-time, and 70% say they want to spend most of their week in the office. Meetings, socializing and impromptu face-to-face interactions with colleagues were ranked as the top reasons people wanted to head back into the office.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $18.0 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 94,000 as of March 31, 2020. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.

Connect with us

https://www.linkedin.com/company/jll

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Contact: Gayle Kantro

Phone: +312 228 2795

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE JLL-IR

Related Links

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IOM Bank Blasted For Extending Branch Closures



Customers queuing up outside the Athol Street Branch of IOM Bank (June 2020)

There has been angry backlash against the Isle of Man Banks decision to keep Peel and Port Erin branches closed, despite social distancing ending.

The branches, along with Regent Street in Douglas were closed during lockdown with the Athol Street branch reducing its operating hours.

Large queues formed on a daily basis.

Now the Bank has announced that its Regent Street branch will reopen from Monday, but Peel and Port Erin will remain closed.

Many bank customers have vented their anger on social media, some branding the bank a disgrace.

Government Minister Geoffrey Boot has also criticised the bank in a post on both his Facebook Page and on his personal account: Mr Boot posted a photo of queuing customers in Douglas and said the bank can do better this. On Saturday he posted a photo of Peel branch asking What about serving your customers.

You can read the full statement from the Isle of Bank below:

Isle of Man Bank  Changes to Branch Opening Times 24 June 2020

Isle of Man Bank has announced further changes to its opening hours, the re-opening of its branch in Regent Street and extending the opening hours at Athol Street, Ramsey and Castletown branches.

From Monday 29th June, the Regent Street branch will re-open from 9.30 am until 4.30 pm to provide a self-service facility for its customers. Athol Street, Ramsey and Castletown branches will extend their opening hours and will be open from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm (currently it is 10.00 am to 2.00 pm).The two branches at Port Erin and Peel will remain closed for the time being. The Bank is also ending social distancing measures inside its branches from today (24th June).

A spokesman explained:

During this unprecedent crisis, hundreds of our customers have requested support with overdrafts, loans and capital repayments breaks and many of our colleagues have been re-deployed to help customers with their critical needs and to meet the drive to increasingly use our digital options.

However, as restrictions are lifted and high streets and businesses re-open, there is now increased demand and so we plan to re-open our Regent Street branch from Monday and extend the opening hours of three other branches.

With many colleagues still re-deployed to meet critical customer needs, we do not have the resources to open all our branches at the present time without affecting our ability to meet customer requirements effectively. We are sorry that we cannot open all our branches at the moment but we will keep the opening times of all our branches under constant review and make further changes when the time is right.

We would continue to encourage customers to use online banking whenever they can. Our online banking and mobile app provide many of the services available in branch and we also have telephone banking services available.

All the up to date information can be found at the following page:

https://www.natwestinternational.com/global/branch-locator.html

Photos
Hyderabad: The state appeared to be just a day away from crossing the 10,000-mark in Covid-19 cases, with the government announcing 879 fresh cases on Tuesday. The total number stands at 9,553. Of the 879 cases on Tuesday, 652 were from Greater Hyderabad.

The health department in its Covid-19 bulletin said three more persons died during treatment, taking the toll up to 220. The number of discharged patients increased to 4,224 with 219 being sent home from hospitals on Tuesday. There are 519 active cases, according to the bulletin said.

The second highest tally came from Medchal-Malkajgiri district with 112 while Ranga Reddy district reported 64 cases. While 14 cases were reported from Warangal Rural, 10 were reported from Kamareddy, nine from Warangal Urban, seven from Jangaon, four from Nagarkurnool, two each from Sangareddy, Mancherial, and Mahbubabad, and one from Medak district.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Gandhi Hospital superintendent, Dr Raja Rao said a total of 10,128 patients, including suspects, had been admitted at the hospital so far of whom 290 were children younger than 12 years. Thirtyfive of these children also received care in the neonatal intensive care unit. While 135 women, pregnant but Covid-19 positive, have been admitted so far, 37 of them underwent Caesarean sections.

Dr Raja Rao said 3,423 patients had fully recovered and had been discharged from the hospital. A significant section of these patients, 1,395, also received treatment in the intensive care unit.

Many of them had comorbid conditions including pneumonia, cancer, paralysis, cardiac, kidney, and liver diseases as well as asthma. We are providing the best treatment under ICMR guidance and doing our best to fight against Covid-19, Dr Raja Rao said.
The Heritage Hotel in Killenard Laois has received a welcome boost after being judged as the best spa hotel in Leinster is in the top four in Ireland in the 2020 Irish Hotel Awards.

The team at the Irish Hotel Awards are proud to announce the winners of the 2020 programme. The gHotel in Galway came out on top as the overall winner in the Spa section.

The Irish Hotel Awards is sponsored by AIB Merchant Services & YesChef Magazine recognising and rewarding excellence in hospitality and service across Ireland. It is the only awards programme that takes an all-Ireland approach to working with the hospitality industry.

Shane Smith, Managing Director of NI Media, which run the awards praised The Heritage and other winners.

"In such uncertain times its heart-warming to see the enthusiasm of our friends and colleagues in the hospitality industry striving to get back to work.

"All our members are in full preparation for the re-awakening of the sector and now more than ever its important to shout about the incredible standards of hospitality across the island. The Irish Hotel Awards members have all been rigorously inspected by independent assessors and our winners truly deserve their accolade.

"This year Irish people North and South will be holidaying at home  Staycation is the New Vacation!! Our members are offering fantastic relaunch packages and we would urge everyone to check out hotels across Ireland and support the outstanding Irish Hospitality industry to get back on its feet, he said.

Mark Patterson, Head of Business Development, Ireland with AIB Merchant Services said;

As a global hospitality payments leader, AIB Merchant Services is proud to be sponsoring the Irish Hotel Awards. These awards celebrate the dedication, commitment and passion that the Irish Hotel industry offers. During these very changing times it is an incredible honour to celebrate, promote and share in these successes. We wish all nominees and winners the best of success, he said.

Below full list of winners.
When Huntsville eighth-graders Ethan MacKenzie and Noah Littleton started work on their historical documentary on the theme Breaking Barriers in History last fall, they had no idea what 2020 had in store.

Thankfully, they finished their 10-minute film well before COVID-19 shut down Hampton Cove Middle School and every other Alabama school, and entered it into the Alabama Humanities Foundations and National Endowment for the Humanities National History Day competition without too much disruption.

Their film on Dorothy Butler Gilliam, the first African American woman to write for The Washington Post, won first place in the Alabama video competition. From last Wednesday through this Wednesday, their film was among 35 from across the country featured in an online showcase by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Smithsonian Learning Lab.

Their video was completed last semester. But then came George Floyds death at the hands of police, and the outpouring of Black Lives Matter protests. It all harkened back to the 1960s, when Ethan and Noahs subject, Gilliam, was covering similar Civil Rights protests for The Post and breaking racial barriers of her own.

I think it is surely is a little more of a hot topic now, as it relates to the George Floyd murder, Ethan said. When I look back on (all the research they did for the documentary), its just very relevant.

When deciding who to focus their documentary on, Ethan said he and Noah decided not to do the obvious historical figures.

I knew that everyone was going to pick someone like Jackie Robinson or Martin Luther King Jr., so I wanted to pick someone who was not so well known, Ethan said.

While doing their research, they came across a story about Gilliam, who became The Washington Posts first Black female reporter in 1961. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Gilliam enrolled in Ursuline University in Louisville, Kentucky, in the late 1950s during which time she went to work as a typist at the Louisville Defender. At the age of 17, she became that papers society editor.

In 1957, while working for the Tri-State Defender, she covered the integration of Little Rock, Arkansas, against her editors wishes. In 1959, she became an associate editor at Jet Magazine before finishing her education at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, then the prestigious Columbia School of Journalism in New York City.

She became The Posts first Black female reporter in 1961 and covered issues of race and gender for one of the nations flagship newspapers. Shes the author of a book, Trailblazer: A Pioneering African American Journalists Fight to Make the Media Look More Like America.

By virtue of the nations circumstances, the Breaking Barriers in History theme for this years National History Day may be among the most relevant themes ever put forth, and Alabama students responded.

Savi Fistein and Aiden Seabrook of Phillips Preparatory Middle School in Mobile won Outstanding Alabama Junior Entry with their group performance, Raven Wilkinson: The Black Ballerina Who Broke Ballet Barriers by Braving the Jim Crow South during the Civil Rights Movement and Inspiring Others. It was the highest ranked Alabama junior project at the national contest.

Joy Kim of Huntsville High School earned the distinction of Outstanding Alabama Senior Entry for her paper, Foot Soldiers for Freedom: The Little Rock Nine and the Youth of the Civil Rights Movement. It was the highest ranked Alabama senior project at the national contest.

Eli Stapler of Hampton Cove Middle School in Huntsville won the History in the Federal Government Special Prize for his exhibit project, CCC: Roosevelts Tree Army. The award is sponsored by the Society for History in the Federal Government.

An Alabama teacher was also honored. Sarah Woltring of Murphy High School in Mobile was a finalist for the Hannah E. (Liz) MacGregor Teacher of the Year Award.

Alabama History Day Coordinator Jerald Crook said this years contest was historic, going virtual on the state and national levels.

It wasnt easy working through the challenges of this years NHD contest season because of the coronavirus pandemic, Crook noted. They had to navigate technological obstacles to participate in new virtual contests, and they missed the opportunity to travel to Montgomery and Washington D.C. for the state and national competitions, but they endured, put in hard work, and it all paid off in the end. I am so proud of our Alabama NHD winners and all who represented the state on the national level.

Shelly Haskins writes about points of pride statewide. Email your suggestions to shaskins@al.com, or tweet them to @Shelly_Haskins using #AlabamaProud
P otential coronavirus vaccines being developed at UK universities will be tested in the US, South Africa and Brazil because Britons are now at low risk of contracting Covid-19, it emerged today.

Researchers at Oxford and Imperial College London are among 140 teams across the world aiming to find the first vaccine for Covid-19.

The Oxford trial vaccine is at stage three  the main part the research, where its effectiveness, or efficacy, is tested in thousands of people. It has already been trialled in healthy British volunteers and in people in Brazil.

The House of Lords science committee was told today that declining infection rates in the UK meant foreign volunteers were being sought.

This is because there is little benefit in vaccinating people who are unlikely to subsequently contract Covid  as it makes it impossible to determine whether the vaccine provides protection.

Imperial, where the research is at a less advanced stage, will also look to Brazil. The Oxford vaccine will start trials in South Africa from tomorrow and then in another unnamed African nation.

It will then be tested in the US, as a result of Oxfords partnership with the drugs firm AstraZenica, trial leader Professor Sarah Gilbert said.

It comes as the first healthy volunteer 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.

Professor Robin Shattock, who is leading the Imperial trials, said: If the incidence is low, then getting the numbers to show that the vaccine works against a placebo is going to be challenging.

Professor Gilbert is already running a trial in Brazil, precisely because the numbers of transmissions are much higher, and we hopefully will look to do the same.

Its really about numbers  getting those numbers to be able to show whether the vaccine works, and to what extent it works: what is the level of protection? We think that a vaccine should be at least 70 per cent protective, ideally higher, for it to be useful in terms of being rolled out.

Professor Gilbert said she initially aimed to get 5,000 people in the UK vaccinated by the end of April to be able to prove vaccine efficacy within a month.

But because transmission in the UK increased so rapidly in March this led to the lockdown being imposed on March 23  which proved very effective at reducing the spread of virus, thus making research in the UK more difficult.

She said she had had offers from many, many countries around the world wanting to conduct vaccine efficacy studies with Oxford university.

What we require is a country where there is a very good, well-established clinical trials unit. We dont just need a hospital with a lot of coronavirus cases. We need investigators who are experienced in running clinical vaccine studies as well as an increasing level of transmission and with little prospects of containing that.

We have chosen to work with Brazil, because of previous experience of working with the clinical trials team there. South Africa will start vaccinating, probably tomorrow. There is another African country with increasing transmission where we will be beginning trials.

And now that our vaccine is licensed to AstraZenica they will be initiating a clinical study in the US in the coming months. They are aiming for a study of 30,000 individuals.

The World Health Organisation yesterday reported 4,621 new cases in South Africa, taking it to 97,302 cases and 1,930 deaths.

In the US there were 32,349 cases, taking the total to more than 2.2 million, with 119,000 deaths.

In Brazil there were 34,666 new cases, taking the total to more than 1.06 million, with almost 50,000 deaths.

Professor Gilbert added: The problem for us is not knowing where virus transmission is now. Its knowing where its going to be in four to six weeks time - by the time we could have started a study, recruited people, vaccinated them and given them a couple of weeks for their antibodies and T-cell response to develop after vaccination. Its very difficult to predict because of changing circumstances all around the world.
Two teenage best friends drowned on Fathers Day after a late night boating trip on a private Ohio lake took a tragic and deadly turn.

Joshua Schwandt, 19, and Trevor Pacek, also 19, died after their boat capsized in a pond behind a home in the 4000 block of Remsen Road at 2:30am Sunday.

A third person, who has not been named, was also aboard the small vessel when the accident occurred, police said. That person was able to swim back to shore and call for help.

Officers from Medina Township responded to the pond moments later and were unable to locate Schwandt or Pacek.

Joshua Schwandt (left), 19, and Trevor Pacek (right), also 19, died after their boat capsized in a pond behind a home in the 4000 block of Remsen Road at 2:30am Sunday

Officials did not say what caused the boat to capsize, but the incident remains under investigation by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (Joshua Schwandt and Trevor Pacek pictured together above with a friend)

After the initial search, the Medina Fire Department, the Wayne County Water Rescue Team and the Ohio Parks and Watercraft officers were called in to assist.

The bodies of the two teenagers were recovered from the water shortly afterwards.

Officials did not say what caused the boat to capsize, but the incident remains under investigation by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

ODNR is reminding boaters to use the equipment on the boat responsibly, to always wear a life jacket and pay close attention to water conditions and posted advisories.

The department has not yet responded to a DailyMail.com request for comment.

On Facebook, friends and family members of the two teens are mourning the loss of two sweet souls who brought smiles to the faces of all who knew them.

Yesterday we got news that no one expected, Trevor Paceks cousin, Angel Smith wrote on Facebook. We lost one amazing person way too soon. My heart broke when I got the phone call that my cousin who is only 19 years old, passed away yesterday.

'Trevor you have a beautiful soul and a smile that can light up a room that will never be forgotten.

The bodies of the two teenagers were recovered from the water shortly after the Medina Fire Department, the Wayne County Water Rescue Team and the Ohio Parks and Watercraft officers were called in to assist

Family and Friends of Trevor Pacek (above) have paid tribute to him online, calling his 'heart as big as his handsome smile'

A former teacher of Trevors, Kristin Johnson Weight, said she too was saddened to hear of the passing of her former student.

Trevor, you were a special kid. You smiled and laughed always, Weight wrote. Our hearts are broken for all who loved you.

In an obituary posted to Waite and Son Funeral Homes, family members remembered Trevor for his kindness, remarking that his heart was as big as his handsome smile.

Trevor made a huge impact in his short 19 years to those who were fortunate to cross paths with him, the family tribute read.

Trevor attended Brunswick High School and the Medina County Career Center where he studied construction trades and was a 2019 graduate. He had recently been working at a Steak N Shake fast food eatery.

Trevor is survived by a large family which included four sisters Heather Mandato, Shannon Blaich, Breanna Hther, and Paige Pacek; one brother Jack Pacek and his parents.

Joshua Schwandt, meanwhile, was remembered as a beloved son and brother by his family. He had been working as a carpenter since graduating high school in 2019

Joshua Schwandt, meanwhile, was remembered as a beloved son and brother by his family. He had been working as a carpenter since graduating high school in 2019.

If you ever had an interaction with Josh, you knew the kind of person that he was, his brother, Jacob Schwandt wrote on a GoFundMe page. He was a funny and caring person with a one of a kind personality.

Francesca Kurek, who identified herself as the mother of one of Joshs best friends, wrote on Facebook: Josh was like a son to me and was taken way too soon. He was one of my son Clay's best friends. Our hearts break for his family, friends and all the lives he has touched.

Joshua is survived by his mother and father, Diane and Steve, his younger brother Johnny and older brother Jake.
Environment Canada has confirmed that a tornado touched down in Kawartha Lakes on Tuesday afternoon.

In a weather summary, Environment Canada said that videos and pictures via social media received by the Ontario Storm Prediction Centre confirm a tornado occurred today at Sturgeon Lake.

Information regarding a track and a rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale will come later, Environment Canada say, when more data is gathered and analysis can be done in consultation with the Northern Tornadoes Project.

Environment Canada is asking residents to send videos, photos, or damage reports of this tornado to ONstorm@canada.ca.
Opening school with a mix of online and face-to-face instructionthe so-called hybrid modelis shaping up to be the most likely option for scheduling this fall.

A hybrid schedule can take many forms. It offers schools the most flexibility but does carry risk by putting people inside buildings together, even if its in smaller groups and with social distancing protocols. The logistics will not be simple. And the learning curves for everyone will be steep.

Limited in-person instruction gives districts a chance to at least restart daily, in-school classes for their most vulnerable students, including those in special education, low-income students, English-language learners, or younger students, who generally had more difficulty with remote learning than secondary school students.

School districts can customize hybrid schedules to meet their needs and address specific weaknesses highlighted by research, their own experiences, and student and parent feedback.

District and school leaders are confronting difficult, high-stakes decisions as they plan for how to reopen schools amid a global pandemic. Through eight installments, Education Week journalists explore the big challenges education leaders must address, including running a socially distanced school, rethinking how to get students to and from school, and making up for learning losses. We present a broad spectrum of options endorsed by public health officials, explain strategies that some districts will adopt, and provide estimated costs.

And by organizing face-to-face instructionwhether its every day, most days, or on a rotationaround smaller cohorts of students, schools can more easily overcome two of the biggest hurdles to reopening: adhering to social distancing protocols in classrooms and on buses.

Flexibility and agility are personality characteristics that we have to haveand organizations have to be flexible and agile right nowbecause if you are not, you are not going to survive this year, and kids are going to struggle, said Scott Muri, the superintendent of the Ector County Independent School District in Odessa, Texas.

Still, hybrid models have a host of built-in challenges, including revising master schedules, ensuring there are enough teachers to handle multiple sections of the same classes, and figuring out new bus schedules. Some of the adaptations will be costly, and workloads may be heavy, especially for teachers. Continuity of instructionbetween in-person and remote learningwill be a challenge.

Sharon Contreras, the superintendent of Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, N.C., said many of the hybrid models do not solve the equity challenges that were so stark when schools shut down in the spring and started distance learning.

But the schedules that allow students to spend as much time in school as possible hold the most promise.

My biggest concern with any of these schedules is that students have already experienced a significant loss of instruction, which translates to a great loss of learning, particularly for poor students in the district, your most vulnerable, Contreras said. What keeps me up at night is the thought that we are not preparing students for life after Guilford County Schools. So, for younger students: Are they missing out on a sure foundation? For older students: Are they missing prerequisite skills for college, for careers? Are they missing coursework? Its deeply troubling.

But she also sees opportunities amid the difficulties.

I do like that we are providing more options for students, she said. We do have to rethink education as just providing one model for students. Its not optimal, nor will it serve them all well.

Here are four hybrid schedule options school districts may consider with some pros and cons of each. Elements of each option could be intermingled to create more variations.

Option 1: In-Person Attendance for Students With Specialized Needs

What it looks like: In-person instruction and other services will be provided to children in special education, students who are English-learners, those who are low-income, or those who are vulnerable, such as students who are homeless or in foster care.

Full-time remote learning will continue for all other students.

During the spring shutdown of buildings, schools struggled most to serve these learners, which is why some superintendents and education experts say in-person instruction should be offered to them first.

Its all about equitymaking sure that the kids that fall into those subgroups have the time and attention they need, Muri said.

The 72,000-student Guilford County district provided daily face-to-face instruction for about 2,000 homeless and foster students at day-care centers that stayed open for the children of first-responders. While there was a high opt-out because of health concerns and parents fears that theyd lose their place in homeless shelters if they left during the shutdown, Contreras, the superintendent, plans to offer similar daily in-person instruction for students in transition next school year if the district opts for a hybrid model or remote learning.

Pros:

The numbers of students and staff members inside buildings are limited, making it easier to comply with social distancing practices.

Students most in need of academic and special supports receive them in face-to-face interactions.

Cons:



Some risk of exposure and transmission of the virus.

Working parents of students who continue with remote learning may object to their children missing out on in-person attendance and find it incompatible with their work schedules.

Option 2: Core Subjects Only for In-Person Sessions

What it looks like: All students attend school for core coursesmath, English, science, history/social studies, and foreign language, in some cases. Electives are taken online.

Many states dispensed with the requirement that districts have at least 180 days of instruction when school buildings had to shut down in the spring.

L. Oliver Robinson, the superintendent of the Shenendehowa school district in upstate New York, said districts will need that same kind of freedom to make curriculum changes this this fall.

Without that level of flexibility, districts will be forced to try to fit a traditional calendar into a structure that might not be well-suited for it.

It forces us to try to basically mimic the traditional schedule into an untraditional model instead of truly looking at alternative ways to provide education, Robinson said. We have to prioritize, and prioritization is focusing first on those core content areas, trying to structure how to deliver those in a hybrid model, and then trying to see what enrichment opportunities we can provide to families.

Pros:



All students receive face-to-face instruction for the main subjects.

Children get regular interactions with their peers and their teachers.

More compatible with parents work schedules.

Cons:



Some risk of exposure and transmission of the virus.

Adhering to social distancing practices is more difficult with students and staff in the buildings.

Elective courseswhich often tap most into students interests and passions and help with engagementremain online.

Option 3: Elementary School In-Person, Middle and High School Remote

What it looks like: Elementary students receive in-person instruction, while high school students continue to learn remotely.

In one example from the Mississippi education department, elementary students attend school four days a week, allowing a district to use all its buildings for teaching to comply with social distancing guidelines.

High school students remain home and receive instruction online.

This is most likely a temporary option that can end when local health officials say its safe to relax some social distancing guidelines. Districts will then be able to phase in high schoolers.

Pros:



Allows schools to restart in-person learning with a smaller number of students, spreading them out across buildings and making social distancing on buses easier to achieve.

Prioritizes younger students who generally need more support for learning than older students.

Cons:



Some risk of exposure and transmission of the virus.

Middle and high school students miss out, at least initially, on a more robust, in-person learning experience.

May be incompatible with parents work schedules, especially if they have children at different grade levels.

Option 4: Split Schedule AM/PM

What it would look like: Students are divided into two groupsone group attends school in the morning, the other group comes in the afternoon.

Students take classes online during the periods that they are not in school.

Those in the morning shift take lunch to go, while those arriving in the afternoon eat lunch at their desks before they start class.

Electives are held online or on Saturdays in person. Physical education can be taught in person or online.

Pros:



All students receive daily, in-person instruction.

Smaller groups of students make it easier for schools to adhere to social distancing protocols in buildings and on buses.

Cons:



Some risk of exposure and transmission of the virus.

Working parents will need alternative child-care during parts of the day when children are engaged in remote learning.

Logistically challenging to align schedules for families with children at different grade levels and in different schools.

Managing the master schedule will be a herculean task, especially at the high school level.

May require renegotiating collective bargaining agreements with teacher and other employee unions.

Multiple bus runs to drop off and pick up students at irregular times could be difficult, especially the need to disinfect buses during the quick turnaround.

Requires cleaning and disinfecting between morning and afternoon shifts.

How to make hybrid schedules work:

Curriculum & GradingCourses taught online need high-quality curricula, must be aligned to state standards, and must be accessible to English-language learners and special education students.

Grading policies must be updated to reflect the online components, and districts must also ensure that teachers work together so that theres alignment between grades.

Teachers In some cases, districts will have to work with the teachers union to make changes to the school day. In some states, a minimum number of hours count as a full day, and that will affect how long students can stay in buildings during each shift for districts that choose the split-schedule format.

Revise teaching schedules. Some in-person class periods may need to be extended, while others may need to be truncated. Teachers may need guidance on how to best use the face time they have with students.

Adopt flipped classroom models where students spend some time watching instructional videos before class. That helps reserve face time for student collaboration, student support, and hands-on work. In science classes, for example, students can complete prep-work and investigations either independently or with their peers online before their in-person lab assignments.

Clearly outline and communicate to teachers their new roles and responsibilities, along with expectations for fulfilling those. Some may need professional development on time management and flipped classroom strategies.

Hybrid formats may require more teachers in order to succeed. That could mean hiring additional teachers or increasing the substitute pool to help teachers with the workload.

The Guilford County district is formulating creative ways to use its current teachers and staff in a hybrid schedule.

District leaders there are considering buying Swivl technology, which will allow them to increase the number of students the districts 5,000 or so teachers can teach at the same time. A teacher using Swivl can teach a small group of students in one classroom, while the lesson is projected into additional rooms. Those rooms can be staffed by aides, including about 200 who already work in the districts after-school programs, Contreras said. The aides will offer adult supervision and assistance to students.

Tapping into AmeriCorps volunteers to help fill new staffing demands is another option the district is exploring, along with hiring recent graduates and retired teachers.

Provide adequate IT support to help teachers troubleshoot technology hiccups.

Students Offer virtual orientation for students and parents so they understand how their hybrid school days will work.

Provide easy-to-access IT support for students when they are learning from home.

Conduct early assessments to determine where students are academically. The months-long remote learning period affected students differently, so an incoming 5th grader may not necessarily be at the same place academically as last years 5th graders. Teachers must be ready to build in support for students who are behind.

Plan carefully for the needs of the most vulnerable students. Those in special education may need full-time support, and small group sessions may be necessary during both online and in-person instruction.

Consider increasing the number of IEP meetings for special education students and holding regular meetings with families of English-language learners.

OperationsDevelop new bus schedules. Make sure there are enough buses for more routes and for picking up and dropping off students at irregular times.

If possible, provide child-care for teachers and parents, who will need safe and supervised options for when their children are not in school.

Plan for and provide adequate protective gear for staff and students, post signs to remind everyone to follow social distancing rules, and follow local health guidelines.
KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - Over the last month, we've become accustomed to the sounds of outrage making the songs of celebration that much sweeter. "I'm so used to headlines that are disappointing and heartbreaking, especially when it comes to immigration issues," Kansas City, Missouri, resident Emily Akins said.
Syrian Air Defences Reportedly Intercept Israeli Attack on Airspace Near Town of Sweida

Sputnik News

18:57 GMT 23.06.2020(updated 21:52 GMT 23.06.2020)

On Monday, Syrian state media reported that the country's air defences thwarted drones in the airspace of Jableh.

Syrian air defences have intercepted an Israeli attack on its airspace near the town of Sweida, the country's state TV said.

Reports about Syrian air defences being activated were shared online.

According to the SANA news agency, Syrian air defene systems are repelling air attacks in the provinces of As-Suwayda and Deir ez-Zor. The source of the attack and the type of targets were not reported.

At 21:17 pm local time (18:17 GMT), unidentified aircraft fired several missiles from east and northeast of Palmyra at military sites in Kababj, west of Deir Ezzor and in the Al Sukhnah area, SANA reported, citing a military source. Another military location has come under fire in the city of Salkhad in the south of As-Suwayda, with two Syrian soldiers killed and four more injured. The missile attack has resulted in some material damage on the ground.

The Syrian military command has confirmed the casualties in the province of As-Suwayda.

"They resulted in the deaths of two military personnel, while four others were wounded. There was also material damage", it said.

A Sputnik

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Law enforcement had arrested a 16-year-old boy and charged him with the murder of four people in separate locations that they believe are related to gang violence.

According to Daily Mail, the boy, Michael Mason, from Southeast Washington DC, was apprehended by police on Wednesday and will be charged as an adult.

Young criminal

Authorities suspect the boy of killing 31-year-old Terrance Griffin, 20-year-old Jaszel Henderson, 21-year-old Brea Moon who was pregnant at the time, and 18-year-old Antwuan Roach. The killings were spread between the sixth and seventh districts.

An affidavit stated that an April incident involved a pregnant woman, Moon, who was used as a human shield for a gunshot target. Moon lived in Maryland while the other victims resided in Southeast DC.

With the death of Moon, Mason defended himself, saying the driver of the vehicle he was in was to blame for the incident. The suspect stated he was riding in the back of a Honda Crosstour when the driver suddenly fired a gun into the vehicle where Moon was sitting.

Later, Moon was found inside the car and transferred into a hospital where she died of her wounds, the driver who shot at her sped through to Maryland.

The suspect said that he was not aware there was a female passenger inside the car that was shot, wrote the affidavit. It added that Mason confessed he was planning on killing a different person who was allegedly troubling the neighborhood.

Investigators, however, revealed they found shell casings in the area of the murder and said they would have found them inside the car if the statement that the driver reached out into the other to shoot was true.

Also Read: Grisly Remains of a Missign Oregon Woman Found Hidden in Brush as Big as a House

Court documents stated that Mason was connected to the Simple City's Avenue faction, which conducted southeast Alabama Avenue operations. Police officers tracked the suspect's movements using cellphone records, as reported by NBC Washington.

Authorities suspect Mason being involved in nine shooting between April and May and is charged with first-degree murder and assault with intent to kill using a dangerous weapon.

Crime after release

The first shooting occurred 11 days after Mason was released from juvenile detention for an unrelated absconding incident.

The murder of Roach is believed to be due to the killing of a 2019 Simple City member where the victim was accused of perpetrating. Mason and Roach had previously met inside the juvenile detention center.

Mason became the suspect of the crimes after an alleged victim came to police to report the man they thought to be the gunman. Police officers then used facial recognition to identify the man as Mason.

Authorities linked the suspect and the crimes with a .40-caliber gun, which detectives believe he tried to sell after the murders.

Mason, however, denies all of the allegations and connections to the killings. Local authorities have put up a $25,000 reward for anyone who can provide information that could assist with their investigations of the case.

Related Article: Deadly Mass Shooting in Minneapolis Kills One, Injures 11

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The Minister for Works and Housing has announced that Government has commenced processes toward securing funding for the completion of former President Kufuors 2006 affordable housing units in Koforidua, Tamale, and Wa.



Atta Akyea made the announcement when he took his turn at the Meet the Press series today. He said the various undertakings have been concluded between the Ministry of Works and Housing, Ministry of Finance, and State Housing Company Limited (SHCL) on the completion of these housing projects.



The Ministry has since transferred the three (3) Sites to SHCL for completion. We should have affordable dwelling homes within twelve (12) months, he said.



The minister indicated that arrangements put in place by government for the completion of the stalled affordable housing units have seen SSNIT completing 1,464 housing units at Borteyman, and most recently, 1,027 housing units completed at Asokore Mampong.



Similarly, the TDC Development Company Limited has continued the construction of 312 housing units out of the 1,584 units at Kpone-Tema. Currently, the 312 housing units are 90% complete and plans are far advanced towards completing the remaining 1,272 housing units by TDC Development Company Limited. That notwithstanding, no arrangements were put in place for the completion of the 686 housing units at Koforidua, Tamale, and Wa by the previous government.



It will be recalled that the New Patriotic Party Government in 2006 initiated the Government of Ghana Affordable Housing Programme with the objective of providing accommodation for the low-to-middle income workers of the country, creating jobs, and improving incomes. The project commenced in six (6) locations namely: Borteyman - Accra, Kpone - Tema, Asokore Mampong  Kumasi, Koforidua, Tamale, and Wa. However, these projects were stalled in 2008.



On the state of the Saglemi Housing Project, Atta Akyea stated that the Works and Housing Ministry has engaged the services of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS), among other things, take inventory of the stock of materials on-site and the state of the project. He said once the audit has been completed, the Ministry will partner with the private sector to complete the 1,024 housing units on the ground.



The position of the Ministry is that there has been a defalcation in the sum of US$159,040,000. On the 8th day of June 2020, we lodged a criminal complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service. We trust that the state institutions that are pursuing all issues of contractual malpractices will continue their good works to ensure that the good people of Ghana obtain value-for-money in the application of the taxpayers money



The unfortunate inability of the housing delivery system via the private sector underpinned by the requisite support from government to meet effective demand over the years has created a huge housing deficit in Ghana, currently estimated to be in excess of 2 million units.









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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In a surprise move, less than a year after a new penal code criminalized homosexuality, Gabons lower house of parliament voted to reverse the law that bans same sex relations.

The vote on Tuesday passed with 48 MPs voting to take the law off the books, while 24 voted against and 25 abstained from the vote.

While hailed by human rights leaders as a positive move, the bill must also pass in the upper house of the Senate before the law is taken off the books. If the Senate does not agree on the same terms, then the two houses must come together to agree on a text. The ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has majority in the Senate, so it is not a given that the bill will be passed.

Homosexuality is against the law in Gabon, and that includes same-sex marriage. People who are caught can be punished with up to six months in prison and fines of up to 7,600 euros.

These laws, in addition to societal attitudes, have caused lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) people to be excluded from society as well as caused discrimination and promoted fear.

Six African countries have scrapped their bans since 2012, marking a positive trend overall, said Neela Ghoshal, a researcher with Human Rights Watch told Reuters last December.

"It's unfortunate that a lot of African countries have claimed and owned those homophobic, colonial values, but others haven't," said Ghoshal.

"In general, across the continent, things are moving more in the right direction than in the wrong direction ... I'm guessing you'll see a lot of change in the next 10 years or so."
Bailey Dabney says he "adores" political cartoons as a medium. He has hired cartoonists to lampoon local issues in his role as a publisher, and he even keeps favorite works on his wall - including an R.J. Matson original from Dabney's time at the Fauquier Times in Virginia.

Now, though, Dabney says he'll stop running such editorial art, which he says has become too divisive.

"In my mind, editorial cartoons are expendable," Dabney, the regional publisher of the Morning News in Florence, S.C., and its affiliated publications, wrote in a column last week. "None of them are produced by our staff, and rarely do they depict a local issue."

"For the foreseeable future," he wrote, the paper will fill that opinion page space "with other content, better content."

The stoppage was announced after the outlet apologized for running a syndicated Gary McCoy cartoon this month about Black Lives Matter protests and abortion that was decried as racist, sparking a "firestorm of emotion" among its insulted and angered audience, Dabney added. It was the latest in a series of controversies in recent weeks in which small papers apologized for publishing cartoons that some readers called racist.

But what is lost when political cartoons are sacrificed completely to avoid conflict?

To be sure, these are challenging times for the publications. Cartoonists and other journalists contacted by The Washington Post paint the picture: Smaller papers generally have thinner staffs and fewer resources, which means they rely largely on relatively inexpensive syndicated cartoons, which are sometimes selected by a single editor. And when they choose an inflammatory cartoon, they can especially feel the heat because they are closely tethered to tight communities.

Pandemic fallout has devastated the advertising revenue at already struggling outlets, while the Black Lives Matter protests and sense of cultural reckoning mean that newspapers must respond as much as ever with tuned-in sensitivity to their readerships.

Into this environment come pointed cartoons that, because of their visual immediacy, can stir up passions more readily than long editorials.

This month, blowback to a Tom Stiglich cartoon mocking the so-called "defund the police" movement - in which a darker-skinned assailant is robbing a lighter-skinned woman - resulted in executive resignations at small papers in Roxboro, N.C., and Washington, Mo., that ran the self-syndicated work. On June 10, the Seneca (S.C.) Journal apologized for a self-syndicated Al Goodwyn cartoon that satirized the "black community" as being in an unhealthy relationship with the Democratic Party.

And last month, some readers were inflamed by a self-syndicated Clay Jones cartoon that ran in the Daily Times in Maryville, Tenn., after the slaying of Georgia jogger Ahmaud Arbery. The cartoon depicted a jogging former president Barack Obama being trailed by President Trump and a car flying the Confederate flag. Jones told the Daily Times: "Basically, I'm saying that to some people, Obama's crime is that he's black."

"Our intent was to provoke outrage that an innocent black jogger could be murdered in today's America," the Daily Times wrote, "and that our nation's only African American president could be accused of a crime when so far no evidence has been presented."

The Daily Times, unlike the Morning News, has not ceased publishing such political art. "We discussed this issue Thursday with our dozen-member readers advisory board. They all wanted us to keep our syndicated editorial cartoons but to show sensitivity," the paper's editor, J. Todd Foster, tells The Post.

Dabney, however, says it's a fraught part of the job, particularly in the current political climate. "My editor told me this week the biggest chore in his life the last two years has been picking the cartoon," the publisher says. "He said there are rarely any he feels are worthy of publication in a paper that loves all of its readers."

Dabney wrote in his column that he finds "very few" cartoons funny among his syndicated choices, and that they are "more often divisive and heartless."

"It seems like these days, every comic either hates Trump or hates someone else," Dabney tells The Post. "If editorial cartoonists get in the habit of lifting people up instead of tearing people apart, then everyone will want them."

Mike Peterson, who writes about comics for the Daily Cartoonist blog, is seeing a rise in Dabney's sentiment.

"I think the idea that there should be a cartoon on the editorial page is well set," says Peterson, who is the former editor of a small biweekly, the Franklin Journal in Farmington, Maine. "But the idea that you should never [tick] off anybody is gaining ground."

Political cartoons have a long and storied history in journalism, but they still require steady editors willing and able to withstand inevitable controversy -- and to understand how they mistepped after publishing a bad cartoon.

And without potent cartoons, some artists say, opinion pages become something less robust.

Matt Wuerker, the Politico cartoonist and past president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, says some editors fear having "free-wheeling opinions" on their editorial pages.

"Opinion pages in a diverse country shouldn't be safe spaces," Wuerker says. "I miss the '70s and '80s when opinion pages were exciting and full of raucous cartoons and caricatures."

Jen Sorensen, creator of a weekly political strip, calls the use of cartoons employing racist tropes "editing failures," urging papers to learn from controversy rather than "eliminate an entire genre that's still appreciated by many."

And Keith Knight, author of "They Shoot Black People, Don't They? 20 Years of Police Brutality Cartoons," says that rather than apologize, editors "should stand by" their cartoon selections and, if necessary, "go down with the ship."

Some cartoon selections also "may point to the fact that the newspaper could use some diversity on the staff and in the cartoons they choose from," says Knight, a North Carolina-based creator whose Hulu series based on his cartooning life, titled "Woke," is set for this fall. "Editors who do not look at the big picture are just as expendable as editorial cartoons."

Small papers, cartoonists say, must not shrink from pointed opinions if they are to remain essential within their communities. Controversy is a cost of engagement.

Dabney, on the other hand, says he recently bristled when he read of a cartoonist taking pride in work that is prime social-media fodder because of its divisiveness.

"As long as cartoonists have that mission," Dabney says, "folks like me will be reluctant to divide our communities with their work."
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A federal indictment accuses a Mississippi man of threatening to kill the state's only Black U.S. representative and his staffers.

The indictment against 52-year-old Newton Wade Townsend identifies the target of his alleged threats by the initials B.T.

The only member of Mississippis delegation with those initials is Democrat Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

On June 1, 2020, Townsend placed a phone call to the office of a Member of Congress and threatened to kill the Congressman and his African-American staffers, said a news release Wednesday from U.S. Attorney U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst in Jackson, Mississippi, and U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund.

Townsend, a resident of Brandon, is charged with making a threat against public officials, the statement said. It did not elaborate on a possible motive.

This should serve as a lesson that anyone who chooses to threaten to murder Members of Congress will be prosecuted, Thompson said in an emailed statement.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to an emailed query about whether Townsend has an attorney who could speak for him and whether prosecutors suggested hate crime charges to the grand jury which indicted him Tuesday.

Townsend's arraignment was scheduled Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Ball.

Case records were not yet available in the court's online system.

Thompson is the longest-serving member of Mississippis current congressional delegation after winning a 1993 special election.
Tamil Nadu: Fishermen want Kissan Credit Cards to be issued soon

June 24,2020 | Source: The Hindu

The KCC was extended to fishermen and those in animal husbandry so that they too could avail of small loans for running day-to-day business.. Fishermen have urged banks to speed up the process of issuing Kissan Credit Cards (KCC) that will enable them to withdraw loan amounts for repairing nets and boats.



The KCC was extended to fishermen and those in animal husbandry so that they too could avail of small loans for running day-to-day business. M.E. Raghupathi, a boat owner and community leader in Kasimedu, said it had been several months since application forms were collected but banks were yet to process them. Many owners do not have any money on hand and no bank will lend them money to restart their businesses. The loans will come in handy if speeded up, he said.



Nanjil Ravi of Akhila Indhiya Meenavar Sangam said fishermen were waiting for the KCCs so that they can buy diesel for their trips after the lockdown.The Centre has only made an empty promise saying it will give loans via KCC. Banks need not worry about repayment since the diesel subsidy deposited by the State government can be taken by them, he said. Fisheries Department officials said 35,000-odd applications were collected and submitted to various banks. But only 50 cards have been issued so far and 440 cards are under process. We have raised the issue with the banks and the Department of Financial Services, Government of India. We hope there is progress in the coming month, an official said.
Russia 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

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.

The conference was held amid escalating tension between India and China following the violent clashes in Galwan Valley on 15 June 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.

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.
I cant watch.

I cant watch the snuff film of George Floyds death on the nightly news.

I cant watch the cellphone video of a 92-year old Chinese man with severe dementia being thrown to the ground outside a Vancouver convenience store.

I cant watch TV coverage of grandparents waving from behind locked nursing home windows split-screened with body bags piled in a refrigerated truck.

But the images are etched in my minds eye anyway, drawn from nightmares of how bad things could get if we didnt  do what?

They pull on the threads of quandaries Ive encountered over the years: are police any more racist than the rest of us? Is there a better way to keep us safe than sending armed, Kevlar-clad police to every call for help?

When our parents cant look after themselves, is the only solution to book them into a nursing home? Did we consider the options? Are there any options?

When I was growing up in downtown Toronto, there were racists then, too. And they were blatant. I watched drunks disrespect my father right in his restaurant. Much later I learned about the violence set upon Chinese indentured labourers during the railroad-building days and afterwards when they were no longer wanted. Thats when anti-Chinese racism was ensconced in law, the Chinese Head Tax, which my father paid.

Fast forward a few generations and anti-Asian racism is less obvious, hidden under loving our food. Then came COVID-19. Suddenly, its open season on Asian-Canadians  again. Fear, ignorance and the need to blame someone have given permission to hate on Asians. Ironically, my immigrant friends are quite shocked; they arrived when racism was more polite. Now, across the country, Asian-Canadians report being physically assaulted, not just incivility.

Theres real fear among Asian-Canadians; I wager they better understand the naked horror roiling the Indigenous and Black communities than they might have done a few short months ago.

Maybe it takes the worst of things to make us sit up and think how we got here, and more important, how to get out of here.

Fearing nursing homes couldnt save their parents from COVID-19, many people brought them home. They were locked down at home anyway. They could cope with the care, but not the guilt if their parents were among the 6,730 nursing home deaths to date.

This state of long-term care did not happen by accident. Lack of money didnt drive decades of underfunding; it was undervaluing care for the frail and elderly. Police budgets are rarely challenged, but a few extra dollars for equally dangerous work caring for our loved ones is begrudging and temporary. Our outrage at the predictable carnage cannot be as transitory.

What if there was more support for unpaid caregivers? Families could choose to stay home or cut their hours. Or pay for home care, or for the respite day programs at the new seniors centre down the street.

If we do this, we cannot continue to expect women, especially racialized women, to bear the burden, whether at home or to accept poor wages. Can we challenge the racism and ageism in our own hearts to pay the cost of decent care for our loved ones?

I cant process how a person could deliberately, slowly, snuff out a human life  in public and on camera. No police training or accountability mechanism will deal with that barbarity. The incandescent rage it provoked, however, has made us accept that police are only one part of the civil service of providing public safety. Armed enforcement against violent crime, yes, but not against drunkenness, mental illness or schoolchildren. The defund police slogan overshoots the message, but correctly drives home the point that funding for public safety should include mental health and social services, after-school programs and secure housing. Police cannot monopolize the budget.

Racism and ageism require us to not just hate but dehumanize the other. The price is paid by the victims, mostly in silence. It is only when their ramifications slap us in the face on the nightly news that we ask whether we could do better. Maybe we cant watch but we must look them in the face. And do better.
Photo: Twitter

A swimmer in Delaware was caught on camera prying a sharks mouth open with his hands this weekend in an effort to free it from a fishing hook.

The video shows the man grabbing onto the shark at a beach in Cape Henlopen State Park. He went into the water to unhook it after another person caught it, the Daily Times of Salisbury reported Tuesday.

Everyone started yelling, Shark, shark, get out of the water! said Delaware native Rachael Foster, who shared her video on social media. It was so crazy, like a movie. Like Jaws.

State law prohibits people from keeping sand tiger and sandbar sharks if caught. People must release them immediately.

The newspaper reported park rangers were on site Sunday to assist and monitor the situation.

Earlier this month, a boy was hospitalized for puncture wounds after he was possibly bitten by a shark in the park. The boy, 12, was surfing when something bit his leg. Officials then temporarily closed the parks Herring Point to surfing and swimming.

Shark attacks are rare. The Florida Museum of Natural History recorded 41 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks in the U.S. last year. The cases represented 64% of the worldwide total.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in this undated photo released on Dec. 29, 2019, by North Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA via Reuters)

North Korea: Kim Jong Un Suspended Military Retaliation Against South Korea

SEOUL, South KoreaNorth Korea said on June 24 that leader Kim Jong Un suspended a planned military retaliation against South Korea.

Last week, the North had declared relations with the South as fully ruptured, destroyed an inter-Korean liaison office in its territory and threatened unspecified military action to censure Seoul for a lack of progress in bilateral cooperation and for activists floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

Analysts say North Korea, after weeks of deliberately raising tensions, may be pulling away just enough to make room for South Korean concessions.

Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency said Kim presided by video conference over a meeting on June 23 of the ruling Workers Partys Central Military Commission, which decided to postpone plans for military action against the South brought up by the Norths military leaders.

KCNA didnt specify why the decision was made. It said other discussions included bolstering the countrys war deterrent.

Yoh Sang-key, spokesman of South Koreas Unification Ministry, said Seoul was closely reviewing the Norths report but didnt further elaborate.

Yoh also said it was the first report in state media of Kim holding a video conferencing meeting, but he didnt provide a specific answer when asked whether that would have something to do with the pandemic.

The North says there hasnt been a single COVID-19 case on its territory, but the claim is questioned by outside experts.

Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seouls Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said its likely that the North is waiting for further action from the South to salvage ties from what it sees as a position of strength, rather than softening its stance on its rival.

Whats clear is that the North said (the military action) was postponed, not canceled, said Kim, a former South Korean military official who participated in inter-Korean military negotiations.

Other experts say the North would be seeking something major from the South, possibly a commitment to resume operations at a shuttered joint factory park in Kaesong, which was where the liaison office was located, or restart South Korean tours to the Norths Diamond Mountain resort. Those steps are prohibited by the international sanctions against the North over its nuclear weapons program.

The public face of the Norths recent bashing of the South has been Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, who has been confirmed as his top official on inter-Korean affairs. Issuing harsh statements through state media, she had said the Norths demolishing of the liaison office would be just the first in a series of retaliatory action against the enemy South and that she would leave it to the Norths military to come up with the next steps.

Smoke rises in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, seen from Paju, South Korea, on June 16, 2020. (Yonhap via AP)

This photo provided by the North Korean government shows the demolition of an inter-Korean liaison office building in Kaesong, North Korea, on June 16, 2020. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

The General Staff of the Norths military has said it would send troops to the mothballed inter-Korean cooperation sites in Kaesong and Diamond Mountain and restart military drills in frontline areas. Such steps would nullify a set of deals the Koreas reached during a flurry of diplomacy in 2018 that prohibited them from taking hostile action against each other.

Also condemning the South over North Korean refugees floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border, the North said June 22 it printed 12 million of its own propaganda leaflets to be dropped over the South in what would be its largest ever anti-Seoul leafleting campaign.

It wasnt immediately clear whether Kims decision to hold back military action would affect the countrys plans for leafleting. The Norths military had said it would open border areas on land and sea and provide protection for civilians involved in the leafleting campaigns.

The North has a history of dialing up pressure against the South when it fails to get what it wants from the United States. The Norths recent steps came after months of frustration over Seouls unwillingness to defy U.S.-led sanctions and restart the inter-Korean economic projects that would breathe life into its broken economy.

Nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington largely stalled after Kims second summit with President Donald Trump last year in Vietnam, where the Americans rejected North Koreas demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

By Kim Tong-Hyung
The University of Cambridge Judge Business School on Wednesday announced the creation of a new centre to examine the strategic philanthropy within and from India, as well as the worlds other high-growth markets.

The new Centre for Strategic Philanthropy is timed as the role of welfare-oriented charitable giving in building social and environmental resilience is seen as increasingly essential. It aims to become the worlds leading hub of actionable knowledge to catalyse even greater philanthropic impact from the fastest-growth regions of the world, through a combination of rigorous research, executive education and the convening of diverse stakeholders.

Today, well over a trillion dollars of private philanthropic capital, more than triple the annual global development and humanitarian aid budgets combined, is deployed every single year, said Badr Jafar, Founding Patron of the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy.

The evidence is also overwhelming that India and the worlds other emerging economies are becoming an increasingly powerful source of philanthropic capital and social innovation. With the impending generational transition taking place around the world, it is crucial to properly understand the diverse approaches to philanthropy that exist in these markets, and the local and regional factors that have shaped them, he said.

Jafar believes transparency, technology and evolving attitudes toward wealth are reshaping donors approaches to giving worldwide.

We will likely fail to address the myriad of challenges on the global agenda over the next decade without making a much greater effort to connect, exchange ideas and partner with strategic philanthropists from India and the worlds fastest growing regions, he added.

The new Centre will work with relevant institutions and practitioners across Asia, Africa and the Middle East and other regions in order to encourage collaboration and the sharing of knowledge and insights.

India already has a strong tradition of giving, as noted by the India Philanthropy Report 2019 from Dasra and Bain & Company, which found that private funding grew at 15 per cent between the 2014 and 2018 financial years, higher than the 10 per cent growth seen in public funding.

Professor Stephen J. Toope, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, said: Our planet faces growing challenges. Climate change  threats to water and food supplies, threats to our ecology and biodiversity  growing political division, war and infectious disease.

Global philanthropic capital must be used effectively and for maximum impact to improve our society, and the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy is very well-positioned to champion these efforts. The Centre has announced that one of its first research projects, expected to be completed in autumn 2020, is examining responses to the COVID-19 pandemic by philanthropists and foundations in India and other high-growth markets. Specifically, the study will consider whether there has been a measurable shift in focus and investment towards specific geographies, such as low-income countries, and towards specific sectors, such as healthcare, in response to the pandemic. It will also consider the extent to which donors have increased or decreased the size of their donations, or made changes to the typical length and conditionality of their grants  including moving to unrestricted funding  over the same period.

The Centre will aim to bridge the gap between academics and practitioners in philanthropy. We hope to be able to offset the significant dearth of research in this field and help improve the transformational impact that philanthropy can achieve, when at its most creative, said Dr Kamal Munir, the Centres Academic Director.

The Centres other research projects that are underway include a comprehensive analysis of existing research related to philanthropy in the worlds high-growth markets to understand what is already known on the subject, and a practical needs assessment being conducted in direct consultation with philanthropic practitioners, academics and other stakeholders on the ground in the worlds fastest growing regions. Clare Woodcraft, Executive Director of the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy, added: Around the world, philanthropy is mobilising to fund measures against Covid-19. Such efforts are more important than ever with the pandemic threatening to wipe trillions off the global economy.

But faced with such wicked problems, funding, while necessary, is just the starting point. Global giving needs to be effective, measurably impactful, and scalable if entrenched global problems such as pandemics are to be successfully tackled. Strategic philanthropy is a term used to describe any form of impact-driven giving that is evidence-based and uses creative planning, agile execution and diligent follow-through in order to achieve intended results. It encompasses a wide range of practices from traditional grant making through to newer models for generating impact such as venture philanthropy.

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Donald Trump and his Polish counterpart split on Wednesday over the fate of 27,000 American military troops the US president has vowed to remove from Germany.

Mr Trump is miffed at German leaders for not paying more into Nato coffers, calling its contributions a "tremendous delinquency." He has railed against many of the European members of the military alliance, set up after World War II to guard against potential Russian aggression.

Other world leaders have mostly tried to please Mr Trump during White House visits when they have joined him for a joint press conference or remarks. Andrzej Duda largely did the same, but did break with Mr Trump on the fate of the troops now stationed in Germany.

The Polish leader said removing any of the 52,000 US troopers currently in Germany from European soil would be "very detrimental to European security."

A few moments later, Mr Trump told reporters Poland likely would get some of the 27,000 that will be leaving. But he said some of that number would be "coming home."

Mr Trump floated the notion that Germany is paying "less than 1 per cent" of its gross domestic product to Nato. The alliance's bylaws state members should devote 2 per cent to the group.

"If you assume they're paying 1 per cent, it's a tremendous delinquency," the US leader said before appearing to confirm -- today, at least -- that the 27,000 troops will go to "other places."

"Poland would be one of those other places in Europe," he said, saying putting more American military forces closer to Russian soil would send a "strong signal" to the Kremlin.

Some of Mr Trump's critics have slammed his proposal, saying it is void of any strategic rationale. They cite his years-old feud with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with whom he at times has clashed. She was a close global confidante and ally of former President Barack Obama.

Meantime, Mr Trump again claimed  without offering evidence  that protesters objecting to racial inequality in the United States want to topple statues of Jesus Christ.

"Now they're looking at Jesus Christ," Mr Trump said without naming any specific statues of the Christian icon that might be in danger.
Liquid Telecom released its financial results for the year ended 29 February 2020, which showed strong performance for its South African operations.

Liquid Telecom is a leading communications solutions provider across 13 countries primarily in Eastern and Southern Africa.

It serves mobile operators, carriers, enterprise, media and content companies, and retail customers with high-speed, reliable connectivity, hosting, co-location, and digital services.

It has built Africas largest independent fibre network of over 70,000km and operates data centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Nairobi with a combined potential 19,000 square metres of rack space and 78MW of power.

Liquid Telecoms full-year revenue was up 17.5% on prior year at $785.7 million, driven by strong wholesale data performance in South Africa.

The company said it saw continued growth in its South African business, helped by a number of significant contracts signed in the final quarter of the year in the wholesale data segment.

In addition, the 4G roaming contract signed at the end of 2018-19 commenced in the year providing nine months of monthly recurring revenue (MRR) in the period for South Africa, it said.

The strong performance in South Africa helped to increase Liquid Telecoms EBITDA outside Zimbabwe by 38.9% compared with the previous year.

Reshaad Sha leaving the company after successful turnaround

Behind Liquid Telecom South Africas strong performance is the successful turnaround strategy, which started in 2018 under CEO Reshaad Sha.

Sha announced the companys new digitally-enhanced operating model in October 2018, which included the automation of many tasks.

Sha also oversaw the successful growth of digital services and the rollout of enhanced network services for enterprises and consumers across the country.

This strategy was implemented successfully, and the results are now coming through in the companys financial performance.

After the successful turnaround of Liquid Telecom South Africa, Sha said he is now ready for a new venture in the artificial intelligence space and has subsequently resigned as CEO.

Sha told MyBroadband he will now run BriteGaze, which is set to launch on 10 October 2020.

BriteGaze is a fund that will be used to grow businesses that are committed to building capabilities around artificial intelligence.
The Bombay high court on Tuesday granted temporary protection from arrest to a branch manager of the State Bank of India (SBI) who is accused of misappropriating 36 crore out of the fixed deposits of the Bombay Iron and Steel Labour Board.

Byculla police booked Nikhil Roy, manager of the Mazagaon Circle branch of SBI, for criminal breach of trust and cheating on the basis of a complaint lodged by the Board on June 8, 2019.

The board alleged that it had deposited 45 crore in fixed deposits, and the bank had in April 2019 issued a letter certifying the deposits, but the branch manager misappropriated amount of 36 crore, which was purportedly shown as premature withdrawal.

Apprehending arrest in the case, Roy moved high court claiming that he had prematurely released amount of 36 crore - contained in four fixed deposit receipts on the request of the complainant board. He claimed that he processed the request, as it was supported by four separate resolutions of the board and had transferred the amount to four different entities, again as requested by the board.

Public prosecutor Deepak Thakare opposed Roys plea. He submitted that no such resolution was passed by the board and none of the fixed deposit receipts were validly discharged. He pointed out that all the original receipts were still lying with the board, and investigation to ascertain genuineness of the resolutions and receipts is on.

Justice SK Shinde, however, noticed that the confirmation letter of April 11, 2019 did not bear the outward number. When confronted with this, Thakare sought time to verify genuineness of the confirmation letter.

On his request, justice Shinde placed Roys anticipatory bail plea for further hearing on July 10, with a direction to the public prosecutor to submit on interim report disclosing material particulars of the recipients of the amount alleged to be misappropriated.

The court has also directed the police to release Roy on cash bail of 50,000 if he was arrested in the meantime.
A search and rescue mission has been launched after 15 people disappeared following Tuesday morning's powerful earthquake that shook the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca.

A team of 60 members of the army and national guard were deployed Wednesday to the city of San Juan Ozolotepec to search for the missing residents, according to General Arturo Cordero of the Eighth Military Zone.

Cordero also said that the unit would work on clearing debris and assisting with the evacuation of residents who have yet to leave areas considered at risk.

The 7.5-magnitude tremor killed seven people and injured 11 others, including five who remained hospitalized according to Oaxaca governor Alejandro Murat.

Residents in Oaxaca, Mexico, observe some of the damage caused by Tuesday's earthquake that left seven people dead

Women walk by a building damaged during a 7.5-magnitude quake in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca

The Oaxaca state government said at 2,000 homes in 42 municipalities had been damaged

A church in the Oaxaca municipality of San Juan Ozolotepec was among several whose structures were severely impacted by the magnitude of Tuesday's earthquake

Among the dead are a 92-year-old man who 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.

Information was not immediately available on two of the seven reported deaths.

The state government found that at least 2,000 homes in 42 municipalities had been damaged. As many as 59 schools in the state were also impacted by the force of the earthquake that struck at 10:29am local time.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter of the quake was located 43 miles northeast of the town of Pochutla. It was very shallow, only 16 miles below the earth's surface, which would have amplified the shaking.

Civil Protection coordinator David Leon said 1,571 aftershocks have been reported, including a 5.5-magnitude quake Tuesday at 9:33pm.

Health workers in Mexico City evacuate a patient from the Alvaro Obregon Hospital due to the earthquake that measured 7.5 on the Richter scale

Buildings in Oaxaca were cordoned off as a precaution Wednesday following Tuesday's tremor

Residents stand near a damaged building in Oaxaca, Mexico, which was struck by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake Tuesday

At least 79 residents in the city of Santa Maria Huatulco were moved from their homes into a temporary shelter.

The quake also caused considerable damage to 51 historic monuments, including the Mitla, Dainzu, Lambityeco and Yagul archeological sites. Authorities also reported damages at four local churches.

The earthquake was felt in the states of Guerrero, Chiapas, Michoacan, Jalisco, Queretaro, Morelos, Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla, State of Mexico and the capital, Mexico City.

The force of the Oaxaca tremor eclipsed the September 19, 2019 quake that shook the central state of Puebla, which killed 370 people and injured 6,011.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had issued a tsunami alert for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Ecuador's Oceanographic Institute of the Navy [INOCAR] also had issued a tsunami alert for residents living along the coast of the South American nation.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 24 : After drawing criticism for making it mandatory for the Kerala diaspora returning from abroad to possess Covid-negative certificates, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said the returnees will have to wear PPE kits.

Vijayan said this after chairing a weekly Cabinet meeting. The health certificates for returnees was earlier made mandatory from June 20, but later the date was postponed to June 25.

According to sources, Vijayan has now insisted that it would be the responsibility of the airlines to ensure that all arriving passengers wore PPE kits.

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who has been pleading with Vijayan not to impose "impractical" suggestions, welcomed the new decision.

"Our only demand has been that any decision taken should be practical. Insisting on health certificates was impractical. How is it possible for our people to get it when many countries in the Middle East do not have such facilities? With regards to the PPE kits, we urge the Kerala government to provide passengers with the protective gear," said Chandy.

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said it was "most unfortunate that a person like Vijayan had no clue of what he is doing" and was thus coming up with "strange ideas" and then had to change his own decisions.

"There is nothing to welcome in the PPE kits decision. Why did Vijayan put so much pressure on our own diaspora? 300 of our people have died abroad. We are continuing our protests and we demand that Vijayan should come out with suitable rehabilitation packages for the returnees," said Chennithala.

Senior Indian Union Muslim League Lok Sabha member P.K. Kunhalikutty said one failed to understand why Vijayan was making "impractical decisions" with regards to bringing back the Kerala diaspora.

"From what all he has been doing, it's very clear that he does not want our diaspora to return. And now the new decision on wearing PPE kits -- one will have to wait to hear more, whether there is any catch in it." Since May 7, 80,000 Kerala natives have returned to the state from abroad. State-owned Norka-Roots website has registrations preferred by around four lakh people.
The Philippines says it will investigate any links to the massive German Wirecard fraud

The Philippines said Wednesday it will investigate links to the 1.9 billion-euro ($2.1-billion) Wirecard scandal, adding the European payment provider's ex-chief operating officer may be in the country.

The announcement follows the arrest in Germany on Monday of Wirecard's ex-chief executive Markus Braun on suspicion of fraud.

Prosecutors accuse him of false accounting and market manipulation in connection with the scandal, which is fast turning into one of Germany's biggest financial frauds.

They believe Braun artificially "inflated" the company's assets and revenues through fake transactions in order to make the company seem financially stronger and more attractive to investors and customers.

The assets were supposedly held in trust accounts at two Philippine banks to cover risks in trading carried out by third parties on Wirecard's behalf.

Philippine Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Wednesday it wasn't certain Wirecard actually operated in the country.

Still, the country's National Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Money Laundering Council would investigate individuals allegedly involved in the case, he said.

The two agencies would also look into possible violations of the country's anti-money laundering law, Guevarra said.

The two Philippine banks allegedly involvedBDO and BPIhave denied having a relationship with Wirecard, while the central bank says the money never entered the country's financial system.

On Monday Wirecard admitted the money in the supposed accounts likely does not exist.

Asked if Wirecard's former chief operating officer Jan Marsalek would be among those to be investigated, Guevarra told AFP: "Yes, if we find him here."

Austria-born Marsalek visited the Philippines on March 3-5, Guevarra said, adding "there are some indications that he may have returned recently and may still be here".

Wirecard dismissed Marsalek on Monday.

"No arrest warrant has been issued against anyone. We've just commenced the fact-finding stage," Guevarra said.

Explore further Ex-CEO of Wirecard arrested in case over missing billions

 2020 AFP
Bill Cosby has won the right to fight his 2018 sexual assault conviction in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in a stunning decision that could test the legal framework of #MeToo cases.

The 82-year-old 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. Hes serving a sentence of three to 10 years.

The Supreme Court has agreed to review two aspects of the case, including the judges decision to let prosecutors call five other accusers to testify about long-ago encounters with the once-powerful actor and comedian.

Cosbys 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.

Secondly, the court will examine Cosbys 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 accusers civil lawsuit.

Those issues have been at the heart of the case since Cosby was charged in December 2015, days before the 12-year state of limitations expired. Prosecutors in Montgomery County had reopened the case that year after The Associated Press fought to unseal portions of Cosbys decade-old deposition testimony in accuser Andrea Constands 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 Americas Dad because of his hit 1980s sitcom, of similar misconduct. Montgomery County Judge Stephen ONeill allowed just one of them to testify at Cosbys first trial in 2017, which ended with an acquittal.

But a year later, after the #MeToo movement gained momentum in the wake of reporting on 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  its about the destruction of ALL Black people and people of colour in America, Wyatt said in a statement.

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 contributed to this report
Netflix has unveiled a series of 17 short films made in lockdown by leading filmmakers (Ian West/PA)

Netflix has unveiled a series of 17 short films made in lockdown by leading filmmakers.

The streaming giant said the movies, filmed using only equipment found at home, tell personal, moving stories that capture our shared experience of life in quarantine.

Expand Close Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal has contributed to a series of short films made in lockdown for Netflix (Ian West/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal has contributed to a series of short films made in lockdown for Netflix (Ian West/PA)

They range from intimate diaries of the filmmakers day-to-day lives to short tales of fiction across multiple genres, Netflix added.

Chilean director Pablo Larrain  recently announced as directing a film about Diana, Princess of Wales  filmed a short in Santiago while Maggie Gyllenhaal made one in the US state of Vermont.

Twilight actress Kristen Stewart  who is set to play Diana in Larrains upcoming movie  has directed a short in Los Angeles.

Other filmmakers involved include Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha, who filmed a short in London, and Scottish director David Mackenzie.

Larrain said: Wonderful chance to work with people I admire. And also a very extraordinary chance to keep working, thanks to Netflix and its amazing team, in days so confusing and unique.

The Homemade anthology will be made available globally on Netflix on June 30.
Amid a stand-off with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh, the Congress on Wednesday sought to corner the BJP-led NDA government over the claims about Chinese intrusions in Arunachal Pradesh made by a BJP MP from the state and asked it to come clean on the issue.

It also asked the government to give a "strong reply" to China as regular dialogues would not work, and India needs to use other means like trade to take it on.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said BJP MP Tapir Gao had in a recent TV interview claimed that China has occupied areas on both banks of the Subansiri River in Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri district and on the Indian side of the McMohan Line.

Tewari said ever since of about Chinese aggression into Indian territory emerged, the NDA government has been walking the extra mile to downplay these reports and was trying to obfuscate the facts on the ground.

"Will the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and his government come clean on the claims made by the BJP MP," he asked at a virtual press conference.

Tewari sought to know from the government if what Tapir Gao, the former BJP chief of Arunachal Pradesh, was saying was right or not.

"What is the truth behind what Tapir Gao is saying? There should be an immediate clarification from the government," he said.

Another Congress spokesperson Gaurav Gogoi said India cannot afford to have another Doklam-like situation in Ladakh and needs to look at other forms of leverage like trade to have successful negotiations with China.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam near Sikkim in 2017 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army.

"We demand that the Government of India does not look at what's happening in Arunachal Pradesh or Ladakh as isolated incidents. These are grand designs and this needs to be responded strongly," Gogoi said.

"China needs a strong response from India, as regular dialogues won't work. Despite all meetings, the Chinese launched a strong, premeditated attack. China has learnt one thing from the Doklam episode that the (Narendra) Modi government is willing to settle for a military disengagement," he said.

Gogoi highlighted that the pattern of the Chinese Army shows they are gradually encroaching upon Indian territory across the LAC and the responsibility of protecting Indian territory solely lies with the government of India.

Tewari said BJP MP Tapir Gao has claimed that the Army has set up another base called new Majha, deeper in Indian territory after Chinese aggressions.

He said this is not the first time that Tapir Gao has made these revelations, as he stated the same in the Lok Sabha in November 2019, but the government has remained silent on the issue. Tewari also played a video of Gao's speech in Lok Sabha.

"We do know something with regard to Galwan valley, Pangong Tso lake, hot springs area in the western sector, and with regard to Chinese intrusion in Naku la in the Central sector. But, facts continue to remain opaque on the eastern sector which is perhaps most disputed," he said.
Water is released from the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze river, in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province on July 24, 2012. (STR/AFP/GettyImages)

Chinas Conflict With India Born of Crisis in Beijing

Commentary

The bloodletting on the IndiaChina border caught the world by surprise, but if one looks eastward to what is happening in Beijing, the events may make sense.

India and China share a long and undefined border. However, each side has a controlled area. In the past 58 years since the 1962 IndoChina War, the two countries have learned to keep the peace while dealing with the grey areas.

I have heard stories from friends who were in the Chinese army. Both sides at the border know how to play a game asserting their competing territorial claims. Neither army carries guns when patrolling near the border. One side can build a temporary tent in the disputed area or even in the other sides controlled area, and the other side can take the tent down. Both sides have lived in peace with this game.

Last week, when an Indian patrol went to tear down a tent China had erected, they were attacked by CCP soldiers wielding clubs studded with nails. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed.

This was a planned and deliberate attack. To kill anyone of a neighboring country is a major diplomatic and military issue. Without the direction of the top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), it would never have happened.

This border conflict has a few benefits for the CCP: It diverts attention away from the Chinese regimes internal crises; it tests the military, to see whether it follows the top CCP leader; and it shows India that the country will get into trouble if it doesnt follow China in its fight with the United States.

In the CCPs history, each time it has faced a severe crisis, it has looked to an outside target and deliberately created a fight. Since the CCP can not afford a real war, it picks a target with which it can control the scale of the fight. India is a good fit.

At the peak of the border conflict, on June 17, the AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, led by China) approved a $750 million loan to India for its response to COVID-19. The loan sent a signal that the CCP wants to keep the scale of conflict under control.

The CCP has been very unhappy that India did not take Chinas side during the U.S.China trade war. India declined to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership led by China. Punishing and attracting India with money is a typical CCP tactic.

The result might be the opposite of what the CCP wants. India is officially trying to turn down the heat, but the Indian people have begun boycotting products made in China. The border incident will definitely push India to draw closer to the United States.

This conflict has distracted the media; it has been the top news everywhere. Few media outlets are paying attention to how serious is the spread of the CCP virus in Beijing.

Different provinces are sending doctors to Beijing. Travel between Beijing and other cities is blocked. CCP officials are having meetings with hospital staff, mainly to make sure they dont tell the outside world about the real situation with the virus. More than 10 people have been punished as rumormongers.

Nonetheless, some CCP officials have revealed, anonymously, that Beijing today is like Wuhan in January and February. During much of that time, the city in central China was locked down, with hospitals overflowing.

The CCPs approach in Beijing is a repeat of how it handled Wuhan. As officials work hard to control the situation in Beijing, its not clear where the top seven CCP leaders are. If they stay in Beijing, their lives are threatened by the virus. If they leave Beijing, their power will be threatened.

Recently, news has spread in Beijing that military hospitals have been full of virus patients. In fact, the military infection numbers have been top secret. A small-scale war can help counter any doubts about the militarys current strength.

Protesters in Hong Kong carry signs saying Heaven is killing the CCP. It is no joke. Seemingly every week, we hear news of events that threaten the very existence of the CCP.

This week, rains have been causing flooding in many areas, especially in Sichuan Province. Land, sand, and water are piling up behind the controversial Three Gorges Dam.

Some experts are calling it a bomb, one more powerful than an atomic bomb. The dam sits in the western edge of densely populated central China. If it collapses under mounting water pressure, it will inundate an area that produces over 50 percent of Chinas GDP, and where hundreds of millions of people live.

Diana Zhang, Ph.D., is a staff writer with 20 years experience in the study of China. Based in the United States, she uses a pen name to protect her family members in China.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A Michigan mayor resigned Tuesday, a week after she said she supported the appointment of a human relations commissioner only because she would be 'crucified' if she voted against a Black person.

'I am deeply sorry to have my service end on this note and in this way,' Beth Bashert, who was mayor of Ypsilanti, said on Facebook.

'Sadly, as a result of my actions, there is healing to do to ensure that all residents, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color, enjoy full equity in Ypsilanti,' she said. 'That is what I want for our City. I had hoped to participate in that healing process, going forward.

Mayor Beth Bashert has resigned from her position after comments she made at a recent Ypsilanti City Council meeting

Beth Bashert said she would be 'crucified' if she voted against a black person

Her comments were made last week during a Ypsilanti City Council meeting that held on video conference, pictured

'It has been an honor to serve Ypsilanti in the ways I have, including city council member and mayor. I love Ypsilanti. Full Stop.'

The controversy began last week when the city council was voting on the reappointment of KaRon Gaines to a commission that advises the council on eliminating prejudice and discrimination.

Gaines' inconsistent attendance record was raised by some council members.

Bashert, who is white, voted in favor of his appointment but the others voted no, including three who are Black.

The council was voting on the reappointment of KaRon Gaines to a commission that advises the council on eliminating prejudice and discrimination

'Since I will be crucified if I vote against any black person on any commission, I'm going to vote 'yes' Bashert said

Bashert, who is white was the only council member to vote in favor of Gaines

'Since I will be crucified if I vote against any Black person on any commission, I'm going to vote 'yes', Bashert said at the time.

The remarks did not go down well with those in the black community.

Former Ypsilanti Mayor Beth Bashert (right) with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

'I think that is disrespectful, honestly, to our constituents and our community to say that you have to vote 'yes' because then, if not, you would be attacked because you didn't appoint another black person,' said council member Nicole Brown, one of three African Americans on the council.

Bashert subsequently apologized and posted a statement on Facebook saying she was 'deeply ashamed and saddened' by her remarks.

'I made a biased statement and voted based on that statement,' she said. 'Then I compounded the whole thing by digging in and getting defensive when questioned. All of those actions were racist. I am deeply ashamed and saddened that I did this. I have spent the time since that meeting feeling remorse, shame, and anger at myself.'

On Monday night, a group of about 50 people called for her resignation and changes in how the city operates including the city's police department.
It is easy to assume that Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have personal chefs to create amazing recipes for them both and that neither of them ever have to lift a finger in the kitchen. While it is true that they most likely have dined in some of the finest restaurants around the world, it is still no secret that Meghan herself is an amazing cook.

She loves being in the kitchen, and as we know, Prince Harry even asked her to marry him while they were at home preparing dinner. Over the years, we have seen Meghan share pictures of her favorite foods, and one of her first projects after the royal wedding was a release of a charity cookbook.

We can only imagine that Meghan absolutely loves cooking for herself and her husband, and just thinking about the amazing things that she makes is enough to make anyones mouth water. Meghan is an absolute whiz in the kitchen, and now we have learned that her favorite chicken recipe is a Filipino-style chicken dish that anyone can make at home.

A little background on Meghan

Meghan Markle | Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Images via Getty Images

RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys Royal Exit Was Inevitable Regardless of Their Popularity or Notoriety

Over the past few years, Meghans life has been a bit of a whirlwind. She met and fell in love with Prince Harry, and the two of them married in an elaborate ceremony in Windsor, England.

Before the marriage, Meghan was well-known, but not nearly as famous as she is now. She made a name for herself as a talented actress who starred in the legal drama Suits, and she has always been a humanitarian and a feminist who stood for womens rights. After joining the royal family, we loved seeing Meghan at events and engagements, however, it was early in the year that she and Harry announced that they would be stepping down as senior working royals.

Now, after spending time in Canada, the couple, along with their baby son, Archie Harrison, are living in an exclusive mansion in LA, California, the town where Meghan was born and raised.

Meghan has always been a foodie

Meghan is very open about the fact that she loves good food and isnt afraid to try new things. In fact, she recently baked a strawberry and cream cake for Archies first birthday, and we can only dream about how delicious it must have been.

When she and Prince Harry were dating, Meghan was even seen at supermarkets in London, no doubt picking up ingredients to whip up an incredible dish.

So, what are her favorite foods? According to Town & Country, she loves red wine, and Tignanello is her favorite. Meghan also enjoys pasta dishes, and never deprives herself, although she watches her portions and makes certain to keep things on the healthy side.

The duchess is also a huge fan of sushi, acai bowls, not to mention good old French fries. She has also been known to eat plenty of eggs, fruit, and lean proteins.

Meghans favorite chicken recipe is a Filipino-style dish that you can make at home

So, with all of these scrumptious foods that Meghan enjoys, what is her favorite? It is actually a Filipino-style dish that is easy for anyone to make.

Insider reports that the duchess loves to make chicken adobo, and it sounds incredible. What does she do? Well, to start, pulls out the slow cooker and combines vinegar, lemon, garlic, and soy. She then cuts the chicken into pieces and allows it to cook in that mixture until it is tender and flavorful. Meghan also adds in some onions, black pepper, and a bay leaf to make the recipe even more delicious.

It sounds like a great dish for anyone, and we love the simplicity of it.
Paris:

The landmark Paris climate deal will enter into force in 30 days, after being ratified by 72 countries accounting for more than 56 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the UNs climate body said on Wednesday.



On October 5, 2016, the threshold for entry into force of the Paris Agreement has been achieved, the UNFCCC announced on its website. Inked outside the French capital in December by 195 nations, the worlds first universal climate treaty vows to cap global warming at well under two degrees Celsius.



At least 55 countries accounting for 55 percent of heat-trapping emissions needed to ratify the pact before it could go into force. The European Union, which signed as a single party, and some EU member states have now pushed it over that threshold.



The EU and European countries that have already ratified the agreement at a national level have now also submitted ratification documents to the UN, French environment minister Segolene Royal told AFP.



The move was widely hailed. This is a welcome development after years of frustratingly slow progress, said Andrew Steer, president of the World Resources Institute, a Washington-based thinktank.



With the agreement in full force, countries can shift their focus from commitment to action.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
" " Peschanaya Bay on Lake Baikal is completely frozen over during the winter. The frozen bubbles beneath the ice are from hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the lake sending heated water to the surface. Anton Petrus/Getty Images

Siberia's Lake Baikal is not your average lake. At 49 miles (78.8 kilometers) wide and 395 miles (635 kilometers) long, it's the world's largest freshwater lake. And, with a history that dates back 25 million years, it's also Earth's oldest. But size and age aren't the only things that make this lake special.

Lake Baikal also is home to more than 3,700 different species, many of which are only found in the Baikal region. That's why Lake Baikal is often considered the "Galapagos of Russia."

Now, in case its biodiversity doesn't dazzle you, here's another peculiar fact: Lake Baikal has its own version of the Loch Ness Monster known as "Lusud-Khan" (which translates to "Water Dragon Master"). It's described as a "giant sturgeon with a prominent snout and armored plating along the back." The monster's history goes back centuries, with ancient carvings depicting the terrifying creature.

Interest piqued? We thought so. Here's everything you need to know about this ancient, beautiful and mysterious UNESCO World Heritage site.

" " The summer months on Lake Baikal are equally stunning as the winter months. Seen here is Shamanka Rock on Olkhon Island. Waitforlight/Getty Images

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Lake Baikal Is a Geological Phenomenon

Lake Baikal is located in southern Russia, near the border of Mongolia. Its depth of 5,300 feet (1,615 meters) makes it the world's deepest lake. The second-deepest lake, Lake Tanganyika in east Africa, is 4,710 feet (1,435.6 meters) deep by comparison. Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the U.S., is 1,900 feet (579 meters) deep.

Lake Baikal's 12,200-square-mile (31,597-square-kilometer) size also makes it Earth's largest. That size, by the way, makes it comparable in volume to the entire Amazon basin. For scale, it reportedly takes about 330 years for one water molecule to flow from inlet to inlet.

So how did Lake Baikal get so massive? About 25 million years ago, Lake Baikal formed through fractures and shifting within Earth's crust. It wasn't Lake Baikal as we now know it, though. Experts believe it was a series of lakes, similar to the Great Lakes in the U.S. While scientists aren't positive how Lake Baikal went from many lakes to the behemoth it is today, they do have theories. It could've been sinking earth, erosion, earthquakes, increased water from melting glaciers  although it's likely a mix of these factors and more.

Now, that unifying change took place in the Pliocene Epoch (about 5.3 to 2.5 million years ago), but this lake is hardly finished growing. It's expanding at a rate of 0.7 inches (2 centimeters) every year  the same speed at which Africa and South America are drifting apart. At this speed, some scientists believe Lake Baikal is actually an ocean in the making.

Of Lake Baikal's 27 islands, the largest is Olkhon, at 280 square miles (725 square kilometers). Olkhon has its own lake, mountains and a population of 1,500 residents. Locals connected to power via an underwater cable in 2005, and were connected to the internet shortly after.

" " The village of Khuzhir is the administrative capital of Olkhon Island, which is the largest of Lake Baikal's 27 islands. Boy_Anupong/Getty Images

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The Flora and Fauna Is Magnificent

Some call Lake Baikal the "Galapagos of Russia" not only because it has an impressive array of nearly 4,000 species, but also because 80 percent of those animals are found nowhere else. One reason for Lake Baikal's unique biodiversity is its array of hydrothermal vents. These hydrothermal vents are commonly found in oceans, but Lake Baikal is the only freshwater lake known to have them.

So how do these hydrothermal vents work? Cold lake water enters cracks in Earth's crust through the vents. When the water reaches magma, it heats up, then returns, resurfacing with minerals and heat.

These rich minerals are the reason for some of Lake Baikals' most unusual species, including the Baikal omul fish, the Baikal oil fish, and the star of the show: the Nerpa seal species. Like Lake Baikal, the Nerpa seal is itself a natural phenomenon. It's the only exclusively freshwater seal species in the world, and its evolution  given other seals are found in the ocean  is mysterious. Some scientists believe it arrived via a prehistoric river from the Arctic.

Beyond seals and fish, other common animals found in the forests and mountains surrounding Lake Baikal include bears, elk, reindeer, lynx, wild boar and of course, the lake's frequently reported "Water Dragon Master."

" " Lake Baikal is home to the world's only freshwater seal, the Nerpa seal. Sergey Gabdurakhmanov /Flickr/(CC BY 2.0)

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The Locals

Lake Baikal is more than a natural wonder or wildlife haven. For about 100,000 permanent residents, it's home. The population spans multiple ethnic groups: Buryats (Siberia's largest Indigenous people), Evenks and Russians. Their main occupations are forestry, agriculture, fisheries, hunting and tourism. As adventure and off-the-grid tourism grows, the latter is particularly on the rise.

The Baikal area sees about 30,000 visitors per year, according to Euro News. Karen Zhao, a local expert and Intrepid Travel product manager for North & Central Asia, says there are a handful of ways to enjoy this still-hidden gem. Intrepid's tours, such as Beijing to Moscow and the Trans-Mongolian Experience, both include a stop.

"The best way to experience Lake Baikal is to stay with a local family or at a local guesthouse near the lake. Here, you can experience the Baikal hospitality firsthand," she says via email. "During the day, you can take a boat tour on the lake, go on a hike on the Baikal trail, visit the larger islands, and also stop at some ethnographic museums and villages."

The days conclude with a visit to the host's banya, a Russian-style sauna, although be prepared: These hot-sauna visits end with a "refreshing" dip in the chilly lake. That is, until it freezes over. But winter brings its own type of adventure, too.

"Winter is also one of the best times to visit Baikal, from late January to early March, when the lake is fully frozen," Zhao says. "Baikal is famous for its purity of water and on a good day, you are able to see 40 meters [131 feet] deep into the lake. So when the lake is frozen, you'll be able to see the beautiful transparent blue ice that echoes the color of the sky or see a huge air bubble frozen inside the lake, too."

Now That's Crazy In case freshwater seals and lake monsters aren't enough to entice you to visit, this ancient lake has another mysterious history: UFO sightings. Many locals have reported strange lights and alien spacecraft throughout the years, and several Soviet-era documents mention UFO incidents and sightings around Earth's largest lake.

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Originally Published: Jun 24, 2020
That release could not be found.
Britain's cash system is on the brink, with increasing numbers of businesses refusing coins and notes due to virus fears.

For the millions who still rely on paper money to shop and pay the bills, the idea of a cashless world is desperately worrying.

While Money Mail will keep fighting to protect the nation's access to cash, the move towards digital payments and online shopping could prove a lucrative opportunity for investors.

Cashless future: The move towards digital payments and online shopping could prove a lucrative opportunity for investors

Most payments are now made by debit or credit card, with the use of cash falling 15 per cent last year, figures show.

Some 7.4 million people now use it only once a month, or not at all  more than double the number two years ago, according to trade body UK Finance.

The pandemic has further fuelled the decline of cash, with ATM withdrawals down 55 per cent during lockdown.

Research by digital business bank Amaiz suggests half of all retailers plan to go cashless (or have done so) due to the virus.

Meanwhile, online shopping is expected to remain popular, with internet sales up by nearly a third last month compared to the same period last year, according to the IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Sales Index.

Guy de Blonay, fund manager at Jupiter Asset Management, says: 'It's the online payment providers that are the winners from the transition to cashless societies globally, accelerated by Covid-19.'

Mr de Blonay's fund, Jupiter Financial Opportunities, invests in a host of firms in the payment sector.

His biggest holding is Global Payments, a U.S. card payment processing company, which provides systems and develops the software used by businesses to accept payments.

Mr de Blonay says: 'Global Payments is not immune from the decline in retail sales in the short- term.

'But, longer-term, it should benefit from the acceleration of the transition to cashless.

'Its omni-channel offering [powering online and physical payments] and software are also a key element of differentiation in addressing the new needs of small businesses.'

Online shopping is expected to remain popular, with internet sales up by nearly a third last month compared to the same period last year

The Jupiter fund also invests in Mastercard and Visa, which are also benefiting from the digital payment trend.

In the U.S., Visa recently reported a 150 per cent increase year-on-year in the use of contactless cards.

And, after the limit increased from 30 to 45 during lockdown, experts expect contactless spending in the UK to also increase.

If you had invested 10,000 in the Jupiter fund five years ago, it would now be worth 17,470.

James Thomson's Rathbone Global Opportunities fund holds Mastercard and Visa, as well as online payment provider PayPal (the latter recently reported a record number of new account openings in its first quarter as well as a 25 per cent uplift in transactions).

There are also lesser-known firms working behind the scenes in the payments industry. For example, digital payment company Tenpay links mobile apps with its payment system and is used widely via WeChat  a smartphone messaging app similar to WhatsApp.

Mr Thomson, who invests in Tenpay's parent company, the Chinese internet giant Tencent, says: 'Its main advantage is that WeChat has more than 1.2 billion active users.' Rathbone Global Opportunities has turned 10,000 into 21,700 in five years.

In Europe, Dutch-based online payment provider Adyen has a unique technology that makes it possible for merchants to process transactions in-store as well as online.

Virus fears: Research by digital business bank Amaiz suggests half of all retailers plan to go cashless (or have already done so)

Worldline, a French company, is now the world's fourth-largest payment services provider; Nexi in Italy is a smaller rival.

Mr de Blonay, who holds all three in his fund, adds: 'Worldline and Nexi can bring the benefits of innovation to small merchants that remain under-served by banks or e-commerce players.'

In the U.S., digital payments group Boku allows users to pay bills using their mobile phone.

Its share price jumped last week after it announced a partnership with PayPay, Japan's leading eWallet and QR code payment service.

To invest in Boku, Darius McDermott of FundCalibre suggests Marlborough Special Situations which has turned a 10,000 investment into 14,400 over five years.

He also tips Axa Framlington Global Technology which invests in PayPal and Visa as well as Apple in its top ten holdings.

Jeremy Gleeson, manager of the Axa fund, points out that Apple Pay has been a success with consumers, though it's not 'a huge revenue generator for the business overall.'

The fund has turned 10,000 into 29,320 in five years.

moneymail@dailymail.co.uk
People infected with coronavirus were allowed to board aircraft and travel to Hong Kong in recent days, highlighting the challenge of controlling the pandemic while governments seek the safest ways to reopen borders.

Hong Kong's health authority said one infected passenger arrived Sunday from Manila on a Cathay Pacific Airways flight, and another was on a Cathay Dragon flight from Kuala Lumpur. Both were diagnosed with covid-19 before they traveled. It also said 45 passengers on Emirates flights from Dubai over the weekend either were confirmed or probable cases. The airline only restarted flights to Hong Kong this month.

The infections underscore the risk of peeling back restrictions when the global pace of infections keeps accelerating. Airlines worldwide, largely propped up by government bailouts, have been lobbying to get their planes back in the air as they face more than $84 billion in losses this year.

The International Air Transport Association, which represents almost 300 airlines, recommends steps such as temperature checks at the airport and wearing face masks to protect passengers and crew from infection.

But the Hong Kong cases show that infected passengers can bypass voluntary requirements, and there's little airlines can do.

"Taking temperatures and having passengers wear masks on flights are steps we can do to ensure the virus doesn't spread," Korean Air Lines Co. said in a statement. "For measures to be put in place to ensure infected passengers don't fly, it has to be done by the authorities and it's not something an airline like us can do on our own."

IATA last week outlined recommendations for covid-19 testing, saying it ideally would be done before arriving at the airport and within 24 hours of travel. If testing is required during the travel process, it should be done at departure, and governments would need to mutually recognize test results, IATA said.

In an online conference hosted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board on Wednesday, IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac reiterated that there needs to be much more collaboration between governments, and that it doesn't work for countries to impose and lift border restrictions unilaterally.

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection said the 30 new cases on Monday and 16 on Tuesday all had a travel history during the incubation period. The passenger flying on Cathay Flight 906 from Manila, a 58-year-old man, tested positive in the Philippines on Saturday, the day before he arrived.

Cathay, which requires passengers to fill out health declaration forms before they travel, said it learned about the passenger from health authorities after the plane landed. The airline is following "prescribed procedures in conducting disinfection of aircraft and informing the operating crew and employees," as well as helping to trace those who were in close contact with the man.

A spokesman for the Philippine Immigration Bureau said it wasn't the agency's job to check health clearances.

"We only check the passport and boarding" pass, spokesman Melvin Mabulac said.

The passenger on Cathay Dragon Flight 734 was a 39-year-old woman returning from India via Malaysia, Hong Kong's health department said Tuesday. After landing, she declared she'd tested positive and had been treated for the virus in India last month.

The Centre for Health Protection, which advises against all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong, said it is in contact with authorities in the Philippines and India to obtain more information about the cases.

The Hong Kong arrivals aren't likely to be isolated cases. While some countries, including Australia, have said their borders are likely to be effectively closed for the rest of the year, others -- including members of the European Union -- are working on allowing more international flights.

Biogen Inc. said in March it fired a female worker who returned to China from Massachusetts without disclosing her infection. Local media said the 37-year-old took a large dose of anti-fever medication before she boarded to hide her illness.

JetBlue Airways banned a passenger who flew from New York to Florida and notified the crew after landing that he had tested positive for coronavirus, CNN said in March.
New normal: A customer queues at Woodies DIY, Just 41pc of businesses are making protective equipment like facemasks mandatory

MOST businesses in Ireland are now back trading, but only 31pc have seen an increase in turnover following the easing of lockdown restrictions on May 18, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Data from its latest survey on the business impact of Covid-19 upon the Irish economy also shows that just over 26pc of businesses started trading again last month, with 89.4pc in total trading at the time of the latest survey.

It also found that just 1pc of businesses surveyed had closed permanently, with 9.6pc closed temporarily.

The figures also show that most businesses in the accommodation and food services sector remained shut, with just 37.8pc of those surveyed open.

That compared to 77pc of construction companies back in operation, almost 98pc of industrial firms, and nearly 93pc of wholesale and retail businesses up and running.

Of all other services, 92.7pc were open, according to the CSO data.

Almost 72pc of businesses that responded to the survey said they had lower than normal turnover for the four-week period from May 4 to May 31.

Just over 19pc of businesses said turnover was at or close to normal expectations, with 9.3pc reporting a higher than expected turnover for the period.

The CSO said that a higher proportion of large enterprises - almost 30pc - reckoned turnover as being normal for the four-week period, with just 17pc of SMEs reporting the same.

Slightly more than 25pc of businesses expected to have similar to normal turnover this month, with 6.9pc expecting it to be higher than normal.

More than 43pc of businesses responding to the survey said a reduction in demand is having a high impact on their operations. Just over 28pc of businesses said cashflow difficulties were not having an impact, while 37pc said the cost of implementing Covid-19 measures had a moderate impact on them. Restrictions on business operations had a moderate or high impact on 64.6pc of enterprises.

In order to alleviate cashflow issues, nearly 30pc of businesses deferred or changed revenue payments, with 22.5pc deferring or changing property payments. Another 15.7pc deferred or changed loan repayments, the survey found.

Nearly 74pc of responding enterprises said that their ability to access finance last month had not been affected.

Almost half of respondents to the CSO survey said that their imports were unaffected by the pandemic, while 44.8pc of exporting businesses said they were unaffected.

Exports fell for 42pc of businesses last month, while imports declined 38.3pc.

The survey found that 30pc of businesses had placed staff on temporary leave during the crisis and had staff return to work. But 12pc of businesses placed staff on temporary leave and did not have staff return last month.

Only 41pc of businesses surveyed require mandatory personal protective equipment such as gloves or facemask in their workplaces.

But almost 75pc said they had rearranged workplaces to facilitate social distancing, while nearly 38pc have staggered shifts. Almost 38pc of those surveyed have imposed occupancy limits in their workplaces, with 30pc of businesses maintaining a log of meetings in order to facilitate contact tracing.

The survey was the third by the CSO into the business impact of the coronavirus.
Valerie Pecresse, a French presidential hopeful from the Republican party, who had the egregious audacity to illegally visit the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan on December 22, 2021, is now allegedly "infuriated" at the French government's "deafening silence" at Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's remarks that she would not have been permitted to leave the country, had Baku been informed about her illegal trip.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / Omni Commerce Corp. (FRA:0MZA) ("Omni" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into a definitive Mineral Property Purchase Agreement dated June 22, 2020 (the "Agreement") with Balmoral Resources Ltd. ("Balmoral"), a 100% subsidiary of Wallbridge Mining Company Limited (TSX:WM), an Ontario corporation which has its common shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Omni has agreed to acquire Balmoral's right, title and interest in and to its 44% joint venture interest in the Northshore Gold Property (the "Property"), located in the Schreiber-Hemlo Greenstone Belt, 115 km west of Hemlo and 200 km east of Thunder Bay, on the terms in the Agreement (the "Transaction"). Omni announced on June 1, 2020, that it entered into a definitive mineral property purchase agreement with CBLT Inc. ("CBLT") to acquire CBLT's 56% joint venture interest in the Property. Upon completion of the transactions with Balmoral and CBLT, Omni would own 100% of the Property.

Northshore Gold Property

The Northshore Gold Property is located within the Hemlo-Schreiber greenstone belt in the world-famous Hemlo Gold Camp, south of the former producing Winston Lake copper-zinc-gold-silver deposit. The Property is approximately 4 kilometres south of the town of Schreiber, Ontario and approximately 70 kilometres west along the Trans-Canada Highway from the Hemlo gold deposit. The Property is 322 hectares and is prospective for gold mineralization. CBLT owns a 56% interest in the Property pursuant to a joint venture agreement with Balmoral, which owns the remaining 44% interest in the Property (the "Joint Venture"). See Omni's news release dated April 27, 2020 for a description of the Property.

"Now that Omni has agreements in place for the 100% unification of the Northshore Gold Project, the Company is moving forward with its intended funding through a private placement of subscription receipts and subsequent relisting of the Company's common shares", stated John Veltheer, Omni CEO.

Summary of Transaction

The binding Agreement sets out the terms on which the parties have agreed to complete the Transaction, and supersedes the letter of intent dated June 11, 2020 which was previously entered into by Omni and Balmoral. Omni has agreed to purchase a 44% interest in the Property from Balmoral for the purchase price of $1,055,000 (the "Purchase Price") on the terms and conditions of the Agreement. The Purchase Price will be satisfied by the following cash payments and share issuances: $35,000 in non-refundable cash deposits (already paid), $220,000 cash (the "Closing Cash Consideration Amount") payable on completion of the Transaction (the "Closing"), and $800,000 (the "Closing Share Consideration Amount") payable by the issuance of 1,333,333 post-Consolidation (defined below) common shares in the capital of Omni (collectively, the "Consideration Shares") at a deemed price of $0.60 per Consideration Share on the Closing. If the issuance of the Consideration Shares together with any prior shareholdings of Balmoral or any of its associates or affiliates in Omni would result in them, directly or indirectly holding more than 9.9% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of Omni on Closing, then the number of Consideration Shares issuable will be reduced so that their collectively holdings are no more than 9.9% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Omni, and the Closing Share Consideration Amount will be reduced and the Closing Cash Consideration Amount increased accordingly.

Prior to the Closing, Balmoral will execute and deliver to Omni a voluntary escrow agreement, to be effective as of the Closing (the "Escrow Agreement"). The Escrow Agreement will provide, among other things, that all Consideration Shares will be deposited into escrow, with an escrow agent to be determined by Omni in its sole discretion and at the expense of Omni, and with the Consideration Shares to be released from escrow as to 25% on each of the days which is four, six, eight and 12 months after the Closing. Balmoral will be entitled to vote any Consideration Shares that are held in escrow, but will not be entitled to transfer, option or otherwise encumber any of such Consideration Shares without the prior written consent of Omni. This voluntary escrow will be in addition to any escrow required by the policies of any stock exchange.

In addition, under the terms of the Agreement, Omni has agreed to consolidate its total issued and outstanding common shares (each, an "Omni Share") on the basis of five pre-consolidation Omni Shares for one post-consolidation Omni Share (collectively, the "Consolidation") prior to Closing. Omni has also agreed to raise gross proceeds of not less than $1.5 million through the private placement (the "Financing") of subscription receipts of Omni (each, a "Sub Receipt"). Each Sub Receipt will be issued at a subscription price of $0.60 per Sub Receipt on a post-Consolidation basis and will consist of one Omni Share and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Financing Warrant"), with each Financing Warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional post-Consolidation Omni Share at an exercise price of $1.00 per post-Consolidation Omni Share for a period of 2 years.

Completion of the Transaction remains subject to a number of conditions, including Omni completing the Financing, Omni completing the Consolidation, Omni obtaining a new technical report on the Property that is compliant with National Instrument 43-101, Omni applying to list its common shares on a Canadian stock exchange, Omni completing the acquisition of the 56% interest in the Property from CBLT, receipt of all requisite approvals, and other conditions customary for transactions of this nature. The parties intend to complete the Transaction on or before August 31, 2020. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Finder's fees may be payable in connection with the Financing.

Under the terms of the Agreement if Balmoral, or any affiliate, stakes or otherwise acquires any rights ("Additional Rights") to minerals located wholly or partially within or contiguous to the area located within two (2) kilometers from any portion of the exterior boundaries of the Property, as such exterior boundaries exist on the Closing (the "Area of Interest"), it must provide notice to Omni of such acquisition and the details thereof, and Omni will have the election, to be exercised within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the notice of such Additional Rights, whether to include the Additional Rights in the Property (whether such rights are contained wholly within the Area of Interest or only partially within the Area of Interest).

About Omni

Omni is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and is a reporting issuer in British Columbia and Alberta.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

OMNI COMMERCE CORP.

Per: "John Veltheer"

John Veltheer, CEO

For further information, please contact:

John Veltheer

Phone: (604) 562-6915

Email: john@veltheer.com

Website: www.omnireset.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian legislation. All statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations and orientations regarding the future including, without limitation, closing of the Transaction (and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Consolidation and the Financing), escrow of the Consideration Shares and plans for further exploration of the Property are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable and reflect expectations of future developments and other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that it and Balmoral will obtain the required approvals for the Consolidation and the Transaction, as applicable, market fundamentals will result support the viability of gold mineral exploration, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Property, the availability of the financing required for the Company to carry out its planned future activities, and to retain and attract qualified personnel.

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 differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include the inability of the Company to close the Transaction (including as a result of the inability of the Company and Balmoral to obtain the required approvals), complete the Consolidation and the Financing, execute its proposed business plans, and carry out planned future activities. The novel coronavirus and COVID-19 pose new risks that are currently indescribable and immeasurable. Other factors may also adversely affect the future results or performance of the Company, including general economic, market or business conditions, future prices of cannabis, changes in the financial markets and in the demand for cannabis, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting the mining industry, risks related to the acquisition of the Property and the Company's investment and operation in the mineral exploration sector in Northern Ontario, as well as the risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis and in other filings made by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements.

These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Omni Commerce Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595082/Omni-Enters-into-Mineral-Property-Purchase-Agreement-to-Acquire-100-Ownership-of-Northshore-Gold-Property
Yet the outlook is deeply uncertain with Congress unable to swiftly respond even as the public demands policing changes. Much as lawmakers have failed to act during times of crisis on gun control or immigration changes theres a familiar standoff despite broad support. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll shows almost all Americans support some degree of criminal justice changes.
Dhaka, June 24 : Bangladesh has registered 37 new deaths due to COVID-19, raising the body count to 1,582, health officials said on Wednesday.

The case load surged to 122,660 after 3,462 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, till Wednesday morning.

Another 2,031 patients have recovered from COVID-19 at home and in hospital in the same period, bringing the total to 49,666, DGHS Additional Director General Nasima Sultana said in a media briefing.

The rate of recovery from COVID-19 currently stands at 40.49 percent, while the mortality rate is 1.29 per cent, bdnews24 reported.

A total of 16,433 samples were tested at 66 labs across the country with 21.07 per cent returning positive results, according to government data.

Globally, over 9.26 million people have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 477,643 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Military to remain vigilant amid Chinese Airforce intrusions: Tsai

ROC Central News Agency

06/23/2020 04:53 PM

Taipei, June 23 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen () on Tuesday called on Taiwan's military to remain vigilant in the wake of frequent incursions by Chinese Airforce planes into the nation's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the past few weeks.

In her address during a conferral ceremony where she promoted 20 senior military personnel, the president said China continues to pressure Taiwan militarily by increasing the frequency with which it sends military aircraft and vessels to operate near the nation's waters and airspace.

The armed forces need to closely monitor the waters and airspace around the country to keep the nation safe, she added.

Tsai made the comments a day after two Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's ADIZ on Monday for a second day in a row and the sixth time in seven days.

Chieh Chung (), a research fellow at local think tank the National Policy Foundation, previously told CNA that the spate of recent incursions could be intended by Beijing as a "stress test" of Taiwan's defense capabilities.

Meanwhile, Tuesday's ceremony saw five military officers promoted to the rank of two-star general or lieutenant-general and vice admiral, with a further 15 elevated to the rank of one-star general or major-general and rear admiral, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

The promoted senior officers come from all branches of the armed forces as well as the National Security Bureau and their promotions officially take effect next month, the ministry said.

Among the promoted generals were MND Director of Legal Affairs Shen Shih-wei () who has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general.

Shen is the first senior military official from the military's legal branch to be promoted to the rank of two-star general in nine years.

Another highlight of Tuesday's ceremony was Lee Chi-huan (), chief of staff of the Army's Huadong Defense Command in eastern Taiwan, who was promoted to the rank of major-general.

While other generals stood tall as family members or subordinates placed the rank insignia on their shoulders, Lee got down on one knee to make it easier for his mother to do so.

Lee told reporters afterwards that he wanted to express his gratitude to his mother and family who have long supported his military career.

(By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW

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Handcash, a Madrid, Spain-based Bitcoin wallet provider, raised additional funding of undisclosed amount.

Backers included technology entrepreneur Calvin Ayre, and venture capital funds Two Hop Ventures and Unbounded Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to further grow its product offerings and employ more team members.

Led by co-founder and CEO Alex Agut, HandCash provides a digital wallet offering users the ability to shop at 250+ retailers with egifter.com as well as a tie up with payment service Anypay, providing both online and retail merchants with efficient checkouts. HandCash have also made sure, via an agreement with rival Bitcoin SV (BSV) wallet, MoneyButton, that BSV transactions can be made to each wallet directly, without third parties involved. The company started as a wallet for consumers, but seeing the vast business future for micropayments, it is expanding into B2B product offerings. Its upcoming HandCash Connect SDK provides a backend solution so developers can use all the properties of Bitcoin as a technology platform, without having to learn complex Bitcoin protocol development skills or maintain infrastructure.

FinSMEs

24/06/2020
The New Patriotic Party's (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Sege, Madam Eunice Lasi, has provided gravel to fill death portions of roads in the coastal enclave of the constituency.

Madam Lasi provided the gravel after some chiefs and residents in the area complained about the deplorable state of the road linking Sege to the coastal communities in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Region.

"Already, I was planning on how to help the coastal communities with good roads before I heard their grievances in the media,  she told the Ghana News Agency.

She indicated that even though the reconstruction of the said roads had been awarded to a contractor, the people needed fairly motorable road while the contractor prepares to move to site.

Madam Lasi, who is well known for such initiatives along the coast, said "this was her small way of helping her people."

Nene Huadzi Asem II, Chief of Kablevu, expressed his gratitude to the parliamentary candidate while urging the District Assembly to urgently reconstruct the roads for easy movement of people and goods.

He advised drivers who visited the community to load salt, to desist from parking on the shoulders of the road as a measure to preserve the tender roads.

---GNA
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Export of steel from Turkey to Turkmenistan surged by 113 percent from January through May 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, having stood at over $57.8 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend on June 24.

In May 2020, steel exports from Turkey to Turkmenistan also increased by 43.7 percent compared to May 2019, and exceeded $9.5 million.

Export of steel from Turkey to world markets dropped by 22.9 percent in the first 5 months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019 and amounted to $4.8 billion

According to the ministry, the overall export of steel from Turkey made up 7.9 percent of the country's total export over the reporting period.

In May 2020, Turkey exported the steel in the amount of $817.7 million abroad, which is 39.7 percent less compared to the same month of 2019, the ministry noted.

Turkeys steel export in May this year amounted to 8.2 percent of the country's total export.

During the last 12 months (from May 2019 through May 2020), Turkey exported the steel in the amount of over $12.3 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
The launch of the last satellite of Chinas domestically developed BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, or BDS, which took place amid global efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, is a hard-won achievement by China, according to Yang Changfeng, the systems chief architect.

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. (Photo by Hu Xujie/Xinhua)

Since the first BDS-3 satellite was launched in November 2017, China has conducted 18 BDS satellite launch missions. Over 400 organizations and institutions and more than 300,000 scientific personnel took part in the launches. The Long March-3A rocket series and the Xichang Satellite Launch Center also contributed a great deal to the launch success, Yang said.

This year will mark the completion of the Beidou network, and BDS satellites are expected to provide high-precision positioning services for global users, Yang explained.

China has creatively adopted mixed space constellation with three different orbits to provide services for a certain region with a minimum amount of satellites. In addition, while serving global users, the Beidou satellites will produce huge profits in engineering projects, Yang disclosed.

The first task after the completion of the Beidou network is guaranteeing the stability of the system, Yang said. To this end, while following standardized practices, the engineers will improve intelligent operation and maintenance of the system, which will enable it to better identify and cope with risks.

The second task is to allow the Beidou network to better serve national construction, economic development, and improving peoples livelihood. In order to do this, supervisory departments of various industries should formulate policies and rules, improve standards, and establish product catalogs to launch more applications of the Beidou system, Yang said.
CLEVELAND -- Kenta Settles spent nearly five months in jail  confined in Ohios coronavirus-plagued jails during the peak of the pandemic  after being attacked by two Garfield Heights police officers. Settles, a 28-year-old African American with mental health conditions, was repeatedly punched, kicked, and shot with a Taser. When the police body camera footage was finally disclosed, the Cuyahoga County prosecutor dismissed all charges and Settles was released.

The Black Lives Matter movement is shining a light on many of the injustices inflicted on Settles. One central issue is bail reform  and Kenta Settles unnecessary months-long detention illustrates the problem.

A magistrate set a $250,000 bond, knowing Settles could not pay that amount. The resulting detention was permitted under Ohio law that allows judges to set high money bail to effectively detain people, due to their lack of money, without following adequate due process. That law must be changed.

Ohio law also allows judges to order a defendant detained pretrial, with no money bail at all. But Ohio judges almost never enter detention orders. Why not? Because a detention order requires procedural safeguards, in light of the severe infringement on the defendants liberty. The judge must hold a prompt hearing where the defendant is represented by counsel and given the opportunity to testify and cross-examine witnesses. The state must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm.

Jonathan Witmer-Rich is a professor and associate dean at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and a member of the Ohio Rules Commission.

Instead of following those safeguards, judges bypass them and enter what amounts to a detention order by setting money bail at an absurdly high level.

Back to Kenta Settles. The Garfield Heights magistrate set his bond at $250,000, a ridiculous amount chosen so Settles would not be released, but without going through the process for a detention order. Thus, there was no opportunity to view the body camera footage that  once finally disclosed months later  led to Settles quick release. Once Settles was transferred to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, the bond eventually was reduced to $25,000, but the result was the same  Settles could not afford it, so it amounted to a detention order.

Bail reform has been a hot topic in recent years, enjoying bipartisan support. Many states have taken steps to end unnecessary pretrial detention and reduce reliance on money bail. Some local courts  like the Cleveland Municipal Court  have adopted reforms, but many Ohio courts have not.

So far, meaningful statewide reform has been rejected. Several years ago, the Cuyahoga County Bail Task Force recommended that [f]inancial conditions . . . should not be used to simply detain an individual throughout the pretrial period. (I was the principal drafter of that report.) As the Settles case illustrates, many judges continue to ignore that recommendation.

This was not a novel proposal. The ABA Standards for Pretrial Release have long stated that money bail should not be used to detain defendants, and a Harvard Primer on Bail Reform describes this practice as [o]ne of the most significant pathologies of money bail.

Money bail also unconstitutionally discriminates based on wealth  defendants with money get released, while those without stay in jail  regardless of their actual risks.

In another failed reform effort, the Ohio Supreme Court charged the Rules Commission  the body that proposes amendments to Ohios rules of court  with considering changes to Criminal Rule 46, governing bail. As a member of that Commission, I worked for months with experts around the state to draft changes that would have prohibited judges from using money bail to detain defendants like Settles.

The Commissions proposal received strong bipartisan support from groups ranging from the ACLU to the Buckeye Institute. Both liberals and conservatives recognize that using money to address risk to the community is fundamentally unjust and ineffective.

Notwithstanding this bipartisan support, the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association objected. The prosecutors prevailed in March, when the Commission voted to reject the amendment and instead endorse a rule allowing judges to continue detaining defendants with money bail.

Bail reform is overdue; when it comes, it will be too late to prevent the injustices inflicted on Kenta Settles. Ohio judges must stop using money bail to detain defendants without following the procedures required to justify pretrial detention. The Ohio Legislature and the Ohio Supreme Court must end this practice.

Jonathan Witmer-Rich is a professor and associate dean at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University, and a member of the Ohio Rules Commission.

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* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
University News

A widely respected authority on diversity issues in criminal justice, Dr. Boyd has decades of experience as an educator and a law enforcement professional. He will oversee the implementation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan for the university.

Lorenzo Boyd, Ph.D.

University of New Haven President Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D., has named Lorenzo Boyd, Ph.D., to the newly created position of vice president for diversity and inclusion/chief diversity officer.

Dr. Boyd has served as the University of New Havens assistant provost for diversity and inclusion and director of its Center for Advanced Policing and is a nationally recognized authority on community policing and racial justice.

President Kaplan said, It was clear that the university has an incredibly talented and effective person in Lorenzo. He is highly respected both internally and externally as a thought leader and has demonstrated a strong commitment to our students and belief in our mission. Simply put, I couldnt imagine the University of New Haven finding someone more uniquely qualified to lead our important efforts toward inclusive excellence that need to begin immediately.

Dr. Kaplan had announced the creation of the new post several weeks ago as part of a series of institutional initiatives in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd and the nationwide examination of police brutality and racial injustice led by Black Lives Matter.

Dr. Boyd will serve as an adviser to President Kaplan and serve on the Presidents Cabinet as well as the universitys Leadership Council. He will play a pivotal role in developing and leading the implementation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan for the university.

He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to begin immediately collaborating with units across campus to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts already ongoing and implement new initiatives. Dr. Boyd will help lead the university in creating and sustaining an environment that demonstrates inclusive excellence for all and will oversee the important work of the universitys Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

"I couldnt imagine the University of New Haven finding someone more uniquely qualified to lead our important efforts toward inclusive excellence that need to begin immediately." President Steven Kaplan, Ph.D.

Dr. Boyd joined the university in 2019, and his expertise and efforts have helped to build the universitys Center for Advanced Policing into a national resource for professional development, with a central focus on building levels of empathy and cultural competence among police leaders and officers.

He is a nationally recognized leader in police-community relations and an authority on urban policing, diversity issues in criminal justice, race and crime, and criminal justice systems. He credits his 14-year tenure in the Suffolk County (Mass.) Sheriffs department  working in policing, corrections, and the courts  in shaping his approach to teaching, research, and training.

Dr. Boyd is also a faculty member in the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven. He has taught at the university level for 20 years. Prior to joining the Lee College faculty, he was associate professor and chair of the departments of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and previously was the masters program coordinator for the University of Massachusetts Lowells School of Criminology & Justice Studies.

A former president of the Academy of Criminal Justice Science and a life member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Dr. Boyds expertise was sought out in the aftermath of high-profile shootings in Baton Rouge, Dallas, and Ferguson. In 2019, he led a study addressing issues of racism, bias, and police and community relations at Yale University after a white graduate student called the police to report a black graduate student who was asleep in a residence hall common room.

While working as an associate professor and graduate coordinator of criminal justice at Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, N.C., he was asked by the citys police chiefto create a community-policing program. After observing the communitys high levels of unemployment, drug use, and transience, and lack of afterschool programs, Dr. Boyd recommended the city first develop a community-wellness program.

As an adviser to the Fayetteville police chief for eight years, he worked with city agencies to make numerous improvements and held community-police forums where residents could talk about complaints, including concerns about racial profiling, and police officers could share their own experiences. He then created a community-policing program that included training modules for sworn and non-sworn personnel on topics including ethics and leadership; researched and developed new evidence-based policing strategies; and assisted with officer recruitment.

Widely published, Dr. Boyd recently authored the book Massachusetts's Criminal Justice System. His writing has also appeared in Race and Justice, the Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, and Criminal Justice Studies: A Critical Journal of Crime, Law and Society.

He received his Ph.D. in sociology from Northeastern University, his M.A. in applied sociology from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a B.A. in sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

"I have no doubt that his fine leadership and collaborative approach to working with members across the university will helpenhance and sustain an environment that demonstrates our core value and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity for each and every member," President Kaplan said.
LEG Immobilien AG / Key word(s): Corporate Action

LEG Immobilien AG to launch cash capital increase and to issue new convertible bonds





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.



LEG Immobilien AG to launch cash capital increase and to issue new convertible bonds - Up to 2.37 million new shares to be issued - Approximately EUR 550 million convertible bonds offered - Targeted proceeds in the aggregate amount of approximately EUR 800 million to be used to finance LEG's most recent acquisitions as well as for general corporate purposes Duesseldorf, June 23, 2020 - The Management Board of LEG Immobilien AG ("LEG" or the "Company") resolved today, with the consent of the Supervisory Board, to concurrently launch a capital increase against cash contribution with the intention to generate gross proceeds in the amount of approximately EUR 250 million ("Capital Increase") and to issue convertible bonds due 2028 in an aggregate principal amount of approximately EUR 550 million ("Convertible Bonds"). Capital Increase The Capital Increase corresponds to a notional amount of up to EUR 2.37 million or up to 3.4% of the registered share capital, is being made against cash contributions and excluding the shareholders' subscription rights. The placement price per new share will be determined following the conclusion of an accelerated bookbuilding. The new shares will carry full dividend rights from January 1, 2019. The share placement will be launched with immediate effect, and the new shares shall be offered to institutional investors in and outside of Germany. The new shares will be admitted to trading on the regulated market (regulierter Markt) without a prospectus and included in the existing quotation for the Company's shares in the sub-segment of the regulated market with additional post-admission obligations (Prime Standard) on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on or around June 30, 2020. Convertible Bonds



The senior, unsecured Convertible Bonds due 2028 in an aggregate principal amount of approximately EUR 550 million will be convertible into new and/or existing ordinary registered shares of LEG. The shareholders' subscription rights will be excluded. The Convertible Bonds will be issued at 100% of their principal amount with a denomination of EUR 100,000 per Convertible Bond and, unless previously converted, repurchased or cancelled, will be redeemed at par at maturity. The Convertible Bonds will be offered with a coupon between 0.20% and 0.60% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrear, and a conversion premium between 35% and 40% above the reference share price, which corresponds to the placement price that will be determined in the concurrent share placement. The pricing of the offering of the Convertible Bonds will be determined on the basis of an accelerated bookbuilding. Settlement is expected to take place on or around June 30, 2020, and admission to trading on the non-regulated open market segment (Freiverkehr) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is expected shortly thereafter. LEG will be entitled to redeem the Convertible Bonds at their principal amount (plus accrued interest) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Convertible Bonds at any time (i) on or after July 21, 2025, if the price per share is equal or exceeds 130% of the then prevailing conversion price over a certain period or (ii) if 20% or less of the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Bonds remain outstanding. The Convertible Bonds will be offered only to institutional investors in certain jurisdictions outside the United States via a private placement. Use of Proceeds LEG intends to use the net proceeds to finance its most recent acquisitions of c. 7,500 units as well as for general corporate purposes. As part of the Capital Increase and the issue of the Convertible Bonds, the Company has agreed to a lock-up period of 90 days, subject to customary exceptions. Contact: Frank Kopfinger

Head of Investor Relations & Strategy

Tel. +49 (0)211/4568-550

Mob. +49 (0)1721739339 Disclaimer This announcement may not be published, distributed or transmitted, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States of America (including its territories and possessions), Canada, Japan, Australia, South Africa or any other jurisdiction where such announcement could be unlawful. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons who are in possession of this document or other information referred to herein should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement does not constitute an offer of, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, securities of the Company in the United States of America, Germany or any other jurisdiction. Neither this announcement nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, an offer in any jurisdiction. The securities described in this announcement will not be and have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act. In member states of the European Economic Area (the "EEA") and in the United Kingdom the placement of securities described in this announcement (the "Placement") is directed exclusively at persons who are "Qualified Investors" within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (Prospectus Regulation) as amended from time to time and in the case of the United Kingdom, that regulation as retained in the law of the United Kingdom. In addition, in the United Kingdom this announcement is only directed at Qualified Investors who are: (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, (the "Order"), (ii) high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2) of the Order or (iii) other persons to whom it can otherwise lawfully be communicated, all such persons in (i), (ii) and (iii) being referred to as "Relevant Persons". This communication must not be acted upon by and no investment activity will be engaged in with (i) in the United Kingdom, persons who are not Relevant Persons, and (ii) in any EEA member state, persons who are not Qualified Investors. No action has been taken that would permit an offering or an acquisition of the securities or a distribution of this announcement in any jurisdiction where such action would be unlawful. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the Placement. Investors should consult a professional advisor as to the suitability of the Placement for the person concerned. MiFID II professionals/ECPs-only/No PRIIPs KID - Manufacturer target market (MiFID II product governance) for the Convertible Bonds is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as not available to retail in the EEA or the UK. This release may contain forward looking statements, estimates, opinions and projections with respect to anticipated future performance of LEG Immobilien AG. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms 'believes,' 'estimates,' 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'may,' 'will' or 'should' or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on the current views, expectations and assumptions of the management board of LEG Immobilien AG and involve significant 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. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements included herein only speak as at the date of this release. We undertake no obligation, and do not expect to publicly update, or publicly revise, any of the information, forward-looking statements or the conclusions contained herein or to reflect new events or circumstances or to correct any inaccuracies which may become apparent subsequent to the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We accept no liability whatsoever in respect of the achievement of such forward-looking statements and assumptions. 23-Jun-2020 CET/CEST The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de


Vietnam can continue to profit from an increased significance of local-for-local and dual/multiple sourcing strategies as foreign investors use the country as a supply hub for the Asia-Pacific region.

Bjorn Koslowski, deputy chief representative of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (AHK Vietnam), describes the options for businesses and the effects COVID-19 will have on these developments.

Bjorn Koslowski, deputy chief representative of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Vietnam

In Asia, German companies are highly dependent on their Chinese supply chains. Through the COVID-19 crisis, these have been severely interrupted. We are hence often being asked if German companies are now re-orienting their sourcing strategies by diversifying their holdings in Asia to mitigate supply chain risks. This would culminate in a so-called China+1 strategy whereas Vietnam could play a vital role as an additional sourcing location.

Germany and the European Union are deeply intertwined with global supply chains. In 2015, 31 per cent of the German and 28 per cent of the EU value-add of their respective economic outputs actually originated in third-party countries. This is far more than in China or the United States where only 17 per cent and 10 per cent respectively of the added value originated abroad.

In Germany, even complex products such as machinery are highly dependent on foreign inputs. In 2015, 23 per cent of the added value of the machinery manufacturing has been provided by suppliers from other countries. Same as for Vietnam, China is a leading supply source for the German industry. It added 2.3 per cent of the added value of the German machinery manufacturers in 2015.

Last year, China delivered over 10 per cent of all imported input materials of the German industry. For many types of goods, this country is the most important  if not dominant  supplier. It is therefore not surprising that supply chain interruptions due to the COVID-19 crisis are a major challenge for the German industry. According to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association, the current situation must be seen as an economic worst-case scenario which has to result in a reassessment of macro- and micro-economic risks.

So, there is currently a lot of soul-searching going on in the sourcing departments of corporate Germany. The core question is "how we mitigate supply risks in order to establish more resilient sourcing strategies.

Optimise single sourcing

Single sourcing implies that a company works with just one supplier for certain goods. Because suppliers awarded with contracts will be able to manufacture large quantities of products they can achieve economies of scale which they can pass on to their customers in the form of price reductions.

Furthermore, choosing just one supplier reduces the need for communication and thus leads to seamless sourcing processes. Because this approach has proved to be extremely (cost) efficient it has become an integral part of global supply chains. On the downside though, working with just one supplier exposes the customer to a lot of risk. If certain suppliers should not be able or ready to fulfil their orders  such as through factory closures due to COVID-19  the customer will be in dire straits.

Moving away from single sourcing will prove challenging for some companies, for several reasons. Customers may have long-standing, well-established relationships with their suppliers. This might be difficult to alter. Also, developing new suppliers takes a lot of effort, time, and costs.

Some industries have developed into oligopolies with only a few manufacturers without viable alternatives. For example in metal processing, there are only a few producers in China left for certain processes. For small purchase volumes it might be difficult to split them between multiple suppliers. Also, single sourcing is a proven concept offering too many advantages to ignore.

The current situation nevertheless shows the feebleness of single sourcing. Changes will likely happen to mitigate risk. Some experts think that if companies cannot alter their supply chains they should at least increase stock-keeping and reduce just-in-time processes.

Reshoring

Reshoring denotes processes in which out- or off-shored production processes are being retrieved back to the home country of a certain company. Some pundits and scientists believe that current disruptions will bring back production capacities from abroad to Germany and the EU. Some German media are even hailing the end of globalisation. They believe that multilateralism is at its end and that nation states must be self-sufficient.

Certain economists argue that automation and 3D printing will make the retrieval of labour-intensive industries into high-wage countries economically feasible. And indeed, some enterprises such as Adidas and General Electric have piloted reshoring projects.

However, at least in short-term, reshoring will most likely not happen on a larger scale. While it might reduce the reliance of companies on global supply chains it does not necessarily mitigate the risk of disruption within the home country or region. New production methods might reduce costs in high-wage countries in the future.

However, right now they still tend to be more capital-intensive and overall more expensive than engaging with global supply chains to fully utilise comparative advantages within the world economy. Finally, Germany is facing a lack of availability for qualified technical experts. This squeeze would only intensify if reshoring became a major trend.

Local-for-local

An alternative to reshoring could be so-called local-for-local strategies. This means that companies manufacture close to their sales markets. For example, production for Germany could be done in Eastern Europe or manufacturing for China in Vietnam. Following these strategies, the global supply chains would be much more diversified and regionalised.

While local-for-local does not achieve the same economies of scale or low pricing as single sourcing, it reduces logistics costs and enables companies to swiftly react to changing demand patterns and disruptions.

Indeed, Vietnam has profited for years from local-to-local strategies. Many foreign investors use the country as a supply hub for Asia-Pacific. The latest new German local-for-local entry is tesa, which will produce adhesive tape in the northern city of Haiphong for the ASEAN and China. The group has said that time-to-market is especially important to them. Access to markets, fast and flexible delivery to customers, and the development of local raw materials are important factors in international competition.

Dual/multiple sourcing

Creating redundancies within the supply chain by engaging with multiple suppliers for certain input materials could be the silver bullet to become more resilient to supply shocks. Over the past few years, we have had many customers from Germany looking for additional suppliers or manufacturing investment locations in Vietnam to complement their activities in China.

They are aiming to develop dual sourcing (having two suppliers for a certain product) or multiple sourcing (having more than two suppliers for a certain product) strategies beyond China. The goal for these clients is to become less dependent on single suppliers or jurisdictions. They may be more flexible in reacting to disruptions plaguing individual suppliers. This kind of strategy is called China+1. It is a movement mainly triggered by rising insecurity regarding trade and investment policies as well as escalating labour costs.

However, there are a few setbacks to these diversification strategies, too. Firstly, they are often more expensive than traditional single sourcing because sourcing volumes have to be divided between suppliers and thus economies of scale are shrinking. Secondly, quality and delivery may be inconsistent. Also, companies need additional resources to manage an increasing number of suppliers. This is an extremely important point for small- and medium-sized enterprises. Splitting their smaller procurement volumes between suppliers is sometimes not economically feasible.

Comparison of supply chain strategies

Source: AHK Vietnam

What happens next

The COVID-19 crisis may be considered a black swan event. Its massive effects could not have been eliminated by the aforementioned strategies. However, for similar future events a certain mitigation of risks is possible if companies prepare accordingly. It can be expected that purchasers from now on will take worst-case scenarios like the COVID-19 crisis into account when calculating risks.

There is just one sure thing: purchasing will become more costly than in the past. Stockpiling, investment diversification, and multi-supplier strategies will all come with increased price tags.

Companies will follow diverse paths regarding sourcing strategies fitting to their individual needs. For some, single sourcing might be the only feasible option. For others, setting up a diversified supply network with multiple redundancies will be the goal.

Comparison of supply chain plans

Vietnam could and will be profiting from an increased significance of local-for-local and dual/multiple sourcing strategies. Following these, there most likely will be more sourcing and more manufacturing investments of German companies in the country.

However, a certain time lag has to be expected. Currently, companies are mostly re-orienting their business because of the crisis. Embarking on new projects will only happen when the world economy stabilises and travel restrictions are lifted. Qualifying new suppliers can then take 12-18 months from first contact to serial production. Setting up factories can take up to four years from location analysis to standard operation procedure.

In any case, the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 crisis in combination with the imminent coming-into-effect of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement will present a lot of opportunities for Vietnam to fetch more sourcing and investment from the EU and Germany. VIR

Bjorn Koslowski
Councillor Brendan Weld has called for Double Yellow Lines to be installed around Donadea Forest park to stop illegal parking.

The amenity was very popular among local families during the Covid-19 restrictions.

Cllr Weld also asked the Council to implement parking bye laws in the area "view of the serious parking problems at the entrance and around the perimeter.

He claimed that local residents have difficulties travelling to and from their homes due to vehicles parked illegally.

Earlier this month Kildare Gardai issued parking fines to cars illegally parked in the area.

Gardai attended the area and Fixed Charge Notices were attached to offending vehicles.

Gardai said at the time: "Please show respect for all other road users. Parking like this endangers other traffic and is illegal."

In Dublin in early June, gardai issued fines to 45 vehicles parked illegally on a road to a scenic amenity of the Hellfire Club area in Dublin.

The Roads Policing Unit in Terenure were patrolling Killakee Road, Rathfarnham when they came across the cars.

Gardai and traffic wardens have the power to advise motorists of parking regulations and issue tickets for illegal parking and non-payment of parking fees.

They may also give evidence in court in relation to the non-payment of fines.
Over the last 10 days, five tigers have died in Maharashtra, including four deaths under unusual circumstances. An inquiry into the deaths by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) revealed lapses by the forest department.

The number of wild tiger deaths within a matter of days is worrying. We have directed our regional officer to investigate and submit a report at the earliest, said Anup Nayak, member secretary, NTCA.

A parallel internal investigation by the state forest department confirmed carelessness one case. We have taken action against our staff for negligence in Tadoba buffer. An enquiry is underway in another case in Nagpur, said Nitin Kakodkar, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife).

On Tuesday, an adult male tiger was found dead in Chatgaon range of Gadchiroli. The animal was eight years old, and died in an infighting incident with another tiger, said SR Kumaraswamy, deputy conservator of forest (Gadchiroli).

Hemant Kamdi, assistant inspector general of forests, NTCA and investigating officer for the five deaths said there were no lapses in the Gadchiroli case.

Between June 10 and 14, the putrefied carcasses of three tigers - tigress and her two cubs - were found at the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) buffer in Chandrapur. Three arrested locals had confessed to poisoning the tigers.

There was a delay by the forest department in identifying the carcasses, and lack of seriousness in the entire investigation, said Kamdi. The protection regime needs to be enhanced. The tigress death was reported next to a road. It was detected late. The carcasses of her cubs, which were lying 200m away, were only detected after three days, he said.

So far nine tiger deaths have been reported in Maharashtra since January, of which six are from the Tadoba landscape.

Kakodkar said, One forest guard at TATR buffer has been suspended, and the range forest officer has been issued a show-cause notice. Follow up investigation is underway.

On June 22, 12 days after being captured for killing five people in Chandrapur, an adult male tiger (KT1) died at Nagpurs Gorewada rescue centre. The post-mortem of the aberrant tiger revealed possible death due to septicaemia (a bloodstream infection).

Kamdi said, based on his investigation, the exact cause of death was unclear. The tiger had a 16cm wide and 9cm long abscess (with pus) on his left thigh. It may or may not have died due to septicaemia. Though lab reports will confirm this, the tiger was being treated with medicines used in septicaemia cases. The animal had no corroborative symptoms of septicaemia, he said.

Officials from the rescue centre said they had not assessed the tigers health based on blood reports post-capture. We failed to collect blood samples as the tiger was extremely aggressive, and tranquilising him could have been life-threatening, said Nandkishor Kale, divisional manager, Gorewada.

Kamdi said this was noted in the enquiry report. Identifying the tigers condition based on a blood test post-capture could have determined details about when the infection happened, he said.

Further action in the Gorewada matter would be undertaken once final lab reports are received, said Kakodkar.

Meanwhile, the petitioner in the 2019 Avni tigress matter before the Bombay high court (HC), Sarita Subramaniam wrote to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday calling for a judicial enquiry into the tiger deaths.Healthy tigers are dying under the forest departments watch. This is deliberate murder by officers, untrained vets, and the inept team at the rescue centre. We have called for the immediate transfer of such officers, she said.

Wildlife experts were concerned about rising tiger deaths. Losing five tigers in 10 days is a big issue. From the tiger conservation point of view, the loss of the tigress and her cubs, and poisoning incident so close to a tiger reserve is extremely disappointing, said Nitin Desai, director (central India), Wildlife Protection Society of India.

Tigress death at Aurangabad zoo, swab samples sent for Covid-19 test

A six-year-old tigress Kareena died at the Siddharth Garden and Zoo, Aurangabad, early Wednesday morning. According to the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), after the tigress was not eating properly since Sunday, zoo officials collected blood samples and test results showed she was suffering from a kidney ailment. The animal was declared dead at 5.20 am, and her autopsy report stated that she died due to kidney disease. While her tissue samples have been sent for further analysis to a lab in Pune, we collected samples of her nasal and throat discharge using a cotton swab and sent it for Covid-19 test just as a precautionary measure as per the Central Zoo Authority protocol, said a senior AMC official.

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Apu Ausangate. A reduced number of participants were authorized to hike up to the glacier on June 7. Credit: Stefanos Nikologianis

In Cusco, the old capital of the Inca Empire located in the Peruvian Andes, June is a month of celebration. Although Catholicism is the majority religion in Peru, indigenous and other communities have continued holding Inca rituals to honor the Earth, the sun, and the region's glacier-capped mountains. In 2020, Cusco will celebrate these ancestral traditions virtually due to COVID-19. Staying true to the hashtag #LaMagiaDeCuscoEnCasa (Cusco's magic at home), the municipality has planned a wide range of virtual activities. These include Tik Tok competitions in traditional costumes, guides to making a local festive dish, chiriuchu, at home, and a roundtable with international participants like GlacierHub's editor-in-chief Ben Orlove.

Though recognizing Christ, the Virgin Mary, and numerous saints, many Peruvians also commemorate local and natural deities. These include the Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apus, which are sacred glacier capped-peaks that protect villages in the region. Andean celebrations like the Qoyllur Rit'i festival and the Catholic Corpus Christi celebrations lead up to the most important ceremony, called Inti Raymi. It honors the sun and occurs on June 24th to celebrate the winter solstice of the Southern Hemisphere.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the newly elected mayor of Cusco, Ricardo Valderrama Fernandez, an anthropologist, reaffirmed the importance of celebrating the city's Inca roots. "We are inheritors of a culture that has resisted and overcome difficulties and tragedies. We will not feel sorry about ourselves," he said in a speech introducing the virtual festivities on May 24th.

Like any important social event in Inca culture, festivities started with a ceremony of offerings to the Pachamama and the sacred Apus. "It is tradition to give some kind of payment to mark the beginning of a social event, whether it is huge or as minimal as building a house," Zoila Mendoza, an anthropologist in the Department of Native American studies at the University of California Davis, explained to GlacierHub. On June 1st, a reduced number of participants including the mayor gave offerings to Mother Earth to renovate the pact between the people of the region with nature. This year, the event, which was broadcasted on TV, presented a special request. Between masks and social distancing, the reduced number of participants asked the deities to put an end to COVID-19.

After the ceremony of offerings came the festival of Qoyllur Rit'i, or "snow star" in Quechua. This five-day long celebration begins with a pilgrimage. Participants reach the sanctuary at the foothills of Mount Sinakara, which is located some 90 kilometers (56 miles) east of Cusco. Ukukus, costumed dancers who represent mythological Andean beings, then hike another six hours up on the glacier. They pay respect to a cross placed 1,700 meters (5,500 feet) high on the sacred Apu Ausangate.

Qoyllur Rit'i typically attracts 100,000 participants, the majority Indigenous peasants from the Cusco region, with many others from all over Peru and abroad. Held on June 6-10, this year's festival was the first in centuries without a large celebration. "Only a few dispersed groups participated. They were able to hold a closed-door mass," Carmen Escalante, an anthropologist at the Universidad San Antonio Abad del Cusco, told GlacierHub. Qoyllur Rit'i, like many other virtual celebrations, was broadcasted by Cusco's municipal TV station.

With the help of technology, Cusco can maintain its traditions amidst COVID-19. However, "broadcasting Inti Raymi on TV is not a revolution," Richard Burger, an Andean archeologist at Yale, explained to GlacierHub. Such celebrations have long been showcased as they have grown into major tourist attractions. In the 1940s, centuries after the Catholic church officially suppressed Indigenous religions in 1572, a new interest in representing Inca rituals arose. "First, they created the Cusco week. In the 1970s, it turned into a whole month," Zoila Mendoza told GlacierHub. "It is much like Seville's Easter Week," she added, as most festivities attract thousands of local and international tourists today.

Although this push is incentivized by economic interest, "tourists help legitimize Inca rituals" according to Richard Burger. These ceremonies are known to be historically accurate and are a way for Cusquenos to proudly affirm their Inca ancestry. They propose a definition of Peruvian identity that is much more connected to its Inca roots than in Lima, which has lost much of its connection to Quechua language and Indigenous traditions.

The Peruvian government is currently examining a motion to move the Ministry of Culture from Lima to Cusco. "This would recognize our country's roots and would be a huge force for Indigenous communities," Lucy Salazar, a Peruvian anthropologist at Yale, told GlacierHub. Such actions, combined with holding the festivities in spite of the pandemic, emphasize that Andean communities continue to deeply esteem the Earth and glacier-covered peaks.

COVID-19 has revealed that tradition can help people cope with a crisis. In Peru, it has encouraged a fuller awareness of the nation's cultural roots in the highlands of the Andes.

Explore further Experts look to solve Andean virus resistance puzzle

This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu.
Fauci - UPI

America's top infectious diseases expert said he was not asked by Donald Trump to slow down coronavirus testing.

Dr Anthony Fauci also told Congress he was seeing a "disturbing surge" of infections in a number of states including 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.

At the weekend Mr Trump said that testing was a "double-edged sword."

The president has repeatedly said better US testing has led to a higher number of identified coronavirus cases across the country.

In a rally in Oklahoma on Saturday Mr Trump said he had asked for a slowdown in testing.

The White House made clear on Monday that no such request was made.

Dr Fauci, giving evidence to a congressional committee, said: "None of us have ever been told to slow down on testing. In fact, we will be doing more testing."

US health officials last week warned that states seeing a spike in cases may need to reimpose strict restrictions similar to what was implemented in March.

Dr Fauci led a witness panel that stressed it was difficult to predict how long coronavirus will remain a threat.

In joint prepared testimony they said: "While it remains unclear how long the pandemic will last, COVID-19 activity will likely continue for some time. These challenges are many, and they are historic."

Dr Fauci said he was "cautiously optimistic" about the pace of vaccine testing, which could lead to one being in use by the end of the year.
A new Counterfeit Crime Unit has been set up by online retail giant Amazon to clamp down on people selling fake goods on its website.

It says it is employing 'former federal prosecutors, experienced investigators, and data analysts' to help tackle the problem of fake goods, which the Washington-state based tech company says it spent more than half a billion dollars combating last year.

The unit will investigate cases where bad actors have attempted to evade Amazon's systems, the company said, and will be able to mine Amazon data and gather information from external sources to find those responsible.

The firm has faced accusations over many years from big and small businesses alike that it has not done enough to prevent such items being sold on their platform

Amazon believes the unit will enable it to more effectively aid police forces across the world, collaborate with other businesses in investigations and bring civil litigation suits against those who sell counterfeit products.

The firm has faced accusations from big and small businesses alike that it has not done enough to prevent such items being sold on the platform.

Multiple lawsuits have been brought, including from German automobile manufacturer Daimler, which claimed the website sold fabricated Mercedes-Benz wheel centre caps.

David Kahan, the chief executive of shoe manufacturer Birkenstock also accused Amazon of 'modern-day piracy' over issues relating to counterfeiting and third-party sellers. It stopped selling its footwear on the firm's website in 2017.

But despite these troubles, Amazon's Vice President of Customer Trust and Partner Support Dharmand Mehta stated that his firm was 'working hard to disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks' that are benefiting from the sale of spurious merchandise.

'Every counterfeiter is on notice that they will be held accountable to the maximum extent possible under the law, regardless of where they attempt to sell their counterfeits or where they're located,' he added.

Amazon admitted yesterday its total carbon footprint jumped by 15 per cent last year to 51 million tonnes. It subsequently announced the launching of a $2billion Climate Pledge Fund

Mehta further called on governments to give law enforcement the necessary tools to disrupt the trade of counterfeit goods and prosecute those involved.

Amazon said that the high levels of investment it had made in fighting piracy had enabled them to block six billion suspected bad listings and more than 2.5 million suspicious bad actor accounts.

The launch of the new anti-piracy unit comes the day after the company admitted that its total carbon footprint jumped by 15 per cent last year to 51 million tonnes.

This is in spite of signing the Climate Pledge, which commits them to be carbon neutral by 2040, and having 91 renewable energy schemes that are either operating or being developed.

From March 18 to June 4, Jeff Bezos' total wealth grew by $36.2billion according to the Institute for Policy Studies as people stuck at home bought more of their shopping online

It subsequently announced the launching of a $2billion Climate Pledge Fund which it says will be awarded to 'visionary companies' across industries such as transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and materials, and energy storage.

Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos started his own $10billion climate change fund in February, with the first grants intending to be made during the summer.

The New Mexico-born billionaire has seen his earnings soar during the Covid-19 pandemic as millions more people across the world, who found themselves forced to stay at home, turned to online shopping.

From March 18 to June 4, his total wealth grew by $36.2billion according to the Institute for Policy Studies.

However, he and his business have received massive criticism over unsafe working conditions. It was revealed today that a single Amazon warehouse in Shakopee, Minnesota has had 88 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in two months.
An online petition to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma after U.S. Rep. John Lewis has picked up steam in the past two weeks. However, Alan Reese, the grandson of the late Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Reese, the civil rights leader and educator who worked with organizers to lead voting rights efforts in Selma during the 1960s, said he disapproves of the effort.

I just totally disagree, Reese told AL.com.

Attempts to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma arent new to Reese. Every few years, a push emerges to rename the historic bridge, the site of Bloody Sunday and the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. Its a cycle Reese knows well: The topic is broached, followed by a flurry of responses, and then the effort loses steam.

This time, amid the removal of Confederate monuments in Alabama and around the nation with calls to take down more sites dedicated to the Confederacy, a new push to rename the bridge named after Edmund Pettus -- a senior officer of the Confederacy and a white supremacist widely believed to be a grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan -- might have staying power.

Political strategist Michael Starr Hopkins launched a nonprofit and donation site on Monday called The John Lewis Bridge Project after his online petition seeking to rename the bridge after the civil rights leader and politician received more than 200,000 signatures. Directed to Gov. Kay Ivey, the petition now has more than 250,000 signatures.

Lewis suffered a skull fracture when he and dozens of peaceful protesters were brutally beaten by Alabama state troopers on the bridge during Bloody Sunday.

Marchers (including John Lewis, center) are attacked on "Bloody Sunday," an infamous event in the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march of 1965. ( The Birmingham News file/James "Spider" Martin)

Protesters, including John Lewis, cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965 (The Birmingham News/ Spider Martin)

Hopkins told NBC News he had the idea to create the petition as he watched the film Selma, after days of recent protesting. Directed by Ava DuVernay, the 2014 film is based on the 1965 marches for voting rights, centering the role of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I cant think of a more fitting person to have that bridge named after, Hopkins said of Lewis. He also said the bridge should be named for Lewis now because, far too often, people wait until after officials die to commemorate them, reports The Hill. In December, Lewis office announced the politician would undergo treatment for pancreatic cancer.

DuVernay announced she had added her name to the petition, tweeting the link and asking others to join her. Days later, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell announced that she supported renaming the bridge, citing the will of the people for changing her stance. Sewell publicly opposed renaming the bridge in 2015.

Reese, who read about Sewells change of heart last week, said he was blown away by the about-face. He also has a candid message for Hopkins: Ill dare him to come to Selma and talk to the community instead of looking from the hills and making decisions on a place he cant see.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia speaks to the crowd on the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the 55th commemoration of Bloody Sunday in Selma. (Ivana Hrynkiw/AL.com)

Born in Selma, Reese now lives in Atlanta with his family. In 2018, he and his brother Marvin published Selmas Self Sacrifice, their grandfathers memoir of the voting rights movement in Alabamas Black Belt and the events leading up to Bloody Sunday and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The year before, the brothers started the F.D. Reese Foundation to honor their grandfathers legacy of scholarship and service.

Alan Reese (left) and Marvin Reese Jr. (right) held signings of their grandfather F.D. Reese's autobiography at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. In 2017, they started the F.D. Reese Foundation (Credit: Shauna Stuart for Al.com)

It was Reese who formally invited the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Selma to help lead protests against voter discrimination. Reese was president of the Dallas County Voters League, as well as one of Selmas Courageous Eight-- a group of activists who held meetings to strategize and discuss plans to protest voting injustices, even after a court injunction banned marches and meetings. John Lewis was president of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee at the time of the Selma to Montgomery marches. In his memoir, Reese writes that he was also instrumental in bringing SNCC to Selma after the group had stealthily been attempting to gain a foothold in the citys political landscape.

However, after I officially invited SNCC to Selma to assist with groundwork already laid, they accepted, wrote Reese. SNCC came in and went to work.

Nothing against John Lewis name, said Alan Reese. But to be honest, it was the Dallas County Voters League and the SCLC that headed that movement.

Reese grew up seeing photographs of his grandfather in history books, often wearing a black hat with a folder in hand. Some of the most iconic photos from the civil rights movement depict Dr. Reese leading activists in prayer or walking on the front lines of the Selma to Montgomery marches. Often, the photos dont list Reeses name.

While that fact frustrates Alan Reese, his grandfather, a humble man, was never resentful about not receiving national recognition. While other leaders who came to Selma often left to lead other movements around the country, Rev. Reese was community leader and chose to stay in Dallas County to continue desegregation efforts.

FILE--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., third from right and his wife, Coretta King, lead off the final lap to the state capitol at Montgomery, Ala. in this March 25, 1965 file photo. Thousands of civil rights marchers joined in the walk, which began in Selma, Ala., on March 21, demanding voter registration rights for blacks. Rev. D. F. Reese, of Selma, is at right. King's birthday will be observed nationally Monday, Jan. 21, 2002. (AP Photo/File) APAP

F.D. Reese holds framed photographs of two iconic images taken during the civil rights movement. (Courtesy: The F.D. Reese Foundation)

Rev. F.D. Reese was a member of the "Courageous Eight" who helped organize black voters in the 1960's and marched on "Bloody Sunday" and in the Selma to Montgomery March. Reese on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. News Staff Photo/Frank Couch ; Story by Kim Chandler bnbn

But Alan Reese isnt pushing for the bridge to be named after his grandfather.

A singular persons name shouldnt be on the bridge, said Reese. Because it took a commitment of people to make the movement happen.

When a petition to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge started circulating in January, Reese released a statement on behalf of the foundation, saying if the bridge were to be renamed, it should be renamed for the Courageous Eight and the foot soldiers who laid the groundwork for the moment in Selma:

It is not our goal to have the name of the bridge changed, but if the bridge must be renamed, lets remember those from Selma who were instrumental in the March from Selma to Montgomery. Name the bridge for the Courageous 8 and the foot soldiers who took a stand not only for Selma, but for the nation, said the statement, which went on the list the names of the Courageous Eight: Rev. F.D. Reese, Ulysses Blackmon, Amelia Boynton-Robinson, Ernest Doyle, Marie Foster, James Gildersleeve, Rev. J.D. Hunter and Rev. Henry Shannon.

These are the names we should know and honor.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT

Five months later, Reese still stands behind that sentiment.

Collins Pettaway III, political communications specialist and son of Dallas County Circuit Judge Collins Pettaway, Jr., grew up attending Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Selma where Rev. F.D. Reese presided for 50 years. Pettaway is also the nephew of James Perkins, the first black mayor of Selma and current pastor of Ebenezer.

Selma mayor-elect James Perkins Jr. talks with his transition team chairman Frederick D. Reese in Selma's city council chambers following a press conference. Elected in 2000, Perkins was Selma's first black mayor. (Credit: Christine Jacobs)ph

Alline C. Reese (center), the wife of the late F.D. Reese, at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Selma on March 1, 2020. Rev. F.D. Reese presided over the congregation of Selma's Ebenezer Baptist for 50 years. (Shauna Stuart for Al.com)

The Selma native said he and a lot of Selmas citizens also disagree with the current petition to rename the bridge.

The name Edmund Pettus Bridge no longer symbolizes Edmund Pettus, said Pettaway. The symbolism has now changed.

Rather, he said, the bridge and its name are symbols of hope, freedom, and equality. Its the same sentiment shared by Rep. John Lewis and Rep. Terri Sewell in a 2015 response to the Alabama state Senates push to rename the structure: The bridge is more synonymous with Bloody Sunday and the passage of the Voting Rights Act than white supremacy.

We can no more rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge than we can erase this nations history of racial intolerance and gender bias, Sewell and Lewis said in a joint statement. Changing the name of the Bridge would compromise the historical integrity of the voting rights movement.

If the bridge were to be renamed, says Pettaway, he agrees with Reese that the name should reflect the unsung heroes of the movement.

There are so many local leaders that have put their lives on the line for different positions, such as Alans grandfather, my pastor, the late Dr. F.D. Reese. Hes the person that signed the letter that brought Dr. Martin Luther King to Selma. He led the Dallas County teachers march that took place, said Pettaway. There are people such as Amelia Boynton-Robinson. Theres people such as Marie Foster, the Courageous Eight. The foot soldiers.

Two marchers are holding up Amelia Boynton, who was beaten during Bloody Sunday on March 7, 1965 (Alabama Media Group)Alabama Media Group

Amelia Boynton testifying about voter registration discrimination in Dallas County at a hearing before the United States Commission on Civil Rights in Montgomery, Alabama. (Credit: Alabama Media Group)Alabama Media Group

Amelia Boynton was the first African American woman to run for Congress in Alabama. She lost in the state primary but won about ten percent of the vote. (Credit: Alabama Media Group)Alabama Media Group

Foot soldiers, said Pettaway, whose names arent easily found in history books, such as his grandmother, one of the nurses who led the charge to care for black people in Selma during the times of civil unrest in the 1960s. Or the black people who were activists in their professions, including the teachers who participated in the Teachers March, a group of Selma teachers who fought for their right to vote by marching from Clark Elementary School to the Dallas County Courthouse.

There are so many local leaders, from the police officers to the black firefighters in Selma that I truly believe would deserve that opportunity to have some sort of recognition, said Pettaway.

He said the goal isnt to minimize Lewis role as a civil rights icon. But I do think that an honor such as that deserves to be one that the local citizens can actually identify with and relate to.

Pettaway said while he has the utmost respect for Hopkins and understands his sentiments, he respectfully disagrees with his efforts. Like Reese, Pettaway would also like to invite Hopkins to come to Selma and converse with the residents.

It is disheartening to overlook the local heroes and foot soldiers who put in the groundwork before Lewis came and continued the work after Lewis left, said Pettaway. He certainly needs the proper recognition, however, naming the bridge for him is not the appropriate move to make.

The day after Ava DuVernay announced via Twitter that she signed Hopkins petition, Pettaway responded to the acclaimed director with a Twitter thread of his own, asking her to reconsider and offering to work together to honor Lewis in a way that wouldnt overshadow the legacies of the Selma communitys heroes.

I truly love you and respect your work. Representative John Lewis deserves honor and his just due, Pettaway tweeted. Feel free to DM me and we can get to work!! Much love to you my sister!

Dear @ava,



I love you and I am a true fan, supporter, and admirer of your work. However, I implore you to please reconsider your support to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. While I live and respect, Rep. John Lewis for the work that he has done...  Collins Pettaway, III, M.S. (@CPettaway3) June 14, 2020

Pettaway is also part of a group of vocal citizens who have considered launching a counter-petition to grab the attention of those who continue to issue clarion calls to rename the bridge without asking for input or feedback from the residents of Selma.

People love to make these types of decisions without including the correct people, said Pettaway. And the truth of the matter is, you cant do anything for Selma without Selma.

Efforts like Hopkins petition are similar to when national leaders and personalities parachute into Selma to commemorate the anniversary of Bloody Sunday for the commemorative march across the bridge, known as the Bridge Crossing Jubilee, and leave with no plans to make additional contributions.

So many of these big names and celebrities...they come to Selma. They always come on the weekend. They talk a good game. They talk real big. They talk about the importance and the significance of Selma. They make a really big hoopla out of the need to preserve Selma, said Pettaway. They make their one-time donation, and we will not see them again until the next year. Or hear from them again until 365 days later. So, a lot of the citizens believe that there is no genuine investment or concern for Selma.

In 2019, Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sherrod Brown joined the annual pilgrimage, as well as former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. This year, a plethora of candidates -- former Vice President Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Tom Steyer -- descended onto Selma for the annual tribute and Jubilee.

Now, granted. Living here, the local citizens need to also understand how to save themselves, said Pettaway, explaining that residents of Selma need to start finding ways to keep politicians accountable after they visit the city.

A lot of citizens, says Pettaway, feel there is more emphasis on preserving the past, such as honoring the history of voting rights, than fixing Selmas current problems, including children struggling in the school system and people struggling to make ends meet.

There needs to be a balance of honoring those in the past while also ensuring that we have provided necessary steps for our future, said Pettaway. Because Selma is so much more than what happened in 1965. They were fighting before the marches of 1965 and people were fighting after March 7, 1965.

Collins Pettaway III (second from left) poses for a photo with his sister Candice and their friends on the Edmund Pettus Bridge during Selma's Bridge Crossing Jubilee on March 1, 2020. (Shauna Stuart for AL.com)

Collins and Candice Pettaway on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 1, 2020 during the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee (Shauna Stuart for AL.com)

The young strategist is in the camp of Selma residents who want to strike a balancing act to ensure that the citys past is remembered accurately while at the same time laying steps to secure its future, even after the annual festivities are over and political showboating is done.

Like I said, we never hear from these people and were not going to hear from these people until March and thats when (Jubilee organizers) tell people to stand in the back of the march because the dignitaries are to stand in the front.

Reese says DuVernays Selma didnt tell a correct history of the key players of the citys voting rights movement, calling the film a glorified Martin Luther King Movie. Actor E. Roger Mitchell played the role of F.D. Reese in the film.

The movie of Selma was not accurate. Its nothing against Martin Luther King. But, if youre going to name something Selma,' OK, lets go to the grassroots of Selma, said Reese. How was the concrete made for the Voting Rights Act? It was something in Selma that was different. It was the Dallas County Voters League.

That wasnt a movie about Selma, he added. Its just a movie that people put together that is telling a lot of truth, but not the truth about what really happened.

Reese and his brother have spent the last few years working to preserve his grandfathers legacy and tell the stories of the leaders of the Selma voting rights movement that shifted the paradigm of the nation.

He is currently working to add items from F.D. Reeses collection to the archives at Emory University, and hopes to eventually start a separate archive for the Dallas County Voters League. The university has a collection of archives dedicated to SNCC, and well as archived records from the SCLC. Emory also opened an SCLC exhibition in 2013.

Marvin Reese, Jr. (left) and Alan Reese pose with a banner of their late grandfather, Rev. Dr. F.D. Reese (Credit: Shauna Stuart for Al.com)

Its a shame that we do not have a section, said Reese. " All of the SCLC, SNCC, and no section from the Dallas County Voters League. Why? You cant talk about the Selma movement without talking about the Dallas County Voters league.

This is my issue, he added. And thats why I disagree with having my grandaddys name on the bridge, because it does not help history. It does not help this generation. It does not teach the world. If you put the Courageous Eight on (the bridge), people will say, Who are the Courageous Eight? Ahh...now were talking.

Pettaway said the correct depiction of Selmas past also falls on the shoulders of local leaders. When researchers reach out to local leaders to learn about Selma, they will contact the people who are considered trustworthy voices, he said. Local leaders who dont give proper credit to Selmas activists of the 1960s or organizers who dont properly honor the foot soldiers at the annual Jubilee contribute to the erasure of the citys history and heroes.

I do think that is an unfortunate disappointment that falls on the accountability of local leaders. And its honestly a shame, said Pettaway.

And as intensity runs high during this season of protests, both Reese and Pettaway hope efforts to honor John Lewis will result in proper tributes to his legacy that wont eclipse the work of his fellow civil rights heroes.

Its never just one person. I think we have to get out of emotional decisions and start making educational decisions, said Pettaway. That is really going to make the change in educating our community.

Related:
VANCOUVERThe Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs says it is mourning the death of a colleague and friend from COVID-19.

In a news release, it says Carole Dawson, who died Sunday, will be remembered as a kind-hearted leader who fought for Indigenous title and rights.

Dawson worked as the unions health liaison officer and later as its family, children and health Director.

The union says she was a survivor of St. Michaels Residential School at Alert Bay and overcame trauma, violence and loss to help and heal others as an addictions and sex-abuse counsellor.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip paid tribute to Dawson, saying her loss is a devastating reminder that the pandemic is far from over and continues to be a threat to Indigenous health and welfare.

He says he hopes the province takes every precaution to protect Indigenous lives and ensure the public is following proper health protocols.

Read more about:
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- It was announced today that a local attorney of Hilliard Martinez Gonzales Law Firm (HMG Law Firm) Sopanha Anderson was the first military spouse in Texas to utilize a new rule for the Admission to the Bar of Texas which is Rule.23. Texas is 1 of the 34 states to have these attorney licensing accommodations. Under this rule, a military spouse of an active-duty military service member who has been ordered stationed in Texas is eligible for a three-year temporary license to practice law in Texas if the military spouse has been in good standing in all jurisdictions where they reside, has met the law study requirements, has completed the Texas Law Components, and resides in Texas. Sopanha is also a member of the Military Spouse J.D. Network which is an organization that works with each state bar's licensing body to carve these rules for military spouses. She has worked with the committees in FL and MN under this network. Sopanha Anderson quotes, "The very nature of a military family's commitment makes it very difficult, if not prohibitive, to have the continuity of legal practice that would fall under many states' reciprocity rules." She is very grateful and ecstatic being able to utilize this rule after all her hard work and commitments. Bob Hilliard, one of the founding partners of HMG Law Firm quotes, "Sopanha has been a star at HMG from day one. To see her journey and her family's military commitment and the pride she brings to her work is an honor for me and all of HMG." Judge Julianna Rivera will be swearing in Sopanha Anderson tomorrow June 24, 2020 at 4:00PM in at Judge Benavides' Courtroom at the Nueces County Courthouse.
New Delhi: Union Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (June 24) approved an ordinance to bring 1,482 urban and 58 multi-state cooperative banks under the supervision power of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It will give an assurance to 8.6 crore depositors in these banks that their money will stay safe, said Union Minister Prakash Javdekar.

Addressing a media conference, Javdekar said the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a scheme for interest subvention of 2% to SHISHU loan category borrowers under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).

"It will be of great benefit to 9.37 crore people and the scheme will be effective from June 1, 2020, till 31 May 2021," Prakash Javdekar said.



Other key decisions taken by the cabinet meeting today are:

1. The Cabinet approved additional investment by ONGC Videsh Ltd. for the development of blocks A-1 and A-3 Blocks of Myanmar.

2. The Cabinet approved the declaration of Kushinagar Airport in UttarPradesh as an International Airport.

3. In another key decision, the Cabinet gave its nod to extend the tenure of the Commission constituted under Article 340 of the constitution to examine the issue of sub-categorization within Other Backward Classes, by 6 months i.e. up to January 31, 2021.

4. The Cabinet also approved the establishment of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund. The government will provide 3% interest subvention to eligible beneficiaries.

5. The Cabinet also approved far-reaching reforms in the Space sector aimed at boosting private sector participation in the entire range of space activities. "This will unlock Indias potential in the space sector," said Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh in the press meet.
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S adiq Khan is set to abandon City Hall and move the home of London government to the East End to save 55m, it was revealed today.

The Mayor said quitting the landmark building on the south side of the Thames next year would protect front-line services and help speed-up the regeneration of the Royal Docks.

He has earmarked The Crystal, a small conference centre in Newham, located beside the Emirates cable cars northern terminal, as the new home of the Greater London Authority. It would be renamed City Hall.

The Crystal was acquired by the GLA in June 2019 when Siemens, its previous tenants, paid the Mayor an undisclosed lump sum to end its lease four years early.

City Hall, the testicle-shaped glass building designed by Lord Foster at a cost of 43m, was opened by the Queen in 2002 but ran out of space within three years. It was designed for 440 staff but the GLA now employs about 1,000 due to the Mayors increased powers.

Last week Mr Khan revealed that the GLA group, which includes the Met police, Transport for London and the London fire brigade, faced a post-coronavirus financial hole of up to 493m over the next two years, forcing him to make significant cuts.

Cost saving: Sadiq Khan at City Hall / Nigel Howard

Quitting City Hall would save an estimated 55m over five years. As part of the plan, the GLA will enable staff to work from home more regularly.

Mr Khan, who launched a six-week staff consultation today, said he would rather spend public cash on front-line services and supporting the economic recovery than on the above market City Hall rent.

He said: In normal times, it would be standard practice for any Mayor to consider utilising the lease break clause on the City Hall building that becomes possible this year, and to view it as an opportunity to ensure Londoners were getting the best value for money. In the current financial context, and with the looming black hole in Londons public finances, it would be negligent not to do so.

Leaving our current home would save 55 million over five years, which would help us to protect and invest in the things that matter most to Londoners, as well as supporting the regeneration of the Royal Docks.

The Crystal is a highly sustainable building on the site of Londons most ambitious regeneration project, where the GLA and Newham council are working together to create a new commercial district and visitor destination with thousands of new homes and jobs.

The lease for City Hall was granted in 2001 for 25 years, but a break' is allowed after 20 years, in December 2021 - the first and only chance the GLA has to consider leaving. A decision is required by September.

The City Hall building currently costs the GLA 11.1m a year, including rent to the private landlords Kuwaiti-owned St Martin's, plus service charges and rates. This is due to rise to 12.6m a year after Christmas 2021.

The Crystal is close to the ExCeL conference centre and London City Airport. A new Crossrail station at Custom House will be half a mile away. Royal Victoria DLR station is nearby.

Rokhsana Fiaz, the Mayor of Newham, said: Im delighted that City Hall could be relocating to the iconic Crystal building in the Royal Docks in Newham.

The stunning Royal Docks, with a water area of nearly 250 acres, is at the heart of one of the most exciting renovation developments in the capital, bringing more jobs, housing and a thriving new business district to East London.

Jeremy Rees, chief executive o, ExCel, said: We look forward to welcoming the Mayor and the Greater London Authority to the Royal Docks. This part of London is undergoing enormous change and will soon be home to thousands of new homes and jobs.

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The proposal is for the Mayor and the London Assembly to be based at The Crystal. The GLA would also lease one floor of TfLs Palestra building in Southwark for other staff.
London, June 24 : Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane came to the aid of manager Jose Mourinho following their 2-0 win over West Ham on Tuesday.

Mourinho had earlier been criticised by pundit Paul Merson as the latter had said that Kane would struggle to score goals under the tutelage of the Portuguese.

Kane, who got on the scoresheet against 'The Hammers', said that he has no problems with Mourinho and duo share the similar goal of helping Spurs enter the Champions League next season.

"I've got no problem with how the manager plays. He's here to win, we're here to win games. Obviously this season, to get into the Champions League and next season to progress and try to win something," Kane told BBC Sport after the end of the West Ham game.

"People, pundits have their opinions. In terms of how I feel, I feel really good. I'm positive, in really good shape and like I say, I can only do what I do and try not to listen to the noise outside," he added.

An own goal from Thomas Soucek and Kane's 82nd minute goal ensured all three points for Spurs in their second match of the revamped Premier League calendar.

This was their first win in seven matches in all competitions and they are now placed at the seventh spot with 45 points - six behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Tottenham will next take on Sheffield United on July 2 as they look to continue their movement towards the top-four in the league.
Three weeks into the lockdown imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the sudden death of around 30 birds, mostly crows, over two days (April 11 and 12) within and around the Smt Chandibai Himathmal Mansukhani (CHM) College campus in Ulhasnagar, Thane district, came as a shock for college staff and residents.

The college principal Manju Pathak explained that prior to the lockdown, birds used to feed on leftovers of the college canteen, and grains left daily by commuters on roads that run along the periphery of the college located opposite Ulhasnagar railway station.

Following the lockdown, this stopped. On April 11 two birds died, and a day later 24 more including crows and pigeons were found dead across the campus. A veterinarian who had conducted a post mortem on one of the birds told us that they died owing to the lack of food and water, Pathak said.

On April 11, when Sarita Khanchandani, 43, a zoologist and former school teacher learnt about the incident, she contacted the college principal and asked permission to set up bird feeders inside the college.

In the weeks that followed, only one more bird died, Pathak said. However, Khanchandani was still perturbed. I needed to do something more for the species that cannot voice their concerns, she said.

Khanchandani managed to acquire plastic containers and pet bottles from local grocers while collecting melamine or plastic plates from hotels and restaurants. She also collected wires and cables. With this plastic refuse, Khanchandani made 541 bird feeders over the course of the next two months.

Its simple, you drill a hole in the centre of the plate. Then plastic containers are attached on top using nut bolts. By making a few more holes on either side of the container or bottle, a bunch of cables or wires are passed through them to ensure they are sturdy when hung from trees or elevated areas. Next, feeders were filled with millet or rice grains.

With the help of local security staff and teenagers from her colony, she installed these feeders across Ulhasnagar, Ambernath, and a few more areas of Thane district. We ensured these feeders were placed in areas generally frequented by birds. We received videos from [residents] and realised not just birds but even squirrels were using them.

Such efforts mainly help make people aware of the responsibility we have as citizens, said experts. Historically, the architecture of houses were such that were nooks and crannies around homes where birds could make nests, and people would leave grains but as cities became more cosmopolitan, the architecture changed, reducing space for them, said Sunil Limaye, additional principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), Maharashtra. She (Khanchandani) has done a stupendous job ....

Of the common birds found across cities, more than crows, pigeons had trouble finding food during the lockdown, said Deepak Apte, director, Bombay Natural History Society adding, Such efforts need to be encouraged....

Khanchandanis efforts are a reminder for all of us for doing a tad bit morew, Pathak said.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Badri Chatterjee Badri Chatterjee is an environment correspondent at Hindustan Times, Mumbai. He writes about environment issues - air, water and noise pollution, climate change - weather, wildlife - forests, marine and mangrove conservation ...view detail
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 700 points in its worst day since June 11 as the coronavirus continues to surge in states around the country, mostly in the South and West.



Florida and California, two of the largest economies in the U.S, reported a record number of new cases. There's growing concern that the state governments in Tallahassee and Sacramento could be forced to implement stay-at-home orders and close nonessential businesses again if the outbreak isn't brought under control. Disney said on Wednesday it is delaying the opening of its California-based theme parks beyond July 17 as state officials will not be issuing theme park reopening guidelines until after July 4. The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are imposing a 14-day quarantine on travelers from coronavirus hotspots like Florida to prevent another outbreak in the northeastern region. The three neighboring states were once the epicenter of the epidemic in the U.S., but have since managed to contain the virus. 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 9.4 million

Global deaths: At least 482,128

U.S. cases: More than 2.38 million

U.S. deaths: At least 121,969 The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Gulf coronavirus cases reportedly surpass 400,000

11:00 a.m. London time: The number of coronavirus infections in the six Gulf Arab states has doubled in a month to over 400,000, according to a Reuters tally of cases. As of Wednesday evening, the tally in the energy producing region stood at 403,163 infections, with 2,346 deaths, Reuters said Thursday. It passed the 200,000 mark on May 27, the news agency added. The tally comes as the region's two biggest economies, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, fully lifted curfews this week that had been imposed back in March to combat the pandemic.  Holly Ellyatt

Eiffel Tower reopens to tourists, but there are rules attached

10:20 a.m. London time: Paris' most famous landmark and tourism hotspot, the Eiffel Tower, has reopened to tourists on Thursday after three months of closure due to the coronavirus  the longest time that the attraction has been closed since World War II. There are strict safety and hygiene rules in place for visitors now, however, with visitors over the age of 11 required to wear facemasks and not allowed at the highest part of the tower. Visitors also have to be prepared to use the stairs if they want to ascend the 324 meter tower as the elevators are out of action, the enclosed space deemed too risky. The Eiffel Tower team said that more normal lift and visitor operations might be able to resume later in the summer.  Holly Ellyatt

Picture of the Eiffel Tower taken on June 15, 2020 in Paris, as cultural sights begin to open to the public across France. BERTRAND GUAY

These are the nations seeing a spike in coronavirus cases

09:30 a.m. London time: As lockdown measures have been gradually lifted, some countries, including the U.S., Germany and India, are seeing spikes in new coronavirus infections. These spikes in cases have led to growing fears of a "second wave" of the pandemic. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world now stands at over 9.4 million, according to Johns Hopkins University data, and over 480,000 people have died. CNBC has had a look at the situation in four key global economies.  Holly Ellyatt

Countries 'highly unlikely' to impose total lockdowns again even with a second wave

2:30 p.m. Singapore time  Countries are very unlikely to impose another full lockdown even though there's a resurgence of new coronavirus cases in some parts of the world, analysts told CNBC. "This second wave of virus is a concern for investors ... but I think the key difference is that unlike last time in March, this time it's highly unlikely that we would see a shutdown of the global economy," said Suresh Tantia, senior investment strategist at Credit Suisse's APAC CIO office. The U.S. saw its highest number of cases in a single day on Wednesday, and reported 45,557 new cases at the end of the day, according to NBC News' count. Weizhen Tan

Disney delays reopening of California theme parks

10:45 a.m. Singapore time  Disney is delaying the opening of its California-based theme parks as state officials will not be issuing theme park reopening guidelines until after July 4, the company said. The company had proposed phased opening of its two parks in Anaheim for July 17. Disney said it would be able to announce a new reopening date only after the company gets a better sense of when guidelines will be released and what those guidelines will be. Disney will still be opening its shopping center, Downtown Disney District, on July 9. Sarah Whitten

Minnie Mouse during the new Magic Happens Parade on Main Street U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, Feb 27, 2020. Jeff Gritchen | Orange County Register | Getty Images

Disney considers postponing release of "Mulan," report says

7:10 p.m. ET  Disney may push back the July 24 release of "Mulan," a source told the Wall Street Journal. The film was slated to be the first blockbuster to hit theaters since they reopened after being closed due to the pandemic. The release of Christopher Nolan's "Tenet," which was set to hit theaters on July 17, was pushed back to July 31. Cinemark plans to reopen all its U.S. theaters by July 17 and the Journal reported that AMC is targeting July 24 to have most of its theaters reopened. Regal is set to begin reopening theaters July 10. Chris Eudaily

Here's why these 8 states triggered quarantines for travelers to New York

6:45 p.m. ET  As coronavirus cases rise in several states across the country, officials in the New York tri-state region, which was once the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, announced they would impose a 14-day quarantine on several hot spots around the country. States landed themselves on the list if they have an average of more than 10 positive tests per 100,000 residents over the past seven days or because an average of more than 10% of all tests have come back positive over the past seven days. States currently affected include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. Here's how the outbreak is evolving in each of those states. William Feuer

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Trump won't follow New Jersey quarantine order

5:45 p.m. ET  President Donald Trump will not follow New Jersey's 14-day quarantine order when he travels to his golf club in Bedminster this weekend, according to the White House.



Trump was in Arizona Tuesday, where coronavirus cases are spiking. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut announced they would impose a quarantine on travelers from eight states with high infection rates. Arizona is one of those states. "The president of the United States is not a civilian," said White House spokesman Judd Deere, when asked about Trump's compliance with the quarantine order given his travel Tuesday to Arizona, which has seen a rise in the rate of its Covid-19 cases. "Anyone who is in close proximity to him, including staff, guests, and press are tested for COVID-19 and confirmed to be negative," Deere said in a statement. Spencer Kimball, Dan Mangan

These retailers have the most stores in states where coronavirus cases are spiking

5:20 p.m. ET  Instinet analyzed a dozen states that as of last Friday had reported record highs in new Covid-19 cases: Florida, Texas, Utah, South Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, Missouri, Montana, Arizona, California, Tennessee and Oklahoma. It found the retailers with the greatest exposure to these 12 states to be the off-price chain Ross Stores, Costco and O'Reilly Auto Parts, CNBC's Lauren Thomas reported. Another round of closures would hurt the so-called discretionary or apparel retailers more than stores deemed essential during the pandemic, such as Walmart and Target, according to Instinet analyst Michael Baker in a client note on Wednesday. Companies may follow Apple's example of shutting down stores again in Covid-19 hotspots such as Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Arizona without a government mandate. Lauren Thomas

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Trump administration to cut federal funding to 13 testing sites

4:50 p.m. ET  The Trump administration is eliminating federal funding for 13 community-based Covid-19 testing sites by the end of June. The move comes as part of a previously announced plan designed to give financial support for testing through other means, CNBC's Dan Mangan reports. Seven sites in Texas will have their funding cut, NBC News confirmed, and the other six locations are in Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado and Pennsylvania. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republic, criticized the decision and urged health officials to extend funding for the sites in his state. The administration's testing czar Adm. Brett Giroir said on a call with reporters that the sites will remain open through state and local funding, and that there are hundreds of other testing locations supported with federal assistance. However, the call grew tense when Michael Caputo, a top spokesman for the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, erupted into a tirade and said reporters were getting "spun" by what he claimed was a misleading portrayal of the 13 testing sites getting their funding cut. "Somebody has given you disinformation," Caputo said loudly during the call. "Do you understand? I'm old enough to remember it was considered dishonest to undermine public confidence in the public health system." Caputo emphasized that federal funding was being cut for "less than one one-thousandth" of the country's testing facilities. His rant led to the abrupt termination of the press phone call. --Hannah Miller

Apple will re-close seven stores in Houston, Texas area

Curbside service at an Apple Store. Apple

4:11 p.m. ET  Apple said on Wednesday that it will re-close seven stores in the Houston area as it sees a spike in Covid-19 cases. Last week, Apple re-closed 11 stores in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Arizona. Apple is a leading retailer with locations in important shopping centers. It previously said it is monitoring conditions region by region and won't hesitate to re-close its retail operations if local conditions deteriorated. Kif Leswing

Americans are facing extended unemployment

3:56 p.m. ET  Many Americans face a particularly risky period of joblessness, at a time when enhanced aid will soon expire and jobs are scarce. A recent federal law offered 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to workers who've exhausted their state allotment, which is typically six months. Nearly 1.1 million Americans were collecting these expanded benefits as of May 30 -- more than twice the prior week's total. The figure is set to balloon in coming weeks. Since many have been jobless for at least a half year, their odds of finding a job are lower relative to others, amid an employment crisis worse than any since the Great Depression. A $600 weekly supplement to jobless aid also expires after July 31. Greg Iacurci

California reports more than 7,000 cases, biggest daily jump so far

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3:30 p.m. ET  California reported an additional 7,149 Covid-19 cases since Tuesday, a 69% increase in two days, bringing the state's total to 190,222 cases, according to the state's health department. While the daily case numbers are growing, Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the state performed a record number of tests in the last 24 hours. However, the percent of tests coming back positive has slightly increased in the last two weeks, sitting at 5.1% on a 14-day average, he said. Hospitalizations from Covid-19 in California have also increased 29% in the last 14 days, totaling 4,095 as of Tuesday, Newsom said. "We cannot continue to do what we have done over the last number of weeks. Many of us understandably developed a little cabin fever, some I would argue developed a little amnesia, others have frankly taken down their guard," Newsom said at press briefing. Noah Higgins-Dunn

The pandemic still hasn't peaked in the Americas, WHO says

2:30 p.m. ET  Coronavirus outbreaks in the Americas, which include North, South and Central America, haven't reached their peaks yet, the World Health Organization warned. Over a third of the new cases reported Tuesday were from five countries in the Americas, according to WHO data. The U.S. reported the most cases and is the worst-hit country in the world with more than 2.3 million cases and at least 121,279 deaths as of Wednesday. The comment by the WHO came a day after Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States' leading infectious disease expert, expressed concern a "disturbing surge" in coronavirus infections as states continue to reopen. One WHO official said that parts of the Americas had not "reached a low enough level of transmission "with which we can achieve a successful exit of successful and social distancing measures." Berkeley Lovelace Jr.

PGA Tour procures 1,000 smart bands to help detect coronavirus symptoms in golfers

The PGA Tour is giving WHOOP straps ot more than 1,000 employees, staff and players at upcoming events to help detect possible signs of COVID-19 Source: Whoop

1:45 p.m. ET  The sports world's foray into the wearables space as a way to detect Covid-19 continues as the PGA Tour announces they have procured Whoop bands for its players and caddies. On the same day that Brooks Koepka withdrew from the Travelers Tournament after learning his caddie tested positive for coronavirus, the PGA Tour announced the partnership. Anecdotally, the device has been found to be an early detector of coronavirus symptoms as users have noticed changes in their data ahead of testing positive. The device is currently worn by several golfers including Rory Mcilroy and Justin Thomas. Last week, PGA Tour player Nick Watney tested positive for Covid-19. The golfer said it was his Whoop wearable device that first alerted him that he may be sick and prompted him to get tested. Golfer Justin Thomas said that the data from Whoop may have possibly saved the Tour as his positive test led to Watney being quarantined rather than playing in this week's tournament. Jessica Golden

Walt Disney World employees petition to delay reopening as coronavirus cases surge in Florida

The entrance to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World is seen on the first day of closure as theme parks in the Orlando area suspend operations for two weeks in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Paul Hennessy | SOPA Images | LightRocket via Getty Images

1:04 p.m. ET  More than 7,000 people have signed an online petition urging Disney and local government officials to reconsider the reopening of Disney World next month. The petition comes as coronavirus cases in the state are rapidly rising. It is difficult to determine how many of the signees of the online petition are actually Walt Disney employees or if the petition is union-backed. There is no mention in the petition itself of any affiliation with an employee union. "The safety and well being of our cast members and guests are at the forefront of our planning, and we are in active dialogue with our unions on the extensive health and safety protocols, following guidance from public health experts, which we plan to implement as we move toward our proposed, phased reopening," Disney said in a statement to CNBC. Sarah Whitten

Florida shatters record for new cases in a day

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12:15 p.m. ET  The Florida Department of Health reported 5,508 new coronavirus cases, surpassing the previous record single-day increase of 4,049 new cases reported on Saturday. Florida is among a handful of states that includes Arizona and Texas that are experiencing expanding outbreaks of the virus. As cases continue to rise by the thousands every day in Florida, the percent of total tests coming back positive has also risen. On Wednesday, the state reported that 15.91% of all tests came back positive, up from 10.82%. That increase indicates that the surge in new cases is not due solely to ramped up testing. Will Feuer

NY, NJ and CT impose quarantine on travelers from hotspot states

11:51 a.m. ET  The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut jointly announced a 14-day quarantine for travelers entering the states from coronavirus hotspots. The Northeastern bloc of states has successfully combated their own outbreaks, having brought peak infection rates down considerably, and are now worried about visitors reintroducing high transmission rates. "We worked very hard to get the viral transmission rate down. We don't want to see it go up because a lot of people come into this region and they can literally bring the infection with them," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. The hotspot states included in the advisory so far are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. Sara Salinas

NYC considers 22,000 layoffs under budget constraints

10:50 a.m. ET  New York City may lay off 22,000 people in a "last resort" effort to save $1 billion, Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference. He said if the city cannot find $1 billion in savings for its budget, the layoffs will take effect this fall. De Blasio previously warned of the city's financial troubles in April when he said that New York City's pandemic response will cost a projected $7.4 billion in lost tax revenue over the current and next fiscal year. Hannah Miller

New York City Marathon canceled

Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia crosses the finish line to win the Men's Division during the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon in New York on November 4, 2018. Timothy A. Clary | AFP | Getty Images

10:29 a.m. ET  The 2020 TCS New York City Marathon has been canceled amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to an announcement from the race's organizers. Scheduled for Nov. 1, the event was supposed to commemorate the 50th running of the marathon. New York Road Runners, which organizes the race, said the decision was made from a health perspective in partnership with the New York City Mayor's Office. "While the marathon is an iconic and beloved event in our city, I applaud New York Road Runners for putting the health and safety of both spectators and runners first," said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a statement. NYRR said runners will receive a full refund of their entry fee or complimentary entry for 2021, 2022 or 2023. They will also be invited to participate in a virtual marathon event taking place from Oct. 17 to Nov. 1. The New York City race is the world's largest marathon and counted 53,640 finishers in 2019, according to NYRR. Hannah Miller

More states are reporting increases in new Covid-19 cases as U.S. 7-day average continues to grow

A patient is wheeled into Houston Methodist Hospital as storm clouds gather over the Texas Medical Center, amid the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Houston, Texas, U.S., June 22, 2020. Callaghan O'Hare | Reuters

10:11 a.m. ET  As of Tuesday, the seven-day average of daily new Covid-19 cases in the U.S. increased by more than 32% compared to one week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Cases are growing by 5% or more in 30 states across the country, including Arizona, Texas, Montana and Idaho. Since Monday, four more states have seen growth in their 7-day average of daily new cases. Texas health officials reported an all-time high of 5,489 new cases on Tuesday, surpassing 5,000 cases in a single day. The state has also been seeing record spikes in hospitalizations in recent weeks. As of Tuesday, there are 3,335 people currently hospitalized in Texas based on a 7-day moving average, which is a 49% increase compared with a week ago, according to Covid Tracking Project data. California also broke its record for daily number of positive cases on Tuesday, adding 6,712 new cases, according to Johns Hopkins data. The state surpassed 6,000 new cases for the first time on Monday. Jasmine Kim

Sonos cutting 12% of global employees and closing New York retail store

10:07 a.m. ET  Sonos plans to cut 12% of its global employees due to "uncertainty and challenges stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic," the company said in a filing Tuesday. It's also closing its retail store in New York City and six satellite offices. The company's stock was up more than 1% in early trading on Wednesday. The Santa Barbara-based company said in a May letter to shareholders that it began a review of planned investments and implemented initial actions in March to reduce operating expenses and preserve liquidity. It said those actions included cutting marketing investments, managing and "tightening" inventory and eliminating some discretionary operating expenses. The latest cost cuts are part of those efforts, the company said. Megan Graham

IMF slashes forecasts for U.S. economy, GDP

9:47 a.m. ET  The International Monetary Fund slashed its economic estimates for global GDP and the U.S. economy amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and warned that governments' debt levels will continue to soar as they combat the crisis. The IMF forecast a contraction of 4.9% in global GDP and estimated that the U.S. economy will contract by 8% in 2020, CNBC's Silvia Amaro reports. The new estimates were downward revisions from what the IMF forecast in April. The Washington-based institution said the new figures were due to expectations that social-distancing measures will likely remain in place during the second half of 2020, hurting productivity and supply chains. The Fund also downgraded its 2020 estimates for the euro zone and its GDP forecast for 2021. Hannah Miller

The U.S. will eclipse its first peak, Dr. Scott Gottlieb says

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8:20 a.m. ET  Daily new cases of coronavirus will surpass the country's first peak in April, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC.



"We're going to eclipse the totals in April, so we'll eclipse 37,000 diagnosed infections a day," he said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "But in April we were only diagnosing 1 in 10 to 1 in 20 infections, so those 37,000 infections represented probably half a million infections at the peak."



Since April, the U.S. has significantly ramped up the country's capacity to test broadly for the virus, including among asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients. That means even though confirmed cases will likely peak again, the underlying outbreak probably isn't as large as it was in April, Gottlieb said.



"The total number of deaths is falling because the total infection burden in the country is a lot lower now than it was in April," he said. Will Feuer

Most recent 1 million cases were reported in just a week, WHO says

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8:08 am ET  The pandemic is still accelerating, with the most recent 1 million cases being reported in one week, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, according to Reuters. During a virtual conference on vaccine development and access across the continent, Tedros added that every country in Africa has now developed laboratory capacity to conduct diagnostic testing for the virus. The virus has sickened more than 9.27 million people around the world and killed at least 477,807 people. There is still no U.S.-approved treatment or vaccine for the disease. Will Feuer

India reports record single-day spike in cases

Health workers wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) carry the body of a person who who died due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a crematorium in New Delhi, India, June 24, 2020. Anushree Fadnavis | Reuters

7:12 a.m. ET  India has reported its highest spike of new cases of infections since the virus took hold in the country of more than 1.3 billion people, according to The Associated Press. In 24 hours, the country reported 15,968 new cases and 465 deaths, the AP reported. That means the virus has now infected more than 456,183 people in India, killing at least 14,476, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Maharashtra, New Delhi and Tamil Nadu are the hardest-hit states, making up almost 60% of all confirmed cases in the country. New Delhi, in particular, is emerging as a cause for concern in the federal government, the AP reported, due to poor contact tracing infrastructure and limited hospital capacity. India has the fourth worst coronavirus outbreak in the world, based on total number of confirmed cases, behind only the U.S., Brazil and Russia. Will Feuer

The EU is discussing reopening its borders, but US citizens could remain barred

A general view of almost deserted Pantheon square during Italy's lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic. Andrea Staccioli | Getty Images
OPERATION SAMUDRA SETU - INS AIRAVAT BRINGS BACK 198 INDIAN CITIZENS FROM MALDIVES

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 23 JUN 2020 7:50PM by PIB Delhi

INS Airavat, deployed by the Indian Navy for "Operation Samudra Setu", entered Tuticorin harbour early morning today, 23 Jun 2020 with 198 Indian nationals embarked from Male, Maldives. Thus far Indian Navy has brought back 2386 Indian citizens from Maldives to India.

The embarkation of Indian nationals was facilitated by the Indian Mission in Maldives. Personnel were embarked onboard after carrying out requisite medical screening. COVID related safety protocols were also strictly adhered to during the sea-passage.

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.

With this evacuation, the Indian Navy has repatriated 3305 Indian nationals from Maldives, Sri Lanka and Iran during the ongoing pandemic.

VM/ MS

(Release ID: 1633742)

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-25 00:23:14|Editor: huaxia

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by Nick Kolyohin

JERUSALEM, June 25 (Xinhua) -- As a small country, Israel relies heavily on imports by sea and air. Israeli experts say that economic recovery of the country from COVID-19 depends on the global market.

"The Israeli economy is basically a reflection of the world economy and advanced countries," said Leo Leiderman, an economic professor at Tel Aviv University.

The Israeli economy depends significantly on international trade, foreign investment, which are severely impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19.

Leiderman said, for example, Israel's well-known high-tech sector relies on foreign investment that helps local startups and venture capital firms to grow. Since the outbreak, foreign financing has shrunk dramatically, which led to the slowdown of the sector in the country.

Therefore, Israel is hardly able to see a full economic recovery as long as other countries suffer from the crisis, particularly those that not only supply goods and services but also invest heavily in the Israeli high-tech ecosystem.

During a TV interview last Wednesday, Israel Katz, the finance minister, said that Israel's economy is at its lowest point ever, and the situation will continue to worsen in the coming months.

A months-long lockdown amid the COVID-19 outbreak is the main reason for the current situation with weakening domestic consumption which constitutes around 60 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), said Leiderman.

The lockdown caused a dramatic decrease in public expenditure, which led to suspension even shutdown of many small businesses, leaving shopping streets full of stores with "for rent" signs.

In 2020, it is expected that about 70,000 Israeli businesses will be closed, 50 percent more than average in recent years.

Additionally, 66,000 businesses in Israel had to apply for loans, and 36,000 loans were approved. According to finance ministry's data provided to the Israeli parliament (Knesset) last Wednesday, these loans totalled 13.5 billion NIS (about 3.93 billion U.S. dollars).

Throughout this outbreak, some companies have found it more economical to have their employees working remotely, but others had to lay off employees or put them on unpaid leave.

"Only a comprehensive national plan could seriously tackle the unemployment problem due to the coronavirus crisis," Uriel Lynn, president of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, said in a letter sent Tuesday to the Israeli prime minister.

Grants for businesses to re-hire workers will not help bring back employees that companies have now deemed unnecessary for their bottom line. During the crisis, companies have realized that they can reach the same results with fewer workers, Lynn said.

One sector that suffered greatly is the service industry, Leiderman said, adding "healthcare, insurance, finance, education, travel, and more were damaged by the health requirements of social distancing."

A leading Israeli Bank Hapoalim stated Sunday that Israel would finish 2020 with a budget deficit of 180 billion NIS, 13 percent of the GDP.

"This year is going to be a year of recession in Israel," said Leiderman.

However, the Knesset Research and Information Center prepared a document for economic discussions at the parliamentary finance committee, citing a slightly more optimistic forecast about the future of the economy by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

"It's really an issue whether the government would move from overspending, pouring money into the economy and creating a huge deficit, to more responsible management of the budget," stressed Omer Moav, an economic professor at the Israeli Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya.

He concluded that it would take a year from the moment the health restrictions around the world lifted until the Israeli economy recovers, but it will be a few years until a full recovery with a low rate of unemployment.
[June 24, 2020] Deep01 Closes Fundraising Led by ASUS and Received the First Purchase Order of Their AI-Based Medical Device in Taiwan

TAIPEI, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Deep01, a developer of artificial intelligence (AI) software designed to assist physicians to accurately interpret computerized tomography (CT) images of the brain, announced that it raised US$2.7 million in financing. ASUSTeK Computer Inc., a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor, led the round of fundraising. "Deep01 is a leading startup in Asia focused on AI medical solutions, and we look forward to harnessing the strength of this collaboration to further develop applications in the field of smart medical technology," said Albert Chang, ASUS Corporate Vice President and Co-Head of the AIoT Business Group. The round also saw investment from Digital Economy Fund co-funded by ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute) and III (Institute for Information Industry), and BE Capital. Jim Li, the Managing Partner of Digital Economy Fnd, expressed strong confidence for Deep01 as it obtained both the USA and Taiwan FDA clearance and ensured successful user adoption. Arthur Chen, the Managing Director of BE Capital said, "Deep01 is a member of the BE supporting program. The system is in the Show Chwan hospital, and profitable results are already present. The AI emergency network has potential in the overseas markets. We introduced the company to the authorities in Japan, and the integration will proceed in the second half of this year."



With the support of Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA), Deep01 has fully obtained the resources for entrepreneurship and talent training programs. David Chou, the founder and CEO of Deep01, said that the ICT and healthcare industries in Taiwan are competitive on the international stage, successful cases of commercialization will make their product more feasible in the global market. Deep01's AI product can detect acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the A&E department. With an accuracy of 93-95% and 30 seconds per case, the performance exceeds the other competitors in the market. Besides technology, regulatory certification plays a critical role in the medical industry. Deep01 is the first AI company in APAC to obtain US-FDA clearances in July 2019.

Deep01 also won the first Taiwan-FDA for its AI product of ICH in the country this February and received its first purchase order of US$0.7 million. The AI-based service has launched in the two medical centers and four local hospitals of Taiwan, while the AI checked over 2000 acute cases of brain CT in parallel to the diagnosis of the human physicians. The Deep01 team is from Harvard, Carnegie Mellon University, National Taiwan University, and Tsinghua University. Collectively they have amassed a wealth of both local and international experience within the industry. Due to the rapid growth of the company, a senior radiologist in the US has joined the team since 2019. As the only AI company in Asia to have obtained both US and Taiwan FDA clearances, the next step for Deep01 is to expand into global markets and to offer more AI-based services to the department of A&E, radiology, and neurosurgery. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deep01-closes-fundraising-led-by-asus-and-received-the-first-purchase-order-of-their-ai-based-medical-device-in-taiwan-301082735.html SOURCE Taiwan Tech Arena

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 14:09:57|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was seen removing loudspeakers set up from Sunday afternoon in the border areas with South Korea, multiple local media reported Wednesday.

An unnamed government source was quoted as saying that the DPRK was seen withdrawing loudspeakers in the morning from the eastern inter-Korean border area that had been redeployed since Sunday afternoon.

The two Koreas removed propaganda loudspeakers from frontline areas after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un agreed to the removal during their first summit in April 2018 at the border village of Panmunjom.

Amid the rising tensions between the two Koreas over anti-DPRK propaganda leaflets distributed across the border by South Korean civic group activists, the DPRK has cut off all communication lines with South Korea and demolished the inter-Korean joint liaison office building at the DPRK's border town of Kaesong. Enditem
We recently paid a visit to Garfield Elementary School in Oaklands San Antonio neighborhood, one of the largest and most diverse schools in Oakland. Twenty-two different languages are spoken there. Since closing its classroom doors on March 13 because of coronavirus, Garfield has become a vital hub for distributing food to tens of thousands of kids and families in Oakland struggling with a sharp increase in food insecurity.

On the day of our visit, Garfield distributed 31,000 meals to Oakland students, predominantly Black and brown children who have continued to rely on school meals as a primary source of food while schools have remained closed in these difficult, ever-changing times. It was inspiring to watch members of our community rising to support one another, and they have done this day after day these past three months.

Now our country is fighting two monumental challenges: a global pandemic claiming more than 120,000 U.S. lives that has created the worst economic recession since the Great Depression and has tripled food insecurity rates in households with children; and structural racism, which has plagued our society for generations. Inequities continue to widen as unemployment has skyrocketed and, according to Cornell University, disproportionally affects communities of color, while schools and other vital public agencies face severe budget constraints when their services are needed most.

Californias unprecedented challenges will require a coordinated effort of public and private partnerships. Schools districts are losing money because of the heroic way they have responded to this crisis, and many wont be able to serve meals through the summer and into fall without additional funding. There are long-term costs as well. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, student nutrition has been proven to positively affect academic achievement and quality-of-life outcomes. The lack of access to healthy food is exacerbated by socioeconomic status and most prevalent in low-income communities of color, meaning children who are forced to miss meals now may face more hardships later.

Places like our hometown of Oakland, with deep traditions of community engagement, protest and civic action, understand what is at stake. Oakland grasps that a communitys members cannot lift themselves up without proper nutrition, a steady income and stable housing. Local school districts, including Oakland Unified, have taken the initiative to provide 4 million meals to children during school closures by marshaling resources through a collaborative established by our Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, in partnership with Alameda County Community Food Bank, No Kid Hungry, Office of Kat Taylor, and World Central Kitchen. Oakland is rising to meet this moment, led by volunteers and food service workers, primarily women of color, who have become masked heroes to these children and their families.

Communities throughout California need a strong commitment to provide funding to the school districts that have been unflinching in serving their communities during this crisis. Even with recent federal legislation, there is no bailout on the horizon. School districts are incurring debt and straining their limited resources to stay open and safely serve meals to children in need. Many school districts, like Oakland, could be facing enormous financial shortfalls in a few months. We would like to see a stronger acknowledgement from the state of the scale of these additional COVID-related costs, as well as bold action to provide funding to reimburse schools for months of bringing this service to high-need communities.

Californias budget is a statement of our values, principles and priorities as a people. The inclusion of funding that supports schools giving children and families access to food  a most basic human need to foster learning and growth  is a critical lifeline for families now, and our childrens future.

The state Legislature has proposed funding through the state budget to school districts to continue providing meals, and we urge the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom to pass this budget. Just as the heroes in Oakland have stepped up to provide food to children and families who have struggled so hard for so long, California must step up and ensure this much needed funding. Together with our partners, we will continue to do all we can to support children and families in our community through this crisis.

The Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, established by Stephen and Ayesha Curry, is playing an integral role in helping to ensure Oakland kids and families have access to food throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has helped to serve more than 3 million meals in partnership with Oakland Unified School District, engaged 108 Oakland restaurants in partnership with World Central Kitchen to put 400 people back to work while preparing 70,000 meals/week for seniors, families, and unhoused individuals, and partnered with Alameda County Community Food Bank to distribute over 2 million meals to Oakland families.
Laws underpinning the non-jury Special Criminal Court have been renewed by TDs in the Dail after the government committed to a review of the security legislation.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan confirmed there are plans for a review of the Offences Against the State Act and the emergency legislation used to prosecute subversive groups and gangland cases.

The confirmation justice authorities will do a review comes after the Greens and Sinn Fein both indicated support for a court with special powers.

Both those parties have relaxed their opposition to laws underpinning the special criminal court on the basis that some kind of review goes ahead.

In the Dail, Mr Flanagan signalled that this review, with the next government, would be forthcoming: I want to make clear that I am not averse to a review of this legislation. Indeed, far from it, as will become clear in the months ahead. Deputies will be aware of the intensive work taking place to implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

Work is ongoing in my department to bring forward that review and the Offences Against the State legislation will, of course, be part of it, including the provisions before us today.

While Mr Flanagan called on parties to remove amendments to the yearly renewal of the Offences Against the State Act, debated in the Dail, others voiced concerns about human breaches under the current court regime.

The minister added that "the stark reality is there remains some threat from terrorist activity, in particular from dissident Republican paramilitary groups".

Rise TD Paul Murphy said existing laws for the court, without a jury, were a breach of civil liberties and human rights. People Before Profit TD Brid Smith and Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said the Dail should take heed of warnings about the powers from the United Nations and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.

Sinn Fein abstained in the vote on the special powers, which are used to prosecute offences including membership of the IRA and other subversive groups. This is the first time they have not opposed the laws.

While some TDs called for anonymous juries for fairer hearings, other deputies warned of intimidation and the need to ramp up use of the laws against gangland activity.

Labour's Ged Nash referred to the ongoing gang feud in Drogheda, which resulted in the shocking murder of teenager Keane Mulready Woods this year. While supporting the review, he said Drogheda locals are being intimidated, including young girls pushed into selling drugs.

Green TD Roderic O'Gorman said his party supports the renewal of the laws to tackle gangs who might interfere with trials but highlighted serious civil liberties concerns that must be addressed with the special criminal court.

The legislation now moves to the Seanad. But the Upper House cannot approve it until a new government is formed and a remaining 11 members of the Seanad appointed. If the laws are not passed by next week and therefore lapse, the special court will cease to sit.
YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. The second group of French doctors arrived in Armenia and are already in the St. Gregory the Illuminator hospital in Yerevan.

Spokesperson of the medical center Tsovinar Khachatryan said on Facebook that the head of the first group of French doctors Alexandre Mignon asked to personally introduce the new French doctors on the health condition of coronavirus-infected patients.

He was proud that they have worked effectively with their Armenian colleagues in this short period of time, jokingly adding that if he is hired at the medical center, he will not return back to France. The head of the new French medical team is famous doctor, ethnic Armenian Loran Papazian, the spokesperson said, adding that another Armenian doctor Hayk Vardanyan also arrived with the team.

The first group of French doctors arrived in Armenia via a special flight on June 14 to help the healthcare system to battle the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The French doctors conducted their mission in the St. Gregory the Illuminator hospital, the Scientific Center for Traumatology and Orthopaedy and the infection department of the St. Mary medical center.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
International Society for Extracellular Vesicles Hosts Annual Meeting July 20-22 The virtual platform allows us to provide education and networking opportunities to all of our members, regardless of their location. We may not be in-person, but weve taken every step possible to personalize this meeting. - Joe Sapp, MBA, CAE, ISEV Executive Director

The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) announces the ISEV2020 Virtual Meeting for July 20-22. This virtual platform will bring together over 1,200 extracellular vesicle researchers from around the world, feature scientific sessions, poster and paper sessions, and opportunities for networking. Originally planned to take place in Philadelphia, PA, the in-person meeting was changed to be held virtually upon the COVID-19 Pandemic.

While this meeting is not our usual format, it is right in-line with the exemplary content we regularly offer our members, said ISEV Executive Director, Joe Sapp, MBA, CAE. The virtual platform allows us to provide education and networking opportunities to all of our members, regardless of their location. Weve also included a world clock calculator on our program page to assist attendees in planning the sessions they will attend while easily seeing the time it will be offered in their time zone. We may not be in-person, but weve taken every step possible to personalize this meeting.

The ISEV2020 Virtual Meeting will be held entirely online using the software Cadmium CD. Attendees can expect a similar amount of content as they would experience at a face-to-face meeting. Each day, the ISEV Virtual Meeting program offers over five hours of live stream presentations including plenaries, featured abstracts, sponsor presentations and Education Day sessions. There will also be on-demand oral symposium and poster sessions available throughout the meeting. Attendees will have unlimited access to all content for 60 days.

This years Plenary Speakers include:

Alain Brisson  Professeur Emerite, Universite De Bordeaux

Hollis Cline  Hahn Professor of Neuroscience and Co-chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Scripps Research

Phyllis Hanson  Chair of the Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan

Eduardo Marban - Founding Director, Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute

Shannon Stott  Assistant Professor, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Associate Member, The Broad Institute

To obtain additional information about ISEV2020 or to register for the event, visit ISEV.org.

About the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV)

The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) is a global society of leading extracellular vesicles, exosomes and microvesicle researchers. With over 1,200 total members around the world, ISEV's mission is to advance extracellular vesicle research globally. As an organization, ISEV connects top researchers at its Annual Meeting, workshops and other events. For more information about ISEV, its programs, events or members, visit isev.org.

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University of North Georgia (UNG) students Beth Ward and Lani Chastain admit to being science fiction nerds. Ward was introduced to genre through the Star Trek "Voyager" television series in high school while Chastain became a fan of "Dr. Who" in middle school.

Their affinity for science fiction evolved into a love of science, and both will put their passion to work this summer in the real world. Ward and Chastain are two of the 13 UNG students to be awarded an internship or Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds a large number of opportunities for undergraduates to work in the research programs of higher education institutions while science-based centers fund internships.

Ward, a senior pursuing a degree in chemistry, earned an internship with the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton Springs, Virginia. The 24-year-old from Conyers, Georgia, was with her family when she received the good news.

"In the moment, I was calm. But on the inside, I was screaming and excited," Ward. "My goal is to work at NASA."

Chastain, a sophomore pursuing dual degrees in physics and engineering, was surprised to win an REU with the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The 20-year-old from Chickamauga, Georgia, had applied to nearly a dozen REUs but had not been accepted yet.

"It was last one that I applied for," Chastain said. "Then Dr. Sarah Formica (professor of physics at UNG) suggested I apply to UAB even though it was not astrophysics. I applied and a couple of weeks later I got it. It was nice to have all of that hard work pay off."

The hard work of 11 more UNG students also proved fruitful. A couple of them are repeat winners.

Aida Alarcon, a junior from Braselton, Georgia, pursuing a degree in visual arts, received a REU with University of New Mexico Sevilleta Field Station.

Bailey Bullard, a sophomore for Sharpsburg, Georgia, pursuing a degree in chemistry, received a REU with Mississippi State University.

Skyler Hollers, a senior from Braselton, Georgia, pursuing a degree in chemistry, received a REU with Georgia Southern University.

Mark Leggiero, a junior from Buford, Georgia, pursuing dual degrees in physics and engineering, received the NARI Research Internship from Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute in Phaltan, India. It was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ikechukwu Obi-Okoye, a freshman from Nigeria who lives in Athens, Georgia, pursuing dual degrees in physics and engineering, received a Summer Intensive Research Internship (SIRI) at the University of Mexico and Purdue University. It was postponed to next summer.

Grace Roa, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, received the Ocean Sciences REU at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon.

Emily Shrewsbury, a junior from Dallas, Georgia, pursuing a degree in chemistry, was awarded the chance to study at Auburn University. The program was canceled for the summer. This marked the second REU for Shrewsbury.

Suzy Steel, a junior from Alpharetta, Georgia, pursuing a degree in physics, earned an internship with Air Force Research Lab Scholars Program at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was selected for their Phillips Scholars Program, which has changed to a virtual program.

Brooke Tate, a rising senior from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a degree in chemistry, earned an REU at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. This marked the second REU for Tate.

Tyler Wilson, a sophomore from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a degree in physics, received a REU with the University of Washington. His program transitioned to an online experience.

Grant Zacher, a senior from Flowery Branch, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology received the ASPET summer undergraduate research fellowship from the University of Michigan's Department of Pharmacology. His program shifted to an online experience.

While a couple of the REUs have canceled their programs, others have moved them online or plan to continue them in person.

Students interested in pursuing summer research opportunities or undergraduate research projects may contact the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities office at curca@ung.edu.
OTTAWA - Justin Trudeau's Liberal government is facing contradictory calls to either stand up to China or give in to so-called "hostage diplomacy"  with particular pressure coming from stalwarts of former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien's administration.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hui Chi-fung, left, a Democratic Party politician, is detained by riot police during a protest in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Friday, June 12, 2020. A group of senators is calling on the Liberal government to impose sanctions on Chinese officials over China's treatment of its Muslim minority, its increasing restriction of freedoms in Hong Kong, and its arrests of two Canadians. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Vincent Yu

OTTAWA - Justin Trudeau's Liberal government is facing contradictory calls to either stand up to China or give in to so-called "hostage diplomacy"  with particular pressure coming from stalwarts of former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien's administration.

Allan Rock is the latest former Chretien-era minister to advocate that the government end extradition proceedings against Meng Wanzhou, in hopes that China will release two Canadians imprisoned arbitrarily in apparent retaliation for the Huawei executive's arrest in Vancouver in December 2018.

Rock said Wednesday that Chretien himself supports his initiative.

"I spoke to Chretien this morning because he called me to say he agreed with me," Rock said in an interview, adding that he did not speak to the former prime minister before making his public intervention in the Meng case.

Rock got further backup Wednesday in a letter to Trudeau signed by 19 former politicians and diplomats who urged that Meng be freed in a bid to win the release of detained Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig.

Signatories to the letter, obtained by The Canadian Press, included Chretien-era ministers Lloyd Axworthy and Andre Ouellet, former Conservative minister Lawrence Cannon and former diplomat Robert Fowler, who was himself taken hostage in 2008 in Niger.

It was also signed by two former chiefs of staff to Progressive Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney  Hugh Segal and Derek Burney, who also once served as Canada's ambassador to the United States.

"It has now been more than 550 days since the two Michaels were locked into a Chinese prison," says the letter, also signed by Rock and former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, who went public earlier this week with their call to free Meng.

"Their detention was completely unlawful and unjustified. Reliable accounts describe their conditions of confinement as tantamount to torture ... We believe that the two Michaels will remain in their Chinese prison until Meng is free to return to China."

The signatories acknowledge that "it does not sit well with anyone to yield to bullying or blackmail." But they argue that standing firm is no guarantee China won't resort to arbitrary detentions again in future to get its way.

"Indeed, if Canada resists the pressure arising from the detention of the two Michaels, China might well decide that next time it will need to escalate by detaining more than two Canadians," the signatories write.

A group of senators, meanwhile, called on the Trudeau government to impose sanctions on Chinese officials over China's treatment of its Muslim minority, its increasing restriction on freedoms in Hong Kong, and its arrests of Spavor and Kovrig.

The 12 senators are mostly Conservatives but some were appointed on the advice of Liberal prime ministers, including Trudeau.

In a letter, the senators said they want the government to use legislation, known as the Sergei Magnitsky Law, that allows it to target the personal finances of foreign officials responsible for violating human rights, freezing assets that are in Canada's control and forbidding Canadian institutions to do business with them.

But another senator is pushing the government from the other direction. Sen. Yuen Pau Woo, leader of the Independent Senators Group, is urging the government to follow the advice of Rock and Arbour, who argue that Canada's Extradition Act specifically allows the justice minister to terminate extradition proceedings at any time.

Trudeau and his justice minister, David Lametti, have maintained the minister may intervene only after a court has ruled on the Meng case and that, in the meantime, the rule of law requires that they not interfere in the matter.

Chretien, who cultivated good relations with China during his time in office and who has spent considerable time there on business since retiring in 2003, has indicated he would be willing to serve as a special envoy to China to secure the release of the two Michaels.

Mulroney first floated that idea last year, suggesting a delegation involving Chretien and his son-in-law, Andre Desmarais, who is honorary chair of the Canada-China Business Council.

Chretien's former deputy prime minister, John Manley, has argued Canada should never have agreed to arrest Meng on behalf of the U.S. And Chretien's former principal secretary, Eddie Goldenberg, earlier this year urged the government to conduct a prisoner swap, freeing Meng in return for the release Spavor and Kovrig.

China itself said releasing Meng could be one way to resolve the issue.

"Such options are within the rule of law and could open up space for resolution to the situation of the two Canadians," Zhao Lijian, the spokesman for China's foreign ministry, said in a media briefing Wednesday.

The involvement of the Chretien-era old guard has sparked criticism in some quarters that it is aimed primarily at advancing business interests in China.

But Rock, now a law professor at the University of Ottawa, said neither he nor Arbour has business ties and neither has anything to gain by advocating for the release of Meng.

Their intervention is based entirely on the fact that Section 23(3) of Extradition Act explicitly spells out that the justice minister "may at any time withdraw the authority to proceed" with an extradition, at which point the court would have to drop the proceedings, he said.

The government's contention that it must not interfere in the Meng case is "wrong," Rock, a former justice minister, said.

Rock was in cabinet when the Extradition Act was revised and he said Sec. 23 was specifically inserted because it was recognized "there are going to be cases in which the government will conclude that it's not in Canada's best interests to continue with an extradition once launched."

Rock said the government has preempted any discussion about the merits of releasing Meng by insisting that it can't do so, relying on "formulaic, robotic incantations" about having to respect the rule of law.

He and Arbour want there to be at least an honest debate about whether releasing Meng would amount to caving in to a bully and rewarding China for hostage diplomacy or whether it would anger the Americans and risk retaliation from the mercurial President Donald Trump.

For their part, Rock said they've concluded "there are compelling reasons to stop this." Meng's case could drag on for years while the two Michaels remain in prison, facing a "show trial" for espionage "in a court that has a 99 per cent conviction rate."

All the while, Rock said Canada's foreign policy is being held hostage, with the government stalling a decision on the use of Huawei technology in 5G networks and soft-peddling criticism of China's human rights record for fear of worsening conditions for the detained Canadians.

As for angering Trump, he said the president's suggestion that he'd drop extradition proceedings against Meng if he got a good trade deal with China, shows that Canada is "paying a disproportionate price for his cynical gamesmanship."

In a statement Wednesday, Lametti's office argued that the extradition process "ensures that individual rights are protected and that those sought for extradition are afforded due process before the courts, while honouring our international treaty obligations.

"We are well aware of the laws and processes governing this important regime," it said, adding it would not be appropriate to comment further on a case before the courts.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2020.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: Eminent Indian-American scientist Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan has assumed charge as Director of the National Science Foundation, the top American body supporting fundamental research in non-medical fields of science and engineering in the country.

Unanimously confirmed by the Senate last week, Panchanathan, 58, from the Arizona State University, replaced 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 Donald Trump formally appointed Panchanathan as the 15th Director of the NSF, the top American science funding body that has an annual budget of USD 7.4 billion, the White House said on 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.
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: 24 June 2020, 10:20
The white father and son who shot dead Ahmaud Arbery have been indicted by a grand jury on murder charges, alongside their neighbor who filmed the killing.

Prosecutor Joyette Holmes said Wednesday a Glynn County grand jury has indicted Travis, 34, and Greg McMichael, 64, and William 'Roddie' Bryan Jr., 50, on charges including malice and felony murder in the death of the unarmed jogger.

Arbery was killed February 23 when the McMichaels, armed themselves and pursued him. Bryan said he saw the McMichaels driving by and joined the chase, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified earlier this month.

Gregory McMichael, left, and his son Travis McMichael. A prosecutor on Wednesday announced three men have been indicted on murder charges in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery

William 'Roddie' Bryan Jr. said he saw the McMichaels driving by and joined the chase, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified earlier this month

Arbery was killed February 23 when the Greg and Travis McMichael, a white father and son, armed themselves and pursued the unarmed jogger.

Greg McMichael told police he suspected Arbery, 25, was a burglar and that Arbery attacked his son before being shot.

Bryan lives just a few houses away from the McMichaels, close to where the killing took place. He has said he was only a 'witness' and not an accomplice in the shooting.

The killers evaded prosecution for more than two months, after the father and son team initially claimed they thought Arbery was a burglar after a spate of thefts in the area, and that he attacked them when they tried to make a citizen's arrest.

But shocking cellphone footage - taken by Bryan - was leaked months later, showing the two men chasing and gunning down the victim in the street.

The McMichaels were then arrested on May 7. Bryan was arrested on May 22, and an arrest warrant said he tried 'to confine and detain' Arbery without legal authority by 'utilizing his vehicle on multiple occasions' before Arbery was shot.

Cobb County District Attorney Joyette Holmes said a Glynn County grand jury has indicted Travis McMichael, 34, Greg McMichael, 64, and William 'Roddie' Bryan Jr., 50, on charges including malice and felony murder in the death of the African American man

In addition to malice murder and felony murder charges, the McMichaels and Bryan each are charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

'This is another positive step, another great step for finding justice for Ahmaud, for finding justice for this family and the community beyond,' prosecutor Holmes said during the news conference, which was streamed online by news outlets.

The harrowing video showed the men 'ambushing' Arbery as he tried to run past their pickup truck.

The leak of the video sparked outrage across the nation with LeBron James, Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner all leading cries for the McMichaels to be charged with murder.

It was not until May 7 - two days after Bryans cellphone video leaked online and stirred a national outcry - that the McMichaels were arrested

The McMichaels and Bryan each are charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment

An officer with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is seen leading 34-year-old Travis McMichael out of the home in handcuffs on May 7

Exclusive photos show the moment Gregory McMichael (pictured) and his son Travis McMichael were arrested at their home in Brunswick, Georgia in May

Lawyers for the McMichaels have cautioned against a rush to judgment and have said the full story will come out in court.

A lawyer for Bryan has maintained that his client was merely a witness.

Court functions in Georgia have been severely limited in recent months because of a statewide judicial emergency declared by the chief justice of the state Supreme Court in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Holmes said they were able to call in a grand jury that had been impaneled prior to the judicial emergency. They followed public guidelines, providing hand sanitizer to the grand jurors and allowing them to sit far apart, she said.

Because of the uncertainty caused by the virus, the Arbery family didn't know when the next steps would be taken after a probable cause hearing held earlier this month, Holmes said. But they were notified as soon as the grand jury returned an indictment, she said.

'The family was ecstatic to hear that it had happened this morning,' she said.

Ahmaud Arbery and his mother Wanda Cooper Jones

Demonstrators gather at the Glynn County courthouse during a court appearance by Gregory and Travis McMichael, two suspects in the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, on June 4, 2020 in Brunswick, Georgia

Bob Rubin, a lawyer for Travis McMichael, said in an email that prosecutors choose the facts they want to present to a grand jury when seeking an indictment. The defense team has found other facts 'that are an integral part of the case,' he wrote.

'To this indictment, Travis McMichael will plead not guilty, and we look forward to presenting all of the facts regarding this tragic death in a court of law,' Rubin wrote.

Attorney Kevin Gough, who represents Bryan, spoke to reporters at the county courthouse right after Holmes announced the indictment.

'We welcome the action of the grand jury today, Gough said. 'While we disagree with it, it's an important step in the process to moving this case closer to the speedy trial that Roddie has demanded.'

He said his client has committed no crime and has cooperated with law enforcement officers from the beginning.

Lawyers for Greg McMichael did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday afternoon.

Gregory McMichael retired last year after more than two decades as an investigator for the local prosecutor's office. Because of those ties, Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson recused herself from the case.
Debra Plummer learned with horror while watching TV this week that 14 residents and at least one health care worker at the San Miguel Villa nursing home in Concord have died of COVID-19, and 75 more have been infected with the coronavirus.

Plummers mother was among the infected. She has Alzheimers disease and tested positive for the virus three weeks ago before recovering and emerging from isolation. Since the start of the pandemic, Plummer said, San Miguel administrators wouldnt tell her how many people had tested positive at the nursing home, although they report the figures to the state.

Its really scary, Plummer said. Sometimes we feel extremely depressed. Last night I was awake from 3:30 to 5:30 wondering if she is OK. It is very emotional. There is not a whole lot we can do.

The news out of the Concord nursing home came as California saw sudden surges in the number of new cases  surpassing 6,000 for a second straight day  even as the state reopened restaurants, bars, gyms and salons.

Nursing home deaths account for more than 40% of all COVID-19 deaths in California, and are on the rise even though its clear that isolation, proper equipment and frequent testing slow the spread of the coronavirus.

We are still not on top of the problem, said Charlene Harrington, a professor in the UCSF School of Nursing. How can this happen right under everybodys nose? It can only happen if there is nobody out there monitoring the facilities.

At nursing homes across California, little oversight and few penalties by state and county health departments  and a lack of testing and supplies  are driving the spread of the virus, say eldercare experts and advocates for residents. And its nearly impossible for families or the public to get information directly from nursing homes. Administrators rarely respond to press calls. And even those with public relations companies representing them dont always respond. By comparison, San Quentin State Prison in Marin County, where 10% of the inmates and 30 guards are infected with the coronavirus, updates the stats on its website daily.

Details on what happened at San Miguel Villa  and why  were not forthcoming Tuesday. The nursing home ignored eight phone calls from The Chronicle over two days.

San Miguel Villa is the 125th nursing home in the Bay Area to experience a coronavirus outbreak since the start of the pandemic. Throughout the Bay Area, at least 96 nursing home residents and workers have died, according to state data. And at least 1,500 have been infected.

On May 22, the Contra Costa County public health department requested help from the state to assess San Miguel Villas infection control and prevention practices after identifying a coronavirus outbreak, said Will Harper, a spokesman for the department.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

The state Health Services Department said Tuesday that a team of infection-prevention specialists was sent to San Miguel. They worked with the county to manage the outbreak and determine what was needed to prevent another one, the states department said.

Working with Kaiser Permanente, the county tested all residents and staff each week and provided personal protective equipment to the facility, Harper said.

Our outbreak investigation team continues to have daily calls with the facility to assess the ongoing situation, he said.

San Miguel Villa is a 190-bed home with a much above average rating, according to its nursing home profile from Medicaid.

But the facility had seven health citations in its last inspection on April 5, 2019, including failure to ensure food was served under sanitary conditions, leaving residents at risk for foodborne illnesses.

Staff also twice failed to follow infection-control practices. In one case, a nurse did not wash his hands before inserting a residents gastrointestinal tube. In the other, staff members used bare hands to turn off faucets after washing, rather than using a paper towel. This left them at risk of recontaminating their hands.

Nursing homes are uniquely vulnerable to the virus, said John Swartzberg, an infectious disease expert at UC Berkeley. Staff go in and out of the building, and due to low wages, often work in multiple facilities. This makes them more susceptible to contracting and sharing the virus with residents.

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.

Somebody has to be bringing the virus into the nursing home, otherwise it wouldnt happen, Swartzberg said. Once its brought into the nursing home, then it can perpetuate itself into the nursing home by internal transmission.

The California Department of Public Health mandated that all skilled nursing homes complete an infection mitigation plan that includes a schedule for testing residents and workers for the coronavirus. All did so, as required, by the end of May, the department said.

The state said baseline testing must be completed by June 30. But testing has still lagged in many facilities, said Harrington of UCSF.

A lot of the nursing homes havent even done testing yet, she said. That just makes everybody vulnerable.

Nursing homes submit the test results to the state, which publishes them on its website.

State officials said they were reviewing the plans and doing site visits in June and July. Regular visits will happen every six to eight weeks to ensure nursing homes are abiding by the mandate, they said. If they dont, nursing homes could be subject to unspecified enforcement actions.

Despite the order, nursing homes remain vulnerable to coronavirus outbreaks because they dont test often enough and are short on staff and personal protective equipment, said Patricia McGinnis, director of California Advocates For Nursing Home Reform.

Nursing home residents arent a priority in this state, McGinnis said. Nobody is watching anything. The nurse facilities and the nurse evaluators arent coming in. Family members arent allowed in (during the pandemic). Nobody is watching anything in these facilities while the deaths pile up and the infections pile up. Its just very sad.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
You may never have heard of the right-wing advocacy group Empower Texans or its leader, Michael Quinn Sullivan.

But he and his cohorts at the conservative nonprofit that promotes free-market principles have been harassing Republican members of the Texas Legislature for years and, as were learning, not in the most civil ways.

On Friday, the arrogance and ugliness of their tactics was laid bare in a profane recording first published by the Quorum Report. It captures a candid exchange between Tony McDonald, the general counsel for Empower Texans, and Cary Cheshire, the vice president of a spinoff group, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.

In the recording  apparently posted accidentally, after the two finished recording their podcast  the two mock Gov. Greg Abbotts confinement to a wheelchair before lambasting him in personal terms for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hes such a revolting piece of (expletive), Cheshire says.

Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick were among the Republican leaders to swiftly denounce the two staffers after the recording was released. Some added that their comments point to a deeper problem at Empower Texans.

Although Sullivan said he was heartbroken by the language and tone of the two staffers and suspended them from public activities, Sullivan didnt fire McDonald or Cheshire or disavow their criticisms of Abbotts leadership.

It reveals a lot about an organizations character and morals that uses profanity to mock a person in a wheelchair, said John Wittman, a spokesman for Abbott, in a written statement. It is sad to think about what else this group may be saying about people behind their backs when they think they arent being recorded.

Its more infuriating than sad, really.

I gained additional insight into Empower Texas heavy-handed ways after receiving a secret recording of a meeting last July between Sullivan and James Dickey, the chairman of the Texas GOP. Also in attendance were McDonald and state GOP staffer Mitch Carney.

This gathering was held in late July 2019, several days after Sullivan publicly accused Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen of offering him a quid pro quo arrangement in a June meeting that also included state Rep. Dustin Burrows, then the chairman of the Texas House GOP Caucus.

Sullivan secretly recorded the meeting, during which Bonnen made off-color remarks about several lawmakers. Bonnen also can be heard discussing the prospect of Empower Texans backing primary challenges to moderate Republican members, and saying he wished the 2019 session to be the worst for cities and counties.

Sullivan saw this as actionable information, the latest recording shows.

My next step is to take the next step, and there start to become ramifications for the party, for other Republicans, says Sullivan, suggesting that the next step would be the release of his own secret recording of the meeting with Bonnen and Burrows. Its one thing for me to say Dennis offered me this stuff. Its going to be something else entirely to hear Dennis voice, and hear Dustins voice.

I think if I were the chairman of the party, looking at 2020this is an unforced error, Sullivan muses.

That much is certainly true. A Texas Rangers investigation would ultimately clear Bonnen of any legal wrongdoing. But the speaker made a number of injudicious remarks to Sullivan during the course of the June meeting. And in October  after Sullivan ultimately released his audio  he announced that he would step down at the end of his current term.

But its clear from the recording of the July 2019 meeting with Dickey that this was only a partial victory for Sullivan, who was evidently hoping to force out the independent-minded Bonnen, who had shown little sympathy for right-wing activists during the course of that years session, and replace him with a speaker more to his liking.

I just wanted you to understand what was either coming or not coming, the activist tells Dickey.

I think its up to the Republicans to decide if this needs to be cleaned up, because it will be cleaned up. The reality, as I see it, is that this will be cleaned up, Sullivan says. Texans will clean this up. And its either going to be in a way that benefits what we all say that we believe, or its going to, yknow, impede the things that we say that we believe.

He ticks off the names of a number of Republicans  state Reps. Phil King, Tan Parker, Jeff Leach and Matt Krause  who would be acceptable replacements for Bonnen, and suggests that such a Republican could be installed before the 2020 elections via a special session.

I would rather that they be able to proactively clean up this thing, and the governor give them and a new speaker an opportunity to have a clean session  before we get to the voter decision point, where other, less scrupulous people can take advantage of things.

Dickey, to his credit, didnt make Sullivan any promises  and he in fact pointed out that he has no ability to engineer the outcome the activist was positing.

An awareness of my own limitations is a useful thing for a conservative, Dickey says, after listening quietly to Sullivan.

Neither he nor Sullivan responded to multiple interview requests.

This new secret recording isnt as inflammatory, or overtly ugly, as the hot-mic conversation between McDonald and Cheshire released Friday.

However, all Texans should take issue with these activists, who feel entitled to a hecklers veto over the rest of us, for some reason.

The voter decision point Sullivan refers to is the 2020 elections, and the threat hes making to Dickey is that we, the people, might do something not to his liking.

erica.grieder@chron.com
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Travellers are still flocking to Sydney from Melbourne, despite Gladys Berejiklian urging them to stay home.

Dozens of people landed at Sydney Airport on a flight from Melbourne on Wednesday morning.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told travellers from Victoria's new coronavirus hot spots not to travel to NSW and has told businesses to turn them away if they do.

Passengers told Daily Mail Australia that just one in ten people were wearing face masks on the flight, despite scientists insisting it helps stop the spread of coronavirus in enclosed spaces.

Their arrival comes amid an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in outer-suburban Melbourne, with an additional 20 cases confirmed on Wednesday.

An 80-year-old man also died on Tuesday night from COVID-19 in Victoria.

NSW reported 10 new cases on Wednesday - all in hotel quarantine - from 13,278 tests.

Passengers carry backpacks through the terminal after the early morning flight from Melbourne to Sydney

Kathy Hollis and Mitch Lawler (pictured) flew to Melbourne for a funeral. They told Daily Mail Australia they were happy to be back in Sydney

Jade, who arrived mid-morning from Melbourne, said her Qantas flight had been half-full with all middle seats empty.

'I'm in Sydney for two days for work,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I don't live in any of the virus hot spots, and I don't have symptoms so I think it's fine.'

Nick Kash, 19, flew from Melbourne where he studies at university, to Sydney for his grandfather's funeral.

'The middle seats were empty, which was great. It made me feel a bit more comfortable.

'The staff were handing out masks too. I recently flew from Brisbane to Victoria which was even better, it was a big international jet, so had loads of space.'

Aoieheann Murphy, who is from Ireland but lives in Sydney, said: 'I went to visit friends but we stayed in the house and didn't go anywhere. It definitely felt a bit different there, lots of things are closed and everyone is worrying.'

Kathy Hollis, 31, and Mitch Lawler, 36, flew to Melbourne for a funeral.

Rick Yeng, 30, was travelling for work as a videographer and had no choice but to attend a meeting in Sydney

'We certainly wouldn't have gone by choice,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It was definitely a little concerning with the outbreak there, but we had to go. We're definitely happy to be back.'

Mr Lawler added: 'The plane was pretty full, but they gave out masks and asked us to wear them which helped a bit.'

Rick Yeng, 30, was travelling for work as a videographer and had no choice but to attend a meeting in Sydney.

'I'm flying back to Melbourne again tonight. I wore a mask but not everyone did. I've flown a lot during COVID, all for work.'

'I was in Victoria for a funeral, she was my best friend so I had to go. I was worried on the flight, so I'm happy to be home.'

Victoria has seen a significant number of community transmissions over the past two weeks.

Two men ride the escalator at Sydney airport after arriving on the Virgin Australia flight from Melbourne

A group of people walk through the almost empty terminal at Sydney airport carrying backpacks

The six hotspots which have been identified are in the local government areas of Hume, Casey, Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin.

The spike saw NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian take a hardline on travellers arriving from Victoria, telling NSW tourism vendors to turn them away.

'I would definitely encourage organisations to consider who to allow on their premises and where they're coming from,' Ms Berejiklian said.

There were a lot of bags ready to be collected from baggage claim following the flights from Melbourne

'I call on all organisations not to interact with citizens from Melbourne at this stage.

'Have activity elsewhere and I note a number of organisations have already taken on that advice.

'And as for resorts and other locations in NSW, they are at liberty to accept or reject any traveller.'

VICTORIA'S SPIKE IN CORONAVIRUS CASES 23/6: 17 new cases 22/6: 16 21/6: 19 20/6: 25 19/6: 13 18/6: 18 17/6: 21 Source: Department of Health and Human Services Advertisement

NSW recorded 10 COVID-19 case - in a returned traveller in hotel quarantine - on Wednesday from 13,278 tests.

Some 3150 COVID-19 cases have been reported in NSW to date, with none in intensive care.

While thousands of Victorians hit the streets to protest as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, the state government has pointed the finger at families for Victoria's recent spike in infections.

Over the weekend, 44 new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the state, after Australia enjoyed weeks of single digit transmissions.

On Saturday, Victoria scrapped plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions after another double-digit rise in new cases.

'It is unacceptable that families anywhere in our state can, just because they want this to be over, pretend that it is,' Premier Daniel Andrews said.

'It is pretty clear that behind closed doors...they are not practising social distancing.'

Mr Andrews forcefully warned sick people against leaving their homes, saying just one person pretending everything is okay could infect many others.

'We simply can't pretend that the virus is gone, that the virus is somehow not in our state,' he said.

'It doesn't matter how many people are doing the wrong thing - everybody, everybody will pay the price if we get to a point where restrictions either localised or across the state need to be re-introduced.
Cameron Brown says a reporters spelling slip-up in Googling The Hunny Pots name highlights a key challenge for legal cannabis shops like the fifth location his Toronto-based chain just opened near Eastgate Square.

Type Honey Pot Stoney Creek in a web search, as the reporter did, and the top result is an online store touting itself as a professional medical marijuana dispensary.

The honey pot store website offers products not approved by Health Canada, and in far greater potencies and quantities than The Hunny Pot can sell.

They include triple strength gummies, pounds of pot, a half kilo of black Afghan gold hash for $4,000 and shatter, a highly concentrated extract smoked using a heated nail and pipe.

Apart from the name, the Honey Pots website is virtually identical to one for Georgia Peach, which ran four illegal shops in Hamilton before being shut down by police early last year. Both sites offer same-day delivery, with payment by e-transfer only.

Only the Honey Pot offers a phone number, and neither lists a physical address. Customers must register as members and provide personal contact details, but that appears to be about it.

Brown, spokesperson for The Hunny Pot, says legal stores are trying to push out such black-market competitors, but the inability to even advertise their existence is a major obstacle.

Georgia Peach distributed a flyer to Hamilton households earlier this year, for instance, and he says an illegal dispensary in Toronto has done likewise, offering a free pre-rolled joint for every three products ordered.

For the legal market to continue to be able to eat away at that, there has to be changes to marketing regulations, says Brown, whose Hunny Pot opened Ontarios first legal store in Toronto on April 1, 2019.

Legalization has evolved since then with the addition of edibles, oils and drinks last October, he says, and prices have gradually dropped to meet or beat illegal competitors, with a top brand of weed selling for just over $3.25 per gram for a 28-gram bag.

These are competitive prices, but the ability to not say that out loud and to say there are other options for you has definitely limited the exposure to come to the legal market, Brown says. These are safe and tested products by Health Canada as well.

Cabbage Brothers in Dundas  initially called Hello Cannabis  became Hamiltons second legal shop, opening on April 26, 2019, after winning one of 25 licences in an Ontario-wide lottery.

Three more shops have followed since the province moved to an open application process in January, with about another three dozen Hamilton applications awaiting decisions.

Oliver Coppolino, general manager at Cabbage Brothers, says the experience so far has been a bit of a roller-coaster, especially with COVID-19, which temporarily forced stores to close and then move to delivery and curbside pickup.

But he says the fully reopened shop is thriving, drawing customers from the Waterloo area and beyond, despite real organized crime competitors like Georgia Peach, which brazenly put lawn signs in a grassy area in front of his store last summer.

Coppolino says although illegal weed remains readily available, his shops customers are increasingly interested in the finer details of their purchases beyond simple potency, like taste, smell, type of high and extraction processes for oils and extracts.

Unlike illegal ones, edibles, beverages and other products are capped at 10 mg of THC per package, he says, but lower potency is a sensibly cautious approach, given many people may be new to them.

You know that theres consistency, he says. You can feel very confident that out of the two chocolates you buy, if theyre both 10 milligrams and theyre the same product, theyre going to be equal strength. Youre not going to find one completely destroys you and the other one doesnt actually seem to have anything in it.

While Cabbage Brothers has had little legal competition since opening, Coppolino says he isnt worried about the three dozen proposed stores saturating the Hamilton market, even if all are approved.

There is more than enough business in Hamilton to support 30 stores. How many convenience stores are there in Hamilton, how many liquor stores are there in Hamilton? he says.

Its a different animal obviously than either of those things, but theres a huge, huge market. But it comes down to will people buy it from the store or are they going to keep buying it from a delivery company or from their buddy who lives down the street.

The city and neighbours of two proposed Hamilton stores  at The Attic pizzeria in Stoney Creek, and a former variety store near Fiddlers Green Road and Hwy. 403 in Ancaster  would rather people buy at another legal shop.

But whether formal opposition to both bids will have any effect remains to be seen because the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has yet to reject a single store application since the province moved to an open market on Jan. 2.

AGCO spokesperson Raymond Kahnert says the 2018 Cannabis Licence Act sets out a two-stage approval process that starts with an application for a retail licence. Only one such application has been denied.

A successful licence applicant can move to the second stage and apply for up to 10 stores, which can be located anywhere other retail operations are permitted if at least 150 metres away from schools.

Kahnert says the law specifies three matters of public interest the AGCOs Registrar can consider when making a ruling: protecting public health and safety, protecting youth and restricting their access to cannabis, and preventing illicit activities in relation to cannabis.

The Registrar also considers comments from the municipality and residents during a 15-day public notice process, he adds.

While we do not publish a list those who are not eligible or are refused an authorization, the AGCO will only license applicants who meet all legal and regulatory requirements, Kahnert says.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With legal cannabis being available in Hamilton for over a year, we wanted to examine the past, present and future of the industry and its impact on our communities. Tomorrow we look at what the future may hold for cannabis retail in Hamilton.
The Kentucky primary race between Democratic candidates to decide who takes on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November is too close to call, NBC News projected. Amy McGrath, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel, had a slight edge in a tougher-than-expected challenge from state Rep. Charles Booker. With less than 10 percent of the vote at 11:30 p.m. ET, McGrath led Booker by slightly over 2,000 votes. Those votes include only ones cast at the polls Tuesday; none of the mail-in ballots have been counted yet.

Amy McGrath address supporters after her loss during her Election Night Event at the EKU Center for the Arts on November 6, 2018 in Richmond, Kentucky. Jason Davis | Getty Images

Kentucky State Representative and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Charles Booker greets John Wright, of Louisville, during a campaign stop on the day of the primary election in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. June 23, 2020. Bryan Woolston | Reuters
The temperature in Verkoyansk, Russia, which lies in the eastern part of Siberia just north of the Arctic Circle, was recorded Saturday at 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (37.3 degrees Celsius), more than 32 degrees above the citys average temperature in June. This is the hottest temperature ever recorded in Siberia as well as the hottest temperature to date recorded in the Arctic itself.

Such records are becoming increasingly common as global warming continues unabated. Data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted earlier in the year that 2020 began with the hottest January so far recorded, 2.05 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average. The year as a whole is expected to be among the five hottest since measurements began.

Scientists have issued repeated warnings for decades that the current trends in Earths changing climate are already having devastating consequences for the worlds population while at the same time becoming more catastrophic. In Siberia, for example, the increasingly high average temperatures across the region have caused the permafrost to thaw in some areas. People living in the town of Zyryanka have been forced to move away in recent years to escape once solid ground turning into a series of bogs and swamps. The flooding farmland has destroyed livelihoods in the region and threatens to sink buildings and other infrastructure into the deepening layer of mud.

Polyus Kholoda, Pole of Cold of the northern hemisphere, monument at the entrance of Verkhoyansk, which recorded a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (37.3 degrees Celsius) on Saturday (Wikimedia Commons).

The melting permafrost has another consequence: the release of masses of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As the ground thaws, frozen animals from the previous ice age, including woolly mammoths, begin to decay and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. At the same time, methane trapped by the slow rot of plant and animal matter over millennia is released. Methane is a greenhouse gas that traps heat 80 times more effectively than carbon dioxide.

Thawing permafrost in the Arctic is one of several tipping points described by British climatologist Timothy Lenton in an article from April published in the journal Nature. Lenton and his colleagues make clear that the most catastrophic climate scenariosoceans suddenly rising tens of meters, the loss of the Amazon rainforestare likely to occur if current greenhouse gas emission trends from human activity continue.

The concept of tipping points was introduced by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change two decades ago to describe large-scale discontinuities in Earths climate. At the time, they were only considered likely if Earths climate warms by more than 5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, but more recent data indicates that such tipping points could occur at only 1 or 2 degrees of warming. Earths surface has already warmed by 1.1 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

The reason the temperature limits were reduced is that more sophisticated modeling and data collected since the initial report show that certain natural processes, once triggered by human activity, trigger other natural processes over which humans have little to no control. One such datum is the temperature record at Verkoyansk, which was not predicted to happen for another 80 years.

Thawing permafrost, happening now, can lead to a sudden and massive release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which can trigger a sharp spike in warming despite human intervention, leading to more thawing in a continuing loop. At the same time, Antarctic land ice melts into the oceans, causing sea levels to rise more rapidly.

This danger of a Hothouse Earth was made explicit by one of Lentons colleagues, Will Steffen, in a 2018 journal paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The work found that even if the nominal target of keeping global warming below 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius is met, we cannot exclude the risk that a cascade of feedbacks could push the Earth System irreversibly onto a Hothouse Earth pathway.

The dangers cannot be overstated. Such a world would face sea-level rises of tens of meters, wiping out coastal regions the world over and forcing billions of people to flee or be drowned. Forest fires would rage unchecked around the world and the tropical rain forests in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia would collapse. Hurricanes and typhoons would become more destructive. Coral reefs and oceanic plankton would die off en masse, collapsing the worlds food chain. At least one million of Earths species would die, and continent-scale portions of the worlds surface would become uninhabitable, as the planets surface starts to mirror the hellish landscape of Venus.

Current efforts to prevent such an apocalyptic scenario fall far short. Even if the national pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the much-lauded Paris Accord are achieved, Earths average surface temperature will likely warm 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. This in itself reveals the bankruptcy of supposedly left politicians around the world, including former French President Francois Hollande and former US President Barack Obama.

In a contradictory way, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic also revealed the emptiness of calls by the psuedo-lefts and Greens for the worlds population to change its lifestyle and by the Malthusians to reduce the worlds surplus population. During the peak of the shutdowns caused by the pandemic in March and April, global emissions fell by 17 percent, far less than needed to avert a climate catastrophe. This is a crude but effective demonstration that simply stopping human activity is not enough to halt or reverse the climate crisis.

In fact, what is necessary is internationally coordinated and scientifically guided human activity, implementing a program on a world scale to reorganize energy, transportation and agriculture so that Earths climate is stabilized and the worst scenarios avoided. Such actions in turn involve a fight by the working class against the shackles of the nation-state system and the private ownership of productionagainst the entirety of the world capitalist system.
A medical worker holds samples taken for Covid-19 tests in HCMC, April 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

A boy who was found to have Covid-19 on arriving from Russia last month has recovered, bringing down Vietnams active cases to 20.

The Health Ministry confirmed on Tuesday the one-year-old boy was Covid-19-free.

The toddler had arrived at Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh on May 13 by a special Vietnam Airlines flight, and quarantined in Hai Duong Province.

He was admitted to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hai Duong on May 28 after testing positive for the coronavirus thrice.

He is in stable condition now but will remain at the hospital for monitoring for another 14 days.

Vietnam has so far had 349 Covid-19 cases, with 329 patients recovering and the remaining 20 getting treatment in hospital. It has gone 69 days without community transmission.

The most critical patient, a British pilot, has made great progress, and doctors are preparing to discharge him from Ho Chi Minh Citys Cho Ray Hospital, where he has been treated for other serious health issues after recovering from Covid-19 more than a month ago.

The pandemic has affected over 210 countries and territories, with almost 480,000 deaths reported.
UK adults are now spending more than a quarter of their waking day online thanks to the coronavirus lockdown  the highest figure on record.

People in the UK aged 18 and over spent an average of just over four hours a day online during lockdown, broadcast regulator Ofcom has revealed.

The figures come from its latest Online Nation report for April, which polled respondents at the height of the Covid-19 lockdown in the UK.

The results provide a snapshot of Brits' reliance on the internet to keep us occupied in the midst of lockdown measures, which are being eased again on July 4.

However, Ofcom believes the lockdown could leave a 'lasting digital legacy' that makes us even more tied to our screens than before.

Adults spending record four hours a day online on average, due to the changes brought on by the coronavirus

More people have learnt to use social media platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp to keep in touch, while video chat service Zoom could see sustained peaks in user numbers if employees opt to keep working from home post-pandemic.

Lockdown has also meant we're turning to digital platforms to create and share our own homemade video content, while one in three of us are now opting for online television over traditional broadcast TV.

'Coronavirus has radically changed the way we live, work and communicate online, with millions of people using online video services for the first time,' said Yih-Choung Teh, Ofcom's director of strategy and research.

'As the way we communicate evolves and people broaden their online horizons, our role is to help ensure that people have a positive experience, and that they're safe and protected.'

Twice as many people in the UK are using video calls to keep in touch with friends and colleagues during lockdown

Ofcom said the average of just over four hours a day online by UK adults is up from the 3.5 hours recorded in September last year.

According to the report, UK visitors to video-sharing app TikTok have more than doubled  from 5.4 million in January to 12.9 million in April.

The proportion of UK adults online making video calls has also doubled during lockdown, with seven in 10 people now using such services at least weekly.

This increase has been most noticeable among older internet users, Ofcom said, many of whom have turned to the technology for the first time.

The proportion of Brits aged 65 and over making at least one video call a week has jumped from 22 per cent in February to 61 per cent in May.

Meanwhile, Houseparty, the app which combines group video-calls with games and quizzes, grew from 175,000 adult visitors in January to 4 million in April.

One in three adults now watch online video more than traditional TV on platforms such as YouTube and Netflix

A NATION OF 'CONTENT CREATORS' Sites and apps such as YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, which allow people to create, upload and share videos online, have 'never been so popular', Ofcom said. Nine in 10 online adults, and almost all older children aged 8-15, used at least one of these websites and apps in the last year. About a third (32 per cent) of online adults now spend more time viewing video-sharing services than broadcast television. 40 per cent of adults and 59 per cent of older children who use video-sharing sites and apps now create and upload their own videos, driving an explosion in short-form, user-generated content. Advertisement

But Ofcom said the biggest increase was seen on video conferencing platform Zoom, which rose from 659,000 UK users in January to 13 million in April.

The video platform has been one of the most popular services globally during the pandemic, as millions looked for ways to work and study from home, as well as catch up with friends and family.

The coronavirus has also turned the UK into a 'nation of content creators' as more people are creating and sharing video content.

Meanwhile, 32 per cent of online adults now spend more time viewing video-sharing services than broadcast television.

The report also highlighted a change in communication habits, with people moving away from established forms of communication, such as landline calls and SMS messages, in favour of platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

Online voice calls on such platforms are now nearly as popular as mobile phone calls, it said.

Ofcom has also flagged its concerns over online safety, especially for young children who are suddenly using video and messaging apps to keep in touch with friends and keep up with school assignments.

87 per cent of adults said they had concerns over children using video-sharing websites and other apps such as TikTok, WhatsApp and Instagram.

Although trust in sites to remove illegal and harmful content has risen among UK adults, more than half  57 per cent  of adults said they support greater regulation of such platforms.

Ofcom said it is ready to issue fines and penalties against social media firms, MPs have been told

However, this figure is down on 64 per cent who said they supported greater regulation in 2019.

Ofcom said on Tuesday that it is prepared to issue strong penalties against social media firms that fail in their duty of care to users.

Internet platforms could face fines and 'sanctions for directors' if the body is appointed online regulator, its chief executive has told MPs.

Dame Melanie Dawes, chief executive of Ofcom since February this year, said financial penalties need to be part of the sanctions included in Online Harms regulation currently being prepared by the government.

She also said that Ofcom could use existing penalties such as a disruption of service temporarily' against sites who fail to protect users.

Dame Melanie praised social media platforms, however, acknowledging them as a 'lifeline' for young people during lockdown and enabling them to stay in touch with family and friends.
Get it off my chest time

Remember everything is interconnected as it is being done

Russians should not waste their time on any agreements with USA. Whats the point having an agreement (any agreement) and complying with it, when the Americans do not bother and are in habit of abandoning literally all agreements at will when they want to play games? Chinese are quite pragmatic in what and how they do things

https://time.com/5857909/us-russia-nuclear-talks/

And this is the real reason that China is now the main target of Neocons. It is the only large country with any liquidity able and willing to invest in countries that we in the U.S. unjustly target. China is the only country buying oil from Venezuela, Iran, and now trying to do business with Lebanon and it infuriates the supremacists in the USA. And it is why I am basically called and considered a traitor

I do not want a world where the U.S. can unilaterally prevent any country from being able to trade or have access to its own bank accounts just because we feel like doing it to them. I do not want a world that a superpower just ignores rules and regulations as it seems fit

When we compare the leaders of Hezbollah, Iran, China or Russia with the low life politicians that nationalism/democracy/capitalism has brought to power in the West (and to its game played so called allies, we easily explain the radical turn that is taking the course of history right now

I really lost it when we bragged and threatened how we were able to prevent tankers from Malta and Singapore from shipping Venezuelan oil, oh wow, the great and powerful U.S. bullying the smallest countries on earth. This will make July 4, 2020 very special to me, Ill be celebrating that accomplishment. These Neocons are sick in the head and many many more are dancing their tune

And it is why I am basically a traitor.

The machinery of our government has been hijacked by a well-organized horde of power-mad, psychopathic sociopaths

I am far from a traitor in my thoughts. I am wanting my country to lead by example, a good honest example, not leading with a strong arm and crushing counties that it deems opponents, that are false opponents to its Empire, through and by illegal and immoral methods

America/USA is simply the most evil nation that has ever existed on this planet to this point. It makes the Third Reich appear quite sane and moderate by comparison, and Hitler a rank amateur if not a choirboy

Over the past 70 years, America has butchered, slaughtered, starved and immiserated hundreds of millions across the planet, and reduced ancient cultures back to the Stone Age. It is continuing to do so on a daily basis, constantly seeking out new victims. It is like a rabid dog that simply has to be put down for the sake of the rest of humanity. There is no alternative

America Delenda Est. in its form as it stands now. For the people of the USA and the peace of the world

There will be no peace or justice anywhere in the world until that happens. Its as basic as that

Over 40% of humanity is now directly subject to US economic terrorism, which is being extended even to its most abjectly servile satellites, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Japan

Nothing will change until Americans have to watch their own children starving in front of them and dying for lack of basic medicine. This literally needs to happen. They will never finally clean up their act until they are starving and freezing in the rubble of their ruined cities, like the Germans & others before them in 1945

Americans are just cogs in a vast machinery of evil, whether they realize it or not (we approvingly help turn that cog.) The jackboot has to be finally be removed from the neck of humanity. Whatever Americans suffer will be more richly deserved than anything else in history (for we have spanned the globe, not just a huge swath of land.) Wherewith, a very weighty account is to be settled with compound interest for 70 plus years of egregious crushing of innocents all around the world

We Americans are at fault much more than the rest of the world. Yet I still blame Russia, China, European areas and simply the whole world also, everyone sits by and watches it all happen. Everyone loves to worship money and money is the GOD we worship

But and yet, there are signs that changes are closer than anyone realizes. America is on the verge of economic and financial collapse, which is why its looting and extortion of other countries has reached unprecedented levels. Political, social, cultural, racial and moral disintegration. The end can come with unexpected rapidity, as the collapse of other regimes in history will attest to. Few world wide would mourn its passing. Other than the ones within the Empire as they have lost their playtime among the sandbox children..

To those who find this too extreme, I would just say remember half a million children under 5 yr who starved and died in Iraq. And all the millions of others across the world. And the millions of children they are actively planning to slaughter in the future. e.g it is clear knowledge that they want to crush North Korea, Iran, Russia, China and dozens more.sanctions kill and hurt more than just the country they are imposed upon. Never forget that humans like you and I, live there also. We all suffer when financial sanctions and blockades are imposed upon the place you live, work and play

This has to be stopped

Can anyone seriously doubt that the world would be an immeasurably better place right now if America detached itself from the planet and floated off into outer space?

Seriously, if you traveled the world as I do.you would find a very very beautiful and wonderful world. Exceptions in small areas of it, yet the exceptions are a far cry better than the huge 800 lb Gorilla sitting in the corner waiting to rip your head off. Because he can

Russia needs to keep walking away from the Western Empire and as with China.it is time to ignore that US Gorilla and cut off its supplies of cheap goods.no matter what the cost in the short term

Let the USA lay wallowing in its self-pity, blaming others, immoral acts and see if it can garner the ability again to pull itself out of the quagmire it has put itself into. Yes we all helped do it, us Americans, as we party liked no tomorrow

Remember everything is interconnected as it is being done

WtR
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.
As the coronavirus spreads, soaring demand for oxygen is bringing out a stark global truth: Even the right to breathe depends on money. In much of the world, oxygen is expensive and hard to get  a basic marker of inequality both between and within countries.

In wealthy Europe and North America, hospitals treat oxygen as a fundamental need, much like water or electricity. It is delivered in liquid form by tanker truck and piped directly to the beds of coronavirus patients. Running short is all but unthinkable for a resource that literally can be pulled from the air.

But in poor countries, from Peru to Bangladesh, it is in lethally short supply. The result is that the poor and the unlucky are left gasping for air.

Read the full story:

Here's an update on all developments. Scroll or swipe further for in-depth coverage.
RALEIGH, N.C. - After nearly dying in a car crash six years ago, western North Carolina congressional candidate Madison Cawthorn already has learned many life lessons by age 24.

There is no time to wait, Cawthorn said in a recent interview. Life is precious and it can be taken away at any time.

So when Rep. Mark Meadows shocked Republican activists by announcing the day before filing ended in December that he wouldnt run, Cawthorn jumped in the race at the last minute to succeed him. Now Cawthorns the one whos jolted the political establishment, winning the GOP nomination in a Tuesday runoff by soundly beating the candidate endorsed by both Trump and Meadows, who is now the presidents chief of staff.

Cawthorn, who now uses a wheelchair because hes partially paralyzed, has built a strong following rapidly with a compelling story, a Libertarian-style focus on freedom and hopes among Republicans that he can attract millennial voters.

We just have a much more compelling message that resonated with people, he told The Associated Press after his nearly 2-to-1 victory over Lynda Bennett on Tuesday.

Cawthorn, who reaches the constitutionally-mandated minimum age of 25 to serve in the House on Aug. 1, would become one of its youngest members in U.S. history if he wins the general election in the Republican-leaning 11th District against Democratic nominee Moe Davis and others. The youngest current member of Congress, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, is 30.

Cawthorn blitzed Bennett on Tuesday, even though she had been the top vote-getter in the original 12-candidate primary in March and had support from the political arms of the House Freedom Caucus that Meadows once led. While Cawthorn got support from a super PAC run by allies of Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, supporters said it was his ground game and personality that made the runoff a rout.

Madison connects with people. He listens to them and people like him. Its not magic, Merry Guy, chairwoman of the Republican Party in Henderson County, where Cawthorn lives, said on Wednesday. When you talk about life experience, hes gone through a lot of things none of us hopefully ever have to go through.

Cawthorn was 18 when he was critically injured in 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida, after a car he was riding in struck a concrete pylon. Now paralyzed from the abdomen down, Cawthorn has started a real estate investment company and gives motivational talks. Cawthorn pointed to Meadows as a mentor, someone who had nominated him for a Naval Academy appointment before the accident and whom he worked for later.

In an introductory campaign video, the first-time candidate described himself as an eighth-generation resident of the district who also knew how to attract young people to the GOP.

I represent an emerging generation of Americans who are tomorrows leaders, most of whom think the Republicans dont care about the disenfranchised, the hurting and those less fortunate. But nothing can be farther from the truth, he said.

Bennett and Cawthorn basically had the same conservative platform on abortion and gun rights and both were ardent supporters of Trump, who called Cawthorn on Tuesday night. But it was Bennett who got the presidents endorsement. That wasnt surprising given that Meadows is now his top White House adviser and once closest ally in Congress.

The presidents campaign tried quickly on Wednesday to jettison his runoff decision: The campaign is excited to see a strong candidate and rising star have such a strong result last night, spokesman Tim Murtaugh said. We are excited to stand side by side with him to fight for the future of our country.

The circumstances in which Bennett got into the race likely contributed to Cawthorns resounding victory, said Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University. Meadows 11th-hour announcement that he wouldnt run shut out candidates already running for other offices. Bennett, a friend of Meadows wife and Haywood County GOP official, announced her candidacy within a few hours of his announcement.

Trumps endorsement failed to help Bennett because it reminded local activists of the candidacy flap, Cooper said.

Still, Cawthorn is an attractive candidate. Hes a dynamic speaker, hes got a good story, Cooper said.

Others believe Bennetts defeat is an electoral warning for Trump, who won North Carolina by 4 percentage points in 2016. Mike Madrid, a Republican strategist and adviser for the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, said while Cawthorn may become a notable part of the conservative movement, Madrid said, his victory wasnt ideological at all. This was about Trump.

Cawthorn still has the general election, where the Democrat Davis can promote his long career as an Air Force officer, including time as the former chief prosecutor for military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Davis said in a statement after Cawthorns victory: No one in the service starts at the top and I dont think the people of western North Carolina believe a congressional seat should be handed to someone like a graduation present.

___

Associated Press writers Bryan Anderson in Raleigh and Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this report.
French President Emmanuel Macrons support for Egypts threat to intervene militarily against the Italian-backed Turkish intervention in Libya marks a major escalation of the nine-year imperialist carve-up of Libya launched by the 2011 NATO war.

Africa is facing a surge of the COVID-19 pandemic: it took 98 days from the first reported case to the first 100,000 cases, but it took only 18 days to double to 200,000. Libya is located, moreover, between two of Africas worst-hit countries: Egypt (with 57,000 cases) and Algeria (12,000). Yet instead of working to send food and medical supplies to Africa, where millions also face famine due to the pandemics disruption of agriculture and trade, the major powers are threatening to intensify the nine-year intervention into an all-out regional and even global war.

On June 21, Egypts bloodstained dictator, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, threatened to intervene in Libya to defend warlord Khalifa Haftars forces against the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). Speaking while inspecting troops at a military base near the Libyan border, he warned that a GNA capture of Sirte, a strategic town and gateway to Libyas oil industry, would be a red line.

Any direct intervention from the Egyptian state has now acquired international legitimacy, Sisi said. He told Egyptian air force pilots and special forces units: Be prepared to carry out any mission, here inside our bordersor if necessary, outside our borders.

Echoing the rhetoric he used to justify a 2013 coup against Islamist President Mohamed Mursi and the savage repression of a two-year revolutionary upsurge of the working class in Egypt, Sisi said Egypt would intervene in Libya in self-defense against direct threats from terrorist militias and mercenaries. He added: 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.

The target, Egyptian officials made clear, is the Turkish intervention in Libya, launched in January, to support the UN-recognized GNA against Haftars forces. The aim is deterrence: Egypt does not want a single Turk to cross the line into eastern Libya, Ziad Akl of Egypts Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies told Londons Financial Times.

The French government, which together with Russia, the UAE and Egypt has backed Haftar in Libya, promptly intervened to declare its support for Cairo in the war. Speaking alongside Tunisian President Kais Saied at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, Macron accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government of playing a dangerous game in Libya. This comes shortly after a dangerous confrontation between French and Turkish warships in the Mediterranean.

With brazen hypocrisy, Macron, who has helped oversee Egyptian, UAE and Russian arming of Haftar, denounced Turkey for intervening in the country. Calling for the belligerents to cease fire, he demanded the reunification of Libyan institutions and the launching of reconstruction in the interests of all Libyans. He continued, This is a hard road requiring all of us to show responsibility, end foreign intervention and end unilateral actions by those who hope to win new positions through war.

Macron then promptly endorsed Sisis threat to intervene militarily in Libya, saying he understood the legitimate concern of President Sisi as he sees troops arriving on his border. This was yet another lie. GNA troops are not at the Egyptian border, but in central Libya, threatening to overrun Sirte and key oil fields and refineries taken over by French oil firm Total after the 2011 war.

Finally, Macron repeated his remarks last autumn, blaming the NATO alliance for being brain dead and unable to coordinate common action between its members. The ostensible target of his anger was Turkey, which has armed the GNA with drones and helped it turn back Haftars attack on Libyas capital, Tripoli. However, Macrons comment was also a barely veiled attack on Italy and on the rest of the NATO alliance, which has largely declined so far to publicly take sides in the mounting inter-imperialist conflict between France and Italy in the Mediterranean.

Italy, the former colonial power in Libya, whose oil firm ENI has taken over GNA-held oil fields in western Libya, is working closely with Turkey. On June 19, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio went to Ankara to meet his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, and discuss the Libyan war. Di Maio and Cavusoglu then held a press conference where di Maio called for cooperation, not conflict between NATO member states in the region.

We are thankful to Italy for not siding with putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar in Libya, unlike many other countries, Cavusoglu said. He added that Italy and Turkey would cooperate not only on meeting Libyas energy needs, but also on mounting Turkish-Greek conflicts over natural gas deposits in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ankara has increased its efforts to get support from Washington for its policy in Libya. On June 8, Erdogan called US President Donald Trump over Libya, after which Cavusoglu declared, We received instructions [from Erdogan] to work together with their US counterparts.

What is unfolding in Libya is the direct result of the bloody imperialist war waged by the NATO powers in 2011 against oil-rich Libya. Terrified by revolutionary uprisings of the working class in neighboring Egypt and Tunisia, the NATO powers led by France, Britain and the United States launched a war on Libya under the cynical pretext of intervening to protect Libyan protesters from Colonel Muammar Gaddafis regime. Arming Islamist and tribal militias as proxies, they bombed Libyan cities and in six months toppled and destroyed the Libyan government.

This operation was marketed to the European and American public as a war for democracy by petty-bourgeois pseudo-left operatives like the French New Anti-capitalist Partys (NPA) Olivier Besancenot, who demanded that French intelligence arm Libyans against Gaddafi. Besancenot has been thoroughly exposed by what followed as a stooge of imperialism and a propagandist for French oil interests.

The NATO war quickly led to the disintegration of Libya into civil war between rival Islamist and tribal militias, loosely overseen by a succession of UN-backed governments or warlords like Haftar. NATO powers divided up what they could salvage of Libyas oil industry and set up concentration camps for migrants where they face murder, sexual assault and being sold into slavery. Over the last years, moreover, the conflicts among the imperialist powers over who would profit from the rape of Libya has only grown bloodier and more dangerous.

The European media repeatedly criticized the Russian intervention to back the ostensibly secular warlord Haftar, in the context of the post-Soviet Russian regimes hostility to all manifestations of Islamism and its military intervention against the NATO proxy war in Syria. There is clearly deep frustration in the imperialist capitals of Europe at the mounting role Russia and Turkey play across the region. However, a pall of silence generally covers the underlying rivalry between the NATO imperialist powers and transnational corporations over the division of the spoils.

This rivalry briefly emerged into view last year, when France withdrew its ambassador to Rome in protest and warned that Franco-Italian relations were at their lowest point since fascist Italys invasion of France in 1940, during World War II. While these differences were patched over, the conflicts inside NATO have only continued to mount. They underlay both this winters Libyan conference in Berlin, and the recent declaration of a top French general that France must prepare for major, state on state conflicts.

The way forward is the independent political mobilization of the working class in an international anti-war movement. The neo-colonial appetites of the European powers and the various Middle East bourgeois proxies through which they workin Egypt, Turkey, or inside Libyaare all unflaggingly reactionary.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the horrific failure of the ruling classes around the world to adopt policies halting its spread are further, unanswerable proof of the need for workers internationally to return to the revolutionary road opened by Tunisian and Egyptian workers a decade ago.
[June 24, 2020] Insight Select Income Fund Declares Quarterly Dividend

Dividend Declaration The Insight Select Income Fund (INSI) (the "Fund") today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 on June 24, 2020. The total distribution of $0.20 will be payable on July 29, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 17, 2020, with an ex-dividend date of July 16, 2020. The Fund's last four quarterly dividend payments from ordinary income equates to approximately $0.8316 per share. The Fund is a diversified closed-end management investment company whose investment objective is to seek a high rate of return, primarily from interest income and trading activity, from a portfolio principally consisting of debt securities. The Fund will also seek capital appreciation principally by purchasing debt securities at prices that the Adviser believes are below their intrinsic value. The Fund will also look to benefit from trading securities to optimize the risk adjusted yields in the Fund. Insight North America LLC, the Fund's investment adviser, provides fixed income asset management to a variety of instittional clients including corporations, governmental entities, employee benefit plans, private funds and registered investment companies.



This press release is not for tax reporting purposes but is being provided to announce the amount of the Fund's distribution that have been declared by the Board of Trustees. A portion of the Fund's current distribution may include sources other than net investment income, including a return of capital. Investors should understand that a return of capital is not a distribution from income or gains of a Fund. As required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, a notice with the estimated components of the distribution will be sent to shareholders at the time of payment if it does not consist solely of net investment income. The notice should not be used to prepare tax returns as the estimates indicated in the notice may differ from the ultimate federal income tax characterization of distributions. After the end of each calendar year, investors will be sent a Form 1099-DIV informing them how to report distributions received during that year for federal income tax purposes. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005839/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda on Wednesday criticised the Congress for questioning the governments stand on the standoff between Indian and Chinese border troops in Ladakh.

In a series of tweets, Nadda lashed out at the Congress and said it is the oppositions right to ask questions, and the all-party meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week saw healthy deliberations with several opposition leaders giving their valuable inputs.

Nadda said while the opposition fully supported the Centre in determining the way ahead, some leaders had opted for a different path.

One family was an exception. Any guesses who? he tweeted without giving names, though he appeared to be targeting the Gandhi family.

The BJP and the Congress have engaged in verbal duels over the violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakhs Galwan Valley on June 15, which led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers.

The BJP-led NDA government has maintained there were no incursions and only transgressions across the LAC, the Congress has demanded to know why there is ambiguity in the governments stance on what transpired along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

A day after the Congress at its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting blamed the Centres mismanagement for a full blown crisis on the borders with China, Nadda retaliated by tweeting, Due to the misadventures of one dynasty: we lost thousands of square kilometres of land. The Siachen glacier was almost gone. And much more. No wonder India has rejected them.

Nadda said a rejected and ejected dynasty is NOT equal to the entire opposition. One dynastys interests are not Indias interests. Today, the nation is united and supportive of armed forces. This is the time for unity and solidarity. Relaunch of the scion and for the nth time can wait.

In another tweet, he added, One royal dynasty and the loyal courtiers have a grand delusions of the opposition being about one dynasty. A dynast throws tantrums and his courtiers peddle that fake narrative. Latest one relates to the opposition asking questions to the government.

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Sydney and Melbourne's rental markets are starting to loosen as the supply in each city continues to rise as demand depletes, according to the latest market report from CoreLogic.

According to CoreLogic, the share of advertised rental housing increased in the two cities in May, bucking the downtrend recorded by the rest of capital city regions.

The share of advertised rental stock increased to 4.5% in Sydney and to 3.6% in Melbourne.

Eliza Owen, head of residential research at CoreLogic, said while 3.6% appears small, it represents a total rent listing increase of more than 3,000 in Melbourne, which means there were 27,000 properties for rent over the month.

"An increase in the portion of stock on the market suggests higher vacancies and a looser rental market, which would coincide with falling rent prices," she said.

Also read: Big Changes To Tenancy Rules Kill Investor Demand?

Why the increase?

The increase in advertised rental stock was only apparent in Sydney and Melbourne. While rental markets across Australia have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, Owen said Sydney and Melbourne have to bear the brunt of these impacts.

Overseas migration is one of the biggest determinants of rental accommodation. Given the closure of borders and travel restrictions, demand for rental homes slowed down.

Of all capital cities, Sydney and Melbourne remain the top destination for overseas migrants. In fact, the two cities welcomed over 70,000 migrants over the financial year 2018-2019  this is significantly higher than the net migration recorded by other capital cities.

Owen said another reason was Sydney and Melbourne's exposure to international students.

"With foreign student numbers falling by close to 100% compared with a year ago, along with domestic students largely studying from home, rental demand from tertiary students has been depleted," she said.

It is also worth considering that New South Wales and Victoria make up the larger share of housing investments.

Owen said almost two-thirds of investment loans over the past 10 months originated in these two states. Investor activity, she said, contributes substantially to rental supply.

"When paired with the large number of units that have been built over the past few years, many of which are rentals, and it's clear that rental supply has increased more in Sydney and Melbourne relative to the other cities. Higher supply levels against a backdrop of weaker demand is a recipe for lower rents," Owen said.
WATERTOWN, Connecticut, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemon, a leading global network infrastructure specialist, today announced a key expansion to its family of cost-effective open rack and cable management solutions with the launch of its new Value Vertical Cable Manager (VVCM) system. Specifically developed to integrate with Siemon's 2-Post Value Rack, 19" Rack-Mount Horizontal Cable Managers, and pathway support accessories to provide a fully unified equipment mounting and cable management solution, these new high-capacity Vertical Cable Managers deliver a wide array of user-friendly features not typically available at such an aggressive price point.

Easily assembled in as little as 5 minutes, the new 7', 45U vertical managers mount directly to Siemon's 2-Post Value Rack (RS1-07-S) as well as other Siemon racking options for a rapidly-deployable rack and cable management system. Available in widths of 4" (10cm), 6" (15cm), 10" (25cm) and 12" (300cm), the VVCMs are offered in both single and double-sided versions to enable a broad range of infrastructure topologies, simultaneously supporting cord management for high-density patching fields, efficiently routing horizontal cables, mounting PDUs, and routing equipment power cords.

The VVCM's ability to simplify both the deployment and long-term management of critical network cabling infrastructures is based on a number of Siemon innovations and exclusive features. Unlike most contractor-grade vertical managers, which typically utilize difficult to operate snap-on covers, the Siemon VVCM line features dual-hinged doors with "one-finger" spring release clips at each corner. This user-friendly design allows the doors to be opened in either direction to improve pathway accessibility and are much simpler to open, close, remove, and re-attach than snap-on covers typically offered at this price point.

The VVCMs also feature Siemon's unique, high-capacity cable management finger design. Capable of managing large quantities of larger diameter cable and cords in high-density environments as challenging as 48-port, 1U Category 6A patch panels, the fingers align with each U space, providing clear pathways for transitioning into the vertical cable management space.

Within the vertical management space itself, the VVCM's highly versatile divider plate design provides an array of mounting options for cable management accessories and PDUs, including quarter-turn managers and hook and loop tabs for efficient cable routing and bundle separation, fiber spools for simple slack management, and standard PDU button mounts. The divider plates can also be reversed, allowing additional vertical space in either the front or rear of the manager as needed.

The VVCM line is delivered in ultra-compact, lightweight packaging to minimize shipping costs and storage space needs. Leveraging a half-height modular design, the VVCM ships flat-packed to simplify jobsite material handling, while still offering extremely fast, straightforward assembly.

"With the VVCM, we were able to meet the market need for a cost-effective, feature-rich vertical cable management solution," explained Peter Thickett, Siemon Product Manager - Data Center Systems. "Direct feedback from our installation partners and customers informed the whole project: 'fix the difficult to use snap-on covers on typical competitor products, make it easier to ship, store, and assemble, make it flexible enough to adapt to real-world applications, and make it affordable for day-to-day jobs.' We think we hit every mark."

Thickett also highlighted that while the VVCM offers a broad range of features and benefits by itself, its full value is realized when viewed as an element of Siemon's full Value Rack and Cable Management system. "The VVCM rounds out what was already a fairly comprehensive Value line of cost-effective cabling support solutions," he explained. "It was specifically designed to integrate with our 2-Post Value-Rack, Horizontal Cable Managers, and management accessories to deliver a completely unified, feature rich, and aggressively-priced equipment mounting and cable management solution."

For more details on Siemon's new Value Vertical Cable Manager, including a brief overview video, bill-of-material generator, spec sheets, and instructions, visit https://ecatalog.siemon.com/#/en/Racks-and-Cable-Mgmt/Cable-Management/Value-Vertical-Cable-Managers .

To learn more about Siemon's full line of contractor-focused Value Rack and Cable Management solutions, visit: https://ecatalog.siemon.com/#/en/Racks-and-Cable-Mgmt

About Siemon

Established in 1903, Siemon is an industry leader specializing in the design and manufacture of high quality, high performance IT infrastructure solutions and services for Data Centers, LANs and Intelligent Buildings. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, with global sales, technical and logistics expertise spanning 100 countries, Siemon offers the most comprehensive suites of copper and optical fiber cabling systems, cabinets, racks, cable management, data center power and cooling systems and Intelligent Infrastructure Management solutions. With more than 400 patents specific to structured cabling, Siemon Labs invests heavily in R&D and the development of Industry Standards, underlining the company's long- standing commitment to its customers and the industry. Through an ongoing commitment to waste and energy reduction, Siemon's environmental sustainability benchmarks are unparalleled in the industry, including 179% global carbon negativity and zero-landfill status.



Siemon Interconnect Solutions (SIS) is a Siemon business unit comprised of a team of dedicated technical sales professionals supported by Siemon Labs, mechanical, electrical and signal integrity engineers committed to solving industry and customer driven interconnect challenges. We provide custom network infrastructure solutions to: OEM's, Leading Manufacturers, Value-Added Resellers and System Integrators.
A worker takes a measurement as they prepare to box the Christopher Columbus statue in Marconi Plaza in Philadelphia, Pa. on June 16, 2020. Read more

Philadelphia city officials on Wednesday announced they intend to remove the statue of Christopher Columbus in Marconi Plaza, which has repeatedly attracted armed groups accused of assaulting protesters and passersby amid a national reckoning over monuments to controversial figures.

Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement Wednesday the city will ask the Art Commission on July 22 to approve the statues removal in light of ongoing public safety concerns about the presence of armed individuals at Marconi Plaza. The move came less than 24 hours after the most recent incident, in which a group of armed white South Philadelphians provoked a brawl with protesters supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

A spokesperson for the mayor said the decision was intended as a first step toward healing, adding: The mayor respects the liberties of people with opposing viewpoints to assemble and exercise their First Amendment rights.

She said the mayor takes reports of assault very seriously, including the physical confrontation Tuesday that resulted in four arrests, including a man charged after video showed him hurling racial slurs at a Black photographer and punching him in the jaw.

District Attorney Larry Krasner on Wednesday criticized the police response, saying, It is the role of government to be even-handed in trying to prevent violence on both sides and not to favor people who perhaps make Frank Rizzos acolytes feel comfortable, a reference to the former mayor and police commissioner.

The Columbus statue at Marconi Plaza has been boxed up since last week, when city officials announced they would open a public dialogue about what to do with the structure. Individuals may testify to the Art Commission, which is appointed by the mayor, at its meeting on July 22. Residents can submit their thoughts via an online form that will be open through July 21. Its not clear when the commission will decide.

The announcement comes as the nation grapples with commemorations to controversial figures, including in St. Paul, Minn., where earlier this month protesters dismantled a Columbus statue while demonstrating against the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by police officers in May in Minneapolis. Those defending the statue in South Philly say it celebrates Italian American heritage. Those against it say its a painful reminder of atrocities against Indigenous people directed by Columbus.

Donna Fann-Boyle, who is of Choctaw and Cherokee descent and led an effort asking the Neshaminy School District to change its mascot, said the Columbus statue represented a total denial of the terrorism that he caused.

Weve been trying to get this issue taken care of for years, she said, and its really sad that it had to take George Floyd for all this stuff to come to light.

Some supporters of the statue have repeatedly milled around the public plaza carrying weapons, claiming they were defending it from vandals. Observers said members of the group physically attacked people in mid-June, and a group Tuesday night brawled with protesters who marched to the plaza after a demonstration against racist vigilantes and their cop allies.

John Mooney, 58, was charged with ethnic intimidation, simple assault, reckless endangerment, and harassment for allegedly attacking Mel D. Cole, a Black hip-hop photographer. Police immediately arrested Mooney, however, Cole, recovering from the punch, was initially unsure whether an arrest had been made. He said he spent 10 minutes trying unsuccessfully to get a police officer to take a report, and later made a report at a nearby police district.

In a statement Wednesday, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said that, if thats the case, it would be highly reasonable and understandable for the victim to feel under-served by the officers to whom he attempted to make the report.

Officials havent named other individuals arrested Tuesday.

Mooney is one of at least three who have been charged with assault at Marconi Plaza this month. Louis Paolino, 51, of South Philadelphia, and T.J. Cahill, 51, of Northeast Philadelphia, were arrested June 16 on charges including harassment and simple assault.

Protesters and their supporters have slammed police for what they see as a too-lax response to the armed crowds.

 READ MORE: Protest observers say police allowed South Philly Columbus defenders to assault them

During a demonstration to defund the police Tuesday, speakers included Nikil Saval, a progressive Democrat who last month won the partys nomination to represent the 1st Senatorial District, which includes Marconi Plaza. He said crowds supporting the statue defended a delusional explorer and a genocidal maniac.

Supporters of the statue said their fight isnt over. In mid-June, a group of Italian American residents represented by attorney George Bochetto sought a court order to bar the city from removing the statue. The city said it would go through the Art Commission approval process.

 READ MORE: The fight over South Phillys Christopher Columbus statue has gone to court: Its not mob rule

But Bochetto said Wednesday: The mayor knows me better than to simply allow this issue to go to some kangaroo commission. He said he is researching all options including federal jurisdiction.

The statue has been at Marconi Plaza at Broad Street and Oregon Avenue since 1976. Previously, it stood in Fairmount Park.

 READ MORE: The Christopher Columbus statue: Why its an issue right now

If removed, it would be the second taken down by the city since the national uprising following Floyds death.

City officials in early June removed a statue of Rizzo from in front of the Municipal Services Building. The statue has been controversial since it was erected in 1999  while many white Philadelphians hailed Rizzo as a law and order type, his tenure was marked by unchecked police brutality.

 READ MORE: My eyes feel at peace now: Frank Rizzo mural is erased, as calls for racial justice bring change to Phillys Italian Market

The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation also is reconsidering a Columbus monument at Penns Landing. Crews last week covered the base of the monument and asked Philadelphians to write in chalk their hopes for the future of Philadelphia. Suggestions included no racism, equality and solidarity, and real brotherly love.

Staff writer Joseph N. DiStefano contributed to this article.


Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attends the Victory Day Parade to commemorate the 75th anniversary of victory of the Soviet People in the Patriotic War of 1941-1945, at Red Square in Moscow. A PTI Photo

MOSCOW (PTI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that he was proud that a contingent of the Indian Armed Forces was participating in the 75th Anniversary of Victory Day Parade here.



Singh 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.



"Attending the Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow today to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory of the Soviet People in the great Patriotic War of 1941-1945," Singh tweeted on Wednesday.



"I am proud that a Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces is also participating in this parade," he tweeted.



Pictures showed that social distancing being maintained at the Red Square where the parade will take place.



"Impressive turnout of the Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow is indeed an extremely proud and happy moment for me," Singh tweeted.



The Tri-service 75-member Indian military contingent is participating in the parade. The Indian team is participating alongside armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries, including China.



On Tuesday, he called on Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov and the two leaders held discussions on the bilateral relationship, regional issues, and reviewed the India-Russia defence cooperation.



Singh also conveyed his greetings for the solemn ceremonies of the 75th Victory Day and congratulated the "friendly" people of Russia, specially the veterans, who have contributed to the common security of India and Russia, an official statement said on Tuesday.



Russia postponed its military parade traditionally held on Moscow's Red Square on May 9 for a later date due to the coronavirus pandemic.



On May 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Victory Parade would be held on Moscow's Red Square on June 24, TASS news agency reported.



He explained that this was chosen because on June 24, 1945 the legendary historic parade of victors took place, when soldiers, who fought for Moscow and defended Leningrad, who stood their ground for Stalingrad, liberated Europe and stormed Berlin, marched on Red Square, the report added.



Singh is the first senior union minister to undertake a foreign visit in four months as international travels were restricted due to the corona virus pandemic.



Singh travelled by an Indian Air Force aircraft, while strictly following all laid precautions against the corona virus infection.


A demonstration at the base that formerly held the Confederate Navy Adm. Raphael Semmes statue resulted in at least one participant being arrested Tuesday for defacing public property.

The demonstration, which involved about a dozen people, occurred on the same day that the Mobile City Council expressed support for keeping the Semmes statue as a permanent display item at the nearby History Museum of Mobile.

But demonstrators say they want to see more done, including the removal of a plaque affixed to the base that recognizes the monument for Semmes. They also want to see a statue of a cannon, sponsored by the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, removed.

We are working on changing our city as a whole, said Dantjuan Miller, 24, of Mobile, who organized the event. The statue is gone but the base stands. We want the base and the cannon gone, too.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, following a council meeting last week, declined to say whether the city was prepared to remove the cannon as well. One thing at a time, he said. The Semmes statue was removed overnight on June 4, amid concerns that it could be damaged during a protest following the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis.

The demonstration was largely peaceful, with participants using sidewalk chalk to scrawl messages surrounding the monuments base. But police warned the group not to write on the monument after the message, Black Trans Lives Matter was added.

Shortly thereafter, a young Black man was arrested and spoke to his fellow participants that he wasnt sure what was going on. He said he added the message, Choices versus bias.

Some of the participants began shouting profanities at the police as the man was placed into a squad car.

This was the groups second effort at hosting a demonstration at the Semmes monument, which sits in a median at Government and Royal streets. An event that was supposed to occur last week ended after police told the group to leave because they were violating the citys noise ordinance.

Antonio Moore, 34, requested a waiver of the citys noise ordinance so the group to could hold the demonstration, and the request was approved by the council. Moore also claimed he had a permit to hold the demonstration inside the median.

Mobile City Councilman Fred Richardson said he wants to amend the citys ordinance to exempt peaceful protests for having to adhere to the citys noise ordinance, which prohibits noise from being heard 25 feet away.

Richardson said the ordinance was implemented about 10 years ago to limit loud music from peoples automobiles.

I think a peaceful protest ought to be exempt, he said.

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?
ERNAKULAM : Differences over covid-19 negative certificates have led to tensions in Kerala . The Union government has raised strong objections to the state governments direction that expats should have such certificates before flying into the state. The Centre has said that its objection is based on practical difficulties".

A final decision will be taken following discussions with the Centre over the next few days, Keralas chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday.

The move, the state government said, was to prevent those not exposed to the virus becoming infected on the plane, eventually increasing the caseload in Kerala. A lot of informal workers in the Gulf countries, where nearly 3 million Keralites work, live in congested spaces.

However, the Vijayan government is walking a tightrope. A U-turn may lead to an explosion of cases, as the influx of expats will dramatically increase. On the other hand, sticking to it has become a collision course with the Centre, not to mention mounting local opposition.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) told Keralas chief secretary Vishwas Mehta on Tuesday that the demand for a covid-19 negative certificate by the state is impractical. The MEA said that it consulted the Indian embassies in various countries on the matter. The Gulf countries, where Kerala has millions of expats, have in general said that conducting rapid tests will not be possible because of practical difficulties, it said.

The state had earlier announced that only expats who undergo testing before flying and are covid-negative will be allowed from Thursday onwards.

Internally, the officials are begging to take more drastic measures to not become another epicentre of the pandemic. But, Keralas Opposition has maintained that there is no cause for alarm, and resists such measures to slow the virus spread as it would severely inconvenience expats who want to return.

There is spiralling of cases, including those without a known source of infection. We cannot stand idle. That is why we raised the request for pre-flight covid-19 test certificates and wrote to the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the ministry of external affairs. However, MEA has informed the state chief secretary today that they contacted several embassies on the matter and it is practically difficult," said Vijayan.

He said testing was difficult in several Gulf countries, as explained by the MEA. The UAE is conducting rapid antibody tests. Qatar is using a mobile app that will give passengers a green status before flying out. In Kuwait, only two terminals (of two flight companies) have testing facilities currently, and it is being increased, but each test will cost (the passenger) around 1,000," said Vijayan.

The government is duty-bound to return home every expat who wants to return," he said.

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Christians a Welcome Scapegoat in Turkey

The persecution of Christians in Turkey continues. While the world is busy fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with mass unemployment and a global recession, the Turkish government is taking advantage of the situation to further pressure minorities. The marginalization of Turkey's Christians isn't new for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: He's been busy reorganizing his secular republic into a mixture of Ottomanism and Islam for some time now.

Recently, the Syriac-Aramaic Christians in the country's southeast, in particular, had to fear for their rights and property. This religious community is one of the world's oldest churches. Aramaic, the language the community uses in worship, is thought to have been spoken by Jesus Christ himself.

Systematic discrimination

Turkish authorities have started to simply assign land owned by a community or a private person to other owners, in effect expropriating it from the Christians. During the armed confrontation with the Kurds, churches in this part of the country have also been destroyed.

In the wake of the recent Turkish military offensive in northern Syria, some 200,000 people, many of them Christians, have been forced to flee their homes. They are currently unable to return due to the conflict.

Read more: War in Syria drives out Christian community

Erdogan has promised to let the churches be rebuilt. But the long-running and systematic discrimination against Turkey's Christian minority suggests he isn't really serious about reviving Christian religious life.

On trial for following his faith

Take the case of Sefer Bilecen. In January, the Syriac Orthodox priest from Mardin in southeastern Turkey was accused of being a member of a terrorist group. He is said to have given water and bread to Kurdish fighters who knocked at the gate of his monastery.

In his defense, the priest has argued that he would provide help to anyone who asked for it -- it's his Christian duty. He has since been released from prison after various aid organizations intervened, but is still on trial.

If Christians continue to be moved ever closer to Kurdish militias fighting the Turkish state, they are likely to be marginalized even further in the eyes of Erdogan's supporters -- about one out of every two Turks.

Erdogan's scapegoat

Step by step, using a nationalist and Islamic rhetoric, Turkey's Christians are becoming a welcome scapegoat for Ankara. Erdogan has miscalculated on various fronts in Syria and Libya, and is now looking for someone to serve as a distraction. The fate of Sefer Bilecen, who is still waiting for his verdict, mirrors that of a minority whose future in their homeland is anything but certain.

Alexander GArlach is a senior fellow with the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs and a senior research associate at the Religion & International Studies Institute at Cambridge University. He has also held several scholarly and advisory positions at Harvard University, National Taiwan University and the City University of Hong Kong. He holds doctorate degrees in comparative religion and linguistics.
He just wanted to bring home some milk.

But after a trip to a local grocer to pick up supplies for his twin children turned into a frantic, life-or-death situation, Justin Thomas came home a hero instead.

I just saw someone in need, Thomas said to Houstons KPRC. I didnt even think about it, I just jumped in to help.

The CPR-certified electrician says a woman at League City Kroger was on the floor and appeared to be in cardiac arrest.

Luckily, a medical and CPR background along with 10 years of service in the United States Coast Guard prepared Thomas for just this situation  and ready he was.

I heard someone scream out, so I moved toward the direction of the scream. Then I saw a lady splayed out on the floor, he said.

I came down on both knees, I looked at her and saw that her face was turning blue and I just quickly started administering CPR and started giving her chest compressions. I literally saw where her sternum was, Thomas added. I put my forearm with my fingers back and just started pumping her chest.

Thomas says he and another shopper continued to administer CPR and other life-saving efforts and keep the women breathing efforts until paramedics arrived and brought her to a hospital.

The doctors told her that if it wasnt for the quick actions, she wouldnt have made it, he told KPRC.

Thomas added that he was contacted by the family of the woman and they confirmed that she had indeed survived, thanks in large part to his hasty response to the situation. Hes urging other people to follow his lead and learn CPR because you'll never know when you might need those crucial skills.

So, what does it feel like to be a hero? Not quite as glamorous as you might think, perhaps.

Afterward was kind of strange, a strange feeling, Thomas told KPRC.

Like, I have all this adrenaline and I still have to go get the milk.

More of Whats Good:
Landed, a San Francisco, CA-based residential real estate company, raised USD$10.5m in Series A extension funding round.

The round, which brought the total funding to over USD$22m, was led by Omers Ventures with participation from existing investor Initialized Capital. In conjunction with the funding, Omers Ventures Managing Partner Michael Yang will join the Landed board.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations and its business reach.

Led by Alex Lofton, Landed offers a shared equity down payment program for essential employees  starting with educators  who wish to buy homes in the communities where they work, across the United States. Its down payment program invests alongside employees in education to help them reach a 20% down payment. Landeds funds, up to $120,000 per household, come in the form of an equity investment, meaning that homebuyers share in a portion of the gain  or loss, if any  of the value of the home once its sold or refinanced.

FinSMEs

24/06/2020
The Mysuru City Corporation on Wednesday ordered the closure of Devaraja Market, Santhepete, Shivaramapete, Mannars Market and Boti Bazaar for the next four days in view of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the district.

The markets will remain shut from June 25 for four days. The civic body will santise the market areas during this period and also put up social distancing markers wherever necessary.

The corporation has found an increasing number of new cases coming from areas close to these markets and hence, as a containment strategy, decided to close them for four days.

In the last 24 hours, Mysuru has seen 21 new cases taking the total number of cases in the district to 189.

As many as 110 patients have already recovered from the disease. Among those recovered, there are several belonging to a pharma company that saw over 50 of its employees testing positive to the virus.

The total number of active positive patients in Mysuru are 79 with no deaths reported.

On Monday, the state government took a decision to partially put five wards in Bengaluru under lockdown due to the growing cases emerging in the country's IT capital.

The citys oldest market KR Market and commercial areas in adjacent streets like Kalasipalya have been asked to keep its shops shut for 14 days.

The number of positive cases in Karnataka is nearing the 10,000-mark with 9,721 positive cases reported across the state. As many as 6,004 patients have recovered, taking the active cases tally to 3,653.
Plane carrying humanitarian cargo from China arrives in Ukraine

13:00, 24.06.20 642

This is the largest humanitarian aid cargo provided to Ukraine by the Chinese side to counter the spread of COVID-19.
 Flash

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.

One of the contributors to the Xinjiang stories was Wang Liqiang, who was reported by Australian media to have defected to Australia and confessed to have 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.

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.

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."
A month after George Floyd was killed, protesters  who sometimes clash violently with police  continue to fill the streets of Philadelphia and cities around the world. Ugh, no. Lets try that sentence again.

A month after police killed George Floyd, the streets of Philadelphia and cities around the world continue to be filled with sometimes violent clashes between police and protesters.

Maybe you learned growing up that you should avoid writing in the passive voice. But no one told you that doing so can be a matter of life and death. These two sentences are textbook examples of why: because passive voice eschews responsibility for action. The sentences are factually equal, but their active/passive-voice dance affects how you feel about what occurred.

George Floyd was killed is in the passive voice, which allows a grammatically correct sentence without assigning any agency  that is, without telling you who killed George Floyd. After the comma, however, the sentence switches to active voice: The protesters are the ones who clash violently and fill the streets. Protesters are bad, and police are off the hook.

Now look at the second sentence. Before the comma is active voice  police killed George Floyd  but then the second half switches to passive voice to favor the actions of the protesters.

Every article youve read for the last month has subtly shaped your perception of whats going on by performing this active/passive voice shift.

Take, for example, the New York Times. In a single article this week, the Times wrote:

George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, died in Minneapolis on Monday after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer  you have to get to the very end of a long sentence to learn that Floyd died under the knee of a police officer.

That night, hundreds of protesters flooded into the Minneapolis streets. Some demonstrators vandalized police vehicles  assigning responsibility to protesters through active voice.

In Indianapolis, a person was killed and three others injured after shots were fired at demonstrators  no agency for who committed the shooting at all.

Protesters clashed with the police  protesters, as the subject of the sentence, are responsible for clashing. Police are the object, and therefore not responsible and not accountable.

 READ MORE: Brawl ensues near South Philadelphia Columbus statue after march, protest at Municipal Services Building

Not to single out the Times. Over the last month readers could find similar examples in coverage from NPR (Peaceful Protesters Tear-Gassed to Clear Way for Trump Church Photo-Op), CNN (Kendrick Sampson says he was shot with rubber bullets), ABC News (Journalists have been arrested, tear gassed and more  sometimes live on air), The Hill (Both were shot with rubber bullets and faced the tear gas thrown at protesters near the White House), Salon (The protesters outside of the White House were shot with rubber bullets, choked with tear gas, and beaten by police), Fox News (Authorities deny tear gas used on protesters prior to Trumps walk to DC church), USA Today (Government agencies and protesters  are at odds over whether the chemical irritant deployed near the White House was tear gas), USA Today again (Journalists blinded, injured, arrested covering George Floyd protests nationwide), and most every hyperlocal news operation in America, many of them the only source of information in their communities.

Each one of these sentences is a micro-influencer on how you interpret what youre reading. They ignore or bury the fact that it was people who shot those rubber bullets or fired those tear gas canisters. They can shape whether you fault police or protesters for violence, and whether you think cops acted appropriately or too aggressively. Under scrutiny, they reveal the sometimes conscious, sometimes unconscious biases of reporters.

Passive voice has its place. But question every verb as if your life depends on it. Because it might.

The Angry Grammarian, otherwise known as Jeffrey Barg, looks at how language, grammar, and punctuation shape our world, and appears biweekly. Send comments, questions, and middle voices to jeff@theangrygrammarian.com.
The suspension of international commercial flights during the coronavirus induced lockdown has revealed the full potential of the Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar.

As per recent traffic report released by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for April, Amritsar recorded a total of 5,972 international and domestic passengers, leaving behind all major airports in India, except Delhi and Mumbai.

Delhi was on the top with 20,624 and Mumbai second with 9,051 passengers. Of total 5,972 passengers, 5,011 are international and others domestic. With 5,011 passengers, the Amritsar airport has achieved the third place among all international airports in country.

A complete suspension of flights in late March left thousands of foreign nationals and residents stranded across country, including Punjab. The biggest number of UK and Canada residents stranded in India was recorded in Punjab. To repatriate its citizens, their consulates in India arranged special chartered flights operated by leading airline carriers, including the British Airways.

Amritsar handled the biggest number of flights from India to Londons Heathrow airport by UK and by Canadian foreign office to Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal to fly back Britons and Canadians. These overseas flights started in April and continued to operate till mid-May.

Sameep Singh Gumtala, global convener of the Fly Amritsar initiative, said, The demand for direct repatriation flights from Amritsar to UK and Canada was raised by stranded passengers with their governments. This proves that majority of the international traffic at Delhi airport from UK and Canada comes from Punjab.

Punjabi diaspora prefer to travel directly from Punjab instead of Delhi, if more international flights are started from Amritsar. The airport is within three-hour reach from all major cities in Punjab and this distance will be reduced to half after the completion of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, he said.

Yogesh Kamra, Fly Amritsar convener and secretary Amritsar Vikas Manch, said the airport has all infrastructures to handle traffic even during extreme crisis situations.
                          

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Piers Morgan has criticised the business secretary Alok Sharma for claiming that almost 240,000 people were tested for Covid-19 on Monday.

The Good Morning Britain (GMB) presenter said the figure given by Mr Sharma was a bare-faced lie.

"Alok Sharma has just gone on the BBC and claimed 240,000 people got tested on Monday. That is a bare-faced lie, he said.

Mr Morgan also said that he would have challenged Mr Sharma himself if the government had not decided to boycott GMB for the last 57 days.

He added: That is a bogus figure of tests that they [the government] claim were done. It has nothing to do with the number of people being tested.

And why does it matter? Because testing is the absolutely crucial way out of this. Until we have a vaccine, it is probably the only way out of this.

His comments came in response to the business secretary's appearance on the BBC Breakfast programme on Wednesday morning.

After mentioning the fact that a seventh Nightingale Hospital would open this month, Mr Sharma told the programme: "We had almost 240,000 people being tested on Monday. These are remarkable things that the NHS and those who work in it have done."

The business secretary's figure matches the official number of coronavirus tests reported by the Department of Health and Social Care.

In a post on its Twitter account on Tuesday afternoon, the government department wrote: "As of 9am 23 June, there have been 8,309,929 tests, with 237,142 tests on 22 June."

Recommended PM rejects demand for urgent coronavirus inquiry

Mr Sharma made his remarks on coronavirus testing while speaking about the government's decision to lift certain lockdown measures from 4 July.

As a result of the changes, pub, cinemas and restaurants will be allowed to reopen and a new "one metre-plus" rule will replace the current two-metre social-distancing guidance.

The government has been criticised in recent months for its Covid-19 testing programme. Last month, it faced claims that it had massaged its testing figures to surpass its target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April.

Critics noted that the 122,347 tests recorded for the final day of April included home tests that had been sent out but had not been completed.
Below please find a summary and link(s) of new coronavirus-related content published today in Annals of Internal Medicine. The summary below is not intended to substitute for the full article as a source of information. A collection of coronavirus-related content is free to the public at http://go.annals.org/coronavirus.

Masks for Prevention of Respiratory Virus Infections, Including SARS-CoV-2, in Health Care and Community Settings

Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University reviewed multiple electronic databases, including the World Health Organization COVID-19 database and medRxiv preprint server to examine the effectiveness of N95, surgical, and cloth masks in community and health care settings for preventing respiratory virus infections, and effects of reuse or extended use of N95 masks. They found that evidence on mask effectiveness for respiratory infection prevention is stronger in health care than community settings. Current evidence suggests that use of N95 respirators might reduce SARS-CoV-1 risk versus surgical masks in health care settings, but applicability to SARSCoV-2 is uncertain. This is a living review, meaning that the article will be updated periodically, with updates appearing in the comments section. Read the full text: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-3213.

Media contacts: A PDF for this article is not yet available. Please click the link to read full text. The lead author, Roger Chou, MD, can be reached through Erik Robinson at robineri@ohsu.edu.

###
With more than 10,000 diagnosed cases every day in India and more than 500 daily in Telangana, the healthcare system will rupture soon

With the testing strategy multiplied many folds today  with an average of more than one lakh tests performed daily  as on 21 June 2020, a cumulative total of 6,950,493 samples have been tested

Coronavirus cases have risen rapidly in the past week. While a month ago, 7 out of every 100 samples turned positive, today, the numbers have risen to 31 out of every 100 samples. Experts say that the trend is suggestive of an expanding outbreak, and doctors say it is only a matter of time before COVID-19 sweeps India.

Start to spike

Dr Hari Kishan Gonuguntla, MD, DM, Senior Interventional Pulmonologist, Yashoda Hospitals, takes us back to the first few days of the pandemic in the country.

The first case of COVID-19 in India was reported on 30th January 2020 in Kerala, from a student returning from Wuhan. Shortly, the number rose to three after two more students who returned from Wuhan tested positive on 3rd February, he states.

The initial rise in cases was slow, where most cases were imported and every measure was taken to contain them, trace their contacts and isolate them.

For instance, Dr Hari points out, the first COVID-19-confirmed death was reported on 12th March 2020, nearly 45 days after the first case was identified.

The United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) had then praised Indias response to pandemic as comprehensive and robust, and the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) gave Indias measures to control the pandemic a score of 100.

However, with the testing strategy multiplied many folds today  with an average of more than one lakh tests performed daily  as on 21 June 2020, a cumulative total of 6,950,493 samples have been tested.

Today, as per the Centre for Disease Dynamics and Economic Policy (CCDEP), we have the highest number (425,282) of confirmed positive cases, top-most in Asia and fourth in the world, states Dr Hari.

Worse, the pace at which our numbers are accelerating, we would lead the world soon. All this just means that Indias measures to control the pandemic have failed.

Reason for the spread

Dr Sunitha Lingareddy, founder and MD, Lucid Medical Diagnostics also agrees that that the number of COVID-19 cases in India is increasing at an alarming rate. She points out not only a lackadaisical public attitude but also lack of government support as some of the reasons.

The publics apparent careless attitude towards this issue  their not following simple measures such as wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and avoiding organising parties with many people in it are all causes, says Dr Sunitha who shares that she also feels disheartened with their attitude towards healthcare professionals in the frontlines, diagnosing and treating patients.

However, Dr Swapna Yendru, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Swapna Health Centre, points out that the main reason one sees a sudden rise in the number of COVID-19 cases is also because theres an increase in the testing frequency.

More than 10% of patients get infected by somebody asymptomatic, with about a week between case transmissions.

The increased numbers are of those already infected about ten days ago. Keralas success in controlling the number is because they strictly followed contact tracing, as most people are asymptomatic  when they get symptoms or feel sick, the virus has already spread to others.

The nightmares of hospitals

With more than 10,000 diagnosed cases every day in India and more than 500 cases on average daily in Telangana, the healthcare system will rupture soon.

India has a mixed healthcare system with both public and private health sectors playing important roles. However, if the current capacity or hospital admission policies for routine patient care are not increased at an exponential rate to accommodate the influx of COVID-19 patients needing hospital admission, getting a bed in a hospital will become a nightmare, points out Dr Hari.

The doctor also tells us as per estimates, India has 19 lakh hospital beds, 95,000 ICU beds and 48,000 ventilators, with existing bed capacity mostly saturated in the government sector.

The hype around new medicines

Many researchers are studying various medicines for the treatment of COVID-19, including Hydroxychloroquine and Favipiravir for the mild form of the disease and Methylprednisolone, Remdesivir and convalescent plasma therapy for critically ill patients.

However, Dr Hari cautions the use of these drugs, especially Favipiravir. A lot of false propaganda is being made around the new drug called Favipiravir, which is an anti-viral drug tested in a few trials from Japan, Russia and China, warns Dr Hari.

For instance, since DCGI announced to approve Favipiravir for restricted emergency use in moderate cases, social media is flooded with misinformation calling this drug a cure for COVID-19.

This is false medical information. The drug has shown to have a faster viral clearance in mild to moderate cases in a few observational studies, while randomized control studies are yet to show benefit. The only medicine that is proven effective in a controlled study (recovery trial) from the UK is a drug called dexamethasone (steroid), which reduces the chances of death in critically ill patients, the doctor reiterates.

Containing the pandemic

As COVID-19 is mainly a droplet infection, transmission chances from asymptomatic individuals remain exceptionally low, but they still need to be identified by community-level testing for better isolation and quarantine methods, Dr Hari points out.

No matter how often lockdown protocols change, social distancing, use of mask and proper hand and respiratory hygiene are vital strategies for citizen in containing the pandemic. After youre back home from outside, clean your clothes, masks, keys, purse, watch, bangles, etc.

Dr Swapna also adds that another important instruction to keep in mind: visit a physician online even if you feel a little sick. Doctors

know better how to handle medical cases and dont ignore even minute symptoms, she says.
Army Chief General M M Naravane on Wednesday awarded 'Commendation Cards' to five Indian Army soldiers for displaying exemplary grit and courage in dealing with Chinese troops in two separate clashes in Pangong lake and Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, official sources said.

IMAGE: Army Chief Gen M M Naravane visits various forward areas in eastern Ladakh. Photograph: @adgpi/Twitter

The soldiers were conferred the award at a forward location in eastern Ladakh.

Gen Naravane is on a two-day visit to Ladakh to take stock of the military preparedness in the wake of escalating tension with China following last week's Galwan Valley clashes that left 20 Indian Army personnel dead and 76 injured.

Five soldiers were awarded 'Commendation Cards' by the Chief of Army Staff for valiantly fighting the Chinese troops during the clashes in Pangong lake area and Galwan Valley, the sources said.

The commendation badges were pinned by the Army chief on the soldiers involved in the June 15 incident at the Galwan Valley as well as in the face-off in Pangong lake area on May 5.

The sources said the Army Chief personally complimented each of the soldiers for their bravery and exemplary grit.

The Army has not provided any details of the five soldiers or about their units.

The sources said that majority of the soldiers awarded showed 'great courage' in punishing the Chinese troops during the Galwan Valley clash for their brutal attack on Indian soldiers.

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.

In the clashes in Pangong Tso, the Indian troops had put up a stiff fight in dealing with the Chinese troops.

The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after the Pangong Tso face-off involving around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers.

The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9.

"Whenever the Chief of the Army Staff visits formations or units, it is a norm to award Commendation Cards to personnel who exhibit exceptional devotion to duty. In the instant case also, personnel have been awarded for devotion to duty," said a source.

On the second day of his visit to Ladakh, Gen Naravane on Wednesday took stock of the Army's combat preparedness in four forward areas and interacted with soldiers deployed there.

The Army Chief's visit to the region came in the midst of China rapidly increasing number of troops and weaponry along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the eastern Ladakh region including in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley and Gogra Hot Spring.

The Army Chief reviewed the overall security situation in the region with Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Yogesh Kumar Joshi, commander of the 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh and other senior Army officials on both Tuesday and Wednesday, the sources said.
SIENA, Italy, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Philogen S.p.A., a privately-owned biotechnology company, is pleased to announce that, on Jan. 30, 2020, EMA's CHMP expressed a favorable opinion to the request of a combination pack for the to-be-marketed pharmaceutical form of NidlegyTM, a combination of the active principles bifikafusp alfa (L19IL2) and onfekafusp alfa (L19TNF). NidlegyTM is being developed as a neoadjuvant intralesional treatment for resectable Stage III melanoma patients and in locally advanced, not metastatic nonmelanoma skin cancers. NidlegyTM combination pack has now received confirmation of eligibility to the centralized procedure for submission of an application for a Union Marketing Authorisation under Article 3(1) - Indent 1 - Biotech medicinal product of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004.

"We are extremely pleased to record EMA's agreement to our strategy for the marketing of NidlegyTM as a combination pack that was considered by CHMP 'indispensable for public health reasons,'" commented Prof. Dario Neri, co-founder and President of the Scientific Advisory Board of Philogen.

About the Philogen group

Philogen is a Swiss-Italian clinical-stage company engaged in the discovery and development of novel pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products. Philogen's strategy is to deliver bioactive agents, for example, cytokines or drugs, to the site of disease using antibodies and other ligands that specifically and efficiently target stromal antigens. This technology has generated a strong proprietary pipeline of clinical-stage products and preclinical compounds in an array of disease indications. Philogen is headquartered in Siena, Italy, and has research activities at its subsidiary company Philochem in Zurich, Switzerland. Philogen is independently owned and has signed agreements with several major pharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit www.philogen.com and www.philochem.com.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Christian Lizak

+41 (0) 43 544 88 00

christian.lizak@philogen.com
India Gold August Futures pared gains after hitting fresh record highs of Rs 48,333 per 10 gm on June 24 tracking positive trend seen in the international spot prices.

Experts are of the view that as long as yellow metal sustains above Rs 48,200, it is a buy on dips for a target of Rs 48,600 per 10 gm.

On Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX), August gold contracts were trading higher by 0.10 percent at Rs 48,281 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 extended gains on June 23 in the international market. Both precious metals gained around 1 percent. Gold settled at $1,782 per troy ounce and silver also settled at $18.06 per troy ounce.

Gold & Silver Rates Gold Rate in Mumbai 10g of 24K gold in Mumbai 

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Due to strength in rupee both the precious metals gained around 0.50 percent in the domestic market. Gold settled above 48200 and silver settled around 48800 levels.

We expect both the precious metals remain volatile and could approach next resistance levels in the international market. Gold prices sustain above $1778 could extend the gains towards $1788-1800 per troy ounce, $1760 act as a major support for the day, Manoj Jain, Director (Head - Commodity & Currency Research) at Prithvi Finmart Pvt Ltd told Moneycontrol.

At MCX, Gold prices sustain above 48200 could extend the gains towards 48440-48600 levels, 47800 act as major support for the day, he said.

Track live gold price here

Trading Strategy

Expert: Sriram Iyer, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities

International bullion prices have started with solid gains this Wednesday morning in Asian trade supported by expectations that global central banks will continue to provide more stimulus to the markets to cushion from the effects of a second wave in many nations.

Domestic bullion surged higher with gold hitting all time highs tracking firm international prices. Domestically prices will start higher this Wednesday, tracking firm overseas prices.

Technically, LBMA GOLD Spot had give a sharp rise of 1% where its trading above $1770 levels with increased in volume activity indicating a positive trend to continue up to $1781-$1795 levels. Support is placed at $1755 levels.

MCX Gold August contract might give a gap up open above 48300 levels tracking overseas markets where it may continue its bullish momentum up to 48500-49100 levels. Support will be at 48200 level.

Expert: Ravindra Rao, VP- Head Commodity Research at Kotak Securities.

COMEX gold trades higher near $1786/oz and has hit a session high of $1791.8/oz, the highest level since Oct.2012. Gold trades higher supported by weaker US dollar, increasing concerns about rising virus cases, uncertainty about US-China trade deal, hopes of additional stimulus measures and continuing ETF inflows.

Gold may continue to trade with a positive bias on increasing uncertainty relating to rising virus cases however the momentum could subside if the price doesnt close above $1789-1790 a multiple resistance zone.

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.
Harris Teeter announced today the donation of $806,461 to local schools participating in its Together in Education (TIE) program. TIE is the companys fundraising program for schools within its communities.

This is the programs largest payout in the past 10 years and is the third of three payouts for the current school year, bringing the years total to more than $1.4 million. During this payout, 3,963 schools will receive a check from Harris Teeter.

Harris Teeters TIE program was founded in 1998, and since that time, the company has donated more than $30 million to participating schools.

Active participation by both TIE schools and loyal Harris Teeter shoppers is integral to the success of the program, allowing schools to earn funds through shopper purchases. Shoppers are encouraged to link their VIC card to the school or schools of their choice (up to five schools), so schools can earn funds based on purchases of select Harris Teeter brands. There are no limits to how much a school can earn.

-

Top Earning Schools 2019 - 2020, Third Payout*

Community School of Davidson, Davidson, N.C.: $4,081.34

Francis Scott Key Elementary Middle School, Baltimore, Md.:$4,742.31

Grimsley Senior High - Choral Program, Greensboro, N.C.: $3,639.56

Myers Park High School IB PAC, Charlotte, N.C.: $3,669.22

Briar Woods High School PTSO, Ashburn, Va.: $2,239.27

Herndon High School PTSA, Herndon, Va.: $2,205.25

Elon Park Elementary, Charlotte, N.C.: $2,150.46

Battlefield High School, Haymarket, Va.: $2,179.26

Sgt. Eugene Ashley High NJROTC, Wilmington, N.C.: $ 1,921.98

Jay Robinson Middle School PTA, Charlotte, N.C.: $1,938.36

*Funds earned March 1, 2020 - May 31, 2020

Top Earning Schools 2019 - 2020, Total Payout

Community School of Davidson, Davidson, N.C.: $11,617.74

Francis Scott Key Elementary Middle School, Baltimore, Md.: $11,516.71

Grimsley Senior High - Choral Program, Greensboro, N.C.: $10,892.19

Myers Park High School IB PAC, Charlotte, N.C.: $9,452.20

Briar Woods High School PTSO, Ashburn, Va.: $6,049.07

Herndon High School PTSA, Herndon, Va.: $5,586.68

Elon Park Elementary, Charlotte, N.C.: $5,583.98

Battlefield High School, Haymarket, Va.: $5,551.95

Sgt. Eugene Ashley High NJROTC, Wilmington, N.C.: $5,297.47

Jay Robinson Middle School PTA, Charlotte, N.C.: $5,162.24

The TIE school year runs annually from Aug. 1  May 31. To receive a check in the final payout period, schools must have accrued at least $25 during the TIE school year.

To participate, each year beginning in August, shoppers must link their VIC card to the school or schools of their choice. Linking for the 2020-2021 school year will begin on Aug. 1, 2020, and shoppers can add or edit linked schools at any time throughout the school year.

For more information about Together in Education, please click here.

http://www.harristeeter.com

Harris Teeter, with headquarters in Matthews, N.C., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR). The regional grocery chain employs approximately 30,000 associates and operates stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia.
A man who forced his way into State House Nairobi has been charged with creating disturbance in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.

On the second count, Luqman Ali Mahmmoud was charged with entering a protected area illegally and refusing to stop and be searched by police officers manning Gate D of the State House situated a Milimani area.

The court heard that Mr Mahmmoud committed the offences on June 19, 2020, using a vehicle KCP 048Y, a Volkswagen Polo, blue in colour.

Appearing before Milimani law courts senior principal magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot, the accused confessed to the crime saying: I wanted to speak to President Uhuru Kenyatta on how to worship Allah.

However, magistrate Cheruiyot told the accused that although he has admitted entering State House, he finds the the plea of guilty unequivocal and changes it to a plea of not guilty.

He further ordered a psychiatrist test to be conducted on the accused to establish his mental status before proceeding with the case.

The State prosecutor said the accused will be escorted to Mathari Hospital by Thursday and a report filed in court on Friday, June 26.

Recounting the events of the incident, the prosecutor said Mr Mahmmoud was ordered to stop by three security officers  Police Constable Duncan Orero, Police Constable Winston Abwawo and Corporal Alex Sirongo  who were manning Gate D of the State House but he drove past them at high speed.

The Presidential guards were forced to puncture the tyres of the Volkswagen Polo he was driving by shooting at them when he sped past them, the court heard.

Magistrate Cheruiyot directed the accused to be remanded until Friday when he will be produced in court for further directions.
Jackson, a detective sergeant assigned to the Calumet Area Violent Crimes unit, was able to get to the stranded jet skiers quickly and pull them onto his own jet ski soon after they went in the water about 6:20 p.m. Jackson rescued a 30-year-old man and two women, ages 18 and 19. None of them had to be hospitalized.
There has been a lot of debate in the public sphere around the degree and kind of legal regulation a society should apply to online speech. While the dialogue has become more intense and urgent in the last few years, the effort to impose limits on Internet speech has been contentious from the start. At the present juncture, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is undergoing reconsideration.

Its easy to take knee-jerk stances on Internet speech regulation, but they generally do not achieve as satisfactory or sustainable end results as stances that are grounded in an appreciation of history. In fact, it is precisely hasty judgment and foggy understanding of the Internets sheer novelty that got us to this fractious juncture in the first place.

Thats why I want to present a brief overview of Internet regulatory history: to do my modest part to set the conditions for more enlightened outcomes. I owe much of the research that informs this treatment to a book called Blown to Bits, by Hal Abelson, Ken Ledeen and Harry Lewis.

If you are interested in getting a fuller, but still digestible, understanding of how radically new and unprecedented the Internet is, it is worth checking out, which you can do for free (its licensed under Creative Commons).

The Wild Wide Web

Lets start at the beginning, but we wont spend too much time there. The Internet began in the 1960s as a military research project run by the Advanced Research Projects Agency, or ARPA, which since has been renamed DARPA (the D standing for Defense). It was devised as an outage-resistant communications medium, so that the downing of strategically placed telecommunications nodes would not prevent messages from being sent.

To be precise, it was meant to be an alternative to traditional telecommunications, like telephone lines, which would fail if the Soviet Union leveled the right city.

The Internet accomplished its goal brilliantly, and it still does what it was built to do. It effortlessly reroutes data packets on the fly, without a centralized architecture, to get them where theyre going as long as any path between the source and destination exists.

To test this, ARPA partnered with the countrys most prestigious universities and research firms and linked them all together. For a while, the only people on the Internet were the researchers at those institutions, as this 1970 map of the Internet shows.

By the 1980s, the Internet opened to the public, but it was so arcane and inaccessible that only a small cadre of private and public sector players  and, as it turned out, their family members  had any contact with it. Home computers ran in the thousands of dollars, making them impractical to most but obtainable for some. Large corporations had started using the Internet as part of their operations, so some of their employees followed suit at home to get in more practice.

Government-employed computer scientists were among the first to have Internet-connected devices in the home. A lot of the first wave of hackers, as well as progenitors of cyberspace culture overall, were the children of those professionals, who used their parents devices to rove around the bulletin boards of the early Web.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Computers really proliferated among consumers in the 1990s. Email started to be a regular part of the lives of American adults. However, by the time consumers  and crucially legislators  first encountered abusive online behaviors that merited regulation, a robust tradition of total freedom already had taken root.

Bulletin board services were accustomed to operating without interference, and Internet service providers (ISPs) were content to deliver the bytes and leave the rest to someone else.

It was the dissonance between the reluctance of longtime users to give up their taste of freedom and the outcry from consumers and politicians appalled by the abuses of a few that begot the whiplash in Internet regulation.

Theres a Sheriff in Town

There were really two types of content that shaped speech on the Internet: defamatory content and obscene content, especially any that could harm children. In the analog world, many different parties must work together to facilitate the expression of speech, but they bear different degrees of legal responsibility for objectionable speech.

Authors always bear the greatest responsibility, since the speech is their own. Publishers are also responsible, because they wield editorial control over the authors words, meaning they know what the authors they publish are saying and, by extension, signed off on it.

Distributors generally arent held culpable, because they usually dont know, and arent expected to know, the content they are distributing. Think of newspaper delivery kids: Its not their job to read the newspaper and make sure it doesnt contain any falsehoods or obscenities.

These categorizations of parties in the content production chain seem reasonable and intuitive enough, but what lawmakers, judges and Internet users found was that applying them to the Internet was no simple matter.

In trying to bend the Internet content apparatus into a shape resembling the analog one, lawmakers generally can regulate only a few parties.

They can regulate authors who reside within U.S. jurisdiction. Alternatively, they can regulate the authors ISP, but also only if it operates within U.S. jurisdiction. Finally, lawmakers also have the option of regulating the consumers ISP and consumers themselves, based on the assumption that the consumers are in the U.S. (just as Americans benefit from U.S. anti-defamation and anti-obscenity statutes due to their assumed physical residence within the reach of U.S. law).

A legal scuffle between two online bulletin board services in 1991 marked the first time that U.S. courts affirmatively affixed a classification  author, publisher or distributor  to an online player. Back then, the company CompuServe maintained a rumor forum, Rumorville, which posted content provided by third parties. The key detail is that CompuServe did not review any of the material it received  it merely posted whatever its contracted content producers provided.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Another bulletin board operator, Cubby, propped up Skuttlebut, a competitor to Rumorville. Shortly afterward, a rumor cropped up on Rumorville alleging that Skuttlebut was phony, and because Cubby saw this as CompuServe spreading falsehoods to edge it out, Cubby sued CompuServe for defamation.

In Blown to Bits, the authors characterize the case this way: Grasping for a better analogy, the court described CompuServe as an electronic for-profit library. Distributor or library, CompuServe was independent of [its content creator] and couldnt be held responsible for libelous statements in what [the creator] provided. The case of Cubby v. CompuServe was settled decisively in CompuServes favor.

In other words, when the dust settled, online platforms were deemed to be distributors, meaning they were off the hook for any objectionable content their users or providers transmitted via their platform.

Thats why the next landmark court case took online platforms completely by surprise. It started out in much the same way as Cubby v. CompuServe, with a bulletin board getting hit with a libel suit. In 1994, an anonymous user on Money Talk, a finance-focused board owned by Prodigy, accused the firm Stratton Oakmont of major criminal fraud. Stratton Oakmont sued Prodigy for libel, begetting Stratton Oakmont v. Prodigy.

That case came with a twist: Eager to engender a family-friendly atmosphere on its boards, Prodigy openly advertised that it moderated its platforms to scrub them of obscene content. The court found that detail compelling, and it ruled in favor of the plaintiff.

By exercising editorial control in support of its family-friendly image, said the court, Prodigy became a publisher, with the attendant responsibilities and risks, wrote Abelson et al.

To the court, it did not matter that fact-checking went beyond the scope of Prodigys intentions through its moderating. If a platform moderated at all, it took on an editorial role, which would make it liable for anything and everything it hosted. Thus, the decision discouraged bulletin board services from taking on any editorial duties, lest they find themselves on the hook for objectionable content.

The Perfect Torrent

Would you believe me if I told you that an ethically suspect scientific study, sensational journalism, and overzealous senators led to the most influential Internet speech law ever passed?

Strange as it sounds, thats exactly what happened.

A shocking cover expos, CYBERPORN, was published in Time magazine on July 3, 1995, and it immediately set off moral panic in Washington. It later emerged that the researchers behind the study at the heart of the story used unethical methodologies.

For example, they compensated participants for providing material that reinforced the authors confirmation bias (that the Internet was rife with pornography), and published their work in what masqueraded as a peer-reviewed journal but was little more than a student paper.

Those in Congress seeking to stem the tide of profane Web content found themselves in a jam, because after Stratton Oakmont v. Prodigy, no one wanted to touch content moderation. The result was the near-unanimous passage of the Communications Decency Act, or CDA, in 1996.

The law had two key components  the display provisions and the Good Samaritan provision.

The display provisions took aggressive aim at obscene and indecent content that could end up on a screen in front of a child. Among other things, the display provisions made it illegal for any interactive computer service to display in a manner available to a person under 18 years of age, any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication that, in context, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards, sexual or excretory activities or organs.

Additionally, the law included a Good Samaritan provision, which makes up the heart of Section 230 (and which Section 230 generally is invoked to reference). Its language accomplishes two significant feats.

First, it shields any interactive computer service from liability for the consequences of making good faith efforts to remove obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable content.

Second, it classifies these services as distributors in the meatspace analogue: No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.

The ACLU challenged the CDA in ACLU v. Reno on the grounds that it unduly limited legitimate First Amendment speech, and got the display provisions struck down as unconstitutional.

As Judge Stewart Dalzell stated in the majority opinion, It would chill discourse unacceptably to demand age verification over the Internet from every person who might see material that any adult has a legal right to see.

The crux of the defenses case was that the Internet should be regulated the way TV is, but the court rejected the comparison as inapt.

The Internet may fairly be regarded as a never-ending worldwide conversation. The Government may not, through the CDA, interrupt that conversation. As the most participatory form of mass speech yet developed, the Internet deserves the highest protection from governmental intrusion, Dalzell wrote.

Good Samaritans, Questionably Good Outcomes

Notably, the Good Samaritan language of Section 230 was left intact in the ACLU decision. Although this is the regulation public discourse now swirls around, that case did not mark the first time it sparked controversy. Indeed, problems emerged immediately.

One test of the law played out in 1997 when Matt Drudge posted allegedly defamatory statements about Sidney Blumenthal, an aide to President Bill Clinton at the time, on AOL. Though AOL had editorial influence over the Drudge material it posted, the court ruled that the company was not a publisher, and therefore was not liable for libel. The opinion cites the CDAs Good Samaritan language.

In 1998, Jane and John Doe (in this case, a mother and her son) sued AOL because it allowed a user to sell pornograhic material made of John when he was a minor. In its user agreement, AOL reserved the right to terminate service for any user who engaged in abusive behavior. The Good Samaritan provision also was cited in that case to absolve AOL of responsibility.

Abelson et al. sum up the problem: Congress had made the muddle possible by saying nothing about the right analogy after saying that publishing was the wrong one.

The Law of the Cyberland

With this historical overview complete, we are more or less caught up to the current technological epoch.

Section 230 remains one of the few forces incentivizing content moderation among online platforms. The fatal flaw here is that so long as they can argue convincingly that their actions were in good faith, they are immune to legal consequences.

Granted, it has been established that online services lose their liability protection if they are notified of the commission of federal crimes or intellectual property theft and take no action, but Section 230 is nearly absolute otherwise.

As a result, online platforms have wide latitude to create and enforce whatever community standards they choose. If the speech standards enforcement is excessive, deficient or lopsided, a platforms operator can hide behind the good faith defense, innocently claiming that nobodys perfect.

True as that may be, free speech advocates contend that should not serve as a blank check to decide arbitrarily who can speak on a platform, and on what terms.

The other contributing factor is, as I like to say, there are no sidewalks on the Web. Nearly the whole of the Web  specifically the Web, as distinct from the Internet  is private property. The First Amendment restrains the government from censoring Americans speech.

Because sidewalks, for example, are public property, the government cant tell you what you can and cant say while youre standing on one (with a few exceptions for public safety). However, the First Amendment does not apply to private entities, which is what most Web platforms are. If you register to a social network, you consent to its rules, including those that prohibit certain kinds of speech.

Just as the Web of the 80s and 90s was settled by pioneers, only for lawmakers to catch up gasping for breath, the trailblazers have kept pushing on to leave civil servants in the dust once again. Measures that seemed robust enough in the late 90s are beginning to groan under the weight of newer and more sophisticated usage patterns on the Internet.

Daunting as it is to keep up, as members of a society we must do our best, which requires an appreciation of how we got here. The alternative is to make decisions on the spur of the moment, which are unlikely to withstand the test of time, and too likely to wreak havoc along the way.
Investigation and Results

During March 2728, three symptomatic University of Texas students had positive test results for SARS-CoV-2. All three had traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, during March 1419 and became symptomatic after returning (March 2225). On March 28, the UTHA COVID-19 Center, a multidisciplinary team established in early March to conduct testing, contact tracing, and monitoring for the University of Texas community with authority delegated from Austin Public Health, initiated an investigation. Additional travelers were identified through contact tracing interviews and review of flight manifests gathered with assistance from Austin Public Health. Travelers on chartered or private flights were traced by UTHA and any potential commercial flight exposures were escalated through Austin Public Health to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Travelers and contacts of any travelers with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result were classified into one of three categories: Cabo San Lucas travelers (i.e., persons who traveled to Cabo San Lucas), household contacts (i.e., persons who did not travel to Cabo San Lucas, but who lived with a Cabo San Lucas traveler who had a positive test result), or community contacts (i.e., persons who did not travel to Cabo San Lucas, but who had close contact in a community setting to a Cabo San Lucas traveler who had a positive test result). A case was defined as a positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result in any traveler to Cabo San Lucas during March 1419 or any of the travelers household or community contacts identified during March 19April 2.

With oversight from a university epidemiologist and infectious diseases physician, UTHA trained medical students, public health students, and clinical and research staff members to trace contacts. UTHA contact tracers communicated with travelers and contacts by telephone, first texting an initial message about the potential exposure and then attempting to call each traveler and contact up to three times. Through interviews with travelers and contacts, the date and method of return travel (i.e., commercial or charter flight and flight number for those who traveled to Cabo San Lucas), date of last exposure to a patient with known COVID-19, presence of symptoms, symptom onset date, and current address were collected and recorded. For those travelers and contacts without symptoms, the date of testing was used as a proxy for symptom onset date to estimate an infectious period. During the telephone call, contact tracers advised asymptomatic travelers and contacts to self-quarantine and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days from the last potential exposure date. Symptomatic travelers and contacts were offered a SARS-CoV-2 test and asked to self-isolate until either a negative test result was obtained or, following CDC recommendations at the time, until 7 days after symptom onset, including 3 days with no fever and no worsening of symptoms. Following CDC guidance at the time,* persons were considered symptomatic if they had a documented temperature of 100.0F (37.8C) or reported subjective fever, acute cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, chills, muscle aches, runny nose, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of sense of smell or taste. In addition, travelers and contacts were offered the opportunity to enroll in a home-monitoring program developed by UTHA in partnership with Sentinel Healthcare. During the contact tracing interview, data were recorded and stored in a secure, online drive.

If testing was recommended, UTHA nurses used a person-under-investigation (PUI) form to collect information on symptom status, any underlying medical conditions, and smoking status before scheduling a test. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected at UTHAs drive-through testing site. A private reference laboratory in Austin, Texas, conducted RT-PCR testing on collected samples using a cobas SARS-CoV-2 qualitative assay (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.), which was given emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. For those who were not residing in Austin but were recommended for testing, Austin Public Health passed on their information to the appropriate public health jurisdiction. Once a traveler or contact had a positive test result, further identification of contacts was conducted. Because of the limited number of tests available at the time, travelers and contacts were only tested once.

By March 30, nine of the first 19 travelers and contacts tested had a positive test result. Because approximately one half of persons identified and tested had a positive test result 2 days into the investigation, testing criteria were broadened to include any traveler to Cabo San Lucas, regardless of symptom status, but only symptomatic contacts continued to qualify for testing. Based on the SARS-CoV-2 incubation period of 14 days from date of exposure (1), the presumptive incubation period that began on March 19 when travelers returned from Cabo San Lucas ended on April 2. Therefore, after April 2, testing was only performed for exposed, symptomatic travelers and contacts. The investigation ended on April 5 when the last symptomatic contacts received negative test results.

Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were performed using Stata (version 16; StataCorp). Unadjusted logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), which were used to evaluate differences in symptoms and smoking status between persons who did and did not have positive SARS-CoV-2 test results. Because seven contacts and travelers had testing for SARS-CoV-2 performed at other sites and PUI forms were incomplete for 26, data on symptoms and underlying medical conditions are missing for 33 (14%) persons.

Among 298 persons identified during the investigation, 289 (97%) were interviewed. Contact tracing interviews revealed that Cabo San Lucas travelers used a variety of commercial, charter, and private flights to return to the United States. Although the index patient whose illness started the investigation was not symptomatic until after arriving home (March 22), other travelers experienced symptoms during March 1519 while in Cabo San Lucas (Figure). Further, many Cabo San Lucas travelers reported prolonged exposure and reexposure to multiple other travelers because they shared hotel rooms in Mexico and apartments or other shared living spaces upon return to Austin.

Among the 231 (80%) persons tested, 183 (79%) were Cabo San Lucas travelers, and 48 (21%) were contacts of travelers with diagnosed COVID-19, including 13 (6%) household contacts and 35 (15%) community contacts (Table 1). Among all persons tested, 110 (55%) were male, and the median age was 22 years (range = 1962 years); 179 (89%) were non-Hispanic white. The prevalence of underlying medical conditions was low (15; 8%), but nearly a quarter (45; 24%) were current smokers. Overall, 64 (28%) persons had a positive test result, including 60 (33%) of 183 Cabo San Lucas travelers, one (8%) of 13 household contacts, and three (9%) of 35 community contacts. Persons for whom testing was performed reported a median of four contacts (range = 015) from the 2 days preceding symptom onset (or date of testing, if asymptomatic) through their date of self-isolation. No persons were hospitalized, and none died.

Among the 64 persons with positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results, 14 (22%) were asymptomatic and 50 (78%) were symptomatic at the time of testing (Table 2). Among those who had a positive test result, the most commonly reported symptoms were cough (21; 38%), sore throat (18; 32%), headache (14; 25%), and loss of sense of smell or taste (15; 25%); only six (11%) reported fever. Among persons with negative test results, 84 (50.3%) reported symptoms; the most commonly reported symptoms were cough (58; 41%), sore throat (46; 32%), headache (29; 20%), and loss of sense of smell or taste (22; 14%); 13 (9%) reported fever. The odds of having a positive test result were significantly higher among those who were symptomatic than among those who were asymptomatic (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.87.4). There were no significant differences in the types of symptoms reported among persons with positive and negative test results, nor were there any significant differences in smoking status among persons with positive and negative test results.
New US sanctions meant to revive terrorism in Syria, serve Israel: FM Muallem

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 2:33 PM

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has denounced the latest round of United States economic sanctions against his country, saying the coercive measures are meant to revive terrorism in Syria and force Damascus to turn its back on the anti-Israel resistance front.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital Damascus on Tuesday, Muallem dismissed recent remarks by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and United States Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey about the new financial restrictions against Syria, describing the comments as part of a "chorus of lies."

"They are all liars because those seeking the interests of the Syrian people wouldn't conspire against their livelihoods," he highlighted.

Pompeo has called the anti-Syria sanctions, which came into force last week, "the beginning of what will be a sustained campaign of economic and political pressure" to deny the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of "revenue and support."

Jeffrey has also claimed that the United States will provide a "significant amount" of new humanitarian aid for Syria in the wake of the stringent sanctions.

Muallem then stressed that the latest US economic sanctions against Syria do not include any exemptions, and adversely affect the imports of food, medicine and medical devices.

"Syrian people are accustomed to unilateral sanctions, which have been imposed on them since 1978 under various pretexts. Syrians should try to use the latest sanctions as an opportunity to advance the national economy, achieve self-sufficiency, and deepen our cooperation with friends and allies," he said.

Muallem also cast grave doubts over Washington's hollow promises of assistance to Syria, especially as it has deployed military forces to the Arab country's oil-rich regions, torches crop lands there and threatens any country, individual or entity that provides support to the Damascus government.

He went on to say that occupying US forces are heavily investing on the spread of terrorism in Syria and transfer of Daesh terrorist commanders from neighboring Iraq while providing tremendous support to the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.

Muallem highlighted that the US defends the Israeli regime's interests, and that is why it is fairly unlikely for Washington to withdraw its forces from the region.

The new sanctions, he added, were designed to force Syria to give up its alliance with the resistance front and accept normalization with the regime in Israel.

The top Syrian diplomat further slammed Turkey's military intervention in his country.

Turkey is occupying swathes of Syrian land, said Muallem, adding history has taught that those who struggle for their freedom and sovereignty will eventually emerge victorious.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Muallem reiterated that Damascus is committed to a political solution to the ongoing crisis in Syria, and rejects any foreign interference in the work of the Constitutional Committee, which includes members of the incumbent Syrian government and opposition representatives.

He emphasized that the Syrian nation will not allow anyone to interfere in drafting their constitution, and will only accept a constitution that serves the interests of outsiders.

The Syrian foreign minister said the Syrian people are the only ones who will decide their own fate, and neither President Donald Trump nor any other US official is not entitled to discuss the matter.

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Pune, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cocoa and chocolate market size is expected to witness exponential growth owing to increasing demand for specialty and premium chocolates in the developed economies. Fortune Business Insights, in its latest report, titled Cocoa and Chocolate Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis By Product Type (Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Liquor, Cocoa Powder, Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Filled Chocolate), By Application (Food and Beverage, Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals & Others), and Regional Forecast 2018-2025., observes that the market is likely to reach USD 67.22 billion by 2025 while exhibiting a CAGR of 5.7% between 2018 and 2025.



Browse Summary of this Research Report with Detailed Table of Content:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/cocoa-and-chocolate-market-100075







COVID-19 Impact Analysis:

The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. Some industries are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic.

We are making continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future.





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Chocolates and cocoa are the two by-products of the cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao. Cocoa beans are extracted and then roasted, fermented, grounded, and turned into finite paste, which is later on used to manufacture chocolates or cocoa. Natural cocoa is darker in color and tastes bitter owing to the process where the cocoa butter is removed from it during processing. On the other hand, chocolates undergo the same processing as that of cocoa. However, cocoa butter is not removed. Owing to the cocoa butter, the chocolates retain their rich and smooth consistency, while the high sugar and fat content render it with a sweet taste.

What does the Report Include?

The market report includes a detailed assessment of the various market drivers and restraints, opportunities, and challenges that the market will face during the projected horizon. The report provides comprehensive research into the regional developments of the market, affecting the market growth during the forecast period. In addition to this, the report includes information sourced from the advice of expert professionals from the industry by our research analyst using several research methodologies for the market. The competitive landscape offers further detailed insights into the strategies such as introduction of new products, partnerships, merger and acquisition, and collaboration adopted by the companies to maintain market stronghold between 2018 and 2025.

DRIVING FACTORS

Growing Consumer Demand for Premium & Specialty Products to Promote Growth

Increasing focus of the manufacturers to produce high-quality cocoa beans through sustainable methods is propelling the demand for high-end cocoa and chocolate products. The companies operating in the global cocoa and chocolates market are manufacturing premium products such as single-origin chocolates owing to high demand from the consumers. For instance, Albert Heijins private brand, Delicata, is known to offer single origin premium chocolate products sourced from countries such as Peru, Tanzania, Uganda, and Costa Rica. In addition to this, increasing demand for single-estate chocolates that are produced from a particular farm is expected to boost the market growth during the forecast period.







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REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Presence of Large Cocoa Processing Base in North America to Augur Growth

Among all the regions, the market in North America is expected to remain dominant and hold high global cocoa and chocolate market share during the forecast period. This is ascribable to factors such as the presence of large cocoa processing manufacturing plants such as ADM Cocoa in countries such as the USA in the region. On the other hand, Europe is likely to witness significant growth owing to increasing demand for premium and specialty chocolate products in the forthcoming years.

The market in Asia-Pacific is anticipated to witness steady growth during the forecast period. This is attributable to factors such as increasing consumption of chocolates in countries such as India and China. Additionally, high disposable income among the working population in the region is likely to contribute to market growth between 2018 and 2025.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Cargill Invests 3.5 Million Euros in its Kalmthout Site

In June 2020, Cargill, Inc. announced its plan to invest 3.5 million Euros to increase the production capacity of the gourmet chocolate at its Kalmthout site located in Belgium. According to the company, the investment is expected to provide flexibility in the production of chocolates, while locally adding 12 new jobs for the local community. The company aims to tap the increasing demand for gourmet chocolates and consolidate and gain major cocoa and chocolate market share.



List of the Companies Operating in the Cocoa and Chocolate Market are:

Barry Callebaut AG

Cargill, Inc.

Olam International

Fuji Oil Company Ltd. (Blommer)

ECOM Agroindustrial Corporation Ltd.

Cocoa Processing Company Limited

Touton S.A

Niche Cocoa Industry Ltd.

BD Associates Ghana Ltd.

PLOT Enterprise Ghana Ltd.

Other Players





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Have a Look at Related Research Insight:

Chocolate Confectionery Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Dark, Milk, and White), By Category (Premium, Seasonal, and Every Day), and Regional Forecast, 2019  2026

Milk Chocolate Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Form (Candies, Bars, Chocolate Coated Nuts, Chocolate Chips, Others), By Nature (Conventional, Organic), By Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets/Supermarkets, Retail Stores, Specialty Stores, Online Channels) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Compound Chocolate Market Size, Share and Global Trend By Type (Chip, Slab, Coatings, Others), By Application (Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Others), and Geography Forecast till 2026



Real and Compound Chocolate Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Real Chocolate and Compound Chocolate), By Form (Chips, Slabs, Coatings, and Others), By Application (Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy and Frozen Products, Beverages, and Others), and Regional Forecasts, 2019 - 2026



Food Inclusions Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Chocolates, Nuts & Seeds, Dried Fruits, Herbs and Spices, Chips and Chunks, Flavoured Caramel and Sugars), By Application (Bakery and Confectionery, Beverages, Cereals and Cereal Products, Processed Dairy Products, Others (Infant foods, Salads, and others.))and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



Confectionery Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Chocolate, Sugar, and Gums), Distribution Channel (Hypermarket/Supermarket, Convenience Stores, Departmental Stores, and Online Retails), and Regional Forecast, 2019  2026



Confectionery Ingredients Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Dairy Ingredients, Cocoa & Chocolate, Emulsifiers, others), By Source (Natural, Synthetic), By Application (Chocolate Confectionery, Sugar Confectionery, Bakery Confectionery) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026





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Auburn, IN (46706)

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Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of snow late. Low near 20F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected..

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Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of snow late. Low near 20F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
He says he hopes it will happen this autumn.

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, Dmytro Razumkov says he sees no legal mechanisms and grounds today for rescheduling local elections.

"Local election [provisions] are stipulated in the Constitution. And it's rather difficult now to change these dates, to postpone them somehow. As of today I don't see any legal mechanisms and grounds for why this should be done," he said on a Ukrainian TV channel when asked about the probability of rescheduling the local polls, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Read alsoUkraine's ruling party to name nominee for Kyiv mayor's post in late July

"I'll hope we won't follow the negative scenario, we will be fine and we will be able to calmly hold elections this fall," he added.

Thus, he concluded, all branches of power, including the government and parliament, should get ready for this.

As UNIAN reported earlier, members of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction on May 19 asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to initiate public intra-party elections (primaries) before the election of the mayor of Kyiv and other cities.

The lawmakers proposed that professional candidates with real chances to defeat corrupt city officials in local elections this fall be nominated for mayoral positions.

On May 20, Zelensky assured that Servant of the People Party primaries would take place before the mayoral elections in Kyiv, and he would support their winner during the local elections.

On June 6, the president announced that the primaries would be held in two stages. According to him, candidates should demonstrate the program  "what are they going to do with Kyiv." At the second stage, the party will study the results of polls and choose a candidate who will have more chances to win the Kyiv mayoral vote.

On June 9, Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko announced that Members of Parliament Mykola Tyshchenko, Oleksandr Dubinskyi and Oleksandr Kachura would participate in the Servant of the People Party primaries for the Kyiv mayoral elections.

The elections of village, town, city, district, regional councils and village, town, city mayors in Ukraine are scheduled for October 25.
Lucknow, June 24 : Responding to the public sentiments, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has imposed a ban on the installation of new China-made electricity meters by the state Power Department.

According to a spokesman of the power department, "Installation of Chinese meter has been banned across the state. The details have been sought about orders of Chinese meters and equipment and also contracts of Chinese items awarded in the past one year." The All India Power Engineers Federation president Shailendra Dubey has welcomed the decision.

"In power plants, boilers, tubes and other equipment are brought from China as they are cheap. But the fact is 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.

It has been quite some time since consumers have been complaining about the working of Chinese metres and even demanding their replacement.

P.K. Ghosh, a local said, "My electricity bills have gone up by almost 60 per cent even though our consumption level remains unchanged. In fact, after my son left for a job in Mumbai last year, my wife and I are only two members left in the family. Power consumption has gone down but the bills are going up with this Chinese meter."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with an order of the Allahabad High Court that allowed the Uttar Pradesh government to continue the selection process for the recruitment of 69,000 assistant teachers in the state schools.

The special leave petition (SLP) filed by petitioner Amita Tripathi had challenged the order of a Lucknow division bench of Allahabad High Court in the matter.

A bench headed by Justice Hemant Gupta and also comprising Justice Aniruddha Bose refused to interfere with the order which stayed the earlier June 3 order of a single bench halting the selection process.

The division bench, comprising justices PK Jaiswal and DK Singh, had on June 12 said the state government can continue with the selection process, keeping in mind the June 9 order of the Supreme Court by which about 37,000 posts have been kept for Siksha Mitras.

A single-judge bench of the high court had, on June 3, stayed the appointment process of teachers and directed the petitioners to submit their objections to the state government after which they will be sent to the University Grants Commission for an expert opinion.

The petition filed by Tripathi and others challenged the process of appointment of teachers and claiming that some candidates had raised objections over the selection exam questions.
The Aviation Africa team and sponsors look forward to welcoming visitors to Kigali in April. Image: Time Aerospace Events

Mark Brown director of the Times Group said: In light of ongoing disruption caused by the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) we hope these new dates will ensure we can maximise the attendance at this fast-growing event. Allowing ourselves an extra two months from the onset of the virus, we hope will mean borders are all open for as many clients/companies to join us in Rwanda as possible.

The aviation sector has arguably been hit the hardest by the pandemic along with the hospitality industry and we would like to ensure our customers and their customers can use events like Aviation Africa to discuss the ways forward, pool ideas and resources and build the industry back up together.

At this current time we would like to take the opportunity of wishing all our exhibitors, speakers, delegates and visitors our support for the situation we are all facing and we hope to see you all in Rwanda in 2021.
Kenmore, N.Y., is so close to Fort Erie you can practically see the small village from the shoreline of Lake Erie.

But, for Tricia-Lynn Pascia, that distance is now immeasurable.

Her fiance Nick Crawley lives in Kenmore and the couple has not been able to see each other in person since late March after the Canada-U.S. border was closed to non-essential travel due to the global pandemic.

We joke that because we live along the river, if we attached a zip line from my house to his house, it would only be a minute ride, the Fort Erie woman said.

The couple met in Canada several years ago. Crawley proposed last December.

A fall wedding was planned, complete with a guest list of more than 400 people.

Those plans fell apart, however, as the potentially deadly virus spread across the globe.

The last time he was here, we didnt know it would be the last time we would see each other, Pascia said.

The couple had expected the border closure would only be a temporary hiccup in their relationship.

We thought it would all blow over soon, Pascia recalled. We knew it as out of our hands and there was nothing we could do.

Three months later, however, the couple remain apart. Their wedding, originally set for September, has been postponed until fall 2021.

Their communications are limited to FaceTime, phone calls and texts.

Without technology, this would be much for difficult on us both, Crawley said.

The federal government recently eased restrictions for cross-border families, however, Pascia and Crawley arent eligible as theyre not yet married.

You just have to throw your hands up and try to make the best of it, Pascia.

Crawley is optimistic theyll be reunited soon.

At the end of the day, were lucky to be safe and healthy in such unprecedented times, he said. I try to stay positive and hope for the best  that the border will reopen as scheduled in July and not be pushed back again.

The border is expected to remain closed to all non-essential travel until at least the end of July.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 21:53:56|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported three new cases of COVID-19 infection on Wednesday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 352 with zero deaths so far, according to its Ministry of Health.

The latest cases are all Vietnamese citizens recently returning from Kuwait, said the ministry, noting that they were quarantined upon arrival.

As many as 329 patients in the country have recovered from the disease, according to the ministry.

Vietnam has recorded no local transmission for 69 straight days while there are over 7,100 people being quarantined and monitored in the country, said the health ministry. Enditem
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 29 times, Trend reports on June 24 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.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
After she flew to Lebanon in 2017 to work as a maid for a family of eight, Birtukan Mekuanint managed to call her own relatives in Ethiopia only a handful of times.

So her father, Abiye Yefru, did not know what to think when Birtukan emerged unannounced from a taxi outside their home in Addis Ababa last week.

"Everyone was very emotional when she came to meet us," Abiye told AFP, describing their reunion. "Me, I didn't hold back my tears, and my wife cried even more."

Soon, though, Abiye's joy turned to anger as Birtukan recounted her hardship in Lebanon -- an all-too-common tale of uncompensated labour in abusive conditions.

Now he's joining the chorus of Ethiopians pleading with the government to bring back thousands of domestic workers stranded in Lebanon.

"It's too difficult over there," he said. "Of course they should be brought home."

A quarter of a million migrants are employed as domestic workers in Lebanon, the majority of them Ethiopian.

A sponsorship system known as "kafala" leaves maids, nannies and carers outside the remit of Lebanese labour law and at the mercy of their employers.

The workers' plight has come under the spotlight in recent weeks as Lebanon grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades, with dozens of women kicked out by their employers and dumped outside the Ethiopian consulate in Beirut.

Yet Ethiopian women have for years endured nonpayment of wages, forced confinement and physical and sexual violence, activists say.

Making matters worse, Ethiopian authorities have turned a blind eye to the abuses, said Banchi Yimer, founder of an NGO that advocates for migrant workers' rights.

"I would say they do nothing," she said. "Nothing has been done by the Ethiopian government."

A Broken System

Like many Ethiopian women, Birtukan believed the brokers who told her moving to Lebanon would be an easy way to improve her family's fortunes.

For 7,000 Ethiopian birr (around $200), they promised to arrange her travel and place her with a family that would pay $200 (177 euros) a month while covering her expenses.

Upon reaching Beirut, however, she learned the brokers would pocket her earnings for the first two months.

The brokers then cut off contact, and her Lebanese boss refused to pay her.

Under the kafala system, migrant workers can't terminate contracts without the consent of their employers, meaning Birtukan was effectively trapped.

She spent long hours mopping floors, ironing clothes and cleaning bathrooms, all while tallying the days on a piece of cardboard she hid under her mattress.

"I didn't see other people. Even if I tried to talk on the phone, they would stop me," she told AFP as tears rolled down her cheeks.

She seized the first chance she could to escape, swiping a key to the compound gate left behind by one of the family's children.

She then secured a spot on one of the flights organised last month by the Ethiopian government and state-owned Ethiopian Airlines.

But only around 650 women have been flown home so far.

As the coronavirus pandemic exacerbates Lebanon's economic woes, Birtukan wants to see more repatriations.

"I think the government should bring back all the women there," she said. "They're sleeping under bridges. They don't have enough to eat."

Ethiopia's foreign affairs ministry and the consulate in Beirut did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Tough Times Ahead

For all the horror stories out of Lebanon, some women are glad they made the journey.

Almaz Gezaheng, 32, travelled to Lebanon in 2008, moving in with a family of four.

She found the pay too low and the conditions too strenuous, but after she left she landed a job as a cleaner at a beauty parlour that paid $400 per month.

She sent half that money home, enabling her parents to buy their own house.

"At least I changed my family's life, even if I haven't done anything for myself."

But after the Lebanese economy tanked, Almaz lost her job, and she exhausted her savings before securing a spot on a repatriation flight this month.

"I think the future will be very difficult for Lebanon. I would advise young Ethiopians to stay here and do their own work rather than go there," she said.

She urged the Ethiopian government to step in and help those still stuck there.

"Most of their madams are throwing them out of the house," she said. "Before anything worse happens, it would be good for the government to bring back all of our girls from Lebanon."

The call is echoed by Banchi, founder of the migrants workers' rights NGO, who said she is receiving reports of Ethiopian women in Lebanon who are in such despair that they drink bleach or try to jump off balconies.

"The inaction of the Ethiopian government is leading domestic workers to depression," she said. "Everybody wants to go home. No-one wants to stay in Lebanon."

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The Congress and the Left parties in West Bengal have decided to carry out joint agitations against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharariya Janata Party (BJP), projecting both as their common enemy, in the run-up to the coming civic and Assembly elections. The decision was taken at a meeting on Wednesday night.

While the civic polls have been postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the assembly polls will be held in 2021.

The Left Front has 23 seats in the 294-member Bengal assembly. The BJP had managed to win three seats in the 2016 polls but has since increased its tally to 16 because of defections. The ruling TMCs strength has gone up to 224 from 211.

The Congress and Left Front partners will hold their first agitation in Kolkata on June 29, protesting the hike in petrol and diesel prices. It will be held at Red Road located in the heart of the city.

Also Read: West Bengal extends coronavirus lockdown till July 31

The next agitation will be against the alleged irregularities in distribution of relief materials and compensation in districts affected by Cyclone Amphan on May 20. The schedule will be decided later, said Somen Mitra, president of the state Congress. This will be followed by another agitation against the plight of migrant workers, Mitra added.

At Wednesdays meeting, we only discussed joint agitations. The issue of sharing seats during the coming polls was not raised as it is too early, said Manoj Bhattacharya, state secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP). The meeting was held at the office of the RSP mouthpiece.

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Future will decide who will win the Assembly polls. But the outcome of recent polls and large turnout at our agitations clearly show that the BJP is the only party fighting for the people, Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh told the media in reaction to the joint agitations announced by the Left and the Congress.

No amount of agitation can change the ground reality. People know that only TMC serves the people, said Firhad Hakim, urban development minister and Kolkata mayor.
Three Houston firefighters were hospitalized after part of a house collapsed on them while they battled flames Wednesday morning.

Crews were called to the home in the 8900 block of Wynmeadow Drive near Hobby Airport around 2 a.m. The home had heavy flames shooting out of the windows as firefighters arrived.
The operator of Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea says the theme parks will reopen on July 1. Located just outside Tokyo, both have been closed since February 29 due to the coronavirus outbreak in Japan.

Oriental Land said on Tuesday that only people who purchase tickets in advance can gain admittance for now. The measure is to prevent infections. Tickets will be available online from 3 p.m. on Thursday.

The theme parks will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the time being.

The operator says it will limit the number of people using attractions, restaurants and other facilities. Some will remain closed. It says it is considering limiting admission to shops selling merchandise as well.

Visitors will be requested to wear face masks and have their temperatures taken at the entrance gates.

Other theme parks in Japan have reopened or are planning to do so soon. Universal Studios Japan in Osaka welcomed back visitors from June 8. Sanrio Puroland, located in a Tokyo suburb, plans to be back in business from July 20.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hope Tuesday that Israel will hear global calls and will not go ahead with annexation of parts of the West Bank, which would undermine a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The UN chief said in an interview with The Associated Press that the United Nations has been consistently conveying the message that annexation would be not only against international law but it would be a major factor to destabilize the region.

He spoke ahead of a high-level UN Security Council meeting Wednesday morning on the Mideast where Israels plans to annex around 30% of the West Bank in line with President Donald Trumps Middle East peace plan is certain to be a major topic.

Guterres will speak before briefings from Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov. France, which holds the council presidency this month, said half a dozen foreign ministers are expected to take part, along with the Palestinian foreign minister and Israels UN ambassador.

Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war and has built dozens of settlements that are now home to nearly 500,000 Israelis, but it never formally claimed it as an Israeli territory due to stiff international opposition.

The Palestinians, with wide international backing, seek the territory as the heartland of their future independent state. Most of the international community considers Israels West Bank settlements illegal under international law.

The Trump administration has taken a much softer line toward Israeli settlements than its predecessors. With Trumps reelection prospects uncertain this November, Israeli hard-liners have urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move ahead with annexation quickly. The Israeli leaders new coalition deal includes an official clause allowing him to present his annexation plan to the government starting July 1.

Such a unilateral move would all but dash Palestinian hopes of establishing a viable independent state and is vehemently opposed by the Palestinians, Arab nations and most of the rest of the world.

Guterres said annexation would undermine what I believe is necessary, which is a two-state solution in which Israelis and the Palestinians can live together in peace, respect each other, and guarantee each others security.

I hope that this voice of reason that is not only mine, it is echoing across the world, will be heard by the Israeli authorities and that annexation does not take place on July 1, he said.
New Delhi: The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) is likely to hold virtual meet on Wednesday to discuss border tensions between the two countries.

The WMCC talks are headed by joint secretary-level officials from both sides.

WMCC was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas, as well as to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation, including between their border security personnel.

India and China held Corps Commander-level talks on Monday in which both sides reached a mutual consensus to disengage in the Eastern Ladakh sector.

Indian Army 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh and his Chinese counterpart on Monday held a meeting that lasted about 11 hours at the Border Personnel Meeting Point at Moldo to reduce the tensions between the two countries.

The commander-level talks were held after a violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in Ladakh on June 15.

The incident happened after Chinese troops as a result of an attempt by China to unilaterally change the status quo during de-escalation in eastern Ladakh.

India has said that the situation could have been avoided if the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side.

India lost 20 of its soldiers in the violent face-off in the Galwan Valley and 10 Indian soldiers also were held captive and later released. Indian intercepts have revealed that the Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured.

India and China have held talks at multiple levels to resolve the matter following the matter.

Following the face-off, China`s Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui and Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri met in Beijing on June 16.Jaishankar held telephonic talks with Wang on June 17 and conveyed that what happened in Galway was a "pre-mediated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties."

ANI had reported on Monday that along with military-level talks, both sides are planning to engage at diplomatic level soon.
(Natural News) An osteochondral defect refers to a focal area of damage that affects the cartilage as well as the bone under it. It is usually caused by trauma, articular inflammation or articular deterioration. Because of the poor regenerative ability of articular cartilage, osteochondral defects are tricky to deal with. Modern treatment strategies for osteochondral defects mainly focus on cartilage tissue engineering using bioactive materials.

In a recent study, Chinese researchers evaluated the ability of a plant compound known as icariin to enhance the regenerative capabilities of bone. Icariin is a flavonoid glycoside found in medicinal herbs that belong to the genus Epimedium. The researchers developed an icariin-conditioned serum (ICS) and investigated its ability  when combined with hyaluronic acid (HA)  to repair a critical-sized osteochondral defect in rabbit knees.

They reported their findings in an article published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Icariin from horny goat weed promotes bone repair with the help of hyaluronic acid

The epimedium herb, which is commonly known as horny goat weed, is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Its main active component, icariin, is a potent flavonoid that, according to studies, promotes the maturation of osteoblasts  the bone cells responsible for bone formation. Icariin also promotes the proliferation of chondrocytes  the cells located in cartilage  and reduces the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is a three-dimensional network made up of proteins and other macromolecules that provides structural support to cells.

Hyaluronic acid is a type of sugar naturally produced by the body. It is known to help the skin retain water and also serves as an essential component of the ECM of cartilage. As such, HA is involved in cell proliferation, inflammation and wound repair. Research has found that gels made with HA can help slow or prevent the onset of osteoarthritis following knee injury. These gels also make great delivery vehicles for medicines that promote bone repair, especially in severe cases of cartilage injury.

For their experiment, the researchers prepared ICS using different concentrations of icariin and incubated primary chondrocytes with the sera. They measured cell proliferation rates and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) secretion to determine the influence of ICS on various cell functions. GAGs are sugar molecules (polysaccharides) that help modulate enzyme activities, regulate cell growth and control the assembly and function of the ECM.

The researchers then gave rabbits intra-articular injections of either 0.5 mL normal saline (NS), ICS, HA and a combination of ICS and HA in their right knee joints. The researchers used International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) scores to assess macroscopic cartilage regeneration, and histological and immunohistochemical analyses to assess cartilage repair and chondrocyte regeneration. (Related: Scientists develop a new biomaterial made from citrate to help hasten bone regeneration.)

The researchers reported that low-dose icariin (0.94 g/kg) significantly promoted chondrocyte proliferation and enhanced GAG secretion. Treatment with the combination of ICS and HA caused the femoral condyles  the two rounded prominences at the end of the thighbone  of rabbits to be integrated with native cartilage. ICS together with HA also caused more subchondral bone regeneration, promoted repair of cartilage defects and increased the formation of new cartilage.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that icariin combined with hyaluronic acid helps repair cartilage defects and can be used in bioactive material-based cartilage regeneration therapies.

Sources include:

Science.news

StanfordHealthCare.org

BMCComplementMedTherapies.BiomedCentral.com

OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com

PaleyInstitute.org
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 18:14 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066159469 4 National capital-relocation,new-capital,coronavirus,economic-impact,COVID-19,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Despite the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is slated to begin construction of the new capital city in North Penajam Paser regency, East Kalimantan, as scheduled in 2021.

We're still in the planning phase. We're currently focusing on the basic design of the new capital city and drafting a capital city relocation bill with the House of Representatives, Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.

We hope next year we can commence construction of the new capital city.

Basuki explained that the government had cooperated with domestic and foreign investors for the capital city relocation project.

"The government can't work alone [in this project], so it's important to collaborate with private sectors from other countries," he said.

Read also: Jokowi's capital relocation dream faces COVID-19 hurdle

The new capital city, he added, would adopt smart city technology and be eco-friendly.

Basuki said in April that his office was not allocating part of its 2020 budget for preliminary construction work of the new capital.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan separately said that the government was currently not in the position to say whether it would go ahead with the capital relocation project, as it was busy handling the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The government is scheduled to continue construction of Sepaku Semoi Dam, the main water supply for the new capital city, as planned.

It allocated Rp 676.72 billion from the 2020 annual state budget for construction of the 378-hectare dam and the Public Works and Housing Ministry is currently working on land procurement for it.

The dam is expected to have a capacity of 11.6 million cubic meters with a water debit of 2,400 liters per second.

Besides Sepaku Semoi, the ministry is planning to build three other dams around the new capital city, namely Batu Lepek Dam, Beruas Dam, and Safiak Dam, all three of which will be located in Kutai Kartanegara regency. (nal)
The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen has sent troops to Abyan province to keep tabs on a cease-fire reached this week between the government and a southern separatist group.

The coalition announced Monday that the Emirati-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the Saudi-supported government had agreed to a cease-fire and would begin talks on implementing the power-sharing agreement reached in November.

The deal comes after months of fighting between the two sides in the southern province of Abyan. In mid-May, government troops launched an offensive aimed at pushing the separatists out of the southern province.

Despite the newly implemented truce, the fighting has continued in Abyan. An STC spokesperson told Arab News that government forces launched a major offensive from the coastal town of Shouqra on Tuesday. Government forces said they were acting in self-defense to a separatist attack on their positions.

The STC declared in April autonomous rule over the countrys southern provinces, including the strategic port city of Aden, which functions as the de facto capital of the Saudi-backed government. Over the weekend, the separatists took control of the island of Socotra, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Gulf of Aden.

The ongoing power struggle between the nominal allies in the Saudi-led coalition complicates efforts to end the wider civil war with the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, who control the capital Sanaa and much of the countrys north.

Since 2015, the war in the Arab worlds poorest nation has killed over 100,000 civilians and left more than 80% of the population reliant on some form of humanitarian assistance.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iranian security forces on Monday arrested the founder of an influential student charity organization and two of his aides, and sealed the groups offices in Tehran, a local news website reported.

The report by fararu.com said authorities appeared at the home of Sharmin Meimandinejad, the charity's founder, and arrested him. It said that around the same time, Morteza Kaymanaeh, the spokesman for the charity, and another of its employees, Katayoun Afrazeh, were also arrested.

The report gave no details or the reason for the arrests and the police did not announce any charges against the three or the charity, named after Imam Ali, the Shiite Muslim sects most revered figure after the Prophet Muhammad.

Iranian hard-liners have in recent years criticized the charity, the Imam Alis Popular Students Relief Society, accusing it of misusing the organization for political purposes and defaming the system by highlighting Iran's problems, as well as working with foreign countries and international bodies.

The charity, founded in the early 2000's with reportedly some 10,000 members, mainly organizes university students and other volunteers to help the poor and others in times of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.

Iran's moderate President Hassan Rouhani recently said charities and non-governmental groups should not allow dishonest individuals to assume positions in them. In May, judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi warned about alleged plans by Iran's enemies to fund charities for hostile purposes.

Iranian hard-liners accuse the West of seeking to topple the clerical establishment. These accusations have increased amid mounting U.S. pressure following President Donald Trump's moves that pulled America out of Iran's nuclear deal with world powers and Washington's reimposing of economic sanctions on Tehran.
The drive to register or reregister SIM cards continues, with Myanmar among the latest countries to set a deadline.

In fact the deadline for reregistering SIM cards in Myanmar is only a matter of days away. The countrys Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) has issued a statement reminding users to reregister their SIM cards by 30 June. Unregistered SIMs will be deactivated on that date.

As in many other countries, the stated reasons for the reregistration drive  launched in February  were to help protect the security of mobile financial services, to prevent phone-related crime and to crack down on incorrectly registered SIMs.

One big problem has been that many sellers have been pre-registering SIMs, despite lack of customer ID card, meaning that some SIMs were not properly linked to the user. A limit of two SIMs per operator per national identification card has now been imposed, with unregistered SIMs partially blocked.

Regular readers will have heard much of this before. A little under two years ago, the Malawian regulator imposed SIM card registration effective for all new cards since July 2018, in a bid to discourage crime. In February this year both Zambia  through state-owned operator Zambia Telecommunications Company (Zamtel)  and Nigeria started pushing through new rules on mobile subscriber registration. Late last year China implemented mandatory use of facial recognition technology for SIM registrations.

And some authorities have imposed fines on dodgy SIM deals. Earlier this month Vietnamese operators Mobifone, Vietnamobile, Viettel and Vinaphone each received a fine for registering new customers using false information.

And operators can be affected in other unwelcome ways too. In February UAE operator du mentioned that a reason for apparent customer declines was the negative impact on its base of SIM registration disconnections.
Former FBI director James Comey told President Obama that the 2016 conversations between Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak and incoming national-security adviser Michael Flynn were not criminal in nature, according to notes from former agent Peter Strzok released by Flynns legal team.

The page of notes was taken by Strzok appears to describe a January 5, 2017 meeting of President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and national security officials. This meeting occurred amid accusations that incoming Trump administration officials had colluded with Russian operatives. Strzok was not present at the meeting, and it is unclear what record of the meeting he consulted in taking the notes.

Strzok writes that P, presumably President Obama, asked, Is there anything I shouldnt be telling transition team?

Strzok records that D, or Director Comey, responded Kislyak calls but appear legit.

ALSO JUST IN: Flynn legal team files a page of Strzok's notes, which appear to describe the Jan. 5 meetign with Obama and natsec team Notes indicate Biden mentioned the Logan Act, but entirely devoid of context. pic.twitter.com/lGsj0DepHm  Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) June 24, 2020

In transcripts of conversations between Flynn and Kislyak released on May 29 of this year, Flynn is recorded asking the Russian ambassador not to escalate tensions in response to U.S. sanctions. Those sanctions were implemented by the Obama administration following reports that Russia attempted to interfere in the U.S. general election.

Strzoks notes also indicate that VP Biden mentioned the Logan Act during the meeting, although the context of Bidens remark is unclear. The Logan Act of 1799 forbids U.S. citizens from intervening in disputes with foreign nations without authorization. The law has been cited only twice in U.S. history in two cases in the 1800s and no one has ever been found guilty of violating the statute.

Story continues

While the FBI had monitored Flynns conversations with Kislyak, the agency moved to close the case on January 4, 2017, indicating it had found no derogatory information on Flynn. However, that same day Strzok intervened to keep the case open. Strzok told an unknown individual that day that the 7th floor [is] involved, apparently referring to senior FBI leadership at the bureaus headquarters.

Strzok was fired by the FBI after anti-Trump texts between him and agency lawyer Lisa Page were revealed.

Your excessive, repeated, and politically charged text messages while you were assigned as the lead case agent on the FBIs two biggest and most politically sensitive investigations in decades, demonstrated a gross lack of professionalism and exceptionally poor judgement, the Justice Department said in 2019.

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DALLAS, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Tre Pennie, U.S. Candidate for Texas Congressional District 30, announces a new economic recovery plan called EARN-IT. The plan was created in response to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest relating to the George Floyd murder. These problems stem from the culmination of 50-years of failed socioeconomic policy that have marginalized the interests of communities of color for years. EARN-IT seeks to leverage public works projects and networks to enhance workforce training, education, and volunteerism for underserved communities. Under EARN-IT, government will play its traditional role of supporting community initiatives, but corporations and the people will have an opportunity to earn economic and social rewards based on their contributions to the recovery process.
Portuguese police missed the opportunity to question the German man suspected of being responsible for the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, according to the former official who led the initial investigation in 2007.

Disgraced ex-detective Goncalo Amaral, who was sacked for publicly attacking his British counterparts during the first probe and claimed the McCanns faked their daughters abduction, claims his former colleagues attempted to visit Christian Brueckners 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, Mr Amaral said in an interview on Portuguese TV on Sunday night.

Mr Amaral, who is being sued by Kate and Gerry McCann over his unproven allegations, said he did not know if further inquiries were made after the first visit.

Mr Brueckner, a convicted paedophile and sex offender, was identified by police in Germany earlier this month as the lead suspect in the more than decade-long investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine from a Portuguese hotel.

He 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.

Mr Amaral said the 43-year-old was a scapegoat.

Hes an almost perfect suspect, he added. All thats lacking for him to become the perfect suspect is for him to be dead.

German police are treating the case as a murder investigation.

Lawyers for Mr Brueckner have said he denies any involvement in Madeleines disappearance, which triggered an international search effort that has made headlines for more than a decade now.
A Baton Rouge teen accused of shooting an elderly woman to death during a botched December burglary at her home near Tiger Bend and Antioch roads has pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge.

Xavier Cade, 15, was indicted in March in the killing of Angela Haymon, 74, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed his arraignment until now.

In 74-year-old's slaying, 15-year-old Baton Rouge boy indicted on second-degree murder A 15-year-old Baton Rouge boy accused of fatally shooting a 74-year-woman during a botched Dec. 30 burglary at her home near Tiger Bend and An

Cade entered his not guilty plea Friday before 19th Judicial District Commissioner Nicole Robinson, who set his bail at $150,000 and ordered him to have no contact with the victims family and friends. Robinson appointed the local public defenders office to represent the boy.

Haymon was investigating a noise under her carport on Morel Avenue in the Antioch Villa subdivision the night of Dec. 30 when she was shot to death. Her husband heard the gunfire from inside the house, went outside to confront the teens and shot Cade in the back while he was fleeing the scene. Cade got help from a neighbor and was hospitalized, then arrested after undergoing surgery.

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Cade told his mother he was trying to break into cars when the deadly confrontation occurred, testimony at a juvenile court hearing in February revealed. Octavia Cade said her son told her he was under the carport when the victim came out of the house yelling for the boys to leave and then grabbed the rifle he was holding, causing the weapon to go off in the process.

Xavier Cade faces a minimum sentence of life in prison with the chance to seek parole after serving 25 years if he's convicted as charged in the slaying.

His next court date is Sept. 10 before state District Judge Beau Higginbotham.

Cade's brother, Jerome Cade, 16, is accused of taking part in the burglary at Haymon's residence. A juvenile court judge in February found probable cause only for an attempted burglary charge against Jerome Cade. That finding does not preclude the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorneys Office from trying to prosecute Jerome Cade in district court on more serious charges.
Verizon has joined forces with Digital Catapult, the UKs leading advanced digital technology innovation centre, to launch an immersive accelerator programme to develop innovative 5G solutions for enterprises. The programme will enable a select number of retail and brand partners to work directly with startups and technology innovators to explore how 5G-enabled solutions can solve their real-world business challenges. They will use Verizons 5G and edge computing capabilities in Verizons London 5G Lab and production studio to develop prototypes over a seven-month period.

Verizons London 5G Lab and production studio launched in February 2020  the companys first 5G-enabled facility outside the United States. The London Lab offers a live Verizon 5G-enabled environment where organizations can develop and test 5G applications and experiences, and explore the boundaries of 5G network technology. A number of use cases demonstrating how 5Gs super-fast speeds, massive bandwidth and ultra-low latency can transform industry experiences are already showcased at the Lab, including an augmented shopping experience, virtual events and experiences, smart retail shelving, intelligent asset management and AR-enabled workspace reimagining.

In addition, Verizons production studio, RYOT, gives innovators the ability to produce premium quality, 3D content including virtual and augmented reality experiences, such as virtual events, using RYOTs state-of-the-art capabilities like volumetric capture, motion capture and AR broadcast from its facilities in London.

Christian Guirnalda, Verizons director of 5G Labs and Innovation Centers, commented: More than ever, industries are looking to rapidly innovate out of business necessity  and in months instead of years. Next gen digital channels, remote experiences, immersive content at home and on the go these are new ways to better serve customers, all unlocked by 5G. By pairing startups and creators with brands and providing access to a 5G environment and tools, we will together support the local entrepreneurial community and continue to accelerate the 5G ecosystem.

Digital Catapult helps organisations of all sizes to discover new ways of solving industry challenges, increase productivity and open up new markets. The organisation designs and delivers specialised innovation programmes utilising advanced digital technologies  including 5G, AI and Immersive  to drive UK leadership and economic growth. Digital Catapult will provide retail partners participating in the accelerator with access to leaders in the UK startup and innovator community.

Geraldina Iraheta, Director of Business Development at Digital Catapult, commented: This accelerator is an incredible opportunity to bring 5G to life, proving its potential in real-world environments and revolutionising the retail experience for consumers. Were excited to be working with Verizon to showcase the future of retail in this way.
Croatias Hrvatski Telekom (HT) has awarded a five-year 5G RAN contract to Ericsson.

The fixed and mobile provider will use Ericssons 5G RAN equipment exclusively until 2024. The vendor will deploy its Radio System and Spectrum Sharing products via its local unit, Ericsson Nikola Tesla.

HTs CEO Kostas Nebis said: 5G technology implementation is applicable on a broad scale and resonates with Croatias needs, such as enabling higher energy efficiencies through smart metering and dynamic management of power supply, higher efficiency in agriculture through connected and automated devices and machinery, or optimisation of irrigation processes, as well as in a variety of other industries.

The operator has the highest number of subscribers in Croatia, with a share of around 45% as of end-March 2020.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients have the capability of contaminating their surroundings, according to a new study published in mSphere, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The data, which comes from a patient study conducted in China, demonstrates the importance of environmental cleaning in areas occupied by patients with COVID-19.

"Placement of COVID-19 patients in rooms with negative pressure may bring a false feeling of safety and rigorous environment cleaning should be emphasized," write lead study author Zhiyong Zong, MBBS, Ph.D., from the Department of Infection Control, West China Hospital. Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, and colleagues.

While it has been well recognized that the virus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, can be acquired by objects or materials which are likely to carry infection, such as clothes and furniture, the contamination of patients' surroundings by SARS-CoV-2 is largely unknown and understudied.

In the new study, researchers sampled the surroundings and the air of 6 negative pressure non-intensive care unit (ICU) rooms with 13 laboratory confirmed COVID-19 patients who had returned from overseas in a designated isolation ward in Chengdu, China. The study cohort included 2 asymptomatic patients. Sampled sites included bedrails, room and toilet door handles, light switches, foot flush buttons, sink rims, sink and toilet bowls and drains, bedside tables, bedsheets, pillows, equipment belts on wall, floor, air exhaust outlets and air.

The researchers found that 44 of 112 surface samples (39.3%) were positive for SARS-Cov-2, detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All of the air samples were negative.

"The findings suggest that patient surroundings in this non-ICU negative pressure isolation ward for COVID-19 patients with mild disease or no symptoms were extensively contaminated by SARS-CoV-2," write Dr. Zong and colleagues. "In particular, in a single room with an asymptomatic patient, 4 sites including bedrail, pillow, bedsheet and the air exhaust outlet were SARS-CoV-2 positive. This highlights that asymptomatic COVID-19 patients can contaminate their surroundings and therefore make persons who have direct contact with them such as their family members and healthcare workers be exposed to SARS-CoV-2"

The researchers say that isolation of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients at home impose risks to their family members and that shelter hospitals may be a better option. "The findings also highlight that environmental cleaning should be emphasized," the researchers write.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
The Acer Predator Triton 500 delivers outstanding gaming performance thanks to its fearsome internals and buttery-smooth 300Hz G-Sync screen. Better yet, it pulls it off in an incredibly portable form factor. Just dont leave your charger at home.

Ive tested a lot of gaming laptops over the years, but the newly refreshed Acer Predator Triton 500 is the best one Ive ever had the pleasure of playing on.

For many years, you could only coax enthusiast-class performance out of mammoth gaming laptops that threatened to throw out your back while you carried them around in your bag. The introduction of Nvidias energy-efficient Max-Q technology resulted in more portable play-worthy notebooks, but the truly totable ones usually topped out with graphics options below the upper echelon of performance. Gaming on the go always required some sort of compromise.

No more. The Acer Predator Triton 500 brings it all, pairing a 6-core, 12-thread Intel Core i7-10750H processor with Nvidias potent new GeForce RTX 2080 Super graphics chip. All that power somehow squeezes into a sublime 4.6-pound aluminum chassis with a lightning-fast 300Hz G-Sync display that offers drop-dead gorgeous contrast ratios. Is it perfect? Not quite. But hot damn, I love it.

Acer Predator Triton 500 specs and features

Brad Chacos/IDG

Acer sent us the highest-end Triton 500 on offer, loaded with every feature you could ask for. Acers site ostensibly lists it for $2,600, but at press time we could only find it available for $2,800 at B&H Photo. You get a lot of hardware for all those pennies.

CPU: Intel 10th-gen Core i7-10750H

Intel 10th-gen Core i7-10750H Memory: 32GB DDR4/3200 in dual-channel mode

32GB DDR4/3200 in dual-channel mode GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q Display: 15.6-inch, 300Hz, 19201080 IPS screen with Nvidia G-Sync

15.6-inch, 300Hz, 19201080 IPS screen with Nvidia G-Sync Storage: 1TB Samsung NVMe SSD

1TB Samsung NVMe SSD Dimensions: 14.1 x 10 x 0.75 inches (without the feet)

14.1 x 10 x 0.75 inches (without the feet) Weight: 4.6 pounds

Theres not much more you could ask for. The included Samsung NVMe SSD blazes along, but if you want even faster speeds, theres another M.2 slot for expansion, and Acer loaded the laptop with Intel software ready to get a dual-SSD setup humming in RAID 0.

The storage and RAM are difficult to access, however. The Triton 500 uses an inverted motherboard design, which means youll need to yank out ribbon cables and the entire motherboard to access the expansion slots. Fortunately, the stock configuration comes with plenty of firepower.

Even the Internet is fast on this beast. The Acer Predator Triton 500 includes Killers AX1650 Wi-Fi 6 module and Killer DoubleShot Pro technology. DoubleShot Pro lets the gaming-optimized 2.5 Gigabit ethernet port work together with the notebooks 802.11ac Wi-Fi, shifting more important tasks to the wired connection and less urgent tasks to the wireless network. The Triton 500 also supports Bluetooth 5.

Brad Chacos/IDG Left-edge ports.

Acer included an ample port selection despite this gaming laptops relatively small size. The Triton 500 comes with a trio of USB 3.0 ports, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0, Mini DisplayPort, headset and mic jacks, and the aforementioned ethernet port. It also includes a Kensington lock slot for more security-conscious types.

Brad Chacos/IDG Right-edge ports. Not pictured is a Kensington lock slot at the rear of this side.

Acer Predator Triton 500 design

Most aspects of the Acer Predator Triton 500s design carry over from last years model, and thats perfectly fine, as this is a wonderfully crafted, fantastically compact laptop. The mere 4.6-pound weight firmly plants the Triton 500 in the thin-and-light gaming territory. Laptops with similar heft tend to offer slower graphics options and other components, driving home just how special this notebook is. This powerhouse feels great tucked under your arm and wont weigh down your backpack like other monster gaming laptops.

Brad Chacos/IDG The Acer Predator Triton 500 wont weigh you down despite the monster hardware inside.

Aesthetics are always subjective, but I adore the sleek, black, aluminum design. Theres no mistaking this for a ho-hum workstation, thanks to the silver Predator logo emblazoned in the middle of the lid (and augmented by a blue backlight). But like Razers Blade lineup, the Triton 500 wouldnt stick out like a sore thumb in an office meeting either. Its tasteful.

This laptop makes games look great, too. While last years model went with a fairly standard 144Hz display, the new Predator Triton 500 delivers an amped-up screen to match the ferocious GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q inside. The 19201080 panelthe perfect resolution for a gaming laptop this size, 4K be damnedruns at a ludicrous 300Hz with a rapid 1 millisecond grey-to-grey response time, and better yet, it supports Nvidias buttery-smooth G-Sync technology. Playing on this rig is an absolute joy. Hell, just mousing around the desktop feels great. Everything looks super-crisp.

The screen isnt especially bright, topping out at 275 nits in our test. Youll want to find a shaded area if youre using the Triton 500 outside on a sunny day. That said, the image itself looks great for gaming and general use, with spectacular contrast and support for 100 percent of the sRGB spectrum.

Brad Chacos/IDG Games look great on the Triton 500

The Triton 500 sounds pretty decent for a laptop too. Acers TrueHarmony speakers deliver solid volume and clarity, though like all notebook speakers, they wont blow away audiophiles. Bass could be deeper, theres a tendency towards tinnier tones, and the volume wont impress while the fans are whirring under load. Chuck some gaming headphones into your bag if you can. The laptop comes with DTS:X Ultra surround sound software to make headphone audio more realistic.

We were happy with the Triton 500s keyboard and touchpad setup last year, and it remains the same this year. Once again, the subtly concave keys feel great under your fingers, and were happy that Acer opted for full-size cursor keys rather than the compact monstrosities found on some laptops. Our biggest gripe from the 2019 model has been fixed, too, with Acer now offering customizable backlighting on a per-key basis in the PredatorSense app. Last year, you could only configure the lighting in three large zones.

Brad Chacos/IDG

The smooth, comfortable touchpad works like a charm and comes properly centered under the Y key. Too many laptops put their touchpads in bizarre places these days, so its great to see Acer stick to the classic placement. While clicks registered just fine, Id have preferred the addition of discrete mouse buttons at the bottom. Yes, fine, most mobile gamers deploy gaming mice for better control. As a tactics lover, however, I was playing XCOM: Chimera Squad while testing out the Triton, and the only thing keeping it from being a perfect experience sans a discrete mouse was the touchpads lack of a right mouse button. Double-pressing the touchpad to right click just doesnt offer the same accuracy in the heat of the moment and fatigues your fingers during an extended session.

Youll find (subtle) ventilation ports galore on the edges and bottom of the laptop to exhaust the heat generated by its potent internal hardware. Acer supplements those with Vortex Flow, a new design involving three custom-engineered fans strategically placed in the chassis, working in tandem to increase additional airflow while also reducing noise. The company also added five new heat pipes to the Triton 500s design, along with redesigned fourth-generation AeroBlade3D fans inside that achieve up to 45 percent greater airflow than their predecessors, bolstered by Acers CoolBoost technology for increasing fan speeds under load. All told, Acers reviewers guide claims the new Triton 500 gets 33 percent better thermal performance than its 2019 counterpart.

Acer An Acer illustration of the triple-fan cooling inside the Predator Triton 500.

The combination does a pretty good job of dissipating the heat spewing from such high-end hardware. The Triton 500 holds up fine on your lap for everyday tasks like email and YouTube videos. If you decide to game from a comfy chair for the hour or so that this laptop can play for when youre away from a wall socket, the chassis gets warm, but not uncomfortably hot. Likewise, the case fans kick up to a noticeable volume when the laptops under load, but its not an unpleasant noise. Were much more bothered when laptop fans sound tinny or high-pitched or oscillating; the Triton 500 gets loud, yet it also fades almost into white noise, especially if youre using headphones.

Considering that this tiny laptops cooling system is taming a six-core Core i7 chip and Nvidias most powerful graphics chip, theres nothing to complain about.

Preinstalled software

The PredatorSense software Acer preinstalls on the Triton 500 serves as your gaming command center, giving you control over RGB lighting, GPU overclocking presets, fan controls, system monitoring, and more. The icons in the upper-right corner offer even more customization options, letting you fine-tune Acers TrueHarmony audio for the type of sound youre listening to and activate features like LCD overdrive and the ability to disable Nvidias discrete GPU for better power efficiency when you arent gaming. You can only overclock the GPU when plugged in with greater than 40 percent battery life remaining, but its worthwhile if you meet those demands. More on that later. (You can also overclock the GPU using a nifty Turbo button over the keyboard.)

Brad Chacos/IDG Acers PredatorSense app.

DTS and Killer apps help manage your audio and networking, respectively, while Nvidia software and XSplit Gamecaster serve gamers. Acer also loads up the Triton 500 with Netflix, Dropbox, Norton Security Ultra, Firefox, ExpressVPN, CyberLink PhotoDirector, Office, Spotify, and an Acer Collection S app with even more. Those are all arguably useful and easily removed, but worth noting when youre spending $2,600 on a laptop.

Next page: Performance benchmarks and conclusion
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 18:30:23|Editor: huaxia

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BANJUL, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Gambian health ministry said on Wednesday it was hunting two escapees from a quarantine center.

"The Ministry of Health regrets to inform the public that four passengers out of 140 who arrived in the country on the 22nd June 2020 with the SN Brussels flight escaped from quarantine," a statement from the ministry stated.

According to the ministry, out of the four escapees, one surrendered himself to the health authorities. The second was reported by a neighbour and subsequently picked up.

The ministry expressed disappointment, indicating that the government has rented standard hotels as quarantine sites for convenience purposes, unlike other countries that use school halls.

It warned the remaining two to report themselves immediately or would publicize their details in the media.

"The Ministry of Health is soliciting the continuous support and cooperation of the general public in its efforts to contain COVID-19 and also in addressing healthcare needs of the population," it stressed.

The Gambia has so far reported 42 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 2 deaths and 26 recoveries. Enditem
At some point, your mask gets so soaked with the gas, with the chemicals, you have to take it off and get a clean one, he said. You cant breathe.

Others Jarvis has protested alongside have fared worse. He said he has seen people on the ground, crying and vomiting, debilitated by the gas. Street medics that aid the marchers have stepped in to help, putting themselves at risk of exposure.

Banned from use in warfare, international law permits the use of tear gas for domestic riot control purposes, under the Chemical Weapons Agreement that took effect in 1997. Some cities have suspended its use since protests began last month. A federal judge in Denver issued a temporary restraining order preventing its use there.

Exposure to the gas in large quantities can lead to long-term health issues or respiratory failure that could result in death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, continued use of chemical irritants could fuel spread of the virus, five local doctors wrote in a letter to the Richmond Police department shared on social media Tuesday.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: In a stinging attack on the Gandhi family of the Congress, BJP president J P Nadda on Wednesday said a dynasty and its courtiers have "grand delusions" of the opposition being about itself and stated that a "rejected and ejected" family is not equal to the entire opposition.

In his tweets, Nadda said it was the time for unity and solidarity, and the "relaunch of the scion for the nth time can wait", an apparent dig at Rahul Gandhi, who has been aggressive in his attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his handling of the border row with China.

Nadda said India lost thousands of square kilometres of land due to the "misadventures of one dynasty" and claimed that the Siachen glacier, where the Indian Army has a strong presence, was almost gone.

No wonder India has rejected them, he said.

The BJP president posted a news report to back his assertions about Siachen.

"One 'royal' dynasty and their 'loyal' courtiers have grand delusions of the Opposition being about one dynasty. A dynast throws tantrums and his courtiers peddle that fake narrative. Latest one relates to the the Opposition asking questions to the Government," Nadda said.

A rejected and ejected dynasty is NOT equal to the entire Opposition. One dynastys interests are not Indias interests. Today, the nation is united and supportive of our armed forces. This is the time for unity and solidarity. Relaunch of the scion for the nth time can wait.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 24, 2020

Though he did not directly name the Gandhi family or any of its members, the reference was clear.

He said it was the opposition's right to ask questions and added that the all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi saw healthy deliberations, with several opposition leaders giving their valuable inputs.

They also fully supported the Centre in determining the way ahead, Nadda said.

"One family was an exception. Any guesses who," he asked.

Targeting the Gandhis, the BJP president said, "One rejected and ejected dynasty is NOT equal to the entire Opposition. One dynasty's interests are not India's interests. Today, the nation is united and supportive of our armed forces. This is the time for unity and solidarity. Relaunch of 'the scion' for the nth time can wait."
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Using data from its widely-adopted Daily Travel Index, travel data company Arrivalist is predicting that Americans will take 36.8 million road trips over the Fourth of July weekend, making Independence Day the biggest road trip event so far this year. Compared to the American Automobile Association's (AAA) travel prediction last year, road trip travel will be down 11 percent from the 41.1 million travelers AAA predicted in 2019.

Arrivalist recently revealed that Memorial Day road trip activity returned to pre-COVID levels. Despite widespread social unrest and ongoing health threats from the novel coronavirus, the Daily Travel Index, a free resource posted online, continues to rise. Arrivalist predicts the Daily Travel Index will cross 100% for the first time over the Fourth of July weekend, meaning that twice as many travelers will hit the road compared to an average day in February.

"In many respects these are unprecedented times, but solid data and reliable models can still provide the certainty that travelers and the travel industry need to adapt to the times," says Arrivalist Founder and CEO Cree Lawson.

The Daily Travel Index is a daily measure of road trip activity (trips by car over 50 miles) taken by residents of all 50 U.S. states, with volume indexed against a baseline of activity established just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Arrivalist's prediction for Fourth of July road trip activity is based upon historical data captured within the Daily Travel Index and takes into account the day of week that road trips occur, seasonality, and the impact of COVID-19 on travel since the pandemic began in March.

Arrivalist launched the Daily Travel Index on April 1, providing free access to the travel industry and the public. It has been adopted by the U.S. Travel Association and is incorporated into many other industry research tools. Road trips are generally considered to be the leading indicator of the return of the travel industry from the recession related to COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdowns designed to thwart its spread.

Arrivalist's methodology is based on a representative balanced panel of GPS signals representing road trips taken specifically in cars (excluding travel by air). A trip is measured as one where the user has traveled a minimum of 50 miles and spent a minimum of two hours at the destination. Commuter travel or other frequently repeated tripsi.e., cargo deliveries or other reoccurring activitiesare excluded from the Daily Travel Index.

For the purpose of projections, the Independence Day Holiday travel period is defined as a five-day period between Wednesday, July 1, 2020 to Sunday, July 5, 2020. The actual forecast for domestic drive volume was based on daily drive volume recorded from July 1, 2019, IMHE projected COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. , U.S. Department of Transportation State Motor Registrations, and travel and tourism economic factors such as seasonality and day of week. The prediction model is based on an expected logistic growth due to the surge of road trips witnessed by Arrivalist data.

About Arrivalist

Arrivalist is the leading location intelligence platform in the travel Industry. The company uses multiple location data sets to provide actionable insights on consumer behavior, competitive share, media effectiveness, and market trends. Over 200 travel marketers, including 100 cities, 40 U.S. States, and four of the top 10 U.S. theme parks, use these insights to inform media strategy, operations, and destination development. Arrivalist is headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco and Toronto.

Media Contact:

Jacquelyn Gozdowiak

[email protected]

414-247-3866

SOURCE Arrivalist
TEHRAN, Iran, June 24

Trend:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani praised the efforts taken by the government to develop railway infrastructure in the country, during his meeting with the members of the cabinet on June 23, Trend reports citing IRNA.

"Due to the work done, residents of Hamedan and Kermanshah provinces as well as the city of Urmia will be connected to the railway network," he said adding that Tabriz, Miyaneh and Bostanabad will be connected through the railways soon.

In addition, the major part of the Chabahar-Zahedan railway will opened by the end of my current term as president [end on May 2021], the head of state added.

Zahedan-Chabahar railroad which is to connect Zahedan, the capital city of Irans southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, to Chabahar port in the province, was scheduled to be completed by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2021).

Chabahar Port in southeast Iran is the most prioritized one for railway connection as the ports exemption from the US sanctions has become an opportunity for cargo transshipment, export and transit.

Lying on the coast of the Gulf of Oman in Sistan-Baluchestan Province, Chabahar is the countrys only oceanic port; given its strategic location on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the development of the port is of high significance for Iran, said the report.

The project for building the 610-kilometer railroad was launched nine years ago, but was stopped due to lack of financial resources. The construction work resumed after the project contractor was changed.
(TNS)  After weeks of tension caused by the death of George Floyd, and other Black Americans at the hands of police, a racist TikTok video posted by a Stroudsburg High School student, and clashing political views  many in Pennsylvania's the Poconos are calling for change and reforms in policing and leadership. One student-led organization is trying to look to the future.Stroudsburg's The Acceptance Project, or TAP, is hosting "Leading leaders through conversation" Thursday at 5 p.m. The webinar will be livestreamed on YouTube at youtu.be/1vk7gaqysWw . Thursday's webinar was planned in collaboration with Monroe County United, a non-profit organization that addresses tense issues and seeks to raise awareness regarding those issues in the Poconos.Building bridgesFor TAP founder Taha Vahanvaty, empowering students to engage with others they may not have spoken to otherwise is key to encouraging dialogue that leads to change. TAP often springs to action during times of distress, promoting discourse and building bridges between students and the community around them."The goal of each of our dialogue sessions is not to change anyone's perspective or opinion." Vahanvaty said. "It's simply to prove to them that having challenging conversations with someone who completely disagrees is possible."According to Vahanvaty, proving this possible allows students to feel empowered and to continue having difficult conversations with others in the hopes of "becoming a more empathetic, engaged, and educated individuals in the process."Vahanvaty, who formed the group in response to the tense 2016 presidential election, sought to offer students "the time, environment, and opportunity to engage in uncomfortable, challenging, and most importantly civil dialogue" about relevant social and political issues. Since its founding, TAP has evolved to focus solely on creating dialogue between students."TAP has definitely evolved and matured since its creation back in 2017." Vahanvaty said. During the early days of the group, TAP "spread itself thin" in its mission to raise awareness for multiple issues. Vahanvaty said TAP was able to restructure in 2019 in order to refocus the group's mission.This restructuring led the group to create a new mission statement: "Creating the mediators of tomorrow to continue the conversations of today."Today, TAP boasts more than 120 student members that meet every other week during the school year to engage in selected topics. TAP has tackled everything from political correctness to cancel culture, and does not shy away from more sensitive topics such as sex education or abortion.A diverse communityWhile the event is entirely student-run and organized, TAP decided it would seek out a local non-profit that shares similar ideas and goals, Vahanvaty said. The group reached out to MCU for support.The MCU organization is known for bringing awareness to issues regarding bigotry in the Poconos, and can often be seen organizing events and workshops in order to bring people together According to a press release, MCU seeks to mitigate and respond to instances of religious and racial discrimination, as well as prevent violence "precipitated by bigotry."Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Poconos forced schools to close, the group has adapted to hold meetings online via Zoom.Thursday's online webinar will host a six-person panel of local leaders in an effort to create discussion about racial equity in Monroe County. Vahanvaty will facilitate along with TAP advisor and MCU leader Cynthia Crowner. The panelists will answer questions submitted by high school students from the Poconos. With the help of Crowner, TAP reached out to several speakers that reflect the "diverse ideological views of TAP students."Speakers consisting of local leaders such as Monroe County Sheriff Ken Morris, Stroudsburg Area School District Superintendent Dr. Cosmas Curry and MCU founder Tom Jones make up the panel.According to Vahanvaty, there was hesitation to broadcast a Zoom meeting regarding racial equity at first. TAP conversations give students an opportunity to share views that may not be popular for the sake of education and learning together, and some students were afraid their opinions or questions could be misconstrued as racist. Vahanvaty found that the only way a constructive online conversation could be held would be by allowing students to take the reigns."We have collected over 50 questions from TAP members across (Monroe) County and will continue collecting them anonymously through our email, social media, and Google Classroom." Vahanvaty said. "By allowing students to submit questions and topics relating to race we were able to give them an opportunity for their voice to be heard by the people in charge."While we will most definitely have this conversation in person once school starts again, this is the first step in our mission of empowering students to continue having the conversations that really matter."
Toronto police have released a sketch of a woman found dead in Trinity Bellwoods Park earlier this month, and are asking for the publics help in identifying her.

The woman was discovered in the park in the Dundas Street West and Shaw Street area on the morning of June 10.

She was found on the grass by someone passing through the park who called police soon after, Det. Mary Vruna told reporters at a media briefing where the woman was found. Police dont believe there was any foul play in her death.

She was found lying on a dark blue sleeping bag, wearing a pair of black cargo pants and a green striped shirt, she said.

The females lifestyle circumstances are unknown at this time. She may have been recently transient from another city. Another possible scenario could be that she was confused, disoriented, thus leaving her home going unnoticed, Vruna said.

People in the area who know of a neighbour who lives alone should check in with police if they match her description, she said. They have yet to match her appearance with any reports of missing people.

Miriam Lafontaine is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @mirilafontaine
(Natural News) The Mark Zuckerberg empire has once again targeted the Trump campaign with censorship, this time for its use of an alleged hate symbol in a social media ad calling out Antifa as a domestic terrorist movement.

According to Facebook, the decision was made to remove this particular targeted ad for President Trumps reelection this fall because it contained an upside-down red triangle with a black outline, which supposedly encourages organized hate due to the fact that it was also used in Nazi Germany.

Even though this same symbol is commonly used today by Antifa as one of its featured logos, hence the reason why the Trump campaign included it, the leftist mob running Facebook somehow decided that, in this case, it was there to promote ideological Nazism.

The now-deleted Trump ad featured an inverted red-and-black triangle to symbolize the Antifa movement, which uses the red-and-black color scheme in their badges, flags, and propaganda as a form of ideological identification, Breitbart News reports.

Red-and-black are the historical colors of the anarcho-communist movement, and red triangles are an Antifa symbol according to products available for purchase.

The ad in question very specifically talked about how violent mobs are roving Americas streets and wreaking havoc on society. It called on Americans from all walks of life to unify against this extremist behavior and join President Trump in fighting the scourge of Antifa.

In other words, the ad was about fighting against organized hate from the likes of Antifa, and had nothing to do with Nazi Germany which was obvious from the text of the ad. And yet Facebook determined otherwise, needlessly fueling the type of hatred and division that has come to demarcate the behavior of leftists in 2020.

We removed these posts and ads for violating our policy against organized hate, a Facebook spokesman told the media. Our policy prohibits using a banned hate groups symbol to identify political prisoners without the context that condemns or discusses the symbol.

Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how the behavior of left-wing terrorists like Antifa are only helping Trump to win the election this fall:

Did Facebook just admit that Antifa is a domestic terrorist movement?

The interesting thing about this statement is that it is basically an admission by Facebook that Antifa is a hate group, seeing as how Antifa is the group currently using this forbidden symbol as one of its logos.

If an upside-down red triangle with a black outline represents Nazi imagery, as has been claimed by Media Matters, then that means Antifa is a Nazi group. Does this mean that the left is finally admitting that Antifa is a domestic terrorist group, just as President Trump himself recently declared?

We certainly will not hold our breath on that one, but it is a point worth noting. The left seems unable to grasp the hilarity of its duplicitous outrage over this particular symbol depending on who uses it.

When Antifa uses it, nobody on the left cares. When Trump uses it, the left erupts into a chorus of screeching about the promotion of Nazis and hate. The stupidity of it all is simply mind-boggling.

Another irony is that Facebooks selective censorship of this particular symbol represents a form of election interference, which the platform claims to have been fighting over the past several years, by engaging in said censorship.

If they want to be a PAC, thats fine, wrote one Breitbart News commenter about Facebooks blatant election interference. Regulate them like one.

For more related news about Big Tech censorship and election interference, be sure to check out Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com
Nigerian actor, Babatunde Bernard Tayo, better known as Baba Tee, is still in a celebratory mood after welcoming a son with his wife, Feranmi on Fathers Day.

The actor announced the exciting news as he shared a picture of himself kissing his wifes bare baby bump.

In a new post, the actor rejoiced as he urged his fans and followers not to look down on anyone.

In his words;

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Original kayeefi Never Look Down On Anyone. Oloko Keke Has given Birth to A Bouncing Baby Boy oooo A Serial Lover is Married Oba ti O Pa Egan mi re will Always Answer Our Prayers God i Thank You For Putting Them to Shame Anu ni. Mo ri Gba.  THANKS FOR THE CELEBRATION FROM MR & MRS TAYO

Read Also: Lady Allegedly Raped By DBanj Files Criminal Complaint

See his post below:
Your July 1 pyrotechnic celebration may be snuffed out depending where in Niagara you live.

Large municipal fireworks displays for Canada Day have been cancelled across the region.

And so are many backyard displays.

Some local governments and their fire departments are banning sale or use of fireworks, while others are recommending residents stay away from celebrating the upcoming holiday with a few blasts.

In Welland, the sale of fireworks was banned across the city before the Victoria Day long weekend  but its not officially illegal to light them at your home, just frowned upon, said Welland Fire and Emergency Services Deputy Chief Adam Eckhart.

I have some concerns with the number of people coming together for those sorts of activities, said Eckhart.

People who decide to set them off need to adhere to the citys bylaws that urge safe usage and that they not be a nuisance after 11 p.m.  although rain is in the forecast.

In Pelham, neither sale nor use of consumer fireworks is permitted. A violation of these rules would spark a fine of $250.

Fire Chief Bob Lymburner said there is no place to buy fireworks in Pelham, so there isnt much concern for any contraventions in that sense.

But, he added, enforcing rules focused on residents setting them off is nearly impossible to do.

We say theres a ban, but theres no way of controlling it. By the time we receive the complaint and respond, it will be over.

There is no ban in place in Niagara Falls that disallows the use or sale of fireworks, but some restrictions, said captain of fire prevention Frank Deveraux.

Residents can only set off fireworks between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Canada Day and the day immediately preceding and the holiday. Also, no one under 18 can discharge fireworks except under the direct supervision of a person 21 or over.

A contravention of these rules could result in a $2,000 fine, said Deveraux.

Consumer fireworks can be sold in Niagara Falls from May 5 to Sept. 15.

The City of Port Colborne stopped the sale of fireworks on May 18, but is not prohibiting their use on private property.

This (sale ban) is being done in an effort to reduce risk in the community, including potential fires due to the mishandling of fireworks, and the number of complaint calls we receive from neighbours, ultimately protecting your front-line workers, including EMS (emergency medical services), police and fire, said May a release from the city.

In Fort Erie, there is no ban on sale or use of fireworks  but bylaw staff will hand out fines if it results in a gathering that exceeds 10 people, said communications adviser Janine Tessmer.

In the City of St. Catharines, sales have been prohibited, said Maggie Riopelle, manager of corporate communications.

No bans have been imposed in Wainfleet, nor were any put in place before the May long weekend, said Amber Dashwood, the mayors administrative assistant.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 19:22:38|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, President Khaltmaa Battulga and Parliament speaker Gombojav Zandanshatar cast their votes in the regular parliamentary elections on Wednesday.

"Today is a holiday for us. We all are exercising our constitutional right to elect the parliament or State Great Hural, Mongolia's top legislative body," Khurelsukh told reporters after casting his vote, urging citizens to actively vote for their representatives.

The voting began from 7:00 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Tuesday), and will last for 15 hours at 2,070 polling stations across the country, according to the General Election Commission (GEC).

As of 12:00 p.m. local time (0400 GMT), more than 507,500 Mongolian citizens cast their votes. Voter turnout in the general elections reached 25.13 percent, said the GEC.

The Asian country's parliament is unicameral, consisting of 76 lawmakers with each serving a four-year term.

The landlocked country last held parliamentary elections in June 2016. Enditem
UK medical leaders warn of 'real risk' of virus second wave (Photo: Tolga Akmen / AFP)

"While the future shape of the pandemic in the UK is hard to predict, the available evidence indicates that local flare-ups are increasingly likely and a second wave a real risk," said the experts in an open letter printed in the British Medical Journal.

The letter added that the overriding task was "to ensure that the country is adequately prepared to contain a second phase".

It was signed by 16 leading experts, including the heads of the Royal College of Surgeons, the Faculty of Public Health and the Royal College of Nursing.

Prime minister Johnson on Tuesday announced what he called the beginning of the end of "national hibernation", allowing the reopening of large parts of the hospitality, culture and tourism sectors in England from July 4.

That includes pubs, hotels, restaurants, museums and galleries. The two-metre social distancing rule, in place since March, was also relaxed to one metre, subject to measures such as the use of face coverings.

The decision was seen as vital to large parts of the economy, which faces recession and large-scale job losses after more than three months of closure and stay-at-home restrictions.

But the decision to effectively lift the lockdown was immediately questioned.

A former government chief scientific adviser, David King, told Sky News television that the move was "extraordinarily risky", and a political decision rather than a scientific one.

Alok Sharma, the government's business secretary, told the broadcaster the lifting of the restrictions was justified and there was no "divergence between making sure people keep safe and protecting livelihoods".

Britain has recorded nearly 43,000 deaths of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 -- the worst toll in Europe -- and announced another 171 fatalities on Tuesday.

However, the real figure is likely closer to 60,000, based on an analysis of excess deaths.

The relaxation announced by Johnson on Tuesday applies only to England as the Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh devolved administrations set their own guidelines.
In this article 7201.T-JP

F

GM

TSLA

People looking at a Tesla car on display at a showroom in Beijing. Noel Celis | AFP via Getty Images

While many view Tesla as a leader in automotive technology, the company continues to face issues with the quality of its vehicles, according to J.D. Power. As part of its 2020 Initial Quality Study, the firm found Tesla owners reported more problems in their first 90 days of ownership than the other 31 U.S. auto brands included in the study. J.D. Power's study is considered an industry benchmark for quality. It surveys owners and then grades auto brands based on the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles. They can range from problems with infotainment systems and engines to paint issues and production. The industry average for 2020 model-year vehicles was 166 problems per 100 vehicles. Tesla had 250 problems per 100 vehicles. The top-rated brands were Dodge and Kia both at 136 problems per 100 vehicles. The less technology in a brand's vehicles, the better they typically perform in the survey because there are fewer issues to report, according to Dave Sargent, vice president of automotive quality at J.D. Power.

Tesla isn't officially part of the study because it doesn't allow J.D. Power access to customer vehicle registration data. The firm said it decided to profile the electric car maker anyway based on the roughly 1,250 owners it was able to survey, a majority of which owned a Model 3. "Unlike other manufacturers, Tesla doesn't grant us permission to survey its owners in 15 states where it is required," Doug Betts, president of the automotive division at J.D. Power, said in a statement. "However, we were able to collect a large enough sample of surveys from owners in the other 35 states and, from that base, we calculated Tesla's score." J.D. Power collects customer registration data from each state. But some states, including Tesla's home of California, require automakers to grant state officials permission to release the data. Tesla's issues, according to Betts, are primarily with production and things such as paint imperfections; poor fit of body panels; trunks and hoods that are hard to open and close; wind noise; and squeaks and rattles.

A driver uses the map navigation feature on a touchscreen control panel just prior to the Tesla Motors Inc. 8.0 software update inside a Model S P90D vehicle in New York, U.S., on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. Christopher Goodney | Bloomberg | Getty Images

"These are primarily a result of factory quality," Betts said in an email. "Also, in the area of electric vehicle issues, they do have complaints related to: range lower than expected; range gauge is inaccurate." Such issues are in line with owner complaints about Tesla's vehicles online, including its newest Model Y, which was not part of J.D. Power's report. Tesla has experienced mixed results in such studies and reports. That includes models losing and regaining "recommended" ratings from Consumer Reports, which at one time ranked the Model S as its top-rated vehicle ever. Paint problems contributed to Consumer Reports temporarily rescinding a recommendation for the Model 3. In Canada, Tesla owners have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the carmaker over paint quality issues. Tesla's issues somewhat vary from "traditional" auto brands, according to J.D. Power. The firm reports almost one-fourth of all problems cited by new-vehicle owners relate to infotainment. Top complaints include built-in voice recognition; Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity; touch screens; built-in navigation systems; and Bluetooth connectivity. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. J.D. Power's study comes hours after U.S. safety regulators disclosed an investigation into 2012 through 2015 Tesla Model S vehicles regarding reported failures of the vehicle's large touch screens. Domestic brands fared better in this year's study than their foreign counterparts, including Fiat Chrysler's Dodge being the first domestic brand in the study's history to rank No. 1. Hyundai's Genesis was the highest ranked premium brand for the fourth consecutive year in the study. With seven top-ranked vehicles, Hyundai placed as the top overall automaker in the study. General Motors was second with six top rankings, followed by BMW, Ford Motor and Nissan Motor with three each.
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Linkedin Sri Adiningsih (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 13:56 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406613c0da 3 Opinion digital-economy,transformation,COVID-19,Opportunity,Internet,access Free

COVID-19 has changed human lives and lifestyles, interaction, socialization, commerce, work and education. The pandemic has had a significant impact on us, but we have also been fortunate in that we have seen the benefits of rapid digitalization in our lives. As a result, we have been relatively successful in transitioning our lifestyles to be more digitally oriented, even with the many challenges ahead that we must still face.

Rapid digital transformation in Indonesia was made possible because the government has been successful in providing nationwide access to electricity and the internet in completing the Palapa Ring Project at the end of 2019. This project has been central to our transition to the digital era.

The recent statistics in January 2020 from We Are Social show that 124 percent of the Indonesian population use a mobile phone, 54 percent have internet access and 69 percent actively use social media.

The 2017 Digital Evolution Index by MasterCard and the Fletcher business school categorized Indonesia as a breakout country with a relatively low but rapidly improving digitalization.

But Indonesias digitalization is uneven, developing fast in big cities in Java, moderately in Bali and Northern Sumatra, but relatively slowly in Central Kalimantan and East Nusa Tenggara. Those regions with local government support for digitalization, better human resources and digital infrastructure have a more developed digital economy.

Indonesia's digital transformation has picked up the pace since the epidemic emerged here. Changes such as working from home, online teaching and learning and shopping online have become the new normal. The use of digital technology for work, school, business and daily activities has increased rapidly, despite the challenges of relatively slow internet connections, limited technical knowledge and the limited availability of digital devices. However, most people have learned quickly with the help of government and other organizations.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported that 4.2 percent of non-agricultural small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) were involved in e-commerce in 2016, and that this increased to 15.08 percent in 2019, mostly in Java.

The epidemic has further accelerated our transformation to a digital economy. E-commerce transactions increased 162 percent in 2017-2019 according to Bank Indonesia data, while the Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry found that online sales of food products increased 300 percent after the pandemic arrived in Indonesia in early March. This extreme growth was also observed in the fintech industry, which reported an increase of more than 200 percent in P2P lending in March.

Before the epidemic, Indonesia's digital economy accounted for just 3.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), but the e-Conomy SEA 2019 report from Google, Temasek and Bain shows that it grew 49 percent per annum from 2015 to 2019, the largest growth in ASEAN. Growth is projected at 32 percent per annum until 2025, which means that in the next 10 years, the internet economy will comprise half of the Indonesian economy with even faster growth post-pandemic.

Digitalization is expected to extend to the post-pandemic economic recovery era. Craig Resnick of the ARC Advisory Group said this year that the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated corporations to be more digitalized. In April, the World Economic Forum noted that governments that embraced new digital business models, like the platform economy and cloud computing, and created an environment for digital firms to thrive were more likely to capture inwards investment opportunities and spur economic growth.

Hence, the pandemic has resulted in the acceleration of digital transformation and automation. The challenge for Indonesia now is to prepare so that we are ready for the digitalization era.

It is interesting to assess our readiness for meeting the digitalization era. The indexes on digital competitiveness and ease of doing business show that Indonesia generally ranks around the middle in comparison to other countries.

Indonesia ranked 50th among the 141 countries in the 2019 Global Competitiveness Index 4.0, and ranked 72nd in ICT adoption. While we still rank low among the 63 countries surveyed on the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2019, we have demonstrated some improvement, rising from 62nd in 2018 to 56th in 2019.

Indonesia dropped to 12th among the 14 Asia-Pacific economies in the 2020 Cloud Readiness Index (CRI), by the Asia Cloud Computing Association (ACCA), due to insufficient cloud infrastructure and poor performance in the governance needed for cloud adoption. Unfortunately, we also rank relatively low in the Ease of Doing Digital Business (EDDB).

Our life will change in the future, especially in the business sector. Digitalization is not only the best solution but also critical if we want to be modern and competitive. The digital economy will be an important economic driver and could become the largest contributor to GDP in the next decade. For this reason, Indonesia needs to build a robust digital ecosystem so we can attain high digital competitiveness, which in turn will support the growth of our digital economy.

We therefore need to continue improving our base infrastructure to support the digital economy, such as electricity and a fast internet connection. The infrastructure needs to be competitive, reliable and efficient throughout the archipelago. We also need to prepare laws in all sectors related to the digital economy (business, health, finance, safety etc), so we feel safe and comfortable using digital technology.

Most importantly, the regulations need to build public trust in digital technology, reassuring users of the privacy of their data and the reliability of the systems they use. We need to support digital transformation for entrepreneurs, especially SMEs, that need the functionality and flexibility of digital solutions to increase efficiency and face the headwinds of a post-COVID economy.

**

The writer is an economics professor at Gadjah Mada University and founder of the Institute of Social, Economic, and Digital (ISED).

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
When there is a house fire theres nothing more important than getting your family and pets out safely.

Minutes turn into seconds as a fire feed on heat, oxygen or fuel  and those seconds are even shorter if everyone is sleeping.

One small device can assist in getting everyone out of a house fire by warning them, giving them extra seconds to react  smoke detectors. According to usfa.fema.gov, three out of five house-fire deaths are in properties without working smoke alarms. More than 38% of house fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present and the risk of dying in a house fire is reduces by 50% with working smoke alarms.

A fire this week that claimed the lives of two people had South Jacksonville Fire Chief Richard Evans Jr. reminding people about the importance of not only having smoke alarms but having them checked.

The department has a program that offers free smoke alarms to residents and also educates residents on safety.

The Be Alarmed program, administered cooperatively between the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance and the Office of the State Fire Marshal provides free alarms to the department.

Evans said South Jacksonville residents can call the fire department to set up an appointment for firefighters to evaluate smoke alarms, educate peoples on the importance of alarms and also recommend additional placement for alarms.

We talk about safety tips and safety plans, Evans said.

The department will provide 10-year concealed-battery smoke alarms should they feel a house needs them.

Jacksonville Fire Department Capt. Mike Griffitts said the department also has a program through the city of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Firefighters Local 637 that provide free smoke alarms for those that need them. Griffitts said they carry some on the trucks at all times and will provide to those that are not able to afford them or people with disabilities that dont have them.

We will also help install them, Griffitts said.

Griffitts continued to say that smoke alarms should be installed on every level of a house, including basements, and each bedroom should be equipped with one.

You want to install them at the highest point, meaning, it needs to be level with the ceiling, Griffitts said.

One should be placed outside of a bedroom like a hallway. Although fire officials dont promote placing smoke alarms in attics, its a smart thing to do, he said.

One other safety precaution suggested is that when sleeping, bedroom doors should be closed.

That helps three-fold because it creates another barrier from the smoke Griffitts said.
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
Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th, said many of his colleagues who spoke in support of school officers drew from anecdotes, but said, We need to be driven by research. We need to be driven by evidence, and the evidence says very clearly the impact of police officers in our schools is negative.
BEIJING, June 24 -- Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and Taiwan affairs are purely Chinas internal affairs that allow no external interference, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense said on Wednesday at a regular press conference.

Wu made the remarks when being asked to comment on the United States close interactions with Taiwan in recent days. Wu pointed out that it would be a sheer pipe dream for the US to gradually endanger China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity by frequently playing the Taiwan card.

The Chinese military has been on high alert, and has the firm resolve, full confidence and sufficient capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Wu stated.
AUSTIN, TX  An upcoming Central Texas Food Bank meals distribution event that had been scheduled this week will be postponed, officials said on Wednesday.

The food distribution event that had been scheduled for this Thursday (June 25) at Nelson Field will no longer take place as a resulto of a scheduling conflice, officials said in an emailed advisory. Instead, it will be replaced with a similar event on Tuesday, June 30, at Travis County Exposition Center from 9 a.m. to noon. The Expo Center is located at 7311 Decker Lane.

Food Bank officials said they would announce their schedule of July drive-through food distribution events soon. The Central Texas Food Bank has stepped up during the coronavirus pandemic, providing food for thousands of families hit hard by business closures brought about by the spread of illness.

Related story: Coronavirus: Central Texas Food Bank Serves 1,515 Households

ABOUT THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK



The mission of Central Texas Food Bank is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger. Founded in 1981, the Food Bank provides food and grocery products through a network of nearly 300 Partner Agencies and nutrition programs, serving nearly 50,000 people every week. Headquartered in Austin, the Food Bank serves 21 counties in Central Texas, an area about twice the size of Massachusetts.

For more information on the Food Bank and its programs, visit centraltexasfoodbank.org.

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in the Austin area. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily



This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch
" " Hubble was recently retrained on NGC 6302, known as the Butterfly Nebula, to observe it across a more complete spectrum of light, helping researchers better understand the mechanics at work in its technicolor wings of gas. The star at its center is responsible for the nebula's appearance. In its death throes, it has cast off layers of gas periodically over the past couple thousand years. Space Telescope Science Institute/NASA, ESA, and J. Kastner (RIT)

The Hubble Space Telescope just celebrated its 30th year of revealing stunning scenes and mind-blowing photography from space. And NASA just released more images from Hubble of two young planetary nebulas, which are expanding shells of gas created by dying stars shedding their outer layers. The images provide new insight into the chaos stars can undergo at the end of their lives.

The multi-wavelength images, which were captured by Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3, have astronomers hypothesizing that the Butterfly Nebula (NGC 6302) and one resembling a colorful jewel bug (NGC 7027) are binary-star systems. And the images have allowed astronomers to see how both systerms are splitting themselves apart at a fast space  at least in space time.

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Joel Kastner of Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, led the study, in which researchers traced the nebulae's histories of shock waves. The findings have led them to suspect that two stars are  or were  circling each other at the center of each nebula, which accounts for the cinched appearance in the center. The recent changes in output could even be evidence of a star merging with its companion star.

"When I looked in the Hubble archive and realized no one had observed these nebulas with Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 across its full wavelength range, I was floored," Kastner said in a press statement. "These new multi-wavelength Hubble observations provide the most comprehensive view to date of both of these spectacular nebulas. As I was downloading the resulting images, I felt like a kid in a candy store."

Astronomers theorize that a two-star nebula can form when a mass-losing star is one of two in a binary system, according to NASA. As they interact, they form a gas disk, which becomes the source of the outflowing material. In this case that would be the wings of the butterfly or the shape of the jewel bug.

" " NGC 7027s, aka the 'Jewel Bug' Nebula, was identified for the first time by Hubble in 1998. These new near-ultraviolet observations will help reveal how much dust obscures the star and how hot the star really is. Space Telescope Science Institute/NASA, ESA, and J. Kastner (RIT)

When the smaller star merges with the other, "jets of material" can flow out and wobble, which is what researchers think is happening with the Butterfly Nebula. The way iron emissions  gas blown out at high speed by a star and captured by the Hubble camera filter  show up along opposing, off-center directions, implies that the source is wobbling over time, "like a spinning top that's about to fall," Kastner explains. "That's another telltale sign of the presence of a disk, which directs the flow, and also a binary companion."

As for the "jewel bug," it had been "slowly puffing away its mass" for centuries in a regular spherical pattern until it recently produced a new cloverleaf pattern. Kastner said that something "went haywire" at the center. Based on its iron emission pattern, researchers think its red giant star swallowed its companion.

"The suspected companion stars in NGC 6302 and NGC 7027 haven't been directly detected because they are next to, or perhaps have already been swallowed by, larger red giant stars, a type of star that is hundreds to thousands of times brighter than the sun," said team member Bruce Balick of the University of Washington in Seattle in the press statement. "The hypothesis of merging stars seems the best and simplest explanation for the features seen in the most active and symmetric planetary nebulas. It's a powerful unifying concept, so far without rival."

Now That's Interesting Hubble left Earth April 24, 1990, and is expected to keep working through the 2020s thanks in part to its space shuttle servicing missions, which have allowed the telescope to be upgraded five times.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Californias 1996 ban on affirmative action policies will be tested at ballot box in November as voters will decide whether governments and public colleges and universities can consider race in their hiring and admissions decisions  all against the backdrop of a presidential election and cultural upheaval over racial injustice.

California has banned affirmative action since 1996, when 55% of voters approved a constitutional amendment that made it illegal to give preferential treatment based on race, sex, colour, ethnicity or national origin.

Wednesday, the state Senate voted 30-10 to repeal that amendment, although voters must approve in November before it can become law.

The 1996 amendment came at a time when Republicans ruled the state and was just two years removed from a separate voter-approved amendment  eventually overturned by the courts  that would have banned immigrants living in the country illegally form using public schools and other state services. Seven other states eventually followed Californias lead on banning affirmative action policies: Washington, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Arizona, New Hampshire and Oklahoma.

Since then, Hispanics surpassed whites in 2015 as Californias largest ethnic group and voters have booted Republicans from statewide offices and relegated them to inconsequential numbers in the state Legislature. But critics say disparities still exist in government contracting and college admissions, arguing the ban allows racial biases to continue without programs and policies designed to correct it.

That includes the offices of state lawmakers, according to state Sen. Steven Bradford, who called out some of his white colleagues who he says have never hired a black person, and probably never will.

Were race conscious in everything we do, said Bradford, who is Black. Quit lying to yourselves and saying race is not a factor.

Republicans scoffed at repealing a law that they say bans racial discrimination, with Republican Sen. Melissa Melendez saying she believes this is the least racist country on the planet  earning a rare public rebuke from fellow Sen. Connie Leyva, a Democrat from Chino.

But the most vocal and organized opposition has come from the states Asian community, where some have said they fear allowing race to be considered in college admissions will hurt them at some of the states elite public universities where Asian Americans make up a higher percentage of the enrolment than they do of the state as a whole.

The answer to discrimination is not more discrimination, said state Sen. Ling Ling Chang, a Republican who is of Taiwanese descent.

The ban has survived multiple legal challenges and legislative efforts to change or repeal it. But this year, supporters were buoyed by the nationwide protests over racial injustice stemming from the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The movement has revived multiple bills in California and elsewhere aimed at eliminating racial disparities.

The state Assembly has passed a bill that would create a committee to study giving reparations to Black people because of slavery. And on Wednesday, the state Senate approved another proposed constitutional amendment that would let people vote while on parole for felony convictions  an issue supporters say disproportionately impacts people of colour.

Some Asian American groups are already preparing a campaign against lifting the ban on affirmative action. Crystal Lu, president of the Silicon Valley Chinese Association, said about 80 organizations have come together and raised about $130,000 within 24 hours of launching their fundraising campaign.

If the ability to be judged by your merit and not by your race is taken away, the fundamental attraction of this country is eroded, she said. Its that fear of being judged by where you are from.

The Legislative Asian Pacific Islander Caucus officially endorsed the repeal earlier this week, adding that more than 100 organizations and community leaders representing hundreds of thousands of Asian Pacific Islanders support ending the ban on affirmative action.

Removing the ban will allow for more equal opportunities in public contracting, public employment, and public education for all, including Asian Americans, said state Assemblyman David Chiu, chair of the California Asia Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.
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.
House Judiciary Chairman Jerold Nadler is entertaining the idea of impeaching Attorney General Bill Barr  just days after saying it would be a 'waste of time.'

Nadler stated his view after the conclusion of a tense hearing where whistleblowers testified they experienced politicization of the Justice Department under Barr  with friends and allies of the president getting special treatment.

'Were looking into that, we may very well,' Barr said of the prospect of a Barr impeachment, CNN reported Wednesday.

'Attorney General Barr will be held accountable,' Nadler said during the course of the public hearing, after federal prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky testified that Trump advisor Roger Stone got a break on his sentencing because of his relationship with Trump.

'Again and again, Attorney General Barr has demonstrated that he will cater to President Trumps private political interests, at the expense of the American people and the rule of law,' said Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerold Nadler in a blistering statement. He said after a Wednesday hearing he was 'looking at' impeaching Barr

'I think the weight of the evidence and of whats [happened] leads to that conclusion,' he said after the hearing, having put out key testimony on Tuesday.

Over the weekend, Nadler, who had also resisted impeaching the president before serving as a Trump impeachment manager, said it would be a 'waste of time and effort' to impeach Barr months before the election.

No U.S. attorney general has ever been removed from office through impeachment, though Obama AG Eric Holder was the subject of an impeachment resolution during his tenure. It cited the Fast & Furious investigation, enforcement of the Defense of Marriage Act, and other matters, but never came to a vote.

Zelinsky, a former Roger Stone prosecutor testified Wednesday that career prosecutors were told their jobs were on the line after the Justice Department overruled them on sentencing for the president's longtime associate.

'We were told that we would be fired,' Zelinsky told the House Judiciary Committee when asked about his testimony about 'pressure' from higher-ups in the Stone case.

He was responding to a question from Nadler (D-N.Y.) who asked: 'What were you told could happen to you if you refused to go along with this lower recommendation?' in relation to Stone's recommended sentence.

Career prosecutors had recommended the political fixer get up to nine years in prison.

Zelinsky, who resigned his role on the case, said in his opening statement: 'I was told that the department cut Roger Stone a break because of his relationship to the president.'

He spoke at a Judiciary Committee Wednesday where another witness said Attorney General Bill Barr, who oversaw the intervention in Stone's case, was a 'threat to the rule of law.'

'William Barr poses the greatest threat in my lifetime to our rule of law and to public trust in it,' said former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer at the start of the contentious House hearing.

'He does not believe in its core principle: that no person is above the law' said Ayer, who held the post under President George H.W. Bush.

Federal prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky testified that Donald Trump advisor Roger Stone got special leniency due to his releationship with the president

Zelinsky said the pressure he saw and heard about came from above  although he did not identify specifics at first.

'This leniency was happening because of Stones relationship' with Trump, said Zelinksy. Stone is a longtime informal advisor of Trump's.

'What I saw was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from every other defendant. He received breaks that are in my experience unheard of,' said Zelinsky, who said he testified remotely for family reasons related to the coronavirus.

'Attorney General Barr will be held accountable,' said panel chairman Rep. Jerold Nadler early in Zelinski's testimony.

Republicans sought to go after Zelinsky for holding back specifics in his testimony and for his decision to appear remotely.

'Who told you?' asked Jordan, an Ohio Republican, who wanted to know about Zelinsky's claim of pressure. Zelinsky identified the head of the fraud and public corruption section.

'It sounds like you heard stuff that youre now bringing to this committee as fact,' said Jordan.

Rep. Mike Johnson of Georgia at first appeared to have Zelinsky on his heels when he learned under questioning that he was participating in the hearing from his lawyer's office just a half mile away from the Capitol.

Zelinsky said he was reticent to discuss his family and his coronavirus concerns. Then he revealed: 'I have a newborn child, congressman.'

'The witness is complying with the rule of the House,' Nadler interjected.

Johnson said he was 'not quibbling with you about family concerns, but a lot of people have them.'

'Roger Stone should be pardoned. I believe Roger Stone will be pardoned,' said Trump ally Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida.

Zelinsky said he wasn't cleared to talk about other areas such as the Mueller report, so had to make due with just the Stone case.

'The president tweeted and the sentence was ultimately lowered, is that correct?' Rep. Eric Swalwell of California asked him.

'So we have a pattern here: the president tweets, friends are protected,' said Swalwell, who brought up the case of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who got a three-year sentence after testifying about Trump's payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, as well as the Mike Flynn case.

The Democratic-run panel subpoenaed Zelinsky, a Robert Mueller prosecutor, in a hearing featuring 'whistleblowers' who will testify about alleged politicization of Bill Barr's justice department.

'William Barr poses the greatest threat in my lifetime to our rule of law and to public trust in it,' said former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer

Antitrust official John Elias testified there was political pressure on antitrust investigations at the Justice Department

Zelinsky is one of four federal prosecutors who took himself off the Roger Stone case after the government reversed its decision after recommending a prison term for President Donald Trump's long-time informal advisor.

He was also a top prosecutor for Mueller during the Russia probe. He will testify later this month at the committee, providing a counter-point to ongoing hearings in the Republican-run Senate on the origins of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation and alleged FBI misconduct.

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

The hearing began with angry clashes, as Republicans blasted the decision to allow Zelinsky to testify by video link. 'For family reasons I should not risk infection,' said Zelinsky.

As he struggled to be overheard over objections by Republican Jim Jordan and others, panel chairman Rep. Jerold Nadler had to remove his face mask to be heard.

Later, Rep. Louis Gohmert of Texas repeatedly tapped his desk to disrupt testimony when Ayer was speaking over his allotted five minutes. Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson threatened to call in the Sergeant at Arms to stop the behavior.

'The Committee welcomes the testimony of current and former Department officials who will speak to the lasting damage the President and the Attorney General have inflicted on the Department of Justice,' said Nadler when he announced the hearing. Nadler was a House impeachment manager during Trump's impeachment trial over his conduct toward Ukraine.

The witnesses are 'prepared to describe the unprecedented politicization of the Department under President Trump and Attorney General William Barr,' said Nadler.

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

The hearing will also explore alleged politicization of the Justice Department's handling of the proposed AOL / Time Warner merger

Another witness is Justice Department antitrust prosecutor John Elias. Elias served as chief of staff during DOJ's decision to oppose the merger of AT&T and Time Warner. Trump had publicly blasted the merger, and has regularly inveighed against Time Warner-owned CNN for its coverage of him.

Elias is acting chief of staff to Makan Delrahim, who head's DOJ's antitrust division.

'Again and again, Attorney General Barr has demonstrated that he will cater to President Trumps private political interests, at the expense of the American people and the rule of law. He has abruptly reversed course on prosecutions against the Presidents allies and friends. He has pursued pretextual investigations against the Presidents perceived political enemies,' said Nadler.

John Elias

Nadler has tried repeatedly to get Barr to testify before his panel. He was finally set to appear in March, but cancelled the appearance amid the coronavirus outbreak.

A third witness, former deputy attorney general under President George H.W. Bush Donald Ayer, is also testifying without a subpoena.

Career prosecutors recommended a sentence of up to nine years in prison for Stone, 67, in February, drawing furious tweets from the president. Barr's Justice Department then did a 180 and recommended a lower sentence. Stone was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering.

Nadler took a shot at Barr for his failure to appear. 'The Attorney Generalwho cites his busy schedule as a basis for refusing to appear before the House Judiciary Committee but has made time for multiple television interviewsmay have abdicated his responsibility to Congress, but the brave men and women of our civil service have not,' he said.

Trump blasted the AOL / Time Warner merger on the campaing trail, and tweeted about it in 2018. 'Why doesnt the Fake News Media state that the Trump Administrations Anti-Trust Division has been, and is, opposed to the AT&T purchase of Time Warner in a currently ongoing Trial. Such a disgrace in reporting!' Trump wrote.
In 2016, Vice President Joe Biden speaks before President Obama's signature of the 21st Century Cures Act. (Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press)

In his first foray into this year's presidential race, President Obama flexed some major fundraising muscle on Tuesday for Joe Biden.

The duo raised more than $11 million, more than half of which came from 175,000 grass-roots donors, making it Biden's single biggest finance event so far, according to his campaign.

Obama, who endorsed his former vice president after Biden had effectively locked up the Democratic nomination in April, spoke repeatedly of his audience's sense of "urgency" in seeking political change.

"I am here to say the help is on the way if we do the work, because theres nobody I trust more to be able to heal this country and get back on track than my dear friend Joe Biden," he said to the 120,000 people logged on to the event.

His tone was markedly sharper when it came to his successor to the Oval Office.

Without naming President Trump, he denounced his administration as one that "has gone at the very foundations of who we are and who we should be. That suggests facts dont matter, science doesnt matter. That suggests that a deadly disease is fake news. That sees the Justice Department as simply an extension and arm of the personal concerns of the president. That actively promotes division. And considers some people in this country more real as Americans than others."

He described the current surge of political activism, particularly from young people, as a "great awakening," pushing back against the Trump administration's "shambolic, disorganized, mean-spirited approach to governance" as well as issues that have challenged the country for centuries.

Still, Obama urged voters not to get complacent.

"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," he said. He said that whatever actions people have done so far are "not enough. And I hold myself and Michelle and my kids to the same standard."

Story continues

The event capped off a strong fundraising streak for the presumptive Democratic nominee; a virtual finance event with California Sen. Kamala Harris this month brought in $3.5 million, and another with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren netted $6 million. Both women, who were his rivals for the Democratic nomination, are seen as top prospects to be his vice presidential pick.

And last week, the Biden campaign announced it raised more than $80 million in May, surpassing Trump and the Republican Party, which brought in $74 million.

Nevertheless, Biden has a steep climb to match the resources of the incumbent president: Trump and the Republicans have reported having $265 million cash on hand as of the end of May, while Biden and the Democratic Party have roughly $130 million in the bank.

The Biden campaign, clearly eager to capitalize on its ties to the still-popular former president, quickly rolled out new swag to mark the pair's return to the (virtual) trail: a T-shirt emblazoned with a photo of Obama and Biden jogging in shirtsleeves at the White House.

And lest anyone forget the friendship the two men developed during their time in office, the fundraiser's closing moments, after roughly 90 minutes, underscored their bond.

"Love you, Joe," Obama said.

"Love you too, pal," Biden replied.




Representative image

China said it did not suffer heavy casualties in the violent clash with Indian troops in the Galwan Valley on June 15. Beijing has not revealed the number of fatalities because 'comparison could stir up hostility', a top Chinese official reportedly told foreign diplomats on June 24.

Speaking to a select group of diplomats at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Deputy Director-General of Boundary and Ocean Affairs, He Xiangqi, said, "Casualties among Chinese army were not very heavy." He said China did not reveal casualty numbers because Beijing does not want to 'stir up sentiments'.

"China does not want the media to play up the number of casualties on Chinese side. It is time for India and China to find ways to de-escalate and restore stability, He said at the briefing, sources told Hindustan Times.

Until now, China had maintained silence on the number of casualties. Indian lost 20 soldiers during the violent clash.

China on June 24 again blamed India for the Galwan Valley clash. Launching a tirade against India, China's foreign and defence ministries alleged that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian media were spreading lies about the clash.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, said, "Early morning on May 6, Indias border troops under the guise of darkness, trespassed into Chinas territory and provoked the incident. Chinas troops had to take necessary measures to strengthen their response and their management of border areas."
Correction: The following story has been changed to correct the dollar amount of H-E-Bs new pay increase, as well as the status of the companys Texas Proud Pay program.

H-E-B, San Antonios largest private-sector employer, has ended the temporary pay raises it gave employees early in the pandemic, and replaced them with permanent investments  namely, larger merit pay increases.

In March, the grocery chain raised wages by $2 per hour for all hourly store, manufacturing, warehouse and transportation workers.

The Texas Proud Pay initiative was a way to thank them for their commitment during the coronavirus pandemic, the company said at the time.

For the average employee, the new pay raise, effective this week, is more than twice the temporary raise. Its the largest pay increase in H-E-Bs history, company spokeswoman Julie Bedingfield said.

The temporary raise, which the retailer extended in April and May, ended Sunday. In its place, H-E-B is making permanent investments in store and supply-chain hourly employees, Bedingfield said.

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, the company said in a statement.

The San Antonio company also is extending medical leave to all employees.

In the event that one of our partners is diagnosed with coronavirus, they will receive pay, H-E-B said.

So far this month, more than 50 H-E-B employees working in San Antonio have tested positive for the virus. The company has been one of the few retailers to publicly report the number of employees who have contracted the virus.

Transparency is important, the company said in a recent statement. H-E-Bs first priority is constant communication to our partners and helping them navigate during these unprecedented times.

The company, which employs about 22,000 workers in San Antonio, said it is aggressive with constant sanitization, social distancing and mask-wearing.

H-E-B employees are required to wear masks, and, as of this week, so are its customers. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolffs order mandating that businesses require customers and employees to wear masks took effect Monday.

The retailer worked closely with Wolff on the order, spokeswoman Dya Campos said recently.

Early in the pandemic, H-E-B had required patrons to wear masks, but stopped after government officials dropped mandatory mask-wearing. Enforcing such a requirement without a local ordinance on the books would have been difficult, Campos said.

More than 40,000 people signed an online petition asking the company to require masks for customers. The petition has been removed from the website Change.org.

Staff Writer Madison Iszler contributed to this report.
FRONT PAGE

An article on May 24 about the lives that were lost to the coronavirus pandemic misstated the age and city of Melita Baker. She was 86, not 89, and of Norwell, Mass., not Irvington, N.Y.

INTERNATIONAL

An article on Monday about the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic, misstated whom he will meet with at the White House this week. He is scheduled to meet Richard Grenell, the United States envoy to the Balkans, but not with President Trump.

ARTS

An article on Monday about an effort to preserve music composed in Nazi concentration camps misstated the name for a series of recordings made by Francesco Lotoro. It is KZ Music, not K2 Music.

METROPOLITAN

An article last weekend about an infamous brawl involving Yankees players at the Copacabana club in 1957 referred incorrectly to one of them. Not all of the players involved are dead; Whitey Ford is still alive.
With the Covid-19 cases crossing the 400 mark in Chandigarh, the UT administration is mulling imposing weekend curfew in the city.

The curfew, on the lines of that imposed in Mohali, will be enforced if there is a drastic increase in cases or instances of people violating social distancing norms.

In Mohali, inter-district movement over the weekend is allowed only with e-passes, except for medical emergency, and all non-essential shops and services remain closed on Sunday. On Saturday, the curfew is till 5pm and after that movement is allowed only with e-passes.

Punjab governor and UT administrator VPS Badnore, in the daily review meeting on Wednesday, directed all officials to enhance vigil and ensure that people violating social distancing guidelines and other hygienic instructions should be penalised through a special drive conducted by dedicated teams.

Over the past few weeks, the city has seen a spike in cases coming from across the city rather than a few areas, as was the case earlier. Besides, nearly 50% of the recent cases comprise visitors to the city or their contacts.

Badnore also directed the deputy commissioner to ensure that all visitors from outside the tricity be monitored for detection of symptoms. They should not be allowed to violate the quarantine stipulations, he said.

The UT DGP was asked to ensure that vehicles carrying registration numbers from outstation and bringing visitors from outside were checked at the border points and their details were obtained for subsequent monitoring.

Badnore emphasised the importance of citizens voluntarily following the safety guidelines, issued by health experts from time to time. He stated that though the administration was doing whatever best possible under the circumstances, yet the primary responsibility of following guidelines remained with residents.

Pregnant women to be tested

The administrator also directed all hospitals to mandatorily test all pregnant women for Covid-19 on their admission.
The next time I disagree with a judgment of the High Court of Australia concerning some personal offence I am accused of committing, I shall invoke the now priceless defence proffered by Mr Dyson Heydons lawyers, the little-known Speed and Stracey, self-described of tax-law-and-sensitive-matters fame.

Former High Court justice Dyson Heydon was found in an inquiry ordered by the High Court to have harassed six associates. Credit: Anna Kucera

Their sensitive defence of the former High Court judge  against an independent inquiry that found Heydon sexually harassed six junior staff  is unanswerable really. The inquiry," they wrote, "was an internal administrative inquiry and was conducted by a public servant and not by a lawyer, judge or tribunal member. It was conducted without having statutory powers of investigation and of administering affirmations or oaths.

So, take that. The full bench of Australias supreme law-making body, representing the best and deepest legal thinking in the land, has been put in its place by Speed and Stracey, lawyers. I do not know whether the single female partner of Speed and Straceys 11-member team had anything to do with this statement ( I will assume not), but it reads very much like the statement of a law firm that has let the client have his wicked way with them. Maybe they dont expect to appear much before the High Court over the next 10 or 20 years and get a win.

It is true that the inquiry was not by "a lawyer, judge or tribunal member". However, the High Court ordered the inquiry and has accepted its findings. In the court's judgment - moral if not legal - Heydon's accusers are to be believed. It is extraordinary that a former judge of that court should seek to discount the findings of an inquiry instigated by his former colleagues, among them the Chief Justice of the High Court, Susan Kiefel.
K im Jong-un has suspended North Korea's plans for military action against South Korea, according to state media.

The reported move suggests the easing of a pressure campaign against its rival amid stalled nuclear talks with the US.

Pyongyang blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in its territory last week and threatened unspecified military action against the South after declaring relations were fully ruptured.

North Korea censured Seoul for a lack of progress in bilateral cooperation and failing to stop activists from floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

North Korea demolished an inter-Korean liason office / AP

But the state-run Korean Central News Agency has now said the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission has decided to suspend plans for military action against the South brought up by the North's military leaders.

The KCNA did not specify why the decision was made.

The North has a history of dialling up pressure against the South when it fails to get what it wants from the US.

The North's recent steps came after months of frustration over Seoul's unwillingness to defy US-led sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme and restart inter-Korean economic projects that would breathe life into its broken economy.

Nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington began to falter after Mr Kim's second summit with US President Donald Trump last year in Vietnam, where the Americans rejected North Korea's demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.
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 the Psychedelic Society of Madrid, attended and presented in 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

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

For Further Information Contact

Joshua Bartch

Corporate Communications

Chief Executive Officer

250-488-6728

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

For Further Information Contact

Joshua Bartch

Corporate Communications

Chief Executive Officer

250-488-6728

SOURCE Mydecine Innovations Group Inc.
Protesters in central and southern Iraq are demanding the sacking of governors and local government administrators. The protests have spread to Kirkuk, where demonstrators called for removing the governor and other local officials, calling them representatives of corrupt parties.

On Oct. 28, 2019, the Council of Representatives voted to dissolve the governorate councils and authorize the governor to manage financial and administrative matters. It also voted to end the work of the district, provincial and local councils. In the ongoing demonstrations that broke out in reaction, protesters have been targeted by unknown armed groups. More than 700 have been killed and near 30,000 wounded.

After Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi called June 6 for the formation of a ministerial committee headed by Minister of Interior Othman al-Ghanmi to appraise the performance of governors and departmental heads, four southern governorates erupted into angry demonstrations calling for their governors' dismissal. On June 7, demonstrators in Al-Diwaniyah governorate demanded the dismissal of the governor and his two deputies and their replacement by a judge.

On June 8, protesters in various cities called on the administrators to resign and be replaced with independent governors, asking them to resign from their positions peacefully. The same day, protesters burned the governors house in the Shiite holy city of Najaf and called on him and the district directors to resign and for the arrest of those behind the murders of protesters since October.

Not far from Najaf, hundreds of people took to the streets of Karbala, calling for the dismissal of the governor and for the killers of protesters to be prosecuted.

Residents of Basra demonstrated on June 13, demanding the dismissal of Governor Assad al-Eidani and Basra's police chief.

State of Law Coalition parliament member Abdul Hadi Saadawi told Al-Monitor that neither such demonstrations nor the performance appraisal committee will do much to oust the governors.

Any action on the part of the prime minister to sack district directors, heads of local governments and governors would be illegal. The legal solution is to amend the constitution, which empowers the provincial councils to elect the governors. If the law is changed, then the governors and other top local officials can be appointed by the prime minister or elected by the people directly. Once new legislation stipulates this, there wouldnt be any need for a cabinet decision or presidential approval.

Saadawi said he believes some political parties are trying to provoke the street to gain control of the positions of district directors and provincial governors. He called on the federal courts to nullify any governor appointments made by the prime minister.

In a statement to Al-Monitor, Ihsan al-Shammari, head of the Iraqi Center for Political Thought, attributed the wave of calls for the dismissal of senior administrative officials in the central and southern governorates to popular discontent resulting from the governments and legislative councils failure to provide services. He explained, The governments and their legislative and administrative bodies have been subject to the quota system, marred by corruption and deals. Some governors have become a facade for federal political forces as they cover their illegal activities.

Shammari went on, Kadhimis call to form a performance appraisal committee for local governments coincided with a demonstration calling for the dismissal of governors in Basra, Najaf and Nasiriyah, where Abdul Mahdi went against the will of the masses and intervened by appointing a governor." He said the committee's objectives have two objectives: to investigate and deal appropriately with those involved in violence and corruption appear, and also to address the initial demands of the demonstrators. Kadhimi working to resolve these issues before organizing the next elections.

Mayor of Samarra Mahmoud Khalaf al-Samarrai told Al-Monitor, The powerful parties are taking advantage of the prime ministers plan to reform local governance and form a committee to appraise the performance of local governments to create chaos, weaken the role of the government and the prospective committee and have better access to positions.

He went on, The committee formed under the chairmanship of a security official  Interior Minister Othman Al-Ghanmi  to assess the role of governors should include service management experts, not security personnel.

Samarrai expects Kadhimi plan's for reforming the provincial governments to include local governments in the center and south without Anbar and Salah al-Din.

Former minister Wael Abdel Latif told Al-Monitor, Demonstrators calls for the dismissal of governors are legitimate due to their catastrophic failure to manage the affairs of the governorates, the collapse of infrastructure and the looting of funds earmarked for projects in cities.

He said, COVID-19 and the demonstrations have disrupted the provincial council elections in April, adding, The prime minister does not have the right to dismiss governors, as this falls within the prerogative of the governorate councils or the parliament.

Former judge Ali al-Tamimi told Al-Monitor that firing governors will be possible if dishonesty, neglect and squandering of public funds are proven. The prime minister can propose dismissing a governor when forming the investigative committee, and if there is proof that said governor has underperformed, the matter gets referred to parliament, as the provincial councils were dismissed last year. Then the issue will be resolved during a parliamentary interrogation session.

The governor can also submit his resignation to the prime minister due to the absence of governorate councils, Tamimi explained.
China has not halted  and instead has ramped up  its military activity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakhs Galwan Valley, with a concentration of soldiers, military vehicles, earth-moving machinery, and erection of structures, including near the same point where Indian and Chinese troops clashed on the night of June 15, according to two senior officials and satellite imagery of the area on June 22.

The Indian army has observed a new structure, suspected to be an observation post, come up near Patrol Point (PP) 14, the site of the clash which left 20 personnel of the Indian army and an unconfirmed number of Chinese troops dead, said one of the officials cited above.

There was no official word from the army on either of the developments. India and China agreed to pull back from friction areas on Monday.

New satellite imagery, released by US firm Maxar Technologies, supports the claim that not only is the PLA holding ground in Galwan Valley but has also shored up its military positions in the area. One of the Maxar images too possibly points out a new and bigger observation post near PP-14. An Indian squad, led by the slain Colonel Santosh Babu of the 16 Bihar Regiment, had flattened some structures in this area including an observation post, on June 15.

The satellite images are from June 22  the day senior Indian and Chinese military commanders reached a mutual consensus to disengage from all friction areas during an 11-hour meeting at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC.

Officials and China watchers, who reviewed the images for Hindustan Times, said the visuals clearly indicated a Chinese buildup and also a new outpost for carrying out surveillance on Indian areas. But they also added that it was important to give the armies time to disengage and pointed to the complexities of satellite imagery.

A large number of tented camps, military vehicles, heavy trucks and bulldozers are clearly visible on the riverbed. Road construction is also taking place. The Chinese positions are bang on the LAC, said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd), one of the experts who reviewed the satellite imagery for HT. Hooda said the observation post appeared to have come up again near PP-14.

The Chinese buildup in other areas along the LAC including Depsang, Gogra Post-Hot Springs and Pangong Tso, hasnt thinned either. The PLAs armoured vehicles and artillery units remain deployed in Chinese areas facing Depsang and Gogra Post-Hot Springs sectors.

The army is keeping a strict vigil along the LAC and is fully prepared to respond to any provocation or adventurism by the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), said the second officer cited above. Given the observed build-up, the army is also prepared to keep its guards up till disengagement takes place on the ground on a verifiable basis.

But experts also said that it was important to be cautious.

The process of disengagement is likely to be arduous and challenging, and will require moving ahead cautiously in phases, as reported by HT on Wednesday.

Disengagement cant happen overnight. While the images are a cause for concern and somewhat reveal Chinas intentions to hold ground near LAC in Galwan Valley, the result of the talks between senior commanders will not reflect on the ground in just two days, Hooda said.

The interpretation of satellite imagery is also tricky and can result in reaching incorrect conclusions, said Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd), a former director general of military operations.

Its about how you superimpose the LAC on satellite images. It allows you to reach your conclusions. However, some of the interpretation may be correct, said Bhatia who heads the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, a defence ministry think tank.

China has deployed more than 10,000 troops in its depth areas across the LAC in eastern Ladakh and the military buildup consists of fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, artillery guns, missile systems and air defence radars. India has matched the neighbours military moves.

While disengagement in some friction areas is believed to be a low-hanging fruit and can be achieved in a reasonable time-frame, the real test would lie in the restoration of status quo ante in the Finger Area in Pangong-Tso, where the PLA has set up permanent bunkers, pillboxes and observation posts, officials said. 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, if Beijing abides by the understanding.

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Bentley with a patient Hes been extremely popular with our patients. In fact, in the past year weve had 3 patients adopt Australian Labradoodles as a result of meeting Bentley

After a hiatus due to COVID-19, Longmont Dental Lofts therapy dog will be returning to the office effective June 29th, 2020. Bentley is an Australian Labradoodle with the title of Chief Calming Pawfficer. As the Chief Calming Pawfficer, Bentley interacts with patients that enjoy being around dogs. He typically sits on patients laps and is a comforting presence that makes patients feel at ease.

Since weve been back from the COVID-19 closure, patients have asked us on a daily basis when Bentley is coming back, said Adrienne Hedrick, Longmont Dental Loft Dentist, and owner. Hes been extremely popular with our patients. In fact, in the past year weve had 3 patients adopt Australian Labradoodles as a result of meeting Bentley.

During the past few months Bentley has been staying at home. He has had a lot of fun and has kept entertained by taking walks and playing with the vacuum cleaner. However, he misses seeing patients and is ready to go back to the office.

There will be several precautionary measures in place when Bentley is at the office. First, he will be in the office area away from patients unless a patient requests to see him. Second, before a patient encounters him, they will need to make sure they wash their hands. And Bentley wont be at the office every day. If a patient wants to make sure he is available, Longmont Dental Loft is asking patients to request a visit with him in advance.

About Longmont Dental Loft

Longmont Dental Loft is a family friendly dental provider in Longmont, Colorado. Dr. Adrienne Hedrick and her team provide holistic, leading-edge dentistry to Longmont, Colorado residents who seek a trusted dental group with a practical approach that combines state of the art technology with education, efficiency, and genuine care. Services include everything from preventative care to full mouth rehabilitation. For additional information, visit http://www.longmontdentalloft.com
Los Angeles: Prince Harry and wife Meghan are ready to hit the speakers' circuit after signing with an agency that works with the Obamas and other high-profile clients, according to a person familiar with their plans.

The pair is being represented by the New York-based Harry Walker Agency, whose roster of speakers includes Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey, the person said.

The move is one of the first major steps by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to engage in paid work beyond the British royal family after they announced plans in January to lead a more independent life and to finance it themselves.

They now live in Los Angeles with their one-year-old son Archie, according to media reports.
NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace (pictured at Talladega Superspeedway on Monday) has insisted that the rope knot found in his garage was a 'straight-up noose'

NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace thanked the FBI for investigating what was reported to be a noose hanging from his garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway over the weekend, saying he's relieved, and admittedly embarrassed, that it turned out to be an innocent door pull rather than a racist symbol.

'Its been an emotional few days,' Wallace said in a Wednesday afternoon statement. 'First off, I want to say how relieved I am that the investigation revealed that this wasnt what it feared it was. I want to thank my team, NASCAR and the FBI for acting swiftly and treating this as a real threat. I think well gladly take a little embarrassment over what the alternatives could have been.'

In a NASCAR statement, the item in question is described as a 'garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose.'

Wallace stressed that he remains thankful for the outpouring of support he received before Monday's restart in Alabama, when his NASCAR rivals pushed his car to the front of the field in a show of solidarity.

'Make no mistake, though some will try, this should not detract from the show of unity we had on Monday, and the progress weve made as a sport to be a more welcoming environment for all.'

The FBI announced Tuesday that its investigation into the matter revealed that no hate crime had taken place, but that the rope - which appeared to be tied into a loop or noose - had been in that stall as early as 2019.

A Youtube video from 2019 showed a similar pull rope hanging from the garage door in the same stall used by Wallace and his team at the Talladega Superspeedway over the weekend. At the time the video was taken, that specific stall was being used by a white driver, Paul Menard.

Other videos from previous years revealed that the garage door ropes - or 'pulls' as they're called - were often tied into similar loops as early as 2016.

The 26-year-old Wallace has accepted that he wasn't targeted, as had been feared after his vocal support of removing the Confederate flag from NASCAR tracks in the wake of recent anti-racism protests.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

A Youtube video from 2019 showed a pull rope featuring a noose (circled) hanging from the garage door in the same stall used by Wallace and his team at Talladega earlier this week. At the time the video was taken, it was being used by a white driver, Paul Menard

Videos from 2017 revealed that the garage door ropes at Talladega were often tied into nooses

In this October 2017 shot, several nooses are seen being used in the Talladega garages

Wallace did take aim at his critics, who accused him of making the inflammatory report.

As Wallace told CNN and NBC's TODAY, he was not the one who discovered the rope on Sunday at the Alabama race track, nor was he the one who reported it to NASCAR or the FBI.

Wallace went on to defend himself against the perception that he personally made a false report.

'It's still frustrating to know that people are always going to test you and always just gonna try and debunk you,' he told NBC. 'That's what I'm trying to wrap my head around now, from them saying that I'm fake and all this stuff, and I reported it when it was news that was brought to me, it was information that was brought to me that was already reported. So I was just kind of following suit.'

Wallace claims he was suspicious the supposed 'noose' was, in fact, a garage door pull, so he went looking for others to see if they were tied in a similar fashion.

'When I did find out, I was adamant about searching all the other garages and making sure that this wasn't a garage pull, and it ended up being one,' he told NBC.

As for his mistaken belief that the rope was a racist message sent from an anonymous antagonist, Wallace defended himself by telling CNN that a 'straight-up noose' was found in his garage.

Wallace was thankful to learn that the rope was not a racist message directed at him

'The photo evidence that I've seen, that I have in my possession, of what was in our garage, is exactly a garage pull, it is, that is a noose,' he said. 'I dont know when we get to the point to release that image, but anybody sees it, it's alerting and it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up for sure.'

He went on to say that he is 'p****d' with his critics who are using the incident to minimize accusations of racism within the sport.

The FBI's statement on Tuesday revealed that 15 federal agents had investigated Wallace's claim after the alleged noose was found.

A crew member for Richard Petty Motorsports had discovered the noose on Sunday at the Alabama race track.

The image of a noose recalls the lynching of black Americans in decades gone by and authorities investigated it as a possible hate crime.

However, the FBI stated that 'the noose found in garage number 4 was in that garage as early as October 2019', long before the recent protests.

'Although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week,' the statement said, saying that 'no federal crime' had been committed.

'The decision not to pursue federal charges is proper after reviewing all available facts and all applicable federal laws,' the statement concluded. 'We offer our thanks to NASCAR, Mr. Wallace, and everyone who cooperated with this investigation.'

It was a rope pull for the garage door  but it was definitely in the shape of a noose.



Watch @craigmelvins full interview with NASCAR driver @BubbaWallace about the FBIs investigation into the rope found in his garage and outpouring of support from fellow drivers. pic.twitter.com/eTJEG457TX  TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 24, 2020

Bubba Wallace and his girlfriend Amanda Carter stand on the grid ahead of a previous NASCAR event in Daytona, Beach Florida in 2018

Nascar said in a statement released Tuesday that it was 'thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba' and thanked the FBI for their investigation

NASCAR released its own statement referring to the 'noose' as a 'garage door pull rope' and accepted the FBI's finding that 'this was not an intentional, racist act'.

'For us in NASCAR, this is the best result we could hope for,' NASCAR president Steve Phelps said Tuesday after the FBI findings were announced.

'This is ... disturbing to hear that it was thought that one of our own had committed this heinous act. It is fantastic to hear from the FBI, definitively, that there was not a hate crime.

'I do want to make sure everyone understands that, if given the evidence that we had was delivered to us on late Saturday afternoon, we would do the same thing. We would have done the same investigation. It was important for us to do. There is no place in our sport for this type of racism or hatred. It's not part of who we are as a sport.'

A track spokesperson did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's inquiries about whether or not the other garage pulls that were tied like nooses have been removed.

Wallace said he was 'p****d' by social media comments suggesting he had somehow fabricated the incident, stressing he had already left the garage when someone else spotted the noose.

The driver said he was 'mad because people are trying to test my character and the person that I am and my integrity'.

'They're not stealing that away from me, but they're just trying to test that,' he said.

'The image I've seen of what was hanging in my garage was not a garage pull,' he said.

'I have been racing all my life, we have raced out of hundreds of garages that never had garage pulls like that.'

Referring to the announcement of an investigation into the presence of the rope and the condemnation by the NASCAR leadership, the racer added, 'The FBI has stated it was a noose over and over again. The NASCAR leadership has stated it was a noose. I can confirm that,' he said.

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 Monday after a noose was found in his garage. The FBI announced Tuesday the rope had been there since at least last Fall and that no charges would be filed as there was no evidence a hate crime was committed

Bubba Wallace takes a selfie with himself and other drivers that pushed his car to the front in the pits Monday in an act of solidarity with NASCAR's only Black driver

'I actually got evidence of what was hanging in my garage, over my car, around my pit crew guys, to confirm that it was a noose. And never seen anything like it.

'I talked to my crew chief about it. I wanted to make sure we weren't jumping the gun.

'I said "this isn't a knot?" He said, "Bubba, this isn't something that can be done within a second of just tying a knot and being on the way. This is something that took time."'

Asked by CNN if he believed it was directed at him, an irate Wallace added: 'It was a noose. It was a noose whether it was tied in 2019 or whatever, it was a noose.

'So, it wasn't directed at me but somebody tied a noose, that is what I am saying.'

Lemon said earlier in the interview that Wallace had handled the situation 'like a champ' and thanked the driver for speaking on air about his ordeal.

The interviewer also advised Wallace not to look at social media.

'I know. I'm trying hard not to. And the I'll probably turn my phone off tonight, he replied.

'But to hear my side of the story and I don't mean to steal your spotlight. My side needs to be heard.'

Lemon also reassured Wallace that only 'knuckleheads' would accuse him of having somehow staged or set up the presence of the rope.

'Fair minded people are not accusing you of doing anything wrong. You were reacting to what NASCAR, what the head of NASCAR told you happened,' he said.

'Listen, this is how I feel about it. People can think what they want. Did NASCAR get it wrong?

'I shouldn't say that. Did they jump the gun maybe, yes. I am extremely happy with what I think most Americans are, what NASCAR is doing.'

He added that the driver 'had the support of team members and NASCAR' and he should 'pick up and go on and continue to do what you are doing.'

Team owner Richard Petty, right, stands with driver Bubba Wallace prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, Monday

Bubba Wallace was overcome with emotion as he sat in his car prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series race on Monday, a day after it was thought a noose was found in his garage

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, who had pushed NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag in its venues less than two weeks ago which left some fans unhappy

Wallace answered: 'I know. I'm with you on that. I appreciate the words.

'You talked about it earlier, the people who don't want to hear the truth and  people that want to know me and get to know me the new fans in the sport I appreciate it.

'One thing you'll never take away from me is how 100 per cent I am. How raw and real I am. I'll shoot it straight each and every time. That's what I stand by.

'In my statement Sunday night this will not break me. None of the allegations of being a hoax will break me or tear me down.

'That only fuels the competitive drive in me to shut everybody up and get on the track next week and showcase what I can do behind the wheel under tremendous amounts of BS.

'Whatever it is you want to say. It won't break me or tear me down. I will stand proud of where I'm at.'

A weather-delayed race on Monday turned into a mass show of support as drivers closed ranks around Wallace.

He was visibly moved before the start as his fellow drivers rallied behind him at the starting line.

Multiple drivers and crew then joined forces to push Wallace's No.43 car to the front of the grid.

Nascar drivers Kyle Busch, left, and Corey LaJoie, right, join other drivers and crews as they push the car of Bubba Wallace to the front of the field. It came after one of Wallace's team found a noose in his garage Sunday but the FBI has now deemed it a misunderstanding and that a garage door pull down rope fashioned as a noose had been in the garage since last Fall

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

NASCAR had announced on June 10 that the presence of the Confederate flag at its events was 'contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans'.

Wallace had campaigned for the flag's removal after the worldwide anti-racism protests triggered by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.

The series first tried to ban the Confederate flag five years ago but did nothing to enforce the order.

The Talladega event marked the first race since the coronavirus pandemic began that fans were permitted - 5,000 were allowed to purchase tickets - and some upset with the flag ban paraded past the main entrance with the Southern symbol.

A banner flew over the speedway Sunday of a Confederate flag that read 'Defund NASCAR'

Wallace after the race went to the fencing along the grandstands and greeted supporters.

'The sport is changing,' he said.

'The prerace deal was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to witness in my life. From all the supporters, from drivers to crew members, everybody here, the badass fan base, thank you guys for coming out. This is truly incredible, and I'm glad to be a part of this sport.'
Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it changes in the consumption of services and work culture. While work from home and social distancing has become the new normal, Madison Worlds outdoor unit, Platinum Outdoor recommended a pilot OOH campaign during Unlock Phase 1 to launch Indias First Zero-Contact, Video KYC Savings Account - Kotak 811 .

In Unlock Phase 1, people have begun venturing outdoors and traffic snarls made a comeback as few companies and other services opened in several parts of the country. Since local train services in Mumbai havent fully resumed, citizens are left with no option but to choose roads to travel. Taking stock of the situation, Platinum Outdoor, took up the challenge and devised an OOH strategy in tandem with evolved lifestyle, consumption behavior and OOH movement. After studying the change in speed patterns across the city, locations were identified to attract the target audience (TG). The new OOH movement amongst the TG were carefully studied from an OOH perspective. Impactful large formats were carefully identified, selected and deployed at high traction sites in Mumbai from Lower Parel to Jogeshwari. The campaign creative featured Ranveer Singh along with the Brand logo and message. This campaign was active for a short period to gauge the audience response to the OOH campaign and increase client confidence in the OOH medium.

Speaking about the campaign, Elizabeth Venkataraman, Joint President - Consumer, Commercial & Wealth Marketing, Kotak Mahindra Bank said, We are now living in a very different world and as a pioneer in digital banking, our focus has been on enabling our customers to transact safely & securely in a zero-contact manner. We are delighted to have introduced Indias first zero-contact, Video KYC savings account through which Kotak customers can now open a full-fledged savings account from the comfort of their home without the need for a visit to the branch or in-person interaction. While the campaign is being driven by digital media, with the lockdown gradually being lifted, we decided to selectively include OOH media in our campaign targeting key, high-impact locations in Mumbai.

Dipankar Sanyal, CEO, Platinum Outdoor said, We always believed that OOH campaigns would pick up once the Unlocking phase starts. Kotak Bank has always been known for doing great outdoor campaigns. We managed to carve an impactful once again. The campaign was executed during our WFH status. Its been a great learning experience.

Madison OOH is a part of Madison World and operates several brands including MOMS, Platinum Outdoor, Activation specialist - Madison TURNT, Rural specialist - Anugrah Madison, Retail Specialist  MRP, Out-Sel and Entrust. Madison OOH group handles marquee clients like Tata Motors, Raymond, McDonalds, Samsung, Asian Paints, Toyota, Lodha, Kotak, Omkar, Marico, amongst many others. Madison OOH, is a part of Madison World which through its 11 companies served last year, as many as 500 advertisers.
SINGAPORE, June 24, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Singapore eDevelopment Limited's (SeD; SGX:40V) wholly owned subsidiary Impact Biomedical Inc. has announced proven in vitro success with Equivir and 3F Biofragrance against COVID-19 in independent laboratory testing. Impact Biomedical and Global Research and Discovery Group Sciences (GRDG), in the advanced Biosafety Level 3 containment facilities of an independent laboratory, challenged the compounds with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Equivir proved successful as a treatment, as well as a prophylactic protecting the cells from infection by the virus. Currently, there are no COVID-19 prophylactics.3F Biofragrance proved successful as a surface disinfectant, killing the virus in concentrations as low as 1/5000 after 15 seconds. These in vitro results confirm the predictions of advanced computational molecular docking in which Equivir and Linebacker bind with a high affinity to the COVID-19 helicase and protease. Equivir and Linebacker also caused transformational change in the host ACE-2 receptor, interfering with the virus' ability to interact and infect the host cell. The binding affinity of components of 3F Biofragrance were also observed during molecular docking.Equivir is designed and patented as a prophylactic to be deployed in a manner similar to a vitamin. It works by impeding virulence while also blocking multiple methods used by viruses to infect and replicate in host cells. Equivir treats and protects against diseases caused by not only SARS-CoV-2 but also other dangerous pathogens. Equivir has broad antiviral efficacy against multiple types of Influenza, Rhinovirus, Cholera, Ebola, and COVID-19.Linebacker was created to shadow the Panacea Project, a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program to provide novel, multi-target therapeutics for unmet physiological needs. Linebacker is under continuing research against COVID-19 as it showed efficacy against SARS and MERS in previous laboratory testing. Linebacker is a patented universal therapeutic medication with demonstrated effectiveness in neurological diseases including Parkinson's, many types of cancer, and multiple pathogens such as MRSA, E. coli, Cholera, A. baumannii, Influenza, SARS, MERS, Malaria, and Ebola.3F Biofragrance was designed for the Open Air Defense Initiative, a strategy to protect large numbers of people where they gather such as containment areas, ports of entry, train stations, airports, convention centers, offices, schools, and hospitals. 3F Biofragrance technology also provides protection against mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika, Malaria and Dengue fever and is 10-fold more effective than DEET. 3F Antiviral Biofragrance is effective against E. coli, MRSA, Influenza, Rhinovirus, Tuberculosis, and COVID-19.3F Biofragrance was developed in collaboration with Chemia Corporation (Chemia), world-renowned for the development of fragrances and flavors for personal, household, and industrial applications. The combination of GRDG's advanced scientific research and Chemia's expert formulation and global production infrastructure make this patent pending technology powerful and effective in protecting people from deadly pathogens and insects. "Chemia is proud to partner with GRDG to pioneer functional fragrances to not only enrich peoples' lives, but save them as well," said Thomas A. Meyer, Vice-President of Innovation and Sustainability at Chemia.GRDG's Chief Scientific Advisor is Dr. Roscoe M. Moore, Jr., the former United States Assistant Surgeon General and former Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC. Dr. Moore said, "GRDG's novel strategy of attacking diseases in multiple different ways is the future of effective pandemic response."GRDG's Chief Strategy Advisor is Lieutenant Colonel William H. Lyerly Jr., retired Career Senior Executive/Scientific Professional from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and retired U.S. Army Medical Service Corps Officer. Lieutenant Colonel Lyerly also served as a senior official in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Executive Office of the President (White House). Lieutenant Colonel Lyerly said, "The validation of these solutions demonstrates GRDG's skill in providing comprehensive solutions to global health threats."Daryl Thompson, Director of Scientific Initiatives and founder of GRDG said, "I am happy to see that the 3F and Equivir biological countermeasures are performing as expected in independent efficacy testing. These positive results against the SARS-COV-2 virus now allow us to expeditiously move Equivir to clinical trials which we expect to be completed within the year. The 3F technology is ready for deployment in consumer products now."Impact Biomedical's technology solutions have been developed in strategic partnership with GRDG. Mr. Chan Heng Fai. "I am greatly encouraged by the results and the team's contribution to this cause. We hope this will eventually prove to be beneficial for everyone, and we look forward to further exciting discoveries," said Mr. Chan.GRDG is actively engaging with large global corporations to position the technologies for rapid integration into multiple distribution routes, to deploy these life-saving solutions worldwide. The intention in regards to the COVID-19 situation is to establish strong novel research data which can be further developed and licensed to a major pharmaceutical company for integration and eventual deployment as treatment for diseases. Shareholders and potential investors in SeD are advised to read this Press Release and any further announcements made by SeD carefully.Shareholders and potential investors of SeD are advised to refrain from taking any action with respect to their securities in SeD which may be prejudicial to their interests, and to exercise caution when dealing in the securities of SeD. Shareholders and potential investors of SeD should consult their stockbrokers, bank managers, solicitors or other professional advisers if they have any doubt about the actions they should take.About Singapore eDevelopment LimitedIncorporated on 9 September 2009 and listed on the Singapore Exchange in July 2010, Singapore eDevelopment Limited is involved in (i) property development and investments primarily in the United States and Western Australia; (ii) information technology-related businesses; (iii) development, research, testing, manufacturing, licensing and distribution of biomedical products; and (iv) investment activities. For more information, please visit: www.SeD.com.sg or email contact@sed.com.sg.About Impact BioMedical, Inc.Impact BioMedical, Inc. ("Impact BioMedical") is a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of Global BioMedical Pte. Ltd., which in turn is a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of Singapore eDevelopment Limited, a company listed on the Singapore Exchange.Impact BioMedical strives to leverage its scientific know-how and intellectual property rights to provide solutions that have been plaguing the biomedical field for decades. By tapping into the scientific expertise of GRDG Sciences, LLC. and Australian Exchange-listed Holista CollTech Limited, Impact BioMedical pledges to undertake a concerted effort in the R&D, drug discovery and development for the prevention, inhibition, and treatment of neurological, oncological and immuno related diseases.About GRDG Sciences, LLC.GRDG Sciences, LLC is an advanced research team formed in Florida by natural products discovery drug research scientist, Daryl Thompson. For more information, please visit: http://www.globalrdg.com.Source: Singapore eDevelopment LtdCopyright 2020 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As travel suppliers scan the industry landscape for signs of recovery, Discover the World, the leading travel industry sales specialist, is offering a positive message that business is returning, and that travel agents will prove a valuable asset in driving recovery.

After interviewing travel agents worldwide, Discover found 70% of respondents expected to see a promising recovery within the next eight months. Across all key global markets, Discover's research revealed 57% of agents reported new bookings during the COVID-19 crisis.

Discover's survey identifies three areas where suppliers can accelerate recovery for the travel trade  clear and flexible policies, easy and fast refunds, and clear relevant and regular information.

Ian Murray, CEO at Discover the World comments: "Customers are clearly concerned about where they can travel safely, what travel policies apply, and how quickly they can get their money back should flights be canceled. The good news is that travel agents are seen to offer a safe harbor, a reassuring, secure voice that inspires the confidence the industry so desperately needs right now. They will undoubtedly prove an invaluable partner in the industry's drive for recovery."

To further support the optimism, Murray notes the speed of recovery witnessed in China. "China came out of a severe lockdown in early May. We swiftly ramped up our response through our network of agents and witnessed a strong rebound in retail sales. Our Expedia travel agency booking platform (TAAP) numbers turned positive with an exponential rise across just three weeks versus prior year. This is a positive sign for all consumption-based societies across the rest of Asia and the West as well as a proof statement to the benefits of moving fast  don't wait, act now."

With a new, fresh post-pandemic sales vision, Discover the World believes the signposts point a faster rebound than feared. Leveraging its in-depth connection to the travel agent community, Discover is supporting travel suppliers as they seek a return to growth.

As Murray puts it, "Our aim is to ensure our clients are rebound ready by reimaging how we market and sell through an informed travel trade to a public that will quickly rediscover its love of travel."

View Survey Results:

https://datastudio.google.com/reporting/2e40365d-5f71-47ec-adf7-1b39b978f3d4/page/4bGe

About Discover the World

Discover the World has earned a reputation as an innovative global sales representation leader in the travel industry through a worldwide network of 85 offices in more than 60 countries. With a portfolio of over 100 clients utilizing its sales, marketing and business process outsourcing services, the work of Discover the World has a direct positive impact on the growth of our clients and trade industry partners every day.

SOURCE Discover the World
As anti-racism solidarity protests continue around the world, new research suggests mainstream media have a tendency to focus on the violence and spectacle of a protest rather than the substance. That mentality and approach need to change according to Summer Harlow, assistant professor of journalism at the University of Houston Jack J. Valenti School of Communication.

"How journalists cover protests and social movements matters because the more delegitimizing the coverage is the less likely the public is to support it," said Harlow, lead author of the study published online in the Journal of Journalism Studies. "Reporters should focus on the real issues, not just the violence you see on television or read about in newspapers between police and protestors or the inconvenience to bystanders. It hurts a movement's ability to be successful."

Harlow and co-authors Danielle Kilgo at the University of Minnesota; Ramon Salaverria at University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain; and Victor Garcia-Perdomo at the University of La Sabana in Bogota, Colombia, examined the way protests are covered across mainstream, alternative and digital-only media outlets. The team analyzed more than 1,400 news articles in English and Spanish from 2015 spanning the globe related to human rights/justice, anti-government/corruption and socio-economic issues, among others. The articles had been shared on Twitter and Facebook allowing the researchers to consider the correlation between story characteristics and social media user engagement.

The researchers found the type of protest, location of protest and type of media outlet were significantly related to whether these stories stuck to the protest paradigm - a pattern of negative coverage of protests, especially when the events are anti-status quo, that demonizes protesters and marginalizes their causes.

"This goes back to traditional journalistic practices and values. If you are a journalist on a deadline, you rely on official sources such as law enforcement for information. As a result, protestors are seen as less credible and the reason why they are so upset gets lost in the coverage," explained Harlow, whose body of research centers on how news media cover protests and the relationship between journalists and activists.

Previous research shows news coverage that follows the paradigm uses four frames, three of which delegitimize the root of the cause: riot, a focus on the violence; confrontation, a focus on clashes between protestors and police; spectacle, a focus on the drama or emotions; and debate - a media frame that legitimizes viewpoints and demands by emphasizing the reasons for the protest.

In applying this framing to stories shared on social media, the study reveals articles published about socio-economic and human rights/justice protests in Europe, for example, focused less on confrontation and more on the debate. In Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, social media users leaned more towards the spectacle with a tendency to highlight the drama, oddity and circus of protests in these regions.

Harlow, who will teach a course about media and social justice this fall, says recent protests in the United States over the killing of George Floyd and in support of Black Lives Matter, offer opportunities for all media outlets to improve their coverage.

"George Floyd represents this moment where journalists can take what they've been doing all this time and change it," she said. "There's been this collective wake-up call among journalists who are now questioning the way it's always been done, and that maybe they haven't been doing it the right way."

###

As anti-racism solidarity protests continue around the world, new research suggests mainstream media have a tendency to focus on the violence and spectacle of a protest rather than the substance. That mentality and approach need to change according to Summer Harlow, assistant professor of journalism at the University of Houston Jack J. Valenti School of Communication.

"How journalists cover protests and social movements matters because the more delegitimizing the coverage is the less likely the public is to support it," said Harlow, lead author of the study published online in the Journal of Journalism Studies. "Reporters should focus on the real issues, not just the violence you see on television or read about in newspapers between police and protestors or the inconvenience to bystanders. It hurts a movement's ability to be successful."

Harlow and co-authors Danielle Kilgo at the University of Minnesota; Ramon Salaverria at University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain; and Victor Garcia-Perdomo at the University of La Sabana in Bogota, Colombia, examined the way protests are covered across mainstream, alternative and digital-only media outlets. The team analyzed more than 1,400 news articles in English and Spanish from 2015 spanning the globe related to human rights/justice, anti-government/corruption and socio-economic issues, among others. The articles had been shared on Twitter and Facebook allowing the researchers to consider the correlation between story characteristics and social media user engagement.

The researchers found the type of protest, location of protest and type of media outlet were significantly related to whether these stories stuck to the protest paradigm - a pattern of negative coverage of protests, especially when the events are anti-status quo, that demonizes protesters and marginalizes their causes.

"This goes back to traditional journalistic practices and values. If you are a journalist on a deadline, you rely on official sources such as law enforcement for information. As a result, protestors are seen as less credible and the reason why they are so upset gets lost in the coverage," explained Harlow, whose body of research centers on how news media cover protests and the relationship between journalists and activists.

Previous research shows news coverage that follows the paradigm uses four frames, three of which delegitimize the root of the cause: riot, a focus on the violence; confrontation, a focus on clashes between protestors and police; spectacle, a focus on the drama or emotions; and debate - a media frame that legitimizes viewpoints and demands by emphasizing the reasons for the protest.

In applying this framing to stories shared on social media, the study reveals articles published about socio-economic and human rights/justice protests in Europe, for example, focused less on confrontation and more on the debate. In Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, social media users leaned more towards the spectacle with a tendency to highlight the drama, oddity and circus of protests in these regions.

Harlow, who will teach a course about media and social justice this fall, says recent protests in the United States over the killing of George Floyd and in support of Black Lives Matter, offer opportunities for all media outlets to improve their coverage.

"George Floyd represents this moment where journalists can take what they've been doing all this time and change it," she said. "There's been this collective wake-up call among journalists who are now questioning the way it's always been done, and that maybe they haven't been doing it the right way."

###
[June 24, 2020] Allegiance Bank and FHLB Dallas Award $34K Grant to the Credit Coalition

Allegiance Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) awarded a $34,195 Partnership Grant Program (PGP (News - Alert)) grant to the Credit Coalition which serves Greater Houston. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005842/en/ Sherrie Young (left), executive director of the Credit Coalition, and Rickey Jimenez, Jr., vice president, CRA and fair lending officer for Allegiance (News - Alert) Bank in Houston, hold an oversized check symbolizing the $34K grant that Allegiance Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas recently presented to the Houston nonprofit. (Photo: Business Wire) PGP grants help qualified nonprofit organizations fund a variety of administrative activities that are critical to serving their communities. The Credit Coalition will use the grant for operating and administrative expenses supporting the free financial and homebuyer counseling that it provides to low- and moderate-income people in the Greater Houston and Beaumont areas. "The purpose of the Credit Coalition is to empower our clients to make informed and empowered financial decisions in pursuit of their housing goals," said Executive Director Sherrie Young. "This grant will help us offer our free financial counseling services to clients who are interested in becoming homeowners or who need help to remain in their homes." Rickey Jimenez Jr., vice president, CRA and fair lending officer at Allegiance Bank and treasurer of the Credit Coalition said the organization has been serving the Greater Houson area for almost 30 years. "They provide a critical service to our community. We are happy to support their efforts to help aspiring homeowners as well as existing homeowners who are struggling to remain in their homes."



Funding of the PGP was increased by $2 million this year under FHLB Dallas' COVID-19 Relief Program to support community-based organizations (CBOs) involved in affordable housing activities, stimulating small business development or providing small businesses with technical assistance. For 2020, program parameters also were expanded to include COVID-19 relief. Through this unique grant program, FHLB Dallas member institutions contribute from $500 to $6,000 to a CBO, which FHLB Dallas matches at a new, higher 5:1 ratio (compared to the previous 3:1 ratio) resulting in a match of up to $30,000. If multiple member institutions contribute to the same CBO in one year, the maximum FHLB Dallas match for those member contributions is $60,000 per year. In both cases, the total grant to the CBO would be the sum of the member contribution(s) plus the FHLB Dallas match. Grants are awarded annually through FHLB Dallas and its member institutions.

"The Credit Coalition not only helps to widen access to homeownership among low- to moderate-income families, it also helps to keep families in their homes," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "FHLB Dallas is pleased to join Allegiance Bank in supporting this essential work." See the complete list of the 2020 PGP grant recipients. For more information about the 2020 PGP grants and other FHLB Dallas community investment products and programs, please visit fhlb.com/pgp. About Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. Allegiance is a Houston, Texas-based bank holding company. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Allegiance Bank, Allegiance provides a diversified range of commercial banking services primarily to small to medium-sized businesses and individual customers in the Houston region. Allegiance's super-community banking strategy was designed to foster strong customer relationships while benefiting from a platform and scale that is competitive with larger local and regional banks. Allegiance Bank operated 27 full-service banking locations in the Houston region, which we define as the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and Beaumont-Port Arthur metropolitan statistical areas, with 26 bank offices and one loan production office in the Houston metropolitan area and one bank office location in Beaumont, just outside of the Houston metropolitan area. Visit allegiancebank.com for more information. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank system created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $83.8 billion as of March 31, 2020 is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to approximately 805 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. Visit fhlb.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005842/en/

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Birmingham police renewed its call for help Tuesday in locating an 81-year-old woman with dementia who went missing June 15.

Irene Campbell, who suffers from dementia, was last seen June 15 on the 1200 block of 43rd Street North, according to police. Her family is offering a $7,500 reward for her safe return.

Police have conducted multiple searches within a two-mile radius of Campbells home using K-9, tactical and patrol units and the departments detectives bureau.

Birmingham police spokesman Sgt. Rod Mauldin said Campbells condition along with her age are very concerning.

We want to make sure that she gets the assistance that she needs, he said.

Campbells daughter, Shirrell Moore, earlier told AL.com that she watches her mother during the day and her brother takes care of her at night. She was sound asleep in her bed the last time anyone saw her. When Moore returned to the house after work, the door was wide open, and the mattress was half off the bed. One of Campbells shoes was by the sofa and the other was on the front porch.

Moore said she is concerned that her mother has been without her medications for more than a week.

Im praying to God that wherever shes at that he has his guardian angel watching over her, Moore said at a Tuesday news conference at Birmingham police headquarters, where police and Moore continued to plead to the public for help in locating Campbell. Thats my mother, and I love her dearly, and Im praying for her safe return.

Moore said she worried that the death of her father in November may have worsened her mothers condition.

It really took effect on my mother. I dont know if this was a setback that put more pressure on her brain, but she and my family is going through a lot, she said.

Everybody loves my mother,' Moore said. Shes good at feeding people. Anything she could do to help someone, she would do.

Campbell was last known to be wearing denim capri pants and black shirt with a multi-color design.

Mauldin urged anyone with information on Campbells whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777, 911 or the Birmingham police departments investigative bureau at 205-297-8434.

Moore also offered her personal number for anyone with information on her mother that did not feel comfortable calling authorities: 205-492-3813.
(ANSAmed) - NAPLES, JUNE 24 - A concert event titled "The Roads of Friendship" directed by conductor Riccardo Muti and organised by the Ravenna Festival began in 1997 in Sarajevo and has since taken place in various cities across the world, including Beirut, Jerusalem, Yerevan, New York, and Damascus. This year, the concert moves to Paestum, where it will serve to build a musical bridge towards Syria and the archaeological site of Palmyra, which was devastated by ISIS and was joined with Paestum through a twinning initiative that was launched in 2018.



The concert, performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 "Eroica", will take place in front of the Temple of Neptune on 5 July, with Muti conducting the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra with musicians from the Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert is dedicated to the suffering of the Syrian people in recent years, in the form of two people who are symbolic of that suffering: Hevrin Khalaf and Khaled al-Assad. Khalaf was on the front lines in the fight for women's rights in Syria, and for this she was killed at age 35 in an ambush in October 2019. Assad was the director of the Palmyra museum, left alone to defend it from the destruction of ISIS members who beheaded him before they laid waste to the museum. Kurdish-origin musician Aynur Dogan and artist Zehra Dogan, both of whom work for women's rights and as such have been subject to attacks and censorship, will also be at the concert with Muti. "We are coming to Paestum following the path of the Roads of Friendship that started many years ago in a Sarajevo torn apart by bombs," Muti said. "We are coming with the execution of the Eroica by Beethoven, with that funeral march that reflects the state of our souls for the massacres against culture, and I'm referring to Palmyra, twinned with Paestum, and highlighting our relationship with Syria. The Paestum concert has deep meaning that underscores love and brotherhood towards a country that I've visited. Many years ago I was in Damascus, and I had the chance to work with young Syrian musicians in a rehearsal for a symphony by Tchaikovsky. I don't know if that orchestra still exists, I don't know if the conservatory, which had just been built, still exists. But we are proud to have incorporated some musicians who come from the Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra, who will perform with us," he said.(ANSAmed). (ANSA).
A Black man in Detroit was wrongfully arrested and detained by police who mis-identified him with a false facial recognition hit. The case of Robert Williams, an innocent person who was held in police custody for a day, is the first publicly reported case of artificial intelligence resulting in a false arrest in the United States.

The ACLU has filed a complaint against the Detroit Police Department.

NPR's Bobby Allyn interviews the man who's now calling for a ban on the technology in today's Morning Edition.

The Detroit Police were using technology provided by Rank One. The company said in a blog post last year that fears people could be mis-identified were "misconceptions," and linked to U.S. government research on potential high accuracy of AI systems.

From a report by Reuters:

Robert Williams spent over a day in custody in January after face recognition software matched his driver's license photo to surveillance video of someone shoplifting, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) said in the complaint. In a video shared by ACLU, Williams says officers released him after acknowledging "the computer" must have been wrong. Government documents seen by Reuters show the match to Williams came from Michigan state police's digital image analysis section, which has been using a face matching service from Rank One Computing. Detroit and state authorities and Rank One could not be immediately reached for comment. The ACLU complaint requests Detroit police stop using facial recognition "as the facts of Mr. Williams' case prove both that the technology is flawed and that investigators are not competent in making use of such technology." Separate guidelines from Michigan state police and Rank One state a face match should not be used as the basis for an arrest. It was unclear whether police had additional evidence before arresting Williams, who is Black, in front of his wife and their two-year-old and five-year-old daughters, ACLU said.

Read more:U.S. activists fault face recognition in wrongful arrest for first time
A dialogue between the top diplomats of the two countries will precede the leaders' meeting.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to remove misunderstandings in relations between the countries that have accumulated over the past years.

That's according to MP with the ruling Servant of the People party, Iryna Vereshchuk, who spoke with Ukraine 24 TV Channel.

"I'd say that the ice has broken [in relations between Ukraine and Hungary]. They shouldn't be the way they were. They are our neighbors, and the policy of good neighborliness should prevail," Vereshchuk noted.

Read alsoUkraine FM Kuleba refutes "fake news" following his visit to Budapest

She expressed confidence that after the talks between foreign ministers Dmytro Kuleba and Peter Szijjarto, "a meeting between President Zelensky and Prime Minister Viktor Orban will soon be held because this is what everyone really needs this."

"Firstly, we need this because they are our neighbors and members of the Euro-Atlantic community. As you know, decisions are made by consensus there. They've been blocking us in the Ukraine-NATO Commission, not allowing us to move forward and be effective. However, as we see from recent developments, we have received a special NATO status [Enhanced Opportunity Partnership]  and the Hungarians didn't interfere. This indicates that they are ready to cooperate and talk. Now it's we who decide where to go for concessions and where are the red lines we aren't ready to cross," MP said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has scheduled another meeting with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto  second in a month.

Regular communication, Kuleba believes, helps parties address the issues that have amassed over time.

As UNIAN reported earlier, relations between the two countries slid to a chill after the Ukrainian parliament in 2017 passed a new education law.

Hungary has since then been blocking meetings of the Ukraine-NATO Commission, claiming alleged violation of rights of Hungarians living in Ukraine due to the provision of the law that determines that the language of command in educational facilities shall be the state language, which is Ukrainian.

According to the conclusion of the Venice Commission of December 8, 2017, the Ukrainian authorities were recommended to balance the language-related provision in the education law.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / Contact Gold Corp. (the "Company" or "Contact Gold") (TSXV:C)(OTCQB:CGOL) is pleased to announce results from four cyanide bottle roll assays at the Stallion and Bowl Zones at the Pony Creek gold project. Pony Creek is located on the Carlin Trend in Elko County, Nevada, adjacent to Gold Standard Ventures' Railroad-Pinion Project.

Highlights:

Oxidized portions of the Bowl Zone and the Stallion Zone continue to demonstrate excellent gold recoveries in cyanide bottle roll testing.

2.24 g/t Au or 100% of the original 2.24 g/t Au average grade using original Fire Assay / AA method (with Gravimetric Finish used for all Fire Assay/AA assays greater than 4 g/t Au) from 27 individual 5 foot sample intervals totalling 1.08 kg from the Bowl Zone.

of the original 2.24 g/t Au average grade using original Fire Assay / AA method (with Gravimetric Finish used for all Fire Assay/AA assays greater than 4 g/t Au) from 27 individual 5 foot sample intervals totalling 1.08 kg from the Bowl Zone. 0.48 g/t Au or 92% of the original 0.52 g/t Au average grade from using Fire Assay / AA method from 16 individual 5-foot sample intervals totalling 1.09 kg from the Stallion Zone .

of the original 0.52 g/t Au average grade from using Fire Assay / AA method from 16 individual 5-foot sample intervals totalling 1.09 kg from the . 0.36 g/t Au or 106% of the original 0.34 g/t Au average grade using original Fire Assay / AA method from 19 individual 5-foot sample intervals totalling 1.05 kg from the Stallion Zone .

of the original 0.34 g/t Au average grade using original Fire Assay / AA method from 19 individual 5-foot sample intervals totalling 1.05 kg from the . 0.09 g/t Au or 15% of the original 0.6 g/t Au average grade using original Fire Assay / AA method from 24 individual 5-foot sample intervals totalling 1.17 kg from the Bowl Zone.

"The excellent gold recoveries in cyanide solubility assays and cyanide bottle roll testing provide concrete evidence of the oxidized and potentially heap leachable nature of the gold mineralization along the at-surface, oxidized 2 km long Stallion Zone. Stallion is open in multiple directions, particularly to the north, where we see continuous runs of oxidized gold mineralization up to 90 metres thick with individual assays up to 1 g/t Au." said Matt Lennox-King, President & CEO of Contact Gold. "The high-grade oxidized portions of the Bowl Zone continue to demonstrate excellent cyanide solubility ratios, which bodes well for potential future development scenarios at Pony Creek."

2020 Bottle Rolls:

Bowl Zone:

A composite sample composed of 27 individual 5-foot sample intervals totalling 1.08 kg returned a bottle roll assay of 2.24 g/t Au, or 100% of the 2.24 g/t Au average grade using original Fire Assay / AA method (with Gravimetric Finish used for all Fire Assay/AA assays greater than 4 g/t Au) for the same 27 samples. The high-grade western side of the Bowl Zone is hosted within highly oxidized and altered Penn-Perm aged calcareous clastic sedimentary rocks.

From a refractory interval, a composite sample composed of 24 individual 5 foot sample intervals totaling 1.17 kg returned a bottle roll assay of 0.09 g/t Au, or 15% of the 0.60 g/t Au average grade using original Fire Assay / AA method for the same 27 samples. Unoxidized material at Bowl Zone is mostly hosted within impermeable Jurassic aged rhyolite.

Stallion Zone:

The rocks hosting gold mineralization at Stallion show strong silicification and oxidation of Penn/Perm calcareous sandstone in drilling and in sparse, recessive outcrops at surface. Cyanide solubility assays are completed on all drill sample intervals returning greater than 0.1 g/t Au in fire assay, and they all show excellent gold recoveries (greater than 85%) in this area where unoxidized mineralization has not yet been detected.

Two bottle roll tests were conducted on the most recent drill holes from Stallion in area of strong silicification and oxidation of a calcareous sandstone with local fossil hash interbeds hat tend to contain higher gold grades. The first composite of 16 individual 5-foot sample intervals totalling 1.09 kg returned a bottle roll assay of 0.48 g/t Au, or 92% of the 0.52 g/t Au average grade using original Fire Assay / AA method for the same 27 samples. The second composite of 19 individual 5-foot sample intervals totalling 1.05 kg returned a bottle roll assay of 0.36 g/t Au, or 106% of the 0.34 g/t Au average grade using original Fire Assay / AA method for the same 27 samples.

For an overview map of the known gold zones and the new targets that can now be drilled at Pony Creek please click: http://www.contactgold.com/_resources/news/20200618_Pony_Creek_PoO.jpg

Table of CN Bottle Roll Tests from Pony Creek

Zone Hole ID Start meters End meters Interval meters Bottle Roll Assay BR recovery

vs FA/AA +/-Grav Stallion PC19-24 10.67 44.2 33.53 0.48 92% Stallion PC19-21 3.05 32 28.95 0.36 106% Bowl PC18-03 86.87 134.11 47.24 2.24 100% Bowl (non-Oxide) PC18-03 38.1 74.68 36.58 0.09 15%

The Company received its Plan Of Operations exploration permit for Pony Creek on June 18, 2020. The Plan of Operations allows for up to 150 Acres of disturbance for road and drill pad building. This will facilitate the drill testing of high confidence, virgin drill targets such at Elliott Dome, Palomino and Mustang.

Pony Creek is an early stage exploration property and does not contain any mineral resource estimates as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource estimate at Pony Creek. Additional information about Pony Creek is summarized in the NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Pony Creek Project, Elko County, Nevada, USA" prepared for Contact Gold, with an effective date of October 16, 2018, and dated October 22, 2018, as prepared by Vance Spalding, C.P.G; VP Exploration of Contact Gold, and can be viewed under Contact Gold's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Vance Spalding, CPG, VP Exploration, Contact Gold, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. Drill intercepts were calculated using a minimum thickness of 3.05 metres averaging 0.14 ppm gold and allowing inclusion of up to 4.57 metres of material averaging less than 0.14 ppm gold for low grade intervals and higher grade intervals were calculated using a minimum thickness of 3.05 metres averaging 1.00 ppm gold and allowing inclusion of up to 4.57 metres of assays averaging less than 1.00 ppm gold. Gravimetric assays are used for all Fire Assays above 4.00 ppm gold. Cyanide solubility assays are completed on all Fire Assays greater than 0.1 g/t. True width of drilled mineralization is unknown, but owing to the apparent flat lying nature of mineralization, is estimated to generally be at least 70% of drilled thickness. The composited grades for comparison to the Bottle Roll assays are weighted averages of the amount of pulp used from individual 5 foot assays. Quality Assurance / Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference standards, blanks, and duplicates. All failures are followed up and resolved whenever possible with additional investigation whenever such an event occurs. All assays are completed at ALS Chemex; an ISO 17025:2005 accredited lab. Check assays are completed at a second, reputable assay lab after the program is complete.

About Contact Gold Corp.

Contact Gold is an exploration company focused on producing district scale gold discoveries in Nevada. Contact Gold's extensive land holdings are on the prolific Carlin and Cortez gold trends which host numerous gold deposits and mines. Contact Gold's land position comprises approximately 140 km2 of target rich mineral tenure hosting numerous known gold occurrences, ranging from early- to advanced-exploration and resource definition stage.

Additional information about the Company is available at www.contactgold.com.

For more information, please contact: +1 (604) 449-3361

John Glanville - Director Investor Relations

Chris Pennimpede - Corporate Development

E-mail: info@ContactGold.com

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

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, among other things, to potential recoveries of mineralized material and the anticipated exploration activities and potential of the Company on the Pony Creek property.

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: impacts arising from the global disruption caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. 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.

SOURCE: Contact Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594982/Contact-Gold-Reports-Excellent-Gold-Recoveries-from-Bottle-Roll-Tests-at-Pony-Creek
The navy's flagship left Cork city this morning after finishing her deployment on Covid-19 operations.

LE Eithne and her crew were given a rousing send-off with sirens and flashing lights provided by emergency service vehicles as she and her crew, under the captaincy of Commander Caoimhin Mac Unfraidh, cast off from Albert Quay on the way back to Naval Service headquarters at Haulbowline Island.

The ship was taken off operations a year ago because of the manpower crisis in the Naval Service. However, she was brought back on operations on March 20 as part of the Defence Forces response to the pandemic.

This was only made possible because a number of Naval Service reservists from Cork and Waterford volunteered to help man the ship.

Initially, it was feared that the pandemic would swamp the health services and mortuaries in the region wouldn't be able to cope with the body count.

The ship was supposed to provide that space if the worst happened which, thankfully, it didn't.

She was also put on standby to be used as a Covid-19 testing centre, as was the case for other Naval Service ships, which were dispatched to Dublin and Galway.

However, the need for that didn't materialise after the HSE decided to use Pairc Ui Chaoimh as its largest testing centre in the region.

In the meantime, the crew have been providing logistical support for the HSE on a number of levels.

On deck of the LE Eithne were Dr. Orla Healy, HSE South, South West; Commander Caoimhin McHumphrigh; Eddie Mulligan of the Irish Naval Service Reserve; piper Pat McCarthy, Ambulance Service; Gerry ODwyer, chief executive, South West Hospital Group; Peter Daly, project manager, Covid-19; Lt Col Damien Coakley and Barry McPolin; chief superintendent and members of the emergency services.

These included storing and distributing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to health workers, providing training to people in the maritime industry, HSE and the Gardai on how to use facemasks properly to avoid the risk of infection.
(Screenshot from Sky News website)

The UK was slow to learn the lessons from the first wave of COVID-19 in China, and it shouldn't make the same mistake for the second, said British media Sky News on Monday.

In a report titled "Coronavirus: This is how China is preventing a second wave  and the UK must learn lessons," the authors praised Beijing's swift and efficient response to the new outbreak that flared up at the Xinfadi market, saying the outbreak could have been a nightmare, but Beijing has shown the world how it can be contained.

The report, authored by Tom Cheshire, an Asia correspondent for Sky News based in Beijing, attributed the effective containment to speed, which has been demonstrated in "every part of the response."

The city didn't hesitate to shut schools and impose restrictions on various venues, and scaled up test centers and testing capacity for the virus, the report said.

As of Sunday, the number of facilities conducting nucleic acid testing for COVID-19 in Beijing expanded to 124, with the daily capacity increasing from 100,000 to over 230,000. Over 2 million people have been sampled.

Technologies, such as big data and tracing applications, have also facilitated the screening of people who have been to the market and their close contacts, it added.

These echoed another report in The New York Times, which said "aggressive testing and contact tracing" are key measures in the government's containment strategy.

The report  "In this coronavirus wave, China tries something new: Restraint"  said testing stations have been set up at hospitals, parks, stadiums and community centers, and people working for supermarkets, restaurants and health care industry, as well as close contacts of the confirmed cases are required to be tested.

"Anyone going within blocks of the shuttered Xinfadi market receives an automated cellphone text message urging an immediate test," it added.

"I think the outbreak will end quickly because many people like me are getting tested," said Li Donghai, a home health care worker as cited by The New York Times.

The Beijing Health Commission reported nine new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the lowest daily increase of confirmed cases in over a week.

"Beijing shows that even if a second wave is inevitable, it is not inevitably catastrophic," Cheshire wrote.
Photograph: Reuters

A grand jury has returned indictments on the three suspects in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a young black man who was accosted and shot dead as he went for a jog in a Georgia town, US media has reported.

The killing sparked widespread outrage and has since become a key part of an intense national debate around racism and police killings of Black people in America.

Three white men  Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William Bryan  have been in custody since their arrests last month.

Related: FBI investigating Ahmaud Arbery shooting as possible hate crime, lawyer says

Prosecutor Joyette Holmes said the Glynn county grand jury had indicted the three on charges including malice and felony murder in the death of the African American man.

Arbery was slain 23 February when the Greg and Travis McMichael, a white father and son, armed themselves and pursued the 25-year-old Black man running through their neighborhood. Greg McMichael told police he suspected Arbery was a burglar and that Arbery attacked his son before being shot.

Bryan lives in the same subdivision, just outside the port city of Brunswick. Bryan said he saw the McMichaels driving by and joined the chase, a Georgia bureau of investigation agent testified earlier this month.

It wasnt until 7 May, two days after Bryans cellphone video leaked online and stirred a national outcry, that the McMichaels were arrested by local police. Bryan was arrested on 22 May, and an arrest warrant said he tried to confine and detain Arbery without legal authority by utilizing his vehicle on multiple occasions before Arbery was shot.

In addition to malice murder and felony murder charges, the McMichaels and Bryan each are charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

Earlier this month a state investigator in Georgia alleged Travis McMichael was heard saying a racial slur as he stood over the mortally wounded man, moments after hitting him with three shots from a pump-action shotgun.

Arberys death has become a rallying cry in the protests that have rocked the US  and abroad  after the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis. The death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman shot dead by police in Louisville, Kentucky, has also been a case highlighted by the protests.

Civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump, who has worked with the family of Arbery, the family of George Floyd and the families of other high-profile police killings, said of the grand jury decision: This confirms what Ahmauds father has been saying for months, that this was a lynching. This is a significant step on the road to justice and while nothing will bring back Ahmauds life, it is important that a grand jury recognized his life had value and was wrongly and ruthlessly ended.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could earn more than 1million each time they do a speech after signing up with an elite agency.

The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, have joined New York-based Harry Walker Agency, which represents the Obamas and the Clintons.

PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Sun the pair will 'clean up'. They plan to be available for talks on social issues including racial justice, gender equality, the environment and mental health, according to the LA Times.

'I'm surprised they haven't done this sooner. It will be one of the great income generators for them. The speaker's circuit is a natural safe space for them to plunder,' he added.

It is their first career move since leaving the royal family and moving to Los Angeles.

It has previously been reported that the Queens grandson and his wife want to model themselves on the Obamas, and would set up a similar working model to the former president.

Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, have signed up with the Harry Walker Agency, a high-profile speaking agency, according to the LA Times

The Harry Walker Agency has high profile clients, many of whom are friends of the Duke and Duchess, including Prince Harrys environmentalist friend Jane Goodall and Oprah Winfrey.

Others include Meghan's best friend Serena Williams and the actor Tyler Perry  whose $18million (15million) Beverly Hills mansion they are living in.

Speaking could prove an extremely lucrative booking for the Duke and Duchess, who vowed to become financially independent from the royal family when they stepped back in January.



According to their hometown newspaper, President Obama reportedly earned 1million for a speech in 2017, while the Clintons averaged $250,000 per appearance in 2014.

In January, it was reported that Barack and Michelle Obama had advised the Sussexes on their plans for a new life outside the Royal Family.

Other high flying clients signed to Harry Walker Agency include former President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama

Harry and Meghan have become close friends with the former US president and his lawyer wife and turned to them for help after making the decision to step back from royal duty.

At the time, sources confirmed Harry and Meghan had discussed their plans with the former US president and his wife and wanted to mimic the way they had managed to build a successful, but dignified, life for themselves after the White House.

A source said: They have found huge commercial success without actually looking like they are getting their hands dirty, to put it bluntly, and retaining their popularity.

In fact it is fair to say that their star has soared since leaving the White House, particularly Michelles, and this is something Meghan admires very, very much.

Meanwhile the agency also boasts other clients including former US president Bill and Hillary Clinton

Meanwhile royal expert Omid Scobie also claimed the couple have big plans for the next few years, and are basing their working model on the Obamas.

He said their plans were 'not too dissimilar' from what the former president created after leaving the White House and setting up Higher Ground production company.

He pointed to the Obama's multiyear production deal with Netflix to produce films and documentaries covering topics like race, class and civil rights.

Harry has been friends with the couple for years, bonding over humanitarian and military issues, as well as his inspirational Invictus Games for injured military personnel and veterans. They even took part in a video skit with the Queen to publicise it.

Grin: Mr Obama meets Meghan Markle at The White House in 2016. Harry and Meghan have become close friends with the former US president and his lawyer wife and turned to them for help

Meghan is also close friends with the former US first lady, and secretly attended a talk Mrs Obama gave in London in 2018.

Last summer the duchess interviewed the mother-of-two for her collaboration with British Vogue.

Meghan also wrote of how Mrs Obama had become such a globally respected public figure. She said: Whatever your background, its easy to feel connected to Mrs Obama.

'Theres something magical about the way in which she draws you in with her endearingly frank, down-to-Earth personality.

Since leaving office Mr Obama, 58, and his wife, 55, have set up a charitable foundation that champions good causes including girls education and tackling youth violence.

They signed a joint book deal with Penguin Random House worth a reported 50million in 2017 and spent some of their new-found wealth on a luxury home in Marthas Vineyard, off Cape Cod.

Meanwhile Prince Harry has also become good friends with Mr Obama over the last few years, and turned to them for help after making the decision to step back from royal duty

The news comes days after a friend told DailyMail.com Meghan's instinct to leave the United Kingdom and move to California all makes sense to her now, because she believes she was 'destined' to help fight systemic racism in the United States.

The Duchess feels that her 'gnawing urgency to uproot from England' was fate so she could be at the 'forefront' of the movement, the insider explained.

They added: 'Meghan said her work as a leader is more important than ever right now and that shes been speaking with Oprah and other community leaders on how she can be part of the solution.

It comes days after it was revealed Meghan plans to use her platform to help fight systemetic racism in the United States. Earlier this month she spoke out on the death of George Flloyd amid on-going protests around the world

'Meghan feels like her mission goes far beyond acting. She said she wants to use her voice for change and hasnt ruled out a career in politics.'

Meghan, who quit her royal duties with husband Prince Harry earlier this year and relocated to LA in March, recently distanced herself from best friend Jessica Mulroney after she threatened to sue a black influencer over a dispute.

It came as the United States has been rocked by protests across the country in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and other African-Americans who have died at the hands of police, sparking national conversations about racism.

Meghan and Prince Harry volunteer alongside former gang members at a bakery to prepare food for the vulnerable and elderly in Los Angeles

by Harriet Johnston for MailOnline

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry donned hair nets and facemasks as they volunteered alongside former gang members at a Los Angeles bakery.

The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, who are currently living in Tyler Perry's $18 million mansion in Los Angeles having stepped back from royal duties in March, visited the Homeboy Industries cafe and bakery yesterday.

The couple appeared low-key in photographs shared of the visit, as they helped prepare food and learn more about the organisation's programme.

The bakery shared snaps of the pair's visit on Instagram, posting: 'Thank you to Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for visiting and standing in kinship with our Cafe and Bakery teams yesterday!

Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, joined former gang members at a bakery in Los Angeles to volunteer and make food for the elderly in the area (pictured, at their final royal duty in March)

The Duchess of Sussex, who had previously taken part in workshops with the organisation as a teenager, could be seen packing food boxes

'Our staff were thrilled to work alongside them as they helped prepare food and learned more about our newly launched #FeedHOPE program, which employs our program participants to provide meals to food-insecure seniors and youth across Los Angeles in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.'

Meghan donned a smart white shirt and relaxed denim jeans for the volunteering effort, sweeping her hair into a low bun to tuck into her net.

Meanwhile Prince Harry opted to match his wife in a similar smart white shirt as he joined her on the production line.

The couple could be seen helping out to bake bread, as well as folding dough and sorting out food boxes for the vulnerable in their new hometown.

According to Harper Bazaar's royal editor Omid Scobie, it is run by Father Gregory Boyle, who the Duke and Duchess have been speaking with about the racial justice movement.

The Duke and Duchess donned facemasks and hairnets as they joined the production line at the bakery

Meghan first met Father Boyle 20 years ago at a Homeboy Industry cooking workshop where she and her mother Doria made tamales.

Meghan Markle's visits to baking workshop for disadvantaged women Following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's visit to Homeboy Industries cafe and bakery yesterday, Meghan suggested it was similar to the Luminary Bakery in London. The social enterprise trains UK-based women who have been victims of violence and sex trafficking. Meghan featured the project when she guest-edited an issue of British Vogue, and she posed for a series of photographs with women at the bakery in 2019. Luminary Bakery (pictured) is an all-female social enterprise bakery which helps women who have been victims of violence and sex trafficking, or who have been to prison, get back into work Advertisement

Father Boyle, who has worked closely with Meghan's alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, said: 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were just "Harry and Meghan" to the homies.

'They rolled up their sleeves and deeply engaged with our workers in the bakery and cafe. It was immediate kinship and heartening in its mutuality.'

Harry and Meghan's spokesman said 'the duchess mentioned that the spirit and style reminded her of the times she visited the Luminary Bakery in London', a social enterprise that offers disadvantaged women in the UK new opportunities.

Mariana Enriquez, manager at Homegirl Cafe, said: 'It was remarkable to share our Feed Hope programme with Harry and Meghan.

'They are both down to earth and kind. The staff was honoured they took the time to see us, hear us and walk on our journey today. We will never forget it.'

A representative of the couple said the Duke and Duchess 'connect deeply' with the organisation's mission (which includes resources such as counselling, education, legal assistance, addiction recovery and employment ops) and feel it's 'a perfect example of how empathy, kindness, and compassion can change the world.'

The organisation describes itself as 'a beacon of hope in Los Angeles to brave men and women seeking to transform their lives after gang-involvement and incarceration.'

It provides support to nearly 9,000 individuals through job training and free services such as tattoo removal, mental health services, GED classes, legal services, and more.

It also helps provide space for our clients to heal from intergenerational cycles of violence in a community of radical compassion.

It is the third time the couple have been seen volunteering during the course of the coronavirus pandemic. In April, Meghan and Prince Harry were spotted out on the streets of LA as they continued their volunteering work for charity amid the crisis.

The Duchess had previously taken part in cooking workshops with the organisation when she was a teenager alongside her mother Doria (pictured, with the Prince Harry at the launch of the Hubb cookbook in 2019)

The couple were seen linking arms and holding hands as they delivered packages to residents from the back of their $35,000 Cadillac XT5, having seemingly downgraded from the Porsche SUV they had used previously.

It emerged that the couple, who moved to Los Angeles with 11-month-old son Archie a month ago, have been distributing meals to the needy in LA for the Project Angel Food charity.

A source close to the couple told the Daily Mail that they had hoped to keep their volunteering private but were glad the charity was being recognised.

The Sussexes initially moved to Canada after stepping down as senior working royals on March 31 but are now forging out new lives for themselves as they set up home in California.

The news comes days after a friend of Meghan's told DailyMail.com that her instinct to leave the United Kingdom and move to California all makes sense to her now, because she believes she was 'destined' to help fight systemic racism in the United States.

The Duchess feels that her 'gnawing urgency to uproot from England' was fate so she could be at the 'forefront' of the movement, the insider explained.

it comes after sources revealed that the Duchess of Sussex feels 'destined' to help fight systemic racism in the United States (pictured, the royal recently spoke out about Black Lives Matter)

They added: 'Meghan said her work as a leader is more important than ever right now and that she's been speaking with Oprah and other community leaders on how she can be part of the solution.

'Meghan feels like her mission goes far beyond acting. She said she wants to use her voice for change and hasn't ruled out a career in politics.'

Meghan, who quit her royal duties with husband Prince Harry earlier this year and relocated to LA in March, recently distanced herself from best friend Jessica Mulroney after she threatened to sue a black influencer over a dispute.

It came as the United States has been rocked by protests across the country in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and other African-Americans who have died at the hands of police, sparking national conversations about racism.

Meghan spoke out about Floyd's death earlier this month, declaring 'black lives matter' and admitted she hadn't made a statement earlier because she had been 'nervous'.
The late Detective Garda Colm Horkan was like a template for what youd want a guard to be, according to Granards Superintendent Seamus Boyle, who attended the state funeral on Sunday.

Colm Horkan was my colleague and friend, with whom I had the honour to work for three years, he told the Longford Leader.

Supt Boyle served as Superintendent in Castlerea Garda Station for three years before moving to Granard last year and had the privilege of working very closely with Detective Gda Horkan, who was tragically killed while on duty last week.

He performed his duties with integrity, empathy and loyalty, both to the community he served and his colleagues, said Supt Boyle of his fallen colleague.

Colm would be the last person to call himself a hero, but a hero he was in every respect. An Garda Siochana means Guardians of the Peace. We have lost a true Guardian of the Peace.

Detective Garda Horkans funeral took place at 12 noon on Sunday and garda stations across the country, including those in Longford, Granard, Ballymahon and Lanesboro, led a minutes silence in tribute to him.

Members of the public stood in solidarity with local gardai, past and present, on Sunday afternoon, as did ambulance and fire services, members of the ONE and Defence Forces and Lanesboro Triathlon club.

He was probably one of the best guards Ive ever worked with. If you wanted to get a job done, he was the fella to go to. He had a great way about him with everybody. He was a great team person, said Supt Boyle.

If you were creating a template for what youd want a guard to be, Colm Horkan was that. There was no job too small and no job too big. He was a very loyal supporter of mine while I was down in Castlerea, there was no doubt about it. Even since I left 12 months ago, we wouldve maintained contact.

Longfords Supt Jim Delaney also expressed his deepest sympathies to the family of Detective Gda Horkan on behalf of all at Longford Garda Station.

Colm served his community with the highest integrity and distinction and, in paying the ultimate sacrifice, demonstrated every proud tradition of An Garda Siochana, epitomising what it really means to be on the front line, he said.

WATCH | Longford Garda Station leads a minute's silence in tribute to Detective Garda Colm Horkan

The tragic news broke last Thursday morning, throwing a shadow of loss over the entire country as the nation came to terms with what had happened in Castlerea.

Garda Representative Association member for the Longford/Roscommon Division, Dave Conroy, told the Longford Leader that gardai are traumatised by the incident.

It affects the larger garda community - the larger garda family - in Ireland, because when something like this happens, it resonates with them all and brings back previous incidents.

Colm is the 89th guard to lose his life tragically while on duty. It always resonates with members that every time they go on duty, thats the peril they face. Youre taking your life into your hands serving the community.

On behalf of the GRA I want to sympathise with the family, friends and colleagues of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, he added.

His tragic passing is a massive loss to the area of Charlestown, his home place, but also the community of Castlerea, where he served with distinction and was very much loved by colleagues in the community there.

Everyone who encountered him has nothing but a good story to tell about their involvement with Colm.

Detective Garda Colm Horkan was alone on patrol on Wednesday night, June 17 when, shortly before midnight, he stopped a man on a motorbike.

A conversation between the two became an altercation during which the man managed to remove Detective Gda Horkans gun from its holster, using it to shoot at the detective 15 times until he ran out of bullets.

Gda Horkan died of his wounds just before midnight on Wednesday, June 17. Stephen Silver, Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, was arrested at the scene and immediately charged with murder.

He appeared before Judge Alan Mitchell late on Saturday night and was remanded in custody to Harristown District Court on Friday, June 26.

'If you were creating a template for what you'd want a guard to be, Colm Horkan was that', says Granard Superintendent of his close friend
How Bolton, Netanyahu and Pompeo sabotaged talks with Iran

In his new book, John Bolton recounts how a potential meeting between the U.S. president and Irans foreign minister spread panic among top U.S. and Israeli officials last summer

By Amir Tibon

June 23, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - WASHINGTON  Benjamin Netanyahu is mentioned over 30 times in John Boltons new book, The Room Where it Happened, which details his tumultuous 18 months working as President Donald Trumps national security adviser.

Most of the references to the Israeli prime minister are short descriptions of conversations between Netanyahu and Bolton regarding Iran, containing very little new or significant information.

One story Bolton tells in more detail, however, reveals how Netanyahu  together with Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo  reportedly sabotaged Trumps attempts to open diplomatic channels with Tehran last summer.

Bolton recounts this story with pride, and hints that the efforts by himself and Pompeo, with Netanyahus backing, stopped Trump from going for a broader U.S.-Iran deal, which was being pushed at the time by French President Emmanuel Macron.

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The events Bolton describes happened in the lead-up to his own ouster from the White House. First, in June 2019, Trump surprised and disappointed Bolton and the other Iran hawks in his administration by canceling, at the last moment, a military strike against Iranian targets in retaliation for an Iranian attack on a U.S. military drone. Bolton describes that event as one of the most unprofessional decisions he had ever witnessed in his career in national security.

Later that summer, as tensions with Iran continued to rise, Macron began to offer Trump his help as a mediator between the two countries. His grand plan, according to Bolton, was for Trump to meet with a senior Iranian official in late August in the French coastal town of Biarritz, as France was hosting a meeting of the G-7 countries with the American president in attendance.

Bolton writes how he and Pompeo, the administrations two most prominent Iran hawks, both worked during the summer to scuttle Macrons diplomatic efforts and convince Trump to reject any proposal. But Macron, he explains, surprised them by inviting Mohammad Javad Zarif to the G-7 gathering, opening the door for a potential meeting between Irans foreign minister and Trump.

For Bolton, Pompeo and Netanyahu, this was unacceptable, especially because Macron was also promoting another idea: an international credit line to Iran that would ease some of the grave economic pressure placed on the country by Trumps imposition of sanctions.

Bolton writes that when Trump arrived in Biarritz in August, he had an unscheduled one-on-one meeting with Macron, during which Iran was the sole topic under discussion. According to Bolton, Trump later described that conversation as the best hour and a half hed ever spent.

The next day, rumors about Zarifs imminent arrival in southern France began to surface. Bolton received a worried call from Pompeo, who had spoken earlier with Netanyahu about airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria that had been attributed to Israel. Bolton fails to mention in the book that all of this was happening just three weeks before Israels September 17 election, at a point in time when Netanyahu was down in the polls and short of the majority he needed in order to be granted immunity from prosecution on corruption charges.

After the call with Pompeo, Bolton heard from Trumps personal staff that Macron had invited the president to meet with Zarif, and he was eager to take the meeting. Boltons reaction was to ask his own staff to prepare a flight for him to return to the United States: if the meeting were to go ahead, he would resign immediately from the White House.

Pompeo and Bolton continued to communicate in an attempt to stop Trump from meeting Zarif, and Bolton writes that both of them were at the same time also speaking to Netanyahu and his ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer. Bolton asked Pompeo to tell Netanyahu and Dermer that he felt like the Light Brigade  meaning that his efforts to stop the meeting were running into powerful forces he was not necessarily equipped to overcome.

In Boltons telling, two other senior administration officials  Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner  were in favor of taking the Zarif meeting. Pompeo complained to Bolton that we have Mnuchin and Jared, two Democrats, running our foreign policy.

Bolton told Pompeo of his intention to resign, and the secretary of state replied that if the meeting went through, he would do the same, according to Bolton.

Bolton wrote that he then had a conversation with Trump, in which he told the president that if the United States released even just a bit of the pressure placed on Iran, it would be very difficult to put it back in place. He urged Trump not to meet Zarif at all  not even for a private handshake, as Trump suggested at some point he wanted to do. Bolton said he was encouraged, however, by the fact that Trump had soured on the credit line idea, stating: Theyre not getting any line of credit until the whole deal is done. This, Bolton writes, was the opposite of what Macron suggested  opening a line of credit as a gesture of goodwill that would lead to further negotiations.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, was trying to reach Trump directly to explain his strong opposition to the meeting but, in Boltons telling, could not get through to the president. Bolton said Kushner was against connecting the two men, because he found it inappropriate for a foreign leader to try to dictate to Trump whom he should speak to.

Bolton was convinced the meeting with Zarif would happen before the end of the G-7 summit, but he provides no clear explanation as to why it eventually didnt. At the time, most analysts wrote that the meeting never took place mostly because of the Iranians, who demanded a concrete easing of sanctions before giving Trump the photo opportunity he was craving.

Bolton concludes the chapter by writing that he couldnt rule out the possibility that Kushner or Mnuchin met with Zarif instead of Trump, in order to create a future channel of communication, and that this option caused great concern to Israeli officials and made Pompeo livid.

I dont know if I had talked Trump out of meeting Zarif, Bolton concluded, but the decision [not to hold the meeting] was enough to stop Bolton from resigning, at least for a few more weeks. Eventually, he left the White House in early September 2019. In the year that has passed since those summer months, there has been no diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran.

- " Source " -

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New York, June 24 : Three members of an Indian-origin family have died in a swimming pool at their New Jersey house, according to media reports.

Officials identified the victims on Tuesday as Bharat Patal, 62, his daughter-in-law Nisha Patel, 33, and her 8-year-old daughter, whose name was not given.

They drowning took place in East Brunswick on Monday evening.

Police spokesperson Lt Frank Sutter was quoted by News12 TV as saying that a call was received from a neighbour about someone having fallen.

Police officers who went to the house found it was a case of drowning and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation but they were pronounced dead at the house backyard, according to him.

A neighbour, Vishal Makin, told the channel that the family had just moved into the house a couple of weeks ago and told him they had their pool serviced and were excited to use it.

"It's painful. It's painful," another neighbour Yamini Patel told CBS New York.

Officials have ruled the drowning an accident but gave no details.

CBS New York said that a neighbour, Phil Peterson, mentioned that an electrician's truck showed up after the drowning and said, "It wouldn't make sense that three people just drowned right away like that. With an adult there, too."
Today Air Lease Corporation ("ALC") (NYSE: AL) announced a long-term lease placement for one used Airbus A319-131 aircraft with HiSky Moldova. Scheduled to deliver this September, this aircraft will be the second aircraft in the fleet of the Moldovan startup airline.

"ALC is pleased to announce this second lease placement with HiSky Moldova," said David Beker, Vice President and Head of Aircraft Sales and Trading of Air Lease Corporation. "We have been impressed with the business plan underpinning this new clean-sheet airline in Moldova and are honored to provide the first A319 and A320 aircraft to HiSky Moldova so that they can launch their airline later this summer. We look forward to growing and expanding our relationship over the coming years."

"We are delighted with the support from ALC to launch our airline as our plans take shape for the perfect start," said Iulian Scorpan, Chief Executive Officer of HiSky Moldova. "HiSky Moldova looks forward to putting both ALC aircraft to work to deliver an excellent on-board experience and the highest quality of service to our customers."

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL)

ALC is a leading aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California, that has airline customers throughout the world. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. ALC routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the "Investors" section of ALC's website at www.airleasecorp.com. Investors and potential investors are encouraged to consult the ALC website regularly for important information about ALC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, ALC's website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

About HiSky Moldova

HiSky Moldova was established by a team of enthusiasts that combines hundreds of years of experience in aviation. The Company will launch regular flights in July 2020 from its hub Chisinau International Airport to six European destinations: London (Great Britain), Dublin (Ireland), Lisbon (Portugal), Paris (France), Bologne (Italy), and Dusseldorf (Germany).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005720/en/

Contacts:

Investors:

Mary Liz DePalma

Vice President, Investor Relations

Email: investors@airleasecorp.com

Jason Arnold

Assistant Vice President, Finance

Email: investors@airleasecorp.com

Media:

Laura Woeste

Senior Manager, Media and Investor Relations

Email: press@airleasecorp.com

Ashley Arnold

Manager, Media and Investor Relations

Email: press@airleasecorp.com
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Prakash Jarwal in connection with a doctors alleged suicide case, ANI reported. He will be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000.

Jarwal and his aide, Kapil Nagar, were arrested on May 9 for alleged extortion and abetment to suicide of a 52-year-old doctor in April.

The case was registered against the two after the doctors son blamed them for his fathers death on April 18. The doctor also supplied water tankers to the Delhi Jal Board. The family had accused Jarwal of extortion which he has denied.

The two men were arrested after they failed to join the investigation even after the police sent them notices. Jarwal had also applied for anticipatory bail.

The doctors son had claimed that his father killed himself hours after Kapil Nagar had paid a visit.

The family had complained that the doctor who was also into the business of supplying water tankers to the Delhi Jal Board since 2007, had been upset for the past few months as he was suffering monetary loss because Jarwal had demanded money from him and when he failed to pay on time, the MLA allegedly got his payments from the DJB stalled.
NEWTON -- Rein and Karen Schmidt and their son, Eric, were in their mobile home in Newton on June 2, 1990, when the weather turned fierce just before 6 p.m.

The Schmidts quickly sought shelter at a neighbor's house.

"The neighbors were already hunkered down and locked up in the basement and we couldn't get in there," Rein Schmidt said. "So we went to the hotel."

On the way to the Ranch Motel, the Schmidts saw it.

"Before we got to the motel, you could see the tornado right down the street," Rein said.

"There were three funnels all going into one," said Eric, who was 11 at the time.

They found shelter at the motel owner's house. Once inside, they took refuge in the bathroom.

"Me, my mom and the owner of the motel, Irene Reynolds, were in the bathtub, and my dad was on the floor with his feet against the door," Eric said.

"At first, we didn't hear anything. It was all calm," Eric said. "Then you could hear it roar as it was coming closer."

Eric recalled how pitch black everything turned when the tornado arrived.

"You couldn't see the hands in front of your face, and the air pressure kept your ears popping," he said.

By the time the twister had dissipated, the bathroom was the only room in the house with the roof still intact.

"The bathroom wasn't touched. The mirror wasn't broken and none of the windows were broken," Eric said.

The Schmidts walked out of the house and saw that their mobile home was destroyed.

"The only thing left was the garage," Rein said.

"If we would have been in the trailer when the tornado hit, we probably wouldn't have made it," Eric said.

Two people at the motel were injured when their car rolled over onto them and one other person at the motel also was injured, Rein said. Those were the most serious injuries, he added. No one was killed.

The EF4 tornado with winds close to 200 miles per hour cut an eight-mile path of destruction to homes and businesses between Newton and Hunt City.

A couple of days after the tornado hit, then-Gov. Jim Thompson arrived in Newton to inspect the damage. Eric Schmidt and Irene Reynolds met with Thompson to share their experience.

"The rest of the summer all you could hear were chain saws," Eric said. "For the first couple of months after the tornado, there were people out here every day."

He said people from other towns came to help clean up the mess.

Eric said most of his family's belongings were in the area of the trailer, with the exception of a canoe that appeared several blocks northeast of where they lived.

"There was a picnic table we never found," he said. "It was a pretty heavy picnic table and we never found a piece of it."

"It took us weeks to clean it up," Karen Schmidt said.

The family spent the next couple of months building a house -- with a basement. They moved into it in August 1990.

"Everybody said they wanted a basement this time," Rein said.

Thirty years later both Eric and Rein have a passion for weather. Rein's passion actually predates the twister.

He was a weather observer for the National Weather Service in Evansville, Indiana, and a weather watcher for WCIA-TV, Channel 3, Champaign, providing data to weather anchor Judy Fraser when the tornado hit Newton.

"I told them (WCIA-TV) on the phone we were watching it coming, and they put it on the air." Rein said.

Rein was also in contact with the sheriff's department.

"The tornado siren didn't work that day," Eric recalled.

Rein continued his National Weather Service observations and today provides data to the NWS Lincoln, Illinois office.

The tornado experience prompted Eric to be a meteorologist.

Eric received a Bachelor of Arts in Meteorology from Northern Illinois University. He worked in Houston and Chicago at the world headquarters of United Airlines as an aviation meteorologist before starting his own business and returning to Newton 13 years ago.

Today Schmidt is president of EJS Weather, which he runs from the basement of the house that was built following the tornado. One of services the business offers is customized weather data layouts for 10 newspapers in the United States. The business collects and evaluates weather data that is specific to the location of the newspaper.

Schmidt's business also can produce location-specific daily weather forecast for the agricultural industry, severe weather alerts for mariners with customized wind and wave forecasts in addition to seasonal temperature forecasts, tropical weather data, and timely weather alerts for the energy and utility industries.

Eric is a regular guest on RFD radio and provides information to a utility company magazine based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Rein joined Eric in the business when it started in 2007, and since weather never stops, has worked every day since.

"We haven't had a vacation in 13 years," Rein said.

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A team of RIT faculty and student researchers created MathDeck, a math-aware search interface that makes sophisticated mathematics more user friendly on the computer. Credit: Rochester Institute of Technology

Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology have developed MathDeck, an online search interface that allows anyone to easily create, edit and lookup sophisticated math formulas on the computer.

Created by an interdisciplinary team of more than a dozen faculty and students, MathDeck aims to make math notation interactive and easily shareable, rather than an obstacle to mathematical study and exploration. The math-aware search interface is free to the public and available to use at mathdeck.cs.rit.edu.

Researchers said the project stems from a growing public interest in being able to do web searches with math keywords and formulas. However, for many people, it can be difficult to accurately express sophisticated math without an understanding of the scientific markup language LaTeX.

With MathDeck, users can now enter and edit formulas in multiple ways, including handwriting, uploading a typeset formula image and text input using LaTeX. Using image processing and machine learning techniques, the interface is able to recognize formula images and hand-drawn symbols.

"With such a tool in hand, it will be much easier for experts and non-experts to enter complicated formulas and symbols accurately and have the search engines find mathematically relevant answers quickly and effectively," said Anurag Agarwal, associate professor in RIT's School of Mathematical Sciences. "It can also help people from different disciplines to collaborate, share their findings and perform searches more productively."

MathDeck is one piece of a larger project called MathSeer, which is supported by nearly $1,000,000 in funding from the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. MathSeer is led by Richard Zanibbi, professor of computer science at RIT, Agarwal, Penn State University Professor C. Lee Giles and University of Maryland, College Park Professor Douglas W. Oard.

"The goal of MathSeer is to produce new technologies to provide 'math search for the masses,'" said Zanibbi, who is also director of RIT's Document and Pattern Recognition Lab in the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. "This involves creating new search interfaces, AI algorithms for handwritten and image input, and search engine technologies that better support formulas in queries."

In order to create a useful interface for MathDeck, the team had to better understand user's search behavior, including how users express their query and what types of documents they are looking for. They also noted that in mathematics, expressions and symbols often have multiple meanings and contexts.

"To tackle these complexities, we used our knowledge and expertise in math to make the system 'aware' of the mathematical nuances, so that it can interpret and represent the mathematical connection between the various objects in formulas with high accuracy, thereby resulting in effective search," Agarwal said.

The interface will also help users save time, because they can save their sessions and favorite formulas. Users can manipulate and save formulas as chips, so they don't have to re-enter the formula.

"Entering math formulas is a big challenge from the user's perspective, as math is typically expressed in a two-dimensional space, while typing only produces a sequence of characters," said Gavin Nishizawa, a computer science master's student from Aiea, Hawaii, who was lead developer on the project.

MathDeck includes an auto-complete function for formulas and keywords. If users are searching for a popular symbol or formula, they'll likely find an entity card. The card shows the formula, the name of its associated concept and a brief description.

"In formula search, there are math specific challenges, including 'equivalent' formulas with different variable names or terms in another order," said Nishizawa, who also completed a software engineering degree at RIT in 2018. "For formula autocomplete, MathDeck searches entity cards by recognizing a formula's structure, passing its structure representation into a neural network, and then producing an embedding vector that is compared against formulas in the entity cards."

When it comes time to submit a query, users can select from 11 search engines, including standard search engines, like Google, and more math-focused systems, including Wolfram Alpha and Math Stack Exchange.

In the future, Zanibbi said the team plans to extend MathDeck. They are creating techniques to make formulas searchable in large PDF collections and working to improve formula and text search, as well as improving formula recognition in handwriting and images.

Zanibbi, Agarwal, Oard and RIT computing and information sciences Ph.D. student Behrooz Mansouri are also running ARQMath, an international task to benchmark and improve math-aware search technologies.

"There is a lot of complexity around math, so making the use of math more intuitive can help address many problems in math and science," said Nishizawa. "Research in this area can have a significant positive impact on things like math literacy, understanding mathematical ideas and improving people's quality of life."

Explore further A CNN-based method for math formula script and type identification

More information: To learn more about the projects, go to the MathSeer website: To learn more about the projects, go to the MathSeer website: www.cs.rit.edu/~dprl/mathseer/
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 18:22:24|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- 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, said a spokesperson on Wednesday.

The draft revisions to the Patent Law and the Law on the Protection of Minors, as well as the draft export control law, will all return for a second reading at the coming session, said Zang Tiewei, a spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee.

The draft revision of the Law on the Protection of Minors further clarifies the responsibility of the guardians of juveniles and strengthens the management of issues such as the safety of students and bullying, said Zang.

The draft Amendment XI to the Criminal Law, a draft revision to the Administrative Penalty Law, and the draft data security law will be submitted to the session for the first reading, according to Zang.

The draft Amendment XI to the Criminal Law pays attention to areas such as workplace safety, food and drug safety, public health, and the ecological environment, said Zang.

The draft data security law establishes basic systems for data safety management, such as data classification management, risk assessment, monitoring, and early warning system and emergency response, Zang noted. Enditem
The reappearance of several clusters of the coronavirus have prompted German authorities to reimpose a lockdown in two towns. It's the first decision of its kind in Europe and concerns over 600,000 people.

This comes as medical experts warn of a possible second wave of the epidemic in Europe which has already killed over 470,000 people worldwide.

German authorities on Tuesday reinstated lockdown measures in two neighbouring districts, the Canton de Warendorf and the Canton de Gutersloh, in northwest Germany where some 640,000 people live.

The measures come after 1,500 tested positive for the coronavirus at the Tonnies abattoir in the nearby town of Rheda-Wiedenbrueck that employs nearly 7,000 people.

As of Sunday, 21 people were being treated in hospital, six of them in intensive care.

Although residents do not need a permit to go out, public places such as bars, cinemas, concert halls, museums, and sporting facilities are closed until at least 30 June.

Schools and kindergartens have also been closed ahead of school holidays which will start this weekend.

"The objective is to calmly take stock of the situation", Armin Laschet, government representative of the North Rhine Westphalia Region told the press.

Massive testing drive underway

"It's important to do testing to see if the virus has gone beyond the employees of the abattoir," he said.

The residential area near the plant where many of the employees live has been put into quarantine according to local media.

Despite other new clusters reported in Lower Saxony and Berlin last week, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) disease control centre remained optimistic on Tuesday that the virus remains under control in Germany.

So far, Germany has seen 8,986 deaths and reported 192,778 cases.

Meanwhile, in France, the scientific council in charge of giving recommendations to the government on handling the epidemic said on Wednesday that it is highly likely that France will see a second wave of the virus in the coming months.

Experts warn that although the virus will appear to slow down during the summer months, countries in Europe will need to be vigilant at the onset of winter.

They estimate that only 5 percent of the French population has been immunised against the Covid-19 strain.
Monmouth County businesses and non-profit organizations with as many as 50 employees will be eligible for grants of up to $10,000 to help offset losses resulting from the coronavirus and measures to fight it, the county announced.

The grants will be funded using $10 million in federal money alloted to the county government under the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security, or CARES Act, a $2 trillion stimulus package approved by Congress and President Donald Trump to cushion COVID-19s impact on individuals, businesses, non-profits, healthcare institutions and other recipients.

The grant funds announced Tuesday are intended to supplement $1.59 million in CARES ACT money allotted to Monmouth for distribution to businesses, non-profits and other entities under the federal Community Development Block Grant program, said Freeholder Director Joseph Arnone.

My fellow freeholders and I realized that the $1.59 million from the Community Development Block Grant for COVID would not provide sufficient funds to reach all small businesses in the county due to restrictions and guidelines put in place by the federal government and HUD, Arnone stated in Tuesdays announcement.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

The board unanimously passed the resolution to share supplemental funds from the CARES Act to the Monmouth County small businesses and nonprofits to provide them with relief during this pandemic.

While some county governments in New Jersey have elected to distribute CARES Act funds to small businesses using the state Economic Development Authority to vet applications for eligibility, Monmouth officials will not partner with the state EDA, and instead will award the grants on their own.

Because no one knows our small businesses like we do, Arnone stated. I have been in constant contact with small business owners and chambers of commerce throughout this pandemic and will continue to work with them to assist in any way I can.

Monmouth has also chosen to make the grants available to larger businesses than those in some other counties. Essex County, for example, announced earlier this month that it would make CARES Act grants of up to $10,000 available to businesses with no more than 25 employees. Unlike Monmouth, Essex will partner with the Economic Development Authority to administer its CARES Act grants.

Arnone said more information on eligibility and how to apply for the grants will be available in the coming weeks on on the county home page.

Nicholas Wolferman, a New Jersey-based small business consultant who is CEO of Wolferman Consulting, said the cap on the size of firms eligible for the grants would benefit truly small businesses that have shared less in the benefits of the CARES Act than larger ones. Wolferman said county governments can also aid small businesses by providing clear information on these and other kinds of financial support.

Ten thousand dollars is not much help to a company with 50 employees, Wolferman said in an email. However, my hope is that the cap will ensure that smaller businesses will be able to access the money more easily. One of the commonly cited issues with other parts of the CARES Act is that large financial institutions have favored larger businesses when lending, leaving mom and pop shops frustrated and unaided. For these smaller businesses, this $10,000 grant can provide relief for the necessary operational costs of keeping these businesses open, such as rent and utilities.

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Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will be making a record on June 26 by handing over employment to one crore people, Hindustan Times sister publication Hindustan reported. The event will be held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hindustan further reported.

With this, Uttar Pradesh will become the first state in the country to give employment to one crore people in one go.

Adityanath review the preparations for the event in a meeting with the officials on Tuesday. This will be the first time that PM Modi will be participating in a state-level event since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) is going to be a major contributor assuring over 50 per cent of total jobs being created in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh has about 1.80 crore MNREGA job cardholders. Out of them, 85 lakh have been active. About 15 lakh new job cards have been added in the past few months and most of them are migrant labourers, said Sanjay Dixit, former member of the Union governments central employment guarantee council.

Besides restoration of river, construction of rural roads, digging of ponds and pits for plantation drives and other such work is being carried out under the rural job scheme to provide work to people.

We are roping in all many major departments to provide work in addition to jobs being provided under the MNREGS. The micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) department, public works department, horticulture department and the agencies constructing the expressways will also contribute in a big way in creation of more jobs, chief secretary RK Tiwari had said last week about the state governments efforts in generating employment opportunities.

Realtors body Naredcos Uttar Pradesh wing will give employment to 1 lakh labourers belonging to the state at various real estate projects, the association said on Tuesday.

Last month, the Naredco-UP signed an initial pact with the Uttar Pradesh government, offering to provide employment in their real estate projects to migrant labourers who have returned to the state.

Meanwhile, former chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav attacked Adityanath on the issue of providing one crore jobs to people of the state.

Chief Minister made claim of providing one crore job in a rally but someone go and ask people what they got in their bags, Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi on Tuesday.

         

            Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) June 23, 2020

The plan was set in motion after the arrival of migrant workers from various parts of the country to Uttar Pradesh during Covid-19 lockdown. Till last week, about 35 lakh migrant labourers had reached different districts of UP. The chief minister had asked authorities to do skill mapping of these labourers who can then be provided work according to their skills.
Clarity has always been a key strength of successful leaders. In times of confusion seriously compounding all the terrors that attend pandemics, it is this quality that must come to the fore





by Krishantha Prasad Cooray





"It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You can take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership."  Nelson Mandela





Nelson Mandela was a rare leader. It would be hard to imagine two individuals like Mandela inhabiting the earth at the same time. In fact, very few countries can boast of several leaders like him in their respective histories. This rarity is probably why he is celebrated not just in South Africa but the world over. Nelson Mandela is the leader every country wants to have but doesnt. The Nelson Mandela yearning gains greater currency when the world, a nation or even a political party faces a serious leadership crisis.













It can be said with certainty today that COVID-19 not only took the world by surprise but threw it into confusion and even chaos. Unexpected turns of events can do that, but if humankind has overcome adversity that arrives unexpectedly and in magnitudes of this nature, more often than not it is because of resolute leadership.





COVID-19 exposed a lot of weaknesses and errors in multiple spheres of humanity but none so stark as our lack of good leadership. There was no global response to speak of. The World Health Organization, for all its good intentions, was caught wrong-footed. The leaders of powerful nations quickly opted to play a blame-game, pointing fingers at each other. Naturally, while there was no concerted global effort to combat the pandemic, individual countries, including the economically powerful, floundered.





Ideally, leaders would coordinate efforts, using power vested in their respective offices to implement a concerted, coordinated and efficient strategy that is principally informed by the advice of those who are well versed on the subject of pandemics and how to combat them. This did not happen.





Individual political survival seemed to be what mattered most, not the wellbeing of the respective populations. The expertise of scientists and healthcare professionals played second fiddle to political expedience. Leaders continued to depend more on political advisors than relevant professionals.





The last few months showed us that there were a handful of leaders with vision, but even they lacked action plans, political will and drive. There were leaders who were action-oriented but without vision. Then there were leaders who had neither vision nor action plan. Lack of integrity compromised credibility and the power to mobilize populations in the necessarily collective effort to combat the threat. We saw leaders indulging in speculation. We heard grand proclamations of imminent success absolutely at odds with the horrific reality of the spread, the numbers infected and victims. What we didnt see was humility to acknowledge limitations, courage to be honest with the citizens and a sense of purpose that could convey the message that regardless of how formidable the challenge, no pains would be spared to overcome it.





Clarity has always been a key strength of successful leaders. In times of confusion seriously compounding all the terrors that attend pandemics, it is this quality that must come to the fore. Unfortunately, we either see leaders using sunshine stories to gloss over their ignorance or else treating the citizens as passive consumers of their policy decisions. The latter is the Godfather approach where the thinking can be captured as follows: I am doing this for your good, trust me; I know what I am doing, trust me. Trust, however, is not something that can be won simply through legislation or executive decree.





If history has demonstrated anything about effective leadership, it is that those who succeed tend to be honest and clear about what they want to accomplish and for whose benefit. Such leaders gained loyalty and trust by being truthful and frank, regardless of possible negative political fallout. Even if they could not envisage a phenomenon such as COVID-19, they had all the qualities required to meet such threats  courage, determination, humility, ability to inspire people and mobilize resources, and most importantly the integrity that gelled it all together. They were clear about what is possible and what is not. They were not ashamed to admit errors, welcome blame and give credit to their people. They were quick to correct mistakes. They did not hide behind numbers and half-truths. They did not sweep uncomfortable truths under the carpet or disguise them in happy colours.





Such attributes cannot be gathered overnight, of course. Integrity, for example, is a quality that has to be nurtured over a long period of time. Indeed, it takes time for a citizenry to recognize integrity because words and deeds have to be seen as being consistent with intention in numerous situations and not one-off decisions or actions. Integrity is also measured in terms of the ability to make sacrifices and denial to oneself of any and all special privileges typically available to political leaders. Example counts as much or more than precept. Empathy is measured in terms of concrete acts and not words.





Incorruptibility is another rare attribute and one which we hardly see in political leaders today. Corruption, turning a blind eye to corruption, and placing public trust in those with checkered histories, all go a long way towards compromising credibility. No leader who is thus tainted can hope to mobilize a people to fight a pandemic. People will not trust such a leader. They will not believe what is said and will be more hesitant to follow.





If a leader is not fair or if a leader fails to treat everyone equally irrespective of differences such as religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, gender, class, caste and ideological choices, there will be serious doubts regarding his or her integrity. Once integrity is questioned, it is hard to lead a people. It is only possible to serve a few; some and not all.





A successful leader on the other hand, will recognize the higher worth of a meritocracy, have an unerring eye to identify talent and possess the tone and words that will compel the talented to play the particular role to the best of their ability. Such a leader will see beyond self, party and election, identifying future leaders and grooming them for succession. Endowed with the ability to see and think ahead, they will know who is likely to be better equipped to lead the nation into a future made of different challenges in an ever-changing social, economic and technological milieu.





COVID-19 has compelled us to ask questions about leaders and leadership. What kind of leaders do we have? Do we have Mandelas? Do we have people who could one day rise above circumstances, lead everyone and not just those who voted for them, and become leaders like Mandela? If we dont have such leaders, we need to answer another set of questions.





How do we identify a dearth of leadership? Real leaders are people who see things that others do not. Yet far too often, the people who claim to lead us seem oblivious to truths that are glaringly obvious to those in their charge. Real leaders hold strong beliefs, whether in ideas or principles, and inspire others to follow. In our lives, those who lead seem to decide on their words only after calculating the popularity of their ideas.





In times of crisis, real leaders have the courage to take a stand, to take risks and put themselves in harms way, politically or physically, and stand up for what they believe. They must be able to understand the present, envision a better future, and successfully navigate from one to the other. They need to plan for the long-term and be able to adapt to unexpected challenges in the short-term.





Any good leader knows that no man or woman is an island unto themselves. The secret to their success is often the ways in which they harness the talents of others and move communities forward as one.





Albert Einstein made it a point to invite and respond to correspondence from scientists across the world, exposing him to all the finest ideas in the world. He once even translated into German a paper by a young Indian scientist he had never met to get it published in a European journal. Abraham Lincoln famously had his "team of rivals" and harnessed their diversity of opinions and experience to victory in the American civil war. 15th Century Chinese explorer Admiral Zhang handpicked a team of seasoned sailors and soldiers who built and managed trade routes from across Asia to the horn of Africa.





The old adage of military camaraderie, "leave no one behind", is as fundamental for successful leaders in a boardroom or Parliament as it is to generals fighting in a war. Too often, leaders throw their people to the wolves, leaving them to fend for themselves in times of need, rather than come to their aid and stand up for their people. A leader must be able to surround themselves with the finest talent available and assemble a capable and dedicated team to see their vision through to implementation.





It is difficult to attract such talented people to serve in any capacity if they feel that they are expendable to those in charge. Indeed, in some political parties and organisations, capable deputies are sidelined and isolated, while the weakest of the pack were elevated in order to secure the party leaders position by dislodging and isolating anyone who may have been "next in line".





But this cancer is one that seems to be prevalent across our society, preventing future leaders from rising. Is it that we have a system that rebels against the emergence of great leaders? Do we not have a system that inhibits the nurturing of leadership qualities? Is it that those who possess such qualities are systematically prevented from becoming leaders or are discouraged from entering politics or are essentially disqualified because of identity, socio-economic background, ideology, religion or race?





Finally, we need to ask ourselves what is perhaps the most crucial question of them all: do we, as individuals and a society wait for a hero like Nelson Mandela or do we rehearse the heroic ourselves  acquiring, practicing and perfecting the requisite qualities and deploying them whenever and wherever possible, slowly but surely expanding our spheres of engagement?





This is an issue that will outlast COVID-19, which will not be the last challenge we face as a community of nations. The pandemic will leave economic carnage in its wake, and with the climate rapidly deteriorating and major powers flexing their muscles, we can expect more crises on the horizon. With this certainty in mind, we have an obligation as a species to either improve our existing leaders or to nurture new ones from amongst our ranks. People are not "born to lead". Long before Nelson Mandela became a household name, he worked as a cattle-boy tending cows with his illiterate parents in a rural South African village.





Our leaders can come from any walk of life. It is up to us to see past our own stigmas about so-called acceptable genders, classes, ethnicities, ages, religions and castes, and to recognize and promote future leaders who have the ideas, dedication, teambuilding skills and competence to navigate the trying times ahead.
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.
Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento was one of the facilities subject to a massive antitrust settlement in December that Sutter now may want to reconsider. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

Here are a couple of points about the giant Sutter Health hospital chain that are indisputable.

First, the landmark settlement it reached in December with California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra would hit it in the pocketbook, hard because the deal included a $575-million financial penalty among other costly features.

Second, the coronavirus crisis has devastated Sutter's bottom line  as it has those of many other hospitals and healthcare chains.

The plaintiffs are not going to renegotiate the settlement agreement.

Deputy California Atty. Gen. Emilio Varanini

Sutter now is trying to exploit the second point to undermine the first one. It has asked the judge overseeing the settlement to defer final approval of the deal, hinting strongly that it wishes to rewrite key elements it already agreed to.

Becerra has replied, in effect: No dice. "The plaintiffs are not going to renegotiate the settlement agreement," Deputy Atty. Gen. Emilio Varanini told San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo at a May 29 hearing.

That's encouraging. The truth is that, although Sutter has unquestionably incurred a deep financial hit from the coronavirus  it says in an interim financial statement it lost nearly $1.1 billion in the first three months of this year on revenue of $3.2 billion, and an additional operating loss of $360 million during April.

That said, the chain is still sitting on pants-fulls of money; as of Dec. 30, it said in the financial statement, it had $6 billion in cash and liquid investments.

Sutter's poor-mouthing provides an ideal opportunity to examine just how the coronavirus has affected the finances of our leading hospital firms.

It also allows us to revisit the anticompetitive behavior Sutter allegedly engaged in, which Becerra suggested underlay that enormous cash hoard. Here's our bottom line: Becerra shouldn't budge on the terms of the settlement, and Judge Massullo should approve it as submitted.

Story continues

Let's start with the antitrust case.

Becerra's 2018 lawsuit alleged that Sutter Health, which has 24 hospitals and 34 surgery centers in Northern California, had exploited its size for years to



extract illegally inflated prices from insurers, employers and patients. The lawsuit built on a case brought earlier by the United Food and Commercial Workers union.

Among the challenged practices, Becerra pinpointed an all or none rule that Sutter began imposing in its contracts with health plans in 2002. Under this rule, Sutter wouldnt allow any of its hospitals to be excluded by health plans from their networks, or even relegated to lower tiers that allowed patients to choose them at higher co-pays.

This poses a dilemma for payers because many Sutter hospitals are must-have institutions for insurers or their clients, whether because theyre highly valued by patients because of their reputations, or are the only suitable hospitals within particular geographic regions.

But the restriction prevents insurers or employers from steering patients to lower-cost hospitals, either by placing high-cost institutions outside the network or charging higher co-pays.

Sutter said that insurers were free to exclude any of its hospitals from their networks on request. But insurers testified that Sutter placed such punitive conditions on exclusions that the insurers had no practical option. The lawsuits further alleged that the chain imposed arbitration and confidentiality conditions in its contracts that effectively kept its rate secret.

The whole set-up, Becerra alleged, amounted to an enormous price-fixing scheme that "injured the general economy of Northern California and thus of the state." Inpatient prices in Sutter Health's home ground were as much as 70% higher than in the far more competitive Southern California region, he said.

Big California hospital chains not only raised prices faster than inflation, but gave competitors room to raise their own prices. (USC )

That conclusion was supported by academic research and a finding by the Federal Trade Commission. Sutter may not have been the only hospital provider in the region, but it set a mark that other providers shot for. These guys set an umbrella price, and everyone else floats up, Glenn Melnick, a healthcare expert at USC, told me after Becerra filed his lawsuit.

As costly as the settlement Becerra announced Dec. 20 appeared for Sutter Health, it was something of a win-win. Becerra rightly described it as "historic," given the size of Sutter's penalty and its agreement to cease the anticompetitive practices he alleged.

On the other hand, Sutter didn't have to admit to any of those allegations. It avoided a trial, during which more details of its behavior might have been publicly aired and it capped liability that might have grown into the billions at a mere $575 million.

Yet come the pandemic era, Sutter has been expressing what we might call settler's remorse.

The settlement agreement still requires Judge Massullo's approval. The hospital firm has asked her to defer any hearing and final decision virtually indefinitely  as much as 30 days after Gov. Gavin Newsom declares an end to the pandemic emergency in California.

Sutter spokeswoman Amy Thoma Tan says that the chain "has not objected to any aspect of the settlement." Rather, she told me by email, Sutter "asked to defer preliminary approval given the extreme disruption to the healthcare industry caused by COVID-19 and the potential for COVID-19 to materially impact certain settlement terms."

Tan pointed me to the "incredibly costly and challenging endeavor" of adjusting its operations to the post-coronavirus reality "that will significantly impact us for years to come."

All that is true, as far as it goes. But it's hardly the whole story.

Although Sutter hasn't explicitly proposed scrapping any portions of the settlement, it said in a June 12 court filing that "the financial and operational effects of the pandemic could ... render impractical or otherwise materially impact" key features of the deal.

These include a cap on increases in out-of-network charges, which "may be too low to cover the unprecedented and unforeseeable increase in expenditures to respond to COVID-19."

Sutter produced statistics showing that its outpatient surgical cases from March 17 to April 30 fell by 73%, compared with the six weeks before March 17. Emergency room visits were down by 43%, bed days by 23% and clinical visits by 60%.

Since these services make up much of Sutter's financial bread and butter, the chain says it has been forced to close some facilities and cut back hours for some nonemergency services, resulting in reassignments or cuts in hours for more than 5,000 employees.

Becerra's office doesn't buy the argument that these conditions warrant revising the deal. In their brief explaining why Massullo should go ahead and approve the deal, Varanini and Richard Grossman, an attorney for the union, observed that although the COVID-19 crisis has changed the healthcare landscape, it hasn't altered "the need for commercial insurers and Sutter to negotiate agreements" or alter "the underlying antitrust concerns" that motivated the lawsuits.

If long-term conditions eventually do show that some of the terms are too restrictive, that can be taken up under provisions that allow the settlement to be revised  later. In the meantime, any delay allows Sutter to continue the alleged behavior that drove up prices in the first place.

As for Sutter's financial suffering, its claims deserve close scrutiny.

To start, there's no guarantee that the reduction in healthcare demand cited by Sutter will be lasting. The company acknowledges that much of the reduction in business resulted from stay-at-home orders or health concerns that kept patients from visiting hospitals and clinics for elective surgery or nonemergency care.

The end of the crisis is may well bring about a resurgence of those visits. Sutter has had plenty of help navigating the crisis. It received more than $200 million in federal relief pandemic funds through mid-May, as well as a $1-billion prepayment of federal Medicare reimbursements to tide it over the pandemic hump.

The latter will have to be repaid, but the government has signaled that it will give hospitals up to a year to do so.

As for that $1.1-billion loss, about $500 million of it consisted of unrealized losses caused by the plunge in the investment markets earlier this year. But the markets have come back strongly since bottoming out in late March  the Standard & Poor's 500 index has gained 40% since the slump, and as of Tuesday is showing a loss for the year of less than 4%.

Under the circumstances, Sutter Health has no business including its investment losses in its overall financial claims.

Judge Massullo has set July 9 for a hearing on Sutter's request to defer approval of the settlement. She might choose to do so because holding any further hearings on the settlement itself might be complicated by the continuing emergency.

But one would hope that she would weigh carefully Sutter's argument that the world has changed so drastically and permanently that portions of the deal might need to be scrapped  or whether it's using the crisis as a pretext to renege on the deal it signed a mere six months ago.




The entire 184-mile towpath makes for an epic bike ride, but the manageable eight miles from charming Brunswick, Md.  about an hours drive northwest of the District  to Harpers Ferry, W.Va., is one of the most picturesque stretches. (The towpaths first 20 miles are the most traveled, so for a socially distant experience youll need to drive further out.) On a recent Sunday, my quarantine crew of husband, 18-year-old daughter and 23-year-old son and I find the Brunswick parking lot nearly vacant. Minutes later were pedaling along the pleasant gravel trail, with the Potomac shimmering on one side, the B&O Railroad tracks and ruins of the locks on the other.
Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castros involvement in Joe Bidens presidential campaign is picking up.

He has already been frequently touting the former vice president and his policies in national interviews, but now Castro is set to host a virtual Latino outreach program for Biden.

Castro will lead a session called Todos Con Biden at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. It is the first time Castro has done a Latino outreach event for Biden since endorsing him three weeks ago.

It comes as polls show Biden is winning the Latino vote over President Donald Trump, but not by as much as Hillary Clinton was four years ago. Top Biden supporters have been pushing for Biden to ramp up his Latino outreach efforts.

HE KNOWS HE HAS TO DO MORE: Skeptical Latino voters key to Bidens campaign in Texas

Earlier this month, Biden cited Castros work on policing reforms and promised to work with him on the topic.

Earlier this week, Castro used an interview on MSNBC to tout Bidens approach in immigration reform following the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling that blocked the Trump administration from deporting so-called Dreamers, children brought to the United States by their parents illegally.

When it comes to a sound, reasonable immigration system, Joe Biden really gets it, Castro said in the MSNBC interview.

To participate in the Castro event on Thursday, the Biden campaign is directing people to www.mobilize.us/joebiden/event/282474/ to sign up.

Castro himself was battling Biden most of last year for the Democratic Party nomination. Castro dropped out of the presidential race at the start of 2020 and endorsed U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, over Biden. After Warren dropped out, Castro waited until just recently to offer a strong endorsement of Biden.

Castro served as the secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during President Barack Obamas second term while Biden was also serving as vice president.
Alison Best, 51, allegedly hurled racial abuse at Samara Hussain during the show at The Hippodrome Casino in London's West End

A middle-aged mother 'exploded' during a Magic Mike strip show and assaulted a partially blind female spectator sitting next to her, a court has heard.

Alison Best, 51, allegedly hurled racial abuse at Samara Hussain during the racy show at The Hippodrome Casino in London's West End last year.

She is accused of striking Ms Hussain on the arm as the strippers began their saucy show, based on the Channing Tatum 2012 film Magic Mike.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard 'something explosive happened' when Best, a property company secretary, attended the strip show on April 3, 2019.

Mother-of-two Best, from the village of Needingworth, Cambridgeshire, denies one count of racially aggravated common assault.

Prosecuting, Misba Majid told the court Ms Hussain was left shaken afterwards, claiming: 'I will be making an application for screens for the victim, she is partially blind. She said in her statement she was frightened by the entire event.'

Best, who runs a property rental company with her 59-year-old husband Rod, said: 'I didn't use racial abuse, I touched her on her arm. She sat next to me, that's it.'

Best allegedly 'exploded' during a Magic Mike strip show and assaulted a partially blind female spectator sitting next to her (pictured, Magic Mike dancers in Melbourne, December 2019)

Best, from Cambridgeshire, denies one count of racially aggravated common assault

Best is accused of striking Samara Hussain on the arm as the strippers began their saucy show, based on the Channing Tatum 2012 film Magic Mike (pictured, Channing Tatum with dancers at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, December 2019)

She was not represented by a lawyer in court, according to The Sun.

District Judge Angus Hamilton told the defendant that her case was 'serious' and advised her to find legal representation.

'Something explosive happened when you went to the show Magic Mike at the Hippodrome,' the judge told Best.

'You sat next to her and allegedly started screaming abuse and punched her.'

Best was granted unconditional bail ahead of her magistrates' trial on August 18.
Housebuilding giant Persimmon has named National Express boss Dean Finch as its new chief executive (Andrew Milligan/PA)

House-building giant Persimmon has named National Express boss Dean Finch as its new chief executive.

Mr Finch, who has been CEO of National Express since 2010, is set to take up the role at the end of the year.

He replaces David Jenkinson, who announced plans to step down in February after just over a year as chief executive.

National Express said it has kicked off the search for a successor for Mr Finch, who plans to leave towards the end of the year or when a replacement is appointed.

I look forward to leading the business in its drive to become Britains best house-builder and delivering for all stakeholders in the business whilst continuing to deliver strong financial returns to investors Dean Finch

Persimmon chairman Roger Devlin said Mr Finch is seen as a great fit for the company.

He added: Dean is a seasoned, well-respected and proven chief executive with an exceptional record.

In his current role he has delivered substantial strategic and operational progress over a sustained period, delivering value for all stakeholders in the business while developing a distinct and cohesive culture, focused on customer care and service.

Mr Finch, 53, will be paid a basic salary of 725,000, with pension and benefits on top, plus a potential bonus of up to 200% of salary and possible long-term share awards of up to 200%.

He will also receive shares to compensate for some of the remuneration he is giving up at National Express.

Mr Finch said: Persimmon is a strong business operating in a sector that has a critical role to play for both the people and the economy of the UK as we emerge from the profound disruption of Covid-19.

I look forward to leading the business in its drive to become Britains best house-builder and delivering for all stakeholders in the business whilst continuing to deliver strong financial returns to investors.

Before National Express, Mr Finch was group chief executive of Tube Lines and group finance director and group chief operating officer at transport giant First Group, where he also held a number of other senior roles.
Alcohol-based hand sanitisers could cause fires if left in cars during hot weather if they come into contact with a spark, the NHS has warned.

It was recently reported that hot weather is expected to sweep across the UK this week, with temperatures exceeding 30C in some regions.

As members of the public venture out of their households to enjoy the sunshine, they may decide to leave hand sanitiser in their cars as a reminder to maintain good hygiene practices amid the pandemic.

However, they have been warned that doing so could be an extremely dangerous course of action.

In an alert issued by NHS Property Services and shared on the Fire Industry Association website, it explained that the organisation has received a number of reports of hand sanitiser being the cause of fires when left in vehicles in the hot weather the UK is currently experiencing.

The alcohol hand sanitiser is becoming heated resulting in flammable vapours being released, the alert said.

These vapours are reaching their flashpoint and then ignite in normal air conditions, setting fire to flammable components within the car.

The alert included an image of a car, which has been damaged following a fire caused by an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

It also featured a graphic indicating that when the temperature is 25C outside, the temperature inside a car can reach 55C.

In a follow-up statement provided to The Independent, a NHS Property Services spokesperson explained that at the end of May, it received notices from safety officers at trade union Unison who raised media reports from US Fire Authorities that hand sanitisers were catching fire in vehicles.

The spokesperson stated that as part of the organisations Covid-19 strategic pandemic plans, NHSPS has acquired significant levels of hand sanitisers to keep our frontline engineers safe.

In response to the notification we received, our health and safety team issued an internal message to highlight the potential risks associated with hand sanitisers in vehicles, they said.

It is now our understanding that the risks associated with hand sanitisers in vehicles only become apparent when in contact with a spark.

Recommended What to do if you see a dog trapped in a hot car

In its initial alert, NHS Property Services advised removing all alcohol-based hand sanitiser products from vehicles when they are not occupied, adding: Do not leave hand sanitiser in unattended vehicles.

The organisation is to provide a formal alert to its frontline teams to clarify this situation, its spokesperson said.

The company also stressed the importance of regularly washing your hands wish soap and water, as hand hygiene is one of the most effective methods to stop the spread of Covid-19 following indirect contact, such as by touching contaminated surfaces and objects.

Experts in Texas recently warned against leaving hand sanitiser in vehicles on a hot day, saying it can lead to explosions.

In a Facebook post, which included a photograph of a melted car door, the Western Lakes Fire Direct stated: Keeping it in your car during hot weather, exposing it to sun causing magnification of light through the bottle, and particularly being next to open flame while smoking in vehicles or grilling while enjoying this weekend, can lead to disaster.

Officials added that leaving sanitising products in hot environments for a long period of time can reduce their alcohol content and make them less effective.
DETROIT - Four days after shelving an autonomous vehicle agreement with BMW, Mercedes has announced a deal to work with chip and software maker NVIDIA.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DETROIT - Four days after shelving an autonomous vehicle agreement with BMW, Mercedes has announced a deal to work with chip and software maker NVIDIA.

The companies said Tuesday that the two will create a computing and artificial intelligence system for automated driving. It will be rolled out starting in 2024 in the next generation of Mercedes vehicles, allowing them to be upgraded with more automated driving functions.

The German automaker and Silicon Valley tech company say a main feature will be automated driving from address to address on regular routes. There also will be future safety and convenience functions, they said in a statement.

Last week Mercedes and BMW announced they had put on hold a deal with to jointly develop an autonomous driving system. The companies said the timing wasn't right for the co-operative agreement.
TONY VIOLA, MASTERMIND OF "THE NATIONS LARGEST MORTGAGE FRAUD CASE," HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON EARLY AND IS PARTICIPATING IN HIS FIRST NATIONAL INTERVIEW ON COAST TO COAST AM

Tune-In To Coast To Coast AM on Friday, June 26 at 10:00 PM Pacific / 1:00 AM Eastern To Hear Tonys Story AND Ask Him Your Questions. FreeTonyViola.com announced today that after nearly a decade of fighting his federal conviction for duping banks including JP Morgan into making 'no money down' mortgage loans, Tony Viola has been released from federal prison early (USA v. Viola, 08-cr-506, N.D. Ohio). Tony is participating in his first national interview on Coast to Coast AM on Friday, June 26 at 10:00 PM Pacific / 1:00 AM Eastern, where he will share his story and take questions from listeners.

You can tune in here: https://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2020-06-26-show/

In 2011, Tony was simultaneously prosecuted in both state and federal court on the same charges by a multi-jurisdictional task force in what the government called the nations largest mortgage fraud case. Tony was found guilty in federal court but found not guilty at a subsequent trial where he represented himself (Ohio v. Viola, 10-cr-543886).

"Sharing my story underscores the need for reform in the American justice system, said Tony Viola I am thankful for Coast to Coast AM for providing me the opportunity to share my story, seek justice and to fix the broken system that imprisoned me in the first place. I am looking forward to answering all questions that listeners have.

Coast to Coast AM airs on over 600 stations across the United States & Canada from 10 PM - 2:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 AM - 5:00 AM Eastern and on SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio on Channel 146. To find a station in your area or stream an already aired show, visit coasttocoastam.com.

FreeTonyViola.coms mission is to shine a bright spotlight on the win at all costs tactics, prosecutorial overreach and misconduct the United States Department of Justice employs when prosecuting American citizens.

Tony Viola is currently on house arrest, serving a twelve-and-a-half year prison sentence for conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud. He was investigated by the Cuyahoga County Mortgage Fraud Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of state, local and federal agencies, and prosecuted in parallel federal and state cases. He lost the federal case but won the subsequent state trial.

The website, originally created to solicit leads for Tonys investigative team, has evolved into a tool to keep the public informed about critical developments in his case, and to share information that could potentially assist others who have been wrongfully ensnared by our criminal justice system.

For additional information, visit http://www.FreeTonyViola.com; friend us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tony.viola.9212; or follow us on Twitter @TonyViola

Contact: Tony Viola

Phone: 330-998-3290

Email: mrtonyviola@icloud.com
A Sydney dentist met with her ex-boyfriend in a "compassionate" attempt to give him closure on their relationship when he murdered her and placed her body in a suitcase in the boot of her car, then took his own life, a NSW Coroner has found.

Preethi Reddy, 32, and her ex-boyfriend Dr Harshwardhan Narde both attended the same dental conference at St Leonards in Sydney's north on March 1 and 2, 2019.

Killed after being compassionate: Dr Preethi Reddy.

On the evening of March 2, Dr Reddy met with Dr Narde in a restaurant and eventually went back with him to a room at the Swissotel in Sydney's CBD. She was last seen on CCTV in the early hours of March 3.

In findings on Wednesday, Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes said she is satisfied Dr Narde killed Dr Reddy in the hotel's bathroom some time after 11.06am that morning, when she had made her last call to her new partner.
Some major foreign carriers have announced plans to resume flights to China following the temporary suspension of services in February due to the outbreak of COVID-19, which is expected to provide more options for travelers and help foreign carriers increase revenues.



Delta Air Lines, a major Atlanta-based carrier, will become the first carrier from the United States to restart US-China passenger flights.

It announced that this week, it will have two flights from Seattle to Shanghai via Seoulone on Thursday and one on Friday. Return flights will leave from Shanghai on Saturday and Sunday.

Starting next week, it will continue operating two flights weekly via Seoul to Shanghai, but one will leave from Seattle and one from Detroit. Plans call for that schedule to continue until Oct 24, Delta said.

"We are excited to resume our services between the United States and China as economic and social activities start to recover. We are implementing unprecedented health and safety measures and practices," said Wong Hong, president for Greater China and Singapore for Delta Air Lines.

Delta said all customers are required to wear face coverings during travel and are encouraged to bring their own food. The carrier will also block the middle seats, reducing the number of passengers on each flight.

After discussions between regulators, the US and China have agreed to each allow four weekly flights connecting the two countries, easing a standoff on travel restrictions in the midst of the pandemic.

Helping economic recovery

In early June, China adjusted policies for international passenger flights, allowing more foreign carriers to resume flights to China once a week, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

In the past few months, foreign airlines that had suspended services early were unable to operate flights to China, according to the CAAC, which cited epidemic control and prevention reasons.

"Currently, there is a serious shortage of international flights that connect Chinese and overseas cities. The relaxed policy has positive significance," said Lin Zhijie, an aviation industry analyst, who is also a columnist at Carnoc.com, one of China's biggest civil aviation websites.

"It will be beneficial for passengers and carriers, and it will also help with economic recovery and personnel exchanges between China and other countries," Lin said.

With relaxed travel restrictions in China and growing demand, Air France has resumed its once weekly passenger service between Paris and Shanghai. Its first resumed flight arrived in Shanghai on Friday.

"After this difficult period, we feel very much delighted to welcome our customers to fly with us again with our resumed flights to their destinations in China," said Toon Balm, general manager of Air France-KLM in China.

Meanwhile, Air New Zealand resumed its once-weekly passenger flights between Auckland and Shanghai on Monday for the first time since the route was suspended in early February.

"While we have been operating some dedicated cargo flights between Auckland and Shanghai, it's great to be able to open these services up for passengers to book. We expect Chinese nationals in New Zealand wanting to return to China, or New Zealanders in China seeking to return home, will look to use these services," said Scott Carr, general manager of networks with the carrier.

Separately, major domestic carriers have announced plans for international flights in July.

Most schedules are similar to June's, and some added flights to destinations in Asian countries.

China Eastern Airlines, for example, will operate flights between Shanghai and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
An initial report into the crash of Pakistan International Airlines Flight 8303 has outlined a devastating series of events before the plane plunged into a crowded Karachi neighbourhood, killing 97 people aboard and a child on the ground.

Here is a look at what led to the disaster:

Also read: Pilots on Pak plane that crashed were discussing coronavirus during landing

Uneventful at first

The skies were clear and conditions ideal when the aircraft left Lahore at 1:05 pm on May 22, with the accident report calling the planes departure and cruising flight uneventful.

But as the flight approached Karachi, things went awry.

The aircraft was too high as it neared Jinnah International Airport, leading pilots to disengage the autopilot and take manual control.

The tower repeatedly tried to intervene -- calling on the pilots to abort their approach due to the planes excess altitude -- but the pilots attempted to land anyway.

Inexplicably, at 1,740 feet (530 metres), they raised the landing gear and also deactivated speed brakes, while ignoring a series of alarms in the cockpit.

Engines scraped tarmac

The pilots attempted to touch down without the planes landing gear extended, scraping the aircrafts engines across the tarmac, and initiated a braking action before abruptly aborting the landing attempt, the report said.

CCTV images released with the report showed sparks flying across the runway as the engines scraped the ground.

The tower failed to communicate this information to the flight crew or alert emergency services to the problem.

The pilots tried to circle back for a second attempt, but the engines -- badly damaged -- lost power, and the pilots issued a mayday call.

Overconfident pilots

The plane then plunged into a nearby residential area and exploded on impact, killing all but two people aboard and a girl on the ground.

Investigators said there was no technical issue with the plane, and the government blamed the pilots.

Pakistans aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan lambasted the crew, saying the pilots were chatting about the coronavirus epidemic rather than following standard flight protocols.

He said they were overconfident.

The countrys deadliest aviation accident in eight years came just days after flights resumed following weeks of inaction due to the virus.
FILE PHOTO: Field of ripe wheat ready for harvesting is seen in Corn

By Rajendra Jadhav

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India has authorised imports of 500,000 tonnes of corn this year at a concessional 15% import tax, the government said late on Tuesday, as New Delhi tries to augment supplies of the animal feed for the poultry industry.

India, the world's seventh-biggest corn producer, normally imposes a 60% import tax on the grain.

The corn imports under the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) were allowed for end-consumers in the poultry and starch supply sectors, the government said in a notification.

A major exporter of corn to southeast Asia until a few years ago, India has turned importer as output has fallen and demand has grow from domestic poultry producers and corn starch manufacturers.

India's corn imports in 2019 jumped to 312,389 tonnes in 2019 from just 30,962 tonnes a year ago, the government data showed.

India, which does not allow cultivation of any genetically modified food crops, has rules in place to ensure that imports contain no trace of genetically modified organisms.

New Delhi also cleared imports of 10,000 tonnes of milk and cream powder for this year at a concessional 15% import tax, the government notification said.

The country also authorised import quotas of 150,000 tonnes each of rapeseed oil and sunflower oil carrying import taxes of 45% and 50% respectively.

India is the world's biggest importer of edible oils. It mainly imports rapeseed/canola oil from Canada and sunflower oil from Ukraine and Russia.

But B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Solvent Extractors' Association (SEA), a Mumbai-based trade body, said Indian refiners may be unlikely to import rapeseed oil and sunflower oil under those tariff-rate quotas as the import tax on regular imports is actually lower, at 35%.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A Louisville police officer has been fired in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, a Black emergency medical technician and former Grand Rapids resident.

Taylor, 26, was shot and killed in her home in March when police used a search warrant looking for a suspect who did not live there.

Officer Brett Hankison was fired Tuesday, June 23, by Lousville Metro police, the Associated Press reported.

The police department issued a termination letter that said Hankison showed extreme indifference to the value of human life by wantonly and blindly firing 10 gunshots in Taylors apartment, the AP said.

Police on March 13 used a no-knock warrant to enter her apartment as part of a drug investigation. The subject of the warrant did not live there and was already in custody. Police found no drugs.

Taylor was shot eight times. Hankison, one of three officers involved in the shooting, is white.

In the termination letter, interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said: I find your conduct a shock to the conscience.  Your actions have brought discredit upon yourself and the Department.

Two other officers are on administrative assignment as the investigation continues.

Sam Aguiar, who presents Taylors family, told AP of Hankisons firing: Its about damn time.

He said Hankison plagued our streets and made this city worse for over a dozen years.

He called for criminal charges.

Taylor was born and raised in Grand Rapids before she moved to Kentucky over a decade ago.

Taylors death is among those that have been cited in international protests against racism and police brutality. The weeks of protests were triggered by George Floyd, a Black man who died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officers knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, while he was handcuffed and pleaded he could not breathe.

Taylors supporters held a 24-hour vigil in her honor at Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids on June 5. A week later, marchers in downtown Grand Rapids, including members of Taylors family, celebrated her life and demanded justice.

The Louisville Courier Journal reported that three plain-clothes officers  Hankison, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove  broke Taylors door with a battering ram.

Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who was in the apartment during the 1 a.m. raid, fired a shot, hitting Mattingly in the thigh. The officers all fired their weapons, the newspaper said.

Authorities said police announced their presence despite no requirement under the no-knock provision which has since been banned in Louisville.

Walker and neighbors said they did not hear police announce their presence. He has said that he thought intruders were entering the home, the Courier Journal said.

There have been no charges filed in Taylors death.

Read more:

Devoted dad, basketball coach who drowned had such a warm heart

Breonna Taylor: Protesters march in Grand Rapids calling on people to say her name

Grand Rapids native Breonna Taylor, victim of police shooting, honored at vigil
100 Years Ago  1920: Chester Rotarians are celebrating Chester Day at Atlantic City in connection with the annual convention of the International Rotary Clubs. While the regular parade of the clubs was held yesterday, the Chesterites are staging a special demonstration and doing everything to boost Chester to the 12,000 delegates from all parts of the world. With flashy yellow Chester Rotary bands around their straw hats, the Chester delegation formed at the Chester Club this morning and left at 8.45 oclock. The marchers paraded from the Chester Club to Fifth Street and Edgmont Avenue, counter-marching in front of the Times-Republican building.

75 Years Ago  1945: Two more murders  the third and fourth in the last two weeks  were added to Delaware Countys fast-growing toll yesterday, ending a week-end of violence and crime which saw an aged Chinese immigrant laundryman bludgeoned to death in his Third Street shop, a Crum Lynne woman slain with a pistol, and a half-dozen robberies and burglaries committed in Chester.

50 Years Ago  1970: So, you and a few hundred other Delaware Countians have asked: What happened to Cycad?' About a year ago, the first full-length feature motion picture every filmed in Delaware County was absorbing most of the creative time at the H.G. Peters Studios, 135 Mildred Ave., Upper Darby. We are holding its release because we do not feel it fits the present market, said executive producer Hugh Peters of Swarthmore. Its an adult film with theres not enough sex or violence in it to make it feasible right now.

25 Years Ago  1995: Media Councilman Barry Sherwin said there has been some thinking about what to do with the $6 million in profits realized from Media Water Company sale. Colleague Jim Cunningham noted that since he had not heard anything, the thinking must have been very quiet. The borough is prohibited from carrying a surplus year to year, necessitating expenditure. The borough has authorized municipal center phases I, II, and III at costs of $2- to $3 million, the storm sewer project at $350,000, and fire house renovations at $50,000. Alternatives include a return to the citizens.

10 Years Ago  2010: Residents filed into Chester City Hall Wednesday morning to voice their concerns regarding the possible extension of the state of emergency Mayor Wendell N. Butler Jr. enacted Saturday in response to an influx in violence. After patiently listening as 38 residents spoke their minds for nearly two hours and 25 minutes, council approved an additional 30 days under a state of emergency by a 5-0 vote.

 COLIN AINSWORTH
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 08:06:22|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero suffered damage to his left knee and will travel to Barcelona for further examination, revealed the Premier League club on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old Argentine sustained the injury during City's 5-0 victory over Burnley on Monday and was substituted before half-time.

Aguero said on his twitter: "The scans I did this morning have confirmed that I have damaged my left knee. It's a pity but I'm in good spirits and so focused to come back as soon as possible."

"The striker will now travel to Barcelona to see Dr Ramon Cugat for further examination," City said.

City have won both of their games since the restart of the Premier League on June 17. They will visit Chelsea on Thursday. Enditem
A Delaware couple who filed a wrongful death lawsuit after their infant son died at a home day care center has lost a bid to have a judge rule in their favor without a trial.

Carlita and Charles Laws argued that they were entitled to summary judgment because day care owner Valorie Handys conviction for criminally negligent homicide precluded her from arguing that she is not civilly liable for negligence.

The judge noted in a ruling last week that criminal negligence involves a persons mental state. But a person claiming civil negligence must prove he or she was owed a duty by a person and was injured because the person breached that duty.

The judge noted that the couple did not argue that Handys criminal conviction shows that she owed a duty to them. She said she would hold a pretrial conference and schedule a trial after the current coronavirus state of emergency ends.

State troopers were called to the Handys Little Disciples day care in Millsboro in January 2015 after a worker found the 10-month-old boy unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Handy was charged with murder by abuse or neglect. She was convicted in 2016 of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison.

Prosecutors say Handy gave the boy diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl.

The medical examiner classified the boys death as homicide from diphenhydramine

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation
REGINA - Saskatchewan is taking another step in its march to bring small modular nuclear technology to the province.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/6/2020 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Saskatchewan Minister of Environment Dustin Duncan attends the first day of the provincial fall legislative session at the Legislative Building in Regina, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Bell

REGINA - Saskatchewan is taking another step in its march to bring small modular nuclear technology to the province.

The Ministry of Environment announced it's creating an office that will develop policy around this type of nuclear power.

The government says the mandate of the nuclear secretariat will be to come up with a plan for how to deploy small modular reactors.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

It's expected the office will be staffed by about five people, who will lay the groundwork for the technology for the government.

It comes after the premiers of Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on the issue.

Saskatchewan Environment Minister Dustin Duncan says nuclear energy is clean and could help the province fight climate change as well as create jobs.

He says the province is still exploring what the possibilities and any movement is likely still years away.

Duncan says there's an opportunity to incorporate it with Saskatchewan's uranium industry, which is among the largest in the world.

The report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 23, 2020.
The entire vote could become illegitimate if residents of the occupied territories cast ballots.

Participation of Ukrainian citizens who acquired Russian citizenship in Donbas in the Russian referendum for constitutional amendments could pose a threat both to those individuals and Russian leadership, MP Iryna Vereshchuk opines.

"I don't get it why Putin is taking such a risk," said Iryna Vereshchuk, according to Obozrevatel.

She suggested that the reason for attracting residents of Donbas to vote for the Russian Constitution could be due to Russian President Vladimir Putin not being confident about the final result of the vote, thus trying to "play it safe".

Read alsoUkraine reacts to Donbas residents' voting in Russia Constitution referendum

"Putin needs to have a safety backup cushion so that another 800,000 people, presumably, vote for his presentation and vision of the Constitution. In fact, this testifies to weakness of Putin's position. He probably feels that things aren't so smooth with the votes," Vereshchuk said.

At the same time, she suggested that attracting Ukrainian citizens to a vote could lead to the entire referendum not being recognized as legitimate by the international community. Meanwhile, Ukrainians who will take part may be included in the international list of personas non-grata in the European Union and beyond.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine previously warned that it would be illegal for residents of the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas who had acquired Russian citizenship to vote in a Russian referendum regarding amendments to the Constitution.
DGAP-News: MyBucks S.A. / Key word(s): Disposal/Personnel



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

/ 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 23rd, 2020 - Frankfurt-listed fintech and African banking group MyBucks S.A ("the Company") today announced that it has successfully completed a second phase of the Financial Restructuring of the Company. Portfolio optimization and debt reduction MyBucks has reduced its consolidated indebtedness by c. EUR26.5m through a disposal of its wholly-owned subsidiary GetBucks Limited, Mauritius (the holding company for its GetBucks Botswana operation) to MHMK Group Limited ("MHMK"), with a parallel sell-down of stakes in its operation in Mozambique and Zambia to Xtenda Financial Holdings Limited ("Xtenda"). MyBucks will retain a c. 25% stake in Mozambique. MyBucks has further agreed with Mpatsa Holdings ("Mpatsa"), a local Malawian investment holding company, to take-up a 49% shareholding in its operation in Malawi. This transaction will significantly strengthen the capital position of MyBucks' Malawian operation, and ensure the bank meets the local capital requirements by 31 December 2020. In parallel - further c. EUR6m of proceeds will be unlocked, that MyBucks will apply towards debt reduction. These transactions remain subject to customary regulatory approvals, most importantly central bank approval in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. The Company expects to obtain these in the near-term future. Completion of the above transactions will have a significant accretive effect on the equity position of the Company - and will reduce gross external debt further to c. EUR25m, against which the Company will still hold financial assets of c. EUR12m. Effective restructuring agreements are in place for c. EUR13m of this exposure, leaving only c. EUR12m of unresolved indebtedness out of an original EUR108m. MyBucks will continue to work hard with all its stakeholders, to address the residual indebtedness - and explore all options in this regard. Focused portfolio Subsequent to completion of these Transactions, MyBucks will retain operations in Malawi (51% in a commercial bank with c. EUR90m of deposits), Mozambique (25% in a deposit-taking microfinance institution with c. EUR20m of deposits), Uganda (49% in a commercial bank with c. EUR24m of deposits) and Zimbabwe (52% in a deposit-taking microfinance institution bank with c. EUR1m of deposits). This leaves the Company with a clean platform, from where it can now focus on operational efficiency and growth. Second Phase of Debt Restructuring Completed MyBucks embarked on a financial restructuring in March 2019 and has since successfully completed a Debt Recapitalization of c. EUR63.9m followed by a EUR32.5m Debt Restructuring in this second Phase, rightsized its business through curtailing of costs and retrenchment of over hundred staff and a strategic reassessment of its portfolio leading to a disposal of non-core assets and the establishment of a focused bank holding company in Africa to hold its banking operations. As a result of the restructuring, MyBucks has now implemented best-of-class governance structures and strong professional management teams in its four operating markets. MyBucks CEO Timothy Nuy stated that this is a tremendous milestone for the Company "We are extremely proud, that despite suffering from the implications of Covid-19, we have over a fifteen month period successfully turned the corner reducing group indebtedness from c. EUR108m to c. EUR25m, whilst successfully correcting a negative equity position of over EUR40m. This now puts the Company at a footing to deliver consistent profitability to its shareholders" Changes in Management Structure These Transactions successfully complete the second phase of the Debt Restructuring. 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. Dirk Harbecke, outgoing Chairman of the Board, commented "We are happy to benefit from the continued commitment of our shareholders - and look forward to see MyBucks flourish going forward. We are extremely grateful for the commitment Timothy Nuy showed to MyBucks SA., agreeing to come back to guide the Company through its Financial Restructuring and inter alia handling a large debt conversion, non-core asset disposals as well as operational retrenchments and the correction of governance structures. Timothy will return his focus to his own business, the Finclusion Group. I am happy that we made so much progress in the past months, and that I could assist Timothy in the finalization of the restructuring exercise." 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 intends to propose further additions to its non-executive board members at the Annual General Meeting. ENDS About MyBucks MyBucks S.A. is a FinTech company domiciled in Luxembourg that delivers financial services through technology. MyBucks operates four Banks in Africa. 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 www.mybucks.com About Xtenda Xtenda Financial Holdings Limited is a Mauritius registered company which commenced business in late 2015 and has operating subsidiaries in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. The Xtenda Group is a retail financial services business offering a range of financial products and services to the retail market, which is often overlooked by the formal banking sector. DBF Capital Partners Limited is the majority shareholder in Xtenda. DBF Capital Partners Limited is a Mauritius based investment holding company founded by experienced investment banking professionals with a wealth of experience in both regional and international markets The founders and executive management team have over 80 years of combined relevant experience in financial markets They have established a track record of driving organic growth and successfully integrating acquired businesses. About Mpatsa

Mpatsa Trust is a Malawian private Trust whose beneficiaries are members of the Koreia-Mpatsa family, charitable organisations and religious organisations. Through its investment arm, Mpatsa Holdings Limited, it has interests in several sectors of the Malawi economy namely Agriculture, Mining, Hospitality, Real Estate, Pharmaceuticals, Distribution and Marketing. About MHMK

Founded by George Manyere, MHMK Group Limited is an investment management firm that invests across diverse asset classes with a key focus on alternative investments. MHMK Group offers its "full service investment banking" services and investments through various subsidiaries which are licensed regulatory authorities in Southern Africa, where applicable. MHMK Group "full service investment banking offering" comprise of financial advisory, investment advisory & placements, stockbroking, private equity, lending and asset management. MHMK Group vision is to be the investment firm of choice in its chosen markets in Southern Africa for entities seeking proactive, trusted and value-adding investors and advisers.



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.

23.06.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



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Liverpool, N.Y.  Want to own a piece of Central New York movie history?

Syracuse Studios is hosting a garage sale this Saturday, June 27, at the movie studio and film school located at 800 4th Street in Liverpool. The former A.V. Zogg Middle School will be selling furniture and other items used in recent movies, including The Night House and American High productions like Pete Davidsons Big Time Adolescence, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The garage sale will help raise money for Ophelias Place, a nonprofit organization which aims to help educate, support and raise awareness for people with eating disorders and negative body images. For more information, visit www.opheliasplace.org.

This will be the second weekend in a row that Syracuse Studios hosts a garage sale. Garage sales are allowed in phase 3 of New Yorks reopening plan, which began earlier this month in the Syracuse area; attendees are encouraged to wear a mask and follow social distancing measures in place.

Four American High movies shot in the Syracuse area have been released this year: Holly Slept Over, Banana Split, Big Time Adolescence and most recently Looks That Kill.

American High has filmed seven movies over the past two and a half years in Syracuse, but put its eighth on hold in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The studio has since kept busy by using 3D printers to make face shields for health care workers fighting Covid-19.

New York state has released guidelines allowing TV and film productions to resume in phase four, expected to begin as early as Friday in Central New York. Changes include:

For indoor locations, employees, cast and crew members are limited to 50% of the capacity for an area.

All employees, cast, and crew must wear acceptable face coverings at all times within the media production facility or location. Actors may remove face coverings during performances or when it interferes with hair, makeup and wardrobe work.

Productions are encouraged to reduce close or proximate contact between performers, such as amending scripts or using digital effects where possible or limiting scenes with prolonged close or proximate contact between individuals (e.g., fighting, dancing) or scenes requiring large crowds.

Auditions and location scouting are encouraged to take place virtually. Open calls will be eliminated in favor of scheduled appointments.

Companies are also encouraged to consider social distancing when choosing locations to be sure they have enough space and are secure from the public.

We have seen the guidelines, said Michael Cherniak, operations coordinator for Syracuse Studios. Currently we are awaiting word from Hulu and insurance about what further steps we may need to take.

The studio hopes to resume filming in August, Cherniak added.

American High producer Will Phelps said earlier this month that the company plans to go back into production on the film it was about to start when the pandemic began.

...Once we can ensure the safety of our cast and crew, were excited to get the cameras rolling, Phelps said.

Still tons of things! Some in films! Come on down! 800 Fourth st in Liverpool. Posted by Syracuse Studios on Saturday, 20 June 2020

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Former MoviePass honcho plans to make movies in Syracuse
In a paper published in the British Medical Journal, the U of T researchers argue that poor, vulnerable and marginalized populations are bearing the brunt of both the virus and the strategies used to contain. Credit: Nick Iwanyshyn

Policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic must consider the complex interplay between socio-economic status and health disparities, according to a recent analysis led by a team of University of Toronto researchers.

The researchers' paper, published in the British Medical Journal, argues that poor, vulnerable and marginalized populations, and people with complex needs, are bearing the brunt of both the virus and the strategies used to contain it.

"Principles and methods drawn from decades of work showing that lower socio-economic status is associated with poorer health should guide efforts to monitor and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and our efforts to contain it," said Geoff Anderson, professor at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and lead author on the paper.

While containment strategies such as physical distancing have helped to "flatten the curve" and reduce strain on Canada's health-care system, they have also had negative impacts on employment, social interaction and family relationships. These impacts are likely to be worse for people in lower socio-economic groups, the researchers argue.

For example, a recent IC/ES report found Ontarians living in marginalized neighborhoodsas measured by ethnic concentration, residential instability, material deprivation and incomeare more likely to test positive for COVID-19.

"There are deaths and quality of life impacts of contracting COVID-19 and there are deaths and quality of life impacts associated with the emergency response measures put in place to prevent spread of COVID-19," said Walter Wodchis, professor at IHPME and co-author on the paper.

"We must ensure that inequities in socio-economic status, age and ethnicity are measured and evaluated on both sides of this equation for appropriate policy responses," said Wodchis, who is also a research chair in implementation and evaluation science at Trillium Health Partners' Institute for Better Health.

What's needed, according to the research team, which also included U of T President Emeritus David Naylor, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, is timely, reliable data to identify those at increased risk, along with proactive policies that support at-risk groups and mitigate further inequity.

"A socio-economic status disparities lens would lead us to focus on protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and help countries to better, anticipate, mitigate and redress the inequitable health and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Patrick Feng, a co-author based in IHPME.

More information: Geoffrey Anderson et al. Using socioeconomics to counter health disparities arising from the covid-19 pandemic, BMJ (2020). Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) Geoffrey Anderson et al. Using socioeconomics to counter health disparities arising from the covid-19 pandemic,(2020). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m2149
Brussels Airport, Belgium. NurPhoto

The European Union is discussing how to reopen its external borders as the region looks to slowly revive its economy, with visitors from countries like the United States potentially still being barred from entering the bloc. Thirty European countries decided to close their external borders in March to contain the spread of Covid-19. The travel restriction has been extended three times but it's now due to end on Tuesday. The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, suggested earlier this month that European nations should open their internal borders by June 15 and slowly lift the travel ban on foreign visitors from July 1. The Commission also said that reopening external borders should be a coordinated exercise among European governments and reviewed on a regular basis.

"It is way too early to say which countries will be in the list," an EU official told CNBC on Wednesday, referring to which non-EU countries may be granted access. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, added that representatives of the EU governments on Wednesday discussed the criteria for lifting the travel restrictions from abroad. That meeting finished without an agreement and representatives will meet again on Friday. At the moment, the main requirement would be the coronavirus infection rate in the country of origin, the official said. This means that countries with high rates, such as the United States and Brazil, could remain barred from entering European nations, at least for some time. A second EU official, who also didn't want to be named due to the sensitivity of the talks, told CNBC: "The gradual reopening of EU external borders will be based on risk assessments based on best available scientific evidence. Travel from some third countries is likely to be allowed only a bit later, health situation allowing. Not decided yet which countries that would apply to, but (the) U.S. unfortunately is a candidate." According to Johns Hopkins University, there have been more than 9 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 worldwide. The U.S., Brazil and Russia have the most cases. As of Monday, the seven-day average of daily new cases in the U.S. increased more than 30% compared with a week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of Hopkins data.
The coronavirus pandemic has yet to peak in the Americas, the World Health Organization warned on Wednesday, as it said global infections were likely to hit 10 million within a week. The WHO said the length and height of peaks would be determined by government actions, without which a lurch back towards lockdowns was unavoidable. The UN health agency also warned that at the current rate of new cases, a shortage of concentrators -- devices that purify oxygen -- to help critically-ill patients was looming. "In the first month of this outbreak, less than 10,000 cases were reported to WHO. In the last month, almost four million cases have been reported," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual press conference. "We expect to reach a total of 10 million cases within the next week. "This is a sober reminder that even as we continue research into vaccines and therapeutics, we have an urgent responsibility to do everything we can with the tools we have now to suppress transmission and save lives." The novel coronavirus has killed at least 477,500 people and infected nearly 9.3 million since emerging in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP. - Latin America surge - WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan warned that the virus was still raging in the Americas and raised the prospect of fresh nationwide lockdown measures, in the absence of ultra-vigilance. "It's particularly intense in Central and South America," he said. "We've seen a steady and worrying continuation of trend, with many countries experiencing between a 25 and 50 percent rise in cases over the last week. "Unfortunately, the pandemic for many countries in the Americas has not peaked," he said, and was "likely to result in a sustained number of cases and continued deaths in the coming weeks". The Irish epidemiologist said that without isolating and quarantining contacts, "the spectre of further lockdowns cannot be excluded". Alas, "the only way, in some circumstances, to avoid that now, is a very, very, very aggressive investment in our capacity to detect cases", he said. After the United States, Brazil is the hardest-hit country, with more than 52,600 deaths from over 1.1 million cases. President Jair Bolsonaro has been fiercely criticised for comparing the virus to a "little flu". "The numbers respond to response," said Ryan. The height and length of the peak, and the trajectory downwards, "is everything to do with the government's intervention to respond", he said. - 'Hard choices' - Patients with severe and critical COVID-19 struggle to get enough oxygen into their lungs, needing higher concentrations and support to prevent organ failure and death. Medical oxygen is produced using concentrators that extract and purify it from the air. "Many countries are now experiencing difficulties in obtaining oxygen concentrators. Eighty percent of the market is owned by just a few companies, and demand is currently outstripping supply," said Tedros. "WHO estimates that at the current rate of about one million new cases a week, the world needs about 620,000 cubic meters of oxygen a day, which is about 88,000 large cylinders." Meanwhile, the WHO backed Saudi Arabia's decision to scale back the annual hajj pilgrimage to only 1,000 people, down from last year's 2.5 million. The hajj is one of the world's largest mass gatherings. "This is another example of the hard choices that all countries must make to put health first," said Tedros. The WHO said the length and height of coronavirus peaks would be determined by government actions, without which a lurch back towards lockdowns was unavoidable Number of deaths from COVID-19 per million inhabitants per country in Latin America and Caribbean A few worshippers perform al-Fajr prayer at the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque complex in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, which will hold a "very limited" hajj in 2020
Luigi di Maios trip comes weeks after GNA forces repelled Khalifa Haftars offensive on the Libyan capital.

Italys foreign minister has made an unannounced visit to the Libyan capital, Tripoli, where he held talks with Fayez al-Sarraj, prime minister of the countrys internationally-recognised government.

The trip by Luigi Di Maio on Wednesday came weeks after forces loyal to the UN-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA) repelled a 14-month-long offensive by eastern-based renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar.

Di Maio and al-Sarraj stressed the need to resume the political process and end foreign interference in Libya, according to a statement released by the GNA prime ministers office.

The North African country, a major oil producer, has been mired in chaos since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

Since 2014, it has been split between rival factions based in Tripoli and in the east, in a sometimes chaotic war that has drawn in outside powers and a flood of foreign arms and mercenaries.

Referring to a naval operation launched by the European Union in the Mediterranean to enforce an arms embargo on Libya, al-Sarraj said enforcement needed to be global, covering maritime, land and air routes.

Al-Sarraj, whose government has received weapons from Turkey, has previously criticised Operation Irini on the grounds it favours eastern-based Haftar, who takes delivery of arms overland and via air.

Italy will ensure Irini is geografically balanced and can work effectively, Di Maio told journalists on his return to Rome.



Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have all supported Haftar.

Di Maio also told reporters that he conveyed to al-Sarraj Italys concerns about a possible attack on Sirte, which he said could lead to renewed fighting and more civilian casualties.

I stated how essential it is to avoid a freezing of the conflict, and that this possibility would lead to a de facto division of the country, he said.

Earlier this week, Di Maio said the need for a ceasefire is urgent given the Egyptian threat and called for the strong enforcement of the arms embargo, in place since 2011.

The Arab League on Tuesday called for the withdrawal of foreign forces in Libya and urged talks on ending the conflict in the North African country.

Cairo has warned that advances by Turkey-backed forces on Sirte could prompt an Egyptian military intervention.

The GNA denounced Egypts statements as a declaration of war.
LINCOLN  Fifteen new troopers are ready to hit the road across the state of Nebraska. The members of the 62nd Basic Recruit Class in Nebraska State Patrol history received their badges and took the oath of office today to officially join the ranks of NSP.

These new troopers desire to serve our state and make a difference, said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. Through the challenges theyve already overcome as a team, the members of Camp 62 have displayed their determination to serve Nebraska with integrity and rebuild the trust in law enforcement that has been shaken in recent weeks.

Governor Pete Ricketts, Attorney General Doug Peterson, and Colonel Bolduc provided remarks during todays graduation ceremony, held in the rotunda of the Nebraska State Capitol. Secretary of State Bob Evnen administered the oath of office. Attendance at the ceremony was limited to comply with social distancing guidelines.
Reuters

US President Donald Trump has suspended the entry of some foreign workers in a bid to boost domestic hiring, sparking opposition from corporate America and tech sector executives including Google's Sundar Pichai and Tesla's Elon Musk.

The visa suspension, effective 24 June, will last until the end of the year and is expected to open up 525,000 jobs for US workers.

Google and Youtube

Pichai, Alphabet's chief executive officer, said in a tweet, "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."

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

Susan Wojcicki, the chief of Alphabet's YouTube, tweeted: "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 ... at Youtube, we join Google in standing with immigrants and working to expand opportunity for all."

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. @sundarpichai is right - at @YouTube, we join Google in standing with immigrants and working to expand opportunity for all. https://t.co/ExJ5KT84ix  Susan Wojcicki (@SusanWojcicki) June 23, 2020

Google had 2,678 H1B visa approvals in 2019, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Amazon

"Amazon opposes the Administration's 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," 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

The company had the most number of H1B visa approvals at 3,026 in 2019.

Apple

"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," Chief Executive Tim Cook said in a tweet.

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

Apple had 1,136 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Box

"This is 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," CEO Aaron Levie tweeted.

This is 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. https://t.co/hGVzhkXHuX  Aaron Levie (@levie) June 22, 2020

In the digital economy, you hire where the talent is. When you restrict immigration, the jobs still get created, just somewhere else. And later down the road, when those individuals create the next Google, it wont be here.  Aaron Levie (@levie) June 22, 2020

If you truly believe in America First then youd want to bet on people that have uprooted their lives to come to America to study and contribute research, help us innovate, join our workforces, or start new companies. Thats as America First as it gets.  Aaron Levie (@levie) June 23, 2020

Box had 21 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

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. America is a nation of immigrants and our economy and country benefit when we encourage talented people from around the world to live, work, and contribute here. That's more true now than ever," the company said.

Facebook had 1,518 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Microsoft

"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," 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

Microsoft had 1,701 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

PayPal

"Creating new restrictions for immigrants who seek to work in the US is disappointing  and will slow our progress as a nation," CEO Dan Schulman said on LinkedIn.

Paypal had 271 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Salesforce

"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 our economy. We embrace all our Ohana," CEO Marc Benioff said in a tweet.

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

Salesforce had 267 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Tesla

"Very much disagree with this action. In my experience, these skillsets are net job creators. Visa reform makes sense, but this is too broad," Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted.

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

Tesla had 324 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Twitter Inc

"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," the company said.

"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." @jesirae  Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) June 22, 2020

Twitter had 117 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Uber

"As a company that builds technology for a global audience, Uber believes immigration helps to fuel innovation. Today's executive order is disappointing for people from all over the world and will hurt American businesses," the company said.

The company had 486 H1B visa approvals in 2019.
WASHINGTON  A divided federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered the dismissal of the criminal case against President Donald Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn, turning back efforts by a judge to scrutinize the Justice Departments extraordinary decision to drop the prosecution.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said in a 2-1 ruling that the Justice Departments move to abandon the case against Flynn settles the matter, even though Flynn pleaded guilty as part of special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation to lying to the FBI.

The ruling, a significant win for both Flynn and the Justice Department, appears to cut short what could have been a protracted legal fight over the basis for the governments dismissal of the case. It came as Democrats question whether the Justice Department has become too politicized and Attorney General William Barr too quick to side with the president, particularly as he vocally criticizes, and even undoes, some of the results of the Russia investigation.

The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing Wednesday centered on another unusual move by Barr to overrule his own prosecutors and ask for less prison time for another Trump associate, Roger Stone. Barr has accepted an invitation to testify before the panel on July 28, a spokeswoman said Wednesday, and he will almost certainly be pressed about the Flynn case.

Trump tweeted just moments after the ruling became public: Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request to Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn.

Later, at the White House, Trump told reporters he was happy for Flynn.

He was treated horribly by a group of very bad people, Trump said. What happened to Gen. Flynn should never happen in our country.

Flynn called into conservative commentator Rush Limbaughs radio show and said the ruling was a good development for him and his family. But he also called it great boost of confidence for the American people in our justice system because thats what this really comes down to  is whether or not our justice system is going to have the confidence of the American people.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan had declined to immediately dismiss the case, seeking instead to evaluate on his own the departments request. He appointed a retired federal judge to argue against the Justice Departments position and to consider whether Flynn could be held in criminal contempt for perjury. He had set a July 16 hearing to formally hear the request to dismiss the case.

Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump nominee who was joined by Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, wrote that Sullivan had overstepped his bounds by second-guessing the Justice Departments decision. This case, she said, is not the unusual case where a more searching inquiry is justified.

To begin with, she added, Flynn agrees with the governments motion to dismiss, and there has been no allegation that the motion reflects prosecutorial harassment. Additionally, the governments motion includes an extensive discussion of newly discovered evidence casting Flynns guilt into doubt.

She called Sullivans scrutiny of the governments request an irregular and searching step that could force the government to have to publicly justify its decision in this case and others.

Our precedents emphatically leave prosecutorial charging decisions to the Executive Branch and hold that a court may scrutinize a motion to dismiss only on the extraordinary showing of harassment of the defendant or malfeasance such as bribery  neither of which is manifest in the record before the district court, she wrote.

Some critics of the Justice Departments dismissal urged the full appeals court to take up the case and reverse the decision of the three-judge panel, as it is empowered to do.

In a dissent, Judge Robert Wilkins said it appeared to be the first time his court had compelled a lower court judge to rule in a particular way without giving the judge a reasonable opportunity to issue its own ruling.

It is a great irony that, in finding the District Court to have exceeded its jurisdiction, this Court so grievously oversteps its own, wrote Wilkins, an appointee of former President Barack Obama.

Flynn was the only White House official charged in Muellers investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

He pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI days after the presidents January 2017 inauguration about conversations he had had during the presidential transition period with the Russian ambassador, in which the two men discussed sanctions that had been imposed on Russia by the Obama administration for election interefence.

The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case in May as part of a broader effort by Barr to revisit some of the decisions reached during the Russia investigation, which he has increasingly disparaged.

In its motion, the department argued that Flynns calls with the Russian ambassador were entirely appropriate and not material to the underlying counterintelligence investigation. The department also noted that weeks before the interview, the FBI had prepared to close its investigation into Flynn after not finding evidence that he had committed any crimes.

But the retired judge appointed by Sullivan, John Gleeson, called the Justice Departments request a gross abuse of prosecutorial power and accused the government of creating a pretext to benefit an ally of the president.

Henderson, the other judge in the majority, had asked skeptical questions of lawyers for Flynn and the Justice Department during arguments earlier this month, raising the prospect she would decide in favor of leaving the case in Sullivans hands.

But she ultimately ruled in favor of dismissing the case.

___

Associated Press writers Mark Sherman, Colleen Long and Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.
Supplier News

24 June 2020

Munich - TrustYou, the company dedicated to making listening to feedback easy, powerful, and actionable, announces today the launch of its latest eBook: "100+ COVID19 Power Tips and Ideas for the Hotel Industry". The eBook is a shared resource, based on survey results from TrustYou's partners, a range of international hoteliers in charge of both independent and chain properties, on how they are approaching the crisis. TrustYou defines the eBook as a comprehensive and well-rounded resource with tried-and-true tips and advice from hotel managers who are currently navigating the COVID-19 crisis.

As the title implies, the guide gathers more than 100 ideas and suggestions from TrustYou's hospitality clients that tackle relevant topics, such as the safety of employees and guests and the heavy focus on health and cleanliness. The contributors also provide advice on the people-centric approach that the industry needs to prioritize, the digitalization of hotel operations, as well as the bottom line: what hotels are currently doing to keep business going and diminish financial losses. The eBook is structured into chapters that follow the above-mentioned topics and includes practical and actionable tips, with the end goal of supporting hospitality workers with clear guidelines that are tested and applied by fellow hoteliers.

"We are experiencing unprecedented events in the hospitality industry and when it comes to overcoming the current crisis, no one is really an expert because no one has done this before. While our industry is highly competitive, we found that the only way to navigate these challenging waters is to stick together. This is why we reached out to our partners and asked them about their specific ways of dealing with the crisis, about prioritizing the safety of guests and staff, and about the best strategies that they have already implemented in order to push through this crisis with minimum losses" says Benjamin Jost, TrustYou's Co-Founder and CEO. "We believe that sharing information and advice, as well as simply being human and kind to each other, is what will get us all through."

TrustYou has been committed to supporting the industry through the current crisis and the company has continuously released meaningful resources throughout the past months. TrustYou's Travel Health Index is just one of the innovative assets that enable hoteliers to keep a close eye on their markets and their ongoing trajectory, as seen through guest reviews. The company also has a dedicated COVID-19 resource library, made up of stories, trends, and guidelines around the current state of the hospitality sector, its upcoming recovery process, and the best strategies for overcoming difficulties and appealing to the post-Covid19 traveler.

The eBook "100+ COVID-9 Power Tips and Ideas for the Hotel Industry" is available for free download here.

Find more information on TrustYou and the guest feedback platform on www.trustyou.com.

About TrustYou

Understand all reviews across the web and make better business decisions.

Publish hotel reviews on the website and on Google and allow positive feedback to influence bookings.

Create unlimited opportunities to listen and respond to guests' needs.

TrustYou helps companies win through the power of listening and provides a guest feedback platform that makes listening to customers easy, powerful, and actionable. The platform unlocks the potential of guest feedback and helps to:

TrustYou empowers companies to earn trust, make better decisions, and ultimately, win.

Find more information on TrustYou and the guest feedback platform on www.trustyou.com.
In the midst of a global pandemic, the June 23 primary left a number of state lawmakers at risk of losing their seats  although an influx of uncounted absentee ballots made it hard to tell who ultimately would be the victor, even in races where candidates had strong leads. Once all the votes were tallied, some challengers held their leads, and several came from behind for upset victories against incumbents.

Assembly Members Aravella Simotas, Michael DenDekker, Michael Miller were all bested after trailing badly on election night. Meanwhile, Assembly Members Walter Mosley, Joseph Lentol and Felix Ortiz saw their election night leads evaporate as their opponents closed the difference and overcame them as absentee ballots were counted.

Phara Souffrant Forrest, who beat Mosley, was one of several challengers endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America. Zohran Mamdani, who defeated Simotas in her Western Queens district, and Jabari Brisport, who won a vacant state Senate seat in Brooklyn, were also backed by the DSA.

In Queens, two younger female candidates in the mold of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ousted longtime white male incumbents. Jenifer Rajkumar beat Miller, while Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas defeated DenDekker.

And in another set of intriguing races, three ex-lawmakers  Eric Stevenson, Hiram Monserrate and Jesse Hamilton  all fell well short in their comeback bids.

Outside of New York City, a number of Republican state senators had resigned or opted against seeking reelection after becoming members of the minority party, leading to an influx of Democratic candidates in the June 23 primary, all vying to take over their seats in the general election. These results have been updated as of Aug. 6.

STATE SENATE

State Senate District 1, Democratic Primary

Laura A. Ahearn: 34.26%

Valerie M. Cartright: 26.71%

Thomas Schiavoni: 23.67%

Skyler Johnson: 11.49%

Nora Higgins: 3.87%

With 212 of 212 election districts reporting.

Laura Ahearn, an attorney and crime victim advocate, declared victory on July 8 in the crowded primary for the Suffolk County state Senate seat. Ahearn will face Republican Assembly Member Anthony Palumbo in the race to fill the seat held by Republican state Sen. Ken LaValle, who is retiring.

State Senate District 12, Democratic Primary

Michael Gianaris: 78.84%

Ignazio Terranova: 20.91%

With 210 of 210 election districts reporting.

This race is in many ways a referendum on the failed deal to bring an Amazon satellite campus to Western Queens. State Sen. Michael Gianaris was among the biggest opponents of the deal, but the voter backlash wasnt enough to power Ignazio Terranova, a former sanitation official, to victory. Terranova conceded to Gianaris the day after Election Day, when in-person vote tallies showed Gianaris winning with 74% of the vote.

State Senate District 18, Democratic Primary

Julia Salazar: 86.61%

Andy Marte: 13.10%

With 244 of 244 election districts reporting.

State Sen. Julia Salazar scored a big political upset in 2018 by beating a longtime incumbent to become the first democratic socialist to win a seat in the state Legislature. She now appears to be in a commanding position to get a second term representing the North Brooklyn district despite the efforts of Andy Marte, a former legislative aide to the notorious longtime Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Vito Lopez.

State Senate District 25, Democratic Primary

Jabari Brisport: 57.56%

Tremaine Wright: 34.49%

Jason Salmon: 7.36%

With 280 of 280 election districts reporting.

The three-way race to represent a district that stretches through downtown and central Brooklyn is arguably the most watched state Senate race of the year. Assembly Member Tremaine Wright had the backing of most of the local Demoratic Party establishment, which was trying to avoid an embarrassing loss to Brisport, who had the backing of the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

State Senate District 38, Democratic Primary

Elijah Reichlin-Melnick: 44.91%

Justin L. Sweet: 35.96%

Eudson T. Francois: 17.55%

With 68 of 68 election districts reporting.

In the Rockland County state Senate seat currently occupied by state Sen. David Carlucci, three Democrats battled it out in the primary, and Justin L. Sweet, the Clarkstown town clerk, had an early lead after the in-person votes were counted. But with over 15,000 absentee ballots returned, Elijah Reichlin-Melnik, the legislative director for state Sen. James Skoufis, pulled ahead and Sweet conceded.

State Senate District 38, Republican Primary

William J. Weber Jr.: 69.88%

Matthew R. Weinberg: 28.52%

With 68 of 68 election districts reporting.

State Senate District 56, Democratic Primary

Jeremy A. Cooney: 53.88%

Hilda Enid Rosario Escher: 23.65%

Sherita S. Traywick: 22.42%

With 40 of 40 election districts reporting.

With in-person, absentee and affidavit ballots counted, the Monroe County Board of Elections totals showed Jeremy Cooney winning the Democratic nomination. Cooney, the former chief of staff to Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, is running to replace retiring Republican state Sen. Joseph Robach.

State Senate District 61, Democratic Primary

Jacqualine Berger 38.76%

Kim Smith 38.13%

Joan Elizabeth Seamans 23.03%

Jacqualine Berger, a town board member and deputy supervisor in Amherst, declared victory in the Monroe County race, overcoming her second-place status on primary night. But the results were tight  the other top candidate, Kim Smith, came within just 141 votes of winning.

ASSEMBLY

Assembly District 31, Democratic Primary

Khaleel Anderson: 37.15%

Richard David: 28.87%

Lisa George: 18.96%

Shea Uzoigwe: 7.19%

Derrick DeFlorimonte: 4.09%

Tavia Blakley: 3.56%

Khaleel Anderson, a member of Queens Community Board 14, maintained his election night lead after absentee ballots were counted in this six-person race. The victory will earn the 24-year-old the distinction of being the Assemblys youngest member.

Assembly District 34, Democratic Primary

Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas: 41.47%

Michael DenDekker: 24.09%

Joy Chowdhury: 14.78%

Nuala ODoherty-Naranjo: 13.67%

Angel Cruz: 5.88%

With 73 of 73 election districts reporting.

Despite having a fundraising advantage and the backing of notable unions, Assembly Member Michael DenDekker found himself losing to a progressive challenger this year. The former executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, beat him by more than 17 points after all the votes were counted. The three other competitors hoping to unseat the incumbent havent fared nearly as well so far.

Assembly District 35, Democratic Primary

Jeffrion Aubry: 65.13%

Hiram Monserrate: 34.57%

With 66 of 66 election districts reporting.

Disgraced former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate has been hoping to make a bigger political comeback this year with this Assembly run  but as it turns out, voters did not have a stomach for a convict who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. Assembly Member Jeffrion Aubry prevailed with a decisive victory.

Assembly District 36, Democratic Primary

Zohran Mamdani: 51.20%

Aravella Simotas: 48.62%

With 83 of 83 election districts reporting.

After leading on election night, housing counselor and DSA-backed candidate Zohran Mamdani ultimately emerged victorious as the counting of absentee ballots wrapped up. An initial 600-vote cushion decreased slightly to about 400, but the margin was high enough to avoid a recount.

Assembly District 37, Democratic Primary

Catherine Nolan: 47.72%

Mary Jobaida: 36.71%

Danielle Brecker: 15.34%

With 88 of 88 election districts reporting.

Assembly District 38, Democratic Primary

Jenifer Rajkumar: 51.19%

Michael Miller: 25.20%

Joseph De Jesus: 22.69%

With 71 of 71 election districts reporting.

Final results showed Assembly Member Michael Miller with about half as many votes as Jenifer Rajkumar, a professor with the City University of New York and former official in Gov. Andrew Cuomos administration. Millers vulnerability was further emphasized by the fact that he only led the third place candidate, Joseph Joey De Jesus, by less than 3 percentage points.

Assembly District 40, Democratic Primary

Ron Kim: 70.26%

Steven Lee: 29.44%

With 60 of 60 election districts reporting.

Assembly District 43, Democratic Primary

Diana Richardson: 74.65%

Jesse Hamilton: 25.09%

With 87 of 87 election districts reporting.

Assembly Member Diana Richardson successfully quashed a challenge from Jesse Hamilton, who was looking to stage a comeback to the state Legislature after losing his state Senate seat in 2018. Not only did she have the backing from many fellow elected officials, she also got a surge in publicity in the weeks leading up to the election for her role in protests against systemic racism, including an incident in the district where she was pepper-sprayed by the NYPD.

Assembly District 50, Democratic Primary

Emily Gallagher: 51.20%

Joseph Lentol: 47.55%

Emily Gallagher was looking to make the jump from local community board to the state Legislature by running to the left of Assembly Member Joseph Lentol, who has represented the district for the past four decades. On election night, she trailed by over 1,700 votes with about 42% to Lentols 57.4%. But Gallagher made up the difference as the absentee ballots overwhelmingly split in her favor, ultimately besting the nearly 50-year incumbent, who conceded.

Assembly District 51, Democratic Primary

Marcela Mitaynes: 34.86%

Felix W. Ortiz: 32.22%

Katherine P. Walsh: 23.66%

Genesis E. Aquino: 9.06%

With 87 of 87 election districts reporting.

Marcela Mitaynes has become the latest democratic socialist candidate to pull off an upset in this years primary, unseating longtime Assembly Member Felix Ortiz after the count of absentee ballots was finalized. The mailed-in votes allowed her to overcome a 7 percentage point deficit on election night.

Assembly District 56, Democratic Primary

Stefani L. Zinerman: 56.69%

Justin Cohen: 42.72%

With 92 of 92 election districts reporting.

Local officials backed Stefani Zinerman to replace outgoing Assembly Member Tremaine Wright in this central Brooklyn district, and she came out on top despite Justin Cohen having raised enough money to compete and the potential that he could perform well in gentrifying areas of the district.

Assembly District 57, Democratic Primary

Phara Souffrant Forrest: 55.14%

Walter Mosley: 44.38%

After trailing by about 600 votes after election night, Phara Souffrant Forrest pulled off an upset with the absentee count. She declared victory about a month after the election, succeeding with nearly 3,000 more votes than Assembly Member Walter Mosley after all the absentee ballots were counted. Souffrant Forrest had the support of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, while Mosley was backed by the Working Families Party.

Assembly District 65, Democratic Primary

Yuh-Line Niou: 64.98%

Grace Lee: 35.65%

Grace Lee invested $250,000 of her own money in the race, but Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou had the backing of nearly every elected official in Manhattan and raised a comparable amount of money through small donors. Nious comfortable lead not only held, but grew after every absentee ballot was counted.

Assembly District 68, Democratic Primary

Robert Rodriguez: 55.77%

Tamika Mapp: 43.89%

With 115 of 115 election districts reporting.

Community activist Tamika Mapp has run surprisingly close to the five-term incumbent Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez, who had about 50 times more money to spend on the race.

Assembly District 73, Democratic Primary

Dan Quart: 65.96%

Cameron Alex Koffman: 33.67%

With 107 of 107 election districts reporting.

This was one of the strangest races of 2020. Cameron Koffman is a 20-something with no experience but bigtime blue blood connections through his great-uncle Richard LeFrak, a friend of President Donald Trump. Assembly Member Dan Quart would likely have been a shoo-in for reelection except that he has already announced a run for Manhattan district attorney, which opened him up to attacks from the challenger. But Quart ultimately won.

Assembly District 79, Democratic Primary

Chantel Jackson: 25.93%

Cynthia L. Cox: 22.89%

George A. Alvarez: 21.63%

Elvis Santana: 13.53%

Eric Stevenson: 12.18%

Dion Powell: 3.61%

With 90 of 90 election districts reporting.

Chantel Jackson enjoyed the backing of outgoing Assembly Member Michael Blake in the six-way race for this South Bronx district, and an election night lead. Four other candidates seemed like they could have still been in the running with absentees, including former Assembly Member Eric Stevenson attempting to win his old seat back. But Jackson maintained her lead in the final results.

Assembly District 85, Democratic Primary

Kenneth Burgos: 61.55%

William Russell Moore: 38.06%

With 85 of 85 election districts reporting.

Kenneth Burgos will likely take over the seat formerly held by his boss, Assembly Member Marcos Crespo, by securing the Democratic nomination. He had a strong financial advantage over his opponent and grew a comfortable lead after election night.

Assembly District 93, Democratic Primary

Chris Burdick: 33.74%

Kristen P. Browde: 31.32%

Jeremiah Frei-Pearson: 19%

Alex E. Roithmayr: 8.37%

Mark Jaffe: 7.45%

With 116 of 116 election districts reporting.

Assembly District 122, Republican Primary

Joe G. Angelino: 72.09%

Nicholas R. Libous: 16.43%

James P. Powers: 5.85%

Victor Furman: 5.64%

With 98 of 98 election districts reporting.

In the four-way race to replace retiring Republican Assembly Member Clifford Crouch, former Norwich Police Chief Joe Angelino won over 70% of the in-person vote  enough for NY1 and The Associated Press to declare him the winner the day after the election.

Assembly District 125, Democratic Primary

Anna Kelles: 35.99%

Seph Murtagh: 21.82%

Jordan A. Lesser: 14.67%

Sujata Gibson: 11.47%

Jason Leifer: 6.19%

Beau A.C. Harbin: 5.01%

Lisa W. Hoeschele: 4.80%

With 71 of 71 election districts reporting.

Assembly District 126, Republican Primary

John Lemondes Jr.: 56.88%

Daniel B. Fitzpatrick: 42.68%

With 77 of 77 of election districts reporting.

With all absentee ballots counted, John Lemondes Jr., a retired Army colonel, defeated Daniel Fitzpatrick, Lafayette town supervisor, in the Republican primary to replace retiring Assembly Member Gary Finch in his four-county district including parts of Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland and Onondaga counties.

Assembly District 131, Republican Primary

Jeff L. Gallahan: 38.51%

Cindy Wade: 34.06%

Jeff Shipley: 17.23%

Ann Marie Heizmann: 10.09%

With 111 of 111 election districts reporting.

Assembly District 134, Democratic Primary

Carolyn D. Carrol: 78.79%

Dylan P. Dailor: 21.11%

With 6 of 6 election districts reporting.

With Monroe Countys in-person, absentee and affidavit ballots counted, official results have Carolyn Carrol leading the Democratic primary to replace retiring Republican Assembly Member Peter Lawrence in the Rochester-area district. Carrol, a fraud investigator, will face Republican Josh Jensen in November.

Assembly District 136, Democratic Primary

Sarah Clark: 63.42%

Justin F. Wilcox: 27.73%

Nelson Lopatin: 8.78%

With 21 of 21 election districts reporting.

The local political establishment and organized labor backed Justin Wilcox, but Sarah Clark capitalized on some endorsements of her own, including former U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton. Clark fended off her two challengers according to official results from the Monroe County Board of Elections, with in-person, absentee and affidavit ballots counted.

Assembly District 137, Democratic Primary

Demond L. Meeks: 44.07%

Ernest S. Flagler-Mitchell: 33.21%

Ann C. Lewis: 19.31%

Silvano D. Orsi: 3.39%

With 34 of 34 election districts reporting.

Demond Meeks, an organizer with 1199SEIU, looks poised to replace longtime Assembly Member David Gantt, who died on July 1. Official results from Monroe County show Meeks with 45% of the vote, beating the countys chosen candidate, Monroe County Legislator Ernest Flagler-Mitchell. No Republican candidate has emerged in the blue district.

Assembly District 138, Democratic Primary

Harry Bronson: 57.29%

Alex Yudelson: 42.65%

With 43 of 43 election districts reporting.

Assembly Member Harry Bronson fended off a challenge from Monroe County Democratic Party-backed challenger Alex Yudelson, who is chief of staff to Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren. Yudelson conceded to Bronson on July 8.

Assembly District 140, Democratic Primary

William C. Conrad III: 54.12%

Kevin T. Stocker: 45.44%

With 51 of 51 election districts reporting.

Assembly District 149, Democratic Primary

Jonathan D. Rivera: 52.88%

Adam L. Bojak: 30.41%

Robert Quintana: 15.94%

With 54 of 54 election districts reporting.

Source: New York state Board of Elections, New York City Board of Elections, Monroe County Board of Elections
Porterville, CA (93257)

Today

Clear this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. Low 37F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Clear this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. Low 37F. Winds light and variable.
U.S. runner Allyson Felix is one of the athletes who will take in the Inspiration Games, an virtual track meet at eight international venues, from Mt. San Antonio College. (Kirsty Wigglesworth / Associated Press)

Southern California will serve as one of eight locations for an international track meet featuring world-class athletes who will compete by way of synchronized video from around the globe.

The Inspiration Games, scheduled for July 9, will include U.S. Olympic champions Allyson Felix and Dalilah Muhammad and world champion Noah Lyles running at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. Other medalists such as Omar McLeod of Jamaica and Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands will be at foreign venues.

Video-coordinated track meets, with athletes spread thousands of miles apart, are the new, if temporary, structure in a sport that saw all competition halted with the coronavirus outbreak in spring.

The Weltklasse Zurich Inspiration Games will comprise eight events of three athletes each. Intricate timing devices, controlled from Switzerland, will seek to ensure that runners in races such as the mens 100-yard dash and womens 150 meters start at the same moment, even if they are separated by continents and multiple time zones.

This task becomes trickier with the womens 3 x 100-meter relay, as automated timers alert runners when they have received a virtual baton.

We will give our all to present a perfect production of the star-studded competition, co-meet director Andreas Hediger said in a news release. Our ambition is to set new standards.

The locations for other venues include Aubiere, France; Karlstad, Sweden; and Lisbon, Portugal.

Felix, a six-time Olympic champion, is scheduled to compete in the 150 meters and relay. Olympic champions Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas and Ekaterini Stefanidi of Greece are also among the entrants.
Photo: @DanaLarsen / Twitter

The Drug User Liberation Front has announced that it will hand out a safer supply of opiates and cocaine in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to people who use drugs.

On Tuesday, the group held a protest march and rally in the DTES in support of a 'real' safe supply of drugs in British Columbia.

The protest was created in direct response to a staggering increase in overdose deaths in the province from an ever more toxic drug supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May alone, 170 people died of an overdose, topping the previous record of 161 set in December 2016. Of the 170, the presence of fentanyl was detected in 119 cases.

Now, the group says it will provide a safer supply of opiates and cocaine to residents of the DTES for free. In a release, it states that, "These drugs have been tested via FTIR spectrometry and immunoassay and are free of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, benzodiazepines and many other harmful adulterants."

Currently, heroin and cocaine are not available as part of the Provinces recent Safe Supply rollout. The Drug User Liberation Front says that, "access to these necessary substances is both inadequate and urgently needed."

The Province of BC, the City of Vancouver, and the Vancouver Police Department have all expressed support for and/or called for Safe Supply.

"British Columbia joined the global community in quickly and effectively dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in order to prevent the deaths of many of its at-risk citizens. Still, those at risk of overdose death have not benefited from the same kind of decisive and definitive action. This discrimination against a vulnerable population, resulting in death on this scale, is unacceptable," state rally organizers.

"Step up and address the issues that are killing us, or allow us access to the resources and funds to do it ourselves, outside of the constraints of this discriminatory structure."

The Drug User Liberation Front calls for the following response:

Acknowledge that BC prescribers are not prescribing safer supply under BCCSU risk mitigation guidelines to any significant extent and amend these guidelines to include all people who use drugs, not just those at risk of COVID-19.

Immediately include injectable heroin and cocaine into accessible, safe supply options and expand BC Pharmacare to cover injectable hydromorph in addition these options.

Ensure equal access to harm reduction services and safe supply options across BC (e.g. supervised consumption sites, prescriptions).

Issue a statement from the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons supporting the BCCSU Risk Mitigation guidelines to ensure prescribers feel comfortable prescribing these options.

Amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) to decriminalize the simple possession of drugs. In the interim, we demand the Province of BC follows the recommendations of the Provincial Health Officer to impose de facto decriminalization in BCby Ministerial direction, amending provincial policing policy, or amending BCs Police Act.

Defund the VPD and reallocate the funding into community-led overdose response initiatives.

Formed in response to the ever-mounting overdose deaths in B.C. and across Canada, the Drug User Liberation Front looks to provide tangible solutions to the overdose crisis.

Fraser Healths chief medical health officer Dr. Martin Lavoie said surging unemployment due to the pandemic has added stress that often leads to a rise in the consumption of illicit substances. Compounding the problem, shutdowns at the border have disrupted the flow of drugs, limiting supply and increasing toxicity.
In a silver lining, the countrys economic recovery is going to be rural sector-led, inputs for an interministerial draft review being prepared for the prime ministers office states, with countryside demand for goods and services rallying ahead of that in cities and towns, according to officials aware of the matter.

About Rs 73,500 crore in liquid cash, or money in hand, from prices the government has paid for crops to 4.2 million farmers till June 17, re-employment in rural sectors and a surplus monsoon so far are some of the indicators cited in the draft.

Cement sales, an indicator of construction activity, the largest workforce employer after agriculture, is higher in rural areas, it says. The countrys planting of Kharif or summer crops is higher by nearly 20% than last years levels for this time of the year, the inputs say, adding this has helped raise sales of fertilizer, pesticides, seeds, fuel and hiring of labour.

The government also plans to directly coordinate with local authorities in 116 districts estimated to have witnessed the largest reverse migration of workers from cities for job creation in rural industries, the draft says.

Demand from rural India will naturally feed into the manufacturing sector. This will help in meeting the challenges. The government will have to sustain rural momentum. This is the nature of feedback, an official said, requesting anonymity.

The finance ministrys economic advisors are hopeful of a so-called V-shaped recovery by next fiscal, the official cited above said, adding that policies would be constantly calibrated as warranted. Economists commonly express economic downturns and recovery in charts that show shapes, such as U, V, and W. The shape V, which shows a fall followed by a sharp rise, represents a quicker recovery.

To be sure, analysts continue to make grimmer projections of overall growth. Eight of the most industrialised states, accounting for half of the Indias gross domestic product (GDP), will see the largest declines in peoples incomes this fiscal, chief economic advisor of the State Bank of India Soumya Kanti Ghosh said in a note on Wednesday.

Fitch Ratings forecasts growth in GDP, the widest measure of incomes, to shrink 5% in the current year through March 2021.

The government is counting heavily on rural spending, including its own expenditure, the draft suggests. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has finished record procurement (governments buying of farm produce) of wheat, rice and pulses. It was the highest ever, a second official said. The direct in-account payments of Rs 73,500 core completed by the FCI till June 17 is also highest ever and this money is available to spend.

The procurement operations were delayed due to the first phase of the Covid-19 lockdown and started a fortnight late on April 15. The government was able to buy wheat harvests of 38.2 million tonnes by June 16, a record, the review states.

The draft cites data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, which showed the continuing fall in the rural unemployment rate to 7.26% in the week that ended on June 21. This job loss rate has now dropped to the lowest level in three months.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in May announced Rs 40,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. This took up the total allocation, along with Rs 61,000 crore announced in the Budget, to the scheme to Rs 1.01 lakh crore, the highest ever.

The inputs, in the form of a presentation, are part of the governments routine monitoring of economic activity, the official cited in the first instance said.

K Mani, an economist with the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, said the rural economy alone cannot do the heavy lifting of the economy. The GDP per worker in agriculture is just a third of the overall GDP per worker, which means expansion of higher productivity sectors such as manufacturing remains critical, he said.

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After she flew to Lebanon in 2017 to work as a maid for a family of eight, Birtukan Mekuanint managed to call her own relatives in Ethiopia only a handful of times.

So her father, Abiye Yefru, did not know what to think when Birtukan emerged unannounced from a taxi outside their home in Addis Ababa last week.

"Everyone was very emotional when she came to meet us," Abiye told AFP, describing their reunion. "Me, I didn't hold back my tears, and my wife cried even more."

Soon, though, Abiye's joy turned to anger as Birtukan recounted her hardship in Lebanon -- an all-too-common tale of uncompensated labour in abusive conditions.

Now he's joining the chorus of Ethiopians pleading with the government to bring back thousands of domestic workers stranded in Lebanon.

"It's too difficult over there," he said. "Of course they should be brought home."

A quarter of a million migrants are employed as domestic workers in Lebanon, the majority of them Ethiopian.

A sponsorship system known as "kafala" leaves maids, nannies and carers outside the remit of Lebanese labour law and at the mercy of their employers.

The workers' plight has come under the spotlight in recent weeks as Lebanon grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades, with dozens of women kicked out by their employers and dumped outside the Ethiopian consulate in Beirut.

Yet Ethiopian women have for years endured nonpayment of wages, forced confinement and physical and sexual violence, activists say.

Making matters worse, Ethiopian authorities have turned a blind eye to the abuses, said Banchi Yimer, founder of an NGO that advocates for migrant workers' rights.

"I would say they do nothing," she said. "Nothing has been done by the Ethiopian government."

A broken system

Like many Ethiopian women, Birtukan believed the brokers who told her moving to Lebanon would be an easy way to improve her family's fortunes.

For 7,000 Ethiopian birr (around $200), they promised to arrange her travel and place her with a family that would pay $200 (177 euros) a month while covering her expenses.

Upon reaching Beirut, however, she learned the brokers would pocket her earnings for the first two months.

The brokers then cut off contact, and her Lebanese boss refused to pay her.

Under the kafala system, migrant workers can't terminate contracts without the consent of their employers, meaning Birtukan was effectively trapped.

She spent long hours mopping floors, ironing clothes and cleaning bathrooms, all while tallying the days on a piece of cardboard she hid under her mattress.

"I didn't see other people. Even if I tried to talk on the phone, they would stop me," she told AFP as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Angry dad: Abiye Yefru, Birtukan's father. By Solan Kolli (AFP)

She seized the first chance she could to escape, swiping a key to the compound gate left behind by one of the family's children.

She then secured a spot on one of the flights organised last month by the Ethiopian government and state-owned Ethiopian Airlines.

But only around 650 women have been flown home so far.

As the coronavirus pandemic exacerbates Lebanon's economic woes, Birtukan wants to see more repatriations.

"I think the government should bring back all the women there," she said. "They're sleeping under bridges. They don't have enough to eat."

Ethiopia's foreign affairs ministry and the consulate in Beirut did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Tough times ahead

For all the horror stories out of Lebanon, some women are glad they made the journey.

Almaz Gezaheng, 32, travelled to Lebanon in 2008, moving in with a family of four.

She found the pay too low and the conditions too strenuous, but after she left she landed a job as a cleaner at a beauty parlour that paid $400 per month.

She sent half that money home, enabling her parents to buy their own house.

"At least I changed my family's life, even if I haven't done anything for myself."

But after the Lebanese economy tanked, Almaz lost her job, and she exhausted her savings before securing a spot on a repatriation flight this month.

"I think the future will be very difficult for Lebanon. I would advise young Ethiopians to stay here and do their own work rather than go there," she said.

Almaz Gezaheng helped her parents buy a home with the money she earned in Lebanon. But, she says, the future looks far bleaker today. By Solan Kolli (AFP)

She urged the Ethiopian government to step in and help those still stuck there.

"Most of their madams are throwing them out of the house," she said. "Before anything worse happens, it would be good for the government to bring back all of our girls from Lebanon."

The call is echoed by Banchi, founder of the migrants workers' rights NGO, who said she is receiving reports of Ethiopian women in Lebanon who are in such despair that they drink bleach or try to jump off balconies.

"The inaction of the Ethiopian government is leading domestic workers to depression," she said. "Everybody wants to go home. No-one wants to stay in Lebanon."
Gems: a stirring read across verses that display the beauty of life in all its shades. Gems is the creation of published author Johnny R. Lofton, a retired Sergeant First Class. He was raised on a small farm near Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Lofton shares, The title Gems is unique within itself. The poetry displays deep thoughts that causes one to think of the known as well as the unknown. I chose Gems for my title because I feel that every one of my poems is as a collection of fine stones. As one reads a poem, I want the experience to be as one who gazed upon a fine gem. As with Gems, the quality of some poems will be better than others. It is my sincere desire that my readers will experience the same pleasure and satisfaction as a gem collector would receive when he gazes upon a rare stone. I pray to God that you will read this book of Gems.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Johnny R. Loftons new book is a fascinating expression of honor, praise, and gratitude to every blessing the Almighty God gave. With thought-provoking pieces, the readers will be taken to a whole different perspective.

View a synopsis of Gems on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Gems at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Gems, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Burma Chinese-Made Arms Due for Myanmar Seized on Thai Border

Weapons seized in Mae Sot on the Thai side of the border with Myanmar.

Yangon  A joint task force, including the Thai military and police, seized a large cache of Chinese-made weapons, which are believed to be destined for Myanmar, on Tuesday morning.

AK47 assault rifles, machine guns, anti-tank mines, grenades and ammunition were among the items seized in a joint raid on a house in Mae Tao in Mae Sot District on the Thai side of the border.

Two Thai nationals were arrested and six suspects from Myanmar were arrested at the Mae La refugee camp around 65 km from Mae Sot. Four are ethnic Karen and two are ethnic Rakhine.

They are not the weapons currently used by the AA [Arakan Army]. The weapons manufactured by the Wa [United Wa State Army] and the KIA [Kachin Independence Army] are not up to much. They cant fire on automatic. The seized weapons are original and Chinese-made, a source from an ethnic armed organization based on the border told The Irrawaddy.

He said a black market has emerged in Mae Sot for weapons to meet the demand of armed groups in Myanmar. Individual dealers make huge profits in the business, the source added.

An AK47 costs around 100,000 baht (4.5 million kyats) and a machine gun costs approximately 300,000 baht (13.5 million kyats). The value of the seizures is around 30 million baht (1.35 billion kyats), according to the source.

Usually weapons are smuggled to Indian rebels based on the border with Myanmar and the AA as they pay good prices, he said. There are several rebel organizations in Assam and Meitei fighting the Indian government from bases along the border.

Former freelance photographer John San Linn and his wife were detained in the Kachin State capital, Myitkyina, in December 2017, after police found more than 1,000 bullets at their home in Myawaddy on the Thai border, according to the police.

Officers then searched the KIAs liaison office in Myitkyina.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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This is written by Jean Jacobs, Africa Enterprize

Our global future is nothing like our past. The world is reeling as it wrestles to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic and the economic devastation that lies in its wake. What does this struggle look like for the continent with the worlds highest population growth rate, home to twenty percent of humanity?

How will covid-19 affect the continent where more than half of the worlds extreme poor reside?

Although every nation in Africa now has confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, it is difficult to assess the current extent of covid-19 across the continent. 44 African nations are currently able to conduct covid-19 testing, whereas in February, only two were equipped to do so.

However, testing rates are still grossly inadequate in many African nations and, in countries like Nigeria and Somalia, a surge in deaths has been noted despite only a small number of confirmed cases. In Tanzania, the national government is no longer releasing case data, despite the fact that the US Embassy has described a dire situation in which hospitals are overwhelmed and the risk of infection extremely high.

Prior to the onset of covid-19, health systems in Africa were already struggling in the face of inadequate resources. In addition to a heavy burden of diseases such as HIV, TB and malaria, Sub-Saharan Africa has the worlds highest maternal and child mortality rates. Tragically, on account of overwhelmed health systems, the current crisis is likely to lead to a dramatic increase in all-cause mortality.

There is some hope that Africa, with its median age of 19.7 years, might escape the covid-19 death toll seen mostly amongst the elderly in other regions. However, underlying illnesses may predispose many in Africa to more severe covid disease.

The African region is particularly vulnerable to political instability during this pandemic. Nations that were due for elections during 2020, are now faced with the potential for prolonged tenures or flawed ballots. Governments face mounting pressure from desperate and impoverished citizens.

40 Africa nations

At least 40 African nations have implemented restrictions on movement, and for 20 of these nations, the time span of these restrictions remains undefined. Slum-dwellers who live in crowded shacks without basic amenities, who derive their income from informal employment, are finding it difficult to heed these restrictions, and there have been reports of human rights violations by the authorities charged to enforce them.

In Africa, where over 400 million people live on less than US $1.90 per day, the economic effects of Covid-19 will be vastly different to those seen in wealthier nations. The United Nations World Food Programme has predicted that the number of people worldwide suffering from acute hunger may double this year. Most of those people live in Africa.

Worldwide, there is a cry for effective short-term aid to assist Africa during this crisis. A substantial aid injection is not only a moral imperative, but also serves the best interests of our global community. Although the vast sums of money required, will require substantial multilateral and bilateral funding, not-forprofit and faith-based organisations do play a unique role in Africa.

These organisations are distinctive in terms of their involvement on grassroots level within communities, and they afford individuals like us the opportunity to contribute to global causes.

Might it be possible that our individualistic worldviews are being challenged by this pandemic that has affected us all? Perhaps, it may revive our sense of shared humanity, and the resolve to offer our unique contributions to a world in need. In the words of Rebecca Solnit, the proximity of death in shared calamity makes many people more urgently alive, less attached to the small things in life and more committed to the big ones...

For those of us who have laid claim to faith, there is no greater cause for which we could live, than the love of Christ, outworked in our love for humanity.
The Trump family have claimed that 'no amount of monetary damages can ameliorate the loss' if Mary Trump is allowed to publish her tell-all book about them

In their application for a temporary restraining order, the Trumps said that they would suffer 'irreparable harm' if Mary's book is released next month as planned.

They argued that Mary agreed not to write a memoir back in 2001 under the terms of a settlement which resolved a bitter family dispute over the estate of family patriarch Fred Trump Sr.

The agreement said that due to Donald Trump being famous and his sister Maryanne being a federal judge 'the family made the decision collectively to enter into an agreement that would maintain the confidentiality of the family's private matters'.

President Donald Trump's niece Mary Trump is writing a tell-all book which promises to blow the lid off all the family's most closely guarded secrets Pictured: Mary in Long Island on Friday before her road trip to Cape Cod

The Trump family is trying to stop Mary's book from being published and is seeking a temporary restraining order, claiming she signed a NDA. Mary and her brother Fred III filed suit against Donald and Robert Trump and their sister Maryanne Trump Barry (pictured together in 1990) in 2000, for wrongful termination of medical benefits and coverage

Mary is the daughter of the president's brother Fred Jr. (pictured), who died in 1981 from alcoholism

The Trumps are asking a judge in Queens, New York, to issue a temporary restraining order against Mary and for a hearing on July 31, three days after the book is due to be published.

The application sets up a First Amendment clash with Mary and her publishers Simon & Schuster.

Their lawyer Theodore Boutrous has said that the Trumps are 'pursuing this unlawful prior restraint because they do not want the public to know the truth'.

He said: 'The courts will not tolerate this brazen violation of the First Amendment'.

Mary's book is due to be called: 'Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's 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'.

Mary is one of two children by Fred Trump Jr, the President's older brother who died in 1982 aged 42 after battling alcoholism.

When Fred Sr died in 1999, Mary and her brother Fred Trump III challenged his will because they claimed that the Trump family exerted undue influence to cut them out.

Mary claimed in a lawsuit that in retaliation the Trumps ended the healthcare for her side of the family.

In the application for the restraining order, which was filed in the Queen's Surrogate Court, which oversaw Fred Sr's probate, the Trumps say that everything was resolved in 2001 under a 'global' agreement.

In the application for the restraining order, which was filed in the Queen's Surrogate Court, which oversaw Fred Sr's probate, the Trumps say that everything was resolved in 2001 under a 'global' agreement

In their application for a temporary restraining order, the Trumps said that they would suffer 'irreparable harm' if Mary's book is released next month as planned

The application states: 'Confidentiality was at the essence of the settlement agreement.

'Fred Trump Sr had been a famous figure in New York real estate. Fred's son Donald also had become a famous real estate developer.

Mary's book  titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man  is scheduled to be released in July

'Fred's daughter, Judge Barry, was a judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

'The court cases involving Fred Trump Sr's will had received extensive publicity and the family made the decision collectively to enter into an agreement that would maintain the confidentiality of the family's private matters'.

The financial terms have been blacked out and there are nine pages including sections on ground leases, a Trump-owned company and trusts set up in 1976.

The application does however note that Mary received a 'substantial' amount of money.

As part of the agreement Mary agreed to not 'directly or indirectly publish or cause to be published any diary, memoir, letter, story, photograph, interview, article, essay, account or description or deficient of any kind whatsoever, whether fictionalized or not, concerning their litigation with (the Trumps) or assist or provide information to others in connection therewith', the application states.

The only exception would be if Donald, Maryanne and their brother Robert gave consent.

Yet in an affidavit Robert Trump says that he 'never consented' to let Mary write her book.

The application states that under the agreement, if somebody breaches the 2001 settlement they agree that a temporary restraining order can be taken out against them.

It requests unspecified damages but notes: 'No amount of monetary damages can ameliorate the loss that will be suffered if Mary Trump is allowed to violate the settlement agreement and publish'.

DAilyMail.com spotted Mary in Long Island on Friday (pictured) but she left over the weekend for Cape Cod where her condo is 56 steep steps above a sandy beach on Cape Cod Bay

DailyMail.com tracked her down to the second-floor condo in the town of Brewster, where she was spotted wearing the same outfit and buying a six-pack of Bass Ale on Tuesday (left and right). Despite wanting to tell all about her uncle, Mary was less forthcoming when it came to talking to us. 'There will be a time and a place,' she said. 'Have a great day. Enjoy. It's a beautiful spot'

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

The Trumps argue that an emergency injunction is needed because books are often sent to book stores weeks ahead of publication.

They appear to have learned the lessons from the book by Donald's former national security adviser John Bolton, which was hugely embarrassing for the President.

They went to court to stop 'The Room Where It Happened' from being published but a judge refused because much of it had already been made public through leaks.

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 $413million from his father and was a millionaire by the time he was eight.

Mary's Twitter feed is an indication of what the tone of her book will be like and she called her uncle's election victory in 2016 the 'worst night of my life'.

The 55-year-old left her home on New York's Long Island over the weekend after news of her heavily contested tome broke. She drove her black Audi 270 miles to the condo on Cape Cod in Massachusetts that she bought in 2004 for $1.15 million, but is now worth nearly double that.
The left roared into Tuesdays primaries hoping to unseat at least one entrenched Democratic congressman in New York City and derail the Democratic establishments pick to face Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky.

Theyre going to have to wait at least a few more days to find out whether they succeeded  but even though Tuesday night ended without final calls in many of the biggest primaries, the results clearly showed some incumbents in serious trouble and major trends shaking both parties.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez looks set to get some new progressive backup in New Yorks congressional delegation next year. President Donald Trumps iron-fisted grip over the Republican Party appears to be slipping. And Senate hopefuls Charles Booker and Amy McGrath are locked in a tight battle for that Kentucky Senate nomination that belies McGraths huge cash advantage and support from Washington power brokers.

Coronavirus drove a huge number of voters to cast absentee ballots, which wont be tallied in either Kentucky or New York until next week. But here are five takeaways from Tuesdays still-to-be-determined primary results:

Kentucky poised for a photo finish

When The Associated Press ended its vote count late Tuesday night, McGrath  the national party-endorsed candidate and fundraising juggernaut who has raised more than $40 million so far  had a 9-point lead over Booker with about 58,000 votes reported.

But McGraths lead is far from secure. The exact number of votes left to count isnt clear, but the 58,000 tallied in early returns do not include any from the states two largest, most Democratic counties, Jefferson and Fayette  home to Louisville and Lexington, respectively. Those two counties have said they wont release any vote counts until theyve also tabulated absentee ballots, which wont be until next Tuesday.

Louisville, home to Bookers state House district, should be a boon for him. Booker became nationally known over the past month after joining protests against racial injustice in Louisville, where the police killing of Breonna Taylor earlier this year became a rallying point of the Black Lives Matter movement.

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McGrath could fare better in and around Lexington, where she was the Democratic nominee in a battleground House race two years ago. But Election Day results showed Booker carrying some adjacent counties around Fayette, suggesting he may do well there.

Bookers biggest obstacle may have been time. In a normal election, his late surge and Election Day performance might be enough to carry him to the nomination. But many of the as-yet-uncounted absentee ballots were cast over the past few weeks, before he caught fire at the end of the campaign.

Voters wait in line to cast their ballots in the Kentucky primary at Kroger Field in Lexington.

The end is near for Rep. Eliot Engel



Unless Engels supporters are as obsessive about mail voting as he used to be about snagging an aisle seat for the State of the Union address, his time in the House is over.

The Associated Press did not project a winner Tuesday night between Engel and middle-school principal Jamaal Bowman, but the numbers were daunting for the incumbent: Bowman led 61 percent to 36 percent, with 36,000 votes tallied so far.

In the previous election, only 31,000 votes were cast in the Democratic primary in the district. And even though turnout is reported to be way up this year, Engel would still have to win the outstanding votes by a huge margin to survive.

Bowman stopped short of declaring victory in a speech to supporters in Yonkers but said the results showed the district is demanding change.

If Engel loses, he will be at least the second veteran Democrat in New York City to be ousted in as many election cycles. (Rep. Carolyn Maloney is also facing a close primary in her district.) And like Joe Crowley two years ago, the end came suddenly for Engel. While Crowley was falling to Ocasio-Cortez in 2018, Engel was cruising through a four-candidate primary with 74 percent of the vote.

Trumps primary clout takes a hit

The presidents undefeated record in 2020 GOP primary elections came was shattered in North Carolina, and he might have his new chief of staff to blame.

Trumps pick to succeed former Rep. Mark Meadows in a solidly Republican House district in Western North Carolina, Lynda Bennett, fell flat on Tuesday, losing by 32 percentage points to 24-year-old Madison Cawthorn in a primary runoff.

Meadows surprise retirement announcement late last year quickly raised suspicions about whether he timed it to help Bennett, a friend of his wifes, win the seat. He announced he wouldnt run again the day before North Carolinas filing deadline  but after the deadline for candidates for other offices to withdraw their petitions, meaning state legislators in the district couldnt switch to run for Congress instead.

Wielding Meadows endorsement, Bennett finished first in the March 3 primary, edging Cawthorn, 23 percent to 20 percent. But she didnt get the 30 percent needed to avoid a one-on-one runoff. Trump tweeted an endorsement earlier this month, which Bennett quickly turned into a TV ad. But it wasnt nearly enough, and the loss robs Republicans of an opportunity to pad the ranks of GOP women in the House, after a recent string of victories by female candidates in Republican primaries.

Meanwhile, in Kentucky, Rep. Thomas Massie easily won his Republican primary, just months after Trump called for him to be thrown out of the GOP for holding up bipartisan coronavirus relief legislation. But Trump  seeing the writing on the wall  stopped short of endorsing Massies opponent, Todd McMurtry, who had only 12 percent support to Massies 88 percent in early returns.

It wasnt a primary, but another Trump-endorsed Republican, Rep. Denver Riggleman, was ousted earlier this month in a district nominating convention in Virginia. Trump had endorsed Riggleman in a tweet late last year, but the majority of delegates picked social conservative Bob Good as the partys candidate in the fall.

Progressives build power in New York, romping through open seats



For the past few months, progressives fretted that large Democratic primary fields for two open House seats in New York would enable more conservative candidates to slip through and take over safe seats. But while neither the 15th District nor the 17th District was called Tuesday night, the left can breathe a little easier.

In the Bronx-based 15th District, City Councilman Ritchie Torres was in first place when the night ended, more than 10 points ahead of state Assemblyman Michael Blake and City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr., a longtime antagonist of mainstream Democrats for his conservative views on social issues.

Torres wasnt the top pick of movement liberals, but he was endorsed by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC and Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Mark Takano of California and David Cicilline of Rhode Island.

In the 17th District, in the Lower Hudson Valley, attorney and Obama-era Department of Justice alum Mondaire Jones was the leader in early returns, over self-funder Adam Schleifer and David Carlucci, a member of the breakaway faction of state Senate Democrats that kept Republicans in control of the chamber until 2018. Jones had the support of nearly every major progressive politician: Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Meanwhile, while Engel is easily in the most trouble among incumbents, he wont be the only sitting member losing sleep over the next week. Maloney ended Tuesday night with only a slight, roughly 500-vote lead over hotel executive Suraj Patel, whom she defeated in the 2018 primary.

Maloney, who took over as chair of the House Oversight Committee after the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, had reason to worry, and she took the primary seriously. After failing to break 60 percent two years ago, Maloney went negative on Patel, running digital ads that called him creepy.

Faring better in initial returns was Rep. Yvette Clarke in Brooklyn. Two years after community organizer Adem Bunkeddeko came within 2,000 votes of ousting Clarke, the seven-term incumbent had a big lead in the Election Day vote when Tuesday ended.

Rep. Yvette Clarke chats with a supporter outside her campaign headquarters in the Brooklyn borough of New York.

Is America ready to wait?

Kentucky and New York arent opening their absentee ballots for at least a week, as both states adjust to processing many more mailed-in ballots than usual. In fact, some counties in Kentucky arent even counting the votes cast on Tuesday until next week. It's an early hint of the change coming to general election night in November, when Americans will face new challenges and ways to participate  and might have to wait to find out the winner of the hotly contested presidential race.

Its been obvious for some time that voters desire to cast ballots by mail during the coronavirus pandemic would scramble the usual Election Day rhythm of presidential contests. Consolidated polling places and social distancing guidelines created more lines on Tuesday, though the situations in Kentucky and New York were reportedly less severe than in other states that held elections recently. But the system was far from flawless.

The patchwork of procedures in the different states  and, in Kentucky, within different counties  raises questions about voters expectations. The media can spend the next four months warning voters not to expect a winner during prime-time election coverage on television on Nov. 3, but it might not make a difference.

Do states and counties release results as they come in, even if questions  legitimate or in bad faith  arise about shifts in the vote count? Do they follow the example of some of the Kentucky counties and withhold results until all the votes are counted, which could raise integrity issues?

Its difficult to overstate how messy Nov. 3  and the days following it  could get, even after repeated test runs in primaries throughout the rest of this year.
Photo credit: Courtesy

From Esquire

Photo credit: Courtesy





For the past few years, weve been hearing that rum is about to have its breakout moment. We've been told that whiskey drinkers will discover the joys of an alternative brown spirit (when properly aged, that is) as rum brands finally get their Pappy Rum Winklesome limited-release, impossibly rare rum that'll spawn a thousand dudes posting selfies on Instagram after waiting in line for 24 hours to score a bottle. Well, it hasnt quite happened yet, and that might actually be a good thing. While there are some really expensive expressions out there on par with the most coveted bourbon or scotch, you can still get a quality bottle of rum aged for more than 20 years for less than $150, which is something of a steal. Of course, it should be noted that age doesnt necessarily equal quality, but a carefully matured rum brings layers of flavor and complexity that can rival any whiskey.



One problem that rum has faced over the years is its reputation as an unregulated, duplicitous spirit. There are good reasons for that: Brands sometimes put meaningless numbers on bottles, leading us drinkers to mistake them for age statements, and sugar or other additives are sometimes used to adulterate flavor without any notification. Theres nothing inherently wrong with the latter point; some rum with added sugar is actually quite good. And its not that rum is totally unregulated. On the contrary, there are specific rules regarding production, but they vary from country to country, piling on confusion for anyone trying to figure out exactly whats inside the bottle they spent their hard-earned cash on. Kenneth McCoy of New Yorks The Rum House, sums it up: I think we should have an idea of how [rum is] made, and if its made with quality ingredients, not just additives, coloring, and sugar, sugar, sugar.

The bottom line is that there is a rum for everyone, and likely from a distillery that's transparent about its process. If you are looking for something with zero additives, you are in luck. And if you prefer something sweeter to use for your Dark n Stormy (more on that below), theres a rum for that, too. Here are 10 of the best rumand rhum agricolebrands, in all styles, to drink this summer.

Story continues

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Mount Gay



Barbadoss Mount Gay has been around in one form or another for about 300 years, but master blender Trudiann Branker has only held her title at the distillery for a little more than a year. Still, shes made a big impact upon some of the core expressions in the portfolio. The ages of the rum in the Black Barrel blend have increased from two-to-seven years to three-to-seven years, and the finish time in heavily charred bourbon barrels has been dramatically expanded from four weeks to six months, really amping up the flavors. For XO, the age range in the blend has shifted as well, and rum aged in cognac barrels is now included. Last year, Branker contributed her first Master Blender Collection expression called Mount Gay Pot Still Rum, which was only distilled in pot stills, instead of the usual combination of pot and column stills. We ought to see more special releases like this in the coming years.

Shop Mount Gay From $26, reservebar.com

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

The Real McCoy

Foursquare is another Barbados distillery known for making great rum, some of which is sold under other brand names. The Real McCoy is one of those, and founder Bailey Pryor was drawn to master distiller Richard Seales no-bullshit approachno sugar or flavor added. There are currently three main expressions, aged three years, five years, and 12 years in bourbon barrels. Most recently, a 14-year-old rum joined the family in a release of just six thousand bottles. That commitment to transparency appeals to many dedicated drinkers.

Shop The Real McCoy From $20, reservebar.com

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Appleton Estate

Appleton Estate master blender Joy Spence, the first woman to hold that job title, believes there should be two categories of rum: flavored rum (with sugar) and true rum (no sugar added). In Fred Minnicks book Rum Curious, she is quoted as saying, You want to add sugar? You can, but the two should be separated. By law, Jamaican rum is not allowed to have sugar added, and the quality of Appleton Estates earthy rums show why its not needed. The 12- and 21-year-old expressions are excellent (and the latter is relatively affordable, considering its age), and there are even older bottles like the 25-year-old Joy Anniversary Blend, which contains rum aged up to about 35 years and was created to commemorate Spences 20 years at the distillery. This is high-end rum for both serious sippers and people who want to make a good cocktail.

Shop Appleton Estate From $24, reservebar.com

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Plantation

Alexandre Gabriel, owner of Maison Ferrand, takes a cue from his native France for his Plantation Rum brand. Sugar is sometimes added to the rum, and Gabriel compares this to the dosage used in champagne production. The company is upfront about it (the website contains detailed information), which goes a long way in the spirits industry. Various bottlings are sourced from countries around the Caribbean, most of which are aged for a second period of time in French cognac casks. And there are so many bottles to explore from Plantation, including a range of single cask expressions and vintage releases from countries like Fiji, Panama, and Peru. Two new releases coming out this summer are the Isle of Fiji rum, a permanent addition to the portfolio that's aged for two-to-three years in ex-bourbon casks and another year in Ferrand cognac casks, and the Fiji 2005 limited-edition vintage, aged for 14 years in bourbon barrels and another year in cognac casks.

Shop Plantation From $12, drizly.com

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Holmes Cay

Holmes Cay is focused on one thing: releasing the best single cask rum it can find, with no sugar or adulterants added. These bottles are pretty high-octane, with ABVs ranging from about 55 percent to a hefty 64 percent. But add a little water if that seems a bit intense, and the flavors really start to shine. There are two new releases from the brand. The first is a 2004 vintage from Fiji, which is 100 percent pot still rum aged for 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels, and then another four years in American oak casks in the UK. The second release is Guyana Port Mourant Demerara 2005, which is distilled in a double wooden pot still (the brand says this is the only one currently in use) at Demerara Distillers, before being aged for 15 years in used American oak barrels in the UK. These are rums that you should take your time with, the way you might with a complex scotch whisky.

Shop Holmes Cay From $149, caskers.com

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Diplomatico

Diplomatico is produced in Venezuela from molasses and sugarcane honey, which the distillery describes as the syrup left over after the first boiling of sugarcane, with a higher sugar content than molasses. Reserva Exclusiva is a dependable spirit to have in your home bar, made in a variety of still types and aged for up to 12 years in oak casks. The higher-end Ambassador is also quite good, a rum aged for a minimum of 12 years in white oak before being finished for two years in PX sherry casks. The latest release, Pot Still Rum, is the third in Diplomaticos Distillery Collection. The trilogy is meant to showcase the different methods of distillation, so this one focuses singularly on copper pot stills. As permitted by Venezuelan law, there is some sugar added to the rum during aging, but the sweetness complements a palate full of banana, oak, and vanilla.

Shop Diplomatico From $30, reserverbar.com

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Rhum JM

On the island of Martinique, the rum produced is known as rhum agricole, and this indicates an important distinction. Instead of using molasses to make the spirit, sugarcane juice is fermented and distilled into something that is somewhat familiar but decidedly different. Try Rhum JMs white rum to really experience how unique the spirit is, with grassy and earthy notes that complement this pleasantly dry, unaged rhum. The brand takes its cues from cognac in terms of age designations, with VO, VSOP (aged three years), and XO expressions. There are also some excellent vintage releases to try, ranging from 10 to 15 years old and bottled at cask strength.

Shop Rhum JM From $25, drizly.com

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Don Q

Bacardi is the biggest rum distillery in Puerto Rico, but Destileria Serralles makes what might be the most popular as far as the locals are concerned: Don Q. This inexpensive rum is named after Don Quixote and has been around since the end of Prohibition. The brand has a slew of different expressions, including an anejo consisting of a blend of rum aged from three to ten years, a couple of single barrel releases, and an interesting Vermouth Cask Finish that spends four to six weeks in Italian oak vermouth barrels after aging in American oak for five to eight years. One of the most recent releases was the Double Aged Sherry Cask Finished rum, which adds another layer of dried fruit sweetness to the spirit.

Shop Don Q From $15, reservebar.com

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Goslings

When you think of a Dark n Stormy, Goslings would like you to think of its rum, and its rum alone. In fact, the brand has trademarked the cocktails name, insisting that it must be made with Goslings Black Seal rum and Goslings ginger beer. Of course, youll (probably) be safe making it with whatever rum you fancy at home. But there is a reason Goslings is as popular as it is: Its cheap and it goes down easy. Goslings doesn't have a distillery; instead, the Bermuda-based company sources barrels from other countries, ages and blends in Bermuda, and ships the rum to Kentucky for bottling. The rum in Black Seal is aged in bourbon barrels for several years, but that dark color is amplified by the addition of molasses from one of the distillates in the final blend, according to Malcolm Gosling. If youre looking for something more complex, check out Papa Seal Single Barrel, a delicious 15-year-old rum that is released in very limited numbers.

Shop Goslings From $22, reservebar.com

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Rhum Barbancourt

Like Martinique, Haiti produces rhum agricole made from sugarcane juice instead of molasses. Rhum Barbancourt is the largest and best known rum producer on the island, with a range that is affordable and available with different age statements, providing solid options for sipping on its own or putting to use in an interesting cocktail. These include the high-end Estate Reserve, a 15-year-old spirit that is best enjoyed neat or maybe with a large ice cube; 3 Star, which is aged for four years despite the name; and Pango Rhum, an aged rum that is flavored with macerated pineapples and mangos.

Shop Rhum Barbancourt From $13, reservebar.com

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New Delhi, June 24 : After strategic business talks, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar attended the Victory Day parade at the Red Square in Moscow on Wednesday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

"I am proud that a tri-service contingent of the Indian armed forces is also participating in this parade," said Rajnath Singh, who is on a three-day trip to Russia.

His visit to Moscow is very significant as India's relationship with China has deteriorated over border issues in eastern Ladakh, where 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash with the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Galwan Valley on June 15. The Chinese side too suffered casualties, though the actual figures are not know yet.

On Tuesday, 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 on 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 the "special and privileged strategic partnerships". "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. 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 they 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 was fully satisfied with the discussions.

"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, especially the veterans, who contributed to the world's security.

The minister recalled that the Indian soldiers also participated in the war and suffered immense casualties. "Many of them were part of the war efforts to provide assistance to the Soviet Army," he said.

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar had discussions with his counterpart and Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
U.S. Border Patrol agents detained more than 90 immigrants who were in the country illegally in recent human smuggling attempts.

The first incident unfolded during the afternoon of June 19, when a tractor-trailer with two visible occupants arrived at the checkpoint on Interstate 35. An X-ray of the trailer revealed individuals inside the trailer, according to Border Patrol.

Agents then discovered 22 Mexican immigrants who had entered the country illegally inside the trailer. The driver and passenger, both U.S. citizens, were taken into custody pending further investigation. Border Patrol seized the tractor. The trailer was turned over to the Webb County Sheriffs Office due to being reported stolen.

A second incident occurred when a tractor-trailer approached the checkpoint on mile marker 29 of Interstate 35 at about 6:40 a.m. June 20. Agents identified the driver as Willie Leegavin Jackson, a U.S. citizen, states an arrest affidavit filed on Monday.

During an immigrations inspection of Jackson, a K-9 unit allegedly alerted to the presence of humans or narcotics in the trailer area. Agents referred Jackson to secondary inspection.

Further inspection revealed anomalies consistent with human bodies concealed inside the trailer. Agents cut the seal on the trailer and discovered 61 immigrants.

Homeland Security Investigations special agents responded to provide investigative assistance. Jackson allegedly agreed to make a post-arrest statement.

Jackson stated that while shopping at the The Outlet Shoppes at Laredo on June 17, he met a man who offered him $1,000 to transport a tractor-trailer from Laredo to San Antonio. Jackson allegedly agreed to be a replacement driver. He picked up the 18-wheeler and drove to I-35.

Jackson stated he does not possess a commercial drivers license and only agreed to transport the tractor-trailer to make some additional income to support his family, states the affidavit.

The final incident occurred early Monday. Agents at the U.S. 59 checkpoint encountered a box truck with a visible driver and passenger. A K-9 unit alerted to possible contraband within the vehicle. Agents opened the back of the vehicle and discovered a hidden compartment in the roof, according to Border Patrol.

Agents found 11 immigrants from Mexico inside the compartment. The driver and passenger, both U.S. citizens, were detained pending further investigation. The vehicle was turned over to the Duval County Sheriffs Office.
Washington

Senior law enforcement officials intervened to seek a more lenient prison sentence for President Donald Trump's friend and ally Roger Stone for political reasons, a former prosecutor on the case is expected to testify before Congress on Wednesday, citing his immediate supervisor's account of the matter.

"What I heard  repeatedly  was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the president," said the prosecutor, Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, in a written opening statement submitted Tuesday to the House Judiciary Committee ahead of Wednesday's hearing.

Zelinsky will say that a supervisor working on the case told him there were "political reasons" to shorten prosecutors' initial sentencing guidelines and that the supervisor agreed that doing so "was unethical and wrong." Zelinsky said he and other prosecutors raised concerns in writing and in conversation.

Zelinsky did not say in his written statement whom he was referring to. Attorney General William Barr directed the intervention after he ousted the Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and installed in her place as acting U.S. attorney a close aide from his own office, Timothy Shea.

Zelinsky plans to say he was told Shea was under "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." Zelinsky is expected to testify that he and other prosecutors were told they could lose their jobs if they did not fall in line.
24.06.2020 LISTEN

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on Tuesday, 23rd June, 2020, on behalf of President Akufo-Addo inaugurated a Community Mining Programme in the Obuasi Municipality.

The Programme is aimed at formalizing mining in selected communities across the region and ultimately in the country.

According to Honorable Asomah- Cheremeh, the community mining program is expected to provide employment for more than 16,000 people while Government anticipates rake in more revenue. He revealed that last year, proceeds from small scale mining contributed to 36% of revenue accrued from the Mining sector to the state.

He said the launch of the program brings an end to Galamsey or illegal mining which have wreaked havoc to arable lands and water bodies in the country.

With most of the miners having been trained by Government at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa in the Western Region to take up responsible mining instead of irresponsible mining as done in the past, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister said, he is convinced that they will abide by the rules and regulations guiding their operations.

Hon. Asomah- Cheremeh also assured prospective small scale miners that District and Satellite offices have been created to ensure that they acquire licenses with less stress. Again, he said plans are far advanced to digitized the licensing acquisition processes for small scale miners.

On his part the Board Chairman of the Mineral Commission, Mr. Sampson Kwaku Boafo also said, to ensure a healthy and peaceful environment for community mining to flourish in Obuasi, an office has been set up in the Municipality for operators to channel their grievances to.

He talked about the benefits of the Community mining program which he said among other things, will open up the economy and also create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the Municipality.

The Member of Parliament for Obuasi West, Honorable Kwaku Kwarteng said Artisanal Mining was the mainstay of the people of Obuasi even before the arrival of large scale mining. He said the survival of the people of Obuasi rest with Large scale and small scale mining all flourishing.

He said the Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo's Government is one that fulfills its promises. "When we were campaigning in 2016, we promised to revive Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine and also regularize the activities of illegal mining in the country, true to our words, all these have been achieved".

He appealed to the Government to expand the frontiers of the Community Mining to include other areas in the Municipality.

Members of the Small Scale Miners Association also praised the Government for formalizing their operations with rules and regulations that will help them function effectively. They pledged their support for the sector to be sanitized by abiding by the rules and regulations.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Agyapong says he would have beaten the Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka had he not been held back by his colleagues after a heated verbal exchange last year in the Parliamentary chamber.



When quizzed if he had reconciled with Muntaka since the incident in January 2019, Mr Agyapong said he had not because he does not deal with cheap people.



The controversial MP went on to detail how he would have assaulted the Asawase MP,



"Oh, Hell no, I can't do that. I don't deal with cheap people. He is not relevant in my life," Mr Ayapong said on Metro TV's Good Evening Ghana on Tuesday night



"Oh sure, I would have given him some flying kicks, you will be surprised, I can still kick good... See, people are watching let's leave this idiot".



Mr Agyapong revealed that he was very violent as a youngster and was sent to live with his mother by his biological father for engaging in street fights.



Background



The exchanges, which happened before the commencement of the business of the House, were occasioned by the referral of Mr Agyapong to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for allegedly inciting the public against the murdered journalists, Mr Ahmed Hussein-Suale.



Mr Agyapong blamed Alhaji Muntaka for raising the issue on the floor of Parliament last Tuesday, which necessitated the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, to refer him (Mr Agyapong) to the Committee.



The two legislators used unprintable words on each other.





It took the intervention of MPs from the Majority and Minority sides to restrain their colleagues from engaging in fisticuffs.



In the aftermath, Alhaji Muntaka apologised for the incident saying he should have restrained himself despite the provocation.



This was the second time Mr Agyapong had been referred to the Privileges following submissions by Alhaji Muntaka.



The first instance was when Alhaji Muntaka alleged that Mr Agyapong had made contemptuous remarks about Parliament and the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.



Making a case against the conduct of Mr Agyapong in Parliament last Tuesday, Alhaji Muntaka said MPs were held in high esteem and also enjoyed some privileges provided for in the Constitution, which required of them to guard their utterances.



Alhaji Muntaka said Mr Agyapongs comments, which were at variance with the requirements in the Code of Conduct of Parliament, were an affront to the dignity of Parliament.



He said it was necessary for the Privileges Committee of Parliament to be made to investigate the matter and punish him if found guilty of breach of privilege of Parliament.









Source: Daily Graphic









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In the earliest days of the lockdown, Mary Brown had not been able to find masks. As a diabetes peer educator who leads community workshops on healthy living, she knew her neighbors at the Mott Haven Houses were already at risk because of heart disease and immune issues.

We couldnt find gloves, masks, anything, said Ms. Brown, who had hoped that the housing authority would provide those items. I wound up paying $2 each for masks at a pharmacy, not that it did my mother and sisters any good. I guess by then we had already gotten it.

Her questions  and suffering  have only increased since then. First her brother, a bus driver, fell ill, mostly likely from the flu. Then two of her sisters spent weeks in intensive care recovering from Covid-19. In late March her mother, Mary, 82, was rushed to the hospital because she could not breathe. She died  alone  on April 4. The next day, Ms. Browns 15-year-old grandnephew was stabbed to death in Harlem.

Its been hard, she said. At least I didnt have to bury my whole family.

The season of devastating loss has been made worse by the sorrow of being unable to send her mother off properly or gathering to console one another. Ms. Brown, who also lives with a sister and an autistic 28-year-old nephew, mostly stays inside her 21st-floor, five-room apartment, which she calls The Penthouse for its sweeping views of Manhattan.

We have to take care of each other, she said. We were left out here with nothing, depending and waiting for the government to distribute things to us.

While she said her building was fairly clean  there is less foot traffic in and out because of social-distancing restrictions  she refuses to let her guard down, cleaning her apartment daily.
BMW and Mercedes-Benz are suspending their development cooperation in the field of automated driving for the time being. Instead, the two companies want to focus on their own development paths. A cooperation at a later date is not ruled out.

Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz are working independently on their current generations. However, following the signing of a contract for cooperation in automated driving last year, BMW and Mercedes-Benz held detailed discussions at expert level and discussed technology roadmaps with suppliers. In these discussions, both sides came to the conclusion that due to the high cost of a common technological basis and due to the overall business and economic conditions, the time is currently not right for a successful implementation of the cooperation.

Both companies emphasize that they will continue their successful cooperation in the other areas as planned. In 2015, for example, both companies acquired the location and technology platform Here together with Audi, which now has a very broad and international shareholder structure. At the beginning of 2019, the two companies also bundled their mobility services in a joint venture under the umbrella of the NOW family.

Markus Schafer, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler and Mercedes-Benz, responsible for Daimler Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars COO, said: Our competencies generally complement those of the BMW Group very well, as evidenced by successful joint cooperation. In addition to decarbonization, digitization is an important strategic pillar for Mercedes-Benz. In order to prepare for the future in a rapidly changing environment, we are currently exploring further opportunities with partners outside the automotive sector.

Together with partners such as Intel, Mobileye, FCA or Ansys, we have consistently developed our technology and our scalable platform, emphasized Klaus Frohlich, member of the Board of Management of BMW, Development. Our current technology generation has sustainable potential: With an extremely powerful sensor system and computing power, we are excellently positioned to offer our customers the right solution for many years to come.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 16:10:21|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Echoing Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks on relations between China and the European Union (EU) during a recent virtual meeting, experts and analysts worldwide have called on the two sides to expand cooperation in an unprecedented era after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xi had a video conference with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Monday night. And Chinese Premier Li Keqiang co-hosted the leaders' meeting together with the two presidents from the EU side.

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 told the 22nd China-EU leaders' meeting on Monday.

Their international roles can explain why broader and deeper China-EU cooperation is an unprecedented urgent call as the world is struggling to recover from the pandemic.

GLOBAL STABILITY

China and the EU should serve as two major forces to maintain global peace and stability, Xi has said, noting that China is willing to communicate with the European side on major issues.

Echoing Xi's viewpoint, Andras Inotai, former director of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences World Economics Research Institute, said that the EU and China, both playing responsible roles in keeping global peace and security and driving the world economy, must join hands to tackle these emerging global challenges together.

As Washington has withdrawn from several international organizations, the two sides are dual-tasked -- on the one hand, to support the operation of existing international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO); on the other hand, to creat new frameworks helpful in promoting international cooperation, Inotai said.

Brian Lantz, representative of the Schiller Institute in Houston, appreciated Xi's insights, saying "it is profoundly stated that all nations have their destinies closely connected, and humanity is in fact a community with a shared future."

"Be it in taming the COVID-19 virus or in achieving economic recovery, humanity cannot succeed without solidarity and cooperation," Lantz said, calling on China, the United States and European countries to continue to seek positive relations on the basis of seeking common ground to ensure mutual peace and economic progress.

GLOBAL PROSPERITY

Xi also said that China and the EU should serve as two huge markets that promote global development and prosperity.

The two economies, together accounting for one-third of global gross domestic product, share broad common interests in trade and investment.

"Europe and China form two of the largest and most dynamic living and economic areas in the world -- on one and the same land mass, the Eurasian continent," said Alexander Welzl, president of the Vienna-based China Data Analysis and Research Hub, in a written interview with Xinhua on Monday.

"Europe and China together, with their combined weight, can bring subtle and meaningful changes and adjustments to the regulations in the area of the financial industry and achieve meaningful agreements," Welzl said.

Observing the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus to many countries, Gai Lin, secretary-general of the EU-China Friendship Association in the European Parliament, told Xinhua that the EU bloc and China need each other more than ever before in various fields such as medical care, biological sciences, big data, artificial intelligence, and food and commodities trade.

"A deeper, broader, more scientific and effective cooperation relationship will help both sides resume economic development in the post-epidemic period," he said.

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

China and Europe should also serve as two great civilizations that adhere to multilateralism and help improve global governance, the Chinese president said at the Monday meeting.

Describing China as "a top priority in the EU's external relations," Men Jing, director of the EU-China Research Center under the College of Europe, said that "from climate change to industrial policy, from supply chain adjustment to WTO reform, bilateral or multilateral in nature, the EU cannot do without cooperation with China."

"As for collaboration and cooperation between China and the EU, I would say that there are a number of areas of mutual interest that can serve to maintain stability and growth of the world," including sustained support for multilateralism and strengthening global governance mechanisms, said Jon R. Taylor, political science professor and department chair at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Given uncertainties over U.S.-China ties, the China-EU relationship is vitally important as the world begins the process of recovering from the fallout caused by the pandemic, Taylor said.

Noting that the leaders' meeting has no doubt generated the necessary impetus to better China-EU relations, Cavince Adhere, a Kenyan international relations researcher, suggested leaders "seize the momentum and see both sides weather the impacts of the pandemic while buttressing their economic ties."

In a world confronting compounding challenges, "China and the EU can set examples on productive forms of international relations where multilateralism and free trade is the norm rather than an exception," said Adhere. Enditem
The death of a father-son duo in a hospital after they were allegedly beaten up by police has caused a furore in Tamil Nadu, with the Madras High Court seeking a report on the matter.

IMAGE: A traffic policeman maintains social distancing as he questions commuters on a mic for violating an intensified lockdown, to curb the spread of coronavirus disease, in Chennai. Photograph: Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said four police personnel, including two sub-inspectors, have been suspended in connection with the incident while an inspector has been put on wait.

He also announced a cash relief of Rs 10 lakh each to the respective families of the victims, besides offering a job.

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court directed the police to submit a report on June 26 over the death of the duo.

The relatives of P Jayaraj and his son J Fennix alleged that the two, earlier picked up for questioning for keeping their mobile accessories shop open during the lockdown, were thrashed by the police personnel in the station.

Meanwhile, Palaniswami detailed the chain of events leading to the deaths, and said the duo were picked up on June 19 after a case was filed against them for not heeding police' direction to close their cellphone shop as it was functioning beyond stipulated hours.

They were later arrested and lodged in the Kovilpatti sub-jail.

On June 22, Fennix complained of breathlessness and was admitted to a local government hospital where he died around 9 pm after failing to respond to treatment, the chief minister said in a statement.

The next morning, Fennix's father Jayaraj was admitted to the hospital after he complained of illness, but died, he added.

Subsequently, a case was filed in this connection.

When the relatives of the deceased moved the Madurai bench of the Madras high court, it ordered video recording of the post-mortem, even as it took up the case on its own on Wednesday.

IG South Zone Shanmuga Rajeswaran and Tuticorin district police chief Arun Balagopal appeared before the court in the virtual hearing on Wednesday, Palaniswami said.

They informed the bench that two sub-inspectors and two head constables attached to Sathankulam police station have been placed under suspension, while the inspector was put on waiting list.

The bench of Justices P N Prakash and B Pugalendi directed the Tuticorin Superintendent of Police to submit a status report, post-mortem video, among others and posted the case for further hearing on June 26.

The court said it will monitor the case, Palaniswami added.

Rajeswaran and Balagopal were present when the case came up for hearing, although the court had directed state police chief J K Tripathy to appear, but he could not do so since he was in a meeting in Chennai.

The Chief Minister also said a judicial magistrate was conducting an inquest.

Expressing his condolences to the kin of the deceased, he said the further course of action will be based on the report of the magistrate,as well as the directions of the high court.

He announced Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased and a government job to one person from the family, based on their qualification.

Meanwhile, the family of the deceased demanded that a murder case be registered against the two sub-inspectors, alleging they were responsible for the death of the two men.

They said they had lost both the male members of their family.

Various political parties, including the DMK, wanted action against those responsible for the duo's death.

Party leader and Tuticorin Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi dubbed the incident as 'violence' committed by the police and wanted action against two sub-inspectors for their alleged roles in the incident.
Misawa AB demonstrates combat readiness in first joint, bilateral elephant walk

By Capt. Lauren Linscott, 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published June 23, 2020

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) -- Members of the 35th Fighter Wing completed a readiness exercise designed to validate the wing's ability to rapidly generate combat airpower at Misawa Air Base, June 23. The exercise culminated in a joint and bilateral "elephant walk" formation composed of 31 aircraft, demonstrating large-scale combat airpower local to Misawa AB.

"The goal of this exercise was to execute a short notice, agile combat execution-style deployment and generation," said Maj. Brannan Studley, 35th Fighter Wing director of wing inspections. "We learned a lot, refined our training, and demonstrated we're ready to fight, which is even more critical in the middle of COVID-19 operations." This exercise and demonstration touched on all five of the Air Force core missions: Air and Space Superiority, Global Strike, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, Rapid Global Mobility, and Command and Control.

After the conclusion of the generation portion of the exercise, 12 newly-configured F-16CM Fighting Falcons took to the runway, along with 12 Koku-Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers, a USN C-12 Huron, two U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II aircraft from Kadena AB, a USN P-8 Poseidon, and a Koku-Jieitai CH-47 Chinook.

With the exception of the MC-130Js, the rest of the aircraft that participated are assigned to Misawa AB.

"Seeing our forces and our partners and allies taxi to the runway in one formation, as one fighting force, really brought home my last two years of command," said Col. Kristopher Struve, 35th Fighter Wing commander. "I'm grateful to our Navy counterparts and Koku-Jieitai allies for their continued efforts in enhancing our interoperability and continuing to improve on our collective capabilities. Misawa Air Base would not be the combat-ready force it is without them.

This demonstration took the work of many agencies and individuals across the base, and the 35th Fighter Wing is grateful to our partners for showcasing the amazing, combat-ready force available to our Indo-Pacific leaders if called upon during a crisis."

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Miss Kendra launches new school curriculum for children K-12 to address issues around social justice and promote equality

New Haven, CT, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (via NGO Wire) Miss Kendra Programs have added a social justice component to their well-known Miss Kendras List, a central component to the K-12 classroom program used across the country. Miss Kendra Programs, which have gained national attention for their unique public health approach to childhood trauma, has developed the additional list item and accompanying curriculum in consultation with several experts in the field and a group of school principals.

With the recent demands for social justice throughout the United States, the new list addition states: No child should be harmed because of their race, religion, or gender, encouraging conversations about acts of oppression and prejudices. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) including trauma, abuse, and neglect, directly and negatively impact personal identity. In addition, historical, institutional, economic, and cultural sources of oppression and the misuse of power are critical factors behind ACEs that occur in families, neighborhoods, and schools.

This list addition and the corresponding curriculum have been in development since 2019, as Miss Kendra Programs continue efforts to address the impacts of trauma and toxic stress in the schools amidst an ever-changing social climate.

By adding this component to our Miss Kendra Programs, we intend to expand students opportunities to explore and learn about these important issues, said David Read Johnson, PhD, co-founder of Miss Kendra Programs. Miss Kendra Programs are not intended to be a course on social justice in which the children are taught concepts. The lessons in the curriculum are methods for eliciting the worries and concerns of students, and then to be listened to by a caring adult.

The Miss Kendra curriculum is designed to be applicable to all school settings and cultural environments. However, the counselors and teachers are encouraged to dig deeper into these issues according to their comfort level and the norms of the school or community. Counselors and teachers must use their judgment in negotiating the depth to which this material will be explored.

Story continues

Miss Kendra Programs include classroom- and school-wide models that use a public health approach to address childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences. With programs in schools in Connecticut, North Carolina, Florida, Indiana, South Carolina, Michigan, New Hampshire, Washington and Minnesota, Miss Kendra Programs have joined the national movement for bringing trauma-informed strategies to every student and every classroom. For more information on the Programs, visit misskendraschools.org

###

Contact:

Jordyn Miller

203.233.1097

jordyn@bigvoicecomm.com












REL-ID stands out as a truly customer-centric and cost-effective platform designed to empower banks in their journey towards a digital-first future

LONDON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the MEASA identity & access management market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Uniken, Inc. for its user-friendly mobile-first platform, REL-ID. This solution offers an easy, secure, passwordless, and intuitive way for banks to connect to their omnichannel users. Using a sophisticated unified defense in depth approach coupled with its mobile biometrics authentication procedure, it does away with the personally identifiable information (PII) step, keeping the end user's login experience quick and secure.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1195775/Frost_Sullivan_2019_MEASA_Award.jpg

"Uniken developed its visionary identity and access solutions to drive stronger and more efficient customer engagement while eliminating the possibility of fraudulent transactions. REL-ID helps clients combat identity, network, and device threats without compromising the user experience," said Hiten Kamleshkumar Shah Senior Research Analyst. "The solution is also highly cost-effective as it does away with the need for clients to deploy and integrate multiple solutions into their infrastructure to secure a wide range of channels. It works across platforms and maintains a mobile-first approach, making it possible for companies to deliver a consistent access control and security experience across channels."

REL-ID's underlying objective is making connections secure and easy. Its password-less solution, which relies heavily on a mobile biometric-based and unified defense in depth approach, eliminates the threat of credential compromise, one of the major vectors of breach. To ensure a frictionless login experience, it undertakes a complex set of identity and device verification procedures at the backend during each instance of a login. It employs intelligent endpoint threat detection that uses machine learning to identify previously undetected malware and their polymorphic versions.

Beyond all of its verification mechanisms, REL-ID has in-built controls for verifying that the mobile application in a user device is not tampered with and also uses a man-in-the-middle-proof secure channel to make sure that the security of transaction remains unaffected, even in unsecured networks. The integration of centralized identity verification mechanisms and Uniken's approach of tailoring its product to work in accordance with the centralized banking systems of companies has increased the scalability of the platform. Besides, REL-ID makes use of geolocation and digital signatures to create a record of each user-approved transaction, which can be used in case of any future discrepancies.

"Uniken originally derived the majority of its business from India, which is a market with high smartphone usage. The company has now expanded into Latin America, the United States, APAC and Europe, Middle East, and Africa," noted Shah. "Overall, Uniken's efforts towards making REL-ID more secure and seamless have allowed its clients to future-proof their digital efforts and guided the industry towards a new era of user-focused banking processes."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed 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. To download the comprehensive write up on why Uniken won the Identity and Access Management award click here.

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:

Harley Gadomski

P: 12104778469

E: harley.gadomski@frost.com

About Uniken, Inc.

Uniken is a pioneer in the field of digital security. Uniken's flagship product REL-ID is an advanced, first-of-its-kind, security platform that secures connections between customers and businesses by eliminating all possibilities of a data breach and fraud. To date Uniken has secured $8.2tn across 5.5bn transactions with zero financial or identity loss. A mobile-first solution, REL-ID effectively protects customers, enterprises and the entire ecosystem from a wide variety of risks such as identity attacks, device attacks and network attacks. For its pioneering products, Uniken has received various awards and recognition including Frost & Sullivan Best Practice Award, Gartner Cool Vendor, Forrester Now Tech Industry Leader, OWI Top 10 IAM Company, and KPMG Top 25 Security Provider.

Contact:

Graeme Rowe

P: +44 7909447255

E: Graeme.rowe@uniken.com




Haiti - UN : $472M needed to meet the most urgent needs of Haiti





The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Haiti (OCHA) presented the revised Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), taking into account the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic in Haiti. No less than $472 million are needed today to meet the most urgent needs in the country.



This amount is divided into two parts.



To cope with the Corona Virus pandemic, $144 million is needed to enable partners to support the efforts of the Government of Haiti.



Regarding non-covid humanitarian financial needs, they amount to $328 million, an increase of $75 million compared to the revised HRP which was launched last February, an increase due to the consequences of the epidemic in particular on the most vulnerable populations. Among other things, recent assessments indicate that:



The pandemic should lead to a deterioration in the food security situation, pushing part of the 3 million people already in phase 3 of the IPC analysis towards phase 4 (emergency);



The number of malnourished children under 5 is expected to increase by 25%, while the rate of severe acute malnutrition at the national level was already above the emergency threshold of 2% in December 2019;



The schooling of more than 4 million children was interrupted, which affected the most vulnerable and canceled the progress made in terms of access to education and quality of education;



The pandemic has severely exacerbated protection risks and vulnerabilities.



Bruno Lemarquis, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, launched an appeal for international solidarity explaining "Behind these figures there are women, men, children, who live below the poverty lines and extreme poverty. With the pandemic, the situation has worsened for them. In the quest for the Sustainable Development Goals, they must not be left by the wayside. Today, we are therefore calling on a mobilization of partners and a surge of solidarity to support the most vulnerable."



For his part Wilfrid Trenard, the Director General of the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation, stressed the importance of mobilizing partners in support of the HRP in order to support both the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the response to the essential and vital needs of the population, stressing that the HRP constitutes "a real advocacy tool which should serve today to mobilize resources from development and humanitarian partners for a better tomorrow for our fellow citizens and fellow citizens."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















TrustYou, the company dedicated to making listening to feedback easy, powerful, and actionable, has announced the launch of its latest eBook: 100+ Covid-19 Power Tips and Ideas for the Hotel Industry."

The eBook is a shared resource, based on survey results from TrustYous partners, a range of international hoteliers in charge of both independent and chain properties, on how they are approaching the crisis. TrustYou defines the eBook as a comprehensive and well-rounded resource with tried-and-true tips and advice from hotel managers who are currently navigating the Covid-19 crisis.

As the title implies, the guide gathers more than 100 ideas and suggestions from TrustYous hospitality clients that tackle relevant topics, such as the safety of employees and guests and the heavy focus on health and cleanliness. The contributors also provide advice on the people-centric approach that the industry needs to prioritise, the digitalization of hotel operations, as well as the bottom line: what hotels are currently doing to keep business going and diminish financial losses. The eBook is structured into chapters that follow the above-mentioned topics and includes practical and actionable tips, with the end goal of supporting hospitality workers with clear guidelines that are tested and applied by fellow hoteliers.

We are experiencing unprecedented events in the hospitality industry and when it comes to overcoming the current crisis, no one is really an expert because no one has done this before. While our industry is highly competitive, we found that the only way to navigate these challenging waters is to stick together. This is why we reached out to our partners and asked them about their specific ways of dealing with the crisis, about prioritising the safety of guests and staff, and about the best strategies that they have already implemented in order to push through this crisis with minimum losses said Benjamin Jost, TrustYous Co-Founder and CEO. We believe that sharing information and advice, as well as simply being human and kind to each other, is what will get us all through.

TrustYou has been committed to supporting the industry through the current crisis and the company has continuously released meaningful resources throughout the past months. TrustYous Travel Health Index is just one of the innovative assets that enable hoteliers to keep a close eye on their markets and their ongoing trajectory, as seen through guest reviews. The company also has a dedicated Covid-19 resource library, made up of stories, trends, and guidelines around the current state of the hospitality sector, its upcoming recovery process, and the best strategies for overcoming difficulties and appealing to the post-Covid-19 traveller. - TradeArabia News Service
23.06.2020 LISTEN

A pretty and energetic female trained teacher from Wiawso College of Education, Miss Regina Ofori with the stage name, Adjoa has been chosen among other contenders to represent the Western North Region of this years edition of TV3s prestigious beauty pageant, Ghana Most Beautiful (GMB).

Adjoa hails from Sefwi Bekwai which is within the Bibiani-Ahwiaso-Bekwai Municipal Assembly. She is bold, intelligent, beautiful, and a true African young lady. Since the inception of the most captivating GMB pageant, her region has never tasted the ultimate. Adjoa is confident that she will wear the crown for her region this time around.

The young lady will be battling with 15 other great pageants from the other regions of the country who are all eyeing for the crown. I promise to make good use of the opportunity to inform the world about the hospitality and rich culture of my people says Adjoa

She added that I know that I am worthy and capable of achieving my dreams and purpose on this earth but I call on Ghanaians especially those from Western North to rally behind me.
New Delhi, June 24 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Prakash Jarwal in connection with a case related to the suicide of a doctor in the national capital.

A single judge bench of the high court presided by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait while granting bail to Jarwal, directed him to furnish a personal bond in the sum of Rs 25,000 and one surety of like amount. It also asked Jarwal not to contact or influence the prosecution witnesses in any manner.

"Keeping in view the fact that the petitioner is in judicial custody since 09.05.2020, however, petitioner no more required for further investigation and trial will take substantial time, I am of the view that petitioner deserves bail, without commenting on the merits of the prosecution case," the judge said.

The court also observed that Jarwal's brother Anil Jarwal whose name was also mentioned in the suicide note, has already been granted anticipatory bail by the court of sessions observing that in the suicide note, there are different handwritings and no specific date of harassment was mentioned.

"Regarding the allegations of threat and influencing the witnesses, the police has already taken cognizance and if in future, any incident of this nature happens, the police is at liberty to take action against such person as per the law," the court noted.

"There were no allegations against petitioner in the 'Suicide Note' and 'Diary' recovered by the police. Thus, it seems, there is no proximity and link in alleged commission of offence," it said adding that the said facts are to be tested during the trial.

Jarwal, who represents the Deoli assembly constituency, was arrested on May 9 in connection with a case of alleged suicide of a doctor in south Delhi.

A 52-year-old doctor had allegedly committed suicide in Durga Vihar in South Delhi on April 18. In his suicide note, he had held Jarwal responsible for taking the extreme step.

According to Delhi Police, Jarwal and the deceased were both involved in the business of water supply with the Delhi Jal Board since 2007.

The police said that the deceased, in the suicide note, stated that the Jarwal and his associates used to take money from him for running of his water tankers in the Dwarka area.
When Prince Harry moved to North America with his wife, Meghan Markle, back in January, there were ongoing rumors that it had caused serious tension between him and his family. For a while, nobody knew the status of the royals relationship with the Sussexes. But Prince Charles finally gave a subtle hint that he and Harry still have a strong father-son relationship.

Prince Charles and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the royal family back in March

When Harry and Meghan returned home from a six-week holiday in Canada back in January, it wasnt back to business as usual. Instead, the two made the surprising announcement that they would be stepping down from the royal family in an effort to live a more private, peaceful life. Meghan had been dealing with plenty of negativity from the press, and the couples wish to give their son a more private life wouldnt come true in the spotlight of the royal family. Ultimately, leaving seemed to be their only option.

RELATED: Prince Charles Had a Secret Role at Both Prince Harry and Prince Williams Royal Weddings

The move reportedly caused tension among the royals

When Harry and Meghan started dating, there were rumors of tension between the two and the other royals. Specifically, the couples relationship with Prince William and Kate Middleton became a hot topic, with many tabloids suggesting Meghan and Kate did not get along.

When Harry and Meghan announced their departure, there were also rumors that the other royals didnt learn about their decision until it was publicized, only furthering stories of a divide. In March, the couple returned to the United Kingdom for their final appearances as working royals, and press photographs suggested they hardly spoke to any other family members during the outings.

Prince Charles just hinted he and Harry are on good terms

The relationship between Harry and his father, Prince Charles, remained less understood, since Charles feelings on the departure werent as highly profiled as the queens or the Cambridges. Still, Charles recently hinted that things between him and his son might be perfectly fine. On Fathers Day, Charles posted a photo alongside William and Harry, sending some love to his son across the pond.

Though it would have been a major dig for Charles to post a photo of only William (and something he likely wouldnt do, feud or not), he could have chosen to only post a photo with his own father. Fans noticed the picture too, and left encouraging comments. Love to see you with both your boys, one person wrote. Look at that second pic of the boys. Wow!!! someone else commented.

Royal aides are reportedly concerned about an upcoming book

Finding Freedom, a new book discussing Harry and Meghans time in the royal family up until their departure, is set to be released this summer. And according to reports, despite whether or not tensions are high between Harry and the family, there is concern from royal aides that the book will shed the family in a negative light.

Reports suggest William will be depicted negatively in the book, which could affect the familys reputation. It has been rumored that Harry and Meghan cooperated with the book, though its unclear if its true. The book is available August 11.
The State Ethics Commissions Enforcement Division has alleged that Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. and Former State Police Col. Richard McKeon, among other officials, violated conflict of interest law when handling the arrest report involving a judges daughter.

The commission issued orders to show cause on Wednesday, alleging the violation by Early and McKeon as well as Senior First Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Travers and former State Police Major Susan Anderson.

On October 16, 2017, Alli Bibaud, who is the daughter of Judge Timothy Bibaud, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. A troopers report of the arrest included sexually explicit statements allegedly made by Bibaud as well as a statement that her father is a judge. The statements were later scrubbed from the report.

The commission wrote in a statement that the effort to replace the original arrest report with a revised report omitting Bibauds embarrassing statements was in violation of the conflict of interest law.

After the arrest report was filed in Worcester District Court, a clerk magistrate found probable cause, the criminal complaint was issued, and the arrest report and complaint were impounded, according to the ethics commission.

After receiving a copy of the arrest report, Travers allegedly notified Early that the report contained the daughters sexually explicit statements and statement that her father was a judge. Early, the chief law enforcement officer in Worcester County, then called McKeon to alert him to the contents of the report. The following day, Early allegedly told McKeon that McKeon could revise the report to remove the sexually explicit statements and the reference to the judge, the commission wrote in a news release.

McKeon allegedly issued an order through the Massachusetts State Police chain of command, advising the trooper who wrote the arrest report to revise the document by removing the sexually explicit statements and the statement in which Bibaud identified her father as a judge.

When Anderson, who commanded C Troop, received the order from a superior, she and a member of her command staff allegedly decided which material would be removed from the report.

Anderson then allegedly ordered the arresting trooper to remove that material from the report. When the trooper protested that he was being ordered to remove the material because the arrest report involved a judges daughter, Anderson allegedly agreed, the news release continued.

Then, McKeon allegedly ordered the revised arrest report to be delivered to Earlys office. Thats when Early allegedly directed Travers to go to the clerks office and replace the original report, according to the commission.

The conflict of interest law prohibits public employees from using or attempting to use their official positions to obtain an unwarranted privilege that is not properly available, the news release read.

Early, Travers, McKeon, and Anderson allegedly violated this section of the law by using their positions [to] cause the arrest report to be revised or replaced, as the removal of the sexually explicit statements and other embarrassing statements would be an unwarranted privilege for the judge and his daughter. This privilege would not be properly available to other people in similar situations, the release continued.

Conflict of interest law also prohibits public employees from acting in a manner that creates a reasonable appearance that they would act or fail to act in performing an official duty due to kinship, rank, or undue influence from another person, the commission said.

Early, Travers, McKeon, and Anderson allegedly violated this section of the law through actions they took in connection with the revision and attempted replacement of the original arrest report, the release reads.

When investigations into how Bibauds arrest were announced, Gov. Charlie Baker at the time maintained that the directive to scrub details from the report came down from McKeon. But an investigation by Attorney General Maura Healeys office in 2018 showed pressure to redact the report came from Earlys office.

DA Early and Col. McKeon had several telephone conversations regarding the Alli Bibaud arrest report on October 18, 2017, the Attorney Generals Office wrote in its 2018 findings. In those conversations, Early asked McKeon what the Colonel was going to do about the report. Col. McKeon said that he thought that ship had sailed. Early responded that the DAs Office would be moving to redact the report.

When interviewed by a team from the Attorney General Office, McKeon said that in his discussions with Early regarding the arrest report, Early conveyed to him that he was allowed to have a new report created and that it was the right thing to do.

Well, it was after that I had the conversation with Joe Early, and all indications were that this was the appropriate thing to do, McKeon told the AGs investigators. I must say that he was previously my boss. Hes the prosecuting District Attorney in that county, and he was in charge of the prosecution of this case. And I was led to believe that everything that I was about to do was not only the right thing, but it was the appropriate thing to do.

Both the arresting trooper who objected to revising the report, as well as the supervisor who signed off on the original report, had been issued negative observation reports by their superiors for including inappropriate, negative and derogatory statements in the original report.

Early told the Attorney Generals Office that he was concerned that Bibauds statements about sex acts needlessly stigmatized a person struggling with addiction and were likely to generate prejudicial pretrial publicity, and did not contribute to establishing probable cause for the charges.

Pursuant to the Commissions enforcement procedures, the enforcement division files an order to show cause after the commission has found reasonable cause to believe the subject of the order has violated the conflict of interest law. Before filing the order to show cause, the enforcement division gives the subject an opportunity to resolve the matter through a disposition agreement.

The Commission will schedule public hearings on the allegations within 90 days.

As the Commissions press release accurately reflects, they previously voted reasonable cause and invited me to settle by way of a disposition agreement. That invitation came just before Christmas and I declined it because my actions fit squarely within the rules of professional conduct that bind us as prosecutors, Early said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

As DA, I am supposed to take steps to prevent the law enforcement officers with whom we work from making statements that will be publicly disseminated in the media that hold defendants up to ridicule and affect their right to a fair trial, Early continued. I adhered to those ethical rules in this situation and will continue to do so, just as I have throughout my tenure. I look forward to a public hearing.

Bibaud later admitted to the OUI charge from the incident.

The incident is among several scandals the Massachusetts State Police have faced in recent years.

McKeon and his second-in-command retired amid the scandal. The matter had been referred to the state Ethics Commission by Healey.

While the revisions to the police report raise questions under our state ethics laws, we found that they were not made with criminal intent to prejudice Bibauds prosecution, Healey previously said. However, because of our concerns about potential civil ethics violations, we are referring the matter to the State Ethics Commission.

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AxisCare Named FrontRunner for Home Health Care Software "Our clients feedback is critical to our business - not only to help others in their buying decision, but also to help us customize the software according to our customers needs. - Todd Allen, CEO of AxisCare

AxisCare Home Care Software announced today it was named FrontRunner for Home Health Care software by Software Advice. FrontRunners evaluates verified end-user reviews and product data, positioning the top scoring products based on Usability and Customer Satisfaction ratings. AxisCare placed in FrontRunners as a result of the number and quality of its user reviews submitted online by verified customers.

We are honored to be named FrontRunner in the Home Health Software Category. Our clients feedback is critical to our business - not only to help others in their buying decision, but also to help us customize the software according to our customers needs. says Todd Allen, CEO of AxisCare. One of our core values is Unmatched Customer Service, and to be named FrontRunner is both confirmation to that pursuit and a great accomplishment for our Customer Support team.

AxisCares home care platform empowers agencies to manage all aspects of their operations, remotely and paperless, with state-of-the-art scheduling, HR and financial reporting, caregiver GPS mobile app, built-in legal forms, client management and more. Their newest feature, CareVision, helps agencies fight the spread of COVID-19 by asking caregivers customized questions at clock-in and clock-out, providing real-time point-of-care visibility.

FrontRunners is published on Software Advice, the leading online service for businesses navigating the software selection process. FrontRunners evaluates verified end-user reviews and product data, positioning the top scoring products based on Usability and Customer Satisfaction ratings for small businesses.

FrontRunners constitute the subjective opinions of individual end-user reviews, ratings, and data applied against a documented methodology; they neither represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Software Advice or its affiliates.

About AxisCare Home Care Software

AxisCares agency management software is a back-office and point of care solution for non-medical agencies in all 50 states and 6 countries. Specializing in Private Pay, Medicaid and other 3rd-party payers, AxisCares platform helps agencies, from startup to enterprise, stay compliant, cash-flow healthy, and ahead of their competition with built-in marketing and CRM tools. Recently given the industrys top award for ease of use, overall performance and customer service, AxisCares mission is to transform home operations, empowering agencies to provide better care. For more information about AxisCare, please visit axiscare.com or email sales@axiscare.com.

About Software Advice

Software Advice is the leading online service for businesses navigating the software selection process. Advisors provide free, personalized software recommendations, helping companies of all sizes find products that meet their business needs. Software Advice also features objective research by industry experts and reviews from validated users, saving buyers time and resources. Software Advice is a Gartner company. For more information, visit softwareadvice.com.


Sophie Habboo looked radiant as ever as she soaked up the sun on a day out with her boyfriend Jamie Laing.

The Made In Chelsea star, 25, showcased her jaw-dropping physique as Jamie, 31, uploaded a series of snaps of her to his Instagram Stories.

Sophie displayed her bronzed hue as she donned a white bikini with a pink floral print, with Jamie sharing a clip of her picking tomatoes.

Stunning: Sophie Habboo, 25, looked radiant as ever as she soaked up the sun on a day out with her boyfriend Jamie Laing, 31

The TV personality styled her blonde locks into an updo for the day while she also wore a pair of shades.

Jamie shared a clip of the couple walking in the countryside where he lamented the appearance of his newly shaved head, saying: 'I look 48, I look 69! It's ridiculous'.

The star also posted a clip of his girlfriend reading a book in the pool before they both relaxed at the beach.

Jamie and Sophie were self-isolating together during the coronavirus lockdown and almost parted ways after an argument over Tupperware.

Looking good: Sophie styled her blonde locks into an updo for the day while she also wore a pair of shades

Speaking on FUBAR Radio's Access All Areas, Jamie said: 'My girlfriend and I nearly broke up about 400 times. We nearly broke up over Tupperware. Over Tupperware!

'Stop putting stuff in Tupperware! Eat it. Stop putting it in Tupperware! What are you doing? No, I hate Tupperware! Get it away from me!'

The Tupperware was far from the only thing that caused the pair to almost come to blows during lockdown.

Not happy: Jamie shared a clip of the couple walking in the countryside where he lamented the appearance of his newly shaved head, saying: 'I look 48, I look 69! It's ridiculous'

Recalling another squabble, Jamie said: 'Why is there brown marks on the towel? She's told me it's definitely fake tan and I'm like, "well why is it on the towel?" Why is it on the towel?'

'"I don't know. It comes out in the wash." No it doesn't. it doesn't come out in the wash!'

When asked if the solution was just to not speak, Jamie noted: 'Trying not speaking or breaking up. I don't know which one. I think breaking up is harder!'
COLUMBUS, OhioSolid majorities of Ohio voters approve of the job that police are doing, both in their communities and around the state, according to a new survey released Wednesday.

The Quinnipiac University poll follows weeks of protests in Ohio and around the nation in response to the police-involved death of George Floyd, a Black Minneapolis resident. During some of the Ohio protests, police have deployed tear gas, pepper spray, and mace against demonstrators.

The survey of more than 1,100 Ohio voters found that 82% approve of the way police in their community are doing their job, while 16 percent disapprove. Seventy-two percent of voters polled approve of the job police around the state are doing, while 24% disapprove.

Viewpoints of the police differed among racial lines. Seventy-seven percent of white voters surveyed said they approved of how police are doing their jobs, while 19% disapproved. Among Black voters, 49% disapproved of police officers job performance; 46% approved.

Police job-approval ratings were above 50% for every age group, ranging from 58% for voters between the age of 18 and 34 to 78% for both voters ages 50-64 and 65 or older. Slightly more male voters polled (80%) supported the police than female voters did (74%).

Police scored positive job-approval ratings among voters in cities (63%), suburbs (72%), and rural areas (80%).

Amid calls by protesters to defund the police, 82% of voters said they oppose replacing their communitys police department with a new one. Fifty-seven percent oppose cutting funding to their local police and rerouting the money to boost social services.

However, voters were divided when asked whether police officers are generally held accountable for misconduct: 50% percent said no, while 46% said yes.

Overall, 82% of voters said they dont personally worry about becoming a victim of police violence. However, answers again differed sharply along racial lines: 60% of Black voters said they worried about being victimized by police, compared to only 9% of white voters.

The poll was conducted between June 18-22 by randomly calling voters on landlines and cell phones. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.9%.

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ARCHIVED - King and Queen of Spain visiting every region to support post-Covid recovery



The visits began today in the Canary Islands

The King and Queen of Spain have begun a series of visits to every autonomous region of Spain to support the recovery of the country now that the Covid lockdown has been lifted, focusing on social, economic and cultural aspects as well as meeting local residents.



Don Felipe and Dona Letizia, who travelled to the first destination on the list, the Canary Islands on Tuesday, were accompanied by the Minister for Territorial Policy and Public Function, Carolina Darias.



The visit to the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands began with the official re-opening of the "Perez Galdos House-Museum", which resumes activities today, along with the remainder of the Canarian museums. The museum is located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and the royal couple were accompanied on a tour of the museum by director, Victoria Galvan, concluding their tour with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.



Later, Don Felipe and Dona Letizia moved to Playa de las Canteras and walked along the promenade for the benefit of the media.



Images:  Casa de S.M. el Rey


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 the name of Mr Tiernan, with addresses at Longfield Road, Forkhill, Newry Co Armagh, Ann Street, Dundalk, Co Louth and Swanward Court, Parnell Road, Dublin 12, 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, yesterday, Tuesday, June 23, 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.
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.
Working with public health authorities, the school identified 298 travelers and close contacts and interviewed all but nine. Asymptomatic travelers and their contacts were advised to self-quarantine and monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days. Symptomatic travelers and their contacts were offered tests and told to self-isolate until they got a negative test result, or for seven days after their symptoms began and three days without a fever. Ultimately, 231 people were tested.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Around 27 civil society organisations and public health groups on Tuesday wrote a letter to the L-G Anil Baijal and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over the concern related to hospital rates for Covid-19 treatment in private hospitals.

The order issued on June 20 has categorised charges to be applicable to private hospitals based on beds more and less than 60 per cent of its total capacity. While the bodies welcomed the decision to fix a price cap on private hospitals, they lambasted the limitation of fixed rates on limited percentage of beds, terming it as discriminatory and one that does not meet the objective of providing fair and equitable access to treatment.

We apprehend that the Order and subsequent Circular are riddled with flaws, contradictions and ambiguities which could be exploited by private hospitals to overcharge people and come in the way of achieving the intent and purpose behind issuing fixed rates in the first place, read the letter.

The bodies noted that while price capping 60 per cent of total hospital bed capacity, and not for all Covid designated beds is arbitrary and incomprehensible, it also creates inequities in that someone who cannot afford the scheduled charges would be forced to pay a higher cost of treatment only because of unavailability of beds to which price caps apply.

The letter also highlights that the recent circular has not provided the specific number of beds that will be made available in each hospital under each category  isolation, ICU with and without a ventilator.

This, the bodies feel will provide leeway for private hospitals to reserve the more profitable beds, i.e. ICU beds with and without ventilators, to charge patients as per their schedule of charges. The circular according to them, also, fails to account for the 10 per cent beds, that hospitals which have received land at concessional rates, are mandated by law to provide free of cost to EWS patients.
Leadership

Regarding Abbott warns surge unacceptable, (A1, June 23): During Gov. Greg Abbotts briefing on Monday, and as he tried to explain the states alarming number trends, one could not help but to feel insulted. Did he really think we bought that? By skillfully brushing off spikes of positive cases with all sorts of rehearsed vague explanations and using remote and isolated areas of Texas as a reference, while never mentioning Harris Countys alarming numbers, he called it a day. As I heard the governor shifting responsibility to young people, inmates test results in remote jails, late and cumulative test reporting or people not taking the virus seriously, I wondered if anybody is in charge here. If our numbers are moving fast in the wrong direction, governor, it is because you are moving forward recklessly. Every time you repeat that you are laser-focused on increasing hospital capacity, one cannot help but to cringe. What you call laser-focused it is actually a serious case of tunnel-vision in my book. How about being laser-focused on contagion or putting proper preventive measures in place and enforced before we move on to the next opening phase? You are risking lives, governor! You are leading our state to an economic and humanitarian catastrophe as we work our way to another shutdown, one much longer and harder to recover from.

America Gomez, Houston

Why I wear a mask

Wearing a mask all these weeks has made me the recipient of not a few suspicious glances, even some unsympathetic laughter. But thats okay. I know why I wear a mask. It is not based on legal obligation or political affiliation. It is because I dont enjoy the luxury of denial. My profession is hospital chaplaincy, and I serve one of the health systems that towers above the Houston horizon. Since COVID-19 entered our community, my job has been to offer support to the dedicated employees of my hospital, the patients who suffer in isolation and the families who cannot be with them. I have witnessed the deaths of patients as this vile virus laid siege to their bodies. I have spoken to families worrying at home, awaiting the fate of those they cherish. I have listened to them grieve when the outcome was bad. I have heard the anguish of both veteran and rookie clinicians as they wept for patients lost, bearing the heavy weight of responsibility, fighting off contagions fear for themselves and their families. I wear a mask because I dont wish to see you on a ventilator or being zipped into a body bag. I wear it because I dont wish to ask your family which funeral home to notify. I wear it because I refuse to add to the enormous burden of our hospitals clinicians. I wear a mask because I value your health and your life. My only request is that you would do the same for me.

Timothy Morris, Houston
Saudi Arabia said Tuesday it will allow a drastically scaled-back hajj pilgrimage for around 1,000 pilgrims already present in the kingdom, as it battles a coronavirus surge. The decision to exclude pilgrims arriving from outside Saudi Arabia, a first in the kingdom's modern history, sparked disappointment among Muslims worldwide even as many accepted it was necessary due to the health risks involved. The reduced number is a far cry from the 2.5 million who attended the five-day ritual last year, and it remains unclear what the selection process will be for this year's hajj, scheduled for the end of July. "The number of pilgrims will be around 1,000, maybe less, maybe a little more," Hajj Minister Mohammad Benten told reporters in Riyadh. "The number won't be in tens or hundreds of thousands" this year, he added. The pilgrimage will be limited this year to those below 65 years of age and with no chronic illnesses, Health Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah said. The pilgrims will be tested for coronavirus before arriving in the holy city of Mecca and required to quarantine at home after the ritual, Rabiah added. The Saudi decision to hold a "very limited" hajj is fraught with political and economic peril and comes after several Muslim nations pulled out of the annual ritual that forms one of the main pillars of Islam. - 'Moment of sorrow' - The hajj -- a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime -- could be a major source of contagion, as it packs millions of pilgrims into congested religious sites. The decision comes as Saudi Arabia grapples with a major spike in infections, which have now risen to more than 164,000 cases -- the highest in the Gulf -- with nearly 1,350 deaths. "Saudi Arabia has chosen the safest option that allows it to save face within the Muslim world while making sure they are not seen as compromising on public health," Umar Karim, a visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, told AFP. Saudi Arabia has said the hajj will be open to people of various nationalities already in the kingdom, without specifying how many Saudis will be permitted or what the selection process will be. But Benten said the government will work with various diplomatic missions in the kingdom to select foreign pilgrims residing in Saudi Arabia who fit the health criteria. The decision has disappointed Muslim pilgrims around the world who often invest their life savings and endure long waiting lists to make the trip. "My hopes of going to (Mecca) were so high," said Kamariah Yahya, 68, from Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, which had already barred its citizens from the hajj earlier this month. "I've been preparing for years. But what can I do? This is Allah's will -- it's destiny." Shahid Rafique, chairman of a Pakistani hajj tour operators' group, said it was "a moment of sorrow for all the Muslims". - Religious sanction - In a statement that gave the decision the cover of religious sanction, the Saudi-based Muslim World League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation said they endorsed the government move for the health and safety of pilgrims, according to state media. The prestigious Islamic institution Al-Azhar in Cairo also welcomed the Saudi move, calling it "wise and based on Islamic jurisprudence". But the decision still risks annoying hardline Muslims for whom religion trumps health concerns. Ahmed al-Khoury, a Jordanian resident of Riyadh, shrugged off the coronavirus health warnings, telling AFP he saw "no reason" to cancel or limit the pilgrimage. A scaled-down hajj represents a major loss of revenue for the kingdom, already reeling from the twin shocks of the virus-induced slowdown and a plunge in oil prices. The smaller year-round umrah pilgrimage was already suspended in March. Together, they add $12 billion to the Saudi economy every year, according to government figures. Hosting the hajj is a matter of prestige for Saudi rulers, for whom the custodianship of Islam's holiest sites is their most powerful source of political legitimacy. But a series of deadly disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 worshippers, has prompted criticism of the kingdom's management of the hajj. burs-ac/hc
A team of UC Berkeley and UCSF health experts warned prison medical officials nearly two weeks ago that theyd need to cut the population of San Quentin State Prison in half to avoid a potentially catastrophic outbreak there.

But prison officials didnt heed the warning and since then, confirmed coronavirus infections among prisoners have rocketed from 48 to 456, far outpacing any other facility in the state and overwhelming a system that waited too long to react.

After errors by California corrections officials sparked the massive virus outbreak at San Quentin, conditions there have become dangerous  and the only way to control the situation would be to reduce the prisons population by at least half, according to the memo by a team of health experts.

The memo, submitted to the statewide correctional health care system on June 13, warned that San Quentin has profoundly inadequate resources to deal with the surge of cases, and failure to quickly address the crisis could have dire implications for the Bay Area, straining community hospitals and risking the health of incarcerated people and prison employees alike.

State prison officials declined to comment on the memo, and said they will have more information by the end of the week on overall movement and release efforts.

No prisoners at San Quentin tested positive for the coronavirus in March, April or May. It was only after state corrections officials transferred 121 incarcerated men to the prison from a virus-swamped facility in Southern California that the outbreak occurred. The transferred men were not tested for up to a month before they were placed on buses, The Chronicle reported, and after they arrived at San Quentin, the virus began to spread quickly.

At least 1 every 8 residents at San Quentin are now infected, and more than 40 staff. None have died yet, but 20 incarcerated people and two employees at other state prisons have died after contracting COVID-19.

An initial version of the memo, submitted on June 13, was written by six physicians and infectious disease experts, some affiliated with the Berkeley School of Public Health and others with Amend at UCSF, a health-focused program aimed at changing correctional culture. On June 15, the group revised the memo to add more recommendations.

They sent the memo to California Correctional Health Care Services, the federally appointed provider of medical care in the state prison system (the arrangement is the result of a long-running federal lawsuit over conditions in the state prison complex).

While the memo is a public document, it has not been previously released. The memo was provided to The Chronicle by the Prison Law Office, which is suing the state over the quality of prison medical care.

The memo argues that its difficult, if not impossible, to create social distance inside a prison, particularly one like San Quentin, an aging facility with exceedingly poor ventilation, extraordinarily close quarters exacerbated by overcrowding, and inadequate sanitation, the scientists wrote. We therefore recommend that the prison population at San Quentin be reduced to 50% of current capacity (even further reduction would be more beneficial) via decarceration.

There are about 3,500 prisoners in San Quentin. A 50% cut in population would leave 1,750.

We spoke to a number of incarcerated people who were over the age of 60 and had a matter of weeks left on their sentences. It is inconceivable that they are still housed in this dangerous environment, the experts, who toured the prison, said in the memo.

The experts also pointed to specific housing units as being especially dangerous.

For instance, two of the most highly populated areas of the prison are North Block and West Block, where more than half of all residents have at least one risk factor making them seriously ill from the virus, the experts wrote.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

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.

An outbreak in North and West blocks could easily flood  and overwhelm  San Quentin as well as Bay Area hospitals, they wrote in the memo, adding that they were concerned about older residents dying if they get infected.

Another area of San Quentin, the gymnasium, has been turned into an open dormitory, with prisoners bunked closely together. The health experts wrote that they found this appalling and said it could lead to a catastrophic super spreader event. Another dorm in San Quentin, known as H Unit, houses hundreds of men in bunks.

The Berkeley and UCSF scientists urged the state to develop an emergency response team to manage the growing outbreak, to speed up the testing process, and to assemble a field hospital for treating sick prisoners and separating them from the healthy. The experts raised an alarm about the lack of space inside the prison to isolate the infected from the uninfected.

It is a frightening public health reality that in a matter of days there may be no cells to isolate a potentially infectious COVID-19 patient, they wrote.

This warning proved prophetic: In the last few days, San Quentin has run low on cells with solid doors for isolating patients and is now trying to turn other housing units into COVID-19 wards.

The health experts also wrote that corrections officers and nurses at San Quentin are not always wearing masks, even though they are required to, and officers commonly move between housing units during the course of their shifts, potentially carrying the virus from place to place.

This is an enormous risk for the spread of COVID-19 between units, the memo concluded.

Jason Fagone and Megan Cassidy are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jason.fagone@sfchronicle.com, Megan.Cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfagone, @meganrcassidy
Anthony Evans says his hands were in the air: You know, to show that I wasnt a threat. The young Black man, who had just turned 26 years old, had been protesting outside the police department headquarters in Austin, Texas, on May 31, when he was separated from his twin brother. The evening had passed relatively peacefully until that moment, Evans said, but as he walked back to try to find his twin, he noticed the tension escalating between police and protesters.

As I put my hands in the air and started to jog, I got shot in the face, and then, I went down to my knees, he told Al Jazeera. He could not be entirely sure what hit him at the time: a rubber bullet or beanbag round. But it had been fired by police, he said. Acting on impulse, he first moved to shield a nearby woman from the incoming fire, but then, she noticed that he was the one bleeding and went to get help.

After getting brief attention at a civilian care station, Evans said he walked off in the direction of his home with blood running down his swollen face. My phone was dead, I was by myself, I had no friends or family with me, so at that point, I was like, I just got to get home, I got to get to somewhere safe.' He tried to flag down a passing car whose driver, he said, looked confused, shook his head and drove off. Then, he found a police officer. I cautiously put my hands in the air and started walking towards the officer, he recalled. According to Evans, the officer told him he could not help because he had to go shut down the highway.

He just drove off without hearing my side of what happened, Evans explained. That left the Austin native with only one real option: Walk the remaining five miles or eight kilometres (he had already walked three miles or 4.8km) to his home.

In Austin one of the protestors was hit with a rubber bullet in the jaw. It shattered his jaw and he had to have emergency surgery. It will be wired shut for 5 weeks while healing. His name is Anthony Evans. pic.twitter.com/SvrflF71il  Lexy (@Lexspacio) June 17, 2020

Once there, he headed towards the bathroom to have his first look at the injury. I saw my face, and I freaked out a little bit, he said. Although he wanted to wait it out at home at least until the next morning, Evans noticed he was spitting up blood clots and feared the worst. He took some ibuprofen and drove to the hospital. Three days and two surgeries to repair the damage and place a permanent titanium plate in his broken jaw later, he was released from the hospital.

The attack on Evans, and others like it, came nearly a week after mass nationwide protests prompted by the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black people. But the largely peaceful demonstrators met the very thing they were protesting against: police brutality and violence.

About a three-hour-and-15-minute drive north of Austin, in the city of Dallas, Brandon Saenz did not know he had been hit until he saw the blood pouring from his face. The then-25-year-old had been protesting nearby on May 30 when, looking for a friend to head home, he walked towards another crowd of protesters, who he said were peacefully demonstrating and holding signs in the air.

I had my hands on my side, and all I heard was a loud boom, Saenz told Al Jazeera. Blood just started gushing out. Video of the aftermath shows Saenz laying on the ground, his face bloodied, surrounded by other protesters and civilian medics.

Saenz lost his left eye, seven teeth and would have to undergo multiple surgeries to repair facial fractures [Courtesy of the Saenz legal team]

Saenzs lawyer, Jasmine Crockett, said police did not attempt to get medical attention for the young Black man, and initially, there was an issue with them [law enforcement] actually allowing an ambulance in to attend to Saenz. Eventually, an ambulance rushed Saenz to the hospital, where he was told he had lost his left eye, seven teeth and would have to undergo multiple surgeries to repair facial fractures to the left side of his face. He was released from the hospital on his 26th birthday.

Volleys of tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper balls and other less-lethal weapons have been launched by law enforcement in the more than three weeks of protests that have gripped cities nationwide. Protests that started as outrage over recent police killings of Black people have since ballooned into wider demonstrations against the police violence used on protesters, with calls for the defunding of police departments nationwide.

The number of arrests at the demonstrations hit 10,000 on June 4, the Associated Press reported. Hundreds have been detained since, according to local media. Police have largely pointed to some incidents of violence, vandalism, looting and curfew violations as justification for their use of force. There were no curfews in place when both Saenz and Evans were hit. But protesters and experts alike said the increased militarisation of police forces and deep-seated institutional racism have created a situation where aggression is often law enforcements first response.

Police militarisation

Mike German, a fellow at Brennan Center for Justice and a former FBI special agent, said he is not all that surprised by the images of police force against Black Lives Matter protesters in recent weeks.

Im not surprised because weve seen that increasing militarisation of law enforcement and the increasing polarisation of society at large, but particularly separating police from the communities that they serve, German told Al Jazeera, adding that there is this idea in law enforcement that any criticism of police is unjustified and requires an aggressive response.

A protester stands in front of New Orleans, Louisana police in riot gear as protesters marched on the elevated Interstate 10, protesting against the death of George Floyd [Gerald Herbert/AP Photo]

The militarisation of US police largely dates back to the 1990s with the inception of the 1033 Program or Law Enforcement Support Office programme, which allows police departments, regardless of size, to obtain surplus military equipment from the US Department of Defence. Since 1997, more than $7.4bn worth of property has been transferred to upwards of 8,000 law enforcement agencies spanning the country. This equipment includes mine-resistant vehicles, aeroplanes, helicopters, night-vision goggles, riot and tactical shields, rifles, office supplies, and other gear.

The military equipment at the disposal of US police departments was put on nationwide display during the 2014 unrest in Ferguson, Missouri after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old Black man.

Part of the process of militarisation is to dehumanise both the forces and the target groups. Mike German, Brennan Center for Justice

Following outrage at the use of military equipment in the city of 20,000, then-President Barack Obama, limited the scope of the 1033 Program. But in his first year in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order reversing the Obama-era restrictions.

The equipment, training and part of the general process of militarisation is to dehumanise both the forces and the target groups, German explained. So, its no longer, if this person is doing something wrong and I, as an individual, I do my duty to arrest them, he added, but rather the militarisation creates a scenario of one group against the other.

Police in riot gear watch as demonstrators gather to protest against the death of George Floyd near the White House in Washington, DC [Alex Brandon/AP Photo]

German said that this has played out in cities across the country during the recent anti-racism protests. In Buffalo, New York, two police officers shoved a 75-year-old man who fell and reportedly suffered a fractured skull. The two officers were initially suspended, prompting 57 of their fellow officers to resign from the forces emergency unit. The two involved were later charged with assault. They have pleaded not guilty.

Two Buffalo policemen are charged with second-degree assault after they were filmed pushing a 75-year old protester to the ground, seriously injuring him. pic.twitter.com/0AyGMTxKSS  Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 7, 2020

Julia Dupuis, an activist and writer, who was protesting on June 2 in Los Angeles, California when she was arrested by police, said the demonstrations have felt like a warzone, like a battlefield on the part of police.

From the beginning, I think weve seen some pretty intensive police tactics, that kind of border on military tactics, you know, militarised equipment, like armoured vehicles, rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper spray, Dupuis told Al Jazeera.

Demonstrators are arrested for a curfew violation in downtown Los Angeles during a protest over police brutality [Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo]

On the night of June 2, after a curfew went into effect, police  some dressed in riot gear  eventually trapped protesters on a street, Dupuis said. Members of the group decided to remain calm, she added, and not run to try to minimise the brutality as much as we could.

We had seen and experienced the tear gas, the rubber bullets, and the really vicious arrests where they chase people down and beat them with batons before arresting them, and we didnt want that to happen, she said. About 30 tense minutes passed before police moved in and started arresting people, including Dupuis, who identifies as a gender non-conforming woman. She was placed in tight zip ties, and two male police officers began patting her down, including touching her breasts and calling her it, Dupuis said. She was then placed on a bus and driven more than an hour away.

we were protesting peacefully as the cops had hands on weapons and then arrested all several hundred of us #clownbus77 we made it https://t.co/OerOOTnkhh  molly (@mollyliebman) June 4, 2020

Protesters were kept on the cramped bus, despite concerns over the novel coronavirus, for several hours, repeatedly denied requests to use the bathroom or loosen the zip ties, and mocked by police, she said, adding that they were eventually released after being given citations. Dupuis said her citation was later dropped.

Police set the tone

The mere presence of military and tactical gear, German said, inspires in law enforcement a certain mentality that often prompts aggression. When you bring that [military] mentality and that training into law enforcement, that is by its nature, policing its own community, that leads to problems that would not otherwise exist, German added. Its a matter of using anything uniform in the tools as a way to separate yourself from your society, that youre policing.

Protesters in several cities told Al Jazeera they felt it was often the police who set the tone.

Jason Rosenberg joined a march in New York City on June 2 to draw attention to police violence against the LGBTQ community, including the police killing of Tony McDade, a transgender Black man, in Tallahassee, Florida. Rosenberg and others marched in different places throughout the city, including Stonewall, the site of the 1969 uprising by the LGBTQ community after a police raid on a gay bar.

As the night drew on, and with a curfew in effect, Rosenberg said he began to see heightened escalation by New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers and arrests started to take place. At one point, protesters, Rosenberg said, formed a small arm-to-arm chain blockade of the police. That is when law enforcement moved in, the ACT UP NY member recalled.

Rosenberg suffered a fracture to his arm and had to get several staples to close a wound on his head [Courtesy of Jason Rosenberg]

Very quickly, they started beating us. We were not resisting arrest at all, but they continued to charge and hit and punch us, he said.

Rosenberg believes he was knocked out before being placed in zip-tie handcuffs and realising a pool of blood had formed around his head. He said he was repeatedly denied medical attention, only receiving cosmetic aid when a nurse wiped blood off his head once they arrived at the police precinct. After being released and given a summons, Rosenberg went to the hospital and learned he had suffered a fracture to his arm and received 11 staples to close a wound on his bloodied head.

I definitely think the appearance [of police in riot gear] really sets the tone for protests, Rosenberg said. Even the night before where there was a curfew  we werent really met with riot gear that night, and it was a very tame and quiet protest. And so, I think the police always set the tone for how the night or a protest is going to end up.

The threat of violence is a form of violence itself. Steven Thrasher, Northwestern University

Steven Thrasher, a Northwestern University assistant professor and journalist who has covered protests for years, agrees, but added that it is not just the military gear, but often the very act of policing.

The threat of violence is a form of violence itself, Thrasher said. The police are always threatening, threatening to potentially harm us. And so, that itself is a form of violence. And its come out very obvious in ugly ways in the past few months.

Curfews used as weapons

Thrasher said that this has been particularly apparent in protests against police violence this time around and in years past, especially when curfews have been imposed. Although most curfews have been lifted in cities across the US, mayors were quick to implement them and call in the National Guard after the initial protests in an effort, they said, to quell some of the unrest, including vandalism, looting and fires, that had been seen after dark.

An NYPD police officer sprays protesters in the Brooklyn borough of New York City [Eduardo Munoz/Reuters]

While Thrasher said that curfews are not a justification for violence, he believes law enforcement see them that way. They make everyone a criminal, and the curfew means everyone is breaking the law, he said. It creates the mechanism by which these encounters [between police and protesters] happen, which of course can quickly become violent.

Allison Lane, a podcaster and president of the newly formed Bartenders Against Racism group in Washington, DC, said she did not intend on staying out past the citys 7pm curfew on June 1. But when police started pushing peaceful protesters back outside the White House with pepper balls and flashbangs, she was redirected to an area where demonstrators continued to rally peacefully past curfew, unaware at the time that the sudden force used outside the presidents residence was to clear the way for a Trump photo opportunity.

Im at a house in DC after being pepper sprayed and knocked down by the police. There are about 100 of us in a house surrounded by cops. All the neighbors on this street opened their doors and are tending to protesters. The cops corralled us on this street and sprayed us down.  Allison Lane (@allieblablah) June 2, 2020

Lane, along with a group of more than 100 others, continued marching, eventually being pushed by police onto the residential Swann Street. It was not long before police started shoving and tear-gassing the group, Lane said, forcing dozens to flee into the home of a resident who had opened his doors to protesters. The group inside the home watched as police arrested several people on the street. Lane live-tweeted the action from the house for much of the night. Police arrested nearly 200 people in total. Those inside stayed until sunrise  when the curfew ended. Lane feels the curfews have been used as a sort of weapon against protesters.

I felt like regardless Im going to be out there, she told Al Jazeera, adding that she is scared as a Black woman  [and] somebody whos not in a position of power.

But, she said, having the right to protest is very sacred.

Wake up call

Some police departments and city officials have taken action against officers who have used what has been deemed excessive force against protesters and those breaking curfew. In Atlanta, Georgia, prosecutors charged six police officers with using excessive force against two college students who had been caught in traffic post-curfew when the law enforcement officials broke the windows of their car, pulled them out of the vehicle and tased the driver. Four of the officers involved have also been fired. A judge in Seattle, Washington, banned police from using chemical irritants, such as pepper spray and pepper bullets on protesters through September. Officials in other cities have called for similar bans.

But police have also defended their actions, saying the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and other less-lethal weapons is necessary to disperse large crowds and control protesters who have become violent.

If we pull back, were giving up downtown, we give them that space. But once we give them that space, we cannot control what happens in that space.  We would have been one of those cities on the news burning, said San Jose, California, police department Captain Jason Dwyer, while defending his officers actions during protests earlier this month, local media reported.

A person holds a Black Lives Matter sign as a heavy cloud of tear gas and smoke rises after being deployed by police in Seattle, Washington [Lindsey Wasson/Reuters]

In the case of Los Angeles activist Dupuis, a police commander reached out to her on Twitter, saying he would like a complaint taken on her behalf. She has not responded, saying that while she appreciates that the department reached out, she does not trust the corrupt system to investigate its own people. As of June 10, LAPD said it had received 56 complaints related to the protests, including 26 alleging use of force by police. At least 10 officers have reportedly been placed on desk duty pending investigations. The LAPD police chief has previously reportedly said the department was reviewing its response to the protest, including the transfer of arrested protesters in crowded buses. The LAPD did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment.

New York Citys Civilian Complaint Review Board, an independent agency, has received hundreds of complaints related to the NYPD response to protesters. At least one officer has been charged for shoving a woman at a protest. New York Attorney General Letitia James has held two days of public hearings to gather testimony from protesters. She said in a statement last month that her office will act independently to seek answers, ensure that the truth is laid bare, and that there is accountability for any wrongdoing.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) police chief in Washington, DC defended law enforcement actions in the incident on Swann Street, saying in a news conference in early June that there was no evidence that anyone had been decimated or beaten by police, but that the Internal Affairs Bureau would investigate to ensure all arrests were appropriate. MPD confirmed that the probe is ongoing.

In Dallas, Texas, the police departments public integrity department is investigating Saenzs case, Dallas Police Department Sergeant Warren Mitchell confirmed to Al Jazeera. Rest assure, there is a full investigation being conducted and we will take whatever action deemed appropriate at the conclusion of the investigation, Mitchell said via email.

Saenz and his legal team want the officer responsible for using the less-lethal weapon that resulted in the young man losing an eye to be held accountable. Dallas police also agreed to cease the use of tear gas and other less-lethal police crowd-control weapons, including rubber bullets, against protesters through early September.

Saenzs lawyer, Jasmine Crockett, said police did not attempt to get medical attention for the young Black man [Courtesy of Sanezs legal team]

Austin native Evans said police have interviewed him and said there is video of the incident in which he was shot in the face. Austin police officials directed Al Jazeera to a June 1 Facebook live by Chief Brian Manely, who said the department is investigating all incidents in which protesters were injured. The department did not answer specific questions about Evanss case. Manley said during an Austin City Council Public Safety Committee meeting on Thursday that the department has ended its use of less-lethal shotgun in crowd situations. City officials said they have submitted 255 complaints against police officers for investigation.

Anthony Evans suffered a fractured jaw after being shot by Austin PD in the face with less-lethal ammunition. He is now recovering with his family in Buda and has a long recovery ahead of him. You can support his medical fund below: https://t.co/F5SNw1NvGx  Erin Zwiener (@ErinForYall) June 5, 2020

Most of the protesters who spoke to Al Jazeera said that while their injuries may physically prevent them from going back out onto the streets, they remained undeterred in their efforts to bring justice to the victims of police violence. Many called for the defunding of police and investment in minority communities across the country.

The Brennan Centers German added that while there may be good, well-intended officers, unless authorities recognise and address that there is explicit bias and racism in law enforcement then even seemingly meaningful reforms and training will not help. We have to acknowledge that this is a real thing and that it needs to be rooted out.

Back in Texas, both Evans and Saenz said they are grateful for the outpouring of support for those in the community and elsewhere, including thousands of dollars raised on each of their respective gofundme pages.

Evans says he is focused on getting better and doing what he can do to help the next person and educate them and just bring awareness to the harms that come with fighting for the cause.

Some people think its just people out there rioting who are getting hurt, and they say, they kind of deserve that, but [with me], you get to see firsthand, someone that was spreading love, he said. Its almost like an eye-opener .. were all in this together.
The Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan has commended senior high schools in the region for the preparations they have put in place to welcome final year SHS students as well as SSS two ( gold track) students.



He said per what I have seen so far, the schools are ready and we urged both students and teachers to comply with the established protocols.



Mr Duncan expressed this when he toured some senior high schools in the Cape Coast metropolis to acquaint himself with health protocols instituted to keep the students safe from the COVID-19.



He was accompanied by the Central Regional Police Commander, Commissioner of Police (COP) Paul Manly Awini, the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Akosua Sarpong and the Regional Director of Education, Mrs Martha Agyemang.



The visit was to have first hand information on their level of preparedness for welcoming both final year SHS students as well as form two students on the gold track.



Some of the schools visited were Wesley Girls School, Holy Child School, Adisadel College, St Augustines College, Academy of Christ the King, and Aggrey Memorial Zion School.



Mr Duncan indicated that placing of Veronica buckets, taking of temperature of students and record of parents, among other things, by the schools meant that the heads of the schools were not taking chances.



He further reiterated the governments commitment in supporting the schools to create a conducive atmosphere to prevent the spread of the virus in the institutions.



The regional minister urged the heads of all schools not to relent on their oars as the nation adopts measures to halt the spread of the pandemic.



Mr Duncan commended the regional directors of health and education for their efforts at sensitising people on the COVID-19 pandemic.



Additionally, he expressed appreciation to COP Awini for ensuring the enforcement of the various safety protocols put in place to prevent the spread of the virus.



Mr Duncan applied to media practitioners and journalists in the region to avoid sensationalism and also crosscheck information before publishing such.



All the heads of the various SHS visited indicated that they were adequately prepared to welcome the form three SHS students as well as the form two students on the gold track.



We are ready to welcome our students to campus since we have received our face masks, Veronica buckets, sanitisers and thermometer guns the headmistress of the Holy Child, Mrs Anastasia Thomford Okyere said.



She said, as of 3:30 p.m. on Monday, a total of 480 students had arrived at the school, adding that the school was expecting 439 and 343 form three and forms two students respectively.



For her part, the headmistress for Wesley Girls High School, Mrs Kay Oppong Nkrumah said that the school had put in place strict protocols on campus to ensure that the students were protected.



At the Mfantsipim School, the headmaster, Rev. Ebenezer Aidoo, told the minister and his team that the school had made provision for all staff to pass through a designated point of entry which, he said, would result in the registering of all students before they would be allowed to enter the school.





Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Hamiltonians wont be forced to wear masks despite calls from some health-care workers for it to be mandatory in crowds and indoor public spaces.

We are not looking at making masking mandatory, said Dr. Ninh Tran, an associate medical officer of health in Hamilton. We have a generally good uptake.

Premier Doug Ford has also ruled it out.

Were encouraging everyone when they go out, especially when they go into stores, to wear masks, said Ford.

The premier said there are simply not enough police or bylaw officers to enforce mandatory masking.

Its much better if the public agree and endorse that by wearing them voluntarily, said Dr. David Williams, Ontarios chief medical officer of health. You do it, not because you are forced to, but because you want to do it.

However, Williams did leave the door open for communities to enforce masks.

We are asking our local medical officers of health to use their powers and authorities if they feel they need to do so, said Williams. If they feel there is undue risk being taken, they can take action.

Masks are mandatory on the HSR with some exceptions, which is in line with the open letter from more than 1,200 Canadian health-care workers calling for enforcement on public transportation. But public health isnt looking to expand that.

We still see a low number of cases and we will focus our efforts toward continuing to encourage mask use when physical distancing isnt able to happen, said Tran.

Hamilton had five new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, bringing the total to 807. The virus has claimed 44 lives in Hamilton as another resident from the outbreak at the Rosslyn Retirement Residence died Tuesday. The death toll of Hamiltons deadliest outbreak stands at 16 after the 87-year-old woman died in hospital.

More than 45 health-care workers from Hamilton and roughly 16 from Burlington have signed the open letter addressed to federal and provincial health ministers and top public health doctors

While a healthy amount of masks are used in Hamilton, said Paul Johnson, director of the Emergency Operations Centre, I do think we need to increase mask use.

Read more about:
Canadas long-term foreign currency debt rating was downgraded by Fitch Ratings, which cited the deterioration in its public finances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country is expected to run a bigger government deficit this year and emerge from the recession with much higher public debt ratios, Fitch said Wednesday. It cut the countrys rating one notch to AA+ from AAA.

Canada still has a AAA rating with S&P Global Ratings, making it only one of two countries left in the Group of Seven to hold that status; Germany is the other. Moodys Investors Service also gives Canada its highest rating.

The question is what took so long. Canadas excessively leveraged national balance sheet has looked a lot like China, Italy and Greece for quite a while, said David Rosenberg, founder of Rosenberg Research and Associates and former chief North American economist at Merrill Lynch & Co. This wont be the last ratings cut, I can assure you. He had predicted the downgrade in an April research note that said the Great Canadian Debt Surge has come home to roost.

Canadas national government is on track to post its largest deficit on record in the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The shortfall may reach about 12 per cent of gross domestic product during compared with 1.1 per cent last year, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

The higher deficit is largely driven by public spending to counteract a sharp fall in output as parts of the economy were shuttered to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Fitch said in the report. It expects the coronavirus response to raise Canadas consolidated gross general government debt to 115.1 per cent of GDP in 2020, up from 88.3% last year.

The Canadian dollar briefly weakened to a session low, hitting $1.3618 per U.S. dollar, before rebounding.

Markets dont seem to care, rightly so in my view, said Derek Holt, an economist at Bank of Nova Scotia. Every sovereign is under the same pressure. Ratings are a relative game and even at that there is a long list of more dominant market factors. Its one agency that stripped Canada of some political bragging rights, but the tangible impact is scant to non-existent.

For Bipan Rai, head of foreign exchange strategy at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, things may get volatile for the loonie if another agency follows. The question is whos next to downgrade? If its Moodys, then there is a risk of portfolio outflows, he added noting that Canadas current account deficit is financed heavily by foreign fund inflows.

The North American economy is set to contract 7.1 per cent in 2020 compared to 1.6 per cent growth last year, according to median consensus of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. Canadas government is rolling out a plan of more than $230 billion of subsidies, grants and tax referrals in a bid to offset the impact of the pandemic.
Enbridge Inc.s yearlong battle with Michigan officials over a pipeline that runs through the Great Lakes is flaring up again after damage to a support structure prompted the state to try to shut down the conduit.

The most recent skirmish started last week, when Enbridge discovered that a screw anchor support for Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan connect, had shifted from its original position. The company says it shut down the line and notified the state and federal regulators the day it found the damage.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer then wrote the company asking for all information it has on the damage, including engineering reports, photos and videos. Days later, the states attorney general, Dana Nessel, asked a court to order the pipelines operations suspended until the state conducts a full review of that information. The east leg of the line, where the damage occurred, remains shut down while the west leg has resumed operation.

One close call with Line 5 is one too many, which is why I am calling on Enbridge to proceed with the utmost caution and care, Whitmer said in a statement on her website. At this point in time, Enbridge has provided no reason to think this damage could not happen again, but next time with oil gushing into the Great Lakes.

Enbridge plans to fight the request to shut down the whole line, which it called unnecessary and legally unsupportable. The company said its working closely with the Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on the incident and that it has provided engineering assessments and other materials to the state.

Line 5 runs along a 645-mile (1,040-kilometer) route from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario, transporting as much as 540,000 barrels a day of light crude, synthetic crude and natural gas liquids that are refined into propane. The pipeline was built in 1953 and consists mostly of 30-inch diameter pipe. The line splits into two 20-inch diameter lines for the 4.5 miles it runs under the straits.

Enbridge and Whitmer have fought over the line since shortly after the Democrat took office at the start of last year. Her attorney general has sued the company, saying that its 1953 easement was unconstitutional, and challenged a law passed by the previous administration that gave Enbridge permission to replace the segment of the line in the straits and enclose it in a tunnel. Whitmer ordered work on the $500 million tunnel project stopped.

Enbridge won the challenge to the replacement project, as well as an appeal of the lower courts ruling. Nessels office will seek to have the Michigan Supreme Court review the matter.

The lawsuit over the 1953 easement remains active.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
Venezuela is accusing the United States of blocking its ability to pay over $21 million in dues to the United Nations causing the loss of its voting rights in the General Assembly.

Venezuelas U.N. Ambassador Samuel Moncada asked U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a letter circulated Monday to redouble efforts to enable it to pay.

He said U.S. sanctions have prevented us from successfully transferring the required funds to United Nations bank accounts located not only in the United States but also in other countries.

Each and every time we have attempted to wire-transfer the resources," Moncada said, the transactions have been rejected or sent back to our bank accounts  in the best scenario  while in other instances they have been frozen or confiscated, pursuant to compliance with United States-imposed sanctions against Venezuela or threats from the United States government to those financial institutions.

The United States was first among more than 50 nations to back Juan Guaido, who as head of Venezuelas opposition-led congress claimed presidential powers in early 2019, arguing that President Nicolas Maduros re-election had been invalid.

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to walk back comments in a weekend interview that he would consider meeting Maduro, which cast doubt on his support for Guaido. In a tweet, Trump said: I would only meet with Maduro to discuss one thing: a peaceful exit from power!

The United Nations recognizes the Maduro government as representing Venezuela, and Moncada accused the Trump administration of violating the U.S. agreement with the United Nations as its host nation by preventing the country from fully and efficiently discharging its responsibilities to the global organization.

Moncada asked secretary-general Guterres to engage personally to ensure that the U.S. doesnt abuse its role and abides by both the letter and spirit of the host country agreement __ and to ensure that countries don't lose voting rights for reasons well beyond their control" that result from illegal sanctions that violate the U.N. Charter.

Under U.N. rules, countries that dont pay dues lose voting privileges in the 193-member General Assembly.

Moncada said in the letter dated June 15  two days before elections in the assembly for a new president, five members of the Security Council and 18 members of the Economic and Social Council  that it has tried since last year to both find and establish a financial route that would allow for the safe transfer of our resources for settling our dues with the organization.

He said the Maduro government has held bilateral talks with U.S. representatives but no feedback at all has been received thus far. He said Venezuela sought an exemption from the General Assembly Committee on Contributions from paying dues given the difficulties, but was advised informally that the United States and United Kingdom blocked the request which requires consensus.

The result was that Venezuela was the only country not to vote in the June 17 elections.

Moncada stressed that Venezuela is not requesting debt forgiveness, and has the over $21 million for the minimum payment to restore its voting rights.
A former police officer caught moonlighting as an undertaker while off sick from his policing duties has been found to have committed gross misconduct.

PC Phillip Smallcombe, 44, was signed off sick from his duties at South Wales Police due to ill health.

But he lead the funeral cortege for hearses at funerals for Parc Funeral Services in Pontypridd, Wales, between 2015 and 2016, a misconduct hearing was told.

The shamed former cop faced nine allegation over his work in the funeral service business while off work with South Wales Police due to ill health.

But the misconduct hearing, which Smallcombe did not attend, proved that Smallcombe worked for Parc Funeral Services, now Seren Funeral Services, while he was a serving police officer.

Out of nine misconduct allegations against Smallcombe, six were found to be gross misconduct, one allegation was found to be basic misconduct, while another allegation was not proved. Another allegation was withdrawn.

PC Phillip Smallcombe was off sick from his work at South Wales Police due to ill health. But he undertook work on behalf of Parc Funeral Services in Pontypridd, Wales, between 2015 and 2016, a hearing was told

PC Phillip Smallcombe, 44, undertook work on behalf of Parc Funeral Services in Pontypridd, Wales, between 2015 and 2016, a misconduct hearing was told. Pictured here is the Seren Funeral Services conducting a funeral in Pontypridd, South Wales

Mr John Bassett, chair of the panel at a misconduct hearing, held on Monday, said if Smallcombe, who resigned from the force in March 2019, would have been dismissed if he was still a serving officer.

South Wales Police say a referral will now be made to the College of Policing for the officer to be added to the Barring List, preventing them from returning to the profession.

The hearing heard that the former officer joined the force in 2001 before resigning last year when his funeral director fiddle was probed by senior officers.

He denied the allegations were gross misconduct - but failed to appear at the misconduct hearing.

Mr Bassett said: 'He had failed to seek authorisation for this business interest and when he did, the application was not authorised.

'A police officer is required to declare their business interests, which Mr Smallcombe did not do until he had been involved in the running of the business for a year, and continued working after an application was submitted and not approved.'

Police officers are allowed outside business interests - as long as those interests are authorised as having no conflict with police work and responsibilties.

Smallcombe was off work force due to ill health when he worked for the funeral company between 2015 and 2016.

Another allegation found Smallcombe used another South Wales Police employee reported to be sick to carry out work for Parc Funeral Services.

Smallcombe claimed to senior officers that he had visited someone to discuss 'wicker baskets' - but in fact it was about wicker coffins.

This allegation of lying was proved and breached the 'policing standards of honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct.'

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: 'A police misconduct hearing was held on June 22 to consider allegations of discreditable conduct against a former South Wales Police officer.

South Wales Police (headquarters pictured) say a referral will now be made to the College of Policing for the officer to be added to the Barring List, preventing them from returning to the profession

'PC Phillip Smallcombe faced allegations of breaching the standards of professional behaviour arising from his personal business interests.

'The officer resigned prior to the hearing but the business interests were held while he was a serving officer with the force.

'A misconduct panel, which comprised a Legally Qualified Chair, a police Superintendent and an independent member, found six allegations proven which amounted to gross misconduct.

'These allegations included misuse of police computer systems and matters associated with a business outside of his employment with South Wales Police which he was not authorised to carry out.

'The panel decided that the proven allegations would result in him being dismissed if he had not resigned prior to the hearing.

'A referral will now be made to the College of Policing for the officer to be added to the Barring List, preventing them from returning to the profession.'

MailOnline has contacted Seren Funeral Services for a comment.
Mumbai, June 24 : Acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi says he has spent days with cheats and alcoholics, and added that one starts valuing the good only when one has seen the bad.

"Maine thugon ko, chandaalon ko, lekhakon ko, vidhwano ko aas paas dekha hai. Bade bade sharabiyon ke saath din guzare hain aur un sabne milke banaya hai (I have spent days with cheats, low-life people, writers, educationists and even alcoholics. They have made me what I am). They were the people who made me the person I am today," he asserted.

Pankaj, who has tasted the highs of highs with his work in projects like "Sacred Games", "Mirzapur", "Bareilly Ki Barfi", "Gangs Of Wasseypur" and "Luka Chuppi" among many others, shares details about how he values every success in his life.

"The value of good happens only when we have seen the bad. I have seen the worst and best of times over the last decade, which is why every success, every joy is of so much value," he shared.

Amid the lockdown, Pankaj realised "if bad has happened, it is inevitable that it gets better".

"I still think of my brief jail stint where I was surrounded by all kinds of people and I had an epiphany that I needed to make something better of my life. Every experience is nature's way to ask you to better yourself. Look for that sign!" he said.

On the acting front, he is gearing up for the release of "Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl" starring Janhvi Kapoor.

"Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl" is inspired by the life of Indian Air Force combat pilot Gunjan Saxena, and stars Janhvi in the titular role. Saxena entered the war zone during the 1999 Kargil War.

He will also be seen in Kabir Khan's "83".

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
It is time we stop the pablum and false equivocation regarding where we are in this country and what the real challenges are for governing it. The pandemic and the recent deaths of unarmed Black people at the hands of police have forced millions of Americans to begin coming to terms with a deep and ugly truth: Since Black people were first brought to this country and enslaved, there has never been a sustained period when they have not been humiliated and made to feel less than human.Much of this dehumanizing, systematizing and institutionalizing of racism was done by or under the watchful eyes of public officials. Today's government leaders can't fix the sins of their forefathers, but they must have greater empathy with the deep pain and raw emotions that are boiling over in our towns and cities today.As an African American with a long and varied career, I know from experience that no matter what heights I've reached, I have always been made to feel that I was not quite good enough. In an ironic twist on that experience, I was told I wasqualified to become a technical college president, but then once in place was made to feel like an interloper in a system where students of color were in the majority. My wife worked in a liberal independent school for over a quarter of a century with colleagues she refers to as "good white people," but she was allowed to shine only within clearly confined limits.Our stories are of high-achieving Black Americans, but they are the same no matter to whom we talk up or down the Black class spectrum. Our emotions have been buried, suppressed and filed away, but always have remained in our psyches. The merciless killings of Black bodies have brought that pain and sense of loss to the surface. And now that families are sheltering in place, spending more time talking, crying and attending to the emotional health of one another with varying degrees of success, all the buried stuff is flowing out like crude oil.I would not be honest if I did not share that I am worried about the younger generation, including my 29-year-old daughter, who has lived a life that escaped my wife and me as we grew up poor. My daughter attended the best private schools. She graduated with a degree in neuroscience from Wellesley College and works as a clinical researcher at Emory University. She has her own condo and has maintained frequent contact with her white friends from high school and college.I have watched how the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and, most recently a couple miles from where my daughter lives, Rayshard Brooks have affected her. She is angry, hurt and grieving like I never saw before. She feels that "life" for Black Americans is off the table, that the only option for African Americans is "how we die," and that white people control the outcome and narrative.She fights to hold back tears, and it deeply hurts me to see her in this state, but I identify with every fear, anxiety and emotion she's feeling. I am moved to try to give her some historical perspective, so I remind her that our ancestors were free people brought here in chains and that they and their descendants were forced at gunpoint to work for free for hundreds of years. Then we fought for our emancipation, along with some good white people. Since then we have lived at the margins and experienced domestic terrorism at its worst. But we survived. We are here. And though society and its racist systems have had their knees on our necks, we still rise.She listened carefully. Her tears rolled back into the wells of her eyes. For the moment she felt better, perhaps a small bit more hopeful. But that hopefulness probably cannot survive another killing of an unarmed Black man or the sight of a police union leader trying to justify the excessive use of force by a rogue cop.Public officials will continue to have their hands full trying to restart their economies and dealing with massive unemployment. But now they also must reckon with multiracial daily protests demanding not only a new way to police communities but a fairer and more open government and society. What they will need to understand, or at least show empathy for, is the deep-seated pain, anger and heartache felt by an overwhelming majority of their Black and Brown constituents.Empathy is the first step, but it must be followed up with specific policy and legislative changes, including removing Confederate monuments that were erected as symbols of defiance; adopting the recommendations of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing ; investing in affordable housing; using job-training funds more effectively to provide high-demand work skills for the underserved; and reinvesting public safety funding into psychological and sociological services that support safety and health.The time is ripe for bold and innovative changes that speak not only to our heads and pocketbooks but, moreover, to our hearts and souls.GoverningGoverning
A Tuesday afternoon mandatory mask order from Jefferson County Judge Jeff Brancick set to go in effect the next day caught some Southeast Texas businesses more unaware than others, but  regardless of preparedness  most agreed the following days will require a lot of patience.

Until June 30, unless the order is renewed, businesses will be required to make staff and customers wear a mask inside establishments and maintain social distancing, or face a fine of as much as $1,000 for each violation.

Frankie Randazzo, owner of Madisons and a partner in bars and restaurants across the region, said he had just had a call earlier in the day with his general managers about whether they should be preparing for something like the mask mandate.

Hours later, Randazzo gave the call for all his restaurants  including Rikenjaks in Vidor  to use masks, but there were still questions about how to handle customers.

Its a small thing to do to get past this, but there needs to be clarification and some notice, he said. Does this mean employees are responsible for customers? I dont really think we should be in the policing business.

Randazzos restaurants in Southeast Texas and Lake Charles, Louisiana, have already been supplying masks to staff since reopening in May, so there will be enough masks on hand to either supply all of his employees or make do with improvised face coverings in the meantime.

The real issue hes worried about, he said, is the position small businesses are being asked to take in order to enforce the mandate.

If someone doesnt want to wear the mask, theyre going to hold that animus against Madisons or Rikenjaks, not the governor or county judge, he said.

Management at other establishments like Tia Juanitas and Little Woodrows didnt wish to comment on the order to the Enterprise.

At smaller establishments like Thirstys on Phelan Boulevard in Beaumont, the order came as less of a curve ball.

Manager Matt Holland said the biggest change will be having someone at the door checking for masks as customers enter.

We have a lot of regulars that make up our crowd and theyre pretty understanding, he said. Well do what we can to stay open. We dont want me closed for two months again.

Bill Bianchi, vice president and general manager at Beaumonts MCM Elegante, said his staff was more than prepared for the order, but he does suspect it will take some time before guests are fully aware of what the mandate means for them.

Most of the guests showing up at the Elegante every day likely will have no idea Jefferson County has a mandate, he said, which is why there will be signage and well-prepared front desk staff to help inform.

Trying to police customers will be another story, but well have to do our best, he said. I bow to the judges discretion on this. If he felt it was serious enough to do quickly, we should probably do it.

He said enforcing the mandate is a task worth taking on if it means keeping the progress thats been made in keeping the virus at bay, and hopefully the order gives the precaution more authority than a company policy might.

Local retailers and grocery stores were also gearing up for the mandate, but some have had more time to think about their policies because of their regional connections.

Dennis Williams, co-owner of Longhorn Liquor, said he gave the call for most of his stores to require employees to wear masks after Harris County gave its order earlier in the month.

There are Longhorn Liquor stores on either side of Harris County in Fort Bend and Chambers counties, so he said it seemed like a good practice to protect employees.

With Jefferson Countys order, that precaution will now be extended to customers.

Market Basket also had a bit of lead time thanks to its experience with Louisianas orders and the $70,000 worth of masks it has used to outfit its staff.

Skylar Thompson, Market Basket president, said the only problem the company sees in the short term will be the suddenness of the change, but associates will be on hand to help explain the requirements if someone enters without a mask.

We will help make them aware, and we will have masks for sale if they dont have one, he said. We will go through a few days of people probably not knowing about it, but well get through it.

Thompson said a final decision hasnt been made yet, but the same policies might be extended to stores in Orange and Chambers counties in case other leaders make their own policies.

H-E-B has had to conform to other orders in its markets across the state, but it hasnt just expressed compliance.

The chain has been vocal about its support for the precautions made by local governments, including in Jefferson County.

H-E-B fully supports our local government officials and their dedication to keeping the health and safety of Beaumont area residents a top priority, Lisa Helfman, public affairs director for H-E-B Houston, said in an email. The CDC and state health officials strongly support the use of facial coverings in public as a proven way to slow the spread of COVID. Our partners thank you in advance for also supporting this local order.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
India will withdraw 55 of its officials working at its High Commission in Islamabad following a decision earlier in the day to reduce the staff by 50 per cent, said a source familiar with the development. ANI has learnt that it has been mutually agreed between India and Pakistan that they will withdraw 55 officials each within the next seven days.

Pakistan will also be withdrawing 55 officials from New Delhi. India on Tuesday announced its decision to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50 per cent and reciprocally reduce its own presence in ...
Lebanons Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri urged the countrys government, central bank and commercial banks on Wednesday to declare a financial state of emergency and review all steps to protect the collapsing currency.

He also said Lebanon would not get a penny from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or any donor state unless it carries out reforms, at the forefront of them accelerating an overhaul of its loss-making electricity sector.

The Lebanese pound has lost about 75 percent of its value since October when long-brewing economic troubles mushroomed into a financial crisis regarded as the biggest threat to Lebanon since its 1975-1990 civil war.

The pound, officially pegged at 1,507.5 to the US dollar since 1997, traded at 6,300/6,500 on the parallel market on Wednesday, a market participant said, weaker than levels of 6,000/6,200 cited by market participants on Tuesday and well in excess of the unified rate set by the central bank.

Exchange dealers who operate above the unified rate could face legal fallout.

With dollars scarce, the financial meltdown has frozen savers out of their deposits and forced up prices in the import-dependent economy.

It is unacceptable that Lebanese be made hostages of black markets in currency, food, medicine and fuel, Berri said during an emergency meeting of the Amal Movement, the Shia Muslim party he leads.

Donor states that have provided Lebanon with aid in the past have said it will not receive any until it undertakes reforms to fix the state corruption and waste that are at the root of the crisis. Lebanon began talks with the IMF in May.

Any Lebanese official will be mistaken if he believes the IMF or any state or donor party can give us one penny of aid if we do not implement reforms, Berri said.

Frankly, the world and international community believes Lebanon is a bottomless basket, and before this bottom is closed there will be no aid.
London City Airports most popular route will reopen on July 13 when KLM resumes flights to and from Amsterdam.

The Dutch airline said it will initially operate a single daily service between the airports, with frequency expected to increase as demand for travel returns.

More than 660,000 passengers flew on the route in 2019.

 KLM returns to LCY We're delighted to announce that our friends at @KLM will resume flights between central London and Amsterdam from 13th July. Find out more here:https://t.co/zXtVGPlhF3@KLM_UK pic.twitter.com/Xw1ZpE0xjH  London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) June 24, 2020

London City Airport reopened on Sunday after being closed for nearly three months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

KLMs general manager for the UK and Ireland, Benedicte Duval, said: With borders starting to reopen and travel restrictions beginning to ease, safety is a prerequisite for KLM as we gradually resume travel.

After this challenging period, we are delighted to be able to resume operations from central London.

Our partnership with London City Airport has been a huge success since we first launched the route in February 2016.

Pre-Covid, we were operating up to nine flights a day so we look forward to increasing capacity in line with demand over the coming months.

As we all adapt to this new environment, I can assure you that all KLM staff, both on the ground and on board, are committed to guaranteeing our passengers the highest levels of health and safety.

London City Airports chief commercial officer, Richard Hill, said: KLMs return to London City Airport is another positive sign of recovery as we resume passenger flights.

Story continues

We have been working hard with our airline partners to re-establish routes and this is an important milestone, restoring a very popular connection between two of Europes most important cities.

With the UK Government looking likely to announce air bridges soon, and given the significance and popularity of this connection, its crucial that the Netherlands is covered.

In order that passengers can book in confidence, we have put in place a range of measures at the airport to help keep them safe while not sacrificing the speed through the airport which passengers have always valued and is now more important than ever.

British Airways subsidiary BA CityFlyer will resume flights at the airport next month.
NORTHAMPTON  A 26-year-old city man faces charges in connection with a downtown crash that sent a victim to the hospital with serious injuries early Saturday.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported the suspect will be summoned to District Court.

The crash, witnessed by police officers, occurred shortly after midnight as a driver performed donuts in the middle of King and Main streets intersection, police said. The driver lost control and the car rammed into the Main Street bus stop, seriously injuring a 61-year-old man sitting inside the enclosure.

Police Chief Jody Kasper, in a post on the departments Facebook page, stated the driver and his male passenger fled south on Pleasant Street at speeds reaching more than 100 mph.

Officers broke off pursuit but were able to get the license number. The car had been reported stolen in West Boylston.

Police later said the suspect had been arrested by another law enforcement agency.

Detective Lt. Craig Kirouac told the Gazette the suspect will be summoned to Northampton District Court on charges of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, use without authority of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for the police and operating after a suspension.

Kirouac said he believes the victim is still in stable condition at Baystate.
Language in the police reform bill on arbitration before state lawmakers this week has become a sticking point between the bills sponsors and police union leaders.

As proposed, Senate Bill 1604 would bar arbitrators from overturning discipline if its in line with a police agencys discipline guide and the arbitrator agrees that misconduct occurred as the officers employer found.

The ongoing dispute over the language of the bill centers on whether a police agencys discipline guide would have to be adopted as part of the police union contract.

State Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, who has been the leading sponsor of police arbitration legislation the last two years, said he believes the language of the proposal is clear and does mean that any police discipline guide, often referred to as a matrix, would have to be a subject of collective bargaining, essentially meaning made part of a contract with the union.

Thats what weve said all along, that itll be part of the contract,' Frederick said Tuesday.

The current wording says the police agencys actions must be in line with a discipline guide or discipline matrix adopted by the agency as a result of collective bargaining and incorporated into the agencys disciplinary policies.'

Union leaders argue if the intent is to mandate that a discipline matrix be part of a police contract, why not make the bill clearer and specifically say that a police discipline matrix must be part of a union contract?

We are fully in support of the measure as its been described to legislators and the public,' said Michael Selvaggio, lobbyist for the Oregon Coalition of Police and Sheriffs known as ORCOPS. But whats actually written down, when you read through the measure, it doesnt say the discipline is in the contract.'

Frederick said the wording as it stands now is sufficient and doesnt need to be changed. He contends the union is trying to stall needed police reforms.

Im disappointed,' Frederick said Tuesday afternoon, following a morning public hearing on the arbitration bill and five other police reform proposals being considered during the special legislative session.

Their interpretation is extraordinary. Theres an attempt to slow things down and make sure the bill doesnt move.'

Frederick is concerned that including language that any police discipline matrix must be part of a union contract could cause an unnecessary lag in obtaining change, as contracts last for several years typically and might not be up for immediate renewal.

Thats not OK,' Frederick said.

In the city of Portland, where high-profile discipline of police officers often has been overturned by an arbitrator, the matter is of particular interest.

The city adopted a discipline advisory guide in December 2013 but never included it in the police unions contract, which has been extended for one year and is slated to run through mid-2021.

When it was adopted, then-Mayor Charlie Hales and the president of the Portland Police Association signed an agreement that says the guide wont supplant just cause and due process disciplinary standards'' called for under the parties contract.

Portland adopted its police discipline matrix as a condition of its settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice over police use of force against people with mental illness.

The city and police union representatives have haggled for years over whether the police discipline guide is advisory or must be followed to the letter. One clause in Portlands guide allows the chief or police commissioner to deviate from this guide as conditions and circumstances warrant.'

Selvaggio said the unions just want to make sure the discipline guide cant be changed unilaterally by a police agency or chief or commissioner who may bring their own implicit biases or political leanings to the job.

Just look at West Linn, he said, referring to a city mired in police controversy. I dont know anyone that would trust former Chief Terry Timeus on making decisions on which officers merited higher discipline or not. We saw the result of that.'

West Linn in February paid out $600,000 to settle a wrongful arrest and racial discrimination suit that stemmed from the bogus arrest of Michael Fesser, a black man, that was initiated by Timeus at the request of his fishing buddy, Eric Benson, a West Linn resident who was Fessers boss at a Portland towing company.

Officers largely support a discipline matrix, as it makes the punishments for any misconduct predictable and fair, Selvaggio said.

Rob Bovett, legal counsel for the Association of Oregon Counties, urged lawmakers to pass the arbitration bill as drafted.

We are here in part because police have failed to police the police,' he said. We need a paradigm shift. We need to move the bill across the finish line.'

Attorney Dan Thenell, representing about 900 law enforcement officers in the Oregon Fraternal Order of Police, said the bill appears to be framed to address issues in the city of Portland and not other rural police agencies. The legislature proposes to change how arbitration is handled in every corner of Oregon. This bill if passed, does not address how to deal with existing collective bargaining agreements which establish criteria for grievance arbitration? There are many jurisdictions where management and labor do not agree to a discipline matrix, or even desire a discipline matrix.'

Thenell also argues that proposed legislation may have unintended consequences, allowing arbitrators who believe imposed discipline is unfair to sustain the grievance in whole rather than modifying the discipline. This could result in outcomes which are the opposite of what the legislature intends.'

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, joined by the citys three commissioners, wrote to Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek on Tuesday in support of the arbitration bill.

The city leaders also wrote that, in their view, the discipline guide or matrix must be adopted though collective bargaining, thereby allowing both sides to know, understand and negotiate over the terms of discipline.'

City attorneys and Portland police union president Officer Daryl Turner said they expect to negotiate a new discipline matrix to put into their next contract when talks begin in January.

In a three-decade span, Portland police chiefs have fired officers who were convicted of driving drunk off duty, leaving dead animals outside a black-owned business, selling "Smoke 'Em, Don't Choke 'Em" T-shirts to officers after a man died in police custody from a neck hold , and fatally shooting an unarmed black man in the back.

Arbitrators have overturned police discipline because either the bureau did a shoddy investigation, similar misconduct by officers in the past hadnt drawn such discipline, police policies were unclear or did not address the alleged misconduct, bureau instructors testified that an officer had acted as trained , or the officer had a prior clean record.

Last year, the city of Portland accepted a settlement that reinstated and gave back pay to fired police Sgt. Gregg Lewis, who made inflammatory and racist remarks at roll call , and allowed him to retire under the condition that he never wear a city police uniform again.

The city attorneys office recommended the council support the settlement for Lewis and not go to arbitration, expecting it would be overturned because the Police Bureaus own discipline guide set the maximum punishment for inflammatory, derogatory language at a three-week suspension without pay.

The City Council then voted 4 to 1 to support the settlement, with Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty the sole objector, arguing the city should fight'' any effort to overturn an officers justified termination.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

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- The Pound to Dollar exchange rate is -0.17% lower @ $1.25032 on 24th June

Despite market hesitance to buy the safe haven US Dollar, the British Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate has struggled to keep advancing this week. The Pound continues to face struggles holding its ground as coronavirus and Brexit uncertainties have it perceived as increasingly risky, while US Dollar investors are awaiting tomorrows key US growth data.

Since opening this week at the level of 1.2348, GBP/USD has been trending with an upside bias as Sterling attempts to recover from last weeks losses.

As of Wednesday morning, GBP/USD has recovered most of last weeks losses and trends in the region of 1.2496. This recovery of over a cent has been fairly solid, but a more solid rise in US Dollar appeal may be enough to knock the pair lower again.

Strong UK data hasnt been enough to keep the Pound climbing this week.

Yesterdays UK PMI projection data came in well above expectations in every major print. It showed that Britains economy was emerging from the coronavirus pandemic better than expected as the economy gradually reopens.

Unexpectedly, manufacturing rose to above the 50 point mark separating contraction from growth. The overall composite figure came in at 47.6 rather than the expected 41.

However, analysts had mixed reactions to the data. Most analysts continued to express caution about Britains outlook due to concerns over how the coronavirus pandemic could continue to impact Britains economy if the domestic infection rate remains high.

Uncertainties over Britains coronavirus outlook are being compounded by Brexit fears. There are concerns that Britain will leave 2020 without a Brexit deal, leading to a no-deal scenario.

As Sterling becomes more and more entrenched in uncertainties over being driven by decent economic data, some analysts are saying Sterling is showing similarities with emerging market currencies.

According to Kamal Sharma, Currency Analyst at Bank of America (BofA):

 We believe Sterling is in the process of evolving into a currency that resembles the underlying reality of the British economy: small and shrinking with a growing dual deficit problem similar to more liquid [emerging market] currencies,

Pound is becoming an emerging market currency, analysts say via @FT

The pound is now an emerging-market currency in all but name, according to analysts at BoA, who say that Brexit has turned it into a mirror of the small and shrinking UK economy. https://t.co/1Y2Syma4rz  Vanessa Edwards (@vcjedwards) June 24, 2020

US Dollar (USD) Exchange Rates Seeing Limited Benefit from Safe Haven Demand

The US Dollar is a safe haven currency, which is appealing in times of global market uncertainty.

However, lately the US Dollars safe haven appeal has been limited lately. As the rate of coronavirus infections and deaths in the US continues to concern investors, investors have been hesitant to buy the US currency too much.

Today, the US Dollar is pushing back against the Pound as fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections worsen. This is leading to higher safe haven demand, which is slightly supporting the US Dollar.

However, at the same time concerns about the US coronavirus outlook mean it is struggling to benefit from safe haven demand as much as other currencies are.

According to Neil Wilson from Markets.com:

On the second wave, the US looks clearly to have suffered a new, and in the words of Dr Fauci, disturbing surge in cases. Virus hotspots like Texas, Florida, California and Arizona are seeing cases soar. Such is the worry the EU may ban Americans from travelling to its member states

GBP/USD Exchange Rate Forecast: Key US Data Due Tomorrow

The Pound to US Dollar exchange rate is struggling for direction today. Risk-aversion is hitting the Pound, but the US Dollar is only seeing mixed strength from safe haven demand.

Investors may look to more signs of US economic strength before becoming more willing to buy the US Dollar.

Tomorrow will see the publication of most of this weeks most influential US data. The final US Q1 growth rate results, as well as Mays durable goods orders and the latest jobless claims, will all be published.

On top of this, comments from Federal Reserve officials are expected.

If upcoming US data and news impresses investors, the US Dollar could see stronger demand.

On the other hand though, if coronavirus recovery hopes rise, risk-sentiment will rise and the Pound to US Dollar exchange rate is more likely to climb higher.
Segway is to end production of its 4,000 namesake vehicle after 19 years, admitting that its longed-for transport revolution has failed to materialise.

The Segway PT was billed as an easy way to get around for short trips, with riders standing on a platform suspended between two wheels and leaning forwards, backwards and side-to-side to direct it.

But the machines failed to catch on, and quickly earned a reputation for being unsafe, as they could spin out of control and throw users to the ground.

In 2009, just ten months after he bought the company, British self-made millionaire Jimi Heselden rode a Segway off a 30-foot cliff to his death while at his country estate, north of London. He was 62 years old.

And in 2015 a cameraman riding a Segway ran over Usain Bolt as he did a victory lap after winning the 200-metre race in Beijing. Bolt wasn't injured and later joked about the accident.

Segway is to end production of its 4,000 Segway PT vehicle after its longed-for transport revolution failed to materialise. The company has branched into scooters

The Segways gained a reputation for being difficult to control. In 2015 a cameraman riding a segway careered into Usain Bolt during a victory lap. Segway not in picture

The company said the vehicle would be retired on July 15 after its sales dropped to less than 1.5 per cent of their revenue last year.

As many as 21 employees will be laid off following the decision, with another 12 to stay on for two months to a year, and five remaining at the factory in Bedford, New Hampshire, US.

'This decision was not made lightly, and while the current global pandemic did impact sales and production, it was not a deciding factor in our decision,' Judy Cai, Segway president, said.

Since first launching in 2001, the Segway PT has proved popular with tourists and police officers, but never took off as a mainstream form of transport with commuters.

They vehicles were banned in some cities because users could easily lose control if they were not balanced properly.

'What did they think the market was when they built this, when they designed it?', asked Maryann Keller, principal at Maryann Keller & Associates. Segway in Penn Mall, Oklahoma

'What did they think the market was when they built this, when they designed it?', asked Maryann Keller, principal at Maryann Keller & Associates.

'My impression was they were talking about this as personal mobility.

'How could you think that something this large and expensive would be personal mobility?'

Segway entered the lightweight scooter business in 2017, selling light and inexpensive easy-to-ride vehicles that have taken over the urban streets.

As many as 38.5 million trips on electric scooters took place in 2018 in the US, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials.

Segway has since branched into electric scooters which have proved very popular worldwide

The company's decision to head into the scooter market may have sounded the death-knell for its Segway PT.

Heralding the vehicle, Ms Cai said: 'Within its first decade, the Segway PT became a staple in security and law enforcement, viewed as an effective and efficient personal vehicle.'

She also noted its past popularity with tourists in major cities across North America, Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East.
S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson said cities can pass local ordinances mandating masks in public, citing both the law of Home Rule and the health situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Masks would be required to wear masks in public indoor spaces like grocery stores or restaurants, as well as while interacting with people outdoors, and on public or commercial transportation. People will also have to wear them while walking anywhere that's too crowded to keep six feet of distance between each other.

Exceptions for people who can't safely wear or remove masks are included in the proposed ordinance, as well as for those actively eating, drinking or smoking.

Wilson's opinion on the constitutionality of such ordinances comes as both Greenville and Columbia recently passed their own local requirements.

It also represents his office's legal opinion and is not the final word, something that might depend on a court ruling from possible legal challenge.

"It is our position that a city cannot pass its own gun laws because a state law specifically preempts this action," his notice read. "However, in this case there is no state law that preempts or prohibits a city from passing this particular ordinance."

Additionally, he said cities cannot pass such ordinances if it is arbitrary.

"In other words, if there were no COVID-19 pandemic or public health emergency going on, a court might find the requirement to wear a mask arbitrary. That is not the case here," the opinion said.

The opinion comes as S.C. novel coronavirus cases hit another daily high Wednesday. Governors in three states also added South Carolina to a list of areas with high infection rates that will require anyone traveling from the state to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.

The announcement from Connecticut, New Jersey and New York came as nearly 1,300 new confirmed coronavirus cases were reported in South Carolina.

"We've taken our people ... to hell and back," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said. "The last thing we need to do right now is subject our folks to another round."

Other states included on the travel quarantine list are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas.

Meanwhile, South Carolina health officials warned of increased dangers as Mount Pleasant additionally said it is considering joining other towns in making masks mandatory.

Statewide mask usage "is important and is needed as quickly as possible," State Epidemiologist Dr. Laura Bell said Wednesday, and area-specific requirements like the ones Columbia and Greenville have enacted won't be able to stem the overall increase in infection rates.

Statewide numbers

Number of new cases reported: 1,291

Total number of cases in S.C.: 27,842

Number of new deaths reported: 10

Total number of deaths in S.C.: 683

Number of hospitalized patients: 832

Percent of tests that were positive: 15.8 percent

Total number of tests in S.C.: 326,631

Whats happening in the tri-county region?

The tri-county region continued to see high coronavirus case numbers on Wednesday. Charleston County logged 175 new cases, Berkeley County confirmed 38 new cases and Dorchester County counted 32.

Where are the state's hot spots?

Greenville County led the state in new cases Wednesday, with 241 new confirmations. Horry County followed with 183 new cases; Charleston County saw 175.

On average, Charleston County saw the highest number of new cases over the past seven days, followed by Horry and Greenville counties.

South Carolina recently passed Florida in the percent of residents who've had confirmed infections, and rose above North Carolina's rate on Wednesday.

Deaths

Of the 10 patients whose deaths were reported Wednesday, eight were elderly and two more between 34 and 65 years old. They lived in Beaufort, Charleston, Dillon, Greenville, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Spartanburg counties.

What experts say

Officials with DHEC said they are increasing testing with a goal of reaching 165,000 residents per month by the end of the year, a move driven by the rising percentage of tests that come back positive.

They expect to confirm infections at a swelling rate through at least mid-July, and projections shared by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control indicate that over 2,850 patients in South Carolina could die by October.

A steady increase in both new confirmed cases and percent positive tests "tells us that we are going in the wrong direction, that we have a sicker population," Bell said Wednesday.

How to protect yourself

In addition to wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and quarantining if sick, DHEC officials said it's just as important to remember that people who don't show symptoms can still spread the coronavirus, even if they don't know if they're infectious.

"This places everyone at risk of getting the virus or unknowingly transmitting it to someone else," officials said.
The Arab League on Tuesday called for the withdrawal of foreign forces in Libya and urged for talks on ending the conflict in the north African country. The virtual meeting, held at Egypt's request, comes amid a flaring conflict in neighbouring Libya between a UN-recognised government in the country's west and eastern-based forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar. It was attended by representatives from 21 Arab countries including Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA), which had opposed the meeting earlier this week. The 14-clause resolution submitted by the Arab League provided for "rejecting all illegitimate foreign interventions" in Libya and called for "the withdrawal of all foreign forces on Libyan territories and its regional waters." Libya's representative, Saleh al-Shamakhi, expressed reservations on the Arab League's call, saying that foreign forces backing the GNA helped roll back the "aggression" by Haftar's forces. The Turkish-backed GNA has recently made major military gains against Haftar's forces, who have sought to regain control over the west in an abortive attempt to seize Tripoli. Egypt, which backs Haftar, has warned that advances by Turkey-backed forces on the strategic Libyan city of Sirte could prompt an Egyptian military intervention. The GNA denounced Sisi's statements as a "declaration of war". Earlier this month, Cairo proposed a peace initiative calling for a ceasefire, withdrawal of mercenaries and disbanding militias in the neighbouring country. The proposal was dismissed by the GNA and Ankara. On Tuesday, the Arab League welcomed Egypt's proposal and urged Libyan factions to "positively engage" with such initiatives. Shamakhi also voiced reservations on the call, saying the GNA was not invited to be part of Cairo's initiative. He added that "whoever wants to mediate... should not be siding with one party over the other". Tunisia, Qatar and Somalia expressed reservations on the clauses criticised by Libya. Libya has been mired in chaos since the 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Besides Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia back Haftar's forces.
A federal judge has upheld a Trump administration policy that requires hospitals and health insurers to publish their negotiated prices for health services, numbers that are typically kept secret.

The policy is part of a major push by the administration to improve transparency in health care. Insurers and health providers usually negotiate deals behind closed doors, and patients rarely know the cost of services until after the fact.

Administration officials said more price transparency would lead to lower and more predictable prices in an industry that has huge ranges in what insurers pay for services. A simple blood test, for example, can cost $11 or $1,000. Coronavirus tests show a similar variation, with prices from $27 to $2,315.

But in a lawsuit, the American Hospital Association said the administration did not have the legal authority to require the publication of negotiated prices, arguing that the publication of the prices could have perverse effects. On Tuesday, the judge, Carl Nichols, disagreed.
As usual, the electronic displays Conference (edC) will take place in 2021 at the same time as embedded world in Nuremberg. The Call for Papers for the edC starts now!

Proposals for papers for the 35th electronic displays Conference can be submitted until 2 October 2020. The established expert meeting for developers, researchers and decision-makers will take place parallel to embedded world in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 3-4 March 2021.

The electronic displays Conference (edC) will once again in 2021 become an important forum for the presentation of innovative ideas, approaches, developments and research projects in the field of today's and tomorrow's display business, promises Professor Karlheinz Blankenbach from Pforzheim University and Chairman of the Congress Advisory Board of edC. The event, which took place this year at the end of February, was a great success with almost 500 display experts and around 50 presentations, including seven keynotes. These figures are quite impressive - considering that edC 2020 was held on the eve of the lockdown, so to speak, in the wake of the Corona pandemic. This made it clear: The display community stood together, said Professor Blankenbach.

The electronic displays Conference next spring will prove that this is still the case. Here, as usual, engineers, industry experts, users, researchers, dealers, consultants and manufacturers will be offered the best platform over two days to find out about the latest developments and advances in technology.

Submit your presentation proposals by 2 October!

Next year, the English-language B2B conference will again focus on numerous specialist presentations on a wide range of display topics, including display technologies and applications, supply chain, display components and market overviews. Newly scheduled for 2021 is the topic of lighting, for example for the automotive sector.

Presentation proposals can be submitted online here until 2 October. Further information on the conference can be found here.

The electronic displays Conference is organized by DESIGN&ELEKTRONIK, the leading German-language magazine for embedded developers. DESIGN&ELEKTRONIK reports every month on the state of the art, solutions for current and urgent problems, current developments and trends on all topics relevant for developers in professional electronics.
A dult film star Ron Jeremy has been charged with raping three women and sexually assaulting a fourth in incidents in West Hollywood from 2014 to 2019.

Jeremy, 67, is among the biggest names in the pornography industry, having appeared in more than 2,000 adult films starting in the 1970s.

Prosecutors said Jeremy, whose real name is Ronald Jeremy Hyatt, raped a 25-year-old woman at a home in West Hollywood in May 2014.

They also alleged he sexually assaulted two women, aged 33 and 46, on separate occasions at a West Hollywood bar in 2017, and forcibly raped one of them.

In a fourth alleged incident, prosecutors said Jeremy raped a 30-year-old woman at the same bar in July 2019, Los Angeles County district attorney said.

Jeremy did not enter a plea when he made his first court appearance in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, City News Service reported.

He was ordered held in custody in lieu of $6.6 million bail and will be formally arraigned on Thursday.

If convicted of all the charges, Jeremy faces a possible maximum sentence of 90 years to life in state prison.

Jeremy's manager, Dante Rusciolelli, said on Tuesday he had dropped the porn star after hearing of the charges.

"We hope that these allegations against him are not true, but if they are, we hope that he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Rusciolelli wrote in an Instagram posting.

When Rolling Stone reported allegations of sexual misconduct by Jeremy in 2017, he told the magazine he had "never and would never rape anyone."
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
New Delhi: Pre-monsoon showers hit several parts of the national capital region on Wednesday (June 24, 2020) while the monsoon is expected to hit Delhi on June 25.

According to IMD, the monsoon is advancing towards Delhi and today's rain showers are an indication of the monsoon arriving as predicted.

DGM of IMD Delhi Anand Sharma said, "This time north India will see more than normal monsoon. In the next 24 hours, there will be rain in parts of Punjab and Rajasthan."

While monsoon has arrived in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and it will Delhi with normal rainfall from tomorrow.

According to the Meteorological Department, a good spell of rain is likely on Thursday and Friday and will bring the temperature down.

The maximum temperature is likely to remain around 34 degrees Celcius.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, the head of Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC) in Delhi Dr Kuldeep Srivastava had predicted the likeliness of Delhi and its adjoining regions such as Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad receiving rainfall in the next three to four hours.

Also, the IMD had forecast rains for some areas of Uttar Pradesh such as Narora, Aligarh, Moradabad, Amroha, Bijnor, and Jahangirabad earlier on Wednesday morning.
EDITORS NOTE: NJ Cannabis Insider is hosting a national webinar, in collaboration with Advance 360, on July 13 at 1 p.m. The webinar, Cannabis Reform 2020: Americas Growing Pains & Possibilities will feature heavyweights in the national arena. Heres how to sign up.

Seventy percent of people find smoking weed to be morally acceptable, according to a new poll, a number that has increased in recent years as more states legalize pot or launch medical marijuana programs.

The Gallup poll, published Tuesday, asked 1,028 Americans in all 50 states and the nations capital whether they deemed 21 different behaviors or policies, from using birth control to the death penalty, moral or not. More respondents viewed marijuana use as acceptable than they did abortion, pornography, having children outside of marriage and wearing fur.

But more people still said divorce, drinking alcohol and gambling were morally acceptable, when compared to responses around marijuana use.

Along ideological lines, more liberals approved of pot use, with 83% calling it moral compared to just 55% of conservatives.

When asked the last year, 65% of respondents in a similar poll said they found smoking pot moral.

Public opinion continues to drastically evolve in favor of marijuanas legal and cultural status and it is time that the federal laws evolve as well, Justin Strekal, political director of NORML, a marijuana law reform group, said in a statement. Politicians in Washington should take this opportunity ahead of the 2020 elections to move forward legislation...to both amend this failed policy and address the inequities and injustices it has brought for generations, particularly against communities of color.

As New Jersey voters prepare to consider a ballot question legalizing marijuana this November, views on its use have shifted. Some 61% said they would vote yes on the question, but only 48% said they believed launching a legal marijuana industry was a good idea.

Lawmakers are currently trying to reform the states laws on cannabis use, and the state Assembly voted last week to decriminalize possession of two ounces of marijuana. Advocates say police disproportionately enforce the laws in Black communities, arresting Black people 3.5 times as often as white people, even though both races use marijuana at similar rates.

Currently, 11 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana. More than 30 others have medical programs.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The men and women who keep Staten Islanders moving are continuing to call for fair compensation as the MTA claims the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has left them with no room to negotiate.

On Wednesday, union workers and supporters gathered outside the MTA headquarters in Manhattan to demand that the transit agency offer Staten Island transit workers the same new, higher-paying contract received by the citys largest transit union earlier this year.
The Leh-based 14 Corps is tasked to take care of security situation along the Line of Actual Control in the Ladakh region.

New Delhi: Army Chief General MM Naravane on Wednesday visited various forward areas in eastern Ladakh and took stock of the Army's combat preparedness in the region in the wake of the bitter border standoff with China, officials said.

Gen Naravane, who arrived in Leh on a two-day visit to the region, also awarded Commendation Cards to a number of soldiers who fought valiantly during the recent face-offs with Chinese Army in the region, people familiar with the matter said.

The Chief of Army Staff reviewed the overall security situation in the region with Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Yogesh Kumar Joshi, commander of the 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh and other senior Army officials on Tuesday afternoon.

"General M M Naravane #COAS visited forward areas in Eastern #Ladakh and reviewed operational situation on the ground. #COAS commended the troops for their high morale and exhorted them to continue working with zeal and enthusiasm," the Army said in a tweet.

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.

Twenty Indian Army personnel were killed and 18 were seriously injured in the violent clash with Chinese military in Galwan Vally.

When asked about conferring of "Commendation Cards" by Gen Naravane, an Army source said "whenever the Chief of the Army Staff visits formations or units, it is a norm to award on the spot Commendation Cards to personnel who exhibit exceptional devotion to duty."

"In the instant case also, personnel have been awarded for devotion to duty," the source said. It is learnt that soldiers who have been awarded the "Commendation Cards" fought valiantly in the Galwan Valley clash.

The Leh-based 14 Corps is tasked to take care of security situation along the Line of Actual Control in the Ladakh region.

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 23:57:56|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi health ministry on Wednesday warned of serious health situation, as it recorded 2,200 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase since the outbreak of the disease, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 36,702.

The ministry also confirmed 79 more deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 1,330 in the country. A total of 16,814 patients have recovered from the disease so far.

The new cases were recorded after 11,445 testing kits were used across the country during the past 24 hours, and a total of 477,433 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease, according to the statement.

The latest jump of the infections pushed Ryadh Abdul-Amir, head of the Public Health Department, to warn of the serious situation by the sharp increase of the coronavirus infections.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Iraq has been taking measures to contain the pandemic.

China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

From March 7 to April 26, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad.

Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem
AN alleged daylight assault on a street in Offaly resulted in a man's finger being severed, it was claimed in court this afternoon (Wednesday, June 24).

Judge Bernadette Owens refused Craig Connolly, 28, bail at Tullamore District Court.

Mr Connolly, Kinnefad, Edenderry, has been charged with assaulting Keith Dunne, causing him harm, at JKL Street, Edenderry, on June 18 last.

Opposing a bail application because of the nature and seriousness of the alleged offence, and because of Mr Connolly's reputation for violence, Garda Mark Shine said the evidence would be that the accused allegedly assaulted Mr Dunne with a Japanese pull saw after 3pm.

Asked by Judge Owens what a pull saw was, Garda Shine said it was a single handled instrument about a foot long with a double-sided ridged blade.

He said the evidence would be that Mr Dunne suffered serious injuries, including a severed finger and further serious injuries to other fingers.

Garda Shine said Mr Dunne was in fear of his life and was not in attendance in court.

The alleged victim identified the accused and there was also CCTV footage of the defendant walking on Col Perry Street in Edenderry towards where the incident happened and running away from the scene and getting into the rear of a van.

Garda Shine agreed with Suzanne Dooner, BL, defending, that the assailant was wearing a black Covid mask and had a hood up.

He also agreed that Mr Dunne was the only witness who identified the accused and that the CCTV footage was not in court.

Garda Shine also cited previous bench warrants issued for Mr Connolly as grounds for opposing bail and an offence committed while he was subject to a suspended sentence.

In her submission, Ms Dooner said the evidence at its height was tenuous and Mr Connolly was a man who had overcome addiction, was in a steady relationship and was helping to raise a child.

She said he would abide by any conditions imposed if he was admitted to bail.

Refusing bail, Judge Owens said she believed there was a risk the accused would commit further serious offences and in particular she noted his conviction in June last year for an aggravated burglary while on a suspended sentence.

She was also concerned he would not turn up in court given his warrant history.

She remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on July 1 next.

As he was led away, Mr Connolly said it was a joke that he was being sent to prison on one man's evidence.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Make-A-Wish honoree Caden Custer received a few surprises during a press conference at the Food Bank of Central New York on Tuesday evening.

Jim and Juli Boeheim, accompanied by their children Buddy, Jimmy and Jamie, presented Custer with a $10,000 matching grant on behalf of their foundation.

The effort is part of the second phase of the Skaneateles High School seniors wish experience that will help feed local families in need.

The donation will go toward the Food Banks summer break box program, which was renamed Cadens Wish Break Boxes.

Caden Custer announced today the second phase of his Make-A-Wish request to give hunger relief to struggling children & families.



During the presser, Custer was surprised by the Boeheim family, who announced a $10,000 matching grant on behalf of the Jim & Juli Boeheim Foundation pic.twitter.com/xTc0mZ6gdS  Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) June 23, 2020

It was more than I could ever ask for, said Custer, 18, who didnt want to use the wish for himself even though he has cystic fibrosis.

The Boeheim Foundation recently gave $50,000 to Mercy Works, an organization that is feeding Syracuse city schoolchildren during the Covid-19 crisis.

When you get a Make-A-Wish, usually you get something for yourself. When (Caden) decided to do something for the community, we wanted to help right away. Were proud to be able to help, said Jim Boeheim.

Custer also received a $5,000 donation from Chris and Nancy Gorman, along with their daughter, Emma.

The Gormans initially planned to use the money for a family vacation until they discovered Custers initiative last month.

Given the challenges of the Covid-19 outbreak, we felt it wasnt right that we had money for a luxury when so many people were struggling with their basic needs. We knew this was something we wanted to support, said Chris Gorman.

Following the press conference, Custer, his family and other volunteers packed 400 boxes in preparation for the final phase of the program.

In mid-July, Cadens Wish Break Boxes will be given away by the Food Bank to various youth service sites over the course of 10 weeks. A total of 2,125 boxes of food will be distributed this summer to locations in Cayuga and Onondaga counties through Custers wish.

The first phase of Custers wish featured a Wish to Give food drive in which he and his family collected over 5,700 pounds in food donations at Destiny USA.

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A career Justice Department lawyer will testify to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that political leaders in the agency's antitrust division initiated a probe of four automakers' carbon emissions agreement with California a day after President Trump tweeted criticisms of the preliminary deal.

Driving the news: John Elias, one of two whistleblowers testifying in Wednesday's hearing about political interference at the Justice Department, says in prepared testimony that the since-abandoned probe into Ford, BMW, Honda and VW initiated on Aug. 22, 2019, did not follow the typical procedures.

"Ordinarily, decisions of import  here, an investigation of a $630 billion automobile market  take time and care to evaluate, especially when the action would face defenses. Here, in its opening memorandum, staff acknowledged that it had not fully examined the public record," Elias states.

Why it matters: Makan Delrahim, the head of the DOJ's antitrust division, has previously denied the probe was undertaken for political reasons. The department did not provide immediate comment Tuesday.

Elias' statement provides new details about the inquiry into automakers who reached an agreement with California regulators to meet emissions standards for their nationwide fleets that are more stringent than Trump administration policy.

The details: His testimony says the initiating paperwork was generated by the division's policy staff and that enforcement staff "expressed concerns about the legal and factual basis for the investigation" once they received the matter.

He adds that enforcement staff sought time to conduct their own analysis and "requested a delay in going overt with the investigation."

But the investigation went ahead anyway, with Delrahim personally writing to the automakers to inform them that the DOJ was examining their arrangement with California, Elias said.

The big picture: Elias will also testify that at the direction of Attorney General Bill Barr, the antitrust division launched 10 full-scale reviews of merger activity taking place in the cannabis industry that did not meet "established criteria for antitrust investigations."

"The rationale for doing so centered not on an antitrust analysis, but because [Barr] did not like the nature of their underlying business," Elias claims.

Read his full opening statement via DocumentCloud.
ISE CITY, Japan, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- UL, a leading global safety science company, has announced the July 1 opening of its Large Mobility Laboratory, a new electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test facility. Designed to support key transformative mobility trends of connectivity, autonomy, sharing and electrification (CASE), the new facility, located in Ise City, Mie Prefecture, was developed specifically for the testing and verification of large-scale equipment and heavy-duty vehicles, such as construction machinery.

Mary Joyce, UL's general manager and vice president of Global Mobility and Automotive said, "The Large Mobility Laboratory, combined with UL's existing global network of laboratories and engineering talent, will help advance large mobility safety and innovation by offering large mobility manufacturers in Japan a seamless end-to-end service solution with unparalleled technical expertise. By placing UL's Large Mobility Laboratory in Japan, we will help manufacturers in that region navigate risk and enable greater speed-to-market for their products and solutions."

Environmentally-friendly real estate development and construction site safety and productivity improvements are driving the adoption of new construction machinery technologies, including autonomous vehicles and electrification. In equipment that contains multiple electronic devices, electromagnetic noise that emits from each device has the potential to cause interference with each other, risking serious accidents. EMC testing plays an important role in the prevention of such accidents.

According to the Japan Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association, approximately 50% of construction machinery manufactured in Japan is exported and used all over the world. As technological advances continue to evolve, construction machinery exported to European Union (EU) countries must conform to a new standard to help ensure safe operation. With the adoption of EN ISO 13766-1,2:2018, a new standard for earth-moving and building construction machinery to safeguard EMC and functional safety that will be mandatory Jan. 1, 2021, it will be necessary for Japanese construction machinery to undergo final, full-sized product immunity tests to meet this requirement. In addition to the EU, South Africa also requires EMC testing of full-sized construction equipment.

Supporting compliance to this new standard, UL's Large Mobility Laboratory features one of Japan's largest anechoic chambers capable of EMC testing for a variety of machines and transport, including forklifts, cranes, buses, trucks, trains, large agricultural machinery and small airplanes.

The size and capacity of the anechoic chamber complement other features to meet specific heavy-duty vehicle and large-scale machinery requirements. The facility also includes an expansive assembly space that allows large equipment to be assembled locally from individually delivered parts. In addition, the laboratory is also equipped with a 10 kilowatt radio frequency high power amplifier and a large antenna, instrumental for conducting immunity testing to satisfy EN ISO 13766-2:2018 standard criteria. Within the same building, a smaller anechoic chamber allows EMC tests to be conducted on individual components.

The Large Mobility Laboratory is certified to the standard governing the competence of EMC testing, ISO/IEC 17025 and joins UL's facilities globally, offering comprehensive wireless, cybersecurity, interconnectivity, materials and electric vehicle batteries compliance solutions addressing the mobility and automotive sectors.

Masahito Hashizume UL's senior director and general manager of Consumer Technology said, "We are honored to be a part of Japan's large mobility innovation ecosystem. The development of our Large Mobility Laboratory demonstrates our long-term commitment to empower our customers in Japan. For more than 125 years, we continue to apply science and objective authority to solve critical challenges by helping develop and market safer products and innovations. Our Large Mobility Laboratory allows us to harness this approach and equips us to better partner with innovative companies in Japan to fast-track their project fulfillmentallowing them ultimately to quickly grow and thrive."

Press Contacts

Emiko Ohtsuka

UL Japan

[email protected]

+81-3-5293-6007

Steven Brewster

UL

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+1.415.577.8851

SOURCE UL

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Racism has been declared a public health crisis in San Bernardino, resulting in disparities in 'family stability, health and mental wellness, education, employment, economic development, public safety, criminal justice and housing.'

The Board of Supervisors approved the decision in a 5-0 vote during a Tuesday meeting, detailing the mass inequalities faced by the black community in the county.

Following weeks of demonstrations protesting the killing of George Floyd on May 25, the resolution notes that the 'U.S. Census Bureau has documented a significant increase in anxiety and depression among black people nationally.'

Specifically in San Bernardino, officials noted that the infant mortality rate for the black population was double the rate of the rest the county.

The Board of Supervisors approved the decision in a 5-0 vote during a Tuesday meeting, detailing the mass inequalities faced by the Black community in the county

And while black people only make up nine per cent of the entire county's population, the community makes up 19 per cent of jail bookings and 38 per cent of juvenile detention facilities.

Black people make up 21 per cent of the county's homeless population, with homeownership for the community at under 43 per cent - whereas the county has 60 per cent homeownership overall.

The resolution notes that racism contributes to physical and behavioral health conditions - including depression, maternal death, diabetes and more.

Officials added that racism has also given rise to 'geographical segregation' that has exposed 'people of color to 'lead poisoning, poor air quality, inadequate nutrition, and under-resourced recreational and healthcare facilities.'

Following weeks of demonstrations protesting the killing of George Floyd on May 25, the resolution notes that the 'U.S. Census Bureau has documented a significant increase in anxiety and depression among black people nationally' (Protests in Victorville)

Residents came to the Tuesday meeting and voiced their support of the resolution

Black students in the county have been failed in education, as well, with only 17 per cent found to be proficient in math - compared to 31 per cent of all students.

When it comes to English and Language Arts, less than 35 per cent of black students are proficient - compared to 45 per cent of all students.

Black students are also suspended and expelled at more than twice the respective rates for all students and only have a college readiness rate of 30 percent - compared to 44 per cent.

The resolution mentions nine ways in which the county will work to dismantle racism.

The resolution mentions nine ways in which the county will work to dismantle racism. Josie Gonzales, Fifth District Supervisor for the County of San Bernardino, voiced her support for the resolution

The county has now added 'Equity' to their Countywide Vision, which aims to capitalize 'on the diversity of its people, it's geography, and its economy to create a broad range of choices for its residents in how they live, work, and play.' The Equity Element Group will now check for ways to address the impact and prevention of racism.

San Bernardino will work with justice agencies, using the Equity Element Group, to ensure 'public safety is administered equitably.'

Diversity will be sought in the County Government workforce, the resolution also details.

The county will advocate for the dismantling of systemic racism through the California State Association of Counties and the National Association of Counties.

Additionally, San Bernardino will work with other organizations that are confronting racism. The county is currently considering joining the Government Alliance on Race and Equity.

They will also evaluate existing policies and place priority in policies that address health in an equitable way by 'mitigating exposure to adverse childhood experiences.'

The county is encouraging the 24 towns and cities to adopt similar resolutions.
I think Barrs conduct has made it clear that he is not acting as the attorney general for the people of the United States, but as a private attorney to protect the interests of the president, said former U.S. attorney Barbara McQuade. What can be done about William Barr? I really think the only thing that can be done is impeachment. And I think that this Republican Senate has shown it doesnt really have any appetite for that.
IPO Edge, in partnership with Desert Hawk Gold Corporation, owner of a fully-permitted, operating mine in Utah, and The Palm Beach Hedge Fund Association, a Florida trade association for financial professionals, hosted Webinar on Wednesday, June 24 at 4pm EST/1pm PST  The Case for Gold in an Era of Unprecedented Money Printing.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A REPLAY OF THE WEBINAR

The Webinar featured Howard Crosby, Chairman of Desert Hawk Gold Corporation, an SEC reporting company that plans to list shares on a national exchange after the completion of its current offering. The company will issue up to $10 million in shares to fund expansion of current mine assets, explore the Kiewit Mine, and for general working capital.

More details about the investment opportunity are available at:

www.deserthawkgoldcorp.com

Mr. Crosby discussed:

Why gold has a place in a balanced portfolio

Reasons to invest in a mine asset rather than physical gold

Owning a mine rather than ETFs such as GratiteShares Gold Trust, SPDR Gold Shares, or iShares Silver Trust

How the recent monetary stimulus by global central banks makes gold more appealing

An overview of the Desert Hawk offering

Benefits of investing in an operational and productive mine

Advantages of investing in domestic rather than international mine assets

About Howard Crosby:

Howard Crosby is Chairman of Desert Hawk Gold Corporation. He has been president of Crosby Enterprises, Inc., a family-owned business advisory consulting firm since 1989. From 1994 to June of 2006 he served as president and director of Cadence Resources Corporation, a publicly traded oil and gas company, which was merged with an AMEX listed company in 2005. Mr. Crosby also was a founder and director of High Plains Uranium in 2004, and was a founder and director of US Silver Corp in 2006, which acquired the Galena Mine in the Coeur dAlene Mining District from Coeur dAlene Mines in 2006. From 2004 until March of 2016, Mr. Crosby was an officer and director of White Mountain Titanium Corporation, which is developing a world class titanium project in Chile. Mr. Crosby is also a director or advisor to a number of privately held companies. He received a bachelors degree from the University of Idaho in 1975.

Story continues

Contact:

John Jannarone, Editor-in-Chief

editor@IPO-Edge.com

www.IPO-Edge.com

Editor@IPO-Edge.com

Twitter: @IPOEdge

Instagram: @IPOEdge
TDT | Manama

Speaking in a video lecture organised by the Bahrain Embassy in the UK on Tuesday, Health Ministry undersecretary Dr. Waleed Al Manea underlined that the Kingdom has so far not needed a complete lockdown in its efforts to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19). Dr. Al Manea summarised the measures Bahrain has taken in the virus fight, which has not included a lockdown like other countries, due to adequate preparedness, information about cases, and procedures for statistical tracking through the electronic application conscious community.

Highlighting the national team to combat the coronavirus, led by HRH the Crown Prince, he stressed on Bahrains proactive laboratory tests, thereby ranking the Kingdom amongst the top countries with high per-capita testing compared to the population size. Infectious Disease Consultant and Microbiologist at Bahrain Defence Force Hospital Lt. Col. Dr. Manaf Al Qahtani talked about the number of cases and the treatment protocol used.

He also mentioned the free check-ups, quarantine, isolation and treatment services for all citizens and residents, and provided an explanation of Bahrains strategy in conducting examinations, its continuous evaluation process, and the treatment that Bahrain provides for all existing cases. UK Health Ministry former advisor Professor John Ashton also praised the Bahrain model. Bahrain Ambassador to the UK Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, along with British Members of Parliament, led by the Defence Procurement Shadow Minister Khalid Mahmood MP, Afzal Khan MP, Royston Smith MP, and Lord Jeremy Brauvis took part.
The court sided with Flynn who had been seeking to withdraw a guilty plea in which he admitted lying to the FBI.

A US appeals court on Wednesday directed a federal judge to drop the criminal case against President Donald Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn as demanded by the Justice Department, preventing a judicial review of the propriety of the request.

In a split decision, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in favour of Flynn and the Trump administration in preventing US District Judge Emmet Sullivan from exercising his discretion on whether to grant the departments motion to clear Flynn, who twice pleaded guilty to contempt charges in relation to lying to the FBI.

Flynn, a retired army lieutenant general who served as an adviser to then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during the 2016 election campaign, had been seeking to withdraw his 2017 guilty plea in which he admitted to lying to the FBI about interactions with Russias ambassador to the US in the weeks before Trump took office.









Flynns lawyers, both in court and in public, argued that he was ambushed as part of a plot by biased investigators and that the case should be dismissed.

Trump said in March he was considering a pardon for Flynn, who briefly served as the presidents top in-house adviser on national security concerns.

The president tweeted in support of the decision, calling it Great, shortly after the ruling was announced.

Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request To Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2020

The US Justice Department said last month it would drop the charges, but Judge Sullivan wanted to scrutinise the decision further.

In this case, the district courts actions will result in specific harms to the exercise of the executive branchs exclusive prosecutorial power, Judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed by Trump, wrote in the majority opinion.

Trump supporters took to social media to praise the decision, saying it moved the US closer to justice.

Democratic derision

Judge Robert Wilkins, an Obama appointee, wrote in the dissent that it is a great irony that, in finding the District Court to have exceeded its jurisdiction, this Court so grievously oversteps its own.

The ruling is likely to anger Democrats, who have accused Attorney General William Barr of improperly meddling in criminal cases to help benefit Trumps friends and political allies.

Zac Petkanas, a political consultant and former senior staffer for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trumps opponent in the 2016 presidential election, called it stunning.

It is kind of stunning how much political capital the Trump Team is willing to blow trying to resurrect the traitorous Michael Flynn's reputation after he PLEADED GUILTY to federal crimes. It's a real choice.  Zac Petkanas (@Zac_Petkanas) June 24, 2020

In seeking to have the case dismissed, the Justice Department said the FBI had insufficient basis to question Flynn in the first place and that statements he made during the interview were not material to the broader counterintelligence investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign.

The department said that dismissing the case was in the interest of justice, and that it was following the recommendation of a US attorney who had been appointed by Barr to investigate the handling of the Flynn investigation.
Lending start-ups are taking baby steps to restart loan disbursals as India slowly unwinds after weeks of a nationwide lockdown.

Industry insiders say that while recovery of existing loans is still a priority, some bit of lending is essential to ensure that small businesses restart, so that they are able to repay loans.

Delhi-based lending player Paisalo Digital and Bengaluru-based Kreditbee have already started lending from the first week of June. Gurugram-based lending company Aye Finance will start it next month.

We will start giving out fresh loans from July, said Aye Finance managing director Sanjay Sharma. We will be extremely cautious while lending, but we believe certain sectors like general trade, grocery shops and others have done well during lockdown.

Lending fintechs are undertaking this at a time when banks are still wary of giving out fresh loans. Some entrepreneurs point out that it is becoming challenging for them to raise fresh debt from larger lenders for onward lending, as they are tightening their lending screws. Even co-lending is becoming a challenge, they said.

There will be an issue of liquidity in the space, but the sense in the industry is that NBFCs which are in a comfortable financial position need to unlock some bit of lending to help restart the cycle.

While Aye was disbursing close to Rs 200 crore monthly during the pre-COVID days, the number would now be around Rs 40-50 crore, Sharma said.

Aye Finance is an SME-focused lender. It currently has 1.6 lakh active loans, and a portfolio of around Rs 1,800 crore.

Paisalo says the idea is to help players restart their businesses slowly. It extends income generation loans to kirana stores, papad makers, sandwich makers, food processers and others.

Paisalo Digital is a listed lender with a market capitalisation of around Rs 900 crore and has assets under management worth Rs 2,000 crore. It gives small business loans between Rs 10,000 and Rs 2 lakh.

In case of banks, borrowers reach out to them. In case of NBFCs, we reach out to borrowers. We understand borrowers better; hence, I think players like us are in a better position to cater to the credit needs of small businesses as they slowly restart operations, said Santanu Agarwal, deputy chief executive officer, Paisalo Digital.

Kreditbee is only catering to the needs of existing customers. It offers personal loans, loans for the self-employed as well as for consumer durables.

While it was giving out a million loans every month in the pre-COVID days, currently the disbursals have come down by roughly 90%, said KreditBee founder Madhusudan Ekambaram.

We have a base of 28 lakh active borrowers, of whom roughly one-fourth have availed the moratorium while others were repaying even during the lockdown periodwe are open to start lending only with borrowers not affected negatively by COVID, he said.

While there are early signs of recovery, industry insiders continue to remain sceptical. Multiple lending players are tightening their credit screws. One top executive at a fintech lending start-up pointed out that there would be multiple borrowers applying for loans, and lenders have to be judicious about approvals and rejections.

Sharma of Aye Finance said that the big problem for fintech lenders is that banks are being extremely cautious. If they dont ease up a bit, even good borrowers will suffer. If banks lend money to NBFCs on favourable terms, they can do onward lending to consumers.

I feel disruptions in the organised sector were more. The micro-business sector has lower operational costs, and they will be able to turn around faster. Someone needs to pump in liquidity into this space, said Sharma.

Abhishek Agarwal, chief executive officer of CreditVidya, said that liquidity in the economy will continue to be a challenge at least till August since most lenders will remain very careful during the next few months. Even those players who are now lending are just testing waters and will keep an eye out for repayment trends, he added.

The biggest challenge now is appraisals. How do you segregate moratorium and non-moratorium customers is the question, he said. Those players who were not targeting businesses in the essentials category cannot change their lending strategies overnight to target such players, he said.

Business challenges have opened up multiple acquisition and merger opportunities. Industry insiders pointed out that larger NBFCs have received acquisition proposals from smaller players. Very recently, InCred acquired Bengaluru-based fintech lender Qbera for an undisclosed amount.

These deals will not be about the valuation, it will be about digital assets and good founders who can add value to the company acquiring them, said a top executive at an early stage venture capital fund.

Madhusudan said that a lot of acquisition offers are doing the rounds. Some players could have niche lending capabilities, some could have cracked some new data underwriting methods, and well capitalised players are on the look-out for such assets.
Most of the votes in Tuesday's Williamstown town election were cast by mail.

Beck Wins Seat on Williamstown Planning Board

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  By a margin of 100 votes, Peter Beck on Tuesday earned a five-year seat on the Planning Board.

Beck, a newcomer to town politics, took the seat from incumbent Alex Carlisle by a vote of 407-307 399-299, unofficially , in the only contested race on the town election ballot.

"I got a sense that there were people who were really supportive of what I was talking about," Beck said Tuesday evening. "I definitely heard from them, especially online.

"You don't know what proportion of the town that represents, but I do know I was hearing positive feedback from people who care about these issues in town."

Beck was at Williamstown Elementary School for a while on Tuesday with Carlisle to wave to voters and thank them for their participation in the process, though, given the uniqueness of this election season, there was no pressing the flesh.

"Mostly it was communicating gratitude with the eyes," Beck said. "Just waving hello."

The majority of votes in the election were cast by mail.

Out of 720 total ballots cast (including blanks and write-ins), 476 were mail-in ballots, according to Town Clerk Nicole Pedercini, who ran her first election on Tuesday after the retirement of longtime clerk Mary Kennedy.

Pedercini said she sent out 523 mail-in ballots to voters who applied for them, giving the mail-in vote a return rate of 91 percent.

Last year, 953 votes were cast in the town election.

Each of the unopposed candidates on the ballot won his or her contest with ease, including the two incumbent Select Board members up for re-election, Andrew Hogeland and Hugh Daley.

Beck said Tuesday he did not know when the Planning Board will next meet, but he wants to get going soon. The panel has not met since March; its last three meetings were canceled. It does have a meeting on the town calendar for July 2, but as of Tuesday evening, there was no agenda posted.

Beck, who talked at length during the campaign about the need to engage with voters and build broad consensus for Planning Board initiatives, said he believes those conversations can begin in a virtual environment.

"I sure hope so," he said. "I say that also from my perspective as an educator and a school administrator. Who knows how long we'll have to work like this or whether we'll be able to go in person and then go back online again and then in person again.

"I hope we can develop really positive ways to engage this way because we have to. I don't think it's an option. I'm someone who vastly prefers being face to face, and I know a lot of people feel that way. ... But I think it's urgent and necessary that we figure out the best ways to have a community conversation."
(Newser)  A Wisconsin teen held in jail for two years for the murder of her alleged sex trafficker has been released on bail after $400,000 was raised by groups including the Milwaukee Freedom Fund. The fund worked with the Chrystul Kizer Defense Committee, Chicago Community Bond Fund, and the national Survived & Punished coalition, which will use the returned bail money to establish a national bail fund for criminalized survivors of domestic and sexual violence once the case ends, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Chrystul Kizer, a 19-year-old black woman who was 17 when she shot and killed Kenosha resident Randall P. Volar III in June 2018, is awaiting a September status conference. She's charged with first-degree intentional homicide but could plead guilty to felony murder, or murder in the act of robbery, which doesn't carry a mandatory life sentence.

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Kizer was 16 when she posted an ad on a prostitution forum, per the Sentinel. She was contacted by 33-year-old Volar, who would be charged with abusing several underage black girls in February 2018. A few months after he was released on bail, Kizerwho'd suffered a year of abuseshot and killed him, set fire to his house, and fled in his vehicle. She later told the Washington Post that she'd refused sex and Volar pinned her to the floor. A petition demanding Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley drop all charges has received almost 1 million signatures. But Graveley says supporters don't know all the facts. Court documents refer to premeditation and a Facebook post in which Kizer posed with a pistol and said she was not afraid to kill again, per the New York Times. Still, Graveley says Kizer won't be "incarcerated for decades," considering her age and "the offenses that Mr. Volar committed against her." (Read more homicide stories.)
Photograph: peterspiro/Getty Images

University students across America are calling for their universities to sever ties with outside law enforcement agencies and defund any resources currently spent on policing.

Related: 'We can stop the cycle': crime survivors work toward prevention, not policing

Thousands of university students, graduate workers, faculty and student organizations have signed petitions, issued statements, held protests, and are organizing to compel universities to carry out their demands.

Campaigners want funding currently spent on campus policing to be diverted to community-based alternatives, programs for education, youth and mental health services, and affordable housing.

The first college campus police department was established at Yale University in 1894, with the majority of college and university police forces in the US emerging in the 1960s in response to mass protests for civil rights and opposition to the Vietnam war.

Black student organizers are now leading efforts to abolish and defund the Yale University Police Department in the wake of the George Floyd protests, calls that gained initial support after a Yale University police officer was involved in the shooting of an unarmed Black couple in 2019.

The Yale police department has all the powers and privileges afforded to the New Haven police department, yet they do not hold themselves equally accountable to the community members they police, said Jaelen King, an undergraduate student at Yale University and co-head of Black Students for Disarmament at Yale. King and others have led hundreds in protest at Yale police headquarters to demand the university abolish its police force.

It is absolutely necessary that the Yale PD is defunded and dismantled, so as to end their tyranny on communities of color within the city, added King.

In a statement provided by a Yale University spokesperson, President Peter Salovey said: The YPD has enhanced its community outreach and engagement efforts to better address community concerns. And in order to ensure that we only police agreed-upon designated areas, the YPD is working more closely than ever with the New Haven police. We are additionally emphasizing increased supervisory scrutiny and ongoing assessment.

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Dozens of students at University of Chicago recently held a sit-in protest at the University of Chicago police headquarters asking the school administration to defund, disarm, and disband the campus police force by 2022, one of the largest private police forces in the US.

Students said the university had sought to disrupt the protest.

The University of Chicago. Dozens of students recently held a sit-in protest asking the school to defund, disarm, and disband the campus police force by 2022. Photograph: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

We had supplies, food and water, that was prevented from coming in and they also prevented us from accessing restrooms inside, keeping us in a room, and would periodically read a memo stating that we were trespassing and they would do that every half hour to hour, said Michelle Yang, an undergraduate at UChicago and member of CareNotCops.

CareNotCops was founded after campus police shot a student in 2018 who was experiencing a mental health episode. It was created to push the administration to act on years-long pressure from students and community members to abolish the campus police force.

Tai Davidson Bajandas, a student at University of Chicago, helped organize the protest outside police headquarters. Policing has never worked for the community. Theyre not agents of care or protection, theyre agents of harm, materially and systematically, said Davidson Bajandas.

A spokesperson for the University of Chicago said protesters were not permitted to eat in the police headquarters due to Covid-19 concerns and that restrooms were not public. The spokesperson added the university had offered to set up a meeting with campaigners but had not yet finalized details.

At Harvard, students and alumni have renewed calls to abolish the schools private police force, the HUPD, as officers from the school were seen being utilized against protest demonstrations in the city of Boston.

Harvard University has not justified the need for a police force. Around 95% of HUPDs caseload is property crimes, offenses, said Joanna Anyanwu, a student at Harvard Law School and organizer with the Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign.

In January 2020, Harvards student-run newspaper, the Crimson, published a feature on racism within HUPD, outlining complaints and lawsuits alleging racial discrimination within its ranks over the past two decades.

The call to abolish HUPD is an acknowledgement that policing doesnt keep us safe, said Amber Ashley James, an organizer with the Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign.

I personally observed instance after instance of racial profiling, of racism and white supremacy Amber Ashley James

James argued funding toward the police should be redirected to programs such as mental healthcare provided to students and faculty on campus, a crisis response team, and programs to support the homeless.

I personally observed instance after instance of racial profiling, of racism and white supremacy in all its forms in terms of the way HUPD responded to parties that black students threw, to cries for help from students of color in need, and the way HUPD harassed and harangued the community of homeless people around Harvard Square, James added.

Seeing all these instances persist and the administration time after time failing to respond to them, weve passed the point where were interested in reform, in sensitivity training for HUPD or implicit bias training.

A Harvard spokesperson deferred comment to a press release from president Lawrence Bacow announcing an independent review of HUPD launched earlier this year in response to allegations of racism and excessive force within the department.

Hundreds of students, graduate workers, and organizations within the University of California system have also signed onto a letter to abolish police departments on campuses and end all external police contracts.

The problem is the different ways students are surveilled, and how police are used to harass students, often students of color. For example in the different housing on campus, its not uncommon, Ive experienced this myself, for white neighbors to call the UCPD on students of color simply for being outside. Once I was called on for being too loud outside, said Semassa Boko, a graduate worker at University of California-Irvine.

Its an entire culture and system of policing we aim to abolish.

UC Irvine did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
After months of working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many state government employees are returning to their offices this week.

In anticipation, state agencies have issued guidance that included processes for inspecting and sanitizing buildings and best practices for employees to stay healthy on the job after months of remote work.

The recommendations issued by supervisors within each agency closely track with many of the best practices already embraced by the health care community, including the common advisories to wash hands, maintain social distancing and stay home if youre feeling sick.

Though the return process has been gradual, the state appears to be lacking in some supplies to help stem the spread of the virus, and has only imposed loose restrictions for employees working within the building: a potential point of concern for workers as the state experiences a surge in cases.

According to a source in a state agency that has returned to work, personal protective equipment in the office has been hard to come by and  while masks and hand sanitizer are available upon request  their facility so far lacks any requirements for people in common areas of their building to wear masks or to limit gathering sizes. Some items, like sanitary wipes, have been in short supply.

Officials have taken protective measures ahead of opening. In emails sent to staff on Tuesday, workers in one office were told that additional hand sanitizer would be added to work spaces. In a Monday interview with the Star-Tribune, A&I Director Patricia Bach said that so far the only buildings cleared for opening are ones with individual offices or where employees can easily socially distance. Others, like the cubicle-dominated Herschler Building, will remain closed.

In the meantime, Bach said the state is currently working on adding approximately 250 sanitizing stations to state facilities. In addition, office spaces could potentially be modified to improve worker safety.

Those who arent yet ready to return to work, she added, wont necessarily have to either.

Were pretty aware of the amount of folks that are either compromised themselves, or have compromised family members at home, said Bach. Weve done everything we can to make sure that we work with them and make sure theyre safe as possible. And the governor is very cognizant of that. Thats why telework is an option and why telework has been an option.

Reopening plans for other agencies in state government remain unclear. As of Monday afternoon, few agencies within state government had begun to return to the workplace, while approvals to return to work by Wyoming Department of Health and by the states OSHA office were still pending. The Wyoming Public Employees Association, the de facto union for state employees, said Monday it had not yet received any formal complaints from employees, but were committed to rectifying any situation to arise down the road.

If somebody is being told they are going back to work and they dont have the proper safety, they can call us and well follow through to make sure it is safe for them to go back, Betty Jo Beardsley, the director of the WPEA, said in an interview. But I dont think there is a plan for that immediately. It will be gradual.

Some are still reluctant to take that step, however, particularly as the number of cases of COVID-19 in Wyoming and the Mountain West have begun increasing in the wake of loosening restrictions on travel and businesses. On Tuesday, legislative leadership voted down a proposal to allow committees of the Wyoming Legislature to hold some limited, in-person meetings in Cheyenne, citing concerns for public health and the safety of their employees.

While cost savings (it costs $10,500 for an in-person meeting in Cheyenne, but less than half of that for a remote meeting), did factor in that decision, a professed lack of PPE for members of the public and a lack of enthusiasm for in-person testimony were likely larger motivations in the vote. For an upcoming, in-person meeting in Rock Springs, for example, 13 of 14 total people asked to testify declined invitations to attend in-person, LSO director Matt Obrecht told Management Council on Tuesday.

While some members of the Council, like Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, suggested the Legislature should mirror the loosening of restrictions that have been occurring around the state, a bipartisan majority of Management Council disagreed, with several expressing concern for public health and safety in light of rising case numbers.

I dont see enough of a gain from in-person meetings to add to the risk of staff, Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, said ahead of the vote. How is this a good time for the legislature to roll back restrictions when the data suggests we should be doing the opposite?

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Though demand for loans was low in the first five months of the year, commercial banks were able to implement 40-50 percent of their business plans.

At a meeting with commercial banks in late April, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Le Minh Hung reported that as of March 31, credit provided to the national economy had increased by 1.3 percent compared with the beginning of the year, the lowest Q1 credit growth rate in the last six years.





Some commercial banks even reported a minus credit growth rate for the first three months of the year, including Eximbank (- 3.8 percent), Saigonbank (- 2.3 percent), VietinBank (- 1.25 percent) and BIDV (- 1 percent).



Two months later, the updates from SBV showed that outstanding loans had increased by 1.96 percent by the end of May compared with late 2019, which was much lower than the 5.74 percent of the same period last year and 6.16 percent of 2018.

The latest update released at the 2020 shareholders meeting showed the banks outstanding loans had reached VND291.4 trillion as of May 31, an increase of 9.88 percent compared with the beginning of the year.

The central bank explained that because of Covid-19, demand is weak and people have tightened their purse strings.



However, while credit of the entire banking system in general has been growing very slowly, some banks have reported high growth rates.



OCB, for example, reported a high 8.76 percent growth rate in outstanding loans as of the end of March, reaching VND77.32 trillion.



The high credit growth rate allowed OCB to receive a high net interest income increase of 31.4 percent compared with the same period last year. Credit activities made up 59 percent of the banks total income (VND1.18 trillion).



SHB, with 6.4 percent, was also one of the banks with high credit growth rates. VND282.2 trillion was lent in the first three months of the year which brought a profit growth rate 24.6 percent (VND1.684 trillion).



The latest update released at the 2020 shareholders meeting showed the banks outstanding loans had reached VND291.4 trillion as of May 31, an increase of 9.88 percent compared with the beginning of the year.



As for TP Bank, its outstanding loans had increased by 5 percent as of the end of Q1 to VND100.5 trillion. The figure rose to 11 percent at the end of April, the highest in the banking system.



Analysts noted that most of the banks which had high credit growth rates in the first months of the year were joint stock banks which can satisfy CAR in accordance with Basel II standards.



Some commercial banks have reported profit after the first five months of the year. Vietcombank made a profit of VND9.1 trillion, ACB VND3.5 trillion.

Thanh Lich

Vietnam credit growth slows to 2.13% in 6-month period Credit demand in Vietnam is expected to stay low in the foreseeable future as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to be complicated globally, said a central banker.
Amaravati, June 24 : Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar on Wednesday moved Andhra Pradesh High Court, alleging that the state government is resorting to contempt of court by not allowing him to resume office as the State Election Commissioner (SEC).

The High Court admitted for hearing Ramesh Kumar's petition, in which he alleged that the government wilfully and deliberately violated the May 29 order of the court reinstating him as the SEC.

"In total disobedience of the order dated May 29, I am not being permitted to be restored to my earlier position as SEC and discharge the duties, as the election notification (for local bodies) is continuing to be in force," he said in his petition.

He brought to the notice of the court that former high court judge Justice V. Kanagaraj, who was appointed in his place in April, was still being treated as the SEC by the government.

Kumar has named the Chief Secretary, Panchayat Raj Secretary and SEC Secretary as the respondents. He claimed that they committed the contempt and are liable to punishment under The Contempt of Courts Act.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government had issued an ordinance on April 10 to sack Ramesh Kumar as the SEC following a row over the postponement of local body elections.

Within hours after sacking him, the government appointed Kanagaraj as the new SEC.

On the petitions of Ramesh Kumar and several others including BJP leader Kamineni Srinivas, the High Court on May 29 struck down the ordinance, declaring it unconstitutional. It also set aside the orders appointing Kanagaraj as the new SEC.

Rajesh Kumar had issued a circular to all District Collectors, CEOs of zilla praja parishads, District Panchayat Officers, and Municipal Commissioners the same day, stating that pursuant to the High Court orders he stood restored to the office of SEC.

However, the next day he withdrew the circular after Advocate General S. Subramanya Sriram stated that Ramesh Kumar's action of issuing a circular is illegal as the High Court had not asked him to take charge.

The state government challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court, which on June 10 refused to grant a stay on the High Court judgment. It called for response from all respondents within two weeks.
Porn star Ron Jeremy has been charged with raping three women and sexually assaulting a fourth, according to prosecutors.

The charges stem from separate alleged incidents dating back to 2014 involving the prolific adult movie actor, whose real name is Ronald Jeremy Hyatt.

In a statement, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said: Ronald Jeremy Hyatt was charged in case BA488059 with three counts each of forcible rape and forcible penetration by a foreign object and one count each of forcible oral copulation and sexual battery. The case was filed for warrant yesterday (22 June).

Jeremy, 67, is accused of raping a woman at a home in West Hollywood in May 2014, sexually assaulting two women on separate occasions at a West Hollywood bar in 2017, and forcibly raping another woman at the same West Hollywood bar in 2019.

The Los Angeles DAs office also declined a 2016 allegation against the actor, due to insufficient evidence.

If Jeremy is convicted as charged, he faces a possible maximum sentence of 90 years to life in state prison, with prosecutors currently recommending his bail at $6.6m.

The case against Jeremy remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Jeremy has been dubbed the worlds most famous living male porn star, having acted in thousands of adult films.
Dr Anthony Fauci gave an unvarnished view of the state of the US outbreak during testimony to the House of Representatives committee on Tuesday, and said the next few weeks could be critical as the country tries to bring the virus to heel.

Asked to give his diagnosis by committee chair Frank Pallone, who praised him for his candour, Dr Fauci said the situation in the US is a mixed bag.

In some respects, weve done very well. Right now the New York metropolitan area, which has been hit extraordinarily hard, has done very well in bringing the cases down, and using the guidelines that we have very carefully put together in a stepwise fashion to try and carefully reopen their city and their state.

However, in other areas of the country, were now seeing a disturbing surge of infections that looks like its a combination, but one of the things is an increase in community spread  We were going down from 30,000 [new cases a day] to 25, to 20, now we sort of stayed about flat and now were going up.

A couple of days ago there were 30,000 new infections. Thats very troublesome to me.

Dr Fauci was testifying just as several states that recently lifted their lockdowns are scrambling to handle notable surges in new coronavirus diagnoses.

In Florida, governor Ron DeSantis has conceded that the record daily figures of new cases is not just down to an increase in testing, as the positivity rate has risen too. The same dynamic is playing out in Texas, whose governor, Greg Abbott, has urged residents to stay at home where possible.

Because the spread is so rampant right now, he told residents on Tuesday, theres never a reason for you to have to leave your home.

Arizona, meanwhile, is seeing its numbers rise particularly sharply; nearly 20 per cent of tests are now coming back positive, and hospital admissions are rising as well. The uptick is kicking in 10 to 14 days after the state began lifting its lockdown  exactly the same time the virus is thought to incubate before symptoms appear.

In his testimony, Dr Fauci said there was no time to waste in turning these trends around.

Right now, the next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges that were seeing in Florida, in Texas, in Arizona, and in other states, theyre not the only ones that are having a difficulty.

Bottom line, Mr Chairman: its a mixed bag. Some good, and some now we have a problem with.

Dr Fauci also testified that he and his colleagues had at no point been instructed to slow down testing or do fewer tests, as the president recently said he had urged because testing reveals more cases and makes the US look bad.

None of us have ever been told to slow down on testing. That just is a fact, said Dr Fauci. In fact, we will be doing more testing.
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 19:03 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406615afbc 1 Business RCEP,regional-economy,India,China,ASEAN,FTA,free-trade-agreement,global-trade,Trade-Minister-Agus-Suparmanto Free

Indonesia and 14 other negotiating countries agreed Tuesday to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year to help their economies recover from the pandemic-induced downturn.

Iman Pambagyo, who has led the RCEP trade negotiating committee since 2013, said he expected the deal to be signed in November. Countries have so far agreed on the text of the agreement and almost completed the legal review of the text, called legal scrubbing.

If signed, the trade deal, introduced at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia in 2012, will create one of the worlds largest economic blocs, as the negotiating countries account for 30 percent of global GDP.

With respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, the finalization of the RCEP this year gives hope that economies in the region and around the world will recover, the regional supply chain will be strengthened and confidence in the open and rules-based international trade system will be restored, Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto said in a statement on Tuesday after a virtual meeting with his regional counterparts.

Read also: Indonesia responds to India, China's latest spat, calls for restraint amid pandemic

The meeting came at a time when countries, including Indonesia, are struggling to reemerge from various degrees of lockdown as they seek to ease the severity of the pandemic's impacts on their economies. The Indonesian government forecasts an economic growth rate of 1 percent this year, the lowest rate in 19 years, and has even warned of a 0.4 percent contraction under a worst case scenario.

The pandemic has also battered international trade and disrupted global supply chains, with factories around the world being forced to close as countries seek to contain the virus.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has projected that global trade will shrink by between 13 and 32 percent this year as the scale of the economic impacts remain uncertain.

Despite Indonesias optimism, ministers from the other negotiating countries, namely the 10 ASEAN member states, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, still need to persuade India to join the RCEP to get the most out of the trade deal.

India, as an original participating country, has a strategic role in the progress, prosperity and supply chain of the region, said Agus, a National Awakening Party politician. Thus, we remain open to India rejoining the RCEP in the future.

Read also: RI wants to resolve issues in RCEP negotiations

India withdrew from negotiations in November 2019 because of concerns about its growing trade deficit with China. Indian businesspeople have expressed concern the RCEP could result in an influx of cheap goods from China and dairy products from Australia.

The situation worsened recently after the Indian army said at least 20 of its soldiers had been killed in clashes with Chinese troops at a disputed border site between the two countries earlier this month.

India and China are important economic partners for Indonesia. Indian government data reveals that Indonesia has emerged as its second-largest trading partner in the ASEAN region.

Indonesia-India bilateral trade increased from US$4.3 billion from 2005 to 2006 to $21 billion in from 2018 to 2019. The trade value stood at $5.42 billion during the January to May period this year, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data show.

India is the second-largest buyer of Indonesian coal and crude palm oil.

Meanwhile, China is Indonesias largest trading partner, with $25.38 billion in bilateral trade recorded during this years first five months.
Health officials in the United Kingdom urge male coronavirus survivors to donate blood, particularly its convalescent plasma component. This comes after a new study has found that men produce more antibodies, which could make their plasma a valuable treatment against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Antibodies attacking SARS-CoV-2 virus. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock

The study by researchers at the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) highlights the differences in the immune response in men and women. The results came from a national trial that saw COVID-19 survivors donate blood plasma to see whether convalescent plasma transfusion could help severely ill patients develop their immune response against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The NHS data comes from an analysis of more than 590 donations made between April 21 and May 14, wherein 75 percent were from men.

The new figures show that about 43 percent of male donors had plasma rich enough in antibodies for it to be included in the trial, compared to 29 percent of women.

"We'd still like to hear from anybody who had coronavirus or the symptoms. More plasma donors are needed. But we'd especially want to hear from men. We test every plasma donation, and men have higher antibody levels, which means we're more likely to be able to use their plasma to save lives," Professor David Roberts, associate director for blood donation at NHSBT, said. "Initially, your immune system will try and fight off a virus with white blood cells. If you become more ill, your immune system needs to produce more antibodies that neutralize or kill the virus. Our studies, and many others around the world, show that men with COVID-19 are more likely to become seriously ill than women. This makes them better plasma donors once they have recovered," he added.

What is convalescent plasma?

Convalescent plasma is a yellowish liquid that makes up about half of the blood volume. After being infected with a virus, the plasma contains antibodies that are used to help fight infection.

Blood plasma therapy or convalescent therapy, which was first used in 1918 during the Spanish flu pandemic, is a treatment option wherein the antibody-rich plasma of someone who has recovered from a viral infection, in this case, the coronavirus disease, is transfused to a patient who is severely ill. The presence of the antibodies in the plasma may help trigger an immune response against the deadly virus.

Convalescent plasma can only be donated by a person who has had the virus. Health experts recommend that donors be fully recovered from COVID-19, as their bodies have had the time to develop a strong antibody response. Currently, the NHS is collecting plasma no sooner than 28 days after recovery.

T cells

Another recent study revealed that female COVID-19 patients had a higher level of T cell activation than males. T cells work by directly killing host cells, activating other cells in the immune system, producing cytokines, and regulating the immune response to fight off an infection. In this study, published on the preprint server medRxiv*, the researchers also found that males were more prone to severe disease and death tied to the coronavirus disease, compared to females. Further, the team found that the median viral RNA titers in the nasopharyngeal swabs were higher in men. Male patients also exhibited elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines than female patients.

Test and Trace program

The government in the United Kingdom has launched the national test and trace program, which aims to gather coronavirus survivors to take part in a blood plasma trial. The research aimed to establish whether plasma from those who recovered from the coronavirus can help others to develop their immune response and combat the deadly disease.

"We need people who've recovered from coronavirus (COVID-19) to donate blood plasma, as part of a clinical trial to help with the national effort against the virus," NHS said on its website. "The trial will tell us how effective convalescent plasma (plasma from people who've had coronavirus) is for treating coronavirus patients," it added.

COVID-19 causes mild to moderate symptoms, but some people are at a high risk of developing severe illness. These include those with underlying health issues, the elderly, and those who are immunocompromised.

People who will be enrolled in the program will receive a text message about 21 days after their result to whether they want to donate their plasma. More than 10,000 people have already enrolled in the trial.

The program also ensures that anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 can quickly be tested to see if they harbor the virus and helps trace close contacts of anyone who tests positive for the novel coronavirus.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 23:23:45|Editor: huaxia

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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 a plenary meeting of the 12th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, June 24, 2020. Chinese national political advisors Wednesday put forward suggestions for the country's poverty alleviation efforts during a session of the standing committee of China's top political advisory body. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese national political advisors Wednesday put forward suggestions for the country's poverty alleviation efforts during a session of the standing committee of China's top political advisory body.

Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attended Wednesday's plenary meeting.

Political advisor Huang Liyun suggested stepping up employment training to help people in deeply impoverished regions shake off poverty.

Political advisor Wang Jian suggested strengthening collaboration on poverty alleviation between the eastern and western regions.

The political advisors also proposed developing industries with local signatures and building better road transportation in rural areas to fight poverty, among others.

The Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee on Monday opened its 12th session to discuss poverty alleviation. Enditem
Twitter has flagged yet another tweet posted by US President Donald Trump for violating its abusive behaviour policy. This comes days after Twitter labelled one of Donald Trump's tweets as manipulated.

Trump's now hidden tweet was directed at potential protestors in the USA. His tweet read, "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!"

"This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about abusive behaviour. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public's interest for the Tweet to remain accessible," Twitter's advisory read.

"We've placed a public interest notice on this Tweet for violating out policy against abusive behaviour, specifically, the presence of a threat of harm against an identifiable group," Twitter's safety team later tweeted.

Twitter's policy reads, "At present, we limit exceptions to one critical type of public-interest contentTweets from elected and government officialsgiven the significant public interest in knowing and being able to discuss their actions and statements."

Protestors have formed a police-free zone in Seattle, Washington which is unsettling for conservatives and seemingly for the US president as well.

This is the fourth time Twitter has flagged Trump's tweet in a month. Previously, the social media company fact-checked Trump's tweets for writing about the mail-in ballots and termed it unsubstantiated. Twitter also screened one of Trump's tweets for glorifying violence that came in the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement. The tweet read, "When the looting starts, the shooting starts."

Last week, Trump also shared a doctored video on Twitter where two toddlers are running. Twitter labelled the video as manipulated as the doctored news clip had a misspelled banner flashing "Terrified toddler runs from racist baby."

After the clear display of annoyance from Twitter last month Trump signed an executive order aimed at weakening the power of social media companies in the way they deal with user-generated content that could be illegal or abusive.

Trump has also called Twitter's fact-checking as biased in the past. "Twitter is doing nothing about all of the lies & propaganda being put out by China or the Radical Left Democrat Party. They have targeted Republicans, Conservatives & the President of the United States. Section 230 should be revoked by Congress. Until then, it will be regulated!"




To meet the moment, the Democratic Party will have to be bold, Obama said. I could not be prouder of the incredible progress that we made together during my presidency. But if I were running today, I wouldnt run the same race or have the same platform as I did in 2008. The world is different. Theres too much unfinished business for us to just look backwards. We have to look to the future.
New Delhi: After the government allowed the armed forces to go in for emergency procurements to do away with shortages of critical equipment, the Indian Army is planning to place an order for acquiring more Excalibur precision-guided Artillery ammunition which can hit targets at 50 km range.

The Excalibur ammunition was inducted last year by the Army to acquire the capability to hit enemy positions close to populated areas without causing collateral damage on the western sector under emergency financial powers.

"Now the financial powers have been again given to the armed forces and there are plans to place repeat orders for the Excalibur ammunition used by the Ultra Light Howitzers which can be deployed with ease on high altitude mountains," Defence sources told ANI.

After the last year`s orders, the Army had started inducting the ammunition from America by October time frame and was fired at targets with pinpoint accuracy.

The development is taking place when the Chinese have also placed their artillery in rear positions along the Line of Actual Control along the Eastern Ladakh sector.

The Vice Chiefs of the three services have been given the financial powers up to Rs 500 crore per project to acquire the required weapon systems under fast track procedures needed to fill whatever shortcomings or requirement is felt.

The requirement of granting this power again to the forces was felt by the government after the Chinese aggression in Eastern Ladakh and the way they have deployed their troops in large numbers there along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Similar financial powers were given to the armed forces after the Uri attack and the Balakot aerial strikes against Pakistan.
Russia discussed potential reforms to the United Nations on Thursday and supported India as a strong nominee for permanent UNSC membership.

Russia on Thursday extended its support for Indias candidacy for a permanent seat in United Nations Security Council.

Today we talked of probable reforms of the United Nations and India is a strong nominee to become a permanent member of UN Security Council and we support Indias candidacy. We believe it can become a full-fledged member of the Security Council, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a Russia, India and China (RIC) meeting.

India has been recently elected a non-permanent member for a two-year term starting January 1, 2021.

Foreign ministers of the RIC discussed reforms of the United Nations during the trilateral meet held through video conferencing.

Also read: India to downsize staff strength at Pak High Commission, urges Islamabad to follow suit

Also read: China encroaching Nepali land through road construction: Govt report

Several countries have backed India for a permanent member of the UNSC. The UNSC comprises 15 members including 10 non-permanent and 5 permanent members.

The 193-member UNSC holds elections every year to elect five non-permanent members for a two-year term at the UN.

Apart from this, there are five permanent members of the Council-China, France, Russia, UK and the US.

Last week, India was elected unopposed as a non-permanent member of the 15 member-UNSC for the 2021-22 term.

Also read: International relations must come to terms with contemporary realities: S Jaishankar at RIC meeting

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Washington  A federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered the dismissal of the criminal case against President Donald Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said in a 2-1 ruling that the Justice Department's decision to abandon the case against Flynn settles the matter, even though Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to prosecutors in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

It was a big win for the Justice Department as Democrats question whether it has become too politicized and Attorney General William Barr too quick to side with the president. The House is holding a hearing Wednesday on the topic. The decision also avoids a protracted court fight that would have delved deeper into the reasoning for the department's extraordinary dismissal request.

Trump tweeted just moments after the ruling became public.

Great! Appeals Court Upholds Justice Departments Request to Drop Criminal Case Against General Michael Flynn.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan had declined to immediately dismiss the case, seeking instead to evaluate on his own the departments request. He appointed a retired federal judge to argue against the Justice Departments position and to consider whether Flynn could be held in criminal contempt for perjury.

Flynn was the only White House official charged in Muellers investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. He pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI days after the presidents January 2017 inauguration about conversations he had had during the presidential transition period with the Russian ambassador.

The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case in May as part of a broader effort by Barr to scrutinize, and even undo, some of the decisions reached during the Russia investigation, which he has increasingly disparaged.

In its motion, the department argued that Flynns calls with the Russian ambassador  in which they discussed sanctions the Obama administration imposed on Russia for election interference  were appropriate and not material to the underlying counterintelligence investigation. The department also noted that weeks before the interview, the FBI had prepared to close its investigation into Flynn after not finding evidence of a crime.

But the retired judge appointed by Sullivan, John Gleeson, called the Justice Departments request a gross abuse of prosecutorial power and accused the government of creating a pretext to benefit an ally of the president.

Wednesday's 2-1 opinion was authored by Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, and joined by Karen LeCraft Henderson, who had asked skeptical questions of lawyers for Flynn and the Justice Department during arguments earlier this month.

In a dissent, Judge Robert Wilkins wrote, It is a great irony that, in finding the District Court to have exceeded its jurisdiction, this Court so grievously oversteps its own.
[June 24, 2020] LinQuest and nLogic Partner Under SBA Mentor-Protege Program

Leading U.S. national security and space contractors, LinQuest Corporation and nLogic, announced a collaboration to facilitate superior growth for both organizations and their respective government and industry clientele under the Small Business Administration's "All Small Mentor-Protege Program." This partnership will embody the SBA's mission to maintain and strengthen small businesses, like nLogic, by partnering with mature organizations to acquire best-in-class business practices and guidance. Effective immediately, LinQuest will serve as a trusted mentor to nLogic by offering technical and managerial counsel and supporting business development initiatives. With our sared mission to accelerate and expand business, this strategic partnership plays an integral role in LinQuest's continued growth, especially in the Huntsville, Alabama marketplace," said Tim Dills, President, and CEO of LinQuest. "We are optimistic about the future and believe this partnership will help nLogic mature its capabilities, and simultaneously expand both of our services at the nexus of the aerospace and defense industries in Huntsville and beyond."



"LinQuest's excellent reputation, wide range of capabilities, and alignment with our own vision make this partnership an obvious decision. We look forward to maturing our business processes and market strategies to expand our customer base through our joint venture called LogicQuest," said Tim Thornton, nLogic CEO and President. About LinQuest Corporation

LinQuest is a space systems technology company that provides innovative services and solutions to U.S. defense, national security, and intelligence communities that focus on the convergence of C4ISR, information, and cyber systems. These services and solutions span the integration, engineering, testing, operations, and sustainment of critical space, air, and ground systems capabilities and programs. More information can be found on the company's website at www.linquest.com. About nLogic, LLC nLogic is a Huntsville-based, employee-owned company that provides systems engineering & integration, software lifecycle, modeling & simulation, logistics, IT, and cybersecurity support to government and industry clients. More information can be found on the company's website at www.nLogic.com. For more information on the joint venture LogicQuest please visit www.logicquestllc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005661/en/

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A New Jersey girl, her mother and her grandfather all drowned in their home pool after the adults reportedly jumped in to try and save the struggling youngster.

Bharat Patel, 62, his daughter-in-law Nisha Patel, 33, and her daughter, named by neighbors as eight-year-old Sacchi, were found unresponsive the back yard of their new home in East Brunswick on Monday.

The medical examiner's office said Tuesday all three victims drowned and the manner of death was accidental.

Sources told NBC the eight-year-old girl got into trouble in an underground section of the above-ground pool, thought to be up to seven feet deep.

Her aunt is then said to have called for help before both Bharat Patel and the youngster's mom Nisha - neither of whom could swim - jumped in to try and save her.

They all then got into difficulty and the aunt jumped in, pulling Sacchi from the water but not before she had drowned, according to reports.

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

Loved ones were pictured being consoled in the aftermath of the tragedy Monday

Sources told NBC eight-year-old Sacchi got into trouble in an underground section of the above-ground pool, thought to be up to seven feet deep

Officials have also confirmed electrocution was not a factor their deaths.

Neighbors had suggested the family 'may have been electrocuted'. One eyewitness told CBS 'an electricians truck showed up shortly thereafter'.

But a police spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'Electrocution was not a factor.'

The family are understood to have bought the five bedroom home within the last month for $451,000.

They are said to have only just serviced the pool ready for the summer and were 'excited to use it', News12 NJ reports.

Concerned neighbors called the cops after hearing screaming from the property shortly after 4pm Monday afternoon.

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.

The family were pronounced dead in the back yard, NBC reports.

This electricians truck is said to have arrived after the three relatives were found dead

The family are said to have only just serviced the pool ready for the summer

It is believed other family members were inside the home at the time of their deaths

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.'
Robin Sells, the former, and now future, chief of the Gresham Police Department, revoked her retirement Tuesday and said she would return to her previous job.

Sells, who joined the department in 2015 as a deputy chief, abruptly announced her retirement 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.

Sells wrote that when she had started as chief, her family gave her a gnome statue and, as a prank, some officers had taken the statue and posed it in pictures all over the country. At an awards banquet, while the statue was still missing, she wrote that she told a crowd its time to return my gnome, as gnome lives matter also, an apparent reference to the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement.

Corey Falls, the deputy city manager, called the remark racist, according to Sells letter, and the chief said she eventually felt pressured to resign.

I truly wanted to stay and ride this out, but in this day and age, somehow truth doesnt matter and I felt pressured to leave, Sells wrote. My departure has caused a huge divide between city hall and the police department  one that will take years to repair.

Sells didnt say who was pressuring her to retire and has not responded to multiple requests for an interview since she announced her retirement.

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.

The statement said neither Sells nor Kvarsten would be responding to requests for comment.

Sells retirement was one of several announcements of top city officials leaving their posts in Gresham, Oregons fourth-largest city. Kvarsten announced earlier this month that he would be retiring after nearly two decades in city government.

Mayor Shane Bemis, in another surprise move, also tendered his resignation, saying he needed to prioritize business and family demands tied to the coronavirus pandemic. He operates Boccellis Ristorante in downtown Gresham, which has been closed to sit-down diners since Gov. Kate Brown halted in-person dining statewide in March.

The City Council is in the process of finding replacements for both Bemis and Kvarsten.

-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
A major fire broke out at a sprawling diaper factory in Sanand industrial area near Ahmedabad city of Gujarat on Wednesday, an official said. The blaze erupted around 8.30 am and efforts to douse the flames are still on, the official said, adding that no casualties have been reported in the incident so far.

Personnel of the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) and nearby civic bodies are involved in the firefighting operation, he said.

Taking note of the incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ordered deployment of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

"Learned about the fire at a factory in Sanand. I am in contact with district collector and other officials concerned. While fire brigade is on the spot, I have also asked NDRF to join the fire-fighting operation," Shah said in a tweet.

According to the officials, the fire has so far gutted a major portion of the plant owned by sanitary products maker- Unicharm India Pvt Ltd- and it may take another 48 hours to bring the blaze completely under control.

"The fire started at around 8.30 am. Over 25 fire tenders and 125 personnel from the AFES and nearby municipalities have been pressed into service," fire officer Mithun Mistry said.

"The blaze continues to rage and it may take another 48 hours to fully control it. Since cotton is used in making diapers, it is causing the fire to spread further," he said.

While the factory has suffered large-scale damages, no one has been injured in the incident, the official added. Unicharm India is the Indian arm of Japanese major Unicharm Corporation.
Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian on Wednesday said that if US proceeds to deploy intermediate-range missile deployment in the Asia-Pacific region, China will not sit idle and take all necessary measures to counter.

As recently the reports of negotiation between the US and Japan came into view, China on Wednesday warned the United States of retaliation if America deploys its intermediate-range missile in the Asia-Pacific region. In the course of a news briefing, Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said that China firmly opposes the deployment of intermediate-range missiles and will not sit idle, will take all the required countermeasures.

China is resolutely against #US intermediate-range missile deployment in the Asia-Pacific region. If the US is to proceed, China will not sit idle and will take all necessary measures to counter, Global Times quoted Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian as saying.

Recently, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said that China has illegally claimed territories in the South China Sea, threatening vital sea lanes. He advised Beijing to follow the western ruleset for building their nation. The US has been challenging Beijings claims on the South China sea and proving support to Taiwan militarily to strengthen its defence inventory.

Also read: Indian community protests outside Chinese consulate in Canada

Also read: Hong Kong religious leaders at risk of extradition to China under new security law: US-based watchdog

I hope that the Chinese Communist Party will begin to recognize that if they want to rise if they want to continue to build out their nation, that they need to do so on a Western rule set that honors the rule of law and honors freedom and respect for sovereignty, said Pompeo in a video message. He went on to say, The PLA has escalated border tensions. We see them today in India, the worlds most populous democracy. We watch as its militarises the South China Sea and illegally claiming more territory there, threatening vital sea lanes,

Also read: 6500 Pakistanis operating as terrorists in Afghanistan: UN report

For all the latest World News, download NewsX App
Invasive fire ants common in the Gulf Coast and Texas likely are limiting a tick-acquired meat allergy in these areas, scientists report.

The ants are moving northward and could reduce the prevalence of the red meat allergy in some Southern states. However, fire ant bites are also a cause of severe allergic reactions.

The new UVA research maps the extent of the red meat allergy in the United States.

The findings further implicate the lone star tick as the cause of the meat allergy and hint that the tick may be increasing in some Northern states.

Invasive fire ants with a nasty bite are limiting the spread of a dangerous meat allergy, new research suggests. But its not all good news, as the ants themselves can also cause severe allergic reactions.

School of Medicine researchers and their collaborators made the discovery while seeking to understand the scope of the alpha-gal meat allergy in the United States. Spread by the bite of the lone star tick, the allergy causes people to develop potentially severe allergic reactions to mammalian meat, including beef and pork.

The allergy is commonly seen throughout the Southeast, the Mid-Atlantic and the Midwest, but rarely in the Gulf Coast and Texas. That is likely caused by the steady expansion of fire ants accidentally imported from South America in the 1930s, the researchers conclude.

But the ants are no heroes, as their bites can be very painful and cause severe allergic reactions. In some cases, the bites can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis. Thats in addition to the dangers the ants pose to animals and crops. And the strong-jawed insects are marching relentlessly northward.

We did not set out to study fire ants, but when the number of alpha-gal cases in the Gulf Coast was consistently lower than we expected, the fire ant emerged as an interesting explanation, said UVA researcher Behnam Keshavarz, PhD, a co-first author of a new scientific paper outlining the discovery.

Mapping the Meat Allergy

The meat allergy was first identified more than a decade ago by UVAs Thomas Platts-Mills, MD, PhD, an internationally renowned allergist. Since then, he and his colleagues have shed light on how and why the ticks bite causes people to develop allergic reactions to a particular sugar, alpha-gal, present in meat and other mammalian products. The symptoms can include itchy rashes, nausea and difficulty breathing. Severe reactions can progress to anaphylaxis if untreated.

Until now, there has been little examination of the geographic scope of the allergy in the United States. The UVA researchers set out to change that. They surveyed allergists across the country to map out cases of the meat allergy. They also tested blood samples from two different geographic areas where it was particularly prevalent. The latter was important to show that the allergy is immunologically similar across the country.

The researchers found the meat allergy was common in significant portions of at least 14 states. Eleven states had at least one allergist report more than 100 case in their practice: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia.

In contrast, six of 10 allergy practices in Eastern Texas  the domain of the invasive fire ant  reported no cases of the meat allergy at all.

Weirdness in Minnesota

Oddly, there were an unexpectedly high number of cases in an area of Minnesota where the lone star tick is not thought common. Three separate providers in the northern portion of the state reported at least five cases of the meat allergy, with one reporting more than 40.

That, the UVA researchers note, may suggest there are more lone star ticks in the area than thought  or perhaps that another tick or even other parasite is spreading the meat allergy. Other species of ticks are known to cause the allergy outside North America.

The best evidence is that lone stars are the dominant cause of the alpha-gal meat allergy in North America, said co-first author Jeffrey Wilson, MD, PhD. That said, we wouldnt be surprised if other ticks, chiggers or even other kinds of parasitic organisms can occasionally contribute to allergic sensitization to alpha-gal.

Fire Ants Marching

After collecting reports of the meat allergy from 44 states the researchers were surprised to see few cases in the Gulf Coast or Texas. This was unexpected because the lone star tick is usually reported on CDC maps in the area. After considering potential explanations, the researchers again surveyed many of the same allergists about allergic reactions caused by the fire ant. They overlaid their results, and the results showed a striking, inverse relationship: Areas with the most fire ant cases had the lowest presence of the meat allergy.

That suggests that the fire ants are either preying on or somehow competing with the ticks, limiting the spread of the meat allergy, the researchers say. They also identified an increasing number of allergy cases caused by the fire ants. This likely will continue as the fire ants spread north, they report.

The spread should help control the number of meat allergy cases in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, they predict. But it also likely will lead to an increase in allergic reactions caused by the fire ant.

These are two arthropod-related allergic diseases that are connected with each other, Platts-Mills concludes. The situation is unique because we think we can predict how both will change over time.

Read a patients experiences with the meat allergy.

Meat Allergy Findings

The researchers have published their findings in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The research team consisted of Wilson, Keshavarz, Maya Retterer, Lisa J. Workman, Alexander J. Schuyler, Emily C. McGowan, Charles Lane, Alaaddin Kandeel, Jane Purser, Eva Ronmark, Joseph LaRussa, Scott P. Commins, Tina Merritt and Platts-Mills. Platts-Mills and Merritt have a patent on a test for the meat allergy, while Wilson has received funding from Thermo Fisher/Phadia. A full list of disclosures is included in the paper.

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, grant R37 AI-20565.

To keep up with the latest medical research news from UVA, subscribe to the Making of Medicine blog.
Nepal and India's relations have taken a turn decidedly for the worse, possibly for the first time since the ugly 2015 'blockade',

As Nepal is busy castigating India over 'unilateral encroachment' of its territory, China has been quietly changing course of rivers on Nepali land and building roads to erode Kathmandu's territorial claims over land it deems part of Tibet. Yet Nepal's reactions to the two perceived wrongs has been vastly different. Nepal and India's relations have taken a turn decidedly for the worse, possibly for the first time since the ugly 2015 'blockade', over a territorial dispute that had been festering for ages. Nepal angrily stomped its foot, stirred up public sentiments, and unilaterally amended its political map without holding talks through diplomatic channel over a road built in Lipulekh -- a territory effectively under Indian control for more than 60 years. The pretext for the action was a road defence minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated on 8 May, and India's new political map issued last year, demarcating Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as two different Union Territories, but leaving its external boundaries intact. The construction of the road had started in 2008 and the Indian Army had border outposts and substantial troop deployment in the area since after the war of 1962 with China. However, the KP Sharma Oli-led government decried the 'sudden change' in status quo and shrewdly riled up anti-India sentiments at a time of domestic political difficulties. This even when articles in Nepali media also point out that maps since 1905, released by the Survey of India, have shown this area as Indian territory. Furthermore, China, who Nepal has increasingly relied upon to push back against India, has also noted India's claim over Kalapani and Lipulekh in a 2015 statement. It recognised the Lipulekh pass as a junction of India, China trade and has so far been silent on Nepal's concerns over Indian infrastructure in the region. India-China border trade through the Lipulekh pass, located at a height of 17,000 feet in Pithoragarh districts Chand valley, resumed in 1992 after remaining suspended for decades following the 1962 India-China War. It begins in June every year and goes on till October. Meanwhile, China is using increased road construction in Tibet to encroach on Nepali land and may set up border outposts in these areas in the future, says a Nepal government report accessed by ANI.

The report, prepared by Survey Department of Agriculture Ministry, shows a list of 11 places, of which China has encroached on 10 places comprising about 33 hectares of Nepali land, by diverting the flow of rivers which act as a natural boundary.

"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 Nepal's land towards TAR," the document obtained by ANI states.

A total of 10 hectares of land has been encroached on in Humla district as Chinese construction works diverted Bagdare Khola river and Karnali river. Six hectares of Nepali land has been encroached on in Rasuwa district as the construction work in Tibet brought diversions in Sinjen, Bhurjuk and Jambu Khola.

Likewise, a total of 11 hectares of Nepali 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 on 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 hectares 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.

Moreover, the above report quoted by ANI finds little mention in local media, whereas reams of space has been dedicated to op-eds and editorials on India-Nepal border dispute.

In recent times, the world has witnessed an escalation in China's 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, pressurised 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.

Furthermore, China's debt-trap diplomacy is also not an unheard of concept. At a time when Nepal is increasing its dependence on Beijing, experts believe rampant lending in the past has led to mounting debt and few, if any, jobs in most countries.

"China has characterized its 'Belt and Road initiative' (of which Nepal is also a signatory) as a win-win for its aspirations to become a global trade leader and developing economies desire to fund transportation infrastructure. It has certainly filled the vacuum created by a shrinking American presence in global institutions. But as with Western internationalist projects, China is also facing accusations of imperialist behavior when its debt plans go wrong," The Quartz notes in an article.

Another article in DW indicates how Beijing is also employing soft diplomacy to boost cultural ties with Nepal.

"China is slowly increasing its political and cultural ties to Nepal. There is already a relationship between the Communist Party of China and the Nepal Communist Party. China is also growing its soft influence in Nepal through China study centers and businesses... Some private schools in Nepal have reportedly agreed to make Mandarin a compulsory subject in classes in return for China footing the salary for the language teacher," the report said.

To please Beijing, Nepal already underscores 'One China' Police and has vowed not to let Nepalese soil be used for anti-China activities. This antagonises over 20,000 Tibetans seeking refuge in Nepal.

The DW article states that Beijing has already been pushing Kathmandu to increase patrol on border areas and to turn over Tibetans who try to escape China by entering Nepal.

The report cited a confidential document published by WikiLeaks in 2010, to claim that China offered to 'reward' Nepali forces if they handed over Tibetans fleeing across the border.

In 2020, pre-COVID-19 figures indicated that China accounted for over 90 percent of foreign direct investments. Kathmandu signed a transit protocol with Beijing last year.

In a time when other South Asian nations are realising the costs involved in overtly courting China, Nepal must reasses if it is ready to embrace the Chinese only to shed the perceived threat from India.
In my last article I wrote about persecution of Christians in the world today, with just a few examples. I would like to continue this as an occasional series, highlighting persecution in some areas of the world and at home and urging readers to pray for these brothers and sisters.

Persecution is not restricted to being thrown in prison for your beliefs or being physically abused. The two examples below highlight some different forms that persecution can take and reinforce the fact that we are in a spiritual battle.

Indonesia

The dominant ethnic group in West Sumatra is the Minangkabau, which is 99.72% Muslim and 0.26% Christian. Indonesias constitution, 'Pancasila', guarantees the right for religious freedom, meaning that any holy books may be translated into every language and individuals are free to observe their beliefs as long as they do not cause disruption in public.

On 3 June 2020 Indonesia's Communication and Information Minister removed a Bible app - 'Kitab Suci Injil Minangkabau' [The Bible in Minangkabau language] - from the Google Play Store at the request of West Sumatra governor, Irwan Prayitno. Backed by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI, Indonesia's top body of Islamic clerics), Irwan insisted that the Bible app is offensive to the Minangkabau, whose culture is based on Sharia and the Quran, not the Bible.

This move clearly contradicts the philosophy of the constitution, according to the deputy head of the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education, Hariyono. Far from posing a threat, the local language Bible app is helpful for advancing tolerance.

As fundamentalist Islam has taken root and spread throughout West Sumatra, Christian persecution has escalated. In recent years Minang Christians have experienced difficulties establishing churches or even celebrating Christmas at home.

Turkey

Hagia Sophia (pictured above) has had a checkered history: it began as the Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral (completed in AD537), later it became an Ottoman imperial mosque (from 1453) and now (from 1935) it is a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage site. Hagia Sophia means Holy Wisdom, or in Greek it expands to Shrine of the Holy of God.

Friday 29 May is 'Conquest Day', the day Muslim Turks celebrate the Ottoman conquest of the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, which fell to Muslim forces on 29 May 1453. However today it has become a day which glorifies and celebrates Islamic imperial expansion and military aggression (Islamic jihad); conquest and occupation; the seizure of 'booty' and the slaughter, enslavement and subjugation of infidels (Christians) in a demonstration of Muslim supremacy.

On Friday 29 May 2020, Turkish President Erdogan allowed Islamic prayers to be performed and Quranic verses to be recited inside the Hagia Sophia as part of Conquest Day celebrations. This contravenes the World Heritage status (ie a religiously neutral museum) of the building and is an attempt to change the status of the building to promote Islam.

The Conquest Day can no longer be viewed as a Remembrance Day where war and death are lamented, but as a celebration of the enslavement of 30 000 Christians and slaughter and rape of thousands of other citizens.

Various Christian advocacy groups have called upon UNESCO to respond to Turkeys drive to violate Hagia Sophias heritage status and convert it to a mosque. It is part of Turkeys continuing strategy to erase the vast cultural and religious heritage of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and other now-exiled indigenous Christian nations across the territory of modern-day Turkey.

We can expect an escalation of Christian persecution because Erdogan has stoked the fire of Islamic zeal among his neo-Ottoman Islamist supporter base.

So how do we pray?

That we need to pray for these situations around the world is, I believe, a given. The enormity of these situations is overwhelming, and our prayers may sometimes feel impotent as we wonder how to pray, and maybe lack confidence that our prayers may not be enough. But that is surely a ploy of our enemy.

If we sit with the Lord and wait for Him to show us, we will discern His heart and our prayers will have power. The following are suggestions from Christian Faith and Freedom:

For the churches in Indonesia and Turkey, let us pray that the Christian pastors and leaders (civic and religious) might be filled with 'the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so [they might] walk [and lead] in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him ... being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy ...' (from Colossians Chapter 1, verses 9-14 ).

Let us also pray that Almighty God will protect, sustain, preserve and richly bless his precious Church in Turkey comprising (among others) remnant Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians as well as convert Arabs, Kurds and Turks; may the Church grow in unity, faith and grace to be a light that overcomes darkness and a voice of hope that counters despair.

And that God might intervene in Indonesia and Turkey and, in grace and mercy, by the power of his Holy Spirit, produce awakening and transformation beyond anything we could ever imagine (Ephesians Chapter 3, verses 20-21).
The royal family has long been haunted by the alleged connection of Prince Andrew to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Although the controversy coincided with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step down as senior royals, it continuously finds its way back and chases them for the truth.

Being born as Queen Elizabeth II's second son, the Duke of York has enjoyed being a royal and all the perks that come with it. He could jet-set while representing the monarchy and go around the world complete with security aides and VIP treatment.

However, the 60-year-old royal's adventures are now the center of a major criminal investigation. Prince Andrew's friendship with Epstein has brought him into the spotlight, and it didn't help that one of the late billionaire's victims accused the prince of sexual assault.

Over the past few months, the Duke of York has repeatedly denied meeting Epstein's former victim and any sexual misconduct. But in a bombshell interview with BBC, Prince Andrew said that he did not regret his friendship with Epstein.

Recently, Andrew is also being accused of not giving his full cooperation to the authorities with regards to the investigation of Epstein's decade-long sexual abuse.

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II To Take the Blame?

With Prince Andrew's fallout, a royal expert expressed his belief that there is no one to blame but his parents, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II.

In the new royal book "Prince Andrew, Epstein, and the Palace," author Nigel Cawthorne suggested that the 94-year-old monarch should have seen this scandal coming and should have anticipated her son's fall from grace.

Cawthorne claimed that Prince Andrew has always been Queen Elizabeth II's favorite son, leading him to grow up like a spoiled man.

"He was a very strong-willed child - even Prince Philip called him the boss at home," Cawthorne wrote.

"I always think that if you're brought up behind palace gates from the time you can first walk and talk, and people are bowing to you, you must get a very odd view of the world."

The royal author also alleged that Prince Andrew's trade envoys in the United Kingdom gave him a free pass to regularly visit Epstein and spend some time on his sinful island properties.

Prince Andrew's Minor Role

Cawthorne also said that he believes the royal family gave Andrew a role to do something aside from being "the Queen's son."

But instead of performing his duties, Prince Andrew used his privileges to jet-set from one place to another using taxpayers' money while satisfying himself.

"It did seem like something he could pull off, but he was seen as extremely reckless with taxpayers' money - he would never take a commercial airline, he would always have to take a private plane," the author shared.

The royal expert also claimed that the rest of the senior royals have "sidelined" the Duke of York from his role down to downplaying his association with Epstein as it coincided with Harry and Meghan's "Megxit."

Nonetheless, instead of stripping off his HRH title, Queen Elizabeth II continuously protects his son by pressuring the authorities to spare Andrew from the Epstein investigation.

"I imagine she can put some pressure behind closed doors, but I don't think even the president of the United States has the authority to stop the Department of Justice proceeding with criminal investigations," Cawthorne added.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle Pregnant? Duchess Of Sussex Allegedly Hiding Baby Bump!
India has seen its coronavirus cases spike by a record amount as deaths also mounted even as the country loosens lockdown restrictions.

The country logged 15,968 new cases on Wednesday, the largest one-day total of its outbreak so far, bringing the total from 440,215 to 456,183.

It also saw 465 new deaths, which would be its highest total if not for 2,003 deaths registered in a single day last week when old cases were added to the system.

With cases expected to keep rising the army has been being drafted in to help treat victims, including staffing a new 10,000-bed hospital in the capital New Delhi.

India reported 15,968 new coroanvirus cases Wednesday, a record one-day total, bringing its overall toll from 440,215 to 456,183

The country also reported 465 new deaths, which would be a new one-day record if not for a blip in the data on June 17 which saw thousands of old cases suddenly added to the system

The city, which has more than 20million inhabitants, also recorded its highest single-day increase on Wednesday at more than 3,900 cases.

Of the city's roughly 13,400 coronavirus beds, some 6,200 are currently occupied.

That number will rise to 33,400 next week when new facilities, including the army hospital, are opened.

However, ministers are warning that will still not be enough to deal with the spiralling number of cases.

The city government estimates it will have 550,000 COVID-19 cases by the end of July, and will require 150,000 beds by then.

Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that a new federal government order to take every positive patient to an assessment centre as opposed to evaluating them at home was stretching already limited resources.

'Our ambulance system, our medical system is under pressure now. Today, we are having to take patients in buses,' Sisodia said.

India now has the fourth-highest coronavirus case total in the world, behind only the US, Brazil and Russia (pictured, a coronavirus victim is taken to be burned in New Delhi)

The country is now testing some 200,000 people per day in an attempt to track new cases as it eases out of lockdown, which was imposed on March 24

India has a total of 14,467 deaths from the virus, still far behind European countries such as the UK, France, Spain and Italy, but is gaining on them rapidly

'This (rule) is creating chaos in New Delhi.'

The western state of Maharashtra remains the most-affected in India, accounting for 139,010 cases - around a third of the total.

Another 6,531 people have died in the state, almost half of India's total.

India went into country-wide lockdown of its 1.4billion population on March 24, which remains the largest lockdown applied during the pandemic to date.

The lockdown was announced with little warning, causing chaos in large cities with millions of migrant workers scrambling to find a way home.

New Delhi has drafted in the army to help treat its growing number of coronavirus patients, including opening a 10,000-bed hospital

The hospital is being built inside a religious centre in the capital and is due to open next week, almost doubling New Delhi's coronavirus bed capacity

As well as the military hospital (pictured) New Delhi will get another 10,000 beds by converting other, smaller structures into wards

Workers pull a plastic sheet inside a campus hall which is being converted into a military coronavirus hospital in New Delhi

Measures have been credited with helping slow down the growth of the virus, but have failed to squash the peak of infections as they did in Europe.

Faced with a huge spike in unemployment and a tanking economy, the government began a phased reopening of the country on June 8.

India now has the fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases anywhere in the world, having leap-frogged Britain's total on June 12.

The US still has the most cases in the world at 2.3million, followed by Brazil with 1.1million and Russia with 606,043.
The fiery aftermath was horrific, with the more than 200 circus performers on board who were injured in addition to 86 fatalities. After a string of performances, the circus, which had just completed shows in Michigan City, had disassembled and was packed and filled on board with the clowns, acrobats, sideshow entertainers and workers who were asleep. Despite misconceptions, the wreck did not involve the exotic circus animals featured in the show, since the menagerie had already arrived to Hammond hours earlier on another related train.
[June 23, 2020] OnTime Networks launches NEW Cloudberry MIL CM-6200COMe ADVANCED MISSION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (AMMS)

OSLO, Norway, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OnTime Networks, a global leader for rugged, time synchronized Ethernet solutions for the aerospace and defense industries, announced today the introduction of the new Cloudberry MIL CM-6200COMe ADVANCED MISSION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (AMMS) platform. The NEW CM-6200COMe AMMS is a turnkey all-in-one rugged mission management, communication, and compute platform, purpose-built to meet the requirements of modern fighting vehicles and airborne ISR platforms. It offers a high-performance Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS)-based, open-systems architecture platform that provides advanced interoperability for mission-critical, multi-sensored systems, configurable to meet the most demanding processing requirements for today's military applications. The CM-6200COMe AMMS meets Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 and has been incorporated into the Vetronics Architecture of a modern military wheeled combated ground vehicle as a core building block. The platform is designed for the harsh military environment and offers a wide operating temperature range [-32C .. 63C] with ruggedized military approved connectors. The unit is designed to comply to MIL-STD 810, 461F/G and 1275E. The CM-6200COMe AMMS is built to meet the demands of today's modern warfighter, with its powerful graphics and data processing, ultra-dense I/O, and feature rich capabilities in an ultra-robstness and extremely small form factor packaging. The unit is IP68 enclosed and designed to meet multiple environmental and rugged military standards, providing unlimited deployment capability into any extreme environment.



The CM-6200COMe AMMS is a highly scalable product family as it is based on a modular open system architecture that utilizes multiple COMe Type 6 and MXM boards with a specialized carrier board assembly. The design ensures fast time-to-market for many customer applications and combines high performance CPU and GPGPU processing capabilities, HD full motion video capture and encode, complete sensor integration and data fusion in a SWaP optimized system. As technology advances and systems become more and more network-centric, platform capability requirements are rapidly growing. Modern mission systems must quickly adapt to the ever-changing mission needs by integrating new cameras, sensors, communications suites, weapons, and more.

Today's mission management systems must meet size, weight, and power (SWaP) demands while providing the scalability and flexibility to handle all of the mission tasks today's warfighter may encounter. In order to rapidly update systems to respond to the latest threats, system integrators must be able to provide shorter timeframes to field new mission management capabilities. That means going from development to deployment as quickly as possible. The CM-6200COMe AMMS can provide the following capabilities in an all-in-one box solution: Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Switch with various fiber and copper options

Various Software Router Options, including NIAP Certification for Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC)

State of the Art Firewall

Optional GPS Time Synchronization Server (IEEE 1588 PTP v1/v2, NTP, IRIG-B, PPS)

Multiple Central Processing Units (CPU), up to the latest i7

Multiple Graphics Processing Units (GPU)

I/O Interfaces

Video Processing

Optional External Mass Storage Interface The CPUs can be configured with most standard operating systems, including Linux or Windows. Further, the CM-6200COMe AMMS supports both GbE and 10GbE internal speed to each of the internal CPU boards, and the GPU boards can be omitted in case the built-in GPU of the CPUs are used instead. As an example, the CM-6200COMe AMMS platform, with a managed gigabit and 10 gigabit Ethernet switch and 2x CPU/GPUs, offers the following interfaces: 12 x 10/100/1000BASE-T and 2 x RS422 (switch), PPS input (switch), Switch GPIOs and 2 x USB 2.0 in one D38999 128 pins D38999 connector

8 x 1000BASE-X of multi-mode (SX) or single mode (LX) fiber in 1 x D38999 connector with ARINC801 termini

2 x 10GBASE-X of multi-mode (SR) or single mode (LR) in 1x D38999 connector with ARINC801 termini

4 x DVI (output) each with 2 x RS485 in 4 x Fischer Minimax 19 pins connectors

2 x USB 3.0 (for CPU1 and CPU2) for external mission data recorder in 2 x Fischer Minimax 9 pins connectors

28V power input for dual internal power supplies in a 6 pin Amphenol D38999 connector The CM-6200COMe AMMS COTS building block approach simplifies technology insertion and product improvement activities by allowing distinct components of the system to change with minimal impact to the rest of the system. Due to its configurability and flexibility, the CM-6200COMe AMMS can be used efficiently in a wide range of airborne, ground, and shipboard applications. The CM-6200COMe AMMS platform has been specifically designed to operate reliably in the harsh climatically and noisy electrical demanding environments (e.g. high altitude, extreme shock, & vibration, wide temperatures, humidity, dust & water exposure, noisy EMI, dirty power) of military applications. About OnTime Networks

OnTime Networks is a technology leader for rugged, time synchronized, fully managed, modular Gigabit Ethernet switches, specifically designed to operate reliably in the harsh and climatically demanding environments of the Aerospace and Defense Industry. Recognized for innovation and excellence, OnTime focuses on precise time over Ethernet according to IEEE 1588 (PTP) as core technology. For more information, please visit www.ontimenet.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ontime-networks-launches-new-cloudberry-mil-cm-6200come-advanced-mission-management-system-amms-301082423.html SOURCE OnTime Networks

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The remains of nearly 150 South Korean soldiers killed in the Korean War were sent back to their homeland on Wednesday, Seoul's defence ministry said, a day before the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict. Communist North Korea invaded the US-backed South on June 25, 1950, triggering a three-year war that killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Some 147 sets of remains were flown on a South Korean military aircraft from Hawaii, where they were previously sent by the North following their discovery over the past three decades. The plane was escorted into the country Wednesday by six fighter jets in honour of the fallen. Pictures showed small white coffins individually wrapped in South Korean flags occupying seats on the plane. Some of the remains were recovered during excavations by the North between 1990 and 1994, while others were sent by Pyongyang following a Singapore summit between leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in 2018, according to Seoul's defence ministry. "After a long detour of 70 years, they are finally home," it said. The remains were classified as South Koreans through joint US-South Korea forensic reviews in Hawaii, but only seven soldiers have been identified and authorities will carry out further checks to try to name the others. The known seven will be awarded service medals at a ceremony Thursday, along with six sets of remains from identified Americans. Wednesday's arrival at a Seoul airbase is the fourth batch of repatriations and brings the total to 239. Millions died in the three-year conflict, with Seoul's defence ministry putting military fatalities at 520,000 North Koreans, 137,000 Southern troops and 37,000 Americans. Washington still stations 28,500 troops in the South, while the North -- which has the world's largest standing army -- has spent decades developing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, saying it needs them to deter a US invasion.
More than a thousand parliamentarians from across Europe have signed a joint letter protesting Israels planned annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank.

It is part of a growing international opposition to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus promise to begin annexing parts of the West Bank that have Israeli settlements  potentially as early as 1 July.

The letter sent to all European foreign ministries argued that such a move would be fatal to hopes for a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Signed by 1,080 parliamentarians from 25 European countries, the letter calls for commensurate consequences from European governments If Israel goes ahead with the annexation.

More than 240 signatories are British politicians, including former Conservative leader Lord Howard, former Labour leader Lord Kinnock and the current shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy.

The joint letter called for decisive action to prevent annexation and to safeguard the prospects of the two-state solution and a just resolution to the conflict.

It stated: Failure to adequately respond would encourage other states with territorial claims to disregard basic principles of international law.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 war and in the decades since has built dozens of settlements that are now home to roughly 400,000 Israelis.

Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal. The Palestinians seek the territory as part of any future independent state.

Palestinian protester opposite Israeli forces during clashes over settlements in the Jordan Valley, 25 February 2020 (Jaafar Ashtiyeh / AFP via Getty Images) (JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Netanyahus government has yet to publish details of the proposed annexation but the prime minister has called for roughly 30 per cent of the territory, including the Jordan Valley, to be annexed by Israel.

Donald Trumps plan for Middle East, rejected by the Palestinians, approves of the incorporation of the settlements in 30 per cent of the territory.

The letter published said the Trump administrations plan advocated effectively permanent Israeli control over a fragmented Palestinian territory, leaving Palestinians with no sovereignty and giving a green light to Israel to unilaterally annexe significant parts of the West Bank.

Recommended Palestinian president cuts security ties with Israel

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres urged Israel on Tuesday to listen to global calls and not to proceed with annexation plans, saying they would be a major factor to destabilise the region.

Boris Johnson said last week that he strongly opposed annexation of parts of the West Bank, which would amount to a breach of international law.

One senior EU diplomat, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters on Tuesday that the bloc will almost certainly fail to reach the unanimity required for joint action should annexation take place.

Its hell in the EU to try to get a common position on this, the official said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:19:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Beijing's hotels and scenic spots will not receive visitors who have been in medium- or high-risk areas or who arrived from overseas within 14 days, an official said Tuesday.

Zhou Weimin, an official with Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, told a press conference that personnel from markets where COVID-19 cases were reported will also be rejected.

The city's scenic spots will not open their indoor facilities, while a cap will be placed on the number of visitors to their outdoor spaces, Zhou said.

Also at the press conference, an official with Beijing's municipal committee of the Communist Party of China said the city will only mark the coming Dragon Boat Festival through online activities.

Beijing reported 13 new confirmed domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases, two suspected cases and one asymptomatic case on Monday, the municipal health commission said Tuesday.

From June 11 to 22, the city reported 249 confirmed domestically transmitted cases. Enditem
In early 2020, China ordered another 10,000-ton Coast Guard patrol ship. This is not a first. In 2014 China revealed that its Coast Guard was ordering a 10-12,000-ton patrol ship. By 2017 two of them were in service. The only details released were that this new class of ships would be armed with a 76mm cannon and two twin 30mm cannons. The 10,000 patrol ships also carry two helicopters and a lot of UAVs. There are also small boats for boarding parties and a number of other items China wont talk about. These large patrol ships can stay on patrol longer and better handle bad weather. There is space aboard to evacuate the garrisons of the artificial islands recently created in the South China Sea.

These artificial islands are seen as stationary aircraft carriers because most of their surface is taken up by an airbase and extensive port facilities. One catastrophic emergency threatening these islands is getting hit by a very strong typhoon (Pacific hurricane) capable of flooding the new islands. The large patrol ships also serve as a symbol of growing Chinese naval power on the high seas and in Chinese coastal waters. In the last decade, China has declared the South China Sea part of China and such big claims need big ships to enforce them.

The 2014 announcement was not too surprising as China had earlier put a 4,000-ton Coast Guard patrol ship into service. China had already announced plans to build 36 large ocean-going patrol ships and have them in service by 2018. Theres still more to all this. In 2013 China created a Coast Guard that looks more like a second navy. The new Coast Guard Bureau (or China/Chinese Coast Guard) is actually the old China Marine Surveillance (or CMS) that belonged to a civilian outfit: The Ministry of Land and Resources. The new Chinese Coast Guard reports to the Public Security Ministry. The new Coast Guard also absorbs a number of other separate organizations that handled various aspects of coastal securities. This included the fisheries police (which reported to the Agriculture Ministry) and the maritime anti-smuggling police (reporting to the General Administration of Customs). China had multiple coastal patrol organizations because it was the custom in communist dictatorships to have more than one security organization doing similar tasks so that each outfit could keep an eye on the other and ensure loyalty. This was inefficient and confusing, thus the consolidation. In early 2013 hundreds of ships have been repainted. Some of these ships had heavier armament installed, as the coast guard is a paramilitary outfit while some of the older outfits were sea-going police.

This reorganization reflects the favorite Chinese tactic for asserting its claims to control most of the South China Sea by avoiding the use of military vessels. Instead, it sends out these police ships to harass and threaten foreign ships operating in what international law considers the high seas but that China considers its territorial waters. If any of these intruders call in warships, then China will defend itself by calling its own warships and aircraft and protest this act of foreign aggression. This is all a bluff, but it usually works. The few times the locals (Indonesia and Argentina) opened fire on trespassing Chinese fishing boats, China backed off. There were plenty of other nations willing to submit to bullying.

As part of this policy, in 2014 China began enforcing new rules that have Chinese coast guard vessels escorting, or expelling, foreign ships from most of the South China Sea. This move has generated a lot of resistance from the neighbors. At the time China announced that it was not planning on having grey painted navy ships do the intercepting and harassing but white painted coast guard vessels. White paint and slanted vertical red stripes on the hull are an internationally recognized way to identify coast guard ships. Coast Guard vessels are considered much less threatening than warships. China also calls in civilian vessels. The owners of these privately owned ships understand that refusing to help is not an option. These volunteers get in the way of foreign ships the coast guard wants gone. Thus, if foreign warships open fire to try and scare away these harassing vessels, they become the bad guys.

CMS was the most recent of these many maritime police agencies, having been established in 1998. It was actually the police force for the Chinese Oceanic Administration, which was (and still is) responsible for surveying non-territorial waters that China has economic control over. According to international law, which China signed on for, this means the exclusive economic zones or EEZ. The old CMS also enforced environmental laws in its coastal waters. The CMS already had 10,000 personnel, 300 vessels, and ten aircraft before it was incorporated in the new coast guard. The CMS was sort of revived in 2018 when the Coast Guard was transferred from the control of a civilian agency (the State Council and the State Oceanic Administration) to the Peoples Armed Police, which is under control of the Central Military Commission. This was part of a CCP (Chinese Communist Party) program to consolidate all paramilitary organizations under direct CCP control. The Central Military Commission is run by senior CCP members including the emperor, or chairman himself.

When there is an armed confrontation over contested islands in the South China Sea, it is usually Coast Guard patrol boats that are frequently described as "Chinese warships." The Coast Guard and the other coastal police forces had several hundred large ships (over 1,000 tons, including several that are over 3,000 tons) and thousands of smaller patrol boats. China is also building small bases in the disputed islands that can serve as homeport for the small patrol boats. It should be noted that many of these patrol vessels are designed to be equipped with heavier weapons (missiles, torpedoes) in wartime and some are getting this stuff now as they are repainted as coast guard vessels. The new Coast Guard resembles the old (pre-economic boom) Chinese navy that was mostly a coastal patrol force with a few larger warships, originally castoffs from Russia for the most part. The new Coast Guard is actually a more powerful force than the old Chinese Navy.

The 2013-18 consolidation of Chinese maritime police forces is mostly about the exclusive economic zones or EEZ and patrolling it more frequently and aggressively. International law (the 1994 Law of the Sea treaty) recognizes the waters 22 kilometers from land as under the jurisdiction of the nation controlling the nearest land. That means ships cannot enter these "territorial waters" without permission. However, the waters 360 kilometers from land are considered the EEZ of the nation controlling the nearest land. The EEZ owner can control who fish there and extract natural resources (mostly oil and gas) from the ocean floor. But the EEZ owner cannot prohibit free passage or the laying of pipelines and communications cables. China has already claimed that foreign ships have been conducting illegal espionage in their EEZ. But the 1994 treaty says nothing about such matters. China is simply doing what China has been doing for centuries, trying to impose its will on neighbors or anyone venturing into what China considers areas under its control.

For the last two centuries, China has been prevented from exercising its "traditional rights" in nearby waters because of the superior power of foreign navies. First, it was the cannon-armed European sailing ships, then, in the 19th century, newly built steel warships from Japan as well. However, since the communists took over China in the late 1940s, there have been increasingly violent attempts to reassert Chinese control over areas that have long (for centuries) been considered part of the "Middle Kingdom" (or China, as in the "center of the world").

China is particularly concerned about the nearby Spratlys, a group of some 100 islets, atolls, and reefs that total only about 5 square kilometers of land but sprawl across some 410,000 square kilometers of the South China Sea. Set amid some of the world's most productive fishing grounds, the islands are believed to have enormous underwater oil and gas reserves. Several nations have overlapping claims on the group. About 45 of the islands are currently occupied by small numbers of military personnel. China claims them all but occupies only 8, Vietnam has occupied or marked 25, the Philippines 8, Malaysia 6, and Taiwan one.

China prefers to use non-military or paramilitary ships (like those of the new coast guard) to harass foreign ships it wants out of the EEZ or disputed waters. This approach is less likely to spark an armed conflict and makes it easier for the Chinese to claim they were the victims. These claims of being a victim come across as a bad joke to Chinas neighbors. Thats because the new rules mean offshore areas of the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, and Vietnam that international law does not recognize as Chinese are now formally claimed by China. India and the United States have both announced that they will not obey and that Indian and American warships expect to move unmolested through the South China Sea. Later in 2013 China also announced restrictions on foreign aircraft flying through the South China Sea, plus requirements for foreign fishing boats to register with China before working the South China Sea.
Don O'Day has been elected to the Board of Directors of Centre 1 Bancorp, Inc. Dons focus on our customer family and the overall customer experience combined with his remarkable career in executive leadership helps position First National Bank and Trust for future growth.

Steven M. Eldred, Executive Chairman of the Board for Centre 1 Bancorp, Inc., the holding company of First National Bank and Trust (FNBT), and David N. McCoy, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FNBT, are pleased to announce the election of Don ODay to the Board of Directors of the bank and the holding company.

ODay joined FNBT in 2017 and was promoted to Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Banking Officer in 2019. He plays a key role in the execution of the banks strategy as he leads the commercial and consumer banking sales teams in serving our communities with Sound Advice, excellent customer service, and innovative financial solutions to fit the individual needs of consumers, families and businesses throughout the banks footprint.

Dons focus on our customer family and the overall customer experience combined with his remarkable career in executive leadership helps position First National Bank and Trust for future growth, said McCoy. He was instrumental in the development of the banks strategic plan and now as the newest member of the board of directors, he will continue to be a driving force in its execution.

ODay earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Illinois - Champaign-Urbana, and has had an impressive career in banking including retail sales, customer service, commercial and consumer lending, treasury management, credit administration, as well as executive leadership. He began his career as a Vice President and Branch Manager with Oak Brook Bank before moving to Cole Taylor Bank in Rosemont, Illinois where he served various roles of increased responsibility. He was serving as Senior Vice President (SVP), Director of Community Banking when he left Cole Taylor Bank to become SVP, Regional Retail Manager at Banco Popular North America, also in Rosemont. Within a year, Don was promoted to the position of SVP, Illinois Business Banking Director. He was later recruited by Suburban Bank and Trust in Elmhurst, Illinois where he served as Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer before being named President at the same company. Before joining the FNBT family in 2017 as EVP, Chief Lending and Retail Officer, ODay served as Executive Vice President of Inland Bank in Oak Brook, Illinois.

As part of the banks executive management team, ODay participates in the overall management of the bank and is based at the banks Beloit-Grand Ave office located at 345 E Grand Ave in Beloit, Wisconsin. ODay resides in Roscoe, Illinois with his wife, Gayle.

Centre 1 Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company of First National Bank and Trust Company. First National Bank and Trust is a family-focused, community bank headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin. Chartered in 1882, First National Bank and Trust Company now serves more than 30,000 households in 13 communities and 16 locations in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois with assets of approximately $1.2 billion. Commitment to full service banking, investments, wealth management, mortgage lending, exceptional service, and Sound Advice has positioned First National Bank and Trust Company as a Stateline leader in the industry. For additional information, visit http://www.bankatfirstnational.com.
INSEE Vietnam made it among the Top 10 Most Reputable Building Material Companies once again

This is an independent report based on scientific and objective principles based on studies of multiple financial factors, corporate reputation within the media, and assessment by industry experts. With this, the company has scooped up the noble title for the third consecutive year since 2018.

Since its establishment in 1994, INSEE Vietnam, a member of Siam City Cement Group, a leading cement maker in Southeast Asia, has grown into one of the leading businesses in the production of cement, construction aggregates, and wood-resembling products under the Conwood brand and waste management in southern Vietnam.

INSEE Vietnam has launched a comprehensive media campaign to promote its image to bolster recognition of the companys wide product portfolio as a testament to the companys new brand philosophy Build for Life.

The company provides high-quality and sustainable construction solutions that are widely used at many buildings and iconic infrastructure works across southern Vietnam, as well as appear in numerous housing and commercial real estate projects in the country.

INSEE Vietnam has launched a comprehensive media campaign to promote its image to bolster recognition of the companys wide product portfolio as a testament to the companys new brand philosophy Build for Life.

Through successfully organising a large infrastructure project conference under the theme Build for Life (2018), and another themed Rethinking Construction (2019), INSEE Vietnam has created a useful platform bringing together more than 300 guests who were government officials, businesses in the construction industry, developers, designers, contractors, and building materials providers to share valuable lessons of experience, initiatives, and innovations, sharing hands to push up infrastructure development and improve Vietnams urban appearance, from there contributing to shaping the future of the country.

Aside from business and development, INSEE Vietnam has always tried its utmost to balance economic development and social responsibility, making non-stop efforts to mitigate impacts on the environment.

The awards ceremony of the Top 10 Most Reputable Building Material Companies 2020 in Vietnam is slated to be held on August 6, 2020 at Sheraton Hotel in Hanoi.
Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci will return home Thursday after war crime charges "interrupted" his planned trip to Washington to discuss tensions with Serbia, his office said Wednesday. Special prosecutors in the Hague announced 10 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity charges against Thaci for his role in Kosovo's 1998-99 war with Serbia, accusing him and other allies of involvement in nearly 100 murders. The talks with Serbia, which still refuses to recognize its former province's independence, will go ahead with the participation of Kosovo's new Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, US envoy Richard Grenell said. "I respect his decision not to attend the discussions until the legal issues of those allegations are settled," Grenell, a former ambassador to Germany and US intelligence chief, wrote on Twitter. Thaci's office did not specify his whereabouts. But before the charges were announced he gave an interview in Tirana, the capital of Albania, and was headed from there to Frankfurt, the journalist who interviewed him told AFP. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is still expected to join this weekend's talks, which are set to take place at the White House but without President Donald Trump personally. At the heart of the dispute is Serbia's rejection of Kosovo's independence, declared in 2008 by the province's ethnic Albanian majority after breaking away in a bloody war. Hoti took charge earlier this month and quickly eased tensions by lifting a ban on Serbian imports.
By Maria Falca-Dodson

Starting with her first few months of overseeing everyday operations at the New Jersey Department of Health, Judy Persichilli, a consummate professional and true visionary, had repeatedly demonstrated that she is the best-suited person to serve as New Jerseys Health Commissioner.

When COVID-19 hit only five months after her appointment, no one could have been better prepared or more knowledgeable for the states response. The entire breadth of her career from ICU nurse to CEO of one of the largest health systems in the country endowed her with the fortitude and dedication to navigate seemingly impossible tasks. This requires courage, integrity and real leadership. And it also calls for a calm, analytical approach, a basic skill taught early on in a nursing career.

Commissioner Persichilli has guided Gov. Phil Murphy and the state through this crisis of unprecedented proportions. Analogies to other crises such as September 11, 2001, while epic, are not comparable. A pandemic is a true unknown enemy, not one based on radical ideology or any identified perpetrator(s). Judy has managed a multi-tiered response of testing, contact tracing, and intensive care with competence, grace, respect, and compassion for all the states residents, particularly those who are institutionalized whether in a hospital or a long-term care facility. All accomplished while on an international stage, something no previous Health Commissioner in my memory has had to do.

It is easy to criticize from the sidelines or in hindsight because decisions of this magnitude are never perfect. Some rhetoric and recent drama, especially clandestine recordings and anonymous letters on the part of individuals both internal and external to the Health Department, have been astonishing. The letters imply that deliberate decisions were made by the health commissioner with full and advance knowledge of the potential consequences. Some of these assertions seem to be made by individuals with self-serving interests, which have no place in a crisis.

Despite the challenge of information changing daily, guidance to hospitals and long-term care facilities issued by Commissioner Persichilli has been meticulously comprehensive and based on federal guidelines. Much has also been written about the lack of public health funding both nationally and in New Jersey.

As a former Health Department staffer for almost 20 years, and former deputy adjutant general for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs responsible for the New Jersey National Guard domestic preparedness, I know that the deficits in public health funding well pre-date her tenure. No doubt, for decades to come, there will be numerous recommendations about the things we could have done better on many levels  statewide, nationally and internationally.

As a resident of New Jersey, I am enormously grateful to have Judy Persichilli as our health commissioner guiding the health and safety decisions necessary for the state to emerge whole from these times. I write this with the pride of a nursing colleague. Through her expertise and commitment, Commissioner Persichilli has inspired confidence, which ultimately benefits all of us.

Major General Falca-Dodson, USAF, retired, RN, BSN, MA is formerly an assistant commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Health, former deputy adjutant general for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and a 32-year veteran of the New Jersey National Guard and US Air Force.

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SHORT HILLS, N.J., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. ("Dun & Bradstreet") today announced the launch of its initial public offering of 65,750,000 shares of its common stock at an anticipated initial public offering price between $19.00 and $21.00 per share pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 previously filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Dun & Bradstreet intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 9,862,500 shares of common stock. Dun & Bradstreet has applied to list the shares of common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "DNB."

A subsidiary of Cannae, a subsidiary of Black Knight, Inc. and a subsidiary of CC Capital Partners, LLC plan to invest $200.0 million, $100.0 million, and $100.0 million, respectively, in a concurrent private placement of Dun & Bradstreet's common stock that is contingent upon the consummation of the offering at a price per share equal to 98.5% of the initial public offering price. Dun & Bradstreet intends to use the proceeds that it receives from the offering and the concurrent private placement to redeem all of its outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, repay a portion of its 10.250% Senior Unsecured Notes outstanding due 2027 and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan and Barclays are acting as joint lead book running managers and representatives of the underwriters for the offering. Citigroup, Credit Suisse, HSBC, Jefferies, RBC Capital Markets, Wells Fargo Securities, Deutsche Bank Securities, BMO Capital Markets, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and TD Securities are also acting as book-running managers for the offering. William Blair, Raymond James, Stephens Inc., Academy Securities and Loop Capital Markets are acting as co-managers for the offering.

The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the preliminary prospectus may be obtained from:

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, via telephone: 1-866-471-2526, or via email: [email protected] ;

10282, via telephone: 1-866-471-2526, or via email: ; BofA Securities, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, attention: Prospectus Department, or via email: [email protected] ;

28255-0001, attention: Prospectus Department, or via email: ; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at 866-803-9204, or by email at [email protected] ; or

11717, by telephone at 866-803-9204, or by email at ; or Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at (888) 603-5847, or by email at [email protected] .

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC, 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. 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 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 jurisdiction.

About Dun & Bradstreet

Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, enables companies around the world to improve their business performance. Dun & Bradstreet's Data Cloud fuels solutions and delivers insights that empower customers to accelerate revenue, lower cost, mitigate risk, and transform their businesses. Since 1841, companies of every size have relied on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning the conditions of our industry and our operations, performance and financial condition, including in particular, statements relating to our business, growth strategies, product development efforts and future expenses. All statements regarding the Company other than statements of historical fact or relating to present facts or current conditions included in this Press Release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects" and similar references to future periods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding the outlook for our future business and financial performance.

Forward-looking statements in this Press Release are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our 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, our 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 following: an outbreak of disease, global or localized health pandemic or epidemic, or the fear of such an event (such as the COVID-19 global pandemic), including the global economic uncertainty and measures taken in response; the short- and long-term effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic, including the pace of recovery or any future resurgence; our ability to implement and execute our strategic plans to transform the business; our ability to develop or sell solutions in a timely manner or maintain client relationships; competition for our solutions; harm to our brand and reputation; unfavorable global economic conditions; risks associated with operating and expanding internationally; failure to prevent cybersecurity incidents or the perception that confidential information is not secure; failure in the integrity of our data or the systems; experiencing system failures and personnel disruptions, which could delay the delivery of our solutions to our clients; losing access to data sources; failure of our software vendors and network and cloud providers to perform as expected or if our relationship is terminated; loss or diminution of one or more of our key clients, business partners or government contracts; dependence on strategic alliances, joint ventures and acquisitions to grow our business; our ability to protect our intellectual property adequately or cost-effectively; claims for intellectual property infringement; interruptions, delays or outages to subscription or payment processing platforms; risks related to acquiring and integrating businesses and divestitures of existing businesses; ability to retain members of the senior leadership team and attract and retain skilled employees; and compliance with governmental laws and regulations. Additional factors or events that could cause our actual performance to differ from these forward-looking statements may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. These factors include but are not limited to those described under "Risk Factors" in Dun & Bradstreet's registration statement relating to the offering. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, our actual financial condition, results of operations, future performance and business may vary in material respects from the performance projected in these forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this Press Release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. The underwriters and their affiliates (collectively, the "Underwriters") have not conducted any investigation with respect to the information in this Press Release, and the Underwriters and the Company expressly disclaim any and all liability for representations, expressed or implied, contained in, or for omissions from, this Press Release or any other written or oral communication transmitted to any interested party in the course of its evaluation of the Company. Only those particular representations and warranties that may be made by the Company in a definitive written agreement, when and if one is executed, and subject to such limitations and restrictions as may be specified in such agreement, shall have any legal effect. Certain information contained in this Press Release has been obtained from sources outside of the Company. While such information is believed to be reliable for the purposes used herein, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, directors, officers, members, employees, agents or advisors assume any responsibility for the accuracy of such information.

For more information, contact:

Media Contact:

Lisette Kwong

973-921-6263

[email protected]

Investor Contact:

Debra McCann

[email protected]

SOURCE Dun & Bradstreet

Related Links

http://www.dnb.com


Highlights The ROG Phone 3 will launch globally in July.

Asus is expected to bring minor upgrades when compared to the ROG Phone 2.

The ROG Phone 3 may feature an overclocked Snapdragon 865.

If you have made up your mind to get yourself a gaming smartphone this year, you have got some nice options already and in a few months, the list is getting the ultimate option from the company known to make some of the meanest gaming machines. We are talking about the Asus ROG Phone 2's successor, which is expected to be called the ROG Phone 3. This phone is coming out in July but we are yet to have an exact date on this one.

For the last two years, Asus has kept the formula mostly unchanged for the ROG Phone lineup. The design of the phone has broadly remained unchanged and it is not going to change with the ROG Phone 3. The laptop-inspired design is set to remain this year too, based on what we have seen with the leaks. The internals are, however, going to get 2020 upgrades and Asus is going to sprinkle its tuning magic this time.

If this has got you interested, then you will find below a list of everything that's out there about the Asus ROG Phone 3.

Asus ROG Phone 3: What we know about it

Design

ROG Phone 3 (Source: Digital Chat Station, Weibo)

Asus is sticking to the three-year-old tried-and-tested design on the ROG Phone 3. Based on the leaked images of the device, the ROG Phone 3 is going to feature the same greyish glass rear body with aggressive lines, creases and contours. The front of the phone will continue to have a big display with big bezels, similar to the current model. You can also expect the air triggers on the phone. The only change here will be the triple camera setup.

Display

The ROG Phone 3 is said to have the same 6.5-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display as the existing model. The leaks have hinted that the base model of the ROG Phone 3 will feature a 120Hz refresh rate panel while the top-end model may get a higher 144Hz refresh rate panel. The touch response rate on this one is also expected to be higher than the 120Hz panel.

Specifications

Of course, being a gaming smartphone, the ROG Phone 3 will end up with the Snapdragon 865 chipset. You can also expect up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM as well as up to 512GB storage. The listings on various certification websites have also suggested that the Snapdragon 865 will be overclocked to 3.0GHz instead of the usual 2.8GHz.

Asus ROG Phone 2

The battery capacity is going to remain unchanged at 6000mAh and Asus will stick to the 30W fast wired charging this year. The phone is also expected to retain its stereo speaker setup as well.

Cameras

Going with the trend, the ROG Phone 3 will have a triple camera setup this year. The main camera will use a 64-megapixel sensor, probably made by Sony. This may be accompanied by a 13-megapixel ultra-wide angle-camera while the third camera could be assigned for depth detection.

Expected price

In general, all flagship phones in 2020 are usually priced higher due to the increased component costs. Given that the ROG Phone 2's base variant already sells at a price of Rs 39,999 in India currently, we expect the ROG Phone 3 to start from close to Rs 50,000 when it launches in India.

At this price, it may end up being more expensive than the iQOO 3, Realme X50 Pro and the OnePlus 8.
The Ministry of Railways on Wednesday said it will generate 8 lakh man days of employment opportunity for migrants in various infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,800 crore in the next 125 days till October 31.

Reviewing the progress of 'Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan', the Railway Ministry has instructed Zonal Railways to expedite execution of all ongoing infrastructure works in the identified 116 districts across six states - Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand.

"Around 160 infrastructure works have been identified which are to be expedited. These would engage thousands of workers and roughly generate 8 lakh man days of employment by the end of October 2020. Around Rs 1,800 crore would be spent in these districts," the ministry said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the public work scheme worth Rs 50,000 crore that intends to provide immediate job opportunities to migrant workers who have returned to their hometowns amid coronavirus crisis. Out of an estimated 1 crore migrant workers who have returned to their villages in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, 67 lakh workers are expected to benefit from this scheme.

Also Read: 25,000 migrants in 116 districts to benefit from Rs 50,000 crore Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan: FM

Addressing the review meeting, Railway Board Chairman Vinod Kumar Yadav directed Zonal Railways to appoint nodal officers in each district as well as in the states so that a close coordination is established with state governments. He also directed Railway administration at Zonal level to act proactively to ensure that migrants are engaged in projects and paid accordingly.

The ministry has also identified number of railway works which can be executed through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The works are related to construction and maintenance of approach roads for level crossings, development and cleaning of silted waterways, trenches and drains along the track. This also includes construction and maintenance of approach road to railway stations, repair and widening of existing railway embankments, plantation of trees at extreme boundary of railway land and protection works of existing embankments/ cuttings/bridges.

Also Read: Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan: PM Modi launches scheme to boost livelihood in villages

Zonal Railways have also been instructed to get sanction of proposed works under MGNREGS, monitor works on daily basis, and submit report to ministry every Friday till end of October 2020.

"This scheme of 125 days will work in mission mode, will involve focused implementation of 25 categories of works in 116 districts, each with a large concentration of returnee migrant workers in 6 states," Railway Ministry said.

Public works to be undertaken during this campaign will have a resource envelope of Rs 50,000 crore, it added.

The scheme will be a convergent effort between 12 different ministries and departments, namely Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Road Transport and Highways, Mines, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Environment, Railways, Petroleum and Natural Gas, New and Renewable Energy, Border Roads, Telecom and Agriculture, to expedite implementation of 25 public infrastructure works and works relating to augmentation of livelihood opportunities.

By Chitranjan Kumar
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) announced Tuesday that $128,100 in grant funds have been awarded to 43 nonprofit organizations through four competitive grant opportunities submitted to TFECs Feb. 1, 2020 deadline.

All awarded projects will take place during July 1, 2020, to June 31, 2021 ,and all grant recipients are registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations or utilize a fiscal sponsor, according to a news release..

To learn how to apply to these or other TFEC opportunities, visit www.tfec.org and select nonprofits/current grant opportunities to review the timeline, service area, and funding priorities of each grant opportunity.

Numerous grant applications were submitted, and the following have been awarded funding for 2020-21:

Childrens Home Foundation Fund  The mission of the Childrens Home Foundation Fund, a fund of TFEC, is to provide aid to economically disadvantaged children in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties. In accordance with its mission, this opportunity prioritizes human services, especially programs which address needs for food, clothing and shelter; education; and cultural enrichment and the arts. Eleven grantees were awarded a total of $32,500 for the following programs and projects:

Bridge of Hope Harrisburg Area - $1,500 for Housing/Rental Assistance for Families with Children.

Dauphin County CASA - $3,000 to Sustain the Current Work and Expand the Number of Abused and Neglected Children Served in Dauphin County.

Harrisburg Area YMCA - $5,000 for Program Fees and Membership Fees for Inner City Youth.

Harrisburg Symphony Association - $5,000 for Young Persons Concert and Link Up Program in the 2020-21 Academic Year.

Left Out Organization Program - $3,500 for LOOP Back to School Night August 2020.

Mission Central - $2,000 for School Necessities for Disadvantaged Students in Cumberland County.

Oasis Community Partnership - $3,000 for Playground Expansion .

Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Womens Network - $2,000 for the Fund a Homework Help program for Immigrant and Refugee Children in the Harrisburg City School District.

Retired Senior Volunteer Program of The Capital Region, Inc. - $2,000 for 2020 Fruit and Fun Project for Steelton Highspire School District.

Shippensburg University Foundation - $3,000 for Shippensburg Community Resource Coalition - Summer Lunch Program 2020.

Team Scott Inspire, a project of TFEC: $2,500 for Students Achieving Success Program.

Family & Children Services of Lebanon County Fund  The Family & Childrens Services of Lebanon County Fund, a fund of TFEC, awards grants to nonprofit, social service agencies in support of projects which serve families and children in Lebanon County. A total of $13,705.00 was distributed to seven organizations for the following programs and projects:

Community Health Council of Lebanon County - $1,500 for the Be a Dad Influence program.

Lancaster-Lebanon Education Foundation - $1,745 for the Kindergarten Readiness Card project.

Lebanon Family Health Services, Inc. - $2,460 for the Be The One Parenting program.

Retired Senior Volunteer Program of The Capital Region, Inc. - $2,000 for the Summer Fruit and Fun project.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central PA - $2,000 for Stays for Lebanon County Families at the RMH in Hershey.

The Sexual Assault Resource & Counseling Center of Lebanon & Schuylkill Counties - $2,000 for the Safety Net: Engaging Parents in the Prevention of Sexual Violence Online program.

WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital - $2,000 for the WellSpan Family Medicine N. 4th Street Reach Out and Read Program.

The Kids Trust Fund The Kids Trust Fund, a fund of TFEC created by and in memory of Gary L. Houck, Jr. and celebrating its 15thanniversary in 2020, provides support and services to young children who are living with physical or emotional abuse, or neglect. Its mission is to help young children of abuse grow up in a happy, safe, and exciting environment, and this grant opportunity seeks to support child-focused programs and services in Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties. The Kids Trust Fund awarded a total of $57,000 to fifteen organizations for the following programs and projects:

Bridge of Hope Harrisburg Area - $2,000 for the Neighborhood of Support project.

Children Aid Society, Southern Pennsylvania District - $5,000 for The Lehman Center Crisis Nursery.

Childrens Home of York - $3,000 for EMDR Training.

Compeer of Lebanon County - $2,000 for the Compeer Kids program

Dauphin County CASA - $5,000 for the Dauphin County CASA program.

EquiTeam Support Services - $2,000 for Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Support for Children and Families through Eagala Model Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.

Harrisburg Area YMCA - $7,000 for the Northern Dauphin County YMCA Mentoring Program.

Hoffman Homes, Inc. - $2,500 for Enhancements to Art Therapy.

Keystone Human Services - $2,000 for Capital Area Head Start: Trauma Sensitivity Training.

Leg Up Farm, Inc. - $4,680 for the Animal-Assisted Therapy Group program.

Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance - $6,000 for the Working with Families When Neglect is Present program.

Sexual Assault Resource & Counseling Center of Lebanon & Schuylkill Counties - $7,500 for the Prevenir la violencia sexual: Community Prevention & Counseling for Spanish-Speaking Families project.

Team Scott Inspire, a project of TFEC - $2,000 for the Team Scott Inspire: Expanding Students Achieving Success program.

The Salvation Army, York - $2,000 for the Bridging the Gap program.

The Young Womens Christian Association of York - $4,320 for the Empowering Children of Trauma project.

Perry County Community Foundation  The Perry County Community Foundation (PCCF) is a regional foundation of TFEC, which seeks to fund programs and services that have the potential for the greatest impact on the quality of life and positive outcomes for individuals and families living in Perry County. Through its grantmaking, PCCF invests in innovative, collaborative approaches and solutions to community problems and supports projects that demonstrate achievable outcomes, the potential for replication as a model program, and plans for sustainability beyond the grant term. PCCF awarded a total of $24,895 to ten organizations for the following programs and projects:
P olice are appealing for help identifying two men in connection with the robbery of an 80-year-old man in south-east London.

On March 13, an elderly victim was followed after withdrawing a substantial amount of cash from a bank in Bexley.

He was making his way home when he was robbed by two men who took the money, Bexley MPS said.

The force is appealing for information about two men who were captured on CCTV boarding a bus that morning.

In a tweet, Blexley MPS said the force wants to speak with the two men in connection with the robbery.

The spokesman added: "On the 13th March, an 80-year-old male was followed from a bank where he had withdrawn a substantial amount of cash.

"Whilst making his way back home, he was robbed by two males, taking the cash."

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting 3606239/20 and the image reference numbers 045770 & 045771 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
RIO DE JANEIRO - The International Monetary Fund is forecasting a nearly double-digit recession for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020  a contraction of 9.4%  as the region is dragged down by its two largest economies, which continue to suffer from the coronavirus.

The updated outlook for the region, released Wednesday, is down sharply from the 5.2% recession forecast in April, which already would have been the worst performance since at least 1980, the first year in the IMFs World Economic Outlook database.

The multilateral lending agency said in its report that in Latin America, most countries are still struggling to contain infections.

The new forecast includes a 10.5% dive for Mexico, which has lost about a million jobs during the pandemic.

The countrys industrial activity plunged nearly 30% in April compared to a year earlier amid its lockdown.

Prodded by the United States, Mexico reopened its automotive, mining and construction industries starting in June, but plans for a broader restart of the economy have been delayed due to the continued high rates of new COVID-19 cases.

The IMF predicts a 9.1% plunge for Brazil, which is Latin Americas biggest economy and most populous nation. That would be the deepest single-year tumble since at least 1901, when national accounts data from the governments economics institute begin. Brazil contracted 2% in 1918, the year of the Spanish flu pandemic, according to the institute.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has argued that hardship inflicted by shutting down economic activity would ultimately be worse than that caused by the virus, even as the nations death toll rose to the second highest in the world. Mayors and governors responsible for when and how to restart their economies mostly ignored Bolsonaros desire for a swift reopening. Following extended restrictions, cities and states have begun gradually resuming activity.

In late April, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes was still projecting a V-shaped recovery and said Brazil was going to surprise the world.

Brazils central bank said in the minutes to its most recent monetary policy meeting, released Tuesday, that data indicate economic activity reached its low point in April. Industrial production in that month fell 18.8% from the prior month, including an 80% decline in output of durable goods, according to data published June 3. From January to April, Brazils economy shed 763,000 formal jobs, a report by the federal government said May 27.

Economists surveyed by Brazils central bank currently forecast a 6.5% contraction this year.



Stevenson reported from Mexico City
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / MJ Harvest, Inc. (OTCQB:MJHI) ("MJHI") has announced an exclusive distribution agreement with Oregon-based KALIX, ("KALIX"). The new agreement covers Mendocino County, California and is effective immediately for an initial 2-year term.

Under the terms of the agreement, MJHI will exclusively distribute KALIX' full line of commercial plant nutrition products and services in Mendocino County, California. As an additional component of MJHI's exclusivity, the Company has committed to purchase a minimum quantity of KALIX' products and services over the term of the agreement.

The KALIX product line includes professional grade nutrients, supplements and beneficial microbes designed for indoor and outdoor cultivation. KALIX also offers an array of laboratory analysis services, including Water Quality, General Soil, Plant Leaf Tissue, Plant Petiole, General Fertilizer and Hydroponic Fertilizer. KALIX' products will be supplied initially from their facility in Oregon, and will soon be available online at www.weedfarmsupply.com and www.procannagro.com.

Patrick Bilton, Chief Executive Officer of MJHI, commented, "We are excited to be the exclusive distributor for KALIX in Mendocino County. KALIX offers a broad pipeline that fits nicely into our existing offerings and has already proven to be a big hit with our craft growers."

Additional information on our Company is available at www.mjharvestinc.com , and you can visit www.procannagro.com and www.weedfarmsupply.com for our current product line. Check back soon for other new and exciting announcements.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains 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. Although the forward-looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release.

CONTACT:

MJ Harvest, Inc.

9205 West Russell Rd., Ste. 240

Las Vegas, NV 89148

Telephone: 954.519.3115

Tcktsllc@earthlink.net

@HARVESTMJ

SOURCE: MJ Harvest, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595046/MJ-Harvest-Inc-Announces-Exclusive-Distribution-Agreement
New Delhi, June 24 : Giving a push to infrastructure development across sectors, the government on Wednesday approved a proposal for additional investment to be made by ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) in the development of an oil and gas project in neighbouring Myanmar.

As per the clearance given by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), OVL will be investing an additional $121.27 million (about Rs 909 crore) by ONGC towards further development of Shwe oil & gas project in Myanmar.

OVL, the Overseas investment subsidiary of ONGC, has already invested $722 million (about Rs 3,949 crore) till March 31, 2019 in the Shwe project that has given it positive cash flows since 2014-15.

OVL has been associated with exploration and development of Shwe gas project in Myanmar since 2002, as part of a consortium of companies from South Korea, India and Myanmar. Indian PSU, GAIL, is also a co-investor in this project.

The first gas from Shwe Project was received in July 2013 and plateau production was reached in December 2014. Additional investment in the project will help the block to ramp up production and generate more value to the investors.

The participation of Indian PSUs in oil & gas exploration and development projects in neighbouring countries is aligned with government's Act East Policy, and also part of India's strategy to develop 'energy bridges' with its neighbours in addition to further strengthening India's energy security needs.
T he Duke of Cambridge has described the work being done in the UK to find a Covid-19 vaccine as "incredibly exciting as he met volunteers taking part in the University of Oxford trial.

William, who said his family is proud of the ongoing efforts by researchers in the fight against coronavirus, took a trip to the Oxford Vaccine Group's facility at the Churchill Hospital on Wednesday.

Wearing a mask, a protective coat and goggles for much of the visit, the heir to the throne toured the laboratory where samples from the clinical trial are being examined by researchers.

As well as meeting Professor Sarah Gilbert who is leading the trial and Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the vaccine group, he also spoke to members of the public who have volunteered to take part.

The Duke of Cambridge talks to a patient participating in the Covid-19 vaccine trial at the Oxford Vaccine Group's facility at the Churchill Hospital / Getty Images

More than 4,000 participants are already enrolled in the UK, with enrolment of a further 10,000 people planned as researchers test the vaccine - known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.

Trials are also taking place in South Africa and Brazil and it is hoped an effective vaccine could be ready later this year.

Speaking to volunteers William enquired of one woman what had motivated her to take part, asking: "Were you just a willing guinea pig?"

As Prof Pollard paid tribute to the "crucially important" volunteers, William remarked: "You're in good hands, I'm sure."

The Oxford study was described as "probably" the "most advanced" in the world, this week by the Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

The Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group began development on a vaccine in January and earlier this month pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca signed a deal with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) to help manufacture 300 million globally accessible doses.

During the visit, while discussing the hopes for the vaccine to succeed, William said if it was announced the Oxford team had "cracked it" people would "breathe a huge sigh of relief".

"People want there to be some sort of finality to it," he said.

After William asked how the team might feel if things do not work out, Prof Gilbert said she was hopeful they would "see something".

"The only question is how good it is and how long it will last," she added.

The royal told the scientists he had recently spoken to an expert who said there were 1.5 million potential viruses "that could hop from animals into humans".

He added: "Hopefully this will be a wake-up call to people."

Highlighting the enormity of the challenge, Prof Pollard told William: "It's success for the country and the world if these vaccines work, not for us."

A day ahead of the visit William took part in a video call with some of those involved in the partnership, including AstraZeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot and Oxford University's vice chancellor Professor Louise Richardson.

The duke, who said he had "always been interested in medical science" told them: "It's the most incredibly exciting and very welcome project that you're all doing which is why it's fascinating."

Prof Richardson said William's visit was "a real shot in the arm" for a team of researchers at the university who she said had been working "flat out, every weekend, every night".

She said it had been important to those involved right from the beginning to ensure a vaccine could be accessed at reasonable prices by low and middle income countries, and for there not to be any profiteering.

Congratulating everyone involved, William said: "My family is very proud of everything that is going on here, particularly with the Oxford research side of things and the collaboration you are showing with AstraZeneca, I think it's fantastic.

"If we can amplify and exemplify what is going on here to the rest of the world, then like you said Pascal, that's going to be the quickest and best way to end everyone's problems really, so please keep up the good work and just a huge well done."
FCA enters into 6.3 billion credit facility with Intesa Sanpaolo, supporting the restart and transformation of Italys automotive sector

FCA Italian companies confirm commitment to implement extensive investment plan for Italy, most of which has already been initiated.



New initiatives include development of the new hybrid engine module at Termoli, which will equip the Jeep Renegade, Jeep Compass and Fiat 500X produced at Melfi.

FCA Italy S.p.A. ("FCA" or "the Company") - a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE:FCAU / MTA:FCA) - and other Italian companies in the FCA Group announce that they have signed a 3-year, 6.3 billion credit facility with Intesa Sanpaolo, Italys largest banking group, the proceeds of which will be dedicated exclusively to FCAs activities in Italy and to support the more than 10,000 small and medium enterprises that make up the Italian automotive sector. The facility will be guaranteed by FCA N.V.

The facility will be 80% guaranteed by SACE, Italys Export Credit Agency, under the Italian Governments Liquidity Decree (Decreto Liquidita), as overseen by the Ministry of Economy and Finance - MEF, and the Ministry of Economic Development  MISE. The funds under the facility will be available upon issuance of the SACE guarantee.

Under the facilitys innovative mechanism  which provides a potential model for assistance to other business sectors in Italy  all disbursements from the credit facility will be managed through dedicated accounts opened with Intesa Sanpaolo for the purpose of providing liquidity to FCAs business in Italy and to its Italian suppliers, thereby supporting the restart of industrial production in Italy and the continuation of key investment projects at the Groups Italian plants and suppliers.

The Italian automotive ecosystem is one of the country's globally recognized areas of strength, as well as being one of the largest areas of specialized industrial and commercial know-how in Europe. The sector is the largest investor in research and innovation in the country and, as such, fundamental to Italys future economic competitiveness in an era characterized by rapid technological change. The automotive sector accounts for approximately 6.2% of Italian GDP and some 7% of all manufacturing sector employment.

FCA Italy and the Italian companies of the FCA Group have confirmed their commitment to implement their extensive investment plan for Italy, most of which has already been initiated in plants nationwide, that is at the heart of the Italian automotive sectors transformation towards a low emission, hybrid/electric-powered and connected future.

As part of that plan, FCA Italy recently started production of the all-new Fiat 500 electric in Turin and the Jeep Renegade and Jeep Compass plug-in hybrids in Melfi, and development has been completed and production is due to start for the all-new Maserati MC20 super sport car at the historic Modena plant.

Going forward, the Pomigliano plant will be prepared for production of the all-new Alfa Romeo C-UV, the Turin manufacturing hub for production of the all-new Maserati GranTurismo, GranCabrio (available also with electric propulsion), the Maserati Ghibli and Levante (including Hybrid versions), and the Cassino plant for production of the all-new Maserati D-UV.

In addition, new initiatives include development of the new GSE/MHEV (Mild Hybrid) engine module at Termoli, which will equip the Jeep Renegade, Jeep Compass and Fiat 500X produced at Melfi.

In Piedmont, significant investments have been initiated at the former Rivalta plant - for the construction of the Mopar brand's new parts distribution center - and at the Mirafiori complex, where FCA is to install Solar Power Production Units consisting of photovoltaic panels, a battery assembly center (Battery Hub) and has started the Vehicle-to-Grid pilot project, confirming its leading role in electrification at European level.

The principal production launches will be phased over 2020 and 2021, with all launches completed by 2022. This ambitious plan covers the product offering for all brands and manufacturing sites in Italy, including significant upgrades for powertrains.

The new credit facility forms part of FCAs broader plan to support the safe restart of its Italian operations. This follows an unprecedented period in which rapid measures were taken to protect employees, families and communities during the Covid-19 emergency, and which resulted in a complete suspension of FCAs industrial and commercial activities in Italy, with the inevitable impact on the entire automotive ecosystem in Italy.

Commenting on the agreement, Pietro Gorlier, FCAs Chief Operating Officer for the EMEA region said: Faced with an unprecedented crisis, this is an example of Italy coming together to safeguard a vital industrial ecosystem. The combined strengths of government, our nations largest bank and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have been put to work to ensure the Italian automotive system as a whole can continue to play its role in the restart of Italys economy. 100% of the money this facility provides will be directed to our Italian business and so to the thousands of companies and hundreds of thousands of workers who depend on the successful relaunch of our entire sector as we continue a transformative shift to a new electric and hybrid powered future.

About FCA Italy

FCA is Italys largest industrial group, directly employing 55,000 people at its 16 plants and 26 dedicated R&D sites. In addition, over 200,000 further jobs in highly-specialized Italian supplier businesses are directly linked to the successful continuity of the Companys operations. A further 120,000 jobs at 12,000 enterprises of all sizes in the distribution and services sectors also support the Italian automotive industry. In addition, 40% of the 50 billion in annual revenues generated by the Italian automotive components sector is driven by supply to FCA.

Turin, 24 June 2020

For further information:

tel.: +39 (011) 00 63088

Email: mediarelations@fcagroup.com

www.fcagroup.com

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Many primary contests for state legislative and congressional seats were too close to call on Tuesday, as thousands of absentee ballots remain uncounted after an unprecedented surge in mail-in ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The most competitive local races  those for the Democratic nomination in the 108th state Assembly District and the Republican nomination in the 19th Congressional District  will head to absentees, as early results Tuesday indicated candidates were neck-and-neck.

In the 108th  which includes parts of Albany, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties  sitting Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes, had hoped to easily defeat Albany County Legislator Sam Fein, his challenger from the left. But McDonald led with 2,645 votes to Fein's 2,252 as of roughly 11 p.m., with 96 percent of districts reporting.

In the 19th Congressional District  which is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, and includes most of the Hudson Valley  businesswoman Ola Hawatmeh had 4,537 votes to lawyer Kyle Van De Water's 4,420, with 83 percent of districts reporting.

A bit farther north, former Schenectady mayoral candidate Thearse McCalmon captured an early lead in the Democratic primary for the 49th state Senate District over political newcomer Donovan McRae. McCalmon counted 2,248 votes to McRae's 944, with about a third of districts reporting.

Elections officials have cautioned voters, candidates and journalists to take Tuesday night's tallies with a grain of salt, as an unprecedented surge in absentee ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic will likely delay final results in close races for at least a week. More than 1.7 million absentee ballot applications were submitted statewide  including nearly 69,000 in the four central Capital Region counties, according to the most recent data from the state Board of Elections.

For example, more than 7,300 absentee ballots were sent out for the contest in the 108th Assembly District  possibly outnumbering the more than 5,000 voters who turned out to the polls. As of Tuesday, elections commissioners in Albany and Rensselaer counties had received 4,596 absentees for that race.

As the threat of coronavirus grew statewide, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had ordered all registered voters to receive a postage-paid absentee ballot application in April.

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.

Absentee ballots must be postmarked by June 23 and received by the local boards of elections by June 30, when commissioners can tally outstanding votes and release new totals. But close races decided by mail-in ballots will also likely spur litigation, meaning some contests may not be decided for several weeks into the summer.

Most competitive primary races are taking place downstate, as a number of progressive candidates attempt to shake up the Democratic establishment. Several sitting Democrats  including Assemblymembers Aravella Simotas, Michael Miller and Michael DenDekker  had fallen behind opponents as of latest count.

Tuesday night also yielded results for the special congressional election in western New York to fill the seat vacated by former U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, who resigned in the fall after pleading guilty to insider trading charges. State Sen. Chris Jacobs, the Republican candidate for that seat, appears to be the winner, with about 67 percent of the vote.

The Democratic presidential primary also took place Tuesday  after previously being canceled by the state Board of Elections and then reinstated by a judge  and former Vice President Joe Biden was declared the winner shortly after polls closed at 9 p.m.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 14:36 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066141639 1 World IORA,Indian-ocean,fisheries,Foreign-Ministry,fishery-products,fishermen,fishery-welfare,fishery-sector,Indian-Ocean-Rim-Association Free

Indonesia and eight other countries grouped under the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) established on Tuesday a regional working group on fisheries management that aims to sustain marine welfare around the world's third-largest ocean amid and post COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative came from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Oman, Tanzania and Thailand; nine country members of IORA -- an international organization comprising 22 states bordering the Indian Ocean -- as well as from the IORA Fisheries Support Unit (FSU), a think-tank under the organization that focuses on fishery issues.

It was inaugurated on Tuesday through the 1st Meeting of IORA Cluster Group on Fisheries Management (CFGM) held virtually, in which the Indonesian delegation was represented by the Foreign Ministry and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry.

Read also: Healthy oceans: Keeping Asia and the Pacific afloat

According to a statement published on the Foreign Ministry's website, the cluster group will perform duties related to discussion over the fisheries sector in the Indian Ocean.

Through this initiative, Indonesia hopes to manifest its leadership on marine and fisheries within the IORA forum, through which it also aims to strengthen its efforts in performing economic diplomacy, preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as improving fishermens welfare.

We are facing COVID-19 as a common enemy. As an organization comprising countries in the Indian Ocean, the IORA must renavigate its focus toward marine cooperation, including in the fisheries sector, said the Foreign Ministrys Asia-Pacific and African affairs director general, Desra Percaya, during the meeting.

The newly established working group is expected to roll out concrete programs to support economic recovery after the pandemic, particularly in improving fishermens welfare, promoting marine tourism around the Indian Ocean and increasing trade and investment in the fisheries sector.

Separately, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministrys capture fishery director general, Zulficar Mochtar, revealed that more than 3.5 million Indonesian fishermen had been impacted by the pandemic, which presented a major challenge for the fishermen in addition to illegal fishing, climate change, plastic waste and fish scarcity.

With this collective effort [the initiative] through the IORA forum, we hope to see an improvement in food sustainability and poverty reduction within the marine communities, he said.

Read also: Indonesia, US declare new protected marine areas in North Maluku

According to the statement, the delegations produced several strategic documents in the meeting, including a draft on work programs that would be implemented in the short, medium and long term under the IORA mechanism.

Indonesia has been actively involved in IORA, including as the chair in 2015 to 2017, during which the country hosted the first IORA Summit in 2017 in Jakarta and produced the Jakarta Concord  an agreement to reinforce the commitment of IORA member countries to uphold the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the main norm in maintaining peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region.

The establishment of this new working group is also a follow up of the Jakarta Concord and the IORA Action Plan for 2017 to 2021. (asp)
WASHINGTON - Vice President Mike Pence urged GOP senators Wednesday to focus on "encouraging signs" despite a recent spike in coronavirus cases in numerous states as various localities move swiftly to reopen their economies.

Pence made the remarks in a closed-door lunch with Republican senators on Capitol Hill as lawmakers have begun to express alarm because of rising infection rates in Florida, Arizona, Texas and several other states, some of which are likely to be critical to the outcome of the presidential race in the fall and control of the Senate. On Wednesday, five states hit new highs in coronavirus hospitalizations.

Multiple senators said Pence pointed to positive indicators, including the fact that while infections are rising, the mortality rate is not. That is partly because there is more testing, and younger and healthier people now account for larger shares of those getting tested, Pence said.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly remarked of late that if there was less testing, there would be fewer infections, and the numbers would look better.

Pence told senators that only 3% of counties nationwide - and only 12 states - are actually experiencing case increases. Those figures don't align with tallies by The Washington Post, which show increased cases in around 20 or more states and marked increases in 5% or more of counties.

"I think compared to where we were, we're in a much better situation, but everybody knows it's very fragile and we've got to stay after it," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters as he left the lunch. "But he wanted to assure us that they're continuing to work with the states like mine and others that are seeing some spikes. But that the mix of people is a little different, it's younger people who are getting the virus, people who are getting tested but may be not actually experiencing any symptoms. So it's hard to pick one number and say that represents a complete picture."

Cornyn, who is up for reelection, later issued a statement urging the federal government not to withdraw support from seven coronavirus testing centers in Texas as he said the Trump administration had announced plans to do.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, said in a television interview on Tuesday that given the alarming community spread in the state, Texans should stay at home if at all possible.

Despite the surge in cases nationwide, Congress and the White House appear to be taking little if any action to address it. Democrats have called for a national testing strategy, but the Trump administration has resisted. Congress pumped nearly $3 trillion in economic relief into the economy in a series of bills in March and April, but Senate Republicans have no plans to take additional action on another relief package until late July.

Some Senate Republicans remain unconvinced any more economic relief is necessary at all, though millions remain out of work and enhanced unemployment benefits expire July 31.

Asked on MSNBC on Wednesday what Congress needed to do to address the case increases, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D, replied, "Well, we have done it." She pointed to the Heroes Act, a $3 trillion tax and spending bill House Democrats passed in May over a veto threat from Trump that would have pumped money into a vast array of health, welfare and economic relief programs.

There have been few if any bipartisan talks since. Next steps on a coronavirus rescue were not discussed Wednesday, senators said. Instead Pence focused on briefing them on the administration's rosy view of the pandemic.

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said senators didn't take issue with Pence's description of events.

"He used Florida as an example of where many of the counties are stable to declining, obviously Broward, Miami Dade increasing. That's sort of how specific he got in terms of just describing the situation on the ground," Cramer said. "But no, nobody pushed back. There wasn't anything to push back on."

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told reporters after the lunch that, backing up Pence's points, he had stood up to point out that in Florida, a significant percent of new cases have come from people hospitalized for unrelated issues who are tested and discovered to have coronavirus. But Rubio said he wasn't surprised to see an increase in infections in younger people as they go out and socialize, spreading the virus more and more.

"This is gonna be our challenge moving forward until we have a vaccine. But we can't shut down the economy again so I just hope everybody does the best they can to protect themselves. And we know how. We've been told repeatedly how to do it - just do it," Rubio said.

"Everyone should just wear a damn mask, like you guys are, like I am right now," Rubio told reporters.

Pence wore a mask heading into the lunch, which he took off to speak from the podium. Trump, however, does not wear a mask in public and has begun holding large indoor rallies where many people are maskless.

- - -

The Washington Post's Jacqueline Dupree and Rachael Bade contributed to this report.
A judge Wednesday sentenced double murderer Jeremy Christian to spend the rest of his life in prison -- with no chance of ever getting out -- for the murders of two fellow passengers on a MAX train in May 2017.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Cheryl Albrecht announced her sentence after listening to more than a dozen of Christians victims and victims relatives make statements Tuesday and Wednesday. That included statements from the families of Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, and Ricky Best, 53, who died from knife wounds to the neck, and Micah Fletcher, who survived after Christian also stabbed him in the neck.

Albrecht sentenced Christian to two consecutive life terms -- one for each first-degree murder.

The judge also sentenced Christian to more than 25 additional years for other crimes. Among them were the attempted first-degree murder of Fletcher; assault and hate crimes for striking a Black woman in the eye with a half-filled Gatorade bottle on May 25, 2017; and more hate crimes against two teenage girls, one who was wearing a hijab, when Christian launched on a racist, xenophobic rant on the crowded MAX train on May 26, 2017.

Victims and their relatives had urged the judge to never let Christian walk free in society again. Many described how their lives had been forever changed, and that they have suffered nightmares or sleepless nights and post traumatic stress disorder as theyve sought help through years of therapy.

Fletcher, now 24, said Wednesday that he had always had trouble sleeping, but added that he now faces new difficulties since Christian nearly killed him.

The difficulty of it was the sleep came with nightmares, Fletcher said, including one where hes in a tunnel that slowly fills with blood until he drowns.

Micah Fletcher gives a victim impact statement on the second day of Jeremy Christian's sentence hearing on June 24, 2020. Dave Killen/The Oregonian

Fletcher said these days, whenever he walks into a room with new people, he spends the first 30 seconds assessing who might kill him and if any bulges in their pockets might be hidden weapons.

I have changed a lot from this, Fletcher said.

Victims and their relatives also stressed the need for systemic change in a world that doesnt want to own up to the circumstances that allowed Christian to act on his beliefs unfettered. Shawn Forde, a former Marine who had just stepped off the train when Christian pointed the knife at him, told the judge Wednesday that society must work much harder to stamp out racism.

We make daily choices to dismiss and ignore those opportunities, said Forde, who is Black. He said we must embrace the goal: No more, and never again. ...No more denial. No more lack of ownership.

Before the judge announced her sentence, Christian also was given an opportunity to make a statement via a live video feed from a remote room in the courthouse. He appeared emotional and teary eyed at times, but did not take responsibility for the stabbings. Rather, he blamed Fletcher, as he had in interviews with the police and during past court hearings.

Where I was brought up in North Portland, we defend ourselves, Christian said. ...I did not commit an act of violence on that train.

He continued: I do regret that two people died, but I do not regret my actions.

Jeremy Christian spoke from a remote location in the Multnomah County Courthouse on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, just before he was sentenced. (Screenshot of courthouse video)

Christian denied directing any hate speech at the 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, the one who was wearing the 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! Christian said he was exercising his right to free speech, and trying to get a reaction from the crowd.

According to evidence presented at trial, Namkai-Meche had approached Christian with his phone, apparently in an attempt to record Christians tirade. After Christian swatted Namkai-Meches phone onto the trains floor and shoved Fletcher and Namkai-Meche, Fletcher responded by shoving Christian a few times and telling him to get off the train. Thats when Christian stabbed both of them and Best, who was standing nearby.

Wednesday, Christian said Best had done nothing but stand near him when he stabbed him.

I just assessed he was a threat, Christian said. ...He ended up collateral damage.

Christian described his trial as a farce and the jurys verdict as laughable. He said he unfairly has been labeled a racist.

Christian was not allowed in the courtroom because on Tuesday, hed threatened the first victim to make a statement by screaming that he wished hed killed her. Deputies had immediately removed him from the room. Christian, however, was allowed to watch the sentencing hearing from another room in the courthouse after victims said they wanted Christian to hear their statements.

Although Christians lawyers argued that the longest sentence Christian could receive was life in prison with a 30-year minimum, the judge said she agreed with prosecutors Jeff Howes and Don Rees: She could sentence Christian to true life, which is life in prison without the chance of ever getting out.

Because defense attorneys Greg Scholl and Dean Smith believe a true life sentence is unconstitutional under the language in Oregons 2019 first-degree murder law, they are expected to appeal Christians sentence.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for Oregon and the FBI had investigated the possibility of prosecuting Christian for federal crimes. But the offices spokesman Kevin Sonoff said Wednesday that federal prosecutors dont plan to pursue any charges given Christians lengthy sentence Wednesday, unless his convictions or sentence are overturned on appeal.

Now that Christian has been sentenced, two lawsuits filed last year by the families of Namkai-Meche and Best can proceed through the civil court system. The suits seek $20 million from TriMet and the city of Portland for not arresting and banning Christian from the transit system when two TriMet supervisors and a police officer responded to a report from Demetria Hester.

She told them Christian threatened her life and threw the Gatorade bottle at her eye, but an officer didnt take Christian into custody. Less than 18 hours later, Christian killed Namkai-Meche and Best.

Taliesin Namkai-Meche grew up in Ashland, graduated from Reed College in 2016 and was working on environmental projects for the consulting firm Cadmus Group in downtown Portland. (Submitted photo)

Ricky Best was a 23-year veteran of the Army and had worked for the city of Portland's Bureau of Development Services. (Submitted photo)

In a statement after Wednesdays sentencing, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill said Christians convictions will do little to ease victims pain, but it does show hateful people in the world that there are consequences for their actions.

From the beginning of this case, we have seen and heard the racism and hatred cast by Jeremy Christian, Underhill wrote. His appalling actions and beliefs will never have a place in our community. Today, we focus on and remember the heroic efforts of the individuals who courageously came forward and immediately  in the face of great danger to themselves  started performing first aid and gave solace to Taliesin Namkai-Meche, Ricky Best and Micah Fletcher.

We honor the first responders  the police officers, firefighters and paramedics  who found themselves in a chaotic and traumatizing-blood-soaked scene, Underhill continued. Although we still deeply hurt, we are stronger in our resolve to stand up to and reject hate. We do so inspired by the courage, compassion and strength of Taliesin Namkai-Meche, Ricky Best, Micah Fletcher, Walio Mohamed, Destinee Mangum, Demetria Hester, Shawn Forde and so many others, including the families of Taliesin and Ricky.

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

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Fear, lack of confidence push US to restrict Chinese media

Global Times

By Liu Xin, Liu Caiyu and Fan Lingzhi Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/23 16:43:40

More concerns raised over bleak outlook for China-US ties: observer

The latest US restrictions on Chinese media that saw the listing of four more Chinese media outlets as foreign missions exposed its declining confidence and increasing fear of China, after the media's objective reports on China's effective fight against COVID-19 showed a stark contrast to US failures. Chinese experts said China should take reciprocal actions by limiting US media and implementing countermeasures.

The US State Department said it was listing four more media outlets - China Central Television, China News Service, People's Daily and Global Times - as foreign missions rather than media outlets in the US, bringing the total number of Chinese media designated as "foreign missions" to nine.

Monday's restrictions came after China's top diplomat met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Hawaii last week, with expectations that the two countries would ease tensions. However, the US continued to play its cards against China, expanding the previous anti-China strategies from politics to media, raising more concerns over the bleak outlook of ties, experts said.

This is the second group of Chinese media outlets the US has listed as foreign missions. It's another example of US political suppression of Chinese media and will further severely infringe on the Chinese media's reporting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press briefing on Thursday.

Zhao urged the US to abandon its Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice, and immediately correct its wrong practices, otherwise China will have to make a necessary legitimate response.

The US' fear of China is increasing, especially after Chinese media, which has worked with professional and international standards, reports details of China's effective domestic fight against the COVID-19 outbreak to the US, Lu Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times.

Experts said that China's success in bringing COVID-19 under control is in contrast to the incompetence of the US government and is unfavorable to the Republican Party's chance in the coming election.

Restricting information from Chinese media shows the decline of the US, which would not have taken such measures if it had confidence in itself.

Manipulating information in the US is their aim, and it seems to be working for now, as many Americans still think the US has done a better job than China in preventing COVID-19, Lu said, noting that China-US ties are marred with huge uncertainty. "If we say Donald Trump is playing chess regarding the current situation, he is acting like he is throwing all the chess pieces on the board."

All nine Chinese media outlets will be asked to submit a complete roster of employees in the US and a list of their real estate holdings.

Peng Cenxuan, an expert on international law from Wuhan University, told the Global Times that the US State Department claims the move is in accordance with the Foreign Missions Act, which defines foreign missions as entities that are owned or controlled by foreign governments or organs. Once an institution is designated as a foreign mission, all of its rights will be at the mercy of US administrative departments.

Listing Chinese media outlets as foreign missions actually puts them under the full supervision of US administrative departments and strip of the rights that they are entitled to under domestic and international law. This is a political move under the disguise of law, Peng said.

After the US listed the Global Times as a foreign mission, Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of the Global Times, said on his Twitter account Tuesday, "This is a very absurd decision. China-US relations are so tense that market-oriented media like the Global Times have been affected. It is regrettable. The US is losing its self-confidence and inclusiveness. The country is chaotic."

The latest move also shows the US is on high alert against China, and its bashing of China has been comprehensive - from politics and trade to high-tech and media. The bashing of Chinese media sends a signal that the US government will continue with its tough policy against China, Xin Qiang, deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that by making this move, the US is cutting off channels for Chinese people to comprehensively understand US society and culture, and it brings no good for mutual understanding between the two peoples.

He noted that listing Chinese media outlets as foreign missions also exposes the US' double standards on so-called "freedom of speech," and one of its strategies against China is smearing the Chinese political system in the international community.

Xin Qiang said that China will definitely not keep silent over the latest US move and may implement reciprocal measures by placing further limits on US media and reporters, adding that it's the US that started this vicious cycle.

Experts reached by the Global Times said that China should add US media and journalists onto a list and limit their activities in China.

In response to the US designation of five Chinese media agencies as "foreign missions," China demanded, in the spirit of reciprocity, that the China-based branches of Voice of America, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Time declare in written form information about their staff, finances, operations and real estate in China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a public statement in March.

It also asked American journalists for three news organizations whose press credentials were due to expire this year to hand back their press cards within 10 calendar days.

Peng said China can adopt countermeasures and regulate the US media's activities in accordance with the laws on overseas nongovernmental organizations.

Foreign media has long been criticized for playing a disgraceful role in helping glorifying the months' long riots in Hong Kong since last year - giving rolling coverage on so-called excessive law enforcement by the Hong Kong police but deliberately ignoring the brutality of the rioters. Some foreign reporters even acted as human shields by standing in front of rioters when they confronted Hong Kong police officers, which severely interfered in the process of law enforcement and brought social disturbances.

Aside from bashing Chinese media, Li warned that considering the US government's recent moves, it is possible that the Trump administration may continue to take measures targeting China, and that the US' politicizing of the media will further strain bilateral ties.

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Two persons, including a staff nurse and a merchant navy official, tested positive for Covid-19 in Panchkula on Wednesday, taking the district count to 99.

The nurse, aged 27, who works at the civil hospital in Sector 6, is a resident of Sector 2, Majri Chowk. According to health officials, she had come in contact with an infected relative.

The other patient, aged 40, lives in Sector 20. While his two previous reports had returned negative results, he got tested again before reporting for work and was found positive.

Of the 99 confirmed cases in the district, 50 have recovered, leaving 49 active cases.

14-day quarantine must for visitors

In the wake of the recent spike in Covid-19 cases in Panchkula, the deputy commissioner has made 14-day home quarantine mandatory for any visitors staying here for over 24 hours.

Besides, those staying back for over 72 hours also need to register themselves on www.saralharyana.gov.in. Government employees attending office in the district are exempted.

RWAs and NGOs have been asked to proactively report outsiders at 1950 if they have not registered themselves. Violators will be quarantined by the district authorities.

Admn mulling shifting of gynae OPD

Meanwhile, the health authorities are considering shifting the gynaecology OPD and labour room at the civil hospital to the polytechnic in Sector 26. However, residents, through Twitter, have recommended that these be shifted to either the health centre in Sector 16 or the dispensary in Sector 12. The Sector 12 dispensary is being used as the AYUSH departments office, which residents have suggested be shifted to the AYUSH office in Sector 3.
The debate on the treatment of 'outsiders' versus the treatment of 'insiders' in the Hindi film industry, has been on once again, since the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. Many netizens and celebs from the industry argue that Bollywood is an unequal place, where talent is not the main priority while providing opportunities.

Sidharth Malhotra, who has made it big in the industry, is also an 'outsider' who had no prior connections to the industry. He recently spoke about how he never thought it was possible for him to become a Bollywood actor, and credited his parents for the kind of upbringing he had.

In a session with We The Planet, Sidharth said, "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 (parents) 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."

Sidharth made his debut with the Karan Johar film, Student Of The Year, in 2012. He starred alongside other debut actors, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan. He was last seen in the romantic action film Marjaavan, and is in the midst of filming his next, Shershaah.

Actor Manoj Bajpayee, recently shared his opinion on the existence of nepotism in Bollywood. He said that if the industry needs to be made a more equal place, we should first stop using the terms 'insider' and 'outsider'.

ALSO READ: Manoj Bajpayee Feels We Should Stop Using The Terms 'Insider' And 'Outsider' In Bollywood

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Sidharth Malhotra Transfers Money To Bollywood Dancers Out Of Work In Lockdown


24.06.2020 LISTEN

Ghanaian actor cum politician John Dumelo has refuted generally held claims that Nigerians are better movie makers than Ghanaians.

Speaking to Umaru Sanda on Citi TVs Face to Face, Dumelo said when it comes to quantity, Nigerians produce more films than Ghanaians due to their huge numbers but with regards to real movie making, he believes Ghanaians are at par with Nigerians.

Due to their population, naturally they would have more producers than us but in terms of quality of films, in terms of delivery, storyline we are at par, he said.

When asked what he would do to improve the movie industry if he were a Creative Arts Minister, he said he would ensure that creatives make use of the digital tools for marketing their crafts and benefit from them.

I think for us like I said, migrating for the physical to the digital platform will be the first one.

And number two, being able to help the creative arts industry in Ghana. Look, Kwame NKrumah had wonderful vision for Ghana in terms of Creative Arts and of course he set up GAMA Films and so on and so forth. He had interest in it. The thing we dont realise it that the creative arts can sell a country to a different level, he said.

He further stated that a well-structured tourism and creative arts sector can drive the economy because elsewhere in the Carribeans, their economies are thriving hugely on this sector.

John Dumelo is a Ghanaian actor, farmer and politician.

He had his basic education at Christ the King School in Accra He attended Achimota School and further studied Civil Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

He later enrolled in GIMPAs School of Public Service and Governance.

He started acting in the early 1990s in a 1991 movie called Baby Thief.

Other movies he has starred in are 4Play, A Northern Affair, Adams Apples film series, A Private Storm, After the Wedding, Chelsea, among others.

Come December 7, 2020, he will be contesting the incumbent Member P arliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, Lydia Alhassan for the elections.

---
Between March 27 and April 17, when Madrids regional health system was at breaking point due to the coronavirus crisis, firefighters had to intervene in dozens of senior residences and remove at least 185 bodies that no one had taken charge of. Funeral homes were completely overwhelmed. Coffins were in short supply, as were body bags. Meanwhile unattended corpses piled up for so long that official forms included the option of indicating that a cadaver had spent 36 hours or more without being transferred, according to official documents to which EL PAIS has had access.

You have to prioritize the removal of the deceased [in residences] that no one has collected, says one of the documents, dated March 27, when Spain was approaching the peak of the pandemic.

When the coronavirus enters a residence, in a short amount of time, a large number of residents, if not all, are infected, and there is a significant number of fatalities Internal memo from the head of the Madrid Fire Department

I want you to understand how critical the situation in the regions senior residences is, reads an internal memo from the head of the Madrid Fire Department, dated March 27. The [department] of social policy tells us that when the coronavirus enters a residence, in a short amount of time, a large number [of residents], if not all, are infected, and there is a significant number of fatalities.

The memo continues: Of the 476 senior care homes, 37 are seriously affected and another 32 will be in this state in a few days. In addition, there are some residences for the disabled (13 in a critical state) which have nearly identical problems.

We have received an order from the premier [of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso] to collaborate with other services to control this dreadful situation, prioritizing the removal of deceased people who have not been collected by anyone. Initially we will require the one-off collaboration of volunteers but we will transfer this at once to the Civil Guard so that they can process and resolve these issues on a routine basis.

During the worst moments of the crisis, care homes became a death trap for residents. With hospitals overwhelmed, not every elderly patient who needed medical attention was transferred. Nor did the regional government provide more medical support to these centers. The depth of the tragedy is reflected in the figures.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 8,236 people have died in Madrids social service residences, which include homes for the elderly, the disabled and the mentally ill. This figure represents fatalities from all causes. Of this number, there were 5,987 coronavirus-related deaths. And more than 1,200 cases were being monitored by firefighters, according to union sources. Given the removal of bodies was taking longer than it should, the Fire Department was on alert in case it needed to intervene. The firefighters efforts were concentrated on four dramatic days: between April 4 and 7, they removed an average of 23 bodies a day.

It was an atrocity and a tragedy, says Israel Navesco, the head of the Firefighter Union, which is part of the regional CSIT union for Madrid public workers.

Firefighters from Las Rozas, Leganes and Fuenlabrada were tasked with collecting the bodies, focusing on those that had been left for more than six hours. In Aldea del Fresno, Coslada, Valdemoro and Tres Cantos, the firefighters worked on disinfection and inspecting centers and ambulances.

Lack of resources

The number of deceased has well exceeded the normal capacity of material resources [required] for their management and transfer, reads a contract for 20,570 for the purchase of 200 body bags to move the corpses.

The Fire Department has been tasked with the revision and disinfection of critical medical facilities such as medical centers and residences, reads a 132,575.26-contract to adapt five trucks to be able to transport the industrial equipment needed to disinfect the facilities.

The equipment and clothing used on shift must be completely and permanently disinfected, and 22 washing machines and 22 dryers are need, says a third contract for 27,493.14

Between the end of March and beginning of April, the Madrid region was overwhelmed with thousands of coronavirus cases and hundreds of deaths a day. The bodies of many elderly patients were left abandoned. Until the firefighters arrived.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
A little over a month ago, a woman who did not identify herself left a message for the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce.

She was very lovely and she said Yes, I think it would be nice if Lebanon had a drive-in theater. Thank you, said Rebecca Grizzle, executive director of the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce.

Grizzle shared the voicemail with Chamber President Tom Oliver.

He said, You know, we really could, Grizzle recalled.

They recruited Kris Latimer, the executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Santiam, and the idea for a joint fundraiser this summer was born.

The two organizations are hosting MotorVu at Cheadle Lake Park throughout the month of July. The series will begin with The Angry Birds Movie 2 on July 10-11. They will show Men in Black International on July 17-18 and follow that with the Fred Rogers film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood on July 24-25. The series will conclude with Sonic the Hedgehog on July 31.

Enthusiasm for the idea grew quickly. They filmed a short promotional video and it has received over 22,000 views on social media.

Were social media influencers at this point, Latimer joked.

Details are still being finalized, but the expectation is that base admission will be $20 per car. VIP packages will be offered. There will also be food trucks on site and families will be encouraged to eat at Cheadle Lake Park, while following social distancing guidelines, before the movies begin.

The gate will open at 7 p.m. with movies showing at 9 or 9:30 p.m. The screen will be set up on the berm, which will provide plenty of elevation for the movies to be viewed from cars parked around it. They expect to be able to admit about 180 vehicles for each showing.

Its an LED screen so we dont have to wait until pitch dark to begin playing, Latimer said, adding that there will likely be advertisements for the sponsors before the movies begin.

Profits from the seven showings will be split equally between the two non-profit organizations.

Udell Engineering is helping plan the layout and handle some of the technical details. The organizations hired Swank Motion Pictures to coordinate the licensing process and help with the selection of the films.

It was not possible to pick films from the Disney catalog because of their proximity to theaters which are in business and they were also unable to select new releases.

We tried to stick with a blend of kids and family friendly movies, Grizzle said.

Latimer and Grizzle like the drive-in idea because it attacks two problems at once. The first problem is a lack of things for families to do. A wide range of events have been canceled, including the annual Strawberry Festival. They hope the movie series helps families make memories.

Any community that has lost a drive-in feels that void. Its something I cant share with my grandson because its gone. Thats a nostalgic thing for me, Grizzle said.

Latimer thinks that feeling is widespread.

You can see multi-generational posts (online). Mom posts to her daughter and she says shes going to bring the kids, Latimer said. I spoke to Optimists today  and everybody in the Optimist Club, even if they didnt grow up in Lebanon, they grew up in a community where there were drive-ins. They were all just ecstatic there was going to be this opportunity.

The second problem is the pressure that nonprofits are feeling during the pandemic. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Santiam continues to experience a great demand for services, especially for all-day childcare, but has had to cancel some planned fundraisers.

I think everybody, universally, has budget shortfalls this year. Neither one of our organizations is an exception, Grizzle said.

The Chamber of Commerce receives funding support through the City of Lebanon, but this money ultimately comes from the Transient Room Tax, also known as the hotel tax. Proceeds from this tax are expected to decline severely as a result of the pandemic and the City of Lebanon has had to reduce its support for the Chamber.

Originally, I worried about pricing, Grizzle said of the movie series. I wanted it to be a fair price but people also need to understand this is a fundraiser. Weve never put on a drive-in theater before, so Im hoping people have some grace.

Shortly before the quarantine began in March, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Santiam announced that it was launching a $400,000 endowment campaign. Raising those funds will help secure the clubs future and would also trigger a $400,000 matching gift from an anonymous donor. That donation would be used to pay off the mortgage on the primary Lebanon facility.

Latimer said the goal is to complete the endowment fundraising campaign by the end of the summer.

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We are proud to know that Evidence for ESSA, which has incredibly high research standards, has confirmed that Pathblazer, when implemented with fidelity, makes a significant difference in students reading achievement.

Edgenuity, a leading provider of online curriculum and instructional services for the K-12 market, today announced that its Pathblazer solution was found to meet the highest level  Tier 1 strong evidence  of efficacy in improving student achievement in reading for grades three to five, as outlined by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which governs the United States K12 public education policy.

The Center for Research and Reform in Education (CRRE) at Johns Hopkins University measured the impact of Pathblazer on student reading achievement by conducting a cluster randomized controlled trial of Pathblazer during the 2019-2020 school year in Floyd County, Georgia. The study found that students who participated in Pathblazer outperformed similar control peers on the winter 2020 NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth test in reading. Participation in Pathblazer was found to be particularly effective for students with low prior achievement and special education students.

Reading and literacy are fundamental building blocks of education. Teachers need access to research-based instruction that enables them to diagnose and address each students unique needs, said Sari Factor, CEO of Edgenuity. We are proud to know that Evidence for ESSA, which has incredibly high research standards, has confirmed that Pathblazer, when implemented with fidelity, makes a significant difference in students reading achievement.

Edgenuitys Pathblazer is an online intervention program that helps struggling learners in grades K8 achieve grade-level proficiency in mathematics and reading. Pathblazer offers students data-driven, targeted instruction as well as individualized learning paths with fun, motivating content that addresses skill and concept gaps. Instruction through Pathblazer is designed to engage students, accelerate them to grade-level mastery, and increase student self-efficacy in learning. Additionally, reports in Pathblazer track student progress toward standards mastery, inform small-group instruction, and help teachers plan for one-on-one time with students.

Teachers who participated in the study reported benefits for students across achievement levels. Pathblazer was shown to help low-achieving students fill in knowledge and skills gaps, and provided high-achieving, gifted students with access to more advanced content than they would have had otherwise.

Pathblazer has also recently been recognized as the Best Literacy App or Tool by Tech Edvocate and the 2020 winner of best Personalized Learning Solution by EdTech Digest. Educators interested in learning more about Pathblazer can visit this page or contact an Edgenuity representative.

About Edgenuity

Edgenuity, a leading provider of online curriculum and instructional services for the K-12 market, is in use by more than 20,000 schools nationwide, including 20 of the 25 largest school districts, to meet academic goals and improve student outcomes. Edgenuitys full suite of solutions are aimed at helping students, educators and districts achieve success in their online and blended learning programs. For students, Edgenuity offers learning solutions including initial credit courses, honors and Advanced Placement courses, credit recovery, intervention and test readiness. Edgenuity additionally supports educators through high-quality digital-first core curriculum provided by LearnZillion, as well as professional development solutions to help educators plan and deliver powerful, lasting learning experiences.
 Flash

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 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.

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.

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.

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."

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.
Four projects involving farmers in the Midlands have been welcomed by Natural England for providing a major contribution to the UK's Nature Recovery Network.

Severn Trent, the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and local farmers are working on sustainability projects as part of the Nature Recovery Network.

The network intends to improve habitats to address wildlife decline and provide environmental benefits. It is part of the governments 25-year environment plan.

The four projects are aiming to enhance the local natural environment and improve water quality.

The Idle Washlands SSSI project wants to improve habitats for waders and water voles, including scrape creation, wet grassland restoration and fencing.

The Idle Valley Nature Reserve project is aiming to develop crucial water control structures to manage water levels on the wetland SSSI.

It will reintroduce beavers for sustainable conservation management and diverse wetland habitat creation before work begins on rewilding the reserve.

Elsewhere, farmers and landowners are working on four target areas of Nottinghamshire to create wildlife-rich habitats such as meadows, woodlands and ponds.

Lastly, the Thoresby maize trials are investigating whether under-sowing maize with strips of grass can help protect water quality and increase farmland pollinators.

Farmers and landowners are working on four target areas of Nottinghamshire to create wildlife-rich habitats

Tony Juniper, Natural England chair welcomed the contribution from Severn Trent toward the creation of the national Nature Recovery Network.

These exciting projects embody the kind of approach needed to achieve our national ambition to create a flourishing network," he said.

"Collaboration is at the heart of it, and here we can see the benefits of industry, farming and conservation coming together to ensure that nature thrives for the benefit of people and planet.

"I very much hope these projects will inspire others to invest in similarly effective partnerships, he added.

Paul Wilkinson, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust chief executive, added that an effective Nature Recovery Network must be 'created from the ground up, with everyone playing a part'.

These exciting projects illustrate that serious investment in natures recovery is good for wildlife, communities and businesses.

"Working in partnership we have the power to address the climate and ecological emergencies through local action, he said.
A man who cut the eye of a vulnerable person with a knife during an attempted robbery has been jailed for five years.

Patrick Byrne (23) of Neilstown Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery on a street in Clondalkin on October 9, 2018.

Garda Barry O'Shea told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that on the date in question, then 41-year-old man David Cleary had left the city centre hostel in which he was residing in order to visit his mother in the Clondalkin area.

Gda O'Shea said Mr Cleary first collected money from the Salvation Army who were managing his money at that time. Mr Cleary then went to the local shops on behalf of his mother.

While on his way, Mr Cleary was approached by Byrne and asked if he wanted to buy any drugs. When the victim declined, Byrne became aggressive, produced a knife and shouted to give me the money.

The accused kicked Mr Cleary to the ground and attacked him with his knife before fleeing, having failed to take any money. Mr Cleary sustained two cuts to his back, a cut to his index finger and a cut to his eye.

Byrne has 21 previous convictions, including previous convictions for robbery, attempted robbery and assault causing harm. He is currently serving a five year sentence with the final two years suspended for offences including possession of drugs.

Gda O'Shea agreed with Luigi Rea BL, defending, that his client started to abuse cannabis aged 14 and later moved on to taking cocaine and various tablets. He agreed that 16 of his previous convictions were recorded as a juvenile.

Judge Melanie Greally said that the victim appears to have been a vulnerable person who had achieved some stability. She said he sustained significant visual impairment as a consequence of the injury to his eye.

Judge Greally said she took into account that Byrne was someone who had battled addiction difficulties and noted that a limited number of his previous convictions involved serious violence.

She sentenced Byrne to six-and-a-half years imprisonment, but suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions. She ordered that the sentence run concurrent to the sentences Byrne is currently serving.
(Natural News) The current rules regulating free speech and the monopoly social media (Facebook/Instagram, Twitter, Google/YouTube  together, the MOSM) are a mess, but the basic principles should be obvious. They should be treated as the new public square, and subject to First Amendment requirements. Ideally, Congress would establish a public square trust on each of the MOSM properties  a section for political speech sites that would be clearly protected from the censorship whims of the private company owners, or from an employee revolt.

(Article by K.S. Bruce republished from RealClearPolitics.com)

The MOSM have become such a dominant location for political speech that they deserve to fall under the First Amendment, even though they are private companies. The Supreme Court has itself pointed the way under two key precedents: Packingham and Marsh.

In the 1946 case of Marsh v. Alabama, the court ruled that the First and 14th Amendments can apply to private parties. In this case, a company town was not allowed to preclude free speech on its sidewalks. Justice Hugo Black wrote, When we balance the constitutional rights of owners of property against those of the people to enjoy freedom of press and religion, as we must here, we remain mindful of the fact that the latter occupy a preferred position. As we have stated before, the right to exercise the liberties safeguarded by the First Amendment lies at the foundation of free government by free men.  In essence, private property had become the public square, and must be governed accordingly.

In a 2017 case, Packingham v. North Carolina, the justices unanimously found that the MOSM have become the company town or public square of our own day, as the court ruled that the State of North Carolina could not block registered sex offenders from the use of social media such as Facebook.

A fundamental principle of the First Amendment is that all persons have access to places where they can speak and listen, and then after reflection, speak and listen once more, wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy. A basic rule, for example, is that a street or a park is a quintessential forum for the exercise of First Amendment rights.

Kennedy noted that while in the past it wasnt always easy to identify the most important places for free speech to be protected, in the 21st century it is clear. It is cyberspace, he wrote, the vast democratic forums of the Internet in general, and social media in particular.

A respected swing vote on the high court before he retired in 2018, Kennedy noted that seven in 10 Americans use at least one Internet social networking service and that governors in all 50 states and nearly every member of Congress communicate with their constituents via social media.

Given these court precedents, it is inconceivable under our Constitution that the MOSM could decide, for example, that only Democrats could speak on their sites while censoring Republicans, or that only Republicans could speak while censoring Democrats. Even as private companies, they have reached such an extreme level of power and importance as our stage for political speech that they fall under the Marsh and Packingham standards.

As the MOSM act under these First Amendment standards, they should not create their own rules and rulings, but should follow the set of rules and rulings that already exist from over 200 years of law, jurisprudence and precedent.

Pursuant to the First Amendment, an orator setting up his virtual soapbox in their cyberspace (todays de facto public square) should be allowed to say whatever he could say on a real soapbox in the physical town square. There are some limits on free speech: for example, even in the public square, a speaker cannot slander or libel without consequence; cannot incite imminent violence; cannot give away military secrets or troop movements; cannot spread certain forms of pornography. And there are criminal and civil remedies for such speech in a court of law. The rules, remedies and paths to adjudication should be identical to the public square, and law and court precedent  not the MOSM executives  should control. At the same time, if the MOSM is merely the location for the speech and not amplifying or promoting it beyond the speakers own efforts, the MOSM should not be considered liable for this speech, any more than the public square is liable.

To ensure this result, Congress might be wise to mandate a public square trust on the MOSM: a section on each MOSM property where political speakers can speak, and remain explicitly outside the comment or control of the forum owner. Hence, Twitter and Facebook would have a section where President Trump and President Trumps greatest opponent can each present as they choose, clear and unfiltered by Jack Dorsey or Mark Zuckerberg. All other political speakers could have guaranteed access as well, so long as they properly identify themselves, and remain subject to remedies or penalties from the U.S. legal system. Thus, anonymous Russian bots spreading mayhem would not be included, but any elected official, political candidate, or identified political speaker (say, the local environmental society) would be included. Speakers using the great American tradition of pen names would be allowed, so long as their true identity could be traced if a legal remedy was mandated. Again, the MOSM company would have no liability for this speech and no control over it. Parties injured by the speech would have action against the speaker through the courts, not through the companies.

Political debates are hard and unpleasant; they are likely to offend many people even when they are legal and protected under the First Amendment. Given the exceptional power that the three monopoly social media companies have acquired as Americas de facto location for political speech, we cannot afford to let the sensibilities of three CEOs, boards or employee teams determine free speech for all. Nor can we expect these executives and companies to always successfully withstand political and commercial pressures, and protect free speech properly, even if they are well intended.

A system of First Amendment law already exists, determined through a long series of hard-fought legislative debates and cases over many years, and which continues to evolve. We should use this system; not ask the MOSM to invent their own. A public square trust could help ensure free speech, in line with past laws and Supreme Court opinions, and so help ensure a free nation.

Read more at: RealClearPolitics.com and FirstAmendment.news.
A man who turned his car into a 'lethal weapon' and was travelling at more than 200km/h in the seconds before a fatal and fiery crash northeast of Adelaide has been jailed for more than eight years.

Ian Clarke also had methamphetamine in his system when he slammed into the back of the car driven by Leanne Smith, killing the 51-year-old and seriously injuring her son Ryan on the Sturt Highway at Annadale in 2015.

At one stage the charges against the 49-year-old were dropped, but the prosecution was restarted after experts in Detroit managed to recover data from the control unit in his car.

Ian Clarke (pictured) has been jailed for more than eight years after plowing into a woman's car killing her and seriously injuring her son in a fiery crash in 2015

Clarke slammed into the back of Leanne Smith's (pictured) car about five seconds after he was clocked travelling at 209km/h

It showed the Ford Falcon was travelling at 209km/h about five seconds before the crash, and that Clarke only braked one second before the impact.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving, with District Court Judge Patrick O'Sullivan on Wednesday describing his actions as a 'wanton and complete disregard' for the law and the safety of the community.

'The fact is that you turned your vehicle into a lethal weapon,' the judge said.

He said the situation confronted by passers-by and emergency services 'could only be described as horrendous'.

The court also heard that Clarke had a shocking driving record and only a year before the fatal crash had also been caught speeding at 217km/h.

Judge O'Sullivan jailed Clarke for just over eight years with a non-parole period of six years and four months.

He also disqualified him from driving for 20 years.

In a statement, Ms Smith's family said dangerous road use was a selfish act that could result in the worst possible outcome.

'Far too often it is innocent people who are victims, and their families that are impacted forever,' the statement said.

'We all have the right to be safe, and those who cause harm or take a life, by whatever means, should be held accountable and take responsibility for their actions.'
EMERYVILLE, Calif., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, extreme-value grocery retailer, today launched its tenth consecutive Independence from Hunger Food Drive to combat food insecurity. From June 24  July 31, 2020, the campaign will collect cash donations and pre-made bags of nonperishable foods in-store at Grocery Outlet's 350 locations that will be distributed to local food agencies partners. In addition to the local store donations, Grocery Outlet has initiated a "Million Dollar Match," a pledge to match up to 1 million dollars of donations made to the stores to multiply Independence from Hunger's effort to support food agencies across the nation. Additionally, online donations made at GroceryOutlet.com/Donate will support Grocery Outlet's San Francisco bay area partner, Alameda County Community Food Bank.

According to the USDA's latest analysis of Food Insecurity in America, 11 million households suffer limited access to food sources and suffer from food insecurity (USDA, Household Food Security in the United States in 2018). Each independently owned and operated Grocery Outlet store is committed to giving back to the local community and have partnered locally to bring the community together in providing families nutritious food. This year, food agencies have experienced a growing need to provide food for children who have been prematurely released from annual school schedules, due to COVID-19. This has resulted in record lows for food bank inventories across the country.

"We feel it is more important than ever to help lessen the number of families across America at risk for food insecurity. This year, Grocery Outlet has pledged to match up to 1 million dollars to support and expand the program's effort." said Eric Lindberg, CEO at Grocery Outlet, Inc. "Last year, with the overwhelming help of our community, our campaign funded over 2 million dollars to those in need. In our tenth year, we are dedicated to make a greater impact."

Since its launch in 2011, the Independence from Hunger campaign efforts have collected more than $5 million nationwide. Customers can make a difference by visiting their local Grocery Outlet and participating in one of these easy steps:

Give $5 , get $5 . Donate $5 or more in a single transaction in-store or online and you will receive a coupon for $5 off a future purchase of $25 or more.

Donate or more in a single transaction in-store or online and you will receive a coupon for off a future purchase of or more. Purchase a pre-made bag that is complete with an assortment of groceries selected by the local food agency and then place it in a collection bin at the front of the store.

that is complete with an assortment of groceries selected by the local food agency and then place it in a collection bin at the front of the store. Make an in-store donation at the register. Donations will benefit that store's local food agency partner. Donate $1 , $5 or round up your change.

at the register. Donations will benefit that store's local food agency partner. Donate , or round up your change. Donate online by visiting GroceryOutlet.com/Donate. Online donations support the San Francisco bay area community through Grocery Outlet's partnership with Alameda County Community Food Bank.

"With school closures resulting in record lows for food bank inventories across the country, we are once again reaching out to our loyal customers, employees and partners to join us and help support our neighbors in need." said Lindberg. "Our goal is to continue providing access to high-quality and nutritious food for our local communities in need and this year have promised to match up to 1 million dollars to support our store's efforts."

About Grocery Outlet

Extreme-value grocery retailer Grocery Outlet, based in Emeryville, California, offers big savings on brand name products every day, at more than 350 locations in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Grocery Outlet carries a full range of products from fresh produce, meat, deli and dairy to a wide assortment of natural and organic choices. They also offer a large selection of beer and wine, health and beauty care, as well as seasonal items. A third-generation, family-led company founded in 1946, Grocery Outlet's mission has always been to provide customers an exciting place to find WOW savings on name brands they trust. Grocery Outlet stores are run by an independent owner-operator in the local community.

For more information about Grocery Outlet, please visit GroceryOutlet.com.

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Earthquakes are happening all the time. According to the National Earthquake Information Center, our planet experiences about 20,000 earthquakes each year, and every day there are about 55 earthquakes that take place around the globe. Every year about 16 major earthquakes are expected to occur, based on historic records. The majority of earthquakes that occur happen where two tectonic plates meet at a fault line. As stress overcomes friction, energy waves are released through the Earths crust causing the ground to shake. Sometimes earthquakes are not caused by forces of nature, however, but rather by humans meddling with nature. Humans are causing more and more earthquakes to take place through industrial and commercial activities that put stress on the Earth.

As we extract the Earths contents, attempt to control the natural flow of water on the Earths crust, and cause dangerous explosions, we are disturbing the natural balance of the land to such an extent that it is shifting. Here are five human activities that are currently increasing the chances of earthquakes.

5. Mining Projects

An open cut mine. Image credit: Alf Manciagli/Shutterstock.com

Mining is an age-old activity. Today, mining companies are digging deeper in the Earths crust than ever before. So many rocks and other materials are being removed from the Earth that instability in the ground is occurring, which is triggering earthquakes. According to a study published in the journal Seismological Research Letters, in the past 150 years there have been 730 locations across the world where humans have caused earthquakes, and the majority of these were caused by mining. In 2007, the Crandall Canyon coal mine in northwestern Emery County, Utah, collapsed triggering an earthquake measuring 3.9 in the area. Six miners were killed inside the mine, as were three rescue workers.

In the state of Utah, a very large majority of earthquakes are triggered by human activity. Just less than 2% of the tremors felt in Utahs coal fields are actually naturally occurring. These quakes happen so often that miners actually have names for them, referring to the seismic waves as bounces and bumps.

4. Dam Building

Hoover Dam, a massive hydroelectric engineering landmark located on the Nevada and Arizona border built to harness power from the Colorado River. Image credit: Nyker/Shutterstock.com

Another human activity that can cause an earthquake is dam building. The construction of dams has caused some of the largest and deadliest human-triggered earthquakes in history. Chinas 2008 earthquake in Sichuan province that measured 7.9 on the Richter scale was a devastating event scientists believe was caused by the creation of a dam that resulted in 320 million tons of water collecting on top of a well-known fault line under the Zipingpu Reservoir. About 80,000 people died or have been unaccounted for in connection with this disaster.

Unfortunately, many of the worlds dams are built in earthquake-prone areas. This is because dams are often built in valleys, and these exist as a result of erosion. Large reservoirs of water can trigger earthquakes as stress builds up in the ground caused by the weight of the water on top of it. Reservoirs can also cause earthquakes as increased groundwater pore pressure makes the rock under the reservoir weaker. Earthquakes that are triggered by reservoirs generally only happen in places where there is already tectonic strain energy accumulating in the ground. The added pressure of the extra water simply causes this stored energy to be released earlier.

3. Fracking: Drilling

Pumpjacks extract oil from an oilfield in Kern County, CA. Image credit: Christopher Halloran/Shutterstock.com

In the US, the practice of fracking for oil and natural gas causes many human-made earthquakes. Fracking involves injecting liquid at high pressures into subterranean rock in the hopes of forcing open existing fissures for the purpose of extracting oil or gas. In the US, many people living near fracking sites have launched lawsuits over injuries they have sustained in earthquakes caused by fracking, as well as damage to their homes. In Canada, most large earthquakes in Alberta and BCs oil and gas patches have been linked to fracking.

2. Fracking: Disposal of Waste Water

BOISE, IDAHO/USA - FEBRUARY 22, 2016: Protesters asking for others to not frack their future. Image credit: txking/Shutterstock.com

The disposal of waste water produced in the fracking process also causes quakes. This waste water is the by-product of the sand, water, and chemicals used to fracture hydrocarbons from rock. The high-pressure it causes can lubricate existing faults and crack rocks, triggering earthquakes.

According to National Geographic, in places like Oklahoma, where there is a lot of fracking activity, hundreds of small earthquakes happen each year in locations that did not have so much seismic activity in the past. In fact, it has been found that the majority of human-induced earthquakes occurring in the US and Canada have been caused by the disposal of fracking waste water in the ground.

1. Nuclear Explosions

Image credit: Romolo Tavani/Shutterstock.com

Last but not least, earthquakes are also sometimes caused by nuclear explosions. According to scientists at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, North Koreas 2017 nuclear bomb test set off aftershocks that lasted for about eight months after the explosion. The bomb was set off near a previously unmapped fault line, and a first produced a 6.3 earthquake, followed by a magnitude 4 quake just minutes later. Seismometers located around the world recorded the two earthquakes, and those in China, and South Korea picked up the ten aftershocks. Scientists in the US are said to currently be analyzing the difference between the ground movement caused by a naturally-occuring earthquake and that caused by a nuclear explosion as the two can be so similar.
We have seen tremendous interest in our online courses and are pleased to augment our free courses with free CEU and PDH certificates.

BACnet International is proud to announce that it has recently gained IACET accreditation and now issues Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for all its courses offered through The BACnet Institute. Professional Development Hour (PDH) credits are also available for all courses. The BACnet Institute (TBI) is an online learning site that provides free courses and other educational resources to assist in the understanding and successful implementation of the BACnet standard (Building Automation and Control networks).

BACnet International is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). BACnet International complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, BACnet International is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. IACETs history includes development and maintenance of the ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training as well as development of the original Continuing Education Unit.

Andy McMillan, President of BACnet International said, We decided to pursue IACET accreditation because the IACET CEU credit is accepted by an exceptionally large group of regulatory boards, companies and organizations. This allows us to provide consulting engineers and others who need formal continuing education credits with additional value for their time spent learning about BACnet. He went on to say, We have seen tremendous interest in our online courses and are pleased to augment our free courses with free CEU and PDH certificates.

Courses currently available on The BACnet Institute include BACnet Basics and The Facility Managers Guide to Building Automation Systems. A third course on BACnet Device Profiles will be launched in the coming weeks.

Visit The BACnet Institute, http://www.thebacnetinstitute.org, to access its interactive courses as well as many other BACnet-related resources, including articles from various industry publications, lectures from leading industry events, and a knowledge-sharing forum. Site registration, which grants access to all of TBI resources, is free.

About The BACnet Institute

The BACnet Institute (TBI) is a global online learning platform with BACnet-focused interactive courses, curated articles and lectures, as well as a collaborative forum. TBI serves the needs of the whole BACnet community including building owners and operators, system integrators, consultants, facility management professionals and product developers. It provides opportunities for participants to learn about and share innovative strategies, research, and best practices. The BACnet Institute operates under the auspices of BACnet International in collaboration with other BACnet industry groups. BACnet International is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is authorized to issue the IACET CEU.

About BACnet International

BACnet International is an industry association that facilitates the successful use of the BACnet protocol in building automation and control systems through interoperability testing, educational programs and promotional activities. BACnet International oversees operation of the BACnet Testing Labs (BTL) and maintains a global listing of tested products. The BACnet standard was developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and has been made publicly available so that manufacturers can create interoperable systems of products. BACnet International complements the work of the ASHRAE standards committee and BACnet-related interest groups around the world. BACnet International members include building owners, consulting engineers and facility managers, as well as companies involved in the design, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and maintenance of control equipment that uses BACnet for communication. For more information, please visit http://www.bacnetinternational.org.
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Yes Bank has enough liquidity to meet all its obligations, the private lender said on June 24, a day after two ratings agencies downgraded its Basel-II compliant Upper Tier II Bonds to default, citing inadequate capital levels as per the Reserve Bank of Indias norms.

ICRA downgraded the rating on Rs 1,344 crore worth Upper Tier II bonds to ICRA D from BB rating. The downgrade factors in the specific features of the instrument wherein the debt-servicing is linked to the bank meeting the regulatory norms on capitalisation - CRAR of 9 percent, the rating agency said.

CARE, too, announced a similar rating action.

Yes Bank reiterated it had enough liquidity and its inability to pay interest on Upper Tier II Bonds was due to technical reasons.

The bank in its FY 2019-20 financial results, announced on May 6, 2020, had declared that it did not meet the regulatory capital ratio requirement as on March 31, 2020 and therefore its inability to service the coupon due on June 29, 2020, is solely a function of the Bank being below the regulatory capital threshold as on March 31, 2020, Yes Bank said.

The bank would like to stress that the coupon on these bonds (Basel II, Upper Tier II Bonds) is cumulative in nature and any unpaid sum will become payable once the bank meets minimum regulatory capital ratio subject to the required regulatory approvals, Yes Bank said.
H-E-B announced Tuesday that five more San Antonio employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the grocery store's website.

The grocery store announced earlier this week that six employees at San Antonio stores tested positive for COVID-19. 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.

READ ALSO: H-E-B announces 6 San Antonio employees test positive for COVID-19 cases since Monday

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. Walmart and Target have both told mySA.com it will not release that information to the public.

Here are five H-E-B stores with COVID-19 cases that were announced on Tuesday:

- El Mercado H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 2139 Culebra Rd. on Wednesday, June 17.

- McCreless Market H-E-B plus!: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 4100 South New Braunfels Ave. on Wednesday, June 17.

- Valley Hi H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 302 Valley Hi Dr. on Sunday, June 14.

- Bandera and 1604 H-E-B plus!: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 9238 N. Loop 1604 W. Access Rd. on Sunday, June 20.

- Leon Springs H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 24165 I-H 10 West, Suite 300 on Monday, June 15.

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
In a shocking incident that took place in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district, police have arrested two youths for allegedly sodomising a 10-year-old boy.

As per a report in Times of India, the accused also recorded a video of the sexual offence.

Representational Image

The incident took place under the territorial jurisdiction of Anola Police Station. As per the details mentioned in the complaint, the minor was playing with his friends when the two accused, identified as Vikas (19) and Vishal (21), approached him and took him to an isolated spot outside the village after offering him sweets.



And later, both of them sodomised him while shooting a video of the entire assault. Later, they also threatened him to not reveal it to anyone.



As per TOI, after arriving home, the victim narrated his ordeal to his father following which his family approached the Anola Police and registered a complaint against the accused on Sunday.

Representational Image

Police picked up both accused on Monday. An offence has been registered against them under the POCSO Act and Section 377 (unnatural offences) of the Indian Penal Code.



Police also recorded the minors statement in the presence of his father under Section 161 under the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. Anola Police Station SHO Suneel Singh said that the accused are being interrogated and will be jailed soon.
Since April, the Delhi-NCR has witnessed multiple tremors. According to report in PTI, a total of 18 quakes have been recorded in the region, eight of which have taken place in Rohtak.

On Wednesday, Rohtak recorded a low-intensity earthquake of magnitude 2.8, the National Centre for Seismology said. The tremors in and around Delhi have been frequent for quite some time now.

Representational Image

According to a report in Jagran English quoting professor Chandan Ghosh of IIT Jammu, he believes Delhi is close to the Himalayas, which was formed by mixing of tectonic plates such as India and Eurasia, and due to the movement in these plates, areas like Delhi-NCR, Kanpur and Lucknow are the most prone to earthquakes.



However, it is also being said that small earthquakes may also reduce the chances of a major earthquake. The Delhi Ridge region is a low danger area, while the medium risk areas are - South West, North West and West. The most threatened areas are the North Eastern region.

Representational Image

Professor Ghosh said that at present there is no scientific basis to reach to a conclusion based on fault line movement, ground vibration, building response in Delhi-NCR.



As per a report in Zee News, Dr Soumitra Mukherjee, professor of Geology at Jawaharlal Nehru University also explained the case of Delhi and why these tremors are felt.

"There is an ancient rock group under the land of Delhi. It is said to be of the Precambrian period, which consists of quartzite, cyst, granite or pegmatite group. If we talk about seismic zonation of India, Delhi falls in Zone 4, which is sensitive. That is, there is a high probability of earthquakes here, but even more sensitive areas come in the areas of the Himalayas, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, North East. Delhi has a large population, so even mild shocks make people restless", she said.

The only matter of relief for Delhi is that there is no prediction of any big earthquake made yet. The advantage of three to four small tremors is that the accumulated energy of the earth is removed which eliminates the possibility of a dangerous earthquake.


Twitter on Tuesday put a warning label on a tweet from US President Donald Trump in which he warned if protesters tried to set up an "autonomous zone" in Washington DC they would be "met with serious force!"

"We've 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.

Twitter users, including Trump's supporters, will be unable to retweet the offending tweet due to the measure.

The company explained that although the tweet broke its rules it "will remain on the service given its relevance to ongoing public conversation."

Trump posted the same message on Facebook. CNN has reached out to Facebook for comment.

"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 posted on Twitter and Facebook.

Trump has been critical of the "autonomous zone" in Seattle, an area occupied by protestors for much of this month.

Criticizing Twitter's decision Tuesday, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted that "citizens have a right to hear directly from their President and decide for themselves what to think about it."

Twitter announced specific rules for politicians last year that allows them to sometimes violate the platform's rules without their tweets being removed. The company says there is a "public interest" in people being able to see and debate statements from elected officials.

This is the fourth time Twitter has taken action against Trump's account in just a few weeks.

In May, Twitter labeled two Trump tweets that made false claims about mail-in ballots in California.

A few days later, Trump tweeted that "when the looting starts, the shooting starts," which Twitter labeled as a glorification of violence. Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, were criticized by some of its staff when the company took no action on the same post on its platform.

Last week, Twitter labeled a video Trump tweeted of two toddlers as "manipulated." It was later removed entirely due to a copyright claim.

The labeling of tweets has enraged the President and his supporters and even prompted Trump to sign an executive order targeting social media companies.

Facebook last week took down a set of Trump campaign ads because, the company said, the ads included a Nazi symbol.
The fourth World Intelligence Congress, a major artificial intelligence (AI) event in China, opened online on Tuesday in north China's Tianjin Municipality, highlighting AI-powered life amid the pandemic.

The two-day event, with the theme of "Intelligent New Era: Innovation, Energization and Ecology," has attracted over 1 million visitors online.

A series of online activities, including forums, exhibitions and competitions, will be presented during the event. It will also discuss the growth points of AI, and other intelligent sci-tech industries in the post-pandemic era, hoping to provide more solutions for economic and social development.

Wan Gang, chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, said AI-assisted diagnostic systems, temperature detection and a series of AI products and technologies are playing significant roles in the anti-pandemic fight.

"Smart technology has comprehensively supported work resumption and the development of the digital economy amid the epidemic," said Wan. "The data technology helped enterprises resume work and production, the health QR codes facilitated our travel, and the Internet of Everything (IoE) has made urban management and community services more efficient."

Wan added that technological innovation of AI should go beyond national boundaries, and that China will play a more active role in its global research and development.

"We will participate more actively in the division of labor in the global industrial chain, and jointly safeguard the stability, safety, improvement and development of the global industrial and supply chain amid the COVID-19 pandemic with the rest of the world," said Wan.
The governor of the Bank of Spain has argued that IVA (VAT) offers the greatest "margin for improvement" for generating tax revenue. He is supported by the IMF and the European Commission. Yet IVA is pretty much the only tax mechanism that the government is not considering.

The government clearly does have to address its finances. No one should be under any illusion that it will not be raising taxes. The principal sources that it is contemplating include business tax and high earners' income tax. The General Council of Economists has rejected the increase for businesses, maintaining that the burden is already higher than in, e.g., France and Germany.

Might the government change its mind on IVA? The Bank, the IMF and Brussels all suggest that there is scope to address the reduced and super-reduced rates of 10% and 4%. Into the former falls the tourist rate of IVA, something that business has been demanding should be further reduced in order to aid competitiveness.

The general rate of IVA was increased from 16% to 18% in 2009 as financial crisis began to take hold; the reduced rate went up from 7% to 8%. The Rajoy government, pursuing austerity, then raised the rates to 21% and 10%. The current government is perhaps wise to leave them be, but higher rates for business plus green taxes, e.g. the air travel tax, will likewise be condemned for harming competitiveness. But the government is going to have to use fiscal measures of some form. They're unavoidable.
Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, speaks to the media after the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala., on June 22, 2020. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

NASCAR Driver Bubba Wallace Insists Rope Found in Garage Was a Noose

NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace said the rope found in his garage was a noose after an FBI investigation concluded the rope was there as early as October 2019.

The image that I have and I have seen of what was hanging in my garage is not a garage pull, he said Tuesday night on CNN Tonight in his first remarks after the investigation results were announced.

It was a noose. Whether tied in 2019, or whatever, it was a noose.

An image of the rope in 2019 in the same garage at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama was shown to viewers. It was attached to the garage door, as ropes are used to close the doors after theyre opened.

At the end of the rope was a circle.

Photographs of the alleged noose found Sunday in Wallaces garage havent been made public by the FBI or NASCAR. Pictures of the garage on Monday appear to show the pull rope cut short when compared to the rope in an adjoining garage.

The #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, driven by Bubba Wallace, waits in garage #4 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala., on June 22, 2020. The pull rope of Wallaces garage appears to be cut off when compared to the pull from the adjoining garage. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Ive been racing all my life. Weve raced out of hundreds of garages that never had garage pulls like that. So people that want to call it a garage pull and put out videos and photos of knots as their evidence, go ahead. But from the evidence that we have, that I have, its a straight up noose, Wallace said.

Freddie Kraft, a spotter for Wallace, said on social media that he personally saw pictures of the rope and shared a stock image of a hangmans knot, or a noose, in defending against accusations that the alleged noose was just a regular garage pull.

It was a noose, he told one user. Garage door was tied in a hangmans knot. Look it up.

The FBI and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama concluded the rope was placed in the garage last year but still described the rope as a noose.

Wood Brothers Racing, which had the garage in the fall of 2019, said one of their employees alerted them that he recalled seeing a tied handle in the garage pull-down rope from last fall. Richard Petty Motorsports, which first raised an alarm over the rope, said in a statement that team members discovered a rope tied in the fashion of a noose.

Bubba Wallace takes a selfie of himself and of other drivers who had pushed his car to the front in the pits at Talladega Superspeedway before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Talladega Ala., on June 22, 2020. (John Bazemore/AP Photo)

And NASCAR said in a statement that the rope was used to pull the garage door down but was fashioned like a noose.

NASCAR President Steve Phelps told reporters in a teleconference Tuesday night that the result of the FBI probe is the best result we could hope for.

It was disturbing to hear that it was thought that one of our own had committed this heinous act. It is fantastic to hear from the FBI definitively that there was not a hate crime, he said.

But presented with the same situation, officials would do the same thing, he added.

Wallace described himself as mad, adding: People were trying to test my character and the person I am. Theyre not stealing that from me but theyre trying to test that. He said he wouldnt let allegations of the incident being a hoax break me or tear me down.

In a statement released Wednesday, Wallace said he was relieved that the investigation revealed that this wasnt what we feared it was.

After thanking his team, NASCAR, and the FBI, he said he was embarrassed.

I think well gladly take a little embarrassment over what the alternatives could have been, he said. Make no mistake, though some will try, this should not detract from the show of unity we had on Monday, and the progress weve made as a sport to be a more welcoming environment for all.
(CNN)  Authorities in India are hitting pause on more than $600 million in deals with Chinese companies in the wake of a deadly border clash with China.

Officials in the western Indian state of Maharashtra said Monday that they were reviewing agreements with three Chinese companies as they seek clarity from the Indian government on how  or whether  to proceed.

The preliminary agreements were announced last week as part of a local government initiative to help revive the Indian economy from the coronavirus pandemic. Growth in India was slowing long before the crisis, and GDP is projected to shrink this year for the first time since 1979.

Twenty Indian troops died in the border skirmish last week, sending China and India into a tense diplomatic and military standoff. The economic stakes are high. India imports more goods from China than any other country. And India and China have enabled each other's rise as technology powerhouses. Chinese tech giants have invested billions of dollars into India's biggest startups, while its smartphone makers dominate the market there.

The largest business deal at risk in Maharashtra is with Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors, which had agreed to a partnership worth nearly $500 million, according to Indian authorities.

The other deals involve Chinese industrial manufacturer Hengli Engineering and Beijing-based automaker Foton Motor, which already has a joint venture with Indian electric bus company PMI.

Officials did not disclose which other Indian companies would potentially be affected. Many local firms unveiled deals in Maharashtra last week including Varun Beverages, a supplier of Pepsi products in India, and Hiranandani Group, a prominent real estate developer.

Tensions continue to run high a week after the violent exchange. There has been a change in the Indian Army's mindset after the fatal border clashes, according to an Indian Armed Forces source. Indian troops on the border have now been instructed to meet any aggression and transgression with equal force, the source told CNN.

On Monday, Subhash Desai, industry minister for the state of Maharashtra said in a tweet from the state government's media account that his officials were waiting for India's central government to assess the current business climate and announce a clear policy about how to move forward on deals with Chinese companies.

Sherisse Pham, Rishi Iyengar and Vedika Sud contributed to this report. This story was first published on CNN.com, "India suspends three China business deals as border tensions rise."
China launches last BDS satellite to complete global navigation constellation

PLA Daily

Source: Xinhuanet

Editor: Chen Zhuo

2020-06-23 12:07:39



XICHANG, June 23 (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, designated 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.

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.

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.

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.

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The leader of a US-backed militia in northeast Syria accused Turkey of violating the terms of two separate cease-fire agreements brokered by Russia and the United States today after an alleged Turkish drone struck his native village of Helenj, near the town of Kobani, killing three women last night.

Mazlum Kobane, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), called the drone attack that took place around 7 p.m. local time a continuation of the policy of massacres against the Kurds. He added via Twitter, Stopping Turkish violations and the policy of ethnic cleansing is a responsibility and duty of America and Russia, within the framework of the October agreements and international law.

Kobane was referring to the accords brokered in the aftermath of Turkeys Oct. 9 Operation Peace Spring assault against northeast Syria that resulted in its occupation of a swath of territory between the towns of Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ain and the withdrawal of US forces from the Syrian-Turkish border, including from Kobani.

In a rare if oblique rebuke of Americas NATO ally, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed his sympathies to families of the "innocent civilians and those wounded" in the airstrike via Twitter just hours after the attack occurred.

But in an apparent bid to keep things even, Pompeo also mentioned the families of five civilians who died in a bomb attack that took place yesterday near Ras al-Ain that Turkey blamed on the SDF. Pompeo did not identify any perpetrators in his tweet, but it will have likely angered Ankara nonetheless.

Salih Muslim, the deputy co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which holds power in the Syrian Kurds Autonomous Administration, told Al-Monitor that Russia was responsible for protecting Kobani now that the Americans are gone. Turkey cannot operate in the skies over Kobani without their assent, he said. Though we dont know their role in this particular instance, weve seen them look the other way when Turkey has attacked the area in the past. Moscow has not commented officially on the strike.

Stanislav Ivanov, a former colonel in the Russian army and a Syria expert, refuted the idea that Russia would have greenlit the attack, saying Turkey never sought Moscows permission for its attacks conducted under the pretext of fighting Kurdish militias." He likened Turkeys actions to acts of state terrorism in emailed comments to Al-Monitor, adding, in this case, the deaths of three women from among local residents.

Ankara has yet to claim responsibility, though it routinely trumpets targeted assassinations of men and women militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been fighting the Turkish government for Kurdish self-rule since 1984. Fighting has escalated since a two-and-a-half-year cease-fire broke down in 2015. Turkey is currently engaged in twin air and ground offensives against the PKK in their stronghold in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq.

Turkey insists that the SDFs Kurdish component known as the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) are legitimate targets as well, because of its historical links with the PKK.

A Turkish soldier was killed yesterday near the mainly Kurdish town of Yuksekova after coming under attack from the Iranian side of the border. The Turkish Ministry of Defense did not assign blame, but the PKK is active inside Iran as well.

In Kobani, thousands of citizens chanting anti-Turkey slogans gathered in the towns main square today to air their fury over the drone strike.

Ayse Effendi, a prominent PYD member, charged that Turkey was planning further massacres in Kobani. Ankaras aim was to erase Kurdish identity, she said.

The victims of Tuesdays airstrike were named as Zehra Berkel, Mizgin Xelil and Emine Weysi. Berkel was a leading member of Kongra-Star, a confederation of womens groups that promotes gender equality and helped mobilize women in the fight against the Islamic State. The 33-year-old, who studied law, was also a former co-mayor of Kobani. Xelil, who was reportedly undergoing treatment for cancer, was active in Kongra Star and Weysi was married to a relative of the SDF chief. She was hosting a gathering outside their family home in Helenj.

Its unclear why the women were targeted. None of them were involved in any armed activity, said Muslim.

Meghan Bodette, a Washington-based international affairs specialist and a vocal advocate of the Kurdish feminist movement, argued that the choice of women was deliberate. In Afrin, Ras al-Ain and Tell Abyad, one of the consequences of Turkish intervention has been the destruction of virtually all gains in rights, representation and empowerment made by women under the Autonomous Administration  accompanied by a pattern of kidnappings, forced marriages, torture and sexual violence carried out with impunity by Turkish-backed armed groups, Bodette said in emailed comments to Al-Monitor. Both the targeting of political figures like Zehra Berkel and Hevrin Khalaf and the daily fear of violence that women in occupied areas live with are part of a broader attempt to weaken the strongest and most effective women's movement in Syria. Hevrin Khalaf was the young Kurdish woman politician who was summarily executed by members of a Turkish-backed Syrian rebel faction in the early days of Turkeys Operation Peace Spring.

Some observers draw eerie parallels between the murder of three prominent Kurdish female activists in Paris in January 2013. The victims included Sakine Cansiz, the legendary former fighter who co-founded the PKK.

The murders were widely believed to have been planned by rogue elements in Turkeys national security establishment to derail now defunct peace talks between the Turkish government and the PKK.

Muslim noted that there may be a link between yesterdays attack and ongoing reconciliation talks between the PYD and the opposition Kurdish National Council that are being mediated by the United States. The talks were initiated by Kobani, who was added to Turkeys list of most wanted terrorists following the collapse of the Kurdish peace talks in which he played a tangential role. The veteran commander has been the target of several assassination attempts allegedly planned by Turkish intelligence.

Turkey has aired occasional disgruntlement over the talks, mainly via its Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who told the Turkish news channel CNNTurk on May 18 that anyone who cooperates with the PKK/YPG is a legitimate target.

A well-placed Turkish source said that some members of Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party view the talks, however, as a vehicle to resume a detente with the Kurds  whose votes help tip elections  and to ease relations with the United States. But nationalists who oppose Kurdish rights and Kurdish unity wherever they scent any retain the upper hand. Yet, No one within the Turkish government apparatus seems to be in a rush to take credit for the [Kobani] attack. The only ones praising it are pro-government social media trolls, the source observed.

Kobani emerged as a symbol of Kurdish resistance against the Islamic State, which laid siege to the town in the fall of 2014 as Ankara looked on and even collaborated with the jihadis, Syrian Kurdish officials charge, until it was shamed into rising to the Kurds defense. Kobani is where the US-Kurdish partnership against the jihadis was forged, tilting Turkish-US relations into crisis with Ankara accusing Washington of arming and training what it called PKK terrorists.

Turkey has made no secret of its desire to add Kobani to the real estate it occupies inside northern Syria. Doing so would allow Turkey to fully connect the Euphrates Shield zone west of the Euphrates River with its freshly acquired dominion east of the river, giving it a further strategic edge. Russia, whose military police are deployed around Kobani along with regime forces, since the US retreat, wields the threat of a Turkish attack to press the Kurds into ditching the Americans and cutting a deal with the Syrian regime, but to little effect so far.
Researchers in Switzerland have discovered a trove of new bacteria in the country's thawing permafrost that could be useful in breaking down plastic waste.

A team of researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) collected samples from the permafrost on Schafberg mountain in the eastern Alps.

According to WSL's Beat Frey, the team has so far identified 10 new species of hypothermic bacteria from these samples, as well as a new kind of yeast,

Researchers collected samples from permafrost on Schafberg mountain (pictured above) and found a new species of bacteria believed to be at least 13 million years old

Frey estimates that there might be over 100 more undiscovered bacteria species in samples they haven't yet analyzed, according to a report in SwissInfo.

'We never expected this,' Frey said in an interview. 'If we find 1,000 species, around 300 of them are species that only exist in permafrost.'

Frey believes some of the new types of bacteria could be used in bioreactors to help break down plastic waste to free up space in landfills and lessen pollution.

In the past, teams from WSL have had success using microorganisms for other environmentally beneficial purposes.

One past project used enzymes from permafrost bacteria in laundry detergent, making it effective at lower water temperatures, something that could reduce energy usage if widely adopted.

According to Frey, permafrost covers an estimated 5% of Switzerland and contains a much more diverse mix of microorganisms than typically found in other parts of the country.

The new bacteria shows some promise in helping to break down plastic waste, and researchers say permafrost in the Swiss Alps could be a 'gold mine' for new microorganisms

The Schafberg samples, which were taken from an altitude of around 9,800 feet, and are believed to be around 13million years old.

According to Frey, the Swiss permafrost 'could become a gold mine for humans,' but there's also a chance that the team could discover some unwelcome new microorganisms alongside.

It's possible there could be just as many undocumented viruses lying dormant in the permafrost, which could prove to be dangerous.

According to Frey, the benefit of permafrost is that it leaves most microbial life, virulent or benign, in a kind of sleep state, but '[t]he big question is what happens when they wake up, due to climate change, for example?'
Samantha Dunster, Pennsylvania Ballet Assistant Artistic Director. center, gathers with ballet dances during the little angel rehearsal for The Nutcracker at the Academy of Music last December. This year's show will not go on, the ballet announced Wednesday. Read more

In another pandemic-related blow to Philadelphia arts and culture, Pennsylvania Ballet has canceled this years production of The Nutcracker.

Citing safety concerns for both audience and artists, the company said it will not put on its annual presentation of the George Balanchine classic set to Tchaikovskys score. It will be the first time Pennsylvania Ballet has not mounted the show since the beginning of the tradition in 1968, just a few years after the company was founded.

The Nutcracker, which typically runs for three weeks at the Academy of Music at Christmastime, is a very first performing arts event for any number of children. It is also an important entry point into the art form  cited by many a balletomane as the first spark in a lifelong interest.

Its a huge hit for us, said Pennsylvania Ballet executive director Shelly Power. It just keeps us so relevant in peoples minds in an incredible way and engages us with new patrons and people who have been going to ballet for years on end. So, its really sad.

The Nutcracker also underpins the finances of Pennsylvania Ballet, as it does at many ballet companies across the U.S. Those three weeks in December account for half of Pennsylvania Ballets annual ticket revenue, Power said.

By the same token, she said, our first and foremost concern is everyones safety.

For everyone to be safe at this moment, it would be impossible for us to do a show, said artistic director Angel Corella.

The cancellation represents a larger loss, says Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance president Maud Lyon.

What immediately leaps to mind is that this is not just The Nutcracker. What we are going to be experiencing, in particular in the performing arts, is the pause in many cherished traditions. Look at Wawa Welcome America and no fireworks this year. Look at Donald Dumpsons gospel event at the Kimmel Center, Lyon said, referring to Soulful Christmas.

These are things people look forward to and do every year, she said, and they are not possible as the performing arts are unable to rehearse and perform.

 READ MORE: A backstage pass at Pennsylvania Ballets Nutcracker

New York City Ballet also recently announced cancellation of its Nutcracker, which would have run for five weeks at Lincoln Center. Joffrey Ballet in Chicago has also scrapped its Nutcracker for this year.

In addition to The Nutcrackers cancellation, Pennsylvania Ballet is moving another storybook ballet, Cinderella, from October to the spring. The disappearance of an entire fall season throws out of work not only the companys dancers, but also its 64-member orchestra. Nutcracker rehearsals and this years 27 performances account for the single-largest chunk of work for many of the areas freelance musicians.

Its devastating to many, said Pennsylvania Ballet harpist Mindy Cutcher. There are musicians who really count on that last quarter of the year. Its not just Nutcracker. All of us who play Nutcracker are also doing other things like church services and choirs and Christmas parties and lots of other income thats not going to happen.

The full consequences on Pennsylvania Ballets finances for the fiscal year starting in August are not fully known, said Power. We are showing a deficit for next year and are working through how we can reduce that, she said.

To help compensate for the $2.5 to $3 million in lost Nutcracker revenue, the company has laid off 13 staff members, furloughing another eight. Pay is being slashed for the companys remaining 15 staff members on a sliding scale; the exact amounts, still under consideration, will range from 5% to 20%.

It is unclear when the companys 46 dancers might return. They are currently laid off for the summer, as they normally are, but instead of returning in August, they are tentatively seen as coming back to work in January to begin rehearsing for a shortened season.

An abbreviated season would consist of a Swan Lake opening in February; George Balanchines Stars & Stripes with Ballet Imperial and Symphony in C in March; and Cinderella in May.

In the meantime, eight weeks of online rehearsal and classes with dancers concluded last week. It was very emotional, I have to say, said Corella of the last session on Friday. The virtual contact has been helpful, but challenging, he said.

Because of the speed of the time of the music traveling over the internet, everyone had different speeds in their homes, which meant the syncing of sound and movement wasnt uniform  an obvious hurdle to dance.

Resumption of a season in January assumes the re-opening of the Kimmel Center, which operates the Academy of Music and currently has all but closed the doors of its halls through the end of 2020. If the Academy doesnt reopen in the new year, Pennsylvania Ballet might explore a demi-season, though that would have a domino effect.

 READ MORE: Pa. Ballets Nutcracker Christmas tree just got a $100,000 makeover

It would be hard to put on Swan Lake at the Annenberg, said Power, of the smaller Annenberg Center in West Philadelphia. If we go to a smaller theater, we would change the repertoire.

The Kimmel maintains that it has not closed its halls outright and would re-open before Jan. 1 for any of its resident companies that would want to pay extra costs associated with operations and extra safety precautions. Several companies, however, said the Kimmel has not specified what those higher costs would be.

A Kimmel spokesperson said the arts center is still gathering information from health officials and it is too early to know what kind of safety protocols will be mandated.

Regardless, Power said, safe practices would likely dictate socially distanced seating in the Academy, which would in turn reduce ticket revenue. What we do know is that those safety measures will be costly and the economics of social distancing will not pay the bills, she said.

Nutcracker is one of those traditions in everyones lives, and we are really trying to get back to normal, whatever normal is, and this would have really helped, said Power. But I am optimistic that we can gather again, people are going to be hungrier than ever for the arts.
Katie Price will appear before MPs next Thursday for a second time to tell them about online abuse targeted at her disabled son Harvey.

The ex-glamour model will give evidence to the Petitions Committee as a formal parliamentary inquiry into tackling online abuse is launched.

Price, 42, wants a new UK law - which she has dubbed 'Harvey's Law' - to be created to make online trolling a specific criminal offence.

She also wants a register of people found guilty of online abuse.

Price had told MPs: 'I know I'm here because it started off because Harvey and his disabilities but this isn't just for people with disabilities.

'It will help everybody. Like me or hate me, I'm here to protect others.'

The reality TV star appeared before a parliamentary committee two years ago in an attempt to help combat trolls hurling racist abuse at 18-year-old Harvey, who is blind and has a range of health problems which hamper his speech.

Katie Price will appear before MPs next Thursday for a second time to tell them about online abuse targeted at her disabled son Harvey (pictured, February 2018)

Price wants a new UK law - which she has dubbed 'Harvey's Law' after her son (centre) - to be created to make online trolling a specific criminal offence (left, Price's mother Amy)

Price's petition in 2017 to criminalise trolling has received nearly 220,000 signatures, and led to a parliamentary inquiry into online abuse.

The Petitions Committee recommended legal protections for disabled people suffering from hate crime in its findings published in January last year.

A new inquiry has been launched to 'scrutinise the Government's response to online abuse, and continue to press the Government on the action it needs to take'.

Next week's session comes after The Only Way Is Essex TV star Bobby Norris spoke to MPs about his experiences of homophobic abuse.

His petition on tackling online abuse generated over 133,000 signatures.

Committee chair Catherine McKinnell said: 'Online abuse is a silent menace, and our new inquiry is an eleventh hour bid to put an end to it before it spirals out of control.

'With social distancing rules, people are spending ever more of their lives online.'

The reality TV star appeared before a parliamentary committee two years ago (pictured), in an attempt to help combat trolls hurling racist abuse at 18-year-old Harvey, who is blind and has a range of health problems which hamper his speech

Katie Price, pictured outside Parliament with her son Harvey and mother Amy, addressed a scrum of reporter after taking her battle for tighter cyber bullying laws to Parliament today

The Labour MP added: 'The importance of doing something about this issue before it causes more damage is greater than ever.

'If we don't take action soon, then there is a real risk that a whole new generation will be irretrievably exposed to and harmed by online abuse.

'I'm pleased to welcome Katie back to the Committee after first meeting her during her campaign against online abuse last year.

'Her bravery in sharing her personal experiences of the abuse she has endured alongside her son Harvey will shine a light on key issues, and will help this new landmark investigation find practical and technological solutions to the problem.'

WHAT ARE HARVEY'S HEALTH PROBLEMS? Harvey has been diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome, which leaves him with an excessive appetite and led to him being overweight, with weak muscles and learning difficulties. He also has been a rare condition called septo-optic dysplasia which has left him partially blind. And he also has autism - a condition which affects his ability to talk and communicate with others, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which leaves him hyperactive and unable to concentrate easily. Advertisement

In February 2018, Price said of Harvey: 'He is mocked for his colour, his size, I just think they think he is an easy target to pick on. But I'm his voice.

'I'm here and I'm going to protect him.'

The mother-of-five told MPs a new law should 'stop deaths and abuse' and said tougher action should be a 'no brainer'.

Price and her mother Amy Price, who also presented evidence at the Petitions Committee in 2018, will field questions from MPs on the subject of online abuse and their personal experiences with this.

The evidence session will take place at 2pm on Thursday, July 2.

The Petitions Select Committee will 'look at the experiences of people who have faced online abuse, focusing on potential solutions for its reduction and prevention, legally, socially and technologically', its website states.

The Committee 'will examine what progress has been made by the Government since the conclusion of its previous inquiry into online abuse'.

A statement says: 'The new inquiry will see the Committee scrutinise the Government's response to online abuse, and continue to press the Government on the action it needs to take.

'Many figures have raised concerns over the effect of Coronavirus on mental health as people are spending more time online and on social media.

'The Committee is now calling for evidence to this new inquiry into online abuse, and is welcoming contributions from campaigning organisations, legal professionals, social media companies and other expert organisations in the field.

'Committee staff will also invite the general public - including people who've signed relevant petitions - to share their experiences.'
CLEVELAND, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After doubling its list of partner schools undergoing a rapid expansion to meet the digital needs of universities during COVID-19, Cleveland software company Wisr is now working to help them reduce summer meltthe drop-off between incoming students who declare their intention to attend a University but never arrive on campus.

Enrollment numbers for fall and summer are the pressing issue facing University presidents right now, according to a recent survey from the American Council on Education. As these institutions continue to navigate the lingering effects of COVID-19, managing summer melt has never been more critical.

"Decision day wasn't the finish line this year, it's only one piece of the puzzle," said Wisr CEO Kate Volzer. "Students need to feel like they are a part of the campus community long before classes begin in the fall and schools need to be communicating the value of this educational investment."

Wisr's summer melt solutions help universities:

Retain new students through personal connections with their peers, faculty and staff

Build excitement by exposing students to academic and student life

Provide on-going engagement opportunities via chat modules, discussion boards, webinars, and creative summer programming

Monitor digital engagement metrics and take actionable data to keep students engaged

These solutions are proven to significantly reduce summer melt. A recent case study tracked a 29 percent reduction at the University of Chicago between 2018 and 2019, where one staff person was able to manage more than 1,200 first-year students and 60 peer advisors using Wisr's platform.

"Before COVID-19 we were working with schools like UChicago to pivot their in-person programming to a more dynamic digital campus experience. Now, these digital tools are more important than ever as most schools are forced to redefine their entire engagement strategy for prospective, accepted, and incoming students," Volzer added. "This summer melt teams and orientation teams are coming together on campuses to build community and confidence for the student body and are taking this time to reinvent dated orientation programs."

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Wisr has seen a massive surge in demand for their solutions. In response, the company has worked furiously to improve the platform's performance and add new functionality. New partner schools now include Yale, Brown, Wayne State, Duke, Colorado State and Southern Methodist Universities; who join longtime partners such as the University of Chicago in their praise of the company's platform.

"What was so valuable to us is we only used about 15-20 percent of one staff member's time in order to launch Wisr. And our team member was able to use her time to really help forge connections between different affinity groups on campus and build out those communities for yield and summer melt," said Dawn Medley Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at Wayne State University. "To date we've had over 2,000 students join in the various communities that we offer. I see the Wisr platform as continuing to strengthen our engagement with students this summer and moving forward as we support and engage students in a really authentic and connected way during the next recruitment cycle."

About Wisr

Wisr is a Cleveland-based educational technology company whose college network connects all institutional stakeholders to put each student at the center of a personalized web of mentors, academic advisors, and job opportunities. To learn more visit www.getwisr.com and follow @wisrcommunity on Twitter.

SOURCE Wisr
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 re-election 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.

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.

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 percent 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 percent and 84 percent capacity, respectively.

The president focused on touting his immigration record and sought to convince voters in Arizona to back his 2020 re-election 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."

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.
As the victim in a weekend stabbing improves, LGBTQ activists are asking police to consider the role the teens gay identity may have played in the attack.

Holden White, 18, described his appearance as a hot mess Tuesday, according to his family.

The sarcastic comment represents significant progress in Whites recovery. Just one day earlier hed been on a ventilator and a feeding tube, unable to communicate at all except by nodding his head or shrugging his shoulders.

White, who is gay, suffered life-threatening injuries during a Grindr date gone wrong Saturday and has been fighting for his life at Lafayette General Medical Center ever since. He is still in the intensive care unit but is in good spirits.

His spunky and funny attitude is back, said Faith Roussel, Whites 26-year-old sister. The fact that his sense of humor is back and hes calling himself a hot mess and things like that  Hes in the hospital. He hasnt even seen himself. How would he even know if hes a hot mess?

White suffered traumatic injuries Saturday at a residence in the 400 block of Maryview Farm Road. His injuries include stab wounds to the neck, strangulation wounds, blunt force trauma to the back of the head and cuts so deep into his wrists that his hands were nearly severed, according to the family.

Chance Seneca, the 19-year-old man charged with attempted second-degree murder in the case, had his first court appearance Tuesday morning and remains jailed with a $250,000 bail.

Lafayette Police spokesman Sgt. Wayne Griffin said the attack is not being classified as a hate crime and said evidence points to other motives. Griffin would not comment on the evidence or other specifics about the case, citing the ongoing investigation and Senecas future prosecution.

Hate crimes, which are often violent, are those motivated by prejudice because of race, religion, sexual orientation or other specific criteria.

Griffin said he does not expect the crime to later be classified as a hate crime.

Matthew Humphrey, president of LGBTQ-ally group PFLAG Lafayette, said hes concerned by the police departments statements that the attack was not hate motivated. Humphrey said he feels the declaration is premature given a full week hasnt passed since the attack and PFLAG will be watching closely to ensure all aspects of the crime and Senecas background are investigated.

The police are put in place to do due diligence and get to the bottom of things and investigate thoroughly and I dont know how youre able to say anything definitively about any type of crime four days in, especially something this heinous, Humphrey said. I don't know how you can look at [his injuries] and not think there was a significant element of hate involved.

Humphrey said PFLAG Lafayette has reached out to Whites family to offer support and will be taking cues from the family before applying public pressure to the police department for the attack to be reconsidered as a hate crime.

There has been an overwhelming amount of support for White and his family, Roussel said. A GoFundMe page started by Roussel has raised nearly $50,000 in two days.

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Gage Suire, a 21-year-old Kaplan native who performs under the drag name Ashley Hall, has been actively sharing updates on Whites recovery and promoting the fundraiser on Facebook. The two men attended Kaplan High together, were in the school band and worked on school musicals together, bonding as two of the few openly gay young men at the school, Suire said.

He described White as an outgoing guy with a big smile who stood up for his beliefs and whose confidence and radiant personality you could feel when he walked in the room. Suire said he was returning home from a drag event when he learned of Whites attack and was gutted.

The 21-year-old said the horrific details brought to mind past attacks against gay men and the violence the LGBTQ community has historically faced, and he felt like his community was under attack, whether Seneca intended to inspire fear or not.

Suire said he hopes investigators dont brush aside a potential hate crime motive. The use of the app Grindr, which is geared toward gay and bisexual men, indicates Seneca may have intended to harm a gay man. If White werent gay, Suire said he doesnt think he would have been victimized.

More than anything, Suire said he wants justice for his friend.

I dont ever want for a second for Holden to have to know that the person who did something like this to him is walking freely on the streets, or theres a chance that it could happen again to him, he said.

One in critical condition, one arrested in Lafayette stabbing Saturday night A man suffered critical injuries in a Saturday night stabbing on Maryview Farm Road in Lafayette.

Whites family has questioned the Lafayette Police Departments decision not to charge Seneca with a hate crime in the case. They believe Seneca attacked White because of his sexual orientation. They also believe the attack was planned because of Senecas posts on Facebook, including a profile picture of Jeffrey Dahmer, the infamous serial killer who admitted to murdering and dismembering 16 men and boys from 1978 to 1991.

Tara Guy, former president of Acadiana PRIDE, said she was also concerned by Senecas Facebook photo of Dahmer and said shed like law enforcement to more critically consider how Whites identity as a gay man may have played into the attack. She questioned whether Seneca targeted White to act out struggles with his own identity, or if White was easy to isolate and draw in because Acadianas LGBTQ community is small. Those facets should all be considered, she said.

Guy said she felt given the description of events and Whites wounds that the 18-year-old was preyed upon. She said she was shocked and confused when she learned the details, struggling with the knowledge this happened in the Acadiana area and not in a horror film.

The local activist has been actively sharing Whites story and called on community members of all backgrounds to speak out against the crime. Guy said whether Whites attack is officially classified as a hate crime, fear has been stoked in the LGBTQ community.

People with gender identities and sexualities considered outside the heterosexual, cisgender norm are still targeted and made to feel less than or ashamed, she said.

We live in a place where so many people are pushed in the closet and pushed to stay in the closet, Guy said.

Now that White is awake and able to speak, though with some limitations due to his injuries, his family said they will take a step back from discussing the specifics of the case and their views on the motive behind the attack. Theyve also met with an attorney.

We just want to thank the community for all the support, Roussel said. Theres been little to no hatred, and our family is very thankful for that. I know once Holden gets his phone and is able to go back on social media, hes going to be blown away by all the support.
OFX Daily Market News





Posted by OFX



AUD  Australian Dollar

The Aussie Dollar rose for the second consecutive day as global risk sentiment was boosted by stronger than expected flash PMIs out of Europe and positive signals from the US government on both the stimulus and US-China trade front. This saw the defensive US Dollar index fall 0.4% on the day, with the AUD/USD rising from 0.6900 to 0.6974 before partially retracing back to 0.6935. It was a similar story for the Kiwi, meaning the AUD/NZD cross traded in a sideways range between 1.0670 and 1.0690.

On the macro front, the global docket is headlined by the Reserve Bank of New Zealands cash rate decision today before Chinese current account balance data for Q1. Overnight we will also get second tier data out of Germany and the US in the form of business sentiment surveys and house price indexes.

Our AUD/USD levels to watch for the session ahead are largely unchanged from yesterday however given the sustained move above the 0.6900 handle, a move through initial resistance at 0.7000 is looking more likely. A move through this would see next level resistance at 0.7075. On the downside, initial resistance is still seen at 0.6890 before 0.6840.

Key Movers

Although we eventually finished the session with positive risk sentiment, Tuesday was a wild ride for risk assets. Investors shed risk assets during Asian trade when headlines surfaced that white house trade advisor Navarro informed news outlets that Trump had made the decision to terminate the China trade deal. This saw risky currencies like the AUD and NZD sold off aggressively and US equity futures much lower. Having since back tracked from his comments and after a raft of better than expected flash PMIs out of Europe, risk assets recovered to finish the day in positive territory.

Global equities were up over 1% on the day with the defensive USD index down 0.4%, representing its second consecutive day of falls. Interestingly, despite the risk on backdrop, the JPY outperformed on the day with USD/JPY falling 0.4% to 106.50.

Story continues

The positive flash PMIs out of the Eurozone aided the Euros ascent, with EUR/USD breaking above 1.1310 to touch an intraday high of 1.1348, its highest level since June 16. The positive European story also saw the GBP/USD break through the 1.25 handle, reaching 1.2530 during trade before retreating slightly. Lastly, taking a look at the Canadian dollar, USD/CAD saw some fresh selling pressure forcing the pair below the key 1.3500 psychological level.

For the day ahead, traders will be closely watching the RBNZ cash rate decision which we touched on above. Data out of China, the Eurozone and the US are also expected to be of interest before some FED speak on the US economy will round out the session.

Expected Ranges

AUD/USD: 0.6810  0.7000 

AUD/EUR: 0.6103  0.6155 

GBP/AUD: 1.7917  1.8130 

AUD/NZD: 1.0630  1.0700 

AUD/CAD: 0.9305  0.9420 





Posted by OFX

The post AUD consolidates above 0.6900 ahead of quiet session appeared first on .
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or an invitation to offer or buy or subscribe for, securities. An investment in the Offered Shares involves substantial risks and uncertainties. Prospective investors must read the entire Prospectus, and, in particular, should read Section 2 (Risk Factors) for a discussion of certain factors that should be considered in connection with an investment in the Offered Shares, including the risks relating to the fact that (i) Hyloris has a limited operating history and has not yet generated any substantial revenues. Hyloris has incurred operating losses, negative operating cash flows and an accumulated deficit since inception resulting in a negative equity at the date of the Prospectus and Hyloris may not be able to achieve or subsequently maintain profitability. Hyloris is executing its strategy in accordance with its business model, the viability of which has not been demonstrated, (ii) Hyloris' performance depends primarily on the success of its product candidates, a majority of which are in the early reformulation development stage and have not yet received FDA approval of the 505(b)(2) application or ANDA or the other approvals required before they may be commercially launched, (iii) even if Hyloris receives regulatory approval for any of its product candidates, it may be unable to launch the product successfully and the revenue that Hyloris generates from sales of such product, if any, may be limited, (iv) Hyloris has entered into arrangements with related parties and these arrangements present potential conflicts of interest, (v) certain of Hyloris' directors and members of Hyloris' executive management hold directorships or shareholdings in other pharmaceutical companies, which could create potential conflicts of interest, and (vi) after closing of the Offering, certain significant shareholders of the Issuer may have different interests from the Issuer and/or from the minority shareholders and may be able to control the Issuer, including the outcome of shareholder votes. Every decision to invest in the Offered Shares must be based on all information provided in the Prospectus. Potential investors must be able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Offered Shares and to undergo a full or partial loss of their investment.

PRESS RELEASE - ADVERTISEMENT









Hyloris Pharmaceuticals Announces Narrowing of Price Range of its Initial Public Offering

Liege, Belgium - June 24, 2020: Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA ("Hyloris" and/or the "Company"), an early-stage innovative specialty pharmaceutical company focused on adding value to the healthcare system by reformulating well-known pharmaceuticals, announces today the narrowing of its price range from between EUR 10.00 and EUR 11.50 to between EUR 10.75 and EUR 11.50 per Offered Share, following the launch of its initial public offering on 17 June 20201 and in accordance with the possibility provided for in the 'Information on the Offering' chapter of the Prospectus dated 16 June 2020. The maximum size of the offering is fully covered throughout this revised range.

The offering period commenced on 17 June 2020 at 9:00 (CEST) and is expected to end no later than 16:00 (CEST) on 25 June 2020 for retail investors and 26 June at 13:00 (CEST) for institutional investors, subject to early closing or extension, provided that the offering period will in any event be open for at least six business days.

Prospectus

A prospectus has been approved by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority on 16 June 2020 (the "Prospectus"). The FSMA only approved the Prospectus (including the summary of the Prospectus, the "Summary") as meeting the standards of completeness, comprehensibility and consistency imposed by the Prospectus Regulation. Such approval should not be considered as an endorsement of the Company or the quality of the Offered Shares that are the subject of the Prospectus. Investors should make their own assessment as to the suitability of investing in the Offered Shares. This Prospectus is available to prospective investors in Belgium in English and French with a summary of the Prospectus, the "Summary" available in English, Dutch and French. The Prospectus and the Summary are available to investors free of charge at the registered office of the Company (Boulevard Gustave-Kleyer 17, 4000 Liege (Belgium)). The Prospectus and the Summary are also available free of charge to investors at (i) KBC Bank NV/SA, CBC Banque SA/NV, Bolero and KBC Securities NV/SA, upon request by phone 078 152 153 (KBC Bank NV/SA & CBC Banque SA/NV) and 0800 628 16 (Bolero Orderdesk) and on its websites www.kbc.be/hyloris, www.bolero.be/nl/hyloris and www.kbcsecurities.com The Prospectus can also be consulted as of 17 June 2020 (before opening of the markets) on the website of the Company (www.hyloris.com/investors/information/prospectus/), whereby the access on the aforementioned websites is each time subject to the usual limitations.

-Ends-

For more information, please contact:

Hyloris Pharmaceuticals

Stijn Van Rompay, CEO

+32





Consilium Strategic Communications

Amber Fennell, Chris Welsh, Lucy Featherstone, Taiana De Ruyck Soares

+44 20 3709 5700

hyloris@consilium-comms.com

Note to Editors

About Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA

Based in Liege, Belgium, Hyloris is an early-stage innovative specialty pharmaceutical company focused on adding value to the healthcare system by reformulating well-known pharmaceuticals. Hyloris develops proprietary products it believes offer significant advantages compared to currently available alternatives, with the aim to address the underserved medical needs of patients, hospitals, physicians, payors and other stakeholders in the healthcare system. Hyloris' portfolio spans three areas of focus: IV Cardiovascular, Other Reformulations and Established Market. Hyloris stands for "high yield, lower risk" and relates to the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for product approval on which the Issuer focuses, but in no way relates or applies to an investment in the Shares.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The material set forth herein is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer of securities for sale or a solicitation of any offer to buy securities in the United States, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Israel, Japan or South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state in the United States, and may not be offered or sold within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws. No public offering of securities has been or will be made in the United States. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Israel, Japan or South Africa, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Japan or South Africa. Copies of this material are not being, and should not be, distributed or sent, directly or indirectly, into the United States, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Israel, Japan or South Africa.

This information does not contain a solicitation for money, securities or other consideration and, if sent in response to the information contained herein, will not be accepted. This announcement contains statements which are "forward-looking statements" or could be considered as such. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words 'believe', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'will', 'plan', 'continue', 'ongoing', 'possible', 'predict', 'plans', 'target', 'seek', 'would' or 'should', and contain statements made by the Company regarding the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are warned that none of these forward-looking statements offers any guarantee of future performance. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The Company makes no undertaking whatsoever to publish updates or adjustments to these forward-looking statements, unless required to do so by law.

Any purchase of, subscription for or application for, Shares in the Company to be issued in connection with the Offering should only be made on the basis of information contained in the Prospectus issued by the Company, and published on the Company's website) in connection with the Offering and any supplements thereto, as the case may be. Potential investors must read the entire Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in the securities. This document is not a Prospectus. The Prospectus contains detailed information about the Company and its management, risks associated with investing in the Company, as well as financial statements and other financial data.

The date of completion of listing on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels may be influenced by things such as market conditions. There is no guarantee that such listing will occur and a potential investor should not base its financial decisions on the Company's intentions in relation to such listing. Acquiring investments to which this announcement relates may expose an investor to a significant risk of losing the entire amount invested. Persons considering such investments should consult an authorized person specializing in advising on such investments. This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the Offering. An investment in Shares entails significant risks, as the value of the Shares can decrease as well as increase.

This announcement is addressed to and directed at persons in member states of the European Economic Area ("EEA") other than Belgium pursuant to applicable exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation, including but not limited to "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. In addition, in the United Kingdom, this announcement is only addressed to and directed at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), (ii) high net worth entities, etc. falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, and (iii) any other person to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The intended offering, as the case may be, will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe for, purchase, or otherwise acquire securities will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents.

KBC Securities NV/SA and Van Lanschot Kempen Wealth Management N.V. (the "Joint Global Coordinators") are acting for the Company and no one else in relation to the intended offering, and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections offered to their respective clients nor for providing advice in relation to the intended offering.

INFORMATION TO DISTRIBUTORS

The Joint Global Coordinators have informed the Issuer that the following information is intended for distributors only. The information is provided by the Joint Global Coordinators and the Issuer does not assume responsibility for it.

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), the Joint Global Coordinators have informed the Company that they have submitted the shares subject of the proposed offering ("Shares") to a product approval process, which has determined that such Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, Distributors should note that: the price of the Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the proposed offering.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Shares.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.







1 Please also see the press release in relation to the launch of the Offering, dated 17 June 2020; the press release in relation to the covering of the base offering throughout the price range, dated 18 June 2020; and the press release in relation to the covering of the maximum size of the offering at the midpoint of the price range, dated 19 June 2020.
First-time buyers' dreams of home ownership are hanging by a thread after a clampdown by banks and building societies.

A rapidly rising number of lenders have ended mortgage offers for borrowers with 5 per cent and 10 per cent deposits.

The move has left many young buyers 'effectively barred' from the housing market, with some experts predicting a 25 per cent fall in first-time buyer sales because of the pandemic.

Earlier this week, we revealed how a mortgage crunch had seen the number of small deposit mortgages on offer dive by more than they did in the first year of the financial crisis.

'Effectively barred': Many first-time buyers had been hoping to snap up a bargain now sales can go ahead again, but without a large deposit they may struggle to get a mortgage

The bad news for first-time buyers comes as many had hoped to snap up a bargain now lockdown is easing and sales can go ahead again.

Mortgage broker Trussle reported a 212 per cent increase in first-time buyer enquiries between April and May.

But concerns over falling property prices have left banks reluctant to lend to borrowers with less than a 15 per cent deposit, for fear they could end up in negative equity, where the owner owes more money than their house is worth.

Some xconomists are predicting a 4 per cent fall in house prices this year, the largest decline in more than a decade. Estate agent Savills says prices will fall 7.5 per cent.

The upshot is that, in many cases, buyers who had a mortgage application accepted before lockdown have since had their offer withdrawn.

They face having to abandon their purchase unless they can quickly scrape together thousands of pounds more for a deposit.

There is just one two-year mortgage deal available to those with a 5 per cent deposit, compared with 145 this time last year, according to data firm Moneyfacts.

The number of loans for those with a 10 per cent deposit has also plummeted in the past 12 months, from 287 to 16.

Hansen Lu, from Capital Economics, says: 'Compared with before the virus hit, we expect to see fewer first-time buyers in both 2020 and 2021.'

The number of loans for those with a 10 per cent deposit has also plummeted in the past 12 months, from 287 to 16

Last week, Britain's biggest building society became the latest lender to scrap mortgages for borrowers who do not have at least a 15 per cent deposit.

Before the pandemic, Nationwide offered mortgages to homebuyers with just a 5 per cent deposit.

With the average house costing 231,855, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), borrowers who had banked on getting a mortgage with a 10 per cent deposit would have put aside 23,185.

For a 15 per cent deposit they will now need to save an additional 11,600.

HSBC, one of the few lenders still offering a 90 per cent mortgage, is facing such high demand that it has been forced to restrict how much it can lend each day.

On some days it has stopped accepting applications just 30 minutes after opening for business at 8am, according to Andrew Montlake of broker Coreco.

Property expert Henry Pryor warns that the number of first-time buyers could fall by up to 25 per cent because of the pandemic.

He says: 'Last year, more than 350,000 first-time buyers took the plunge, but 2020 and 2021 are looking very different.

'Many can only afford the mortgages they now need because they have enjoyed bonuses every year  something many lenders are no longer going to take into account. These measures, and the impact on salaries of Covid-19, are going to make the first-time buyer an endangered species.'

Kelly Niven, 30, spent six years saving to buy her first property.

She had an offer accepted on an 88,000 three-bedroom, mid-terrace home in Washington, Tyne and Wear, this month and had secured a mortgage in principle with Lloyds six weeks ago. But when Kelly contacted the bank on June 8, Lloyds said it had pulled the mortgage.

Finding another 4,400 so I can put down a 15 per cent deposit is simply not feasible Kelly Niven

She contacted three mortgage brokers who suggested a range of 90 per cent deals, but all were withdrawn before she could apply.

Her last hope is Nationwide, as she submitted an application just hours before the lender pulled its 90 per cent mortgages.

Kelly, who works in construction, says: 'Finding another 4,400 so I can put down a 15 per cent deposit is simply not feasible.

'My parents died when I was 12 and I have no one to ask for help. I have spent all my adult life being sensible with money just so I could buy a house. Now I might lose out.'

Marketing manager Jason Crowe and his girlfriend Brogan Harman, 23, a teacher, had an offer accepted on their first home the week before lockdown.

They planned to put down a 5 per cent deposit on the 27,000 three-bed house in County Durham so they could keep some money back for renovations.

They were granted a mortgage in principle from NatWest in March  but when the housing market reopened in May, their mortgage adviser told them banks were no longer offering 95 per cent mortgages.

Jason, 32, says: 'Luckily, we are both still working and can find the extra money.'

Rob Houghton, of comparison website reallymoving.com, says: 'This change will have a knock-on effect, as first-time buyers are the key that unlocks movement farther up the chain.

'When first-time buyer numbers fall, second-steppers are unable to move up the ladder and so on.

'Yet it's no surprise that lenders are cautious, as it is still unclear to what extent the furlough scheme and mortgage holidays are propping up the market.

'Although house prices have yet to fall considerably and demand still appears to be strong, the wider economic outlook is far from bright.'
Unnikrishnan S By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to woo office-goers away from using their personal vehicles while commuting to work, KSRTC has begun preparations for running a point-to-point service from select depots. The service will help passengers to park their vehicles at a KSRTC depot, board the bus, take the pre-booked seat and pickup and drop off near the office. The schedule will be arranged to help passengers reach office in the morning on time and return after the office hours. KSRTC has started assessment of the passenger demand for the service.

We have started spreading the message. At present we will run the service on a pilot basis from Nedumangad and Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram, said N K Jacob Sam Lopez, district transport officer. The depots in Nedumangad and Neyyattinkara have opened a registration facility on Monday and we are getting steady enquiries from regular passengers.

We have already received enough registrations for three buses, said T Sajeev, assistant transport officer. According to him, employees of state Secretariat, Vikas Bhavan and assembly form bulk of those who have registered for the service. Suresh Kumar K K, head of KSRTC Nedumangad unit, also said there have been numerous enquiries after the news had spread on social media.

The fare for a days trip from Nedumangad to Thiruvananthapuram and back is likely to be fixed at `100. But the officials said no decision has been taken on the schedules to be operated or the fares so far. There will be no stops between the boarding and destination points. The service will not only offer safe travel but will also be cheaper when compared to using own vehicle, said a KSRTC official. All 50 seats in the bus will be available for booking, but no standing passengers will be allowed.

KSRTC is likely to start the service as it is a pet project of Biju Prabhakar, the new managing director. He had said that one of his aims is to make KSRTC service attractive for people who otherwise use two-wheelers. A study said the KSRTC had lost more than one-and-a-half lakh passengers to private vehicles over the years. Around 32 lakh passengers use the KSRTC service daily.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 16:14:17|Editor: huaxia

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by Marcus Reubenstein, Yang Jingzhong

SYDNEY, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Australia's southern rock lobster is the most prized lobsters and nowhere is it valued more than in China. "There is a certain understanding and appreciation of seafood by Chinese consumers," said Andrew Ferguson, whose family has been fishing for lobsters in South Australia for three generations.

"You can go to markets like Europe where there are different varieties of lobster but people cannot really tell the difference between them. The Chinese can definitely taste the difference and the southern rock lobster is at the top," said ferguson whose business is ideally suited to the Chinese market.

"On very important occasions southern rock lobster is the one they want to serve on the plate," he told Xinhua. Ferguson's family business, which handles between 25 percent to 30 percent of South Australia's lobster catch, knows exactly how to get them to the Chinese consumers. However, in a coronavirus-ravaged world that is not going to be easy.

LONG ROAD TO SUCCESS

Half a century ago, Ferguson's father, who was a farmer, left the land and moved to Kingston, 300 km from Adelaide along the southern Australian coastline.

He bought a fishing boat and began catching lobsters in 1969. Andrew worked with his father until 1980 before purchasing his own boat and with his first exports of frozen lobster medallions sold into the European market.

"From 1988 to 1989 the Southern Rock Lobster industry shifted from the American frozen tail market to the Chinese live market. A couple of entrepreneurial lobster fishermen started exporting live lobsters to China in their own tanks and it started from there," said Ferguson. "The U.S. market couldn't keep pace with the Chinese market and almost overnight it trended into the Chinese market."

Over the past two decades the Ferguson Group has diversified and, in addition to lobsters, now sells fish, prawns, tuna, crabs and scallops. The business has been recognized though numerous awards including being named as South Australia's best export agribusiness.

While a number of large companies and investors have bought into the lobster fishing industry, around 70 percent of South Australian operators remain family businesses.

"Family business helps our business model," said Ferguson. "We've got a lot of trust with our suppliers. We run our own fishing boats but we also have relationships with other fishermen and being family-owned really helps us in maintaining our business relationships."

That business culture built on long-term relationships has proved an enormous help in opening up the Chinese market.

The key to the Chinese market, he thought, is quite obvious. "It's travelling, which means going to China ... It's about building and forging relationships. I first went there 20 years ago, it's about getting to know people and going back to see them again and again and again. It really is a simple process of relationship building."

RELATIONSHIP THAT MAKES SENSE

An enormous frustration for family-owned agribusiness of Ferguson and other primary producers is the constant calls from a small group of outspoken media and political commentators that Australia should export to countries other than China.

Relationships have been built up over many years, in the case of Ferguson two decades, and it is impossible to abandon long-term overseas buyers and expect to walk into another market straight away.

Another key factor is that Chinese buyers offer the best price for Australian lobsters. Chinese buyers will pay up to 50 percent more for southern rock lobsters than Australian consumers.

"That's exactly the issue," said Ferguson. "And that's why we are better off working with China because they respect the product. They want it and our relationships with China are very important. We want to keep the doors as wide open as we possibly can because it is a big market and certainly the best price we can achieve is in China."

His Ferguson Group is not entirely reliant on China, but it is simply the best market. "We can sell to Japan, but there's less demand and they want smaller lobsters at a lower price point," he said.

"We've sold to the Middle East and we've sold to France, but it all falls away once the price of the lobster reaches the 50-Australian-dollar mark. The price point in China is typically 10 to 20 dollars a kilogram better than we can achieve in other markets. It's all about quality, they are willing to pay for the quality."

According to Commonwealth research agency ABARES, the total value of Australia's lobster exports to China is 660 million Australian dollars (about 458 million U.S. dollars). That money mostly flows back to small operators.

The Ferguson Group processes seafood produce for more than 350 small family-owned businesses. Falling demand at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak and now lack of airfreight capacity to China has seen prices paid to fishermen drop by more than 50 percent, while their fixed costs remain high.

The median price for second-hand lobster boats in South Australia is between 450,000 and 500,000 Australian dollars (312,250-346,950 U.S. dollars) and those younger families who have borrowed money to buy their boats simply cannot afford to see prices fall.

One small operator, who did not want to be identified, told Xinhua: "Reviving access to the China market is the only way for me to stay in business."

CURRENT CHALLENGES

Live whole lobsters command the best price for exported product and the only way to get live lobsters to China from Australia's three main lobster producing states, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, is by air.

Around 50 percent of airfreight from Australia to China was carried in commercial passenger flights before the coronavirus hit. The international travel ban has all but wiped out those flights.

"A lot of our product gets trucked to Melbourne and flown mainly to Shanghai with direct flights. Because it is such a perishable product, we need direct flights, we need lobsters to arrive in China at the right time of the day so it's not sitting around," said Ferguson.

Though major airlines have cargo divisions few of them have dedicated cargo aircraft. Apart from 1.5 million visitors, the Chinese tourist boom had also delivered enormous capacity for air cargo.

"Pre-coronavirus we had 16 flights a week out of Melbourne, now we're back to three. We're coping at the moment because we're on the shoulder of the fishing season, with the start of the lobster season coming we are going to have trouble getting product out in a timely fashion," he said.

In April the Australian government came to the rescue, with a 110-million-Australian-dollar (76.3-million-U.S.-dollar) International Freight Assistance Mechanism which subsidies air cargo flights from Australia to 17 different destinations. However, there are no direct flights to the Chinese mainland and only one flight from Adelaide, which goes to Hong Kong.

"The problem we have is getting government to understand logistics and that's difficult. We have alternative flights through Singapore Airlines and Cathy Pacific but they don't always link up to our China destinations," Ferguson pointed out.

Up until now there has never been a coordinated export approach across all industries air-freighting fresh produce exports.

"You've got cherry growers, the West Australian lobster industry want to get product into southern China, and we want to get into northern China. There's a wide range of produce exporters but we've never been synced up in the way we air-freight to China," he added.

"We didn't realize how fortunate we were pre-COVID-19 and this just makes it all stand out. It's going to be a difficult process to try and fix and, until there's a vaccine, this problem's going to be around for quite a while."
If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online:

The activity at the volcano continues at moderately high levels during the past week.

Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 29-31 May and 1 June that sent ash plumes up to 4.5 km (14,800 ft) a.s.l. Ash plumes drifted E and S. A thermal anomaly over the volcano was identified in satellite images during 30 May and 1-2 June. ...

Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 8-11 June that sent ash plumes up to 2.6 km (8,500 ft) a.s.l. Ash plumes drifted E and N, and as far as 85 km N and NW on 11 June. A thermal anomaly over the volcano was identified in satellite images on 11 June. ...

The activity at the volcano has been increasing during the past few weeks. After 10 days without eruption Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo confirmed and recorded moderate explosion that generated an ash plume which reachedaltitude and drifted SW. ...

KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Ebeko was identified in satellite images on 14, 16, and 18 June. Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions on 17 June that sent ash plumes up to 2 km (6,600 ft) a.s.l. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale). ...

Much current eruption news is provided by the 9 Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC) distributed around the globe. The VAACs provide a vital service for aviation safety.

A selection of photos of different features: lava flows, lava fountains, lava lakes, fumaroles and more.

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Deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein directed his best-known accuser to have sex with former Israeli PM Ehud Barak, according to a sealed deposition  one of many papers lawyer Alan Dershowitz is trying to use to clear his own name.

Lawyers for Dershowitz, who was a friend of Epstein as well as a member of his legal defense team, released the claim about Barak in a Tuesday court filing, attempting to cast doubt on allegations made by accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of the first Epstein victims to go public with her story.

NEW: Lawyer Alan Dershowitz, in his most recent court filing, reveals that former Israeli PM Ehud Barak is among a number of important men who have been accused by Giuffre as being part of Jeffrey Epstein's sex scheme. It's the first time Barak, an Epstein friend, has been named. pic.twitter.com/J2AeNJar8J  julie k. brown (@jkbjournalist) June 23, 2020

Pointing to the denials and disclaimers issued by the powerful men Giuffre said shed had sex with, they suggested her word had been thoroughly discredited by her proven lies. If their hope was to smear Giuffre, however, it didnt quite go as planned, instead renewing media interest in the suspects named by the former Epstein sex slave.

Dershowitzs legal team obtained the sealed deposition from a 2016 defamation suit Giuffre filed against Epsteins alleged madam, Ghislaine Maxwell, his lawyer admitted in court on Tuesday. The document names not only Barak, but also Victorias Secret CEO Les Wexner, along with several others she had already accused publicly.

Howard Cooper, a lawyer for the embattled Harvard professor, urged a judge to turn over even more sealed documents from the Maxwell suit, insisting they were relevant to Dershowitzs own defamation case against Giuffre, who has long claimed she was forced to have sex with Dershowitz as well (a claim he fervently denies). However, Giuffres lawyers argued against the move, concerned that her adversarys legal team would take the information out of context and twist it for their purposes.

Lawyers for Maxwell actually agreed with Giuffre, reasoning there was little overlap between the two defamation cases (and presumably not wanting further details of Maxwells alleged crimes to emerge). Lawyers for a mysterious John Doe also concurred, citing the need to protect the privacy of others whose names have not yet been made public.

Barak dismissed the allegations against him in a statement to Israeli media on Wednesday, claiming his name was inserted into the article in order to push aside the allegations against Dershowitz and claiming he did not meet Epstein in 2002. Doe entered the Maxwell defamation case last year, filing a friend-of-the-court brief in an effort to keep Giuffres depositions private; he claims to be someone who has not yet been named publicly, and wants to stay that way, insisting for good measure that he has not had sex with Giuffre.

This is at odds with his previous statement that he was introduced to the disgraced financier that year. Former Israeli spy Ari Ben-Menashe has also claimed Epstein and Barak met even before 2002.

The former Israeli PM was a major beneficiary of Epsteins largesse, receiving millions of dollars in investments and donations from both the Wexner Foundation  which Epstein, as Wexners asset manager, ran  and from Epstein directly, as recently as 2015. The deceased predator was also a big investor in Carbyne911, a surveillance-tech startup Barak founded that same year.

While Barak has been photographed entering and exiting Epsteins Manhattan residence, in one case with a bevy of attractive young women, and residents of another Epstein building claim he was a frequent presence there, the Israeli has insisted his dealings with the wealthy sex offender were entirely businesslike, claiming that even when he visited Epsteins infamous tropical island  which the media have dubbed Orgy Island  he never went to his parties or met any girls  photographic evidence aside.

However, his associations with the notorious asset manager likely cost him a political comeback. Current Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu went to great lengths to hype the Barak-Epstein link when the case against the convicted sex offender re-emerged last year, and Baraks electoral challenge to the longest-serving PM in Israeli history faded away before election day.

Giuffre has accused numerous political figures of being involved in Epsteins underage sex ring, prominent among them Britains Prince Andrew, who landed in hot water earlier this month as US authorities slammed his lack of cooperation in the ongoing investigation. While Giuffre was photographed with the prince, he claimed in a widely-mocked interview he had never met her, insisting he was at a pizza restaurant with his daughters on the night of their alleged sexual encounter.

Other famous names that have been implicated include former US president Bill Clinton (who was documented flying on Epsteins plane over two dozen times), billionaire investor Glenn Dubin, former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, and model scout Jean-Luc Brunel.
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 Government's issuance last year of a Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) which set out pay rates, pension and sick-pay entitlements in the electrical industry.

The contractors, members of the 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 taken against the Labour Court, the minister for business enterprise and innovation, the State and the attorney general. The claims were denied.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Garrett Simons found the minister had acted outside her powers in purporting to make the SEO

It was a condition precedent to the minister's jurisdiction to make an SEO that she 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 her - 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.

That report formed the cornerstone of the minister's subsequent assessment of whether the Labour Court had complied with the provisions the 2015 Act (Chapter 3), the judge said.

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.

Therefore, the parent legislation was invalid by reference to Article 15.2.1 of the Constitution (power of Oireachtas to make laws), he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Wednesday that it would forward the documents sought by the Office of the Ombudsman for its ongoing investigation on the alleged irregularities in the countrys response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Kami dito sa DBM ay nakahanda," Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said in a briefing. "Bukas nga, sa pagkakaalam ko, isusumite na namin ang mga dokumentong hinihingi sa amin ng Office of the Ombudsman."

[Translation: Here in DBM, we are ready. Tomorrow, as far as I know, we will submit the documents requested from us by the Office of the Ombudsman.]

The anti-graft body issued subpoenas to the Department of Health and the DBM to trace the funds used in COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires earlier told CNN Philippines The Source that his office is focused on the special allotment release orders for cash benefits extended to the families of frontliners who got infected with the virus and died in the line of duty.

Avisado said that as of June 22, 355.6 billion has been released to fund COVID-19 response programs. Of the amount, 45.7 billion went to the Department of Health.
NABEREZHNYE CHELNY, Russia -- An activist in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan claims he has been dismissed as head of a branch of the local government-funded World Tatar Congress in the republic's second-largest city, Naberezhnye Chelny, after publicly challenging the official municipal statistics on the coronavirus.

The Tatar Congress announced on June 23 that Galimzhan Zaripov had been relieved of his duties at his own request and that his deputy, Danis Shakirov, will take over the organization's branch.

Zaripov, however, told RFE/RL that he had never asked the congress to relieve him of his duties, adding that he and his wife were in 14-day quarantine on suspicion of having the coronavirus and therefore Shakirov was temporarily acting in his stead.

Last week, Zaripov, a former chief of the AIDS prevention center in Naberezhnye Chelny, made headlines after he appealed to Tatarstan's president, Rustam Minnikhanov, to intervene into what he called the "dramatic situation" in the city with regard to the outbreak.

After his open letter was made public by RFE/RL and picked up by other media outlets, authorities in Naberezhnye Chelny, who had previously denied there was an outbreak in the community, began implementing concrete measures to slow its spread.

Zaripov said that the decision of the Executive Committee of the World Tatar Congress' branch in Naberezhnye Chelny to dismiss him is illegal because only six of 13 members of the committee took part in an online vote on June 23, which invalidates the result.

"Three members of the committee refused to vote in my absence," Zaripov said.

Committee member Talgat Akhmadishin confirmed to RFE/RL that he and two other members refused to vote, demanding that Shakirov show them Zaripov's written request to be relieved of his duties, which did not happen.

"We said then that people will clearly see Zaripov's removal from the post as a result of his open appeal about the coronavirus," Akhmadishin said.

RFE/RL was unable to reach Shakirov by phone for comment.

The World Tatar Congress is a government-funded agency that follows directives from local authorities that are in line with federal government decisions.
Guidance on how pubs, restaurants and hotels can safely reopen on July 3 was welcomed by the hospitality sector after it was released last night.

Industry leaders had called on the Executive to release the guidelines as soon as possible, as many business owners were in the dark as to how to set up their premises with social distancing rules in place.

The guidance - 'Working Safely During Covid-19 in the Visitor Economy Sector' - is aimed at business owners, operators and workers in hotels and other tourist accommodation, indoor and outdoor attractions, and hospitality businesses including restaurants, cafes and pubs.

It was previously announced by the Executive that caravan parks, camping sites and self-catering accommodation can reopen this Friday, while hotels could reopen on July 3.

Restaurants, cafes and pubs could also reopen on this date for the provision of food.

Read More

Within the document it recommends that employers provide bike racks for workers to encourage other means of transport.

It also states that radios or telephones should be used to limit employees moving around a building and people should avoid working face-to-face to limit spreading Covid-19.

Hospitality Ulster, along with UK Hospitality and the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF), provided input for the document.

Chief executive of Hospitality Ulster Colin Neill praised Economy Minister Diane Dodds, saying she had been a "champion" for the industry and its survival.

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"The publication of the guidance is good news in the sense that it allows those parts of our industry that can reopen on July 3 to make preparations for reopening," he said.

"The entire industry has been dealt the biggest body blow for a generation and for many business owners it has swept the feet from under them. We are now hopefully emerging from that extremely difficult period.

"We fear that many have not been able to survive the financial impact of the pandemic, and that others are not going to be commercially viable, but we need to get at it and open and get customers back.

"Our sector is far too important to the local economy and the social fabric of Northern Ireland and we will need our politicians to do all they can to maintain support."

Mr Neill added the reopening of the hospitality sector is only the beginning of a precarious situation where redundancies and closures will be unavoidable.

NIHF chief executive Janice Gault said that the guidelines will give added reassurance to staff, customers and visitors ahead of next week's reopening.

"The NIHF acknowledges and appreciates the considerable support Economy Minister Diane Dodds and her Executive colleagues have given to the sector," said Ms Gault.

"The guidelines are augmented by an industry framework, which will ensure that the sector can open in a safe and secure manner.

"Hoteliers are looking forward to playing a pivotal role in restoring tourism and contributing to the local economy in a significant way.

"It is imperative that we open in an orderly manner and that we put the health and wellbeing of staff to the fore.

"The size and diversity of the hospitality sector means that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to reopening. Across our industry there are many sub-sectors and widely different businesses models."

In partnership with other tourist boards across the UK, a new industry standard and consumer mark is being developed to reassure customers that businesses have adopted the guidelines.

Mrs Dodds commented that while the guidelines will help the retail sector, she reminded everyone that social distancing and good hygiene is vital to stop the spread of the virus.

"The reopening of our tourism and hospitality sectors is essential to the rebuilding of our economy," she said.

"The return of tourists and customers to our hotels, caravan parks, restaurants, cafes and pubs is undoubtedly a boost for the industry as a whole.

"However, the application of social distancing and hygiene practices is vital. We must ensure the transmission of the virus is minimised and we need to reassure customers, employees and visitors that establishments are as Covid-19-safe as possible.

"That is why the publication of this guidance today is so important. It is the responsibility of businesses to read it and apply it.

"It is also the responsibility on all of us as visitors and customers to play our part in tackling the pandemic and to behave responsibly."

Mrs Dodds added that customers will have the extra reassurance of an industry standard.
New York: Three Indian-origin family members, including an 8-year-old girl, have been found dead in the backyard pool of their recently purchased home in New Jersey, police said.

Bharat Patel, 62, his 33-year old daughter-in-law Nisha Patel and her 8-year-old daughter, drowned accidentally in the above-ground pool in East Brunswick on Monday, police was quoted as saying by the NJ.com.

Authorities had been investigating if Bharat, Nisha and her daughter had been electrocuted in the pool, but ruled that out on Tuesday afternoon, the New York Post reported.

Law-enforcement sources said the pool varied in depth, with a deep end or a section in the middle that was several feet, the report said.

Investigators have not determined how all three family members drowned but were seeking to determine if they were not strong swimmers and panicked when reaching deeper water, it said.

The three lived in the house on Clearview Road, which the family bought in April for USD 451,000, according to public records.

Neighbours recalled hearing screaming from the backyard on Monday.

"We believe the mother was screaming from inside the pool (area) for help," police spokesman Frank Sutter said at a press conference.

Police attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) but pronounced the three victims dead at the scene, authorities said.

Mayor Brad Cohen told NJ.com that the entire East Brunswick community is shocked and saddened.

"Our condolences go out to the family and may they find strength from the community that shares in their grief," he said.

All the family members who came on Tuesday, however, declined to comment.
Natl security law won't affect judges' appointments in HK: Carrie Lam

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/23 16:08:48

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam reiterated that the national security law for Hong Kong will not affect the region's judicial independence, clarifying that the current appointment procedure for judges will not change for national security cases.

Lam made the remarks at a press conference on Tuesday, adding that a judges list will be provided for national security cases after the law is implemented. Judicial institutes will be responsible for arranging the judges when cases arise.

The Basic Law has clarified that the chief executive will appoint judges based on candidates recommended by judicial institutes. Judges for national security cases will also be appointed through this procedure, Lam noted.

Judges will be appointed according to their professional capabilities, Lam said, noting she is highly confident in the judicial system and every judge in Hong Kong.

Lam said that she noted that details of the draft of the national security law for Hong Kong released previously did not touch upon the nationality of judges, which she believed showed the central government's high respect and full confidence in Hong Kong's judicial system.

China's top legislature has reviewed the draft law on safeguarding national security for Hong Kong, the Xinhua News Agency reported Saturday.

Hours after the draft's details were revealed, the top legislature announced that they will convene its 20th session from June 28 to 30 in Beijing.

Observers said that top lawmakers are expected to vote on the law during the committee's upcoming session before July 1.

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Palantir office known as the "Jewel Box" in Palo Alto, California.

Peter Thiel's Palantir has appointed Wall Street Journal reporter Alexandra Wolfe Schiff as its first female board member ahead of an anticipated stock market listing.

Wolfe Schiff, who has been with the Wall Street Journal since 2013, announced the move on Twitter after it was first reported by Bloomberg.

"Big news: After over seven wonderful years at the Wall Street Journal, I've resigned to join the board of Palantir," she said late Tuesday.

Palantir's home state of California requires public firms to have at least one woman on their board and financial heavyweights such as Goldman Sachs have said they won't help companies go public if they don't have diverse boards.

While some have congratulated Wolfe Schiff on the appointment, others have questioned whether it is ethical for a journalist to join the board of a company like Palantir, which provides software to spy agencies and governments for surveillance purposes.

"Enjoy joining the wrong side of history," said former Googler Alex Hidalgo in response to Wolfe Schiff's tweet.

Palantir has also appointed Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff and venture capitalist Alexander Moore (an early Palantir employee) to its board, according to Bloomberg. Palantir did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

The reported new appointments take Palantir's board up to seven directors. The chair of the board is co-founder Peter Thiel, the billionaire Trump donor who also co-founded PayPal and profited from an early investment in Facebook.

Palantir expects revenues to top $1 billion this year, which would represent 35% growth from 2019.

The 16-year-old company has reportedly raised a further $500 million from Japan's Sompo that brings total investment in the firm up to at least $2.5 billion, according to start-up tracker Crunchbase.

Last month, Palantir CEO Alex Karp told Axios the company would likely go public within the year.

Palantir is planning to file paperwork with U.S. regulators as early as this month and it could go public within the next few months, according to Bloomberg.
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.
Jacksonville police have arrested a Roodhouse man on a criminal sexual assault charge.

Christopher D. Hunnicutt, 20, of 321 Rawlings St., Roodhouse, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 7:58 p.m. Monday.

Authorities said the arrest stems from an ongoing investigation of an incident that happened around May 22.

Hunnicutt was arrested in Greene County in June 2019 on charges of criminal sexual abuse of a minor, aggravated criminal sexual assault of a minor and sexual grooming of a minor. Charging documents report that Hunnicutt was accused of sexually abusing a minor in June 2018 and the grooming charge stems from incidents that took place in January and February 2019.

He pleaded guilty in October to a charge of criminal sexual abuse and a Sept. 15 review has been set for the other charges.

Morgan County States Attorney Gray Noll said his office has received police reports about Hunnicutt and is reviewing them.

Police have released few details about the incident.
Venomous snakes, a python and other animals were seized by police in a number of Sydney homes after raids led to two men being charged for allegedly trafficking exotic and protected animals.

The arrests were part of an investigation into alleged money laundering related to the animal trafficking, involving an alleged criminal syndicate operating across Australia, Canada, Asia and the US.

Police seized a number of exotic animals, including deadly snakes and turtles, from homes in Sydney on Wednesday. Credit:NSW Police

Police executed six search warrants at homes in Petersham, Greystanes, East Hills, Riverstone, Whalan and Albion Park from 6am on Wednesday.

During the searches, the police found two venomous snakes including a death adder and a red-bellied black snake, a python, turtles, magpies and lizards.
As a publicly avowed Marxist organization, Black Lives Matter (BLM) seeks to destroy the nuclear family. Its adherents aim to:

... disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and 'villages' that collectively care for one another. [BLM] also seeks to build 'a queeraffirming network' and says, '[w]hen we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual (unless s/he or they disclose otherwise).'

According to The Epoch Times' adaptation of the Chinese book titled How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling Our World, communism has always been about the destruction of the family.

The family is the building block of human society, allowing people not only to raise children in a stable and nurturing environment, but also to pass the knowledge of one generation to the next. Marriage is a sacred institution arranged by the divine for humanity to form families, preserving traditional heritage and morality. Today, the traditional family is being slowly destroyed. The writings of Karl Marx and other communists describe the family as a form of private ownership to be abolished. In addition to persecuting religion and spiritual faith, communist regimes place love for the Communist Party above love for even one's parents, spouse, or children, encouraging people to struggle against their own kin.

This has been repeatedly confirmed by those who have fled communist countries. At the Victims of Communism-Witness Project, Chinese Anastasia Lin tearfully speaks about how children were used to denounce their parents. Nazis were masters at using children as the agents of destruction for their parents who opposed Hitler. Sadly, however, too many historically illiterate people do not comprehend that history exists to learn from it. Enter the dangerous support by so many of Black Lives Matter.

Since the 1960s, a variety of anti-traditional movements, including modern feminism, sexual liberation, and gay rights, have risen to prominence in the West. The institution of the family has been hit the hardest. Under the banners of equality and emancipation  implicitly and explicitly backed by modern laws, school curricula, academic theory, and economic policies  these movements are twisting the traditional bonds between the sexes, corrupting children, and dragging human behavior to scarcely imaginable lows. This trend surfaced at the beginning of the nineteenth century and is deeply infused with communist ideological factors. Friedrich Engels ultimately hoped for widespread unconstrained sexual intercourse,' which is about dissolving traditional marriage and ultimately eliminating the family institution.

In fact:

Communism excels at continuous mutation and deception, which has led to constant confusion about what exactly people are supporting when they endorse its policies and ideologies. Over time, they come to accept communism's underlying ideas. The tragic situation today  the degradation of the traditional family and people's confusion about the true nature of this trend  is the result of meticulous planning and the gradual implementation of communism over the past two hundred years. Laws passed in the United States and other countries have opened the floodgates to divorce and broken families. In the 1950s, about 11 percent of American children born in a married family saw their parents divorce; by 1970, that number had soared to 50 percent. In 1956, less than 5 percent of newborn infants in the United States were born out of wedlock, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By 2016, the figure was close to 40 percent.

Thus, "[a]ccording to communism ... the family unit is an obstacle to human liberation. Classical communism regards economic factors to be key in determining the formation of familial relationships, and it requires the private family unit to be revolutionized into a form of public ownership."

Marx and Engels came to advocate "the so-called 'community of women' mentioned in The Communist Manifesto. Although their goal of eliminating the family had not changed, they adopted a more covert approach: attacking marriage as an instrument of oppression."

The shape of the typical American family has changed dramatically over the past four decades, in large part due to a precipitous drop in marriage rates. For almost every demographic group, whether broken down by age, education, or race and ethnicity, marriage rates have declined nearly continuously since 1970. The decline has been dramatic. Marriage rates for 20- to 24-year-olds, for instance, fell from 61% to 16%, a decline of almost 75% in four decades. This decline in marriage rates has coincided with steep increases in non-marital birth rates. The non-marital birth rate for African-Americans increased by more than 90%, from 38% to 72%. In 2010, the Hispanic rate was 53%, a 50% increase over 1989 (when data on Hispanic birth rates first began to be collected separately from non-Hispanic whites). The rate for non-Hispanic whites, which stood at 16% in 1989, had increased to 29% by 2010[.]

Most depressing is that "[a]fter many years of interviews and living in poor neighborhoods, sociologist Kathryn Edin and several research partners have assembled an extensive picture of how these young men are viewed by the young women in their neighborhoods. When asked why they don't want to marry the fathers of their children, the mothers indicated that they didn't trust the young men, that the men didn't work steadily or earn enough money, and that they were too often violent."

What does this have to do with BLM?

Consider that over 70% of black children now grow up fatherless. This past Father's Day meant little to them except possibly provoking indifference or hatred, as there is no father figure present in their lives. My own students write of this continually. Two themes repeatedly emerge: (a) women who were raised by their single mothers adamantly assert that they don't need a man; they can get along perfectly well without any men, and, furthermore, they don't trust any (emphasis mine) man; (b) women and men raised without their fathers often feel guilty that they may have been responsible for their fathers abandoning them.

These feelings hardly result in positive self-esteem or future solid relationships. This is certainly a perfect opening for a group like BLM, who can be the stand-in for the missing parental units. Then combine this with the endless indoctrination of left-wing ideology in schools, and it is a witch's brew for all.

Most men of any racial background who father a child are hardly cognizant of the Marxist-leftist-communist attitude about the nuclear family, but their irresponsible actions fall perfectly in line with what Black Lives Matter sanctions. They then become vehicles of their own ruin.

If the leaders of BLM were truly concerned about the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of their beautiful children, they would not be destroying statues, burning stores, and hating whitey.

They would be marching, demanding responsibility and accountability from both black men and women. They would be touting that education, marriage, and then parenthood in that order is the path to success in the world.

That they are not is proof positive that they care not a whit for black children. They should be repeatedly called out for it as Candace Owens does. It would appear that it is indisputable that Black Lives Matter does not care about black youth. Since it is a modern totalitarian revolutionary movement, it is concerned only with the seizure of power. Consequently, the souls who are destroyed are quite expendable.

Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 14:52:34|Editor: huaxia

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Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen speaks during the launch ceremony of a cash relief program in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 24, 2020. Cambodia on Wednesday launched a cash relief program for 562,686 poor and vulnerable families of nearly 2.3 million people during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Li Lay/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Wednesday launched a cash relief program for 562,686 poor and vulnerable families of nearly 2.3 million people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the launching ceremony here, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said through the program, the government will spend around 25 million U.S. dollars per month to support them, starting from this month.

"This program is to facilitate the living conditions of the poor and vulnerable people suffering from the impact of COVID-19," he said. "It's a social assistance during the crisis, not a permanent program."

The government will provide monthly cash payment through the program, which is expected to last for five months, he added.

Hun Sen said cash amount for the poor and vulnerable households is not the same, given the fact that the prices of food are different between urban and rural areas.

Economy and Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth said that under the program, poor and vulnerable families in capital Phnom Penh and provincial towns classified as Levels 1 and 2 will receive a cash handout of 30 U.S. dollars per month.

A Level 1 poor family member in the capital will be further assisted with 13 dollars a month, while each Level 2 poor family member will get 9 dollars, he said.

Level 1 poor family members in provincial towns will receive 10 dollars in assistance a month and those under Level 2 will get 7 dollars.

He added that poor and vulnerable families in the rural areas will receive 20 dollars per month, with each family member in Level 1 further receiving 6 dollars and in Level 2 further getting 4 dollars.

Cambodia has so far recorded a total of 130 confirmed COVID-19 cases, mostly imported, and no death has been reported, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday, adding only two patients remain hospitalized. Enditem
Commercial flights from Bournemouth returned yesterday, as Ryanair passengers took off for Malaga for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, with more routes now available to book.





Above: Steve Gill, Managing Director of Bournemouth Airport.

Courtesy RCA



Throughout July 2020, additional flights will recommence from Bournemouth Airport to Alicante, Dublin, Faro, Girona, Krakow, Malta, Murcia, Palma, Paphos, Prague and Tenerife with Ryanair, with the airport yet to confirm start dates for other airlines.



TUI will recommence routes to Antalya, Corfu, Dalaman, Lanzarote, Palma and Tenerife from 1 August 2020.



Bournemouth Airport has remained open for medical and military flights and General Aviation throughout the coronavirus crisis and has welcomed the return of commercial flying with proactive measures in place to ensure the safety and well-being of staff and passengers.



Some of the measures which are currently in place at the airport include:

Enhanced cleaning in the terminal and throughout the site

Installation of additional hand sanitiser units

Installation of floor markings and signage (where feasible) so passengers can maintain a safe social distance

Protective desk screens and reduced capacity in public areas

Access and egress restrictions (one-way system)

Displaying the latest public health information throughout the airport, including regular announcements

Steve Gill, Managing Director of Bournemouth Airport said: The safety and well-being of our staff and passengers is our number one priority. We are continuing to rigorously implement all Government guidance and remain in regular contact with all relevant authorities. In the middle of a difficult period for aviation and UK business as a whole, a return to commercial flying marks the first signs of recovery and gives a much-needed boost to regional and international air connectivity.

Bournemouth Airport is part of Regional & City Airports (RCA), which also owns Coventry Airport, Exeter Airport and Norwich Airport and operates Blackpool Airport and Solent Airport Daedalus on behalf of their owners. RCA also operates XLR Executive Jet Centres (XLR), which has centres at Birmingham, Exeter and Liverpool airports.
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The first pictures emerged today of the new red, white and blue 900,000 colour scheme for Boris Johnson's RAF Voyager plane - which looks like a throwback to British Airways in its 1970s heyday.

The jet's tail fin could be seen inside a hangar at an airfield in Cambridgeshire, where it is getting a new Brexit paint job to help the PM fly the flag for the UK when he travels to international summits.

Ministers hope the new design - which is much more visible than the usual military grey - will help boost 'Brand Britain' abroad, although critics have mocked it as an expensive folly that will make Mr Johnson look like Austin Powers on tour.

The new appearance bears a striking resemblance to the retro livery that adorned the British Airways fleet from 1974 to 1980, known as the Negus design.

The jet's tail fin could be seen inside a hangar at an airfield in Cambridgeshire, where it is getting a new Brexit paint job to help the PM fly the flag for the UK when he travels to international summits

The first glimpse at what the patriotic paint job could look like has been mocked up by aviation enthusiast and photographer Andrew Evans

The new appearance bears a striking resemblance to the retro livery that adorned the British Airways fleet from 1974 to 1980, which was known as the Negus design

Britain does not have a prime ministerial plane used solely by Downing Street, unlike many other countries such as America's presidential jet, Air Force One.

Labour said it showed the government had the wrong 'priorities' when people across the country were worried about jobs and the education of their children.

But Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the government was willing to spend money to 'promote' the UK abroad. 'The work on voyager is part of that promotion,' he told the daily coronavirus briefing.

Downing Street also defended the 900,000 price tag. 'This will mean that the plane can better represent the UK around the world with national branding, similar to many other leaders' planes, while also retaining its military air-to-air refuelling capability,' a spokesman said.

On the cost, the spokesman said: 'That incorporates the cost of creating a design that will promote the UK around the world without compromising the plane's vital military role.

'At every stage we have worked to ensure value for money for the UK taxpayer and all of the work has been undertaken in the UK, directly benefiting British suppliers.

The Voyager aircraft used by the PM (pictured at PMQs today) on foreign trips is to get 'national branding', rather than the standard grey that makes it less visible in the sky

Red, white and blue will be painted on the rear of its fuselage and up the fin. It is expected to be unveiled in the coming days.

The interior of the Voyager had a 10million makeover in 2016, when David Cameron was prime minister. Mr Johnson and other ministers, as well as members of the Royal Family, will be allowed to use the plane, which will also continue to be used as a refuelling aircraft.

The Negus livery first adorned the British Airways fleet from 1974 to 1980, directly after the merger of BOAC and BEA, which led to the formation of the airline customers know today.

When it initially flew, the Negus livery was the first time an aircraft had carried 'British Airways' since 1939, back when the original British Airways Limited merged with Imperial Airways to form BOAC.

In the design, the Union Jack is not present on the body of the plane and is instead adorned on the tailfin of the aircraft.

The livery was designed by creative agency Negus & Negus, giving it its name. As BEA and BOAC merged to become British Airways in 1974, elements of both of their liveries were incorporated together to create the Negus.

Now, to mark BA's centenary, a Boeing 747 will be repainted in the Negus design.

The 747-400, registration G-CIVB, entered the IAC paint bay at Dublin Airport last Saturday where it is being repainted with the first version of the Negus livery.

The repainted 747 will return to Heathrow and enter service later this month flying to long-haul destinations served by the Boeing 747, with the design remaining on the aircraft until it retires in 2022.

The Negus is the fourth and final heritage design to be painted on a British Airways aircraft.

Alex Cruz, British Airways' Chairman and CEO, said: 'Rumours have been circulating for quite some time about this final livery, so it's exciting to confirm it is the Negus design. It's particularly significant for us because it's the first design worn by the British Airways that we all know today, with the distinctive lower case 'a' and the Union Flag on the tailfin.'

Several tiers of scaffolding was seen set up around the plane at a hangar in Cambridgeshire today while the works took place

A file photo of the RAF Voyager in its usual military grey, which makes it less visible in the sky - unlike the colourful new design

An RAF source said: 'Boris and others will use it to go around the world and wave the British flag.

'It will be diplomatic and it will be appropriate. I imagine it will be in great demand when it gets its new and smart paint job.'

The source played down the prospect of a lurid Austin Powers look for the plane, adding: 'The aircraft will not be a flying Union Jack. It won't be the whole of the airplane, it will be a part of it.'

The source said the plane could be changed back to grey 'very quickly' if deemed necessary in a wartime scenario.

'It will have a lot of functionalities. If we went to war, and all the assets needed to deploy to the Middle East for example, we would change the colour,' they said.

Labour's Louise Haigh said: 'When families across the country are worried about their jobs, health and the education of their children, they will rightly question the Government's priorities when they are spending almost a million pounds redecorating a plane which in all likelihood has been grounded for months because of the coronavirus.'

The expensive paint job was panned by critics, who suggested it would make the PM look like Austin Powers on tour

He said that the leaked diagram, which was being shared among the aviation industry as early as Wednesday night, seemed 'legitimate'

In May 2018 Mr Johnson asked why the Voyager needed to be grey as he said he needed his own plane in order to boost Britain's post-Brexit trade prospects.

Speaking when he was foreign secretary, he said he and other Cabinet ministers needed another aircraft as the Voyager, used by Mr Cameron when he was prime minister, was rarely available.

He said: 'What I will say about the Voyager, I think it's great, but it seems to be very difficult to get hold of... I don't know who uses it, but it never seems to be available.'

Mr Johnson added that it was 'striking' such a plane did not yet exist and suggested that it could be a different colour.

He added: 'And also, why does it have to be grey? The taxpayers won't want us to have some luxurious new plane. But I certainly think it's striking that we don't seem to have access to such a thing at the moment.'

A spokesman for the RAF said: 'An RAF Voyager is currently in Cambridgeshire for pre-planned works.'
The government has finally decided to bring bigger co-operative banks under the supervisory power of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through an ordinance, said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday. This will mean more than 1,500 urban and multi-state cooperative banks will be brought under the RBIs watch, Javadekar said. According to the latest government data, there are about 1,482 urban cooperative banks (UCBs) and 58 multi-state cooperative banks in the country which are now being brought under supervisory powers of the central bank. About 8.6 crore depositors in these banks with deposits of around Rs 4.84 lakh crore will come under the purview of the RBI.

What does it mean?

This is a welcome move from the perspective of safety of depositors. Till now, co-operative banks have suffered from loose regulation as the RBI didnt have complete control over the regulation of these banks, unlike commercial banks. The governments move marks the beginning of an important chapter in the history of the Indian banking sector as larger co-operative banks will now be regulated like commercial banks. With this amendment, the RBI will have more power to audit the books of urban co-operate banks and deal with wrongdoers.

On 20 January, Moneycontrol reported on how dual regulation between the RBI and Registrar of Co-operative Society (RCS) was worsening the mess at Indias opaquely run co-operative banks. The government has finally woken up to the problem and has addressed this issue following the collapse of Maharashtra-based Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank (PMC). Last year, the multi-state urban co-operative bank faced a major crisis following serious financial irregularities and fraud. The RBI, in September, superseded the board of PMC Bank.

Till now, regulation of UCBs was split between the RBI and the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, while that of smaller co-operative banks is divided between National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) and RCS. RCS reports to the central government. With the changes in the Banking Regulation Act, the RBI will finally get more power over UCBs.

The co-operative banking sector has suffered from poor governance and frequent political interventions in their operations, forcing the RBI to announce punitive measures on many of these banks. So far this year, the RBI has put at least 44 co-operative banks across the country under watch citing deterioration in their financials or for flouting prudential norms. These include those cases where the regulator has put fresh restrictions on the business activities and those where the RBI extended the restrictions already imposed on the entities. Two banks  CKP Co-operative Bank in Maharashtra and the Mapusa Urban Co-operative Bank of Goa  were asked to shut shop.

What about rural co-ops?

While bringing the UCBs under the RBI's closer scrutiny is a good move, it is not clear whether the same rules will apply to rural co-operative banks which also suffer from similar issues. In fact, the problem of misgovernance and fraud are more in smaller co-operative banks since these entities are largely run by local politicians. Often, these banks dont follow processes and engage in dubious transactions.

In rural areas, there are three types of cooperative banks--primary credit co-operative banks, district-level cooperative banks and state-level cooperative banks. As on March-end 2017, there were about 33 state co-operative banks with Rs 1.2 lakh crore deposits and 370 district central co-operative banks (Rs 3.3 lakh crore deposits) and 95,595 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (Rs 1.15 lakh crore deposits).

It is critical that these banks too are brought under tight regulations to bring order in the sector.
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BEIJING, June 24 -- For the recent China-India border tensions, India should severely punish those who are accountable for the clash on the evening of June 15, and work with China together to maintain the peace in border region, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), at a regular press conference on June 24.

For the current situation in the border region between China and India, Wu stressed that China has sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region and the Chinese border troops have been patrolling and on duty in this region for many years.

He introduced that since April this year, the Indian border troops have begun to unilaterally built facilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley region, regarding which China has lodged representations and oppositions for many times.

In the early morning of May 6, the Indian border troops trespassed into China's territory, built fortification and barricades and impeded the patrol of Chinese border troops, in an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo of border control and management. The Chinese border troops have been forced to take necessary responding measures and strengthen management and control in these areas.

With China's vigorous push, the two sides agreed to hold bilateral communications through multiple channels. On June 6, the border troops of both countries held the first Corps Commander-level meeting and reached consensus on easing the situation through concrete measures. The Indian side promised that they would not cross the estuary of the Galwan river to patrol and build facilities, and the two sides would discuss and decide phased withdrawal of troops through the meetings between on-scene commanders.

However, on the evening of June 15, India's front-line troops, in violation of the agreement reached at the Corps Commander-level meeting, once again crossed the LAC for deliberate provocation, and even violently attacked the Chinese officers and soldiers who went there for negotiation, thus triggering fierce physical conflicts and causing casualties.

In response to such a deliberate provocation, "Chinese border troops took decisive countermeasures in self-defense, resolutely fought back against the violent acts of the Indian side, and effectively safeguarded China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Wu. "India should bear the full responsibility for the incident that was solely and completely triggered by its breach of consensus and unilateral provocations. The Chinese side demands that India should severely punish those who should be held accountable, strictly discipline its frontline troops so as to ensure that such incidents do not happen again".

After the clash, China and India have stayed in close communications through military and diplomatic channels, Wu said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reached an agreement over a phone conservation to handle the Galwan Valley clash justly and fairly and cool down the situation on the ground. The second Corps Commander-level meeting was held on June 22 where the two sides exchanged views on the management and control of border tensions and the maintenance of peace and stability in the border areas.

Regarding to the future border situation, Wu expressed that China and India are important neighbors to each other. Maintaining a peaceful and tranquil border region is in the common interests of both sides and requires common efforts as well.

China hopes that "India will work with China, follow faithfully the important consensus reached between the two leaders, abide by the agreements reached between the two governments, and properly handle relevant issues through dialogues and negotiations on various levels. The two sides should make great efforts to jointly ease current border tensions and uphold peace and stability in these areas", Wu said.
(Newser)  Jeffrey Epstein accuser Victoria Giuffre named former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak as one of the men the financier forced her to have sex with, a court heard Tuesday. Lawyers for Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, another Epstein associate accused by Giuffre, said she had named Barak and billionaire Les Wexner in sealed depositions, the Miami Herald reports. Dershowitz is suing Giuffre for defamation as his lawyers seek access to confidential documents from a separate defamation suit she filed against Ghislaine Maxwell, who allegedly recruited young girls, including Giuffre, for Epstein. Dershowitz's lawyers said Tuesday they had obtained some of the depositions, including the one that names Barak. Giuffre's lawyers are fighting to keep the depositions confidential, saying Dershowitz could distort the information or use it out of context.

story continues below

The former prime minister said in a statement that his name "was inserted into the article in order to push aside the allegations against Dershowitz" and he "does not comment on imaginary rumors or false affidavits," the Jerusalem Post reports. Barak has ties to Epstein going back at least 15 years, per the Times of Israel, and has admitted visiting the financier's mansions and private Caribbean islandbut says he never attended sex parties there. Epstein, who was charged with sexually abusing numerous girls, was found dead in a New York City prison cell last summer in what the coroner ruled was a suicide. (Giuffre says she was also forced to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was underage. A witness says he saw them "engaged in foreplay" on Epstein's island.)
Sally Obermeder is overjoyed to be wrapping up her final week hosting The Daily Edition with former co-host Tom Williams by her side.

Tom, who hosted The Daily Edition from 2013 to 2018, officially returned to the show on Wednesday to replace Ryan Phelan who was sacked on Monday after being charged over domestic violence allegations.

Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Sally put on a chipper disposition as she re-introduced Tom to fans via Instagram, sharing a photo of the pair beaming on-set.

'Look whos back!' Sally Obermeder (left) welcomed her former co-host Tom Williams (right) back to The Daily Edition with a cheerful Instagram post on Wednesday - after Ryan Phelan was sacked amid domestic violence charges

'Look whos back ??!! Yep. Its @tomwilliams70 finishing the week and the @dailyeditionon7 era with me, just like we started 7 years ago,' she rejoiced in the caption.

Sally also shared a tribute to Tom via Instagram Stories, uploading a video of herself spending quality time with him behind-the-scenes.

Walking through the halls of Channel Seven studios, Sally told the camera: 'All right, I've got some good news. Guess who's here today? Guess who is coming to play on The Daily Edition with me. Who is it? Who is my mystery person?'

'Back for good times!' Sally (right) also shared a tribute to Tom (left) via Instagram Stories, uploading a video of herself spending quality time with him behind-the-scenes

She finally reached Tom, who was sitting in a makeup chair preparing for his big comeback.

'Back for good times!' cheered Tom, beaming at the camera.

'Tommy! My mate Tommy's back. So good!' Sally gushed, as Tom added: 'It's going to be fun, Sal!'

Just like old times! Sally (front) beamed triumphantly as she shared footage of herself and Tom (back) preparing to host another episode of The Daily Edition

Seven confirmed the axing of The Daily Edition last week, with its final episode to air this Friday.

Tom will front the program alongside Sally for the show's final two episodes.

TV Blackbox reported on Tuesday that Tom would rejoin host Sally in light of serious allegations made against Phelan by his girlfriend, 44-year-old ballet instructor Chelsea Franklin.

Sacked: TV Blackbox reported on Tuesday that Tom would rejoin host Sally in light of serious allegations made against Phelan (left) by his girlfriend, 44-year-old ballet instructor Chelsea Franklin. Pictured with Sally Obermeder

Phelan, 45, was charged on Monday night over an alleged domestic violence incident with Ms 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.

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.

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'.
A 24-year-old real estate investor won the Republican nomination on Tuesday to fill a western North Carolina congressional seat vacated by Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, unexpectedly defeating the former congressmans handpicked successor who had been endorsed by President Trump.

Madison Cawthorn was on track on Tuesday night to defeat Lynda Bennett with nearly two-thirds of the vote, according to The Associated Press. The surprise victory  and the overwhelming margin  was remarkable given Ms. Bennetts two-to-one fund-raising advantage and the vocal support of Mr. Meadows and Mr. Trump for her candidacy.

Though Republicans are likely to hold onto the seat in November in the solidly conservative district, the result was a stinging loss for both men. Mr. Meadows and his wife had a personal relationship with Ms. Bennett, 62, before she ran to succeed him. Mr. Trump had recorded a robocall for Ms. Bennetts campaign, and her loss was the second in two weeks to dent his previous streak of undefeated Republican primary endorsements, a point of pride he has often boasted about. (Representative Denver Riggleman of Virginia, a freshman who Mr. Trump had endorsed, broke the streak on June 13, when he lost to a right-wing challenger, Bob Good, in an unusual drive-through convention amid conservative outrage that he officiated at a same-sex wedding.)
Berlin, June 24 : In a setback to Facebook, Germany's Federal Court of Justice upheld the position of the country's antitrust regulator and ruled that the social networking giant needs to have explicit consent from users while collecting data from its family of apps like Instagram and WhatsApp.

The top German court found that Facebook was using its dominant position in the market to collect user data.

"There are no serious doubts about Facebook's dominant position in the German market for social networks or that Facebook is abusing this dominant position with the terms of use prohibited by the Cartel Office," the court said in its ruling on Tuesday.

Germany's competition regulator, the Federal Cartel Office, last year put restrictions on Facebook on data collection which led the social network to file an appeal. A lower court gave Facebook some relief when it ruled that it did not need to comply till a final court order comes out.

The ruling by the Federal Court of Justice on Tuesday ordered Facebook to comply with what the regulators asked in terms of its data collection practices, while overruling the decision of the lower court.

"The lack of choice for Facebook users not only affects their personal autonomy and the protection of their right to informational self-determination, which is also protected by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)," the court said.

"Against the background of the high hurdles to change that exist for the users of the network ("lock-in effects"), it also represents an exploitation of the users that is relevant under antitrust law, because competition is no longer effective due to Facebook's dominant position." Facebook, however, said that Tuesday's decision relates to the preliminary proceedings on the court's stay order.

"The main proceedings, before the Court of Appeals, are ongoing and we will continue to defend our position that there is no antitrust abuse. There will be no immediate changes for people or businesses who use our products and services in Germany," Facebook was quoted as saying in a statement by Axios.
One of the nation's largest insurance companies was founded nearly a century ago at a downtown San Antonio hotel.

USAA celebrated the company's 98th anniversary on June 20. The insurance, banking and investment services company marked the occasion with an antique photo of some of the first 25 founding soldiers in San Antonio.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  The Department of the Interior and Local Government has filed a complaint against the mayor of Olongapo City for issuing policies that went against protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

In a statement Wednesday, the DILG said Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. "repeatedly" violated rules, among them, organizing a mass gathering in April to distribute social amelioration cards. A show cause order was issued in this instance.

In that instance, we already admonished him and warned him to fully comply with IATF regulations, otherwise we may be compelled to charge him, said DILG Spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya.

The DILG also said Paulino issued an order allowing riding pillion, or backriding, in his area. When his attention was called, the mayor issued another order that suspended its implementation, but did not revoke it.

Malaya said that Paulino, as the chief executive of Olongapo, should be the first to follow national guidelines regarding quarantine restrictions.

Paulino responded to the allegations via video on Wednesday evening.

On the issue of motorcycle back riding, Paulino said, "'Yun pong policy na ginawa natin, kailangan pong may certification galing sa barangay tapos po ang pwede lang isabay ay yung kailangan kasama sa bahay yung pwede isakay."

[Translation: The policy we made said a certification from the barangay was needed, and you could only carry someone from your household.]

He said only two people could ride per motorcycle, adding that social distancing while inside the home is not as strictly observed compared to when a person is outside.

Paulino said he was confident about passing the order as Olongao City was small and the absence of an ID from the city would mean automatic reprimand.

He said they were called out once by the DILG, they obeyed and did not implement the order. Paulino explained why such an order was issued. Headded he issued another order withdrawing the EO allowing back riding.

Paulino maintains he respects the IATF and he would face allegations squarely.

Malaya said the DILG on Tuesday filed a complaint against Mayor Paulino at the Office of the Ombudsman for gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, violation of the Bayanihan Act, violation of Republic Act No. 11332 and open disobedience under Article 231 of the Revised Penal Code.

The matter is now in the hands of the Office of the Ombudsman. Doon na po magpapaliwanag ang alkalde ng Olongapo [The mayor of Olongapo can explain there], he said.
[June 24, 2020] Apperio Legal Technology Provider Assertively Expands into U.S. Market, Focusing First on Large Enterprises and Private Equity Firms

UK-based legal technology provider Apperio - a leader in automated legal spend tracking, management and analysis - is vigorously expanding its sales operation in the United States. Fueled by a strong European customer base, Apperio's sales team is actively pursuing in-house corporate legal department business in America, coast-to-coast. The company is initially targeting legal departments of both corporate enterprises with $5 million or greater legal spend and private equity (PE) investment firms. Apperio's early U.S. sales efforts have already brought success. Corporate legal departments of prominent PE firms on both coasts have recently purchased Apperio and are in various stages of implementation. The Apperio legal spend management platform is specifically designed for companies' in-house legal and finance teams. The solution helps clients to simultaneously manage multiple law firms and large projects, track day-to-day legal spend against budgets, improve the efficiency of their team and spend, and safeguard regulatory compliance. Apperio's technology uniquely connects directly to law firms' practice management systems to provide a live view of all matters, including unbilled work-in-progress and invoiced matters. Unlike eBilling solutions, which only provide visibility of matters that have been invoiced and may have a lag of several months, Apperio provides instant visibility of both historic and unbilled legal spend data. To date, Apperio has successfully implemented its platform for more than 50 in-house legal teams in the U.K. and several other European countries. Current Apperio clients include Finastra, a global financial services software company headquartered in the UK. Finastra has used Apperio since 2019. "Apperio has been an essential resource for Finastra and we count on their technology to efficiently manage our legal spend," said Simon Dowler, Finastra Group General Counsel. "Since we ourselves are a technology developer, we require a high standard of technology-driven efficiency and accountability from our suppliers. As such, we strive to avoid any areas of inefficiency or opacity from our outside counsel law firms. Apperio helps Finastra's legal department to effectively manage multiple outside counsel law firms, and uphold compliance requirements. Importantly for us, the platform works seamlessly, posing no burden to our IT department."



"The Apperio team is very excited to expand assertively into the American legal market," remarked Nicholas d'Adhemar, CEO and founder of Apperio. "Our client base in the U.K. and other European countries are proof that Apperio is a highly useful collaborative solution for businesses and law firms. Apperio helps its clients to strengthen relationships with their law firms, ensuring they are receiving maximum value while also increasing their confidence in the legal team's ability to accurately forecast spend and make informed strategic decisions." At present, Apperio is running U.S. sales operations from its London headquarters.

For more information about Apperio or to schedule a product demonstration, visit Apperio.com or email [email protected]. About Apperio Apperio is a legal spend analytics and matter tracking platform which effectively transforms how corporate legal departments function, bringing clarity, control and confidence to their operations. The platform provides complete real-time certainty on legal spend, aggregating data from all connected law firms and providing consistent, up-to-date information on all work-in-progress (WIP) and billed legal matters. Apperio visually represents for legal teams, finance and other corporate departments exactly what has and will be spent on legal fees, accurately measuring performance of its external law firms. Quick to install, cloud-based Apperio requires no on-site IT team. Currently, the platform is used daily by more than 50 in-house legal teams including Network Rail, Royal London, Monzo and Farfetch. Apperio is based in London, England. For more information, please visit Apperio.com, email [email protected], or follow Apperio on LinkedIn or Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005141/en/

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India-Central Asia dialogue: Need to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to Afghan, says Jaishankar

EAM dials envoys in US & Canada after 4 Indian nationals freeze to death along US-Canada border

At RIC grouping, Jaishankar sends out cryptic message to China

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, June 24: India sent out a strong message at the special meeting of the RIC (Russia-India-China).

Although bi-lateral references were not allowed, India's Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar said, "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.

Jaishankar, without naming China thanked Russia for convening the meeting and said that he was looking forward to the discussions.

Ahead of RIC, Jaishankar says meet is about international relations, no specific mention of China

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.

Covid in Delhi: Screening to be done at all households in capital by July 6 | Oneindia News

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, Jaishankar also said.

Jaishankar also referred to the fact that during World War II, India had kept the supply lines open to both Russia and China. We helped keep key supply lines open to both your countries, one through the Persian corridor and the other over the Himalayan hump, he also said.

Prior to the meet, Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has said that India China do not need help to resolve issues. They have good ongoing dialogue he also said.

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.
The Ghaziabad district magistrate on Wednesday said he ordered an inquiry after a 45-year-old Covid-19 positive man, who was a resident of a colony under the Loni Border police jurisdiction, was found dead at his residence Wednesday morning at his residence. According to the police, the case is suspected to be a suicide.

We have come to know that he had tested positive in Delhi on June 23. He was an employee of a civic agency in Delhi. On Wednesday morning, he was found dead. It seems he killed himself after getting the test results. There is no other apparent reason his family has told us as of now, said Neeraj Kumar Jadaun, superintendent of police (rural).

The man lived with his family. The station house officer of Loni Border station wrote to the health department and senior police officers asking the family be tested and quarantined.We are taking up the issue of quarantine with the health department and proper testing will also be taken up for all family members, Jadaun said.

The victims brother-in-law, however, said: He was tense after his reports came positive for Covid-19 and was worried for the health of his family members, said.
Mr. Kims decision on Wednesday will at least temporarily keep the latest tensions from spinning out of control on the Korean Peninsula. But it also showed that Mr. Kim was calibrating his moves as he sought to reclaim some of the domestic credibility and diplomatic leverage he had lost after his two years of diplomacy with Mr. Moon and Mr. Trump.

Mr. Kim returned from his second summit with Mr. Trump, held in Vietnam in February of last year, without winning a badly needed reprieve from international sanctions that he had promised to his people. Those sanctions have devastated the Norths exports since late 2017.

Mr. Kim began this year by exhorting his people to build a self-reliant economy impervious to international sanctions. At the same time, he tried to ease the pain of sanctions by attracting more Chinese tourists and encouraging illegal smuggling.

But that plan sputtered amid the coronavirus epidemic, which has forced the country to shut its borders.

First and foremost, the economy is the problem for Kim Jong-un, said Park Won-gon, a professor of international relations in Handong Global University in South Korea. As the impact of the prolonged Covid-19 epidemic wore heavily on his peoples livelihoods, Kim Jong-un doesnt have a lot of time left before he must find a way out, Mr. Park said.

In the Norths playbook, domestic trouble often calls for raising tensions with its outside enemies to win their concessions and also consolidate internal unity.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueAct Capital ("VAC") Founder Jeff Ubben is retiring after 20 years at the investment firm to undertake a new professional challenge, launching Inclusive Capital Partners. Ubben will assume the title of Chairman Emeritus at VAC upon retirement.

"We started ValueAct Capital 20 years ago with an untested investment strategythat a minority investor in the public markets could positively impact a company's trajectory from inside the company board room," Ubben said. "All these many years later," Ubben continued, "it's the right time to depart. ValueAct Capital is a vibrant established leader in active public market investing, with a deep and experienced team in place. I'm confident they will continue to do great work on behalf of their dedicated clients for the next 20 plus years and I intend to remain a significant personal investor."

"With the same enthusiasm I felt 20 years ago, I am happy to announce the formation of Inclusive Capital Partners," Ubben said. "It is the next iteration of my investing career  scaling another untested strategy  that working with management teams and boards with the courage to lead on solutions to climate change and social inequity can generate massive shareholder value." In addition to Ubben, Inclusive Capital Partners is being co-founded by George F. Hamel, Jr., VAC co-founder; Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Founder and CEO of the Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism; and Eva Zlotnicka, Managing Director of the ValueAct Spring Fund.

In early 2018, Ubben launched the ValueAct Spring Fund with the mission of demonstrating that long-term value can accrue to business models that address the world's environmental and societal problems. Ubben will continue managing the ValueAct Spring Fund after he transitions to Inclusive Capital Partners together with the entire ValueAct Spring Fund investment team.

"Jeff and I have enjoyed a very close relationship and have worked together for more than 20 years to position ValueAct Capital as the shareholder of choice for boards and management teams as they transform and grow their businesses," said Mason Morfit, CEO and CIO of ValueAct Capital. "I share the team's admiration for all that Jeff has achieved. He has always been a big thinker, and that vision and tenacity, along with his unique and highly successful investment experience, is an ideal mix to seek to prove out the thesis that responsible capitalism can be a bridge to positive environmental and social change. We are all very grateful for Jeff's contributions and wish him every success going forward".

ValueAct Capital's succession plan has been successfully executed over many years. In 2013 Morfit was named President, in 2017 Chief Investment Officer and in December 2019, Chief Executive Officer of VAC. The experienced investment team of VAC's flagship fund remains fully intact.

In addition to launching Inclusive Capital Partners, Ubben is also launching the Inclusive Capital Partners Foundation which will be dedicated to executing mission-driven philanthropy, focused on advancing economic, social, and environmental inclusion.

Long time minority investor in ValueAct Capital, Affiliated Managers Group ("AMG"), has been involved in the succession plan at VAC, and will continue its relationship with Ubben as a minority investor at Inclusive Capital Partners.

About Inclusive Capital Partners:

Inclusive Capital Partners was formed in 2020 by a team of experienced investors with a shared passion for positively leveraging capitalism and governance in pursuit of a healthy planet and the health of its inhabitants. Based in San Francisco, the investment firm seeks long-term shareholder value through active partnership with companies whose core businesses contribute solutions to this pursuit.

About ValueAct Capital:

ValueAct Capital, established in 2000 and based in San Francisco California, is an investment firm managing capital on behalf of some of the world's largest institutional investors. ValueAct Capital seeks to identify and invest in high-quality businesses that are temporarily under-valued, taking a patient, collaborative and constructive approach to value building for all stakeholders with long-term investments. The firm generally holds a concentrated number of investments at any given time, and ValueAct Capital's own partners have built a track record serving on 46 public company boards.

For further information contact:

Inclusive Capital Partners

Lynn Forester de Rothschild: [email protected] / (917) 940-4544

George F. Hamel, Jr.: [email protected] / (415) 440-5801

ValueAct Capital

Jim David, Hamilton Place Strategies: [email protected] / (202) 822-1205

SOURCE ValueAct Capital
Cyber hackers allegedly managed to siphon off Rs 17.24-lakh through around 200 transactions in last 11 months from a farmers account in Khatima of US Nagar in Uttarakhand. Ironically, neither the farmer nor the bank knew about the alleged fraudulent transactions, an official said.

The farmer and the bank came to know about the fraud when the farmer approached the bank for the entry of transactions into his passbook, officials said.

Fifty-seven-year-old Gursharan Singh, a farmer living in Pratappur village under police station Khatima in US Nagar has a saving account in the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) since 2003.

Since I have accounts in other banks also, I hardly operated the OBC account, Singh said.

Also read: Uttarakhand govt to start two English medium schools in every block

I had gone to the bank on June 18 for the entry of transactions into my passbook. I had made only 5-6 transactions in the last one year. But to my surprise, bank officials handed over three additional passbooks with a large number of entries, said Singh.

He said, When I went through the passbook, I learnt that around 200 transactions had been made since August 2019, which were not done by me. Over 4 to 5 transactions of Rs 7,900 each were made by me. Total Rs 17,24,565 had been withdrawn from my account.

The farmer has lodged a complaint with us claiming fraudulent transactions made in his account. I have informed about these transactions to our Fraud Monitoring Cell (FMC), Gurugram, as well as a police cyber cell in Rudrapur, Bhuwan Joshi, branch manager, OBC, Khatima said.

Also read: Neena Gupta shares stunning views from her Uttarakhand home, fans ask her to adopt them

The farmers ATM card has been seized/blocked after his complaint. Those behind these transactions will be known after the investigation of FMC and police cyber cell are done. I cant say anything further at this stage, he added

Singh said he didnt even receive any message of transactions on his mobile from the bank that could have alerted him. Transactions were made regularly without any alert message or OTP alerts (one-time password), he added.

I have received messages of the transactions made by me in last months on my mobile, but surprisingly, I didnt get any message or OTP alerts for these fraudulent transactions. I have handed over my complaints to Khatima police as well as the police cyber cell and am I am waiting for their response, Singh said.

Himanshu Pant, in-charge, police cyber cell, Udham Singh Nagar said, We have received complaints from the farmer and have started investigating the case.

The transactions have been made through mobile, not by the ATM. Since transactions were made for a long time, it will take some time to investigate this matter, he added.
One of the rules of thumb in 2020 America is that, if you hear about a racist incident, you should refrain from commenting for 48 hours. That's why I kept mum about the claim that a racist hung a noose in a garage space assigned to black racecar driver Bubba Wallace in Talladega, Alabama, the premier NASCAR track.

Sure, that might have been what happened, but the story also had a whiff of Jussie Smollett about it. Alternatively, the story had a whiff of race-based hysteria about it. I was going to hold my fire until the FBI had a chance to say something.

Today, the FBI did have its say, and I'm sure American Thinker readers won't be surprised to learn that no one left a noose in Bubba Wallace's garage space. This whole furor, which the leftists used to good effect to tar NASCAR and Alabama, was about a permanent knotted cord put in place to open and close the garage door.

To appreciate what happened here, a short timeline is useful:

On June 13, 2020, the Associated Press wrote an article complaining that corporate America, which has been stumbling over itself for weeks to show how non-racist and woke it is, is neglecting Bubba Wallace, one of the top-level NASCAR drivers:

Bubba Wallace can count Spike Lee and Demi Lovato in his corner since he became the leader of NASCAR's push for change. Where he has failed to find support is from corporate America. Wallace is the only black full-time driver at NASCAR's top level and has had to scrap for sponsorship money his entire career. Since he has taken a prominent role as an activist  successfully calling on NASCAR to ban Confederate flags at its events and leading the conversation among his peers about racial equality  the only new friends Wallace has are celebrities and fans. [snip] Wallace, 26, was widely praised at Wednesday night's race for running a Black Lives Matter paint scheme on the iconic No. 43 made famous by Hall of Famer Richard Petty, his boss. The opportunity for RPM to support Wallace with the paint scheme was possible only because no other corporation had bought the hood space to advertise.

Poor Bubba.

On June 17, a noose showed up in Marcus Garvey Park in New York. Everyone responded with appropriate horror. The City, which broke the story, adequately represents the psychic pain:

Someone hung a noose inside Marcus Garvey Park  and now the NYPD is trying to figure out who put up the symbol of hate in the heart of the Harlem oasis.

The noose turned out to be left over from a construction scaffold:

Police say the item that many thought was a noose in Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem was actually rope left over from a construction scaffold. The story was first reported on "The City" website. pic.twitter.com/C7LnAU9rGH  Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) June 17, 2020

Also on June 17, the city of Oakland, California suffered the trauma of discovering "several nooses" hanging in trees:

A hate crime investigation is underway after several nooses were found hanging from trees in Oakland, California.

The nooses were found around the area of Lake Merritt and have been removed, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said in a tweet on Wednesday. Officers found a total of five ropes attached to various trees during a search of the area on Tuesday, according to Oakland Police Department.

"Symbols of racial violence have no place in Oakland and will not be tolerated," Schaaf said in a statement posted on Twitter. She added that the incident will be investigated as hate crimes.

Those seeking racial hate in Oakland were once again disappointed when it turned out that, not only were these exercise ropes, not nooses, but a black man had hung them up. Strangely, the truth did not stop Oakland's white mayor, Libby Schaaf, from insisting that they were, in fact, hate crime nooses and ordering their removal:

Victor Sengbe, who is black, told KGO-TV that the ropes were part of a rigging that he and his friends used as part of a larger swing system. He also shared video of the swing in use. [snip] Schaaf said officials must "start with the assumption that these are hate crimes." However, the mayor and Nicholas Williams, the city's director of parks recreation, also said it didn't matter whether the ropes were meant to send a racist message. "Intentions don't matter when it comes to terrorizing the public," Schaaf said. "It is incumbent on all of us to know the actual history of racial violence, of terrorism, that a noose represents and that we as a city must remove these terrorizing symbols from the public view." "The symbolism of the rope hanging in the tree is malicious regardless of intent. It's evil, and it symbolizes hatred," Williams said.

And it's in this climate of racial hysteria that we find ourselves in Talladega, Alabama, on June 21, the day that Bubba suddenly discovered a noose in his garage bay:

NASCAR said late Sunday that a noose was found in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace at the NASCAR race in Talladega. Wallace is the only full-time African American driver in NASCAR's elite Cup Series. Less than two weeks ago, he successfully pushed for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and properties.

NASCAR, of course, did the expected virtue-signaling:

NASCAR said it has begun an investigation into the noose. "Late this afternoon, NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the garage stall of the 43 team. We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act," NASCAR said in a statement. "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 was in pain, great pain:

While Wallace may have experienced pain, he was also discovering fame. His story was everywhere, and suddenly he was a hot commodity on leftist TV outlets, from CNN to The View.

Some, though, wondered. Footage emerged from 2017 showing that every single garage bay at Talladega has a "noose" hanging from the door. These nooses are, in fact, handles to help pull the door down. If you watch the video below, you'll see those "nooses" all over the place. The Conservative Treehouse has some helpful screen grabs, too.

And sure enough, those doubts proved true when the FBI announced that no one had targeted Bubba or, as I like to say, no noose is good noose:

"On Monday, fifteen FBI special agents conducted numerous interviews regarding the situation at Talladega Superspeedway," the joint statement from U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. "After a thorough review of the facts and evidence surrounding this event, we have concluded that no federal crime was committed. "The FBI learned that garage number 4, where the noose was found, was assigned to Bubba Wallace last week. The investigation also revealed evidence, including authentic video confirmed by NASCAR, that the noose found in garage number 4 was in that garage as early as October 2019. Although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week."

For Wallace, though, as with Oakland's Mayor Schaaf and her Parks & Rec henchman Nicholas, facts are irrelevant. Just like the famous 1928 New Yorker cartoon showing a little moppet sitting in front of a plate of broccoli and announcing firmly, "I say it's spinach and I say the hell with it," Wallace is doubling down on his feelz:

"I've been racing all of my life, we've raced out of hundreds of garages that never had garage pulls like that. ... It's a straight up noose."



Bubba Wallace to Don Lemon. pic.twitter.com/HnJYpbPrlZ  Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) June 24, 2020

When Bubba's noose first hit the press, it was possible to believe that he really was a victim. However, his refusal to accept facts shows that Bubba isn't a trailblazer at all. He's just another race hustler and it's now possible to believe that he seized upon the garage pull as a way to get himself that corporate sponsorship he lacked.
Global Switch, a leading owner, operator and developer of large scale network dense, carrier and cloud neutral multi-tenanted data centres in Europe and Asia-Pacific has announced that in response to growing demand construction has started on the first stage of a new data centre in Amsterdam.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005069/en/

Global Switch Amsterdam East (Photo: Business Wire)

The 32,000 sq m data centre, Global Switch Amsterdam East, will be built immediately adjacent to the existing Amsterdam West facility located in the Slotervaart/Overtoomseveld district, close to the main Dutch cable infrastructure, the financial district and city centre. Global Switch Amsterdam is the only multi-tenant provider in the city with a dedicated mains supply, and once all stages of the new data centre are complete, the utility power supply capacity will increase by 40MVA, bringing the campus total to 72MVA supplied at 50kV.

In contrast to the recent moratorium on granting new data centre planning consents, importantly Global Switch Amsterdam East is a known project with Gemeente Amsterdam (City of Amsterdam) and is not impacted either by the widely announced 'building stop' or affected by power availability across the Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam.

Similar to other Global Switch developments, energy efficiency is at the core of the design. Amsterdam East will incorporate the latest technologies such a flooded room cooling design with hot aisle containment allowing flexible IT rack load deployment. The cooling will be generated using a free-cooling water-based cooling system and will allow the heat to be exported to the local community. The data centre will be targeting an annualised design Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of less than 1.2 and a BREEAM "Very Good" certification. In addition, as part of Global Switch's comprehensive Energy Management Programme, customers will be offered 100% green energy.

John Corcoran, CEO Global Switch,said "We are continuing to see demand for high quality, resilient and energy efficient data centres providing multiple connectivity options particularly from global hyperscale cloud providers looking for highly experienced data centre operators, such as Global Switch, as well as demand from European, US and Asian customers. We are therefore delighted to have now started construction of Global Switch Amsterdam East which will be our fourteenth data centre."

Jasper Lankhorst, Managing Director Global Switch Amsterdam,said "It is very exciting to be announcing this substantial addition of world class technical data centre capacity to our Amsterdam campus, particularly at a time when there is a permit stop for new data centre developments in the city and a shortage in power availability in some places of the Amsterdam Metro Area. With the acceleration of the digital economy, Global Switch Amsterdam East will provide an Open Compute Platform ready environment enabling customers to deploy at scale both with speed and cost effectively. As with all our data centres, customers will also benefit from bespoke data centre solutions, as well as a highly resilient and secure space for housing mission critical IT equipment."

Global Switch Amsterdam West is a core node not just for the Netherlands, but also for Europe and beyond. It is one of the most connected hubs in the country and currently hosts a multitude of global and national telecommunications and cloud providers, AMS-IX and NL-IX as well as a wide range of internet services providers. With direct fibre connections between the two data centres, customers of Amsterdam East will be able to access this connectivity rich environment and will benefit from a wide choice of cloud and network providers as well as direct access to the global IP backbone. The two data centres will provide a total of four diverse entry points and four interconnected Meet Me Rooms ensuring highly resilient connections.

Peter van Burgel, CEO, AMS-IX, said, "We welcome this news by our long-term partner Global Switch. This announcement underlines the importance of the Amsterdam region as one of the largest connectivity hubs in the world and as a desirable climate for digital businesses. It also shows that the digitalisation continues to be a strong, sustainable driver for growth, even in a time when building options are challenging and the economic outlook is uncertain."

Stijn Grove, Managing Director Dutch Data Center Association (DDA),said "The impact of digitalisation on our economy and society is immense. The recent events have only made people more aware that digitalisation is the sustainable way forward to grow our economy. A sound digital foundation is of crucial importance to achieve this. The Metro Region Amsterdam (MRA) is one of the key data hubs in the world and known as the Digital Gateway to Europe. Global Switch' expansion in the MRA region will strengthen this international position as key data hub even further, and the Dutch and international economy as a whole. We are proud to have Global Switch as a member of the association and congratulate them with their expansion."

Technical Snapshot

Full access to the existing network-dense, low-latency environment with a multitude of carriers and network service providers.

Access to peering platforms AMS-IX, NL-IX and all major cloud platforms.

Hyperconnected and ideally located adjacent to the main regional and international fibre routes.

Built in accordance to the highest operational standards with matching SLA's.

Bespoke solutions with scalable space and power.

Open Compute Platform (OCP) facility compliance.

Environmentally sustainable targeting a PUE of less than 1.2.

Certified ISO9001, 14001, 27001, 50001, OHSAS 18001, AMS-IX, PCI-DSS, ISAE 3402 compliant.

About Global Switch

Global Switch is a leading owner, operator and developer of large-scale, carrier and cloud neutral, multi-customer data centres in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Founded in 1998, Global Switch has a proven business model, demonstrable track record and is the highest credit rated data centre company in the world with investment grade credit ratings from Fitch, Moody's and Standard Poor's.

Global Switch is a vital and strategic partner for customers that require secure and resilient data centre services with scalable capacity and a high-level customer service. The Company's focus is on highly resilient, central, low latency, network dense locations in prime city centre locations and internet hubs close to its customers on the edge of financial and business districts. Global Switch's data centres operate exclusively in the Tier I markets of Europe and Asia-Pacific to Tier III or higher and currently total around 390,000 sq m (4,200,000 sq ft) of floor space and are occupied by a broad range of customers, global and national, large and small including government organisations, financial institutions, enterprises, global systems integrators, telecommunication carriers, cloud and managed service providers and other hosting businesses.

For more information visit: www.globalswitch.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005069/en/

Contacts:

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES OR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Ali Ballantine

Group Director, Marketing Communications

Global Switch

+44 20 8054 9053

aballantine@globalswitch.com
The Consolidate bank of Ghana (CBG) has commended the Ministry of Health and frontline workers for their diligence and sacrifice in the fight against coronavirus.

Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Daniel Addo applauded the efforts of the Ministry and all stakeholders including doctors, nurses and other health service providers for their priceless service in the fight against the virus in this country.

I want to commend the Ministry and all our frontline health workers, for their invaluable service to combat the spread of the virus in the country. As we say at CBG, We stand with you, Mr. Addo said.

Speaking at a short donation ceremony at the Ministry of Health in Accra, the MD said the donation forms part of the one million Ghana Cedis dedicated by the bank to support the fight against the spread of the virus.

The bank donated medical items and 50 modernized hand washing units procured from Akomah Grands.

The medical items included 10 ICU patient monitoring Systems and 10 Bedside Monitors that comes with mobile trolleys; 5 led ECG cables, Adult SpO2 probe extension cables, Adult NIBP hose with cuff, Temperature Sensors and IBP module cables.

For us at CBG, we are delighted to contribute to the efforts to fight the coronavirus. Right from the inception of this pandemic, CBG pledged to spend up to a million Ghana Cedis as our own contribution to the fight and our presence here is a desire to keep to our word, Mr. Addo said.

He concluded by assuring the Ministry and the country of the banks continuous support in the fight against the virus.

Mr.Kwabena Boadu Oku-AfariI, Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, thanked the bank for its support and praised them for the exceptional design of its hand washing units designed and manufactured by Akomah Grand.

We are very grateful to you that you continue to help fight the course of the country to bring down the pandemic and we believe strongly that what you have done is part of what has helped to curb the spread of COVID-19.

CBGs Support to the COVID-19 fight

CBG announced that it is setting aside one million Ghana Cedis to support the countrys fight against the novel coronavirus. The bank has since made donations to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR). The bank also donated food items to over 2000 people in different communities during the lockdown.

The bank also announced in April that it is waiving all charges on electronic transactions to lessen the burden of its customers during the pandemic.
Thousands of anti-abortion protesters take part in the fifth annual March For Life through central London in 2018. (Getty)

A Tory MP has described proposed plans to restrict anti-abortion protests as dangerous.

MPs have voted to approve the introduction of a bill to ban protests near abortion clinics.

Conservative MP Fiona Bruce suggested the Demonstrations (Abortion Clinics) Bill could have far-reaching implications.

She told the Commons on Wednesday: Let me be clear  I do not condone aggressive protest activities outside abortion clinics, but these are in the minority and imposing national legislation where it is not required to tackle these would be a drastic overreaction.

A drastic overreaction because of the potential damage this Bill could do to the more widely held freedom of speech in this country.

Read more: Pubs 'should be shut down' if they are linked to small coronavirus outbreaks

The bill is meant to protect women who attend clinics from intimidation. (Getty)

Bruce, MP for Congleton, added: Not only freedom of speech could be threatened, but also freedom of assembly, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, the right to peaceably protest, the right to receive information.

Fundamental liberties underpinning our democracy and many hard-won. This is a dangerous bill with potentially far-reaching implications.

A group of cross-party MPs voted 213 to 47 to allow Labours Rupa Huq to introduce the bill.

Dr Huq, who is MP for Ealing Central and Acton, said it would help to protect women who attend clinics from intimidation by anti-abortion protesters.

She said: The demands in this bill are not new and although its title includes the word abortion, the termination of pregnancy is not at issue here. Not number of weeks or anything of that nature.

This is about women being able to present themselves for legal healthcare free from intimidation.

Read more: Police hunt thieves who stole 130,000 bees from a chimney using a hoover

A group of cross-party MPs voted 213 to 47 to allow Labours Rupa Huq to introduce the bill. (Getty)

Dr Huq added: This is not about the rights and wrongs of abortion. While emotions run high and there are sincerely held opinions on both sides of that argument, we have to accept that its been legal for 50 years in this country.

Story continues

This is about the rights of vulnerable women seeking access to health care in safety, anonymity and dignity.

A second reading of the bill is scheduled to take place on 11 September, but it has little chance of passing if it does not get government support.

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BOSTON  The suspect in an alleged arson attempt outside a Jewish assisted living facility in Longmeadow was indicted Tuesday on federal charges.

John Michael Rathbun, 36, of East Longmeadow, faces a pair of densely worded charges: attempting to transport or receive explosive devices in interstate or foreign commerce with the knowledge or intent that the device will be used to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle; and attempting to maliciously damage or destroy, by means of fire or an explosive, any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property used in interstate or foreign commerce.

Prosecutors allege Rathbun attempted but failed to ignite a partially filled 5-gallon fuel canister next to the driveway entrance to JGS Lifecare on Converse Street in Longmeadow on April 2. FBI agents searched his home and arrested him about two weeks later. He has been held without bail since April 17.

Investigators have suggested Rathbun had links to white supremacist online platforms, something his defense lawyer has denied.

Rathbun faces up to to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 on each charge if convicted.
Unity National Bank of Houston has a rich history serving some of the citys most poorly served.

It began as Riverside National Bank in 1963 and still operates that first branch in Third Ward. Within view of Texas Southern University, the branch was designed by Texas first licensed Black architect, John Chase. Today, its marked by another first and only: its the only Black-owned bank in Texas.

Banks such as Unity have supported the banking needs of low- and moderate-income communities for decades, the same communities suffering the worst effects of COVID-19. They have done so even though serving such communities has often been unprofitable.

We have a sensitivity in understanding the socioeconomic indications that happen to a low- and moderate-income family, said Laurie Vignaud, Unitys new president and CEO. It cant be a cookie-cutter way to engage with banking and loans in general. Sixty-seven percent of Unitys loans are in low- or moderate-income areas, according to the National Community Investment Fund, which invests in minority-owned and mission-driven institutions.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Local businessman touts Africa's potential for African-American entrepreneurs

Unitys place as the states sole Black-owned bank comes as the U.S. has lost roughly half of its African American-owned banks since the last recession in 2008, dropping to 21 institutions. City National Bank of New Jersey recently failed. Eight of the 22 Black-owned banks in business as of June 30, 2019, lost money over the prior 18 months, according to the industry publication American Banker. Unity hasnt made a profit in three years.

Kenneth Kelly, chairman of the National Bankers Association, which represents minority-owned institutions, said African-American owned banks tend to do worse financially than other minority-owned institutions, such as Asian or Hispanic-owned banks, because of the underlying economics of the communities they serve.

A Chicago Federal Reserve study conducted after the last recession backed that up. African American-owned banks tend to be smaller and have higher nonperforming loans than other minority-owned institutions. NCIFs database and records with the FDIC show that Unitys noncurrent loans and net charge offs are high compared to other minority-owned institutions, and its profitability and efficiency ratios are poor.

Vignaud does not dispute those findings. She said her goal is to work on making the bank more profitable and diversify offerings to generate more fee income, such as administrative services to institutions.

Invested board

Despite the banks losses, records show investors continue to provide it with capital. The bank sold $1.3 million in stock in 2019 and $3.9 million in 2017, Tommy Brooks, its executive vice president and chief financial officer, said.

Oil industry executive Kase Lawal and his family took majority ownership after buying stock in 2005 and have two seats on the board.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Minority-owned small businesses, like Midtown's Breakfast Klub, face new hurdles in pandemic

The Lawals referred questions for this story to Vignaud. Other investors and board members include Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis; Sharon Murphy, a partner at consulting and accounting firm McConnell Jones Lanier & Murphy; and Moez Mangalji, a principal at Westmont Hospitality Group, whose website says it owns more than 500 hotels on several continents.

State Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, is also a member of the board.

Alvarado was one of the board members who hired Vignaud, who started at the bank in December. Sporting a pink suit and a pixie haircut, Vignaud exudes warmth and enthusiasm despite tough times.

We dont want to be one of those institutions who is not going to be around next year or five years from now, she said.

Vignaud arrived in Houston in 2005, swept in when Hurricane Katrina destroyed her familys home in New Orleans. She said her late father, LeRoy Buddy Vignaud, ran a successful contracting business and was one of the first shareholders in the newly formed Liberty Bank & Trust, a minority-owned institution in New Orleans, when Vignaud was in the 8th grade.

He wanted us to understand the importance of the institution, she said. And so Vignaud got her first job at that bank. She learned mortgage banking and moved to the largest bank in Louisiana, Hibernia. Later, Capital One Financial bought Hibernia and promoted her to oversee the banks community development efforts, including lending money for affordable housing, asset building and small business.

After nearly two decades at Capital One, the relationship ended on a sour note. She sued the bank for racial discrimination and was included in an NAACP lawsuit against the bank in 2018, a topic she doesnt want to discuss.

But her background working for Capital One and, later, for the city of Houstons housing department, brought skills that Unity National Bank needed.

She is looking to get banking business from entities that have supplier diversity programs, such as municipalities and hospitals. She also is looking to big banks for better technology.

Small banks such as Unity, which has $130 million in assets and just three branches (one of which is in Atlanta), have a tough time being able to afford the technologies that support bigger banks. Unity, for example, doesnt have a mobile deposit function, though it plans to add one this year. It has access to a network of 55,000 free ATMs to make up for its lack of branches. The bank also is looking to expand financial literacy, including online tools that provide access to credit scores and referrals to nonprofits that teach homeownership classes.

Unity National has partnered with Citigroup as part of the U.S. Treasurys mentor-protege program for minority-owned banks. Citigroup wants to buy Unitys loans in bulk so Unity can do more lending, support Unitys IT functions and expand its offerings to customers.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Unity National Bank, only black-owned bank in Texas, opens Atlanta branch

Perhaps the most promising news in recent months for the bank was the introduction of the Paycheck Protection Program. Congress small business relief program has funded more than $510 billion in potentially forgivable loans nationwide. It also has meant hundreds of new customers have flocked to Unity to get those loans.

The bank was able to make more than 300 PPP loans and, in its initial calculations, potentially save 3,000 jobs. The loans also generate noninterest income for banks. People knew we were here but no one paid attention to us, Vignaud said. Its been a blessing.

Even Vice President Mike Pence made a visit to Unity Nationals office in Atlanta recently to talk about the loan program. Most of Unitys PPP loans were for less than $50,000, with some as little as $1,000. Some of those loans were so small, there is no way for the bank to make money on them. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees made up the majority of Unitys PPP recipients, Vignaud said.

Financial guidance

Although the bank by law cant discriminate and serves all racial and ethnic groups, its location in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods means its customers often desperately need banking services as an alternative to payday lenders and quick-cash schemes. The bank has 11,000 deposit accounts and half of them have less than $250 in them. That doesnt mean Unity offers banking services for free, though. Unity requires a minimum checking balance of $1,500 to avoid a $7.50 per month fee, unless the depositor meets certain qualifications, such as having direct deposit.

While many banks ban customers who write bad checks, Unity tries to figure out who needs more financial education, said Brooks, the CFO.

I want the crooks and the thieves out of the bank, he said. I dont want people out who need some help or need some skill in terms of managing their finances.

Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox

During the COVID-19 pandemic, its become clear that communities served by banks such as Unity have been hurt worst. Nationwide, the unemployment rate fell slightly for whites in May but remained stubbornly high, at 16.8 percent, for African Americans, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. blacks also have suffered death rates far higher than whites.

What COVID-19 has exposed are those weaknesses, but theyre all related to economics, Kelly of the National Bankers Association said.

A bleaker future for African-American communities doesnt bode well for banks committed to their communities. But Alvarado has faith that the banks leadership team, including Vignaud and Brooks, are part of the reason why the bank will succeed.

I feel the most positive about the future of Unity Bank than I have at any time, she said.
Chris Jacobs, a Republican state senator, won a special House election on Tuesday in Western New York, maintaining his partys hold on a seat last occupied by Chris Collins, who resigned just before pleading guilty to federal insider trading charges.

Mr. Jacobs, 53, had banked his campaign on the popularity of President Trump, who endorsed him; Mr. Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., had also recorded a robocall for Mr. Jacobs, the former Erie County clerk.

That proved more than enough to dispatch Nate McMurray, the Democratic candidate, who was waging his second battle for the 27th. Mr. McMurray, a lawyer and former Fulbright scholar, had narrowly lost in 2018 against Mr. Collins, an early endorser of Mr. Trump. The Associated Press called the race at 12:39 a.m. on Wednesday.

Mr. McMurray had been considered a long shot in the district, a largely rural and suburban collection of towns between Buffalo and Rochester where Mr. Trump had won easily in 2016, and where there are 40,000 more Republican voters than Democrats.
Wolff said the production team also talked with people who said they saw Lombardo jogging the night she was killed and reached out to women who reported similar attacks in the Oak Park area around that same time period. We really tried to do as much research as we could to see if we could advance the case in any way, but without the cooperation of the Oak Park P.D., our hands were really tied, Wolff said.
Mongolia's ruling party won a landslide election victory to retain an overwhelming majority in parliament -- a reward from voters who approved of its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, according to near-complete results on Thursday. The Mongolian People's Party of Prime Minister Khurelsukh Ukhnaa now faces the task of keeping the economy afloat as businesses struggle under virus containment measures and closed borders. The MPP will have 63 of 76 seats in the legislature, two fewer than before but still a huge majority to rule the landlocked country of three million people squeezed between Russia and China. The opposition Democratic Party won 10 seats, according to 99 percent of votes counted following Wednesday's vote. An independent and candidates from two new third parties won the remaining seats. The Election Commission will confirm the results later on Thursday. "Voters did obviously reward the handling of the corona crisis by the Mongolian government and put their trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Khurelsukh," Niels Hegewisch, country director of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a German non-profit foundation, told AFP. "Certainly, a victory of this magnitude comes with a great responsibility. Economically, Mongolia is facing tough times," he said. Despite its mineral wealth, the country's economy has been weak and required a $5.5 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund in 2017. The pandemic has not helped, with cafes, restaurants and pubs ailing as the government imposed early closing times as part of coronavirus measures. Schools have been closed since January. Coal exports have fallen due to lower demand and prices, and border closures. They were down by more than half to 6.2 million tons in the first five months of the year compared to the same period in 2019. A number of corruption scandals have also erupted in recent years and there is growing anxiety about graft in the young democracy, which ended decades as a Soviet satellite in 1990. Despite calls by some for the election to be delayed due to the pandemic, three-quarters of two million eligible voters cast their ballots. Voters queued two metres (yards) apart to enter, with medical staff checking temperatures, passing out hand disinfectant and masks, and providing single-use plastic gloves to fill out ballot papers. "I think it's good to organise our election as planned even though there is a pandemic," said Amarzaya Enkhbayar, a 35-year-old voter who runs her own business. "These elected decision-makers must improve our life. We have to do something for the development of our country," she told AFP after voting in Ulaanbaatar. - 'I want change' - About 8,000 Mongolians are currently stranded abroad and protests inside the country calling for their return have been broken up by authorities on the grounds that they break social distancing rules. There have only been about 200 reported coronavirus cases in Mongolia -- most imported from Russia -- and no confirmed fatalities. "I thought the election should be delayed," argued another voter, 39-year-old Enkhtsetseg Bandi. "However, the state is spending billions to organise this election, so I must participate not to waste our budget." The country's two main political parties broke bans on gatherings of more than 30 people by holding big campaign rallies and ignoring social distancing rules. There were a record 606 candidates, including 121 independents. But voters chose the ruling party. Gerelt-Od Erdenebileg, professor of political science at the Mongolian State University of Education, said the country's majoritarian system favours the big parties. "If we keep this system, the MPP will win forever," he said. Munkhzaya Ankhbaatar, a 19-year-old car parts salesman, said he had done his homework on the candidates before voting. "I studied all the parties' agenda," he said. "I like the MPP most, so I voted for it."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 09:58:48|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Six more Republican members of the U.S. Congress have voiced opposition to President Donald Trump's decision to reduce military presence in Germany, U.S. media reported on Tuesday.

CNN reported that a group of GOP lawmakers, led by Michael McCaul, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, urged Trump against the force reduction decision in a Monday letter.

"We write today to express our concern over your administration's plans to significantly reduce the number of American servicemembers stationed in Germany," the letter stated.

"We are troubled that many of our allies had not been consulted on U.S. force re-posturing ... The withdrawal of thousands of troops from Germany will only complicate this crucial effort and in turn place U.S. national security at risk," the letter said.

The Wall Street Journal said that McCaul of Texas, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Ann Wagner of Missouri, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, John Curtis of Utah, and Joe Wilson of South Carolina signed the letter.

Twenty-two House Republicans earlier this month warned Trump that a significant force drawdown in Europe would serve Russia's interests at the expense of U.S. national security.

Trump said last week that the number of U.S. troops deployed in Germany would be reduced to 25,000 due to Germany's insufficient defense spending.

"Germany as you know is very delinquent in their payments to NATO," Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that U.S. troops would redeploy to Germany until it pays.

Currently, there are about 35,000 U.S. troops deployed in Germany.

Trump has repeatedly complained that U.S. allies exploited his country on defense spending. In his recent remarks to graduates of the United States Military Academy, Trump emphasized that the U.S. military is not the policemen of the world. Enditem
Ghana Cocoa Board says its plans to raise US$1.3billion through a syndicate of banks is on course and not affected by the perceived risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.



Speaking at the launch of a $600million receivable-backed loan on Tuesday, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, said the Board was currently negotiating the terms of the proposals with the Banks.



He said COCOBOD issued Requests for Proposals in February 2020 to International Banks to raise the funds for the 2020/2021 cocoa purchases.



On the 12th of June, 2020, the financial institutions including; COCOBODs traditional Banks submitted their proposals, he said, adding that evaluation of the proposals was held on 18th June 2020 by an in-house committee with representatives from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana.



So, COCOBOD is currently negotiating the terms of the proposals with the Banks; which is the normal practice. Once the terms are finalised, all due processes will be followed through to their logical conclusion, up to the signing of the facility which is expected in September 2020, Mr Aidoo said.



He assured COCOBODs stakeholders and partners that the process was moving steadily and that the Board expected everything to remain on schedule.



Meanwhile, Mr Aidoo said COCOBOD had paid its 2019/2020 loan facility in June 2020, three months ahead of schedule, even in this time of COVID-19.

Source: GNA









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Some small businesses harmed by the coronavirus pandemic should start seeing grants from a $300 million federally financed program as soon as next month, Louisianas state treasurer said.

The money is part of $1.8 billion in direct congressional relief that Louisiana received to respond to the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus. Most of the money is being used to fill state budget shortfalls amid the pandemic, but lawmakers set aside $300 million for the small business grants.

Republican state Treasurer John Schroder estimated that more than 450,000 Louisiana businesses would qualify for the money, raising concerns it will run out quickly.

We could knock it out in 21 days. We really have no idea, Schroder told the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. Its not going to go far.

The grants are aimed at helping businesses that had to stop operating or otherwise incurred costs because of the virus outbreak. Businesses that qualify may receive up to $15,000 each.

Under the rules enacted by lawmakers, grants for the first 21 days only will be available to businesses that didnt receive other federal aid through the Paycheck Protection Program or through a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan, and that didnt receive insurance for interruptions to their business.

Im sort of picturing a tsunami of applications, said Senate GOP leader Sharon Hewitt of Slidell.

Senate President Page Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, both Republicans, called on the treasurer to move out the money quickly. They pointed to recovery aid from the 2016 floods still undistributed as something they dont want to happen with the business relief.

Its very important to the Legislature that this program be enacted as quickly as possible, Cortez said. He added that lawmakers want no fraud in the program, and we want the program complete in a four-to-six-month time period.

Schroder is seeking proposals from contractors interested in running the program and said he hopes to have a consultant selected by July 4. He said his office is modeling Louisianas program after similar business assistance being distributed in Mississippi and Idaho.

The legislative auditors office will be reviewing the program to look for any fraudulent activity. But Schroder said he doesnt want bureaucratic hurdles to slow delivery of assistance to business.

Our job is to get this money out as quickly as we can, he said.

To be eligible, businesses have to be located in Louisiana. They cant have had more than 50 full-time workers as of March 1, before Louisiana saw its first confirmed case of COVID-19. And they cant be a subsidiary of or owned by a larger company with more than 50 full-time employees.

Under the plan passed by lawmakers, $40 million of the aid is guaranteed to be spent on grants to assist minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses. Schroder can keep up to $15 million of the cash to administer the program.

Beyond the business grants, lawmakers have earmarked more than $500 million from the federal COVID-19 assistance to reimburse local government agencies for expenses responding to the virus outbreak. That program is being managed by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards administration.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told the budget committee that disbursements to municipal agencies will begin on July 1.

Already, more than 140 sheriffs offices, police juries, towns, cities and other local government entities have applied for $165 million in expense reimbursements. Dardennes office is combing through documentation to ensure they meet the federal criteria for reimbursement.

The largest request received so far, according to data provided by Dardenne, is a $42 million reimbursement sought by the city of New Orleans, which was the epicenter of Louisianas outbreak when it began. Sizable requests also were submitted by agencies from neighboring Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes, from Bossier City and from Baton Rouge.

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Topics Legislation Louisiana Commercial Lines Business Insurance
India's ministry of civil aviation said on Tuesday it was considering allowing some international carrier flights to resume after Washington accused India of "unfair and discriminatory practices." The Indian ministry said in a statement posted on Twitter that 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."

The U.S. Transportation Department issued an order Monday to require Indian air carriers to apply for authorization prior to conducting charter flights beginning in 30 days. The department sought "to restore a level playing field for U.S. airlines" under the U.S.-India Air Transport Agreement. The Indian government, citing the coronavirus, has banned all scheduled services and failed to approve U.S. carriers for charter operations, it added.

The Indian ministry added it is considering the "prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK." It added that "final decisions pursuant to negotiations are expected to be taken soon." The U.S. government said Air India has been operating what it calls "repatriation" charter flights between India and the United States in both directions since May 7.

Air India is advertising flights "that would constitute a rate of 53% of the scheduled services it operated before the onset of the current public health emergency," the department said. "The charters go beyond true repatriations, and it appears that Air India may be using repatriation charters as a way of circumventing the GoI-imposed prohibition of scheduled services," the department said, declining to comment on Tuesday on the statement from the Indian government.

The Indian ministry said U.S., French and German authorities and others had sought permission for their carriers to participate "in the transportation of passengers along the lines being conducted by Air India." The ministry noted the Air India flights are "increasingly carrying Indians and citizens of other countries outbound to countries where they are normally resident."

Airlines for America, a group representing major U.S. carriers including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines, said in a statement it supported "the Department of Transportation's actions to ensure U.S. airlines have a fair and equal opportunity to compete in the U.S.-Indian market."

Also read: Vande Bharat Mission: US alleges India of 'unfair practices' on charter flights
The new enterprise system will be a fully integrated, enterprise-wide multi-module software application to improve, standardize, and automate a wide range of division operations." - Ajay Desai, Division Director, Alaska DRB.

A primary goal of the DRB is to modernize IT and workflow processes to drive efficiency, accuracy, and security for its core business and services. This project requires an integrated, enterprise-wide system that supports all of DRBs core business functions for pension and health plans, including demographic information as a single source of truth. Sagitec was awarded this project after going through a stringent procurement process under Alaskas Procurement Policies and Guidelines, meeting all the divisions requirements.

The state of Alaska is looking to move its infrastructure to the Microsoft Azure Cloud. Sagitec will help the state achieve this vision by hosting software development on Azure with optional hosting for production.

The new enterprise system will be a fully integrated, enterprise-wide multi-module software application to improve, standardize, and automate a wide range of division operations, said Ajay Desai, Division Director, Alaska DRB. Implementing a project to modernize DRB will require a massive, multi-year effort that will integrate processes across functional departments and external vendors while substantially reducing, if not eliminating, manual, paper-based work-processes and silo systems.

The project is a turnkey Neospin implementation and includes substantial functionality for managing healthcare. Neospin is Sagitecs flagship benefits administration solution that has helped public and private pension funds enhance service capabilities, lower operating costs, and stave off technical obsolescence while responding to complex and frequently changing business requirements.

With this implementation, DRB will experience flexible and consistent benefits administration, improved customer service, member self-service tools, management, and operational control.

Delivery of this project will be different given the pandemic crisis, but Sagitec will follow our proven model of virtual delivery, said Jeff Bryce, Director, Sagitec. Once the COVID-19 crisis subsides, only a minimal Sagitec team presence will be required at the client site.

In addition to implementing the Neospin benefits framework, Sagitec will also implement IBMs FileNet content management solution and the Intacct accounting solution. Sagitec has partnered with an Alaskan Intacct implementer, Sockeye Consulting, to integrate the general ledger system with Sagitecs Neospin.

The 42-month implementation cycle for replacing DRBs legacy pension system has commenced and includes a 12-month post-production warranty phase and six years of post-warranty support.

About Sagitec Solutions

Sagitec Solutions, LLC, is a global software provider focused on solving complex, business-rule driven problems with domain experts and proven technology. They serve some of the largest public pension organizations in the world. Their fully integrated, web-based pension administration solution supports millions of plan participants, many thousand employers, and administers multiple types of pension plans: defined benefit, defined contribution, provident, cash balance, hybrid, and Taft-Hartley.

In addition to serving the pension industry, Sagitec Solutions also designs and delivers software solutions for unemployment insurance, paid family medical leave, disability insurance, and healthcare. With deep industry experience in software implementation and systems integration, project management, knowledge management, predictive analytics, chatbots, cloud services, consulting, hosting, and software support, Sagitec is a partner clients can trust to drive their vision into action. For more information, visit: http://www.sagitec.com
With sweeping police reform on the cusp of collapse amid partisan recriminations in the Senate, one Republican has introduced a bill that he hopes might serve as a vehicle for bipartisan change.

Sen. Mike Braun, a freshman Republican from Indiana, introduced a bill Tuesday that he said attempts to rein in a legal shield for police officers called "qualified immunity," a judicially-created doctrine that attorneys for victims of police brutality say has made it nearly impossible to hold cops to account for violations of civil rights.

Qualified immunity, established by the Supreme Court in the 1980's, requires that any plaintiff point to a "clearly established law" -- meaning, a nearly identical past case -- to show a clear precedent that an officer's alleged conduct was illegal.

MORE: Policing reform bill likely dying in Senate

Braun's legislation would strip out the "clearly established law" requirement and replace it with language that states that "a defendant sued in his or her individual capacity ... shall not be liable if the defendant establishes that, at the time the deprivation occurred, the conduct alleged to be unlawful was specifically authorized or required by Federal statute or regulation" or by state law, according to the bill text.

"The bill is not going to rely on that 'it has to be so clearly established that if you didn't know about it,' or 'there wasn't a particular incident that you could refer to, you were immune.' This is going to say that the only way that you're immune is if there is a state or federal law or a court ruling that says what you've done is legal. So it puts more clarity to it," Braun said in an interview with ABC News.

Critics of qualified immunity say the shield makes it nearly impossible for those who feel they have been wronged to sue for damages.

PHOTO: Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in an image from the video during arrest of George Floyd, May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis. (Darnella Frazier via AFP/Getty Images)

Lee Merritt, attorney for George Floyd whose death in police custody sparked national outrage and calls for policing reform -- told senators recently that qualified immunity is a shield that almost always lets law enforcement officers avoid civil punishment

Story continues

"Qualified immunity has been so expanded by our current judiciary, that it's almost an absolute immunity," Merritt testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee. "It has gotten out of control and it's almost impossible for me to do my job representing these families if it remains in place. I've been advised by other senior attorneys to get out of the business if qualified immunity remains."

Braun said he believes his legislation would result in victims winning more lawsuits against law enforcement officers.

MORE: Supreme Court wont revisit qualified immunity for police, leaving it to Congress

But one legal expert said the legislation might have the opposite effect.

"Not only does (the Braun) proposal have everything turn on whether an officer could point to a local or state law that 'authorized' his conduct (which is not nearly as clear-cut as his comments suggestconsider, e.g., a provision authorizing the use of force to effectuate an arrest, and whether that authorizes force that a court believes is excessive but the officer does not), but there are some contexts in which this proposal might even broaden immunity by insulating an officer from liability even when it is clearly established that what he did is unconstitutional," Stephen Vladeck, professor at the University of Texas School of Law, wrote in a statement to ABC News.

Vladeck said, as an example, "any case in which the unconstitutional conduct was consistent with a local or state rule."

"Compared to nothing, this may be marginally better -- but not much, in my view," Vladeck added.

PHOTO: Sen. Mike Braun speaks during a Senate hearing in Washington, Jan. 8, 2020. (Barcroft Media via Getty Images, FILE)

A former businessman and Harvard MBA graduate, Braun is an unlikely candidate to take on his party and the thorny issue of qualified immunity.

Normally a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, Braun has chosen to try to buck his party, telling ABC News that he fears if Republicans do not embrace this kind of change, they are likely to face fierce backlash.

"My view is that if you don't find something that is a framework -- other than what we've got -- they'll lose in the long run, because I don't know how long any entity can keep moving in the direction of more George Floyds, Rayshard Brooks, Breonna Taylors," Braun told ABC News, referencing a string of instances where African Americans died under questionable circumstances at the hands of police officers.

"We don't want to be on that side of defending those kinds of incidents because we're not willing to bend at all on the immunity question. So, it's a tough spot to be in," Braun said.

MORE: Qualified immunity for police getting fresh look by Supreme Court after George Floyd death

Still, the vast majority of Republicans have expressed opposition to altering qualified immunity, including Trump who has called eliminating the shield -- as Democrats are seeking to do -- a "non-starter."

"Imagine you're thinking of becoming a police officer, and you think you're going to be personally liable for every fracas you try to break up. Some think you don't become a police officer in that circumstance. Others think, well you just stay in the police car and don't ever get out because you could end up getting yourself sued," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters on Tuesday, indicating that the proposal faces a stiff resistance.

But Braun said he remains optimistic that his party will evolve. The senator likened the possible shift to Republicans' evolution on the now rock-solid guarantee that any health insurance plan must protect those Americans with preexisting health conditions, something the GOP once opposed.

"If you do not make that pivot and say that clearly, you're still having that albatross around your neck of having to defend what your point of view was earlier, and I think this is the same thing here," Braun said. "I think President Trump is on the right side making sure law enforcement is not hampered for a difficult job. And if there was clean legislation that, again, would do what I've talked about -- allow for accountability on these egregious issues and not hamper you with these frivolous lawsuits -- he might consider it."

Senate Republican bucks party and president on law enforcement immunity originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Kochi, June 24 : The Kerala Police will seek the custody of 40-year-old Shaiju Thomas, who last week badly injured his 54-day-old daughter by hitting her on the head and flinging her on the bed, said a police official.

Speaking to IANS, the police official probing the incident, said presently the accused is in judicial custody.

"We will now move a petition to seek his custody for further probe," said the official attached to the Angamaly Police station.

It was last Thursday that the baby girl with serious head injuries was admitted to a private medical college hospital.

Thomas, who hails from Kannur, was living with his Nepalese wife on rent in the Angamaly police station limits. After this incident, his wife said that once her child gets better she wishes to return to her country.

Thomas was said to be a drinker and had differences with his wife after she delivered the girl child.

It was only after a few rounds of questioning that the truth surfaced about the baby girl being brutally hit by her own father and not a case of an accidental fall from the bed.

The doctors treating her had several anxious moments while the baby was being treated. The baby had to undergo a major surgery and the doctors said that the danger period was over and the baby was a fighter. The baby continues to be in the hospital.
Antigone is a film loosely based on the tragedy of the same title by Greek playwright Sophocles (495406 B.C.) and inspired by the August 2008 shooting of a young Honduran immigrant, Fredy Villanueva, by a Montreal police officer and the subsequent attempt by Quebec authorities to extradite his older brother.

This is the fourth feature-length fiction film by Canadian director and screenwriter Sophie Deraspe ( Vital Signs, The Amina Profile ). Antigone had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2019, where it won the Best Canadian Film award. The work has not been screened in major movie theaters, but is now available on the distributors website Maison 4:3. At the end of May, Deraspes film received five awards (along with nominations in two other categories) at the 8th Canadian Screen Awards (announced in a livestream), including Best Picture. Antigone opens with a still shot of an androgynous teenage girl, sitting alone in front of a greyish-white wall. A voice, presumably that of a policewoman, suggests she call her parents. The young girl, named Antigone, answers: Theyre dead, my parents. Later, it will turn out they were among the more than 200,000 victims of the civil war that devastated Algeria between 1991 and 2002.

Through flashbacks, we learn that after the murder of her parents, Antigone had to leave her native Kabylia accompanied by her grandmother Menecee Hipponome (Rachida Oussaada), her sister Ismene (Nour Belkhiria) and her two brothers, Polynice (Rawad El-Zein) and Eteocle (Hakim Brahimi), to move to a poor neighborhood north of Montreal when she was only three years old.

Nahema Ricci in Antigone

The children managed to adapt to this new life and, with their grandmother, enjoy happy moments. Antigone is a reserved and intelligent young girl, loved by her two brothers, who commit the occasional petty theft. At school, Antigone meets Hemon (Antoine Desrochers), the son of a prominent politician, with whom she discovers the simple joys of life and love.

The fragile stability of this everyday life is suddenly shattered when Eteocle is shot by a policeman during a brutal intervention. After identifying the body of their beloved brother in an austere morgue, the two sisters, in tears and mourning, learn from the implacable authorities that Polynice will be placed in detention for breaking conditions and assaulting a police officer. Since he still does not have Canadian citizenship, Polynice faces deportation from the country.

Convinced of her brothers innocence and determined to do everything possible to help him escape from prison and avoid extradition, Antigone puts her own freedom at risk. In her quest, which is initially driven by a certain naivete, Antigone is confronted by powerful state forces, including a ruthless judicial and prison system, but also the big business media that feeds anti-immigrant sentiment.

In Antigone, Deraspe addresses in an honest, albeit limited way, burning social issues not only in Canada, but around the worldthe oppression of immigrants, police violence, mounting youth revolt and, to some extent, social inequality. This is especially relevant in light of the recent eruption of mass protests throughout the US and internationally denouncing the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The organizers of a demonstration in Montreal pointed out that several people in Canada have been victims of police violence in recent years, including Villanueva.

Deraspe is interested in individuals from the most oppressed strata of society, without falling into stereotypes. The film is in itself a challenge to the anti-immigrant chauvinism of the ruling elite, embodied by Francois Legaults hard-right Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ, Coalition for Quebecs Future) government, which seeks to blame ethnic minorities for all economic and social problems.

The filming of Antigone

Significantly as well, the film is not saturated with identity politics, which falsely attributes the oppression of minorities to inherent racism among whites and portrays Quebec society as being divided between privileged native-born Quebecers, on the one hand, and immigrants, on the other. Both at school and at the Youth Centre, where Antigone is eventually sent, the characters in the film naturally mix together, regardless of their ethnicity. The young people who defend Antigone are of all nationalities. Hemon, who is white and in love with the heroine, is doing better than Antigone, but chiefly because his father is wealthy and influential.

Intriguingly, in an attempt to appease the anger of the girls at the Youth Centre and undermine their support for Antigone, management at one point hires a counselor wearing the hijab. One young woman exclaims, Hold on, they want to look open to diversity!

Several scenes in the film are moving. For example, the scene of Eteocles murder, filmed in slow motion, has the ring of genuine truth. The use of actual video of the riots that broke out in the multi-ethnic, working-class neighborhood of Montreal North following Villanuevas murder reveals the wave of anger that results from Eteocles death. Also worthy of mention is the scene where Ismene realizes she will probably never be able to lead the simple life she so dearly cherishes, as well as Menecees sadness at the oppression of her grandchildren. The performers, both the professionals and the many non-professionals, are serious and talented.

In Antigone, young people are portrayed as intelligent and defiant toward the authorities. Social media is rightly seen as a means of organizing resistance, and the judicial and prison systems portrayed as instruments of state oppression.

Although in her feature film debut, Nahema Ricci brings a beautiful authenticity to the main character. Her acting remains simple and without exaggeration, but is not always entirely convincing. Her composure, almost stoical at times, can seem at odds with her radical positions against the powers-that-be. This is related to the films social weaknesses, the main one being that it does not address the class issues.

Police brutality in the US and throughout the world expresses the overall violence of the capitalist state and the ruling elite, and the fundamental harshness of the social relationships. The authorities respond to their insoluble crisis and growing social inequality with repression and anti-democratic measures. The police, as well as the courts, the media and the entire parliamentary system are instruments of class oppression.

Over the last five years in the US, the most unequal advanced country in the world, the police have killed more than 1,000 people annually. The same trends are at work around the globe, including in Canada. While the exact number of police-induced deaths will never be known due to the lack of an official national count, a CBC research revealed that from 2000 to 2017, 461 people lost their lives at the hands of Canadian law enforcement. The number has increased over the past three years.

Antigone

Victims of police violence belong mainly to the most exploited sections of the working class, including immigrants and people living in chronic poverty, as well as people with mental illness. In both Canada and the US, whites make up the majority of victims, although minorities, especially blacks, and, in Canada, aboriginals, are vastly over-represented.

However, the current outburst of anger is not just about the murder of Floyd, or racism. More fundamentally, struggles are emerging objectively against a decaying profit system that brings to workers and young people only social inequality, poverty, mass unemployment and endless imperialist wars. The desperate situation of the working class has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deraspes work only touches on, and in some cases completely ignores, these bigger issues. Antigones struggle is essentially an individual one. It is motivated solely by a passionate and almost unreasonable love for her brother and her family.

Antigone obviously has every reason in the world to want to protect her brother who is threatened with extradition, but why does her fight gain such strong popular support? It is hard to believe that what is driving the wave of support for Antigone is simply the My heart tells me slogan she uses to explain her cause. As with Floyds death, the killing of Eteocle at the hands of the police becomes a rallying point for the masses against a profoundly unjust social system. But the film lacks clarity on this essential connection.

It is also astonishing that there is no real criticism of the violent and gratuitous police murder of Eteocle. There is, no doubt unconsciously, a tendency to accommodate to the official ruling elite and media version of events in the Villanueva case. These forces have always maintained, in contradiction to numerous eyewitness accounts validated in court, that police officer Jean-Loup Lapointe acted in self-defense. The media, which plays a key role in the agitation against immigrants to divide the working class, has been waging a relentless campaign in favor of Villanuevas extradition. Lapointe, cleared by the courts and the media, has never been charged and is still on patrol in the streets of Montreal.

The recent mass protests in the US and internationally had not yet erupted during the writing and filming of Antigone, but the underlying processes had long been underway. They are now bursting to the surface and will have a profound impact on cultural and artistic life. Honest creators such as Deraspe, it is to be hoped, will take an even more critical look at society, bringing their talents and art to bear to further expose the truth.
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 23, 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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By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijans Army has participated in the military parade held in Moscow on June 24, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Victory over fascism in the Great Patriotic War.

Led by Azerbaijans Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, a delegation of the ministry attended the event as a guest of honour.

Together with representatives of other countries, a parade squad consisting of 75 military servicemen of the Azerbaijani Army took part in this parade.

During the victory parade, Azerbaijani servicemen performed a solemn procession with weapons made in Azerbaijan.

It was announced during the parade that over 600,000 Azerbaijanis had fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War.

The parade was attended by 14,000 servicemen. Along with Russian servicemen, servicemen from 13 countries were marching on Moscows square.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
India has asked Pakistan to reduce their embassy staff in New Delhi by half. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires Syed Haidar Shah and asked him to reduce the staff at the Pakistan High Commission by 50 per cent within seven days. The ministry expressed concerns about the activities of the officials at the High Commission.

India also said that it would reduce its staff at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

According to MEA representatives, the staff at the Pakistan High Commission has "engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organisations".

India pointed out the activities of the two Pakistani officials who were expelled from the country on May 21 on charges of espionage. The ministry also expressed concerns over the harassment of Indian officials in Pakistan. Two Indian officials were detained in a case of alleged "hit and run". They were released 10 hours later after pressure from India.

The MEA representatives said that Pakistani 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 representatives.

The ministry also said that once the Indian officials returned home on June 22, they recalled graphic details of the treatment that they were meted out at the hands of Pakistani officials.

MEA said that that behaviour of Pakistan and its officials is not in conformity with the Vienna Convention. "On the contrary, it is an intrinsic element of a larger policy of supporting cross-border violence and terrorism," the officials 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 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," said the ministry.

Pakistan later responded and called these "baseless allegations" and that there were no violation of international law.

Also read: Two Pakistani High Commission officials caught spying; expelled from India
TDT | Manama

Education Minister Dr. Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi has announced that school results will be released electronically, after their official approval. He said that the decision not to distribute paper results and certificates as usual is in line with the Education Ministrys keenness to implement the precautionary measures taken by the Kingdom to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19), especially social distancing, as well as its efforts to transition to electronic services.

The Minister indicated that the results will be available on the educational portal edunet.bh for all school levels, adding that third intermediate and secondary school students will also be able to receive their certificates via their Microsoft365 accounts. Graduation and good conduct certificates will also be e-mailed to secondary education graduates, the Minister added.

In this context, the Education Ministrys Planning and Information assistant undersecretary Nawal Al Khater said that students who may not be able to access the service should contact technical support on 17-278777 during official working hours.

Students may also send their queries regarding their Microsoft365 accounts by visiting yalla365.net/yalla-form or by e-mailing their requests to o365support@moe.bh, Al Khater said. She added that within the ongoing cooperation between the Ministry of Education and the Information and e-Government Authority (iGA), the results of the third intermediate and secondary school students will also be available on the national portal Bahrain. bh, or they can be downloaded from iGA applications on bahrain.bh/apps.
In this June 9, 2020, file photo, Kevin Peterson, center, founder and executive director of the New Democracy Coalition, displays a placard showing Breonna Taylor as he addresses a rally in Boston. Louisville's mayor says one of three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Taylor will be fired, Friday, June 19, 2020. Taylor was gunned down by officers who burst into her Louisville home using a no-knock warrant. She was shot eight times by officers conducting a narcotics investigation. No drugs were found at her home. (Steven Senne/AP)
Coronavirus advice in Pacific Islander languages was published only four days ago, raising questions about government efforts to inform non-English speaking communities about the pandemic.

Members of Melbourne's Pacific Islander community, many of whom live in the council hotspot of Brimbank, have felt frustrated by the lack of information in native languages and have been requesting it for months.

COVID-19 testing in Brimbank. Credit:Eamon Gallagher

The Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed that coronavirus information in Pacific Island languages, such as Tongan, Samoan and Cook Islands Maori, was first published on June 20.

"There was nothing," Pasifika Community Organisation president Tonya Helu said.
Scarborough Coun. Jim Karygiannis has once again been removed from office with the Court of Appeal overruling an earlier decision.

The decision from a panel of three judges was released in writing Wednesday morning after a virtual hearing in the case last month.

Karygiannis, who represents Ward 22 (Scarborough-Agincourt), was first automatically removed from office in November after his campaign financial statement showed he had grossly overspent a strict limit in the 2018 municipal election. But later that month, a Superior Court judge agreed with the councillors lawyer that an error in his campaign paperwork had been made inadvertently and that an absurdity in the law existed that didnt allow for relief from that automatic penalty.

Toronto resident Adam Chaleff, a fair elections advocate, challenged that decision at the Court of Appeal. He argued the lower court judge did not have the discretion to return Karygiannis to office under the provincial laws that apply to municipal elections.

Court of Appeal for Ontario Coun. Jim Karygiannis View document on Scribd

He also argued that even if the judge was able to reinstate the councillor, he shouldnt have in this case, calling Karygiannis overspending a blatant violation of the rules.

The unanimous Court of Appeal decision on Wednesday concluded that while the penalties set out under the Municipal Elections Act were harsh in some cases, forfeiture is clearly what the legislators intended.

The decision noted that had Karygiannis filed his statement earlier and not at the filing deadline, there would have been an opportunity to correct and refile any inadvertent errors.

Granting relief from forfeiture would amount to rewriting or repealing the statute, revoking the very consequence for breach of the statute that the legislature prescribed, according to the written ruling.

For those reasons, the judges found the court did not have jurisdiction to reinstate him and therefore the rules under the Act that saw Karygiannis automatically ousted in the first place still apply.

While they didnt rule on whether reinstatement should have been granted in any case, the judges said they were not convinced the filing showing the excess spending was simply a clerical error as Karygiannis claimed.

Karygiannis could not immediately be reached for comment.

Chaleff told the Star Wednesday he felt justified by the decision.

It was a difficult pill to swallow when the Superior Court decided to rewrite, in effect, the Municipal Elections Act and its gratifying as a citizen who feels that elections are a really important part of our democratic processes that the Ontario Court of Appeal is upholding some of the most fundamental checks and balances involved in our local elections, Chaleff said.

He said Karygiannis does have the right to seek leave to appeal at the countrys highest court  the Supreme Court of Canada  but its up to that court whether to hear the case.

The courts mandate is to hear cases of significant public interest and national importance, something Chaleff said he doesnt believe exists with this appeal.

Council will now be tasked with filling the Ward 22 seat  either through byelection or appointment. Council has a choice of which method to use under provincial rules and must vote on how to fill the vacancy. In a statement Wednesday, the city said the clerk will report to council next week on the steps they must take to fill the vacant seat.

This far out from an election  in late 2022  council has usually opted to hold a byelection. Karygiannis is not eligible to run again or be appointed until after the next regular election, under provincial rules.

The Scarborough Mirror and toronto.coms David Nickle first reported Karygiannis extraordinary 2018 campaign spending.

Karygiannis still faces a compliance audit of his campaign spending, ordered by a city-appointed committee at Chaleffs request.

A key point in the case was a $27,000 dinner listed in Karygiannis financial statements. After the review of his expenses was launched, Karygiannis refiled a financial statement that moved costs connected to that event from the fundraising category, which is not subject to spending limits and was a part of the request for an audit filed by Chaleff, to the section for parties and expressions of appreciation. For Ward 22, that section was subject to a strict $6,120.80 limit in 2018.

Provincial legislation says that if a candidate exceeds any campaign limit they automatically forfeit their office. The city clerk informed Karygiannis in early November that was the case.

Karygiannis legal team has called Chaleffs appeal a partisan attack. They maintained that the dinner was a fundraiser, despite financial filings not showing any money raised from the event.

It is not clear from the record whether and if so, how many of the guests actually donated to his campaign, and when the funds were received, the Court of Appeal decision said.

Jennifer Pagliaro is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @jpags
Much of the new tension over the safety of reopening is playing out in the West and South, where the numbers are getting worse, and has split along partisan lines.

The governors of Louisiana and Oregon, both Democrats, recently paused their plans to ease restrictions on businesses and public life, saying it was not yet safe to more fully reopen. And on Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington ordered most people to wear face coverings in public.

It is clear that Covid is alive and well in Louisiana, and as we see more people testing positive and admitted to hospitals, we simply are not ready to move to the next phase, Gov. John Bel Edwards said, noting that about 90 percent of new cases were coming from spread in the community, not within nursing homes or other group living facilities.

But Republican governors in Florida, Arizona, Texas and other states grappling with rising daily case levels have resisted the prospect of locking down again.

Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas has declined to require Texans to wear masks and said that locking down the state again would be a last resort. But on Tuesday he urged residents to stay home in an interview with the television station KBTX.

Because the spread is so rampant right now, there is never a reason for you to have to leave your home unless you do need to go out, he said. The safest place for you is at your home.
Swarms of locusts are currently on the rampage in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, after leaving a trail of destroyed crops in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. These are no ordinary hoppers, but desert locusts. They differ from the regular hoppers in that they become dangerous when they enter the gregarious phase, by forming swarms that can travel up to 150 km per day and eat as much as about 10 elephants in a day. When millions of locusts descend on a crop, they destroy everything, devastating the agricultural supply chain and livelihoods of farmers.

During the last wave of desert locust attackfrom July 2019 to February 2020almost 1.7 lakh hectares of agriculture land in India was affected, with Rajasthan and Gujarat being the worst hit. The attack caused an estimated loss of Rs 100 crore.

UN-led Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO) desert locust bulletin has informed of the possibility of successive bigger swarm waves entering Rajasthan throughout June, coinciding with the sowing season. The locusts will be either settling in cropping areas or will continue eastwards to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, going even as far as Bihar and Odisha.

The locusts invading several states now are in the nymphal stage. Once they reach adulthood, in just three breeding seasonsspanning over three to five monthstheir population can expand 16,000 times. They are a threat not just to agricultural crops but also to horticultural crops. In fact, fruit trees are particularly vulnerable to attack by immature swarms, which prefer to roost in them. Once damaged by locusts, the trees are likely to have their fruit yield affected for more than one year.

To ward off locusts, India has bought drones to spray insecticides, and specialised equipment to monitor their movement. FAO has made several innovations in locust survey and surveillance, such as the use of survey data that is geo-referenced, and is in conjunction with weather, habitat data and satellite imagery.

The attack earlier this year is attributed to cyclones in Indian Ocean that hit a sandy area in the Arabian Peninsula, creating congenial breeding conditions for the locusts. With wetter conditions and increased intensity of precipitation events being projected by climate experts, the increased risk and frequency of locust attacks in the coming years is a cause for concern.

Given the magnitude of the recent attacks, and the vulnerability of the agriculture sector, the Government of India should consider certain policy initiatives to alleviate the woes of the farmers. Crop diversity, which has been traditionally considered the best option to tide over adverse conditions including climate change, pest attacks, and diseases, should be encouraged. Crop diversity allows farmers to plant and harvest more than one crop. The growing seasons are staggered throughout the year, and therefore, in the incidence of a locust attack, farmers are likely to have already harvested some crops. This leaves them with buffer stocks of foodgrains and seeds to sow.

The Government should also mull reinforcing policies for social protection to farmers, such as the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme, implemented by Odisha recently. Crop insurances, which provide financial support to farmers in the event of crop failure due to natural calamities, pests and diseases, should be considered. However, according to the Pocket Book of Agricultural Statistics (2017), the percentage crop area insured under all insurance schemes, in the states under locust attack is less than or about 30%, with 22% in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh each, and 32% in Haryana and Maharashtra each. Bridging this gap between farmers who are protected by crop insurance and those outside its ambit is important.

While temporary measures such as spraying of insecticides is on to battle locusts, a long-term solution involves restoring the environment and formulating strategies for a resilient agriculture sector.

(The writers work in the area of Adaptation and Risk Analysis at CSTEP, a research-based think tank)
WENDY M. MUSIELAK I am honored to be installed as the President of the DuPage County Bar Association. With all of the changes our legal community is facing today, I look forward to working together to determine solutions for our changing world, Musielak stated.

The DuPage County Bar Association serves the attorneys, judiciary, and citizens of DuPage County, Illinois in providing legal education, business development, and networking opportunities, designed to enhance and benefit DCBA membership and the community, while upholding the highest degree of civility and professionalism.

Wendy concentrates her practice on family law matters, including child custody and visitation, child support, alimony, and spousal support, collaborative law, mediation, prenuptial agreements, litigation and appeals, and complex litigation.

Before becoming a partner with Esp Kruezer Cores LLP, Wendy worked as a Staff Attorney for the 18th Judicial Circuit Court. She also served as an Adjunct Professor for DePaul Universitys Department of Management.

In 2013, Wendy was selected as the DuPage County Bar Associations Lawyer of the Year for her outstanding work in the local community and legal associations. Wendy is a member of the DuPage County Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Kane County Bar Association, and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. She is also a member and former director of the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers.

Wendy is a fellow for the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois. She was selected an Illinois Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2014 to 2017 and a Leading Lawyers Network Emerging Lawyer from 2015 to 2017. She has been selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer and Illinois Leading Lawyer every year since 2018.

Wendy received her Bachelors degree with a double major in Finance and Management with highest honors from DePaul University in Chicago. She earned her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law. Wendy is admitted to practice law in Illinois, the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, and the United States Supreme Court.

I am honored to be installed as the President of the DuPage County Bar Association. Collaborating with my distinguished fellow peers in the field of law is a privilege. With all of the changes our legal community is facing today, I look forward to working together to determine solutions for our changing world, Musielak stated.

About Andrew Cores Family Law Group, A Division of Esp Kreuzer Cores LLP

Since 1996, attorneys at Andrew Cores Family Law Group have provided the citizens of Illinois with skilled and compassionate representation because they truly care about their clients. With offices in DuPage County, Cook County, Kendall County and throughout Illinois, they offer convenient ways to consult with clients about various legal needs. The firm focuses on the following practice areas: Family law and divorce; Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

To learn more about Andrew Cores Family Law Group, visit https://www.coresdivorcelawyers.com/ or call 630-871-1002 to schedule a free consultation.


In his 1970 Playboy interview, the celebrated writer Robert Graves floated a nifty idea on how we should bring up young people. Interviewer James McKinley asked Graves, Are there any circumstances under which you would condone the use of drugs by people not of a priestly elite? Graves responded thus:

Well, I have an idea which might be useful. I think that at the time Protestants have their confirmations and Jews have their bar mitzvahs, about the age of 14 or 15, children should be isolated and put under very strict discipline for three weeks. They should be fed very little and kept away from all distractions. Then they should be given the sort of treatment one got in the ancient Greek mysteries. They should be purged and frightened and then given a harmless hallucinogen. While under all that, they should be taught the moral rules of life.

What exactly did Graves mean by purged? There are several definitions for purge in The American Heritage Dictionary, but they can all be summed up as the removal of something unwanted, (like dead people from voter registries). Perhaps Graves meant that children should be given an emetic to make them vomit, or something to cause them to evacuate their bowels. One imagines, however, that Graves was more interested in purging youngsters of bad ideas.

In any case, the rigors of the ancient Greek mysteries Graves referred to are much too soft for todays hardened children. You see, many of todays kids have never experienced much in the way of discipline, adult authority, and such. Many of todays young adults have never even been spanked when theyve misbehaved, so they dont know what it is to be frightened, as Graves recommends. Had they simply been spanked for bad behavior, perhaps theyd have a little impulse control and think twice before looting businesses and torching police cruisers.

When entertaining the thought of committing a crime, todays young people do not have an inner No to remind them of the consequences of their acts. No inner voice warns them that their behavior might garner a beating from Dad. Thats because there is no dad. The dissolution of the nuclear family must be laid at the feet of Democrat policies that go back decades.

So todays violent youngsters need something rather harsher than Graves quaint remedy (indeed, his recommendations were probably too soft even for 1970.) But America doesnt need to look to ancient Greece for guidance. To find a cure for the growing disorder we see in the streets of Americas cities, we need only go back to the 19th Century. But spanking isnt enough for an adult. What misbehaving adults need is flagellation.

The authorities need to mete out to adults the punishment they should have received as children. For some time now, Ive thought that we need to return to corporal punishment, not the caning that is still used in parts of Asia, but public flogging in the town square using the old cat-o-nine-tails or bullwhip. If it was good enough for the Royal Navy, it ought to be good enough for the rest of us.

Such te nder mercies wouldnt be given for trivial infractions, but for egregious ones where serious lessons need to be learnt. Decent Americans might come to support this solution because of the growing disorder in America. We see growing disrespect for law enforcement in our premier cities, such as New York, where hooligans douse policemen with buckets of water. Years before the current spate of lootings, New York experienced flash mobs (aka flash robs) where gangs of young people swarm and overwhelm stores to steal merchandise. We all pay for such theft in higher insurance premiums that get passed down to the customer as higher prices. Such behavior should not go unpunished. And part of that punishment could be a public flogging, performed just before perps are sent to prison. Recidivism would get perpetrators extra lashes. As with everything else, if we want order and domestic tranquility, theres a price to be paid.

However, Amendment VIII of the Constitution forbids unusual punishment. Well then, lets make corporal punishment usual again, something that lawbreakers can expect. Some elements in American society feel they can do the most atrocious things with impunity. Thats partly because they (correctly) see the authorities as weak, too namby-pamby to do anything about their vile deeds. They can steal, destroy property, and beat their fellow citizens senseless, and they rightly figure that the government isnt going to bring them to account.

Lest one think that the idea herein is some satiric modest proposal, the political left should consider what deeds they would deem fit for flogging, (other than voting Republican). Would New York Democrats have been fine with flogging, say, Osama bin Laden? (Perhaps Osama wasnt spanked enough as a child.) Would leftist historians object to the flogging of Laszlo Toth? Thats the gentleman who in 1972 took a hammer to Michelangelos Pieta.

The woke mob currently controlling Americas streets cant be concerned with such vandalism and desecration as Toths. In fact, Shaun King, an apologist for Black Lives Matter, has just recommended destroying the stained glass windows of our churches; seems the depictions of Jesus are too white for him. (Shaun may be a bit of a self-hater, as he himself appears rather white. Also, as might be guessed, Mr. King grew up without a father in the house to spank the mush from his mind.) Theres no reasoning with these people, and they must be brought to heel. The only thing that might possibly have dissuaded them from their crimes is the fear of pain and public humiliation. But were too civilized to deliver the lash nowadays.

If public flogging just isnt done in the sophisticated America of 2020, then what kind of punishment do progressives recommend for the criminal youths terrorizing our cities? If they cant think up any appropriate punishment for these victims with a taste for mayhem, then allow me to present another idea for punishment: hard labor in chain-gangs, followed by intensive studies after supper when they would be be taught the moral rules of life, as Graves urged.

But some might object that thats not who we are. If so, then who we are is a people who allow kids to burn down their cities with impunity. Who we are are Blue State residents who dont recall governors who release hardened criminals onto their streets because said criminals might contract the Wuhan virus in prison. Who we are are sheeple who have allowed tin pot fascist governors to take away their basic constitutional rights, whereby going to church is more likely to land one in jail than turning Americas cities into a war zones.

A lot of Americans seem to be rather deluded about who they really are. To fix that, I recommend a round or two of self-flagellation. Birch branches will do.

Jon N. Hall of ULTRACON OPINION is a programmer from Kansas City.
New Delhi, June 24 : Amid the tension between India and China over the violent face-off in Ladakh, where 20 Indian soldiers were killed 10 days ago, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, here on Wednesday, termed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as the "Indo-Tibet border".

Posting the pictures of an army event in the state, Khandu tweeted, "The valour of Indian Army is what we counted ever since our Independence. Had an opportunity to interact with the brave jawans today at Bumla post on the Indo-Tibet border. Their josh (excitement) is at the highest level. We are in safe hands when it comes to our borders." The statement assumes significance as China has been in occupation of the autonomous region of Tibet, an area of around 2.5 million sq km, since 1951 and the Tibetan government has been in exile in India.

New Delhi refers its border with Tibet in Arunachal Pradesh as the LAC.

China disputes India's sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, which has an area of around 84,000 sq km and population of around 1.5 million. India's boundaries were defined by the British before Independence. But China occupied Aksai Chin in Jammu & Kashmir and raised dispute over the boundary of Arunachal Pradesh in the 1962 war with India.

Around 1,00,000 Tibetans (73 per cent of all Tibetans), including the Dalai Lama, their spiritual leader, are in exile in India.

But in the last few years, the central government seemed to be distancing itself from the community. In 2018, the government prohibited its officials and leaders from attending the events to mark the 60th anniversary of Tibetan exile.

The prohibition came on the eve of an informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. As a result, the Tibetan government in exile cancelled its events in New Delhi.
Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates Muted Following Warning From UK Health Experts

The Pound (GBP) is stuck in a narrow range against the Australian Dollar (AUD) this morning, in the wake of warnings from UK medical experts warning that the country must prepare for a second wave of coronavirus infections.

Health leaders are urging the government to review its preparations for a coronavirus resurgence in light of the UK government recent announcement of sweeping changes to lockdown restrictions.

Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that pubs, restaurants, cinemas and hairdressers will be able to reopen from 4 July, with the current 2m social distancing rules set to be relaxed to one-metre plus.

In a letter published in the British Medical Journal, UK health experts warned: While the future shape of the pandemic in the UK is hard to predict, the available evidence indicates that local flare-ups are increasingly likely and a second wave a real risk. Many elements of the infrastructure needed to contain the virus are beginning to be put in place, but substantial challenges remain. The job now is not only to deal urgently with the wide-ranging impacts of the first phase of the pandemic, but to ensure that the country is adequately prepared to contain a second phase.

GBP investors fear that should cases begin to flare again the government will have no choice but to re-introduce strict lockdown measures, undoing the progress the UK economy has made since a record downturn in April.

Australian Dollar (AUD) Subdued as Coronavirus Jitters Grow

The Australian Dollar (AUD) is also suffering from coronavirus concerns this morning, as fears of a global resurgence has prompted investors to shun the risk-sensitive Aussie.

These concerns come amidst a worrying rise in cases across parts of the US as well as localised spikes in many other countries, where the disease was thought to be largely under control.

Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell, comments: The US is seeing a spike in new cases in some states, although whether this reflects a second wave or a continuation of the first wave is open to debate. Other countries, such as Germany and China, have seen an increase in infections in some areas after emerging from lockdown. At the very least we can probably expect more of these localised flare-ups of the disease, with regional containment measures imposed to deal with them.

Unsurprisingly the threat of a second wave of global coronavirus infections has soured global risk appetite this morning, weakening demand for the high-yield Australian Dollar.

GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Forecast: Brexit Concerns Likely to Cap any Upside in Sterling

Looking ahead, the main catalyst of movement in the Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate going forward looks to be renewed concerns over Brexit.

Re-energised summer talks are set to get underway next week, with Boris Johnson having recently expressed his optimism that a trade agreement could be reached by the end of July with a bit of oomph.

However there are already signs of new obstacles in the next round of talks, with Brussels accused of trying to stop the UK government from protecting British farmers against low price European imports.

Meanwhile, in the absence of any notable data the Australian Dollar is likely to remain highly sensitive to market sentiment through the remainder of this week, potentially leading some losses if coronavirus concerns going to dampen the market mood.
Russia and China will be isolated at the United Nations if they continue down the road to dystopia by blocking a U.S. bid to extend a weapons ban on Iran, U.S. Iran envoy Brian Hook told Reuters ahead of his formal pitch of the embargo to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Trend reports.

The 13-year-old arms restrictions on Iran are due to expire in October under the terms of Tehrans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Russia and China have signaled they oppose extending the embargo.

While Washington has long argued that the embargo should not be lifted, the international community has been waiting for it to formally push the measure. Hook and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Kelly Craft will make the case for why the 15-member council should support a draft resolution extending the embargo behind closed doors on Wednesday.

We see a widening gap between Russia and China and the international community, Hook said in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday evening.

Russia and China were isolated at the (International Atomic Energy Agency) last week and they will be isolated in the Security Council if they continue down this road to dystopia, Hook said.

The IAEAs 35-nation board of governors on Friday called on Iran to allow the U.N. nuclear watchdog access to two sites suspected of nuclear weapons activities, and to cooperate fully. Iranian allies Russia and China opposed that move but could not block it, whereas at the Security Council they have veto powers.

A council resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, China, Russia, Britain or France to pass.

Earlier this month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on Russia and China to resist Washingtons push, pledging to increase our defense capabilities as we have been doing so even under sanctions.
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The global bubble wrap packaging market is expected to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period due to a number of key factors. In a study, Market Research Future (MRFR) identifies the growing use of eco-friendly materials in roofing, the development of energy efficient cool roofs, and the burgeoning demand for a new generation single ply tech to be some of the key factors driving the growth of the global market. The report further states that the global roofing materials market size is expected to garner a CAGR of 3% during the forecast period between 2016 and 2023.

At present, the market is increasing primarily due to the expanding construction industry across the world. Furthermore, the burgeoning Foreign Direct Investments in the construction sector of emerging countries and favorable government regulations and policies are some of the other fueling factors of the market. Governments are even seen taking measures to promote and develop the infrastructure and construction industries. The emerging countries in various regions are bringing forward various reforms and regulations to accelerate the growth of the market. However, at the same time, the lack of awareness concerning these roofing materials among the consumers is a big factor that can hamper the growth of the market.

Regional Analysis

The global roofing materials market is geographically segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Rest of the World (RoW).

The Asia Pacific region is the dominant player in the global market with the highest share percentage and is anticipated to grow in the forthcoming years with the highest CAGR. The expanding urbanized population, the increasing industrialization, and the rising spending capacity of consumers are some of the key drivers pushing the market growth in the Asia Pacific region. Add to this, the increasing re-roofing activities also hold a positive influence on the market growth of roofing materials.

The North American region holds the second largest share in the roofing materials market. The proliferating demand for residential housing and the growing support from the government in the form of rebates and implementing various other tax benefits is expected to drive the growth of the region. Additionally, the presence of various key manufacturers in the region and their ability to provide a wide portfolio of products to the customers is anticipated to cause a positive influence over the growth of the regional market.

Market Segmentation

The global roofing materials market segmentation is based upon product type and application.

By product, the market segments into metal roof, tile roof, plastic roof, and others. The tile roof segment holds a dominant share of the market and is expected to continue its dominance in the near future. Metal roofs is projected to grow at the fastest manner during the forecast period owing to the high service life and high durability.

By application, the market comprises residential and non-residential segments. The residential sector holds the dominant hand in the application market. The expanding housing sector in major economies like India, US, and China is a key driver of roofing materials.

Competitive Landscape

Some of the key players identified in the global roofing materials market include names such as Owens Corning Corp. (U.S.), GAF Materials Corporation (U.S.), Etex (Belgium), TAMKO Building Products, Inc. (U.S.), Atlas Roofing Corporation (U.S.), Braas Monier Building Group S.A. (Europe), Icopal Holding Aps (Denmark), CertainTeed Corporation (U.S.), Fletcher Building Limited (New Zealand), North American Roofing (U.S.) and others.

April 25th 2019, the Democratic Progressive Party Member of Parliament named Fukumele Mukumbwa of Chitipa Central Constituency Clement has cemented his willingness to hold onto its position for the next five years as he has donated roofind materials worth K-17 million to the Ishalikira Primary School.
LONDON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today sees the launch of a new collaboration between Dods and Polit-X, providing businesses and organisations across Germany with the broadest possible EU monitoring and political intelligence service. With comprehensive coverage of all relevant EU institutional, political and stakeholder sources, the combined service will bring together Dods' extensive expertise on EU affairs via Polit-X.

Launched in time for the beginning of the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union, starting on July 1, 2020, clients will be able to receive digital analysis and German monitoring for Europe, as well as EU insider information and analysis for Germany, making the services strengths available for both home markets.

Dods delivers business-critical market intelligence and analysis for stakeholder management. Our team of expert monitoring consultants produce leading research, insights and news to help clients understand the ever-changing political and public sector landscape. They produce bespoke, up-to-the-minute alerts tailored to client's requirements, ensuring they can understand and react to key policy changes as they occur.

"Dods stands for tradition and reliability. Not only in London but also in Brussels. This is important, especially with background information from the European Union," says Heiko Schnitzler, founder, and CEO of Polit-X. "Both companies complement each other's offerings well. Our clients, politically oriented organizations such as associations, companies, or foundations, do not miss any relevant political developments in the EU on their topic. The synergies for our customers are obvious. Since both companies pursue the same goals, we are glad to act with combined forces in the future", Heiko Schnitzler continues.

Polit-X has been a pioneer in German-language digital policy monitoring and parliamentary analysis since 2007. From the 2019 European elections, the company has also been offering digital analyses of EU policies, institutions, and members of parliament.

Managing Director - Dods Intelligence at Dods Group, Munira Ibrahim says "We are very excited about the opportunity of working with Polit-X, a very well established company in the German market which has an exciting future. Through our new collaboration, we will be able to help even more organisations navigate the ever-changing political landscape of Brussels and Westminster."

Polit-X will from now on offer online services and services also in English, Schnitzler announced.

Notes to Editors

About Dods:

For over 180 years, Dods has provided essential information and connections to the political and public sector arenas. Now one of the UK and EU's leading business intelligence, media and event companies, we are a trusted source of political knowledge and debate through our portfolio of services and iconic media titles.

www.dodsgroup.com

About Polit-X:

The Polit-X monitoring and analysis make it possible to quickly and easily monitor public and political content, such as the activities of all members of parliament in the Bundestag and in the federal states. As a leading digital company for the observation and analysis of political events, Polit-X enables data-driven and document-based policy monitoring and smart parliamentary analyses. Users currently have access to over 3 million documents in a daily updated database. This enables individual research on all political topics in full text. Combined with the know-how of the users, ad hoc tailor-made analyses can be carried out on Germany and the European Union.

https://polit-x.de/
A game of international chess is how Maxime Cottray describes the current state of the global production business. Right now, everyones moving their pieces around the board, trying to find a place to shoot  Australia, Iceland, wherever, says Cottray, a production executive with genre film specialists XYZ Films. And you have to be ready, if COVID strikes, to be able to move fast to find somewhere else.'  The Hollywood Reporter
Three staff members at a youth academy in Michigan were charged on Wednesday with causing the death of a 16-year-old boy who was killed after two of them put their weight across his chest and abdomen and the third failed to seek medical attention, according to a county prosecutor.

The teenager, Cornelius Fredericks, who was black, was one of about 125 children at Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo, Mich., which offers programs for children with behavioral problems and other challenges. He had said I cant breathe as he was being restrained, according to a lawyer, Geoffrey Fieger, who filed a lawsuit on behalf of Corneliuss aunt on Monday.

Corneliuss name has been featured in protests spurred by the killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd, who died last month after uttering the same anguished plea while a police officer knelt on his neck.

Two of the academy workers, Michael Mosley, 47, and Zachary Solis, 28, were charged with involuntary manslaughter for restraining Cornelius in a grossly negligent manner, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison, said Jeffrey S. Getting, the prosecuting attorney in Kalamazoo County.
Pakistan continues to serve as a safe haven for regionally focused terrorist groups and allows outfits including the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed to operate from its territory, the US State department said in a new report released on Wednesday. The US indictment of Prime Minister Imran Khans track record in fighting terrorists comes against the backdrop of Islamabads brazen support for terrorists killed in encounters with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistans foreign office counts them as innocents.

Wednesdays assessment by the US state department, which counted Pakistan as one of the countries that provide safe harbours for terrorists, is unlikely to go down well with Islamabad that faces a review by the anti-terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force in October. Islamabad was given a four-month reprieve after the FATF had to put off a scheduled review of Pakistan due to the coronavirus pandemic.

German report spotlights Pakistans nuclear proliferation record Pakistan, along with Iran, North Korea and Syria are trying to obtain necessary products and know-how for nuclear weapons through illegal procurement efforts in Germany, according to the annual report of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution for the German State of Baden-Wurttemberg. The report said Pakistan had for many years been operating an extensive military nuclear weapons and carrier programme. This is primarily directed against the arch enemy India, which also possesses nuclear weapons, the report said. The German report noted Pakistans dependence on acquisition of western technology and procedures for maintenance and development and warned there could be efforts to illegally procure them in Germany. In addition to acquisition of products (dual-use goods), the secondment of scientists to universities, institutes or research establishments is also important. This also applies to institutions in Baden-Wurttemberg, the report said.

In its Congressional-mandated annual report 2019 Country Reports on Terrorism, the State Department noted that Pakistan had taken modest steps to counter terror financing and restrain India-focused terror groups following the Pulwama suicide bombing in February 2019 that landed Imran Khan in a spot when the Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the bombing in Kashmir. But it hadnt gone far enough.

Thus far, however, Islamabad has yet to take decisive actions against Indian- and Afghanistan-focused militants who would undermine their operational capability, the report said.

It also noted that Pakistans pledge under its 2015 action plan to dismantle all terrorist organizations without delay and discrimination was still unfulfilled. Pakistani authorities had indicted Lashkar founder Hafiz Saeed and 12 of his associates in December last year but had made no effort to use domestic authorities to prosecute other terrorist leaders such as JeM founder Masood Azhar and Sajid Mir, the mastermind of LeTs 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Both of them, the report said, are widely believed to reside in Pakistan under the protection of the state, despite government denials.

Several terrorist groups that focus on attacks outside the country continue to operate from Pakistani soil in 2019, including the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed, the state department report said.

The report indicted the Imran Khan government and military for their inaction, underlining that they acted inconsistently with respect to terrorist safe havens throughout the country and did not take sufficient action to stop certain terrorist groups and individuals from openly operating in the country.

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LANSING, MI  Police are investigating an incident in which a man serving a security for a group of racial injustice protesters allegedly pointed an assault-style rifle at a man on a motorcycle.

According to a protest organizer Paul Birdsong, the motorcyclist refused to go around the group blocking an intersection in Lansing last week, The Associated Press reports. The man who pointed the rifle can be heard in a video of incident telling the motorcyclist, if youre going to run us over, Im going to protect my crowd.

The man serving as security pointed the gun after the man on the motorcycle revved his engine, Birdsong said.

The man was protecting the group, according to his attorney, Lucas Dillon. Protection is needed because passersby have been threatening protesters, saying things like youre all going to die, Dillon said.

The Lansing protest was related to unrest that spread throughout the country following the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. A white police officer pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for several minutes, even after the handcuffed Black man stopped moving and pleading for air.

Some people protesting police violence against Black people since Floyd's death have encountered armed bystanders along demonstration routes, the report said.

The name of the man with the rifle has not been released, and the motorcyclist has not been identified, the report said.

READ MORE:

Hatchet-wielding fugitive captured, arraigned on felony charges

U.P. courthouse closed abruptly due to ongoing situation

Erosion forces 400-ton historic buildings move away from Lake Michigan

Invasive spotted lanternfly could threaten Michigan fruit, hops, tree crops

FDA issues warning for 9 hand sanitizers with toxic ingredient
Alarm bells should always ring when someone is desperate to sell you something. And the marketing frenzy around equity release is no different.

Equity release, also known as a lifetime mortgage, is a fairly niche financial product.

Yet elderly and vulnerable homeowners are bombarded with regular TV adverts, letters and emails.

Equity release, also known as a lifetime mortgage, is a fairly niche financial product. Yet elderly and vulnerable homeowners are bombarded with regular TV adverts, letters and emails

These pushy tactics often indicate one thing: that those selling the loans stand to make a lot out of doing so.

As we reveal, sales advisers are raking in lavish bonuses, with some promised pay packets of up to 180,000 a year.

But juicy incentives such as these can be a recipe for mis-selling. Just last week the Financial Conduct Authority fired a warning shot, saying some advisers have been selling equity release loans without due diligence.

The City watchdog said they failed to always take into account the individuals circumstances and were unable to show their advice was suitable.

This is extremely concerning in light of coronavirus, when it is more important than ever that struggling families receive decent advice.

Equity release can be a very useful option for those who are property-rich, but cash-poor, later in retirement.

And the industry is in much better shape than in previous years, with the majority of advisers acting responsibly.

But these loans are not right for everyone. The interest charges can be punishing and there may be cheaper ways to free up cash.

With the multi-billion pound market booming, the regulator needs to take better care of its vulnerable customer base.

People are reaching retirement with record levels of debt, while the pandemic has hit many pension pots hard.

It means that equity release is bound to be an option that more and more people turn to.

To protect these homeowners, the regulator should ban percentage commission fees on equity release.

This will help ensure customers get the right deal for them, rather than the most lucrative for the adviser.

We also need to give homeowners more choice; the current picture is too black and white.

We desperately need a solution that enables asset-rich and income-poor retirees to enjoy a retirement they deserve without the wealth in their homes being eaten away to nothing.

Some lenders now offer equity release deals that allow borrowers to repay the interest each month or clear the loan early without facing crippling exit fees, but there is much more to be done. As it stands, equity release can be a very expensive price to pay for not saving enough for retirement.

A little leeway...

Bank staff should be applauded for putting their own lives at risk to keep branches open for the many who rely on them. But coronavirus concerns cannot excuse shameful customer service.

Our report exposes how some overzealous branch staff have been questioning elderly customers at the door, then turning them away if their reason for visiting is not deemed essential enough.

Sending a 69-year-old woman back on to the street with a handbag containing hundreds of pounds in cash is plain negligent. Given the grandmother-of-five had just spent 20 on a taxi to get to the bank, surely staff could have served her on that occasion.

A cynical person might wonder if this is another attempt by banks to push customers online, so they can accelerate phasing out branches.

Hit the shops yet?

After months of purchasing only the absolute necessities online, Im getting the urge to splurge  or at least replace the three wine glasses Ive broken during lockdown.

Yes, I could do this online, but I enjoy a good browse and am keen to support the high street.

But whats it like out there?

Following an initial rush last Monday, when non-essential stores were permitted to open, all seems to have gone quiet. Has the new world of one-way systems, plastic screens and cordoned off changing rooms deterred the most hardy of shopaholics from getting a retail fix?

If youve resumed your high street shopping habit, write to me at the email address below and let me know how it went.

v.bischoff@dailymail.co.uk
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / Toronto based CO2 GRO Inc. ("GROW") (TSXV:GROW) (OTCQB:BLONF) (Frankfurt:4021) is pleased to announce that it will be installing a CO2 Delivery Solutions VCO2 system at a Colombian rose greenhouse in collaboration with a leading global industrial CO2 gas supplier ("Gas Supplier"). The VCO2 system will be evaluated for its effects on faster time to flowering, greater flower bud production and protection against the spread of powdery mildew.

The Colombian Flower Market

According to Statista, Colombia exported $1.5B of flowers in 2018 of which $1.2B was to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Colombia is the largest exporter of roses and other flowers to the U.S., exceeding four billion flowers annually. In flower arrangements, Colombia is the second largest exporter globally next to the Netherlands. Most export-targeted flowers from Colombia are grown in simple hoop houses and shade houses which cannot use CO2 gassing to enhance production. This market is a prime candidate for CO2 Delivery Solutions aqueous CO2 application which can be easily implemented in any covered cultivation such as hoop and shade houses.

GROW's CEO John Archibald commented, "We are excited to be collaborating with this leading global industrial gas supplier that operates in dozens of countries. The Colombian rose market is yet another high value market where our CO2 Delivery Solutions technology can add to grower profits. Our sales team is making excellent progress expanding into new high value plants and key geographies. Building strategic relationships with companies such as global industrial gas suppliers will help us expand our domestic and international reach to accelerate sales."

Visit www.co2delivery.ca for more information on CO2 Delivery Solutions or watch this video. To see a CO2 Delivery Solutions VCO2 system installation, watch this video.

About CO2 GRO Inc.

GROW's target markets are focused on the 50 billion square feet of global greenhouse and covered cultivation space (USDA). Atmospheric enrichment of CO2 by gassing has been practiced in indoor and expensive sealed greenhouses for decades resulting in enhance crop yields of up to 30%. However, 85% of the world's greenhouses are unsealed and have open-venting designs for heat ventilation which makes CO2 gassing uneconomical and impractical since the CO2 gas easily escapes.

GROW's CO2 Delivery Solutions naturally and safely dissolves CO2 gas into water creating an aqueous CO2 solution which is then misted directly on plant leaves. GROW has demonstrated its technology to be as effective as CO2 gassing by improving crop yields up to 30%, while using a fraction of the CO2 gas. The CO2 solution's micro droplets create an aqueous film around the entire leaf surface, isolating the leaf from the atmosphere. This creates a diffusion gradient favoring CO2 transport into the leaf and other gases out of the leaf. Increased carbon availability enhances photosynthesis resulting in faster and larger plant growth. CO2 Delivery Solutions has been demonstrated on crops including cannabis, hemp, lettuce, kale, microgreens, peppers and flowers. In addition, aqueous CO2 misting offers Perimeter Protection for plants by slowing the spread of micro pathogens such as E. coli and powdery mildew. Greenhouse growers everywhere can now supplement CO2 to their crops using CO2 Delivery Solutions, increasing plant yields and profits.

Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on CO2 GRO's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances, unless otherwise required to do so by law.

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.

For more information, please visit www.co2gro.ca or contact Sam Kanes, VP Communications at 416-315-7477 or Michael O'Connor, Manager of IR at 604-317-6197.

SOURCE: CO2 GRO Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595084/CO2-GRO-Inc-Announces-a-Commercial-Feasibility-Project-at-a-Colombian-Rose-Greenhouse-in-Collaboration-with-a-Leading-Global-Industrial-Gas-Supplier
ANN ARBOR, MI  Ahead of a candidate forum scheduled for Wednesday evening, a three-way primary race for a seat on Ann Arbor City Council has been generating heated discussion online after one candidate posted caricatures of her opponents, including one that some are calling anti-Semitic.

Ward 4 Democratic candidate and environmentalist Mozhgan Savabieasfahani posted in a public Facebook group, Ann Arbor Politics, on Monday, calling out her opponents in the race to represent the southwest portion of the city. Savabieasfahani was highlighting what she sees as negative qualities of her opponents, public relations specialist and former MLive journalist Jen Eyer and incumbent Jack Eaton: her campaign contributors and his stance on policing.

But the caricatures of each of her opponents drew concern for some. One depicts Eyer holding cash next to a suited, cigar-smoking pig handing over more cash. The other depicts Eaton flanked by two pigs, with all three wearing law enforcement uniforms and pointing guns at the viewer. Savabieasfahani declined in an interview to say who drew the caricatures and if she commissioned them.

Some comments were quick to call out the drawings for anti-Semitic connotations because Jewish people have long been portrayed as animals and financial establishment figures.

By Wednesday, Savabieasfahani removed the caricatures from her post at the request of group moderators. She defended the post, saying political cartoons have a long history in elections. She laughed at the accusation that the images had anti-Semitic connotations and said the pig was meant to represent capitalists and old party hacks, referencing notable Democratic figures who have donated to Eyers campaign. She mentioned former Michigan Democratic Party Chairpersons Rick Weiner and Lon Johnson, who have each donated to Eyers campaign, finance records show.

What you see in both of caricatures are really what I see as the essence of these two candidates and the reasons why Ann Arbor has one choice and thats me, Savabieasfahani said.

Ward 4 Ann Arbor council candidates discuss coronavirus outbreak, sustainability in forum

In the same comment thread, Council Member Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward, shared a photo of Eyer wearing a fur coat. It was deleted, but screenshots show the caption as I want someone to look at me the way Jen Eyer looks at her fur coat. He commented, Thats quite a caricature, I almost didnt recognize Jen without her fur coat.

Eyer spoke out against the commentary of both Hayner and Savabieasfahani, calling it middle-school cruelty in a Facebook post. She called Hayners comment a sexist, political attack.

In an interview, Hayner said he recognizes that women are held to different standards than men, but his comment came from his opposition to fur. As an animal rights activist, he said he doesnt believe public officials should promote wearing fur  whether it is real or fake.

Affordable housing, racial justice discussed by Ann Arbor Ward 4 candidates in election forum

Its not about her personally, Hayner said. Its neither one of those (sexist or political attacks). Its a poor example.

Eyer maintained her disappointment in all the negative social media activity in an interview Wednesday. She said she wanted to run a positive campaign and other candidates and officials should not make personal or biased comments about others in the race and was disappointed a photo from her wedding was used for political purposes.

Ann Arbor residents deserve and should demand leaders who will represent them with grace and dignity, Eyer wrote in the Facebook post denouncing the social media activity. Voters can count on me to continue running a positive campaign focused on the issues and my plans to lead Ann Arbor forward.

Eaton echoed Eyers opposition to negative campaigning. He said he tries to avoid engagement. He has previously supported adding several police officers to the Ann Arbor Police Department because he said thinks there should be enough officers to engage with the community personally.

Its legitimate to have differences of opinion about public policy and political issues, but to engage in that, its beneath us, Eaton said. Were a better community than that.

The three candidates will participate in Washtenaw County Democratic Partys community conversation event for the Ward 3 and Ward 4 elections at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Platt Pavilion in County Farm Park ahead of the Aug. 4 election.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

Cancellation of presidential debate case of being too cautious, University of Michigan College Republicans say

Ann Arbor seeks input from cyclists on improving bike routes in survey

Ann Arbor Public Schools to vote on new 5-year contract for superintendent
bkm Officeworks We understand that everyones goal is to reopen and get back to the office as safely as possible. This is why weve partnered with SERVPRO to offer disinfection treatments to protect employees and their work environments from the novel coronavirus.

bkm Officeworks (bkm), the leading creator of dynamic work environments, announced a new partnership with SERVPRO San Diego and Riverside, a leader in deep cleaning and disinfecting services. This partnership provides pivotal cleaning services to businesses in order to meet state and CDC guidelines on reopening their doors while keeping employees safe in light of the global pandemic.

We understand that everyones goal is to reopen and get back to the office as safely as possible, said Bill Kuhnert, CEO at bkm Officeworks. This is why weve partnered with SERVPRO to offer disinfection treatments to protect employees and their work environments from the novel coronavirus among other airborne contaminants.

Utilizing hospital-grade products to combat the spread of germs and promote a healthy and safe work environment, both companies are ensuring that the products provide ultimate disinfecting results while remaining safe for human interactions. While this partnership focuses on COVID-19, the products and services offered also protect against other indoor airborne contaminants such as enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, bacteria, mold and volatile organic compounds.

Were excited to partner with bkm Officeworks to offer such specialized services in times of need, said Kyle Trelford, regional marketing consultant at SERVPRO. We align with bkms commitment to ensuring San Diego businesses are able to safely bring employees back to the office with top-notch decontamination services that fully comply with local, national and international regulations.

This partnership is the marriage of bkm Officeworks expertise in office design and function with SERVPROs ability to provide best-in-breed disinfection services. As every office is unique in their needs, exposure scenarios and operational complexities, which is why bkm and SERVPRO are offering three levels of disinfection depending upon a companys needs:



Level One: With full personal protection equipment, a fogging application is performed with hospital grade products that are EPA listed and approved.

Level Two: Level one disinfection plus damp wipe high contact touch surfaces, which involves disinfection performed by IICRC certified technicians along with adenosine triphosphate meter testing to help gauge the level of effectiveness.

Level Three: Level one and level two plus, damp wipe of all surfaces.

To learn more about the bkm and SERVPRO partnership and what is involved in taking the necessary steps to protect employees with disinfecting services, join both companies this Friday, June 26th at 10:00am PST for an informational webinar.
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday lashed out at BJP national president JP Nadda for raising the issue of 600 Chinese incursions under the UPA government.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Jagat Prakash Nadda should refrain from asking former PM Manmohan Singh about intrusions and said that he should ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi about 2264 Chinese intrusions since 2015.

Taking to Twitter, Chidambaram in Hindi wrote, BJP President Mr. Nadda asked former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh to explain about 600 Chinese incursions into India between 2010 and 2013. Yes, there was infiltration but no Indian territory was captured by China and Indian soldiers were not killed in violent clashes. Will Mr. Nadda ask the current PM to tell about 2264 Chinese intrusions from 2015 to now? Im sure he wouldnt dare ask that question, he added.

Earlier today, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that China has brazenly occupied the countrys territory and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has destroyed Indias position and betrayed the Army by accepting Beijings stand that it did not occupy any Indian land.

Also Read: HC grants bail to Jamia activist Safoora Zagar

If the PMs statement reflects the correct position, we would like to ask the government a few questions. If no Chinese troops had crossed the LAC and are in Indian territory, what was the face-off on May 5-6, 2020?: @PChidambaram_IN #ModiSurrendersToChina pic.twitter.com/anv5oBd1KQ  Congress (@INCIndia) June 20, 2020

Also Read: Mutual consensus to disengage: India-China at military talks

The former Congress chiefs remark came at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting today.

One reason why China has acted as there is a complete and total failure of foreign policy. The established institutional structure of diplomacy has been demolished by the PM, he said.

China has brazenly occupied our territory. PM has destroyed our position and betrayed our army by accepting their position that they occupied no Indian land. The Chinese cant be permitted to get away with this unacceptable usurpation of our land. Everything needs to be done to ensure that sacrifice of our martyrs is not in vain, Gandhi said.

India and China have been involved in talks to ease the ongoing border tensions since last month. However, last week as many as 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in a violent 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.

Also Read: International relations must come to terms with contemporary realities: S Jaishankar at RIC meeting

Did the BJP question the UPA between 2004 and 2014 on Chinese incursions and criticise UPAs China policy? Answer is yes, many times  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 23, 2020

Also Read: US restricts Indias Vande Bharat Mission flights, alleges discriminatory practices

The Indian intercepts have revealed that the Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured in the violent clash.

In the Corps Commander level talks between India and China at Moldo on Monday, both sides have reached a mutual consensus to disengage in the Eastern Ladakh sector, Indian Army said today.

For all the latest National News, download NewsX App
Midland artist and photographer, Kayla Barker, will be showcasing her first full collection of artwork Thursday at her home studio.

European Summer features medium-format film photo encaustic artwork documenting five years of vacations in Europe.

I love Europe; we have been quite a few times, she said. I always feel really inspired to create art after I visit.

She started working on the collection about three years ago and picked out photos of coastlines and Italy, France and Portugal. Her art isnt simply fine-art photography. She started experimenting with the encaustic method because she wanted to create work in a hands-on medium instead of just working solely on a computer with her digital photography editing.

She said she works with beeswax, tree sap -- which acts like a resin -- and pigment or oil paint in the encaustic method. She photographs on film then prints out the photographs and puts them on birch cradle boards or fine-art photo paper. Then she uses a hot griddle to heat the wax, which she either paints or pours onto the photograph. She said the wax helps bring focus and attention back to certain parts of the photograph.

Want to see more?

Opening reception: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at 909 W. Kansas Ave.

The collection launches online at 10 a.m. Friday.

http://www.kaylabarker.com/ See More Collapse

Then I go through and scrape certain areas, she said. So, youll see some areas are clear and then some parts are foggy, and the texture is all from the wax. Its a photograph but it has a full layer of wax and texture.

After she finishes waxing, she will go back and oil paint details back into the photo focusing on highlights and shadows.

Her husband, Clint, turned the garage into her studio before their daughter, Celeste, was born. Barker said she had to take a break from working with wax while she was pregnant because the wax fumes need to be ventilated.

A lot of people dont even do encaustic art because its a weird form of painting, she said. It bridges a weird gap because its not a fine-art photograph but its not a painting; its like a kind of a mixed media.

Barker said that there arent tutorials or videos on Youtube teaching photo encaustic. She launched an online course in which she teaches the method. The online course is July 1 through July 15 on her website.

She had plans to go back to Italy in June with her family, but their plans were delayed because of coronavirus.

The collection has the essence of summer and relaxation, Barker said. This series isnt super deep; its just more fun, and especially right now when no one can travel it has been nice to still work on these pieces.
London-based photographer Helen Murray, who has captured over 200 stage shows throughout the UK, has released a special series of portraits entitled "Widening the Lens", in partnership with the Act for Change project.

1st row left to right - Roy Williams, Stephanie Street, Daniel Kaluuya, Sinead Matthews 2nd row left to right - Rachel De-Lahay, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Ria Zmitrowicz, Roy Alexander Weise 3rd row left to right - Eleanor Matsuura, Noma Dumezweni, Wunmi Mosaku, Arinze Kene

 Helen Murray

Featuring a variety of theatre-makers from all backgrounds, the series, which Murray began in 2016, was originally meant to be an exhibition but due to the lockdown has been moved online. Each portrait features an individual wearing or holding an Act for Change pin.

1st row left to right - Vinay Patel, Desara Bosnja, Joan Iyiola 2nd row left to right - Sunita Hinduja, Nicholas Pinnock, Martina Laird

 Helen Murray

Many of those included in the series are freelancers, currently out of work and finding it challenging to gain support during the ongoing pandemic.

1st row left to right - Ronke Adekoluejo, Monica Dolan, Prasanna Puwanarajah 2nd row left to right - Polly Bennett, Sam Bernard, Amanda Wilki

 Copyright Helen Murray 2016

Act for Change aims to oppose and eliminate discrimination on any grounds, as well as bolstering awareness of equality and diversity within the arts community. You can find out more about the organisation here.

1st row left to right - Kwame Kwei-Armah, Alex Nowak, Jade Anouka 2nd row left to right - Rajha Shakiry, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Sharon Duncan-Brewster

 Helen Murray

You can see the full series of photos on Murray's website.
Saham Life Insurance Ghana Limited yesterday donated 52 boxes of hand sanitisers and 1500 customised nose masks to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for distribution to various media houses in the country.



The donation forms part of the corporate social responsibility of the company and it aims at helping secure the lives of journalists for them to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.



Donating the items, the Chief Operations Officer of the insurance company, Mr Charles Sarsah-Arthur stated that personal safety was vital in this era and underscored the need for journalists to be well protected.



He observed that journalists were front liners who always worked with people likely to be COVID-19 positive, hence the need to offer them some form of protection while they went about their duties.



Receiving the items, Linda Asante-Agyei, Vice President of GJA commended the insurance company for the timely donation.



She observed that many journalists had risked their lives in the line of duty and expressed regret that some had contracted the disease.



Ms Asante-Agyei used the opportunity to announce that her outfit would visit media houses whose reporters had contracted the disease on Wednesday to sympathise with them.



She indicated that the items would go a long way to support media houses to fully equip journalists with protective equipments for them to fight against the pandemic.



Ms Asante-Agyei observed that the threats that COVID-19 had imposed on the environment and lives was devastating and expressed the need for it to be managed properly by frontline staff including journalists.



She appealed to other benevolent institutions to support her outfit for them to protect journalists whose lives were at risk.



Ms Asante-Agyei promised to use the items for its intended purpose and urged journalists and media houses to continue educating the public on the safety etiquette of the ailment.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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At least 30 protesters were detained in Lima on Tuesday as workers were preparing to rally to demand economic assistance during the pandemic.

The National Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds that were heading to the Plaza Dos de Mayo.

Geronimo Lopez, Secretary-General of the General Confederation of Workers of Peru, said 30 people were detained.

He said hundreds of people have been let go from their jobs due to the pandemic and quarantine measures and don't have a way to support themselves or their families.

Peru has been under a national emergency quarantine for months.

There are 257,447 positive cases of COVID-19 and 8,223 deaths, according to figures from the Johns Hopkins University.

(Image Credit Pixabay)
Parents are concerned about the mental health of their young children due to the pandemic and the subsequent lack of social interaction, as well as the transition back to school.

Many parents do not know where to turn for advice, resources or information to assist them in supporting their childs mental health during this time.

Isolation and loneliness, anxiety, and coping strategies were among the top three concerns for parents who feel they need help to support their childs mental health.

The findings are included in a survey of 1,500 parents nationwide carried out by Walk in My Shoes, St Patricks Mental Health services education campaign, together with the National Parents Council.

"We know that the pandemic has had mental health impacts for all of Irish society, and children, in particular, are feeling the effects from disruption to their school and social lives," said Paul Gilligan, the chief executive of St Patricks Mental Health Services.

There are multiple resources available to support childrens mental health and help them positively adjust to a new normality, he said, adding that the impacts will gradually subside as life returns to normal.

"As schools come to a close for summer holidays, it is timely to remind parents that the key ways to keep our children mentally healthy apply during these unusual times, reminding them they are loved, teaching them how to be happy and to have self-belief, ensuring they feel safe and helping them to meet emotional challenges."

Protecting our own mental health is also vital, he added.

The survey found:

- Almost 70% of primary school parents are concerned about their childrens mental health due to the pandemic.

- One in four of these parents say they are either very or extremely concerned.

- Just 17% of the children of the parents surveyed have received mental health support from places like schools, helplines, counselling services, or HSE community support.

- One-third of parents surveyed said they would not know where to turn for advice on supporting their childrens mental health.

Walk in My Shoes has developed online resources and tools to assist parents, available at www.walkinmyshoes.ie. A webinar for parents will also take place on Wednesday, July 29 July.

"This is a timely survey as young people prepare to say goodbye to the academic year and look toward the summer months," Aine Lynch, the chief executive of the National Parents Council said.

"This survey shows that parents are engaging with online information for mental health support, and this information is key to developing accessible and reliable resources that will empower them to help their children through this difficult time."

Meanwhile, a professor at the Trinity College Dublin School of Education has urged parents not to worry about curriculum catch-up when schools reopen.

Professor Noirin Hayes, an expert in early childhood education, believes resettling children back into routines should be the priority.

"Children will have been learning lots of new things and different skills during the pandemic period. They may also have had stresses to deal with," she said.

"The emphasis should be on an enjoyable restart, with opportunities given and time taken to re-establish familiarity with school, with friends and with teachers. This message is particularly important for children who may have had difficult experiences during the lockdown and are receiving additional schooling support over the summer.

"The emphasis should be on nurturing their relationship with learning, rather than catching up on homework."
An Oregon county has said non-white people don't need to wear coronavirus face masks in public if they have 'concerns about racial profiling and harassment', as racial tensions mount across America following the Memorial Day 'murder' of black man George Floyd at the hands of a white cop.

Health officials in Lincoln County, Oregon, announced Tuesday that people of color are exempt from the order issued last week that requires all residents to wear a face covering if they come within six feet of someone who does not live in their household.

'People of color who have heightened concerns about racial profiling and harassment due to wearing face coverings in public' are exempt, officials said.

'No person shall intimidate or harass people who do not comply. This Directive is intended to induce voluntary compliance and compliment education and encouragement of use of face coverings to protect ourselves and our community.'

Health officials in Lincoln County, Oregon, announced Tuesday that people of color are exempt from an order requiring all residents to wear a face covering if they have 'concerns about racial profiling and harassment'

Officials last week issued the order mandating people wear masks when they are not able to social distance with people from other households.

The new directive came as cases - which continue to be low in the region - have been inching up in recent weeks.

As of Tuesday, Lincoln County has recorded 292 cases of the deadly virus and to people have so far been killed.

A number of people were exempt from the announcement including children under 12 years old, people with medical conditions who have difficulty breathing with a mask on and people with disabilities that prevent them wearing a mask.

Officials then added all people of color to the exemptions Tuesday, as concerns mount that ordering everyone to wear masks puts people of color at increased risk because of racial stereotyping.

Director of ACLU's Racial Justice Program ReNika Moore has warned previously that black people face a 'lose-lose situation' and 'life-threatening consequences' both from contracting coronavirus if they don't wear a mask and racial stereotyping if they do.

'For many Black people, deciding whether or not to wear a bandana in public to protect themselves and others from contracting coronavirus is a lose-lose situation that can result in life-threatening consequences either way,' she told CNN back in April.

Ohio State University economic professor Trevor Logan said when black men wear masks people perceive it as 'criminal or nefarious'.

Protesters at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Portland, Oregon, wear face masks. The ruling from health officials in the Oregon county comes as racial tensions are mounting across America following the Memorial Day 'murder' of black man George Floyd at the hands of a white cop

'We have a lot of examples of the presumed criminality of black men in general,' he told CNN.

'And then we have the advice to go out in public in something that... can certainly be read as being criminal or nefarious, particularly when applied to black men.'

He added: 'This seems like a reasonable response [to order people to wear masks] unless you just sort of take American society out of it. When you can't do that, you're basically telling people to look dangerous given racial stereotypes that are out there.'

Protests have been sweeping across America calling for an end to systemic racism following Floyd's death in Minneapolis and a string of other shocking cases of black men and women being killed by police officers.
PITTSBURGH, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GNC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GNC) (the "Company"), a leading global health and wellness brand, today announced that the Company, certain of its North American entities, certain of its secured lenders, and key stakeholders have reached an agreement to pursue a dual-path process that will allow the Company to restructure its balance sheet and accelerate its business strategy through Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. GNC expects the Chapter 11 process will benefit its stakeholders and best position the Company for long-term success. U.S. and international franchise partners and all corporate operations in Ireland are separate legal entities and are not a part of the filing.

GNC and all of its subsidiaries remain open for business. Consumers will continue to have access to their favorite products, as well as new, innovative brand solutions to meet their wellness goals wherever GNC products are sold. GNC continues to serve consumers through its retail stores in many areas and is offering safe and convenient curbside pick-up at shopping plaza locations. The Company also continues to provide solutions for its customers anytime at GNC.com.

Lender and Stakeholder Support to Enable a Swift, Orderly Process

Importantly, the overwhelming support of the Company's creditors will enable GNC to emerge from this process expeditiously. GNC enters this dual-path process with a signed restructuring support agreement (RSA) that is executed by more than 92% of Term Lenders and 87% of ABL FILO Lenders (collectively, the "Supporting Secured Lenders"). The Company and these Supporting Secured Lenders have reached an agreement on a pre-arranged standalone plan of reorganization.

Additionally, the Company, a significant majority of the Supporting Secured Lenders, and Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co., Ltd., an affiliate of GNC's largest shareholder, have also just reached an agreement in principle for the sale of the Company's business. The term sheet documenting that agreement outlines a $760 million purchase price for the sale transaction, which would be executed through a court-supervised auction process at which higher and better bids may be presented. The sale transaction is subject to mutually acceptable definitive documentation. In support of the proposed sale path, GNC has commenced a comprehensive marketing process for its business. If the sale transaction is timely consummated as outlined, it would be implemented instead of the standalone plan transaction.

GNC's largest vendor and a joint venture partner, IVC, is working with the Company to ensure a continued supply of products to the Company and advance the proposed sale of GNC's business.

With the support of its lenders and key stakeholders, the Company expects to confirm a standalone plan of reorganization or consummate a sale that will enable the business to exit from this process in the fall of this year.

GNC has secured approximately $130 million in additional liquidity through (i) a commitment from certain of its term lenders to provide $100 million in "new money" debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing and (ii) approximately $30 million to come from certain modifications to the existing ABL credit agreement. The Company is confident that between financing and cash flow from normal operations, and with the continued support of its largest vendor, GNC will meet its go-forward financial commitments as it works to achieve its financial objectives.

Accelerating Business and Brand Strategy to Evolve GNC for the Future

As outlined in both potential paths, the Company expects to use this process to improve its balance sheet and capital structure while continuing to advance its business strategy, right-size GNC's corporate store portfolio, and strengthen its brands to protect the long-term sustainability of its business.

Over the past year, GNC has been executing a store portfolio optimization strategy to close underperforming stores, while continuing to invest in omnichannel and brand strategies to better meet consumer demand. This process will enable GNC to accelerate these strategies, including its store portfolio optimization. GNC expects to accelerate the closure of at least 800 to 1,200 stores. This acceleration will allow GNC to invest in the appropriate areas to evolve for the future, better positioning the Company to meet current and future consumer demand around the world.

GNC remains committed to delivering wellness solutions to its consumers through easier and enhanced options to live well, from a strong product pipeline to an improved e-commerce experience. The Company will be launching the option to buy-online-pick-up-in-store later this year and has a robust innovation pipeline of ingredients and products to bring to market over the next three years. With an 85-year history of science-backed innovation, the GNC brand remains a strong, trusted source for health and wellness products, which are increasingly important in today's environment.

Additional Information

GNC's case is being heard in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. In the coming days, the Company expects to file in the applicable Canadian court seeking recognition of the U.S. Chapter 11 proceeding.

Additional information about the case and a current list of store closures can be found at GNC's dedicated microsite, www.GNCevolution.com. Claims information can be found at https://cases.primeclerk.com/GNC.

GNC is advised in this process by Latham & Watkins LLP, FTI Consulting, and Evercore. The Company has retained the Bank of China Limited Macau Branch as debt advisor with respect to certain sale-related financing. Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co., Ltd. is advised by White & Case LLP, Clifford Chance, and Junhe LLP. An ad hoc group of Supporting Senior Lenders consisting of Term Lenders and ABL FILO Lenders is advised by Milbank LLP and Houlihan Lokey, and an ad hoc group of Supporting Senior Lenders consisting of ABL FILO Lenders is represented by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP and AlixPartners LLP. IVC is advised by Sidley Austin LLP.

About GNC

GNC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GNC) is a leading global health and wellness brand that provides high quality science-based products and solutions consumers need to live mighty, live fit, live long and live well.

The brand touches consumers worldwide by providing its products and services through company-owned retail locations, domestic and international franchise locations, digital commerce and strong wholesale and retail partnerships across the globe. GNC's diversified, multi-channel business model has worldwide reach and a well-recognized, trusted brand. By combining exceptional innovation, product development capabilities and an extensive global distribution network, GNC manages a best in class product portfolio. As of March 31, 2020, GNC had approximately 7,300 locations, of which approximately 5,200 retail locations are in the United States (including approximately 1,600 Rite Aid licensed store-within-a-store locations) and the remainder are locations in approximately 50 countries.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to GNC's financial condition, results of operations and business that is not historical information. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by the use of terminology such as "subject to," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "may," "will," "should," "can," the negatives thereof, variations thereon and similar expressions, or by discussions regarding GNC's strategy and outlook. While GNC believes there is a reasonable basis for its expectations and beliefs, they are inherently uncertain and subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These risks, contingencies and uncertainties relate to, among other things: the highly competitive industry in which we operate; unfavorable publicity or consumer perception of our products; product innovation; our exploration of new strategic initiatives; our manufacturing operations; relationships with our vendors; our distribution network and inventory management; our ability to develop and maintain a relevant omni-channel experience for our customers; the performance of, and our relationships with, our franchisees; the location of our stores; availability of raw materials; risks related to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) and its impacts on our markets (including decreased customer traffic at malls and other places our stores are located); general economic conditions; the risk of delays, interruptions and disruptions in our global supply chain, including disruptions in supply due to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) or other disease outbreaks; material claims or product recalls; regulatory compliance; the value of our brand name; privacy protection and cyber-security; our current debt profile and risks related to our capital structure; possible joint ventures; our key executives and employees; insurance; the timing and outcome of the Chapter 11 cases and GNC's filing for relief under Chapter 11; and tax rate risks. GNC undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results could differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of important factors that may materially affect such forward-looking statements, please refer to GNC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and GNC's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

SOURCE GNC Holdings, Inc.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday raided the premises of suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Councillor,Tahir Hussain, and others in connection with a money laundering probe, officials said.

The agency is investigating two cases of money laundering  one against Hussain and another against the Popular Front of India (PFI) -- for allegedly mobilizing funds during the February riots.

The officials cited above, who requested anonymity, said the raids were carried out at six places in Delhi and Noida.

Hussain and his associates allegedly laundered around Rs 1.10 crore using shell companies to fuel protests against the CAA and the riots. In its probe against PFI, the ED has alleged that about Rs 120 crore were channelled to fuel anti-CAA riots. Hussains lawyer Javed Ali refused to comment on the ED raids.
An inspection crew from the Virginia Department of General Services inspect the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Va., on June 8, 2020. (Steve Helber/AP Photo)

Virginia School Board to Rename Robert E. Lee High School; Obama Among Possible Replacements

A school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, Virginia.

The Fairfax County School Board said in a statement that they will take suggestions from the community, before voting again in July to decide a new name for the high school that has been named after the Confederate Army commander. The new name will go into effect for the upcoming 202021 school year.

Confederate values are ones that do not align with our community, said Board Vice Chair Tamara Derenak Kaufax, who initiated the name change. I have seen the pain and hurt that these names have inflicted on friends, colleagues, and community members. Our schools need to be places where all students, staff, and members of the community feel safe and supported.

Fairfax County Superintendent Scott Braband is suggesting six possible replacement names: John Lewis, Barack Obama, Mildred Loving, Cesar Chavez, Legacy, and Central Springfield.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring Prince Williams County, community meetings have been held this week to select new names for Stonewall Jackson High School and Stonewall Middle School, both located in Manassas and named for Thomas Jonathan Jackson, the Confederate general who earned the nickname Stonewall during the First Battle of Manassas in 1861.

The decision comes as Virginias Gov. Ralph Northam (D) ordered that an iconic Robert E. Lee monument in the city of Richmond would be removed and placed in storage as soon as possible. The statue has been heavily defaced with graffiti by protesters in the past few weeks, amid the nationwide unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd. Protesters have vandalized the statue of Confederate commander Williams Carter Wickham on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus in Richmond, before pulling it down with ropes.

Earlier this month, Jefferson and Washington elementary schools in Berkeley, California dropped their names after the school board approved a Resolution in Support of Black Lives Matter, an initiative to address systemic racism in the school system. The original school names commemorate the first and third presidents of the United States, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and a Framer of the Constitution, was nonetheless an unrepentant slaveholder whose wealth was built on the labor of the enslaved, the school districts resolution said. Washington, to whose selfless service to a new nation this country is forever indebted, nonetheless profited from the enslaved labor of hundreds of human beings, and signed the 1793 Fugitive Slave Act.
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijans Defense Ministry has opened another military unit of Air Forces, the ministrys press service reported on June 23.

Deputy Minister of Defense, Commander of Air Forces, Lieutenant General Ramiz Tahirov has attended at the opening ceremony the military unit located in the frontline zone .

During his visit to the military unit, Tahirov also inspected the headquarters building, dormitory, medical center, dining room, classrooms, food and warehouse, boiler house, as well as other service and administrative facilities in the area.

The ministry noted that this new military unit will help maintaining a high level of combat readiness of Air Forces, as well as ensuring the high-quality organization and carrying out of combat duty.

It should be noted that on the same day, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry previously opened a new engineering infrastructure of the Engineering Troops.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
In an upset victory, a 24-year-old candidate won the Republican primary for former congressman Mark Meadowss North Carolina district, beating a challenger handpicked by Meadows and backed by President Trump.

Madison Cawthorn is slated to win around two-thirds of the primary vote, according to the Associated Press. Cawthorn will turn 25 just before the November general elections, the legal age to serve in the House.

Meadows, who represented the district in the states western region for several terms, is now Trumps chief-of-staff at the White House. The former congressman had chosen Lynda Bennett to run in his stead.

I want to make something clear: I support our great president, Cawthorn said on Tuesday night, appealing to supporters of challenger Lynda Bennett. President Trump made a robocall in support of Bennett.

I do not believe this election has been a referendum on the presidentas influence, Cawthorn added. The people of western North Carolina are wise and discerning. You observed both candidates and simply made the choice you believed is best for our district.

Cawthorn is a real estate investor who was nominated at age 18 by Meadows for an appointment at the United States Naval Academy. However, a car crash left Cawthorn paralyzed from the waist down.

Cawthorns victory was one of two primaries on Tuesday in which a candidate backed by the president was defeated, marking the first time Republican primary voters rejected Trumps endorsements. The second primary was won by Kentucky representative Thomas Massie, a libertarian who is running for a sixth term. Trump blasted Massie after the congressman forced House members to return to Washington, D.C. in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic to vote on an economic relief package.

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At least 53 people have been displaced by a three-alarm blaze Wednesday that ravaged one building and damaged two others.

The fire at 525 54th Street, between Polk and Madison streets, was reported just before 10 a.m. and quickly went to three alarms. The Marbella, a four-and-a-half story apartment building on one side; and a multi-family home on the other side, suffered damage from the heat and flames.

The fire appears to have started on the second floor of the brick-faced, two-story home, said Grant Ludmer, spokesman for North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue. The two people inside the home, a senior citizen and her caretaker, were safely evacuated from the home.

The town police officers  Deputy Chief De Rojas, Capt. Frank Steffe and Lt. Marcos Garciga  were in the area and when they saw flames they rushed into the three buildings to evacuate residents, officials said.

None of the residents were injured, but one North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue member was treated for heat exhaustion. Some residents at the scene passed out water bottles to the firefighters.

American Red Cross spokeswoman Diane Concannon said the organization is providing assistance to at least 53 people. West New York officials said they were taken to the town Middle School before getting hotel accommodations.

Of those displaced, some will be allowed to return to their homes after electrical repairs are made.

The origin of the fire is still under investigation. Fire departments from Jersey City and Hoboken covered NHRFR firehouses while NHRFR members battled the blaze.

This story was updated at 3:45 p.m. with new information.
India insisted on 'complete disengagement' in all its talks with China on eastern Ladakh row: Govt

Diplomatic talks between India China held amidst border row

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, June 24: India and China today discussed ways to ease border tensions. The two nations also discussed future diplomatic contacts during the first formal diplomatic meeting held since the June 15 clash at the Galwan Valley.

The virtual meet of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs is the second one since June 5 and was held through video conference.

The next level after the WMCC is the Special Representative mechanism. However there is no indication whether the two sides intend to convene the meeting anytime soon.

ITBP deploying 40 fresh companies along LAC with China

Coronavirus: Covid-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh crosses 10,000 mark | Oneindia news

The WMCC was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination. The intent behind the establishment of the WMCC was for maintaining peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas and also to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation.

On Monday, India and China held military level talks and both sides reached a consensus to disengage.

The Indian Army said in its first official statement following the talks on Monday, "the Corps Commander level talks between India and China on 22 June 2020 were held at Moldo in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere. There was a mutual consensus to disengage. Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed and will be taken forward by both the sides."

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.

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: Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 15:17 [IST]
MOSCOW -- For 2020, the Kremlin had a season of political pageantry planned.



A major cabinet reshuffle in January was to be followed on April 22 with a nationwide vote to

rubber-stamp constitutional changes granting President Vladimir Putin a chance to rule until 2036.



On May 9, Victory Day festivities marking 75 years since the Nazi defeat in World War II could have sealed the deal, confirming Putin's coronation as the longest-serving leader in Moscow since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin with a grand military parade on Red Square and footage fit for the archives.



But when the coronavirus pandemic intervened, both the vote and the parade were postponed. And as COVID-19 spread in Russia throughout April and May, Kremlin aides scrambled to salvage the plans. In early June, Putin announced that the vote would now happen on July 1, a week after a delayed Red Square parade.



"We have fulfilled the main task  to prevent the explosive negative development of the situation," he said in a video conference call with officials. "It allows us to return to normal life as the situation is gradually stabilizing."

The delayed spectacle on June 24 was meant to place that original vision back on track, drumming up patriotism as cities across Russia pulled out all the stops to promote the upcoming vote.



"For many people, the victory parade is the quintessence of patriotism," political analyst Konstantin Kalachyov said. "It's supposed to help raise social well-being and optimism and show people that Russia is on the right path, that we respect our history and take pride in the feats of our forefathers."

Pared-Down Celebration



On June 23, the Kremlin confirmed the countries whose leaders would attend: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Serbia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Also on the list were the Bosnian Serb member of Bosnia's multiethnic presidency and the de facto leaders of Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, which Russia recognizes as independent states.



For the guests who were expected to show up, special precautions had been taken to shield them from Putin, who has spent much of the past three months isolated in his residence outside Moscow, reportedly only conducting meetings with visitors who had passed through a special disinfection tunnel and been tested for COVID-19.

Photo Gallery: Parade Amid A Pandemic: Russia Holds Massive WWII Victory Day Celebrations Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Russia staged a massive Victory Day military parade in Moscow on June 24 to commemorate the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The lavish event was supposed to have been held on May 9 but was postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Moscow's COVID-19 lockdown measures have since relaxed and President Vladimir Putin went ahead with the parade, seeking to solidify support ahead of a referendum that could pave the way for his extended rule. Share on Facebook

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Bloomberg reported that nearly 80 World War Two veterans selected to sit near Putin at the military parade were being quarantined at a health resort outside Moscow as part of measures to protect the Russian president from exposure to the coronavirus. The army newspaper Red Star reported that specially disinfected buses would deliver them to the parade.



On June 24, Putin gathered with the leaders in the stands overlooking Red Square to watch elaborately uniformed troops march across it before tanks, intercontinental ballistic missiles,

and other military hardware followed.



The turnout of leaders with little international heft was a far cry from the attendance Moscow had hoped to attract when it was making final preparations early this year for the grand May 9 parade. France, China, the Czech Republic, and other countries withdrew their RSVPs when the coronavirus prompted the postponement, leaving Putin with a pared-down celebration.



The delayed parade on Red Square was meant to coincide with other, smaller ones that traditionally happen across Russia. But at least 17 of Russia's 85 regions cancelled their parades altogether, citing a local rise in coronavirus cases and risks to the population.

Those cancellations compounded questions about Putin's decision to hold the parade at a time when Russia's coronavirus caseload continues to rise, waning gradually in Moscow but showing no signs of abating in other regions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was based on a "deep analysis of Russia's epidemiological situation based on scientific and expert conclusions."



In a pointed parody video released a day before the parade, an actor posing as Notvladimir Notvladimirovich Notputin suggested otherwise, addressing Putin with the question: "Why are you saying the epidemic is over when it is raging?" Within a day of its appearance, the video had been viewed almost 1.7 million times on YouTube.

'What The Hell Do We Need It For?'



In Moscow, where lockdown restrictions have been gradually phased out since early June, the unexpected day off saw thousands of people enjoying the hot weather on restaurant verandas and park benches or strolling the streets with iced coffees in hand. Few seemed to care too much for the victory parade, rehearsals for which had been happening regularly since late April.



"I'm just happy I don't have to go to work," said Anna Kolesnikova, an office manager who was walking with friends in a central Moscow park. "We need to remember those who died in the war, but I don't think many people are paying attention today."



For Putin, who has been Russia's president or prime minister since 1999, the parade was likewise routine, differing little from past events aside from the date change.



But for a leader whose public support has fallen in recent years, it was a chance for some positive exposure ahead of the vote on constitutional changes that would, among other things, give him the option of running for two more six-year presidential terms after his current term ends in 2024.



In a state TV interview ahead of the parade, Putin said that he had not yet decided whether he would run for reelection but suggested that not doing so could cause instability because, as he put it, as 2024 approaches "the normal rhythm of work of many parts of government will be replaced by a search for possible successors."

Putin made no mention of the vote in his address to the parade, which was televised live. He spoke of the huge price paid by the U.S.S.R. in helping the world defeat fascism and urged Russians to come together in remembrance of the 27 million Soviet soldiers and civilians estimated to have died in that effort.



"It's impossible to imagine what would have happened to the world if the Red Army hadn't defended it," Putin said. Soviet soldiers, he added, "did not need war, or other countries, or glory, or honor. They sought to finish off the enemy, win, and return home. And they paid an irreplaceable price for the freedom of Europe."



Polls show that the majority of Russians, 75 years on, see victory over Nazi Germany in what they call the Great Patriotic War as a cornerstone of national identity.



But critics slammed the cost of the parade and questioned its timing, calling it a transparent ploy to rally support around the president ahead of the vote for constitutional changes he has initiated and endorsed.



"The whole country is amazed: What the hell do we need a parade for? What is it needed for?" prominent Putin opponent Aleksei Navalny said in a video posted to his YouTube channel. "Everyone in the country knows that all this madness is done for one person only."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service
Beth Rickey found politics thrilling, but also a little bit terrifying. As a member of Louisianas Republican State Central Committee, she helped manage the state party from behind closed doors. Rickey liked watching the action from a slight remove, making droll asides about the front-line players. But sometimes she couldnt resist speaking a little louder.

I get really angry if I think someone is getting stepped on, she said in 1991, in an interview for a radio documentary. But I hate to beI hate criticism. Im this real sensitive person.

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Rickey grew up in a big house in Lafayette, Louisiana, and she had the bearing and the bouffant hairdo of a Southern debutante. She idolized her father, Horace Rickey, who died when she was young. Horace fought in World War II and helped liberate the German death camps. Hed also been a key figure in the Louisiana Republican Party back when segregationist Democrats ruled the South. Beth grew up believing that the GOP stood for rectitude and morality. Before David Duke got elected to the Louisiana state House of Representatives, she still believed it.

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In 1989, Rickey was a 32-year-old graduate student in political science at Tulane, in New Orleans. She was also working for Dukes opponent in that House race, John Treen. During that campaign, Rickey spent a lot of time reading up on Duke in the Tulane library. The material that she uncovered shocked her.

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I come bounding up the stairs with all these book lists and writings, she said. And I said, My God, hes a Nazi. Hes not only the head of the Klan, hes a Nazi.

The Treen campaign presented Rickeys findings to voters. A photograph of Duke in Nazi regalia. Dukes claim, as a college student, that Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf was the greatest piece of literature of the 20th century. His long-standing embrace of eugenics.

We thought that if you get the message out about David Duke, people would be shocked and they wouldnt vote for him, Rickey said.

When Duke won the seat, Rickey felt shaken. But she wasnt ready to give up her fight. Two weeks after Election Day, in March 1989, she followed Duke to Chicago. He was going to speak at the national convention of the Populist Partythe fringe, far-right group that had backed his run for the presidency a year earlier. Rickey wanted to hear what Duke said when he was among friends.

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Hanging out with a bunch of Midwestern fascists was a surefire way for Duke to sully his cleaned-up image. But these were the people who had rejuvenated Dukes political career and who had helped bankroll his successful run for the state Legislature. Duke decided that he couldnt turn his back on them.

Rickey had registered for the Populist Party convention as a journalist, and Dukes speech was closed to the media. To get into the room, Rickey went undercover as a member of the party.

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The guards at the door, I found out later they were with the American Nazi Party in Chicago, Rickey said. If Id known that, I dont know if Id be so brave now. But I pretended one of them was a friend of mine. I said, Hey, how you doing? Hows your family? Hows the wife? Im glad he was married.

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When Rickey got past the guard, she found herself among skinheads and neo-Nazis. In front of this crowd, David Duke felt comfortable talking strategy. So he said, I may be a Republican, but Ill always be a Populist, or something like that, Rickey recalled. And then they all cheered. I felt like I was in on a dirty little secret. Ha ha ha. Look what I did in Louisiana. Pulled the wool over their eyes. He was using the Republican Party. And that just made me mad.

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After that closed meeting, Duke was photographed shaking hands with a man named Art Jones, the vice chairman of the American Nazi Party. That picture would run in newspapers all over the country.

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This wasnt the image that Duke wanted to project. When he got back to Louisiana, he whined that the media had treated him unfairly.

Duke said, probably truthfully, that hed never met Art Jones before, and he called Jones a Nazi kook. Duke also claimed, not at all truthfully, that the Populist Party was simply an anti-tax organization. And Duke said he repudiate[d] any efforts of extremist groups to capitalize on [his] electoral victory.

Beth Rickey knew that last part was a lie. Shed been there when Duke had told a roomful of extremists that he was one of them. Shed also heard Duke admit that he was a Republican in name only. Rickey had a clear mission: stop the Republican Party from becoming the party of David Duke.

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She had no idea how hard that would be.

In the coming months, shed bust Duke selling Nazi literature, and shed dig into the identities of his campaign donors as she pushed to evict him from the party. But shed also have long telephone conversations with Duke. Shed take drives with him, listening as he sang along to The Impossible Dream, from Man of La Mancha. Shed meet his two adolescent daughters and give them money to play video games.

Its like being held captive by somebody, she said. You get kind of goofy and start identifying with your captor, so to speak. And I would call people at night and say, Look, deprogram me. You know, Ive gotten all this stuff in my head. 

Listen to Episode 3 of Slow Burn to hear the rest of Rickeys investigation into Duke. Join Slate Plus for ad-free listening and bonus episodes each week, or subscribe to Slow Burn on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Many are looking forward to the day when Israel will soon annex the portions of Judea and Samaria that from time immemorial have been part of the Land of ancient Israel. The Jewish people were bequeathed this land, and the name of Judea and Samaria was always its official name, even throughout the years of the British Empire.

There is and has been an historical and biblical attachment of these lands as a valve in the heart of Israel. It is legitimately, by law, part and parcel of Israel and was never considered legally apart from the Jewish homeland until recent years, when enemies and bureaucrats hostile to the establishment of a Jewish state in its homeland began finagling international laws.

It must be observed that though this land had lain mostly fallow since Roman times and no other empire or people developed it, it is the Jewish people who have restored its cities and made its land productive and a flourishing place. This achievement was done by no other people except the Jewish people who loved the land, in contrast to other people who make claims on the land but have not dealt with it with love, sacrifice, ingenuity, and destiny. That is because the only nation that has been devoted to its fulfillment in and of itself are the Jewish people, who are biblically and intrinsically married to it, as opposed to those who make claims for it but never had a history entwined with it.

Historically, there was no Palestinian people except for the Jews who were so named during Roman occupation, and there never was an Islamic state, flag, language, and peoplehood connected with Judea and Samaria. In fact, the term "Palestinian" as a reference to an Arab-Muslim population was first coined after 1964, a modern period far removed from any historical chapter, as opposed to the Jewish tie to the land, which began 3,500 years ago.

Students of recent history will note that what are today called "Palestinian Arabs" are individuals not from the Judea-Samaria region, but transplants from Syria, Jordan, and Egypt who first began coming to this area precisely after the Jews had re-invigorated their settlement of Israel in the late 19th century. The Arab-Muslim population came to live within Israel's boundaries because the revived Jewish development in the land provided jobs, electricity, health clinics, and the full amenities of a modern life that the Arab-Muslim groups could not find in their ancestral land of Syria, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq.

Actually, this not annexation of outside territory. Rather, it is the long awaited official incorporation of ancient, continuous homeland within the sovereignty of its modern reincarnation, the state of Israel.

Credit should be given to the singular vision of President Donald Trump and his courage and sense of truth in being the first world leader to finally bring this verity to sovereign reality. Thanks are due to secretary of state Mike Pompeo as well for his steadfast strength in carrying out the wishes of President Trump. As noted two years ago, when President Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, there has not been a greater friend to the State of Israel and the Jewish people than Donald Trump, surpassing even the legendary King Cyrus.

Rabbi Spero is author of Push Back and president of the Conference of Jewish Affairs.
- The CBK said it had assessed effectiveness of mobile money transactions in the wake of the pandemic for the period beginning March

- Governor Njoroge noted majority customers recorded increased transactions of KSh 1,000 or less

- He also said more than 1.6 million additional customers were now using mobile money channels to receive and send money

Kenyans will continue to enjoy zero transaction fees for mobile money transfers of below KSh 1,000 up to December 2020.

This was after Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) reviewed the implementation of free cashless transactions of KSh 1,000 which was effected on March 16, to minimise coronavirus spread.

READ ALSO: Mixed reactions after Education CS announces each classroom will have 15-20 learners: "Magoha ni kama haiishi Kenya"

READ ALSO: Ngunjiri Wambugu tears into Jubilee Asili, terms it a private club for sulking politicians

The CBK governor Patrick Njoroge said he had assessed the effectiveness of mobile money transactions in the wake of the pandemic for the said period.

CBK notes that the measures were timely and highly effective in facilitating official and personal transfers at a time of great need, he said on Wednesday, June 24.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus update: COVID-19 cases cross 5,000 mark as 254 more test positive

CBK boss Patrick Njoroge said the regular had recorded increase in mobile money transactions of below KSh 1,000. Photo: Central Bank of Kenya.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Aden Duale took his sacking as a man unlike Kipchumba Murkomen - Makau Mutua Read

He noted majority customers recorded increased transactions of KSh 1,000 or less which accounted for 80% of mobile transactions considering users sent money for free.

"Most of the increase was in low value transactions of KSh 1,000 or less, this accounts for over 80% of mobile transactions and charges were eliminated which has helped cushion the most vulnerable households,"he noted.

Njoroge also said more than 1.6 million additional customers were now using mobile money channels to receive and send money.

However, business-related transactions declined marginally.

"Additionally, the following emergency measures are extended and will remain in place from July 1 to December 31. There will be no charge for mobile money transactions of up to KSh 1,000," the CBK boss added.

The new guideline was arrived at in March following a joint meeting between CBK and the service providers where it was agreed that all person-to-person transactions below KSh 1,000 shall be free.

"While the immediate objective is to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 (coronavirus) by handling banknotes, this will also reduce the use of cash in the economy over the medium term," CBK said in a statement then.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

My mother did not want me, I was called a man eater - Antony Wanjiru | My Story | Tuko TV.

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Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands have identified mutations in a gene called CNOT1 that affect brain development and impair memory and learning. The study is the first to link neurodevelopmental delays with CNOT1, suggesting that drugs that help restore the gene's function may have therapeutic benefit. The research, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, also revealed that CNOT1 interacts with several known autism spectrum disorder (ASD) genes, opening new research avenues for the condition.

"Prior to this work, the CNOT1 gene was not on the radar of autism researchers," says Rolf Bodmer, Ph.D., director and professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys and the study's co-corresponding and co-senior author. "This discovery could help us better understand the genetic mechanisms underlying ASD. Our work is also a first step toward exploring drugs that could augment the function of CNOT1 and might be able to help children with neurodevelopmental delays who have these specific mutations."

The cause of developmental disabilities, including ASD, is poorly understood. Research indicates that there may be a genetic component to these conditions, but the precise impact of the genetic variations that have been uncovered to date is unclear. Identifying the underlying cause of developmental disabilities would allow scientists to create diagnostic tests that would provide early diagnoses and potential treatments.

A common genetic thread

In the current study, scientists at Radboud University Medical Center identified a commonality between 39 people with a neurological disorder: variations in the CNOT1 gene. These individuals, whose ages ranged from newborn to 22 years old, had symptoms that spanned from severe intellectual disability to nearly normal IQ and everyday functioning. The researchers hoped to determine if the variations in the CNOT1 gene were benign or the cause of the neurological symptomsthe first step to finding potential treatments.

To answer this question, the researchers at Radboud University turned to Bodmer, a world-renowned genetics expert who studies how genes contribute to disease using a fruit fly model. Sreehari Kalvakuri, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in the Bodmer lab, created fruit flies that contained the same CNOT1 variations seen in the patients, including DNA sequences that were "misspelled" (missense), cut short (truncated) or otherwise altered.

This work identified nine CNOT1 variants that impaired learning and memory, which was measured by several independent approachesincluding a courtship assay that tested the ability of male fruit flies to remember if their female partners had paired with other males. All of these variants appeared spontaneously (de novo) in the patients, meaning they were not inherited. The scientists also discovered that these CNOT1 mutations interact with known ASD genesrevealing a genetic link to ASD that can be further explored.

"Fruit flies are a great biological model because we can complete genetic studies very quickly. This work only took a few months instead of the potential decade using a mouse model," says Kalvakuri, the study's co-first author. "Additionally, the CNOT1 gene is highly conserved between fruit flies and humans, meaning it does not change much, so we are optimistic these findings can be extrapolated to people."

Next, the scientists plan to identify which molecular components interact with CNOT1, which functions as a scaffold that builds up a larger protein complex. This work might uncover additional potential drug targets for intellectual, learning or memory disorders, including ASD.

"The first step toward helping children with neurodevelopmental delays is to determine the cause of the condition," says Bodmer. "Our ultimate hope is to find a treatment that could be given as early as possible to help these children stay on track developmentally."

Surprisingly, the findings also have implications for heart disease, the primary focus of Bodmer's lab.

"A significant fraction of these patients also have cardiac defects," says Bodmer. "Conversely, children who are born with heart defects are at a higher risk of developing ASD, too. This study on CNOT1 also provides a previously unknown genetic link between heart function and ASD."

Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions characterized by impairments in physical, learning, language or behavioral areas. About one in six children in the U.S. have one or more developmental disabilities or other developmental delays, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Explore further Rare genetic change provides clues to pancreas development

More information: Lisenka E.L.M. Vissers et al, De Novo Variants in CNOT1, a Central Component of the CCR4-NOT Complex Involved in Gene Expression and RNA and Protein Stability, Cause Neurodevelopmental Delay, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2020). Journal information: American Journal of Human Genetics Lisenka E.L.M. Vissers et al, De Novo Variants in CNOT1, a Central Component of the CCR4-NOT Complex Involved in Gene Expression and RNA and Protein Stability, Cause Neurodevelopmental Delay,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.05.017
Luxembourg's Health Minister Paulette Lenert and Health Director Jean-Claude Schmit held a press briefing earlier this Wednesday. The state of emergency is coming to a close, the public is again enjoying greater freedoms - but the virus remains a threat. Find our summary of the key points below.

Paulette Lenert kicked off the press briefing by explaining that life is gradually returning to normal in Luxembourg. Most precautionary measures and restrictions have been lifted to a certain extent and the public is again able to enjoy greater freedoms. The minister stressed that this is also a dangerous phase - it could be disastrous to think that the virus has vanished and that safety recommendations no longer need to be observed. "We want to avoid a second lockdown," she stressed, citing worrying developments in other European cities such as Lisbon. The key weapons in the fight against the virus remain large-scale testing, contact tracing, and, personal responsibility. Lenert and Dr Schmit repeatedly underlined the importance of self-isolation in case of virus-related symptoms. A number of recent infections reportedly took place because individuals who displayed common symptoms still went to work. A new testing strategy is expected to be launched mid-July. Further details will be made public at a later stage. The Ministry of Health will also from now on hold weekly press briefing to keep the public informed about the latest developments and potential emerging trends. There are no worrying developments in the Horeca sector. Up to 10 people can now be seated at one table. Dr Schmit explained that a number of people contracted the virus at a private party. Large gatherings attracting more than 20 people are no longer illegal (see below for further details) but both Paulette Lenert and Dr Schmit appealed to individual responsibility. The public is also encouraged to keep track of the people they have been in contact with as this habit would make it easier for health officials to successfully conclude contact tracing in case of a new infection. Large private gatherings of 20 people or more are allowed without restrictions. The rule is slightly stricter for large public gatherings: they are also allowed but people have to be seated and physical distance must be maintained. If that is not possible, face masks are mandatory. Nightclubs remain closed as the risk of new infections would be too high in such an enclosed space. Saunas also remain closed (with the exception of one person being allowed in one cabin). According to Dr Schmit, the large-scale testing strategy allowed health officials to detect many asymptomatic cases. Lenert explained that the reproduction value of the virus has slightly increased, which means that a slightly higher number of new infections is possible. She stressed that officials are closely monitoring the situation and doing everything in their power to trace contacts and contain the virus as effectively as possible. So far no person has refused to self-isolate after testing positive, Lenert explained. If this occurs, adults are likely to be quarantined at CHL hospital but it largely depends on the individual case and context, Lenert explained.
Top Democrats Are Trying to Stop This Man From Becoming the Next A.O.C.
Authorities have named a person of interest in the case of 53-year-old Talina Galloway, a woman who has been missing from Wagoner, Oklahoma for more than two months.

In a press conference held Wednesday, Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott said the case is being called a "missing person with special circumstance."

Kore Bommeli (Wagoner County Sheriff's Office)

Sheriff Elliott said that Talinas roommate, Kore Bommeli, who reported her missing on April 17, is a person of interest in the case and has been taken into custody. She is facing charges of possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, destruction of evidence, obstruction, fraud, and larceny.

An April 7 post on Talinas Facebook page stated that she believed she had COVID-19, but that she would not go to the hospital. Instead, the post continued, she would take some time away to deal with it. Talina was featured in Dateline's Missing in America on May 25, 2020, and friends and family said that the post was out of character and that they do not believe Talina would just walk away without contacting anyone. The last contact anyone actually had with Talina was on March 27, investigators confirmed.

Wagoner County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Elliott said Wednesday that Bommeli was deceptive to investigators about the circumstances of Talina leaving home. Bommeli filed a missing persons report on April 17, stating Talina left home without her purse or wallet. Her car was still in the driveway.

We believe that she has intentionally destroyed and attempted to hide potential evidence associated with the disappearance of Talina, Sheriff Elliott said.

One of the key pieces of evidence is a white cargo trailer belonging to Talina that was located Tuesday. Sheriff Elliott said Bommeli lied about the whereabouts of the trailer, which was sold after Talina vanished. Investigators believe the trailer played a part in Talinas disappearance.

A probable cause affidavit said investigators found what is believed to be blood in the garage and a bedroom of the home Bommeli shared with Talina, according to KJRH.

Story continues

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is processing the trailer for evidence, investigators said.

Sheriff Elliott stressed that this is a "missing person with special circumstance."

What makes it suspicious is rarely do people just drop off the face of the earth and disappear, Sheriff Elliott said. Theres always a plausible explanation to why they disappeared. We are still involved in this investigation. We really want to find Ms. Galloway safe and sound.

Talina is described as 57 tall and about 200 pounds. She has a distinct tattoo of a sun symbol on her right wrist.

If you have any information about Talinas whereabouts, call the Wagoner County Sheriff's Office at 918-485-3124.
In recent days, Texas has seen record-high levels of hospitalizations for Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Local hospitals, particularly in Houston, have struggled to keep up with the rising number patients needing intensive care. There is a massive outbreak of Covid-19 across the state of Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a television interview on Wednesday.

Amid rising hospitalizations in North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said on Wednesday that the state would pause its move into the next phase of reopening and make masks required statewide in public when distancing is not possible.

In Florida, more than 20,000 people tested positive for the virus over the last five days ending Tuesday; in New York, where far more people are being tested daily, roughly 3,100 tested positive over those same five days.

Only a handful of states  including Maine, Rhode Island and Hawaii  have required out-of-state travelers to quarantine. A larger number have asked travelers to quarantine but do not mandate doing so. And a few, such as Florida and Kansas, apply the requirement only to those coming from certain states.

The new quarantine in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut would apply to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or a state with a 10 percent or higher rate over a seven-day rolling average.

Mr. Cuomo said that enforcement would be up to each of the three states. In New York, he said, those violating the quarantine order could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine. A first violation could result in a $2,000 fine and could go up to $10,000 for subsequent violations.
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, ITALY, DENMARK, JAPAN, THE UNITED STATES, OR TO ANY NATIONAL OF SUCH JURISDICTIONS





NB Private Equity Partners Announces Investor Update Call





24 June 2020

NB Private Equity Partners Limited (NBPE or the Company) today announced that an investor conference call will be held on Wednesday 1 July 2020 in order to discuss an update on the investment portfolio and Company developments.

The conference call will take place at 15.00 BST / 16.00 CEST / 10.00 EDT and can be accessed by dialing +1-833-973-0625 (U.S.) or +1-614-999-1906 (International) with the access code 4183099. The local UK dial in number is 020 3107 0289. Please ask for the NBPE investor call.

A playback facility will be available two hours after the conference call concludes. This facility can be accessed for the following two weeks by dialing +1-855-859-2056 (U.S.) or +1-404-537-3406 (International). The code to access the playback facility is 4183099. A recording of the investor call will also be available on NBPEs website within several days after the call.

An updated investor presentation will be available on NBPEs website at http://www.nbprivateequitypartners.com/ .

For further information, please contact:

NBPE Investor Relations +1 214 647 9593

Kaso Legg Communications +44 (0)20 3603 2803

Charles Gorman nbpe@kl-communications.com

About NB Private Equity Partners Limited

NBPE invests in direct private equity investments alongside market leading private equity firms globally. NB Alternatives Advisers LLC (the Investment Manager), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, is responsible for sourcing, execution and management of NBPE. The vast majority of direct investments are made with no management fee / no carried interest payable to third-party GPs, offering greater fee efficiency than other listed private equity companies. NBPE seeks capital appreciation through growth in net asset value over time while paying a bi-annual dividend.

LEI number: 213800UJH93NH8IOFQ77

About Neuberger Berman

Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager. The firm manages a range of strategiesincluding equity, fixed income, quantitative and multi-asset class, private equity, real estate and hedge fundson behalf of institutions, advisors and individual investors globally. With offices in 24 countries, Neuberger Bermans diverse team has 2,300 professionals. For six consecutive years, the company has been named first or second in Pensions & Investments Best Places to Work in Money Management survey (among those with 1,000 employees or more). The firm was awarded an A+ in every category in the latest 2019 PRI report for our approach to ESG integration across asset classes. The firm manages $330 billion in client assets as of March 31, 2020. For more information, please visit our website at www.nb.com.

This press release appears as a matter of record only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any security.

NBPE is established as a closed-end investment company domiciled in Guernsey. NBPE has received the necessary consent of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. The value of investments may fluctuate. Results achieved in the past are no guarantee of future results. This document is not intended to constitute legal, tax or accounting advice or investment recommendations. Prospective investors are advised to seek expert legal, financial, tax and other professional advice before making any investment decision. Statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of NBPE's investment manager. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Additionally, this document contains "forward-looking statements." Actual events or results or the actual performance of NBPE may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such targets or forward-looking statements.
UMGs Spinnup Expands DIY Music Distribution, A&R To Japan

UMG has expanded its DIY music distribution service Spinnup to Japan. In addition to an array of Tunecore like features, Spinup promises to put artists in front of the biggest labels on the planet.

More than 80 Spinup artists have already signed major contracts in Europe and America, according to UMG

Ichiro Tamaki, Executive Officer, Universal Music Japan says: Delivering music has never been easier, but it has never been easier for an artist to build a career amid a flood of talent. We hope Spinnup will not only bring indie artists to reach out to music fans around the world, but will also be a place to discover and discover new talents for universal music A&R around the world. Through Spinnup, we will support new talent in Japan and support the artists who will lead the next generation.

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DETROIT, MI  A Detroit homeowner has filed a lawsuit after a photo of firefighters posing in front of his burning home went viral.

Deonte Higginbotham said he was furious after Detroit firefighters took a selfie in front of his burning home on New Year's Eve.

The photo of Higginbothams house burning in the background New Years Eve went viral, FOX-2 Detroit reports.

"An apology or something, no one has reached out to us about anything," Steve Haney, attorney for Higginbotham said. "I don't know what is going on, they just let our house burn down to the ground and they haven't said anything to us."

The 17 firefighters, who posed in the picture celebrating a fire chief's retirement have been disciplined. But no details of the punishment were ever released.

Haney filing the lawsuit on behalf of Higginbotham and his family. They are going after the city and its fire department claiming the firefighters were negligent that night.

Pictures show Higginbotham was in the middle of renovating his family's home on Green Street when it caught fire. He wants them to be compensated for the house that was lost.

"People can argue and disagree but I don't think this would happen in Livonia or happen in Plymouth," Haney said. "You have 17 white firefighters standing in front of a black family's house burning down. It is what it is."

Initially the Detroit Fire Department said at the time they thought the house was vacant and that the fire was too dangerous to fight on the inside.

Detroit Fire Commissioner Eric Jones said at the time the photo was not professional but said at this time he cannot comment on pending litigation, FOX-2 Detroit reports.
The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on Tuesday delivered an unflattering assessment of the performance of the power sector since it was handed over to new private operators in 2013.

The Director-General of the privatisation agency, Alex Okoh, told the Senate Committee on Power during its investigative hearing on the power sector recovery plan that only Transcorp Power Limited and Geregu Power Limited out of the six privatised electricity generation companies (GENCOs) have met their performance targets since taking over.

Transcorp Power, operator of the 972 megawatts (MW) Ughelli power plant reputed to be Nigerias largest fossil-fuel based power plant, is owned by the UBA Chairman, Tony Elumelu.

The 434 MW-capacity Geregu Power plant operated by Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited, a subsidiary of Forte Oil Plc, is owned by investor and businessman, Femi Otedola.

The two companies were among the winners in the bid for four power plants privatised by the BPE in 2012.

Others

The others  Chinese-Nigeria power consortium, which consisted CMEC of China and Eurafric Energy of Nigeria, won the bid for Sapele Power plant, while North-South Power Company Limited, which had Niger State government as a stakeholder, was granted right for Shiroro power plant.

Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited believed to have been financed by former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, through a Nigerian businessman, Sani Bello, and NIGELEC, a company registered in Niger Republic, was granted the concession right to Kainji Power plant. No winner emerged for the 776 MW-capacity Afam Power Plant.

Performance targets, assessment

On taking over the power plants on November 1, 2013, the new investors were expected to refurbish, maintain, replace, operate and expand the capacities of the plants to achieve their mandate of generating electricity for the country.

In line with the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed with the BPE, the GENCOs were to recover their cost of investment through invoices from electricity sale.

In his presentation, the BPE DG told the Senate Committee headed by Gabriel Suswam that at the beginning of the Nigerian power sector privatization in 1999, only 17 of the 79 power generation units were operational, with average daily generation capacity at 1,750 MW nationwide.

The Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), he noted, has huge challenges, which have made the sector not commercially viable.

Apart from the liquidity problem the DISCOs are grappling with, the BPE DG said other challenges include inadequate gas supply, weak transmission infrastructure and foreign exchange procurement.

On the two GENCOs that have met performance targets, the BPE boss said their output raised overall electricity generation capacity from the privatised power plants to 78 per cent, although it is still bout 22 per cent below their collective targets.

He said Transcorp Power, in particular, surpassed the five-year performance agreement target of 670 MW set by BPE at the handover of Ughelli Power, after achieving 680.83MW generation capacity.

Mr Okoh said by 2024, the plant is expected to generate about 2,500 MW with the acquisition of Brownfield Thermal Projects, to expand the existing Transcorp Power Limited plant.

Also, other greenfield renewable energy projects by the company, he said, would add up to 25 per cent of the power generated capacity within the country.

GENCOs blame BPE

However, the GENCOs, through the Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generation Companies, Joy Ogaji, recently blamed BPE for the challenges of Nigerias power sector after privatisation.

Mrs Ogaji was responding to the call by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, for the review of the privatisation of the power sector for failure to deliver on its objectives.

She said BPE should be held responsible for failing to meet its obligations in two of the three foundation agreements reached with the new operators in 2013, which contributed to the poor performance of the GENCOs.

The agreements reached with BPE prior to the takeover of the power industry in November 1, 2013, included guidelines on how to make electricity generation and supply in the post-privatisation era sustainable and effective.

The governing contract agreements included the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the Gas Supply Agreement (GSA), the Gas Transportation Agreement (GTA) and the Grid connection agreement

The other agreement was meant to provide security and guarantee to the PPA and power production to ensure 100 per cent payment for available power.

However, Mrs Ogaji said since the takeover of the power plants by their new owners, none of the agreements have been activated by BPE resulting in the non-payment for power generated and supplied to the national grid.

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Mrs Ogaji, who also made a presentation to the committee, said despite BPEs poor assessment of the performance of the GENCOs, available electricity generation capacity since the takeover of the new owners in 2013 has grown by 138.48 per cent.

From about 3,427.5 MW in 2013, she said, electricity generation capacity has increased by 8,174MW, as GENCOs recovered about 4,746.5MW.

However, she said due to system constraints, GENCOs are forced to reduce generated power to match the transmission and distribution infrastructure that convey electricity to the customer.

In the first quarter of this years, Mrs Ogaji said despite an available generation capability of 8,145MW, GENCos were only allowed to generate 3,987MW, thus losing an average of 4,159MW daily.
FILE PHOTO: A Canadian dollar coin, commonly known as the "Loonie", is pictured in this illustration picture taken in Toronto

By Fergal Smith

TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar weakened against its U.S. counterpart on Wednesday as signs of acceleration in coronavirus cases worried investors and Fitch lowered Canada's sovereign rating to below AAA for the first time since August 2004.

Global shares fell as a rising number of coronavirus cases in the United States, China, Latin America and India dampened hopes of a swift recovery in the global economy.

The loonie's decline "today is related more to global capital flows than domestic events," said Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at SIA Wealth Management.

Canada runs a current account deficit and is a major producer of commodities, including oil, so the loonie tends to be sensitive to the flow of trade and capital.

U.S. crude prices settled 5.9% lower at $38.01 a barrel, pressured by record-high inventories as well as worries about a second wave of the pandemic.

Fitch downgraded Canada's sovereign rating for the first time, to "AA+" from "AAA," citing deterioration of the country's public finances in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canadian dollar was trading 0.5% lower at 1.3607 to the greenback, or 73.49 U.S. cents. The currency, which traded on Tuesday at its strongest intraday level in nearly two weeks at 1.3482, traded in a range of 1.3527 to 1.3617.

Canadian house prices will rise at a much slower pace this year than predicted only three months ago and will fall in 2021 as the coronavirus pandemic pushes up unemployment, curtailing immigration and the demand for homes, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday.

Canadian government bond yields were mixed across a steeper curve, with the 30-year yield up 1.8 basis points at 1.031%.

(Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney)
The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) is set to release Assam Board 12th Result 2020 on Thursday (June 25). The result will be declared on AHSECs official website  hsinfo.in, ahsec.nic.in.

Around 2.34 lakh students had appeared in the class 12 exams this year, which were held from February 12 to March 14.

Here's how to download Assam Higher Secondary results 2020:

-Visit the official website of the Assam Board at ahsec.nic.in

-After the official announcement, the AHSEC board will share the link to check the results on its official website itself.

-Click on the link showing "Assam HS Result 2020".

-Enter your registration and date of birth details and then click on submit.

-The HS AHSEC Result 2020 will then appear on your screen. Download or take a printout of the result.

Students can also check the result on the official AHSEC result app, or via SMS. To get result via SMS, students will be required to send SEBA20<rollnumber> to 57766.

The declaration of result was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown imposed by PM Narendra Modi to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Earlier, the AHSEC Board had released results for 10th class exams on June 6.

In 2019, Assam registered a passing percentage of 60.23. Meghashree Bora was the topper with 594 marks. It may be recalled that Indias top athlete Hima Das also appeared for the AHSEC class 12 exams in 2019 and passed it with first division.
U.S. Navy Conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation, Contests Venezuela's Excessive Maritime Claim in Caribbean Sea

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200623-10

Release Date: 6/23/2020 3:48:00 PM

From U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs

CARIBBEAN SEA (NNS) -- Today, while peacefully operating in the Caribbean Sea, the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) conducted a freedom of navigation operation, contesting an excessive maritime claim by Venezuela.

The U.S. Navy ship conducted the operation in international waters outside Venezuela's 12 nautical-mile territorial jurisdiction. During the operation, the ship lawfully navigated an area the illegitimate Maduro regime falsely claims to have control over, a claim that is inconsistent with international law.

The U.S. Navy routinely conducts freedom of navigation operations around the world to preserve the maritime navigation and access rights guaranteed to all nations and vital to the global mobility of U.S. forces.

Global access to international waters protects U.S. national interests, promotes a just international order, and ensures the U.S. Navy can accomplish key missions, including humanitarian assistance deployments, disaster relief operations, support to international counter-narcotics efforts, and multinational exercises that strengthen regional partnerships.

U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships are currently operating in the Caribbean as part of the President's enhanced counter narcotics operation.

"The United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, preserving the rights, freedoms and lawful use of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations," said Adm. Craig Faller, Commander of U.S. Southern Command. "These freedoms are the bedrock of ongoing security efforts, and essential to regional peace and stability."



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BEIJING, June 24 -- China is firmly opposed to the US deploying intermediate-range missiles in the Asian-Pacific region, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at the regular press conference on the afternoon of June 24.

"If the US insists on the deployment, it will be a provocation at China's doorstep. China will never sit idle and will take all necessary countermeasures," said Snr. Col. Wu.

China hopes that Japan and other countries concerned can act cautiously with the big picture of regional peace and stability in mind, and dont allow the US to deploy medium-range missiles on their territories, so as not to fall victim to Washington's geopolitical ploys, Wu noted.
Judge rules in favor of churches that left Episcopal Church, defies SC supreme court

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A South Carolina judge tasked with enforcing a state supreme court ruling against a breakaway Episcopal diocese has issued a ruling that appears to contradict the high courts decision.

In 2017, the state supreme court ruled that the $500 million worth of property of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina belonged to the national denomination rather than the dozens of parishes that broke away from the domination in 2012.

However, South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Edgar Dickson issued an order last Friday contending that each parish owned their properties because they were not held in trust by the Episcopal Church.

Dickson applied neutral principles to the case, arguing that property records determine ownership of a facility.

This is a property matter, and the title holders are the owners of their property as set forth in their deeds. There is no clear, convincing evidence of an expressed or constructive trust applicable to any parish, concluded Dickson.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the thirty-six Plaintiff Parishes be, and hereby are, declared and affirmed as the title owners in fee simple absolute of their respective parish real properties, with improvements thereon and their accompanying personal property.

Dickson cited the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling from 1969 when it weighed a church property dispute between the Presbyterian Church of the United States and two Georgia churches that had withdrawn from the PCUS.

The Georgia Supreme Court initially resolved the controversy by applying a theory of implied trust, whereby the property of a local church affiliated with a hierarchical church organization was deemed to be held in trust for the general church, provided the general church had not substantially abandoned the tenets of faith and practice as they existed at the time of affiliation, Dickson wrote.

However, the Supreme Court of the United States reversed, holding that Georgia courts would have to find some other way of resolving church property disputes that did not draw the state courts into religious controversies.

Dickson stressed that the U.S. Supreme Court did not specify what that method should be, although it noted in passing that there are neutral principles of law, developed for use in all property disputes, which can be applied without establishing churches to which property is awarded.

Diocesan Chancellor Thomas S. Tisdale Jr. expressed disappointment in the ruling but was also optimistic that the state high court may intervene against the new order.

This is not a final decision; it is yet another step on a long journey to full reconciliation within our Diocese, Tisdale said in a statement.

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.

Bishop Mark Lawrence, head of the breakaway group, known as the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, praised the ruling.

We give thanks for this ruling. It is a day to rejoice. It is a day to move forward in Christs mission to the world. Thanks be to God, said Lawrence in a statement.

In November 2012, the majority of the members of the South Carolina diocese voted to leave the national denomination over theological differences and the apparent mistreatment of Bishop Lawrence. They later joined the Anglican Church in North America.

In 2013, litigation began over who rightly owned the diocesan name and property, the breakaway leadership or the continuing Episcopalians who remained with the national denomination. Those loyal to the national denomination had to refer to themselves as The Episcopal Church in South Carolina while the breakaway group retained the name rights.

In August 2017, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled against the breakaway group, largely overturning the lower court decision.

Acting Justice Costa Pleicones wrote the majority opinion. He concluded that the lower court ruling had an "error of law" that produced "a distorted view of the issues in this case."

In a concurring opinion, Justice Kaye G. Hearn argued that The Episcopal Church's hierarchical structure meant that it owned the diocesan properties because the national church ordained the diocesan leaders and must defer to that decision."
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President Donald Trump went back to referring to the coronavirus as the 'kung flu' at a campaign rally inside a church in Phoenix Tuesday after the White House rejected complaints about the racist phrase.

Trump trolled his critics by running through the long list of names for the virus that has killed 120,000 Americans, including calling it the 'China virus,' a term he briefly eschewed.

He made the comments inside the Dream City megachurch while outside, Phoenix police fired pepper balls to disperse protesters they said had gathered unlawfully.

'I said the other night, there's never been anything where they have so many names. I could give you 19 or 20 names for that right?' Trump said to cheering young supporters, days after using the term at his Saturday night rally in Tulsa.

'It's got all different names. Wuhan. Wuhan is catching on. Coronavirus, right? Kung flu, yeah?' Trump said.

President Donald Trump went back to referring to the coronavirus as the 'kung flu' at a campaign rally inside a church in Phoenix Tuesday after the White House rejected complaints about the racist phrase

Phoenix Police use pepper balls on protesters gathered outside Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, Tuesday night as President Trump was speaking to young Republicans inside. Police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly

Donald Trump rally at Dream City Church Trump Arizona rally, Phoenix

'I said the other night, there's never been anything where they have so many names. I could give you 19 or 20 names for that right?' Trump said to cheering young supporters, days after using the term at his Saturday night rally in Tulsa

The line earned cheers from the roughly 3,000 supporters who filled the church in north Phoenix.

Trump kept repeating the phrase, a day after White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany fended off questions about why Trump would use it.

'Kung flu. COVID-19. COVID,' Trump continued.

'I said what's the nineteen? COVID-19. Some people can't explain what that 19? COVID-19, I said, that's an odd name. I could give you many, many names.'

'Some people call it the Chinese flu. The China flu, right?' Trump said. 'They call it the China  as opposed to China. The China. I've never seen anything like it. But here's the story, we are going to be stronger than ever before, and it's going to be soon,' he said.

China has protested the use of the term. Scientists believe the virus mutated and jumped from animals to humans near the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Trump also called out White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who on Monday defended his use of the term, and said Trump doesn't consider it racist.

The line earned cheers from the roughly 3,000 supporters who filled the church in north Phoenix

Trump spoke at the Dream City Church in Phoenix

Trump spoke to about 3,000 people who tightly packed the church

Many young attendees wore hats, and some wore masks amid the coronavirus outbreak

President Donald Trump and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey disembark from Air Force One upon arrival at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, June 23, 2020

Trump drew cheers when he made his 'Kung-flu' remark

Donald Trump Jr. helped warm up the crowd before his father appeared

'The president does not believe that it is offensive to note that this virus came from China,' she said.

Trump also blasted China for taking advantage of the U.S., but touted a deal where it agreed to buy U.S. farm products  which former national security advisor John Bolton charges came after Trump pleading for China to help his campaign.

'The ink wasn't dry when the plague flu in,' Trump said, saying the 'long, slow surrender' was over.

Later in the rally, Trump brought up a young supporter who complained that 'Aunt Jemima was cancelled,' in referenced to Quaker's decision to pull the branding last week, saying it was based on a 'racial stereotype.'

'The original first Aunt Jemima was the picture of the American dream,' said Reagan Escude, who Trump introduced as a student at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. 'She was a freed slave who went on to be the face of the pancake syrup that we love and we have in our pantries today.'

'And now the leftist mob is trying to erase her legacy,' she said. Trump said she had stood up for 'Christian values' instead of bowing to 'political correctness.'

During the President's speech, some members of the young crowd got to their feet to applaud what he said

Hundreds of people packed into the Dream City Church in Arizona to listen to the President give a speech on stage

The young crowd cheered Trump even as he branded coronavirus 'Kung flu', in a controversial reference to China, where the disease originated

However, outside the church before the rally started, protesters wielding anti-Trump banners and raises their fists in the air

Trump's play on the name was similar to his routine in Tulsa. 'It has more names than any disease in history. I can name kung flu. I can name 19 different versions of names,' Trump said.

Trump was reportedly furious that the event had only 6,200 people at a venue that held 19,000, who he said Tuesday he was thrilled with the TV audience.

In Phoenix, the indoor venue was mostly filled.

Crowd members chanted out 'Four More Years' after earlier chanting 'Lock Her Up,' a stand-by from Trump's 2016 campaign in reference to Hillary Clinton.

Outside protesters gathered to demonstrate against the Trump rally but were dispersed by the city's police who said that they had gathered in an unlawful assembly.

Pepper bullets and crowd control weapons were fired as police faced off with protesters to remove them from the streets around the rally.

Earlier, Trump tore into Barack Obama during a campaign rally in Phoenix after the former president helped raise a startling $7.6 million for Joe Biden in a single online fundraiser.

'Today he's with Obama  President Obama,' Trump told young supporters at a megachurch in Phoenix. Then he started ripping Obama for staying out of the Democratic primary.

'It only took him how long a year and a half to endorse him,' Trump said. 'He's fighting for Sleepy Joe,' Trump said, using his insult for Biden. 'So strongly he wanted everybody to win but Joe,' Trump claimed.

Then he looked back to 2016, when Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after building up his brand claiming without evidence that Obama wasn't born in the United States.

After the rally the President was pictured stepping down from the Marine One helicopter which landed on the White House lawn

Protesters confront Phoenix Police outside Dream City Church Tuesday night before pepper balls were fired

Protesters leave after Phoenix Police used crowd dispersement tactics outside Trump's rally in Phoenix on Tuesday night

Police file down an ally towards protesters during the visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to the Dream City Church in Phoenix Tuesday. The police used pepper balls to disperse the demonstrations as they said they had gathered illegally

Phoenix Police clear the street after they used crowd dispersement tactics outside President Trump's Phoenix rally Tuesday

Police fire crowd control weapons to clear the streets of protesters outside of President Trump's rally Tuesday

'In my campaign, he fought harder than crooked Hillary,' Trump said  although days ago he complemented Clinton's energy in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

'He said you cannot let him win,' Trump said of Obama.

'He was all over the place. This guy's spending all his time campaigning against me. Uh, who won? That's right,' Trump said.

Obama campaigned for Clinton across swing states in the final weeks of the campaign, warning voters not to be 'bamboozled' by Trump.

'Don't forget, I'm only here because of him and Biden,' Trump said, tying Obama to his presumed opponent.

'I'm only here because of them because if they did a good job, we wouldn't have been here,' Trump said.

Trump appeared days after visiting Tulsa to a disappointing crowd of just 6,200 in an arena that filled 19,000 amid the coronavirus outbreak. The pastor and a top official said in a video the church's 'ionization' air filtration system killed '99.9 per cent' of the coronavirus.

Phoenix Police are hit with liquid outside Dream City Church as protesters gathered outside President Trump's rally. The police immediately used crowd dispersement tactics and declared the gathering an unlawful assembly

Demonstrators chant as they protest the visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to the Dream City Church in Phoenix

Police block protesters before using canons and pepper bullets to clear the streets outside President Trump's rally

Young supporters sat closely together in chairs and Make America Great Again hats, with most eschewing masks on a day Dr. Anthony Fauci warned about ongoing risks of the outbreak.

Trump repeatedly swung at the left and blasted protesters who tried to take down a statue of Andrew Jackson in front of the White House.

'We will never cave to the left wing and the left wing intolerance,' Trump said.

'We will never surrender to mob violence,' he said. He touted the border wall, which he visited earlier, and 'law and order.'

Trump again cast his ideological opponents as unAmerican. 'You're smarter. You're better looking. You have a better future,' he told supporters.

'They are vicious people,' he said of opponents who have taken to the streets. 'Anyone who dissents from their orthodoxy must be punished canceled or banished. You're the courageous warriors standing in the way of what they want to do,' he said. 'They hate everything we prize as Americans,' he said.
Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign press conference in Burlington, Iowa, on Aug. 7, 2019. (Tom Brenner/Getty Images)

Biden Brought Up Use of Archaic Law Against Flynn, Documents Suggest

Then-Vice President Joe Biden personally brought up the potential use of the Logan Act against incoming national security adviser Michael Flynn in a conversation with President Barack Obama, FBI Director James Comey, and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, according to newly declassified notes believed to have been taken on Jan. 4, 2017, by FBI official Peter Strzok.

While it was previously known that the case against Flynn was discussed by Obama and top administration officials, Bidens mention of the Logan Act has never been disclosed. The notes suggest that the vice president, contrary to his recent statement, directly took part in the investigation, especially considering the FBIs apparent use of the Logan Act as a pretext to keep the investigation against Flynn open.

According to Strzoks notes, it appears that Vice President Biden personally raised the idea of the Logan Act. That became an admitted pretext to investigate General Flynn, the attorneys for Flynn, a retired three-star Army general, wrote in a memo accompanying Strzoks handwritten notes.

The Biden campaign didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

The Logan Acta potentially unconstitutional law that never has been successfully prosecutedmakes it illegal for citizens to negotiate with foreign officials without the consent of the White House.

According to the testimonies by Comey and Yates, Obama personally brought up Flynns case on Jan. 5, 2017, at the White House. Biden personally requested to unmask Flynns identity in an intercepted communication a week later, on Jan. 12, 2017.

The notes, declassified by the FBI and released as part of the governments lawsuit against Flynn, also show that Comey told Obama, Yates, and Biden that the intercepted calls between Flynn and then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak appear legit.

Transcripts of the calls that were recently declassified confirm Comeys assessment at the time.

But Comeys statement runs counter to the actions taken by the FBI on the same day. On Jan. 4, 2017, Strzok messaged an FBI agent about the status of Flynns case. The agent had already prepared the paperwork to close the case having found no derogatory information, but hadnt yet formally filed it. Strzok told the agent to keep the case open on the instruction of FBI leadership.

Strzok also wrote down that Obama told the officials that the right people should be on the case.

The declassified document doesnt show the date on which the notes were taken. Flynns attorneys suggest the notes were taken on Jan. 4, 2017, but dont explain their reasoning for the assumption. If the notes were taken on that date, then Yates knew about the FlynnKislyak calls a day earlier than the date she told special counsel Robert Mueller that she learned of the calls for the first time at the White House, from Obama himself, on Jan. 5.

Its still unclear who told Obama about the FlynnKislyak calls. Comey told the House Intelligence Committee that Director of National Intelligence James Clapper had briefed Obama, Biden, and the senior White House team. Clapper told the same committee four months later that he didnt brief Obama.

The release of Strzoks notes occurred shortly after a federal appeals court in Washington ordered the judge in Flynns case to approve the governments request to dismiss the charges against the former national security adviser. The Department of Justice moved to drop the charges in May after discovering a host of issues with the investigation that led to Flynns guilty plea.

The judge in the case didnt rule on the motion, prompting the motion for an intervention from the appeals court.

The governments case against Flynn unearthed a trove of documents exposing the involvement of top Obama administration officials, including the president, in the investigation of a member of the incoming administration on questionable legal grounds. Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, withdrew the plea earlier this year, explaining that he was pressured into the agreement by the special counsel.
Concern: Narendra Modi fears a drop in popularity over tension with China. Photo: India Government Press Information Bureau via AP

India is pushing Russia to speed up the delivery of a missile defence system as ties with China deteriorate following the worst military clash between the nations in four decades.

The request came as China and India's foreign ministers met yesterday in their first face-to-face interaction since a fight along their disputed Himalayan border killed 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops.

India and China agreed to de-escalate the situation along their undemarcated boundary, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Beijing.

Last week's clashes - along with revelations China held 10 Indian soldiers in military custody for days afterward before releasing them - came amid rising nationalism stoked by both governments as they jostle for regional influence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen for an early resolution of the border dispute as he risks a drop in popularity if the army suffers more losses.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosted the virtual trilateral meeting with China's Wang Yi and India's Subrahmanyam Jaishankar after Moscow emerged as a key player in thawing relations between the two neighbours.

"India and China have every means to solve any problems that arise in their relationship," Mr Lavrov said afterwards. "I don't think that India and China need any help."

Yet another meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart in Moscow could prove just as important for India as it looks to increase its defence capabilities.

They are expected to discuss the India-China border tensions and New Delhi's desire to ensure an unimpeded and early supply of military spares from Russia, long one of the its top military suppliers.

Mr Singh plans to seek the advanced delivery of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system - currently due in December next year - and the purchase of Russian-made jet fighters Su-30Mki and MiG-29, people familiar with the details said. India and Russia signed the S-400 deal, worth than $5bn (4.4bn), in 2018.

The missile system will provide weight to the country's otherwise antiquated air defences.

The additional fighters will boost the capability of the Indian Air Force.

It needs 10 more squadrons of fighters to supplement the 32 currently in operation. ( Washington Post)
PHILADELPHIA, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Updated county-level COVID-19 projections released today by PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) forecast a deteriorating situation in communities across Arizona, Texas, and Florida over the next four weeks even as several other previously identified hotspotsincluding areas in North Carolina, California and Oregonare projected to flatten their curve.

The new modeling data project areas such as Houston, Phoenix and Miami will be unable to contain their exponentially growing case counts as July approaches if they maintain current social distancing practices, which the researchers measure as changes in travel to non-essential businesses. Phoenix, for example, is forecasted to reach 5,000 cases a day by July 2a number that far surpasses daily case counts at the height of the epidemic in Queens, N.Y., this April. The researchers also found concerning risk for resurgence in Montgomery, Ala., Little Rock, Ark., Tulsa, Okla., Las Vegas, and communities across South Carolina, which all have forecasts that look similar to those of Arizona, Texas and Florida from just a few weeks ago.

At the same time, this week's updated projections showed improving four-week forecasts for areas in the South and West that the researchers had raised concerns about in recent weeks, including New Orleans and Portland, Ore., and communities across Indiana and North Carolina. It is unclear how much of this stabilization in risk for resurgence is related to masking policies or increased personal vigilance in distancing and hygiene practices as people have observed what is happening in other areas of the country. From their week-to-week analyses, however, the researchers do suspect that statewide masking ordinances passed in Virginia and California are helping to mitigate widespread community transmission across those states.

"We've reached a point in communities throughout Arizona, Texas and Florida where the epidemic is accelerating at an alarming pace and may quickly overwhelm local health care systemssignaling a need to pause reopening plans," said David Rubin, MD, MSCE, director of PolicyLab at CHOP and a professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. "For those other areas of rising concern in our model that have forecasts similar to those of Arizona just a few weeks ago, we would encourage local leaders to view our projections as an early warning system and enact swift response measures to prevent further widespread community transmission."

For additional comments from lead investigators Dr. Rubin, Dr. Gregory Tasian, and Dr. Jing Huang on their updated forecasts and findings, read this blog post: https://policylab.chop.edu/blog/covid-19-outlook-ringing-alarm-bell-epicenters-waving-caution-flag-hotspots

Background

Researchers at PolicyLab at CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania developed the model, known as COVID-Lab: Mapping COVID-19 in Your Community, which tracks and projects COVID-19 transmission across 513 U.S. counties with active outbreaks, representing 71% of the U.S. population and 88% of all identified coronavirus cases. The researchers built their model to observe how social distancing, population density, daily temperatures, and humidity affect the number and spread of COVID-19 infections over time across a county, accounting for test positivity rates and population characteristics such as age, insurance status, crowding within homes and diabetes prevalence. COVID-Lab's projections forecast the number of coronavirus cases communities could experience over the next four weeks based on a three-day average of their current social distancing practices, defined by the change in travel to non-essential businesses as compared to pre-epidemic. A scientific review of the team's model and findings is available as a pre-print article ahead of peer review on medRxiv. The data are publicly available in the form of interactive maps and graphs.

About PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is dedicated to achieving optimal child health and well-being by informing program and policy changes through interdisciplinary research. Founded in 2008, PolicyLab is a Center of Emphasis within the CHOP Research Institute, one of the largest pediatric research institutes in the country. With more than 30 highly regarded faculty and 60 passionate staff who bring expertise from myriad of fields covering health, research and health policy, our work focuses on improving public systems, improving health care delivery and improving child health outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.policylab.chop.edu .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lauren Walens, Strategic Ops & Comms Director

PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

[email protected] or (734) 904-2181

SOURCE PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Related Links

https://policylab.chop.edu


The iconic Stonewall Inn in New York City is making an appeal for financial support to help pay the historic LGBTQ bar's rent and financially support its staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

Curtis Kelly, an activist and the Greenwich Village bar's current owner, helped set up GoFundMe campaigns in a bid to raise money to cover costs.

Kelly's call for help for Stonewall, which was declared the first LGBTQ monument in the US by President Barack Obama after a series of pivotal demonstrations followed a police raid of the bar in 1969, comes during Pride month.

The iconic Stonewall Inn in New York City is making an appeal for financial support to help pay the historic LGBTQ bar's rent and financially support its staff during the coronavirus pandemic. Pride month and Black Lives Matter supporters are pictured outside the bar last week

Demonstrators are pictured outside Stonewall last week showing support for Pride and the Black Lives Matter movement. Curtis Kelly, an activist and the Greenwich Village bar's current owner, helped set up GoFundMe campaigns in a bid to raise money to cover costs

A man wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt stands with another man outside Stonewall last week

Stonewall was declared the first LGBTQ monument in the US by President Barack Obama after a series of pivotal demonstrations (pictured) followed a police raid of the bar in 1969

'We are reaching out because like many families and small businesses around the world, The Stonewall Inn is struggling,' one of the GoFundMe campaign says.

'Our doors have been closed for over three months to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of patrons, staff and the community,' the campaign explains.

'Even in the best of times it can be difficult to survive as a small business and we now face an uncertain future. Even once we reopen, it will likely be under greatly restricted conditions limiting our business activities.'

Both campaigns raised more than $73,000 as of Wednesday evening.

New York City entered its long-anticipated phase 2 reopening on Monday, allowing restaurants to provide outdoor service along with allowing barbershops and hair salons to reopen, but many of the hundreds of thousands of office workers who are also allowed back have stayed home.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the new phase 'allows' 300,000 people to head back to work, but it has been unclear if that many have turned up to offices and other businesses since the reopening.

The GoFundMe campaigns for Stonewall point out that the establishment still has an 'uncertain' future.'

Stonewall is pictured on Monday as New York enters its Phase two reopening after COVID-19

A Stonewall worker pours a customer's beer outside the bar during COVID-19 restrictions

Curtis Kelly, an activist and the Greenwich Village bar's current owner, helped set up GoFundMe campaigns to raise money to pay Stonewall's rent, as well as its staff. Kelly (center) is pictured during a 2019 event at Stonewall

LGBTQ men and women were subject to discriminatory treatment at the hands of police in the years leading up to what became known as Stonewall Riots. The bar at the time had been a haven for gay and transgender youth.

Kelly took over the bar in 2006 and, with co-owner Stacy Lentz, has since helped it regain its prominence in the LGBTQ community, reports GoMag.

'We worked diligently to resurrect it as a safe space for the community and to keep the Stonewall Inn at the epicenter of the fight for the LGBTQ+ rights movement,' a GoFundMe campaign named 'Support the Stonewall Inn' says in the fundraising post.

A GoFundMe Page (pictured) is asking for funds to help pay the bar's rent and other expenses

A second GoFundMe page asks for financial help to support the bar's staff

'It has been a community tavern, but also a vehicle to continue the fight that started there in 1969,' the campaign explains. 'Stonewall is the place the community gathers for celebrations, comes to grieve in times of tragedy, and rally to continue the fight for full global equality.'

In its campaign to help the staff, Stonewall calls bar managers, bartenders bar backs and porters the 'backbone of this institution of living history.'

'So we are turning to you, our loyal friends who continue to support the Stonewall Inn, for anything you can spare to help our family of staff get through this time of uncertainty,' the campaign says.

'Any amount, no matter how small would be greatly appreciated and will be shared equally among the staff members and only the staff members.'

New York City's former police commissioner James ONeill recognized the historic significance of Stonewall last year when he apologized for the raid on the bar which catalyzed the modern LGBT rights movement.

Former police commissioner James ONeill recognized the historic significance of Stonewall last year when he apologized for the raid on the bar which catalyzed the modern LGBT rights movement. A crowd is pictured remembering the Stonewall riots during a ceremony in 1971

Two men pause for a kiss outside Stonewall, an iconic symbol of the LGBTQ rights movement

Speaking at a safety briefing for Pride month last year, O'Neill said that actions taken by the NYPD at Stonewall on June 28 1969 'were wrong - plain and simple'.

'I do know what happened should not have happened,' he stated.

He further added: 'The actions and the laws [of the time] were discriminatory and oppressive, and for that, I apologize'.

The retrospective apology came just weeks before the 50th anniversary of the raid and New York's largest ever Pride parade.
TWIN FALLS  Art & Soul of the Magic Valley returns for its 10th event bringing art to the community despite being postponed earlier this year.

This years event begins Friday and ends July 11. There will be a kickoff celebration from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Twin Falls Center for the Arts, 195 River Vista Place. This event is an opportunity for people to register early for voting and purchase the limited-edition Art & Soul souvenir programs.

Art & Soul was postponed in March because of COVID-19, but marketing and sales director Melissa Crane said committee members were dedicated to making sure the event would go on. People are encouraged to practice social distancing and wear face masks in public. People are also encouraged to stay home if they are not feeling well, according to an Art & Soul press release.

And moving the event a few months allowed for 10 more artists to participate who were not yet finished with their entry or had missed the original deadline.

Nearly 300 artists this year represent 39 Idaho cities and 11 states. There are also two international artists  from England and South Africa. More than 75 student artists will be featured in the youth contest.

Showcasing artists from so many locations allows us to see a diversity in perspectives while uniting us through a multitude of mediums, Crane said. When we come together as artists, supporters or observers, we are linked together in a unique way. Now more than ever, I am grateful to be able to unify thousands of people through art.

Want to see all the artwork? Look for the yellow flags with a red heart on it around town. These flags pinpoint the 98 venue locations serving as a temporary galleries for art in the competition.

You just dont realize how much you love art until its gone, Crane said. Every year we hear from the public how much they have enjoyed the work displayed during Art & Soul and how much they miss seeing it displayed. The works on display in such a grand way will surely feed your soul.

There is no charge to enjoy this event and your votes help decide the winners of $43,000 in prize money. Voters can select their favorite 16 artists in the main contest and/or favorite four students in the youth contest.

Many artists also enter to win in the professionally judged competition in either two-dimensions or three-dimensional work. This years professional judges are Daniel and Kara Hidalgo and Ian Curry.

Daniel and Kara Hidalgo are the founders and directors of Idaho Art Lab, a visual arts center in St. Anthony. Ian Curry is the technical director of media and a communication arts lecturer at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado.

This year marks the eighth year sculptor Jacob Novinger has entered Art & Soul. Novinger has won the competition twice.

On Friday, he installed his sculpture Salvador The Dali Llama in front of TitleFact in downtown Twin Falls. The colorful sculpture is made from found materials including a VW hubcap and car and tractor parts. Its made of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, chrome and bronze.

Novinger said he likes Art & Soul because it brings the arts to the community by showcasing artwork at non-traditional art venues.

It gives artists a platform to share their talent with the community, he said. And its also a great way to meet and mingle with people all across the board.

Judy VanDellen of Sun City, Arizona, has participated in Art & Soul for three years. Her entry is called The Hunter and is a graphite pencil drawing of a mountain lion attacking an elk, which will be on display at D.L. Evans Banks Blue Lakes Branch.

My passion is animals. I like wild animals, she said. The thing I like about Twin Falls is its very community-oriented. They are very friendly and welcoming. Any of the stores I went into, you really felt like part of the community.

VanDellen and her husband have traveled to attend the art competition every year shes entered.

Art is in the eye of the beholder, VanDellen said. You are touching the community. Your art is touching the community. Its not about winning, its doing something the community will appreciate.

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He said grocery stores are not proving to be the source of many new infections, as opposed to bars and gyms that have reopened in Phase 3 of the state's virus-response plan.

He and Bynum pointed out the "serious seven" situations for those 18-50 to be cautious of infection risk: faith-based activities, indoor physical activities, bars, weddings, funerals, gyms and other small private events.

Dart said those attending a large-scale gathering need to understand they are increasing their risk of infection as well as the risk of anyone around them. He said "it's not really the number" of those attending so much as their behavior while around others that makes a difference.

"Wearing a mask is a selfless and kind act," he said. "Our world can use more small acts of kindness right now."

Bynum said large-scale gatherings, however, are "not the cause of the uptick"; rather, people are attending smaller family events and other activities in which precautionary measures are not always being taken.

"People are lax going about their daily lives," he said.

Dart said though deaths have tapered off, hospitalizations are operating at still-increasing volumes.
San Francisco, June 24 : Twitter has apologized for a data breach that affected its business clients and exposed their personal data to hackers.

According to the BBC, Twitter emailed its business customers including advertisers "to warn that their information may have been compromised in a security lapse".

The compromised data includes the business users' email addresses, phone numbers and the last four-digits of their credit card number.

A Twitter spokesperson confirmed the incident to TechCrunch.

"We became aware of an incident where if you viewed your billing information on ads.twitter.com or analytics.twitter.com the billing information may have been stored in the browser's cache," the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

"As soon as we discovered this was happening, we resolved the issue and communicated to potentially impacted clients to make sure they were aware and informed on how to protect themselves moving forward".

The business users' billing information was inadvertently stored in the browser's cache, said Twitter.

This is not the first Twitter has seen a data breach.

Twitter in December last year admitted a malicious code was inserted into its app by a bad actor that may have compromised some users' information worldwide, including in India, as people woke up to an email from Twitter, warning them to update the app for Android.

The vulnerability within Twitter for Android could allow the bad actor to see non-public account information or to control your account (send Tweets or Direct Messages).

In May last year, Twitter disclosed a bug that shared some iOS users' data with an unnamed partner, even if the users did not opt to share data. The bug affected Twitter's iOS user base and they were notified about the issue.

In February, a bug in Twitter exposed private tweets of some Android users for over five years when they made changes in their settings, like changing the email address linked to their accounts.
A Gulfstream private jet.

SpaceKris / Shutterstock.com

Private jet travel is on the rise, according to industry safety auditor Argus, and the jet-set is taking off once again in chartered aircraft.

Business Insider asked the country's top private jet firms including Flexjet, Jet Linx, Magellan Jets, Sentient Jet, and VistaJet where their clients are headed this summer.

Destinations where social distancing is easily achieved such as the mountains or national parks are seeing increased popularity, an unusual trend for this time of year.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The wealthy are once again taking to the skies on private jets as the country reopens and leisure travel is becoming a more accepted practice.

Aviation safety auditor Argus has been tracking charter flight data since January and found that flights are on the rise following a steep decrease in March and April. After a good start in May, June is on track to match or exceed its numbers from 2019.

To get a sense of where the jet-set crowd is headed, Business Insider asked some of the largest private jet firms in the US including Jet Linx, Flexjet, VistaJet, Magellan Jets, and Sentient Jet which destinations their clients are flying to.

Some firms say pandemic is bucking the trends are typically off-season destinations for this time of year are surging in popularity either due to their social distancing benefits or reopened status. A large trend showed flyers heading to the mountains where social distancing is more easily achieved than in cities.

Ski towns and destinations closest to national parks in the west including Yellowstone and Glacier were among the most popular for some operators while destinations still emerging from lockdown like New York were largely avoided. Popular summer destinations in the Northeast and Southeast also continue to attract visitors, despite quarantine requirements in some.

Here's where they're going, according to the leading private jet companies in the country.

Story continues

Colorado

Aspen, Colorado.

Alyse Kalish/Business Insider

The fully reopened state tops the list for two of the top private jet firms, Flexjet and Sentient Jet, as the wealthy seek social distancing opportunities in the mountain communities of Aspen, Eagle, and Vail, as well as the capital of Denver. Sentient Jet data shows that most of its clients heading to the region are doing so from Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona. while high-end operator VistaJet is also reporting the Los Angeles-Aspen route to be among its most popular.

The Massachusetts Islands and Cape Cod

Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

Cape Cod and the nearby islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are always a favorite of the wealthy during the summer seasons and this one is no different. Flexjet and Magellan Jets both report that flyers are heading from Florida to the Northeast with Nantucket and Hyannis among the most popular.

Florida

Miami Beach, Florida.

pisaphotography/Shutterstock

The newly-reopened Sunshine State is seeing an influx of visitors from the West Coast as Magellan Jets is reporting flyers from Southern California are primarily heading to Florida. High-end provider VistaJet is seeing movement on the ever-popular New York-Palm Beach route.

Travelers from the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are still required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, according to the Florida government.

Texas

Dallas, Texas.

Nathanael Hovee / EyeEm/Getty Images

Texas has seen increased activity for Jet Linx and has been a top region for its clients for both interstate and intrastate travel. The charter operator says that most clients entering the Lone Star state are coming from Colorado while travel between the Texan cities of Houston, Dallas, and Austin is also proving to be its most active sector in the past month.

Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia.

AP Photo/John Bazemore

Jet Linx is reporting that Georgia is a popular destination for Floridians with both states among the first to reopen. Flights from Florida to the Peach State was the third most active route for Jet Linx in the past month.

Montana

Yellowstone National Park, Montana.

Associated Press

The national parks continue to draw visitors even during the pandemic as the cities of Missoula and Bozeman are in the top five destinations for Flexjet. The fractional operator reported that it doesn't typically fly to mountainous destinations this time of year but it is seeing an increased demand to places like Montana as it's easier to social distance there.

"So far this summer, we are seeing unprecedented demand to more remote and mountainous locations, which allows travelers to continue to maintain social distances," Megan Wolf, Flexjet's chief operating officer, said in a statement to Business Insider.

Wyoming

Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Getty Images

Jackson Hole is another destination for the wealthy that's seeing continued popularity during the pandemic with Flexjet also reporting an increase of traffic to the remote town. Though typically a winter destination due to its ski resorts, the mountain town is just south of numerous national forests and national parks, including Yellowstone.

Northern California

Napa Valley, California.

Anna Rottke/Shutterstock

Also topping Flexjet's top five list are Napa and Sonoma County, just north of San Francisco in Northern California. Summer usually sees travelers head to the region in search of wine and Napa Valley is indulging with restaurants and vineyards open for business, though with restrictions.

Vermont and New Hampshire

Burlington, Vermont.

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Magellan Jets is reporting an increase of flyers heading from the Southeast to destinations in Vermont and New Hampshire, as well as Boston. The trend is typical for this time of year as Northeast residents head home for the summer as Florida heats up during the summer.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Nigerian government says it will not retaliate the attack on a part of its embassy in Ghana with force amidst calls for serious sanction on Ghana by some Nigerians.

On Friday night, some armed men invaded the building in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, destroying some apartments under construction.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo apologised to the Nigerian government over the attack on the building.

Angered by the incident, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at an interactive session with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, described the attack as a breach of the countrys sovereignty.

He demanded a tough response to the attack from the Nigerian government.

If Ghana has a problem and is approaching it through subterranean moves, then what do you think the outcome of the legal proceeding will be? So, I think we should pursue it from that angle; I think we should make it clear for the authorities in Ghana that Nigeria is not going to sit down and fold its arms, he said, according to a report by the Vanguard newspaper.

Frowning at the soft diplomatic approach the country had adopted in responding to the attacks, Mr Gbajabiamila said a new approach must be adopted.

Reciprocity is a legitimate instrument in foreign relations. The doctrine of reciprocity is what should be considered.

We have established a pattern, and what we get (from other countries that attack Nigeria), are apologies, and we will look into it. I dont think that should suffice at this point, he said.

But the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in an interview with Voice of Nigeria on Wednesday, insisted that Nigeria would not return the same blow the Ghanaians dealt its high commission in Ghana.

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This, he said, is as a result of the apology tendered by the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, over the incident.

The President of Ghana has called and regretted the action and apologised to the President of Nigeria. I think he has shown leadership in the matter and what should Nigeria do?, these are two leading countries in West Africa.

Nigeria will not engage in a street fight with Ghana. This cannot happen. So, the two leaders, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, who is much respected in Africa, they all call him Baba (Father), so he is bound to show restraint.

Mr Shehu said diplomacy will be used in resolving the matter.

Matters such as this when they arise, it is always better when they arise, they should be resolved diplomatically. No, there shouldnt be a fight between Nigeria and Ghana, this will not happen, he said.
Days after videos of BJP workers in West Bengal went viral for mistaking North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, an image of anti-China protesters demonstrating in Kolkata with an incorrect map of China has surfaced on the internet.

While the protesters were demonstrating against China's alleged incursion in Galwan Valley, Ladakh which killed 20 Indian Army personnel, the map they used to signify China was actually that of the United States.

The geographical faux pas seems to have taken place on Friday, June 19, when protests were held across Bengal against the Indo-China border violence that occurred on June 15.

In photos that went viral on social media, unidentified protesters can be seen leading an anti-China rally but with one flaw - instead of China's map, their banner carried the map of USA. Though landmass was painted red and given the five yellow stars that adorn the Chinese national flag to signify the landmass as China, there was no mistaking it.

READ: Anti-China Protests: Siliguri's Hong Kong Market to Change Name, Stop Selling Chinese Products

An effigy of China's Xi Jinping was also held aloft behind the poster, ready to be set on fire.

The image, which was clicked by photographer Sumit Sanyal for Getty Images, was widely shared on social media with eagle-eyed netizens quick to point out the glaring error.

I think people in #India have some issues with geography.In a protest that happened in Kolkata last Friday, protesters used the map of United States (!) to represent #China!Photo: Sumit Sanyal/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images pic.twitter.com/hj1dw5pyMP Carlos Latuff (@LatuffCartoons) June 21, 2020

According to Twitter user and member of CPI(M)'s student wing SFI, Mayukh Biswas, the protesters were "BJP activists". CPI(M) leader and former MP Md Salim also insinuated the same.

BJP activists in Kolkata protest against China with the map of USA as China's on their flex. Bhakts, I tell you!! pic.twitter.com/TzNvsnloZN Mayukh Biswas (@MayukhDuke) June 24, 2020

The bunch of clowns first protested in Asansol against Chinese PM 'Kim Jong Un', now they're having a boycott China protest in Kolkata with the map of USA. pic.twitter.com/MFwLPzimTa Md Salim (@salimdotcomrade) June 23, 2020

While the identity of the protesters remains unverified, the photo did not fail raise eyebrows on Twitter with many making fun of the failed map.

Once More!Kolkata : Protesters hold a map of USA during anti China protest. pic.twitter.com/aNhidaFXWw Pankaj AAP (@pankajmb4u) June 23, 2020

Some bhakts in Kolkata carried out yet another #BoycottChina protest (see photo). By now, that's hardly anything new. EXCEPT they used the map of USA instead of China. So a bunch of bhakts outed themselves as total dumbfucks. Actually I was right before, it's hardly anything new. pic.twitter.com/p0wrU1DQTY Bruce Vain (@FeministBatman) June 23, 2020

India Kolkata : Protesters hold a map of USA during anti China protest. @BJP4India Plz give them quality education rather than teaching hatred & Terrorism. #ModiSurrendersToChina pic.twitter.com/s9Vkvw4Jep Aiman khosa (@Aimenkhosa) June 23, 2020

While the map is wrong, but the philosophical significance is not lost on me, as I realise that perhaps the protestor mean to say that China has taken over USA as well. Well done. pic.twitter.com/ByAks9GTCT Sandeep Manudhane (@sandeep_PT) June 23, 2020

The image came days after a video of BJP workers from Bengal's Asansol participating in an anti-China protest where confused party workers burnt the effigy of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and also named him as the Chinese premier instead of Xi Jinping.

READ: Angry With China, Confused BJP Workers in Asansol Took Out a Rally to Burn Kim Jong's Effigy

Anti-China protests erupted in various parts of West Bengal on Thursday (June 18) as people took to the streets in large numbers calling for boycott of Chinese products.

Chinese flags and posters of Chinese President Xi Jinping were burnt in various parts of the state, amid slogans hailing the sacrifice of the Indian soldiers.

Political parties and their student wings also took to the streets with the likes of Akhil Bharatiya Vidya Parishad seeking holding demonstrations outside the Chinese Consulate on June 17.

Not just the BJP, the state unit of Shiv Sena took out a protest march outside the Chinese consulate in Kolkata's Salt Lake area and destroyed Chinese products including mobile phones. Congress workers also staged protests across the city in the past week.

(With inputs from PTI)
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."

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."
[June 23, 2020] Emerson & Spartan Controls Announce Winners of First Virtual STEM Competition

CALGARY, AB, June 23, 2020 /CNW/ - Emerson and Spartan Controls today announced the winners of their inaugural virtual STEM competition, which was designed to foster creativity and ingenuity in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) for children currently learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event took place over several weeks and featured submissions from nearly 30 applicants, ranging from six to 17 years of age. As an Emerson Impact Partner, Spartan Controls serves as an exclusive sales channel for many Emerson brands. "We recognize many families are adjusting to at-home learning right now, and we wanted to do our part to help keep children actively engaged with STEM-related topics," said Ryan Garrah, President of Emerson Canada. "Through the virtual competition, we encouraged kids of all ages to tap into their critical thinking skills and use their imagination to solve something meaningful to them, all while staying safe in their homes." As part of Emerson's "We Love STEM" campaign  a longstanding initiative to inspire young people to pursue opportunities in STEM  participants were tasked with developing thoughtful solutions under one of two project themes: Automate & Transform and Conquer COVID-19. Through these two categories, applicants submitted proposals that included their own innovative solutions for challenges facing their communities, such as tackling safe physical distancing at schools, improving food security and transforming everyday tasks. In addition to Garrah, judges included 11-year-old inventor Sophia Fairweather, founder of StartUpBySophia.com; Grant Wilde, President and Chief Exeutive Officer of Spartan Controls; and Bill Rosehart, Dean of the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary.



Throughout the design and development process, student volunteers from the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary were available as mentors, providing support and feedback as applicants built their submissions. "The students at Schulich were incredibly eager to lend their leadership and expertise to mentor the children as they developed their ideas," Wilde said. "As young visionaries themselves, I believe they saw the project as a great way to give back to the next generation of innovators, in addition to highlighting the many opportunities made possible through STEM."

Submissions were reviewed by the judging panel, with the top five finalists from each category selected to present their project via live video. Winners and a description of their respective submissions are included as follows: First Place (Age 6-9)

Kaiden and Caleb Manji, Calgary

BeepBand Second Place (Age 6-9)

Katelyn James, Calgary

How to Make Handwashing Fun Third Place (Age 6-9)

Aarav Pandhare, Calgary

Solar Cooker First Place (Age 10-17)

Avani and Rheeya Sidhu, Calgary

Bicycle Sensor Second Place (Age 10-17)

Sara, Emma and Jacob Durant, Calgary

Fruit Washer Third Place (Age 10-17)

Prateek Shreyas, Calgary

Sterilizing N95 Masks with Electrolysis Launched in 2015, Emerson's "We Love STEM" campaign seeks to empower the next generation of engineers by connecting science to technological advances and modern conveniences. Organized by Emerson employees locally, dozens of We Love STEM events have been held around the world to reach thousands of young students. For more information on Emerson's "We Love STEM" campaign activities, visit emerson.com/welovestem. About Emerson

Emerson (NYSE: EMR), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global technology and engineering company providing innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial and residential markets. Our Automation Solutions business helps process, hybrid and discrete manufacturers maximize production, protect personnel and the environment while optimizing their energy and operating costs. Our Commercial & Residential Solutions business helps ensure human comfort and health, protect food quality and safety, advance energy efficiency and create sustainable infrastructure. For more information, visit Emerson.com. About Spartan Controls

Spartan Controls is the leading provider of automation, valves, measurement and process control solutions in Western Canada. For over 55 years, Spartan has provided customers with high performance solutions, industry expertise, lifecycle support, and technical training  delivering value our customers want. Creating a sustainable modern world with innovative automation, our solutions are used in all process industries including oil and gas, oil sands, mining, pulp and paper, power, pipeline, and municipal. We are dedicated to providing exceptional customer experiences where expertise and collaboration come together. For more information, visit Spartan Controls. SOURCE Spartan Controls Ltd

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The Lord Of The Rings television series is one of the most hyped projects of 2020.

And casting agents for the series are desperately looking for people with 'funky looking' features to cast in the mammoth project.

According to The Guardian on Wednesday, a booker for New Zealand talent agency, BGT, put out a request on Facebook as production looks set to resume.

Think you could play an orc? Lord of The Rings much hyped television series is urgently looking for actors with 'acne scars, facial lines, or large eyes' to join the cast

The Facebook post was made by the Auckland-based agency, with them looking for extras with 'acne scars, deep cheekbones, facial lines, and large eyes'.

The list also noted they were seeking extras with other attributes, including missing bones, and even a bulbous nose.

The Guardian said the booker was unable to confirm he was working on the small-screen production of the J. R. R. Tolkien classic. But a prior ad had it listed.

Blockbuster: The post was made by the Auckland-based agency, with them looking for extras with 'acne scars, deep cheekbones, facial lines, and large eyes'. Pictured: Gothmog, an Orc chieftain, in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

This isn't the first time the casting agency was looking for extras for the series.

In December, they asked for applicants under 5ft or over 6ft 5ins with 'wonderful noses' and 'character faces' while hiring for the production.

'HAIR HAIR HAIR  if you have natural red hair, white hair, or lots and lots of freckles,' the agency added.

The advert also welcomed 'Long Lithe dancers', 'stocky mean-looking bikers', and 'redheads all ages [sic], shapes and sizes', to apply.

Big time: The usual list also included other attributes likes missing bones, and even a bulbous nose. Pictured: An Orc in battle in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

In the country of just under five million, casting companies are struggling to fill roles of the freakish J.R.R Tolkien creations and have resorted to hitting the streets to find suitably odd-looking members of the public, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In addition to being fed for pretending to be a malevolent goblin or a homely hobbit for the day, extras in New Zealand are paid 148 (AUD $268). Experts say that employing people with distinguished features will save on make up costs.

The TV series will be in the same fictional universe created by legendary author J.R.R. Tolkien, who published the series at intervals between 1954 and 1955.

Cult following: The TV series will be in the same fictional universe created by legendary author J.R.R. Tolkien, who published the series at intervals between 1954 and 1955. Here: Elijah Wood in LOTR: The Two Towers (2002)

Similarly to the books, and the Peter Jackson adaptations in the early 2000s, the landscapes will be populated with horrific humanoid monsters, dwarfish citizens of mythical villages, and slender celestial elves.

Amazon has dropped 190 million just on the rights for the upcoming series, and the details, including cast and plot, are a stone-guarded secret.

The Lord of the Rings movie franchise, produced between 2001 and 2003, cost over 225 million and required more than 20,000 extras to populate the epic scenes.
Showing his disdain for the global rule of law, US President Donald Trump has locked horns with the International Criminal Court, imposing sanctions on ICC members in a bid to block an investigation into war crimes committed during the conflict in Afghanistan. The probe began after a UN report suggested that war crimes had been committed by members of the US armed forces in Afghanistan since 2003. Unsurprisingly, these aren't mere unsubstantiated allegations. There is not a shadow of doubt that US troops perpetrated crimes of unspeakable cruelty in the Afghanistan war. History testifies to the suffering the US-led occupation has unleashed upon this nation.

In the aftermath of the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Americans presided over a reign of terror under the pretense of fighting terrorism. They were virtually unstoppable, and a perennially weak Afghan government afforded them indomitable power and impunity. The US military and intelligence agencies also controlled policy and security portfolios. They were behind everything, carrying out harsh military operations, night raids, detentions, torture, rape and sexual violence, extra-judicial executions at CIA-operated secret detention sites and a litany of other crimes. US warplanes dropped tens of thousands of bombs on villages and killed countless civilians with their airstrikes. The UN reports have shed light on these atrocities, unequivocally implicating the US military in the indiscriminate murder of defenceless civilians. But the war is far from over. Afghanistan still bleeds, and civilians continue to be killed in staggering numbers.

The Trump administration is sticking to its wrong guns, engaging in a full-blown war with the International Criminal Court. Trumps sanctions are a naked attack against the Afghan nation and an obstruction of justice for victims of atrocities. He has gone completely rogue. In the light of recent events, one can assume that Trumps aggressive way of running things has only backfired. He has alienated a legion of his transatlantic allies. In a major face-off months ago, the US president and his NATO allies duked it out, playing a game of diplomatic brinkmanship over the Alliance's defence spending. He also estranged his European allies with his threat to cut trade ties.

Gratuitously reneging on the Iranian nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and other international commitments, sparring with the World Health Organization over the coronavirus pandemic and even blaming it on China, pressuring the ICC to halt a war crimes probe, and a long list of his conspiracy theories including Ukraine, a counter-narrative on Russia investigation origins and his conspiracy over Syrian refugees are all the dastardly consequences of his paranoid delusions and dangerous brinkmanship.

American transgressions are all compounded by denialism, whataboutism and neo-isolationism. This all presents a warning that the US has gone astray and that a new paradigm in international relations should be charted. The Europeans ought to wake up to the danger Trump is posing with his unilateralist and outlawed actions. Europe should not wipe the slate clean with Trump this time, and instead renounce support for his interventionist dogma.

Trumps attack on the ICC has only vindicated the global entity and its pursuit of the truth and justice. Members of the UN Security Council and the ICC have already reprimanded the US for its threats against the Court, and voiced support for the investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan, which does not augur well for the US reputation.

The history of post-World War II America is entrenched in imperialism, expansionism, neocolonialism and interventionism. Now is a defining moment, a moment of judgment. The EU and NATO alliances will have to rethink their partnership goals with the US and stop putting America on a pedestal. Instead of sabre-rattling and bullying, all of us deserve to live in a world without its maladies and its coldness.

The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to People's Daily Online.

Seddiq Hussainy is a sub-editor with Afghanistan Times.
- A 30-year-old soldier who lost his leg after stepping on an explosive in Afghanistan has welcomed three kids at once

- Rogers and his wife Amy welcomed triplets to add to the two children they already have

- The soldier, who stepped on an explosive in 2011, said doctors did not know if it affected his fertility

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Tyne Rogers, a 30-year-old soldier who lost his leg after stepping on an explosive in Afghanistan, has welcomed triplets.

After stepping on an explosive in 2011, Rogers feared he would not have a family but he met his wife in 2013 and they had two children, The Sun reports.

YEN.com.gh gathers that the triplets joined Roger's family in April, making it a family of seven, the parents inclusive.

Tyne Rogers, his wife and their triplets. Photo credit: The Sun

Source: UGC

He said: "It is hard to comprehend what I have been through, it is a bit of a blur but I remember the day I stepped on the explosive.

"Doctors didn't know if the explosive had affected my fertility and at the time as the impact of standing on a bomb could have ruined my sperm count completely.

"It was a lot for me to deal with, never mind somebody else, so I didn't want to become a burden to anyone."

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. On June 22, 2020, Jerry John Rawlings turned 73 years and the former president posed alongside his family including his wife and three accomplished daughters in family photos.

Ghanaian female accounting graduate and mushroom farmer recounts her experience | #Yencomgh

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The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN)s largest-ever vessel built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) departed for its maiden voyage home. HHI announced on June 10 2020, that it held a sail-off ceremony for the 26,000-ton logistics support vessel, HMNZS Aotearoa.

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN)s largest-ever vessel built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) departed for its maiden voyage home. HHI announced on June 10 2020, that it held a sail-off ceremony for the 26,000-ton logistics support vessel, HMNZS Aotearoa.

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HMNZS Aotearoa (Picture source: HHI)

Aotearoa, the Royal New Zealand Navys new Maritime Sustainment Vessel, departed South Korea on 10 June on her 16-day journey to New Zealand.

The vessel, measuring 173.2m in length and 24.5m in width will support operations for RNZN through supplying fuel, food, water and ammunition.

HMNZS Aotearoa is the longest ship ever to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy. (Picture source: New Zealand Defence Force)

The contract to build the $493 million Aotearoa was awarded to South Koreas Hyundai Heavy Industries  the same company that built her predecessor, Endeavour. On 29 January 2018 the steel was first cut for her construction and, now, 2.5 years later she will sail into Auckland Harbour on Friday 26 June at 1000.

New Plymouth will be the Home Port of Aotearoa which continues the long-standing relationship the Navy have had with the wider Taranaki area. Her Excellency Dame Patsy Reddy, Governor General of New Zealand, is the Ship Sponsor. The formal Commissioning ceremony for Aotearoa is anticipated to be late next month.

Hyundai Heavy Industries, the shipyard that built HMNZS Aotearoa, captured this image off the coast of Ulsan, South Korea during the new supply ship's sea trials. (Picture source: New Zealand Defence Force)

About the AOTEAROA Sustainment Vessel:



AOTEAROA is a purpose-built, technologically enhanced asset that will add real value to the Royal New ZealandNavys combat operations, humanitarian relief functions and operational and training support. She will provide global sustainment to New Zealand and coalition maritime, land and air units, and United Nations security operations through resupply of ship and aviation fuel, dry goods, water, spare parts and ammunition.

Her many capabilities include the ability to carry up to 22 x twenty-foot shipping containers, high capacity freshwater generation plants (enough to produce 100 tonnes per day), self-defence systems, aviation and marine fuel cargo tanks, dual all-electric replenishment at sea rigs, an SH-2G(NZ)Seasprite or NH90 medium utility helicopter, integrated communications and bridge systems, an integrated platform management system and winterisation features such as some upper deck trace heating and an ice-strengthened hull and underwater ttings. Aotearoa will utilise a world-rst naval Environship ledge bow design.

This design incorporates a new wave-piercingbow which reduces resistance and lowers fuel burn, while its Combined Diesel Electric and Diesel propulsion plant has lower fuel emissions than older vessels. Her SelectiveCatalytic Reducers will reduce harmful NOx exhaust emissions, and she has been built to adhere to Polar Codesafety regulations and is ice-strengthened to Polar Class level 6 for Southern Ocean monitoring and Antarcticoperations including the resupply of McMurdo Station and Scott Base

HMNZS Aotearoa (Picture source: New Zealand Defence Force)

HMNZS Aotearoa Facts:

 Class: Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR)

 Shipbuilder: Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ulsan, South Korea

 Propulsion System: Combined Diesel Electric and Diesel (CODLAD) provided by 2 x Bergen B33:45L9P diesels supplemented by 2 x electric power take in motors. 2 x flap rudders and 2 x controllable pitch propellers

 Power generation 4 x 2.6MW MTU 20V4000M53B, 1 x 410kw STX KTA19DMGE emergency generator

 Length: 173.2 metres

 Beam: 24.5 metres

 Draught: 8.4 metres

 Displacement: (full) 26000 tonnes

 Range: 6750 nautical miles

 Design speed: 16 knots

 Total liquid cargo capacity: 9500 tonnes

 Dry goods cargo capacity 22 x twenty-foot equivalent units

 Core Crew: 64

 Bunks: 100 (including 2 in the sickbay and a VIP cabin)
The market snapped its four-day winning streak on June 24 ahead of June futures and options contracts expiry, with the benchmark indices falling 1.58 percent, dented by weak European cues and selling pressure across sectors barring FMCG.

The Sensex corrected 561.45 points to close at 34,868.98. The Nifty lost around 250 points from the day's high and closed with a loss of 165.70 points at 10,305.30, forming a bearish engulfing pattern on the daily charts.

"Normally, formation of a bearish engulfing patterns after a reasonable upside or near the hurdle could indicate possible reversal pattern. Hence, there is a possibility of follow-through weakness in the coming session," Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities, told Moneycontrol.

"The short term trend on the Nifty is negative. One may expect further declines down to 10,200-10,150 levels in the next couple of sessions. Immediate resistance will be seen at 10,425 levels," he said.

The broader markets also corrected with the Nifty Midcap index falling 1.41 percent and Smallcap index down 1.8 percent.

"The move was on expected lines and we may see some consolidation before the next directional move. In the absence of any major event on the local front, participants should keep a close watch on the global markets for cues," Ajit Mishra, VP - Research at Religare Broking, said.

He expects volatility to remain high as traders would square-off and rollover their derivatives positions due to the scheduled expiry of June contracts.

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-month data and not of the current month only.

According to pivot charts, the key support level for the Nifty is placed at 10,207.13, followed by 10,108.97. If the index moves up, the key resistance levels to watch out for are 10,478.33 and 10,651.37.The Nifty Bank closed at 21,426.80, down 838.10 points or 3.76 percent. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 21,015.53, followed by 20,604.27. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 22,158.83 and 22,890.87.Maximum Call OI of 46.47 lakh contracts was seen at 10,500 strike, which will act as crucial resistance in the June series.

This is followed by 10,600, which holds 35.45 lakh contracts, and 10,400 strikes, which has accumulated 29.35 lakh contracts.

Significant call writing was seen at 10,400, which added 10.99 lakh contracts, followed by 10,500 that saw 10.30 lakh contracts being added and 10,600 strikes, which added 9.60 lakh contracts.

Call unwinding was witnessed at 11,000, which shed 3.47 lakh contracts, followed by 10,000, which shed 2.68 lakh contracts, and 10,100 strikes, which shed 1.47 lakh contracts.

Maximum Put OI of 39.81 lakh contracts was seen at 10,000 strike, which will act as crucial support in the June series.

This is followed by 9,900, which holds 28.92 lakh contracts, and 9,600 strikes, which has accumulated 27.18 lakh contracts.

Significant put writing was seen at 10,100, which added 3.69 lakh contracts, followed by 10,600 strikes, which added 0.65 lakh contracts.

Put unwinding was seen at 9,700, which shed 11.57 lakh contracts, followed by 10,400, which shed 9.36 lakh contracts, and 9,800 strikes, which shed 8.78 lakh contracts.

A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks.

Based on the OI future percentage, here are those 9 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.

: Nowrosjee Wadia and Sons sold 2.11 percent stake in company at Rs 76.90 per share. Sahara Investments, Heera Holdings and Leasing and Nidhivan Investments and Trading Company bought the entire stake.

McLeod Russel India: HUF Manoj Bagri sold 6,26,330 shares in company at Rs 9.5 per share.

Orient Green Power: Bessemer India Capital OGPL sold 60,50,352 shares in company at Rs 2.84 per share.

Sical Logistics: Prescient Wealth Management sold 13,50,000 shares in company at Rs 12.7 per share.

Sunteck Realty: Kotak Mahindra (International) bought 16,80,000 shares in company at Rs 180 per share. However, FGTEBP Fiam Emerging Markets Commingled Pool sold 10,71,267 shares at Rs 181.3 per share and Fidelity Investment Trust Fidelity Series Emerging Markets Fund sold 29,47,776 shares at Rs 181.3 per share.

Embassy Office Parks REIT: American Balanced Fund, Nomura India Investment Fund Mother Fund and Signature High Income Fund bought 2,01,67,000 units in company at Rs 341 per unit. However, India Alternate Property, BRE/Mauritius Investments and SG Indian Holding NQ CO I sold 3,30,04,400 units.

Metropolis Healthcare: Promoter Duru Sushil Shah sold 30,54,545 shares in company at Rs 1,383.44 per share. However, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund acquired 3,12,224 shares at Rs 1,382.10 per share.

Goodyear: 2point2 Capital Advisors sold 1,29,731 shares in company at Rs 799.99 per share.

Sical Logistics: Prescient Wealth Management sold 3,50,000 shares in company at Rs 12.74 per share.

(For more bulk deals, click here)

Apollo Hospitals Enterprises, Ashok Leyland, Bank of India, Container Corporation of India, Endurance Technologies, Engineers India, Future Supply Chain Solutions, Galaxy Surfactants, Gravita India, Hindustan Aeronautics, Indiabulls Ventures, ICRA, IDFC, Indian Terrain Fashions, Insecticides India, Indian Overseas Bank, JB Chemicals, Lincoln Pharmaceuticals, Prince Pipes and Fittings, Sintex Industries, Somany Ceramics, Star Cement, TTK Prestige, V2 Retail, Varroc Engineering, Zuari Global, etc will announce their quarterly earnings on June 25.: Q4 profit at Rs 10.26 crore versus Rs 7.94 crore, revenue at Rs 174.53 crore versus Rs 117.75 crore YoY.

Shriram EPC: Q4 loss at Rs 91.08 crore versus profit at Rs 3.15 crore, revenue at Rs 184 crore versus Rs 488.73 crore YoY.

Canara Bank: Q4 loss at Rs 3,259.33 crore versus loss Rs 551.53 crore, net interest income at Rs 3,318.52 crore versus Rs 3,500.15 crore YoY.

HG Infra Engineering: Q4 profit at Rs 54.32 crore versus Rs 38.58 crore, revenue at Rs 634.12 crore versus Rs 584.1 crore YoY.

Bharti Infratel: Company extended deadline for merger with Indus Towers until August 31.

Karur Vysya Bank: Q4 profit at Rs 83.70 crore versus Rs 60 crore, revenue at Rs 590.48 crore versus Rs 619.23 crore YoY.

Andhra Paper: Promoter International Paper Investments (Luxembourg) SARL to sell 10 percent shareholding in company via an offer for sale on June 25-26 with an option to sell additional 7.2 percent stake.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) net bought shares worth Rs 1,766.9 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth Rs 1,524.9 crore in the Indian equity market on June 24, provisional data available on the NSE showed.Three stocks -- Just Dial, Glenmark Pharma and Vodafone Idea -- are under the F&O ban for June 25. 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.: "Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd which publishes Moneycontrol."
A black 44-year old progressive Democrat backed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has toppled longtime Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel in yet another upset for the party's establishment wing.

Jamal Bowman, a former middle school principal, declared victory Wednesday over Engel, who was seeking his 17th term and who chairs the powerful Foreign Relations committee in the House.

He is one of several African-American candidates who had strong showings on Tuesday amid nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd.

Democratic newcomer Jamaal Bowman, 44, appears likely to win a key US congressional primary race

'I'm a Black man who was raised by a single mother in a housing project. That story doesn't usually end in Congress. But today, that 11-year old boy who was beaten by police is about to be your next Representative,' Bowman said.

Bowman was leading Engel 62 to 35 per cent as of Wednesday afternoon.

'It feels good to be up by this much, but we've still got to count the absentee ballots and hopefully they'll play out the way the polling plays out,' he said, AFP reported.

Engel was trailing Bowman Tuesday night in early returns, although it will take days to take mail-in ballots into account. Engel, a liberal who is also a strong supporter of Israel, in a statement said it was 'premature' to make a declarative statement.

Congressman Eliot Engel prepares to cast votes for primary elections Tuesday June 23, 2020, in the Riverdale section of New York. Engel is being challenged by former middle school principal Jamaal Bowman

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) campaigns on June 23, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Ocasio-Cortez is running for re-election in the 14th congressional district against Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, a former CNBC anchor

The fates of powerful Democratic lawmakers and progressives mounting challenges to established figures won't be known for days and weeks amid a flood of absentee ballots and social distancing measures at primaries Tuesday.

New Yorkers voters requested 1.7 million mail ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic, in a state that was the hardest hit by the outbreak this spring. The count of these votes won't even begin until June 30.

Another senior Democrat, Manhattan Rep. Carolyn Maloney, 74, also must wait to learn her electoral fate. Maloney chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, while Engel, 73, chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He is seeking reelection to a 13th term.

In Kentucky, which also held primaries Tuesday, ex-fighter pilot Amy McGrath must wait to find out if she won the Democratic nomination to take on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. McGrath, who is favored by party leaders, faced an unexpectedly stiff challenge from progressive Charles Booker, an African-American state legislator.

The Associated Press won't call Kentucky races until June 30, when Kentucky state officials will release additional tallies, the wire service said.

The delayed results may be unexpected for many Americans, who have become used to snap election results and instant TV analysis, other than in very close races and recount situations.

It could be a preview for November, when many states are seeking to open up mail-in voting and encourage citizens to take advantage of the voting procedure amid the coronavirus.

If results end up delayed in key swing states and the presidential race is tight, some political observers are already predicting President Trump's fate may not be known on Election Day.

Control of the GOP Senate  which has pushed through Trump's judges and pursued his legislative agenda  also could hang in the balance.

President Trump has railed against mail-in voting and said the outcome of litigation could be the biggest risk to his reelection. He has said mail votes are rife with fraud, although five states conduct all their elections by mail.

Attorney General Bill Barr has said widespread mail-voting would 'open the floodgates' to fraud, although Barr, Trump, and numerous White House officials have voted absentee during Trump's term.

Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., whose 2018 win set the table for other left-wing challengers, easily turned back a challenge to her own seat.
E. Joseph Deering/Staff

Kolache Factory, a popular Texas pastry restaurant chain, said Wednesday it has re-closed dining rooms at 27 corporate locations in Texas, Kansas and Indiana. The restaurant on Wednesday moved back to carry-out, curbside or drive-thru services only.

The company attributed the closure to a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases in Texas and Houston in particular.
Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Brussels Forum

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

23 Jun. 2020



(As delivered)

Announcer: Welcome to Brussels Forum 2020. We are pleased to introduce the Vice President for Foreign Policy at the German Marshall Fund, Dr Ian Lesser.

Dr Ian Lesser [German Marshall Fund]: Good morning and good afternoon from Brussels. Welcome to our continuing Week 4 of Brussels Forum 2020, a week in which we're talking about some of the very, most important, big-picture issues affecting all of us: on the economy, on technology and, not least, on security. And we get to continue our conversation today with a very important discussion around precisely that last topic of global security, transatlantic security and the role of NATO. And we're really delighted to have with us NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. We're very grateful for his joining Brussels Forum, but we're also very, very grateful to him and to NATO for their support over 15 editions, actually, for NATO of Brussels Forum  whether we're working on the NATO summits together, or things throughout the year, we're always very grateful for that cooperation. So, Secretary General, thank you for being with us.

Let me also thank our partners. Our founding partners, Daimler and the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our Forum partner Deloitte and all our associate and supporting and knowledge partners, we're very grateful to all of them.

It goes without saying that NATO has really been at the centre of critical transatlantic debates recently and there's very good reason for that, which I'm sure we will get to in our conversation: the proliferation of security challenges, both traditional and untraditional, from East from South and globally. And I'm sure that in our conversation today, we'll talk about NATO's role not just in terms of its role as a military alliance, but also possibly its future as a political alliance as well, which it's always been.

So we look forward to the conversation today. We're really delighted to have with us Markus Preiss, who is the Brussels Bureau Chief of ARD to moderate this conversation. Markus, welcome back. Thank you for doing this. And let me turn it over to you.

Markus Preiss [Moderator] [Brussels Bureau Chief, ARD]: Thank you very much, Ian, for this introduction and a warm welcome again to Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, a Brussels Forum regular.

Since the last Forum, a lot of things happened in NATO. We saw the withdrawal of US troops from Syria. We saw the announcement of the withdrawal of troops from Germany. We saw the interview by Emmanuel Macron, calling NATO 'brain dead'. And today, the release of the book by a former US National Security Advisor, John Bolton, which touches a lot of questions, really, on questions related to NATO.

But before we start, I'd like you to engage as well. You can send us your questions to Secretary General Stoltenberg by using the hashtag #BrusselsForum or by sending an email at BrusselsForum@gmfus.org.

Before we come to the book  I expect everybody wants me to ask those questions first  but let's start with something different. Yesterday we saw the arms control talks between the US and Russia in Vienna. I suppose you have much better sources than we do. What can you tell us about the outcome and what's your take on what happened?

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: First of all, I welcome the fact that Russia and the United States are now sitting down, starting to negotiate, to look into how to reach an agreement on arms control for nuclear weapons. That is of great importance for all of us, for the whole world, but especially, of course, also for all NATO Allies, because arms control is the best way to prevent a new arms race. Arms control is the best way to reduce the number of nuclear weapons, and that will make us all safer and reduce the risk of any use of nuclear weapons. So NATO is a strong supporter of arms control and has been that through decades.

I also welcome the fact that the talks were constructive, that Russia and the United States agreed to meet for a second round, and also that they agreed to establish working groups.

Still, of course, there's still a long way to go before they reach an agreement. But these are important first steps.

Special Envoy Billingslea, who is responsible for the negotiations, he consulted with NATO Allies last month here in Brussels, in the NATO Council. And he will actually come back to Brussels, to NATO tomorrow, because the United States is very closely consulting with NATO Allies on these issues. It's a bilateral talk, or relationship, between Russia and the United States, but, of course, it matters for all NATO Allies.

Markus Preiss: One wish of the US side was that those talks should also include China. As we all know, they were not present yesterday. Are you in favour of an agreement between Russia and the US if there's no contribution from the Chinese side?

Jens Stoltenberg: I welcome that Russia and the United States are now sitting down and talking to each other on arms control. But having said that, I also strongly support that China should be involved. China is a . . . it's a global power. China has a responsibility to be part of global arms control arrangements. And the fact is that China is investing heavily in new delivery systems, investing heavily in new . . . in increasing the number of warheads.

We assess that within a decade, China will have doubled the number of nuclear warheads. And, of course, that matters for all of us. So therefore, China should be part of arms control and by being part of arms control, we are also making sure that we have transparency, predictability related to, also, the Chinese nuclear arsenals. So . . .

Markus Preiss: Yeah, but how do you convince them? I completely understand that it would be better if they were part of the talks, but how do you convince them?

Jens Stoltenberg: Fundamentally, in the same way as we convinced the Soviet Union during the Cold War or Russia today: that verifiable, balanced arms control is in the security interest of all of us. We are just safer, all of us, when we have ceilings on the numbers of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are dangerous. Nuclear weapons are extremely expensive. We want to prevent a new arms race. And the best way of doing that is, actually, to put ceilings to reduce the numbers.

The Soviet Union and the United States were able to do that during the Cold War. And I strongly believe that we should be able to do that also today, but now with a big difference: that China is a growing power, the second largest defence budget in the world, investing heavily in air, sea, land capabilities. And therefore, China should be part of these talks and be part of global arms control arrangements.

Markus Preiss: Should an arrangement also reflect the fact that China is not the China it was 20 or 30 years ago? So should it have another . . . or more opportunities in terms of military spending, of nuclear arms . . .

Jens Stoltenberg: China has the right, of course, to invest in their military. China has the right to, as all other nations to exercise their forces. And no-one is denying China that right. What we are saying is that, as China is growing, as China is becoming more and more a global military power with the ability not only to protect their own waters and their own territory, but to project power far beyond China, then it matters what they do. Then they are becoming a global power, which has a global responsibility to engage in global arms control. And especially the fact that they are now planning to double the number of warheads. They have conducted more missile tests than the rest of the world over the last year.

So the reality is that China is becoming a more and more important military power with long-range capabilities, the ability to project power around the whole globe and therefore, they should engage in arms control. Arms control is the best way to prevent a new arms race, the best way to reduce the risk of any nuclear escalation.

Markus Preiss: And again, if they are not part of the talks, are you in favour of a Russia-US only agreement?

Jens Stoltenberg: In the absence of any agreement which includes China, I think the right thing will be to extend the existing New START agreement to provide the necessary time to find agreement  US, Russia  but hopefully also with China. Because we should not end up in a situation where we have no agreement whatsoever regulating the number of nuclear weapons in the world. And with the demise of the INF Treaty that happened last year, because of the Russian violation of the INF Treaty, the deployment of the new SSC-8 missiles, then we cannot risk losing the New START agreement without having something else in its . . . to replace the New START agreement.

Markus Preiss: Now to the book. The book today came out by former National Security Advisor, John Bolton. It's called The Room Where It Happened. As far as I gather, Donald Trump's comments on the book were that it consists of highly-classified fake news. One of the things Bolton is writing about is the fact that Trump wanted to pull out the US, out of NATO. You were also in the room. Is it highly-classified, what happened there? Or is it fake news what Bolton writes?

Jens Stoltenberg: There's no secret that President Trump has been very clear and very strong and very vocal and very direct in his message about the importance of . . . that European Allies and Canada are investing more in defence.

Markus Preiss: But that's something different than saying, 'otherwise we're pulling out.'

Jens Stoltenberg: Yeah, but at the same time, it is also clear that President Trump has stated his clear commitment to NATO. And not only that, he has also now publicly, several times, recognised that European Allies and Canada are investing more. And we have to remember this summit was two years ago. And since then, we have seen President Trump again and again recognising that European Allies are investing more. He speaks about the money pouring in, and that European Allies have not delivered what they should, they're not 2 per cent for all of them, but at least that European Allies are investing more. 130 Billion extra US dollars since 2016 matters. And that helps and it strengthens the solidarity within the Alliance.

Markus Preiss: Perhaps I didn't read and listen to everything, but what I heard and saw over the last weeks was that the US President said, 'Germany has an abusive behaviour and therefore we pull out our troops.' That's what I heard.

Jens Stoltenberg: Well, what President Trump has stated is that he has the intention of reducing the number of US troops in Germany by 9,500. I spoke to President Trump before he made that announcement and he stated his intention clearly in that conversation.

At the same time, it is also clear that no final decision has been made on how and when to implement this intention.

And second, that the United States remains committed to Europe, to European security.

And thirdly, we have to also understand that, of course, US presence in Europe goes beyond Germany. Over the last years, we have seen increased US presence in many countries in Europe. The US leads a battlegroup in Poland. They are more present in the Baltic countries, in Norway, in Romania, a new naval deployment in Rota in Spain and so on.

My message to President Trump has been, and was in that conversation, and also when the defence ministers met in Brussels, or met virtually, last week, is that US presence in Europe is good for NATO, it's good for Europe, but it's also good for the United States. Peace and stability in Europe is adding to the security of the United States. And we also have to remember that Europe, the US presence in Europe, is also about not only protecting Europe, but also projecting power of the United States beyond Europe, into the Middle East, into Africa. The Sixth Fleet has its bases . . . their base in Naples, in Italy. The US Africa Command, it's not in Africa, it's in Stuttgart in Germany. And we know that Ramstein and all these other bases in Europe, in Germany, they are important for the United States.

So I really conveyed the message to the United States, that we are grateful for US presence, but it is also in the security interest of the United States to stay in Europe.

Markus Preiss: But if we have a look at that, you are convinced, of course, it's your role also as Secretary General to form a consensus and not to be too outspoken about that, but aren't you sometimes worried about what's happening? You also, two weeks ago, you spoke about NATO 2030. You said it's very important to make NATO more political, to make it a more forum for political debate as well. And then we see statements like that, like we saw about abuse of Germany. Where . . . where, how are you trying to form that?

Jens Stoltenberg: Well, NATO 2030 is about the future of NATO. It's about how NATO should adapt in the next decade. And NATO is the most successful alliance in history, because we have been able to change. That's the key to our success, is that when the world is changing, NATO is changing.

Now we have to change again. It's about keeping NATO strong militarily. It's about strengthening NATO politically. And it's about developing a more global approach of NATO, because we are faced with more global challenges and threats from the rise of China, or cyber, and many other challenges.

Of course, to be Secretary General of NATO is, in a way, to always be a bit concerned, because there are many challenges, both around NATO, but, also, always some difficulties and some differences within the Alliance. But I'm not deeply worried about the future of NATO. I'm confident that NATO absolutely could remain a strong alliance, because I've seen throughout history there have been differences between NATO Allies, from the Suez Crisis in 1956, to when France decided to leave the military cooperation of NATO in the 1960s, or the Iraq War, which really divided NATO Allies. We have always been able to overcome these differences and then unite around our core task: to protect and defend each other. I'm absolutely confident that will manage to do that also this time.

Markus Preiss: I read this morning that Joe Biden, presidential candidate of the Democrats, said to Forbes magazine, if Donald Trump is re-elected, there will be no NATO in the future. Are you not concerned enough, or has he no clue what happens at NATO?

Jens Stoltenberg: I think the key for me to be Secretary General of NATO, to chair the North Atlantic Council, is to make sure that I will do whatever I can to keep this big family of 30 Allies from both sides of the Atlantic  actually, the only platform where Europe and North America meet on a daily basis  keep us together, despite our differences, which are obvious: different histories, different political parties, different views on many issues between the Allies.

If I start to comment on something that will be interpreted as I go into domestic political campaigns in the different member states, I will really undermine my platform, my possibility to succeed as the Secretary General of NATO, uniting this Alliance. So . . .

Markus Preiss: But would you argue that NATO should be out of political campaigns? Or electoral campaigns?

Jens Stoltenberg: I will argue that NATO should not be part of domestic political campaigns. NATO is the political Alliance. We are campaigning every day for core values: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, freedom. That's why NATO exists. But that's not the same as being part of domestic political election campaigns. NATO has to stay out of that.

Markus Preiss: We'll leave the book aside for now. Something that affected all of us was coronavirus, COVID-19, over the last couple of months. It also affected NATO. What implications do you see in terms of the challenges NATO's facing, but also on burden-sharing? Because we are in a situation where all member states have strain on their budgets and perhaps the 2 per cent spending goal could also be more difficult. How is your take on that?

Jens Stoltenberg: NATO's core task has been to make sure that a health crisis, the COVID-19 crisis, doesn't become a security crisis. So we have made sure . . .

Markus Preiss: How could it be?

Jens Stoltenberg: Well, it's easy to foresee possibilities, either that non-state actors, terrorists, or others have tried to seize or misuse the vulnerability we have seen across the whole world and then to launch attacks.

We have seen some increased activities of some terrorist organisations, especially in Iraq. But to avoid a real security crisis from happening, we have to make sure from the start of this pandemic that our missions and operations are operational, that our operational readiness remains, that we're able to continue our air policing, naval patrols, the battlegroups  that they were able to conduct their task in the Baltic countries and so on.

The success of NATO has been that we have been able to do exactly that. So the operational readiness, our ability to defend then, all Allies, protect all Allies during this crisis has been absolutely in place throughout the crisis.

And actually, one of the things that it was good to see was that NATO has been planning for this, different pandemics, different health crises, so we were actually able to implement measures quite early, already in January, to start to protect these headquarters, other NATO headquarters, impose measures to reduce access to the buildings and to make sure that soldiers were protected as much as possible in different NATO missions and operations. So that's our primary task, is to protect Allies throughout a pandemic. We deliver on that.

Then, beyond delivering security, what we have seen is that NATO and our military forces throughout the Alliance have provided a lot of support to the civilian efforts coping with the pandemic. We have seen militaries providing field hospitals, hundreds of military planes, aircraft lifting patients, protective equipment, military forces helping to disinfect public spaces. So the military across the Alliance also very much organised, supported by NATO, has played a key role as a surge capacity, supporting the civilian efforts.

Markus Preiss: And concerning the 2 per cent target and burden-sharing, do you see that COVID will also affect that debate?

Jens Stoltenberg: Well, I absolutely recognise and understand that for NATO Allies, they are faced with, now, severe economic challenges because GDP is going down, tax revenues are going down . . .

Markus Preiss: Which might bring us closer to 2 per cent.

Jens Stoltenberg: Yes, but of course, what matters is the total spending and then expenditures are going up, of course, there are more and more expenditures for health purposes and to cope with the COVID-19 crisis.

Having said that, I think we have to realise that the COVID-19 pandemic, which is extremely serious, has not led to that other threats and challenges have gone away. There are still there. So the reasons why we decided to invest in our security: terrorist threats, cyber, the shifting balance of power with the rise of China or a more assertive Russia  all of that is still there. So, we need to continue to invest in our security. And on top of that, we also saw during . . . we have seen and we still see that the military actually helps the civilian society. So, investing in military also provides Allies with capabilities that has proven extremely helpful during the pandemic.

Markus Preiss: I turn to the questions which are coming in and perhaps gives us the opportunity to touch upon some other issues we did not touch upon so far. I start with the question by Martin Banks, a Brussels-based journalist. He asked: what impact do you think a no-deal Brexit will have on defence for Europe? And is a no-deal Brexit looking increasingly likely? But start with the first, what do you think a no-deal Brexit, what kind of impact will it have on defence of Europe?

Jens Stoltenberg: Brexit changes UK's relationship to the European Union, but Brexit does not change UK's relationship to NATO. And that is regardless of what kind of deal UK ends up with, with the European Union, because UK will remain a key NATO Ally. If anything, Brexit makes NATO even more important, because then NATO becomes even more important as a platform for bringing European Allies together to discuss issues of common concern. Because then UK will not be in the EU, but they will be in NATO, so NATO will be a platform for European Allies to meet and, of course, also meet with North America.

Markus Preiss: So, to make it short, your answer is: Brexit has no consequences for the defence of Europe?

Jens Stoltenberg: No, no. But if anything, it makes NATO more important. And we also have to understand that the UK is the European NATO Ally with the biggest defence budget. So, of course, it just highlights that the EU is important, we strongly welcome more NATO-EU cooperation, we have seen a lot of progress over the last years. That's very important. And I support, also, EU efforts on defence. I think that can improve burden-sharing within the Alliance. I think it can help to develop new capabilities.

So we welcome EU efforts on defence as very good. But EU cannot replace NATO. EU cannot defend Europe. We have to understand that 80 per cent of NATO's defence expenditure is coming from non-EU Allies. While, you know, more than 90 per cent of the people living in the European Union, they live in a NATO country. But only 44 per cent of the people living in NATO are living in an EU country. And we have to protect a hundred per cent of our population. So EU efforts on defence are much welcomed, but they cannot replace NATO.

Markus Preiss: One question by John Koski, Capture Manager at the European Region, goes into the same direction. How are European initiatives like EDF and PESCO impacting military cooperation within NATO? I think you answered that already a bit. And specifically the cooperation with the US, because we also heard comments from the US that are not so much in favour of stronger integration of European defence?

Jens Stoltenberg: I think it is important for the European Union to try to work more together to also overcome the fragmentation of the European defence industry. There are so many different platforms.

One example is that the United States, which has, actually, many, many battle tanks. They have one main type. In Europe they have much fewer battle tanks, but they have seven or eight different types. And of course, that adds very much to the cost of production, of development, of training, of spare parts, of maintenance. It reduces interoperability. And we see that, when it comes to all the different platforms  also ships, planes or whatever it is. So, if the EU can overcome some of this fragmentation of the European defence industry, that will reduce costs. It will mean that we will get more defence out of the defence budgets of European NATO Allies. And that, it will increase, of course, the competitiveness of European defence industry.

So that's welcomed. That's good. So, the aim of some of these initiatives, of EU initiatives, is to try to overcome that. We, NATO, has supported that for years. It is great if the EU succeeds. But again, this is not as an alternative to NATO, because the EU efforts represent 20 per cent of NATO's total defence spending. We just look at the battlegroups in the eastern part of the Alliance: three of four are led by non-EU Allies  the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. So . . . we have to keep North America and Europe together. Any attempt to divide North America from Europe, or Europe from North America would not only weaken NATO, but it would also divide Europe. And that's not in our security interest.

Markus Preiss: John Heffern, former US diplomat from D.C., asked: if any Ally wants to make troop adjustments affecting the Alliance, what is the right way to decide and announce such an adjustment? I think it refers to what we saw over the last two weeks.

Jens Stoltenberg: Of course, in NATO, we always welcome consultations. And the United States has now made it clear. Secretary Esper participated in a NATO defence ministerial meeting last week, and he made it very clear that the United States will now consult with NATO Allies on the implementation of the intention announced by President Trump. And as I said, I spoke with him before he made the announcement. And I think the important thing now is to try to sit down and find the best way to coordinate or to consult on the implementation.

Markus Preiss: Speaking about coordination and announcements, a question concerning Turkey, France and Libya, from Thomas Cole, political analyst, London: it seems NATO members are on the opposite sides on Libya and there have been public fallouts, for example, between France and Turkey. French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday said, 'Turkey is playing a very dangerous game in Libya.' Can the Alliance have a coherent position on Libya?

Jens Stoltenberg: There are differences between NATO Allies on the situation in Libya. At the same time, all NATO Allies agree that we are concerned about the increased Russian presence in Libya. This is part of a pattern with more Russian presence in the eastern Mediterranean. We see them in Syria. We see them elsewhere. So increased Russian presence, with fighter jets and other military capabilities, Russian mercenaries in Libya is of concern and all Allies are concerned about the increased Russian presence.

We also agree that we need to monitor and follow this very closely and share intelligence and information on the increased Russian presence.

Markus Preiss: But still, two NATO Allies are on different sides of that conflict.

Jens Stoltenberg: Yeah, but then the third issue we agree on, which is perhaps the most important, is that we agree that we need to support the UN efforts to find a political negotiated solution to the conflict in Libya.

If you refer to the incident in the Mediterranean, that's a different thing. But then the incident in the Mediterranean, that happened some days ago. The fact there is that two NATO Allies are involved and those two NATO Allies have totally different views on what actually happened. And therefore, the NATO Military Authorities are now investigating, looking into that instance to try to establish the facts.

Markus Preiss: A question concerning, it's still written right now, but I think it's concerning the talks between Serbia and Kosovo: what would be a good outcome of a meeting between Pristina and Belgrade, the fact that Vucic and Thaci are in the same room, or something more than that  asks Jela de Franceschi, Voice of America, USA.

Jens Stoltenberg: The good outcome will be that they agree to really restart the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue and agree to really make an effort to find a political solution to the situation in Kosovo.

NATO is present in Kosovo, we have our KFOR mission there with some thousand troops to protect all communities in Kosovo.

Serbia is a partner of NATO. I have visited Serbia several times. We actually conducted an exercise together with Serbia not so long ago, on civil preparedness.

And NATO has a history in the Balkans, helping to end the two wars in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Kosovo.

And, of course, we will strongly welcome the resumption of talks between Belgrade and Pristina to try to find a solution. It's not for NATO or any other countries to dictate the outcome, but the fact that they meet is at least encouraging. It's hopefully a first step to have a resumption of real talks between Pristina and Belgrade.

Markus Preiss: But isn't that something that should be done by the EU, rather than the US?

Jens Stoltenberg: We have supported the EU-facilitated dialogue, but we also welcome . . . we welcome any effort to try to bring Pristina and Belgrade together. And I'm absolutely certain that EU and the United States are able to coordinate their efforts.

At the end of the day, it is no-one outside that will dictate the outcome. At the end of day, it has to be the parties  Pristina, Belgrade - that have to own the process, they have to define the outcome. So what the US can do, what the EU can do, what others can do, is to support, but the parties have to find a solution.

Markus Preiss: A question from  [inaudible]  Euro Defence Committee member from the Netherlands: what is your opinion of nuclear weapons in this day and age? Is it still the deterrence it used to be? It seems to be increasing in numbers instead of decreasing as stated as an intention in the non-proliferation treaties?

Jens Stoltenberg: I am in favour of a world without nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are brutal, inhumane and dangerous. At the same time, I strongly believe that a world where NATO destroys all our nuclear weapons and then we end up in a world where Russia, China, North Korea have nuclear weapons while we don't have  that's a more dangerous world.

So the way to a world without nuclear weapons is balanced, verifiable arms control, disarmament. That's the reason why I so strongly support the talks that started yesterday between the United States and Russia. That's the reason why I strongly regret the demise of the INF Treaty, because of the Russian violation. That's the reason why I want China to be part of arms control arrangements. And that's also why I also support efforts to try to include not only long-range strategic weapons, but also what is referred to as non-strategic weapons, or more short-range weapon systems or delivery systems. Because we should do whatever we can to continue to press down the number of nuclear weapons.

We have seen some serious setbacks and the arms control regime that was established over decades is now really in danger of breaking down.

At the same time, I think we should have some encouragement from what we have achieved. When you had the first START agreement in the beginning of the 1990s, there were 12,000 warheads on each side. Now there are 1,550. That's a significant reduction. NATO has reduced the number of nuclear warheads by roughly 90 per cent in Europe. So we have achieved a lot. The danger is that now the trend is going, maybe going  we see it going in the wrong direction. And we see, of course, the risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons. So that's the reason why we are pushing so hard for arms control.

Markus Preiss: I think the question also referred a bit to technologies. So is . . . in a time where we have other kind of weapon system, other kind of cyber systems, is it still nuclear weapons that are the heart of the matter?

Jens Stoltenberg: They are important, but they are not the only challenge.

And it's absolutely correct to focus on new, disruptive technologies: artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons systems, facial recognition, new types of drones  all of this is really changing the nature of warfare.

I believe it's actually changing the nature of warfare as fundamentally as the Industrial Revolution. I think people in Europe, or the world, were not able to realise the brutality of warfare until they saw the First and the Second World War, where that was really the first war where they used industrial capacity to kill people.

Now we are moving into a new technological revolution. And the combination of, for instance, nuclear weapons with these autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and so on, is very scary. It's extremely demanding. And therefore, we need to focus on nuclear disarmament. But we need to also expand the arms control agenda to find ways to cover new technologies.

The challenge is that we have to do that in a different way, because nuclear arms control is about counting warheads and making sure that we have precise verification mechanisms. To count algorithms in cyberspace is very different, if it's possible at all. So we need also to develop new tools to implement, to verify and to establish arms control regimes with addressing the growth of new, emerging technologies.

Markus Preiss: Another question that relates in a way to that is Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports . . . sorry, I think it's about INF and NATO response to the end of the treaty, and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that conventional missiles would be deployed to Europe, with the possibility of receiving nuclear warheads in a crisis. Can you confirm or deny that? And would that contradict your earlier statement that no new land-based nuclear missiles will be stationed in Europe to counter Russia's growing nuclear arsenal?

Jens Stoltenberg: NATO Allies reiterated that position at our defence ministerial meeting last week, that we have no intention of deploying new land-based nuclear-capable missiles in Europe.

What we agreed was a balanced package where we had to look into air and missile defence, strengthening our air and missile defence capabilities, looking into conventional capabilities, also advanced conventional capabilities. Exercises, intelligence is part of this.

Then we have to make sure that our nuclear deterrence, the NATO nuclear deterrence, which is actually something we have developed; European Allies together with the United States over decades, with dual-capable aircrafts, common command and control. We have to make sure that that stays safe, secure and effective. And then arms control. These are the elements in the package we agreed. And we will follow up on them.

But we don't want a new arms race, and we stand by the decision not to . . . that we don't have any intention of deploying new land-based, nuclear-capable missiles in Europe.

Markus Preiss: On that subject, you repeat time and again that you don't want to mirror what Russia does. But if we are not . . . if I'm talking to people who are not in the security area, just normal people, they say, 'Why not? If we see that Russia has this capability, why shouldn't we have it here as well, or the answer?'

Jens Stoltenberg: Because what we have to make sure is that we have credible deterrence and defence. And we are able to maintain, to uphold and to achieve that without mirroring what Russia does. If we started to deploy the same kind of intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe as Russia has done over the last years, we are risking to launch a new arms race. And I think it would also increase tensions in Europe in a way which is not good for any of us.

But there is always a balance. There is no way to escape that there is a dilemma and a balance that we have to strike, and that is between preventing a new arms race, preventing to escalate the situation, but at the same time, providing strong deterrence and defence, because we have to send the message to any potential adversary, that if any Ally is attacked, the whole Alliance will be there and protect them. And the reason to do that is not to provoke a conflict, but to prevent a conflict.

The purpose of NATO is actually not to fight, but to prevent a war. But the only way to do that is to send the message that we are able. And that's the reason why we now are responding to the new Russian missiles. It's not only about the SSC-8 or the intermediate-range missiles, but many other missiles, too. They have now made hypersonic weapons systems operational. They are developing new cruise missiles, new sea-based systems and so on. So we are responding to that, but we don't . . . there's no need to mirror what Russia does. We have other ways to respond and we are doing exactly that.

Markus Preiss: There's also a question related exactly to what you just said. Where is it? When it comes to disruptive technology, today, NATO is mostly focussed to China's plans for artificial intelligence. Is Russia's progress on new projects like hypersonic weapons less important to NATO?

Jens Stoltenberg: No, we have to address both of them. They are different, but NATO doesn't have the luxury of either looking in one direction or the other direction. NATO has to be able to defend all Allies against any threat from any direction, including also from East or from West, or from North or wherever it comes from and including from cyberspace.

So, that's one of the purposes of NATO 2030, is to make sure that we adapt, that we change, as we see the world is changing. This is partly about, you know  Russia, which has been there all the time. Russia's heavy investments in new, advanced missile systems. But also the fact China is investing in not only missiles and nuclear weapons, but also, in many ways, actually leading when it comes to some of the new technologies, like, for instance, artificial intelligence. And combined with nuclear weapons, of course, this is potentially a great challenge.

Markus Preiss: In the past, it was always clear that the West was leading, technologically speaking. Would you agree, still agree that that's the case also on that new kind of systems?

Jens Stoltenberg: No, the West did not . . . it's not leading in all areas. Actually, we see that China is leading in some of these areas. And that just illustrates, demonstrates the importance of the rise of China. Soon, the largest economy in the world; leading technology, technological, in many areas and investing heavily in new, advanced military capabilities.

We don't see . . . we don't regard China as an adversary. We don't see any threat against any NATO Ally. But just the fact that we have such a growing power, which is actually coming closer to us in the Arctic, in Africa, in cyberspace, investing in our infrastructure here in Europe and with weapons systems that can reach all NATO Allies, of course matters. That's the reason why this is part of NATO 2030.

For me, there is one lesson to be learned. And that is that Europe and North America have to stay together. If you compare Europe with China, Europe is small. If you compare the United States with China, the United States is small in many areas, as Europe is. Together, Europe and North America, we are 50 per cent of the world's GDP, 50 per cent of the world's military might. So if anything, the rise of China, the shifting global balance of power makes it even more important that North America and Europe stay together. And the platform for doing that in the security domain, is NATO.

Markus Preiss: I have one question still from my side on that. What do you see behind China's ambition, China's rise? What do they want? You said they are not an enemy, they are not posing any threat to NATO countries right now. But what . . . where do they want to go?

Jens Stoltenberg: I will be very careful about speculating about that.

Markus Preiss: But that's . . .

Jens Stoltenberg: Yeah, but regardless of their intentions, we can see their capacity. That we can measure. We see, for instance, that they have developed their navy from kind of a more coastal navy to something that has a global reach. Just over the last five years, China has added 80 ships and submarines. That equals roughly the same number as the total UK Navy, which is one of the largest in the Alliance, next to the United States.

We have seen the new weapon systems, we have seen what they are investing. So, instead of speculating too much about their intentions, we see what they do in Hong Kong, we see what they do in the South China Sea, we see their behaviour in many other domains. But, instead of speculating too much about the intentions, we just have to relate to the fact that they are becoming stronger militarily, economically and technologically.

And therefore, we need to take that into account when they now are adapting NATO to NATO 2030. And we have to then stay together, North America and Europe.

Markus Preiss: I think China will be a big issue in your reflections on NATO 2030. Thank you very much for your time today, for your insights. Thank you very much, Secretary General Stoltenberg. And thank you very much, all of you who watched us today here from the NATO Headquarters. And now, enjoy the book. Thank you.



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(Newser)  Three members of a New Jersey family who were found dead in a backyard pool on Monday afternoon drowned, per the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office. A neighbor called 911 after hearing screams, and NJ.com reports Bharat Patel, 62, his 33-year old daughter-in-law, Nisha Patel, and her 8-year-old daughter were found in the above-ground pool.

story continues below

They all lived in the East Brunswick home, and CNN reports they had moved in just 20 days prior. The Bridgewater Courier News cites real estate records showing the five-bedroom home was purchased in early May. Its a nightmare, Mayor Brad Cohen said. Its such an extraordinarily sad thing to happen, especially for a new family that recently moved to East Brunswick." The deaths have been ruled accidental. (Read more drowning stories.)
Collectively, the programs receiving grants reach across Alkermes' therapeutic focus areas and seek to serve populations that span ethnic, socio-economic, gender, and age spectrums, utilizing a variety of approaches targeted to the acute challenges presented by COVID-19, including: peer-support programs; innovative technologies, formats and channels to expand access to and reach of essential nonprofit programming; creative approaches to bolster crisis response; and provision of essentials such as food, housing, and career support.

"As stay-at-home orders took effect across the U.S., we reached out to understand how efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19 were impacting people living with addiction, serious mental illness, or cancer," said Richard Pops, Chief Executive Officer of Alkermes. "We learned that the fear, social isolation, and economic hardship impacting so many has led to even greater challenges for these communities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to help address their unique and complex needs and will continue to evolve our longstanding efforts to provide meaningful and lasting support for these patient populations."

2020 Grant Recipient Organizations and Programs:

10,000 Beds is launching a new podcast to give people in recovery access to accurate information, a safe place to be heard and to listen, and a source for guidance on how to navigate a socially distanced world as they attempt to socially reintegrate.

Clubhouse International's Online Communities project is a comprehensive digital response to establish new channels of communication and virtual resources for Clubhouses and their members to address social and economic isolation for people living with mental illness.

Community Servings is increasing kitchen/delivery capacity and providing 75,000 medically-tailored meals to 340 clients and their families affected by cancer throughout Massachusetts.

Faces & Voices of Recovery is working to ensure recovery community organizations across the nation can sustain and adapt peer recovery support services through and beyond the current COVID-19 pandemic, with tools and resources to build organizational knowledge, capacity, and resilience in response to emergencies and risks.

Imerman Angels provides COVID-19 related information and will increase online capacity, video programming and other digital vehicles to partner cancer fighters, survivors, and caregivers with someone just like them  a "Mentor Angel"  a cancer survivor, previvor, or caregiver who has faced the same type of cancer.

National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City, through its NAMI-NYC Helpline, provides materials, information, resources, and referrals on current and ever-changing COVID-19 issues relating to mental health in New York City, connecting callers with vital services including housing, employment, healthcare, public services/benefits, and legal services.

Ohio Recovery Housing provides recovery housing operators with best-practice guidance, along with training and technical assistance, so that they may continue to offer quality environments during and after the pandemic, looking beyond immediate needs, bringing back lost capacity, being more sustainable, and growing to meet increasing demand.

Sound Mind Live's Artist Ambassadors Crisis Response Program will feature well-known musical artists speaking out on mental health effects of COVID-19 and ways to address them, including a COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Toolkit and a series of online interviews, virtual panels, and podcasts.

This Is My Brave is building upon BraveTV, a Facebook Live series, to urgently address COVID-19 related needs for people living with addiction and serious mental illness to continually increase the number of individuals putting a name, face, and story to mental illness through storytelling, and with a focus on highlighting and partnering with mental health organizations that are led by, and serve, members of the Black community.

Young People in Recovery serves youth and young adults who are no longer able to access in-person services with virtual peer recovery support services such as peer recovery support meetings, pro-social activities, and life skills trainings to help them maintain long-term recovery from drugs and alcohol.

Grant recipients were selected based on pre-determined decision criteria including: a focus on people living with mental illness, substance use disorders, or cancer; clearly defined needs, objectives, activity format, mode of delivery, and intended audience; relevance to the COVID-19 pandemic; ability to implement in a rapid time frame and sustainability of the impact beyond the immediate crisis; the organization's ability to execute the proposed program; and uniqueness and creativity of the proposed program/solution.

Since 2016, the Alkermes Inspiration Grants program has awarded more than $3 million in funding to innovative programs that support the comprehensive needs of those most impacted by serious diseases in our areas of focus. Due to the urgent and unexpected needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company revamped its Alkermes Inspiration Grants program for 2020 to provide grants to assist nonprofit organizations in their work to urgently address pandemic-related needs for people living with addiction, serious mental illness, or cancer. For more information on the Alkermes COVID-19 Relief Fund, including additional details about the grant recipients and awarded programs, please visit https://www.alkermes.com/responsibility.

About Alkermes plc

Alkermes plc is a fully integrated, global biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines in the fields of neuroscience and oncology. The company has a portfolio of proprietary commercial products focused on addiction and schizophrenia, and a pipeline of product candidates in development for schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Alkermes plc has an R&D center in Waltham, Massachusetts; a research and manufacturing facility in Athlone, Ireland; and a manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Ohio. For more information, please visit Alkermes' website at www.alkermes.com.

ALKERMES INSPIRATION GRANTS is a registered service mark of Alkermes, Inc.

Alkermes Contacts:

For Investors: Sandy Coombs, +1 781 609 6377

For Media: Katie Joyce, +1 781 609 6806

SOURCE Alkermes plc

Related Links

http://www.alkermes.com


Google Chrome on Android appears to be getting a new text selection feature that enables the browser to define words with a tap. Thats based on recent reports highlighting the incoming feature, which appears to be rolling out slowly now.

As implied, the feature centers around another capability that already exists in Chrome for Android. Namely, as the browser currently works, users can highlight text and then drag up on a card that appears at the bottom of the UI. That card contains a wealth of information drawn from a Google search for the selected words.

Now, Chrome also appears to be showing a new card at the bottom. That contains a definition for any word selected on the page. A pronunciation guide is included in that as well. Long-pressing on a term or word to select it, with the change in place, reverts to the previously-described search results. Pulling up on the definition provides a full knowledge graph for the searched term.

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That means that users can now get a whole lot of information for words with very little action, helping them to understand the full context of the text better.

This is also in beta but is a lot more functional there

This feature also appears to be alive and well in Chrome Beta for Android  presently on version 84. But additional features can be found on that platform as well. And those will undeniably make tap-to-search more functional and helpful.

Under testing, the feature on Chrome Beta did not solely search out definitions for words. Attempting to perform a search to define the word physicist in one article, for example, it pulled forward the surrounding terms too. In this case, that was one mathematician in particular  as shown in the sample images below.

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From there, the card shifted from defining the term to laying out public information about the scientist in question.

At first glance, that may seem like an arbitrary change. But this will help end-users more readily find out about people referenced or implicated in a given news piece. Or any other writing. That could, in turn, help users better understand where information is coming from and possibly even help users determine the veracity of the information.

For example, an article about science may reference one or two scientists, in particular. Giving users the ability to click their names and determine their occupation and other information could help users discover whether they are experts in the relevant field. That would, in effect, allow users to determine whether they have the requisite expertise to have made any claims attributed to them.

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If and when Google does release the feature, that would stack nicely atop other fact-checking-related features it has been rolling out.

When will Google Chrome define words for you?

As hinted above, this is essentially a feature under testing for the time being. So not every user is going to see Chrome for Android define words on-tap right now. Instead, the feature looks to be directly linked to an experimental setting found in the chrome://flags URL-based hidden settings menu. It can be found there via a simple search for the term Contextual Search definitions.

Given the circumstances of the features discovery, it isnt immediately clear when it will roll out more widely either. It may be the case that Google plans to roll out both beta features here at the same time. Or it might choose to launch one before the other. In any case, this will make Googles browser stand out just a bit more from other apps on the platform when it does finally arrive.
Dear Editor:

Going to work and coming home in the dark is not unusual for poll workers. But in addition to answering a report for duty time of 5 a.m., poll workers (many of whom are 60 older) were asked this year to work on the front lines of COVID-19 exposure.

After spring voting in Wisconsin, over 50 voters or poll workers tested positive for COVID. In Illinois, multiple primary poll workers fell ill, and one died.

Poll workers are a committed bunch. We take our job seriously, and protecting peoples right to vote is paramount. But we should not be expected to risk our lives without financial consideration similar to that afforded other frontline workers. COVID 19 Heroes funding has been proposed or enacted by various states and municipalities, and in Congress.

Many poll workers are retired, elderly or on a fixed income. Working election days is not a luxury; its seen as a civic duty. Hazard pay would not be an ongoing expense. It also would attract more youths to work.

Federal stimulus bills certainly could include us, but alternatively, states could add extra pay to their election budgets. Concentrating polling places already is occurring, leading to even more exposure while saving money on personnel. And new technology, while helpful, has not diminished interpersonal contact; in fact, it has increased.

An extra $1,000 plus free COVID testing (for both the virus and antibodies) for each election would not only help safeguard our voting but would help safeguard lives.

Gina Walker Fox, Richard Barone, Beverly Kane, Linda Toback, Stephanie Williams and Veronica Todriff

The writers are Rhinebeck polling place workers.
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 24, 2020 17:05 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406614fc68 1 Business Trade,investment,digitalization,CEPA Free

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted Indonesia to digitalize various administrative processes to spur trade and investment amid a slowing economy and with social restrictions in place.

For example, Indonesia is allowing Australian exporters to use an electronic certificate of origin in order to claim free trade agreement benefits for its exported products, according to Sally Deane, senior trade commissioner of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade).

The move is seen as a positive step for the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), which enters into force on July 5.

Australia and Indonesia were already making progress in this space [regulatory reform], but with COVID-19 we have seen some acceleration of these trends, Deane said in a virtual discussion on Tuesday.

Before the pandemic, Indonesia used electronic quarantine certificates for the trade of agricultural products with Australia, the Netherlands and New Zealand, according to the Indonesian Agriculture Quarantine Agency.



Deane said that moving forward, both governments should further utilize digital channels to allow Indonesian and Australian business communities to participate in virtual business matching or product showcases at a time when international travel is restricted.

I think we can look at ways of using digital channels to bring our two business communities together, Deane added.

Under the CEPA agreement, Indonesian exports to Australia will get zero tariffs. Likewise, most of Australias exports, including live male cattle, frozen beef, dairy products and sugar, may enter Indonesia without any duties.

The Indonesian Trade Ministry expects the export of some Indonesian products to Australia, such as automotive products, timber, textiles, electronics and communication tools, to increase despite recording a US$3.2 billion trade deficit last year.

Digitalization has also taken place on the investment front. The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) currently provides an online one-stop service platform, the Online Single Submission (OSS), to process business permit applications. The OSS was created to simplify the administrative process of starting a business in the country.

BKPM head Bahlil Lahadalia also announced his plan to develop a web-based OSS application that can be managed not only by his office but also by regional administrations.



In a hearing with the House of Representative on Tuesday, he proposed a budget of Rp 150 billion ($10.6 million) for software development and hardware distribution to provinces, cities and agencies across the country.

Right now, there are various applications to process permits, especially at the regional level, Tina Talisa, the agencys spokeswoman, told The Jakarta Post via text message on Wednesday. Hence, we see the need to use a single application and integrate the app for the government and regional administrations.



Tina said the application was one of the agencys strategies to recover investment in 2021, as the pandemic forced the agency to revise down this years investment target.



Total investment realization in the first quarter grew 8 percent year-on-year to Rp 210.7 trillion. However, Indonesia booked an annual decline of 9.2 percent in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the same period, propelled by the coronavirus pandemic, which brought the global economy to a temporary halt.

Red tape and unfavorable labor laws for businesses have weighed down Indonesias appeal to foreign investors. The countrys ranking in the World Banks ease of doing business index has stagnated at 73rd of 190 for the past two years.

The incoming partnership may prompt Indonesia to further improve its investment climate, particularly in education, tourism and construction, according to Pingkan Audrine, a researcher at the Center for Indonesian Public Policies think tank, quoting data from the Trade Ministry.

Topics : Trade investment digitalization CEPA
New Delhi, June 24 : In an interview with IANS, Preetha Reddy Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals and President, NATHEALTH said that there is an urgent need to revamp the Indian healthcare system today.

Reddy said there is a need to provide solutions to short terms problems caused due to COVID-19 and alongside, addressing the long-standing structural gaps in our healthcare systems.

"We are doing everything possible to support the state government efforts on COVID-19 management. At the same time, existing non-COVID patients seeking medical treatment for various other diseases should also be given priority," Reddy said on providing treatment to non-Covid patients.

Reddy said the COVID19 pandemic and the lockdowns have resulted in a sharp reduction in patient occupancy as well as OPD footfalls in hospitals. There is also significant increase in expenses related to additional infrastructure, sterilization, infection control, PPE, staff rotation and e-consults for both the medical and non-medical staff at the frontline of patient care. "This has considerably impacted revenues of healthcare facilities," she added.

On the rising infections in healthcare professionals, Reddy said the rising number of cases is posing a key challenge and increasing cases of infection among healthcare staff brings to light the need to scale up safety measures in and around hospitals and medical centers. "There is already a shortage of skilled HCWs and critical care providers and rising number of infections among them will only further worsen the situation," Reddy said.

On the Covid peak, Reddy said there are multiple projections at this point of time on the peak period of COVID-19 infection in the country and globally. "Some projections estimate a peak period in the next two months and a few, later in the year. States may also witness a surge or dip at different points in time," she added.

She said NATHEALTH members have stepped in with numerous measures to address the double burden of COVID and non-COVID care service delivery.

According to a survey done by NATHEALTH, it was found that private sector labs are being utilized only at 30% of their capacity while the public sector is running at full capacity. "With the increasing number of cases each day, it is important to ramp up facilities and services at all labs to improve the current testing scenario in the country," Reddy said.

Q: What has been the financial impact of COVID 19 on the healthcare industry as occupancy is low for non COVID patients? A: The COVID19 pandemic and the lockdowns have resulted in a sharp reduction in patient occupancy as well as OPD footfalls in hospitals. There is also significant increase in expenses related to additional infrastructure, sterilization, infection control, PPE, staff rotation and e-consults for both the medical and non-medical staff at the frontline of patient care. This has considerably impacted revenues of healthcare facilities. In addition, the focus of treatment protocols in COVID-19 times has also undergone a shift and the hospitals need to ensure that healthcare workers and non-COVID patients are not infected. The new approach has thus led to an increase in the cost of care and staff measures.

Q: What have been the NATHEALTH initiatives for COVID 19? A: NATHEALTH members have stepped in with numerous measures to address the double burden of COVID and non-COVID care service delivery. Several hospitals have scaled up services to educate the public, ensure safety of employees, offer e-consults to patients, maintain essential non-COVID services while adhering to Government guidelines.

The key focus area has been to ramp up infrastructure, place protocols, allocate manpower as per multiple shifts, open flu clinics, test and treat both COVID and non-COVID patients. Efforts have been taken to maintain contact with existing patients through telemedicine and video consults. Multiple platforms are being used by hospitals, labs and nursing homes to reach maximum number of people to create awareness about the epidemic and preventive measures.

Warriors at the frontline such as health, sanitation workers and police personnel have been trained to serve the people. Substantial contributions have also been made to The Prime Minister CARES Fund.

Q: When do you see a peak for the virus? Is the health care system geared for dealing these numbers? A: There are multiple projections at this point of time on the peak period of COVID-19 infection in the country and globally. Some projections estimate a peak period in the next two months and a few, later in the year. States may also witness a surge or dip at different points in time.

No country, including India, was prepared to combat COVID-19 but is managing it in the best possible way. Looking at the rising cases in India, reshaping of the healthcare paradigm is the only way forward.

The roadmap to achieve universal healthcare hinges on engagement and collaboration where all the key stakeholders can come together, partner and work in tandem to bridge vital gaps in healthcare service delivery. For future, a collaborative platform to coordinate national resilience through value based public private partnerships would work.

Q: Adding to the problem is the difficulty faced by non-COVID patients in approaching hospitals and availing treatment especially for chronic diseases? A: Our member hospitals are ensuring that they have segregated spaces for non-COVID, suspected-COVID and confirmed-COVID patients. They have been committed to provide safe and infection free atmosphere for patients and staff. Social distancing measures and disinfection have been given high importance along with public education and awareness efforts.

For non-COVID patients, hospitals are ensuring that dialysis/chemotherapy is done in a separate, dedicated area to ensure their safety and that of frontline workers and other patients. The medical and nursing teams are working in multiple shifts followed by isolation periods. In addition to this, remote care facilities telemedicine and video consultation facilities are also being conducted by several hospitals.

Q: What is your view on testing procedures? A: According to a survey done by NATHEALTH, it was found that private sector labs are being utilized only at 30% of their capacity while the public sector is running at full capacity. With the increasing number of cases each day, it is important to ramp up facilities and services at all labs to improve the current testing scenario in the country. A state-specific approach in partnership with relevant stakeholders is required where both public and private sectors canhelp in increasing screening/testing and identifying cases for treatment.

Q: What is your assessment of healthcare professionals getting infected and how does that affect the functioning of hospitals? A: The rising number of cases is posing a key challenge and increasing cases of infection among healthcare staff brings to light the need to scale up safety measures in and around hospitals and medical centers. There is already a shortage of skilled HCWs and critical care providers and rising number of infections among them will only further worsen the situation. It is important to tackle this situation through public education and stringent hygiene and disinfection measures.

Hospitals also need to follow mandated quarantine periods for HCWs working in isolation wards. The leadership teams in all hospitals need to coordinate with the medical services team and the administration. A 360-degree approach on risk mitigation and open communication will help in keeping the morale up.

Q: State governments are mandating hospitals to reserve beds for COVID-19 patients? What is your view? A: There is an urgent need to revamp the Indian healthcare system today and India must use the present pandemic scenario as an opportunity to assess the situation and work to fix the gaps related

to access, quality, infrastructure and shortage of skilled medical professionals. We are doing everything possible to support the State government efforts on COVID-19 management. At the same time, existing non-COVID patients seeking medical treatment for various other diseases should also be given priority.

It is important for us as a nation to prioritize healthcare, bring in increased health investments, scale up medical education and leverage technology to set up hospitals in tier 2-3 settings and strengthen primary healthcare.

Q: What are the emerging challenges for healthcare from a NATHEALTH perspective? A: There is a need to provide solutions to short terms problems caused due to COVID-19 and alongside, addressing the long-standing structural gaps in our healthcare systems. The healthcare industry today is at the forefront of managing the pandemic.

Health needs to be given topmost priority with additional resources and we need to collaboratively address the shortage of medical force, skill upgradation and facilities of healthcare workers, barriers to access and high out of pocket health expenditure for common people. I would like to reemphasize that both the public and private sector stand with the people of India and are working together to ensure more and more people have access to quality care and universal health coverage becomes a reality.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be contacted at sanjeev.s@ians.in)

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
A mother has revealed how doctors misdiagnosed a debilitating condition which causes her limbs to frequently dislocate for more than 30 years.

Catherine Flynn, now 33, from Hucknall, Nottingham, would wake up 'screaming' at night throughout her childhood and collapsed randomly under her own weight - yet doctors put her joint pain down to 'a bad shoulder or growing pains'.

At the age of just three, her mother felt something wasn't right, and she went on to be diagnosed with hypermobility, a condition which allows joints to move beyond the average range of movement, at five-years-old.

It wasn't until she visited her local GP several years ago that medics began to investigate, leading to the mother-of-one being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS).

EDS is a group of conditions that affect connective tissue, which provides support in skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, internal organs and bones.

Throughout her childhood, Catherine Flynn (pictured with her husband and daughter), now 33, of Nottingham, says she would wake up 'screaming' at night and collapse randomly under her own weight - yet still doctors put her joint pain down to 'a bad shoulder or growing pains'

'My mother said when I was three that something was not right,' the operations director recalled. 'It can take years, 10 to 20 years, for a diagnosis.

'I was told that it could be fibromyalgia. They were not connecting the dots. The biggest thing for me is just the acknowledgement and people taking the time to diagnose it.'

Catherine said she tends to wake up every morning with all her joints 'locked', with herself and her husband, Dominic Glavey, 40, having to put her hip back in frequently over the course of a single month.

The couple, who have been together for 11 years and have a nine-year-old daughter, Dominique, have on occasion had to explain to paramedics and nurses what the condition is and how best to treat it.

'There is a possibility of your skull dislocating and internally decapitating yourself,' Catherine added. 'I've got a back support and two knee supports and a pelvic support depending on which part of me I need to support.

'My left hip can completely roll round in the socket. I have pain every day. I have learned to live with my EDS and it is painful and uncomfortable everyday and is getting worse.

It wasn't until the mother-of-one (pictured with her family) moved to Hucknall , Nottingham, five years ago and visited her local GP that medics began to investigate, leading to the mother-of-one being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) at the age of 32

'Luckily I have the best family around me. There is a 50/50 chance that you give it to your children, I'm hoping I have got lucky.'

Catherine and her family are now looking to raise money for a research team, which the University of Manchester has already shown interest in, due to a lack of treatment options for the condition.

The family have set up a fundraising page and the mother-of-one plans to take part in a skydive when it is safe to do so.

WHAT IS EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME? Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is the name for a group of rare inherited conditions that affect connective tissue. Connective tissues provide support in skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, internal organs and bones. Symptoms can range from immobility to hypermobility, an increased amount of movement in joints, as well as fragile skin, frequent dislocation of joints, digestive problems and heart problems. The different types of EDS are caused by faults in certain genes that make connective tissue weaker. EDS can affect people in different ways. For some the condition is relatively mild, while for others their symptoms can be disabling. Some of the rare severe types can be life-threatening. Source: NHS Advertisement

Her husband added: 'She manages her pain really well and has had to self-manage this.

'I quickly learned that she didn't have any clinicians who understood her condition or even knew what it was in many cases.

'She has looked for help and asked for it but this doesn't seem to get her anywhere, as there aren't really specialists in the UK for this condition.

'She is determined to bring awareness to EDS, to help to educate clinicians going forward and to hopefully find some kind of care plan or management plan to help others in the same situation, especially children.'

Kay Julier, the managing director of the Ehlers-Danlos Support UK charity, says Catherine's story is 'unfortunately quite a common one'.

She added: 'It's not known how many people in the UK have EDS or the related hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) but estimates range from 13,000 (1 in 5,000) to 120,000 (1 in 500).

'Symptoms of most types of EDS include joints that dislocate frequently, fragile skin, long-term pain, severe tiredness, digestive dysfunction, problems regulating blood pressure which can lead to sudden collapses, bladder and bowel problems and prolapsing organs.

'EDS can be very difficult to diagnose due to the broad range of non-specific symptoms and the fact that it can present very differently from person to person. Twelve of the thirteen types can be confirmed by genetic testing but there is no test for the most common type (hypermobile EDS).

'There is an urgent need to improve the situation for people with EDS and HSD in the UK. The average time to diagnosis of EDS and HSD is 10 years.

'When people do finally get a diagnosis the lack of awareness of the condition means that medical professionals often don't know what treatment to offer. People with EDS are often discharged with no further support or care.''
U.S. Customs officers stand beside a sign saying that the U.S. border is closed at the U.S.-Canada border in Lansdowne, Ont., on March 22, 2020. (Lars Hagberg/AFP/Getty Images)

US-Canada Border Travel Restriction Extended to July, CBP Affirms

The United States will continue to limit nonessential travel from Canada to America through land ports of entry or ferry service, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed on Wednesday.

These restrictions go into effect at 12 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 23, 2020 and will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 21, 2020, CBP said in a Federal Register post.

The travel restriction was initially announced on March 24 amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak.

The Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf decided to continue the travel restriction because continued transmission and spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, between the United States and Canada posted a specific threat to the human life or national interests, the agency stated.

The extension was announced by the Canadian government on June 16.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the border travel restrictions will remain in place until July 21 even as the two nations continue to reopen.

This is an important decision that will keep people in both of our countries safe, Trudeau said.

According to the rule posted by the CBP, U.S. citizens and green card holders returning to the United States are allowed to use the border. Individuals traveling for medical purposes, to attend educational institutions, to work in the United States, for emergency response, and for public health purposes are not subject to the restrictions.

Travel related to lawful cross-border trade, governmental and diplomatic affairs is also permitted.

According to governmental data collected by Our World in Data, the new deaths from the CCP virus in America have passed the peak and show a clear downtrend, though new cases have grown slowly in recent weeks.

The Trump administration attributed the increase in new cases to increased testing.

Speaking at a White House roundtable on June 15, Vice President Michael Pence said that increased cases of COVID-19 infections in some states were caused by a dramatic increase in testing.

Our team has been working with governors over the past week. Were carefully analyzing those new cases, and we really believe that the vast majority of new cases is a reflection, as you said, of a dramatic increase in testing, he said.

Jack Phillips and Tom Ozimek contributed to the report.
The UN labour agency appealed to governments on Wednesday to support tens of millions of migrant workers forced to return to their homelands due to the coronavirus pandemic only to face unemployment and poverty.

Governments should include returning workers, many of whom had lost jobs overnight, in their social protection measures and reintegrate them into national labour markets, the International Labour Organization said in a report.

"This is a potential crisis within a crisis," Manuela Tomei, director of the ILO's conditions of work and equality department, told a news conference.

There are an estimated 164 million migrant workers worldwide, nearly half of them women, accounting for 4.7 percent of the global labour force, according to the ILO. Many work in health care, transport, domestic work and agriculture.

Their remittances are key for their families and economies back home, Tomei said, citing a report from the World Bank that a $100 billion drop in remittances was forecast by year-end.

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

Nearly a million migrant workers have returned to South Asia alone, said Michelle Leighton, chief of labour migration at ILO.

They include 500,000 Nepalese who returned from India, more than 250,000 Bangladeshis from the Middle East, 130,000 Indonesians, 100,000 Burmese and 50,000 Filipinos, mostly seafarers, ILO figures show.

Ethiopia expects from 200,000-500,000 migrants to return by year-end, Leighton added.

"There are serious problems with their eligibility for social protection, when they come back, for instance they are not able to take their social security entitlement and that is a function of the need for cooperation between the sending and receiving countries," Leighton said.

Large numbers of migrant workers in the Gulf are affected by job losses, with more than 90,000 believed to have left Kuwait since April, said Ryszard Cholewinski of ILO's Beirut office.

But not all left jobless in the Gulf want to repatriate, he said, adding that the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have relaxed restrictions on changing employers.
Company announcement  No. 38 / 2020

Zealand Pharma announces first patient dosed in Phase 2 trial with long-acting GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist in obesity/diabetes

The 410-patient Phase 2 trial will compare efficacy of BI 456906 to that of placebo and semaglutide



Dosing of first patient triggers a EUR 20 million milestone payment to Zealand Pharma



The long-acting GLP-1/glucagon dual-agonist was concluded to have a favorable safety, tolerability and weight loss profile in Phase 1 clinical testing and it is part of Boehringer Ingelheims portfolio in the obesity, NASH and diabetes disease areas

Copenhagen, June 24, 2020  Zealand Pharma A/S (ZEAL.CO) (CVR-no. 20045078) today announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 2 clinical trial of the long-acting GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist BI 456906, which Zealand has licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim. As part of the license agreement, Zealand will receive a milestone payment of EUR 20 million related to the first patient dosed in the Phase 2 clinical trial.

The compound derived from the natural gut hormone oxyntomodulin activates both the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors that are critical to controlling metabolic functions. The dual agonist BI 456906 has potential as a new, once-weekly treatment that may offer therapeutically relevant benefits compared to currently available treatments.1

The Phase 2 trial is a randomized, parallel group, dose-finding study of subcutaneously administered BI 456906, compared with placebo and open-label semaglutide in 410 patients with obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The main objective of the trial is to demonstrate a dose-relationship of BI 456906 on HbA1c from baseline to 16 weeks relative to placebo. Secondary objectives are to assess the effect of BI 456906 on change in body weight. An open-label comparator (semaglutide) will allow for comparison of the effects against a pure GLP-1R agonist. Additional details about the study are available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04153929 .

Story continues

We are happy to see the resolute progress by Boehringer Ingelheim in advancing BI 456906 into late-stage clinical development, said Adam Steensberg, Chief Medical Officer at Zealand Pharma. The unique profile of this dual-acting GLP-1/glucagon peptide holds the promise to help millions of people better manage and overcome obesity, NASH and type 2 diabetes.

Under the terms of the license agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim funds all research, development and commercialization activities for the GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist, and Zealand is entitled to receive up to EUR 345 million in outstanding milestone payments. The agreement also carries high-single digit to low-double digit percentage royalties on global sales.

# # #

About Zealand Pharma A/S

Zealand is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of next generation peptide-based medicines that change the lives of people living with metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases. More than 10 drug candidates invented by Zealand have advanced into clinical development, of which two have reached the market. Zealands robust pipeline of investigational medicines includes three candidates in late stage development, and one candidate being reviewed for regulatory approval in the United States. Zealand markets V-Go, an all-in-one basal-bolus insulin delivery option for people with diabetes. License collaborations with Boehringer Ingelheim and Alexion Pharmaceuticals create opportunity for more patients to potentially benefit from Zealand-invented peptide therapeutics.

Zealand was founded in 1998 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has presence throughout the U.S. that includes key locations in New York, Boston, and Marlborough (MA).

Forward-Looking Statement

The above information contains forward-looking statements that provide Zealand Pharmas expectations or forecasts of future events. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions, which may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations set forth herein and may cause any or all of such forward-looking statements to be incorrect. If any or all of such forward-looking statements prove to be incorrect, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied by such statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Zealand Pharma as of the date of this release.

For further information, please contact:

Zealand Pharma Investor Relations

+45 50 60 38 00

investors@zealandpharma.com

Lani Pollworth Morvan, Investor Relations and Communication

LMorvan@zealandpharma.com







1 Ref. Pocai, A. "Action and therapeutic potential of oxyntomodulin." Mol Metab. 2014 Jun; 3(3): 241-251.





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(Newser)  A former vice president is about to fall. Early Wednesday, a crew began removing a statue of John C. Calhoun, a defender of slavery who served as the seventh US vice president from 1825 to 1832, from its pedestal in Charleston, SC, following a Tuesday city council vote. The council unanimously approved a resolution to relocate the statue. Mayor John Tecklenburg announced the resolution last week, saying a panel of historians would decide where the statue will be moved, reports NPR. "We have a sense of unity moving forward for racial conciliation and for unity in this city," he said after the vote, per CNN. "The statue has served as a symbol of division in our community," said Councilmember Peter Shahid. "We need symbols that unite us, that bring us together not tear us apart."

story continues below

WCIV reporter Desirae Gostlin watched as the statue was draped in straps attached to a crane shortly before 4am local time. Soon after, crews began sawing at the statue's base, more than 100 feet above Marion Square. Tecklenburg said the move came "after careful consideration of the facts of Mr. Calhoun's life." He said Calhoun was "South Carolina's most prominent national statesman" and "its most consequential defender of slavery and white supremacy," per NPR. CNN reports the former VP owned 80 slaves of his own. A former secretary of state and secretary of war, Calhoun died 11 years before the start of the Civil War, reports WYFF. Tecklenburg said he would prefer that the statue be placed in a setting where it could be displayed in its full historical context. (Yale previously scrubbed Calhoun's name from a residential college.)
Madison Cawthorn, the 24-year-old who stunningly defeated the candidate President Trump endorsed in the Republican runoff for North Carolina's 11th congressional district, got a congratulatory call last night from the president himself  on Air Force One flying back from Arizona.

Why it matters: Lynda Bennett's defeat ruined Trump's near-perfect record of endorsing winners in GOP primaries  a record he prized and often boasted about.

Between the lines: It also puts White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in an awkward position, with allies of the president blaming him for the loss.

Meadows vacated the seat to join Trump's White House earlier this year. The president only endorsed the losing candidate because Meadows' wife encouraged him to do so, according to sources with direct knowledge.

Behind the scenes: After congratulating Cawthorn, Trump told the young real estate investor that he didn't even know Bennett, and that his team had told him to endorse her, according to two sources familiar with the call. The real story is even knottier.

Early on the morning of June 4, Trump got a call from Debbie Meadows, the chief of staff's wife, according to a source with direct knowledge. She persuaded Trump to endorse her close friend, Bennett, and later that morning Trump tweeted out his endorsement.

Trump's tweet surprised a number of people in his political orbit. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was unhappy about the endorsement and told Trump that he thought he'd made a mistake and that Cawthorn would win, according to a source familiar with McCarthy's thinking.

Soon after he tweeted his endorsement, Trump started to get nervous that Bennett would lose and spoil his record of endorsing winners.

On June 16, Trump tried to give Bennett another boost by urging his 80+ million Twitter followers to donate to her campaign.

Per Politico, Trump "released a robocall saying [Bennett] would help him 'fight crazy Nancy Pelosi and that radical socialist liberal group trying to destroy our country.' House Freedom Action, a leadership PAC aligned with the House Freedom Caucus, which Meadows co-founded, spent nearly $500,000 on the airwaves to boost Bennett."

The other side: The Republican race for NC-11 was an embarrassment of riches," said a source close to Meadows. "Several qualified candidates were eager to fill the shoes left by Meadows to support the pro-Trump agenda."

"Wayne King was Meadows' former deputy chief of staff, Lynda was a personal friend, and Madison was a former intern of Mark Meadows. Were proud of Madison.

After his victory last night, Cawthorn said he did not think his win revealed any larger conclusions about Trump's influence in the Republican Party.

"I want to make something clear," he said in a statement. "I support our great president. I do not believe this election has been a referendum on the president's influence. The people of western North Carolina are wise and discerning. You observed both candidates and simply made the choice you believed is best for our district."

What we're hearing: Watch for Cawthorn to visit with Trump in the not too distant future.

What's next: Cawthorn faces Democrat Moe Davis in November. If Cawthorn wins, he will be the youngest member of Congress.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note that not every Trump-endorsed candidate has won their primaries.
The cost that the government will meet for quaranting over 1,500 citizens and residents in the immediate repatriation phase is around Vt50 million, says DG Bule
We wanted to film stories about lockdown in the middle of lockdown, in the teeth of it, and for it to be broadcast while we were still experiencing it, Pope said. So it really is a time capsule, accurately reflecting what we were going through for that period, hopefully brief period, in time.
NEW YORK, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Upstart Co-Lab, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, has launched a new coalition, representing $1 billion of impact investing capacity supporting the creative economy. The Member Community includes ten cultural institutions, foundations, and private individual membersBonfils-Stanton Foundation, BRIC, Creative Capital, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Souls Grown Deep, Martha J. Fleischman, Neil Hamamoto, and Lorrie Meyercord, plus two anonymous memberseach of whom have made a three-year commitment to impact investing in the creative economy. Working individually with coalition members, Upstart Co-Lab provides educational resources, sourcing and screening investment opportunities, analyzing the financial performance and social impact of investments, and identifying and tracking trends in the creative economy. Members also have access to Upstart Co-Lab's proprietary pipeline of more than 150 investment opportunities in sustainable food, ethical fashion, social impact media, creative places and other creative industries and benefit from collective learning opportunities and due diligence support.

Since its formation in 2015, Upstart Co-Lab has been dedicated to connecting the $12 trillion of socially responsible and impact investing capital in the U.S. to the $878-billion U.S. creative economy. Upstart Co-Lab has already mobilized more than $11 million of impact capital for the creative economy, including working with the Local Initiative Support Corporation to close the $6.2 million NYC Inclusive Creative Economy Fund, and generated significant new research on the role impact investing plays in strengthening inclusive creative communities, publishing a report reviewing 100 funds with $60 billion of aggregate assets that have been investing in the creative economy over the past 5 years. Recognized as a sector leader, Upstart Co-Lab has initiated the Member Community to demonstrate how investing directly in businesses and real estate projects in the creative economy can drive deep social and environmental impact.

"This group of passionate pioneers are our chief partners in establishing the creative economy as the next priority of impact investors," said Laura Callanan, Founding Partner of Upstart Co-Lab. "Our Members push us by asking the practical questions all investors ask, anchored in a deep understanding of the power art, design, culture, heritage, and creativity have to drive positive environmental and social change. They are our evangelists and ambassadors as Upstart Co-Lab works to build both supply and demand for impact capital throughout the creative economy."

The Upstart Co-Lab Member Community will continue to expand its coalition for up to a total of twelve members. Additional philanthropic support for the Member Community is provided by the Compton Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the David Rockefeller Fund.

"Art and culture have been largely overlooked by impact investors before now," said Darren Walker, President of Ford Foundation. "The leadership of the Upstart Co-Lab Member Community to close this gap comes at a moment when the creative economy has a critical role to play in an equitable COVID-19 economic recovery and needs values-aligned capital more than ever."

Upstart Co-Lab advisory board member Jed Emerson, founder of Blended Value Group, observed, "All the priorities impact investors focus onenvironmental sustainability, strong communities, good working conditions, gender equitycan be achieved by investing through the creative economy. Already more than 4.5% of U.S. GDP and growing, the time is now to shape the creative economy to be more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable through the presence of capital that represents those values."

SOURCE Upstart Co-Lab

Related Links

http://www.upstartco-lab.org


Premium Homeowners Insurer Expands Its Coverage to Empower Agents

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020 / Openly, the premium homeowners insurance platform, today announced that it has closed a $15 million Series A investment. The round was led by Obvious Ventures, with participation from existing investors including Gradient Ventures (Google's AI-focused Venture Fund), Point Judith Capital (PJC) Ventures, and others.

Since launching in late 2019, Openly has seen rapid adoption of its home insurance product and has expanded its coverage, currently on track to be live in 10 or more states by year-end. The round will be used to enter new states, including Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, and South Carolina. Agents are already live on its platform in Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Founded by insurance industry and technology veterans Ty Harris and Matt Wielbut, Openly uses its technology to simplify the homeowners insurance process for independent agents and consumers, enabling them to obtain quotes in under 15 seconds. Openly's product combines cutting edge technology with sophisticated pricing methodology to offer homeowners more comprehensive coverage and protection at a competitive price. By streamlining traditionally inefficient and manual processes, Openly frees up agents to spend more time doing what independent agents do best; provide expertise and customized coverage options. For Homeowners, Openly's product provides more coverage and is easier to understand at a competitive price.

"We founded Openly to bring transparency to the insurance industry that has been traditionally opaque," said Ty Harris, CEO and Co-Founder of Openly. "Closing the Series A is a validation of the demand from agents and homeowners and is a testament to the team's tireless efforts to provide our customers with choice and a competitive product. We look forward to taking our offering nationwide and providing more consumers with comprehensive coverage at a really competitive price-especially at a time of financial uncertainty when consumers are understandably looking to reduce costs without sacrificing their protection against risk."

Vishal Vasishth, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Obvious Ventures, adds, "Openly is bringing technology-driven transparency to an industry known for being opaque, inefficient and manual. This represents a positive transformation and independent agents alike."

"Openly brings great experience and optimized insurance for everyone in the ecosystem: the consumer, the agent, and the reinsurer," said Zach Bratun-Glennon, Partner at Gradient Ventures. "The demand for this insurance among agents and consumers is a testament to the tech-forward product that Openly has built, and I think this team is just getting started."

About Openly

Openly is a Boston-based premium homeowners insurance company. Its centralized platform offers comprehensive coverage using advanced pricing models. Founded by industry veterans in 2017, Openly is dedicated to delivering modern and transparent homeowners insurance and empowering independent agents across America. For more information, visit Openly.com or linkedin.com/openlyinc.

About Obvious Ventures

Obvious Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in entrepreneurs reimagining the global economy. Since launching in 2014, Obvious has backed over 50 purpose-led companies using technology to create a smarter, healthier, more sustainable world. Obvious was co-founded by Ev Williams, James Joaquin, and Vishal Vasishth, with Andrew Beebe and Nan Li now also serving as Managing Directors. More information is available at www.obvious.com.

About Gradient Ventures

Gradient Ventures is Google's AI-focused venture fund - investing in and connecting early-stage startups with Google's resources, innovation, and technical leadership in artificial intelligence. The fund focuses on helping founders navigate the challenges in developing new technology products, allowing companies to take advantage of the latest techniques so that great ideas can come to life. Gradient was founded in 2017 and is based in Palo Alto, California. For more information, visit www.gradient.com.

About PJC

PJC is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on investing in, supporting, and building relationships with entrepreneurs who are creating the future. The firm has invested in over 90 companies which have generated a total of 16.5 billion in equity value. Notable portfolio companies include Expensify, Nest, GetWell Network, Health-e Commerce, Nexamp, and Yandex. PJC was founded in 2001 and is based in Boston, MA. For more information, visit http://pjc.vc.

Contact:

Jamie Kemp

jamie@calibercorporateadvisers.com

(516) 417-3975

SOURCE: Openly

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594972/Openly-Closes-15M-in-Series-A-Fundraising-Round-to-Execute-a-Multi-State-Expansion
Syracuse, N.Y.  John Lemondes took a 20-percentage-point lead over Danny Fitzpatrick in the Republican primary for the 126th Assembly district seat Tuesday.

But there are still thousands of absentee ballots to be counted before a winner is determined.

With results from 74 of 77 election districts reported, Lemondes captured 1,772, or 59.5%, of the votes counted. Fitzpatrick attracted 1,165, or 39.12%.

The Assembly district covers parts of Onondaga, Cayuga, Cortland and Chenango counties. Lemondes beat Fitzpatrick in all four counties.

The winner of the primary may not be known for weeks because county boards of elections received unusually high numbers of requests for absentee ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 4,300 absentee ballots were sent out in the 126th district. Thats more than the number of people who voted in person Tuesday.

The Assembly district covers parts of Onondaga, Cayuga, Cortland and Chenango counties. Lemondes beat Fitzpatrick in all four counties.

In a prepared statement, Lemondes thanked voters. I am cautiously optimistic I will be your candidate in November, he said. I believe that every vote counts, and look forward to the counting of the absentee ballots starting on July 1st.

Fitzpatrick said he is disappointed with the results.

I dont think theres any point in discussing what next steps are until we get those counted, Fitzpatrick said. I dont know if they will be reflective of the in-person turnout or not. He said the absentees could flip the race in his favor, but acknowledged that is unlikely.

Lemondes, 55, a retired Army colonel and LaFayette farmer, received the Republican designation after lawyer Ken Bush III of Jordan dropped out of the race in March.

Fitzpatrick, 31, the LaFayette town supervisor and son of Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, forced a primary election.

Lemondes is a Liverpool native who retired from the Army in 2014 and moved back home to start a farm in LaFayette. He briefly campaigned for the GOP designation for Congress that year, but lost to John Katko, who went on to win his first term in office.

Fitzpatrick has been the director of intergovernmental affairs for the Onondaga County Water Authority since 2018. He previously held county jobs in the legislature and in economic development. He was first elected LaFayette town supervisor in 2017. He has also worked as a Republican campaign consultant.

The seat opened when Assemblyman Gary Finch, R-Springport, announced in February that he would retire after 20 years in office.

The winner will face Democrat Dia Carabajal of Auburn in November. Carabajal is a former Auburn City Council member who served two terms on the Auburn Board of Education. She teaches at Cayuga Community College.

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My favorite story in John Boltons book about the Trump Fun House  sorry, White House  was that President Donald Trump appealed to Chinas leader to buy more US agricultural products to boost Trumps farm vote and his reelection.

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.

But while China may think it has nothing to fear and much to gain from a Trump victory over Joe Biden, the real U.S.-China story should be cause for alarm in Beijing.

The real story is that Chinas standing in America today is lower than at any time since Tiananmen Square in 1989. The real story is that if China was to buy a few more beans and Boeings from America, that would not fix Beijings problems here. The real question the Chinese should be asking themselves is not who will be Americas next president, but rather: Who in China lost America?

Because the real story is that the U.S. and China are heading for a divorce.

The divorce papers will just say the cause was irreconcilable differences. But Mom and Dad know better. They are getting divorced, after 40 years of being one couple, two systems, because China badly overreached and America badly underperformed.

Love it or hate it, the U.S.-China partnership forged between 1979 and 2019 delivered a lot of prosperity to a lot of people and a lot of relative peace to the world  and, baby, we will miss it when its gone.

It was a period of unconscious economic coupling. Steadily over this era, and then rapidly after China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, any America entrepreneur could wake up and say, I want to purchase from this Chinese company or I want to move this supply chain to China. Any U.S. university could say, I want to open a campus in China, and any U.S. tech company could say, I want to open a research lab in China or hire a Chinese scientist.

And any Chinese student could say, I want to study in America, and any Chinese company that qualified could say, I want to list on the New York Stock Exchange or invest in or buy an American company.

These four decades of unconscious coupling hurt some workers, benefited many others and especially benefited consumers; it also took the edge off the natural rivalry between the worlds most powerful country and the most important rising power and enabled them to collaborate on global problems, like climate change and the post-2008 economic crisis.

This 40 years of unconscious coupling is over. We will still trade, still engage diplomatically; tourists will still come and go; U.S. businesses will still look to operate in the giant China market, because they must to survive.

But the unconscious coupling is over. Henceforth, it will be more hedged, opportunities will be more restricted and the relationship will be full of a lot more conscious suspicion, pressures for self-sufficiency and fear that a rupture could happen at any time.

Compared with the last 40 years, it will feel like a divorce.

Both sides are saying, Weve had enough of you,  remarked Jim McGregor, chairman of APCO Worldwide for Greater China. And as Trump himself put it in a tweet last week, the U.S. has the option of a complete decoupling from China.

But both sides are not equally to blame. The Xi era in U.S.-China relations, which began in 2012, has led the relationship steadily downhill. China went too far on a broad range of issues.

Start with business. For many years U.S. companies thought they had enough market share inside China that they would tolerate the stealing of intellectual property and other trade abuses China engaged in. But in the last decade, China started to overreach, and the American Chamber of Commerce in China began to complain louder and louder. Gradually, many in the U.S. business community, which was a key buffer in the relationship, began to endorse Trumps hard-line approach (although they dont like paying tariffs).

Since Xi took power and made himself effectively president for life and tightened the Communist Partys control over all matters, U.S. journalists working in China have had their access sharply curtailed; China has become more aggressive in projecting its power into the South China Sea; its become more fixated on subsidizing its high-tech startups to dominate key industries by 2025; it is imposing a new national security law to curtail long-standing freedoms in Hong Kong; its stepped up its bullying of Taiwan, taken a very aggressive approach toward India and intensified its internment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang; its jailed two innocent Canadians to swap for a detained Chinese businesswoman; and it even hammered countries that dared to ask for an independent inquiry into how the coronavirus emerged in Wuhan.

After Australias prime minister called for such an investigation in April, Chinas ambassador to Australia brazenly threatened economic retaliation, and a few weeks later China cut off beef and barley imports from Australian companies, citing bogus health and trade violations.

That is the kind of crude bullying that has helped to strip China of virtually every ally it had in Washington  allies for a policy that basically said, We have different systems, but lets build bridges with China where possible, engage where it is mutually beneficial and draw redlines where necessary.

That balanced policy approach always had to contain serious tensions, ugliness and disagreements on issues  but in the end it delivered enough mutual benefit to be sustained for 40 years. That balance is now off as far as many Americans are concerned. I am one of them.

As Orville Schell, one of the most sensible advocates of this balanced approach, wrote in an essay a few weeks ago on TheWireChina.com: Today, as the U.S. faces its most adversarial state with the Peoples Republic of China in years, the always fragile policy framework of engagement feels like a burnt-out case.  A recent Pew poll shows that only 26% of Americans view China favorably, the lowest percentage since its surveys began in 2005.

But if China has increasingly overreached, America has increasingly underperformed.

It is not just that China reportedly has fewer than 5,000 COVID-19 deaths and America has over 120,000  and the virus started there. It is not just that it takes about 22 hours on Amtrak to go from New York to Chicago, while it takes 4.5 hours to take the bullet train from Beijing to Shanghai, slightly farther apart. Its not just that the pandemic has accelerated Chinas transformation to a cashless, digital society.

Its that we have reduced investments in the true sources of our strength  infrastructure, education, government-funded scientific research, immigration and the right rules to incentivize productive investment and prevent excessive risk-taking. And we have stopped leveraging our greatest advantage over China  that we have allies who share our values and China only has customers who fear its wrath.

If we got together with our allies, we could collectively influence China to accept new rules on trade and COVID-19 and a range of other issues. But Trump refused to do so, making everything a bilateral deal or a fight with Xi. So now China is offering sweetheart deals to U.S. and other foreign companies to come into or stay in China, and its market is now so big, few companies can resist.

Summing up the relationship today, McGregor, of APCO Worldwide, noted: I dont know if the Chinese are taking America seriously anymore. They are happy to just let us keep damaging ourselves. We have to wake up and grow up  and get our own act and allies together. China respects one thing only: leverage. Today, we have too little and China has too much.

Thomas L. Friedman@c.2020 The New York Times Company
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.
The second meeting at Chushul-Moldo between Lt. Gen. Harinder Singh, Indias 14 Corps GOC, and his PLA counterpart on June 22 continued for over 11 hours, and resulted in only a short, crisp decision to disengage.

The devil now lies in the detail, that has to be analysed, speculated, extrapolated and simply conjectured, to make sense of the events which began on May 5 and have led to the current tensions.

What should we be making of the ongoing parleys? Is there a possibility of serious disengagement and restoration of the status quo ante?

There appears to be a long haul staring us in the face, and it needs a quick but detailed think through.

It will be recalled that an exchange of fisticuffs on the banks of the Pangong Tso lake took place on May 5 between the Indian Army and the PLA. From April onwards, a gradual PLA buildup had been taking place with the onset of the patrolling season.

The PLA came with the clear intent of a change in Chinas strategic approach, that had to be translated on the ground at the tactical level. It was Chinas way of signalling that it was grabbing an opportunity as the world was wrestling with the pandemic.

Events at the Sikkim border, although not pressed, and in the central sector (Uttarkhand, Himachal), along with those in the South China Sea, pointed to a coordinated Chinese strategy. Xi Jinping, as Chinas lifetime President, isnt satisfied with the roadmap laid out by the CPCs 19th congress in 2017, which envisages 2035 and 2049 as waypoints towards Chinas ultimate destiny as the worlds number one power.

President Xi wants it faster, maybe in his own lifetime, and has adopted what is termed wolf warrior diplomacy as his doctrine; supposedly a deliberate pushback against nations adopting a defiant and insulting attitude towards China.

In reality, this doctrine also translates into denting the strategic confidence of potential detractors and competitors against Chinas march to greatness, through a combination of manoeuvres in different domains.

The events of the past three years or so fit India into this mould. Doklam 2017, the abrogation of Article 370 and the projected Indian intent to absorb Gilgit Baltistan, PoK and perceptibly even Aksai Chin, and its resistance to the Belt and Road Initiative right from the outset, have placed India into the category of becoming a target of the wolf warrior doctrine.

Limited military coercion, out of sync with the ongoing diplomatic bonhomie, economic promotion and multilateral cooperation (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation being an example of the latter) helps obfuscate intent and confuse an adversary. The pandemic appears to have been sensed as a strategic opportunity.

China is also trying to shape the environment for the future should its pet project BRI have to be given a boost through some forceful measures on the ground.

Employing weapons other than firearms to browbeat is Chinas perception of risk reduction while achieving moral domination over the adversary. An important element of its overall strategy is also the non-implementation of agreements and rules to delay engagements.

This perpetuates standoffs with the intent of keeping the adversary off balance, forcing him to mobilise out of proportion resources and achieve general obfuscation in the way an engagement is progressing.

All this was being executed on the ground all through May-June and everything may have been going as per the plan until the Galwan incident on June 15. The initiation of hostilities leading to bloodshed and loss of lives appears out of sync with this strategy, which leads us to believe this could have been a local situation having gone awry.

The loss of lives of 20 Indian soldiers, including Col. Santosh Babu, and many more of the PLA has reversed the tide of apparent success that China may have perceived from its manoeuvres since April 2020. It has caused it to halt temporarily while it re-evaluates its loss of credibility.

India agreeing to diplomatically engage China in the Russia-India-China (RIC) forum is obviously the correct approach, placing us on a higher moral plane. China is morally on the defensive although the global community isnt yet willing to go the extra mile to chasten it for its misdemeanor.

This is a reality India must live with as economics still rules the international strategic environment, especially in the post-pandemic reset. China perhaps feels it has lost just a little due to the Galwan incident, in terms of its intent towards controlled coercion.

It needs time to recalibrate.

Open hostilities with India do not fit into the strategy as the risk is too high. The Chushul-Moldo military talks must be seen from this angle. The decision to agree to disengage at the friction points is a good breather, and like all agreements China perceives this one too is not exactly set in cement.

One can expect a limited drawdown in the Galwan Valley but there will be a slow and reluctant execution elsewhere, and surely none in the Pangong Tso area which may emerge as more than just a friction point. Indias mobilisation is always a difficult process due to terrain conditions.

Now completed, it will give the Indian Army far greater confidence. Yet this, along with the correct decisions to alter the rules of engagement in terms of the use of firearms in extreme contingencies, also enhances the risk.

The PLA is likely to exhibit reluctance to fully disengage and would keep the coercion alive through the campaigning season till November 2020 while it re-evaluates the benefits of friction points heating up. The risk factor in this must continuously be brought up by India in all future meetings at the military and diplomatic levels.

While Indian confidence appears to have enhanced, on display is also a sense of balance. India equally needs time to think through, assess Chinas long-term intent and recalibrate its own strategy. Prudence demands patience, but the longer this faceoff continues, the greater the risks. India may also have to deploy enhanced resources on a semi-permanent basis all along the Line of Actual Control.

Preparations for this may have already begun as the terrain on our side is almost as big an adversary as China.

Thus, while we prepare for one and perhaps more bleak winters in Eastern Ladakhs desolate environment, Lt. Gen. Harinder Singhs ominous task is to keep his men alert, retaining the moral high ground, preventing friction and in future parleys setting the course for a full drawdown by both sides.
A 15-year-old boy has become the latest person to fall foul of Bangladesh's contentious internet laws after being arrested for criticising Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on social media.

Rights groups say the laws are used to silence dissent, with hundreds of people charged since 2018 for crimes including smearing the image of Hasina and other senior political figures.

Police in Bhaluka said Wednesday they arrested Mohammad Emon at the weekend after a local official from the ruling party claimed the teen had "badmouthed... our mother-like leader".

On Facebook, the teen had allegedly written that out of 100 taka ($1.20) paid in a new mobile phone tax, "35 to 25 taka has to be given to Sheikh Hasina as widow allowance because her husband is no more".

Hasina's husband died in 2009.

Tofayel Ahammed, the local councillor who filed the case, said the teenager's aggressive remark had agitated locals and that his parents supported the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Local police chief Main Uddin said Emon had later deleted the controversial Facebook post and wrote another one apologising.

Still, the boy was sent to the reformation centre where he would spend time "realising his mistakes and correcting his character", Uddin added.

Amnesty International said the arrest "highlights the dangers of the Digital Security Act", calling it "a weapon to punish legitimate dissent" and violate the freedom of expression.

"The authorities are increasingly targeting anyone who offers even the faintest criticism of the government or the ruling party," Amnesty campaigner Saad Hammadi told AFP.

In recent weeks, the digital security laws have also been used to arrest scores of people for spreading false rumours online about the coronavirus.

In the past week alone, a university professor and a lecturer were arrested for allegedly mocking the death from the coronavirus of a former health minister from the ruling party.
Staff at Cork University Hospital are participating in a new Covid-19 antibody study to assess the level of risk and exposure among healthcare staff to the virus.

The research will look at the level of Covid-19 antibodies in 500 healthcare staff working across Cork University Hospital (CUH).

The study is being led by infectious diseases consultants, occupational health physicians, and the paediatric department and supported by the Health Research Board (HRB) Clinical Research Facility (CRF).

A range of staff, including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, healthcare assistants, cleaners and porters, are volunteering to provide blood samples as part of the research.

The study will test for Covid-19 antibodies across a number of groups, including those who tested positive for the virus, those who were in close contact with someone who contracted the illness, those working in high risk areas, such as Covid-19 wards, and those working in low risk areas to determine the level of risk and exposure in each group.

Less than 50 healthcare staff at CUH contracted the virus and not all were infected through the workplace.

Other figures show that 392, or 5%, of healthcare workers across all HSE South hospitals and facilities contracted the virus to date.

The infection rate compares to almost one third of healthcare workers nationally being infected by Covid-19.

Lead investigator Dr Corinna Sadlier, an infectious disease consultant at CUH, said infection rates among healthcare staff at the hospital were significantly lower than other hospitals and that the research would shed light on the risk factors for infection.

Were looking at the prevalence of antibodies, which will indicate exposure or infection to Covid-19, Dr Sadlier said. Healthcare workers are a key group because they have the highest risk of infection."

The study will also provide insights on people who contract the virus but dont have any symptoms.

Some individuals, she explained, may develop antibodies and others may not and there is still much that remains unknown about the virus.

We dont know whether the presence of an antibody means youre immune to Covid-19. We dont know how long, if you have an antibody, you will remain immune to Covid-19; it could be as low as three months, Dr Sadlier said, adding that there were documented cases of people being re-infected by the virus.

People may have had Covid-19 and they may not have detectable antibodies but they may still have some immunity. These are all really important questions, she said.

There is a huge amount we dont know about the virus. Were learning as we go and this is why research like this is so important, she added.

Dr Sadlier expects to have preliminary results from the study by early July.

Ultimately, she said, the results will inform infection prevention and control measures, such as using personal protective equipment or PPE, at the hospital.

The study is also assessing the reliability of finger prick antibody tests for Covid-19.

Researchers at the HRB clinical research facility also collated data for patients admitted with Covid-19 and are supporting the World Health Organisation Solidarity trial, which is looking at treatment options.

We are very grateful for the support of the HRB clinical research facility here in Cork as without them we would not be able to progress this research, Dr Sadlier said.
After missile were fired at the Hemeimeem Airbase, the attacked rebel defences at a number of points in Idleb reports Al-Masdar.

The Syrian army struck the rebel defenses in southern Idleb on Tuesday, following an attack on the Hemeimeem Airbase and coastal city of Jableh by these militant groups.

According to reports from the Idleb front, the Syrian Arab Army struck several sites under the control of the jihadist rebels, including their trenches in the Jabal al-Zawiya region.

The reports said the Syrian army primarily concentrated their artillery and rocket fire on the jihadist posts and trenches near the town of al-Baraa, which has become the main headquarters for the militants near the Jabal al-Zawiya frontlines.

Last night, the jihadist rebels along the Lattakia-Idleb axis fired several missiles towards the Hemeimeem Airbase, which is under the control of the Russian military.

A source in the Jableh area told Al-Masdar that several explosions were heard near the Hemeimeem Airbase, as the Russian and Syrian air defenses managed to intercept the enemy missiles.

The jihadist attack on the Hemeimeem Airbase last night marked the first time this month that they have targeted this large installation in Syrias western region.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
U.S. Justice Department officials on Wednesday charged influential San Francisco contractor and permit consultant Walter Wong with one count each of conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Wong, who was previously implicated in alleged schemes tied to former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, agreed to plead guilty to the charges and to cooperate with the FBIs ongoing investigation into corruption at San Francisco City Hall in exchange for a potentially reduced sentence.

The Justice Departments criminal complaint against Wong claims the alleged fraud scheme he is charged with dated to at least 2004 and the alleged money laundering to 2008. The complaint provides few details about the nature of Wongs alleged wrongdoing, but both counts link Wongs purported schemes directly to Nuru.

Wong is named as Contractor 2 in the criminal complaint against Nuru, which alleges that Wong paid for trips Nuru took to China and South America in 2018 in exchange for preferential treatment when needed.

Without a reduced sentence, Wong, 70, could face up to 40 years in prison.

As this investigation continues, the breadth and depth of the identified misconduct is widening, U.S. Attorney David Anderson said in a statement. To everyone with a piece of public corruption in San Francisco, please understand that here in federal court we will distinguish sharply between those who cooperate and those who do not.

Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

If you love San Francisco, and regret your misconduct, you still have an opportunity to do the right thing. Run, dont walk, to the FBI, before it is too late for you to cooperate, he said.

Earlier this month, federal officials charged Sandra Zuniga, San Franciscos Fix-It director and director of the Mayors Office of Neighborhood Services, with one count of conspiracy to launder money after prosecutors said she conspired for years with Nuru to launder the proceeds of his alleged honest services wire fraud.

Zuniga was also apparently a romantic partner and confidante to Nuru, and was listed as Girlfriend 1 in documents related to the federal investigation. Investigators claim she accompanied Nuru on trips where he accepted improper gifts.

Wong has for decades been a polarizing figure in the world of San Francisco real estate development. To some, he is a tireless, self-made immigrant with an uncanny ability to usher projects through the citys famously convoluted permitting process. To others, he is Exhibit A of an unfair system where builders who hire well-connected, expensive consultants get preferential treatment over everyone else.

FBI agents raided the 205 13th St. offices of Wongs Jaidin Consulting Group earlier this year. The raid occurred around the time charges alleging public corruption were unsealed against Nuru and restaurateur Nick Bovis. Bovis agreed to plead guilty to charges of honest services wire fraud and wire fraud last month and to cooperate with investigators.

Bovis, the owner of Lefty ODouls, was originally charged with Nuru in January for attempting to bribe a San Francisco airport commissioner. The pair also were tied to other alleged schemes in which Nuru used his influence to obtain city contracts and other benefits for his associates.

Wong has worked for local developers for four decades as a permit expediter, helping guide projects through the labyrinth of city approvals. He has deep ties to San Francisco politicians, including former Mayors Willie Brown, Art Agnos and the late Ed Lee. Wong was also close to the late Rose Pak, a powerful Chinatown advocate.

While developers say Wong is an indispensable figure in navigating the city bureaucracy, some community activists, city officials and residents have criticized him as being emblematic of improper influence in City Hall.

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 March, an investigation by the San Francisco City Attorneys Office suggested that Wong received preferential treatment from and access to Tom Hui, the citys former head of building inspection, who resigned following the citys internal corruption probe launched in the wake of Nurus arrest. That investigation is also ongoing.

The city attorneys memo also indicates that Hui and Wong corresponded for years on a variety of topics, including Building Inspection Department policy, suggesting a close relationship between the two men.

Citing a 2013 email exchange, a memo into the investigations findings from the City Attorney Dennis Herreras office said it appears that Hui sought input on potential changes to the Building Inspections permitting process from Wong  a person with commercial interests before the department.

Herreras memo also alleges that Hui sought Wongs help in getting city jobs for his son and his sons girlfriend, which may provide a window into the sway Wong held over city departments, despite not being a government employee.

The investigation has also yielded evidence that Hui gave preferential access to Zhang Li, a billionaire real estate developer behind the long-delayed 555 Fulton development project. The FBI alleged that Zhang paid for Nuru to take expensive trips to China and provided him with a bottle of wine valued at over $2,000, which Nuru did not disclose, in exchange for preferential treatment on his projects.

Both Wong and Zhang and several business entities directly affiliated with them were served subpoenas on Feb. 27.

The investigation, the city attorneys memo said, has also found that Hui accepted gifts of meals from Wong at dinners arranged to discuss the 555 Fulton project.

Dominic Fracassa and Megan Cassidy are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com, megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com, Twitter: @DominicFracassa, @meganrcassidy
By Akbar Mammadov

The tank units of the Azerbaijani Army have conducted intensive combat exercises, the Defence Ministry reported in its official website on June 24.

The ministry noted that as part of the exercises, tank units also compete for the title of Best Tank Crew, adding that the drills are held in line with the combat training plan for 2020 approved by the Minister of Defense.

During the field drills, the skills and interoperability of the crews were checked. The crews carried out combat firing at moving targets of the imaginary enemy, said the ministry.

In addition, the military personnel performed practical training tasks on driving combat vehicles.

Earlier, on June 22, Azerbaijan Army's units held exercises in mountainous terrain.

The military drills included up to 800 servicemen, about 100 units of the armored fighting vehicle and other vehicles, about 40 artillery mounts of various calibers, 6 combat and transport helicopters.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Harish Murali By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Courts acquittal of B Chinnasamy, prime accused in Udumalapet Shankar murder case, has raised several eyebrows. Legal experts opined the court had completely missed caste factor by not giving due importance to statements made by Shankars wife Kausalya, against her own father.

Former HC judge K Chandru was of the view that the verdict sent out a wrong message to casteist forces. The court completely overlooked strong evidence provided by Kausalyas statements, he said. Her state of mind ought to have been considered from two angles before and after she witnessed Shankars murder.

The courts have to take into consideration the overall circumstances that led to the murder, by giving due importance to the caste issues between two groups, he stressed.

The acquittal was only setting a wrong precedent in such honour-killing cases, opined Kiruba Munusamy, founder of Legal Initiative For Equality. It is an institutional problem that discriminates Dalits and their lives, she added.

Appellate courts can exercise discretion over anything. Courts should not apply the same yardstick in other cases, she remarked. There was a need for reforms in how these cases were being investigated and dealt with, she said, and hoped that an appeal against it at the Supreme Court could set the course for the same.

However, former HC judge D Hariparanthaman opined it was difficult to establish a conspiracy theory, generally. The court will go by the evidence, and in this case, the court found gaps in the evidence produced against the accused, he said. When we look at history, there are only a handful of cases where the conspirator is linked to murder (by adequate evidence), and most of them also get acquitted in subsequent appeals, he added.
Facebook must comply with an order by Germany's competition watchdog to curb data collection from users, a top German court ruled yesterday in a setback for the US social network company that could set a wider precedent.

The German Federal Court's stay order, which suspends a decision by a lower court, backs the Federal Cartel Office's view that Facebook abused its market dominance to gather information about users without their consent.

Lead judge Peter Meier-Beck, explaining the decision, said there was no serious doubt Facebook had a dominant market position in Germany, nor that it had abused terms and conditions banned by the cartel office.

"Facebook must give users the choice to reveal less about themselves - above all what they reveal outside of Facebook," Meier-Beck.

Welcoming the ruling, cartel office president Andreas Mundt said it showed "if data are collected and exploited illegally, it should be possible to take anti-trust action to prevent the abuse of market power".

Facebook said: "We will continue to defend our position that there is no anti-trust abuse. There will be no immediate changes for people or businesses who use our products and services in Germany."

Legal experts said the ruling could have wider ramifications, because Germany is the first country to explore whether data dominance is a competition issue.

"The cartel office is attempting to tame the tech giants and to stop the build-up of economic power through integration of data to 'super profiles'," said Rupprecht Podszun at the Institute for Competition Law at Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf. "This is something new in terms of anti-trust law."

The cartel office had objected to how Facebook pools data on people from third-party apps, including its own WhatsApp and Instagram, and online tracking of people who do not have accounts via Facebook "like" or "share" buttons.

Reuters
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According to a new report by Expert Market Research, ' Global Naphtha Market Report and Forecast 2020-2025 ', the global naphtha market size reached the value of nearly USD 152.23 Billion in 2019 . The market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 3% between 2020 and 2025.

Global naphtha market is majorly dominated by the Asia Pacific market, which is being driven by the rapidly emerging economies within the region. The Middle East region is one of the significant producers of the naphtha, which is the result of its favourable geographical location. Within Asia Pacific, China has emerged as a leading market for the product, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the global market share. In 2018, China imported 516, 985 tons of naphtha, recording an increment of 11% in comparison to 2017. The demand for naphtha is increasing steadily with the increase in demand for plastic products, especially in the developing economies. Out of the two varieties of naphtha, the production of heavy naphtha remains twice the production of its light variety, thus occupying most of the market.

The expanding petrochemical industry and the rising global demand for petrochemical products is further aiding the global naphtha market. Most of the petrochemicals are produced from naphtha, though light naphtha is generally used in petrochemical steam crackers. In June 2019, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, a joint venture of Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) and Houston-based Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX), signed an agreement to develop a world-scale petrochemical complex in Qatar, in partnership with Qatar Petroleum. After this successful collaboration, both Chevron Phillips and Qatar Petroleum, signed a new agreement in September 2019, according to which they will jointly develop a new petrochemical plant in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, thus producing new growth opportunities for naphtha market, globally.

Note: As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread across the world, our analysts are constantly tracking the impact of this rapidly evolving situation on the markets and the consumer purchase behaviours. Thus, our latest estimates and analysis about the current market trends and forecast will exhaustively reflect the effects of this emerging pandemic.

Competitive Landscape & Supplier Analysis:

Shell (AMS: RDSA), Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM), Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (TYO: 4188), SABIC (TADAWUL: 2010), LOTTE Chemical CORPORATION (KRX: 011170), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (NSE: IOC), Vitol, Reliance Industries Limited (NSE: RELIANCE), and Others are the major key players of the global naphtha market.

Get a PDF Sample for more detailed market insights @ https://www.expertmarketresearch.com/request?type=report&flag=B&id=216

Market Segmentation by Type:

1 Light

2 Heavy

Market Segmentation by by End Use:

1 Petrochemicals

2 Agriculture

3 Paints and Coatings

4 Aerospace

5 Others

Note: For a snapshot of the primary and secondary data of the market (2015-2025), along with business strategies and detailed market segmentation, please click on request sample report. The sample report shall be delivered to you within 24 hours.

Browse full report with detailed TOC and list of figures and tables @ https://www.expertmarketresearch.com/reports/naphtha-market

Market Segmentation by Region:

1 North America

1.1 United States of America

1.2 Canada

2 Europe

2.1 Germany

2.2 United Kingdom

2.3 France

2.4 Italy

2.5 Others

3 Asia Pacific

3.1 China

3.2 Japan

3.3 India

3.4 ASEAN

3.5 Others

4 Latin America

4.1 Brazil

4.2 Argentina

4.3 Mexico

4.4 Others

5 Middle East & Africa

5.1 Saudi Arabia

5.2 United Arab Emirates

5.3 Nigeria

5.4 South Africa

5.5 Others

Also Read:

Impact of COVID-19 on Saudi Arabia Prefabricated Building and Structural Steel Market:

https://www.expertmarketresearch.com/reports/saudi-arabia-prefabricated-building-and-structural-steel-market

Impact of COVID-19 on Canada Functional Foods and Natural Health Products Market:

https://www.expertmarketresearch.com/reports/canada-functional-food-and-natural-health-products-market

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Expert Market Research is a leading business intelligence firm, providing custom and syndicated market reports along with consultancy services for our clients. We serve a wide client base ranging from Fortune 1000 companies to small and medium enterprises. Our reports cover over 100 industries across established and emerging markets researched by our skilled analysts who track the latest economic, demographic, trade and market data globally.

At Expert Market Research, we tailor our approach according to our clients needs and preferences, providing them with valuable, actionable and up-to-date insights into the market, thus, helping them realize their optimum growth potential. We offer market intelligence across a range of industry verticals which include Pharmaceuticals, Food and Beverage, Technology, Retail, Chemical and Materials, Energy and Mining, Packaging and Agriculture.

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Former Maharashtra chief minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has stepped in an attempt to douse the political fire over party colleague and MLC Gopichand Padalkars alleged unsavoury remarks likening veteran politician and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to coronavirus disease on Wednesday, according to PTI.

Fadnavis said that Padalkars alleged remarks were inappropriate and a result of an emotional outburst. He added that he had spoken to the leader from the Dhangar community and told him that Pawar may be a political opponent but he was not an enemy.

I had a word with Padalkar. I told him that though Pawar saheb is our political opponent he is not our enemy. I told him, forget Pawar saheb, making such remarks against any senior leader is not appropriate, Fadnavis was quoted as saying by PTI.

A leader from the Dhnagar community, Padalkar had made the remarks in a press conference while dwelling on the alleged hardships faced by the marginalized communities over the years in Maharashtra.

Sharad Pawar is coronavirus for Maharashtra. He has been leading the state for many years but he has only oppressed Bahujan people. I am sure that he will continue this in the future too, Padalkar was quoted as saying by ANI.

For Coronavirus Live Updates

His remarks led to an outrage among the NCP workers in the state, who held demonstrations and raised slogans against Padalkar in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and in Beed, reported a news agency. The party has also announced a protest in Pune on Thursday on the issue.

Jitendra Awhad, NCP leader and housing minister in Maharashtra government, jointly run by the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress in a coalition, alleged that Padalkar was a political turncoat.

The man who was begging to join the NCP, and was abusing (PM) Narendra Modi later, went and got a ticket from the BJP, so what is his locus-standi to attack Pawar in such derogatory terms, Awhad asked.

Also Read: Elgar Parishad case: HC asks Centre, NIA to respond after plea claims probe transfer was politically motivated

Fadnavis said that any expression of opinion should be done using appropriate words. The leader of opposition in the state assembly further added that Padalkar had accepted that his statement was an emotional outburst against Pawar and that he will offer a clarification soon.
Technavio has been monitoring the global automotive cabin lighting market size and it is poised to grow by USD 710.76 million during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 4% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200624005393/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Cabin Lighting Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Aptiv Plc, Hella GmbH Co. KGaA, Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Marelli Holdings Co. Ltd., OSRAM Licht AG, Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Stanley Electric Co. Ltd., and Valeo SA are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

The increasing demand for effective interior lighting has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, the lack of proper regulatory framework regarding cabin lighting might hamper market growth.

Automotive Cabin Lighting Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Automotive Cabin Lighting Market is segmented as below:

Technology LED Halogen Xenon

Geographic Landscape APAC Europe North America South America MEA



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=IRTNTR43990

Automotive Cabin Lighting Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our automotive cabin lighting market report covers the following areas:

Automotive Cabin Lighting Market size

Automotive Cabin Lighting Market trends

Automotive Cabin Lighting Market industry analysis

This study identifies the growing popularity of OLED lighting technology as one of the prime reasons driving the automotive cabin lighting market growth during the next few years.

Automotive Cabin Lighting Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the automotive cabin lighting market, including some of the vendors such as Aptiv Plc, Hella GmbH Co. KGaA, Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Marelli Holdings Co. Ltd., OSRAM Licht AG, Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Stanley Electric Co. Ltd., and Valeo SA. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the automotive cabin lighting market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Automotive Cabin Lighting Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist automotive cabin lighting market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the automotive cabin lighting market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the automotive cabin lighting market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of automotive cabin lighting market vendors

Table Of Contents :

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019-2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Technology

Market segments

Comparison by Technology

LED Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Halogen Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Xenon Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Technology

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Overview

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Aptiv Plc

Hella GmbH Co. KGaA

Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

LG Electronics Inc.

Marelli Holdings Co. Ltd.

OSRAM Licht AG

Robert Bosch GmbH

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

Stanley Electric Co. Ltd.

Valeo SA

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

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Jaipur, June 24 : Negative comments in Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education textbooks regarding legendary warrior Maharana Pratap and his father Udai Singh II have riled not only the erstwhile Mewar royals, but also politicians and common people who have voiced their strong disapproval for the "twisting of historical facts".

While the Maharana has been described as someone who "lacked control and was impatient due to which he lost the Haldighati battle to Akbar", his father and Mewar ruler Maharana Udai Singh has been dubbed a "murderer".

The Class XII textbook claims on page number 101 that Maharana Pratap lost in the Haldighati battle as he was impatient and lacked moderation and control. The chapter entitled 'Muslim Invasion, Aim and Impact' further claims that the army head should always adopt patience even in adverse situations, something which Maharana Pratap lacked.

Also, facts related to the Haldighati battle have been removed from the social science textbooks.

In the Class X textbook 'Rajasthan ka Itihaas aur Sanskriti', Maharana Udai Singh II has been termed as a man who murdered one Balvir to capture the Mewar kingdom. Many history books on the other hand point out that Balvir had died somewhere in Maharashtra after he fled Mewar.

Mahendra Singh Mewar of the erstwhile Mewar royal family said that "attempts to tarnish the image of Rajput warriors Maharana Pratap and Udai Singh will not be tolerated".

"Who are these people who want to change the history of Haldighati," he questioned.

The Haldighati battle was fought between Moghul emperor Akbar's army led by Man Singh of Amber and Maharana Pratap's Rajput warriors in June 1576.

Another Mewar family scion, Vishvaraj Singh, condemned the changes in historical facts.

"History distorted to an absurd extent and included in textbooks for schools. Abundant display of ignorance and crass, boorish mentality of the decision-making authority(s) in peddling distortions to suit their own agenda. History itself will not be kind to them, nor to those who accept their ways," he said.

He said that people have come out against the state government by rejecting these changes to our rich history. "It can't be changed overnight by a book," he told IANS.

Lakshyaaraj Mewar, also a member of the erstwhile royal family, was also annoyed and said that both Maharana Pratap and Udai Singh II have been known as "real warriors who kept their nation intact till their last breaths".

Meanwhile, state Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara said, "Our committee will review the facts which are being argued upon. As per my knowledge, no new facts have been introduced in the book. I appeal to everyone to let me know what is wrong in the book and where and why it is wrong. Our committee of secondary education board will review them." The textbook also claims that Haldhighati was not named so due to the yellow colour of the soil but because many newly-wed brides jumped into the battleground dressed as warrriors with turmeric-smeared faces. This claim has been taken from Mahendra Bhanawat's book 'Ajooba Bharat Ka'.

It further claims that the Moghul army was led by Jagannath Kachwaha though historians say it was Man Singh. Kachwaha arrived in Mewar eight years after the epic battle in 1576, say historical records.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also criticised the "misleading information" on Maharana Pratap in school textbooks and said that the history of Marudhara has been insulted by the Rajasthan Education Department, which was unacceptable.

Rajsamand's BJP MP Diya Kumari criticised the development and claimed that the 'Congress government's historians' had insulted Maharana Udai Singh II, Maharana Pratap, and the Haldighati battle.

"By manipulating the personality of an ideal man like Maharana Udai Singh II, this government is bent on ruining the image of its great men. The act of tampering with history only takes place under the Congress rule. What kind of a message does the state government want to give to the younger generations?" "Writing such shameful and false facts is a public insult to the great warriors who sacrificed their lives for the pride and dignity of the motherland," the MP said.

Congress Minister Pratap Singh Khachriyawas said these textbooks should never be allowed to reach students since these had "twisted historical facts".

"Strong action shall be taken against the committee which changed the facts. I will meet Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on the issue," he added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
On Monday the US Department of Justice announced multiple charges, including conspiracy to murder US soldiers and attempted murder of US nationals, against 22-year-old US army private Ethan Melzer of Louisville, Kentucky. Melzer is alleged to have passed along sensitive troop information to a fascist organization in order to help orchestrate an insider attack against his Army unit while deployed in Turkey.

Melzer is alleged to have sent electronic messages to members of the occult neo-Nazi organization known as Order of the Nine Angels (O9A). The information included location, movement and security of an unnamed US army unit currently deployed to Turkey.

The indictment, which was unsealed on Monday, alleges that Melzer, who had joined the US army in 2018, had been in contact with the British-based extremist hate group since 2019. O9A, founded by neo-Nazi David Hyatt in the 1970s, believes that Adolf Hitler was sent by the gods to guide us to greatness, and that the story of Jewish holocaust is a lie to keep our race in chains.

O9A literature was widely shared on the Iron March forum before it was shut down. This, however, has not stopped O9A books from being promoted and sold online by the Atomwaffen Division. As with Atomwaffen initiaties, O9A recruits are encouraged to infiltrate military and law enforcement organizations in order to gain valuable training to faclitate their fascist goals.

The indictment alleges that upon deploying with his unit to Italy in approximately October 2019, Melzer consumed propaganda from multiple extremist groups, including O9A and the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, which is also known as ISIS. As part of the investigation, FBI agents seized Melzers iCloud account which allegedly contained an ISIS-issued document titled HARVEST OF THE SOLDIERS, which detailed potential attacks against US personnel in approximately April 2020.

In April 2020, the Army informed Melzer that his deployment would be extended and that he would be deploying to Turkey to guard an army installation. It was at this point the indictment alleges that Melzer decided to facilitate a deadly attack on his fellow service members.

Beginning in May, Melzer began using the messaging service Telegram to communicate with members and associates of O9A and an auxiliary organization known as the RapeWaffen Division. Melzer passed along information to the groups detailing a planned jihadi attack with the objective of causing a mass casualty event. Melzer was indifferent to his own fate during the planned attack, allegedly telling the group, who give a [expletive]... it would be another war ... I wouldve died successfully ... because another 10 year war in the Middle East would definitely leave a mark.

On roughly May 17, 2020, federal prosecutors charge that Melzer also passed deployment information to a purported member of al Qaeda and a week later he sent additional messages with specific information regarding expected deployment location, where they would travel, along with technical and defensive capabilities.

Melzer is alleged to have sent more messages the following week where he acknowledged he was risking [his] literal free life to send the information for the attack which he hoped would trigger a new war. On May 30 Melzer is said to have admitted during a voluntary interview with military investigators and the FBI that he was plotting the attack and according to prosecutors he, declared himself to be a traitor against the United States whose conduct was tantamount to treason.

The indictment of Melzer exemplifies the growing spread of fascism within the US military and other militaries around the world. It was just last week that a fascist network was discovered within the elite German Armys Special Forces commando unit Kommando SpezialkrafteKSK.

The level of detail in the indictment also demonstrates that the US government is well aware of the growing fascistic elements within its ranks and is more than capable of tracking, surveilling and exposing such elements, if it so desired.

This was proven by the release of encrypted chat logs last weekend that had been recorded by the FBI and shared with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the BBC. The calls capture secret recordings of members of The Base, a small neo-Nazi organization primarily operating out of the US and Canada. The organization was founded by Rinaldo Nazzaro, a former FBI analyst and Pentagon contractor.

Nazzaro currently lives in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he helps coordinate The Bases international activities, which include recruiting prospective members into the group for a future race war which will save European values from a broken system run by Jews.

In the recordings Nazzaro, along with senior leadership of The Base, are heard encouraging prospective recruits, mostly teenagers, to mature ideologically by reading Hitlers Mein Kampf and to familiarize themselves with the groups white supremacist ideology. The group also encouraged military training and has sought to recruit members of western militaries.

Another US fascist and member of The Base exposed in the chats is 25-year-old Matthew Baccari, from Southern California. Baccari used to run a website called Fascist Forge which he took down earlier this year. One of the forum members included a 16-year-old British teenager who became the youngest person in UK history to be convicted of planning a terrorist attack.

Three US members of The Base, Jacob Kaderli, Michael Helterbrand and Luke Austin Lane, were arrested in Georgia during a sting operation in January of this year for allegedly planning to overthrow the government and murder a Bartow County couple who they believed to be Antifa members.
Sukhbir Badal announces party candidate from Pirthi Ram Meghwal from Balluana

With the 12th list, AAP announces candidates from all 117 seats
As a physician, I have been asked countless times in the last several months if the coronavirus pandemic will make us reexamine public health, care for the underserved, cost, and quality? I hope so, but the citizenry will have to break out of a pattern of getting extremely concerned for a while, then going on about their business and allowing partisan politics to douse the flames.

In the case of coronavirus, we have already begun to forget, at our peril. Hospitalizations have hit their highest levels ever in Houston and ICUs are filling up, according to the Houston Chronicle. This is not a statistical blip. This is not more testing. This is not a lag in reporting. Frighteningly, we cant even blame this entirely on an event like a protest.

Now Houston has an order for businesses to require patrons to wear masks. But this will not work unless we all pay attention to wearing masks  and not just for the duration of the order.

Our increase in cases is a result of Houstonians ignoring safe ways to reopen. We did well when we were locked down, but Houstonians are now beginning to go on about their business. Last evening, I was picking up dinner at a restaurant wearing a mask; the servers were all wearing masks. As I was waiting, over a 10-minute period, the restaurant went from empty to seating about 20 people. Not one person was wearing a mask when they walked in. Some on television have called wearing a mask a placebo. But thats wrong. Wearing a mask reduces the chance of getting the virus by more than 80 percent.

This is about every person in Houston: We need to understand that not wearing masks will cause us to be locked down again. Heres how that works: The projections of the number of cases and deaths is based to a major extent on the social distancing data. The more we mingle without masks, the projections get worse and worse. And now, with the actual increase in cases, the projections have come true. This increase due to our own behavior may merge with the natural increase second wave in a couple of months. For young people, the fact that you are less likely to be sickened by the virus is not the point. If you as an individual dont wear a mask, you add to the statistics of the failure of stopping transmission by social distancing that could cause us to be locked down  again.

What about my final statement above allowing partisan politics to douse the flames? I am not going to point at anyone, but watch for yourself those politicians who either ignore or wrongly explain the increases in cases, potentially leading to inaction..

The question was whether coronavirus will be the stimulus for us to reexamine health care. We are the most expensive country for health in the world but far from the top in life expectancy and infant mortality. I am concerned that as awful as the coronavirus has been and will be, we will yet again go back to business to an inefficient system that denies care to so many.

What does this have to do with Sandy Hook and George Floyd? Look back at Sandy Hook and guns. We got concerned, we went about our business, and politicians doused the flames. We are now at a point where we as the public can change systemic racism and police brutality  if we dont go on about our business. No more choke holds is a great start. The country needs so much more.

Laws for real change  not shining objects that dont go far enough  are necessary. We have been the victim of brutally-divided state and national courts, legislatures and executive branches. Leadership is required. We have an opportunity in November to state our case on gun control, respect for each other, police brutality and health care. The differences between candidates are stark. Vote.

Garson is Clinical Professor of Health Systems and Population Health Sciences at the College of Medicine, University of Houston. He is former Dean for Academic Operations at Baylor College of Medicine and VP at Texas Childrens Hospital.
North Wales Economic Ambition Board recruitment drive to deliver 1bn Growth Deal

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jun 24th, 2020

North Wales Economic Ambition Board is recruiting to help deliver the regions transformative 1bn Growth Deal.

The Ambition Boards Programme Office is looking to fill seven key positions that will drive forward the programmes that make up the Deal  part of the Growth Vision for North Wales.

Led by director Alwen Williams, the team currently consists of Digital Programme Manager Stuart Whitfield, Energy Programme Manager Henry Aron, Land and Property Manager David Matthews and Operations Manager Hedd Vaughan-Evans.

Based at Conwy Business Centre in Llandudno Junction  and remotely  they are seeking a Programme Manager to lead on High Value Manufacturing and Land-Based Industries and Tourism, a Senior Operations Officer, Project Manager (Energy), Project Manager (Digital), a Communications and Engagement Officer, a ESF (European Social Fund) Project Manager, and a Programme Support Officer.

The Programme Office was unveiled earlier this year; in past months they have been busy shaping business cases, engaging with stakeholders and partners, and exploring private sector investment opportunities, while holding virtual meetings and conferences in lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

We are progressing with the Ambition Boards excellent work driving the Growth Deal forward in partnership with the Welsh and UK Governments, said Alwen.

Our Growth Vision for North Wales spans the next 15 years, with the aspiration to grow our economy and improve productivity, creating jobs, training opportunities, and improving infrastructure.

The Programme Office has a key part to play, to work flexibly with all partners to respond to the changes, challenges and opportunities, as well as to attract future investment, so finding the right candidates is going to be pivotal.

As well as creating thousands of new jobs, the Growth Vision is targeting a 10bn increase in the value of the North Wales economy by 2035.

Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn, chair of the Ambition Board and leader of Gwynedd County Council, says the seven vacant roles will play a major role in supporting these aims.

We have set a strong foundation to deliver the Growth Vision, exploiting the opportunities in the region as well as addressing some of the challenges facing the economy, he said.

Both Governments and the Ambition Board recognise the Growth Deal will be a key component as part of the economic recovery post Covid-19, and we look forward to having a full team in place to drive this work.

These are very exciting opportunities, so we hope to see a strong selection of candidates applying.

For more information, visit the website: www.northwaleseab.co.uk.

Alternatively, email info@buegogleddcymru.co.uk or follow North Wales Economic Ambition Board on social media at @BUEGogleddCymru (Welsh) or @NorthWalesEAB (English).




Kim Young-sik / Courtesy of Korean Institute of Certified Public Accounts
Australia will be one of the strongest economies in the world coming out of the coronavirus crisis, with only a small drop in GDP, according to the International Monetary Fund.

A 6.7 per cent drop in national GDP was forecast back in April, with the global economy taking a $9 trillion hit as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown.

But in revised predictions, the IMF downgraded Australia's GDP fall to just 4.5 per cent this year - less than the 4.9 per cent forecast for the global economy.

This means less job cuts are likely than in other major economies, with fewer people relying on state handouts during a likely worldwide recession.

Australia's March quarter was one of the 'few exceptions' across the world where economic activity improved rather than worsened, the report said.

GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, is the value of all goods and services in a country, and provides an economic snapshot of the health of a nation's finances.

Australia is forecast to be among the best performing economies after the crisis (pictured, commuters leave Melbourne's Flinders Street Station wearing masks on Sunday)

Despite the forecast drop in GDP this year, Australia will then bounce back with a four per cent increase in 2021, the IMF's June report said.

Overall, Australia had the best forecast out of the world's advanced economies, with the exception of South Korea which was forecast to have a 2.1 per cent contraction.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg praised the 2.2 per cent improvement in the IMF's forecast, saying the economy had proved to be 'remarkably resilient in the face of the coronavirus crisis'.

'There is still a long way to go in recovering from this health and economic crisis,' he said on Wednesday.

'But there are encouraging signs across the economy and we will continue to do all that is necessary to ensure Australia bounces back stronger on the other side.'

The IMF said government wage subsidies should be replaced by public investment and a transition to a low-carbon economy to help pull the global economy out of the pandemic.

The monetary body also recommended an expanded social safety net to be in place for some time, as well as subsidies to businesses to take on workers and more money for training.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured, left) with Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) in Canberra last week. Mr Frydenberg said the Australian economy was 'resilient'

Despite the impact of lockdown on many Australian businesses, including the One Nails Salon in Geelong, Victoria (pictured on June 1), the economy is expected to bounce back in 2021

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured) will reveal the response to a review of the programs when he hands down an economic statement on July 23

Australia's improved economic forecast comes as the Morrison government considers what to do after its JobKeeper wage subsidies and doubled JobSeeker unemployment payment end in September.

Mr Frydenberg will reveal the response to a review of the programs when he hands down an economic statement on July 23.

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said the IMF's comments highlight the dangers of any 'snapback' in these policies 'which could jeopardise the recovery before it even gets going'.

'Failing to heed the advice of the IMF, the Reserve Bank and others would mean even more Australians are left behind by this government during the first recession in three decades,' he said in a statement.
The world is still a patchwork of different rules and restrictions, but many places are getting back to work. In New York City, for example, hundreds of thousands of people returned to their jobs this month as the city implemented the first two phases of its reopening plan.

Across Britain, thousands of workers unable to work from home, in construction and manufacturing industries, have already returned to work after the country eased lockdown restrictions in May. Many more will be returning to work July 4, as pubs, restaurants, hotels and museums reopen.

All this requires energy to keep the lights on and the machines running. And that energy means greenhouse gas emissions.

We saw a sharp drop in those emissions when large parts of the world were locked down to fight the coronavirus pandemic, though they are now rebounding. In early April, global emissions were 17 percent below 2019 levels, but by early this month they were roughly 5 percent under last years levels.

Thats not enough to solve global warming. So, when we head back to the office, how can we change habits and work culture to help keep emissions down?

[If youre already signed up for the Climate Fwd: newsletter, thanks! Want to follow The New York Times climate team on Twitter, too?]

In the United States, commercial buildings account for nearly 40 percent of national energy use. If that energy comes from burning fossil fuels like coal, it very likely produces a lot of greenhouse gas. So changing work habits can make a difference.
As law enforcement agencies in New Jersey begin to announce plans to identify problem cops, the attorney general met Wednesday with all the police unions in the state to discuss the terms of his recent order, NJ Advance Media has learned.

Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced June 15 that law enforcement agencies would begin publicly identifying officers who commit serious disciplinary violations in what was seen as a remarkable turnaround for a state that has long protected the records of cops. The lists, published annually, would include names of officers who were fired, demoted or suspended for more than five days due to a disciplinary violation, the order states.

The states police unions have pushed back, and county prosecutors have balked at the ambiguity of the order, which permits departments to release the names of officers who were disciplined in the past, but doesnt offer guidance on any time frame.

Grewal and the unions met to discuss the policy, which some law enforcement officials say violates confidentiality and could exacerbate anti-police sentiment.

Pat Colligan, the president of the New Jersey State Policemens Benevolent Association and one of the officials present at the meeting, said he agrees with naming problem officers who have committed serious infractions. But what constitutes major discipline might not be the violations the public expects, he cautions.

We feel that it violates some confidentiality of some agreements that went back with either retirees or people who have taken discipline never expecting it be public, he said. The important point here is the public is expecting major discipline to be major discipline. The vast majority of times, its not going to be a violation of the public trust. Its going to be a minor discipline.

That could include, Colligan explained, an officer who wrecked a police car or had an issue with being late for duty.

I think most of this list is going to be pretty damn boring, he said.

Colligan confirmed that the state PBA was present at the meeting, and two additional sources told NJ Advance Media that every law enforcement union in the state was present.

The meeting comes after three New Jersey State Police trooper unions wrote a letter to the citizens of New Jersey saying theyd like to narrow the scope to just cops who have been terminated or found guilty of racially biased crimes or using excessive force.

We need to be involved in these critical discussions, the letter said.

The letter from the unions  the State Troopers Fraternal Association, State Troopers NCO Association of New Jersey and State Troopers Superior Officers Association  said that a broad release of disciplined officers names serves no legitimate purpose other than to harass, embarrass, and rehash past incidents during a time of severe anti-law enforcement sentiment.

At the same time, the lack of specific guidance from the attorney general has led to a patchwork approach in releasing the names of officers who have committed violations.

For example, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office issued a directive ordering all 72 police departments in the county to release names of officers going back 20 years. That is consistent with what the State Police is doing, which is the example Grewal used in his statement announcing the new order.

In Union County, however, Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo announced her office would release the names of its investigative employees who have committed major disciplinary violations in the past 10 years. It does not state the same will be done by the countys local police departments.

In Monmouth County, Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said his office is still grappling with how to approach naming disciplined officers retroactively.

The lack of uniformity that will result from piecemeal application tends to undermine the spirit of transparency the revised policy tried to capture, Gramiccioni told NJ Advance Media.

The attorney generals order was seen as a giant step toward more transparency in law enforcement. But some argue the order doesnt go far enough and that internal affairs records involving bad cops are still not public.

CJ Griffin, an attorney who specializes in the states Open Public Records Act, said in a tweet that the attorney generals order isnt real transparency.

We need actual (internal affairs) records, not just the list of names that we cant even verify is accurate, Griffin said.

The conversation surrounding the secrecy of police disciplinary records has changed in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Protestors have called for greater transparency and reform. Earlier this month, New York lawmakers repealed a decades-old law that has kept police officers disciplinary records secret.

Grewal, in a statement, said his order ends the practice of protecting the few to the detriment of the many in law enforcement.

For decades, New Jersey has not disclosed the identities of law enforcement officers who commit serious disciplinary violations, he said. Today, we recommit ourselves to building a culture of transparency and accountability in law enforcement.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Russia says statements by EU officials do not conform to their commitment to JCPOA

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Moscow, June 23, IRNA -- Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the statements of the EU states about the use of trigger mechanism did not conform to their commitments to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The statement, released on Monday evening, said that the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Britain issued a statement on June 19 expressing their assessment for the implementation of the JCPOA. Some clauses in the statement raise issues about the intentions of European partners in this regard.

The statement said that the Russian side has always valued the efforts of the two countries, Germany and France, members of the European Union, and the United Kingdom, in resolving issues to maintain JCPOA.

The Russian Foreign Ministry says the main cause of all the problems and shortcomings in the implementation of the nuclear deal with Iran has been the disruptive US act, which unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and continues to violate the provisions of Security Council Resolution 2231. European Governments also seem to understand this because they considered as necessary to remind their demands, aspirations, and concerns.

However, practical commitment of the British, German and French partners to the JCPOA and the search for solutions would reduce the negative effects of US sanctions on Iran are not compatible with their efforts to the tense situation over the nuclear program in the IAEA and their statements regarding the launch of the trigger mechanism invoking Article 36 of the JCPOA.

The European Troika resolution against Iran was approved by the IAEA Board of Governors on Friday, despite strong opposition from China and Russia.

In the resolution, the three European countries, Britain, Germany, and France, with the support of the United States, called on Iran to provide access to IAEA inspectors to the two nuclear sites and to cooperate fully with the agency.

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Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has called on political parties, particularly the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to stop pushing away the youth who decide to give party stalwarts a run for their money.



Mr. Pratt, speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, bemoaned the attitude where some aspirants are refused the opportunity to contest elections on the ticket of their respective parties for reasons that they are not experienced.



He was commenting on the just-ended NPP Primaries that saw some sitting Members of Parliament lose their positions to new aspirants.



Forty (40) Incumbent NPP MP's at its just ended primaries, lost their seats, which according to the Majority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is a setback as it impedes the effectiveness of work in the House.



The Majority Leader therefore believes that its about time the NPP institutes an in-built mechanism to protect experienced MPs, and hopes the situation would improve to help strengthen democratic dispensation.



But Mr Pratt disagreed, noting that the new aspirants and all persons of the eligible age to go to Parliament should be given equal right to contest elections without fear or favour, and dismissed the "lack of experience" tag being bandied about.



"What makes you think that the new candidates who won the primaries are inexperience? What are you talking about? Once they get into the house, they'll learn and eventually become experience too. They'll also chair parliamentary committees going forward. Those MPs who have now been voted out went there with no experience



"We should allow the youth to learn what we have learned, so they can replace us when we're no more...We are ageing, nobody grows younger ..and gradually we are heading to the grave. So we must allow these young men and women to come on board with fresh brains so that when we are no more, they'll steer the affairs....But if we will always say they don't have experience, where from the experience? If you don't give them the opportunity, how can the person gain experience? Someone has stayed in Parliament for 20 years....But when he/she began, he had zero years experience," he said.



He further asked; If we hadn't given the person an opportunity to stay there from 0 to 20, how would he or she have got experience?''





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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